softwood paola: June 2012

Saturday, June 30, 2012

droid_life: Animated Battery Widget Hits Google Play for $0.99 - http://t.co/iGE5tC8d #android

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://twitter.com/droid_life/statuses/218831090155130880

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Grassley: Politics in US attorney?s decision not to prosecute Holder?

[ [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 2]], 'http://yhoo.it/KeQd0p', '[Slideshow: See photos taken on the way down]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 7]], ' http://yhoo.it/KpUoHO', '[Slideshow: Death-defying daredevils]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['know that we have confidence in', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/LqYjAX ', '[Related: The Secret Service guide to Cartagena]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['We picked up this other dog and', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JUSxvi', '[Related: 8 common dog fears, how to calm them]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 5]], 'http://bit.ly/JnoJYN', '[Related: Did WH share raid details with filmmakers?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 3]], 'http://bit.ly/KoKiqJ', '[Factbox: AQAP, al-Qaeda in Yemen]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have my contacts on or glasses', 3]], 'http://abcn.ws/KTE5AZ', '[Related: Should the murder charge be dropped?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JD7nlD', '[Related: Bristol Palin reality show debuts June 19]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 1]], 'http://bit.ly/JRPFRO', '[Related: McCain adviser who vetted Palin weighs in on VP race]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['A JetBlue flight from New York to Las Vegas', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/GV9zpj', '[Related: View photos of the JetBlue plane in Amarillo]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 15]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/white-house-stays-out-of-teen-s-killing-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120411/martinzimmermen.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['He was in shock and still strapped to his seat', 6]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/navy-jet-crashes-in-virginia-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120406/jet_ap.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/russian-grannies-win-bid-to-sing-at-eurovision-1331223625-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/1/56/156d92f2760dcd3e75bcd649a8b85fcf.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP', ] ]

[ [ [['did not go as far his colleague', 8]], '29438204', '0' ], [ [[' the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 4]], '28924649', '0' ], [ [['because I know God protects me', 14], ['Brian Snow was at a nearby credit union', 5]], '28811216', '0' ], [ [['The state news agency RIA-Novosti quoted Rosaviatsiya', 6]], '28805461', '0' ], [ [['measure all but certain to fail in the face of bipartisan', 4]], '28771014', '0' ], [ [['matter what you do in this case', 5]], '28759848', '0' ], [ [['presume laws are constitutional', 7]], '28747556', '0' ], [ [['has destroyed 15 to 25 houses', 7]], '28744868', '0' ], [ [['short answer is yes', 7]], '28746030', '0' ], [ [['opportunity to tell the real story', 7]], '28731764', '0' ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 7]], '28723797', '0' ], [ [['point of my campaign is that big ideas matter', 9]], '28712293', '0' ], [ [['As the standoff dragged into a second day', 7]], '28687424', '0' ], [ [['French police stepped up the search', 17]], '28667224', '0' ], [ [['Seeking to elevate his candidacy back to a general', 8]], '28660934', '0' ], [ [['The tragic story of Trayvon Martin', 4]], '28647343', '0' ], [ [['Karzai will get a chance soon to express', 8]], '28630306', '0' ], [ [['powerful storms stretching', 8]], '28493546', '0' ], [ [['basic norm that death is private', 6]], '28413590', '0' ], [ [['songwriter also saw a surge in sales for her debut album', 6]], '28413590', '1', 'Watch music videos from Whitney Houston ', 'on Yahoo! Music', 'http://music.yahoo.com' ], [ [['keyword', 99999999999999999999999]], 'videoID', '1', 'overwrite-pre-description', 'overwrite-link-string', 'overwrite-link-url' ] ]

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/grassley-politics-us-attorney-decision-not-prosecute-holder-210409449.html

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Friday, June 29, 2012

Larger U.S. corn sowings menaced by drought, USDA says

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/large-u-corn-sowings-menaced-drought-usda-says-132946079.html

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Ford Focus EcoBoost 1.0L Review

With the proliferation of its EcoBoost technology and an ongoing battle to be a leader in the fuel economy segment one can?t help but wonder how small of an engine Ford will be willing to offer in its North American lineup.

FAST FACTS

1. Ford EcoBoost 1.0L 3-cylinder was recently named International Engine of the Year

2. Fuel Economy is rated at as high as 49 mpg.

3. Set to arrive on our shores, we're likely to see the EcoBoost 1.0L in the Focus and Fiesta.

At present, the answer seems to be a 1.0-liter three-cylinder, incorporating direct injection and turbocharging. Developed by Ford?s U.K. technical center in Dunton, Essex, this engine was conceived primarily for powering Ford?s smaller volume vehicles in Europe, namely the Fiesta, Focus and its B-Max and C-Max derivatives.

This week in Dearborn, Ford reaffirmed plans that the EcoBoost 1.0 is definitely coming to North America, though declined to say exactly when (sometime next year was the best we could get), or which cars in its lineup will offer it.

Nevertheless, AutoGuide was given a chance to sample the motor in a Euro-spec Focus at the Dearborn Proving Grounds.

TWO POWER OUTPUTS

?

In Europe, the Ecoboost 1.0 is currently offered in two versions: one that develops 98 horsepower and the other, 123 horsepower. Availability is currently restricted to the Focus, though Ford says it will be offered in the B-Max and C-Max later this year.

Features of this engine, which is about the size of an A4 sheet of paper, include a low inertia turbocharger, designed to spin at low rpm for better throttle response, while an exhaust manifold cast into the cylinder head has been designed to lower exhaust temperatures and therefore optimize air/fuel ratios across a wider rpm spread.

2013 Ford Focus EcoBoost 10 engine

In addition, in order to maximize efficiency and fuel economy the engine uses a cast-iron instead of aluminum block. The idea is to promote faster warm up, reducing the need for more fuel when cold, thus boosting gas mileage and lowering emissions.

In Europe, the 98-horsepower engine is rated at 4.8-liters per 100 km (49 mpg US), while the 123 hp version is said to deliver 5.0 liters per 100 km (47 mpg US). We should point out, however, that those numbers are based on the less strict European test cycle and should drop by as much as 20 percent once US EPA testing is done. CO2 emissions output is rated at 109 grams per kilometer and 114 g/km respectively.

