Seven banks may be closed after failing to meet capital needs in Euro stress tests

European financial markets began to fail with the Greek debt crisis causing stress tests to be developed to see how European banks could deal with more shock. Seven major European banks were tested and failed showing they wouldn’t be able to manage any more problems with the economy. The European Union bloc said it would give aid to the Greek debt crisis although numerous did better on the test than others. 91 banks were tested with only 7 failing.

The seven banks

The banks which were unable to meet requirements were, the Wall Street Journal reports, Hypo Real Estate Holding AG in Germany, ATEBank in Greece, and Unnim, Espiga, Diada, CajaSur and Banka Civica. None of the seven banks could keep enough cash around to represent 6 percent of the worth of their total assets. The purpose of this was to make certain banks were secure in case the European Financial System had another problem, including a government defaulting.

Being very careful about this

The test that is administered has to be perfect. The idea is to restore confidence among investors and lending institutions so that normal lending and lending between banks will resume. The New York Times reports the European Central Bank wants to stay away from bailout loans so it can start lending again. If the test were too easy, it would be hard to discover someone to believe it. If the tests are thought to be too strict, then the entire European banking system will appear to be on the verge of collapse.

Euro Zone loans

Until the Greek crisis is fixed, European Union can be credit restrained and stay away from all lending. The Euro had been valued lower against the dollar as a result of the ongoing turmoil, but recent uncertainty of U.S. recovery is leading to the dollar beginning to slip slightly.

Additional information at these websites

Wall Street Journal
online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703294904575384940544522582.html?mod=WSJ_business_LeadStoryRotator
New York Times
nytimes.com/2010/07/24/business/global/24stress.html?pagewanted=1 and amp;ref=business

BP preparing to take a $ 10 billion tax credit

BP hopes to get a $ 10 billion tax credit considering the losses they’ve taken; $ 17 billion in the second quarter and $ 32 billion in cleanup costs. Companies that have really big issues get this kind of cash loan given to them. The BP tax credit legality is discussed amongst numerous people nevertheless, and there is no answer yet. The government is going to end up paying more for the oil spill cleanup than they intended with tax credits like this. Source of article – BP preparing to take a $ 10 billion tax credit by Personal Money Store.

Losses lead to BP tax credit

Tax credits like these are accessible to all companies that are in some severe financial trouble. This year’s second quarter cost BP $ 17 billion. Most losses from BP come from its stock falling so much. BP is quickly losing profit despite the fact that borrowing money hasn’t been a question so far.

Economic effect of BP tax credit

If BP does take the $ 10 billion tax credit, the U.S. Government could well be left holding half the oil spill cleanup bill. BP agreed at the very beginning of things to put $ 20 billion towards cleanup efforts. If the U.S. Government gets $ 10 billion less in taxes, though, then the net effect is halving BP’s cost of the cleanup.

No BP tax credit

”I do not think anybody would prefer that [BP] do that,” is what Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said about the BP tax credit. The only even slightly comparable situation is where Goldman Sachs agreed to not write off the $ 535 million penalty paid to the SEC. It is an especially difficult situation because no other company has ever been in a situation like this — promising loans until payday to the U.S. Government, and then writing off those exact same loans.

Arguments for the BP tax credit

As reprehensible as some individuals are saying the BP tax credit is, there is a possibly legitimate reason for them. BP is expected to pay for everything involved within the oil spill cleanup. Quick money loans will be the only BP can pay for the cleanup unless they find a way to stay solvent. BP makes the argument that without the $ 10 billion, they cannot stay in business and won’t be able to pay for any of the cleanup. The IRS will choose if that is the case or not though.

More on this topic

Daily Finance

dailyfinance.com/story/taxes/bp-claiming-9-9b-tax-credit-on-gulf-clean-up-costs/19571518/

Market Watch

miamiherald.com/2010/07/28/1749344/bp-eyes-10b-tax-credit-over-gulf.html#ixzz0uyReljAI

Info on the Starcraft II reviews

July 27 at midnight, a whole new community of gamers will emerge with the release of “Starcraft II- Wings of Liberty”. A single or multiplayer game designed and released by the Activision-Blizzard partnership, “Starcraft II” managed to outsell “Halo Reach” before it was even released. Extensive system needs will be needed to play “Starcraft II” so make sure you are prepared and ready if you are waiting for the release. Source of article – Starcraft II- Reviews, release and torrent details by Personal Money Store.

All the reviews of ‘Starcraft II’

There aren’t any legitimate “Starcraft II” reviews available which is unusual for Activision-Blizzard. Pre-release copies weren’t available to journalists this time around. The beta version is what all “Starcraft II” reviews you are able to find are based upon off of. Nobody was considered special enough to play “Starcraft II” before anybody else. Legitimate reviews will likely first come from countries like Russia, South Korea and Japan who hit midnight before the U.S..

Getting ‘Starcraft II’

In 1998, 11 million copies of the original “Starcraft” were sold. Pre-ordered copies of “Starcraft II” have already hit 800,000 meaning it will be a hit. Although you shouldn’t download illegally, “Starcraft II” streamed will most likely be popular as well. As midnight hits around the globe, gamers anxious about the “Starcraft II” release may choose to try to find a “Starcraft II” torrent to play for the few hours before they pick up their legal copy.

What you need for ‘Starcraft II’

Mac and PC both have versions of “Starcraft II” that can be played. This is what you’ll need for a PC:

• Windows XP, Vista or 7 with service pack updates
• You can either get 2.6 GHz Pentium or AMD processor
• You need a video card with 128 MB PCle GeForce 6600 GT
• 12 GB hard drive space
• 1.5 GB RAM
• A DVD-ROM Drive should be there
• If you would like to try multiplayer, you’ll need broadband internet
• 1024 x 720 or higher display

You’ll want the following for a Mac:

• You need a Mac OS X 10.5.8 or 10.5.6 at least
• You need an Intel processor
• A video card with NVIDA GeForce 8600m GT
• Your hard drive needs 12 GB space available
• 2 GB RAM
• You have to have a DVD-ROM drive
• Working broadband Internet (for multiplayer)
• Display at least 1024 x 720

More on this topic

Web Game Development
securenext.com/

NHTSA vehicle malfunctions

There are millions of automobiles on the road in America. Some cars will break down. If you experience a breakdown or malfunction that might be the result of a safety defect with your automobile, it is very important report it. It is also your responsibility to report any issues with non-original equipment, car seats or even your tires. Resource for this article – Reporting vehicle malfunctions to the NHTSA.

The importance of reporting defects

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is designed to make certain autos and anything correlated are safe. All the cars make it extremely hard for the NHTSA to keep track of safety troubles with a vehicle. By reporting possible safety defects, you help the NHTSA “connect the dots” and know what to investigate. These are how recalls and investigation end up coming about. Making a report to the NHTSA could be the only way to fix things since car manufacturers won’t admit something is wrong until somebody has told them they have to.

What needs to be reported

You should report any safety complaint or possible concern to the NHTSA. For example, if your brakes appear to fail, that should be reported. Report it when your airbag doesn’t come out right. It is also essential to report any tire problems, car seat issues, or component troubles not mentioned. Anything that might make a crash happen, make a crash worse, or hurt anyone should be on this list.

Getting in contact with the NHTSA

Reporting a possible problem to the NHTSA is relatively easy. You can report a problem online, at the Office of Defects Investigation website or by calling 888-327-4236. The car you are talking about needs to be listed with its make and model. In case there is an investigation, the NHTSA will need to know how to get a hold of you. The database takes this info you give them and connects it with the info from everyone else who has made a similar complaint.

Additional reading

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation website
odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm

Wall Street reform contains a new whistle-blower provision

President Obama signed into law the Wall Street reform bill. The Los Angeles Times reports that the whistle-blower provision of the bill is something those who support the bill probably do not know about yet. A private sector of individuals who stop rule breaking will get 10 to 30 percent of the money the government gets from these fines and settlements.

Stop Ponzi and insider trading with the whistle-blower provision

According to the Times, citizens will “provide the Securities and Exchange Commission with original info that reveals the fraud and leads to a successful recovery,” with the whistle-blower provision. Lawmakers hope this provision will be enough to help give strength to Wall Street although numerous see some issues with the plan. Companies will start having issues when employees go to the SEC instead of internal management with things they see. This could also bring in a low of new claims with how numerous aggressive law firms you will find out there. It is going to result in a “society of paid informants” no matter what according to Walter Olson of the Cato Institute.

