Maintenance fee could be heaped on MD homeowners

The number of foreclosures in the country is continuing to rise in some areas. One county in Maryland is hoping to address many of the associated troubles with a payment. The bill would also make it a legal offense to let a home fall into disrepair.

Maryland’s high foreclosure level

Maryland has been facing high foreclosure rates since the housing collapse in 2008. In 2011 so far, there has been a lot of foreclosures in Prince George County in MD alone. There has been 1 foreclosure for every 457 households. In Prince George County, the property value is decreasing while inventory goes up. This is because now of the homes are being maintained well. This is bad in the first place. Add on top of that, that the Prince George County tax revenues are going down, and it is catastrophe.

Costs on foreclosure could occur

State lawmakers have been hearing a lot from Prince George County. It hopes that something could be done with the homes not being maintained and soon. The county wants to charge owners of foreclosed homes $75 per year. In order to pay contractors to clean abandoned houses, the money would be put in a county fund. Essentially, it would be one more payment on the short term loans of foreclosures. The county would also be given the right to send inspectors to check on foreclosed homes.

Foreclosure payment issues

Foreclosed homes would be taken care of with a short term installment loan such as foreclosed payment would help property values improve. It would be just as hard to get the fee as anything else though. It was already stated the homeowner would not be responsible for the $75 fee. This was mentioned by the county. Banks would end up having to pay the payment on any properties that are not maintained. In fact, it would be a per-house fee sent to banks. In order to help ensure this takes place, the county may also be creating a legal or civil misdemeanor offense for not “keeping a property up to neighborhood standards.”

Information from

Washington Examiner

washingtonexaminer.com/local/maryland/2011/02/pg-council-wants-charge-fee-foreclosure-cleanups

Non-alcoholic beer marketed as sports drink by German beer maker

A brewery in Germany believes the United States is a prime industry for its non-alcoholic beer, which is being marketed as an athletics drink. Bavarian brewer Erdinger is wagering that American athletes have a taste for its Alkoholfrei brand. Erdinger also believes Alkoholfrei tastes well enough to reverse a trend of decreasing United States sales for no-alcohol beer. Its claims that Alkoholfrei is a recovery beverage are legitimate, said Erdinger, because of an abundance of carbohydrates and a lack of alcohol.

Erdinger believes Alkoholfrei will be popular in the U.S.

It’s new to make a non-alcoholic beer seem like an athletics beverage although beer has been associated with sports marketing for a long time in the U.S. In Europe, Alkoholfrei has been promoted as a fitness beverage. Erdinger has done this since 2001. Erdinger has been giving out free samples at major competitions and grass roots sporting events. In Europe, Alkoholfrei has become very popular. To get Alkoholfrei in North America, promotion of the product has become stronger while forty-five U.S. states already sell it. In Fort Kent, Maine, the February World Cup biathlon was held. Along with skis and rifles, the European sportsmen had mugs of Alkoholfrei.

Beer is a sports beverage for most

Erdinger Alkoholfrei looks like beer, with an auburn color and foamy head. The non-alcoholic brew allegedly tastes like beer as well. The drink is promoted as something that can help recover sportsmen from a workout or competition with the carbohydrates and vitamins that are in it making it an "isotonic" athletics drink. Along with ethanol, beer generally contains sodium, potassium, carbohydrates and B vitamins, however trainers and sports nutritionists say the amounts of those regenerative compounds in beer are not high enough to make a difference in recovery for severe athletes. At least without the alcohol, Erdinger Alkoholfrei will help sportsmen rehydrate.

The genuine German beer taste may do well

In the U.S., non-alcoholic beer hit the mainstream in the 1990s with O’Douls from Anheuser-Busch and Sharps from Miller. However sales for those brands have been in decline for more than a decade. The flavor of real German beer is in Alkoholfrei. This is what Erdinger is intending to convince Americans that don't like the idea of beer without alcohol. At almost $10 a six-pack for Erdinger Alkoholfrei, whether Americans can accept that price for a German beer with no buzz or a European energy drink without the sugar high remains to be seen.

Articles cited

San Francisco Chronicle

sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fn%2Fa%2F2011%2F02%2F21%2Fstate%2Fn084141S20.DTL

USA Today

usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2011-02-13-3781689740_x.htm

Business Week

businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9LHEP0G0.htm

Berlusconi can be on trial in April for prostitution charges

Prime Minister Berlusconi of Italy can be brought to trial on prostitution charges. There’s been intense conjecture for weeks over whether he would be officially charged with a crime; it’s rumored he paid for a sexual encounter with an underage girl. April 6 is the date for the first case. He will need a pretty big personal loan to get out of this one.