2013 Ford Focus EcoBoost 10 work

Because three-cylinder engines are inherently unbalanced and in the past, often incredibly coarse under load (just ask anybody who?s ever driven a Geo Metro), Ford has decided to tackle this issue by installing an unbalanced flywheel, in an effort to improve smoothness without the need to install power robbing balance shafts.

The question is, does it work?? Well, during our fairly brief stint driving the car on the track, two things readily became apparent. Firstly, for such a small engine the EcoBoost 1.0 delivers a healthy wallop of torque at low rpm.

Secondly, it feels and sounds very much like a small diesel engine, even though it runs on gasoline. In our six-speed manual test Focus we had no problem accelerating out of corners and traversing hills and dips on the test route. Usually, in a car of this size with a gas engine this small, the thing would have trouble getting out of its own way, yet the EcoBoost 1.0 was responsive, peppy even.

Although not as smooth as its larger 1.6 and 2.0-liter four-cylinder counterparts, it?s far removed from the likes of that nasty old Suzuki unit found in the Geo Metro and is without doubt, an overachiever of an engine. And, like other EcoBoost motors, it?s designed to run on regular grade fuel.?

WHAT WILL WE GET IT IN?

2013 Ford Focus EcoBoost side

At this point it?s difficult to say, though we?ll interpret small cars to mean likely the Focus and possibly the Fiesta too. If and when that does happen, Ford will likely list it as an option on the Focus rather than the standard engine, in keeping with practice on other models such as the Taurus and F-150. That way, consumers will have a chance to warm to it, since after all, the idea of a three-cylinder engine in a regular passenger car is still alien to most Americans.

As to any changes we can expect from the European version, engineers we talked in Dearborn this week said they would be minimal, restricted to minor spark calibrations and ECU settings.?

THE VERDICT

?

Expecting to be underwhelmed, the Ford's new 1.0L EcoBoost engine surprises with power and is a reassuring sign that the return of the 3-cylinder engine won't spell a new era of outrageously underpowered cars. Perfectly suitable in terms of power for the Focus, it's certain to be an even better match in the Fiesta. There's still more to be done in the area of refinement, while perhaps the biggest potential drawback will be Ford's strategy of pricing its EcoBoost offerings above the conventional gasoline ones, meaning those interested in this ultra efficient gasoline engine have to settle for its diesel-like characteristics.

Source: http://www.autoguide.com/manufacturer/ford/2013-ford-focus-ecoboost-10l-review-2086.html

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Deal or Dud: Not Thrilled About 'Finishing Touch' | WHNT.com ...

Posted on: 3:00 pm, June 27, 2012, by Greg Screws, updated on: 10:51pm, June 27, 2012

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) ? The Finishing Touch Diamond Hair Remover is one of many products on the market which promises to remove unwanted hair.

Some of them are expensive. Some are cheap.

The Finishing Touch is cheap. It?s only $9.99. When you get it out of the over-the-top packaging, you will understand why it?s cheap and why maybe the packaging is over-the-top.

It comes with a AAA battery and you have to assemble the business end of the Finishing Touch hair remover.? The directions, I thought, were vague.?? I figured out how to put the Finishing Touch together. But what concerned he was the pieces did not feel sturdy. I felt like I would break the pieces at any point.

I did get it put together and the hair-removal aspects did not perform well.? To be fair, the Finishing Touch is a product primarly aimed at women. But even on the softest hair on my forearm, the Finishing Touch did not do well.?? It also would not remove small hairs from my fingers.

If you were looking for a hair removal product, and you stopped at the Finishing Touch, then you might want to keep looking.? I thought it was a Dud.

If you, or a friend, have tried the Finishing Touch, please call or email and I would love to include your thoughts in a future story.

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Thursday, June 28, 2012

Despite rough start, analysts like Facebook

Andre Sequin, RBC Capital Markets, explains his 'outperform' rating on Facebook.

By Roland Jones

One month after Facebook?s tumultuous public stock offering, Wall Street analysts are unveiling their outlooks for the No. 1 social network ? and most are sounding a note of muted optimism.

More than a dozen analyst reports on Facebook hit the street Wednesday, marking 40 days since the company?s first day of trading on May 18, when Facebook became the first U.S. company to debut with a market value of more than $100 billion. Under securities law, the 33 banks that took part in Facebook?s IPO had to wait that long before publishing their views.

In reports from banks such as Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, analysts said they are generally upbeat about the long-term outlook for the company, given its 901 million users. Many of the analysts also said they think Facebook can grab a significant slice of the Internet advertising market.

However, there was also a note of caution about Facebook?s business model and its ability to make money from the growing number of users who log on to the service using a mobile device.

Oppenheimer analyst Jason Helfstein set a price target of $41 for Facebook?s stock price over the next 12 months, suggesting upside potential of 24 percent compared with its close of $33.10 on Tuesday.

Helfstein said a price of $41 was a reasonable target and not overly aggressive, adding that he thinks some of the estimates for Facebook?s stock price were too high. Still, Facebook?s stock will be attractive to long-term investors, he told CNBC.

?Are we saying buy the stock, make money tomorrow? No,? he said, adding that investors who hold on to it for a long time will likely make money.

Shares of Facebook fell to a low of $25.87 on June 6, down 32 percent from the company?s initial offering price of $38. But they have since recovered some of their lost ground and are up 27 percent from that early June low.

Facebook?s IPO was one of the most highly anticipated stock offerings of recent years, but it had an inauspicious start.

A first-day trading glitch delayed its first trades, leading to complaints of slow order confirmations and too many shares offered at too high a price. Subsequent lawsuits have alleged that the Nasdaq botched the offering and that deal underwriters Morgan Stanley and others failed to share lowered earnings forecasts with retail investors before the IPO.

Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan Securities, Goldman Sachs, RBC Capital Markets, Piper Jaffray, Oppenheimer and William Blair began coverage of Facebook with their top ratings, while analysts at BofA Merrill, Barclays Capital, Raymond James, Stifel Nicolaus, Lazard Capital Markets and Citi Investment Research & Analysis gave the company?s stock a less-sanguine ?hold,? ?market-perform,? or equivalent rating.

Goldman Sachs set a share price target of $42 for Facebook, while RBC said it expected a run to $40. BofA Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley pegged the shares at $38, and Citi and Barclays opted for a price $35.

