Current Events in September 2014

Throughout most of history, the boring everyday details of life today would be considered a fantastically implausible science fiction tale: “Last night I had a realtime discussion with somebody on a completely different continent than me, then drove my personal transportation vehicle faster than a mile a minute, while carrying hundreds of pounds of cargo. The car has fireless headlights that shine brighter than the brightest full moon, and depending which dashboard buttons you press, you can make the air in the passenger compartment heat up, cool down or fill with rich music and the sound of singing.”

(Translation: “I answered some emails, then helped a friend move.”)

Still, for all the ways it's great living in The Future, you have to remember that what we call “modern times” will one day be “the olden days.” What aspects of life now will be considered hopelessly old-fashioned by-and-by?

Depending how 3-d printer technology evolves, it's possible that “Buying plastic toys, utensils and other small items” will be on the list: maybe in the future, if you need anything from a spatula to a cell phone case, you'll simply print one out on your computer.

For now, though, 3-d printers arguably remain too expensive and impractical for such commonplace everyday use – perhaps even too impractical for small-scale designers and inventors who need to make prototypes of their creations.

Pilot program

But the UPS Store thinks 3-d printing has enough of a future that this week, it announced plans to expand a pilot program it started last year: the number of UPS Store branches offering 3-d printing services will expand from six stores to 100, in 23 different states plus Washington, D.C.

The UPS Store website lists some of the possible uses of this technology: printing functional protoypes, constructing manufacturing jigs and fixtures, making architectural models and creating customized accessories (such as phone cases).

A simple object can be printed/created in four to five hours, whereas a more complex design might need 24 hours to complete. Prices also vary based on an item's complexity and size: printing an iPhone case would cost about $60, whereas a femur bone replica would cost about $325.

A full list of UPS Store locations that offer 3-d printing services is here.

I've been going to grocery stores for years, decades in fact, and there still is one department that is hit-or-miss at times. That's the produce section.

I never really know if my cantaloupe will be sweet or if my apples will be mushy and have that sandy texture. One thing I do know is that if you buy the things that are in season you will have a better shot at that perfect blueberry taste you're anticipating when you stick those blueberries in some yogurt.

As we head into fall from September to November, the harvest brings a variety of produce that not only tastes good in pies but also right off the vine, from squash and sweet potatoes to grapes and pears. So lets examine what's in for fall and what benefits we can derive from them.

Apples are a natural and with 7,500 varieties there is a good chance you will find a crisp sweet or even tart one that will wet your palate. Fuji apples have the highest concentration of antioxidants, phenolics, and flavonoids, while Cortland and Empire apples have the lowest.

Cranberries are at their best between October to November. That makes sense and explains why they always show up at Thanksgiving. Only 5% actually make it to the produce section (the other 95% are dried, canned, or turned into juice). Cranberries have been known to help with urinary tract infections.Eating them fresh can prevent oral diseases and slow the growth of breast, colon, prostate, and lung cancers.

No doubt about this one -- pumpkins are a huge hit and there is everything from pumpkin coffee to pumpkin soap. (Disclaimer: even though the soap smells great- don't eat it.)

Pumpkin offers a wealth of alpha- and beta-carotene, which can be converted into retinol to promote healthy vision and cell growth. Pumpkin seeds are also a good source of alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid that may help those with heart disease, high blood pressure and so forth.

I'm not sure if it's the smell when they are cooked but Brussel sprouts were never a big winner with my kids until they got older. Cabbage didn't pull them in either. I love both of them and they are part of the fall veggie line-up. Packed with vitamins A and C, cabbage and its mini-me, Brussels sprouts, boast a high concentration of cancer-fighting agents.

You can't beat beets.They are in their prime in the fall. When selecting these reddish purple gems, look for firm, smooth bulbs and bright, crisp greens. Be sure to trim these right away though, since they can leech the beets’ nutrients including betaine, a compound that may help prevent heart and liver disease, and nitrate, which may increase blood flow to the brain and potentially reduce risk of dementia.

Pomegranates have hit the health circles lately. You have probably seen the juice bottles of POM Juice. While much of the research has been inconclusive, some studies suggest the fruit’s antioxidants may reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications like heart attacks.

Don't turn your nose up at turnips and rutabagas. Just because they aren't the prettiest vegetable in the produce department doesn't mean you should push them aside. Research suggests turnips and rutabagas may help reduce the risk of prostate and lung cancers. What’s more, turnip greens are a good source of calcium, and rutabagas are packed with fiber.

Sweet potatoes come into their own in the fall, it's peak season for them. Like squash, sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene, which can prevent vitamin A deficiencies, promote healthy eyesight and generate retinol production [17]. Sweet potatoes are also a good source of vitamin C, and when baked in their skin can pack nearly 5 grams of fiber.

