California female imprisoned with trashcan with limbs

A California female was imprisoned Sunday afternoon when she was caught allegedly pushing a huge trash can with dismembered human body parts. Police booked her on suspicion of murder and say she is still not cooperating.

Found in broad daylight

The container was being pushed by 51 year old Carmen Montenegro in San Bernardino, California. She was found at 2:30 in the afternoon pushing it. Law enforcement was tipped off by reports from several residents in the area who had either seen or smelled the trash can’s gruesome contents.

Reporters spoke with Ontario Law enforcement Detective Jeff Crittendon who said “Officers stopped her leaving the location and in the trash can we found human remains.”

Just one man killed

Police currently thinks that one man was killed and the parts all belonged to him. The cause of death is unknown still. According to Crittendon, “I can’t comment on the condition of the body because I am not sure of the exact extent of the injuries. I do know that it was dismembered. It appears to be a homicide.” Crittendon further said that Montenegro “had evidence on her that seemed to be consistent that she was involved with disposal of the body.”

Finding a hold in her lawn

The detective also said that they believe Montenegro disinterred the remains from her previous residence. The arrest was close to her home. It was only about 200 yards away. After the arrest, police investigated the property and found a hole which had been dug in the lawn.

Home not regularly lived in

Local residents report that the home was owned by either Montenegro’s cousin or her mother, and that Montenegro herself had lived in the home on and off for the past 15 years.

Continuing investigation

The victim’s identity is still unknown although police are working on it. The investigators may have found body fluids in the home Monday while they were checking out the property.

Right now, Montenegro is still not cooperating with police and investigators while staying in Rancho Cucamonga, California.

Information from

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/43223519/ns/us_news-weird_news/

NY Daily News

nydailynews.com/news/national/2011/05/31/2011-05-31_california_woman_spotted_pushing_trashcan_of_human_body_parts_down_the_street_ar.html

Huffington Post

weirdnews.aol.com/2011/05/31/carmen-montenegro-dismemb_n_869203.html#s284153&title=Dumb_Crime_Masterminds

Staying away from popular indications of contractor scams

If you are going to employ a contractor, it’s essential for you and your cash that you employ someone that you can trust. With due diligence, you can keep away from some of the most popular forms of contractor scams in the wild west.

Get personal references to call

While it is not uncommon for private contractors to show up for a client meeting with three personal references, it’s worth it to ask them for one more. A fourth reference should be from somebody who had a problem with the work. They’ll have called the contractor back to fix the problem. This is the best way to determine how a contractor really works. It will help you know the contractor’s values.

Get a backup in the conference with you

Typically, contractors are honest with you. It is still better to be safe than sorry. Make sure you have someone with you when you meet the contractor so they think someone else will live there if you’re living alone. Your friend will eventually leave and so will the contractor. Lock the doors and windows after they leave.

Use Better Business Bureau resources

Not everybody will go the extra mile and go to your local Better Business Bureau to check the contractor’s record. If you need home remodeling after a natural disaster, it is especially important that you look at BBBs in surrounding states.

Bonded status and license need to be verified

Contractor’s permit, operating permits and bonds (surety, performance, and workers’ comp) must be verified before hiring any contractor. Verifying the contractor can be done through the secretary of state’s office. Do this in the state where the license came from. Make sure the local authorities have not had any problems with that contractor in the past.

Make sure you talk to an insurance agent in the house remodeling business to discover out what you want for a contractor bond, states Phae Howard. Howard is from the National Center for the Prevention of Home Improvement Fraud currently.

Insurance problems

Speaking of insurance, one thing a customer should know for certain before hiring a contractor is whether the contractor’s insurance is in impact. Stolen equipment is a fact of life, and also you want your contractor to be prepared.

Another essential note concerning insurance involves contractors asking you for your insurer’s contact information, than contacting them for you. Don’t do it. Cullins warns the scam can hurt. Personal insurance information needs to be protected. Contractors do not need it.

Supplies purchased by contractor

Contractors should not be asking you for money for supplies. That is an unprofessional one. Sometimes you will have to buy. Do not give the contractor money directly then. Meet them at the supply store, purchase what is needed and make sure the materials will be delivered to the site the day they’re needed.

Getting the place inspected

After the permits were pulled, have an inspector check the project. You can use the inspector after the project also. This is a safe thing to do.

Every detail in the contract counts

Sometimes you’ll want to avoid signing the contract with a contractor at first. Make sure all details are clear. Have a lawyer review the contract before you sign it if anything is unclear.

Citations

Bankrate

bankrate.com/finance/personal-finance/10-ways-to-avoid-contractor-scams.aspx?ic_id=tsThumb2

BBB

bbb.org/

NCPHIF

ncphif.org/

Beware A/C scams

youtube.com/watch?v=87qYI6NUQ9o

Hochul (D) wins chair from GOP in special House election

Tuesday’s special House election in N.Y.’s 26th Congressional District showed Democrat Kathy Hochul taking the seat from the GOP. Hochul won just barely, beating her Republican challenger Jane Corwin 47 percent to 43 percent. Jack Davis, once a Democrat but now a member of the Tea Party, earned 9 percent of the votes.

Not happy about changes made for Medicare

The primary issues Hochul addressed in her campaign were the changes in Medicare proposed by House Budget Committee Chairman Ryan. Hochul vehemently opposed the changes. There was a debate with Ryan’s budget plan supporter Corwin last week where Hochul said: “I will fight any plan that tries to decimate Medicare. That is something people in this district feel passionately about, and I do as well.”

A comment was given by Rep. Steve Israel of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. He said: “Even in one of the most Republican districts, seniors and independent voters rejected the Republican plan to end Medicare.”

House liked the Medicare changes

There were 15 democrats and 4 republicans that voted against Ryan’s Medicare plan on April 15. It was passed by the House still. Individuals younger than 55 would be able to take advantage of the changes which would allow federally subsidizes premiums for those younger than 55.

How Obama feels about the win

On Tues, Obama made a statement praising the Hochul win. “Kathy has shown, through her victory and throughout her career, that she will fight for the families and companies in western New York, and I look forward to working with her when she gets to Washington.”

Medicare decisions for Republicans

Eric Cantor is the House Republican leader. He disputed claims that victory was even based on the Medicare issue. “This race is about the fact that it’s a three-way race,” Cantor said to reporters.

Sex scandal causes somebody to lose their job

A chair was lost when Republican Rep. Chris Less had a sex scandal. Hochul will not take that seat in his place. Lee had nothing left to do but step down in February. There were shirtless photos of him shown publicly after he sent them to a woman he met on Craigslist.

Even more vacancies

Later this year, there will be two more special House elections held. One, to be held in July, will be to replace California Democrat Jane Harman. In Sept, a political election will be held in Nevada to replace Republican Dean Heller. Heller has been appointed to the Senate to fill the chair vacated by John Ensign.

Articles cited

Huffington Post

huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/24/new-york-special-election_n_866074.html

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/43161820/ns/politics-capitol_hill

Chicago Tribune

chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-pn-ryan-special-election-20110525,0,3908152.story

Tim Pawlenty states completely no to ethanol subsidies

The Daily Caller reports that new presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty told Corn Belt Iowans Monday that ethanol subsidies must cease. The previous Minnesota governor’s “Time for Truth” strategy has pulled no stops, claiming that “bailouts, handouts and carve-outs” cannot co-exist with such a huge federal deficit. Intellectual Takeout explains that ethanol fuel supporters cling to the renewable fuel argument, but enough criticisms of ethanol are there to warrant exploration of whether there should be government subsidies for it in the first place.

America and corn

Growing corn remains an indelible stroke on the United States agrarian canvas. It is so essential that it has been sung about. “The Boy Who Would not How Corn” is a song that talks about it:

“Why do you come for me to wed?
Can’t even make your own corn grain.
Single I am and will remain;
A lazy man I won’t maintain.”

Business takes over

Corn is more than just something culture has brought to America now. It is something the automotive industry has been more interested in with ethanol as a renewable resource since fuel efficiency has become so significant. Political lobbies like the National Corn Growers Association have given ethanol fuel production its full support.

Pawlenty is just one of many that do not support the subsidy. He doesn’t think it is worth it. There have already been shortages in corn creating a price surge because grains have been used to produce alternative fuels to gasoline. Cheap grain is more valuable as food than fuel, argues Pawlenty. He helped Minnesota manage its fiscal challenges while reducing ethanol subsidies, and he believes he can do the same for the U.S.

“I’m here today to tell Iowans the truth about federal energy subsidies,” said Pawlenty during his presidential candidacy announcement. “(That includes) federal subsidies for ethanol… (They must) be phased out gradually. We need to do it fairly. But we need to do it.”

Fuel efficiency connection to ethanol

When comparing ethanol to traditional gasoline, it has 34 percent less energy potential per unit of volume, several scientists explain. As a result, ethanol only automobile engines use as much as 50 percent more fuel than a standard gas motor.

The failure to set up a solid connection between ethanol fuel and greater miles per gallon brings ethanol’s viability into question. It may not be possible to add ethanol fuel to the mix considering the idea that Keith Crain and others have that national MGP standards need to go up.

