Obama Web strategy increases to consist of higher surveillance

The Obama Internet policy is taking a bit of a different turn apart from calling for increased internet connection access. As if the Patriot Act wasn’t enough, the Obama administration and the law enforcement and intelligence agencies are putting together legislation that will expand government access to the telecommunications industry. The bill isn’t really anywhere close to done. That said, the monitoring powers of the federal could be dramatically expanded if it does. Washington already has accessibility to a broad array of communications for monitoring purposes, and this will expand that access. Post resource – Obama Internet policy expands to include greater surveillance by Personal Money Store.

Obama Internet spying plan

According to the New York Times, the White House wants to pass a bill expanding monitoring and wiretap access for intelligence and law enforcement agencies. The bill builds upon existing jurisdictions. The White House is on board, and the Obama Internet surveillance bill will likely go to Congress next year. A great deal of communications is already mandated to permit federal access for monitoring purposes. The list will simply get bigger. Some forms of digital communications are private and encrypted, while many others are not secret at all to the government.

Law will discipline small businesses

Though this law would certainly favor large corporations that have the engineering staff to deal with new specifications, startup tech firms can be at a disadvantage. The recent ban of the Blackberry in several countries was due to Research In Motion having designed the phone so e-mails and texts are encrypted, private communications. RIM is in the process of complying with monitoring needs of several governments, and companies such as Skype and other VOIP, or voice over internet protocol, businesses could have to re-engineer their products to regulatory standards. Law enforcement and intelligence services do rely on monitored communication to catch criminals, and as a result of the decreased accessibility, have seen their capabilities “going dark” to do their jobs.

All hearing ears

There have been many laws passed giving government the ability to look or listen in. Few methods of communication, except maybe sign language, are exempt. Obama has been mum about repealing some of the almost Orwellian laws which were part of Bush domestic spying controversies. Though further potential encroachment on privacy seems almost egregious, there is the security issue to deal with. The government maintains that it isn’t overstepping its bounds in requesting higher access. A greater degree of surveillance may seem a good tool for catching criminals within the act, but can very easily be misused.

Articles cited

NY Times

nytimes.com/2010/09/27/us/27wiretap.html?pagewanted=1

Brown and Sister Wives cast encounters bigamy examination

Nigerian music superstar Fela Kuti let desire usurp logic when he married 27 women 40 years ago. Downgrading to 12 spouses at any given time still did not alleviate the need for cash. Such large-scale polygamy is difficult for anybody to aspire to. It’s also illegal, as Lehi, Utah’s Brown – star bigamist of “Sister Wives” – has come to discover. CBS News reports that Mr. Brown and his wifely bounty – Meri, Janelle, Christine and Robyn – are all under investigation for charges of bigamy. Post resource – Kody Brown and Sister Wives cast faces bigamy investigation by Personal Money Store.

‘Sister Wives’ freely support their polygamist lifestyle

TLC attempted its due diligence before shooting. They asked the Utah Attorney General if the concept for “Sister Wives” would fly. It was a reasonable inquiry. Attorney general spokesman Scott Troxel informed the Browns that when bigamy is a third-degree felony in Utah, it is rarely investigated due to manpower issues and also the need for money within state police force. Typically, polygamists in Utah are only investigated if child abuse or child trafficking is suspected. However, the publicity “Sister Wives” has generated prompted investigation, writes Radar Online.

Despite the bad publicity, Kody Brown and his four wives see nothing wrong with bigamy.

Janelle Brown, 40, mother of six of Kody Brown’s 13 children, put it this way: ” If we raise productive, contributing members of society who are moral and ethical, that’s our final goal, whatever their path is”. Three stepchildren also factor to the Brownian equation.

‘Sister Wives’ opened Monday, September 27 on TLC

TLC started airing “Sister Wives” on Monday, September 27. Based on People, episode one of the reality series focused on adding Robyn and her three kids from a previous marriage to the roster of spouses. Presently, six more shows are scheduled for season one, but Utah authorities may change that schedule for TLC.

Troxel stated in a declaration that “Right now, it is not in our hands, but we’re not closing the door”.

Articles cited

CBS News

cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20017861-504083.html

People

people.com/people/article/,,20429667,00.html?cnn=yes

Radar Online

radaronline.com/exclusives/2010/09/stars-sister-wives-investigated-felony-bigamy

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fela_Kuti

Bomb nevertheless within the Coral Gables Bank

In Coral Gables, near to Miami, Florida, a Bank of America was taken hostage. The scenario is already winding down.. The Miami financial institution hostage situation may have actually started on Thursday night. There was a home invasion and kidnapping that may be connected. All hostages had left the structure less than four hours after the situation started. Source of article – Miami hostage situation at Coral Gables Bank – Bomb remains by Personal Money Store.

Bank of America’s Coral Gables hostage situation
FBI sources are telling reporters that before the Coral Gables Bank of America opened at 9 a.m. this morning, an employee was kidnapped from his home. The kidnapper forced the individual to strap a bomb to himself and go into Coral Gables Bank of America. By eight within the morning, police, FBI, and SWAT teams were on the scene of the Coral Gables bank. U.S. 1 in both directions, Metrorail, the nearby University of Miami, and two elementary schools were all locked down during the response.

Robbery and home attack in Miami area linked

The bank robbery in Miami has been connected to a home attack on Thurs — an invasion that might have also been a kidnapping. The perpetrators are nevertheless at-large. Police have asked residents to keep an eye out for a red Mustang with two individuals driving it. It isn’t yet clear if the bank robbers / kidnappers were with the kidnapped employee who was possibly strapped to the explosive device when he or she was forced to enter the financial institution. There is no word yet if the crime at the Coral Gables Bank of America was a financial institution robbery. It is possible that the bomb and Miami hostage situation were intended to create a distraction.