Prime Minister of Italy faces Court case

The Telegraph explains that law enforcement officials are charging Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy after the controversy of prostitute services cam up. The services of a girl who’s now 18 were paid for by Berlusconi. Ruby the Heartstealer is what she calls herself. Ruby, real name Karima el-Mahroug, was 17 at the time of the alleged transaction. April 6 can be when the first hearing will be seen. Judge Cristina Di Censo is going to fast track the case. Charges for abuse of power as Prime Minister will be another thing Berlusconi face.

Throng of demonstrators decries ‘Rubygate’

Many protestors, while most were women, were in a protest over the scandal, called "Rubygate" saying Berlusconi needed to be removed. He has been to trial for business violations. However, his personal conduct has never been tried before. Berlusconi and his party retain a slim majority in the Italian parliament, however public support is quickly waning for him in the wake of the scandal, according to the New York Times. The original Milan hearing won't require the presence of Berlusconi. Prostitutes must be 18 in Italy for it to be legal.

Prostitution didn't occur, states Berlusconi

One of the guests at the lascivious “bunga bunga” parties that Berlusconi held past year was Karima el-Mahroug, then 17. MSNBC reports the first time they met, Berlusconi gave her a little less than $10,000 at 7,000 euros. Prosecutors will say what it was for. They say sex occurred. Both Ruby and Berlusconi say it did not take place. They were never even intimate. Berlusconi is also charged with abuse of powers, having personally pressured a police officer to let Ruby out of theft court case. He states she told him she was the granddaughter of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, and he was trying to keep away from an international incident.

Articles cited

Telegraph

telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/8325340/Silvio-Berlusconi-ordered-to-face-trial-over-sex-allegations.html

New York Times

nytimes.com/2011/02/16/world/europe/16italy.html

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/41594875/ns/world_news-europe

Scientists not able to determine source of anthrax in 2001 attacks

The origin of the anthrax found in the 2001 anthrax assaults is still a puzzle to researchers and investigators. The strain of the disease was comparable to a strain that the prime suspect, Bruce Ivins, worked with on a daily basis as a microbiologist employed by the Army. Ivins killed himself before charges could possibly be made, so nobody will ever know if he was the culprit. People have taken out huge sums of money in pay day loans to finance finding where this strand was created with no luck.

Findings on anthrax through FBI opposite of findings from National Academy of Sciences

Though the official investigation of the 2001 anthrax attacks is functionally over, the NAS has just released a report that calls findings of the FBI into question, according to USA Today. The National Research Council conducted its own review of the FBI investigation and found some disparities that existed between what the FBI and the review panel concluded. Dr. Bruce Ivins as a microbiologist for the Army had some anthrax in a flask for the United States Army Medical Research Institution for Infection Disease. These seemed to have similarities to the other anthrax spores. It wasn't confirmed the exact same anthrax that Dr. Ivins has were used even though there were similarities in the National Academy of Sciences report.

Still haven't proved Ivins innocence

The National Academy of Sciences report didn’t address whether Dr. Ivins was the culprit and dealt only with the science, in accordance with the New York Times. The relationship between strains was "consistent with and supports" the similarities. This was something the National Academy of Sciences concluded. However, the panel took the FBI to task for failing to use newer and more accurate methods to identify the strain of anthrax. Dr. Bruce Ivins committed suicide in 2008 before he could be prosecuted, and the FBI closed its case.

Still mysterious anthrax attack

The investigation of the 2001 anthrax attacks led to the founding of the new science of microbial forensics — tracing the origins of infectious agents. The scientific techniques the FBI used were applauded in the report though, the Washington Post report. The anthrax assaults of 2001 killed five individuals and sickened 17 with Bacillus Anthraces spores, which causes the dangerous and often fatal disease anthrax.

Citations

USA Today

usatoday.com/tech/science/2011-02-15-anthrax_N.htm

New York Times

nytimes.com/2011/02/16/us/16anthrax.html

Washington Post

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/15/AR2011021502251.html?hpid=topnews

Medical personnel confirms that Gabrielle Giffords speaks

Reports are emerging the Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords speaks again. Giffords is undergoing intense physical therapy after being shot in the head and reportedly asked medical staff for toast with her breakfast. The recovery of Giffords has been nothing short of miraculous, as her wounds are often fatal. Resource for this article – Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords speaks to medical staff by MoneyBlogNewz.

