Current Events in May 2013

More evidence today that the labor market is strengthening.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 340,000 people filed first-time claims for state unemployment benefits during the week ending May 18 -- down 23,000 from the previous week. The consensus of economists surveyed by Briefing.com was for initial applications to fall to 348,000.

Analysts say the previous week's increase seems to have been the result of normal week-to-week movements of a highly volatile data series. That jump, which brought the initial claims level to its highest point since February was not a change in trends. In fact, they say, employment conditions have show little -- if any -- change.

The 4-week moving average, which is less volatile and considered a more accurate gauge of the jobs picture was down 500 from the previous week to 339,500.

The full report can be found on the Labor Department website.

After picking up steam in March, the pace of sales for new, single-family homes continued its upward momentum last month.

Figures released jointly by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development show sales rose 2.3% in April -- to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 454,000. That strong number follows an upward revision in the March rate to 444,000 from an initially reported 417,000.

Economists surveyed by Briefing.com were calling for a pace of 425,000.

New-home inventories remain depressed with the estimate of new houses for sale at the end of April at 156,000. That works out to a supply of 4.1 months at the current sales rate.

The full April new home sales report is available here.

Overall, the housing market was positive in April. Yesterday, the National Association of Realtors reported a small uptick in sales of existing homes.

Home prices increase

Home prices continued to move higher in March. The Federal Housing Finance Agency's (FHFA) House Price Index (HPI) was up was up 1.3% from February. The HPI is calculated using home sales price information from mortgages sold to or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

During the first three months of this year, the HPI rose 1.9% from the previous quarter -- the seventh consecutive quarterly price rise in the purchase-only, seasonally adjusted index.

“The housing market has stabilized in many areas and homebuilding activity has strengthened in recent quarters,” said FHFA Principal Economist Andrew Leventis. “That said, labor market weakness and still-elevated foreclosure pipelines remain hindrances to a more robust recovery.”

Compared with last year, house prices rose 6.7% the first quarter of 2012 to the first quarter of 2013.  

There's more money going up in smoke these days.

The Federal trade Commission (FTC) says in its latest Cigarette Report that the amount spent on cigarette advertising and promotion by the nation's largest cigarette companies rose from $8.05 billion in 2010 to $8.37 billion in 2011.

The increase was due mainly to an increase in spending on price discounts, or discounts paid to cigarette retailers or wholesalers in order to reduce the price of cigarettes to consumers. Spending on price discounts alone increased from $6.49 billion in 2010 to $7.00 billion in in 2011. That was the largest category in 2011, as it has been each year since 2002.

Meanwhile, the number of cigarettes sold to wholesalers and retailers in the United States declined from 281.6 billion in 2010 to 273.6 billion in 2011.

Smokeless Tobacco Report

At the same time, spending on advertising and promotion by the major manufacturers of smokeless tobacco products was also on the rise, according to the FTC's Smokeless Tobacco Report.

The total rose from $444.2 million in 2010 to $451.7 million in 2011, with price discounts making up the largest spending category and accounting for $168.8 million. And the dollar value of sales by these manufacturers rose from $2.78 billion in 2010 to $2.94 billion in 2011.

The weight of smokeless tobacco sold rose from 120.5 million pounds in 2010 to 122.7 million pounds in 2011.

The law says ticket agents must adequately disclose to consumers when flights are being operated by a different airline than the one marketing their flight through a code-sharing agreement.

Because JTB USA, Inc., didn't do that, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has levied a $60,00 fine against the company and ordered it to cease and desist from further violations.

“When passengers buy an airline ticket, they have a right to know which airline will be operating their flight,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “I hope this penalty sends the message that DOT will continue to take enforcement action when we find violations of our rules.”

Code-sharing

Under code-sharing, an airline can sell tickets on flights that use its designator code but are operated by a separate airline. DOT rules require airlines and ticket agents to disclose to consumers -- before they book a flight -- if the flight is operated under a code-sharing arrangement. The disclosure must include the corporate name of the transporting carrier and any other name under which the flight is offered to the public.

As part of a review of larger ticket agents’ compliance with the code-sharing disclosure rule, DOT’s Aviation Enforcement Office staff made a number of test calls during January and February of this year to JTB USA and inquired about booking a flight. During each of the calls, the company's reservations agents failed to disclose the corporate name of the operating carrier.   

Let's face it, the world is getting smaller.

Through modern technology, the Internet and 24-hour news outlets, a lot of foreign places don't seem that foreign these days.

And as time goes on, more and more cultures will continue to live and work closely together, which makes more people want to learn a new language. 

Of course you can take a traditional language course or get an individual tutor, but you may not have the time.

So what else can you do?

You can teach yourself a new language on your home computer or on your smartphone, especially if you don't have a lot of free time.

Lingualia

A good site to use is Lingualia, which combines social networking with learning a new language.

Lingualia teaches users a host of new languages by using audio techniques, visual lessons, virtual flashcards, work exercises and other teaching methods.

The software can be accessed either on your home computer or mobile device and your work will be shared among all your devices, so you can always pick up where you left off.

In addition, Lingualia uses a virtual tutor named Lingu, which gives you step by step instruction and feedback on your progress.

The creators of the software say Lingu is based on artificial intelligence so it can tailor its teaching methods to accommodate each kind of user. So whether you have very little time each week or several hours every day to learn a new language, Lingu is able to adjust its teaching style to each user and that user's lifestyle.

