Us citizens awaken to comprehend McMansions are a cost

McMansions are history. Within the aftermath of the real estate crisis, what was once aspired to is now avoided as excessive and tacky. Demand for large, sprawling homes packed with luxury amenities on postage-stamp lots, according fresh research, has crashed. People building new homes are opting for much smaller floor plans. The real estate and design markets have rejected the McMansion, some say for good.

Time of the McMansions deflates under its own weight

The housing bubble appears to are the peak of the McMansion, which has been lampooned simply by such terms as starter castle and Hummer house. With the bursting of that bubble, demand for McMansions might never rebound. TIME reports that Trulia has released a report on real estate trends that said the average square footage of an American home is decreasing for the very first time in 60 years. The average size of a home in America was 983 square feet in 1950. By 2004, the average U.S. home had expanded to 2,349 square feet, as shown in Trulia’s American Dream Survey. Homes of at least 3,000 square feet are considered McMansions. Only 9 percent of the respondents in a different study, the Trulia-Harris Interactive Survey, said they were interested in homes reaching that size. Most home buyers-64 percent-were buying within the 800-2,000 square foot range.

Wake-up demand the housing market

Smaller homes could be a long-term trend, according to housing market analysts. CNBC quoted Pete Flint of Trulia as saying that shrinking square footage could have a long-lasting impression . In a survey of builders last year, nine out of 10 said they prepared to build smaller or lower-priced homes. Kermit Baker, the chief economist at the American Institute of Architects, told CNBC his profession is moving from the McMansion time as homeowners demand more practical designs.Amid the wreckage of the economic downturn, Paul Bishop, vice president of research for the National Association of Realtors told CNBC that McMansions have become inappropriate.

Discover more data on this subject

TIME

newsfeed.time.com

Trulia

info.trulia.com

CNBC

cnbc.com

Facebook really wants to trademark the word face

TechCrunch brings us just a little bit more news about Facebook. It is in court once again. PlaceBook and TeachBook have no part in it this time. The business isn’t in danger for using the word “book” in its name. Facebook wants “face” to be a trademarked name, where the U.K. business in 2008 called CIS Internet Limited left off. {Facebook has purchased CIS’s trademark application and is moving forward|Facebook wants to move forward with the CIS’s trademark application it bought|Facebook bought an application that was trademarked by CIS and now wants to move on|Facebook hopes to move forward with things. It already bought CIS’s trademark application. Source of article – The move Facebook is making with Trademark

It isn’t really astonishing that Facebook wants to trademark “face”. Trademarks are significant to corporate branding, but occasionally it is too much. Once a man tried to trademark “ganja.” That was an interesting court case. ”NSFW” was what Fark.com tried to trademark once. There was an additional one where a girl tried to trademark her nickname. That was Snookie from “The Jersey Shore”. None of those people got their trademark. It is likely that Facebook will lose face also.

There isn’t an approval coming from Aaron Greenspan

Aaron Greenspan doesn’t think Facebook should be trying to trademark “face.” Aaron Greenspan claims to have made facebook with Mark Zuckerberg. Greenspan would end up having to pay Facebook if Facebook gets its “face” trademark because of the mobile payment app called FaceCash that Greenspan’s business, Think Computer, created. So would Apple, whose Facetime video calling app seems on the iPhone 4. Greenberg and no doubt many other entrepreneurs would appreciate being able to use the generic term in naming future products.

Facebook needs to move on now

When thinking about how aggressive Facebook has been within the past, seems like unlikely that “face” can be too big to it. Facebook has bigger fish to fry. Perhaps individuals with no corporate aspirations at all will have to be careful, or the Zuckerberg express will enter their homes like a thief in the night and legally claim their faces. Think of John Travolta and Nicolas Cage within the film “Face/Off,” or the characters within the Kobo Abe novel “Face of An additional.”. See how much trouble they got into over faces? Even a Tleilaxu face dancer from the “Dune” books wouldn’t be able to hide.

More on this topic

FACE

tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial and amp;entry=78980756

TechCrunch

techcrunch.com/2010/08/26/trademark-face/

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trademark

The Kestrel weed car an invention in Canada

The search for alternative energizes and modes of transportation that are environmentally friendly has taken a new, green turn. Calgary, Alberta’s Motive Industries is introducing an electric automobile with a bio-composite design that will surely take Canada by storm. The bio-composite automobile can be known as the Kestrel, and the green bio factor is hemp. It’s a cannabis-constructed auto.

Hemp-car Program foretold the Kestrel’s appearance

As with other things involving hemp and cannabis, the Kestrel cannabis vehicle has stirred attention. Hemp-car.org triumphantly got the ball rolling when they tested a hemp fueled biodiesel on a 10,000-mile excursion. The experimental automobile they used ran on hemp biodiesel, which is not at the moment the case with the Kestrel, although it may eventually come to pass. The United States of America has yet to make cultivating industrial hemp legal, though, so they won’t know what it is like. There are no psychoactive elements to industrial hemp and it’s not a drug, so the America’s stance is strange, thinking about the potential benefits.

Hemp courtesy of Alberta ag tech business

Alberta Innovates Technology Futures provides the hemp for the Kestrel and purchases its cannabis stock from an industrial hemp farm located in Vegreville, Alberta. Fast Business reports that the use of hemp in frame/body construction makes for a much lighter car, plus it’s not hard to recycle parts. Not only that, but the hemp compound is as strong as glass composite.When Kestrel nevertheless has a solutions to go before full production, Motive expects they’ll be able to start testing by year’s end.

Henry Ford was ahead of the game in 1925

According to Hempcar.org, Henry Ford told the New York Times that “The fuel of the future is going to come from fruit like that sumach out by the road, or from apples, weeds, sawdust — almost anything,” he said. ”There is fuel in every bit of vegetable matter that could be fermented”.

Hemp was reportedly one of the plant materials on which Ford had his eye. To prove his theory, he made a auto out of hardened hemp fibers and fueled it with ethanol made from hemp biodiesel fuel. Ford could have saved the country’s farmers from the grip from the Great Depression. It would benefit Ford tremendously and revive American agriculture. The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 threw a wrench within the works. Once the DuPont company and newspaper uber-baron William Randolph Hearst had their say, hemp was buried beneath pages of unnecessary laws. Ford’s path of innovation was closed.

Additional reading

Fast Company

fastcompany.com/1684111/motive-industries-hemp-ev?partner=rss

Hempcar.org

hempcar.org/ford.shtml

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_history_of_cannabis_in_the_United_States

Missouri and Kansas farmers to get emergency cash loans from U.S.D.A.

The lower Midwest weather this summer has hurt farmers. Flash flood damage left the area around Kansas city in a disaster state and help is coming from the U.S.D.A.. There can be emergency loans accessible to those who need a cash til payday because their crops didn’t make it. They will have a number of months to file for the loans. Low interest is given on all loan. The Midwest has had a lot of damage done with all of the rainfall and tornados going through.

Summer heavy rains

Extensive rainfall has occurred throughout the Midwest. Many stormfronts from the Gulf region to the Great Lakes have wreaked havoc, like the Oklahoma tornadoes and the Milwaukee floods. Kansas city has seen a lot of pain also. The U.S. Department of Agriculture declared six of seven counties in the Kansas City, Mo., metro area natural disaster areas, and those counties could use some cash now to help rebuild.

Farms experience extensive damage

The area had many farms in it. The crops in these farms got hurt by the weather. The Kansas City Business Journal, reports that summer crops were hurt by rain, flash flood and wind meaning emergency loans can be needed. Farmers who wish to take out these low cost loans can file for loans through the Department of Agriculture. 100 percent of losses could be covered with the 3.75 interest rate. People can borrow money in amounts up to $ 500,000. Not counting the six Kansas City counties, disaster has been declared on 55 counties in Missouri and 47 counties in Oklahoma.

Mother Nature hurting

It has been said more than once that Mother Nature can be a cruel mistress. Too much rain and wind can wreak havoc in agricultural areas, and that can leave farmers — the people who make sure all of us can eat — in need of cash until payday that is harder to come by these days.

Further reading

Business Journal

bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2010/08/23/daily12.html

Arizona fugitives John McCluskey and Casslyn Welch captured

The man hunt is over. John McCluskey and Casslyn Welch are back arrested. There’s nothing romantic about criminals. Yet individuals insist on this Clyde and Bonnie thing. They escaped less than a month ago from Arizona State Prison, and have been on the run since. The pair were suspected to are in Yellowstone National Park, and as far south as Arkansas. They were unknowingly spotted in a state park in Arizona. A Park Ranger alerted authorities to a stolen automobile, which led to their capture.

Noticed simply by a Ranger

An unnamed Park Ranger made the catch. He was on patrol in Apache Sitgreaves National Forest. He spotted an unattended fire in a campground and had the vehicle’s license plate checked out, according to ABC. The vehicle turned up being stolen. So he called the police. Officers arrived to take them into custody, and they found the people who had the automobile were the two criminals. They were arrested peacefully. John McCluskey said that he would have fired on police had he not been caught off guard. Casslyn Welch, his fiancé and also his cousin, went peacefully as well.

