Darion H.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Northern lights show Aug. 4 created by solar flare

Tuesday night there is going to be what is called a solar tsunami. The solar flare was a huge explosion on the surface of the sun that sent a wave of ionized particles directly toward us. Across the surface of the sun, there is a huge solar flare rippling which is what makes a solar tsunami. Satellites might get damaged during this solar flare. Of course, this means northern lights can be seen very well.

Solar tsunami happens

The solar flare erupted Sunday morning. Earth’s magnetic field caught some of the ionized atoms which were created by the tsunami and headed towards earth. The solar flame might hit tonight making for a rare northern lights display and geomagnetic storm, reports Fox News. The space weather could cause solar flare satellite damage, though scientists think that possibility is remote.

STEREO records tsunami

The existence of solar flares to create a solar tsunami were confirmed by STEREO, or NASA’s Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory. The sun is observed by the STEREO spacecrafts, reports Wired. They both center on Earth’s orbit. The sun seems 3 dimensional because of the way they’re positioned. In February 2009 STEREO confirmed the solar tsunami was not the shadow of a solar flare, but a 60,000-mile-high wave of super-hot plasma and magnetism blazing across the sun’s surface at 560,000 mph (see video below).

Rare solar flare on Sunday

The second video below shows an very rare solar flare from the sun. The Telegraph reports that two almost simultaneous solar flares from different locations on the sun were launched toward the Earth. The first eruption was a very large one that ended up screwing up the Sun’s magnetic atmosphere making conditions for the second eruption very good, Dr Lucie Green told the Telegraph. The only thing Earth will see from this is a geomagnetic storm along with some quite amazing northern lights.

Seeing the northern lights show

When the solar flares hit the Earth Tuesday, charged particles from the sun will hit the oxygen and nitrogen in the Earth’s upper atmosphere to produce the northern lights. GMTV reports the charged particles excite the gas atoms into emitting small bursts of energy within the form of light. The kind of gas is what determines the color. There will be colors like greenish-yellow, red, or blue depending on whether Oxygen or nitrogen is getting excited. Also seen often is purple, white and pink within these other colors.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

9/11 health care bill vote shoves Anthony Weiner over the edge

Anthony Weiner made headlines July 29th when the Democratic Congressman from New York abandoned composure in a speech on the house floor. When Republicans blocked passage of the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, he lost his cool. The 9/11 health care bill is a Democratic plan to provide billions of dollars for health care to 9/11 rescue workers and New York residents sickened from the toxic dust and debris at ground zero. Republicans were accused of cowardice and more by Weiner and his Democratic allies. More large government spending was the predictable Republican response.

What’s in the 9/11 health care bill

A majority of lawmakers within the chamber supported the 9/11 health care bill. But the New York Times reports how the 255-to-159 vote fell short of the two-thirds margin needed. A two-thirds margin was necessary under special rules that were used to bring the measure to the floor. The 9/11 health care bill would have provided $3.2 billion over the next eight years to keep track of and treat traumas stemming from exposure to toxic dust and debris at ground zero. The bill also would have set aside $4.2 billion to reopen the Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Fund to provide payment for any job and economic losses.

Two-thirds majority ploy backfires on Democrats

Just after it was obvious that Republicans had enough votes to defeat the 9/11 health care bill, Anthony Weiner erupted in a speech on the house floor. The New York Daily news called the two-thirds majority rule a Democratic program to speed up the vote. Democrats, with their eyes on the November elections, feared Republicans would embarrass Democrats by affixing toxic amendments in a simple majority vote. No such tinkering is allowed under the two-thirds rule.

