Antenna

Gorgeous stainless steel casing that gives iPhone an elegant look also serves as the antenna. Besides, external antenna, along with giving it an ultra-thin look, was supposed to enhance the phone’s signal strength, as mentioned by Steve Jobs.

And he is absolutely right. The new antenna’s connectivity has been significantly improved, only if you don’t hold the phone with your left hand.

When your palm touches the antenna, your skin brings minute gap between two antennas, causes it to loose its connectivity. This glitch was taken so seriously that Consumer Reports simply refused to recommend this phone until the antenna problem was fixed.

Most users don’t really have any trouble keeping the gap between their left palm and the phone, and are surprisingly thrilled with its connectivity strength. However, many people residing in low-network area, and the ones who cannot mind the gap, are constantly complaining about its poor reception. If you are searching for an inexpensive method to fix the problem, you can use a duct tape or a rubber band to keep the two antennas connected.

Immediately after a damning review by Consumer Report, Steve Jobs promised to provide free iPhone cases to all iPhone 4 buyers, and refund to those who have bought cases already.

The ‘Surprise’ Element

In response to its connectivity problem, Apple said it’s a major software glitch, which has been persistent since the original iPhone. For more than 3 years now, iPhones have been displaying 2 additional bars than it actually should.

When this issue was addressed in public, Apple decided to admit their mistake openly and said they were surprised to know about the reception problem, and they formula they had adopted to calculate signal bars was completely wrong.

Proximity Hang-Up

Dropped calls have always been an issue with iPhones. Initially, it was AT&T. Later, it was due to death grip. And now, it’s your cheek. But this shouldn’t happen.

Almost every smart phone is equipped with proximity sensor that senses if your ear comes closer to the phone while answering the call. Even iPhone has such sensor that keeps you from accidentally touching the ‘hold’, ‘end’, or ‘mute’ button.

However, many users have been complaining about poor functioning of the sensor that, accidentally, causes users to dial number while still on call, or simply drop the call. More than 2,000 complaints have been posted on online forum credit by Apple on its website.

In response, Apple said it’s working to solve the issue, and will come up with a software update very soon.

White iPhone

White gadgets were considered obsolete until recently when white iPhone were suddenly unavailable due to major glitches. Due to less production, the demand has risen, and now everyone wants it.

When the new iPhone was launched in June, only black instruments were available. It weren’t available even a month later. In response, Apple said ‘producing white phones is far more challenging than expected’. However, they said it would be available after second half of July.

Yellow Dots

Fortunately, this problem dried up on its own. Initially, when iPhone 4 was launched, many yellow bars and spots appeared on the screen frequently. However, as soon as customers reported this problem, it simply faded away, without sending the phone for fixing the glitch.

Experts believe it wasn’t magic. It was simply the glue that was used to attach the body to the screen. This happened because Apple manufactured and shipped the phone very quickly, without letting the glue dry away.

If you decide to buy iPhone 4, be ready to face these problems, or some other ones that may just come up.

As per Moody’s Investors Service research, Ireland government’s bonds rating dropped from Aa2 from Aa1. This drop in rating suggests weakening economy and rising debt, which is certainly a concern for the country.

The financial strength of Irish government dropped significantly, but gradually, which is considered to be the primary reason of this fall in rating.

The financial sector took a hit early in 2008, and it’s been worsening since then. Besides, tax revenue of the country dropped considerably, which was a major contributor to government funds. The debt to equity ratio had dropped to 64% last year, and it’s falling since then.

Europe, since early 2008, has not been able to improvise the financial stability of the continent, even long after other parts of the world started recovering. And the situation has been worse for countries of PIIGS (Portugal, Italy, Spain, Greece, and Ireland) in the past few months.

Meanwhile, talks between IMF and Hungary didn’t reap any positive outcome. Negotiators discussed the economy and possible improvements with Hungarian authorities. However, a wide spectrum of issues still remains open, and the negotiating team would return back to Washington soon.

This IMF mission, headed by Christoph Rosenberg, intended to discuss further on the terms related to $25 billion aid accepted by Hungary in 2008.

After the discussion, IMF believes Hungary is still far behind its target of keeping the deficit level below 3% of its GDP, and the country will have to take serious actions to boost consumer spending.

This clearly shows that Buffett hasn’t lost his charm in spite of bruising his prediction-abilities, when he invested in Moody’s (MCO) and Goldman Sachs (GS), the two companies that were responsible to fuel the housing bubble fire.

Two of his picks were responsible for the economic crisis that we recently had experienced. Yet, he is one of the richest man in the country, and is being followed by major businessmen around the globe. His investment strategies, though sometimes they may not help, are simple yet tremendously effective. This is the reason why people agree to pay millions to have lunch with him. The winning bidder would certainly take more back than what he has paid.

