Category: Featured

A team of researchers from the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom have published an interesting new study showcasing the causal link between drinking and long term memory impairment in The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. The researchers questioned a group of 6,542 American adults of middle age about their drinking history. Next, they assessed their mental abilities. The results, while not necessarily surprising, are certainly illuminating.

In an interview with The Daily Mail, Dr. Iain Lang, the study’s lead researcher, said, “This finding – that middle-aged people with a history of problem drinking more than double their chances of memory impairment when they are older – suggests… that this is a public health issue that needs to be addressed.”

Alcohol Forces the Brain to Mimic Symptoms of Alzheimer’s, Other Diseases
This new study is just the latest in a long history of trying to bridge the gap between alcohol intake and debilitating, life altering neurological diseases. A previous study from Suzanne L. Tyas, Ph.D. published by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism tried to ascertain whether or not alcohol abuse led to a higher chance of developing Alzheimer’s Disease.

While no causal link was found, the research did find interesting similarities between the way brains act under the influence of alcohol and the way Alzheimer’s forces them to act. For instance, the average person can recite a phone number 10 times and have it memorized. If you put the same task to an inebriated or mentally impaired person, they will likely show the same degree of difficulty or confusion with the task.

Many posit that this effect of alcohol could be what prompts the brain to deteriorate into the various states of mental impairment that plague the elderly population. This newly established link between heavy drinking in young to middle age people and long term mental impairment in the twilight of life could be the first step toward solving the issue.

Are you worried that your drinking habits will lead to a mental condition later on in life? Tell us why or why not in the comment section below.

A recently-released report is showing that Americans are putting more money toward their retirements than ever — and the trend is taking place across all age groups.

According to a July 23 USA Today article, the average contribution to individual retirement accounts (IRAs) during the tax year 2013 grew by 5.7% over the year before, bringing the amount to an all-time high of $4,150, and the average IRA balance increased 10% to $89,100.

The average IRA contribution increased for every age group as well, according to the Fidelity Investments study published on July 23. Respectively, the average contribution grew by 3.9%, 6.7% and 6.2% for people in their 20s, 30s and 40s.

Another Fidelity Investments study showed that the top New Year’s resolutions this year were to save more, pay off debt and spend less, USA Today reports, which may explain the rise in contributions toward retirement savings.

“People are increasingly hands-on, from on-the-go cameras to on-design 3D printing. Part of this trend is taking control of your finances,” said Beth Kurth, President, Corporate Forum. “When people take an active interest in investing, there’s a virtuous feedback loop. It’s like a diet only in reverse. With a diet you’re motivated to eat less when the scale shows fewer pounds. With savings you’re incented to put away more as you see your investments grow.”

There are plenty of reasons for Americans to allot more of their money toward retirement. About one of every four Americans will have to work until age 80 in order to retire with enough money, and the number of employers offering retirement funding plans for their workers has decreased significantly over the last decade.

Plenty of challenges and hurdles to saving for retirement exist as well, however — including most people’s preference of instant gratification over investing toward a long-term goal like a retirement.

With any system, there are people trying to game it. This was the case for Philadelphia chiropractor Lawrence S. Herman, who has been sentenced to five months in prison because of a falsely submitted personal insurance claim.

While fraud only comprises a small percentage of submitted insurance claims, they can be costly, and unfairly burden everyone else who relies on their insurance to cover them when something bad happens. Every year, scam insurance claims for auto injuries add up to about $5 billion.

Herman was in an accident back in 2012, and submitted a claim for injuries. As evidence, Herman showed that he had received chiropractic treatment for injuries to his neck and back. His insurance company, the U.S. Automobile Association, originally denied his claim. Herman then hired a lawyer and sued the company for $60,000.

Prosecutors, though, weren’t buying his story. They pointed out that the accident which supposedly caused the ongoing injuries was a “minor, fender-bender type accident” and that Herman was running multiple marathons at the same time he was supposedly recovering from, and receiving treatment for back injuries.

Herman finally admitted during his guilty plea hearing that he had fabricated his injury, and that he had never received treatment. Instead, he had, allegedly, told an employee of his practice to create the medical records and then submit them using fake company letterhead.

The prosecutors were also not impressed that Herman continually tried to shift the blame for his crime, first accusing his personal injury lawyers who drafted the insurance settlement demand, and then the employee who he had asked to falsify the records.

“Personal stresses, provided by work pressures and economic circumstances resulting from the divorce, weakened Mr. Herman’s judgment and contributed to precipitating the infraction,” said Michael McCarrie, Herman’s lawyer, in a memorandum for the court.

In today’s investment market, there’s no real reason to keep junk bonds in your portfolio.