‘Fast’ cash for the whistle-blower

Think about what would have happened if this provision was here when Goldman Sachs settled with SEC for $ 550 million. If a whistle-blower had turned within the tip leading to Goldman Sachs’ censure, that whistle-blower would have made at least $ 55 million in emergency money. That’s money going back to the taxpayer, points out Stephen Kohn of the Washington-based National Whistleblowers Center. Of course, “quick cash” is a relative term. Getting the money will pay down even if a whistle blower has to wait through the gruesome legal proceedings. If the whistle blower provision will go into effect for an informant, the government has to recover $ 1 million first.

Additional information at these websites

Los Angeles Times
latimes.com/business/la-fi-reform-whistleblower-20100723,0,6099636.story
An example of whistle-blowing in high government
youtube.com/watch?v=xq8aopATYyw

Teresa Giudice auction- Housewives star facing bankruptcy

Teresa Giudice, from “The Real Housewives of New Jersey,” and her husband are going bankrupt. Aug. 22 there can be a Teresa Giudice auction. Belongings of Teresa Giudice and her husband will be auctioned off to help pay their $ 11 million debt.

Teresa Giudice auction to help pay down debts

Teresa Giudice filed for bankruptcy in October. With $ 11 million in debt, the couple was just unable to pay for anything any longer. The court and trustee are requiring numerous of their belongings be auctions to pay off this debt. The Teresa Giudice auction is scheduled for August 22, though the Giudice’s lawyer is fighting the auction.

All the debts paid with Teresa Giudice’s auction money

The “Real Housewives of New Jersey” star has a lot of debt. Between her and her husband, they claim an income of $ 79,000 a year. Bravo TV pays Teresa Giudice $ 3,333 a month. From his stucco and stone company, her husband makes about $ 3,250 a month. With this income, the couple has a $ 1.8 million mansion in Towaco, N.J. They also have homes in Lincoln Par and on the Jersey Shore. They owe $ 12,000 to a fertility clinic and more than $ 5 million to former real-estate partners. Though in court documents Teresa Giudice claims to spend about $ 400 a month on clothes, she has been filmed spending more than $ 2,000 in a 10-minute clothing shopping spree.

What can be sold at the Teresa Giudice auction

At noon in the Towaco home is where the Teresa Giudice auction is planned to begin. Items up for sale contain two flat-screen televisions, a pool table, sofas and chandeliers. The publicity Teresa Giudice has been getting might just make those items go up in price. Either way, the money can be used to help pay down the creditors, and Teresa Giudice and her husband can have to try to live within their means within the future.

Check out Danielle Staub and Teresa Giudice

youtube.com/watch?v=wN3H61WtsPM and amp;feature=related

Progressive Automotive XPrize to be awarded?

The Automotive XPrize, sponsored by Progressive, has long been the ultimate goal of vehicle designers. A four passenger automobile that gets 100 miles per gallon is set to receive the $ 5 million prize . Car trials in Michigan are presently going, and you will find two different cars that may well will the prize.

The workings of the Automotive XPrize

The XPrize foundation supports several prizes, including the Automotive XPrize. Sponsored by Progressive auto insurance, the Automotive X prize was announced in 2008. The competition uses guidelines depending on EPA estimating procedures. There are multiple categories, but the primary X Prize is awarded to a car capable of carrying four individuals 100 miles on a single gallon of fuel. The cars entered in the Automotive XPrize competition must have only proof of concept, not be ready for full-on production.

Competing for the Automotive X Prize

In Michigan, April 26 was the start of the X Prize competition. All 3 classes of cars are being put through paces on many tracks. Some tests are designed to be very similar to city driving. Other around-the-track competitions are designed to test highway driving. The target is 110 miles per gallon, though to receive the XPrize a team only has to get 100 mpg. There needs to be certain safety and performance thresholds met as well.

Teams need ingenuity to win the XPrize races

The real-world conditions that the Automotive XPrize competitors have to work in lend themselves to last-minute ingenuity. One requirement built into the Automotive XPrize is that passenger cabins stay below 90 degrees. Some teams are using homemade air conditioners to make certain they meet that requirement. Hypermiling driving techniques are also on display throughout the competition.

Winning the XPrize is a real possibility

There are two cars that are nevertheless within the running for the Automotive XPrize. Both of the cars are going to be put through a very wide variety of safety and security tests. If either one of the vehicles pass the tests, they’ll be given the award.

Beatrice, Nebraska, giving away land to generate revenue

Giving away land without cost will perk the public interest. At least that’s the theory. Individuals have come to Beatrice, Neb., since 1862, when the Homestead Act first parceled out land to pioneer farmers. The United States of America was in a different place at that time, economically. Today, town officials have drawn up their own Homestead Act of 2010 within the hopes that giving away basically free land will generate real estate tax revenues to bolster the town’s money reserves. Recurring property tax is something Beatrice needs more than more baseball fields and parks, reports the New York Times.

Beatrice has inspired numerous small towns to follow

The Times indicates that this tax revenue move may be just what small town America needs. Quite possibly supposedly rich resort retirement towns like Boca Raton are feeling the pinch. Lawn maintenance is one of many costs that collective tax revenue on giveaway land would help allay. More residents would mean greater cost to extend services, but the hope is how the property tax revenue will make up for that.

Would a round of taxes for non-profits be in the offing?

In other spending budget drive activities, towns like Concord, Mass., and Manchester, N.H., are pondering going after the tax exempt status of their non-profits. Non-profits have lived in their tax shelters for some time. Considering that 15 percent of Concord is taken up by tax exempt structures, you will find numerous potential costs that could possibly be made up. Will the time come for tax-exempt organizations to serve their communities via tax contribution? Private schools, churches and numerous other organizations could come into question. It doesn’t take a New York Times to see how their tax monies could help communities.

Beatrice was the home of the original Homestead Act

Homesteading started in Beatrice in 1862, so it’s fitting that it should return. Clearly a figurehead is needed, if the National League of Cities’ recent findings are accurate. According to that organization, “Between now and 2012, America’s cities are likely to experience shortfalls totaling $ 55 billion to $ 85 billion”. Slumps in property tax, sales tax and less state support of smaller towns means that some drastic action may be necessary. The tax benefit is there if more individuals are brought in, and building new and improved homes would also raise property values.

Dollars and sense

Critics of the Homestead Act of 2010 and comparable ventures elsewhere question whether it should be within a city’s power to dole out public land to “any non-taxpaying outsider who asks”. But the more persuasive stance comes from one town mayor, who asked the Times, “What’s the value of a lot to us if it’s empty?” Harsh realities often require direct solutions.

More on this topic

nytimes.com/2010/07/26/us/26revenue.html?_r=2 and amp;hp

Tony Hayward no longer CEO but BP career continues in Russia

Tony Hayward was expected to resign Monday after a meeting in London to determine his fate. Instead, he’s being shuffled off to Russia, where he will direct BP’s role in TNK-BP, a joint venture considered one of BP’s plum projects . Hayward may appear to be escaping culpability for leading a wreck less business that caused the oil spill within the Gulf of Mexico 2010, and then botching the oil spill response. But before he flies to Moscow, some Americas senators would like to ask him some personal questions about a BP-Libya oil deal they think influenced the release of a convicted terrorist.

Tony Hayward’s Russian gig has an ironic twist

In October Tony Hayward steps down as BP CEO. The New York Daily News ran an Associated Press report that said Hayward will probably be changed as BP’s CEO by Robert Dudley. Hayward was changed by Dudley as BP’s point man for the oil spill response. The board of BP’s Russian venture TNK-BP now has a seat for Hayward. In an ironic twist, Dudley led TNK-BP until he got on someone’s bad side and had to leave Russia in 2008.

Dudley and TNK-BP – not a happy ending

If Tony Heyward’s new post leading BP’s partnership with Russian oil barons is indicative, his company nevertheless regards him highly, perhaps if most Americans and Americas politicians don’t. Accounting for 25 percent of its total production, the Washington Post reports that the TNK-BP venture is one of BP’s crown jewels. But Robert Dudley’s experience proves the post could be a headache. Russian shareholders forced Dudley to flee the country for the sake of the deal.

Did Tony Hayward make the BP-Libya oil deal?

U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Kirsten Gillibrand want to haul Tony Hayward before Congress, perhaps though he is stepping down. The senators will hold a hearing July 29 on the release of the Lockerbie bomber and also the New York Observer reports that they want to ask Hayward a couple of questions. The senators are pushing British officials for weeks to conduct a full investigation of the links between a BP-Libya oil deal and the release of Lockerbie bomber Abdul Baset al-Megrahi. Hayward may have had a role in negotiations with the Libyans during that deal, Menendez said.

