Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Acquire free of charge Budweiser beer on September 29 at National Happy Hour

Sept 29 is when you can receive free Budweiser beer for National Happy Hour

Americans have really liked Adolphus Busch’s Budweiser “Bohemian-style” pale lager. This was introduced in 1876. Based on a 2008 report the St. Louis Business Journal, beers through the Busch family corporation Anheuser-Busch held a 50.9 % market share for all beers sold within the United States. Later that same year, nevertheless, Anheuser-Busch sold most of its stock to Belgian-Brazilian beer magnate InBev. American sales went down then. This is as the “King of Beers” grew to become “de Koning van Bieren” after selling off. In order to bring drinkers back to the fold, accounts St. Louis Today, Anheuser-Busch InBev can be giving away totally free beer – yes, free Budweiser – on Sept. 29 during National Happy Hour.

Advertising means giving out free Budweiser

Participating bars and restaurants could be handing out about 500,000 totally free Budweiser beer samples. These will come, based on local and state rules, in 6- and 12-ounce sample sizes. The advertising campaign “Grab some Buds” will run September 25 through Oct. 3 in a massive effort to raise Budweiser United States of America market share, which had dropped to 9.3 % after a high of 26 % in 1988. Evidently, drinkers ages 21 to 27 haven’t ever even picked up de Koning van Bieren meaning the marketing is mostly to drinkers in their mid-20s.

St. Louis Today reports a conversation with President Dave Peacock of Anheuser-Busch InBev. He states, “We want to close that gap.”

If you are ever down in Texas, acquire the deep-fried beer hookup

If you’re of drinking age and happen for making it to the 2010 Texas State Fair, discover Mark Zable. You can compliment your de Koning van Bieren of your choice with what he makes. Receive some of his deep-fried beer. After filling pretzel dough with beer, he dunks for 20 seconds the dough into 375-degree oil. It is the perfect amount to keep the alcoholic content in there while also cooking the dough all the way. The London Telegraph reports that diners discover the treat delicious, and that Zable is trying to patent the cooking process, which may or may not include other secret ingredients.

For the record, Mark Zable uses Guinness. That means no Koning van Bieren.

Further reading

London Telegraph

telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/7973944/Deep-fried-beer-invented-in-Texas.html

St. Louis Business Journal

bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2008/04/21/daily42.html

St. Louis Today

stltoday.com/business/article_a7801e6d-16b3-5ad7-ba55-08475f94a313.html

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budweiser_(Anheuser-Busch)

What’s up with free beer?

youtube.com/watch?v=B1PaVo00U3c



Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Key provisions of new healthcare law go into the works September 23

There was a new health care law transferred. This was about six months ago. September 23 is when many people can start to take advantage of the new U.S. health care program. Many of the more controversial parts of health care reform do not start for a few more years. Thursday will be when coverage will start for even people with pre-existing conditions. The anti-health care ideas the Republicans have spread are becoming more common. President Obama defended the health care reform law quite a bit though. The Health care reform law is something many Americans wanted until it actually is beginning to kick in.

Health care reform will not help most Americans until 2011

Until next year, most Americans will not actually be receiving any of the benefits that come from Health care reform. After September 23, changes will happen automatically for new health care plans, says the Wall Street Journal. Employed individuals who get health insurance as a job benefit won’t see any changes until their plans renew during open enrollment — typically Jan. 1. Any person who can’t afford health insurance will benefit as changes on September 23 bridge the United States of America until every little thing changes in 2014. At that time, most Americans could be required to have health insurance or else be fined.

Health insurance changes going into effect

Key changes that go into the works for new health plans started after Sept. 23 involved the following, courtesy of CNN:

Children under age 19 can no longer be denied coverage for pre-existing conditions. The exact same goes for adults in 2014.

Insurance corporations can no longer drop a consumer when they get sick or look for mistakes on their application for the purpose to deny payment when they get sick.

Preventive care such as physicals, mammograms and colonoscopies no longer require a co-payment or deductible.

Insurance companies can no longer impose lifetime dollar limits on essential benefits, such as lifesaving treatments.

Patients no longer need to get prior authorization from their insurance business or a doctor’s referral to see a pediatrician or OB/GYN.

Insurance companies must discontinue prior authorization for ER services. Plus, they can’t charge higher co-payments for out-of-network ER providers.

Insurance businesses cannot refuse a claim in appeal, and have to continue paying for treatment until the appeal is resolved.

Public opinion stopped by White House with answers

Health care reform has been a huge topic of controversy considering all the misinformation being spread by Republican campaigns. A recent Rasmussen poll counted 61 percent in favor of repealing the health care law. According to the Los Angeles Times, a new website has been created by the white house called whitehouse.gov/healthreform. The site is meant to fend of attacks coming from Republicans. The site presents stories from around the U.S. about how the law has benefited ordinary Americans. On Wednesday there was a meeting that Obama had with state insurance commissioners where the new provisions being changed on September 23 were discussed. He said:

“These things are intended not to have government more involved in health care. They’re designed for making sure that you’ve basic protections with your interactions with your insurance company, that you’re getting what you paid for, that you’ve some basic measures of protection.”

Discover more details on this subject

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100922-706473.html

CNN

money.cnn.com/2010/09/22/news/economy/health_reform_six_month_anniversary_package/index.htm

Los Angeles times

latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-new-health-benefits-20100923,,6153569.story



Monday, September 27, 2010

Individuals planting pot use Teamsters banner to unionize

The recession has really hurt a lot of the organized labor that needs to get more people. The Teamsters Union is no exception, and the union is looking with expectant eye toward what is proving to be a growth industry in The United States. The Associated Press reports the planting business of Cannabis is what Teamsters is looking toward now.

Teamsters working to get marijuana growers unionized

Marijuana growers, about 40 to be exact, were picked up in September by Teamsters. There is no proof, however numerous assume the members must mostly be from California. This is because in the whole nation, California has the most permissive medical weed laws. Many wonder how Teamsters plans to protect its members that are committing federal crimes with the planting season.

Lou Marchetti, Teamsters liaison between the newly signed growers and Oakland, Calif., Teamsters Local 70, told the AP that he hadn’t planned on such a thing as organizing cannabis workers when he joined the union 34 years ago.

He said, “This is a whole new ballgame”.

When speaking on Teamsters getting involved with marijuana growers in California, Marchetti explained the company wouldn’t be working with any enterprise it thought was breaking the law in its proceedings.

More work with Marjyn Investments LCC for Teamsters

Gardening, trimming and even cloning are jobs held by employees of Marjyn Investments LLC, a company that contracts with medical pot patients to grow cannabis plants. The Teamsters Union works with contracts. They started the two year contract. Benefits were added as well. These contain pensions, paid vacations and health insurance. Wages are expected to rise in the next 15 months, says Teamsters Local 70. $18 to $25.75 per hour is the expected increase.

Getting difficulties with harvesting pot out of the system

Medical purposes are the only reason why states like California can get away with allowing marijuana plants to be grown. Otherwise, it is against federal law. It is possible for the federal government to start looking into Marjyn Investments a little more. If this were to happen, Marchetti does not know how Teamsters would react. Based on the AP, being a marijuana trimmer is really hard work. This is why if the trimmers were abused in any way, the government would not step in on their behalf. In Oakland, there is an assistant regional director for National Labor Relations Board. This is Michael Leong who states the category of farm workers may not even include Teamster marijuana growers. If they really aren’t farm workers, then things change. The NLRB no longer has jurisdiction over them.

Cultivation considered to be ‘in the shadows’ with cannabis dispensaries planting still

You will find no laws on how companies like Marjyn Investments LLC should be regulated although California allowed dispensaries of pot to grow continually. Labor standards aren’t figured out for the area yet. Of course, many individuals look forward to working in that area at some time within the future. At this point, one of the only things that is clear as applicants await their permits to open shop is that membership in the Teamsters Union is not required in order to operate.

More on this topic

Associated Press

newser.com/article/d9ibmhtg0/us-teamsters-boost-membership-by-adding-medical-pot-growers-to-the-union-rolls.html



Few don't need extra money as household wealth drops

The recent proclamation of the recession being over seems dubious at best, as many sectors are still depressed. Though recessions are technically over when economic contractions stop, but the depressed state of employment, family prosperity and real estate would seem to contradict this idea. Net worth, or household wealth, is the amount of debt owed subtracted from the amount of assets. For instance, the value of a home an individual or family owns or investments held are assets. The total of all charge cards, personal loans, or debt is subtracted from the total value of assets. It’s not exactly advanced calculus. However, recent economic data has just a little to say about this. Net worth for Americans is at a particularly low point.

