Making Money Quickly

In this, the first in an occasional series examining tech influence in politics using MAPLight’s nonpartisan political-finance–analysis tools, the trail leads to a mind boggling, 10-year campaign in which three key defense contractors have funneled more than $18 million to the pockets of federal lawmakers, to win various military contracts, including one for what can best be described as the government equivalent of the Bat-copter.

Last year, under pressure from politicians citing spiraling expenses, the Pentagon backed out of a $6.5 billion deal with Lockheed Martin and AgustaWestland to provide 28 new, state-of-the-art birds. President Barack Obama described the procurement process as “gone amok,” with the choppers projected to reach $400 million each, almost double the original price.

Now a detailed look at campaign finance records connected to the Marine One contracts, undertaken for the first time by Wired.com and MAPLight.org, shows a flurry of corporate contributions from Lockheed rivals to lawmakers involved in the decision-making immediately before and after the deal was grounded. And with a government call for new proposals for a revised contract expected next year, pay-to-play contributions to win the coveted deal continue to flow unabated, records show.

MAPLight is a 5-year-old nonprofit based in Berkeley, California. Thanks to MAPLight’s tools, which are fueled by data from the Center for Responsive Politics of Washington, D.C., we can not only track the amount of money spent, but see the timing of payments related to legislative work, such as votes, or pressure from politicians to kill an existing contract and hand it to a friend.

In addition to keeping tabs on tech-related pork and lobbying, we are unveiling today a new campaign-finance–tracking widget, in conjunction with MAPLight and based on CRP data, to help shine a general spotlight on politicians and their contributors. (See related story).

Hail to the Chief

The jockeying for the Marine One contract began in earnest a decade ago after the 2001 terror attacks. Capt. Cate Mueller, a spokeswoman for the Navy, which is supervising the stalled project, said a new Marine One fleet was “critical” to the nation’s security. Some choppers in the current fleet are more than three decades old.

Specifications for the new Marine One chopper are classified. But public documents show the new craft must at minimum carry a sort of miniature Oval Office, with two independent communications systems, including encrypted video conferencing; have at least two engines, and be capable of flying with a failed engine; and be equipped with a missile-defense system and nuclear-fallout reflector capabilities. Together, these enhancements will make it the most advanced flying machine of its type in the world, should it ever arrive.



Sikorsky Aircraft was believed to be the leading contender, having already produced the current presidential fleet, consisting of 11 Sikorsky VH-3D Sea Kings and eight Sikorsky VH-60N Black Hawks.

But in 2005, it lost out to Lockheed, of Bethesda, Maryland, and AgustaWestland, a European company that was building the craft along with Lockheed and dozens of subcontractors. The Lockheed Martin and AgustaWestland three-engine craft, the EH101, beat out the two-engine design of Sikorsky’s  VH-92, an offshoot of its H92 SuperHawk.

At the time, Navy acquisition chief John Young said Lockheed Martin and AgustaWestland prevailed because they were deemed more likely “to meet government requirements on schedule, with lesser risk, and at lower cost.”

Pages: 1 2 View All

Did Ubercab just crash and burn? Taxi and limo industry insiders in California today informed TechCrunch that the San Francisco Metro Transit Authority & the Public Utilities Commission of California have ordered the startup to cease and desist.

UPDATE: Since the orders arrived on October 20th, Ubercab has remained in service under threat of penalties including up to $5,000 fee per instance of Ubercab’s operation, and potentially 90 days in jail per each day the company remains in operation past the orders.

The company’s brand name and logo appear to be in metamorphosis; on its website and blog, Ubercab’s logo now reads simply “Uber,” and the company commented to its own Facebook community yesterday afternoon, “more uber than cab.”

Chief executive of Ubercab Ryan Graves told TechCrunch, “We are working with the agencies to figure out their exact concerns and make sure that we’re in compliance.” He wouldn’t comment beyond that, but pointed to the company’s official public statement posted on its blog today (October 24th):

UberCab Inc. has been issued a cease and desist order from the SF Metro Transit Authority & the Public Utilities Commission of California. While we are looking into the issues raised, we believe that the service we offer is in compliance with the cited regulations.

UberCab is a first to market, cutting edge transportation technology and it must be recognized that the regulations from both city and state regulatory bodies have not been written with these innovations in mind. As such, we are happy to help educate the regulatory bodies on this new generation of technology and work closely with both agencies to ensure compliance and keep our service available for our truly Uber users and their drivers.

Our commitment is to facilitate an improved transportation option that provides safe, reliable, and convenient travel. That will not change. We will continue full speed ahead with the mission of making San Francisco city a great place to live and travel.

Ubercab’s mobile apps let users request a car service to pick them up wherever they are right now, and let users pay for that car service with their phones. The startup takes a cut of the money made by drivers to generate revenue. Earlier this month, Ubercab closed a $1.25 million angel investment led by First Round.

The funding came despite the fact that the San Francisco taxi industry has been rumbling about whether Ubercab’s business is legal since September. A concerned driver brought the matter up at a Taxi Advisory Council meeting, reported The Phantom Cab Driver Phites Back blog.

One of the company’s investors and founders Travis Kalanick said on Sunday, “We’ve seen this before. New technology comes in and appears threatening to incumbent industries at first. At the end of the day, those industries see the benefit of that technology and ultimately find ways of using it in a productive manner, and embracing innovation.” Kalanick also founded the early p2p (peer to peer) search engine called Scour, which drew resistance from Hollywood executives who didn’t want their content distributed online in the 90s.

The incumbent taxi industry’s concerns about Ubercab include the following:

Ubercab operates much like a cab company but does not have a taxi license.

Its cars don’t have insurance equivalent to taxis’ insurance.

Ubercab may threaten taxi dispatchers’ way of earning a living.

Limos in U.S. cities usually have to prebook an hour in advance, by law, while only licensed taxis can pick someone up right away but Ubercab picks people up right away (again without a taxi license).

In contrast, Uber— nee Ubercab — often pitches itself not as a taxi service, but an app that helps ride seekers book a premium car and driver quickly and easily via mobile, and helps licensed limo drivers connect with clients.

More: UberCab Cease & Desist Means One Thing: They’re Onto Something

Fantasy Football <b>News</b> Roundup, Week 8: Does Jon Kitna Have Value <b>...</b>

Checking in on the fantasy news of the day for Week 8.

ABC <b>News</b> for iPad adds 2010 Election Results | iLounge <b>News</b>

iLounge news discussing the ABC News for iPad adds 2010 Election Results. Find more iPad news from leading independent iPod, iPhone, and iPad site.

UPDATE: Shepard Smith At Fox <b>News</b> Through 2014 – Deadline.com

I've learned a bit more about Fox News lead new anchor Shepard Smith's new multi-year deal with the cable channel. Despite reports that it runs through 2013, I hear that it actually kicks in next year when his current pact expires and ...

atlanta property management

Fantasy Football <b>News</b> Roundup, Week 8: Does Jon Kitna Have Value <b>...</b>

Checking in on the fantasy news of the day for Week 8.

ABC <b>News</b> for iPad adds 2010 Election Results | iLounge <b>News</b>

iLounge news discussing the ABC News for iPad adds 2010 Election Results. Find more iPad news from leading independent iPod, iPhone, and iPad site.

UPDATE: Shepard Smith At Fox <b>News</b> Through 2014 – Deadline.com

I've learned a bit more about Fox News lead new anchor Shepard Smith's new multi-year deal with the cable channel. Despite reports that it runs through 2013, I hear that it actually kicks in next year when his current pact expires and ...

In this, the first in an occasional series examining tech influence in politics using MAPLight’s nonpartisan political-finance–analysis tools, the trail leads to a mind boggling, 10-year campaign in which three key defense contractors have funneled more than $18 million to the pockets of federal lawmakers, to win various military contracts, including one for what can best be described as the government equivalent of the Bat-copter.

Last year, under pressure from politicians citing spiraling expenses, the Pentagon backed out of a $6.5 billion deal with Lockheed Martin and AgustaWestland to provide 28 new, state-of-the-art birds. President Barack Obama described the procurement process as “gone amok,” with the choppers projected to reach $400 million each, almost double the original price.

Now a detailed look at campaign finance records connected to the Marine One contracts, undertaken for the first time by Wired.com and MAPLight.org, shows a flurry of corporate contributions from Lockheed rivals to lawmakers involved in the decision-making immediately before and after the deal was grounded. And with a government call for new proposals for a revised contract expected next year, pay-to-play contributions to win the coveted deal continue to flow unabated, records show.

MAPLight is a 5-year-old nonprofit based in Berkeley, California. Thanks to MAPLight’s tools, which are fueled by data from the Center for Responsive Politics of Washington, D.C., we can not only track the amount of money spent, but see the timing of payments related to legislative work, such as votes, or pressure from politicians to kill an existing contract and hand it to a friend.

In addition to keeping tabs on tech-related pork and lobbying, we are unveiling today a new campaign-finance–tracking widget, in conjunction with MAPLight and based on CRP data, to help shine a general spotlight on politicians and their contributors. (See related story).

Hail to the Chief

The jockeying for the Marine One contract began in earnest a decade ago after the 2001 terror attacks. Capt. Cate Mueller, a spokeswoman for the Navy, which is supervising the stalled project, said a new Marine One fleet was “critical” to the nation’s security. Some choppers in the current fleet are more than three decades old.

Specifications for the new Marine One chopper are classified. But public documents show the new craft must at minimum carry a sort of miniature Oval Office, with two independent communications systems, including encrypted video conferencing; have at least two engines, and be capable of flying with a failed engine; and be equipped with a missile-defense system and nuclear-fallout reflector capabilities. Together, these enhancements will make it the most advanced flying machine of its type in the world, should it ever arrive.



Sikorsky Aircraft was believed to be the leading contender, having already produced the current presidential fleet, consisting of 11 Sikorsky VH-3D Sea Kings and eight Sikorsky VH-60N Black Hawks.

But in 2005, it lost out to Lockheed, of Bethesda, Maryland, and AgustaWestland, a European company that was building the craft along with Lockheed and dozens of subcontractors. The Lockheed Martin and AgustaWestland three-engine craft, the EH101, beat out the two-engine design of Sikorsky’s  VH-92, an offshoot of its H92 SuperHawk.

At the time, Navy acquisition chief John Young said Lockheed Martin and AgustaWestland prevailed because they were deemed more likely “to meet government requirements on schedule, with lesser risk, and at lower cost.”

