Homeless living in Hawaiian Islands

Tourism and military jobs are probably the most significant things to the Hawaiian Islands economy. NPR reports that tourists spend an average of $200 per day for hotel, meal and entertainment. Only $3 a day is spent by the homeless for room, board, and full health coverage within the Hawaiian Islands. Of course the food lines are there for many individuals who sincerely need it, but people lining up for free passes tend to not even be from the Hawaiian Islands. Article resource – The Hawaiian Islands homeless problem that won’t go away by Personal Money Store.

More bums living on Hawaiian Islands

If shelter populations are any indication, the 10 percent increase in population over the past 12 months is telling. 1,300 of those people, according to NPR, aren’t even from the state. Part of the draw for out-of-state immigrants is Hawaii’s 5 cent redemption fee for plastic bottles and aluminum cans. Gary Phillips, who was homeless in San Diego for a long period of time, came to Hawaii and makes as much as $40 per day this way. The state will give people like Phillips free health care, $200 a month in food stamps, and let them sleep at the $3 shelter that gives three meals. With state support, they typically don’t even need more extra cash.

Vacationers and homeless paradise

Hawaii is using Medicaid and tax refunds to try and cover their budget deficit which is $1.2 billion. Millions of tax dollars are used to operate Hawaiian shelters which means this can be a bad time to have new homeless people moving in. Connie Mitchell, executive director of one of the largest homeless shelters on the Hawaiian Islands, told NPR that nearly a 3rd of her shelter’s spending budget is spent on this type of new arrival. Mitchell and others are concerned that a lot of people may even be taking up the homeless lifestyle simply to enjoy the tropical breezes and free care.

Being a bum in Honolulu

As outlined by the University of Hawaii’s Center on the Family, 21 percent of bums were Caucasian in 2005 while now 43 percent are. They’re mostly single and middle-aged. These people work on odd jobs while living in Hawaii off taxpayer money after getting enough to fly over. As the Hawaiian authorities start to catch on to the resource dilemma, the Hawaiian Islands homeless people will largely move on. Determining whether somebody is living off public funds because of laziness or real misfortune – and dealing with each group appropriately – is a problem Hawaii’s government needs to solve. Anyone abusing the system shouldn’t be allowed to do it since you will find individuals who really need instant loans and help from the programs.

UPDATE – Hawaii has tried sending homeless people back to the mainland. New York doesn’t want them and send them BACK to Hawaii to avoid dealing with it.

Additional reading

NPR
npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126675999
The price of paradise – and this was in 2008. It is worse now.
youtube.com/watch?v=w058VpVl3t4
Newser
newser.com/story/96470/hawaii-buys-homeless-plane-tickets-to-mainland.html

Wikileaks documents paint a grim picture of the Afghanistan war

92,000 classified documents with sensitive info on the Afghanistan war were leaked by Wikileaks, the news site created by Julian Assange. In what is being called one of the biggest stories in recent years, Wikileaks gave the classified documents to the New York Times within the U.S., The Guardian in Britain and Der Spiegel in Germany. Reports were given out by all 3 newspapers on July 25. Now we know that there have been Pakistan operatives that betray the U.S. by taking their cash but still helping the Taliban kill Americans, many civilians are being hurt through the war, and that the Taliban is, in fact, getting stronger, because of these Wikileaks documents. Article source – Wikileaks documents paint a grim picture of the Afghanistan war by Personal Money Store.

Wikileaks goes straight to major newspapers

The classified documents released by Wikileaks are used by desk officers in the Pentagon and troops within the field when they make operational plans and prepare briefings on the situation in the war zone. Before publishing stories that used details within the documents the New York Times and also the Guardian wrote commentary saying they had taken care not to publish details that would harm national security interests. Gen. James Jones, the U.S. National Security Advisor, explains:

“The United States strongly condemns the disclosure of classified info by individuals and organizations which could put the lives of Americans and our partners at risk, and threaten our national security.”

Pakistan intelligence aiding Taliban insurgency?

Of the numerous stories within the New York Times based on the Wikileaks documents, one reports about documents describing how Pakistani intelligence works with Al Qaeda to plan attacks. The documents show there are numerous Pakistani operatives that have refused to discuss matters involving those who attacked near Pakistani border, moved across the frontier, and then went to into Pakistan to be safe, although it is still hard to prove Pakistani operatives having been helping Al Qaeda.

Afghanistan truth worse

The U.S. government has made the Afghanistan war look much better than the Times, the Guardian, and Der Spiegel have made it look in their articles. Any progress is limited by a corrupt Afghan government and police force, a disloyal Afghan army and an uncooperative Pakistani military that is aiding and abetting the Taliban insurgency. Many people just needed these documents from Wikileaks to show them anything they already knew. Americans are becoming more involved within the Afghanistan war as shown by the Wikileaks documents, although the public and congress are being confident otherwise.

Wikileaks suspected of espionage

Wikileaks was criticized by the hacker who turned in Private Bradley Manning, who’s the soldier who allegedly handed the documents to Wikileaks. Adrian Lamo wanted to stop the reports from getting to the public so he turned in Manning, reports ABC News. Because of the amount of info that was actually released, Lamo suspects Manning had others involved with him. Lamo thinks that Manning was hired along with others by Julian Assange as “a personal shopper for classified data.”

Further reading

New York Times
nytimes.com/2010/07/26/world/asia/26isi.html?hp
Guardian
guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2010/jul/26/press-freedom-wikileaks
Der Spiegel
spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,708314,00.html

Progressive Automotive XPrize to be awarded?

The Automotive XPrize, sponsored by Progressive, has long been the ultimate goal of automobile designers. This $ 5 million prize is for creating a automobile that gets 100 miles per gallon. Car trials in Michigan are at the moment going, and there are two different cars that may well will the prize.

The details of the Automotive X Prize

The XPrize foundation supports a number of prizes, including the Automotive XPrize. Sponsored by Progressive auto insurance, the Automotive X prize was announced in 2008. EPA mileage estimates are the basis of the competition. The primary X Prize is awarded to a four-passenger automobile. The autos competing for the Automotive XPrize do not have to be ready for production, they just have to prove the concept is workable.

The competition for Automotive X Prize money

The 2010 Automotive X Prize competition began in Michigan on April 26. The 3 classes of vehicles are put through their paces. Some tests are designed to be very comparable to city driving. The competition is also set up to emulate highway driving. The target is 110 miles per gallon, though to receive the XPrize a team only has to get 100 mpg. There needs to be certain safety and performance thresholds met as well.

Ingenuity on display at XPrize races

Last-minute ingenuity is needed to win the Automotive X Prize. One of the requirements of the vehicles is that the passenger cabin remains below 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The 95-degree temperatures in Michigan made that difficult, so a few teams are using ice and homemade air conditioning units to keep things cool. Techniques designed to help make fuel going even further with driving techniques are also making an appearance.

The possibility of winning the XPrize

There are two vehicles that are nevertheless within the running for the Automotive XPrize. Both will be taken out of the public eye and put through a wide variety of safety tests. The award will be given to whichever vehicle passes these tests.

$1 Trillion budget for the International Monetary Fund

The International Monetary Fund has announced that it will make an effort to boost its lending power to $ 1 trillion this November. The Group of 20 Summit in South Korea will consider this request. By increasing its ability to give emergency cash advance loans money to countries in trouble, the IMF hopes to improve their response to financial crisis.

Lending capabilities of the IMF

The IMF currently has a lending capacity of about $ 750 billion. Most often, this money is distributed as cash advance loans to struggling countries. The money is usually used to help stabilize banks and financial systems, take on system-wide reforms, and purchase upgrades for infrastructure. It is very rare for a first-world country to get a loan through the IMF. Though they are technically able to take the money, many first-world countries are not taking the cash til payday loan in order to stay away from appearance of instability.

Getting more money to lend

The IMF is funded by a large group of countries that also governs it. Most of these countries could be attending the G-20 summit in November. If the IMF is of course an additional $ 250 billion in lending power, these countries will be on the hook. While the IMF doesn’t have a banking account with $ 750 billion sitting in it, the countries that make up the IMF are responsible for providing the money.

The conditions put on IMF loans

You will find various strings attached to a fast cash loans provided by the IMF. If a country gets an IMF loan, it has to undertake reforms. The reforms required by the IMF are the jumping-off point for some significant controversy. Some claim the fast loans given by the IMF end up doing more harm than good. More money for lending would mean more loans and conditions from the IMF. There is a lot of debate, though, on if the world economy would really benefit.

Calorie counts climb on National Junk Food Day

July 21 has long been the unofficial “National” Junk Food Day. Many individuals celebrate this holiday if they know it or not.

Probably the most basic National Junk Food Day celebrations

In general, National Junk Food Day celebrations are comparatively simple. Food with very little nutritional value is typically very easy to get. Many individuals are using National Junk Food Day as an excuse to pig out on chips, soda, and candy bars.