Probably the coolest thing about Lingualia is the ability to connect with other users around the world who speak the language you're trying to learn. 

You'll be able to get tips and practice your new language with them and communicate with other users who are learning a new dialect as well.

Lingualia can be used by people of all ages and the basic service is free. But you'll have to pay if you're interested in using the site's premium service.

Duolingo

If you want to learn a new language and don't want to pay anything at all, you can give Duolingo a try. The creators say the site is completely free and there are no hidden fees or charges.

How can that be?

Well, Duolingo uses a bartering system of sorts. Meaning, the site will help you practice a new language by giving you documents to translate.  Specifically, Duolingo finds someone who needs a webpage translated. The page is uploaded to the site and you translate it.

In theory, this method allows users to get real-life practice with their new language and get more ownership of it.

Of course the site is for people who are much further along in their new language and are already comfortable writing and speaking it.

Busuu.com

Another good app for learning a new language is Busuu.com.

The difference with Busuu is you can access a live tutor who speaks the language you're trying to learn. So instead of accessing virtual tutors and work exercises, you get to speak to a real person from the Busuu community. 

The creators of the app say it has over 150 learning units that teach a broad range of topics. The company uses both image and sound along with the live tutor, so you get one-on-one training and get to learn on your own too.

Basic features of the app are free to use, but premium access will cost.  Busuu is available for both Apple devices and Androids.

Look, many of us are busy these days and taking the time out to learn a new language could be extremely challenging, which is why using a website or an app may be better.

Plus, a lot of people have most of their free time when they're commuting or traveling, which is another reason why learning a language on an app or website seems to make sense.

When it comes to social media, there are some people who have signed up for it but never use it and those who use social media once in a while just because it's there. And then you have folks who constantly use it and would rather "tweet" someone than pay them a visit.

Some might say that social media has been a great addition to our culture because it makes keeping up with people so easy. But others  think it has removed our desire to connect with people face-to-face.

Michael Houlihan, co-founder of Barefoot Cellars says social media is a wonderful thing to have in our society, but it should never replace human interaction.

Up close and personal

"Social media and technology do have their place, but they are not, and never will be, a substitute for in-person interaction," he says.

Houlihan, whose company produces the popular Barefoot Wine, says he would have never achieved the same kind of success through social media. He says meeting with people in person allowed him to establish stronger relationships.

"I can't tell you how many retailers, suppliers, and potential customers I visited in person during those early years," says Houlihan. "What I can tell you is that I would have never gotten satisfactory results if I had tried to build those relationships via email and social media. People don't just buy your product; they buy you."

Houlihan believes that face-to-face contact is the best way to build business relationships. Others feel it's the best way to build relationships overall.

Turning inward

Andrew Keen, author of Digital Vertigo: How Today's Online Social Revolution is Dividing, Diminishing and Disorienting Us, told WebProNews that social media has made a lot of people self-absorbed.

"As we retreat from real social things, and as we retreat from readily watching or listening to other people's ideas -- music, movies, books -- we seem to be more and more preoccupied with broadcasting ourselves, "says Keen. And that, I think is deeply narcissistic and ultimately doesn't reflect well on ourselves as individuals or collectively as a species."

Social media explosion

And just how many people are using social media these days? 

Well, Facebook has over 1.1 billion users. Twitter has 500 million, Pinterest over 48 million and Google + has 343 million users.

And these are just four of the social media sites

A good portion of users admit to using social media sites to keep in touch with their family and friends, which suggests many aren't keeping in touch through face-to-face contact.

According to statistics released by the company NM Incite, 89% of social media users say keeping up with family and friends is the main reason they use sites like Facebook and Twitter.

Making new friends is the second most popular reason, as 70% of users admit to using their keyboard to meet somebody new, which means that a lot of folks aren't meeting people the old fashioned way. 

Younger users

And what about the younger ones? 

Most young kids have never lived in a world that doesn't involve social media, so will their face-to-face communication skills suffer for it?

Yes, said educational psychologist Dr. Kairen Cullen in an interview with The Evening Standard. 

"New media increases access for lots of children, but on the other hand it doesn't give them experience of face-to-face contact. We only get good at this with lots of practice," she said. "There is this immediate gratification element to new media -- it doesn't allow children to build up patience and time-keeping. It's a mixed picture."

Houlihan agrees and says practice is the only thing that will make a person a good communicator. 

"Like any skill, becoming personable takes practice," he says. "A good way to start is to eliminate virtual communication when in-person communication is possible or more effective. "So shake hands and come out a winner. Remember, genuine, lasting and dependable relationships take time and physical presence. High touch beats high tech every time."

True impact

However there are others who believe that social media isn't as bad as some people may think.

Dr. Megan Moreno, who specializes in adolescent medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said when there's a big shift in technology some people get worried that society will be affected negatively.

"When a new technology comes out that is something so important, there is this initial alarmist reaction," said Moreno in an interview with the  The New York Times.

Houlihan says social media is a good thing for our culture, but says it should be used to start a relationship, not maintain one.

"A relationship can start through text, email, or social media; in fact, I encourage entrepreneurs and other businesspeople to utilize those resources," he says. "But in order to be lasting and dependable, a relationship has to grow in person. Yes, developing your face-to-face social skills will make you feel vulnerable at times. As is the case with learning to walk, though feeling vulnerable is why we get so good at it."