Bad news for family prosperity

The last couple of years have been an economic roller coaster. Household wealth has been via those ups and downs too. This summer was dismal, as household wealth over all fell through the floor. Household wealth, as outlined by CNN, dropped 2.8 percent. The data is compiled by the Federal Reserve. That amounted to $1.5 trillion of instant money down the drain. Negative effects were mostly felt by the stock market, though mutual funds and retirement savings were also hit. The bulk of losses occurred in stock markets. Individual stocks overall lost $912 billion over the summer.

Property is really a plucky field

There are two huge problem areas within the recession. Real estate, where it all started, and employment. After a near nuclear winter, real estate is starting to slowly improve. There is actually a little more value in real estate overall. Housing added $46 billion over the summer. However, this is an improvement of .3 percent. Overall, the real estate industry lost $17 trillion between mid 2007 to the end of 2009. It seems housing and employment are the areas that really need additional money, however those statistics have not seemed to benefit at all from the money advanced from stimulus programs.

Recuperation is taking place

Some good news has come out of all this, though. The stock markets are already rallying, according to USA Today. A double dip recession does not seem likely, as slow but steady recovery is expected.

Discover more details on this subject

CNN

money.cnn.com/2010/09/17/news/economy/household_net_worth/index.htm

USA Today

usatoday.com/money/economy/2010-09-17-net-worth_N.htm



Friday, September 24, 2010

Refinancing a mortgage works together with cautious long range preparing

Home finance loan are a special occasion these days as mortgage financial institutions depend on refinancing—currently 80 percent of the market—to survive. Record low mortgage rates have existing homeowners thinking about refinancing to lower their monthly payments or shorten the term of the home finance loan. Mortgage refinancing includes factors such as rates of interest and taxes that determine whether or not it’s a good idea. Homeowners must also be aware of the long-term effects resulting from the decision between refinancing with a 15-year or 30-year home finance loan.

Mortgage sector stays profitable with refinancing

By refinancing a mortgage, a homeowner can conserve thousands of dollars in mortgage payments each year. As reported by SmartMoney, more homeowners than ever are attempting to refinance their mortgages. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, refinancing accounted for 80.5 percent of total mortgage lending. That rate virtually doubles the amount of activity the MBA recorded within the previous 18 years. Low personal property rates are fueling the trend. The average rate for a 15-year mortgage was 4.02 percent. During the very same period last year average rates for 30-year fixed and 15-year fixed mortgages were 5.54 and 4.97 percent.

When refinancing mortgage makes sense

At first glance the savings realized from lower payments appears to be a no-brainer. However, refinancing a mortgage doesn’t always work as advertised. Refinancing only makes sense if a net gain in savings in realized when the home loan is paid off. Homeowners have to determine their closing costs and monthly savings. Divide closing costs by savings; that shows how numerous months it takes to break even. For making refinancing worthwhile, homeowners need to remain living within the house long enough for refinancing to pay off. Sometimes taxes can fool uninformed refinancers. The amount paid on home finance loan interest subtracts from taxes owed, when most closing costs don’t. At the exact same time, upping money flow by refinancing with a 30-year home loan results in more long term interest paid.

A fascinating refinancing approach

Many homeowners are refinancing with 15-year mortgages. Lower total interest costs are the primary reason. However, Kathy M. Kristof at the Los Angeles Times writes that a shorter-term loan means a higher monthly payment. Even for homeowners who can afford a higher monthly payment, there may be smarter ways for them to invest their cash. Kristof explains the possibilities using a $300,000 loan. A 15-year mortgage has a total cost of $399,420. A 30-year mortgage: $547,223. However, the 30-year mortgage has a monthly payment $700 less. All that monthly savings, pumped into a diverse collection of stocks—with a documented average return going back 83 years of 9.6 percent, would yield $279,305 within 15 years. Halfway into the 30-year loan, the proceeds could retire the $198,701 balance. That would leave $80,000 to play with. Of course, investing within the stock market would be risky, however in this case, it would bring a greater reward than refinancing a 15-year home fin! ance loan.

Additional reading

SmartMoney

smartmoney.com

New York Times

newyourktimes.com

Los Angeles Times

latimes.com



Next year, the Ford Ranger will cease being made

There will never be another American produced Ford Ranger following 2011 There has barely been a major change made to the Ranger in a long time. The pickup used to be one of the best selling light pickups on the market. Ford didn’t want to mess with a great thing. In 2011, the Ranger as it is known could have its swan song and definitely won’t be produced anymore. Ford will try to steer customers toward the Ecoboost F150 with a V6.

A remarkably well-liked pickup truck

Throughout North The United States, the Ranger was the best selling light pickup for practically all of the 1990s. The truck was just about every little thing a person could ask for, and so its success was deserved. It was priced thousands lower than a full size. It also got pretty decent gas mileage. The Ranger was capable of just about any task on or off road, and it was reliable. Other light truck makers, like Toyota, upgraded light pickups to consist of crew cabs and more seating, which began to seal the fate of the Ranger. In 1999, according to Wikipedia, Ford sold more than 348,000 Rangers. That was the high water mark. By 2009, sales had slipped to 55,000.

An era ends

Ford had to come up with something else, or redesign the Ranger. Ford decided to come up with something else. There is a new Ranger like truck, according to USA Today, that can be sold overseas, however not in America. Ford could be trying to push the turbo V-6 F150 instead. Thinking about the F150 is more costly than the Ranger, and the Ecoboost turbo V-6 comes with an additional premium. Fleet sales have been the bulk of Ranger sales for the last few years running.

Oh, plus a facility is shutting down

Adding insult to injury, Ford is also closing the plant that used to make the Ranger. The Ranger is made at the plant in St. Paul, Minn., and because the automobile is within the firing line, the plant is also. Ford did make an effort to give the truck a facelift. The company tried a crew cab Ranger model, but found it would sell better with a different name. That model is nevertheless getting sold. It’s called the Explorer Sport Trac.

Additional reading

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Ranger#Yearly_American_sales

USA Today

content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2010/09/ford-ranger-small-pickup-older-than-sand-dead-in-us-redesigned-for-rest-of-planet/1



Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Many are avoiding Viva Mexico this Mexico's Independence Day

Mexico’s Independence Day is September. 16. two centuries of independence is celebrated with Mexican Independence day 2010. A common misconception within the United States of America is that Mexican Independence Day is May 5: Cinco de Mayo. Cinco de Mayo is recognized to remember the Battle of Puebla. This is why everything seems more festive around May 5. Sept 16, 1810 was the time that Mexico started its 10 year long war with Spain for independence. This is why we celebrate on Sept 16 Mexican Independence Day. Mexico has come a long way in two centuries. Now it seems the country has a lot of troubles making it hard to notice the achievements. Drug violence, corruption and human rights issues make it hard to really celebrate. Article source – On Mexican Independence Day, few reaso! ns to shout Viva Mexico! by Personal Money Store.

Drug violence doesn’t stop for celebration

Mexican Independence Day Sept. 16 is being celebrated by President Felipe Calderon in his own way. He decided he wanted to have a celebration in Mexico city that cost about $40 million. USA Today reports the two-day bicentennial bash features laser shows, fireworks and music. The Mexican government hopes the party will lift the people’s spirits despite a recession and bloody war against narcoterrorists. The fear of a drug cartel attacking the festivities is a very real one, although there is a lot of security. In Morelia, during a Mexican Independence Day festival two years ago, narcoterrorists threw grenades into the crowd. Seven people were killed and 132 were wounded. A military campaign on Mexican drug cartels began in December 2006. This is what has led to more than 22,000 people dying through, as outlined by Reforma newspaper, drug violence.

Mexicans determine to resign with bicentennial

As Mexico prepares for the traditional “grito,” or shout-out of “Viva Mexico!” on Wednesday night, the country’s historians, politicians and artists agree that the country may be in deep trouble. The Washington Post reports that Mexicans are still reeling from the massacre of 72 illegal migrants from Central and South The United States in northern Mexico last month. The killings caused a job to be lost. Mexico’s top immigration official resigned as a result of what happened. The bicentennial has hardly any effect on 67 percent of the Mexico City population. Reforma published this poll showing residents don’t care. A great many think the cash is being wasted on the celebration. 6 in 10 asked said this. E-mails are being spread anonymously too a great many Mexicans saying that participation in government-sponsored celebrations is a poor choice. Calderon has some competition for his party. Just a couple blocks away, CalderonR! 17;s opponent in the 2006 elections, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, has announced there will be a party. There have been less public events in cities more lately. This is because narcoterrorism is something many hope to avoid.

