Current Events in October 2010

Facebook plans to unveil an interesting new feature in the next coming weeks: disposable passwords.

Picture it: you're jonesing for a Facebook fix, but can only log in to a public computer.You're skittish about entering your personal information into a computer that countless hands have touched.

What do you do? Risk exposing your username and password to the next person who sits at the computer or wait until you get home to see if your ex accepted your Friend Request?

Soon, you won't have to do either.

On October 12, 2010, Facebook integrity team member Jake Brill blogged that when the security feature is available, all you'll have to do is text "otp" to 32665 from a cell phone number associated with your profile and a temporary password will be texted back to you - a password that can be used only once and expires after 20 minutes.

For now, the feature will only be available to those with U.S. cell phone numbers.

Brill goes on to say that along with temporary passwords, Facebook will soon give users the ability to log out of their profiles remotely.

"These session controls can be useful if you log into Facebook from a friend's phone or computer and then forget to sign out," Brill said.

Users can check to see if they're still logged in by going to their Account Settings and if they are, they'll be able to log out there.

This feature can be useful in the case of someone accessing your account without your permission - you'll be able to shut them out and change your password.

In the last year, Facebook has suffered some damage in the PR department with some privacy-related gaffs; one of the most recent being in late 2009 when they changed the default setting for scores of user information to "public."

As a result, users' names, photos, and friend lists all became available for everyone to see, even if the user had previously specified that only her friends could view it.

Perhaps these new login functions are proof that Facebook acknowledges most people are concerned with keeping their information private when it's online.

The unemployment rate for the past 15 months has averaged above 9.5%, which makes the current economic recovery, according to John Lott of Fox News, the worst "recovery" since the Great Depression.

Lott notes that the latest unemployment rate in September of 9.6 percent is bad enough, with a loss of almost 400,000 jobs since May. But if you taken into account those who have given up looking for work and those forced to take part-time jobs because they can't find full-time work, the unemployment rate is really 17.1 percent.

Here's something else to consider. The government surveys people over just a few days during the middle of the month to get its figure. The Gallup organization does its own unemployment survey each month where they interview 30,000 people over the entire month. They found a huge increase in the number of unemployed during the last half of September, right after the Department of Labor's survey was conducted and that unemployment has actually risen to over 10 percent.

Interestingly, when Barrack Obama began his presidency, unemployment was 7.6 percent. And today, despite those stimulus efforts to create jobs, the job market is in worse shape. What's going on? If more jobs are supposed to be available, why are more people out of work?

Could it be that companies are simply taking their time to fill those openings, or in some cases, not filling them at all?

A survey has found that employers are indeed being choosier in who they hire, are taking longer to make decisions, or are merely not trying as hard to fill the openings they have. The reasons, according to the giant staffing firm, Manpower Inc. include lack of confidence about the economy, an attempt to increase productivity among workers they already have, and a feeling that they have plenty of time to pick the best candidates.

It's not unusual for some organizations to spend a year looking for the right person to fill a mid to upper level management position. Why then do they keep job postings open? Some hiring managers are afraid that if they take the job opening down they'll lose a position that they one day may want to fill.

Meanwhile job applicants remain frustrated when they apply for these positions and then never hear back. Or they spend time going on interviews only to learn the position has been frozen or filled from within. If you're looking for a job and see an ad, don't automatically assume there's actually a position open, even though you may be right for it.

Economists estimate that if openings were turning into jobs at the pace they usually do, the unemployment rate would be about three percentage points lower.

Recent survey

A recent study by three economists - Steven Davis of the University of Chicago,  R. Jason Faberman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia and John Haltiwanger of the University of Maryland - using Labor Department data, created what they call an estimate of "recruiting intensity."

This takes into account factors that influence how fast employers fill open jobs, such as advertising, pay and the rigor of their screening process. As of August, the recruiting intensity index stood 14% below the average for the seven years leading up to the recession. The economists estimate that the lack of intensity accounts for about a quarter of the shortfall in hires compared with openings.

Aspen Dental has reached a $175,000 consumer settlement with Pennsylvania. The company had been accused of using confusing or misleading information about discounts, coupons, free denture consultations, interest-free financing, free initial exams and other advertisements and promotions.

The New York-based company has 32 franchisees in Pennsylvania, including locations in Allentown, Altoona, Erie, Harrisburg, Johnstown, Lancaster, Pittsburgh, Reading, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and York.

Attorney General Tom Corbett said his office received more than 50 complaints from consumers regarding Aspen Dental business practices.

"Consumers went to Aspen Dental because they believed they could obtain low-cost solutions to their dental problems, only to be faced with confusing limitations and restrictions on coupons and other promotions, or undisclosed details about financing," Corbett said.

According to the terms of the settlement, Aspen Dental will pay $125,000 in restitution to consumers who have had valid claims involving products or services that were purchased on or before May 28, 2009.

Corbett said the AVC also requires Aspen Dental to provide all consumers with a copy of their treatment and financing plan, including an itemized list of all services and fees, disclosure of any cancellation fees, terms of any guarantees or warranties, the total amount due, estimated monthly payments and annual interest rate.  Aspen Dental must also place clear and conspicuous statements in all future advertisements and promotions, explaining any limitation or special qualifications. 

Additionally, the settlement requires Aspen Dental to pay $50,039 in costs, which will be used to support future consumer protection activities by the Attorney General's Office. 

Consumers who have already filed complaints with the Attorney General's Office concerning Aspen Dental are not required to take any additional action.

Consumers who have not yet contacted the Attorney General's Health Care Section about complaints involving Aspen Dental should file formal complaints before November 12^th, 2010.

Complaints can be filed by calling the Attorney General's Health Care Hotline at 1-877-888-4877 or online at www.attorneygeneral.gov(Click on the "Complaints" button on the front page of the website and select the "Health Care Complaint Form" from the list that appears).

The State of Massachusetts has reached settlements with five more auto insurance companies over allegations that they overcharged tens of thousands of Massachusetts residents for motorcycle insurance.

As a result, riders will get $12.1 million back from their insurance providers. State Attorney General Martha Coakley launched the investigation alleging that Arbella Mutual Insurance Company, Hanover Insurance Group, OneBeacon Insurance (aka Massachusetts Homeland), National Grange Mutual (NGM), and Norfolk & Dedham Group (N&D) used inflated and un-depreciated motorcycle values to calculate premiums for Massachusetts motorcycle riders, resulting in more than $12 million in overcharges.

