U2 360 tour postponed by Bono’s back surgery

After severely injuring his back during a U2 rehearsal, Bono has gotten emergency surgery. Because the emergency surgery was so severe, the U2 360 tour has been postponed. U2 and Bono have said they will reschedule the performances as soon as it is safe for Bono to perform.

Article Resource: U2 Bono – Back surgery postpones U2 360 tour

U2’s Bono injured during rehearsal

U2 has been rehearsing for the U2 360 tour in Germany. During the rehearsal last week, Golden-Globe-nominated U2’s Bono injured his back severely. The release from U2 Bono's doctors say that the singer has “suffered severe compression of the sciatic nerve … a serious tear in the ligament, and a herniated disc.” He was suffering from partial paralysis before the surgery.

U2 360 tour postponed

The U2 360 tour has been postponed because of Bono’s injury. Though millions of ticket buyers had used paydayloans to ensure they got tickets on time, there was no way Bono could safely perform. The U2 360 tour will be rescheduled with Live Nation for 2011, and ticketholders for all 16 United States dates will most likely be able to exchange their tickets. At as much as $ 200 per ticket, the 16 U.S. tour stops have an estimated value of several million dollars. The U2 appearance at the Glastonbury music festival has also been entirely canceled.

U2 360 tour back on the road with Bono soon

The U2 360 concert organizers have been personally contacted, in some cases, by Bono himself. In his conversation with the head of the Glastonbury Festival, Bono said he was “heartbroken.” The doctors treating Bono have said the tour will not go on until Bono has recovered. Bono will have to take it easy in order to avoid becoming fully paralyzed. Full updates on the status of U2, Bono and the U2 tour are being offered on U2.com.

Wal-Mart iPhone 3GS sale clears shelves for Apple 4G iPhone

Wal-Mart is slashing prices on the new entry level iPhone. With a two year AT and T contract, the Wal-Mart iPhone price was cut down to $ 97. Analysts say the Wal-Mart iPhone sale could be a sign that Apple is just trying to clear out old merchandise ahead of next month’s expected launch of a new 4G iPhone model at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference. Other industry developments leading up to Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference have industry sources wondering what’s in store for the iPhone.

Article Source: Wal-Mart iPhone 3GS sale clears shelves for Apple 4G iPhone

The triangle of intrigue for the iPhone 4G

The Wal-Mart iPhone sale for Apple's entry level 16 gigabyte 3GS phone on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reports that AT and T will charge smartphone customers fees the size of installment loans for breaking their AT and T iPhone contract early — nearly doubling fees from $ 175 to $ 325 beginning June 1. The third point in the iPhone 4G triangle of intrigue is that Steve Jobs is the keynote speaker at the Worldwide Developer Conference. Jobs usually has a grand announcement when he makes an appearance at a high profile technology event.

Apple and the bet on 4G iPhone's future

The Wal-Mart iPhone sale confirms that Apple is ready to release its 4G iPhone, according to the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, which reports that such a move signals Apple is confident that the 4G system, not available yet in most U.S. cities, will be rapidly adopted. Analysts think this adoption will be two or three years away. The same article reports that AT and T’s iPhone contract decision to hike the cost of terminating service is being seen as a defensive move to keep iPhone customers from jumping to other carriers.

Verizon iPhone threatens AT and T

Jobs will not announce the 4G iPhone at the WorldWide Developer Conference, rather he will announce the Verizon iPhone. When, not if, the Verizon iPhone happens, the SV/SJ Business Journal reports that AT and T could lose 40 percent of its iPhone customers, about 6 million accounts. The blog techcrunch.com reports that by raising termination fees, AT and T hopes to be able to keep customers chained to AT and T for another two years after the Verizon iPhone is launched.

4G iPhone a game changer?

4G is offering download speeds 10 times faster than 4G. The exponential boost in data transfer is anticipated to put an end to buffering when content loads for video, music streaming and large format images on smartphones. For the business world, 4G will allow companies to expand mobile workforces without network gridlock and make video-conferencing routine. Smartphone users will be able to send quality video reports.

Additional information at these websites

Wall Street Journal reports

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100521-709542.html?mod=WSJ_World_MIDDLEHeadlinesEurope

Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal

http://sanjose.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2010/05/24/daily29.html?jst=pn_pn_lk

techcrunch.com reports

http://techcrunch.com/2010/05/21/att-hikes-smartphone-early-termination-fees-claims-it-has-nothing-to-do-with-iphone-right/

Dead at 39 is Brittany Murphy’s husband Simon Monjack

At the age of 39 and just five months after Brittany Murphy's death, her husband died. Simon Monjack, a screenwriter with credits that included the 2006 Sienna Miller film “Factory Girl” and also the independent feature “Two Days, Nine Lives,” was found dead in hist master bedroom of his home within the Hollywood Hills. There are no signs of foul play and seems like it was just a heart attack. However, according to E! News, various prescription medication were recovered at the scene.

Article Source~Article Resource~Source for this article~Resource for this article: Simon Monjack, Brittany Murphy's husband, dead at 39

Simon Monjack dead of ‘natural causes’

E! News reports that Brittany Murphy’s mother Sharon made the 911 call that brought paramedics to the home she nevertheless shared with son-in-law Simon Monjack. Sharon was the one who’d called 911 to bring aid for her ailing daughter during her final hours of life. Just as Brittany Murphy’s cause of death was determined to be from combining incompatible prescription medications, there is some speculation that Simon Monjack is dead for a similar reason. Until after the autopsy results, authorities will stick with the "natural causes" story.

Accidental was Brittany Murphy's death

Murphy’s cases of pneumonia and anemia and the combination of prescription drugs she was on for those illnesses was simply too much for her system to handle. Most of those prescription drugs actually belonged to her husband. Authorities at the scene of the Brittany Murphy investigation in December 2009 found Monjack to be a “despondent husband” who was doing all he that he could to help hold his family together during a hard time. The tragedy continues for the family with Murphy's husband being dead.

Events before Brittany Murphy's husband's death

In the months between Brittany Murphy’s death and Monjack’s own demise, the screenwriter had a run-in with tax authorities that may have prompted him to put Brittany Murphy’s Hollywood Hills home up for sale. Simon Monjack had attempted to raise funds for the Brittany Murphy Foundation, but he did so without contacting the IRS beforehand to obtain nonprofit status according to E! News. The Foundation was really closed and Monjack had to return all donations he received.

Critics Not Entirely Blown Away By MacGruber

There had been MacGruber movie rumors for a while, and now it is in theaters. The parody of MacGyver by Saturday Night Live has not been a hit with critics so far, but it has been a fan favorite. It will be competing at the box office with the fourth and final installment of the Shrek franchise, Shrek Forever After. The reviews for both have been lukewarm.

Article Source: MacGruber hits theaters, fails to blow minds of critics By Personal Money Store

MacGruber blows up the big screen

After numerous appearances on television, including some famous Super Bowl spots, MacGruber is finally hitting the big screen. It will compete for box office quick payday with a film starring an SNL alumnus, that being Mike Meyers. MacGruber is a send up of 1980s action heroes, complete with a mullet. Granted, the target audience may be too young to remember MacGyver, or John Carpenter's masterpiece They Live. Kurt Loder is not amused, though the Rotten Tomatoes page on MacGruber gives it a rating slightly over 50 percent.

Shrek Forever After will do, donkey

Shrek Forever After is the fourth Shrek film, and it can be the last. Rotten Tomatoes has bestowed a 51 percent Fresh rating, which is not very flattering, but it is a sequel. Sequels can effortlessly deflate a series, though some franchises are just lame in the crib to start with (Transformers, for example.) However, it would appear that this final installment has one thing going for it, which is 3D. It might be at least interesting visually.

Survey says

We’ve all seen the MacGruber trailers and TV spots, so we know what we’re getting. It will be amusing, though not exactly a brainy film. SNL movies are rarely very good. Shrek, like numerous other movies out these days, is using the 3D as its main selling point. Something can look great, but if it's a lousy movie, it’s nevertheless a lousy movie. Many people think 3D makes anything great, but it can end up to be pouring perfume on a pig.

More data on this topic

MacGruber

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/macGruber/

Kurt Loder

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1639736/20100521/story.jhtml

Rotten Tomatoes

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shrek_goes_fourth/

Toyota and Tesla team to top electric car market

It was announced last week that Toyota would be purchasing a large stake in Tesla Motors, the electric car manufacturing firm. Tesla has a claim to fame of making high end completely electric roadsters that can do 100 miles per hour with impunity. Their flagship model is the Tesla Roadster, capable of going 0 to 60 in under 4 seconds, no mean feat for any auto. The company had experienced lagging revenues, and also the deal was announced ahead of an Original Public Offering to boost revenue.