However, BMO Capital Markets bucked the relatively upbeat trends and began coverage of Facebook with an ?underperform,? -- its lowest -- and set a share-price target of $25.

Perhaps the greatest challenge to Facebook?s future growth is its ability to find a growing source of revenue, particularly from the growing mobile sector.

The social network appears to have already lost one potential source: Last week, Facebook agreed to a $20 million settlement in a California lawsuit claiming?it?publicized?that some of its users had ?liked? certain advertisers?but didn't?pay the users, or give them a way to opt out.

The so-called ?Sponsored Story? feature on Facebook is essentially an advertisement that appears on the site and includes a member?s Facebook page and generally consists of another friend?s name, profile picture and a statement that the person ?likes? that advertiser. Dumping the ?Sponsored Stories? feature could cost Facebook $103.2 million in lost revenue.

On the mobile side, about 20 percent of Facebook?s current user base is in the U.S. and Canada, and half of those users are accessing the site using mobile devices, through which Facebook derives much less advertising revenue than through a desktop PC.

What?s more, markets where Facebook is growing most rapidly -- in Europe and Asia -- bring the company less revenue. Facebook brings in $3 per user in the U.S. and in Canada, but only $1.50 in Europe and just 50 cents in Asia.

In established markets, such as the U.S. and Canada, revenue growth from ads and other services is slowing. The company, which last year was more than doubling the amount of money collected every quarter compared with a year earlier, reported growth of 45 percent in the first three months of 2012, and revenue declined from the preceding quarter.

And in mid-May, General Motors very publicly yanked $10 million in Facebook advertising, saying paid advertising on the site isn't effective.

Facebook is due to issue its first earnings report as a public company in mid to late July.

However, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster dismissed the revenue considerations as short-term concerns for Facebook. He said there outlook for Facebook, particularly in terms of revenue from e-commerce transactions, ?looks bright.?

?All this negative perspective in the near term has been well known,? he told CNBC. ?The key takeaway for us is we think next year there?s going to be accelerating revenue growth? when Facebook begins to monetize commercial transactions over its platform, he said.

?When they open up their platform it will change how people buy things,? he added.

BofA Merrill Lynch said it thinks Facebook?s user monetization rate is fairly low, despite expecting the company to bring in $4.8 billion in revenue in 2012 as new advertising formats drive up revenue growth in the second half of 2012.

Facebook has introduced a string of enhancements to its advertising service over the past few weeks, including a program that allows marketers to specifically target ads to users of Facebook on mobile devices. Another improvement shows Facebook users ads based on websites that they have visited.

?The company is in the midst of a mobile usage transition and we are cautious on Facebook?s revenue trends until new mobile ad revenue models start driving the top line,? BofA Merrill Lynch?s analysts wrote.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Click here to check Facebook?s stock price.

More money and business news:

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File Complaints against @facebook for identity theft! | nac minizine

What Facebook does while transfering emailadresses to their server is IDENTITY THEFT. Mister Zuckerberg has not yet seen the end of this story?.

checked on Wikipedia:

Identity thef?occurs when someone uses your personally identifying information, like your name, Social Security number, or credit card number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes.

The term?identity theft?was coined in 1964^[1]?however it is not literally possible to steal an?identity?less ambiguous terms are?identity fraud?or?impersonation.

Browsing?social networking?websites for personal details published by users, often using this information to appear more credible in subsequent social engineering activities

Regional legal responses

[edit]Australia

In Australia, each state has enacted laws that dealt with different aspects of identity or fraud issues. Some States have now amended relevant criminal laws to reflect crimes of identity theft, such as the Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935 (SA), Crimes Amendment (Fraud, Identity and Forgery Offences) Act 2009 and also in Queensland under the Criminal Code 1899 (QLD). Other States and Territories are in states of development in respect of regulatory frameworks relating to identity theft such as Western Australia in respect of Criminal Code Amendment (Identity Crime) Bill 2009.

On the Commonwealth level, under the?Criminal Code Amendment (Theft, Fraud, Bribery & Related Offences) Act 2000?which amended certain provisions within theCriminal Code Act 1995,

135.1 General dishonesty(3) A person is guilty of an offence if: a) the person does anything with the intention of dishonestly?causing a loss to another person; and b) the other person is a Commonwealth entity. Penalty:?Imprisonment for 5 years.

Likewise, each state has enacted their own privacy laws to prevent misuse of personal information and data. The Commonwealth?Privacy Act?is applicable only to Commonwealth and territory agencies, and to certain private sector bodies (where for example they deal with sensitive records, such as medical records, or they have more than $3 million turnover PA).

[edit]Canada

Under section 402.2 of the?Criminal Code of Canada,

Everyone commits an offence who knowingly obtains or possesses another person?s identity information in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference that the information is intended to be used to commit an indictable offence that includes fraud, deceit or falsehood as an element of the offence.is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than five years; or is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.

Under section 403 of the?Criminal Code of Canada,

(1) Everyone commits an offence who fraudulently personates another person, living or dead,(a) with intent to gain advantage for themselves or another person; (b) with intent to obtain any property or an interest in any property; (c) with intent to cause disadvantage to the person being personated or another person; or (d) with intent to avoid arrest or prosecution or to obstruct, pervert or defeat the course of justice. is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than 10 years; or guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.

In Canada,?Privacy Act?(federal legislation) covers only federal government, agencies and?crown corporations. Each province and territory has its own privacy law and privacy commissioners to limit the storage and use of personal data. For the private sector, the purpose of the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act ( 2000, c. 5 ) (known as PIPEDA) is to establish rules to govern the collection, use and disclosure of personal information; except for the provinces of Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia where provincial laws have been deemed substantially similar.

[edit]France

In France, a person convicted of identity theft can be sentenced up to five years in prison and fined up to??75,000.^[23]

[edit]Hong Kong

Under HK Laws. Chap 210?Theft Ordinance, sec. 16A Fraud

(1) If any person by any deceit (whether or not the deceit is the sole or main inducement) and with?intent to defraud?induces another person to commit an act or make an omission, which results either-(a) in?benefit to any person?other than the second-mentioned person; or (b) in prejudice or a substantial risk of prejudice to any person other than the first-mentioned person, the first-mentioned person commits the offense of fraud and is liable on conviction upon indictment to?imprisonment for 14 years.

