Bristol Palin in Dancing with the Stars

Season 11 of the “DWTS” show, “Dancing with the Stars” is coming back soon. There has been a list of who is going to be within the show this year leaked. The banana boat of stars involves a fair number of surprises. Sarah Palin’s daughter, Bristol Palin, 19, has made it on the list. She is Levi Johnston’s baby mamma which has made her a celebrity to many. Banana can be added to that. “Dancing with the Stars Style” always has surprises. The “DWTS” Season 11 premier is almost here. September 20 is whenever you can enjoy it. Source for this article – Dancing With the Stars cast announced, contains Bristol Palin by Personal Money Store.

'Dancing With the Stars,’ and a Situation

Mr. The Situation is going to be on “Dancing With the Stars” after his “The Jersey Shore” days. David Hasselhoff is one more boy. He is going to end up with some “oooka shakas” likely. For the fairly girl to check out, Audrina Patridge could be making an appearance. E! Online indicates Brandy could be there, too.

Kirstie Alley couldn’t make it

Kirstie Alley was one of the stars that was rumored to be on the show but was not on the list. Neither did stars from “The Bachelor” or “The Bachelorette.”. The official “DWTS” Season 11 announcement for the cast of the show could be coming out August 30, during the Bachelor Pad while bachelors can’t get enough of “Dancing with the Stars.”.

See if Bristol is there

Bristol Palin is an old hand at the ABC game, as she has previously appeared on ABC Family’s “The Secret Life of the American Teenager.”. There is time for Bristol Palin to do “DWTS” now that she isn’t really doing a reality show anymore. She was going to co host with her ex, Levi Johnston, but ended up dropping out. Bristol might just be looking for a hot love triangle with Levi the Kid and Mr. The Situation. The other option is possible too. She may just want to dance.

Discover more info on this subject

E! Online

eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b197302_exclusive_bristol_palin_coming_dancing.html

Mediaite

mediaite.com/online/report-bristol-palin-to-compete-on-dancing-with-the-stars/

CelebTV ‘DWTS’ Season 11 casting coverage

youtube.com/watch?v=Xa9-fo50Pu0

United States cars that are stolen the most

Numerous people keep track of cars that are stolen often. This is to help knowing which cars to stay away from buying. There is a list of the most popular cars to steal kept by many. One of these places is the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. One of the most stolen cars for the year was released on a list. This list comes from the IIHS. It is kind of surprising but not to any thieves.

Top car is the Escalade

Car thieves love to steal Cadillac Escalades more than any other vehicle. The Escalade has been number one on this list in six of the IIHS reports. The Escalade gets stolen way more than any automobiles. To be precise, about seven times more. Anti-theft features are really installed in the vehicles quite a bit. Car thieves just tow them away to stay away from these. The Escalade, vs. other SUVs like the Land Rover, is more glamorous making it a target. The full report is accessible on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website.

Car thieves considered to be raccoons

Bright and shiny things are what raccoons tend to be interested in. There isn’t actually any facts to prove that; nevertheless, there is proof that car thieves like cars that are quite shiny. The IIHS report typically has the same old cars. These consist of luxury SUVs, luxury cars and full-size pickups. The most stolen autos are listed below:

• Cadillac Escalade
• Ford F250 4 Door
• The Infiniti G37 2 door is the next car
• Dodge Charger HEMI
• Then there’s the Chevrolet Corvette Z06
• Hummer H2
• Nissan Pathfinder Armada
• Chevrolet Avalanche 1500
• Now there is the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew
• The GMC Yukon is tenth

Thieves want performance cars, luxurious SUVs and big pickups. Trucks also often contain tools, which sweeten the deal for a car thief.

You would not believe what other list these cars are on

There is an additional list these cars are all on. The Forbes list of Worst Made Cars on the Road has the Escalade and Ford F250 on it. The bottom line, nevertheless, is this: if you need your risk of theft to be minimal, a flashy show of status is something you might want to avoid. Go ahead though if you have cash to buy a new car.

Additional reading

IIHS

iihs.org/news/rss/pr080310.html

Forbes

forbes.com/2010/04/07/worst-made-cars-lifestyle-vehicles-gm-ford-chrysler_slide.html

$ 4.35 billion given to Race to Top winners for school reform

If you need to improve your school, just check with President Obama. He pays $ 4.35 billion to schools in America to make some improvements. There is a reward given to schools in the “Race to the Top” program. If the community wants to “improve schools and close the achievement gap,” they are eligible for the program. ”Race to the Top” has nine winners about to share the $ 3.4 billion says the U.S. Department of Education: Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island and Washington, D.C. Grant amounts per state could be announced later. There is more coming with a round of $ 350 million going to states that have different student assessment.

‘Race to the Top’ winners aren’t the only reformers

The grant coming from “Race to the Top” has changed more states. These states want to do better also. New teacher accountability directives and no caps on funding for charter schools are two of many moves states have made to make an effort to win the “Race to the Top” prize. 19 finalists were chosen in July from 35 states and the District of Columbia who applied for round 2. Right now, there have been 46 states and also the District of Columbia that have participated in “Race to the Top”.

State education leaders and teachers unions against programs

“Race to the Top” hasn’t met with universal approval. MSNBC explains that teacher evaluations having a connection to standardized test performance was not something teachers unions wanted while state education officials didn’t want school districts giving the federal government control with “Race to the Top”.

Reform America needs

The overall outlook has been good. Democrats for Education Reform released a public statement in which the organization clearly showed that it has its finger on the pulse of what many of the nation is thinking about “Race to the Top.”. Civil rights and child advocacy groups to local business were addressed in the statement saying that there is a hope that under the President’s command, maybe all these groups can work with teachers unions to help give a new result America needs while also applauding what the president has done.

Additional reading

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/38827310

President Obama on “Race to the Top

youtube.com/watch?v=VNbDv0zPBV4

Should I get synthetic oil or mineral motor oil?

All of us know that changing oil is essential. We know we have to do it regularly. Autos have to have oil changed more often if they’re older. What does is actually matter what numbers and letter are on the oil container? With assistance from The Engine Oil Bible, Car Deal Expert helps you choose the right motor oil for car.

Why to change oil regularly

Engine oil helps your car’s engine. It makes certain the engine is well lubricated. Friction build up is prevented with lubrication. This also keeps heat from transferring from the combustion cycle because of parts grinding together. The combustion process gives off chemicals and oxidation. The oil helps keep this clean and minimized. Throughout this process, it becomes dirty and thins out, hence the need for regular replacement.

What is the importance of the numbers and letters

Consumer motor oil is divided into three types: fully synthetic, semi-synthetic and mineral (standard) oil. Take 5W-30 motor oil, for instance. It is a semi-synthetic blend. The “cold” and “hot” viscosity rating of the oil are shown by the number before and after the W. W means “winter” which means a lower cold number is wanted to keep the engine running better within the cold.

Mineral oil costs the least

Your engine could be just fine if you pick standard motor oil. Many individuals do. It will even cost less than synthetic oil and semi-synthetic oil. However, it must be changed more often, as it becomes dirty and thins out more easily.

Standard oil makes semi-synthetic oil

Standard mineral oil and semi-synthetic motor oil is fairly close to each other. The Engine Oil Bible explains that semi-synthetic oils are made with polyalpholifins. That comes from “the purest part of the mineral oil refraction process.” Thus, semi-synthetic can be mixed with standard motor oil without causing the car’s engine to seize.

Synthetic used with heavy gearboxes

Pure synthetic oils (aka polyalkyleneglycols) are most often used for industrial purposes in vehicles with intensely loaded gearboxes. It is for high performance. Fully synthetic oil is very special. It can’t be at all mixed. Clean engines with no leaks that are new can use pure synthetic oil in them. Pure synthetics tend to break off engine deposits and leave them floating within the engine. Unless you know what you are doing, there is no way to go back to mineral after synthetic, says the Engine Oil Bible.

Get lightweight oil

Choose engine oil that meets the demands of your environment. Light, thin oils do well in modern engines. Consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual and ask for the opinion of a trusted mechanic.

More on this topic

Car Bibles

carbibles.com/engineoil_bible.html

A quick rundown of synthetic vs. regular motor oil

youtube.com/watch?v=CiLkoRVL7BQ

Farmers in Missouri and Kansas get U.S.D.A. emergency loans

The weather this summer has been detrimental to farmers within the lower Midwest. Flash flood damage left the area around Kansas city in a disaster state and help is coming from the U.S.D.A.. There could be emergency loans accessible to those who need a cash until payday because their crops didn’t make it. These farmers have a few months to determine whether or not they need loans. They can file for them later. Interest on the loans is very low. The Midwest has had a lot of damage done with all the rainfall and tornados going through.

Summer rain

There has been a lot of rain in the Midwest. There was much more than normal. There were many storms coming from the Gulf to the Great Lakes. These contain the Milwaukee floods and the Oklahoma tornadoes that caused a lot of problems. Areas around Kansas City have been seriously damaged also. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced six of seven counties within the Kansas City, Mo., metro area natural disaster areas, and those counties could use some cash now to help rebuild.

