The basics of an Air Dam

The air dam, or front spoiler, of your vehicle might just seem to be a part of questionable need. Like a rear spoiler, the intention of the air dam is actually just to redirect air and improve the aerodynamics of your vehicle. Is the air dam really an essential part, or is it just one more piece that will eventually fall off?

Source for this article: All about the Air Dam by Car Deal Expert

Positive aspects of having an air dam

An air dam could be a good idea depending on the model of your car. An air dam sits at the front underside of your automobile and redirects air around the car. An air dam provides increased vehicle mileage, as well as allowing the car to go slightly faster without lifting off the ground.

Drawbacks connected with the air dam

It is not always helpful to have an air dam on your car. On many older cars, such as trucks, air dams were not attached very well, which means they have a tendency to fall off. An air dam also may be dented during off-road driving, causing friction and damage to more parts of your automobile.

The air dam conclusion

Ultimately, an air dam is not a damaging part to have on your vehicle. These parts are mostly there for looks. The mileage of your car could possibly be increased by an air dam. This improvement, however, is minor; you would probably do much better to properly inflate your tires. In case your car comes pre-installed with an air dam, it probably is not worth it to take it off unless you intend on doing off-road driving. If you’re considering an add-on air dam consider very carefully whether you’ll be driving fast enough so often that it justifies the time, cost and effort.

Gen. David Petraeus replaces the commander who was disgraced by Rolling Stone

Gen. David Petraeus was named to replace Gen. Stanley McChrystal as being the new U.S. commander within the Afghanistan war. After a profile of McChrystal in Rolling Stone portrayed him as openly contemptuous of President Obama and key members of his national security team, McChrystal offered his resignation and Obama accepted it. Opinion has been universal so far that to preserve America’s civilian control over the military, McChrystal needed to go and that Petraeus is the best choice to take over in Afghanistan.

Article Source: Gen. David Petraeus replaces commander disgraced by Rolling Stone

Political savvy of Petraeus

Gen. David Petraeus, who heads U.S. Central Command, took what looks like certain failure in Iraq and brought the U.S. war there toward an acceptable outcome. David Ignatius of the Washington Post said that if the Taliban sold stock, its price would have fallen dramatically after Wednesday’s announcement that Petraeus would assume control in Afghanistan. Ignatius also said that Petraeus is one of the most deft political figure that he has ever seen in uniform who always remembered that he worked for civilian leadership.

With Petraeus, Obama has a win-win

Appointing Gen. Petraeus after McChrystal’s challenge to his leadership is a win-win situation for Obama, as outlined by the Christian Science Monitor. Obama gets to have a top commander back within the field, and he also reasserts his role as civilian commander in chief. After insulting comments about the president and made by Gen. McChrystal and his staff to a reporter from Rolling Stone, Obama quickly summoned the general from Afghanistan to Washington and he won’t be going back.

Gen. McChrystal's apology was of no help

Gen. McChrystal apologized for the article on Tuesday but didn’t say he was misrepresented by it. CNN reports that a source who was close to McChrystal said that during the 30-minute meeting between Obama and McChrystal on Tuesday, McChrystal briefly explained the Rolling Stone article that derailed his career, took responsibility and then offered his resignation. The president “had no intention of keeping him,” the source reports. McChrystal’s personal belongings could be shipped from Afghanistan to his home.

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss

Gen. Petraeus represents a change in style but not substance as outlined by Michael Hastings, the freelance writer of the Rolling Stone article at the center of the controversy. On rollingstone.com June 23, Hastings wrote that when Obama swapped out McChrystal with Petraeus the president said it was a change in personnel, not policy, and policy has been the problem all along. Hastings said that Obama picked Petraeus because he is a master at telling Americans what they want to hear. It can be Petraeus’ job to spin Afghanistan from a defeat into a face-saving draw after having spent billions of dollars and thousands of lives that won’t make us any safer from terrorists.

Additional info at these websites

Washington Post

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/23/AR2010062304005.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

Christian Science Monitor

csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2010/0623/In-replacing-McChrystal-with-Gen.-David-Petraeus-Obama-reasserts-authority

CNN

edition.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/06/23/general.mcchrystal.obama.apology/?hpt=T1&imw=Y&fbid=w2XX2duDWrt

Ford ahead of foreigners in auto quality rankings for very first time

U.S. automakers finished ahead of imported brands for the very first time ever in auto quality rankings for mass-market new cars and trucks released Thursday. Among mass-market brands, Ford Motor Co. ranked No. 1 for quality within the J.D. Power and Associates car review consumers use as a guide for auto quality rankings. Toyota, usually near the top, fell to 21st.

Source for this article: Auto quality rankings put Ford ahead of foreigners for first time By Personal Money Store

Criteria judged by J.D. Power

In its car reviews, J.D. Power ranks autos by how numerous issues are reported to dealers for each 100 automobiles. The Associated Press reports that U.S. automakers reported fewer problems from customers for the first 90 days on average than those for imports. Ford's achievement is the very first time that has happened in the industry group's annual quality study now in its 24th year.

A shake-up in auto quality rankings

Ford stayed out of bankruptcy, refused a government bailout and liked some of the best improvement in auto quality rankings among all other brands, achieving its highest ranking ever at no 5 overall. Porsche, Acura, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus—all luxury brands—took the top four spots. Reuters reports that the outcome of the latest survey makes a statement about how far U.S. automakers have come in their effort to catch up with the quality of Asian automakers. Toyota dropped from sixth to 21st after its image took a beating from numerous safety recalls.

GM quality ranking below industry average

In General Motors auto quality rankings, Buick was the only brand with fewer reported troubles than the year before. Business Week reports that below average ratings for all GM brands is a bad sign for the automaker's progress. J.D. Power said that high scoring brands within the auto quality ranking survey do a better job of keeping customers, with owners of cars within the top quarter of the list purchasing the very same brand 59 percent of the time while brands in the bottom quarter retain just 44 percent of owners.

Find a lot more info on this topic

www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article

www.reuters.com

www.businessweek.com

Is the Digital Electronic license plate the California hacker’s paradise?

The California State Assembly is set to consider a bill that would green-light “Digital Electronic License Plate” technology. These digi-plates would turn any license plate into a mobile advertising space. With no formal opposition ready to debate these plates, are you going to see them on the road next year?

Article Resource: Digital Electronic License Plate – California hacker’s paradise

What are these new digital electronic license plates?

The bill making its way through the California legislature gives the DMV permission to work with companies creating these “Smart Plates.” They’re small, preprogrammed screens. During normal operation of the car, plate displays the license plate number. Stop for more than three or four seconds, though, and the majority of the screen will display something else. The idea is that these plates can be able to display advertising, a personalized message, or anything really that can be put into pixels.

Why the e-plate could be good

The California Assembly is set on the DELP for spending budget reasons. The state wants any reason to bring in additional cash with the $ 19 billion spending budget hole. With more than 32 million autos that are registered in the state, these e-plates would give advertisers millions of new opportunities to pay the state for advertising. These e-plates would also give the chance for residents to pay more money for some more personalization on their cars. In short, spending budget wins.

