Saturday, April 30, 2011

News! You Can Refinance and Consolidate Your Debt Again

If you want to refinance your home and consolidate debt, now it's the time. A group of private investors in Los Angeles California loan money to homeowners and real estate investors. These private investors also called hard money lenders are the bank.

Many of you tried to refinance with your local bank or a mortgage company in your area, but with no success. Now it's possible again, but you have to know the conditions to qualify. You don't need excellent credit score or great income documentation, but you do need a lot of equity in your property.

Hard money lenders have been around for a long time, but no body ever heard about them. Real estate investors and brokers were working with them for years, but homeowners didn't know they exist. Today for many of us hard money lenders are the only hope to get a real estate mortgage.

Where can you find a hard money lender?

Many mortgage brokers and real estate agents are already in contact with one or two investors because of the fact that they just need them. If you will go online and look for a hard money lender, you will probably find a 100 private investors or more. You don't need to get fanatic about it, you just need to know what they're talking about.

How do you know who is the right investor for you?

Normally of course you need to go with gut feeling, but in this case you need to be a little more careful then that. There are many hard money lenders that you don't want to work with. So what do you do? You ask questions. Here are some questions you will need to ask private investors when you call them:

1. The name of the company.
2. How long they've been in business.
3. Get some name of people they've worked with.
4. What are the interest rates they're offering?
5. How many points they charge you.
6. Do they charge any due diligence fees, or any money upfront?
7. Are there any other fees included?
8. You want everything in writing from them, it's very important.

You have to understand that you don't deal with big corporations. Hard money lenders are individual like you and me, but they have few millions dollars in their bank account. They would love to help you as long as you offer your real estate as collateral.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Is 'No News' Really Good News? And Taking Care in Answering

As tradition would have it wartime news was often bad. News of relatives that had died or that had been seriously injured was (and still is) routine for these soldiers' families. No news was more often than not 'good news'.

The trouble is sometimes, in the rest of life certainly, no news can actually be bad news. For instance, there are many times that we don't get the sort of feedback that would be warranted but for distance, a lack of confidence in the person wanting to give the feedback, or tact or political correctness often get in the way.

We can easily - and falsely - think we're done no wrong and are otherwise on the right track, especially in cases where the vocal minority are particular positive. Even one person can tell us what we want to hear and suddenly our minds are at a false ease. We so seek the approval of others. Is it any good for us to be under false allusions? No, the truth is always better. We should pray that we're not ignorant and, where and when we are, that people might have the gumption to come and respectfully challenge us, in love, bringing truth to bear on these situations, and gracefully so.

Taking Care in Answering

Some questions we're asked are set in eternity. However we respond will command the angels' to go 'on our behalf' and act. The heart makes it so. Not often but certainly sometimes we're asked questions - particularly by those influential ones in our midst-that when answered have lasting consequences for us. Here it is our hearts are often found answering for us, despite what our minds might want to think or believe otherwise.

Here we are noting particularly little (and large) incongruities between what we perhaps covet, finding attractive, and what we truly desire - at times beneath our conscious awareness. So, here enters the covetous detail intermingled with the real heart desire we're perhaps repressing. The latter wins most times for we ultimately cannot repress what our hearts are saying via our actions and body language if they're observed long enough.

Take passion for instance. We cannot invent our passions. They come to us inexplicably, as if something in the heart were some sort of receiver to a notional transponder in the ether - wired are they to certain inner-heart drives. The answers of our hearts are worn on our sleeves whether we like it or not. Finally, if we take care when answering we can answer more congruently, checking off our truest desires and warding against slippery covetousness.

Copyright (c) 2010 S. J. Wickham.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Get the Latest Tech News From Technology Sites

When the society looks back on the past few decades and the infancy of the World wide web can be correctly defined, it will most likely be chronicled that the Internet is the greatest learning tool since the printing press. Even small African communities where basic electricity can at times be a scarcity, personal computers and the World wide web are changing the way people view the world. In addition to millions of pages devoted to news, politics, and other things, tech news are often a dominant subject matter on a medium run by the most recent technological discoveries. Here are just a few internet sites you can visit for the latest technology news.

The website cNet has been a frontrunner in technology for many years. Not only do they have a pile of news and stories devoted to technological innovation, but they also have a seemingly never-ending amount of product critiques. In addition they run the well-liked Download.com site which lets you download trials of computer software or freeware and shareware applications from around the globe. Ask just about any hardcore computer nerd about this site and they'll probably tell you that they've it bookmarked and that they check-in with cNet at least once per day.

Following closely behind cNet is ZDnet. They have been around almost as long and have created a great track record of not only tech news but also having several of the finest opinion authors within the company, as well. Quite a few of the reports have comments enabled, which implies you may fire back at a columnist who is voicing a viewpoint that you believe is ridiculous. Keep in mind, just because a person has something printed online, it does not mean that person has any idea what they are talking about. Just bear in mind to remain civil and well-intentioned when making your point.

Some of the very best mainstream news outlets available also have excellent technology news divisions, as well. Web sites like the San Francisco Chronicle, CNN, MSNBC as well as the BBC all have webpages with tech sections which are updated several times every day.

Following in the footsteps of the major news agencies, the Internet giants are likewise trying to cover technology news. Sites like Google News and Yahoo News now have fulltime journalists on the beat and they regularly break stories that the other web sites miss. This is a case of businesses producing so much cash and having only little idea of exactly what to do with it, so they start their very own media service.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

News For Bookworms

There are many people who are fond of reading and they do not hesitate to invest on the books. They are actually fond of making a collection on the latest volumes and they do not stop themselves on purchasing all of them. There are some people who like to read but they do not feel very comfortable on spending money on it. They know that their money is going to waste as they hardly read once or twice in a year so why waste money on buying new volumes? Well, if you are in the circle of book lovers then find ways in which you do not have to waste a lot of time and a lot of money every time. Try out ways in which you do not have to spend much and get more which equals your home brochure holders or brochure displays. Why are you wasting your time when there are free hand methods available, which can provide you free literature for your reading?

The public library:

The very common place where you can get the excessive amount of literature is the public library. Public library is the bright and easiest way to reach out thousands of books all in one place. Once you step inside the public library you will find thousands of old and latest volumes on the books of your finding. You will easily get your favorite writers and authors which are hardly available on the bookstores.

Public library is the best place for passionate readers as it is all there for you without any cost or charge on the books. Actually public libraries run on the basis of the taxes which public pays to the Government. So it runs on the basis of taxes you pay and you don't have to pay anything at the time of issuing any book.

Book swaps:

Book swapping can be another good way to provide you a good amount of literature which you have been waiting for such a long time. You can swap books from your old friends by giving them another book which you have. It is a very famous and the easiest way to get books without paying any charges on it.

There are also some online sites that allow you to swap any of the books you want and for this you do not have to pay anything. The only liability is to give one book which you are having and take one which you want. In online book swapping stores, you will also find a lot of variety. It provides you a vital chance to get the latest volumes which are still unreleased in the offline book market. By this you can have a good variety for further book swapping.

Book swapping with friends:

Book swapping is easier than going to a library and finding your kind of book to read. You can settle things with your friends, cousins, relatives and all fellows who you find are the true readers. You can swap books from them and pass them their kind of book. This is the easiest way to get the instinct literature with no price at all.

Monday, April 25, 2011

PlayStation 3 Wholesaler Industry - News

Want to find a PlayStation 3 wholesaler, to get your hands on the much-awaited console quickly and cheaply? You will need to wade through a swamp of scams and cheats - but rest assured, there are honest merchants out there, and it will be possible to get yourself a PlayStation 3. Just do not expect it to be a simple case of looking up a wholesaler on the internet- you will have to do some work yourself if you want to do it alone.

The easy but unpopular method is to wait. If you can hang on until mid 2007, you will almost certainly be able to get a PlayStation 3 at a lower price, and with a lot less hassle. By March of 2007 there should be about 6 million units in circulation-which should be enough for most of the people who want a PS3.

But suppose you want to get hold of the PlayStation 3 before Christmas? What Playstation 3 wholesaler should you turn to?

For a start, do not think you are going to be able to get one at real wholesale price often, in January 2007. Unless luck comes in your way that is, which is very unrealistic in this kind of business. The price set by Sony- $499 for the basic units, $599 for the premium ones- is lower than the price that the market would set by itself. So the places you might usually look for a cheap deal- online auctions, resellers, wholesale distributors- are out of the question.

Sure, if you have $1000 to spend on a console, go ahead and buy one at eBay - but that is the kind of price you will be seeing the consoles resell for, after the still continued launch as there are many countries that are due up for launch and arrival.

Importing a PlayStation 3 from Japan is another bad idea. People do this with a wide variety of goods - not just consoles but books, DVDs, CDs and other items, and sometimes it can be done easier in your same US state. Not so with the PlayStation 3. Sony has carefully arranged a legal setup for the PlayStation 3, which makes importing the Japanese version into another region, is illegal.

Sony have demonstrated the illegality of importing the Playstation 3 by winning a court case against a man by the name of Lik-Sang, who was involved also in the sell of importing PSPs.

