President Hamid Karzai says he takes totes of cash from Iran

Hamid Karzi’s presidency in Afghanistan has been full of questions regarding competency and trustworthiness. Now the Associated Press reports that Karzai says he has been taking “bags of cash” from Iran and also the United States for many years. One wonders whether those political enemies are pleased with the Karzai their money can buy.

Cash taken by Hamid Karzai for ‘official presidential expenses’

Hamid Karzai gets about $700,000 to $975,000 in gifts as “donations” from Iran once or twice a year. Karzai said that the United States government has known about this Iranian assistance for years and that Washington also sends the Afghan palace “bags of money.”. Iran had been providing Umar Daudzai money, reports the New York Times, which is why many think Karzai might have made this announcement. The cash has been paying for high-ranking Taliban officials. Supposedly it also went to Afghan lawmakers and tribal elders.

Money goes to Karzai from ’several nations’ because his earnings are lacking

According to the CIA World Factbook, Afghanistan’s economy had been in shambles before the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001. International assistance has aided recovery, but the nation is still considered poor and “highly dependent on foreign aid, agriculture and trade with neighboring countries.”. This is supposedly true even though opium and hashish product comes from Afghanistan more than anywhere else in the world. It makes sense that Hamid Karzai would not be interested in enforcing the rules about illegal drug trade the Obama administration has accused him of having since the business makes the country a ton of money.

Afghan polls cited by Today’s Views indicate that Karzai’s public views him as an ineffective ruler. Wikipedia talks about the reasons for this. It is not what you might think actually. The economy in Afghanistan is agriculture depending. Since poppies sell probably the most in Afghanistan, poor farmers end up in the drug business whether or not that is what they’d hope to be doing. The farmers do not end up getting much money out of it either. Numerous think that this is because they aren’t sending Karzai his money like other nations are.

Citations

Associated Press

newser.com/article/d9j2lc780/afghan-president-says-iran-and-us-give-bags-of-money-to-help-its-office.html

The Odora

theodora.com/wfbcurrent/afghanistan/afghanistan_economy.html

Today’s Views

todaysviews.com/?p=781

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium_production_in_Afghanistan

The U.S. “double game”

youtube.com/watch?v=ir6IEOQ_4Go

Murder charges for hiccup girl Jennifer Mee

Jennifer Mee, a former media sensation due to her continuous hiccups which earned her the nickname the “Hiccup Girl,” has been imprisoned on allegations of first degree murder. Mee, 19, was charged along with two other individuals, of robbing a man at gunpoint and murdering him. Mee became an overnight sensation a couple of years previous to this incident, suffering from a constant bout of hiccups that lasted for weeks. She went on numerous Television programs such as the “Today Show.” She also became quite popular on the web.

Jennifer Mee charged with murder

MSNBC reports that Jennifer Mee got arrested in Florida because there were charges of first degree murder, that two others were being charged with also, that she had been a suspect in. It is alleged that Mee, 19, along with Laron Raiford, 20, and Lamont Newton, 22, lured Shannon Griffin to an undisclosed location. Raiford and Newton robbed him at gunpoint. They took all his stuff and then got in a fight with him. This led to him being shot in his upper torso several times. All three have admitted to being involved with the crime. Any accomplice due to the felony murder statute, which is what Mee and her friends are being charged under, will end up held accountable for the murder too. Being convicted might be bad for them. They might end up with the death penalty as the punishment.

Several know her as ‘Hiccup Girl’

Jennifer Mee is pretty well known nationally. “The Hiccup Girl” is her nickname. For Jennifer Mee, hiccups went on for more than five weeks consistently. She would hiccup up to 50 times a minute each day, which eventually attracted media attention. She had been featured on the “Today Show” among others in 2007, coming to national prominence. WTSP News in Tampa explains that she talked to specialists who said that it was just Tourette’s Syndrome. The medication for Tourette’s helped her. She seemed cured.

Litigation shortly

The three defendants are being kept without bail. This had been after they all admit to the crime. Being convicted could mean the death penalty for all three. This is what being charged under the felony homicide statute means. At least a life sentence will be what they face without a parole possibility. This is if felony homicide is what they are convicted of.

Citations

MSNBC

today.msnbc.msn.com/id/39827189/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts

WTSP

wtsp.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=71545

Self-made Frappuccino will decrease your coffee expenses

It can be really tough to reduce your everyday expenditures. There are some things, like espresso, that could be really tough to give up. Your drinks can taste better and be less costly when you mix them yourself.

Know the coffee facts

If you start researching what making your own coffee drink could cost, it can be overwhelming. Lots of individuals have different opinions on coffee. Some say you need to ground and brew coffee immediately and have a certain temperature you store it at. That isn’t necessarily true. Just learn the java basics. A good cup of coffee will come with quality beans in a an airtight container that is brewed with care.

What java can cost you

It costs about $4 to get a basic mocha or latte. This is at the typical coffee shop. Add an additional shot of espresso or an additional flavor, and also the price goes up. Most of those ingredients added to your java are about $1. Whenever you make and mix your personal drinks, what you pay will start to accumulate.

Make your own Frappuccino-style beverage

One of probably the most popular coffee drinks on the industry is the Starbucks Frappuccino. You make think the Starbuck’s bottled Frappuccino is hard for making. That is not actually the case. It takes only four ingredients and 20 minutes to make a week’s worth of concoction that is strikingly similar to the liquid you can buy in bottles at the grocery or convenience store. You will make 4 cups of double strong coffee. Eight shots of espresso will work too. Mix it with ¼ cup sugar. Add ½ gallon milk. 2 or three shots of vanilla flavoring could be added. This is if you’re going for the Vanilla Frappuccino. For a Mocha Frappuccino recipe, mix in 2/3 cup chocolate syrup. Now you’ve saved some cash. A week’s worth of Frappuccino beverage is what you get too. Now keep in mind this. It will conserve you money.

Jackson pay day loans online - Mississippi money advance

Time is money everywhere, including in Jackson, Mississippi. The amount of time it takes to apply for a payday loan should be minimal. However, with payday advances online, your Jackson payday advance could be there for you to spend whenever you need it. These loans most often require no credit check. This means you are able to get your money easily.

Payday loans online for Jackson

Jackson, Mississippi payday advances aren’t hard to get. They’re pretty easy to get actually. You have to be 18 or older, have a working phone and a banking account. In less than six minutes, you will be able to complete the application and have your decision. It will take as little as 2 hrs to get your cash deposited into your financial institution after getting approves.

A payday advance for you

An in-store payday advance where you’ve to discover a store that is open and wait for a decision can take time out of your busy schedule. Online payday advances are simple to get. They’re also fairly fast. The best part is, when time comes to pay off your loan, it could be deducted directly from your bank account. It won’t be all that frustrating. You don’t have to remember to go someplace to pay for it. You are able to get on with your day and forget about it.

Payday advance loans in Jackson for you

When you apply for payday cash advances online in Jackson, Mississippi, you would like to know that you are getting the best deal. Personal Money Store matches you with the best payday advance lender for situation. For bad credit loans, military loans or even fixed income loans, we will match you with a lender. The traditional financial institution loans are different than personal payday advances. Anybody can apply for a payday advance. It is much easier to get a loan from one of our loan providers than with a traditional bank in Jackson since most of our loan providers do not do credit checks, although not every person gets approved.

Toyota Motors recall of yet another million vehicles

There is another Toyota recall that has been announced, or rather, three separate recalls at the very same time. It will be surprising if a month goes by without a Toyota Motors recall. There are more than 1.5 million automobiles in this recall. The fuel pump or master brake cylinder might be defective within the main recall of over 1.3 million cars. Normally, a Toyota Motors recall likes to do it big, but the second recall is for a pitiful 130,000 automobiles with rusty brake drums.

Toyota Motors recalling again

Toyota has announced yet another recall. In the whole world, about 1.53 million cars will be recalled. There’s a defect within the brakes. This is just suspected though. The models impacted, based on ABC, are the Toyota Motors Highlander, Avalon and the Lexus GS300, IS250 and IS350. There might be a defect within the master brake cylinder. This would be within the seal. The master cylinder seal can potentially crack, which can lead to brake fluid leaking. The leak in brake fluid can lead to a warning light and a possible loss in brake pressure. There are 740,000 vehicles in the United States impacted by the brake cylinder recall. The possible leak has not lead to any accidents.

Toyota recalling in other cases too

Toyota is also recalling 130,000 cars in China because of a defect in the rear wheel disk brakes, which can possibly rust. Besides the recall of the 740,000 cars within the United States, Toyota is also recalling almost 600,000 autos in Japan over possible defects within the fuel pump. The problem with the fuel pump is that there is an electric fault. This means the vehicle might stall from time to time. That defect is so far only thought to be in automobiles in Japan, according to the new York Times. The Crown model, which the U.S. does not sell, is where most of the fuel pump issues are coming from

What if my auto is being recalled?

Owners can be getting notified via Toyota. The model years 2004 to 2005 are the ones within the recall. This has not been a good year for Toyota Motors. The car maker continues to be raked over the coals for recalls, though recalls by auto makers are often preventative.

