By the Consumer Federation of America, Special for US Daily Review.

Consumer Federation of America (CFA), with the support of Visa Inc., is releasing new consumer education materials about “phishing,” a serious fraud problem. Phishing is when crooks, pretending to be from well-known companies, organizations, or government agencies, contact individuals and trick them into revealing their Social Security numbers, financial account information, passwords, or other personal information. That information is then used to make unauthorized purchases, take over victims’ accounts, open new accounts, get tax refunds and other government benefits, and even apply for jobs.

CFA’s new tips, Slam the Door on Phishing Scams, describe the common tactics that phishing scammers use, how people can protect themselves, and what to do if they become victims. CFA also produced a short educational video on phishing. These materials are aimed at helping consumers spot phishing attempts and avoid getting hooked.

In 2012, phishing was the fourth most common scam reported to the National Consumers’ League’s Fraud Center and, as part of the category “Imposter Scams,” it ranked at #8 in the top ten frauds reported to the Federal Trade Commission last year.

“There are many variations of phishing scams and new ones pop up every day,” said Susan Grant , Director of Consumer Protection at Consumer Federation of America. “If someone suddenly appeared at your door asking for your personal information, you’d be suspicious – and rightfully so. We want people to realize that it should be no different when someone approaches you online or by phone asking for that information.”

“Phishing scams are all too prevalent, and fraudsters are getting increasingly sophisticated at impersonating trusted organizations. It’s important for consumers to be aware of this popular tactic and be alert whenever they receive a request for their personal or payment information,” said Jennifer Fischer , head of Americas Payment System Security. “At Visa our goal is to help consumers get the information they need to help keep their information secure and transact with confidence.”

The new phishing tips and video are on CFA’s websites at www.consumerfed.org/fraud and www.IDTheftInfo.org . They are also available, along with other information about phishing, on Visa’s website at www.VisaSecuritySense.com.

CFA (@ConsumerFed) and Visa (@VisaSecurity) will also be sharing these resources through a Twitter chat May 16 at 3 p.m. ET, alongside the National Cyber Security Alliance and the Federal Trade Commission. Join the conversation with the hashtag #ChatSTC.

By NetChoice.com, Special for US Daily Review.

For the first time, NetChoice has placed a state’s entire Internet agenda – rather than a single piece of legislation – atop its iAWFUL list of bad Internet legislation. California’s clutch of overreaching, innovation-stifling regulatory efforts earns the number one spot on the May 2013 iAWFUL with the Federal Internet sales tax effort trailing a close second.

Over the past six months, California legislators aggressively pushed a series of bills that could dramatically stifle innovation, not just in California, but also across the nation and throughout the world. The bills seek to impose harsh restrictions on everything from mobile apps, to social networking, to online advertising. Individually, they each merit placement on the iAWFUL (Internet Advocates Watchlist of Ugly Laws) but taken together, they represent a troubling trend.

The full May 2013 iAWFUL list is available here (www.iawful.com).

“California’s inexplicable binge on invasive, unnecessary Internet regulation threatens the brightest light of that state’s economy,” NetChoice Executive Director Steve DelBianco said. “California Internet policies have a way of transforming into national standards, and in this case, those standards could spell disaster for the Internet industry.”

The California legislative onslaught was viewed as troubling enough to knock the former top item on the iAWFUL list – the federal government’s effort to impose a massive, unfair tax burden on Internet sellers and their customers – into second place. Still, the so-called Marketplace Fairness Act, which recently passed the Senate and now moves to the House of Representatives for debate, remains an incredibly high priority for Internet advocates.

The iAWFUL was created in 2009 to shine a spotlight on the very worst Internet-related legislative proposals nationwide, and unfortunately has never lacked for candidates. In third place on the May 2013 iAWFUL is legislation being considered in several states that could override the final wishes of social networking users by turning over access to their personal data after they pass away.

The remaining iAWFUL includes: two measures that would needlessly damage thriving Internet-publishing models; an overreaching data breach notification bill; a punitive tax on online travel booking sites; and bills that would strictly limit how sports and concert fans use the event tickets that they lawfully purchase.

More than simply identifying legislative threats to the Internet, the purpose of iAWFUL is to drive real change in these measures before they are enacted into law.  Several past iAWFUL proposals have either been dropped or substantially changed after appearing on the list, and NetChoice is confident that none of the measures on the May 2013 list are inevitable.

“No lawmaker in America wants to break the economic engine that is driving our fragile recovery,” DelBianco said. “It falls to all of us in the Internet community to point out the calamitous unintended consequences that these measures can pose to the Internet economy.”

NetChoice is a public policy advocacy organization that promotes Internet innovation and communication and fights threats to online commerce at state, federal and international levels. The Washington, DC-based group protects Internet commerce-driven competition and battles rules that hinder consumer choice and hurt small businesses. For more information, seewww.netchoice.org.

By US Daily Review.

Scientists in Oregon announced today that they had created cloned human embryos, and then destroyed the embryos to extract embryonic stem cells.  The cloning technique is essentially the same one used to create Dolly the cloned sheep, with some modifications to make cloning work using human eggs and human cells.  This is the first claim of growing human embryonic stem cells from cloned human embryos since the fraudulent claims in 2004 and 2005 of Korean scientist Hwang Woo-Suk .  The report, published online in the journal Cell, also highlights the fact that women are a target for raw materials for the cloning technique, since “premium quality” eggs are required to make their human cloning technique work.

Of this announcement Family Research Council (FRC) Senior Fellow Dr. David Prentice said:

“It’s a grave concern that some scientists are still pursuing human cloning, a technology that will open the door to human engineering and a brave – but highly dangerous – new world.  Human cloning by this technique requires the specific creation of a new individual, albeit cloned, at the embryo stage, using human eggs and human tissue cells.

“Modern science has passed this by, especially in regards to stem cells.  Creating and destroying cloned human embryos to extract their embryonic stem cells is unethical, and the entire faulty concept of using the cloning technique has been superseded by uncontroversial techniques.

“Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells), when done ethically, are more easily and inexpensively created from skin, or any tissue, and have already shown the advantages as laboratory models to study disease and development.

“Adult stem cells have already proven to be superior at achieving treatments for patients.  Over 60,000 people a year around the globe now receive adult stem cell transplants, for dozens of diseases and conditions.  Adult stem cells provide not only an ethical source of stem cells but proven practical advantages in terms of patient-specific transplant matching. They also avoid problems with tumors, which are commonly seen with embryonic stem cells.

“Cloning also requires subjecting young women to the significant health risk of ovarian hyperstimulation, juicing them up with hormones to harvest numerous eggs and risking their health and life in the process.  This turns women into providers of a biotech commodity, and makes them a target for exploitation.

“Given that science has passed cloning by for stem cell production, this announcement seems simply a justification for making clones, and makes reproductive cloning and birth of human clones more likely,” concluded Prentice.

By the NIA, Special for US Daily Review.

The National Inflation Association today released the results of its national survey of Americans who watched NBC’s coverage of the London Olympic Games. The survey focused on NBC’s multi-platform coverage of the 2012 London Summer Olympics, with NBC delivering over 100 million video streams including 45 million live video streams in just the first 10 days of the Olympics to nearly 10 million U.S. pay-TV subscribers who authenticated their laptops, desktops, iPads, and iPhones.

1,513 people responded to NIA’s survey from the evening of Friday August 10^th through the morning of Sunday August 12^th. 61.5% of the people who responded to NIA’s survey were pay-TV subscribers of a package that includes the channels CNBC and MSNBC, thereby giving them access rights to NBC’s Olympic TV Everywhere coverage. 39.7% of the people who responded to NIA’s survey reported that they successfully authenticated their Internet-connected devices for access.

Only the Americans who responded to NIA’s survey indicating that they had access rights and authenticated themselves for NBC’s Olympic TV Everywhere coverage were allowed to participate in the rest of NIA’s survey. 58.1% of those who authenticated themselves for access rated the TV Everywhere authentication process a 10, with 10 being the most easy/convenient and 1 being the most difficult/confusing. Only ½ of 1% of authenticated users rated the authentication process a 1.

77% of NBC’s Olympic TV Everywhere users recommended to their friends/family members that they also authenticate themselves to use the service.

When asked what motivated them to use NBC’s Olympic TV Everywhere service, the largest response came from 49% of users who wanted to watch the events live before they air on TV.

74% of NIA’s respondents indicated that TV Everywhere offerings like NBC’s Olympic TV Everywhere coverage will make them more likely to keep their pay-TV subscription in the future due to the value they receive at no additional cost. If NBC’s Olympic TV Everywhere coverage wasn’t free, 42.4% of users said they would pay at least $15 for access, with 13.5% of users saying they would pay $60 or more.

93.7% of users learned about TV Everywhere for the first time within the last 12 months, with 26.3% of users learning about TV Everywhere for the first time during the Olympics.

67.8% of users said that they feel TV Everywhere could offer a tremendous ground-floor investment opportunity. NIA recently purchased 2% of Synacor Inc., a publicly traded TV Everywhere services and solutions company that provided the TV Everywhere authentication technology used to authenticate the subscribers of approximately ½ of America’s top 25 largest multi-channel video programming distributors. NIA recently featured Synacor in its PDF report about the TV Everywhere industry and many survey respondents indicated that they are shareholders.

64.5% of respondents said that their pay-TV companies almost never advertise their TV Everywhere offerings, which NIA believes is the reason most U.S. pay-TV subscribers still have no idea that they have free access rights to many TV Everywhere services. 42.6% of respondents said that after using NBC’s Olympic TV Everywhere services, they plan to explore what other TV Everywhere services are available to them and begin using them right away.

The top 5 most popular TV Everywhere services previously used by respondents are FOX, HBO GO, CNN, WatchESPN, and TNT.

37.1% of respondents own an iPad. 45.2% of respondents who own an iPad have on more than one occasion watched live video streams on their iPad prior to the Olympics. 50.7% of respondents rated the quality of NBC’s iPad video steams a perfect 10 out of 10. 93.2% said they plan to watch live video streams on their iPads more often for now on because of the Olympics.

50.1% of respondents own an iPhone. 42.4% of respondents who own an iPhone have on more than one occasion watched live video streams on their iPhone prior to the Olympics. 50% of respondents rated the quality of NBC’s iPhone video steams a perfect 10 out of 10. 85% said they plan to watch live video streams on their iPhone more often for now on because of the Olympics.

The most popular web browsers used to watch NBC’s video streams on NBCOlympics.com were Internet Explorer: 42.7%, Firefox 22.8%, Google Chrome 22.4%, and Apple Safari 10.6%.