The opposite celebration of National Junk Food Day

Many nutritionists are practically having a coronary over National Junk Food Day. Most individuals already eat plenty of “junk” food each and every day. Encouraging junk food just seems like a very bad idea for most. Some dietitians are calling for National Junk Food Day to become a day to eat anything but junk food.

How junk food is financially attractive

Despite the non-nutritional value of junk food, it’s a huge industry. There are several reasons, but the first is usually cost. Potato chips or junk food, calorie-for-calorie, tends to be cheaper than “good” food. When trying to get enough calories, junk food is cheaper on a thin food budget. Nutritional value ends up coming second to the cost of the food.

Celebrating National Junk Food day on your own

Making your own homemade candy bar would be a fantastic way to celebrate National Junk Food Day. The best instructions for making them might be found in places like Instructables. An easier option would be making your own potato chips. Slice potatoes very thinly, and bake at 450 degrees. If you need to get very creative, try homemade doughnuts or popcorn.

Offbeat solutions to those interested in DIY

You will find a lot of DIY solutions that you can use in case you are willing to take an odd take a look at things when fixing a vehicle. Popular Mechanics shows Mike Allen offering auto fixes that are just a little off beat.

Fuse box issues with the first fix

The first example used by Allen is of a driver stranded on a mountainside. Somebody stops, looks at his car and looks closely at the fuse box. The passerby explains that swapping a fuse could work considering fuses in automotive boxes generally are alike. Each fuse is connected to a different electronic function of the car. Connecting functions with their fuses is simple- check the owner manual. Intelligent drivers will already have this chart on their fuse boxes for emergencies like this. The traveler’s problem is that his fuel pump is dead. Switching this fuse from something unimportant to the fuel pump slot will solve all the problems.

Odd solution 2- Cooking some eggs and diet soda on a radiator

Have a radiator hole? Raw eggs cracked to the radiator is a suggestion by Allen. Don’t use anything but the radiator for this. The idea is that the egg white will sink down and plug the hole temporarily. Try your drink if the fluid has gotten low in the radiator. Topping off with diet soda (without sugar to clog the water pump) helps. Beer and iced tea may also work in a pinch. Just do not make a habit of topping off with Fresca.

Three- oil and nature

Your vehicle gets hurt when on bad roads. Oil leaks are caused when rocks hit the oil pan. In the rough area that caused the leak, the answer can be found. Allen recommends using a twig to plug the hole. Using your Bowie knife (you are within the wild, so you probably have one), whittle it into shape and hammer it into the oil pan puncture. You will have to cut off the end of the stick so that it doesn’t catch on anything and make the problem worse. If there isn’t really enough oil left within the crankcase before you fix it, you can top it off with water before continuing. We are told by Allen, “The oil-pump pickup is not on the exact bottom – the remaining oil will float on top of the water”. You should only do this if there is absolutely no other option. If you can very easily walk to a store and purchase motor oil, that’s the more desirable option.

Offbeat auto fix No. 4- Cleaning up that gas tank hole

This is a variation on the last problem, but this time Allen discusses a hole within the gas tank. You have to be able to carve a chunk out of soap. Get to a mechanic as fast as you are able to after hammering that chunk in. Do not siphon gas like they do in “Dukes of Hazard”. You will have to leave your car or get ready for a long trip of pushing it to a garage.

More info available at these sites

Popular Mechanics

popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/repair/4331569

Fixing the oil pan and clearing away the foliage

youtube.com/watch?v=F1eb_5lR97Q

Pregnancy hurts mortgage lending

If you’re starting a family and would like to purchase a house to raise your kids in, there’s something you should know. Women who plan on staying home with their kids and are presently pregnant can’t get a mortgage loan if they tried. Because of all the bad lending that’s happened recently, mortgage lenders just won’t do it. The couple doesn’t meet strict standards is the excuse mortgage lenders use to avoid being in violation of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. Post resource – Mortgage lending- Don’t get pregnant if you want to buy a house Personal Money Store.

Discrimination caused with mortgage lending standards so strict

Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae began a loan quality initiative which is where the pregnancy discrimination is coming from. The New York Times reports that Fannie and Freddie require lenders to recheck a borrower’s financial situation right before the loan closes. Under the loan quality initiative, lenders must document that borrowers have enough income to pay for the loan on closing day, not following the contract was signed. If you would like the loan, you also have to prove that you will have that income for an additional three years.

Maternity leave a red flag for mortgage lenders

Some mortgage lenders are flirting with pregnancy discrimination because of maternity leave. Mortgage lending standards interpret maternity leave as short term disability insurance. Because the disability payments will not continue for 3 years, Fannie and Freddie mortgage lenders will not count maternity leave as qualifying income. The mortgage has to be applied for again after going back to work. The times article shows an example with a couple that is expecting in the relatively near future. They wanted to make an offer on a home, however they needed both of their salaries to qualify. The mortgage broker said the expectant mother would not be considered “employed” when it was time to close the loan, which would probably disqualify her.

Any person wanting a home isn’t really covered in the Pregnancy Discrimination act

Mortgage lenders say they’re not discriminating against pregnancy but against income. When it comes to lending, Lawyers.com teaches us that gender and marital status are the only things protected. The Equal Credit Opportunity Act also bars lenders from asking about your plans for having or raising children. However, lenders can ask questions about expenditures related to your dependents. The federal government moved to make pregnancy discrimination illegal in 1978. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act declares that discrimination due to pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions is unlawful sex discrimination. The act was really only placed for employment purposes.

More information on this topic

New York Times
nytimes.com/2010/07/20/your-money/mortgages/20mortgage.html
Lawyers.com
lawyers.com/our-blog/archives/251-Pregnancy-Leave-Puts-Mortgage-in-Doubt.html

Tempe Town Lake dam breaks, sends homeless scurrying

Experts were confident that Tempe Town Lake dam would last for 25 to 30 years. The inflatable rubber dam created Town Lake for the city of Tempe, Arizona, a tourist destination and point of civic pride for residents. According to Associated Press reports, nevertheless, one of the 11-year-old dam segments burst. Two-thirds to three-fourths of all the water in Tempe Town Lake – thousands of gallons – gushed to the connecting Salt River, a dry riverbed that is known as a spot for homeless people to stay during summer months.

No injury reports at Tempe Town Lake

Media reports have revealed nothing concerning any injuries at Tempe Town Lake, and also the flood waters have not caused severe property damage as yet. Area residents said they heard a loud “ka-boom” and felt the ground shake near Arizona State University. Seconds afterward, witnesses saw animals fleeing the scene. Minutes later, a safety alarm rang out. Reports as to whether any potential transients within the Salt River bed heard the siren are currently inconclusive.

One billion gallons, flowing out at 15,000 cubic feet per second

That’s the flow at Tempe Town Lake, says Mayor Hugh Hallman. As far back as 2007, experts reportedly knew the Arizona climate was wreaking havoc with the structural integrity of the rubber dam. Yet repair action was not taken at that time. By April 2009, the makers of Tempe Town Lake dam made a safety recommendation, but Tempe chose to ignore the warning.

What about the homeless?

Officials know the alarm sounded, but they don’t know if the blowout at Tempe Town Lake dam impacted any homeless persons within the dry riverbed. Most consider this event exploded rubber and government impotency. However, when the cost of homelessness is factored in, there could be fiscal import. A wide array of experts have founded studies that show that the U.S. shells out nearly $ 11 billion annually to address chronic homelessness. Forbes reports that that figure would descend to a more manageable $ 7.88 billion if the homeless were given permanent homes.

Low-cost housing is the life raft

As outlined by AZCentral.com, there are as many as 8,000 homeless in Tempe’s Maricopa County every day. If those 8,000 people – only some of whom may live within the Salt River area near Tempe Town Lake – had homes, not only would the nation be saving money, but Maricopa County would reportedly save as much as 50 percent on emergency resources. If the Tempe Town Lake dam event moves more homeless people into permanent housing, something truly optimistic will result from this minor civic disaster.

Sources

philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/nation/20100721_ap_rubberizeddambreaksatmanmadearizonalake.html

azcentral.com/community/tempe/articles/2010/06/11/20100611tempe-homeless-outreach-united-way.html

forbes.com/2006/08/25/us-homeless-aid-cx_np_0828oxford.html

There can be no iPhone recall as outlined by Steve Jobs at Apple press conference

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After panic broke out over a potential flaw in the iPhone 4.0, an Apple press conference was announced. There can be no iPhone recall. Instead, iPhone 4.0 buyers can get a free case to stop the potential problem. Apple CEO Steve Jobs talked about this at length along with some other things at the Apple press conference.

Hardware issues dubbed Antennagate

You are able to get a transcript on the Wall Street Journal site. Steve Jobs started by saying the problem is endiemci to smartphones and not just to the iPhone 4.0. He demonstrated other phones with the very same problems. Jobs did admit the iPhone 4.0 dropped more calls than the iPhone 3GS, but less than one more per 100 calls.

What will Apple do?

