Current Events in September 2012

True Innovations is recalling about 8,400 Realspace Soho Prestigio high-back leather chairs. 

The seat plate can break, posing fall and injury hazards to consumers. Office Depot, the importer of the chair, says it has received 78 reports of incidents involving seat plates breaking, including one report of a fall injury. 

This recall involves Prestigio model leather office chairs. The high-back leather chairs were sold in black and have a five-leg metallic finish base with casters. The SKU number 181-265 and the words "Realspace Soho" and "Prestigio High-Back Chair Black Leather" are printed on a label located on the underside of the seat. 

The chairs, manufactured in China, were sold at Office Depot retail stores nationwide and online at OfficeDepot.com from October 2008 through February 2011 for about $250. 

Consumers should stop using the chairs immediately and contact True Innovations for a free seat repair kit including a replacement seat plate and an installation tool. 

For additional information, contact True Innovations at (800) 379-9773 between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

Gasoline prices show no sign of slowing their rise just because the summer driving season is over. The price at the pump rose another five cents a gallon in the last seven days.

The national average price of self-serve regular today is $3.871 per gallon, compared with $3.822 last Friday, according to AAA's Fuel Gauge Survey. That's about 17 cents higher than a month ago and more than 23 cents higher than the price a year ago.

The average price of diesel fuel today is $4.123 per gallon, versus $4.113 a week ago.

Gasoline prices, of course, take their cue from oil prices, which have steadily marched higher over the last few weeks amid increasing concerns about tension with Iran. This week's attacks on U.S. embassies in the Middle East has only heightened those worries.

Weaker dollar

Thursday the Federal Reserve announced another round of Quantitative Easing, which sent the dollar lower and oil prices sharply higher. At a time of year when gasoline prices typically fall U.S. motorists should prepare for prices to go higher.

Among the states there were big price moves in Connecticut, New York and Mississippi. The average price surged 12.5 cents a gallon in Connecticut and New York while it fell more than three cents in Mississippi.

The states with the most expensive gas prices this week are:

• Hawaii ($4.394)
• Connecticut ($4.160)
• California ($4.158)
• New York ($4.137)
• Illinois ($4.118)
• Washington ($4.063)
• Oregon ($4.024)
• Alaska ($4.015)
• Michigan ($4.044)
• Rhodes Island ($3.995)

The states with the lowest gas prices this week are: 

• Mississippi ($3.620)
• South Carolina ($3.630)
• Alabama ($3.669)
• Texas ($3.670)
• Tennessee ($3.675)
• New Mexico ($3.691)
• Louisiana ($3.692)
• Arkansas ($3.699)
• Colorado ($3.706)
• Virginia ($3.718)

Spartan Stores is initiating a precautionary recall of certain deli products due to concerns of possible Listeria monocytogenes contact. This recall is precautionary and is being initiated to ensure the highest degree of confidence to our customers. Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. 

No products have been identified as coming into contact with the Listeria monocytogenes organism. 

The deli products were distributed to Family Fare, D&W Fresh Markets, Glen's, VG's and a limited number of independent supermarkets in Michigan. Spartan Stores has received no reports of illness associated with the consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact their healthcare provider immediately. All of the products involved in the recall should be discarded or returned for a full refund. 

For a specific list of items go to Spartan’s retail Websites listed below or the courtesy desks at each store.

• Family Fare
• D&W Fresh Markets
• Glen's
• VG's
• Independent supermarkets 

This recall is the result of a routine surface swabbing conducted by the FDA which resulted in positive samples of Listeria monocytogenes. 

Consumers with questions about the recall may contact Spartan Stores' Consumer Affairs at 1-800-451-8500 from 8 am to 5 pm EST.

With home prices still at bargain levels and interest rates at historic lows, more people are beginning to look at buying a house. And why not? In many cases the cost of owning is now much less than renting?

Before embarking on a house hunt, there are things to consider. Chief among them is how long you expect to stay in one place. If you think you will move to another area in a couple of years, then buying is probably not a good idea. But assuming you do plan to stick around for a while, the experts at Zillow.com have come up with 10 things you really should consider before making an offer on a home.

1. Location, location, location

It's the oldest of real estate clichés, but that's probably because it is so true. Location is extremely important when it comes time to sell. You can have the worst house in the world with the ugliest kitchen and bath. But put it on a great block or in a good school district, and your home will be coveted.

What makes a good location? At the highest level is the town where the house is located, then the school district, then the neighborhood and the block -- right down to the location of the lot on the block. Keep all of this in mind when shopping.

2. The school district

Most people who buy houses have school-age children, so the school district is right up there on the list of what’s most important to many buyers. It’s not uncommon for buyers to start their search based solely on the school district they want to be in.

Parents want their kids to go to the best school, which can drive up prices of homes in those districts. Even though you might not have children, buying a home in a good school district is always smart.

3. The home’s position on the lot

Where the home sits on the lot in relation to the street or the overgrown oak are key elements in picking out a home. In the case of a condo, an end unit vs. an interior unit is a key consideration. You may have chosen the most beautifully renovated home in the best school district and figure all is good. But if the main living areas are shaded by a neighbor’s extension or the master bedroom looks into the neighbors’ family room, you may have a location problem. Light or privacy may not be a hot button for you, but chances are, they might be concerns for a future buyer.

4. Crime

If you are unfamiliar with a community or neighborhood, it is always a good idea to check the latest crime figures for a neighborhood. It can give you a good snapshot about the number and severity of crimes over a time period. So much information is online nowadays that when you find your perfect home, a quick Internet search on the area should provide you with the much-needed information.

