Anyone who wants to get an unlimited wireless Internet plan should be aware of what it will need. First, a plan must require a proper modem. The modem can be inserted right into a laptop so the computer can be linked to a proper signal. The modem will have to be linked to a user’s account to make sure the online service can continue to work well.

Also, an unlimited wireless Internet service should offer a modem that is fast enough for the needs that a person has. Many unlimited wireless Internet providers will offer different modems that can handle different needs. These include modems that can handle varying download speeds. Some of today’s providers can offer modems that can handle 1.5 Mbps download speeds. Of course, it will cost more to get a unlimited wireless Internet service that involves faster download speeds.

Good unlimited wireless Internet plans for a laptop should offer special deals where a person doesn’t have to get into any signed contracts. The goal is to find something that can be used on a monthly basis without risking having to deal with expensive contracts.

An unlimited wireless Internet laptop plan should also have something that can handle more coverage spots. A good modem should work with a larger coverage map that can handle a variety of spots. These include many spots on the go in places like parks, restaurants, public transit units and more.

These should be used when finding an unlimited satellite internet plan. A good plan should be something that is easy for anyone to manage without dealing with issues involving what one has to work with when getting access.

People who get Internet and phone packages can handle a variety of connections. These include DSL and cable options. These two choices should be reviewed before committing to a package. These two vary in terms of things like how fast they can work and how secure they are but they will also have a few points that make them similar to one another.

Cable Can Work

Cable connections can work for Internet and phone packages. Cable has the ability to manage faster speeds. This is thanks to how a standard wiring system through a coaxial cable can handle a larger bandwidth of data. This is more powerful than the standard phone line that DSL uses.

This also works with a shared LAN system. This makes it easier for people to get in on many devices in a spot.

DSL is Another Choice

DSL can be used for a package. This will use a dedicated connection through a phone line, thus making it so the speeds will be more consistent even if they aren’t as strong as what cable gets. DSL also offers extra security thanks to the individualized hosting that the connection can handle. This means that the DSL connection is good to only the devices that are approved to use it.

What Both Can Offer

These two will still offer several things that are beneficial:

• A connection that is always on
• Faster speeds than what dial-up uses
• Clear phone quality and reception
• Support for high-tech phone functions like call waiting and caller ID

The differences in internet, internet and phone packages can be noticeable in some cases. However, they are both similar in that they offer greater solutions for online and phone needs.

There are five important things to see when getting satellite Internet reviews to work well. These points include many things that relate to how well a person can handle different things with a connection and how it may work for any home.

1. The fastest download speed that can be used must be seen carefully. Many reviews can state how many bits per second a system can handle. This can handle about 1 Mbps in most cases.

2. The ability to upload things quickly should also be considered. A speed of 300 Kbps may be used in this case. This is a necessity in satellite Internet reviews for those who plan on sending things to people.

3. The bandwidth that a user can handle should be seen carefully. The bandwidth can relate to the amount of megabytes that can be handled at a given period of time. Many of the best reviews can involve providers that offer an unlimited amount of bandwidth.

4. The email accounts that can be used in the review should be seen carefully. Reviews can state how many accounts a person can use at one time. This can include five to ten emails accounts on one account depending on who is offering something.

5. The protective features that come with an Internet service must also be reviewed. These features can include things like:

• Antivirus protection
• Firewall support
• Spam protection and blocking
• Secure layer connections

All good satellite internet reviews can offer all of these things. This can make it easier for anyone to figure out what is going on with a satellite program and should be seen to ensure that things are managed well with one’s proper provider.

There are a few things to see for the best PC monitors. These points relate to the ports that come on a monitor. The best monitors can work with great things that can handle more items.

USB Ports are Convenient

A number of today’s monitors can handle USB ports. A USB port can link a monitor up with things like a digital camera, digital media player and many other items. Some peripherals like a gaming controller may also be attached to some monitors.

A USB port can be found on the side or bottom of a monitor. Sometimes the back of the monitor will have a USB port.

What Speakers are There?

The speaker ports should be checked on carefully. This includes seeing if there is a standard speaker port or an HDMI port that might be used here. This may allow anyone to plug a monitor into a greater audio system, thus making it a little easier for people to get the best sounds.

Of course, some speakers will be built into a monitor. These might work alongside the speakers that can attach to the monitor.

What Interfaces are There?

There are number of video interfaces that may be included on a monitor. These include things like:

VGA; this is the most common one because it works with most larger computers
DVI; this is also found on most of today’s monitors
HDMI for high-definition monitors; this is used to support the high-definition signals that these monitors may handle

These three ports are often found in the best monitors. One of each will be good enough on a typical monitor.

These features are great things to find in the best PC monitors. These will make it so anyone can enjoy a better PC experience.

(Reuters) – Simon Cowell gave his talent show “The X Factor” a major shake-up, showing the door to host Steve Jones, judge Nicole Scherzinger, and old friend Paula Abdul after a lackluster first season on U.S. television.

Broadcaster Fox confirmed on Tuesday that British host Jones, and former Pussycat Dolls singer Scherzinger would not be returning for the second season of the show in September.

And sources close to the show said that Abdul — Cowell’s old “American Idol” sparring partner — had also been voted off in what some industry watchers called a bloodbath.

Jones broke the news on Twitter.

“I won’t be hosting next seasons ‘X Factor’ which is a shame but I can’t complain as I’ve had a great time. Good luck to everyone on the show” he wrote late on Monday.

The shake-up leaves only Cowell, the “X Factor” creator and acerbic judge, and record producer Antonio “L.A.” Reid left on the panel of the singing contest, which arrived on U.S. television amid much hype last fall, but disappointing ratings.

The ouster of Jones, seen as wooden and flustered in the live shows, was expected. Scherzinger had also drawn criticism from audiences and TV critics for bland comments.

But the reported exit of Abdul — whom Cowell had courted assiduously for the show — was greeted with shock. Fox executives could not immediately confirm on Tuesday that Abdul was also leaving.

There was no word on Tuesday on who would replace the three.

Cowell launched “The X Factor” in the United States boasting that it would beat “American Idol” as the nation’s most-watched TV show. But it drew less than 13 million viewers — about half those who tune into “Idol” — and many TV critics found it over-produced and too similar to “American Idol”.

Cowell admitted in December that he had been “a little too cocky” when he told brought the show over to the United States after years of success in Britain.

But he also told reporters that it would improve in its second season and Fox executives said in January that Cowell was planning “tweaks” for the second season.

(Reporting By Jill Serjeant; editing by Patricia Reaney)

(Reuters) – Apple’s blowout quarter this week increased its cash holdings to almost $100 billion, a staggering hoard that casts a spotlight on what may prove a big catalyst for the U.S. equity market in coming years.

U.S. corporations are sitting on record levels of cash – nearly $1 trillion for companies in the Standard & Poor’s 500 index – but with the exception of high dividend-paying stocks this past quarter, that cash pile has done little to boost share prices.

Investors often shun companies with excess cash as they fear management will negotiate expensive or ill-advised acquisitions, or buy back shares when the stock is far from cheap.

But that notion may be short-lived. In coming years, a pile of cash is going to be a distinct advantage in what is likely to be a conservative borrowing environment. Those cash-rich companies are the best placed to outperform the market.

“In the coming decade, rather than U.S. companies being absorbers of capital we expect them to be sources of capital,” said Richard Vigilante, director of selected research at hedge fund Whitebox Advisors in Minneapolis.

That’s if they use the cash wisely.

Cash as a percentage of the S&P’s market value is now at 11.48 percent, just shy of a record high reached in 2010. The $998.6 billion that the S&P 500 companies hold is up 63 percent from five years ago, and nearly double the $342.3 billion in cash they held a decade ago.

That cash figure for S&P companies excludes financials, transports and utilities, which keep high balances as part of normal operations.

Faced with low to negative yields their cash holdings now generate, companies will seek higher returns either through investing in themselves or other companies, Vigilante said.

“It’s much more likely that start-up and innovative firms are going to get their capital by being bought out by major companies,” he said.

