Lawmakers want probe of Petraeus investigation

Senior lawmakers called for an inquiry into the FBI’s handling of the case of CIA Director David H. Petraeus on Sunday as new details and questions emerged about the investigation that led to his resignation last week.
Law enforcement sources identified Jill Kelley, 37, of Tampa as the woman whose report of harassing e-mails eventually exposed an extramarital affair between Petraeus and Paula Broadwell, a former Army officer who wrote a biography of the retired four-star general The departure in disgrace of one of the administration’s most respected and prominent figures came as President Obama is reorganizing his national security team for a second term. Petraeus was to have been a primary witness this week at a series of closed-door congressional hearings on possible intelligence and security lapses surrounding the September attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), chairman of the Senate intelligence committee, said Sunday that news of Petraeus’s resignation was “like a lightning bolt” and that top lawmakers had not been aware the inquiry was underway.
Her first inkling, Feinstein said on “Fox News Sunday,” came from media inquiries Friday, just hours before Petreaus’s resignation was announced publicly. She called Petraeus, she said, and he told her of his plans.
“This is something that could have had an effect on national security,” Feinstein said. “I think we should have been told.” She said the panel will “absolutely” investigate why the FBI did not notify relevant officials sooner.
Rep. Peter T. King (R-N.Y.), chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said: “It just doesn’t add up that you have this type of investigation. The FBI is investigating e-mails, the e-mails leading to the CIA director, taking four months to find out that the CIA director was involved.”
“I have real questions about this. I think a timeline has to be looked at and analyzed to see what happened,” King said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
The FBI investigation began after Kelley visited the bureau’s Tampa office in early summer and provided investigators with harshly worded e-mails accusing her of seeking an intimate relationship with Petraeus. Kelley, who is married to a Tampa surgeon, met the general when he was head of the Tampa-based U.S. Central Command, from 2008 to 2010. A military official said she was an unpaid volunteer at MacDill Air Force Base, where the headquarters are located.

Ballmer: Apple has not produced a product that customers use

Someone in Redmond, WA needs to call the folks with the straitjackets, as it appears that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has gone certifiably bonkers. AllThingsD's John Paczkowski notes that in a recent interview with CNBC, Ballmer went on record as saying that "I don't think anybody has done a product that is the product that I see customers wanting. You can go through the products from all those guys ... and none of them has a product that you can really use. Not Apple. Not Google. Not Amazon."
Okaayyyyy, Steve. Just put down the Microsoft Surface and sit down, and let's talk about this. What about the 100 million iPads that Apple has sold in a little over two years? How about the Amazon Kindle Fire, which (despite the company refusing to release actual sales figures) is supposedly the best-selling Amazon product ever?
Ballmer is maintaining that everyone wants the Surface, which he touts as the product that can be both PC and tablet, at play and at work. Perhaps it's the stress of last week's product launch of Windows 8 and Surface, or maybe the fact that the company is spending an estimated $1.5 billion to launch those products that's causing him to lose sight of reality.
Paczkowski ends his post by saying that "Maybe Microsoft will change users' expectations for tablets. But after two and half years and 100 million iPads sold, it's not going to be easy."

Why Lightning is extra awesome

Updated for clarity & to note that 30-pin cable is also universal for iPhone and iPad.
Apple's Lightning cable received a fair amount of criticism when it was introduced along with the iPhone 5. The new port replaces the 30-pin connector found on previous iPhone models and contains proprietary technology that makes it difficult to clone.
As noted by Jason Perlow of ZDnet, customers who use the port may miss their arsenal of 30-pin accessories, but they may come to appreciate the technological advantages this new cable system provides -- especially when compared to the mixed bag of charging standards on the Android side.
The biggest advantage of the Lightning cable's design is that it lets you insert the cable into your iOS device in any orientation. Unlike the standard micro-USB connector and even Apple's 30-pin port, you don't have to eye the port and line up the sides to make the cable fit. Coming from someone who recently replaced the dock connector on an iPad and a Kindle Fire, this is a huge advantage over other port technologies.
Apple's Lightning connector also can carry up to 12W of power, which is plenty to charge either an iPhone or an iPad (when paired with an iPad 2A charger), just as you could do with the 30-pin cable. As Perlow points out, this is quite different from the micro-USB connector world of Android devices; there is no standard for conventional USB that supports more than 9W. This means complications and frustration for tablets that need 10W; either they need proprietary chargers or they charge at the 5W rate.
I don't need to tell you how convenient it is to have one cable and one power adapter to charge an iPhone, iPad, iPod and iPad mini, especially one that's built to last and that you can plug in without looking. This transition period from the 30-pin to the world of Lightning may be frustrating, but it will be brief -- and the next generation is going to be noticeably better.