Injured AZ Congresswoman makes big progress

The hospital in Tucson, Arizona, where Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was staying, has moved her to a physical rehabilitation center located in Houston, Texas. She will recover from her brain injury there. Giffords got a brain injury in the Tucson shooting that Jared Lee Loughner carried out. Now, she is recovering quickly. Giffords is now speaking once again, CBS reports. This was after being rushed to a Tucson hospital after getting a shot in the head. She is going through extreme physical therapy at TIRR Memorial Herman Hospital. Giffords was moved there because the hospital specializes in physical therapy for victims of severe head and brain trauma.

Talking and asking for food is Giffords

It’s good that Giffords is going through her talk therapy in recovery. This is what a spokesperson said. As Giffords is hooked up to a breathing tube, either it would have to be removed or a vent would have to be put in it so she could speak. This is why it’s unknown currently how she is doing this speech. Apparently she is eating again too. Her Facebook page recently had a comment from her husband, Mark Kelly. He said, “Gabby’s appetite is back — even though it’s hospital food.” Kelly's Space Shuttle Endeavour is on hold. He will return in April at the soonest.

Judge killed the naming of a new courthouse

After the Tucson shooting that killed six and injured 13, Congress has passed a bill to name a federal courthouse after one of the victims, Reuters reports. Chief Judge John M. Roll was killed in the shooting. A new courthouse can be named after him after being built in Yuma, Arizona. The building will be complete in a couple of years. It will open in 2013.

Citations

CBS News

cbsnews.com/stories/2011/02/09/national/main20031226.shtml

Reuters

reuters.com/article/2011/02/09/us-shooting-judge-idUSTRE7187JH20110209

So-called Reagan Republicans contradict their idol

The centennial of Ronald Reagan’s birth was commemorated on February 6. Conventional Republicans use Reagan as a symbol of their ideology. However, the "Reagan Republicans" of today would find it hard to vote for their idol, which passed away at age 93 in 2004. And to think of how many personnel loans individuals obtain to aid their parties.

Republican's use of Reagan

It was Ronald Reagan's 100th birthday. Still, he is a figure in historical past people can't help but admire. The idea of a limited government was launched by him while he also won the cold war, some say. Others remember him for allowing the federal deficit to skyrocket and creating the still-widening gap between the rich and middle class. You will find many Republicans who use Reagan as a role model that defends American ideals. They say he cut taxes and the budget. His name is conveniently used as a catch-phrase to validate tax cuts for the rich, deep cuts in government, aggressive military spending and hard-line immigration policies.

New Reagan taxation

The one hundred year old Reagan wouldn't necessarily like the idea of avoiding tax increases. It might really be the only way the deficit can get any better. The co-chair of the president's commission on deficit reduction is Alan Simpson from Wyoming who’s a former Republican Senator. He worked with the Reagan administration on the federal budget too. Simpson called the conservative assertion that Reagan did not raise taxes “plain damn lies.”. In a Congressional listening to, he pointed out that tax increases under Reagan included the 1982 Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act that elevated corporate taxation and income taxes by nearly 1 percent of Gross Domestic Product, the largest peacetime tax increase ever at the time.

Spending for Reagan

Tax increases occur almost each year Reagan was president. Only one of the 8 years didn't see this increase. From 1967-1975, Reagan was governor of California and increased spending 177 percent. The federal deficit tripled even though taxation was elevated while he was president while also expanding government. Nuclear weapons were a thing Reagan was trying to abolish while the Brady Bill gun-control measure was supported by him. In 1986, millions of undocumented aliens were given amnesty by him instead of making it impossible for immigrants to get in. If Reagan Republicans were honest in their convictions, they might have nothing to do with Ronald Reagan.

Information from

Think Progress

wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2010/06/30/simpson-reagan/

Washington Monthly

washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_06/024155.php

Christian Science Monitor

csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/The-Vote/2011/0204/Was-Ronald-Reagan-a-good-president

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703561604575282431263367708.html

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan

Roundup of top advertisements and big blunders at the Super Bowl

The Super Bowl always has huge viewership. The 2011 Super Bowl claimed over 47 percent of viewers. The leading Super Bowl commercials of 2011 were leading for very different reasons; some because they were adorable, others because they were extremely debatable. The Super Bowl National Anthem 2011 was the shock error of the evening, rather than the Black Eyed Peas halftime show. Too bad there is not a payday advance loan big enough to undo that mistake.