Better news now

Hillary Rodham Clinton gave her opinion of the situation as United States Secretary of State. She said Mexico seems just like the drug-racked Colombia from 20 years ago, although there is some good news still. The Associated Press reports that over all, Mexico’s murder rate is 14 per 100,000, far below the average for Latin The United States. It appears like Americans and Upper-middle class Mexicans are a lot alike in that they all have modern apartments, education, smaller families and even iPhones. Strong grass-roots movements’ deal with issues like crime, human rights and the environment which were unheard of 25 years ago. We appear to be within the worst recession since the 1930s. Even so, Mexico’s government has found a way to keep its finances stable. A Supreme Court has additionally been set up that actually works.

Additional reading

USA Today

usatoday.com/news/world/2010-09-15-mexicobicentennial15_ST_N.htm

Washington Post

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/14/AR2010091406672_2.html?wpisrc=nl_headline and sid=ST2010091406720

Associated Press

google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iyrGq2t_rHNPZAyOKqFdMrAad0yQD9I6Q4200



WTO judges say intercontinental trade laws and regulations were busted by Boeing

New airlines are taking a hit when no longer expanding fleets. This is because one of the greatest things hit economically during the global economic downturn was airline travel. Boosting the net income is something numerous aircraft manufacturers are focused on right now which may mean the corporations have to take large subsidies from the government. Reuters explains what the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled with regards to the American airline manufacturer, Boeing. Boeing was said to have an unfair edge on European competitor, Airbus, because it took out the government subsidies specifically for this reason. The $20 billion in subsidies is being challenged by the European Union, according to sources.

WTO pointing toward Boeing and Airbus

There can be no official release until mid-2011 of WTO’s ruling against Boeing as it is confidential. It has been released to United States and European Union officials, nevertheless. Some of the findings within the case have been appealed already. The appeal came from both Boeing and Airbus. Reuters suggests that if original records of the WTO ruling are accurate, a negotiated settlement between Boeing and Airbus may occur, as the current state of relations in transatlantic aerospace travel is cold at best. Airbus was previously condemned in June 2010 for taking a sizable money advance in the form of a government subsidy from the EU.

There are some research contracts and tax breaks going on

It is like we are playing with kids. One kid seems upset that an additional kid is attempting to do what he got in trouble for a couple of days ago. According to European sources, Boeing took $17 billion in research contracts from National Aeronautics and Space Administration and also the Pentagon, and loved $4 billion in tax breaks from the corporation’s home state of Washington. The World Trade Organization said that Boeing broke intercontinental trade laws. Even though it is not technically prohibited to get government aid, taking the contracts and tax breaks was wrong. Airbus was glad that it could get Boeing in trouble for what it was doing. Boeing thought that what is being done to them is rude. It thinks it was not doing anything wrong with the contracts.

Hope that President Obama take part

EU trade spokesman John Clancy told Reuters that “negotiations at the highest political level” could be the only action that will lead to a long term solution to the feud between Boeing and Airbus. U.S. officials have claimed they won’t come to the table until the EU no longer subsidizes the production of the Airbus A350. The U.S. thinks that what the WTO ruled against is the exact same thing the EU is doing. In a statement to the press, Boeing maintained its position that they have done nothing to distort the transatlantic aerospace market when continuing to point fingers at EU practices with Airbus.

Find more information on this subject

Airbus

airbus.com/

Boeing

boeing.com

Reuters

reuters.com/article/idUSTRE68E47T20100915

WTO and Boeing have had better days

youtube.com/watch?v=50fqfmWbXiY



Saturday, September 18, 2010

G.O.P. compromise touched at with Bush tax cuts fueled by Boehner

The Bush tax cuts sat towards the top of the agenda as Congress came back from a five-week trip Monday. Lawmakers will, in about four weeks, be working on campaigning for mid-term elections which is why nobody thinks Congress is going to do anything. Democrats propose repealing the Bush tax cuts for all however those making $250,000 a year or more. Republicans have said they will not vote for anything however making the Tax cuts by Bush permanent for everybody. A typical Congressional stalemate is what looks to be occurring. There was some controversy as House Minority Leader John Boehner said he’d certainly vote to cut regulations and tax breaks on the rich if that was the only way he’d be able to get his own taxes cut.

Boehner’s Bush tax cuts explanation

Bush tax cuts started in 2001 and 2003 to be applied to all taxpayers and are to expire this year. The Obama administration wants to extend the Bush tax cuts to every person but America’s richest individuals. The economy is so weak that it can’t afford a tax increase. Of course, CNN reports, Republicans and a couple of Democrats oppose the idea. Republicans have threatened a filibuster unless the tax cuts are extended to all–which would basically allow them to expire for all. Republicans are getting accused of all sorts of things by the Democrats. One of these things is making middle class regulations and tax breaks available mostly to help the rich get some more tax breaks. Everybody was interested to hear that Boehner was thinking about compromising on the Bush tax cuts.

Some Republicans and Democrats getting along

Every person was surprised that Boehner dropped the bomb as he did. This is because so numerous Democrats fearful of the mid-term elections were already thinking about switching their vote for making Bush tax cuts last when the economy gets better. A temporary extension of tax cuts for the rich have been suggested by at least 6 Democratic senators and Senate candidates, says the Washington Post. The House positions are getting filled. They are being filled more and more by incumbents. You will find so many different places with different costs of living that another suggestion has been raised. This suggests that the $250,000 tax break threshold be $1 million per household.

Boehner maneuvers for power, not the middle class

When Boehner made his comment on the Bush tax cuts issue, Democrats seemed to boast. As outlined by the Christian Science Monitor, Boehner might just be trying to get Speaker of the House if Republicans start to control the government after mid-term elections. According to the Monitor , the speaker can be able to help get bills passed, unlike the opposition leader. Boehner might be trying to make a tax cut deal that he could take credit for by suggesting an agreement. Republicans might show how much better they think they are than Democrats at getting results by simply passing a tax bill before mid-term elections come. The Monitor didn’t say whether or not Boehner cares about the middle class.

More on this topic

CNN

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

Washington Post

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

Christian Science Monitor

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



Toyota states crash data boxes aren't displaying right speed

The NHTSA is in charge of the investigation of Toyota Motors. The investigation is about cars instantly speeding up, which now brought new information to the table. In fact, it comes straight from the mouth of the automaker’s executive vice president of research and development, Takeshi Uchiyamada. Based on Automotive News, Uchiyamada has announced that a software bug has been detected that causes the crash data boxes in Toyota vehicles to provide incorrect speed info.

These are crash data boxes, not event data recorders

Toyota Motors stated that event data recorders (EDR) had troubles that needed to be worked out throughout the NHTSA investigation. Later Uchiyamada explained that “We have been able to determine that there is no defect in the event data recorders.”. The mechanics of the machine is what he talking about. Apparently, the software bug is no longer a problem. The EDR is there to record information related to position of throttle and throughout the time of collision, how much pressure was applied to the break. Crash data boxes, on the other hand, relate more specifically to reporting speed, according to sources.

Toyota says electronic glitches did not happen

After reviewing data from among the 3,000 unintended acceleration complaints they received, Toyota pronounced with certainty that electronic errors did not cause the automobiles to accelerate out of control. Foreign objects, bad floor mats and driver error and numerous other causes have been suggested by the automaker. The NHTSA explained there really are no electronic troubles. However, the crash data box’s reliability remains in question. Crash data from 2007 involving a Toyota Tundra pickup stated the truck was traveling in excess of 170 mph, a number that has risen understandable suspicion. Uchiyamada responded by saying a statement. He said, when it comes to rate of speed, “The EDR can’t be trusted".

Recalling more Toyotas

Just since November 2009, 13 million vehicles have been recalled by Toyota Motors, says Automotive News. The United States by itself recalled about 10 million. These were mostly all related to accelerating when unintended.

Car loan rates are great with Car Deal Expert

Discover more info on this subject

Auto News

autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100914/OEM/100919951/1424

Crash data boxes are not event data recorders

youtube.com/watch?v=KzYLJHgUf0k



Thursday, September 16, 2010

Taxpayer private loans being repaid by AIG

Of course, AIG borrowed money through the bailout. It borrowed a lot more than many though. The insurance giant took out more than $130 billion in installment loans from the working class individuals to keep from collapse, and controversy surrounded it. It seems now that AIG is making advances. The Treasury met with the business to work out debt negotiation as the business has already repaid a number of billion. The company would get fast cash by converting the 80 percent in preferred shares the government holds to common shares.