Internet Explorer had the most technical problems with 20% of users saying their video pictures would freeze periodically, 5% of users complaining of choppy video streams, and 2% of users having audio problems. Users with technical problems were the minority and 77% of respondents who used Internet Explorer indicated that they had no technical issues at all.

Apple Safari had the least technical issues with 96.2% of users indicating no technical problems. 3.8% of Apple Safari users complained of choppy video streams

Firefox was the second best browser in terms of the least technical problems. 89.1% of Firefox users indicated that they had no technical issues at all. 5.5% complained of video pictures periodically freezing, 5.5% complained of choppy video streams, and 1.8% indicated that their video player crashed.

Google Chrome had the second most reported issues with 11.1% reporting that their video pictures would periodically freeze, 5.6% complaining of choppy video streams, 5.6% reporting that their video player within their browser crashed, 3.7% reporting audio problems, and 1.9% reporting that their web browser crashed.

NIA experienced the most success with Google Chrome and had no technical issues using the browser. When NIA used Internet Explorer on the first couple of days of the Olympics, the browser would often crash, but NBC fixed this problem by about the 3^rd or 4^th day. Firefox mostly worked fine for us, except for the video player within Firefox crashing on a couple of occasions. NIA did not test out Apple Safari on its own.

Most users were very satisfied with NBC’s TV Everywhere services provided on NBCOlympics.com. The only area that stands out as needing major improvement appears to be NBC’s placement of advertisements, with the average rating for NBC’s placement of ads being far below the average rating in other categories. The average rating given for the quality of NBC’s video streams using a laptop or desktop (10 best – 1 worst) was an 8.73. The average rating given for the functionality of NBC’s TV Everywhere web portal was an 8.81. The average rating given for NBC’s placement of advertisements and how it affected the user experience was a 7.4. The average rating given for the overall user experience on NBCOlympics.com was an 8.62.

If NBC used a different type of advertising solution that was designed specifically for TV Everywhere, such as the one developed by Synacor, it is possible that the overall average rating for their NBCOlympics.com TV Everywhere services could have exceeded a 9. Prior to the Olympics, the biggest concern was that users would have trouble authenticating. However, with Synacor’s single sign-on TV Everywhere authentication system being used to authenticate the subscribers of nearly 40 of the approximately 100 pay-TV companies providing access, including 12 of America’s 25 pay-TV companies with the most subscribers, users gave the authentication process an average rating of 9.16.

We will likely look back at the London Olympic Games as being the very beginning of the U.S. multi-platform revolution and TV Everywhere boom. NBC received a large amount of hate postings on Twitter, but they were almost entirely from cord-cutters and cord-shavers who were upset about not being able to access NBC’s online video streams. Clearly, these individuals regret that they canceled their pay-TV service, which is exactly what NBC’s parent company Comcast was trying to achieve. Comcast/NBC is smiling ear to ear about the Twitter #NBCFail postings from Americans outraged about their gall to require a pay-TV subscription.

NBC has proven that TV Everywhere is about to become the hottest new emerging market for U.S. consumers, with Americans set to rapidly embrace TV Everywhere platforms over the next 6-12 months like they first embraced social networking sites in year 2005. NIA expects TV Everywhere to be the most talked about emerging growth market for the remainder of 2012, with investors on Wall Street looking for ways to capitalize at the ground-floor.

The TV Everywhere industry’s growth rate over the next 5 years will likely be similar to the consumer social networking industry’s growth rate over the previous 5 years. Synacor last quarter reported 58% year-over-year revenue growth with 100% year-over-year growth in both net income and EBITDA. For comparison, Facebook only grew revenues last quarter by 32.3% with very disappointing year-over-year profit growth of only 3.5%.

Synacor’s General Manager of TV Everywhere before joining the company was Vice President of HBO Broadband where he led the development and launch of HBO GO, the second most widely used TV Everywhere service according to NIA’s survey. It was just announced on Friday that HBO GO has now surpassed Netflix for the longest viewing sessions across all mobile apps. 18.1% of respondents to NIA’s survey said that they are current Netflix subscribers but will consider canceling their Netflix subscription due to their pay-TV company’s brand new TV Everywhere offerings.

Synacor recently developed for one of their clients Charter Communications, the 4^th largest cable TV company in the U.S., a TV Everywhere search feature that will also display results for videos found on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Videos. Features like this will allow consumers to see for themselves the true value of TV Everywhere and why Netflix is on the path towards becoming irrelevant.

TiVo has now announced their intentions to enter the TV Everywhere space. NIA believes that TiVo recognizes how TV Everywhere will soon make DVRs obsolete. For the time being while Americans still have a need for DVRs, Synacor recently developed and launched for the customers of Charter a new feature that provides the ability to remotely program their DVRs through Charter’s TV Everywhere web portal running off of Synacor’s industry leading TV Everywhere platform.

NBC is showing that it will respond to any fair criticism from viewers. Many of NBC’s authenticated TV Everywhere users complained about NBC not live streaming the opening ceremony of the Olympics. In response, NBC just announced that they will be live streaming the closing ceremony today at 4PMEDT exclusively to pay-TV subscribers who authenticate.

It should be interesting to see if NBC reports next week their total number of authenticated users throughout the full 16 days of the Olympics. NIA also looks forward to hearing from Synacor about the total number of consumers their TV Everywhere solutions authenticated for NBC. Comcast just announced the other day that the Olympics have far surpassed their highest expectations. Synacor wasn’t sure what to expect from the Olympics so they took the most conservative approach possible by excluding revenue from the Olympics in their 3Q guidance, which could mean that Wall Street has very low expectations and the company could have the potential to positively surprise in the near-future.

For detailed results of NIA’s NBC Olympic TV Everywhere survey please visit NIA’s homepage at: http://inflation.us
PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1kDhm)

By US Daily Review Staff.

Movies are just as powerful as traditional tobacco ads, and it is a known fact – supported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as the U.S. Surgeon General – that smoking in movies can cause youth to smoke, nearly 180,000 adolescents each year. A new study published in the journal Pediatrics takes a deeper look at movie smoking exposure and the impact of different ratings on smoking onset. The results show that smoking in PG-13 and R movies are equivalent in terms of how they increase risk for smoking. But, because youth viewership of PG-13 movies is higher, smoking in PG-13 films accounts for two thirds of the total movie effect on adolescent smoking.

“PG-13 rated movies account for the most of the salient movie smoking adolescents see,” said Dr. James Sargent, Professor of Pediatrics at Dartmouth Medical School and lead author of the study. “By eliminating smoking from PG-13 movies, an R-rating for movie smoking would cut youth smoking by one-fifth,” he said.

Smoking has been Glamorized in Films for Years

For this reason, national public health groups like Legacy, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Heart Association, American Lung Association and more have strongly urged the movie industry to respond to this public health crisis by assigning an R rating to all movies with smoking. Since a PG-13 rating allows filmmakers to draw larger audiences, the R rating might in turn decrease the prevalence of onscreen smoking in youth-rated films.

In 2007, under public pressure from health groups and state attorneys general, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) announced that it would “consider” smoking in assigning ratings but it has yet to rate a film R for smoking. The MPAA’s current rating system inconsistently includes smoking in its fine-print ratings “descriptors,” which has been ineffective in providing consistent, accurate or complete information about tobacco in youth-rated films. Simply labeling the smoking is an ineffective and incomplete step in reducing the impact and dangerous correlation of youth exposure and initiation.

Funded by the National Cancer Institute and Legacy®, a national public health organization best known for the truth® youth smoking prevention campaign, the data supports eliminating smoking from PG-13 movies, which would significantly reduce smoking onset by 18 percent. “This new research shows us that ratings do matter,” said Cheryl G. Healton, DrPH, President and CEO of Legacy. “Updating the rating system to assign an R rating for movies with smoking would have an enormous impact in preventing young people from becoming the next replacement smokers in the tobacco epidemic,” she added.

Examining how movie ratings affect behavior has important implications, such as whether the context in which movie smoking is presented affects smoking. In a different study, exposure to movie clips portraying smoking as relaxing was significantly associated with a stronger desire to smoke compared with clips where the motive for smoking was unclear.

To investigate whether it was other elements of the films than the smoking that was stimulating youth smoking, the Dartmouth researchers used the ratings system as a marker for contextual elements on which movies are rated: sexual content, profanity, drug use and violence. The researchers found that smoking in PG-13 movies had essentially the same impact on smoking initiation as R-rated movies, indicating that it is the smoking – not other behaviors – that primarily impacts adolescent behavior.

“This study demonstrates that it is not some unmeasured characteristic of adolescents drawn to edgy, R-rated movies that accounts for the movie effect on behavior. The simplest explanation is best; kids see realistic depictions of smoking on screen and that makes them want to light up,” said Dr. Sargent.

By US Daily Review Staff.

MBA students around the globe are increasingly seeing the value of hands-on experience, rather than learning from just a textbook. And those studying at Hult International Business School are being given the chance to work with real-life problems impacting millions of dollars of business.

More than 700 students at Hult, which pioneered the process for integrating practical experience into its curriculum, have just completed a series of projects aimed at making them job-ready upon graduation. Throughout the six-week-long Action Project, held concurrently at Hult’s five global campuses, students worked closely with 47 global companies, including international powerhouses Procter & Gamble, IBM, Panasonic, Samsung, 3M, Siemens, Sephora, Habitat for Humanity, and Verizon.

Students were asked to help the companies come up with innovative solutions that would create lasting value. One client tasked students with finding a way to grow their business by US$ 150m in three to five years. Student teams – handpicked to ensure international diversity and a broad range of industry knowledge – weighed the options and responded with 25 opportunities for growth, incorporating a holistic and global perspective.

“Growth through innovation is a strategic imperative and our unique innovation methodology and diverse student teams deliver big, bold, and bankable business cases across different industries and geographies every single time,” said Dr. Hitendra Patel, Professor of Innovation at Hult.

Much has been written about this kind of ‘learning by doing’ and the benefits it can bring students and the companies they work with. Several business schools have noticed that companies are increasingly looking for the fresh ideas students can provide, and have responded by offering specialized programs that do a better job of preparing students for the practical elements of their employment. Hult’s Action Projects are designed to act like thought factories, giving companies the chance to harness the brainpower of hundreds of experienced students and grow their businesses in new and innovative ways.

According to Dr. Stephen Hodges, President of Hult International Business School, the Action Project concept is truly unique: “On its own our Action Project is a powerful thing, posing real-life problems and getting students ready for the challenges of the working world. But when combined with the other elements of our signature LEAP Method – like learning from experienced professors and meeting with industry experts – the effect for students and businesses is remarkable.”

