Accusations rejected as Bishop Eddie Long photos show up

There are some Bishop Eddie Long pictures which are coming to light. The photos in question were all allegedly received by the individuals suing Bishop Long. Bishop Eddie Long is the head pastor of the new Birth Missionary Baptist Church, which has a following of over 24,000. Long was a mentor to various individuals over the years, and various young men from those programs are who are part of the Bishop Long scandal. It is alleged that Eddie Long, who had previously fervently preached against homosexuals, had engaged in inappropriate and predatory acts of a sexual nature with these men he mentored.

Bishop Eddie Long pictures arise

As outlined by Columbia Broadcasting System, the pictures surfaced not too long following the lawsuit was filed against Eddie Long. The photos were allegedly from the very individuals suing him. Some of these pictures show Long in tight fitting workout clothes. Even the plaintiffs’ lawyer states the pictures in question are innocent. The content is unknown, however it is known Long emailed the plaintiffs.

The suit is almost class action

Now, four people, as outlined by CNN, are suing Bishop Long. The suit alleges Long used his position in the church to elicit sex favors. Long’s church also runs a mentoring program, and all four men were under his mentorship. Long maintains his innocence. He has fervently denied all allegations. Long has been labeled a bigot in the past for his stance o n homosexuality. He has waxed stentorian about the issue before. He even led a march for a ban on same sex marriages.

The truth should come out

The truth of the allegations awaits the decision of the court. The church Bishop Long ministers to, is a 24,000 member mega-church. His sermons on Sunday routinely draw 10,000 members or more.

Further reading

CNN

cnn.com/2010/CRIME/09/24/georgia.pastor.lawsuit/index.html?iref=obinsite

CBS News

cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20017613-504083.html?tag=contentMain;contentBody

An incredible number of borrowers may be rescued by illegal foreclosure paperwork

Foreclosure documents prepared by Ally Financial used to take homes and evict people was submitted to courts without verifying their reliability. Without reading documents or having a notary present, about 10,000 property foreclosure documents a week were signed by one Ally Financial employee. In 23 states, evictions of homeowners were suspended by the fourth largest mortgage company within the United States of America, Ally Financial, because of this. Other companies–including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac–who used Ally Financial to process foreclosure documents may also be affected. What Ally Financial has done makes it possible for millions of American homeowners to fight their property foreclosure with a court case.

Forgetting to verify the foreclosure documents

Forgetting to verify before foreclosing on a family is getting mortgage lenders in trouble. There have been a lot of accusations going around. Head of Ally’s foreclosure document process Jeffrey Stephan admit in a sworn statement with families trying to keep their homes, says the Washington Post, that he had no notary present as he signed the documents without reading them. Notarization was supposed to happen after Stephan signed them. He would sign about 10,000 a month and send them off. The Post explains that Stephen was only spending 1.5 minutes on each document. That is calculated by assuming he was working eight hour days. In court, the documents were still used by “foreclosure mills,” or simply a law firm. The firms wanted to evict individuals so the banks could sell to someone else.

There are nevertheless cases in court with mortgage lending abuse

The housing crisis and foreclosure epidemic happened because of abuses within the mortgage lending industry. These are nevertheless affecting other things that happen. The Wall Street Journal reports the courts are struggling with complex paperwork on millions of mortgages that have been packaged, chopped up, scrambled and resold to investors as securities. The business that owns the mortgage is a mystery. Courts cannot figure it out easily. Foreclosure documents are meant to help that a bit. They should clarify. Numerous banks that are foreclosing have the very same problem of not knowing who the loans belong to with Stephen, who has been called a “robo-signor,” and “affidavit slave.”

A legal gift is given to in foreclosure process homeowners now

In the last few years, Ally Financial has been putting out illegal foreclosure paperwork. Now, Wall Street banks may start having problems with all of the doubt from the last few years of foreclosures. Foreclosures may start being challenged more often. Homeowners have a reason why the foreclosure may not be right now. Federal rules of civil procedure, claims Andy Kroll at Mother Jones, show that what Stephen was signing “must be made on personal knowledge, set out facts that would be admissible in evidence, and show that the affiant is competent to testify on the matters stated.” Stephen was designed to read the documents in detail before signing off on them. Before he signed them, he had to be familiar enough with their contents to defend them in court.

Further reading

Washington Post

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/21/AR2010092105872.html?wpisrc=nl_pmheadline

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703989304575504142243174842.html

Mother Jones

motherjones.com/mojo/2010/09/gmac-foreclosure-stephan-halt

Nobody borrowing money for new houses

Even though it seems odd, more new houses are being built still. Everybody wants to hear the great news from the economy. It is especially true when it comes to real estate. However, the number of individuals asking for cash for new homes is stagnant. Finance loans for new mortgages and homes are dropping while applications for loan modification are going up. New home starts are one of only a couple of economic indicators that improved over the summer.

Home starts reach four month high

Construction on new homes is higher than it has been in four months. CNN reports that a climb of 598,000 per year increase happened in the month of August for brand new home starts. The increase was of 10.5 percent. The bulk of the increase, though, was not in single family homes. New single family home stats went up less than that. It was about 4.3 percent instead. The rate ended up being changed. It went to 438,000 a year. Single family homes are the engine that drives real estate. However, without people feeling secure that a lot more pay days are coming, it is difficult to justify getting financial institution loans for a new home.

More permits granted

To build, developers have to make sure they get one things. This means they need permits. Permits are needed for more than just commercial construction. They also are required for brand new homes. In August there was an increase in permits. 1.8 percent was this increase. The rate continuing would mean a lot of permits of course by the end of the year. In fact, 169,000 permits would be given. August had one area where the majority of the homes fell under. These were all multi-family homes. Multi-family houses on their own went up about 32 percent. However, starts for buildings designed for multiple families are a regularly wavering statistic, so do not expect to see apartment complexes break out like a virus.

Look at the bright side

Real estate has been a significant factor in the economy. In fact, the economy thrives off of real estate. Improvement and recovery is beginning to occur. Within the last year, a 2.2 percent increase was marked in August.

Further reading

CNN Money

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

Unemployment not reduced by government money advances

There have been a lot of individuals put out of work within the supposedly-over recession. Huge cash advancements were drawn for government stimulus programs, with the idea that jobs would be created and joblessness eased. Overall, it worked for just a little while, however has only gotten worse within the meantime. In the month of August, there were 27 states that recorded an increase in joblessness. There were 10 states with no change, and 13 states with a decrease. Still, we are assured that the recession is over. There does not appear to be much reassuring of that proclamation.

