Money-saving methods to keep away from online news membership paywalls

If you are an online news addict with limited funds, the move toward news paywalls could possibly be terrible news. If you miss the news, you miss out. But don’t worry. A little misdirection and a handful of mobile apps can bring you the news for free or a very low price. Article source – Money-saving ways to avoid online news subscription paywalls by MoneyBlogNewz.

Everybody will love Google News

The best part of Google News is access. A lot of news sites are brought to one place. It’s easier to get news. It’s available each day. It is really simple to access too with a very clear format that has local news and top news categories.

Newspapers app: An iOS portal to publications across the US

Newspapers are an app at the Apple App Store that you pay $1.99 for in order to get links to all online newspaper sites. It’s easy to read articles. It could be done on Safari, your iPad, your iPhone or your iPod. You can download stories and read them later. Instapaper is an example of an app to do this with.

Try an RSS feed

Reeder will take RSS feeds and make them neat for you. It has a newspaper-style interface, and the iOS app cuts the ads and reformats the page for optimal reading pleasure. Download the app for quite cheap. You only have to pay $2.99.

iPad app called Zite

Zite is an iPad app that is free. Business Insider calls it a "personalized magazine" that you can download. News can be recommended to you. The Google Reader and Twitter accounts will be accessed to do this. It can help to just pick articles in the app you might like.

Free apps from CNN and Associated Press

For world, national and even local news on an iOS or Android device, it works really well to have Associated Press and CNN apps. The AP app allows users to pick a favored broadcaster. Then, the stories could be followed of that person. CNN’s app presents streaming video in a polished fashion, and allows users to submit their own photos of news events via the iReport feature.

Getting past the system

Users on Twitter have had access to NYT Twitter feeds. They can create a list for this. It is free to click on Twitter or blog posts since it does not count to the 20 article per month limit. The Daily: Indexed, is a blog that the very same thing occurs with The Daily.

MediaMemo's Peter Kafka explained that there could be a limit of five referrals per day that are free from Google for NYT. This very same limit might not apply to Bing or other search engines.

Why did the Times put up a speed bump for Google? The name of the article could then be typed into Google by users. This would allow them to have access without paying.

Information from

AP

ap.org/mobile/

Business Insider

businessinsider.com/how-to-get-around-paywalls-2011-3

CNN

cnn.com/mobile/iphone/

The Daily Index

thedailyindexed.tumblr.com/

What to expect with the NYT paywall

youtube.com/watch?v=jOkvPOY3VKU

Next to get cut by banks is debit card rewards

The nation’s largest banks have been cutting consumer benefits. Next on the chopping block are debt card rewards. Debit card rewards will cease entirely in July at JP Morgan Chase, after not any longer offering enrollment in the program in Feb. Card benefits are the latest casualty in the ongoing battle of interchange fees. Regulations could limit the fees charged to merchants by banks, which could inhibit revenue at financial institutions.

Banks contend they’ll be brought low with interchange fee cap

The possible cap on interchange fees, or the fees banks charge merchants to transmit payment from debit purchases, has brought on the nation's largest banks to start curtailing consumer rewards and incentives, such as free checking. Bloomberg states that debit card rewards will most likely be the next thing to disappear. In Feb., Chase stopped offering debit card rewards programs to any new consumers which started this. On July 19, all reward programs will end for Chase although anybody that has rewards will nevertheless be able to use them. Soon, it is possible that consumers may have to pay way too much to get their own money out of the financial institution. Same day loans might be necessary.

High ATM fees

The changes to financial laws are causing even more fees to be added other places. MSNBC states that ATM fees have already started going up. The second largest American bank is JP Morgan Chase. anyone who is not a member has to be paying the $4 and $5 tested fees on ATMs now. In TX, the fee is $4. The tested fee of $5 is appearing in Illinois. The $3 non-customer fee that Chase already had is remaining the same in other states even though the national average is $2.33 below that. Chase consumers will still pay only $2 per transaction at non-Chase ATMs, which is also above the $1.41 national average. Chase has the second largest ATM network in the nation. More than likely, Wells Fargo and Bank of America are soon to follow as TD Bank and Citi have already started changes. The idea of Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo having to run for installment loans because legislation prevents them from gouging customers is not likely to cause many people discomfort, but there&! #8217;s a catch.

