Monday, September 27, 2010

Not a good Sesame Street show with Perry

”Sesame Street” is known for numerous of its guest appearances, including Perry, that appear on the show, although the Katy Perry “Sesame Street” episode won’t be airing at any time soon. The vocalist filmed a segment, and in that segment she sings a duet with Elmo. Parents did not like seeing what Perry wore in her duet. She sang with Elmo her “Hot and Cold” hit. The clip of the sketch leaked on to YouTube, and worried parents started writing letters and e-mails in protest, leading to the sketch getting pulled.

Perry is a guest star on ‘Sesame Street’

“Sesame Street” and other Jim Henson productions have always featured appearances by celebrities of the day. In the last year, Katy Perry has had hits get a lot of radio and music video on TV airtime because she is so well-liked at the moment. Having Katy Perry on “Sesame Street” just makes sense. She sings “Hot and Cold” with Elmo in one scene of the show. The song was made to be kid friendly as it was changed. Moms and dads weren’t mad about that though.

Mothers and fathers won’t say ‘yes’ to the clothing choice

The clip of Perry singing with Elmo, one of the most popular characters on the show, was leaked out onto video site YouTube. Viewers thought the clip was inappropriate for kids and wrote e-mails and letters right away. The segment of singing with Katy Perry is acceptable, reports MSNBC. The cleavage shown in Perry’s wardrobe is what parents are upset about.

Dropping the segment

In reaction to the outrage from concerned parents, the producers of the show decided to pull the segment. You can nevertheless see the clip on YouTube if you search it. Perry has not commented and neither has her fiancé, Russel Brand, on the subject.

More on this topic

MSNBC

today.msnbc.msn.com/id/39324329/ns/today-entertainment/



Sunday, September 26, 2010

Government cash advances hasn't really assisted unemployment

The recession, which is supposedly over, took a toll on many sectors of the economy. Lots of individuals, as a result, have lost their jobs because of it. Huge cash advancements were drawn for government stimulus programs, with the idea that jobs would be created and unemployment reduced. Overall, it worked for a little while, however has only gotten worse in the meantime. There were27 states that had joblessness rates rise within the month of August. There were 13 states saw unemployment decrease. Also, 10 states and Washington D.C. had no change. Granted, recessions technically end when contractions cease, but current conditions certainly make it seem as though it isn’t over.

Boost in unemployment over August

The joblessness level has shot through the roof over the last month. There were, according to CNN, 27 states which had a rise in joblessness in August. The highest joblessness rate in the nation is in Nevada. Nevada sits at a dismal 14.4 percent unemployment. Michigan is behind Nevada, with a joblessness level of 13.1 percent. California may be the third highest, with 12.4 percent joblessness. However, it is not exactly a surprise. These have been the hardest hit states in many ways in the recession. It seems emergency loans that went to these states to stimulate job growth, such as the auto bailout for Detroit, have not assisted as much as was hoped.

It had been the fault of the Census

The end of the 2010 Census had a heavy hand in the boost in unemployment, according to USA Today. The Census employed 114,000 individuals on a short-term basis. Jobs are slowly starting to be added by private employers. Having a pay day again must come as a relief to the 67,000 new jobs added by private employers. This was not unforeseen. It was anticipated the Census concluding would add to unemployment, as there isn’t really enough instant money to hire all the workers that were laid off back to the payrolls.

Rebound starting

There is evidence the decline of economic activity has stopped, and thus the recession is technically over. That said, unemployment is nevertheless high, and lending isn’t really happening as much as it maybe should be. It becomes difficult to reconcile that with the idea the recession is over.

Additional reading

USA Today

usatoday.com/money/economy/2010-09-21-unemployment-rate-state_N.htm

CNN

money.cnn.com/2010/09/21/news/economy/state_unemployment/index.htm



Saturday, September 25, 2010

Vick may end up as the starter for the Eagles

The Eagles might do even worse than starting Michael Vick

The NFL has had lots of controversy surrounding Vick. The hiring of Vick by the Philadelphia Eagles was also a good conflict. Questioning the hiring of Vick was not exactly unfounded, as he didn’t play football for over two years. He never played a full game and never really saw more than a few series. Nevertheless, Philadelphia is now without Kevin Kolb, the starting quarterback. Vick had to step up against the Green Bay Packers. It may have actually been an improvement. He almost pulled off an upset. Speculation has started over whether or not Vick will become the starting quarterback for the Eagles.

Vick almost pips Green Bay

The brand new season for the NFL has just kicked off. The first game for the Eagles was against the Green Bay Packers. Two players had to leave the game with concussions. Kevin Kolb, the quarterback, and Stewart Bradley, a linebacker. Michael Vick, who had seen limited action within the 2009 season, took over as quarterback. The Mean Green Machine might have really lost had he gone in earlier, as Vick put in a heck of a performance. Green Bay is already a Super Bowl favorite, and Vick completed 16 of 24 passes for 175 yards and one touchdown. Kolb and Bradley both have to pass medical testing to return, which they have not, according to ESPN. Vick, therefore, will start against the Detroit Lions.

Get him to Detroit

The Lions game will feature Vick as the starter, as Kolb is still out. Having to choose between Kolb and Vick is a problem you need to have, and Eagles coach Andy Reid may well have that problem should Vick perform well in Detroit. Michael Vick is known for being a scrambling quarterback. He is not the traditional hang-out-in-the-pocket kind. Like other QBs of the type, like Steve Young, he can move to other spots with better passing opportunities quickly, and evade tackles. Teams with a West Coast style offense, like Philadelphia, are far more dangerous with a running quarterback that can also connect well with receivers; just check out what Steve Young did with San Francisco.

