Pirates Attack Humanitarian Relief Vessel In Somalia

By Jerry Garner

Pirates off the coast of Somalia have hijacked a cargo ship conducting a humanitarian mission for the United Nations. The United States is reported to have dispatched a war ship to protect other humanitarian vessels after this latest pirate attack.

Sea pirates hijacked the freighter, MV Rozen, Sunday morning. Reports state that the vessel was boarded off the coast of North-Eastern Somalia, by an organized gang of pirates brandishing AK-47s. The attack has caused many to fear a resurgence of the piracy that was once widespread and rampant in the area.

According to a spokesperson for the UN World Food Program, the vessel had just completed delivery of 1,800 tons of food aid to the towns of Bosasso and Berbera. Having unloaded the cargo, the ship was on it’s return voyage to vessel’s home port in Mombasa, Kenya.

"It was hijacked this morning at about 9.30am near the town of Bargal," said Stephanie Savariaud, a spokesperson for the United Nations.

The attack followed warnings from Kenya that there could possibly be a resurgence of piracy off the Horn of Africa.

Andrew Mwangura, a representative of the International Seafarers Assistance Program, said, “As it was heading home, the heavily-armed pirates emerged from a motorboat, they jumped in the ship and seized it.”

The identity of the pirates is not known at this time. In the past, similar attacks have been carried out by a well-organized cartel of Somalis. The pirates typically use speed boats mounted with machine guns to catch up to the slower moving ocean liners, and then board the vessel with automatic weapons.

Somali pirates are once again becoming a well-known problem along the shipping corridors of Eastern Africa. By some accounts, their attacks even rival those of the armed gangs who plague the Malacca Straight in the South China Sea.

The Kenyan company that operates the MV Rozen, Motaku Shipping, has had a particularly difficult time with the pirates. Following this recent attack on the Rozen, the company said that all four vessels under it’s command have suffered from piracy in the last two years.

The MV Torgelo, also operated by Motaku Shipping, fell victim to pirates in October 2005 as she came to the aid of her sister vessel, the Semlow. The Semlow had been hijacked by pirates more than three months earlier while delivering aid to Somalia’s tsunami victims, and both she ship and the crew were held captive for 100 days before being released.

Only a week after the Torgelo hijacking, the company’s other vessel, the Miltzow, was hijacked and held by pirates for two days before being released. The company now instructs it’s vessels to remain at least 200 miles away from the coast of Somalia to avoid attacks by pirates, but this is an impossible task when you are delivering foreign aid to cities in that country.

At this time, both the Rozen and it’s crew of 12 men are still missing. The crew of comprised of six Kenyans and six Sri Lankans, including the Captain. The few details that are available were relayed by the Captain of the vessel before the pirates finally gained entry to the ship’s control room.

"I do not know what I will tell the relatives of the crew when they start camping outside my office tomorrow," said Karim Kudrath in an open press statement. Kudrath is the General Manager of Motaku Shipping in Mombasa, Kenya.

The same vessel under attack in this instance narrowly escaped an attack by pirates last March when making another humanitarian delivery. The problem of piracy has become so bad that shipping in the area has slowed to a crawl.

“We are the only shipping company that has agreed to take food to Somalia," Kudrath said.

He continued to say, "I am very doubtful if we will continue to offer our services to Somalia. It is getting very difficult for us."

Said Warsame, a World Food Program spokeswoman, has stated that a US War Ship has been dispatched to confront sea pirates. Warsame stated that the war ship is still in international waters, but is heading towards the area. US officials in Nairobi have not yet confirmed these reports.

Related News Links:

US warship tackles Somali pirates

Pirates hijack UN ship near Somalia

Off Somalia, There Be (Lots of) Pirates

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Jerry Garner, a resident of Las Vegas, covers a diverse array of current events and world news topics. He is most notable for his expertise in casino gambling, which is showcased at his web site, GlobalGamingNews.com.

Fishermen Catch Colossal Squid Weighing Half A Ton

By Jerry Garner

For as long as man has sailed the seas, there have been reports of sea monsters that would attack even the largest of man’s ships. The giant squid has always been one of the most widely known of these sea monsters. Fishermen in New Zealand have now caught a colossal squid weighing half a ton, making it the largest specimen ever caught.

Reports of giant squid have circulated since the 18th century. Often depicted in mammoth proportions, these sea monsters were often reported to have pulled entire ships to the ocean floor. Sailors would often treat tales of these creatures with respect and fear, while others regarded them as myth and fantasy.

In 1861, rumors circulated about an encounter between the French Navy and a giant squid. The story fueled the imagination of Jules Verne, resulting in Captain Nemo’s encounter with a colossal squid in Verne’s famous novel, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea.