Bomb remained following the Miami hostage scenario concluded

There is full confirmation from Coral Gables Bank and the FBI that hostages were held in the bank during the morning. By 11:20 a.m. local time, the last person held hostage exited the building. However, FBI and police confirm that the explosive device squad is still on the scene. The explosive device squad and FBI remained on the scene while the bomb was diffused. Until the Miami hostage situation is clear, all schools and companies around Coral Gables Bank remain locked down.

Discover more details on this subject

Miami Herald

miamiherald.com/2010/09/24/1840420/police-hostage-situation-at-coral.html

CBS

cbs4.com/local/bank.robbery.coral.2.1929612.html

Borrowing money for new homes is almost non-existent

New homes are still being built often right now. When the economy gets some great news, it is really exciting for real estate. However, the number of individuals borrowing cash for new houses is stagnant. You will find a lot more individuals looking to get loan refinancing than there are people planning to get a new home with finance loans. New home starts is a good sign for the economy to check out when it comes to this summer.

Four month high in home starts

A four month high has just been hit. This is in the category of new home construction. As of August, new home starts, with seasonal adjustment, have climbed to a rate of 598,000 per year at this pace, as outlined by CNN. It was a rise of 10.5 percent. Most of that increase was with two parent homes. No single family homes were part of it. The increase of 4.3 percent was attributed to new single family home stats. 438,000 per year was what the rate went to. Real estate is typically driven by single family homes. However, without individuals feeling secure that additional pay days are coming, it is difficult to justify getting bank loans for a brand new home.

Easier to get permits

To build, developers have for making sure they get one things. This means they need permits. Permits are needed for more than just commercial construction. They also are required for new homes. Permits increased 1.8 percent in August. The rate continuing would mean lots of permits given by the end of the year. In fact, 169,000 permits would be given. The greatest increase in construction for August though, was multi-family homes. There was a 32 percent increase in multi-family homes. This was just the one type of home. Apartment complexes may not start being built super fast thinking about starts for buildings for multi-family houses are a statistic that can’t be trusted.

It is still good news

Real estate has been one of the most dismal sectors of the economy for some time. Recovery is starting already. It could be seen. As a result of August efforts, the year percent has increased. It increased 2.2 percent.

Find more information on this subject

CNN Money

money.cnn.com/2010/09/21/news/economy/housing_starts/index.htm

Eagles name Michael Vick as being the starter

The matter of the Eagles' Michael Vick and whether or not he will become the team's beginning quarterback has been satisfied. Nevertheless, discussion is all academic at this point. Vick is the starter. After a personal injury to starting quarterback Kevin Kolb, Vick became the starter. The question became whether Vick was nevertheless a quality quarterback. He did the talking on the field, nearly beating an excellent Packers team and overcoming a strong Detroit Lions defense. Vick was recently named the starting QB by Eagles private coach, Reid.

Detroit bested

Vick went to Detroit tasked with leading the Eagles offense. Kolb had been hurt in the season opener towards the Packers. The Green Bay Packers narrowly avoided being beat by Vick, winning by one touchdown. He was left in the driver's seat for the Sept. 19 game towards the Detroit Lions. He had a barnstormer of a game, as outlined by Sports Illustrated. He passed for 284 yards, and two touchdowns. He can apparently nevertheless scramble. He notched over 30 yards rushing. The Eagles barely withstood a late Lions comeback. Philadelphia ended up the winners, 35 to 32.

Do not Reid much more in it

At that point, Eagles coach nevertheless insisted Kolb was the starter. Reid had said Kolb was back in as soon as he was cleared medically. Nevertheless, Reid changed his mind and named Vick the starter and is benching Kolb. To be fair, there are issues with the offensive line. Vick is known for his ability to get away from defenses. The choice may have more to do with Vick than Kolb. Both Reid and Vick insist that Kolb is an exceptional quarterback, and he has certainly shown promise. However, the future of Kolb in Philly is academic. Vick will be the starter towards the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Long street to redemption

Everyone remembers what happened. Michael Vick was busted for dog fighting and did 18 months in jail. He was hired by the Eagles as a backup and saw limited game time until this year. Vick was never an Elway or Favre in passing. Nevertheless, his ability to scramble and find other spots to throw have drawn comparisons numerous times to 49ers legend Steve Young.

More on this topic

Sports Illustrated

sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/football/nfl/09/21/vick.starter.ap/index.html

Randy Quaid police arrest has a sequel

Some individuals have to learn the hard way. It’s not known if it was deliberate or not, however Randy Quaid and Evi Quaid, his wife, were imprisoned for not paying a hotel expenses and charged with attempting to defraud an inn. The pair headed home after posting bail. It isn’t a mystery why it got so much attention last year; it isn’t as if he could not afford it. The alleged hotel stiffing occurred in California. The Quaids, though, were arrested in Texas. Lately, both were arrested again for illegally residing at a property they used to own but had sold in Santa Barbara.

Quaid arrested for bypassing on lodging expenses

The first event that got Quaid and Evi Quaid in lawful hot water occurred last year. The first event occurred on Sept. 30, 2009. The Quaids were taken into custody having been suspected to be defrauding an inn. They stayed a night at a posh lodge in California, and forgot or refused to pay for the night. A warrant was issued for their arrests, and they were picked up in Texas. After posting bail, both missed a series of court dates. Evi Quaid was put on probation and had to do community service after they eventually resurfaced. It seemed as if things were back to normal, according to CNN, and also the Quaids also settled the hotel bill.