So, you are going to have to stick to the mainstream retailers for now and shop around prices if re-sell is your goal. Look around on the Internet for the best deals - but do not believe anywhere that promises too good to be true cheap prices. Instead, go for bundle deals: outlets selling the PlayStation 3 with free games or accessories included.

That is the way they can offer the PlayStation 3 cheaply, without generally- breaking many of the already pricing agreements Sony has given to many retailers and authorized dealers. So do not go for the Playstation 3 wholesaler anytime soon, you should search for distributors and online hidden wholesalers that specialize in such gaming practice.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Newport News Virginia Attractions and Recreation

Visitors to Newport News will find an excellent selection of things to do. This Virginia city lies along the banks of the James River and the port of Hampton Roads. Favorite attractions of the city include museums, theatres, parks, fishing piers, charter boats and other recreation.

Museums

The Mariners' Museum - USS Monitor Center

The Mariners' Museum has been designated by Congress as America's National Maritime Museum, The museum features maritime exhibits from around the world. The USS Monitor Center showcases the "Battle of the Ironclads" display and as well as a full-scale Monitor replica.

Virginia Living Museum

This attraction has nature-related exhibits where visitors learn about animals such as wolves, eagles, sea turtle, fish, frogs and more. Special sections encourage enthusiasts to touch live crabs and fossils and other forms of nature. Living exhibits depict Virginia's widely varying environments from the mountains to the coast including representations of the Chesapeake Bay and limestone caves. The museum also houses an observatory, state-of-the-art digital planetarium theater, live animals and native plant gardens. Shops include the Wild Wings Museum Store and the Wild Side Café.

Virginia War Museum

The Virginia War Museum has U.S. military displays including collections of personal artifacts, weapons, vehicles, uniforms, posters and more from 1775 through the present. Galleries include Women at War and Marches Toward Freedom which document the roles of women and African-Americans in the military. The Visions of War exhibit showcases the museum's outstanding propaganda poster collection. Gifts are offered for sale in The Duffle Bag gift shop.

Theatre

Several venues host theatrical events in or near Newport News. The Christopher Newport University's Ferguson Center for the Arts holds performances in its 1,700-seat concert hall, 500-seat music and theater hall, and 200-seat studio/children's theater. The Peninsula Community Theater, located in Newport News, offers several plays throughout the year. Their Children's Theatre also features productions. The Virginia Shakespeare Festival, held annually at the College of William and Mary, presents performances of Shakespeare.

City Parks

Newport News Park is one of the largest municipal parks in the country. This 8,000 acre park is occupied by wildlife including deer, foxes, otter, raccoon, beaver and more. The Newport News Park is a favorite destination for campers who find a natural setting while being so close to the activities and attractions of Hampton Roads. The park is located at 13564 Jefferson Avenue, just off I-64 (Exit 250B). Newport News Park events and festivals include the Newport News Children's Festival of Friends, the Newport News Fall Festival of Folklife and the Celebration in Lights.

Anderson Park, located at 16th Street and Oak Avenue features ball fields, basketball, beach, boat ramp, historical features, saltwater fishing, picnic shelters, playground, restrooms, and tennis.

Huntington Park is located at the intersection of Warwick Boulevard and Mercury Boulevard, near the James River Bridge. This 60-acre park is open sunrise to sunset daily and offers a public beach fronting the James River. A public boat ramp is open all year and accommodates boats with trailers up to 30-feet in length. Fort Fun, a 13,000-square foot playground, is located on a scenic bluff overlooking the James River. Fishing for brook, brown and rainbow trout is popular at Lake Biggins from November to March each year. Also located in Huntington Park is the Virginia War Museum which showcases America's military history from the Revolutionary War to the present day.

Deer Park is located on Jefferson Avenue in the center of the city. The name "Deer Park" originated because white-tailed deer were raised on a game preserve before the land was dedicated as a public park. Deer Park has a playground, ball fields, 13 acres of woodlands and hiking trails. Flowering plants of the park include camellias, azaleas and rhododendrons. The park is equipped with picnic shelters for parties, reunions, or picnics.

Fishing

Fishermen will find a variety of saltwater fishing opportunities in Newport News and the surrounding areas. There are fishing piers, head boats, fishing charter trips and other types of fishing. The time of year is very important when choosing your fishing trip.

You can learn about local fishing seasons by reading area fishing reports, newspaper articles and by calling local captains and talking to them about what fish generally are caught at any given time. If you are set in catching a certain species, the season may be critical. If the types of fish you catch are less important, it might be best to choose a fishing charter or head boat and let the captain choose what to fish for.

When fishing around Newport News its a good idea to carry a small cooler for drinks, and a mid-sized or large cooler iced down for storing the fish at the end of the day. For fishing charters, most boats allow you to bring a fish cooler along, but some will have a fish box on board to keep the fish cool until you return to port.

The crew of charter boats and head boats may offer fish cleaning or arrange for the catch to be cleaned at the marina. If you prefer to clean your own fish, discuss that in advance and be ready with a cooler when you return to port.

Newport News Farmers Market

The Newport News Farmers Market offers farmers, gardeners, seafood retailers and other select vendors the opportunity to market home-grown and crafted products. The open air market includes 10,000 feet of covered vending space. The market features fresh produce from local farmers and gardeners as well as fresh fish, fresh-frozen seafood, cheeses and meats. Other items include bedding plants, cut flowers, baked goods and hand made crafts. The market is open year-round.

Manmohan's Interview With TV News Editors

Everyone in India seems to be talking of Manmohan Singh's interview with major Indian TV news channels plus international ones like Al Jazeera, BBC, CNN. From all comments on various blogs I gathered that many ordinary folk seem to be disappointed with what he had to say. I watched it online and quite frankly, was impressed. Remembering he is in a coalition government and is therefore beholden to other parties, I think he is a wonderfully stabling influence. His economic policies since Narasimha Rao's days under whom he was finance minister, have helped more Indians prosper than any other person's. His background, and therefore his strength, is finance.

Where corruption is concerned, I agree that he is weak, making excuses for not taking people in power to task, sometimes, even rewarding them with promotions. Every TV editor asked him what he was doing re corruption of some person in power or the other and his answers never said he'd be able to recover the lost revenues or make that person accountable by asking him or her to resign. To know someone is corrupt and not insisting on making that person accountable makes Manmohan as guilty as if he committed the crime himself. His answers were, to my mind, a bit helpless except when he declared that after the budget session (not now, but sometime in the future) there would be a reshuffle of his entire cabinet.

But here's the problem - Manmohan's policy on corruption might be weak but everyone is agreed he isn't corrupt himself. His economic policies since he was finance minister during Narasimha Rao's PMship, have helped more Indians prosper than any other person's. There are other politicians who are corrupt, who use strong arm tactics to subdue Indians who question them; who are communal by nature - which means they aren't concerned about the well being of all Indians except the ones who belong to their own community and whose economic policies have never been as strong as Manmohan's.

Summing up
So many comments I've read indicate that the Indian public isn't impressed with Rahul Gandhi - the PM in waiting! Secular Indians definitely don't want a communal minded party (only our community and damn the others) to come to power. Everyone is agreed Manmohan is honest, astute and has sound economic policies. Those are the sum of his leadership skills. He is weak on corruption and I'm really not sure what he plans to do about terrorism, inflation and the environment. He blames the Congress coalition partners for compromises he has to make and for having to overlook corruption. The public is wary. Nobody believes him.

What can we do to change the situation? Do we solely depend on our news reporters to bring things out into the open or can we, the public, do something? And if so, what, that would be effective? Can we keep showing Manmohan that we are not going to let up our pressure on corrupt individuals in politics till he is forced to take action and not just mouth platitudes - that it is the public he is more accountable to rather than his coalition partners and his party members?

Do we have any other options besides waiting for a candidate who will open up the economy like Manmohan has, is more honest than he is and perhaps stronger than him when dealing with corruption in his own party or in the coalition, and last, but not least, someone who deals strongly with terrorists and the environment?

Yes we do. We can protest in unity; make our presence felt. The key word is UNITY. It shouldn't be that as soon as there are threats to someone's life, property and loved ones, the rest of us quietly move away. It takes time to build such unity. How? India Redefined seems to have a plan. Their website: http://www.indiaredefined-a4c.org/

The link to the interview with Manmohan was provided by Patrick French:

http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/news/pm-manmohan-singh-s-q-a-with-editors/191098

Saturday, April 23, 2011

News - Guaranteed Annuity Accumulation Income Plan is For Guaranteed Safety of Annuity Accumulation

Guaranteed Annuity Accumulation Plans were endorsed in the news. The Guaranteed income safety of annuity accumulations will be available for consumers and investors. Annuity consultants are pleased that income safety is an accumulation feature not seen in every annuity. Everyday people and investors can protect their savings guaranteed and still achieve accumulation gains in an annuity despite uncertain economic conditions.

A recent press release was announced by Labor Secretary Hilda Solis. Here she outlined her top regulatory goals for 2010, outlining plans to reduce the incidents of workers like you and me, outliving their retirement savings. She will be accelerating public awareness of acquiring annuities, and inspiring employers to offer annuities as a smart alternative choice.

