British study germs on ATM keypads, public toilets

Although it is well known, new research has confirmed that public places are a breeding ground for germs and bacteria. A new group discovered that an ATM keypad, as outlined by a British study, is as dirty as a public lavatory. The research was, not surprisingly, funded by antibacterial makers. This doesn’t mean that others are worried over it, nevertheless. Just think of the personal loan the bank will have to take out if someone sued them for getting sick at the ATM. Source for this article – Germs on the ATM keypad and British study on public toilets by MoneyBlogNewz.

ATM keypad considered by British study

There was a study that British researchers did. It involved common public surfaces and the bacteria on them. They swabbed and grew samples from ATM keypads, under the seat of public toilets, gas pump handles and grocery carts. The samples were sealed in a sterile bag, then grown in a petri dish. There were bacteria grown on all four swabs. These included coliform as well as e. coli. The public toilet samples grew the highest bacterial load, though they contained much the same bacteria as every other sample. ATM keypads were a very close second to the public toilets in bacterial load.

Taking into consideration the funding of the study

Studying ATM keypads and public toilets didn't bring anything new to mind. It was all expected. The study was, however, funded by the makers of antibacterial surface coatings. The scientific community keeps having issues with the place the funding comes from for studies. The results aren't invalid even though the study was obviously being used to sell more antibacterial products.

Bacteria is something to stay away from

You may buy more antibacterial surface coatings to protect yourself from bacteria. There are other things to do too though. Make sure that you wash your hands. It is an extremely important thing to do. It was shown that there isn't much of an effect that antibacterial products have. Diseases and infections still spread a ton. You don't have to use antibacterial products. Instead, take precautions and wash your hands. This way ATM keypads and public toilets will not be any more dangerous than any other public space.

Information from

NCBI

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14996673

WTAE

wtae.com/health/24325339/detail.html

Did pawn shop buy a $15,000 Faberge spider brooch fake

When a lot of people hear “Faberge” they think eggs. This jewelry creator, though, made much more than simply Easter decorations. A seller came into the “Pawn Stars” pawn shop offering a spider brooch for sale. The owners instead offered her $15,000, saying it was likely a Faberge spider brooch. The Faberge company has not, thus far, been impressed. They feel that the Faberge spider brooch is a fake. The seller of that brooch got a bigger payday cash advance loan than she was expecting.

Viewing the Faberge spider brooch for many

A Gold and Silver Pawn was where a customer went with a jewel-encrusted spider brooch on the show "Pawn Stars" on the History Channel. She had found it while cleaning out a family member’s house. She was asking for $2,000 for the brooch, because it had jewels all over it. Rick, the co-owner of the pawn shop, said that he would love to pay $2,000 for it, but he “had a conscience.”. He then offered $15,000 for the piece, pointing out that it was an incredibly rare Faberge piece that could easily be worth twice that.

Faberge spider brooch legitimacy

There is a lot of jewelry that is brought to the Gold and Silver Pawn shop. There are other things accepted too, of course. Whether there are hallmarks or identifying marks on the spider brooch is very hard to tell because of the way the episode was filmed. What is seen on the episode, though, is rarely the entire conversation or inspection process for a particular item brought into the shop. Jewelry and antiques are specialties of the shop. That means more than likely, it is a real Faberge spider brooch.

Response from Faberge company

The Faberge company, officially known as The House of Faberge, has spoken up about the possible Faberge spider brooch. In an email sent to “Time” magazine, Tatiana Zherebkina, spokeswoman for the company, called the reports of a Faberge spider brooch “untrue and unfounded,” claiming an eight-legged brooch does “not fit into the luxury jeweler’s creative vision.” Interesting to note is that this is actually the new Faberge company. All records on the company aren't even there. All of the jeweler's workshops were ransacked in 1917. In Switzerland, Peter Carl Faberge died. The firm wasn't re-launched for another 92 years. So, in the end, the Faberge spider brooch may be a true piece of artwork – or just a very pricey piece of spider jewelry.

Articles cited

Time

newsfeed.time.com/2010/09/07/rumors-of-faberge-spider-brooch-untrue/

San Francisco 49ers hire Jim Harbaugh

The 49ers and wunderkind Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh have reportedly reached a deal. It is about time, too. The rumours over Jim Harbaugh has been widespread for days, and has been getting very tiring. A lot of work is ahead of him. Thankfully though, paydayloans were not used to negotiate the deal.