Here are Houlihan's reasons why people should use face-to-face contact instead of social media.

• You're better able to give personalized attention.
• You're more effective in general.
• Facial expressions help get your message across, along with your body language and tonality.
• Your vulnerability shows, which is a good thing.

The housing recovery has proceeded to a point where there are plenty of buyers but fewer houses for sale. As a result, the price buyers have to pay continues to go up.

On its face it appears counter-intuitive. Home sales are actually falling but prices are rising. How can that be? Simple -- supply and demand.

In March, sales of existing homes fell 0.6%, a significant drop not unlike what we experienced at the height of the Great Recession. Then the market was flooded with homes for sale but no one was buying. It was very hard to get a mortgage. Consumers were frightened.

But now, banks are lending again and prospective buyers have less fear about the future, but the market is remarkably thin when it comes to available homes.

Heavy traffic

"Buyer traffic is 25% above a year ago when we were already seeing notable gains in shopping activity," said Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR). "In the same time frame housing inventories have trended much lower, which is continuing to pressure home prices."

Listed inventory remains 16.8% below a year ago when there was a 6.2-month supply. So where are the houses?

A year ago, after major lenders settled charges of abusive foreclosure practices with the states and federal government, housing analysts predicted the market would be flooded with long-delayed foreclosures, putting downward pressure on home prices. But the flood was more of a trickle.

“While many were predicting that REO and the ‘shadow inventory’ would keep real estate markets depressed, in reality the shortage of housing inventory has led buyers to bid more competitively against one another, leading to significant home price increases and tighter housing conditions,” said Tom O’Grady, CEO of Pro Teck Valuation Services, a company assessing home values. “Aside from anecdotal stories, Home Value Forecast shows that one of the most reliable leading indicators to support this theory is the Sold-To-List Price ratio.”

Sellers getting their price

When the Sold-To-List Price ratio is high it means consumers are willing to meet the asking price or get very near it. In the hottest market, consumers will even bid over the asking price if there is a competing buyer. That happened quite a bit during the housing bubble, so should we be worried that it's happening again in some markets?

Not really, because the reasons for the high ratio are different. Then, there were plenty of homes -- too many as it turned out -- but there was also easy money for consumers, even those who really couldn't afford to buy a home.

Today, money is anything but easy and there aren't enough houses to meet current demand, even at reduced levels. As a result, some metro areas hardest hit by the housing collapse are among those showing the best overall performance. Pro Teck lists both the top 10 best performing markets and the 10 worst performing markets. Among the best are:

1. Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, Tenn.
2. Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-Roseville, Calif.
3. Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, Calif.
4. Reno-Sparks, Nev.
5. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minn.-Wis.
6. Las Vegas-Paradise, Nev.
7. Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, Mich.
8. Salt Lake City, Utah
9. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, Calif.
10. Dallas-Plano-Irving, Tex.

The bottom ranked metros are:

1. El Paso, Tex.
2. Shreveport-Bossier City, La.
3. Akron, Ohio
4. Spokane, Wash.
5. Chattanooga, Tenn.
6. Dayton, Ohio
7. Peoria, Ill.
8. Baltimore-Towson, Md.
9. Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, Ark.
10. Rochester, N.Y.

Finally above water

While rising home prices might make it harder for first time home buyers to get into the market, it might provide welcome relief for consumers who purchased homes at the top of the market and, as a result, have not been able to sell their homes.

“Higher home prices will unlock a large number of households with negative or low equity and incentivize them to get off the sidelines and into the housing market," said James D. Shilling, of DePaul University’s Institute for Housing Studies. "However, combined with future increases in interest rates, the net effect is likely an overall reduction in residential real estate transactions and household mobility.”

Shilling said he believes the Federal Reserve will keep mortgage rates low through 2013 and most likely into 2014. When rates begin to rise, he predicts homeowners with near record low interest rates will be reluctant to give up those rates by selling their homes, suggesting an increase in housing inventory won't occur anytime soon.

Penguin is the latest publisher to settle price-fixing allegations. The company has agreed to pay $75 million to resolve complaints by 33 states accusing it of price-fixing and collusion in the market for electronic books, or e-books, a conspiracy allegedly orchestrated by Apple.

It's the fifth settlement growing out of investigations conducted by Connecticut and Texas that so far have paved the way for recovery of approximately $164 million for consumers nationwide. The settlement also applies to private class-action lawsuits filed by consumers alleging that the company’s behavior violated unfair competition laws, causing consumers to overpay for e-books.

Apple is the only remaining defendant and is currently scheduled to go to trial in the Southern District of New York on June 3, 2013.

“Consumers are entitled to a fair, open and competitive marketplace,” said Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen. “This agreement is yet another step toward providing restitution to those consumers who were harmed by alleged price-fixing within the e-book market and will further ensure that, going forward, consumers benefit from fair competition in the sale of e-books.”

If approved by the court, the settlement with Penguin will provide significant consumer restitution and should result in greater competition in e-book sales in the future. The agreement grants e-book retailers greater freedom to reduce the prices of e-book titles and provides $75 million to compensate affected consumers nationwide.

Apple's day in court

Jepsen said he is looking forward to seeing Apple in court.

"Connecticut, along with Texas, is leading the upcoming trial effort against the remaining defendant, Apple, on behalf of our partner states, and we will aggressively seek to obtain additional compensation for consumers in our respective states who have been injured by the illegal conspiracy we allege in our complaint,” he said.

Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro, a consumer-rights law firm in Seattle, has represented consumers in the class action cases that are being litigated in conjunction with the case brought by the states.

“This proposed settlement is a powerful demonstration of what is possible when federal, state and private class antitrust enforcement lawyers work together,” said Steve W. Berman, managing partner of Hagens Berman. “In this case, the level of cooperation was unprecedented, and the results that we were able to deliver to the states and consumers demonstrate that.”

Late last year, Penguin settled similar claims with the Department of Justice. Under that settlement, Penguin agreed to end its allegedly anticompetitive agreements with Apple and other retailers for a period of two years.

Agency model

In December, Berman was appointed lead counsel to represent the rights of consumers in the consolidated class-action lawsuit first filed on Aug. 9, 2011.

It alleges that the defendants coordinated a switch to an agency model, where publishers would set the price, rather than retailers. The result, the lawsuit claims, was a dramatic increase in the price of many e-books as retailers were contractually forbidden from competing on price. The suit sought to compensate consumers for overpayment as a result of the pricing agreement.  

“Penguin's senior management deserves credit for working with us and the attorneys general to reach a comprehensive agreement in such a hotly contested case,” said Jeff D. Friedman, Hagens Berman partner. “They’ve agreed to a settlement that will go a long way toward making e-book consumers whole and restoring a thriving, again-competitive e-book marketplace.”

When is a "sale" price not really a sale price? Antonio Hinojos thinks it's when the price is the same as the "original" price -- and that's the basis of a class action lawsuit he has brought against Kohl's Department Stores.

Hinojos bought a Samsonite suitcase from Kohl's that was advertised as 50% off its "original" price of $299.99. While he was at it, he bought some shirts that were supposedly marked down from 32% to 40% off their "original" prices.

But in fact, Hinojos' suit claims, the items were not marked down at all and the supposed "sale" prices were the same prices the items routinely sold for. Had he known that, Hinojos says he never would have purchased the products.

The case is taking on a life of its own. A district court originally dismissed it, saying Hinojos had not shown that he had lost any money as a result of the alleged false advertising, since he got the goods he wanted.

The court said that Hinojos had shown that he suffered an economic injury under the Unfair Competition Law and the False Advertising Law.

"He alleges that the advertised discounts conveyed false information about the goods he purchased, i.e., that the goods he purchased sold at a substantially higher price at Kohl's in the recent past and/or in the prevailing market. He also alleges that he would not have purchased the goods in question absent this misrepresentation,'" Judge Stephen Reinhardt said, writing for the three-judge panel.

Following disasters like the Oklahoma tornado, scam charities are quick to exploit the tragedy and misery, cynically tugging on heartstrings to line their own pockets. Consumers everywhere should be on guard.

“For those folks around the country who want to donate funds to help families in Oklahoma, please be alert and only donate to reputable relief charities such as the Salvation Army or the Red Cross," said Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt. "The first scam we typically see after devastation like this is charity fraud."

Scam operators may come at you a number of different ways. They may operate bogus charities that contact people by telephone to solicit money or financial information. Potential victims might receive an email to steer them to bogus websites to solicit funds, allegedly for the benefit of tragedy victims.

Sometimes these fraudulent websites are hard to distinguish from those of of legitimate charities. Sometimes they adopt a name that sounds familiar, similar to a charity you've heard of.

Identity theft

Sometimes they're after more than a simple donation. Sometimes they want your identity. After obtaining your personal information, they may clean out your bank account or open credit accounts in your name.

On its website the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has an Exempt Organizations Select Check tool. You can use it to identify qualified charities. Only donations to qualified charitable organizations are tax-deductible. 

You can also find legitimate charities on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Web site.

Iowa sting

Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller has waged a lengthy and successful campaign against questionable charity fundraisers who call residents of his state. He recently obtained a court order barring a Florida telemarketer from operating in Iowa.

In an ongoing sting operation, Miller obtained the Des Moines telephone number of an elderly resident and set it up with a recorder and one of his officers. When the telemarketer, claiming to be from A Child's Dream Foundation, called with its pitch, Miller recorded it and presented it as evidence. The audio of the call, posted on Miller's website, serves as a good example of how these pitches work. 

The telemarketer was Telequal LLC. Its representative “outright lied” in the call, Miller said.

“She said she was calling from the charity, claimed that the charity focused primarily on sick Iowa kids, and also claimed that a lot of each donation went to the kids,” Miller said. “In truth, the call was coming from Telequal. They were asking for money for an out of state charity that has no special Iowa focus, and 85% of every dollar donated went to the telemarketer, not to sick kids.”

What to do

Never respond to charity appeals from telemarketers. Legitimate charities don't work that way.

Contribute only to established, reputable charities. In the case of the Oklahoma disaster, the state's attorney general has suggested the Red Cross or Salvation Army.

Never contribute cash. For security and tax record purposes, contribute by check or credit card or another way that provides documentation of the donation.

If you suspect fraud, report it to you state attorney general's office.

Limited inventory and tight credit are being blamed for a smaller-than-expected increase in sales of existing homes during April.

Figures released by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) show total existing-home sales, which include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, rose just 0.6% last month -- to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.97 million. Economists surveyed by Briefing.com had projected an annual sales rare of 5.05 million.

