Tribes making there own cigarettes, is it wrong?

So the tribes have found another way to make some serious pocket change along with the casinos and resorts: Making and selling there own cigarettes. Many seem to be mad or upset about Indian tribes making and selling there own cigarettes and selling them for a much cheaper price. Its a great idea and they should be able to keep doing it. As long as they only sell them on there land. Who are we to say it's tax evasion, when they are sovereign- nations and do as they please. Maybe we will put less tax on tobacco products and people will buy are cigarettes and everyone is happy.
Check it out:http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/23/nyregion/indian-tribes-make-own-cigarettes-to-avoid-ny-tax.html 

Shift In Virginia on abortion bill

I don't believe a state has a right to tell a women she must have a vaginal ultrasound before an abortion, and this is why I think Governor Bob McDonnell reversed his previous decision to support this bill.  Roe vs Wade states that to limit a women's access to abortion by states during their first trimester, and in certain cases in their second, would infringe upon the "due process clause" found in the fourteenth amendment in Section 1.  This law would definitely do just that - infringe on that guaranteed right under the Federal Law.  The political reaction from several women's organizations probably persuaded the governor to switch his position on this "hot potato" topic.  As a women and a citizen of this great country of ours I don't believe we as a society should be moving backwards, but instead forward when it comes to a woman's right to choose what to do with her body.  As the fourteenth amendment states so eloquently "No state shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law".http://womenshistory.about.com/od/abortionuslegal/p/roe_v_wade.htm http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/23/us/governor-of-virginia-calls-for-changes-in-abortion-bill.html?scp=2&sq=virginia%20abortion%20bill&st=cse

Shift In Virginia On Abortion Bill

I don't believe a state has a right to tell a women she must have a vaginal ultrasound before an abortion, and this is why I think Governor Bob McDonnell reversed his previous decision to support this bill.  Roe vs Wade states that to limit a women's access to abortion by states during their first trimester, and in certain cases in their second, would infringe upon the "due process clause" found in the fourteenth amendment in Section 1.  This law would definitely do just that - infringe on that guaranteed right under the Federal Law.  The political reaction from several women's organizations probably persuaded the governor to switch his position on this "hot potato" topic.  As a women and a citizen of this great country of ours I don't believe we as a society should be moving backwards, but instead forward when it comes to a woman's right to choose what to do with her body.  As the fourteenth amendment states so eloquently "No state shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law".

The F.D.A. has just endorsed the first new diet pill named "Qnexa" in thirteen years after an earlier vote in 2011 against the diet pill.  This is great news for severely obese and overweight people who have tried to lose weight the conventional way.  The F.D.A. had earlier been cautious regarding diet pills, because of safety issues regarding heart valve issues; but with two thirds  of the population either severely obese, or overweight this is a health hazard in the United States today.  This is both a societal problem along with a national one, and hopefully this drug will prove to be safe.    The federal government oversees our pharmaceutical drugs and so this is a federal issue along with doctors weighing in on the safety of this drug.  Former diet drugs such as Fen -Phen was proven to elevate heart attacks and heat value damag,e and so they were banned.  Quexa's active ingredients include phentermine, which was determined to be the unsafe ingredient in the drug Fen-Phen.  This is definitely in the jurisdiction of  the federal government and hopefully this is the answer to many overweight people to assist them in losing weight.  In the end the F.D.A. agreed that this epidemic of obesity in the United States warranted another look at this drug.

Link:http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/23/business/fda-advisory-panel-backs-diet-drug.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=business

Chinese Sportswear Sued by Michael Jordan

February 21, 2012 Michael Jordan filed a lawsuit against Chinese Sportswear manufacturer, Qiaodan, for unauthorized use of his name and identity in Chinese courts. Qiaodan is the name Jordan is know as in China, a country that has closely followed his career, and the company has used his jersey number 23 all without his permission. The company in the first half of last year had $270 million in revenue and $45 million in profit. According to Chinese law the Company had infringed on Jordan's rights under Article 99 of the General Principle of Civil Law that states "infringement on an individual person’s naming rights is prohibited."

On Jordan's official website that is covering all the facts of the case he states: "Under Chinese law, the plaintiff in a naming rights lawsuit is entitled to injunctive relief and damages where: 1) the individual is a famous public figure; 2) the defendant acts in bad faith by intentionally using the plaintiff’s name or other personal attributes without authorization; and 3) the use of the plaintiff’s name or other personal attributes damages the plaintiff by causing confusion among consumers who mistakenly associate the infringer, its products or services with the plaintiff." Fans everywhere are hoping this will be a slam dunk win for Micheal.