By Jeremy Morris, Associate Editor, US Daily Review. What do residential electricity customers want from a smarter grid? A new video produced by the Smart Grid Consumer Collaborative (SGCC) features real people from around the country explaining the benefits they expect a modernized grid to deliver. These include:

1. Data – Detailed information about household energy consumption.
2. Guidance – Personalized help with maximizing new energy use information.
3. Reliability – The assurance that basic energy needs will continue to be met.
4. Control – New choices to manage and reduce energy expenses.
5. Comfort – The continued freedom to keep homes well-lit and temperature-controlled.
6. Convenience – Ease of technology use and utility communication.
7. Cost savings – The lowering of electricity bills over time.
8. Environmental preservation – Reduced emissions and the integration of renewables.
9. National preparedness –The capability to meet rising demand for power.
10. Thoughtful rollout – A measured introduction of smart grid programs.

“This video and our research bring to life the seldom-heard consumer voice regarding the smart grid,” said SGCC Executive Director Patty Durand. “We’ve found that when consumers are educated about the smart grid, they are supportive and want to know more.”

SGCC conducted the 24 qualitative interviews in April in Atlanta, Los Angeles and Chicago. The interviews comprised the organization’s most recent study, Consumer Voices 2012, and focused on residential electricity consumer attitudes toward concepts, products and services around energy and the smart grid. The list above outlines the most commonly cited themes.

Through these one-on-one conversations, SGCC sought to gain an enriched understanding of the different types of consumers defined last year by the organization’s Consumer Pulse and Market Segmentation research program. Both studies were undertaken to raise industry awareness of consumer perspectives and needs.

The video and topline summary of the Consumer Voices 2012 Study can be accessed on SGCC’s website. The full report is available to SGCC members and to journalists upon request.

By US Daily Review Staff.

There were the "Usual Suspects" -- Like Harvard -- as Well as Many Surprises

Rowdy, rigorous, beautiful, liberal, conservative…college students have never been more spoiled when it comes to choosing the ideal campus for their studies. Newsweek’s third annual college rankings will help students (and parents) find the best fit for them. Check out our lists and see which school’s made the grade in affordability, happiness, and more key metrics. Plus, for the first time, we ranked the nation’s top fraternities and sororities.

To create the rankings, Newsweek partnered with College Prowler and used data from the National Center for Education Statistics, the Institute for College Access & Success, PayScale, CollegeView, and the College Board. Usable and rigorous, these comparisons aim to give college-stressed students a bit of breathing room to make the right decision for them.

Among the findings, Sacred Heart in Connecticut came out as the least affordable, West Virginia as the top party school, Warren Wilson as the most liberal school and Florida’s Ave Maria University came out as the most conservative.

Full list here: http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/features/2012/college-rankings.html

By US Daily Review Staff.

If a picture speaks a thousand words, one can learn volumes from this infograph from NASA showing what the landing will be like for its vessel, Curiosity.  People from around the world will watch on TV or on a special UStream Channel of this historic event. Here’s the picture.

By Jeremy Morris, Associate Editor, US Daily Review.

Global digital companies Resolution Media (http://www.resolutionmedia.com/) and Kenshoo (http://www.Kenshoo.com/) published a new report today that details extensive research on Facebook ads and provides actionable tips for advertisers seeking to improve the performance of their social media campaigns.

“Exposure Rate,” a new metric to measure targeted engagement on Facebook, takes center stage in this report, based on a year-long study that analyzed global data spanning 65 billion Facebook ad impressions and 20 million Facebook ad clicks. The findings represent a wide range of brands and categories including entertainment, finance, retail, and insurance, among others.

Key highlights of the report include:

• A new metric to measure engagement on Facebook – Exposure Rate – which looks at unique impressions in the context of desired target audience actually reached
• The ideal Frequency Rate for ads across Facebook platforms – once a user has seen the ad seven times, there is a dramatic drop in engagement
• How the High Exposure/Low Frequency  combination  translates to higher rates of conversion
• Performance models for the entire Facebook ad portfolio, and which types are most likely to drive High Exposure/Low Frequency rates – such as Sponsored Stories.
• Bidding and targeting strategies that support High Exposure/Low Frequency rates to deliver higher ROI

“Social media has quickly become one of the preferred channels for brands, and when done right, can foster meaningful relationships between brands and consumers in ways that were never before possible,” says Alan Osetek, president of Resolution Media. “The purpose of this study was to define what ‘doing it right’ means in terms of measureable actions and outcomes, and giving marketers a model for demonstrating effectiveness.”

Sivan Metzger, general manager of Kenshoo Social adds, “With new channels and ad formats come new tracking capabilities. And with new tracking capabilities come new data points. With new data points come new insights. And with new insights come new key performance indicators. This study is the first in a series from Kenshoo and Resolution Media to surface KPIs and help brands define a new measurement paradigm for improved social media investments.”

The complete report, entitled Social Media Insights Part 1: Metrics That Matter, can be downloaded at www.ResolutionMedia.com/white-papers/SocialMediaInsights or www.Kenshoo.com/SocialMediaInsights.

By Whole Food Supermarkets, Special for US Daily Review.

The honey bee may be small, but it plays a mighty role in pollinating more than 100 fruit and vegetable crops across the world.  With massive declines in honey bee populations, biodiversity and the future of our agriculture system and gardens are all being threatened.

“Bees pollinate a third of our diet, yet they’re literally vanishing from their hives,” says Cheryl Galway, marketing director for Whole Foods Market’s South region. “Many people have no idea that honey bees play an essential role in our agricultural system. By raising awareness of the issue we hope to motivate people to take action and share many ways they can be a part of the solution.”

Here’s how. In June and July, Whole Foods Market shoppers can:

• Bee educated: Get stories, videos and more ways to support honey bees at www.wholefoodsmarket.com/sharethebuzz.
• Bee a film buff: Check out in-store screenings of “Vanishing of the Bees” or “Queen of the Sun: What are the Bees Telling Us?” The Do Something Reel Film Festival will also feature “Queen of the Sun” for the month of June at www.dosomethingreel.com.
• Bee social: Tweet-to-give and pin-to-give to help support The Xerces Society, a nonprofit organization that protects wildlife through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitats.  Want more buzz? “Adopt a bee” through the company’s Facebook page to learn more fun facts about bees: facebook.com/wholefoods.
• Bee a smart shopper: For every organic cantaloupe sold at Whole Foods Market stores from June 13 to 26, 25 cents will be donated to Xerces. The U.S. Department of Agriculture offers a 1:1 match for all donations made to Xerces. Annie’s and The Hain-Celestial Group, Inc. along with following suppliers are also donating funds to support Xerces:
  • Alba Botanica®, Almond Breeze, Amy’s Kitchen, Arrowhead Mills®, Attune Foods, Avalon Organics®, Blue Diamond, Earth’s Best®, Evian Natural Spring Water, GoGo squeeze, Honest Tea, Honeydrop Beverages, Lake Champlain Chocolates, Mrs. Meyers Clean Day®, O.N.E. Coconut Water, Pacific Natural Foods, Popcorn Indiana, PROBAR, Sambazon, Small Planet Foods, Nancy’s Yogurt, Stonyfield, Terra®, Three Twins Ice Cream, WestSoy®, Wholesome Sweeteners and Yogi Tea.

With supplier and shopper support, Whole Foods Market is working to raise $180,000 to restore pollination habitats that Xerces will support.  Both organizations also teamed up in May to host an educational webinar for over 100 of grocer’s farmers to learn about habitat restoration solutions for their farms.

“Pollinator conservation is critically important to protecting both global biodiversity and agriculture, but they’re increasingly at-risk from factors like habitat loss and pesticide use. Through this partnership with Whole Foods Market, we’re expanding public awareness about the importance of pollinators and empowering farmers nationwide to help protect them,” said Eric Mader, Assistant Pollinator Conservation Director at The Xerces Society.

By the Price of Business, Radio Partners of US Daily Review. 

By US Daily Review Staff.

For the first time ever, viewers around the world will have access to thousands of hours of live Olympic event coverage online in what’s being called “the first truly digital Olympics”. While NBC and BBC will be providing unprecedented coverage to the US and UK, dozens of other international providers will be offering online coverage exclusively to their specific region. With so many providers to sort through and limited information on streaming sources, global viewers will need some way to make sense of it all.

FreeCast, the leading source for live streaming event coverage, is offering international viewers a simple way to access live Olympics coverage in their area by aggregating the many streaming sources into one comprehensive global guide. The guide quickly links users to official Olympic provider streams within their specific country, a selection that spans over 150 countries on six continents.

In order to satisfy cable and satellite distributors, several international providers require online viewers to authenticate their cable or satellite subscription before accessing streaming content. Additional limitations include location-based access to content from regional providers only.

FreeCast’s eMedia Guide has been a key part of their success since their launch in January, referring viewers to streaming coverage of such popular live events as the Super Bowl, Academy Awards, NBA Playoffs, Wimbledon and many others.

With over 1.5 million daily video updates, 5000 categorized channels, and dozens of live events each day, FreeCast’s guide consolidates what would normally be an overwhelming amount of content to search through, into one simple point of reference.

FreeCast also offers fully-functioning Facebook and mobile apps, allowing users to access the coverage from anywhere. FreeCast is available at no charge, and can be easily accessed with Facebook, Twitter, Google, and Linkedin account logins.

For additional information, visit:
Website - http://freecast.com
Facebook app - http://apps.facebook.com/freecasttv
Blog - http://freecast.com/news-blog/
PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1j9YV)

By US Daily Review Staff.

Van Andel Institute announces that researchers at Lund University in Sweden have published a study detailing how Parkinson’s disease spreads through the brain. Experiments in rat models uncover a process previously used to explain mad cow disease, in which misfolded proteins travel from sick to healthy cells.

“A major unmet medical need is a therapy that slows disease progression,” said Patrik Brundin M.D., Ph.D., Jay Van Andel Endowed Chair in Parkinson’s Research at Van Andel Research Institute (VARI), Head of the Neuronal Survival Unit at Lund University and senior author of the study. “We aim to better understand how Parkinson’s pathology progresses and thereby uncover novel molecular targets for disease-modifying treatments.”

Previous research demonstrates that a misfolded protein gradually appears in healthy neurons transplanted to the brains of Parkinson’s patients.  In the current study, published this week in the Public Library of Science (PLoS) One, researchers were able to follow events in the recipient cell as it accepts the diseased protein. The experiments also show how the transferred proteins attract proteins in the host cell leading to abnormal folding or “clumping” inside the cells.