Over time, evidence began to surface to demonstrate that the giant squid is a sea monster that truly does exist. Confirming that the creatures were real forever changed our view of them, even if very little is actually known of the creatures. One of the few facts about giant squid that is known is that the creatures are hunted by sperm whales, a fact that was revealed when enormous squid beaks were found in sperm whale stomachs.

While we are not certain of exactly how big these creatures can be, we now have a new benchmark after a fishing crew caught a record setting giant squid off the South of New Zealand today. The squid measured in at 39 feet long, and weighs 990 pounds, and is the largest squid specimen ever landed.

It should be noted that these are estimates made by the crew and the fisheries official on board the vessel. Official, detailed figures have not yet been released. If the initial estimates prove correct, it would make this squid 330 pounds heavier than the next biggest specimen to have every been found.

The men were fishing for Patagonian toothfish, which is sold under the name Chilean Sea Bass. According to Jim Anderton, the New Zealand Fisheries Minister, the squid began eating on of the toothfish that had been hooked. After a two hour struggle the creature was finally captured and brought on board.

"I can assure you that this is going to draw phenomenal interest. It is truly amazing," said Dr. Steve O'Shea, a squid expert at the Auckland University of Technology.

O’Shea went on to say that if calamari rings were to be made from this squid, they would be the size of tractor tires.

Colossal squid are known by the scientific name of Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni. They are estimated to grow up to 46 feet in length, and can descend to 6,500 feet below the surface of the ocean. They are believed to be very aggressive hunters.

While colossal squid are native to Antarctic waters, they have a close cousin known as the giant squid. The giant squid are native to waters just off the coast of New Zealand, and are known to be up to 39 feet in length. Aside from being slightly longer, the colossal squid is also generally heavier than the giant squid..

Related News Links:

New Zealand fishermen catch rare squid

Public Alarmed By More Tainted Food Recalls

By Jerry Garner

In the past week alone, we have seen recalls of peanut butter, fruit and baby food. Now pre-cooked chicken breasts have joined the list of contaminated products, leaving the public to wonder exact what is safe to eat and what isn’t.

The scare began last week when two ConAgra Foods products, Peter Pan peanut butter and Great Value peanut butter, were recalled and pulled from shelves. The products had been linked to an outbreak of Salmonella that caused nearly 300 people in 39 States to fall ill. Of those, 46 were hospitalized for serious conditions.

The Salmonella outbreak came on the heels of a similar outbreak last November in which tomatoes were linked to the illness. It not only resulted in multiple lawsuits being filed against ConAgra Foods, but also left Congress wondering if the US food supply is vulnerable to terror attacks.

The food scare was intensified on Friday when Dole Fresh Fruit Company recalled more than 6,100 cartons of Cantaloupes. The fruit, which was imported from Costa Rica, was also infected with a strain of Salmonella. Although there have been no reports of illness linked to the fruit, the Associated Press reported that it had been distributed to wholesale outlets in Quebec and in the Eastern United States.

The same day, Earth’s Best Organic recalled a large amount of baby food with fears that it may have been contaminated with Clostridium Botulinum, a life threatening bacteria more commonly known as Botulism.

The manufacturer or Earth’s Best Organic voluntarily recalled more than 4,000 cases of individual jars and more than 38,000 variety packs, according to a prepared statement released by the FDA. Production of the baby food has been suspended until the company and the FDA can determine, and eliminate, the source of the problem.

The baby food that was recalled is part of the company’s “2nd Vegetables, Fruits and Blends” product line, and is intended for infants 6 months and up. The jars were distributed through retail outlets and also sold on the Earth’s Best web site, according to the FDA.

The publicity surrounding such a large amount of contaminated food products in such a short period of time has left the public wondering what is safe to eat.

"Our country has pretty good food regulation standards so the fact that we've had a lot of incidents lately is pretty shocking," says Matt Wolf, a shopper from Illinois.

To add to the ever-growing list of tainted food products, we are now being told that more than 26 tons of pre-cooked chicken breasts have been recalled after the meat was confirmed to be contaminated with Listeria Monocytogenes. If ingested, this contamination could develop into Listeriosis, an infection that is rare, but very serious.

The recall was issued by Carolina Culinary Foods of South Carolina. The company recalled more than 52,000 pounds of fully cooked chicken breasts that were produced on February 9th and distributed to retailers nationwide.

The recalled product are labeled “OSCAR MAYER/LOUIS RICH CHICKEN BREAST STRIPS WITH RIB MEAT, GRILLED, FULLY COOKED -- READY TO EAT.” Each 6-ounce package contains the number “P-19676” inside the USDA inspection mark on the front, and a use-by date of “19 Apr 2007” on the back.