Article Source~Article Resource~Source for this article~Resource for this article: Toyota and Tesla team to top electric car market

The Toyota Tesla deal

The Toyota Prius is one of the best selling hybrids on the market, so Toyota already is a leader in hybrid and electric car developments. Toyota pledged to put up $ 50 million after Tesla Motors announced a forthcoming IPO to raise capital after some losses. According to the New York Times, Tesla announced an IPO to raise capital after losing $ 56 million over 2009. The Tesla Roadster starts at $ 109,000, so the auto loan for bad credit you have to get one are hefty.

The flagship Tesla Roadster

The claim to fame for Tesla Motors is the Tesla Roadster, the fastest production electric or hybrid car. The basic model is capable of going from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 3.9 seconds. The Tesla Roadster Sport accomplishes it in 3.7 seconds, and costs $ 20,000 more. Granted, that is not exactly a time for the record books, but it is as far as hybrid and electric cars are concerned. (In case you need to wonder, the fastest car that comes stock from a major domestic is the Chevy Corvette ZR1.)

A good thing for both

Tesla and Toyota stand to benefit. Tesla is an eco-friendly manufacturer, and they are about to unveil the Tesla Model S, a family sedan retailing around $ 60,000. Part of the Toyota venture is allowing the Model S will be manufactured at the NUMMI manufacturing facility, which was recently closed. It appears a Tesla of any sort creates sparks wherever it goes.

Article resources

New York Times

http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/24/toyota-tesla-style/?src=busln

Tesla Roadster

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Roadster

Will the Interstate Highway system be killed by the electric car?

As America shifts increasingly toward efficiency standards that require that all cars to achieve 35 mpg or better, there may be a hidden peril lurking for the Interstate Highway System. As Keith Crain points out in a recent op-ed piece for Automotive News, the funding mechanism for building the IHS – the Highway Trust Fund – depends heavily upon gasoline tax. A lot more tax dollars are funneled to the Highway Trust Fund as drivers consumer more gasoline. The new breed of efficient internal combustion and electronic vehicles will require less (and eventually no) gasoline for operation. That is the reason why Crain is asking Congress to find a new way to maintain the Highway Trust Fund.

Article Resource: Is the electric car going to kill the Interstate Highway system?

The Interstate Highway System stimulus for a short term

During President Dwight Eisenhower’s administration, the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act of 1956 (which established the Interstate Highway System) was considered a landmark public works law. The network of highways is still the largest system of its kind in the world, and the ways in which it has furthered commerce, travel and defense in America cannot be discounted. Sadly, lawmakers at the time weren't able to predict how much money would be needed to maintain the IHS. Through various means, Congress has found ways to keep the Highway Trust Fund operational after its key provisions to back up the IHS had initially expired. Yet these efforts have only kept things going in the short term. President Obama’s green initiatives may look good on paper, especially considering expansions of green public transportation, but transitioning the American public to using public transport instead of private vehicles for daily tasks may be a difficult goal.

The debate on Highway Trust Fund is complicated

C-Span posted a three-plus hour debate on funding the highway system. According to Senators Tom Coburn and John McCain, part of the problem is that Congress too often “raids the cookie jar,” taking money out of the Highway Trust Fund in order to finance unrelated pet projects. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has proposed a tax on automobile miles traveled (VMT) to help make up for gasoline tax shortages. According to the Washington Post, this idea is very unpopular because you will find numerous that fear the government will use mileage counters to monitor drivers.

Where will the money come from?

Nobody has agreed on any one answer. Crain advises that Congress seriously consider solutions instead of waiting until the last moment and deciding hastily. Tobbits.com published a 2009 study explaining that the number of hybrid cars on America's roads grew by nearly 1.6 millioin. If the trend continues, the Interstate Highway System and Highway Trust Fund issues will only increase.

Sources

American Trails

The Washington Post

Lance Armstrong Uses His Manager To Respond To Landis Drug Accusations

In a move supposedly intended to clear his conscience, disgraced American cyclist Floyd Landis attempted to sully the reputation of previous teammate and seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong by alleging that Armstrong was aided by a wide variety of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). Johan Bruyneel, cycling team manager, has responded although Lance hasn't yet. Floyd Landis pointed the finger at Bruyneel as the man who allegedly introduced Landis to PEDs, and Johan Bruyneel has fashioned an appropriate response on Lance Armstrong’s Live Strong website.

Article Resource: Lance Armstrong responds to Landis drug accusations via manager

Bruyneel says Lance Armstrong did not participate in doping

Johan Bruyneel, manager of former Lance Armstrong/Floyd Landis cycling team U.S. Postal (now Team RadioShack), told the media that every allegation Floyd Landis made is a lie. Bruyneel claims that as soon as Landis tested good following his 2006 Tour de France victory, he started to contact Bruyneel and Lance Armstrong and threatened blackmail, possibly even demanding installment loans for people with bad credit. Given that then, claims Bruyneel, Floyd Landis changed his story concerning PEDs numerous times and even wrote a book about the affair. ”For me, it is clear we’re dealing with someone who is bitter,” Bruyneel explained. “Floyd has always been an angry person, sometimes for good, sometimes for bad.” Basically, the energy sometimes would motivate Landis for performance but other times caused him to lash out at his friends. Both Lance Armstrong and Johan Bruyneel are uncertain as to Floyd Landis’! timing, whether there was a reason to come forward right now with a new story.

Team RadioShack is distracted

As Team RadioShack is preparing for their Californian Tour, both Lance Armstrong and Johan Bruyneel want to put to the Floyd Landis situation behind them. Bruyneel feels that the Landis accusations aren't anything more than "a sad story":

“Knowing the personality, his history, having had him on the team, I mean we took Floyd on the team when he was in bad financial shape after the Mercury fiasco and he had no money. I remember he told me, ‘Luckily you got me on the team because I was almost forced to sell my house to pay my bills.’ Since then I think it's been up and down for Floyd, and I’d advise him to try to find professional help, and I'm not talking about lawyers, I'm talking about other help.”

Floyd Landis was on top of the world

Floyd Landis' Tour de France victory in 2006 made him a household name. Sadly, his issues with cycling officials have made him known a lot more for that than for how good he is. Lance Armstrong had been rumored to have used similar PEDs to Landis, but Armstrong has passed multiple drug tests. That has satisfied the cycling authority to a large extent, conserve for certain French officials who may resent his previous Tour de France dominance. Floyd Landis has damaged the reputation of American cycling, perhaps beyond repair. A young cyclist with the will and ability of Lance Armstrong might have to come along and clean up the mess.

Read more on this topic here

Johan Bruyneel

http://www.livestrong.com/teamradioshack/news_johan-bruyneel-comments-landis-situation/

Kevin Costner's Oil Spill Cleanup Machine To Tackle BP Oil Leak

The next project for Kevin Costner is the oil spill within the Gulf of Mexico 2010. Thursday, Costner and scientists demonstrated a centrifuge machine to BP officials. BP will start testing the Kevin Costner oil spill cleanup machines next week. The gulf oil spill cleanup has been getting a lot more and a lot more intense ever since April 20 when an oil rig that was leased by BP exploded and sank. A gushing oil geyser on the ocean floor that has poured millions of gallons of crude to the gulf has yet to be capped. The oil slick has entered a current that could take it to Florida and is also on the shore of Louisiana.

Resource for this article: Kevin Costner’s oil spill cleanup machine to tackle BP oil leak By Personal Money Store

Kevin Costner’s oil spill cleanup machine

An oil spill disaster in the past was what inspired the Kevin Costner oil cleanup machine. The Exxon Valdez oil spill which dumped 11 million gallons of crude into Alaska's Prince William Sound deeply affected Kevin Costner. ABC News reports that Costner has put $ 15 million — no mere quick payday loans — over the past 15 years into a team of scientists for developing the technology to clean up massive oil spills. Costner bankrolled a business called Ocean Therapy Solutions, which has created a powerful centrifuge that separates oil from water, stores it in a holding tank and sends the water, 99.9 percent purified, back to the ocean.