“This is a cellular process likely to lead to the disease process as Parkinson’s progresses, and it spreads to an increasing number of brain regions as the patient gets sicker,” said Elodie Angot, Ph.D., of Lund University’s Neuronal Survival Unit, and lead author of the study.

Link to the study here:

http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0039465

By US Daily Review Staff.

The Supreme Court’s ruling issued on the Affordable Care Act will spur more consolidation in the healthcare industry, according to a recent survey of more than 200 healthcare leaders from across the industry conducted by healthcare public affairs firm Jarrard Phillips Cate & Hancock.

Conducted under the firm’s trademark Inside Baseball brand, the survey garnered responses from more than 200 healthcare leaders who make organizational, operational and financial decisions at their respective organizations. Although 53 percent of respondents feel that absolute clarity on the law will not arrive until after the November presidential election, a vast
number of respondents feel that the ruling is a strong indicator that consolidation and entrepreneurship will continue to mark the industry moving forward.

“Executives are gearing up for increased M&A activity, both in the Nashville healthcare community and nationally,” says Molly Cate, Partner at Jarrard Phillips Cate & Hancock. “In Nashville, where healthcare is a $70 billion industry, we’ll see a flood of new ideas and companies flood the market, according to survey results.”

Equally as clear in the survey: healthcare leaders aren’t waiting for the political process to iron out the details of healthcare
reform. When asked how the ruling will change operational or budgetary decisions, 73 percent aren’t making any decisions
based on last week’s ruling, mainly because they’ve already planned for it and are already implementing their strategy.

Survey Highlights

Below are highlights from the survey:

• When asked will the vote bring the clarity and stability that investors, analysts and operators have been looking for in the healthcare industry, 53.1 percent said “No … the presidential election will essentially turn into a referendum on the healthcare law and muddy the waters for months to come.”
• When asked how the ruling impacts hospital M&A activity, 65.7 percent said bigger is better – more consolidation in the industry.
• Looking at that same question, 18.6 percent said investor-owned hospital chains will be flush with cash and an attractive candidate for hospital boards across the country.
• When asked what impact the ruling will have on Nashville’s healthcare industry, 28 percent said entrepreneurs will flood the market with new ideas and companies.
• Looking at that same question, 18.5 percent of respondents predict Nashville’s healthcare IT sector specifically will boom, even more so than in the dot-com era. And close behind, 18 percent predict that all of the medium-sized hospital companies that have been rumored to consolidate for years finally will.
• When asked if making any new operational or budgetary decisions at their company in light of yesterday’s ruling, 72.8 percent said no.7/9/12 Healthcare Leaders Say Supreme Court Ruling Will Spur More Consolidation in the Industry | Business …
• When asked where the law will stand this time next year, 33.6 percent predict it will be stalled in the Senate

By Jeremy Morris, Associate Editor, US Daily Review.

Although many people associate six-figure salaries with executive positions, those with a knack for technology and creative thinking can earn handsome compensation, too. According to research from Robert Half Technology and The Creative Group, salaries often top $100,000 for roles such as information architects, data security analysts and user experience (UX) designers. The generous compensation levels are due to high demand for these professionals as organizations strive to enhance their digital presence and boost investments in information technology (IT) infrastructure.

“These highly specialized positions help companies implement essential projects, such as improving and securing the firm’s online presence across platforms, or gathering and analyzing business data,” said John Reed, senior executive director of Robert Half Technology and The Creative Group. “Employers are willing to pay well for these roles because they allow organizations to take advantage of new technologies and gain a competitive edge.”

Following are six technology and design jobs that can pay six-figures*:

1. Mobile applications developer – As companies strive to reach consumers on smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices, they need professionals who can develop applications for the small screen. Average starting salaries for mobile applications developers range from $85,000 to $122,500. The midpoint is $103,750.
2. Data security analyst – Security threats are constantly changing, and staff members who can analyze risk and protect against it are in demand. These workers can make between $89,000 and $121,500, on average. The midpoint is $105,250.
3. Interactive creative director ­– These individuals lead interactive creative teams, composed of designers, writers and art directors, who together are responsible for visual and conceptual creative direction and user experience. Average base compensation is $93,500 to $150,000. The midpoint is $121,750.
4. Business intelligence analyst ­– As companies strive to gather more information about their customers, they need professionals who can design and develop enterprise wide data analysis and reporting tools. Starting salaries range from $87,750 to $123,500 for this position, on average. The midpoint is $105,625.
5. Information architect – These individuals help define content strategy and design website features, as well as analyze audiences and their needs, in order to improve architecture and navigation. Base compensation for this position is between $78,250 and $116,000, on average. The midpoint is $97,125.
6. User experience (UX) designer – Because so much customer interaction happens online, companies are looking for professionals who can create positive digital experiences. The average starting pay range for these individuals is $71,750 to $104,000. The midpoint is $87,875.

More information about the positions listed above can be found in the Robert Half Technology 2012 Salary Guide, which includes a wide range of IT positions, as well as The Creative Group 2012 Salary Guide, which focuses on interactive, design and marketing jobs.

Both Robert Half Technology (www.rht.com) and The Creative Group (www.creativegroup.com) are divisions of Robert Half International, the world’s first and largest specialized staffing firm and a recognized leader in professional staffing services.

*All salaries listed are U.S. national averages based on data published in the 2012 Salary Guides for Robert Half Technology and The Creative Group. Actual salary ranges may vary depending on location.

By US Daily Review Staff.

Marking the 43rd anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, NASA has added an extensive collection of historical video, audio, photographs and documents to iTunes U.

iTunes U is a platform for making educational resources available to a wide audience through the iTunes Store.

NASA’s History Program Office iTunes U site currently contains about 300 items that represent a broad sweep of NASA history related to important moments, activities and figures in NASA history. The site’s content is free to download.

“New materials will continue to be uploaded as we expand the coverage both in depth and breadth,” said Bill Barry, NASA’s chief historian. ”We’re thrilled to educate people on NASA’s rich history and are open to user suggestions and requests.”

The site includes Apollo program material with a collection of items for each of the Apollo missions, as well as a special Politics of Apollo collection of key documents related to the U.S. lunar program.

The site also features eBooks from the NASA History Series. Available titles include reader favorites such as Asif Siddiqi’s “Challenge to Apollo,” the ”Exploring the Unknown” series of documentary histories, and all four volumes of Boris Chertok’s “Rockets and People.”

Other agency programs using iTunes U include NASA’s Academy of Program, Project and Engineering Leadership (APPEL), NASA Spinoffs from the Office of the Chief Technologist, and collections from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. To view all of NASA’s iTunes U sites and download material, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/connect/itunesu.html

To view Apollo materials not found on iTunes U, visit NASA’s history website at:

http://history.nasa.gov/apollo.html

For additional interactive features and podcasts about NASA, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia

By US Daily Review Staff.

Oklahoma business owners and executives who responded to the FallinForBusiness.com business climate survey conducted by the Governor’s Office, the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and the Oklahoma Business Roundtable, reported hiring in 2012 to exceed national projections, with 37 percent expecting to hire new workers. When the time frame is spread out to three years, 69 percent of Oklahoma businesses expect to increase the size of their workforce. Combine this with the 51 percent of businesses upgrading or expanding, 28 percent adding locations and more than 60 percent adding new products or services – and the direction is clear. Oklahoma companies are on a steady upward growth curve.

In spite of this overall optimism, up to 79 percent of businesses in a variety of industry categories rate the availability of skilled labor as fair or poor, making these the number one most difficult jobs to fill.

Governor Fallin recognized the priority challenge posed by workforce issues when she announced the survey results. “Our businesses still need us to make sure our policies help build a highly skilled, educated workforce,” she said. “They told us they need certified and degreed people. We have responded with programs such as Complete College America, matching employees with jobs at OKJobMatch.com and developing a program to help get our returning military in the job pipeline.”

Does Oklahoma have a skilled labor gap? Economic developers and many businesses say, “Yes,” but look at the challenge differently.

The Southwest Oklahoma Impact Coalition, SOIC, will pilot a Career Pathways project in Duncan Public Schools beginning this fall. That project might not have moved forward without the statistical validation provided by the FallinForBusiness study.

Marilyn Feaver, SOIC’s executive director, says the business climate survey data validates their perceptions from the more than 500 interviews they conducted with regional businesses from 2005-2008. “We talked to hundreds of business owners in southwest Oklahoma about barriers and opportunities for growth and expansion. These interviews identified workforce preparation as our first priority,” she said. “But then along came the recession, and while we expected everything to change, our businesses continued to report difficulty finding trained workers.” FallinForBusiness survey respondents agree, with 70 percent rating access to trained workers as absolutely critical or important.

While respondents cited the quality of the college, university and CareerTech systems high among Oklahoma’s top business climate strengths, they reported lower numbers for access to job training programs. Of the business owners and executives responding, 50 percent graded access to programs statewide as excellent or good, and 47 percent rated access to local programs excellent or good.

SOIC’s Career Pathways project includes integrated education and training programs that develop an individual’s core academic, technical and employability skills and provides them with continuous education and training so they are prepared to advance to higher levels of education and employment.

The Career Pathways project resolution highlights these outcomes:

• High school students are better prepared to make informed choices.
• More students graduate from high school.
• Students earn higher scores on standardized academic, career and technical tests.
• More students make the transition from secondary to postsecondary.
• Employers gain access to a larger pool of qualified workers.

Feaver believes there is a clear disconnect between employers and education/training providers. “Career education must start early in a child’s education so that by the time a student is in high school the relevancy of education will be connected to family-sustaining jobs and careers,” she said.

“We are looking at the results of the FallinForBusiness survey in detail and will use them to validate our work and to encourage employers to support the Career Pathways project – first in Duncan and southwest Oklahoma, and eventually statewide,” Feaver said. “Based on what they said in the survey, we expect huge benefits for employers and employees in all stages of their careers.”

SOIC represents colleges and universities, career technology centers, tribal governments, chambers of commerce and individuals. SOIC’s mission is to reinforce and grow wealth in the Southwest Quadrant of Oklahoma by maximizing and coordinating workforce and economic development opportunities through a collaborative process.

A similar organization, Central Oklahoma Regional Development (CORD) was organized to enhance economic growth and development in Central Oklahoma. CORD’s ten community members include Calumet, El Reno, Geary, Hinton, Kingfisher, Minco, Okarche, Piedmont, Union City and Watonga. Their combined efforts help provide businesses with economic development resources, including a talented workforce.

