Current Events in September 2015

Sickle cell disease is a hereditary blood disorder that affects red blood cells, distorting their natural disc shape into a crescent moon or “sickle” shape.

This misshapen form makes it more difficult for these red blood cells to move through blood vessels. They can block the flow of blood and break apart, leading to internal organ damage – not to mention a lot of pain.

“A major challenge in the management of sickle cell disease is the tremendous pain that patients endure from chronic and acute pain episodes called pain crisis,” said Sarah Du, a professor at Florida Atlantic University. “Unfortunately, these pain episodes are unpredictable and patients never know when or where these episodes will take place.”

National Science Foundation grant

With a small grant from the National Science Foundation, Du has designed and will develop a portable smart sensor and a phone application for patients to analyze and store the results of their blood tests on a smart phone.

The app will enable sickle cell patients to keep a close watch on any abnormal activities in their blood cells and take required action at the first sign of an attack.

This will be a first for sickle cell patients. The system will consist of a disposable test, a lot like a glucometer that is used by patients who have diabetes.

The system will allow patients to monitor what their red blood cells are doing and better manage the condition by making sure they are always appropriately hydrated and have the right amount of oxygen.

Uses small drop of blood

“We will only need to use a very small drop of blood from a finger stick that will then be loaded into a microscale channel that is biochemically modified,” said Du. “Then, the embedded microprobes inside the channel together with the microprocessor will transmit the signals of blood cells to a patient’s cell phone revealing the results of their blood test.”

The next step, she says, is to use the sensor technology as a part of a smart and connected health system for sickle cell disease management. The readings could be shared with a health care provider, who could then send intervention strategies, feedback, and even prescription medications.

Sickle cell disease affects millions world-wide, including both children and adults. In the U.S., it disproportionately affects people of African descent, as well as Hispanics and those of Middle Eastern descent.

It's estimated that about two million Americans carry this genetic mutation, which affects about 100,000 individuals in the U.S.

After posting sizable declines in the preceding two weeks, applications for mortgages shot higher last week.

Figures released by the Mortgage Bankers Association show applications surged 13.9% in the week ending September 18. The previous week’s results included an adjustment for the Labor Day holiday.

“We saw significant rate volatility last week surrounding the FOMC meeting, and rate declines toward the end of the week likely drove applications from both prospective home buyers and borrowers looking to refinance” said MBA Chief Economist Mike Fratantoni. “The 30-year fixed rate remained unchanged over the week even though there was substantial intra-week fluctuation, but we saw rate decreases in other loan products like the 15-year fixed, 5/1 ARM, and 30-year jumbo.”

The Refinance Index jumped 18%, pushing the refinance share of mortgage activity to 58.4% of total applications from 56.2% the previous week. The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity increased to 6.9% of total applications, the FHA share slipped to 12.9% from 14.2%, the VA share dropped to 10.0%, and the USDA share of total applications decreased to 0.7% from 0.8% the week prior.

Contract interest rates

• The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages (FRMs) with conforming loan balances ($417,000 or less) was unchanged at 4.09%, with points increasing to 0.45 from 0.42 (including the origination fee) for 80% loan-to-value ratio (LTV) loans. The effective rate remained unchanged from last week.
• The average contract interest rate for 30-year FRMs with jumbo loan balances (greater than $417,000) fell five basis points -- from 4.04% to 3.99%, its lowest level since May 2015 -- with points increasing to 0.36 from 0.26 (including the origination fee) for 80% LTV loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.
• The average contract interest rate for 30-year FRMs backed by the FHA held steady at 3.88%, with points decreasing to 0.33 from 0.35 (including the origination fee) for 80% LTV loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.
• The average contract interest rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages slipped two basis points to 3.31%, with points increasing to 0.42 from 0.26 (including the origination fee) for 80% LTV loans. The effective rate increased from last week.
• The average contract interest rate for 5/1 ARMs dropped to 2.95%, its lowest level since May 2015, from 3.04%, with points increasing to 0.58 from 0.36 (including the origination fee) for 80% LTV loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.

The survey covers over 75% of all U.S. retail residential mortgage applications.  

Consumers continue to face problems with mortgage servicing, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) latest monthly consumer complaints snapshot

Of particular concern are certain circumstances, such as when consumers apply for a loan modification to avoid foreclosure. As of Sept. 1, 2015 the CFPB has handled over 702,900 complaints across all products.

