Amazon is fighting Texas over a $600 million sales-tax bill. Image: Flickr / Andy On Flickr / CC-BY-ND

Texas has been attempting to bill itself as a friendly place for businesses to operate. This business-friendly facade is being thrown into question by a fight with online retailer Amazon. The Texas Comptroller has ordered the seller to pay $600 million in back sales taxes.

The state of state sales tax collections

Online retailers present a problem for many states. Sales taxes are usually charged for sales from one physical location to a resident of that state. Online sales are often from a retailer incorporated in one state to a customer in a different state, sometimes with a distribution center in a third state. This multi-state system puts state tax collectors in a tough situation, often cut out of the picture entirely.

The dispute between Amazon and Texas

Texas is home to an Amazon distribution center. The Irving center ships  millions of dollars worth of product each year, sold via a website based in Washington state. Amazon claims the distribution center in Irving does not amount to a physical location in the state of Texas. The Texas governor agrees, but the state Comptroller disagrees. The Comptroller sent a letter to Amazon demanding $600 million in back sales taxes. Amazon is attempting to call the bluff, arguing that in no way does a distribution center amount to an in-state location and the Comptroller is simply trying to get Amazon to fund a no fax loan to the state budget.

How states are handling online taxes

Texas is not the only state feeling cheated out of sales taxes. Experts estimate that more than $11 billion in sales taxes go unpaid each year because of online retailers. While most states do have a “use tax” on the books, most customers simply do not pay it. In Texas, legislation is being pushed through that would specifically exempt Amazon from sales taxes, but most states are trying to write legislation to ensure they get their cut. Something would need to be done on a federal level, however, because interstate commerce is the purview of the federal government. The likelihood this will happen anytime soon is low, however — meaning Amazon and other online retailers could skip out on their bills, getting a free payday loan from lack of regulation.

Sources

The News Tribune
Stateman

Small businesses are waiting for regulations to be written so they can apply to refinance their property. Image: Flickr / MoneyBlogNewz / CC-BY

The process of putting a new law into practice can sometimes take a while. A new two-year Small Business Administration program is taking longer than usual. With one-quarter of the available time already gone, the program has yet to get rules or a process.

SBA refinancing program

During late 2010, a new Small Business Administration refinancing program was passed by Congress. The program was intended to last two years. The program would support the refinancing of business property debt. Small businesses are facing balloon payments on the relatively short-term loans on their businesses. The refinancing program would help remove balloon payments and reduce mortgage payments for struggling businesses. The program is written to last for 24 months only.

Waiting for new rules on refinancing

The 24-month SBA refinancing program has been law for the last six months. In those six months, however, the SBA has not yet written rules for the program. The rules and regulations for the program must be written before loans can be offered. Even though the rules and regulations for the program have not yet been written, the two-year clock on the program has already started running out. This means that once rules are written, the program could only have 16 months to distribute and back loans. While business leaders have indicated they appreciate the SBA taking time to write the regulations right, they are also frustrated with the quickly expiring timeline.

Businesses already applying

Though the Small Business Administration has yet to trip the switch on the refinancing program, businesses are applying. Everywhere from Baltimore, Md., to San Fransisco, Calif., businesses are turning in applications. These “conditional” applications cannot be approved until the SBA writes regulations for who may or may not qualify for these loans. These applications will be processed first when the loan rules are finally written.

Source

Knox News

The Small Business Administration is starting two new programs intended to increase small loan lending. Image: Flickr / MoneyBlogNewz / CC-BY

On Feb. 15, the Small Business Administration will be expanding lending programs. Small Loan Advantage and Community Advantage are both programs aimed at increasing lending to very small businesses. Both programs increase the percentage of the loan the government will guarantee.

SBA’s Small Loan Advantage program

The Small Business Administration is a government-supported program intended to help small businesses grow and expand. Many small businesses that have been asking for less than $250,000, however, have had trouble finding banks willing to lend to them. The amount of time, money and effort it takes to underwrite an SBA loan doesn’t feel “worth it” for banks to lend to small businesses. The Small Loan Advantage program will guarantee 75 percent of loans up to $150,000 and 85 percent of loans between $150,001 and $250,000. The hope is that these guarantees will encourage large banks to make small loans to businesses.