Finally, our representatives, like a disturbed scorpion, struck. The sting hit its mark, entering the power veins deep inside Washington. Like a rapidly spreading forest fire without firemen, concerned top representation took notice. With devastating declines in the financial markets, putting out the raging financial flames took top priority. The sheltered value of guaranteed investments is at its peak. Everyday people and investors need assistance to achieve a financially secure retirement. Your Washington representation is encouraged with the Obama administration noticing a pathway around dangerous smoke clouds.

Conscious of its value, attention is on how guaranteed income streams of annuities accumulate safely for later in life. Gratifying to our representatives is viewing annuities as a pivotal piece of the retirement planning puzzle of every person. The government is currently proposing that you evaluate the benefits of a guaranteed accumulation annuity, as Social Security benefits in the future could vary widely from what they are today.

Below is a critical warning to All Consumers.

There are many new untrained insurance agents calling themselves financial representatives. They may represent a well-known insurance company seen on television or a company in business for 150 years. However the agent is being purposely trained into offering you a product that is of more benefit to the insurance company to you. This plan is called a variable annuity and carries considerable risk for the average investor. The insurance company controls many changeable aspects of the annuity plan and it is possible to lose every hard earned cent of your money.

A portion of the valuable newsworthy details presented come from recommendations and findings of the Insured Retirement Institute. They are a well acknowledged, not-for-profit institute. Many insiders consider them as the authoritative source on annuities, insured retirement strategies, and retirement planning for helping consumers. Seek out an independent financial consultant with years of experience in guiding people toward the correct plan available. Often this will be a fixed annuity, providing significant safety along with tax-deferred accumulation of money. You are protected that the money you invested can never decrease. This is the same type of plan discussed above regarding government activity.

It is important for you to acknowledge that your financial future has shifted to your hands. Gone are the days of relying on Social Security, Medicare, and pensions to keep pace with your present standard of living. Do not expect the government to personally bail you out. Instead act on the proposed public awareness to investing in yourself. With the news of the guaranteed fixed annuity accumulation plan announced, take advantage of this tax-deferred accumulation benefit now.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Format For Writing a Newspaper Article - How You Should Write Your News Articles

Writing news articles is a very rewarding task. Aside from the fact that you'll be able to inform the masses, you'll also have the power to influence public opinion. In addition, you can also make decent money in this endeavor if your articles are really, really good.

Here's the structure you need to follow when writing your news articles:

1. Kick-start your news articles by using a very powerful, eye-catching headline. What they say is true; your headline is the most important element of your news article. As this is what will draw your readers in, ensure that it's very enticing and moving. Tell your audience what's in it for them and the gist of your content using as few powerful words as possible.

2. Lead paragraph. News article are written using the inverted pyramid technique. This is because your audience are eager to know the most essential information. So, tell them everything that they need to know on your lead paragraph. Tell them what happened, give them a list of all the persons involved, tell them when and where it happened, and how. Your readers must get a very clear picture of your chosen story by simply reading this paragraph.

3. Article body. Use your succeeding paragraphs to offer your readers with supporting details. Present them based on their importance to your main topic. The most important ones should come first. You can also insert quotes or images that are closely related to your chosen story. If you're doing a follow-up story, make sure that you also offer additional or background information.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Coffee News Franchise Review - The Coffee News Business Opportunity

Coffee News is a weekly publication that began back in 1988 in Manitoba, Canada. It was started by Jean Daum, an advertising expert, whose independent research led her to believe that people are more susceptible to advertising while they are eating. The concept is simple- a brief newspaper that is delivered free to coffee houses, restaurants, and motels. How brief? Well, Coffee News claims that it only takes 8 minutes to read and therefore, due to its brevity, people will read it from front to back. The paper focuses only on news that is entertaining and upbeat, including horoscopes, jokes, trivia, and therefore appeals to its readers. The theory is then that readers will read not only the features but also the advertisements.

Coffee News has been franchising since 1994 and startup costs for the new franchisee are estimated at just under $10,000. There is an $8,000 franchise fee and an ongoing royalty fee of $75 per week. There is no in-house financing available for the start-up costs or franchise fee. Exclusive territories are offered and the parent company looks for individuals with sales, advertising, and marketing experience. As a franchisee, you will need to sell advertising space in your publication. This is how revenue is generated.

The Coffee News franchise can be run out of your home and it does not need to be owner operated. However, approximately 98% of the current franchisees are owner operators. A 3-day training course is offered at the company headquarters in Bangor, Maine and a mentorship program is also available for new franchisees. A monthly newsletter is also distributed by the parent company which offers tips and strategies from other franchise owners.

If advertising sales is something that appeals to you, then you might find the Coffee News opportunity to suit your needs. However, if it does not, then you probably should search elsewhere for a business startup.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Stock Market News & Media - How the Media Impacts Investments

The economy and related themes have been a major message woven into news & media reporting throughout the past year. With an average of over 40 million viewers every day, television news has a broad reach. With such a critical message and such a huge audience, it should be no surprise that the media has an impact on investors choices in the buying and selling stocks each day. This article exposes some of the little-known facts regarding the impact the media has on investor decisions and what they can do about it.

Following are six examples of ways in which news & media influence stock market investing.

1. Specific Referrals: Specific references from news & media sources to a company or stock symbol have considerable impact on investment activity associated with that stock. Furthermore, the response is quick. Within a matter of minutes, a stock price can begin to rise, if the media reference is positive, or it can begin to fall, if the media reference is negative.

2. Negative Impacts: Often, a specific referral within the news & media can impact stocks from other companies within the same sector or industry group as the referenced stock. Unfortunately, there are times when the referral results in inappropriate consequences.For example, a negative news reference to Stock #1 drives down the price of Stock #1. Stock #2 is in the same industry group as Stock #1 and the price of Stock #2 drops as well. It is highly likely that investors holding either Stock #1 as well as investors holding Stock #2 will both quickly sell their stock to capture any accrued gains or to limit their loss.Unfortunately, the negative news reference for Stock #1 may not be relevant to Stock #2. If this is the case, there is no legitimate reason for the price of Stock #2 to drop. Investors with knowledge of the company associated with Stock #2, often see this as an opportunity to quickly buy additional shares of Stock #2 to take advantage of the lower price.Generally, the market will quickly wake up to the unintentional negative impact and the price of Stock #2 will begin to rise back to its previous level. Knowledgeable investors are happy since they bought at a lower price. Those existing investors that sold Stock #2 are unhappy because they reacted to a falling stock price and now recognize that Stock #2 should not have dropped in price under these circumstances.

3. Overriding News: As pointed out earlier, stock prices respond quickly to news specific to a company. However, news reported later in the same day or week, can often override the earlier company specific news. The initial news may have caused a stock price to begin to rise, only to see a change in the direction of the price when the latter news report was released. In most cases, investors cannot anticipate this situation and its consequences are unfortunate, but real.

4. Who Can I Believe?: News & media sources often make extensive use of "guest experts" that are generally well-informed about some aspect of the economy or stock market. This is a positive element in their newscasts. However, listening to these experts demonstrates that even the experts seldom are in 100% agreement on the issue at hand. Most investors are looking for answers and may be frustrated by the lack of definitive answers to their questions. Although this may be a turn-off to some investors, it makes a positive contribution to the industry as a whole as it does provide investors with more pieces to the puzzle on the path to a better understanding of the "big picture".

5. Do Not Run With The Bulls: News & Media reporting can produce a response that demonstrates "herd mentality". Such a reaction is generally not based on sound investment principles but on the opinion of a group or individual that can start the bulls running.Over time investors tend to gain confidence in stock recommendations offered by a television financial personality or the editor of a financial newsletter. When this "leader of the bulls" makes a buy recommendation on a specific stock, generally after the market close of that trading day, the herd quickly responds by placing a buy order for that stock. When the market opens the next day, this large number of buy orders can cause the stock price to quickly surge or gap up and many of those buy orders get filled at prices considerably higher than the previous days closing price. When other investors see that stock price rising, they want to get in on the action and they place orders further driving up the price of the stock. Often, this inflated stock price is temporary and the price of the stock returns to more appropriate levels leaving some of the herd in a loss position.The best advice is "do not run with the bulls". Wait to see what the price does over the coming week and then make a decision based on your own fundamental and technical analysis of that stock.

6. Watch Out For Old News: Many stock market traders fail to recognize the impact of institutional investors. Wikipedia defines institutional investors as "organizations that pool large sums of money and invest those sums in companies. Their role in the economy is to act as highly specialized investors on behalf of others." Examples of institutional investors are banks, insurance companies, brokerages, pension funds, mutual funds, investment banking, and hedge funds.Institutional investors have the benefit of internal professional staff that specialize in studying the pros and cons of a company in order to determine whether that institution should buy that company stock. The media is not aware of the work of these professionals, nor the investment activity of the institution, until after the fact once the price may have been driven up. At that time, the media may unknowingly report the "old news" of the price rise. This report can cause the public to begin to buy that stock further driving up the price. This can result in artificially high prices that will eventually drop back down after the old news is no longer being reported.Watch for technical indicators that provide indication of institutional activity. Make an informed decision. Do not respond to old news.