Why original iPads still sell well

Back when it first shipped in 2010, the original iPad was considered a miracle of modern technology. As with most consumer electronic devices, though, the minute its successor -- the iPad 2 -- was out the door, the original iPad was shunned for the shinier, faster models. But as Wired Enterprise blogger Robert McMillan reports today, original iPads are not only keeping their value, but they're really quite the bargain for a big screen tablet.
Wired performed a study and found that used first-generation iPads are selling well, often at a price tag about US$100 less than a comparable iPad mini. The study quoted Nicholas Fiorentino of Totem, a used equipment reseller in San Diego, as saying "We are shocked at how well the iPad has held its value thus far. There are a lot of people who don't need all the bells and whistles that the iPad 2 and iPad 3 have."
At this point, a first-generation Wi-Fi iPad with 16 GB of storage sells for an average price of $236. That same device sold for $499 in April of 2010, meaning that it's retained almost half of its value. Wired compares that to a Lenovo T410 ThinkPad, which came out at about the same time at $1,270 -- used ThinkPads are now available on eBay for about $300, having lost about three-quarters of their value.
It's expected that the price of an original iPad will drop to about $50 within four years, making the device an irresistible buy for tech-savvy bargain hunters.

iOS 6.0.1 now available, iPhone 5 users need to download installer

iOS 6.0.1 was just pushed to iPhones and iPads running 6.0. The update is 34.7 MB and contains various improvements and bug fixes, including:

• Fixes a bug that prevents the iPhone 5 from installing software via over-the-air updates.
• Fixes a bug where horizontal lines might be displayed across the keyboard
• Fixes an issue that could cause the camera flash not to fire
• Improves reliability of the iPhone 5 and fifth-generation iPod touch when connected to encrypted WPA2 Wi-Fi networks
• Resolves an issue that prevents the iPhone from using the cellular network in some cases
• Consolidated the Use Cellular Data switch for iTunes Match
• Fixes a Passcode Lock bug which sometimes allowed access to Passbook pass details from the lock screen
• Fixes a bug affecting Exchange meetings
• The update is available via Software Update on your iPhone or iPad or the next time you connect your iOS device with iTunes.
• Note that iPhone 5 users will have to download an updater app first, which will then prompt them to update iOS. The FIRST updater will appear in General > Software Updates as normal updates would appear. It will then prompt you to launch it, send you back to Software Updates and the update to 6.0.1 can continue. There is no need to search the store for this app.

Update: It seems Verizon iPhone 5 users will need to reboot after the iOS Updater app is installed, whereas we can confirm AT&T iPhone 5 users do not.

Update 2: Apparently some AT&T users might have to reboot for phase one (the iOS Updater app). Your mileage may vary, apparently. Further, Sprint customers will also reboot.