Pair up with pears. These sweet fruits fall into two major categories: European and Asian. In the U.S., the European varieties, Bosc and Bartlett, are most common, and grow on the west coast during fall. Lots of fiber in a pear which helps lower “bad” cholesterol, or LDL.

By all means you don't want to squish out squash as a fall favorite. It's really the headliner for the fall season. Summer squash are still available locally until October in some parts of the country, and winter squash takes over as summer squash heads out. This branch of the family offers acorn squash, which is rich in potassium and prevents muscles from feeling fatigued and weak, among others.

Seasonal fruit will always be sweeter in season and it will be less expensive because of the the abundance of the crop .

Researchers are battling multiple sclerosis (MS) on several fronts, everything from searching for a cure to developing new treatments for managing the disease.

Just-completed Phase 2 trials of a drug called RPC1063 are providing new hope for managing the condition known as relapsing-remitting MS, which is marked by clearly defined attacks of worsening neurologic function. About 85% of the people with MS have this form.

Relapsing MS is a chronic autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system, characterized by periods of improvement and then relapses. It leads to symptoms like numbness, difficulty walking, visual loss, lack of coordination and muscle weakness. The patient recovers for a time, only to suffer the symptoms again.

Usually strikes women

The disease invariably results in progressive and permanent accumulation of disability and impairment, affecting adults during their most productive years. RMS disproportionately affects women, usually attacking around ages 29 to 30.

What has researchers excited is the result of a six month study of 258 patients. The study found that RPC1063 reduced the relapse rate in the patients by up to 53%, compared to the participants who took placebo. This experimental therapy also decreased the emergence of new brain damage seen by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by more than 90%.

The drug appears to be very safe for humans. More than 98% of the MS patients who were taking it were able to stay on it. That's an important point since to date, available MS drugs have numerous side effects that make them hard for patients to tolerate.

RPC1063 was first discovered at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) molecular library during research at Scripps Florida’s Molecular Screening Center. Over time the compound was synthesized and further developed in the laboratories of Scripps California Professors Ed Roberts and Hugh Rosen.

High level of confidence in the drug

Rosen says the data from the trial supports his colleagues' belief that the discovery provides a new and effective way to intervene in the disease's process.

Patrick Griffin, chair of the Department of Molecular Therapeutics and director of the Translational Research Institute at Scripps Florida, calls the result “an exciting outcome.”

“We expect many other programs that Scripps Florida has been involved in will have similar potential to improve human health,” Griffin said.

Up to the FDA

How soon RPC1063 becomes available to MS patients depends largely on the regulatory process. Receptos, a San Diego biopharmaceutical company that licensed the technology from TSRI, is developing RPC1063 for approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The company said it sees a significant market opportunity for the drug if it can deliver an effective oral Relapsing MS therapy with an improved safety and tolerability profile.

There is also still one last test. The drug is currently in a Phase 3 randomized, double-blind study involving 1,200 relapsing MS patients. The trial is expected to be completed in 2017.

The number of people renting homes instead of buying continues to rise, especially in high-cost urban areas. And it just so happens those are the same areas that are the most disaster-prone, according to the Insurance Information Institute, which says only 37% of renters have insurance on their belongings. 

The insurance group is quoting  a 2014 I.I.I. poll conducted by ORC International, which found that only 37% of renters have renters insurance, compared to 95% of homeowners who have a homeowners policy.

“Renters insurance provides a very important financial safety net when there is a disaster,” points out Jeanne M. Salvatore, senior vice president and chief communications officer for the I.I.I. “And, renters insurance is relatively inexpensive — the average cost of a renter’s policy is only $187 per year, or less than four dollars per week.”

Homeownership has fallen for over the past decade, according to Pew Research. And, in major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston, renters outnumber homeowners, the U.S. Census Bureau reports. These cities are also at risk from natural disasters such as hurricanes, flooding, earthquakes and severe winter weather, as well as fire, theft and vandalism.

“Many renters are under the misperception that their landlord’s insurance policy will reimburse them if their personal property is damaged or destroyed, but that’s just not the case,” says Salvatore.

Types of coverage

The Insurance Institute provided this rundown of the types of policies available to renters:

Renters/Tenants Insurance
Renters insurance provides financial protection against damage to or loss of personal possessions due to hurricanes, fire, lightning, theft, explosion and other disasters listed in the policy. There is also coverage for water damage caused by burst pipes or a neighbor who forgets to shut off the water in the tub. Renters insurance does NOT cover flooding and earthquake, but separate policies can be purchased for these events.