The past arrest did not mean squat

Some things tend to stick in a persons’ memory. One of them is normally selling a house. Randy and Evi Quaid must have some type of problem with memory, as selling the home did not register. The two sold a property they owned in Santa Barbara years ago. They were just lately arrested for taking up residence illegally in the guest house on the property. Apparently, the two were certain they still owned the property, despite paperwork produced to the contrary. Police arrested both of them for burglary, as outlined by ABC. Though the home was previously owned by the Quaids, it appears odd that they chose the guest house to squat in.

Reasoning seems slim

There hasn’t been a comment on either arrest from Dennis Quaid, Randy Quaid’s younger brother. Hollywood seems to produce a unique breed of crazy. Perhaps the concept of not breaking the law does not occur to the Quaids, or others like Lindsay Lohan or Paris Hilton.

Discover more details on this subject

ABC News

abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=11677759

CNN

cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/04/28/randy.quaid.wife.arrested/index.html?iref=obnetwork

Government money advances seem to have not helped unemployment levels

The recession, which is supposedly over, took a toll on many sectors of the economy. Lots of individuals, as a result, have lost their jobs because of it. Huge money advances were drawn for government stimulus programs, with the idea that jobs would be created and unemployment eased. Overall, it worked for a little while, but has only gotten worse in the meantime. There were27 states that had joblessness levels rise within the month of August. No change was recorded in 10 states, and 13 states had decreases. Granted, recessions technically end when contractions cease, however current conditions certainly make it seem as though it’s not over.

Summer spike in unemployment

The last month has not been good for the jobs situation. Joblessness increased over that time. According to CNN, there were 27 states that recorded a rise within the unemployment level. Nevada has been the hardest hit state in more than one category, as the state has an unemployment rate of 14.4 percent. Michigan is behind Nevada, with a joblessness rate of 13.1 percent. California may be the 3rd highest, with 12.4 percent joblessness. The recession hit those states the hardest in a lot of ways, so it isn’t the biggest surprise. There was even an auto bailout which saw billions in emergency loans go to Detroit.

Census was obviously a momentary prop

The proximate cause, according to USA Today, was the end of the 2010 Census. The Census employed 114,000 individuals on a momentary basis. However, signs of life did emerge. Private employers are starting to slowly add jobs again. About 67,000 private sector jobs were added, which has to be a relief for people looking for a pay day again. This was not a surprise, but there still isn’t enough instant cash for employers to hire everybody back.

Slow however steady wins the race

There is evidence the decline of economic activity has stopped, and thus the recession is technically over. It is difficult to think of the recession as over with unemployment high and a credit system that seems depressed.

Find more information on this subject

USA Today

usatoday.com/money/economy/2010-09-21-unemployment-rate-state_N.htm

CNN

money.cnn.com/2010/09/21/news/economy/state_unemployment/index.htm

When and just how mortgage refinancing could be recommended

Mortgage are a special occasion these days as home finance loan companies depend on refinancing—currently 80 percent of the market—to survive. Homeowners looking at such low interest rates want to refinance in hopes of either improving money flow with lower payments or saving money over time with shorter or longer terms. A series of factors converge to influence a decision. Things like interest rates and taxes will determine if refinancing can make a good difference. Plus, deciding whether or not to refinance with a 15-or 30-year mortgage has major long-term financial implications.

Mortgage lenders depending on refinancing

By refinancing a mortgage, a homeowner can conserve thousands of dollars in home loan payments each year. SmartMoney reports that homeowners are refinancing mortgages in record numbers. The Mortgage Bankers Association tracks the trend. An MBA report said that of all mortgage activity, 80.5 percent was refinancing. MBA records on refinancing activity from 1990 to 2008 average nearly half that percentage of home loan lending. The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage was 4.51 percent for the week ended Sept. 10. At the very same time, a 15-year fixed home loan averaged 4.02 percent. Last September the fixed rates were much higher. A 30-year term came in at 5.54 percent and 4.97 percent for 15-years.

The objectives of refinancing a mortgage

Saving money with lower monthly payments is attractive, however not every homeowner should refinance a mortgage. The New York Times reports that it all boils down to whether or not you are able to really save money over the duration of the loan. Key numbers in the equation that need to be nailed down are closing costs and monthly savings. Factoring the monthly payment savings into the total closing costs shows how long it takes to start coming out ahead. For making refinancing worthwhile, homeowners need to remain living within the house long enough for refinancing to pay off. Taxes—always a pain—can take some sweetness out of the deal. The amount paid on mortgage interest subtracts from taxes owed, when most closing costs don’t. Another thing: interest costs go way up with a 30-year home loan, even though money flow is better after refinancing.

A case for an extended term, with a twist

Refinancing with a 15-year loan substantially reduces interest costs. But the higher payments can give refinancers second thoughts, states Kathy M. Kristof of the Los Angeles Times. Homeowners who aren’t’ fazed by a higher monthly payment might do well to think about putting the money somewhere else. To illustrate, Kristof describes a situation with a $300,000 mortgage. A homeowner pays a total of $399,420 at the end of a 15-year term. Over 30 years that loan will cost $547,223. But the 30-year mortgage can offer an advantage. The monthly payment is $700 lower. All that monthly savings, pumped into a diverse collection of stocks—with a documented average return going back 83 years of 9.6 percent, would yield $279,305 within 15 years. That’s enough money to settle the entire mortgage–$198,701—and have an $80,000 profit. The projected return is in no way guaranteed. However chances are the method would net more within the long term than simply r! efinancing with the shorter term.

