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.

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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.

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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.

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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