Gene Pflughoft is CORD’s executive director. Along with Feaver, he welcomed the opportunity provided by the FallinForBusiness survey. “CORD promises its communities proactive business retention and expansion, to work on each member city’s targeted issues, to provide a direct connection with state leaders and to assist area schools in developing an available workforce,” he said. “The survey was a big help to us.”

Pflughoft says the FallinForBusiness survey came at exactly the right time for CORD companies. “Our member businesses get together for weekly meetings where they can talk about what they need. Each meeting focuses in on an issue, whether it’s employee development or motivation,” he said. “We pushed the survey in these groups. It was an ideal opportunity for them to report the challenges they face and the things they need help with. We knew this was something we could do to get our businesses heard, and we will continue to use the data in our programs going forward.”

Pflughoft is not surprised that more than 70 percent of survey respondents cite attracting/recruiting talent as absolutely critical or important. “Canadian County is the fastest growing county in Oklahoma. Business is booming,” he said. “With our growth, demand for good people with technical skills is incredible, and the need impacts every skills category. In addition to oil and gas, we have great opportunities in wind and CNG. Our companies need CDL licensed drivers, electricians, hvac people, electricians, plumbers and backhoe operators – people with real skills.”

He agrees with survey respondents who cited an almost equal need for people with Bachelor’s degrees and CareerTech certification. “Right now,” he says, “Canadian County has more jobs than qualified workers. We have the training resources in place, through our colleges and CareerTech centers. Classrooms are full all the time, and a lot of our companies provide training programs. Our challenge is to find the people.”

By the Price of Business, Radio Partners of US Daily Review. 

By the Price of Business, Radio Partners of US Daily Review. *Sponsored Content.

By US Daily Review Staff.

The Patient’s Guide, the leading online destination in beauty and skin care, released the top U.S. cities where the average population appears “older than they really are.” To determine these rankings, The Patient’s Guide conducted a study that pulled data from internal analytics (http://www.agespots.net), Google’s Regional Interest, as well as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Houston is one of the Ten Cities

“Up to 90 percent of the visible skin changes commonly attributed to aging are caused by the sun,” says Dr. Eric Bernstein, distinguished practitioner and innovator in the field of dermatology and laser surgery. “Depending on where you live, you may need to adjust your skin care regimen’s level of daily sunscreen and increase treatments such as non-ablative laser skin rejuvenation or citric acid peels to treat the five signs of skin aging.”

People who live or work near to the equator, at higher altitudes, and in locations with many dry, sunny days have a higher risk of UV exposure, skin aging and even cancer. Listed below are the top ten U.S. cities whose residents struggle with physical signs of premature aging including sun spots and wrinkles.

(View infographic: http://www.agespots.net/oldest-cities/)

1. Los Angeles, CA
2. Miami, FL
3. St. Petersburg, FL
4. Phoenix, AZ
5. Houston, TX
6. San Francisco, CA
7. Orlando, FL
8. New Orleans, LA
9. Charleston, SC
10. Jersey City, NJ

Ironically, the leading cities in the study happen to be highly populated, metropolitan areas that are known for their emphasis on beauty and fashion. Jasson Gilmore, The Patient’s Guide’s CEO and co-founder said, “It comes as no surprise that most of the cities in the top ten for aging skin are in the southern portion of the US. The residents of these cities are fortunate to bask in the sun’s rays most days of the year; however this comes at a high price. Risk of skin cancer and premature aging run high in these areas. This study should remind everyone to wear their sunscreen, especially during the summer when we are outdoors more.” With proper protection from UV radiation, many forms of skin cancer and most premature aging of the skin can be avoided.

By Jeremy Morris, Associate Editor, US Daily Review.

As companies come under increasing pressure to respond quickly to change, many rely on business forecasts to see past the horizon.  Managers, however, are reluctant to entirely trust the forecasts that their companies produce.

In the latest issue of Analytics Magazine, business forecasting expert Brian Lewis, PhD and a Vice President at Vanguard Software, contends that forecast skepticism is well-founded.   Forecasts are traditionally produced by sifting through the millions of data points that make up a company’s past performance.  Business forecasts, he says, end up functioning more like business histories.  Hence, the only way to create forecasts executives can trust is to balance analysis of big data with human insight.

“Your staff knows things a computer can’t possibly uncover.  They have important insights about the market, future plans, new products, competitor shifts, etc.   When the forecasting process doesn’t allow people to collaborate, to really share what they know, everyone immediately recognizes the forecast is incomplete,” says Lewis.  “Forecasts lose further credibility when you can’t answer a simple question like, ‘Where did this number come from?’  If the forecast is based on numbers considered stale, then that forecast is of no real practical use.”

Recent forecasting software innovations allow multiple contributions, tracking, and real-time data pulls.  The changes enable managers to test different business scenarios and build contingency plans.  The greatest benefit to these changes, Lewis says, is business agility.

“Being able to produce new forecasts on-demand, the minute something happens, and knowing that the forecast reflects the insights from all your departments—that’s unprecedented responsiveness.  This is the future of business,” says Lewis.

By US Daily Review Staff.

Summer vacations may be fun, but they can be costly if you fail to prepare your home and property adequately. Burglars see vacations as an opportunity to target empty homes, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).

There are more than 2.15 million burglaries each year, over 65 percent of which are residential break-ins. The FBI notes that the summer months of July and August have the highest rates of burglaries, usually about a 10 percent increase over other times of the year.

“Once in your home, a burglar can easily steal computer equipment, televisions, CD and DVD players, as well as jewelry and other valuable items,” said Jeanne M. Salvatore, senior vice president and consumer spokesperson, I.I.I. “In fact, the average dollar loss per burglary is over $1,700.”

However, criminals tend to be opportunists, noted Ms. Salvatore. If you make your home more difficult to break into, the crook will likely target another home. Research shows that if it takes more than four or five minutes to break into a home, the burglar will go elsewhere.

In addition to having the right insurance coverage, the I.I.I. offers these five preventive measures to keep your home safe:

• Make it time-consuming to break into your home. Dead-bolt window and door locks can slow a burglar down. You may also obtain a discount of 2 to 5 percent on your insurance policy for installing these devices.

• Make it noisy to break into your home. Invest in a burglar alarm. The most effective systems ring at an outside service, which alerts the police, fire department and other emergency services. A sophisticated alarm system could result in insurance discounts of 15 to 20 percent.

• Make sure you have strong doors. Outside doors and frames should be made of metal or solid hardwood and be at least 1 3/4-inches thick. Each door must fit its frame securely. Even the best lock will not deter a burglar if it is installed in a weak door. Garage doors also need strong locks. If you have a tool shed, keep it locked since burglars can use the tools to break into your home.

• Turn off your computer and disconnect it from the Internet. If you save personal information on your computer, make sure it is difficult to access. You don’t want a hacker at work while you are on vacation.

• Keep valuables under lock and key and well hidden. Do not leave personal documents in your home office or desk–burglars know to look for them there. Put critical documents in a lock box or safe somewhere else in the house. Keep copies of important documents at another location–a relative’s home, for example. Expensive jewelry should also be hidden somewhere other than the bedroom or left in a safety deposit box at the bank.

As you prepare to leave on vacation follow these additional steps:

• Keep your home well lit. Mount exterior lights out of reach of would-be burglars in your yard or on your house. Put indoor lights on a timer so that they go on and off at appropriate times, making it look as if the house is inhabited.

• Make the house look inhabited. Leave blinds or curtains open in their usual position. Put indoor lights on a timer. If you are going to be away for an extended period, arrange to have your lawn mowed in the summer and your driveway shoveled in the winter.

• Arrange to have mail picked up or held by the post office. Stop newspaper deliveries and ask a neighbor to pick-up “throw-away” circulars.

• Ask a neighbor for help. Ask a neighbor you trust to keep an eye on your home while you are gone. You may also want to tell your local police you will be away.

• Only tell people you know and trust that you are going away. Be careful not to discuss your vacation plans at the supermarket or hairdresser or other public places where you don’t know who may be listening.

Standard homeowners insurance policies provide coverage for theft of personal possessions and damage to the home caused by the break-in. With replacement cost coverage, which is only about 10 percent more than actual cash value coverage, damaged property is replaced without deducting for depreciation.

By US Daily Review Staff.

Information overload is a paralyzing problem, especially for middle managers. Not only are managers often squeezed between a rock and a hard place, they also are stuck between their inboxes and outboxes. They receive direction and information from the top, along with requests and input from their direct reports, causing an information traffic jam.  Across industries, managers struggle to prioritize and move projects forward. They are frozen, and email is a major contributor to the overload these middle managers feel.

The 2012 Email Perception Study commissioned by The Grossman Group & LCWA Research Group found that in addition to information overload, middle managers are most affected by emails that are irrelevant to their work – costing them an average of 100 wasted hours a year (and their companies, upwards of 1 million dollars annually).

Additionally, two-thirds of middle managers surveyed and half of employees experience issues from using email outside normal business hours, including:

• Work-life balance challenges
• The fear of missing relevant information
• Stress from checking email

To get the facts on the freeze and the fix, check out this info graphic (and below) – Defrost the Frozen Middle – which further explores the cost of email overload and its effect on middle managers.

When people think of drones being used in the US, visions of "The Terminator" bounce in their heads.

By the Price of Business, Radio Partners of US Daily Review.

By US Daily Review Staff.

Stories of crony capitalism and the propping up of businesses that cannot make it in the market place have become common during the Obama Administration. In particular is the Administration’s obsession with alternative fuels while the larger economy needs affordable energy today.

The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) President Charles T. Drevna responded today to reports that the Pentagon is moving forward with a plan to spend nearly half a billion dollars to help build biorefineries. Drevna notes such policies are another example of the government picking winners and losers in the marketplace instead of taking steps to enhance America’s energy security:

Obama and Panetta are Putting Politics Above Security

“Paying $26 per gallon for fuel when the Navy could be spending around $3.50 per gallon does not enhance energy security,” said Drevna. ”The proposal to spend almost half a billion dollars to help build biorefineries that will produce extremely expensive fuel is just the latest example of this administration’s anti-fossil fuel agenda. Such ill-crafted policies come at the expense of taxpayers and, in case in particular, our energy security.”

“This initiative is another Obama administration green fuel gimmick to make headlines, but it does nothing to address national security. If the administration truly wants to enhance U.S. energy security, it would unleash more of our domestic oil resources and take steps to ensure a regulatory environment that allows American refiners to stay open and competitive in the global marketplace. Unfortunately, this latest announcement is another example of the administration’s all-of-the-above-but-none-of-the-below energy policy. At a time when tensions continue to rise in the Middle East, this moves our country down a potentially dangerous and unsecure path.”