Community Advantage through the SBA

The SBA 7(a) Community Advantage program is aimed at increasing the number of lenders that serve minority and underserved groups. The program will certify “mission-focused community institutions” as SBA lenders. The goal of this new program is to create new lending institutions that are not traditional banks. Groups in Texas, Louisiana and other traditionally under-lent groups are targeted. The SBA will start accepting applications for these “community institutions” on Feb. 15.

The basics of SBA lending

SBA lending, through the traditional program, Small Loan Advantage or Community Advantage, is a facet of traditional lending. Banks underwrite the loans and distribute the loans the same way they would traditional loans. The difference is that the federal government backs these loans, meaning that they can be as easy as bad credit loans or no fax payday loans for some businesses.

Sources

Biz Journals
Business Wire

Bank of America is one of two banks gearing up to fight a clause saying it has to buy back mortgages. Image: Flickr / MoneyBlogNewz / CC-BY

The repackaging of mortgages into securities, for many investors, ended up being a bad deal. The bad deal, however, could end up being banks’ responsibility. A clause written into many of the securities could mean banks have to spend $60 billion to re-buy mortgages gone bad.

Security clauses for mortgage securities

When banks packaged, sold and re-packaged mortgage securities for sale, they made billions of dollars. Many of these mortgage securities were more than just bad credit loans, however. The securities also contained a clause that said if the loans go south, the bank would re-purchase the loans. During the height of the mortgage bubble, this seemed like a minor issue. Now that billions of homes are in foreclosure, that clause is forcing buybacks, and banks are putting up a fight.

$60 billion liability

The buyback clause on mortgage-backed securities has been triggered by dropping credit ratings and values. Credit ratings agencies estimate that the nation’s six largest banks face about $60 billion worth of buyback liability. Half of that liability is owed to U.S. Government-backed Freddie Mac and Frannie Mae. In January, Bank of America paid Frannie and Freddie $2.5 billion to buy back a portion of those mortgages. These mortgages are spread all over the country, with a high number in high-foreclosure states such as Nevada.

Years of buybacks in the works

JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America are the two banks with the “highest exposure” to buybacks. There are three groups of businesses seeking to sue banks that are not buying back mortgages — insurers, mortgage finance companies and private investors. Even if the banks do repurchase some of the loans, as dictated in the terms of the packaged securities, they likely will not buy them all back. In the end, that means that banks will have years of possible lawsuits and bad loans on the books, all while the investors are stuck with foreclosed homes that their contracts say they should not have.

Source

NY Times Dealbook

Bank of America is shuttering the reverse mortgage portion of its business. Image: Flickr / MoneyBlogNewz / CC-BY

Tuesday morning, Feb. 8, Bank of America announced it will no longer write reverse mortgages. The reverse mortgage business has dropped off significantly in the last year. A rising number of reverse mortgages are also ending up in technical default.

Bank of America and reverse mortgages

Bank of America first started offering reverse mortgages in 2006. In 2007, Bank of America purchased Reverse Mortgage America. In 2008, Bank of America purchased Countrywide Financial Corporation and took over its mortgages and reverse mortgage operations in Reno, Nevada, and around the nation. As of early 2011, Bank of America will close down all reverse mortgage operations and move the 600 employees to other divisions within the bank. All those who hold or are currently applying for Bank of America reverse mortgages will still be serviced by the bank.

A reduction in the reverse mortgage business

Reverse mortgages — in which homeowners sell their home back to the bank over time — have dropped in popularity. The number of new reverse mortgages written dropped by more than a third in 2009, and dropped again in 2010. The number of homeowners who are technically in default on their reverse mortgages is also increasing. A reverse mortgage default is more difficult to parse, because going into “default” means not paying taxes on the property or keeping it maintained. Many seniors are facing the choice of taking out no fax payday loans to keep their home maintained or lose their main source of secondary income.

The benefit of reverse mortgages

Reverse mortgages are currently losing popularity. Many senior citizens are outliving their reverse mortgages, or defaulting from lack of maintenance on the home. In some situations, however, a reverse mortgage can help individuals pull equity out of their homes without having to try to sell the home. In short, reverse mortgages may be helpful at times, but they are often extended beyond the intended use of the product.

Sources

Miami Herald
Nasdaq

Traffic cameras are enforcing speed limits in Baltimore - but the city is the one paying up. Image: Flickr / scottiet812 / CC-BY-SA

In Baltimore, Maryland, city lawmakers are considering adding more speed cameras. These automated speed traps have been reducing speeding but not accidents. Even if the city does add more tickets, these cameras are not making money for the city.