Farms aren’t doing so well

Farmers within the region had the summer crops were severely affected by weather throughout the year. Emergency loans will be needed by many, says the Kansas City Business Journal,. This is because flash flood, rain and wind hurt all of these crops. The Department of Agriculture is where farmers who want a low cost loan should be applying. The interest of 3.75 percent is great for numerous. 100 percent of losses can be covered by this. Up to $ 500,000 can be borrowed. Oklahoma has 47 counties considered in disaster when 55 counties in Missouri are announced disaster. This doesn’t include the six from Kansas City.

Mother Nature can take a toll

Many things have been said about Mother Nature. One of these things is how cruel she truly is. 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 fast cash loans that is harder to come by these days.

Further reading

Business Journal

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

Himpunk can help you pay for flying

It began out as a simple summer project for young Adam Goldstein, and now Hipmunk may be one of the most innovative way for an online flight search. CNN Money explains that Goldstein had some help from Steve Huffman, Reddit co-founder, when doing this new program. Goldstein might just be going places with this thing. He created a site that could be used effortlessly and is very colorful. Article source – Hipmunk your way to lower air fares online by Personal Money Store.

Travel booked online will change with Hipmunk

Normally there is a dull list of flights on sites. Hipmunk changes this by making it more easy to read and colorful. Just this week there was a launch. Reviews are really great in just that short time. As outlined by TechCrunch, “When you see the results you’ll never want to see flight results in any format.” Lifehacker has similar praise for the “fantastic” visual interface, which is gratifying to Goldstein, as that his team spent a fantastic deal of time on that aspect of Hipmunk. Test isn’t really all clustered together. It is arranged by color and coded together. Searchers and effortlessly zoom in on a favorite within the grid at any time for additional information.

Trying to go with ‘a small, cute animal and a good logo’

Orbitz was the most popular online travel business that Goldstein and Huffman made their deal with for flight booking after checking numerous different sites. Orbits and Hipmunk work together to book flights. Hipmunk books it through Orbitz making both win. When going to Twitter, the bluebird is recognized as the logo. Hipmunk is about the same considering the chipmunk in flight goggles that will soon be recognizable. The choice of mascot came from Goldstein’s girlfriend, reports CNN.

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

Getting ready for winter

Hipmunk has been evolving a bit. It is trying to improve each day with new ideas. Some of the things it’d like to improve would be stopping spam and expanding search functions. There’s going to be added functions. These will consist of hotels and auto rentals. 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. It is much less frustrating to search for a flight now though.

Find more info on this subject

CNN

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

Hipmunk

hipmunk.com/

Last round with brand new charge card guidelines limit overdue charges

A year’s worth of credit card reform concluded Sunday as the last set of new credit card rules was enacted. Late payment fees and other penalties are the target of the most recent rule changes. Credit card reform started with the Charge card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act for 2009. As with Sunday, all the brand new rules set forth within the legislation have now been enacted. Average penalty fees for late repayments under brand new federal laws can’t exceed $25.When new credit card rules have been implemented over the last year, credit card corporations have implemented huge interest rate increases in kind. Another rule needs them to justify those increases to federal regulators.

Increasing fines and rates of interest attract brand new rules

The final enactment with credit reform provisions on Aug. 22 means that consumers can’t be charged more than $25 for a overdue, they’re no longer charged for putting their cards in a drawer as well as they could see the interest rate jumps for the last year rolled back. CNN reports that credit card corporations must cut interest rates if the reasons they claim for the increases no longer apply. Federal regulators will review those reasons and enforce compliance with the law. However when it comes to the $25 past due fee restrict, the rules give banks a loophole to exploit: if they determine a cardholder’s late obligations are habitual, they can exceed the $25 limit by saying the increase is necessary to offset the economic impact with the late payment. More e! nforceable limits are possible with one more new rule that bars card-issuers from charging a penalty exceeding the minimum monthly payment, or a penalty exceeding the dollar amount of the violation of the credit limit.

Card companies determined by penalty costs

Credit card companies are facing a $3 billion hit to penalty fee revenues from the final round with new charge card guidelines. Reporting on the industry response to new rules, the Wall Street Journal said that charges on balance transfers, cash advances, overseas transactions and annual costs are already increasing. As a strategy to get around limits on late payment fines, cardholders can expect their minimum repayments to rise. Banks accustomed to reaping huge profits from penalty fees aren’t letting go effortlessly . A credit industry executive told the Journal that before the new credit card rules, credit card businesses collected about $11.4 billion in late fees. The windfall is forecasted to slip to merely $8.1 billion-a 29 percent decline.

Interest rate hikes do not curb spending

While the new credit card rules have been giving consumers some protection from excessive late fees, credit card businesses are jacking up rates of interest. An additional CNN report said that existing cardholders in the second quarter saw their interest rates rise to an average for 14.7 percent, 13.1 percent higher than last year . Synovate, the research division for Aegis Group, said that the current difference between the prime rate and the average cardholder rate of interest is 11.45 points-more than it has been in 22 years. The high rate of interest has not deterred consumers. In the second quarter their credit card use rose to the second-highest level ever.

Discover more info on this subject

CNN

money.cnn.com

Wall Street Journal

wsj.com

Controversy erupts because of most recent Medal of Honor game

The game series “Medal of Honor” has been in need of a reboot after a successful run. Nevertheless, the newest game in the series has ignited some fiery debate. The games are set in World War II, as a first person shooter. This can be the first not set in that war. The war in Afghanistan is the setting for the new one. This game is a little different. Unlike other games, not only are players in multi-player mode playing as US or UK forces, they can also be the Taliban in “Medal of Honor 2010.” Individuals are calling for a ban, including the Minister of Defense for the UK.

Fox out to get the video game banned

Liam Fox, the Defense Secretary (“defense” gets a “c” in British English) for the United Kingdom, has called for the game to be banned. According to The Guardian, he believes retailers should refuse to carry the game, and individuals should refuse to buy it. The belief that players could be in the Taliban in multiplayer mode is the root of the debate, and would be shooting, virtually, at US and UK troops. Even in online gaming which is far removed from real life, shooting at the military forces of the US or UK is a shocking prospect. It appears almost sad to contemplate that this seems almost like it was inevitable; since plenty of video games have taken place in Iraq and Afghan conflicts, for instance “Call of Duty,” it would logically follow that this was the only way to top any of it, which is a callous prospect, to say the least.

Electronic Arts defends the derision

Electronic Arts makes the game, this being the first “Medal of Honor” not set in World War II. EA’s PR Representative, in AOL News, said that the game play is no different than how children play. Children do play games like that. Cops face off against robbers, Indians confront cowboys, cowboys must face the belief that their quarterback is lousy, and in the multiplayer mode of “Medal of Honor”, “someone’s gotta be the Taliban.” Opponents of the feature highlight that playing as Nazis in previous installments is less harmful, as the second World War is farther removed from the present.

It nevertheless is just a video gaming

You will find two universal outcomes to any controversial video game. Some people get offended, and the game sells a lot of copies – the first “Mortal Kombat” and “Grand Theft Auto III,” for example. As far as the controversial component; it sadly seems inevitable. The first “Medal of Honor,” created by Steven Spielberg, also had some interesting multiplayer characters. William Shakespeare and a German Shepherd were un-lockable characters, as was a Velociraptor from “Jurassic Park”. This is, after all, the series where dinosaurs kill Nazis.

Additional reading

AOL News

aolnews.com/nation/article/new-video-game-will-let-you-play-as-the-taliban/19588413

Guardian

guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2010/aug/23/liam-fox-medal-of-honor-ban

Criminals Casslyn Welch and John McCluskey busted

It was only a matter of time before Casslyn Welch and John McCluskey were found. For some reason, there are repeated comparisons to Bonnie and Clyde. They escaped from an Arizona State prison about a month ago. They’ve been on the run ever since. They were rumored to be in numerous locations. They were reportedly spotted in Yellowstone National Part, Arkansas, and elsewhere. They were unknowingly spotted in a state park in Arizona. A Park Ranger alerted authorities to a stolen vehicle, which led to their capture.

Ranger braves the danger

An unnamed Park Ranger made the catch. He was on patrol in Apache Sitgreaves National Forest. According to ABC, he saw an unattended fire and a suspiciously parked car. He called within the license plate. He alerted police when it turned up stolen. Soon afterward, SWAT showed up to take them into custody. That’s when they found out who they were. They were arrested peacefully. John McCluskey said that he would have fired on police had he not been caught off guard. McCluskey and his cousin, Casslyn Welch, who is also his fiancé, were taken peacefully.