Detroit awaits

This is basically speculation. All speculation is, well, speculative. The proof can be within the pudding. If Vick is back to Pro Bowl quality, then he may really well become the new starter.

More on this topic

ESPN

sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5575885



Friday, September 24, 2010

Sept 17 to commemorate days for Citizenship and Constitution

Citizenship and Constitution day honors Sept 17

To celebrate the 223rd anniversary of signing the article, educational institutions all over the U.S. are instructing pupils about the Constitution. Fox News reports that public educational institutions at a variety of levels (from elementary education to college) are of course federal funds in order to supplement these educational programs. ”Constitution Day and Citizenship Day” is Sept. 17 and has been since 2004 when the late West Virginia Sen. Byrd made it law.

But Constitution Day had earlier roots in law

Those who took the steps to become American citizens were celebrated on the third Sunday of May each year as “I Am an American Day” because of President Franklin Roosevelt and Congress in 1940. The date was moved to September 17 and renamed “Citizenship Day” by Congress in 1952. By the time Byrd’s law passed in 2004, federal agencies were obligated to instruct employees regarding the nature of the Constitution and educational institutions that receive federal funds were obligated to provide Constitution-based education to pupils on Sept. 17.

Many celebrating the constitution

Seminars are slated to occur across America at various college and federal locations. On Constitution Day, Americans will participate in speeches, presentations, films, parties and panel discussions. Jon Stewart is publicizing his rally on the “Daily Show” with constitution day. The rally will be held in October. 9/11 is something to be talked about.

President Obama celebrates a whole Constitution Week

Barack Obama made an announcement at the start of Constitution Week saying citizens need to cherish their rights. Constitution Week is held between Sept 17 and Sept 23. “I encourage federal, state, and local officials, as well as leaders of civic, social, and educational organizations, to conduct ceremonies and programs that acknowledge our Constitution and reaffirm our rights and obligations as citizens of this great Nation,” President Obama proclaimed at a nationally televised press conference.

More on this topic

Bryd’s Law

frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=browse_usc&docid=Cite: 36USC106

Fox News

foxnews.com/politics/2010/09/17/federal-schools-universities-celebrate-constitution-day/

U.S. Department of Education Constitution Day

ed.gov/policy/fund/guid/constitutionday.html

Indoctrinate your kids well… and know they love you

youtube.com/watch?v=JNvYIT-GtM0



Automobile technologies with four next-generations

Hybrid vehicles and other forms of next-generation personal consumer transportation have proved to be polarizing in recent years. You will find quite a bit of people who are sick of being told they have to change their carbon footprint because of something that has insufficient evidence to prove, although you will find also quite a bit of individuals who nevertheless believe in reducing their carbon footprint and enjoy the change. Of course, every person agrees on some of the next-gen car technology that are coming out as good things. 4 small changes being made are shown by Popular Mechanics to make a huge difference in driving.

Saving on gas is easier with the hypermiling the Infiniti Eco Pedal does

Turn the activation dial on the dash, and the Eco Pedal – currently available in Infiniti’s M-series sedans, in Nissans later – will help even out a driver’s tendency to jab erratically at the accelerator while in transit. It is simply done with the pedal. More resistance is added. This ultimately saves gas by teaching drivers hypermiling techniques, and drivers still have the ability to override the Eco Pedal within the event that quick acceleration is necessary to keep away from an accident. Infiniti is hoping that fuel economy could be helped with the Eco Pedal. It is expected to save about 10 percent.

Steering from danger, automatically

Radar works good for the military and air traffic control, so why not put it to use in consumer automobiles? A business named Continental is doing just that with Emergency Steer Assist (ESA). Via radar sensors, if a crash is imminent, ESA alters car steering ability so that it is really easy to steer from danger, however incredibly difficult to steer into that telephone pole. It is also easier to stay in control following the swerve with ESA’s car stability control.

The camber will help you out

Race track conditions make it so the angle of drivers’ tires needs to get a good camber which is what NASCAR does. Optima Sports has a Camber Tire that is meant to make the top of the tire go in towards the automobile more than normal. The camber is considered negative at this point. It makes it easier to grip with the corner. The Camber Tire is designed to keep tread flat on the road while maintaining this camber tilt.

Warning from automobile on worn tires

Continental’s Intelligent Tire System sounds like a technological marvel. The system does more than monitor air pressure. It also monitors load, acceleration forces and tire temperature. Whenever you have to change to snow tires, you can be informed. The Intelligent Tire System will let you know. Popular Mechanics reports that these easy-to-install devices will begin to appear on luxury automobiles by 2013, followed by mainstream vehicles as the cost of the technology falls.

Looking for low-cost automobile loan auto loans?

Additional reading

Popular Mechanics

popularmechanics.com/cars/news/industry/next-gen-auto-technologies-we-cant-wait-to-use

Tatsuru Daimon Lab research on human awareness and making driving safer

youtube.com/watch?v=C2NxXSiCWbw



Wednesday, September 22, 2010

GM IPO won't probably repay the federal government

General Motors has been on a roller coaster the last few years. The company is making good strides though. Two different governments had to loan General Motors billions, and now the company is posting profits again. The underperformers of General Motors brands were let go while the company was under bankruptcy protection. GM is getting its fourth new chief executive in as numerous years. Despite the company having started a return to health, it still owes a hefty sum to the federal government. General Motors leadership doesn’t think the loans will all be paid off within the upcoming Initial Public Offering. Only time will tell.