Pages: 1 2 View All

Did Ubercab just crash and burn? Taxi and limo industry insiders in California today informed TechCrunch that the San Francisco Metro Transit Authority & the Public Utilities Commission of California have ordered the startup to cease and desist.

UPDATE: Since the orders arrived on October 20th, Ubercab has remained in service under threat of penalties including up to $5,000 fee per instance of Ubercab’s operation, and potentially 90 days in jail per each day the company remains in operation past the orders.

The company’s brand name and logo appear to be in metamorphosis; on its website and blog, Ubercab’s logo now reads simply “Uber,” and the company commented to its own Facebook community yesterday afternoon, “more uber than cab.”

Chief executive of Ubercab Ryan Graves told TechCrunch, “We are working with the agencies to figure out their exact concerns and make sure that we’re in compliance.” He wouldn’t comment beyond that, but pointed to the company’s official public statement posted on its blog today (October 24th):

UberCab Inc. has been issued a cease and desist order from the SF Metro Transit Authority & the Public Utilities Commission of California. While we are looking into the issues raised, we believe that the service we offer is in compliance with the cited regulations.

UberCab is a first to market, cutting edge transportation technology and it must be recognized that the regulations from both city and state regulatory bodies have not been written with these innovations in mind. As such, we are happy to help educate the regulatory bodies on this new generation of technology and work closely with both agencies to ensure compliance and keep our service available for our truly Uber users and their drivers.

Our commitment is to facilitate an improved transportation option that provides safe, reliable, and convenient travel. That will not change. We will continue full speed ahead with the mission of making San Francisco city a great place to live and travel.

Ubercab’s mobile apps let users request a car service to pick them up wherever they are right now, and let users pay for that car service with their phones. The startup takes a cut of the money made by drivers to generate revenue. Earlier this month, Ubercab closed a $1.25 million angel investment led by First Round.

The funding came despite the fact that the San Francisco taxi industry has been rumbling about whether Ubercab’s business is legal since September. A concerned driver brought the matter up at a Taxi Advisory Council meeting, reported The Phantom Cab Driver Phites Back blog.

One of the company’s investors and founders Travis Kalanick said on Sunday, “We’ve seen this before. New technology comes in and appears threatening to incumbent industries at first. At the end of the day, those industries see the benefit of that technology and ultimately find ways of using it in a productive manner, and embracing innovation.” Kalanick also founded the early p2p (peer to peer) search engine called Scour, which drew resistance from Hollywood executives who didn’t want their content distributed online in the 90s.

The incumbent taxi industry’s concerns about Ubercab include the following:

Ubercab operates much like a cab company but does not have a taxi license.

Its cars don’t have insurance equivalent to taxis’ insurance.

Ubercab may threaten taxi dispatchers’ way of earning a living.

Limos in U.S. cities usually have to prebook an hour in advance, by law, while only licensed taxis can pick someone up right away but Ubercab picks people up right away (again without a taxi license).

In contrast, Uber— nee Ubercab — often pitches itself not as a taxi service, but an app that helps ride seekers book a premium car and driver quickly and easily via mobile, and helps licensed limo drivers connect with clients.

More: UberCab Cease & Desist Means One Thing: They’re Onto Something

Fantasy Football <b>News</b> Roundup, Week 8: Does Jon Kitna Have Value <b>...</b>

Checking in on the fantasy news of the day for Week 8.

ABC <b>News</b> for iPad adds 2010 Election Results | iLounge <b>News</b>

iLounge news discussing the ABC News for iPad adds 2010 Election Results. Find more iPad news from leading independent iPod, iPhone, and iPad site.

UPDATE: Shepard Smith At Fox <b>News</b> Through 2014 – Deadline.com

I've learned a bit more about Fox News lead new anchor Shepard Smith's new multi-year deal with the cable channel. Despite reports that it runs through 2013, I hear that it actually kicks in next year when his current pact expires and ...

Fantasy Football <b>News</b> Roundup, Week 8: Does Jon Kitna Have Value <b>...</b>

Checking in on the fantasy news of the day for Week 8.

ABC <b>News</b> for iPad adds 2010 Election Results | iLounge <b>News</b>

iLounge news discussing the ABC News for iPad adds 2010 Election Results. Find more iPad news from leading independent iPod, iPhone, and iPad site.

UPDATE: Shepard Smith At Fox <b>News</b> Through 2014 – Deadline.com

I've learned a bit more about Fox News lead new anchor Shepard Smith's new multi-year deal with the cable channel. Despite reports that it runs through 2013, I hear that it actually kicks in next year when his current pact expires and ...

Start Making Money

In one sense, this isn’t as outrageous as it first sounds.  After all, political groups use IRS regulations to receive exemptions on donations, allowing donors to deduct those donations and to get more money than they otherwise would.  On the other hand, though, when the US requires IRS approval to conduct political speech, this is the kind of power that one hands government:

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus sent a serious shot across the bows of the growing ranks of groups, most of them on the right, playing aggressively in elections under non-profit 501(c)4 and (c)6 status, with a letter asking that the IRS commissioner examine them for violations of tax law.

A central, and endlessly complicated, legal question is whether an organization’s “primary purpose” is politics, and many find ways to spend 51% of their money, for instance, on policy campaigns. Different lawyers have offered different advice to groups on where, exactly, the line is — but many, like Crossroads GPS and Americans for Job Security, are operating under different versions of the non-profit status to both advertise in elections and keep their donors secret.

The IRS should examine whether the groups’ “political activities reach a primary purpose level” and “whether they are acting as conduits for major donors advancing their own private interests regarding legislation or political campaigns, or are providing major donors with excess benefits.”

The main practical problem is regulatory ambiguity.  No one really knows where the lines are drawn, and so it becomes impossible to have any certainty on compliance.  That may keep lawyers employed, but the lack of certainty means that the overall effect is to curtail speech and assembly for the purpose of political action.

In fact, that’s the entire purpose of creating these regulations, and everyone knows it.  It’s an explicit feature of such regulation.  Politicians talk about keeping the rich from running and buying elections, whether it’s the unions, the corporations, or the “special interests” boogeymen used by elected officials in passing these restrictions.  What they really do is protect incumbents by making outside challenges more difficult through speech restrictions and legal intimidation.  Even in this midterm cycle, where voter anger and engagement has almost reached a decades-long zenith, most people project a mere 60-80 seats in the House to change hands at best — which is less than 20%.  More than 80% of incumbents will return to their jobs even with voters rating Congress lower than the media.

Certainly the IRS should enforce the law as it exists (as should the entire government in areas like immigration, for example).  However, Baucus’ timing in demanding investigations speaks volumes about his motives.  It’s yet another reason that campaign finance reform should get shelved in place of systems that require and deliver full disclosure for political speech, and voters can provide the market for both the speech and the candidates.

This is the new line touted mostly by the conservative side– all these campaign donations are insignificant, making the absurd argument that we spend more each year on irrelevant and unrelated things like yogurt or halloween candy, that the cash spent on campaigns is of negligible effect on the election outcomes, and, finally, that the threat of foreign influence on our elections through these funding channels is also negligible. Nothing to see here, move along.

David Brooks spouted this exact same nonsense in his op-ed column in the NY Times earlier this week, replete with a host of imaginary numbers to cloud just how much is being spent on both sides then claiming that, in the end, all the cash shoveled into this mid-term election has no real influence on the outcome, going so far as to claim that these multimillion dollar donations are more for the ‘feel-good’ effect they offer the donors than for the spoils that would most assuredly come back to them once their chosen candidates are declared victorious.

I think it’s obscene the amount of money spent by both sides of the aisle during these elections and am troubled by the anonymous nature of so many of these donations, but for the life of me I can’t figure out how best to correct it without running afoul of the Bill of Rights. Free speech is free speech even if you’re not always happy with the outcome. If a corporation wants to support a candidate, I’m guessing it should be allowed to do so just as labor unions and other large organizations can.

I do think, however, that these corporate institutions should not be able to hide behind anonymity when making these donations. All donations by corporations should have the company’s tax identification number on the donation check. Since the Citizens United ruling judged these corporations as having the same rights as individuals, perhaps their donations should be capped at the same totals as individuals. If Proctor & Gamble wants to give to candidate X, allow them to donate at the same limits as Mr. Proctor N. Gamble.

Another, more drastic solution would be to rule that the First Amendment doesn’t apply and set a federally-funded limit for all candidates. Allow every candidate an equivalent amount of campaign funds and airtime for commercials, eliminate third-party advertising, and leave it at that. Otherwise, it will soon reach the point where the total spent during an election cycle meets or exceeds the GDP of third world countries.

Tree crushes miner to death at Mahdia - Stabroek <b>News</b> - Guyana

The life of a 49-year old miner was yesterday afternoon snuffed out after a tree fell on him while he was working at a mining area at Mahdia in Region 8.

Arrowheadlines: Chiefs <b>News</b> 10/27 - Arrowhead Pride

Good morning Chiefs fans! There's some interesting Kansas City Chiefs news today. A great piece from Cory Greenwood's hometown newspaper, and more on Chambers' playing time start us off. Enjoy.

ABC <b>News</b> airs big exposé on BMW N54 engine problems, lawsuits [w <b>...</b>

ABC News investigates BMW fuel pump problems – Click above to watch video after the jump ABC News has cottoned on to the story that BMW.

bench craft company complaints
bench craft company complaints

Tree crushes miner to death at Mahdia - Stabroek <b>News</b> - Guyana

The life of a 49-year old miner was yesterday afternoon snuffed out after a tree fell on him while he was working at a mining area at Mahdia in Region 8.

Arrowheadlines: Chiefs <b>News</b> 10/27 - Arrowhead Pride

Good morning Chiefs fans! There's some interesting Kansas City Chiefs news today. A great piece from Cory Greenwood's hometown newspaper, and more on Chambers' playing time start us off. Enjoy.

ABC <b>News</b> airs big exposé on BMW N54 engine problems, lawsuits [w <b>...</b>

ABC News investigates BMW fuel pump problems – Click above to watch video after the jump ABC News has cottoned on to the story that BMW.

bench craft company complaints bench craft company complaints

In one sense, this isn’t as outrageous as it first sounds.  After all, political groups use IRS regulations to receive exemptions on donations, allowing donors to deduct those donations and to get more money than they otherwise would.  On the other hand, though, when the US requires IRS approval to conduct political speech, this is the kind of power that one hands government:

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus sent a serious shot across the bows of the growing ranks of groups, most of them on the right, playing aggressively in elections under non-profit 501(c)4 and (c)6 status, with a letter asking that the IRS commissioner examine them for violations of tax law.