Consumers with questions about the chicken recall should contact Kraft Consumer Response at 800-871-7117.

The latest event has left many wondering about the inspection process of the food that finds it’s way to our kitchen.

"I don't know if it's under-funding that we don't have the inspectors that we need to go out into the fields and make sure the companies are abiding by the rules that are set down," says shopper Mike Luke.

Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done on an individual level short of growing your own food, an option that is not realistic for the majority of the population. This leaves most consumers with no option other than to simply hope that the food they are eating isn’t poisoning them.

"You can't grow things in your home to the amount that there is out there to get so I don't know, you know, what are you gonna do?" Luke continued.

The unusually high volume of contaminated food products has left some members of Congress wondering if the US food supply is vulnerable to attacks from terrorists.

"If we cannot protect the nation's supply of peanut butter, one must ask how prepared we are for a terrorist attack on our nation's food supply," Michigan Democratic Rep. Bart Stupak said on Friday in response to the contaminated jars of Peter Pan peanut butter.

Consumer protection groups are also outraged and filing official complaints with the Federal Government. The groups charge that the agencies in charge of protecting the nations food supplies are all but negligent due to improper coordination. Complaints reference the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the US Department of Agriculture.

Related News Links:

Cooked Chicken Breasts Join Tainted-Food Recalls

More Recalled Foods

Illinois Republicans Push For Expanded Gambling

By Jerry Garner

Illinois House Republicans have proposed a $5 Billion budget for roads, schools and mass transportation. The money to cover the budget will come from an expansion of Illinois' casinos.

Expanding gambling in the State has not been a popular option in the past. But when compared to other options, such as increase sales tax or an increase on State income tax, offering more gambling in the State may be viewed as the most favorable option available.

House Republican Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) remains hopeful about the proposal's odds of approval. The State has been in desperate need for a Capital Construction Plan for years, to repair aging roads and bridges. Adding to his hopes are that both parties have already mentioned using more gambling to cover the costs of these projects.

"We haven't done an infrastructure bill in seven years," Cross said. "When you look at roads, schools and higher education issues, it's time to quit talking about it."

Cross continued on to explain that while not everyone has embraced the idea, nearly everyone is in agreement on the need for a capital plan, and that the money for this plan has to come from somewhere.

The last Capital Budget was the "Illinois FIRST" plan, which was passed in 1999 during the early days of Gov. George Ryan's term. More recently, Gov. Rod Blagojevich has proposed multiple Capital Plans; all of which have failed to gain the approval of State Lawmakers.

A spokesperson for Governor Blagojevich, Abby Ottenhoff, stated that the Governor is open to considering any proposal put forth by the State Legislation.

"But it's ironic that these are the very legislators who stopped the governor from passing any capital plans for the last four years," Ottenhoff continued.

Throughout his first term, Governor Blagojevich has pushed several plans to fund school construction and various public works projects. None of these plans received proper support to be passed. House Republicans held up his most recent proposal, stating that there was not adequate funding to complete it. The Governor suggested that the State could add a keno lottery game to pay for the plan, but was ultimately forced to drop the idea.

The new plan proposed by the GOP would provide a budget of $3 Billion for purposes of road construction and mass transit projects. An additional $1.5 Billion would be applied to construction costs for schools in the State, and another $500 Million would go to various Universities and Community Colleges. The money required to pay for this plan would be derived purely from an expansion of available gambling at the casinos in Illinois.

"I understand that this does not expand gambling locations, but it would expand the positions," said Rep. Jil Tracy (R-Mount Sterling).

Tracy said that the plan is both vital and long overdue, even if an expansion of gambling is not her favorite source of funding.

Under the plan, casinos in Illinois can expand capacity on their gaming floors to include 6,000 new gaming positions, in addition to the 10,000 positions currently used at Illinois casinos. Casinos would pay $500 Million in up-front fees for the expanded capacity. Taxes and fees would continue to generate $450 Million per year from the expansion. Under the GOP Plan, casinos would need to supply the state with an additional $400 Million per year for 20 years in order to pay off construction loans for the projects.

Contaminated Peanut Butter Triggers Terror Concerns

"If we cannot protect the nation's supply of peanut butter, one must ask how prepared we are for a terrorist attack on our nation's food supply," Michigan Democratic Rep. Bart Stupak said on Friday.

"As chairman of the House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, I have already been working with Commerce Committee chairman (John) Dingell to open an investigation into the adequacy of the FDA's efforts to protect our nation's food supply."