The Digital license plate being a bad idea

Though the state budget of California might just benefit from approving DLEP e-plates, it may eventually cost the state even a lot more money. First, these electronic license plates would change your license plate at the press of a button – certainly attractive to those who like to speed, red-light runners and criminals of all types who could hack their plates to make their numbers obstructed or invisible. Would it really be good to have each and every vehicle be a billboard ad? What business wants to be the one known for causing crashes? Would you really like seeing much more ads while driving? There are also concerns about property rights. Does the state have the rights to sell space on private property for advertisements that the drivers wouldn’t even make a cent on?

What do you think about this?

U.S. Postal Service searching for automobile replacement

Most autos within the US Postal Service really need this. They’re all getting old as they were intended with a 24 year life cycle. $ 4.2 billion is what would be required to replace all of the vehicles. Is the replacement going to be the only option?

Resource for this article: U.S. Postal Service searching for car replacement

Postal service LLVs

The trucks the postal service uses are called Long Life Automobiles, or LLV. The trucks were intended with a 24-year lifecycle of daily driving. That 24 year lifecycle is coming to a close. The Postal Service Inspector General explained that, over the next eight years, the Postal Service would spend a lot more repairing the autos than replacing them.

The price of repairing all of the USPS vehicles

In 2009 alone, the Postal Service spent $ 524 million on LLV repair. Instead of replacing them, it is typically better to just repair them. The average repair bill for each LLV is about $ 5,600, with some going as high as $ 40,000. The automobiles do not usually require any kind of specialized maintenance, though the right-handed driving setup can cause more expensive maintenance at times.

Replacing the LLV fleet

The cost to benefit comparison of continuing to repair the LLV fleet is turning upside down really quickly. In the next eight years, the postal service will really lose quite a bit of money if it repairs rather than replaces any automobiles that have a repair bill of more than $ 3,500. Straight-across replacement of the full LLV fleet would cost $ 30,000 per truck.

Vehicle alternatives for US Postal service

The alternatives for U.S. Postal Service delivery automobiles are being heavily researched. The USPS has offered a $ 50,000 reward to firms for providing a working prototype of a USPS car by August. Letter carriers in many other areas are testing three-wheeled electric vehicles, bicycles, and more traditional minivan-style cars for delivering the mail, rain or shine.

With oil business holdings, drilling moratorium overturned by judge

A federal judge has overturned the Obama administration’s six-month deep water drilling moratorium within the Gulf of Mexico. The ruling issued Tuesday cited economic hardship due to the ban and explained the government overreached by suspending all deep-water drilling operations planned within the gulf. Oil companies decided to hail the ruling. The Department of Justice said they would appeal the decision. In the mean time, as the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico 2010 gushed, about 106 million gallons of crude and counting have spilled into the sea.

Article Resource: Drilling moratorium overturned by judge with oil business holdings

Possibility of drilling moratorium judge being invested in oil

The drilling moratorium was overturned by Judge Martin L.C. Feldman. It was reported by ABC News that recent disclosure documents indicate that Feldman, who was appointed to the bench by Ronald Reagan, has had financial holdings in oil companies. Feldman said the Interior Department acted as if it were “arbitrarily and capriciously” when it issued a six-month moratorium on drilling new deep-water wells in the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Ocean. Feldman of course a preliminary injunction to Hornbeck Offshore Services to lift the drilling moratorium, explaining the government “failed to cogently reflect the decision to issue a blanket, generic, indeed punitive, moratorium.”

More deep-water drilling uncertain

The moratorium was imposed to give a presidential panel time to come up with recommendations on how to avoid a repeat of the BP oil spill disaster. It was reported by the Los Angeles Times that it remains uncertain whether the Interior Department would have to start issuing new permits to drill. With an appeal that is certain to come from the Obama administration, some analysts doubt that oil companies would want to start a major deep-water drilling operation within the Gulf of Mexico with the possibility it may have to shut down if the appeal succeeds.

Oil companies spin drilling moratorium

The American Petroleum Institute said in a written statement on today's ruling, “The moratorium was an initial reaction to concerns about the safety of offshore oil and natural gas operations. However, an extended moratorium would have a tremendous impact on the nation’s energy security – and cause significant harm to the region of the country that was already suffering from the spill – without raising safety or improving industry procedures.”

Containment failure for BP oil spill

In the mean time, it is reported by CNN that government estimates indicate as much as 60,000 barrels (2.5 million gallons) of oil may be flowing into the Gulf every single day, and also the gusher has already taken a significant toll on tourism and also the fishing industry in Gulf Coast states. BP said Tuesday it had succeeded in collecting less than half of the estimated daily output: 25,830 barrels (1.08 million gallons) of oil over the past 24 hours. The amount is the most that has ever been collected; the previous record was set June 18 when 25,290 barrels were collected. BP explained that it will donate net revenues it receives from the sale of oil recovered from the spill to help the National Fish and Wildlife Federation deal with the oil it won’t be collecting from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico 2010.

Additional data at these websites
ABC News

abcnews.go.com/Politics/gulf-oil-spill-disaster-judge-overrules-white-house/story?id=10983980&page=2

Los Angeles times

latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-oil-spill-moratorium-20100623,,7804590.story

CNN

cnn.com/2010/US/06/22/gulf.oil.disaster/index.html?npt=NP1

LEV, SULEV, PZEV and more - Abbreviations and emissions

There are numerous regulations within the world of option fuel and low emission cars. While national regulations on car emissions do exist, some states have a lot more strict standards. Some abbreviations about emissions are made. Here’s what one of the most popular of these abbreviations actually mean.

Resource for this article: Abbreviations and emissions – LEV, SULEV, PZEV and more

LEV and NLEV – Low Emission Vehicle

The LEV or NLEV standard was first instituted by California as the “Low Emission Vehicle” standard, and later was adopted as the required “National Low Emission Vehicle” standard. These standards, for passenger cars, mean emitting less than 3.4 grams per mile of carbon monoxide. Through the 2003 model, this standard is applied.

ULEV – Ultra Low Emission Automobile

Ultra Low Emission Automobile standards apply to autos in model years 2003 to 2010. These ULEV passenger cars have to stay under 1.7 grams per pile of carbon monoxide. Alternately, ULEV cars can only emit half of the emissions of comparable model-year vehicles.

Super Ultra Low Emission Automobile – SULEV

Super Ultra Low Emission Automobiles, otherwise known as SULEV cars, have to emit no more than 10 percent of the average emissions of comparable model-year vehicles. SULEV cars are, most often, ultra-efficient hybrids or alternative-fuel vehicles.

Partial Zero Emission Vehicle – PZEV

PZEV standards are the very same as SULEV. Nevertheless, to qualify as a PZEV, a vehicle has to have a whole bunch of additional controls on gas evaporation and must maintain low emission levels for 150,000 miles. In 2001, there were many engines that qualify as PZEV.

ZEV stands for Zero Emissions Vehicle

Used to refer to hydrogen-fueled or electric cars usually, Zero Emissions Automobiles aren’t always necessarily totally “zero emissions." For instance, a car that charges off of the power grid could be considered ZEV – despite the fact that the grid nevertheless puts out some pollution.