A central, and endlessly complicated, legal question is whether an organization’s “primary purpose” is politics, and many find ways to spend 51% of their money, for instance, on policy campaigns. Different lawyers have offered different advice to groups on where, exactly, the line is — but many, like Crossroads GPS and Americans for Job Security, are operating under different versions of the non-profit status to both advertise in elections and keep their donors secret.

The IRS should examine whether the groups’ “political activities reach a primary purpose level” and “whether they are acting as conduits for major donors advancing their own private interests regarding legislation or political campaigns, or are providing major donors with excess benefits.”

The main practical problem is regulatory ambiguity.  No one really knows where the lines are drawn, and so it becomes impossible to have any certainty on compliance.  That may keep lawyers employed, but the lack of certainty means that the overall effect is to curtail speech and assembly for the purpose of political action.

In fact, that’s the entire purpose of creating these regulations, and everyone knows it.  It’s an explicit feature of such regulation.  Politicians talk about keeping the rich from running and buying elections, whether it’s the unions, the corporations, or the “special interests” boogeymen used by elected officials in passing these restrictions.  What they really do is protect incumbents by making outside challenges more difficult through speech restrictions and legal intimidation.  Even in this midterm cycle, where voter anger and engagement has almost reached a decades-long zenith, most people project a mere 60-80 seats in the House to change hands at best — which is less than 20%.  More than 80% of incumbents will return to their jobs even with voters rating Congress lower than the media.

Certainly the IRS should enforce the law as it exists (as should the entire government in areas like immigration, for example).  However, Baucus’ timing in demanding investigations speaks volumes about his motives.  It’s yet another reason that campaign finance reform should get shelved in place of systems that require and deliver full disclosure for political speech, and voters can provide the market for both the speech and the candidates.

This is the new line touted mostly by the conservative side– all these campaign donations are insignificant, making the absurd argument that we spend more each year on irrelevant and unrelated things like yogurt or halloween candy, that the cash spent on campaigns is of negligible effect on the election outcomes, and, finally, that the threat of foreign influence on our elections through these funding channels is also negligible. Nothing to see here, move along.

David Brooks spouted this exact same nonsense in his op-ed column in the NY Times earlier this week, replete with a host of imaginary numbers to cloud just how much is being spent on both sides then claiming that, in the end, all the cash shoveled into this mid-term election has no real influence on the outcome, going so far as to claim that these multimillion dollar donations are more for the ‘feel-good’ effect they offer the donors than for the spoils that would most assuredly come back to them once their chosen candidates are declared victorious.

I think it’s obscene the amount of money spent by both sides of the aisle during these elections and am troubled by the anonymous nature of so many of these donations, but for the life of me I can’t figure out how best to correct it without running afoul of the Bill of Rights. Free speech is free speech even if you’re not always happy with the outcome. If a corporation wants to support a candidate, I’m guessing it should be allowed to do so just as labor unions and other large organizations can.

I do think, however, that these corporate institutions should not be able to hide behind anonymity when making these donations. All donations by corporations should have the company’s tax identification number on the donation check. Since the Citizens United ruling judged these corporations as having the same rights as individuals, perhaps their donations should be capped at the same totals as individuals. If Proctor & Gamble wants to give to candidate X, allow them to donate at the same limits as Mr. Proctor N. Gamble.

Another, more drastic solution would be to rule that the First Amendment doesn’t apply and set a federally-funded limit for all candidates. Allow every candidate an equivalent amount of campaign funds and airtime for commercials, eliminate third-party advertising, and leave it at that. Otherwise, it will soon reach the point where the total spent during an election cycle meets or exceeds the GDP of third world countries.

bench craft company complaints

Tree crushes miner to death at Mahdia - Stabroek <b>News</b> - Guyana

The life of a 49-year old miner was yesterday afternoon snuffed out after a tree fell on him while he was working at a mining area at Mahdia in Region 8.

Arrowheadlines: Chiefs <b>News</b> 10/27 - Arrowhead Pride

Good morning Chiefs fans! There's some interesting Kansas City Chiefs news today. A great piece from Cory Greenwood's hometown newspaper, and more on Chambers' playing time start us off. Enjoy.

ABC <b>News</b> airs big exposé on BMW N54 engine problems, lawsuits [w <b>...</b>

ABC News investigates BMW fuel pump problems – Click above to watch video after the jump ABC News has cottoned on to the story that BMW.

bench craft company complaints bench craft company complaints

Tree crushes miner to death at Mahdia - Stabroek <b>News</b> - Guyana

The life of a 49-year old miner was yesterday afternoon snuffed out after a tree fell on him while he was working at a mining area at Mahdia in Region 8.

Arrowheadlines: Chiefs <b>News</b> 10/27 - Arrowhead Pride

Good morning Chiefs fans! There's some interesting Kansas City Chiefs news today. A great piece from Cory Greenwood's hometown newspaper, and more on Chambers' playing time start us off. Enjoy.

ABC <b>News</b> airs big exposé on BMW N54 engine problems, lawsuits [w <b>...</b>

ABC News investigates BMW fuel pump problems – Click above to watch video after the jump ABC News has cottoned on to the story that BMW.

bench craft company complaints bench craft company complaints

Tree crushes miner to death at Mahdia - Stabroek <b>News</b> - Guyana

The life of a 49-year old miner was yesterday afternoon snuffed out after a tree fell on him while he was working at a mining area at Mahdia in Region 8.

Arrowheadlines: Chiefs <b>News</b> 10/27 - Arrowhead Pride

Good morning Chiefs fans! There's some interesting Kansas City Chiefs news today. A great piece from Cory Greenwood's hometown newspaper, and more on Chambers' playing time start us off. Enjoy.

ABC <b>News</b> airs big exposé on BMW N54 engine problems, lawsuits [w <b>...</b>

ABC News investigates BMW fuel pump problems – Click above to watch video after the jump ABC News has cottoned on to the story that BMW.

bench craft company complaints bench craft company complaints

Making Money Your

This was probably inevitable: the minute that Dodd-Frank cracked down on the fees charged by credit cards aimed at students, some other bright financial innovation would crop up. This time, a debit card aimed at students. Which carries lots of fees. Ylan Mui reports that a company called Higher One has started signing up colleges around the country, taking on the burden of providing cash to students. In return, it gets lots of fees:

Students say several of the fees associated with Higher One’s card are particularly irksome, including the $19 inactivity fee, a 50-cent charge for using a PIN to make a purchase rather than a signature, and a $2.50 fee for using other banks’ ATMs…

Higher One said that only 1 percent of customers have been charged an inactivity fee and that more than half are charged the 50-cent fee only once. All fees are listed on Higher One’s Web site, along with tips on avoiding them.

“We have a big effort with educating students on how to use the account,” Smith said. “We’re very passionate about financial literacy.”

If the fees are listed on Higher One’s website, they’re not exactly prominent. I did find this page, eventually, via this blog entry, but it just says that “when you swipe & sign, you won’t be charged the PIN-based transaction fee”. I haven’t been able to find a page showing a 50-cent transaction fee anywhere*, although I did manage to find this page, showing a $25 fee for domestic wire transfers and a $50 fee for international wire transfers. “Higher One offers less costly alternatives for transferring funds”, it says, without giving any indication what they might be; I suspect that what they’re talking about is transfers to or from people who have already registered somehow with Higher One.

It should go without saying that any firm which is “very passionate about financial literacy” would encourage, rather than penalize, simple, cheap and safe PIN-debit transactions. It would not give students a debit card and then tell them that if they want to avoid fees they should select the “credit” option rather than the “debit” option when they come to pay.

And I can’t think of any good reason to charge a $19 inactivity fee to people who haven’t used their cards in 9 months.

The fact is that students are often very naive when it comes to money, and it’s easy to gouge them once or twice before they learn that banks are not necessarily on their side. If you can get your card accepted by a majority of freshmen every year, and then come up with all manner of weird fees to hit them with, that’s a great way of making money out of ignorance.

Meanwhile, all students should have a bank account: giving them a debit card instead only serves to maximize the number of unbanked students. So while I’m sure cards like this are attractive to colleges, it would be great if either the colleges or else the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau started being a lot more critical of them. Prepaid cards only ever make sense if the alternative is being completely unbanked; that should not ever be the case for students.

*At Southern Oregon University, Higher One agreed to waive the 50-cent PIN-debit charge, but only if there was a simultaneous “swipe-and-sign” campaign. If the campaign is unsuccessful and students do the sensible thing by using PIN debit, then the university can be charged $2 per student for “PIN fee elimination”.

Update: Higher One’s Donald Smith responds:

Higher One was founded 10 years ago by three college students (undergraduates at the time) who were looking for streamlining the way financial aid refunds were distributed to students. Today we work with more than 675 campuses across the country, have a 97% client retention rating, and an A+ rating with the BBB.

The OneAccount is Higher One’s optional, no minimum balance, no monthly fee, FDIC-Insured checking account created by students for students. We do not offer a stored value card. We are very open with our fee schedule. We post it on every program website for all to access, explain each fee, discuss how to avoid each fee, and provide students with a web page that tells them how to use the account for free (which you’ve already found). Because of this, we believe that our customers pay less than half the amount in fees that the average bank checking account customer pays per year.

Two of the fees you referenced in your blog are the PIN fee and the Abandoned Account Fee. The PIN fee is easily avoided by choosing a signature based transaction at the checkout. The majority of students uses it in this manner and is in turn protected by MasterCard’s Zero Liability Policy against fraudulent charges (a safer way of purchasing than a PIN based transaction). We do not have an inactivity fee on our fee schedule – we don’t penalize students who do not use their accounts. We do have an Abandoned Account Fee of up to $19, for those who have abandoned their accounts, but this has been charged to less than 1% of all OneAccount holders in our company’s history because of our proactive outreach plan.

Higher One offers no instruments of credit. As a matter of fact, we’re generally in favor of initiatives restricting students’ access to credit cards and promoting financial literacy. This is why we offer a full range of financial literacy resources along with the services we provide.

I particularly dislike the implication, here, that PIN-based transactions are unsafe. They’re not; they’re just less lucrative, in terms of interchange fees, than signature-based transactions.

