Congress blasted by Stewart for preventing Zadroga bill

Congress continues to be dismissing the Zadroga bill, which could provide health care for survivors and first responders of the Sept 11 attacks. Lawmakers seem either unwilling or incapable of doing much about the bill. That has piqued the attention and ire of Stewart. Congress isn’t above ignoring bills to win brownie factors with voters. Passing tax cuts certainly would fall into that category.

Congress unwilling to pass Zadroga bill

Congress had the Zadroga Bill just sitting there waiting to be reviewed, although it would give rescue workers from the September 11, 2001 attacks aid. The Zadroga Bill, named for a New York police detective James Zadroga, who may have died due to respiratory effects from being on the scene at the World Trade Center, would devote $7 billion in funding to 9/11 rescue workers in need of health care due to complications from being at ground zero. Republicans stalled the bill on the Senate floor after the House passed it, reports CNN.

The Daily Show host unhappy about it

The bill has been very supported by “The Daily Show” host, Jon Stewart. He has been supporting it the whole time. Republicans have seen the wrath of Stewart. He is truly upset that the bill hasn’t been working. The cost of giving health care benefits to the 9/11 responders and survivors is too high for Senate Republicans to agree with. The bill was all Stewart discussed in the last episode of the year that he had. He said that “the party that turned 9/11 into a catchphrase” had a “convenient pre-9/11 mentality when it comes to this bill.”

No more time

Getting the bill passed likely won’t happen in the next few days. A holiday vacation is what Congress waits for all year long. Also, passing a spending bill, no matter what it is, is something Republicans don’t want to do right now. A tax bill was passed in Congress though which Stewart explained was great for any “firefighters that make $200,000 a year.”

Citations

CNN

cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/12/09/senate.9.11.responders/

ABC News

abcnews.go.com/Politics/jon-stewart-rants-republican-filibuster-911-responder-bill/story?id=12422872&page=1

Utilizing science to pay down your debt faster

If you are working to reduce charge card debt, you have lots of choices to make. Depending on how several cards you’ve and the amount of charge card debt, maximizing your money can be tough. How you are paying down debt should be re-thought. At least, that is what the science says. Source of article – Pay down credit card debt – Using science to pay it down faster by MoneyBlogNewz.

All about how you can pay charge card debt down the best

Studies show a lot of people don’t make very good financial choices when it comes to paying off charge card debt. If given the option, many people pay down the charge card debt they can “get rid of” first, even if it has the lowest interest rate. Even if you are getting out of debt slower, several think that closing a loan or charge card will help you make a lot of progress. Instead, the card with the highest interest should be paid off first.

Data on credit card interest you should know about

When reducing debt, the interest on credit cards is the first thing that should be considered. You’ll end up paying more cash on cards with higher interest rates. The annual percentage rate is what the credit card company is charging you just for the privilege of owing money. You do not desire to keep higher interest rates. This is because the money compounds more meaning you will have more to pay. Do not repay the lower interest loans even if they might be smaller. Work on the higher interest rate loans.

Attempting to get the charge card debt paid down

Now that you know which credit card debt you should pay down first, how do you go about this?

1. List all your debts. Order them so you are paying the highest APR first. Make sure the interest is listed with them.
2. Find out how much money can be spent every paycheck on paying off credit card debt. Do this with a basic household budget that is easy to make if you don’t have one yet.
3. Don’t just make the minimum payment. You’ll really repay the debt instead of being stuck in it in case you are paying more than the minimum.
4. Find extra money to pay down your debt. You can make some extra cash by recycling. You may also get a part-time job to do this.
5. Leave your savings alone. While it might seem like an easy answer – borrow from your 401k or house – leaving yourself some breathing room for unpredicted expenditures is important, lest you end up having to use your credit cards and end up in debt all over again.

Data from

Marketplace

marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/09/14/pm-loans-q/

Legal team balks as Assange law enforcement official's statement leaked to United Kingdom press

Julian Assange may temporarily be a free man, but his legal team does not like the way coverage of his case is currently developing in the media. The British newspaper The Guardian seems to have figured that turnabout is fair play, so they published details on Assange’s released police report. The supposedly confidential report is said to include visual sexual information of Assange’s current assault case.

All about the Assange police report

Julian Assange's camp is working for making sure free data and transparency are accessible when releasing confidential intelligence cables. The legal team does not think that a turnabout has happened with the recent police report that was supposedly leaked.

Julian Assange has a Swedish lawyer named Bjorn Hurtig. He plans on filing a complaint formally because of the leaked police report.

"It is with great concern that I hear about this because it puts Julian and his defense in a bad position,” Hurtig said.

