NHTSA to report issues with a car

Millions of cars drive around the country each day. Some cars, at some points, do malfunction and break down. If you experience a breakdown or malfunction that could possibly be the result of a safety defect in your vehicle, you should report it. Report difficulties with tires and child restraints as well.

Defect reporting and also the importance of it

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is intended to make certain cars and anything correlated are safe. With millions of vehicles on the road, though, the NHTSA cannot track every single issue that may crop up. By reporting possible safety defects, you help the NHTSA “connect the dots” and know what to investigate. Safety recalls and investigations are spurred by these complaints. Making a report to the NHTSA could be the only way to fix things since car manufacturers won’t admit something is wrong until someone has told them they have to.

Reports that should be made

The NHTSA likes it when any concern about safety is brought to their attention. 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 important to report any tire problems, car seat issues, or component problems not mentioned. Basically anything and anything that could cause a crash, make a crash worse or put life and limb at risk in a car.

Finding a way to report to the NHTSA

Problems to be reported to the NHTSA are easy to report. The number you are able to call is 888-327-4236 or there is also the Office of Defects Investigation website. The car you are talking about needs to be listed with its make and model. You will also have to give the NHTSA your contact details, in case it does launch an investigation. This details helps the agency add details to its database, where it will connect the details to other complaints of that same problem.

Further reading

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

How to keep away from personal finance mistakes that cost a lot of money

Spending money without a plan could be a huge financial mistake. When forgetting there is another day ahead, you can get yourself in trouble. Of course, nobody is perfect and it’s no fun being a tightwad. Mistakes could be avoided when using personal finance management. Article resource – How to keep away from personal finance mistakes that cost a lot of money by Personal Money Store.

Stop mistakes with finances using a spending budget

Having no budget is the biggest mistake. You will lose all your money if you do not spending budget where you need it to go. Where you spend your money isn’t all a budget is about. Bankrate.com reports that to create a spending budget you’ve to start tracking your expenses first. Tracking your spending for a month takes discipline, but once you know where your money is going, you can start making better decisions about where to allocate your funds. Do not make your spending budget too strict. Budgets that take money out of your life will fail.

Save money with a planned budget

You’ll be able to save with a budget. Even if your budget looks like it has nothing left for saving you could be wrong. Beginning with a small amount is what Ehow.com suggests. You’ll be amazed by how easily even $20 a paycheck adds up. Keep in mind nickels and dimes add up to dollars. Making your own coffee or making your own lunch can save a lot. If you take a small side job, like coaching, tutoring or tending bar, use the cash for your spending money and put away the savings from your regular paycheck.

Stay away from late payments

It costs you a lot of money to make late payments. Tips are offered by About.com on avoiding late payments. An automatic bank payment with your bank account could be the best way to stay away from late payments. You need to open and pay all your bills if you aren’t as confident inside your cash flow. Write on the calendar your own due date before the bill is due. Set up a free e-mail or cell phone reminder from creditors that offer them. Due dates can be arranged with companies depending on when your paycheck comes in also.

Use your cash advances carefully

Living expenses shouldn’t require you to take out debt for them. A pay day loan or online cash advance is a valuable service for emergencies like medical bills, car repairs and traffic tickets. Getting beer, dresses, or coffee with personnel loans or installment loans can’t ever be a good thing. With pay day loan, you should never borrow more money you need for an emergency, and should pay it back on time.

Discover more details on this subject

Bankrate.com
bankrate.com/finance/financial-literacy/secrets-to-creating-a-budget-1.aspx
Ehow.com
ehow.com/how_2205105_start-saving-money-have-none.html
About.com
personalorganizing.about.com/od/howtoorganizefinances/ht/bills_finances.htm

Wikileaks create bad picture of Afghanistan war

92,000 classified documents with sensitive info on the Afghanistan war were leaked by Wikileaks, the news site created by Julian Assange. These documents were given by Wikileaks to the Times, the Guardian, and Der Spiegel, 3 of the largest newspapers within the world. July 25 was when reports were given by the newspapers on the information received. Some examples of what was shown in the Wikileaks documents are proof of the Taliban getting stronger, civilians being hurt through the war, and Pakistan operatives taking American cash and nevertheless aiding the Taliban in killing Americans.

Wikileaks goes straight to major newspapers

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

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

Pakistan operatives helping Taliban?

One document from Wikileaks that the Times published tells of Pakistan operatives helping Al Qaeda kill. The documents show you will find numerous Pakistani operatives that have refused to discuss matters involving those who attacked near Pakistani border, moved across the frontier, and then went to into Pakistan to be safe, although it is nevertheless hard to prove Pakistani operatives having been helping Al Qaeda.

Truth of Afghanistan war doesn’t look good

The U.S. government has made the Afghanistan war look much better than the Times, the Guardian, and Der Spiegel have made it look in their articles. Progress is stopped by corrupt government and police force in Afghanistan, an Afghan army that isn’t loyal, and a Pakistani army aiding the Taliban. Lots of people already knew this was a problem but let the Wikileaks documents confirm that. Americans are becoming more involved in the Afghanistan war as shown by the Wikileaks documents, although the public and congress are being confident otherwise.

Wikileaks looked at for spying

Wikileaks was criticized by the hacker who turned in Private Bradley Manning, who’s the soldier who allegedly handed the documents to Wikileaks. ABC News reports that Adrian Lamo said he ratted on Manning to keep the reports from becoming public. But Lamo said the sheer volume of info released by Wikileaks suggests Manning didn’t act alone. He thinks Julian Assange may have hired him as “a personal shopper for classified data.”

More on this topic

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

By saving cash, the best financial tool is inside you hands

Saving money is easier said than done for most individuals. It doesn’t matter if you’re making more money now than you did five years go, you may still find yourself out of money and buried in debt. So clearly you cannot blame your saving shortfalls on a measly paycheck. In fact, studies have shown that it has very little to do with your income. It is about your desire to save money and just how willing you are to adjust in order to boost your bottom-line.

Adjust your attitude about saving money

Many consumers believe that saving cash intensely depends on how much an individual makes. How much you earn, nevertheless, is only a small part of the equation. Just because you are making more cash doesn’t necessarily mean you are completely free of financial woes. It’s true that without good money management, it will feel exactly the very same as earning a minimum-waged income.

So it pays to closely focus on your monthly bills and reasonably weigh up the things that are significant and also the things that aren’t. If you know how to make time for eating, sleeping and fun leisure activities, you need to know how to reserve a while for your personal finance, as well. Thus, you will always know precisely where your hard-earned money is going and make some changes if necessary.

You need to have self-control

Temptation comes in different forms and is often very powerful at times it feels almost impossible to stand firm. Many today are faced with the “spend now or conserve tomorrow” dilemma. Numerous consumers often confuse their needs with their wants and fall through on making right choices on the things that would benefit them the most. They clutter their closets with absolutely unnecessary things and quite possibly fill their fridge with food they’re not really fond of. Not having self-control can lead to impulse buying, which can in turn lead to overspending and eventually, insurmountable debt.

From children and parents to small business owners and corporate holders, knowing the skills and strategies to save and invest money can really improve the quality of life. And also the only true way to achieve that is with discipline and self-control.

Plan ahead and save for emergencies

Simply forgoing saving money can spell future financial devastation. The average person knows that having a financial back-up plan is crucial, particularly in times of immediate monetary needs. Unexpected things happen at the most unexpected times, and when the unexpected happens without a moment’s notice, you had better hope you have some additional cash stored away somewhere. Sure you can take out payday advances as a last resort, but everybody knows that there is nothing more safeguarding than to be financially prepared.

Dreams comes true with saving money

There are many reasons why you need to start saving money, when you have not yet already. In case you are nevertheless dreaming about the beautiful dream house you’ve always wanted, that dream house will simply remain a dream if you do not take the initiative to start saving. What about the Cancun trip trip you promised the family? Do you really believe you’ll get there without saving? What of retirement? The clock is ticking and forever is not an option, and financial stability will not be awarded to you if you do not take the necessary steps to effectively plan for the future. So don’t wait; put your money to work and start saving now!

Raytheon selects Alabama for new missile plant

Raytheon, the electronics and defense contracting mainstay has decided to open a new testing and manufacturing facility in Alabama. The manufacturing plant can be a new facility for their missile division. Raytheon Missile Systems has been headquartered in Tucson, Arizona for decades. The Tucson location won’t be closing. Raytheon is one of the world’s largest defense contractors, and has regularly led the way in other fields, especially in electronic technology. Resource for this article – Raytheon selects Alabama for new missile plant by Personal Money Store.

