guarantee rubble: January 2013

Thursday, January 10, 2013

US rate on 30-year mortgage rises to 3.40 pct.

In this Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, photo, a "for sale" sign is seen outside a home in Glenview, Ill. Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages rose this week but remained close to record lows. Cheap mortgages have made home buying more affordable and have helped drive a housing recovery. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

In this Thursday, Jan. 3, 2012 photo, a home for sale in Mount Lebanon, Pa., Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013. Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages rose this week but remained close to record lows. Cheap mortgages have made home buying more affordable and have helped drive a housing recovery. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages rose this week but remained close to record lows. Cheap mortgages have made home buying more affordable and helped drive a housing recovery.

Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average rate on the 30-year loan increased to 3.40 percent from 3.34 percent last week. That's still near the 3.31 percent rate reached in November, the lowest on records dating to 1971.

The average on the 15-year fixed mortgage increased to 2.66 percent from 2.64 percent last week. The record low is 2.63 percent.

Mortgage rates tend to track the yield on the 10-year Treasury note. The yield on the note has risen this year from 1.70 percent to 1.89 percent Thursday.

A deal between Congress and the White House to avoid sharp tax increases and a mildly positive employment report for December led investors last week to buy stocks and sell Treasurys. As demand for Treasurys declines, the yield increases.

Even with the increase, mortgage rates are hovering near historic lows. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 3.66 percent in 2012, the lowest annual average in 65 years, according to Freddie Mac.

Cheaper mortgages are a key reason the housing market began to come back last year. Many economists predict the housing recovery will strengthen in 2013.

Home prices are steadily increasing, which makes consumers feel wealthier and more likely to spend.

Another reason for the housing rebound is that there aren't enough houses for sale. A limited supply has created demand for new construction, which has made builders more confident.

Lower mortgage rates also have persuaded more people to refinance. That typically leads to lower monthly mortgage payments and more spending. Consumer spending drives nearly 70 percent of economic activity.

Still, the housing market has a long way to a full recovery. And many people are unable to take advantage of the low rates, either because they can't qualify for stricter lending rules or they lack the money to meet larger down payment requirements.

To calculate average mortgage rates, Freddie Mac surveys lenders across the country on Monday through Wednesday of each week. The average doesn't include extra fees, known as points, which most borrowers must pay to get the lowest rates. One point equals 1 percent of the loan amount.

The average fee for 30-year loans was unchanged at 0.7 point. The fee for 15-year loans ticked up to 0.7 from 0.6 point.

The average rate on a one-year adjustable-rate mortgage rose to 2.60 percent from 2.57 percent. The fee for one-year adjustable-rate loans edged up to 0.5 from 0.4 point.

The average rate on a five-year adjustable-rate mortgage declined to 2.67 percent from 2.71 percent last week. The fee was steady at 0.6 point.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-01-10-US-Mortgage-Rates/id-5181c3d72ce74098a83ca3b938a9dacf

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Not Fade Away | Movie Reviews | Kelly Vance | East Bay Express

First, before we step into the time machine for Not Fade Away, let's summon the image of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, that pair of randy zombies, cavorting on stage as they approach the age of seventy, chugging once more through "Tumbling Dice" in Newark, New Jersey four weeks ago, accompanied by Bruce Springsteen. Now hold on to that image, and try to imagine a day when The Rolling Stones were brand new, and the future "Boss" was a kid plinking on a guitar in his bedroom in Freehold Borough, down the Jersey Shore.

Douglas Damiano (played by John Magaro), the main character of David Chase's euphoric/melancholic rock 'n' roll dream Not Fade Away, might as well have been modeled on Springsteen, although that fascination with the rock musicians of the Sixties was shared by many other kids, in real life as well as in movies.

Like countless thousands, Jersey boy Doug gets his head bent out of shape by the Stones, Dylan, James Brown, Van Morrison, Bo Diddley, the Kinks, et al, and tells himself, "Shit, we can do that, too." Galvanized by Top 40 radio and vinyl records, he and his suburban buddies Gene (Jack Huston, grandson of filmmaker John Huston), Joe (Brahm Vaccarella), and Wells (Will Brill) start a basement cover band and learn the patterns. The story moves from station to station. As Doug progresses into his "Positively 4th Street" period, he bonds with Grace (Bella Heathcote), the neighborhood teenage beauty. All this ? the hair, the music, the bell-bottom jeans, this strange fondness for Antonioni movies ? is a mysterious raincloud to Doug's Italian-American family, especially his working-stiff dad, Pat (James Gandolfini). But Doug's younger sister Evelyn (Meg Guzulescu) can't avoid catching the wave.

In Chase's impossibly sweet screenplay, Doug's life assumes the hazy contours of a cherished memory. Despite rivalries and a broken heart or two, no one is ever in physical danger. There are no armed robberies, knife fights, or prison sentences, just all-American middle-class growing pains taking place under a bombardment of pop culture. Doug takes a day job on a landscaping crew but has high hopes for film school. And yet, with some of the familiar touches writer-producer-director Chase used in his monumental cable series The Sopranos, Doug's wrestling match with the zeitgeist is tinged with a sadness that won't fade away.