Renters insurance also provides coverage for additional living expenses, in the event you are unable to live in your home due to a fire or other insured disaster. It also includes liability insurance if you, a family member (or even your pet) accidently injure someone and they sue you. 

Flood Insurance
Flood insurance is available from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and a few private insurance companies. It provides coverage for personal possessions on an actual cash value basis, generally up to about $100,000. More information is available at www.floodsmart.gov. 

Earthquake Coverage
Renters can purchase insurance for damage to their personal possessions due to earthquakes from private insurance companies or in California from the California Earthquake Authority. Coverage is available either in the form of an endorsement or as a separate policy. Earthquake insurance provides protection from the shaking and cracking that can destroy buildings and personal possessions.

Coverage for other kinds of damage that may result from earthquakes, such as fire and water damage due to burst gas and water pipes, is provided by a standard renters insurance policy.

Umbrella Liability
An umbrella liability policy can be a cost-effective option for increasing your level of liability protection. The policy kicks in when the limit on your renters insurance has been reached. It will also provide coverage for libel and slander.

Umbrella policies generally cost about $150 to $300 per year and will also provide additional liability protection if you own a car, boat and even a snowmobile.

Because the personal umbrella policy goes into effect after the underlying coverage is exhausted, most insurers will require specific underlying limits on your policies. For instance, you may be required to have $300,000 of liability insurance on your renters insurance policy and at least $250,000 on an auto insurance policy.

Floater for Expensive items
If you own expensive jewelry, collectibles, musical instruments or even high-end sports equipment, you may want to add a floater or endorsement to your renters policy. This would provide broader coverage for risks such as “mysterious disappearance.”

More information is available on the institute's website.

There is nothing better to clear your head then being in the outdoors. It's one of the reasons gardening is so popular -- and the main reason that therapists are increasingly using gardening to help patients with dementia.

Horticulture therapy, as it's called, uses gardening activities in a therapeutic and rehab setting to improve the quality of life, possibly reducing costs for long-term, assisted living and dementia unit residents. The therapy has been shown to reduce pain, improve attention, lessen stress, and ease agitation, according Psychiatry Investigation, an academic journal. It may also lower the need for medication in some patients.

How to do it 

You want to make sure you create a space that is safe. You may need to build raised beds of different heights so people who are in a wheelchair can use the garden. Also remember that sometimes it is difficult for older people to bend over.

Try to make the garden as natural as possible. A fence or high walls can be perceived as closing in by some patients. It's best to cover them with shrubs or vines.

Make sure the garden is pretty easy to get to. You might have to make some signs. Pictures and words might help.

Unlocking doors and allowing people with dementia to come and go freely within the garden will encourage its use. One research study showed that propping open the doors to the garden doubled the number of times people used it independently.

Include shade areas that offer protection from the sun. Make a little place where patients can sit and relax. Be mindful of the type of plants you put in and don't use toxic plants or plants that can cause itching.

The surface should be as non-slip as possible; it's important for people who might not be so steady on their feet. Ponds and water features are wonderful but you have to be very careful how they are placed. Rails and ramps are good additions so that people with dementia can use the garden alone. After all, independence is so important when you have lost a big part of it and you are so dependent on others for many things.

Inside option

Another alternative is to plant a small garden inside, especially if you live in an area where the weather is not conducive to spending times outdoors. To be able to have a small space to see beautiful bright flowers and plants on a cold grey day will elevate everyone's spirit.

Don't worry if your garden is small or not yet filled with plants. It's better than watching TV, which is how far too many seniors spend their time in institutional settings. A garden is a great alternative and one that also gives a purpose. A garden is a pefect place to help stimulate memories with loved ones and staff. It welcomes interaction.

Tired of hearing about the newest iPhones? Fair enough, but amidst all the hoopla over technical upgrades, consider this: warranty company SquareTrade says the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are tougher than their predecessors, making them better able to withstand harsher treatment

The new phones did especially well in the "grip-ability" test, meaning you're less likely to drop yours onto the subway tracks or into the toilet. The iPhone 6 also held up well when tested for drop damage, surviving falls from four feet with only minor knicks. 

The 6 Plus didn't fare quite as well in the drop test but, tests aside, if you're going to spring for a top-end phone it's probably a good idea to spend a few dollars more for a protective case.

The phones also did well when confronted with that most feared enemy of consumer electronics -- water. That's not something previous iPhones haven't always handled very well so it's a welcome change.

See more in this SquareTrade video:

Sales of previously-owned homes fell in August after posting 4 consecutive monthly gains.

Figures released by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) show completed transactions that include existing single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops were down 1.8% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.05 million.