Even credit unions would have a difficult time

The Durbin Amendment to the Dodd Frank Act is something that the National Association of Federal Credit Unions and other credit union trade groups oppose because they charge interchange fees just like for-profit banks, states Forbes. For-profit banks can manage a huge drop in revenue much better than community banks and credit unions. This change would go from the average of 44 cents per transaction with the Federal Reserve proposal to a maximum of 12 cents per transaction. To be able to study what would occur, the Durbin Amendment cannot take place for at least 2 years. The House of Representatives and Senate are seeing the bills currently.

Citations

Bloomberg

bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-21/jpmorgan-will-cease-debit-card-rewards-program-because-of-proposed-fee-cap.html

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/42130464/ns/business-your_retirement/

Forbes

blogs.forbes.com/moneybuilder/2011/03/03/the-durbin-amendments-effect-on-credit-unions/

Google changes algorithm to chagrin of content material farms

The Google algorithm change on February 25 had an immediate and dramatic influence on the online writing industry. Every aspect of the internet publishing industry was impacted. For much better or worse, jobs, share prices, income and traffic volume for content companies changed along with the algorithm. Google changed its search algorithm to stem the tide of worthless content that has been overwhelming its search motor results, a move that shifted a believed $1 billion across the content material industry.

Google changes algorithm for content

Google’s search quality has not been that great in the last year with all the content accessible on the internet. Several industry groups have publicly encouraged Google to take action to repair the quality of its search. The Google algorithm change is meant to punish content material farms and reward research, in-depth states and thoughtful analysis, Google states, and it affected the online writing industry as soon as Google flipped the switch. Any sites that had original high quality content on them all the sudden got a lot of traffic. This was bad news for some websites though. Any sites there to get traffic in by luring in individuals ended up losing. The algorithm update has noticeably changed 11.8 percent of search queries, in accordance with Google. Based on the almost 12 billion search queries Google fielded in January, the algorithm modification could impact 1.4 billion searches this month, according to comScore, an internet marketing research business.

Content material farms take a huge hit

There was a 5 to 50 percent increase in traffic to the Online Publishers Association's website a day after Google's algorithm change. According to web metrics firm Sistrix, content material farms specializing in so-called “click bait” took a big hit. Yahoo's Association Content, Ezinearticles.com, Wisegeek.com and Mahalo.com are all sites that got hit. There was a drop in traffic of over 75 percent at these online websites. Mahalo.com laid off 10 percent of its workforce last week. A mix of high quality and click bait was found at Demand Media which is considered a content material farm. Although Demand Media’s eHow.com stock took an instant hit shortly after a $1.7 billion IPO, the business ultimately benefited from the Google algorithm modification. Other Demand Media sites for instance AnswerBag.com and Trails.com suffered.

Google gives, and Google takes away

About 20 to 30 percent of traffic on a page is brought in when on the top listing of a Google search which helped online writing. Second and third spots collect 5 percent to 10 percent. About 1 percent of traffic goes to all other outcomes on the page. It is harmful to a company to get to the second page. It gets hardly any hits. The new Chrome browser for Google called Personal Blocklist lets users cut off any offensive domains when they show up in search outcomes which Google algorithms tend to follow. The Personal Blocklist data isn't used, claims Google, to determine which companies to block. Nevertheless about 84 percent of blocked domains were demoted with the change in algorithm.