There are bumpers you can purchase, but not enough of them. So Apple is giving a free case for any person who bought the iPhone 4.0. The offer is good until Sept 30, and also you can get a refund if you bought the bumpers. Those who bough 3rd party cases for their iPhone 4.0 are out of luck. If over the next 30 days, anybody wants to return their iPhone 4.0 with or without the free case from Apple can return the phone for a full refund.

What got Antennagate on the radar

The gist of Antennagate was that a common imperfection in smartphones was found in the iPhone 4.0. There’s barely any difference between it and the last iPhone. About one half of one percent of the people who bought the iPhone observed it, and freaked out. It was then exploited by the media.

Apple is working on fixing it and spent $ 100 million designing the antenna to begin with. AT and T reported to Apple that less than 2 percent of iPhone 4.0 buyers returned their phone, but 6 percent of iPhone 3GS buyers did.

Additional info at these websites

blogs.wsj.com/digits/2010/07/16/live-blogging-apples-press-conference/

Possible oil seep may force BP to try again

BP thought they were within the clear, until the government ordered them to uncap the valves they just capped off as outlined by the New York Times. After 10 tries by BP to seal the oil spill, it seemed that all was progressing as prepared. However, reports began to surface that there may be oil and gas seep near the BP oil well, straight from the ocean floor.

BP troubles with the government while cleaning

There is more coming than just the PR and financial troubles BP has had with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The Obama administration’s response to the catastrophe was hindered by the Jones Act, which inadvertently has given Republicans more than enough ammunition against Democrats as midterm elections approach. Oil seeping out of the floor will make the public angry once again. Retired Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen, who’s overseeing the cleanup effort for the government, has given the green light for pressure testing to continue into Tuesday, as the seep is still being investigated, reports the Times.

Nothing from pressure tests yet

Capping the well just means pressure tests have to be done so the well can be monitored for seep or a possible blowout. There is a lot to monitor with the well going three miles to the seabed. Oil and gas might start seeping into the ground, even if it doesn’t explode. Allen explained that not much could be done if that happens.

Russia shows us how to proceed?

Should President Obama try to see this through with the resources presently in use, or would an “independent set of eyes,” as Andrew Revkin writes within the Times , be just what the oil seep ordered? Ocean floor oil seep might be occurring at even lower depths. James Cameron has a panel of experts that offered a suggestion to the Obama administration. Submarines from Russia have the capability of going miles deep, which would allow BP to continue monitoring oil flow at lower depths. The Russian subs could search for the seep.

Find more info here

Deepwater Horizon Response
deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/doc/2931/791891/
New York Times
dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/18/bp-pressed-to-assess-seep-near-its-well/
Voices from Russia
02varvara.wordpress.com/2010/07/12/russian-mir-submersibles-may-go-to-gulf-of-mexico-to-fix-oil-well-gusher/
CNN reports on seep near well head
youtube.com/watch?v=DPeoRnWV4vw

Calculating your hybrid mileage

230 miles per gallon were designed to be in the Chevy Volt, with first GM estimates. The formula was never approved that was used to calculate. This means the estimation of miles per gallon for most hybrids could have to be recalculated — not just the Chevy Volt.

How hybrid mpg is calculated

The EPA had a hard time figuring out how to calculate mpg for hybrids. The standard calculation for “real” miles per gallon involves simply dividing the number of miles driven by number of gallons of fuel. However, the EPA estimates of mileage are more complicated. City driving, highway driving and also the maintenance of the vehicle all impact the efficiency of a car. The formula also has to change considering the numerous different variables of hybrids. In order to get an accurate estimate of the mpg a vehicle will get, the EPA uses relatively complicated formulas.

The problem with Volt’s calculations

The government decided to give out their own formula on calculating mileage for the Chevy Volt. EPA explains the formula never hit “final approval” making it wrong. The Volt was at first expected to get 230 miles per gallon. ”Working collaboratively,” the government and GM came up with a new formula. It is likely that the Volt will be rated at between 70 and 140 miles per gallon, depending on the new calculations.

Electric needing to be balanced too

Electric and electric-hybrid cars have long presented a difficulty for government regulators. The fluctuation of energy and fuel make comparisons with money hard to do. Electric cars can’t apply miles per gallon. Mpg also skews the view of hybrids, because they often rely on energy created by the fuel and have highly variable ratings, depending on driving habits. Despite the fact that an answer hasn’t been found yet, the EPA is still trying to figure it out.

Lautenberg - Lockerbie bomber release tied to BP-Libya oil deal

Billions have been made by BP as it spills oil around the globe. A recent BP-Libya oil deal that promises more billions has caught the eye of a senator that wonders if BP helped set free a terrorist convicted of killing Americans to get the contract. Suspicions arose after Libyan Abdel Bastet Al-Megrahi, the Lockerbie bomber, was released from a Scottish prison last August after doctors said he had three months to live. Al-Megrahi is living large nearly a year later when BP oil rigs head to the Libyan coast. Post resource – Senator says BP-Libya oil deal linked to Lockerbie bomber release by Personal Money Store.

Lautenberg and others want Lockerbie bomber returned to prison

U.S. lawmakers want to overturn the release of the Lockerbie bomber, imprisoned for the 1988 Pan Am flight 103 bombing. New Jersey Democrat Frank Lautenberg sees evidence suggesting the Lockerbie bomber release is tied to the BP-Libya oil deal as an opportunity to increase political pressure on the culprit of the2 010 oil spill within the Gulf of Mexico.

Is timing of Lockerbie bomber release and BP-Libya oil deal a coincidence?

The release “on compassionate grounds” of the Lockerbie bomber following a prostate cancer diagnosis is now in question. Al-Megrahi, now 58, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 that killed 270 people, including 189 Americans. Evidence suggests that oil spill business BP may have angled for Al-Megrahi’s release after serving just eight years and Lautenberg has asked the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to investigate. He wants to know if the Lockerbie bomber’s release was connected to a BP plan to start drilling within the next few months off Libya, which the senator says could earn the company up to $ 20 billion.

Lockerbie bomber’s demise greatly exaggerated

The British government felt pressure from U.S. senators to investigate the Lockerbie bomber release after a doctor said Al-Megrahi has ten years ahead of him. The Associated Press reports that Lautenberg, along with Democrats Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer of New York and Lautenberg and fellow New Jersey senator Robert Menendez, wrote a letter the U.K.’s American ambassador last week demanding the investigation. In his response to the senators, British Ambassador Sir Nigel Sheinwald said due process was followed.

BP may have American blood on its oil-stained hands

In a letter to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Lautenberg said BP may have influenced the British and Scottish governments about the Lockerbie bomber’s release to improve its chances for a 2007 oil deal. He said BP admits that in 2007 it told the British government that a prisoner transfer agreement with Libya could hurt the oil deal. Citing “overwhelming interests for the United Kingdom, Jack Straw, the British Secretary of State for Justice, later changed his mind about excluding Al-Megrahi from the prisoner transfer.

Families of Lockerbie victims get oil-stained justice

BP has declined to discuss the senators’ probe of the Lockerbie bomber release. However, CNN reports that on the BP website the oil spill business talked up the 2007 Libyan oil agreement as “the single biggest exploration financial commitment an international energy company has ever made to Libya”. A letter to Gillibrand from Britain’s ambassador, posted on the British Embassy website, defends the Lockerbie bomber’s release. Brian Flynn, who fought to keep Al-Megrahi in prison after his brother was killed on Pan Am flight 103, told CNN:

“You can’t allow the process of justice to be corrupted by the cynical mercantilism of one business.”

Discover more about this topic here

news.yahoo.com

latimes.com

cnn.com

FDA shuts down plant for Johnson and Johnson

Johnson and Johnson, drug maker, has hit more difficulties. The Food and Drug Administration has temporarily shut down a medicinal manufacturing plant in Lancaster, Penn. Until the plant can pass an inspection like the one they failed, they will remain closed. Johnson and Johnson has already suffered some high profile setbacks over the past a number of months, on the heels of a large recall of children’s Motrin and Tylenol products.

Lancaster PA plant closes its doors

A plant run by a Johnson and Johnson-Merck Consumer Pharmaceuticals joint venture was ordered to halt production by the Food and Drug Administration, as outlined by CNN Money. FDA guidelines were not being met which is what the form 483 given to the plant meant. It is the second plant closure within the last few months for Johnson and Johnson, and a setback for the Johnson and Johnson-Merck joint venture. Mylanta, Immodium, and Pepcid were all made in this plant.

Newest plant closure for J and J

In May, Johnson and Johnson was ordered by the FDA to close a Fort Washington, Penn., plant for non-compliance with codes. Childrens Motrin and Tylenol were manufactured there. Two thirds of the employees were just laid off at the Fort Washington plant that was run for Johnson and Johnson by McNeil Consumer Healthcare. The Fort Washington plant was implicated in contaminating numerous shipments of children’s Motrin and Tylenol which were recalled in 2009. A Tylenol recall initiated May 6, 2010 recalled 130 more bottles of Motrin and Tylenol because it had been contaminated as well.