Spike in joblessness level

The joblessness level has shot through the roof over the last month. There were, according to CNN, 27 states which had a rise in joblessness in August. The highest unemployment level within the nation is in Nevada. Nevada sits at a dismal 14.4 percent unemployment. Michigan and California have unemployment rates of 13.1 and 12.4 percent, respectively. The recession hit those states the hardest in a lot of ways, so it isn’t the biggest surprise. Automakers even got emergency loans in a bailout. It didn’t seem to add to many jobs in that region.

Census to blame

The end of the 2010 Census had a heavy hand in the rise in joblessness, according to USA Today. The Census temporarily employed lots of individuals. There were 114,000 individuals employed for that purpose. That said, private employers are slowly starting to add jobs. Having a pay day again must come as a relief to the 67,000 new jobs added by private employers. This was not unforeseen. It had been predicted that the Census concluding would add to unemployment, as there is not enough instant cash to hire all the workers that were laid off back to the payrolls.

Slow however steady wins the race

There is evidence that the decline of economic activity has stopped, and thus the recession is technically over. That said, unemployment is nevertheless high, and lending isn’t happening as much as it maybe should be. It becomes difficult to reconcile that with the idea the recession is over.

More on this topic

USA Today

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

CNN

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

Official denials does nothing to end Facebook cell phone rumors

You may have surfed the Web Sunday. If you did, then you also probably heard about the rumors of a Facebook phone. Denials is what we hear from Facebook. The 500,000 Facebook people that could assist a Facebook cell phone would make it seem possible that Facebook may be interested in a Smartphone to rival Apple’s iPhone and Android Phones. The Nexus One was only here for a short time frame. Google’s domination did not come into play here. The Microsoft Kin did not do this hot either. Facebook has looked into getting a Facebook phone although it denies creating the phone. Some analysts say a Facebook phone is destined to flop because it’s not necessary. Many think Facebook needs to work on its Facebook apps to make them better before looking to get its own development platform.

Facebook phone forecast

There was one place the Facebook phone story started. That place was TechCrunch. Michael Arrington wrote that Facebook is doing what Apple does with the iPhone. It is working secretly with a third party manufacturer to develop software for a phone. A developer in June left the Google Chrome project, and nobody knew why. Arrington thinks he was more interested in the Facebook cell phone project. He thinks numerous might be interested in an affordable cell phone for Facebook. The phone would allow users to call their friends’ names instead of their cell phone numbers.

Facebook’s false starts

Facebook getting a cell phone is just one rumor. There have been many more hitting the business lately. Facebook said to CNET that it is more interested in integrating with Smartphone’s rather than making their own. CNN reports that Facebook is well-known for leaking ideas, but the business either scraps them outright or pursues a totally different tangent. In 2008 rumors arose about a Facebook music service to compete with MySpace Music, however no such service has yet emerged. One more competitor idea that never took place was “Facebook Wallet.” Facebook was expected to compete against PayPal. Instead, Facebook announced earlier this year that it would partner with eBay’s PayPal to offer a transaction service called Facebook Credits.

Facebook cannot compete

John C. Abell at Wired thinks there would be no purpose for a Facebook cell phone. The idea of a Facebook cell phone is ridiculous. Abell claims it is “the tail wagging the dog”. He writes that Smartphone users won’t pass on the power and versatility of an iPhone or Android handset for the purpose of Facebook immersion with a branded handset. Robert Scobe at Business Insider writes that Facebook’s priority should be to develop what is missing from its Facebook apps. He mentions deficiencies for instance better support for contacts, photos and video. He also talked about Facebook’s platform. He talked about how the platform needs fixing first. The only thing that Facebook has that other businesses don’t have are 500,000 users that check in daily.

Further reading

Tech Crunch

techcrunch.com/2010/09/19/facebook-is-secretly-building-a-phone/

CNN

cnn.com/2010/TECH/social.media/09/20/facebook.phone/

Wired

wired.com/epicenter/2010/09/is-facebook-planning-a-phone-who-knows-should-they-no/

Rally to Restore Sanity done by Jon Stewart to get vast majority

Stewart and Colbert, Comedy Central’s brilliant pop culture raconteurs, staged dueling bulletins for public rallies on their cable Television shows Sept. 16. The dueling events, planned for the National Mall on Oct. 30, satirize fellow comic Glenn Beck’s “Restoring Honor” rally that happened in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Aug. Stewart went on the Daily Show in order for making his announcement. That is when everybody first heard of the “Rally to Restore Sanity.” In Reaction, Stephen Colbert used the Colbert Report to announce the “March to Keep Fear Alive”.

Radical Fringe reaction from Stewart and Colbert

The Stewart/Colbert rally announcements were made about three weeks after Fox Television personality Glenn Beck hosted his cleverly hyped “Restoring Honor” rally in front of the Lincoln Memorial. CNN reports that Beck’s event was considered offensive due to its timing and location–the 47th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, delivered within the very same place. Website logos and icons created for the Colbert/Stewart rallies mock Beck’s with the very same type fonts and stylized images. The National Park Service explains Stewart and Colbert got a permit. This permit will allow them to collect on October 30 on the Washington Monument grounds.

As outlined by Stewart, they will “Take it down a notch for America”

The majority of Americans without extreme political views are also known as “the 70 to 80 percenters.” These are the individuals interested in Stewarts’ Rally to Restore Sanity. The signs he wanted to use for the event said things for instance “I disagree with you, however I’m pretty sure you’re not Hitler” and “I am not afraid of Muslims/Tea Partiers/Socialists/Immigrants/Gun Owners/Gay…but I am scared of Spiders.” Comedy Central ended by showing the tagline. The rally’s tagline will say, “Take it down a notch for America.”

” … freak out for freedom!” is what Colbert is saying

A rally meant to compliment Stewarts known as “The March to Keep Fear Alive” was announced by Colbert. Colbert vowed “not take it down a notch.” Then he said something else. He said, “Now is the time for all good men to freak out for freedom!” Time reports that buzz for Colbert to satirize Beck with his own rally began on Reddit.com last week. Reddit users intended a site for an event dubbed “Restoring Truthiness,” a Colbert catch phrase. Colbert is a board member of the organizations going through DonorsChoose.org, which got more than $100,000 donated to it in just one day of Restoring Truthiness.

Rallying is only moderate for midterm elections

The November midterm elections may be influenced a bit by the rallies and political debate Stewart and Colbert are becoming a part of. The Atlantic reports through Marc Ambeinder that conservatives won’t like the timing and message of these rallies. Glen Beck doesn’t seem to have as many viewers on Fox News as the Daily Show and the Colbert Report seem to have. This is because you will find more young liberals around that like to fight than there are old conservatives. Ambeinder explained that numerous young individuals may become more interested in politics with Stewart and Colbert striking a bit of enthusiasm. Many young individuals have just ignored politics because of the Tea Party and extremists on TV.