The search is off

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. McCluskey and Welch were spotted in Yellowstone National Park and Butte, Mont., while Renwick and Province were captured not long after their escape. The two just lately captured criminals weren’t idle after escaping. As outlined by the Associated Press, they are suspected in the death of Linda and Gary Haas, a retired couple in New Mexico on vacation. The bodies of the Haases were found in their burnt trailer around Aug. 4. The stolen vehicle Welch and McCluskey were driving had New Mexico plates.

Even Bonnie and Clyde weren’t like Bonnie and Clyde

For some reason, people idolize violent criminals. These two are compared to 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 exact same people they were stealing from were the ones rooting for them. They are violent criminals, and it is better they go back to behind bars. There should be a medal for the Ranger who called them in. He should at least get a raise.

Additional information on this topic

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

Now for something totally diverse using the Naruse Pedal

A genuine risk is posed by the default set up of a brake and gas pedal right next to each other. There just hasn’t been a good enough option, though a jet fighter style throttle would be Amazing. Jamming the gas when you should slam on the brakes is a way lots of people get hurt or killed. Masuyuki Naruse knew there was another way to do it.

Brakes and Gas no longer on separate pedals with the naruse pedal

Masuyuki Naruse got the idea after two incidents in which he inadvertently hit the accelerator pedal rather than the brakes in the 1980s. Naruse (the end is pronounced say), according to the New York Times, knew there was a solution. He thought that a single pedal would be better than the dual pedal system. So he started work on a pedal that could accelerate and brake without the potential mistake. The first prototype was finished in 1991.

Toyota wasn’t amazed

This pedal is for both gas and brakes, but just a little different. To brake, you push your foot down normally. The gas is a lever, which you move with your foot side to side. Turn your foot to give it the gun. Brake normally. About 10 years ago, Toyota was given one to test but didn’t release results. He isn’t really the first person, either. Currently, a similar prototype is being tested in Sweden, invented by one Sven Gustafsson.

People die because of this problem

There is a real danger to dual pedals. The Institute for Traffic Accident Research and Data Analysis found that 6,700 accidents, 9,500 injuries and 37 deaths occurred in Japan due to hitting the wrong pedal. Individuals can forget which is which in emergencies. Richard A. Schmidt found that neuromuscular processes can be disrupted by emergency situations. Naruse Pedals could be legally installed on 130 automobiles in Japan, and the President of Toyota was lately invited by Naruse himself to try his pedal out, but Naruse was refused.

More on this topic

NY Times

nytimes.com/2010/08/04/business/global/04pedal.html?pagewanted=2 and _r=1

Are cellular phone gas pump fires merely an urban legend?

Gasoline fires could be horrific incidents, but there’s something amusing about the lengths to which some individuals will go when working with fuel. For example, a Daytona Beach, Fla., man did a DIY doozy on his car – he exchanged the fuel tank with a plastic gasoline can, then moved the can under the hood… right next to the heat-emitting engine. Only the truth could possibly be so bizarre. There is a comparable sentiment when it comes to the hokey old story that cellular phones cause fuel pump fires. Has this ever happened, or is it merely an urban legendintended to frighten hapless motorists? Source of article – Do cell phones cause fires at the gas pump by Car Deal Expert.

Cell phones and gas pumps – blazing inaccuracy

Urban legends are the business of Snopes.com, and they’ve trained their laser-guided truthiness on mobile phones and fuel pump fires. While your mobile phone instruction manual may have something in there about electromagnetic pulses, the hard truth according to Snopes.com is that science and media reports do not back up the explosive cell phone-gas pump notion. An EMP that produces enough of a static charge to send gas vapors up in flames sounds possible, but there’s no evidence of it happening due to cellular phone operation. While there may be some validity to not using cell phones around hospital or airliner equipment, there’s no smoke and hence no fire when it comes to the mobile phone gas pump fire scenario. Media instances of such occurrences in China and Indonesia, as outlined by Snopes.com’s research, actually sprung from widely circulated Internet rumors dating back to 1999. In recent years, the Discovery channel program “Mythbuster! s” busted the myth.

The ‘official’ Shell Oil warning

A group claiming to be the Shell Oil Company circulated a warning in June 2002. They cited 3 examples that sounded specific enough to be real. And all it would take to become yet one more statistic would be for a motorist’s phone to simply ring in the presence of gasoline fumes. While the voltage on a cellular battery and the more powerful car battery are the exact same – 12 V – the current on cell batteries is much lower, and hence less dangerous. One story about cellular phones sending a brief 100-volt surge also seems to be false, a fabrication of the phone business during the height of their war with new cellular businesses .

Obviously, Shell Oil denied they’d ever produced the message.

The fear is unfounded

Even if a gasoline station tank does go up – it has happened – cellular phones can’t be connected. Talk away, but be sure to get the fuel in the tank, instead of on your shoes; distraction can be a bad thing.

Find more info on this subject

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

U.S. News college rankings contain no surprises

U.S. News college rankings were announced on Tuesday: Harvard is yet again the top. Princeton is in second place … once more. Yale is 3rd with their Ivy League bias. But those are the national college rankings: Since money is a major part of the list, those in academia tend to criticize it. When deciding which school is best for you or your child, you can look at the U.S. News Best Colleges 2011 which has a pretty useful matrix to some, although many don’t agree. Resource for this article – U.S. News college rankings contain no surprises by Personal Money Store.

How U.S. News and World Report ranks colleges

To rank colleges, the U.S. News report uses a bunch of categories schools have been put into. The highest level of degrees conferred by discipline is how the Best Colleges 2011 groups all of the colleges and universities in America. The 1,400-plus accredited schools were divided into four main groupings: National Universities, National Liberal Arts Colleges, Regional Universities and Regional Colleges. North, South, Midwest and West are the regions the Regional Universities and Regional Colleges were put into. Each school had data on 16 indicators of academic quality gathered. Colleges are ranked in their categories by their total weighted score.

Back in black

The U.S. News and World Report college rankings are just one of numerous 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. Higher education critics take a list like the U.S. News Best Colleges 2011 more seriously. CNN’s MoneyWatch had Lynn O’Shaughnessy say the whole thing is a joke. She writes that U.S. News doesn’t make an effort to measure the type of learning taking place at schools across the country. Instead U.S. News and World Report is simply conducting a high-stakes beauty contest, where 25 percent of each school’s score is depending solely on its reputation.

Value as an essential factor

It has been ten years and still, Harvard or Princeton get the number one spot for the U.S. News college rankings. David Gura at NPR explains that getting on top with college rankings doesn’t matter to most. Colleges have less money, making for budget cuts and enrollment caps. More students are applying to more schools. Getting accepted into college is difficult for many. Academic reputation, graduation, freshmen retention, faculty resources, alumni giving and financial resources are all things considered with the U.S. News college rankings. But within the increasingly expensive world of higher education, finding value is nevertheless one of probably the most significant — if not the most important — factors in choosing a school

Additional 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

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. Video games have added $ 5 billion to the economy as shown in a study called “Video Games within the 21st Century: The 2010 Report,” for Entertainment Software that was done by Economists Incorporated. There was a 10 percent growth between 2005 and 2009 for the video game industry. This was good for the economy considering seven times the growth of the economy was had in this time frame. Article source – Video game industry gives the U.S. economy a needed boost by Personal Money Store.

More jobs with video games

Michael Gallagher, CEO of ESA, explained that job creation has grown at a “rapid pace." It is also making “an essential contribution to our nation’s economy while 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 typically with an average salary of $ 89,781. Video games have made it possible for many within the U.S. to get jobs.

A lot in California

Video game workers largely live in California. In just 2009, $ 2.6 billion was given to direct and indirect employees for compensation. The state benefited from this too. $ 2.1 billion in revenue was received.

In other states, Texas ranked second with 13,613 employees, followed by Washington (11,225). Virginia had a large expansion with a 77 percent increase between 2005 and 2009.

Some of the value put towards entertainment

During a recession, entertainment expenditures are among the first things to be downsized in a family’s budget. Video gaming may seem costly on the surface – consoles cost from $ 200 to $ 500, and PCs cost even more. You are looking at more for the games too. $ 20 to $ 60 is needed for each 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 in contrast to more passive forms of entertainment like movies, the price of which has skyrocketed in recent years. Video games are proven to promote hand-eye coordination and even have therapeutic and developmental uses. The video game industry has had a optimistic effect. The U.S. economy is feeling it.

Further reading

Theesa

theesa.com/facts/pdfs/VideoGames21stCentury_2010.pdf

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

youtube.com/watch?v=M-b9wEww9MA

Disputed by scientists is the oil spill report from the government

The government oil spill report has said things are well when that is being argued. A conclusion by National Incident Command that the majority of the oil spill within the Gulf of Mexico had been burned, collected or vaporized has been cast into doubt by 3 scientific studies. Shrimpers were given the green light. Obama went to the gulf with his family last week, ate seafood and swam within the gulf. However, 75 percent of the oil has yet to be collected and will threaten the ecosystem for years, according to a University of Georgia (UGA) study. University of South Florida (USF) researchers have found one more oil plume on the sea floor. The oil spill is a long-term threat to human health and gulf seafood safety in a study released by the American Medical Association (AMA).