More on this topic

SmartMoney

smartmoney.com

New York Times

newyourktimes.com

Los Angeles Times

latimes.com

Wi-Fi on steroids expected to fill white space range

Unlicensed frequencies called “white space” make up the uncharted territory of the television broadcast range. The Federal Communications Commission (Federal Communications Commission) has proposed starting white space to the public for mobile systems. The release of white space unlocks huge possibility of wireless networks. Some are calling the emerging technology “Wi-Fi on steroids. White space wireless will enable supercharged networks that could end hunting for a Wi-Fi hot spot forever. Gadgets with capabilities not a soul has thought of yet will be made possible by Wi-Fi on steroids. The economic potential of having the white space range available without a license for smaller businesses is projected to be within the billions.

Exactly how white space will power innovation

The Federal Communications Commission has been formulating white space policy for a while. An announcement on the agency’s future plans is expected Sept. 23. A New York Times article regarding Wi-Fi on steroids said that white space became available when the conversion from analog to electronic digital broadcast created a greater unused portion of the TV broadcast spectrum. Digital transmission uses a narrower band of the television broadcast spectrum, creating more white space around each broadcast signal. Wireless technology developers are excited about white space. Wi-Fi on the lower frequency of the Television spectrum could have far greater range, penetrate barriers more very easily and provide more dependable Web access . By making the white space spectrum accessible free of charge, the Federal Communications Commission could start a technological movement the exact same way it did in 1985, when starting unlicensed range led to Television remotes, garage door ! openers and today’s wireless systems.

Can super-charged Wi-Fi cause difficulties?

Reaction to the wireless potential of white space has not been entirely good. PC World reports that broadcast television networks and businesses using mobile microphones, for instance theaters and sports arenas, have opposed the liberation of white space. The concern is that wireless networks with a range of several miles, instead of various yards, will interfere with their signal. However, to keep devices using the white space spectrum from interfering, the FCC has created a database of Television channels and wireless microphone usage. Devices would need to be configured to stay away from the frequencies being used in a given area.

White space networks tested

Wi-Fi on steroids using the white-space spectrum is being tested in a number of locations. The Register reports that Microsoft has installed a white space network on its campus in Redmond, Wash. Microsoft’s network, dubbed “white-fi,” uses just two hot spots allowing users Internet access on shuttles and offices throughout its 500-acre campus. The Times white space report highlights super Wi-Fi in New Hanover County, N.C.. Remote cameras connected through white space keep an eye on traffic patterns for the transportation department. Without the expense of sending workers into the field, the parks department meets federal needs by collecting and transmitting environmental information . Other breakthroughs to expect within the future could possibly be remote medical networks, more efficient power distribution and new industries valued in the billions.

More on this topic

New York Times

nytimes.com/2010/09/13/technology/13wifi.html?pagewanted=1 and _r=1 and src=busln

PC World

pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/205332/fcc_paving_the_way_to_wifi_on_steroids.html?tk=hp_new

The Register

theregister.co.uk/2010/09/13/white_space/

International journey brings superbug from India to United States

Illinois, California, and Massachusetts have all shown cases of the superbug NDM-1. This can be a superbug a British medical journal had brought up last month and has entered the United States of America now. Many think the bug must have come from India. This makes sense since all 3 people with the disease had earlier been visiting India. British citizens had been trying to get cheap plastic surgery in India when coming home with the superbug which is why initially, the NDM-1 was blamed on health related tourism. Scientists now have a feat of NDM-1 becoming an issue within the whole world. This is because none of the American superbug victims were medical tourists. Source of article – Superbug from India on worldwide tour arrives to infect U.S. by Personal Money Store.

Superbug cases in United States look to have come from India

All cases of the superbug infection in the United States and Canada could be traced back to those getting medical care in India. According to Red Orbit, there was a woman in California that got NDM-1. While in India, she got in a car accident and had to receive medical care. The man in Illinois who got the superbug also had a medical problem. He had a urinary catheter for medical conditions that were pre-existing when traveling in the country. In Massachusetts, a woman from India had surgery and chemotherapy there before traveling to the United States. All of the victims survived although the superbug would not die with antibiotics that are meant to treat drug-resistant infections. A Belgian who had been hospitalized in Pakistan after an automobile incident was the first known death from the NDM-1 superbug.

Could the superbug be a global threat?

Lancet, a British medical journal, recorded all cases of Britons who went to India for cheap plastic surgery and came home with cases of NDM-1. Scientists within the article explain the gene that NDM-1 is mutates bacteria so it can start to resist all bacteria. CBS News reports that bacteria carrying the NDM-1 gene are widespread in India. The NDM-1 gene is being shown other places to be increasing. These places include Bangladesh and Pakistan. The superbug is hitching rides worldwide with people going to those undeveloped nations.

India is overpopulated

Medical specialists attending an international meeting of microbiologists and doctors in Boston this week are very concerned about NDM-1, particularly because of its prevalence in India. The Boston Herald talks about antibiotics in India. Evidently you can get them over the counter for cheap prices. Inappropriate use spreads drug resistance among deadly bacteria. Germs grow within the gut which is why NDM-1 spreads easily places there is poor sanitation. Timothy Walsh, one of the authors of the Lancet article, told the Boston Herald that the overpopulated, unsanitary conditions in India are likely to make the superbug spread widely. Although one or two antibiotics can actually work for the superbug, you will find nevertheless more that are needed to fight it.