Coakley reached similar settlements with seven other insurance companies earlier this year. In total, the 12 insurance companies that have settled with the Attorney General's Office are paying back more than $33.8 million to Massachusetts residents and over $1.5 million to the state. 

One consumer started it all

"We began our industry-wide investigation into motorcycle insurance based on a single consumer complaint.  To date, that investigation has forced 12 insurance companies to return more than $33 million to Massachusetts motorcycle owners," Coakley said. "As this investigation demonstrates, and as the insurance companies in this state know, when consumers bring complaints to our office, we listen and we take action."

The settlements stem from allegations that these insurance companies were illegally using inflated motorcycle values to calculate premiums and failing to depreciate motorcycle values as policies renewed.  

For example, the couple from Lynnfield that filed a complaint with Coakley owned a 1999 Harley Davidson Road King Classic.  In each year between 2003 and 2008, the investigation showed that Safety Insurance Company had charged the couple premiums as if their 1999 Road King Classic were worth $20,000.    However, by 2008, the couple's motorcycle was nine-years-old and worth less than $12,000. 

As a result, Safety overcharged the couple by more than $1,500.  As a result of this industry-wide investigation, the Attorney General's Office has identified over 100,000 policies that are eligible for refunds under the settlements reached to date.  Average refunds under the settlements are around $320.  

Kansas Attorney General Steve Six today announced two sex-solicitation arrests of men who allegedly answered ads placed on Backpage.com by law enforcement officers posing as young women and used the arrests to again demand that Backpage.com remove all of its adult services ads.

"Last month, agents in my office placed ads on Backpage.com similar to those typically placed by human traffickers and others offering sex with underage girls," Six said.  "In less than 72 hours the posting led to an alleged solicitation of sex and an arrest made by our agents and Kansas City Kansas police.  Then last week, the same ad led to an additional arrest.

Federal law, which generally takes precedence over state laws, protects operators of interactive Web sites from liability for postings by their users but that has not stopped Six and 20 other state attorneys general from threatening and intimidating Backpage.com and, earlier, Craigslist.org, which removed its adult services ads in September.

As part of Operation Child Shield, agents from the Attorney General's office posted ads on Backpage.com.  An ad posted last month led to the arrest of Spencer Lee Hoff, a 27-year-old man from Liberty, Mo.  It is alleged Hoff travelled to a location in western Wyandotte County to meet with what he thought was a 14-year-old girl.  The arrest was made within 72 hours of the ad going up on the website. 

As a result of contact initiated by the same advertisement, agents last weekend arrested 31-year-old Steven Van Loenen of Merriam, Kans., for Electronic Solicitation.  As with the case involving Hoff, during the course of online conversations, it is alleged Van Loenen solicited sex from a 14-year-old girl, who was actually an undercover agent.  On October 8, Van Loenen arrived at a location in western Wyandotte County and was arrested. 

 "Ads soliciting sex, including prostitution and including likely human trafficking cases involving children, appear to be rampant on Backpage.com," said Six.  "I was shocked at the ease which our agents were able to apprehend the suspects in each of these cases.  If agents from the Attorney General's office are solicited this quickly, imagine how easy it is for pimps and traffickers to solicit sex.

 "On behalf of the 20 Attorneys General who I joined in a letter to Backpage.com, I once again call on the site to take down its Adult Services section and immediately implement stringent review standards to put a stop to these ads," continued Six.  "

In a recent posting on its blog, Backpage.com said it has hired a security expert to beef up its operations.

"The safety and security of our community is a top priority for Backpage.com. Backpage.com has just retained Internet safety expert Hemanshu Nigam of SSP Blue to partner with us in implementing a holistic plan centered around preventing criminal activity on our site," the company said.

Nigam said his company would "take a thoughtful look at the site's infrastructure to determine where necessary and impactful changes can be made to provide a safer site."

As expected, the Federal Communications Commission has launched an investigation into wireless carriers' billing practices, a move sparked in large part by Verizon's admission that it tacked small, unwanted charges onto some consumers' bills.

Previously the agency said it was looking into the way Verizon billed its customers. The FCC didn't specifically name the other companies under investigation, but its generally assumed all the providers are coming under scrutiny.

Verizon disclosed last week that some 15 million customers received more than $50 million in charges for data services that weren't part of their contract. Verizon said the false billing occurred because of a software glitch. It's promised to refund up to $90 million in bogus charges.

"While I appreciate that Verizon Wireless has acknowledged its billing errors, the refunds to millions of Americans have been a long time coming," FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn said last week.

 "It appears the company was first notified, more than two years ago, about certain billing errors. As I pointed out in December of last year, the company's initial response to public reports of the phantom fees was that it does not charge consumers for accidental launching of the web browser," he said.

Belated action?

 Advocacy groups have been pushing the FCC to look into "bill shock" issues for some time.Complaints to ConsumerAffairs.com about wireless billing practices have been piling up for years.

Tonisha, of Los Angeles, experienced bill shock recently.

 "Being a customer nine years with Verizon Wireless I had grandfathered my way into having call detail free," she said in a complaint to ConsumerAffairs.com. "I changed my number on that line and they started charging me $1.99 a month. That was the straw that broke the camel's back. I called them to pay my bill to discover that it was $790.00."

 Jay, of Sioux City, Iowa, was among those complaining about being charged for Verizon services he didn't want.

 "I called about data usage on two phones I do not use web on but was pretty much told too bad, you push the wrong button you pay for the usage," he told ConsumerAffairs.com. " I did not use the web just pushed a wrong button and got charged for it. They didn't even credit it but why would they when its millions of dollars a month."

 FCC ChairmanJulius Genachowski is expected to unveil a new proposed rule that would require wireless companies to provide a warning to their customers when they are about to exceed voice, text and data limits that would significantly increase their bills.

American consumers are seeing some real improvements this month, according to the Consumer Reports Index for October, with economic difficulties continuing to decline, an improved retail picture and modest gains in employment.

 The CR Trouble Tracker Index has declined for four straight months and now stands at 50.5 -- down nearly three points from the prior month and well below its recent high of 63.5 in June.

 Positive developments were led by a decline in consumers unable to afford medical care or medications, to 12.7 percent from 13.6 percent in September; and a drop in the proportion of Americans who missed a payment on a major bill. On the downside, in the past 30 days, 3.0 percent reported they have missed a payment on their mortgage, compared with 2.4 percent in September.