McNeil execs might need some of their own drugs

McNeil Consumer Healthcare has been lambasted by the FDA on an almost quarterly basis for years. McNeil and the Fort Washington plant have been regularly under investigation since 2003, and McNeil has issued five recalls of products in the last 8 months. One wonders if consumers can actually find medicine that won’t kill them.

Sources

Lancaster PA plant closing
money.cnn.com/2010/07/16/news/companies/johnson_fda_new_inspection_report/index.htm
Fort Washington plant closing
money.cnn.com/2010/06/22/news/companies/tylenol_plant_inspection_history/index.htm?postversion=2010062318

Apple press conference coming up when analysts doubt iPhone recall

An iPhone recall is the latest phrase to emerge as the world obsesses over the ultimate consumer gadget. Numerous think the Apple press conference on Friday will talk about an iPhone 4 recall. At the very least, Apple probably will address the iPhone 4 difficulties with the antenna. It is more likely that iPhone software updates will be announced. iPhone recall rumors caused, on Thursday, a drop within the Apple’s stock price. Source of article – Analysts doubt iPhone recall at upcoming Apple press conference by Personal Money Store.

Is an iPhone recall going to be announced?

The iPhone recall for wireless reception issues was just a rumor Thursday, and most analysts think such an announcement at the Apple press conference is unlikely. Computerworld reports that some say Apple could announce a giveaway of a $ 29 Apple iPhone 4 Bumper case that has been proven to fix the iPhone reception problem. Some also think there will be no answers given at the conference and instead can be something to make people forget about the problems. The iPhone software update might be announced at the conference also. On its web site, Apple first proposed the iOS 4.0.1 as a solution which ships Thursday as outlined by Macrumors.

iPhone antenna issue benefits other phones

On the very same day, the iPhone recall rumor spreads and the Motorola Droid X is launched. According to Ken Hyers who was on eWeek and is a Technology Business Research analyst, Apple is having these iPhone 4 troubles at a very bad time. Hyers said other smartphones running the Android OS are getting great reviews. Consumers are purchasing them in increasing numbers. He also thinks a recall could come out of the iPhone 4 antenna issues.

iPhone 4 sells a lot still

The iPhone 4 hasn’t quit selling since it came out on June 24. Apple sold 1.7 million in the first three days. July 14th, Apple stock had dropped around 8 percent because of the issue. You will find still strong demands for the iPhone 4. Analysts polled by The Wall Street Journal said iPhone 4 buyers were keeping their devices without returning them at the very same rate they normally do. Supplies also remain limited on retail shelves. In the second quarter, Apple reported revenue of $ 13.5 billion and a net quarterly profit of $ 3.07 billion.

Citations

Computerworld
computerworld.com/s/article/9179203/What_will_Apple_say_about_the_iPhone_4_?taxonomyId=163&pageNumber=1
eWeek
eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/Apple-to-Address-iPhone-4-Issues-Report-248066/
Wired
wired.com/epicenter/2010/07/apple-stock-drops-since-iphone-4-analysts-consumers-unfazed/

Islamic group puts a hit out for Molly Norris

Molly Norris is the Seattle cartoonist that instigated “Everybody Draw Muhammad Day.” Now an Islamic terrorist group has put a hit out Norris. After a terrorist group made threats against the lives of the creators of South Park for having a character depicting the prophet Mohammad hit the media, Molly Norris created the Facebook themed day of, Everyone Draw Mohammad. Many Islamic individuals took this as a personal insult instead of freedom of speech. Norris pulled the plug and apologized, but that was not enough to stay off the hit list on an Islamic terrorist site..

Norris is marked for death by the orders of Anwar al-Awlaki

Islamic law forbids graphical depictions of Muhammad. Islamic law also says its okay for Muslim assassins to kill you if you draw anything or anybody and label it as Muhammad, even if you are not a Muslim. When Molly Norris launched Everyone Draw Muhammad Day, she drew the ire of radical Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki–who is marked for death himself by the U.S. government. The New York Daily News reported that a plot from two New Jersey men to kill U.S. soldiers as well as the recent Fort Hood, Texas massacre were implemented by Anwar al-Awlaki Anwar al-Awlaki singled out Norris in a rant published in an Al Qaeda magazine called Inspire, as a “prime target,” saying her “proper abode is hellfire.” The FBI considers Muslim assassins a significant threat, and has warned Norris of the attempt on her life.

Idle threats aren’t often made by al-Awlaki

Molly Norris not only called off the event already, she also issued a public apology to the Islamic people in general. She said the “Everybody Draw Muhammad Day” had spun out of control and become offensive. The site that published her death mark is used to recruit American Muslims for Jihad, and despite her apology they’re still out to slaughter her. Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard has been repeatedly targeted by Muslim assassins for drawing Muhammad. Westergaard and his granddaughter were forced to take shelter in his homes panic room this past February, when a man recruited to be a Jihad tried to kill him with an axe for his depictions.

The mark for death has caused Molly Norris to take up hiding

Norris did post a YouTube video explain why she launched, Everybody Draw Muhammad Day, along with her own cartoon. She indicated the event turned into something different than she intended and tried to get people to cancel is. She later still joked about how making Islamic terrorists mad will make you too scared to eat calling it the, Diet of Fear.

Molly Norris is taking many precautions to protect herself, both by taking down her Facebook account and the content from her personal pages also. Her YouTube video of her explanation for the cartoon has also been “removed by the user.”

More details available at these sites

New York Daily News
nydailynews.com/news/world/2010/07/11/2010-07-11_cleric_anwar_alawlaki_puts_everybody_draw_mohammed_cartoonist_molly_norris_on_ex.html
AOL News
aolnews.com/article/muhammad-cartoon-activist-lands-on-al-qaida-hit-list/19550262
Washington Post
voices.washingtonpost.com/comic-riffs/2010/07/draw_muhammad_artist_placed_on.html

Now seems like normal to have lower credit scores and tighter lending standards

Many Americans are seeing their credit scores fall drastically. Lower credit scores and tighter lending standards have economic recovery caught between a rock and a hard place. According to FICO Inc. figures, a credit score of 599 or lower is had by 35.5 percent of consumers (43 million). Consumers can’t get auto loan application, credit cards, and also the mortgages that economic recovery is counting on. Source for this article – Lower credit scores and tighter lending standards become the norm by Personal Money Store.

Lowest credit score category has millions in it

plunging credit scores are canceling out good things such as no interest auto loan for bad credit and low mortgage rates. The Associated Press reports that FICO’s findings show an additional 2.4 million people fell into the lowest credit score categories during the Great Recession. Typically only 25.5 million people, or 15 percent of 170 million, fell below a 599 score. Cash today advances, personnel loans, and installment loan are the only short term credit alternatives these consumers have.

A lifeline is needed for many who have low credit scores

Already at record lows, the number of consumers with credit scores below 599 is expected to increase. The Associated Press article indicates that it can take various months before missed payments drive down a credit score. Underemployed or out of work people has hit 26 million as outlined by the Labor Department. Millions more face mortgage foreclosure, which can delete 150 points from a credit score. Besides a strong short term credit history, years might pass before credit scores are restored again. Fortunately, with access to short term credit alternatives, they won’t be totally left out in the cold.

Lending standards keep credit scores low

Leave it to banks to do their part to lower credit scores. Creditcards.com reports that by cutting credit lines and increasing interest rates, banks are lowering their customers’ credit scores. FICO tends to compare debt levels to credit limits. Lower credit lines make it look like a borrower is closer to being maxed out when they haven’t increased their debt at all. It is harder to pay back debt with higher interest rates. And for a personal loan to help pay the bills, they can forget about talking to their bank.

Is this hard credit making economic recovery more difficult?

The credit fueled economy was bound to fall as that is what consumer spending was based off of. The Dallas News suggests that the FICO report on low credit scores exactly why the economy can’t recover. If people aren’t able to help with economic growth by giving businesses reasons to hire workers, then the economy won’t be able to grow. For credit scores to improve, the economy has to recover and Americans have to change their spending habits. It could be interesting to see since the economy always has and will continue to be driven by consumer spending.

Find more information here

Associated Press
google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g74qg6iCDzFlCHhjsiBGFIHAiJPQD9GTIVU80
Creditcards.com
blogs.creditcards.com/2010/07/fico-credit-scores-fall.php
Dallas News
dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/editorials/stories/DN-ourcredit_00edi.State.Edition1.6ff689.html

Money Magazine Best Places to Live aren't big cities

It’s time for this year’s Money Magazine “Best Places to Live,” and the fact that small towns dominate the list of 100 cities should come as no surprise. The din of big cities is typically too expensive and less than inviting for families – plus they’re ultra-expensive. To rank on the Money Magazine “Best Places to Live” list, a city must rank well in jobs, school quality, family safety, recreation and overall veneer. What cities make the list are the best of the best when it comes to America’s family-oriented communities.