Further reading

Red Orbit

redorbit.com/news/health/1916458/superbug_found_in_3_us_states_global_response_needed/

CBS News

cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20016335-10391704.html

Boston Herald

boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/09/14/superbug_patient_treated_at_mgh/

Michele Bundy gets protective order towards Shannon Sharpe

Former NFL All-Pro tight end Shannon Sharpe has added one more “former” to his list of credentials: previous co-host of the Sunday CBS Sports show “NFL Today”. Bundy has been approved for a short-term protective order protecting her from Sharpe, who allegedly committed sexual attack towards her. Presently, no crime has been filed against Shannon Sharpe. However, it is clear that Sharpe has stepped down from his TV host position as a result of the recent turn of events.

Bundy alleges sexual assault

Since 1994, Sharpe – twin brother of former NFL star Sterling – has faced 10 separate court cases involving previous sex partners. In this instance, Bundy states Sharpe forced her to have sex with him by threatening her life. Columbia Broadcasting System has remained silent in regards to Bundy’s claims, and all Sharpe has said around the matter publicly is that he will clear up legal matters before returning to “NFL Today”. Other legal matters on Sharpe’s plate consist of child support trouble with Melinda Wilson. At least he’s no longer around the hook for allegations of misdemeanor battery against Erika Evans. That 2004 debacle was taken care of via mediation, instead of a court sentence.

Hall of Fame accomplishments aside

Bleacher Report casts some light on the question of whether this incident with Michele Bundy will harm Shannon Sharpe’s chances of being enshrined in the National Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Sharpe has put together an impressive resume on the field, and he has come close in his first two chances at election. Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez may have broken numerous of Shannon Sharpe’s individual statistical achievements since Sharpe’s retirement from the playing field, but Sharpe’s body of evidence remains strong.

Rejecting a good choices term

Should the NFL institute a “morals clause” into their Hall of Fame selection process? Current bylaws specifically state that only a player’s on-field accomplishments should be considered when the question of enshrinement is around the table. Lawrence Taylor made it in 1999, and he certainly hasn’t led a clean life off the field. He is not the kind of person you’d hang out with, particularly if you were are underage female, however he absolutely nailed ball carriers and quarterbacks with his bone-rattling tackles.

Shannon Sharpe will get an additional chance at the Hall of Feb. 5, 2011. Will he break the plane of the goal line, or be sacked by Bundy?

Discover more info on this subject

Bleacher Report

bleacherreport.com/articles/463238-shannon-sharpe-leaves-cbs-where-now

Sports by Brooks

sportsbybrooks.com/restraining-order-issued-against-shannon-sharpe-28968

Operation Dark Heart a bestseller thanks to Pentagon

”Operation Dark Heart” is a publication that joins a growing list of titles that have benefitted from attempted censorship. The Pentagon is the benefactor on this occasion. Military intelligence officials said “Operation Dark Heart,” the memoir by a previous intelligence officer in Afghanistan, reveals classified info damaging to national safety. Cash is no object to the Government, which is preparing to write a check for the first run of the book so it can reduce each pallet load to ashes. Article source – Pentagon to purchase Operation Dark Heart first print for book burning by Personal Money Store.

Memoir considered safety risk

Anthony A. Shaffer wrote “Operation Dark Heart about his experience in Afghanistan as an officer within the Defense Intelligence Agency. He is a lieutenant colonel in the Army reserve. The book is Shaffer’s personal account of five months he spent as a DIA officer stationed at Bagram Air Base outside of Kabul in 2003. The NY Times reports that Army reviewers approved “Operation Dark Heart” in January. As planned, publisher St. Martin’s Press proceeded with a release date of Aug. 31. However not until July did the DIA peruse the manuscript and announce that classified information was revealed. By then, a number of dozen copies of the book had already been sent out to reviewers and online booksellers.

Author’s September 11 remarks pull attention

A DIA operation recounted within the publication dubbed “Able Danger,” carried out prior to the September 11 attacks, bothered Pentagon censors. In his book, Shaffer statements the operation identified Mohammed Atta long before. A Fox News article said that DIA reviewers ordered that Shaffer’s claims to the 9/11 Commission that Able Danger ousted Atta in 2000 must be removed. Atta flew one of the planes into the twin towers and is known as the leader of the hijackers. A report released later by the Department of Defense concluded there was no evidence to support Shaffer’s claims.

censors get burned by best-selling book

The Pentagon is negotiating with Shaffer’s publisher to purchase the entire initial printing of “Operation Dark Heart”. As outlined by the Washington Post, the Government will protect the nation by burning all 10,000 copies. A second printing is already in progress at St. Martin’s press-sans the sensitive passages. For the moment, the initial printing sits from prying eyes in a warehouse, awaiting execution. That has not stopped “Operation Dark Heart” from reaching #19 on Amazon’s hot seller list, although it is listed as “temporarily out of stock”.

Additional reading

New York Times

nytimes.com

Fox News

foxnews.com

Washington Post

washingtonpost.com

2 Republicans in U.S. Senate changed minds to pass small business bill

Those who understand Congress expected lawmakers to succeed in passing a small business bill prior to the November midterm elections. But 2 Republican senators who are not seeking re-election crossed party lines to give Democrats the votes they needed. Thursday, U.S. Senate passed a small business bill, after fighting all summer over it. The legislation aims to improve access to credit and provide tax relief for small businesses, which policymakers say create a majority of new jobs. The bill will probably move within the House fast. It is headed there now. Article source – Two Senate Republicans defect to help pass small business bill by Personal Money Store.