The website MyLocalCrime.com is a good tool. Simply type in the address of the home you are considering and you'll get a list of recent crimes in the area, displayed on a map, broken down by the type of crime. No one wants to think about things like this, but it's a fact of life. Don’t freak out if you notice more crime than what you’d have expected. Crime, especially petty crime, is everywhere.

5. Walkability

If you can walk from your prospective house to a grocery store or coffee shop, that's a real plus. More than ever, "walkability" is becoming a key factor in the search process. There are entire Websites, apps and algorithms that help people figure out how walkable their future home is. As a matter of fact, Zillow even has a Walk Score for most homes. Even if the nearest shopping area is too far away to reach on foot, a neighborhood with sidewalks and jogging and bike trails is preferable to one without.

6. The neighborhood’s character

You may have found the absolute most perfect home, on the best block, in the best school district and on a great lot. But there could be circumstances outside your control that may give you pause -- specifically, the character of the surrounding neighborhood.

This is basically a personality test. So much of the home search is based on physical characteristics of the houses. Try to see how neighbors interact with one another. Talk to a few, if possible, asking what they like about the neighborhood and what they wish they could improved.

That next-door neighbor practicing drums in the garage at 9 p.m. could be a source of immediate neighbor conflict. Go into it with eyes wide open.

7. Don’t buy the best house on the block

If you buy the best house on the block, there's no place for your investment to go but down. It’s better to buy the worst house on the best block, because you can improve the house to add value to an already great location.

8. Is it a fixer-upper?

If you’re buying a fixer-upper, make sure you understand what you’re getting into. Did you set out to buy a home that needed work? Or does the home just happen to be in the most desirable neighborhood, the block of your dreams?

Unless you are a skilled handyman, the fixing-up part can cost more than you think. Keep in mind as well that significant deficiencies in the house may affect what kind of financing you can get.

9. Will the home hold its value?

Back during the housing bubble you could buy a home and it would be worth more than you paid for it before you moved in. It's just the opposite now. Seek some advice on home values in the area and specifically look for things you can do to add value to the home you are buying.

10. Taxes, dues and fees

Once you've bought a home and moved in, you aren't finished paying. There are other costs to be paid on a regular basis, starting with taxes. Find out the annual property taxes on the home you are considering. If it is close to another jurisdiction with lower tax rates, it might be wise to move your search to that location, if you can find a house you like.

Also, some neighborhoods have homeowners' associations that assess annual, or even monthly dues. This is especially an issue with condos, all of which will have some type of fee to maintain buildings and grounds.

Information compiled from media reports show 137 children younger than 15 years drowned in a pool or spa during the traditional summer season of Memorial Day to Labor Day this year. An additional 168 children of that age required emergency response for near-fatal incidents in pools or spas. 

"These figures are a strong indication that child drownings are a serious public health problem," said U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. "We are losing too many children to drowning, tragically cutting short these young lives and leaving families devastated. While summer is ending, our vigilance in ensuring that all children pool safely must not end. With so many indoor community pools, hotel pools and spas, indoor waterparks, as well as outdoor pools that remain open in warm-weather states, we must continue our efforts to remind everyone to pool safely whenever they are near the water." 

Young children at risk 

The media figures show that 54 of these drownings occurred soon after the children left an adult who was in their immediate vicinity, and 31 children drowned despite the presence of others at the pool. 

In addition, the media reports are consistent with CPSC's annual reports in showing that young children and toddlers are especially vulnerable to drowning -- at least 100 of the 137 children who drowned were younger than five. Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death among children one to four years of age. 

Not every child drowning is reported on or tracked by the media. In turn, it takes time for CPSC to compile data of all child drownings from around the country. Each May, CPSC releases reports for drownings and non-fatal submersions for children younger than 15 years of age. Agency data from 2007 to 2009 show an annual average of 243 children drowned in pools or spas during the summer months, which is about 63 percent of the average annual drowning figures for these years. 

CPSC's Pool Safely campaign message reinforces the important safety steps: stay close to children in the water, be alert, and watch children in and around the pool at all times. 

Texas tops the toll 

During the summer of 2012, the following twelve states suffered the largest number of pool and spa drownings for children younger than 15: 

1. Texas (17)
2. California (10)
3. Ohio (9)
4. Arizona (8)
5. Michigan (8)
6. Pennsylvania (7)
7. Florida (6)
8. Illinois (6)
9. North Carolina (6)
10. Alabama (5)
11. Georgia (5)
12. New York (5) 

CPSC's 2012 submersion report shows on average 390 pool or spa-related drownings occur each year for children younger than 15, based on statistics from 2007-2009. About 5,200 pool or spa-related emergency department-treated submersion injuries occur on average each year for children younger than 15. 

Pool safety tips 

The Pool Safely campaign provides information on the simple steps that parents, caregivers and pool owners should take to ensure that children and adults stay safe around pools and spas: 

• Stay close, be alert and watch children in and around the pool. Never leave children unattended in a pool or spa; always watch children closely around all bodies of water; teach children basic water safety tips; and keep children away from pool drains, pipes and other openings.
• Learn and practice water safety skills. Every family member should know how to swim. Learn how to perform CPR on both children and adults.
• Have appropriate equipment for your pool or spa. This includes pool fencing, a lockable safety cover for spas, proper drain covers to avoid entrapments, and lifesaving equipment such as life rings and a reaching pole.

For the nation as a whole, August was another fairly quiet month for foreclosures. But there were some exceptions.

The latest report from RealtyTrac, a marketer of foreclosure properties, shows foreclosures rose just one percent in August -- and were down 15 percent from a year ago -- but a handful of states saw a lot more action.