“Despite strong protections that have been put in place to protect homeowners, this month’s complaint report shows consumers are still having problems when dealing with their mortgages,” said CFPB Director Richard Cordray. “The Bureau will continue to work to make sure that consumers are being treated fairly on their mortgage issues.”

Mortgages

With a total value topping $10 trillion, the mortgage market is the largest consumer financial marketplace in the country. In 2014, the CFPB put in place strong rules that protect consumers throughout the mortgage process -- from taking out the loan to paying it back.

Since the CFPB began accepting consumer complaints in 2011, it has received more mortgage-related complaints than any other type of financial product. As of Sept. 1, the agency had handled approximately 192,500 mortgage-related complaints.

An array of complaints

Some of the findings in the snapshot include:

• Continued problems preventing foreclosure: Over 50% of mortgage complaints have to do with problems consumers face when they are unable to make payments. Consumers complain of delays and a lack of information when applying for a loan modification. Additionally they complain that servicers often move forward with foreclosure proceedings while a modification application is still under review.
• Lack of information when loans are transferred: Consumers report experiencing confusion and frustration about where to make payments when loans are transferred. When the loan transfers occur, consumers say payments often increase unexpectedly. Consumers also say that they do not feel properly informed about their loans being transferred in the first place.
• Trouble making payments: Nearly a third of mortgage complaints came from consumers saying they have trouble making the proper payments on their mortgage loans. Consumers describe companies not accepting payments of anything less than the full balance owed, or finding their payments were not properly applied despite instructions from the consumer.
• Most-complained-about companies: Wells Fargo, Bank of America. and Ocwen were the three companies about which the CFPB has received the most mortgage-related complaints. Between April and June 2015, the three companies averaged around 430 complaints per month.

National complaint overview

As of Sept. 1, 2015, the CFPB has handled 702,900 complaints nationally. Some of the highlights from the statistics in this month’s snapshot report include:

• Complaint volume: For August 2015, the most-complained-about financial product or service was debt collection, representing about 29% of complaints submitted. Of the 25,732 complaints handled in August, approximately 7,582 of them were about debt collection. The second most-complained-about consumer product was credit reporting, accounting for approximately 5,733 complaints. Overall, the CFPB received 972 fewer complaints in August than in July.
• Product trends: In a year-to-year comparison, consumer loan complaints, which include pawn loans, title loans, and installment loans, showed the greatest percentage increase -- 47% -- nearly doubling from the same time last year. Payday loan complaints showed the greatest percentage decrease -- 12% -- over the same three month (June-August) time period between 2014 and 2015, going from 526 complaints in 2014 to 463 complaints in 2015.
• State information: Nebraska and Nevada experienced the greatest complaint volume increases from the same time last year by a considerable margin. The volume of complaints from Nebraska rose by 54%, while Nevada’s complaint volume increased by 45%. The next largest increase was North Carolina, where complaint volume rose by 36% from the same time period last year.
• Most-complained-about companies: The top three companies about which the CFPB received the most complaints was unchanged from last month’s report. From April through June 2015 Equifax, Experian, and Bank of America were the three most-complained-about companies.

"I and love and you," of Boulder, Colorado, is expanding its earlier recall of cow-boom! strips – beef gullet.

The product may be contaminated with Salmonella.

There have been no reported pet or human illnesses associated with this recall.

The recall is limited to cow-boom! strips - beef gullet packaged in 2.0-oz bags, with lot numbers ending in 4T1 or 5T1, a best-by-year of 2016 or 2017 and UPC number 8 18336 01134 4.

Customers who purchased these products should dispose of them or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers with questions may contact the company at 855.ILY.LOVE Monday through Friday between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM (MT) or by email at service@ilypet.com.

Since age is the major risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, health officials worry that the huge and aging Baby Boom population is going to lead to a staggering increase in the affliction.

Now comes word that British health researchers have concluded that longer life spans mean more people will suffer dementia at some point. Their report, produced for Alzheimer's Research UK, predicts that one in three Britons born this year will be affected by loss of cognitive ability at some point in their lives.

Alzheimer's is the most common brain disease but is not the only one. The various dementias result in the loss of brain cells and impair the brain’s ability to function properly.

Early symptoms can include problems with memory and thinking. As more brain cells die, physical functions such as walking and even swallowing can be affected. There is no cure, although a new drug that may slow or stop Alzheimer’s will soon undergo Phase 3 clinical trials.

While the research focuses on people living in the UK, similar results can be expected for other Western countries, including the U.S.