Big hunt is finished

John McCluskey and Casslyn Welch didn’t break out alone. Inmates Daniel Renwick and Tracy Province went with them. Province and Renwick were captured soon after, and McCluskey and Welch were spotted in Yellowstone National Park and in Butte, Mon. Butte was the last sighting of the two. They are also thought, according to the Associated Press, to be linked to the murder of Gary and Linda Haas in New Mexico. The Haases were found around Aug. 4, and also the car McCluskey and Welch possessed had New Mexico plates.

Slightly much less murderer than the genuine Clyde and Bonnie

There is an idiotic notion that something is romantic about Bonnie and Clyde. The actual Bonnie and Clyde weren’t romantic at all. Clyde was supposedly gay, and they robbed banks before the FDIC existed, so the very same individuals they were stealing from were the ones rooting for them. Those two belong behind bars. The ranger who called police is to be commended.

Further reading

ABC News

acnews.go.com/US/bonnie-clyde-fugitives-john-mccluskey-casslyn-welch-captured/story?id=11442877 and page=1

Google News

google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hB0B5qIFEqMDeeaj_JGZgZMr6klQD9HNA4E00

Video game industry makes U.S. economy go up a bit

Video games all got to start out with things like Pac Man and Space Invaders. It is clear that there has been a leap in technology. According to a recent study conducted by Economists Incorporated for the trade association Entertainment Software Association entitled “Video Games in the 21st Century: The 2010 Report,” the video game industry contributed a robust $ 5 billion to the U.S. economy in 2009 alone. Annual growth for the industry went up 10 percent between 2005 and 2009, or seven times the growth of the U.S. economy alone.

More jobs with video games

ESA CEO Michael Gallagher said in a press release that job creation within the video game industry has continued at a “rapid pace,” when making “an essential contribution to our nation’s economy when stimulating technological innovations and expanding the impact of games on our daily lives.” The survey shows us that 32,000 have jobs with video games usually with an average salary of $ 89,781. Directly or indirectly, the video game industry employs more than 120,000 individuals in the United States.

California does it all

California is the largest employer of video game industry workers. Compensation was a big part of their budget in 2009. $ 2.6 billion was given to direct and indirect employees. The state got about $ 2.1 billion in just revenue.

In other states, Texas ranked second with 13,613 employees, followed by Washington (11,225). Virginia also showed tremendous growth from 2005 to 2009, expanding its video game industry presence by a whopping 77 percent.

Giving entertainment a value

A recession means budget cuts in families. Usually entertainment is a part of this. Video gaming is pricey with PCs costing a ton and consoles being anywhere from $ 200 to $ 500. You are looking at more for the games too. $ 20 to $ 60 is needed for each and every game. But if a consumer can derive somewhere between 40 and 100 hours of playtime from a well-constructed game, the price seems much more reasonable, particularly when compared with more passive forms of entertainment like movies, the price of which has skyrocketed in recent years. Hand-eye coordination gets much better along with development when using video games. The video game industry has had a positive effect. The U.S. economy is feeling it.

More on this topic

Theesa

theesa.com/facts/pdfs/VideoGames21stCentury_2010.pdf

Washington State Lt. Gov. Brad Owen knows ‘Pong’

youtube.com/watch?v=M-b9wEww9MA

A hostile takeover is sure to happen considering demand in potash market with BHP

Potash is becoming increasingly more important in agriculture right now. Potassium is one of the primary things potash is which helps with agriculture quite a bit. Fertilizer uses only potash as its source of potassium. The world desperately needs potash to make food. Other minerals are needed more than potash lately meaning the market has dropped. However, a huge increase in demand for potash is in the forecast. This has inspired the hostile takeover of a Canadian potash business by an Australian minerals business.

Potash more of the place to be when it comes to stock rather than BHP

Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan is known as Potash by numerous. It is also the business that controls much of the potash market within the world. The Canadian fertilizer business should be concerned about a business in Australia. The big minerals extraction business in Australia, or BHP Billiton, is trying to get their hands on the company. The New York Times reports how much BHP is willing to pay to get their hands on the business. The offer was $ 130 a share. The Potash board rejected the offer as too low. BHP is putting the cash right in from of shareholders to try and get a hostile takeover Potash by paying a tender offer. BHP’s tender is something shareholders are told by Potash to stay away from. They want another bidder willing to offer more money right now.

World needs potash for food

Potash is produced in 12 countries. Potash is dominated by Canada, Russia, Belarus and Germany. This is because they create 75 percent of all the potash. As outlined by Reuters, fertilizers need potash. Potash is really just what you call anything that is potassium. Potash strengthens a plant’s resistance to disease, improves crop quality and boosts yields. It is very important get potassium in fertilizer. Potash is the only source for that. For years, the price of Potash has been extremely volatile. If you bought potash 10 years ago, you could buy it for cheap. It was only $ 150 a ton. The price of potash skyrocketed to more than $ 1,000 a ton during the global food crisis of 2007-08. Since then, it has crashed to about $ 350-$ 375 a ton.

Get your potash from Saskatchewan like everyone else wants

Until BHP has made all these moves, Potash hasn’t really been anything everyone cared about. The growth of demand for potash in the last five years has gone up quite a bit. It that continues, by 2011 the potash supply could never be enough for the world, reports Entrepreneur. A big reason for the forecast for exploding demand is increasing meat consumption trends in China and places like Latin America and India. Within the next 20 years, 25 percent of the world could run energy off of biofuels such as ethanol according to the UN, which is another reason. Wheat and corn prices have gone up through this already. Now it seems that potash demand has to go up as well. It isn’t all that easy to make more potash available. More than 85 percent of the world’s potash mines are more than 25 years old. It appears difficult to produce more potash. The Saskatchewan company experiences this problem.

Additional reading

New York Times

dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/20/bhp-begins-tender-offer-for-potash/?src=busln

Reuters

reuters.com/article/idUSTRE67J2SQ20100820

Entrepreneur

entrepreneur.com/tradejournals/article/166229304.html

Hipmunk your way to lower air fares online

Adam Goldstein came up with this summer project he could do. This Hipmunk ended up being more than that as it became the best place to find cheap flights. With a little help from friend and Reddit co-founder Steve Huffman, Goldstein took an old dog and taught it a bevy of new tricks, reports CNN Money. Goldstien may have just gotten into a great business considering the color and user-friendly interface of the website.

Get every little thing differently with Hipmunk

Normally there is a dull list of flights on websites. Hipmunk changes this by making it more easy to read and colorful. The industry is doing well already with a launch just this week. TechCrunch writes that “When you see the results you’ll never want to see flight results in any other format.” Goldstein was happy to hear that Lifehacker thought the visual interface was “fantastic.” They had worked quite a bit to make the website look pleasing to the eye. Test isn’t really all clustered together. It is arranged by color and coded together. A specific grid could be looked at closer very easily. All one has to do is zoom in a little closer.

Using ‘a small, cute animal and a good logo’

Goldstein and Huffman met with a number of online flight booking online websites before settling on a deal with Orbitz, one of probably the most popular online travel aggregators. Orbits and Hipmunk work together to book flights. Hipmunk books it through Orbitz making both win. Hipmunk’s logo is just a simple chipmunk that has flight goggles on it, similar to Twitter with the bluebird. Goldstein’s girlfriend, according to CNN, chose the mascot.

Goldstein explains, “She said, ‘If you pick a small, cute animal and a good logo you’ll never go wrong.’”

Getting ready for winter

Hipmunk is nevertheless within the early process of its evolution and is stockpiling ideas for how to improve. Expanding search functions is something Goldstein would like to do. He’d also like to stop spam from hitting users each time they get on. Expanding into hotels and auto rentals may be a likely move. Many wonder what Hipmunk’s plans are when it comes to adding content. It could be difficult to keep up the design with these changes. Whatever happens, the search for cheap flights is now less frustrating for searchers than ever before.

Further reading

CNN

money.cnn.com/2010/08/19/technology/hipmunk/

Hipmunk

hipmunk.com/

215,000 cars in Mazda recall

A Mazda recall has just been announced right after a GM recall of their crossover SUVs. The Mazda recall is a tad more significant, as the defect in question is more vital than the GM recall. The GM recall was over some faulty seat belts, but the Mazda recall is over a flaw in the power steering system. Mazda kept on eye on automobiles sold in the United States after noticing the defect in Japan last year. To address the issue, Mazda has announced a recall for the United States.

Steer your Mazda to a dealership

As outlined by the New York Times, the defect is a flaw in the power steering pump system. The power steering system can build rust internally, which can leak into the pump and cause it to malfunction or stop working totally. The assistance of the power steering system could fail, making it far more difficult to steer and increasing the chance of an accident. Mazda knew of the defect by June of last year, and was watching to see if the defect manifested itself in American models.

Japan was the first to discover it

The defect was first noticed in Japan, and Mazda started an “improvement campaign,” tantamount to a recall, last year. The incidence rate was higher than it has been in the U.S. The company issued notices to American Mazda dealerships with technical data on how to fix the problem. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration started an investigation, as outlined by the Salt Lake Tribune. It received 33 complaints about the problem, involving three crashes.