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Graphic: link.reuters.com/cep36s

Insider: link.reuters.com/den36s

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DEPLOYING CASH

Given the weak venture capital and private equity environment, tighter bank lending and a more cautious hedge fund industry, corporate America looms as a major supplier of cash.

However, with the exception of paying dividends, Wall Street generally fears management’s use of excessive cash. And cash as tinder for higher prices, for example, has yet to catch on.

The top 25 members of the S&P 500 when ranked by the cash held as a percentage of market capitalization returned 2.92 percent last year, according to Birinyi Associates Inc of Westport, Connecticut. The bottom 25 returned 11.75 percent.

Deploying cash to deliver higher returns will become a hallmark of the great American company, marking a break with the past, when product innovation, growing market share and creating new markets were prized attributes, according to Whitebox.

Like other investors, Whitebox founder Andrew Redleaf has hailed quality, large-cap U.S. corporations for more than a year now. He also sees a decade where equities will double in price, and he believes the large caps will be the major beneficiary.

But there are hurdles. Corporations have a poor history of repurchasing shares at low prices, and there are any number of highly visible, poorly conceived or executed takeovers.

“Capital allocation is not a highly valued skill. What’s highly valued is spending capital fast to grab onto the next innovative possibility,” Vigilante said. “In a conservative era, which I think we’re heading into, skillful capital allocation is going to become a differentiator of firms.”

Companies repurchasing their debt and stock buybacks are also both at record levels, yet companies that engaged in those two activities saw their share prices underperform the market.

Over the past three years ended in early December, Wal-Mart Stores Inc cut its outstanding shares by 12.7 percent, prompting newsletter publisher Jim Grant to observe that at that rate there would be no more shares of Wal-Mart in 15 years.

Since the S&P 500 hit a 52-week low on October 4, the broad measure for U.S. equities has rallied nearly 24 percent, yet Wal-Mart’s shares have lagged that run-up by more than 4 percentage points.

A study by Thomson Reuters suggests that most S&P companies have not successfully added value through stock repurchases over the past decade.

The study did identify firms with a history of strategically repurchasing shares at low prices, and more importantly, reducing buybacks when their stock rose, such as J.C. Penney and St. Jude Medical. Those actions were beneficial to stock owners as signals to buy or sell.

In the third quarter of 2011, stock repurchase activity among S&P 500 companies reached almost 4 percent of their market cap, levels unseen since before the financial crisis.

Thomson Reuters found surprisingly few companies were able to repurchase shares at lower prices and see price appreciation within the following 12 months. Some did the opposite, such as Netflix, which continued to buy as its stock soared and later had to issue shares for funding.

Whitebox is still developing models to screen for the companies that will prove successful wardens of their capital.

Another problem is that much of corporate America’s cash is held overseas.

Apple reported $97.6 billion in cash and marketable securities, with about $64 billion of that held abroad. Management offered few clues about its plans for the cash, other than to hint it may invest in its supply chain or in acquisitions.

Companies that tried to grow internally through big research and development programs or large capital expenditures were both down about 6 percent in 2011, said Robert Turner, chairman and chief investment officer at Turner Investment Partners in Berwyn, Pennsylvania. Even cash deployed in takeover activity only earned about a 2 percent return, he said.

“In essence, if you used your balance sheet to try to grow revenues you got penalized last year. But if you paid it out in dividends the market rewarded your company,” Turner said.

“I’d like to think as we move forward, companies might be given a little bit more credit for using this cash to make strategic acquisitions that make sense,” he said.

(Reporting By Herbert Lash; Editing by Leslie Adler)

Is it just the price tag or is there really something so different about the hotel you are staying in? Is the location that much different? The bed that much softer? The food that much tastier? The answer to all these questions is yes. If you are considering going on a luxury holiday, here are some things you can look forward to.

Luxury Hotel

Sure, it is just a room and a bed. Maybe a suite if you want. But the beds are soft and inviting. Maybe you even have turn down service. You get fresh linens every day. And if you really love your bed, you can have a delicious and gourmet breakfast brought up to you. Most luxury hotels also offer large baths or Jacuzzis so you can have a relaxing soak.

Food

Any luxury hotel worth its salt will also have a luxury restaurant. Gourmet meals are standard fare in these luxury holidays hotels. The best part is if you are not in the mood to go out, you can have your meal brought to your room and eat in bed.

Spas

While many of the male clientele do not care about spas, many women look forward to the in-house spa offered by many luxury hotels. Whether you want a facial, a massage, or a whole array or treatments, you can spend some time in a relaxing spa, or sometimes have the treatments brought up to your room.

First Class Golf Resorts

Many of the nicer luxury holiday packages are offering access to some of the best golf courses in the world. If you love to relax on the green, you can often find discounted passes for world class golfing.

So whether you are interested in the food, the fun, the beauty treatments or the soft bed, there is something for everyone on a luxury holiday. Going to a five star hotel or resort doesn’t mean you have to choose an overly expensive destination. You can find great deals online for your next place to relax. Book some time off and enjoy your next holiday in a luxurious hotel or resort and just relax and enjoy all the beauty and comfort around you.

(Reuters) – Research in Motion’s Thorsten Heins plans to waste no time in his new job. The BlackBerry maker’s chief executive said he will present the board with his plan for company’s future in just a matter of weeks.

The German-born executive, who took over from two longstanding co-CEOs on Saturday, said his plans for RIM would be “significant” though he did not divulge details in an interview with Reuters.

“I will have time with the board in two weeks to present my ideas and changes,” Heins said.

But the executive, who was promoted from the role of chief operating officer, said he has already done groundwork to tackle his company’s most pressing problem – persuading the U.S. market to covet the BlackBerry again.

While RIM is growing in other countries, Heins conceded that its U.S. business is in need of a major revival after losing out to rivals like Apple Inc’s iPhone at U.S. service providers and corporations, where it once had a clear advantage among employees heavily dependent on its email service.

“In general I wouldn’t consider RIM as a turnaround candidate. It is a turnaround candidate in the U.S.,” he said. “We lost market share in this market quite substantially. That is something that we have to address.”

While U.S. operators such as Verizon Wireless and AT&T Inc have helped BlackBerry with heavy advertising and promotions in the past, these operators have been much more focused in the last few years on devices like iPhone and smartphones based on the Google Inc operating system.

Heins’ quest to regain ground with these operators has been complicated by the fact that RIM had to announce in December that it is delaying the launch of phones based on BlackBerry 10 – its next-generation software – until the later part of 2012 as it is awaiting the availability of a high-powered chip.

The executive would not say when exactly these phones would hit the market but implied that they would arrive in time for the year-end holiday-shopping season in the fourth quarter.

So in the meantime, Heins will concentrate on getting the most current BlackBerrys into more consumers hands. He noted that only 20 percent of U.S. BlackBerry users have the company’s latest phones, which he says are competitive with rival smartphones.

The rest of RIM’s U.S. customers have devices with older RIM software, some of which are “two generations behind,” he said.

To overcome this, RIM has devised a new upgrade plan with U.S. operators to promote phones with the BlackBerry 7 system, which was launched in August last year.

“All the plans are ready. The carrier agreements are all ready. Now we have to get off the starting grid. Now we need to execute that upgrade program,” Heins said.

While he did not want to disclose specifics about the new agreements, Heins said RIM could look at new ways of bundling different devices together or offering carriers smartphones with a package of pre-loaded applications.

He is also betting on the company’s PlayBook tablet to compete with the Apple iPad tablet. This spring, Heins said that RIM will launch a version of the Playbook, with a high-speed wireless connection based on LTE – a technology that the top three U.S. operators are building into their networks.

Verizon Wireless and AT&T are already promoting LTE devices including smartphones and tablets from RIM’s rivals. RIM’s first smartphones with LTE connections will be in the company’s BlackBerry 10 line-up, Heins said.

MOMENT OF SURPRISE

In his first presentation to Wall Street as CEO earlier this week, Heins said he did not think the company needed drastic change, causing some analysts to worry that the executive would not do enough to reverse the company’s fortunes.