The drug troubles of Grace's sophisticated-but-unhappy sister Joy (Irish actress Dominique McElligott) offer a tantalizing glimpse into the dark bohemian groove. Egos ebb and flow. Down to the smallest part, the characters are every bit as well chosen as in The Sopranos. Magaro, McElligott, Huston, and Heathcote have faces built for billboards. When they get that faraway look in their eyes it can only mean one thing: California. Simplest chord changes in the world, the unstoppable D-hiccup-A-G-A-D, "Sweet Jane." It means the parents get left behind watching South Pacific on the tube while life moves on, in this case to LA.

Fine, fine music is the glue that unifies the characters' quicksilver dreams. Chase orchestrates the needle drops with emotional precision, like Michael Mann, Martin Scorsese, and Spike Lee before him. Special kudos to Sopranos and Springsteen alum Steven Van Zandt for the musical production. We've seen versions of Doug's story arc in Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, in the Adrien Brody scenes from Summer of Sam, and most recently in Matthew Lillard's unfairly overlooked Fat Kid Rules the World (which somehow hasn't yet made it to big screens in the East Bay). Remember Detroit Rock City? Same impulse, with added tears.

The brilliant coda, with little Evelyn ? narrator of the movie ? turning up the volume and dancing in the windy California street, crystallizes Chase's redemptive, nostalgic vision, the epitome of a big-budget personal essay with killer oldies and a kaleidoscopic cast. The Lord Byrons? Why not? Boomers? Bigger than that. Not Fade Away is about the imperishable idea of youth and the promise of endless wide-open possibility. Time will always be on its side.

Source: http://www.eastbayexpress.com/ebx/not-fade-away/Content?oid=3431613

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Alliance for Wireless Power shows off its spec's spatial freedom

The Alliance for Wireless Power's (A4WP) board approved its spec on January 2, 2013 -- the spec itself was approved back in October -- and we're already seeing them showing off some of the capabilities we'll benefit form as consumers. One of the key differences in the A4WP spec is being touted as spatial freedom which will see greater flexibility in how the wireless power is integrated into devices and even surfaces. Multiple devices can be charged at once even if they each have different power requirements and the devices don't even need to physically touch the surface -- so feel free to stack your tablets and phones one on top of each other. We're all for convenient charging as long as our furniture still looks pretty and isn't at risk of catching on fire. PR is after the break if you're inspired to give it a read.

Continue reading Alliance for Wireless Power shows off its spec's spatial freedom

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/dWjS3a91g-k/

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Secrets In The Snow - Movie Review | Sonoma Christian Home

Movie SCH Rating
Movie Family Friendly

Adult Content: ?Low
Graphic Language: ?Low
Nudity: ?None
Strong Sexual Content: ?None
Violence: ?None

Six teenagers and one teacher are stranded overnight in their high school while a blizzard rages outside. The generators go out and the lights and heat go down, while tempers go up and wills are tested, and deep secrets are brought to the surface. ?Forced to hang out with people not of your choosing (some whom you don?t even like!) can make things extremely uncomfortable, especially if your guard is let down and the mask you wear tumbles off to reveal what is beneath: grief, insecurity, body image struggles, identity crisis, hidden disease, family bankruptcy, and all the other junk that life serves up. ?But as the doors are locked, they are forced to rely on each other to survive the night, and these teens (and one administrator) discover that ?getting along? may be the biggest obstacle of all.

Ashley Murray and Hollie Shay in Secrets In The Snow; courtesy of Every New Day Pictures

These are the Secrets in the Snow, a film reminiscent of the old Breakfast Club, a rich character study that allows viewers to get to know these people and maybe recognize themselves. ?For don?t we all experience peer pressure?? Struggle with ?who we are?? (Or who we want to be?)? Look for answers without revealing private problems? Or deal with the myriad of other high school (and life) problems?? Maybe this will help us develop a better understanding and more empathy for others (and ourselves?), as we all find blankets to huddle together and stay warm.

There are fun elements, too, of course, because what would you do if you had the entire school to yourself?? Explore the places you?ve never been?? An impromptu talent show? ?A basketball version of ?Truth or Dare??? A cafeteria raid?? (How many chips can one guy eat?)

Elizabeth Potthast, Ashley Murray, Katie McCaffrey, and Vincent Seidle; courtesy of Every New Day Pictures

First time feature director Brittany Goodwin has really challenged herself with this film, and she appears more than ready for the challenge.? Directing ensemble is not the easiest ? from keeping all the actors in character and consistent, to keeping the camera moving around without stumbling over itself, Goodwin does a stellar job and is backed up by a strong cast and creative Director of Photography (Tripp Green).