Details from

ABC News

abcnews.go.com/Business/wirestory?id=11933608 and page=1

NY Times

nytimes.com/2010/10/22/business/global/22toyota.html?src=mv

Report suggests Facebook is outing gay users to sponsors

Facebook might have erred again on the side of lack of privacy, writes Slight Paranoia. ”Challenges in Measuring Online Marketing Systems,” a technical study lately published by investigators from Microsoft and the Max Planck Institute for Software Systems, may shed some light on yet an additional dark side of Facebook. In unique, the research suggests that a loophole within the ubiquitous social network may really be giving up homosexual customers to 3rd party advertisers.

Difference in ads for listed homosexual Facebook customers

Facebook outing gay users isn’t an exercise in mind reading, content scrubbing or candid photo analysis. Whether a Facebook user is interested in men or women is something they can post. This can be a fact of Facebook. This had been something Mark Zuckerberg had in mind. It had been part of why he begun Facebook. Facebook targets ads to users depending on the demographic data presented by the user, which is why it would not be surprising if ads were targeted depending on sexual choice.

There had been a study done that showed a fictional homosexual person on Facebook getting very different ads than the other fictional individuals. This is something the Facebook privacy settings are intended to protect from occurring though. Interestingly, ads to the fake lesbian user profile received ads that were not really different than the fabricated hetero female profile. The study authors explain the difference between gay and straight male ad targeting by pointing out that a gay bar wouldn’t want to place its ads on the profiles of straight men, whereas some straight women may be interested in such an advertisement, writes Gawker.

Flash your ID and preference information on the ad

The Facebook and consumer protection groups that is going on is evident. It’s shown here. If you click on an advertisement, your IP address, email and browsing data can all be given to the advertiser. In the case of gay users, Facebook could indeed out gay users by revealing that data when an advertisement is clicked. But even if a Facebook user selects to hide sexual preference via privacy settings, clicking on an ad targets gay men, suggests Gawker, can open up that user to additional “gay-themed” advertising.

Details from

Saikat

saikat.guha.cc/pub/imc10-ads.pdf

Gawker

gawker.com/5669316/is-facebook-outing-gay-users-to-advertisers

Paranoia

paranoia.dubfire.net/2010/10/more-private-data-leakage-at-facebook.html

O'Donnell discloses First Amendment ignorance in argument

The 1st Amendment made a few headlines lately with a case about net neutrality pitting the ALCU against the FCC. Another is a suit about obscenity laws. Internet suppliers want to block enforcement of a law censoring content for minors the First Amendment gives grownups a right to consume. But the brightest First Amendment spotlight Tuesday shone on Delaware Republican Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell for her lack of knowledge concerning the U.S. Constitution.

O’Donnell’s 1st Amendment laugh lines

Christine O’Donnell and Democratic candidate Chris Coons had an argument Tues where the topic had been the 1st Amendment. O’Donnell said that Coons was wrong in saying that public schools cannot teach creationism because it violated the First Amendment rights on freedom of religion while at Widener University Law School, according to Ben Evans at the Associated Press. The Tea Party is being represented by O’Donnell in her speech. She cited “indispensable principles of the Founding Fathers” when talking about how the federal government overreaches sometimes. Coons reminded her that “One of those indispensable principles is the separation of church and state.” Next O’Donnell asked, “Where within the Constitution is the separation of church and state?” The audience erupted in laughter.

Everyone gets to see O’Donnell’s ignorance

Laws are prohibited “respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, infringing on the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances.” This is what the First Amendment, within the Bill of Rights, states. O’Donnell showed that she’s a “fundamental misunderstanding of what our Constitution is,” based on Coons. Then O’Donnell said, “You’re telling me the separation of church and state is found within the First Amendment?” Coons, summarizing the First Amendment, had been interrupted by O’Donnell, who said “That’s within the 1st Amendment?” Widener political scientist Wesley Leckrone told Evans, “You really audibly heard the crowd gasp.”

O’Donnell makes up for comments

Actually, Christine O’Donnell had been right. The 1st Amendment is as she said. The Bill of Rights became a set of constitutional amendments in 1791. According to Evans, Thomas Jefferson started the phrase. That’s where “separation of church and state” comes from. In a letter, Jefferson wrote the 1st Amendment established “a wall of separation between Church and State.” O’Donnell fled from reporters after the debate. But her campaign manager spun a statement saying that O’Donnell “simply made the point that the phrase appears nowhere in the Constitution.”

Articles cited

SF Gate

sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/10/19/politics/p060642D21.DTL and tsp=1

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

Brainy Quote

brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/t/thomas_jefferson.html

Frozen vegetables recalled over glass in peas

A frozen vegetable recall has been announced by the producer. The packages in question contain frozen peas, and some with mixed vegetables. Shards of glass have been found in some of their peas. The recall isn’t incredibly enormous, yet. It appears the issue had been with only one lot of frozen vegetables. Not many packages contain them. There are only four different packs that contain the contaminated peas. The bundles are carried by Kroger stores within the South, and nationally by Wal-Mart. Article resource – Frozen vegetables recalled for glass in frozen peas by Personal Money Store.

Ever found glass as part of your frozen vegetables before?

Much of the frozen food had glass in it. Only one manufacturer had been responsible for this. In Bells, Tenn., there is a company called Pictsweet. This is the business that supplied the freezing veggies to at least two chains. The business sells frozen vegetables to Kroger stores in the southeast and to Wal-Mart stores nationwide, based on CNN. Glass was found in five of the frozen veggies bundles before the business made the recall announcement. The grievances the business received were because of shards of glass, mostly in either packages of peas or in other assortments that include peas. One single lot of freezing vegetables had the problem with the glass as far as we can tell. So far, no injuries are reported from issues related to the recall.

You have to return your package

You are asked to return the packages for a full refund to stores if you bought any packages of the recalled food. There are four different types of packages affected. CBS explains that mixed freezing veggies has the issue, peas and carrots, along with two that have just peas. Any of the following have to be returned. They are the ones affected:

• Take back the Good Value 12 ounce Steamable Sweet Peas having a “best by” date of July 20 or July 21, 2012
• Give back the Great Value 12 ounce Steamable Mixed Veggies with “best by” date of July 15, 2012
• Kroger 12 ounce Green Peas with production code 1440BD, 1440BU, 1440BV or 1440BW
• Check your Kroger 12 ounce Peas and Carrots. Search for the production code 1960BD or 1960BE.

Return at once

You should give back your package at once if you have any of the impacted packages. You can contact Pictsweet Co. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Monday through Friday. The number you’ll call is 1-800-367-7412.

Data from

CNN

cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/10/18/frozen.vegetables.recall/

CBS News

cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20019844-10391704.html

Vinyl dash panel repair is not brain surgery

Imagine there are cracks as part of your car’s vinyl dash panel. Breaking out the masking tape and magic marker is not acceptable. Real vinyl dashboard repair isn’t really difficult, and it’s cheap. The right path costs more than the cheapskate route, but that’s as it should be. Cheap out on your automobile too long and it will turn its back on you.

Restoration your vinyl dashboard even with a crack

The typical vinyl dash panel doesn’t contain much. It usually means there is foam padding with some vinyl fabric covering it. It’s bad to use any kind of harsh cleaner on it, and also you ought to probably keep away from too much sun exposure and sun damage. The goods trigger the vinyl-chloride plasticizer to come off very easily. That is what Popular Mechanics explains. This causes vinyl to crack. It starts by getting brittle though. Do not worry! You are able to nevertheless clean it with warm water and a soft rag.

The simplest way to fix a damaged dash

Small cracks may not seem like a large deal at first, however once the cracks spiderweb, the whole dash may need replacement. That’s going to cost you. You cannot just solve the issue with a fabric dash cover. Other things have to be taken into consideration. You might just try doing an effective road to vinyl dashboard repair instead of going through the hassle of anything else. eHow explains that vinyl pain, silicone caulking, painter’s tape and a utility knife are the tools you’ll need. The procedure is as follows:

1. The crack needs to be carved in a “V” shape. This will make it possible to get the caulking in.
2. Clean dust and debris out of the crack with rag and water. Let is totally dry. Do this before anything else.
3. The crack needs tape on both sides of it.
4. The silicone caulking can now be put into the crack. Give it 15 minutes to dry. You are able to take the tape off after that. The split being small is a good thing. You are able to simply move to the next step. If the crack is large, consider giving texture to the silicone with a vinyl repair kit before the caulk is entirely dry. You’ll have to remove the tape afterwards.
5. The split could be painted with the pain after two hours of drying. Following the paint has dried a few hrs, you are ready to go again.

Citations

EHow.com

ehow.com/how_2077554_repair-cracks-dashboard.html

Popular Mechanics

popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/saturday-mechanic-blog/repair-cracked-vinyl-dashboard

IMBD

imdb.com/title/tt0070656/

RIM and Android cranked by Jobs at latest Apple earnings conference

Steve Jobs most recently took part in an Apple revenue meeting. He used the possibility to slam Android along with RIM and the Blackberry on top of talking about sales and Apple Inc. stock price. When praising iPhone software and bashing Android, he also pointed out that iPhone revenue are a length ahead of every person else. There is also the “Back to the Mac” Apple event to anticipate The event will likely discuss forthcoming computers from Apple.