Resource for this article: Money Magazine Best Places to Live highlights small town life by Personal Money Store

The top Money Magazine ‘Best Places to Live’

Here’s a preview of the top the top entries within the Money Magazine “Best Places to Live” list. Data provider Onboard Informatics provided CNN Money with stats on population size, median income, area sales tax and other categories to assist within the decision-making process. The overall rate of installment loan origination – whether they be short term loan or unsecured loans – is also below the national average in these cities, as job availability, average income and overall quality of life make financial emergencies somewhat less frequent.

1. Eden Prairie, Minn. (Pop. 64,000; Unemployment 5.1 percent)

This is not the last of the Minnesota cities in the top 100, but Eden Prairie is certainly first, with its beautiful surroundings and avenues for play in nature. Schools rate highly in Eden Prairie, as does the overall health of its people due to the preponderance of outdoor activity. The unemployment rate is more than comfortably low and their bond rating on Moody’s scale is a perfect AAA. With multiple major employers in town, it is no wonder that Eden Prairie has as much as 50,000 jobs in town.

2. Columbia/Ellicott City, Md. (Pop. 155,000; 5.2 percent)

Great schools, housing residents can afford, an excellent downtown area and population diversity are a couple of of Ellicott City’s key elements. Eight thousand jobs are provided by the NSA and Fort Meade, and the federal government already has plans to add thousands more. Baltimore and Washington D.C. are within commuting distance, where more job opportunities exist.

3. Newton, Mass. (Pop. 82,000; 6.0 percent)

Newton benefits greatly from the presence of Boston College and Newton-Wellesley Hospital, and also the Greater Boston area public transport system makes for a mobile populace. On the charm side, Newton consists of a series of villages that display the New England charm for which the area is known.

4. Bellevue, Wash. (Pop. 124,000; 5.8 percent)

The tech community (Microsoft, T-Mobile, Verizon and Expedia, to name a few) have brought so numerous jobs to Bellevue that they beat Seattle when it comes to employment rate. Cultural activities and also the natural beauty of forests and Lake Washington beckon families. The Money Magazine “Best Places to Live” list generally penalizes cities with high home cost, but Bellevue is an exception due to its strength in other areas.

5. McKinney, Texas (Pop. 125,000; 7.8 percent)

McKinney, Texas has a well-maintained downtown area that mixes modern with 19th century.Raytheon and also the nearness of Dallas have contributed mightily to McKinney’s job picture. And with the parks and hiking trails for numerous family adventures, it is no wonder McKinney makes this prestigious list.

Read more on this topic here

CNN

money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2010/top100/

Tea Party racism subject of NAACP convention vote

The Tea Party is racist, as outlined by some members of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Individuals. A resolution condemning the Tea Party for racism was up for a vote Tuesday at the NAACP convention in Kansas City. Some Tea Party members said the NAACP is calling the kettle black. Meanwhile, a black community leader in Atlanta said the NAACP convention could use its time better by following the grass roots example of the Tea Party movement.

Media exposes Tea Party racism

Tea Party racism is an assumption some have formed in response to media coverage showing Tea Party posters of President Obama. The movement's image has been further damaged by reports of black congressmen being spit on by Tea Party members during the health care reform debate. The Washington Post reports the NAACP Tea Party resolution says members of the movement have “displayed signs and posters intended to degrade people of color usually and President Barack Obama specifically” and calls “the racist elements” within the Tea Party “a threat to progress ".

Tea Party comeback – NAACP is racist

The Tea Party is challenged by the NAACP resolution to admit some of its members are racist and to curb their enthusiasm. The resolution also accuses the Tea Party of opposing programs that aid working people and minorities. Two Tea Party members told the Los Angeles Times that a couple of bad actors are responsible for Tea Party racism, not the movement at large. Jenny Beth Martin of the online network Tea Party Patriots admitted to racist behavior at Tea Party rallies but said it was on the record that it wouldn’t be tolerated. Tea Party Patriot Mary Meckler told the Times that accusing the movement of racism was "ironic" coming from a racist organization like the NAACP.

NAACP – Tea Party a role model?

The NAACP is missing the point whether or not the Tea Party or the NAACP is racist, said black Atlanta media personality Charing Ball. Ball doesn’t question the sincerity of the NAACP Tea Party resolution. Writing within the Atlanta Post, Ball wonders why, within the pursuit of racial justice, the NAACP is wasting its time on symbolic gestures, instead of planning and organizing for real change. Ball suggests that the NAACP might do better by studying the playbook of the Tea Party. The NAACP could better meet the needs of the black community today at the grass roots by rallying voters and training and nurturing young candidates.

More details available at these websites

washingtonpost.com

latimes.com

atlantapost.com

New drilling moratorium issued as first drilling rig right away leaves gulf

The Obama administration issued a new drilling moratorium within the Gulf of Mexico Monday. A federal court judge, citing oil drilling jobs, overturned the first deep water drilling moratorium just last month. Ken Salazar vowed to come back with another one courts would accept. The first deep water drilling moratorium singled out drilling for oil at depths of 500 feet or more. The new drilling moratorium disregards depth and focuses only on drilling scenarios and know-how. The 2010 oil spill within the Gulf of Mexico dumped an estimated 140 million gallons of crude into the sea.

Post resource: New drilling moratorium issued as first drilling rig leaves gulf by Personal Money Store

New drilling moratorium applies to all depths

Last week, a federal appeals court rejected an appeal by the interior department to restore its first offshore deep-water drilling moratorium, which halted the approval of any new permits for deep-water projects and suspended drilling on 33 exploratory wells. It was reported by the Washington Post that Salazar made the announcement Monday, arguing that a drilling moratorium is still needed to ensure that oil and gas companies implement safety methods to lower risks – and are prepared to handle oil spills. Different from the first moratorium, which applied to drilling rigs in waters of more than 500 feet, the new one applies to any deep-water floating facility with drilling activities.

At risk is apparently oil drilling jobs

The new moratorium will last through Nov. 30th. Is driller prove safe measures have been taken, some permits might be allowed before then. Meanwhile, a New Orleans business group explained that the economic damage from a drilling moratorium would be worse than the toll taken by the oil spill within the Gulf of Mexico 2010. It was reported by Business Week that Michael Hecht of Greater New Orleans Inc. told the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Spill and Offshore Drilling at a listening to the six-month drilling ban may affect as much as 24,000 oil drilling jobs in Louisiana. Hecht assumed the economic impact from the BP oil spill would be dwarfed by the impact from the moratorium.

Oil drilling companies can’t be trusted

Salazar strongly disagrees with Hecht’s assessment of the outcome. In a statement Salazar said “A pause on deepwater drilling is essential and appropriate to protect communities, coasts, and wildlife from the risks that deep water drilling at the moment poses. I am basing my decision on evidence that grows every day of the industry’s inability within the deep water to contain a catastrophic blowout, respond to an oil spill and to operate safely.”

First drilling rig leaves the gulf

At the national commission listening to, the CEO of a service provider that is for offshore drillers said drilling rigs will leave the Gulf because of the drilling moratorium. At least one has proven him right so far. It was reported by the Houston Chronicle that on July 9 Diamond Offshore announced that its Ocean Endeavor drilling rig will leave the Gulf of Mexico and move to Egyptian waters right away — making it the first to abandon the gulf in the wake of the BP oil spill and also the drilling moratorium being tested within the courts.

Find more details here:

Washington Post

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/12/AR2010071203003.html?hpid=topnews

businessweek.com

businessweek.com/news/2010-07-12/economic-damage-of-drilling-ban-to-dwarf-oil-spill-hecht-says.html

Houston Chronicle

chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/7101738.html

Consumer Reports won't recommend iPhone 4G after reception tests

Consumer Reports won’t recommend the iPhone 4G. The iPhone 4G bomb was dropped by the magazine because of reception issues. iPhone 4G antenna issues and what the media calls the “iPhone death grip” are in headlines since the business released the gadget last month. Apple says there will soon be a software update showing accurate display of signal strength. Consumer Reports ran its own tests on the iPhone 4G and recreated the reception issues everyone has been complaining about.

Source for this article: Consumer Reports won’t recommend iPhone 4G after reception tests by Personal Money Store

Free iPhone antenna fix asked for by Consumer Reports<

The Consumer Reports rejection is the latest blow to the iPhone 4G. Since the iPhone 4G was first released, complaints about the death grip and class action lawsuits about the over-hyped gadget have besieged Apple. Apple has responded by promising an iPhone software update that will more accurately show phone displays signal bars. But CNN reports that a study by the magazine questioned Apple’s “optical illusion” claim. The iPhone 4 was tested with other AT and T phones, such as the iPhone 3GS. None had the death grip issues that the iPhone 4G demonstrated. Consumer Reports showed readers that the iPhone 4G otherwise ranked highest on the list of intelligent phone ratings that it released Monday. But the magazine said it does not plan to recommend Apple’s new device until the! company unveils “a permanent — and free — fix for the antenna problem.”