Information from

CNN

money.cnn.com/2011/03/08/technology/google_algorithm_change/index.htm

CNN Money

money.cnn.com/2011/03/08/technology/google_algorithm_change/index.htm” target=”_blank

Adweek

adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/e3i0fcd39a826b5c1cd3b13fba6c2a9dfba” target=”_blank

International Business Times

ibtimes.com/articles/116434/20110225/demand-media-google-algorithms-content-farms.htm

Sistrix

sistrix.com/blog/985-google-farmer-update-quest-for-quality.html

Google blog

googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/finding-more-high-quality-sites-in.html

Number of individuals borrowing cash increases but not credit cards

Credit sources such as personal loans are becoming the more popular methods of borrowing cash for American Consumers, who are staying away from credit cards. The Federal Reserve recently published data on consumer borrowing for the month of January. Borrowing increased by several billion dollars for that month, however people were mostly using non-revolving sources of credit. Individuals are avoiding charge cards in droves, and paying off their balances after the holiday shopping spree. Source of article – Consumers borrowing more money but not from credit cards by MoneyBlogNewz.

More Consumers borrowing mean more debt

Business Week states that more Americans are borrowing from loan providers which the Federal Reserve report on economic activity from Jan 2011 shows. Several non revolving credit sources, including auto loans and personal loans, were used rather than revolving lines of credit such as credit cards in this debt boost in Jan. There was an increase of $9.26 billion in non-revolving debt with an overall $5 billion increase in consumer debts with this being the fourth straight month of numbers increasing for loan companies. MSNBC reports that strong auto sales caused the huge increase since the auto lending cash lent went up for six months in a row.

Fewer people using charge cards

For a while now, charge card use has been going down while Americans have had a $4.25 billion decrease in the amount of debt held. For the first time since Dec. 2008, charge card debt has increased in Dec. 2010 although it went down 28 of the last 29 months. In January 2010, there was a decrease in charge card charge-offs of 7.45 percent. The last five months in a row showed delinquencies and charge offs declining. A December purchasing spree was done though which charge cards seemed to be used for, although that was paid by Consumers quickly. Charge card rates of interest have been steadily increasing as new regulations prevent banks and card corporations from applying fees surreptitiously, forcing them to raise fees and rates of interest up front.

More debt taken out by students

There was a $24.9 billion boost in student loans from the federal government in Jan 2011 as part of the non-revolving debts increase. More than likely, the federal spending budget cuts will take away what is available meaning students will have to start using private lenders rather than the government soon. Over $5 billion in Pell Grants were cut from the federal spending budget in the proposed bill the House of Representatives just got although starting next year, a $20 billion deficit is going to be run by the Pell Grant Program alone, reports the Christian Science Monitor. For years, the cost of a college education has gone up even though it is still considered the best investment an individual can make.

Articles cited

Business Week

businessweek.com/news/2011-03-07/consumer-credit-in-u-s-increased-5-01-billion-in-january.html

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/41954342/ns/business-consumer_news/

Christian Science Monitor

csmonitor.com/USA/Education/2011/0225/Washington-trims-Pell-Grants-How-will-students-pay-fall-tuition

Movies can be watched live on Facebook with new program

Warner Bros. announced today that it would stream movies through Facebook. The Facebook Movies system currently offers just a few videos, but the company has plans for expansion. Netflix stocks fell three percent when the service went live.

Warner Bros. leasing through Facebook

A brand new feature is accessible for Warner Bros. It’s on a Facebook page. Users can now digitally rent movies and stream them directly in Facebook. Only a few movies, including "The Dark Knight," are available right now. A 48 hour film rental costs 30 Facebook credits. About $3 can be paid for that. This choice is only available on a test basis to about 30 percent of United States Facebook users.

Netflix stock drops on Facebook Movies information

The news of Facebook Movies has already had an impact on the online rental business. In the first hour after the announcement was made, there was a 3 percent decrease in Netflix shares. About 20 percent of traffic on the internet involves Netflix. There was a report done in December 2010. It found that Facebook was responsible for about 10 percent of video-sharing traffic online. When you combine the traffic of Facebook with in-line video sharing, Netflix could be facing its first real competition — depending on the content that is eventually made accessible.

