| Unsecured Internet purchases could prove disastrous
Students who regularly make online purchases from campus computers or from the university's wireless network might want to take some precautionary steps before punching in their credit card numbers. “If [students] are using the encrypted wireless [network], I think that's fine," said James Shook of Technology Support Services. “[But] I don't think I'd be doing that on the visitor's [network], which anyone can get on."Students can obtain a password for the secured wireless network at www.nss.appstate.edu. Appalachian State also offers free anti-virus software with built-in firewall and anti-spyware protection at www.antivirus.appstate.edu. Students transferring data should do so from secure Web sites, which are signified by “https" in the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) or a secure lock graphic, said Director of Technology Support Tom M.
Bank of America, Countrywide to Name Sambol to New Role
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of America Corporation and Countrywide Financial Corporation today announced that David Sambol, Countrywide's president and chief operating officer, will lead the combined consumer mortgage business once Bank of America's planned purchase of Countrywide is complete. Sambol will continue in his current role, reporting to Countrywide Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Angelo R. Mozilo until completion of the transaction, which is targeted for the third quarter. In a related announcement, Bank of America Global Consumer and Small Business Banking President Liam McGee announced that Card Services Executive Bruce Hammonds will assume the newly created role of Global Consumer Credit Executive when the purchase closes. Hammonds, who will continue to report to McGee, will be in charge of all consumer credit products, including the consumer mortgage organization, Bank of America Card Services and unsecured lending.
MEDIA ALERT: Fujitsu Celebrates 20 Million High-Quality Made-in-Japan ...
Specifications are subject to change without notice. Copyright 2008 Fujitsu America, Inc. All rights reserved. Shimane Fujitsu Marks Production of 20 Millionth PC Plant leverages Toyota Production System to cut costs and deliver "Made in Japan" products worldwide Fujitsu Limited announced that Shimane Fujitsu Limited, which manufactures personal computers for the Fujitsu Group, today passed the manufacturing milestone of 20 million computers. Shimane Fujitsu started operations on October 1, 1990 as a desktop computer manufacturing plant. In 1995, desktop computer production was transferred to Fujitsu Isotec Limited, and Shimane Fujitsu currently manufactures notebook computers, including LIFEBOOK and the STYLISTIC tablet computer, bringing outstanding "Made in Japan" products directly to international markets.
Bathinda, January 14
One can get a refill here on paying Rs 400 or Rs 450 for the cylinder in black whereas the actual price is around Rs 300. The extent of the problem faced by the people can be gauged from the fact that Boota Singh, a resident of Paras Ram Nagar, who had booked a cylinder on December 29, 2007 has not got the refill till date. Singh alleged that the dealers themselves are involved in selling LPG cylinders in black as they issue domestic cylinders to hoteliers close to them at a special price. On the other hand, disclosing the actual reason behind the problem, a senior gas agency official said, The main reason is the government policy as it has tightened its fist when it came to subsidies. Now, the major hurdle is that the government does not want to hike the LPG price to offset the problem as it can have serious repercussions for it.
Alumina profit slumps 15pc
ALUMINA has posted a 14.6 per cent fall in annual earnings and says it's likely to incur higher operating costs in 2008, due to rising energy prices and shipping costs. Net profit for calendar 2007 was $436.40 million, down from $511.10 million the previous year. Underlying net profit, which reflects the impact of certain accounting items, was $405.60 million, down from $569.40 million. The aluminium producer said its profit fell due to higher operationg costs incurred by its 40 per cent owned Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals (AWAC) business and the impact of a stronger Australian dollar. Looking to 2008, Alumina said AWAC's costs were forecast to increase by about $US24 a tonne, due to currency impacts, higher average energy and caustic prices and increased bauxite shipping costs.
Iowa voters say they received push-polls about Democratic candidates
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — In the final days of a close campaign, likely Democratic caucus-goers in Iowa report receiving phone calls providing unflattering information about all three of the party's major presidential hopefuls.Some of the calls say Sen. Barack Obama's health plan leaves millions uninsured, while others say John Edwards' plans for a troop withdrawal from Iraq is dangerous or that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton cannot defeat Republicans in the fall, according to recipients.In each case, the recipients say a caller pretending to conduct a poll of candidate preferences begins by asking who the caucus-goer intends to support.``I responded Obama, and she went on to ask if I knew Obama's health care plan left 15 million uninsured,'' said Pam Jochum, an Iowa state representative from Dubuque.Jochum said the caller ``went into an attack on John Edwards, stating to me that military experts said Edwards' plan to withdraw troops within 10 months could destabilize'' Iraq.The use of anonymous phone calls to spread derogatory information about candidates is a frequent occurrence, particularly in the final days of a campaign.
Mall muscle relaxers
The leather embrace of a cushy electronic massage chair envelops Mike Papenfuse as other shoppers lug packages around him on the first floor of Valley View Mall in Roanoke. After slipping a dollar bill into the chair's control box, Papenfuse's head and shoulders begin to quiver rapidly, and a smile comes over his face. "Pretty good. This really makes a difference," says Papenfuse, who's in the midst of a Christmas shopping trip. He turns his head to the right to glimpse his similarly seated friend, Chris Mills, who has also inserted a buck for three minutes of motorized comfort at the invisible hands of First Class Seats. "Not as good as a human massage, but I'd still like to have one of these at home for watching football," he says. Such lounging and luxuriating shoppers represent a microcosm of the growing demand for vended massages in malls across the nation.
Outdoor Briefs
Montana's Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission is seeking public comment at a meeting Tuesday in Polson on several proposals for the 2008 and 2009 hunting seasons. Jim Williams, wildlife manager for Region 1, will be on hand to explain the tentative hunting regulations, answer questions and provide opportunities to comment on the proposals. The meeting begins at 7 at the Polson Middle School Library. For more information, contact Matt Bishop at (406) 883-3279. The commission will adopt final regulations at its February meeting in Helena. .
SNP 'not fit to govern'
The SNP's shadow Finance Minister, John Swinney, set out plans last month to find £2.7bn over three years from 'efficiency savings'. However, Midwinter declares: "No British government has delivered 1% per annum efficiency savings over a sustained period - not even the Thatcher government of the 1980s." Midwinter told Scotland on Sunday that much of the money the SNP was relying on was one-off cash, which, once spent, would not be replaced in the coming years. Midwinter is a Visiting Professor at the Institute for Public Sector Accounting at Edinburgh University. He built his reputation as an unforgiving analyst of government budgeting through the Parliament's Finance Committee, which is frequently hailed as the most influential in Holyrood. He insisted last night that he had no political axe to grind.
Friday wild card
As Dave mentioned, feel free to suggest news items etc. to post for discussion (with a sentence or two to frame the discussion). I'm going to act solely as an administrator and stay out of the way, but I'll be keeping an eye on the flame wars. Here's today's first HBO-er suggested post: Bill McCrory/Whitecaps writes about the possibility of rehabilitated ex-cons working on Habitat for Humanity projects in the Treasure Valley. Why would anyone want a state prison or CWC in northern Idaho? How could an IDOC facility benefit the community as well as the offenders? These are fair questions. Ninety-five to 98 percent of state-incarcerated offenders will be released back into their communities. The receiving communities have little to say about that.
Beware The $299 Scam
Figuring out the Medicare Part D plan is tough enough. But then the scam artists pick up the phone and stir up more trouble.
Seniors and people with disabilities must be on high alert for scammers who are calling and requiring a $299 upfront payment to sign up for a prescription drug plan.
The Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Services warned consumers earlier this month to watch out for phony drug plans related to Medicare Part D.
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