Under the?Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, it established the post of Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data and mandate how much personal information one can collect, retain and destruction. This legislation also provides citizens the right to request information held by businesses and government to the extent provided by this law.

[edit]India

Under the Information Technology Act 2000 Chapter IX Sec 66C

SECTION 66CPUNISHMENT FOR IDENTITY THEFTWhoever, fraudulently or dishonestly makes use of the electronic signature, password or any other unique identification feature of any other person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine with may extend to rupees one lakh.

^[24]

[edit]Philippines

Social networking sites are one of the most famous spreader of?posers?in the online community, giving the users freedom to place any information they want without any verification that the account is being used by the real person.

Philippines, known as the 10th heavy users of Facebook and other social networking sites such as Twitter, Multiply and Tumblr has been known as source to various identity theft problems. Identity of those people who carelessy put personal information on their profiles can easily be stolen just by simple browsing. There are people who meet online, get to know each other through the free Facebook chat and exchange of messages that then leads to sharing of private information. Others get romantically involved with their online friends that they tend to give too much information such as their social security number, bank account and even personal basic information such as home address and company address.

This phenomena lead to the creation of Senate Bill 52: Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2010.^[25]?Section 2 of this bill states that it recognizes the importance ofcommunication?and?multimedia?for the development, exploitation and dissemination of information but violators will be punished by the law through imprisonment ofprision mayor?or a fine ranging from Php200,000 and up, but not exceeding 1 million, or depending on the damage caused, or both (Section 7).

[edit]Sweden

Sweden have had relatively little problems with identity theft. This is because only Swedish?identity documents?have been accepted for identity verification. Stolen documents are traceable by banks and some other institutions. The banks have the duty to check the identity of people withdrawing money or getting loans. If a bank gives money to someone using an identity document reported as stolen, the bank must take the loss. From 2008 any EU passport are valid in Sweden for identity check, and Swedish passports are valid all over the EU. This makes it harder to detect stolen documents, but still banks in Sweden must ensure that stolen documents are not accepted.

Other types of identity theft than over the bank desk have become more common in Sweden. One common example is ordering a credit card to someone who has an unlocked letterbox and is not home on daytime. The thief steals the letter with the credit card and then the letter with the code which typically arrives a few days later. Usage of a stolen credit card is hard in Sweden, since an identity document or a PIN code it is normally demanded. If the shop does not demand that, it must take the loss from stolen credit cards. The method of observing someone using the credit card PIN code, stealing the card or?skimming?it, and then use the card, has become more common.

Legally, Sweden is an open society.?The Principle of Public Access?says that all information kept by public authorities must be available for anyone except in certain cases. Specificially anyone?s address, income, taxes etc. are available to anyone. This makes fraud easier (the address is protected for certain people needing it).

To impersonate someone else and gain money from it is a kind of?fraud, which is described in the?Criminal Code?(Swedish:Brottsbalken).

[edit]United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom personal data is protected by the?Data Protection Act 1998. The Act covers all personal data which an organization may hold, including names, birthday and anniversary dates, addresses, telephone numbers, etc.

Under?English law?(which extends to Wales but not necessarily to Northern Ireland or Scotland), the?deception?offences under the?Theft Act 1968?increasingly contend with identity theft situations. In?R v Seward?(2005) EWCA Crim 1941^[26]?the defendant was acting as the ?front man? in the use of stolen credit cards and other documents to obtain goods. He obtained goods to the value of ?10,000 for others who are unlikely ever to be identified. The Court of Appeal considered sentencing policy for deception offenses involving ?identity theft? and concluded that a prison sentence was required. Henriques J. said at para 14:?Identity fraud is a particularly pernicious and prevalent form of dishonesty calling for, in our judgment, deterrent sentences.?

Increasingly, organizations, including Government bodies will be forced to take steps to better protect their users? data.^[27]

Stats released by?CIFAS?- The UK?s Fraud Prevention Service show that there were 89,000 victims of identity theft in the UK 2010.^[28]?This compared with 2009 where there were 85,000 victims.^[29]?Men in their 30s and 40s are the most common UK victims^[30]?and identity fraud now accounts for nearly half of all frauds recorded.^[31]

[edit]United States

The increase in crimes of identity theft led to the drafting of the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act.^[32]?In 1998, The Federal Trade Commission appeared before the United States Senate.^[33]?The FTC discussed crimes which exploit consumer credit to commit loan fraud,?mortgage fraud, lines-of-credit fraud,?credit card fraud, commodities and services frauds. The Identity Theft Deterrence Act (2003)[ITADA] amended?U.S. Code Title 18, ? 1028?(?Fraud related to activity in connection with identification documents, authentication features, and information?). The statute now makes the possession of any ?means of identification? to ?knowingly transfer, possess, or use without lawful authority? a federal crime, alongside unlawful possession of identification documents. However, for federal jurisdiction to prosecute, the crime must include an ?identification document? that either: (a) is purportedly issued by the United States, (b) is used or intended to defraud the United States, (c) is sent through the mail, or (d) is used in a manner that affects interstate or foreign commerce.?See?18 U.S.C.???1028(c). Punishment can be up to 5, 15, 20, or 30 years in federal?prison, plus fines, depending on the underlying crime per?18 U.S.C.???1028(b). In addition, punishments for the unlawful use of a ?means of identification? were strengthened in ? 1028A (?Aggravated Identity Theft?), allowing for a consecutive sentence under specific enumerated felony violations as defined in ? 1028A(c)(1) through (11).

The Act also provides the?Federal Trade Commission?with authority to track the number of incidents and the dollar value of losses. Their figures relate mainly to consumer financial crimes and not the broader range of all identification-based crimes.^[34]

If charges are brought by state or local law enforcement agencies, different penalties apply depending on the state.