But the executive said on Friday that he was merely telling Wall Street that he does not want to change the core of RIM.

“Is RIM up for sale, is RIM up for a split-up?” He rejected those possibilities as “a drastic, seismic change because it would tear the company apart.”

Heins, who has been with RIM for four years after spending over two decades at German engineering group Siemens, was became COO responsible for software and products seven months ago.

He explained that RIM had succession plans for co-CEOs Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie in place for some time and that he had an inkling that he was being groomed to follow in their footsteps when he was named COO.

“The moment they tell you it’s still a surprise,” Heins said, smiling broadly and adding that he immediately said yes.

Lazaridis and Balsillie, who turned the BlackBerry maker into a global company and a household name, stepped down last week but will remain on the board.

Some analysts have worried whether these executives would have too much of a say in the future strategy of the company because of their position on the board.

Heins said, it would be an advantage to be able to tap into the experience and company knowledge of RIM founder Lazaridis, but he made it clear that he would be the one calling the shots.

“What I do with the company is my decision. The CEO runs the company.”

(Reporting By Sinead Carew; Additional reporting by Alastair Sharp and Peter Lauria; Editing by Gary Hill)

If you’ve ever been short on cash, which most of us have, you’ve probably tried to find quick and easy ways to make money. You’ve probably also heard of online paid surveys and wondered how you can make money taking online paid surveys. There are a lot of different paid surveys available online. Some online surveys you visit a specific site and take the opinion survey. Other sites will set up a system where you receive daily surveys via email that you can respond to. There are even sites where you can play videogames and get paid!
The important thing to remember with online paid surveys is that even though you can earn cash fairly quickly, most legitimate paid surveys take at least a few days to process any payments. You should also keep in mind that taking paid surveys online isn’t like winning the lottery. You won’t just press a few buttons and have instant extra cash. The best way to take paid surveys is in your spare time. If you try to take online paid surveys for several hours, not only are you going to start feeling like your brain is fried, you’re probably going to feel frustrated, because there are plenty of scam paid surveys out there.
If you really want to make money with online paid surveys, first find a reputable site which rates the different paid surveys out there for you. Find out which ones you qualify for (if a company is doing paid surveys on which brand of dog food is best and you hate animals, you should probably find something different), and plan on doing just one to three a day. It may not seem like much, but you’ll find that this will allow you to choose surveys that are more applicable to you and the money will start to add up.

(Reuters) – Iran Sunday declared itself optimistic about a U.N. experts’ visit aimed at probing suspected military aspects of its nuclear work and lawmakers postponed debate on a proposed halt to oil flows to the European Union watched closely in energy markets.

A team of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors began a three-day visit to try to advance efforts to resolve a row about nuclear work which Iran says is for making electricity but the West suspects is aimed at seeking a nuclear weapon.

Tensions with the West rose this month when Washington and the European Union imposed the toughest sanctions yet in a drive to force Tehran to provide more information on its nuclear program. The measures take direct aim at the ability of OPEC’s second biggest oil exporter to sell its crude.

The Mehr news agency quoted Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi as saying during a trip to Ethiopia: “We are very optimistic about the outcome of the IAEA delegation’s visit to Iran … Their questions will be answered during this visit,”

“We have nothing to hide and Iran has no clandestine (nuclear) activities.”

Striking a sterner tone, Iran’s parliament speaker, Ali Larijani, warned the IAEA team to carry out a “logical, professional and technical” job or suffer the consequences.

“This visit is a test for the IAEA. The route for further cooperation will be open if the team carries out its duties professionally,” said Larijani, state media reported.

“Otherwise, if the IAEA turns into a tool (for major powers to pressure Iran), then Iran will have no choice but to consider a new framework in its ties with the agency.”

Iran’s parliament in the past has approved bills to oblige the government to review its level of cooperation with the IAEA. However, Iran’s top officials have always underlined the importance of preserving ties with the watchdog body.

Before departing from Vienna, IAEA Deputy Director General Herman Nackaerts said he hoped the Islamic state would tackle the watchdog’s concerns “regarding the possible military dimensions of Iran’s nuclear program.”

PARLIAMENT DEBATE

Less than one week after the EU’s 27 member states agreed to stop importing crude from Iran from July 1, Iranian lawmakers were due to debate a bill later Sunday that would cut off oil supplies to the European Union (EU) in a matter of days.

Iranian lawmakers postponed discussing the bill.

“No such draft bill has yet been drawn up and nothing has been submitted to the parliament. What exists is a notion by the deputies which is being seriously pursued to bring it to a conclusive end,” Emad Hosseini, spokesman for parliament’s Energy Committee, told Mehr.

“Some MPs had an idea that should be studied by the energy committee before being drafted as a bill. We hope our discussions will be finished by Friday.”

REFINERS

By turning the sanctions back on the EU, lawmakers hope to deny the bloc a six-month window it had planned to give those of its members most dependent on Iranian oil – including some of the most economically fragile in southern Europe – to adapt.

The head of the state-run National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) said late Saturday that the export embargo would hit European refiners, such as Italy’s Eni, that are owed oil from Iran as part of long-standing buy-back contracts under which they take payment for past oilfield projects in crude.

“The decision must be made at high echelons of power and we at the NIOC will act as the executioner of the policies of the government,” Ahmad Qalebani told the ISNA news agency.

“The European companies will have to abide by the provisions of the buyback contracts,” he said. “If they act otherwise, they will be the parties to incur the relevant losses and will subject the repatriation of their capital to problems.”

“Generally, the parties to incur damage from the EU’s recent decision will be European companies with pending contracts with Iran.”

Italy’s Eni is owed $1.4-1.5 billion in oil for contracts it executed in Iran in 2000 and 2001 and has been assured by EU policymakers its buyback contracts will not be part of the European embargo, but the prospect of Iran acting first may put that into doubt.

Eni declined to comment Saturday.

The EU accounted for 25 percent of Iranian crude oil sales in the third quarter of 2011. However, analysts say the global oil market will not be overly disrupted if parliament votes for the bill that would turn off the oil tap for Europe.

“The Saudis have made it clear that they’ll step in to fill the void,” said Robert Smith, a consultant at Facts Global Energy. “It would not pose any serious threat to oil market stability. Meanwhile Asians, predominantly the Chinese and Indians, stand to benefit from more Iranian crude flowing east and at potential discounts.”

Potentially more disruptive to the world oil market and global security is the risk of Iran’s standoff with the West escalating into military conflict.

Iran has repeatedly said it could close the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane if sanctions succeed in preventing it from exporting crude, a move Washington said it would not tolerate.

“CONSTRUCTIVE SPIRIT”

The IAEA’s visit may be an opportunity to defuse some of the tension. Director General Yukiya Amano has called on Iran to show a “constructive spirit” and Tehran has said it is willing to discuss “any issues” of interest to the U.N. agency, including the military-linked concerns.

But Western diplomats, who have often accused Iran of using such offers of dialogue as a stalling tactic while it presses ahead with its nuclear program, say they doubt Tehran will show the kind of concrete cooperation the IAEA wants.

They say Iran may offer limited concessions and transparency to try to ease intensifying international pressure, but that this is unlikely to amount to the full cooperation required.

The outcome could determine whether Iran will face further isolation or whether there are prospects for resuming wider talks between Tehran and the major powers on the nuclear row.

Salehi said Iran “soon” would write a letter to the E.U.’s foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton to discuss “a date and venue” for fresh nuclear talks.

“Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili in this letter, which may be sent in the coming days, also may mention other issues as well,” Salehi said, without elaborating.

The last round of talks in January 2011 between Jalili and Ashton, who represents major powers, failed over Iran’s refusal to halt its sensitive nuclear work.

“The talks will be successful as the other party seems interested in finding a way out of this deadlock,” Salehi said.

