Millions at Risk of Falling into the Mortgage Gap

September 21st, 2011

DailyFinance

By: Sheryl Nance-Nash

If you lost your job, how long could you continue to pay your mortgage? For two out of three homeowners, the answer is: Not as long as it would likely take to find a new position.

According to a new survey from insurance and financial services firm Country Financial, 68% of homeowners say if they lost their jobs, they wouldn’t be able to make mortgage payments for more than nine months, and many would fall by the wayside before that. While nine months is enough time to get a baby ready to make its world debut, it’s often not enough time to find a new employer: Unemployment durations are averaging almost 10 months — and that, of course, is just the average. Many Americans have been unemployed for considerably longer.

(For those looking for a small bright spot in the statistics, the median unemployment length is closer to 21 weeks — meaning half of those who lose their jobs find new ones in less than five months. But then there’s the other half ….)

The “mortgage gap” is more pronounced for some, according to Country Financial’s survey. Nearly one-third (31%) say they would be able to maintain payments for just three to six months. More than a quarter (27%) would be able to cover their payments for less than three months. This divide might be why 59% of homeowners now question whether buying a house is the best investment a family can make.

Strategies to Stay Ahead of the Economy

“The housing market decline and high unemployment has put a strain on everyone,” said Keith Brannan, vice president of financial security planning in a prepared statement. “Although there’s no quick fix, having a financial safety net can help. If possible, start an emergency fund to offset those unexpected life changes like unemployment. If you’re concerned about your mortgage, seeking professional advice to reprioritize your income can help you protect your current possessions and budget for future expenses.”

Track your monthly spending against your monthly net income. Transfer any surplus at month’s-end into that dedicated savings account. Look closely at your expenses to identify opportunities to reduce or eliminate expenses to further pad your savings cushion. Be disciplined enough to devote any pay raises, bonuses, or windfalls to this savings reserve, he adds.

Don’t be discouraged when every time you squirrel away a little bit of money, an unplanned expense comes along and wipes it out. “This is proof that it is working. With direct deposit, you’re only one paycheck away from starting to replenish your savings cushion,” says McBride.

Also, tap the equity in your home now, while you still have a job — and remove it from the house, says Jay Tyner, president of Semmax Financial Group. “When you lose your job, you can’t tap equity because what banker is going to give you a loan while [you're] unemployed? It is better to have and not need, than need and not have,” “The key here is not to get a line of equity and then buy a new boat.”

Refinance now while the rates are at historic lows to decrease your monthly payments.

What to Do If You’re Falling Into the Mortgage Gap

Contact your mortgage company. Ask about the various options available, among them: forbearance, reinstatement, advance (loan to repay past due amount), repayment plan, (pay past due amount over a specified period of time) or loan modification in you are struggling to pay your mortgage, suggests Harrine Freeman, author of How to Get Out of Debt: Get an “A” Credit Rating for Free.

Many lenders are willing to work with homeowners in ways they wouldn’t have in the past. “Avoidance just allows the problem to become more severe, and the lender can’t help you if they do not know what the problem is,” says Frank Braddock, a certified financial planner with JHS Capital Advisors.

Sell. Sell as much stuff as you can on Craigslist or eBay that you no longer need or no longer use: furs, jewelry or anything else you can to get cash. Consider selling your car and carpooling or use public transportation, or trade down to a cheaper car if you are still making payments, says Freeman.

Rent. Rent out a room in your home to generate extra income to help pay your mortgage. Or, there are more creative ways to turn your home into an income property.

Seek Help. Contact government, social programs or nonprofit agencies — the National Council of State Housing Agencies, Home Affordable Modification Program, Hope Now, among others — to find out what options are available to help you stay in your home.

Slash Spending. Try to cut your monthly expenses by 50%, says Freeman. Start by canceling your cable and landline service, getting the cheapest plan you can for your cell phone and Internet service, and increasing insurance deductibles to reduce monthly premiums. If your don’t already having one, get a programmable thermostat and keep the heat at 68 degrees when you’re home, lower when you aren’t. And don’t spend money on anything except food to cook at home and maintenance for your car unless it is absolutely necessary.

