Making sure customers aren’t abused

In order to put the debt collectors out of business, CFSA board chair D. Lynn DeVault thinks that the U.S. same day loan industry will stand.

“It is simply wrong to pursue criminal complaints against consumers who have defaulted on personal debt,” said DeVault. “Lenders should be working with their customers to figure out a solution. Our members offer borrowers an extended payment plan at no extra cost to the borrower and adhere to CFSA Best Practices, which prohibit any criminal recourse.”

A key provision of the CFSA’s Best Practices is that no member personal loans company will threaten borrowers or pursue criminal action against them in relation to a customer’s check or account going unpaid.

“We stand ready to work with regulators and policymakers to block rogue lenders and debt collectors from pursuing criminal complaints,” said DeVault.

New Washington State House bill on proof for debt collectors

In early March, the Washington state House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill that would require debt collectors to provide indisputable proof that a borrower has been notified of a potential lawsuit before an arrest warrant can be issued. It is anticipated that Gov. Christine Gregoire will approve of the bill. The Senate is anticipated to pass it in the state as well. Because the laws are often abused by debt collectors, a trade group for debt collectors also supports the law.

The whole country is being looked into for debt collection practices. The Federal Trade Commission is in charge of this.

Citations

Business Wire

businesswire.com/news/home/20110318005899/en/Storefront-Payday-Lenders-Denounce-Collection-Practices-Rogue

Community Financial Services Association of America

cfsaa.com/

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704396504576204553811636610.html

A word from CFSA President Darrin Andersen

youtube.com/watch?v=XrWSOfAyGbA

Americans prefer collective bargaining

To be able to stop a bill from ending collective bargaining rights, Wisconsin senate members ducked a vote by leaving the state. However, collective bargaining was supported by much of the United States residents which were willing to answer the phone and participate in the New York Times/CBS News poll. When it came to support of labor unions though, only a 3rd of the 284 polled supported them. In fact, the unions were opposed by a quarter of them. Everybody else hadn’t decided yet.

There was lots of support for public employee unions though. The “extreme” deficit recovery things that Republican governors are attempting to do such as Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Ohio Gov. John Kasich were what 2 to one poll participants objected too. The slim most of Republicans that favored collective bargaining rights being taken away cut off the Democrats and Independents while the poll showed that there was 56 percent against a 37 percent for pay cuts for public employees.

Governors believe they’re paying excessively to public workers

Several of the governors are worried about public employees getting too greedy. The health insurance and pension plans are most likely too large while employees are overpaid. Public employees pay is “about right” or “too low” though in accordance with several respondents. In fact, about 61 percent responded this way. In the response, the idea of whether firefighters, teachers and others should get government benefits was divided. This contains things such as pension collection and early retirement.

It is just ‘A job that needs to be done’

Retired 67-year-old Democratic poll respondent Phil Merritt of Crossville, Tenn., told the New York Times that collective bargaining is essential for United States families.

“I feel they do a job that needs to be done. If you work hard, you should be able to have a home, save for retirement and send your kids to college,” Merritt said. “Most public employees have to struggle to do those things, and generally both spouses must work.”

Republican viewpoint: Toppling labor union power

Republican Warren Lemma, 56, who works in Longview, TX as an electrical contractor supported the collective bargaining rights going away. States do not have the money to pay such benefits, he said.

“Retirement benefits shouldn’t be taken from those near retirement, but the system should be changed for workers just starting out,” Lemma said. “The only way the system will change is to do something about union control, and the only way to do that is to remove collective bargaining.”

USA TODAY/Gallup Poll showed similar outcomes

Protecting collective bargaining rights was also on the minds of the most of respondents to a similar USA Today/Gallup Poll. Sixty-one percent opposed an anti-collective bargaining law like the one Wisconsin is attempting to pass, while 33 percent were in favor. Figuring out how to solve the problem was something nobody could choose on, between tax hikes and government spending cuts, even though two thirds said a budget problem needs to get fixed.