Baltimore speed cameras

In Baltimore, Md., the city council set up several speed traps in “high risk” areas such as school zones. The tickets issued by these speeding cameras are usually about $40 and are officially issued by the city of Baltimore. The police have found that these cameras are reducing the amount of speeding by half or more, but the amount of collisions has not been going down.

Baltimore’s speed cameras

The speed cameras planted in high-risk areas of Baltimore have been issuing tickets for several months. The City of Baltimore, however, is not seeing much of the money from the tickets. The speed cameras are more like payday loans to the city. Sure, the city gets money, but it also has to pay out most of the money received. The cameras that track and record speeders are owned, monitored and operated by a private company, and $32 of every $40 ticket is paid to the private contractor. The city has to pay for the installation of the cameras, and has actually lost money on the deal thus far. Despite the fact the cameras lose money, the city is considering taking a short-term loan to install even more cameras.

Turning police work over to private contractors

Baltimore is not the only city paying private companies to take over their work. Legally, these traffic enforcement cameras are facing difficult times. A defendant’s right to face their accuser has been cited multiple times by drivers who have been ticketed by a camera or automated system, and many tickets have been overturned. In general, the fact that most people don’t fight their traffic tickets means that private companies are making millions of dollars by doing a city’s police work for them.

Sources

ABC 2
Wikipedia – Traffic Enforcement Camera

True tales from apartment managers include lost keys, deep-fried turkeys and vandalized apartments. Image: Flickr / MoneyBlogNewz / CC-BY

If you do not own the home, loft, room, space or RV that you live in, you probably need renter’s insurance. True tales from apartment managers show exactly how many ways things can go wrong. Living in close quarters with others means another person’s mistake can affect you.

True tales from apartment managers

Apartment managers are the first line of defense when things go wrong, and they have seen just about everything. One apartment manager in Chicago remembers when a resident tried to deep-fry a turkey inside the apartment — and set the whole complex on fire. One dormitory manager in Reno, Nevada, had a tough day when a resident tried to microwave a dry towel and set the room on fire. Floods, fires, snowstorms, vandalism, burglary and electrical surges all happen to rental units, too.

What happens after an apartment emergency

Say your apartment goes up in flames, the person in the next dorm spray-paints everything in your room or your Super Bowl party overtaxed the wiring and blew out the breakers. If you do not have renter’s insurance, you could find yourself in need of an emergency loan. In most states, you legally have almost no recourse. While a bad credit loan can get you money right away to pay for lost clothing, dishes, electronics and housewares, going this route can put a big strain on your budget.

How renter’s insurance helps

Renter’s insurance may sound like an expensive add-on. At a cost of $100 to $300 per year, however, it is relatively inexpensive. After hearing true tales from apartment managers, renter’s insurance sounds like an even better idea. It can help save your budget, and it means that you can use your no fax payday loan for something else and not to pay expenses when you have an apartment emergency.

The maker of Jim Beam whiskey will be splitting off from several other businesses owned by Fortune Brands. Image: Flickr / nez / CC-BY-SA

In an unexpected announcement today, Fortune Brands has said it will split its four main businesses apart. Fortune Brands is the parent company of three very different companies. Fortune Brands plans to keep the liquor business, while spinning off or selling Moen facets, its home security business and Titleist golf.

Structure of Fortune Brands

Fortune Brands is a unique business on the New York Stock Exchange. The company owns a liquor business; Jim Beam bourbon is its biggest seller. Titleist golf is also owned by Fortune Brands. Moen faucets, a high-quality fixture company also falls under the Fortune Brands umbrella. Fortune Brands also has a home-security business. Though conglomerate companies are not unusual on the stock market, these four business entities do not have much overlap. This lack of overlap makes managing Fortune Brands difficult, though all the elements of Fortune Brands are profitable.

Pressure on Fortune Brands

Fortune Brands has reportedly been considering splitting off its companies for several years. Earlier this year, William Ackman, of Pershing Square Capital Management, purchased an 11 percent stake in Fortune Brands. Ackman has been encouraging Fortune Brands to split off its businesses. “While the breadth and balance of our portfolio have served shareholders very well, we see the potential for even greater value by separating our businesses into focused companies,” said Chief Executive Bruce Carbonari in a statement.