Click here for the full report from DailyFinance

21 Signs That Something Big Is About To Happen In The Financial World

September 21st, 2011

InfoWars.com

Will global financial markets reach a breaking point during the month of October? Right now there are all kinds of signs that the financial world is about to experience a nervous breakdown. Massive amounts of investor money is being pulled out of the stock market and mammoth bets are being made against the S&P 500 in October. The European debt crisis continues to grow even worse and weird financial moves are being made all over the globe. Does all of this unusual activity indicate that something big is about to happen? Let’s hope not. But historically, the biggest stock market crashes have tended to happen in the fall. So are we on the verge of a “Black October”?

The following are 21 signs that something big is about to happen in the financial world and that global financial markets are on the verge of a nervous breakdown….

#1 We are seeing an amazing number of bets against the S&P 500 right now. According to CNN, the number of bets against the S&P 500 rose to the highest level in a year last month. But that was nothing compared to what we are seeing for October. The number of bets against the S&P 500 for the month of October is absolutely astounding. Somebody is going to make a monstrous amount of money if there is a stock market crash next month.

#2 Investors are pulling a huge amount of money out of stocks right now. Do they know something that we don’t? The following is from a report in the Financial Post….

Investors have pulled more money from U.S. equity funds since the end of April than in the five months after the collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., adding to the $2.1 trillion rout in American stocks.
About $75 billion was withdrawn from funds that focus on shares during the past four months, according to data compiled by Bloomberg from the Investment Company Institute, a Washington-based trade group, and EPFR Global, a research firm in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Outflows totaled $72.8 billion from October 2008 through February 2009, following Lehman’s bankruptcy, the data show.

#3 Siemens has pulled more than half a billion euros out of two major French banks and has moved that money to the European Central Bank. Do they know something or are they just getting nervous?

#4 On Monday, Standard & Poor’s cut Italy’s credit rating from A+ to A.

#5 The European Central Bank is purchasing even more Italian and Spanish bonds in an attempt to cool down the burgeoning financial crisis in Europe.

#6 The Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank, the Bank of England, the Bank of Japan and the Swiss National Bank have announced that they are going to make available an “unlimited” amount of money to European commercial banks in October, November and December.

#7 So far this year, the largest bank in Italy has lost over half of its valueand the second largest bank in Italy is down 44 percent.

#8 Angela Merkel’s coalition is getting embarrassed in local elections in Germany. A recent poll found that an astounding 82 percent of all Germans believe that her government is doing a bad job of handling the crisis in Greece. Right now, public opinion in Germany is very negative toward the bailouts, and that is really bad news for Greece.

#9 Greece is experiencing a full-blown economic collapse at this point. Just consider the following statistics from a recent editorial in the Guardian….
Consider first the scale of the crisis. After contracting in 2009 and 2010, GDP fell by a further 7.3% in the second quarter of 2011. Unemployment is approaching 900,000 and is projected to exceed 1.2 million, in a population of 11 million. These are figures reminiscent of the Great Depression of the 1930s.

#10 In 2009, Greece had a debt to GDP ratio of about 115%. Today, Greece has a debt to GDP ratio of about 160%. All of the austerity that has been imposed upon them has done nothing to solve their long-term problems.

#11 The yield on 1 year Greek bonds is now over 129 percent. A year ago the yield on those bonds was under 10 percent.

#12 Greek Deputy Finance Minister Filippos Sachinidis says that Greece only has enough cash to continue operating until next month.

#13 Italy now has a debt to GDP ratio of about 120% and their economy is far, far larger than the economy of Greece.

#14 The yield on 2 year Portuguese bonds is now over 17 percent. A year ago the yield on those bonds was about 4 percent.

#15 China seems to be concerned about the stability of European banks. The following is from a recent Reuters report….

A big market-making state bank in China’s onshore foreign exchange market has stopped foreign exchange forwards and swaps trading with several European banks due to the unfolding debt crisis in Europe, two sources told Reuters on Tuesday.

#16 European central banks are now buying more gold than they are selling. This is the first time that has happened in more than 20 years.

#17 The chief economist at the IMF says that the global economy has entered a “dangerous new phase“.

#18 Israel has dumped 46 percent of its U.S. Treasuries and Russia has dumped 95 percent of its U.S. Treasuries. Do they know something that we don’t?

#19 World financial markets are expecting that the Federal Reserve will announce a new bond-buying plan this week that will be designed to push long-term interest rates lower.

#20 If some wealthy investors believe that the Obama tax plan has a chance of getting through Congress, they may start dumping stocks before the end of this year in order to avoid getting taxed at a much higher rate in 2012.

#21 According to a study that was recently released by Merrill Lynch, the U.S. economy has an 80% chance of going into another recession.