(Additional reporting by Hashem Kalantari, Robin Pomeroy and Hossein Jaseb in Tehran, Svetlana Kovalyova in Milan and Fredrik Dahl in Vienna; Writing by Parisa Hafezi and Robin Pomeroy; Editing by William Maclean)

With the downhill slope of the economy, businesses are constantly raising prices on goods and services to make up for their money lost. The good news is, we don’t all have to suffer with the price hike in commodities. Instead of cutting back on your social life or canceling subscriptions that you don’t want to part with, there are ways to help you.

How to Start Saving

When it comes to purchasing power, there’s no greater feeling than saving a couple dollars here and there, especially when you’re on a budget. Over time, it really starts to add up. Here are few tips to help you start saving today.

1.)    Plan ahead. Set aside a certain amount of money each month dedicated towards household needs including groceries, toiletry items, and misc.

2.)    Stick to your budget. There’s always that satisfying feeling that comes along with instant gratification but there’s no better reward than to look back and know you’ve set out a goal and accomplished it. You’ll be glad you did.

3.)    Coupons. Coupons. Coupons. They’re everywhere these days. Whether you do your shopping online or at a store location, coupons can be your best friend. Your local newspaper and online printable coupons websites can nearly double your savings. There’s no reason you should have to pay full-price for an item that may be marked 50% off.

4.)    Know where to shop. Get familiar with the local stores savings programs and you’ll be ahead of the game. Many stores today have a dedicated once a week special savings promotion and some stores will even allow you to combine your coupons with those special savings.

It’s important to follow each step every time and eventually it will become second nature to do what you love to do, save money and live easy.

(Reuters) – Riot police fought running skirmishes with anti-Wall Street protesters on Saturday, firing tear gas and bean bag projectiles and arresting more than 200 people in clashes that injured three officers and at least one demonstrator.

Three police officers and one protester were injured during the clashes, the city said, without detailing their conditions. Internet broadcasts by activists showed several demonstrators being treated by paramedics or loaded into ambulances.

The scuffles erupted in the afternoon as activists from the Occupy movement sought to take over a shuttered downtown convention center, sparking cat-and-mouse battles that lasted well into the night in a city that has seen tensions between police and protesters boil over repeatedly.

“Occupy Oakland has got to stop using Oakland as its playground,” Mayor Jean Quan, who has come under criticism for the city’s handling of the Occupy movement, said at a late evening press conference.

“Once again, a violent splinter group of the Occupy movement is engaging in violent actions against Oakland,” she said, speaking as officers in riot gear were still lined up against demonstrators in downtown intersections.

City Council President Larry Reid said a group of protesters broke into City Hall, damaging exhibits and burning a U.S. flag.

Occupy Oakland organizers had earlier vowed to take over the apparently empty downtown convention center to establish a headquarters, hoping to revitalize a movement against economic inequality that lost momentum after police cleared protest camps from cities across the country late last year.

They also hoped to draw attention to homelessness in the attempted building takeover, seen as a challenge to authorities who have blocked similar efforts before.

A police spokesman said more than 200 people had been arrested during the day following altercations that began when activists tried to tear down a chain-link fence surrounding the Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center.

“The 1 percent have all these empty buildings, and meanwhile there are all these homeless people,” protester Omar Yassin said.

‘IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES’

Police in riot gear moved in, firing smoke grenades, tear gas and bean-bag projectiles to drive the crowd back.

“Officers were pelted with bottles, metal pipe, rocks, spray cans, improvised explosive devices and burning flares,” the Oakland Police Department said in a statement. “Oakland Police Department deployed smoke and tear gas.”

Some activists, carrying shields made of plastic garbage cans and corrugated metal, tried to circumvent the police line, and surged toward police on another side of the building as more smoke canisters were fired.

“The city of Oakland welcomes peaceful forms of assembly and freedom of speech but acts of violence, property destruction and overnight lodging will not be tolerated,” police said in a statement.

Hundreds of demonstrators regrouped and marched through downtown Oakland, where they were repeatedly confronted by police in riot gear. Police at several points fired flash-bang grenades into the crowd and swung batons at protesters.

A group of demonstrators ultimately made their way to City Hall, where they brought out a U.S. flag and set it on fire before scattering ahead of advancing officers.

Several hundred people remained in the streets well after dark, facing off against lines of riot police holding batons who demonstrators sometimes taunted as “pigs.”

Protesters in Oakland loosely affiliated with the Occupy Wall Street movement that began in New York last year have repeatedly clashed with police during a series of marches and demonstrations.

Elsewhere, the National Park Service said on Friday it would bar Occupy protesters in the nation’s capital, one of the few big cities where Occupy encampments survive, from camping in two parks where they have been living since October.

That order, which takes effect on Monday, was seen as a blow to one of the highest-profile chapters of the movement.

(Writing by Dan Whitcomb and Mary Slosson; Editing by Cynthia Johnston and Bill Trott)

Want to add one member of the huge selection of indoor water fountains to your home or office but want some ideas? Don’t worry—you’re in luck. There are many ideas for tabletop fountains, indoor waterfalls, and a huge selection of other soothing options to turn your space into a garden-like delight. Here are just a few ideas for indoor fountains.

Add a Tabletop Fountain at Reception

Tabletop fountains are a very simple but effective type of water fountain. They can be run by battery and go almost anywhere. Having one at a reception desk will give visitors and customers a soothing feeling as they come into your place or work. This way they will associate the feelings of relaxation with your company.

Use Mist Fountains to Increase Humidity

If you live in a dry climate, mist fountains are an excellent way to gently increase the humidity in a room. Don’t expect the same results as a humidifier, though. You’ll simply get a nice boost in the amount of mist in the air.

Use Fountains Like Art

Just like you would add paintings or sculptures to a room to add to the aesthetic appeal, you can install a fountain in a room to add to the beauty of a space. Adding fountains is unique, too, because they are less common that paintings, meaning your room will certainly stand out in the memories of your visitors.

Have a Loud Fountain to Add Nice Background Noise

If you use a waterfall type fountain that uses falling water, the sound is very relaxing. If it is loud enough, it can fill the entire room with the same general sensation of tranquility.

There are many other ways to use indoor water fountains to add to the general good feeling in a room. If you are interested in purchasing a fountain and want to browse a huge selection, visit a local hardware store or check online.

(Reuters) – “Beasts of the Southern Wild” and “The House I Live In” won the top awards at the Sundance Film Festival on Saturday, making them likely favorites for independent movie audiences in 2012.

Directed by Benh Zeitlin and set in impoverished Louisiana, “Beasts of the Southern Wild” picked up the jury prize for best drama as well as best cinematography with its poetic tale of the bond between a father and a daughter.

The documentary winner, “The House I Live In,” was one of many documentaries at Sundance 2012 that looked at a struggling America at Sundance 2012. It is an examination of America’s long war on drugs and critiques of U.S. drug policies, its court system, prisons and their impact on minorities.

“The war on drugs is a terrible scar on America,” said director Eugene Jarecki.

Special juries of industry professionals vote on winners, and those are considered the top prizes but audiences also vote for their favorites.

“The Surrogate,” which stars Helen Hunt and John Hawkes and is about a man’s quest to lose his virginity while mostly confined to an iron lung, won the Audience Award for best drama.

The film, based on the life of poet and journalist Mark O’Brien, fetched one of the highest selling prices at the festival — a reported $6 million — and with its mix of comedy and drama could turn out to be one of the bigger U.S. indie hits in cinemas to come out of the festival.

“Love is a journey, that’s it,” said director Ben Lewin when accepting his trophy, quoting a line from the film.

“SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN”

The Audience Award for documentary was given to “The Invisible War,” about an epidemic of sexual assault in the U.S. military and shining a light on a little known problem.

Other documentary special jury prizes went to “Love Free or Die,” about the Episcopal Church’s first openly gay bishop, Gene Robinson; and “Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry,” about the Chinese artist and activist who was detained for 81 days last year.

“Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry” director Alison Klayman took a picture of the crowd upon accepting the award and promised to send it to the Chinese artist, who was spent 81 days in government detention last year and felt it was too risky to attend the festival from China.