Conclusion:

* Stock market investing is an adventure that should not be undertaken by an untrained person. However, with training, investment research, and a big picture view of the economy, it is possible to benefit from some wise investments.

* Appreciate news & media sources for who they are; everyday people reporting as best they can on a very complex global economy that is quickly changing and adjusting to a broad range of political and financial factors. Recognize that writers and reporters are not and cannot be experts in all things, so do not accept all news as gospel. Instead, develop a bigger picture view based on multiple media sources over a period of time. Factor that information into your training and experience to make wise investment decisions

How to Trade Forex - Making a Killing on News Releases

If there's one thing that distinguished the pros from the amateurs in the forex market it's the way they handle trading around news releases.

In fact many forex trading newbies get their first bitter taste of the unpredictability of foreign currency trading when a news release buffets the market and takes out their position. The novice is left scratching his head and asking himself "what just happened?" while the pro is raking in the pips.

Currency markets are driven by the news releases put out by governments and other agencies. Better than expected numbers can send the currency soaring while weak numbers can cause its value to plummet.

These major moves in currency values offer the trader the greatest potential for major profits. Markets can move hundreds of pips in just a few seconds around the times of major news releases. It's also, of course, the time of the greatest chance for losses for the trader who doesn't know what he's doing.

The pro knows full well what news is going to be released and when. In fact economic news releases are issued on schedule every month and the dates can be easily found online.

So the first thing you need to get to know is the economic calendar for the week and month ahead. This will give you the dates and times of all important economic announcements for the currency pairs you're trading.

The other thing you need to know about news releases in their probable impact on the market. You need to know the strength of the potential movement and its direction.

So for example if the US jobless figures are being released as they are on the first Friday of every month (non farm payroll), then you need to know the estimated numbers and the likely extent of market movement for the actual numbers.

Getting this information can require extensive research. This is another way the pro has an edge on you. He's got all the facts at his fingertips and a skilled research team to back him up.

The final and most important thing you need to develop is a strategy for trading around news release times. You need to know whether to place you trade in advance or to wait for the market to calm down and start a trend. You must place your stop loss in the right position to avoid being taken out by one of the whiplashes that are common at news time. This kind of information is priceless but hard to find.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

How to Be a News Stringer & Scooper

You don't have to be a big name journalist to make money from writing news. You can make a good sideline income by writing short new stories. You can make money by selling ideas for news stories, which is known as being a 'news stringer'. You could even make quite a big lump sum from what is known as a scoop!


First, choose a newsworthy area or two to specialise in. Good, topical ideas (but not the only ones you can write news on) are: Politics, the economy, sport, entertainment, culture, crime, business or the environment. If these sound a bit too heavyweight for you then focus on local news. For example, local politics is a LOT easier to write about than national politics.
Next, get familiar with some newspapers that publish news on your chosen newsworthy area. The national newspapers pay the most money but are more tricky to get started with. Local and regional publications are easier to sell to but not all pay for news stories - be sure to check first. If the titles are unfamiliar to you go and purchase copies of them and ascertain if there any back issues available. Study what types of news have been run by those publications in the past and aim to source similar news. Some publications want more factual news, while others want humorous news or sensationalist news.
There are a few directories where you can get contact details for newspapers and magazines. Here's a good one I use all the time: Media UK.
Now here's a very good way to get started: Look for the news stories that appear in your chosen publications every day or every few days. Do some research into those stories. See what else you can find out about them. Look for the story behind the news. People and events the original journalist might not have found out about. Follow those leads up and create new, sellable news stories of your own from them.

Your news story doesn't necessarily have to be that well written. If it's good the editor will put a pro. journalist on the case and still pay you for the lead. This is what is known as 'stringing'.

Good tip: Remember not every news story is something that has just happened today. Stories that have happened over the past week or month are carried in many publications, especially magazines. So look for past stories from last week's or last month's old newspapers. Look at how you could research and rewrite them in your own words to sell to weekly or monthly magazines.

When you have a story idea send details in as soon as possible. Don't wait until you have written the story up. Use email, so it reaches the editor as quickly as possibly.

It's OK to tout your news to several publications to get the best offer. There are even agencies who will do this for you. However, give each a reasonable time to consider your news before moving on to the next. Most editors will want to buy exclusive rights to newsworthy stories, so don't sell it to several publications simultaneously.

Good tip: If you can get a photograph related to the news story you can get extra money for that - or even just sell the photo.

How to make money from a scoop: This is an idea worth thinking about. Get to know if there are any celebrities living in your area. Find out where they live and where they go - and when - to places such as work, shops, gyms or golf clubs. (Not that you should ever follow them of course!) Join their fan clubs to get inside information. Use the places they go yourself if you can. There's a good market for scoops about what celebrities, even minor ones, are getting up to. It might not happen often, but you can get £hundreds or £thousands for these scoops.

Note: When selling news regarding celebrities you need to respect privacy - although many professional paparazzi don't seem to. Don't take photos that are a gross intrusion of privacy, offensive or could be considered defamatory. Even if they're not illegal there won't be much of a market for them.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Good News: Not Everything Is Taxed!

When it comes to taxable income, the Internal Revenue Service cannot consider many things as non-taxable. Trading your services will not help as well. This is because the value of non-cash items has to be established and then calculated as income. Also, you are not permitted to keep your money in a foreign bank (so as to earn interest secretly). You also cannot escape with covert ways to make that extra cash. Uncle Sam does not care about what channel you are using to make your extra money, as long as he gets his cut.

There are, however, a few sources of income that the IRS does not consider taxable. This includes disaster relief grants, child support payments, welfare benefits, emotional distress damages, foster care payments, worker's compensation, black lung disease benefits, casualty insurance, and various other compensations. Property inheritance is not taxable. However, you will still owe the Internal Revenue Service on any income the inheritance generates.

It is never really clear what income is considered taxable or non-taxable. For instance, the current tax laws perceive different situations concerning payments of life insurance in various ways. If you give up your life insurance policy for money, you will be required to include any proceeds that are more than the amount on the policy as taxable income.

However, life insurance that has been paid to you as the recipient of the individual who has been insured is not considered taxable (unless the insurance policy was given to you at a certain particular price).

Another situation whereby income may not be viewed as taxable is in the case of scholarships or fellowships funding money. If you are studying towards a degree, you are able to leave out amounts of money that you received as a scholarship or fellowship and spend it on tuition, approved books, fees, or any other equipment required for educational purposes. On the other hand, any allowance used for room and accommodation is considered taxable.

Also, there are some special rules of taxable income for particular professions. These include volunteers who might be given small amounts of money for the services they provide as well as the clergy or people who work for employers who are overseas.

These instances are not completely detailed. You may have to pay the taxes on some kinds of income or you may be exempted from doing so. Therefore, if you are experiencing any peculiar income issues, do not hesitate to contact the Internal Revenue Service or your tax professional for more advice on the matter. You can also do some research online to find a detailed list of what the IRS views as taxable.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Summary of World Trade News

Once again, it's that time of the week to catch up on the latest happenings in the world of international trade. To start off this week's world trade news round up, Proctor and Gamble recently announced that they will cut down jobs that cover technical posts.

About 300 scientists and researchers are expected to be let go from the multimillion pharmaceutical company's payroll. The research center located in Ohio will be the most affected by Proctor and Gamble's decision. The downsizing will also affect employees in London, Toronto and New York.

According to Tom Milkin, the spokesperson for Proctor and Gamble, the decision was not influenced by the desire to cut back on company cost. He said that the company's move to let their employees go is a business strategy. Milkin added that despite the numerous job losses, this decision will benefit domestic research companies.

Job cuts aren't the only decisions that the company has made this month. Proctor and Gamble recently signed a contract with Nastech to sell Nastach's nasal spray that promises to cure osteoporosis. Aside from the expansion of Nastach's nasal spray, Proctor and Gamble is said to give more focus in developing pharmaceutical products for women, muscular-skeletal problems and gastro-intestinal medicine.

While Tom Milkin denied that the Proctor and Gamble is not having any financial trouble, the head of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas, admitted that his government is currently facing financial difficulties.

Earlier this month, the World Bank has given the Palestinian Authority a warning about the country's financial problem. Palestine's budget deficit is continuously expanding and if the necessary procedures aren't taken to ease the crisis, this could possibly be the downfall of the Palestinian Government.

The origin of Palestine's financial crisis is traced to the violent events in the West Bank against Israel. Israel has taken measures to slowly cripple the Palestinian Government. Security checks between the boarders of Israel and the Gaza Strip. Israel went as far as banning the passage of equipments for the Palestinian security forces and even asking all foreign donors to stop sending payments to the Palestinian Authority. Israel is adamant in letting the Palestine Government suffer; calling on international powers to boycott the Palestinian Government and ignoring calls from the United States to release funds.

Another factor that has influenced financial crisis Palestine is experiencing right now is the election victory of the radical Islamist group Hamas. This group is considered as terrorist by the United States and the Palestinian Authority's biggest donor, the European Union. In fear of their donations reaching Hamas, the United States asked Palestine to return its $50 million donation and the European Union has warned to stop sending funds.