“Bucking the national trend, deferred foreclosure activity boiled over in several states in August,” said Daren Blomquist, vice president of RealtyTrac. “In judicial states (states where court action is required to foreclose on a home) such as Florida, Illinois, New Jersey and New York, this was a continuation of a trend we’ve been seeing for several months now.”

The increases in Florida and Illinois pushed foreclosure rates in those states to the two highest in the country, taking the place of non-judicial states like Arizona, California, Georgia and Nevada. Before last month the nation’s top two state foreclosure rates have been from those four non-judicial states every month since December 2010.

Effects of settlement

That increase is due to the national settlement between major mortgage lenders and the states and federal government, signed in the spring. Prior to that settlement many foreclosures in states that require judicial proceedings to foreclose on a home had been put on hold.

In an encouraging sign, foreclosure activity in most non-judicial states continued to decline. That suggests most cases of distressed property have already been resolved.

Illinois posted the nation’s highest foreclosure rate, with one in every 298 housing units subject to a foreclosure filing. August was the first month that Illinois has ranked No. 1 since RealtyTrac began issuing its report in January 2005.

Twenty states registered year-over-year increases in foreclosure activity, led by judicial foreclosure states such as New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Illinois and Pennsylvania.

Florida foreclosures

Florida, a hotbed of foreclosure activity since the housing meltdown began, saw its foreclosure activity increase in August on a year-over-year basis for the seventh time in the last eight months, helping the state post the nation's second highest foreclosure rate: one in every 328 housing units received a foreclosure filing.

Despite a 32 percent year-over-year decrease in overall foreclosure activity in August -- the ninth consecutive month with an annual decrease -- California still managed to post the nation’s third highest state foreclosure rate. One in every 340 California housing units had a foreclosure filing in August -- twice the national average.

Other states with foreclosure rates among the nation’s 10 highest were Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, Ohio, Michigan, Delaware and Colorado.

And just when you thought you were old enough to make your own health choices, now this. In a 9-1 vote, New York City’s Board of Health made the city’s controversial soda ban official, ending a great deal of back and forth between Mayor Michael Bloomberg and critics of the beverage ban.

The new ruling will take effect on March 12, 2013, when restaurants, sports arenas, corner markets, movie theaters and food vendors are forbidden to sell sugary beverages over 16 ounces in size.

In addition, establishments that don’t comply with the ruling will have to fork over a $200 fine. 

However, grocery stores will still be able to carry and sell large sugar-based drinks over the 16-ounce limit. The ruling also doesn’t apply to beverages containing more than 70 percent fruit juice, to diet products, or alcohol-based drinks.

One of the major groups to criticize the impending soda ban was New Yorkers for Beverage Choices, which says the ruling will not improve the city’s obesity problem by any measure, since individuals will simply purchase large drinks at locations not included in the ban.

Eliot Hoff, the spokesman for New Yorkers for Beverage Choices says the mayor "is only focusing on the large-sizing drinks, not food, and only certain drinks. So you will be able to buy a smoothie that is dairy-based with tons of sugar and fat, because that will not be banned.” 

“You will be able to buy whatever you want at any of the hundreds of 7-Elevens around the city, but not in a local pizza parlor. So all this ban is doing is impacting an individual’s ability to freely purchase the drinks they want where they want,” he said.

The reason, by the way, that grocery stores and convenience stores are exempt is that they are not under the Health Department's jurisdiction. 

Other bans

The latest ban follows a string of New York City health laws that include a strict policy on public smoking, and a ban on trans fats throughout the five boroughs.

Many have perceived New York to be a do-whatever-you-want kind of town similar to Las Vegas, but with new rules and questionable safeguards put in place by officials, a lot of residents feel the city is becoming a bit too conservative and not the free-flowing place it used to be.

Cynics say that Hoboken -- yes, Hoboken -- is becoming the wild and crazy place New York used to be. Well, you must admit it does have a better view of the New York skyline.

Not surprisingly, Bloomberg officials disagree with this assessment of New York, as they believe no rulings or health laws can ever turn residents or tourists away from a city that’s seeing increasing numbers of both residents and tourists.

“We’ve heard claims of pending apocalypse before when we proposed bold public health initiatives, and they have been proven false, said a spokeswoman for Bloomberg, Samantha Levine, in a statement. “Critics predicted the end of tourism and that businesses would sink when we banned smoking in bars and restaurants, yet we’ve grown tourism to record levels and the restaurant and bar industry continues to grow.”

Obesity a problem

According to a report released by local officials, entitled “Reversing the Epidemic: The New York City Obesity Task Force Plan to Prevent and Control Obesity,” 21.3 percent of children in the Big Apple between the ages of 6 to 11 suffer from obesity. The rest of the country has an obesity average of 19.6 percent, the report indicates.

It also shows those in lower income neighborhoods throughout the five boroughs, like Bedford Stuyvesant or Brownsville in Brooklyn; suffer from obesity and the related illnesses in disproportionate numbers.

And city officials believe the soda ban will lower these percentages not only in these particular areas, but all across the various income brackets and neighborhoods through the city.

“Months from today, our city will be an even healthier place,” tweeted the mayor after the decision. “Portion size drives consumption,” he wrote.

Those opposed to the ban will obviously contest the decision legally, but starting this coming March New Yorkers will have to go the grocery store if they want a sugary beverage that’s over 16 ounces, unless the ruling is over turned.

We’ve all heard the question before, in conversations with our friends during dinner, in daytime talk shows and in a host of romantic comedies. Can men and women really be just friends?

Right off the bat many would say yes, as a lot of us do have good friends of the opposite gender, but a study by the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire says otherwise.