Meeting about Apple revenue discusses Jobs slamming RIM and Android

There was something exciting at the most recent Apple revenue conference. Steve Jobs made a surprise visit. The fourth quarter of Apple Inc. was great. Earnings were up a ton. He explained that normally, he wouldn’t come to these meetings. Apple Insider accounts that next he said the first $20 billion quarter for Apple was something he just couldn’t miss. He wasn’t that nice. Competition got slammed by him. He pointed out that the iPhone outsold RIM Blackberry by 2 million units, and that Research In Motion had too far to go to catch up. He also pointed out that Android smartphones by Google activated 200,000 units a day to Apple’s 275,000.

Android tablets won’t last for very long

On the heels of the best quarter ever for the Apple stock price – AAPL just hit $300 a share – Jobs also felt he would weigh in on gripes about software and tablets. He explained that Google is misleading customers. Google said the iPhone is “closed” and also the Android is “open” which was wrong. He also pointed out the Android tablet PCs due out soon will be “dead on arrival” because a 7-inch screen is only a bit bigger than a wise phone. He opined that because Apple makes anything in house, the iPad is more bang for less buck than the competitors.

Getting ‘Back to the Mac’

An additional Apple event is being prepared. It can be on Wednesday though. CNET reports that the topic of this, called “Back to the Mac” could be the Mac operating system with new hardware.

Citations

CNET

cnet.com/8301-31021_3-20019463-260.html?tag=mncol;txt

Apple Insider

appleinsider.com/articles/10/10/18/apples_steve_jobs_slams_google_rim_and_rival_tablet_makers_on_conference_call.html

12 year old involved in Justin Bieber attack case

Anything related to Justin Bieber tends to be huge for some reason. There are accounts coming to light of a Bieber assault. Just Bieber, protégé of Usher, isn’t really the victim. Justin Bieber is really the alleged perpetrator. Bieber was allegedly targeted in a sport of laser tag by the deadliest group of individuals known to man, that being 12 year old boys. There had been allegedly a confrontation. Bieber, 16, might have had to punch a 12 yr old in self defense.

Toronto Bieber assault

The alleged Justin Bieber assault occurred in Toronto, Canada. Bieber is on his “My World Tour” within the middle of North America right now. Bieber is really a Canadian citizen and felt comfortable playing laser tag in Toronto while on excursion. A group of younger boys came up to him throughout the game. The boys were around 12 years old. MSNBC explains that the boys “tagged” Bieber repeatedly as they singled him out. There are many different accounts of what happened next. The basics of it are that Bieber hit one of the kids and ran away though.

Bieber bullied by 12-year-olds

Bieber punched a boy in the face. Columbia Broadcasting System accounts that this took place as he had been leaving the room. After the alleged assault on Friday, the father of the assaulted 12-year-old filed a complaint with police. The incident is being investigated by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The boy who was allegedly assaulted received minor injuries and did not need treatment. Bieber evidently was being picked on by the gang of young kids. This is why Bieber is expected to talk about bullying in a future statement.

Bieber excursion set to carry on

It does not appear the event will affect the current North American tour that Justin Bieber is on. He is quite popular on the web right now. The Justin Bieber “Baby” video is one of probably the most watched videos on YouTube. He sang on YouTube which initially got him noticed. Since then, he has been very popular.

Info from

CBS News

cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20019846-504083.html

MSNBC

today.msnbc.msn.com/id/39718650/ns/today-entertainment/

Cook manages to lose hundreds of thousands to half-brother via embezzlement

Dane Cook’s half-brother, Darryl McCauley, has offered up a plea of guilty in a Massachusetts court for embezzling millions of dollars from the comedian/actor. The Boston Globe accounts that McCauley embezzled the money between 2004 and 2008 when working as Cook’s business manager. In total, Darryl McCauley faces 27 counts of larceny, three counts of forgery, embezzlement and a variety of other charges, said prosecutors. McCauley has been sentenced to five to six years in prison and could be on probation while imprisoned and 10 years thereafter.

$three million check originated from McCauley forged through Dane Cook’s accounts

The office of Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley told the Globe that Darryl McCauley transferred funds from Dane Cook’s accounts into his own on numerous occasions. Once, he even forged a $3 million check written from Cook’s account to himself. McCauley’s wife, Erika, is also facing criminal charges that consist of larceny and receiving stolen property, indicated the prosecution.

A long connection between McCauley and Cook

Darryl McCauley was Dane Cook’s business manager from the beginning of Cook’s comedy career in the early 1990s until Dec 2008, when Cook first noticed that something had been amiss financially. As part of his restitution to the 38-year-old Dane Cook, McCauley has been ordered by the court to give up ownership of various real estate properties and businesses in Massachusetts and Maine. All of the properties were technically owned by Cook. This is because stolen funds paid for the property.

Becoming an acting professional after being a comic

Standup comedy is how Dane Cook begun. That was how his career began. College students tend to say Cook is best comic as his humor is the very same as theirs. Of course, other comedians call him sophomoric as he is the competition. Speaking candidly, some have even gone so far as to call Dane Cook a “poseur.”. However, Cook’s act did manage to serve as his gateway into movie. He did well in romantic comedies as was shown in “Employee of the Month” with Jessica Simpson and “My Best Friend’s Girl” with Kate Hudson. In “Mr. Brooks,” he was able to play a serial killer which was an odd role for him

Articles cited

Boston.com

boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/10/14/half_brother_guilty_of_stealing_millions_from_dane_cook/

People.com

people.com/people/archive/article/,,20061261,00.html

The Blemish

theblemish.com/2009/08/no-one-thinks-dane-cook-is-funny/

Brand-new Tylenol recall fifth in a year for Johnson and Johnson

Another Tylenol recall has been announced by Johnson and Johnson subsidiary McNeil Consumer Healthcare. The Tylenol recall is the 5th recall in a year for the drug maker, which is under investigation by Congress for its quality control practices. A musty scent coming from the bottles triggered the latest recall of the popular over-the-counter medicine.

The recall signifies returning any 8-hour Tylenol

The latest Tylenol recall was announced Monday. 128,000 bottles of 50-count Tylenol 8-Hour Caplets were taken back voluntarily by Johnson and Johnson’s McNeil Consumer Healthcare division. The Tylenol 8-hour merchandise had a “musty or moldy odor” that had been complained about in the United States and Puerto Rico which called for McNeil to initiate the recall, accounts the NY Times. The Tylenol recalled was made at the company’s troubled Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, plant before the facility had been closed in March. The cause of the recall is the same excuse for why there had been a Tylenol recall in January, June and July with goods produced in Puerto Rico at the McNeil facility. They said a chemical used to treat wooden transport pallets that leached to the Tylenol probably caused there to be a moldy smell.

Tylenol recalls over and over

A congressional inquiry has been going into Johnson and Johnson. This is because there have been a number of recalls just this year. Due to nausea, stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea, five lots of 100-count Tylenol Arthritis Pain were recalled, accounts Cable News Network, just last November. All lots of the product were recalled later in December. Tylenol and Motrin were both part of yet another recall that expanded this that occurred in January. Odor complaints and nausea were what brought on this recall to happen. In May, 50 children’s medicines were recalled because of quality control and safety concerns.

Making sure you control facilities much better

Johnson and Johnson closed the McNeil plant in April. According to Reuters, Johnson and Johnson is revamping all of the level of quality control plans within the plant. This is so that the violations found by the United States FDA could be fixed. Based on the FDA, the plant had contaminated drug ingredients. There was also dust and grime everywhere. Johnson and Johnson’s bottom line got about $650 million a year just from the drugs manufactured at the Fort Washington plant. Based on Bloomberg, the recalls and facility closings will cost the business a lot. In fact, $600 billion will be lost this year because of it.

Information from

New York Times

prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/more-trouble-with-tylenol/?partner=rss and emc=rss

CNN

cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/10/19/tylenol.recall/index.html?npt=NP1

Reuters

reuters.com/article/idUSTRE69I2W320101019

Jersey Shore ensemble enjoys South Park Jersey Shore spoof

The recent “South Park Jersey Shore” episode took a swipe at the cast of the curiously famous MTV series. The “Jersey Shore” cast had been receptive and took it in stride. You will find numerous things considered a rite of passage. For any super star worth their salt, it is a merciless mocking by “South Park”. Some individuals have objected to being lampooned by the animation. However, that isn’t the case with the “Jersey Shore” cast. They seem to be loving it.

'South Park Jersey Shore’ left no punches about

As with any super star that “South Park” puts in the sights, the “South Park Jersey Shore” pulled the trigger on the oddball reality show from MTV. The episode, titled “It’s a Jersey Thing,” has the cast invading the fictional town of South Park, based on Columbia Broadcasting System. The characters were made to reflect the fake tans of the cast. This means they’re all orange. Stretch marks end up on the “Snooki” character as she is drawn to be very fat. She then is drawn with some facial hair and wrinkles also. The episode did not waste time on just the one show. “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” were made fun of too including Danielle Staub and Teresa Giudice. Ultimately, the town of South Park had to enlist the help of Osama Bin Laden to drive the brand new neighbors from New Jersey off, who is dispatched at the end of the show by a sniper.

Cast of ‘Jersey Shore’ really liked it

The parody of the “South Park Jersey Shore Episode” had been exciting. Even the “Jersey Shore” cast had been glad to determine it. Snooki thought her representation within the show was hilarious. Even “The Situation” reacted positively, despite being freshly booted off “Dancing with the Stars.”. Cast members of “Real Housewives” were also thrilled, according to Entertainment Weekly.