While sales are at the second-highest pace of 2014, they remain 5.3% below the 5.33 million-unit level from last August, which was also the second-highest sales level of 2013.

Sales still strong

Sales activity remains stronger than earlier in the year, but fell last month as investors stepped away. "There was a marked decline in all-cash sales from investors,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. "On the positive side, first-time buyers have a better chance of purchasing a home now that bidding wars are receding and supply constraints have significantly eased in many parts of the country.”

Yun adds, "As long as solid job growth continues, wages should eventually pick up to steadily improve purchasing power and help fully release the pent-up demand for buying.”

Prices up, inventory mixed

The median existing-home price for all housing types in August was $219,800 -- 4.8% above the same period a year ago and the 30th consecutive month of year-over-year price gains. The median is the point at which half of prices are higher and half are lower.

Total housing inventory at the end of August declined 1.7% to 2.31 million existing homes available for sale, which represents a 5.5-month supply at the current sales pace. However, unsold inventory is 4.5 percent higher than a year ago, when there were 2.21 million existing homes available for sale.

Regional sales picture

• Existing-home sales in the Northeast jumped 4.7% to an annual rate of 670,000, but are 4.3% below a year ago. The median price in the Northeast was $265,800, which is down 0.8% from a year ago.
• In the Midwest, sales rose 2.5% to an annual level of 1.24 million, but remain 3.9% below August 2013. The median price was up 5.9% from a year ago -- to $173,800.
• Sales in the South fell 4.2% to an annual rate of 2.03 million in August, and are now down 4.2 % from August of last year. The median price in the South was $186,700, a year-over-year gain of 4.7%.
• Sales of previously-owned homes in the West slumped 5.1% to an annual rate of 1.11 million in August, which puts them 9.8% below a year ago. The median price jumped 5.4% from their level of a year ago -- to $301,900.

General Motors is recalling 132,921 model year 2013-2015 Cadillac XTS vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, to August 22, 2014, and 2014-2015 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured January 15, 2013, to August 22, 2014.

The electronic parking brake piston actuation arm in the recalled vehicles may not fully retract causing the brake pads to stay partially engaged. Brake pads that remain partially engaged with the rotors may cause excessive brake heat that may result in a fire.

GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the electronic parking brake software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in September 2014.

Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14471.

Chrysler Group is recalling 188,723 model year 2011 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured January 5, 2010, to July 20, 2011, and equipped with either a 3.6L or 5.7L engine.

The fuel pump relay inside the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM-7) may fail, causing the vehicle to stall without warning,increasing the risk of a crash.

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump relay with one external to the TIPM, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on October 24, 2014.

Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P54.

TBC Corporation (TBC) is recalling 388 Wild Country Radial XTX Sport tires, size 265/65R18, manufactured by Cooper Tire and Rubber Company from June 1, 2014, to June 28, 2014 (weeks 2214-2514).

The recalled tires may experience cracking or broken ply cords in the lower sidewall on the white sidewall side. Such tires may have a sudden loss of air pressure, increasing the risk of tire failure and a crash.

TBC will notify owners, and dealers will replace any affected tires, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule.

Owners may contact TBC customer service at 1-800-739-7698. TBC's number for this recall is 159.

American Honda Motor Company is recalling 6,292 model year 2015 Honda Fit vehicles manufactured April 11, 2014, to June 9, 2014.

The affected vehicles, which are equipped with side curtain air bags, may have been assembled with an A-pillar interior cover designed for vehicles without side curtain air bags.

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the side curtain air bags, the incorrect A-pillar interior cover may adversely affect the performance of the side curtain air bags, increasing the risk of occupant injury.

Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the A-pillar interior cover and install the correct A-pillar cover, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on September 25, 2014.

Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009. Honda's number for this recall is JF9.

The Federal Reserve announced this week more of the same. Fed Chairwoman Janet Yellen said the central bank will continue the policy started by her predecessor, Ben Bernanke, of pumping money into the financial system.

“There are still too many people who want jobs but cannot find them, too many who are working part time but would prefer full-time work, and too many who are not searching for a job but would be if the labor market were stronger,” Yellen said at a Wednesday news conference.

But for the last 5 years the Fed has been purchasing trillions of dollars worth of assets – mostly mortgage-backed securities – in an effort to stimulate demand. By all accounts it has sent the stock market soaring but little of that money has found its way to consumers' pockets.

Questions

If the objective all along was to boost consumer spending, a lot of people are asking why the Fed chose this particular policy. They point out the objective and results haven't matched up very well.

In early September two economists at the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank published a report explaining why inflation is as low as it is. The report says consumers have been “hoarding” cash since the 2008 financial crisis, resulting in slower “velocity,” or movement of money through the U.S. economy.