Payment plan between American International Group and Treasury

There is not a business that got emergency loans from the government that does not want those balances reduced to zero. AIG received about $132 billion in loans from the working class individuals, and for that nice offer of help, the government got an 80 % stake within the preferred shares of the company. American International Group has been selling sub-companies and creating capital. This is all being done with the hope the government can be repaid soon. USA Today explains that the Treasury office and AIG recently met to talk about payment plans. The business hopes that in two years, it can be debt free. That is the plan it has made.

Money coming from selling stock

The company’s current plan is to sell stock. This is supposed to raise a lot of money. The government petty much owns American International Group right now. It has about 80 percent of the company’s preferred shares. Preferred shares are different from common shares, in that you will find more in dividends, but are less of a security than bonds. The government would offer stock to the investors with the preferred shares it holds right now which is about 90 percent of common stock. Should the stock price rise accordingly, the government will really turn a profit.

Miles to go before American International Group sleeps

Currently, American International Group still owes the government more than $100 billion. It is a hefty goal for the company to get the cash in two years. It is a goal hardly any company would take. The business has been doing well in settling accounts, as non-essential divisions have been sold off to other companies.

Discover more details on this subject

USA Today

usatoday.com/money/industries/insurance/2010-09-14-wsj-AIG_N.htm



Subcompact vehicles are GM and Ford's large projects

Since the 1970s, domestic automakers have been looking for a way to supplant the competition in meeting the demand for fuel efficient subcompact cars. Honda and Toyota have held steady in offering small, fuel efficient vehicles that come with reasonable sticker prices. GM, Chrysler and Ford have been trying for ages to get larger shares of those sales. A fresh Ford Focus in the works. GM is set to start selling the Chevy Cruze really shortly. Both auto makers appear to be poised for aggressive marketing of those models. Article resource – GM and Ford planning to cut in on subcompact market by Car Deal Expert.

Shortly to come out: the Chevy Cruize

Though the marketing for Chevrolet in past years may give the impression the business only wants to sell trucks and SUVs, nothing might be further from the truth. You will find really two Chevy cars that list for under $ 15,000 and get 25 mpg or far better. Those are the Cobalt, and the Aveo. Those aren’t just two door hatchbacks, either. That goes for coupe and sedan editions. Toyota and Honda have a fair bit to be worried about, as the Chevy Volt is for the hybrid crowd and also the Cruze is aimed right at the heart of the subcompacts. According to the New York Times, the Cruze will get 26 miles per gallon on the standard model. Also up to 36 mpg on the highway. It doesn’t cost a lot either. The base model will list for $ 16,995.

Ford Motors is nevertheless a competitor

Ford presently offers the Fiesta, a subcompact that has been selling like hotcakes, which gets 29 miles per gallon in the city, and 40 mpg highway. The Focus is getting a facelift, and a new one can be out in 2012. The essential Focus now gets 25 mpg. The Fiesta lists for $ 13,320 and the basic Focus retails for $ 16,640. The Honda Civic goes for around the same amount. As does the Toyota Corolla. Fiat and Chrysler joined forces earlier this year. Fiat has been selling subcompacts in Europe for a long time, so expect one next year.

The Big Three finally becoming wise

The Big Three domestic auto firms, or Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler, took some serious stick in the last few years, and all three want to change people’s opinions of the,. It has never been that neither can make a subcompact. That isn’t really it at all. All three will get pushy about the brand new automobiles though. It may be a good time to buy American again.

More on this topic

New York Times

nytimes.com/2010/09/09/business/09auto.html?_r=1 and ref=automobiles



Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Food and Drug Administration approval needed on electronic cigarettes as substance distribution devices

E-cigs are the electronic cigarettes that are called the future of smoking. The Food and drug administration wants to show a group of e-cigarette businesses what that entails. Five of the electronic cigarette businesses advertised e-cigs to help numerous quit smoking. The Food and Drug Administration instantly issued warnings for this. Unsafe manufacturing processes and adulterated products was what some of the e-cigarette corporations were said to are already doing. One of the electronic cigarette manufacturers had drugs for impotence problems and weight loss in its product. The substance delivery products are violating law, says the FDA. Until the FDA has done clinical trials and given its approval, this will be the case. Article resource – Agency says electronic cigarettes need FDA app! roval as drug delivery devices by Personal Money Store.

FDA says e-cigs don’t help smokers quit

The FDA sent nasty letters on Thursday to electronic cigarette businesses. Five were chosen to receive it. WebMD reports the letters warned the e-cig firms that their products violate drug safety laws. The FDA has given them 15 working days to revise “practices which violate various provisions of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.” False claims of helping people quit smoking were made by all five corporations, says the FDA. The FDA sent one more letter to the Electronic Cigarette Association saying that an approval has to be made on drug delivery devices as the e-cig is legally defined. WebMD said that to get FDA approval, e-cig firms need to conduct lengthy and expensive clinical trials to collect data proving the products are safe. Corporations with FDA warnings are:

  1. Cixi E-Cig Technology Inc. Ltd., Las Vegas, Nev.
  2. E-Cigarette Direct LLC, Parker, Colo.
  3. Gamucci America/Smokey Bayou Inc., Jacksonville, Fla.
  4. There’s also Johnson Creek Enterprises LLC, Johnson Creek, Wis.
  5. And then there’s Ruyan America Inc., Minneapolis, Minn.

Antifreeze in e-cigs

Tests were done by the FDA. These tests were on electronic cigarettes. Med Page Today showed some tests that the Food and Drug Administration published in June on the electronic cigarettes. These tests showed that carcinogens such as nitrosamines and the poisonous ingredient in antifreeze, diethylene glycol, are both in e-cigarettes. E-cigs don’t have any warnings about health on the package like tobacco cigarettes and FDA-approved nicotine patches and gum have. The FDA said no e-cigarette company has yet submitted an application to the organization for evaluation or authorization.

E-cigs popular

The “safe” choice to tobacco cigarettes, e-cigs, came out at first in 2002. USA Today explains when electronic cigarettes really became popular. It was not until 2006. Last year the FDA directed customs officials to block entry of imported e-cigs into the country. Stopping shipments was too much. A federal judge ruled against the FDA. The FDA then won a stay of that ruling on an appeal while litigation is scheduled for later in the month. The result will affect millions. Millions use the e-cig. 20,000 to 30,000 customers are new to the industry each week. This is what is expected.

More on this topic

Web MD

webmd.com/smoking-cessation/news/20100909/e-cigarette-firms-get-fda-warning

Med Page Today

medpagetoday.com/PublicHealthPolicy/FDAGeneral/22103

USA Today

usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2010-09-09-fda-electronic-cigarettes_N.htm



Monday, September 13, 2010

Open app acceptance method now the norm after the Apple/Flash fight

Last spring, every person saw the Apple-Flash player feud start, however now it has ended. App programmers were just a little puzzled that Apple actually let up in their statement on Thursday to relax iPad and iPhone app restrictions on developing tools. Apple also explained its app approval regulations could be made public shortly, contributing to the shock. The Apple announcement didn’t mention Flash by name, but Adobe’s common app toolkit has become the flash point in Steve Jobs’ much maligned app authorization method. Adobe stock went up a ton following the Apple announcement hit news.

The Apple/Flash feud

Apple made a list of approved languages that iPhone and iPad apps could be made on, which is why last April, the Apple/Flash fight began. Apple’s policy made it so Adobe Flash CS5 Flash Packager couldn’t be used on the iPhone and iPad. This comes from PC World. Flash Packager for iPhone was the anchor feature of Adobe CS5. It was made for one reason. It was designed to be a cross platform toolkit for other iPhone platforms as Adobe Flash. Steve Jobs didn’t like that idea. That has changed. It was different before. Thursday was the day things changed. It was all better. Developers only have to publish apps once and can run them on Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android.

Apple app approval process become public

The Apple app approval process has been changed a bit. It also is available to the public now. The Apple App Store Review Guidelines used to be secret rules that decided on whether or not the iPhone or iPad would allow the developer’s app to be used. Wired reports that uncertainty about App Store approval has been keeping lots of top flight development talent from creating iPhone and iPad apps and leading to a proliferation of “fart apps” (junk applications). Programmers had no idea if they had done something wrong in an app until they were given a rejection from Apple, until Thursday. Thousands of dollars used for making the app and months of time were wasted. Wired thinks that programmers do not care what all of these rules really are. Most of them just want to know what they’re to stay away from problems.