To make up for the loss, Ismail Haniyeh, the Palestinian Prime Minister, said that they will seek aid to Arab nations instead.

As answer to the criticism he received from the United States, Hugo Chavez warned that to halt the supply of oil to the US if Condoleeza Rice continues to undermind his administration. Rice previously released statements that the relationship of Venezuela and Cuba endangers the democratic system of other Latin countries. Chavez also faced accusations of using Venezuelan oil to interfere with trades of nearby nations. Chavez said that the Americans' attempt to turn other nations against Venezuela would be a failure. Chavez doesn't consider stopping the supply of oil to the US as a loss; in fact it is the US that will face a loss because they are dependent on Venezuela's oil supply. He is confident that other oil consuming countries will continue to acquire oil from Venezuela.

On other oil related events, nine foreign oil workers have been held hostage by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta. The hostages consisted of three Americans, two Thais, two Egyptians, one Filipino, and one Briton all working under a Shell subcontractor, Willbros. The rebels claim that they have staged the hostage situation in order to keep foreigners from getting their oil and to reclaim the Nigeria's rightful share of the country's oil assets. Though Nigeria is the biggest oil producer in Africa, the country is still experiencing severe poverty.

This situation caused dramatic oil hikes in different countries such as Japan because the export of crude oil from Nigeria has been cut back by twenty percent. Some operations have also been suspended because of this.

Still on the talk of oil, Petroecuador, Ecuador's national oil company, has decided to suspend their exportation of petroleum products because of the sabotage that the Trans-Ecuadorian pipeline has experienced. The numerous violent demonstrations are held responsible for the sabotage of Petroecuadors major pipeline.

Eduardo Naranjo, the company's top executive, said that the pipeline was completely paralyzed and oil stations have been severely damaged because of the demonstrations. These violent protests, including putting up roadblocks, were participated by Napo (a poverty-stricken province in Ecuador) residents and other Amazon Indians. This caused the production of 144,000 barrels of oil per day to be discontinued. The suspension of oil export will cause Ecuador an estimated $ 30 million worth of revenue daily. The demonstrators demanded that the Ecuadorian government should give poor areas like Napo their fair share of the National budget.

Speaking of giving its fair share, the United State criticized China for not giving theirs. According US Deputy Trade Representative Karan Bhatia, China has been gaining profits from their access in the US market while the US has yet to benefit from their trading relationship.

Rob Portman, US Deputy Trade Representative, stated that a task force will be assigned by the US to monitor China's observance to global trade policies. There have been proposals made by legislators to lower US trade relations with China. Tariffs will also be imposed on low-priced products from China that is flooding the US market.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang said that if such policies are implemented, these could prove to be unfavorable for American business interest. Analysts agree, saying that these actions could backfire at the United State government.

Although the United States is unhappy with their trade relation with China, the same cannot be said for Anglo American. The company's profits reach a new high when China's demand for metal increased. Their earning last year ($ 3.7 million) increased by 39% compared to their 2004 total earning. The company is plans on expanding its production of coals and iron ore because the price of metal products is expected to increase this year. The company's chief executive officer, Tony Trabar, sees indications for the stronger demand for metals.

Anglo American isn't the only company currently expanding its products. IBM has released multifunction printers to the market recently. IBM's new brainchild is capable of faxing, copying, and printing documents. The design for the multifunction printer was influenced by a study which shows that a significant amount of time is exhausted by companies on printing, copying and faxing documents.

Currently, there are four models out in the market, each designed to different capacities of workload. The Infoprint 1540 and Infoprint 1570 can be used by small companies. These printers cost $11,542 and $3,259, respectively. Medium sized companies can use the Infoprint 1560 which costs $12,858 and for large companies, the Infoprint 1580 is designed to handle rough office environment. The Infroprint 1580 costs around $14,462.

Product expansion isn't the only growth the world market is seeing these days. The growth of European Union members is set to accelerate by 2006. According to the forecast made by the European Commission, 25 members of the union are expected to have a 2.2% economic growth, while 12 others are expected to grow by 1.9%.

Among European countries, Spain saw the largest growth projecting a 3.1% boost in their economy. A far second is the United Kingdom with a 2.4% economic growth. Joaquin Almunia, European Union's Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner, warned that the biggest set back in the economic growth of European nations are the inevitable increase of the price of oil.

In other European news, an announcement was made by Germany's E.ON regarding its 27.50 euros per share or 29.1 billion euros offer to Spain's Endesa. The deal is expected to be completed this year if Endesa will accept E.ON's offer. The biggest European power firm E.ON's business offer to Endesa is said to be 29% higher the Gas Natural's previous bid.

If the merge of these two power companies take place, 50 million clients in 30 nations will be served by a potentially top power company in the world. The merge will also put E.ON on the lead over its competitors and provide the company a stronger position in the Latin American markets.

Another business deal is in the works. It is between Dubai Ports World and the United States. Dubai Ports World wants to run six major seaports in the United States. Although the US Congress is in opposition of such a deal, President George W. Bush threatened to veto any law that would hinder the deal.

Bush defended the sale of the ports by saying that his administration has carefully examined the matter. He also added that if the deal is successful, it will serve as a sign that the United States treats other countries fairly. Of course, the issue is scored major heat from critics. According to them, the takeover will only make the country more vulnerable from terrorist attacks. Al Queda, the group responsible for the September 11 tragedy is has members based in the UAE, which is where Dubai Ports World's origin.

Speaking of President Bush, it has been announced that he will be visiting Asian countries in November. Bush will be the second president of the United States to ever visit Vietnam, the first being former president Clinton back in 2000. It should be remembered that Clinton made the decision to stop the embargo against Vietnam. Incidentally, Vietnam missed a place in the World Trade Organization last year when the spot was given to Tonga. Although it should be noted that being a member of the WTO could boost Vietnam's economy, it doesn't necessarily mean that not being able to join is a bad thing. There are a lot of things Vietnam needs to organize before become a WTO member.

For the 14th consecutive time, the interest rate of the United States Federal Reserve increased once again. The meeting held last month saw Alan Greenspan as the head of United States Federal Reserve for the last time after heading the Federal Reserve for 18 years. During Greenspan's tenure in the Federal Reserve, he encountered numerous low points in the US market history. His administration faced the market crash of 1987, the market crisis of the 90's and the September 11 attacks.

Greenspan was replaced by Ben Bernanke which was nominated by the president of the United States last year. The new chairman will discuss the interest rate issue in his first meeting which will be held on March 27. Bernanke's biggest challenge is ending the increase of interest rates which economists think will continue to rise because of the current inflation.

In more recent turn of events, a bank robbery saw The Securitas Cash Management Ltd. lose at least $ 43.5 million. Officials are still unsure just how much cash is still unaccounted for. It should be noted that this is one of the biggest back heists in the history of Britain.

In a detailed statement, it was revealed that the robbers dressed as policemen blocked the bank managers on his way home and was told to do what he was ordered. Another group of men in cahoots with the bank robbers were successful making the manager's family believe he met and accident and agreed to go with the group of robbers.

The manager was cuffed by the posing policemen and threatened to hurt his family if he did not cooperate. They proceeded to a Tonbridge cash center and tied up 15 bank employees before taking all the cash in the depot. The incident took over and hour, fortunately no one was hurt.

On a more positive note, it seems that an alliance has been formed by international banks, which includes the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, to employ carefully though out strategies to combat corruption. These organizations have reached an understanding for the need to support each other and to reach a common ground if the corruption is to be stopped. They have decided to form a team that will be responsible for reporting a standardized framework the financial firms should employ to fight fraud. The group has conducted numerous surveys pin-pointing countries and sectors that is plagued with widespread corruption.

The group is also willing to extend to other organizations, civil sectors of different nations, and the media as reinforcements in their quest to put a stop to bank fraud and rampant corruption. To track down plundered wealth and preserve global laws, the United Nations Convention against Corruption was created in 2005.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Keeping Abreast of the Latest Gaming News

The value of the game news HQ website

This is one of the very best ways to access modern games on the cheap rates. It provides automatic updates on the industry as a whole. The news is normally updated on an automatic basis so that the reader does not even have to check whether it is at the top end of things or not. Some of the interesting headlines that they have been able to cover include the release of Blizzard and issues of morality in gaming. There are commentaries from business experts and fans about the industry in general.

Getting the latest gaming news with accuracy

Some of the cutting edge games have often fallen foul of the individual requirements to be fair and responsible in the presentation. Where there are significant moral issues with the games then the website will highlight the commentary that follows them. For example some games have been criticized for taking back the race relations amongst students through stereotypes. Others are not graded properly according to the certification guidelines. On the other hand there are also elements of government intrusion that need to be exposed.

Getting accurate video game news

Some of the scoops that have been reported include the PS3 launch and the Dark Disney games. The sale of the Kinects brand was another attention seeking headline. There were also reports of how artificial shortages were being created in order to increase the prices for the games. Despicable acts such as these remove the high reputation that the industry is supposed to protect. Harmonix has created a great feeling on all fronts and it has ensured continued interest in the gaming world. The mantra is always to open access to games so that they can be enjoyed by the general public.