Articles cited

New York Times

nytimes.com/2011/03/01/us/01poll.html?_r=1&hp

The Caucus NYT blog

thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/28/fewer-voters-from-union-households-in-2010/

USA Today

usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-02-22-poll-public-unions-wisconsin_N.htm

Fascism and its effect on collective bargaining rights

youtube.com/watch?v=7gILmhwwbTg

AT&T has taken a lot of flak for its iPhone service, however AT&T’s 3G network was faster than Verizon’s 3G network in a head to head test. AT&T iPhones were twice as fast as Verizon iPhones when speeds were measured on their respective 3G networks. Verizon iPhones may be much slower than iPhones on AT&T’s 3G network, however when it comes to reliability, AT&T iPhones dropped calls during the tests, just as people anticipated they would. Source of article – Choosing an iPhone – AT and T beats Verizon in 3G network speed test by MoneyBlogNewz.

Verizon not as good as AT&T iPhone

Before switching to Verizon for a new phone due to AT&T’s dropped calls, think about this again. When connecting to the Speedtest.net app, the numbers were looked at for both AT&T and Verizon iPhones by Ookla. In the test, data transfers for AT&T were two times as fast as those from Verizon. This was done on iPhones too. There were 42,000 AT&T iPhones and 14,000 Verizon iPhones around the U.S. in the Ookla speed outcomes. There were 106,000 AT&T iPhone tests and 40,000 Verizon iPhone tests that were done total.

The test the Verizon iPhone went through

About 1,768 kbps for downloads and 730 kbps for uploads was the speed for AT&T iPhones. The Verizon iPhone averaged 846 kbps for downloads and 606 kbps for uploads. Verizon iPhones are more reliable although AT&T iPhones might have a greater speed. Due to a dropped connection, AT&T iPhones couldn’t even complete the test sometimes. The iPhone at Verizon was slower for sure. Nevertheless, the connection was maintained in all tests done. The examination results reflect the claims made by the separate networks in their advertising wars. AT&T touts “the nation’s fastest 3G network.” What Verizon advertises is true too. It’s “America’s Largest and Most Reliable Wireless Network.”

Selecting an iPhone

Before selecting between AT&T and Verizon, iPhone users ought to think about how they’ll use their gadget. If media consumption is a priority, AT&T would be more satisfying. Several would prefer just to get something dependable. Go with Verizon then. In order to examination an iPhone’s 3G network speed, the very best way to do it’s with the Speedtest.net app. At the Apple App Store, the Speedtest.net app is there for free for the iPhone.

Information from

Wired

wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/02/iphone-speedtest/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wired%2Findex+%28Wired%3A+Index+3+%28Top+Stories+2%29%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

NPR

npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/02/17/133849171/on-the-iphone-at-t-network-is-faster-than-verizons

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/41485079/ns/technology_and_science-wireless/

Apophis, an asteroid that visits our neighborhood regularly, has a chance of hitting us if scenarios considered by Russian scientists play out. The Russian warnings are based on a phenomenon called a “gravitational keyhole.” If Apophis manages to pass through it in 2029, its course could be altered just enough to eventually intersect with Earth in its orbit. NASA dismissed the probability of an Apophis/Earth impact, but is working on solutions to deflect doomsday asteroids.

Course for Apohpis unlikely to occur

The chance of an Apophis collision with Earthwas first announced by NASA scientists in 2004. Initial observations hinted that Apophis, about the size of a cruise ship, could collide with Earth in 2029. There were more investigations into it mathematically. It was determined that an Apophis/Earth collision was very unlikely. It was decided by astronomers in Russia that Apophis could actually hit Earth in 2036 though after the 2029 fly-by where a gravitational keyhole would be hit altering its course. The Russian claim wasn’t denied in any way by a National Aeronautics and Space Administration official. However, it was made clear that the chances are one in 250,000 that Apohpis would pass through the gravitational keyhole.

Results Apophis impact might have

The geosynchronous satellites in orbit will get passed by Apophis in late 2012 coming very near to earth. It will only be 18,000 miles away. When it was first spotted, the likelihood of an Apophis/Earth collision was calculated at one in 233. It was then changed to one in 37 and one in 45,000 eventually. During the 324 day orbit around the sun, it could be possible for something to occur to make the asteroid hit Earth. Then, 510 megatons of collision energy from the 27,000 metric ton rock would be released. The explosion would be equivalent to 3,400 times the energy released by the U.S. atomic attack on Hiroshima, Japan in 1945.