According to a statement, AFPM, “the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (formerly known as NPRA, the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association) is a trade association representing high-tech American manufacturers of virtually the entire U.S. supply of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, other fuels and home heating oil, as well as the petrochemicals used.”

By Jeremy Morris, Associate Editor, US Daily Review.

CarFinance.com (www.carfinance.com) today released the third in its series of auto financing tips specifically designed to help empower car buyers with below-prime credit – this time providing advice on calculating potential auto loan payments that will keep them on budget by identifying the car, and monthly loan payment, they can actually afford.

It’s a whole new post-recession lending era for the hundred million+ Americans that now fall into the below-prime credit category; especially for those that want to jump into the summer new-car buying season, when automakers offer incentives to clear 2012 models off the lot. Credit lines are opening up (with average credit scores on vehicle loans dropping to near pre-recession levels[1]), interest rates for less-than-prime buyers are lowering and loan terms are getting longer[2], making monthly payments more manageable.

“Buying a new vehicle, and sticking to on-time monthly payments, is one of the top weapons in building back a credit score, but correctly figuring out that payment can be challenging,” said CarFinance.com president and CEO Jim Landy. ”To help car buyers make informed budgeting and vehicle selection decisions, CarFinance.com offers key tips and tools to help them know how, and what, to calculate before signing on the dotted – or electronic – line.”

CarFinance.com’s Top Tips for Calculating Loan Payments

1. MONTHLY PAYMENT: Understand what level of monthly payment you can afford by doing a detailed, hyper-honest budget-setting exercise. Take your monthly income minus all payroll tax or estimated monthly tax deductions, then subtract EVERYTHING: monthly mortgage payments or rental costs, credit card and other loan payments, health and car insurance (calculating how much more the latter will be with the new car) and get serious about estimating real-world living expenses (from food to fun, etc.) by looking at the last 6 months of your real spending (bank statements, withdrawals, checks, etc.) from your monthly income. What is left over is what you can afford each month.
2. KNOW YOUR APR UPFRONT: The higher the APR (Annual Percentage Rate – the cost you will pay on the loan, including your interest rate), the higher the monthly payment – and the more you will ultimately pay for the car. Waiting until you get to the dealership to find out your APR could mean you drive off in a vehicle that you can’t afford. The good news is that today you can get pre-approved online for a loan in minutes, providing you with key numbers, including your APR, to help you make a rational decision on which cars you should be looking at.
3. LENGTH OF LOAN: Using this calculator, you can determine how long it will take to pay off your loan based on the monthly payment you can afford and your APR.  For a given amount financed, the lower your monthly payments, the longer the term of your loan, but the longer the term, the more interest you pay, meaning you will ultimately pay more for your vehicle.  Calculate what you will be paying overall to determine if you are willing to pay extra in the long run in order to pay less each month, or if you should look at a lower-priced vehicle.
4. REBATES VS RATES: Understand the difference between the benefit of a cash rebate versus lower monthly interest rate before including it in your calculations. In many instances, you have the option of a manufacturer cash rebate or a low APR. While a low APR sounds enticing, remember that a cash rebate decreases the price of the vehicle, thereby lowering the amount you need to borrow, reducing your interest expense and less overall $$$ spent in the long run. If you trade your vehicle in early, you can lose much of the benefit of the low interest rate. Plus if you have less than perfect credit you may not be eligible for the low interest rate anyway.
5. TOTAL PRICE OF THE VEHICLE YOU CAN AFFORD: This is the holy grail and to calculate this using one of the many calculators you can find online, such as this one, you will need to allow for your down payment, monthly payment, APR, and the realistic price of the vehicle you are interested in, as well as trade-in (be sure to do your research to get a realistic sales price, whether you are selling the car yourself or trading in), rebates, sales tax, and loan term. You also need to allow for title and licensing fees; a good rule of thumb is 10% to 15% on top of the selling price. But remember, fees vary by state, from as little as $50 to as much as several thousand dollars depending on the state and the value of the vehicle.
6. GO SHOP: Now that you know what you can afford, you can research online on sites like Edmunds.com to find vehicles that fit your budget.  Many online sites offer a search by monthly payment or search by the amount you plan to spend; just be sure you are using the amount that you can afford and that their formulas take into account all the information you have accrued. Once you have found the vehicle that you can afford and want to buy, go ahead and get financed online so your conversation at the dealership is about the vehicle itself, and not the financing.

To access easy-to-use online auto loan calculators, click here.

By US Daily Review Staff. 

By US Daily Review Staff.

While remote villages in Africa may not be the most expected place to find solar, IndiGo is shining light on unheard of locations through a “Pay As You Go” solar program which allows rural villagers to generate their own power via a photovoltaic panel and battery pack.  They can then purchase the produced energy for as little as $1 a week.

This unique program has caught the eye of Soluxe Solar, a Connecticut-based solar company.  The IndiGo program receives this week’s Soluxe “Solar Flare” – a weekly honor the company bestows on an individual or company making great strides in the world of solar advancement.

“Each day we are seeing solar develop and create opportunities never before thought possible,” says Soluxe Solar CEO Jeffrey Mayer.  “The creativity behind the IndiGo program, which not only has tremendous potential to improve the lives of people in these remote locations but also have a positive impact on our environment as well is fantastic.  We felt this was the perfect choice for this week’s Solar Flare.”

The solar company announces its weekly “Solar Flare” honoree on the company’s facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/SoluxeSolar and website, www.soluxesolar.com.

For a more in-depth look at the IndiGo program, visit http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/16/world/pay-solar-africa/index.html

SOLUXE SOLAR Soluxe Solar is committed to helping homeowners and small business owners take advantage of the sun’s free energy using solar power systems.  Headquartered in Darien, CT, the Soluxe Solar leadership team combines decades of expertise in the energy markets and solar technology.  Soluxe Solar prides itself on delivering premium customer service, high quality products, and hassle-free installation.  Soluxe Solar aims to help customers save money and save the planet at the same time.

By US Daily Review Staff.

Singapore has been ranked the most innovative country in Asia and the third worldwide after Switzerland and Sweden in INSEAD’s recently released Fifth Global Innovation Index (GII). This represents Singapore’s second consecutive year at the top of the index. Singapore’s regional rival, Hong Kong, was placed in the eighth position, making it the only other Asian city within the top 20 positions.

The 2012 GII analyzed 141 countries based on seven broad categories that measure innovation capabilities and output namely:

1) institutions,
2) human capital and research,
3) infrastructure,
4) market sophistication,
5) business sophistication,
6) science outputs, and
7) creative outputs.

“According to GII, Singapore’s solid input performance can be attributed to its effective governance, attractive business and regulatory environment, trade sophistication, e-government services as well as high quality tertiary education and knowledge workers. It also offers world class innovation capabilities coupled with a robust research community.  Not to mention the fast growing tourist industry. Big travel companies such as Expedia even offers packet guide. In 2010, R&D expenditure and workforce in the country grew to over $6.4 billion and 43,000 respectively. In turn, it comes to no surprise that many technology investors and big players are keen to form a Singapore company or set up their R&D bases in Singapore,” said Mr. James Nuben, Head of Tax Division, Asiabiz Services, a Singapore company registration consultancy.

Mr. Nuben further highlighted the positive impact of the GII report, stating that it will boost Singapore’s efforts to attract more foreign investments.

“INSEAD’s index has once again affirmed that Singapore is the undisputed innovation leader in Asia and is on the right track to create the most conducive environment for innovation inputs. We are positive that the index underscores Singapore’s strengths as a research incubator and attract more firms to set up an R&D base in the country. In turn, this may attract more investors to choose Singapore relocation and develop high-potential technologies for the benefit of the larger global community,” added Mr. Nuben.

By US Daily Review Staff. Source: Fraser Institute.

Healthcare may be “free” in Canada, but the lack of access to it makes that point seem moot, according to a new study by the Fraser Institute in Canada. According to the report:

“Among the consequences of poor access to health care in Canada is the reality that some Canadians will ultimately
receive the care they require outside of the country. Some of these patients will have been sent out of country by the public
health care system due to a lack of available resources or the fact that some procedures or equipment are not provided
in their home jurisdiction. Others will have chosen to leave Canada in response to concerns about quality (Walker et al.,
2009); to avoid some of the adverse medical consequences of waiting for care such as worsening of their condition, poorer
outcomes following treatment, disability, or death (Esmail, 2009); or simply to avoid delay.

Understanding how many Canadians receive their health care in another country each year gives some insight into the state of health care in Canada, as well as the state of medical tourism among Canadian residents. Data on this topic are not readily available but an estimation is possible using annual wait times data from the Fraser Institute and the numbers of procedures performed in Canada from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI).”

Read that report in its entirety.

By US Daily Review Staff.

This summer, as the London 2012 Olympic Games unfold, we’ll witness the flight of the “Social Media Butterflies,” digitally savvy moms who crave connection and conversation around major events. Expect these women to be one of the most active and engaging consumer segments as their use of social media often outpaces other demographic and user groups – including the hyper connected members of Gen Y and Gen Z. This is among the key findings from the 2012 Taylor Consumer Engagement Survey: Social Media and the Olympic Games.

Taylor  is the only agency that has been on the ground supporting consumer brands at every Olympic Games since 1984. Given how social media and digital technologies impact the consumer experience with global properties like the Olympics, Taylor designed and commissioned this survey of more than 1,000 U.S. consumers to fully understand how they will be viewing, sharing, and interacting with the London 2012 Games. The survey provides learning and insight across several important consumer targets, including: Avid Olympic Fans, Moms aged 25-54, Affluent Americans with HHI 100k+, Youth aged 13-23, and mobile device users (mobile phone, Smartphone, and Tablet). Fielded by MarketProbe International, a global research company, the survey was supplemented with trends research, analysis and insights from Taylor’s Brand Counsel Group.

London 2012 promises to be the first true “social media games” where fans (and the brands that want to appeal to them) have the opportunity to connect across time zones via 24 hours of content and coverage in real time across multiple platforms.

“Multiple screens mean multiple viewpoints when watching events like the Olympic Games. Everyone in the household – moms, dads, kids, family and friends – will have their own platforms to share their unique perspective. This creates a more personalized experience for fans,” said Jackson Jeyanayagam, Senior Vice President, Digital Strategy, Taylor.

Taylor’s survey reveals just how much computers and mobile devices will be pivotal platforms for the London Games. Of the total survey sample, 20% state if they could choose just one device to watch the Olympic Games it would be something other than TV.