It might be many years until General Motors is paid up

During the summer, GM announced that it was on the cusp of filing for a first public offering of stock. It was more than just idle chatter. The business did file for an IPO. The government is still the majority shareholder. About 61 percent of all GM stock is held by the government. To pay the government back, an IPO will contain selling the government’s shares to investors. Nevertheless, according to the NY Times, General Motors isn’t all that sure it will fully repay the loans. There is a slight catch.

General Motors requires a reputation first

In order for the business to prove that a couple of solid quarters aren’t just a fluke, there has to be a reputation of profitability. The new CEO of GM, Daniel Akerson, thinks it can be a few years until GM can repay the Treasury safely. He was completely open about it at a recent press briefing. Akerson lately held a press briefing about the upcoming IPO. That was exactly what he told a room full of reporters.

A long road ahead

General Motors has pared itself down to four core brands, being Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC. The change in leadership though, was exactly what Ed Whitacre had said all along.

Find more details on this subject

NY Times

nytimes.com/2010/09/17/business/17auto.html?ref=automobiles



Poverty level leaped to 14.3 % of population in 2009

The government began keeping low income statistics in 1959. More people fell below the poverty line last year than ever within the time since. A Census Bureau report released Sept. 16 revealed that 43 million in the U.S. might be officially determined as living in poverty. After increasing to 13.2 percent in 2008, it leaped further to 14.3 percent last year. As the GOP eyes a takeover of government after the fall elections, the poverty report gives them another round of ammunition in the political battle. Under scrutiny, however, Bush-era policies in the last decade can be tied to conditions that set the stage for the current low income increase. Advocates for the financially poor say the poverty level is not an accurate metric for understanding the true nature of the problem. Rightists say the low income threshold leads to an overestimation of the amount of poor people in The United States. Heeding the critics, Census Bureau statisticians will roll out a series of new me! asurements in an attempt to more fully define the poverty level from 2011 forward.

Low income gain close to worse estimations

That the amount of financially poor people had been increasing in the United States was no surprise. Numerous experts really anticipated it to be higher. Soe said it would come in at nearly 15 percent. A Census Bureau official told CNN the low income level would are higher if not for a decline in poverty among elderly Americans, which fell to 8.9 % from 9.7 percent. The poverty threshold, or poverty line, is the minimum income deemed necessary for an adequate standard of living. Looked at that way, the current poverty threshold seems to be considerable upbeat. According to the Census Bureau, a family of four is living in poverty with an income of $22,050.

Lower income measurements obsolete

About a half century ago government officials attempted to determine the income considered at the low income level by using the least amount necessary to buy groceries. MSNBC reports that experts say current methods of calculating the number of Americans living in poverty fails to consider important factors beyond income. Poverty thresholds as they exist are out of touch with reality, Shawn Fremstad of the Center for Economic and Policy Research told MSNBC. For survival in current economic conditions, a family needs more than is presently stated. To more accurately calculate a poverty line, the government will incorporate additional factors into the equation, for example, low-income tax credits and job-related expenses. Fremstad suggested a metric depending on median income to show how financially poor individuals are doing compared to society at large. Last year, median income for United States families was $49,777.

Allow finger pointing begin

The upcoming November ballot gives the latest poverty figures more attention than usual. Opponents of the Obama administration say its policies are causing the problem . Nevertheless, economic growth credited to the Bush administration saw a concurrent rise in poverty. A Washington Independent article said that a Commerce Department official told Congress last year that after rising during the recession of 2001, the low income result failed to recede. The poverty rate rose .08 percent throughout the 2000s expansion. A higher percentage of Americans were financially poor at the end of the expansion than at the beginning. Bush-era economics gave poverty a running start while they caused the economy to collapse.

Additional reading

CNN

cnn.com/2010/OPINION/09/20/meyer.sullivan.census.poverty/index.html

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/39211644/ns/us_news-life/

Fox News

politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/09/15/rnc-supports-odonnell-delaware-nrsc-changes-tune

Washington Independent

washingtonindependent.com/97318/poverty-in-the-recession



Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Federal Communications Commission opening white space range to create Wi-Fi on anabolic steroids

Regions of the TV broadcast spectrum that are presently not in use are called “white space”. The Federal Communications Commission (Federal Communications Commission), the agency that controls the TV broadcast spectrum, has announced that it will make white space available for the public to use without a license. White space for wireless is being called “white-fi” and “Wi-Fi on steroids”. Wi-Fi hot spots that cover vast distances are just one of the benefits predicted when white space wireless becomes a reality. Wi-Fi on steroids will lead to the development of new devices using new applications yet to be imagined. Billions of dollars in previously non-existent economic potential is expected to be released along with the free of charge use of the white space range.

Digital Television sets white space free

“The Federal Communications Commission is expected to announce that white space can be made publicly available for use in mobile networks on Sept. 23. The NY Times reports that Wi-Fi on anabolic steroids owes its existence to digital Television. When Television broadcasts were converted from analog to digital, a surplus of white space was created. Digital transmission uses a narrower band of the television broadcast spectrum, creating more white space around each broadcast signal. The potential of Wi-Fi is greatly enhanced by white space because by using the lower-frequency waves of the TV spectrum, systems will cover broader areas, pass through walls and buildings better and rarely drop connections . Free use of the unused TV broadcast spectrum is likely to start a new round of advancement like that of a quarter-century ago, when a similar move by the FCC ultimately allowed individuals to open garage doors and change TV channels with the touch of a button.

Could super-charged Wi-Fi cause difficulties?