How to halt the asteroid

Soon after Apophis caused such a stir, Congress sent National Aeronautics and Space Administration a mandate in 2005 that it must discover 90 percent of near earth objects 140 meters in diameter or greater by 2020. The money NASA need to do that is far greater than the $4 million a year currently spent. Preventing the Earth/asteroid collisions may be more essential than finding them though. Former astronaut Rusty Schweickart, an outspoken advocate of asteroid deflection research, has said the technology currently exists. The international cooperation to conserve Earth is the hardest part of it all.

Information from

Space.com

space.com/10752-apophis-asteroid-hit-earth.html

Universe Today

universetoday.com/51811/asteroid-detection-deflection-needs-more-money-report-says/

How Close is Apophis

howcloseisapophis.com/facts.asp

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_keyhole

Downtown Cairo has been taken over by demonstrators, several calling for the end of the Mubarak regime. Tahrir Square has been overloaded by people calling for a “Day of Departure” for embattled Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak. Mubarak made a concession to not run for reelection, after having come to power almost thirty years ago. Mubarak’s concession to the increasing anti-government demonstrations has little appeased those who want him removed from office. This is one scenario where he won’t be able to take out a payday loan and buy off the protesters. Article source – Protesters fill Tahrir Square pushing for Day of Departure by MoneyBlogNewz.

All of the Tahrir Square demonstrations continue

Tahrir Square in Cairo has been plunged into chaos over the last few days, as demonstrations against the government of President Mubarak have been met with retaliatory attacks from Mubarak followers. After several days of chaotic clashes, thousands of anti-government demonstrators have stuffed the area, pushing for Mubarak to leave at once. NPR reports that a “Day of Departure” or “Friday of Departure” should be when he leaves. In Sept, Leader Mubarak has promised not to try and get re-elected. Nevertheless, protestors demand Mubarak to leave now. There is an increasing chorus of demands for Mubarak to exit office immediately from the international community as well.

Mubarak supporters turning up now

The Egyptian army has cordoned off Tahrir Square while anti-government protesters fill it to capacity. There have been really violent clashes recently though. Pro-Mubarak protesters have been getting into the region to do this. The Christian Science Monitor explains that the Mubarak supporters didn’t like journalists much. The journalists would get singled out. More than 100 incidents of physical assault occurred, including an incident where CNN anchor Anderson Cooper was beaten and threatened with further harm while fleeing the scene. There has been lots of trouble with foreign and domestic journalists. This is because “thugs” that are pro-Mubarak have stormed the Cairo Al-Jazeera offices.

No running away for Mubarak

Even when the unrest started, Leader Mubarak won’t leave. He has made it clear that he doesn’t intend to. There has not ever been a full democratic election confirming him to the office seat even though he has been in for 30 years. In a recent interview, he said that he was tired of public service but claimed that "there will be chaos" and "the Muslim Brotherhood will take over" if he leaves right away, according to MSNBC. Leaders of opposition groups are now talking to him. A transitional government may be in the near future for Egypt.

Citations

NPR

npr.org/2011/02/04/133489032/egyptian-protesters-gear-up-for-friday-of-departure?ps=cprs

Christian Science Monitor

csmonitor.com/USA/Foreign-Policy/2011/0203/Egypt-protests-journalists-under-attack-on-an-unprecedented-scale

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/41402303/ns/world_news-mideast/n_africa/

Rape story by nun comes out

About one week ago, a nun of the order Apostles of Infinite Love accused a "large black man" of rape. She claimed that she was knocked out, dragged, and later woke up in a snow-bank partially clothed. Police were uncertain of her story, given that no passers-by reported a nun in a habit being dragged or taken advantage of. After sketches of the attacker were made, the nun had to give her story to the law enforcement again, and finally decided to tell the truth.

Consensual encounter covered up by lying Brooklyn nun

In order to make a consensual encounter look better, the Brooklyn nun, Mary Turcotte, lied. The week before, the nun of the Apostles of Infinite Love had a consensual encounter. She snuck a bodega worker into her home without her sisters’ knowledge. Turcotte was planning on moving out with help for her “emotional break” in accordance with a woman at the group.

Mary in the Apostles of Infinite Love group

The Apostles of Infinite Love is a group Mary Turcotte is a person in. In 1936, the Christian sect was started. This was when Michael Collin said the Pope’s authority over the Catholic church was not there calling himself an anti-pope. There have been a lot of charges the group has dealt with in criminal and civil court. Abuses such as sexual abuse and rape were part of these proceedings. The group is considered a cult in French press. The group keeps a relatively low profile in Brooklyn, where Mary Turcotte and her sisters live.

