Smurfs cartoons packed with fascism and racism says French educator

The well-known show “The Smurfs” was accused by a French instructor for promoting racial discrimination and fascism. Antoine Bueno, an instructor at a prominent school in Paris, recently opined the main characters in “The Smurfs” live under and encourage authoritarian rule and improper stereotypes.

How Papa Smurf correlates with Stalin

The Telegraph reports that Antoine Bueno is an educator at the political sciences school in Paris, the Sciences Po. Many know him as the male that made accusations that “The Smurfs” is really a comic strip about fascism and anti-Semitism. The Smurfs debuted as a comic strip in 1958, written by Belgian comic strip artist Peyo. The comic strip was written by Peyo, or Pierre Culliford, wrote the Smurfs comics until 1992 when he passed away and it was taken over by his son Thierry Culliford who has been writing them ever since. The show in America made by Hanna-Barbera is located off the strip. It is fairly close to the same thing. The overtones in the series are bad according to Antoine Bueno. Bueno believes that Papa Smurf runs the village with a mustache and complete authority, just like the Soviet Union was run by Josef Stalin.

The anti-Semitic stereotypes

Bueno also alleges the chief villain in the Smurf’s world, the wizard Gargamel, is a caricature of anti-Semitic stereotypes. He claims that Jews were stereotypes by the Nazis and others just like he is with his hooked nose, crooked posture and obsession with gold. He also alleges that Smurfette, the lone female in the series, is similar to the perfect Aryan female under the tenets of the Nazi party. According to Bueno, the Smurfs, or “Les Schtroumpfs,” aren’t trying to be hateful in any way. He just says these themes display throughout the comic. Culliford explained that he read Bueno’s critique. It is supposedly very amusing. In America in 2011, a live action Smurfs film will be released.

Claims of other characters

There have been characters in the past to be criticized for their themes. Disney movies have accusations of racial discrimination all the time. This happens regularly over the years. Cracked.com explained that “Dumbo” has cows in it stereotyped as African Americans while “Peter Pan” and “Aladdin” have Native American and Arab racism in them all the time.

Disney Racial discrimination shown

Citations

The Telegraph

telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/8554973/The-Smurfs-are-anti-Semitic-and-racist.html

Cracked.com

cracked.com/article_15677_the-9-most-racist-disney-characters.html

Problems with power steering structure leads to Toyota Prius recall

A problem in the power steering system has led to a Toyota Prius recall that is for every Prius built until 2003, which includes the first to roll off the assembly line. Low quality nuts can come loose in the power steering over time, causing the vehicle to become incredibly difficult to steer.

First Prius ever made impacted in recall

A recall of the Toyota Prius hybrid was announced by Toyota Motor Company, while Toyota has dealt with many recalls in the past two years, due to power steering troubles in the car, states MSNBC. All Prius automobiles made from 1997 to 2003 is being recalled. In just Japan, there are 48,000 vehicles being affected. These were all made from 1997 to 2003. Since Toyota didn’t start selling the Prius in foreign markets until 2001, the worldwide impact is only automobiles from 2001 to 2003. There are 58,000 Prius automobiles impacted from those years outside of Japan. Of those, about 52,000 are in the United States, about 1,800 in the United Kingdom and 800 in Germany. There will be a total of about 106,000 automobiles recalled. That’s lots of cars that need fixing.

All Prius cars will be fixed for free

Due to low-quality nuts in the power steering structure, the Prius has been recalled, AutoWeek explains. The pinion shaft is connected to the steering gear box with these nuts. They can become unfastened after a while which makes it hard to turn or to steer. The loosening will occur, according to MotorTrend, as the wheel is turned to the full lock position rapidly numerous times, which is likely to happen over a car’s lifetime. Toyota will fix the cars for free by simply putting in better nuts that don’t loosen, which will take about four hours. There has been only one accident, according to USA Today, and it was minor. The first complaint of the problem was made in August of 2007, in Japan. There were 28 more grievances in Japan and one in the U.S. This brought on the issue to be dealt with.

Toyota plans go back to full production

Soon, Toyota plans to be back to full production on its vehicles. After the Japanese earthquake and tsunami earlier this year, Toyota was unable to manufacture vehicles for a while along with other auto makers in Japan. Toyota plans to recuperate faster than originally though. This is after the March 11 catastrophe occurred. Almost right away, Toyota’s Japan operations are anticipated to return to 90 percent capacity. Global operations in Thailand, China and Europe are anticipated to be at 100 percent capacity this month. The recall is something Toyota is getting done. The company wants it finished as soon as it can. Toyota is ready to stop the PR troubles from all the recalls that occurred in the last two years. There were over 14 million automobiles recalled during that time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Su5V4I2kwQI

Citations

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/43235940/ns/business-autos/

Auto Week

autoweek.com/article/20110601/CARNEWS/110609999

MotorTrend

wot.motortrend.com/toyota-recalls-2001-2003-prius-steering-defect-82679.html

USA Today

content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/06/toyota-recalls-52000-prius-models-in-us-after-report-of-single-accident-/1?loc=interstitialskip

The Credit Card Act can help, but individuals are not using it

In 2009, consumers in need of charge card help were blessed with the United States Credit Card Act. One of the conditions of the law is that charge card companies, in conjunction with the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, must have resources for consumers who have a hard time with their finances. In spite of this, credit-constrained customers simply are not using the resources, per NFCC states.