When it comes to guys and girls maintaining a platonic relationship, guys are much more likely to see female friends as potential mates, finds the study.

Researchers at the Midwestern school conducted an analysis of 88 young adults, and found that men have an unbalanced interest in female friends, compared to women being attracted to their male pals. They also conveyed that no matter how platonic a relationship is between the opposite sex, there are still hints of attraction between the friends.

It's persistent

“Attraction in friendship is happening, and it’s persistent,” said April Bleske-Recheck, associate professor of psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and chief study author. “I’d venture to say based on all our data that in the majority of friendships there’s at least a low level of attraction. And if it’s coming more from one friend than the other, it’s probably the guy.”

“Historically, men faced the risk of being shut out genetically if they didn’t take advantage of various reproductive opportunities,” she added. “So the argument is that men have evolved to be far more sexually opportunistic.”

In the recently-conducted survey, researchers gathered a group of platonic opposite-sex friends and gauged each person’s level of attraction to one another. The participants were also asked to list both the cost and benefit of being attracted to a friend of the opposite gender.

Researchers found that 32 percent of those surveyed said that being attracted to the opposite sex came with a cost, while 6 percent said that attraction was a benefit to the friendship. And as far as the gender split, 47 percent of women between 18 to 23 said being attracted to a male friend came with a cost, and 22 percent of men said the same when it came to being romantically drawn to their female chums.

Age matters

In a separate study, Bleske-Rechek found that middle=aged adults who were attracted to opposite-sex friends were more inclined to be dissatisfied with their current romantic relationship.

“Although middle-aged adults reported less attraction overall to their cross-sex friends than did young adults, those who did report being attracted romantically to their friends were less satisfied with their current mates,” she said. “I think this is a significant finding.”

In both studies Bleske-Rechek and her team found that attraction and flirtation were significant motivators for both men and women to maintain friendships, and this particular finding was consistent among all age groups in the study.

“Mating strategies may influence people’s involvement in cross-sex friendships to begin with, as well as unintentionally color people’s feelings toward members of the opposite sex with whom their conscious intent is platonic,” said the researchers.

“Perhaps attraction can be both benefit and burden for the same individual in different friendships, or be both benefit and burden for the same friendship at different points in time,” they said.

Relatively new 

Bleske-Rechek also says that platonic opposite-sex relationships are still somewhat new compared to years past, and that neither gender has yet learned how to socially adjust to the change, or how to properly manage the attraction.

“It’s very likely that modern environment has changed so quickly that we’ve got these novel opportunities to engage in a variety of types of relationship with the opposite sex that we probably didn’t historically,” she noted. “It’s going to take us a while to adjust.”

Noting that information received since the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) met in August suggests that economic activity has continued to expand at a moderate pace in recent months, the Federal Reserve says it will move to stimulate the economy. 

To that end, the Federal Reserve has agreed to purchase additional agency mortgage-backed securities at a pace of $40 billion per month. The FOMC said it will also will continue through the end of the year its program to extend the average maturity of its holdings of securities as announced in June, and is maintaining its existing policy of reinvesting principal payments from its holdings of agency debt and agency mortgage-backed securities in agency mortgage-backed securities. 

These actions, which together will increase the Fed's holdings of longer-term securities by about $85 billion each month through the end of the year, should put downward pressure on longer-term interest rates, support mortgage markets and help make broader financial conditions more accommodative. 

Latest findings 

In making the announcement, the FOMC said growth in employment has been slow and the unemployment rate remains elevated. Additionally, household spending has continued to advance, but growth in business fixed investment appears to have slowed. The housing sector has shown some further signs of improvement, according the the committee, albeit from a depressed level. While inflation has been subdued, the prices of some key commodities have increased recently. Longer-term inflation expectations have remained stable. 

The committee says it is concerned that, without further policy accommodation, economic growth might not be strong enough to generate sustained improvement in labor market conditions. Furthermore, strains in global financial markets continue to pose significant downside risks to the economic outlook. The FOMC also anticipates that inflation over the medium term likely would run at or below its 2 percent objective. 

Hand on the tiller 

The committee says it will closely monitor incoming information on economic and financial developments in coming months. If the outlook for the labor market does not improve substantially, it will continue its purchases of agency mortgage-backed securities, undertake additional asset purchases, and employ its other policy tools as appropriate until such improvement is achieved in a context of price stability. In determining the size, pace, and composition of its asset purchases, the FOMC will, as always, factor in the likely efficacy and costs of such purchases. 

The FOMC also decided to keep the target range for the federal funds rate -- a key interest rate --at 0 to 1/4 percent and currently anticipates that exceptionally low levels for the federal funds rate are likely to be warranted at least through mid-2015.

Martha Stewart may have some admirers but she also has a fair share of detractors. Let's see, there are all the consumers who bought glass-top patio tables only to have the tops disintegrate without warning. Then there's Macy's and other retailers whose partnerships with Martha have ended badly.

And now there's the Chamber of Industry and Commerce Wuppertal-Solingen-Remscheid -- a long name for the Chamber of Commerce that includes Solingen, the smallish town where Solingen knives are made, Courthouse News Service reports.

The local burghers are irate with Martha (a/k/a Martha Helen Kostyra) because they say she has been selling phony Solingen knives on the Home Shopping Network under the Emeril Lagasse brand, and they have filed suit against Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Emeril Lagasse, Home Shopping Network and SED International Holdings in Miami Federal Court.

The suit argues that the Solingen trade name dates back to 1853 and is protected in Germany and the United States. It was trademarked in the United States in 1974, with a first-use date of 1853, according to the complaint.