Fuel Economy Standards

Though some states use alphabet soup to describe the efficiency of vehicles, the federal government and EPA use a different system. By 2016, vehicle makers will be required to build cars that have an average fuel economy rating of 35.5 miles per gallon.

South Carolina House nixes pay day bill veto

Just lately, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford vetoed H.3790, a pay day loan bill that would have stretched the payment period from two weeks to four months (without changing the fees charged). Furthermore, H.3790 would have eliminated quick unsecured loans in South Carolina and outlawed the common practice of a customer presenting a lender with a post-dated check. However, S.C. Politics Today reports that the South Carolina House of Representatives has overridden Gov. Sanford’s veto. In doing so, they also went against the governor’s veto of the portions of the bill that affected mortgage industry licensing fees.

Article Resource: South Carolina House overturns veto of pay day loans bill

Payday loans no faxing bill H.3790: Why Gov. Sanford said no

Gov. Sanford explained to the state legislature that his payday loan bill veto was warranted because

“Although this type of regulation is intended to protect the public, these kinds of laws ultimately decrease the number and type of available financing options and make it harder for new lenders to enter the market. In other words, consumers have fewer choices and the available options become more expensive. … Some people will benefit from payday–style loans and some will not, and we continue to believe that individual consumers are better equipped than a government bureaucracy to know whether a short-term loan is a wise decision in any given circumstance.”

The public knows what works best for them

It is common knowledge that state legislators are less likely to need a pay day or similar loans with no credit check – unsecured loans or otherwise – than the average credit-constrained consumer, so it is logical that consumers should be allowed to choose for themselves. Governor Sanford clearly sees the matter in those terms, even if his state’s legislature doesn’t. As of now, payday loan law in South Carolina allows borrowers one loan at a time, up to $550. This activity is tracked in an electronic database.

Another bill, another overturned veto

Another stinging veto override delves into Gov. Sanford’s alleged history of impropriety with South Carolina tax dollars. The House nixed Gov. Sanford’s veto of a bill that would “allow information to be made public in a state ethics investigation of the governor when it indicates possible cause that a violation may have occurred,” reports S.C. Politics Today. The vote against that veto was a massive 102-2. Gov. Sanford has said he vetoed it within the first place because he believed it should reference all state lawmakers, not just the governor.

Additional details at these websites

thestatecom.typepad.com/ygatoday/2010/06/house-overrides-sanford-on-payday-lending-ethics.html

docs.google.com/viewer?url=http://www.scgovernor.com/NR/rdonlyres/A0AB7D58-484C-49EC-9DD7-856ED2D5D7C3/35671/H3790MortgageLoanOriginator.pdf

The SpaghettiOs recall will affect 15 million pounds of pre-cooked pasta

Last night, Campbell Soup Company put out a SpaghettiOs recall that will probably affect 15 million pounds of the canned pasta product. The SpaghettiOs recall is not because of any reported illnesses, but was issued “out of an abundance of caution.” Because of undercooked meat, there are 3 types of SpaghettiOs within the recall.

Resource for this article: SpaghettiOs recall affects 15 million pounds of pre-cooked pasta

Products of the SpaghettiOs recall

The three products integrated within the SpaghettiOs recall are all 14.75-ounce cans, that are stamped with the code EST 4K and a “use by” date between June 2010 and December 2011. These are:

• There's SpaghettiOs with Meatballs with the product code U5
• There are the SpaghettiOs A to Z with Meatballs with the product code 4N
• There are the SpaghettiOs “Cars” Fun Shapes with Meatballs with the product code KS.

Inspection of SpaghettiOs recall by Department of Agriculture

The SpaghettiOs recall is being announced along with Campbell Soup Business and also the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety Inspection Service. The FSIS was completing a routine safety inspection of the Campbell warehouse in Paris, Texas when they found that some meats within the SpaghettiOs recall were undercooked. Individuals can get sick off of undercooked canned meats.

SpaghettiOs recall costs

The cost of any food recall can effortlessly run to the millions of dollars. A can of SpaghettiOs sells regularly for about 80 cents. Back-of-the-envelope calculations say that since the cans are 15 ounces apiece, the business is recalling about 16 million cans of SpaghettiOs. They are offering to refund any SpaghettiOs recalled – which puts just the product cost at $ 12.8 million, retail. Add that to the cost of administering the recall. In other words, one malfunctioning cooker that was not repaired in almost 18 months will cost the business $ 13 million or a lot more. The company’s stock has also been steadily losing value today, though until today it was recovering well from the 2009 stock market fall.

How to proceed if you were in the SpaghettiOs recall

Return your SpaghettiOs to the store where you purchased them if you were within the recall. The store should give you a refund or replacement. You can also call the Campbell’s hotline at 866-495-3774 for more info.

BP escrow fund – will it help get payments out a lot more easily?

A BP escrow fund has been created by BP executives and the Obama administration. The BP escrow fund is money the business sets aside for paying oil spill damages. It can be used to pay claims of lost income, companies, and other damages by human victims of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The real problem, though, is the question of if the BP escrow fund will really help.

Resource for this article: BP Escrow fund – Helpful or hurtful

Liability cap not established by the BP escrow

Estimates for the damages from the BP oil spill vary from as little as the amount of the BP escrow fund up to $ 100 billion. Obama advisor David Axelrod assured the public today that "this is not a get-out-of-the-situation-free card.” BP has already been told that if the $ 20 billion runs out, they’ll be expected to pay more.

BP escrow fund to be administered by Fineburg

Kenneth Fineburg works as the "pay czar" for banks that received the TARP bailout. A lawyer, Kenneth Fineburg has experience in administering disaster escrow funds – he administered the victims’ fund for the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Complaints ensured creation of BP escrow fund

The BP escrow fund, called for at first by President Obama, is being created because of issues with BP’s response to claims. While some residents say they got checks from BP for their damage claims “within days,” others are saying they have yet to see anything. Oil spill victims, when submitting claims to BP, have been told they have to provide 3 years of tax returns.

Will BP escrow fund distract from spill?

Some politicians are questioning the timing of the BP escrow fund. In 2009, BP reported $ 5.6 billion in operating profits. However, Governor Haley Barbour of Mississippi has spoken out against the BP escrow fund. Her concern is that once BP pays into the escrow fund, it may wash its hands of the oil spill.

Find out more:

NowPublic.com

ABC News

AP News

Driving etiquette is a spotlight on safety

Driving etiquette may sound like it is stupid, but the reality is that showing consideration for others who occupy the highway is not only polite, but necessary for safety’s sake. As a Thinkquest entry on driving etiquette says, “Everyone appreciates the good manners of a driver who: Signals his turns, makes his stops smoothly and gradually pulls to the proper lane well before making a turn.” This maintains decorum and helps keep the lives of the driver and others out of harm’s way.