The action is kept moving by utilizing various locations to mix it up, and allow characters a chance to be alone and get to know each other (and us know them, too). ?There are some sweet camera angles and nice transitions from Director of Photography Tripp Green.? Especially impressive is the recurring transitional technique of using large objects in the foreground while the action takes place behind it, effectively done with the basketball, and another time with the lamp being shut off.? And I?m still wondering if there was a message in the way the six characters were divided when the principal stood with his back to the camera (or was it just a nice balance)?? Ensemble shooting is especially challenging for the camera, and Green makes good use of rack focusing to direct our attention as needed.

Katie McCaffrey, Hollie Shay, and Elizabeth Potthast; courtesy of Every New Day Pictures

Secrets in the Snow has a strong cast, although most with only a handful of other productions on their resumes, and further evidence to the ability of director Goodwin.? The veteran of the group is Karen Boles, and she brings great believability as the novice high school administrator who has been stuck ?babysitting? the teens:

Vincent R. Seidle is the basketball star that has it all (or does he?)? A cold knock at the door brings one of his secrets to the forefront, but I like how he downplays his first revealed secret, through his acting, yes, but also through the way his character Grayson handles the situation, and hopefully showing others with similar issues an honorable way of dealing with it.

Karen Boles and Elizabeth Potthast in Secrets In The Snow; courtesy of Every New Day Pictures

Aaron Michael Johnson is Brant Journigan, the ?good kid? from a large family who appreciates what he has and what he needs.? Johnson does an excellent job of softly preaching while not sounding ?preachy? ? something missing from many faith-based films and greatly appreciated in this film.

Katie McCaffrey is Camille Sanders, the girl no longer the person everyone remembers, changed by growing up and starting high school.? She really brings her self-image struggles to the camera in a way that many others will be able to relate.? Great job!? (And boy, can she sing! ?Her ?Deck the Halls? is impressive.? Someone needs to sign her up!)

Hollie Shay is MaryJake Harper the poor little rich girl, popular with the class, but none too popular with her new overnighters.? Shay treads the fine line of being a witch while keeping our empathy, and she does a first-rate job of this.

Elizabeth Potthast is the girl struggling with self-image.? Her story is one heard again and again in our society, and hopefully, how others really see her, will be heard by those viewers with the same struggles.? Potthast is perfectly cast in this role of a beautiful woman inside and out, who only needs to realize it.

Ashley Murray and Michael Johnson in Secrets In The Snow; courtesy of Every New Day Pictures

Ashley Murray plays Anthony Goodwin, the new kid in town who wants to get to know everyone else?s secrets while keeping his own hidden.? Murray does a crackerjack job of revealing his secret slowly and persuasively.

All the characters are well acted, and I really get the feeling that I know these people (and yes, there are people I know who are like them.)

Now for a negative: the biggest downfall of the film is the big outside snow scene ? it is obvious this is not blizzard-depth snow.? Maybe some CG on the rooftops would have helped? ?Or editing the scene out?? Or placing the scene in the gym ? although I get the idea of needing to take the film outside and playing in the snow.? On the flipside, the other snow scenes were handled very well, so this one came as a surprise.

Secrets in the Snow is a totally enjoyable film.? There is a lot to learn, and it?s easy to see yourself and others in these 90 minutes of snowstorm. ?I liked not having everything wrapped up pretty and sweet, but still coming away with solid solutions, and, perhaps, a new way of looking at life?s problems and how to deal with them.?? The subtle Gospel message was refreshing. ?More faith-based films would benefit by mirroring how Secrets in the Snow presented the Word of God and its life-changing message.? Nice use, too, of the Christmas Eve service as the perfect denouement.

Secrets in the Snow is a great film for all ages, especially senior and junior high youth groups (it will ring true for many in this demographic), but even elementary school age children will enjoy this movie. ?The accompanying Discussion Guide is a great plus, and perfect for that youth group or Sunday School viewing.? So snuggle up with Secrets in the Snow and get snowed-in at Eastbrook High.

Entire cast of Secrets In The Snow; courtesy of Every New Day Pictures

The Christian Worldview:

As with many ensemble pieces, there are several worldviews presented (as well there should be), but the Christian worldview is shown as a viable (and the strongest) perspective on how to deal with life and its struggles.? And as such, Secrets in the Snow reflects a strong Christian, moral worldview.? There is no violence, no coarse language, and other than some snarky language and attitudes, Secrets in the Snow is perfect for all ages.? The very young may lose interest, but I watched it with a nine-year-old (who liked it), and a teenager (who also recommends it).

Aaron Michael Johnson and Catherine Allen in Secrets In The Snow; courtesy of Every New Day Pictures

Biblical Discussion:

?When disaster strikes you ? better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away??
Proverbs 27: 10

Secrets in the Snow tells the stories of how faith can help in the midst of life?s problems.? And if we confide in others, we?ll find there are not many differences in each of us, and that everyone battles some sort of problem.? We need each other.? We can help each other.? This is one reason that the church is so important and that gathering together is one key at the heart of Christianity.? God provides us with other people to help us with our struggles, and in turn, we are there to help them.