When profits are down business owners tend to dwell on formulating the next big idea, a new marketing strategy, and, of course, on what they are doing wrong. But there are other areas that many people don’t think of exploring - or avoid all together. These are the emotional blocks to money, success and happiness.

Money, or the lack of, stimulates fear. Survival instincts are threatened and negative emotions that may have been stored deep inside will often surface, only to aggravate the situation and lessen the ability to succeed.

Let’s take a look at three areas that you can explore to free yourself of the emotional barriers that will keep you from the success and profits that you deserve.

Forgiveness – If you are an entrepreneur then you have most likely suffered your share of financial trauma. After all, entrepreneurs are risk takers and money is one of the first things we put at risk when we have an idea that we belief in. Money loss is a trauma that we tend to minimize because it’s “just money”.   But financial security is an important value to nearly everyone because it dictates our ability to survive in this world. For men, who our ancestors labeled as the providers, financial security is often a very important core value. Therefore, losing money can affect them to the core and the guilt, shame and worry may remain embedded within them for a very long time.

It’s time to forgive yourself. Plain and simple; being an entrepreneur isn’t always a choice – it’s who you are. Taking risk is a part of the learning and the experience that takes you toward success. If that means that you “fail” from time to time, so be it. Releasing this emotion and pain is critical to your future success. Guilt and shame create a heavy burden, how can you let it go?

Consider some less conventional techniques like hypnosis or the emotional freedom techniques. Sometimes talking about it and rationalizing it isn’t enough. Take another risk and find a new way to let go so that you can let success into your life.

Feeling – If you can’t feel wealth, you won’t attract wealth. How much do you believe that you were born to achieve success? Can you close your eyes and feel, smell – truly experience wealth? This is something to practice on a daily basis. The more you believe it and experience it, the more your behavior and thinking will shift to allow for wealth. Begin with only 30-60 seconds of imagining your life of success. Create a snapshot of your successful future and practice stepping into the feeling of it. You might notice a swelling of the heart, the sensation of excitement and expectation, or a sense of overall peace. Hold this positive feeling in place and get used to it. Increase the time of your visualization as you become more adept at it. Before long you will begin to notice opportunities coming into your life or things may just begin falling into place for you. It’s a simple attitude adjustment that will make a difference.

Fearlessness – Fear has a paralyzing effect on our creativity and ability to act. If you are living in fear you are less likely to have a clear picture of your next action steps. You may find that procrastination and overwhelm are your daily companions and at the end of the day it seems nothing notable has been achieved. Sound familiar? It’s time to let go of the fear and step into your fearless state. I’m not suggesting that you become reckless, but that you find creative ways to rectify your situation and act from a collected, rational, and confident place.

If money is an issue you’ve probably run circles in your mind trying to think of solutions but haven’t acted on any of them. Is it time for a part time job? This doesn’t mean you are quitting your dream, just allowing it to become a bit more accessible. Do you have another skill that you can put to work while you build your business? Can you market to past customers to create a boost in sales? Think outside of the box and act on your solution.

Do you have a fear of success or failure? If you perceive that there are any negative consequences to success it's time to explore this limiting belief. Again, try something that may be considered “unconventional” to explore if these fears exist so that you can let them go. Ask someone who you see as successful what they’ve done to combat their fears – believe me, they’ve had them too! And try stepping out of the box to experience a different type of risk and reignite your energy. Is there something adventurous that you’ve always wanted to try but never have? What will “shake it up” a bit to unearth your courage and commitment to moving forward? How can you break the pattern and step into your fearless state?

These may sound like simple steps, but this type of change is a tall order. Surround yourself with support as you make create change; a coach, mentor and mastermind group are all a tremendous source of support and fresh ideas.

Have you found your way to a “Million Dollar Mindset?” Share your experience and tips with us here!

BREAKING <b>NEWS</b>: Drunk &amp; Naked Charlie Sheen Trashes Hotel Room <b>...</b>

Trouble seems to follow Charlie Sheen - whether it be in Los Angeles, Apsen, or now, to New York. Police were summoned to the posh Plaza hotel early Tuesday, where a drunken and naked Sheen had trashed his hotel room, RadarOnline.com ...

Fox <b>News</b> Crew Gets Scolded At Democratic Meeting (VIDEO)

A Fox News camera crew showed up unannounced at a Democratic meeting in Wisconsin Monday, prompting a confrontation that eventually forced the show's producer into a rather startling admission: he understands why Democrats are wary of ...

Debian Project <b>News</b> - July 26th, 2010

Debian Day in New York, MiniDebConf in India, Debian Installer beta1, Debian Podcast, how to attract more users?

bench craft company complaints
bench craft company complaints

BREAKING <b>NEWS</b>: Drunk &amp; Naked Charlie Sheen Trashes Hotel Room <b>...</b>

Trouble seems to follow Charlie Sheen - whether it be in Los Angeles, Apsen, or now, to New York. Police were summoned to the posh Plaza hotel early Tuesday, where a drunken and naked Sheen had trashed his hotel room, RadarOnline.com ...

Fox <b>News</b> Crew Gets Scolded At Democratic Meeting (VIDEO)

A Fox News camera crew showed up unannounced at a Democratic meeting in Wisconsin Monday, prompting a confrontation that eventually forced the show's producer into a rather startling admission: he understands why Democrats are wary of ...

Debian Project <b>News</b> - July 26th, 2010

Debian Day in New York, MiniDebConf in India, Debian Installer beta1, Debian Podcast, how to attract more users?

bench craft company complaints bench craft company complaints

This was probably inevitable: the minute that Dodd-Frank cracked down on the fees charged by credit cards aimed at students, some other bright financial innovation would crop up. This time, a debit card aimed at students. Which carries lots of fees. Ylan Mui reports that a company called Higher One has started signing up colleges around the country, taking on the burden of providing cash to students. In return, it gets lots of fees:

Students say several of the fees associated with Higher One’s card are particularly irksome, including the $19 inactivity fee, a 50-cent charge for using a PIN to make a purchase rather than a signature, and a $2.50 fee for using other banks’ ATMs…

Higher One said that only 1 percent of customers have been charged an inactivity fee and that more than half are charged the 50-cent fee only once. All fees are listed on Higher One’s Web site, along with tips on avoiding them.

“We have a big effort with educating students on how to use the account,” Smith said. “We’re very passionate about financial literacy.”

If the fees are listed on Higher One’s website, they’re not exactly prominent. I did find this page, eventually, via this blog entry, but it just says that “when you swipe & sign, you won’t be charged the PIN-based transaction fee”. I haven’t been able to find a page showing a 50-cent transaction fee anywhere*, although I did manage to find this page, showing a $25 fee for domestic wire transfers and a $50 fee for international wire transfers. “Higher One offers less costly alternatives for transferring funds”, it says, without giving any indication what they might be; I suspect that what they’re talking about is transfers to or from people who have already registered somehow with Higher One.

It should go without saying that any firm which is “very passionate about financial literacy” would encourage, rather than penalize, simple, cheap and safe PIN-debit transactions. It would not give students a debit card and then tell them that if they want to avoid fees they should select the “credit” option rather than the “debit” option when they come to pay.

And I can’t think of any good reason to charge a $19 inactivity fee to people who haven’t used their cards in 9 months.

The fact is that students are often very naive when it comes to money, and it’s easy to gouge them once or twice before they learn that banks are not necessarily on their side. If you can get your card accepted by a majority of freshmen every year, and then come up with all manner of weird fees to hit them with, that’s a great way of making money out of ignorance.

Meanwhile, all students should have a bank account: giving them a debit card instead only serves to maximize the number of unbanked students. So while I’m sure cards like this are attractive to colleges, it would be great if either the colleges or else the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau started being a lot more critical of them. Prepaid cards only ever make sense if the alternative is being completely unbanked; that should not ever be the case for students.

*At Southern Oregon University, Higher One agreed to waive the 50-cent PIN-debit charge, but only if there was a simultaneous “swipe-and-sign” campaign. If the campaign is unsuccessful and students do the sensible thing by using PIN debit, then the university can be charged $2 per student for “PIN fee elimination”.

Update: Higher One’s Donald Smith responds:

Higher One was founded 10 years ago by three college students (undergraduates at the time) who were looking for streamlining the way financial aid refunds were distributed to students. Today we work with more than 675 campuses across the country, have a 97% client retention rating, and an A+ rating with the BBB.

The OneAccount is Higher One’s optional, no minimum balance, no monthly fee, FDIC-Insured checking account created by students for students. We do not offer a stored value card. We are very open with our fee schedule. We post it on every program website for all to access, explain each fee, discuss how to avoid each fee, and provide students with a web page that tells them how to use the account for free (which you’ve already found). Because of this, we believe that our customers pay less than half the amount in fees that the average bank checking account customer pays per year.

Two of the fees you referenced in your blog are the PIN fee and the Abandoned Account Fee. The PIN fee is easily avoided by choosing a signature based transaction at the checkout. The majority of students uses it in this manner and is in turn protected by MasterCard’s Zero Liability Policy against fraudulent charges (a safer way of purchasing than a PIN based transaction). We do not have an inactivity fee on our fee schedule – we don’t penalize students who do not use their accounts. We do have an Abandoned Account Fee of up to $19, for those who have abandoned their accounts, but this has been charged to less than 1% of all OneAccount holders in our company’s history because of our proactive outreach plan.

Higher One offers no instruments of credit. As a matter of fact, we’re generally in favor of initiatives restricting students’ access to credit cards and promoting financial literacy. This is why we offer a full range of financial literacy resources along with the services we provide.

I particularly dislike the implication, here, that PIN-based transactions are unsafe. They’re not; they’re just less lucrative, in terms of interchange fees, than signature-based transactions.

When profits are down business owners tend to dwell on formulating the next big idea, a new marketing strategy, and, of course, on what they are doing wrong. But there are other areas that many people don’t think of exploring - or avoid all together. These are the emotional blocks to money, success and happiness.

Money, or the lack of, stimulates fear. Survival instincts are threatened and negative emotions that may have been stored deep inside will often surface, only to aggravate the situation and lessen the ability to succeed.

Let’s take a look at three areas that you can explore to free yourself of the emotional barriers that will keep you from the success and profits that you deserve.