When financial markets get really jumpy like this, all it takes is one really big spark to set the dominoes in motion.

Hopefully nothing really big will happen in October.

Hopefully global financial markets will not experience a nervous breakdown.

But right now things look a little bit more like 2008 every single day.

None of the problems that caused the financial crisis of 2008 have been fixed, and the world financial system is more vulnerable today than it ever has been since the end of World War II.

As I wrote about yesterday, the U.S. economy has never really recovered from the last financial crisis.

If we see another major financial crash in the coming months, the consequences would be absolutely devastating.

We have been softened up and we are ready for the knockout blow.

Let’s just hope that the financial world can keep it together.

We don’t need more economic pain right about now.

Click here for the full report from InfoWars.com

Democrats Hit Back On ‘Class Warfare’ Claims

September 21st, 2011

The Huffington Post

By: Amanda Terkel

Democrats are hitting back at Republicans who say President Obama’s plan to increase taxes on millionaires and billionaires amounts to “class warfare,” arguing that the GOP is the party that has been protecting the interests of a particular class — the wealthiest Americans.

On Monday, Obama unveiled his deficit reduction plan, the centerpiece of which is a new tax on income over $1 million. The White House is calling it “The Buffett Rule,” named for billionaire investor Warren Buffett, who has said it’s absurd that he is taxed at a lower rate than his secretary. The new rule is meant to prevent the wealthiest Americans from taking advantage of loopholes that tax investment earnings at lower rates than wages.

Republicans quickly responded to the plan by calling it “class warfare” — a term used by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio).

But Democrats are hitting back. Ryan Nickel, spokesman for the House Appropriations Committee’s Minority Staff, sent an email to Democratic press secretaries on Monday calling attention to dramatic cuts that Republicans have proposed to programs benefiting low- and middle-income Americans: “Are GOP cuts to WIC [Women Infants and Children], Pell Grants, Meals-on-Wheels, Low-Income Legal Services & Head Start ‘Class Warfare’?”

Some of the GOP cuts highlighted in the email:

– Interagency Council on Homelessness: The GOP zeroed out this agency in their proposed FY12 Transportation, HUD Appropriations Bill. The USICH enhances the Federal Government’s response to homelessness by enhancing coordination between agencies, addressing duplicative programs, and identifying best-practices.

– Head Start: The cut of $1.1 billion (14%) below the FY10 level and more than $500 million below FY2008, would have translated to a massive loss of comprehensive early childhood services, with more than 200,000 children across the country being kicked out of the program and put 55,000 Head Start teachers out of work and into unemployment lines. Additionally, this funding level would have meant cuts to research grants, training and technical assistance grants and monitoring activities.

– Help for the Poor and Elderly: Community Services Block Grants were cut by $305 million below the FY10 level. The Administration on Aging was cut by $71 million which would have reduced senior center and Meals on Wheels services to the elderly.
Indeed, the Republican budget plans released this year have attempted to cut back on programs that disproportionately benefit low- and middle-income individuals — especially women, children and senior citizens.

The GOP-controlled House of Representatives proposed cutting $20 million from the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which provides food to low-income Americans. The reductions would have resulted in an estimated 81,000 individuals being cut out of the program.

In April, meanwhile, 14 female Democratic lawmakers fasted to “draw attention to the severe cuts being proposed to poverty-focused international assistance programs, which will largely hurt women and girls globally.”

Obama has responded to the Republicans’ “class warfare” comments by saying, “Either we have to ask the wealthy to pay their fair share, or we have to ask seniors to pay more for medicare, or gut education. This is not class warfare. It’s math.”

In an email sent to Obama for America supporters, Campaign Manager Jim Messina wrote that the Republican cries of “class warfare” are a “rhetorical smokescreen for providing millionaires and billionaires special treatment.”

Click here for the full report from The Huffington Post

Government Shutdown Risked In Fight Over Disaster Aid

September 21st, 2011

The Huffington Post

By: Jennifer Bendery and Elise Foley

Congressional leaders are gambling with the prospect of a government shutdown next week as they wait to see who will blink first in a fight over billions of dollars in emergency disaster aid.

With government funding set to expire on Sept. 30, House Republican leaders are moving forward Wednesday with a continuing resolution to keep the government funded through mid-November. While nobody opposes that effort, Democrats and even some Republicans have a problem with something GOP leaders tucked into the bill: $1.5 billion in emergency disaster aid, paid for with money pulled from one of Democrats’ priority programs.