Jesus says in Matthew 19 (verse 19) to ?love your neighbor as yourself.?? When Jesus was asked in Luke 10: 29 ?Who is my neighbor?? He replied with the parable of the Good Samaritan. (Read Luke 10: 25 ? 37)? Who is your neighbor?? Are our neighbors identical to us?? Though different, how are we all similar?? How can we help each other?

The Apostle Paul says to the Romans (Chapter 13, verses 9 and 10) ?Whatever other commandments there may be, are summed up in this one rule: ?Love your neighbor as yourself.?? Love does no harm to its neighbor.? Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.? How do we best exemplify love to others?

As the Church on earth, what does God expect of us?? In his letter to the Colossians, Paul writes: ?Therefore, as God?s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.? Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.? Forgive as the Lord forgave you.? And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.? It all seems pretty clear.? Amen.

To learn more about the author of this film visit Dale Ward

For more details about Secrets in the Snow visit?Christian Film Database

Source: http://sonomachristianhome.com/2013/01/secrets-in-the-snow-movie-review/

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Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Flu season has Boston declaring health emergency

Four-year-old Gabriella Diaz sits as registered nurse Charlene Luxcin, right, administers a flu shot at the Whittier Street Health Center in Boston, Mass., Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013. Boston declared a public health emergency Wednesday as the city tried to deal with a harsh flu season and the state reported 18 flu-related deaths so far. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

A vial of flu vaccine at the Whittier Street Health Center in Boston, Mass., Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013. Boston declared a public health emergency Wednesday as the city tried to deal with a harsh flu season and the state reported 18 flu-related deaths so far. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Registered nurse Charlene Luxcin administers a flu shot to a patient at the Whittier Street Health Center in Boston, Mass., Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013. Boston declared a public health emergency Wednesday as the city tried to deal with a harsh flu season and the state reported 18 flu-related deaths so far. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Vials of flu vaccine are displayed at the Whittier Street Health Center in Boston, Mass., Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013. Boston declared a public health emergency Wednesday as the city tried to deal with a harsh flu season and the state reported 18 flu-related deaths so far. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

BOSTON (AP) ? Boston declared a public health emergency Wednesday as flu season struck in earnest and the state reported 18 flu-related deaths so far.

The city is working with health care centers to offer free flu vaccines and hopes to set up places where people can get vaccinated. The city said there have been four flu-related deaths, all elderly residents, since the unofficial start of the flu season Oct. 1.

"The best thing you can do to protect yourself and your family is to get the flu shot," said Boston Mayor Thomas Menino.

The city was experiencing its worst flu season since at least 2009, Menino said, with about 700 confirmed cases of the flu, compared with 70 all of last season.

Massachusetts was one of 29 states reporting high levels of "influenza-like illness," according to the most recent weekly flu advisory issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC said the proportion of people visiting health care providers with flu-like symptoms climbed from 2.8 percent to 5.6 percent in four weeks. By contrast, the rate peaked at only 2.2 percent during the relatively mild 2011-12 flu season.

The estimated rate of flu-related hospitalizations in the U.S. was 8.1 per 100,000 people, which is high for this time of year, according to Dr. Joe Bresee, chief of the epidemiology and prevention branch of the CDC's influenza division.

Barbara Ferrer, director of the Boston public health commission, said the emergency was declared in part to get residents' attention. She said that the 700 confirmed cases represent only those reported to the city and that thousands of other people may be ill.

Boston hospitals had counted about 1,500 emergency room visits since December by people with flu-like symptoms. Menino said people with symptoms shouldn't go to work or school.

LaKeisha Davis, 23, was at the Whittier Street Health Center on Wednesday for treatment of unrelated pain when she heard about the flu emergency being declared in Boston.

She took a flu vaccine on the spot, fearing that if she got the flu her 4-year-old daughter might catch it as well.

"I love her more than anything in the world and I don't want anything to happen to her," Davis said.

Frederica Williams, president of the community health center in the inner-city Roxbury neighborhood, said her facility had opened a special flu clinic and was using social media and sending letters to residents urging them to come in and get flu shots. Williams estimated that the number of patients coming to the clinic with flu-like symptoms was triple that of a year ago.

Hospitals around the state were also taking precautions to protect patients and staff members from exposure to the flu.

Baystate Health, which operates Baystate Medical Center in Springfield and two other hospitals in western Massachusetts, announced it was changing its visitor policy. The hospitals will no longer allow visitors younger than 14 and are recommending no more than two people visit a patient at once.

"This is the worst in several years," said Dr. Sarah Haessler, an infectious disease specialist at Baystate. She said the flu outbreak has strained the hospital's resources and helped to fill its beds to capacity.

City, state and federal officials have all identified a Type A influenza known as H3N2 as the predominant strain reported so far this season. The strain, historically associated with more serious illnesses, is among those covered by the current vaccine.