Forgiveness – If you are an entrepreneur then you have most likely suffered your share of financial trauma. After all, entrepreneurs are risk takers and money is one of the first things we put at risk when we have an idea that we belief in. Money loss is a trauma that we tend to minimize because it’s “just money”.   But financial security is an important value to nearly everyone because it dictates our ability to survive in this world. For men, who our ancestors labeled as the providers, financial security is often a very important core value. Therefore, losing money can affect them to the core and the guilt, shame and worry may remain embedded within them for a very long time.

It’s time to forgive yourself. Plain and simple; being an entrepreneur isn’t always a choice – it’s who you are. Taking risk is a part of the learning and the experience that takes you toward success. If that means that you “fail” from time to time, so be it. Releasing this emotion and pain is critical to your future success. Guilt and shame create a heavy burden, how can you let it go?

Consider some less conventional techniques like hypnosis or the emotional freedom techniques. Sometimes talking about it and rationalizing it isn’t enough. Take another risk and find a new way to let go so that you can let success into your life.

Feeling – If you can’t feel wealth, you won’t attract wealth. How much do you believe that you were born to achieve success? Can you close your eyes and feel, smell – truly experience wealth? This is something to practice on a daily basis. The more you believe it and experience it, the more your behavior and thinking will shift to allow for wealth. Begin with only 30-60 seconds of imagining your life of success. Create a snapshot of your successful future and practice stepping into the feeling of it. You might notice a swelling of the heart, the sensation of excitement and expectation, or a sense of overall peace. Hold this positive feeling in place and get used to it. Increase the time of your visualization as you become more adept at it. Before long you will begin to notice opportunities coming into your life or things may just begin falling into place for you. It’s a simple attitude adjustment that will make a difference.

Fearlessness – Fear has a paralyzing effect on our creativity and ability to act. If you are living in fear you are less likely to have a clear picture of your next action steps. You may find that procrastination and overwhelm are your daily companions and at the end of the day it seems nothing notable has been achieved. Sound familiar? It’s time to let go of the fear and step into your fearless state. I’m not suggesting that you become reckless, but that you find creative ways to rectify your situation and act from a collected, rational, and confident place.

If money is an issue you’ve probably run circles in your mind trying to think of solutions but haven’t acted on any of them. Is it time for a part time job? This doesn’t mean you are quitting your dream, just allowing it to become a bit more accessible. Do you have another skill that you can put to work while you build your business? Can you market to past customers to create a boost in sales? Think outside of the box and act on your solution.

Do you have a fear of success or failure? If you perceive that there are any negative consequences to success it's time to explore this limiting belief. Again, try something that may be considered “unconventional” to explore if these fears exist so that you can let them go. Ask someone who you see as successful what they’ve done to combat their fears – believe me, they’ve had them too! And try stepping out of the box to experience a different type of risk and reignite your energy. Is there something adventurous that you’ve always wanted to try but never have? What will “shake it up” a bit to unearth your courage and commitment to moving forward? How can you break the pattern and step into your fearless state?

These may sound like simple steps, but this type of change is a tall order. Surround yourself with support as you make create change; a coach, mentor and mastermind group are all a tremendous source of support and fresh ideas.

Have you found your way to a “Million Dollar Mindset?” Share your experience and tips with us here!

bench craft company complaints

BREAKING <b>NEWS</b>: Drunk &amp; Naked Charlie Sheen Trashes Hotel Room <b>...</b>

Trouble seems to follow Charlie Sheen - whether it be in Los Angeles, Apsen, or now, to New York. Police were summoned to the posh Plaza hotel early Tuesday, where a drunken and naked Sheen had trashed his hotel room, RadarOnline.com ...

Fox <b>News</b> Crew Gets Scolded At Democratic Meeting (VIDEO)

A Fox News camera crew showed up unannounced at a Democratic meeting in Wisconsin Monday, prompting a confrontation that eventually forced the show's producer into a rather startling admission: he understands why Democrats are wary of ...

Debian Project <b>News</b> - July 26th, 2010

Debian Day in New York, MiniDebConf in India, Debian Installer beta1, Debian Podcast, how to attract more users?

bench craft company complaints bench craft company complaints

BREAKING <b>NEWS</b>: Drunk &amp; Naked Charlie Sheen Trashes Hotel Room <b>...</b>

Trouble seems to follow Charlie Sheen - whether it be in Los Angeles, Apsen, or now, to New York. Police were summoned to the posh Plaza hotel early Tuesday, where a drunken and naked Sheen had trashed his hotel room, RadarOnline.com ...

Fox <b>News</b> Crew Gets Scolded At Democratic Meeting (VIDEO)

A Fox News camera crew showed up unannounced at a Democratic meeting in Wisconsin Monday, prompting a confrontation that eventually forced the show's producer into a rather startling admission: he understands why Democrats are wary of ...

Debian Project <b>News</b> - July 26th, 2010

Debian Day in New York, MiniDebConf in India, Debian Installer beta1, Debian Podcast, how to attract more users?

bench craft company complaints bench craft company complaints

BREAKING <b>NEWS</b>: Drunk &amp; Naked Charlie Sheen Trashes Hotel Room <b>...</b>

Trouble seems to follow Charlie Sheen - whether it be in Los Angeles, Apsen, or now, to New York. Police were summoned to the posh Plaza hotel early Tuesday, where a drunken and naked Sheen had trashed his hotel room, RadarOnline.com ...

Fox <b>News</b> Crew Gets Scolded At Democratic Meeting (VIDEO)

A Fox News camera crew showed up unannounced at a Democratic meeting in Wisconsin Monday, prompting a confrontation that eventually forced the show's producer into a rather startling admission: he understands why Democrats are wary of ...

Debian Project <b>News</b> - July 26th, 2010

Debian Day in New York, MiniDebConf in India, Debian Installer beta1, Debian Podcast, how to attract more users?

bench craft company complaints bench craft company complaints

Making Money Without

Your credit can determine interest rates for loans, as well as whether or not you'll qualify for credit in the first place. Employers also ask you to let them run credit checks on you to see if you're reliable. So it's in your best interests to avoid making mistakes that will ruin your credit rating.

Posting at Financial Edge, personal finance blogger Fabulously Broke puts you at ease by identifying several blunders that won't torpedo your credit score. Here are a few of our favorites:

*Making too much or too little money. Income does not affect credit ratings.

*Late payments to utilities and phone companies. You'll want to check with the laws and procedures in your own state, but in general utilities don't report your payment history to credit agencies. On the other hand, if your bills go to collections, a collections agent will tattle on you.

*Checking your own credit. Credit checks from outside sources make it seem as though you may be applying for more credit, but checks of your own credit won't draw red flags.

*Having loans with high interest rates. It's your credit rating that affects your interest rates and not the other way around.

Check out the rest of the post at the link below for other mistakes that won't damage your credit.

For more information about free credit reports, go to the FTC at FTC.gov/freereports

8 Slipups That Won't Hurt Your Credit Score [Financial Edge]

Juan Williams' firing sends a wake-up call just in time for the mid-term elections. Voters should demand to know if candidates will continue funding NPR. It's time to stop putting government funding into programs that compete with the private sector. Tax dollars, after all, should be used to fund initiatives that take care of the needy or provide services that the private sector can't or isn't willing to provide. Information radio in the United States is hardly something that our government should think is a top priority, especially when we have budget deficits, sky-rocketing unemployment, falling government revenue and critical public programs being cut. There is also a healthy and vibrant private sector news radio industry and, therefore, no need to prop up one funded with tax dollars. Government money given to NPR means government sponsored radio competing with the private sector - a uniquely un-American idea. If private sector citizens want to fund NPR then they should step up and do it with more commitment. Coercing the rest of us to pay for NPR's elite radio programming through our taxes is clearly a subsidy for the wealthy.

NPR and its executives are to blame for the reaction to this alarm bell going off. NPR's intolerance of conservative opinions is well-known. There are very few voices allowed on NPR programs that represent opinions outside the traditional liberal and elite viewpoints. When NPR does allow a conservative voice air-time, it is limited and usually preceded by a condescending question or commentary. Juan Williams firing by NPR was only a matter of time because the liberal executives running the shows at NPR never liked the fact that Williams was on Fox News. It's clear that NPR would rather play consistently to the left than reach a balanced audience. And for that, they deserve to be pushed away from the public trough.

As all conservatives already know, NPR consistently frames stories in a slanted way to aid and comfort its overwhelming left listenership. For instance, the current rising unemployment rate is not portrayed as an Obama Administration problem. It is usually reported by NPR without an Obama angle and more times than not, as a total spin job. Conversely, every month the unemployment rate went up during the Bush Administration it was portrayed as an announcement from the Bush White House or Bush Team followed by an evaluation of Bush's economic policies. The NPR diatribe was clear: unemployment is rising and Bush's policies are not working.

This past Labor Day, the traditional start of election season, NPR reported the rising 9.6 unemployment rate as a recovery in the making. And I'm not joking. Shockingly, commentators and story selections were spinning that a recovery was happening, just slowly. NPR even highlighted a story suggesting that more people were traveling for Labor Day and feeling good about the economy. But in fact, a recovery wasn't happening and the unemployment rate has risen.

Conservatives have seethed for years as NPR hosts mock conservative ideas, poke fun at conservative candidates' mistakes and run stories over several days when there is a negative story to tell about a Republican. Every conservative scandal receives multiple days of commentary and a thorough analysis, while Democrats caught in mishaps either get little coverage, no mentions at all or one hit.

My local NPR station in Los Angeles just yesterday ran a LIVE extended interview with one of the most liberal members of the County Board of Supervisors (15 days before the mid-term elections) where he lauded Senator Barbara Boxer's leadership on public transportation issues. He praised Boxer for something she hasn't even taken credit for. He went on to give additional credit to only Democrats for bringing a new rail line to the people of LA. The host of the interview never pushed back or asked a question of the Supervisor's claim that Boxer brought the rail line to LA - it was just assumed that Boxer delivered to the people. Boxer's new rail line, by the way, doesn't even extend to the airport - which happens to be the number one transportation concern for residents - so if she did bring this project to LA it's a colossal waste of tax dollars. Sadly, it was an expected and typical interview from NPR.

But thanks to Juan Williams being fired, the rest of us might be able to keep a little more money in our paychecks. Voters everywhere should ask their congressional candidates to commit to stop publicly funding NPR before they cast their ballots on November 2. My mom used to take the ball away from us when someone cheated. She would say, "If you can't play fair then you can't play at all". It's time voters took the ball away from NPR.

autosport.com - F1 <b>News</b>: Tweaks to be made to Korean track

Korean Grand Prix organisers are making minor modifications to the new Formula 1 track on Friday night following complaints from drivers about potential trouble spots on the new Yeongam circuit.