Oil spill cleanup ideas pouring in

Just last week Kevin Costner demonstrated his machine to BP in New Orleans. At the time the New Orleans Times-Picayune mocked Costner's idea in an article, listing it, along with many other ideas people have submitted to a BP oil spill hotline for addressing the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico 2010. A device that resembles a giant shower curtain, oil-eating bacteria, and bombs are among the 10,000 fixes individuals have proposed to counter the environmental disaster. The New York Times reports that BP had approved six of Ocean Therapy Solutions’ 32 machines for testing. Sucking oil from the water and then separating it is what the giant vacuum machine is designed to do. $ 26 million will even be donated by Costner for the cause.

Is Ocean Therapy going to be the solution?

BP oil spill officials and Ocean Therapy Solutions are working to determine where to test the Kevin Costner’s oil spill machines. The Ocean Therapy Solutions technology could possibly be running within a week depending on the results. Ocean Therapy Solutions says the largest machine can separate 210,000 gallons of oil from in one day, which nearly matches the volume of oil that BP and also the U.S. Coast Guard have estimated is pouring into the Gulf Other Scientists have said the volume of the BP oil leak is as much as 3.4 million gallons a day.

BP oil spill gushes away

The Kevin Costner oil spill cleanup machines are the latest approach in an evolving response to the massive, month long oil spill within the Gulf of Mexico 2010. The Associated Press reports that heavy oil is beginning to clog Louisiana marshes, while out at sea huge plumes of partly submerged crude have reached the loop current, a powerful stream of ocean water that could transport the BP oil leak to Florida and beyond. BP officials said a procedure called a “top kill” that pumps heavy mud that could possibly plug the BP oil leak will not be ready until next week.

Find more information on this topic

ABC News reports

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/kevin-costner-machine-bp-oil-clean/story?id=10689928

New Orleans Times-Picayune

http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2010/05/kevin_costner_want_to_fight_gu.html

New York Times reports

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/20/us/20spill.html?src=me

Is Android Tablet Next As Kindle For Android Takes On IPhone?

It was announced by Amazon that Kindle is going Android. Amazon is teaming up with Google this summer to give the iPhone a run for its money in e-reader functionality. The Kindle software is already offered by Amazon for the iPad, iPhone, Windows, Mac OS X, and Blackberry devices. Android already sells Amazon music and streaming movies with built-in apps. Except that it took so long to happen, Kindle on the Android isn't any kind of surprise. Some say an Android tablet could be next.

Source for this article: Kindle for Android takes on iPhone – Is Android tablet next By Personal Money Store

Kindle for Android downloads

Kindle for Android has downloads that are a key advantage. Fortune reports that Google’s Android environment, as open as no faxing payday loan compared to Apple’s, allows continuous Kindle for Android downloads. Seamlessly was the kindle bookstore built by Amazon into Android. Kindle books can be read on iPhone, but when users want to purchase an Amazon book on an iPhone, they have to leave Kindle, open the web browser, then buy the book with an Amazon account. Only then is the purchase transferred wirelessly to the iPhone.

Kindle for iPhone

Apple forces a workaround because it doesn't allow in app purchases through an iPhone from anyone besides apple. Amazon could very possibly sell e-books in Kindle for iPhone, but Apple takes a 30 percent pay cut. Android let Amazon build a storefront right inside Kindle for the Android, so Amazon can sell products directly in the product, without Android users leaving Kindle, and without Google taking a cut.

Kindle for Android features

Kindle for Android could be used on Droid Incredible, Google Nexus One, Motorola CLIQ, Motorola Droid, HTC MyTouch, and most other Android phones. Optimized for the Android phone with wireless delivery, users can purchase e-books from the kindle store. The beginnings of books are there to try for free before purchasing. Kindle newspapers, magazines and blogs won’t be accessible on Kindle for Android.

Will the Android tablet be next?

Beginning May 19, the Kindle for Android announcement precedes the Google I/O conference. Clint Boulton at eWeek reports that many of the buzz leading up to the event centers totally on Android. One thing that is very certain to launch at Google I/O is Android 2.2 which plans to give Kindle for Android a speed increase from previous operating systems. Google officials are also expected to talk about Android-based tablets. Verizon confirmed working with Google on Android based tablets.

More details on this topic

Fortune reports

http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2010/05/18/kindle-android-app-goes-beyond-iphone

Clint Boulton at eWeek reports

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/Android-22-Google-TV-Expected-at-Google-IO-This-Week-819819/

Pesticides And ADHD Connection Found By Researchers

Time magazine indicates that a medical journal called Pediatrics may have found an interesting link between pesticide exposure and ADHD in children. As many as 4.5 million kids from age 5 to 17 are labeled as having ADHD, per the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since 1997, that number has increased at a steady annual rate. Chemicals used on the food we eat like pesticides are often felt to be key contributors to this trend. The commonly attributed causes of ADHD – video games, texting and fast-paced commercials for products like installment loan – are believed to be much less significant than the pesticide element, scientists are beginning to believe.

Pesticides and ADHD – The organophosphates will get you

Toxic pesticides with an ADHD link are identified as organophosphates within the joint University of Montreal/Harvard University study. Of the 1,100-child sample (ages 8 to 15) used in the study, dialkyl phosphates were found in highest concentration within the waste products of those with ADHD. That substance is what the body produces when organophosphate pesticides are processed. With every tenfold increase in residue detected, the scientists found a 35 percent increase within the odds of pesticide exposure causing ADHD. However, even low levels of exposure seemed to increase the odds of pesticide-induced ADHD.

It is an association, not quite a cause yet

If anything, this University of Montreal/Harvard University study opens the door for further inquiry, even if it doesn’t conclusively prove that organophosphate pesticides cause ADHD. However, it is known that organophosphate pesticides can cause damage to the nerve connections in the brain, as that is the mechanism through which the pesticide actually kills its intended target. It does this by blocking the necessary transfer of acetylcholinesterase, which is a chemical in question for ADHD kids as outlined by current research. This disruption may cause hyperactive behavior and other cognitive disruptions.

Buy organic and don’t use home bug sprays

The Montreal/Harvard study didn’t focus on the specific method through which kids were exposed to the pesticide, but one of the most obvious connection is through diet – fruits and vegetables sprayed when growing, indicates the National Academy of Sciences. Further research will hopefully lead to a greater understand of what’s too much when it comes to such pesticides. Figuring out just how much is harmful should be a top priority. Purchasing organic can minimize exposure for the moment, as can using pest control methods that don’t require toxic substances.

For a lot more information on minimizing chemical exposure in one’s diet, look into the Raw Foods SOS blog. Stay away from the myths and go for what’s real and practicable on an everyday basis. When you are at it, learn about how mercury seems much of the food we eat if you’re looking for a good scare.

Citations

Time magazine

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1989564,00.html?xid=rss-topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20time/topstories%20(TIME:%20Top%20Stories)&utm_content=Google%20Reader

Raw Foods SOS

http://rawfoodsos.com/2010/04/30/the-lowdown-on-organic-foo/

Sinkholes Wreak Havoc - I-24 Sinkhole And Canada Sinkhole

You might be stuck if you plan on using the I-24 in Tennessee. A deep sinkhole opened up between Chattanooga and Nashville, and shut down a 13-mile stretch of the heavily traveled road. In Canada, a wide sinkhole that opened last week killed a family who was in their basement. So what is the deal with all of these sinkholes?

Source for this article: Sinkholes wreak havoc – I-24 Sinkhole and Canada sinkhole By Personal Money Store

Tennessee traffic snarled by I-24 sinkhole

The I-24 sinkhole opened up Tuesday as outlined by the Tennessee Department of Transportation. A tractor-trailer missed the sinkhole just barely after it opened up, and nobody was injured or had to take out new car loan as a result of the sinkhole. Authorities hope repairs will be finished by May 22 as the sinkhole is 40 feet long and 25 feet deep and will take $ 266,960 to fix. A private contractor took it upon him to have the contract. Between mile marker 127 and exit 127 is where the sinkhole is located. Traffic has been detoured around the sinkhole on Eastbound lanes, though Westbound lanes have not been closed.

Canadian sink hole responsible for family of four's deaths

A sinkhole that opened up in Canada ended up killing a family of four. One family happened to be in their basement as the sinkhole opened up outside of Montreal under various homes. The area is being treated as a disaster rehabilitation area by the Canadian government as the homes were evacuated.

What really is a sinkhole?

You will find a number of causes for sinkholes to open. Typically it has something to do with water seeping in from above bedrock or running below. The water slowly dissolves the rock, and eventually the weight above the area simply becomes too much. At this point, a sudden sinkhole appears. Sub-surface waterways, sewer piping and abandoned mines are some of probably the most common causes of sinkholes. Sinkholes could be difficult to predict, though Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida, Texas, Alabama, Missouri and Pennsylvania tend to have one of the most sinkholes among U.S. states.