Article Resource: Driving etiquette – Spotlight on safety By Car Deal Expert

Driver etiquette will show you how to act with other drivers

Drivers should not try to “shoot the fruit” and barrel through a traffic signal just before it turns red. If drivers are actually alert to their road conditions, they will typically notice a changing traffic light in plenty of time to make a smooth, safe stop utilizing relaxed braking. Too many accidents happen when trying to beat a red light. If used correctly, this should cut down on accidents. That means you’ll have to signal correctly to those around you. In bad weather, when high-beam headlights are necessary, dim them down to regular lights when one more driving passes in the opposite direction. High beams can cause temporary road blindness that may lead to an accident. If an accident does occur and also the drivers are unharmed, be prepared to share insurance info and refrain from name-calling or admission of fault.

Don't drive distracted

We all know it is criminal to be a drunk driver. Judgment and response times of a driver are impaired by alcohol or drugs. It is show to us by About.com that, while somewhat controversial, marijuana should also be considered a drug that temporarily damages driving ability. There have been many research projects like the recent Hartford Hospital study in Connecticut cited by Click On Detroit indicate that “the results do not imply that it is safe to drive under the influence of marijuana.”

Distracted driving could be equally dangerous, if not more than it is when drunk. A recent Associated Content article concerning road rage suggests that multitasking when driving simply isn’t a good idea for most individuals, if not all. Cell phones, makeup, video games, television and a host of other distractions can make good driving etiquette impossible. How can you drive when you’re paying attention to texting?

While practicing your driving etiquette, be very carefull

Read more on this topic here

Thinkquest.org

library.thinkquest.org/2993/drivin.htm

Associated Content

associatedcontent.com/article/355526/driving_etiquette_for_everybody.html?cat=27

About.com

alcoholism.about.com/cs/pot/f/mjkids_faq13.htm

Click On Detroit

clickondetroit.com/news/23818884/detail.html

Future electric car batteries made with Afghanistan lithium?

Afghanistan has emerged as a possible major source of lithium. Lithium, mined from brine and clay, is considered the energy resource that will make electric cars cost effective enough to be practical for millions of drivers. Batteries for electric cars, smartphones and laptops could make lithium the crude oil of the 21st century. Much like many of the world’s oil, vast deposits of lithium are found in remote, backward countries hostile to the United States. Countries like Argentine, Boliva and most recently, Afghanistan, are called "Saudi Arabias of lithium" due to their confirmed mother lodes of the metal.

Article Source: Lithium in Afghanistan for electric cars – a blessing and a curse

A corrupt Afghanistan eyes lithium

Rich lithium deposits in Afghanistan were announced Monday by American government officials. The New York Times reports that Afghanistan has deposits of lithium and huge veins of iron, copper, cobalt and gold worth nearly $1 trillion. The previously undiscovered minerals, existing in quantities far beyond known reserves elsewhere, could be both good news and bad news for the U.S. Afghanistan war. Vast mineral wealth could lift the Afghan government out from generations of war and bring about peace. Or the known presence of lithium and other precious metals could increase Taliban resolve to control the country and intensify the Afghanistan war. Lithium adds another lucrative target for Afghan corruption regardless.

Lithium and the outcome of the Afganistan war

Afghanistan lithium, along with other precious metals, could make the country a new frontier for international mining. But Afghanistan’s economy, presently depending on opium cultivation, has none of the heavy industry required to capitalize on its mineral wealth. To exploit Afghanistan lithium, China may have an edge, despite heavy U.S. investment of billions in treasure and barrels of blood within the Afghanistan war. Blogger Aziz Poonawalla postulates than U.S. strategic control of Afghanistan's minerals can be contested aggressively by China. Analysts speculate that Obama will postpone plans to withdraw troops from the Afghanistan war, when a corrupt Hamid Karzai will cozy up to China and demand that U.S. forces clear out quicker.

Afghanistan's lithium scenario like Boliva's

Lithium in Afghanistan is big news because now the incredibly backward country could become the leading supplier of the rare-earth metal used within the lithium ion batteries that power hundreds of millions of smart phones and laptops. Automakers are counting on a future of electric cars made possible by advanced lithium-ion batteries. A recent article in the New Yorker reports that Boliva has nearly half the world's known lithium lying undisturbed under vast salt flats. Whether or not Boliva ever benefits from its lithium stash is not clear, according to experts. Boliva is a socialist country at odds with the U.S., with a primitive infrastructure much like Afghanistan. For Boliva to enjoy the promise of lithium as a twenty-first century fuel, it must first develop the basics of a twentieth-century economy.

Or become the prize for opponents in the next 21st century war.

Additional information at these websites

www.nytimes.com

blog.beliefnet.com

www.newyorker.com

Lee Farkas, mortgage lender, charged with TARP fraud

The Troubled Asset Relief Program was created by the government to help lenders in trouble. The estimated amount that TARP would cost has been substantially less than expected. However, the Securities and Exchange Commission is prosecuting some mortgage lenders for fraud that amounts to $ 1.9 billion. Lee Farkas, chairman of a mortgage lender, has been charged in federal court for defrauding the TARP program.

Resource for this article: Lee Farkas, mortgage lender, charged with TARP fraud By Personal Money Store

TBW Mortgage lenders

The bulk owner and chairman of mortgage lender Taylor, Bean and Whitaker, Lee Farkas, was responsible for investments that mortgage lender sold. During the administration of TARP funds, TBW sold more than $ 1.5 billion in “fabricated or impaired loans” to Colonial Bank. These loans helped Colonial qualify for bailout funds from the federal government. Taylor, Bean and Whitaker filed for bankruptcy in 2009.

The SEC challenges against Lee Farkas

Lee Farkas, according to the SEC, set up frauds that ended up costing the federal government's TARP fund $ 1.9 billion. As outlined by the SEC, Farkas sold $1 billion in loans that he did not disclose were damaged, and half again as much in fake loans. Lee Farkas also allegedly headed up a “bogus equity investment” that assisted Colonial Bank qualify for TARP funds. These actions, along with other alleged infractions, resulted in losses of a lot more than $ 1.9 billion of TARP funds.

Oversight by the Fed to increase

The amount of oversight the Fed has is being ramped up under the watch of Ben Bernanke. The Fed and Bernanke have come out in support of the financial reform bill in Congress. Separate from the financial reform bill, the Fed and SEC are also working together to beef up oversight and prosecution of financially dangerous or fraudulent practices.

Oil spill search listings bought by BP as stock price plunges

Google, Bing and Yahoo are profiting from the BP oil spill as the besieged company fights to polish its oil stained image. Type “oil spill” in those search engines and BP appears at the top of the page. Search engine companies are collecting oil wealth when BP's stock plunge has investors questioning the future of a business flush with cash. Politicians frustrated with BP are adding to the pressure, demanding the business pay damages rather than dividends. Meanwhile, the oil spill within the Gulf of Mexico 2010 added up to as much as 125 million gallons and counting on day 52 of the disaster.