To brand marketers, this is especially enticing as social media engagement around major sports and entertainment properties like the Super Bowl and the Grammy Awards has been intensifying exponentially. When considering the uniqueness of the Olympic Games, which are played out over 17 full days and feature thousands of athletes competing across 26 sports, the implications and opportunities for brands to connect with consumers via various touch-points throughout the day are unparalleled. In fact, Taylor’s survey shows from the early morning through lunchtime, more than half of Moms say they will be using social media sites to post original content and comments.

“Moms are the consummate social media butterflies in that they use and rely on these types of digital platforms for information, inspiration, and inclusion,” said Katina Scott, Vice President, Brand Planning Director, Taylor. “While many moms are not traditional sports fans, they have a strong affinity toward the Olympics. When looking for a trusted source of information on the Games, more than half of Moms say that social media is the most important source of information about the Olympics.”

Other insights and emerging trends of the survey include:

• Friends and Family: ”Sofalizing,” or socializing in person and on social media platforms while watching a televised event, will be an integral part of the Olympic Games experience. More than half (51%) of those surveyed say the Olympics are more fun to watch with friends and family, and even more Avid fans (72%) believe this to be true.
• Traditional Media Remains Relevant: Despite the proliferation of mobile devices and digital content platforms, more than 40% of those surveyed claim that newspapers are one of the three most important sources of information – more than sports websites or social media sites.
• Not APPropos: While there are half a million apps and counting, only 6% surveyed say they plan on downloading apps to help them watch/follow the Olympic Games and fewer than 10% say apps specifically for the Olympic Games are a big part of enjoying the event.

Source: PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1d5y9)

By Jeremy Morris, Associate Editor, US Daily Review.

Three quarters of Canadians (74 per cent) admit they have no financial plan to pay for long-term care if they needed it, according to a new poll by Leger Marketing on behalf of the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (CLHIA).

“Canadians have not adequately prepared for their future long-term care needs,” says Frank Swedlove, President of the CLHIA. “Baby boomers are aging and unless action is taken now, they will fall well short in funding their long-term care. Governments and Canadians have to work together to help close the gap by being more effective in how long-term care is provided.”

The CLHIA estimates that it will cost almost $1.2 trillion to provide long-term care to the baby boomer generation as they pass through old age, and that current government programs and funding will only cover about half of this. The resulting $590 billion funding shortfall is the equivalent of about 95 per cent all individual registered savings plans in Canada today.

Most worrisome is that the polling also shows that 55 per cent of Canadians believe government health care programs cover half or more of the cost of their long-term care needs.

Today, the CLHIA released a policy statement setting out a number of recommendations to ensure that Canadians will have access to high quality long-term care services through old age.

Swedlove added, “Not only does the current long-term care system not have adequate capacity for our future needs, but patient care suffers as too often care is provided in inappropriate settings.” The Leger poll showed that 77 per cent would prefer to receive care in their own homes.

To address the funding shortfall, while also enhancing patient care, the CLHIA concludes that:

• Governments can help close the funding gap by being more effective in how long-term care is provided to Canadians;
• Canadians need incentives to take responsibility to protect themselves from the possible high long-term care costs of the future and governments can help; and
• In order to meet the increased demand for resources, including long-term care beds, health care professionals and volunteers, the public and private sectors must work together to find solutions.

The CLHIA’s paper makes a number of detailed recommendations for the consideration of governments, stakeholders and Canadians after significant consultations with academics, professionals and industry experts.

About the Survey

The survey was completed online from June 4th to June 6th, 2012 using Leger Marketing’s online panel, LegerWeb, with a sample of 1501 Canadians.

A probability sample of the same size would yield a margin of error of ±2.5%, 19 times out of 20.

According to a statement, “the Canadian life and health insurance industry provides a wide range of financial security products, including life insurance, annuities (including RRSPs, RRIFs and pensions) and supplementary health insurance, to about 26 million Canadians and their dependents.  Established in 1894, the CLHIA is a voluntary association whose member companies account for 99 per cent of Canada’s life and health insurance business.”

By Mark Fortier, Contributor, US Daily Review

Mark Fortier: If you had to sum up Apple’s “secret sauce” that has driven its customer loyalty and retail leadership, what would it be?

Carmine Gallo:  The Apple Store’s “secret sauce” is written on the front of a wallet-sized credo card all employees are encouraged to follow: Enriching Lives. When you start with the vision of “enriching lives,” magical things to start to happen and you come up with innovations to outsmart your competition and provide a better customer experience.

MF: How can non-retail businesses benefit from the Apple secrets you reveal?

CG: Any business that involves people should study the Apple Store for lessons on how to make people (employees and customers) feel special. For example, the Apple five steps of service that employees are instructed to follow in every conversation apply to the retail store or any other customer-facing interaction. The Apple steps of service are spelled out in the acronym APPLE: Approach customers with a warm welcome, Probe politely to understand all the customer’s needs, Present a solution for the customer to take home today, Listen for and resolve any issues or concerns, End with a fond farewell and an invitation to return. Whether you run a small coffee shop or a national retail chain, the same techniques apply to creating a great customer experience.

MF: Is Apple’s retail strategy very different from what other retailers do? How?

CG: The Apple strategy is very different from what other businesses do. Remember in 2001 when Apple opened its first retail store, businesses were trying to find ways to talk to their customers less. Apple found ways to talk to their customers more. Few analysts gave Apple a chance because they didn’t believe a retailer could grow by focusing on the customer experience instead of the hard sell. In most retail settings, if an employee spends one hour with a customer and it doesn’t lead to a sale, the employee will be reprimanded. In the Apple Store, employees have no time limits. As long as the customer leaves with a smile on her face, that’s all that matters.

MF: If we walked into an Apple store tomorrow what signs, tricks and strategies should we look out for of their attempt to engage us as customers?

CG: Someone will greet you immediately upon entering the store. If the store is especially busy, more people will be positioned at the entrance. Research has shown that how people are greeted significantly impacts their perception of their entire experience. Apple Store employees are trained to reset your internal clock. For example, an employee might tell a customer that it will be about 10 minutes before a sales associate (specialist) can help them. About 5 minutes later, the employee will find the customer and say, “I just wanted to let you know that our specialist—her name is Linda—knows your next and will be with you in 5 minutes.” When the customer is asked how long they waited, the answer is typically “5 minutes or so” and not “10 minutes.” Watch for employees resetting your internal clock. Also pay attention to how they say goodbye. Apple Store employees are instructed to “end with a fond farewell” and an invitation to return.

MF: Are Apple’s strategies manipulative of the customer or do they respectfully put the customer in the driver’s seat?

CG: I would not use the word “manipulate” because it implies skillful persuasion in a way that might be unfair to the customer or client. In other words, a manipulative salesperson would want to sell you a product whether or not it was the right one for you or the salesperson might persuade you to buy unnecessary add-ons. In an Apple Store, employees are not pressured to sell products as much as they are encouraged to create a great experience, to answer questions, and to build a customer for life.

MF: What are Apple’s “5 Steps of Service” and how does this distinguish the experience that customers get from Apple retail employees?

CG: The Apple 5 steps of service are guidelines that all Apple Store employees are taught to follow in each and every customer interaction. These steps work are spelled out in the acronym APPLE and work for any company in any field. In fact, the steps are modified from The Ritz-Carlton steps of service created twenty years ago!

         Approach customers with a personalized, warm welcome.

         Probe politely to understand all the customer’s needs.

         Present a solution for the customer to take home today.

         Listen for and resolve any issues or concerns.

         End with a fond farewell and an invitation to return.

MF: Where did Apple get its retail approach from? Did they study other retailers or businesses?

CG: You bet they did. Steve Jobs asked the question, “Who offers the best customer experience?” The answer was The Ritz-Carlton. Apple executives studied The Ritz Carlton and Four Seasons, primarily. Twenty years ago The Ritz-Carlton created its 3 steps of service. Apple copied it nearly word for word. Today, many brands are copying Apple Retail: Microsoft, AT&T Retail, Tesla, Disney, J.C Penney, and others.

MF: What will a customer in an Apple store experience on the day of a new product launch like the new iPad?

CG: The experience starts before customers enter the store. Apple Store employees hand out bottled water, coffee, and energy bars to people standing in line (warm welcome). Specialists will talk to customers in line, answering questions and touting some of the features of the new iPad. When the doors open, employees will cheer and greet each customer by offering their name and a handshake. A brand cannot train employees to be this cheerful. That’s why the Apple Store hires as much for passion and personality as it does for technical expertise. In fact it’s even more important to be passionate and friendly than to know everything about Macs.

MF: How does Apple establish an emotional connection with both employees and customers?

CG: The Apple Store experience is all about enriching your life and building a loyal customer. When you enrich lives it means you empower your employees to do what is right for the customer without fear of reprimand from the boss. It means you create areas in the store where customers can touch and play with the products. It means you offer classes and personalized instruction to educate customers. It all starts from the vision to “enrich lives” of customers and employees.

MF: How does Apple define and achieve a profitable customer relationship?

CG: It’s called “the ultimate question.” When you purchase a product, Apple will send you a survey. The ultimate question is, “On a scale of 1 to 10, how likely are you to recommend Apple?” Apple wants to see 8, 9, or 10.

MF: You discuss the ‘internal clock’ of customers; is it possible to reset a customer’s expectations in terms of time, to improve their level of satisfaction?

CG: Focus group research has shown that if a person is greeted warmly upon entering a store, that person’s perception of how long they waited for service is significantly impacted. People are much more comfortable waiting after they have been greeted warmly and are more likely to recommend the service to others.

MF: How can retail stores and products be designed to better appeal to buyers and their “buying brains”? 

CG: Retailers must remove the clutter from their display areas, create simpler content and marketing materials, and build areas where people can see and touch the products without high pressure salespeople.

MF: In what ways could all companies learn from Apple’s approach to hiring and training its retail employees?

CG: Apple doesn’t care about how much you know as much as it wants to know how much you care about people. Hire for smiles. Hire for friendliness and passion and personality. You can teach the rest.

MF: In the age of the Internet, why does anyone want to show up at a store?

CG: You’re right. People don’t want to go to a store. A store must be more than a store. It must be a place where people are inspired, entertained, elevated, and made to feel special. That’s the Apple way.

Carmine Gallo has written several internationally bestselling and award-winning books, including The Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs and The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs. A former anchor and correspondent for CNN and CBS, Gallo is currently a communications coach for the world’s most admired brands, and a columnist for Forbes.com.   He has been featured on ABC’s 20/20, MSNBC and CNBC.

By Kevin Price, Publisher and Editor in Chief, US Daily Review.