More women than men

The report estimates that 32% of people born in the UK in 2015 will develop dementia during their lifetime. Women are more likely than men to develop the disease – 37% to 27%.

“These figures underline a stark reality: as people are living longer, more and more people will develop dementia in the future if action is not taken now to tackle the condition,” said Matthew Norton, Head of Policy at Alzheimer’s Research UK. “It’s wonderful news that each generation is living longer than the last, but it’s important to ensure that people can enjoy these extra years in good health.”

The research team previously concluded that if science is able to produce a treatment that could delay the onset of dementia by five years, it would reduce the number of cases by one-third. Major research is underway to do just that.

Research

A year ago researchers in California reported stunning results after a small study of patients just diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. They administered a novel and complex treatment they say restored memory function in nine out of ten study participants.

The treatment consists of a 36-point therapeutic program involving comprehensive changes in diet, brain stimulation, exercise, optimization of sleep, specific drugs and vitamins, and multiple additional steps that affect brain chemistry.

It is the first Alzheimer's research to suggest that memory loss in patients may be reversed, and that improvement can be lasting.

When you celebrate your 65th birthday, it's a transition to your “golden years.” Even if you're still working, you start thinking about the days when you won't be.

And even if you are still on the job, age 65 marks the time when you transition from private health insurance – if you are fortunate enough to have it – to Medicare, the government's health program for seniors.

As with any government program, Medicare can be confusing for those who are new to it. To help with the transition, AARP's Medicare expert, Patricia Barry, is out with the second edition of her book, Medicare For Dummies. It's offered as a comprehensive guide for navigating Medicare’s often-confusing complexities and helps consumers avoid mistakes that could be costly.

Barry outlines what Medicare covers and what beneficiaries pay, offering some tips along the way for reducing out-of-pocket costs.

Making the right decisions

“This book will help anybody with Medicare get the best out of their coverage and save money,” said Barry. “Medicare For Dummies is especially useful for people who are about to become eligible for the program, because that’s when they need to make the right decisions—out of an array of often confusing options—and avoid pitfalls that could cost them dearly.”

The book also provides some of the basics, including how the program is broken down. Medicare Part A is the hospitalization portion of Medicare, covering you when you are admitted to the hospital. According to Medicare, you usually don't pay a monthly premium for Medicare Part A coverage if you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes while working. This is sometimes called "premium-free Part A."

Medicare Part B works like normal health insurance, covering doctor's visits and routine health care.

Most people pay the Part B premium of $104.90 each month, if you sign up for Part B when you're first eligible.

Costs

You pay $147 per year for your Part B deductible. After your deductible is met, you typically pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for most doctor services, outpatient therapy, and durable medical equipment. Costs for higher income beneficiaries may be higher.

Medicare Part D is the program's prescription drug coverage, which is optional. Many beneficiaries who are healthy and not taking medication often decline this coverage. However, the coverage becomes increasingly expensive for each additional year you wait. If you were to develop a serious illness at age 70, the Part D premiums would be much higher than if you obtained it at age 65.

Medicare doesn't cover all of your medical costs – only about 80%. That's why many recipients purchase a “supplemental” policy that covers the other 20%.

Complicated? Sure. In her book, Barry offers readers advice to get the most from the program while avoiding the pitfalls.

Her advice in a nutshell? Sign up at the right time to avoid lifelong penalties.

Single-serve coffee brewing, popularized by Kuerig Green Mountain, is becoming the norm. Not only are these coffeemakers popular in homes, automotive service centers that once operated a lonely coffee urn for customers are switching to these single-serve brewing systems.

Increasingly, coffee roasters are offering their product in these K-cups as well as bags and cans. Even the 7-Eleven convenience store chain has decided single cup brewing has opened the door for it to get into the coffee business.

Coffee provides a big draw for convenience stores and 7-Eleven said it will begin packaging its proprietary 7-Eleven brand coffee for single-serve brewing systems. They'll be sold at participating 7-Eleven stores in two package sizes – an eight-pack for$3.99 and a two-pack for 99 cents.

“Ultimate in convenience”

"Brew cups are the ultimate in convenience for home-brewed coffee, and convenience is the core of 7-Eleven," said Dennis Phelps, VP, Fresh Foods & Proprietary Beverages. "Convenience wasn't the only goal when we developed our new brew cups. We wanted to make sure we offered the same delicious coffee available in our stores at a great value."