Open To Fanfare Is The NASCAR Hall Of Fame

NASCAR finally opened the NASCAR Hall of Fame to honor drivers that made exceptional contributions to the sport after more than 60 years of existence. Ground was broken for the facility construction in 2007 and opened on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The class of five drivers was selected from 25 nominees last year, and they’ll be inducted 12 days after the opening, on May 23 2010. The opening will most likely be a instant cash loans although the beneficiary can be surprising.

NASCAR Hall of Fame

The NASCAR Hall of Fame broke ground in January 2007, according the NASCAR Hall of Fame website. Construction continued, and by fall of 2009, exhibits were installed, and the building was scheduled to open for May 11, 2010. The festivities were attended by a number of of the first inaugural class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

The First Class

The inaugural class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame involves Dale Earnhardt, Bill France Sr., Bill France Jr., Richard Petty and Junior Johnson. In their contribution, each of these men were giants of the sport. Bill France JR. helped to further the organization after his father Bill France Sr. found the NASCAR organization. Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty barely need introduction, as incredibly popular and successful owners and drivers. Junior Johnson is an accomplished owner, having won six championships as a team owner.

Charlotte

NASCAR is special in North Carolina. Many of the most famous and greatest NASCAR drivers, including 3 members of the first class to be inducted to the NASCAR Hall of Fame hail from North Carolina. Three major races take place in Charlotte. Also, according to Wikipedia, almost three-fourths of all motorsports employees work in Charlotte, North Carolina. That's as heavily NASCAR as you can get, besides Dayton Beach. Also, the NASCAR Hall of Fame is owned by the city. It should bring enjoyment. The NASCAR Hall of Fame will be good for the public.

Sources

NASCAR Hall of Fame website

http://www.nascarhall.com/about/the-building

Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASCAR_Hall_of_Fame

Auction Yourself To A Good Automobile Deal

Being within the market for a used vehicle means looking into car auction also. You can get very good deals at an auction, despite the fact that they are intimidating at times. What's the best way to get a deal at a auto auction?

Probably the most basic parts of auto auctions

At the very core, a car auction is the exact same as a normal auction. The highest bidder simply gets the auto. There are typically no implied or written warranties on vehicles sold at auction. The cars typically offered at auction fall into one of 3 categories. Private owners or dealerships can offer their cars on auction web sites. Surplus automobiles are also accessible – cars from government agencies that are no longer needed. Creditors will also auction off impounded or repossessed vehicles. There are two major types of car auctions – in person and online.

In-person automobile auctions

An in-person auto auction has many benefits. Usually, a auto auction will open for “viewing” an hour or two before the auction begins, and you’ll have a chance to really take a close take a look at the cars accessible for bidding. Keep close tabs on Craigslist or your local newspaper for listings. Have your vehicle financing lined up before you register for a bidding number. If you've got a mobile phone, use a AutoCheck or Carfax app to get a basic report on cars you're looking at . If you bid on and win a automobile, you will be expected to pay for it right then and there. Most often, the seller will provide both the title and licensing details. You may also need to take the car off the lot in a short period of time – typically 2 to 24 hours after purchasing the vehicle.

Auto auctions online

An online vehicle auction is, in some ways, comparable to an in-person auction. The cars are nevertheless sold in as-is condition, and you'll have to register to bid. However, online car auctions do not generally give you the chance to look into the car before you buy it. You can ask the seller specific questions on numerous auction sites. Online auctions are used to auction off government surplus as well. You can’t really have a look at the automobile on auction websites like this. Keep your eyes peeled for warning words like "mechanics special" or "needs work.”

Is Matt Lauer Cheating On His Dutch Wife?

Matt Lauer is cheating, according to the New York Daily News , and it has something to do with the recent Vancouver Winter Olympics. The charms of curling ensnared NBC Sports broadcaster Tiki Barber previously; add the romantic fire of the luge and these helpless men are putty. Yes, Matt Lauer, 52, allegedly cheated on his Dutch supermodel wife Annette Roque while he was in Vancouver covering the Winter Games. According to the National Enquirer, Lauer and Roque have split over these allegations, possibly ending their 12-year marriage and placing Lauer in a very difficult financial situation where he might need more than a installment payday loans to pay his attorney’s fees, alimony and child support.

Matt Lauer’s cheating points to a checkered history

Was Matt Lauer considered a cheater before? That isn’t really entirely clear, but his relationship history has its bumps. The Matt Lauer Wikipedia page explains that he was married from 1982 until 1989 to TV producer Nancy Alspaugh. That marriage ended in divorce. From 1989 to 1996 he dated Kristen Gesswein, TV newscaster, and got engaged. Of course that engagement was broken, because two years later, Matt Lauer married Annette Roque, aka “Jade.” Roque has appeared in ads for Victoria's Secret and Revlon along with others. When she was pregnant with their third child, they were separated and even on Sept. 13, 2006, filed for divorce. They made up before it became official, perhaps because Lauer saw a future where he wouldn’t be able to maintain his “Today” show jet-set lifestyle.

On Valentine's day, he stood Annette up

That’s a dead giveaway, as far as women are concerned. Matt Lauer partied after his duties at the Vancouver Games were complete, and as the Daily News puts it, he “caught the eye of two good-looking Canadian broadcasters.” Annette was ready for a showdown as he got back. Verbal shots were fired, and now the ring on Annette’s finger is nowhere to be seen. Matt Lauer and Annette Rogue have 3 children together: 8-year-old son Jack, 6-year-old daughter Romy and 2-year-old son Thijs (pronounced “tice”).

Keeping it on the down low

That’s what the NBC and the “Today” show are demanding of Matt Lauer and his cheating ways (or alleged cheating ways). They believe his audience wants a family man. And as everybody knows, television is all about appearances. Al Roker seems to everybody a kind weatherman and interviewer, but for all we know, he could possibly be a super villain. Viewers have no real way of knowing, thanks to the illusion of television. Although Matt Lauer might seem the family man on TV, his real life is a lot more complicated.

Resources for the article

New York Daily News

http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2010/05/13/2010-05-13_matt_lauer_cheating_scandal_today_show_host_accused_of_wild_behavior_behind_wife.html

Field Of Dreams For Sale At The Farm Where The Film Was Shot

The Field of Dreams is now for sale. "Field of Dreams" is the move made in 1989 about an Iowa farmer who builds a baseball diamond in his cornfield. On land near Dubuque, Iowa, the Field of Dreams was built by Universal Studios for the movie. Building the set for the movie turned the huge Field of Dreams farm into a tourist destination. They’re asking $ 5.4 million for the Field of Dreams farm–193 acres of land such as the field and surrounding land plus the house used within the movie, two souvenir stands and six other buildings.

The Field of Dreams farm

The Field of Dreams is for sale 20 years following the movie was nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award that ended up going to “Driving Miss Daisy.” ”Build it and they will come” was the theme within the “Field of Dreams” script. Following the movie was over, the Field of Dreams farm stayed with about 65,000 visitors a year. ”Build it and they’ll come” became an American catch phrase, in particular for expensive new major league baseball parks, built with no fax payday loans no credit check of taxpayer dollars that would increase the attendance and line the pockets of team owners for a couple of years until the novelty quickly wore off.

The movie script for Field of Dreams

The Field of Dreams script is adapted from the book “Shoeless Joe,” by W. P. Kinsella. Ray Kinsella, as played by Kevin Costner, is a city boy who’s trying to farm in rural Iowa with his family. The line in the “Field of Dreams” script that became one of the most famous occur when Ray walks through his cornfield and hears a voice in his head say “If you build it, he will come.”. Ray resents his father for never taking risks in his life. Ray follows the advice of the voice in his head and carves a diamond out of his cornfield. “If you build it, he will come,” was soon co-opted into “If you built it, they’ll come” by major league baseball owners talking up their new ball parks.

High price for Field of Dreams memorabilia

The Field of Dreams is going for sale at a price far above that of the farmland in the area. The DesMoines Register reports that a 2009 farmland value survey by Iowa State University showed average values for top-quality land in Dubuque County, where the field is located, as high as $ 4,685. At that rate, the sellers believe Field of Dreams memorabilia adds about $ 4.5 million in tourism value to the 193-acre parcel worth about $ 904,205. The Field of Dreams is for sale without stipulations; the buyers could plow the field and grow corn. But the price of corn would have to exceed the value of Field of Dreams memorabilia for that to happen.

