Current Events in August 2015

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    Rite Aid recalls outdoor dining sets

    The chair arms and legs can bend and cause the user to fall

    Rite Aid of Camp Hill, Pa., is recalling about 13,000 outdoor dining sets.

    The chair arms and legs can bend and cause the user to fall, posing a risk of injury.

    The firm has received 4 reports of chairs bending unexpectedly, including 4 reports of injuries to the lower back and hip.

    This recall involves a 6-piece outdoor patio set containing 4 folding chairs, a table and an umbrella. The brown metal-frame chairs have a red canvas seat and back, and measure 21 ¼ inches tall by 25 ¼ inches wide. The umbrellas are 80 inches tall have a coordinated red with stripes canvas top. The square table also has a metal frame and a hard-plastic clear top.

    UPC number 011822350303 and item number 9034923 are printed on the packaging of the patio set.

    The dining sets, manufactured in China, were exclusively at Rite Aid stores nationwide and online at RiteAid.com from January 2015, to July 2015, for between $100 and $150.

    Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled chairs and return them to the any Rite Aid store for a full refund. Consumers are not required to return the table and umbrella.

    Consumers may contact Rite Aid at 800-748-3243 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, or online at www.riteaid.com and click on “Product Recalls” at the bottom of the page under Customer Care.

    Rite Aid of Camp Hill, Pa., is recalling about 13,000 outdoor dining sets. The chair arms and legs can bend and cause the user to fall, posing a risk of i...

    Truecaller releases app to ID all incoming texts

    Free app puts a name and face to phone numbers

    If you get a text from a friend or someone in your list of contacts, their name pops up, making it easy to know who is sending a message.

    But if it is just a number that flashes on your screen, it could be from anyone – and most likely it's an anonymous spammer.

    Truecaller, a mobile call management company, has just released Truemessenger, an app which the company claims will make texing smarter and more social. It's a free download on Google Play.

    The purpose of Truemessenger is to put a name, and even a face, to every incoming number.

    Filter and block spam

    “It helps you filter and block spam by tapping into vibrant community of more than 150 million members who help protect one another from annoying intrusions,” the company said in a release.

    When you receive a text, the app, which is integrated with Truecaller's network of 1.7 billion numbers worldwide, scans social networks and automatically assigns photos, nicknames, and other contact information to the incoming message.

    The app also allows you to set up your own spam rules, just like you can with email. SMS spam is either filtered out of your inbox or blocked altogether. You have less clutter in your inbox and aren't left guessing who might be trying to reach you.

    Truecaller Takes Aim at Mobile Spam

    Right now Truecaller says spam accounts for 15% of all SMS messages sent, which represents 1.2 trillion spam messages each year. In the U.S. market, while there are plenty of other communication options, texting is still the most-used app, making it a prime target for telemarketers and fraudsters.

    You know, the free gift card offers, marketing promotions, and outright phishing scams? The scammers trying to pull them off lose their anonymity.

    And if you happen to be the target of an anonymous cyber-bully who texts hateful messages, the app can gather and present quite a bit of information about your tormentor.

    Truecaller says its Truemessenger app gives users the ability to detect, block, and report spam alongside other Truecaller members. Users also have the option to avoid messages from unwanted numbers and contacts.

    Orderly inbox

    The result is a clean and neat inbox where spam messages disappear into a separate folder. Users may also add advanced filtering options by creating customized filters with known spam keywords or number series, such as area codes or country codes.

    “We are in the middle of the Wild West in terms of spam messages we receive on our mobile phone, and despite the evolution of services in other areas, little has been done to curb the number of spam messages we receive on a daily basis,” said Alan Mamedi, CEO & co-founder of Truecaller.

    The brief video clip below shows how Truemessenger works.

    If you get a text from a friend or someone in your list of contacts, their name pops up, making it easy to know who is sending a message.But if it is j...

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      Domestic air fares head higher in the first quarter

      That doesn't even count things like baggage and pillow fees

      Getting from here to there cost you more in the first 3 months of this year.

      The Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reports the average domestic air fare rose 1.7%, or an inflation-adjusted $388, from the same period a year ago.

      BTS reports average fares based on domestic itinerary fares, which consist of round-trip fares, unless the customer does not purchase a return trip. In that case, the one-way fare is included. One-way trips accounted for 34 percent of fares calculated for the first quarter of 2015.

      Fares are based on the total ticket value, which consists of the price charged by the airlines plus any additional taxes and fees levied by an outside entity at the time of purchase. Fares include only the price paid at the time of the ticket purchase and do not include fees for optional services, such as baggage fees.

      Averages do not include frequent-flyer or “zero fares,” or abnormally high reported fares. Constant 2015 dollars are used for inflation adjustment.

      Inflation-adjusted air fares

      First-quarter fares rose 7.9% from the recession-affected low of $348 in 2009 to the first quarter of 2011. Since 2011, first-quarter fares have shown little change, increasing 3.3% from 2011 to 2015.