A recent National Coffee Association survey found one in five adults who drank a cup of coffee at home the previous day made it in a single-serve brewer. But just five years ago, Phelps says that number was one in 14.

In fact, single-serve appears to be driving coffee growth with some estimates predicting it will surpass retail roasted coffee in 2017.

Retail sales of brew cups grew from $132 million in 2008 to more than $3.1 billion just five years later. Single-serve remains the fastest-growing segment of the coffee category.

Starbucks has offered its coffee in single-serve brew cups for years. So has Dunkin' Donuts. According to The Atlantic, so-called K-Cups accounted for most of Kuerig Green Mountain’s $4.7 billion in revenue in 2014, more than five times the company's previous five-year profit. But even the man who developed the Kuerig system is concerned this increase in coffee convenience comes at a high environmental cost.

Environmental concerns

Keurig founder John Sylvan told the magazine he now wishes he had never invented the single-serve system because he says the disposable K-Cups are bad for the environment.

Kuerig Green Mountain, meanwhile, is meeting the environmental criticism head on. The company said it is committed to making K-Cups recyclable by 2020.

“To meet our 2020 target, we’re evaluating product development solutions and working with the recycling community and partners to ensure that our new K-Cup pack design isn’t just recyclable in theory, but will also be able to be effectively recycled in the majority of community programs,” the company said on its website.

A good way to annoy consumers is to make them sit around half the day waiting for the cable guy, the refrigerator repairman or the anyone else who may or may not show.

With that in mind, Dish, the satellite TV company, has come up with an Uber-like app that lets you track the whereabouts of the TV guy, so you'll know whether you have time to run over to Starbucks before he gets there.

“We recognize that people want control of their own time and Dish’s My Tech tool helps them get on with their day without waiting on the TV guy,” said Erik Carlson, Dish executive vice president of operations. “A minute-by-minute countdown and interactive map allow the customer to track their Dish technician to determine when to leave work or if they have time to run to the store.”

The app works through mydish.com. Customers receive personalized information about their service appointment including the picture, name and the location of a Dish technician on the way to their home.

My Tech is available on mydish.com to all Dish customers with a scheduled service appointment. Dish will send a link to customers to view everything they need to know about their appointment including:

·         The scheduled appointment time, including an estimated 75-minute window in which the technician will arrive.

·         The name and picture of the technician, which appears an hour before the estimated arrival time.

·         A real-time countdown to their tech’s arrival and an interactive map to track the Dish van as it makes its way to the customer’s home.

My Tech is proprietary software created by Dish that incorporates Google Maps’ location access interface. Customers can access My Tech directly from any Dish appointment reminder.

It's a measure of how far gasoline prices have fallen in less than a year that fuel at $2.50 a gallon seems a bit high.

The national average, according to AAA's Fuel Gauge Survey, is now $2.28 a gallon, more than a dollar cheaper than at this time last year. Remarkably, the average price has dipped below the $2 a gallon benchmark in five states:

• South Carolina - $1.90
• Mississippi - $1.93
• Alabama - $1.95
• Tennessee - $1.98
• Louisana - $1.99

At the same time, it appears as though several other states are poised to join the sub-$2 club. New Jersey, Virginia, Texas, and Arkansas all have average gasoline prices below $2.05 a gallon.

Lowest since 2004

At the other end of the scale, California and Alaska are the only two states to still have average gasoline prices above $3 a gallon. But those are the exception, as most states are enjoying the lowest seasonal gasoline prices since 2004.

AAA says the national average has dropped for 36 consecutive days for a total savings of 38 cents per gallon during that time. The savings at the pump are largely due to the relatively low price of crude oil and abundant petroleum supplies.

It's helped that there have only been a few significant refinery issues in the last few weeks. This, and the end of the summer driving season, has reduced demand somewhat. With no regional supply bottlenecks to speak of, AAA says pump prices are down in 47 states and Washington, D.C. in comparison to one week ago, with the motorists in the majority of these states saving at least a nickel per gallon.

Midwest remains unpredictable

Drivers in six states are benefiting from double-digit savings in the price of retail gasoline, with the largest discounts over this period seen in Alaska, South Dakota, and California. Meanwhile, prices in three Midwestern states have gone up over the last week.

Gas Buddy senior analyst Patrick DeHaan Tweeted that a recent fire at Husky's refinery in Lima, Ohio has sent fuel prices up in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan.