Animation mockery makes much more individuals well-known

The true mark of celebrity and having entered the national consciousness is a fictional disemboweling by “South Park.”. If an individual or trend gets popular, it has a great chance of being ridiculed on the show. Everybody loves watching “South Park.” This is why. The show is popular because there is so much toilet humor involved in it.

Citations

CBS News

cbsnews.com/8301-31749_162-20019595-10391698.html

Pop Watch

popwatch.ew.com/2010/10/14/teresa-giudice-danielle-staub-react-to-south-park-episode-looking-to-snl-next/

Get yourself a lower auto insurance rate

Driving without auto insurance is nearly an impossibility in these United States. The cost of insurance is typically tied to the value of the automobile in question. Drive safely and maintain good credit and your insurance premiums will be kept low. Nevertheless, there are other methods you might not know about that can clear the way for lower car insurance rates.

Get a lot of price estimates

”You can very easily wind up paying double from one business to the next,” says J. Robert Hunter of the Consumer Federation of The United States which means you can go to different stores, reports Edmunds.com. The National Association of Insurance shows us that you don’t have to pay a lot for insurance. Some of the least costly insurance businesses have better consumer service than all the others.

Full coverage can be negative

Comprehensive and collision are things you do not need full- or low deductible coverage for. You will conserve a ton by simply just getting off comprehensive and collision or just having higher deductibles. 25 to 40 percent can be saved by just going from a $250 to $1,000 deductible, based on Hunter. Do you have an older automobile? If so, you can instead just drop comprehensive and collision coverage completely.

If you aren’t sure, Hunter suggests adding the deductibles and multiplying the result by 10. You know you are paying too much if the number you get is more than what your car is worth. The average insurance carrier only files a claim once each and every 11 years, so dropping comprehensive and collision on less valuable vehicles is not much of a gamble.

Make an effort to get some discounts

If your car is one you hardly ever drive, you can get discounts. Additionally you can get special discounts if the car is not used for work every day and is instead only used for pleasure purposes. You also can get more savings by being a member in different professional organizations. You can have a lower premiums with more safety devices. These contain anti-theft. If you are a senior citizen, you should make that clear. Also, it helps to be a good student.

Pay every little thing in full without letting coverage lapse

A $10 to $15 installment fee will always be there although paying your insurance premiums in installments might seem convenient. If you are able, pay the full premium up front and conserve. As long as you are likely to keep driving, keep paying. Any kind of coverage lapse is something insurers will charge huge rates for.

Articles cited

Edmunds.com

edmunds.com/reviews/list/top10/116958/article.html

Apple Inc strikes brand new high on stock sector

There is some large news concerning Apple. Steve Jobs and shareholders in Apple Inc have an occasion to commemorate. The Apple business stock has just reached the highest value ever. Shares of Apple are selling for $300 or more. It is the most the stock has ever sold for. This has been a huge year for Apple. With Christmas approaching, it ought to be getting better. The iPad and continued success of the iPhone and iPod assure that Apple is going to be a heavyweight for a long time to come.

New high comes from Apple Inc.

The New York Times reports that for October 13, Apple Inc. hit the highest stock it has ever been at. Apple Stock is over $300 and staying there. The high point hit was $301.50. Apple is pretty excited. Stock has never been that high for Apple before. The prices for Apple stock keeps going up. Brokerage houses do this on purpose. You are able to get stocks from Financial institution of The United States for $400 per share. Oppenheimer raised its price for shares of Apple to $345. The year is going great for the company. The business is way excited. This year is looking good. The tablet computer had been successful from Apple. This had been a concern since other tablets have failed before. The iPhone 4. and also the iPod continue to sell. A fourth quarter record will come out for the business pretty soon.

Verizon iPhone gossips will not die

There have been consistent rumors of the iPhone moving to other networks. The fabled Verizon iPhone causes a great stir almost once a month. However, neither Verizon nor Apple have confirmed it officially yet. The trouble in a Verizon iPhone, according to the Wall Street Journal, is that Verizon uses CDMA systems. Retooling the iPhone for CDMA use would be the biggest issue that would need solving. That would need to occur before a Verizon iPhone could exist. Smartphone’s like the Android have been getting fairly popular along with the iPhone though.

Apple is what the sector desires for

Apple Inc. has had an incredible year so far. There is no reason the company would let up. It will continue this way. The business has hit a record high share cost for good reason.

Citations

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704657304575540072333071694.html?mod=loomia and loomia_si=t0:a16:g2:r3:c0.0243532:b38300774

NY Times

nytimes.com/external/gigaom/2010/10/13/13gigaom-apple-stock-climbs-above-300-56406.html?ref=technology

Ex-Google exec founds ZestCash, online loan provider to the underbanked

ZestCash is a new online lending operation to serve the underbanked launched by a former executive of Google. Online financial loans via ZestCash of up to $500 were being made in Utah beginning Oct. 13. The business said it will use information, Google-style, to minimize risk and maximize benefits for its customers.

Online lending in different ways done

The person who started ZestCash had been Douglas Merrill. He is a former Google CIO and Vice President of engineering. ZestCash customers, based on TechCrunch, get to choose how much money, up to $500, they want to borrow and just how long to pay it back it is going to take. As customers choose their loan terms, the ZestCash website helps them arrive at a manageable repayment schedule by showing them how the weekly payment is affected by time. Loans are repaid in smaller installments rather than all at once. When a customer’s take out a loan online, a full payment schedule showing when each payment will drawn from their accounts is provided. Also, if there are late payments, ZestCash tends to be flexible about them.

Financing with Google

ZestCash has made a good decision entering this industry. It is growing and had been already huge. About 12 million individuals get loans every year accounts the Center for Responsible Lending. Last year $20 billion in financial loans had been made. This was just within the payday advance industry too. The underbanked in The United States, or those who don’t have any kind of relationships with a bank, are accounted for in 18 percent of households, or 60 million people, accounts the FDIC. Reuters spoke with Merrill about this all. Merrill said that customers will better be able to afford their loans with the “Google-style data” that ZestCash plans to use. He says that applying technology learned at Google to loan underwriting will bring the benefits of decent credit to millions of individuals who never had it before.

Financial loans doing far better due to information crunching

Payday loan corporations determine their fees depending on the risk involved with no credit checks. The online lending industry might be transformed by the “Google-like data crunching way” that ZestCash will start using, states Quentin Hardy at Forbes. Merrill told Hardy that ZestCash lending decisions could be depending on “research in economics, math and computer science.”. ZestCash engineers use information on the web, phone calls and consumer questionnaires to pick at all this data. Merrill believes in using all resources. In fact, he said, “we believe all data is useful credit data.”

Citations

TechCrunch

techcrunch.com/2010/10/12/former-google-cio-douglas-merrill-wants-to-reform-payday-loans-with-zestcash/

Reuters

reuters.com/article/idUS257141103020101013

Forbes

blogs.forbes.com/quentinhardy/2010/10/12/google-style-money-for-americas-poor/

James Jones to resign as National Security Advisor

The retirement of National Security Advisor James Jones had been just announced. He can be exchanged by Tom Donilon, the Deputy National Security Advisor. Officials have been leaving the Obama administration at a seemingly high rate. Perhaps most surprising was the announcement that Rahm Emanuel would leave as Chief of Staff to run for Mayor of Chicago. There is also a rumored replacement of Joe Biden with Hillary Clinton.

Finally retiring is James Jones

There was a recent announcement about James Jones. He could be retiring. The plan was shown by the Los Angeles Times. He plans to serve until October is over. Jones will be exchanged by Tom Donilon, the Deputy National Security Advisor. Experience is something Donilon has. He held the position of chief of staff under Warren Christopher. Christopher worked under President Clinton as Secretary of State. He then worked for Obama as the 3rd president to work under. Since General James Jones had already had a long career, he only planned on working for two years. Jones was formerly the Marine Corps Commandant and commander of NATO. Jones didn’t even want the position of National Security Advisor. The Afghan surge strategy happening right was also something he had been a chief architect for.

All the officials going away

The Obama administration has seen officials in top spots leave at a high rate over the past few months, as outlined by CNN. Mayor of Chicago is what Rahm Emanuel hopes to get the spot as. Mayor Daley is retiring which is a great opportunity. Others to leave contain advisor David Axelrod and economic adviser Larry Summers. Joe Biden may be stepping down too if the rumors are true. Rampant speculation has begun that President Obama will replace him with Hillary Clinton before the 2012 election, though the White House denies it so far.

White House seems to like musical chairs now

Seems like like all the White House staff are disappearing. They all keep leaving. It hasn’t been decided if this can be a coincidence. It probably isn’t. There have been other presidents that had large comings and goings of staff before.

Information from

CNN

cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/10/06/obama.clinton/index.html

CNN

cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/10/08/obama.jones.replacement/

LA Times

latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-1009-national-security-advisor-20101009,,7588107.story

LPGA defends in opposition to Lawless lawsuit

The Associated Press accounts that Lawless, a 57-year-old who elected to undergo sex reassignment surgery in 2005, has filed a lawsuit in opposition to the Ladies’ Professional Golf Association (Ladies Professional Golf Association). It appears the Ladies Professional Golf Association has a rule that rivals must be born female, so a United States of America District Court in San Francisco will address whether such a rule is lawful. Lana Lawless maintains that such a rule runs afoul of the civil rights of course to her by California law. Lawless wants the law to bar the LPGA from CA and demand that Long Drivers of The United States pay her damages. Post resource – Transgender golfer Lana Lawless suing LPGA over gender rule by Personal Money Store.