A new shop in Tucson just was not happening

According to Business Week, Raytheon Missile Systems needed a new manufacturing facility for a ship defense project, and a sea-based interceptor missile. (That’s for shooting other missiles out of the sky.) A new state-of-the-art facility wouldn’t be feasible in Tucson because of zoning, schedule and other needs that weren’t able to be met. They picked Huntsville, Ala., from a small list of cities. The facility may have its ground breaking fairly soon, and it will be a $ 75 million, 70,000 square foot building. That’s bound to have some quite high mortgage payments.

The laser like focus of Raytheon

Raytheon is able to use lasers as defensive weapons, succeeding where Ronald Reagan could not. The business has designed a laser defense system that can effortlessly shoot down an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and will likely soon tackle test aircraft. As outlined by CNET, a recent test on the California coast of the laser shot 4 out of 4 UAVs down. The beam causes the target to burst into flames and fall apart.

History of innovation

Raytheon has been on the cutting edge of engineering for a long time, besides their defense work. When the business was nevertheless the American Appliance Company, they invented a vacuum tube that could run a radio off of wall power, instead of a battery, before the invention of the transistor. (Some nevertheless insist vacuum tubes provide the best sound.) Raytheon also invented radar for naval vessels and also the microwave oven.

Read more on this topic here

news.cnet.com/2300-11386_3-10004204.html?tag=mncol

businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9H3GKRO0.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raytheon

Capital One sued again for deceptive rate of interest increases

Capital One is in trouble because they have once more raised credit interest rates without informing customers. A judge earlier this year thought the case saying Capital One has broken the Truth in Lending act was not worth his time and dismissed it. The lawsuit was then reinstated July 22 by the 9th Circuit. Now there are credit card rules making it illegal to raise credit card rates without informing consumers. Source for this article – Capital One sued yet again for deceptive interest rate increases by Personal Money Store.

Capital One class action suit

The Capital One class action lawsuit accuses the credit card business of unfair competition and deceptive lending for raising credit card interest rates without giving consumers “clear and conspicuous” warnings. Raquel Rubio, the Courthouse News Service reports, saw her interest rate suddenly double although she had been an excellent consumer that always complied with the contract.

Capital One can lie

Rubio sued Capital One for breach of contract, violation of the Truth In Lending Act and unfair competition. Capital one does state they can change the rates and fees which is why the first judge dismissed the suit. Capital One is able to “amend or change any part of your Agreement, including periodic rates and other charges, or add or remove requirements … at any time.”

Capital One cheats with fine print

The Capital One class action suit was brought back with a simple appeal. ”Fixed” can’t be used by Capital One if the rates change according to a three judge panel. Reuters reports that Rubio had accepted a February 2004 mail solicitation from Capital One that offered a credit card with a 6.99 percent rate on balance transfers and purchases. The solicitation involved a required table that said in 10-point type the rate could rise if Rubio missed a payment, exceeded her credit limit or had a payment returned. ”At any time” Rubio was allowed to “amend or change” the agreement she had from capital one as outlined by the form she received the month after receiving the offer which said “subject to change” on it. 15.99 percent became the rate Rubio had to pay as of August 2007 although she hadn’t broken the Capital One agreement.

More information on this topic

Courthouse News Service

courthousenews.com/2010/07/22/29062.htm

Reuters

reuters.com/article/idUSN2116752120100721

Nap Nanny sleepers recalled after death

First generation Nap Nanny products have been recalled by Baby Matters and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. One death has been attributed to a Nap Nanny, though the product was being used incorrectly. If you have a first generation Nap Nanny, the company is offering $ 80 off the purchase of a new product.

What the Nap Nanny is used for

The Baby Matters Nap Nanny is a foam product intended to help restless and fussy babies sleep. Intended to re-create the position of a auto seat, the Nap Nanny has a three-point harness. The harness is what is at issue in this recall — when used incorrectly, the harness does not hold the baby in place. First-generation Nap Nanny products don’t have a D-ring to hold the Velcro harnesses in place. The recall is only for the first generation products, though you will find concerns with second-generation products as well.

What to do if you have the Nap Nanny

If you do have a Nap Nanny, your reaction to the recall depends on which product you have. If you purchased your Nap Nanny between January 2009 and July 2010, you most likely have a first-generation product. Call Baby Matters at 888-240-4282 to get a coupon for 61 percent off the purchase price of a new Nap Nanny. If your Nap Nanny has D-rings, you need to view the video on the Baby Matters website before using it again.

Questions about the effectiveness of the CPSC

A long line of baby product recalls this year consists of this Nap Nanny. Drop side cribs and pacifiers have also been recalled for safety hazards just this year. In 2008, Congress passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, which asked for standards to be set for baby gear. Thus far, baby walkers and bath seats have been subjected to standards. You will find plans for standards for anything else, including cribs. The CPSC has not much staff or funding, but lots of responsibility.

More on this topic

cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10309.html

usatoday.com/news/health/2010-07-21-safestuff22_st_N.htm

napnanny.com/recall

Sams Club to start offering online cash loans

Sam’s Club, part of the Wal-Mart empire, is going to start offering online loans from Superior Financial Group LLC. The loans are for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Superior Financial is a Small business Administration lender, and also the trial program will offer small companies and small company owners that are Sam’s Club members loans as a way to expand services to them.

Wall Mart getting into financial services

Wal-Mart has been looking for a way to get into the banking game. Congress blocked non-banking entities, like retailers, from starting their own banks in 2007. Sam’s Club has seen some shrinking revenues but has decided to give this trial program a go, according to the Wall Street Journal. The loans accessible to small business owners that are members with Sam’s Club will range from $ 5,000 to $ 25,000, and will carry a term of 10 years at 7.5 percent interest.

Trying to attract greater membership

Sam’s Club has had a contraction in revenues. The Costco competitor had to shutter 10 stores just lately. Small business owners are a significant portion of their customer base, and a business loan program would serve to attract or retain small businesses as customers. Check cashing and VISA check cards are already available at Wal-Mart stores, and MoneyGram locations with payday loans, cash advances, and money orders available there.

Will this pan out for Wal-Mart?

So far, Sam’s Club offering online cash loans can be a pilot program only. As outlined by Business Week, the loans could be for start up companies, and especially for companies run by women and minorities. If the program becomes successful, a Sam’s Club business membership will be quite hard to pass up.

Additional details at these websites

online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100706-710011.html

businessweek.com/news/2010-07-06/wal-mart-s-sam-s-club-to-test-online-loans-to-members-update2-.html

Sanctions placed while North Korean threats hit the U.S. military

This weekend, the U.S. and South Korea were playing war games which caused North Korea to threaten a “physical response”. North Korean economy is expected to get worse as well considering the nuclear program North Korea has along with the fact that they sunk a South Korean warship.

'Grave threat’ used by North Korea to describe the U.S. games

North Korea threatens because 8,000 people from the U.S. and South Korea are together to work out military difficulties with exercises. ”Another example of a hostile policy” against North Korea was what Ri Tong Il, North Korean spokesman, called it, reports CNN. He also thinks these games will hurt the entire Asian region. From July 25 to July 28 the military plans to run the “Invincible Spirit” exercise.

Military responds to sinking of Cheonan

It was already just a little stressful being within the Korean region, but the exercises being done by the military are making it just a little more stressful. The Associated Press reports the latest threat comes four months following the Cheonan sinking that killed 46 sailors. An investigation was done showing North Korean’s involvement although North Korea denies it. In the face of North Korea’s familiar belligerence, the U.S. has run out of patience, saying any new talks with the North are unlikely within the current standoff.

North Korean sanctions towards corrupt leaders

North Korea will be cut off by the U.S. because of a program announced by Hilary Clinton in July to stop good being sent. The Guardian reports that U.S. sanctions are prepared to block 200 North Korean bank accounts that are allegedly connected to drug trafficking, counterfeiting, and nuclear weapons development. Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg are where there is expected to be a $4 billion slush fund hidden by Kim Jong-il reports the Chosun Ilbo.

Everybody in North Korea is concerned

South Korea and the U.S. are being threatened nevertheless by North Korea because of their continuing desperation. Voice of America reports that North Korea is already suffering from poor harvests, a manufacturing slump, U.S. sanctions and a reduction of international aid. Some are worried that a famine like the one in the 1960’s that killed thousands, might occur once more in North Korea. More rules and laws would be passed by the North Korean government if a famine like this were to occur.