AAA notes that prices in the Midwest have consistently been among the most volatile in the nation. This week, prices in some of those states are going up while others are going down.

California motorists continue to suffer, in large part, because of a refinery issue. A fire in February at the Exxon Mobile refinery in Torrance, Calif., caused widespread damage that continues to affect output. Even though California fuel prices tend to be among the highest in the nation, they now run about a dollar a gallon more than most states in the southeast, which has an abundance of oil refineries.

Housing prices continued their increase in mid-summer.

According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), the House Price Index (HPI) for July was up 0.6% on a seasonally adjusted basis from the previous month.

From July 2014 to July 2015, house prices were up 5.8%. The HPI is now 1.1% below its March 2007 peak and roughly the same as the November 2006 index level.

For the nine census divisions, seasonally adjusted month-over-month price changes ranged from -1.2% in the New England division to +1.6% in the Mountain division.

The year-over-year changes were all positive, ranging from +2.1% in the New England division to +9.4% in the Mountain division.

The HPI is calculated using home sales price information from mortgages sold to, or guaranteed by, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The complete HPI report is available on the FHFA website.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has named the redesigned 2015 Ford Edge as a recipient of its TOP SAFETY PICK award.

The midsize SUV received good ratings for crash protection in four of five IIHS evaluations and an acceptable rating in the challenging small overlap front crash test. It also has an optional basic-rated front crash prevention system.

This is the first time the Institute has evaluated the Edge in the small overlap front test. Like the previous generation of the Edge, the 2015 model earns good ratings for occupant protection in the moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, and head restraint evaluations.

Vehicle changes

Ford reinforced the door-hinge pillar on models built after May 2015 to improve occupant protection in small overlap front crashes. The driver space held up reasonably well in the small overlap test, according to IIHS, with maximum intrusion of five inches in the driver’s seating space measured at the upper hinge pillar.

The dummy’s movement was reasonably controlled. The head was largely protected by the frontal and side curtain airbags, but the safety belt allowed the head and torso to move too far forward toward the intruding A-pillar. Measures taken from the dummy indicate a low risk of any significant injuries in a crash of this severity.

To qualify for a 2015 TOP SAFETY PICK, vehicles must earn good ratings in the moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, and head restraint tests, plus a good or acceptable rating in the small overlap test.

For TOP SAFETY PICK+, vehicles also need an available front crash system with an advanced or superior rating. The Edge doesn’t qualify for the “plus” award because it doesn’t have a front crash prevention system equipped with automatic braking.

IIHS plans to raise the bar to earn a 2016 TOP SAFETY PICK, requiring a good small overlap rating. Vehicles with an acceptable rating such as the Edge will need further improvements to qualify for the 2016 honor.

Mortgage rates inched higher last week belying any nervousness about the Federal Reserve's interest rate deliberations.

Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey put the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) at 3.91%, up one basis point from last week's average of 3.90%. The 30-year FRM averaged 4.23 percent at the same time last year.

The 15-year FRM averaged 3.11 percent versus last week's 3.10%. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 3.37%.

The average for the 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) was up one basis point from last week to 2.92%; it was 3.06% a year ago.

The 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM average dropped from 2.63% to 2.56%. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 2.43%.

"The Treasury market was relatively quiet this week, and as a result the 30-year mortgage rate barely budged,” said Freddie Mac Chief Economist Sean Becketti. “We're still on track for the best year of home sales since 2007,” he added, noting that Freddie Mac “is keenly aware though that any rate increase will have a larger impact on low-to-moderate income families looking to finance a home purchase."

Bankrate

Mortgage rates as tracked by Bankrate.com also came in slightly higher for the week.

The 30-year FRM was up one basis point to 4.06%, the 15-year FRM rose from 3.23% to 3.25% and the 5/1 ARM jumped four basis points to 3.28%.

With financial markets settling down from the jitters of the past few weeks, the demand for the safety of U.S. government bonds eased somewhat, with yields moving higher, according to Bankrate. Mortgage rates are closely related to the yields on long-term Treasury securities. With or without a Fed interest rate hike, the context of low inflation and weak global economic growth seems likely to temper any movement in mortgage rates in the near-term.

At the current average 30-year fixed mortgage rate of 4.06%, the monthly payment on a $200,000 loan is $961.76.   

Picnic Gourmet Spreads is recalling its yogurt cheese spreads.

The products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with any of these products.