Sharp to stop selling and manufacturing PCs « Akihabara <b>News</b>

To pursue its growth Akihabara News is seeking for several more editors via an intership program for 6 to 9 months. Please send us a mail @ jobs@akihabaranews.com. Message. We are moving away from Feedburner, please update your RSS ...

Vatican synod sees growing concern over Islam :: Catholic <b>News</b> <b>...</b>

The need for more interfaith dialogue and greater Christian-Muslim understanding has been a key theme in the month-long meeting of bishops at the Vatican to discuss the Middle East.

eric seiger eric seiger

Your credit can determine interest rates for loans, as well as whether or not you'll qualify for credit in the first place. Employers also ask you to let them run credit checks on you to see if you're reliable. So it's in your best interests to avoid making mistakes that will ruin your credit rating.

Posting at Financial Edge, personal finance blogger Fabulously Broke puts you at ease by identifying several blunders that won't torpedo your credit score. Here are a few of our favorites:

*Making too much or too little money. Income does not affect credit ratings.

*Late payments to utilities and phone companies. You'll want to check with the laws and procedures in your own state, but in general utilities don't report your payment history to credit agencies. On the other hand, if your bills go to collections, a collections agent will tattle on you.

*Checking your own credit. Credit checks from outside sources make it seem as though you may be applying for more credit, but checks of your own credit won't draw red flags.

*Having loans with high interest rates. It's your credit rating that affects your interest rates and not the other way around.

Check out the rest of the post at the link below for other mistakes that won't damage your credit.

For more information about free credit reports, go to the FTC at FTC.gov/freereports

8 Slipups That Won't Hurt Your Credit Score [Financial Edge]

Juan Williams' firing sends a wake-up call just in time for the mid-term elections. Voters should demand to know if candidates will continue funding NPR. It's time to stop putting government funding into programs that compete with the private sector. Tax dollars, after all, should be used to fund initiatives that take care of the needy or provide services that the private sector can't or isn't willing to provide. Information radio in the United States is hardly something that our government should think is a top priority, especially when we have budget deficits, sky-rocketing unemployment, falling government revenue and critical public programs being cut. There is also a healthy and vibrant private sector news radio industry and, therefore, no need to prop up one funded with tax dollars. Government money given to NPR means government sponsored radio competing with the private sector - a uniquely un-American idea. If private sector citizens want to fund NPR then they should step up and do it with more commitment. Coercing the rest of us to pay for NPR's elite radio programming through our taxes is clearly a subsidy for the wealthy.

NPR and its executives are to blame for the reaction to this alarm bell going off. NPR's intolerance of conservative opinions is well-known. There are very few voices allowed on NPR programs that represent opinions outside the traditional liberal and elite viewpoints. When NPR does allow a conservative voice air-time, it is limited and usually preceded by a condescending question or commentary. Juan Williams firing by NPR was only a matter of time because the liberal executives running the shows at NPR never liked the fact that Williams was on Fox News. It's clear that NPR would rather play consistently to the left than reach a balanced audience. And for that, they deserve to be pushed away from the public trough.

As all conservatives already know, NPR consistently frames stories in a slanted way to aid and comfort its overwhelming left listenership. For instance, the current rising unemployment rate is not portrayed as an Obama Administration problem. It is usually reported by NPR without an Obama angle and more times than not, as a total spin job. Conversely, every month the unemployment rate went up during the Bush Administration it was portrayed as an announcement from the Bush White House or Bush Team followed by an evaluation of Bush's economic policies. The NPR diatribe was clear: unemployment is rising and Bush's policies are not working.

This past Labor Day, the traditional start of election season, NPR reported the rising 9.6 unemployment rate as a recovery in the making. And I'm not joking. Shockingly, commentators and story selections were spinning that a recovery was happening, just slowly. NPR even highlighted a story suggesting that more people were traveling for Labor Day and feeling good about the economy. But in fact, a recovery wasn't happening and the unemployment rate has risen.

Conservatives have seethed for years as NPR hosts mock conservative ideas, poke fun at conservative candidates' mistakes and run stories over several days when there is a negative story to tell about a Republican. Every conservative scandal receives multiple days of commentary and a thorough analysis, while Democrats caught in mishaps either get little coverage, no mentions at all or one hit.

My local NPR station in Los Angeles just yesterday ran a LIVE extended interview with one of the most liberal members of the County Board of Supervisors (15 days before the mid-term elections) where he lauded Senator Barbara Boxer's leadership on public transportation issues. He praised Boxer for something she hasn't even taken credit for. He went on to give additional credit to only Democrats for bringing a new rail line to the people of LA. The host of the interview never pushed back or asked a question of the Supervisor's claim that Boxer brought the rail line to LA - it was just assumed that Boxer delivered to the people. Boxer's new rail line, by the way, doesn't even extend to the airport - which happens to be the number one transportation concern for residents - so if she did bring this project to LA it's a colossal waste of tax dollars. Sadly, it was an expected and typical interview from NPR.

But thanks to Juan Williams being fired, the rest of us might be able to keep a little more money in our paychecks. Voters everywhere should ask their congressional candidates to commit to stop publicly funding NPR before they cast their ballots on November 2. My mom used to take the ball away from us when someone cheated. She would say, "If you can't play fair then you can't play at all". It's time voters took the ball away from NPR.

autosport.com - F1 <b>News</b>: Tweaks to be made to Korean track

Korean Grand Prix organisers are making minor modifications to the new Formula 1 track on Friday night following complaints from drivers about potential trouble spots on the new Yeongam circuit.

Sharp to stop selling and manufacturing PCs « Akihabara <b>News</b>

To pursue its growth Akihabara News is seeking for several more editors via an intership program for 6 to 9 months. Please send us a mail @ jobs@akihabaranews.com. Message. We are moving away from Feedburner, please update your RSS ...

Vatican synod sees growing concern over Islam :: Catholic <b>News</b> <b>...</b>

The need for more interfaith dialogue and greater Christian-Muslim understanding has been a key theme in the month-long meeting of bishops at the Vatican to discuss the Middle East.

eric seiger eric seiger

Making Money Ebay

“It remains to be seen if it’s good in the long run but what’s exciting is Amazon has proven the ability to move product,” said Ben Gottlieb, president of mobile app maker Stand Alone Inc. “It all depends on the implementation. But if they live up to what they say, we can make more money.”

That’s a real issue. Gottlieb, who sells a crossword app, says he makes 20-30 times more selling his apps in the App Store compared to Android Market. It’s gotten a little better lately, but it’s still discouraging trying to sell in Android Market, which has more than 80,000 apps. Developers like Gottlieb say the store needs more recommendation and discovery tools, more categories, a better check-out system and more marketing muscle. These are all things that Amazon could immediately address.

Arron La, maker of the Advanced Task Manager app, said Amazon could help ignite sales by giving better recommendation tips and making checkouts easier for users. He said Google Checkout can be a nightmare at times, sometimes charging people multiple times for one app. A reliable and familiar system like Amazon’s could prompt people to open up their wallets, something they don’t do that much of in the Android Market. He also hopes that Amazon will do more to promote apps and advertise its app store, which Google has shied away from.

Google, for its part, is working on a number of changes, including a new web-based Android Market and a reported deal with PayPal  for payments. And it just expanded the number of countries that can buy paid apps.Even with those improvements, La feels better about Amazon because the company seems more committed to making money, something Google seems less interested in. Google claims it doesn’t make any money from Android Market.

“Once you have the right things in place and you get that ecosystem going, you can definitely make money out of it,” he said. “But that’s been what’s hurting Android Market. Everyone using Google devices, they want and expect everything for free. When Google released Android market, they had no paid apps in the beginning.”

To be sure, an Amazon Android store or a similar market from Verizon Wireless could be a headache for developers. Developers would have to get in the habit of submitting and updating apps in multiple markets. Users might get confused as to who to turn to for apps or support. Amazon will have the ability to turn down apps and has stated it won’t approve offensive or pornographic content. It could lead to some gripes from developers about rejected apps, similar to complaints about the App Store, and it’s unclear if it will be as easy as one click to buy an app and get it on an Android device.

If Amazon proves to be a real player in the app market, expect a lot of developers to look Amazon’s way. They’ll be happy to get something closer to an App Store experience for their apps. “Apple is about the making the whole experience pleasant while Google is just focused on getting the job done and it’s not always pretty,” Gottlieb said. “Amazon is somewhere in between and it’s definitely closer to Apple than Google.”

Related research from GigaOM Pro (subscription req’d):

• Why Google Launched App Inventor


• Is Amazon the New Self-Publish Kingpin?


• Why Carriers Still Hold the Key to Handset Sales

Attacks On 'Frivolous' Startups, Sound Like Misguided Attacks On 'Frivolous' Blogs & Social Media

from the cat-bloggers-of-silicon-valley dept

We hear it all the time when it comes to various social media offerings. Blogs were dismissed early on by all important people who said they "don't care about what people wearing pajamas sitting in their basement have to say about their cats." Twitter was dismissed by people who "don't care what so-and-so ate for lunch." And on and on. But what's interesting is this same sort of attitude seems to also be playing out on a larger scale, in how people look at innovation. Investor Peter Thiel is apparently complaining that Silicon Valley companies aren't doing anything really important any more. But, I think, like the complaints about Blogging, Twitter and other social media efforts (some of which Thiel invested in), he's focused too much on all the fluff and ignoring the fact that plenty of serious things are going on. However, there's almost always been random silly startups that get lots of attention (and some of them later turn into being serious, important companies). Google, Amazon and eBay were all derided as being frivolous in their early years, but all turned into something much larger.