Sundance, which is backed by Robert Redford’s Sundance Institute for filmmaking, is the largest U.S. gathering for independent movies. Festival winners go on to become some of the most talked about films in art houses.

Many of the more hyped fictional films for Sundance 2012 did not live up to their buzz, with many including “Red Lights” starring Robert De Niro and Spike Lee’s “Red Hook Summer” disappointing critics, although films have still sold.

In addition to prizes for U.S. films, Sundance also gives awards in world cinema.

“Searching for Sugar Man,” about the search for an obscure 1970s Detroit folk singer known as Rodriguez, won the audience award for best world documentary as well as a special jury prize. It was one of the most popular films of the festival, which served as the d3ebut for documentaries such as “An Inconvenient Truth.”

Chile’s “Violeta Went To Heaven,” based on the life of Chilean folk singer Violeta Parra’s journey from a poor upbringing to national hero, won the jury prize for best drama, and “The Law In These Parts” was the jury’s pick for best documentary.

(Reporting By Christine Kearney; editing by Mohammad Zargham and Bill Trott)

Why do you get charged a certain amount while your wife, friend, child or another person you know has lower insurance? This article will quickly break down what factors affect how much you pay for auto insurance and what factors will help you save money.

The first thing that an auto insurance company will look at is how old you are or how much driving experience you have. It makes sense that the longer you drive, the less likely you are to cause an accident since you are more familiar with the rules of the road.

The second thing to consider is gender. Sorry men, women are statistically more careful drivers than men.  The third thing car insurance companies will consider are your traffic tickets and claims, usually in the last two or three years. An insurance company will ask you how many tickets you have gotten in the last 3 years or how many claims you have had to make. Next, they might ask you for your address to figure out what the rate of crime and car accidents are in your area.

And lastly, insurance companies will ask what type of car you have and how much you drive it. If you have an older vehicle, it may end up crashing on you. Or if you drive a lot, just by how much time you spend on the road, you have increased your chances of being in an accident.

After an insurance company looks at all this information, they will give you a score which will then determine your car insurance quote. It is important to know that different companies will score you differently for different areas so it is important to look at all your options for car insurance rates as you may get better rates from different companies. Car insurance is important to have, so it is important you shop around and get the best deals.

(Reuters) – The German parliament’s email system was hampered for several hours for more than 4,000 staffers and deputies when hundreds of workers responded to an errant email sent by one staffer named “Babette” to all 4,032 co-workers.

The flood of emails began when “Babette” accidentally replied to “all” on the Bundestag email list with a short answer to a colleague: “Please bring me a copy of the new directory.”

Their exchange quickly multiplied when hundreds of colleagues responded with comments ranging from please “remove my name from your list” to “I’d like to take this opportunity to say hello to my mother.”

It was a rare moment of light-hearted confusion in a country with a reputation for doing things with precision.

Many Germans working in the parliament remained uncharacteristically relaxed. One member of parliament for the Greens party, Volker Beck, said: “One mistaken click and the parliament’s email system is turned into a new social network.”

One anonymous staffer in the usually anonymous parliament building wrote: “I think this is great. We should do this once a month. It’ll help us grow together.”

A spokeswomen of the Bundestag confirmed that there had been a flood of emails in response to the errant email and that it was possible, as German media reported, that emails in the parliament were delayed by up to a half an hour due to the high volume.

(Reporting by Tom Wagner, editing by Paul Casciato)

FICO stands for FICO stands for the Fair Isaac Company. They are the company that created and computes the FICO credit score, one of the most trusted and used credit scores out there.

One of the reasons that the FICO credit score and the free FICO score estimator are so widely used is because they are able to show credit scores and credit scoring more accurately than many other credit reports. The FICO score takes into account five different areas that can affect your credit, instead of just one or two, allowing for more of your credit history to be taken into account. This is generally more helpful than hurtful, because the more factors that are used, the more accurate and honest your credit report will be.

Another reason that the FICO credit score is used is because they don’t take certain things into account, such as race, gender, religion, marital status, age, etc. United States law prohibits credit reports from using your religion, gender, race, etc., from being used in your credit report, but many credit companies do use your age.

The online FICO score estimator does not, showing that your actual credit score does not depend on your age. You can have a good credit score whether you’re in your twenties or your forties. As you may know, some credit reports take into account all credit inquiries that have been made into your credit history. This can include soft inquiries as well as hard inquiries, and even inquiries that you yourself have made. The free FICO score doesn’t take inquiries that you have made into account, nor promotional inquiries, such as ‘pre-approved’ credit cards. Knowing this can leave you free to check your credit score and apply for new credit cards without being afraid that your credit score is going to be affected.

(Reuters) – Rafa Nadal saved three break points in the eighth game of the fourth set then waited out a 10-minute rain break before he leveled the Australian Open final against Novak Djokovic on Sunday by taking the fourth set 7-6.

Nadal had been facing the distinct possibility of defeat within five minutes when he was reduced to 0-40 while trailing 3-4 in the set but produced a fantastic backhand pass and three massive serves to claw his way back into the match, which prompted the crowd to break into tumultuous chants of “Rafa.”

The players were then forced off the court as officials shut the roof on Rod Laver Arena after rain swept across central Melbourne and the ball boys and girls scrambled around on their knees with towels to dry the court.

Nadal then fed off the crowd that had swung behind him and, after seemingly been down and out returned to his fist pumping, competitive best and took the tiebreak 7-5 to send the match into a decider.

THIRD SET

Djokovic had raced through the third set 6-2 as he began to wear the Spaniard down.

Djokovic set the tone when he blasted through the first game and held serve to love and while he had no break points on Nadal’s first service game of the set, the Spaniard was forced to battle as the Serb forced three deuce points.

The world number one continued the pressure on Nadal’s serve in the fourth game when he sealed the important break and then consolidated for a 4-1 lead when he again held his own serve to love.

Djokovic, who was stepping inside the court and attacking Nadal’s top-spin forehand while compelling the Spaniard to play from deep behind the baseline, again pressured Nadal on serve then held his own serve to love to take a 5-2 lead.

He sealed the set when he broke Nadal to love in the next game and the momentum had definitely swung towards the defending champion.

Djokovic only dropped two points on serve in the 45-minute third set.

SECOND SET

Djokovic’s powerful forehand finally started to find its range as grabbed the second set 6-4 to level the match.

The Serb also put pressure on Nadal’s serve at every opportunity and broke in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead.

Nadal, though, had won the point of the match when he produced a stunning running backhand top-spin drive down the line that brought the crowd to their feet after a 15-shot rally that swept back and forth across the court.

Djokovic was serving for the set but was broken when he held two set points before he seized back the initiative in the next game and broke Nadal again to level when the Spaniard served his second double fault.

FIRST SET

Nadal broke the world number one twice in an error-ridden first set before he won it 7-5 to take the early lead.

Djokovic suffered a slight scare in the fourth game when he went over on his right ankle after attempting a slide, and went down to his haunches before he began to flex and roll it in circles at the end of the game.

Both players failed to really settle or stamp their authority on the match, though Djokovic had more opportunities to break the Spaniard’s serve.

After breaking in the fifth game Nadal had to fight off Djokovic twice before the Serb broke in the eighth game, though Nadal seized back the advantage in the 11th game and sealed the opener on his third set point when a backhand return floated long.

(Reporting by Greg Stutchbury; Editing by John Mehaffey)

Designing a banner for a business or event can be a hit or miss job. A well-designed banner can give your audience the first impression your company, organization, or event deserves. Not only can the banners bring in good business, but they can set the tone for any and all companies or events.

The first step to getting a great looking banner is using the right kind of printing for your needs. There are a number of different types of printing techniques used by banner manufacturers today to get the right aesthetic for their projects.

The most common form of printing today is digital printing. Digital printing involves the used of water-based or UV-curable inkjet inks. These types of ink are known for being the most durable and vibrant, making them a wise choice for anyone looking for a banner that will last.