Sources

the Field of Dreams farm

http://www.fieldofdreamsmoviesite.com/distance.html

“Shoeless Joe,” by W. P. Kinsella

http://books.google.com/books?id=4zx2VLxLyUYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22Shoeless+Joe,%22+by+W.+P.+Kinsella&source=bl&ots=_uZduc3aOU&sig=UD2TojMWrXRq4r1ifqTr0o4gcgA&hl=en&ei=yJLtS_DuGZLSsQPE1oTCBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CC0Q6AEwBA#v=onepage&q&f=false

DesMoines Register reports

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20100513/NEWS/100513011/-Field-of-Dreams-site-for-sale

Robin Hood Poised To Raid The Box Office

The new Robin Hood film, starring Russell Crowe and helmed by Ridley Scott, will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. It will open on May 14 in the United States and is apparently poised as late spring action blockbuster. However, since it isn't the first take on the legend of Robin Hood, one wonders if it will conquer the box office. Ironically, considering the pay scales of studio heads and actors, the no faxing payday loan generated from the grosses will really be doing the exact opposite of Robin Hood.

New Robin Hood with slight twist

The Ridley Scott Robin Hood is largely the same. Robin returns from the Third Crusade, having fought for Richard the Lionheart, and finds King John and also the Sheriff of Nottingham terrorizing the populace. Robin rebels, and with the Merry Men of Sherwood Forest fights the evil king off, robbing from the rich and giving to the poor. It promises to be a rollicking good time, and also the new version attempts to be just a little a lot more faithful to the period than previous versions.

Cannes you do the Can Can?

The film could be premiering at the Cannes Film Festival. Ridley Scott won’t be attending. He recently had knee surgery, as outlined by USA Today, and his recovery isn't progressing as fast as he desired. The cast must walk the red carpet without the director. The relationship between Scott and Crowe has been fruitful, as this was their fifth film together.

Sadly, there was never a Robin Hood

There isn’t really any evidence for an actual Robin Hood, though the story is a wonderful tale of rebellion against an evil government. The James Gang, Bonnie and Clyde, and John Dillinger never did anything for the common people except steal from them. King Richard actually spent as little time as possible in England. Richard also spoke hardly any English. Furthermore, the actual rebellion against King John was in the interests of the nobles, not really the commoners. Nevertheless, the Magna Carta was a good thing in the end.

Citations

USA Today

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/entertainment/post/2010/05/robin-hood-director-to-miss-cannes-opening/1

More Users Delete Facebook Accounts Over Privacy Concerns

If you’re thinking about deleting your Facebook account forever, join the crowd. In April, Facebook launched new features that extend the personal details of Facebook users from their friends and network to the Internet at large. People appear to be more concerned about Facebook privacy issues and what Facebook is doing with their personal information. Politicians, web superstars, and privacy advocates have announced that they’re deleting their Facebook accounts.

Individuals deleting Facebook accounts for privacy reasons

More people are deleting Facebook accounts forever because most of their personal data is now fair game unless they manually block it. Blogger Mat McKeon reports that when Facebook was founded, way back in 2005, it restricted a user’s personal information to just friends and their network. These last few years, Facebook default privacy settings for each person's personal information is now as permissive as payday loans no fax. Now anything but your contact information and birthday could be accessed by everyone. Facebook also changes how personal details is classified which users think is confusing.

Facebook privacy setting have to updated

McKeon isn't suggesting people delete their accounts and he isn't either. He gets it that Facebook is trying to make money off of the info they get with their free service. But he does strongly advocates double and triple checking your privacy settings for a personal profile that could be giving out details from where you live to the movies you like and also the people you trust. The Wall Street Journal reports that some members of the tech community, such as Google search-engine guru Matt Cutts and Engadget co-founder Peter Rojas, have announced that they were deactivating their Facebook accounts, a step that shuts down but doesn't delete the Facebook account entirely.

How to permanently delete my Facebook account?

Permanently deleting your Facebook account won't be as simple as a click. Facebook makes it super easy to deactivate your account making your details temporarily unavailable. But as outlined by wikiHow, if you need to permanently remove your information, the “permanent delete" option is much harder to discover. This article on wikiHow answers the question: How do I delete my Facebook account forever?

Facebook privacy issues

Lately, "delete Facebook account" has been a huge Google search term. After Facebook's developer conference a couple of weeks ago, ABC News reports the latest backlash began brewing. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg unveiled a number of changes he said would make the Web more social and personalized by expanding Facebook’s presence to other online websites. On thousands of online websites a “social plug-in” now lets users “like” content and see what their Facebook friends have liked, directly from those online websites.

Facebook and privacy violations

Facebook by default is now giving third party companies member's friends lists, names, and hobbies. When a Facebook user logs onto a site with the Facebook social plug-in, the content displayed is shaped by all of the personal info in their Facebook account, also as any personal details of their friends. To disable this feature, a manual opt-out is required.

Privacy advocates on Facebook

People upset about Facebook privacy policies have legislator on their side. “With great power comes great responsibility, and sites like Facebook have great responsibility,” Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said at a news conference a week after Facebook’s announcements. “In my view, it ought to be the user who determines who gets what information, not Facebook.” Schumer asked the Federal Trade Commission to create some guidelines for Facebook and other social networks to follow.

People delete Facebook account forever

Facebook hasn't done anything to help its Facebook privacy problem. In a Q and A session with readers of the New York Times this week Elliot Schrage, Facebook's vice president for public policy, responded to privacy concerns by saying that participating in Facebook is "a choice." He said "Please don't share if you're not comfortable.". That advice is being taken by many.

Article Resources

Mat McKeon reports

http://mattmckeon.com/facebook-privacy/

Wall Street Journal reports

http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2010/05/14/looking-to-delete-your-facebook-account-youre-not-alone/

Is The Flat Belly Diet A Miraculous Cure For Flab?

Dieting is becoming the new national pastime. Many fad diets have come about, like the South Beach Diet, the Atkins Diet, the Gullible Enough To Purchase This Stuff Diet and now the Flat Belly Diet. There is no Northwest Passage when it comes to weight loss, and also the Flat Belly Diet is no exception. That said, it uses some real common sense. You won’t have to get short term loans for TV dinners, either.

Flat Belly Diet builds on Mediterranean Diet

Doctors are the experts, and that’s who you need to talk to about weight loss, and there’s already a WebMD review of the Flat Belly Diet. The diet proclaims to burn up to 15 pounds in 32 days. The first four days are an initiation period intended to cut down on bloating and mentally adjust individuals to healthier eating. During these four days, you’re encouraged to drink 2 liters a day of Sassy Water.

Monounsaturated fats

Indeed, Cynthia Sass, who invented Sassy Water, is a co-author of the book along with Liz Vaccariello. The key ingredient in this diet is Monounsaturated Fat. MUFAs are known to boost good cholesterol and reduce the bad cholesterol.

Lots of healthy goodness

There’s an eating plan and a cookbook. You eat four portion-controlled, small meals per day, each of which consists of a MUFA ingredient. You keep to healthier meal choices, like more vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Exercise is encouraged to go with it.

The web doctors weigh in

The WebMD review was mixed. They had some reservations about the Flat Belly Diet, but they did praise some features. First of all, they state the weight lost is likely to be water weight and that to burn 15 pounds of true fat a person would have to burn more than 1,600 calories a day, which isn't likely. They affirm that good weight loss, about a pound or two a week, is slow and steady and reminded individuals to remember SED – Strength training, Exercise, and proper Diet. There may be no Northwest Passage to weight loss.

Citations

WebMD

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/flat-belly-diet

Flat Belly Diet

http://flatbellydiet.prevention.com/default.asp?sname=DefaultOffer&mktSSOfferId=FBD24716&mktBKOfferId=PVN24251

Monounsaturated Fat

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monounsaturated_fat

For A Quick Payday, Cyber Squatter Is Nevertheless Spoofing FluidNow

When you enter the URL for FluidNow, you reasonably expect that your browser will take you to that exact site, instead of to an alternate site that threatens to create a quick payday for a devious cyber squatter by siphoning off your cash or otherwise infecting your computer with malware that could capture your credit card number. Unfortunately for those unemployed in Florida, a cyber squatter has been taking advantage of those who mistype the URL for FluidNow which is Florida Unemployment Internet Direct. Something as simple as typing “wwwfluidnow.com” rather than “www.fluidnow.com” has been placing some Floridians seeking unemployment benefits on a harmful site that will charge consumers to access their unemployment funds. This has been going on for a few months, according to WalletPop, and spoofing of FluidNow remains a problem.