Tax breaks while lending with smaller businesses

Regional banks for small company lending may be getting a $30 billion lending fund that would come from the small business bill that passed Thursday in Senate. Republicans think that, much like the Troubled Asset Relief Program, the fund is another taxpayer bailout. TARP is different than this, of course, since banks actually volunteered to work with the small business lending program, reports the Wall Street Journal. Interest rates for banks to charged are being determined. This will happen by evaluating how much the bank is willing to increase small company lending. The small business bill also contains about $12 billion in business tax breaks, including an instant write-off of 50 percent for new equipment purchases in 2010 for all companies. There could be a double in the amount of new investment small businesses can make in 2010 and 2011. This number is now $500,000.

As a retiring Republican, votes are more on principle

The House worked earlier this year on a plan. This bill was a different version of the small company bill. The National Federation of Independent Business and the United States Chamber of Commerce were both expected to support the bill. Of course, instead they have chosen to Use the legislation to weaken the health care reform law, reports the Los Angeles Times. Republicans filibustered the small business bill in July, demanding to add amendments unrelated to the objectives of the legislation. Within the Senate chamber, House members staged a sit-in at one point. This was done to protest the delays going on. Republicans George LeMieux of Florida and George Voinovich of Ohio are U.S. senators not seeking re-election who were the ones that modified their minds. Two independents joined the Democrats helping pass the bill. The measure passed 61-38 after the two Republicans joined.

Further reading

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703440604575495882236157048.html

Los Angeles times

latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-pn-small-business-bill-20100917,,2992847.story

U.S. anti-breastfeeding lifestyle creates huge expenses

Taming the beast that is healthcare costs is a multi-part job. Thankfully, there’s one solution that is simply natural. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the portion of breastfeeding infants in the United States falls from the table past six months, which runs counter to the recommended level within the CDC’s Healthy Individuals criteria. Medical luminaries point to the direct correlation between low nursing rates and high pediatric costs, thinking about the heightened potential for infant disease due to weaker immune systems. Article source – The not-so hidden cost of avoiding breastfeeding by Personal Money Store.

Breastfeeding creates Healthy Individuals

”Meeting the national breastfeeding initiation goal is a great accomplishment in women’s and children’s health, however we have more work ahead,” said CDC Dr. William Dietz to the medical omnibus online publication Medpage Today. Considering the numbers the CDC has discovered – only 43 percent of U.S. infants still nursing at six months, down to 22 percent at one year – The United States has a long way to go.

Breastfeeding pariahs

Breastfeeding rates vary wildly by state in the 2007 CDC Healthy People study – 90 percent of newborns are nursing in Utah, versus about 53 percent in Mississippi, for example. State governments and their views of breastfeeding-related legislation are also noted by the study. A total of 21 states had no breastfeeding-friendly amenities for mothers and kids, and numerous others had hospitals that scored low in maternity care and breastfeeding instruction. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, there has been improvement on the legislative level since the 2007 CDC study, however there remain states that do not have specific laws guarding the right to breastfeed outside the home in an area other than a cramped restroom. Speaking of disdain, so long as a popular site like Facebook takes a stance against breastfeeding photos on decency grounds, The United States is in puritanical trouble. Infant formula makers certainly don’t object, although p! eople who care might protest as they are with the international Nestlé boycott.

Keep away from nursing and be prepared to pay

According to Dr. Melissa Bartick of Harvard Medical School and Arnold Reinhold of the Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics, the growing absence of colostrum-rich breast milk in children’s diets has caused pediatric costs to skyrocket. Their recent report within the journal Pediatrics suggests that “$3.6 billion might be saved if nursing rates were increased to levels of the Healthy Individuals objectives”. That was depending on 2001 information. The authors update the study, with startling results. For children 6 months and younger who are fed exclusively via breastfeeding, Bartick and Reinhold found that if there was at least 90 percent compliance (the Healthy Individuals recommended minimum), the United States could now save “$13 billion per year and prevent an excess of 911 deaths, nearly all of which would be in infants”.

Infant formula is considered an acceptable option by some, however the inferiority of ingredients (when compared with breast milk) and overall expense makes it a truly inferior substitute. Some mothers have personal medical reasons for using infant formula, and being in the position of needing money for costly formula – via pay day loan or otherwise – is a tough place to be.

Discover more details on this subject

Pediatrics

pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/peds.2009-1616v1

CDC Breast Feeding Report Card

cdc.gov/breastfeeding/pdf/BreastfeedingReportCard2010.pdf

Medpage Today

medpagetoday.com/Pediatrics/GeneralPediatrics/22162

National Conference of State Legislatures

ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=14389

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breast_milk

Hurricane Igor gathers pressure in the Caribbean

The South Atlantic, particularly the Caribbean is a firing gallery for hurricanes. Each and every year islands and main lands of North and South America get battered. This year’s hurricane period is currently in full swing. Thankfully though, it hasn’t been terribly bad. However, more storm systems have gathered enough force within the past few weeks to become legitimate threats. There is special concern over tropical storm Igor. Igor has been reclassified as Hurricane Igor. The hurricane is currently in the Atlantic, far from any significant areas, however is heading within the direction of Bermuda. The path of Hurricane Igor isn’t totally known yet, however landfall within the United States does not seem likely. Resource for this article – Tropical storm Igor turns into Hurricane Igor by Personal Money Store.