Further reading

nydailynews.com/

nytimes.com

observer.com

World War Z could be starring Brad Pitt

The last few years have seen an explosion of zombie related media, dubbed zombie lit. After some very successful zombie films like 28 Days Later and the remake of Dawn of the Dead, some authors were quick to capitalize on the popularity of the zombie genre. One of probably the most popular zombie lit novels were the World War Z books, alongside Quirk Books’ Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Brad Pitt was most recently confirmed to star in World War Z. Source for this article – World War Z will star Brad Pitt by Personal Money Store.

The coming zombie apocalypse

The precursor to World War Z was a novel called The Zombie Survival Guide, released in 2003. The book is a fictional how to on dealing with the threat of zombies. World War Z came out in 2006, a follow up to that book, which is a collection of interviews with zombie apocalypse survivors. Max Brooks is the author of both novels, the son of Mel Brooks and previous SNL writer. The book was optioned for a film in 2007, and it has been in development for awhile.

This might actually be really good

According to MTV, it was announced at Comic-Con in San Diego that Brad Pitt has been confirmed to star. Paramount has also optioned other works by Max Brooks to be filmed. The director of the Bond film Quantum of Solace, Marc Forster, is attached to direct but that might change. The zombie genre may be on the way out, as fewer zombie features appear to be getting made.

Not the only zombie film in the works

Along with World War Z, the smash success Pride and Prejudice and Zombies has also been optioned for filming. Natalie Portman will star within the hodgepodge of Jane Austen with ninjas and zombies rampant in the English countryside. The number of zombie films has toned down in lieu of melodramatic and insipid vampires and werewolves, but World War Z is apparently set to be epic.

Citations

moviesblog.mtv.com/2010/07/21/brad-pitt-to-star-in-world-war-z-paramount-options-zombie-survival-guide-recorded-attacks/

Tempe Town Lake dam pops, floods transient camps

The Tempe Town Lake dam was designed to last for 25 to 30 years, said the experts. The inflatable rubber dam created Town Lake for the city of Tempe, Arizona, a tourist destination and point of civic pride for residents. According to Associated Press reports, nevertheless, one of the 11-year-old dam segments burst. Two-thirds to three-fourths of Tempe Town Lake will flood the dry riverbed of Salt River, which happens to be an area where some of Tempe’s homeless tend to sleep during the summer. Resource for this article – Tempe Town Lake rubber dam bursts; waters wash away homeless by Personal Money Store.

Injury wire quiet on Tempe Town Lake

No injuries of property damage at Tempe Town Lake has been reported as yet, according to local media sources. There was a loud boom and ground tremors in the area of the Arizona State University campus, as outlined by on-the-scene witnesses. A couple of second after that, animals began to flee. Minutes later, a safety alarm rang out. Whether transients camping in the Salt River bed heard the alarms is unknown.

Tempe Town Lake holds one billion gallons

That’s the flow at Tempe Town Lake, says Mayor Hugh Hallman. It was reportedly known 3 years ago that Tempe’s weather patterns were wearing away at the rubber. In spite of this, no repairs were undertaken. Two years later, engineers advised Tempe government to act, to no effect.

Is this about washing Tempe’s homeless away?

The emergency alarm clearly went off, but nobody knows at this early stage just how the homeless fared following the Tempe Town Lake dam disaster. Most consider this incident exploded rubber and government impotency. But if the fiscal angle is taken through the lens of the cost of homelessness, other possibilities emerge. A wide array of experts have founded studies that show the U.S. shells out nearly $ 11 billion annually to address chronic homelessness. As outlined by Forbes magazine, the annual expenditure would decrease to just under $ 8 billion if the homeless all had subsidized housing.

Low-cost housing is the life raft

In Maricopa County, where Tempe is located, AZCentral.com reports that there are approximately 8,000 homeless individuals on any given day. Give the disadvantaged the housing they need and Maricopa County would save as much as half of what they at the moment spend on emergency services. Tempe Town Lake doesn’t sound like a homeless story at first, but the disaster could produce something truly positive for those needing opportunity.

More information on this topic

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

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

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

Will T-Mobile sell the iPhone 4 in 3rd quarter 2010?

The iPhone 4 antenna issue may not warrant a recall in Apple’s estimation, but that isn’t because they’re too scared of the cost of such action. PC Magazine reports that Apple’s fiscal third quarter for 2010 was a fantastic success, in no small part due to sales of the iPad. Apple took away a $ 3.25 billion profit after raking in a total of $ 15.7 billion for the quarter. Never one to rest on its laurels, Apple may be making more exciting news very soon. If the Cult of Mac’s “highly placed source” is accurate, T-Mobile may start selling the iPhone 4 by third quarter 2010. Furthermore, PC World reports that this merger is 80 percent certain.

T-Mobile would become a player if iPhone 4 comes over

T-Mobile would rise from America’s fourth-largest wireless carrier to the very top with iPhone 4 in the wings. But PC World warns that there could possibly be frequency issues. T-Mobile uses a non-standard band, and iPhone 4 hasn’t been tested on all the carrier’s ranges.

Possibly this should go in the iPhone 4 rumor discard pile

PC World reminds us that Cult of Mac’s predictions don’t always stick, so do not get too excited yet. Steve Jobs may not have cast his death stare at T-Mobile yet, and also the carrier may have room to absorb the onrush of potential iPhone 4 customers. Since Apple is already in cahoots with T-Mobile parent business Deustche Telekom in Europe, possibly T-Mobile has its foot within the door already.

Smartphone owners – would you make the jump to T-Mobile?

It should be noted that when T-Mobile may not have the network issues of an AT and T at this point, snaring iPhone 4 would likely change their set of circumstances quickly. Antenna issues aside, iPhone 4 remains wildly popular. Legions of devoted fans have kept iPhone 4 standing toe-to-toe with Droid and America’s top smartphones. Let us know what you think by sounding off below.

Citations

pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2366821,00.asp

pcworld.com/article/201653/report_tmobile_has_80_percent_chance_of_getting_iphone.html

New rapid oil spill response system based on BP trial and error

A federal drilling moratorium was proposed as a result of oil spill within the Gulf of Mexico 2010. The oil industry has loudly criticized the ban. But a group of four oil companies are actually doing something that may help lift the drilling moratorium. Exxon Mobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips and Royal Dutch Shell are committing $1 billion to set up a rapid oil spill response system in the Gulf of Mexico. Meanwhile, BP could try an operation by this weekend called a “static kill” to permanently seal the BP oil leak. However, the procedure could be postponed, depending on the arrival of an approaching tropical storm. Post resource – Will oil spill response system lift the gulf drilling moratorium? by Personal Money Store.

Deep water oil spill response system

The oil industry got a loud wakeup call from the oil spill within the Gulf of Mexico 2010 and also the drilling moratorium. Billions of dollars have been spent figuring out how to drill deeper and deeper wells, while cleanup of the oil spill technology has languished on the shelf. The New York Times reports that the original funding for the rapid response system can be used to build containment equipment, including underwater systems and pipelines, that can be able to deal with deep water mishaps. The four oil companies putting up the money said the oil spill response system can be effective down to 10,000 feet and contain 100,000 barrels of oil daily.

Oil companies proactive on drilling moratorium

Oil companies hope the oil spill response initiative will help persuade government regulators to lift the six-month ban on deep water drilling as soon as possible. The Wall Street Journal reports that BP provided the model for the new system by muddling through 3 months of trial and error during the disaster . A non-profit venture called the Marine Well Containment Company will develop the system in the next 18 months.

Tropical storm adds urgency to latest containment attempt

A procedure called a “static kill” could permanently seal the BP oil leak this weekend. CNN reports the static kill consists of forcing oil back to the reservoir by pumping mud to the well. Because pressure within the well is lower than expected, BP officials say the static kill could work where similar approaches have failed. BP officials are still working on the permanent fix: a relief well that is scheduled to be in place by the end of July. The timing of the static kill is crucial because operations could be disrupted for up to two weeks by a tropical storm headed for the gulf.

More information about this topic at these websites

nytimes.com

wsj.com

cnn.com

Earnings report optimistic, but stock price dips for Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments, best known for its calculators, is facing multiplying challenges. Chips made by Texas Instruments are mostly analog chips, and are used in numerous places. Despite the report of optimistic earnings, the stock earnings for the business are falling. There are many difficulties for the company, including blocks on third-party programming. Article source – Texas Instruments fighting uphill battles by Personal Money Store.