Citations

New York Daily News

nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/02/01/2011-02-01_nun_rape_tale_was_bed_of_lies.html

WPIX

wpix.com/wpix-nun-lied-about-rape,0,336749.story

Use of red light surveillance cameras by city governments has become more widespread within the past decade. Red light surveillance cameras anger a fantastic deal of drivers. The devices are denounced as tax-collectors, not life-savers. However, new research has proven that not only do red light surveillance cameras raise cash, they contribute directly to a decrease in deadly crashes. The short term personal loans that cities had to take out in order to put up these cameras have proven to be worth it. Resource for this article – Study proves red light cameras reduce traffic fatalities by MoneyBlogNewz.

Less traffic deaths with red light camcorders in place

Red light surveillance cameras work as the cities that install them advertise they do, in accordance with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. A research released by the research arm of the insurance industry found that traffic deaths dropped by 26 percent over five years at intersections equipped with red light cameras. There were 14 large United States cities with red light camcorders compared to 48 that don’t have them. Research from 2004 to 2008 was compared from these cities. Red light surveillance camera cities had a faster drop in fatalities than others. Deadly crashes dropped a lot in both though. There were less T-bone crashes that occurred although rear-end collisions decreased.

Red light surveillance camera statistics

The traffic data the federal government keeps was also used in the red light camera figures. About 41 percent of crashes, 2.2 million, occurred at intersections in 2009. Those collisions seriously hurt 81,112 individuals and killed 7,358. Running red lights brought on 113,000 of those injuries and 676 of the deaths. The person running the red light killed 64 percent of the individuals who perished, which included passengers, other drivers, pedestrians and cyclists. If red light camcorders had been in use in all 99 cities included within the study, the researchers estimated that 815 lives would have been saved.

Getting red light camcorders is the issue

Red light surveillance camera revenue combines to equal millions of dollars for the cities that use them. In Washington, D.C., red light surveillance cameras netted almost $7.2 million on 85,678 red-light citations from June 2009 through Might 2010. Right now, there are not enough states within the United States using red light surveillance cameras. Only half of the states use them. There were a few cities that installed them in 2000. These included 25 cities. Now, you will find several more individuals that use red light surveillance cameras. In fact, 500 cities use them. Another opinion is given by the National Motorists Association. The group suggests intersections might be safer with simply longer yellow lights. Calling red light camcorders an invasion of privacy and heavy handed enforcement, many cities within the United States have banned red light cameras with voter initiatives.

Information from

Washington Post

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/01/AR2011020100021.html?wpisrc=nl_headline

Wall Street Journal

blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2011/02/01/red-light-cameras-get-a-boost/

Fair Warning

fairwarning.org/2011/02/red-light-cameras-save-hundreds-of-lives-on-roads-report-says/

Stuff New Zealand accounts that while planning the first shoot for “The Hobbit,” director Jackson complained of acute stomach pains. After checking into Wellington Medical center, it was discovered that Jackson was suffering from a perforated abdomen ulcer, for which he has undergone surgery. Hopefully he did not have to take out a large personal loan just to have his health taken care of.

Healing for Jackson can be great

Stuff spoke with spokesman Matt Dravitzki who said that Sir Jackson began to have pains in his stomach while scouting in the Queenstown area of New Zealand. He was found to have an abdomen ulcer after he went to Wellington Medical center.

In a media statement, Sir Peter Jackson’s publicist informed the public that Jackson had surgery and is now resting comfortably. He ought to be fine. Nothing went wrong. “The Hobbit,” could be directed by Jackson, even with the ulcer. The principal photography will be delayed a few days though. Jackson led a five-helicopter scouting expedition on top of New Zealand’s Fiordland national park the week before. Lots of weight has been gained by Jackson within the last five years. As much as 108 pounds were gained.

‘The Hobbit’ problems

Jackson, who had prepared to serve “The Hobbit” in a producer’s role rather than as director, decided to step in when Guillermo del Toro opted to step down from directorial duties due to scheduling conflicts and problems with the movie studio. Further difficulties occurred when an actors’ union boycott threatened to move “The Hobbit” out of New Zealand. New tax breaks that will conserve millions of dollars were part of a settlement reached with Warner Brothers.