Jim Harbaugh involved in San Francisco 49ers reach deal

There has been a lot of speculation about Jim Harbaugh becoming an NFL head coach while leaving the Stanford football team. He has reportedly signed a five year, $25 million deal with the San Francisco 49ers, according to ABC. Many would suggest that Harbaugh is a college football coaching prodigy. This is because the Stanford Cardinals went to an annual bowl from having been a losing team originally. Stanford went 12 and 1 this year. There's going to be a lot of work that Harbaugh will have to do. This is because the team, although it had been picked to win the NFC West this year, hasn't posted a winning record in about a decade. The Wild Card round of the NFL playoff schedule will be played by the Seattle Seahawks against the New Orleans Saints while the Seahawks ended up winning the NFC West.

All about the inspiration behind it

Harbaugh was inspired in part to take the job in San Francisco by one of his all-time heroes. The San Francisco 49ers hired Bill Walsh after he worked as the coach of Stanford. During the time there, he took Stanford to two bowls. The 49ers went and got four Super Bowl titles after he was coach while Walsh picked up Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott, Jerry Rice and Steve Young while perfecting the West Coast Offense.

Hard road ahead

Jim Harbaugh has his work cut out for him. The NFC was supposed to be won by the 49ers after it went 8 and 8 in 2009, but then it went to 6 and 10 instead. The organization recently fired head coach Mike Singeltary. The 49ers will be playing the Baltimore Ravens at some point in 2011 although Harbaugh's brother, John Harbaugh, is the head coach of that team.

Citations

ABC News

abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory?id=12566834

Maryland broker found entirely guilty of fraudulent loans

In exchange for considerations; a Maryland broker of mortgages has admitted guilt in fraud charges. The charges are federal. The United States Attorney’s office for Maryland is heading up the charges. These charges come from dozens of deceitful and phony mortgages and loans. This is an excellent example of why you need to exercise caution when applying for personal loans and mortgages. Be sure to have a look at the loan provider thoroughly.

Mortgage fraud in Maryland

Several counts of mail fraud are what Maryland mortgage broker Douglas Skibicki pleaded guilty to. According to Skibicki, he "participated in a scheme to defraud lenders, family members, and banks." He ended up getting mortgages for himself and for others. In order to do this, he lied. Fraudulent appraisals, many times for empty lots, were made also with an appraiser that worked with Skibicki.

Families lost out with installment loans

The Maryland installment loans that Skibicki brokered were originally intended for families and businesses. Properties would take out the loans in order to refinance mortgages. Also, more financing on existing properties was taken out. Empty lots would end up getting loans. Some would have minimal structures there. However, appraisals indicated that there were three and four bedroom homes worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Skibicki got loans for families that they couldn't realistically pay back. The mortgage lenders and banks got false documentation.

Mortgage fraud giving a punished

Though the mortgage fraud Skibicki has been charged with cost millions of dollars, he has been charged with mail fraud. A cease and desist order has also been issued against Skibicki, preventing him from ever doing business in the short-term loan, financial, or mortgage industry again. Lenders got mortgage forms from Skibicki in the mail. That is why there is a sever mail fraud charge. April of this year will be when he is going to be sentenced. In fact, he may end up getting fined twice the amount of gains he received, would have to forfeit the $1.4 million in property gains he had and may be in prison for 20 years.

Articles cited

Loan Safe

loansafe.org/maryland-mortgage-broker-pleads-guilty-to-loan-crimes

Study exhibits Power Balance wristbands have no effect

Shaquille O’Neal, Drew Brees and several other successful sportsmen endorse Power Balance wristbands. You will find millions of individuals who have purchased Power Balance wristbands. Most would insist that wearing the product enhances their sports ability. However, Power Balance was ordered by a courtroom in Australia to make clear the fact that no science could be offered to support the company’s performance enhancement claims about its product. Hopefully nobody took out a payday advance to buy these, just to find out they are not backed by any proof. Source for this article – Power Balance wristband scam features roster of famous athletes by MoneyBlogNewz.

The Power Balance con

Many people and organizations say Power Balance wristbands are a con. On Dec. 22, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission agreed that this was true. The strength, balance and flexibility claims from Power Balance, that is situated in CA, are misleading. This was what the company was required to publish a statement saying in the Australian media. There is no "credible technological evidence" that supports the claims from the business. It was this week the Power Balance scam hit the United States The news didn't travel too quickly. Tweets from customers who believe that the product works are being posted by Power Balance on its site while it’s relying on Twitter for help.

Power Balance rip-off on exhibit

The Power Balance con for wristbands is fairly recent. In 2007 it began. Since then, more than 2.5 million have been sold for $29.95 each. There were $8,000 in sales for Power Balance its first year. Now, in 2010, the company made over $35 million. The company’s site contains no legitimate technological proof about the product. Power Balance claims to be founded by “athletes dedicated to holistic care.”. The site talks about the plastic wristbands. Supposedly they are "Performance engineering designed to work with your body's natural energy field.” On the Power Balance wristband, there is a hologram of the Power Balance logo that is “designed to resonate with and respond to the natural energy field of the body.”