Citations

Auto News

autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110523/OEM01/305239986/1137

The Daily Caller

dailycaller.com/2011/05/23/pawlenty-announces-2012-run-under-banner-of-truth-tells-iowans-that-ethanol-subsidies-must-be-phased-out/

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol_fuel

Intellectual Takeout

intellectualtakeout.org/library/agriculture/ethanol-renewable-energy

National Corn Growers Association

ncga.com/

Tim Pawlenty

timpawlenty.com/

Tim Pawlenty, et al, on ethanol subsidies

youtube.com/watch?v=V5y6E2TQTw0

Acting sexy outlawed in Utah with law

Laws that control intercourse are difficult for many people to even consider. This is also true in Utah. According to the AP, two Utah escort services have submitted a federal lawsuit against the state since the broadly phrased solicitation ordinances not only ban prostitution, but make acting sexy illegal.

Implied offerings of sex are now banned in Utah

According to Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank, Utah adopted its currently worded anti-prostitution laws in order to assist undercover agents working stings within the sex trade. In order to prove they are not police, prostitutes ask officers to “expose or touch themselves” sometimes. This won’t be an issue anymore if it is against Utah state law. Any “lewd” or “suggestive” nonverbal act isn’t illegal with the amendments to Utah’s sex laws on top of straight out asking for money from sex.

Burbank told the media that officers will not target non-prostitutes, but will simply weed out illegal behavior within the sex trade, particularly when it involves the under-aged.

“Officers were being put in a position that we’re not going to allow, so we took a different direction,” he told the AP.

Is it a crime to be sexy?

The escort service will be represented by attorney Andrew McCullough in the lawsuit. He is worried that some of the other businesses with sexual components will be in legal trouble. Escort services and strip club dancers who traditionally express their sexuality or “act sexy” as parts of the job aren’t necessarily soliciting sexual contact, argues McCullough.

“Most girls who touch their breasts are not telling you they’re open for sex,” the attorney said.

Acting sexy isn’t really good at home, either

A Massachusetts bill is considering making intercourse illegal between many people. If they are in the divorce process, it would be illegal to do this within home. The idea is to protect children and slow domestic violence, according to Wrentham, Mass., Selectman Robert Leclair. This would make it illegal for any sexual relationship within the home to take place until the divorce is final while also robbing parents of their rights, some say.

The amount a spouse would have to pay another would be capped while stopping the lifetime alimony payment practice though if the bill did pass.

And how about bestiality?

Bestiality would have been banned in Florida with Senate Bill 344 too. In 2009, Sen. Nan Rich of Sunrise, Fla., introduced the bill. He thinks it is an essential one to have. However, some critics maintain that SB 344 is another bill that suffers from overly broad verbiage. The word “animals” in the phrase “sex with animals” could too include human beings, argues Escapist Magazine – so SB 344 would arguably ban human sexual intercourse, diminishing the state’s tax base substantially.

Citations

Associated Press

wapo.st/jgXAOq

Escapist Magazine

escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/528.283827-Florida-outlaws-sex

Mother Jones

motherjones.com/mojo/2011/05/annals-big-government-florida-ban-bestiality-baggy-pants

My Fox Boston

bit.ly/m50Qb6

David Archuleta’s dad Jeff could not resist the sexy (allegedly)

youtube.com/watch?v=xm6R-V3tL8g

Precious metals businesses facing CFTC investigation

Three separate precious metals investing businesses are being investigated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. American Precious Metals, LLC is the latest business to be shut down in this review of precious metal investments. Gold, silver, palladium, and other precious metals were sold, fraudulently, as investments by these businesses.

Case against American Precious Metals LLC

The American Precious Metals LLC business is situated in Florida. It is in Lake Worth, Fla., to be exact. The business used telemarketers to call and pressure customers into purchasing gold, silver, platinum and palladium investments. With a huge down payment, the business would store physical metals and finance the purchase for the customer. In exchange, the company promised several hundred percent returns on the customer’s investment. The business gave people short-term loans for investment in very special metals. Still, these metals did not really exist. The company also never registered with the Federal Trade Commission or CFTC as an investment business. Regulation on precious metal was not followed by the company. It also violated the Telemarketing and consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act. Now the company doesn’t have access to its assets. They were all frozen.

Prices of precious metals going up

Precious metal investment scams have become more prevalent lately. This is because there has been an increase in the precious metals price tags. There has been a huge increase in gold costs in the last year. They have gone to over $1,500 from being at $1,200. This is not just for gold. Other precious metals have also been increasing. Some of this increase is from the belief that precious metals are considered a “safe haven.” You can never go wrong investing in it. There have been many to warn against getting involved in precious metal investing. They say that it is getting close to bubble status since the costs are far above the “real” value of the metals.

Safeguarding yourself when investing

There are many troubles that can come with investing. You can get your own precious metals and store them. No matter how you choose to invest, always work with companies that have been vetted by the Better Business Bureau. Any company that can’t be verified with the Federal Trade Commission or Commodity Futures Trading Commission should not be invested in.

Articles cited

FTC

ftc.gov/os/caselist/1023212/110517americanpreciousmetalscmpt.pdf

Futures Mag

futuresmag.com/News/2011/5/Pages/CFTC-charges-Fla-firm-with-precious-metals-fraud.aspx

How the NBA mock draft 2011 will go

Basketball authorities like ESPN’s Bill Simmons and Chad Ford don’t see large things coming out of the 2011 NBA Draft, but some solid picks will be accessible. The following top 10 projections for an NBA mock drafts for 2011 start – and end in the minds of many – with Duke’s Kyrie Irving.

Cleveland Cavaliers could be picking Kyrie Irving, PG (Duke)

Kyrie Irving is really good and will be a top-15 point guard most likely, although he is not amazing. Baron Davis was never good enough for the Cavs. Irving may be just what the team needs.

Minnesota Timberwolves considering Enes Kanter, Center (Turkey) as a pick

While Kevin Love turned in a fantastic season under the boards for the Wolves, the team still has a great deal of rebuilding ahead. Keeping Love around could be hard. They may need a big male to help. It is a gamble to pick the 6-foor-11, 272 pound Kanter, some think. Others think the intimidation of the high energy rebounder will give the team an advantage.

Getting Utah Jazz Derrick Williams, SF (Arizona)

In the NBA, Williams will most likely be a small forward with his skills. This is despite the truth that as a Wildcat he was a power forward. However, if Utah throws up their hands over the remaining 2011 NBA Draft crop and decides to go for a popular pick, BYU’s Jimmer Fredette would be a PR slam dunk, if not a sound basketball decision.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Jonas Valanciunas, C (Lithuania) as a possibility

Anderson Varejao may need a big male for instance Valanciunas to help him out.

Toronto Raptors choosing Kemba Walker, PG (Connecticut)

Toronto seriously needs Kembra Walker. He could be the new point guard to help the Raptors out.

Washington Wizards might choose Kawhi Leonard, Small Forward (San Diego State)

Leonard is a fantastic athlete while very good at rebounding and could possibly be a great complement to John Wall with the Wizards. Leonard could be perfect to go with John Wall on the Wizards. He is a fantastic rebounder and athlete.

Sacramento Kings to pick Brandon Knight, Point Guard, Kentucky

Speed, defense and a good outside shot from the point in Knight would allow the Kings to use Beno Udrih as the super backup or 2nd ball-handler the offense needs to really get moving.

Possibility of Detroit Pistons picking Jordan Hamilton, Small Forward (Texas)

With Tayshaun Prince leaving as a free agent, small forward becomes priority. The ball needs to be shot and rebounded as Hamilton can do.

Charlotte Bobcats picking Jimmer Fredette, Shooting Guard (BYU)

If he’s still available, Charlotte will likely go for Fredette so that at least one player on the roster will be able to score consistently from outside. There are also good shots from Bismack Biyombo. He can be a second choice.

Milwaukee Bucks: Tristan Thompson, Power Forward (Texas)

Thompson is 6-foot-8 and 225 pounds. He is a fairly athletic man too. After the failed Yi Jianlian pick from 2007, the Bucks could be worried about going international. If they can get over it, they may just pick Biyombo.

Citations

Bleacher Report

bit.ly/kuOQ8z

Fox Sports

msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/2011-NBA-draft-lottery-winner-051711

The Sporting News

bit.ly/kYTnGq

2011 NBA Draft Lottery highlight: The final three

youtube.com/watch?v=GqWuPdf8u2o

401(k) funds aren't personal loans states United States Senate

The Senate is attempting to keep individuals from using their 401(k) money as a source of unsecured loans. The law would put a limit on how several times retirement accounts can be borrowed from.

Reason for retirement account

Business Week states that a permanent cap on the number of times a person can take money out of an IRA fund for instance a 401(k) might become reality with a bill the Senate is looking at. Individuals sometimes will have a shortfall and rely on a 401(k) account to get them out of the issue, hurting their future. This is why Senators Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Herb Kohl (D-WI) are hoping to get the bill passed. A retirement account isn’t “a piggy bank,” according to Senator Kohl. The “SEAL 401(k) Savings Act” is the name of the bill.

Of those with accounts, around 28 percent borrow

Aon Corp did a study and found that by the end of 2010, about 28 percent of individuals with a retirement account for instance a 401(k) borrowed, on average $7,860, from the account. Aon Corp also found that of the people who took out installment loans from their retirement funds, 58 percent had at least two outstanding loans. Defaulting was common among 70 percent of borrowers too. This was only if they borrowed from their retirement. Fidelity Investments, according to USA Today, found that about 22.5 percent of 401(k) account holders with Fidelity had a loan balance outstanding at the end of 2010. Between one fifth and one 3rd of people had to use their 401(k) accounts or other retirement accounts for an emergency at some time.