Sifting through gaming news

The industry can sometimes issue junk in the form of news. There are always attempts to ensure accurate reporting and to give the reader context to the information that is being relayed. That is the only way of ensuring that the games work to the advantage. In due course there will be occasions where the games do not fit the bill and the configuration has to be completely changed. The news sector will provide analysis as well so that the information is not just left at the data stage. The opinion pieces are clearly identified.

An overview of game news

Although not many websites are specializing in the provision of game news, there are some which are making a good show of it. They have to be commended for accuracy and the ability to play the games in the best possible light. It is also one of the reasons why the industry is fairly supportive of websites which give access to gaming news and other information of relevance to the general public. It remains to be seen whether this will be a fixture in all circumstances according to the expectations laid by the clients. It will also determine the gaming formulas.

Personal Finance News - The Procedure of Paying a Financial Planner

If you're looking for personal finance news, you need to check out CNN Money. This is one of the greatest sources for personal finance news that will provide you the latest news you need to understand from its web pages.

Once you keep your eyes wide open, you will realize that there are lots of online and offline personal finance news obtainable to you. Just try the CNN Money web pages if you want to find the valuable advantages offered there.

Get Something In Return

The significance of finance news that you need to understand is that you'll be able to learn how to plan your personal finance appropriately. Besides, you'll learn why financial planners actually charge people who avail of their service. Though, lots of news will try to make you understand that you should make certain that you will get something tangible in return for the money that you pay them even though there is no wrong with shelling out money to a financial advisor.

In the personal news, you will find that reader will be questioned on why they against to pay high fees to financial planners. Afterward, reader will learn the answer that there is actually nothing wrong in hiring a financial planner. This is completely wrong if people don't recognize what they are paying for.

Accordingly, having whetted the reader's interest regarding paying financial adviser's their fees, this personal finance news article then goes on to inform readers what they should in fact be paying their financial planners. It's thus good to learn that you pay the financial planner to make a good plan with which to manage risk. Additionally, this personal news will also provide you other useful information.

Lastly, one thing that can be concluded from personal finance news is that you must become conscious that whatever services are obtainable to you by the financial planner are based also on the planner needs and aren't completely impartial.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Using and Implementing Outdoor News Screens

News is an obsession for many people, whether it's via newspapers, the internet, mobile phone, TV or radio, most of us devour regular news content throughout the day.

Because of this desire to read news content, many outdoor news screens are being installed in many different types of locations to entertain, inform customers. These news feeds are often intermixed with advertising content to provide a revenue source that can pay for the screens and news content.

Most news screens receive direct feeds from over the internet from news agencies like Reuters, Association Press (AP) or Press Association (PA), but local and more targeted news is offered by many local news organisations.

Weather and sporting news are also provided on these types of screen and provides a reason for people to look out for the screen, hence creating a captivated audience for advertisers.

Most news screens are placed in quite hostile locations, however, such as draughty bus stations or even ferry terminals where spray and excessive temperatures can be a potential problem. Many of these outdoor news screens are in outdoor locations too so they need to be protected from the weather and other outdoor elements.

The TV screens used for providing these news feeds tend to be standard commercial grade screens commonly used for digital signage and other out of home use, few of these screens are designed for outdoor use so they are protected using outdoor LCD enclosures.

Designed to accommodate nearly all major sizes of screen, the LCD enclosure provides all the outdoor protection these screens require to allow them to function outside. They ensure the screen is waterproof whilst also ensuring the internal temperatures of the enclosure are never too high or too low from the optimum for the device-regardless of the ambient conditions.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Liberal Media Bias - News Media Bias

The war in Iraq has cost trillions of dollars, and thousands of American lives. Americans are beginning to debate the strongly liberal news media bias, which led this country into such a quagmire. Such liberal media bias seems strongly entrenched in our corporate media, so much so that it would be foolish to take any of its claims for granted, without an independent, rational analysis of the evidence. The news media bias that we can readily observe on 24/7 news networks, and other so-called news media, is distinctly of a neo-conservative bent. Indeed, "twenty-four hour news" strikes an informed ear as a definite misnomer - "twenty-four hour opinion" seems more accurate. And to the extent that this and other media is engaged in the project of providing actual news coverage, that coverage is endlessly polluted by sensationalism. Naturally, that only serves to make the task of divorcing what is true and rational from bias and distortion more difficult. In spite of that, the public seems to be well aware of the problem of media bias. The media itself even gives special status to particular instances thereof. Take for example the New York Times' recent decision not to run an editorial by Senator John McCain. It seems that between that editorial decision and the subsequent criticism of it, everybody is in agreement that there is a general bias in the news media. The only trouble is that everyone seems convinced that that bias falls on the opposite side of the aisle from one's own political views.

Apart from its presence in the public awareness, media bias is a subject of study for various academic disciplines, as well as a number of different political action groups and non-governmental organizations, coming from the background of a broad range of political perspectives. The focal point of such study in this country tends to be the presumed lack of balance between liberal and conservative trends in news reporting and analysis. There is a legitimate concern as to whether a tendency for the media to lean heavily to one side might affect public perception and voting habits in such a way as to be harmful to that same public's welfare. Some research, such as that of Giacomo Corneo, has found that while media bias in general does not always work against the public good, it is only under quite specific conditions that a bias will work in favor of that public good. However, the character and the extent of bias in media is often quite subjective, a fact perhaps well-evidenced by the rather popular conception of a "liberal media," a term often confidently identified as a myth, rather than a reality. Rather, the phrase "liberal media" is typically followed by the word bias -- "liberal media bias." By contrast, however, there are markedly bad instances of a lack of balance, such as the uniformly conservative make-up of the Wall Street Journal editorial page, about which one might argue that there is little subjectivity.

Sensationalism as a contributor to the problem of media bias falls along somewhat different lines than a liberal or conservative bent in analysis. Certainly, it eliminates objectivity from reporting, and even harms its would-be factual nature. That is, its aim in emotional pull, rather than the provision of pure information about a topic. In fact, in less vernacular context, "sensationalism" refers to a theory about the generation of ideas as coming from sensual experience, the notion that knowledge comes exclusively from sensation. But whatever the theory behind it, our media is largely driven by the appeal of emotional sensation, which has drawn us, as a society, so fully into that experience that media has become an agent of social engagement. ("Rights")

The term "infotainment" has come to be applied to the mode of presentation of radio and T.V. news that so often seems filled with sensationalism. It is shortsighted, however, to suppose that entertainment is somehow a new quality of news, when enjoyment has been an aspect of the consumption of news in all media and in all eras. In 1895, Felix Agnus of the Baltimore American even claimed directly that sensationalism was at that time declining, as the readers of newspapers were beginning to demand a higher quality of journalism. It is easy to imagine that demand taking hold among modern audiences, considering that sensationalism is, as it always has been, an intellectual flight-of-fancy, something that grabs for the attention of readers, or, as the case may be, viewers, but does not sustain them.

But it is still easier to understand how sensationalism quickly grows to be excessive in news reporting. Particularly in times of political, social, or economic uncertainty, the evident role of fear in news reporting becomes all too clear. And taken as a subset of yellow journalism, this trend in news reporting is professionally unethical at best. No doubt most of us have felt a bit of that fear in being exposed to an over-emphasis upon dramatic and heart-wrenching or violent sequences in visual media. And surely many of us have paused to consider that our emotions were being unfairly exploited. Indeed, such exploitation has real, material effects in the lives of those susceptible to it. There is a great much sensationalist reporting on the topic of violent crime that has led to increased anxiety about that topic in the lives of viewers, and perhaps to truly excessive worry. Certainly, public reporting has a psychological effect on the people towards whom a story is aimed, and also on the subjects of a story. Looking to a more specific, and more unusual case study, Clive Field, in response to a newspaper article misrepresenting the pay of the Zimbabwe cricket team, described it as "counter-productive to Zimbabwe's performance, both as individuals and as a team."

Liberal media bias can also be said to grow out of a for-profit structure of the mass media, which leads it in some fashion to support the interests of those most capable of providing those profits, namely corporations and social elites, whose interests, in broad terms, are the maintenance of status quo. This is certainly the view famously espoused by Noam Chomsky, and expanded upon in the documentary Manufacturing Consent, which borrows its title from a text by Chomsky on the topic. The film devotes much time to analysis of coverage of the Indonesian invasion of East Timor in the New York Times. Chomsky holds this up as a clear example of the extent to which the mainstream American media is loath to levy criticism upon a political ally of the United States, a failing which he would have articulated in more popular media criticism. However, he would no doubt be disappointed in the virtual absence of such an initiative.

In spite of vehement criticism of the media coming from noted liberal voices, there is a often repeated notion in public discussion that reporting is distorted toward the left wing by a "liberal media." Believers in the truth of that assertion often refer to a survey indicating that 89% of journalists voted for President Clinton in 1992, while others question the breadth, accuracy, and indeed bias of that survey itself. Many simply do not question the concept of a "liberal media," and take it as a indisputably accurate description, thinking that such examples as the once famous ousting of Jeff Gannon from the US press corps constitute proof that conservative journalists face tremendous obstacles in trying to operate in a solidly liberal career. Of course, many who see themselves as liberal think quite the opposite, that the "liberal media," is simply a myth, and that the established bias is toward the other side. And still others reject what they also see as a myth, without acknowledging any purely partisan bias at all.