"No vaccine is 100 percent effective," cautioned Kevin Cranston, head of the state bureau of infectious diseases. Some people, for example, might be vaccinated but get the flu in the 10 days to two weeks it takes for the immunity to take hold.

"There are any number of reasons why people could have done all the right things and still get the flu," he said.

High flu rates were being reported all over Massachusetts, Cranston said, and while he didn't have specifics on the 18 statewide deaths, he noted that the flu is most dangerous for the young, the elderly and people with other chronic health conditions.

"I hate needles, and I got (a shot)," Gov. Deval Patrick said Wednesday, adding that he wasn't aware of any shortages of vaccine in the state. He also reminded residents to use common sense, such as washing their hands and sneezing into their sleeves.

The CDC said 18 children have died from the flu so far this season. While the CDC doesn't keep a tab of deaths overall from the flu, it estimates that 24,000 Americans die each year.

___

Associated Press writer Rodrique Ngowi in Boston contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/bbd825583c8542898e6fa7d440b9febc/Article_2013-01-09-Massachusetts%20Flu/id-64f278eb7b23426e85ebd23c865e4997

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Tuesday, January 8, 2013

US banks try to clean up remaining mortgage mess

People pass a Bank of America brach, in New York, Monday, Jan. 7, 2013. Bank of America will pay $10.3 billion to the government mortgage agency Fannie Mae to settle claims resulting from mortgage-backed investments that soured during the housing crash. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

In this Dec. 13, 2012 photo, a customer stops at a Bank of America ATM office in Boston. Bank of America Corp. says it will spend more than $10 billion to settle mortgage claims resulting from the housing meltdown. Under the deal announced Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, the bank will pay $3.6 billion to Fannie Mae and buy back $6.75 billion in loans that the North Carolina-based bank and its Countrywide banking unit sold to the government agency from Jan. 1, 2000 through Dec. 31, 2008. That includes about 30,000 loans. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? U.S. banks have taken another step to clear away the wreckage of the 2008 financial crisis by agreeing to pay $8.5 billion to settle charges that they wrongfully foreclosed on millions of homeowners.

The deal announced Monday could compensate hundreds of thousands of Americans whose homes were seized because of abuses such as "robo-signing," when banks automatically signed off on foreclosures without properly reviewing documents. The agreement will also help eliminate huge potential liabilities for the banks.

But consumer advocates complained that regulators settled for too low a price by letting banks avoid full responsibility for foreclosures that victimized families and fueled an exodus from neighborhoods across the country.

The settlement ends an independent review of loan files required under a 2011 action by regulators. Bruce Marks, CEO of the advocacy group Neighborhood Assistance Corp. of America, noted that ending the review will cut short investigations into the banks' practices.

"The question of who's to blame ? the homeowners or the lenders ? if you stop this investigation now, that will always be an open-ended question," Marks said.

The banks, which include JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo, will pay about $3.3 billion to homeowners to end the review of foreclosures.

The rest of the money ? $5.2 billion ? will be used to reduce mortgage bills and forgive outstanding principal on home sales that generated less than borrowers owed on their mortgages.

A total of 3.8 million people are eligible for payments under the deal announced by the Office of Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Reserve. Those payments could range from a few hundred dollars to up to $125,000.

Homeowners who were wrongly denied a loan modification will be entitled to relatively small payments. By contrast, people whose homes were unfairly seized and sold would be eligible for the biggest payments.

Banks and consumer advocates had complained that the loan-by-loan reviews required under the 2011 order were time-consuming and costly and didn't reach many homeowners. Banks were paying large sums to consultants to review the files. Some questioned the independence of those consultants, who often ruled against homeowners.

The deal "represents a significant change in direction" that ensures "consumers are the ones who will benefit, and that they will benefit more quickly and in a more direct manner," Thomas Curry, the comptroller of the currency, said in a statement.

But Charles Wanless, a homeowner in the Florida Panhandle, is among those who question that promise. Wanless, who is fighting foreclosure proceedings with Bank of America, says he doubts the money will benefit many who lost homes.

"Let's say they already foreclosed on me and I lost my home," said Wanless, who runs a pool cleaning business in Crestview, Fla. "What's $1,000 going to do to help me? If they took my house away wrongfully, is that going to get me my house back? I might be able to find one if I'm one of the lucky ones who gets $125,000."

Diane Thompson, a lawyer with the National Consumer Law Center, complained that the deal won't actually compensate homeowners for the actual harm they suffered.

The deal "caps (banks') liability at a total number that's less than they thought they were going to pay going in," she said.

Thompson supports the decision to make direct payments to victimized homeowners. But she said the deal will work only if it includes strong oversight and transparency provisions.

The companies involved in the settlement announced Monday also include Citigroup, MetLife Bank, PNC Financial Services, Sovereign, SunTrust, U.S. Bank and Aurora. The 2011 action also included GMAC Mortgage, HSBC Finance Corp. and EMC Mortgage Corp.