Issue with retirement

Several individuals are having a hard time figuring out how to one day retire. Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are typically pillars of security for retirees because portions of their paydays have been going toward these programs for decades. However, it is becoming apparent that these entitlement programs may not be the guarantee they once were. Social Security is on track to becoming insolvent, and the Social Security Administration would need to raise $6.5 trillion to become totally solvent again, according to CNN. The Social Security payroll taxes right now aren’t enough to help the dying Social Security Trust Fund. It should be depleted in 25 years or so.

Citations

Business Week

businessweek.com/news/2011-05-18/senate-bill-would-limit-use-of-401-k-s-as-rainy-day-funds.html

USA Today

usatoday.com/money/perfi/retirement/2011-05-11-401k-retiement-accounts-up_n.htm

CNN

money.cnn.com/2011/05/18/pf/expert/expert-social-security.moneymag/?section=money_latest

The new XTS will replace two other Cadillac models

Cadillac’s new XTS model, due to come out next year, will replace both the DTS and STS models. As of this time, however, no date has been given for production to begin. GM first wants to sell off the DTS and STS models still in stock on its dealer’s showroom floors.

Based off concept car show

The XTS came from a Platinum concept automobile originally. Cadillac was at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show when it showed this concept car. The car will be built on a stretched form of GM’s front-wheel-drive Epsilon II platform (which underpins automobiles as diverse as the Chevy Malibu and the Buick LaCrosse) and will be built at GM’s Grand River plant in Lansing, Mich.

Built for comfort and convenience

The idea with the auto is for it to be narrower and have a longer rear overhang than the concept car had. It will even feature infotainment and connectivity features for both front and rear-seat passengers. GM’s direct-injection, 3.6 liter V-6, will power the vehicle. It will have controlled shock absorbers so the ride is gentle.

If the production model remains true to the concept, the XTS could come with an all-wheel-drive choice, various V-6 power plants and potentially a plug-in hybrid drive line. Eight-cylinder engine choices have been also been rumored but have not been confirmed at this time.

Will BMW or Cadillac win?

The entry-level CTS will be replacing the DTS and STS models for Cadillac. The idea is to rival the Mercedes E-class and BMW’s 5-series. The BMW c-class and 3 series may end up with new competition in summer 2012 with this change. A smaller ATS sedan will be coming soon.

Old leaves so new can stay

Already, the STS cars aren’t being produced. Cadillac stopped production on it. In the next 3 or four weeks, the last of the DTS models will be built. There are only 900 STS models and 3,000 DTS models left to sell. It should be simple for Cadillac to sell them before the XTS replacement is produced.

Information from

Car and Driver

caranddriver.com/features/10q1/2012_cadillac_xts-feature

Autoblog

autoblog.com/2011/03/11/spy-shots-latest-cadillac-xts-prototype-caught-inside-and-out/

Automotive.com

blogs.automotive.com/6737284/miscellaneous/saying-goodbye-to-cadillac-sts-dts-sedans/index.html

Huge opening brothel

Sydney will soon be home to the biggest brothel in Australia, which might be a questionable honor. The biggest building of its type in the country will officially take the title once remodeling is complete, and the existing structure becomes a three story, 40 room luxury resorts. This brothel is situated in a residential district, and the neighbors are not terribly happy about its presence.

Change in suites with renovation

The number of suites accessible at the resort in Sydney, Australia will increase with the $12.7 million reconstruction. An extra floor of very luxurious suites will be added as well. MSNBC reports the building will probably become the biggest Australian brothel, making it different from other hotel renovations. The brothel, called Stilleto, is adding a 3rd floor of seven luxury suites that will feature two bedrooms with king beds, pool tables and a spa. There will be 40 suites at Stilleto’s after the remodel. This doubles from the 20 accessible before.

Not a good neighbor to those around it

Apparently “lawyers, movie stars, accountants and professional athletes,” are all welcome at Stilleto. MSNBC states this is the crowd that will be drawn in. A three story brothel in the neighborhood makes some neighbors mad. The idea that people will come and go at all hours of the night at Stilleto bothers much of the neighbors, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. Some do like the idea that there will be security guards on the building grounds. This should make the neighborhood a bit safer.

Feelings towards prostitution

Prostitution is only legal in eight counties in Nevada in the United States. Wikipedia reports that other parts of the world look at it differently. In most countries that allow it, the trade isn’t regulated and brothels are illegal. Everybody involved must be 18 or older in Italy where brothels are not allowed although the trade is. The Christian Science Monitor states that there’s a legal battle right now that Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is dealing with on whether or not he paid Ruby the Heartstealer for prostitution before she was legally allowed to or not. There are few nations where prostitution is legal and regulated, since it is illegal in the majority of the world.

Information from

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/43063695/ns/travel-destination_travel/

Sidney Morning Herald

smh.com.au/nsw/three-storeys-of-sex-as-sydney-braces-for-biggestbrothel-title-20110516-1epzn.html

Christian Science Monitor

csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2011/0406/Plenty-of-flash-at-lightning-brief-start-of-Berlusconi-trial

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_by_country

Horde of fraudulent lawyers tie up payment of BP oil spill claims

The $20 billion BP oil leak fund was established after the Macondo well blowout. A small portion of the money has been paid to people claiming damages from the spill 365 days after the catastrophe began. Shady attorneys are buggering up a process that has come to be criticized by those seeking a jackpot as a cluster rack.

BP oil leak claims process

A year after the 2010 oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf Coast Claims Facility has paid $3.8 billion in BP oil spill claims — just 19 percent of the $20 billion in seed money set aside by the oil company. Kenneth Feinberg said that 201,261 claims were paid as the Obama administration appointed person to distribute the BP oil leak fund. There have been several more claims made though. Over 857,000 were made total. In five states there are 35 offices for the Gulf Coast Claims Facility. The BP oil leak claims could be paid by it until 2013, in August. A lot of people like to criticize Feinberg for his position though. They say the claims process is confusing, slow and unfair to most people.

Showing there really were damages

Feinberg made a statement on Tuesday about the BP oil spill fund management saying “Amounts requested by claimants very often bear no reasonable relationship to the damages actually proven,” since $20 billion was requested by one applicant. About 72 percent of the claims from the BP oil leak have had payments or offers made. Claims were denied also. Not all could possibly be accepted. There are pending claims also. Typically they just need some documentation. Fishermen not used to paperwork in deals and generally working in cash are having trouble figuring out the BP oil claims process. The payments were disputed by 574 individuals. None of these have been overturned by the Coast Guard though.

Getting the money is all that matters

Residents in the Gulf Coast have not even realized when some lawyers sign them up for claims or get misled into thinking they can get money, especially the populations with cultural and language barriers. Feinberg spoke on the fraudulent activity. He said it was “an obstacle to the efficiency and speed in getting the checks out.” The New York Times states that several law firms have targeted Vietnamese fishermen to con them onto their client lists. With all the clients on the list, an attorney can get lots of cash. When BP settles, it pays based on the clients involved. There were thousands of Vietnamese listed on a San Antonio law firm’s list according to the New York Times. The claims were rejected, and several individuals were surprised to discover their names on the list.

Articles cited

CNN Money

money.cnn.com/2011/04/18/news/companies/BP _spill_claims/?npt=NP1

24/7 Wall Street

247wallst.com/2011/04/19/the-BP -20-billion-gulf-claims-facility-has-paid-nearly-nothing/

Los Angeles Times

latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-gulf-spill-claims-20110419,0,2595018.story

New York Times

nytimes.com/2011/04/19/us/19spill.html?_r=1

Ten minutes and higher prices - simple methods to get more online

Getting as much cash as possible online from selling a product could be done relatively very easily. No matter if it is expensive real estate or a basic bauble, a few additional minutes can definitely be worth your time. It can feel like your ad might get lost in a sea of online ads. By taking a few basic steps, though, you are able to improve the price you get when you sell online. Article source – Four easy ways to get more money for what you are selling by MoneyBlogNewz.

1. Check photography out

Online buyers look at photos first. This is how the search begins. In fact, more than 83 percent of home buyers will determine whether to visit a house depending on photos online. While snapping a quick picture with your cellular phone camera is easy, good photography has been shown to increase sales price between 5 and 30 percent. The lighting in the home should be really well for the picture. Also, stay away from blur with a fast shutter speed. The $100 to $300 in photography that is professional might be worth it when you have a high-dollar item to sell.

2. Clear language is advices

When marketing an item, be very clear over it. This can help a lot. Don’t say it is a “seriously awesome camera that will make your photos 1 billion times better.” Instead, say it is a “10 megapixel camera with full manual settings to control the photo.” It sounds better, and it will sell better. Most people should be specific. Use numbers if needed. Avoid too many adjectives. Not more than three per sentence is allowed. It could be worth having a friend look over your listing or even paying $50 to $100 for a professional.

3. The importance of research

Are you hopeful about costs? That’s just fine as long as you do not scare any person off with a high price. The item’s price can be looked at. Research it. Make sure you explain why you need a rate higher than the going rate if you are selling. Explain why you want less than the going rate also on some goods. Buyers might be very interested in your listing if you just explain yourself instead of go from the norm.