      The first-quarter 2015 fare was down 18.2% from the average fare of $475 in 1999 -- the highest inflation-adjusted first quarter average fare in the 20 years since BTS began collecting air fare records in 1995. That decline took place while overall consumer prices rose 43.1%.

      Since 1995, inflation-adjusted fares declined 16.1% compared with a 56.0% increase in overall consumer prices.

      U.S. passenger airlines collected 74.6% of their total revenue from passenger fares during the first quarter of 2015, versus 1995 when 87.6% of airline revenue was received from fares.

      Quarter-to-quarter change

      In the 3-year period from the first quarter of 2012 to the first quarter of 2015, inflation-adjusted fares increased 1.2%. In the 2-year period from the first quarter of 2013 to the first quarter of 2015, inflation-adjusted fares increased 1.3%.

      The complete report is available on the Labor Department website.

      Getting from here to there cost you more in the first 3 months of this year. The Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS)...

      Mobile app that blocks illegal robocalls wins FTC cash prize

      “Billions of unwanted robocalls” could be blocked

      Builders of a mobile app that blocks and forwards robocalls to a crowd-sourced honeypot are the big winners in the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Robocalls: Humanity Strikes Back contest.

      A honeypot is an information system that may be used by government, private, and academic partners to lure and analyze robocalls.

      The $25,000 cash prize went to Ethan Garr and Bryan Moyles, who created a solution called RoboKiller, which relies on universally available call forwarding that works on both landline and mobile phones, and uses audio-fingerprint technology to identify robocalls.

      “We hope the winners bring their dynamic solutions to the marketplace soon,” said Jessica Rich, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Their products may block billions of unwanted robocalls, and help people report illegal robocallers to law enforcement.”

      RoboKiller gives consumers greater control over how and when they receive calls by sending robocalls to a SpamBox that consumers can access at any time. It utilizes consumer-controlled white and black list filtering, and provides personalized setting options.

      DetectaRobo competition

      Judges also determined the winners of the FTC’s DetectaRobo analytic challenge, which was hosted in June 2015 in connection with the National Day of Civic Hacking. This contest did not include a monetary prize. Winners are as follows:

      Champion RoboSleuth

      • Ved Deshpande and M. Henry Linder (Team HaV)

      Master RoboSleuths (Runners-up)

      • Sridhar Ramakrishnan and Shuping Liu (Team Milibo)
      • Charles Julian Knight, Taylor Kelley, Ian Moraes, Rohan Smith, Will Mavis, John Cowhig, Sean Browning, James Albert Snow, and Pablo River (Team RDAC)

      DetectaRobo contestants analyzed call data from an existing robocall honeypot and developed algorithms that identified which calls in the data set were likely robocalls.

      The winning teams employed similar strategies in examining particular data categories such as temporal information and area codes, and applied machine learning techniques.

      Builders of a mobile app that blocks and forwards robocalls to a crowd-sourced honeypot are the big winners in the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Robocalls...

      Court shuts down Cold Begone supplements manufacturer

      Iowa Select Herbs made unsubstantiated claims, didn't use proper quality control, feds charged

      Besides pork, corn and early Presidential primaries, Iowa has been a producer of dietary supplements but one major supplier has been shut down by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa.

      The court entered a permanent injunction against Iowa Select Herbs, which manufactures and distributes a variety of dietary supplements, consisting primarily of extracts from various plants, including papaya leaf, echinacea, elderberry and nettle leaf. 

      The firm also produces a product called “Cold BeGone,” which purports to be a complex of natural ingredients that cure the common cold. 

      The company and its owners marketed their products online and through online marketplace websites, such as eBay Inc., Amazon.com Inc. and buy.com.  They also sold their products through a retail location in Cedar Rapids. 

      The Justice Department earlier filed a complaint on behalf of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) alleging that the company’s dietary supplements are manufactured under conditions that are inadequate to ensure the quality of its products. 

      The complaint also alleged that the firm’s dietary supplements qualify as unapproved and misbranded drugs in that they claim to treat or prevent a variety of diseases, including cancer, malaria and heart disease, but have never been submitted to FDA for approval, and have never been found safe and effective for those purposes. 

      Besides pork, corn and early Presidential primaries, Iowa has been a producer of dietary supplements but one major supplier has been sh...

      New home construction inches upward in July

      Permits for future construction was another story

      Construction of privately-owned housing rose in July for the second straight month.

      According to figures released jointly by the Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, housing starts were up 0.2% last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,206,000.

      Single-family housing was the source of what little strength there was, rising 12.8% to a rate of 782,000. Construction of buildings with five units or more was at a rate of 413,000 -- down 85,000 units from June.

      On a year-over-year basis, overall residential construction ran 10.1% above the July 2014 rate.

      Building permits

      The outlook for home construction in the months ahead does not show a lot of promise.

      Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,119,000 in July -- 16.3 % below the revised June rate of 1,337,000. Still, that's 7.5% above a year earlier.

      Permits for single-family construction fell 1.9% to a rate of 679,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 412,000, a decline of 199,000 from the previous month.

      The full report on housing construction is available on the Commerce Department website.

      Construction of privately-owned housing rose in July for a second straight month. According to figures released jointly by the Census Bureau and the Depar...

      FAA proposes civil penalty against Southwest Airlines

      A Boeing 737 apparently was not in compliance with federal regs

      Southwest Airlines is in trouble with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

      The agency is proposing a $325,000 civil penalty against the Dallas-based carrier for allegedly operating a Boeing 737 that was not in compliance with Federal Aviation Regulations.

      On July 9, 2014, an FAA inspector performed an aging aircraft inspection on the Boeing 737 while it was at a maintenance facility in San Salvador, El Salvador. According to the FAA, the inspector discovered that Southwest improperly recorded a temporary repair to an approximately nine-inch crease in the aluminum skin of the jetliner’s rear cargo door as a permanent repair.

      The agency says the inspector discovered that this fuselage damage had first been reported in airline's maintenance records on May 2, 2002, which is when the airline made the temporary repair. The airline was required to inspect the temporary repair every 4,000 flights and complete a permanent repair within 24,000 flights.

      However, the FAA alleges the airline operated the aircraft on 24,831 flights without performing the periodic inspections required for the temporary repair. It further claims Southwest operated the plane on 4,831 flights beyond the flight threshold by which it was required to have performed the permanent repair. The final repair was completed on July 24, 2014.

      Southwest has asked to meet with the FAA to discuss the case.

      Southwest Airlines is in trouble with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The agency is proposing a $325,000 civil penalty against the Dallas-based...

      AT&T helped NSA spy on United Nations, foreign emails and 1.1 billion US phone calls per day

      Company's cooperation with spy agency stands out even by dismal post-9/11 privacy standards

      This has been an especially rough summer for the poor devils working in AT&T;'s public relations department (to say nothing of the poor devils who are actual AT&T; customers). Two months ago, the feds levied a record-breaking $100 million fine against the company for its practice of throttling the connections of unlimited data customers – to the extent that customers with “unlimited” plans actually got as little as one-sixth as much data per billing period as was available to customers of AT&T;'s then-lowest metered-data plan.

      (The company is fighting the fine in court, arguing that its data-throttling activities didn't actually harm any consumers, and the fine should be reduced from $100 million to no more than $16,000.)

      Though perhaps the throttled-data folks did turn out to be the lucky ones. After all: the less data you send and receive over AT&T;'s network, the less data AT&T; can share with the Feds about you. Just yesterday, ProPublica and the New York Times reported that an in-depth analysis of documents released by whistleblower Edward Snowden shows that AT&T; has shown an “extreme willingness to help” the National Security Agency spy on people's electronic communications, to the point where, by 2011, the company gave the NSA more than a billion domestic cellphone records every single day, as the Times said:

      In 2011, AT&T; began handing over 1.1 billion domestic cellphone calling records a day to the N.S.A. after “a push to get this flow operational prior to the 10th anniversary of 9/11,” according to an internal [NSA] newsletter. This revelation is striking because after Mr. Snowden disclosed the program of collecting the records of Americans’ phone calls, intelligence officials told reporters that, for technical reasons, it consisted mostly of landline phone records.

      Mass surveillance 

      This domestic (in-country) spying is in addition to what the company is doing in the rest of the world: “by 2013 the program was processing 60 million foreign-to-foreign emails a day.”

      But American citizens and residents, plus email address holders throughout the world, aren't the only ones AT&T; is monitoring on behalf of the NSA; the company also helped the agency spy on all Internet traffic at United Nations headquarters in New York City. (Previous Snowden documents said that such activities were going on, but didn't identify the telecom responsible.) The United Nations paid AT&T; $1 million per year to operate its fiber optic network.

      Of course, AT&T; is hardly the only company turning over massive amounts of data to the NSA. Remember that in summer 2013, when news first broke of secret documents confirming that the NSA and FBI were indeed engaged in mass surveillance of pretty much everything that went through the central servers of leading U.S. Internet companies (and before former NSA contractor Edward Snowden publicly revealed himself to be the source), initial reports mentioned nine Internet companies cooperating with the program: Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, Facebook, PalTalk, AOL, Skype, YouTube and Apple.

      Meanwhile, the first telecom named as part of the surveillance program was not AT&T; but Verizon, as Glenn Greenwald reported for the Guardian on June 6, 2013: “The National Security Agency is currently collecting the telephone records of millions of U.S. customers of Verizon, one of America's largest telecoms providers, under a top secret court order issued in April.”