Six Federal agencies conducted a joint task force to increase the ability to detect identity theft. Their joint recommendation on ?red flag? guidelines is a set of requirements on financial institutions and other entities which furnish credit data to credit reporting services to develop written plans for detecting identity theft. The FTC has determined that most medical practices are considered creditors and are subject to requirements to develop a plan to prevent and respond to patient identity theft.^[35]?I These plans must be adopted by each organization?s Board of Directors and monitored by senior executives.^[36]

Identity theft complaints as a percentage of all fraud complaints decreased from 2004-2006.^[37]?The Federal Trade Commission reported that fraud complaints in general were growing faster than ID theft complaints.^[37]?The findings were similar in two other FTC studies done in 2003 and 2005. In 2003, 4.6 percent of the US population said they were a victim of ID theft. In 2005, that number had dropped to 3.7 percent of the population.^[38]^[39]?The Commission?s 2003 estimate was that identity theft accounted for some $52.6 billion of losses in the preceding year alone and affected more than 9.91 million Americans;^[40]?the figure comprises $47.6 billion lost by businesses and $5 billion lost by consumers.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), a report released in 2007 revealed that 8.3 million American adults, or 3.7 percent of all American adults, were victims of identity theft in 2005.^[41]

The latest report from the FTC showed that ID theft increased by 21% in 2008. However, credit card fraud, that crime which is most closely associated with the crime of ID theft, has been declining as a percentage of all ID theft. In 2002, 41% of all ID theft complaints involved a credit card. That percentage has dropped to 21% in 2008.^[42]

Two states,?California^[43]?and?Wisconsin^[44]?have created an Office of Privacy Protection to assist their citizens in avoiding and recovering from identity theft.

In Massachusetts in 2009-2010, Governor?Deval Patrick?made a commitment to balance consumer protection with the needs of small business owners. His Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation announced certain adjustments to Massachusetts? identity theft regulations that maintain protections and also allows flexibility in compliance. These updated regulations went into effect on March 1, 2010. The regulations are clear that their approach to data security is a risk-based approach important to small businesses and might not handle a lot of personal information about customers.^[45]^[46]

[edit]Notification

Most states followed California?s lead and enacted mandatory data breach notification laws. As a result, companies that report a data breach typically report it to all their customers.^[47]

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Wednesday, June 27, 2012

The 50?s Car Show - Better Automotive Lighting Blog

This custom low-rider was getting lots of attention even though it had stock sealed beam headlights!

This past weekend was the 39th annual Back to the 50s car show held at the Minnesota State Fair Grounds in St. Paul, MN. I got to go for a day and see everything and I must say the event was a blast! There were big name vendors like Chevrolet, Rousch, Ford and many smaller local vendors like Union Speed & Style and lots of flea-market style setups selling all sorts of automotive goodies! It was just incredible to see so many restored classics, hot rods, street rods and wild custom muscle cars. Arguably the biggest attraction for myself was trying to spot the different lighting upgrades these enthusiasts were doing to their classic domestic rides. It was unfortunate to see so many cars with stock halogen sealed beam headlights though. The vast majority of these vehicles had stock headlights, tail lights and interior lighting. It was only a characteristic of the nicest of all vehicles in attendance to have upgraded headlights.

Crowds of people watching parades of classic cars!

I noticed a trend throughout the entire show, that was if a vehicle did have upgraded forward lighting, it was a stock-style composite housing with a blue halogen light bulb inside. I did not see a single HID conversion kit fitted car, or any type of radical LED headlight. I thought for sure there would be SOMEONE there with some crazy headlights, I must have just missed them. The second most common site to see on these cars was some type of film or vinyl over the headlight to give it a different look, but sometimes it was even done on the stock sealed beam headlights! We saw mostly 7? round headlights and many 5.25? round headlights, but I don?t think anyone had rectangular headlights in attendance. It really goes to show how far headlight design has changed since the middle of the 20th century. If you need new headlights for your classic car, then look no further than TLG-Auto. You can replace all of your sealed beam headlights, of any style with HID, halogen, or even new LED technology. Simply visit www.TLG-Auto.com

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8 things to do if you haven't planned for retirement

Bill Haber / AP file

Retirees of the future will find their experience much different from their parents' golden years.

By Samuel Weigley, 24/7 Wall St.

??Once people reach their 50s they finally see retirement on the horizon. They start envisioning that time when they can stop going to work and instead spend their days on the golf course, on the beach or with their families. Yet many people have not saved nearly enough for retirement by the time they are 50 years old. A recent survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute found that 60 percent of workers born between 1946 and 1964 have less than $100,000 for retirement. In fact, 40 percent have saved less than $25,000.

24/7 Wall St. interviewed retirement-related experts from brokerage firms, banks, retirement advocacy groups, and independent financial advisers. With their help, 24/7 identified the eight actions you should take if you have not prepared to retire.

Financial advisers generally recommend people begin saving for retirement starting in their 20s to take full advantage of compounding interest. Although the financial advisers who spoke to 24/7 Wall St. say it is very hard to give concrete estimates on how much should be allocated toward equities and fixed-income, they say it is best to cut risk as one approaches their target retirement age.

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Not saving up enough for retirement used to be less of a problem. Workers in previous generations often received pensions from their employers, allowing retirees to know exactly how much money they would get once retired. But employers have increasingly shifted that responsibility onto the employees through 401k and other defined contribution plans.

These days, notes Joe Ready, executive vice president for retirement at Wells Fargo, people get married and have children later in life than previous generations. This means that it is increasingly hard to save for retirement during the 40s and 50s because they still face heavy financial obligations -- they are still paying off their mortgage, sending their children to college and so on.

The fact that many current retirees are living off pensions has conditioned younger generations to think their retirement might be the same, says Lule Demmissie, managing director of retirement for TD Ameritrade. ?Face it,? Demmissie says, ?your retirement isn?t your parents? retirement.?

Demmissie notes that people in retirement today are working until a later age and finding cheaper housing as they no longer can count on that pension that was once provided to employees. She also points out that while many people have never saved enough for retirement, the problem has become worse once the financial crisis took hold.

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By the time you reach age 50, you should have roughly four times your annual income built up in retirement, according to Jean Setzfand, vice president for financial security for AARP. The best way to reach that goal is to start socking away money starting in your 20s. Still, if you are well behind on your goals by the time you reach your 50s, all hope is not lost.

These are the eight things to do if you have not planned for retirement.

1. Reassess life priorities
Part of reassessing priorities is ensuring you have a plan in place. People should have a retirement plan when they are significantly younger than 50, yet EBRI finds that only 42 percent of workers of all ages have a retirement plan.

If, at the age of 50, people find themselves inadequately prepared for their dream retirement, they should start by looking at the future, advises Setzfand. ?The first thing people should do is consider, ?What do I want to do with the rest of my life??? The answer to that question will help decide what actions need to be taken, Setzfand explains. Before moving forward, it is important to ask such questions as ?Do I really need that second house in Florida?? or ?Can I (afford to) start a trust fund for my grandkids??