However, the cost seems to be increasing every year. In 2000, Peter Budlong, a dot com company owner, along with his 7 friends, had lunch with Warren Buffett to talk about Internet, by paying a mere amount of $25,000. Conversely, this year, the minimum bid was higher than $25,000.

Note:

$2.6 Million wouldn’t go into Buffett’s pocket. It would be given to Glide Foundation, a charity organization that supports homeless.

This speech would be telecast live throughout the country, after meeting with BP officials post visit. According to David Axrelrod, senior advisor at White House, President Obama would ask BP to create an escrow account and deposit funds to pay for damages caused due to the oil spill. This, he said, would be handled by a third party, in order to progress without any bias.

When Axelrod was asked whether the President has any legal authority to compel BP for an escrow account, he said that they have the authority, if they need to take this step. Further he added that BP, along with having responsibilities toward their investors, also have social responsibilities toward the environment and people in Gulf.

However, Mike Pence, the Republican Rep., said Obama failed to take necessary steps during such crisis situation, and sent Cabinet officials after ten days of such event.

BP has to declare its dividend by July 27, 2010. The other options being considered by the company is deferring or lowering the dividends this quarter. The company’s board may also consider issuing I.O.U to their shareholders instead of dividends.

Due to the recent Gulf oil spill, the share price of BP has been through a roller coaster ride, affecting the company’s finance quite adversely. It dropped by more than 16% on Wednesday on US stock markets, and bounced back on Thursday. However, the oil spill still hasn’t ceased, causing increased criticism among shareholders.

According to the US Geological Survey, which was released on Thursday, around 20,000 to 40,000 barrels of oil was leaking per day until they placed a containment cap on the sweeping. The earlier report erroneously estimated the amount to be 12,000 to 19,000 barrels per day.

Top executives at BP have asked senior US administrative officials, including President Barack Obama to arrange for a meeting. Subsequently, the retired coast guard commandant, Thad Allen, has agreed to meet BP Chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg on June 16, 2010. Meanwhile, Hayward has to appear before Energy and Commerce Committee.

However, as discussed on Thursday by Senate Majority Leader harry Reid, Senate Johnny Isakson, and Senate Chris Dodd, the last date to close the deal can extend up to September 30, 2010. This extension, said senators, would provide banks some more time to ensure all the transactions are processed, particularly short sales, which usually takes a longer time. Besides, all senators want to make sure people take advantage of this law.

The amendment, however, has only been discussed, and it has to be seen whether it would become a law or not. But it’s sure, they would take time to make it a law as tax bill and controversial jobs have to be take care of, before this law. Lawmakers, besides, are not allowed to vote on this issue until next week. So, it’s quite early to alter home buying decisions, based only on this amendment.

Huh? I guess you don’t believe me. He really said Barack Obama is an antichrist. It goes something like this.

I guess we have all read bible, except for some antichrists from President’s gang, and it says: ‘I beheld Satan as lightning falling from the heavens.’

Now, if you all don’t remember, let me remind you that Jesus never spoke English. He used Aramaic, a language quite similar to Hebrew, to communicate with every one.

‘Lightening’ in the above sentence means ‘baraq’. Wow! That’s interesting. Next, in Hebrew, the heavens means ‘bamah’. An when you connect two words in this language, you, in most cases, insert an ‘o’ or a ‘u’. Sometimes it’s used as a prefix, sometimes as a conjunction, but you use it for sure.

So, is Barack Obama the antichrist? Of course

Lord Jesus, many centuries ago, in Hebrew, declared that…

I saw Satan as BARAQ O BAMAH. Wait a second. Whoa. Did Jesus tell this? The research is now confirmed, and we have the proof as well. I, however, cannot make you believe unless you want to. But 1 thing I can say for sure, the end is near. I saw the Satan too.

I don’t think many of you might have seen the entire swearing in ceremony when our President was selected. He initially did not swear in with a BIBLE. Later, however, because he had 2 ceremonies, he used bible in one but not in other.

I don’t know what he used to do in Christmas before, but since he has become the President of the US, he has never attended Christmas Service.

This may probably be only an outrage, or just a co-incidence. Or may be our names too in Hebrew mean Satan, or something worse. I don’t really know what the truth is. Should we believe in this findings? Or just ignore this crap? If he is a Satan, he has not yet revealed any supernatural powers. Let’s wait and watch. We cannot do much either; just wonder ‘Is Barack Obama the Antichrist?’

Scarlett Johansson, famous Hollywood celebrity for those who don’t know much about her, purchased a house for $7 mn in the year 2007. However, the value of this house, according to current market trend, is mere $4.59 mn. For those who can afford it (obviously another celebrity, who else can buy it), it is definitely an excellent deal.

These pictures of the house were released by CNN Money, the news media that first gave the report the celebrity’s intention. Looking at these pictures, it’s quite disappointing that Scarlett is compelled to sell such a remarkable and gorgeous home, for unknown reasons. We never quite know the real reasons of any celebrity moves, isn’t it?