      Decades-long partnership with government

      So why is AT&T; singled out for special attention? Partly because the public has only now learned certain AT&T-specific; details, but mainly because even by post-9/11 standards, wherein American companies and organizations can be legally obligated to both support government spying efforts and say nothing about it (thus giving rise to the practice of “warrant canaries”), AT&T; has been unusually willing to cooperate with the National Security Agency. Other companies might be forced to hand data over to the government, whereas AT&T; is more likely to volunteer.

      For that matter, AT&T;'s partnership with the NSA apparently started in 1985, well before the 9/11 terrorist attacks offered any justification for mass government surveillance.

      In 1984, the old “Ma Bell” telephone monopoly was broken up, with pieces of it transformed into other companies. Ma Bell's former long-distance division became AT&T; Communications. The following year, that new company became a secret partner in the NSA's then-new “Fairview” program.

      Not that AT&T; or the NSA has admitted to this; such information only became disclosed yesterday, after the New York Times and ProPublica deciphered the NSA documents and published their findings. As ProPublica said:

      An analysis of the Fairview documents by The Times and ProPublica reveals a constellation of evidence that points to AT&T; as that program’s partner. Several former intelligence officials confirmed that finding. A Fairview fiber-optic cable, damaged in the 2011 earthquake in Japan, was repaired on the same date as a Japanese-American cable operated by AT&T.; Fairview documents use technical jargon specific to AT&T.; And in 2012, the Fairview program carried out the court order for surveillance on the Internet line, which AT&T; provides, serving the United Nations headquarters.

      Indeed, the NSA's very ability to capture mass Internet traffic on American soil is based on the agency's “extraordinary, decadeslong partnership” with AT&T.;

      "Extreme willingness to help"

      One internal NSA document described the collaboration with AT&T; as “highly collaborative” and another praised the company for its “extreme willingness to help.”

      Despite all of this, AT&T; has publicly maintained that it shares people's private data with the government “only to the extent required by the law,” as it said in a December 2013 letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission (.pdf here).

      More recently, AT&T; spokesman Brad Burns said in a joint statement to ProPublica and the New York Times that “We do not voluntarily provide information to any investigating authorities other than if a person’s life is in danger and time is of the essence.”

      In light of the 1.1 billion American cellphone calling records which AT&T; shares with the NSA every single day, compared to the 318.9 million people who live in the United States, Burns' statement and that previous SEC filing suggest one of two possibilities must be true:

      1. On average, a typical American citizen or resident gets kidnapped, held hostage or otherwise in need of time-sensitive life-saving surveillance-requiring police assistance more than three times per day, every day; or

      2. The extent of spying and surveillance “required by the law” is far greater than anybody previously imagined.

      This has been an especially rough summer for the poor devils working in AT&T's public relations department (to say nothing of the poor devils who are actua...

      IRS admits taxpayer hacking is much worse than previously announced

      Total number of victims closer to 334,000 people

      Last May, when the Internal Revenue Service announced that hackers had managed to successfully breach their network security and steal the confidential data of unwitting taxpayers, the IRS said that “approximately 100,000 tax accounts” were affected.

      But today the agency admitted that number is much larger, there being closer to 334,000 potential victims.

      One thing remains consistent: the hackers didn't have access to the full IRS network, only the part dedicated to an online service called “Get Transcript,” which allowed taxpayers (or sophisticated hackers, as it turns out) to get online copies of previous years' tax returns – which is often required for people getting a mortgage, among other things. So if you never had a “Get Transcript” account with the IRS, you have nothing to worry about regarding this breach.

      More compromised accounts

      On the other hand: if you did have such an account, the chances that your information has been compromised are much higher than the IRS originally admitted.

      So far the IRS has not identified any possible suspects, but last May it said it suspected the identity thieves operated somewhere in Russia. In a statement today, the agency said that “As it did in May, the IRS is moving aggressively to protect taxpayers whose account information may have been accessed. The IRS will begin mailing letters in the next few days to about 220,000 taxpayers where there were instances of possible or potential access to 'Get Transcript' taxpayer account information.”

      Note that the IRS statement specifically said the agency would be mailing letters to affected taxpayers – not sending emails or making phone calls. It's a pretty safe bet that phishing scammers and other online criminals will try using this latest IRS announcement to trick people into either installing dangerous malware on their devices, or giving away their passwords, Social Security numbers, and other sensitive information. Any email, text message, or phone call allegedly about this IRS hack can safely be ignored.

      Last May, when the Internal Revenue Service announced that hackers had managed to successfully breach their network security and steal the confidential dat...

      Percentage of income needed to pay rent at all-time high

      Real estate site Zillow calls current rents "crazy"

      Rents have been going up for some time now, but real estate marketplace site Zillow reports the increases lately have gotten “crazy.”

      While mortgages remain affordable by historical standards, Zillow proclaims renting is “less affordable than ever before.” That determination is based on Zillow's analysis of U.S. rental and mortgage affordability in the second quarter of 2015.

      The analysis suggests people who buy homes should expect to pay 15.1% of their income towards mortgage payments, which is still less than what they spent historically. From 1985 through 2000, homeowners spent about 21.3% of their monthly income on mortgage payments.