 Consumer Reports Past 30-Day Retail Index for October is 9.9, on par with the prior month (9.8), but down from a year ago (10.4). There was a slight increase in consumer purchasing for personal electronics (23.2 percent, up 1.8 percentage points), and small appliances (18.5 percent, up 1.9 percentage points).

 Consumer Reports Next 30-Day Retail Index stands at 7.4, down from the prior month (7.6), capping three months of decline since July (8.5).Small appliances posted a slight gain in October (11.5) from the prior month (10.6).

 Jobs outlook

The Consumer Reports Employment Index is up slightly this month to 49.5 from 49.1 in September. Overall labor force activity is modest, with fewer people claiming to have started a new job in the past 30 days (5.7 percent), than those that lost their job (6.7 percent).

 Job losses (6.7 percent) were largely unchanged from the prior month (6.9 percent), while job gains were up slightly (5.7 percent) from September (5.0 percent).The employment index remains in negative territory, with job losses outpacing gains.

 Confidence low, stress up

 The Consumer Reports Consumer Sentiment Index is currently at 44.8. Sentiment has doggedly refused to enter positive territory (over 50) since it was first measured by the Consumer Reports Index on October 5, 2008 and stood at 45.3. The CR Stress Index is up in October to 63.2 from 60.1 the prior month, and is at its highest level since April 2010 when it hit 63.8.

 "Americans appear to be experiencing less financial woes, but the key factor continuing to depress consumers is weak employment growth," said Ed Farrell, a director of the Consumer Reports National Research Center."The lack of real improvement on the jobs front will dampen any meaningful improvement in economic activity."

 The Consumer Reports Index report, comprises five key indices: the Sentiment Index, the Trouble Tracker Index, the Stress Index, the Retail Index, and the Employment Index. Here are the key findings:

 Consumer Reports Sentiment Index

 The Consumer Reports Sentiment Index has changed little since October 2009, and now stands at 44.8, virtually unchanged from September (44.1).The most optimistic consumers are between the ages of 18-34 and those with household incomes of $100,000 or more. The most pessimistic are between the ages of 35-64 and 65 or older and those with household incomes under $50,000.

 The Index captures respondents' attitudes regarding their financial situation, asking them if they are feeling better or worse off than a year ago. When the index is greater than 50, more consumers are feeling positive about their situation. When it is below 50, more consumers are feeling worse. The Sentiment Index can vary from a high of 100 to a low of 0.

 Consumer Reports Trouble Tracker Index

The Consumer Reports Trouble Tracker Index showed further improvement this month, pointing to fewer troubles for consumers, dropping to 50.5 in October from 53.7 in September, and is down substantially from one year ago (65.5).

Positive developments were led by a decline in consumers unable to afford medical care or medications, to 12.7 percent from 13.6 percent in September; and a drop in the proportion of people who missed a payment on a major bill.

On the downside, in the past 30 days, 3.0 percent reported that they have missed a payment on their mortgage, versus 2.4 percent in September. The leading problems faced by consumers include:

-- Unable to afford medical bills or medications (12.7 percent)

-- Missed payment on a major bill - not mortgage (8.7 percent)

-- Credit card increased rates/fees, reduced credit line (7.6 percent)

Lower-income households, earning less than $50,000 a year, have been disproportionately affected. In the past 30 days:

-- Unable to afford medical bills or medications (20.6 percent)

-- Missed payment on a major bill - not mortgage (14.4 percent)

--Credit card increased rates/fees, reduced credit line (10.1 percent)

The Consumer Reports Trouble Tracker focuses on both the proportion of consumers that have faced difficulties as well as the number of negative events they have encountered. The negative events include: the inability to pay medical bills or afford medication, missed mortgage payments, home foreclosure, interest-rate increase, penalty fees, reduced lines of credit or other changes in credit-card terms, job loss or layoffs, reduced healthcare coverage, or the denial of personal loans.

The Tracker Index is then calculated as the proportion of consumers that have experienced at least one of the negative events comprising the index multiplied by the average number of events encountered.

Consumer Reports Retail Index

The Consumer Reports Past 30-Day Retail Index for October, reflective of September activity, is 9.9 -- on par with the prior month but down from a year ago.

Looking at the category purchases over the past 30 days, there were slight increases logged for personal electronics and small appliances. Among the non-index categories for past 30-day purchases, new cars were up slightly from the prior month, but used cars were down from the month before. Home purchases were off slightly from the September pace.

The Next 30-Day Retail Index, reflective of planned purchases for October, is at 7.4, posting three months of decline from July's recent high of 8.5, and also is down from a year ago.

Within the only small appliances posted a slight gain from the prior month.Among non-index categories, new and used cars are holding steady relative to the prior month. Planned purchasing for homes in the next 30 days, reflecting planned October activity, is up from September, and is at its strongest level of the past nine months.

The Consumer Reports Retail Index looks at consumer purchases in the past 30 days as well as the outlook for planned purchases in the next 30-days across several categories. It represents the proportion of respondents that made a purchase in the following categories: major home appliances, small home appliances, major home electronics, personal electronics, and major yard and garden equipment.

The Retail Index is a weighted calculation. For example, a major appliance is of greater value than a small appliance. Because of their size and frequency, car and home purchases are tracked separately.

Consumer Reports Stress Index

The CR Stress Index is up to 63.2 in October from 60.1 the prior month. Stress has increased steadily over the past two months, and now stands at its highest level since April 2010.

 The Reports Stress Index captures attitudes regarding the amount of stress consumers feel compared to a year ago. It asks whether they are feeling more stressed or less stressed. When it is more than 50, consumers are feeling more stress and when it is below 50 they are feeling less stress compared with a year ago. The index can vary from 100 (Total Stress) to a low of 0 (No Stress).

Consumer Reports Employment Index

 The magazine's Employment Index is up slightly in October (49.5) from the prior month (49.1).

 Overall labor force activity is sluggish, with fewer people claiming to have started a new job in the past 30 days -- 5.7 percent -- than the 6.7 percent that lost their job. Job gains were up slightly from the prior month.

 Job losses in the past 30 days were largely unchanged from September. Workers earning less than $50,000 have been hit the hardest.

The Consumer Reports Employment Index examines the change in employment of those that reported starting a new job versus those that have lost their jobs in the past 30 days. An index below 50 indicates more jobs were lost than gained, while a score more than 50 indicates more jobs were gained than lost in the past 30-

The long-rumored, long-awaited Verizon Wireless iPhone may finally be about to happen.