July 11th is “World Population Day,” which means we should all be ready to be deluged with scary headlines.

John McCormick of the Chicago Tribune has an article with the following headlines:

U.S. POPULATION:300,000,000 (plus)

1 BIRTH EVERY 7 SECONDS

1 DEATH EVERY 13 SECONDS

1 IMMIGRANT ARRIVES EVERY 31 SECONDS

NET RESULT: THE NATION GROWS BY 1 EVERY 11 SECONDS”

That sounds a little scary and from all the science fiction movies we saw and books we read in school (one of my favorite was Soylent Green; which, in case you didn’t know “IS PEOPLE”) and from the philosophers we read in college (such as Thomas Robert Malthus who argued that large populations mean nothing but starvation and deprivation), our concerns seem most valid.

However, the topic deserves a second look.

The reality is, countries are not poor because of how many people they have. They are poor because of economic policies. One of my favorite examples is Singapore, which is the second most densely populated independent country in the world. In spite of the fact that Singapore has almost twice as many people per square mile as the much poorer Mexico, it is one of the most affluent countries in the world and has the highest standard of living in Asia, and is ranked 11th in the world. Instead of encouraging population control, it has education programs and tax incentives that encourages large families. It has virtually no natural resources of its own, but the people enjoy high incomes and unemployment of less than 3 percent. This is, of course, one of the lowest unemployment levels in the world (the US, which has around 10 percent of the population per square mile as Singapore, is at 5 percent). Singapore’s success didn’t happen by accident, but by policies that support economic freedom, wealth creation, and by avoiding taxation on wealth creation that weakens economic growth.

We learn from Singapore, one of the most “over populated” countries in the world, that large numbers of people don’t hurt economies. Government policies do. China and India’s economic renaissance is proving that every day as they change their policies and move towards free markets.

If “more people” is “bad”, why does virtually every city in the country encourage people to move to them and as towns lose numbers it is a sign of decline? The common sense behind the need for more people in cities works the same for countries, as long as the policies of the government work.

The US may not be getting over crowded, and there is plenty of room for more. As long as government policies are “good,” we won’t have to treat people as “bad.” That’s the American way.

Survey reveals 71 per cent of companies forego increased productivity and enhanced customer service by not exploring cloud computing

By TTi Global, Special for US Daily Review.

Social media has impacted every aspect of corporate employment. If you are looking for new employment or want to attract a recruiter for your next position here are some things you need to know about your on-line profile.

Diane Sutton, Recruiting manager, North American Operations for TTi Global, an international staffing and recruiting company, emphasizes the importance of social media. “Social media is by far one of the most important tools used by recruiters today. A well built profile is a ticket to landing high in search results for thousands of recruiters who routinely scour LinkedIn to find best-fit candidates.”

Learn the tools.  “It’s important to use the right social media platform and understand how to effectively present your ‘brand’,” says Sutton. From a recruiter perspective LinkedIn is the preferred resource with Twitter becoming increasingly important.  If you are unfamiliar with these tools, learn them.  It’s critical to make your profile search-friendly and attractive to key hiring decision makers.

Understand how employers view your profile.  “It’s surprising how many people have vague and incomplete profiles. They will be skipped right over.” Sutton explains, “If you want to be contacted, use key words and complete details of your entire career.  List your accomplishments and secure at least 3-4 recommendations. Incorporate your Twitter Feed and Link and include a link to your blog.  Include a professional photo in your LinkedIn profile with your phone number and email address in the summary section.”

Manage your on-line reputation. Sutton emphasizes, “Your on-line profile is your public reputation. Obviously you want a clean professional image and put forth your best. You should be always promoting for your next position. Think about joining groups that are professionally and geographically appropriate, update your status daily and work to build your career network. It may seem like a lot of work, but it pays out in the end.”

TTi Global is a world leader in providing outstanding resource personnel and instructional systems design, offering global full-service training resources and support services. Headquartered in Rochester Hills, MI, TTi Global supports a workforce of over 1500 and operations in eighteen countries.

By US Daily Review.

Award-winning numismatic author, dealer and consumer protection advocate Mike Fuljenz is urging coin collectors and investors nationwide to contact their Congressional representatives in support of the recently introduced Collectible Coin Protection Act (HR5977).

Fuljenz was among a half dozen of the country’s numismatic leaders who met in Washington, DC, on June 28, 2012 with Congressional leaders and staff members to discuss the importance of the proposed legislation to protect the public.

The bill was introduced on June 20, 2012 by co-sponsors Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), Chairman of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Fred Upton (D-Michigan), Chairman of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee.

“HR5977 will strengthen the 39-year old Hobby Protection Act, a law that helps combat counterfeits. We need to bring that law into the 21st century because of new issues that were not even contemplated decades ago, such as fake coins now being sold inside counterfeit holders fraudulently made to resemble the genuine, sonically sealed holders that reputable rare coin authentication companies use,” said Fuljenz, known as America’s Gold Expert.

“Counterfeit coins are costing unsuspecting buyers millions of dollars,” he said.

The Hobby Protection Act, first enacted in 1973 and amended in 1988, requires manufacturers and importers of imitation numismatic items to mark them plainly and permanently with the word, “COPY.” However, in recent years there have been numerous reports of replica coins entering the marketplace without that designation on them.

Fuljenz applauded the efforts of several organizations working on behalf of HR5977, including the Industry Council for Tangible Assets (ICTA), Numismatic Guaranty Corporation, Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and the Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG). Fuljenz is a member of the ICTA Board of Directors, a member of PNG and an Authorized Dealer for NGC and PCGS.

Former Louisiana Congressman Jimmy Hayes, who is assisting the numismatic groups in backing HR5977, outlined these significant ways the bill would improve the existing Hobby Protection Act:

• Expands the reach of the Hobby Protection Act beyond “distribution” and into “sales” and marketing;

• Expands the targets of litigation to include not previously covered areas such as any person “who provides substantial assistance or support to any manufacturer, importer, or seller” knowingly engaging in any act or practice that violates the Act;

• Assists in litigation efforts by expanding beyond the old venue language requiring an “agent present” to include any party “who transacts business, or where ever venue is proper under Section 1391 of Title 28 of the United States Code;

• Adds Trademark violation provisions to the Hobby Protection Act targeted at the counterfeiting of certification service packaging and capsules and adds remedies previously not included in the Hobby Protection Act incorporating sections of the Trademark Act of 1946 (USC Title 15, Sections 1116-1118) as violations of the Hobby Protection Act. This provision adds the legal authority to obtain injunctions, recover damages for violations that include profits, costs, attorney fees and treble damages for punishment and to provide for the destruction of any infringing articles.

“I urge every rare coin and bullion coin collector or investor to contact their Congressional representatives and ask them to co-sign and vote for the Collectible Coin Protection Act, HR5977. It will go a long way in combating counterfeits in the marketplace, and could save you money and heartbreak,” said Fuljenz.

By US Daily Review Staff.

The Pew Safe Checking in the Electronic Age Project released Still Risky: An Update on the Safety and Transparency of Checking Accounts today, a report that examines the many financial risks consumers face when they open a checking account.  This follow up to Pew’s 2010 report Hidden Risks finds that some fees have increased and that inconsistent disclosures and bank practices expose consumers to high unexpected costs for little benefit.

According to Moebs Services, an independent financial research firm, overdraft fees cost American consumers an estimated $29.5 billion in 2011.

“Consumers are expected to wade through long, confusing documents and may be subject to steep, unexpected fees to access their own checking accounts, the cornerstone of household financial management,” said project director, Susan Weinstock. “Consumers must have understandable, transparent information that enables them to make educated choices when comparing one checking account’s costs and benefits to another.”

There has been little improvement since Pew did its survey of banks in 2010. Still Risky finds the 12 largest banks and the 12 largest credit unions, by deposit volume, still need to improve. The key issues that follow have the potential of affecting the nine out of 10 adult Americans who have checking accounts.

Findings:

• Important policies and fee information are not summarized in a uniform, concise, and easy-to-understand format that allows customers to compare account terms and conditions. Currently, the median length of bank checking account disclosures is 69 pages.
• Accountholders are not provided with clear and comprehensive information about overdraft options offered and their costs (median bank fee of $35).
• Certain overdraft fees have increased.
• All 12 banks either already reorder withdrawals from high to low or reserve the right to do so at their discretion and without notice to the customer. This practice maximizes the number of times an account goes negative, thus increasing overdraft fees (as seen in the illustration of Gutierrez vs. Wells Fargo Bank in Transaction Infraction).
• Financial institutions restrict consumers’ options for recourse in the event of a dispute.

Pew’s Safe Checking Project recommends that regulatory changes be made by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) or Congress to protect consumers from these unfair practices.

Checking accounts are an important part of America’s financial system. They allow for deposit of earnings, the ability to pay bills by check and online, and an opportunity to build a relationship with a financial institution that can open the door to more sophisticated financial products and services.

By US Daily Review Staff.

U.S. News & World Report announced today the launch of a blogging network featuring advice from leading thinkers in diet and fitness. A considerable expansion of U.S. News’s Health and Wellness offerings, “Eat+Run” will provide readers with concrete tips to separate fads from facts and bolster good health.

“In a world increasingly flooded with information, and misinformation, the need for clear and trustworthy insight has never been more important,” says Kimberly Castro, Managing Editor of U.S. News’s Money and Health sections. “We take seriously our historic mission to provide readers with ‘News You Can Use,’ and Eat+Run delivers on our commitment to service journalism and helping our readers thrive.”

With its roster of luminaries in diet and fitness, Eat+Run is poised to inspire readers with pithy and practical guidance and reflects U.S. News’s increasingly robust health coverage. The company recently added Best Diets to its portfolio of rankings, which includes, for example, Best Hospitals and Best Colleges.

Among those who will be blogging for Eat+Run are physicians, academics, registered dietitians, fitness experts, celebrity trainers, and an organic farmer.

For updates and more information, follow Eat+Run on Twitter at @eatandrunUSN and visit the new network at www.health.usnews.com.

According to a statement, U.S. News & World Report is a multi-platform, digital publisher of news and analysis, which includes the digital-only U.S. News Weekly magazine, www.usnews.com, and www.rankingsandreviews.com. Focusing on Health, Money, Education, Travel, Cars, and Public Service/Opinion, U.S. News has earned a reputation as the leading provider of service news and information that improves the quality of life of its readers. U.S. News & World Report‘s signature franchise includes its News You Can Use® brand of journalism and its “Best“ series of consumer guides that include rankings of colleges, graduate schools, hospitals, mutual funds, health plans, and more.