Economist point of view: Whatever the government gives, it has taken from someone else. This money should not be given out, nor should the financial bailout, or any other bailout for that matter. The money comes from somewhere folks, and that somewhere is us through our taxes, or simply through the money pumping federal reserve. Either way, the more the gov’t spends, the longer our economy will be in peril. This is merely a non waterproof band aid on a scar as wide as the grand canyon. You want real economic recovery, stop gov’t spending, drop everyone’s income tax to 5%, and lower manufacturers corporate taxes to near nothing to encourage growth in the manufacturing sector (the lower tax rates will help US companies compete in the global marketplace that has lower wages). Let people accumulate wealth and savings and pay off their debt which was acquired during the last ten years because of cheap and loose monetary FED policy. High savings rates create real investment capitol + a growing manufacturing sector + a reduction in debt = lasting economic recovery.

The numbers I’m hearing are a 62% average improvement in fuel economy, with likely even greater reduction in emissions. Not only that, but this program is helping the auto industry without giving them a handout, keeping people working, and on and on. This is likely the single most helpful program the government has done in the last year, apart from keeping the entire financial system from crumbling by spending 1,000 times the amount giving everyone in sight a bailout. 1 or 2 billion? So what? We’re spending more than that in Iraq in a month, maybe a week. Get real!

1. Congress should immediately be restricted from touching any money in the Social Security fund.

2. Congress should be given the same health-care options as every other federal employee.

3. Congress should be given the same retirement options as every other federal employee.

4. Congress should have the power to raise their own pay removed.

5. Congress should undergo either a 50% reduction in pay or a 50% reduction in work force.

6. Congress should be again eligible for a pay increase only when the federal books are balanced and the national debt eliminated.

7. Once the above (balanced books/debt eliminated) have been resolved Congressional pay increases should be subject to a national vote; a majority of the registered voters should be required for approval. The maximum percentage of any Congressional pay increase should be equal to the lesser of:
the calculated cost of living increase for the year
<or>
the percentage of increase in the minimum wage for the year.

8. Congress should be barred from any contact with all foreign lobbyists.

9. Cut off all foreign aid, period. Tell all the foreign nations that we can not afford to assist them right now. Yes, I know, novel concept…if you can not afford it you do without.

10. Congress should have a two term limit; one in the house, one in the senate or two in either, period. (Unless we eliminate the professional career politicians we might as well revolt).

All of the monies given to artificially prop up corporations, banks, etc. should have been in the form a loan charging 10% interest due and payable to the Social Security fund in five years time.

Let me see if I can figure out what’s going on… HHMMMM… Bankers and insurance companies speculate and drive up the prices on everything. They shuffle the loans around so that they aren’t liable for what they do. The economy tanks (just like 1929). The taxpayers bail them out so that they will start lending again. We want some regulations because they have caused havoc for all of us. They don’t start lending to the little guys. They say Regulations…No Way! And then give the $$ back (I thought last October that they couldn’t survive without it – no questions asked?) They turn around and give billions in bonuses to themselves (setting new records), 1000s of them are becoming millionaires. Meanwhile, the people who bailed them out are losing thier jobs, their homes and their retirements. And now, gee whiz we gotta get more money for the bailouts from somewhere, so lets go back to the people again and get some more… HHEELLLOOO! HHELLLOOOO! Why don’t they start with those who actually scored big. AIG, the big banks. Take their $$ first. This is rediculous!

Shark Week’s 22nd on air this year,, marks a large step forward in the Channel’s promotion of shark conservation and protection. Senator John Kerry earlier this week announced that he will partner with Discovery to end the illegal, but prominent, practice of shark finning, a brutal process of removing sharks’ fins that sometimes ends in poachers throwing a live shark overboard, letting it bleed to death as it sinks to the ocean floor.

Discovery will air public service announcements throughout the week that encourage viewers to call their senators and support Kerry’s efforts, and will also direct viewers to organizations like Ocean Conservancy, which has posted an online petition to end finning.

Despite often being a victim — tens of millions of sharks are killed each year — the shark makes a compelling villain. It’s capable of short violent actions only to disappear in a cloud. And it’s surrounded by mystery. So, despite few attacks and fewer fatal attacks, the fairly short period of our interaction with sharks has created a chilling sense of terror that has for less than a century fed books and films.