What Facebook Credits are

Facebook Movies are the first major non-game application to make use of Facebook’s soon-to-be-required payment system. Facebook Credits currently cost $1 for 10 Facebook Credits. There is no assurance, however, that Facebook Credits will remain a monetary program tied exclusively to the value of the dollar. Facebook is able to increase income by changing the conversion rate very simply with its own monetary system. Facebook would end up getting 1.1 cents per credit purchased if the rate were to change to nine Facebook credits per dollar instead. A huge payday may go to Facebook with this small increase even though it doesn't seem like much.

Citations

Tech Crunch

techcrunch.com/2010/12/23/facebook-second-largest-source-videos/

Slate

slate.com/id/2273314/

Forbes

blogs.forbes.com/parmyolson/2011/03/08/now-you-can-rent-and-stream-movies-on-facebook/?partner=yahootix

Bloomberg

bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-08/netflix-falls-as-warner-bros-starts-offering-movies-on-facebook.html

CFPB funding at risk

Elizabeth Warren and the Dodd-Frank Act CFPB do not have many friends among House Republicans, states the Huffington Post. The numbers are beginning to look grim, as the GOP House majority led by Eric Cantor, Michele Bachmann and Spencer Bachus have slashed the CFPB budget nearly in half, from $ 143 million to $ 80 million. If the elephants continue to cut away at the consumer protection agency, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will open on July 21, 2011 with the dubious distinction of being the only federal financial institution regulator that has to abide by politically motivated spending budget cuts.

The CFPB seeks to heal wounds of banking abuses

Harvard Law Prof. Elizabeth Warren, co-author of the book "Two-Income Trap," has studied at good length how banking abuses have harmed United States families. The middle class sinks ever deeper into poverty, borrowing just to keep up with expanding bills and compensate for stagnant salaries. Keeping in mind the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s goal is important. It wants to use the Federal Register to unite these seven agencies for the federal government:

• Federal Reserve Board of Governors
• Also included is the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
• The Federal Trade Commissioned is part of this
• The National Credit Union Administration is one of these
• There's the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
• The Office of Thrift Supervision is next
• The seventh is the Department of Housing and Urban Development

Until now, none of these agencies had consumer protection as the primary agenda. The personal bankruptcies can be helped by the CFPB that will help the middle class.

"The numbers are sobering," Warren said at a Feb. 23 Chicago lecture. "Since the late 1970s, (personal) bankruptcy filings have doubled and doubled again. Women have been hit particularly hard. Over the course of 20 years, the number of women filing bankruptcy petitions increased by 662 percent. By the early 2000s, a woman was more likely to file for bankruptcy than to graduate from college."

Annual Percentage Rate controlled by CFPB

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau plans to protect against many different problems, states the Customer Federation of The United States. This involves payday advance loan outlets with very high fees, the military loan companies trying to make the 36 percent Annual Percentage Rate cap something they can get around, the high rates and fees that subprime charge cards give and the interest rates that stay fairly high with overdraft loans from banks.

As John Wasik writes for Reuters’ Prism Money blog, customers should be paying attention to what House Republicans try to do to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

"I believe everyone with a credit card, bank loan or savings account needs to back Warren now," writes Wasik. "Contact your senators and congressmen and urge them to leave the bureau's funding alone, which is tied directly to the budget of the Federal Reserve."

Articles cited

Consumer Federation of America

consumerfed.org/pdfs/PR-CFA-CFPB-6-months.pdf

Federal Register

edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-23487.pdf

Huffington Post

huffingtonpost.com/ed-mierzwinski/iin-the-public-interesti_b_829659.html

Reuters

blogs.reuters.com/prism-money/2011/02/28/why-elizabeth-warren-needs-your-help-to-police-the-banks/

‘I’m not here to support criminal schemes,’ said Rep. Maxine Waters

youtube.com/watch?v=TUVxcNxULyU

Return to revenue could possibly be in the future for Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae

Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are starting to creep towards being solvent again. The government had to take control of the 2 troubled firms in 2008, and has lent both houses collectively more than $130 billion. The pending foreclosures postponed by legal issues involving foreclosure practices loom on the horizon, which could hamper any progress the two firms have made. Source of article – Economic effect of biking vs. driving is astounding, experts say by MoneyBlogNewz.