People need to consider how much they are willing and able to fund their children's college education. Setzfand notes that many parents in their 50s will foot most or all of their children?s college bill to make sure their children don?t end up with debt early in life. However, she cautions people to be careful to make sure they have enough money to build and sustain their own retirement nest egg. After all, you can?t borrow to fund your golden years.

2. Take advantage of increased contribution limits
If you are late saving for retirement, you may need an extra boost to get closer to your goals. Once people reach age 50, the amount of money they can contribute annually to their 401k and their IRA increases from $17,000 to $22,500 and from $5,000 to $6,000, respectively.?Employees should take advantage of these higher contribution limits if possible, since contributions to these plans are tax deductible.

Plus, many employers match contributions up to a certain amount, meaning that employees are forgoing free money if they do not contribute the maximum contribution amount. ?If you have access to a 401k, jump into it with two feet,? Ready says.

3. Downsize
Advisers also recommend downsizing. While the level of downsizing for some could mean simply cutting down on small expenses such as eating out and shopping, for others, more drastic measures may be necessary.

?Downsizing often isn?t something that can be done on the peripheral,? Demmissie says. For some, it may even mean downsizing the house, especially if there is a lot of equity on the property.

Those eyeing retirement can even plan to move in with their adult children. Demmissie notes there has been an increase in multiple generations living under one roof. While living with children is not necessarily part of most people?s dream retirement, it can help make sure retirees do not outlive their money by cutting out housing costs and even some home-care costs. Moving to places with lower tax rates and costs of living, Demmissie notes, may also help people live their more ideal retirement at a lower cost.

4. Keep working
With people living longer than generations past, the traditional retirement age of 65 is generally increasing and will continue to do so. About 40 percent of current American employees plan to continue working until at least age 70, according to a 2011 study by the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies.

Working until a later age, whether full-time or part-time, gives people more time to build their nest egg while also reducing the likelihood that they will run out of money during their golden years. Plus, if someone truly enjoys his or her job, continuing to work in some capacity is not necessarily a bad thing. ?I always believed retirement was fictional,? says John Sestina, founder of John E. Sestina and Company in Columbus, Ohio. ?Why does someone have to quit working if they are productive, and what are they going to do to replace that in their life? You can only play so many rounds of golf.?

People still need to take into consideration that their employment status could change due to circumstances such as a layoff or deteriorating health, says George Middleton, an adviser with Limoges Investment Management in Portland, Ore. ?A lot of my clients say they will just keep working,? he says. ?I always tell them ?but what if you can?t???

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5. Factor in health care costs
Another burden facing retirees in the relatively near future is rapidly growing health care costs. A 65-year old couple who retires in 2012 should plan for $240,000 for medical costs, according to a study by Fidelity, provided the couple does not receive employer-sponsored health coverage. This figure, on average, has risen 6 percent annually since 2002.

Diane Pearson, a financial adviser at Legend Financial Advisors in Pittsburgh, says higher health care costs in recent years have changed the way she has counseled clients on retirement. She used to try to get her clients? nest eggs to accrue 2 percent more than inflation each year, but now that number is close to 6 percent due to rising health costs.

?People generally underestimate the amount of money they?ll need in retirement,? Pearson says, noting that health care predictions play a major role in that underestimation. ?The rule of thumb has been spending 75 percent to 85 percent in retirement of what you were spending while you were working full-time. I think that?s absolutely false.? Pearson says the amount spent in retirement likely will be about the same spent in your working years.

6. Don?t play catch up
If someone has failed to save enough for retirement by their 50s, it may be tempting to build a portfolio full of stocks to play catch-up. The financial experts interviewed by 24/7 Wall St. generally advise against this move. While some stocks are still important in a portfolio to help manage inflation, a bad stretch in the stock market can completely devastate a person?s financial goals. ?That?s financial suicide,? Sestina calls such a move. ?They can?t afford the risk with so little time.?

Middleton says he counsels his clients to take on as little risk as possible in order to reach their retirement goals. Someone who has not saved anything for retirement by age 50 would need to take more, but not excessively more, risk than someone who saved since they were in their 20s. ?I just warn (clients) that the plan might not work,? Middleton says.

7. Beware of financial scams
When people have not saved enough for retirement, they feel overwhelmed and are willing to take drastic measures to try to reach their retirement goals, including falling for financial scams such as the ?get rich quick? and ?work from home? schemes. Those ages 60 and older lost at least $2.9 billion due to these scams in 2010, according to a recent joint study from Metlife Mature Market Institute, the National Committee for Prevention of Elder Abuse and Virginia Tech University.

Setzfand says that when people are approached about financial products, they need to do research to make sure the product really can help achieve their financial goals. She also recommends people do some research on the broker trying to sell the product to make sure no sanctions have been levied on the broker. ?If something looks too good to be true, it?s too good to be true,? Setzfand says.

8. Do not skimp on insurance
While socking a higher portion of your income in your 50s may help build up a dream retirement fund, it is important to keep up with insurance payments in order to prepare for the unexpected. Such plans as life insurance and long-term care insurance can ensure a person?s spouse or children aren?t financially devastated in case of unfortunate events.

Since life insurance is relatively affordable, Middleton says he has not noticed many people going without it. However, he is concerned many are forgoing long-term care insurance due to its high cost. Middleton says not having long-term care insurance can ?completely destroy an estate? if a spouse happens to need that level of care in the future.

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MNA Daily NewsScan, June 26, 2012: Twin Cities #1 in fitness; rural ...

26 Jun

HEALTH CARE

Twin Cities?Ranks #1 in Fitness?? High rates of physical activity helped to propel Minneapolis-St. Paul to the top of the list of the American College of Sports Medicine?s 2012 American Fitness Index (AFI) for the second year in a row, while raised obesity levels and smoking pushed Oklahoma City to the bottom.

Change is Coming to Rural Health Care, Whatever the Supreme Court Decides??Even if the Supreme Court rules some part of the law unconstitutional, he said, ?I don?t think it will derail the move forward toward change. It?s not prudent for health organizations to sit back and wait. Reform will continue to move and evolve. The push toward more integrated models will continue to occur. The notion that individual hospitals [and other providers] will exist as islands is probably not realistic.?