Read more on this topic here

CNN
cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/07/23/north.korea.threat/index.html?npt=NP1
The Guardian
guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/23/north-korea-threatens-physical-response
Voice of America
voanews.com/english/news/Sanctions-Expected-to-Harm-North-Korean-Economy-99090344.html?refresh=1

World War Z will be starring Brad Pitt

The sub-genre of horror films and novels of Zombie Lit has been exploding after the last few years. After some very successful zombie movies, like 28 Days Later, there were soon zombie themed novels that followed. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, and World War Z were some of probably the most popular. Brad Pitt was most recently confirmed to star in World War Z. Resource for this article – World War Z will star Brad Pitt by Personal Money Store.

The coming zombie apocalypse

In 2003, the wildly popular book The Zombie Survival Guide was released, and also the author wrote World War Z as a kind of follow up. It is a fictional technical manual on how to deal with the undead. The follow up was World War Z, which was published in 2006, as an oral history of the zombie apocalypse. Max Brooks is the author of both novels, the son of Mel Brooks and previous SNL writer. It has been waiting to get off the ground after being picked up for a movie in 2007.

This could turn out excellent

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. Marc Forster, director of Quantum of Solace, was attached to direct at one point, but that is likely to change. Fewer zombie films are getting made than within the past few years, so it may be a sign of the resurgent zombie renaissance being on the wane.

Not the only zombie film in the works

Not only is World War Z due to enter production, there also will be a film of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. The mish-mash of Jane Austen’s classic novel and zombies, ninjas and carnage will come out sometime within the next year, and will star Natalie Portman. Zombies seem to are discarded in lieu of melodramatic vampires and werewolves with awful dialogue and worse acting, but World War Z could end up being epic.

More info on this topic

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

Social savings with Groupon

Combine the best parts of a social network and couponing, and you’ve got Groupon. Becaue of the great deals offered along with the social networking aspect, people are able to save money. There is a sister site in Europe while 40 cities participate within the US. You will find numerous other ways besides Groupon to get in a group and save money. Article source – Groupon- The secrets of social saving by Personal Money Store.

How Groupon works

A “groupon” deal means you are getting a bulk discount. Everyone gets the discount if enough individuals sign up that day. If there aren’t enough individuals who want it, then nobody gets it. This is treated like a group discount most of the time. The product of the day has to be something everybody on Groupon wants.

Where you can discover a Groupon

Groupon is in 40 US “markets”. Europe calls Groupon MyCityDeal and is a “sister” business. Groupon and MyCityDeal will all become the very same business soon.

Not near Groupon?

Groupon is an excellent service that can help you find a lot of great deals. If you are not lucky enough to be in one of the 40 major cities where Groupon operates, though, you are able to still get good deals. In other cities, you will find other things like Groupon. Groups like Groupon aren’t helpful if you do not live in those cities. ”group coupon” could be typed with a city in Google. You might talk with your friends to see if they know about one.

Your own Groupon

If you want to create your own Groupon situation, then it can be done. Groupon works solely off of group discounts. Discounts could be found by simply making a phone call to a vendor. All you have to do is ask how numerous people they need to get the discount and then you can try to find the people who want it. Use your social networks and friends to find out who else might be interested. You can purchase once you have enough people interested!

Car connections with internet

It may seem like an extraneous idea, but both Subaru and Ford are connecting their cars to the Internet. The 2011 Subaru Outback may have an option to have Wi-Fi. Ford test-drove an “automatic tweeting” vehicle codenamed AJ. The guess of automobile makers is that consumer’s connected lifestyle will extend to their driving habits.

Subaru Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi connectivity is an option for 2011 Subaru Outbacks. Anything that stays within 150 feet of the car will be able to connect to the internet. Setup is $499 with a $35 activation fee. $29 a month is the one year subscription fee. At first, the cost seems high. However, new apps on smartphones that allow calls via Wi-Fi combined with the high cost of unlimited data plans through cellular carriers means that it could really conserve customers money.

Automatic Twitter updates

Ford allowed a team to test the 2011 Ford Fiesta in May with the code name AJ. The car’s computer info was tweeted automatically by AJ. ”Time to put the headlines on,” is an example of a Twitter post. These Twitter posts are created by GPS data and traffic information combined with the internet. The team tested check in functions with FourSquare as well. The Ford Fiesta will not consist of these features standard yet, but it is a possibility for 2012 models.

Is Wi-Fi in cars good?

Though there is many excitement and development of connected cars, some are wondering if it is a good idea. There might be car viruses with this connection to the internet. There is also a privacy concern about cars saying what their drivers are up to. Everything has a good and bad side to it where it could be used properly or abused, as will the internet connected car.

Due diligence is a surprise audit for a payday loans business

Anti-payday loan individuals have had a lot of time to devise all of their negative smear of the product. This diatribe will never end, regardless of the facts. Focusing on the positive and what could be practiced and delineated in fact, the best pay day loan business organizations serve their customers and employees by performing the surprise audit.

What a surprise audit does

According to the payday loan industry blog, payday loans no fax stores should perform surprise audits on a regular basis. In fact, once the audit commences, employee should be made aware of what’s going on. The reason payday loan industry blog gives is that it has noticed that when the vast majority of payday loan business employees are trustworthy and industrious, employee fraud can occur.

First, focus on a good customer from the recent past

The payday loan business would do this first to strengthen the customer-business relationship. When you first speak to the customer, make certain they know who they’re speaking with and why your calling – to thank them for their business. Simply say “thank you” and ask if there’s anything else you are able to do for them. Then allow the customer all the time they have to reply. Customer retention depends upon your attentiveness and willingness to listen.

Truly listen to your customer

Ideally, customers will say they have a optimistic experience and would use a pay day loans again. There is a possibility that you’ll hear a story about a bad customer service experience. It happens, and it can typically be adjusted with minor correction.

What do you do with employee fraud?

Your pay day business will certainly not benefit from employee fraud. Great damage could be done to how a boss feels about their employees and the way customers feel about a payday loan business, all within the name of employee fraud. To be more specific, employee fraud is when a payday loan employee take out a loan under one more identity, likely a previous customer’s. This is identity theft, and it is illegal. Payday loan industry blog claims it has found “as numerous as 22 percent of payday loan contracts are bogus” at its store, but in all likelihood that number is quite high for most payday loan stores. This doesn’t mean that a surprise audit should not be used. It’s the way each and each and every payday loan business can ensure the customer truly does come first.

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

A drilling moratorium seemed inevitable following the oil spill within the Gulf of Mexico 2010. The drilling ban has been loudly criticized by the oil industry. But the drilling moratorium could eventually be canceled due to the cooperative effort of four oil companies. A rapid oil spill response system is being funded by $1 billion committed by Exxon Mobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips and Royal Dutch Shell. Meanwhile, a procedure called a “static kill” could be attempted by BP that could permanently plug the ruptured well this weekend. But the procedure may be postponed by an approaching tropical storm.

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. While it has poured billions of dollars drilling for oil in ever-deeper waters, oil spill-response and cleanup technology has not advanced much in decades. The New York Times reports that the first $1 billion can be spent developing the equipment for underwater systems to contain deep water well accidents. Participating oil companies expect the system will be able to operate as deep as 10,000 feet and capture 100,000 barrels of oil a day.

Oil companies expect system will end drilling moratorium

The oil spill response initiative is the oil companies’ best hope to get the six month ban on deep water drilling lifted as soon as possible. The Wall Street Journal reports that the system resembles the one developed by BP during 3 months of trial and error following the Deepwater Horizon exploded April 20 . The Marine Well Containment Business is a non-profit venture set up to develop the system, which could be ready to deploy within 18 months.

Approaching storms increase urgency of oil spill containment

A procedure called a “static kill” could permanently seal the BP oil leak this weekend. CNN reports that the static kill involves pumping mud into the well to force oil back to the reservoir below. Officials from BP have said the “static kill” option could succeed where similar attempts have failed because pressure in the well is lower than expected. Meantime, work on the relief well that is intended to be the permanent fix at the end of the month continues. Time is of the essence, because a tropical storm heading to the gulf from the Caribbean could disrupt operations for 10 to 14 days.