Credit card counseling hardly ever free anymore

Nonprofit help is hardly ever used by U.S. customers even though the NFCC and banks have access to it. NFCC spokeswoman Gail Cunningham explained that only 150,000 United States consumers that have had issues dealing with debt have accessed it. The contact number is toll-free and printed on charge card statements. As charge card debt still weighs heavily on the average, recession-weary American, the lack of initiative is troubling.

“I certainly think one of the reasons for the low response rate from consumers could be attributed to a lack of prominence,” said Cunningham. “Perhaps the number is buried somewhere.”

Within the recesses of public prejudice might be where that number is buried. Most consumers believes that their credit card corporations are evil and do whatever they can to take as much money as possible. They think that the “service” of a toll-free Credit Card Act number will cost them. However, Cunningham has observed that the number has been absent from some statements, which would be a violation of legislation.

Less charge card debt in 2010

U.S. customer charge card debt decreased an average of $7,404 per person, an 8 percent increase, from January to Dec., according to a Credit Karma report. There were eight states that showed as much as an 11 percent improvement. These states include Nevada, TN, Oklahoma, Indiana, CT, Colorado and California. There was a 31 percent improvement shown from 2009 to 2010 in Wisconsin making is the biggest in credit card debt change.

There was at least a 6 percent increase in charge card debt though in states for instance New Mexico, Delaware, Iowa, LA, Missouri and Nebraska. Mississippi was the biggest loser in the Credit Karma Survey, with 8 percent growth.

Looking for credit card help?

If you need information on non-profits, go to nfcc.org which is the National Foundation for Credit Counseling site. If you just make minimum monthly payments, you’ll still have a balance on your credit card debt. You can discover out what this balance is at the Federal Reserve’s site. For mobile, there’s a useful Android Market app called Personal Financial Calculator. You can also compare financial goods for instance installment loans’ APRs. Go to the Personal Money Network’s “Loan Overdraft Calculator” in the below connection.

Articles cited

Android Market

market.android.com/details?id=com.adworkz.pms.mobile.tools.calculators_2001.com

Bankrate

bankrate.com/financing/credit-cards/nfcc-credit-card-help-unused/

Federal Reserve

federalreserve.gov/creditcardcalculator/

Personal Money Store

tools.personalmoneystore.com/free-payday-loan-calculator/

National Foundation for Credit Counseling

nfcc.org/

Obama signed the Credit Card Act. Are you using its programs?

youtube.com/watch?v=OVFj2p8JeKo

Heat and Mavs are both in the 2011 NBA Finals

On Tues, May 31 at Miami’s American Airlines Arena, basketball enthusiasts will experience the kickoff of what should prove to be an outstanding 2011 NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks. The Heat will have home-court advantage in the best-of-seven series. Get ready for the tournament with this NBA Finals schedule and a glance at these giants of the court.

NBA Finals listened to on ESPN and Sirius while you watch it at ABC

All 2011 NBA Finals games will air on ABC TV and broadcast on ESPN Radio and Sirius XM satellite radio. The games have been scheduled. They go like this:

Game 1: Tuesday, May 31 in Miami, 9 p.m. ET
Game 2: Thursday, June 2 in Miami, 9 p.m. ET
Game 3: Sunday, June 5 in Dallas, 8 p.m. ET
Game 4: Tuesday, June 7 in Dallas, 9 p.m. ET
Game 5 (if necessary): Thursday, June 9 in Dallas, 9 p.m. ET
Game 6 (if necessary): Sunday, June 12 in Miami, 8 p.m. ET
Game 7 (if necessary): Tuesday, June 14 in Miami, 9 p.m. ET

Individuals at Heat

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are the dynamic duo for the Miami Heat that can scare any defense. The competitors are both known for how well they’re able to score, and they have learned to play together very well recently.

Sometimes the team ends up in danger. In these cases, “King” James ends up getting the ball. He is huge and athletic. He also has a fantastic basketball IQ which helps a ton. Thus, Dallas will have to keep his teammates down, which is a chore, particularly when Wade’s offense is flowing. If Chris Bosh plays to the letter of his ability also and Udonis Haslem manages to bang Dirk Nowitzki into a pulp of nerves and bruises the Miami Heat will win the 2011 NBA Finals in five games.

New Nowitzki playing with veteran fire

The Heat may lose against the Dallas Mavericks as James and Wade are challenged and with some careful passing. Dirk Nowitzki is on fire in the playoffs (28.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game), and his increased lower body strength has enabled him to muscle his way to his favorite spots on the floor more very easily, as Haslem will discover. The veterans Kidd and Terry, both Jasons, will help a lot too. The same can be said for Shawn “The Matrix” Marion, who has made key plays.

It is true the championship window is slowly closing for Kidd, Terry and Marion which might make them work harder. Also, Nowitzki has gotten better. He is no long a “soft” guy. Even with injuries, the Dallas Mavericks could beat the Miami Heat in seven games. Jose Barea and Tyson Chandler could do this easily.

It is unfortunate for LeBron. He may have to wait a year or two more.

Citations

Huffington Post

huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/27/nba-finals-schedule-2011-_n_867972.html

Yahoo! Sports

sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ycn-8546101