The fate of the pieces of Fortune Brands

The details of the breakup of Fortune Brands have not yet been finalized. What is known for sure is that the home security unit of Fortune Brands will be spin off into its own company in a tax-free transaction for shareholders. The golf business will be either sold or spun off, depending on the payday loans no faxing financing availble to a buyer and what is most beneficial to both Fortune Brands and the shareholders of the company.

Sources

Reuters
Daily Finance

The Making Work Pay tax credit is not receiving much attention on Capitol Hill. Image: Flickr / willpalmer / CC-BY

After two years in effect, the Making Work Pay tax credit is due to expire. Unless Congress takes action, most middle-class taxpayers will see a reduction in their paychecks. The Making Work Pay tax credit will likely expire amongst debate over the Bush tax cuts.

The effect of Making Work Pay

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 included the Making Work Pay tax credit. This credit cut payroll taxes, adding about $33 a month to the average single person’s paycheck. This credit takes full effect for anyone making $75,000 or less, with partial credit for those earning more. About 90 percent of U.S. workers received some benefit from the Making Work Pay credit.

The expiration of the Making Work Pay credit

The Making Work Pay credit was designed to expire at the end of 2010. This credit was capped at $400 for anyone filing as a single person and $800 for joint filers. The money came in a slight increase in paychecks, rather than a one-time increase in tax returns. When the tax credit expires, deductions out of paychecks will increase, making a no fax payday loan tougher to get for some workers. There are currently two proposals to extend the Making Work Pay credit in the works, but none have been presented.

The tax cut debate

The debate over extending the Making Work Pay credit is not very loud. During the lame-duck Congress, the Bush tax cuts are most likely to be the center of the discussion. The major debate in Congress will likely be tax cuts for the 5 to 6 percent of Americans making $250,000 per year or more. If the Making Work Pay tax cut is extended, it will cost about $60 billion per year. Critics claim that the incremental nature of Making Work Pay reduces its impact. Proponents say that the extra $33 a month can have a huge impact for low-income families. How about you? Did you notice the Making work Pay credit in your paycheck?

Sources:

News Advance
CNN.com

Obama's India trip most likely will not cost the reported $200 million a day. Image: Flickr / mountaineerpics / CC-BY

Starting this weekend, President Obama is set to take a four-day trip to India. The Obama India trip is mostly for relationship building, and while no huge changes in the relationship are expected, it has been highly anticipated. Some, though, are questioning whether this trip is really worth the reported $200 million a day cost.

Obama India trip cost may be over-reported

One Indian news outlet reported the cost of the Obama India trip at $200 million per day. Though the White House declines to state exactly what the cost of the trip is, it is likely far below the $200 million per day estimate. White House spokesman Tommy Vietor addressed this India trip cost rumor:

“Due to security concerns, we are unable to outline details associated with security procedures and costs, but it’s safe to say these numbers are wildly inflated.”

Obama India trip for relationship building

Obama’s four-day trip to India is mostly to develop and strengthen relations between the two countries. India trades about $40 billion per year with the United States, and the countries also have a civil nuclear cooperation agreement. India’s foreign minister, Nirupama Rao, addressed Obama’s India trip by saying “We are not at a stage in our relationship perhaps for another big bang, but certainly there will be positive outcomes.”

Why presidential travel has a high cost

The Obama India trip will definitely cost several million dollars a day. Whenever presidents travel, they take along a large portion of the White House with them. This is not only to ensure that they continue working while away from the office but to address any major issues that come up during the trip. Most of the cost of any trip is actually for security for the President, and on trips such as this, media organizations pay their own way – with a no fax payday loan if necessary. In short, the Obama India trip isn’t going to cost U.S. taxpayers any more or less than a usual international trip for the president.

Sources

USA Today
CBC News

(Thinkstock)

Currently, the global economy is ruled by corporations. In fact, this is what is referred to as the Corporate Hegemony of the 21st Century. The influence and reach of corporations extend to every corner of society. They are able to shape every facet of society, and they have ties to every power structure and institution of prominence; they are in control of resources as well as the technology to harness them. They can conduct their affairs with little or no government interference.