The effort by House Republicans to pay for disaster aid with funds from an Energy Department fuel-efficiency loan program has infuriated Democrats, who say the move is unprecedented since Congress routinely passes emergency spending without offsets since it is, by its very nature, for an emergency. They have also howled about Republicans tying the paid-for disaster aid to the continuing resolution, a must-pass measure. Instead, Democrats are pushing for a separate, standalone bill that provides $6.9 billion in disaster aid, none of it paid for. That bill cleared the Senate last week with bipartisan support, namely with the help of Republicans whose districts have been hit by recent disasters.

But House GOP leaders maintain their push to pay for emergency disaster aid is in line with the new era of austerity on Capitol Hill. And they say they don’t have the votes in their party to pass new spending without paying for it, so their proposal is the best way forward.

So begins the standoff, which at this point shows nobody willing to budge. And with the House set to leave on Friday for a weeklong recess, lawmakers are left with just a handful of days to resolve their differences before the non-negotiable deadline of Sept. 30.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) signaled Tuesday that he is ready for a fight on the matter. During remarks on the Senate floor, he vowed to insert the Senate language into the House bill as soon as it comes to the Senate.

“Tomorrow, when the Senate receives the House bill to fund the government for six more weeks, we will amend it with the language of the Senate FEMA legislation,” Reid said.

“Of course, I know this amendment will enjoy the support of my Republican colleagues, as it did just last week, when a bipartisan group of senators agreed that helping communities destroyed by natural disasters was too important to let politics get in the way,” he added.

But House Republican leaders say they can’t pass what Reid wants, which they say means the onus is on Senate Democrats to either pass the House continuing resolution as is or be at fault for delaying desperately needed disaster money to the Federal Emergency Management Administration. FEMA’s disaster relief fund has dropped so low that the agency has already stopped approving long-term reconstruction projects in order to prioritize its resources for immediate emergency needs.

“It’ll be on Leader Reid’s shoulders, because he’s the one playing politics with it,” House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) told reporters Tuesday. “No one wants to stand in the way of disaster relief that’s needed. There’s nothing else but politics going on here.”

The continuing resolution provides $3.65 billion for FEMA’s disaster relief fund, compared to the Senate’s $6.9 billion. But it’s the $1.5 billion in “emergency” disaster spending—that is, money that would become available to FEMA immediately upon the bill’s passage, versus being rolled into annual spending bills—that’s causing the heartburn because of its offsets.

Cantor dismissed the idea that the House would be to blame for a potential government shutdown because it may adjourn before the Senate can send over its amended version of the continuing resolution. “None of us intend to bring about government shutdown,” he said. “I think our country has seen enough of that.”

Later Tuesday, Reid and his GOP counterpart, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), had mixed takes on the possibility of the showdown resulting in a shutdown.

During a press event, McConnell told reporters he is “confident it will be resolved” before Sept. 30.

“I’m actually not that sure,” Reid countered, “because the Tea Party-driven House of Representatives has been so unreasonable in the past. I’m not as certain as McConnell because we’re not going to cave in.”

The standoff could play out in a handful of ways. Senate Democrats could begrudgingly swallow the House bill in a last-minute effort to avert a shutdown. Or House Republican leaders could find themselves short of votes to block the Senate bill, if enough frustrated Republicans side with Democrats, and pass that bill. Or both sides could hold so firmly to their position that they let a shutdown occur and blame each other in a final maneuver to nudge the other party in their direction.

Republicans in both chambers could also buck their party leaders in the end. Some conservative House Republicans are unhappy that the continuing resolution keeps the government funded at current levels and doesn’t make cuts, so they could vote against the House bill on principle. In the Senate, ten Republicans already voted with Democrats last week on the higher-figure disaster aid bill and they could stick with that bill again. Those ten senators are Roy Blunt (Mo.), Scott Brown (Mass.), Susan Collins (Maine), Dean Heller (Nev.), John Hoeven (N.D.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Marco Rubio (Fla.), Olympia Snowe (Maine), Pat Toomey (Pa.) and David Vitter (La.).

The Huffington Post talked to five of those senators about which package they planned to support and most gave wishy-washy answers.

“I’m going to look carefully at what the House is offering and see if there’s any room there to do any more than they may be proposing,” Blunt said.

Asked if he could envision voting against Reid’s amendment, Blunt would only say, “I’m going to look at the options.”