The Mazda makes and models

There are 215,000 of the models in question in the United States alone, which are Mazda 3 and Mazda 5 autos from model years 2007 to 2009. If you drive one, take it to the nearest Mazda dealership for the fix. Issues in the power steering system are serious and should be addressed right away. You can wind up in a crash if your power steering locks up, as the vehicle will become much harder to steer.

Citations

New York Times

wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/17/mazda-recalls-215000-cars-for-power-steering-problem/

Salt Lake Tribune

sltrib.com/sltrib/money/50126001-79/mazda-vehicles-seat-problems.html.csp

Mobile phones - Do they cause gasoline pump fires?

Fuel fires can be horrific incidents, but there’s something humorous about the lengths to which some people will go when working with fuel. Take one Daytona Beach, Fla., man who rigged up a plastic gas can to be his car’s fuel tank – all he did was set up the gas can under the hood, right next to the hot engine. It’s stranger than fiction. Then there is the old story about cell phones and gas pump fires. Do gas stations have good reason to post warning signs on the pump, or is the static electricity danger cell phones allegedly pose to refueling motorists merely an urban legend.

Cell phone lies burning up the Internets

Urban legends are the business of Snopes.com, and they’ve trained their laser-guided truthiness on cellular phones and fuel pump fires. Mobile phone manuals may have some token verbiage on the subject, but for the most part, Snopes has found that there’s no hard science behind the idea that cellular signals cause fuel pump fires. Certain, it may sound feasible – electromagnetic waves producing a static charge that ignites the gasoline vapor – but there are simply no cases to back it up. While there may be some validity to not using cell phones around hospital or airliner equipment, there is no smoke and hence no fire when it comes to the cell phone gasoline pump fire scenario. As far as Snopes.com can tell, rumors of explosions in China and Indonesia stemmed from old Internet yarns dating back to 1999, instead of actual events. Years later, “Mythbusters” burned the whole story to the ground.

Shell Oil made it seem official

In June 2002, a warning was issued via the Internet by what was supposedly the Shell Oil Company. Three cases of cell phones causing gas pump fires were accounted in some detail. And all it would take to become yet an additional statistic would be for a motorist’s phone to simply ring in the presence of gasoline fumes. While cell and auto batteries both have the save voltage rating, vehicle batteries provide significantly more current. A scary story about mobile phones generating “more than 100 volts” in brief spurts, which would be potentially dangerous, was a falsehood likely planted by the phone companies when cellular technology was new.

Shell Oil denied sending such a fake message.

Protection from a non-threat

Even if a fuel station tank does go up – it has happened – cell phones can’t be connected. Fire up the talk box and get happy, just do not become distracted from your mission of getting gas in the tank, rather than on your trousers.

More on this topic

Daytona Beach News-Journal

news-journalonline.com/breakingnews/2010/08/manu-using-gas-can-as-fuel-tank-suffers-burns.html

Snopes

snopes.com/autos/hazards/gasvapor.asp

College rankings from U.S. News

The U.S. News college rankings were released Tuesday, and guess what: The top is Harvard again. Also, Princeton is second. On a podium bearing a distinct Ivy League bias, Yale is number 3. National college rankings come from that: Since money is a major part of the list, those in academia tend to criticize it. However, the U.S. News Best Colleges 2011 offers a useful matrix that students and parents can use to help decide which school is best for them, even though some higher education pundits would disagree.

How the World Report works vs. the U.S. News

To rank colleges, the U.S. News report uses a variety of categories schools are put into. Best Colleges 2011 groups American colleges and universities by factors like the highest level of degrees conferred by discipline. You will find more than 1,400 schools in this while they’re divided into categories including National Liberal Arts Colleges, Regional Universities, Regional Colleges and National Universities. The schools in the Regional Universities and Regional Colleges categories are placed into four geographic regions: North, South, Midwest and West. Each school had data on 16 indicators of academic quality gathered. Colleges are ranked based on the score they get total.

Gm in the black yet again

The U.S. News and World Report college rankings are just one of many such compendiums of higher education. Princeton Review offers a comprehensive evaluation of U.S. schools, but the only thing about the Princeton Review list that gets any attention are the Princeton top party schools. The U.S. News Best Colleges 2011 is typically taken more seriously than that. But Lynn O’Shaughnessy at CBS MoneyWatch said the rankings are a joke. The U.S. News doesn’t evaluate at all what type of learning is being done in these schools. Instead U.S. News and World Report is simply conducting a high-stakes beauty contest, where 25 percent of each school’s score is based upon solely on its reputation.

It is most essential to focus on value

U.S. News college rankings have put either Harvard or Princeton within the number 1 spot for 10 years. Most individuals don’t care if they’re on top in college rankings reports David Gura of NPR. Enrollment has been capped at colleges with budget cuts. There are more people eager to apply for school. Getting accepted into college is difficult for many. U.S. News college rankings evaluate schools by academic reputation, graduation, freshman retention, faculty resources, alumni giving and financial resources. Value continues to be one of probably the most significant things considered by somebody about to fork out a lifetime of savings and more for a college education

Further reading

U.S. News and World Report

colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges

CBS Money Watch

moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/college-solution/why-us-news-college-rankings-are-a-joke/703/

NPR

npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/08/17/129248940/what-do-best-college-rankings-tell-us?ft=1 and amp;f=103943429 and amp;sc=tw and amp;utm_source=twitterfeed and amp;utm_medium=twitter

One guilty verdict for Rod Blagojevich

Rod Blagojevich, disgraced Illinois governor, has just had his trial finished. Two weeks of deliberation left the grand jury giving a single guilty verdict out to him. One count of lying to the Federal Bureau of Investigation was given to Blagojevich. Since he gave false statements to the government, five years in prison could be given, although sentencing hasn't happened yet. Federal prosecutors have decided to re-try Blagojevich already.

Two weeks before verdict

Rod Blagojevich was arrested two years ago in connection with federal surveillance that indicated he was trying to sell the seat within the United States Senate vacated by Obama. In the time between then and the verdict, he was impeached and removed from office. He was charged to have 24 accusations. Two weeks was enough time for the jury to determine what the verdict was. Mistrial was announced for 23 of the accounts while he was considered guilty of giving statements that were lies to the FBI.

Retrial hoped for by U.S. Attorney

The New York Times, reports that a retrial for Blagojevich is wanted by the U.S. Attorney's office. A lie to the FBI was what he was convicted of. A federal crime was committed meaning five years or a $ 250,000 fine can be given to him. Some people may be hoping for both.

Balgojevich as Chicago stereotype

Chicago, Ill., has a long history of political corruption. George Ryan was removed from office and convicted also, as Rod Blagojevich's previous governor. Ryan was sent to federal prison for corruption. It’s unknown what the fate of Rod Blagojevich can be, as he nevertheless has a second trial in his future. He could end up serving all five years in prison.

Fed says lending standards show signs of loosening

Easing lending standards may be emerging as a measurable trend, according to a Federal Reserve financial institution survey. For the very first time in three years, getting a new charge card is easier. Banks are offering more liberal lending standards to small businesses than they have in four years. Lack of small company credit has been identified as a major problem as the U.S. economy struggles to recover from a lingering recession. Some experts say despite the good news, loosening lending standards will do little to help until demand for small business credit returns.

A reversal for credit card lending standards

Every 3 months, the Federal Reserve bank survey asks banking executives about changes within the supply and demand for loans to businesses and households over the previous quarter. In a report on the Fed survey, Creditcards.com said credit card lending standards for approving applications had been loosened about 8 percent of banks. None of the banks surveyed said they had further tightened their credit card lending standards. The numbers put an end, temporarily at least, an 11-quarter run of credit tightening that dates back to 2007. Conversely, most existing cardholders nevertheless face limited and costly credit, according to the survey.

Increasing demand a daunting task

The Fed’s latest band survey found that small company lending standards may be loosening for the first time since just before the recession hit. NPR’s report on the Fed survey said that an ease in lending standards hadn’t been detected since late 2006. The survey was released shortly after a Fed conference on the small business lending problem in mid-July. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke noted a serious gap between large corporations building up money and reporting strong earnings and thousands of smaller businesses struggling to get credit. Yet the banks surveyed said a lack of demand for small company loans was the primary problem.

Small business owners pessimistic

It’s been documented that small company owners have complained about the lack of credit since the recession hit. Yet as outlined by Seeking Alpha, demand will continue to be weak because of a negative outlook for small business owners. Small Businesses owners are less optimistic than nearly any point in the past five years as outlined by data from the NIFB Small company Economic Trends report. Only 6 percent feel it is a good time to expand. Within the next two quarters, just 19 percent are planning to make a capital purchase. Also persisting at low levels are expectations for expanding inventory, jobs and sales.

Additional reading

CreditCards

creditcards.com

NPR

npr.org

Seeking Alpha

seekingalpha.com

Stop your credit card limit from dropping

August 22 is when new credit card rules could be put into place. To make these new rules possible, banks and credit card companies are working to cut credit limits, rates and fees on all their cards. The majority of the time when the economy is down so far, credit limits are cut like this. But cardholders’ credit scores get hurt by it, through no fault of their own. You will find opportunities for people who want to either stop their credit limit from going down or even make it go up. Article source – Keep your credit card limit from being slashed without warning by Personal Money Store.