Citations

nytimes.com

wsj.com

cnn.com

Tempe Town Lake dam blows, blasts away homeless

The Tempe Town Lake dam was designed to last for 25 to 30 years, said the experts. The rubber blow-up dam containing Tempe Town Lake is a centerpiece of the Tempe, Arizona tourist trade. According to Associated Press reports, however, one of the 11-year-old dam segments burst. Two-thirds to three-fourths of all the water in Tempe Town Lake – thousands of gallons – gushed to the connecting Salt River, a dry riverbed that is known as a spot for homeless people to stay during summer months.

No injuries reported after Tempe Town Lake explosion

Media reports have revealed nothing concerning any injuries at Tempe Town Lake, and also the flood waters have not caused serious property damage as yet. There was a loud boom and ground tremors within the area of the Arizona State University campus, as outlined by on-the-scene witnesses. Seconds afterward, witnesses saw animals fleeing the scene. Minutes later, a safety alarm rang out. It is unclear at this time if homeless persons within the Salt River bed heard the warning or not.

Tempe Town Lake holds one billion gallons

Consider that flow, advises city Mayor Hugh Hallman. City officials apparently knew back in 2007 that Tempe’s hot, dry climate was taking its toll on the rubber dam. But nothing was done. By spring 2009, engineers told Tempe that Town Lake dam was in need of instant repair, but the city did nothing.

What about the homeless?

Officials know the alarm sounded, however they don’t know if the blowout at Tempe Town Lake dam impacted any homeless persons within the dry riverbed. On the surface, it appears that this could possibly be a simple case of negligence and mechanical failure. However, when the cost of homelessness is factored in, there could be fiscal import. A wide array of experts have founded studies that show the U.S. shells out nearly $ 11 billion annually to address chronic homelessness. If such individuals were given permanent homes, Forbes reports that that expense would drop to $ 7.88 billion.

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. If those 8,000 people – only some of whom may live in the Salt River area near Tempe Town Lake – had homes, not only would the nation be saving money, but Maricopa County would reportedly save as much as 50 percent on emergency resources. Tempe Town Lake doesn’t sound like a homeless story at first, but the disaster could produce something truly good for those needing opportunity.

More information available at these websites

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

Pregnancy hurts mortgage lending

If you would like to start your family but also need the house for it, you should know something important. Women who are pregnant and plan to stay home to take care of the baby may not qualify for a mortgage loan. The economic meltdown, housing crisis and credit crunch have mortgage lenders running scared. Despite the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, mortgage lenders say they are denying mortgages to expectant couples because they must comply with strict new standards for verifying income.

Strict lending standards for mortgage loans cause pregnancy discrimination

Pregnancy discrimination is happening because Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac start a loan quality initiative long before they were ousted. Before loans are finished, the financial status of a borrower has to be checked again because of the initiative, according to the New York Times. The last day is when borrows have to be qualified for the loan, because of the loan quality initiative. Lenders also must document the mortgage borrower’s income is likely to continue for at least 3 years.

Mortgage lenders have no mercy with maternity leave

Discriminating against pregnant women is easier when looking at the maternity leave that must be taken. Mortgage lenders see simply a short term disability insurance they have to deal with. The disability payments don’t continue for 3 years meaning lenders working with Fannie and Freddie will refuse to count maternity leave as income. You won’t be able to apply for a mortgage loan again until you are back to working full time. The Times article used the example of a couple expecting a baby within weeks. They wanted to make an offer on a home, but they needed both of their salaries to qualify. The mortgage broker said the expectant mother would not be considered “employed” when it was time to close the loan, which would probably disqualify her.

Those wanting a mortgage aren’t included in Pregnancy discrimination act

Mortgage lenders say they are not discriminating against pregnancy but against income. Equal Credit Opportunity Act shows on Lawyers.com that marital status and gender can’t be discriminated against. The Equal Credit Opportunity Act also bars lenders from asking about your plans for having or raising kids. Lenders are allowed to ask anything they want about expenditures, even about your children’s expenses. The federal government moved to make pregnancy discrimination illegal in 1978. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act shows us that being prejudice against women who are pregnant, or anything like it, is just sex discrimination. The act only refers to employment though.

Discover more details on this topic

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

Finding the money trail within the Obama Deception

A two-hour film on DVD and released on YouTube, “The Obama Deception” is within the public mind again. As outlined by “The Obama Deception”, the US Government is a part of the “New World Order.” Some believers say that “The Obama Deception” is complete truth, others say it is a proven-invalid conspiracy theory.

The basic argument of ‘The Obama Deception’

You will find hundreds of individual arguments laid out in “The Obama Deception”. The basic crux of the argument is that President Obama is “a hoax carefully crafted by the captains of The New World Order… the international banks plan to loot the people of the United States and turn them into slaves.”

Financial industry arguments in ‘The Obama Deception’

The movie claims that various plots and plans are being carried out by international banks. Banks are an easy scapegoat and villain, since the banking system failure is large within the minds of most. Other Alex Jones films, though, have claimed that this organization — referred to as the “New World Order” — is set up by the Masonic brotherhood, by China and Gorbechev, by FEMA, by the United Nations, even by “America and England.” In short, Jones has changed who he believes is heading up the New World Order multiple times.

Following the money

Along with most other conspiracy theories, “The Obama Deception” asks you to “follow the money.” Applying this argument to both sides of the debate is very important, though. There are multiple TV series, talk shows, movies, and books created by media mogul Alex Jones. Once a year for the last few years, Jones sets up a “money bomb” on his website. The goal for all of these “money bomb” events are listed as the very same things, but Jones never seems to reach the goal, even with $ 250,000 raised each year:

“Alex will use this money to build a studio, a sound stage, purchase cameras and equipment, computers, expand office space and hire additional staff. Alex hopes to launch a new television show on the Dish Network, thus reaching thousands, possibly millions of additional individuals…”

Is there truth in ‘The Obama Deception’?

There are many, many individual arguments within “The Obama Deception”. Doing your own research on both sides is the best way to choose any argument. When researching, you should take each argument in a social, financial, and political context. There are some quotes and statistics in the movie that are somewhat questionable. You should take any and all conspiracy theories, including “The Obama Deception”, with a large grain of salt.

Top Secret America by the Washington Post calls efficacy of intelligence services into question

Monday, July 19, saw the release of an investigative report by The Washington Post which concerns the health of the intelligence services of the US Government. The report, Top Secret America, has began a lot of discussion going. Intelligence heavyweights have started to take umbrage with some of the report’s findings. Among Top Secret America’s many claims is the Intelligence Community, first receives the status of a proper noun and second is becoming rapidly disconnected, petty, inefficient and ineffective.

Top Secret America makes unflattering claims

The Washington Post investigation into the report Top Secret America was two years in the making. Since September of 2001, the number of agencies, bureaus, and contracting for intelligence work has grown explosively. The intelligence field is about secrecy, and the total cost and activities of all these groups may not be knowable. The report also claims that the intelligence community is not well suited to efficiency, consensus, and lacks enough focus to be truly effictive. The piece contains references to a recent interview with Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense, who bemoans the lack of focus and clear details from the intelligence field.

Intelligence Community fires back

There was a response issued soon after the report from the intelligence field. The national Director of Intelligence, David Gompert, quickly issued a press release that condemned the report for not being truly reflective of the Intelligence Community, and the community itself was constantly working on improving itself.

What the results of the report can be

The report may have a major effect, and it may have none at all. The nature of the spy business is that it is secretive. If a spy operation is successful, no one will know over it until decades later, if at all. However, the U.S. Intelligence Community has had some spectacular failures. The Bay of Pigs, WMDs in Iraq, for instance. The Christmas bomber nearly pulled his plot off, and authorities were tipped off about him. The Fort Hood shooter, a U.S. Army Major, had been communicating with anti-American groups. Despite the public failures, some public successes would perhaps restore many faith in the system.

Discover more information on this topic

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/top-secret-america/

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/top-secret-america/ (PDF)

Get a car loan with low credit

It’s getting easier to get a car loan, which is good news all around. Car loans will help many who have low credit scores and no way out. The credit market getting easier will make cars sell faster. Selling more cars to individuals with low credit scores is good for subprime auto lenders. Also, more cars being sold mean a recovering economy. Source for this article – Car loans getting easier for people with low credit scores by Car Deal Expert.