While buying a banner, especially a digitally printed banner, it is important to be aware of the printing’s DPI, or Dots Per Inch. A print’s DPI is strongly correlated to an images resolution. The higher the DPI, the clearer an image will be. Since banners tend to be larger, they usually require a higher DPI to make sure that the printed image doesn’t turn our blurry or to pixilated. A DPI of 1000 or more is recommended for larger products; anything above that is even better.

Some inks are known to be made from harmful chemicals and can produce unpleasant and even dangerous fumes. When choosing your inks, go for water-solvent or latex inks; they don’t require any special ventilation and minimize air pollution. These inks will give you the clarity you want without any guilt!

So, when trying to decide what kind of banners to buy, think about the basics first. Using quality materials will give you the end product you want, and they will last much longer than cheaper alternatives.

3 Reasons Why You NEED Reputation management

If you are a small business owner, you may be wondering whether investing time into reputation management is worth it. Here are three things to consider when making that decision.

1. You don’t have the time to do it alone.

Proper reputation management online takes time. You have to dedicate hours of sifting through websites, looking at comments, reading user reviews and more. On top of that, you have to put time into actually learning how to properly manage your reputation. Instead of wasting your valuable time and resources, you can go online and learn how to take care of your reputation properly instead of guessing along the way.

2. Your online reputation is more important every day.

With social media and blogs becoming more prevalent in how consumers make decisions, you need to ensure the buzz about you and your company is good. Spending time crafting your reputation allows you to have a positive net presence.

3. You might miss reputation problems if you’re not actively monitoring your rep.

The last reason you need to have good reputation management practices is that by monitoring your reputation constantly, you’ll be able to catch problems you may have otherwise missed. Constant watching what people are saying about you online will allow you to respond to negative comments, produce good press, or do a number of other things to keep your reputation good.

If you’re someone who ever plans to use the internet to improve your business (and even if you aren’t), hiring an online reputation management service can be a good idea. You’ll be able to make sure when potential customers and clients search your name they find the information you want instead of damaging info. However, it is possible to protect your name from negative comments alone. The choice is up to you.

(Reuters) – Greece and its private creditors worked on stitching together the final bits of a complex debt swap agreement Saturday, amid growing optimism a deal will be clinched in time to avert an unruly default.

After weeks of muddling through round after round of inconclusive talks, the negotiations appear to be in their final phase, though it was unclear if a preliminary deal could be secured in time for Monday’s European Union summit.

Greek officials and Charles Dallara, chief negotiator for banks and insurers, left Saturday’s negotiating session without making any comment. Earlier, Prime Minister Lucas Papademos told Reuters he expected the deal to be concluded within days.

Still, for Athens, progress on the debt swap front is at risk of being overshadowed by increasingly problematic talks with its foreign lenders, whose inspectors are in town demanding unpopular reforms that no politician wants to be linked to.

“Today will be another tough day,” said George Karatzaferis, leader of the far-right LAOS party, one of three parties in Papademos’s emergency coalition government. “We will see whether we can bear the burden that lies ahead.”

European paymaster Germany is pushing for Athens to relinquish control over its budget policy to European institutions as part of discussions over a second rescue package, a European source told Reuters.

With many Greeks blaming Germans for the austerity medicine their country has been forced to swallow, officials in Athens dismissed the idea as out of the question.

“There is no way we would accept such a thing,” a Greek government official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

The official said a similar proposal had been made in the past by a Dutch minister without getting anywhere.

The European Commission, the executive arm of the 27-country bloc, said it wanted the Greek government to maintain autonomy.

“The Commission is committed to further reinforcing its monitoring capacity and is currently developing its capacity on the ground,” said a spokesman. “But executive tasks must remain the full responsibility of the Greek Government, which is accountable before its citizens and its institutions. That responsibility lies on their shoulders and it must remain so.”

A government source in Berlin said Germany’s proposal was aimed not just at Greece but at other struggling euro zone members who receive aid and are unable to make good on their obligations as well.

“It is not a ‘lex Greece’ but rather a suggestion how one can deal in general with countries that are unable to implement their promised reforms in exchange for support,” the source said.

“All options can obviously be introduced only with the agreement of, for example, the Greeks themselves,” he added.

Separately, a senior member of parliament in Chancellor Angela Merkel’s ruling Christian Democrats said taking control of Greece’s budget was the right way to go.

“In view of the fact that many of the proposals for Greece have not been implemented, the suggestion for more control and supervision goes in the right direction,” Norbert Barthle, a budget policy leader for the CDU in parliament, told Reuters.

DENSE, DIFFICULT AND CRUCIAL

Crushed by 350 billion euros of debt and running out of cash quickly, Greece finds itself in a precarious position as it scrambles to appease the troika of foreign lenders and stitch up a deal with private creditors simultaneously.

Unimpressed with Athens dragging its feet on reforms, the “troika” of foreign lenders – the European Commission, IMF and European Central Bank – have warned they could hold up aid if more is not done to restructure the Greek economy.

“It’s all very dense, difficult and crucial,” a Greek finance ministry official said. “There is optimism because the country needs to survive and we need to protect its citizens because they have suffered a lot.”

The debt swap, in which private creditors take a 50 percent cut in the nominal value of their Greek holdings in exchange for cash and new bonds, is also a prerequisite for the country to secure a 130-billion-euro rescue plan drawn up last year.

The two sides have broadly agreed that new bonds under the swap would have a 30-year maturity, but the talks have struggled over the interest rate Greece must pay on the new bonds and whether the European Central Bank and other public creditors will also accept losses on their holdings.

A debt deal, aimed at chopping 100 billion euros off Greece’s debt load, must be sealed in about three weeks as Greece has to repay 14.5 billion euros of debt on March 20.

Otherwise Greece will sink into an uncontrolled default that might spread turmoil across the euro zone and tip the global economy back into recession.

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde said Saturday euro zone members were making progress to overcome their crisis but must do more to strengthen their financial firewall, adding the IMF was ready to help.

“There is progress as we see it,” Lagarde told a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

“But it is critical that the euro zone members actually develop a clear, simple, firewall that can operate both to limit the contagion and to provide this sort of act of trust in the euro zone so that the financing needs of that zone can actually be met.”

Concern has also grown in recent days that the debt swap may not do enough to get the country’s debt reduction plan back on track, and that Greece’s European partners will be forced to stump up funds to cover the shortfall.

The German news magazine Der Spiegel reported Saturday that Greece’s international lenders thought Athens would need 145 billion euros of public money from the euro zone for its second bailout rather than the planned 130 billion euros.

The magazine said the extra money was needed because of the deteriorating economic situation in Greece, echoing a Reuters report Thursday.

Greece is in its fifth year of recession, and hopes of an end to the crisis in the near term have virtually gone, because of the combination of squabbling politicians, rising social anger and its inability to push through badly needed reforms.

(Additional reporting by Andreas Rinke in Berlin and John O’Donnell in Brussels, Writing by Deepa Babington; Editing by Tim Pearce and Janet Lawrence)

Pet stores are harder and harder to come by. It used to be that you could go into any grocery market or any moderate sized strip mall and you would be able to find plenty of things for your pet. Now it seems that only big super sized pet markets exist and even those are fewer and far between. Not to mention expensive. Shopping online for pet supplies can save you time, money, and give you more variety than any pet supply brick-and-mortar shop can.

Whether you are buying medicine for your pets, pet food, or something as personal and fun as a leash or a collar, online pet supply shops can give you the variety you need. If you are looking for a spiked collar to make your cat look a bit tougher, you probably won’t find it at your local pet shop, vet, or grocery store. And if you do, you will probably pay quite a bit of money for it. Online, your cost will be reduced and you can probably get a good deal on shipping.

If you are on a tighter budget but still want to get something for your pet, discount pet stores offer great deals and prices on the same products in a pet store.  Or as mentioned before, if you are looking for something very unique like a sweater for your dog, you will probably be able to find what you are looking for online.

No matter what pet you have, and what you are looking for, you will be able to find more product selection and lower prices when you get your pet supplies online. If you are one of those people looking to save time and money, or you are looking for something unique and personal to your pet, online pet supply shopping is a great choice.