Made in China

Solingen claims it discovered the trademark violations and unfair competition this spring when it saw Solingen cutlery being sold on the Home Shopping Network, marked with the "Emeril" trademark on one side, and "China" on the other.

The suit argues, basically, that you can't have it both ways: Solingen knives can only be made in the Solingen area of Germany, not in China.

Solingen, whose original products were "mainly swords and daggers," now makes "wide-ranging" cutlery items, and the Solingen mark "certifies that the goods sold under that brand are of a certain origin and comply with extremely high and specific standards of manufacture," according to the complaint.

Germany protected the mark again with special legislation in 1994, called the Solingen Decree. Like the French mark Champagne, then, Solingen products cannot be produced outside the designated area.

"Defendants are not entitled to use the Solingen Certification Mark in connection with designing, manufacturing, advertising, promoting, distributing, publicly displaying, offering for sale, and/or selling the counterfeit products, as the counterfeit products are made in China and do not comply with the Solingen Decree," the lawsuit alleges.

Lagasse personally pushes the phony products in "infomercials" on the Home Shopping Network website, the Chamber says. And Martha Stewart's company, controlled by Martha herself, "was and is responsible and in charge of the Emeril brand, which includes the licensing, advertising, promotion, distribution, and sales of the Counterfeit Products," the complaint states.

The Chamber seeks $2 million in statutory damages for each trademark violation, or treble damages of illicit profits, treble damages for false advertising and unfair competition, an accounting, punitive damages, and a protective injunction.

If you spend a lot of time in hotels and airports, it's hard to avoid USA Today, the colorful, photo-splashed national newspaper that turns 30 years old this weekend.

Like many other 30-year-olds, USA Today is trying to freshen itself up a bit and get with the times. So, effective tomorrow (Friday), the  Gannett Co. paper will debut a new design that's supposed to be more in tune with the Internet and all things digital.

When the original USA Today made its bow 30 years ago, critics and fans alike said it looked like it was trying to resemble a TV screen. We wouldn't go so far as to say it now looks like it's trying to resemble an iPad screen, but it's certainly moving in that direction.

Also getting a facelift is USAToday.com. It's becoming downright app-like and sort of resembles the Flipboard mobile app. It will make its appearance over the weekend.

"We are making a real investment in USA TODAY, and putting a major focus on reinvigorating the value of print media while introducing new digital products," says Larry Kramer, president and publisher of USA Today. "We want to provide our readers with a unique perspective and relevant context on a full range of issues, across all mediums. We are revolutionizing the way we cover and distribute the news in relevant ways that inform and entertain our readers." 

The complete overhaul of the newspaper is designed to showcase USA TODAY's prowess in visual storytelling and bring "stronger voices" to its stories. The new logo reflects "the pulse of the nation," the company said in a statement.

Concise and "stately" 

Gannett, the parent company of USA Today, launched the newspaper on Sept. 15, 1982, with the mission of providing news and information that was clear, concise and presented largely without opinion or unsubstantiated analysis. Its heavy integration of graphics and color photos in the pages, which was controversial at the time of the launch, went on to influence many U.S. and foreign newspapers to inject more style and color into their products.

A unique feature 30 years ago was the centerfold state news section, where USA Today assembled Associated Press and staff news reports from all 50 states, highlighting major state stories that would normally not be seen outside the state where they originated.

Besides being a service for travelers, the state section provided an interesting snapshot for news junkies and policy wonks who for the first time could easily track trends around the country.

There was, believe it or not, no Internet then so news was not quite as easy to come by as it is today.

The state news section, consisting mostly of AP state news reports, was not only the only place in print that one could find routine stories from all 50 states. It was also the only place the AP could find them. Although AP at that time operated news bureaus in all 50 states, it distributed its state news stories only within a two- or three-state radius. Only stories deemed of national interest were sent on to editors in New York and Washington.

USA Today was at that time in a modern, even garish, building in Rosslyn, Va., just across the Potomac from Washington. (It has since moved farther into the Virginia suburbs, to McLean). I was at that time chief of the national broadcast desk in Washington and several of us trooped over to Virginia to see this technical marvel -- routine, even dull, stories from all 50 states in one location. 

The new look of USA Today is designed to take "visual storytelling to the next level" by displaying more color, photos and infographics, USA Today says. The States page will contain photos for the first time, while the Weather page will sport a cleaner look.

USA Today's new logo -- a large circle in colors corresponding to to the sections -- will be an infographic that changes with the news, containing a photo or image that represents key stories of the day.

Fantasy Football has become quite popular in recent years, and with each rise in technology, the virtual sport of choosing players and teams has spread faster and has gained more ground than an All-Pro NFL running back.

The folks over at Viggle, the television app that gives you redeemable points for watching TV shows, have created a real-time fantasy sports app called MyGuy.

What’s different about MyGuy from other fantasy sports apps is its real-time capabilities -- users can select fantasy players while the game is still going on, and you'll accumulate points if one of your players scores.

Chief Operations Officer and President of MyGuy Chris Stephenson says the new app speeds up the competition aspects of fantasy sports, by users having the opportunity to gain instant point totals. “It is a fantasy app, but there’s one big difference, he told the New York Post.

“With fantasy football you have to draft players and wait through the entire season. This is different because you can pick the player right there and then and that player is getting them points on every play. It’s a form of fantasy football but it is instantaneous. It’s fantasy sports meets instant gratification,” he said.

Branching out

Stephenson says branching out to the sports realm only makes sense as it’s arguably the biggest and most far reaching form of entertainment in the United States, and creating MyGuy isn’t a risky expansion move since the nationwide customer base is already there.