Why Apple made a different decision

There was no explanation from Apple as to why it is changing its mind about Adobe Flash and other third-party tools. It also didn’t say why it is releasing Store Review Guidelines. Bloggers are making decisions on what they think happened. Philip Elmer-DeWitt at Fortune is just one of these people. Developer feedback, regulation and competition are all possible choices. DeWitt says these are one of the most popular. He dismissed feedback straight away, given Apple’s history of forcing developers to bend to its whims. There is a good chance the Android-powered smartphones and Android tablets are part of this. Apple likely feels threatened by it all. The Federal Trade Commission has also been investigating Apple’s ban on cross-development platforms which happened with the Apple/Flash feud. Adobe, which complained to the FTC about Apple, seems to be getting what it wanted.

Additional reading

PC World

pcworld.com/article/205114/apple_lifts_app_store_approval_shroud_for_developers.html?tk=hp_new

Wired

wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/09/apple-lifts-app-store-flash-ban-publishes-app-review-rules/

Fortune

tech.fortune.cnn.com/2010/09/09/why-did-apple-lift-its-ban-on-flash/



Bonds are not as preferred as dividend-paying stock among investors

Individuals are purchasing for dividend-paying shares in an unusual market environment. Most don’t put their money within the financial institution right now. That is because record-low rates of interest make it so it isn’t worth it. Despite a sputtering economic recovery, businesses sitting on huge piles of cash can afford nice dividend payouts. Companies paying an typical yield bond in dividends have hit a 15 year high. Dividends get a small tax rate. Most are using dividend-paying shares to protect from inflation with a income stream. But if the Bush tax cuts expire, the value of dividend-paying stocks could sharply drop.

Everyone hopes to get a dividend-paying stock

Dividend-paying stocks are hot right now as a result of several factors. Stock dividends do not usually do also as bonds have. In the last 15 years, there has been a change, explains Bloomberg. United States stocks are a lot more profitable than bonds now. In the second quarter alone, corporations raised payouts 6.8 percent. Because worker productivity has gone up, corporations have changed. Now they are sitting on lots of cash. Record low rates of interest made it so dividend-paying shares could possibly be cheap and have a 2010 projected growth of 36 percent. Since April, there has been a 10 percent drop within the S and P 500 meaning dividend yields were pushed up. Investors hope to get the stocks and shares. This is because they’d make much more with them than with bonds.

Why dividend-paying stocks are popular

Linda Stern at ABC News explains that stock dividends are good to hedge against inflation which is why investors want them. Bonds and shares may both lose value during a recession, but at least an investor can cash in a dividend check at any time. During an economic recovery, if inflation kicks in, dividends can follow suit. There is still some risk. These come with dividend-paying stocks. Financial institution of America and Citicorp shares were both which through the credit crunch made dividends disappear, says Stern. Bush tax cuts are prepared to expire on December 31 which would mean dividends could be taxed up to 39.6 percent again. Right now, dividend and capital gains are both taxed at 15 percent.

Getting the dividend-paying stock you need

Now is the time to check out dividend-paying stocks as a long-term investment, as outlined by Matt Theal at MarketWatch. Individuals should invest with any company that pays dividends higher than credit market returns. 3.78 percent has been the average credit market rate since 1995. 68 S and P 500 have that rate. Theal cheated the system by looking for dividends yield of 3.78 percent selling under 12 times earnings for all S and P 500 businesses. The screen returned 25 corporations, including Bristol-Myers, Excelon Corp., Reynolds American Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc.

More on this topic

Bloomberg

bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-06/dividends-top-bond-yields-by-most-in-15-years-as-u-s-cash-pile-increases.html

ABC News

abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=11584528

Marketwatch

marketwatch.com/story/high-dividend-stocks-to-consider-2010-09-08?reflink=MW_news_stmp



Sunday, September 12, 2010

'crash tax' goes along with deductibles for auto incident victims

Unless you hated your vehicle, there exists nothing good that comes from an auto crash. Auto insurance policy deductibles can be costly. The physical repercussions can be anything from annoying to disabling. Nevertheless, if that is not enough, many states have something else for you. It is getting wildly unpopular too. It’s called a crash tax, and it is not winning any supporters at all. You receive a bill, and a big one, if you obtain in an auto crash away from your home area if EMS even shows up to talk to you. Source for this article – Accident victims could have crash tax to go with deductible by Car Deal Expert.

‘Crash tax’ costs are regardless of error

The ‘crash tax’ isn’t complicated. If a person, outside the tax jurisdiction he or she lives in gets in an accident and is checked out by emergency services – even without asking – that person gets a bill for it. The bill is often never gargantuan, however is far from being innocuous. Typically, it appears to be a few hundred dollars. A recent profile in the NY Times had a man charged $200. The Chicago Tribune had a story of a woman charged $350. Neither needed hospital visits. Both declined to be checked out by medics.

You will find some bans in position

Several states have banned the practice, though they’re a minority. According to Injuryboard.com, there are ten states that have banned it. So far, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, also as Tennessee have outlawed the practice. It isn’t a state law though. It is almost always a municipal decision. The idea is to recuperate funds used by giving emergency services to people that live elsewhere. It is also referred to as ‘resource recovery’. Currently, municipalities in 24 states have the crash tax, and fees are especially steep in California.

Even Warren Buffet’s insurance policy doesn’t cover it

Often, a individuals will be billed for EMS response even if they do not themselves request to be checked out by medics, which an insurance company will not include. Insurance companies oppose it. There are also other groups, including the AARP, which oppose the crash tax.

Additional reading

NY Times

nytimes.com/2010/09/05/automobiles/05CRASHTAX.html?pagewanted=1 and _r=1 and ref=automobiles

Chicago Tribune

articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-03-02/business/ct-biz-0302-problem-locklin-20100302_1_billing-ambulance-services-emergency

Sacramento Injury Board

sacramento.injuryboard.com/automobile-accidents/can-crash-tax-help-to-reduce-the-rate-of-accidents.aspx?googleid=284322



Using short tail keywords and long-tail keywords

There are many solutions to succeed in Internet marketing, and one way is by knowing how to use keywords effectively. Many online affiliate marketers are working harder than ever to control popular, high-ranking short tail keyword. Nevertheless, longer blends of different keywords called long-tail keywords are what are helping the little guys make money.

Short tail keywords versus long-tail keywords

There are two types of keywords you are able to target: short-tail keywords and long-tail keywords. Short and easy to keep in mind, short tail keywords are generally much harder to rank high for as a result of heavy traffic and competition. On the other hand, long-tail keywords are less contested, simply because they don’t bring in as much traffic. The power of this type of keyword, nevertheless, must not be underestimated. Yes these keywords are long and difficult to don’t forget, but numerous new search engine optimizers are finding out just how effective they really are.

Building web value with short tail keywords

Let’s pretend you operate a company website within the wedding industry and would like to market your goods to individuals searching for wedding ideas. ”Wedding ideas” may most likely be the first keyword phrase you think of because it sounds like something most people would type in when looking for wedding ideas. Nevertheless, because there is so much competition with this particular phrase, you won’t show up on the first page of search results right away, and it certainly involves a lot of work to get there. Writing just one or two articles won’t get you on the first list of search results for targeted keyword or phrase. You are going to need to build a catalog of articles that promote your targeted keyword or keyword phrase, with strong backlinks, internally and externally.

What long-tail keywords can do for you

It takes time and effort to rank very high for short tail keywords, but it could be done. However, it doesn’t have to be a hectic deed, especially if you aim your efforts at ranking high for low-competitive long-tail keywords. Rather than putting all your efforts into ranking number one for “wedding ideas,” you are able to target various long-tail keywords that are related to your product and/or service. For instance, with enough work you can easily rank really high for rising popular keyword phrases like “wedding reception decoration ideas” and “wedding ideas on a spending budget.” Not only can ranking high for these long-tail keywords guarantee you a respectable position on the World Wide Web, but it may also be the ultimate source of your online success.



Certainly private sector employment growth does not worry about increasing joblessness rate

There was an increase from 9.5 percent in July to 9.6 percent in August in the United States unemployment pace. Of course, there were still additional individuals hire than were expected. Numerous believe that the unemployment figures are going up because United States of America Census jobs have ended, the government has done layoffs and more people are looking for careers once more. But private sector hiring amplified for the eighth straight month. Additional careers were developed while less were lost than was first shown within the June and July figures redone by the Labor Department. Economists think there is a possibility of avoiding a double dip recession with the positive additions to the jobs report.