Article Resource: BP buys top oil spill search listings as BP stock price plummets By Personal Money Store

BP's fabricated oil spill search

Web users browsing for oil spill updates are in BP's PR crosshairs. USA Today reports that Google, Bing and Yahoo are accepting money from BP to help the company spin and withhold information about the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico with top rankings for searches including the words "BP news," oil spill" and "oil spill claims". The store-bought links lead to a BP website featuring corporate versions of the oil spill response with press releases, photos and video. The oil spill live feed, and its view of the ruptured well overwhelming within the oil spill cap, is conspicuously missing.

BP stock price plummets

So far BP’s oil spill ploy with the search engine companies hasn’t helped its stock price. Political pressure from the U.S. government on BP for its failure to plan for the gulf oil spill catastrophe drove BP stock to its lowest point in seven years in London trading. BP stock is widely held by British pension funds and investors there are angered over the insistence of U.S. lawmakers that BP suspend dividends until the oil spill is cleaned up. The Associated Press reports that when asked if BP should cut its dividends to shareholders House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, “I think it is appropriate for BP to be paying businesses in the Gulf. … They have a responsibility under the law to pay these damages. They made $17 billion last year. Maybe individuals who receive dividends have deeper pockets."House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told the Associated Press that BP should take responsibility under the law to pay damages before paying dividends to individuals ! with deep pockets.

Citations

CNNMoney.com

usatoday.com

google.com/hostednews/ap/article

Payday loans no faxing alternatives could be costly

There are plenty of financial experts who claim that if you’re in a situation where you need exact same day loans, you will find consumer payday loans alternatives offered by banks and credit unions that are less expensive. ConsumerAffairs.com begs to differ, nevertheless; numerous pay day loans alternatives aren’t a cheaper solution at all. A recent National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) study took a take a look at a a number of hundred of these same day loans offered by banks and credit unions as payday loan alternatives, and found them wanting.

Article Source: Payday loan alternatives are often a lot more expensive

Payday loan alternatives: Shouldn’t they be cheaper?

Setting aside the much-referenced academic study that shows that exact same day loans aren’t really costly, the truth is that when it comes to payday loan alternatives, most do not improve upon the model they’re designed to replace. Lauren Saunders of the NCLC stated within the report that “too numerous providers of so-called payday loans no faxing alternatives hit consumers with some of the very same onerous provisions that predatory lenders use to saddle unwary and vulnerable borrowers with loans they can’t afford to repay”.

Leah Plunkett, who shared authorship with Saunders, says that “Many genuine payday alternatives are within the market,” but that they typically fail to reproduce the convenience and cost-effectiveness of same day loans. She makes a point of exposing pay day loan alternatives offered by Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank and Fifth 3rd Bank. “They are payday loans, plain and simple: triple digit loans repaid on the next payday”. That’s hardly an improvement over the already popular exact same day loan product.

Are the instant cash offered same day by credit unions any better?

The NCLC found that Kinecta Federal Credit Union in California took advantage of lending laws for their own profit, all the when claiming they were nevertheless one of the cheapest pay day loans alternatives available. Kinecta’s 14-day cash now for very same day bore a 362 percent APR or higher, which is comparable to but not substantially cheaper than some exact same day loan rates. Payday loan alternatives from other credit unions were found to come via a lot more costly third-party loan portals like E-AccessLoan.com.

What can payday loan alternatives do for you?

”Payday loan alternatives that help consumers must be repayable affordably and over time, so that hard-pressed borrowers who need short-term help can climb out of debt rather than get trapped in it,” exclaims Lauren Saunders. Unfortunately, numerous of the payday loan alternatives banks and credit unions offer aren’t their as an offer of goodwill. Such monolithic organizations desire profit, as much as legally possible.

Additional information at these websites

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2010/06/payday_loan_alternatives.html

T-Mobile to offer free phones on June 19

The rumor mill is running high speed about the possibility of a T-Mobile free phone on June 19. What kind of promotion T-Mobile is going to be running on June 19 has been kept very quiet by the company. A script for a commercial has been leaked, though, and seems like like this promotion can be a free T-Mobile phone. The promotion, which could include smartphones, does have a limitation or two.

Source for this article: T-Mobile free phone – All phones free on June 19

The free T-Mobile phone sale

The T-Mobile free phone sale will be a one-day only sale in most stores. The T-Mobile gossip site TMONews got and posted the commercial script. The T-Mobile commercial script seems entirely legitimate and highlights the T-Mobile free phone promotion. The script, on close reading, says that all phones in the store will be free. Supporting evidence includes that all T-Mobile stores are informed they will be opening two hours early on July 19 in preparation for a “promotion” with “details to be provided soon".

The details of the T-Mobile free phone sale

The T-Mobile free phone sale offers every phone within the store for free. T-Mobile free phones are not being handed out entirely without caveat, though. The T-Mobile free phone can be handed out when somebody signs up for a family plan with T-Mobile.

Cost comparison for the T-Mobile free phone sale

There are numerous people very anxious about the possibility of a free T-Mobile phone on June 19. Getting a phone from T-Mobile right now will cost you up to $ 200 with a contract. If you are already considering switching to a family plan, then the T-Mobile free phone sale could certainly save you a few hundred dollars. Keep in mind, nevertheless, that even the least costly family-share plan on T-Mobile is $ 60 a month, and a family-share plan on T-Mobile that has smartphone data can be as expensive as $ 140 a month. Basically, if you were preparing on switching plans anyway, June 19 would be a great time to do so.

Sources

TMONews.com

T-Mobile.com

BillShrink.com

Stephen Strasburg takes the hill for the Nats

With an explosive fastball, crackling slider and baffling changeup, previous San Diego State ace and number one pick within the 2009 MLB Draft Stephen Strasburg is ready for the large time. A team could comfortably build a pitching staff around someone like him. Now it is time for the building to begin, as Stephen Strasburg makes his debut within the Major Leagues. His first start could be at 7:05 p.m. Eastern tonight against a Pittsburgh Pirates that is no pushover. MLB.com indicates that this pre-announced start for Strasburg has been sold out for well over a month.

Article Source: Stephen Strasburg debut tonight has baseball world buzzing By Personal Money Store

Wow, can Stephen Strasburg really defy physics?

A humorous blog post on The Washington Post website suggests that 21-year-old Stephen Strasburg has pitches that defy physical laws. For instance, Strasburg allegedly has a pitch that stops in midair, also as a quantum bender that blinks from the middle of the strike zone to behind a hitter’s back. However, the blogger’s point is that people have gone too far in lavishing praise on a pitcher who has yet to see Major League action. Yet all 200 of the press crew at tonight’s Stephen Strasburg start are equally to blame for how far this has gone.

The numbers tell a tale of domination

At San Diego State University last year, Stephen Strasburg went 13-1 with a 1.32 ERA in 15 starts that incorporated 195 strikeouts and only 19 walks over 109 innings pitched. That level of domination made a Golden Spikes Award inevitable. After college, Stephen Strasburg was snatched up by the Nationals and kept on rolling at Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse, places that 2010 MLB Draft pick Bryce Harper will see soon.