Reaction to the wireless potential of white space has not been entirely optimistic. PC World reports that broadcast television networks and companies using mobile microphones, such as theaters and sports arenas, have opposed the liberation of white space. The concern is that wireless networks with a range of several miles, rather than several yards, will interfere with their signal. But the FCC has a plan for that. The agency has mapped out the range use of TV stations and facilities using mobile microphones. Area by area, wireless technology will probably be pre-programmed to choose vacant frequencies.

Wi-Fi on steroids in action

White space for Wi-fi is already in use. Networks are being tested for a variety of uses. The Register reports that Microsoft has installed a white space network on its campus in Redmond, Wash. Microsoft’s “white-fi” network is providing connectivity to shuttle buses and buildings spanning its 500-acre campus from only two hot-spots. The Times article mentions a trial white space network in New Hanover County, N.C.. To track traffic bottlenecks, its transportation department connects with remote cameras via white space. The parks department monitors wetland areas and transmits environmental data required by federal regulators – saving the cost of sending employees to remote locations . Other breakthroughs to expect in the future might be remote medical networks, more efficient power distribution and new industries valued within the billions.

Additional reading

New York Times

nytimes.com/2010/09/13/technology/13wifi.html?pagewanted=1 and _r=1 and src=busln

PC World

pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/205332/fcc_paving_the_way_to_wifi_on_steroids.html?tk=hp_new

The Register

theregister.co.uk/2010/09/13/white_space/



Thursday, September 16, 2010

A G.O.P. agreement expected with the Bush tax cuts mentioned by Boehner

The first thing mentioned by Congress after its return from a five-week escape Monday was the Bush tax cuts. Lawmakers will, in about four weeks, be working on campaigning for mid-term elections which is why nobody thinks Congress is going to do anything. Democrats propose repealing the Bush tax cuts for all but those making $250,000 a year or more. Republicans think the Tax cuts by Bush should apply to everyone in the country. That is why they won’t vote for the Democrats plan. This seems like it is about to by a typical Congressional stalemate. We see some selfish decisions being made by House Minority Leader John Boehner. He explained that as long as he still got the tax cut, he’d vote cutting tax breaks on the rich. Source of article – Boehner fuels Bush tax cuts buzz with hint of G.O.P. comprom! ise by Personal Money Store.

Boehner’s Tax cuts by Bush explanation

The Bush tax cuts applying to all working class individuals enacted in 2001 and 2003 expire at the end of the year. The Obama administration wants to extend the Bush tax cuts to everyone but America’s richest people. The economy is so weak that it can’t afford a tax increase. Of course, CNN reports, Republicans and a few Democrats oppose the idea. Republicans have confronted a filibuster unless the tax cuts are extended to all–which would essentially allow them to expire for all. Democrats have accused Republicans of holding middle class tax breaks hostage in order to get tax breaks for the rich. Everybody was interested to hear that Boehner was thinking about compromising on the Bush tax cuts.

Democrats starting to follow Republicans

Many Democrats who are worried about where the mid-term elections will put them, have started thinking about switching to extend Bush tax credits another couple of years, which is why Boehner dropping his bomb was so surprising. A temporary extension of tax cuts for the rich are suggested by at least 6 Democratic senators and Senate candidates, says the Washington Post. The House positions are getting filled. They are being filled increasingly more by incumbents. An additional idea being suggested is raising tax cut thresholds to $1 million per household in case that person lives somewhere more expensive within the country.

Power, not middle class, is what Boehner looks for

When Boehner made his comment on the Bush tax cuts issue, Democrats seemed to boast. However, the Christian Science Monitor suggests that Boehner might simply be preparing for his ascension to Speaker of the House should Republicans gain control of the government following the mid-term elections. The Monitor said that as opposed to the opposition leader, the speaker is actually responsible for getting bills passed. By suggesting he may be willing to compromise, Boehner could set up a tax-cut deal he could take credit for. Plus, if a tax bill gets passed in the short time that remains ahead of the mid-term election, Republicans could say it offers proof they are better than Democrats at getting results. Whether or not Boehner has the good of the middle class in mind with his strategy, the Monitor did not say.

Discover more information on this subject

CNN

cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/09/12/tax.cuts/index.html?npt=NP1

Washington Post

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/12/AR2010091204308_2.html?wpisrc=nl_headline and sid=ST2010091204277

Christian Science Monitor

csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/The-Vote/2010/0913/Why-did-John-Boehner-change-his-mind-now-on-Bush-tax-cuts



Tragic or horrible is a line Phoenix takes according to I'm Still Here critiques

In 2008, Joaquin Phoenix declared that he was leaving drama behind and embarking on a fresh career. It was his intention to start a career as a rapper, and he was lampooned thoroughly for a severely off kilter appearance on David Letterman’s show. Since then, people are waiting the release of the documentary “I’m Still Here,” which chronicles his brand new life and attempt to become successful in that field. The film is starting to hit theaters, and also the “I’m Still Here” reviews are beginning to pour in.

Some kind of rap documentary

The buzz about the release of the film is it’s an update on Joaquin Phoenix. The infamous Joaquin Phoenix Letterman appearance was, for many, the last reference point people had for him. He seemed to be coming unglued at that point. Most of the “I’m Still Here” critiques discuss in detail the state he is in. Roger Ebert, within the Chicago Sun Times, makes the point that the bulk of the film is about Phoenix having gone completely sideways, and that seems to be the draw. Given that Ebert and other critics mostly discuss Phoenix deteriorating, Phoenix cannot be too happy with himself.