Further reading

CNN

cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/TV/09/17/stewart.colbert.rallies/index.html

TIME

newsfeed.time.com/2010/09/14/reddit-campaign-for-colbert-rally-breaks-charity-records/

The Atlantic

theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/09/stewart-colbert-to-hold-10-30-rallies/63142/

Unionizing happening under Teamsters banner for growers of weed

Organized labor is feeling the impact of the economic downturn and needs to bolster its membership ranks. The Teamsters Union is no exclusion, and the union is looking with expectant eye toward what is proving to be a development industry in The United States. Based on the Associated Press, the business that has Teamsters high on possibility is weed.

Marijuana growers unionized with Teamsters

Marijuana growers, about 40 to be exact, were picked up in September by Teamsters. There is no proof, but many assume the members must mostly be from California. This is because in the whole nation, California has one of the most permissive medical weed laws. Regardless, there are real concerns as to how Teamsters will protect the rights of members whose work constitutes a federal crime.

Working with marijuana workers wasn’t what Lou Marchetti thought he’d be doing when he joined Teamsters 34 years ago. Marchetti works with newly signed farmers in California and Teamsters local 70.

He said, “This is a whole new ballgame”.

When speaking on Teamsters getting involved with marijuana growers in California, Marchetti explained the company wouldn’t be working with any business it thought was breaking the law in its proceedings.

Marjyn Investments LLC creates more work for Teamsters

Gardening, trimming and even cloning are jobs held by employees of Marjyn Investments LLC, a business that contracts with medical cannabis patients to grow pot plants. The Teamsters Union helped the employees with a two-year contract. Now they all have paid escape, health care insurance and even pensions. Teamsters Local 70 explains that in the next 15 months, wages will go from $18 to $25.75 per hour.

Weeding out the little snags of growing pot

Medical purposes are the only reason why states like California can get away with allowing marijuana plants to be grown. Otherwise, it is against federal law. It is possible for the federal government to start looking into Marjyn Investments just a little more. If this were to happen, Marchetti does not know how Teamsters would react. For that matter, the AP states that marijuana trimmers have an arduous job, and federal law would not step in on their behalf if trimmers happened to be subjected to abusive labor practices. In Oakland, there is an assistant regional director for National Labor Relations Board. This is Michael Leong who states the category of farm workers may not even contain Teamster pot growers. If they really aren’t farm workers, then things change. The NLRB no longer has jurisdiction over them.

Cultivation ‘in the shadows’ with growing Marijuana dispensaries

California law has allowed marijuana dispensaries to grow into a booming new business, however existing laws have not fully defined just how cultivation operations like Marjyn Investments LLC should be regulated. Nobody knows what the labor standards have to be although numerous individuals are willing to start working on the change. At this point, one of the only things that is clear as applicants await their permits to open shop is that membership within the Teamsters Union isn’t required in order to operate.

Additional reading

Associated Press

newser.com/article/d9ibmhtg0/us-teamsters-boost-membership-by-adding-medical-pot-growers-to-the-union-rolls.html

Over deformity, Bethany Storro selects to cry wolf

Some people need notice. It is all they care about. Sometimes, the action is harmless enough; a person shaving their head for instance. Appearing in reality shows on MTV is an illustration of how some individuals try to look pathetic. Sometimes, people hurt themselves and others with the decisions they make to get attention. Well, that’s what Storro did. She gave the press a fake story about an acid face attack that wound up making her disfigured.

Bethany Storro claims to be attacked

Some time ago, a story went out over the news wires of a young woman, one Bethany Storro of Vancouver, Wash., who had been attacked and disfigured. She had acid thrown on her face. It was a complete stranger that did it. Nobody thought this was a scam. It was a young woman who was now disfigured as a result of acid. Bethany Storro, according to CNN was admitted to the hospital on Aug. 30, and released Sept. 5. A young African-American woman asked her if she wanted a drink. Right after that, the woman threw acid in her face, supposedly.

Hoax coming from acid attack

The story seemed so perfect, though an awful cliché. It also turned out to be false. Police started realizing things did not add up as she was about to be released, claims Time . Bethany Storro’s acid burns were suspicious. They looked like they had been applied carefully instead of just thrown in her face. Sky News reports that sulfuric or hydrochloric acid was likely used for this. She admitted the whole thing was a hoax after many asked about the inconsistencies. Just like the balloon boy or a meat dress, it was a stunt.

Paying for it

Bethany Storro is going to have to live with scars for the rest of her life. Also, she submitted a false police report. This means she will likely get charges for that as well. She got a lot of donations to pay for the hospital bills. She is going to need to pay those back as well as paying all the bills by her.

Find more information on this subject

Times

newsfeed.time.com/2010/09/17/victim-of-acid-attack-admits-she-did-it-herself/?iid=nfmostpopular

CNN

cnn.com/2010/CRIME/09/05/washington.acid.attack/?iref=obnetwork

Sky News

news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Acid-Attack-Victim-Bethany-Storro-Admits-Faking/Article/201009315732007?lpos=World_News_News_Your_Way_Region_9&lid=NewsYourWay_ARTICLE_15732007_Acid_Attack_Victim_Bethany_Storro_Admits_Faking_

Boeing makes its way to the space tourism race

There were plans announced to be within the mega-business of tourism in space, accounts Houston Chronicle, by Boeing. In violation of national trade law, according to the World Trade Organization judges, Boeing got $20 billion in government subsidies for transatlantic aerospace. It now is coming again to President Obama. Even with that cash, it still is talking to Obama once more. Now, the business wants the administration to increase funding for commercial spaceflight.

Space tourism could be enjoyed by numerous in 2015, Boeing plans

Boeing’s expectation is that by 2015, space tourism could be possible via a National Aeronautics and Space Administration contract that will enable the manufacturer to send astronauts to the International Space Station via a new type of space capsule, the CST-100. The capsule would have enough seats to admit space tourists along for the ride, writes the Chronicle. The CST-100 will make it possible for Boeing to send humans to space, says the vice president and general manager of Boeing’s Space Exploration division, Brewster Shaw. Right now, Boeing and Space Adventures are working together on the project. Space Adventures is the business that used Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft to send private flights to the International Space Station.