“I have to take a look at it first,” Heller told HuffPost. “I support it at the levels we supported it. But before I make a final decision, I’ve got to take another look at it.”

Brown and Collins gave equally tepid answers, saying they wanted to see the details of the continuing resolution before weighing in.

Hoeven was the only one to simply say “yes” when asked if he supported Reid amending the House bill to insert the Senate language.

For now, all eyes will be on the House on Wednesday, when the continuing resolution comes to its first vote. House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) signaled Tuesday that House Democrats aren’t about to support anything that pays for disaster aid via the fuel-efficiency loan program, which spurs the production of clean-energy cars.

“I think Democrats will be loath to support that effort because we think it’s counterproductive,” Hoyer told reporters. “It is counterproductive to growth in jobs and to the growth in the economy. We think they’re making a mistake.”

Hoyer said he doesn’t know if House Republican leaders even have the votes to pass their bill if it includes the offsets for emergency aid. Some House Republicans whose districts were hit by disasters this year have sided with Democrats in recent weeks in urging GOP leaders to avoid a political fight that could delay FEMA aid.

And of course, the prospect of a government shutdown — Congress narrowly avoided one in April amid a budget fight — would have widespread consequences and cast lawmakers in an even worse light than they already are in the public’s eyes.

“Clearly, a [continuing resolution] needs to pass,” Hoyer added. “But again, it doesn’t need to pass with this in it.”

Click here for the full report from The Huffington Post

How To Restart Your Metabolism With Ayurveda

September 21st, 2011

Natural News

By: Dr. Jessica Vellela

At one point or another, just about all of us have tried to lose weight. With almost 75% of the American population either overweight or obese, this challenge is becoming seemingly more insurmountable every day. The typical quick diet programs and colon cleansings rarely provide any long-term benefit as the weight lost during those programs is usually gained back within weeks.

One of the main reasons for not being able to lose weight effectively is because the body`s metabolism is not up to speed. According to Ayurveda, the body`s main digestive fire, or Agni, is responsible for the remaining 12 sub-types of digestive and metabolic processes at various levels. Metabolic disruption in any of these can impede weight loss and overall health.

In conditions which cause an excessive accumulation of adipose or fatty-tissue, the medo dhatu agni (fat tissue metabolism) is invariably compromised. To reactivate it, there are a number of Ayurvedic therapies which can be done both internally and externally. Here are some of the easiest ones to try at home:

1. Add one teaspoon of Trikatu, Pancha Kola, or Hingu Ashtaka powder to meals
These powders are three of the best classical digestive appetizers. They promote the main digestive fire (Agni), which then helps to stimulate metabolism throughout the body. They also help to metabolize remnant toxins (Aama) in the digestive system and purify the alimentary canal. These powders can be added to a bowl of soup or rice and used for flavoring.

2. Massage your body with sesame oil and sit in the sun
Over time, the accumulated adipose or fatty tissue begins to harden, making it all the more difficult to remove. Sesame oil helps to penetrate the micro channels of the skin and increases circulation to the underlying tissue, thus promoting metabolism and the removal of toxins. Self-massage should be done for 15-30 minutes in a warm room, and then the body should be exposed to moderate sunlight until it sweats. Cover the head with a hat, and only stay in the sun until comfortably warm. Then rest for 10 minutes in the shade before taking a warm shower.

3. Take a hot salt-water bath once a week
Generalized swelling throughout the body can impede the removal of toxins, particularly from the lymphatic system. Usually this is due to an accumulation of the Kapha dosha (liquid element) in the body. Bathing once a week in a hot, salt-water bath helps to draw out these toxins through the sweat glands. The body, but not the head, should stay submerged until you feel comfortably warm and you sweat. After the bath, wear enough clothes to continue sweating and increase the excretion of toxins.

4. Dry massage with Triphala powder
Triphala powder is one of the greatest Ayurvedic remedies for a wide range of conditions. Its ability to break up toxins and scrape them away can be very useful to reduce fatty tissue all over the body. Take a warmed handful of powder and rub it firmly over the area against the direction of the hair follicles. Repeat this for up to 45 minutes and then brush the remaining powder off of the body.

5. Drink hot water
One of the simplest, most inexpensive, and effective ways to increase metabolism is to drink plain hot water. You can also spice it up by boiling the water for a few minutes with ginger, clove, cardamom, cinnamon and black pepper. Keep a hot flask of this water readily available in the kitchen or office. Clear green tea is also good but can cause excessive hunger when taken frequently.