Corporations exceed governments and states

In this day and age, corporations are said to overpower governments and states alike. They encompass many nations and many people. They are also said to be responsible for significant shifts in the trends of time, from technology, food and beliefs to government policies. It is contended that they have gone too far. They are accused of being, and in some cases, proven to be, responsible for environmental abuse, instigating wars, human rights violations and undermining government policy. On the other hand, they are said to have also contributed in democratizing tyrannical regimes, facilitated the redistribution of wealth between the rich and the poor, provided aid to impoverished societies, saved sinking economies and provided an easy way to obtain quick financing through credit products, like a short term loan or a no fax payday loan, among other forms.

Duplicity of corporate social responsibility

Corporations claim to value corporate social responsibility. That, aside from profits, genuinely contributes to the development of the community they are in. This may all be well, but it also helps develop vested interests. A community attached and endeared to corporations is least likely to oppose their practices, even if they are illegal. Communities become dependent on corporations, and they are in turn deluded with ideas that the corporations care for them. This is the core of corporate responsibility – corporate social control and manipulation.

Corporate government

In the United States, a judge in Montana recently ruled that a long-standing prohibition on corporations giving money to other corporations is against the constitution. This means that corporations, to further their own agenda, can dump money on government and government officials. This would, in effect, turn democratic government into a government for, by and of corporations. Corporate interests would dictate public policy and governmental operations. The corporations would now have enslaved and controlled the most powerful institution of all – government.

With this control, corporations can evade the law, leech funds from the government and have it create policies that benefit corporate interests and protect corporations from public pressure. True corporations have the freedom to participate in a democracy, but that freedom does not extend to dictating upon society and government. Adam Smith, who was a Scottish moral philosopher and a pioneer of political economics, as outlined in Wikipedia, claimed that businesses should be left alone. But it is clearly evident he did not see the extent of the power of corporations.

Red Ribbon Week is the last week of October. Image: Wikimedia Commons

The last week of October, since 1988, has been designated as national Red Ribbon Week. Red Ribbon Week is supposed to be a week of awareness about drug and alcohol abuse. Some argue, though, that Red Ribbon Week and similar events do not decrease drug abuse.

The history of Red Ribbon Week

Red Ribbon Week began in 1985, when undercover DEA agent Enrique Camarena was killed while working in Mexico. By 1988, Nancy Reagan and the National Family Partnership had created National Red Ribbon Week. Since then, National Red Ribbon Week has been a way to “show intolerance for illicit drug use.” Awareness of alcohol abuse is also often rolled into Red Ribbon Week events.

Red Ribbon Week activities

Red Ribbon Week in schools, churches and communities across the country includes a wide variety of activities. For a single day, or the whole week, many schools encourage wearing red ribbons and hold events against drug, alcohol and tobacco abuse. Many schoolchildren are encouraged to “take a drug-free pledge.” Drug prevention banners, candlelight ceremonies and rallies are all standard Red Ribbon Week activities. In short, Red Ribbon Week is about “bringing awareness” to help prevent abuse of drugs, alcohol and other illegal drugs.

Some question abuse prevention

Red Ribbon Week this year happens during an interesting time in the drug history of the United States. The California Regulate, Control, and Tax Cannabis Act is up for a vote in California just one week after Red Ribbon Week. It’s been proved that many drug use prevention programs, such as D.A.R.E., have not reduced drug abuse. Despite the fact that some school districts may have to take out no fax payday loans to pay for the program, they may actually increase drug abuse. Some question whether Red Ribbon Week or other awareness programs are bringing attention to a symptom, rather than the problem itself. The Surgeon General of the United States has categorized D.A.R.E. and other programs to prevent use of drugs via pledges and awareness as “does not work” programs.

Sources

SurgeonGeneral.gov
I’m Drug Free

Flippa helps domain owners who want to put out the "For Sale" sign. Image: Flickr / DiGallagher / CC-BY

The domain-selling marketplace Flippa has recently staged somewhat of a coup. FaceMash.com, the original URL for what became Facebook, is for sale on Flippa. Many domain buyers and sellers, though, are concerned that Flippa is simply too expensive to use.

FaceMash on Flippa

Flippa, which is a website that is a marketplace for domains, recently got a big-name listing. FaceMash.com, the website that Mark Zuckerburg used to create the first version of Facebook, went up for sale. Though the website is currently owned by a developing social network, it is available for purchase. The current price for the domain is $30,000, with three days left on the sale. Sony Pictures is the current owner of a similar address, FaceMash.net, which is featured in the movie “The Social Network.”