These concerns stem from the total recall of all Peter Pan Peanut Butter products purchased since May 2006. The US Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that all Peter Pan brand peanut butter purchased during this period should be discarded. This decision follows reports of more than 290 people in 39 states falling ill after consuming the peanut butter, 46 of which were hospitalized.

Also recalled is all Great Value brand peanut butter purchased during the same time period. Great Value is the Wal-Mart brand of the peanut butter. Although none of the salmonella outbreaks have been linked to the Great Value brand, it is manufactured at the same ConAgra Foods facility. As such, the CDC feels that discarding this product is a precautionary measure in the interest of public safety.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Wednesday that all contaminated jars of the product can be identified by the product code 2111. This product code is the first four digits of the number printed on the lid of the jar for both Peter Pan and Great Value. Anyone possessing one of these jars is advised to discard the product or return it to the place of purchase.

The CDC has identified the specific strain of bacteria as Salmonella Tennessee. This is one of many salmonella strains. The bacteria can cause nausea, diarrhea and other ill effects. Symptoms generally clear up on their own within a week.

"FDA laboratory personnel will analyze samples collected from the manufacturing plant," the agency said.

In addition to national distribution in the United States, the 2111 coded jars have also found their way around the world. Citizens in the Philippines have expressed concerns after finding potentially contaminated peanut butter in their pantry. Similarly, the United Arab Emirates has now announced that they are returning jars of the product as well.

The contamination has also resulted in a series of lawsuits filed against ConAgra Foods. The first of these, filed by Susanna and Brian Cox of St. Joseph, Missouri, alleges that the family became extremely ill in October after eating Great Value peanut butter. The FDA, however, maintains that Great Value has not been linked to the salmonella outbreak.

The same Seattle based attorney handling the Cox case has also filed a lawsuit in federal court in New York on behalf of a family with a 2 year old child. The lawsuit alleges that the child became ill in the past week after eating Peter Pan peanut butter. A Texas couple has also filed suit against ConAgra Foods. More lawsuits are expected to follow in coming weeks.

Of course, stomach nausea and lawsuits aren’t the extent of the concerns circulating in Washington. This salmonella outbreak, combined with another last November that was linked to tomato crops, has many on Capital Hill speculating as to how well protected our food supply is. The House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee has already launched an investigation into the FDA’s ability to protect the nation’s food supply, particularly in terms of protecting it from potential terror attacks.

Many consumer protection groups have lodged complaints in reference to the Government’s food safety efforts. These complaints charge that the various agencies involved with this effort, including the FDA, CDC and the US Department of Agriculture, do not communicate with each other effectively.

Approximately 40,000 cases of salmonellosis are reported in the United States each year. Around 600 of these are fatal.

Atlantic City Casinos Face Financial Crisis

By Jerry Garner

Since gambling was first legalized in New Jersey in 1978, the casinos of Atlantic City have faced more than their fair share of obstacles. They have endured hurricanes, blizzards, and the collapse of a parking garage. Last year the casinos were even closed due to a State budget crisis, and more recently the city has been plagued by a serial killer targeting prostitutes. Despite all of this, gaming revenues at the casinos have always skyrocketed, increasing each year, until now.

Annual revenues for Atlantic City’s casinos is projected to decline in 2007, for the first time ever. A number of factors play into this expected decline in revenues. Atlantic City currently faces increased competition from slot parlors in neighboring states, such as Delaware and Pennsylvania, as well as the closing of one of the city’s casinos. It is also uncertain how much the new smoking ban will impact gaming revenues in Atlantic City.

Revenue figures released for the month of January are already down from 2006, triggering concerns that this could be the start of a trend that would carry forward through the rest of the year. If revenues do face a long-term decline, it would have negative consequences for both Atlantic City casinos and the State of New Jersey, which depends on taxes from casino revenues to support State budgets.

Carlos Tolosa, the Eastern Division President for Harrahs Entertainment said, “There will be an impact, no doubt. The Pennsylvania slots parlors will certainly cause competition. In the past, people just came to Atlantic City. That’s the part that always scares you. Atlantic City relies on high frequency customers.”

The new slot parlors in Pennsylvania have already begun to cut into Atlantic City’s casino revenues. Atlantic City went head-to-head against two new Philadelphia area slot parlors in January. Financial figures for this period showed Atlantic City’s overall revenues declining 2.9 percent from a year ago, with slot machine revenues specifically facing an even bigger 7.2 percent drop.

Philadelphia Park, located about 20 miles North of Philadelphia, opened it’s doors to the public on December 19. This was followed by the opening of Harrah’s Chester Casino and Racetrack on January 22. Both locations admitted that their target audience was comprised of customers who would have otherwise gone to Atlantic City.