4. Don’t become spammers

Don’t post the item for sale more than once in a day. You may want to in order to make sure it is seen. There’s search functionality in most online services. Posting your item multiple times just gets annoying to viewers and makes you look desperate. Only re-post your item if you make change to the price or the terms. It takes effort and cash to list something more than once in one place. Stay away from this.

Citations

MSN Real Estate

realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=13108474

Small Biz Trends

smallbiztrends.com/2010/04/5-tactics-to-improve-online-sales.html

Free term life insurance is accessible now

Life insurance is a proven source of financial security for loved ones after your death. For most people, term life insurance (aka term assurance) is among probably the most affordable packages, as low as a few hundred dollars per year for $250,000 worth of coverage. However at MassMutual Financial Group of Massachusetts, customers can do even better. The business has put free of charge term life insurance on the table, states Bankrate. Source of article – Free term life insurance is available now by MoneyBlogNewz.

Stay healthy to keep free of charge term life insurance

Life insurance experts advise potential customers that if they’re interested in a policy, the time to buy is when you’re young and healthy, as rates is substantially lower. Life insurance is a good choice if you have dependents.

In general, term life insurance provides coverage at a fixed rate for a limited time frame – the term period. Without additional coverage, the coverage expires at the end of a term. If the insured dies mid-term, death benefits are paid to the beneficiary.

MassMutual LifeBridge can help you

The education of children could be funded with MassMutual Financial Group if a policyholder dies. This is $50,000 that could be set aside for free. Bankrate.com states that it is not a truck; MassMutual is not lying. The free insurance coverage is for anyone that meets the qualifications for MassMutual’s LifeBridge program. This is money to help in the future.

The $50,000 is placed in a 10-year trust. During the life insurance term, the policyholder can die while the children will be taken care of. Whether it is college, trade school, pre-school or private school, the child will get the money for tuition, fees, books and room and board. The child has 10 years, or until the child turns 35 years old, to use the money. It depends on which comes later for them.

Free insurance coverage needs

The following are required of everyone doing the MassMutual LifeBridge program:

• Be at least 19 but not older than 42
• Be the parent or legal guardian of one or more dependent children younger than 18
• Be a permanent legal resident of the U.S.
• Be employed full or part time and have a family income between $10,000 and $40,000
• Be the only parent or guardian in your household to apply
• Be in good health in the view of MassMutual underwriters
• Have not been diagnosed with heart disease, cancer, HIV or Type 1 diabetes
• Have not abused drugs or alcohol at any time within the past 10 years
• Are not currently on probation

Tests are required before approval for free insurance. This can be done with blood and urine. Suicide within two years of the policy’s effective date voids the policy. Additional information is available at MassMutual Financial Group’s website.

Articles cited

Bankrate

bankrate.com/financing/insurance/free-term-life-from-massmutual/

MassMutual Financial Group

massmutual.com/

MassMutual LifeBridge Brochure

massmutual.com/mmfg/pdf/lifebridge_eligibility.pdf

MassMutual LifeBridge FAQ

massmutual.com/mmfg/pdf/LifeBridge_FAQ.pdf

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Term_life_insurance

MassMutual LifeBridge program testimonial

youtube.com/watch?v=-cB40ili9og

Investigation of gas prices gets double the power

Gas prices are almost at $4 per gallon. This is the second time in three years that this particular mark has been reached. Dual federal agencies have agreed to cooperate with investigations ensuring the gasoline industry isn’t really being manipulated. The effects of this increased enforcement, however, could possibly be difficult to discern. Source of article – Federal agencies agree to cooperate on gas price investigation by MoneyBlogNewz.

Federal Trade Commission tries to address gas prices

There was a huge increase in gas in 2008. It got over $4 a gallon by the end of the year. A “Final Rule” got signed by the Federal Trade Commission a year later saying there was not allowed to be “fraud or deceit in wholesale petroleum markets, and omissions of material information that are likely to distort petroleum markets.” After the rule started, investigations started by the Federal Trade Commission. This was to look into the cost of oil going up so much. Despite these investigations, the Federal Trade Commission has not officially charged or fined any business with manipulation.

The agreement to cooperate with the Federal Trade Commission And CFTC both

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is a smaller agency than the Federal Trade Commission, with a much narrower focus. Financial investments are made in physical goods, not businesses with Commodities and Futures. The 2 agencies will share information about the fuel industry not accessible to the public with the “Memorandum of Understanding” that the CFTC and FTC signed. In order to help stop abuses in the industry, the information is being shared between the businesses.

The way fuel costs are determined

There are many factors that attribute to the gas and fuel prices. It takes a few months before the oil price change reaches the market. Conflicts may change the fuel price. Also, the demand and cost of refining make a difference. The way the consumer feels has an effect on oil costs also. It will go up when consumers are nervous. There are often accusations of oil businesses gouging on fuel costs, though the FTC and CFTC rarely find enough evidence to prosecute perceived offenders.

Articles cited

The Price of Fuel

thepriceoffuel.com/whataffectsfuelpricing/

FTC

ftc.gov/opa/2009/08/mmr.shtm

CFTC

cftc.gov/

Chinese inflation a grave concern in a global economy

The central financial institution of China announced over the weekend that its biggest banks must hold more cash in reserve, the fourth time in 2011 the reserve ratio has been increased. The move is a try to curb Chinese inflation that is emerging as a significant threat to a global economy reliant on cheap Chinese exports. Meanwhile, Donald Trump, pandering for a presidential bid, proposed a 25 percent tariff on Chinese imports that was roundly ridiculed by economists.

Control is being lost

By requiring that banks once again raise their deposit reserve ratio, China’s central bank has been trying to cool down the nation’s overheating economy by raising rates of interest and reducing the amount of cash accessible for loans. The reason for the announcement appears to be from the report on China’s economy. It is growing at the fastest rate in the world at 9.7 percent annually. The economy growing has created inflation. The Chinese government doesn’t like that. The price for food or for gas went up a lot. Also, the home costs have become too high. The food price increase has been controlled by Beijing by threatening the companies not to raise costs. There have also been more subsidies given for agriculture. The government has also raised wages, which has contributed to China’s mounting inflation issue.

The world worried about Chinese rising prices

Too much of China’s economic growth, according to analysts, is due to inflationary government spending on real estate development and multi-billion dollar infrastructure projects for instance roads and railways. Some predict that regardless of the government’s tries to douse the flames, China faces a rate of inflation approaching 5 percent for the next decade. Such high inflation threatens China’s position as the dominant global source of manufactured goods. For things shipped overseas, companies are starting to want more due to the increase in Chinese wages and production. The U.S. and Europe will not purchase from these companies with more costly things. Instead, other countries could be looked to. A contracting Chinese economy could hurt lots of companies that count on China. This would contain both General Motors and General Electric.

U.S. and China would not get along so well

China has failed to stop the economy from overheating. Now, the pressure to have the yuan to rise in value is coming down even harder than ever on Beijing. Donald Trump, posturing for a possible GOP presidential bid, is pushing a 25 percent tariff on Chinese imports. Most suggest this can be a bad idea. Tariffs are not the right answer. Trump’s tariff would most likely set off a trade war between the U.S. and China that would damage the global economy. The U.S. inflation would go up even more with a 25 percent tariff making Chinese goods more costly in the U.S. It might make China really angry. This might mean no more trading for the U.S. with China, hurting the economy. A Chinese appeal to the World Trade Organization would get rid of the tariff easily anymore.

Information from

New York Times

nytimes.com/2011/04/18/business/global/18yuan.html?_r=1&emc=eta1

Associated Press

money.msn.com/business-news/article.aspx?feed=AP&date=20110418&id=13322016

CNN Money

money.cnn.com/2011/04/17/news/economy/trump_china_trade_war/index.htm

Legal spat over FPB continues

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has brought on members of Congress to battle back and forth for months. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau does not technically exist yet, as it doesn’t start operating until July. The bureau could have regulatory authority over consumer finance and financial products. The Bureau doesn’t have a director yet, and Congress has not yet finalized the rules over what it is legislatively allowed to do. Post resource – Legal spat over financial protection bureau continues by MoneyBlogNewz.

Republicans try to rip apart the bureau

On July 21, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is set to begin operating. Republicans, according to CNN, try to diminish the powers of the CFPB. Rules have been introduced to congress on how the agency will carry out their function. Some of the proposed improvements would be to keep the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau from conduction operations until a director is appointed, and having a five member committee rather than a single director.

Lack of oversight being objected

The current method calls for financial institution fees paid to the Fed to be how the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is funded; according to MarketWatch. However, the formation of the organization has been repeatedly held up in Congress for numerous reasons. The biggest concern is that too much power would be given to the director and that Warren was not appointed by congress to set up the CFPB. Warren is essentially an adviser that was handpicked by the president to help with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The bureau congressional hearings are restricted and the Treasury Secretary and Chairman of the U.S. Senate Banking Committee have both voiced concerns about this. Forming a federal regulatory body will always bring up server rejections form several people.

Small banks against further regulation

Reuters believes the new regulations will make it near impossible for smaller banks and credit unions to stay open. Profit margins seem to shrink as bank sizes do. Your local small banks will have a difficult time paying the fines, while Bank of America and Wells Fargo would have no problems. Small banks depend on sources of revenue for instance account fees and interest on personal installment loans just as much as large banks do, and higher costs of compliance will make operation more difficult for them. Not everybody wants to financial institution with corporate Goliaths..