Report claims oil has dispersed

Almost all of the oil, as outlined by the government, has been dispersed within the oil spill within the Gulf of Mexico 2010. National Incident Command, as outlined by the Wall Street Journal, said a few weeks ago that burning and skimming had removed half of the 4.9 million gallons dumped into the gulf. There has also been 25 percent that evaporated away. UGA scientists who have led the way in oil plume research since the spill started said up to 79 percent of the oil, as well as its toxic byproducts, are nevertheless in the water. Years could be required before a breakdown of petrochemicals might really happen. Unless 25 percent of the oil was sitting on the surface, that much couldn’t have evaporated. Large plumes of oil are still trapped in the area.

Undersea is a toxic oil plume

According to the USF team, the oil spill let a large portion settle within the gulf on the bottom. As outlined by CNN, an undersea canyon 40 miles offshore has droplets of oil in it because of the dispersing, says the USF study. The oil’s toxic chemicals are causing a strong response to the organisms like plankton. The surface has oil that might come out again. A UGA researcher told CNN that a 3rd of the hydrocarbons in the form of methane and other gas emissions that remain in the water weren’t measured by the government.

Gulf seafood safety faces long term threat

The BP oil spill has hurt, according to AMA, the gulf seafood safety for a long time. The Sacramento Bee reports that in the short term dangerous petrochemicals resembling cigarette smoke and soot will remain within the systems of gulf shellfish. Big game fish like tuna, swordfish and mackerel will amass high concentrations of mercury in the long term from consuming fish lower in the food chain. If you’re pregnant of have kids, I’d avoid eating any seafood from the gulf.

Additional reading

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704868604575434074237252604.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLETopStories

CNN

cnn.com/2010/US/08/17/gulf.oil.disaster/index.html?npt=NP1

Sacramento Bee

sacbee.com/2010/08/17/2963788/gulf-oil-spill-still-a-threat.html

Figuring out how to reprogram your engine computer

A good way to keep your car’s engine control modules (ECMs) up to date would be erasing and reprogramming, otherwise known as flashing, your engine’s computer. Microprocessors in the power train and fuel injectors have to have this done if cars are older newer than 1996 since the system won’t work properly otherwise. When programming is up to date with anything, your engine works much better. It’s a bountiful cash crop for repair shops, who tend to charge between $ 80 and $ 120 for the service, according to Under hood Service. Your car could be flashed by you for those who have the right equipment around. Article resource – How to reprogram your engine computer by Car Deal Expert.

An engine computer reprogramming

When reprogramming an engine computer, a scanner is attached to the diagnostic port in a car, which is typically inside the car, beneath the steering wheel. The auto manufacturer will replace old software within the car with new programming. Back within the day, the reprogramming process involved removing different parts from the car, but now an USB cable, scanning device, and a pretty good Internet connection is all that is needed to work with the diagnostic port. The manufacturer’s site has the new software on it which is flashed onto the ECM.

How many times to flash an ECM?

If you were to ask your auto repair shop this question, they would suggest doing it each and every few years, which could be ok for you to do. However, it’s typically only something that needs to be addressed on a need-to basis, unless a sweeping pronouncement is issued by the manufacturer as part of a recall movement. Routine maintenance shouldn’t consist of flashing when doing everything else to make sure your car works.

Using a DAY flasher to do the work

It is simple to do usually. Consult with your automobile manufacturer’s site for software updates. A flash programming device is what you’ll need to download the update to. You may need more software if you want to have a proper engine turning. Consult sources such as DIYEFI.org for more specific information. Before doing anything, your state’s motor automobile authority should be consulted considering states like California have touch emissions testing making it illegal to do some different engine reprogramming.

Get auto loans to help buy your new car with new ECM programming already

More on this topic

Underhood Services

underhoodservice.com/Article/39556/flash_reprogramming_vehicle_computers.aspx

Scotty Kilmer on reprogramming your car’s computer

youtube.com/watch?v=Mc0aMxSdat4

DIYEFI

diyefi.org/index.htm

Static kill worked, but relief well nevertheless in the works

A relief well being drilled to add a second seal to the broken BP well that caused the oil spill within the Gulf of Mexico must be completed. BP, in hopes of using the relief well to eventually pump oil, had raised the idea the static kill which stopped the flow of oil last month may be good enough as a permanent solution. Thad Allen, the retired Coast Guard Admiral President Obama appointed to lead the oil spill response, had also said the “bottom kill” from the relief well could be unnecessary. After pressure tests on the well, he confirmed Friday that the bottom kill from the relief well would proceed as planned.

Thad Allen – well not plugged until relief well is finished

In recent days BP refused to commit to pumping cement down the relief well for the bottom kill, saying only that it will be put to use one way or another. The New York Times reports that BP and government scientists conducted the tests to determine the effectiveness of the static kill, in which heavy mud had been pumped into the Macondo well, followed by cement. Evidence from the tests show the static kill appears to have sealed the well. About 1,000 barrels of oil is nevertheless trapped within the well according to BP estimates, Allen said. The government said work on the relief well will continue until the gusher is permanently plugged.

Static kill uncertainties

After completion of the static kill, BP engineers knew cement had plugged the well’s metal casing pipe. They didn’t know, nevertheless, if cement had successfully blocked the annulus, a space between the pipe and also the well bore. The Los Angeles Time reports the tests indicate mud and cement poured to the top of the well and appear to have entirely sealed the leak. Because it is uncertain the static kill has closed all the possible paths for the leak, Allen said the relief well must be the final step.

Relief well threading the needle

Drilling of the first relief well started in early May. The Associated Press reports that the drill has bored two miles under the sea floor since then to come within 30 to 50 feet of its target. The target is less than half the diameter of a dartboard, pursued by a drill about as wide as a grapefruit. BP and government officials say its completion date is yet to be determined.

Discover more details on this subject

New York Times

nytimes.com

Los Angeles Times

latimes.com

Associated Press

google.com/hostednews/ap

Brett Favre goes to Vikings practice and no bridges are presently for sale

The modern version of the story “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” may also be “The Boy Who Cried Brett Favre Will Retire.” Brett Favre really has gone to practice with the Minnesota Vikings. The worm seems to have turned after some teammates visited him at home. It’s not known if the holder of more NFL records than any other NFL quarterback hasn’t said he definitely will make it through an entire season yet, but if last year and him showing up at practice is a good sign there’s a great chance he will. Resource for this article – Brett Favre really going to practice with Vikings by Newystype.com.

Minnesota has Brett Favre back

Brett Favre has showed up to practice ending months of intense speculation and debate. On Tuesday, Aug. 17, Brett Favre stepped off a plane, as outlined by ESPN, and went to practice with the Minnesota Vikings. Brett Favre didn’t need any stinking training camp last year. He and also the Vikings went on a Viking like campaign, which involved a merciless slaughter of a pitiful Dallas Cowboys team in the first round of playoffs. The season ended with a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Saints within the NFC Championship game, when Favre picked up the ankle injury.

Fellow Vikings help him to determine

Some of the other guys on the team may have spurred his decision. Some fellow Vikings went down to Hattiesburg, Miss., to Favre’s home to help him make his decision. Lineman Steve Hutchinson, kicker Ryan Longwell and defensive end Jared Allen (owner of perhaps one of the most famous mullet within the NFL) flew down to talk to Favre. They must have made quite the argument, because he flew back to Minnesota with them.

The NFL’s most famous grandfather stands to make a lot

As outlined by USA Today, Brett Favre will earn $20 million for this season if he plays. However, he is going to have to earn every penny. One of their opening games is going to be against the Packers, and they probably nevertheless want revenge. QB Aaron Rodgers was statistically one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL last year, and to knock off the Vikings, especially with Favre at the helm, could be quite the feather within the Packers’ cap.

Additional reading

USA Today

content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2010/08/vikings-bernard-berrian-brett-favre-addressed-team-on-wednesday-morning-committed-to-winning-title/1

ESPN

sports.espn.go.com/nfl/trainingcamp10/news/story?id=5470904

Miracle ending in Columbia crash

Only one fatality took place in a San Andres, Columbia crash that took place on Monday. The plane crashed while attempting to land. Lightning striking the aircraft is believed to be the cause of the crash, but it isn’t confirmed yet. The plane fragmented, but did not damage any buildings and had only one death which occurred following the crash. Avoiding catastrophic damage to the runway and airport, also as the outcome of only one fatality has been attributed to skill of the pilot.

Boeing 737 breaks apart on runway

The flight from Bogota took off for San Andres in the middle of the night. As AIRES Flight 8250 approached the runway in bad weather, the plane began to shake. The pilot started for making an emergency landing just short of the runway when the plane split apart. According to CNN, some authorities attribute the crash to a downdraft, when others claim the aircraft was struck by lightning. The pilot also saw a bolt of lightning hit the plane. As the plane landed at Gustavo Rojas Pinillo airport, it broke in two. No damage occurred save for the plane.