FluidNow scam – an additional thing Florida doesn’t need

The continuing FluidNow difficulties could not have come at a worse time. As outlined by the U.S. Department of Labor and the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation, the unemployment rate in Florida is even higher than average within the Nation being two to 3 percent above the national average. As the recession continues, unemployment claims in the state remain high. Individuals in need who want to visit www.fluidnow.com (which redirects to www.floridajobs.org), but those who type the address wrong are nevertheless being taken by the wwwfluidnow.com scam. Hence, Florida officials urge their state’s unemployed to use www.floridajobs.org to stay away from any possible trouble.

Use the site www.floridajobs.org and call the Florida Attorney General

If you or somebody that you may know is an unemployed Floridian who has gotten tangled in the FluidNow spoofing, you are urged to contact the Florida Attorney General at (866) 966-7226 or file a claim at http://myfloridalegal.com/.

Www.fluidnow.com is located in Australia

This is the first sign that something isn't right. The spoofing site wasn't even started within the US, let alone Florida, as outlined by a lookup on Whois. Although Cyber squatting and spoofing isn't new at all, people nevertheless fall prey to it very often. Look into the WalletPop FluidNow article for some small screenshots of how the site should be appearing vs. the impostor, and keep in mind that you Do not have to pay an additional fee to claim your unemployment benefits in any state. No criminal should make an effort to steal your loan till payday.

Resources

spoofing of FluidNow remains a problem

http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/05/03/fluidnow-typo-costs-florida-unemployment-filers/

www.floridajobs.org

http://www.floridajobs.org/

Nashville Rising Concert To Benefit Flood Relief

Just a couple of weeks after the flood waters started to recede, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill organized Nashville Rising. This concert involves a lot more than 14 planned performances from large names in music should raise money to help Nashville and Tennessee recover from the flooding disaster. Your ticket will give quick cash to the recovery and you’ll get into an amazing concert.

Organized by McGraw and Hill is Nashville Rising

The Nashville Rising concert was organized by country music's power couple, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw. They worked with Live Nation, Outback concerts, and AEG Live to produce the concert. Outback Steakhouse, Ticketmaster, and Bravado all are sponsors of Nashville Rising. Tickets went on sale May 14 and the concert will be June 22.

Nashville Rising to feature more than 14 acts

There are a bunch of different styles that can be displayed at the concert. For the country music capitol of the US, it is nevertheless very country music heavy. The performers include these people: Jason Aldean, Brooks and Dunn, Luke Bryan, Miley Cyrus, Amy Grant, Faith Hill, Miranda Lambert, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, Leann Rimes, Michael W. Smith, Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood.

Benefiting Tennessee with Nashville Rising

At the Bridgestone arena in Nashville is where the Nashville Rising concert will be held. Tickets will benefit the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and will cost anywhere from $ 25 to $ 75. The mayor of Nashville estimates that flood cleanup costs could run as much as $ 1 billion. While the Nashville Rising concert may not raise that entire price tag, the hope is that the impact is noticeable. Not only will ticket profits go to flood cleanup, the influx of music fans traveling to town, supporting the hotels, restaurants and tourist activities may also have a good economic impact on the area. Would you like to go to the concert? Ticketmaster has tickets available. See a lot more at Nashvillerising.org

Article Resources

Nashvillerising.org

http://www.nashvillerising.org/

School Budget In DeKalb County Spent On A PR Firm?

In Georgia, DeKalb County Schools are facing many questions about what the proper use of school funds can be. $ 115 million is due to be cut from the DeKalb County Schools budget – just for the next year. At the same time these cuts are happening, it appears like the school is shopping around with some money to lend to a PR firm. What is the story with DeKalb County Schools?

Cutting budgets at DeKalb County Schools

The issue of deep budget cuts can be addressed at DeKalb County Schools next Monday. Like just about every other school district around the country, DeKalb County Schools have to cut their spending at the very same time their costs are rising. There has been discussion of potentially closing schools, though the district has instead elected to cut 430 jobs while delaying school closures.

Will DeKalb County Schools hire a public relations firm?

With pending lawsuits over spending, even more spending budget cuts, and a severe public relations problem, it is no surprise that DeKalb County Schools feels it needs help. It's not surprise that DeKalb County Schools feel they need help, given all these issues. This PR firm would be hired by DeKalb County Schools to deal with "crisis response management" and "creation of good will".

The cost to DeKalb County Schools

The possibility that DeKalb County Schools can be hiring an outside public-relations firm is leaving numerous wondering about use of school funds. The directors are saying the contract would be capped at $ 25,000 – relatively little within the world of PR budgets. The schools' communication budget would take the cost of the PR firm, not line-item cuts to the school budget.

Is this DeKalb County Schools decision right?

In the end, the question is should DeKalb County Schools be spending $ 25k on a PR firm? This is a difficult question to answer. The school district already employs five separate communications employees. The district recognizes, though, that they have a significant PR problem. Most schools are funded with local tax dollars. School districts can find itself floundering when they start a spiral of bad public relations. At the same time, when budgets are being tightened and teachers are losing their jobs, should a school district really be spending additional money? When the district has five employees that already have the job set to be hired out, should they be hiring the job out. What's your opinion?

Sources for this article:

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/dekalb-schools-looking-to-519172.html

11alive.com

http://www.11alive.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=143643&catid=3

Does The Babies Movie Violate Child Labor Laws?

“Babies,” a new movie documentary by Thomas Balmes, follows the lives of four babies from different parts of the world. There is no dialogue but music accompanying scenes of the kids in their natural environments. Reviews of “Babies” have been somewhat mixed; when the 80-minute Focus Features documentary is unquestionably cute, it may lack substance. Showing cute infants and heightening the mood with upbeat music may work in commercials, but in a documentary this tactic offers little insight into an infant’s life. In fact, less attention is being paid to whichever message the “Babies” movie may offer than whether the documentary violates child labor laws in its handling of the youngsters – and whether Focus Features will need instant cash loans to cover potential fi! nes.

A ‘Babies’ movie that mishandles its babies?

”Babies” baby Hattie from San Francisco may not have been used in ways California law deems proper for infants, reports USA Today. In that state, infants must be at least 15 days old and have a doctor’s note and legal permits before they could be filmed commercially. Said “Babies” within the movie are only allowed on film a maximum of 20 minutes per day, and during that time the studio must provide a nurse and teacher which the studio finances completely. In the case of the “Babies” movie, critics claim they didn’t follow the rules with little Hattie.

Film producer said the exact same rules didn’t apply

Perhaps the producer was attempting to big-time Hattie’s family. It’s because, as producer Amandine Billot told the Associated Press, “Babies” cast the four infant stars when they were nevertheless in the womb. The kids were then filmed “in their natural environments, like a wildlife film of human babies,” according to Billot. The California Labor Board has not officially opened an investigation to the “Babies” movie, but if they do, potential fines could range from $ 50 to $ 5,000 per infraction.

California, the anti-’Babies’ state

California certainly needs cash, so they could easily determine to go after the film. CEO James Schamus is ready for a fight, however. He called the allegations against the “Babies” movie “irresponsible conjecture,” reports the AP. ”The filmmakers a lot more than adhered to both the letter and spirit of the law,” exclaimed Schamus.

Curious to see those ‘Babies’?

Remember, “Babies” has received some optimistic notes. Beliefnet.com maintains in their positive review the point of the film is to “revel in the miracles, radiant innocence and fun nature of babies. You won’t be able to leave the theater without feelings of warmth, happiness and delight”. Just like Sandra Bullock, brining new “Babies” into your life is not a bad thing.

Sources for the article

USA Today

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/entertainment/post/2010/05/did-babies-break-the-law-/1

Beliefnet.com

http://blog.beliefnet.com/yourlittlecuties/2010/05/movie-review-babies.html

No Pampers Recall Yet, Besides Dry Max Diapers Under Scrutiny

Proctor and Gamble is reeling during today’s stock market crash, and spirits will sag further yet if there is a Pampers recall. Parents do not care quite as much about whether somebody on Wall Street made a typo when recording a large Proctor and Gamble trade (sending investors scrambling for no faxing payday loans) as they do about whether Pampers Dry Max diapers are causing their kid to get diaper rash.