The recovery continues

Still, NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun believes market is solidly recovering. “The robust housing market recovery is occurring in spite of tight access to credit and limited inventory. Without these frictions, existing-home sales easily would be well above the 5-million unit pace,” he said. “Buyer traffic is 31 percent stronger than a year ago, but sales are running only about 10 percent higher. It’s become quite clear that the only way to tame price growth to a manageable, healthy pace is higher levels of new home construction.”

Sales of existing-home are at the highest pace since November 2009 when the market spiked to 5.44 million in response to the home buyer tax credit. Total sales have been above year-ago levels for 22 months in a row.

Regional breakdown

Three of four regions of the U.S. posted sales gains during April.

• Existing-home sales in the Northeast rose 1.6% to an annual rate of 640,000 in April and are 4.9% above April 2012. The median price in the Northeast was $245,100, up 5.1% from a year ago.
• In the South, sales rose 2.0% to an annual level of 2.01 million in April and are 14.9% above April 2012. The median price was $168,700 -- 10.6%.
• Existing-home sales in the West were up 1.7% to a pace of 1.20 million in April and are 4.3% than in April of 2012. Given limited choices and multiple bidding, the median price in the West was $263,600, up 17.5% from the same month last year.
• The Midwest was the only area to post a decline. Sales were down 3.4% in April to a rate of 1.12 million but are 9.8% above a year ago. The median price was $149,300, up 6.7% from April 2012.

The national median existing-home price for all housing types was $192,800 in April -- up 11.0% from a year ago and the 14th consecutive month of year-over-year price increases. The last time there were 14 consecutive months of year-over-year price increases was from April 2005 to May 2006.

We're getting older as a nation and that's costing money -- lots of it

According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, the cost of treating stroke could more than double in 2030 as the number of people having strokes increases by 20%.

The association, in a statement published in Stroke, an American Heart Association journal, cites the aging U.S. population as the main reason for the increases. It also projects that by 2030:

• Almost 4% of U.S. adults -- nearly one in 25 -- will have a stroke. This translates into an additional 3.4 million people with stroke in 2030.
• Costs to treat stroke may increase from $71.55 billion in 2010 to $183.13 billion.
• Annual costs due to lost productivity could rise from $33.65 billion to $56.54 billion.
• People currently 45-64 years old are expected to have the highest increase in stroke at 5.1%.
• Stroke prevalence is projected to increase the most among Hispanic men between now and 2030, and the cost of treating stroke in Hispanic women is expected to triple.

"Strokes will absolutely strain the healthcare system," said Bruce Ovbiagele, M.D., M.Sc., professor and chairman of the Department of Neurology at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston.

Post-stroke care

Caring for survivors is expensive because stroke can cause long-term disability, he said.

"Ninety% of stroke patients have residual disability and only 10% recover completely after a stroke," Ovbiagele said. "Policy makers at all levels of governance should be aware of this looming crisis so that we can consider practical ways to avert it."

Stroke, the fourth leading cause of death and one of the top causes of preventable disability in the United States, occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted by a blood clot or a bleeding vessel. Without oxygen-rich blood, brain cells die.

"Getting patients specialized acute stroke care as soon as possible is critical,” Ovbiagele said. “During every minute of delayed treatment, brain cells are dying. EMS systems nationwide should take patients directly to a designated stroke center equipped to quickly diagnose and administer drugs to restore blood flow to the brain."

High incidence of stroke

Hispanics and blacks have a higher rate of stroke and worse outcomes, and individuals without insurance have a 24% to 56% higher risk of death from stroke than those with insurance coverage, the statement said.

Stroke rates are particularly high among people 45-64, who are too young to receive Medicare, less able to afford medications and more likely to have diabetes and obesity, compared to older stroke survivors, Ovbiagele said.

Obamacare factor

The Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, is expected to expand insurance coverage to an additional 32 million Americans and to increase emphasis on prevention and wellness, according to the association. These types of policy changes should help reduce the number of strokes, deaths and related costs when the law is fully implemented in 2014. For example:

86 million people have already gained access to free preventive screenings and services, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol screening and tobacco cessation services, through Medicare and most private health plans.

Expanding access to insurance coverage should improve access to primary care and the medications needed to control risk factors and help prevent stroke and to improve access to acute stroke treatment for those who were previously uninsured.

Foster Farms of Porterville, Calif., is recalling approximately 6,165 pounds of ready-to-eat grilled chicken breast strips.

The product contains wheat and soy -- known allergens -- that are not declared on the product label. There have been no reports of adverse reactions associated with consumption of these products.

The following products are subject to recall:

• 4.5 lb. cases containing 12, 6-oz. trays of "FOSTER FARMS GRILLED CHICKEN BREAST STRIPS BONELESS & SKINLESS WITH RIB MEAT 97% FAT FREE," with an identifying case code of "000606."

The recalled product bears the establishment number "P-20923" inside the USDA mark of inspection and a use-by date of "JUN 22 2013" printed on each tray. The product was produced on April 23, 2013, and was distributed to retail establishments in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington.

Consumers with questions about the recall should contact Teresa Lenz, the company's consumer affairs manager, at 209-394-6914.  

Actress Angelina Jolie's decision to undergo a double mastectomy and have her overies removed made headlines for one simple fact: she is perfectly healthy.