It’s Joaquin Phoenix first and puppet show last

Music documentaries have a benchmark to meet. Many will name obscure documentaries about Bob Dylan or the Rolling Stones, but the real standard for any music documentary is “This is Spinal Tap,” the “Mock-doc” by Rob Reiner about an English rock band that disintegrates and redeems themselves. ”Spinal Tap” is a classic, and also the “I’m Still Here” reviews are not exactly as kind. ”Spinal Tap” is a classic. It has a 96 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. “Still Here”: 55. Common themes in “I’m Still Here” reviews are Phoenix’s drug use, unhinged behavior and lousy production by the film’s director, Casey Affleck. Joaquin Phoenix’s sister, Summer, happens to be married to Casey Affleck, who’s Ben Affleck’s younger brother.

Shine the light and deliver him to rehabilitation

This film can’t be about a pre-eminent rapper about for making it large, because he hasn’t; but rather it is about a talented person who left a successful profession behind and is about to implode. The subject of the film is self destructing. Sadly, schadenfreude sells quite well. The critiques also mention Joaquin’s older brother, River Phoenix. River Phoenix perished from a drug overdose. It is never fun to view somebody with talent throw it away. Phoenix might be determined to do so.

Additional reading

Roger Bert

rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100907/REVIEWS/100909992

Rotten Tomatoes

rottentomatoes.com/m/im_still_here_the_lost_year_of_joaquin_phoenix/



Saturday, September 11, 2010

Advertise brand simply states Ewanick of General Motors

The road to recovery for automakers will not be easy. The Automotive News reports General Motors’ Vice President of Marketing Joel Ewanick saying this. Product is moving fast for General Motors with all of the deals being cut. It is simply that way because GM had endured a huge bankruptcy leading to a large turnover. Cutting bargains is not the future Ewanick looks forward to with quality vehicles being the focus.

Hoping product strength will win out

The auto bailout has made it possible for a new focus on design and quality. Ewanick really believes this. Cadillac’s are automobiles that customers have liked because of their unique sense of style. Type recognition is something automakers have to worry about. Too numerous automotive brands are trying to merely advertise product. Ewanick explains that “people purchase brands, not necessarily products” making it essential for brands to start working better on the public. Chevrolet previously used Americana in its advertising, and while that business may definitely not continue within the same vein, Ewanick believes that Chevy gets it – a type has to have soul that goes far beyond the numbers.

Nevertheless seeing the factory incentives

Factory incentives will continue. Ewanick believe these and dealer incentives aren’t dead. Such deals should simply play a subordinate role to the brand story. Style, quality, efficiency, dependability and all the other hallmarks of a well-marketed automotive brand should drive sales, while discounts will still be there as a garnish. The focus on make strength will require more work. Automakers will have to actually talk to consumers again. Customers were reached in an exceptional way by automakers previously. They would use many stories. Chevrolet’s Corvette SS and Stingray could be targeted to a new audience. Younger generations of auto buyers can be targeted. Past mystique shouldn’t be buried, as it isn’t dead.

Discounts will not work also as consumer understanding

Everyone enjoys a good sale, but regularly rolling out the shiny banner doesn’t build strong relationships with customers. Automakers aren’t as liked after they stole so many taxpayers dollars during the auto bailout although they were considered “too big to fail”. America’s automotive industry used to have lifetime buyers, although now it isn’t as true considering the price ends up being too low to ignore now. Each automaker should focus on what their customers are hoping to get in a car.

Find more information on this subject

Auto News

autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100906/RETAIL03/309069996/1018

Linkedin

linkedin.com/pub/joel-ewanick/5/42b/30a

Even dealers suffer from a mysterious lack of marketing

youtube.com/watch?v=EALK_LZ_Zgo



Friday, September 10, 2010

How to target short tail and long-tail keywords

With the right stuff, everyone can succeed in Internet marketing, even if it’s as simple as knowing how to use keywords effectively. You will find numerous affiliate marketers online who are deeply focused on dominating high-ranking popular short tail keywords to gain traffic. Nevertheless, more and more individuals are now turning to longer blends of different keywords, known as long-tail keywords, to generate more money in the bank. Post resource – Short-tail keywords or long-tail keywords – which are better? by FranroseLive.com.

Short tail and long-tail keywords

Short tail keywords and long-tail keywords are two types of keywords you are able to use. Short-tail keywords are short and easy to keep in mind, and they’re generally harder to rank high for because of heavy traffic and high competition. On the other hand, long-tail keywords are less contested, simply because they do not bring in as much traffic. This type of keyword, nevertheless, must not be overlooked. These keywords are long and hard to don’t forget, however they can actually make you money faster and easier than short tail keywords.

Using short tail keywords to build web value

Say you run a company site within the wedding industry and would like to target individuals looking for wedding ideas. ”Wedding ideas” may most likely be the first keyword phrase you think of because it sounds like something most people would type in when looking for wedding ideas. However, because of the high volume of competition on this keyword term, your chances of quickly getting on the first page aren’t great, and it does involve some work. You can’t just write one or two articles and expect to show up on the first list of search results. You are going to have to build a catalog of articles that promote your targeted keyword or keyword phrase, with strong backlinks, internally and externally.

How you can benefit with long-tail keywords

Though it may take up a lot of time and effort to rank high for popular short tail keywords, it can provide long-term benefits. However, it doesn’t have to be a difficult process, especially if you target low-competitive long-tail keywords. Instead of putting all your efforts into ranking number one for “wedding ideas,” you can target several long-tail keywords that are related to your product and/or service. For example, with enough work you are able to quickly rank really high for increasing popular keyword phrases like “wedding reception decoration ideas” and “wedding ideas on a spending budget.” Having control over these long-tail keywords can surely guarantee you a respectable position on search engines. And beyond that, they may just be the ultimate source of your success.