Long-drive championship sees Lana Lawless being a challenger

In 2008, Lana Lawless won the women’s division of the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship with a 335 yard strike. Now the event will not allow Lawless to defend her title, as the participation policy has fallen in line with LPGA standards. The suit Lawless has filed can be compared to another. Moonbattery reports that in 1977, the new York Supreme Court heard a case from transgender tennis pro Renee Richards that is similar. Since Chief United States of America District Judge Vaughn Walker just made a ruling in favor of gay marriage, Lawless will likely be in favor at the liberal court, states Moonbattery .

From S.W.A.T. to swatting golf balls

Lawless had been a man who worked in Southern CA city as a bartender before this change. She also worked as a Special Weapons And Tactics cop for 18 years, accounts Right Celebrity. Lawless had been also married, but fathered no children. “I had a very tough and mean exterior. Individuals didn’t want to mess with me,” Lawless said. “But Lana was always in there. I had started to go to Los Angeles to the clubs, playing dress-up on the weekends. But I wanted to be a normal girl.”

A normal girl when it comes to competition

Lana Lawless always states, “I am a woman.”. “I’ve lost muscle mass. I don’t have big guns (biceps). They give you a drug that stops you from producing testosterone. Your muscles atrophy. I feel like I do not have any power.”

Every little thing might change with an additional landmark legal ruling in her favor.

Data from

Associated Press

huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/13/lana-lawless-transgender-_n_760882.html

Moonbattery

moonbattery.com/archives/2010/10/male-pervert-la.html

Right Celebrity

rightcelebrity.com/?p=4796

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renée_Richards

A money advance is not a tool of racial discrimination

There are says that cash advance loans lenders purposefully exploit minorities. The idea goes that minorities in poor neighborhoods are preyed upon by short term personal loan providers to get them hooked. Well, there is something about that idea that is common to claims like that about practically anything. The truth is not that simple. Payday loan store location is determined by demand, and more goes into it than just ethnic background. A business which does not base its location, or anything really, along a basis of supply and demand is soon a business no longer. Source of article – A cash advance loans is not a tool of racism by Personal Money Store.

Locating the group of money advance stores

One allegation made towards payday lending is that payday loan companies focus on certain races. They move to areas exactly where that race is targeted. The Center for Responsible Lending released a report that purported payday loan companies in CA clustered in areas in which predominantly African Americans and Latinos were located. Check cashing is accessible in most of these areas. They’re just places financial services tend to be available. Payday loan companies really focus on areas that are urban or rural, have a population younger than 40 mostly and live at the poverty line. This had been shown in a study in 2009 done by Robin Prager. If payday loan companies only lent loans for poor credit to people who could not afford to repay, they would soon be out of business.

Desire establishes location of supply

It isn’t really sound to argue the demographics of the area make the service predatory as the business goes exactly where there is a desire. If that was the standard, marketing to any demographic besides everybody is predatory. This has proven that targeting a minority is considered predatory because you’re giving them what they desperately need. That means the clothing business that offers heavy coats that can withstand temperatures as low as negative 80 degrees is being predatory in Alaska because it isn’t also offered to those in Arizona.

Economics help us with this a bit

Correlations do not necessarily end in trigger and effect relationships. That makes sense. Payday lenders cannot lend to those who can’t pay the money back. This would end in a loss of money rather than a profit and also the merchants would close. The businesses would all die off fast if this were the case. You can find many more facts and statistics reports.

Owen PowerPoint raises severe questions at Duke

As a joke, Duke alumna Karen Owen created a second “thesis”. This “harmless” Powerpoint presentation, though, has proven anything but. Karen Owen’s thesis (the fake one, anyway) laid out, in detail, her sexual conquests. Intended just for friends, Karen Owen’s Powerpoint went viral — with heavy collateral damage.

Karen Owen’s PowerPoint

Karen Owen made a Powerpoint of sexual conquests for her project which had “Just for fun” as its title. The PowerPoint showed each pairing she had been in. This is what the Duke student did. The PowerPoint was spread amongst Karen Owen’s friends only at first. Everyone at Duke knew about the Powerpoint fairly quickly. Next it went all around the world to many people. The PowerPoint made its way through the web very easily. It had been really popular as people knew it had been about a college student. Though it was never intended for a wider audience, the Powerpoint presentation has been downloaded more than 2 million times – a growth rate not even no no fax payday loans no credit check stores can match.

Duke student PowerPoint reopens wounds

It was just a couple of short years ago the private life of Duke became international news. The lacrosse team was charged with sex crimes which had been cleared later on. This was when the college’s private life became news to everyone. The new PowerPoint by Karen Owen has reignited a discussion of the promiscuity of college students at Duke. The attention Duke gets is abnormal. This is only because of the students though. Some say it isn’t just the students, and that it is the college culture.

Karen Owen’s PowerPoint didn’t get much of a redaction

Every person thinks it had been a bad decision for Karen Owen to make this Powerpoint. Of course, other things are a bigger concern right now. No names were redacted with the Duke Powerpoint which was first posted by Jezebel. Karen Owen, also as various of the named students, questioned the journalistic responsibility of this move. Names of those involved were redacted by numerous of the news outlets. What do you think about this?

Information from

Duke Chronicle

dukechronicle.com/article/sex-list-draws-media-duke

Jezebel

jezebel.com

Westboro Baptist Church offends Ozzy by using Crazy Train

Westboro Baptist Church has made an additional high-profile enemy in famous rocker Ozzy Osbourne, reports E! Online. Outside the Supreme Court, the Kansas-based church played Ozzy Osbourne’s tune “Crazy Train,” ostensibly under the impression the song’s message supported their hateful agenda. Osbourne heard about this use of his work, and he certainly was not pleased.

Ozzy mad and ‘disgusted’ that someone used his song all for ‘hate and evil’

”Crazy Train” had been used by the Westboro Baptist Church. Ozzy Osbourne seems to be “sickened” and “disgusted” by this. Ozzy’s first single as a solo artist had been this song which came out in 1980 as part of the “Blizzard of Ozz” album. A live version appeared on the 1987 album “Tribute.”. ”Crazy Train” is love by numerous. It is considered a classic of rock and heavy metal still. Co-writer Randy Rhoads’ famous guitar riff is stock and trade for anybody who aspires to play electric guitar. The music isn’t really something Fred Phelps and also the Westboro Baptist Church should be using. They want to condemn those they call sinners while not appreciating the true value in the song.

War and homosexuality protested by Westboro Baptists

The Westboro Baptist Church uses hate speech that tests the freedom of speech in its protest against foreign wars when many other Americans stage peaceful protests instead. Their Supreme Court protest involved the death of a U.S. Marine in Iraq. The Westboro Baptist Church is being sued by the soldier’s father for invasion of privacy and emotional distress. This is because they protested by putting up gay bashing slogans, although the soldier was not gay, and saying the soldier had been “going straight to hell on (a) crazy train.”

Westboro doesn’t know ‘Crazy Train’

Using a song as a theme song when you do not know the lyrics is generally a bad thing. It doesn’t look all that great. The protest featured “Crazy Train” in it. Of course, Ozzy Osbourne never had been asked for permission from the Westboro Baptist Church to have the song used. Even if it might make them the target of another lawsuit. They clearly didn’t understand the lines from “Blizzard of Ozz”. ”Crazy Train” says in the first verse, “maybe it’s not too late… to learn how to love… and forget how to hate.”

The real crazies here are the Westboro Baptist Church members.

Details from

E! Online

eonline.com/uberblog/b204556_ozzy_osbourne_disgusted_by_anti-gay.html

Wikipedia

/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazy_Train

Expanding income distance in U.S. makes healing tough

America’s revenue distance disparity proceeds to expand at breakneck pace. As a Washington Post op-ed piece by Steven Pearlstein argues, such inequality is making the economic recovery a difficult task. Pearlstein argues the Republican method of dealing with the disparity has been to ignore the issue, and the current administration appears to be using the same playbook.

Income gap not included in GOP ‘Pledge to America’

The U.S. income gap has gotten much larger. If we want to view just a little better, we can take a look at 1976. Then, a 3rd of income went to the upper crustal 3rd of revenue went to the upper crust back then There was a better layout how much income had been going to the top dogs. The upper crust had been getting about a 3rd of the income. The 15 years leading to 2007 show something very different. Top earning households ended up getting about 50 percent of income instead. And now seems like that “virtually all of the benefits of economical growth have gone to households that, in today’s terms, earn more than $110,000 a year.” This is what Pearlstein points out.

When did the distance begin?

There are numerous possible suspects to blame for income inequality within the United States. Globalization might be one thing to blame. This is because workers, good and money are now outside of the country instead of within. Another could be that educated workers are wanted more now. Pearlman also claims other “institutional changes” could be the declining unions, industry deregulation or even the rising power of financial markets. American society has decided an inequality in wages like this is just fine. That is what Pearlman’s real opinion is on the whole thing.