While this may be bad news for Atlantic City Casinos and the taxes they generate for the State of New Jersey, it is not necessarily bad for the casino customers. Increased competition is generally good for consumers, and many industry insiders expect that the casinos will have to offer more financial incentives to keep players coming back. These incentives will likely result in a lot of free rooms, meals and show tickets up for grabs to anyone who will choose Atlantic City over the neighboring States’ alternatives. It is also likely to lead the city to expand revenues that are not associated with gambling.

"Clearly, Atlantic City recognizes that for its overall revenue to grow, it has to become less gaming-centric," said Joseph Weinert, Vice President of Spectrum Gaming Group, a casino consulting firm. "A majority of Atlantic City's customers will be able to play slots somewhere closer to home. Atlantic City has to give them a compelling reason to drive farther, stay longer and spend more."

“It’s difficult to spend time on the gambling floor morning to night,” said Barbara Sieminski, a retiree from Mountaintop, Pennsylvania, who comes to the Borgata at least once a month for amenities like the manicure she treated herself to last week. "I come for the total package. Coming to Atlantic City is like a vacation for us."

Even if revenues do continue to decline for 2007, it is not a trend that will be irreversible. Harrahs executives noted that the casinos shut down last July during a State budget crisis, which is an event that is not likely to repeat itself in the future. It should also be noted that Three new casinos will be adding more than 2,500 new hotel rooms to the city, which more than compensates for the closure of the Sands Casino and Hotel last November.

"I don't think anybody doubts that long-term, Atlantic City is going to remain a powerhouse," said Frank Fantini, publisher of The Gaming Morning Report.

10 Tips To Stop Smoking

By Jerry Garner

Cigarette smoking is the world’s leading cause of preventable death. Tobacco related illnesses kill 438,000 people per year in the United States alone, and costs the U.S. economy over $167 Billion per year in health care related costs. The effects of cigarette smoke can be avoided entirely.

As shocking as these figures are, they are only a glimpse into the true figures of those afflicted with smoking related illness. 438,000 people per year die as a result of smoke related illness. That number is only reflective of actual death, and only in the United States. It is estimated that 8.6 million people in the United States suffer from a smoke related illness, meaning that for each death, there are 20 other people still suffering from the effects of cigarette smoke.

Even more shocking is the amount of poison contained in each cigarette. Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,800 chemicals, of which at least 69 have been proven to cause cancer. As a result, cigarette smoke is directly responsible for 90% of all lung cancer deaths in the United States, and as much as 90% of emphysema related death.

In addition to chronic lung disease, cigarette smoke is also known to be a major cause of both coronary heart disease and stroke. It is also attributed to a number of other conditions and disorders, ranging from slow healing wounds to infertility.

Aside from the obvious health benefits to quitting a smoking habit, there are a number of other benefits as well. One of these is financial. With an average price of $4.00 per pack in the United States, a pack-a-day smoker will instantly save $1,460 per year just by not buying cigarettes.

Ex-smokers also report an increase in stamina almost instantly after they stop smoking, and nearly all smokers who quit report breathing easier and having a stronger sense of taste and smell as soon as one day after quitting. The following figures released by the Center for Disease Control show the reasonable timeline for recovering from a smoking habit.

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20 Minutes after you stop smoking: Your heart rate drops

12 Hours after quitting: Carbon Monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.

2 Weeks to 3 Months after quitting: Your risk of heart attack begins to drop and lung function begins to improve.

1 to 9 Months after quitting: Coughing and shortness of breath decrease.

1 Year after quitting: Risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker’s.

5 Years after quitting: Stroke risk is reduced to that of a non-smoker.

10 Years after quitting: Lung cancer death rate is about half that of a smoker. Also, the risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas decreases.

15 Years after quitting: Risk of coronary heart disease is back to that of a non-smoker.

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Once you’ve made the decision to stop smoking, the next step is to come up with a plan to help you not only quit smoking, but to remain a non-smoker. The following tips have been used widely by others to make the transition from smoker to non-smoker a smoother and easier process.

Tip 1 – Prepare In Advance

Rather than quitting cold turkey, try to pick a date 30 to 45 days ahead of time. Set a firm date, and more importantly, make sure everyone you know is aware that this is your quitting date. Remind them repeatedly. This not only helps them prepare for a change in mood during your initial quitting, but will also make you feel obligated to quit on that date, helping to release the cigarette’s psychological hold on you.

It is also recommended that you reduce your nicotine intake during this period. When you smoke a cigarette, wait a few extra minutes before you light it. If you smoke full strength cigarettes, reduce to lights, or if you smoke light cigarettes reduce to ultra-lights. It may seem like a difficult change, but it will make it easier for you to stop smoking entirely.