Innings could be kept low, but expectations stay high

While Washington Nationals manager Jim Riggleman and pitching coach Steve McCatty expect to limit the number of pitches Stephen Strasburg throws in his first Major League start, media and fan expectations are sky-high. A sea of Strasburg T-shirts will no doubt fill the stands at Nationals Park. It may be that short term personal loan with instant approval could be on the minds of fans who want to construct their own elaborate Stephen Strasburg shrines. It is the hope of this baseball fan that Stephen Strasburg has what it takes not to be swept away within the mania. The young man certain has skill, but he needs room in this, the Strasburg debut. He should be given time to develop before being christened the guy who made individuals forget about Sidd Finch.

Read more on this topic here

voices.washingtonpost.com/achenblog/2010/06/stephen_strasburg_debuts_for_n.html

mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100607&content_id=10913962&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Private student loans may now be subject to bankruptcy filings

Private student loans are an option that numerous students use to help pay for their education. Operated outside the federal student loan system, these private student loans are very easy to get but could be difficult to pay back. If new legislation in Congress passes, private student loans will no longer be exempted from bankruptcy. How education is valued is the ultimate problem that needs to be solved, though.

Article Source: Private student loans may now be subject to bankruptcy filings By Personal Money Store

borrow money|borrow money} with private student loans|Private student loans are one way that up to one-third of students pay for their education}. When figuring out how to pay for college, many students end up turning to loans. {The first “line of loans” are the federally supported and now federally administered loans|The first type of loan that most people take out are Federally administered loans are the first "line of defense" in applying for loans. The limited amount of money on these loans typically doesn’t cover the true cost of education. To make up that difference, half or more of parents or students take out some kind of private loan. These private student loans are basically loans with no credit check – and students are taking them out at higher rates than ever before. Usually, these loans don't consider if the student could pay them back – and the interest rates to them are very high.

Why private student loans cause problems

For-profit colleges tend to be the largest recipient of private student loans. Unlike a casino loan, payday loans, credit card bill or even some mortgages, private student loans can’t be settled during bankruptcy proceedings. The only way to settle these loans, other than paying them in full, is proving “undue hardship,” which could be very difficult to fulfill the legal requirements of.

How to put a price on education

More education means better pay, or at least that is what those that take out private student loans usually tell themselves. The one true fact is that the more well-educated someone is, the higher their average salary. The math of this problem, though, is much tougher when you take into account the increasing cost of education. The cost of school is increasing at four times the rate of income, on average.

Citations

Newsrecord.org

NYTimes.com

BLS.gov

Mariners say goodbye as Ken Griffey Jr retires

An era comes to a close, as Ken Griffey Jr has announced his retirement on June 2, 2010, right before a game against the Twins. Griffey caught just about everyone off guard with the announcement. The decision seems to are on his mind for a while, and he would rather call it a day early than remain on the team for the sake of nostalgia. He had an accomplished career. He retires with the fifth most home runs in baseball.

Resource for this article: Ken Griffey Jr retires from Mariners, baseball By Personal Money Store

Ken Griffey Jr retires after 21 years

For sports individuals of the Pacific Northwest, there are few who loom as large as Ken Griffey Jr. The Mariners and Ken Griffey Jr are about as inseparable within the minds of fans as Babe Ruth and also the New York Yankees are. He debuted professionally in 1989 and along with his father, Ken Griffey Sr, were the only father and son to play for the very same team at the very same time. He was each bit the prodigy, and was prolific on offense and defense. He won the Golden Glove from the American League 10 times and hit nearly 400 home runs in his original stint with Seattle.

The Kid departs from the Emerald City

By the time he was traded, Griffey had been wanting to move closer to his family, which was always his greatest priority. He was traded to the Cincinnati Reds, the team his father won two World Series on. He was plagued by injuries, even though he was incredibly productive when fit. Half way through the 2008 season, Griffey was traded to the White Sox. When he entered free agency, there was a public outcry for the Mariners to get him back on the roster.

The return of the prodigal son

Returning in 2009, he hit 19 home runs within the 2009 season. However, the 2010 season was not going well for him, as he had no runs and few at bats. He was listed on the reserve for the game against the Twins, as outlined by the Seattle Times. An emergency press conference was called just before the game, where it was disclosed he had pulled the plug. He said all along his retirement would happen in the blink of an eye and he had personally vowed "never allow myself to become a distraction." It seemed that he knew it was time, and called the game.

Additional info at these websites

Seattle Times

seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/mariners/2012015906_griffey03.html

GM recalls 1.5 million cars - Flaming windshield wiper heater

1.5 million cars were announced Tuesday as being recalled by GM. The GM recall issue is a defect in a heated windshield wiper fluid system that has caught fire in a few cases. General Motors Co. is really recalling many of the vehicles a second time for the same problem. Technicians that work for GM dealers will disable the system, made by a vendor who has given that gone bankrupt. Vehicle owners will receive $100 from the GM recall as compensation for the loss of the feature.

Resource for this article: GM recalls 1.5 million vehicles – Flaming windshield wiper heater By Personal Money Store

The recall list for GM

The GM recall list consists of pickup trucks, crossovers and passenger car models from 2006 to 2009. According to the Associated Press, a 2008 GM recall of more than 900,000 vehicles addressed the very same problem. There is a short circuit that could overheat the ground wire. There were reports of some fires. GM said there is no report of injuries or crashes by there were five fires. Nearly 1.4 million automobiles within the GM recall are within the U.S. and more than 100,000 automobiles are in Canada, Mexico and other international markets.

Windshield wiper heater shorts out

In the 2008 GM recall, dealers installed a fuse that is designed to shut off the system within the event of a short circuit. As outlined by CNNMoney.com, the problem in the current GM recall is not related to the one involved in the first recall. In the five cars that caught fire, an analysis showed that evidently the fire, which led to the malfunctioning of other electrical components, is not being stopped by the fuse.

Disabled windshield wiper heater

Following the first GM recall of the wiper fluid heater, GM said they tried to keep track of the HotShot system made by Micro-Heat. It was reported by the Detroit Free Press that GM withheld payments from Micro-Heat after the first recall to cover its costs, and also the company was forced to file for bankruptcy and liquidate. GM said because Micro-Heat existed no longer, it could not provide an improved design. For the new recall, dealers will remove the fluid heater and reroute some hoses.

Rebounding from GM bailout, bankruptcy

GM had posted a first quarter profit — the very first time it had been in the black given that 2007. In 2009 the GM bailout of a lot more than $50 billion prevented a GM bankruptcy after the business posted losses of $6 billion. GM recently repaid a portion of the bailout and there has been radical restructuring to put the business back on the road to profitability. U.S. auto sales for GM brands were up about 17 percent compared to May 2009. GM's sales gains were led by a 32 percent rise in sales.

GM Brands on recall list

Vehicle owners will start receiving GM recall letters later this month. In the meantime, people who own the GM brands on the recall list below can contact their dealer to have the heated washer system removed.