Articles cited

CNN

money.cnn.com/2011/04/06/news/economy/republicans_consumer_bureau/index.htm

Market Watch

marketwatch.com/story/gop-democrats-clash-over-consumer-protection-2011-04-06?pagenumber=1

Reuters

reuters.com/article/2011/04/06/usa-banks-regulation-idUSN0510234220110406?pageNumber=1

Bloomberg

bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-05/senate-banking-chief-says-he-opposes-change-to-consumer-bureau.html

Bizarre tax deductions to brighten your tax day

Many people are loading up to fire some strange tax write offs at the IRS this tax season. Whether it is sperm donations or some other less than savory "business" expenditure, don’t expect such things to go undetected. Do not take these as examples, but marvel at the ingenuity – or laziness, or lunacy – that went into these crazy attempts at tax deductions. Source for this article – Bizarre tax deductions to brighten your tax day by MoneyBlogNewz.

Not business expense

Dallas CPA Ken Sibley told Bankrate of one client – a minister – who attempted to claim travel and entertainment expenses as tax deductions. Evidently, the minister was looking for real estate investment properties however never found his promised land after years of trying. Hence, it could not qualify as business expenditure.

Wedding expenses don't count

Even if you are using business travel and entertainment expenditures, you can never deduct wedding expenditures. Massachusetts CPA explained that it isn’t business expenditure, even if clients are attended. And remember: your betrothed isn’t a charity, so there’s no way you could count wedding expenditures as charitable contributions, either.

Recover over 30 years time

There was business manager who purchased a $2 million office building, according to a New Jersey CPA Don Meyer. The business manager was planning on deducting it as business expenditure in that tax year. The recovery would take over 30 years to get. This was what Meyer told the man. Even a suitcase full of money and an ominous admonition to "make it work" couldn’t change the tax law.

Do not try to count a dog

Business expenses are tax deductions at home. This does not contain pets for security though. Home security systems in general don’t fly with the IRS, either, claims the Hunter Group of Fair Lawn, N.J. One client tried to declare a security system under the rationale that if her home was invaded and she was slain, she’d no longer be able to pay taxes.

Deducting adult magazines won’t take place

Dues and subscriptions for professional and trade publications may be listed as tax deductions, so long as you are a professional in an approved field. According to Quizlaw, these would go under miscellaneous as long as the 2 percent floor rule is met. This means it must account for 2 percent or more of the adjusted gross income.

Business strategy for a self-employed real estate agency should not consist of adult magazines in business deductions. A Massachusetts CPA Explained this isn’t something you should be doing.

Once, Don Meyer had a prostitute client. That was different. Declaring her income was important to her. She said her job was in "public relations."

Articles cited

Bankrate

bankrate.com/finance/taxes/10-craziest-tax-deductions-for-2011-1.aspx

IRS

irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=204169,00.html

Quizlaw

quizlaw.com/federal_income_tax/can_i_deduct_dues_and_subscrip.php

On deducting haircuts and sperm donations

youtube.com/watch?v=uW6HWOekZ3M

Executive compensation increasing as wages flat line

Payment for chief executive officers at United States corporations increased 12 percentage points in 2010 to reach a median figure of $9.6 million. Not since before six decades have gone by did corporate profits accelerate at such a rate as they did in the last 90 days of the previous year. CEOs have been seeing outsize pay increases while at the same time the rank and file has worked increasingly harder for the same amount of money. Source for this article – CEO pay soars as flat middle class wages erode with inflation by MoneyBlogNewz.

CEO pay increases
coming from the hard workers

At a time when millions of Americans simply hope they keep their jobs, average CEO pay has risen to surpass pre-recession amounts. Even as employment is increasing, employee pay is not, but CEO pay is. The pocket book of CEO’s is growing daily as stock prices rise, rather than hiring more of the 13 million people out of work. CEO’s have no reason to hire employees when they’re making do with who they have. CEOs from almost every economic sector bailed out by taxpayers’ averaged 12 percent raises in 2010. Yet, private sector pay rose by about 2 percent. In March, unemployment was around 8.8 percent. Most economists predict the jobless rate will continue to remain high for years.

Stock options for CEOs increasing

Phillipe Dauman of Viacom took home $84.5 million in only nine months last year, making him the highest paid CEO. The increasing price of oil and gas has been good to Ray Irani of Occidental Petroleum, who was the runner up with $76.1 million, a 142 percent pay increase over 2009. Larry Ellison of Oracle, the third-richest American with a net worth of $39.5 million according to Forbes, took home $70.1 million. CEOs are gaining the largest raises since 2007, with stock choice thanks to Wall Street. Several CEOs played the stock market well by taking stock possibilities when they had no value, knowing the market would one day recover. Thanks to taxpayer bailouts and interest-free leverage offered by the Federal Reserve, the stock market has recovered spectacularly and the CEOs are cashing in. USA Today states that several of the CEOs cashing in their stock possibilities were making well over $20 million.

Middle-class hit hard by commodity price increases

The huge CEO pay increases are hard to swallow for the American middle-class, who has watched wages stagnate for a generation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states the average hourly wage for workers hasn’t increased by a penny in so-much-as five months. While U.S. workers who still have jobs aren’t getting raises, employers in developing nations are hiring new customers who are pushing up demand and costs for food, oil, cotton and other commodities. Prices of commodities and wages are basically going in opposite directions. Gas is the biggest thing hurting the American worker. An average of 12 gallons of gas a week is used by the average employee. Individuals have reported that filling a gas tank is costing $40 more per month than it did last year. Meanwhile, the average weekly wage is up just $18 from past year.

Articles cited

New York Times

nytimes.com/2011/04/10/business/10comp.html?_r=2#38;ref=business

USA Today

usatoday.com/money/companies/management/2011-04-04-1Aoptions04_ST_N.htm

NPR

npr.org/2011/04/10/135272006/paychecks-cant-keep-up-with-rising-prices

Nasdaq rebalancing reduces volatility potential of Apple

Nasdaq, a stock exchange, has indicated that its index known as the Nasdaq-100 will be rebalanced to more accurately reflect the ratio to which Apple shares relate to the other 99 businesses accompanying it on said index. Apple stock, in its rapid growth, has begun to weigh too heavily on the index. Nasdaq rebalancing cuts the ratio of Apple stock to the total value of the Nasdaq-100 by 50 percent. Hedge funds won’t be as tempted to punk other investors with Apple rumors and those other investors may be more open to betting on Apple stock with the expectation that the payoff in the long term is ensured because unpredictability risk is diminished currently. Source for this article – Nasdaq rebalancing reduces hedge fund manipulation of Apple stock by MoneyBlogNewz.

The Nasdaq to be remade with Apple dropping

An increase in Apple stock has also been an increase in the Nasdaq-100 in the last few years. There has been over a 250 percent increase in Apple shares since the 2009 industry crash due to the Mac, iPhone and iPad. Apple stock went up since then another 150 percent. That is more than 20 percent of the Nasdaq-100 total value. In accordance with Nasdaq officials, Apple stock has ballooned to more than twice the weight it should have on the index. Apple shares will be less than 12 percent of Nasdaq-100 shares after the May 2 Nasdaq rebalancing. The adjustment to correct for Apple realigns the ratio for the company's stock and outstanding shares with the way the Nasdaq-100 is calculated. The change also lessens weighting for 81 many businesses. Some Apple rivals will gain. Microsoft will rise from 3.4 percent up to 8.3 percent. Oracle will rise to 6.7 percent, Google will rise to 5.8 percent, and Intel will climb to 4.2 percent.

All the Apple rumors change things

Due to the lower Apple share ratio, the Nasdaq-100 will be protected. Any manipulation by hedge fund traders will be stopped. Recently, there was an instance where Apple stock swung in price because of Apple rumors, in accordance with Jason Schwartz at Seeking Alpha. In February, when Apple was trading at $360, hedge fund Yuanta Securities floated a rumor depending on “supply chain contacts” that the iPad 2 would be postponed until June. The rumors spread very quickly. Soon, Apple shares were shorted by Yuanta Securities to make money. It only took 2 days to lower Apple stock. It had a $20 decrease. Shortly afterward, Steve Jobs, who was given six weeks to live by bloggers, declared the iPad would go on sale March 10. Investors who should have known better felt duped, and Yuanta padded its returns. The Nasdaq-100 was affected due to this.

Can't even see the impact anymore

It will be another month before the Nasdaq rebalancing occurs. Still, money managers are rebalancing what they have. A drop occurred on Tues in Apple stock during this. It caused a $4.19 decrease from $337 to $341.19. The ability of hedge funds to manipulate the market using Apple already has been diminished. Analysts don’t expect the latest iPhone delay rumors (which would freeze the iPhone market and hurt Apple if they were true) to work because Apple stock remains about $15 below its high and is trending upward again. A window has been opened for average investors and traders to get into Apple shares and the company is expected to exceed expectations again when it states first quarter earnings this month.

Information from

Fortune

tech.fortune.cnn.com/2011/04/05/a-good-day-to-buy-aapl/

Mac Observer

macobserver.com/tmo/article/nasdaq-100_to_cut_apples_index_share_nearly_in_half/

MSN Money

money.msn.com/market-news/default.aspx?feat=e52a3c86-3053-48e5-91eb-970765febdcc

Seeking Alpha

seekingalpha.com/article/260887-hedge-funds-bloggers-and-the-origin-of-apple-rumors

Companies might be hiring again as new jobless claims drop

The federal government has recently declared that brand new jobless claims have started to drop recently. Long term joblessness claims dropped also, so it may not be a fluke. It's possible the unemployment rate could greatly improve this year.