Tip 2 – Quit With A Buddy

Most smokers find it easier to quit if they have the support of a fellow smoker who is quitting with them. Since smokers tend to associate with other smokers, and since studies show that 4 out of 5 smokers find the habit disgusting, you should have little problem with finding a quitting buddy. This will give you someone to share tips with, and to generally talk to when you are faced with the urge to light up.


Tip 3 – Don’t Taper Off

Many smokers hold onto a myth that it is easier to quit smoking if you taper off instead of going cold turkey. Studies have proven this to be untrue. The habit of smoking cigarettes is a combination of physical and psychological addiction. When you taper off the number of cigarettes you smoke in a day, what you are actually doing is making those remaining cigarettes even more important, strengthening the psychological addiction. Those who attempt to taper off will rarely quit entirely, and the vast majority relapse into full smoking after a short time.


Tip 4 – Change Your Routine

Smoking cigarettes is largely based on habit, and changing those habits can often make it easier to stop smoking. If you always eat breakfast at the same time every day, try to change that time, or to sit in a different location while eating. Many people also find it easier if they eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, stating that it gives them an overall healthier feeling, which helps them to maintain a positive outlook about quitting.


Tip 5 – Stop Smoking Aids

If you feel that you need help to kick the habit, try one of the many stop smoking aids that are available at most any pharmacy. Nicotine gum, patches and inhalers have made a lot of progressive developments in recent years. Most physicians approve of the use of these products, because nicotine (the addictive narcotic in tobacco) does not contain any when used alone, and can help to satisfy the physical addition until the psychological addition has been conquered.


Tip 6 – Keep Busy

If you begin to feel tense or anxious, find something to keep busy. Providing a distraction to keep your mind occupied is often all it takes for the anxiety to pass before you realize it. This is a good time to start a hobby, or maybe to complete some of those household repairs that you’ve been putting off.


Tip 7 – Money Jar

A lot of people like to start a money jar at the time that they quit smoking, and to fill it each day (or week) with the money that they would have normally spent to buy cigarettes. This quickly adds up to show the true financial incentive to stop smoking. Set a target amount and when it is reached, buy something nice to reward yourself for being smoke free.


Tip 8 – Exercise Regularly

Regular exercise is not only good for you, but will have an immediate psychological benefit. When you exercise you feel healthy and good about yourself. You are less likely to want to revert back to a non-healthy activity like smoking. Try to go for a walk or a bike ride when you can.


Tip 9 – Let Others Know

Tell others that you have quit smoking. This has many benefits. They will probably try to refrain from smoking around you, making it easier for you to stay off the habit. Many smokers will also want to know how you quit, giving you an opportunity to talk about the methods you used. Talking about it somehow removes much of the pressure and makes it easier to stay quit, and if you inspire someone else to try quitting it is a very gratifying feeling.


Tip 10 – Remember That Cravings Will Pass

When you are faced with a craving to smoke a cigarette, just remind yourself that the craving will pass whether you have a cigarette or not, so you may as well make the healthy, responsible decision, and not smoke. Cravings will soon be less intense and less frequent, and each time you refuse to light up it will be easier than the time before.


Should you slip and find yourself lighting a cigarette, don’t get discouraged or be hard on yourself. Nearly all former smokers tried to quit several times before they finally quit for good. Don’t be discouraged, just quit again.

Related Links:

Smoking 101 Fact Sheet - American Lung Association

Facts About Smoking

Iran Blames U.S. For Diplomatic Kidnapping

By Jerry Garner

Iran accused the United States on Tuesday, of coordinating the abduction of an Iranian Diplomat conducting business in Iraq. U.S. Officials have denied any direct or indirect involvement in the kidnapping, as tensions between the two nations continue to escalate.

Shortly after sunset on Sunday, a car transporting Jalal Sharafi, second secretary to the Iranian Embassy in Iraq, was travelling through the streets of a Shiite neighborhood. Sharafi had just left a branch of the state-owned Iranian bank in the Karradah district, when his car was blocked by gunmen wearing Iraqi army uniforms.

Sharafi was forced into one of two vehicles that began to speed away from the scene. Suspicious of what was happening, Iraqi police opened fire on the vehicles, disabling one of them. Sharafi was not in the vehicle that was stopped, but four gunmen found inside were arrested and interrogated.

The following day, uniformed Iraqis appeared at the police station, presented proper identification badges, and demanded custody of the four gunmen for transfer to another detention facility, an official stated.