Only one did not survive

A single fatality occurred, when a 65-year-old passenger had a heart attack after the crash, as outlined by Bloomberg. There were six people who were untouched within the crash. The rest of passengers and crew had injuries, but nobody is not expected to make a full recovery. The plane was carrying at least 127 passengers and crew members.

Pilot skill believed to have made the difference

Airline pilots are some of the best trained and skilled workers in any field. They take a very complex machine and get it from point A to point B in a very exact manner, but also know precisely what to do in case of emergencies. Their knowledge makes them very valuable and they work under tremendous pressure. Flight attendants are also, if the overnight sensation Steven Slater is any type of indicator of the pressures involved within the air travel trade. AIRES Flight 8250 had a good pilot, and he deserves commendation.

Further reading

CNN

cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/08/16/colombia.plane.fatality/?hpt=T1#fbid=QdDzKvaTDgY and wom=false

Bloomberg

bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-16/colombia-plane-splits-in-three-killing-1-and-injuring-114-el-tiempo-says.html

Clickjacking on Facebook is just another scam

Facebook scams have abounded this week. Facebook’s “Share” feature will create a clickjacking that scams $ 5 a week off of cell phone accounts. The dislike button scam and Facebook clickjacking scam have both come at the same time. These scams make an effort to use, much like the likejacking scam of last May, buttons that aren’t really there. Facebook users can protect themselves against the growing list of scams by learning how to acknowledge typical red flags.

Facebook clickjacking

The scam for Facebook clickjacking makes it so users get a post encouraging them to click it. PC World shows how the scam works saying:

A user clicks a link to a Facebook page for “10 Funny T-Shirt Fails” for example. Once on the page, a message says Facebook’s new three-step human verification process is required to see the content. On step two, users are asked to click the “Next” button. The Next button is a dummy. Hidden underneath is a real Share button. When users click Next to get to the final step, they actually post that page to their profile wall. Lured to step three, users are asked for personal information to enter a contest. Among other things, the survey asks for a cell phone number. Down in the survey’s fine print it says providing the data tacks an extra $ 5 per week onto the users cell phone bill for a service called “The Awesome Test.”

Facebook with an additional scam- the dislike button scam

Facebook users wanted a dislike button making for the Facebook dislike button scam. Facebook has so far avoided having a “dislike” button. As outlined by Walletpop, spyware for identity theft is downloaded when pressing a “Dislike” button that doesn’t really exist. The bogus button seems with a message: “Get the official DISLIKE button now,” followed by a link. Next you go to the fake page to “install” the button. Users would automatically get a dislike button if it were real. To install, the scam prompts users to allow the application to run. The Facebook clickjacking scam has a survey filled out like the dislike button scam does at this point.

Facebook scams happen often now

Facebook removed all the fan pages involved within the clickjacking scam. Anyone who filled out the survey should call their cell phone company. Scam patterns are easy to recognize for Facebook users, says Reuters. Be skeptical and use common sense. Everyone who’s doing something out of the ordinary with their status updates would be a good clue. The way the message was written, and the way it was delivered, will help you with this. Apps like the “Official Dislike Button” won’t be needed for Facebook to give you something. A scam can be recognized when a user has left the Facebook site.

More on this topic

PC World

pcworld.com/article/203546/facebook_warns_of_clickjacking_scam.html?tk=hp_new

Wallet Pop

walletpop.com/blog/2010/08/16/dislike-button-on-facebook-a-scam/

Reuters

reuters.com/article/idUS162937196620100817

Obama gives an additional $ 3 billion for loans for unemployed foreclosures

The Obama administration is pumping $ 3 billion into programs to help the unemployed with foreclosure prevention. Last week it was announced the program should be doubled with another $ 2 billion being added to the Hardest Hit fund. A Housing and Urban Development program that is supposed to help unemployed borrowers who’s mortgages are delinquent got another $ 1 billion. However, some housing experts are concerned that the funding infusion will help banks more than homeowners.

Trying to stop foreclosure makes for a money pit

February was when the Hardest Hit Fund started to help unemployed foreclosures, helping states make their own foreclosure prevention programs. The Wall Street Journal reports that the fund is at the moment financing initiatives in 10 states. The money is part of $ 50 billion earmarked for housing aid under the Troubled Asset Relief Program. 17 states could be able to take advantage of the $ 2 billion, including the District of Columbia, that have unemployment rates super high. HUD will get $ 1 billion for giving bridge loans with no interest up to $ 50,000 to those eligible who have to make mortgage payments for two years.

Getting hardly anything in the Hardest Hit Fund

Recessions usually are helped quite a bit by the housing market, although this time the housing market is what began the whole recession. Hardly everyone can refinance or purchase although interest rates are at record lows, reports the New York Times. Unemployed homeowners who live in communities where values have fallen sharply are often unable to sell. Their foreclosures weaken neighborhoods and create a vicious cycle that further undermines the housing market. The Hardest Hit Fund will help 140,000 borrowers if it actually works right. 14.6 million unemployed are looking at foreclosing, meaning the 400,000 unemployed helped through the HUD and Hardest Hit programs is hardly anything.

Easy comes for mortgaged lenders

Banks, not unemployed homeowners, will benefit more from Obama’s unemployed foreclosure funding, some experts believe. David Abromowitz, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, told The Hill that banks should be required to share the burden being faced by unemployed borrowers. Principal reductions on loans or other major modifications don’t have to be made by mortgage lenders which is a big problem. As outlined by Abromowitz, lenders should match funding and make concessions. Dean Baker of the Center for Economic and Policy Research told The Hill that with so many people with underwater mortgages, the new funding is unlikely to do much good. Dean thinks the programs won’t work because homeowners without equity in their homes are bound to lose it at the end of the whole process anyway.

More on this topic available at these websites

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704901104575423493999575302.html

New York Times

nytimes.com/2010/08/12/business/12treasury.html

The Hill

thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/banking-financial-institutions/114349-banks-to-benefit-most-from-white-house-program-to-stave-off-foreclosures

Conn. judge denies probation request for bank vandalize Rip Torn

Rip Torn, an Emmy Award-winning actor, might be heading to the jail house. On Wednesday, a judge ruled against his request for a special probation program, stating the charges are too severe 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

Elmore Rual Torn, Jr., better known as Rip Torn, has had various alcohol-related troubles within the past. The latest drunken incident took place in Salisbury, Conn., where Torn was arrested for allegedly breaking into a local branch office of Litchfield Bancorp during closing hours while loaded with a firearm without a permit. Police were quick to respond to an alarm that went off at the bank location. The Men in Black actor was found wandering inside the facility holding a loaded .22-caliber pistol. According to court records, Torn had a blood-alcohol level of 0.203, almost three times the lawful limit for Connecticut drivers.

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

Other incidents related to alcohol

In early 2004, Torn was arrested after his automobile crashed into a taxi within the Big Apple. Aired on television news was an angry Rip Torn cursing at police officers and refusing to take a breathalyzer test. He was acquitted from all charges in October of that year. Two years later, in December of 2006, the actor was arrested again for drunk driving in North Salem, New York, after crashing into a tractor trailer. He pleaded guilty to the charges, temporarily lost his driver license for 90 days and was told to pay a $ 380 fine.

Judge denies Rip Torn’s special request

Sadly for Rip Torn, there is no special treatment for the Hollywood acting professional. Litchfield Superior Court Judge James Ginocchio has rejected his proposal, saying the charges placed on 79-year-old Torn are too significant to qualify him for the accelerated rehabilitation program. Torn was nevertheless in a court-ordered alcohol education program from a previous DUI charge at the time of the bank break-in, and that fact certainly doesn’t help his situation. His lawyer has requested a court-ordered evaluation of Torn’s alcohol dependency troubles, and depending on the results, Torn could be ordered to go through a state-monitored treatment for up to two years before any charges might be dropped.

More on this topic

Yahoo News

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

One in five mortgages underwater

A recent investigation indicates that just more than 20 percent of American homeowners are underwater on their home loans. That means that one in five individuals who own their homes would be no better off with mortgage loan modification, even if they could get it. That number is slowly decreasing, though. However, some areas are worse off than others, as large metropolitan areas are nevertheless experiencing greater numbers of foreclosures.

20 percent of homes underwater

As outlined by CNN Money, just over 20 percent of homeowners owed more than their homes are worth. That figure is at 21.5 percent, down from 23.3 percent, indicating some homes gained more than a payday advances worth. Negative equity is decreasing nationally. That said, one in five people nevertheless probably won’t get offered mortgage loan modification, as it would do them no good. Some people would be better if they get a personal loan to help them leave their underwater homes, as less equity means less ability to get debt relief.