Layoffs and joblessness claims drop in weekly surveys

There was some information released by the United States Department of Labor. This was job market information by the week. CNN reports that a 6,000 decrease in initial jobless claims were filed in the week that ended on March 26. These are brand new applications for joblessness benefits. There was a 3,000 increase in unemployment benefits in the four-week average of initial jobless claims. The number of brand new individuals claiming unemployment benefits was increasing for few weeks, however then turned right around and dropped. Private companies are having fewer layoff announcements. This is also a decreasing number, USA Today states.

Slow however steady winning the race

Short term unemployment claims aside, long term unemployment claims — the number of people continually filing for unemployment benefits — fell by 51,000 during the week that ended March 19. There was a 31,000 decrease in the four-week average. That means that in March, fewer people are unemployed. The private sector is hiring again. This mostly just involves smaller businesses. Automatic Data Processing, Inc., is a payroll administration company. It explained the private sector had over 201,000 new jobs on payrolls added. Manufacturing jobs are also starting to increase, in accordance with Reuters, as more factory jobs were observed to have been created in the Midwest. Huge firms are also ready to hire again according to a survey of large corporate CEOs. Over half of responders said the companies would be hiring in the next year more employees.

Productivity up in America

There is good news that came from the few years of high unemployment. MSNBC reports that it brought on Americans workers to become more productive. Employment has not been increasing although output in America is almost too where it was before the recession. The same amount of work is getting down with fewer individuals. That also means they’re being paid less for it. However, if the recent trends in employment data are signs of growth returning, that means some of the overworked and underpaid may become less overworked in coming months. Getting paid more is unlikely. It could happen though.

Articles cited

CNN

money.cnn.com/2011/03/31/news/economy/initial_claims/index.htm

USA Today

usatoday.com/money/economy/2011-03-30-hiring-picking-up.htm

Reuters

reuters.com/article/2011/03/31/us-usa-economy-idUSN3027570820110331?pageNumber=1

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/42349181/ns/business-world_business/

BBC slapped with lawsuit by Tesla Motors because of Top Gear show

Tesla Motors is suing the BBC and one of the hosts of the popular series “Top Gear” for libel. The electric vehicle manufacturer alleges the show made detrimental and false claims during an episode which was supposed to put the Tesla Roadster through its paces. The allegations of the suit are being denied by the British Broadcasting Corporation. Source of article – BBC and Top Gear slapped with lawsuit by Tesla Motors by Car Deal Expert.

Response from Tesla Motors to Jeremy Clarkson’s stunt

The Tesla Roadster was tested based on its range claims in a “Top Gear” episode on BBC2 in Dec. 2008. Tesla Motors was not amused with the outcomes of the tests or the events of the episode, and is suing the British Broadcasting Corporation for what Tesla considers false and malicious assertions by the program, according to The Guardian.

The Roadsters are designed to get over 200 miles on an electric charge although the Tesla Roadster only ran for 55 miles in accordance with “Top Gear” host Clarkson. The “Top Gear” crew was shown in the show pushing the car from the “Top Gear” test track because the Roadster supposedly had motor and brake problems. This made Tesla angry. The business lost business.

Tesla Motors refuses to admit truth

Tesla maintains the Roadsters in the “Top Gear” show never actually ran out of charge. Tesla was electronically monitoring the two automobiles loaned to the show for testing, in accordance with USA Today, and asserts neither car fell below 25 percent charge. Tesla also asserts the brakes did not fail on one car as the show claimed, but a fuse controlling a component in the braking system failed, and the brakes would nevertheless have been sound.

The Tesla Roadster is "an electric vehicle you would actually want to buy," That has "a motor the size of a watermelon, with one moving part," in accordance with host Clarkson on the show. He also said it was great that the car was able to, in less than four seconds, get from 0 to 60 miles per hour.

Tesla isn’t seeking much in monetary damages, but does not want the show broadcast again. BBC would not talk to Tesla about the show concerns which started the legal proceedings. Forbes states Tesla had only started the suit because of this.

Comments tend to trigger trouble

In the past, “Top Gear” has gotten into some trouble. It has been involved in some controversy. Hosts Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May have been accused of making or tolerating homophobic and racist behavior and remarks, and the show is known for baiting the environmentally conscious. This show is just like every other automotive television program. It wants the automobiles with horsepower that guzzle a lot of gas. Bloomberg states that about 6 million individuals in Britain watch “Top Gear” while over 300 million individuals across the world watch it.

Citations

The Guardian

guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/mar/30/tesla-sue-top-gear

USA Today

content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/03/tesla-top-gear-jeremy-clarkson-elon-musk-lawsuit/1

Forbes

blogs.forbes.com/hannahelliott/2011/03/30/tesla-sues-top-gear-for-libel/

Bloomberg

bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-30/carmaker-tesla-sues-bbc-s-top-gear-over-electric-roadster-test.html

When in debt, always request validation

If you’re drowning in debt and need major credit repair, do not automatically assume that debt collectors have your best interests at heart. debt collectors want money, and often they’ll go to unconscionable lengths to get it. Thus, the consumer’s defense is to demand that a debt collector verify debt in writing to confirm its legitimacy. Post resource – Demand that debt collectors verify your debt before paying by MoneyBlogNewz.

Bankruptcy scenario with debt validation

Want a debt collector to validate debt? It should be something somebody demands for as bankrate.com shows in a situation. A couple has a home with a mortgage that is in both their names. Collections have $30,000 in debt from the woman. This is all of credit card debt. The couple is worried they’ll lose their home while the woman is considering filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

Bankrate explains that a home is typically okay in both a Chapter 13 and Chapter 7 bankruptcy although there are other potential complications that an attorney may be needed for.

Debt collectors could be scared of you

Get everything on paper when dealing with debt collectors. Don’t expose bank account information when they push to set up automatic payments. Demand that the debt collector provide a fax number or address to which you can submit a request for debt validation. You are able to dispute the debt at the exact same time.

The debt collector has to prove that you own money, which the original business is that held the debt and those they have the right to collect from you when you request debt verification. In case the collector doesn't really have any information or if it is wrong, you are ahead whenever you dispute the debt. Few things are as fruitless as giving money to a collection business that might not even own your account.

Check your rights out

Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, a consumer has the right to force a debt collector to validate a debt. Lawyer Tom Martin of Price Law Group says that if debt collectors fail to comply, they cannot legally continue to harass a consumer for payment. The consumer can sue if the collector continues. That's not it though:

“If a debt collector receives a dispute from a consumer, and the debt collector has been reporting the consumer’s account to the credit bureaus, the collector must also start reporting the account as disputed,” Martin reminds.

The directive to "get it in writing" isn't only for the collector. The consumer must also comply. If any debt payments are made, receipts and statements should be kept as proof in the event of a lawsuit.

Citations

Bankrate

bankrate.com/finance/debt/demand-debt-verification-before-bankruptcy.aspx

Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf

Lawyers.com

lawyers.com/Bankruptcy/browse-by-location.html

U.S. Courts

uscourts.gov/FederalCourts/Bankruptcy/BankruptcyBasics/Chapter13.aspx

What happens when you’re drowning in debt?

youtube.com/watch?v=GTudZEujvIo

Delta Air Lines decreases services to Japan as fuel prices rise

Delta Air Lines, among other air travel services, has reduced the number of flights the airline is conducting out and in of Japan as a result of the disasters that have taken place there. Falling demand and increasing costs have caused numerous airlines to cut service to and from Japan after the nation was rocked by natural disaster. Airlines worldwide are also feeling the pinch of rising costs of jet fuel. Article source – Delta Air Lines reduces services to Japan as fuel prices rise by MoneyBlogNewz.

Hard to fly out and in of Japan after quake

The number of flights going out and in of Japan is being reduced across the board, as major airlines have too little demand and costs are too high to keep sending flights, according to Bloomberg. The Qantas JetStar line, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways and Korean Air Lines have all had much slower business since the March 11 earthquake causing them to reduce flights to Japan.

Delta, in accordance with Reuters, will reduce service levels 15 to 20 percent until May. Between $250 and $400 million can be lost due to the quake, tsunami and nuclear devastation for the company. Japan Airlines and American Airlines are a joint venture. American Airlines has yet to announce a Japan service reduction. More than 9 million people fly to the United States from Japan each year.

Airlines having trouble paying for fuel

The price increase in fuel has been hard on airlines. They have been trying to deal with it for months now. There has been unrest in Libya and the Middle East for the past few weeks which has caused fuel costs to go up. Before that, the price was already increasing though because of the bad winter. As a result, air fare increases are being implemented by numerous airlines. This year, the air fare has been increased by Forbes already six times. This is in spite of the fact, reports Forbes, which since last year there was a 13 percent increase in Southwest passengers.

Paying for summer vacations means more money

CNN reports that the oil, gas and jet fuel price increases don't actually involve a shortage of oil in Libya which only gives the world 2 percent of its supply. In fear of spreading unrest, many raise the costs.

Unfortunately means that a full tank of gas is going to cost more during the summer, and many people might need installment loans to finance plane tickets for summer travel. Many think that the cost of travel will increase quite a bit no matter how much the air tickets end up costing in the end.

