This is a guest post by Terri Huggins
Tags: election 2012, Our Moment, Our America, NRCC, video, Vote, Mitt Romney, Vote Republican for Congress To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. which shared this video!
Yes, we’ve all heard the rumors by now – Foxconn is apparently up to no good.
Foxconn, of course, is the Taiwanese subcontractor that makes a ton of electronics. Check out MakeITFair for reports on horrid Foxconn labor conditions in China, forced internships, riots, suicides, child labor and all sorts of awful things.
While most of the shenanigans in Foxconn’s Chinese factories are associated with the iPhone 5, singling out Apple isn’t entirely fair. Foxconn makes a lot of electronics for manufacturers all over the planet and, no, the company just doesn’t supply cheap labor for smart phones made by Apple.
Here’s the problem – is there such a thing as an “ethical” smartphone? You know – one that isn’t made by indentured servants under awful working conditions? That question is hard to answer.
Before I go farther, I’ve got to confess I’m a bit biased. I’ve had an iPhone 4. Hated it. I’ve got an iPhone 4S. I hate that one even more. The chances are very good that I’ll hate the iPhone 5, too – I’ve played with one, but not long enough to inspire that “I ought to throw this thing out of my car window” hatred that I’ve developed for every iPhone I’ve owned. In other words, searching for an ethical smart phone is easy enough for me. I’m not buying another Apple product when I’m due for a renewal with AT&T in a few months, so trying to find something that’s not put together by virtual slave labor isn’t a problem for me. I’m not tied into Apple by any means, so I’ve got some options.
By the way, there’s a certain irony in the fact that the most easily exploitable labor in the world appears to be in the largest communist regime on the planet, but I’ll leave that discussion for another time.
At any rate, finding that ethical cell phone is quite difficult as it seems electronics are manufactured by the cheapest labor available by most companies. Want proof? Have a look at this article and notice how virtually all of the companies listed seem to have a lot of evil in their supply chains. Apple scores horribly on the report referenced in that article while RIM (the failing manufacturers of Blackberry) comes out near the top of the heap. If you don’t want to be stuck with a dying line of phones, you’ll notice that HTC – which makes pretty solid lines of Android and Windows phones – comes out OK.
Yes, it seems that HTC – a Taiwanese company – is doing what it can to keep most of its manufacturing at home where labor laws are actually enforced by the government. There’s always the argument that Apple is an American company and, as such, buying from it is better for the U.S. economy. That’s a curious argument, to be sure, as it appears Apple seems to hoard its profits and dole out some cash to American employees and investors.
If Apple really wanted to boost the U.S. economy and dodge those nagging accusations of using easily exploitable labor, perhaps the company should take a page from HTC’s book and actually building the things in its home country. Yes, there’s always the argument that American companies would be forced to jack up the prices of their stuff if they used domestic labor, but there’s something curious about that claim.
Here’s the thing – according to this article, it costs Apple $167.50 to build a 16GB iPhone 5. While it costs a cell phone customer $199 to get that same iPhone under contract, bear in mind that the build of the phone is paid off throughout the length of that contract. Customers actually wind up paying $649 for the phone (that’s the cost you’d pay if you bought an unlocked one direct from Apple). That adds up to a profit for Apple of $481.50 per phone. So, here’s the question – that’s a lot of room for a solid profit. Why not pay some American workers a bit more and realize a profit of, say, $100 or $200 per phone?
Perhaps that old line about U.S. manufacturers having to resort to cheap, foreign labor in order to keep costs to consumers down is a bunch of nonsense. It may be more likely that they’re mostly interested in maximizing profits to an obscene degree at the expense of the U.S. economy.
Yes, the rumors are true – real estate markets are still in the doldrums (just like everything else in the current economy, seemingly).
Ah, but that does create some opportunities for both buyers and sellers in certain markets. Seaside Properties Group maintains that sellers are in good shape in the luxury market in south Florida due to a lack of supply and buyers are attracted by historically lower prices. Also, it seems that builders are struggling to keep up with demand for high end properties in the area – a sure sign that a housing market is improving. You can weight the facts for yourself about the market for luxury oceanfront condos at Acqualina by clicking the aforementioned link.