Car loans for bad credit more accessible

Auto markets expand their cars when they credit market is making loans. The Associated Press tells us that car buyers with poor credit can get autoloans nevertheless. 60 percent of individuals under a 620 credit score could get auto loans for bad credit in the past. The rate was down to five percent last year. Now it is at a whopping 9 percent. Subprime borrowers nevertheless need to make a bigger down payment and will pay more interest, but car buyers with poor credit make up a big chunk of the market.

Car loan interest rates falling

17 percent of auto loans for bad credit were given to those with amazing credit, as outlined by the Associated Press, in 2010’s first quarter. Rather than getting new cars with loans, 53 percent got used cars. The increase in borrowing may be helped along by falling car loan interest rates. Bankrate.com shows us that 7.2 percent dropped to 6.3 percent for interest rates on a four year car loan in just a year.

Car sales need low credit score buyers

Credit scores are falling to new lows for millions of Americans. Figures provided by FICO Inc. show that 25.5 percent of consumers — about 43 million people — now have a credit score of 599 or below. Higher default rates came with subprime lending which hurt the economy bad. The But the Wall Street Journal reports that GM wants risky buyers now. Most consumers are those that have lower credit scores with is why GM wants them now.

Great auto lending

To be able to get these loans to purchase cars with low credit, GM had to make a special deal with AmeriCredit Corp. GM is making it easier for people to purchase their cars with this by intentionally losing a little money with each and every sale. Americredit Corp. is a huge subprime auto lender. A year ago, the business worked with 4,500 dealers while now it has increased so it can start working with 8,000 dealers.

Associated Press
google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gCH7uRdNTEXaUCoNUPeukZZi3qDwD9H22DQ00
Bankrate.com
bankrate.com/
Wall Street Journal

What will anyone get from the NAACP and Tea Party fight?

Broadsides have been fired between the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The stage is set for an epic war within the press. The NAACP says the Tea Party is directing racist rhetoric at the president and other government officials. The Tea Party has responded that the NAACP is racist and also shilling for criminal activities of the New Black Panther Party. Pundits on both sides of the political aisle have weighed in, casting aspersions and making accusations of the other side.

The NAACP side

You will find photos of Tea Party attendees holding signs the NAACP, and many others, contend are racist. The sick and twisted individuals in question do not necessarily represent the Tea Party movement, but the NAACP is assuming there’s guilt by association. In fact, Tea Party rally organizers have been beginning to ban that sort from attending.

What the Tea Party said

The Tea Party’s counter-claim is that the NAACP is helping cover up an incident involving some members of the New Black Panther Party. The US Attorney’s office was investigation voting crimes committed by the NBPP that may have been racially motivated around the 2008 election. The case was dropped, and accusations of a cover-up at the behest of Obama appointees started quickly.

Which one is the villain?

All that is going to happen is MSNBC, Fox, and talk radio are going to spew a lot of drivel forth and sell many commercials within the process. But while this is going to amount to more ad revenue for political pundits, the bickering back and forth doesn’t do anything to advance the cause of either side, and doesn’t do anything to combat real racism.

Was BP-Libya oil deal linked to Lockerbie bomber release?

By spilling oil all over the world, BP has made billions. And now a U.S. senator is wondering if BP stands to make billions more from a BP-Libya oil deal after helping set free a terrorist convicted of killing Americans. Lautenberg became suspicious following the Lockerbie bomber, Libyan Abdel Bastet Al-Megrahi, was sprung from a Scottish prison last August after doctors said he was at death’s door. Nearly a year later, BP prepares to drill off Libya and Al-Megrahi is surviving and thriving.

Lautenberg and others want Lockerbie bomber returned to prison

The Lockerbie bomber, convicted for the 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103, would nevertheless be in jail if the senators had their way. New Jersey Democrat Frank Lautenberg sees evidence suggesting the Lockerbie bomber release is tied to the BP-Libya oil deal as an possibility to increase political pressure on the culprit of the2 010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Suspicious timing – BP-Libya oil deal and Lockerbie bomber release

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

Lockerbie bomber has plenty of life left

Other senators sought to put pressure on the British government to investigate the release of the Lockerbie bomber after a doctor said al-Meghrahi could live one more decade. The Associated Press reports that Lautenberg, along with Democrats Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer of New York and Lautenberg and fellow New Jersey senator Robert Menendez, wrote a letter the U.K.’s American ambassador last week demanding the investigation. British Ambassador Sir Nigel Sheinwald told the senators that due process was followed.

Did BP manipulate British government to seal oil deal?

Lautenberg, in a letter to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, said a 2007 oil agreement may have influenced the British and Scottish governments about the Lockerbie bomber’s release in 2009. BP admitted the oil deal was in jeopardy over a prisoner transfer agreement with Libya, the letter said. Al-Megrahi was originally excluded from the prisoner transfer agreement, but later Jack Straw, the British Secretary of State for Justice, later changed his mind, citing “overwhelming interests for the United Kingdom”.

Families of Lockerbie victims get oil-stained justice

BP has declined to discuss the senators’ probe of the Lockerbie bomber release. But CNN found a statement on BPs site that called the Libyan oil deal “the single biggest exploration financial commitment an international energy company has ever made to Libya”. A letter to Gillibrand from Britain’s ambassador, posted on the British Embassy website, defends the Lockerbie bomber’s release. Brian Flynn, who fought to keep Al-Megrahi in prison after his brother was killed on Pan Am flight 103, told CNN:

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

Discover more details

news.yahoo.com

latimes.com

cnn.com

DIY Corvette - Build your own high performance engine

If you’re a true gearhead, the new GM Corvette program is perfect for you. If you are purchasing a Corvette Z06 or ZR1, you can pay just just a little extra and build the engine on your own. The best part of this GM/Corvette program is, unlike doing all of this on your own, you are protected each and every step of the way. Post resource: DIY Corvette – Build your own high performance engine by Car Deal Expert.

The Corvette Z06 and ZR1

The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and ZR1 are both high-performance cars that were built by U.S. business Chevrolet motors. With a base price that comes out to $ 45,000, these cars are actually remarkably affordable for sports cars. In the last few years, Chevrolet has encountered some difficulties with the Corvette brand, mostly a drop in demand. The Z06 is a 7 liter engine, and also the ZR1 is a 6.2 liter engine.

Make your own engine

Building engines has long been a do-it-yourself project for true car enthusiasts. Chevy took this to a higher level. Spend an additional $ 5,800 on your Z06 or ZR1, and also you can visit Michigan and help build the engine for your vehicle. Ponying up the extra cash will get you entry to the plant, the ability to help a craftsman hand-build your engine and even a plate with your name placed right on your special engine. This trip could very well be worth it to some.

Hand built engines legacy

In contrast to most performance vehicles that are on the market, Chevy Corvette engines are still hand-built in Michigan. This is how they want to built the name Chevy. Reinforcing the Corvette brand as a luxury brand is essential for Chevy to continue to be a viable brand.

Protecting your DIY engine

As opposed to engines built in your garage, the DIY Corvette engine has a couple of protections. Your self-built Corvette engine is nevertheless covered by the standard Corvette five year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty. If you’re spending $ 50,000 or more on a automobile, it makes a lot of sense to have at least some kind of warranty.

Better off silent proved by Mel Gibson tapes

Oksana Grigorieva, Gibson’s new girlfriend, and Mel Gibson’s new scandal has given him many publicity. It is all bad. Lawsuits and a domestic violence charge are both looking like they might happen. There were rumors of a domestic dispute. There was also the release of the “Mel Gibson tapes” which doesn’t help This could seriously hurt his career.

A verbal assault is shown by the Mel Gibson tapes

It’s too bad he didn’t figure out how to sell the “Mel Gibson tapes” himself. He would be making a fortune, especially if he trademarked the phrase. He might not be able to recuperate from this if they’re real (see Radaronline.com). His agency, William Morris Endeavor, already fired him. The thing about Hollywood is that if you don’t have an agent, you do not have a SAG card, which means you don’t work as an actor or director, or at least it is very hard to do so. So this may be the end of Gibson’s career.

Easily gone is tolerance

After this “Mel Gibson tapes” saga, there likely won’t be a “Lethal Weapon 5.”. Individuals can say anything they want, even if it is misguided. No matter what they say, the government won’t be able to actually do anything. That said, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t other consequences.

Why we get away from the crazy person?