Need to keep the balance maintained

If there is too high an index of inequality (or too low), America’s economic growth and ability to compete on the global stage becomes apparent. Wall Street probably does not mind the gap so much since there’s a lot of cash there. Of course, everyday families living off paydayloans for survival are probably not as happy about it. In order to live as one of these families, the only way to keep up the lifestyle is to get into debt. There’s a lot of debt to prove this point although Pearlstein does not think that families had to get into the debt.

Pearlstein is just one of those people who thinks the government needs to get less involved. There has to be some kind of change. This is only if changing the distance is significant to people. “People do not work hard, take risks, and make sacrifices if they think the rewards will all flow to others.”

Citations

Washington Post

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/05/AR2010100505535.html

Schwarzenegger has structure to furlough CA workers cleared by court

The order from Governor Schwarzenegger to furlough California staff has been upheld. There have been several years of a California spending budget crisis with little support for Schwarzenegger. There are consecutive years of budget shortfalls for CA. Governor Schwarzenegger was sued to keep a further furlough of state employees from occurring. Nevertheless, the CA Supreme Judge has ruled in favor of the government.

Judge wants furlough order to remain

To conserve money, Governor Schwarzenegger made sure that California state employees had to have a furlough. Workers will not get paid for two days that they’re required to take off every month. The initial furloughs were ordered in 2008, and extended to three days in 2009. In 2009, the state furlough orders were renewed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. This led the Professional Engineers in California Government to sue Schwarzenegger. The claim was that the days off were illegal. CNN reports the government won in that battle with the CA Supreme Court. Due to the furloughs, the state of CA will conserve lots of money. About $80 million a month could be saved.

Cash in CA is cut quite firm

The state of CA has had a running budget crisis for the past a number of years. As real estate values and employment plummeted, the state was left with a drastic budget deficit. CA has been getting a budget deficit each and every year. Legislators and other parties have tried stopping Schwarzenegger in anything he has tried to do. The deficit is not something that he likes or approves of. It is his only option to get the deficit to go down. Bloomberg explains the California spending budget deficit is, for this year, at $19.1 billion.

Money can’t be spent if it is not coming in

For the past two years, the state of California has been continually in a crisis. The governor and the state legislature are designed to reach an agreement over the spending budget later this month. The furloughs were supported by the legislature.

Info from

Bloomberg

bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-04/california-s-schwarzenegger-can-order-worker-furloughs-state-court-rules.html

CNN

cnn.com/2010/US/10/04/california.furloughs/

USPS, deep in the red, has rate boost declined

A 5.6 % postal price boost requested by the United States Postal Service was turned down Thursday by the Postal Regulatory Commission. Among the proposed increases, the postal service said raising the price of a first class stamp from 44 cents to 46 cents was necessary because of reduced mail traffic during the economic recession. The commission did not agree with that reasoning. A bad business model, not the economy was the source of the problem, the commission said.

Help wanted by postal price raises

A deficit of $238 billion via 2020 is what is expected for the USPS meaning it is losing all its money. In addition to the first class stamp price increase, Bloomberg reports the USPS requested an increase of 7 % on packages used to ship books, video and merchandise. It also hopes to get a rise on parcels under a pound. It is hoping that it will go up 23 %. The Postal Service hasn’t increased its rates in about two years. For the first time since 1863, the Postal Service has requested to end Saturday postal mail delivery from Congress.

United States Mail needs to work out some difficulties

Thurs the House passed a bill that the senate passed Wednesday that funds federal programs via the beginning of December although the USPS wasn’t a part of it. Based on the Washington Post, the Postal Service owes a $5.5 billion payment that is required to pre-fund retiree medical benefits by law. Democrats tried to postpone this payment but Republicans wouldn’t have it. The USPS has slashed a $10 billion in expending. This cut has only been since 2008. Attrition is part of its plan. That’s how it wants to cut the workforce. The USPS and Congress are working together to come up with a plan to keep postal mail service alive and well, reports the Office of Management and Spending budget.

The main reason there could be no Postal Rate increase

The USPS lost $3.8 billion in 2009. Based on the Associated Press, the proposal wasn’t rejected as much as the presentation of the suggestion was, claims Ruth Goldway. Goldway is the chairman of the commission. The price boost was something she said at a news conference that had to change because of structural difficulties that need to be addressed instead of the economic recession hurting it. The Affordable Mail alliance fought with numerous others to reject this. The others involved were banks, national retailers, utilities, charities, smaller businesses and some consumer groups that got together.

Articles cited

Bloomberg

bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-30/u-s-postal-service-denied-another-rate-increase-by-regulatory-commission.html

Washington Post

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/29/AR2010092906645.html?wpisrc=nl_pmheadline

Associated Press

google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iqbZ05-vr6nAfjJzyIXr_d1k26DwD9IIDJ4O0?docId=D9IIDJ4O0

TARP, after getting bailout a dirty term, concludes Oct. 3

The Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) ends Oct. 3 after accomplishing its specific objectives and costing less than originally predicted . During its life, Troubled Asset Relief Program became politicized by Republicans in an effort to discredit the Obama administration and became negatively associated with the unpopular concept of the Wall Street bailout . TARP succeeded in bailing out corporate American within the form of entities such as Wall Street, GM and American International Group. However the average American has yet to see the slightest benefit, which has put Democrats in the surreal position of taking heat for a program hatched by the Bush regime.

That which we spend on Troubled Asset Relief Program

All payments will continue to be collected from Troubled Asset Relief Program although, Sunday, it will no longer give out loan. Fortune at Cable News Network reports that it’s been two years since Congress gave $700 billion to the Treasury Department to prevent an economic collapse. The economy is limping along, Wall Street has resumed pillaging, and TARP’s final bill is much less than originally thought. According to the Treasury, the government only lent $386 billion of the fund. The government is getting the money back at higher rates than they thought it would be at. This week Treasury secretary Tim Geithner said he expected the total cost of TARP to come in under $50 billion.

Because of Troubled Asset Relief Program , bad things occur

The financial system needed saving from the government that came only partly via the TARP, reports the Washington Post. More than $1.5 trillion was distributed by the Treasury and Federal Reserve to help the mortgage and housing market. The bailouts have also helped the government get just a little more control. It is part of the private sectors with this. A socialist takeover is what extremists think will happen soon because of the economic help being done. Political figures that had a yes vote for Troubled Asset Relief Program will end up having significant consequences in the November elections because of the resentment numerous feel towards the government right now.

The issues of Troubled Asset Relief Program

Democrats are fighting for Troubled Asset Relief Program to show that it isn’t that awful of a program. Unfortunately, the Bush administration begun this program really hurting Democrats. ABC News explains that Republicans are excited that TARP isn’t something that the country likes. That means that those associated with the term bailout, President Obama and Democrats, aren’t liked because of the bad connotation. There was a conference on August 10 where Republicans spoke about a bill Democrats are attempting to pass giving $26 billion to a state fiscal aid package. They used the word bailout about 7 times to get the point across. Although the program is already expired, the “Pledge to America” from Republicans claims the program will be ended permanently.

Articles cited

CNN

finance.fortune.cnn.com/2010/10/01/tarp-ends-thrifty-but-unloved/

PMS Money Blog

personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2010/07/15/banks-and-bailouts/

Washington Post

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/30/AR2010093006621.html

ABC News

abcnews.go.com/Politics/tarp-government-bailout-ends-sunday-started-bush-gop/story?id=11765955

The United State's Cheapest Household is enduring and booming on less

It takes discipline to navigate the financial waters of the economic recession, and the Economides of Scottsdale, Ariz., appear to have what it takes. While most people struggle to pay bills and scratch for emergency money, “America’s Least expensive Family” (the Economides’ trademarked title) lives well by the simple principles of making a spending budget and frugal living. MSNBC.com reports that the Economides are the very model of a modern American household, except that they have a handle on their finances.

Consumer credit averted by ‘America’s Cheapest Family’

Credit cards, auto car loans and squeezing as much equity as possible out of a home aren’t on the agenda for America’s Cheapest Family. Despite having an expensive home in the golf resort community of Scottsdale, the Economides are able to live life on $44,000 per year. The family wears designer clothing and eats healthily although you will find seven of them. The Economides explain that without impulse purchasing and with a lot of bargain hunting, it is easy to live this way, although many may think otherwise. You will find lots of people interested in their book called, “Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half – With The United State’s Least expensive Household.” It is something that helps individuals to figure out how to live life a quality life nevertheless without paying for it all.

You’ll need for making an agenda

Planning spending is vital for any family, and that includes planning meals. The Economides always plan for meals. This is done way beforehand. Preparing ahead tends to save individuals lots of money on food. Without it, everybody just decides last minute what to get and ends up spending much more money. And the proof is in the numbers for The United State’s Cheapest Household. The Economides spend only $350 a week on groceries, while many other families spend $2,000 a week. It is possible. Reasonable portion sizes play a significant part.

It isn’t hard to get nice clothes

Numerous expect that the Economides wear nasty clothes that’s been through a million people. In truth, they dress quite fashionably. Matt Lauer was asked about this on “Today.” He said that they do not wear the most cutting edge clothing still. Designer jeans may go for $200 in a mall boutique, but if a quality pair of jeans – even one with a designer name – can be had for $10 in a thrift store, it makes sense to buy for less. They save all the money they can. The Economides use that philosophy in anything they do.