Procedure used by Republicans as reason to oppose the bill

Weiner cracked at the lecture when he got word that Republicans blamed procedure for their no vote. CBS News reports that Republican congressman Peter King of New York accused Democrats, too afraid to vote on controversial amendments, of staging a charade by holding the vote. Comments like those provoked Weiner into an eruption that lasted 90 seconds. He shouted at Republicans, calling them cowards for voting no because they did not like the procedure:

“It’s Republicans wrapping their arms around Republicans rather than doing the right thing on behalf of the heroes,” Weiner yelled. “It is a shame. A shame! If you believe this can be a bad idea to provide health care – then vote no! But do not give me the cowardly view that ‘Oh if it was a different procedure’…”.

Additional reading

nytimes.com /

nydailynews.com

cbsnews.com

With risk of deflation, federal reserve member still speak

Thursday, James Bullard who’s the President of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis decided a warning about deflation needs to be sounded. The whole job of the Federal Reserve during the recession has been to stop inflation. But Bullard cautioned that Fed’s current policies to stimulate growth are putting the U.S. economy at risk of falling into a Japanese-style deflationary cycle that could keep the economy weak for various years.

Deflation because of inflation prevention

A drop in goods, services, homes, stocks, and wages is what a deflation is by definition. According to the New York Times, the Fed has tried very hard to stop inflation from happening. $2 trillion was given to the country within the form of loans and government purchases beginning in 2007 when also making the interest go down to zero. To buy all those assets, the Fed essentially printed money — the $1 trillion in reserves. If the reserves were withdrawn and lent out quickly, the supply of money in the economy could increase rapidly, thus triggering inflation.

Deflation

Government debt was no longer bought by the Federal Reserve beginning in March. Since then, the U.S. economic recovery has faltered and also the threat of inflation is low. Bank lending is contracting. Many companies just have a ton of money sitting around. Small business loans are almost obsolete. The reserve money won’t enter the economy for a while. Unemployment is nevertheless really high. Home prices are going down and home sales appear to be at record lows still. Bullard, as well as others, think deflation could be a possibility.

All about the Japanese deflation

The deflation fist happened within the 1990s. Asset prices fell following the 1980s real estate bubble burst causing more lending to be restricted. The cheaper imports didn’t help as they caused prices to lower. Making benchmark interest rates go down was how the Bank of Japan tried to help. This continued for a long time including the stock market hitting its low in 2003. In 2008, stocks went down more and more. In November 2009, the Wall Street Journal reports that Japan had their deflation problem returning. Consumer prices fell in October 2009 by a near record 2.2 percent.

'Double edged sword’ for interest rates

Deflation warnings are being sounded by Bullard, a voting member on the Fed’s main policy-setting committee, as the Fed considers additional steps it should take to stimulate the economy if the weak recovery falls back into recession. Bullard thinks, as outlined by the Associated Press, that the Federal Reserve saying they would keep rates this low for an “extended period” of time is really a “double-edged sword. The pledge could make investors, businesses and ordinary people think inflation could possibly be heading lower, which could aggravate the risk of deflation. Bullard has his opinions saying the government debt needs to be bought along with lifting the interest rate cap so deflation doesn’t happen either.

Find more information on this subject

New York Times
nytimes.com/2010/07/30/business/economy/30fed.html?_r=1 and amp;src=busln
Wall Street Journal
online.wsj.com/home-page
Associated Press
google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hTlA7m2TuKuKz6FcqFx3b34S1lAQD9H8SA0G2

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Anchoring - A trick every auto dealership uses

Decision-making in human beings where comparisons are being made is largely based upon mental waypoints called anchors. Once an individual has established an anchor to compare related circumstances against, that anchor tends to remain set within the individual’s mind. This process of bias is called anchoring, and also the retail sales industry uses it to great advantage when dealing with consumers. The human brain will fall back on it if countermeasures aren’t prepared in advance. Foreknowledge of this natural tendency helps, particularly in places like the used automobile lot. Article source – Anchoring – A trick each auto dealership uses by Car Deal Expert.

Anchoring yourself with the dealer’s guidance

A prospective auto buyer who has never heard of anchoring – call her Marcy – walks onto a used auto lot. The old commuter works, but Marcy wants something new and exciting. Soon she sees it: a beautiful hybrid hatchback. Marcy kicks the tires, gives it a good look and begins to fall for this car. Yet the sticker price pulls her up from the umbra of her waking dream. That used hybrid car costs a whopping $ 24,998.