Lightning to micro USB adapter now available in the US

Apple is now selling its Lightning to micro USB adapter on the US online Apple Store, and presumably in brick-and-mortar stores as well. The adapter plugs into your Lightning dock-enabled device (iPhone 5, new iPad or iPad mini) and then accepts a micro-USB plug. The unit will run you only US$19, and is currently set to ship out in one to three business days.
I'll tell you what Apple really needs to start selling: Lightning-enabled car adapters. I am still using my old (now offline) iPhone 4 to listen to podcasts in my car, just because my dock adapter isn't compatible with my iPhone 5's dock. Yes, I could go pick up a Lightning to 30-pin adapter (and honestly, that's probably what I'll end up doing). But I was hoping to use the upgrade as an excuse to get a brand new car audio solution, and none of those have yet appeared on Apple's website. There are still options out there, it just seems strange that this long after the iPhone 5's release, we still aren't seeing more Lightning accessories.

Evernote for iOS also getting a redesign soon

Now that the Evernote 5 for Mac beta is in the wild, the note-taking software maker has announced that it is currently in the process of redesigning its iOS app. Evernote 5 for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch is taking some visual cues from its desktop counterpart, with its designers focusing on improving its overall speed and reducing the number of taps required to perform common tasks.

In the preview video below, you can see the shift to a card-style "views" interface that allows for quick flipping between different elements including notes, tags, locations and notebooks. Single-tap actions are also being introduced, including the ability to add new notes with a tap. On iPad, you'll be able to quickly see a list of recent notes as well.

Evernote is saying to expect the update to hit the App Store "very soon," so keep an eye on that Updates tab.

What Is the Official Unemployment? Are Internet Marketers Skewing the Data?

The US Government released some startling official unemployment numbers for the month of September. Are those a reflection of the real unemployment situation? Or, are those unemployment statistics highly misleading?

Firstly, let's review the actual reported official unemployment data for September, exactly as they were reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):-

Number of people employed - 155.1 million

Number of unemployed - 12.1 million

Unemployment rate - 7.8 %

How did these numbers compare to the official unemployment data for August?

Here is a look at the official unemployment data for August:-

Number of people employed - 154.6 million

Number of unemployed - 12.5 million

Unemployment rate - 8.1 %

If we compare the official unemployment data for September versus August, we see the following delta:-

Number of people employed - 0.5 million more in September than August

Number of unemployed - 0.4 million less in September

Unemployment rate - 0.3 % decrease in September

Compared to recent history, this delta is extraordinary and certainly lends itself to question, or at the very least a raised eyebrow. Some very influential business magnates and thought leaders have publicly questioned the data and are themselves suspicious of the sudden change in the official unemployment data.

Some deeper investigation into the reported data, shows that there has been a sudden and influential change in the survey. Government researchers have been instructed to change the angle of the research questions so as not to enquire whether interviewees are not working in their chosen career field, but rather, and very simply, are interviewees not doing any work, of any type, whatsoever. This subtle, but yet misleading question, has resulted in many interviewees admitting that they are doing something, at least, in order to bring in some income for their families. The interviewees are not asked whether the activities that they are engaging in are bringing in sufficient revenue to pay the bills. Thus, many respondents are, very honestly, replying that they are not doing nothing about their unemployment, but are trying to start a home based employment opportunity for themselves. And, yes, you guessed it, a number of folks have resorted to exploring the world of internet marketing in order to attempt to generate income to replace the income they were earning before unemployment

Start-Up Loans In Scotland: What The New Entrepreneurs Need To Know

Something had to be done, and at last the UK's coalition government has rolled out a scheme to put some much needed meat on the bare bones of the economy.

The announcement that £82.5 million is going to be made available over the next three years to help fund the creation of 30,000 new companies was welcomed by the business community as a step in the right direction.

The scheme aims to support younger entrepreneurs and will be open to individuals between the ages of 18 - 24 with initial funding of around £2,500 per company. The initiative will also provide support in the form of business mentors to assist first-time business owners.

Inevitably, it is hoped these fledgling businesses will grow and prosper and soon generate significant job creation across Britain, in which case they will need to consider small business payroll services among many other accountancy measures.

Accountancy is a fundamental core factor for any business whether large or small, new or established, but it is best that new entrepreneurs think about it as early as possible, because it saves an awful lot time and trouble to get payroll service providers on board from the start rather than a year's time.

