Earth population reaches 7 billion

According to the United Nations the Earth population has reached 7 billion and counting. Based on the latest projections this number is expected to hit 8 billion by 2025 and a whooping 9.3 billion by 2050.

[USA Today]

Scores of fed up customers are ditching big banks

The nationwide "Move Your Money" and "Bank Transfer Day" are this Saturday, November 5. Since Bank of America and other big banks announced new debit card fees thousands of disgruntled customers across the nation started dumping their bank accounts in favor of not-for-profit community banks and credit unions which tend to have fewer and smaller fees. According to the Credit Union National Association over 650,000 new members have joined various credit unions in the last month alone and more than 4 out of 5 new credit union customers have stated the reason for the move being new bank fees and the "Bank Transfer Day". So far this amounts to a staggering $4.5 billion in new savings accounts that the big banks are not going to get their hands on. The Independent Community Bankers of America said they have seen an equally staggering increase of new inquiries and new customers. And all of this is happening even before the actual "Bank Transfer Day". With thousands more who have pledged to leave their big banks this Saturday we could see these numbers skyrocket by the end of the week. Imagine the possibilities...

In the meantime the Occupy Wall Street movement is holding its own "Dump Your Bank Day" on Tuesday, November 8. So it seems pretty likely that even more people will join this wave of defiance. Even though big banks decided not to introduce the new debit card fees after all the experts in the banking industry agree that more fees and higher existing fees will be rolling out soon as banks will need to look for other creative ways to make up for lost revenue. This may in turn push even more customers away. Is the commercial banking industry, as we know it today, heading for a speedy demise?

Here is what a few of our fellow citizens had to say about the whole situation, which really drives the point home:

"They take your deposits and use them to buy politicians to de-regulate, give them immunity, interest-free loans and bailouts. Then they turn around and charge you fees to make them even richer."

"Take your money to a credit union or a community bank that will use your money in your community and not to pervert the rule of law and fill their own pockets."

[CNN]

A record high 50% of Americans support legalization of marijuana

An all time record HIGH number of Americans now support legalization of marijuana according to the latest research from Gallup. The number of those in favor has now reached a respectable 50% or half of the population. This is up from 46% last year. Currently only 16 states allow medial use even though feds still consider any such use illegal. There appears to be a general trend - young and more open minded/Liberal people tend to be in favor. However, we expect this support to grow over time as the younger generations phase out the more conservative older folks.

To recap the main points:
- marijuana is the most commonly abused drug in US after alcohol and tobacco
- 50% now favor legalization compared to 46% last year
- Liberals are twice more likely to support than Conservatives
- Democrats and independents more likely to favor than Republicans
- 62% approval for ages 18 to 29
- last year 70% supported legalization for medical use
- only 31% over 65 are in favor
- more men than women are in support
- some states have decriminalized MJ while others made it legal for medical use only
- former U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders supports lagalization
- 46% still think it should be illegal

[Gallup]

Another day, another oil spill, when will we learn?

Oct. 5 on Astrolabe Reef, 14 miles from Tauranga Harbour on New Zealand's North Island

Another ship crashed on October 5th this time atop the Astrolabe Reef 14 miles off the cost of Tauranga Harbour on New Zealand's North Island. Luckily this is a cargo ship and not an oil tanker but the impact on the environment and New Zealand's coast line can already be felt as local volunteers start the laborious and costly cleanup.

Here is the scoop:
- 11 of 1,368 containers on board contain hazardous substances and may very likely end up in the ocean
- it is still not clear why the ship crashed into the well-charted reef in calm weather
- so far light oiling of pristine Tauranga beaches has been observed
- the oiling of the beaches is expected to increase as more oil washes ashore in the coming days
- initial estimates suggest that 200-300 metric tons of heavy fuel oil have spilled so far
- this is New Zealand's biggest maritime environmental disaster to date
- officials believe the ship has 1,700 metric tons of oil and 200 metric tons of diesel on board
- the ship has developed a huge crack in the hull and is in the process of breaking up
- the full environmental impact is still unknown
- 200 oiled birds had been found dead
- 41 oiled birds were treated at the wildlife emergency center
- locals have witnessed dead fish washing ashore
- captain could face a fine of up to 10,000 New Zealand dollars ($7,800 US) and 12 months in prison
- the captain's name has not been disclosed for fear of personal retaliation
- the ship belongs to Greece-based Costamare Inc.

[Yahoo News]

Your world just got hacked!

Computer security firm McAfee released a report in which it claims that hackers have spent the last 5+ years hacking into over 70 government, nonprofit and corporate entities and stealing obscene amounts of sensitive data. United Nations and International Olympic Committee are just the two organizations that came under attack. Most of the victims are located in the United States with a few others in Canada, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan and elsewhere in the world. The report did not dwell into any details but suggested that these attacks could be coming from a single nation.

[Yahoo]

Million dollar fender bender in Monte Carlo and lots of stereotypes

Monte Carlo - Place du Casino - site of exotic car pileup

An exotic car pileup in Monte Carlo caused by non-other but three blonde women while driving topless(the car not the women) in a jelly-bean blue Bentley Azure. Blonde? Women? Car pileup? No fu***** way!

The victims:
Bentley Azure ($363,000)
Mercedes-Benz S-Class ($91,000)
Ferrari F430 ($186,000)
Aston Martin Rapide ($228,000)
Porsche 911 ($77,000)
Total price tag: $945,000

Crowds love it when reach people do really stupid things

[Yahoo]

Fake it fake it until you make it - fake Apple stores on the rise in China

Fake Apple Store in downtown Kunming, in southwest China's Yunnan province, Thursday, July 21, 2011

Yes, the Chinese have done it again! As if fake software, DVDs, cars and just about every other consumer product was not enough this time around we can add a fake Apple Store to the ever growing list of fake products to come out of this ambitious country.

While the unsuspecting employee might be real the store he works for is not...

iPad imitation so ugly that even Steve Jobs could not love it!

As Kevin Kline from The Pink Panther would say: "Fake Apple employee is from China. Fake Apple Store is from China. The Chinese are from China! It may be too early to say for certain, but I think the Chinese are faking Apples."

I would image Apple's legal team is boarding the first flight to China as we speak. Steve Jobs, the next move is yours!

[Yahoo]

Update:
After further investigation Chinese government found another 22 fake Apple stores in the city of Kunming. Wow this just keeps getting better and better. Simply amazing!