Which Super Bowl 2011 advertisements were the very best?

The Super Bowl commercials from 2011 were the ones that touched a nerve in one way or another. There was a user created contest which is where the Doritos Super Bowl commercial 2011 came from. Some have called it "sophomoric" though.

youtube.com/watch?v=0kfLd52jF3Y

This year, there’s a top Super Bowl commercial about Darth Vader. It was a big winner. There were millions that watched the Volkswagen commercial when it was released before the Super Bowl. According to most viewer votes, the Darth Vader commercial was the big winner of the 2011 Super Bowl.

youtube.com/watch?v=R55e-uHQna0

The most debatable Super Bowl commercial was the Groupon commercial. A huge political struggle is made fun of in the commercial. Those who were Groupon supporters might not be so happy with this one.

youtube.com/watch?v=vXGYK1eP_wo&feature=player_embedded

Aguilera National Anthem 2011 flub

When it comes to mess ups in the Super Bowl, the Christina Aguilera Super Bowl flub is definitely noticed. The majority is upset that Aguilera repeated a line in the anthem. She "butchered" the song, supposedly. Many others point out that it is hard to do that on live TV making it easy for blunders.

youtube.com/watch?v=WB61wXKROtw

Black Eyed Peas halftime show 2011 video

The 2011 choice for Super Bowl halftime how was the Black Eyed Peas. This was the first time since the “wardrobe malfunction” episode that organizers chose a relatively pop-art group, rather than “classic” group. There were surely problems with the Black Eyed Peas halftime show though. The sound techs made a few microphone mistakes. There were more lights than energy in the Black Eyed Peas performance anyway which is why many suggest the group is more of a recording group than live performers.

youtube.com/watch?v=IJZUxR_dQz4

Collegiate research: Working moms, obese kids

The epidemic of youth obesity has grown by over 300 percent since 1980, several studies suggest. Now a link may have been detected by an American University professor between overweight children and moms who work a great deal of the time away from home. As mothers’ job hours increased, the average body mass index (BMI) tended to by higher, in accordance with the study. This is even without people obtaining pay day loans to purchase their food. Source for this article – Working mothers have more obese kids, says study by MoneyBlogNewz.

How obesity connects

The youth obesity research, which was published in the January/February issue of the journal Child Development, looked at 990 children from grades 3, 5 and 6, sampled from 10 cities across the U.S. Prof. Taryn Morrissey from American University's Public Administration and Policy department was the founder of the research. It was discovered that a child's BMI was influenced in a small however cumulative amount by the number of years a working mother worked. Over time, higher BMI can increase the chances of being obese.

The connection between employment of a mother and a children's BMI was not explained by the children's physical activity levels or even TV time. Researchers were confused when even the time of day a mother worked did not make a difference in the Body Mass Index level.

Mostly preparing food time

Morrissey and team noticed that working parents do not shop or prepare food due to time constrictions. You will find more calories typically in pre-prepared foods and when eating out. That means that these kids were getting more of these meals.

Fixing the issue

Prof. Morrissey believes something needs to change considering behavior problems and obesity-related illnesses like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol can be brought on by childhood obesity. It may also trigger a lesser life expectancy which could be up to five years the Children's Hospital in Boston concluded in a study. Expanding the availability of healthy, affordable food is paramount to a healthier society.

"Community- and school-based programs offer promise for promoting healthy weight by providing information to children and their families about nutrition and exercise, as well as how to make quick, healthy meals," Morrissey said.

Citations

American University

american.edu/media/news/20110204-Childrens-BMI-May-Rise-Longer-Mothers-Work.cfm

Wiley

wiley.com/bw/journal.asp?ref=0009-3920

USA Today

usatoday.com/news/health/2005-03-16-obesity-lifespan_x.htm

Mom, get your kids on the juice. Jack LaLanne would approve.

youtube.com/watch?v=4AEeQZh1s4A

Carmelo Anthony might bring his shot to the Lake Show

There’s been a fantastic deal of talk about exactly where Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony can be traded this season. Carmelo trade destinations have been several, including the New York Knicks. However now a big name has thrown its hat into the ring, reports ESPN. Carmelo to the Lakers may be the next big NBA headline.