“When you look at what drives social TV, the thing that really drives it is sports,” he said. “There’s lots of activity around other things like the VMAs, but on a week-to-week basis, game-in, game-out, no matter what the sport, this is what generates the most activity. People ask why are you creating a niche, but it’s not the niche, the rest of it is the niche, what we’re getting into is the big chunk.”

And he’s right. We Americans love watching sports more now than ever.

According to Nielsen Ratings, both broadcast and cable television aired over 43,700 hours of sports in the U.S. in 2011, so creating a sports related app or website is a safer bet, believes Stephenson.

Social interaction

And just like many apps and social networking sites which have been influenced by Facebook, MyGuy is choosing to take advantage of the current real-time trend, by offering instantaneous feedback and some sort of social interaction component for its users. And other companies are doing the same.

Take the site LinkedIn for example. The company recently announced it was changing its site to operate more like Facebook where users will have the ability to add and invite friends. The new version of LinkedIn will also provide you with an instant count of how many people are viewing your profile.

Although MyGuy doesn’t actually use its app in the same way it does have a chatroom area, where fans can comment on the game, vent frustrations because of the referee, or gloat to one another after victory. Think a virtual sports bar slash social networking app.

Also, with other fantasy sports app you usually have to choose your team before-hand and wait for results, but MyGuy allows you to switch players during the game to gain points if one of your players isn’t playing well, which Stephenson says is the smartest way to use the app and accumulate points.

“Let’s say you stick with Peyton Manning for the whole game,” he says. “You are only scoring when Petyon Manning is scoring. Other people are scoring, passing, intercepting and getting points. You might do well [using only one player], but you’ll never get to the leaderboard.”

Three sports

Stephenson also says by 2013 MyGuy will be a three-sport fantasy app. “We started with the basketball version of this during the playoffs,” he said. “It was really our test concept and it went really well. We then developed a football version of it for College and the NFL. We have an MLB product coming in October for the playoffs and will re-up with the NBA. By January we’ll have all three sports.”

He also says the new app will have actual prizes you can receive for having the most points, and in the near future MyGuy will attach the app to both the Super Bowl and Rose Bowl, which he says is quite unique. These are gaming perks he says the “normal football viewer cannot get access to.”

The new app can be used on Apple devices, Androids and computers, and can also be downloaded for free in the Apple App Store.

When September arrives the kids are back in school, there may be a break in the heat and there are more bargains than usual at car dealers.

September is prime new car buying time since dealers are starting to get new model year vehicles and find they have to do something with all the current models they haven't been able to sell. You might not get the car you really wants because, let's face it, the reason these cars are still available is no one else wanted them either.

But, it's a new car and if you are ever going to beat down a new car dealer on prices, this is probably the one time of year you can do it.

Pragmatism pays

"If you're the pragmatic type whose decisions aren't driven by fashion, this is your chance to score a new set of wheels at a low price," said Edmunds.com Senior Consumer Advice Editor Philip Reed. "This year there is a wide range of vehicles that will soon be updated significantly, from sedans, to sports cars to SUVs, and many of them rank among the best-selling models in America."

Because these particular cars are being updated, there may be significant differences from one model year to the next. That's all the more reason for the dealer to get the car off the lot.

Edmunds.com has identified thirteen vehicles scheduled to be refreshed or redesigned in 2013 that it says are prime candidates for the biggest discounts in the coming weeks:

• 2012 Chevrolet Impala
• 2012 Chevrolet Malibu
• 2012 Chevrolet Traverse
• 2012 Ford Escape
• 2012 Ford Fusion
• 2012 Ford Mustang
• 2012 GMC Acadia
• 2012 Honda Accord
• 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe
• 2012 Lexus ES 350
• 2012 Nissan Altima
• 2012 Nissan Pathfinder
• 2012 Toyota Avalon 

Keep in mind that when an automaker significantly updates a model, the previous year's model will depreciate in price more than usual. So if you buy one of these cars, make sure you plan to drive it for a while.

Edmunds also advises negotiating your best price first before discussing any rebates or other incentives.

Also, secure your financing with a bank or credit union before visiting the dealership. That gives you even more leverage since you will be negotiating what amounts to a cash deal.

Buying a used car is often a crap shoot under the best of circumstances. A vehicle can look to be in perfect shape but may have issues under the hood that aren't readily visible.

Elaine, a Canadian reader from Heinsburg, Alberta, writes to say that her used Kia has been repaired eight times in four years.

"I am driving my 2005 Amanti without working air bags," she wrote in a ConsumerAffairs post.

Mamie, of Pittsburgh, Pa., reports that her daughter purchased a used 2008 Nissan Versa with 55,000 miles in April.

"Last week the tranny blew," she wrote. "The powertrain warranty goes to 60,000 miles and she was at 60,200. The dealer refuses to help, Nissan refuses to help..they want $3,000-$4,000 to replace it.

It's our experience that automakers and dealers rarely, if ever, make exceptions to the mileage in their warranties. It's just another reason why you need to make the right choice when you shop for a used car. Or a new one, for that matter.

Tips

Here are some tips supplied by Onstar and Autotrader.com:

• Consider purchasing a certified pre-owned vehicle: Certified pre-owned vehicles usually come with an extra warranty from the dealer and have been thoroughly inspected before being sold.
• Make sure the potential vehicle is functional for everyone who will be traveling in it: If searching for a used family vehicle, bring the whole family on an extended test drive to make sure everyone is comfortable with the vehicle. If you have small children, use this time to make sure child safety seats fit and can easily be installed in the vehicle.
• Purchase a vehicle history report and have the vehicle inspected by a qualified mechanic: Taking both of these actions can reduce the chance of unexpected issues later like the ones Elaine and Mamie experienced.
• Secure your financing in advance: Because used vehicle loans can vary when it comes to interest rates, visit your local bank or credit union before making a final decision so you can be sure you're receiving the best interest rate.
• Don't negotiate price based on what you want your monthly payment to be: Monthly payments can always be lowered to fit your budget by extending the length of the loan. But extending the length of the loan makes the car more expensive. Negotiations should be made based on the price of the car, rather that the monthly payment.
• Remember the sale process continues past the acceptance of an offer: After both parties agree upon an appropriate price, dealers usually will offer extra accessories and services you might not be interested in. Be sure to stand firm and make it clear that you are not interested in paying more than the previously agreed upon price.