The recalled products include:

• Red Pepper Feta Cheese Spread,
• Moroccan Cilantro Cheese Spread,
• Tandoori Garlic Cheese spread,
• Herbed Goat Cheese,
• Parmesan Cheese Spread and
• Chipotle Sage Cheese Spread.

The products, distributed to retail stores in Maryland, Kentucky, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, D.C. , Minnesota and Illinois, have a "Best By" date of October 6th.

Customers who purchased any of these products should dispose of them immediately.

Consumers with questions may contact Picnic Gourmet Spreads at info@picnicspreads.com

Volkswagen has apologized and suspended sales of its "clean diesel" cars in the U.S. after federal and California officials charged the cars were clean only when hooked up to emissions testing devices and dirty the rest of the time.

Whether an apology will be enough to placate outraged VW owners is doubtful. "I am furious at Volkswagon for intentionally lying to me. I want to return my 2010 to Volkswagen for a full refund," said photographer and VW owner Joshua Ets-Hokin in a Facebook comment.

"This is almost unbelievable," said Daryl Allen, a semi-retired engineering graduate of the Masschusetts Institute of Technology, expressing the disbelief with which many VW fans greeted the news.

"Wow, how shady and deceptive from a company that claims to be so environmental!" said another Facebook commenter, J'On Bradley, a heavy equipment operator.

German engineering

Volkswagen, revered by many consumers for turning out precision-engineered high-tech cars at modest prices, has for years promoted its TDI turbodiesels as a clean and efficient alternative to hybrids so the news that the cars allegedly put out 40 times the allowed levels of diesel pollution left many of its most loyal customers dismayed and bitterly disillusioned.

Consumers immediately began complaining that their cars would lose much of their resale value and class-action lawyers were expected to be close behind.

VW itself seemed taken aback by Friday's announcement by the Environmental Protection Agency but finally managed to get out a brief statement attributed to its CEO on Sunday.

It's estimated that about 482,000 of the cars were manufactured and sold -- and are still on the road -- leaving owners of those vehicles waiting for the next shoe to drop.

It is a near certainty that VW will recall the cars to remove the allegedly illegal software that deceives emission inspection stations but whether it will be able to bring the cars into compliance with clean-air regulations without hampering their performance and gas-mileage is not known.

Damage to the brand

Volkswagen faces up to $18 billion in fines and could be criminally prosecuted. But even more severe than any legal penalty may be the damage done to VW's brand.

The dirty diesel scandal is bringing forth a wave of other complaints from VW customers, many of them having to do with excessive oil consumption in gas engines, a complaint VW shares with some other German cars.

A VW owner named Mike contacted us shortly after the diesel story broke, complaining that his gas-powered Tiguan -- Volkswagen's popular small SUV -- is constantly "upshifting" in an apparent effort to improve gas mileage.

"On a level surface at normal acceleration it shifts into 5th gear (1st overdrive) at 27 mph and 6th gear (2nd overdrive) at 32 mph. That means on normal neighborhood driving you are in 6th gear and can make milkshakes most of the way," Mike said.

"I'm far from a mechanic but do know enough to know if you consistently lug an engine you'll rip the bottom out of it before long. Along the way you'll start to burn large amounts of oil before the rings blow," Mike said. "I've got no way to know when I'm going to wind up with a blown engine but I'm certain after speaking to many mechanics about lugging it's just a matter of time."

Slow Sport mode

A ConsumerAffairs staff member who drives a Tiguan said he shifts into the "Sport" mode when driving around town. It makes for a jerky ride and wastes gas but keeps the RPMs up, he said, thus avoiding the "lugging" issue. He tells his wife to do the same, telling her the "S" stands for "Slow."  

Mike's comments are similar to those made a few years ago by Pete, a Fairfax, Va., mechanic who specialized in old Alfa Romeos, which burn oil like a furnace. That's not unusual in cars from the 1970s but Pete said it was completely unacceptable in newer cars and flatly recommended that his customers replace their VWs with Japanese cars. 

Pete's advice may have gone a little far but sadly, the ConsumerAffairs database has many complaints from VW owners complaining of engine failure related to low oil levels.

"At 48,000 engine blew. VW of Springfield said we had not changed oil frequently enough (we changed it more often than required/necessary but I could not find one receipt!)," said Ernie of El Dorado Springs, Mo., speaking of his Volkswagen Toureg.

For those not yet ready to take Pete's advice, it's a good idea to manually check the oil level at least weekly.  

In spite of decades of public service campaigns and consciousness raising about the dangers of drunk driving, auto accidents involving alcohol are extremely common.