I am delving into the Iran’s crisis dealing with the highest rate of heroin addiction per ca pita in the world. This growing issue is due to the onslaught of heroin and raw opium, making its way into Iran from Afghanistan via the Silk Road. The problem has become so bad that the Iranian government is setting up Methadone clinics across the nation is order to curb the destruction being wreaked upon the nation. Methadone, for those who don’t know is a regulated oral substitute to heroin which provides addicts relief from cravings and withdrawals. I will continue my search to understand the magnitude of this problem in the near future.

AFGHANISTAN:

This seems old news to me. Somehow Afghan heroin continues to be sold in Europe and the U.S. The continued approach of throwing money at the issue is sickening. New policy is needed and as a student I am deeply desturbed by the facts of the American Drug War. My biggest concern is how change in drug policy has become such a non-issue, receiving almost no TV air-time and other media coverage. News sources have the ability to better inform the people of the current situation and help to promote change in current policy. It’s a well known fact that Afghanistan is the world’s leading poppy producer, opium producer, and heroin producer. Believe it is something like, 90% of the smack in the world comes from there. American addictions are supporting more than just the Taliban. Our Cocaine addiction supports the drug cartels in South America. Our oil addiction supports terrorist organizations in the middle east. And our addiction to cheap clothing and electronics supports sweat shops in Asia. We are, it seems, our own worst enemy. There is no doubt that this is going to be a problem for some time. Afghanistan really does not have an economy outside of growing poppy. Indeed, for most farmers, this is their primary cash crop.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20090717/hl_hsn/pregnancystdsontheriseagainamongusteens

This is so scary for me because I fear for my nieces and nephews growing up in the midst of this. We, as a family have tried to educate them on first and foremost saying no to sex but being protected if they decide to any way. HIV/AIDS has lost a lot of stigma because now people are 20 or 30 years with the disease but they have no idea the amount of drug maintenance that goes into surviving with the disease.

I think when it comes to teen pregnancies, unfortunately or fortunately depending on your side of the matter; blacks and hispanic youths are least likely to have an abortion compared to their white counterparts. It’s due to mostly personal beliefs and a lack of opportunities both financially and knowledge of where to go and who to go to.

I’ve seen within members of my own family, and friend’s family that an open discussion about sex in most hispanic and black families, is little to none. A lot of these children are growing up in a very sexualized society, and it doesn’t help the entertainment field that’s popular predominately in black and hispanic youths, glorifies sex, and sex with multiple partners without talking about the consequences. I really hate BET for a reason. Little Wayne is going around talking about how he wants to f*ck every girl in the world. There are songs out that, boosting about one’s dude’s happy that his girlfriend has a girlfriend, and another song talking about that guy would be glad to be their girl’s side piece. And any anyone who heard that little Soulja Boy’s song, knows exactly what he’s talking about when he Superman that H**. It’s sad, it’s not right, and one of the many, many reasons why I hate BET.
I’m not saying that God is responsible, but He warns.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20090717/hl_hsn/pregnancystdsontheriseagainamongusteens

Exposing plastic to heat, say for instance leaving your water bottle in the car, can cause chemicals to come out of the plastic up to 55 times faster than leaving the plastic at room temperature.

BPA in plastics acts as a synthetic estrogen and has been linked to feminization and genital mutations in young males.

80% of plastic bottles are never recycled.

Nearly eight percent of America’s oil demand goes into producing plastic.

40% of bottled water comes from municipal tap water, including water by Dasani and Aquafina.

2.5 million disposable plastic bottles are thrown away every hour in the US alone.

Plastic Bottle waters last 700 years and are basically taking over the world!!

I’ve been noticing more and more people from all walks of life using metal water bottles. At about half the price of other stainless steel water bottles, non-profit Eco Canteen’s mission is to get as many people as possible off of bottled water, since 80% of plastic water bottled are not recycled.  Of the plastic water bottles that do make it to the recycling center, 40% of them end up in China or Indonesia.

A couple of things: First of all, all of the companies offering products on TV make the bulk of their profits from shipping charges (which are higher than they actually pay an of the major carriers) That is a fact (Let’s just say I have the “inside scoop” from a large shipping company who deals with fulfillment houses handling many of these products.) But there is nothing we can do about that and if we truly want the product, we deal with it, right?