Dropping credit card limits

Credit card companies are cracking down on cardholders during the recession and its aftermath. Credit card-issuing banks are trying to get as little risk as possible before new credit card rules come into play. There are numerous people getting their good credit scores hurt because of slashed credit card limits, reports Bankrate.com. Dennis C. Moroney, research director of bank cards at TowerGroup, told Bankrate that credit card companies are reducing credit lines and closing accounts. Numerous individuals are having a hard time borrowing money, even those with high credit score between 720 and 750.

Credit limit cuts hurt credit scores

Credit limit hurt for 60 million cardholders in just the few years past. ”Risk trigger” are what they call things like regular late payments or high credit card balances, which Credit Card Guide explains some of these individuals having their limits cut haven’t even done. It isn’t really just inconvenient to have your credit card limit cut. It also hurts numerous credit scores of cardholders who have had outstanding balances on their cards. With the debt-to-credit ratio weighing in second among the most important factors contributing to credit scores, credit line cuts are no small concern.

Protecting your credit card limits

For cardholders who want to keep their current credit limit and maybe even get a credit line increase, Eva Norlyk Smith at Credit Card Guide offers tips. First of all, simply call and ask. Once a year most credit card accounts can get a credit limit increase. Your balances should be paid off each and every single month. Don’t use more than 50 percent of the credit line, although you need to use it a lot. Pay balances on time. Don’t cancel any credit cards, don’t apply for any new credit cards and never ask a credit card company to pull your credit report. A credit check is just as bad as applying for a new card.

Additional reading

Bankrate

bankrate.com/finance/credit-cards/credit-card-issuers-slash-credit-limits-1.aspx

Credit Card guide

creditcardguide.com/creditcards/credit-card-tips/higher-credit-limit-6-dos-donts-342/

More conversation on Ground Zero after Obama comments

There were more difficulties after Obama spoke Friday night at the Muslim community center in lower Manhattan, meaning more Ground Zero debates. Republicans were really mad and plan to use this against democrats in fall elections when Obama explained that religions within the U.S. all have the very same rights, including Muslims. This was a heated conversation on cable news. Meanwhile, it was business as usual at the bars, strip joints and liquor stores surrounding Ground Zero. The weekend nevertheless help worship services for the mosque that is near ground zero already. Post resource – Obama Ground Zero mosque comments spark more political discourse by Personal Money Store.

Different of opinion by politicians on Ground Zero

The Ground Zero mosque was fanned into a political firestorm by the media after comments Obama made during a White House dinner Friday night marking the start of the Muslim holiday of Ramadan. Every little thing around Ground Zero needs to show American values as Obama explained in “forceful tones” reports ABC News. Democrats running in midterm elections quailed at the prospect of defending the president’s statement. 68 percent of people responding to a CNN poll said that building a mosque at Ground Zero is a bad idea. Republicans have pandered to the voters evidently. Obama was “pandering to radical Islam,” as outlined by Newt Gingrich who was quoted within the New York Times.

Comments from Obama put into context with Ground Zero

Many of the politicians are concerned with answering Ground Zero mosque questions as midterm elections come around. Because Obama is supporting the Muslim community so much, Republicans call him “out of touch” and plan to use that in elections against him. The media didn’t add within the additional comments that puts Obama’s statement into context as the Washington Post does:

Now, we must all recognize and respect the sensitivities surrounding the development of Lower Manhattan. The 9/11 attacks were a deeply traumatic event for our country. And the pain and the experience of suffering by those who lost loved ones is just unimaginable. So I understand the emotions that this issue engenders. And Ground Zero is, indeed, hallowed ground.

Manhattan has mosques for using already

Rather than leaving Ground Zero issues to the local politicians, now politics everywhere have to put their say in. Nobody at Ground Zero seems to really notice. Indy Posted reports you will find many mosques in lower Manhattan. One already exists 2,000 feet from Ground Zero. 686 feet closer would be where the new Muslim center would end up being. The New York Daily News reports that people coming to the scene of the worst terrorist attack on American soil can purchase porn, bet on horses and take care of all manner of personal business. Two blocks away, the Pussycat Lounge woos patrons with posters of nearly naked women. Next door, the marquee at the Thunder Lingerie and peep show sports an American flag above a window display of sex toys.

Discover more info on this subject

ABC News

abcnews.go.com/WN/obama-mosque-controversy-president-entered-discussion/story?id=11409448

Washington Post

voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/08/white_house_official_mosque_wo.html

New York Daily News

nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/08/16/2010-08-16_a_sea_of_filth_near_ground_zer0_mosque_gets_all_the_press_but_porns_around_corne.html

Who did Robert Gibbs mean?

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs recently slammed a group of people he referred to as the “professional left.” Though it reminds one of the idealistic days when Dan Quayle was Vice President, it paints a telling portrait of the mood in the Oval Office.

Gibbs doesn’t like the left once they are in the large leagues

The “professional left,” as Press Secretary Robert Gibbs put it, have yet to be satisfied with anything Obama has done as president. He said these individuals would only be happy with health care like Canada and with the Pentagon done away with, in an interview with The Hill. He also said that they were comparing Obama with George W. Bush, and that for doing so, they should all be “drug tested.” The White House Press Secretary also purported they wouldn’t be happy “even if Dennis Kucinich was President.”

Who are these sinister individuals?

Lots of liberals and progressives were less than thrilled that he ditched the public option and has done little on LGBT issues. Some say the White House has not taken a proactive enough role in repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. Nevertheless, he nevertheless didn’t articulate well exactly who the professional left are. The interview was published today Gibbs was conspicuously absent from the White House press conference that day. Replacement Bill Burton maintained that Gibbs was sick.

Not one of the most definitive of phrases

Who he meant exactly is unknown, what he was talking about is. Elected officials will always be targets for criticism, because there is no way for them to please anyone.

More on this topic

The Hill

thehill.com/homenews/administration/113431-white-house-unloads-on-professional-left

Thought that Elias Abuelazam could possibly be a serial killer

A man was arrested within the Atlanta airport who is believed to have killed five but stabbed 20. Tel Aviv, Israel is where the man was headed on a flight. The man in question, Elias Abuelazam, is an Israeli citizen who came to the United States legally. Of the 20 incidents, 16 took place in Michigan, 3 occurred in Virginia and one in Ohio. African American is the race that was believed to be targeted in these crimes as a majority of the victims were from that race. Source of article – Elias Abuelazam believed to be serial killer by Personal Money Store.

May is when the attacks start

A man described looking like Elias Abuelazam started approaching people and asked for directions or getting help with a broken down vehicle beginning in May. This man would get a knife, stab the victims and flee when the victim died. An arrest for simple assault of Elias Abuelazam was why the police though he might be the one behind the killings, reports ABC . To identify the killer, law officials from Michigan, Virginia and Ohio all started working together with the public to get an ID.

Race involved

The crimes are thought to be motivated by race considering most of the victims were male African Americans. The majority of the search was in Flint, Michigan which is where 16 of these stabbings happened. Three other stabbings took place in Leesburg, Va., and one took place in Toledo, Ohio. A judge in Flint issued a warrant for his arrest in connection with a stabbing on July 27. A tip was given to Michigan police where they found him boarding a flight to Tel Aviv, Israel at the Atlanta International Airport. A page for him was issued over the intercom, and police took him into custody without event.

Conviction hasn’t happened

Right now, he is innocent as he hasn’t been seen in court yet, although it is pretty clear that he is likely to be the perpetrator. Michigan, where the five fatalities occurred, is not a death penalty state, so he isn’t really likely to be sentenced to death if convicted.

Discover more info on this subject

ABC News

abcnews.go.com/US/TheLaw/serial-stabber-suspect-identified-elias-abuelazam-federal-officals/story?id=11382102 and amp;page=1

What the anti-taxation sentiment gets you

Too numerous Americans fail to recognize the essential role that taxation plays in creating earnings for necessary services. That’s what Paul Krugman writes within the New York Times, and it might be that such concerns are falling on largely deaf ears in America. Cities shut off streetlights that would help curb crime, roads local governments had already spent a good deal of cash on but can no longer manage to maintain are purposely broken down into gravel and schools are laying off teachers at every turn. Cutbacks are the norm, yet scores of people from tea parties to corporate boardrooms continue to bury their heads within the sand when it comes to tax boosts.

Poor local governments wonder, ‘Why no new taxes’?

While various economic theories exist regarding taxation, it is difficult to dispute that tax boosts could help local governments provide more reliable essential services. Krugman bemoans a federal government that can afford to issue bonds at 1.04 percent, but not extend ample assistance to suffering local governments. The fed might be doing more to assist. The sense of priority is in effect warped, says Krugman. The able rich appear to be more interesting in barding for personal war than really waging war on behalf of a disappearing America.