The authorities complied with the seemingly legitimate order, and the gunmen disappeared. Neither the Interior Ministry nor the Defense Ministry, who collectively control the Iraqi Security Forces, had any information as to what happened to the gunmen when they left the police station.

The Iranian Government and some Shiite lawmakers in Iraq believe that Sharafi was detained as part of an intelligence gathering operation carried out by the Iraqi Special Operations Command, under the direct supervision of U.S. Forces.

"They acted under U.S. supervision," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammed Ali Hosseini said in a statement released in Tehran. Al Hosseini described the incident as a "terrorist attack."

"Based on reliable information, certain agents behind the terrorist act have been arrested. They acted under U.S. supervision," Hosseini said. "The Islamic Republic of Iran considers it a responsibility of U.S. forces in Iraq to protect members of the diplomatic community, including Iranian diplomats, and will hold them responsible for obtaining the release of the abducted Iranian diplomat."

At the same time, the Bush administration has accused Iran of fueling sectarian violence in Iraq by providing Shiite extremists with weapons and explosives that are being used to attack both U.S. Forces and Sunni Arab targets. U.S. Forces have been holding five Iranians in custody for the past month following a raid carried out in the Northern city of Irbil, and accuses the Iranian Government of plans to attack Americans in the region.

An official at the Iranian Embassy in Baghdad states that Shafari’s abduction is just the latest case of heavy handedness under the orders of U.S. officials. "They should release our colleague as soon as possible," he said angrily.

The United States remains firm in it’s position that neither U.S. Forces, or Iraqi troops under their command, had any involvement with the abduction.

"In all of our research we have found no unit within Multi-National Force-Iraq or that we are associated with that has conducted any operation that remotely resembles this," said U.S. military spokesman Lt. Col. Christopher Garver. "We're continuing to research based on the seriousness of this. However, at this time, there is no evidence that any MNF-I unit participated in this event."

Although the United States has received the blame for the kidnapping, there is little or no evidence to support the allegation, and there are many alternatives to consider. Kidnappings are common in Baghdad, where merchants and high ranking local officials are often kidnapped by criminals who wish to command a large ransom for their release. Other suspects include rogue elements of the Iraqi Security Forces, or even Sunni insurgents.

Iran officials, however, refuse to consider the possibility that Shafari’s kidnapping was anything less than an attempt by Washington to exert control over Tehran.

"This is not the first time such a thing has happened," the Iranian Embassy official said of Sharafi's alleged abduction. "Normally, the United States is responsible."

American officials remain firm that there is no involvement from their forces. "We don't really know a whole lot about it at this point," White House spokesman Tony Snow said. "We know that the Iraqi government is investigating."

At this time, details are incomplete at best according to Iraqi Foreign Minister, Hoshyar Zebari. "We are working very hard and the Prime Minister is working very hard to get to the bottom of this," Zebari said. "This is unacceptable. It's our responsibility to protect diplomats in this country."

The one thing that is absolutely certain in all of this is that an already tense situation has been further intensified by the abduction of Jalal Sharafi.

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Demand Weakens For U.S. Business Loans

By Jerry Garner

A Government report released on Monday provided a bleak outlook for 2007 in reference to most types of loans, including citing a weakening demand for small business loans and other commercial development loans. The report, released by the U.S. Federal Reserve, also hinted that credit quality is likely to suffer for both businesses and consumers.

The Fed study was based on a survey of 57 domestic banks, and 22 foreign banks with U.S. branch offices. One of the banks included in the study is Ashwaubenon-based Associated Bank.

"It's a tight credit cycle right now," stated Gordy King, Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer for Associated Bank. "There is a general slowdown in lot and lot development loans," King continued.

In reference to the outlook for credit quality in 2007, the Fed said, “Considerable net percentages of both foreign and domestic institutions reportedly expect credit quality on loans to businesses and households to deteriorate somewhat in 2007.”

The Fed continued to comment that the percentage of banks expecting a deterioration in credit quality had increased from the numbers quoted in the 2006 survey.

Of those surveyed, 45% expect to see a decline in the quality of loans to business clients, whether it is for real estate or other business loans. A total of 35% of the domestic banks expect to see a decline in the quality of consumer loans, including credit card debt.

U.S. banks also indicated that demand for mortgage loans continued to weaken over the past three months. At least 15% of U.S. banks have tightened credit criteria for residential mortgages as a result of the weaker demand. This is the largest percentage of banks to tighten credit terms for these types of loans since the early 1990s.

However, the Fed loan study may not be an entirely accurate representation of what to expect for 2007. The economic figures for the fourth quarter show that the U.S. economy grew by 3.4 percent during that period. This exceeded analysts predictions, and a continued trend could lead to larger demand for various types of bank loans.