A recent report by Avvo, an online legal service marketplace, found that 94,550 accidents involving a DUI-related death have taken place in the U.S. since 2004. Though interstate highways might appear to be safer thoroughfares than winding country roads, the study finds that most of these accidents occur on interstates in predominantly rural states.

Avvo compiled the report using data gathered by the National Highways Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).

The most dangerous stretches of highways run through the Western U.S., from Montana down through New Mexico. The authors suggest this might be attributed to the higher speed limits and long distances associated with the open roads of these areas.

The numbers for these rural highways may also skew higher, the study says, because rural drivers are both more likely to keep driving under the influence despite prior DUI convictions and be under the compounding effects of drugs and alcohol.

Regional impact

The regional impact of alcohol behind the wheel is vividly apparent in the study's list of the 25 most dangerous interstate highways in America:

1. I-90 in Montana
2. I-25 in Wyoming
3. I-80 in Wyoming
4. I-25 in New Mexico
5. I-40 in New Mexico
6. I-90 in South Dakota
7. I-29 in South Dakota
8. I-90 in Wyoming
9. I-10 in Louisiana
10. I-295 in Washington, DC
11. I-95 in Rhode Island
12. I-84 in Idaho
13. I-94 in Vermont
14. I-10 in Arizona
15. I-35 in Oklahoma
16. I-79 in West Virginia
17. I-40 in Oklahoma
18. I-95 in Delaware
19. I-40 in Arkansas
20. I-15 in Nevada
21. I-44 in Oklahoma
22. I-40 in Tennessee
23. I-55 in Mississippi
24. I-95 in Connecticut
25. I-25 in Colorado

Sixteen of the 25 stretches of interstate are located west of the Mississippi River. Only four of the 25 are located in the densely populated Northeast.

While rural, western drivers appear more likely to drive under the influence, so do younger drivers.

“Understanding the impact of age on DUI fatalities is a bit more complex than simply blaming the young and inexperienced,” the authors write. “The statistics show that the average age of the driver in a majority of these accidents is between 34 and 36 years old. At the highest level of intoxication, the average age rises to just under 41 years.”

Role of older drivers

But that average age is skewed higher, the authors point out, because of a large number of older drivers who are in alcohol-related fatal accidents.

Drivers involved in a fatal drunk driving accident are usually at least double the .08 blood alcohol (BAC) limit, regardless of their geographic location or age. Impaired drivers on the roads with the most accidents had an average BAC between .21 and .24.

Exactly how high is that? Avvo says someone with a BAC higher than .20 will need assistance walking, experience total mental confusion, and may possibly blackout.

The authors conclude drivers at the highest risk of an alcohol-related fatal accident are 20 to 24 years old, in rural areas, and are without access to reliable and affordable public transportation.   

Comcast has entered into a settlement with the state of California to resolve allegations that it posted the names, phone numbers, and addresses of tens of thousands of customers online who had paid for unlisted voice over internet protocol (“VOIP”) phone service.

As part of the settlement, Comcast will pay $25 million in penalties and investigative costs to the California Department of Justice and the California Public Utilities Commission. The company will also pay about $10 million in restitution to consumers whose numbers were disclosed.

“Troubling breach of privacy”

“Publishing personal information that should have been unlisted is unlawful and a troubling breach of privacy,” said California Attorney General Kamala Harris. “This settlement provides meaningful relief to victims, brings greater transparency to Comcast’s privacy practices and sends a message that violations of consumers’ privacy will result in significant penalties.”

In Alameda Superior Court, Comcast agreed to a permanent injunction that requires it to improve its customer complaint process and strengthen the restrictions it places on its vendors’ use of personal information about customers.

The settlement will also result in a new simple and easy-to-read disclosure form that all Comcast customers will have access to. It will explain the ways in which the company uses unlisted phone numbers and other personal information.

More than privacy is at stake. Customers paid extra to have their telephone numbers unlisted, a service that ultimately was not provided.

Refunds

To resolve that complaint, Comcast has agreed to refund all fees paid for unlisted service by the roughly 75,000 customers whose information was improperly disclosed over a two-year period.

Harris estimates that comes to about $2 million. An additional $100 in restitution per customer brings the total to nearly $10 million.

According to court documents, existing Comcast customers will receive their restitution payment as a credit on an upcoming telephone bill. Consumers who no longer have Comcast service will receive their restitution payments by mail, sent to their last known address.