Hurricane Igor growing easily

Igor began as tropical storm Igor, and by Saturday, Sept. 11, had become large enough to warrant hurricane status. Igor is a particularly strong storm, according to CNN, as it has been upgraded to a Category Four hurricane. It has stayed a Category Four since the weekend. Presently, Igor is within the middle of the ocean. The hurricane is heading in the general direction of Bermuda. The storm is nevertheless hundreds of miles from the Leeward Islands, the nearest land masses. Another tropical storm system is within the Caribbean, Tropical Storm Julia. Julia is still only a tropical storm, however briefly was a Category One hurricane.

Hurricane remaining supervised

The storm seems to be keeping to the middle of the ocean, according to the Los Angeles Times. Hurricane Igor is not heading explicitly for a land mass. It isn’t known if the storm will make landfall anywhere. It is, though, moving in the direction of Bermuda. There is a relative chance that Igor will intensify into a Category Five hurricane. There are no major advisories or warnings in effect. However, that is subject to change. The Atlantic coast of the United States and Canada was briefly threatened by Hurricane Earl, though Earl went back out to sea soon after approaching the coast.

2010 hurricane season isn’t over

The hurricane season lasts half the year, from June until the conclusion of November. This year hasn’t been terrible. There were some areas that took a beating. Hurricane Alex hit the coast of Mexico, and several islands have experienced severe flooding because of previous hurricanes. The bulk of fatalities due to hurricanes this year were caused by rip currents from hurricane weather conditions systems, and fortunately there were only a few.

Additional reading

CNN

cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/09/13/tropical.weather/index.html?hpt=T2

LA Times

latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sfl-hurricane-igor-path,,818029.story

Chair for economic council as Austan Goolsbee with senate authorization

There has been no development in the economic system with President Obama. This is why he is getting a whipping from all sides. In the recent jobs speech he delivered in Cleveland, he appeared to be somewhat disconnected when it comes to understanding “the plight of the middle class,” as Arianna Huffington puts it. ”Not everything we’ve done throughout the last two years has worked as easily as we had hoped, and I am keenly aware that not all our policies are popular,” was what Obama said. The Wall Street Journal explains that longtime adviser Austan Goolsbee likely got nominated for chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisors because of this. Goolsbee is a step closer. He already satisfied the Senate. Source of article – Senate confirms Austan Goolsbee as economic council chair! by Personal Money Store.

Austan Goolsbee was before known as a university economist and advisory board member

Austan Goolsbee works at the University of Chicago business school where he is an economist when also working on Obama’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board as the executive director. Many speculate, says the WSJ, that as a result of personal friendship and association with the administration’s inner circle, Goolsbee got the job as the White House Council of Economic Advisers chairman. Goolsbee will replace former Economic Advisers chairwoman Christina Romer.

During Obama’s first year, Goolsbee is said to have helped draft some policies. The WSJ reports that these contain health care access, higher education aid and the energy push. The president’s “New Foundation” for middle-class economic security is what these are supposedly for. The Huffington Post explains this.

Anything Austan Goolsbee wants may not be what we want

Unemployment continues to plague America, and economic recovery throughout the current recession has been sluggish at best. Everybody seems angry about this, including Democrats, and firings are being discussed. These would contain firing Treasure Secretary Tim Geithner and National Economic Council Director Larry Summers. The WSJ explains that hiring on Austan Goolsbee as the White House Council of Economic Advisors leader is not going to change anything we don’t like.

More on this topic

Sun Times

blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2010/09/obama_cleveland_jobs_speech_tr.html”>Chicago Sun-Times

Huffington Post

huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/obama-insists-he-made-the_b_711515.html?utm_source=DailyBrief and utm_campaign=091010 and utm_medium=email and utm_content=FeatureTitle

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704644404575482661827896950.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLETopStories

Austan Goolsbee on CNN’s “Late Edition,” Sept. 21, 2008

youtube.com/watch?v=TKvMfVntY2g

Arriving shortly will be the 2011 Dodge Motors Durango

The Dodge Durango is one of several SUVs many are waiting to come out nevertheless. Dodge promised they would redesign the SUV that was popular in its halfway between mid-size and full-size although it had a lot of power. Chrysler decided for making a lot of changes to the auto. The Dodge Motors Durango ended up with not just a change on the outside. The crossover SUV between a Suburban and mid-size Explorer is where the Durango 2011 is headed. Chrysler wants to be a part of the crossover craze as Jeep is having models die off.

Get your hands on the Durango again

There were no Dodge Durangos produced for over a year. Chrysler decided this was best while it remodeled the three-quarter size SUV. The SUV was popular while it was being made as it exchanged the RamCharger. The niche it filled was that it offered the cargo space and seating to compete with minivans, as it sat three rows of people, yet wasn’t nearly as cumbersome as larger SUVs for instance the Suburban, Tahoe, Excursion, Expedition or the Hummer. It was surely a Dodge Motors engine though. Road trips, school, and sports were loved by this SUV. It was perfect for all this getting around.

The outside look

There is a difference between the old and new Dodge Durango. It is scaled down a bit. It will be more of a crossover SUV, as outlined by the brand new York Times. Horsepower is still available in this SUV. The Dodge Motors has it all. The Durango for 2011 actually comes with a stock 290 horsepower 3.6 liter V6. If you would rather, you are able to also get it with a 360 hp 5.7 liter V8. If you choose the V8, you know it will shut down 4 of the 8 cylinders when not needed as part of the efficiency. The Dodge Motors Rock N Roll Virginia Beach Half Marathon will display three Dodge Motors Durangos for 2001.