As values climb so do foreclosures

Real estate values are starting to climb in some areas. Though the price was at bottom but improving, one can never expect to finance a house with a cash advance. Major metro areas where most homes are underwater benefited most. That improvement may be reflective of the 75 percent of major cities which had more foreclosures. Las Vegas is still a wreck. Sin City has 14 percent unemployment, and almost 3 quarters of homes there have underwater mortgages. One in 15 homes you will find in foreclosure.

The economy wants to one day have even modest recovery

There are few relative improvements to speak of. There was a slight dip in unemployment, and possibly a couple of mortgage loans are better off. This recovery is sure taking its time.

More on this topic

CNN

money.cnn.com/2010/08/09/real_estate/fewer_underwater_borrowers/index.htm

money.cnn.com/2010/07/29/real_estate/new_face_of_foreclosure/index.htm

Celiac's removing gluten in wheat and other grains

Maintaining a Gluten free diet, for some individuals, is a matter of life and death. For others, a gluten free diet is a way to try to lose excess fat. Either way, gluten free foods are becoming more prevalent and easier to discover, if still very costly.

What’s behind a gluten free diet

Gluten allergy can cover a wide variety of reactions, from deadly to mild intestinal distress. A full-on allergy to gluten is referred to as celiac disease. A gluten free diet simply cuts all wheat, barley and rye out of what an individual eats. Wheat is found in just about each and every baked item or pasta, also as numerous processed foods. Gluten is found in every little thing from potato chips to imitation crab to beer to most brands of soy sauce. Maintaining a gluten-free diet means cutting out all of this.

Gluten free diet friendly foods

Recently, with the number of individuals cutting gluten out of their diets, gluten free foods are showing up in the marketplace. There are blends of “alternative flours” accessible that simulate wheat flours in baked goods. Many cities are also seeing a rise of gluten-free friendly bakeries and eateries. The more attention that the Gluten free diet gets, the easier it is to follow that diet. The gluten-free foods market at the moment stands at about $ 1.7 billion every year.

Possibilities for gluten free diets

If you decide to cut gluten out of your eating plan, your least expensive option is to simply cut all wheat, barley and rye out of your diet program. No more bread, no more Pop-Tarts, no more beer and no more pasta. This can leave a huge hole as part of your diet, though, which you are able to replace with fruits and vegetables. You’ll have to get creative if you need to replace the gluten-containing foods instead of just remove them. Rice and corn products can be used to replace many of the things that have gluten in them.

Buy and Bail plots help homeowners skip out on guaranteed loans

Getting a second mortgage-guaranteed loan to buy a second home before strategically defaulting on the first mortgage is called “Buy and Bail” – and is becoming a common option. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two of the nation’s largest lenders, have taken actions to quash the practice, but it is still very common. Buy and Bail itself is not illegal, though some borrowers could possibly be charged with fraud.

The workings of Buy and Bail

”Buy and Bail” is the name that some mortgage brokers are using to describe emergency cash loans. A second home is purchased with a second mortgage. Once the family has moved into the second residence, the homeowners quit paying their first mortgage. Usually, the first house becomes the victim of strategic default. Homeowners benefit from doing this because they get a less expensive mortgage payment while their credit is still good – before they ruin their credit with the strategic default.

Economic impact of Buy and Bail

Buy and Bail is a solution that only wealthy individuals can take.

When applying for a second mortgage, the applicant generally has to prove that they have the ability to pay both of their mortgages for a long period of time. Both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac require the borrower prove they can pay both mortgages for six months or more. Even with these protections, most Buy and Bail first homes are ending up in default. This increases the stock of available homes on the market and deepens the housing crash. The homes defaulted on in Buy and Bail scenarios are usually very costly – worth more than $ 417,000 – meaning they will be on the market for a very long time .

The legal status of Buy and Bail

It feels like Buy and Bail should be illegal—it is essentially an overnight loan just for the well-off stuck in a bad mortgage. The only way Buy and Bail could be prosecuted, though, is if the borrower lied on the loan application. If the borrowers were entirely truthful through the whole process, they can’t technically be prosecuted for Buy and Bail. The only consequence for Buy and Bail, if they are entirely truthful, is the credit rating of the borrower drops for seven years.

Skype IPO filings show strengths, weaknesses

As the start of an initial public offering, Skype has filed financial paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Skype IPO has been long anticipated, though some surprising numbers were exposed within the filings. The ownership structure behind Skype could be relatively complicated, though the service itself will hopefully remain rather unchanged. Article source – Skype IPO – Information revealed, date not yet set by Personal Money Store.

Financial health of the Skype IPO

The Skype IPO is proposed at a value of about $ 100 million. The revenue and income in the Skype SEC filings worry some analysts. Skype reports $ 406 million in revenue in just the last six months. The net income of Skype was reported at only $ 13 million. With a 3 percent net margin, the business is not exactly growing easily. The nine percent of users that pay for the service pay an average of $ 96 per year.

Skype’s new ownership structure

Following the Skype IPO, the ownership structure can be complicated in comparison. The business is based in Luxemborg, but they’re offering shares in the company in American stocks. Stock holders, employees, and private investors will all be considered company owners. These 3 owners will be over Skype S.A., which will issue the stocks. These stocks will be part Skype Global Holdco, part Skype Global. These holding corporations could be split into Skype, Inc. and Springboard Finance, L.L.C. Springboard Finance, L.L.C., will own 13 operating subsidiaries, including Skype Limited, Skype Sweden and Skype Software.

The changes that might come after the Skype IPO

Skype claims that it’s First Public Offering can be used mostly to raise funds. Some corporations could be faced with fundamental changes after an IPO, though. Skype is already moving forward with the iPhone app and deals with wireless carriers. Skype’s 500 million users will end up having to wait and see what effect the IPO has, because not even the IPO date is known for sure.

Does SparkPeople diet advice work?

SparkPeople is one of the many online communities focused on weight loss and healthy living. SparkPeople also runs SparkRecipes.com, SparkTeens.com and BabyFit.com, but does the diet advice really work? The short answer is yes — but, like all weight loss, individuals who want to get the job done have to work hard.

SparkPeople and what it offers

SparkPeople is used for diet advice and as a social network. Your BMI is calculated for you on the ad-supported site and then recommendations are given to you on exercise and nutrition. You can keep track of the calories you are eating and burning with a daily log on the site. You are able to get small prizes with SparkPoints that you receive when you do better at losing weight. Before you run out and spend $ 500 on a “diet food” system or pay $ 18 a month for WeightWatchers, SparkPeople suggests that you try their system first, which is ultimately free. Also, “healthy” goals are the only ones that could be set on SparkPeople.

SparkPeople community will help with things

The best part of SparkPeople isn't the system as much as it is the support from the community. The message boards, forums and blogs built into SparkPeople help you connect and communicate with other people trying to accomplish the same goals. This community element is incredibly important when it comes to losing and keeping weight off. You are allowed to choose how active you would like to be on the social side of things with SparkPeople.

Does SparkPeople really work?

SparkPeople is a site that most are concerned won't help them really lose weight. It is true that SparkPeople is an excellent tool to track the elements of weight loss. SparkPeople doesn't really help when you want some Biggest Loser -style weight loss. Changing habits is the only way to lose weight healthily instead of doing some random “diet”. If you aren’t a fan of the SparkPeople system, you will find a couple of other effective online tools that do the same kind of thing. Try Calorie Count, the About.com system that is very similar to SparkPeople. Walk some more every single day, write down what you eat and stop drinking liquid calories if you don't want to do anything online. Change small things to lose weight instead of helping to pay for the $ 60 billion a year weight loss industry.

No more security with the Social Security Administration

Doom, despair, and a guarantee of fear and loathing has been forecast for Social Security for a long time. This year is going to be a mark in favor of that viewpoint. The Social Security Administration is going to pay out more than it takes in. This is not the very first time Social Security has run in the red, either. The SSA was subject of a lot of turmoil in the 1980s. Social Security sustains a trust fund where it holds all funds, and shortfalls are precisely what the fund is there to counteract.

Social Security income to be exceeded by spending

This year, as outlined by the Los Angeles Times, the Social Security Administration will spend more than it will earn. The trustees of Social Security and Medicare released a report on Thursday, August 5, that reveals Social Security has more payments to make to Social Security recipients than funds it is due to acquire by the end of 2010. After the new health care reform bill passed, Medicare was expected to stay solvent until 2029. Medicare had previously been given until 2017 before it fell into insolvency. More incentives and regulations are expected to stave off Medicare’s impending demise.

Social Security Trust Fund will be cracked

There is a trust fund that Social Security has just in case. Tax income that’s left over after expenditures goes into the trust fund. In case of a shortfall, that’s what the fund is there for. That’s why it was created. The Social Security Trust Fund is projected to run out by 2037, according to the New York Times. The Social Security commissioner, Michael Astrue, says as outlined by the numbers the Social Security Administration will nevertheless be able to meet at least 75 percent of their obligations.