Sorting payroll matters should be thought of as a positive step because any delay can be marred by the amount of paperwork each business requires to be completed throughout the year.

That's why the world needs accountancy firms because they can take care of all small business payroll matters leaving entrepreneurs free to concentrate on making their business a success, which after all is time consuming enough.

And the good news is accountancy can now be handled online, thus saving business owners even more time and energy in providing proficient and efficient online payroll services to meet their employee's needs whilst keeping the HMRC happy at the same time.

The advantage to having small business payroll providers is they have their finger on the pulse at all times, making sure businesses keep up-to-date with the regular changes to national insurance, tax and employment law.

This is important because it helps ensure business owners are never penalized for lack of employee care when it comes to sorting out the weekly pay slips or the contributions deducted from the wage.

There's also PAYE to consider.

Employers are responsible for ensuring their staff pays their national insurance and tax. The stipulations change rapidly, altering the deductions employers should make and the HMRC holds employer's solely responsible if any mistake is made.

Thus the advantage to having payroll service providers ensures employers pay on the dates outlined by the HMRC. Never missing a deadline means the employer doesn't have to worry

4 Facts That Makes Reference Data Special

If you don't have much experience in handling reference data then it is advisable that you do not underestimate the simplicity of its structure. It needs to be handled differently to other data since it has its own management needs. Here are a few details explaining the data's value:

1. It Presents Values With Definitions or Meaning

An essential contribution of reference data is it presents actual values that include definitions or meaning. The complexity of these definitions may be comparable to the complexity of the entities' and attributes' definitions.

There are types of data that may contain different values yet with similar definitions. For example, a bank may possess several thousands of accounts with different account numbers and while every account number is unique, the bank may have provided a single definition or meaning for all of them.

Since this data allows meaning or definitions to go along with its values, these values are then able to control program logic. This is also the reason this data is often linked with a business' guidelines. So in order to have a sturdy business guideline, it is essential to learn how to effectively manage reference data.

2. It Does Not Show The Parties A Certain Establishment Transacts With

Some reference data requires the details of the parties or things that an enterprise transacts with, yet it does not display them. The purpose of asking for the details is that it is needed in the database in order to categorize other data which can best describe the transactions of that enterprise.

3. Its Values Are Prepared Not Within An Enterprise

A unique attribute of this data is its values are usually not created within the enterprise. For example, there are clusters of country codes that are managed by the United Nations. For this reason, an enterprise does not need to develop its own data values for a certain data table.

4. Highly Leveraged Throughout The Databases

A great attribute of this data is the fact that it is commonly used all over the database, throughout an organization's databases as well as across several organizations' databases. A currency table can be associated with other tables which contain the financial amounts inside the database. This association is useful in a way that it determines the currency

Learn The Benefits of Buying First and Second Trust Deeds From Banks

If you're a smart investor and have been around the scene for long enough, there's definitely no possibility that the question whether second trust deed investment is a smart move or the numerous deeds for sale that are afloat in the market would bring better returns for you? Both the options are fast gaining popularity as they not only promise better returns but also outperform the meager interest that most of the banks offer as "interest". The return that you get from second trust deed investments when compounded over the years easily takes shapes of a small fortune.

So the next logical question in line should be- what are the good deeds for sale and how to go about it? No matter even if you're an experienced investor- you should do a thorough homework before investing so as not to lose even a single penny. You should be through with the tricks of the trade and here we focus on five broad categories that would come handy to you while buying first and second deeds from banks namely Property (Collateral) or Appraisal, Title Insurance or Condition of Title, Borrower, Transaction and Exit Strategy.

Appraisal

The collateral should be at least twice as valuable as the loan that you would be taking if it's the first deed and most of the experts recommend against going for second or other junior investments if you're new to this game.

Condition of Title

Generally this investment is same as what it is recorded against- the property. Make sure that you go for title investment that is going to safeguard you against all the liens you're unaware of like incorrect ownership. Ask questions that would safeguard you- like would the assignment of the trust deeds that you're buying would be recorded in your name especially in the country where recorder?