The Buick Enclave, 2008-2009
Buick Lucerne, 2006-2009
The Cadillac CTS, 2008-2009.
The Cadillac DTS, 2006-2009
The Cadillac Escalade, 2007-2009
The brand Cadillac Escalade DSV, 2007-2009
The Cadillac Escalade EXT 2007-2009
The brand Chevrolet Avalanche, 2007-2009
Chevrolet Silverado 3500 2007-2009
The brand Chevrolet Suburban, 2007-2009
The Chevrolet Tahoe, 2007-2009
The brand Chevrolet Traverse, 2009
The GMC Acadia, 2007-2009
The brand GMC Sierra, 2007-2009
The brand GMC Yukon, 2007-2009
The GMC Yukon XL, 2007-2009
The brand Hummer H2, 2006-2009
The brand Saturn Outlook, 2007-2009

Additional details at these websites

Associated Press
google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jgT-fFgV3QIGddh2EA_7mmZE4wVwD9G7660G0
CNN Money.com
money.cnn.com/2010/06/08/autos/gm_washer_heater_recall/?npt=NP1
Detroit Free Press
freep.com/article/20100608/BUSINESS0101/100608018/1210/BUSINESS01/Fire-prone-wiper-fluid-gear-sparks-GM-recall

Nitrogen inflation is a lot more than hot air

Replacing the standard oxygen used to inflate tires with nitrogen is becoming a popular trend within the consumer automotive world. The site Why Nitrogen? suggests that using nitrogen inflation will enhance a vehicle’s handling capabilities, improve fuel efficiency, extend the life of a set of tires and reduce the carbon footprint. Nitrogen inflation claims are depending in very basic science, and studies by trusted publications like Consumer Reports have supported the idea.

Source for this article: Nitrogen inflation – Adding life to your tires

Nitrogen inflation – Dry and non-flammable

While nitrogen is dry and non-flammable, what makes it good for tire inflation is that is escapes from the tire four times a lot more slowly than standard air. As outlined by Why Nitrogen?, this phenomenon occurs because nitrogen molecules are rather large. Tires that stay inflated at the proper level for longer periods of time stay in better contact with the highway. Not only that, but they make the car a lot more fuel efficient, as the engine doesn’t have to work as hard to move the car forward. Happy engines mean better fuel efficiency and a smiley face for the environment. Furthermore, running tires with proper inflation via nitrogen inflation keeps the right surfaces in contact with the road (instead of the sidewall), which in turn extends tire and rim life.

What nitrogen purity is required?

Ideas about just how high the nitrogen purity level must be for effective nitrogen inflation are somewhat variable. Most reliable sources indicate anywhere from 93 to 98 percent pure nitrogen inflation should work well. Honestly, if it’s good enough for NASCAR, it is good enough for average consumers who use auto loan applications to pay for their economical family vehicles.

NASCAR favors predictable nitrogen inflation

Imagine what a sudden loss of tire pressure can do to a car in a NASCAR race. Not only does it require a quick pit stop that can cause a car to fall behind in a race, underinflated tires can cause serious accidents on the track. This is why NASCAR has adopted the use of nitrogen inflation. Why Nitrogen? indicates that this is partly because nitrogen doesn’t fluctuate under temperature extremes as oxygen does. Proper tire inflation is easier to maintain during a grueling race. Commercial airlines and also the government use nitrogen for comparable reasons.

Citations

Why Nitrogen?

getnitrogen.org/why/index.php

Shrek glass recall sends parents scrambling

Everyone loves the odiferous ogre “Shrek,” but the recently announced Shrek glass recall can’t have parents too pleased about what’s going on in the Kingdom of Far, Far Away. Neither ogre ooze nor donkey drool are quite as disturbing as cadmium within the paint used on Shrek glasses which were part of a McDonald’s promotional tie-in with the new movie “Shrek Forever After”. Now 12 million Shrek glasses are being recalled in this tremendous Shrek glass recall, writes the Los Angeles Times.

Don’t pay $ 2 for a Shrek recall glass, please

Each participating McDonald’s will go all in on the Shrek glass recall, as the safety of patrons young and old clearly outweighs profits. Initiative to begin the Shrek glass recall started with California Congresswoman Jackie Speier of San Francisco. Interestingly, Rep. Speier received an anonymous tip concerning the Shrek glasses, so she called in the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to test for possible cadmium contamination. A toxic metal, cadmium can seriously damage internal organs and cause bone softening. Why cadmium was found and where the Shrek glasses came from have yet to be revealed by the Kingdom of the Big Mac.

At the urging of the CPSC, McDonald’s enacted the Shrek glass recall. Parents with Shrek glass recall merchandise should keep it from little ones and return it right away for a total refund.

Being an ogre with McDonald’s

Although Speier commended McDonald’s for their speed in instituting the Shrek glass recall, she made a point of reminding McDonald’s and also the corporate world that they must take better care in “thoroughly reviewing their domestic and international supply chains to keep products with potentially dangerous elements from ever hitting their shelves”.

Cadmium has been found in toys, jewelry before

Cadmium-tainted jewelry has prompted recalls at big-box stores like Wal-Mart before. Others stores have also had to recall various discounted items like children’s toys because of detected cadmium. Such goods are typically cheaply made and do not force a buyer to take out short term loans with no credit check. Rep. Speier played a significant role in introducing legislation to ban the use of cadmium and other toxic metals from children’s jewelry. The Shrek glass recall is yet an additional chapter in the epidemic of dangerous products; hopefully McDonald’s will change their ways and pay greater attention to what they’re giving to their customer base.

Citations

latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-mcdonalds-recall-20100604,0,1192411.story

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadmium

Variety is the Splice of life

A splice, in technical terms, is when two linear pieces of material are joined together. Splice, the new film, uses that idea in this latest update on Frankenstein. It looked like a remake of Species at first, but that may not be accurate. It remains to be seen if the public likes it, and so far the critics do.

Source for this article: Variety is the Splice of life

Herbs and splices

This isn't exactly the first film to riff on the concept of messing with genetics. Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley star in Splice, directed by Vincenzo Natali, as scientists splicing genes of various animals together. Hybrids exist, but only between fairly comparable species. They mix numerous species’ DNA with that of humans, and then things go sideways and hilarity does not ensue. Like most films from Hollywood, it’s an old plot that’s been given a bigger effects budget on the gamble that giving an old plot a facelift will work.

Adding some splice

So far, critic responses are optimistic. Roger Ebert, of the Chicago Sun Times, gave it 3 stars. He though the story lacked a bit, but he seemed to be pleased overall. Kurt Loder liked it, and especially the visuals. So far, it has a rating of about 70 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. The Splice movie reviews seem to all agree that it is worth a look. The consensus is the visuals are good and it is spooky enough to hold your attention.

One Splice-y meatball

This plot has been done before. The not messing with the natural order plot goes back a when (in Greek mythology, the gods cursed Prometheus for doing so), and then you’ve Frankenstein, Species, The Island of Dr Moreau, Jurassic Park and so on. Splice seems like a good take on that.

Additional information at these websites

Roger Ebert

rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100602/REVIEWS/100609991/1001

Kurt Loder

mtv.com/news/articles/1640733/20100603/story.jhtml

Rotten Tomatoes

rottentomatoes.com/m/1208173-splice/

Maytag Dishwasher Recall - 1.7 million fire hazards

The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Maytag have issued a Maytag dishwasher recall for 1.7 million machines. Twelve fires have been blamed on the recalled dishwashers. There are several brands effected by the Maytag dishwasher recall – Amana, Admiral, Crosley, Jenn-Air, Magic Chef, and Performa – all brands manufactured by Maytag.