When you do head to that link, you’ll find a site that’s full of information about the luxury condo market in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale areas. Judge for yourself how things are going down there and whether this is, indeed, a good time to buy or sell waterfront, high dollar real estate. Check out, for example, some testimonials from customers who used the site to research upscale properties such as luxury oceanfront condos at One Bal Harbour.
You want more? OK. Let’s say you’re interested in luxury oceanfront condos at Bal Harbour. You’ll find a blog that is updated regularly that discusses the markets in south Florida at length and serves as a resource for people interested in real estate in that area. Pay it a visit – it’s free to visit and you just might find something you like.
Her Bunk: Barack Obama's fund raising efforts. Audio from the archives of the Rush Limbaugh Show.
Recalling murky Chicago politics. Thank you to the Obama campaign for pointing their fingers at the "man in the white suit." They reminded us that four fingers on each hand were pointing right back at them. I guess since they said it first, we can not cry FELON without fear of being called racists.&
So pencil in your own remembered examples of Obama's murky past and less than favored associations in the comment section. If Obama were not president, by now the FBI would be tracking his past activities because ...
AF "Tony" Branco:
Tags: AF Branco, political cartoon, Chicago politics, Barack Obama, felon, scandals To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
A.F. "Tony" Branco, Contributing Editorial Cartoonist:
Anthony F. Branco is the creator of politically incorrect cartoons addressing the events of today. He is a contributor to the ARRA News Service.
Tags: Obamacare, unemployed, road kill, disability, food stamps, Tony Branco, Political cartoons To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
If you haven't been following the Lum and Abner comic strip over at First Arkansas News, you're missing out on all the fun.
Who are Lum and Abner? They were a couple of Arkansas boys who made it big nationally in the 1930s through 1950s when old time radio (OTR) was king. Out of all the rural comedy acts, Lum and Abner stood head and shoulders above the rest (yes, that is an opinion -- I'm very biased here).
The Lum and Abner comic strip, penned by the skilled Donnie Pitchford and put together as a collaborative effort with First Arkansas News (yes, I do own that site), is a project we started in late May 2011. We've just bought the rights to use the characters for another year and are looking forward to year two of the series.
Do we get a lot of money out of it? Uh, heck no. We do it because it's fun and pays homage to a couple of legendary Arkansas performers (well, we hope it pays homage to them, at least).
Ready to wind that clock back about 80 years and take a trip down memory lane to rural Pine Ridge, Ark.? If so, click here and have a look at the strips we've posted so far. A new strip is posted every Sunday and you lucky folks who live in the Arkansas cities of Amity and Mena can check out the strip every Thursday in your local newspaper.
So, there you are – you’ve realized that the Yellow Pages section of the phone book doesn’t work anymore and you need to market your local business through the Internet.
So, how can you do that? Bear in mind that marketing a business locally is a bit of a challenge. It might seem like a bit of a paradox, but reaching those customers located within your local market online can be more than a bit difficult. How would a business owner just getting into the game of Internet marketing go about it? Do you have the skills to take on such a project that will either pay off very well for you or fail as your competitors cut into your customer base?
Fortunately, there is a company out there that is set up to help small to medium-sized businesses market locally on the Internet – RevLocal. What is that company? That bunch has spent the past 17 years (an eternity in “Internet years”) dealing with search engine optimization (SEO). What is SEO? Simply put, good SEO means that your business pops up in search engines ahead of competitors, making it easy for customers to find you first. What you need, precisely, is local SEO and RevLocal has the background to help you out in that regard.
Any local business owner out there needs to take advantage of the power of local search and many of them need help getting in front of customers. There was a time when getting in front of local customers simply meant taking out a decent phone book ad and waiting for customers to respond. If you business is still doing that, consider this – how much business is that tactic getting you these days?
The fact of the matter is that more and more people turn to the Internet first when looking for local businesses. If you’re not in front of them, one of your competitors will be. It was predicted in the 1990s that the Internet would change the way we do business. That forecast has come true and local businesses would be wise to adapt to the new landscape.
Yet another band that never got enough attention…
Being a professional in about any field – law, medical or etc. – means you’ve got to stay current on your skills set.