The wireless network is making technical changes that could be in preparation for an iPhone that would run on its network. Currently, AT&T is the exclusive network for the iPhone.

The Wall Street Journal has reported that Verizon is making changes to its network so that smartphone users would be able to talk on their phones while accessing the Internet. Currently, it's a capability that AT&T possesses and has promoted heavily, pointing out that Verizon lacks that capability.

 Verizon executive Brian Higgins confirmed to the Journal that the changes are in the works, but said it's not something that has been in demand from Verizon's current subscribers - fueling speculation that the sole reason for doing it is to make Verizon more acceptable to Apple and current iPhone users.

AT&T's network has been the source of many complaints among iPhone users, who cite limited coverage and dropped calls, especially in major cities like New York and Los Angeles.

After months of below the surface rumblings, there are now more persistence reports that Verizon might offer an iPhone early next year.

 Network differences

While Verizon is making some accommodation in its network, chances are a Verizon iPhone would be different in some respects from an AT&T iPhone because of differences in the two carriers.

AT&T's standard is called Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). Verizon's is called Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA). Some experts think it's inferior to UMTS in some respects and isn't used much outside the U.S. The principal difference, however, is the inability to access both voice and data at the same time, something Verizon is now addressing.

It was just last month that Verizon itself was downplaying the whole notion of a Verizon iPhone. Verizon Communications CEO Ivan Seidenberg, speaking at a Goldman Sachs conference, said little about the iPhone, expect that he hoped Apple would eventually make one for Verizon's 4G network, which will begin to deploy by the end of the year.

But with Verizon customers snapping up smartphones from Motorola and HTC, both of which run Google's Android software, Seidenberg didn't seem to feel the need for an iPhone to keep subscribers happy.

"We don't feel like we have an iPhone deficit. We would love to carry it when we get there, but we have to earn it," Seidenberg said.

Maybe Verizon's current subscribers don't have their heart set on Apple's trendy device, but there may be a competitive reason to jump through a few hoops to break AT&T's monopoly on the iPhone. A September survey by Credit Suisse suggested 23 percent of AT&T customers would become Verizon subscribers if Verizon had an iPhone.

The SEC contends that Barbra Alexander, the former president of APS Funding, used her status as host of an internationally-syndicated radio show for entrepreneurs called MoneyDots to lure investors who thought their money would be used to fund short-term loans secured by real estate.

Misdirected funds

Alexander along with the Monterey, Calif.-based firm's secretary/chief financial officer Beth Pina and vice president Michael E. Swanson instead stole investor money to pay themselves $1.2 million and finance MoneyDots and other unrelated businesses unbeknownst to investors, the SEC alleges. Alexander is accused of using $200,000 of investor funds to remodel her kitchen.

"Alexander led investors to believe she would invest their money in secured real estate financing, but she and her cohorts merely used the money for their own benefit," said Marc J. Fagel, director of the SEC's San Francisco regional office.

No investments

According to the SEC's complaint, Alexander, Pina and Swanson raised nearly $7 million from 50 investors for two investment funds managed by APS Funding. They claimed the funds would make short-term secured loans to homeowners and yield 12 percent annual returns to investors.

Contrary to what investors were told, $1.2 million of their money instead went directly to Alexander, Pina, and Swanson for personal use, and $1.3 million in investor funds was used to finance other businesses owned by Alexander and APS Funding, including MoneyDots.

The SEC further maintains that the trio advanced the scheme by sending monthly account statements to investors reflecting fictitious profits and -- in classic Ponzi scheme fashion -- paying out purported returns that actually came from new investors.

The SEC's complaint charges Alexander, Pina, Swanson, and APS Funding with violating the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws, and also charges Alexander, Swanson, and APS Funding with the unregistered sale of securities. The action seeks injunctive relief, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, and monetary penalties.

In a related criminal proceeding, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California filed criminal actions against Alexander, Pina, and Swanson based on the same alleged misconduct.

Ahh... the poor potato.

In addition to being kind of ugly, the dirt-dwelling tuber found itself on many a "forbidden foods" list since the 1990s when low-carb diets became all the rage.

Atkins, The Zone, and the South Beach Diet all tout that cutting carbs completely will help aid weight loss. That all you need to do to get skinny (and stay skinny) is eat protein and fats.

And despite the dwindling popularity of low-carb diets today, some high-carb foods can't shake their bad reputations. Many people still believe that eating foods high in carbohydrates, like potatoes, will make them gain weight.

Not so, claims research just released by the University of California, Davis and the National Center for Food Safety and Technology, Illinois Institute of Technology.

The findings of this study, which demonstrates that dieters can include potatoes in their eating plan and still shed unwanted pounds, were presented at the Obesity Society's 28th Annual Scientific Meeting held on October 8, 2010.  

The study sought to gain a better understanding of the role of potatoes and the glycemic index in weight loss, largely because some have questioned the inclusion of potatoes in a weight loss regimen due to the vegetable's designation as a high glycemic index (HGI) food.

Potatoes, like many other HGI foods, can cause blood sugar to spike after being consumed. This can make you feel hungry quickly after you've eaten. Which, obviously, is a dieting disaster.

But the results of this study can give any weight-conscious potato lover a reason to celebrate.

Researchers studied 86 overweight men and women over the course of 12 weeks to measure the effects of a reduced-calorie, modified glycemic index diet with the addition of potatoes. 

The subjects were randomly assigned to three groups and each had a diet that included five to seven servings of potatoes per week.  The results indicated that all three groups lost weight.

One group was given a list of foods with a low glycemic index (LGI) to include in their daily diet.  The second group was given a list of foods with a HGI to include in their daily diet. 

Both groups were to reduce their daily caloric intake by 500 calories while also consuming five to seven servings of potatoes each week. 

All participants were guided and monitored for compliance by a dietitian to only eat foods on their lists or like foods along with the provided potatoes.

Participants in the third group - called the "control group" - were allowed to choose their daily meals and caloric intake on their own, but were encouraged to adhere to the U.S. dietary guidelines and the food guide pyramid. The only requirement of the third group was - like the other two groups - they had to include five to seven servings of potatoes each week.

All subjects were provided recipes and counseled accordingly for successful dietary adherence. 

The results indicated that all three groups lost weight and there was no significant difference in weight lost between the low and high glycemic index groups.  