The authors say that because the Fed increased the money supply an average 33% per year between 2008 and 2013, inflation should have been 31% per year during that time. Instead, it averaged less than 2%.

“So why did the monetary base increase not cause a proportionate increase in either the general price level or GDP?” the authors ask. “The answer lies in the private sector’s dramatic increase in their willingness to hoard money instead of spend it.”

But who, exactly, was doing the hoarding? Some of the readers commenting on the article point out things that might seem obvious to consumers.

Faulty assumption

“This is not difficult,” wrote a poster named John. “The velocity of money went down because it matters who holds the money. The inequality divide in this country has expanded uncontrollably, and the Fed has done nothing to mitigate this. They pump money into the banking system and simply assume the banks will get it out to the consumers. But the banks (nor any business) are not charities. When business is carried out, money generally rises from those who have less of it to those who have more of it.”

In other words, most of the money the Fed has pumped into the economy has remained locked up within the banking system. And because interest rates are so low, banks are less willing to lend it out because the risk-reward ratio doesn't tilt in that direction.

Could the Fed have taken different action that would have achieved better results for consumers? Writing in Foreign Affairs magazine, economists Mark Blyth and Eric Lonerga argue that it could have.

Give money to consumers

“Rather than trying to spur private-sector spending through asset purchases or interest-rate changes, central banks, such as the Fed, should hand consumers cash directly,” they write.

Taking the money spent on asset purchases through the banking system and instead putting it directly in consumers' pockets could have resulted in every U.S. household receiving more than $50,000. That much money would undoubtedly have set off massive inflation – so the overall direct payment could have been much less and still boosted consumer spending.

Cash for Clunkers

In the months immediately following the financial crisis Congress actually tried this, on a limited basis. The 2009 Cash for Clunkers program paid consumers to trade in their old cars for a new one.

While the program was criticized as gimmicky, it had the desired effect of pumping up a struggling auto industry. Since then, the auto industry has become one of the healthier sectors of the U.S. economy.

Is it too late to try this approach as a policy for long-term economic recovery? Blyth and Lonerga don't think so.

“Unless one subscribes to the view that recessions are either therapeutic or deserved, there is no reason governments should not try to end them if they can, and cash transfers are a uniquely effective way of doing so,” they write.

Home Depot this week announced the full known extent of the database breach first reported on Sept. 2: as of now, it's believed that hackers stole 56 million different debit- and credit-card numbers, officially making this the largest such data theft on record.

Security blogger Brian Krebs, who first broke word of the hacking after learning about it from his financial-industry sources, made two Sept. 18 blog posts updating the Home Depot saga.

First, he reported that, according to unnamed sources, Home Depot's investigation is focusing primarily on the self-service checkout machines in various stores.

If it's true that hackers “only” stole customer data from the self-checkouts, this would be good news (relatively speaking); as Krebs said: “The finding could mean thieves stole far fewer cards during the almost five-month breach than they might have otherwise. ... so far, banking sources say Visa and MasterCard have been reporting far fewer compromised cards than expected given the length of the Home Depot exposure.”

But later that afternoon he posted again, after Home Depot publicly announced that the hackers had stolen a total of 56 million debit and credit-card numbers. This officially makes it the largest such security breach on record.

Malware removed

At the same time, Home Depot said that all the malware used in the hacking has been removed, meaning customers can safely use their payment cards at Home Depot again.

Home Depot buried the 56 million number in a four-page statement which it released in .pdf form under the snappy title “The Home Depot completes malware elimination and enhanced encryption of payment data in all U.S. stores/Provides further investigation details, updates outlook.” (The article itself mentions that Canadian stores are included in this.)

Though Home Depot said that “any terminals identified with malware were taken out of service,” it didn't specify which kind of terminals. As of press time, there's no further information available regarding Brian Krebs' earlier suggestion that the problems mostly involved the self-checkout lanes.

Regardless of whether you use self-checkout or have cashiers ring up your order, Home Depot is offering free identity-theft protection services, including credit monitoring, to any customer who used a payment card in April 2014 or later.

The press release says that “Customers who wish to take advantage of these services can learn more at www.homedepot.com or by calling 1-800-HOMEDEPOT (800-466-3337). Customers in Canada can call 800-668-2266.”

There's possible bad news for privacy advocates and Apple customers alike: a sharp-eyed look at Apple's two most recent Transparency Reports (more specifically, what's not in them) suggests that, despite the company's recent announcements affirming its strong commitment to protecting customers' privacy, it might have been forced to secretly spy on people under provisions of the Patriot Act.