Fannie and Freddie hoping to get more loans

Lots of bailout money went to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. They were able to continue business this way. Between the 2 mortgage corporations, $130 billion was lent. This was so the real estate sector wouldn't go under. However, the two toxic corporations are starting to hemorrhage less money, in accordance with ABC. During the last quarter of 2010, the period from October to Dec., Fannie Mae posted a loss of only $2.1 billion and Freddie Mac posted a loss of only $1.7 billion. A $16.3 billion loss from Fannie and $7.8 billion loss from Freddie was reported in this exact same time of 2009. The decreased deficits haven’t stopped the two companies from asking for more loans though. In fact, $500 million from Freddie and $2.6 billion from Fannie have been requested in loans.

Using less of the home loan titans

For decades, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae have played a crucial role in the real estate industry. The two companies purchase home loans and resell them as investments to be able to free up capital for lenders to lend more mortgages. However, the government is significant about drastically reducing Fannie and Freddie’s involvement in the home loan market, including possibly phasing them out altogether. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has admonished Congress to have a significant plan ready before attempting to vote on anything, in accordance with USA Today. Geithner cautioned House Republicans eager to cut the programs that doing so could have an adverse effect on the real estate industry, including possibly destabilizing the housing finance industry entirely. Geithner has recommended a gradual program as the best course.

Fannie and Freddie expected to get worse

Fannie and Freddie are both anticipated to endure further damage in coming months. Until "robo-signing" cases are solved, many foreclosures can't be completed while about 50 percent of home loans in the United States are owned by Freddie and Fannie while 90 percent were created in the last few years. Whatever reforms take place regarding Freddie and Fannie, Treasury Secretary Geithner expects housing prices to rise just a little bit over the next few years, according to Reuters. He also recommended that given housing conditions over the past few years, home buyers put larger amounts of money down to ensure greater stability.

Information from

ABC News

abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=12995329&page=1

USA Today

usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/2011-03-01-fannie-freddie-geithner_N.htm

Reuters

reuters.com/article/2011/03/01/us-usa-housing-geithner-idUSTRE72000P20110301?pageNumber=1

Bailout of AIG and GM getting paid off

American International Group and General Motors have been making good progress in paying the United States Treasury back for the bailout loans both corporations received. Despite huge national corporations having to admit defeat and ask for help, both have turned around relatively quickly and made payments on their debt. GM recently posted its largest profits in years. AIG is slowly paying down its balance, though it was the single largest recipient of bailout funds.

Selling MetLife stock so Treasury financial loans could be paid

MetLife insurance shares are being sold off by insurance giant American International Group. USA Today reports that this is how AIG is paying back the United States Treasury for loans. About 146.8 million shares of MetLife stock was sold by AIG getting $6.3 billion for United States Treasury payments. In order to make an effort to buy back the $18.2 billion American International Group shares the Treasury currently owns, American International Group is using the funds. Currently, the government also owns about 92 percent of AIG's common stock. This is because part of the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP mandated this take place. With over $182 billion in financial loans total, AIG got more from the bailout than everyone else. The business received $68 billion in loans. This was after the Treasury and Federal Reserve bought the company's toxic assets.

General Motors coming back

About $49 billion was borrowed from the government for GM during the bailout which the company now wants to pay back. There was a profit for General Motors in every quarter of 2010. This was announced by GM recently, reports Reuters. This marks the first time since 2004 that the automaker has been profitable for an entire year, and it made the largest profit since 1999. GM posted a profit of $4.7 billion for 2010, though the stock price for the business has barely moved since the initial public offering in Nov. About 33 percent of GM stock is the property of the Treasury still. Considering it was at 61 percent in Nov 1010, that is a huge improvement. It is projected the General Motors share price may have to rise to $53 per share for the government to break even.