Borrower

Always remember that banks don't make a loan just because there's a lot of equity but mortgage bankers, credit unions, Banks and all other "institutional lenders" require verification of assets, income that is documented with a likelihood of continuance, credit and compliance with the banking rules and laws.

Estimating How Long It Will Take To Find And Buy A New Home

Finding a new home in Markham is not always easy. Some people are looking for a very specific set of features in a home combined with a convenient location. It can take years for someone like this to find the right home. Alternately, someone who is lucky or who is not concerned about a rigid checklist of features might find a new home in just a few days or weeks. Consulting with a Markham real estate agent will reduce the amount of time it takes to find a new home significantly. The amount of time it will take to purchase the new home becomes slightly more predictable once the property has been located. Several stages of the home buying process will require time and patience.

Negotiation

The first thing that usually occurs when the right home has been found is a price negotiation. A Markham real estate agent can make this process much easier than dealing directly with the property owner. The negotiation usually involves an offer from the buyer and then a counteroffer from the seller based on other offers that have been received. This process can take anywhere from one day to one month depending on how many potential buyers are involves in the negotiation.

Financing

Locating financing can be one of the most time-consuming parts of the home buying process. It is usually best to hire a Markham real estate agent who will help the buyer become preapproved for financing. If preapproval is not possible, then it can take anywhere from a week to a few months for a lender and broker to approve financing for a house. Fees and deposits normally need to be handled during this time.

Appraisal

The lender or bank will normally want to appraise the home as part of the financing process. Appraisal means that a trained inspector will come out to the home and assess the value of the property. Financial institutions usually want this step done by an independent party. An appraisal does not take a long time to complete although the scheduling of an appraiser and the time it takes to receive the official numbers back can add a few days to the process.

Inspection

An inspection is a step that every buyer should take before finalizing the sale. An inspection involves calling in professionals who will walk through the home and check every area for problems. Most homes have a few minor problems that are not usually an issue. Action will be required if the inspection reveals more serious problems such as water damage or a cracked foundation. The buyer can request that the seller make the necessary repairs before finishing the sale. Alternately, the price of the home can be reduced by the amount that will be needed to complete the repairs. Inspections can add a few days to the process although repairs could add a month or more.

The Surest Ways to Consolidate Credit Cards

There is always going to be different opinions from people regarding how to consolidate credit cards. The process of card consolidation depends on the individual's finances and how deep his financial problems are. It all boils down to numbers. It is only your credit standings that will tell whether you need card consolidation or not. And is you are considering this process, you will want to know the best ways to do it without getting yourself deeper into your financial well.

The most basic thing to note when deciding on card consolidation is to know your budget. In order to take any step towards your financial status, knowing your budget is the key. This is because you are likely going to be paying interest on the card on a monthly basis and determining your budget will help you know what you can afford and what you can't. This is important because knowing what you can afford will help you select the right monthly plan. After your budget is determined, you should look at the different consolidation credit cards rates and find out which one is the best for you. These rates can add up pretty fast and the last thing you would want is to be bordered with the heavy task of paying interest charges. These interest rates can increase your balance considerable and cause you more problems than you actually wanted to solve.

The central idea of consolidation is to transfer all your account balances into a single card and make monthly installments on the card. Though this is a good idea but you have to consider the rate of your interest charges. You have to make sure that the interest rate is low enough. This is when you have to look closely at your options. You can decide to look for a loan if you don't have a poor credit score. Generally, interests on loans are always lower than interest on a card. Therefore you will do well if you source for a loan rather than sticking with interest on the card.

Find an affordable monthly installment and ensure that you go through the terms and conditions before signing anything. This is because you might come across some great offers but later discover that there are some hidden charges. So make sure you read and understand there terms and conditions before putting pen to paper. Taking all the necessary steps and precautions will ensure that you oversee the best consolidated credit card and not get into trouble later.