With all of its dissension and petty bickering, who would have thought the nation’s capital would have the strongest business growth in the United States?

A recent study conducted by The Kauffman Foundation showed the Washington D.C. metropolitan area has the highest number of successfully growing businesses in the nation.

D.C. also has the biggest number of Inc. firms per capita, due to the fact that many companies in the area conduct business with the federal government. Thanks, taxpayers. Keep sending money.

“There are probably a few reasons the region tops the list,” said Kauffman’s Director, Dane Stangler. “But most roads lead back to the federal government. Despite all the talk about downsizing and shrinking, the fact is the government expanded under Bush, then again under Clinton, then again under Bush, and now again under Obama, and that creates more opportunities for companies in and around Washington,” he said in a published interview.

About 46 percent of Washington D.C. area businesses deal in government services, shows the study.

Parties don't matter much

The report also indicates regardless of which political party is in the White House, the nation’s capital has seen a consistent amount of high business growth within the last 20 years, with one-third of that growth coming from increases in defense spending, as a good portion of companies in the Washington D.C. area provide a bevy of military and intelligence essentials.

Most of the companies dealing in government services are based in the nearby area of northern Virginia as opposed to being directly in Washington D.C., the report shows.

Researchers also found that Washington D.C. was the first major metro area to recover from the recent housing crisis, and the consistent amount of jobs opportunities are also connected to the federal government.

Perhaps not surprising, D.C., Maryland and northern Virginia had the highest ratio of government jobs in the continental 48 states. Baltimore also benefits from the same opportunities, as 16.3 percent of jobs in that small Maryland city are attached to government services.

Other hangers-on

However, the federal government isn’t the only source of company growth and gainful employment, as other industries also continue to thrive in the D.C. metro area.

IT companies, Business Services, and Human Resource companies are too on an upward trajectory, shows the report. Strangler also noted that bio-med and life-science companies are increasing in both size and muscle in the D.C region.

Although Washington D.C. IT firms are on an upswing, the usual kings of technological development are still cities like San Francisco, as it has a 23.2 percent ratio of IT firms in its metro area.

Other cities in the U.S. that boast a strong amount of IT businesses are New York and Los Angeles at 18.8 percent, Atlanta at 17.3 percent and Chicago with 12.9 percent.

And not only has D.C. become a reputable force in the area of business development, it’s also become the most popular city to move to, according to a report from the moving company United Van Lines.

Between the peak moving season of May 1 to Aug 31 there were 2,134 moves to the nation’s capital in that time period. According to Van Lines that number is up from last year when 2,098 moving trips were made into Washington D.C.

“With the economic downturn in the whole economy and Washington being one of the largest of the 50 [states] with the lowest unemployment rate, it has been attractive for people to come here,” Peter Chinloy, told the Washington Post in an interview.

Chinloy is a professor at American University’s Kogod School of Business.

“When times get tough, people tend to move to Washington, and then when times get good, they tend to move out of Washington,” he said. The United Van Lines report also showed that D.C.  led the nation in the amount of people leaving the city at 1,774 this summer season. Go figure.

DFI Marketing of Fresno, CA, is recalling cantaloupe because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella was found on a single sample of cantaloupe during routine testing conducted at a wholesale produce distribution center (terminal market) as part of a USDA testing program. No illnesses have been reported. 

It has been determined the suspected cantaloupes include approximately 28,000 cartons of bulk-packed product. The cantaloupes are packed in 6, 9, 12, 15, or 18 cantaloupes per carton. 

All cantaloupes are packed in a DFI brand carton and the following is stamped in black on the carton “826 CALIFORNIA WESTSIDE.” 

The cantaloupes were packed on August 26, 2012. They may have been distributed from August 27 to September 10, 2012, primarily to retail customers in the following states and one country: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Mexico.

It is believe that, due to the perishable nature of cantaloupe, the majority of the recalled product is no longer on the market. 

Retail customers who may have received this product should contact DFI Marketing Inc. Consumers who may have this product should discard it or return it to the store where they purchased it. Consumers with questions can the company at 1-559-449-0244 24 hours a day.

Two reports show mortgage rates are little-changed this week, hovering just above their historic lows. The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.55 percent in Freddie Mac's weekly survey and 3.81 percent in Bankrate.com's weekly report.

The average 30-year mortgage has been below 4.00 percent all but once this year and the average 15-year fixed, a popular choice among refinance borrowers, has been below 3.00 percent since the last week in May.

Unchanged

This week Freddie Mac found the average 30-year FRM was unchanged from last week, at 3.55 percent and 0.6 point. Last year at this time the rate averaged 4.09 percent.

The 15-yer FRM averaged 2.85 percent with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.86 percent. A year ago at this time, it averaged 3.30 percent.

The five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 2.72 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.75 percent. The one-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 2.61 percent this week with an average 0.4 point, the same as last week.

"Despite a lackluster August employment report, Treasury bond yields and mortgage rates were little changed this week with the financial markets speculating on further monetary stimulus from the Federal Reserve," said Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist, Freddie Mac.