Click here for the full report from Natural News

Prescription Drugs Responsible For More Deaths Than Traffic Accidents

September 21st, 2011

Natural News

By: Ethan A. Huff

Every 14 minutes, a person is killed by prescription drugs — and unlike most other causes of preventable death, which have been on the decline for years, medication-induced deaths are on the upswing across the US. According to a recent analysis conducted by the Los Angeles Times (LA Times), drug-induced deaths have become so prevalent that their average yearly total now exceeds the number of deaths caused by traffic accidents.

It is truly a sad day in the world when the very medications prescribed for treating disease are one of the leading causes of death, including among young children. And based on data retrieved by the LA Times, the number of drug fatalities has doubled within the past ten years, as legal drugs now kill nearly 38,000 Americans every single year — and these are just the deaths about which we know.

Prescription painkillers like OxyContin, Vicodin, Xanax, Soma, and new-drug-on-the-block Fentanyl — Fentanyl, which comes in the form of patches and lollipops, is 100 times strong than morphine — are largely responsible for the uptick in drug deaths. Individuals both young and old, many of whom are specifically prescribed these drugs by their doctors for pain or anxiety, are increasingly overdosing on them, according to reports.

The tragic reality of the situation is that otherwise normal individuals, many of whom had no prior history of drug abuse or addiction, become hooked on prescription drugs. When the effects of one drug begins to lose its potency, many patients begin combining them with others just to maintain the same high they had before — and the end result is often death.

“The problem is right here under our noses in our medicine cabinets,” Laz Salinas, a sheriff’s commander in Santa Barbara, Cal., is quoted as saying in the LA Times report.

Prescription painkillers, mentions the report, killed 15-year-old Nolan Smith of Aliso Viejo, Cal., back in 2009, as well as a 19-year-old Army recruit, a groom at a wedding, a teenage honor student, and even both parents of a young child. In other words, common individuals of all ages are now dying on a regular basis as a result of Big Pharma’s rampant dispensation of toxic poisons peddled as “medicine.”

And since as little as one percent of drug-induced injuries and deaths are even reported in the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) adverse event tracking system, the actual number of drug deaths is likely far higher than what has been publicly released. Based on 2008 data from an Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), estimates suggest that as many as half a million Americans die every year from taking pharmaceutical drugs (http://www.naturalnews.com/024632_d…).

Click here for the full report from Natural News

FDA Addresses Attempt to Rename HFCS

September 20th, 2011

The Washington Post

By: Thomas Watkins

The Food and Drug Administration has cautioned the corn industry over its ongoing use of the term “corn sugar” to describe high fructose corn syrup, asking them to stop using the proposed new name before it has received regulatory approval, The Associated Press has learned.

The Corn Refiners Association wants to use “corn sugar” as an alternative name for the widely used liquid sweetener currently labeled as high fructose corn syrup on most sodas and packaged foods. They’re attempting an image makeover after some scientists linked the product to obesity, diabetes and other health problems; some food companies now tout products that don’t contain the ingredient.

Though it could take another year before the FDA rules on the request made last September to change the name, the Corn Refiners Association has for months been using “corn sugar” on television commercials and at least two websites: cornsugar.com and sweetsurprise.com.

A series of high-profile television, online and print advertisements tell consumers that “sugar is sugar” and that corn sugar is natural and safe, provided it’s consumed in moderation.

In a July 12 letter obtained by the AP, Barbara Schneeman, an FDA director, wrote to the Corn Refiners Association to say she was concerned with the trade group using the terms high fructose corn syrup and “corn sugar” interchangeably.

“We request that you re-examine your websites and modify statements that use the term ‘corn sugar’ as a synonym for (high fructose corn syrup),” Schneeman wrote.

As of Thursday, two months after the letter was sent, none of that wording had been changed.

Audrae Erickson, spokeswoman for the Corn Refiners Association, said in an email to the AP that the group is currently reviewing its materials and will make changes if necessary.

“We do not believe that anyone could be confused or believe that the statements regarding ‘corn sugar’ on the websites refer to anything other than high fructose corn syrup,” Erickson wrote.

The FDA has no regulatory control over the corn association’s advertising because it is not selling a product but promoting an industry. The federal agency can prosecute companies that incorrectly label ingredients and Schneeman wrote that the FDA may launch enforcement action against food companies listing high fructose corn syrup as “corn sugar.”