Flippa’s web-domain business

Flippa is just one of many marketplaces used to buy and sell domains. Sitepoint, a web development blog, originally started Flippa in 2009. The young marketplace sold more than $40 million worth of web domains between its launch and August of 2010. There are usually about 1,000 domain listings available for sale at any time on Flippa. Average sale price is about $2,000 — more than your average Joe’s no fax payday loan could pay for.

Flippa’s sales rates

Flippa is a popular web-domain sales spot, but that does not mean it is without problems. Only about 54 percent of the domains available on Flippa usually sell. Flippa charges relatively high prices for its services. The listing fee for a domain is only $19, but there is a 5 percent “success fee” — 5 percent of the final sales price. You can choose to waive the success fee, but that costs $99. Everything from tweets to front-page listings to highlights and bolds cost extra. Many buyers simply believe that Flippa’s prices are far too high. Is having the right domain really so important, or is spending thousands of dollars for a domain a smart business decision?

Want to get through to a knowledgeable tech support person like this? "Shibboleet" most likely won't help. Image: Flickr / Infusionsoft / CC-BY-SA

Being on any tech support phone call can be very difficult — but would “shibboleet” may be the passcode to an easier time? Unfortunately, shibboleet is not a super-secret backdoor passcode for tech support. The hebrew-based word, however, can be considered uniquely appropriate for its new chosen use.

Shibboleet on XKCD

If you have never read the comic XKCD, it is a “webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language.” The hand-drawn stick figure comic tends to cater to the more tech-minded of the internet. This morning’s comic put “shibboleet” to the forefront. According to the dream the comic character was having, saying shibboleet would immediately send a tech support caller to a tech support worker who knows a lot about computers. As the comic put it, “an individual who knows a minimum of two programming languages.”

Will shibboleet work?

Unfortunately, even in the XKCD comic, shibboleet was just a dream. Saying shibboleet if you are on a tech support call will most likely do just one of two things. First, if they have not read XKCD or heard about it, they will just be confused. Second, if they have read XKCD, they will most likely giggle. Long story short, tech support most often relies on scripts and troubleshooting by people who barely get paid enough for a no fax payday loan, not dreamt-in-a-comic backdoor passwords. Saying “sibboleet” may, at least, if you are lucky, start a good conversation with your tech support personnel.

What shibboleet actually means

There are some saying that “shibboleet” is a term based on a Hebrew-language word that means “a person of knowledge.” However, the malmanteau “shibboleet” is most likely a combination of “shibbo”, which is a word used to describe reading and writing access data or passwords; and “leet”, which is usually used to describe a technically savvy person. Most often called “l33t”, this is a second alphabet that uses ASCII characters with the regular alphabet, usually used online.

Poppers gained popularity as a club drug. Image: curran.keller / Flickr / CC-BY

Alkyl nitrates inhaled for recreational purposes, otherwise known as “poppers” have long been considered a relatively safe recreational drug. Medically used as a antidote to cyanide poising, poppers can refer to a wide range of products, including air fresheners. A new study by French researchers has found that using Poppers may prove not nearly as safe — causing vision loss or distortion.

Poppers are widely available

In many countries, the chemicals that make up the alkyl nitrate family are sold over-the-counter. Alkyl nitrates can be found as methyl nitrate, ethyl nitrate, and the very popular nitric oxide. The chemical compounds are usually inhaled to enhance sexual pleasure, create a feeling of well-being, and a rush of warm sensations.

The possible dangers of Popper use

The use of Poppers are “generally considered safe” by many substance users. According to a new study by French researchers, four users of Poppers found that their eyesight was significantly damaged, seeing spots or lights. Only two of the four study subjects regained vision after several weeks. Popper use has also been linked to relaxation of the smooth muscles, including arteries, veins, bladder, gastrointestinal tract, and heart. Many club-goers have needed no fax payday loan products to pay for the associated medical costs.

Are poppers safe to use?

The end result of this study is most likely not going to be a reduction in the use of poppers for recreation. Poppers are banned from being sold to individuals under 18 in most places. Compared to many other “club drugs” such as ecstasy, the dangers associated with occasional Popper use are not as serious. The reality is that, banned or not, some people will always be looking for some way to change their state of consciousness. All things considered, Poppers do come with many dangers, but they are far from the most dangerous legal drug on the market.