(Reuters) – Jean-Claude Mas, the Frenchman who sparked a global health scare by selling substandard breast implants, was released from police custody on Friday and faces a charge of causing bodily harm, his lawyer said.

Mas will not be investigated for the graver charge of manslaughter, as was expected, but does now face criminal charges which carry longer sentences than those he faces in a fraud case expected to go to trial around October.

He was released on bail of 100,000 euros ($131,600), banned from leaving the country and from meeting former executives of his now defunct company Poly Implant Prothese (PIP).

“We are satisfied that Mr Mas could explain himself to a judge,” his lawyer Yves Haddad said on iTele television. “This is a relief for him.”

“On the charge of involuntary homicide, the judge decided that for now there is no link,” Haddad said.

In the first arrests since the two-year-old scandal made headlines worldwide in December, Mas and a second PIP executive were seized at their homes in southern France just after dawn.

Women who have been campaigning against PIP since French authorities banned its products nearly two years ago welcomed the move as giving them a sense that the law was now in action:

“It’s been too long,” said Murielle Ajellio, who heads an association for women with implants. Up to now, she said: “You feel like you’re fighting against the wind.”

French authorities have been criticized for being slow to react to a case that has sown fear among tens of thousands of women who carry PIP implants. French inspectors ordered them off the market in March 2010, due to concerns over their quality.

But only last month did officials in Paris recommend their surgical removal, drawing attention to the problem for patients worldwide who had been fitted with products from the company, which was at one time the third biggest global supplier.

Lawyers for women in France who have filed complaints over PIP implants welcomed the arrests and said there must be no escaping justice for the 72-year-old Mas, who has been quoted as deriding those suing him as being motivated only by money.

“This is a comfort for the victims,” said Laurent Gaudon, whose clients are pursuing PIP and surgeons who used its implants for fraud. “It’s the feeling that justice is advancing and they have not been forgotten. It’s the assurance that the guilty are at last going to be held accountable.”

Philippe Courtois, who represents 1,300 people with PIP implants, said Mas should not be freed pending any trial.

Mas and PIP’s former chief executive Claude Couty were questioned at home, as police conducted searches. They were then moved to police custody in the Mediterranean port city of Marseille, under the orders of prosecutor Jacques Dallest.

SUBSTANDARD SILICONE

PIP enjoyed years of success with international sales, but behind the scenes employees, and Mas himself, have admitted to hiding from certification agencies the fact they were using cheap, industrial silicone, not approved for medical use.

Health authorities in France and elsewhere have stressed that PIP’s products carry no proven link to cancer, but surgeons report that they have abnormally high rupture rates. Responses to the problem have varied among different foreign authorities.

Thursday’s arrests follow an investigation opened in Marseille, close to PIP’s former premises, on December 8 after the death from cancer in 2010 of a woman with PIP implants.

Mas and Couty can be held for up to 48 hours while a judge decides whether to open a formal probe and, if so, what bail conditions, if any, to set.

A trial date could be years away, given the extent of inquiry required, but the bodily harm case could make it harder for Mas to avoid appearing in court later this year on other charges of fraud and deception.

That latter case targets half a dozen former PIP executives and could also carry prison terms for them of several years. It has dragged on as investigators have had to quiz up to 2,700 women who have filed complaints over PIP implants.

Mas, who sold some 300,000 implants around the world, has acknowledged that he used unapproved silicone but dismissed fears that it constituted a health risk.

Earlier in January, leaks from a police document showed Mas admitting to lying about the quality of PIP’s implants and describing the women filing complaints against him as just seeking money. The comments sparked public anger against him.

PIP closed down in March 2010 after regulators discovered it was using a non-approved, industrial silicone gel, and pulled its implants off the market.

Last month, the French government advised women with PIP implants to have them removed, and said it would pay for the operations in France, sparking alarm around the world.

Officials in several other countries, including Britain and Brazil, have asked women to visit their doctors for checks.

France has called for tighter European Union regulations on medical devices in wake of the PIP affair, saying suppliers of prosthetics should require the same sort of authorization as manufacturers of prescription medicines.

(Writing by Catherine Bremer and Nicholas Vinocur; Editing by Alastair Macdonald and Louise Ireland)

Do you need an advance on your next paycheck because you’ve got an expense that needs to be handled now? A faxless payday loan may be the right solution for you. Quickly becoming more and more popular, faxless payday loans (also called cash advance loans) can give you the money you need in your bank account today and are easier than fax payday loans.

Why Would I Want a Faxless payday loan?

Sometimes life strikes when you’re not ready. You may have a child need to visit the doctor, a car need a repair, or some other emergency that demands you have cash now. If you’re like most people, you probably don’t have a lot of extra cash on hand. That’s okay—a payday advance loan is basically like getting your next paycheck a little early to use on whatever you want. There’s usually no credit check, so bad credit is okay.

No Fax Machine Needed

Applying for a faxless payday loan is simple and doesn’t require any fancy equipment. Thanks to the internet, you only need to submit some basic information online and never need to send over faxed documents.

Deposits Right Into Your Bank Account

Another great benefit of using a faxless payday loan is that you’ll often receive the loan right in your bank account. This means you can gave your loan the same day you apply in most cases. No more watching the mail and waiting for a check! Get the money you need today with a fast and easy direct deposit.s

Often Automatically Repaid

Thanks to modern technology, you don’t even need to worry about sending in payment for your loan in many cases. You can simply have most faxless payday loan providers automatically deduct the amount you owe when your next paycheck comes in.

Faxless payday loans are a good way to help you get pay for the emergencies that happen before payday. They aren’t for every situation, but they can help in a time of need when used responsibly. Check out a faxless payday loan today to get a cash advance or cash loan when you need it.

When a woman first becomes aware that she’s pregnant, she may not be entirely sure what to expect as her pregnancy progresses. This is where a pregnancy week by week guide can be very helpful. A pregnancy week by week guide can show you when to expect possible morning sickness, breast tenderness, food cravings, and other things. Your week by week pregnancy calendar will also show you the stages of fetal development. Some options available in online pregnancy calendars even compare the approximate size of the fetus to a fruit or other familiar object, so the parent can get an idea of how big their baby is each week.

Each week, parents can check their pregnancy week by week guide and search out what size their baby has reached. For instance, at week seven in a woman’s pregnancy, her baby will be about the size of a blueberry, and just five weeks later, at week 12, her baby will have reached a size similar to that of a plum. Having these helpful images in mind can help the mother to visualize the changes that both her body and the body of her baby are going through as her pregnancy progresses.

It’s important to take your pregnancy week by week so that you don’t get overwhelmed by the fact that your baby is going to reach the size of a watermelon before it is born!

Pregnancy can be scary and emotionally trying, so using helpful tools like a week by week online pregnancy guide will help you to focus on what is happening right now to your body and how you can take care of yourself to ensure that your baby develops properly. Making sure that you understand what is happening will help you to be more emotionally and physically healthy during your pregnancy.

Do you need to rent a dumpster but don’t have a lot of cash? If you’re doing an at-home renovation project or even doing some professional work and need a waste management dumpster, you probably want to find the lowest dumpster rental prices around. Fortunately, there’s probably an affordable dumpster rental service near you. Here are some tips to find the best rental prices for junk removal and waste management.

Shop Around

The first and most obvious tip to get the lowest dumpster rental price is to shop around in your area. Use the internet to locate all of the local dumpster rental service options in your area, and then start making phone calls. In some cases, you can even start a bidding war that will end in your favor!

Determine Actual Need

Find out how big your dumpster actually needs to be. If you are an amateur trying to do a project by yourself, you may be tempted to go bigger than you need. While going bigger is better than going too small, take measurements of the estimated size of the trash to determine optimal dumpster size.

Rent a Truck

Some dumpster rental companies will actually allow you to rent a truck to haul your trash to a junk yard or landfill. In many cases, it is much easier to roll in with a truck, load the bed with trash, and make a trip to the dump. However, this is only economical if you live close to a dump that accepts normal junk removal.