Enter used car salesman with reassuring grin. Salesman asks what she thinks, and Marcy shakes her head and says the price is out of range. Marcy loves the vehicle, but she hates the price. What the salesman says next catches Marcy pleasantly by surprise.

'No worries. That car’s on sale for $ 14,000!’

Ding dong. Without further thought, she hits the finance office, applies for an auto loan for bad credit and is eventually behind the wheel of her beloved new hybrid. As outlined by You Aren’t So Smart, nevertheless, Marcy has taken the bait for an anchoring con. As Marcy didn’t know what the automobile was really worth, the salesman could effortlessly use anchoring to play with her expectations. The markdown he offered seemed tremendous to Marcy, but the sad reality is the actual value of the car was $ 9,997. Out of control markup is what Marcy signed up for. That anchor was a killer, and the salesman didn’t have to do much. The deal was poor for Marcy and spectacular for the dealer.

Haggle, please

Typically, the price we’re willing to pay for an item has very little to do with the elements that would actually contribute toward the specific value of a purchase. What the dealer says and what the true value is could be wildly different. Dealers use anchoring to trap unsuspecting buyers.

A dealer given such room to play will part you from your cash. Haggle on the price and you gain more solid footing. Control the game, instead of allow yourself to be controlled by anchoring. Be prepared with research before you purchase a car and haggle for a lower price at every opportunity. More experienced car dealers will always expect it.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Auto dealer exemption makes very first time car buyers more worried

An auto dealer exemption was signed into the financial reform bill. The auto dealers’ exemption allows them to escape auto lending regulation that could have prohibited numerous common deceptive auto lending tactics. To get a better deal, very first time car buyers need to be aware of these practices. You’re going to want to know what you are getting into with auto financing as well. Post resource – Auto dealer exemption means first time car buyers must be wary by Personal Money Store.

Higher interest rates while there are lower car payments

According to AOL Autos, most dealerships make their money through auto financing, not auto sales. Car dealers ask their customers what kind of payment they want, not the car loan interest rate they’re looking for. The dealership bases anything off that information. An interest rate that is lower for a car loan will conserve people thousands of dollars. Be careful as a buyer about how you get your car loan.

Learning interest rate deals and credit score

Bankrate.com reports that dealers are middlemen working with lenders who give them wholesale interest rates. That rate can be marked up 3 percent. Many dealers hope the consumers don’t know what interest rates they qualify for so higher interest rates could be charged. Know your credit score and what type of rate of interest it qualifies you for.

Loans before car searching

A good way to know for certain what type of interest rate you qualify for is to get approved for a loan before you even set foot on the car lot. However, The New York Times reports that if a car buyer shows up already approved for a loan, dealers will make an effort to find some other way to make money off them. Dealers will make an effort to sell window etchings and service contracts or disability and other insurance. Numerous dealers tell the customers that they can only get their loans with extra add-ons, although this is illegal.

Loan approval and condition of sale have to be separate from one another

This is called “yo-yo” by the Times article A buyer drives away in the new car only to get a call from the dealership a few days later saying the car loan was not approved at the current rate of interest and contract needs to be rewritten at a higher rate. If you get the loan before you do anything, this will be avoided. Bankrate.com suggests you gets financing from the dealer before anything else continues. It may mean a few extra days before driving away with new wheels, but it could be worth the wait.

Additional reading

AOL Auto
autos.aol.com/article/car-finance-interest-data/
Bankrate.com
bankrate.com/finance/auto/3-tips-on-getting-a-car-loan-at-the-dealer.aspx
The New York Times
nytimes.com/2010/07/17/your-money/17money.html

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Race to the Top final contestants set an example for education reform

A contest among states for more than $ 3 billion in federal education reform grants is called Race to the Top. Wednesday, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced that 18 states and also the District of Columbia as final contestants in the competition’s second round. In states that advanced such as California, various school districts cooperated to apply for the money. In Nevada, which didn’t make the cut, politicians pointed fingers and called the program large government.