Unemployed workers overwhelm job creation

The Labor Department explained that Friday’s August jobs report showed the first raise within the United States unemployment pace in four months. MSNBC reports that although private employers added 67,000 jobs, the United States of America unemployment rate is skewed by the loss of 114,000 census jobs and 10,000 employment cuts in state and local governments. This is the first time since April the jobless pace went up as a result of 500,000 individuals that began looking for careers again. Revised job creation figures also improved the employment outlook. Initially, private sector employment growth was 71,000 in July, although it was changed to 107,000. June also was revised from an original 31,000 to 61,000.

Hard to fix labor market

The unemployment rate in the United States has been a problem for a long time. The labor market is doing better than it has in the past recessions though, says CNN Money. There needs to be a higher increase though to replace all the jobs that were lost as well. In 2008-09, 8.4 million jobs were lost–about 7 percent of all jobs. Only 3.1 percent of all jobs were lost throughout the 2001 recession and the jobless recovery that followed. Only 1.9 percent of jobs were lost during the economic recession of 1990-91. Employment growth began again six months following the current recession was over. It was announced over in June 2009. Following the 1990-91 recession, 12 months were needed before a turnaround happened. 22 months were needed after the 2001 recession.

Economic expansion can’t go as fast as population increase

Since employers began adding 200,000 workers a month, employment creation has been going down. The jobs lost in 2008-09 wouldn’t be replaces at that pace for at least three years, says CNNMoney. The unemployment rate can’t go down with only 100,000 careers being created by the private sector each and every month, says the Christian Science Monitor. Workers who stopped looking for work start looking again while population growth adds more workers to the mix. Companies started working employees harder to increase output which is why there is no need to hire numerous more employees. Within the second quarter, the Labor Department showed productivity dropped. To sustain growth employers may have to start hiring.

More on this topic

MSNBC

today.msnbc.msn.com/id/38988367/ns/business-eye_on_the_economy/

CNN Money

money.cnn.com/2010/09/02/news/economy/jobs_recovery/?npt=NP1

Christian Science Monitor

csmonitor.com/Business/2010/0903/Unemployment-rate-up-to-9.6-percent-but-private-sector-gains-jobs



Saturday, September 11, 2010

Community opinion wanted by the treasury on economic literacy schooling

Money management with personal finances is already fairly tough. This is why the Department of Treasury hopes to turn financial literacy into a “food pyramid” for anyone who needs a little help. The Department of Treasury is doing this despite the belief that the food pyramid isn’t helping with the one-third of adult Americans that are obese. ”Financial education core competencies” are what the Department of Treasury hopes to get public opinion on so a economic schooling program throughout the country can start.

Personal finance troubles strike the nation

If there’s a lesson to be learned from the Great Recession, it’s that when it comes to personal finance, too numerous Americans are financially illiterate. The meltdowns that occurred within the finance, housing and credit show us that there just isn’t enough knowledge out there on budgeting, investing, credit, lending and saving. Strategy for promoting basic financial literacy and education as mandated by the Fair and accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 is being reviewed. It is reviewed, reports Investment Advisor, by the Treasury Department’s Financial Literacy and Education Commission. The Commission hopes the use the “food pyramid” as an example in this. It plans for making it really simple to understand financi! al literacy basics.

Financial education basics

You can remark on this to the Department of Treasury if you would like. You just have to do it before September 12. ”Every American should have command of” five proposed personal finance concepts of “financial education core competencies.” The Federal Register notice released these on August 26. These are:

Earning: Understanding the difference between gross pay and net pay, employee benefits and taxes and the importance of training.

Spending: The main difference between needs and would like, learning how to create a spending budget, tracking spending and living within one’s means.

Saving: Understanding how saved money grows, how to meet long-term goals and wealth building, learning regarding financial institution accounts, understanding economic assets, such as savings accounts and investments.

Borrowing: Understanding the cost of borrowing and the role of credit scores.

Protecting: Learning how to protect assets, choosing the right insurance coverage and knowing how to guard against identity theft.

Agreement on financial education wanted

Expectations within the economic training field is what the real troubles are. This comes from the Treasury Department as reported by the Federal Register. Financial literacy and education content is what it wants agreement upon. Ted Beck explained that in schools “there’s a wide variance in different kinds of programs, the quality of programs.” He told this to the Dallas Morning News and is of the National Endowment for Financial Education. “The idea of having a really straightforward checklist regarding the basics is something we think is very important.” As outlined by a Texas training official, the Treasury is making a “good start” with the core competencies list. He also feels like it isn’t enough. For example, students should be taught the pros and cons of credit cards, mortgages, payday cash advances and other forms of borrowing.

Further reading

Investment Advisor

dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/columnists/pyip/stories/DN-moneytalk_06bus.ART.State.Edition1.26bf3ed.html

Dallas Morning News

dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/columnists/pyip/stories/DN-moneytalk_06bus.ART.State.Edition1.26bf3ed.html



Monday, September 6, 2010

Stephen Hawking doesn't think God matters

Hawking feels like God is unnecessary when it comes to the understanding of the world. Hawking has his own opinion on God which is shown in his book “The Grand Design” which was authored also be Leonard Mlodinow, Caltech physicist. He thinks that God is just something for humans that they need. There is a constant debate between science and religion that the Grand Design discus. Hawking believes that gravity is what made it so the world could be created. He thinks no God might be a part of this. Everyone opposed to Hawking’s ideas will say that understanding God’s role in the universe doesn’t come via scientific research.

Stephen Hawking or Sir Isaac Newton beliefs

Sir Isaac Newton beliefs are challenged in “The Grand Design.” This is Stephen Hawking’s new book. Newton believed the universe was designed by God. It seemed impossible to Newton that the galaxy could have formed spontaneously. Hawking is opposed to this. He feels the galaxy was created by the force of gravity. Hawking believed in God in 1998 when his book became bestseller. This book, reports the Guardian, is called “A Brief History of Time”. In that book Hawking wrote that he accepted the role of God within the creation of the Universe. He explained, “If we discover a complete theory, it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason – for then we should know the mind of God.”

Hawking bets on science to win

Hawking was the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge in London, which technically makes him one of Newton’s successors. In 1992, a planet was found orbiting a distant star. This is when, states Hawking, the first doubt to Newton’s idea of the whole world being formed in chaos, came to him, he states in “The Grand Design”. During a June interview with ABC News, Hawking said humans created God in their image as a being with whom they can have a personal relationship. He also believed that humans are totally insignificant. He said that humans were an incident and unimportant to the universe. When it comes to science and religion, Hawking told ABC News, science will win.

Hawking nevertheless requires to explain some things

Hawking’s position that the whole world emerged naturally is dismissed as a “classic agnostic response” by William Crawley at the BBC, and individuals of faith have a right to disagree. Hawking is the only person who does not need God to understand the galaxy. That is the position of Crawley. There isn’t anything in “The Grand Design” proving there is no religious part within the universe. You will find no facts proving the theory. There are scientists that don’t agree with Hawking. They think he is wrong. Fox News interviewed Professor George Ellis who believes differently than Hawking in that if it did come down to religion or science, which it wouldn’t, religion probably would win. Ellis is the president of the International Society for Science and Religion. “A lot of people will say, OK, I choose religion then,” he said really clearly. “It is scientific research that will lose out.”

More on this topic

The Guardian

guardian.co.uk/science/2010/sep/02/stephen-hawking-big-bang-creator

ABC News

abcnews.go.com/WN/stephen-hawking-god-create-universe-question-day/story?id=11542128

BBC

bbc.co.uk/blogs/ni/2010/09/god_hawking_and_the_universe.html



Sunday, September 5, 2010

Offering antipsychotics for kids isn't good

Young child hazards due to antipsychotics

At 18 months of age, Kyle Warren of Opelousas, La. was presented with antipsychotic drugs to help with temper tantrums he was having. The NY Times reports on his diagnosis when he was 3. He was identified as having autism, bipolar disorder, hyperactivity, insomnia and even oppositional defiant disorder. His mom explains the medicine transformed him into “a drooling, sedated, overweight zombie”. Because of cases such as this, experts are looking more into whether toddlers should be receiving antipsychotics.