If this is surprising news to you, consider this: when you strip a potato down to its natural state, it's quite healthy.One medium-size (5.3 ounce) skin-on potato contains just 110 calories per serving, boasts more potassium than a banana (620g), provides almost half the daily value of vitamin C (45 percent), and contains no fat, sodium or cholesterol.  

But before you get too excited, read that sentence again. Medium sized. Skin-on. Per serving.

A medium (or perhaps "small" judging by the boulder-sized potatoes seen in today's grocery stores), naked potato is downright good for us. The heaping spoonfuls of butter, sour cream, and bacon bits we cram inside of it? Not so much.

"The results of this study confirm what health professionals and nutrition experts have said for years; when it comes to weight loss, it is not about eliminating a certain food or food groups, rather, it is reducing calories that count," said lead researcher Dr. Britt Burton-Freeman, PhD, MS. "There is no evidence that potatoes, when prepared in a healthful manner, contribute to weight gain.  In fact, we are seeing that they can be part of a weight loss program."

So, really, this is just more evidence proving it's not what we eat, but how much of it that effects our weight. That there's no "magic food" we can add or subtract from our meal plans to help us slim down.

Hmm... maybe this isn't such great news after all.

Now that Fall is in full swing, many consumers have started their holiday shopping. With the various stores and websites we buy from as we work our way through everyone's wish lists, it's easy to become a target for scammers.

ShopSmart magazine has introduced a new feature in their November 2010 issue where they expose the newest scams that can torment consumers.

Lisa Lee Freeman, editor-in-chief of the magazinesaid,"At ShopSmart, our main job is to help consumers shop with confidence by providing information they need to get the best deals, but just as important as knowing how to sniff out great buys is understanding what it takes to avoid rip-offs. So ShopSmart put together a guide about the latest, sneakiest scams, and simple tips that can help consumers protect themselves."

ShopSmart's "Shopping Scams" feature highlights the newest scams and how to avoid them, the top sites to visit to help you stay safe online, and how to keep from getting taken advantage of by virtual pickpockets.

Some of the scams featured are "smishing," "teeny, tiny charges" and "counterfeit electronics."

"SMISHING"

"Smishing" is the newest twist on "phishing" - when you get an email from a supposedly trustworthy source like your bank or PayPal, claiming there's a problem with your account. The scammers hope you'll click the link in the scam email and enter in all your account information that they in turn use to steal your money.

Instead of an email, the "smishers" send you an SMS text message to your phone. The text says there's something wrong with your account and they provide a phone number they hope you'll call and then be duped into providing all your information.

How can you prevent getting "smished"? Do your research. Before even thinking about calling the number, Google it. If it's a legitimate number, it should match the information on the financial institution's official website. If it's a scam, you'll probably uncover websites full of other people who also got "smished" and want to talk about it.

An even better way to protect yourself is to simply call the financial institution and ask them if there is a problem with your account. A customer service rep can tell you everything you need to know. Plus, by letting them know you got "smished", they can in turn alert their customers of the scam.

Teeny tiny charges

When scammer gets a hold of your bank or credit card information, they may start off by robbing you a little at a time. Charges as small at 20 cents may show up on your statement along with an unfamiliar, yet corporate sounding company name and a bogus phone number.

Stop scammers in their tracks by staying on top of your monthly statements. If you check your accounts online, get into the habit of checking them several times a week, or even once a day.

If you think there's a fraudulent change on your card, no matter how small, call your bank or credit card company immediately to dispute it.

And do it fast - while you have as much as 60 days to report unauthorized charges on your credit card, you only have a couple days to report fraudulent changes on your debit card. Otherwise, you could be liable for the first $500 in fraudulent changes.

Counterfeit electronics

That brand new, in-the-box Nintendo Wii being sold on eBay for a Buy It Now price of $75 may seem like the perfect gift to put under the tree. Mostly because you're getting such a bargain, as the gaming system runs about $200 brand new. But if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Counterfeit electronics may seem like old news, but they're still being sold, ripping off and disappointing consumers everywhere.

All kinds of electronics have been illegally copied, including computers, phones, and handheld gaming devices.

Popular auction sites like eBay try to crack down on sellers hawking counterfeit goods, but there's only so much they can do. And there's only so much they can do if you get ripped off.

The safest plan is to spend the extra money and purchase electronics from well-known, reputable dealers that offer full refunds.

And check the box. Look for a label statingthat the product has been certified byCSA International or UnderwritersLaboratory.

Look at the product, too. Are there misspellings on the package? If the box is see-through, does it contain all of the listed components, including batteries, cases, and power cords? Is the manufacturer's contact information, including address and phone number, clearly displayed? If not, it's probably counterfeit.

But what if your desire to save money trumps your desire to own authentic electronics? In the long run, using counterfeit electronics can do more harm than good. Many of them could have substandard wiring, faulty fuses, flammable plastic casings, and could contain harmful chemicals such as lead and mercury.

With as busy as we get during the holiday season, it's easy to forget the simple steps it takes to keep our bank accounts safe. But the extra time it takes to do a little research pays off greatly in the end and makes for a happy, stress-free, scam-free December.

Most people are curious about who might be curious about them. So when they log onto their Facebook account and see a new tool that will reveal who has accessed their profile, it might be tempting to click on it.

Big mistake.

Graham Cluley, security expert for Sophos software, says scammers are once again using Facebook as a lure for new victims.

"Right now we're seeing messages spreading across Facebook claiming to have found a way to allow you to sneakily tell who has been looking at your profile," Cluley writes in his blog. "And it's no shock to see that many people are intrigued as to who might be checking them out online."

However, Cluley points out that this is not new legitimate functionality that Facebook has built into its social network. Instead, if you click on the link you are taken to a third-party website which, to the untrained eye, may at first glance appear to still be on the real Facebook site, but is in fact designed to trick you into sharing their link further.

A typical message reads:

See who viewed your profile original version 2.0:
now you can see who viewed your facebook profile
<LINK>

"As we've seen in the past in connection with other scams, the page encourages you to 'like' it and 'share' it numerous times before it will hand over the ability to see who has viewed your Facebook profile," Cluley warns. "This should, frankly, be enough to trigger your suspicions and have you rapidly retreating."

Cluley says so far, many Facebook users appear to be falling for the ruse. In doing so, he says, they are helping scammers spread their links across the Internet.

"Ultimately you have to have your wits about you to avoid scams like this," he said.

A popular hair treatment is facing widespread scrutiny -- and a class action lawsuit -- after the Canadian government issued an advisory warning that the solution contains jaw-dropping levels of formaldehyde. 