Cutting back and casting jobs away

Families are reeling as state and local governments are pulling more vital services off the table. Now that federal spending is really beginning to slow down, Krugman sees an America stuck in reverse. An employed teacher serves the community and creates a definite job. But you will find no guarantees when it comes to tax cuts for the rich; they might spend it or hide it away.

Assuming the worst about government cash management

There is a definite belief that the public section can’t manage cash to spite itself. Tea party anti-government, anti-taxation rhetoric has been couched in terms of avoiding waste and fraud. Krugman argues that there was never so much waste as the right claimed, however. Witnessing how much ground America has lost in terms of education and infrastructure should be enough evidence to suggest that America is not in fact sidetracked by oppressive taxation. The result of tax fear and decaying programs, writes Krugman, is that America is in a dark place, indeed.

More on this topic

New York Times

nytimes.com/2010/08/09/opinion/09krugman.html?_r=1 and amp;partner=rssnyt and amp;emc=rss

Vitamin Water isn't healthy reports Coco-Cola lawyers

Vitamin Water’s parent company, Coco-Cola, has been telling the truth. As it faces a lawsuit from the Center for Science in the Public Interest that claims the health claims made over Vitamin Water are bogus, Coca-Cola’s legal team is defending the company by saying that “no consumer could reasonably be misled into thinking Vitamin Water was a healthy beverage,” writes the Huffington Post. The Vitamin Water product has been marketed by saying there are health benefits from drinking it.

Is Coco-Cola belittling consumers of Vitamin water or just making justifications for lies?

The Post reports that Vitamin Water is rally just water and sugar, about 33 grams per serving. There is less sugar than Coke although it is still pretty ridiculous. Then add “about a penny’s worth of synthetic vitamins” and that supposedly makes Vitamin Water healthy enough for spokesmen like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant to sing its praises and ring the cash registers for Coca-Cola. Tell that to the 35 percent of Americans who are considered medically obese, says the Post.

Diet for Johns Hopkins has no liquid calories

In a 2009 report, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health advised cutting out liquid calories. This is how losing weight happens the fastest. Vitamin Water or any other liquid product with added sugar falls into that category of “liquid calories.”.

Coco-Cola’s ruling from the federal judge

U.S. District Court Judge John Gleeson of New York’s was made rather easy by Coca-Cola’s decision not , wrote, “At oral arguments, defendants (Coca-Cola) suggested that no consumer could reasonably be misled into thinking vitamin water was a healthy beverage.” After explaining that there was no claim of the lawsuit being wrong, the judge said, “Accordingly, I must accept the factual allegations in the complaint as true.”.

Coco-Cola spend the money to make Vitamin Water look healthy?

How much Coca-Cola will spend marketing Vitamin Water remains to be seen. Water is probably the healthiest fluid you’ll find. Adding tea or lemon juice will add just a little bit of flavor if you want. If your tap water’s taste leaves something to be desired, get a filter for the tap or your water pitcher. You are able to get nutrients in fruits and vegetables. If the Vitamin Water lie bothers you, exercise your power of choice and do not purchase it. Coca-Cola will get the message eventually, if enough people exercise common sense.

Additional reading

Huffington Post

huffingtonpost.com/john-robbins/the-dark-side-of-vitaminw_b_669716.html?utm_source=DailyBrief and amp;utm_campaign=080510 and amp;utm_medium=email and amp;utm_content=BlogEntry

Cabellero Beverage Consumption

jhsph.edu/publichealthnews/press_releases/2009/caballero_beverage_consumption.html

YouTube

“The boy definitely gets his vitamins…”

youtube.com/watch?v=xw0UxIzOghI

Odd widening with the trade deficit meaning a rise being recorded

Wall Street went into a panic Wednesday as the Commerce Department reported a sharp increase within the U.S. trade deficit in June. Although the trade deficit in the U.S. had been narrowing, it was shown in June to widen by $ 7.9 billion. Stocks immediately went down. Analysts thought the U.S. economic recovery had slowed last quarter more than it really did. The recession could go into a double-dip with the trade deficit so unstable.

June U.S. trade deficit caused by strong dollar

According to the Commerce Department, this change in the deficit happened in June because those in the U.S. began purchasing cheaper exports from China, making the U.S. dollar stronger. May was when the gap went from $ 42.0 billion to $ 49.9 billion. The Washington Post reports that economists had been expecting a smaller gap after a recent drop in oil prices. There were more purchases of consumer products and auto parts from out of the country in June raising imports from the $ 194.4 billion it was in May to $ 200.3 billion. Exports then went down from $ 152.4 billion to $ 150.5 billion. In June, companies had a hard time selling their industrial supplies, food and consumer goods to everyone outside of the country.

Trade deficit widens to defy forecasts

The anticipated trade deficit for June was $ 42.1 billion — the median forecast of 73 economists in a Bloomberg News survey. The decline ended up being $ 42.3 billion instead which was a 19 percent decrease. This is the worst of the financial crisis when going by the June trade deficit which has been adjusted by inflation to have grown 54.1 billion since February 2008. The disappointing numbers prompted some economists to reduce estimates for second-quarter growth to around 1 percent to 1.5 percent.

More difficulties come from unemployment}

Economists don’t agree on whether the trade deficit in June’s sudden and marked increase means the U.S. is in danger of heading into a double-dip recession. As outlined by the Christian Science Monitor, the trade deficit isn’t really as much of a problem as U.S. unemployment rates. Before the recession, deficits were still here but weren’t noticed as much. We should focus on consumer demand and business investment to help the economy.

Many still think unemployment would decrease with better trade deficits

According to the Monitor article, many economists think that fixing the trade deficit might hurt the economic recovery by hurting global commerce. Other economists think that the trade deficit problem has got to be worked on. China is responsible for almost the whole trade deficit considering all of the oil and consumer goods bought directly from them, and unemployment is bad enough as is at 10 percent in the U.S., as outlined by Peter Morici who is an economist at the University of Maryland.

Additional reading

Washington Post

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/11/AR2010081103472_2.html?sid=ST2010081102399

Rip Torn request for probation refused by Conn. judge

Rip Torn, an Emmy Award-winning actor, could possibly be heading to the jail house. On Wednesday, a judge ruled against his request for a special probation program, stating the charges are too serious to qualify him. Earlier this year in January, Rip Torn was arrested for breaking into a bank in Connecticut, armed and intoxicated.

Criminal charges on Rip Torn

Rip Torn, whose real name is Elmore Rual Torn, has had troubles in the past with alcohol-related incidents. Salisbury, Conn., is where the latest event took place, where he was arrested not just for breaking into a Litchfield Bancorp branch office during closing hours, but for carrying a firearm without a permit, also. Police had responded to the alarm at the bank where a window had been broken. Holding a loaded .22-caliber pistol, the Men in Black actor was found wandering inside the facility. Torn had a blood-alcohol level of 0.203, as outlined by court documents, which is nearly 3 times the legal limit for Connecticut drivers.

Torn had pleaded not guilty to second-degree criminal trespassing, carrying a weapon without a permit, carrying a weapon while intoxicated and third-degree criminal mischief, according to the Associated Press.

Other alcohol-related incidents

In January of 2004, Torn was arrested within the Big Apple after his vehicle crashed into a taxi. Aired all over television news was a fuming Rip Torn yelling at police officers and refusing to take a breathalyzer test. He was acquitted from all charges that year in October. Just two years later, in December of 2006, the actor crashed into a tractor trailer in North Salem, New York, and he was again arrested for drunk driving. He pleaded guilty, had his driver’s license revoked for 90 days and was ordered to pay a $ 380 fine.

Judge rejects Rip Torn’s special probation request

Too bad for Rip Torn, Litchfield Superior Court Judge James Ginocchio has ruled the charges placed on Rip Torn, 79, following the January Connecticut bank break-in are too serious to qualify him for the probation program called accelerated rehabilitation. The fact that Torn was nevertheless in a court-ordered alcohol education program from a previous DUI charge at the time of the bank break-in certainly doesn’t help his situation. His lawyer, Thomas Waterfall, has requested a court-ordered evaluation of Torn’s alcohol dependency problems. Depending on the results, Torn might be ordered to undergo a state-monitored treatment for up to two years before any of the charges can be dropped.

More on this topic

Yahoo News

news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100811/ap_on_en_tv/us_people_rip_torn_12

Jet Blue flight attendant exhibits the consumer can be wrong

Steven Slater, a career flight attendant, came to the tipping point. A traveler thought it satisfactory to abuse a professional for doing his job, which he has excelled at for over two decades. Slater, a Jet Blue flight attendant at the time, cursed the man over the intercom, opened the door of the plane and engaged the emergency exit slide, leaving the tarmac on foot. He was later imprisoned for reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, among other charges.

Plane to see he had enough

According to CNN, Jet Blue Flight 1052 landed at JFK International Airport from Pittsburgh. As the plane taxied toward the terminal, a passenger stood up to retrieve his bag too early, and he was told by flight attendant Steven Slater he had to sit back down. Exactly what happened isn’t known, but it is clear that Slater was struck by either the bag falling from the overhead bin or the passenger struck him. The passenger swore at Slater after refusing to apologize. Slater announced he was quitting over the intercom while losing a tirade at the passenger who maltreated him. He grabbed some beer from the galley before engaging the emergency inflatable slide to exit the plane. He was arrested at his home later.