Regulators announced the deal on the same day that Bank of America agreed to pay $11.6 billion to government-backed mortgage financier Fannie Mae to settle claims related to mortgages that soured during the housing crash.

The agreements come as U.S. banks are showing renewed signs of financial health, extending their recovery from the 2008 crisis that nearly toppled many of them. They are lending more and earning greater profits than at any time since the Great Recession began in December 2007.

Monday's foreclosure settlement doesn't close the book on the housing crisis, which caused more than 4 million foreclosures. It covers only consumers who were in foreclosure in 2009 and 2010. Some banks didn't agree to the settlement. And resolving millions of claims involving multiple banks and mortgage companies is complicated and time-consuming.

"It's going to take a few more years to get it sorted out," said Bert Ely, an independent banking consultant.

Michael Allen of Petersburg, Va., hopes to benefit from the settlement. He lost his home last month after 2? years of trying to modify his mortgage. He had fallen behind on his payments after the plant he was working closed.

"I was working with the banks to re-modify (my loan), and I'd get to the final stages and I'd have to start over again. They didn't give me any reason. I'd call them, they'd transfer me from one person to the next. ... They just kept giving me the runaround."

Citigroup said in a statement that it was "pleased to have the matter resolved" and thinks the agreement "will provide benefits for homeowners." Citi expects to record a charge of $305 million in the fourth quarter of 2012 to cover its cash payment under the settlement. The bank expects that existing reserves will cover its $500 million share of the non-cash foreclosure aid.

Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan said the agreements were "a significant step" in resolving the bank's remaining legacy mortgage issues while streamlining the company and reducing future expenses.

Amy Bonitatibus, spokeswoman for JPMorgan Chase, said the bank had "worked very hard" on the foreclosure review and was "pleased to have it now behind us."

U.S. Bancorp, which owns U.S. Bank, said its part of the settlement includes an $80 million payment to homeowners. That payment will reduce its fourth-quarter earnings by 3 cents per share. It has also committed $128 million in mortgage aid.

Leaders of a House oversight panel have asked regulators for a briefing on the proposed settlement. Regulators had refused to brief Congress before announcing the deal publicly.

Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, the top Democrat on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, said the settlement "may allow banks to skirt what they owe and sweep past abuses under the rug without determining the full harm borrowers have suffered."

He complained that regulators failed to answer key questions about how the settlement was reached, who will get the money and what will happen to others who were harmed by these banks but were not included in the settlement.

The settlement is separate from a $25 billion settlement among 49 state attorneys general, federal regulators and five banks: Ally, formerly known as GMAC; Bank of America; Citigroup; JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo.

___

Associated Press writers Steve Rothwell in New York, Mike Schneider in Orlando, Fla., and Marcy Gordon in Washington contributed to this report.

___

Daniel Wagner can be reached at www.twitter.com/wagnerreports .

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-01-07-Banks-Mortgage%20Settlement/id-d8ddb122935e4cd2928b2a855b474dbd

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Uganda Government Rejects Petition to Recall Parliament (Voice Of America)

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Nvidia Unveils "Project Shield" Gaming Portable with Steam Big ...

Nvidia has taken the wraps off ?Project Shield?, a handheld gaming device powered by its new Tegra 4 processor capable of powering 4K video and streaming PC games.

Shield features a?5-inch,?1,280 x 720 multitouch display.?It will be the first Tegra 4 device and offer 38 watt hours of batteries for up to 24 hours of high definition video. Nvidia touted a console-grade controller on the device.?The Shield is designed to be as small as possible, so it?s roughly the size of standalone controllers.

controller nvidia projectshield 520x291 Nvidia unveils Tegra 4 powered Project Shield gaming portable with Google Play and Steam Big Picture

It?s a pure Android device with no skin on top of it, but pressing a ?shield? button drops it into a game environment.?It doesn?t have any proprietary interfaces, with HDMI, micro-USB, microSD slot, 3.5mm audio jack.

Nvidia CEO Jen-sun Huang also called the device a set-top box, as he demonstrated the multimedia capabilities. He showed off what he believes is the first 4K video coming off a mobile device.?He also demonstrated multiplayer functionality between devices.

Project Shield will also be able to stream games from PCs with GeForce GTX GPUs, though the on-stage demo had some trouble showing off the feature. The feature uses the GeForce GPU to stream the game to the handheld, and it is also integrated with Steam Big Picture.

Shield is slated for a?Q2 release, according to Nvidia. It?s based on Android Jelly Bean and current development units are Wi-Fi only.

Nvidia announced the Tegra 4 processor just minutes before unveiling the Shield handheld. The Tegra 4?has 72 GPU cores and 4 A15 CPU cores. The company is billing it as the ?world?s fastest mobile processor.?

The company also accidentally teased another upcoming project. During the keynote, Huang slipped up and mentioned a ?Project Thor?. He provided no indication of what the project entails, but our interest has been piqued.

Click here?for more of our CES 2013 coverage.