However, she decided to engage in what is called aggressive prevention because she tested positive for a high genetic risk for cancer. Jolie's mother died of breast cancer in her 50s.

This type of preemptive therapy is not exactly new. In 2010 Dr. Susan Domchek of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine conducted a large study of women whose genetic make-up -- the presence of what are called BRCA 1 and 2 mutations -- put them at very high risk of cancer.

Domchek found that removing ovaries and breasts not only significantly reduces cancer risks but also increases the odds women will live longer. But she notes this preemptive surgery is not the ideal solution, just a temporary one.

Not a fix

"We shouldn't think these surgical preventions have fixed the problem," she said.

BRCA1 and BRCA2 are human genes that belong to a class of genes known as tumor suppressors. Research has shown that the mutation of these genes is linked to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. Inheriting the genes can significantly increase the risk of cancer.

A recent study found that a preemptive mastectomy may reduce breast cancer risk up to 100% if the patient has a strong genetic history of breast cancer or a BRCA mutation. But the level of risk reduction will vary, patient to patient.

Even removing both healthy breasts doesn't always eliminate the risk fully. It is not unheard of for a woman who has undergone a double mastectomy to still develop breast cancer, though it's very rare.

Prostate cancer

While men have been known to get breast cancer, a bigger threat to men is prostate cancer. With the headlines full of Jolie's decision, some men took to online health forums to discuss whether men should opt for preemptive prostate removal.

"Since so many men develop this disease at advanced ages why not just remove the prostate as a standard procedure at around the age of sixty?" asked a poster named Roland, at Straightdope.com.

Judging by the replies, that isn't going to happen. In fact, the latest prostate cancer research suggests men might need less treatment for prostate cancer unless they happen to harbor the gene for the most aggressive form of the disease.

Also, removing the prostate gland can have serious and permanent side effects, whereas breast removal seldom causes complications. 

Researchers at the University of California San Francisco are using a new genomic test for prostate cancer that can help predict a man's genetic risk of the most severe form of the disease. But instead of preemptive surgery, they say some men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer may be able to avoid surgery, and most treatment altogether, if they have what is considered a manageable form of the disease.

Better risk assessment

The test, which improves risk assessment when patients are first diagnosed, can also help in identifying which men are right for active surveillance, which is a way of managing the disease without direct treatment.

An advantage men have is that prostate cancer often grows slowly. Even now, many of the quarter-million patients diagnosed each year in the U.S. never need treatment. Even so, most patients with low-risk prostate cancer immediately undergo treatment, including surgery.

“With the new test, we can more confidently recommend active surveillance when it is appropriate,’’ said the study’s lead author Matthew R. Cooperberg, MD, a UCSF assistant professor of urology and epidemiology & biostatistics. “And patients through active surveillance can avoid or delay surgery or radiation for their condition."

There's just a little time to go until summer hits, which means families will be opening their home swimming pools throughout most of the United States.

And more families using their swimming pools usually means they'll be using toys for their pools too, as kids love to play with things that inflate and use items that are specifically designed for the water.

But today's pool toys have come a long way from the boring inflatable beach ball or the toy snorkel set. Now you can get a host of cool and unique gadgets for the pool that could make swimming that much better.

Pool-sized motor boat

Like what? Well, there's the Motorized Bumper Boat made by the company Banzai.

It allows kids to travel up to two feet per second and they can battle and bump each other all day long. It comes with a motorized water blaster too, so kids can spray their friends while they steer the inflatable boat around the water.

The Motorized Bumper Boat is battery-powered and recommended for children between the ages of 5 through 10. Amazon currently sells it for around $50 and based on reviews, the bumper boat is safe to use and seems pretty durable -- at least for something that's inflatable.

Cleaning your pool

Although the Jet Net Boat Pool Skimmer isn't really a toy, it's a cool gadget for the pool nonetheless.

It gathers and collects all of those things in the pool that you want to get rid of like leaves, bugs and other small items for which people typically use a net.

By remote control you can steer the boat where you want it to go and pick up the debris; everything is collected in the gadget's built-in net. From there you take the net out, empty it and put it back in for another cleaning.

The Jet Net Boat Pool Skimmer goes for a little over $140 on Amazon and it's a great gadget for kids to use. You can get your children to clean the pool and they'll think they're just playing with a remote control boat. It's a win-win for everybody.

For kids of all ages

Then there's the Excalibur Blue Jet Racer for a little under $80. It's an inflatable jet ski for kids, made for the pool.

It's designed for children ages 5 through 15 and there weren't any reviews from parents about their kids getting hurt on it. Apparently, the motor allows kids to move pretty slowly, so they won't be whipping around the pool, which would probably be bad. Still, some reviews say the inflatable jet ski should only be used for kids with good balance.

Just like a real jet ski, the Blue Jet Racer can be difficult to stay on at first and it's not recommended for small children or those who aren't good swimmers.

It's inflatable too, so consumers probably shouldn't expect it to last a lifetime. But kids should still be able to get a lot of use from it.

For gamers

Last on the list is the Floating Pool Pong Table for about $75, letting you and a friend have a serious Ping-Pong tournament without ever getting out of the pool.

The creators of the table say the surface is hard, so you can do a slap-shot successfully. But the edges are soft and won't hurt the user or other swimmers who may run into it.

It can be used outside the pool too, so if you want to move the game onto the deck of the pool or inside the house, you can. A multi-use table, if you will. The table is 27 inches wide and 54 high and recommended for children ages five and up.