Carmelo Anthony to Lakers trade taking place

A trade from Carmelo Anthony to Lakers could occur. It is possible. Lakers legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson said that something had to be changed by the Lakers if they were going to win. Just days after this, the Los Angeles Media spoke with Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak who said a trade is an option. Carmelo and his wife, MTV personality La La Vazquez, bought a home in LA last summer, too. Lakers representatives have coyly denied interest.

Details on the Lakers

The first in Pacific Division is the Lakers that also have 36-16. Answers are being looked for by the team though since a lot of high-profile losses have happened. The Lakers need a strong scorer. That means Anthony would work perfectly. Since Melo is 6 foot 8 and 230 pounds, he can do so several things while being an excellent scorer. It would be very hard to guard the Lakers with Bryant, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom.

The give up the Lakers are prepared to make

It is possible that the Carmelo Anthony and Lakers deal won't go through, reports ESPN. If this is the case, Andrew Bynum will most likely be who the Lakers determine on. Interior scorers can have a difficult time scoring with the size and mobility of Bynum. Nevertheless, the durability of him is questioned. The current National Basketball Association bargaining agreement would work with a trade of Anthony for Andrew Bynum even though Nuggets want to shed salary meaning more players can be offered, reports ESPN.

More things that can occur with Carmelo Anthony

The New York Knicks have been talking to the Denver nuggets about Carmelo trade as well as the LA Lakers. After months of speculation, none of the potential trades – some of which involve the Minnesota Timberwolves to make a three-team deal – have come to fruition. There were calf and ankle injuries that Kicks forward Wilson Chandler sustained. That means the trade has not occurred yet.

Details from

ESPN

sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=6101304

ESPN Los Angeles

espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/lakers/post/_/id/15841/the-philosophy-of-trading-andrew-bynum

Los Angeles Times

latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2011/02/dont-count-on-carmelo-anthony-coming-to-lakers.html

Lakers’ Ron Artest on how to guard Carmelo Anthony

youtube.com/watch?v=a-QTcU9YEi8

Super Bowl gambling cleans out Las Vegas bookies

The Super Bowl ended up being a losing bet for Las Vegas. Vegas bookmakers took a bath when the favored Green Bay Packers won by a decisive margin. It is anticipated to be the worst loss for Las Vegas bookies on the Super Bowl since 1993. People lost and won money from the short term cash they took out for their betting needs.

Super Bowl was bad news for gambling establishments in Vegas

The books for Las Vegas ended up losing with the Super Bowl wagering. As 2 1/2-point favorites, the Packers delivered for the gambling public in its 31-25 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Nevada gaming officials won’t release the official numbers until Tues, however several factors converged that are expected to result in big net loss for gambling establishments. Most favored the Packers to win. The 3 point spread that was needed was received also. When it came to the Packers, there were at least two bets which were at $1 million. The over/under for the Super Bowl had been set at 45.5 points. With the 56 point game, most voted the Packers would win. At halftime, the Pittsburgh Steelers seemed to be coming back while down by 11. Still, the Steelers were favored by 2 ½ points by Vegas.

Vegas book hit by double whammy

The Las Vegas sports book lost on the Super bowl because amateur gamblers tend to bet on the favorite and think the over/under is too low. The favorite will hopefully win, if the sports books get what they want. They just want a low-scoring game to happen instead. The favorites have to cover in the win though. If this does not happen, there is a lost bet on them. Green Bay gamblers won some money since the Packers were favored by 2 ½ and won by six. To make matters worse for the Las Vegas sports book, it favored the Steelers by 2 1/2 in the second half. Pittsburgh started the second half down by 11. As the 2 ½ point losers, many realized they could bet on the Steelers. This was because in the second half they were 8 ½ point underdogs. Losing by just six, Pittsburgh delivered for those bettors as well.

Gambling means losing can take place for the house as well

Every year, Super Bowl Sunday is the biggest gambling day of the year. The Vegas Casinos are filled. Each teams in the Super Bowl XLV got lots of bets put in to the Vegas sports book. There was $82.7 million bet in Vegas sports book in 2010. The Casinos collected $6.8 million. Between $95 and $100 million is anticipated to be what was bet on the Super bowl 2011. This would just be in Vegas too. After the New York Giants upset the New England Patriots in 2008, Las Vegas lost $2.6 million. In the other nine Super Bowls since 2000, the gambling establishments have averaged a stake of $9.07 million.