Chrysler making some changes

Dodge Motors and Jeep are the other two brands besides Chrysler. New Fiat models of these cars will be accessible shortly as well thinking about the Chrysler-Fiat merger that happened recently. More Jeep and Patriot are being made. That is because they are selling really well. There will probably be a lot of Chrysler sold. The crossover market is doing well.

Further reading

NY Times

wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/02/dodge-introduces-the-2011-durango/

Reactionary trading, conflicting information result in industry unpredictability

Tuesday early morning the stock market surged on marginally good consumer confidence data. A few hours later, when the Federal Reserve’s minutes were released, the stock marketplace dove. Wednesday marketplaces shot up again on news of gains in U.S. and Chinese manufacturing. However once the Labor Department turns lose its jobs report on Friday, many expect the wall street to resume its slide. The rollercoaster ride brought a fitting end to the worst August for the stock market since 2001. A key market indicator watched closely by traders called the Industry Unpredictability Directory, VIX, or “fear directory,” rose to almost 11 percent as well-its widest August gain in nearly 10 years.

How the fear catalog defines volatility

When the markets closed Monday the VIX was at 27.21. It fell Tuesday. When the markets closed it had dropped 4.2 percent to 24.55. On Wednesday, the VIX rose 4.8 percent to 28.77. An investigation on the current state of the VIX by MarketWatch said that traders gauge investors’ dread with the metric since the number grows along with marketplace uncertainty. The rise of the worry directory matched the fall of the wall street as August progressed to its dismal end. To cause traders to run for the exits, the VIX, according to the Wall Street Journal, will have to skyrocket instead of just fluctuate wildly. The fear index topped 80 after Lehman Brothers collapsed in 2008.Throughout the stock market “flash crash” in May, it shot past 40.

Marketplace blows within the wind

The Fed revealed it knows not where the United States of America economy is bound or precisely what actions will influence its direction. U.S. blue-chip stocks responded in kind, falling to put the finishing touch on the worst August for stocks since 2001. Yet stocks resumed climbing Wednesday, the Associated Press reports. Reports showing robust gains in U.S. and Chinese manufacturing surprised every person and generated optimism about economic recovery worldwide. By sending stocks downward through August, traders were betting that weak United States of America economic growth will dent corporate earnings. On the flip side, expanding economies in foreign countries will benefit numerous major United States of America corporations that conduct business internationally.

Unpredictability catches analysts off-guard

After the market’s August swoon, The NY Times reports that Wednesday’s rebound caught experts off-guard. Stephen J. Carl, head equity trader at the Williams Capital Group, told the Times that he assumed the week heading into Labor Day would be quiet. Traders pay close attention to a manufacturing directory from the Institute of Supply Management. The directory defied predictions by increasing from 55.5 in July to 56.3 in August. A less impressive figure of 53. was forecasted by Thomson Reuters in its survey of economists. Carl said numbers such as those aren’t expected to be regarded as good and that he was “perplexed” by the truth that they were. Yet data on the horizon portends a reality check. Traders are bracing themselves for Friday’s report on unemployment. The Labor Department jobs report is expected to show the loss of another 100,000 jobs. The unemployment rate is expected to rise to 9.6 percent. The VIX is expected to respond ! in kind.

More on this topic

MarketWatch

marketwatch.com/story/vix-notches-biggest-august-rise-in-over-a-decade-2010-08-31?dist=afterbell

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100825-709386.html

Associated Press

google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jmT59dgLTTziX4p9X9MRBRpWZGdQD9HV60602

New York Times

nytimes.com/2010/09/02/business/02markets.html?partner=rss and emc=rss

Less unemployed claims suggest a small increase with regard to the stock exchange

Jobless claims are at an all time high. Nevertheless, the number of new jobless claims got a small reprieve just lately. The common theme of employment has been of becalmed waters, though a small reprieve was because of the census and seasonal hires for the holiday retail season. The housing market is still in the basement; nevertheless some good news about employment is a welcome change. The unemployment rate is virtually unchanged since November 2009, so this happy news is an empty victory if anything. As word of the mild respite broke, stock markets were given a slight boost.

Unemployed cases decrease

A drop was recorded within the number of new cases for unemployment benefits by the Department of Labor. The number of jobless claims still sits, adjusted seasonally, at 473,000, however that number dropped by 31,000 over the last week. The past four weeks, according to Forbes, average out to unemployed cases of 486,750, which are the highest since November 2009. That said, winter jobless claims have to be taken with a grain of salt, as holiday seasonal employment provides a slight spike for the busiest part of the retail year. There was also the U.S. census, which temporarily employed lots of people.

Unemployed claims spur stock exchange increase

As outlined by the Wall Street Journal, the news did some urgent good. It gave stock exchanges a very modest increase. The uptick was modest at best; the greatest gain was a .3 percent boost for Standard and Poor’s. The Nasdaq climbed only .2 percent, and also the Dow Jones managed a paltry .1 percent gain. The big news on Wall Street recently has nothing to do with unemployment cases though. The large story right now is the bidding wars for 3Par, which Dell appears to be winning. There’s a large bidding war going on, and it’s even bigger news than the Potash saga. Hewlett Packard and Dell are fighting it out for 3Par, and it is causing a huge firestorm of coverage.

A long way to begin before we are done

The data released just means a modest fall in unemployment claims. Fewer employers are presently hiring. To make matters worse, it’s estimated that 10 percent of homeowners may face foreclosure. The real estate market is completely within the tank.

Further reading

Forbes

forbes.com/feeds/ap/2010/08/26/real-estate-industrials-us-economy_7879865.html

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100826-709681.html