Along those lines, Dan Lyons has perhaps his most ridiculous column to date (and that's saying a lot), in that he sets up by complaining about the same "frivolous" innovation going on in Silicon Valley, and then uses Nathan Myhrvold of Intellectual Ventures as the counter-example of a company taking on the real hard problems. Uh, yeah, the real hard problems of hoarding patents, waiting for someone else to do the real work, and then shaking them down for money? Lyons, like so many others, seems to not recognize the difference between ideas and execution. What has Intellectual Ventures actually executed on. What product has it brought to market? Absolutely none. The only thing it's done to date is collect hundreds of millions of dollars from a few tech companies so that those companies can avoid getting sued, and can dig into IV's patent database to countersue those who sue them. Lyons quotes Myhrvold making the following statement:

"The old Silicon Valley was about solving really hard problems, making technical bets. But there's no real technical bet being made with Facebook or Zynga," says Nathan Myhrvold, the former chief technology officer at Microsoft who now runs an invention lab in Seattle. "Today almost everyone in the Valley will tell you there is too much 'me-tooism,' too much looking for a gold rush and not enough people who are looking to solve really hard problems."

Myhrvold is being misleading yet again. There's always been "me-tooism" in the Valley, and sometimes it works out, and often it doesn't. Microsoft, where Myhrvold worked for many years, was pretty damn famous for its brand of "me-tooism." And, oh yeah, it too could be dismissed in its early days for not being "about solving really hard problems." And, of course, there are plenty of tech companies out there that are working on solving hard problems, so cherry picking a few you don't like does not make for a representation of the entire industry.

"What bothers me is the zillions of wannabes who will follow along, and the expectation that every company ought to be focused on doing really short-term, easy things to achieve giant paydays. I think that's unrealistic, and it's not healthy," Myhrvold says.

So don't worry about the wannabe and followers. They've always been around Silicon Valley and the ecosystem tends to take care of them over time. Focus on building what you're building (which in Myhrvold's case, still appears to be nothing) and let the market take care of the rest. It always seems to do just fine.

6 Comments | Leave a Comment..

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Jodie Foster Says Mel Gibson Is &#39;The Most Loved Man In The Film <b>...</b>

Jodie Foster is convinced her pal Mel Gibson will be able to successfully resurrect his movie career following his recent personal problems as he is "the most loved man in the film business." Gib...

RIM co-CEO Balsillie responds to Jobs&#39; comments | iLounge <b>News</b>

iLounge news discussing the RIM co-CEO Balsillie responds to Jobs' comments. Find more Apple news from leading independent iPod, iPhone, and iPad site.

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“It remains to be seen if it’s good in the long run but what’s exciting is Amazon has proven the ability to move product,” said Ben Gottlieb, president of mobile app maker Stand Alone Inc. “It all depends on the implementation. But if they live up to what they say, we can make more money.”

That’s a real issue. Gottlieb, who sells a crossword app, says he makes 20-30 times more selling his apps in the App Store compared to Android Market. It’s gotten a little better lately, but it’s still discouraging trying to sell in Android Market, which has more than 80,000 apps. Developers like Gottlieb say the store needs more recommendation and discovery tools, more categories, a better check-out system and more marketing muscle. These are all things that Amazon could immediately address.

Arron La, maker of the Advanced Task Manager app, said Amazon could help ignite sales by giving better recommendation tips and making checkouts easier for users. He said Google Checkout can be a nightmare at times, sometimes charging people multiple times for one app. A reliable and familiar system like Amazon’s could prompt people to open up their wallets, something they don’t do that much of in the Android Market. He also hopes that Amazon will do more to promote apps and advertise its app store, which Google has shied away from.

Google, for its part, is working on a number of changes, including a new web-based Android Market and a reported deal with PayPal  for payments. And it just expanded the number of countries that can buy paid apps.Even with those improvements, La feels better about Amazon because the company seems more committed to making money, something Google seems less interested in. Google claims it doesn’t make any money from Android Market.

“Once you have the right things in place and you get that ecosystem going, you can definitely make money out of it,” he said. “But that’s been what’s hurting Android Market. Everyone using Google devices, they want and expect everything for free. When Google released Android market, they had no paid apps in the beginning.”

To be sure, an Amazon Android store or a similar market from Verizon Wireless could be a headache for developers. Developers would have to get in the habit of submitting and updating apps in multiple markets. Users might get confused as to who to turn to for apps or support. Amazon will have the ability to turn down apps and has stated it won’t approve offensive or pornographic content. It could lead to some gripes from developers about rejected apps, similar to complaints about the App Store, and it’s unclear if it will be as easy as one click to buy an app and get it on an Android device.

If Amazon proves to be a real player in the app market, expect a lot of developers to look Amazon’s way. They’ll be happy to get something closer to an App Store experience for their apps. “Apple is about the making the whole experience pleasant while Google is just focused on getting the job done and it’s not always pretty,” Gottlieb said. “Amazon is somewhere in between and it’s definitely closer to Apple than Google.”

Related research from GigaOM Pro (subscription req’d):

• Why Google Launched App Inventor


• Is Amazon the New Self-Publish Kingpin?


• Why Carriers Still Hold the Key to Handset Sales

Attacks On 'Frivolous' Startups, Sound Like Misguided Attacks On 'Frivolous' Blogs & Social Media

from the cat-bloggers-of-silicon-valley dept

We hear it all the time when it comes to various social media offerings. Blogs were dismissed early on by all important people who said they "don't care about what people wearing pajamas sitting in their basement have to say about their cats." Twitter was dismissed by people who "don't care what so-and-so ate for lunch." And on and on. But what's interesting is this same sort of attitude seems to also be playing out on a larger scale, in how people look at innovation. Investor Peter Thiel is apparently complaining that Silicon Valley companies aren't doing anything really important any more. But, I think, like the complaints about Blogging, Twitter and other social media efforts (some of which Thiel invested in), he's focused too much on all the fluff and ignoring the fact that plenty of serious things are going on. However, there's almost always been random silly startups that get lots of attention (and some of them later turn into being serious, important companies). Google, Amazon and eBay were all derided as being frivolous in their early years, but all turned into something much larger.



Along those lines, Dan Lyons has perhaps his most ridiculous column to date (and that's saying a lot), in that he sets up by complaining about the same "frivolous" innovation going on in Silicon Valley, and then uses Nathan Myhrvold of Intellectual Ventures as the counter-example of a company taking on the real hard problems. Uh, yeah, the real hard problems of hoarding patents, waiting for someone else to do the real work, and then shaking them down for money? Lyons, like so many others, seems to not recognize the difference between ideas and execution. What has Intellectual Ventures actually executed on. What product has it brought to market? Absolutely none. The only thing it's done to date is collect hundreds of millions of dollars from a few tech companies so that those companies can avoid getting sued, and can dig into IV's patent database to countersue those who sue them. Lyons quotes Myhrvold making the following statement:

"The old Silicon Valley was about solving really hard problems, making technical bets. But there's no real technical bet being made with Facebook or Zynga," says Nathan Myhrvold, the former chief technology officer at Microsoft who now runs an invention lab in Seattle. "Today almost everyone in the Valley will tell you there is too much 'me-tooism,' too much looking for a gold rush and not enough people who are looking to solve really hard problems."

Myhrvold is being misleading yet again. There's always been "me-tooism" in the Valley, and sometimes it works out, and often it doesn't. Microsoft, where Myhrvold worked for many years, was pretty damn famous for its brand of "me-tooism." And, oh yeah, it too could be dismissed in its early days for not being "about solving really hard problems." And, of course, there are plenty of tech companies out there that are working on solving hard problems, so cherry picking a few you don't like does not make for a representation of the entire industry.

"What bothers me is the zillions of wannabes who will follow along, and the expectation that every company ought to be focused on doing really short-term, easy things to achieve giant paydays. I think that's unrealistic, and it's not healthy," Myhrvold says.

So don't worry about the wannabe and followers. They've always been around Silicon Valley and the ecosystem tends to take care of them over time. Focus on building what you're building (which in Myhrvold's case, still appears to be nothing) and let the market take care of the rest. It always seems to do just fine.

6 Comments | Leave a Comment..

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Jodie Foster Says Mel Gibson Is &#39;The Most Loved Man In The Film <b>...</b>

Jodie Foster is convinced her pal Mel Gibson will be able to successfully resurrect his movie career following his recent personal problems as he is "the most loved man in the film business." Gib...

RIM co-CEO Balsillie responds to Jobs&#39; comments | iLounge <b>News</b>

iLounge news discussing the RIM co-CEO Balsillie responds to Jobs' comments. Find more Apple news from leading independent iPod, iPhone, and iPad site.

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Jodie Foster Says Mel Gibson Is &#39;The Most Loved Man In The Film <b>...</b>

Jodie Foster is convinced her pal Mel Gibson will be able to successfully resurrect his movie career following his recent personal problems as he is "the most loved man in the film business." Gib...

RIM co-CEO Balsillie responds to Jobs&#39; comments | iLounge <b>News</b>

iLounge news discussing the RIM co-CEO Balsillie responds to Jobs' comments. Find more Apple news from leading independent iPod, iPhone, and iPad site.

Northwest <b>News</b>: Starbucks opens &#39;boozy bucks&#39; serving beer, wine <b>...</b>

News is a daily roundup of what's making headlines in the Pacific Northwest.

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“It remains to be seen if it’s good in the long run but what’s exciting is Amazon has proven the ability to move product,” said Ben Gottlieb, president of mobile app maker Stand Alone Inc. “It all depends on the implementation. But if they live up to what they say, we can make more money.”

That’s a real issue. Gottlieb, who sells a crossword app, says he makes 20-30 times more selling his apps in the App Store compared to Android Market. It’s gotten a little better lately, but it’s still discouraging trying to sell in Android Market, which has more than 80,000 apps. Developers like Gottlieb say the store needs more recommendation and discovery tools, more categories, a better check-out system and more marketing muscle. These are all things that Amazon could immediately address.

Arron La, maker of the Advanced Task Manager app, said Amazon could help ignite sales by giving better recommendation tips and making checkouts easier for users. He said Google Checkout can be a nightmare at times, sometimes charging people multiple times for one app. A reliable and familiar system like Amazon’s could prompt people to open up their wallets, something they don’t do that much of in the Android Market. He also hopes that Amazon will do more to promote apps and advertise its app store, which Google has shied away from.

Google, for its part, is working on a number of changes, including a new web-based Android Market and a reported deal with PayPal  for payments. And it just expanded the number of countries that can buy paid apps.Even with those improvements, La feels better about Amazon because the company seems more committed to making money, something Google seems less interested in. Google claims it doesn’t make any money from Android Market.

“Once you have the right things in place and you get that ecosystem going, you can definitely make money out of it,” he said. “But that’s been what’s hurting Android Market. Everyone using Google devices, they want and expect everything for free. When Google released Android market, they had no paid apps in the beginning.”