A Pampers recall may be within the works

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is currently investigating Proctor and Gamble's Pampers Dry Max Diapers. There are complaints of chemical burns around the children's pelvic area as well as rashes. Pampers is so far claiming that “It’s one severe rash complaint for every 6 million diaper changes”. As of now, there is no Pampers recall in effect. Consumers who are, nevertheless, concerned about the safety of Dry Max diapers are urged to contact the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission toll-free at (800) 638-2772.

A Pampers woe tale from a mom

Caroline of Spartanburg, South Carolina, is just one on a long list of moms who have had recent issues with Pampers diapers. She used Pampers for a couple years until her 22 month old and 5 month old started to show heavy rashes. After going through numerous creams and near total personality transformations in her children (pain does that to a person), Caroline was fed up. Once the rashes took a huge turn for the worse and became what she says are “huge, scabby blisters,” she found that numerous other parents had logged complaints online about Pampers diapers. Caroline returned what she had to Sam’s Club and exchanged for a different brand. Many parents took comparable precautions according to the Consumer Affairs site, which leads to a speculation that you will find a lot more parents whose children are suffering under what could very effortlessly warrant a Pampers recall.

Sources

Proctor and Gamble

http://thestir.cafemom.com/in_the_news/102684/pampers_recall_stock_market_crash

moms who have had recent problems with Pampers diapers

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/toys/pampers.html

In Q1 1020, Droid Outsells IPhone – Android Vs. IPhone

The Android vs. iPhone battle got more entertaining as the Android underdog phone outsold the Apple iPhone in first quarter 2010. Apple is winning the war, even if the Android did win one small battle. In total smartphone sales, and Apple definitely has the lead over Android. Blackberry, of course, dominates the field. While Apple iPhone and Blackberry sales are down, the Android market is trending upward. The Android may tighten the iPhone vs. Android margin as some analysts believe the trends will continue.

iPhone vs. Android milestone

The Android vs. iPhone matchup hit a milestone when the Android phone captured 28 percent of smartphone sales last quarter as outlined by the NPD Group. NPD reports that Apple’s iPhone won 21 percent of all the smartphone sales, while Research in Motion’s Blackberry took 36 percent. According to ComScore, a digital market research firm, a key stat in Android vs. iPhone is that Google’s Android operating system had only nine percent of the market as of February 2010, compared with the 25.4 percent of the iPhone.

Others falter with Android phone gains

In winning the latest round of iPhone vs. Droid, PC World reports that Google’s OS is the only smartphone OS whose share of sales grew over the previous quarter. The iPhone, in the mean time, is flat, while Windows Mobile, BlackBerry and WebOS quarterly sales shares are falling like a mortgage loan modification. If this trend continues on like this, PC World’s J.R. Raphael said Android will catch up to its competitors for total market share in a hurry.

How was the iPhone beat by the Android?

Android phone sales may have beaten Apple’s iPhone, as outlined by the Los Angeles Times, because of Google’s freewheeling partnering tactics that have gotten the Android operating system onto as numerous phones, served by as many wireless carriers, as possible. From 12 manufacturers, you will find a lot more than 30 Android powered devices now. These devices consist of Sprint, AT and T, T-mobile, and Verizon.

Will iPhone be sold by Verizon soon?

As Google wins the latest round of the iPhone vs. Droid scuffle, the iPhone Verizon offering looms larger. Apple is tied to AT and T in an exclusive partnership in what may be a saturated market. Ezra Gottheil, an analyst with Technology Business Research, explained to Computerworld, “That’s your classic technology acquisition curve. Of those within the U.S. who are interested in an iPhone and willing to put up with AT and T, pretty much all have already bought one. What’s left for Apple — as long as it is tied to AT and T in its exclusive partnership — is largely the iPhone replacement market”.

Worldwide iPhone soars

Apple won't say when but it is expected that the iPhone Verizon deal will happen. Meantime, Apple is forging ahead within the iPhone vs. droid matchup everywhere else. Apple announced last month Worldwide iPhone sales were up 131 percent in the first quarter compared to the exact same three-month stretch in 2009.

Sources for the article

NPD reports

http://www.npd.com/press/releases/press_100510.html

PC World

http://www.pcworld.com/article/195958/android_outsells_apple_iphone_at_last_says_npd.html

Los Angeles Times

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2010/05/google-android-overtakes-iphone-npd-research.html

Google Editions E-books - The Ultimate Kindle And IPad Killer?

Will Google Editions kill the iPad? Slay the Kindle? Google Editions is a browser based upon e-book platform that could keep Apple and Amazon looking for some low interest loans. The launch date of late June or July for Google Editions was announced earlier this week. Google Editions is a digital publishing service offering books that customers can read on any device and purchase from whoever it is that wants to sell it to them, unlike Amazon and Apple. But publishers may be probably the most excited about Google Editions e-books. Also, Google Editions, in contrast to Amazon and Apple business, will let publishers name their own prices.

eBooks by Google Editions

The Google Editions debut was announced at Random House’s New York offices by Chris Palma, Google’s strategic partner development manager. The Wall Street Journal says Google Edition users will be able to read Google Editions e-books they discover through Google’s book-search. Google Editions may also allow book retailers — including local independent shops — sell Google Editions on their own online websites and let them keep many of the cash.

The Google Editions launch date

The Google Editions launch date is emerging as a severe threat to the goals of Amazon and Apple to dominate e-publishing. Right now, Amazon already has a lot more than 500,000 titles for its kindle device. There are tens of thousands for the iPad and counting. A much larger selection than Amazon or Apple, Google has already digitalized 12 million books. Consumers can only purchase Kindle titles at Amazon or iPad titles at Apple. Any device that has a browser can access Google Editions since titles can be accessible everywhere.

E-pub for Google Editions

In a few months Google Editions e-pub could turn the entire publishing world — online and in real life — upside down. In an article that was published in the New Yorker in April, Dan Clancy of Google Books said that in trying to dominate the market, Amazon and Apple were taking the wrong approach to business online. “It's much more of an open ecosystem, where you find a way for bricks-and-mortar stores to participate in the future digital world of books,” he said. “We're quite comfortable having a diverse range of physical retailers, whereas most of the other players would like to have a less competitive space, because they'd like to dominate.”

Amazon reality check

One of the best things about Google Editions is that it lets publishers set the price of their books, and gives local bookstores a chance to compete with behemoths like Amazon, Apple and Barnes and Noble. The book pricing policy of Amazon is causing ill-will in the publishing world. Because Amazon is insisting on selling e-books for a flat $ 9.99, they’re actually losing money. The New Yorker reports that with 80-90 percent market share, Amazon thinks it can later bend publishers to its will.

Will Google Editions kill the iPad?

Will Google Editions be the iPad killer? With the Google Editions launch date approaching, it was reported by the Wall Street Journal that publishers haven’t officially agreed to participate, but most industry insiders think it's an offer they can’t refuse. Publishers need a lot more outlets to sell books. Even a bookstore on the corner will make cash on millions of titles. And you do not have to purchase a Kindle or an iPad to read them. So what would be the reason to?

Resources

Wall Street Journal

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703866704575224232417931818.html?mod=WSJ_business_LeadStoryCollection

New Yorker

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/04/26/100426fa_fact_auletta

publishers set the price of their books

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10444878-93.html?tag=mncol;txt

Greek Riots Shock Athens

The city of Athens has been stunned by the Greek riots which have broken out and left 3 dead in the melee. The Greek riots are believed to be caused by recent economic measures meant by the Greek government to curb spending and gain a better grip on the country’s spending ahead of a pending bailout. Greece will have to get their house in order before any instant money from a bailout could be made available.

Greek riots after protests of austerity measures

The Greek riots began after a Sunday announcement by Prime Minister George Papandreoun which outlined a spending bill aimed at tightening the nation’s belt. Financial turmoil and growing deficits led to unrest and to the credit rating of Greece being downgraded. The proposed spending agenda would cut 30 billion Euros over the next few years. According to MarketWatch, the cuts would amount to about 11 percent of Greece’s gross domestic product.

What gets cut?

Pensions and public employees account for about 75% of public spending in Greece. There are a lot more public employees proportionally in Greece than most other European nations. Additional taxes would be placed on consumer goods and wages and pensions would either be frozen or reduced.

The Pending Bailout

In order to keep Greece from becoming insolvent as a nation, a 110 billion Euro Greece bailout is being put together by various European Union nations and the International Monetary Fund. Over 22 billion Euro has been pledged by Germany and Chancellor Merkel alone. However, she has been hesitant, saying that immediate aid would have gone to waste before reforms were made. The bailout is unpopular in Germany, despite the assurances of Axel Weber, President of the Bundesbank (Germany’s central bank) that it will halt contamination of other European markets.