Apple's App Store defenses have at last been breached. The company confirms that a tool used by developers was copied and modified by hackers, allowing them to insert bad code into apps at the store.

Researchers at Palo Alto Networks said in a blog posting that about 40 apps had been contaminated with malware, dubbed XcodeGhost. A Chinese security firm said it had found more than 300.

The infected apps include the messaging app WeChat and the business car scanner CamCard. 

Apple has removed all of the infected apps that have been identified so far and is working to assess the damage, according to a spokesperson.

The Palo Alto researchers said that once the malicious code can go to websites hosting viruses, which are then installed on the user's Apple device. It can also open pop-up screens that probe for personal user information, including passwords to their Apple account.

Innocuous-looking

Once the infected apps are downloaded, researchers said, the malicious code can open particular websites designed to infect the device with more viruses. It can also open innocuous-looking pop-up screens that ask users for more information, like passwords to their Apple account.

“Since the dialogue is a prompt from the running application, the victim may trust it and input a password without suspecting foul play,” Palo Alto Networks said in its blog post.

A partial list of apps that may be infected was published by BusinessInsider and other sites. In some cases, only the most recent versions are infected and not all language versions are infected.

• Angry Birds 2
• CamCard
• CamScanner
• Card Safe
• China Unicom Mobile Office
• CITIC Bank move card space
• Didi Chuxing developed by Uber’s biggest rival in China Didi Kuaidi
• Eyes Wide
• Flush
• Freedom Battle
• High German map
• Himalayan
• Hot stock market
• I called MT
• I called MT 2
• IFlyTek input
• Jane book
• Lazy weekend
• Lifesmart
• Mara Mara
• Marital bed
• Medicine to force
• Micro Channel
• Microblogging camera
• NetEase
• OPlayer
• Pocket billing
• Poor tour
• Quick asked the doctor
• Railway 12306 the only official app used for buying train tickets in China
• SegmentFault
• Stocks open class
• Telephone attribution assistant
• The driver drops
• The Kitchen
• Three new board
• Watercress reading
• WeChat

If you have any of these apps isntalled, the safest course is to delete them and download a new version from the App Store when it becomes available.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) claims the City of Cleveland failed to meet FAA requirements for maintaining a safe airport during winter weather. And, if the agency gets its way, it'll cost Cleveland big: $735,000 in civil penalties.

“Snow and ice removal at our nation’s airports is a critical safety issue,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. “We require airports to effectively manage this important responsibility.”

The FAA says that over a 15-month period ending in March 2015, managers at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport failed on numerous occasions to keep the airport’s runways and taxiways safe and clear of snow and ice. Federal Aviation Regulations require airports with commercial service to have sufficient and qualified personnel to carry out their snow and ice control plans during severe weather.

Three violations alleged

Between Dec. 30, 2013 and Feb. 25, 2014, the FAA began three separate investigations into the airport’s alleged failure to comply with regulations:

• Early in the morning of December 30, 2013, two commercial aircraft were disabled on taxiways because of unsafe braking conditions. Regulations require airport personnel to monitor conditions and close any pavement areas that are unsafe. Freezing rain and drizzle had been falling for more than two hours when the airport allegedly dismissed its maintenance staff at 11 p.m. the previous evening. No airport personnel were on duty to operate snow-removal and de-icing equipment after the two passenger flights landed.
• On January 18, 2014, an Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting vehicle slid on ice during a training exercise and was unable to stop before crossing a line that marked the entrance to a runway. An aircraft had just begun its takeoff roll on that runway, resulting in a runway incursion. The aircraft departed safely.
• On February 25, 2014, airport management allegedly failed to follow the approved snow and ice control plan, resulting in unsafe conditions on the airfield. The airport was closed after one pilot reported poor to non-existent braking conditions.

Still missing the mark

After initiating those investigations, the FAA worked with airport management to update Cleveland’s snow and ice control plan. This included establishing new procedures and adjusting schedules to ensure that sufficient personnel were available to respond to inclement weather.

On March 1, 2015, icy conditions prevented an air carrier from quickly exiting the runway. Controllers subsequently canceled the takeoff clearance for one flight and told the captain of another flight on final approach to go around.

During this investigation, the FAA found that, even under the updated policy, airport management allegedly had failed on 19 separate days between Jan. 5 and March 1 to have the required number of maintenance and airport operations personnel on duty.

The city has 30 days from receipt of the FAA’s enforcement letter to respond.