When I was a lawyer, that meant taking a lot of continuing education. Doctors go through a similar process, but there is one exception – law is comparatively static compared to medicine which is dramatically impacted later by new techniques, technologies, pharmaceuticals, etc. How can a doctor learn the new skills necessary to stay ahead of the pack? Oxford Medical has some programs in place that are well worth your attention. Not only can you learn some new techniques, you can learn some new disciplines that will help advance your career or extend it into other areas.
What will you find through Oxford Medical? You’ll find a one-day, consultant interview course, a medical teaching course and a medical management course. One of the more innovative offerings is a teach the teacher course which is a highly interactive way in which doctors learn to teach.
Sound interesting? If so, click one of the links in this article to check out what England’s premier medical training institution has to offer. You might fine a training session is just what the doctor ordered to advance your career. Good luck!
A lot of us are still cutting costs, building up our savings account and putting together budgets. Whether you’re comfortable with finances or not, things have changed over the past few years – we’ve learned the economy can take a dive and stay down for some time, so it only makes sense to be more careful with our money.
Now, cutting costs doesn’t always mean you have to give up something. Take Internet service, for example. You want to be careful about cutting too much there as a solid, reliable Internet connection has become a necessity in a lot of ways.
Ah, but there’s one company out there that can offer you the reliable access you want at a price that is certainly affordable. The company is Copper.net and how affordable is Internet access through it? How about dial-up Internet starting at $9.95 per month and broadband DSL starting at $19.95? Those prices are, clearly, very affordable and that makes Copper one of those companies to research whether you’re in the market for a new dial up connection or want a faster broadband one.
Who is copper? An American-owned company that offers Internet services throughout the United States and Canada. Want to see if the company has a service that will both save you money and give you the Internet access to which you are accustomed? Click one of the links in this article and find out more information. Who knows? You might just find your next Internet service provider.
It doesn’t have to be. Head to http://www.parkautomall.com for Tampa used cars. You can take a look at the inventory of everything from trucks to cars to SUVS, apply for credit and do just about everything online but pick up your new ride and take it home.
That’s a pretty good deal if you happen to live in Tampa, Fla. – how many sites feature an easy to browse selection of used cars, offer credit approval and even give shoppers the chance to see used car videos online?
Give it a look – finding that perfect car through your Internet browser is a snap with that site.
What’s a class of professionals authorized by the federal government to represent taxpayers on all administrative levels before the IRS? Enrolled agents are authorized to represent taxpayers in audits, collections and appeals. Tax laws are complicated, the IRS is always after someone and people who have the expertise to help people go through audits and such will always find find work.
How does one become an enrolled agent? Go through an enrolled agent course and pass an enrolled agent exam. It does take some work, but becoming an enrolled agent is probably more affordable than you think it might be. Click one of the links in this post for more information.
It’s a common story – Medicare is useful as far as it goes, but it doesn’t quite cover everything, does it?
When it comes to Medicare, there are almost always out-of-pocket expenses and other items that simply aren’t covered. What can one do to close that “gap” between what Medicare does and does not cover? One can either shell out some cash to make up the difference or invest in Medicare supplement insurance.
Such insurance has always made a lot of sense, but particularly in this day and age. Consumers are hit with escalating medical costs and a rotten economy – a one-two punch that can catch a Medicare recipient in a serious trap if a medical condition takes hold and proves to be costly.
The good thing about such supplemental insurance is that the costs are reasonable, particularly when one considers that “one size fits all” policies aren’t the rule. One can choose the level of coverage they need and pay only for the appropriate amount of coverage.
It all boils down to a simple cost-benefit analysis. While there are times that people spend years paying for insurance to protect against an emergency that doesn’t happen, that’s not the case with Medicare supplemental insurance. Typically, making an investment in that coverage will pay for itself sooner rather than later.
I'd love to be selling a Rolex right now because I heard that now is probably the best time to sell Rolex to consumers. The ever popular Black rolex submariner brand watches are extremely wanted right now in the market. Also in high demand include the stunning all black models.