Header image credit: Ben Wood,?h/t?Anandtech?for the live feed

Source: http://thenextweb.com/gadgets/2013/01/07/nvidia-jumps-into-gaming-devices-with-tegra-4-powered-project-shield-handheld/

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Depardieu meets Putin, gets Russian passport

Mikhail Klimentyev / RIA Novosti via Reuters

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, greets French actor Gerard Depardieu during their meeting in Sochi on Saturday.

By Reuters

French film star Gerard Depardieu met Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Black Sea town of Sochi and obtained his Russian passport, the Kremlin said on Sunday, after he left his homeland to avoid a new tax rate for millionaires.?

Putin signed a decree on Thursday granting Russian citizenship to Depardieu, who objected to French Socialist president Francois Hollande's plan to impose the 75 percent tax rate. His decision to quit France had prompted accusations of national betrayal.?

The Russian president and Depardieu were shown on state-run Channel One shaking hands and hugging each other early on Sunday during what the Kremlin said was a private visit by the actor to Russia.?

"A brief meeting between the president and Depardieu took place," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "On the occasion of his visit to Russia, he was handed a Russian passport."?

Peskov did not say whether Putin personally gave Depardieu the passport or if he picked it up through standard procedures. He said the actor also told Putin about his career plans.?

Depardieu, star of the movies "Cyrano de Bergerac" and "Green Card", is a popular figure in Russia, where he has appeared in many advertising campaigns, including for ketchup. He also worked there in 2011 on a film about the eccentric Russian monk Grigory Rasputin.?

Putin asked Depardieu whether he was pleased with his work in the movie, TV footage of their meeting showed, with the French actor saying he had already sent Putin some excerpts from it.?

Depardieu bought a house in Belgium last year to avoid the French income tax increase. French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault called Depardieu's decision to seek Belgian residency "pathetic" and unpatriotic, prompting an angry response from the actor.?

Putin said last month that Depardieu would be welcome in Russia, which has a flat income tax rate of 13 percent, compared to the 75 percent on income over 1 million euros ($1.30 million) that Hollande wants to levy in France.?

He offered Depardieu a Russian passport, saying he had a close, special relationship with France and had developed warm ties with the actor, even though they had rarely met.?

Source: http://todayentertainment.today.com/_news/2013/01/06/16383204-french-actor-depardieu-meets-putin-picks-up-russian-passport?lite

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Monday Mingle Business Edition #1 | The Party Plan Coach - Direct ...

Hey Divas! Welcome to the first week of Monday Mingle Business Edition 2013, our weekly Blog Hop where we get to talk all about our businesses and get to know each other and our readers a little bit better. If you are new and not sure how Monday Mingle Business Edition works, check out my video explaining it all right here.

Also, check out the original Monday Mingle hosted by Jen at www.EightyMPHMom.com and feel free to join in there as well!

How did you get started with your Party Plan Business?? Did you go to a party, sign up an an Expo or maybe online?? And were there any lessons to share from that process?

Enjoy!

~Lynsey

Source: http://thepartyplancoach.com/monday-mingle-business-edition-1/

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Monday, January 7, 2013

Surrey Public Library Events for Families This Month ? Vancouver ...

Browsing the City of Surrey event listings I found my way to the Surrey Public Library?s website and began to look around. Easily 20 minutes had passed and I hadn?t even made it through all of the event categories listed on the sidebar. From games nights to crafts and cookies, Surrey Public Libraries offer a wide variety of free activities for all ages. Here are just a few that caught my eye for this month:

Family Games Nights

A staple of any get-together in my family has always been board games, card games, drawing games, acting games ? well, you get the picture. Although they bring out a competitive streak and elevate the volume of the entire household, they are great for a challenge, for bonding in teams, and for simply having some good clean fun. It?s also a great literacy activity which is why Surrey Libraries are hosting Family Games Nights this month. Games will vary from location to location but you can drop into one of the following events:

City Centre Library on Friday, January 25th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm, Cloverdale Library on Tuesday, January 22nd from 5:00pm to 6:00pm, Guildford Library on Friday, January 25th from 3:00pm to 4:00pm, Newton Library on Saturday, January 26th from 2:00pm to 4:00pm, Port Kells Library on Wednesday, January 23rd from 6:00pm to 7:00pm, Strawberry Hill Library on Saturday, January 19th from 10:00am to 12:00pm.

Play at the mall on Saturday, January 26th from 1:00pm to 3:00pm at Guildford Town Centre.

Registration is required for Ocean Park Library call 604-502-6449) on Monday, January 21st from 3:00pm to 5:00pm and at Fleetwood Library (call 604-598-7347) on Thursday, January 24th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.

Storytimes

Daddy Storytime for men with children, Pyjama Storytime for comfy reading, and general storytime hours for nine branches are all listed online. Listings include family storytime (all ages), baby storytime (birth to 12 months, 13-30 months), and ages 3-5.