Does the name John Rocker ring any bells? After the Atlanta braves kicked out their pitcher for his racist comments, he had no career left. Rush Limbaugh is an example. Following the Donovan McNabb debacle, he was fired by ESPN. Larry Johnson, the NFL player, is an additional example. He was released after his homophobic comments he made publicly. Of course he had stopped playing well at that point. Just because someone is racist or prejudice doesn’t mean they can stay around working individuals.

More details about this topic at these websites

RadarOnline.com

radaronline.com/exclusives/2010/07/exclusive-audio-out-control-mel-gibson-says-hell-burn-down-house-after-demanding

Aon Hewitt created by merger

For just under $ 5 billion, Aon Corporation is purchasing and merging with HR outsourcing and consulting firm Hewitt Associates. The combined Aon Hewitt Division will provide many of the services Hewitt did before the merger. The companies estimate that this merger will eventually save the companies $ 355 million each year.

Article resource – Aon Corporation purchases Hewitt Associates, creates Aon Hewitt by Personal Money Store

Creating the Aon Hewitt division with a purchase

Announced this morning and expected to close in November, the Aon purchase of Hewitt Associates will cost $ 4.9 billion. Hewitt is going to be getting over 40 percent more per share than they are currently trading with. Hewitt stockholders will be paid $ 25.61 and .63 stocks in Aon. Aon Hewitt will keep the same CEO while combining the back-office operations with Aon offices. Hewitt Associates stock rose while Aon stock fell on this news. Illinois will play host to the new company. No word yet on how many employees of Aon or Hewitt may lose their jobs during this combination of business operations.

Aon Corporation’s business practices

Aon Corporation is a service that works in “human capital consulting”. The company offers advice and insurance brokering services to clients. The company is traded on the New York Stock Exchange and is classified as a financial business. Just one year ago, in August of 2009, Aon Corporation shed three separate insurance companies from its business model.

How Hewitt Associates operates

Hewitt Associates is a business that focuses on human resource outsourcing. Hewitt offers HR management, benefits, and other administrative services. A small portion of Hewitt’s business also includes consulting. Traded on the New York Stock Exchange, Hewitt is a “commercial service and supply” business. There has been some major restructuring within Hewitt Associates as well. In May of 2010, HRAdvance Inc. was purchased by Hewitt, at about the same time Latin American business operations were spun off into an entirely separate company.

Personal finances on the slide despite national upturn?

According to a recent survey by the Washington-based Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. (CFP), Americans anticipate the national economy will be more likely to improve than decline during the next six months. But as Bloomberg indicates, the bad news is that these exact same Americans lack faith in their own personal finances. Americans worry that savings, college money and retirement arrangements are simply beyond their kin. Article source – The economy may be increasing, but what about our personal finances by Personal Money Store.

Personal finances don’t light up the headlines like recession busting

The CFP found that 44 percent of people expect the U.S. economy to rise before their personal finances find relief, while 28 percent have a doom and gloom outlook. CFP chair Robert Glovsky told Bloomberg that “Americans are usually hopeful, and much of the economic news leads us to conclude that we are out of the recession, and a double dip is unlikely”.

But this optimism doesn’t stick to the personal finance problem, it seems. Consumer confidence is on an upswing and unemployment is down slightly – at least what has been declared – yet two-thirds of the CFP poll respondents are gripping over some of the big questions of personal finances. Many consumers believe they need cash until payday loan, but are frequently ineligible for a bank loan because of the still-tight credit market. They may have found that a poor credit personal loan is a viable way out of the problem, but this doesn’t bode well if there is no future plan to deal with emergencies that prey upon personal finances.

A three-pronged personal finance nightmare

CFP survey findings from the 1,000-member sample group (aged 18 and over) showed that most feared whether they’d be able to save money, pay for college and prepare for a financially stable retirement. Adding to the worries surrounding their personal finances, 80 percent of respondents felt that Congress and federal regulators hadn’t taken an active enough role in pushing legislation to regulate financial markets. However, various media sources indicate a reform bill may pass through Congress soon.

Sources

bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-13/americans-are-more-optimistic-about-economy-than-own-finances-survey-says.html

cfp.net/media/release.asp?id=253

It is a good idea to opt out of debit card overdraft coverage

Chances are good you have a debit card. So you’ve already received a letter from your bank about what an excellent service debit card overdraft coverage is, and how essential it is for you to keep it. New credit card rules are forcing banks to give you the option to discontinue debit card overdraft coverage, hence the letter. The change in regulations was encouraged by consumer complaints about out of control bank overdraft fees . If you have not already decided, bear in mind the only reason you got that letter is because banks make significant money charging penalties for that service.

Source of article: Why opting out of debit card overdraft coverage is a good idea by Personal Money Store

Debit card overdraft coverage is a scam

Jeff Gelles at the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that when debit cards came into fashion, banks saw a new way to steal from their customers by confusing them about the nature of debit and credit cards. Your debit card is funded by the money with your checking account. When your checking account runs dry and you also use your debit card, overdraft coverage charges you a hefty overdraft fee. That’s why that cup of coffee at Starbucks ended up costing you $ 40. Rather than letting your bank pick your pocket with debit card overdraft coverage, it makes more sense to get a pay day loan when you are short of cash.

Bank of The US finds its conscience

Gelles gives the advice that you need to opt out of your bank’s overdraft protection “service”. That’s’ such good advice, even Bank of America agrees with him. In March Bank of America announced that it will do away with debit card overdraft coverage. The New York Times reports that other banks might be forced to do the exact same to compete for customers, even though the lost revenue will cost tens of millions of dollars a year.

Bank overdraft fees can steal you blind

Debit card overdraft fees can easily get out of hand as the offending transactions go unnoticed. When you get charged once, you could keep getting charged until you understand what’s going on, Gelles said, because the Starbucks barista doesn’t say “You know this is an overdraft, don’t you?. No law keeps the bank from taking your money until you’re on to them. But Wachovia gives you a “break” by stopping at four overdrafts a day, or $ 140. Citizens Bank, not quite as concerned about customer well being, will gladly pilfer $ 37 each for up to seven overdrafts a day: $ 259.

Avoiding bank overdraft fees

That too many people are lousy at balancing their checkbook is a problem highlighted by new credit card rules about bank overdraft fees. In a press release, tips for avoiding overdraft fees or the unpleasant experience of having a purchase declined are offered by Michael S. Kappas, President and CEO of Apprisen:

1. Do not forget that an updated check register has a more accurate account balance than an ATM slip.

2.Use your check register to keep track of all deposits, receipts and withdrawals.

3.Check your balance before you use your debit card or a cash machine.

4. At least once a month balance your account.

5. Put “ghost” funds inside your checking account. Deposit a few hundred dollars and don’t record it as part of your register. Don’t forget to account for the ghost funds whenever you balance your account.

6. Talk to your bank representative about your options for avoiding all potential overdraft situations.

philly.com

nytimes.com

prweb.com

Everyone can create phone apps with Google App Inventor for Android

Google App Inventor for Android gives virtually anybody the power to create their own smartphone apps. App Inventor is a new tool in Google Labs that makes it easy for everyone to create mobile applications for their Android phone without knowing a stitch of code. Instead of learning Android’s Java code, App Inventor lets you to drag and drop the fundamental building blocks of basic apps to build unique Android apps from scratch.

Source for this article: Google App Inventor for Android lets everybody create custom apps by Personal Money Store

Android market gets a jolt with App Inventor

Monday Google said App Inventor for Android was created because people should be able to create their own applications as smartphones become the computer relied upon most . The New York Times reports that Google is opening its technology to all developers in hopes of dominated the Android market, and App Inventor is the latest element of that strategy. The strategy starkly contrasts that of Apple, Google’s main smartphone rival, which is known to have notoriously strict standards for iPhone app development. So far its strategy of openness is working. Apple’s iPhone finished second to Android phones for the very first time in first quarter sales this year.

App Inventor freaks out the geeks

The concept behind App Inventor is that if everybody can be app creators, Android will supplant Apple’s iPhone as the dominant smartphone platform. Geeks within the upper echelons of the programming world don’t like this part of Google’s Android/Apple market strategy. Tech Crunch calls App Inventor “ugly” and wonders if it is either a “gateway drug for Android app development” or “a Doomsday device that will muck up native app development on the platform” . Tech Crunch compares App Inventor to the rise of WYSIWYG HTML editors, saying the web was easily filled with garbage once it was easy for everybody to create web pages.