Source:

Drugs.com
Wikipedia

The Chilean flag and Texas Flag are differentiated by only a small swath of blue. Image: Wikimedia Commons

At 12:11 a.m. Wednesday morning, the first Chilean miner was rescued from the San Jose mine where they have spent the last 69 days. The miners rescue is continuing, and all 33 of the Chilean miners are expected to be pulled out of the mine. One quirk of the Chilean miners rescue live is that many people are confusing the flag of Chile, which is being flown at the rescue site, with the Texas flag.

Chile miners pulled out of San Jose mine

The half-mile rescue shaft that took 10 weeks to drill is proving to work as planned during the Chilean miners rescue. The small “pods” that the miners are being raised to the surface in are just barely larger than a man’s shoulders. On live video of the Chilean miners rescue, the world is watching as the men appear, one by one.

Watch Chilean miners rescue live on MSNBC here

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Miners rescue involved thousands

In the ten weeks since the San Jose mine disaster in Chile, many different groups have become involved with the Chile mine rescue. Drilling experts, NASA experts, and mining experts have all been called in. Beyond those technically involved in the rescue, the media has been breathlessly reporting everything from the miners extramarital affairs to no fax payday loan offers to movie deals. The Chile miners are dealing with newfound fame as the miners rescue continues. There are many, though, calling for the miners rescue to spark a discussion of mine safety, rather than only the Chile miners’ personal drama.

Chile flag vs Texas flag

One of the more unique effects of the live coverage of the Chilean miners rescue is new-found attention in the Chile flag. The official Chile flag looks very similar to the flag of the U.S. state Texas. The Chile flag is half red on the bottom, with a blue corner with a white star. The Texas flag, on the other hand, has a blue field that extends the entire height of the flag. This is not the first time the two flags have been confused — in fact, the state of Texas used the Chile flag on their absentee voter ballots for several years.

Sources:

Washington Post
MSNBC Chilean Miners Rescue Live

The path of Hurricane Paula

Hurricane Paula is causing significant damage with high winds and heavy rainfall. Image: NASA Goddard Center / Flickr / CC-BY

Hurricane Paula first made landfall in Honduras. Forecasters predict that the storm will be making its way through Mexico. On Tuesday morning, Cozumel was being pounded. Hurricane Paula is then expected to move slightly offshore of Cancun and Isla Mujeres. A hurricane warning has been issued for the Caribbean Coast. Paula is expected to blow itself out by Wednesday or Thursday night. Tropical storm warnings have been issued for the areas outlying the direct path of the storm.

The damage caused by Hurricane Paula

With sustained winds of 75 miles per hour and dropping 3-6 inches of rain, Hurricane Paula is doing noticeable damage. Nineteen homes in Northeastern Honduras have been destroyed, and several schools have been closed. Some citizens are using a no fax payday loan to travel out of the danger zone. The heavy winds and rain are likely to cause flooding and landslides. Since Hurricane Paula is a relatively weak Category 1 storm, it is not likely to cause extreme damage.

Hurricane Paula may close the season

Officially, hurricane season ends in November of this year. It is possible that Hurricane Paula may prove to be the last hurricane of the year. However, hurricane season has been extending itself in recent years, with some storms developing before the season officially begins on June 1st. Hurricanes have also been known to form after Nov. 30. About 97 percent of tropical storm and hurricane activity in the Atlantic usually occurs within these dates, however. There are typically 10 to 15 hurricanes per season. Hurricane Paula marks the 16th tropical storm in the 2010 hurricane season.

Sources:

Atlantic Oceanogranic and Meteorological Lab

National Hurricane Center

A Microsoft Powerpoint presentation made by a Duke student has gone viral. Image: Matrixizationized / Flickr / CC-BY

While preparing to graduate from Duke, alumna Karen Owen created a Powerpoint presentation that has created a firestorm. The Duke student Powerpoint detailed sexual conquests. Intended just for friends,  Karen Owen’s Powerpoint went viral — with heavy collateral damage.

Karen Owen’s Powerpoint

As a project “just for fun,” Karen Owen created a Powerpoint of sexual conquests. The Duke student Powerpoint outlined every pairing she had been a part of. First, Karen Owen shared the Powerpoint with just her friends. Quickly, though, the Powerpoint presentation got sent around Duke, then around the world. The seedy nature of the Powerpoint plus the back story of a college student made it quickly go viral. Though it was never intended for a wider audience, the Powerpoint presentation has been downloaded more than 2 million times – a growth rate not even no fax payday loan stores can match.