First, a little background: Apple CEO Tim Cook made privacy-related headlines twice this week, first for giving a televised interview to PBS' Charlie Rose where, among other things, Cook said the company is not in the business of collecting or selling people's private information. He also discussed (and obliquely criticized) the U.S. government's mass, warrantless surveillance of its citizens, and other revelations exposed by former NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.

“I don’t think that the country or the government’s found the right balance. I think they erred too much on the collect everything side. And I think the [U.S.] president and the [Obama] administration is committed to kind of moving that pendulum back,” Cook said to Rose.

A couple days later, Apple updated its Privacy Policy, promising more stringent protections for customers' personal data. Cook also released an open letter saying, in part, that “Finally, I want to be absolutely clear that we have never worked with any government agency from any country to create a backdoor in any of our products or services. We have also never allowed access to our servers. And we never will.”

Incidentally, Cook's statement in no way contradicts the suggestion “Apple has handed sensitive customer data over to the government;” it only specifies that the government wasn't able to reach in and grab such data by itself.

Gag order

Cook released his letter on Sept. 17. The very next day, Gigoam.com discovered that a look at Apple's two most recent Transparency Reports (from a total of three) strongly suggests the FBI or some other branch of government is secretly forcing Apple to spy on its customers, though the company is legally forbidden to admit this since it's operating under a legal gag order.

Such claims might sound like a paranoid conspiracy theory, but under modern U.S. law – specifically the Patriot Act – they are all-too-plausible.

Apple didn't get into the habit of writing and releasing Transparency Reports until last November, when it issued its first-ever such report, including some language which BoingBoing's Cory Doctorow first identified as a potential “warrant canary.”

The phrase “warrant canary” stems from the older saying “canary in a coal mine,” which in turn alludes to a common mining practice from the old days: before going down into the mines for a day's work, miners first had to make sure no poisonous or suffocating gases had collected there overnight. So before descending into the mine themselves, they'd lower a cage holding a canary or other small bird. If the bird lived, that proved the air in the mine safe to breathe. But if the bird died, the miners knew something was wrong.

Secrets are secret

A warrant canary is a statement meant to show that an organization, such as a tech company or even a public library, has not been forced to comply with a secret (and possibly warrantless) government investigation coupled with a gag order. And should the warrant canary later disappear, that suggests the opposite.

In Apple's case, its Transparency Report from November 2013 (which is available here in .pdf form, but only covers the first half of 2013) included this potential warrant canary statement: “Apple has never received an order under Section 215 of the USA Patriot Act. We would expect to challenge such an order if served on us.”

What does that mean? Section 215 says that the FBI can order any person or organization/entity to hand over “any tangible things,” provided the FBI says it is “for an authorized investigation . . . to protect against international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities.”

However, as the ACLU points out in its call to reform the Patriot Act, Section 215 goes far beyond standard constitutional limits on how the government is allowed to perform investigations:

The FBI need not show probable cause, nor even reasonable grounds to believe, that the person whose records it seeks is engaged in criminal activity. 

The FBI need not have any suspicion that the subject of the investigation is a foreign power or agent of a foreign power. 

The FBI can investigate United States persons based in part on their exercise of First Amendment rights, and it can investigate non-United States persons based solely on their exercise of First Amendment rights. For example, the FBI could spy on a person because they don't like the books she reads, or because they don't like the web sites she visits. They could spy on her because she wrote a letter to the editor that criticized government policy.

Another part of Section 215 — the part that makes “warrant canaries” a necessity in modern-day America – specifies that “Those served with Section 215 orders are prohibited from disclosing the fact to anyone else. Those who are the subjects of the surveillance are never notified that their privacy has been compromised. If the government had been keeping track of what books a person had been reading, or what web sites she had been visiting, the person would never know.”

Timeline

So let's recap what we know so far: in November 2013, Apple decided to release a Transparency Report for the first time, covering all activities through end-of-June that year, and including a statement which might be interpreted as a warrant canary, especially since (as Gigoam announced on Sept. 18), the canary does not appear in Apple's next two Transparency Reports.

If you believe that the statement “Apple has never received an order under Section 215 of the USA Patriot Act. We would expect to challenge such an order if served on us,” which appeared only in the first of three Transparency Reports, was indeed put there as a warrant canary, that strongly suggests a behind-the-scenes timetable something like this:

January 1 through June 30, 2013: Apple was not forced to comply with any Section 215 orders.

Sometime between July and November 2013: Apple got a Section 215 order and was forced to comply, meaning it not only had to turn over sensitive customer data to the government with no regard for warrants, probable cause or other constitutional niceties, Apple was also legally forbidden from telling anybody about this.