NURSING

Communicating with Patients is Fundamental to Culturally Competent Care?? Recent statistics show the U.S. is more diverse than ever before. The Hispanic and Asian populations, for instance, each grew by 43% between 2000 and 2010, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures. For nurses, a diverse society translates to a need to keep cultural sensitivity in mind during every encounter with patients.

Care Coordination Advancing Slowly?? Teamwork is an emerging focus, with nearly three-quarters (72%) entering? collaborative care relationships, while 28% say they are not. At the same time,? healthcare leaders are reluctant to engage in shared savings programs as a? risk-sharing cost-reduction tactic: 63% say they have no plans for such? programs, which are a foundation of the evolving accountable care organization? models.

LABOR

Union to Vote on Lockheed Offer? They?ve made it nine weeks on the picket lines, and it sounds like 3,600 Lockheed Martin workers may be willing to walk a few more if they don?t like the company?s latest offer.

44.930224 -93.115068

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How to manually update to iOS 6 beta 2 over-the-air (OTA)

Apple has just released iOS 6 beta 2 to developers and it's now available as both a download from Apple's developer portal, and an over-the-air (OTA) update directly on iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad devices.

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Know your BMI: Docs urged to screen for obesity

Graphic shows the projected percentage of obese and very obese Americans

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Chances are you know your blood pressure. What about your BMI?

Body mass index signals if you're overweight, obese or just right considering your height. Some doctors have begun calling it a vital sign, as crucial to monitor as blood pressure.

But apparently not enough doctors check: A government panel renewed a call Monday for every adult to be screened for obesity during checkups, suggesting more physicians should be routinely calculating their patients' BMIs.

And when someone crosses the line into obesity, the doctor needs to do more than mention a diet. It's time to refer those patients for intensive nutrition-and-fitness help, say the guidelines issued by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

Don't assume your weight's OK if the doctor doesn't bring it up.

Patients "should be asking what their BMI is, and tracking that over time," says task force member Dr. David Grossman, medical director for preventive care at the Group Health Cooperative in Seattle.

By the numbers: A normal BMI is less than 25. Obesity begins at 30. In between is considered overweight. To calculate yours: http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/.

The advice sounds like a no-brainer, considering the national anxiety about our growing waistlines. Two-thirds of adults are either overweight or obese. Some 17 percent of children and teens are obese, on the road to diabetes, heart disease and other ailments before they're even grown.

The task force has recommended adult obesity screening previously, and similar guidelines urge tracking whether youngsters are putting on too many pounds.

Yet BMI remains a mystery for many people. A 2010 survey of members of the American Academy of Family Physicians found up to 40 percent of those primary care doctors were computing their patients' BMIs. Surveys show only about a third of obese patients recall their doctor counseling them about weight loss, even though people whose doctors discuss the problem are more likely to do something about it.

Doctors can struggle with the pounds, too, and Johns Hopkins University researchers recently reported that overweight physicians were less likely than skinnier ones to advise their patients about weight loss.

Why the reluctance? One reason: Few doctors are trained to treat obesity, they're discouraged by yo-yo dieting but they don't know what to advise, says Dr. Glen Stream, president of the physicians' group. His Spokane, Wash., practice uses electronic medical records that automatically calculate BMI when a patient's height and weight is entered.

"Our American culture is always looking for an easy fix, a pill for every problem," Stream says. "The updated recommendation is important because it makes clear exactly what doctors should do to help."

In Monday's Annals of Internal Medicine, the task force concluded high-intensity behavioral interventions are the best non-surgical advice for the obese, citing insufficient evidence about lasting effects from weight-loss medications.

The task force's Grossman says a good program:

?Includes 12 to 26 face-to-face meetings over a year, most in the first few months.

?Makes patients set realistic weight-loss goals. Losing just 5 percent of your initial weight ? 10 pounds for a 200-pound person ? can significantly improve health.

?Analyzes what blocks each patient from reaching those goals. Do they eat high-calorie comfort foods to deal with depression? Spend too much time at a desk job?

?Tailors ways to help people integrate physical activity into their daily routine.

?Requires self-monitoring, such as a food diary or a pedometer to track activity.

Last year, Medicare started paying primary care doctors for obesity screening and weight-loss counseling for seniors for a year, including weekly meetings for the first month.

But many insurance companies don't pay for all the suggested interventions, and comprehensive programs aren't available everywhere, says Dr. Scott Kahan of George Washington University and the STOP Obesity Alliance. He runs a clinic that provides a medical, psychological and nutritional evaluation before tailoring a plan. In other programs, primary care doctors may offer some counseling and send patients to nutritionists or other specialists for extra help.

Another problem: "Doctors tend to shoo away people who have obesity. They say, 'Don't come back to me and tell me your back hurts or you have acid reflux or high cholesterol until you will do something about it,'" laments Kahan, who is teaching medical school students to motivate patients.

What about the overweight? The task force said more study is needed on how best to help them.

But in Reno, Nev., Dr. Andy Pasternak calculates BMI for every patient at his family medicine practice ? and particularly targets the overweight in their 40s and younger for fitness counseling. He says if they wait until they're heavier or older to get active, arthritis exacerbated by the pounds will be another barrier.

Patients seldom know what their BMI should be, but "at least twice a day people say, 'What should be my optimal weight?'" Pasternak says.

He thinks saying to lose 60 pounds is too discouraging: "What I try to get them to focus on is: How much are you working out? How many servings of vegetables do you get a day?"

___

EDITOR'S NOTE ? Lauran Neergaard covers health and medical issues for The Associated Press in Washington.

___

BMI calculator: http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi

Associated Press

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Sunday, June 24, 2012

Euro as a currency is working ? MarketWatch - Forex Trading ...

Austrian Business & Financial News
ECB's Nowotny: Euro as a currency is working
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European Central Bank Governing Council Member Ewald Nowotny Saturday said the euro as a currency is working, but that financial markets have some ...
Euro in good shape despite Spain's woes: NowotnyYahoo! News UK

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Watch a 2013 Subaru BRZ Tour Japan in Latest Episode of Epic Drives

If you could go anywhere on an epic drive, where would you go? For associate online editor and avid JDM enthusiast Nate Martinez, the answer was easy ? Japan. His ride of choice is the latest rear-drive sports car to hail from the land of the rising sun, the 2013 Subaru BRZ. Martinez brings us along on his Japanese road trip in the latest episode of Epic Drives.