Boeing has the horses, however it hasn’t won the competition yet

Globally, Boeing is the largest aircraft manufacturer in terms of revenue, orders and products delivered, indicates the Chronicle. The International Space Station also uses Boeing as its prime contractor. You will find a lot of things Boeing has on its list of things to do. It needs to get a lot done before space tourism can really set off. It required $18 million to start development of rockets and capsules to carry NASA astronauts to low-Earth orbit following the space shuttle program retires in 2011. Space tourism would cost a lot more than that. We’re looking at high numbers. Boeing should be working hard since there are other businesses looking for the very same business.

Obama wants money for commercial spacecraft from Congress

When it comes to seeing how much money the United States of America government is willing to help pay for commercial space flights, numbers go fairly fast. President Obama is seeking $6 billion over five years from Congress. The Senate’s latest offer is $1.3 billion over three years, when the House penned a $150 million, three-year version. Clearly there’s a large financial disconnect at work, guided by differing priorities. Boeing thinks it will move much slower towards tourism in space without the cash the President has asked for. If it cost Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté $40 million last year to fly to and from the International Space Station via Soyuz, imagine what propping up and entire industry would cost.

Discover more information on this subject

Houston Chronicle

chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7203076.html

Google Tech Talk on space tourism

youtube.com/watch?v=yJDKzodiDjE

Organization says e-cigs require Food and Drug Administration authorization as substance delivery devices

E-cigs are the electronic cigarettes that are known as the future of smoking. The FDA wants to show a group of electronic cigarette corporations what that entails. The FDA has issued a warning to five electronic cigarette businesses for making unproven claims that e-cigs will help people quit smoking. False advertising wasn’t the only thing the e-cigarette companies were doing. Some had unsafe manufacturing processes and adulterated products as well. One of the e-cigarette manufacturers had drugs for impotence problems and weight loss in its product. The agency explained that laws are being violated by the companies until the Food and Drug Administration has done clinical trials in order to approve the substance distribution devices.

FDA says e-cigs do not help smokers quit

Thursday there were probably five angry electronic cigarette companies that found letters within the mailbox from the Food and Drug Administration. E-cig firms were warned in the letters that their product is violating drug safety laws. This originated from WebMD. The FDA has given them 15 working days to revise “practices which violate various provisions of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.” The FDA said all five companies falsely claim their e-cigs help individuals quit smoking. The FDA sent an additional letter to the Electronic Cigarette Association saying that an approval has to be made on drug delivery devices as the e-cig is legally defined. E-cig firms have to do clinical trials while collecting data showing the e-cigs are safe in order to get FDA approval, says WebMD. As follows are the companies with FDA warning letters:

1. First is Cixi E-Cig Technology Inc. Ltd., Las Vegas, Nev.
2. A next is E-Cigarette Direct LLC, Parker, Colo.
3. Next is Gamucci America/Smokey Bayou Inc., Jacksonville, Fla.
4. Johnson Creek Enterprises LLC, Johnson Creek, Wis.
5. Last is Ruyan America Inc., Minneapolis, Minn.

E-cigs contain antifreeze

The FDA has done testing of its own on electronic cigarettes. Med Page Today reports that in June the agency published results of lab tests showing e-cigarettes contain carcinogens including nitrosamines and diethylene glycol, a poisonous ingredient in antifreeze. E-cigs don’t have any warnings about health on the package like tobacco cigarettes and FDA-approved nicotine patches and gum have. The FDA said no e-cigarette business has yet submitted an application to the agency for evaluation or approval.

E-cigs popular

The “safe” choice to tobacco cigarettes, e-cigs, came out at first in 2002. USA Today reports that e-cigs made their first splash within the United States of America in late 2006. The country wasn’t allowed to accept any more electronic cigarettes that were imported. The FDA made sure customs officials knew. A federal judge said the FDA went too far in stopping shipments. There was then an appeal made by the FDA where they won a stay of ruling. Litigation will happen later this month as scheduled. Millions now use e-cig when waiting for the result. Each and every week the industry expects 20,000 to 30,000 new customers.

Further reading

Web MD

webmd.com/smoking-cessation/news/20100909/e-cigarette-firms-get-fda-warning

Med Page Today

medpagetoday.com/PublicHealthPolicy/FDAGeneral/22103

USA Today

usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2010-09-09-fda-electronic-cigarettes_N.htm

Previous DIA officer burns Pentagon with tell-all book

Censorship has backfired on the censors yet again within the case of “Operation Dark Heart”. In this instance, it is the Pentagon giving the book a boost. ”Operation Dark Heart,” as outlined by the DOD, contains passages written by a previous intelligence officer that could possibly be used by America’s enemies to undermine U.S. interests. Cash is no object to the Pentagon, which is preparing to write a check for the initial run of the publication so it can reduce each and every pallet load to ashes. Source for this article – Pentagon to purchase Operation Dark Heart first print for book burning by Personal Money Store.

Government pulls Operation Dark Heart

“Operation Dark Heart” is by Anthony A. Shaffer, a previous Defense Intelligence Agency officer and presently a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve. The book is Shaffer’s personal account of five months he spent as a DIA officer stationed at Bagram Air Base outside of Kabul in 2003. The New York Times reports that Army reviewers approved “Operation Dark Heart” in January. The publisher, St. Martin’s Press, prepared to release the publication Aug. 31. Nevertheless, “Operation Dark Heart” did not cross a DIA desk until July. Only then was it determined that classified data was revealed in its pages. By then, various dozen copies of the book had already been sent out to reviewers and online booksellers.

The book’s content questioned

Some of the allegedly classified information in “Operation Dark Heart” concerns a pre-9/11 operation called “Able Danger,” which Shaffer claims identified hijacker Mohammed Atta as a threat before the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. According to Fox News, the DIA wants passages removed where Shaffer alleges he told the 9/11 Commission that Able Danger knew about Atta as early as 2000. Atta was considered to be the ringleader of the 9/11 hijackers. He was at the controls of, American Airlines Flight 11, which crashed to the World Trade Center. Shaffer’s story lacked conclusive evidence, as outlined by a Defense Department report written as the official response.

Censorship always backfires on the censors

The Pentagon and St. Martin’s press are working things out. Censorship plan on paying the publisher for the entire first run of the book. The Washington Post reports the Pentagon’s plan is to destroy all 10,000 copies. A second printing, without passages disputed by the DIA, is being prepared by St. Martin’s press. The first printing is sitting on pallets in a Virginia warehouse. The Amazon bestseller list has “Operation Dark Heart” at #19. For whoever has wondered why it is listed as “temporarily out of stock,” now you know.