Articles cited

Los Angeles Times

latimes.com/sports/la-sp-super-bowl-vegas-20110207,0,2227070.story

Business Insider

businessinsider.com/super-bowl-vegas-sports-books-lost-money-2011-2

Las Vegas Review Journal

lvrj.com/sports/packers-and-over-makes-it-big-day-for-betting-public-115485929.html

Super Sunday goes to the dogs with Puppy Bowl VII

The Puppy Bowl is the ultimate Super Sunday pre-game show. As Super Bowl pre-game shows get longer and more redundant, the audience for the Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet has been growing. The Puppy Bowl, presenting an adorable collection of pups rescued from animal shelters nationwide, has evolved into a major event promoting animal ownership in the United States. This helps the animal shelters avoid having to take out quick short term loans to support the over-crowding in the animal shelters.

Puppy Bowl meant to get adoptions proceeding

“Puppy Bowl VII” airs on Animal Planet Sunday from 3-5 p.m. EST. The network created the Puppy Bowl to fill the air time. Most viewers were watching the Super Bowl pre-game buzz proceeding on. There were a lot of people in the public who watched the Puppy Bowl. Now, about 8.6 million people tune in to see it. Plus, the Puppy Bowl does more than boost ratings for Animal Planet. The show sends a message that increases public awareness of animals in animal shelters throughout the country in need of ownership to avoid euthanasia. Since 2004, more than 250 animals have been adopted directly through the Puppy Bowl.

All about the Puppy Bowl action

The Puppy Bowl has puppies wrestling. A stadium setting is created to do this. Touchdowns are made by the pups with a chew toy. A goal line is created to do this. A pooper scooper is given to the referee. Andrew Schechter is the referee. It’s his job to call a clean game. A puppy cam is on the beagle's head in "Puppy Bowl VII" so the field activity could be seen which is new. A blimp piloted by hamsters provides overhead shots. The chicks cheerleading on the sidelines are really chickens, flapping and clucking for their team. The halftime show features kittens cavorting on the field in a disco atmosphere of lights and streamers.

Adopt at Petfinder.com

With regards to choosing puppies, the "Puppy Bowl VII" had to cut some off. There will be a total of 58 pups this year. Any animal shelters can participate. They have to send in pictures of the pups next to soda cans so actual size can be determined. The players are between 7 and sixteen weeks old. The puppy bowl pups get adopted fairly fast. Since "Puppy Bowl VII" airs way after it is taped in Oct, several have already found homes. Animal Planet could be repeating the show a few times during the Super Bowl. People can visit Petfinder.com for information about adopting a pet in their area.

Information from

CNN

cnn.com/2011/LIVING/02/04/puppy.bowl/?hpt=Sbin

ABC News

abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=12838842&page=2

ESPN

sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=altobelli/110204_puppy_bowl

GOP forcible rape gaffe accompanies abortion bill

By writing a bill with language that includes the phrase “forcible rape,” Republican men in Congress invited an irritated backlash in their effort to regulate reproductive decisions of American females. Terminology in HR 3, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act is the source of the controversy. Exceptions to the ban listed in the bill include "forcible rape". Under pressure for playing politics with rape, House Republicans removed the forcible rape caveat from the types of pregnancies exempt from the bill’s restrictions. There is no question that this is another cause that people will be taking out quick personal loans just to fight.

Rape does not alter by scenario

The term "forcible rape" was created for a specific reason. It was meant to make it so rape isn't a violent crime in some forms. The phrase was used in HR 3 in existing legislation. The Hyde Amendment was used to do this by Republicans. The Hyde Amendment is a provision barring the use of certain federal funds for abortions that isn’t a permanent law. Since 1976, Republicans have been attempting to attach this "rider" to spending bills. The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act is an effort by House Republicans to make the Hyde Amendment everlasting. After scorching criticism from women’s groups and a widely viewed satire on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” mocking the use of the term, Republicans believed eliminating “forcible rape” from the bill would put the fire out.

HR 3 small print

The federal government currently pays for abortions for rape, incest or life-threatening illnesses. This is what the Hyde Amendment originally states. HR 3 has "forcible rape" added into it by Republicans. This was done so that cases where rape can't be proven will not go through. Republicans also wrote HR 3 to exclude statutory rape and limit exemptions for incest to minors only. There would also be problems with HR 3 and private insurance plans covering abortions. They would get taxed at a higher rate.