Terrific Tuesdays

On top of Wonderful Wednesdays, Fab Fridays, and Saturday Specials there?s Terrific Tuesdays at Cloverdale Library. Crafts, games, activities, and snacks for those ages 6 to 12 years old. Every Tuesday will have a new drop-in theme starting with 3D Snowflakes on January 8th, Cereal Box Weaving on January 15th, Crazy Science Fun on January 22nd, Window Painting on January 29th, and more through February.

Family Lego Club

Who doesn?t love Lego? It was a staple of our household growing up and it still tops my nephews? Christmas lists. Family Lego Club is a monthly drop-in program after school and before dinner time. For 2013 you can stop by City Centre Library on Fridays (January 18 and onward) from 3:15pm to 4:15pm, Guildford Library on Wednesdays (January 16 and onward) from 3:00pm to 4:00pm, and Port Kells Library on Thursdays (January 23 and onward) from 3:15pm to 4:15pm.

What I love about these events is that they get you out of the house so you can be creative as a family or give youth a bit of independence. Best of all, they?re all free. Follow Surrey Libraries on Twitter and Facebook for more information about these programs and more throughout the year and check out their Book Blog.

Source: http://www.miss604.com/2013/01/surrey-public-library-events-for-families-this-month.html

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WORLDS ?ND

the world has fallen to a plague. the dead come back to life and try to infect the living. there is only one way to survive. fight and search for a safe haven.

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German bank regulator to probe pay awards at German banks: paper

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - German regulator BaFin will scrutinise pay policies at two dozen top banks because of doubts over whether lenders are correctly implementing stricter bonus rules, Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung said.

Systemically relevant banks and staff who have been identified as "high level risk takers" including at Deutsche Bank are of particular interest, the paper said, citing a BaFin source.

Around 23 banks with a balance sheet size greater than 10 billion euros, and complex or international operations are expected to be the main focus for regulators, the paper said.

"It is important to inspect how banks are implementing the new rules for remuneration," Raimund Roeseler, Chief Executive of Banking Supervision at BaFin, told the paper.

Bank regulators are expected to conduct special probes of lenders' policies by sending in independent auditors to go over the books as full-year earnings reports are finalised, the paper said.

In previous years Deutsche Bank awarded a special "division incentive" for management board members with responsibility for the corporate and investment bank.

Germany changed bonus rules in October 2010, demanding that pay was appropriate, transparent, and aligned to ensure sustainability.

Systemically important banks need to identify key personnel whose activities are particularly risky, or whose department or contribution is particularly important for the institution.

In September, Deutsche Bank co-Chief Executive Anshu Jain, previously the head of investment banking, warned that the payout ratio - the proportion of net revenues set aside for banker pay - would come down.

By the third quarter, Deutsche Bank's variable compensation as a percentage of net revenues had come down to 11 percent.

Separately, Deutsche Bank is set to cut variable pay for investment banking staff by between 15 and 20 percent, German weekly Der Spiegel said, citing sources close to the bank.

Deutsche Bank declined to comment on the Der Spiegel report on Sunday.

Deutsche Bank has already reformed the way it awards pay. For investment bankers, bonuses are determined on the basis of the bank's overall earnings performance.

The bank uses its pretax return on equity and the actual return on equity level over a two-year period as a benchmark for determining pay.

At least 60 percent of total variable compensation is granted on a deferred basis, and no more than 20 percent is paid out in cash immediately.

Deutsche Bank has also forced senior managers to wait five years, rather than three, to receive bonus share awards as a way to encourage longer term sustainable performance.

(Reporting By Edward Taylor; Editing by Helen Massy-Beresford)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/german-bank-regulator-probe-pay-awards-german-banks-123028375--sector.html

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Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Silver & Gold Investors: Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter? [& Merry ...

Endless Bankster paper, week after week, month after month, it?s enough to make the best of us throw in the towel. The fact is however, it?s all an illusion. An elaborate magic trick designed to separate the truth from reality. The Bankster?s monopoly money does NOT trump all, and as I point out, the demand for even Canadian Silver Maple Leaf coins has gone absolutely exponential since 2008. So, we can either feel sorry for ourselves when the criminal cartel spanks the paper markets, or we can stay the course and stack more PHYSICAL knowing that in the long view ? holders of PHYSICAL precious metals CAN?T lose. Jeff Nielson of Bullion Bulls Canada joins me to discuss. Jeff?s website: www.bullionbullscanada.com My websites SGTreport.com theLibertyMill.com Music: ?Willow and the Light? by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons ?Attribution 3.0? creativecommons.org creativecommons.org The content in my videos and on the SGTbull07 channel are provided for informational purposes only. Use the information found in my videos as a starting point for conducting your own research and conduct your own due diligence (DD) BEFORE making any significant investing decisions. SGTbull07 assumes all information to be truthful and reliable; however, I cannot and do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of this information. Thank you.

See the article here?-?

Silver & Gold Investors: Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter? [& Merry Christmas!]

Source: http://www.bizways.net/2013/01/silver-gold-investors-abandon-hope-all-ye-who-enter-merry-christmas/

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