Quite often, this news website profiles homes for sale. And quite seldom, we get see houses like this one. Most of the time, the website features homes for average people with average prices. Hence, if you intend to buy a home, CNN Money is definitely worth a look. Selling home, too, is quite effortless.

However, people need to remember that selling a home online is like selling an affiliate product. People wouldn’t be interested in your house, of it not presented appropriately. Even CNN Money wouldn’t help, in such cases. In such tough markets and high dependability on internet tools, it’s very likely that your ad post might be buried under new ones.

But this isn’t the case with Scarlett’s house. Judging from the picture, it’s quite evident that nothing much has to be done to attract millions of web surfers, if not potential buyers. This home doesn’t require much presentation, as it’s an excellent presentation in itself.

I agree with the Federal Trade Commission going really tough with bloggers who accept money or cash for endorsing products. Along with them even celebrities will be fined if they don’t state accepting cash or gifts for endorsing. If you’re a blogger you need to clearly state your relationship type with the advertiser. Not only your posts, but the comments that you make on blog posts as well as in social networking sites will come under the FTC scanner. Even traditional advertising also seems to be covered under the scanner.

Blogging is a serious affair now, especially if you are a paid blogger. No more is it an intellectual hobby where you can afford to err. If you are a blogger always keep your facts well researched and substantiated with proofs. Also write only when you understand an issue completely. If you give false or misleading information or don’t substantiate your arguments you’re done for! The FTC cudgel will fall on you soon.

I don’t’ find this rule unjust. Social media is meant for free opinion. Blogging essentially gained such widespread popularity because it was different from other types of information presentation on the internet. Here people could freely voice their opinions and other people could form their own opinions from them. Conventionally, websites had factual information or whatever the owners of the website spoke about their companies or products. Naturally in the official webpage of a service provider you’ll find only positive feedback about the company and its history. When blogging came into the scene, the true picture of the worthiness of companies, products, services, people, subjects….anything and everything under the sun, came out in the open. People value this true information.

Blogging is one of the most influential modes of social change. If want to make progress, let us not make it a marketing tool. Let blogging remain free. Only freedom can lead to true enlightenment which is inevitable for the progress of mankind.

Why I should make a local purchase:

• Coming to the quality of products, local markets have pulled up very much in their standards. If not better, you can expect local made products as not bad. Of course, in no way they come close to branded products in terms of their features or make but in no way they are bad. In any case, these days even branded products don’t last you a lifetime, if you’re thinking about durability. Yes, when it comes to fashion wear, there’s nothing better than those glitzy ones on the shelves of those international retail outlets. So you make your pick based on these factors.
• In the present times, buying in the local market is encouraged for a number of reasons towards community welfare. By buying local products you are letting more of your money circulate within your town rather than let it go outside. This helps in building up the economic stamina of your town which can become self sufficient and save you a lot of hassles.
• Buying local products benefits the non-profit organizations of the community as they profit more than two and a half times from small local businesses than the larger national or international businesses.
• A local self sufficient unit attracts a lot of tourist attention too. Imagine; if your town were a tourist spot where tourists can get everything unique for the place from A-Z you can expect people to be satisfied.
• Pro-environmental movements might have already educated you on why they are so eager to promote local purchase by you. It saves environment from getting polluted with the exhaust fumes and noise of transports. But I believe this does not make much of a difference because in the local market, some commodities might be dirty and polluted. Think about vegetables like potatoes that come straight from the farms. They have soil, dust and grime on them.
• By purchasing local products you are encouraging the small business owners to grow their businesses and employ more people than they previously did. Now in this way you are the cause of creating job opportunities for people who would have not got a chance to earn their livelihood.
• If you want to be treated like a special customer with all your needs taken care of, you can buy local. The local merchants will have better knowledge of your exact requirements. Moreover, they will produce only those things that you want. Maybe in a supermarket you may not get an item specific for your region. I wanted a traditional variety of tea that I failed to get in a supermarket but got readily in a local market.
• As a local market is set up by permanent residents of your community by purchasing their products you are building up the community by winning their goodwill.
• A local business does not need a lot of investment. You can also set up a small unit of yours if you want to and use public utility services more than big national businesses.
• Local businesses can be built up on products that are specifically required in a particular community. So, you get a chance to buy things that are unique to your community. But if you were to buy from a standardized departmental store you might not get exactly what you want. In this sense, the local market offers you more variety than the supermarket.
• Buy encouraging local business you are actually helping in the development of a community with its own unique identity. Your community can develop products that other people might find only in your community. This will enhance your business further.

Though there are a lot of advantages of going local, it does not seem that non-local businesses are going to wind up soon. We are so very accustomed to buying non-local products from the supermarket that quite a few of us will not be convinced into buying things from the local market.