Bankrate finds higher rates

As usual, the Bankrate weekly survey showed mortgage rates a bit higher. The average 30-year FRM ticked up to 3.81 percent with an average of 0.39 discount and origination points.

The average 15-year fixed mortgage rate held steady at 3.04 percent, while the larger jumbo 30-year mortgage increased to 4.36 percent. Adjustable mortgage rates were mixed, but the 3-year and 5-year ARMs reset record lows of 2.84 percent and 2.75 percent, respectively.

Bankrate attributed the lack of movement to a mixed economic data. But it said the weak jobs picture did increase the likelihood of further Fed stimulus, such as purchases of mortgage-backed bonds that would drive mortgage rates down further in the coming weeks.

The “kids” are taking over. 

A new generation of professionals entering management means the correlation between seniority and leadership could be disappearing. One third of U.S. workers say their boss is younger than they are and 15 percent say they work for someone who is at least ten years younger, according to a new CareerBuilder survey. 

While most workers said it isn't hard to work for a younger boss, differences in work styles, communication and expectations illustrate the changing nature of office life. 

Age-diverse workplaces 

"Age disparities in the office are perhaps more diverse now than they've ever been. It's not uncommon to see 30-year-olds managing 50-year-olds or 65-year-olds mentoring 22-year-olds," said Rosemary Haefner, Vice President of Human Resources at CareerBuilder. "While the tenants of successful management are consistent across generations, there are subtle differences in work habits and views that all workers must empathize with when working with or managing someone who's much different in age." 

Looking at managers and workers ages 25-34 and managers and workers 55 and older, the survey found generational differences in several areas related to communication, work style and career advancement. 

Communication styles 

While a majority of both age groups expressed a preference for face-to-face communication, evidence of a small digital divide exists. The phone, however, has fallen out of favor across the board. 

How do you most like to communicate at work?

• Face-to-face: 60 percent (ages 55+); 55 percent (ages 25-34)
• E-mail/Text: 28 percent (ages 55+); 35 percent (ages 25-34)
• Phone: 12 percent (ages 55+); 10 percent (ages 25-34) 

Perspectives on career path 

Younger workers tend to view a career path with a "seize any opportunity" mindset, while older workers are more likely to place value in loyalty and putting in the years before advancement. 

You should stay in a job for at least three years:

• Ages 25-34 – 53 percent
• Ages 55+ – 62 percent 

You should stay in a job until you learn enough to move ahead:

• 25-34 – 47 percent
• Ages 55+ – 38 percent 

Similar contrasts were found when looking at promotions. 

You should be promoted every 2-3 years if you're doing a good job:

• Ages 25-34 – 61 percent
• Ages 55+ – 43 percent 

Hours Working 

Younger workers are more likely to log shorter hours than workers 55 and older. 

Work eight hours or less per day:

• Ages 25-34 – 64 percent
• Ages 55+ – 58 percent 

Older hiring managers are more likely to arrive to work earlier than younger managers but less likely to take work home with them. 

Arrive earlier than 8 a.m.:

• Ages 25-34 – 43 percent
• Ages 55+ – 53 percent

Leave by 5:00 p.m.:

• Ages 25-34 – 38 percent
• Ages 55+ – 41 percent 

Work after leaving the office:

• Ages 25-34 – 69 percent
• Ages 55+ – 62 percent 

Younger workers are more open to flexible work schedules than their older counterparts. 

Arriving on time doesn't matter as long as work gets done: 

• Ages 25-34 – 29 percent
• Ages 55+ – 20 percent 

Work Styles 

Different generations take a much more distinct approach to workplace projects. Younger generations are more likely to want to plan rather than "dive right in" to a new initiative. 

I like to skip the process and dive right into executing: 

• Ages 25-34 – 52 percent
• Ages 55+ – 66 percent

I like to write out a detailed game plan before acting:

• Ages 25-34 – 48 percent
• Ages 55+ – 35 percent 

However, there is one area where older and younger workers see eye-to-eye: Approximately 60 percent of both groups prefer eating alone during lunch hour, as opposed to dining with their co-workers. 

The national survey was conducted by Harris Interactive between May 14 and June 4, 2012 among more than 3,800 full-time workers and more than 2,200 hiring managers across industries and functions.

Made your retirement plans? You may need to revisit them. A new report from the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) has called into question the financial soundness of assuming you can end your working life at age 70, which is already an increase from more traditional retirement ages.

"It would be comforting from a public policy standpoint to assume that merely working to age 70 would be a panacea to the significant challenges of assuring retirement income adequacy, but this may be a particularly risky strategy, especially for the vulnerable group of low-income workers," the authors write.

It can be expensive to get old

The reason? The costs of aging keep going up. For example the report cites prior research which it says demonstrates the significant error introduced into retirement readiness calculations if nursing-home costs are excluded. There is a need, the report says, to re-examine the methodologies behind studies that assume a fairly static picture of retirement savings.

While many 401(k) savings plans and other sources of retirement income are based on best case scenarios, sometimes the worst case can happen -- such as a major illness.

"While workers need to make their own decisions on the correct trade-offs of saving today vs. deferring retirement, they should be able to expect that those presenting alternatives be as accurate and complete as possible, avoiding simplistic 'rules of thumb' that may result in future retirees, through no fault of their own, coming up short," the report says.

Working past 80?

Lower income workers may be at most risk. The research suggests that those in the bottom 25 percent of income might have to stay on the job into their 80s before most of them would have enough retirement income.

The authors stress they don't think everyone needs to work past 80, just that it's risky to assume that you won't be affected by a catastrophic -- and expensive -- illness as you get older.