Martinez?s journey across Japan would take him through Tokyo, to Subaru?s Gunma factory, where the BRZ and its Scion FR-S twin are produced. On the way, Martinez takes the BRZ on all of Japan?s most legendary driving roads, including the twisting ribbons of asphalt on the Nihon Romantic Highway. Martinez also gets the chance to climb Mount Fuji, and tear up the famed Toyo Tires Turnpike.

After a stop at the BRZ?s factory, Martinez hits up the twisty Gunma Cycle Sports Center, the very track where the BRZ?s driving dynamics were honed to perfection. Check out the latest episode of Epic Drives for yourself below.

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Mets get a helping hand

By HOWIE RUMBERG

AP Sports Writer

Associated Press Sports

updated 11:49 p.m. ET June 22, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) - Justin Turner cranked up Frank Francisco's new theme song, Project Pat's "Chicken Head," as soon the New York Mets closer entered the clubhouse.

After wriggling out of a ninth-inning jam Friday night with his arm, it was a lot easier for Francisco to laugh at a bit of headline-grabbing trouble he made with his mouth earlier in the week.

Francisco closed out the Mets' 6-4 victory over the Yankees a couple of days after calling their crosstown rivals "chickens."

"Awesome," he said.

Ike Davis received a bit of help from the Yankees on his three-run homer, Turner had a two-run single and the Mets scored five runs in the first inning with two outs. Andy Pettitte looked flat after waiting out a rainstorm that set back the start of the season's second Subway Series by 53 minutes.

Davis followed Turner's hit with a fly to right that a leaping Nick Swisher got his glove on. But when he hit the wall, the ball was nudged off the top of the fence and over for a 5-0 lead.

"I thought he was going to catch it the way he went back," Davis said.

Still, the homer-happy Yankees rallied with three late drives to set up a chance to see Francisco.

Alex Rodriguez hit his 641st homer and Andruw Jones also connected for the Yankees against Jonathon Niese. Robinson Cano added a two-run shot off Miguel Batista in the eighth to cut the lead to 6-4 after David Wright had an RBI double in the seventh.

Francisco made headlines in New York this week by saying "I can't wait to face those chickens" and expressing his desire to strike out the side against the Yankees.

He explained Friday afternoon what he meant by his strange comment, saying he thinks the Yankees often complain about umpires' calls, especially balls and strikes.

"I didn't mean to hurt anybody's feelings," Francisco said after the win. "It was a simple comment."

His teammates certainly had fun with it - though Mets reliever Tim Byrdak might have taken ribbing Francisco to an extreme. He posted a close-up video on Twitter of a chicken bobbing around on the carpet in the Mets' clubhouse.

A tweet several minutes earlier says he bought it in "China Town."

Yankees manager Joe Girardi didn't see getting an opportunity against Francisco as a shot at payback.

"I don't really worry about what he said," Girardi said. "The way we've been finding ways to win games, you think that you have a chance there."

In a heavy drizzle, Francisco made his first appearance against the Yankees for the Mets and - you got it - played chicken with a powerful lineup. Andres Torres made a stumbling catch in deep center field for the first out. The right-hander walked pinch-hitter Raul Ibanez before Derek Jeter singled. Francisco then struck out Curtis Granderson and got Mark Teixeira to pop out for his 18th save in 21 opportunities.

"They tried to give me a little bit of a hard time," Francisco said. "Lately, I've been fighting a little bit with my command but I (found) myself out there and got out of the situation."

The Yankees lost their third in a row following a 10-game winning streak that began against the Mets. They had not lost three in a row since May 19-21.

The afternoon rain didn't deter a crowd of 40,191 from filling Citi Field. It did help alleviate the sizzling heat of the last few days that even inspired a Mets ticket offer. The team sold a limited number of choice seats for $94, the price set to the temperature at the start of Wednesday night's game against Baltimore.

The Mets totaled seven runs when they were swept in three games in the Bronx in early June. In the finale at Yankee Stadium, Niese (5-3) carried a 3-0 lead into the seventh but he was betrayed by his defense and gave up two unearned runs.

This time, he gave up the two homers and eight hits in 6 1-3 innings to help the Mets win their seventh straight interleague game.

Pettitte (3-3) gave up five runs for the second time this season and for the first time in an inning since Sept. 4, 2001, against Toronto.

Torres walked in the first and Ronny Cedeno, activated from the disabled list before the game, singled. Wright hit into a fielder's choice and Lucas Duda flied out. But the Mets lead the majors in two-out runs (155), and they soon cashed in.

Turner hit a two-run single to center. Davis then hit his eighth homer of the year.

Batting just .162 entering the game on June 10, Davis didn't even start with Pettitte on the mound. But the left-handed hitter had a pinch-hit double that tied the score in the ninth that day and has played well enough recently to earn a place in manager Terry Collins' lineup Friday against the crafty lefty.

"Ike is very determined to get out of this. He's been fighting it, fighting it, fighting it," Collins said. "And now, all of a sudden, some of the balls he's swinging at, he's hitting them on the barrel of the bat instead of swinging and missing, and if he can do that, he's going to be dangerous."

As has often been the case this season, the Yankees had trouble with runners on base. Leading the majors with 105 homers coming in but hitting only .218 with men in scoring position, the Yankees put two on in the first and second and had a runner on in the third, fourth and seventh without scoring.

"We keep putting them on, eventually it's going to change," Girardi said. "That's all I can really tell you. We are who we are."

Rodriguez homered with one out in the sixth, his drive landing in the container that holds the big apple in straightaway center. Jones homered to left in the seventh. Cano hit a two-run shot in the eighth.

NOTES: Mets LHP Johan Santana was given the key to the city by Mayor Michael Bloomberg in honor of his no-hitter June 1, the first in franchise history. ... To make room for Cedeno, the Mets sent reliever Elvin Ramirez to Triple-A Buffalo. ... Rodriguez was thrilled for the Miami Heat, NBA champions. He said he understood what LeBron James had gone through.

More news

Mets get a helping hand

Ike Davis received a bit of help from the New York Yankees on his three-run homer and Frank Francisco closed out the Mets' 6-4 victory Friday night after calling their crosstown rivals "chickens.''

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Congress Needs to Get Busy

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