Beet and cane sugar producers have filed a lawsuit over claims that corn sugar is the same, saying they amount to false advertising. A federal judge is reviewing a motion to dismiss the case.

Scientists are split over whether high fructose corn syrup is any more damaging than regular sugar. The American Medical Association has said there’s not enough evidence to restrict its use of high fructose corn syrup, though it wants more research.

In general, experts agree, consumers should be eating less sugar, whatever its origin.

Internal documents obtained by the AP indicate high-level skepticism over the planned name change, partly because regulators already have a substance on their books called “corn sugar,” which is used as another name for dextrose.

Michael Taylor, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for foods, wrote in an internal email that a previous attempt by the corn industry to change the name of high fructose corn syrup to just “corn syrup” was misleading, could have robbed consumers of important information and would invite ridicule.

“It would be affirmatively misleading to change the name of the ingredient after all this time, especially in light of the controversy surrounding it,” Taylor told colleagues in an email dated March 15, 2010. “If we allow it, we will rightly be mocked both on the substance of the outcome and the process through which it was achieved.”

The proposed “corn syrup” name was subsequently dropped when corn makers filed a formal petition seeking “corn sugar” as the new name.

Taylor heads the FDA’s food section and oversees food labeling to ensure products contain clear nutritional information.

FDA spokesman Doug Karas said Taylor’s comments should be looked at in the context of the proposed name change to “corn syrup” and nothing should be inferred about what the FDA’s decision may be regarding the ongoing review to change the name of high fructose corn syrup to “corn sugar.”

Seven U.S. senators, all from America’s corn-growing heartland, filed a letter with the FDA urging them to adopt the “corn syrup” name to help clear up consumer confusion.

Click here for the full report from The Washington Post

Rude Employees Out-Earn Their Nicer Colleagues?

September 20th, 2011

Aol Jobs

By: David Schepp

Anyone who’s ever done a good deed likely is familiar with the phrase, “Nice guys finish last.” Whether it’s giving a lift to a stranded motorist that makes you late for work or a small loan to a friend that never gets repaid, doing a good deed can ultimately feel like the wrong thing to do.

That is apparently also true of work — at least when it comes to pay. A new study finds that agreeable workers earn significantly lower incomes than less agreeable ones, The Wall Street Journal reports (subscription may be required), noting that the gap is especially wide among men.

The study, co-authored by a trio of college researchers, analyzed the professions, salaries and wages of some 10,000 workers during a 20-year time span. The data revealed that those men who could be described as less-than-agreeable, determined by self assessment, earned about 18 percent, or nearly $9,800 more than the “nicer” guys.

The outcome was less stark among women, the Journal notes. Ruder women earned about 5 percent, or around $1,800, more than their agreeable counterparts.

“Nice guys are getting the shaft,” says study co-author Beth A. Livingston, an assistant professor of human resource studies at Cornell University’s Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR) School.

“The problem is, many managers often don’t realize they reward disagreeableness,” Livingston tells the Journal. That’s problematic because paying rude people more may contradict values that a company promotes.

Results from the study, Do Nice Guys — and Gals — Really Finish Last?, are being presented today in San Antonio at an annual gathering of management scholars.

Whether the team of presenters decided to push and shove their way onto the stage to be the first to speak remains unclear.

Click here for the full report from Aol Jobs

Increased Vitamin D In Blood Adds Years To Life And Helps Prevent Colon Cancer

September 20th, 2011

Natural News

By: John Phillip

Just in case you needed more proof that low blood levels of vitamin D represent a significant health concern, researchers publishing in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition demonstrate that small increases in the sunshine vitamin can add precious years to your life. For nearly a decade scientific evidence has been mounting to show that the vast majorities of adults (and many children) are grossly deficient in circulating blood levels of vitamin D. Further proof is documented in the PLoS One journal to show the precise cellular mechanism that helps vitamin D dramatically lower the risk of colon cancer. The bottom line is simple: check your vitamin D blood saturation with an inexpensive test and make the necessary adjustments to live a healthier and longer life.

Using epidemiologic studies, Dr. W.B. Grant of the Sunlight, Nutrition and Health Research Center in San Francisco found that doubling the serum blood concentration of vitamin D could increase average life expectancy by two years. Dr. Grant and his team identified the major diseases that responded to increased levels of vitamin D. They then compared mortality rates to six identified regions around the country, and contrasted serum blood levels of the sunshine vitamin with disease occurrence.