Texas Instruments revenue

In a quarterly report released mid-July, Texas Instruments reported rising income and revenue. There was about $ 769 million in net income in just the second quarter. Total revenue for that same quarter was at about $ 3.5 billion. The very same level of income and revenue is expected for the 3rd quarter of the year. The business expects that in the 3rd quarter, there could be about $ 3.85 billion in revenue. Air traffic control systems, medical equipment, and consumer goods all carry chips made by Texas Instruments.

Reduction in price in Texas Instruments stock

Despite the good earnings report and estimates, the stock price of Texas Instruments dipped. Trading in after-hours stock trades, TI lost about 6 percent of value. This dip in stock price is a result not of the earnings estimates for TI, but for its competitors. The primary competitor for Texas Instruments is Intel, and that business has reported growth numbers that tech investors are much more confident it.

Blocking third party development

Texas Instruments is also facing outrage of numerous programmers. Hobbyist programmers that have long built games, programs and specialty apps for the powerful Texas Instruments graphing calculators. Outside programming simply isn’t allowed on TI-Nspire calculators, though.This is creating controversy within tech communities because some say that they have bought and paid for the devices, and they should be able to do what they want with them. Others say that Texas Instruments has the right to prevent their devices from getting used for things they weren’t intended for. What do you think?

Wednesday, Wall Street changes set in place at signing ceremony

A Wall Street Reform bill was signed into law by President Obama Wednesday. The financial reform bill should change the financial industry more than other things since the Depression. The financial reform bill was called by Obama “the strongest consumer financial protections in history.”. Republicans called the bill a permanent Wall Street bailout that would hurt small community banks and send jobs overseas.

Financial reform bill changes the laws

The U.S. economy was severely hurt by Wall Street two years ago, and after months of debate, Obama has finally finished signing the bill. The bill barely passed in Senate although Politico reports Democrats wanted a bipartisan financial reform bill. Most Republicans argued the bill failed to address the root cause of the 2008 financial crisis- the lending policies at mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Jobs would also have to be moved to other countries because of strict rules.

Signing ceremony guest list

At the signing ceremony for the financial reform bill, Obama was flanked by the senators who authored the bill- Congressman Barney Frank of Massachusetts and Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut, as well as others from Congress who contributed to the reform efforts. The Washington Post tells us that what will tell us most about the bill is not those who attended; rather, those who didn’t attend will tell us more. Among those who did not receive a signing ceremony invitation were Wall Street titans James Gorman of Morgan Stanley, Lloyd Blankfein of Goldman Sachs, John Stumpf of Wells Fargo and Jamie Dimon of J.P. Morgan Chase.

One catch to the Wall Street reform

During the ceremony, Obama challenged criticism from Republicans and Wall Street. He said the financial system “only works – our markets are only free – when there are clear rules and basic safeguards that prevent abuse, that check excess, that ensure that it is more profitable to play by the rules than to game the system.” The president also said that the meat of the financial reform bill can be left to regulators and that Wall Street greed will still have wiggle room to maneuver. It can be longer than a year for many of the regulations within the bill to start taking place.

Republicans think we are just bailing out Wall Street?

The financial reform bill overcame strenuous opposition from Republicans, who charged that by targeting Wall Street greed, it did not address the root troubles that caused the meltdown. CBS News reports that in a statement following the signing, House Republican leader John Boehner (who did not receive a signing ceremony invitation) said the bill “provides permanent bailouts for his Wall Street allies at the expense of community banks and small companies around the country, while doing nothing to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government mortgage companies that triggered the financial meltdown by giving too many high-risk loans to individuals who couldn’t afford them.”

Discover more information on this topic

Politico

politico.com/news/stories/0710/40027.html

Washington Post

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/21/AR2010072101614.html?hpid=topnews

CBS News

cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20011201-503544.html

Boeing Dreamliner makes European debut

After a troubled development, the Boeing 787 or Boeing Dreamliner is starting to get frequent flier miles of its own. The Boeing Dreamliner arrived at the Farnborough Air Show for the plane’s debut in Europe. The plane has been stuck in what a movie studio would call “development hell” for some time, suffering several setbacks. However, it is beginning to show signs of life. Boeing has already been contracted to deliver hundreds of Dreamliners, so it looks like they’ve hit this one out of the park. Source for this article – Boeing Dreamliner makes European debut by Personal Money Store.

Dreamliner flies across the pond

The Farnborough Air Show in southwestern England, in Hampshire, saw the July 18 European debut of the Boeing Dreamliner. The air show is held each and every two years, and it is the premiere air and air trade show in Britain. The Dreamliner, or rather the 787, is likely to be one of the centerpieces for this year. According to The Telegraph, Boeing is expecting some more advance orders of the 787, which has had numerous setbacks due to design difficulties and a machinists’ strike, among other things.

Lean, green, and mean

Part and parcel to the selling point of the plane is its fuel efficiency and also eco-friendly construction. Only half of the plane is actually made of metal. Most planes are made of sheets of aluminum riveted together, but the Dreamliner is made of a couple of pieces of carbon fiber composite material. The lighter frame will increase fuel economy and also the engines are engineered to produce 20 percent less carbon emissions than comparably sized planes. The interior is intended with passenger comfort in mind. The 787 is geared to replace older planes of similar size and capacity, especially the Boeing 767.

Finally taking off

The Boeing Dreamliner was at first conceived of in the late 1990s, and following the price of fuel went drastically up within the early 2000s (or “Noughties”) the need for an airliner with greater fuel efficiency got Boeing to head to the drawing board. The first flight had to be postponed from 2007 to 2009. There are more than 860 of the planes on order already.

Read more on this topic here

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/transport/farnborough-airshow/7897812/Farnborough-Airshow-2010-Boeing-787-Dreamliner-in-focus.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-10676791

So you would like mpg? King Midget is the answer!

Congested highways make for dirty air that comes from gas guzzling vehicles. Improved methods of public transportation and more fuel-efficient green autos have helped this problem to an excellent extent, but there is nevertheless room for improvement. Change are expensive. But when it comes to autos, one answer could come straight from the past. The King Midget, an American car made from 1946 to 1970, is as small as its name but boasts big mpg numbers.

It’s said it ‘will be the future kings of the road’

King Midget cars are followed by many according to an interview of Dick Messer by AutoWeek. Since the automobile is small and inexpensive, it makes complete sense. The two-door convertible micro cars (70-plus-inch wheelbase) were initially sold as kits for $ 49, and these kits involved the frame, axles, springs, steering and patterns to cut sheet metal for the body. You can also get it already built. One-cylinder, two-speed automatic transmission engines varied from 6 hp all the way up to a “huge” 12 hp big block. 50 mph could be achieved along with 50 to 70 mpg figures within the King Midget. In the 1950s, prices were from $ 500 to $ 1,000, as reported by Wikipedia.

What killed the King Midget?

One big concern was safety. Production ended in 1970s because there were more strict federal crash requirements. There were only 5,000 cars made. The bodies of modern cars absorb much of the shock of a collision; the King Midget would pass much of that on to the driver’s body, resulting in more frequent injuries and death. They get some great mileage though?

Getting used car loans to buy your Midget?

Click the button below. Just be sure to check with your lender first to see if they’ll fund private party purchases, as you won’t find a King Midget at your standard used car dealer. Click the International King Midget Car Club link below to do some online window buying if you’re significant about the King Midget. Prices appear to vary from around $ 1,000 to several thousand dollars.

Citations

AutoWeek
autoweek.com/article/20100713/CARNEWS/100719968
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Midget
International King Midget Car Club Classifieds
kingmidgetcarclub.org/classifieds.html
Vintage Car Show interview with car collector Barry Hilbert
youtube.com/watch?v=suv1Dyz4HWo

Cars to maintain cheap – top 10

Aside from the reality of how much money you’ll be paying on your auto loans for bad credit over the next five years, purchasing a new car is very exciting. More can be considered than just the purchase prices of the car. All recurring expenses should be considered such as fuel and maintenance. The top ten cars, among new cars anyway, least costly to maintain were put on a list at automotive.com. What follows are the numbers you’ll have to make an informed decision.

10. 2010 Chevy Aveo

The 2010 Chevrolet Aveo hatchback comes standard with a 1.6 L, inline four-cylinder L4 engine. This can be a green hybrid cars that has great mileage; 34 mpg highway and 27 mpg city. $ 11,965 to $ 15,365 is the price range for the MSRP.