Dumpster rental can be very affordable if you know the right tricks. Follow these tips, and look up local dumpster rental prices by searching online and contacting as many junk removal or waste management solution companies in your area as you can.

(Reuters) – Penn State students and supporters laid flowers and lit candles on Monday as they mourned the death of Joe Paterno, who won more games than any other U.S. major college football coach but saw his legacy tarnished by a child sexual abuse scandal at the school.

Paterno, 85, died of lung cancer on Sunday, two months after being fired after a former assistant coach, Jerry Sandusky, was charged with serial child sex abuse. University trustees filed Paterno because he failed to tell police what he had been told about the alleged abuse.

“You have no choice. You have to get through it,” Penn State senior Steve Atz, 21, said. He had a friend shave the initials “JP” on the back of his head.

Mourners placed hundreds of flower arrangements and lit candles at a bronze statue of Paterno outside the football stadium.

President Barack Obama reached out to Paterno’s widow, Sue, and his son Jay, to offer his condolences. During the conversation, Obama “recalled fond memories of when he first met Paterno,” the White House said in a statement.

Public viewings were scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, with a private family funeral service set for Wednesday afternoon.

A public memorial service was scheduled for Thursday afternoon at a concert hall on campus.

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett ordered flags flown at half staff at state facilities, and Pennsylvania Speaker of the House Sam Smith, a Penn State graduate, asked for a moment of silence at the state House of Representatives.

Paterno won a record 409 games over 46 years with a motto of “Success With Honor,” earning him adoration from fans of the successful and profitable program. Many supporters assailed the university board of trustees for firing him in November.

But critics faulted Paterno for his relative inaction on hearing an accusation that Sandusky sexually abused a young boy in the Penn State football showers in 2002.

Sandusky, 67, who has maintained his innocence, faces 52 criminal counts accusing him of sexually abusing 10 boys over 15 years, using his position as head of The Second Mile, a charity dedicated to helping troubled children, to find his purported victims. The court placed him under house arrest.

“You can’t let one person define us,” Lauren Hottowe, 20, a junior, said of Sandusky.

(Additional reporting by Mark Shade; Editing by Daniel Trotta, Paul Thomasch and Peter Cooney)

Quickly becoming all the rage among those who want to continue smoking but find themselves faced with public tobacco smoking bans, the electronic cigarette is the best tobacco alternative on the market. Available in electronic cigarette starter kits, they work by turning liquid nicotine into a water vapor inside the cigarette, providing a smokeless alternative. Here is some information about how an electronic cigarette is used.
1. First, you’ll need to purchase an electronic cigarette starter kit if you haven’t already. This includes the cig, a charging device, flavor cartridges, atomizers, and a storage box. Not all systems come with the flavored nicotine juice, so check before you buy if this is what you want.
2. After putting your e-cig together, all you need to do is puff on the electronic cigarette just like you would while tobacco smoking. It’s a little different than smoking tobacco, so it may take some getting used to at first.
3. Unlike normal tobacco cigarettes, you can place the electronic cigarette down between drags safely. When the cig is nearly out of batteries, there will usually be some sort of LED indicator light to let you know.
4. Check your user manual to find out how to turn off the specific type of e-cig you purchased.
As you can see, using an electronic cigarette is easy. There are multiple flavors you can choose from when purchasing your nicotine juice (such as coffee, vanilla, chocolate, or traditional menthol), and the price of e-juice is comparable or even a little less than normal cigarettes. You can determine what the current best starter kits are by reading online cigarette reviews and doing a little online research. Now that you know how to use en electronic cigarette, you can begin trying out different varieties and brands to see what you like.

Are you looking to dabble in the stock market but don’t have a lot of money, or aren’t willing to take a huge risk? Penny stocks are an excellent option for those who are just getting started.

Penny Stocks What are penny stocks? Penny stocks are those stocks which sell for under one dollar per share. They are also sometimes referred to as cent stocks. While penny stocks can be a great way to balance a portfolio, or even start one in the first place there are a few things you should be aware of before starting.

Pros Penny Stocks are cheap. That is one of the most impressive things about them. You can buy literately hundreds of stocks for next to nothing. If your stocks go up, you can make quite a bit of money. Penny stocks let even someone who isn’t flush with cash get his hand into the stock market. The other nice thing about the low cost of penny stocks is if you do lose money, you probably didn’t lose that much. Penny stocks allow you to practice picks on the stock market.

Cons There are certain things to be aware of when purchasing penny stocks. Because of their low cost, they are easy stocks to manipulate and inflated artificially. Because of the low liquidity of penny stocks, most of them are very thinly traded which can sometimes be frustrating when you are trying to sell your shares. Some penny stocks also have false investors and advertisements causing some serious financial scams so it is important that you buy penny stocks from reputable businesses or brokers.

If you are looking to get involved in the stock market, or you want to invest but don’t have a ton of cash, penny stocks are a good way to get started and see what you can do in the stock market.

(Reuters) – Americans honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday with a traditional day of service as well as a new wave of economic injustice protests by Occupy Wall Street.

On the first King holiday since the now-global Occupy movement launched in New York City in September, the reignited debate over inequality drew hundreds of protestors to march in wintry temperatures in Manhattan, stopping at a Bank of America branch to shout, “The banks got bailed out, we got sold out.”

At least two protesters were loaded into a police van at the march, held “because Dr. King dedicated the last months of his life to planning a campaign for the right of all to a decent-paying job,” leaders said in a statement.

King was organizing a Poor People’s Campaign, the next phase in the civil rights movement, before he was murdered in 1968.

“I came here on the one hand to honor (King’s) birthday, but also for the things that he stood for,” said Jim Glaser, a retired teacher from suburban Nyack, New York, at the march.

“We have to have a government that’s responsive to people, … a government that people can have some influence on,” he said.

At New York’s African Burial Grounds, schoolchildren played “We Shall Overcome” on violins before protesters marched to the Federal Reserve in downtown Manhattan.

“What Occupy Wall Street is trying to do is exactly what (King) was trying to — focus on economic injustice and to inform and educate the American public,” said Norman Siegel, former director of the New York Civil Liberties Union.

“I think (King) would be very pleased because Occupy Wall Street is the children of Dr King’s dream,” Siegel said at the 18th century burial ground, part of the National Park Service.

Protesters in the Occupy movement complain that billions of dollars in bailouts were given to banks while many Americans still suffer with joblessness and housing foreclosures. They say minorities were disproportionately affected by predatory lending practices.

The movement has influenced the national political conversation, with President Barack Obama echoing some of its themes in calling for a “fair shot” and “fair share” for all.

Community and civil rights leaders urged Americans to honor King’s crusade for nonviolence and racial brotherhood by doing volunteer work.

The president, first lady Michelle Obama and their daughter Malia marked the day by helping spruce up the library at a school in a predominantly African-American community in northeast Washington.

“At a time when the country has been going through some difficult economic times, for us to be able to come together as a community, people from all different walks of life, and make sure that we’re giving back, that’s ultimately what makes us the strongest, most extraordinary country on earth,” Obama said.

This year’s King holiday came as officials in more than a dozen states implement new laws requiring voters to present photo identification at the polls. Critics say the restriction violates the Voting Rights Act of 1965 — one of the key accomplishments of the movement King led.

Across the nation, formal events such as prayer services, performances and parades were staged for King’s birthday, which became a federal holiday in 1986. Post offices, government buildings and most public schools were closed.

King, a Baptist pastor who advocated for nonviolence, racial brotherhood and equal rights and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, was assassinated in 1968 as he stood outside his motel room in Memphis, where he had gone to support striking sanitation workers.

The convicted assassin, a segregationist and drifter named James Earl Ray, confessed to the killing but later recanted. He died in prison in 1998.

(Additional reporting by Lily Kuo, Ellen Wulfhorst and Karen Brooks, editing by Ellen Wulfhorst and Barbara Goldberg)