Second: I need to ask if anyone is having a problem with the metallic after taste of many of these products. I picked up a SubZero stainless waterbottle at a Stop&Shop for just under $10. I have soaked it in vinegar and water, which helped quite a bit, but there is still a trace of the metallic taste. Very unappealing. There may be experience this with the Eco Canteen?Actually Eco Canteen is smart because they come up with a new concept that consumers will purchase just for the name. When there is cheaper metal bottles at Kmart, RiteAid, Wallgreens… 

I am a Harry Potter fan like others, I’ve read all the books and I have to say this movie disappointed me. It skipped a lot of important things and like Vicki said, there were some scenes that were unnecessarily long. For my friend who I saw it with who hasn’t read the books said that it seemed liked they skipped around a bit. If you’re not familiar with the books or previous films I imagine you’d be lost.It’s about friendship, hope, first love, evil, and magic — and it’s all wrapped into a fantastical epic narrative. At lease the acting is improving, i think it has to do with David Yates. I am pissed that Steve is back. I guess that’s only because i read the books. I feel the movie should be for the Harry Potter fans but its Hollywood, its about the money and the action not the similarity.

I saw the movie in the morning right when it came out and I have to say David Yates is not the best director. The 15 minute scene spent at the burrow when Bellatrix and Fenrir attack is completely pointless. They could have used that time to do the big battle between Dumbledores Army, the Aurors and the Deatheaters. Not to mention he ruins Harry and Ginny’s first kiss with a lame scene in the room of requirements. It’s got some really funny parts and it’s good to watch but nowhere near the film i think the fans would be looking forward to. The last two movies hasn’t done Harry Pother any justice.

Nike have evolved from the basketball court to the skateboard parks, Nike has turned sneakers into a culture, that is obsessed with each new edition and collectors dream. When it comes to getting the latest in trends for sneaker collectors and the like the nike dunks are considered according to kicksandchicks.com “the Nike SB Dunk is officially the trendiest shoe in Sneaker Culture as well as Hip-Hop culture.” Having the newest shoes the sickest “fits”. The innercity skate scene and urban fashion subculture has turned into a mainstream steam roller gaining much momentum. when Obama took office stirred up a piece of the world, “Obama fever”, a variety of printed Obama’s Head, as well as his campaign slogan emerged souvenirs, including T shirt , baseball caps, magnets, keychains, badges, posters, Memorial Cup, according to media reports, as well as the introduction of men’s pants business, golf, lipstick, and watch and other related products. Obama is everywhere and during elections i almost saw most people wearing his shirts. I feel like it was one of his best forms of advertisement to win the election; besides his speeches and ideas. From street corners to high roller stores Obama and his clothing line is hard to miss. I know Nike lovers cant wait until they can purchase the presidents shoes on an everyday footwear item. 

In fact, the Obama campaign team has launched ObamaForceOne shoes, Obama’s portrait on the stencil printed on the soles. This is called ObamaForceOne soles of  shoes. in addition to the other side and the retail version of exactly the same AirForceOne. Obama and his campaign used the former president of Nike Brand, a few days ago to commemorate the new President of the United States Obama also launched a commemorative AF1 section, the name for the “BlackHistory”, shoes who have laser engraving, shoes for all-black, green lines around. Obama and Nike shoes are both successful at what their doing by providing to their consumers. 

Capitalism is good; greed is not good.

Got my email from Pandora last night. User’s will be capped at 40 hours of free listening per month. The email states that while this will not affect the market share of Pandora listeners, that (based upon my listening levels) I would probably be affected. I listen to Pandora quite a bit (more than 1.3 hours per day). And so, I will have to pay. Options include annual subscription at $36 a year, or paying a monthly fee once 40 hours is reached.

Music over the internet is exactly the same as broadcast: it’s entertainment that enables us to get a copy of music that we like. To even same the songs before we buy the entire album. I know before when Cd’s were sold i would buy the entire album but only listen to maybe four or five songs. It’s all promotion for selling “product” which is how the RIAA lawyer get paid. RIAA is not trying to get the artists more money, they are only trying to keep up their cash flow.
They are too dense and behind the curve to realize that the internet (and internet radio) is one of the biggest marketing devices ever invented. But all they see is the potential of losing all that money they have been making from outrageous CD prices all these years..

One could make the argument that recordings are nothing more than advertisements for the performer and in that vain performing artists benefit from the advertisements by performing for money. Royalties are excessive and have done harm to some performers.