Too few Peters to too many Paul’s

The funding for Social Security is from tax revenue. The fewer people that are working, the fewer dollars it receives. As people live longer lives, the amount that has to be paid out increases, and therefore so do the obligations the SSA has to meet. The budget deficit that Social Security will run by the end of the year won’t affect anyone’s benefits, though, as any shortfalls do have the trust fund to fall back on.

Further reading

nytimes.com/2010/08/06/us/politics/06benefits.html

latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sc-dc-0806-social-security-20100805,0,6306255.story

The Fed monetary stimulus looking for solutions to stop liquidity trap

The Federal Reserve is experimenting with the money supply in an effort to bring a flagging U.S. economic recovery back on track. To keep interest rates that are already near zero down, the Fed is taking interest from its vast pool of mortgage-backed securities and getting U.S. Treasury notes and bonds. This practice, called monetary stimulus, or quantitative easing, injects cash to the public market. Debt will be monetized with an expanding money supply meaning interest rates will, in theory, go down. Since saving doesn’t help earn any money, companies and consumers have no reason to not to borrow and spend more.

Fed concerned with the economic outlook and bringing forth the monetary stimulus

The monetary stimulus was tried before and didn’t do anything to help the economy recover. Reuters reports the second round of quantitative easing, dubbed QE2, is the most essential monetary policy announcement for the Fed since it first revealed its intention to buy assets in late 2008. The QE2 announcement is doing opposite of what it was intended to do so far. Another round of monetary stimulus sends a signal the Fed is deeply worried about the fragile state of the economy. The announcement fueled a sense of doubt in markets. Stocks went down. Talk swirled of Japanese-style deflation, where no amount of monetary stimulus is enough to jump-start economic growth.

QE2 is a gamble for the Fed to take

The People’s Voice reports that this is a risky move the Fed is taking to announce a monetary stimulus. The Fed tried to help the housing crisis by buying up $ 1 trillion in securities from Fannie and Freddie which in turn made mortgage rates go super low. Fed officials wondered publicly how they were possible going to get rid of all these securities. Mortgage rates can be forced to go up because economic recovery isn’t really getting better. The Fed could be collecting principal and interest with this portfolio adding to billions. There is a lot of risk coming from monetizing debt. The housing market could very well weaken further and foreclosures could rise. If that were to happen to the fed, its portfolio would change to have billions of dollars of losses.

Getting into a liquidity trap

The monetary policy would be a fantastic move for the Fed if the economy were textbook. But Daniel Indiviglio, writing within the Atlantic, said that it relies on the assumption that demand will rise to meet supply. Companies sit on all of their money because they don’t think demand is going to expand in the near future although interest rates are low. Consumers are paying down their debt and saving for an uncertain economic future. This is why economists call it a liquidity trap. The economic recovery won’t be helped with lower interest rates if nobody is willing to borrow money.

Additional reading

Reuters

reuters.com/article/idUSN1123481920100811

The Peoples Voice

thepeoplesvoice.org/TPV3/Voices.php/2010/08/11/monetizing

Atlantic

theatlantic.com/business/archive/2010/08/will-the-feds-new-monetary-stimulus-help/61327/

Odd widening with the trade deficit meaning a rise being recorded

Wall Street began going crazy after a trade deficit increase was shown Wednesday by the Commerce Department for the month of June. $ 7.9 billion was how much in June the trade deficit widened. Stocks instantly went down. Last quarter the trade deficit had slowed more than analysts thought. Some economists warn that an unsustainable trade deficit will provoke a double-dip recession.

The stronger dollar causes June trade deficit

The Commerce Department said the trade deficit ballooned much more than analysts expected in June, following the stronger dollar made it easier for individuals in the U.S. to purchase cheaper exports, particularly from China. The gap widened to $ 49.9 billion, up from a revised $ 42.0 billion in May. It was expected the gap would get smaller because oil prices have been going down, reports the Washington Post. In May imports were at $ 194.4 billion. They then rose to $ 200.3 billion in June when more consumer products, auto parts and other things were being bought out of the country. Exports then went down from $ 152.4 billion to $ 150.5 billion. U.S. companies struggled to sell products such as industrial supplies, food and consumer goods to foreign customers.

Forecasts defied by trade deficit

A Bloomberg News survey showed that June’s expected deficit was $ 42.1 billion as outlined by 73 economists. Instead of a further decline from a $ 42.3 billion trade deficit in May, the gap increased 19 percent. 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 lower estimates for second-quarter growth to around 1 percent to 1.5 percent.

More work needed on unemployment issues}

Economists nevertheless argue whether a double-dip recession is about to occur because of June’s deficit numbers. As outlined by the Christian Science Monitor, the trade deficit isn’t really as much of a problem as U.S. unemployment rates. Nobody cared as much about the deficit in years past when unemployment was not at all an issue. We should focus on consumer demand and business investment to help the economy.

Could unemployment be happening because of the deficit

The Monitor article said some economists think bold efforts to fix the trade deficit could actually hurt economic recovery if they blunt the trend of expanding global commerce. The trade deficit needs to be fixed if you ask others. 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 within the U.S., as outlined by Peter Morici who’s an economist at the University of Maryland.

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Washington Post

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

FTC may make it difficult to rent recalled vehicles

Automobiles that were recalled but never serviced won’t be able to be rented if auto-safety groups get their way with the Federal Trade Commission. The companies targeted by this FTC complaint are Enterprise, National and Alamo. The FTC petition is happening after a $ 1 million jury award was given out this year. Source for this article – FTC trying to ban practice of renting out recalled vehicles by Auto Deal Expert.

Recalls can be renting because of no policy

Alamo, National and Enterprise Rent-A-Car are owned by Enterprise Holdings which has the policy that recalls may be rented. The official policy is that all recalls are reviewed, and any recalls that “involve the risk of sudden loss of control, safety restraint failures, or fire hazards” are reviewed for removal until fixed. Automobiles checked for safety by Enterprise. Sadly, recalled autos do not have to be repaired before being rented out.

FTC petition and advertising claims together

Enterprise’s advertising was in the petition filed to the FTC by the Center for Auto Safety and Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety. If the FTC grants the petition, Enterprise could no longer use “misleading words like ‘well maintained’ and ’safety and reliability’” in advertising. In 1990, Spending budget Rent-a-Car made an agreement comparable to this. Those concerned with safety were upset with Spending budget for the exact same reason.

Renting recalls causing lawsuit

Carol Houck sued Enterprise Rent-A-Car in May. Houck was the mother of two young women who were killed in a 2004 accident. The power steering within the PT cruiser being driven had a problem which is why it was recalled. A $ 15 million judgment was given to the family when Enterprise took full responsibility. Enterprise said, “Given all we have learned, today we would not rent the vehicle the Houck sisters were driving until it was repaired.”

Celebrate National Mustard Day

Most people only know about one or two flavors of mustard. National Mustard Day, Aug. 7, is a fantastic excuse to expand your mustard horizons. You can go all out and make your own mustard, or you can try using mustard in a new way.

Background of mustard

There is a mustard plant that gives off mustard seeds. Four seeds are made with this plant. There is white mustard, yellow mustard, brown mustard and black mustard. A liquid is mixed with the crushed seeds to make a kind of paste. Tumeric and vinegar are mixed with crushed yellow mustard seeds to make the yellow mustard all of us know and love. You can make your own mustard by simply buying some mustard seeds out of the spices aisle then crushing and mixing them with vinegar and whichever else you want to, to get a certain flavor. Homemade mustard is usually really spicy.

Why National Mustard Day is special

Learning about different mustards is what happens on National Mustard day. Mustard could be stored anywhere because it is an antibacterial product. It is also an emulsifier, which can help combine oil and water. Dry mustard powder is put into unstable sauces like Bearnaise because it helps stop curdling from happening. Mustard also accounts for about $ 300 million in grocery sales each year.

National Mustard Day yourself

Even if you aren’t too adventurous within the kitchen, you are able to still celebrate National Mustard Day. Sandwiches aren’t the only thing to benefit from mustard. Try mixing your favored mustard — prepared or homemade — into a variety of new treats. You are able to try these:

Try making honey mustard

Mix equal parts brown, Dijon or deli mustard and honey for a dipping sauce. With a little bit of oil mixed in, honey mustard could be a salad dressing.

Grill your food with mustard

Start by mixing together some salt, pepper, sugar, and mustard seed. When grilling, this makes a fantastic sauce for rubbing on to marinate chicken, beef or even Portobello mushrooms.

Disdain for Apple AT and T service spurs Verizon iPhone rumors

Millions are enamored with their iPhones. But they hate the Apple/AT and T union. Rumors of a Verizon iPhone have been circulating for years. January 2011 is the most recent release date rumor for the Verizon iPhone as outlined by more unknown sources. The big clue individuals mention when spreading the iPhone Verizon rumor is another rumor – a big Apple Qualcomm order for chipsets that work on Verizon’s network. The question has been “if,” not when the Verizon iPhone will appear, ever since AT and T landed the exclusive iPhone carrier agreement when Apple introduced it in 2007.