The cost of keeping it up for five years is about $ 1,361
$ 390 is what you’ll pay for repairs in five years

9. 2010 Nissan Frontier

Would you believe a truck is one of the top 10 least costly cars to maintain? The 2010 Nissan Frontier certainly qualifies. The engine is either the 4.0L V6 or 2.5 L4 and will get 19 mpg on the highway and 14 mpg in the city. It will cost you $ 20,690 to $ 26,840 to buy. Despite the fact that it costs a lot to start with, it costs very little to keep up making the 2010 Nissan Frontier cost less.

Five-year maintenance cost – $ 1,350
Five-year repair cost – $ 531

8. New Chevy Avalanche

This truck is even bigger than the Frontier and nevertheless makes it to the list. A 5.3L V8 engine is put to the 2010 Chevrolet Avalanche giving it 10 mpg within the city and 15 mpg on the highway as its mileage. The MSRP will cost you a chunk of money between $ 35,725 and $ 48,865. But it is a very solid car that does not require much to keep going.

The first 5 years of maintenance will cost you $ 1,343
$ 611 is the repair cost for a five year period

7. Chevrolet Malibu made in 2010

The 2010 Chevy Malibu is more of a sedan sized car. The Mileage will be 22 within the city and 30 on the highway with the 2.4L four-cylinder engine. $ 26,605 can be the most you pay for the MSRP while $ 21,825 will be the least amount you pay.

Maintenance for five years costs about $ 1,319
Five-year repair cost – $ 431

6. 2010 Honda Civic

With its four cylinder engine sizes being so small, the Honda Civic has great fuel economy. 2.0 L is going to be the max of the 2010 Civic, no matter which one you choose between sedan or coupe.

MSRP range – $ 16,255 – $ 23,800
Five-year maintenance cost – $ 1,270
Five-year repair cost – $ 521

5. 2010 Honda Fit

This Honda is described with the great word “Fit. A hatchback that gets 28 mpg city/35 mpg highway is perfect for a value-conscious consumer on the go.

You’ll pay $ 15,700 to $ 17,260 upfront
Five-year maintenance cost – $ 1,245
$ 521 could be how much you pay for repairs in five years

4. 2009 Saab 9-7x

The Saab 9-7x has a 6.0 L V8 engine as it is one of the two cars from 2009. That power may only net 20 mpg highway, but other costs (apart from purchase) are low.

Costs about $ 42,615 to $ 49,105
Five-year maintenance cost – $ 1,214
$ 600 can be what you pay for repairs in five years

3. Saab 9.3 from 2009

The 2009 Saab 9-3 has accessible sedan, wagon, and convertible models

$ 30,360 could be the min price you pay with $ 51,330 being the max price you will pay
Five years of maintenance will cost around $ 1,183
Repairs will cost you $ 520 for five years

2. 2010 Saab

And here’s the next year’s model.

MSRP range – $ 28,900 – $ 45,080
Maintenance for five years will cost you $ 1,183
$ 535 could be what you pay for five years of repairs

1. Mini Cooper

You should be able to pay only $ 1,160 in repairs for five years. The 2010 MINI Cooper is stylish, dependable, and has great gas mileage.

MSRP range – $ 18,800 – $ 34,000
Five-year repair cost – $ 853

More information about this topic at these websites

Automotive.com
automotive.com/best-cars/least-expensive-cars-to-maintain/index.html
The 2010 MINI Cooper and “Mission Control”
youtube.com/watch?v=qmX6Ns-we3M

Media makes a mountain of mild mannered Maryland earthquake

A low magnitude earthquake in Maryland that would make California residents laugh scared the daylights out of Washington D.C.. The trains ran on time despite the D.C. earthquake, and there was no property damage or traffic delays. But after the ground rumbled and buildings vibrated for about 10 seconds, thousands of confused individuals dialed 911. There was no word of fighter jets scrambling or members of the executive branch being hustled to an undisclosed location.

Media hype fixates on D.C. earthquake

The magnitude of the earthquake in Maryland was considered mild but because it affected Washington D.C., the earthquakes effects were magnified a hundredfold by the media. MSNBC reports the D.C. earthquake, as outlined by the U.S. Geological Survey, hit at 5:05 a.m. with a3.6 Richter scale magnitude. The epicenter was near Rockville, Md. According to the USGS, rumbling was reported in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia Pennsylvania and also the D.C. area.

D.C. not worried about earthquake risk—until now

A geophysicist with the USGS who was not shocked by the D.C. earthquake told the Washington post the temblor wasn’t “something out of the ordinary”. But she added that it was rare for a quake measuring above 3 to hit the area. Since a database was created in 1974 to track seismic activity, the quake was the largest measures. As to Washington D.C. earthquake risk, the largest magnitude earthquake before Friday morning’s was a tremor of 2.7 on the Richter scale in 1993, Vaughan said. As outlined by USGS earthquake data, a 2.6 tremor in registered 1990 and 2.5 shivers showed up in 1997, 1993 and 1974.

The earthquake was mistaken as a jet crash

Within two hours following the 10 second earthquake in Maryland, more than 6,700 people weighed in on the USGS website. One witness told CNN that the quake woke him up sounding like a jet crashing outside his bedroom window. CNN also interviewed a woman named Judy Rudolf who said the quake sounded like an explosion. The USGS said it was possible that smaller aftershocks might hit the area however they will die out in a couple of days.

Find more info here

msnbc.msn.com

washingtonpost.com

cnn.com

Bad credit loans for car purchases increasing

Recent statistics from the car-lending industry are showing that it is easier to get car loans with poor credit. At each and every tier of credit rating, it is becoming easier to get car loans. Additional choices for bad-credit borrowers are also expanding. Article resource – Bad credit loans for car purchases increasing by Personal Money Store.

Drop in lending short term loan

During 2008, the amount of lending of installment loans to customers with a bad credit score dropped off a cliff. Automobile loans, depending on the credit rating of the borrower, were approved about 60 to 90 percent of the time before 2008. In 2009, only about 5 percent of applications for auto loan financing from bad-credit borrowers were approved. Even borrowers with good credit only had a 70 percent chance of getting an auto loans bad credit.

Auto lending’s effect on the economy

Auto lending has a definite effect on the financial industry. The auto industry accounts for about 4 percent of the U.S. economy. 250,000 auto-industry jobs have been chopped since the economic downturn began. The simple explanation is that more auto jobs are lost when fewer cars are sold.

Getting better lending options

For borrowers who are planning to buy a new automobile, you will find growing opportunities for extra cash. To help control risk, numerous lenders are requiring bigger down payments or more valuable trade-ins for bad-credit borrowers.Certain incentives, like zero percent interest, are helping lure customers back to car lots too. Most of the new automobile loan are coming from financiers and banks that specialize in smaller loans, rather than big banks. If your credit is anything but perfect, though, then the auto-lending market right now is incredibly tough. Just two to three years ago, there was a 60 percent chance of a “subprime” borrower getting an autoloans. Though the rates are now improving, approval rates at the moment stand at about 9 percent.

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

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After panic broke out over a potential flaw in the iPhone 4.0, an Apple press conference was called for. A potential iPhone recall was on many minds, but there can be no iPhone recall. Instead, iPhone 4.0 owners can sign up to get a free case for their iPhones to fix the antenna problem. Apple CEO Steve Jobs talked about it at length along with some other things at the Apple press conference.

It’s called Antennagate

A partial transcript is accessible on the Wall Street Journal site. Steve Jobs began the Apple press conference by referring to the issue as Antennagate and saying the issue is common to all smartphones, not just the iPhone 4.0. He demonstrated other phones with the very same problems. Jobs fessed up the iPhone 4.0 did drop less than one more call per 100 calls than the iPhone 3GS.

What’s Apple doing about it?

You will find bumpers for the phone, but not enough for every person. Instead, Apple is offering a free case to every person that owns an iPhone 4.0. The offer could be good until Sept 30, and everyone who bought bumpers can get a refund for the bumpers and a free case. However, if you bought a 3rd party case for iPhone 4.0 are out of luck. For the next 30 days, individuals who still aren’t happy with the iPhone 4.0 can get a full refund.

What got Antennagate on the radar

The gist of Antennagate was that a common imperfection in smartphones was found in the iPhone 4.0. The main difference between it and also the previous iPhone is negligible. About one half of one percent of the people who bought the iPhone observed it, and freaked out. It was then exploited by the media.

Rest assured, Apple is working on it, as they spent $ 100 million designing the antenna to start with. AT and T reported fewer than 2 percent of iPhone 4.0 buyers returned their phone, but 6 percent of iPhone 3GS buyers did.

Additional information at these websites

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

The beginning point of online learning – Online Degree Navigator

Learning online is a good way to either continue or start an education. Deciding which school to enroll in, though, could be overwhelming. The Online Degree Navigator service is one that helps you get pointed in the right direction. Extensive search and compare choices, real reviews from current and former students and an expert rating system all make it easier to choose which online school to attend.