      But if you are renting, Zillow says you should expect to put 30.2% of your monthly income toward rent – the highest percentage on record. Before the real estate bubble and bust, U.S. renters were spending, on average, about 24.4% of their incomes on rent.

      Some markets simply unaffordable

      In some red hot real estate markets, both buyers and renters are getting squeezed. In Denver and four California metros, both renters and buyers are paying an increasing amount of their income towards either rent or mortgage payments than in pre-bubble years.

      And if you happen to be looking for housing in San Jose, Calif., whether buying or renting, you have to commit about 42% of your income to keeping a roof over your head.

      “Rents are crazy right now”

      "Our research found that unaffordable rents are making it hard for people to save for a down payment and retirement, and that people whose rent is unaffordable are more likely to skip out on their own healthcare," said Zillow Chief Economist Dr. Svenja Gudell. "There are good reasons to rent temporarily – when you move to a new city, for example – but from an affordability perspective, rents are crazy right now. If you can possibly come up with a down payment, then it's a good time to buy a home and start putting your money toward a mortgage."

      Even an increase in mortgage payments from an expected rate hike should keep mortgage costs in an affordable range. Zillow says even if rates reach 6% next year, home buyers can still expect to spend 30% or less of their income on mortgage payments in 265 out of 290 of the metros Zillow analyzed. In fact, mortgage payments will be considered more affordable than in pre-bubble years in 72.1% of metros.

      Rents are a different story. Those costs are already unaffordable compared to historic norms in 77% of metros. Unless rents come down or consumers start earning more, Zillow sees no improvement in the short-term rental environment.

      As we reported last month, a study conducted by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies found that tenants spend more than 30% of their paychecks on housing in nearly 20.7 million renting households.

      Financial advisors counsel that you should spend less than a third of your pay on housing costs, but nearly 11 million renters spend more than half of their paychecks on utilities and rent. That's a 37% increase since 2003.

      Rents have been going up for some time now, but real estate marketplace site Zillow reports the increases lately have gotten “crazy.”While mortgages re...

      Oil prices fall but gasoline prices rise

      Drivers in the upper Midwest see a surge

      Motorists in California and the upper Midwest must be wondering what's up with gasoline prices. While oil prices are plunging and much of the rest of the country has seen prices at the pump fall, those two areas are getting hit hard.

      On Friday the price of U.S. crude oil hit its lowest level since the post-financial crisis days of 2009. West Texas crude hit an intraday low of $41.35 a barrel.

      But the AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows gasoline prices are rising. The national average price of self-serve regular is up about 7 cents a gallon in the last week. Prices are up even more in the Chicago area.

      GasBuddy.com senior petroleum analyst Patrick DeHaan, who is based in Chicago, Tweeted that prices at one Chicago station rose 30 cents while he was being interviewed about rising gasoline prices.

      Disconnect

      The disconnect between falling oil prices and skyrocketing gas prices in Chicago and California is blamed on refinery problems. Refineries turn plentiful and cheap crude oil into gasoline, and when refineries slow their output – for whatever reason – it puts a crimp in supplies and prices rise.

      Refineries are seeing big increases in profit margins as they are able to buy low and sell high. For that reason refinery stocks have risen on Wall Street in recent weeks. 

      This has not escaped notice of state officials in regions where prices are spiking. Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette has fired off a warning letter to BP, which owns the Whiting, Ind., facility that is experiencing the outage causing the supply bottleneck. He says all major petroleum companies should be more transparent in the case of an outage or other unexpected event.

      “As Labor Day weekend approaches, the effects of an outage at a major Indiana petroleum refinery, combined with additional factors, means Michigan families are seeing an increase in the price at the pump. These circumstances do not constitute a free pass for gas stations to gouge consumers,” said Schuette. “We will not tolerate any unscrupulous behavior that violates Michigan law when it comes to gouging and price fixing.”

      Michigan sees price surge

      While AAA pegs the national average price of gas at around $2.66 a gallon, motorists in the upper Midwest are starting the week paying a lot more. The statewide average in Michigan is now right at $3 a gallon, up more than 50 cents in the last 7 days.

      According to AAA, the Detroit metro has the highest prices, averaging about $3.03 a gallon. Saginaw has the lowest, at $2.92.

      Motorists in Illinois are paying even more. The statewide average starts the week at about $3.15 a gallon, up about 55 cents in the last seven days.

      Drivers in the Chicago metro are feeling the most pain, paying an average of $3.44 a gallon for self-serve regular. In the city of Chicago, gasoline averages $3.61 a gallon.

      Drivers in California have been living with high gasoline prices for weeks. The statewide average is about $3.58 a gallon – which Los Angeles motorists paying the most – about $3.84 a gallon.

      Motorists in California and the upper Midwest must be wondering what's up with gasoline prices. While oil prices are plunging and much of the rest of the c...