Still, purported support for a liberal bias is dug up at many turns. There have evidently been recent exaggerated reports that Iraqi president Jalal Talabani endorsed Barack Obama's troop withdrawal plan during the latter's visit to the Middle East. Regardless of whether this is typical, it is certainly true that injecting distinct subjectivity and opinion into such stories is a violation of the responsibilities of a reporter. No one can be expected to be devoid of opinion, but for a reporter to claim credibility he must make a concerted effort to keep his reporting of the news free of those opinions. Unfortunately, in the recent history of the media, journalists seem to have, by and large, developed attitudes in dealing with public officials that belie their opinions, without continuing to effectively perform the tasks of discerning the information that their jobs seemingly dictate they ought to. Without a questioning public, the liberal news media bias will become fact and rewrite history.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Social Stratification In The US

In all societies, people differ in terms of social and biological characteristics such as age, sex, physical strength, size, race, ethnicity and skill. When these characteristics are differentially valued and ranked within the society, we have social inequality and a system of social stratification. In effect, the individual differences are ranked and evaluated according to social values; the resulting hierarchy is based on the degrees of prestige, honor, importance, material possessions, and other rewards that accrue from these characteristics.

Although social stratification systems exist in all societies, except perhaps very small and primitive societies, the criteria that are used to rank people and the nature of the stratification system vary with the society.

In fact in a complex society several social stratification structures are present. For example, people may be ranked on age, race, sex, and ethnic affiliation.

Other rankings are based on economic factors (usually defined as social class), prestige, and power. Although these characteristics are closely related, it should be noted that a person might have wealth but not be accorded prestige, and one may have power but lack honor.

One of the outbursts of stratification in the modern societies is called class. Such stratification is made conscious by the German philosopher and theoretician, Karl Marx. This is a stratification of the society based on the economic criteria. The important point about the theory of Marx is that he has concluded from the basic discussion of his theory that, the differences of individuals economically, may lead in their superiority in other areas of politics and culture.

Although this part of the theory has been strongly rejected by later theoreticians, and accused of being reductionist in view, the reality acknowledges it partially.

As far as the United States of America is concerned, social class is not that colorful that has been and is in Europe. in Europe, in spite of the great socialist movements, the development of the left wing mentality and partisan ship, the extension of an academic trend that rejects the stratification of culture as high versus low and authenticates the culture of low income, etc (cultural studies of Frankfort and Birmingham), what has emerged is not the disappearance of the class concept, but only the shift of the stress from the two extremes of high and low classes to the middle class. The concept, however, is there yet.

The United States has not experienced the "class" in its deep European form. That is why the communist red scare never succeeded to tread its way to America. One explanation of this history is that the American society, from its first days of appearance, has been founded and developed by and for those who have been the middle or low class of the European stratification. So it developed economic and cultural norms that do not provide a good subject for the Marxist movements and theories. The little movements that were run during the first and second red scares (1917- 1920 and 1940s o1950s), were hardly declined by the US government.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

News Blogs - A Concept Gaining Popularity

Staying up to date with the latest international news is a top priority for most people. The vast majority turns on the television to get an instant dose of what's going on around the world. However, with such little time on our hands the frequent and long running advertisements on the television can be quite irritating and time consuming. Luckily, we now have the alternative in the form of news blogs that deliver the latest updates on current global news and that too without the constant advertisements!

News coverage blogs will enable you to catch up with all kinds of news. Basically on the internet you have the opportunity to choose specific types of news blogs based on your local news interests, sports, entertainment or other hobbies. This new concept is far more beneficial in terms of the value it has to deliver and the fact that it is an uninterrupted service. However, it may not be readily accepted by everybody. This is because the older generation is used to reading the newspaper and will continue to do so for the feel of the printed paper. However the newer generation is getting hooked on to these blogs that offer them exactly the kind of information that they require and that too on their favorite niches.

Another good thing about these news blogs is that they use RSS feeds. This means that the same news can be posted on a number of different blogs and you can even subscribe to the RSS feed and receive all the current global news in your email. Yet another aspect that contributes to the popularity of news blogs is the fact that it gives the readers the opportunity to interact in the form of comments. This is something that the conventional print newspaper and the television can never offer and this is the biggest attraction for most internet users.

How many times do you have a comment to make after reading a particular piece of news but nowhere to express your opinion or feelings? With news blogs you can let it all out and give your comments and feedbacks on anything that you find interesting. Plus you have total freedom of expression and opinion and can agree or disagree with anything and everything that is being said. What's more, if you find something useful and want to share it with your associates you can easily do so with the click of a button. For example you can share that particular news piece on your Facebook page or post a link on your Twitter account.

The leading news blogs of the world have also started introducing original news programs of their own. This means you have the opportunity watch original news programs online along with reading the news. In a nutshell news blogs offer you quick uninterrupted news, the chance to interact, share and watch original news programs for a different flavor from what the television has to offer.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Sports Recreation News

When it comes to finding out what is going on with your favorite sports you can turn to a few different methods to get the latest updates. You will find that there are at least 5 sport recreation news sources that you can utilize in order to get all of the information that you need. It does not matter if you are traveling or at home, you are going to be able to find out just what you need to know so that you can stay up to date on everything that is going on and not get left behind.

For example, you can always turn on the television to find a sports show with the latest updates to all of your sports. There are several different programs that you can watch such as sports news or even your local news broadcast that has a sports section with scores. Another line up in the 5 sport recreation news you can follow is on the radio. There are many different stations that have nothing but sports so you will be able to catch all that is going on across the globe with every sport that you follow regularly.

Of course, when you are thinking about a source of information for the 5 sport recreation news line up you do not want to leave out the world of the internet. This is a really big source of information for everyone now no matter how young or old you are. And the nice thing is that no matter where you are, you can probably jump online regardless if it is in a hotel room or even on an airplane. This means that you will never have to worry about missing a score and you may even get to watch the game.

Another way that you don't want to leave out when it comes to getting the updates that you are looking for is with your cell phone. You can connect at anytime and anywhere when you are carrying your cell phone with you everywhere that you go. This is one of those methods that has just come into play in the last few years and could be considered in the 5 sport recreation news methods that you can use. Of course, you will need to have internet access to use this method but most people do have that ability when they purchase one.

It does not matter which method you use to be able to get the information that you are looking for as long as it works for you. With all of the methods that you have to choose from when it comes to getting your information, the one method that you don't want to forget about when it comes to 5 sport recreation news methods is word of mouth. If your friends are just as involved in sports as you are then they are most likely going to be able to get you all of the latest and greatest scores and news that you are going to want to know.

News Writing - What Reporters Need to Know

News writing is the process of harnessing the materials that have been gathered in a logical, accurate, concise, coherent and readable manner.

Before a reporter writes news, it is expected that he or she go through a process known as news gathering. This will enable him or her gather the raw materials that make up the news. The reporter will however be familiar with the various beats that may be assigned to him or her such as the Judiciary, the State or National Assembly, the State House, Police Station, and so on.

News materials are gathered from government activities, economic matters, social and political policies which are straightforward in nature and are classified as hard news, since the reporter is obligated to report the event exactly as they happened. Also in the straightforward news stories, there are the soft news and the human interest news stories.

These include the news stories that give room for leisure and entertainment. They are concerned with stories on the lighter side of life such as social functions which include celebrations, commissioning of projects, marriages, funerals, and other forms of ceremonies.

The human interest stories deal with stories that either entertain or bring about sadness or happiness. These are stories that are meant to arouse the feelings of the viewer. These stories are normally accounts of people or organization's achievements, air crashes or hijacks, adventures, disasters, marriages, intriguing reports, and so on.

Since news stories are stories which are either expected or unexpected, the reporter is expected to equally make news from investigative stories, interpretative stories, in-depth stories and interviews. It is incumbent on every reporter to help the general public understand the storyline of a report especially in the case of budget speech which carries a lot of figures and statistics. It is the work of a reporter to breakdown the figures for easy understanding and digestion of the general public.

In interviews, it should be noted that getting information from people concerning specific events or issues is very hard. In that case, the reporter or interviewer should be able to employ techniques that would enable him or her to succeed in this area. It is very important that you know your interviewee before hand; find out certain facts about him that would help set you on a good footing. It would be necessary if you could go through some literature about him, and carry with you not just a mental but listed number of questions to be asked.