The Justice Department in the court versus Arpaio, notorious lawman

Many are actually worried about The Grand Canyon State. They have been deliberating in the state. The concern over SB1070, that allows authorities to verify the immigration status of anyone they think might be illegal, is still unsettled, as the Obama administration has questioned the constitutional grounds of the law, which Governor Jan Brewer has decried. The Justice Department has decided to sue Sheriff of Maricopa County, Joe Arpaio, raging on the Grand Canyon State and government feud. The Justice Department says that Sheriff Joe Arpaio has not cooperated with an investigation of civil rights abuses.

Sheriff Joe suspected of discrimination

Sheriff Joe Arpaio was supposedly trying to “sweep” illegal immigrants by targeting only Hispanics which is why the investigation started. The Maricopa County deputies were expected by the Sheriff to go to seriously Hispanic areas. The Los Angeles Times reports these deputies were designed to stop everybody for minor things. Deputies were supposed to check immigration status when there. This practice has been carried out since before the controversial Arizona immigration law was proposed. Sheriff Arpaio didn’t comply when asked by the Justice Department to give documentation of these sweeps. Allegedly, he denied federal investigators access to buildings and refused to hand over requested material.

Lawsuits are expected

Lawsuits have been seen by the Maricopa Sheriff already. It has happened many times. Numerous have passed away in his jail they call “Tent City” which has caused him to be sued multiple times. It is called tent city because it is an area within the desert surrounded by barbed wire fences that has tents in it. ABC explains that an investigation because of corruption is being done by the grand jury for Sheriff Arpaio and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. The Office got the request for materials and paperwork through a year ago. This originated from the Justice Department. All the documents about these sweeps were found by a federal judge to be wrecked. The attorneys suing the Sheriff’s Office had each and every right to view the documents.

More on this topic

ABC News

blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2010/09/justice-department-sues-arizona-sheriff-joe-arpaio.html

LA Times

latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-lawsuit-arpaio-20100903,,2874529.story



Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Giving antipsychotics for kids is detrimental

Hurting kids are antipsychotics

At 18 months of age, Kyle Warren of Opelousas, La. was given antipsychotic drugs to help with outbursts he was having. The NY Times reports that he then had autism, BPD, hyperactivity, sleeping disorders and oppositional defiant disorder before he was three. Even his mom admitted he was “a drooling, sedated, overweight zombie” due to the medicine. This has been happening often which is why experts have gotten involved. The question is whether toddlers should be receiving antipsychotics at all. Article source – Antipsychotics for toddlers pose severe risks by Personal Money Store.

Antipsychotic prescriptions double without proper assessment

Antipsychotic drugs are being used on more than 500,000 children and adolescents, reports the Food and drug administration in a September 2009 study. The greatest amount comes from teenagers dealing with schizophrenia, since numerous believe that is the age when the disease comes out, although “tens of thousands” of preschoolers are getting drugs from pharmaceutical corporations.

A Columbia University study was shown in the Times to have surprising results about toddlers, privately insured, ages 2 to 5. It showed that from 2000 to 2007, the amount of toddlers getting antipsychotics doubled. A proper mental health assessment as defined by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry was only done on 40 percent of the children within the survey.

Weaning America off the antipsychotics for toddlers habit

Critics worry that young children are being prescribed antipsychotic drugs much too early. A professor of clinical psychology consulted for a Lane University program aimed at assisting low-income families with kids who have mental health issues, Dr. Mark Olfson, is horrified by the practice.

“There are too many children getting on too many of these drugs too soon,” he told the Times.

Olfson is just one of numerous doctors that suggest these heavy medications shouldn’t be written for children or infants as often as they are. There is not a real way to tell if mental conditions actually exist in young children. This makes the FDA’s acceptance of certain AstraZeneca- and Bristol-Myers Squibb-branded antipsychotics for use on toddlers all the more disturbing, thinking about the wide range of disagreement within the clinical community as to whether brains at such an early stage of development should be exposed to such potent mind-altering products.

This means that antipsychotics can legally be prescribed to toddlers for off-label use, although it isn’t exactly safe. Pharmaceutical businesses are getting a lot of profit off this.

No longer can it be said that

My peers and I care about this earth

It will be evident that

My generation is apathetic and lethargic

It is foolish to presume that

There is hope.

And all of this will come true unless we choose to reverse it.

-From “Lost Generation” by Jonathan Reed

More on this topic

NCBI

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20215922

NY Times

nytimes.com/2010/09/02/business/02kids.html?_r=1 and partner=rss and emc=rss and pagewanted=all

Bio Med Central

biomedcentral.com/1471-244X/9/80

Actupny

actupny.org/reports/durban-licensing.html

Generations lost

youtube.com/watch?v=MR4EWSbXLWA

Alternatives to toxic psychiatric drugs

youtube.com/watch?v=sBN2Zjz4W-



Monday, September 6, 2010

Temporary respite for housing market with small bump in home values

Real estate is a dismal business these days. There isn’t really a lot of great news to go around. However, there is a scant glimmer of hope amid the doom and gloom. Believe it or not, home values are increasing. They are for the last few months. There was an increase in costs over June 2010, and home prices are monitored by the Case Shiller Price Index. It’s great to hear even just a little good news about real estate, thinking about what market conditions are. Source for this article – Housing market gets a reprieve as home prices slightly improve by Personal Money Store.