Brazilian Blowout, a straightener that promises to leave hair "totally frizz-free, shiny, effortlessly manageable and with plenty of body and bounce," according to its website, was found to contain up to 12 percent formaldehyde. Canadian law forbids formaldehyde levels higher than 0.2 percent.

In its advisory on Thursday, Health Canada said it has received six complaints from consumers and two from hair stylists, all complaining of "burning eyes, nose, and throat, breathing difficulties, and one report of hair loss associated with use of the product." 

That report apparently came from Suzanne Harvey, a Calgary woman who told the Times Colonist that her hair was "dropping on my arms to the point where my husband said, 'What's going on with your hair?'" 
The shocking amounts of formaldehyde allegedly contained in the product are even more surprising in light of the manufacturer's claim that the product is totally formaldehyde-free. According to Brazilian Blowout's website, the product is: "The ONLY Professional Smoothing Treatment that improves the health of the hair. No damage! No harsh chemicals! NO FORMALDEHYDE!!" 
Classified as probable carcinogen Formaldehyde is a probable carcinogen, with even one part per million potentially causing watery eyes, nausea, wheezing, and burning in the eyes, throat, and nose. Testing has shown that exposure to the chemical may have caused nasal cancer in lab rats. 
For its part, Brand Building Communications, which distributes the product, said in a statement that the test results were inaccurate and the result of improper methodology. "It is important to understand that formaldehyde is not a cosmetic ingredient and never has been," according to the statement. "It is a gas that cannot be added to cosmetics and only exists in tiny trace amounts." 
But the company's steadfastness wasn't enough to stave off a class action lawsuit, filed by salon owner Kim Ryley of Victoria, who has used the product since last October. Ryley said that, even in that relatively short period, she has experienced burning eyes and developed problems breathing. "I'm shocked and angry," Ryley told the Times Colonist. "The fact that we were sold and promoted a product that claims to be safe and formaldehyde-free is upsetting." 
Her suit seeks compensation for both physical and financial injury as a result of using the product. Brazilian Blowout's website, which boasts that the product was American Salon's "2010 Professional's Choice Winner," says the product "will actually improve the health of color-treated/highlighted hair by conditioning the hair while sealing the cuticle for enhanced color, reduced frizz, and radiant shine."

But it may not be long before Google will slide behind the wheel and take charge of the entire trip.  Google has been working on what it calls "autonomous driving" for quite some time and its seven test cars have driven 1,000 miles without human intervention, The New York Times reported.

The test cars have gone more than 140,000 miles with only occasional human intervention, the report said.  

While it may sound far-fetched, the concept is actually quite far along in its development.  The system uses GPS navigation and a variety of sensors mounted on top of and around the car to make allowances for traffic, pedestrians and so forth.

Although it is said to work well now in the test cars, autonomous driving won't really start to deliver maximum benefits until nearly all cars are equipped with it.

And just what are those benefits?  Well, they're potentially pretty significant.  They include:

Safety.  37,000 people died in traffic accidents in the U.S. in 2008 and hundreds of thousands more were seriously injured.  Autonomous driving should make the roads much safer, since the computerized sensors react more quickly and more consistently than humans.

"According to the World Health Organization, more than 1.2 million lives are lost every year in road traffic accidents. We believe our technology has the potential to cut that number, perhaps by as much as half," said Sebastian Thrun, the Google engineer who's in charge of the project, in a posting on the Google Blog.

Congestion relief.  If all cars were computer-controlled, they would be able to drive more closely together, thus getting more efficient use out of existing roadways.  Traffic would move more smoothly, since the computerized systems would not display the unnecessary hesitations, haphazard accelerations and other eccentricities of human drivers.

Fuel economy.  Cars operate more efficiently when they are driven more smoothly, without the stops and starts and pedal-pumping that characterize most human drivers' habits.

Sobriety.  Software programs don't drink or do drugs, so presumably the problem of impaired drivers would be eliminated.

License and registration, please

Currently, the law in nearly every state and country assumes that a vehicle is being driven by a human being.  While Google's cars would never speed (they would, of course, have the speed limits of all known roads built into the software), there could still be accidents and other incidents.

Who would get the ticket if an autonomous car was pulled over for a broken taillight?  That, and many other questions, remain to be worked out.

But for now, Thrun thinks the technical feasibility of the project is on the fast track.

SC Johnson, a global household products company, says it has learned scammers have been sending out fake employment offers from the company. They have even boldly placed ads in newspapers and the Internet, claiming to be SC Johnson.

In the most recent version, a fake job opportunity ad is placed in a newspaper and asks people to provide their resume, work history, contact information, etc. People are then selected for online interviews using Instant Message chats.

Applicants are offered a customer service position and a Cashier's Check to purchase software that is necessary for the position. Both the job offer and the Cashier's Check are, in fact, fake, the company says.

Bogus

"SC Johnson is in no way connected to this offer and warns applicants to be wary of any job offer that requires them to cash checks or to release bank account or credit card information," the company said in a statement. "All legitimate employment opportunities with SC Johnson are officially posted on  SC Johnson's web site.  

In Oregon, meanwhile, modeling jobs seem to have suddenly become available. But Oregon Oregon Attorney General John Kroger says most of the "jobs" are a sham.

 "Modeling scams come in a variety of forms, but one thing they all have in common is the scam artists behind them assume you're all beauty and no brains," Kroger said.

Kroger offered up a few of the more common internet modeling scams he's seen:

The, "Surprise! It's Not a Job Interview but a High-Pressure Sales Pitch" Scam

You respond to a "job" announcement on-line, and what you think is an interview for a modeling job turns into a high-pressure sales pitch for modeling or acting classes, "shoots" or "screen tests." The salesperson seems eager to assist you with your modeling career, but you must first pay them hundreds or thousands of dollars. It's all an act!  Never sign a document without reading and understanding it first - ask for a blank copy of the contract and take it home to review with someone you trust.

The, "Hurry: This Opportunity Won't Last Long" scam

Scam artists draft fake on-line ads for bogus modeling opportunities with the caveat that you must first pay to learn more about the opportunity. You may be required to pay for a monthly subscription to a "talent service" or a "limited offer on a discounted photo shoot," or wire money to cover the cost of a "booking agent." Don't be deceived by smooth sales talk - request an in-person meeting before you agree to pay for a modeling agent or scout. And remember: if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

The, "Easy Money for Small Work" Scam

Be leery of claims about high salaries. Successful models in smaller markets canearn $75 to $100 an hour, but the work is irregular. Ask the company for references. Get the names and contact information of models and actors who have successfully secured work through the company. When possible, request local contacts and try to meet with the referred contact in-person.