Antipsychotic prescriptions often double

According to a September 2009 study by the Food and drug administration, more than 500,000 children and adolescents are on antipsychotic drugs. The greatest amount comes from teenagers dealing with schizophrenia, since many believe that is the age when the disease comes out, although “tens of thousands” of preschoolers are getting drugs from pharmaceutical businesses.

From 2000 to 2007, kids that are privately insured and ages 2 to 5 have doubled the amount of antipsychotics getting used by then, reports the Times citing a Columbia University study. The survey showed that only 40 percent of children on the drugs got a correct mental health assessment. This is considered correct by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Antipsychotic medication stopped from being given to toddlers

There is a major concern that kids are getting antipsychotics too early in their lives. Dr. Mark Olfson thinks this is horrible. He is a professor of clinical psychology that works for a Lane University program that is designed to help families with little money that have mental health difficulties in their children.

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

In numerous cases, experts like Olfson say that doctors are much too willing to write prescriptions for heavy medications when the patients are young kids or even infants. It is hard to determine if children really have mental illnesses. There isn’t a science to it. This makes the FDA’s acceptance of certain AstraZeneca- and Bristol-Myers Squibb-branded antipsychotics for use on toddlers all the more disturbing, considering the wide range of disagreement within the clinical community as to whether brains at such an early stage of development should be exposed to such potent mind-altering products.

Thus, doctors can legally prescribe antipsychotics for toddlers for off-label use, despite a lack of safety research. Pharmaceutical companies are getting lots of profit off this.

No longer can it be said that

My peers and I care about this earth

It will be evident that

My generation is apathetic and lethargic

It is foolish to presume that

There is hope.

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

-From “Lost Generation” by Jonathan Reed

Additional reading

NCBI

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20215922

NY Times

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

Bio Med Central

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

Actupny

actupny.org/reports/durban-licensing.html

Generations lost

youtube.com/watch?v=MR4EWSbXLWA

Alternatives to toxic psychiatric drugs

youtube.com/watch?v=sBN2Zjz4W-



Saturday, September 4, 2010

Take a look at Terry Cullen for Chevy in Atlanta

Within the Atlanta or Jonesboro area and looking for a Chevy to buy? Try out Terry Cullen Chevrolet. There is a great inventory of some of the most popular models of Chevy cars there. There are discounts available for those qualify, and there is a good selection of used automobiles also. Terry Cullen is a good place to go for used or new vehicles. Even better if you’re looking for a Chevrolet. For your financing needs, there is new vehicle credit accessible on site. Resource for this article – Look no further than Terry Cullen for Chevy in Atlanta by Car Deal Expert.

Check out Terry Cullen Chevy

Within the Atlanta area and need a new Chevy? Take a look at Terry Cullen Chevrolet. For those who live within the Jonesboro area near Atlanta, the dealership is located across the way from Sam’s Club on Battlecreek Road. If you’re looking to purchase a new auto, whether you’re interested in new cars, or used vehicles, it’s the place to go. There is plenty of credit accessible if you need assistance financing a vehicle. Whether it is used automobile or new vehicle credit, they have it. Whichever you have to get into a used or new Chevy, Terry Cullen Chevy has it.

Used or new, it’s up to you

If you want pre-owned, Terry Cullen Chevrolet has a lot to choose from. There’s a great Chevy truck selection available. You can also find just about each and every auto that Chevy currently makes. Whatever you want; if it is a Chevy Impala, a Chevy Malibu, a Chevy Tahoe, Chevy Equinox, or even a brand new Chevy Camaro. If you would rather take a look at used vehicles, that’s covered too. Terry Cullen has a large selection of great pre-owned automobiles available. Terry Cullen Chevrolet also has a complete service station on site, in case you need Chevy parts or a tune-up. Cullen knows what it is doing. If it’s Chevy, chances are Terry Cullen Chevrolet has it.

This really is a great time just for buying a Chevy

GM, and especially Chevy, is seeking to move as numerous vehicles as possible. They want your business. If you qualify, there are discounts like the Gm Credit Union, military, and recent college graduate discounts. For a pre-owned Chevy in the Atlanta area, Terry Cullen Chevrolet would be a good pick.

Additional reading

Terry Cullen

terrycullen.com/HomePage



Without a bank acquire money with income tax refund cards

Tax returns for people without bank accounts are becoming a problem within the era of electronic banking and income tax filing. There is a recommendation from the Treasury Department to give income tax return debit bank cards out to help this. An income tax return electronically transferred isn’t helpful for any person without a bank account, which is also called “unbanked” or “underbanked”. A tax refund check often takes too long to get to get there. Instead of waiting for that check to arrive, “refund anticipation loans” are usually taken out by the unbanked. Plus, the overhead of printing and mailing checks costs millions of taxpayer dollars.

Possible tax refund debit cards

The biggest advantage offered by tax refund debit cards is speed. Income tax return checks take six weeks to come within the mail when even a direct deposit can take eight to fifteen days to show up in the bank, says the Associated Press. Borrowing against an income tax return can mean steep fees on return anticipation loans for numerous without bank accounts. Next year there can be a different option. The pilot tax return debit program could be offered to many taxpayers. Your income tax refund debit bank cards work like checking accounts. The only difference is you will find no checks or banks involved. If the bank cards are lose or stolen, consumer protections stop purchases, and also the bank cards are insured just like financial institution deposits. Bill-paying services could be stored on the bank cards as well.

Obtain a banking account as a taxpayer

The Center for Economic Progress estimates up to 26 million working class people could benefit from tax return debit cards. The number came by subtracting 70.3 million, direct deposit refunds from the 2010 tax season, from tax refunds of 96.3 million. Automated Trader reports on the purpose of the program. Apparently the Obama administration wants more people to view how easy it is to have a financial institution account. A $50 million request has been submitted to Congress for the 2011 budget to create “Bank on USA,” a program to help support state and local efforts to get more low-to-moderate income taxpayers into mainstream banking. In 2009, the FDIC did a survey on households with financial institution accounts. About 9 million households have them.

Trying to stop refund anticipation loans

The tax refund debit card initiative is part of a broader program by the Obama administration to curtail federal policies that lead to risky financial decisions and provide people with better financial alternatives. Last month there was already a policy change announced, says the Wall Street Journal. Banks use “debt indicators” to process refund anticipation loans, although now those won’t be provided by the IRS anymore starting within the 2011 tax season. Banks will have a more difficult time making short term installment loans. The loans typically would have between 50 percent and 500 percent for the annual percentage fees.

More on this topic

Associated Press

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

Automated Trader

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



Friday, September 3, 2010

Vermillion oil rig surge hits Gulf of Mexico drilling area

A platform on the Gulf Coast had a problem. This came from a gas rig explosion. Nobody died while one person was injured. There is no cause of blast yet. Near Vermillion Bay is where the oil platform explosion occurred. This is on the Louisiana coast. Mariner Energy owned the platform that is hundreds of miles away from the gas rig that erupted in April owned by British Petroleum. Shallow waters contain the Vermillion rig as opposed to the Gulf Coast gas rig that was in deep water.

Explosion only hurts one

The gas rig surge had reports of only one injured. Only a single person was hurt. First, the drilling rig erupted. As that was happening, 13 individuals went overboard. The Coast Guard, according to the brand new York Times, received more than one report of an oil rig in flames just after 9 a.m. on today. It was about an hour before helicopters and Coast Guard vessels began arriving. The Coast Guard rescued 13 workers. All of them were accounted for. Since the Deepwater gas rig surge killed 11, it is surprising that only a single person was injured.

Waters were shallow

The Deepwater Horizon oil rig was drilling at a far greater depth than Vermillion Oil Rig 380. The Vermillion oil rig sits atop only 340 feet of water, about 100 miles (80 nautical miles) off the Louisiana coast. CNN reports that the gas rig was producing 1,400 barrels of gas per day. Also, 9.2 million cubic feet of natural gas was being produced every day. The Coast Guard is intending first to get the fire out. Immediately after the news of the explosion, shares for Mariner Energy dropped by 5 percent.

Many concerned about drilling offshore

The subject of offshore drilling has been a hot topic for years. It looks really dangerous and has too many risks to the environment every time an oil rig explodes. Bp is one of few companies to step up and take responsibility for its oil spill. Most companies do not meaning working class end up paying for fix it all.

More on this topic

CNN

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

NY Times

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



Feds look into likely flaws with the Jeep Grand Cherokees

Feds check out potential problems with the Jeep Grand Cherokees

A federal investigation has been launched by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Jeep Grand Cherokees is what is being investigated. The number of affected cars could possibly be as much as 3 million. A petition for an investigation was turned in by the Center for Auto Safety to look into a possible severe safety issue. The problem is with a potential fire hazard, caused by awful design in the fuel system of the SUV.