Citations

MSNBC

today.msnbc.msn.com/id/39416868/ns/today-today_people/

California cannabis regulation doesn't go far enough

There is a CA weed regulation that was just passed by Schwarzenegger. The bill isn’t really a full legalization. It is only a mild decriminalization. The penalty for possession has been lowered by the brand new law. Under the new law, everyone caught with a certain amount of cannabis without a prescription will pay a small fine. The penalty used to also include court appearances.

The cannabis reform by Schwarzenegger

Most recently, Governor Schwarzenegger signed a bill. The bill was called 1449. The penalty of carrying less than an ounce of marijuana around went down with SB 1449. Right now, an individual could be fined up to $100 and is needed to show up to court with a misdemeanor offence. The Los Angeles explains that the penalty will now only be a fine as of January 1, 2011. There is also another bill, Proposition 19, which would make marijuana use for recreational purposes entirely legal. Prop 19 isn’t something that Governor Schwarzenegger supports. Of course it was only practical that he sign in SB 1449. It is a huge burden to courts to have too many cases in there. Also, it was a burden to law officials. California has some of the most relaxed medical weed laws within the United States.

Insufficient bill

There is not much of an argument to state that weed is evil. Alcohol and tobacco are gateway drugs just as marijuana is. If someone wants to do drugs, they’ll get a hold of them effortlessly. Weed may not have even been their first drug. The drug being illegal is odd to begin with considering the history of the criminalization of marijuana. There was really only one reason why Nixon even stared the “Drug War.” This was so that political dissenters would be stopped in their tracks.

Hardly any advantages

The law won’t stop individuals from doing what they want, says history. Within the early 20th century, alcohol became prohibited. Of course more crime only happened with this. Prohibition of marijuana does the very same. It opens the door to a police state. Those who lived with the K.G.B. or Stasi looking over their shoulder have a thing or two to state. They testify to that experience completely. No one benefits from marijuana being illegal.

Data from

LA Times

latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2010/10/schwarzenegger-signs-bill-reducing-offense-for-marijuana-possession.html

Nintendo Wii games are shedding acceptance

Within the motion-sensing video game industry, the Wii has controlled the majority of the market for years. However, brand new numbers are telling otherwise. Recent reports show that more and more customers are moving away from the Wii system and turning to rival game consoles for entertainment purposes. It appears that the Wii, one of the few prominent video game systems within the 21st century, is fading more and more in popularity. Nintendo needs to create and introduce a new creation fast to match with its competitors if they want to return to good growth.

This season is poor for Nintendo Wii

Leading U.K. video games retailer GAME blames Nintendo’s consoles for the decline in revenue and sales this year. Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS consoles had a 40 percent drop in sales compared to last year, reports Gamestation. The Wii does not seem to interest individuals anymore. The United States of America customers are moving away from it. According to Conceivably Tech, August shipment numbers looked very troubling for Nintendo. 244,000 Wii’s were shipped then. The Xbox had 357,000 360 sales while the PS3 had at least 226,000. That makes Nintendo Wiis look weak.

Overall game console sales are in a state of decline. Nintendo probably will not stay within the lead with these trends without performing something large. The Japanese video game giant likely will not be arriving out with a brand new Wii console. There will not be a Wii console ready until 2012 although there may be one introduced next season.

Movement sensing games rivaling

There are now some huge competitors with the Wii. The Wii remote was mimicked by Sony with the PlayStation Move that came out earlier this year. It has better movement sensor technology in it than the Wii remotes though. Word is that Microsoft will even join forces with Kinect, a camera-based system that eliminates the need for hand controllers altogether. A user is recorded with microphones, cameras and sensors. This allows the system to know what the user is doing. In November it will supposedly be available. Marketing is being planned by both businesses carefully. They are marketing for the upcoming holidays.

Drugging taints latest Tour as Alberto Contador screens affirmative

Alberto Contador may not have won the 2010 Tour de France fair and square after a failed substance examination during the race was revealed Wednesday. He vehemently denied the charges in an emotional appearance at a press event Thursday. Contador guarded himself from the possible loss of his title and a two-year suspension with the justification that eating bad meat was the reason for the test results.

Contador believes the animal meat was the problem

The Tour de France was something Contador was looking forward to as the world's greatest cyclist. Unfortunately, the day before it started on July 21, he tested positive. Wednesday, the International cycling Union released a statement about what was in his two urine samples, reports the New York Times. A weight-loss and muscle building drug called clenbuterol was what was found in his system. Thursday, Contador decided to come out and say that meat he had eaten at the hotel had to be drugged with this because he didn't do it himself. His other part of the statement was saying he would not have performed any better with the tiny amounts of the clenbuterol found in the samples anyway.

Previous Contador did drugs

Contador’s next challenge can be to clear his name. The International Cycling Union suspended him, reports Cable News Network, from racing for a while. In 2006, the Spanish blood-doping ring has Contador linked right now it, what with the sport having drugging being something most do. He won the Tour de France in 2007. This was the first time he was able to do so. In 2008 he joined Astana, a team that was banned from the race for doping violations. In 2009, his second Tour title was won. Lance Armstrong has won seven times however got third this particular time. So far, the only winner of the Tour de France stripped of his title after testing positive was American Floyd Landis.

Experts believing Contador

Some experts believe Contador’s claim that tainted meat caused his positive doping test. We learn from Universal Sports that clenbuterol is given to animals sometimes. To speed up growth, chicken, cows and pigs are given the drug. The liver and muscle is where the drug ends up staying. Bodybuilders often burn fat and build muscle with clenbuterol. The drug also increases aerobic capacity by making more oxygen accessible to muscles. It aeffects the body similarly to amphetamines. This is only short term though. Contador couldn't at all have gotten a boost from easting clenbuterol-spiked animal meat, Dr. Andrew Franklyn Miller told Universal as a sports medicine expert.

Articles cited

New York Times

nytimes.com/2010/10/01/sports/cycling/01cycling.html?ref=sports

CNN

cnn.com/2010/SPORT/09/30/cycling.alberto.contador.banned/index.html?npt=NP1

Universal Sports

universalsports.com/news/article/newsid=494315.html

White House may be sans Emanuel shortly

Over the last few weeks, there has been a lot of buzz concerning a member of the White House team. Specifically, it has been about Rahm Emanuel. A new Chief of Staff could be needed, as Rahm is leaving his post. Rahm wants a position involving real power, and is running for Mayor of Chicago. Present Mayor Daley is retiring at the conclusion of this term. The possibility was brought up the second Daley announced it, as Rahm is recognized to want the spot.

Rahm picked up and vanished

Speculation of Rahm Emanuel leaving his post for the upcoming Chicago mayor election has been rampant for weeks. It isn’t official that he is running yet. There were reports from D.C. saying otherwise. This would indicate he is running officially. The Washington Post has given its opinion on things. It expects the White House will announce what is going on fairly soon. The issue is something Obama is going to have to discuss. He can be doing a later press conference for this reason. There has been an announcement that there will be a press conference at the White House in the near future as a result of personnel changes, and this originated from White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

Just like Daley

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley decided earlier this year not to seek reelection next year. After his current term expires, he will retire. According to the NY Times, Daley decided the time was right to get out of it all behind. The Chicago dynasty will be ending with his retirement. Chicago had his father, named Daley also, as a mayor for a while. He was mayor for longer than most. The elder Daley served in the post from 1955 to 1976, and died while in office. Daley himself has been the mayor since 1989 when he was elected in. For the last 55 years, a Daley has been at the helm of Chicago for all however 11 of them.

Rahm wants to be mayor

Rahm Emanuel has wanted the placement for a while, and has made it clear. Chicago is a Democrat stronghold, and for the firebrand Emanuel, it may be a good fit.

Citations

Washington Post

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/30/AR2010093004061.html

NY Times

nytimes.com/2010/09/08/us/politics/08daley.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

White House may ask for 60 mpg gasoline requirement by 2025

The White House is said to be proposing that fuel economy expectations, or CAFE expectations, for automakers be set at 60 miles per gallon by 2025. Current CAFE standards mandate that automobile makers hit 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016. Fuel standards are not tied to a single model, but an average of all models offered by an auto maker. Also, it doesn’t completely count actual fuel consumption. Part of it is the right emissions levels in contrast to fuel consumption.

Establishing a new standard

One of the platforms that Obama ran for president on was improving energy standards. Fuel standards have regulations already passed saying that by 2016, standards have to go up to 35.5 mpg. According to USA Today ,the White House is going to make an effort to raise them again. By 2025, the goal could be up to 60 mpg if it goes through. However, the new standards aren’t set in stone yet. The new CAFE Standards wouldn’t pass into law until 2011 or 2012.

Selecting requirements

These fuel economy standards are call Corporate Average Fuel economy, or CAFÉ. Wikipedia teaches what CAFÉ requirements mean. Each vehicle is not expected to hit this high standard. Every vehicle a manufacturer has on the road is counted in this. It is the average usual fuel consumption the cars have together. The first regulations were passed a long time ago. In fact, it happened in 1975. The last significant CAFE standard increase was in 1990, when standards were raised to 27.5 miles per gallon. There could be an increase to 30.2 miles per gallon in 2011.