      Résumé blunders and how to avoid them

      For starters, don't address your cover letter to "Hey you"

      The first step to landing a good job is crafting a résumé that puts your career in the best possible light. Whether it's your first job or an attempt to advance, you want a document that can help seal the deal.

      Unfortunately, many job seekers present a résumé that not only doesn't advance their cause, it actually sets it back.

      Researchers at employment site Careerbuilder.comrecently asked hiring managers about the importance of résumés and how they influence whether someone is hired or not. They learned that 70% of employers spend less than 5 minutes reviewing a résumé and 48% said they spend less than 2 minutes reading it.

      That means a job applicant has very little time to grab a prospective employer's attention. Many make the mistake of overselling, and in many cases fabricating qualifications. This will generally doom your chances, hiring managers say.

      Embellishing usually backfires

      "Job seekers have the unenviable challenge of grabbing – and holding – a hiring manager's attention long enough to make a strong impression," said Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer at CareerBuilder. "Embellishing your résumé to achieve this, however, can ultimately backfire.”

      It turns out most hiring managers are willing to consider candidates who do not meet 100% of the qualifications. What they're looking for is a candidate who can prove past achievements and have an ability to learn, show enthusiasm and demonstrate a cultural fit.

      According to the survey, 42% of employers would consider a candidate who met only 3 out of 5 key qualifications for a specific role.

      The survey collected some of the more memorable résumé blunders hiring managers encountered. The list serves as a powerful reminder to job applicants to just play it straight.

      Memorable blunders

      Some of the most memorable résumé blunders include:

      • Applicant claimed to be a former CEO of the company to which they were applying.
      • Applicant claimed to be fluent in two languages - one of which was pig Latin.
      • Applicant wrote "whorehouse" instead of "warehouse" when listing work history.
      • Applicant's personal website linked to a porn site.
      • Applicant introduced himself in the cover letter by writing "Hey you" as a greeting.
      • Applicant vying for a customer service position gave "didn't like dealing with angry customers" as the reason for leaving her last job.
      • User name of applicant's email address was "2poopy4mypants."
      • Applicant claimed to be a Nobel Prize winner.
      • Applicant claimed to have worked in a jail when they were really in there serving time.
      • Applicant who claimed to be HVAC certified later asked the hiring manager what "HVAC" meant.
      • Applicant said to have gotten fired "on accident."
      • Applicant claimed to have attended a college that didn't exist.
      • Applicant for a driver position claimed to have 10 years of experience but had only had a driver's license for four years.
      • Applicant listed as a reference an employer from whom they had embezzled money and who had an arrest warrant out for the applicant.
      • Applicant's stated job history had him in three different companies and three different cities simultaneously.

      Honesty is still the best policy

      After reading the list, you may see a pattern here. Beyond stupidity, it reveals some job applicants flat out lie. They may think they are putting one over on the person across the desk from them, but 9 out of 10 times they aren't.

      According to the survey, 56% of job applicants say they have caught a lie on a résumé. Most say job seekers embellish skill sets or past responsibilities. Twenty-eight percent have found job seekers claiming academic degrees they don't have.

      You might not think hiring managers check out these claims, but they do.

      What works

      Some job seekers present résumés that command attention and respect. The researchers learned that what impresses hiring managers the most is a résumé that has been customized for the open position. Nearly half say they expect to receive a cover letter, in addition to the résumé.

      Another way to impress a hiring manager is to address them by name in your cover letter.

      Getting a job in this economy isn't easy. If your résumé works against you, it's almost impossible.

      The first step to landing a good job is crafting a résumé that puts your career in the best possible light. Whether it's your first job or an attempt to ad...

      Flights return to normal after 400 weekend cancellations

      Chaos traced to air traffic control computer upgrade in Virginia

      It was a nightmare weekend for air travelers, as an air traffic control automation problem in the East shut down flights and had a ripple effect of delaying and cancelling flights in other areas of the country.

      Before it was all over, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said more than 400 flights had been canceled. The agency took to Facebook on Sunday to report conditions had returned to normal and it was working with airlines who were still repositioning equipment and personnel.

      The chaos was traced to a computer glitch.

      Statement

      “The FAA is focusing on a recent software upgrade at a high-altitude radar facility in Leesburg, Va., as the possible source of yesterday's automation problems,” the FAA statement said.

      The upgrade was designed to provide additional tools for air traffic controllers. The FAA said the new features have been disabled while both the agency and the system contractor complete their assessment.

      “There is no indication that the problem is related to any inherent problems with the En Route Automation Modernization system, which has had a greater than 99.99% availability rate since it was completed nationwide earlier this year,” the FAA said.

      The agency also said the problem was not related to hacking.

      Disruption

      ConsumerAffairs heard from one United Airlines passenger, Sonia of Palm Harbor, Fla., about how the incident disrupted her family's weekend plans.