Apple carrier, AT and T are off the hook because of tests

Consumer Reports has picked the iPhone 4G as the first Apple iPhone they won’t recommend. According to the Wall Street Journal, the conclusion was an about-face for the magazine, which said in a July 2 blog post the iPhone 4G antenna issues weren’t a deal-breaker for the device. In its rejection of the iPhone 4G, Consumer Reports took some heat off Apple iPhone carrier AT and T, which was being blamed for all the data load issues for iPhones. ”The tests also indicate that AT and T’s network may not be the primary suspect in the iPhone 4G’s much-reported signal woes,” says Consumer Reports.

iPhone antenna solution includes duct tape

As well as promising an iPhone software update, Apple has been telling all of their iPhone 4 users to hold the phone differently or getting a $ 30 iPhone cover. PC World reports that the Consumer Reports iPhone 4G test confirms that assertion. But there are many less costly alternatives to Apple iPhone covers – numerous of the iPhone 4g users have used the yellow rubber Livestrong bracelets that cost $ 1. Consumer Reports suggests that duct tape works also.

More info about this topic at these websites:

CNN
money.cnn.com/2010/07/12/technology/consumer_reports_iphone/?npt=NP1
Wall Street Journal
online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704288204575363011516770540.html
PC World
pcworld.com/article/200924/consumer_reports_throws_iphone_4_under_the_bus.html?tk=hp_new

Home Run Derby 2010 is a golden charity fest

The midpoint of the 2010 Major League Baseball season is upon us, and that means it is time for Home Run Derby 2010. The long drives and made to wow the fans, but charitable organizations will take away lasting meaning from the “Go to Bat” program of Major League Baseball and State Farm insurance. Baseball fanatics choose the charity, and players make an effort to go long. Charitable donations to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and a trip to the 2010 World Series are up for grabs.

Article resource: Home Run Derby 2010 circles the bases for charity by Personal Money Store

Home Run Derby 2010 means much to charities

The “Go to Bat” program is designed to make a difference in the community, and Home Run Derby 2010 is a reminder of how Major League Baseball and State Farm are committed to making a lasting impact on their communities, beyond the playing field. After registering at the “Go to Bat” web portal, fans could be eligible for random selection by State Farm on a weekly basis, and 10 weekly winners can have $ 100 granted to their charity of choice. By playing an online Home Run Derby 2010 game through State Farm’s site, fans can increase their chance of being selected (and their charity’s chance of winning). A trip for two individuals to the grand baseball stage of the 2010 World Series comes for one of the 10 weekly winners. The “Go to Bat” competition extends through the second half of the MLB season and ends on September 26.

More charitable gold at Home Run Derby 2010

It doesn’t matter whether it’s Miguel Cabrera, Corey Hart, Matt Holliday, David Ortiz, Hanley Ramirez, Nick Swisher, Vernon Wells or Chris Young who sends the most home runs to the bleachers at Anaheim’s Angel Stadium, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America will come out on top. That’s because State Farm will donate $ 3,000 per homer hit during Home Run Derby 2010, and $ 17,000 if a player hits the “Gold Ball” out (when a batter has only one out remaining). In addition, one lucky Orange County, Calif. will get a $ 50,000 gift from State Farm, while the remaining seven chapters in the region will walk away with $ 10,000 each. Not to be outdone, the fan-selected charity that receives probably the most support will get an additional $ 25,000 boost from State Farm.

Who will touch ‘em all in Home Run Derby 2010?

Go with Miguel Cabrera. He’s pacing the NL in homers, so expect him to open some eyes.

Sources

prnewswire.com/news-releases/state-farm-and-major-league-baseball-go-deep-for-charities-with-go-to-bat-program-98234949.html

statefarm.com/gotobat

Wedding of Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher – Saturday in Georgia

Winner of American Idol in her own right, Carrie Underwood’s wedding is certain to be a big affair. Carrie Underwood and hockey star Mike Fisher are planning an event Saturday in Greensboro, Georgia. The cost of the wedding is probably high although we do not know what it is yet.

Post resource: Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher Wedding – Saturday in Georgia by Personal Money Store

Greensboro GA – The wedding

The wedding of Mike Fisher and Carrie Underwood is taking over an entire Ritz-Carlton hotel. The tiny little hamlet of Greensboro, Georgia — population 3,000 — seems to be playing host. All 251 rooms within the Ritz-Carlton hotel are reserved for the Underwood-Fisher wedding. Thursday, the wedding party started arriving.

Other plans for the Carrie Underwood Wedding

According to interviews given by both Fisher and Underwood, the Saturday wedding is going to be a big affair. In an interview with Life and Style, Fisher said it was going to be “…a good-size wedding with plenty of good food and an open bar, but nothing too overblown.” The wedding will probably end up costing between one-quarter to one-half of a million dollars. Just renting the rooms will cost $ 100,000. Add on food, an open bar, dress, flowers, clothing, and every little thing else that comes with having a celebrity wedding, and they’re effortlessly looking at a huge price tag.

How is Carrie Underwood’s wedding an example?

Thus far, Mike and Carrie are very quiet about their wedding plans. With an average yearly income that is higher than eight figures, though, it is certain to be a very small percentage of their yearly income. The average American wedding costs $ 25,000 according to TheKnow.com. Recently, reducing wedding costs has been a huge topic. Though Carrie Underwood’s wedding likely won’t be employing these suggestions, if you are planning your own wedding you might be well-set to try out something like collecting cans, DIY projects, or even potluck food.

Know your credit score when taking steps to raise the number

Knowing your credit score is one of the most basic fundamental of credit repair. Knowing what affects your credit score is even more important. More important than that is knowing how to proceed to improve your credit score.

Post resource: Know your credit score, and take steps to raise the number by Personal Money Store

It is free to get your credit score

Thanks to financial reform, doing something about your credit score is easier than ever. Free credit report services are all over the internet. Now these credit reports have to also consist of your credit score. Paying for that was extra. But part of the recently passed financial reform bill makes sure that you can get a free credit report that contains your credit score once per year.

Low credit score?

A lot of people don’t know how their credit score is affected by themselves. For example, as outlined by Wallet Pop, many people assume if they pay their bills on time, their credit score is good. The truth is, when your credit cards are maxed out, your score is lower than it should be. Seeing borrowing to the limit shows risky behavior. When improving credit score, your first priority is tackling excess credit card debt.

Pay down credit cards first with credit repair

You have to pay off credit card debt first to raise your credit score. There are two types of debt. Installment debt is secured by collateral, like a car loan. Revolving debt involves credit card balances. Credit card can revolve forever which is not good. Since credit card balances are unsecured, credit report companies like FICO say they’re more risky than short term loans. Paying down your cars won’t do as much to raise your credit score than paying down credit card debt.

Pay off collection agencies last

Unfortunately, if you’ve been taken to collections, your credit score is already hurt. The numbers won’t change by paying the collection agency. Bankrate.com reports that by the time your debt goes to collection, your creditor has already written you off. Although paying the collection agency will end the harassment, the payment won’t erase the delinquency from your credit report. Remember that a surprise call from the collection agency can result from missed payments on everything from utility bills to library fines. The key to safeguarding your credit score is to stay away from collection in the first place.

To charge cards, say no

To keep your credit score from dropping, keep refusing that charge card every department store tries to sell you. Opening and closing credit accounts will lower your credit score. Wallet Pop explained that FICO credit bureau research has found that opening any type of credit account is automatically seen as more credit risk. If you do get that charge card and then you pay it off in full, your credit score will rebound in a few months, but it won’t rise above the level it was before you bought that new outfit.

Do not cancel any credit cards

When considering credit repair, the deck is generally stacked against you. Especially when it lowers your score to cancel credit. When you cancel a card, the line of credit it carries goes away. Your credit goes down with less credit accessible. Just zero the credit card out and put it as part of your dresser instead. New credit card rules prohibit credit card companies from canceling cards you do not use–which used to hurt your credit score–so you don’t have to worry about that anymore.

Wisely use installment loans

Getting an installment loan for credit repair can be risky, but it can work to pay back credit card debt with personal discipline. If you have a variety of maxed out credit cards, the new installment loan won’t negatively impact your credit score as much as those debts. For this strategy to lower your credit score, you are going to have to make yourself pay off the credit card debt with the installment loan, and throw the credit cards within the drawer until the installment loan is paid off.

Citations:

Wallet Pop

walletpop.com/blog/2010/07/07/good-credit-score-secrets/

Bankrate.com

bankrate.com/finance/debt/3-easy-ways-to-rebuild-your-credit.aspx

Off production line rolls the final PT Cruiser

For the last ten years, the Chrysler PT Cruiser has inspired both love and hate. The compact design and retro look made the PT Cruiser one of the biggest moneymakers for Chrysler business. The car was put on life support in 2008. Since the final PT Cruiser if coming, the 10 year history of the car is almost at an end.

Article resource: Final PT Cruiser rolls off the production line by Car Deal Expert

PT Cruiser start

The PT cruiser was introduced in 2000. Some credit the retro styling of the PT cruiser with kicking off the styling trend of autos. Sales of the PT Cruiser were very high within the beginning, and the car made money for Daimler-Chrysler. In 2005, the vehicle was redesigned, a convertible coupe was added along with the option of turbo engines. There were also limited editions added.