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Insurance Company Dumps Florida Insurance Policies

Earlier this week, Florida Governor Charlie Crist signed an emergency rule to freeze insurance rates and enact a moratorium on nonrenewals for 90 days and prevents cancellations through the end of the hurricane season, Nov. 30. The move was designed to lock in insurance rates until after Hurricane season has passed, but it seems to have backfired. Insurance companies are now looking away from Florida, and more than 38,000 residents will have their policies cancelled.

The move came following a special session for the Florida Legislature that was called on January 16-22. The session included an expansion of the State’s catastrophe fund, which would provide insurance company’s cheaper reinsurance than they could obtain through ordinary channels. The provision made the process cheaper for insurance agencies, provided that they pass those savings on to their customers. The measure should have been a boon to insurance companies, but when combined with the emergency rule implemented by the Governor, it has caused several insurance brokers to take a step back to re-evaluate whether or not they want to offer insurance to Florida residents.

"The irony here is prior to the legislative session, we were actually opening up a matrix to allow more new business," said Don Matz, President of Tower Hill Insurance Group. "We were being very bullish, but now we are taking a step back and reassessing our strategy."

Matz’s company announced on Friday that they would cease writing new insurance policies for 16 Florida counties, including Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco. The company firmly states that they are not ‘pulling out’ of the State, but it is clear that they are firmly restricting their insurance business in Florida.

The largest shake up has come from the Hartford Financial Services Group. In a move that appears to be leading towards a complete evacuation of the Florida insurance market, Hartford announced that they will be canceling more than 38,000 insurance policies in Florida. This accounts for more than 1/3 of the company’s personal and corporate insurance accounts in Florida. Hartford customers who are having their insurance policies cancelled will receive notice by mail over the next 18-30 months.

The 80,000 participants in the company’s special insurance agreement with AARP will not be affected by the company’s decision to reduce it’s Florida property insurance exposure, said Joe Loparco, a spokesman at The Hartford's Connecticut headquarters.

"The Legislature is going to reconvene in March, and they're probably going to debate this issue further," said Ramani Ayer, chairman, president and chief executive of The Hartford.

Florida State law does not require insurance companies to inform regulators of their intention to cease writing new policies, said Jonathon Kees, a communications assistant with the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. However, there is little doubt that there is an insurance crisis under way in the state, and it has left many policy holders wondering if their insurance policy will be cancelled in coming months, and if so, if there will be any insurance companies left to get new insurance policies with.

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Online Banking Reaches New Highs

It has been an interesting week in online banking, as internet banks around the world released a series of banking advancements, extended services and record setting interest rates to make using the internet for banking applications easier and more profitable for anyone who wishes to open a checking or savings account.

The most recent of the new online banking advancements has been modifications to the internet banking software used by Bank of America. BoA’s new internet banking system allows their online banking customers to have access to new tools that assist with automatically tracking expenses, setting and managing budgets, and monitoring the performance of all financial instruments in real time. These tools are all free of charge, and available through the “My Portfolio” section of Bank of America’s web banking web site.

"The combination of My Portfolio and these new money management tools gives consumers a comprehensive picture of their income and expenses at one convenient site," says Sanjay Gupta, e-commerce executive for Charlotte-based BofA (NYSE: BAC). "This is a simple and easy way for consumers to get more control over their finances without manually transferring or downloading information to financial management software programs."

Meanwhile, Landmark Bank has added a deeper level of internet security to their online banking security platform. The new security system, branded ICON, allows users to select a graphic icon, to write a brief phrase, and to choose three challenge questions. This information can then be transmitted back and forth between the online bank and the customer as an additional method for each to verify the other’s identity.

"Our new security features will provide customers confidence when they login to our online banking system that they are accessing a legitimate bank site and not an imposter," said Patrick L. Alexander, Landmark National Bank President and CEO. "As more and more customers choose to use our online banking services, providing a more secure site is of the utmost importance."

But when it comes to the bottom line, it is the online banking system provided by HSBC that will catch the eye of most customers. The online bank of HSBC’s Malta branch is offering some of the highest interest rates available at any internet bank in the world. As part of a promotion to advertise their new Online Banking Current Account, customers who open an internet bank account will receive an interest rate of 2.5% until August 31, 2007, and an interest rate of 1.5% after this date. That is better than most mutual funds are paying.

New customers can apply online by visiting the bank’s website hsbc.com.mt while existing HSBC customers can upgrade their current or savings account through the same site.

From new features, to new security methods, to record setting interest rates, customers of online banks have plenty of reasons to be happy this week, and plenty of options when searching for a new internet bank that meets their needs.