Getting new gadgets for the pool doesn't have to break the bank, and the kids should be able to get a lot of enjoyment out of them.

Politicians and activists of various stripes frequently claim that watching violent movies and TV shows contributes to criminal behavior in adulthood, but a study by a Texas professor finds it's not so.

“We basically find that genetics and some social issues combine to predict later adult arrests,” said Texas A&M International University chair and associate professor of psychology Dr. Christopher J. Ferguson. “Despite ongoing concerns about media influences, media exposure does not seem to function as a risk factor for adult criminality.”

Being raised in a loving and supportive environment may be the best way to decrease the odds that children will grow up to be crooks. Or as Ferguson's report put it: "Results demonstrate that exposure to maternal affection can have the potential to decrease criminal behaviors in those who might otherwise be at risk."

In the study, genetics accounted for more variance in criminal behavior among women, 58 percent, than men, 20 percent, although for both sexes, the genetic contribution was significant.

“Genetics was overall one of the strongest predictors of adult criminality among variables we considered in our analysis,” Ferguson said.

No one cause

Other factors such as family environment, peers and socioeconomic status can also be predictors of adult criminality. He explained that no one thing by itself determines negative outcomes, but rather a confluence of unfortunate factors.

“Genetics alone don’t seem to trigger criminal behavior, but in combination with harsh upbringing, you can see negative outcomes. In our sample, experiencing maternal warmth seemed to reduce the impact of genetics on adult criminality,” Ferguson said.

He added that this research can help focus on issues which really matter, such as family environment, and those that don’t — like media consumption.

“People may object morally to some of the content that exists in the media, but the question is whether the media can predict criminal behavior. The answer seems to be no,” Ferguson said.

The study used data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, which included a representative sample of U.S. adolescents.

If you're a pet owner and you have to go out of town or on vacation, what do you do? 

Sure you can ask a family member or close friend to take care of your pet, but they may not know how to do it or may not want to. Plus, most people are busy and may not have the time to properly care for your dog or cat.

So some people will use a boarding kennel to watch their pet. But is that such a great idea? The folks at The Humane Society say yes and they give a few reasons why -- most importantly, a professional can give your pet the attention he or she needs, which might not be the case if you take your pet out of town with you.

A trained professional should be able to spot any health issues too.

This is a huge benefit, especially for pet owners who plan to be out of town for an extended period of time. Although a friend or family member may be good with animals, he or she probably isn't trained to notice any health problems.

Of course another benefit of using a boarding facility is that you don't have to take your pet on a long car or airplane trip, which can be stressful for both you and your pet.

According to advice from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, you should visit the boarding facility that you're planning to use. This will allow you to have an image of where your dog is staying, which can make you feel more at ease while you're away.

Additionally, visiting a boarding kennel beforehand allows you to ask all the questions you want and it gives you the chance to go over any special needs your pet may have.

Know what you want

Dianna Young, co-owner of Stella Ruffington's Doggy Daycare, a Seattle based facility that provides overnight and day care for dogs, says pet owners have to decide exactly what type of facility they're looking for.

"There are various types of boarding facilities; some offer only individual walks two or three times a day, others offer group settings," Young says on the company's website. "Do you want your dog to be able to play with others while he is boarding? Or is he a little antisocial and would prefer to be in a den of his own with private walks and play times?"

"Do you want him to have his own den and belongings or do you prefer an open plan environment? Does your dog need a quiet room? These are factors you must keep in mind when deciding on the best boarding facility for your best friend," she says.

However, pet owners should consider the cons of using boarding facilities as well. 

Experts say that a lot of pets can become stressed while being in a new environment, especially if the facility is overcrowded. Pets can be more exposed to health issues as well, since they'll be living closely with other animals.

It's important to visit a facility to ensure it smells and looks clean. You want to make sure it maintains the proper temperature and has enough ventilation for your pet as well.

In addition, it's good to ask the staff what they do about bathing and grooming for your pet and what type of veterinarian services they provide. And ask how much space there is between the dogs and the cats in the facility.

Trial run

Another good idea is to let your pet stay overnight before you leave for your trip. This will allow you and your pet to have a test run to see how everything goes. Any good kennel should be happy to arrange a trial overnight. If not, look elsewhere.

The San Francisco SPCA says a good boarding kennel will have a private and spacious place for your dog to stay. And that area should always be cleaned and properly maintained.

A good boarding kennel will ask for proof of your dog's vaccinations as well.

Lastly, the non-profit organization says boarding facilities are best suited for dogs, because dogs are social animals and suffer more when they're alone.

Cats, on the other hand, find it more difficult to adapt to new environments and have a greater chance of experiencing stress. Experts suggest using a professional sitter for cats if possible, but it obviously depends on the cat's temperament.

More about pets

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) wants to take away some of the favorite tools that fraudulent telemarketers use to separate consumers from their money.

The proposed amendments to the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) would strengthen the protections against bogus charges and services. Specifically, they would curtail the use of four payment methods favored by con artists and scammers. The proposed changes would:

• Stop telemarketers from dipping directly into consumer bank accounts by using unsigned checks and “payment orders” that have been “remotely created.” These instruments can make it easy for unscrupulous telemarketers to debit bank accounts without permission, according to the FTC.
• Bar telemarketers from getting paid with traditional “cash-to-cash” money transfers, as well as “cash reload” mechanisms, that scammers rely on to get money quickly and anonymously from consumer victims.