The points a reporter jots down in the cause of doing his or her job are the materials that make up his or her news stories. The exercise is what is known as news gathering. It precedes news writing. A reporter who wants to succeed in the art of news writing must be hardworking, intelligent enough to put to good use available materials and write them while the news is still fresh in the mind.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

News Writing Tips - How to Create Attention-Grabbing News Articles

Got a great story but don't know how to convert it to attention-grabbing news article? Then, follow these tips and you'll be all set:

First step is to write a compelling headline. Keep in mind that your headline is your one shot to get your target audience to pay attention to your article. Write a great one and you'll easily get these people to read on. Use a boring title and you can be assured that they'll pass all your hard work by. One technique to make your headlines very effective is to tell the main points of your chosen story using 6-12 words. Ensure that it's compelling enough to make your readers want more. It will help if you target the emotional hot buttons of your readers.
Make your first or lead paragraph equally compelling. It's not enough that you're able to get your target audience to open your articles. You need these people to read your copies until the end. I suggest that you get them on the edge of their seats and hook them as early as possible by making your lead or first paragraph as compelling as your headlines. Give your readers the summary of your story and tell them all the important information that they need to know. Be very straight forward and avoid using fluffs and fillers.
Write tight. Unlike when writing articles for the web, you really don't have much space to fill when writing for newspapers. This is the reasons why editors will always ask you to keep it shot, to the point, and sweet. This simply means giving your readers with lots of information using as few words as possible. This maybe difficult for you especially if you're used to writing essays and research papers that are generally longer. When writing your news articles, it's important that you find your focus and that you avoid beating around the bush. Cover only the essentials and throw out those information that are considered waste of your readers' time.
Use the inverted pyramid technique. It's important that you follow the acceptable structure when writing your news articles. Present the information you've gathered using inverted pyramid technique. This simply means putting the most important information in the beginning and placing the least important info or supporting details in the end. You need to do this as most people who are reading newspapers do not really read the articles in their entirety. By giving them the information they need as soon as possible, you can be assured that you'll still be able to educate them even if they just read the first paragraph. This technique will also make the job of your editors a bit easier. Should they need to cut down your articles to save some space, they will just need to remove your last paragraphs and that will not affect your story.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Michael Jackson Dies June 25, 2009

The news of Michael Jackson dying on June 25, 2009 has stunned the nation. The calls, text messages, emails, tweets and conversations began to spread across the world as the shocking news was relayed of Michael's untimely death. Michael Jackson born August 29, 1958 was in his Los Angeles home at the time when the paramedics were called. Michael was not feeling well the day before and his doctor had even been out to check on him. The next day Michael was found not breathing and paramedics unfortunately could not revive him. It is believed he has died of cardiac arrest. Michael was pronounced dead at 2:26 pm. He leaves behind his daughter Paris and son Prince, parents Katherine and Joe, and siblings Marlon, Jermaine, Jackie, Tito, Randy, Janet, Latoya and Rebbie.

Michael was preparing to do 50 shows at a London arena slated to begin July 13th.

His music career began to flourish in 1972 when he took center stage amongst his brothers who formed the group The Jackson 5. At his young age he was recognized for his natural ability to sing and dance .

Michael had an acting roll as a Scarecrow in the 1978 R&B musical "The Wiz", which was an African American version of "The Wizard of Oz" which also featured stars like Diana Ross, Lena Horne, Nipsy Russell, and Richard Pryor .

Over the decades Michael has touched the hearts of many fans with his multitude of hits.

"Thriller" his album of 1982 blew the charts out of the water with an impressive 37 weeks at No. 1, selling over a million copies a week. Worldwide the album has sold over 50 million copies.

Michael was known for his rather fascinating and strange lifestyle at his Neverland ranch and his style of a one-handed shiny glove and zippered leather or glittery jackets . People have questioned his numerous plastic surgeries, drastic change in skin color, and the accusations of child molestation.

Michael's upbringing was not one of a happy childhood. Michael openly expressed on Oprah, the physical and mental abuse he suffered from his father. The very presence of his father made Michael ill and has caused him a lifetime of emotional trauma. He tried to re-live his youth through his Neverland ranch, and by being in the presence of children and animals, for acceptance and comfort.

Fans across the world idolize Michael Jackson, often imitating his style and moves (the famous backward gliding moonwalk) . His songs, "Thriller", "Bad", "Beat It" and so many more are still hot sellers nationwide. His unique style and artistic talent can never be duplicated.

The King of Pop will be truly missed.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Anti Aging News - Announcing 3 Breakthrough Skin Care Ingredients That You Have to Know About

If you haven't heard about this anti aging news, boy are you in for a treat. I just recently discovered this myself.

You see, I've always been one of those people who buys all the skincare creams, lotions and gels they can get a hold of. I've literally spent thousands of dollars on different products, and so far, none of them has worked.

Then I started researching and discovering what was really going on in the skincare industry. They were using ingredients that cause cancer, irritate the skin, and actually make your skin look worse in the long-term.

I also discovered that many companies were using low-quality ingredients and fooling me with loopholes in the system. That is also when I discovered the anti aging news and 3 breakthrough ingredients.

With all that said, here's the anti aging news and the 3 ingredients I have been talking about:

1. Cynergy TK
This comes from the wool of New Zealand sheep of all places. It naturally helps your body produce more collagen and elastin. Collagen and elastin are two skin proteins that are vital to understand, because they literally determine how your skin will look now and in the future.

2. Grapeseed Oil
Grapeseed oil is packed with antioxidants, and vitamins which rejuvenate, moisturize and protect your skin from outside threats. This ingredient has just recently been used in conjunction with a few others to give really effective benefits.

3. Phytessence Wakame
A Japanese sea algae that has been prized for its effectiveness in keeping the Japanese people's skin looking young. If you've ever wondered why Japanese people don't look that old, here's your answer. Phytessence Wakame has been proven to be effective by scientific studies, and my personal experience.

Anti aging news is always fun to read, but now it is your turn to go out and find a natural product that contains these ingredients, just like I have.

Who needs T.V. News, Newspapers and Radio News?

T.V. and radio News got you down? On-line current events and News blogs make being informed a much more enjoyable experience. For many the News on television has become a trying time of the day. Focused mainly on negative events, you may have to wait through the whole program just to hear the one story you were waiting for. If you miss the 6:00 p.m. show, waiting until the late night segment can be a real drag, especially if you've got a lot to do, or have to wake up early the next morning.

My friends, there is an answer to this problem: News blogs or on-line current events. You can find all of your favorite broadcasters (E.g.: CNN, BBC) on the Internet, getting up-to-date information at any time of the day or night. You can even read personal journal entries written by multiple correspondents out in the field reporting on several different stories down to the current minute. Instead of hearing all News from one voice (often an irritating one), now you can read different human opinions straight from the scene of interest.

Often News on-line has a section called "themes" which allows the reader to only hear about the specific areas that interest them. No more waiting through several wars to get to the positive story about the current medical breakthrough that could mean a cure for disease, or the technological idea that might mean the end to extreme pollution levels. Like a newspaper, you can go straight to the "jobs" theme and search through all the current employment vacancies available. If you are obsessed with the negative, themes such as "Disaster and Tragedy" and "Crime and Punishment are still readily accessible.

As the News is now on the Internet it has also become an interactive experience in numerous ways. First of all now you can send News stories straight to the News companies yourself! If the story is deemed worthwhile and verifiable, you may even be published. This is also the case with photographers who have pictures of important events. It really means anyone can become a part of the action as a freelance consultant. Some News on-line have "witness" sections where you can tell your story if you happen to have been in the right place at the right time. This option means that we can hear many different views on contentious issues giving a wider perspective to the 'big picture'.

Some News sites also have interactive sites within. For example, on the BBC News Blog there is a learning site (BBCi Learning) that involves interactive activities and over half a million pages of factual information and resources available for children, adolescents, and adults. There are competitions and all sorts of games to help educate people in any and every area of interest imaginable.

Another great aspect of these on-line News sites is the ability to access archival information. You can watch video and listen to audio recordings of famous historical stories right on the computer. If the day is Feb.3, you can read articles from Feb.3's from fifty years ago. Looking up any date and year recorded is as easy as pushing a few buttons.

Some services have subscriptions where instead of looking up the website, the News you want is sent straight to your email. Being in the know, and being in the now, has never been such an objective, enjoyable, and simplistic experience as in the 21st century. Partaking in a new perspective on life is what on-line current events and News Blogs are all about.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Political News - Why Online News Is Getting Popular

Currently, you cannot imagine living under a stone without any information and latest breaking news. Today, there are various sources of getting the information and facts. Now you can easily get in touch with worldwide political, entertainment, sports and other information online. Internet has made our life simpler and turned entire world a global village. Knowing what happening around the world is a natural phenomenon, latest advancements in technology has enabled us to get complete knowledge in just seconds. Online has revolutionized conventional method of news and telecommunications.

Now, all leading news channels such as CNN, BBC, CNBC, and Fox have their own websites. Staying in touch with current news is considered most significant aspect of modern living. Previously, most common resources for accurate information were television, magazines and newspaper. However, online has emerged as most popular source of breaking political news. You can get precise and exact news from any leading channel. Moreover, you will receive latest news information and details about politics, finance, entertainment and health news. All these news are available in just one place just few clicks away.

There is huge variety of news channels that offer complete coverage and information regarding any major incident. You can get ample information about any incident anywhere around the world. There is wide range different news channels that provide complete coverage and information regarding any major incident. You can get ample information about any incident anywhere around the world. At the moment people all over the world want to remain in touch with political and latest breaking news. However, there are many websites that provide false and information. It's better to avoid those news channels as often getting incorrect news