      “When I arrived at Newark, N.J., there were some problems with air traffic control and my flight was cancelled,” Sonia wrote in a ConsumerAffairs post. “This was distressing because my son was on his way to the Junior Olympics and was supposed to have been there that evening and did not make it.”

      Sonia reports it took 18 hours to eventually reach her destination in Norfolk, Va.

      Southwest Airlines won praise from John G. Hickey, who said the budget carrier did a good job of keeping passengers informed.

      "Nice job SWA proactive information other airlines could learn from your approach," Hickey said on Southwest's Facebook page.

      Shelli Mathews, however, had no kind words for Delta: "Worst experience of my traveling life. Never will fly Delta again. Oh, and I'm still in the baggage drop line," she said in a comment posted early Monday.

      It was a nightmare weekend for air travelers, as an air traffic control automation problem in the East shut down flights and had a ripple effect of delayin...

      Builder confidence at highest point in nearly 10 years in August

      The “gradual strengthening” continues

      Another increase this month for builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes.

      The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) is up 1 point this month to a level of 61 -- the highest reading since November 2005.

      The report, said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe, “is consistent with our forecast for a gradual strengthening of the single-family housing sector in 2015. Job and economic gains should keep the market moving forward at a modest pace throughout the rest of the year.”

      Derived from a monthly survey, the HMI gauges builder perceptions of current single-family home sales and sales expectations for the next 6 months as “good,” “fair” or “poor.” The survey also asks builders to rate traffic of prospective buyers as “high to very high,” “average” or “low to very low.” Scores for each component are then used to calculate a seasonally adjusted index where any number over 50 indicates that more builders view conditions as good than poor.

      The builders' view

      Two of the 3 HMI components posted gains in August. The index measuring buyer traffic increased 2 points to 45 and the component gauging current sales conditions rose 1 point to 66. The index charting sales expectations in the next 6 months held steady at 70.

      Looking at the 3-month moving averages for regional HMI scores, the West and Midwest each rose 3 points to 63 and 58, respectively. The South posted a 2-point gain to 63 while the Northeast held steady at 46.

      “The fact the builder confidence has been in the low 60s for 3 straight months shows that single-family housing is making slow but steady progress,” said NAHB Chairman Tom Woods, a home builder from Blue Springs, Mo. “However, we continue to hear that builders face difficulties accessing land and labor.”  

      Another increase this month for builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes. in August rose one point to a level of 61 on The...

      Healthy breakfasts for kids -- it's not that hard

      We have 7 tips to make life simpler

      With kids about to head back to school or in some cases already back it's time for the annual reminder about the importance of a healthy breakfast.

      Skipping it and means your kids will be playing nutritional catch-up for the rest of the day, according to Carole L. Adler, M.A., R.D., a dietitian at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), because they don't get what they need to be at their best. “Growing bodies and developing brains need regular, healthy meals,” she says.

      The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics points out that studies show that school children who eat breakfast perform better in the classroom.

      As with other meals, it’s a good idea for your kids (and you) to eat a healthy balance of fruits and vegetables, proteins, grains and dairy -- not just for breakfast but throughout the day.

      What to do

      Here are Adler’s 7 quick and easy breakfast tips to ensure your children start their day off right:

      Breakfast doesn’t have to mean traditional breakfast foods.

      • Anything goes, as long as you maintain a healthy balance. So if your kids want a change from cereal and eggs, think about serving left-overs from last night’s dinner. There’s nothing wrong with tuna fish with celery on a whole wheat English muffin or a turkey sandwich to start the day.

      Give kids foods they like.

      • It’s neither necessary nor effective to feed them foods they dislike. Do your kids turn up their noses at vegetables but love pizza? Left-over pizza with a whole-grain crust and veggies works for breakfast, too. Or make muffins with zucchini and carrots, and spread with peanut butter or almond butter for protein with a glass of milk. Your kids love sugary cereal? Mix a little bit of that cereal with a whole-grain, nutrient-packed healthier brand of cereal.

      Make healthy trade-offs.

      • Keep in mind that nutritional balance is key -- not just for one meal but for foods eaten throughout the day. Not enough vegetables in the morning meal? Prepare extra carrot, celery, and broccoli sticks with a hummus dip as an afternoon snack.

      Take growth and activity levels into account.

      • Growing bodies need nourishment. And if your kids are physically active, they need plenty of calories to keep them fueled. Adler says having a breakfast that contains protein, fat and carbohydrates helps children feel full and stay focused until lunch. Protein choices might include an egg, some nuts, a slice of deli meat or cheese, or a container of yogurt.

      “Mom, I don’t have time for breakfast” is NOT an excuse

      • Remember, eating on the go doesn’t have to mean forgoing breakfast. Make sure your kids grab a piece of fruit on the way out the door, and hand them a bag of nut-and-fruit trail mix or a whole-wheat tortilla spread with peanut butter or almond butter and a carton of milk.