Decline in sales for the PT Cruiser

In early 2008, Chrysler started discussing a possible full re-design of a second-generation PT Cruiser. The company decided against it and instead let their advertising and attention to the PT Cruiser drop. Cruisers were down $ 50,000 a year by 2009. During bankruptcy proceedings, Cerberus Capital Management discontinued the automobile. The remaining parts for the PT Cruiser would be used, but no additional parts would be ordered. From this announcement, sales went down more.

PT cruiser factory with a second life

Since Cerberus Capital Management, the previous owner of Chrysler, decided to cancel the PT Cruiser, Fiat has partnered with Chrysler. The employees that have been finishing out the Chrysler PT Cruiser are not going to lose their jobs. The Toluca, Mexico plant will build the Fiat 500C. The re-tooling and retraining of the factory will take at least six months, but Fiat is hoping to re-create the PT Cruiser’s success.Chrysler will be focusing instead on more traditionally styled sedans and vehicles.

Is Perfect Citizen national security, or Big Brother in disguise?

“Perfect Citizen” is a federal government program that empowers the National Security Agency (NSA) to monitor the computer networks of public and private entities. Perfect Citizen has been created to fend off cyber attacks against infrastructure vital to national security like power plants and electric grids. The program is disconcerting to some who see large-scale NSA surveillance as Big Brother, when to others Perfect Citizen is a reassuring safety net.

Article source: Is Perfect Citizen national security, or Big Brother in disguise? by Personal Money Store

Is Perfect Citizen too much authority for the NSA

The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on the Perfect Citizen story. The Journal reports that surveillance by the NSA, the government’s chief eavesdropping agency, would rely on a set of sensors deployed in computer networks for critical infrastructure that would be triggered by unusual activity suggesting an impending cyber attack. Phase one of Perfect Citizen could be executed by Ratheon, a defense contractor awarded $ 100 million for the task. Perfect Citizen has caused some industry and government officials aware of its aims to believe it is an NSA intrusion into private domestic affairs. Others believe it’s about time the NSA got into the game, being that it is the only agency in place that can manage the responsibility.

The NSA promises to share

The Journal article said that older computer networks intended before Internet security was an issue could be the focus of Perfect Citizen. Many of those networks run everything from subway systems to air-traffic control networks. These older networks have become sitting ducks for cyber attack since becoming more efficient by going online. The NSA said it will share what it learns with Perfect Citizen so that all companies can use the knowledge to upgrade Internet security.

Will Private Citizen be a good big brother?

Perhaps because of its Orwellian title, Perfect Citizen makes many people uncomfortable. PC World reports that their concern is that Perfect Citizen could be just the beginning and the NSA will expand its authority to monitor all domestic network activity. Access to the computer networks of entities like public utilities might also provide the NSA with access to information regarding the power usage or travel plans of private companies and individual citizens. For now, nobody really knows if Perfect Citizen can enforce national security without trampling on the rights of private citizens.

Discover more info:

wsj.com

www.nsa.gov

pcworld.com

Solar plane – latest breakthrough as solar energy gains momentum

In the spirit of the season, since heat waves are roasting major cities around the world, solar energy is a hot topic. From residential rooftops to power plants to experimental aircraft, solar energy has its season in the sun. Thursday, after spending 26 hours aloft, a solar powered airplane landed. And this week the Obama administration pledged $ 1.85 billion in guaranteed loans to develop a solar energy power plant and also some solar panel factories. There’s a cloud though. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, ever the bearers of bad news these days, won’t accept any mortgage loans that use a government funded program to finance solar energy installation costs.

Article resource: Solar plane is latest breakthrough as solar energy gains momentum by Personal Money Store

Solar plane with its day in the sun

Thursday, a solar plane landed in Paris after flying continuously for 26 hours, 9 minutes. The New York Times reports the Solar Impulse reached an altitude of more than 28,000 feet and reached a maximum speed of 78 miles per hour during a day over Switzerland. The solar energy plan was powered overnight by energy that was collected during the day from solar panels on its 210-foot wingspan. Organizers said the flight was the longest and highest by a solar-powered craft.

Poster child for solar energy- solar plane

The Solar Impulse record-breaking flight took seven years of planning and brings the Swiss-led project one step closer to its goal of flying Solar Impulse around the world powered only by the solar energy. It was reported by the Associated Press that although the objective is to prove that emissions-free air travel is possible with Solar Impulse, the flight team said it doesn’t see solar energy replacing jet propulsion any time soon. Instead, the project is designed to test and promote new energy-efficient technologies.

Solar energy companies get billions from stimulus package

Speaking of new energy-efficient technologies, President Obama announced the U.S. Department of Energy will pledge $ 1.85 billion from the economic stimulus package to two solar energy companies: Abengoa Solar and Abound Solar Manufacturing. As outlined by the International Business Times, Abengoa Solar will build the first ever large-scale solar energy power plant in Arizona with $ 1.45 billion in funding. Developers explain that the project will create more than 1,600 construction jobs and clean energy for 70,000 homes. Abound Solar Manufacturing will build a plant that manufactures solar panels in Colorado and in Indiana with $ 400 million in funding. The solar panel factories are expected to create more than 2,000 construction jobs, conserve energy for 200,000 homes, and produce ! more than 1,500 permanent clean energy jobs.

PACE provides solar panels for house

Clean energy initiatives that focus on solar energy are gaining momentum on numerous fronts. But the U.S. housing market, which has become the ball and chain for of economic recovery, is running true to form. According to Trading Markets, the Obama administration’s Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program is falling to the black hole of Freddie Mac and Fanny Mae. The PACE program is distributing about $ 150 million in loans for local governments which they can then lend to you to cover the upfront costs solar panels for your home. Through property tax bills, the loans are paid off.

Cloud cast over solar energy by Freddie and Fannie

With PACE, residential solar energy could are headed for a big boost. But Fannie and Freddie, federal agencies that guarantee more than 50 percent of U.S. mortgages, are overwhelmed with millions of foreclosures. Officials that are in charge of the agencies, which have cost U.S. taxpayers more than $ 145 billion in losses, assume people will start defaulting on PACE mortgages also. Both Fannie and Freddie have issued letters to mortgage sellers stating that they will not accept any loans for homes using the new program.

More info about this topic at these websites:

New York Times

nytimes.com/2010/07/09/world/europe/09plane.html?_r=1&hp

Associated Press

google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5goDxf8Obh9y8tOk6Nse1GMEmSXWgD9GQNU181

International Business Times

ibtimes.com/articles/33502/20100708/obama-s-commitment-to-solar-technology-job-creation-and-economic-recovery.htm

Trading Markets

tradingmarkets.com/news/stock-alert/fnm_us-energy-solar-initiatives-threatened-by-white-house-dissonance-1028938.html

Blooming around the country is the Corpse Flower - Amorphophallus titanium

Native to Sumatra, the “corpse flower” — officially known as the amorphophallus titanium — is a flower of numerous mysteries. The flower starts as a tuber, lives most of its life as one big leaf, and then blooms into a giant, rotting-flesh-smelling flower. Corpse flowers generally only bloom two or 3 times in their lives. In several botanical gardens around the country, the amorphophallus titanium flower is emerging in all its stinky glory.

Post resource: Corpse Flower – Amorphophallus titanium blooms around the country by Personal Money Store

The cycle of a corpse flower

A corpse flower is considered very distinctive for several reasons. The flower is very rare, and generally grows in Sumatra. The very pungent scent of the flower is meant to attract not bees and birds but flies and beetles. Attracted by the strong smell of rotting flesh, these creatures pollinate the flowers. In greenhouses and botanical gardens around the country, amorphophallus titanium flowers are kept very carefully. Difficult to pollinate, these flowers usually bring in lots of crowds.

Keeping a corpse flower

Few gardens around the country sell amorphophallus titanium starts. Corpse flowers have to be pollinated with frozen pollen because they’re hard to pollinate. In Berkley, you are able to buy a Titan arum start around $ 35 and $ 50. The flowers are very touchy. For most of the life cycle of the corpse flower, you’ll just have one big leaf. The flower only blooms a couple times and smells awful. If you desperately want one of these liver-colored, huge, stinky plants, you may want to build a closed-off addition to your sun room.

Less stinky, but just as cool

If you are interested in wicked plants like the corpse flower but do not want to risk having to spend a huge amount of money to get the rotting flesh smell out of your clothes, you do have other choices. The wicked plants also go beyond the Venus fly trap. There are bushes that shoot poison spines, trees that leave a rash or even your classic wicked plant which is a hemlock.

Donald Berwick recess appointment denies GOP political points

Wednesday, Donald Berwick was appointed by President Obama to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services (CMS) while Congress is in recess. Berwick’s recess appointment means that politicians were deprived of an possibility to weigh in once more on the health care reform bill that passed earlier this year. The administration says the recess appointment of Berwick helps move heath care reform along without any kind of Republican obstruction. Republicans think it is just an attempt at hurting Berwick's record. Berwick, a professor at Harvard Medical School is being vilified by Republicans despite the fact that he has the support of the entire health care industry behind him.