Cabin pressure

When Slater was not working, as outlined by MSN, he was rarely home. His roommate disclosed that he often flew to Thousand Oaks in California to care for his ailing mother, as he did for his father before he passed away. According to the New York Times, his mother had also been a flight attendant. His father, a previous pilot, died from Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Customers are wrong more often than they think

The service trades aren’t as easy as one might think, and they should not be maltreated at all. Anyone who has worked in retail, food service or related fields knows how rude some individuals can be. It costs nothing to be polite and cooperative, even if mistakes do sometimes get made.

Discover more information on this subject

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/38629517/ns/travel-news/

CNN

cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/08/10/new.york.escape.chute.opened/?hpt=C2

NY Times

nytimes.com/2010/08/10/nyregion/10attendant.html?_r=1 and hp

Problems come from FluidNow and need EUC to fix it?

Many Americans are relying on emergency unemployment benefits since the recession has made them need emergency loans. Employers haven’t started to hire as easily as the government would have hoped, and hence extension of benefits has become a hot-button political issue. In Florida, the state’s Agency for Workforce Innovation has made an earnest try to come to the aid of more than 100,000 “long-term” jobless through the site FluidNow (www.fluidnow.com). FluidNow appears to be not so fluid for some although many claim they have used the site just to have their expired benefits restarted again. Article resource – Fluidnow is not so fluid; will the EUC Fix it by Personal Money Store.

Fluidnow unable to service customers in a timely manner

According to one of Florida’s long-term unemployed, calling the fluidnow help line at 800-204-2418 results in hours of connection attempts, only to be greeted eventually be a pre-recorded “call back later” message. Eventually the intrepid citizen reached an AWI employee who had no information on whether they’d be eligible to receive an extension of unemployment benefits. AWI Director Cynthia Lorenzo assured that benefits would be given out to residents who applied, although guidance used to come from the U.S. Department of Labor. When that guidance would come – two weeks, as Lorenzo suggested, or some other interminable governmental interval – was uncertain.

Fixing things with EUC

Taking a loan from a loan company or signing up for a part-time job are among the only options open to numerous job seekers. Some of the time this isn’t enough nevertheless. Plus, there’s fear that the benefits already being received would shrink upon signing up for part-time work. There could possibly be some hope with the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Fix. It was part of one of the most recent emergency unemployment benefits extension that made it out of Congress, reports Michigan’s MLive.com. The point is to “remove the disincentive for individuals who take part-time jobs when collecting benefits.” The Michigan News portal reports that there should be no fear that benefits will end after the first year.

EUC Fix is not retroactive

If your benefits ended before July 22, 2010, you can’t qualify for the EUC Fix, reports the National Unemployment Law Project. Those who do not fit that window are out of luck, much like scores of Florida unemployed who are waiting on fluidnow or at least some form of instant cash. Going to the National Employment Law Project website will help you get more information about the EUC Fix.

Find more information on this subject

Examiner

examiner.com/x-41045-Miami-Unemployment-Examiner~y2010m7d27-Labor-Dept-yet-to-give-Florida-details-on-unemployment-extension

MLive

mlive.com/michigan-job-search/index.ssf/2010/08/latest_unemployment_extension_removes_di.html

National Employment Law Project

nelp.org/page/-/UI/2010/Final EUC Fix QA.pdf

Fluidnow

fluidnow.com/

Drug testing for unemployment in Florida

youtube.com/watch?v=RvSoZ1U3n30

More individuals demanding gas

The Energy Information shows us that gas in July was the lowest it had been since June 2004. The combination of a soft economy and better fuel efficiency is contributing to a lower demand. Gas prices are going up because of the lower demand.

Dropping gas demands

In 2008, demand for oil and gas dropped. This drop in demand coincided with $ 4 a gallon or higher gas prices. There were also more fuel efficient and hybrid cars created. Fuel efficient cars are nevertheless being made although there has been more of a demand since late 2009. In the winter, more oil is needed for heating so the demand for oil is more than the demand for gas.

Producing oil in the U.S.

The price of gasoline is tied closely to the production of oil in the United States. 28 percent of all oil needs are supplied within the U.S. although that has changed a little since offshore drilling is shut down. Since there is less production of oil in the U.S., more imports have to be brought into the country.

Summer Driving increase

The uptick in demand for oil over the last few weeks has been attributed, partially, to the summer driving system. The American Automobile Association estimates that increasingly more individuals can be choosing to drive further this summer.

Comparing fuel use within the United States

The largest consumer of fuel is definitely the U.S.. China is the second-largest consumer of gasoline, but demand in China is easily increasing to levels that could make it first. In numerous small European countries where fuel-efficient cars are becoming more popular, fuel taxes make the price of a gallon of gasoline as high as $ 8 per gallon. If U.S. demand continues to increase, and supply continues to decrease, then the popularity of fuel efficient cars is sure to continue increasing.

Outsource your errands with TaskRabbit

In a couple of big cities, “service networking” is the newest name for the service offered by TaskRabbit. TaskRabbit matches up individuals with additional time with individuals who need help. TaskRabbit combines the ease-of-use of other services with reviews and reliability ratings. Article source – TaskRabbit – Getting things done and making money by Personal Money Store.

How TaskRabbit works

The basic idea of TaskRabbit is simple: there are things that people need help with. The tasks are anything from picking up dog food to running dry cleaning. For anyone who can’t afford a full-time personal assistant, TaskRabbit helps discover them task-by-task. Anyone with a task posts the details and the way much they’re willing to pay, and somebody in their area can agree to help out. Within the end, it’s good for everybody.

Getting work with TaskRabbit

TaskRabbit is a great way for individuals in large cities to make a little extra spending money. You can even bid for or make counteroffers on a task. The “service networking” system helps any person with a few extra minutes turn it into cash. If you would like to accept a task, you need to consider a few things. You should first think about if the task will cost you any cash. Second, how much time the task might take. Finally, consider what your hourly rate is going to be and if amount offered is enough for what you are worth. Remember that you will have to pay self-employment taxes if you make more than $ 600 in a year.

TaskRabbit as part of your town

Currently, TaskRabbit is only available in Boston and San Francisco. There are plans for TaskRabbit to expand, but it will take time for the service to add additional cities. Even if TaskRabbit isn’t in your city, you can make additional money with the idea. The Craigslist gigs section is a good place to start with the job.

BlueKai singled out for cookies that spy on consumers

Internet debate focused on a controversial practice by BlueKai, Inc. Tuesday. After BlueKai’s CEO was quoted in a Wall Street Journal piece on Internet spying, the Bellevue, Wash.-based data exchange business grew to become one of the hottest topics on the Web . When the cookies gather data on browsing habits, the Journal article, the first in a series, says the programs are “spying on consumers”. BlueKai CEO Omar Tawakoi disagrees with the Journal’s take, saying that calling cookies Internet spying is misleading and damaging to the online industry.

BlueKai cookie data targets browsing habits

BlueKai was founded in 2008 to exploit an online marketing niche Tawakoi calls “data exchange”. TechFlash reports that BlueKai cookies on leading travel, automotive and retail online websites compile anonymous consumer data. BlueKai then creates an online auction where advertisers bid on the data. Online marketers bid on the BlueKai cookie data so they can zero in on people whose browsing habits indicate they may be interested in a certain model of car or escape destination.

Data exchange online a flourishing trade

Each day on the data exchange, BlueKai markets 50 million unique packages outlining the browsing habits of specific individuals, said the Wall Street Journal. Its series, billed as an investigation on the business of spying on Internet users, reports that data collection on consumer browsing habits has grown more intrusive than most individuals realize. The newspaper conducted a study that found the nation’s top 50 sites installed an average of 64 cookies per user, typically without warning. Cookies scan what individuals are doing and assess location, income, buying interests and medical conditions. Companies such as BlueKai package and market the consumer profiles on data exchanges that work like the stock market.

CEO stands up for BlueKai cookies

BlueKai CEO Tawakoi rebutted the Journal’s argument in a post on Advertising Age. BlueKai cookies, Tawakoi said, enable promoters to show individuals ads with stronger relevance at a more effective frequency. Plus, the proceeds help pay for the content. He said a “less polarizing” discussion would be helpful and the Journal calling cookies spying is “misleading at best and damaging to the online industry at its worst “Tawakoi suggested that the Journal’s insistence on saying that cookies are spying is misleading and damages the productive growth of the online industry. Tawakoi proposes making online data collection methods more open to individuals, which BlueKai does with an online registry. BlueKai’s online registry offers to show customers what cookies get about them and lets them set preferences about what the company is allowed to use.

Discover more details on this subject

TechFlash

techflash.com/seattle/2008/12/BlueKai_gets_105_million_to_help_advertisers_target_shoppers36189094.html

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703940904575395073512989404.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703940904575395073512989404.html?mod=googlenews_wsj%3c

Advertising Age

adage.com/digitalnext/post?article_id=145208″

New regulations target mortgage loan officers

In many states, unsecured loan products are being subjected to new regulations, mostly based around who offers them. Unscrupulous agents that offered small loans and large loans to customers are the intended target. These licensing laws were passed in 2006 in New York, and comparable ones were passed federally in 2008.