What’s designed with the laws

The purpose of this legislation would be to encourage, through law, the manufacture of hybrids or electric automobiles. Catches always apply. Getting a new car is not all that easy. Most cannot even afford it. Electric and Hybrid autos aren’t even doing well enough right now for that. A full sized pickup is car a lot of individuals require for work. It is big enough to tow heavy loads and large enough to get into hard to reach places.

Articles cited

USA Today

content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2010/09/60-mpg-required-by-2025—/1

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_Average_Fuel_Economy

Should I do a crisis account or work on debt reduction?

Is it even better to possess a crisis account or debt reduction?

There is one question everybody wants to know right now. It is more important to conserve to pay down charge card debt? With the average return on savings in the U.S. so reduced, many financial experts say that customers will come out ahead within the long run with credit card debt reduction. One thing considered is that more money is lost on charge card debt than is gained by saving. A lot of Americans seem to believe this idea which is shown within the massive decline in consumer credit most recently. This can be a good plan for everyone that is getting a difficult time with their finances. The economy is getting worse though. The cutbacks in consumer spending are doing this. Saving for an emergency account may not rid you of credit card debt however may help the economy go back to normal.

Debt reduction better option with reduced interest rates

Record-low rates of interest could mean that credit card debt reduction will settle bigger for the moment than bolstering a crisis fund. When you have a low interest rate, you’ll get a lot less money back from a crisis fund, claims Peak Personal Finance. Putting cash in “high yield” savings accounts will not be as productive probably as paying down high interest credit card debt. According to Money-Rates.com, the average return on savings accounts under 10,000 as of July 24 was .80 percent. Also, if the economy improves then credit card companies will start to raise rates again. The present environment might be the best time for making meaningful headway with charge card credit card debt reduction.

Numerous decreasing debt

The economy within the United States has left numerous with the same option to pick from. This option would be following that advice. In June, middle class savings got to an eight month low, claims Financial-Planning.com which was shown in a First Command Financial Behaviors report. That is a really low rate. It has not been that low since October 2009. At the exact same time Americans have stepped up decreasing their credit card debt. But the debt customers paid off was not enough to offset the savings reduction. There was a five percent drop from the first quarter of 44 percent to 39 percent of a savings to debt ratio. This is where we see the change the best.

Do not overlook the need for an emergency account

Peak explained that individuals shouldn’t overlook about an emergency fund even if credit card debt reduction is going to benefit financially better than saving. People need to make goals. One of these should be a monthly savings goal. The person’s situation is what will determine how much credit card debt reduction vs. savings is done. Job security is one thing to think about. If it is a problem at all, make an emergency fund more important. Pursuing credit card debt reduction is probably the better choice if one has a great and secure job.

Citations

Peak Personal Finance

peakpersonalfinance.com/is-now-really-the-time-to-build-up-savings-instead-of-paying-down-debt/

Financial Planning.com

financial-planning.com/news/first-command-spiker-savings-2668280-1.html

University of Texas locked up - University of Texas firing this morning

An apparent attack at the University of Texas shut down the entire campus today. A weapon was fired within the library, by one or possibly two gunmen. The sole person hurt or killed was the shooter. That person apparently committed suicide. Areas bordering the college campus are on lockdown until the SWAT team has cleared the campus.

University of Texas gunmen

Before 9 in the morning in Austin, a shooter walked into the Perry-Castaneda library. Some witnesses have claimed there was one shooter, when others are claiming you will find two. After running across university, the shooter entered the library. This was all while carrying an AK-47. The shooter allegedly shot himself after sending gunfire to the floor at the library. Because some witnesses have reported a second shooter, police are nevertheless looking for that second person.

Just one personal injury in UT shooting

Thus far, the only injury reported within the UT shooting is the gunman within the library. Witnesses say the shooter was aiming the weapon at the ground. Emergency services were called to university. This involved SWAT teams.

Students instantly informed of campus lockdown

Almost immediately following the UT firing began, the University of Texas-Austin university was shut down. Alerts were sent to students and faculty informing them of the lockdown. This alert was sent via email, text message, and Twitter. The UT campus alert included the words “STAY AWAY.” The lockdown caused by the UT shooting will continue for at least a few hours, possibly until the possible second gunman is found or confirmed to not exist.

Information from

CNN

cnn.com/2010/CRIME/09/28/texas.university.shooting/index.html?hpt=T2

ABC News

abcnews.go.com/US/shots-fired-university-texas-austin-cops-hunt-gunman/story?id=11744405

Statesman

statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/blotter/entries/2010/09/28/i_was_very_vulnerable_one_witn.html

Automobile firms providing more compact cars

Compact cars have not been huge sellers within the U.S. within the past. However, automobile manufacturers think that may be about to change. The public is becoming more conscious of environmental impact and cost of gas. No one really buys the SUV that can only fit in an aircraft hangar anymore. Economy is a premium. That’s why auto firms are introducing more models that are easy on the wallet at the dealership and at the pump. If a vehicle costs less on the lot and at the pump, there will always be a market for it.

The Fiat is not worthwhile

Ever since Fiat bought out Chrysler, it has been expected to launch a new design within the United States of America. Fiat may or may not really enter a new design to the market to be sold. Chrysler dealers were told to start offering the Fiat 500. This isn't a new design however has been really popular in all other countries. CNN explains the Fiat 500 is an eco-friendly vehicle. Many worried about the environment will love it. The cheaper model comes with a two cylinder engine, which gets 56 miles per gallon. The plant where Fiat plans to make the vehicles is already prepared. It is going to be places in Toluca, Mexico. If it is done right, the Mini Cooper will probably be extremely successful.

BMW new type

BMW is about to launch a new line of vehicles in the U.S. Automotive News explains that even though there aren't lots of details, a brand new line to the United States market is certainly being prepared by BMW. We do know a couple of things. The automobiles could be front wheel drive. Also, the motors are going to be four cylinder. The U.S. already has access to the spending budget model within the BMW1 series. There is a budget small line for Mercedes also. The United States of America has never seen any models of that though.

Ford Focus new design

Automotive News tells us that Ford is working on making things smaller too. Ford is already selling the Fiesta like crazy. Ford is also going to try and push the new Focus. The Fiesta was sold with social marketing as the business plans to do with the Focus.

Articles cited

Auto News

autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100930/OEM/100939985/1130

CNN

money.cnn.com/2010/09/10/autos/Fiat-500_Chrysler_South-America.fortune/index.htm

Auto News

autonews.com/article/20100930/OEM/100939978/1130

U.N. will not be making Mazlan Othman a space alien ambassador

Sunday there were rumors on the internet about the United Nations sending out an alien ambassador. The Malaysian astrophysicist Mazlan Othman was expected to take the job as the head of the U.N. Office for Outer Space Affairs. Othman said there is only one way this would ever happen. There would have to be extraterrestrial visitors first. Alien contact is not as much of a far-reached idea as it was in the past. There are many discoveries of planets outside of the solar system. Stephen Hawking has told Earth to be cautious as there could be extraterrestrial existence. There isn’t going to be an extraterrestrial ambassador, claims the British newspaper after it received an e-mail from Othman.

The U.N. would be the ones speaking with the aliens?

The rumor flew all over the world as it “broke” in the Sunday Times that Mazlan Othman would be the ambassador appointed by the United Nations to visit aliens. Othman was quoted by the Sunday Times talking about the search for transmission from aliens. Othman said Earth should have a coordinated response and that the United Nations will be the best organization for the job. Othman was said by the Australian to be in Britain next week for a scientific conference sponsored by the Royal Society. It said she would be speaking on contacting the aliens at that time.

The quest for alien life

The first extrasolar planet, or exoplanet, was confirmed to exist in 1992. The Kepler Mission, a NASA space observatory launched in 2009, has identified hundreds of possible exoplanets. There will probably be hardly any alien life to exist. Of course, that did not stop Stephen Hawking from giving his own personal warning. Hawking doesn’t think that humanity should be working so hard to find extraterrestrial life, as outlined by the Sunday Times. He thinks we need to be getting our own messages out and get Earth noticed. Aliens would probably be searching for planets to exploit for their resources. He also said we need only to look in the mirror to imagine the consequences. “We only have to check out ourselves to determine how intelligent life might develop into something we would not want to meet.”

Ambassadors from outer space playing on the planet already

The story about the U.N. alien ambassador did not just come out of the blue. Othman began the rumor. Rather than jump on the bandwagon, the Guardian decided to actually check the facts. Othman’s speech on alien contact was questioned by the British newspaper. It even called the Royal Society to ask about it. Nobody had heard about this. The Office for Outer Space Affairs questions were all referred somewhere else by the United Nations A switchboard in Vienna is where they went. A Guardian e-mail is what got Othman’s reaction where she said there was no U.N. alien ambassador story. All she had to say was, “It sounds really cool, however I have to deny it.” The Royal Society speech is going to be about how earth may be colliding with objects in its path within the near future which is a real problem.

More on this topic

The Australian

theaustralian.com.au/news/world/the-un-is-to-appoint-an-astrophysicist-to-be-the-first-contact-for-any-aliens/story-e6frg6so-1225929540635

Sunday Times

timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/space/article7107207.ece

The Guardian

guardian.co.uk/news/blog/2010/sep/27/un-alien-ambassador-mazlan-othman