Race to the Top finalists eligible for billions

The first round of Race to the Top ended in March, with Delaware ($ 100 million) and Tennessee ($ 300 million) as the winners. In the second phase, the Department of Education will hand out $ 3.4 billion for education reform. Second round finalists consist of are Arizona, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and South Carolina. Race to the Top finalists will send teams to Washington in August for the competition’s interview phase. In September winners can be announced.

Program motivates states to tackle education reform

Duncan called the program part of “a quiet revolution” in education reform in a speech to the National Press Club in Washington, where he announced the Race to the Top finalists. Race to the Top supporters say the biggest accomplishment of the program is that it motivates states to take on controversial reforms before spending any cash. The Department of Education Reform said 23 states have passed education reform laws around things like charter schools and teacher evaluations to improve their chances of winning funds since Race to the Top was announced.

California cooperation helps it advance

After finishing 27th out of 40 within the first round, California made the cut. The San Francisco Chronicle said that the reforms outlined in California’s Race to the Top application were endorsed by 300 school districts and county offices across the state. California’s application, which highlighted what districts are already doing to turn around struggling schools, evaluate and support teachers and principals, and measure student performance, was written by superintendents from seven school districts.

Politicians blame each other for Nevada’s failure

A consultant was paid $ 40,000 to write Nevada’s failing Race to the Top application. Fox News Las Vegas reports that Nevada’s failure to reach the finals sparked a fury of finger-pointing. Democratic Senator Harry Reid accused Republican Governor Jim Gibbons of a “lack of leadership”. Gibbons fired back, accusing Reid of never “lifting a finger” to help Nevada succeed. Even though she wants less federal involvement in schools and has called for eliminating the Department of Education, right wing candidate for Senator Sharon Angle piled on Reid after Nevada was left out in the cold .

Additional reading

press.org

sfgate.com

fox5vegas.com

Saturday, July 31, 2010

$ 1 billion for cash today given to Kyrgyzstan

Numerous people have died with the open violence in Kyrgyzstan which has created about 400,000 refugees and destroyed the spending budget the nation has kept. President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and militias from Uzbekistan were overthrown because of the nation’s move towards parliamentary democracy, which is also what is causing all of this violence between troops and civilians. Since the fighting has started to stop, Kyrgyzstan is trying desperately to recover. There is no more money accessible as reported by Reuters. Source for this article – Donors grant Kyrgyzstan more than $ 1 billion in emergency aid by Personal Money Store.

Every person around the world donates so Kyrgyzstan can have $ 1.1 billion emergency money

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan’s capital city, was where a conference was help in which $ 600 million in quick cash was donated in 2010, and also the rest will be coming in 2011. President Roza Otunbayeva promised to rebuild with the money donated form the World Bank and United Nations. The violence and troubles caused the nation to shrink 5 percent making this the perfect time for a financial windfall. Kyrgyzstan needed money and donors will give it to them.

At least $ 1 billion needed just to fix up buildings

Kyrgystan’s spending budget now won’t contain 13.5 percent of its gross domestic product it would at first have counted on, reports Reuters. Once Bakiyev was overthrown, the total deficit jumped from $ 269 million to $ 619 million, per acting Kyrgyzstan Finance Minister Chorobek Imashev. $ 350 million, reports President Otunbayeva, is needed to build settlements in Osh and Jalalabad, while an additional $ 100 million could be needed for the rest of the economy. In addition, energy rebuilding costs are expected to total $ 180 million, and agriculture will require $ 50 million. In total, while no amount of money can replace lost or displaced lives, $ 1.1 billion in emergency money for Kyrgyzstan will go a long way toward stabilizing a nation in chaos.