Jeep Grand Cherokees’ alleged bad design

There is a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigation underway, according to CNN, of the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The 1993 to 2004 model years are being studied. There might be a fire hazard with the fuel tank, according to the Center for Auto Safety.There were 172 crashes involving fire in Jeep Grand Cherokees. There were also 254 deaths from fire. Chrysler responded, albeit somewhat cryptically. The business insists their vehicles meet all safety standards.

The alleged difficulty is the gasoline tank

The gas tank in the Jeep Cherokee is plastic. The tank is mounted below the rear bumper and behind the rear axle. This, according to the Ralph Nader-founded CAS, makes the gas tank’s neck susceptible to rupture in rear end collisions and greater risk of fire. The NHTSA has identified 44 accidents, according to ABC, where the fire caused more damage than the crash itself. There were 55 deaths in which the fire was fatal when injuries caused by crashes would not have been. There were 10 crashes where fires were involved and 13 deaths believed to be as a result of vehicle being rear ended.

Ford Pinto’s thunder stolen by Jeep

There was a skid plate accessible for the Jeep Grand Cherokee’s fuel tank. Nevertheless, it was only offered as an off road accessory. Jeep at least added a brush guard in 1999. However, in 2005, jeep grand Cherokees got a re-design. The tank was moved to the middle of the car. In a rear ending, both the affected Jeep Cherokee models and also the Ford Pinto could have the top of the gasoline tank sheared off, and catch fire.

Discover more information on this subject

ABC News

abcnews.go.com/Blotter/jeep-grand-cherokee-abc-station-reported-gas-tank/story?id=11473270 and page=1

CNN Money

money.cnn.com/2010/08/24/autos/Jeep_Grand_Cherokee/index.htm



Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Recession makes raising credit rating a high concern

Why increasing your own credit rating is really a intelligent move to make

Having a good credit rating means a lot more than it used to. Thanks to the credit crisis, credit scores need to be higher to get results. Rising a credit score is necessary now to get a personal loan and get a good rate of interest on that loan. A good credit score saves money.A poorly maintained credit rating makes borrowing money expensive. Fico ratings in the 650 range are problematic. When a Fico rating enters 750 territories, that’s quite darn good. A rare breed of consumers work at it to pass the 800 mark. A man living in Arkansas aspiring to a Fico rating of 850 is a textbook example of what it takes. His diligence could translate into a rich retirement.

What an 850 Fico rating means

A scant one-half of one percent of people in the United States have hit the 850 mark, Fico says. To illustrate the discipline required, CNN profiled Chris Plepinski of Rogers, Ark as he closed in on his goal of an 850 FICO score. Currently, Plepinski’s score is 813. His FICO score is higher than upwards of 82 percent of the rest of us. His burly credit score will conserve him masses over his lifetime. But he’s not satisfied. Plepinski told CNN that a Fico score of eight hundred fifty is the only acceptable outcome. To get there, Peplinski scrutinizes all the aspects Fico uses to determine credit scores. On a quarterly basis he re-evaluates his Fico position. To get as numerous points possible, Plepinski tweaks his financial behavior accordingly. A few years ago he added an auto loan to his credit mix, instead of paying money, which he could have, as a tactic to increase is Fico score.

The details regarding raising a credit score

Data on credit activity from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion is collected by Fico to produce credit ratings. Bankrate.com reports that FICO scores range from lows of 300 to 400 to highs of 800 and higher. The formula isn’t really overly complex. The final number is reached by calculating the credit aspects listed below:

Payment history – 35 percent

Total debt load – 30 percent

Length of established credit – 15 percent

Types of available credit – 10 percent

Recent new credit – 10 percent

Based on the above, tips for raising credit scores include always paying on time, making up missed payments, maintaining low credit card balances, paying off debt instead of transferring it, not applying for new loans or charge cards and not closing existing charge card accounts.

The long benefits of greater credit scores

A less than stellar credit score, as outlined by Liz Pulliam Weston at MSN Money, can put the hurt on a person’s finances over time. Weston penciled out a comparison between two people over 50 years. She ran a comparison based on the rates of interest each person could expect for many of life’s financial milestones. The transactions involved student loans, automobile loans, credit card offers, a mortgage and home equity borrowing. Fast forward 50 years and the lower credit score got hit with $201,712 more in interest payments. For emphasis, Weston went further. She split $201,712 into 50 years and factored an 8 percent return on that money. The person with the 750 FICO score could invest the interest saved and possibly accumulate a retirement account of $2.3 million.

Discover more information on this subject

CNN

money.cnn.com

Bankrate

bankrate.com

MSN Money Central

moneycentral.msn.com



Start with Dave Smith Motors when looking for a new Dodge within the Inland Northwest

For dealerships in the Northwest part of the country, there aren’t numerous names bigger for Washington, North Idaho, and Montana than Dave Smith Motors. Dave Smith Motors, in Kellogg, Idaho, is probably the best place to go for a new Chevrolet or new Chrysler, Jeep, and especially for a new Dodge. Dave Smith Motors is actually kind of famous for it. It’s the largest Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler dealer there is. There aren’t numerous dealers outside of Dave Smith Motors that have as large a selection of new or used Dodge cars or Dodge trucks.

You won’t find more Dodge cars than to be found at Dave smith motors

For a long time, Dave Smith Motors has held a reputation as being the largest Dodge dealer within the world. Obviously, the backbone of Dave Smith Motors is Dodge, however it’s also one of the top Gm dealers in the Northwest as well. You will find rarely fewer than 1,000 accessible automobiles at any given moment on the lot. Dodge Smith Motors has its own financing services on site, also as a full service station and more Mopar accessories than you can shake a stick at. Individuals in Idaho, Montana, or Washington might do well to look up Dave Smith Motors. The dealership is located in downtown Kellogg. It’s at 210 N. Division, Kellogg ID, 83837. It’s only 36 miles east of Coeur d’Alene, and 20 miles west of the Montana border.

Dodge City

Dave Smith definitely has a reputation as an outstanding Dodge, Jeep, and Chrysler dealer. That said, individuals can also discover a large selection of Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, and GMC vehicles there too. If Dodge makes it, they have it. Whether new or used Dodge automobiles or Dodge trucks are what you are looking for, the car you want is more likely to be to be found at Dave smith motors than anywhere else. If you need a Jeep Rubicon, there are plenty to pick from. Dodge Ram pickups are in stock, and you will find lots of them, or a dodge Charger or Dodge Challenger, Dave Smith Motors has them all.

There aren’t many dealerships that large

You would be hard pressed to find that wide a selection anywhere. Every little thing from the auto, to the financing and the accessories are all on site. Why go anywhere else?

Additional reading

Dave Smith

davesmith.com/



Auto loan modification could possibly be the good option

Some might think you can only get loan modification on home loans. That isn’t true. Auto loans could be refinanced as well. In fact, right now might be a better time than ever to refinance car loans, as rates for auto loans are lower than they have been in a while. Act easily enough, your auto loans can be low interest loans, or at least lower than to start with.

Your home and your automobile could be refinanced

Just like mortgage loan modification, you can refinance your vehicle as well. Auto loan rates are trending downward. You may not be able to afford not to refinance if these low rates keep up. According to the Washington Post, auto loan rates are trending lower. Lenders are seeking to lend, and dealerships are seeking to sell. That said, bear in mind that dealership financing, and financial institution financing are a bit different. One is usually more expensive than the other. Banks offer lower rates than dealerships, as banks do not get a bonus for loaning to you at higher interest.

There is an issue

There is a catch. Auto loans, like so many other types of loans, have the rates determined by your credit score, so if your score is high your rate is low. So auto loans for bad credit may not be able to be refinanced or even modified. The exact same article within the Washington Post puts auto loans for great credit scores at 5.7 percent. Nevertheless, poor credit scores average out to 18.5 percent. Fees and other conditions may exist, depending on the lender. It behooves one to shop around.

This is the moment to refinance, if accessible

Well, this is accessible more for individuals with good credit, rather than for many who aren’t. Bear in mind things that look too good to be true often are. Especially be wary of offers for loan modification these days. If you are thinking of entering a loan modification program, check out the company before you commit. Make sure you realize who you are handing your cash to.

More on this topic

Washington Post

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/28/AR2010082800170.html