Exactly how are property rates rising?

Standard and Poor’s Case Shiller price index, which tracks real estate activity in 20 cities, has showed a gain in home prices in the second quarter of 2010. There was a gain over the entire second quarter of 2010. Prices increased by 4.4 percent in that time, according to the New York Times. Last quarter, prices had a 2.8 percent drop. The increase is also for the whole year. Second quarter 2010 home prices are up 3.6 percent compared to second quarter of 2009. For July, home prices rose 1 percent over June.

That isn’t the entire picture though

There is a hitch, of course. Home prices may have risen, but sales are lower. The homebuyer tax credit helped to keep sales going. Nevertheless, sales began to fall off once the credit lapsed. Home prices are likely to fall soon, also. Economist Karl Case (for whom the index is named) said that when some of the data was good, a stabilization of financial markets had not occurred yet, as outlined by Bloomberg. Case thinks it could be one more year or so before a more stable market emerges, and begins to grow again.

It might be a whole lot worse

The bottom line is that the homebuyer tax credit gave a temporary, which is to say artificial, boost to house sales, and also home values. True activity in real estate can’t resume until there is not anything keeping activity up or down. However, on the plus side, things are better than they were a year ago.

More on this topic

Bloomberg

bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-31/karl-case-sees-a-lot-of-positive-stuff-in-housing-price-data-tom-keene.html

NY Times

nytimes.com/2010/09/01/business/economy/01econ.html?partner=rss and emc=rss



Sunday, September 5, 2010

Rally for Glenn Beck group capacity hard to put a finger on

The guests for the rally for Glenn Beck at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington over the weekend are disputed. Beck and the minions are claiming up to half a million people went to his so-called “Restoring Honor” rally. Up to a million was the declaration by certain Republican political figures. Crowd size is a metric used to either validate or repudiate the legitimacy of major political events. Believers within the cause could be counted on to inflate the number. Critics are predictably skeptical of the totals. But an accurate count of the huge crowd of angry white people summoned by Beck to the site of Dr. Martin Luther King’s famous “I have a dream speech” on the 47th anniversary of that event is probably impossible.

Glenn Beck rally attendance is determined by who is looking at it

Glenn Beck rally attendance numbers reached heights upwards of 500,000, said Beck and conservative commentators for instance Joe Scarborough at MSNBC. That’s not surprising, as outlined by coverage of Glenn Beck rally attendance by the Christian Science Monitor. The Monitor said that numbers are influenced by the estimator’s self interest. Rally organizers always say crowds were huge and bigger than expected. Those who are not in favor of the cause can be counted on to dismiss their assertions. There is always controversy. Following the “Million Man March” in October 1995, an official estimate of presence by the National Park Service was about 400,000. The park service estimate angered the event’s promoters enough to threaten it with legal action, an occurrence that helped the government decide it was not worth it to be part of such stories.

CBS News seeks out the real truth

Rally attendance for Glenn Beck was substantial. Individuals travelling to and from the Washington Mall overwhelmed the subway. But rather than guess, Columbia Broadcasting System News really hired a company called AirPhotosLive.com to get a view from above. Aerial photos were taken over the crowd, extending from the Lincoln Memorial along the Reflecting Pool to the Washington Monument . Based on the images, AirPhotosLive gave an estimate of 87,000 people in attendance. The business gave its estimate a 9,000-person margin of error, so anywhere from 78,000 to 96,000 people were there.

Facts and evidence do not matter in politics

The day following the event Beck preened. He said the number of the group was someplace between 300,000 and 500,000. Republican congresswoman Michelle Bachman, seeking to be seen and heard, announced “we’re not going to let any person get away with saying there were less than a million here today — because we were witnesses”. However, Southern Fried Science inserted some common sense. Its argument is fairly simple. However many people were in the group doesn’t matter, because the individuals who were will believe what they desire to believe. To illustrate, he referred to a Pew Research Center poll. It determined the statement “President Obama is a Muslim” is considered true by 18 percent of Americans. The moral of the story: simple fact has no place in national politics or religion.

Additional reading

Christian Science Monitor

csmonitor.com

CBS

cbsnews.com

Southern Fried Science

southernfriedscience.com



Saturday, September 4, 2010

Clearing up foggy headlights for basic safety

If driving with fogged or dirty headlights sounds like a good idea to you, then be prepared for the unexpected when you hit the road – or a tree – at night. That can spell a significant accident. The longer moisture and other goo is left to sit inside the headlamp casing, the more likely the lights are to burn out. Burnt-out bulbs can also spell a ticket from police if you are on the road so you don’t notice a light is out of commission. Ultimately, nevertheless, fixing the small problem of fogged car headlights is a simple affair.

So what happened to the headlights?

Water will find its way to the inner recesses of your headlights, reports Popular Mechanics. If you live in an area that experiences cooler temperatures, your automobile is going to get wet. That very same cool moisture gets into the headlamp mechanism, which is vented to compensate for pressure differences so that cracking does not occur. Typically this is not an issue, however; the morning sun burns off the moisture. An auto parked in a shady spot may need some additional help from the hands of the owner, however.

Fogged headlights, begone!

If you are a Grey Poupon-style vehicle owner, then just turn on the headlight defogger. But let’s assume you are like the rest of us.

Right out of the gate, search for a Technical Service Bulletin for your auto, says Popular Mechanics. This document – if there is one for auto – will give information on accessible upgrades, for instance one that will replace the cheap headlamp fixture that comes from the factory.