Was Troubled Asset Relief Program worth it?

The cost of the money going to the housing crisis is more than the cost of putting money to the corporate bailout, David Miller said. Reuters reports that Miller is the chief investment officer for the TARP. Miller said the Congressional Budget Office estimates that TARP will cost a total of $25 billion, and the Obama administration estimates slightly more than $28 billion. Timothy Geithner is the Treasury Secretary. He claims that the $25 billion estimate is higher than it needs to be. Various companies still owe the government $135 billion for Troubled Asset Relief Program financial loans.

Citations

USA Today

usatoday.com/money/economy/2011-03-02-aig-bailout-metlife_N.htm

Reuters

reuters.com/article/2011/02/24/us-gm-idUSTRE71N0ZD20110224

Reuters

reuters.com/article/2011/02/25/usa-treasury-tarp-idUSN2524950220110225

Much more carry-on luggage costing Transportation Security Administration hundreds of thousands

The explosion in cost of checked on airline bags has consumers scrambling for the carry-on luggage, states the Washington Post. The extra carry-on luggage could eventually mean that working class individuals may have to pick up the check the Transportation Security Administration is currently writing. According to Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano, the influx of carry-on baggage is costing approximately $ 260 million per year.

Carry-on luggage has to be much more secure

Travelers will continue to be able to bring luggage on the plane with them as long as carry-on luggage is allowed. However, as Napolitano reminded U.S. Senate Appropriations subcommittee chairwoman Sen. Mary Landrieu, nothing comes free:

“When you have to pay to check a bag, it increases carry-on luggage, and that means there is more to inspect at the gate and so forth for passengers to get on planes,” she said.

A functioning TSA is really significant. Costs have to be absorbed for this to occur. The cost of more carry-on baggage is something either the United States taxpayers or airlines will have to cover. Putting higher airport safety charges on airline tickets was a suggestion Napolitano had for Sen. Landrieu. Simply adding $5 to $10 a ticket would significantly help pay for the Transportation Security Administration. Napolitano states that $600 million a year would be added this way.

Congress has yet to determine if airport safety charges will pass

An airport security fee is far from a new idea. It has appeared each year since the concept was first proposed in 2002. However, Congress has not approved the airline ticket cost increase. The first profitable year since 2007 for the airline industry was reported due to fewer flights, higher ticket prices and other charges. Huge profits are anticipated from the government for the airline industry. About $5 billion in 2011 and $5.6 billion in 2012 are anticipated. Putting more fees on things is something congress doesn't want to try to do.

Economy airline policies on luggage

Before getting to the gate, know exactly what the luggage policies are. You might be surprised by what’s free and what is not. In general, wheelchairs are checked in as free baggage and do not count toward a traveler's baggage allotment. Sometimes the children's strollers will even be checked free. This is just like wheelchair requirements. Typically baggage over 100 pounds won't be allowed. Most economy airlines have these luggage policies:

• Southwest- 2 checked bags up to 50 pounds each are free. Additional and oversized luggage ranges from $25 to much more than $100.
• JetBlue- One bag weighing 50 pounds or less may be checked for free. The second checked bag costs $50. Up to a 40-pound carry-on luggage piece is also free. One can be checked for free. Excess or oversized pieces run $50 to $100.
• Virgin America- First checked bag costs $25 and may weigh up to 70 pounds. Subsequent check-ins up to 50 pounds is $25. Excess and oversized bags run $10 to $50 each.

Articles cited

About.com Air Travel

airtravel.about.com/od/whatyoucancantpack/a/stuff2.htm

Washington Post

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/03/AR2011030305679.html?wprss=rss_print/asection

Cenk Uygur vs. Ana Kasperian on carry-on luggage

youtube.com/watch?v=vrM2eOnheo0

Congressmen perhaps victim of Psyops procedures

An investigation has been launched by the Pentagon to see if members of the military illegally used “psyops,” or psychological operations illegally to influence members of Congress while they visited army outposts in Afghanistan. Psychological operations are techniques of psychological manipulation, generally used against enemies, including propaganda and misinformation. Eliciting financing in a collusive manner was why members of Congress were allegedly targeted for psyops by army personnel. Source for this article – Pentagon investigating whether psyops were used on Congressmen by MoneyBlogNewz.