Strikes preceded Greek riots

A nationwide strike and protests broke out after the Prime Minister announced the proposals, which is expected to pass due to his party (Socialist) holding a majority, as outlined by the Wall Street Journal. People took to the streets in protest all over the nation as a nationwide general strike began. Hospitals were barely able to operate, and no flights went in or out of the country before the Greek riots began. More protests will likely take place.

Citations

MarketWatch

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/greeks-go-on-strike-against-austerity-measures-2010-05-05

Wall Street Journal

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703961104575225472577513414.html?mod=fox_australian

Siobahn Magnus Kicked Off American Idol

Siobahn Magnus was voted off American Idol on Wednesday, April 28. Siobahn, Casey, and Mike were the bottom three on the American Idol voting results April 28 installment. There was no save for her, so the contestant from Marstons Mills, Massachusetts, (an alliterative place to come from) was sent packing. She had never been within the bottom three before.

Mighty Siobahn Magnus has struck out

The bottom 3 was not usual territory for Siobahn Magnus, though she had some off nights. This was a bit of a shock. Siobahn was very easily one of the most original performers from this year's American Idol. Despite that it might are expected that she would not win, it was a shock to see her sent home in such a seemingly unceremonious fashion.

Then there were five

The five contestants remaining are Mike Lynche, Aaron Kelly, Lee DeWyze, Casey James and Crystal Bowersox. This year had been forecasted to be a girls’ year, but the guys rebounded. The irony here is that Mike Lynche, or Big Mike as he's been affectionately dubbed, has been within the bottom 3 almost consistently. Casey James has been hanging around the bottom a bit since his rock' n 'roll shtick has been beginning to wear thin. Any quick cash put on Crystal Bowersox, or Mamasox, to win seems a good bet.

The viewers have spoken

To be fair, Siobahn had slipped a bit. Her version of “Any Man of Mine” was a step in the right direction, but too little too late. She had, to be fair, been getting just a little too screechy. The week to week performances are what matter, and despite how awesome her version of “Paint it Black” she had slipped a bit afterwards. The viewers decided they had had it, and the only performer on American Idol season 9 approaching interesting is done.

Jon And Kate Gosselin To Attend Parenting Class

If you've been scouring TMZ, you know that Jon and Kate Gosselin are in parenting class. This can be a mandatory order from the Berks County, Philadelphia judge who’s presiding over the contentious Jon and Kate custody case. Both parents of the “Jon and Kate Plus 8″ brood must complete every little thing by June 8, which involves all associated fees and coursework for the “Children in the Middle” program. It is a seven-hour course that both Jon Gosselin and Kate Gosselin must attend, although they do not have to attend it together. Unlike no faxing payday loans, it is perfectly fine if it takes them a lot more than a day to finish.

Jon and Kate plus parenting class

When it may not meet the agendas of Jon and Kate, the parenting class ” Children within the Middle ” is not a photo opportunity. The parenting class website states that the program directs parents to consider “how families can meet the needs of children growing up between two homes.” There are two three-and-one-half-hour parts, divided in focus between the adults and also the children.

The adult segment of the Jon and Kate parenting class is divided into the following parts:

• Understanding oneself
• Understanding the mindset of playing the victim
• Recognizing and stopping domestic violence before it occurs
• Getting along with the other household
• The third and fourth wheel: What role extended family and new flames can play within the dual household model
• Strategies for better co-parenting
• How to grieve in your own way
• How to handle conflicts productively
• When third-party conflict resolution assistance is necessary

It’s all about the children

Jon and Kate are likely to have to grind this out; it is entirely more difficult than Kate dancing on TV or Jon finding younger women to date. However, they must plow through the second and final “Children in the Middle” installment, which focuses specifically on their kids. Learn what makes your children tick, if you do not already know:

• Understanding how kids develop
• Making two homes work for youngsters
• Time to parent
• Keeping track of child support payments
• Connecting with your kids
• Understanding a child’s grief
• Shielding children from the adult side of divorce
• Work fairly with your ex, children are watching
• How co-parenting could be beneficial
• Parental behaviors that can cause child resentment

Play nice and cooperate, Jon and Kate

A well-considered parenting plan is what your kids need now. Parents who set aside petty squabbles and work together is the best example you can provide to your kids now. Living life on camera will not help you achieve that end, so get jobs that will enable you to parent in person rather than by proxy. It’s not as hard as you think, but it takes focus. Many instant cash loans-using parents have been there. Mind you, most don’t have the cash you do, but that does not mean there aren’t still issues you have to work out as you repair your family life. Your kids deserve nothing less.

Sources for the article

TMZ

http://www.tmz.com/2010/04/26/jon-and-kate-back-to-school-custody-children-middle-mediation-orientation-berks-county-gosselin/

Children in the Middle

http://www.childreninthemiddle.com/

Motor Vehicle Safety Act Of 2010 - Giving The NHTSA Teeth

Congress is considering the first major change in U.S. car safety regulations with Motor Vehicle Safety Act in a decade. This bill is at the moment on the docket to start subcommittee hearings next Thursday. This legislation is being circulated and supported by California democrat Henry A. Waxman.

Motor Vehicle Safety Act gives NHTSA more budget

Because of the questions about the effectiveness of the NHTSA, the Motor Vehicle Safety Act is constructed in a way that will increase the spending budget available to the agency. A “vehicle safety user fee” of $ 3 per vehicle would be added to autos sold – and that cash would go directly to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s budget. The NHTSA would also have the cap on statutory damages removed, increasing how much it can fine vehicle makers. The fines that the NHTSA could levy on individual carmakers are considered simply too low to make a lasting impact. Finally, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration would be given the legal authority to initiate a recall if they identify a safety issue.

Aiming to improve safety with the MVSA

New safety features on each and every new car would also be required by the Motor Vehicle Safety Act. All vehicles sold in the United States would be required to have an on-board “black box” information recorder. The recorder would provide mechanical and electronic event records for the vehicle. Though they’re depending on airline black boxes, these automobile data recorders are a lot more lightweight, and do not include things like voice recorders. The Motor Vehicle Safety Act would also require a new brake override system, which would provide a mechanical way to stop the car even if the throttle is stuck open.

Responses to the MVSA of 2010

The Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 2010 is not loved by all, despite the support in Congress. A representative organization of automobile manufacturers – The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers – said that they were “concerned about the sheer number of new regulations”. The Alliance spokeswoman suggested the Congress “focus on the few measures that would produce probably the most substantial safety benefit in the shortest time”. Per vehicle, these new regulations are estimated to cost $20 to $40 per vehicle.

Resources

New York Times

Washington Post

Susan Powell Nevertheless Missing, Idaho Remains Not A Match

There were hopes this morning that skeletal remains found in southern Idaho may be those of Susan Powell. However, investigators say the body was not that of Susan Powell, and also the West Valley, Utah, resident is still considered a missing person. To keep the search for Susan Powell going given that December of 2009, friends and family have chipped in instant cash.

Disappearance of Susan Powell

Susan Powell, a 28-year old mother of two, was reported missing in early December 2009. The entire family was reported as missing on early Monday morning. Susan Powell’s husband and two children did return to town on Monday afternoon. Josh informed investigators that he and the children had gone camping, and Susan Powell had been staying at home. The missing person’s report was filed when the kids did not show up to daycare. Susan Powell’s personal items, including cell phone and wallet, were all left at the house.

Susan Powell’s husband is a person of interest

The investigating police department named Susan Powell’s husband as a person of interest. The very same day that Susan Powell disappeared, her husband used instant cash loans to put several hundred miles on a rental automobile. Since the disappearance of Susan Powell, Josh has moved with his children to Washington state. There has been no arrest for Susan Powell’s disappearance, though investigators do say interviews with Josh just “create more questions than answers”.

Body in Ammon, Idaho not Susan Powell

Over the last weekend, a person looking for better cell phone reception near Ammon, Idaho, stumbled over a badly decomposed body. Because Ammon, just outside of Idaho Falls, is within a day’s drive of West Valley City, detectives contacted those investigating Susan Powell’s disappearance. Police departments on both sides of the border have confirmed the body found in Idaho is not Susan Powell. Because of the time forensic testing may take, it could take six weeks or more to identify the body found in Ammon.

Resources for the article

KSL.com

CBS news