Articles cited

Bloomberg

bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-22/delta-air-lines-cuts-japan-seats-up-to-20-amr-says-quake-damped-revenue.html

Reuters

reuters.com/article/2011/03/22/us-delta-idUSTRE72L3HG20110322

Forbes

forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/03/22/business-industrials-us-southwest-outlook_8368679.html

CNN

money.cnn.com/2011/03/22/markets/oil_prices/index.htm

Americans must plan for rising food costs this year

U.S. food prices are increasing faster than inflation. Checkout at the supermarket is getting more painful in the U.S. as demand rises globally for key goods used in food production. Source for this article – Global food inflation starting to hit U.S. grocery budgets harder by MoneyBlogNewz.

Prices of food increasing are an issue to deal with

There was a year-over-year increase of food inflation in January of 1.8 percent. The U.S. Consumer Price Index came out to state this. With the rising fuel prices and bad weather, the cost for many goods is increasing. The need is going up right along with it. So far, the impact of these factors has been most dramatic in meat prices. For example, due to tightening supplies, corn prices reached a 30-month high in January. Feeding livestock takes corn. That means it costs more to pay for livestock to live. More people in developing countries such as China and India want more meat too. In just the last five years, the export on beef in the U.S. has gone up 1.5 billion pounds.

Cost of food in U.S. average data

U.S. customers are bidding against people in other countries for a limited Global supply of meat. A year ago, the price for meat was down. In just that time, poultry prices have gone up 2 percent, beef went up 6 percent and pork went up 12 percent in cost. Throughout the world, other commodity costs are increasing. That means that other items bought at the store are becoming more expensive. There has been a huge increase in bread, milk and egg costs according to January CPI data. Cereal costs are climbing due to rising wheat costs, and coffee is at a premium because coffee bean prices jumped 77 percent last year. The 2011 expectations for pork are insane. There is anticipated to be a 10 percent increase in prices. Beef prices are anticipated to rise more than 7 percent. The cost of chicken should go up over 5 percent since Americans should be eating more chicken.

What the U.S. will be paying for food in the U.S.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture points out that a 3 to 4 percent increase in U.S. food prices is expected this year. U.S. lawmakers are trying to act like the food inflation doesn't affect Americans. Last week Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told the Senate Banking Committee that effect of food inflation on consumers will be “temporary and relatively modest.”. Without considering food and energy costs in inflation, it was said that U.S. households spend 12 percent of income on fuel and food after taxes. The increases are adding up fast for consumers dealing with high unemployment and stagnant wage growth. About $33,000 a year was the 2008 average made by a taxpayer. Two decades ago, it was not that bad.

Citations

CNN Money

money.cnn.com/2011/03/08/news/economy/food_prices/index.htm” target=”_blank

Seeking Alpha

seekingalpha.com/article/256992-rising-prices-are-hitting-consumers-harder-than-the-fed-will-admit” target=”_blank

Agrimoney.com

agrimoney.com/news/meat—and-oil—to-lead-climb-in-us-food-prices–2903.html” target=”_blank

Android selling far more smartphones than RIM

RIM is no longer the king of the hill for smartphones, as the Blackberry line has fallen behind Android. RIM, Microsoft and Apple products have fallen behind Android, as the wildly well-liked OS by Google began spreading like wildfire as soon as it was released. You will find far more than 170 Android devices. Resource for this article – Android selling more smartphones than Research in Motion by MoneyBlogNewz.

Blackberry attractiveness dying

CNN states that the Blackberry mobile phones that Research in Motion created were supplying the best for smartphones for a while. The Google based Android platform has surpassed RIM in product sales after steadily outpacing all other domestic competition and safely pulling into the lead with far more than 31 percent of sales. In November 2009, the first Android operating phone came out at T-Mobile. It was the HTC G1. Since the Android came out, it has been growing continuously although it only had a 7 percent sector share for smartphones in 2010. Over 170 types of phones and tablet computers are using the Android OS now.

It is hard for old phones to make it

There are four popular United States smartphone platforms. Android is the only one consistently growing though. Research in Motion at one point sold 42 percent of all smartphones, however RIM sales have dwindled to 30.4 percent between February of 2010 and the end of January of 2011. Less than 10 percent of smartphones are Windows phones that have been going down for some time. Apple, with its flagship product the iPhone, has held fairly constant. Each day, about 350,000 new Android cell phones are activated. The Symbian OS offered by Nokia held a larger share of the market than Android until late 2010, when Symbian sales finally were eclipsed by Android.

Probably won't be seeing an Android Nokia phone anytime soon

Just about every phone business makes an Android phone, as Google licenses it for free, and adapting it is fairly simple for any developer, but Nokia isn’t having it, according to the Los Angeles Times. It was recently announced that Nokia is planning to revamp its offerings by partnering with Microsoft and installing Windows Mobile on Nokia phones. Microsoft is reportedly going to pay Nokia $1 billion for the rights to put Windows Phone 7 on Nokia devices, which could possibly be a net benefit for both businesses if it is successful.

Citations

CNN

money.cnn.com/2011/03/07/technology/android/index.htm

Los Angeles Times

latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/03/Microsoft-reportedly-paying-nokia-more-than-1-billion-to-use-windows-phone-os.html

Global warming in Columbia driving U.S. java prices through the roof

Coffee-drinking Americans are bellyaching about rising coffee costs. Coffee’s value as a commodity is spiking due to bad growing conditions, a proliferation of coffee drinkers and speculative craze around java . A calm port in the storm could be Starbucks, which will not raise prices accordingly, in accordance with its chief executive.

Coffee costs and global warming

May Coffee futures were very high at close to $3 a pound. That is the highest in 34 years that it has reached. The International Coffee Organization reports why this is. It said that the weather along with supply and demand has caused this increase in price. Troubles are coming from Climate change. It has not been good. Recently there have been lots of issues in java producing nations. This is because the temperature and heavy rains haven't been right for the grains. A balance of temperature, rainfall and dry spells are needed to make for the best java. Warm, wet weather also incubates coffee pests, such as a fungus called coffee rust. The second larger producer of Arabica beans is Columbia after Brazil. The temperatures in Columbia in recent decades have gone up on average one to two degrees. In the last few years, rain in Columbia’s coffee regions has increased more than 25 percent.

Has the world reached peak java

Colombia produced more than 12 million 132-pound bags of java in 2006. At the time, Columbian java producers set a 2014 goal of 17 million. Last year Columbian java production totaled 9 million bags. The demand of domestic coffee has offset the coffee production increase in Brazil. Brazil’s java consumption in 2010 grew to within 3 million bags of the U.S., the world’s top coffee-drinking nation. Consumers in the developing economies of China and India are also getting hooked on coffee. The world may have already hit "peak coffee" considering the Columbia Arabica bean crop might never actually recover from this. Demand and supply won’t meet up if the world has reached peak java. In fact, coffee costs could have to rise because of this.

What Starbucks has to say

Schultz is the Starbucks CEO. He said speculators are responsible for the price increase and states the company will not have a price change. Schultz told Fox Business News that speculators are making money off rising java futures while java drinkers and java farmers suffer. He said Starbucks has already bought enough coffee to last through fiscal 2011. But Starbucks profits have been in decline. Costs just keep going up for coffee though. When it comes time to resupply the java for 2012, Shultz may have to go back on his promise.

Citations

New York Times

nytimes.com/2011/03/10/science/earth/10coffee.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&hp

Agrimoney.com

agrimoney.com/news/precarious-dynamics-to-keep-coffee-prices-high–2910.html

Wall Street Pit

wallstreetpit.com/65589-starbucks-sbux-ceo-says-rising-commodity-prices-are-a-result-of-speculation

Federal government cutting food safety budget during peanut butter recall

There are countless small food recalls each month. These recalls are headed by, but not required by, the Food and Drug Administration. Many recalls go unnoticed, but probably the most recent peanut butter recall – 2011’s Skippy recall – is calling focus on another issue with the federal budget. The increase in the number of recalls doesn’t seem to be supporting a rise in funding. Instead, lawmakers are considering reducing financing. Source for this article – Peanut butter recall 2011 highlights danger of cutting funding by MoneyBlogNewz.

Large recall on peanut butter this year

In a move anticipated to cost about $50 million or more, Skippy has recalled peanut butter in 16 states. Salmonella bacteria may be in the Skippy Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter Spread and Skippy Reduced Fat Super Chunk Peanut Butter spread. The 16.3-ounce plastic jars with UPC numbers 048001006812 and 048001006782 are involved in the recall. Unilever as the Skippy manufacturing company is working with the FDA to get this product recalled.

Cash to pay for food safety

Something was added to the new FDA bill. In order to get a recall before, the FDA had to work with the company. Now the FDA can issue the recall itself. The FDA’s spending budget also integrated financing to hire new inspectors and generally keep a closer eye on food safety. It is possible for the funding for these changes to disappear. It is being looked at. The safety and quality of meat might go down. This is because there are reductions being done to the USDA. The FDA is getting cut additionally by Congress which makes it hard to enforce the new food safety laws. Each year, over 3,000 individuals die from tainted food. This lack of funding is something that is a significant issue.