Abdomen ulcer to face

It’s very severe to have a perforated ulcer that bleeds as Jackson had. It’s called a perforated ulcer after it was a peptic ulcer that burns through the lining of the stomach or duodenum. The abdomen acids start to leak into the body. This causes damage to occur. There is a bacterium that does this. Typically it is helicobacter pylori bacteria.

James Joyce and Rudyard Kipling were both writers that ended up having perforated ulcers. One was also found in “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” writer J.R.R. Tolkien.

Information from

Stuff

stuff.co.nz/national/4589305/Sir-Peter-Jacksons-stomach-ulcer-scare

The One Ring

theonering.net/torwp/

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perforated_ulcer

New Zealand TV news account of Peter Jackson hospitalization

youtube.com/watch?v=9pP-mKY_Vxc

Getting solar energy is about to become a lot less expensive. In Baltimore, homeowners and business owners will qualify for help with solar power. One CA company is set to start offering photovoltaic equipment loans to Md. homeowners. Leases of solar power equipment are going to last at least 20 years.

Solar power seeing Maryland soon

In Baltimore, a California-based company is stepping in to get solar power on more roofs. Homeowners and businesses can be offered zero-down loans and leases of photovoltaic systems and equipment. Twenty years will be given to consumers who want it to pay the loan back. That’s less than a short term personal loan would cost per payment. If you are a consumer and hook your photovoltaic up to a municipal power, then you will end up having to pay less.

What you should learn about solar energy

Cost is the reason why most homes and businesses have not been able to switch to at least partial solar energy. More than $20,000 is what a basic solar energy system generally costs. The tax credits will help the cost which is what some cities and states are using in order to have an incentive. A business in California has decided to go private with this. This is SolarCity. For just a monthly fee, SolarCity will give individuals a photovoltaic system. A short term personal loan is made to all of the homeowners and businesses that want the equipment while the company gets paid back over the years.

Is leased solar energy cost effective?

Are customers making the right choice even though the power system is rented to SolarCity? Possibly. Solar power systems can be tied into city power and the excess sold back to the power business. The cost of installing a solar power system is no longer an issue, so it’s a matter of balancing cost of maintenance with the amount of savings on one’s power bill. The short-term loan of equipment can definitely be worth the savings if power rates are high.

Articles cited

Baltimore Sun

articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-01-24/business/bs-bz-solar-lease-20110124_1_photovoltaic-systems-california-firm-leasing

Though it is only Jan, homeless individuals have won big- twice. It is the year of success. The internet 2011 fantasy football contest has been won by Nathan Harrington. He has been homeless, and competed very creatively. Harrington, the champion of the prize, has sold the gift card. He is using the cash to rent a new apartment. This will be easier than trying to take out a cash advance to achieve this.

The account on Harrington that you need to know

Nathan Harrington is a 33-year old resident of Salem, Mass. There was a ton of nerve damage done to Harrington in 2009 when he was in an auto accident. His marketing job was one he could no longer do. Due to rat extermination, Harrington, his fiancée, and their 3 year old son got evicted. All of their stuff got sent to storage.

Champion is desolate male for 2011 fantasy football with ESPN

Though Nathan Harrington and his fiancée did not have a home, a computer or access to the internet, he still participated within the ESPN fantasy football 2011 competition. Library computers were where he’d use the internet. Sometimes he’d even go to his father’s nursing home and ask for computer access. He even made phone calls to friends, asking them to make changes to his roster when he couldn’t find a computer to use. Since Tim Tebow was the starter on his Fantasy Football team, the team, or the Boston Beatdowns, won Fantasy Football by 0.8 points.

2011 ESPN fantasy football will help homeless man have a future

Since he won the fantasy football contest, Nathan Harrington got a $3,500 Best Buy gift card. Rather than going on a buying spree at the electronics store, Harrington chose to do something a little more beneficial. He sold the gift card to his mother for $2,500 and plans on using the cash to move his family into a new, non-rat-infested apartment. Perhaps headlines generated when a homeless man wins the ESPN fantasy football 2011 contest will help Nathan Harrington get a sports consulting gig, or even a better job.

Citations

Good Men Project

goodmenproject.com/newsroom/homeless-man-wins-espn-fantasy-footballs-top-prize/