Nevertheless rage around HR 3

HR 3 is still getting criticized right now. Taking "forcible rape" out of it didn't help much. Abortions won't be paid for in pregnancies of women 18 or older that received incest. Any statutory rape won't be included in HR 3 still. Terry O’Neill, president of the National Organization for Women, told CBS News she found it “deeply offensive” that House Republicans would delete “forcible” but leave in the language concerning incest. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., said “I consider the proposal of this bill a violent act against women.” The H.R. 3 hearing starts in the coming week as a priority for House Republicans.

Articles cited

CBS News

cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20030557-503544.html

Washington Post

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/03/AR2011020304370.html

Mother Jones

motherjones.com/mojo/2011/02/smith-caves-defining-rape-abortion

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyde_Amendment

The Daily Show

thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-february-2-2011/rape-victim-abortion-funding?xrs=share_copy

Internet dating website steals information from Facebook to school the network

Back in his Harvard days, Zuckerberg was busted by campus administration for stealing co-ed picture and name information from school servers in order to launch FaceMash. Zuckerberg, who would go on to create Facebook, was charged with stealing information and identities. Today, Wired reports that a media artist and a press critic have decided that turnabout is fair play with regards to Zuckerberg’s greatest development. Paolo Cirio and Ludovico’s social experiment online dating site called Lovely Faces recently went online after scraping 250,000 Facebook profiles for names, locations and photographs – and Facebook is likely to prosecute. Facebook currently makes so much money that they probably will not need personal loans to take this company to court. Source of article – Lovely Faces scraped from Facebook without p! ermission by MoneyBlogNewz.

Lovely-Faces.com information

Lovely Faces takes user data off of Facebook and images of males and females to be able to put them into categories such as "easy going," "smug," and "sly" without any kind of authorization. Cirio and Ludovico are worried about the legality of it all. This is because they used Facebook user's real names as well. The idea that it is acceptable to put personal information on online social press is what is being challenged by Lovely Faces. They claim not to be a business venture, claims Wired.

"If we start to play with the concepts of identity theft and dating, we should be able to unveil how fragile a virtual identity given to a proprietary platform can be," write the Lovely Faces founders on Face to Facebook. "And (we’ll see) how fragile enormous capitalization based on exploiting social systems can be."

Social networks such as Facebook are being targeted by Cirio and Ludovico. The point is to point out cracks inherent in the system. In the early 2000s, several dot coms were falling due to the burst bubble with the over-hyped stock evaluations. The point is to make these networks crumble in the exact same way.

Lovely Faces makes Facebook upset

There’s a violation of Facebook's terms of service in accordance with Barry Schnitt. He is the Director of Policy Communications at Facebook. Lovely-Faces.com is getting investigated by Facebook before legal action happens. After 100 million Facebook user names and profile addresses were released by the online protection research firm called Skill Security, Facebook sued them. Zuckerberg and company might sue again.

Information from

Face to Facebook

face-to-facebook.net/theory.php

New York Times

bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/28/100-million-facebook-ids-compiled-online/

Wired

wired.com/epicenter/2011/02/facebook-dating/

Dating on Facebook with Flyness: No illegal action required

youtube.com/watch?v=1D51lBv1Hac

Mental medical center in Cuckoo's Nest film gives remains of patients back to relatives

Remains of patients who died at the mental medical center used within the film "One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest" are being transferred through a new program to the family members of the deceased. Oregon State Medical center stored unclaimed cremated remains of patients from decades ago, until the room the remains were stored in was re-discovered several years ago. It could take many personal installment loans for family members to give these people a proper burial.

Those who passed away have remains at ‘Cuckoos Nest’

Oregon State Hospital, a psychiatric hospital in Salem, Ore., has been attempting to place remains of patients who died while within the hospital’s care with their family members, according to ABC. In 2004, while touring the facility, a group of state legislators found a room holding the cremated remains of about 3,500 patients who had passed away. An online database of those who passed away at the hospital between 1914 and 1970 that has remains there has been made by the medical center recently. A memorial can be created in 2012 for the unclaimed patients along with a new psychiatric medical center that the Oregon facility got together.

Book and movie setting

The 1975 film “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” which starred Jack Nicholson, takes place at OR State Hospital. Author Ken Kesey was inspired to write the 1962 book the movie is located on while working at a mental health facility while attending Stanford. While searching for an appropriate location to film the movie, permission was granted to film at OR State Medical center, the largest psychiatric hospital in OR. IMDB reports the character Dr. Spivey is the hospital administrator played by Dr. Dean Brooks. Brooks has an M.D. in psychiatry and was the administrator of OR State Hospital at the time of filming.