Breaking down the opportunities with Online Degree Navigator

Online Degree Navigator is designed to help you sort through all the choices for online learning. You’ve got choices for sorting through your school choices by their time to completion, cost of tuition, or accreditation. Combined with the expert rating system, Online Degree Navigator can help you quickly sort through the avalanche of details to discover what you really want to know.

The reviews from real students

One of the best parts of looking for a school through Online Degree Navigator is the real student reviews. You will find reviews from previous and current students of almost any school. There is no review better than the one from a student who has been there. If you want to ask specific questions or talk with current and former students, the Student Community forums give you that opportunity.

Online Degree Navigator provides the details you need

When you are looking at attending an online school, the opportunities are practically endless. Choosing a school that is accredited, affordable, and fits your goals doesn’t have to be a challenge. Online Degree Navigator helps you sort through the marketing-speak to choose a school that actually fits you. In the end, it makes sense to choose where to go to get an online education whenever you have all the information – opinions of students, cost of attending, and options of experts.

Money Magazine Best Places to Live are not big cities

Small town living comes out on top as Money Magazine’s “Best Places to Live” are revealed. The din of big cities is typically too expensive and less than inviting for families – plus they’re ultra-expensive. CNN Money claims the major criteria used to pick the Money Magazine “Best Places to Live” for 2010 incorporated job availability, quality schooling, public safety, recreational opportunities and the x-factor of the city’s overall charm. What cities make the list are the best of the best when it comes to America’s family-oriented communities.

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

Money Magazine ‘Best Places to Live’ – a sample

Whet your appetite with this sampling of Money Magazine “Best Places to Live”. Onboard Informatics provided CNN Money with the population, income, sales tax and other data that made the list possible. Considering the overall quality of life in these cities, it is easy to extrapolate the rate of short term loan use – quick unsecured loans or secured loans – is below the national average, as the job rate and income levels enable consumers to better deal with financial shocks.

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

One of several Minnesota cities in the top 100, Eden Prairie boasts rolling hills and access to many lakes. Schools rate highly in Eden Prairie, as does the overall health of its people because of the preponderance of outdoor activity. Economically, the city is four points below the national unemployment average and has a perfect AAA bond rating from Moody’s. Considering the number of large employers that call the city home, it is no wonder that Eden Prairie provides over 50,000 jobs within city limits.

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

Ellicott City boasts a highly diverse populace, commendable educational facilities and homes that individuals can afford in and out of the bustling downtown center. Eight thousand jobs are provided by the NSA and Fort Meade, and also the federal government already has plans to add thousands more. And if that isn’t really enough, Baltimore and Washington D.C. are nearby, which expands the job possibilities greatly.

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

Newton benefits greatly from the presence of Boston College and Newton-Wellesley Hospital, and the Greater Boston area public transport system makes for a mobile populace. Newton is divided into multiple “villages,” and each reportedly has its own New England charm.

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

Bellevue is a tech mecca, thanks to the presence of Microsoft, T-Mobile, Verizon and Expedia, among others. Cultural activities and also the natural beauty of forests and Lake Washington beckon families. While housing is far from cheap, anything else about Bellevue makes it a cinch for the Money Magazine “Best Places to Live” list.

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

McKinney, Texas has a well-maintained downtown area that mixes modern with 19th century.Raytheon and also the nearness of Dallas have contributed mightily to McKinney’s job picture. When it comes to family fun, McKinney offers lots of parks and places to go hiking, which makes a big difference when it comes to overall quality of life.

More details on this topic

CNN

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

Are electric car skeptics going to be convinced by the Chevy Volt battery warranty?

The Chevy Volt lithium-ion battery is the part that General Motors is counting on for its future. To inspire confidence among potential buyers of a limited number of Chevy Volts, GM announced Wednesday the Volt’s lithium-ion battery will be guaranteed for eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Chevy Volt battery different from other electric cars

The battery for the Chevy Volt is better than GM’s convention car engines and transmissions exact same warranties. Comparable warranties are placed on hybrid car models such as the Toyota Prius and Ford Escape, according to CNN. But the Volt’s lithium-ion battery uses a chemistry different from Ford and Toyota. The car can be powered for 40 miles with just the battery which is a concern for some.

Volt battery is expected to last numerous years reports GM

A GM spokesman told CNN that the Chevy Volt lithium-ion battery warranty will be transferable to a new autoloans when the original buyer wants to sell the electric car. GM really wants this longer warranty to help convince those who are skeptic of it that the Volt’s lithium battery will last much longer. It was reported by the Associated Press the batteries wear out like computer and cell phone batteries and are hard to replace. The 400 pound Volt battery will probably cost thousands to replace.

GM confident in Volt battery technology

With a 120-volt power, the Volt battery can charge in 8-10 hours when in a 240-volt hookup, it only takes 4 hours. Auto Week reports the GM warranty will cover the lithium-ion battery’s 161 components. The Electric drive components, thermal management system, and electric drive components will even be covered by the warranty. The Volt battery has a liquid heating and cooling system, meant to extend the battery’s life by keeping it at optimal temperatures, and GM has confidence in this which is what allows them to have the longer warranty. The Volt is the only such mass-market car with a liquid-powered thermal management system. The Nissan Leaf electric car, available in December, has an air-cooled battery.

Chevy Volt has a wait list

After being convinced to borrow money for the Chevy Volt lithium-ion battery, you nevertheless probably can’t get one unless you are lucky. Another CNN article about the Volt said GM plans to build only 10,000 Volts in 2011. 30,000 Volts are planned to be made in 2012, but that won’t meet demands nevertheless. GM also plans to only sell the car in certain places. The Volt will initially only be sold in six states and the District of Columbia. With limited supply, expect to pay more for your Volt than its advertised sticker price of about $ 40,000–or about $ 32,000 after federal tax credits for electric cars.

Find more info here

CNN
money.cnn.com/2010/07/14/autos/volt_battery_warranty/?npt=NP1
Associated Press
google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jG137SoV7h3AdI0SyNe4d5rVeicQD9GUVQU83
Auto Week
autoweek.com/article/20100714/GREEN/100719940

After reception tests, Consumer reports doesn't recommend iPhone 4G

Consumer reports do not recommend the iPhone 4G. Because of the reception issues, the magazine dropped its iPhone 4G bomb. iPhone 4G antenna issues and what the media has coined as the “iPhone death grip” have dominated headlines about Apple since the business released the gadget last month. Apple says there will soon be a software update showing accurate display of signal strength. However, Consumer Reports ran its own tests on the iPhone 4G and recreated the same exact reception problems everyone has been complaining about.

Post resource: Consumer Reports won’t recommend iPhone 4G after reception tests by Personal Money Store

Free iPhone antenna fix asked for by Consumer Reports<

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

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

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

iPhone antenna solution includes duct tape

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

More details about this topic at these websites:

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

Increasing status of India shown in new currency symbol for rupee

The arcane subject of currency symbols became a hot topic Thursday when India announced that it will implement a unique symbol for the Indian Rupee in world financial markets. Until now, there has been no currency symbol for the Indian rupee, just the abbreviation Rs, Re, or INR. On June 24, the symbol, a hybrid of the Roman letter R and its Hindi equivalent accentuated with a double slash, could be finalized by India’s Union Cabinet. Implementing the new rupee symbol may take a few years and is bound to cost billions of dollars, depending on the recent implementation of the Euro symbol. Resource for this article – India seeks elite status with new currency symbol for the rupee by Personal Money Store.

New currency symbol marks the rise of the Rupee

The currency of India, the world’s second largest democracy, had no consistent means of identification in world financial markets. The Deccan Chronicle reports the new rupee symbol is the winner of a design competition to create a currency symbol representing the historical and cultural ethos of India. Confusion in world financial markets by neighboring countries that use abbreviated Rs for their currency symbol will end with the new rupee symbol, Indian officials said. The rupee may also be more tradeable in the west with a distinct identity as India strives to become one of the world’s financial leaders.

Will elite club of currencies welcome the rupee?

Until now unique currency symbols existing only for the U.S. dollar, European Euro, British Pound, and Japanese Yen. The BBC reports that with its new rupee symbol, the Indian government is declaring itself a member in this elite class of world economies. As many as 36,000 entries in the rupee symbol contest were judged by a panel of artists, officials and bankers. A design from a design teacher at the Indian Institute of Technology was declared the winner. The winning prize was Rs 2.5 lakh which is about $ 5,350.