App Inventor welcomes newbie’s to fickle apps market

App Inventor is a reflection of the low bar that has been set by the quality of Android apps so far, said Larry Dignan at ZDNet. He said Android, as well as iPhone have numerous apps that are simply useless. However, the beauty of App Inventor is that “useless is within the eye of the beholder”. There can be clunkers but marketplace demand will decide what is or is not useless. Apple’s App Store has more than 225,000 apps. Thanks to the apps rush expected from App Inventor, AndroidLib estimates there will soon be more than 100,000 apps on the Android market.

Discover more information here:

nytimes.com

techcrunch.com

zdnet.com

Attacked by gunman was Emcore Fiber Optics in Albuquerque

At Emcore Fiber Optics at 9 am local time in Albuquerque, a 911 call reported a shooter. Reports do not say how many employees were injured or killed by the shooter. Classified as a “domestic dispute within the workplace,” this act of violence does not appear to be related to Emcore’s business or patent infringement rulings.

Article resource: Emcore Fiber Optics in Albuquerque attacked by armed gunman by Personal Money Store

Emcore shooter ends up attacking Albuquerque offices

The Albuquerque shooting at the Emcore offices appear to have been carried out by a previous employee. At 9:29 a.m. local time, the 911 call reported that there were “multiple people injured.” Police officers which were on the scene found between two and five individuals dead on the scene and at least four more have been transported to local hospitals. The believed shooter was also found dead on the scene of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Albuquerque shooting was a ‘domestic workplace dispute’

As reported by police on the scene, the Albuquerque shooting was probably a “domestic workplace dispute.” This means that a domestic dispute that was between the shooter and his wife was carried over into the Emcore offices. There isn’t any reports saying what the situation of the shooter was. The shooter’s wife presently works at Emcore while he was a previous employee. There is no report on how the shooter’s wife is doing.

Emcore with business difficulties

The specific office where the Albuquerque shootings took place, Emcore, is the headquarters of an embattled fiber optic and solar manufacturing company. On the exact same day as the Albuquerque shootings, Emcore was barred from importing some fiber optics. The U.S. International Trade Commission ruled in May that some of Emcore’s technology violated a specific patent. Today, the U.S. Trade panel officially barred the company from importing any of the products that infringe a patent owned by competitor Avago Technologies.

Resources:

CBS News

cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20010291-504083.html

Reuters

uk.reuters.com/article/idUKN1226453320100712

ABC News

abcnews.go.com/US/shooter-kills-albuquerque-business-killing/story?id=11146499

Clean energy loans questioned by some federal agencies

PACE loans, otherwise known as Property Assessed Clean Energy Bonds, are quick personal loan provided by cities to homeowners. Property taxes provide the way to repay these loans that are used to retrofit homes for more energy efficiency. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, along with the Federal Housing Finance Agency, though, have muscled these loans out of the market.

Source of article: Federal agencies question clean energy bonds for homeowners by Personal Money Store

How PACE loans work

Considered “bond backed loans,” PACE loans are administered by city governments. The homeowner applies for finance loans in order to make energy improvements to the house. Cities take these loans and sell them as bonds. When time comes for the homeowner to pay back these loans, the money is simply added to the taxes for the house. By keeping the payments rolled in with the property taxes, the energy improvements are paid by the people using the house. This loan program helps homeowners find personal installment loan that will help them make improvements to their home. In order to jump-start the programs, the federal stimulus package provided money to the cities.

Why PACE loans present a problem

Why are some federal agencies against these PACE loans? If a homeowner has these PACE loans, the other agencies might not get as much money. To make their money, a mortgage holder has to sell a house that goes into foreclosure. Before the mortgage lender gets their money, any lien or tax has to be paid. Because PACE loans are paid as part of property taxes, this means they get paid back before the mortgage lender if the mortgage goes into default.

Are PACE loans really at risk?

No federal agency has yet taken action to shut down PACE loans, officially. In places where PACE loans are available, though, mortgage payday installment loans programs are tightening their standards. Two members of Congress have written a letter “urging officials to work together easily to resolve” the PACE program question.

Heat wave ignites a new debate on climate change, 2010 warmest year ever

On the east coast there is a heat wave making the climate change debate more intense. When blizzards hit the east last March, the debate was hot also. Extreme weather events are getting used by both sides to support their global warming arguments within the debate about climate change and energy bill in Congress. A British panel exonerated the “Climategate” scientists, saying it found no evidence the group manipulated research to back up global warming. 2010 is turning out to be the hottest year in history.

Post resource: Heat wave ignites climate change debate, 2010 warmest year ever by Personal Money Store

Around the globe is a heat wave

The heat wave is news because it is cooking places where the national media hang out. But other parts of the world are also roasting. The heat wave has gone global according to the Christian Science Monitor. Beijing heat about 105 degrees. It was 113 and 111 degrees on July 6 in Baghdad and Riyadh. Kuwait set the day's world temperature high at 122 degrees. As reported by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), the combined global land and ocean average surface temperature for the first five months of the year was the warmest on record, and 1.22 degrees warmer than the 20th century average.

Climate change causes there to be more heat waves and blizzards

During March blizzards, climate change skeptics mocked Al Gore. But will heat waves be the norm if humans fail to reduce carbon emissions? TIME reports the fact that no single weather event is caused by climate change is obvious, but politicians and lobbyists will make an effort to use them in the climate and energy bill debate anyway. Weather and climate are different things actually. Figuring out precisely how climate change affects the weather is tricky. But blizzards and heat waves conform to a general scientific consensus that climate change will result in more extreme weather.

Climategate scientists’ research is being called legitimate

The above climate change argument is the position of the Climategate scientists, a group of researchers at the Climatic Research Unit of the University of East Anglia in England. As outlined by the New York Times, these individuals have played a leading role in efforts to understand the earth's climate. Last year some e-mail messages sent by the scientists about global warming were stolen and posted to the Internet. Politicians, lobbyists and some of the other global warming skeptics seized upon the e-mails as proof the scientists were hiding data that conflicted with their positions on global warming. But a report by the panel investigating Climategate said no evidence was found of behavior that might undermine their conclusions.

Climate change – better to be safe than sorry

Even without the heat waves and blizzards, climate change is such a controversial issue because climate science is incredibly complex and hard to explain, and the people doing the explaining still do not understand climate also as they would like. This opens windows of opportunity arguments on both sides of the issue. Ezra Klein at the Washington Post points out that if we can’t deal with a disaster like the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico 2010, how are we going to reverse concentrations of carbon in the atmosphere?

Carbon tax – pay me now or pay me later

This leads us to the climate and energy bill and its proposed cap and trade system or carbon tax. Republicans against government intervention are potentially setting up a future in which the government is forced to intervene on a planetary scale. Klein said he’s a lot more comfortable with the government’s ability to levy a carbon tax now than its ability to repair the atmosphere later. That’s why when faced with the choice between being avoiding the economic risk of a carbon tax or taking a step to preserve the future of the planet, we should choose the planet.

Discover more information:

Christian Science Monitor

csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2010/0707/Global-heat-wave-hits-US-reignites-climate-change-debate

TIME

ecocentric.blogs.time.com/2010/07/06/turning-up-the-heat-on-climate-change/?xid=rss-topstories

New York Times

nytimes.com/2010/07/08/science/earth/08climate.html?src=mv

Washington Post

voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/07/the_case_for_being_careful_wit.html

Painting your car can cost only $ 75

Painting your car is a DIY project some will readily undertake, but others keep away from due to the perceived cost and difficulty of the work. A spray gun, the right air compressor, clear coat, the right kind of primer, buffing compound, rust converter and more are all things that significant car paint enthusiasts take into account. But have you considered the alternative? A less costly alternative? A technique that depends upon thriftiness?

Source for this article: Painting your car the thrifty way – for only $ 75 by Car Deal Expert

Painting your car for just $ 75 is a reality

Styluss at Instructables Workshop points to “The Poor Man’s Paint Job as a means of painting your car for less. The price of only $ 75 is a real standout. Rustoleum paint and high-density foam brushes are the key elements of the budget technique. Sanding is kept to a minimum. Although it is cheap and relatively easy, just keep in mind that there are things that can go wrong if you aren’t careful, but recovery is possible. You will find no guarantees here, so proceed at your own risk. However, the results for Styluss were highly satisfactory; take a look at the photos at the Instructables Workshop link below for proof.

Get this together

Here are estimates for the necessary items. Your requirements may vary. Styluss painted an average-sized sedan, but if you are working on an SUV or large truck, you’ll likely need more.