The, "Here's a Check for the Photo Session" Scam

Some scam artists try to attract your attention to modeling work with promises of free "photo shoots" and paid trips to New York City. After you express an interest in their offer, the crook will send you a fake check as "advanced payment" for the photo session. The crook then will ask you to wire transfer some of the counterfeit funds to a "photographer," "studio," or "booking agent" to seal the deal. NEVER WIRE MONEY as a means to secure a job. Money transfers are the preferred means for international scam artists to steal money - the money is hard to trace and the victim does not realize they have been scammed until after their bank notifies them that the original check they deposited is worthless.

The "You Have the Cutest Baby Ever" Scam

Bogus talent agents will try to convince proud parents and relatives that their child is modeling material and offer to set up a professional photo session for the little tyke. In reality, the modeling market for infants and toddlers is small. Moreover, because an infant's look will change quickly, rendering photos outdated, very few infants are marketed with professional photos. Legitimate agents, producers and advertising agencies will ask for casual snapshots.
Not all modeling agents or schools are bad - do your homework to make sure your beauty can truly shine.

What To Do

Here are a few quick tips to avoid a model rip-off:

1. Get everything in writing, including promises that have been made orall
2. Keep copies of important papers, such as your contract with the company and any literature or company advertisements.Be leery of companies that only accept payment by cash or money order - this is how scam artists prefer to be paid.
3. Ask the agency for a list of specific jobs where it has placed its models and contact those companies to verify the agency's claims.
4. Be suspicious of a company that requires an up-front fee to serve as your agent.
5. Steer clear of companies that require you to use a specific photographer, rather, compare fees and work quality of several photographers.
6. Check-out the company with both the consumer authorities or your state attorney general.

The State of Ohio last week filed a lawsuit against GMAC Mortgage,
based on an employee's sworn deposition that he did not always review
and sign foreclosure documents, as required by law.

New Jersey has asked mortgage companies to provide documentation on
how they have performed foreclosure filings. The state also has
contacted the National Association of Attorneys General to discuss
collaborative efforts.

"I'm concerned that what some are calling 'shortcuts' in the filing
process may in fact be a systemic pattern of fraud committed in our
state court system," New New Jersey Attorney General Paula T. Dow
said. "These companies have a legal obligation to follow procedures
before they attest to the facts."

Revelations that started it all

Ally Financial, formerly known as GMAC Mortgage, announced two
weeks ago that it was imposing a moratorium on foreclosures in 23
states, including New Jersey, after disclosing that its employees
routinely signed off on foreclosure affidavits without properly
reviewing them or verifying their accuracy. JP Mortgage Chase and Bank
of America have since announced similar halts to foreclosure
proceedings.

Last Friday BoA expanded the foreclosure halt to all 50 states. Dow
believes more lenders should consider taking that action.

"I'm asking all mortgage holders who are in the foreclosure process
to pause, review their procedures, and ensure that all statements that
they attest to are, in fact, properly reviewed and confirmed as being
accurate," Dow said. "New Jersey homeowners who are facing the trauma
of foreclosure and eviction are entitled to no less."

In New Jersey, foreclosure actions must be supported by an
Affidavit of Amount Due, which establishes the identity of the
mortgage/note holder and information concerning the default. GMAC
Mortgage admitted that, due to the crushing number of foreclosure
documents required for filing, employees sometimes took shortcuts.

"We want to know what past practice has been, and if we find the
Consumer Fraud Act has been violated, we expect the companies to
reform their business practices and to help any affected homeowners,"
said Thomas R. Calcagni, New Jersey's Acting Consumer Affairs
Director. "The large number of mortgage defaults and foreclosure
procedures that have occurred is no excuse for denying borrowers due
process."

White House cool to moratorium

Meanwhile, a White House advisor over the weekend dampened
speculation that the Obama Administration would press for a full
moratorium on home foreclosures. David Axelrod, interviewed on CBS
Face The Nation Sunday, questioned the need for a complete halt,
saying some foreclosures are justified and should go forward. Doing
so, he said, will ultimately help the housing market recover.

"Our hope is this moves rapidly and that this gets unwound very,
very quickly," he said.

However, a growing number of Democratic lawmakers, facing
re-election next month, have called for a complete stop to home
foreclosures. Lawmakers have also urged bank regulators and the
Justice Department to investigate whether mortgage companies violated
laws in handling foreclosures.

Like health coverage for people, pet policies can be complicated. Consumer Reports Money Adviser recently analyzed the coverage and premiums from four pet health insurers and found people are willing to spend -- up to a point.

Before he died in 2008, Gremlin the Cat racked up nearly $10,000 in veterinary bills to treat salivary cancer, a rare disorder. The 13-year-old gray tabby was treated twice in a New York City veterinary hospital to shrink a tumor and died a few months later.

Gremlin's owner, Carol Sherwin of South Salem, N.Y., says she doesn't regret spending the money on Gremlin's care. But just to make sure her new kittens, Isabelli and Fang, don't take a similar bite out of her wallet, she plans to buy pet insurance. "They are my furry children," she says, "and I want them to be healthy and happy for as long as possible."

High cost of vet care

Some people will do anything for their pets. But a majority of owners draw the line after spending $500 for veterinary care, according to a recent survey by the Associated Press and Petside, a website. As costs move closer to $1,000, fewer pet owners are likely to pay for care.

That's where pet insurers say they can help. For monthly premiums of less than $10 to more than $90, they promise to pay a portion of a pet's bills for medical and surgical care, and -- depending on the policy -- some other types of care.

What you pay depends on where you live, your pet's breed and age, the deductible, and the coverage. Pet insurance, says Dennis Drent, CEO of Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), the largest insurer, is intended to help owners avoid having to choose "economic euthanasia" -- letting a beloved animal go because they can't afford the vet costs.

Pet insurance is not widely held. At most, three percent of dogs and one percent of cats are insured, by some recent estimates. By focusing on the potentially high cost of care, insurers are hoping to change that. Coverage is promoted on TV, online, in supermarkets, in retail stores like Petco, and in veterinary offices.

Do you need it?