If there is no upgrade to pursue, get down to DIY basics. If there’s only a small amount of condensation inside the headlight fixture, leave the headlights on while you drive for a couple of hours. It’s a good excuse to take the scenic route. However what if the headlamp’s a gusher? Then you’ve to take out the fixture. Within the cleaning process, deal with any mud, hornets or death-dealing spiders that may cross your path. Dump the water and critters, add some rubbing alcohol to the housing to clean the surfaces, then let the whole thing dry for a couple of hours in the sun before re-insertion. Finally, for maximum possible evaporation in the future, try to park facing south where the sun catching is good – if you are a northern hemisphere type.

More on this topic

Popular Mechanics

popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/repair-questions/how-to-prevent-foggy-headlights



Get cash faster with income tax refund bank cards for the not banked

If you don’t have a bank account, it is going to be hard to get an income tax return. This is because electronic banking and income tax filing are becoming so popular. There is a recommendation from the Treasury Department to give tax return debit cards out to help this. People without financial institution accounts, the so-called “unbanked” or “underbanked,” do not benefit from the electronic funds transfer of a income tax return to a bank account from the IRS. A tax refund check often takes too long to get to get there. Rather than waiting for that check to arrive, “refund anticipation loans” are generally taken out by the unbanked. Plus, the overhead of printing and mailing checks costs millions of taxpayer dollars.

Getting a tax refund debit card

The biggest advantage offered by tax refund debit cards is speed. As outlined by the Associated Press, direct deposits take eight to fifteen days to obtain the money into an account. Getting a income tax return check can take even longer with a six week wait for numerous people. People without bank accounts are likely to borrow against their tax returns, paying steep fees for a refund anticipation loan. Starting next year, a pilot tax refund debit card program could be offered to a number of hundred thousand working class. Your income tax refund debit bank cards work like checking accounts. The only difference is you will find no checks or banks involved. If the bank cards are lose or stolen, consumer protections stop purchases, and also the bank cards are insured just like financial institution deposits. The cards may also be able to store other income and consist of bill-paying services.

Working class and financial institution accounts

The Center for Economic Progress estimates up to 26 million taxpayers could benefit from tax refund debit bank cards. The number came by subtracting 70.3 million, direct deposit refunds from the 2010 tax season, from tax refunds of 96.3 million. Automated Trader reports that the Obama administration is exploring ways to encourage more individuals to obtain financial institution accounts. A $50 million request has been submitted to Congress for the 2011 budget to create “Bank on USA,” a program to help support state and local efforts to get more low-to-moderate income taxpayers into mainstream banking. An FDIC 2009 survey showed roughly 9 million households were without bank accounts.

Return anticipation loans to die out

The Obama administration is trying to help those in risky financial situations discover better way to work with finances with the tax return debit card initiative. Last month there was already a policy change announced, says the Wall Street Journal. beginning in the 2011 tax season, the Internal Revenue Service will no longer provide income tax return businesses with “debt indicators” used by banks to process refund anticipation loans. The move makes it harder for banks to make the short-term loans, which come with high fees that pencil out to annual percentage rates from 50 percent up to 500 percent.

Additional reading

Associated Press

google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gjOACVZgIYIFoYxqpOl-uISuMxiAD9HVPC6G3

Automated Trader

automatedtrader.net/real-time-dow-jones/14805/-us-treasury-to-offer-low_cost-bank-accounts-for-tax-returns



Gulf of Mexico drilling area struck with Vermillion oil rig explosion

A gas platform surge has occurred at a platform within the Gulf of Mexico. Only one individual was injured, and no fatalities occurred. There is no reason for blast yet. The oil rig explosion happened close to Vermillion Bay, on the coast of Louisiana. The rig is pretty far away from the British Petroleum gas rig that exploded in April as it is owned by Mariner Energy. The Vermillion oil rig is in shallower waters than the Deepwater rig that exploded and triggered the Gulf of Mexico oil leak.

One hurt in oil rig explosion

Only a single person was reported to be hurt within the surge of the oil rig. When the drilling platform exploded, 13 individuals went overboard. After 9 a.m., the newest York Times reports the Coast Guard got reports. These reports indicated that a gas platform was on fire. Helicopters and Coast Guard vessels made their way to the place. It was an hour before they arrived. All 13 workers on duty were there and rescued. Many were surprised to hear that only one person was injured within the surge. This is because 11 people were killed within the Deepwater oil platform explosion.

Waters were shallow

The Deepwater Horizon oil rig was drilling at a far greater depth than Vermillion Oil Rig 380. You will find only 340 feet of water beneath the Vermillion oil rig. It is also only about 100 miles off the coastline of Louisiana. 9.2 million cubic feet of natural gas and 1,400 barrels of oil were coming out of the rig, says CNN. Getting the fire out is the first thing the Coast Guard hopes to do. This is the first priority. As soon as individuals caught wind of the surge, company shares went down. In fact, Mariner Energy dropped 5 percent.

Numerous worried about offshore drilling

Debate over offshore drilling has been hot for a when. It has been years. Every person receives worried when a gas rig explodes. They worry that you will find too many environmental risks with the danger also there. Bp is one of few companies to step up and take responsibility for its oil spill. Most corporations don’t meaning working class end up paying for fix it all.

Find more information on this subject

CNN

edition.cnn.com/2010/US/09/02/louisiana.gas.rig.explosion/?hpt=T2#fbid=QdDzKvaTDgY and wom=false

NY Times

nytimes.com/2010/09/03/us/03rig.html?partner=rss and emc=rss