Additional reading

New York Times

nytimes.com

Fox News

foxnews.com

Washington Post

washingtonpost.com

Home loan process speedy with MERS that concerns several

America’s housing crisis was caused by numerous factors. One example that many did not hear about was MERS. According to the Nolan Chart LLC mortgage industry website, MERS (Mortgage Electronic Registration System) is an institution that enables the Mortgage Backed Security (MBS) industry to pass over rules regarding recording and transferring title when a property changes hands. Developed by Fannie Mae in the mid-1990s, MERS acts as a quasi-agent (they call it “nominee”) for any party that becomes involved in the home loan, with the exception of the homebuyer. MERS transacts in an online (instead of brick-and-mortar) world. It is convenient to be able to bundle, purchase and sell mortgages with the MERS electronic network that provides speed. half of the United States of America home loans are now owned by the United States of America treasury as it is now owns Fannie Mae. Now, several wonder why MERS, as a company that pays nothing on the mortgage, is! listed on the mortgage loan or if it is even legal. Source of article – MERS speeds up mortgage process, yet raises severe concerns by Personal Money Store.

Tons of people wondering about MERS

Since MERS did not pay for the property of represent the home loan holder in any legal way, many wonder if MERS is beginning to be committing home loan fraud while working with electronic mortgage documents. MERS has a really streamlined method of recordkeeping that home loan industry critics do not seem to like. They think that past ways of legally processing documents are much better. MERS says, says Nolan Chart, it represents 60 million mortgage cases. Critics question this number. If that number is true, $10 million in mortgages are being represented by MERS with no free market competition. This means the Supreme Court will probably get involved pretty soon. Foreclosing on homes is a right many wonder whether or not MERS should really have. The law will decide the final decision.

Profit machine from state intervention

Public funding does a lot to keep MERS where it is. Thus, argues Nolan Chart, the public has a right to be skeptical when little to no free market competition exists to regulate prices. The contract law loopholes that have allowed MERS to operate thus far have expedited the MBS. The industry helped with the U.S. housing crisis. It created many of the problems. MERS might need to be reined in by the highest court within the land for the long-term benefit of homebuyers nationwide.

More on this topic

Nolan Chart

nolanchart.com/article8006.html

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortgage-backed_security

Freddie Mac commercial on mortgage fraud

youtube.com/watch?v=cS2HsaBA5No

Livingston attempted deplaning mid-air

Aerial turbulence could be quite frightening sometimes. If you already area scared of flying, this aerial turbulence is even worse for you. Regardless how much turbulence there is, it isn’t ok to deplane from a commercial flight at any time. Action films might, however it is not ok in real life. Fortunately, modern commercial airline security actions make such actions next to impossible. JetBlue Flight 222 from Orlando, Fla., to Newark, N.J., was about 10,000 feet within the air when Playboy model Livingston decided she was going to open the door. Of course, she wasn’t thinking about the impossibility of it when trying to get out. The model is 21 and had an anxiety attack without medication while on the plane at the time. After the plane landed, the Federal Bureau of Investigation took Livingston into custody but later released her. Livingston claims she wasn’t trying to exit the plane, says TMZ. She was trying to stabilize herself throughout the anx! iety attack. Article source – Model Tiffany Livingston attempts frantic mid-air deplaning by Newystype.com.

Apparently Livingston was mentioned as ‘not just one more pretty face’

In 2009, Tiffany Livingston was in centerfold of the Singapore version of Playboy, VIP however is called “not just another quite face,” but rather as an intelligent young woman. According to Playboy, Livingston has an approachable, girl-next-door freshness, and she worked hard in a variety of manual labor jobs back in her hometown of Manchester, N.H., in order to get to her current position in life. Livingston said she found magic while reading the book “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl although she is rumored to have dated magician David Blaine. In Playboy she said that her anger while in the modeling life was helped quite a bit with the book.

Air turbulence may be too much

According to FlyingFear.net, air turbulence doesn’t indicate that a plane is out of control. It’s just something that happens. The interaction of jet stream air moving at different speeds causes turbulence, and that turbulence almost always falls within a predictable, acceptable range. Airplanes – particularly commercial craft intended to carry many travelers – are designed to be at bare minimum twice as strong as they need to be to withstand the worst turbulence. It would not have hurt to tell this to Tiffany Livingston during her anxiety attack, although it probably would not have done much.

Find more information on this subject

Flying Fear

FlyingFear.net http://www.flyingfear.net/articles/dealing-with-turbulence-anxiety.html

Poole Associates

poole-associates.com/Poole Penthouse in VIP.htm

TMZ

tmz.com/2010/09/10/singapore-surprise-playboy-model-tiffany-livingston-jetblue-airplane-detained-arrested/

Is the federal home loan refinancing program worthwhile?

President Obama was really glad to be elected in 2008. He may have been too excited when putting so much cash into so much of a stimulus. A home loan modification program through the Federal Housing Administration was one of the first programs called Make Home Affordable. The loan is somehow rearranged with the Federal Housing Administration and applicant’s loan lender to make sure the benefit is best for all involved. This was a huge money advance the Treasury used for the program. Some think the money went to waste. Post resource – Is the federal mortgage modification program worth it by Personal Money Store.

Uncle Sam and the way loan refinancing works

Anyone wanting a home modification has to apply for it with the Make Home Affordable program. A trial program is set up for the applicant if accepted to the program with the applicant’s lender. The trial is to see if the person is able to meet all payment obligations with the change. If the temporary refinancing is successful, then a permanent modification is made. It seems like an easy program. However, the question becomes whether enough modifications become permanent to justify the program.

Half aren’t even working

Less than 50 percent, says the Wall Street Journal , of the modifications work. Only 434,716 modifications have gone through so far. This is according to an audit in August done for the Home Affordable Refinancing Plan, or HAMP. 616,839 trial modifications didn’t end up going through. That’s a lot of wasted cash. There is a huge risk in applying. This is why many don’t. There is a high average debt to income ratio for HAMP participants. This is about 63.5 percent. A person has to have a debt to income ratio of 41 percent or lower to get an FHA mortgage, typically the biggest source of bad credit loans for homes.

Some stimulus

The program had one goal. This goal was to stop foreclosure. Refinancing should be left to the private market thinking about 40 percent of applicants can’t do anything.

Further reading

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704075604575356663725805580.html”>Wall Street Journal

of applicants result in being able to do nothing and have no change. Maybe this means the private market should the take the plan as it is cut}.