Is it worth the money? <em>Consumer Reports Money Adviser</em> shopped online and analyzed coverage by three brands: VPI, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, and 24PetWatch QuickCare -- whose parent companies together control an estimated 87 percent of the market. The experts also examined a relative newcomer, Trupanion, which offers a simpler approach than the others. Counting variations in coverage and deductibles, CR looked at nine plans.

To compare them, the investigators used as a model Roxy, a purebred beagle, age 10, in Westchester County, N.Y. Her vet calls her a "basically healthy" dog.

Over the years she's had a few health problems. She was treated twice in an animal emergency room after downing potentially poisonous chocolate. She was also treated for a puncture wound after a fight with another dog. She's had two costly dental cleanings under anesthesia, suffered a few ear and eye infections, and as a pup had gastrointestinal distress.

Consumer Reports Money Adviser adjusted Roxy's total vet bills into present-day costs to create a model to judge how her lifetime expenses would have been covered under the nine policies. They also looked at how the value of the coverage changed if potentially costly elements to her medical history were added: chronic arthritis; incontinence as a result of spaying; hypothyroidism; the removal of a benign tumor; and euthanasia. Here are the findings:

Coverage limitations

Like human health insurers have traditionally done, pet insurers exclude pre-existing conditions from coverage. An insurer also might exclude a pet's condition from coverage at renewal. To address this, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offers a "continuing care" option to new customers, which added 36 percent to Roxy's estimated premiums.

Richie of Forest Hills,  NY, advises people shopping for pet insurance to stay as far away as possible from any ASPCA policy. He tells ConsumerAffairs.com, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance "has many exclusions, but very few covered items." He claims that if you renew your policy on July 1, and your pet falls ill on June 30, the company treats this illness as a pre-existing condition and will not cover any expenses.

Cost-sharing

Pet owners face either a deductible, a co-pay, or both with most insurers. They might impose a maximum limit on treatment for individual illnesses, or on the yearly or lifetime reimbursement.

Exclusions

Carriers often exclude hip dysplasia, a chronic malady. QuickCare Gold won't cover any illness claims for Chinese shar-peis or their crossbreeds, though it will cover accidents. VPI has its own long list of excluded conditions.

Extra fees

They include a one-time fee of $25 for Trupanion and $2 a month for VPI and QuickCare customers who pay their premiums monthly rather than annually.

Claims quirks

With these plans, you foot the bill yourself and wait for reimbursement. ASPCA limits coverage to "reasonable costs" based on veterinary pricing in the area in which the fee was incurred. VPI posts a long schedule on its Website outlining the maximum payouts for each illness or injury. It's unlikely that most people won't slog through those details until after a claim is paid. They probably should. While consumer complaints to the national Better Business Bureau about all four insurers are few, they focus heavily on disputes over contract language. (The BBB rates newcomer Trupanion A-, and gives the others A+, its top rating.)

Costly or unnecessary add-ons

Some carriers let you add "wellness care" coverage to their accident and illness policies. The investigators say it's generally not worth the cost. ASPCA's Level 3 coverage adds spaying or neutering, an annual physical, three common vaccines, and fecal and heartworm tests to its Level 2 accident and illness coverage. The coverage also promises higher maximum benefits.

But for Roxy, it added $2,766 to the insurance cost over 10 years and paid out just $1,159 in benefits. VPI offers a "CareGuard Core" rider that costs $12 per month-$144 a year-but it never paid out that much in any year.
Playing the odds

Overall, CR found that the pet policies it analyzed were not worth the cost for a generally healthy animal. In healthy Roxy's case, none of the nine policies would have paid out more than the projected premiums over a 10-year period.

If you're unlucky enough to have a pet with a costly chronic condition or illness, or a young animal in need of major care, you could get a positive payout from pet insurance -- if your pet develops the condition while covered.
For a dog with chronic problems and very sick kitties, the Trupanion plans provided the highest net benefits.

Trupanion doesn't pay for wellness care or exams, and it imposes other limitations. But after a per-incident deductible, it promises to pay 90 percent of the bill, with no lifetime ceiling.

Insurance tips

While it's impossible to predict your pet's odds of contracting a costly illness, you can take a number of steps to keep him or her healthy and minimize veterinary costs.

• Save in advance for vet bills. Dog owners spent an average of $225 last year on routine vet visits and $532 on surgical visits; for cats, the averages were $203 and $278, according to the American Pet Products Association. Consumer Reports Money Adviser's preferred alternative to pet insurance is to add a couple hundred dollars each year to an emergency savings fund for pet care.

• Spay or neuter your pet. Among other advantages, neutered animals are less likely to get into fights. And spaying reduces the risk of breast cancer.

• Get annual checkups. Make sure vaccinations are kept current.

• Shop with your eyes open. If you're considering pet insurance, download a sample policy and its terms and conditions from the insurer's website and read them thoroughly for limitations, exceptions, and co-payments. (If the site doesn't include a sample contract, call the company to ask for one.) CR recommends coverage with simple, percentage-based payouts, and no reliance on judgments of what's "reasonable." Avoid riders for wellness care. If you plan to use the insurance for catastrophic coverage -- say, $1,000 and up -- go for the highest deductible you can comfortably afford.

Pfizer is recalling its 40 mg bottles of Lipitor due to what it calls "a small number of reports" of an uncharacteristic odor related to the bottles in which the drug is packaged. 

The drug company says a medical assessment has determined that the odor is not likely to cause adverse health consequences in patients taking Lipitor and that there is no need for those taking the medication to take any action.

Pfizer is advising patients to continue taking their medication as prescribed by their doctors, but says those experiencing the uncharacteristic odor associated with the medication should return the tablets to their pharmacist.

The company pledges to continue to monitor the situation and take any action necessary to ensure patient safety. It adds that it has taken a number of steps to ensure that there is no shortage of 40 mg Lipitor as a result of the recall.

Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium) is a prescription medicine that is used along with a low-fat diet. It lowers the LDL ("bad") cholesterol and triglycerides in a patient's blood. It can raise HDL ("good") cholesterol as well.

The drug has been shown to lower the risk for heart attack, stroke, certain types of heart surgery, and chest pain in patients who have heart disease or risk factors for heart disease such as age, smoking, high blood pressure, low HDL, or family history of early heart disease.

Lipitor should not be taken by those with liver problems or women who are nursing, pregnant or may become pregnant.

Common side effects include diarrhea, upset stomach, muscle and joint pain, and changes in some blood tests.

Those with questions about Lipitor should contact their doctor or pharmacist or call 1-888-LIPITOR.