Unscrupulous telemarketers rely on these payment methods, according to the agency, because they are largely unmonitored and provide consumers with fewer protections against fraud. The FTC’s proposed changes would make it a violation for telemarketers and sellers to accept any of these payment methods in any telemarketing transaction.

Consumer protections

The proposed changes also would expand the TSR’s ban on telemarketing “recovery services” in exchange for an advance fee. The commission found that telemarketers who call consumers offering to help recover losses they suffered through an earlier fraud are often engaged in deceptive practices. The ban, which is currently limited to offers to recoup losses suffered in a prior telemarketing transaction, would be expanded to include offers to recoup losses suffered in any prior transaction.

Other proposed amendments to the Rule would clarify and improve various provisions of the TSR, which requires certain disclosures and prohibits misrepresentations during telemarketing calls. It also bars abusive practices, including charging up-front fees for certain services such as credit repair, recovery services, and loan or credit offers presented as “guaranteed” or having a high likelihood of success.

Previous amendments to the TSR created the National Do Not Call Registry, curtailed telemarketing calls that deliver prerecorded messages, and combated deceptive and abusive telemarketing of debt relief services.

If you would like to comment on the proposal, you may do so using this form.   

Samsung remains the top-selling mobile phone in the world, according to the latest figures from Gartner, a technology research firm. Sales grew 13% in the first quarter of 2013 with its market share of smartphones reaching 30.8%.

Apple, meanwhile, sold 38.3 million iPhones in the first quarter, which only put it in third place, behind Nokia. Nokia, however, continues to lose ground because most of its sales continue to be for so-called feature phones, not smartphones. In the smartphone world, the race seems to be between Samsung and Apple.

We wondered which company is doing better among consumers. Any product will draw consumer complaints, but what kind of complaints does each product draw? Are consumers less satisfied with one over the other?

First, let's take a look at what consumers are saying about the iPhone. Dana, of Gardena, Calif., has a complaint about his older iPhone, the 3GS he purchased more than two years ago.

Exploding battery

"Last week, the phone imploded from a faulty battery while it was sitting on my desk," Dana wrote in a ConsumerAffairs post. "I watched the phone expand and bust open. When contacting Apple, they said the phone was out of warranty and I would have to buy a new phone. When I went to their support site, I found hundreds of people with the same complaint and Apple is doing nothing about it."

Shirley of Bellflower, Calif., also has an older iPhone, a 4S purchased about a year and a half ago. She says she was trying to update to iOS 6.3 when it froze.

"The music updated perfectly; however, when it was time for my 2,800 photos to sync, I received an iTunes image with a plug," she writes. "We tried everything to no avail. After visiting an Apple store in Las Vegas, the technician informed me it had to be reset to factory settings. My head and heart began to hurt; after all, I have photos that are irreplaceable."

And then there's this from Jeff, in Santa Fe, N.M.

Disillusioned Apple fan

"I have been a loyal Apple customer since 1984," Jeff wrote in a post. "I have bought hundreds of desktops, laptops, peripherals, iPods, iTouches, and iPhones over the years. iPhone 4S doesn't maintain battery charge, Siri is 99.9% useless."

He's also upset that customer service leaves him on hold for long periods of time and failed to return promised phone calls.

"Apple has clearly gotten too big to be responsive any longer," he writes. "They were so good for so long, then something changed. I am seriously looking, for the first time, for a better customer service experience."

If he looks toward Samsung, operating on the Android platform, he may or may not find what he's looking for. For Samsung draws consumer complaints as well.

Lots of issues

"The Galaxy S3 and Note 2 - There are a lot of issues. Where should I start?" asks M, of Springfield, Ill. "The Bluetooth does not work when third party app, like Skype, is on. If call was received, it will disconnect. Third party app is unresponsive. There is color saturation change issue. There's a battery draining problem. Battery only works only 4-5 hours a day. Data keeps on collecting. All apps do not close on force shut. If Wi-Fi is turned off, it automatically turns on."

Many of the Samsung complaints have to do with software issues. But Priya, of Mumbai, India, is among those reporting battery problems.

"I bought a Samsung Galaxy S2 in November 2012," Priya writes. "Within days, the battery started draining out - sometimes from 75% to 30% within a few minutes, even when the cell phone is not in use. The instrument shuts down too."

Disillusioned Samsung fan

Dhrupad, of Ahmedabad, India, is the Samsung equivalent of Jeff, of Santa Fe, the long-time Apple fan.

"I have been a great fan of Samsung Mobile since the beginning," Dhrupad writes. "I purchased Galaxy SIII on 18th of June 2012. Everything was running smooth until 4th of September. The phone started rebooting from the welcome screen itself. Upon contacting the service center, I was informed that it is a software issue and they reinstalled the software. Still, the problem persisted."

Dhrupad's experience notwithstanding, most of the Samsung and Apple reviews from ConsumerAffairs readers concern older models. Samsung's latest offering is the Galaxy S4. Apple's latest is the iPhone 5. There are fewer reports of problems with these flagship products.

In fact, there is no consistent pattern of complaints about either manufacturer, other than the perception that some of Apple's earlier magic may be wearing off. But when choosing between these companies, extensive reading of reviews may provide consumers some solid insight into which way they should go.