Verizon iPhone rumors based on rumors

Many individuals tired of Verizon iPhone rumors just choose to ignore them. However, writing in Tech Crunch, Steve Cheney said the latest Verizon iPhone rumor is different. Cheney said he was confident that the rumors will finally become fact because of the DNA of Smartphone components that are traced through the supply chain. Translated from geek speak, this means that an order by Apple from Qualcomm has been detected for CDMA chipsets in time for making a batch of Verizon iPhones in December for a January introduction. Never mind the scoop about the Apple/Qualcomm order comes from “sources with knowledge of the entire situation”.

Apple Qualcomm iPhone anticipation

Apple’s AT and T GSM network doesn’t work with CDMA, the wireless standard for Verizon’s network. Although Apple’s CDMA order hasn’t been confirmed as fact, Business Week joined Tech Crunch in reporting that Apple suppliers are gearing up for making parts for a Verizon iPhone. Since the iPhone’s debut in 2007, Apple has sold more than 50 million of them. Business Week quoted UBS AG analyst John Hodulik as saying that ending AT and T’s exclusive iPhone contract will grant Verizon a leg up on its competitors on the Smartphone playing field. Hodulik estimates that the 92.8 million people who use Verizon may purchase 3 million iPhones every quarter.

Bloggers cry wolf on cue

The latest Verizon iPhone rumor joins a long list of false alarms for iPhone users who regard AT and T service as the only flaw in their ultimate device. PC World offered a history of Verizon iPhone rumors that started in Sept. 2008 when bloggers citing a tipster who had Verizon insider credentials said the rumor would come true in early 2009. Since then, Verizon iPhone release dates emerged in April 2009 (Early 2010), Oct. 2009 (70 percent chance in 2010), Oct. 2009 (late 2010), Jan 2010, (Jan. 2010!), March 2010, (late 2010) and May 2010 (early 2011).

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techcrunch.com

businessweek.com

pcworld.com

Pop Tart Store opens in New York's Times Square

In Times Square, the Pop Tart store, called Pop-Tarts World, opened up to huge fanfare. The shop depending on the pastry offers Pop-Tarts inspired cuisine and Pop-Tarts vending machines. The rent for Times Square is massive at $ 1,000 per square foot, but Kellogg’s hasn’t determined yet if the shop could be permanent.

What is inside the Pop-Tarts store

There is a little bit of every little thing offered up at the Pop-Tarts World. The cafe at Pop-Tarts World serves up Pop-Tarts sandwiches, Pop-Tarts-covered celery, even Pop-Tarts topped cinnamon rolls. A vending machine stocked with 23 Pop-Tarts flavors allows customers to create their own pack of Pop-Tarts, at $ 1 per pastry. Just about any topping or filling for a Pop-Tart could be yours in the Pop-Tarts bar.

Brand visibility through the Pop-Tarts store

The Pop-Tarts business determined to open up the Times Square store to show its “brand maturity”. Sales lately have been flat for this breakfast bar pastry. Owned by Kellogg, the Pop-Tarts brand sold about $ 481 million worth of product within the United States in 2009.

Pop-Tarts out of your own oven

You don’t have to be in the vicinity of Times Square to get customized Pop-Tarts. Pop-Tarts at home are less costly and healthier than the repurchased ones. Homemade Pop-Tarts can be made without the high fructose corn syrup and for less than 20 cents worth of ingredients per pastry. Combine 2 cups flour with 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 cup butter, 1 egg and 2 tablespoons milk. Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut rectangles out. On half of the rectangles, spread anything from chocolate to jam. Top with the other half of the rectangles and press down with a fork. Refrigerate the dough while you pre-heat the oven to 350, and then bake for 20 to 25 minutes.

Karen Sypher convicted of extorting Rick Pitino

The Associated Press reports a new twist within the legal battle between Louisville men’s basketball head coach Rick Pitino, 57, and previous car show model Karen Sypher, 50, of Louisville, Ky. Sypher was found guilty of three counts of extortion, two counts of lying to the FBI and one count of retaliating against a witness. The catalyst for the charges was Sypher’s series of attempts to extort millions in hush cash from Pitino after a 2003 sexual encounter. Sypher at first claimed that Pitino raped her, but Pitino denied the claim and was not charged. Sypher could face up to 26 years in jail, but she will likely serve less time. Post resource – Karen Sypher convicted of extortion in alleged Pitino rape by Newystype.com.

Frightening calls and letters haunted Pitino

Court records indicate that Rick Pitino received numerous telephone messages and two letters. The common theme was cash in exchange for silence on Sypher’s part. ”This was nothing more than a pure shakedown of Richard Pitino,” attorney Marisa Ford told jurors in the case. Attorney Marisa Ford said that “This was nothing more than a pure shakedown of Richard Pitino”. Karen Sypher’s defense attorney James Earhart claimed that his client had been “villainized” during the trial, and that Pitino had received privileged treatment during the proceedings.

Pitino described the sexual encounter as ‘unfortunate’

During his six hours of testimony, Pitino reportedly held the attention of the jury as he responded to questions concerning his admitted sexual encounter with Sypher in an empty Italian restaurant after hours. The sex was consensual and ‘unfortunate,’ he said. He said it was extremely difficult to own up to the affair before his family.

Sypher did not take the stand

Though Karen Sypher didn’t give testimony, a video interview was aired for the jury. In the interview, Karen Sypher made the Pitino rape allegation. She also spoke of the $ 3,000 Pitino gave her via his assistant Tim Sypher. In time, Karen Wise and Tim Sypher got married. In the ensuing years, the couple bumped into Pitino numerous times at area functions. Pitino insisted that Karen Sypher had wanted the cash for counseling and general medical needs, by Sypher claims she told Pitino she needed the cash for an abortion.

Alleged rape, circa 2009

AP reports indicate that Pitino revealed in jury testimony that he also received menacing phone calls from an unidentified man in February 2009. A male who has not been identified threatened Pitino much as Karen Sypher had done in previous years since their 2003 encounter. “He mentioned the word rape. I got very sick to my stomach,” Pitino said. Pitino did not report any of this to authorities, as he wanted to exercise his own form of damage control first.

More on this topic

Associated Press

nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/38574025/ns/sports-college_basketball/

Payments market shake up - Smartphone credit card processing

Bank card corporations face a formidable foe in wireless carriers investigating contactless payment technology for Smartphone bank card processing. Wireless heavyweights AT and T, Verizon and T-Mobile are gearing up to face off against credit card heavyweights MasterCard and Visa with a test of a mobile payments technique in which consumers make a purchase by holding a Smartphone next to a wireless scanner. The competition in the payments market is welcomed by retailers, who have fought with charge card companies over excessive swipe fees. Resource for this article – Smartphone credit card processing shakes up payments market by Newystype.com.

Smartphone charge cards catch on in U.S.

A test technique in Atlanta and 3 other cities marks the beginning of a payment service network that advances beyond bank cards. The service, Bloomberg reports, is modeled after payments networks in Japan, Turkey and also the U.K. that use contactless technology. One business analyst told Bloomberg the AT and T/Verizon/T-Mobile Smartphone credit card venture was a “game changer” since the wireless carriers are the biggest recurring billers in each and every market and are experts at processing payments. Discover, the fourth largest credit card business after Visa, MasterCard and American Express, is handling processing for the new payment service network.

Contactless payments must clear hurdles

More than 60 percent of Smartphone’s have contactless payment functions in Japan. If Smartphone charge cards take off within the U.S., hackers could have added motivation to focus on cracking the system. As with credit cards, consumers will need to be protected against unauthorized purchases with lost or stolen Smartphone’s.

Intense competition ahead for mobile payments profits

The phone carriers have business in the race for a piece of the mobile payment market. ChannelWeb reports that credit card corporations and technology firms have stepped up the pace of their mobile payment initiatives as the Smartphone marketplace has boomed. Wireless carriers believe their background in payment processing is a competitive advantage. But it remains to be seen if processing payments for their customers will translate to servicing merchant accounts directly as a payment service network for the carriers, Joe Bardwell, an executive at a California wireless tech firm, told ChannelWeb. One more hurdle for wireless carriers processing their customers’ bank card payments is that a large percentage of them feel burned by their billing practices.

Competition in payments market welcomed by retailers

Retailers could gravitate to another payment service network after years of fighting over transaction fees set by Visa and MasterCard. The Bloomberg piece calls out a pending 2005 federal antitrust lawsuit, also as a push by merchants last month to get Congress to enforce caps on swipe fees . A spokesman for the Retail Industry Leaders Association told Bloomberg that a secure and reliable competing network that gives consumers mobility payment possibilities and reduces retailers’ costs would be welcome.

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Bloomberg

bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-02/at-t-verizon-said-to-target-visa-mastercard-with-smartphones.html

Tech News World

technewsworld.com/story/70546.html”

Channel Web

crn.com/mobile/226500140″>