Rolling Stone claims military official ordered psyops on Americans

MSNBC states that a Rolling Stone article explained that a "psyops" or psychological operation was requested by members of the army to get Congress members visiting Afghanistan to give more funding and personnel to the army. In 2009, Lieutenant General William Caldwell supposedly had a psyops team study Congressmen visiting to be able to discover out how more funding and troops for military operations there could possibly be received somehow. The order was refused by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Holmes who’s the head of the psyops unit. This got him in a lot of trouble.

Starting study is General Petraeus

Afghan operations commander General David Petraeus started an investigation. The WA Post states that the accusations are "categorically denied" by Lt. Gen. Caldwell. Citizens of the United States aren't legally allowed to have "psyops" or propaganda used on them. It’s something all Intelligence Operations personnel know very well. There were specific Congressmen targeted for this. It incorporated Senators Al Franken, Carl Levin, Joe Lieberman, Jack Reed and John McCain. Other targets consist of Admiral Mike Mullen and Representative Steve Israel.

Exact same press reporter profiled General McChrystal

Michael Hastings said that Lt. Col. Holmes said the job was to “get the enemy to behave the way we want,” and Holmes said “when you ask me to use these skills on senators and congressmen you are crossing a line," in the Rolling Stone article. He added that individuals in the Information Operations field know from day one that propaganda and psychological manipulation are to be used only on the enemy. Another article was written by Hastings on General Stanley McChrystal. McChrystal ended up leaving the Military after it.

Citations

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/41753749/ns/world_news-south_and_central_asia

Washington Post

voices.washingtonpost.com/blog-post/2011/02/psychological_operations_manip.html

Rolling Stone

rollingstone.com/politics/news/another-runaway-general-army-deploys-psy-ops-on-u-s-senators-20110223?page=1

NV not looking into Reno's monetary problems

The city of Reno, NV, has found itself in a tough situation. The city received $8 million from the state of NV. The short-term loan was due to be paid back in 365 days. The state of NV is taking the legal mistake in stride and won’t investigate the city. Instead, the state is stretching the payments out over 10 years. Article resource – Reno's mishandling of short term loans going uninvestigated by MoneyBlogNewz.

Reno stuck with loans

Nevada lent a lot of money in short term loans to Reno, Nevada. Over $8 million was lent. There were specific places the loan was designed to go. The streets department, sewer department and general fund for the city were designed to be supported by this. The state expected to have the money repaid within a year. The state was ready to get the money back when the year was up. Reno didn't know it was designed to be repaid though. There is a phrase used to describe this. It’s an “incorrect interpretation of current law.”

Making sure financial loans get re-written

In order to manage the $8 million debt to the state of NV, Reno officials are trying to get the loans re-written. The one year obligation has now been stretched. The debt could be paid in 10 years instead. The city will be required to pay more interest on the money, and the state will hold the loans over time. The state could have to cut another $8 million out of the yearly spending budget for a while.

Where the money went won't be investigated

Though the city of Reno misread the rules concerning this loan, there will be no exploration. Dino DiCianno is a NV Taxation Director. He said it is definitely a “technical violation of state laws.”. Being a legal violation doesn't change anything. The state nevertheless will not be investigating. The state is going to work with Reno. The 10-year loan can be approved by the state. The state is responsible for reviewing each city’s budget, so the responsibility for missing the loan payments is shared. Who, exactly, shares the responsibility for “misinterpreting” the state law will not be investigated.

Articles cited

RGJ

rgj.com/article/20110218/NEWS/110218036/1321/Reno-financial-hanky-panky-likely-to-be-handled-without-investigation–taxation-department-says

Does daylight savings time really save power?