Most essential food safety issue to figure out

Funding the food safety system in the United States is a difficult regulatory challenge. The United States needs the FDA. It is responsible for making sure the food and drugs are acceptable. Food safety is also, alternately, handled by the United States Department of Agriculture or 14 other federal agencies. State and local governments take on another level of oversight. There are several challenges with the heavier regulation though even though it might help food safety. A significant percentage of sales are lost by small farms, farmer's markets and local food because of these regulations. All of the food safety recalls means millions lost from the safety budget and economy. The political, social and economic changes might result in being too hard for everybody to face.

Articles cited

Slate

slate.com/id/2160235/

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/41943365/ns/health-food_safety/

Food Safety News

foodsafetynews.com/2011/03/new-york-times-food-safety-cuts-make-no-sense-at-all/

Government Accountability Office

gao.gov/new.items/d07449t.pdf

Sirhan Sirhan doesn't recall murdering Robert Kennedy

Sirhan Sirhan does not remember shooting Robert F. Kennedy to death, though he was convicted of the criminal offense. Sirhan was taken down at the scene by bystanders who disarmed him, and Sirhan claims to not remember a thing. It might not have been his fault, says his lawyer. The lawyer representing Sirhan maintains that his client was brainwashed into committing the criminal offense.

Lawyer implies Sirhan was brainwashed

MSNBC reports that the attorney of Sirhan Sirhan plans to argue that, there was brainwashing done to Sirhan leading to him murdering Robert F. Kennedy, at a parole hearing. In 1968, Sirhan got convicted of shooting Kennedy. Kennedy was known as the Lawyer General to the JFK administration while also being the younger brother of President John F. Kennedy. Just like "The Manchurian Candidate," which is about a man that gets brainwashed so he will assassinate a politician, William F. Pepper, or Sirhan's lawyer, states that his client had the exact same brainwashing scheme occur. Sirhan shot Kennedy in June of 1968 in the Ambassador hotel in Los Angeles after conditioning, states Pepper.

No recollection of shooting Kennedy

Sirhan said for a long time that he didn't even recall Robert Kennedy getting shot. During trial, Sirhan admit that he commit the criminal offense "with 20 years of malice aforethought." He said that he did it "for my country" while talking about the support Kennedy gave to Israel in 1967 during the Six Days War, states the Daily Mail. The Kennedy family didn't support the death penalty, although this was his original sentence. After the Supreme Court case Furman vs. Georgia made it so the death penalty wasn't allowed in the nation from 1972 to 1976, he got sentenced to life in prison.

Not doing much to get parole to go through

When it comes to getting parole, Sirhan Sirhan hasn't done much. He rarely attends hearings, mostly sending a lawyer, and he has dropped to send counsel on several occasions. However, his apprehension at the scene makes establishing his innocence or securing his release unlikely. Hotel staff got Sirhan to the ground while he was nevertheless firing the gun along with Kennedy supporters for instance journalist George Plimpton and Olympic athlete Rafer Johnson.

Articles cited

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/41822218/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts

Daily Mail

dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1361455/Robert-Kennedy-assassin-Sirhan-Bishara-claims-I-brainwashed-freedom-bid.html

Does daylight savings time really save energy?

The second Sunday in March marks the beginning of daylight savings time 2011. Five years have gone by since Congress moved to extend daylight savings time. Before 2007, daylight savings time begin on the first Sunday in April. Since the Energy Policy Act of 2005 required the extension of daylight savings time, a definitive answer as far as whether it has saved energy has not yet been found. Post resource – Daylight savings time 2011 not likely to save energy in the U.S. by MoneyBlogNewz.

Daylight saving time coming up means one less hour in the day

Everywhere in the U.S., excluding both Hawaii and Arizona, can be moving their clocks forward an hour on March thirteen at 2 a.m. for daylight conserving time 2011. Saving energy has been the rationale for daylight saving time since it was first implemented by Germany in WW1 to save coal. In theory, stretching daylight hours with daylight saving time saves energy by reducing the need for electric lighting. Several compare daylight saving time to cutting off an end of a rope and adding it to another end by manipulating clocks. Many are confused about daylight conserving time. It might help retail and outdoor recreation but farming and entertainment hate this change annually.

What power saving advantages really work?

The period of daylight saving time was extended by four weeks in 2005 with the Energy Policy Act that promoted conserving energy. There was a change to the Uniform Time Act of 1966. On March 11, 2007, the first "spring forward" started. Authors of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 claimed that stretching daylight conserving time would add up to a total power savings in the U.S. of up to 1 percent. There was a study done in Indiana with the daylight savings time change. There was actually a decrease in energy saved. Converting the entire state to daylight saving time cost Indiana households an extra $8.6 million in utility bills due to higher heating costs in the morning and higher air conditioning costs in the afternoon.

Pros and cons to Daylight Saving time there

Due to sleep deprivation, there is really a rise in heart attacks during the first week of daylight savings even though it may not conserve power. Fatal car crashes and automobile collisions with pedestrians end up going down because of daylight saving time though.

Articles cited

U.S. News and World Report

health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/sleep/articles/2009/03/03/13-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-daylight-saving-time

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/public/article/SB120406767043794825.html

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_Policy_Act_of_2005

Libya to obtain sanctions as United States closes embassy

The U.S. embassy in Libya has been forced to close. Libya is wracked by physical violence, and it was deemed too unstable to keep the embassy open. The regime of Moammar Gadhafi is fast losing its grip of the country. Deadly reprisals against Libyans have done little to quell demonstrations against his rule in excess of four decades. Economic sanctions will increase against Libya until the situation is resolved. Post resource – US embassy in Tripoli shuttered with Libya sanctions pending by MoneyBlogNewz.

Tripoli plunging into chaos as Gadhafi regime tightens grip

The regime of longtime Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi is fast losing control of the nation, and the capital city of Tripoli is becoming the battleground for handle of the North African country. Even with the shots fired, demonstrators have refused to leave the place even though Libyan army members nevertheless loyal to Gadhafi are firing. As a result of the escalating instability in the Libyan capital, the U.S. State Department has suspended American Embassy operations, and moved most embassy personnel out of Tripoli with a chartered ferry, in accordance with Reuters. Most workers have been evacuated already even though the embassy is nevertheless open.

Possibility of sanctions in opposition to Libya

The White House has affirmed that economic sanctions can be levied against Libya, in response to the brutal tactics used by Gadhafi in addressing the unrest in the country he has ruled for more than four decades. These sanctions will be considered in a meeting with President Obama and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, CNN states. All United States cooperation with military has been cut off from Libya already. Obama has previously been criticized for taking too soft a stance on the situation in Libya.

International leaders call for Gadhafi to quit

The NY Times states that International leaders have been asking that Colonel Gadhafi resign. President of France Nicolas Sarkozy said that Gadhafi needs to resign while "the world will hold you to account" was what British PM David Cameron had to say. Gadhafi has vowed to “die a martyr” and has refused to leave while alive.

Articles cited

Reuters

reuters.com/article/2011/02/25/us-libya-usa-idUSTRE71K6D520110225?pageNumber=1

CNN

cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/02/25/libya.us.reaction/

NY Times

nytimes.com/2011/02/26/world/middleeast/26diplomacy.html

Pediatrics group warns parents about teens and tanning beds

Mom and dad have been warned by the American Academy of Pediatrics that tanning beds put their teenage kids at a heightened risk for cancer of the skin. Teenage tanning bed use, particularly among girls, is increasing. Several studies have found a correlation between tanning bed use among the young and increased skin cancer risk. Laws barring teenagers from using indoor tanning facilities are being recommending by pediatric and dermatological groups in the U.S..

Teens getting skin cancer from tanning

The American Academy of Pediatrics made a statement on ultraviolet radiation. This suggested that teenagers, due to cancer risks, shouldn't be allowed to do any indoor tanning. The statement, published Monday in the journal Pediatrics, called for pediatricians to push for legislation prohibiting access to indoor tanning for those 18 and younger. An advisory panel to the Food and drug administration on tanning bed risks has also recommended either prohibiting the use of tanning beds by a teen outright or requiring parental consent. Anybody with a history of melanoma or kids who easily get sunburned or freckles need to be educated about UV protection, which the AAP expects parents to do.

Using a tanning bed risky for teenagers

Indoor tanning salons are used in the U.S. by many people. The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery said it was over 1 million individuals. Women and girls between the ages of 16 and 29 years old make up about 70 percent of tanning bed users. In a news release the ASDS said that melanoma is probably the most common skin cancer in kids, followed by basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. Just six severe sunburns in a lifetime increase the risk of melanoma by 50 percent. About 35 percent of 17 year old girls will use 10 to 15 times the UV radiation than the sun produces at noon while in tanning beds, in accordance with the AAP. When indoor tanning is done before age 35, the chance of melanoma increased in seven scientific studies.

Teenagers can't use tanning beds with ban in place

There’s a good chance the Food and Drug Administration will not change requirements on teens. This is despite the tanning connection to cancer that has been brought forth. This is not typical though. Typically the panels' advice is taken and used to make decisions. Minor use of indoor tanning is regulated. About 60 percent of U.S. states have this regulation. There is no evidence that teens and skin cancer are connected, in accordance with the Indoor Tanning Association that suggests mom and dad, not the government, are responsible for making decisions on this.

Information from

U.S. News and World Report

health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/infectious-diseases/articles/2011/02/28/pediatricians-group-backs-ban-on-tanning-booth-use-by-minors

Med Page Today

medpagetoday.com/Pediatrics/GeneralPediatrics/25085

CNN

cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/02/28/tanning.skin.cancer/