      Prep the night before

      • Morning is a busy time for everyone. So take 10 minutes to think ahead and prep for breakfast the night before. Chop up fruit to layer in a yogurt parfait or add to cereal. Cut up vegetables for an omelet. Mix up muffin or whole-grain waffle batter, cover, and put in the fridge. Get out a pan for pancakes or a blender for smoothies. Put a bowl of nut-and-fruit trail mix on the table for kids to grab a handful as they walk out the door.

      Use the Nutrition Facts label when you shop.

      • “The label makes it easy to determine the amounts of nutrients your kids are getting and to compare one product to another,” Adler says. Make sure your kids get nutrient-dense foods that are low in salt and added sugars.

      With kids about to head back to school or in some cases already back it's time for the annual reminder about the importance of a healthy breakfast. Skip...

      Pleasant House Bakery recalls steak and chicken products

      The products were not inspected and contain allergens

      Pleasant House Bakery of Chicago, Ill., is recalling an undetermined amount of steak and chicken pie products.

      The products, distributed without the benefit of inspection, were also missing the ingredient statement and contain undeclared allergens, including eggs, milk, and wheat.

      There are no reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

      The following steak and chicken pie items, produced between January 1, 2014, and August 14, 2015, are being recalled:

      • 10-oz. of individually wrapped product labeled “Steak & Ale Pie.”
      • 10-oz. of individually wrapped product labeled “Chicken Balti Pie.”

      The products were distributed to restaurants and retail establishments in Chicago, Ill. and New Buffalo, Mich.

      Consumers with questions about the recall may contact Arthur Jackson at (312) 804-5247.

      Pleasant House Bakery of Chicago, Ill., is recalling an undetermined amount of steak and chicken pie products. The products, distributed without the bene...

      Nissan Maximas with possible fuel tank issue recalled

      Fuel may leak from the tank during a crash

      Nissan North America is recalling 5,458 model year 2016 Nissan Maximas manufactured March 19, 2015, to June 2, 2015.

      Due to an improperly installed o-ring that may not have been seated correctly at the time of assembly, fuel may leak during a crash from the area where the fuel sending unit attaches to the fuel tank. This could increase the risk of a fire in the event of a crash.

      The remedy for this recall is still under development. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule.

      Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

      Nissan North America is recalling 5,458 model year 2016 Nissan Maximas manufactured March 19, 2015, to June 2, 2015. Due to an improperly installed o-rin...

      AT&T showed "extreme willingness" to help NSA spy on Americans, report alleges

      More than its competitors, AT&T said to be an eager participant in government spying

      AT&T; outshone its competitor Verizon in at least one area in recent years -- it bent over backwards to help the National Security Agency (NSA) spy on Americans' Internet usage, according to The New York Times, which based its report on classified documents released by Edward Snowden.

      One document cited AT&T; for its "extreme willingness to help" the NSA get access to billions of emails. The company also provided technical assistance in carrying out a secret court order allowing the wiretapping of all Internet communications at the United Nations, the report in Sunday's editions said.

      The Snowden documents have given added credence to earlier allegations that AT&T; was an active partner in NSA's spying efforts. In 2006, a class action lawsuit charged that AT&T; had granted the NSA access to its vast database of customer information.

      The NSA's secret budget for its AT&T; program was more than twice as large as similar programs with its nearest competitor and included the installation of surveillance equipment at 17 of its Internet hubs, far more than Verizon.

      Still operating?

      Whether the surveillance programs are still operating isn't known. After Snowden's revelations two years ago, a public outcry supposedly led to the suspension of at least some of the NSA's domestic spying activities.

      But while saying it has cut back on some of its spying activities, the federal government continues to fight efforts to make details of the programs public. Federal law makes it a crime to reveal the existence of classified programs but no law makes it a crime to lie to the public about the existence or non-existence of such programs.

      The Obama Administration recently argued in a court case that public discussion of telecom surveillance would make any such programs ineffective and pose a threat to national security.

      Federal officials, long accustomed to what some might call the lap-dog behavior of the old-line telecom companies, have been perplexed by the attempts of Internet newcomers to thwart government efforts to spy on their customers.

      In May, a coalition of privacy groups and tech companies urged President Obama to veto any legislation expanding federal surveillance after FBI Director James Comey suggested that Congress make it illegal for tech companies to encrypt customer communications. Comey said he found it "depressing" that companies would try to protect their customers against rampant surveillance.

      "Collect everything"

      Last September, Apple CEO Tim Cook obliquely criticized the government's efforts to enlist private companies in its surveillance activities.

      “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 in a televised interview.

      Cook also said that Apple,had "never worked with any government agency from any country to create a backdoor in any of our products or services." Observers noted at the time the Cook did not deny that Apple may have provided information to the government, merely that it had not allowed the feds to reach in and grab it.

      AT&T outshone its competitor Verizon in at least one area in recent years -- it bent over backwards to help the National Security Agency (NSA) spy on Ameri...