All about legitimate scientific proof

You will find many wristbands accessible to any consumer that wants performance technology. "True Power" and "Energy Force" are both examples of these companies. The Power Balance wristbands and other competing goods bought at Wal-Mart were what a professor in Wisconsin did tests with when comparing performance of sportsmen, reports that Associated Press. He did not find differences. They all seemed alike. The second wristband was something that subjects performed better with. This was likely due to them already knowing the test though.

Information from

Associated Press

google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gD0oYOhWhRwXisq66ffVWvYntOJg?docId=e164b7589c724f81b4ee1a24ba0a60dd

New York Daily News

nydailynews.com/lifestyle/health/2011/01/04/2011-01-04_oneal_beckhamloved_power_balance_bracelet_makers_admits_it_doesnt_work_.html

Gizmodo

gizmodo.com/5723577/powerbalance-admits-their-wristbands-are-a-scam

Chuck Berry almost passed out in concert but relaxing in good condition

Chuck Berry, the legendary guitarist and songwriter, is stable after a health related event in the course of one of his concerts. Berry almost collapsed on a piano bench onstage, and had to be helped off. Berry, 84, simply needed a break and is relaxing at home.

Chuck Berry at Chicago concert and almost faints

On New Years, Chuck Berry was in a live performance at the Congress Theater in Chicago. Berry started to slump over while sitting down at the electric piano onstage while performing. Berry waved for assistance and was helped offstage. The dance step he made famous, the "duck walk," was done by him a half hour later when he came back to let fans know he was fine. The "duck walk" was copied by a lot of different people. Angus Young of AC/DC was probably the most famous. Berry went home to St. Louis the next day as he had been feeling ill that whole evening.

Chuck Berry live performance rescheduled

January 19 could be when the concert is rescheduled for. Yahoo News reports it’s sold out already. Berry is said to be active and in exceptional health at 84 years of age, however he simply was fatigued. Berry had performed two concerts in New York City on New Year’s Eve and flew to Chicago for a show the following night.

Powerful still

The influence and longevity that Chuck Berry has is uncommon among musicians. Since the 1950s, Berry has been recorded while also being the influence for several bands. These bands consist of legions, AC/DC, Ted Nugent, Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones and the Beatles. The song “Johnny B. Goode” contains perhaps the best known rock ‘n’ roll guitar riff ever recorded, and other hits like “Roll Over Beethoven” and “Maybellene,” among others, are all part of the bedrock of rock and roll. If there is a person who personifies the genre, Berry is as close as it gets.

Citations

ABC News

abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=12523212&page=1

Yahoo

news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110103/ap_on_en_mu/us_people_chuck_berry_18

Girl Scout Cookies - Searching for money from the fund-raising

Millions of individuals are holding out with anticipation for the Girl Scout Cookies time of year. Girl Scout Cookies season is different in different areas. Each troop receives less than a dollar from each box of cookies sold.

The Girl Scout Cookies season

Girl Scout Cookies are only accessible once a year which makes them very popular. Girl Scout Cookies time of year varies from state to state, though many areas are starting their cookie season in the next month or two. Girl Scout Cookies become more valued and marketable as they are only available for limited times.

How cash from Girl Scout Cookies is distributed

You can purchase a Girl Scout Cookie box for fairly cheap. It’s between $3.50 and $4 usually. In each box, only 10 to 20 cookies are put in there. You will find thousands willing to pay the price though. According to the national Girl Scout organization, each troop gets between 50 cents and 57 cents per box sold. About 85 cents are given to the baker for the cookies. Then, the "neighborhood unit" gets 1 cent. The remaining money from Girl Scout Cookies is given to the regional council, which supports summer camps, training and adult volunteers. The Girl Scout Cookie name, images and cookies are given to companies for instance Dairy Queen with the thin mint blizzard by the national Girl Scout organization in order to make cash.

Obtaining your personal self-made Girl Scout Cookies

Several do not like the fact that Girl Scout Cookies are only accessible for a short time. This leads them to re-create the recipes at home. There are lots of copycat Girl Scout Cookies recipes accessible if you need your fix. Some might just want to donate money to Girl Scouts. You may either donate directly to each troop or regional council or just buy cookies for yourself. One of the most beneficial fundraising activities will likely be Girl Scout Cookies being sold either way.

Citations

Wallet Pop

walletpop.com/2010/02/06/girl-scout-cookies-by-the-numbers-just-where-do-all-those-dolla/

MMN

mnn.com/food/healthy-eating/blogs/homemade-versions-of-girl-scout-cookies