More on this topic

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704075604575356663725805580.html

United States Senate selects economic council chair to be Goolsbee

There has been no development within the economic system with President Barack Obama. This is why he is getting a whipping from all sides. Arianna Huffington says that when it comes to understanding “the plight of the middle class,” he is really disconnected or at least seemed to in his speech in Cleveland. ”Not everything we’ve done during the last couple of years has worked as easily as we had hoped, and I’m keenly aware that not all our policies are popular,” was what Obama said. The reason why Goolsbee was given the position of chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisors was because of this. That is what the Wall Street Journal said. Goolsbee already cleared Senate and doesn’t have to be worrying anymore.

Austan Goolsbee was an advisory board member and university economist

Goolsbee is doing more than just being the executive director of Obama’s Economic recovery Advisory Board. He also is an economist at the University of Chicago business school. Many think that Goolsbee got White House Council of Economic Advisors chairman as a result of personal reasons. WSJ says it might have been because of an association with the administrations inner circle also as a personal friendship. Goolsbee will replace former Economic Advisers chairwoman Christina Romer.

Goolsbee is rumored by the WSJ to have helped with the health care bill, higher education aid and also the energy push to create jobs by drafting policies with Obama. The president’s “New Foundation” for middle-class economic security is what these are supposedly for. The Huffington Post explains this.

We may not want the change Austan Goolsbee will bring

The economic system does not seem to be recovering as easily as hoped while joblessness in America is nevertheless huge. There may be firings of Treasure Secretary Tim Geithner and National Economic Council Director Larry Summers as many are mad, even as Democrats. Austan Goolsbee in charge of the White House Council of Economic Advisors might not actually help the country at all. The WSJ thinks it will mean every little thing will stay the same.

Discover more details on this subject

Sun Times

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

Huffington Post

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

Wall Street Journal

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

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

youtube.com/watch?v=TKvMfVntY2g

Hurricane Igor gathers pressure in the Caribbean

The Atlantic, especially the Caribbean, produces some extreme weather conditions patterns, including hurricanes which wreak chaos on islands and the landmass. So far, it has not been that bad within the 2010 hurricane period. Currently, several storm systems are garnering hurricane force. Currently, tropical storm Igor has become large and volatile enough to be reclassified as Hurricane Igor. Igor is currently in the middle of nowhere, but could hit Bermuda. The path of Hurricane Igor isn’t entirely known yet, however landfall in the United States doesn’t seem likely. Resource for this article – Tropical storm Igor turns into Hurricane Igor by Personal Money Store.

Fast growth of Hurricane Igor

Tropical Storm Igor was recently re-classified as Hurricane Igor. By Sept. 11, it had become large enough for the distinction of hurricane status. According to CNN, it had begun as a Category Two. Igor was then graded up to a Category Four. It is still a Category Four storm within the middle of the Atlantic. The hurricane is heading in the general direction of Bermuda. The storm is still hundreds of miles away from the Leeward Islands, the nearest land masses. Another tropical storm system is in the Caribbean, Tropical Storm Julia. Julia was briefly classified a Category One hurricane, however dropped off right away.

Igor has eyes onto it

According to the Los Angeles Times, Hurricane Igor isn’t aimed directly at any particular landmass. It’s not known if the storm will make landfall anywhere. It is, though, moving in the direction of Bermuda. Igor has a significant chance of becoming larger. The storm could very easily become a Category Five storm. So far, no major advisories or warnings have been issued concerning the storm, however that may change soon. Recently, Hurricane Earl was off the American and Canadian coast. Earl advancing out to sea soon after approaching the East Coast.

A while before 2010 hurricane period is over

Hurricane seasons typically last from June until November. This year has not been the worst, though storms have battered some areas. Hurricane Alex hit the coast of Mexico, and several islands have experienced severe flooding because of previous hurricanes. The bulk of fatalities due to hurricanes this year were caused by rip currents from hurricane weather systems, and fortunately there were only a few.

Discover more details on this subject

CNN

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

LA Times

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

The debate of manual or automatics transmissions

An individual ought to know about the automobile they’re looking at purchasing, be it online, at a dealership, or from their neighbor. More than just the model should be accounted for. One thing that should weigh in is the transmission. There are good and bad points to each transmission. What type of transmission also. Automotive transmissions more or less come in two flavors: manual transmission or automatic transmission. In order for customers to determine which best fits their lifestyles and driving styles, you will find a few things to consider.

Manual for some and auto for others

A manual has several definite benefits, for those acquainted with the clutch. They’re more economical usually. The driver can change gears within the optimal range, called a power band, of RPMs, so as to not overload the engine, and decrease the workload of the engine. The buyer gets an additional $1000 off sticker of automatic counterparts, and stick shifts usually get better gas mileage; up 15 percent better in some cases. That said, with computer technology in modern cars, the gas mileage advantage is diminishing.

Exactly where would you travel?

Car buyers should bear in mind the area they live and drive in the most. If a person doesn’t live anywhere replete with lots of steep hills, it isn’t a concern. Drivers in cities on waterfronts, such as San Francisco or Seattle, known for steep hills, ought to think about an automatic. Manual transmissions involve more activity when driving. If a person is on a hill in traffic, the steering, clutch, brake, and gas have to manage precisely. Also, if the drivers have to stop on a hill, they must use the parking brake, too. There is something else though. In normal driving, manual drivers often claim the automobile is so much more fun.

Not quite 22 but there is a catch

More horsepower and torque from a motor means more strain on a transmission. Buyers should do their research into any model they are interested in. When a transmission goes, even a warranty will not spare you the mental discomfort of the event. Automatic transmissions are mechanically far more complex. That also means they’re harder to fix, so DIY repair enthusiasts may want to steer clear if inexperienced. There also is the cost to think about. Transmissions aren’t cheap to repair or replace. The inexperienced should always have a qualified mechanic perform the repairs.

President Barack Obama wants Koran burning off not to occur

The plans made by a Florida church to burn copies of the Koran has caused an enormous controversy. American authorities and world leaders have announced their outrage and outrage at the proposed action. President Barack Obama has joined the pleas for the burning off to be dropped. The controversial Pastor Terry Jones and also the Dove World Outreach Center Religious organization have been pled with to drop it by others. Terrorists are the only beneficiaries of this action. No recourse may be available until after the fact.

President Barack Obama condemns Koran fires

The president has called for burning the Koran to not happen. As outlined by the Los Angeles Times, he asked that Pastor Terry Jones and also the Dove World Outreach Center Church think about consequences to others first. The President maintained that it will only reinforce the idea that Americans are bigots. He also said that the Muslim terrorists we are attempting to stop will be aided by the demonstration. Earlier this month, Gen. David Petraeus warned the burnings will only aid the enemy and put Americans in danger, which the president echoed. Petraeus also cautioned that it will make Muslim countries more hostile to American people worldwide, and that the Taliban could be given a huge recruiting tool.