Licensing loan officers in New York

The New York state regulations are not intended for cash advance lenders that offer mortgages, but for their employees that really offer mortgages. A license is necessary for any individual who wants to work in New York State after July 31, 2010. Getting this license demands a 20 hour course in responsible lending. Financial, criminal, and knowledge tests are also required for the license. Within the next few years, you will find comparable laws that will go into effect.

Loans offered by bad employees limited

The Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing law addresses one very specific problem. Many of the bad loans and fast money advance products that contributed to the economic downfall came from a unique subset of lenders. The employees that work for lenders that were licensed did not have to have their own certification. Mortgage loan officers who were known for making no credit loans or bad loans could jump from job to job.By maintaining a record on the lender’s license, states can be able to keep closer tabs.

Light licensing requirements

While the reform that has been implemented as of July 31 addresses many issues in the mortgage business, some are questioning the needs. Numerous licensed professionals say that 20 hours is not enough training. In most states, licensed professions require a minimum of 75 hours or more of training. Make sure that your lender has a license to offer mortgages by searching for them in the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry online .

9/11 health care bill vote shoves Anthony Weiner over the edge

Anthony Weiner made headlines July 29th when the Democratic Congressman from New York abandoned composure in a speech on the house floor. Weiner was angered at Republicans who mustered to defeat the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. The 9/11 health care bill is a Democratic plan to offer billions of dollars for health care to 9/11 rescue workers and New York residents sickened from the toxic dust and debris at ground zero. Republicans were accused of cowardice and more by Weiner and his Democratic allies. More large government spending was the predictable Republican response.

9/11 Health and Compensation Act particulars

The 9/11 health care bill had support from a majority of the lawmakers in the chamber. But the New York Times reports how the vote fell short of the two-thirds bulk needed, 255-159. Under special rules used to bring the measure to the floor a two-thirds majority was needed. To keep track of and treat traumas stemming from exposure to poisonous dust and debris at ground zero, the 9/11 health care bill would have provided $3.2 billion over the next 8-years. To compensate for job and economic losses, another $4.2 billion was set aside in the bill.

Democrats play games with two-thirds majority

Anthony Weiner vented his rage in a speech on the house floor after it became obvious that Republicans had enough votes to defeat the 9/11 health care bill. The New York Daily News reports the two-thirds bulk rule was a Democratic ploy to speed up the vote. Looking ahead to the November elections, Democrats feared Republicans trying to embarrass Democrats would attach toxic changes in a simple majority vote. The two-thirds majority rule doesn’t allow fiddling with amendments.

Republicans say procedure gave them no choice but to vote “no”

Weiner exploded at the lecture when he got word that Republicans blamed procedure for their no vote. CBS News reports that Republican congressman Peter King of New York accused Democrats, too afraid to vote on controversial amendments, of staging a charade by holding the vote. Comments like those provoked Weiner into an eruption that lasted 90 seconds. He shouted at Republicans, calling them cowards for voting no because they did not like the procedure:

“It’s Republicans wrapping their arms around Republicans rather than doing the right thing on behalf of the heroes,” Weiner yelled. “It is a shame. A shame! If you believe this can be a bad idea to provide health care – then vote no! But don’t give me the cowardly view that ‘Oh if it was a different procedure’…”.

Additional reading

nytimes.com /

nydailynews.com

cbsnews.com

Bank at Mango financial if you're unbanked or underbanked

Unbanked and underbanked people are able to go to Mango Financial, or Mango Money, for help with financial services. Mango Financial put together a whole bunch of services like prepaid debit cards and other things not typically offered to underbanked or unbanked individuals. You can only reach Mango Financial physically by going to Austin, Texas although they plan to expand. Source for this article – Mango Financial- better service for the unbanked and underbanked by Personal Money Store.

Something extra for the unbanked and underbanked

Although Mango financial can give anybody a prepaid debit card, if you are able to get to the Austin store, there are other things accessible. Mango founder Bertrand Sosa told My Bank Tracker that his company’s prepaid debit card is a gateway to a growing range of financial services unbanked and underbanked consumers can use to manage their money. A linked savings account is available with 5.1 percent interest for all Mango customers. As a member of the Austin location for Mango, a customer can manage accounts as a self service kiosk, use prepaid debit cards with mobile abilities to send money through a text or check balances, withdraw cash at the ATM, get paydays put on cards, send money internationally, or pay bills.

New territory with Mango Money

Hardly any person has tried serving the unbanked and underbanked as Mango Financial is trying to do. There are 22.2 million families, or rather 20 percent of the U.S. population, considered unbanked because they do not have a financial institution set up and used regularly, reports the Center for Financial Services Innovation (CFSI). An additional 22 million underbanked families use a mixture of mainstream and option providers such as check cashers and payday loan lenders to meet their financial service needs. Each year, Americans spend at least $ 13 billion on more than 340 million choice financial services transactions.

Mango makes customers essential

Mango Financial means underbanked and unbanked individuals will be treated better. But Triplepundit said the company’s most ambitious innovation could possibly be its first Mango Store in Austin. Mango hopes its Austin store is the first of a national chain. Jennifer Tescher, founder and director of the CFSI, said Mango should be applauded for paying attention to the customer experience for this under-served portion of the public. Tescher explains that Mango cares about how things are done to customers more than what is done for the consumers. She said numerous young individuals are growing disenchanted with traditional banking, whether because of high fees or Wall Street greed. These people are the ones that are going to be interested within the Mango Store.

More on this topic

My Bank Tracker

mybanktracker.com/bank-news/2010/08/04/mango-financial-offers-banking-unbanked-interview-cofounder/

Center for Financial Services

cfsinnovation.com/

Triplepundit

triplepundit.com/2010/07/mango-moneys-mango-store-brings-retail-to-the-unbanked/

Rush Limbaugh claims nobody wants the Chevy Volt

Rush Limbaugh has decided he is going to make the final decision on General Motors’ new electric car, the Chevy Volt. Politico reports Limbaugh saying $ 41,000 is “a steep price to pay for showing you care about the environment”. Limbaugh thinks the $ 7,500 tax credit the government is giving to anyone who wants a new environment friendly car, but executives think the Chevy is a “game-changing product”. Limbaugh feels like the product is not being marketed well since a game-changing product certainly doesn’t need any kind of incentive to be sold. Source of article – Rush Limbaugh claims nobody wants the Chevy Volt by Car Deal Expert.

Chevy Volt- A sign of the auto industry’s revival

A car like the Chevy Volt that is battery powered and gas powered shows the industry is doing much better, says Robert Gibbs of the White House. Considering that both the car and its innovative lithium-ion battery are likely to be made in America, the Obama administration could reasonably consider the Chevy Volt a feather in its cap. Of course not everyone is happy about this.

Batter comments by Limbaugh

The Volt’s battery has an outstanding warranty program, although the car can only travel 40 miles on the battery which charges in “three to four hours” which is what Limbaugh doesn’t like. Limbaugh hates this car so much that be made sure any General Motors ads that would have run during his program were canceled. Or, as he prefers to call the company, “Obama Motors,” referring to the massive taxpayer bailout the automaker received.

‘Expensive ways to promote the environmentalist agenda’

Limbaugh clearly believes that the $ 41,000 Chevy Volt and also the $ 30,000 Toyota Prius are too costly. Others might argue the reduction of emissions is worth it within the long run, and the technology will gradually become less costly. All technology has this problem, and as a consequence, so does all those who purchase it. You pay more if you need it before anybody else. Admittedly, some consumers will have to wait, but as green cars like the Chevy Volt advance automotive technology, the wait will no doubt be rewarded.

Find more information on this subject

Politico

politico.com/news/stories/0710/40397.html

The Sounds of the Chevy Volt

youtube.com/watch?v=_-v-pMxmHLE

Kristy Lee Cook gets on the bad side of PETA

”American Idol” fans likely recall Kristy Lee Cook, a top-10 finisher from season seven back in 2008 who added country flair to her performances. The country in Cook – along with her photogenic overall look – are what led to her role within the new Versus hunting and reality show “Goin’ Country”. Now PETA has Kristy Lee Cook in its sights. The often controversial animal rights organization is locked, loaded and waiting for Cook to blink.

Kristy Lee Cook is not backing down

According to Fox News, Kristy Lee Cook makes no apologies for her participation with “Goin’ Country”. PETA had harsh words for the previous “Idol” star, whom they’d hoped would toe the line and advertise with them in support of animal right as Carrie Underwood, Kellie Pickler and Simon Cowell have done before. Cook had her own words for PETA, in protection of her personal beliefs and those of responsible American hunters. She told Fox that “Given that hunters have done more for American wildlife conservation than any other group in history, I make no apology for being one”. “Indeed, I join the ranks of millions of American hunters who celebrate our outdoor heritage and who conserve millions of acres of wild lands. These very same individuals support more than 600,000 jobs across the country and provide a critical voice to encourage more investment in American conservation”.