Change movie caused with mental health

The movie was credited for altering public perception about the nature of mental illness and psychiatric care, according to The Telegraph, by humanizing people who lived at mental health facilities. The movie also got credit for better standards of treatment and the decline within the use of electroconvulsive therapy, or shock treatment, for several mental disorders.

Information from

ABC News

abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=12808876&page=1

IMDB

imdb.com/name/nm0111954/bio

The Telegraph

telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/8296954/How-One-Flew-Over-the-Cuckoos-Nest-changed-psychiatry.html

Court action claims that Parkinson's drug made him a homosexual sex addict

Tuesday morning, a French male filed a lawsuit against a drug-maker. GlaxoSmithKline, the multinational corporation, is named as the defendant. The 51-year-old male states that Requip, a Parkinson's drug, transformed his personality. Sex addition, gambling addiction, and cross-dressing are all cited as character changes this male faced. It's hard to picture how large of a personal bank loan this man had to take out just to get this lawsuit rolling. Article resource – 51-year-old French man claims Requip made him a sex addict by MoneyBlogNewz.

Male says drugs cost him his life

The legal action filed in French court today asks GlaxoSmithKline for the equivalent of $610,000 (United States) in damages. The plaintiff says that after he started taking the drug Requip to treat his Parkinson’s disease, his entire character transformed substantially. The father of 2 says that he became a homosexual sex addict, started engaging in risky sexual behaviors, and became a compulsive gambler and a cross-dresser. The claim of the plaintiff is also that these actions led to him emptying the family bank accounts and putting himself in a position where he was raped. With all the high-risk actions, he also lost his job. The man also says that neither his neurologist nor GlaxoSmithKline told him the hazards.

Requip side consequences

Requip is a drug used to treat Parkinson’s Disease. Dopamine within the brain is replaced by the active chemical in Requip, Ropinirole. Dopamine controls motivations, cognition, sexual gratification, attention, memory and even movement as it is the "reward" drug. Requip makes voluntary movement possible as Parkinson's prevents it. Because the very same chemical affects so several other things in the brain, though, the side effects of Requip are extensive. Side consequences like gambling addiction and compulsive sexual behavior were added to the package for Requip in 2006.

Making Requip work

How to proceed with Requip has been a mystery to several. Regulatory agencies have not figured out how to proceed yet. The drug is really great for some patients. They all have Parkinson's disease. The drug side consequences are really hazardous though and difficult, which the French male had to learn.

Citations

Google News

google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hOM-J-W_vQyhOMtzwgnRBGZSUZiw?docId=CNG.63bcff8f98980fff793ec95493293141.811

NCBI

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001026

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dopamine

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dopamine

Discussion over school funding reductions warming up in NV

University pupils in Reno are preparing to take on the legislature. The weapons these students are arming themselves with are mostly statistical. As the legislature looks at reducing education financing yet again, some students are fighting back. The state can’t just take out a payday loan to fix this issue, so hopefully the students have a good plan. Source for this article – Nevada students organizing to fight budget cuts by MoneyBlogNewz.

Probability of cuts to schooling in Nevada

A spending budget deficit that has to balance is an issue that Nevada has along with many other states. A $162 million cut to higher education programs is one of the things the proposed budget for the next fiscal year looks like. A trust that finances scholarships right now is one in which the legislature is thinking about taking a cash advance fax-less from, which is the Tobacco Settlement. The money would go other places within the state. These would be for state programs that are running out of funding.

Brand new corporations of pupils

There is a new way that college students are taking on the education spending budget issue rather than doing sit ins and demonstrations. Many pupil governments are creating new committees for the purpose of taking on the legislature. In order to discuss the financial details and legislation, student activist groups are having pre-legislature meetings. Groups of students can be taking buses to the statehouse. Hearings may have students testifying. The pupils have a ton of information the show legislatures. The legislatures could be forced to listen.

Argument that students are needed

Students keep saying they are short-term loans, which the biggest point is being made. Sure, the state may get more budgetary cash within the short-term. In the long term, though, the lack of educated professionals could hurt the state’s competitiveness. There have already been closures with the University of Reno, NV. The student-support services and career center have been shut down. The schools will be able to stay open due to these reductions. Pupils end up paying too much for an education that isn't that good with this.

Information from

Nevada News

nevadanewsbureau.com/2011/01/27/amid-budget-cuts-debate-university-students-organizing/