Not only American people are disgusted

The international reaction to the demonstration has been one of outrage. According to CNN, the French and British governments have both condemned the book burning. Interpol, the international police force, also warned that it will only put more people in danger from terrorists. A spokesman for the Taliban said that if the church goes via with it, the Taliban will begin targeting Christians in retaliation. The Tea Party darling Sarah Palin even weighed in. She asked the religious organization to stop. The Vatican also called for the church to call it off.

Weighing the opportunities

Pastor Terry Jones and his little religious organization in Gainesville, Fla., no doubt have their reasons. They’ve already pledged to think it over. Obama said that the action is nothing however destructive. He also said he hopes Jones sees the light. Blind hatred isn’t supposed to be part of the American character, just as religious tolerance and freedom is intended to be.

Find more information on this subject

LA Times

latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-obama-koran-burning-20100910,,1430372.story

CNN

cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/09/09/florida.quran.reactions/

Scandal with Reggie Bush results in very first Heisman forfeiture in history

USC running back Reggie Bush tore up the gridiron in 2005. Despite his team’s loss to Texas in the title game, Bush burned up the stat sheets all year long. But none of this prepared University of Southern California for what was soon to come. A Reggie Bush scandal involving pro agents sent the NCAA Committee on Infractions into motion. For accepting cash and gifts from two professional agents, Bush and his family violated NCAA rules for amateur athletes. The 2005 Heisman Trophy was forfeiture. USC also felt the sting in the form of penalties.

Reggie Bush scandal explodes throughout his junior and senior year

Under investigation for the Scandal with Reggie Bush, USC waited with baited breath for four years for the NCAA Committee on Infractions to rule. USC now faces four years probation, which wipes away the possibility of bowl game births over that span. Adding insult to injury, the university has also been forced to give up 30 athletic scholarships over the next three years. Current players and recruits have also been given the green light to transfer to an additional school without being penalized by the NCAA, as outlined by the new York Daily News. Some players have jumped ship and more may follow, leaving new USC head coach Lane Kiffin with his work cut out for him.

‘Like free agency without a salary cap’

Coach Kiffin chided the NCAA’s ruling, saying that it creates something akin to free agency, which violates operating rules. ”We’re dealing with free agency with no salary cap on our players,” Kiffin told the media. ”They can leave anytime to go anywhere and they can play right away. There’s no cut-off date until after the final day of add-drop. It makes for a difficult situation”.

A good season would lessen the pain for USC

Matt Barkley, USC’s promising sophomore quarterback, may be able to help University of Southern California overcome adversity in 2010. However it probably will not be easy, as the media spotlight will shine as the vultures search for a carcass. Barkley is realistic about the situation, nevertheless. He told the Daily News that “I signed (at USC) because it was the best chance for me to get to the league”. Kiffin easily began to worry that Barkley would head to the National football league before his senior period, and Barkley’s response was not entirely reassuring.

USC could have to wait and see whether the Scandal with Reggie Bush has indeed rocked the giant of a team from its exalted position atop the college football beanstalk.

More on this topic

Babble

blogs.babble.com/famecrawler/2010/09/07/details-of-the-reggie-bush-scandal/

Los Angeles Times

articles.latimes.com/2010/aug/26/sports/la-sp-crowe-20100827

New York Daily News

nydailynews.com/sports/college/2010/08/21/2010-08-21_usc_looks_to_wipe_away_bush_scandal.html

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reggie_Bush

Protection from credit cards with SUNY for students

There is one part of the Credit card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act that is significant. This is the part that protects college students from charge card problems. It is becoming increasingly more expensive to go to college leaving many graduates with money lenders waiting to be paid and also credit card premiums that are high. Barriers were put up to protect student credit scores by the State University of New York system, or State University of New York, which is actually 68 campuses that network public universities.

SUNY does not approve of marketing

CNN explains that SUNY made it nearly extremely hard to market on any campuses that support SUNY. State Attorney General Mario Cuomo was in charge of this. Credit card companies can’t get advertised in SUNY schools. The only way for a student to get the data is via written consent. Schools aren’t permitted to get paid for this advertising. This standard is something Cuomo expects throughout all of New York. He thinks New York Universities should be adopting it. Marketing from charge card companies will be monitored. In fact, the university will make sure to control it.

Students get it without thinking

When in college, college students are in a vulnerable state. This is especially true when it comes to credit cards. Sallie Mae found that the average college student carries more than $4,000 in credit card debt upon graduation, on top of their unsecured loans to finance college. Some students focus on boosting credit scores by doing loan refinancing after school or just drop out to pay off the debts. Many employers check credit scores, and students that have had their credit rating shot by cards have to put off their dream jobs even longer as a result.

American Dream is not a dream anymore

The American Dream of going to college, getting a good job and making a start in this world is getting further out of reach for the middle class. The cost of tuition going up is making this harder.

More on this topic

CNN Money

money.cnn.com/2010/09/07/pf/college/SUNY_credit_card/index.htm

Machete is bad for illegally immigrating

Political rhetoric often doesn’t occupy the necessity as a weapon that satire frequently will. The satire can be razor-sharp enough to cut via any subject. Immigration is one for example. Immigrating got a good whipping from satire within the “Machete” film with the Robert Rodriquez “Mexploitation” gore fest, based on video reviews. “Machete” splatters the audience with its ideas, tongue planted firmly in cheek from the first hack to the final slash.

”Machete” may be one of those movies that comes dangerously close to crossing a line

”Machete” uses a ton of satire in it. That is why Rodriguez can get so close to the cliff without falling off. Intended to be a send-up of 1970s midnight movie genres in much the exact same way that the Quentin Tarantino-Robert Rodriguez co-production “Grindhouse” did in 2007, “Machete” tells the story of a Mexican federale (Danny Trejo) in search of revenge. Machete loses his family to agents of the drug lord Torrez (Steven Seagal), who by choice of actor is himself a form of self-parody. A drug mule network that is similar to the U.S. Mexico drug trade in existence is part of what Machete destroys. He also kills numerous authorities also as Robert De Niro playing a politician. Along the road are many others. These include Don Johnson, Jessica Alba, Michelle Rodriguez, Lindsay Lohan and Cheech Marin. But as the Denver Post asserts, “Machete” doesn’t always walk on the razor-sharp edge of biting satire. Some of the ! jokes seem to really just be “too cool for school”. Rodriguez may need to get on top of his game. Some sequels are coming.