After compiling all the data, the researchers found that conditions and diseases responsive to vitamin D that account for over half of the world’s mortality include cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, tuberculosis and respiratory diseases and infections. It was determined that doubling the circulating level of vitamin D would lower the mortality rates of diseases that are sensitive to vitamin D by approximately 20 percent. Dr. Grant concluded: “several ways to raise serum vitamin D include food fortification, supplementation and increased ultraviolet B exposure.”

Researchers have known for some time that low vitamin D levels are associated with a significant increase in colon cancer cases, but they have not understood the specific mechanism responsible. Now, scientists have discovered how a lack of vitamin D promotes DNA damage and colon cancer risk. Specifically, low vitamin D status instigates the development and progression of this devastating form of cancer.

Researchers have focused on a protein in intestinal epithelial cells called beta-catechin that normally helps epithelial cells bond together with other cells to form a protective barrier between the contents in your gut and the physical structure of your digestive tract. They found that when vitamin D is lacking, DNA synthesis is disrupted and beta-catechin builds up in cells, dramatically increasing the risk of colon cancer initiation.

There should be no doubt remaining that one of the most critical foundations to vibrant health is maintaining proper vitamin D blood saturation levels. Prevention is worth a pound of cure. So have your family physician run the simple and inexpensive 25 (OH)D blood test (alternatively, mail-in home testing is now a viable option), and be certain your level runs between 50 and 70 ng/mL to add years to your life and dramatically lower colon cancer and chronic disease risk.

Click here for the full report from Natural News

Equal Pay For Women? Not Until 2109

September 20th, 2011

Aol Jobs

By: Dan Fastenberg

Equal Pay is on the way.

If by “on the way,” you accept 2109. That’s the year analysts with the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) expect pay disparity will disappear between the genders. The number was calculated based on the current pace of change. The year 2109 was the expected date for top levels of management, while 2067 is a fair estimate for lower down on the corporate totem pole. The study was also mindful of entrenched legal frameworks that inhibit investigations of wage disparity, such as a lack of infrastructure protecting against corporate wage opacity.

Chartered Management is in fact a British firm, and made its prognostications for that country. But the U.K.’s experience with the wage gap mirrors America’s. British women make on average 79 percent the salaries of their counterparts, according to a report in The Guardian. And while that is slightly lower than the European Union-wide average of 82 percent, it places it ever so slightly ahead of the American tally of 77 percent.

The CMI released its findings along with strong words of caution.

“The prospect of continued decades of pay inequality cannot be allowed to become reality,” said CMI’s head of policy, Petra Wilson. “We want to see the government take greater steps to enforce pay equality by monitoring organizations more closely and naming and shaming those who fail to pay male and female staff fairly.”

Analysts have long questioned the intractability of the wage gap. It has been 48 years since John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act in the U.S., but the momentum toward total parity stalled more than two decades ago, says Ariane Hegewisch, the study director for the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR), in an interview with AOL Jobs.

Hegeswisch advocates for measures like greater salary transparency in hoping to level the playing field once and for all. She supports the Paycheck Fairness Act (PFA), which Congress has let languish in committee. The PFA would would make it illegal for companies to retaliate against female employees who try and find out information about males’ wages. The transparency argument has also been made in Europe, where advocates share the belief that no manager can openly embrace unequal pay models.

Nevertheless, CMI has also released a toolkit for women to empower them in the face of the unequal workplace. In providing women with a grounding in taking on a host of issues, including unequal pay, CMI offers a three-point basic checklist:

1. Negotiate the best deal when you are offered a new role.

2. Don’t be afraid to ask for a pay-raise, but approach the situation with as many facts as you can find.

3. Be proactive in establishing a diversity management program at your workplace.

Other strategies can center on pointing out the ridiculousness of unequal pay. An accompanying report in The Guardian pointed out all the things that are expected to happen by the time equal pay may become a reality.

“Robots should finally be smart enough to liberate us from mundane chores — and space tourism will be old news, as will planetary exploration. Instead we will begin reaching out beyond our solar system to neighboring stars, using millions of tiny nanoships to scout for suitable planets, and giant solar sails to carry us there. And we will use clean nuclear fusion to meet all our energy needs,” writes Duncan Graham-Rowe.

Click here for the full report from Aol Jobs

« Previous Page — Next Page »