Resource for this article: Maytag Dishwasher Recall – 1.7 million fire hazards

Danger of the Maytag Dishwasher Recall

The defect that prompted Maytag and the Consumer Product Safety Commission to undertake the recall is a safety hazard. If the heating element overheats, which can happen because of the defect, the dishwasher can start a fire. The fire can easily melt through the plastic housing of the dishwasher, causing significant kitchen damage.

What to do if you’re affected by the Maytag dishwasher recall

Serial numbers in a wide range are affected by the Maytag dishwasher recall. If you do have a recalled Maytag dishwasher, you can do two things – either get a rebate check to get a new one, or have your current dishwasher repaired. The website at repair.maytag.com includes a search tool to see whether your dishwasher is included in this Maytag recall.

Maytag recalls keeping the repairman busy

The bored Maytag repairman has been the image of Maytag for years. This Maytag recall, though, is far from the first for the kitchen appliance manufacturer. 1.7 million fridges were recalled in 2009, for an issue that would cause fires. Just two years before that, Maytag recalled 2.3 million dishwashers because of a design problem that could also cause troubles.

Costs of Maytag Recall to Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation, which owns Maytag, is facing dire stock consequences for this recall. In early March, the stock for Whirlpool was at about $ 86. Since then, the stock has climbed to $ 102. Whirlpool is also closing a machining plant, which is helping keep stock prices stable. This recall will end up costing Maytag, and Whirlpool, quite a bit of money and reputation. Whirlpool is rated a "stable" investment, although the company has almost 3 billion in debt.

Windows OS banned in Google offices

Google has officially given Windows operating systems the boot, on and off the California campus. Partially a lead-up to the Google Chrome OS and partially a reaction to Windows security breaks, this move has attracted international attention. Google employees will no longer be allowed to use Windows, however they will nevertheless be offered an option of operating systems.

Source for this article: Google bans Windows over security concerns

Google dumps Windows officially

The official policy of Google on Windows has been, until now, a lot more flexible. When a new employee starts at Google, they are given an option of which operating system they want to use. Google employees, to use Windows, now have to get official approval from the Google CIO. The Google Chrome OS, nevertheless in unofficial testing, is being offered as an alternative to Windows. This move was hastened by the recent hacking of Google’s China channels.

Windows security concerns cited by Google

About 80 percent of the computers in use today use the Windows operating system — everything from offices to credit counseling offices. This homogeneity across the system makes Windows an easy target for hackers and computer viruses. Google has moved to Mac and Linux operating systems because of this security hole. Google's developers design programs for use in "cloud computing" instead of a specific operating system, so this change shouldn't affect their uses much.

Google banning Windows a publicity stunt?

A couple of observers have suggested that Google kicking Windows out of its offices is more about publicity than security. Google has been creating a Chrome OS, a competitor to the Windows operating system. The first public release of this operating system was the Google Chrome web browser. Developers can be allowed to edit and alter the Google Chrome OS, because it is an open-source piece of programming. People used to assume that open-source operating systems were less secure, but experience with Linux and other large open-source projects have proved this theory incorrect. Yes, there will be a Google competitor to the Windows operating system, but that isn't entirely the reason Windows will no longer be used in the Google offices.

Guillermo Del Toro drops The Hobbit and rambles on to other work

Over two years ago, Guillermo Del Toro, the director of Pan’s Labyrinth and also the Hellboy series among other films, was attached to direct The Hobbit. The Hobbit was written by JRR Tolkien as the prequel to the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Peter Jackson got Guillermo Del Toro to move to New Zealand to help him bring the book to the big screen. A new director is needed as the financial woes of MGM studios has caused too numerous delays, and Del Toro’s role as director has been put on the killing floor.

Article Resource: Guillermo Del Toro drops The Hobbit and rambles on to other work By Personal Money Store

Guillermo Del Toro attached after long struggle

After the success of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, a Hobbit film was all but inevitable. The hitch was the rights to The Hobbit were owned by United Artists and parent Metro Goldwyn Mayer, whereas Peter Jackson is under contract with New Line, a subsidiary of Warner Brothers. An agreement between the camps was reached to make The Hobbit film a reality, but a director other than Jackson was needed. They were seeking to invest quick payday in a director with an intense eye for visuals, and Guillermo Del Toro fills that bill with ease.

No quarter from troubles in development

When MGM became plagued with financial troubles, work on The Hobbit slowed. The film can be in two installments scheduled for release a year apart, and at first the first was due in 2010, but now won’t debut until at least 2012, as outlined by CNN. Del Toro confirmed that him leaving the project has anything to do with the financial difficulties of the studio, but he will remain in no matter what capacity he can, as so much pre-production has already been done. He relocated himself and his family to Wellington to make the film.

An additional director left dazed and confused by the studio system

Issues like plague The Hobbit put it in what is called development hell. This is where numerous projects languish, sometimes for years, before the project, be it a film, album or video game, is either released or dies. Due to the intense haze of smog around The Hobbit, 2012 is looking unrealistic.

Find more information on this topic

CNN

Wikipedia

After a century, Mark Twain is still making news

Mark Twain, the giant upon whose shoulders all American literature rests, is back in the headlines for some recent developments. For starters, Tina Fey has won the Mark Twain Award For American Humor. It’s a prestigious award, to be sure. It’s the other news that’s a bit juicier. We have had to wait a hundred years for Mark Twain’s autobiography, which is slated to come out soon.

Mark Twain prize goes to Tina Fey

Tina Fey has been named the recipient of the 2010 Mark Twain Award for American Humor. The John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts began awarding the it in 1998. The list of winners is impressive. Past winners include Richard Pryor, Billy Crystal, Lorne Michaels, Neil Simon, Steve Martin and George Carlin. Besides Tina Fey, only one other woman has ever won, that being Lily Tomlin. Though Tina Fey is deserving, it’s the other Mark Twain news I’d give some instant cash to get the inside scoop on.

Twain ordered the 100-year wait

As he neared his death, Mark Twain put into his will that his memoirs would not be released until 100 years after he died. Well, Mark Twain (Samuel Longhorn Clemens) died April 21, 1910. It has been 100 years, so it’s high time for his memoirs to finally see the light of day. The collection of memoirs has been in storage, according to CBS, at University of California, Berkeley, for a long time. They’ll likely be published by the end of the year, though there will probably have to be some editing.

Why a century of waiting?

Mark Twain loved being a public figure, and he didn’t want his reputation to suffer. Some of his last works, such as The Mysterious Stranger and Letters From Earth had to be published well over a decade after his death to the work being incredibly dark. The books were actually published against his daughter’s wishes, pieced together by his editor. The autobiography ought to be riveting, and congratulations are in order to Tina Fey.

Additional information at these websites:

Mark Twain

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

CBS

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/24/national/main6514831.shtml