Screenrant finds the immigration satire to be disturbing

Screenrant thinks “Machete” did cross a line. This was with an illegal border crossing scene that happened. A pregnant woman with her husband try to cross. This is when Don Johnson and Robert De Niro choose it’s time to stop them as uniformed vigilantes. De Niro as a United States of America senator shoots the pregnant woman, then has the audacity to say to the husband, “Welcome to America!” before putting a bullet in his brain. Many didn’t like the effective satire that ended so bloody. Rodriguez was just having some fun.

Just bloody fun

“Machete” isn’t about acting or story, however the blood fever of intense carnage. Screenrant thinks it is dull otherwise. You just have to focus on the bloody scenes. According to Entertainment Weekly, the film does quite well with all the blood. Without it, the video would be a schlock really.

Additional reading

Denver Post

denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_15966734

Entertainment Weekly

ew.com/ew/article/,,20417721,00.html

Screenrant

screenrant.com/machete-movie-reviews-vic-76754/

FBI investigate potential disorders with the Jeep Grand Cherokees

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does investigate vehicles from time to time. The bureau has just begun another investigation. There could be a design flaw within the Jeep Grand Cherokee. There could possibly be lots of automobiles affected by the defect. About 3 million, in fact. A petition for an investigation was turned in by the Center for Auto Safety to look into a possible severe safety issue. The difficulty is with a potential fire hazard, caused by awful design within the fuel system of the SUV.

Precisely what might be wrong with the jeep grand Cherokee

Jeep Grand Cherokees is being investigated. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched the inquiry, as outlined by CNN. There are over 10 model years being looked at. The years in question are automobiles from 1993 to 2004. There might be a fire hazard with the fuel tank, according to the Center for Auto Safety. There have been 172 crashes involving a fire, resulting in 254 deaths in Jeep Grand Cherokees. Chrysler insisted the Cherokee was completely safe.

Difficulty probably caused by undesirable gas tank

The issue with jeep grand Cherokees is with the plastic fuel tank. The tank is mounted below the rear bumper and behind the rear axle. That’s where the risk lies, according to the CAS. The organization, founded by Ralph Nader, insists the tank can rupture in rear end accidents and thus poses a fire danger. The NHTSA has identified 44 accidents, according to ABC, where the fire caused more damage than the crash itself. There were also accidents where fire caused greater bodily harm than the crash. Of those, there were 55 fatalities. There were 10 crashes where fires were involved and 13 deaths believed to be due to the automobile being rear ended.

Jeep stealing magic from the Pinto

Jeep has offered a skid plate as an option for the Grand Cherokee that covers the fuel tank, but only as an add-on for off-road driving. A brush guard was added in 1999. In 2005, the Jeep Grand Cherokee was redesigned with the fuel tank moved to the middle of the car. The problem is actually somewhat similar to the Pinto. Both cars could have the fuel tank’s top sheared off in a rear-ending accident.

Further reading

ABC News

abcnews.go.com/Blotter/jeep-grand-cherokee-abc-station-reported-gas-tank/story?id=11473270 and page=1

CNN Money

money.cnn.com/2010/08/24/autos/Jeep_Grand_Cherokee/index.htm

Astroturfing in Apple App Store needs to stop says the FTC

Apple has a good thing going with the App Store, the place for iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad applications. Various financial estimates place Apple’s annual profit at more than $ 400 million, and some consider that estimate to be conservative. That doesn’t appear to be enough money for Steve Jobs. He nevertheless refuses to work in the App store making it so things are a bit more honest. There is a lot of Astroturf marketing, meaning application owners give fake reviews to their own products that make the product look great. Knowing which applications are worth your time is much harder. This means it is even more difficult to pick applications. According to the New York Times, the Federal Trade Commission has had to intervene.

FTC wants the Astroturfing case by Reverb Communications to be settled

Reverb Communications, California marketing business, and Tracie Snitker who’s the key executive say it will remove from iTunes all fake apps within the store. Deceptive advertising is what Reverb is being charged for. This is because from November 2008 to May 2009, Reverb had its employees writing reviews for clients which were positive. These reviews were what caused more Astroturf reviewers to pay for the applications. The 60 game production clients of Reverb during that period involved noted software companies Digital Leisure, Harmonix and MTV Games. The FTC made it so the company was forbidden from “making comparable endorsements of any product or service without revealing any relevant connections.” This includes Reverb and even Snitker.

Snitker claims Reverb’s actions were legal

Apparently, Snitker thought Reverb just wanted to get over the legal fight and pay the fees but did nothing wrong. She said this after the FTC and Reverb came to an agreement. The App Store Reviews were under the exact same ruling as the FTC new rules the FTC was not yet enforcing. These rules say that bloggers can’t participate in product endorsement for pay.

Online advertising can be more truthful after the FTC’s actions, says Harvard Law Professor Jonathan Zittrain. “This case sort of shows that what they have in mind is not the individual blogger or Twitterer, but rather a professional endorser. When a client says ‘Where are my good reviews?’ you can say, ‘We can’t do it because it is illegal.’”

Further reading

NY Times

nytimes.com/2010/08/27/technology/27ftc.html?_r=5

You can also look into auto loan modification

Some might think you are able to only get loan modification on mortgages. That is not true. You can refinance your auto loans, too. This would be the opportune moment, as it were, to refinance a auto loan as auto loans are actually quite cheap these days. Auto loans can be low interest loans too. They don’t have to be expensive.

Mortgage loans are not the sole loans which can be refinanced

You can refinance a car loan just like you are able to get mortgage loan modification. You will find low rates for auto loans right now, so looking into it would be better sooner rather than later. Many interest rates on loan products have been trending downwards. According to the Washington Post, that involves auto loans. Lenders want to lend to re-stimulate their business. Dealers want to sell cars to re-stimulate their business too. Keep in mind though, that loans from a financial institution and a dealership are not quite the same. Loans from a dealership often carry higher rates because they’re trying for making more cash as the middle man between you and also the bank.

That isn’t the full story however

There is, as there always is, a small catch. Financing that large is always tied to your credit rating. The lower your score, the higher the rate. Auto loans for poor credit may not be able to be modified. You may have to just sweat it out, if that’s the case. The very same article in the Washington Post puts high credit score auto loans at 5.7 percent, but those for low credit score borrowers are as high as 18.5 percent. There are also fees and conditions imposed by each individual lender, so make sure you do your homework.

For those who can, it’s a good time to refinance

Well, this is accessible more for people with good credit, instead of for those who aren’t. Also, you want to be careful of who advertises loan modification. The fastest growing type of scam around is the loan modification scheme, so make certain you know who you’re doing business with before you commit or hand over any cash.

Further reading

Washington Post

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/28/AR2010082800170.html