Litigation by media

Julian Assange faces charges of sexual assault in Sweden right now even though he is currently released on £275,000 ($432,305) bail by celebrity backers for instance Bianca Jagger, Michael Moor and Jemina Khan. Several think the Assange police statement was released on purpose as a "smear campaign" so that the press may look down on the 39 year old journalist.

The sex allegations towards Assange within the Guardian were just a "brief summary" allegedly. His lawful team claims that getting Assange convicted in the court of public opinion was the real purpose of it.

The conspiracy involving Sweden and America

After the details of Julian Assange's sexual assault claims came out, the U.S. and Sweden have been working together. Assange believes they’re trying to punish him for the various United States intelligence cables that he released. Mark Stephens is Julian Assange's lawyer. He says that Assange won’t be extradited and tried under U.S. treason laws if he has anything to do with it. It will be unlikely that this will change thinking about Julian Assange is Australian rather than a U.S. citizen. It should be interesting to see how the U.S. reacts to this considering Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard did announce that Assange didn't break any Australian laws.

Citations

The Australian

theaustralian.com.au/news/world/lawyers-cry-foul-over-leak-of-julian-assange-sex-case-papers/story-e6frg6so-1225973548657

Julia Gillard says Assange broke no Australian laws

youtube.com/watch?v=IqaRK_STjdw

Hexavalent chromium found in plain tap water from thirty-one United States cities

City water supplies around the U.S. were recently tested for a particular cancer-causing compound. An analyze released by the EWG released Monday found that hexavalent chromium contaminated municipal water supplies in 31 of 35 locations tested. Hexavalent chromium, also known as chromium-6, achieved notoriety within the film “Erin Brockovich.”.

What hazards exist with hexavalent chromium

The Environmental Working Group states that the hexavalent chromium gets into our water supply by being dumped by steel and pulp mills, metal-plating and leather-tanning industries. EWG paid labs to test normal water in 35 locations known to be contaminated by the cancer-causing compound, which leaches into groundwater from eroding soil. Stomach cancer and chromium-6 have been found by An Environmental Working Group scientist to have a correlation. The highest levels of hexavalent chromium were found in Norman, Okla., Honolulu, Hawaii, Riverside, California, Madison, Wis., and San Jose, Calif.

The investigation into chromium-6

The Environmental Working Group analyze is the 1st nationally assessment of hexavalent chromium in municipal water supplies. As the Environmental Protection Agency is intending to regulate the limit of chromium-6 in water the analyze went public. The National Institutes of Health classified hexavalent chromium as a possible cause of cancer back in 2008. 0.06 parts per billion is the limit CA already put on hexavalent chromium back in 2009. The EWG research found that in Norman pubic drinking water exceeded that limit by 200 times. The limit CA put on their water was exceeded in 25 of the 35 cities used for the research.

Environmental Working Group advice: reverse osmosis water filtration

Hexavalent chromium is the cancer-causing compound that starred within the movie “Erin Brockovich.” Chromium 6 was in the water supply in Hinckley, California, and Brockovich in real life did sue Pacific Gas and Electric for contamination and won. The award to Brockovich was over $330 million in damages. Until the EPA regulates hexavalent chromium in drinking water, the EWG suggests a water filter. Thinks like chromium and other heavy metals can be removed through reverse osmosis water filters. For a reverse osmosis water filter you will pay around $120 to $300.

Citations

CNN

pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/12/20/carcinogen-found-in-31-of-35-cities-water-supply/?npt=NP1

USA Today

content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2010/12/tap-water-of-many-us-cities-has-probable-carcinogen-study/1

Medical News Today

medicalnewstoday.com/articles/212079.php

Bank On Dallas trying to lower dependence on Texas payday loans

Payday loan consumers in Texas are being offered a new option for consumer banking. This is an option supported by the city. Named Bank On Dallas, the program is intending to open traditional banking to brand new consumers. Dallas city council members are also talking about brand new lawful limitations on payday lending stores.

What the Bank on Dallas initiative is all about

Bank On Dallas is a bank and credit union program based upon in the Dallas area of Texas. It tries to encourage banks and credit unions to give “starter” bank accounts to residents of the area who don’t have bank accounts. This group is called the "unbanked" people. Usually, they could be found at check-cashing storefronts getting cash. The groups trying to get new regulations on paycheck loans in Dallas and Irving, Texas, are the ones trying to get the "Bank on Dallas" initiative passed.

Paydayloan limits in Texas argued over

A coalition of community groups are presently lobbying Dallas-area lawmakers for more regulations on payday loans stores. Dallas officials point out that car title and payday loan stores are more common in Dallas than Whataburger and McDonald’s stores. Currently in Dallas, payday lending is limited to “credit service organizations.”. Dallas lawmakers want to limit the interest rates and terms that credit service organizations can use, claiming that they take advantage of their customers.