Early November 2013: Determined to let people know something's going on yet forbidden to outright say so, Apple released its first Transparency Report including the warrant canary, announcing it had no Section 215 orders as of June 30, 2013 — knowing full well that the canary's absence from its second Transparency Report would strongly imply that Apple did receive such an order shortly afterwards.

Missing canary

Gigoam's discovery of the warrant canary missing from Apple's latest two reports is not the only discouraging bit of Apple-related privacy news to come out this week. On Sept. 17, when Apple updated its privacy policy, it boasted that any data stored on a mobile device with the iOS8 operating system was so secure, even the police and Apple itself couldn't access it unless they know your own personal, secret password.

More specifically, Apple said, “it's not technically feasible for us to respond to government warrants for the extraction of this data from devices in their possession running iOS 8.”

Of course, “technically” can cover a lot of ground – after all, the Patriot Act including the whole need for warrant canaries is, many would argue, technically unconstitutional and therefore can't happen in America, yet current legal reality does not reflect this at all.

And so, on the same day that Gigoam.com first noted the possible death of Apple's warrant canary, Wired's Threat Level security blog found the technicality, noting that “Despite Apple's privacy pledge, cops can still pull data off a locked iPhone”:

iOS forensics expert Jonathan Zdziarski offered a word of caution for the millions of users clamoring to pre-order the iPhone 6 and upgrade to iOS 8. In many cases, he points out, the cops can still grab and offload sensitive data from your locked iPhone without Apple’s help, even in iOS 8. All they need, he says, is your powered-on phone and access to a computer you’ve previously used to move data onto and off of it.

It's scratching season. Are your dog's legs going crazy scratching all parts of his body? How about your cat -- is it having a little trouble breathing?
It could be seasonal allergies.

Unlike humans whose allergy symptoms usually involve the respiratory tract, allergies in dogs and cats more often take the form of skin irritation or inflammation – a condition called allergic dermatitis or Atopy.

You may see them try to relieve this terrible itching sensation by rubbing on the furniture, the walls or anything that will make them feel temporarily better. Many dogs will lick a certain area until it turns raw. That's called a hot spot. You don't see it in cats very often.

Ears are also something to keep an eye on. The ear canals may be itchy and inflamed as part of a generalized allergic response, or they may grow infected with yeast or bacteria. You may see your pet scratching its ears, shaking its head and maybe you will see some hair loss around the ears. If the ear gets infected you will smell a foul odor and there will be a discharge.

What it is

Atopy is the most common form of allergy in dogs and cats. Atopy is often seasonal. If a pet is allergic to ragweed, symptoms occur in the fall. Pets who are allergic to spring tree pollen will show signs in April and May. If a pet is allergic to dust mites, the symptoms may be most dramatic in the winter, when more time is spent inside.

What to do

There are things you can do to give your pet some relief. 

Baths are wonderful -- not so much for you because they splash a lot but if you can get a medicated shampoo for itching, bathe your dog frequently. Make sure to use a grain-free (oatmeal-free) shampoo.

Foot soaks are also a great way to reduce the amount of allergens your pet tracks into the house and spreads all over the indoor environment.

Clean up

I know we don't like this part but you want your house as free from allergens as possible. Vacuum and keep the pet's bedding clean and use non-toxic soaps.

You want to make sure your pet's immune system stays healthy. Avoid unnecessary vaccinations during allergy season.

Make sure you are feeding a food that is low in grains. You want an anti- inflammatory diet. Stay away from carbohydrates as they can exacerbate the condition.

Don't administer over-the-counter meds for humans to your dog or cat. Call your vet get a prescription for an antihistamine.

Consumers nearing retirement age are often lectured by financial planners to be saving more for the years when they aren't working. That's sound advice, but it should be added that getting rid of debt before retirement is also a key step to financial security.

That's rarely as simple as it sounds. Older consumers usually have mortgages, car payments and credit card debt, just like everyone else. Sometimes they are helping their children financially.

One way to make retirement more affordable is to pay off the mortgage before you stop working. If you bought your home 30 years ago and never refinanced, that isn't a problem.

Unfortunately very few people fall into that category. More likely homeowners refinanced several times – in the early 2000s to take out equity for other things – and more recently to lower interest rates.

Mortgage debt

With the slow recovery of the housing market, not only do many aging consumers not have much equity in their home, they are also early in the mortgage term. A recent AARP study shows that in recent years an increasing number of retirees still have mortgage debt.

A study by TIAA Cref shows more seniors are going into debt – to themselves. Nearly one-third of Americans who take part in a retirement plan say they have borrowed money from their retirement account for non-retirement expenses.

But the reasons for borrowing the money is interesting. The top reason given for the loan was to pay off other debt, including mortgages.