Article

National Anthem

I read in the New York Times today an article regarding the difficulty of small business to offer affordable heath care insurance to its employees.  I could not agree more because of my past experience regarding working for smaller companies of 20 or fewer employees, and the cost of the insurance.  Currently I work for a company of less than ten workers, and both the employer and employee pay substantial costs for health insurance.  Luckily I am covered under my husband's employer which is much better coverage, and at a lower cost to the employee and his or her family.  As Ann Gish, an employer of designer linens in Manhattan, New York states, health insurance is not only expensive, but convoluted and discriminatory against small business owners like herself, and her employees.  Her and her husband spend hours trying to figure out the best insurance for their employees -  insurance that won't break the bank for either of them. I agree with Ann Gish, insurance should not be so expensive and confusing to obtain.  I hope that this new "Obama Care" is the solution, but do any of us really understand it's implications and if it will make our lives both healthier and affordable at the same time.  I hope this "Affordable Care Act" will be a victory for us all!

Linkhttp://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/22/how-small-businesses-are-coping-with-health-insurance/?ref=business

overdraft fees levied by banks

Although I agree banks have a right to charge overdraft fees on a check that has a lack of funds to settle or when you use a debit card without the necessary funds to cover the charge ,but I do not agree to some of their questionable practices.  I have had two different experiences with banks over the years where one helped me out while the other one tried to pull a "fast one'.  My first experience is with a bank that is no longer in existence, but treated me as a valued customer when I made an error in my checking ledger.  I had debited my account in error and ended up owing a hundred dollars in over draft fees - which I could little afford.  The bank manager spent several minutes helping me figure out my original math error and waived all over draft fees.  The second incident  involved a deposit being posted after a check  was cleared even though I had deposited the check two or three days before the check was written.  This was done on more than one occasion and so I decided to leave this bank.  Sometimes I feel the banks are "laughing all the way to bank" instead of serving their customers and being upfront and honest in the beginning of the relationship.

LInkhttp://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/22/business/bank-overdraft-fees-to-be-scrutinized-by-consumer-bureau.html?_r=1&ref=businesshttp://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/22/business/bank-overdraft-fees-to-be-scrutinized-by-consumer-bureau.html?_r=1&ref=business

Professor Ellerman: Maya Rudolph Sings the National Anthem

Professor Ellerman: Maya Rudolph Sings the National Anthem

Car makers urged to limit dashboard distractions

Today we don't just sit in our cars and drive from point A to B - we actually perform many other tasks while on the road.  Cars today enable us to get directions and even catch up with friends on facebook while programming our favorite music.  As I said we can program our music, phone systems and even play videos to entertain our children.  All of this sounds positive, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warns there are inherent dangers with this new technology, such as distracted drives who are not focused on the road.  Although the automakers like to include these gadgets to sell cars some safety advocates would like to see serious changes to these "infotainment systems" included with the car.  Ray Lahood who is our Transportation Secretary is investigating these studies and agrees there is some truth to it, but says these our voluntary measures not mandatory!  This is our government running at warp speed!  Knowledge is a gift we do not appreciate enough, but should!

Linkhttp://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/17/us/carmakers-urged-to-curb-dashboard-distractions.html?scp=1&sq=carmakers%20urged%20to%20limit%20Dashboard%20Distractions&st=Search

G.M. Reports Big Profit; Europe Lags

G.M. has struggled greatly since their government bailout. After announcing its eighth consecutive quarterly profit of $472 million, things are really starting to turn around for the carmaker. G.M. is hard at work using its knowledge and virtue, values shared by our group, to make a comeback in the market. There is still a lot of work ahead of them with their European branch losing $747 million from the economic downturn there. Analyst Brian Johnson says, “G.M.’s new focus on balancing traditional cost controls with improved product quality is beginning to pay dividends in North America.” The company is well on its way to victory!
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Hope of victory is here for those who are willing to pay.

Check this out. http://www.nytimes.com/pages/business/index.html
Many people are suffering from the high oil prices and the threats from Iran especially Europe, but thanks to Russia that is no longer a problem if you are willing to pay. With petroleum oil similar to that of Iran, Russia can sell its oil to those countries who have been cut off from Iran and to those who don't want Iran's oil. Also with  Europe's embargo act on Iranian oil it is looking like a victory for Russia as a world leader in oil supply.  

Kellogg to Buy Procter & Gamble’s Pringles Group

http://www.nytimes.com/pages/business/index.html.

Procter and Gamble agree to sell pringles for $2.965 Billion to Kellogg, since the deal with Diamonds food fell through. How can can just chips be worth so much money?

Android's Conquest for Domination

Google's Policy of creating the software and letting others build the phone for it has created a frenzy among cell phone manufactures that even Apple is having trouble keeping up with. Samsung, Motorola and HTC are the major players in the Android market coming out with some amazing products such as the Motorola Droid Razr Maxx (pictured left) which currently holds the title of the longest batty life for any 4G phone and is just as thin as an iPhone. The iPhone may be clean and reliable but is limited in features and has a software update maybe one a year. Google's newest creation, Ice Cream Sandwich, which will slowing be released to many different android phones throughout the year will catch-up and even surpass many of iPhone features. Apple will have to work harder in the future to stay the largest competitor of the rapidly growing Android market.

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