Underbanked and unbanked differences

The Dallas organizations that are trying to open banking up to unbanked customers are claiming it may also reduce customers accessible to payday lenders. The only problem is that unbanked and underbanked people are different. Unbanked customers often use check cashing locations and other alternative banking locations. Underbanked customers, on the other hand, are the ones who tend to use payday lending and other choices for short-term cash because most payday lenders require that customers have a account with your bank. The new regulations for payday lenders in Dallas have not yet been written, but the City Council is still considering changes to the regulations.

Citations

Dallas City Hall

dallascityhall.com/BankOnDallas/aboutUs.html

Personal Money Store

personalmoneystore.com/payday-lending-statistics/

UBS dress rule: lenders ought to look like lenders

The UBS outfit rule shows personnel of the Swiss bank how you can outfit for achievement. The highly detailed manual attempts to leave nothing to chance on how to look just like a lender at UBS. UBS, some experts say, released the dress code as part of an effort to repair its reputation after taking a bath in the financial crisis. It’s uncertain that a dress code will improve their image but it is better to try than just taking out pay day loan

UBS trying to conceal with UBS dress code

There is a brand new outfit rule that can be seen at UBS. It looks like a prep school outfit with some fashion. The idea is to blend in to the surroundings with an extreme level of conformity that covers every little thing from underwear to the lunch menu. During the financial crisis, several were burned by UBS. In order to reach out to those previous clients, the UBS dress rule has been enforced. You will find tests in Switzerland for the new style. Five branches are doing it. A change in business, for the good, will make the UBS outfit rule permanent. All Swiss UBS branches will be enforced in it.

UBS trying to dress for achievement

Overall, the UBS dress rule espouses the bland, generic look individuals expect from lenders: dark suits for men, neutral outfits for women. It’s not ok to wear short, tight skirts. Men are not allowed to wear earrings while flashy jewelry isn't okay for either. But Swiss being Swiss, a distinctive wristwatch is standard equipment. Grecian Formula is totally unacceptable. Men will be getting haircuts each four weeks. Women should use light makeup limited to foundation, mascara and “discreet” lipstick. It’s not okay to wear soft fragrances, have garlic breath, have nail art, have trendy eyewear or even to wear cartoon socks. You are also never allowed to wash and iron your own shirts.

More than a dress rule for UBS

In 2007, the financial crisis hit. At that time, UBS had to cut 11,000 jobs and wrote about $50 billion in mortgage related assets down. It was also embroiled in an investigation of UBS tax evasion within the U.S. During the financial crisis UBS reported more losses ($57.3 billion) than any European bank. Clients were lost as top executives left. Oswald J. Grubel, as UBS CEO, spoke with several investors personally. He had to do something to try and stop them from defecting. He says to have been successful. His properly-knotted tie should have been what did it.

Articles cited

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704694004576019783931381042.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Business Insider

businessinsider.com/ubs-dresscode-clothes-bank-2010-12#

New York Times

nytimes.com/2010/02/10/business/global/10ubs.html

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducts honorees of 2011

The class of 2011 has just been inducted by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This years’ inductees included Dr. John, Darlene Love, Tom Waits, Neil Diamond, and Alice Cooper. Being inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is considered a high honor in the music industry. It’s something which no fast cash loans could seriously help purchase your way into. Source of article – Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class of 2011 inducted by MoneyBlogNewz.

Hall of Fame for Rock and Roll announced for class of 2011

Annually in Cleveland, Ohio, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced a brand new class. Some of the biggest names in popular music are put into the hall which means it is a huge honor. BBC accounts that Neil Diamond, Tom Waits, Brand new Orleans audio legend Dr. John, Phil Spector, Darlene Love and Alice Cooper were all listed for this year's class. Alice Cooper was previously thought to be one of the biggest snubs by the Hall, and many have alleged that punk rock and heavy metal do not get a fair shake. Also inducted are Elektra Records head Jac Holzman, Specialty Records head Art Rupe and session musician Leon Russell.

Hoping to get into the Hall of Fame

Artists are eligible for induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25 years after the release of their first recording, based on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Those who are inducted are chosen by a committee that gets together every year. They meet to discuss which record executives, producers, recording engineers, studio musicians, recording artists and performing artists could be accepted. After the nominating committee selects nominees, they are voted on by experts. Five hundred ballots are sent out. If performers, non-performers, early influences or side people get enough votes, into the Hall they go.

Nominees trigger controversy

A lot of debate is surrounding the Hall. This is because only popular bands are nominated typically. Several others are upset the Rolling Stone magazine, including publisher Jann Wenner, have too much influence in the process which would be why bands they do not care for like Rush, Deep Purple and others do not get nominated.

Articles cited

BBC

bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11997784

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

rockhall.com/inductees/induction-process/