3 quarts of Rustoleum high gloss white paint = $23.61
3 quarts of odorless mineral spirits = $17.97
1 can of primer spray paint = $4.99
4-inch high-density foam brushes (7) = $5.67
2-inch high-density foam brushes (7) = $3.95
Paint trays (3) = $3.21
2 packs of sandpaper designed for wet use (600- and 800-grit) = $9.50
1 roll of painter’s tape = $5.84
Total: $74.74

Making preparations

Find a large, clean area to do the job. Washing the car is the next step. Remove all attachments that you don’t want to paint. Now you are ready to sand the car. If you will find spots where the old paint has chipped off, hit it with the spray primer. Sand well, because a smooth surface is needed for an even paint job. Mask off non-painted areas with the painter’s tape and paper.

It’s time for painting your car

Mix up the paint and mineral spirits in a 50-50 dilution. It should look like milk. Styluss recommends applying each coat of paint in the exact same order so that you’ll be sure not to overdo areas or miss anything. Start high and work down. Make it uniform, as going back to dry area to paint alongside will create ugly paint lines.

Go slow and paint the right way

Pick a direction, pour some mix within the tray and start your painting voyage. Big brushes are great for big parts, and also the smaller ones are ideal for little segments. Lay the paint on thick in an area, and then spread it around to cover and create a base. Brush with slow strokes that never vary in direction. Be sure to view for drips and sags. If they’re minor, just brush over them. Major issues will require a re-sanding and restart. Three coats, each allowed to dry for six to 12 hours, should be enough. Undiluted Rustoleum is advertised as a 24-hour dry. With the mineral spirits, cut that time in half.

Sanding and coating some more

After the primer coats are finished drying, wet-sand the car with the 600-grit sandpaper to smooth the way for the final coats. Spray off any sanded away residue, then buff it to a shine. If painting your car went perfectly, you may not need the additional sanding. Next, apply at least a couple more coats for a nice, rich look. Allow the final coats (2-3) to dry, then sand with 800-grit or higher.

You’re done! How does it look?

Before washing and waxing the car, wait at least one full day. You may see brush strokes, but don’t worry if you were meticulous. For $ 75, “The Poor Man’s Paint Job” is more than worth it, considering how exciting your car looks. Yes, the paint may strip in a year, but your cash outlay was not tremendous. If you need to spend more money, strip the Rustoleum off and go to a professional. But you may not need it; “The Poor Man’s Paint Job” will save you money and can produce quite enough results.

More data available at these sites:

Instructables.com

instructables.com/id/The-Poor-Mans-Paint-Job-or…-How-to-paint-your-c/

On the rise are staged automobile accidents

In numerous states, particularly those with no-fault insurance laws, staged car accidents are on the rise. Criminals stage these to get money from insurance companies. Some are with large groups and others with victims. Insurance fraud can be a severe issue that raises rates for every person — and some states are aiming to battle the bulge.

Article source: Staged car accidents on the rise by Car Deal Expert

Automobile accidents staged

An accident that insurance fraudsters set up to make money is called a staged automobile accident. You will find quite a few schemes. Some include two or 3 cars that have been filled with individuals that have a minor accident. All of the passengers then claim injuries. Others are played with innocent drivers. No matter what the scheme, a staged vehicle accident is typically difficult to avoid and even more difficult to prove.

Staged car accidents cost

The cost of this can be very high. In injuries, passengers can claim a lot of money. Damages to automobile can add thousands more. The person who isn’t really at fault can also have their insurance costs increased. In no-fault insurance states, the cost of insurance in general can spike. This is just the financial cost — there is also a danger of personal injury and increased vehicular-related death.

Staged accidents rise

The number of staged accidents can be very difficult to pin down. Because many of these accidents look “normal,” pegging them as fraud is tough. According to the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, thus far this year, Florida has seen over 3,000 staged accidents, New York has had 1,680 and California has seen 1,619. Illinois and Texas round out the top five for staged accidents.

See some of probably the most common staged accidents

youtube.com/watch?v=JGeIrm5UXN0

Citations:

Coalition against insurance fraud

insurancefraud.org/staged_accidents.htm

Factories hire, unemployment rate down, job loss up, what gives?

The US economic recovery is being held down by the unemployment rate. It's such a problem that despite the fact that the unemployment rate fell from 9.7 percent in May to 9.5 percent in June, more jobs had to be cut than were created. Within the jobs report, the stats were skewed by jobless Americans out of the labor force. The stock market, accepting the numbers at face value, rose slightly Friday morning. Soon after a large decline in factory orders was reported at 10 a.m., the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 32.5 points. The turgid U.S. economy is full of conflicting information. Even as job creation, factory orders and consumer confidence fell, numerous of the manufacturing companies that want to hire can find workers with the kind of skills they need.

Article source: Unemployment rate down, job loss up, factories hire, what gives by Personal Money Store

Consumer confidence and unemployment rate goes with every little thing else

The unemployment rate effects the whole economy. An uncertain employment picture wreaks havoc on consumer confidence, which went down a lot in June. The decline in consumer confidence led to a decline in auto sales, and pushed pending home sales off a cliff as tax credits for home buyers expired. Consumer spending makes up 70 percent of the U.S. economy, and disposable income is a distant memory for millions of jobless workers.

Why the unemployment rate went down:

The unemployment rate reached its lowest point since July 2009. But the Wall Street Journal reports that the decline wasn't due to improvement within the labor market. June's unemployment rate should have increased with a 125,000 job loss. But 652,000 individuals gave up looking for a job – which happens to be the sharpest one-month decline in 15 years in the Labor Department's survey. Some could be choosing other choices like school. Some are reaching the end of their unemployment benefits, which require an active job search. 1 million individuals stopped looking for work within the last 2 months.

New jobs a mismatch for numerous unemployed workers

The unemployment rate remains stubbornly high because plenty of individuals are still applying for the jobs. It was reported by the New York Times that the problem is a mismatch between the kind of skilled workers needed and also the ranks of the unemployed. During the recession, domestic manufacturers accelerated the long-term move toward more automation, laying off their workers that weren't very skilled and replacing them with cheaper labor abroad. Now these companies have to hire some new individuals who can operate sophisticated computerized machinery, follow complex blueprints and demonstrate higher math skills than old-school assembly line workers.

Does the jobs report have a silver lining?

You have to dig deep to find good things in the last jobs report. It was reported by the Washington Post that Friday’s jobs report could mean that the economic recovery that started last year has lost momentum, but the numbers aren’t so bad as to suggest the nation is heading into a double-dip recession. The numbers, although weak, show just how far the U.S. economy has fallen. The job growth number is a decline from stronger levels in March and April, but the June job creation number of a mere 83,000 is better than any month out of the past 31, other than the last two.

More data about this topic at these websites:

New York Times

nytimes.com/2010/07/02/business/economy/02manufacturing.html?_r=1&ref=us

Wall Street Journal

blogs.wsj.com/economics/2010/07/02/why-did-the-unemployment-rate-drop-2/

Washington Post

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/02/AR2010070202004.html?hpid=topnews

The Corpse Flower – called Amorphophallus titanium blooms around the country

Native to Sumatra, the “corpse flower” is a flower of many mysteries. The flower lives most of its life as one big leaf, and then blooms into a giant, rotting-flesh-smelling flower. Since corpse flowers generally bloom only two or three times in their lives, it is big news when it does happen. In botanical gardens around the country, the amorphophallus titanium flower is emerging in all its stinky glory.

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

Of a corpse flower, the life cycle

A corpse flower is distinctive for many reasons. Generally grown in Sumatra, the flower is rare. The pungent scent of the flower is meant to attract not bees and birds but flies and beetles. These creatures pollinate the flowers. In greenhouses and botanical gardens around the country, amorphophallus titanium flowers are kept very carefully. Difficult to pollinate, these flowers generally bring in lots of crowds.

Keeping a corpse flower alive

Very few gardens around the country sell amorphophallus titanium starts. Because corpse flowers are difficult to pollinate, they are generally pollinated with frozen pollen. In Berkley, you can buy a Titan arum start for about $ 35 to $ 50. It’s not much of a beginning cost, but these flowers are very touchy. There is just one leaf for most of the cycle. The flower smells awful and only blooms a couple times. If you really want one of these liver-colored, huge, stinky plants, you may want to build a closed-off addition to your sun room.

Something less smelly but still cool

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