To be sure, an Amazon Android store or a similar market from Verizon Wireless could be a headache for developers. Developers would have to get in the habit of submitting and updating apps in multiple markets. Users might get confused as to who to turn to for apps or support. Amazon will have the ability to turn down apps and has stated it won’t approve offensive or pornographic content. It could lead to some gripes from developers about rejected apps, similar to complaints about the App Store, and it’s unclear if it will be as easy as one click to buy an app and get it on an Android device.

If Amazon proves to be a real player in the app market, expect a lot of developers to look Amazon’s way. They’ll be happy to get something closer to an App Store experience for their apps. “Apple is about the making the whole experience pleasant while Google is just focused on getting the job done and it’s not always pretty,” Gottlieb said. “Amazon is somewhere in between and it’s definitely closer to Apple than Google.”

Related research from GigaOM Pro (subscription req’d):

• Why Google Launched App Inventor


• Is Amazon the New Self-Publish Kingpin?


• Why Carriers Still Hold the Key to Handset Sales

Attacks On 'Frivolous' Startups, Sound Like Misguided Attacks On 'Frivolous' Blogs & Social Media

from the cat-bloggers-of-silicon-valley dept

We hear it all the time when it comes to various social media offerings. Blogs were dismissed early on by all important people who said they "don't care about what people wearing pajamas sitting in their basement have to say about their cats." Twitter was dismissed by people who "don't care what so-and-so ate for lunch." And on and on. But what's interesting is this same sort of attitude seems to also be playing out on a larger scale, in how people look at innovation. Investor Peter Thiel is apparently complaining that Silicon Valley companies aren't doing anything really important any more. But, I think, like the complaints about Blogging, Twitter and other social media efforts (some of which Thiel invested in), he's focused too much on all the fluff and ignoring the fact that plenty of serious things are going on. However, there's almost always been random silly startups that get lots of attention (and some of them later turn into being serious, important companies). Google, Amazon and eBay were all derided as being frivolous in their early years, but all turned into something much larger.



Along those lines, Dan Lyons has perhaps his most ridiculous column to date (and that's saying a lot), in that he sets up by complaining about the same "frivolous" innovation going on in Silicon Valley, and then uses Nathan Myhrvold of Intellectual Ventures as the counter-example of a company taking on the real hard problems. Uh, yeah, the real hard problems of hoarding patents, waiting for someone else to do the real work, and then shaking them down for money? Lyons, like so many others, seems to not recognize the difference between ideas and execution. What has Intellectual Ventures actually executed on. What product has it brought to market? Absolutely none. The only thing it's done to date is collect hundreds of millions of dollars from a few tech companies so that those companies can avoid getting sued, and can dig into IV's patent database to countersue those who sue them. Lyons quotes Myhrvold making the following statement:

"The old Silicon Valley was about solving really hard problems, making technical bets. But there's no real technical bet being made with Facebook or Zynga," says Nathan Myhrvold, the former chief technology officer at Microsoft who now runs an invention lab in Seattle. "Today almost everyone in the Valley will tell you there is too much 'me-tooism,' too much looking for a gold rush and not enough people who are looking to solve really hard problems."

Myhrvold is being misleading yet again. There's always been "me-tooism" in the Valley, and sometimes it works out, and often it doesn't. Microsoft, where Myhrvold worked for many years, was pretty damn famous for its brand of "me-tooism." And, oh yeah, it too could be dismissed in its early days for not being "about solving really hard problems." And, of course, there are plenty of tech companies out there that are working on solving hard problems, so cherry picking a few you don't like does not make for a representation of the entire industry.

"What bothers me is the zillions of wannabes who will follow along, and the expectation that every company ought to be focused on doing really short-term, easy things to achieve giant paydays. I think that's unrealistic, and it's not healthy," Myhrvold says.

So don't worry about the wannabe and followers. They've always been around Silicon Valley and the ecosystem tends to take care of them over time. Focus on building what you're building (which in Myhrvold's case, still appears to be nothing) and let the market take care of the rest. It always seems to do just fine.

6 Comments | Leave a Comment..

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Jodie Foster Says Mel Gibson Is &#39;The Most Loved Man In The Film <b>...</b>

Jodie Foster is convinced her pal Mel Gibson will be able to successfully resurrect his movie career following his recent personal problems as he is "the most loved man in the film business." Gib...

RIM co-CEO Balsillie responds to Jobs&#39; comments | iLounge <b>News</b>

iLounge news discussing the RIM co-CEO Balsillie responds to Jobs' comments. Find more Apple news from leading independent iPod, iPhone, and iPad site.

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News is a daily roundup of what's making headlines in the Pacific Northwest.

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Jodie Foster Says Mel Gibson Is &#39;The Most Loved Man In The Film <b>...</b>

Jodie Foster is convinced her pal Mel Gibson will be able to successfully resurrect his movie career following his recent personal problems as he is "the most loved man in the film business." Gib...

RIM co-CEO Balsillie responds to Jobs&#39; comments | iLounge <b>News</b>

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Jodie Foster Says Mel Gibson Is &#39;The Most Loved Man In The Film <b>...</b>

Jodie Foster is convinced her pal Mel Gibson will be able to successfully resurrect his movie career following his recent personal problems as he is "the most loved man in the film business." Gib...

RIM co-CEO Balsillie responds to Jobs&#39; comments | iLounge <b>News</b>

iLounge news discussing the RIM co-CEO Balsillie responds to Jobs' comments. Find more Apple news from leading independent iPod, iPhone, and iPad site.

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Jodie Foster Says Mel Gibson Is &#39;The Most Loved Man In The Film <b>...</b>

Jodie Foster is convinced her pal Mel Gibson will be able to successfully resurrect his movie career following his recent personal problems as he is "the most loved man in the film business." Gib...

RIM co-CEO Balsillie responds to Jobs&#39; comments | iLounge <b>News</b>

iLounge news discussing the RIM co-CEO Balsillie responds to Jobs' comments. Find more Apple news from leading independent iPod, iPhone, and iPad site.

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Jodie Foster Says Mel Gibson Is &#39;The Most Loved Man In The Film <b>...</b>

Jodie Foster is convinced her pal Mel Gibson will be able to successfully resurrect his movie career following his recent personal problems as he is "the most loved man in the film business." Gib...

RIM co-CEO Balsillie responds to Jobs&#39; comments | iLounge <b>News</b>

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One thing that everyone wants to do nowadays is to make money. So why not turn a fun hobby into a full time money making career? This article will help you to get started in accomplishing that task. Making your own pillows is a something that anyone can do. The key to making money with this craft is to give the pillow your own unique touch and style. One thing you will definitely need for this business is a sewing machine. For a few creative ideas you will need the following items; decorative fabric of your choosing, pillow stuffing (package of cotton found at craft store), lace medallion, a yard of braid, decorative upholstery cord to match your fabric (you will need about 3 1/2 yards for a standard 18 in. pillow), fabric glue, thread to match your upholstery, two to four tassels that match your fabric, measuring tape, sewing needles, fabric pen, and at least five decorative buttons. Make sure that you include any additional items or patterns that you will need to create your own unique touch.

Once you have all of your materials you can begin making your pillows. You will basically need to follow the following steps in order to create your basic pillow. Start by using your measuring tape, and fabric pen to make two 18in size squares on your fabric. Or if you want to change it up a bit why not make your pillows a different shape, there is no law that says all pillows have to be square. Then cut out your pattern, and begin adding your creative design to the front side of the material. Your design should always be added before you stitch up the pillow. Remember the more creative you are the more likely you are to make a profit from your pillows. Next pin the two patterns together using your sewing needles. Make sure that the design you want to appear on the outside of the pillow is facing in when you pin the two sides together. So your fabric will be inside out. Make sure that you leave a small space on one side of your pillow without pins. This area will be sewed up after you have inserted your cotton, so it should be big enough for you to fit your hand in. Now you can start sewing around the edges of the fabric about one inch in. You can sew right over the pins. Don't worry you will be able to pull them out. Continue sewing all the way around until you reach the opening. Once you are finished sewing, you can remove all of the pins. Now stick your hand in the hole and turn the pillow so that the outside is now inside, and the decorative part of your pillow is now on the outside. You can now stuff your pillow with the cotton. Next begin sewing up your open hole. You can use the machine for this since you will be covering the seams up with your upholstery cord.

Now it is time to finish decorating the outside of your unique pillow. If you want to use lace then you can place the lace medallion in the center of your pillow and glue it into place. If you do not want to use glue then you can use tiny blind stitches. If you do not want to use the lace then you can try something else like buttons. When it comes to decorating the outside of your pillow the possibilities really are endless. Don't be afraid to experiment with different ideas and techniques. Remember to have fun, and use your imagination. In order to turn your pillows into profit you need a place to sort of test them out and see how well the public will like them. The best place to begin would probably be eBay. You will need to take some pretty good pictures of your pillows to post on eBay. Keep in mind that people are more likely to buy something that they can see, rather than something that they can not see. Make sure that the price is reasonable for pillows. You could try looking at some of the other people selling pillows on eBay. One thing that you must do is always check out the competition. The key is to find your target market. This would be the group of people who you will be selling your pillows too. For example you could try making unique pillows for kids and make children your target market. Remember to do your research in this market before you begin, so that when you do start your business you will not waste any time trying to sell to people who are not interested.



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Jodie Foster Says Mel Gibson Is &#39;The Most Loved Man In The Film <b>...</b>

Jodie Foster is convinced her pal Mel Gibson will be able to successfully resurrect his movie career following his recent personal problems as he is "the most loved man in the film business." Gib...

RIM co-CEO Balsillie responds to Jobs&#39; comments | iLounge <b>News</b>

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Jodie Foster Says Mel Gibson Is &#39;The Most Loved Man In The Film <b>...</b>

Jodie Foster is convinced her pal Mel Gibson will be able to successfully resurrect his movie career following his recent personal problems as he is "the most loved man in the film business." Gib...

RIM co-CEO Balsillie responds to Jobs&#39; comments | iLounge <b>News</b>

iLounge news discussing the RIM co-CEO Balsillie responds to Jobs' comments. Find more Apple news from leading independent iPod, iPhone, and iPad site.

Northwest <b>News</b>: Starbucks opens &#39;boozy bucks&#39; serving beer, wine <b>...</b>

News is a daily roundup of what's making headlines in the Pacific Northwest.