Source of article: Donald Berwick recess appointment denies GOP political points by Personal Money Store

Medicare overhaul lead by Donald Berwick
Donald Berwick’s recess appointment happened as the White House said the new health care reform law calls for a lot of new changes in Medicare and Medicaid, which insure nearly one-third of all Americans. Dan Pfeiffer, who’s the White House communications director, told the New York Times that the president decided to act because “many Republicans in Congress have made it clear in recent weeks that they were going to stall the nomination as long as they could, solely to score political points.”

Berwick backed by Bush appointees

Donald Berwick was nominated in April to lead the CMS. Since October 2006, the agency didn't have a permanent administrator. It was reported by the Washington Post that Berwick is the ideal choice to oversee a Medicare/Medicaid budget of $800 billion — about one-third of all health-care spending. He is recognized as one of the nation’s leading experts on improving health care quality while saving money. Two CMS administrators that were appointed by George W. Bush back the nomination, also as the American Hospital Association, the AARP, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare and a long list of local medical groups.

Bypassed is republican obstruction

Despite his credentials, Republicans are preparing use Donald Berwick’s nomination to whip up partisan furor over “Obamacare.” According to the Associated Press, Republicans, who use “rationing” as a code word to discredit health care reform, have seized on comments like one Berwick made to an interviewer last year: “The decision is not whether or not we will ration care, the decision is whether we will ration with our eyes open. And right now, we are doing it blindly.” Berwick also got Republican fury for praising Britain’s National Health Service.

Revisited is health care rationing

The Post reports that consist of Pat Roberts of Kansas are trying to change these statements. “Dr. Berwick is the perfect nominee for a president whose aim has always been to save money by rationing health care,” Mr. Roberts said on the Senate floor last month. The Associated Press article explained when it comes to the rationing issue; Republicans argue that Berwick would deny needed care depending on cost. Supporters contend rationing already is done by insurance companies, and Berwick wants transparency and accountability in medical decisions.

Find more info here:

New York Times

thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/06/obama-bypassing-congress-on-medicare-job/

Washington Post

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/28/AR2010062804675.html

Associated Press

hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OBAMA_HEALTH_CARE_APPOINTMENT?SITE=WNYC&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

EPPICard has the fees to make up for less frequent phishing

Unemployed Americans seeking to access their state benefits have had a hard time with the EPPICard debit card system in the past. The ATM card-style distribution system was designed to make it easy for the unemployed to access their benefits money. Unfortunately, numerous media reports have indicated the program failed to go off without a hitch. Case in point: one Fayetteville Observer reader using EPPICard found that hidden fees were waiting in the wings.

Article source: EPPICard – Less phishing, more administrative fees by Personal Money Store

EPPICard is far from epic when it comes to fees

The EPPICard debit card system has had trouble with a phishing scam or two within the past, and identity theft has been a concern. Those issues were supposedly addressed by state agencies and EPPICard officials. Now welfare consumers can access their emergency money funds without worry – unless they have to use their EPPICards multiple times per month or they enter their EPPICard PINs incorrectly. One Fayetteville Observer reader reported that making more than two EPPICard cash payday withdrawals per month from his bank of choice (Wachovia) produced an “excess use” fee of $ 1.50. In reality, those are serious fees. EPPICard makes such potential fees apparent up front, but that certainly doesn’t make them right.

Squeezing the wallets of the unemployed

Larry Parker of North Carolina’s Employment Security Commission told the Observer that you will find “plenty of ways” to use EPPICard without being charged additional fees for a small cash loans. Yet that nevertheless does not address the legitimacy of the fees in the first place. Could state governments and big banks negotiated in better faith for the consumer here?

Avoiding fees and calling EPPICard simply do not mix

Consumers with question can’t escape fees if they call EPPICard via telephone, either. That’s the kind of service welfare consumers in 19 states are currently receiving, to horrible reviews. As many sources – Personal Money Store incorporated – have suggested, perhaps EPPICard should go back to the future with paper checks and direct deposit, instead of ATM cards that charge consumers excessively.

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Fayetteville Observer

fayobserver.com/articles/2010/06/20/1007753?sac=Home

California state employees offered low cost loan choices

In the state of California, where a state budget has yet to be passed, state employees are facing a huge pay cut. The governor has asked that until a budget is passed, all employees have their pay cut to minimum wage. Some banks and credit unions are offering a instant loans to these employees, including no-interest installment payday loans.

Post resource: California state employees offered low cost loan choices by Personal Money Store

Cutting pay in California

The state of California hadn't passed a budget when their fiscal year started on July 1. Without the budget in place, the state of California is facing a $ 19.1 billion spending budget deficit. The Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has ordered that every state employee have their paydays reduced until federal minimum wage until a budget is really passed. The reduction in pay, though, may or may not be possible because, according to John Chaing, the system needs a serious overhaul.

Banks offer impasse loans

Bank of The US and Wells Fargo have began offering no fax loans called “budget impasse” products. The loans are pretty much offered without a credit check and no interest. These loans either provide money or extended credit to state employees. When the state spending budget is passed, employees can be given a retroactive payment that they can use to pay back these impasse loans.

Getting an impasse loan

California state employees who need to get a personal loan to cover the budget impasse do not quickly qualify for these zero-interest loans. The financial institution has to have an existing account with the employee. Given that California has only passed a balanced spending budget by the beginning of the fiscal year in 10 of the last 34 years, it is not surprising that many banks have created solutions to help employees that are left within the dust.

To steal money and boost rankings, Apple App Store hack was used by scammers

Apple App Store users are battling an app farm infestation. The App Store is being hacked by Apple App scammers who hack iTunes accounts to make purchases of some bogus apps. The hacks steal money from iTunes accounts and increase the App Store rankings of the bogus apps.

Resource for this article: Scammers use Apple App Store hack to steal money, boost rankings by Personal Money Store

Greedy scammers blow up the App store cover

The App Store scam probably would have gone undetected longer if not for a thieving app farm developer known as Thuat Nguyen. Nguyen got too greedy and 40 of his apps within the books category showed up within the top 50 App Store rankings. Other app developers knew something was wrong and Apple pulled the Thuat Nguyen apps. Thousands of dollars are stolen by Nguyen and some of the other App Store scammers, who are still active.

Compromised were the rankings of the app store

News about the App Store scam broke when thenextweb.com reported that Thuat Nguyen hacked iTunes accounts and purchased numerous of his own apps using those accounts. When their popular titles were displaced in the App Store rankings by Nguyen apps, two iPhone app developers sounded the alarm. To purchase apps, numerous iTunes accounts were hacked. Some iTunes users had between $ 100 and $ 1400 spent on their accounts. All iTunes users should check their accounts for stealth purchases of cheap apps (around $ 1-$ 3) followed by one at an outrageous price (around $ 90 ). Thenextweb.com said hackers are also signing users up for a free app called World War that sends their money to scammer accounts.

Make an effort to protect yourself from the App store scam

To verify that you’ve or have not become a victim of the App Store scam, it’s easy to check the security of your own iTunes account.

PCWorld gives this procedure:

Click on your account name on the right hand side of the iTunes menu bar. After entering your password, click on the View Account button. You’ll be taken to the Apple Account Information page where you’re able to view your purchase history. From there, you are able to make sure that all your app purchases are ones that you’ve made. If you spot an app you didn’t purchase among your recent purchases, click the Report a Problem button. To safeguard against a compromised password, you are able to click on Edit Account Info to change it. Longer passwords containing numbers and special characters are harder for hackers to crack.

Scamming still is the app farms

The Apple App Store scam has yet to be eliminated. At least two other scammers are using similar practices according to Betanews.com. Stay from three apps by Charismaist. One Charismaist app is an apparent sonic mosquito repellent that has scammed users out of $ 100 at probably the most, despite the fact that it is marked as free. Storm 8’s App Store scam has in-game point purchases costing as much as $ 150. One iTunes user reported about $ 1,400 in bogus charges from a Storm 8 game. Both Charismaist and Storm 8 are still present in the App Store.

More information from the app store scam

The Apple App Store scam is used to make bogus purchases that elevate the apps within the iTunes ranking so users will be attracted to the apps based on their high sales. Be on the lookout for app icons that are low-res images from the web. The scammers’ support links direct users to non-existent sites or landing pages. As outlined by the Next Web, all the bogus apps are owned by unknown, Asia-based developers. Over the last four weeks, the app scam has been happening.

Discover more about this topic here:

thenextweb.com

thenextweb.com/apple/2010/07/04/app-store-hacked/comment-page-1/#comment-11929

PC World

pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/200503/apps_disappear_from_app_store_amid_hacking_complaints.html

betanews.com

betanews.com/article/Apple-still-silent-as-more-scams-are-found-on-App-Store/1278363193