Duke student Powerpoint reopens wounds

It was just a few short years ago that the private life of Duke became international news. After the lacrosse team was charged with (and later cleared of) sex crimes, the private life of the college was spread across the world. The new Powerpoint by Karen Owen has reignited a discussion of the promiscuity of college students at Duke. Some say that Duke is unusual only in how much attention the students get. Others argue that there is something unusual about the culture at that college.

Lack of redaction on the Karen Owen Powerpoint

While some are questioning the intelligence of Karen Owen’s choice to make the Powerpoint, there are other concerns. Jezebel, which first posted the Duke student Powerpoint, did not redact any names. Karen Owen, as well as several of the named students, questioned the journalistic responsibility of this move. After direct requests, many, though not all news outlets have redacted the names of the people involved. What do you think?

Sources

Duke Chronicle
Jezebel

A flight to Bermuda out of the Philly airport was delayed. Image: dg850 / Flickr / CC-BY-SA

This morning at the Philadelphia airport, a flight headed for Bermuda was evacuated. A baggage handler who was not showing ID disappeared when questioned. No other flights into or out of the Philadelphia airport were affected by the incident.

Evacuation at the Philadelphia airport

U.S. Airways Flight 1070 was scheduled to leave the Philadelphia airport for Bermuda. With 102 passengers and 5 crew aboard, the flight was canceled. The plane was towed to a “secure” tarmac and searched by bomb-sniffing dogs. The passengers on the flight were put on a later flight to the same destination, at no cost, so no passengers had to get a no fax payday loan. There’s no word yet on whether the luggage that had to be searched also made it to Bermuda with its owners.

Unknown baggage handler at Philly airport

The “security incident” at the airport began when a baggage handler did not show identification. There were three men loading bags into U.S. Airways flight 1070. Two of the men did not recognize the third and noted that he did not display his identification, as is required. The unidentified man was confronted by the other two baggage handlers. He did not identify himself and fled. This unknown third person is still being sought by law enforcement. TSA regulations state that in secure areas such as tarmacs, identification must be worn at all times.

Effect of bomb scare on the Philadelphia airport

After the confrontation, U.S. Airways flight 1070 was towed to a secure area. Bomb-sniffing dogs examined all the luggage on the flight. No other flights were delayed or canceled because the incident was “contained.” This means even if a bomb had been found, the incident would have been contained. Officials at the airport have stated that “it could be a suspicious person or it could be nothing.” Until more is known about the Philly airport incident, security at the airport will remain in a heightened state.

Should firefighters have let the house burn, even though the owner had not opted-in to coverage? Image: 111Emergency / Flickr / CC-BY

In Tennessee, rural firefighters let a house burn because the homeowner had not paid a $75 fee. While the fact that firefighters let Gene Cranick’s home burn has sparked outrage, it has also sparked discussion on the cost of public services. The debate about firefighters letting a house burn comes down to individual responsibility versus public responsibility.

Firefighters allow Cranick house to burn

Last week, the grandson of Gene Cranick was burning trash outside of the rural Tennessee home. The fire got out of control, and the Cranicks did what anyone would do — called 911. Rather than immediately dispatching the fire department, the dispatcher informed Cranick that his address was “not on the list” of residences who had paid the $75 firefighting fee. This means that while firefighters did arrive at the scene, they only kept the fire contained, rather than trying to save the home.

Why firefighters let the house burn

The unpaid $75 county fee that kept Cranick’s house off “the list” was a firefighting fee. Gene Cranick lived outside city limits. Because Obion County, Tenn., does not have a fire department, the nearest city offers fire coverage. South Fulton charges individuals living outside city limits $75 per year to cover the rural areas. This fee is used to cover the expenses of the larger fire department and tanker trucks necessary to fight rural fires. Cranick claims he “forgot” to pay the fee that year — which could have easily been done with a no fax payday loan. Either way, by opting to not pay the fee, Cranick was not covered by the rural fire service.

Should firefighters have let the house burn?

The debate surrounding the Cranick home fire has itself reached a boiling point. Some are arguing that pay-as-you-go emergency services simply could not work — individuals would pay only when there was an emergency, which would not be sustainable. Others are pointing out that by letting a house burn, the firefighters were breaching their duty of public safety. What do you think? Should firefighters have let the house burn, or should they have fought the fire, even though Cranick had not paid for the service?

Sources

MSNBC
Slashdot