Billions spent to adopt euro symbol

Experts say implementing a new currency symbol is an costly process. Suite 101 reports that testing the symbol for technical applications like the web, banners and mobile phones is rigorous and difficult. Plus, it needs to be adaptable to computer keyboards and a large investment is required to print a new banknote design. The BBC article pointed out that to update computer systems to deal with the new euro symbol cost them upwards of $ 50 billion.

Discover more info

deccanchronicle.com

bbc.co.uk

suite101.com

Wells Fargo to shut down Finance Division

After acquiring Wachovia Bank and taking heavy losses from subprime mortgages, Wells Fargo has announced that it could be shutting down its Finance Division. Wells Fargo plans on chopping 3,800 jobs from the Finance Division as part of the sizing-down. Wells Fargo will still offer line-of-credit loans and other financial products — just not through a separate division.

Source for this article: Wells Fargo to shut down Finance Division by Personal Money Store

What the Finance Division does

Wells Fargo Banking and Wells Fargo Financial have been two separate divisions for over 100 years. The Finance Division has been responsible for providing small loans, large loans, auto financing and mortgages. The Finance Division currently holds about $ 24.7 billion in real estate loans, and all but $ 1.5 billion is considered subprime. The division lost about 4.62 percent of value in the first quarter, which is about on-level with other major lenders.

The Wells Fargo merger with Wachovia

In 2008, Wells Fargo started a federally-pushed merger with Wachovia. Wells Fargo brought in liabilities also as branches. Considering that Wells Fargo and Wells Fargo Home Mortgage have a combined 8,800 branches, it’s not a surprise that there are “too many”. The takeover of Wachovia was forced by government regulators, who wanted to ensure that Wachovia bank would not fail. Formally, Wachovia was dissolved on March 20, 2010.

Lending at Wells Fargo will continue

Customers who are borrowing money will still be able to approach Wells Fargo for help. Inside Wells Fargo branches, fast personal cash loan and automobile loan will nevertheless be offered as a part of the banking products. The Wells Fargo mortgage loan business is going to be focusing more on loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration. Loans are less likely to default back to the bank when they are supported by the federal government. The current $ 14.7 billion in auto loans and $ 7.6 billion in quick unsecured loans will continue to be serviced by the business.

Takes steps to raise the number- known your credit score

Knowing your credit score is the most basic fundamental of credit repair. But it’s even more significant to know what affects your credit score. Knowing how to proceed to improve your credit score is even more important.

Resource for this article: Know your credit score, and take steps to raise the number by Personal Money Store

Getting your free credit score

Thanks to financial reform, doing something about your credit score is easier than ever. Free credit report services are all over the internet. Until now, those free credit reports didn’t include your credit score. You had to pay extra for that. But part of the lately passed financial reform bill ensures that you are able to get a free credit report that contains your credit score once per year.

A very low credit score?

When it comes to credit repair, a lot of people don’t know how they affect their credit score. For example, as outlined by Wallet Pop, many individuals assume if they pay their bills on time, their credit score is good. Even if you always pay on time, when your credit cards are maxed out, your score is lower than it should be. When credit bureaus see borrowing to the limit, they see risky behavior. Tackling excess credit card debt is your first priority when improving credit scores.

Credit repair – pay off credit cards first

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

College agencies should be the last to settle

Your score is already hurt if you’ve been taken to collections. Paying the agency won’t change any of the numbers. According to Bankrate.com, by the time your debt goes to collection, your creditor has already written you off. Although paying the collection agency will end the harassment, it won’t erase the delinquency from your credit report. Bear in mind a surprise call from the collection agency can result from missed payments on anything from utility bills to library fines. The key to safeguarding your credit score is to avoid collection in the first place.

To charge cards, say no

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

Credit cards not canceled

Sometimes when it comes to credit repair, it looks like the deck is stacked against you. Especially when it lowers your score to cancel credit. The line of credit carried by a credit card goes away when canceled. Your credit goes down with less credit accessible. Instead of canceling, just zero the credit card out and throw it as part of your dresser drawer. New credit card rules prohibit all of the credit card companies from canceling cards you do not use–which used to hurt your credit score–so you don’t have to worry about that anymore.

Wisely use installment loans

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

Find more data here:

Wallet Pop

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

Bankrate.com

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

Confidential details revealed by Medicare NPI registry

The NPI registry, or National Provider Identification registry, is a database of all Medicare providers. In a system that handles hundreds of millions of pieces of confidential data, though, there are a few weaknesses. The newest NPI database discloses additional details that opens the door for some interesting Medicare fraud.

Article source: Medicare NPI registry reveals confidential information by Personal Money Store

The big NPI registry

The Medicare system is a complicated maze that depends on the NPI registry, National Supplier Clearinghouse numbers and Medicare Administrative Contractors. Released very recently, the NPI Registry database was named the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System. The NPPES was designed to make easier payments of Medicare claims. In the end, though, the NPPES also gives out the National Supplier Clearinghouse number of a provider, which opens up both patient and provider information that should be confidential.

Registry details for NPI

The National Provider Identification registry works along with other cogs in the Medicare system. With just the NSC number and a patient’s claim number, everyone can access information on payment of claims, a patient’s diagnosis and procedures, and much more information. In other words, the new NPI registry opens up the bones of the Medicare payment system to some possible exploitation.

Fixing issues in the NPI registry

Contacting the 3 major arms of the Medicare payment system to ask about the NPI registry problem resulted in being given the runaround, as outlined by Home Care Magazine. The suggestion of deleting the NPI information from the database, though, means that a provider might not get paid. In other words, this means that providers have to decide between being paid by Medicare for services they provide, or safeguarding the personal info of the doctors and patients. Though several solutions effortlessly coded by dedicated programmers are suggested, the NPI registry has not said they will be implementing any of them.

Find more information here:

Home Care Magazine

homecaremag.com/news/nsc-numbers-revealed-npi-registry/

No interest loans given to California state employees

Because California has not yet passed a fiscal-year spending budget, all state employees are facing a cut in their paycheck. The governor has asked that until a spending budget is passed, all employees have their pay cut to minimum wage. Some banks and credit unions are offering a instant money to these employees, including no-interest installment payday loans.

Article resource: California state employees offered low cost loan opportunities by Personal Money Store

California's pay cut plan

The state of California hadn't passed a budget when their fiscal year started on July 1. Without actually passing a budget, California is going to have a $ 19.1 billion budget deficit . Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered that all 200,000 state employees have their wages reduced to minimum wage until a budget is passed. The reduction in pay, though, may or may not be possible because, as outlined by John Chaing, the system needs a serious overhaul.

“Impasse” loans offered

Bank of The United States and Wells Fargo have started offering payday loans no fax called “budget impasse” products. These loans are offered for no interest and no credit check. Instead, state employees are extended additional credit or cash money to make up the gap. When the state spending budget is passed, employees can be given a retroactive payment that they can use to settle these impasse loans.

How California employees qualify for impasse loans

California state employees who have to get a personal loans to cover the spending budget impasse do not quickly qualify for these zero-interest loans. Instead, the state employees must already have an account with the bank or credit union. Given that California has only passed a balanced budget by the beginning of the fiscal year in 10 of the last 34 years, it is not surprising that numerous banks have created solutions to help employees that are left within the dust.

Realities of distracted driving- drunk doesn’t cover it

For drivers on the road, distracted driving is the newest worry. The belief is that teen drivers are the ultimate distracted drivers, but new studies are showing exactly the opposite. Between texting, phone calls and having the internet in their hands, adults are really probably the most distracted drivers on the road. What is the real risk?

Post resource: Realities of distracted driving – Drunk doesn’t begin to cover it by Car Deal Expert

Who’s the person who drives distracted usually?

A recent poll from the Pew Internet and American Life Project shows that adults are usually probably the most distracted drivers; 47 percent of adults say that they have sent text messages while driving. A full 75 percent of adults use their cell phones when they’re driving, when only 52 percent of 16 and 17-year-olds do. On top of that, more than 40 percent of individuals say they have been in a vehicle where someone else’s cell phone use has put them in significant danger.

Effects of distracted driving

Most drivers know that driving distracted is a bad idea. A University of Utah study came up with scary results. Driving with a .08 blood alcohol level the risk of a crash by four times. Driving when texting, though, has been shown to increase the chance of a crash by up to eight times. Driving distracted is twice as dangerous as driving drunk.

Distracted driving and the laws

Numerous states have passed laws against distracted driving. There are eight states that restrict handheld cell phones during driving; 29 states ban “novice drivers,” and 18 states ban bus drivers from using their cell phones while driving. Texting when driving was banned by thirty states. There is a list of cell phone bans on the Governors Highway Safety Association site.