March thirteen, the second Sunday in the month, is when daylight savings time 2011 kicks in. It will be the 5th year since Congress changed daylight savings time in the United States from the first Sunday in April to the second Sunday in March. The change was required by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, but stretching daylight savings time hasn’t been proven to conserve energy.

Daylight saving time: champions and nonwinners

Everywhere in the U.S., excluding both Hawaii and Arizona, could be moving their clocks forward an hour on March thirteen at 2 a.m. for daylight saving time 2011. The reason why daylight saving time occurs is to save power. This has been the case since Germany wanted to save on coal in WW1 starting this tradition. In theory, stretching daylight hours with daylight conserving time saves energy by reducing the need for electric lighting. However, it has been argued that manipulating clocks to save power is the equivalent of extending the length of a rope by cutting off one end and attaching it to the other. Many are confused about daylight saving time. It might help retail and outdoor recreation however farming and entertainment hate this change yearly.

Questioning advantages of it

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 started to encourage conserving energy. This made it so the period of daylight was extended an additional four weeks. The change amended the Uniform Time Act of 1966, and the earlier “spring forward” time was first enacted on March 11, 2007. There would be a 1 percent savings of energy in the U.S. with daylight saving time extensions according to Energy Policy Act of 2005 authors. However, a study in Indiana after that state put all counties on daylight saving time in 2006 found a net decrease in power savings. Converting the entire state to daylight saving time cost Indiana households an additional $8.6 million in utility bills because of higher heating costs in the morning and higher air conditioning costs in the afternoon.

What is good and bad about Daylight Saving time

Because of sleep deprivation, there's really an increase in heart attacks during the first week of daylight savings even though it might not conserve power. Fatal auto crashes and automobile collisions with pedestrians end up going down because of daylight saving time though.

Citations

U.S. News and World Report

health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/sleep/articles/2009/03/03/13-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-daylight-saving-time

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/public/article/SB120406767043794825.html

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_Policy_Act_of_2005

Research connects cellular phones to brain cell changes

Brain cells are impacted by cellular phone radiation in accordance with a recent study. The research detected an increase in the metabolism of brain cells. Brain cells were impacted in the part of the brain near the antenna of the mobile phone. Researches did not determine if the effects of cellular phones on brain cells was good or bad.

First time cell phone brain research

The first study undertaken to examining how electromagnetic radiation from cell phones impacts brain cells was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association on Tuesday. The way cells phones impact the glucose metabolism was studied. That is where normal brain cell function happens. Researchers found that exposure to cellular phones boosts the rate of glucose metabolism in brain cells more than they expected. Cells creating energy with glucose is what brain activity is. The way brain cells work is that it is produced as necessary. The glucose is produce whenever it is needed by the brain. According to the study, cell phones actually stimulate, artificially, the glucose metabolism although further investigation is needed to determine if brain cells are damaged by this.

Brain cancer because of mobile phone usage?

For years experts have been worried about mobile phone radiation from many phone calls. Previous test outcomes have been inconclusive. Nothing has been found before. You will find some famous cell phone radiation studies though. These link brain cancer with cell phone radiation. There was not any proof though. There was no way to link the brain cancer with the cell phone use. Scientists have tried to set up that cellular phone radiation may cause DNA mutations or other alterations in brain cells that result in cancer or dementia. The impact of cellular phones on children’s brains has been a particular concern because children have thinner skulls, the radiation penetrates further and their brain cells metabolize glucose faster.

Scientists suggest using the speakerphone

In a statement responding to the cellular phone brain cell research, the Wireless Association said scientific evidence proves that cell phones, used within limits established by the Federal Communications Commission, don’t pose a public health risk. Authors of the research suggested that until more is known about the effects of cell phone radiation on brain cells, individuals should use the speaker phone function or a Bluetooth earpiece as often as possible.

Information from

CNN

cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/02/22/cell.phone.brain.activity/

Web MD

webmd.com/brain/news/20110222/cell-phones-affect-brain-but-does-it-matter?page=2

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704071304576160652541652440.html