For every retiree who is able to burn their mortgage papers there are hundreds more that will carry significant debt into their Golden Years.

Becoming the norm

According to researchers at the Michigan Retirement Research Center, older persons today may be much more likely to enter retirement age in debt compared to decades past.

The percentage of consumers near retirement age having mortgage debt has risen by over 7 percentage points, from 41% in 1992 to 48% by 2008. The level of mortgage debt has also risen. The researchers say mortgage debt for near-retirees tripled between 1992 and 2008.

TIAA Cref cites statistics from the Employee Benefit Research Institute showing that debt levels for families headed by people 75 or older more than doubled in the 3 years from 2007 to 2010, to over $27,000. But pre-retiree Boomers were carrying even more debt – more than $107,000 in 2010.

Conflicting advice

Should you pay your mortgage off early? Some financial advisors suggest it isn't always the best move, if the payments are manageable and you have a low, fixed-rate. After all, it provides a tax deduction.

But that has to be measured against the cash flow benefit of adding $1000 or more a month to your budget because you aren't making a mortgage payment. There may be additional value in paying off a mortgage if you have savings earning little to no interest, given the current low interest rates.

If debt appears to be a problem that will follow you into requirement, the TIAA Cref researchers say you might have to consider postponing retirement, especially if the income you expect to get from Social Security, pensions and savings won’t cover debt payments and other fixed expenses.

If you’re struggling with credit card debt, they suggest waiting until you have a cash management plan you can stick to before leaving work.

Although your weekly grocery bill may not seem like a major expenditure unless you have teenagers, let's say you spend $200 a week. That means you're shelling out $10,400 a year. That's a lot more than a new TV -- which you could easily afford to buy if you cut your weekly grocery bill in half. So how can you do that?

If you were going to buy a new TV you wouldn't just plop 500 bucks down at the first store you went to. Nope, you most likely would shop around for the best price. You can easily do that with groceries too. Stores run ads and for the most part and you can look anything up online. So take a few minutes and comparison shop. Remember you spend over $10,000.00 a year on food. Thats a major purchase.

How does your cell phone camera work? Besides pictures of your cat lets put that camera to good use. Did you know that you can get cash back on your groceries just for taking a picture of your receipt?

The popular website and mobile app, Ibotta will pay you to do just that. After you sign up, be sure to browse through the cash-back offers in your area and take note the next time you go to the grocery store (the offers change every week).

For example, Ibotta will give 50 cents if you take a picture of a receipt showing that you bought a gallon of milk and $1.00 if you take a picture showing that you bought graham crackers. Kinda nifty and thrifty right?

Ad-checker

Wouldn't it be great if you could find someone that went through all the ads to find you the best price. Here it is DealsToMeals.com, run by someone called Shandra. She or her elves will go through all the ads in your city and find you the best prices. She does charge $5 for her time but, heck, that's nothing. It's a couple gallons of milk and eggs in savings. You can also do a free trial.

Whoever said size doesn't matter wasn't interested in saving money. Bigger sizes of items, which tend to offer a lower price per unit, are usually placed on the highest and lowest shelves at the grocery store. Smaller sizes, with a higher price per unit, are often given prime placement at eye level. Go up or down, avoid the center.

Its fun to go into Costco and get all the samples but, hey, you can get chips and dip at home and not have to leave your house. Costco and Sams Club cost about $50 a year. Try buying bulk items online with the app Boxed. No membership fee and they ship everything free.

Try all these little saving tricks and you just might have enough left over for that new TV. 

Only about half of all pregnant women in the U.S. get a flu shot each season, leaving thousands of moms-to-be and their babies at increased risk of serious illness.

“Getting a flu shot should be a routine part of prenatal care,” said Edward McCabe, MD, March of Dimes chief medical officer. “Health care providers should offer their pregnant patients a flu shot each year and if they don’t, then women should ask for it.”

A report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, presented today by the National Foundation for Infectious Disease, found that among those pregnant women whose health care provider offered them a flu shot had the highest vaccination rates.

All pregnant women and those planning to become pregnant should receive a flu shot because the normal changes to a pregnant woman’s immune system, heart and lungs put moms-to-be at increased risk of the harmful effects of flu infection.

Also, babies born to mothers who got their flu shot while pregnant were protected from serious illness from influenza during their first six months of life. They also had a lower risk of flu-related hospitalizations for chronic asthma, heart conditions, diabetes, a weakened immune system, and other health-related problems.

Studies that looked at thousands of pregnant women who received the seasonal flu vaccine, found that immunized moms did not have a higher risk of babies being born too soon or developing a birth defect when compared with babies born to women who did not get a vaccine. Also, researchers found that women who were vaccinated were less likely to experience a stillbirth.