One special type of Rolex brand watches include the pvd Rolex model. PVD stands for "physical vapor deposition" and is the process used when creating these PVD Rolex watches. It is a very thin coating bonded to the stainless steel of the watch and is unable to flake or be destroyed. The surface is even more scratch resistant than it's counterpart of pure stainless steel. Celebrities are often found wearing the high class PVD Rolex watches. This is very good for the brand considering that celebrities tend to be the ones who start or continue important fashion trends or movements. Rolex watches have consistently appeared on the wrists of celebrities and will continue to do so long into the future. Rolex is a household name and should not ever be taken for granted.
Once you own a Rolex watch, it most likely becomes your most prized possession. Considering how much you (or another person) spent on it, the actual value of the watches themselves, and the time and effort it takes to carefully craft one of these beautiful timepieces will make it extremely valuable and possibly your favorite item that you own. My friend's father bought a Rolex about five to ten years back and it is still his favorite item. The watch he bought has increased exponentially in value and although he gets plenty of offers for it, he refuses to sell it. He honestly loves it way too much.
I've always had a dream about getting a Rolex watch and after saving up for maybe five more years I will finally be able to have my own. I don't think I'd ever sell it either, just because of how much time and work I put into getting it. If you want something that you can cherish for years and years to come, look into getting a Rolex brand watch. My Rolex has become my favorite item that I own, and for a good reason. It was actually given to me by my son for a birthday present.
Yes, Metal Mike grew up in Little Rock, Ark!
ARRA News Service (Dr. Bill Smith) -
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Cinco de Mayo wasn't even related Mexico's Independence Day which is celebrated by Mexico on September 16. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. So, what is the big deal in the USA. We liked the French support in our Revolutionary War, we liked buying the Louisiana Purchase from them, and American forces bled and died twice helping France in WWI and WWII. In fact, we like them up and until Gen. Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle kicked American bases out of France in 1966.
The Mexican – American War, also known as the Mexican War, or the U.S.– Mexican War, was an armed conflict (war) between the USA and Mexico from 1846 to 1848. American forces quickly occupied New Mexico and California, then invaded parts of Northeastern Mexico and Northwest Mexico; meanwhile, the Pacific Squadron conducted a blockade, and took control of several garrisons on the Pacific coast further south in Baja California. After Mexico would still not agree to the cession of its northern territories, another American army waltzed into and captured Mexico City, and the war ended in victory of the U.S. Although in our victory, we more than generous and paid Mexico $18 million dollars and forgave their debt. A big mistake was not keeping Baja.
So, again! Why are American stores and even schools (a day early) celebrating Cinco de Mayo? If we are going to celebrate another day, maybe it should on March 2, when Texas celebrates its Texas Independence Day. On March 2, 1836, The Republic of Texas defeated Mexico!
And since we are NOT going to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, I am going to celebrate not celebrating with one of my favorite American beers - a Corona. Just a minute - Yes - I know, I know, but the beer was made in "North" America :)
Tags: Cinco de Mayo, Corona, USA, Mexico, France
Back when I was a business writer for a daily newspaper, I learned one thing in a hurry – people really paid attention every time we announced a rate from a commonly used service was going to increase.
Yes, we could bang out stories about SEC filings by local corporations, cover shareholder meetings and do all of that stuff, but the phone calls and emails started flowing in when one of us wrote about utilities rates increasing. For the purpose of this post, just lump cable rates in with utilities and you get the idea.
Cable rates always seemed to be on the rise. During the conversion to digital, cable rates soared as the local provider was shelling out millions of dollars to lay in fiber optic cable. Cable rates, in fact, seemed to go up almost annually and sometimes on a whim. We put up with all of that because, at the time, satellite service was relatively new and we couldn’t get any local channels.
Well, folks, times have changed. When it comes to satellite television, Direct TV is certainly an established company that provides millions of customers with all the HDTV options they want and even the standard digital channels come in very clear. In my area – and most others – local channels have been offered in high definition for years. And, here’s the clincher – the rates are lower than you might expect.
Interested in switching from cable? Give dx3 Direct TV a look and see what packages you can start enjoying soon. Head over to www.dx3.net and start shopping. You’ll be glad you did.