Discover more data:

Pew Internet and American Life Project

pewinternet.org/

University of Utah

psych.utah.edu/lab/appliedcognition/

Governors Highway Safety Association website

ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html

Small business loans survive credit crisis at Sams Club

Small business lending is adapting to survive. Small company loans are an endangered species during the credit crisis, a stubborn legacy of the financial meltdown, housing crisis and Great Recession. But small company credit is making a comeback in unconventional ways, even as a miserly banking industry holds back the U.S. economy as it tries to fight its way out of the recession. The latest innovator is Sam’s Club, which announced a program to offer small company loans to its members.

Post resource: Small business loans adapt to survive credit crisis at Sams Club by Personal Money Store

Some innovative small company lending

The credit crisis is holding back the growth, hiring and spending of all of the businesses that Sam’s Club wants as customers. MarketWatch reports that Sam’s Club, a unit of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., is testing a program to offer qualified members small-business loans from $ 5,000 to $ 25,000 backed by the Small business Administration. Small business loans could be offered online to all of Sam’s Club membership through a partnership with Superior Financial Group. Members who apply for a small business loan online from Sam’s Club get $ 100 off the application fee, a 20 percent discount and a 7.5 APR. Terms are locked in for 10 years.

Small business consumer spending stimulus

Sam’s Club decided to start offering small business loans online after a business survey of small company customers showed us that tight credit was cutting into Sam’s Club retail sales. The New York Times reports that just less than half of Sam’s Club membership is small business customers, accounting for just more than half of its revenue. So far about 200 individuals have applied for the SBA loans and about 45 percent have been approved. The company says it doesn’t expect small company loans online to be a huge moneymaker, though it earns $ 50 for each financed loan. Sam’s club hopes the payoff is to get consumers spending more freely.

A new innovator for small company loans

Small business credit also is loosening at some banks. JPMorgan Chase announced a program to stimulate small company growth and hiring. The JPMorgan Chase small business loan program is not as accessible as the pilot for Sam’s Club members, but it represents one more oasis in the credit crisis desert. The offer contains lowering the interest rate by 0.5 percent on a new business line of credit for each new employee hired, for up to 3 employees, for the life of the loan. Up to $ 250,000, the offer is available for businesses that qualify.

Motives involved in small business lending

The Sam’s Club small business loans online pilot seems like as an unusual move for parent business Wal-Mart. According to MarketWatch, Wal-Mart has been accused of harming small businesses with its aggressive pricing, scale and business methods. And a report at bnet said Wal-Mart chose Superior Financial, which is not a bank, as a partner because ongoing efforts to add banking to its resume makes the financial industry nervous.

Success stories from small business loans

But Sam’s Club small company loan customers like Michael Golata as an example, do not care about the politics behind the program. Golata, a contractor in Louisville, Ky., for United Parcel Service, told the New York Times that he applied online for a $ 10,000 small business loan at 7.5 APR and got the money in 24 hours. He then bought a new truck, hired 3 drivers and went from billing UPS $ 3,000 a week to $ 8,000.

More details accessible at these sites:

Marketwatch.com

marketwatch.com/story/sams-club-takes-on-credit-crunch-offering-loans-2010-07-06?reflink=MW_news_stmp

New York Times

nytimes.com/2010/07/05/business/05loan.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=sam%27s%20club%20small%20business%20loans&st=cse

Bnet

blogs.bnet.com/business-news/?p=3188

Fourth of July recipes contain ice cream and sorbets of the rainbow

A challenge might be fourth of July recipes. A good recipe should be easy, good, and fun. And red white and blue always makes it better. So what could possibly be better for the Fourth of July than ice cream and sorbet?

Source for this article: Fourth of July recipes – Ice cream and sorbets of the rainbow by Personal Money Store

Frozen desserts and also the basics

Frozen desserts, ice cream and sorbet alike, could be perfect Fourth of July barbecue desserts. To make a frozen dessert, you need to take a basic mixture of ingredients and freeze it while also agitating it. This way, the dessert stays light and edible. There are numerous solutions to freeze ice cream. First, you are able to do the picnic-friendly double can method – take a small coffee can, fill it with the dessert mixture, and tape it closed. Put the small can inside a larger can filled with ice and rock salt, tape the whole thing closed, and kick it around until the ice is very close to melted. There are also ice cream makers.

Strawberry sorbet for red

Although strawberry sorbet sounds simple, you are able to do whatever to make it fancy. Blend in a blender or food processor:

Do 1 pound of cut and hulled strawberries
Do a 1/2 cup agave nectar
2 sprigs fresh basil or mint
Then freeze and enjoy!

White ice cream

A basic vanilla, mint, or even almond ice cream could be an amazing white dessert for the Fourth of July. Mix together:

2 cups half and half
The 1 cup whipping cream
The 1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons flavor extract – vanilla bean, mint or almond.
Combine, freeze and enjoy!

Great for blue is a blueberry sorbet

The blue sorbet can be tried for Fourth of July. In a blender or food processor, combine:

Do 2 pints blueberries
The 1 pint blackberries or huckleberries
1/2 cup agave nectar or 1 cup simple syrup
Freeze it, then enjoy!

These recipes are just a couple of suggestions. You can combine, blend and love any kind of fruit, sugar, and flavoring to create fun kinds of desserts. Enjoy the Fourth of July!

Big eyes, big debate

Circle contact lenses are a product numerous people order to make their eyes look bigger. These lenses use dark circles within the whites of the eyes to make the wearer’s iris look much bigger. These lenses are causing a lot of debate, though, because they’re illegal.

Article resource: Circle contact lenses stirring up controversy

Why would you wear circle contacts?

When worn, circle contact lenses make the eyes of the person wearing them look much bigger. Large, dilated eyes are often considered much more attractive. Fashion photography, music videos, and numerous anime cartoons all feature those huge, wide eyes. Some circle contact lenses are barely tinted, providing a very natural look. Other lenses, though, are deeply tinted with purple, pink, blue or other deep colors.

Why circle contact lenses before and after aren’t worth it

Circle contacts cannot be legally bought or sold from any person within the United States. Current U.S. law says that no contact lens can be sold without a prescription. No prescription contact lens manufacturers sell circle contact lenses in the United States. Because of this, the only way to get any circle contact lens is to order them online. The lenses are incredibly expensive, at $ 30 apiece plus international shipping.

Why circle contact lenses might be called dangerous

Because it is a grey-market item, circle contact lenses can pose a serious danger. A lens that fits incorrectly can cause significant infections when they scratch your eye. The lenses may also not meet standards of health or safety. Infections, damaged eyes and permanent damage could be an effect of wearing lenses that aren’t FDA approved. You can order FDA approved cosmetic lenses if you go into an optometrist and get a fitted prescription.

California says no to TANF funds from strip club ATMs

California is within the middle of a titanic budget crisis, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has taken it upon himself to pummel any source of wasted funds into submission – including strip club ATMs. From 2007 to 2009, $ 12,000 in TANF welfare funds were withdrawn from strip club ATMs across California, reports the Los Angeles Times. Sam’s Hofbrau, Seventh Veil and Star Strip are just a few of the clubs under investigation by California’s Department of Social Services.

Resource for this article: Strip club ATMs banned from TANF use in California by Personal Money Store

Strip club ATMs – Portrait of irresponsibility

It’s easy to visualize how strip club ATMs could be used in a less-than-responsible manner, considering that welfare recipients have families to take care of; Schwarzenegger feels this is just cause to terminate the source of supposedly “emergency money”. According to the Times, more than half of casinos and state-licensed poker rooms in California permit welfare recipients to access their quick TANF payday. Department of Social Services spokeswoman Lizelda Lopez said that “common sense” could be used to re-evaluate where emergency welfare cash advance funds should or should not be withdrawn.

Strip club managers ’shocked,’ were unaware of ATM usage

Not surprisingly, strip club owners in question – or at least those who would speak on the topic to the media – claimed to be unaware that their ATMs were TANF approved. The machines under the TANF agreement came third-party from the Quest ATM network, although the owners claimed the machines bore no clear markings that made their designation clear. Mr. Mancini understandably feels that he has done no wrong due to his lack of professed knowledge, although the Times found that $ 1,265 in recent TANF emergency loan withdrawals had occurred in his club.

Smile when you say that, Mr. Mancini. Gov. Schwarzenegger is watching.

Discover more about this topic here:

Los Angeles Times

latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/06/welfare-cash-dispensed-at-strip-clubs.html