Or so says one June 26 USA Today article.

“There really are very few happy outcomes from junk bond funds right now,” the article advises.

Currently, investors across America have a collective $326 billion in junk bonds, otherwise known as high-yield bonds.

But why are junk bonds so dangerous right now?

A junk bond is essentially a long-term loan that an investor gives to a company with a bad credit rating. And because companies with bad credit have to pay higher interest rates for loans, a junk bond can, in many cases, be a financially sound investment to add to one’s portfolio.

However, USA Today reports, prices for high-yield bonds are at an all-time high right now, which means yields for these bonds are at all-time lows. In late June, the Barclays Capital High-Yield Index yielded a mere 4.83% — the lowest yield recorded for junk bonds in history.

Yields could technically rise again — but it’s not worth the risk to keep junk bonds in one’s portfolio. USA Today reports that yields this low, in a worst-case scenario, could cause another financial meltdown like the one of 2007-2008.

So, to protect your finances from going under if junk bonds continue to produce record-low yields, it’s best to sell them while you can. This is especially true for male investors, as studies have shown that 61% of men who wait too long to sell off a bad investment will repeat their mistake, compared to 48% of women.

And if you had been thinking of investing in a junk bond for the first time, it may be a good idea to wait a while.

A California business is in hot water after one of its employees flew the American flag at equal height with the Mexican flag — upside down. The Calexico Price Center, located in Calexico, California, has issued an apology through its manager, Jose Tirado. In an interview with The Washington Times, Tirado expressed that the whole situation was just an unfortunate mistake. “We have been flying flags here for more than 20 years, and this has never happened,” Tirado said. The company’s Facebook followers and customers, not to mention Calexico locals, are less than impressed with that explanation, with many pointing out that the stunt seemed like a purposeful political statement meant to demean the Land of the Free while promoting Mexico.

A Clear Violation of United States Flag Codes
When the Stars and Stripes is flown at the top of the flagpole, it’s meant to be flown proudly. There’s no doubting that the actions by Calexico Price Center, accidental or otherwise, completely disrespected the symbol of the nation. Of course, the act is not only disrespectful, it’s also in direct violation of the United States Flag Code, as outlined by the U.S. Senate. The code reads, “The flag should never be displayed with union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.” The code does, however, allow for other nations’ flags to be flown at even level with Old Glory, so long as none are positioned to the right of our flag.

Not the First Case of Disrespect to the Flag
Unfortunately, this is neither the first nor the last case of someone disrespecting the flag, and thereby, the United States. Joshua Brubaker, a local of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, is facing charges of desecration and insults to the American flag, after area police saw a flag hung upside down with the word “AIM” spray-painted across its face in white paint. So far, those involved in the similar incident in Calexico, California are yet to face any charges.

What do you think about the actions of the Calexico Price Center? Should those responsible face the same charges as PA’s Joshua Brubaker? Let us know your opinion in the comment section below.

The Township Council of Little Falls, New Jersey has passed a resolution that supports a new code that would require all single-family homes, duplexes and townhouses to have fire sprinklers.

The landmark decision came after two main incidents brought to light the impact a fire sprinkler can have in an emergency situation. In April, eight people lost their home, and one firefighter was seriously injured, during a fire that ended up destroying an entire duplex located on Newark Pompton Turnpike. A Montclair State University dormitory experienced a fire during the same month; by contrast, a fire sprinkler was able to both contain the fire and extinguish it before authorities got to the scene.

“Fire sprinklers … would be a tremendous benefit to homeowners,” said Rich Silvia, president of the Fire Protection Association. “They’re protecting the most valued piece of property they would own in their lifetime.” Silvia, who is also a fire marshal, said that sprinkler installation is easy to do using either a separate or domestic water line.

He notes that ultimately, this move could help save homeowners money, not only by preventing costly fire damage, but through home insurance as well — homeowner’s insurance, he says, is usually reduced by about 10% for homes that have sprinklers.

The council’s resolution notes that 3,000 people nationwide are killed each year in fires, and cited the New Jersey Building Official Association’s, and the New Jersey Fire Protection Association’s support of the requirement.

The resolution has not, however, passed with full support, and Assemblyman Scott Rumana, who represents Little Falls, voted against the bill. “To make it mandatory that everyone has to have it means that you’re going to increase the cost to the consumer,” Rumana said. “It shouldn’t be mandated by the government that you must have this system in your home.” Rumana also notes that if the pipes are incorrectly installed, water damage can be very costly.

Edward Schumacher, a Little Falls developer, sees both sides of the debate but points out that getting a sprinkler is about more than just seeing the initial price-tag. “It’s an added expense, but sometimes people don’t know the value of it until they need it,” said Schumacher.