She sings, she hunts

”Goin’ Country” gives fans a chance to see inside the life of Kristy Lee Cook. Much of her time is devoted to her animal charity, the “Kristy Lee Horse Heaven Foundation”. Hunting is among her family’s preferred recreational activities. Throughout, Cook insists that hunting is handled responsibly, with an eye toward conservation and even the role meat can play in an organic diet. “If I do not take the meat home to my family, then we give it to orphanages or homeless shelters,” she said.

Meat is brain food

Meat is valuable to human evolution, something that PETA and other hunting-critical groups tend to ignore. Anthropologist Leslie Aiello notes that when human beings began to eat meat, a major change occurred.Specifically, she told NPR that “What we think is that this dietary change around 2.3 million years ago was one of the major significant factors in the evolution of our own species”. Using tools was a big part of the brain development that went on when meat eating began for humans. Most significantly, the caloric and fat value of meat gave brains the energy needed for growth. The theory is that excess energy from meat enabled the human body to spend more energy growing a larger brain. Cooking, which came not long after meat eating began for humans, further aided in brain development through its social and division of labor aspects.

Discover more info on this subject

Fox News

foxnews.com/entertainment/2010/08/03/exclusive-peta-takes-aim-kristy-lee-cooks-hunting-shoots/

NPR.org

npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128849908

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristy_Lee_Cook

Blackberry Torch could be released on August 12

Research In Motion, the Canadian business behind the Blackberry, has announced its newest phone — the Blackberry Torch 9800. On Aug. 12, the Blackberry Torch can be released on the AT and T network. New features that have been built to the Blackberry Touch have some customers excited, but reviewers do not seem happy.

The Blackberry Torch 9800 basics

The features that Blackberries are loved for are maintained within the Torch 9800. The QWERTY keyboard is housed in a slider-style case. The messaging and web browsing functions are nevertheless solidly in place, though updated. The Blackberry Torch 9800 has a comparable size and weight as previous models. The security that Blackberry phones have become known for are also in place.

Blackberry Torch updates

The Blackberry 6 operating system has been written for the Blackberry Torch. This update consists of many new features on the Blackberry Torch that users are asking for. Universal search and social networking have been built in. There is also a new web browser based on WebKit that is reportedly more efficient than other browsers when it comes to data usage. The Blackberry App Store comes pre-loaded on the Blackberry Torch 9800, allowing you to customize the phone easily.

Blackberry Torch 9800 reviews and concerns

The Blackberry Torch 9800 may not be enough for RIM to truly survive. No frills interfaces and strong security make the Blackberry popular with government and business customers. RIM seems to be courting more of the consumer market with the Blackberry Torch. However, the tiny screen with almost half the resolution of other Smartphone’s combined with the few-frills email interface may be the downfall of this granddaddy of Smartphone makers.

Cutting your bill and waistline by saving money on food

When it comes to saving cash, it’s not hard to become overwhelmed, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Many consumers are trapped within the idea that saving money on food, household supplies or quite possibly vacations demands strenuous effort and sacrifice. Nevertheless, it doesn’t have to be that way, particularly for those who start off small and slow with a few small changes at home.

Saving money on food

Let’s keep it simple and focus on relatively easy ways to conserve, such as saving money on food purchases. Though the cost of food is increasing, you are able to keep away from the need for payday advances by learning a few simple tricks on how to really save money on food. Every little thing adds up, and you also will notice a drastic change in your spending lifestyle, as well as your health, if you work on developing good eating and spending habits.

Consider purchasing store brands

One easy, painless way to cut the grocery bill is to buy store brand food. As budgets get tighter and food prices run high, increasingly more consumers are turning to store brands — including higher income families. Store brand offerings that are just as good as or better than name brand products can be found almost anywhere you go. Many supermarket chains are offering more store brand products of better quality, and sticking close to store brand purchases can cut the bill down by 50 percent or more.

The benefit of getting in bulk

Another great way to conserve cash on food and prevent the need for payday loans is to purchase in bulk. Search for the items that cost probably the most and find out whether getting in bulk will save you more money in the end. You may want to stay from purchasing highly perishable items like fresh fruits and vegetables in bulk, but things like rice, potatoes, beans and pasta could be stored for a long period of time. Be careful, though, because getting in bulk can also work against you if you overstock and throw things away. You’ll basically be throwing hard-earned money down the drain.

Put a stop to impulse buying

Always write a list before making your way to the supermarket. Focus that list on necessary things you need each month and try not to confuse your wants with your needs. Any budget could be damaged by impulse buying, so it’s essential that you plan ahead and stick within your boundaries. Write a separate list for things you need for no real good reason other than to boost your morale and put it aside for a later time. As you start to see your money grow, you can go back to your “want” list and budget for one item at a time. It’s important that you reward yourself every once in a while for your efforts to conserve money.

Quick tip: The best time to plan a small shopping trip is during the busiest time of the day. With your purchasing list handy, you are able to easily go in and out and avoid the urge to look around and ignite temptation.

Make meals at home

If you have a busy day-to-day schedule, this could be a bit tricky. But keep in mind that you are able to save some significant bucks just by making meals at home. Furthermore, eating processed food and eating out can have a negative effect on your weight and overall health, also as your spending budget. For those of you who run busy lifestyles, preparing ahead of time will help a great deal. And here is where the crock pot handily comes in. Put all the ingredients in the slow cooker the night before, and on your way out the door the next morning, it will take almost no time to pull it out of the fridge and have it cook all day while you are away. It is almost as easy as applying for online pay day loan. When your day is over and it is time to come home, you are able to return to a home-cooked delicious meal everybody will enjoy.

Many fires, such as the Tehachapi fire, make for state of emergency

In Sacramento this morning, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced a state of emergency in Kern County. The Tehachapi fire, also known as the west fire, has been contained 25 percent. The Bull Fire is only 5 percent contained. The State of Emergency allows cash-strapped California to spend money on firefighters and containment.

Facts on the Tehachapi fire

The Tehachapi Fire, centered in a small community 10 miles south of Tehachapi, began on Tuesday. After flames began consuming the town, Old West Ranch residents were forced to leave. The fire has been officially named the West Fire, following the ranch that was split up to form the community. A grinder was in dry grass when individuals started cutting scrap metal in it, beginning the fire. Now you will find 40 homes that no longer stand as well as 1,400 acres which were burned. 150 other homes have had to evacuate.

Bull Fire info

The Bull Fire started in Kernville, California and burns 16,000 acres already. When the fire began, it immediately burned eight homes and six outbuildings down. Two firefighters have already been injured while fighting this fire. Nobody knows why the Bull Fire started and only about 5 percent of it has been contained so far.

Wildfires expenses

In budget-strapped California, fighting wildfire is an incredibly expensive proposition. Not only the human cost of possible firefighter deaths, but the financial cost. $1 million to $2.5 million is about what it costs per day to fight fires. More than $500 million is spent on an “average” wildfire fighting year. California assigns these costs to many different agencies. The majority of the cost is carried by the California state spending budget. Nothing is covered on this except the actual containment of the fire. Because there is a State of Emergency, the money gets spent although nobody knows where it is coming from yet.

BP preparing to take a $ 10 billion tax credit

Facing a $ 17 billion second quarter loss and $ 32 billion in spill cleanup costs, BP has decided to take a $ 10 billion tax credit. Cash until payday loan advanced like this are given to companies that are in a lot of trouble. It is still argued how legal this tax credit really is. The government is going to end up paying more for the oil spill cleanup than they intended with tax credits like this. Article source – BP planning to take a $ 10 billion tax credit by Personal Money Store.

Losses that spurred the BP tax credit

Tax credits like these are accessible to all companies that are in some severe financial trouble. In just the second quarter of this year, BP has reported losses of over $ 17 billion. BP stock falling is where most of this loss comes from. BP is easily losing profit although borrowing money hasn’t been a question so far.

Economic effect of BP tax credit

With a $ 10 billion tax credit, the government will end up paying of BP’s bill when it comes to the oil spill cleanup. BP said they’d pay at least $ 20 billion for the oil spill. If the government gives BP $ 10 billion, then the government basically paid half of that bill.

Those against the BP tax credit

Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, in a press briefing, commented on the BP tax credit by saying “I do not think anybody would prefer that [BP] do that.”. The only thing that compares is when Goldman Sachs tried to write off the $ 535 million penalty fee they paid to the SEC. Nobody has ever tried to do this before, where they take out loans till payday but then writing the loans off.

Reasons BP deserves the tax credit

Although it appears the tax credit shouldn’t be given, there may be some reasons to consider giving BP this credit. BP is expected to pay for every little thing involved in the oil spill cleanup. Unless BP can stay solvent, then getting the quick money loan needed for the cleanup might be practically difficult. If BP can’t discover a way to keep in business without the $ 10 billion, then they’d likely go out of business and be unable to pay for any of the expenses of the oil spill cleanup. The IRS will choose if that is the case or not though.

Additional reading

Daily Finance

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

Market Watch

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