Audible currently offers two subscription plans, its one-audiobook-per-month gold membership ($14.59 monthly) and its two-audiobook-per-month membership ($22.95). Both memberships allow Audible.com users to get discounts on additional audiobooks they purchase. The current Audible Free Trial provides a two week free trial to the gold membership. Users that take advantage of the offer will get one free audiobook of their choice, which can be kept even if they cancel the subscription before paying.  Users that cancel their subscription before the 14 day free trial is complete will not be charged.

Here are the terms and conditions of the free trial from Audible’s website:  ”Get your first 14 days of the AudibleListener® Gold membership plan free, which includes one audiobook credit. After your 14 day trial, your membership will renew each month for just $14.95 per month so you can continue to receive one audiobook credit per month plus members-only discounts on all audio purchases. A very small number of titles are more than one credit. Cancel your membership before your free trial period is up and you will not be charged. Thereafter, cancel anytime, effective the next billing cycle. Any unused audiobook credits will be lost at cancellation.”

Audible.com is the leading provider of digital audiobooks and audio entertainment on the Internet. Audible titles are downloaded and played on iPods, iPhones, Android devices, Kindles, mp3 players and over 500 other devices. Audible.com has more than 85,000 titles in every genre, including mysteries & thrillers, business, sci-fi & fantasy, as well as titles featured on Oprah’s Book Club and the New York Times Best Sellers List.

You can get your Audible Free Trial on Audible’s website.

Audible Free Trial: How to Get a Free Trial and One Free Audiobook on Audible.com was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

AT&T has joined in the relief efforts and provided information regarding their actions in a March 15^th press release. As stated in the press release, “AT&T today announced it is supporting three international relief agencies–Télécoms Sans Frontières, Project HOPE and Aidmatrix Network ® — to assist ongoing relief efforts for the victims of last week’s devastating earthquake in Japan.”

When dealing with natural disasters and missing or lost loved ones, keeping the lines of communication open is a vital component in connecting people. AT&T is working to support network communications to help global companies operate and provide much needed services to friends and family members trying to locate their loved ones.

Also noted in the press release, “Our thoughts are with the families of the people in Japan who have lost their lives, and those who are facing the challenges of these natural disasters,” said Laura Sanford, Assistant Vice President of Corporate Contributions.  “We are pleased to support these charitable organizations in their missions in Japan and around the world.  We have a long-standing relationship with these organizations and we admire the excellent work they do.”

AT&T reported that of the 142 employees working in Japan, all are safe and have been accounted for, while the Global Network Operations Center located in New Jersey continues to assist people making calls in and out of the country.

As part of the relief efforts, AT&T is donating 10,000 prepaid calling cards for distribution by the U.S. Military for humanitarian relief in Japan. Effective March 11-31, there will be no charges for AT&T customers making international calls from the United State and Puerto Rico to Japan, text messages originating in the U.S. to Japan and a 60 minute credit for residential wireless customers for direct dialing to Japan. The three humanitarian organizations supported by AT&T will receive $275,000 toward their efforts.

AT&T customers can donate to the Red Cross by texting REDCROSS to 90999. These donations will be used toward the relief efforts in Japan. This allows every individual the opportunity to get involved and become actively involved in helping the victims and their families as they continue to deal with the devastation in the region.

AT&T (NYSE: T) Joins Relief Efforts For Earthquake and Tsunami Victims In Japan was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The company hopes both sales will be completed by the end of 2012. BP also announced its intention to restart dividends to their stockholders. In 2010, the company reported a loss of $4.9 billion dollars. That amount includes $41 billon in expenses incurred during the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The company’s reported loss is the first one since 1992.

The Texas City refinery that is now up for sale was acquired by BP in 1998 when it merged with Amoco. Despite the large size of the facility, it has proven to be the location with the most problems. In 2005 an explosion at the refinery killed 15 people and left more than 170 others with injuries.

The BP refinery in Texas also has a history of environmental troubles and is still under investigation by the state and federal agencies for emissions events last year. During a 40 day time period, the refinery released more than 500,000 pounds of chemicals into the air.

The economic impact will surely be felt across the state. The Texas City refinery is the largest employer in the area. BP has also been a mainstay in the local community due to their charitable donations, employee associations, and activity sponsorships. Studies show that a $22 billion economic hit will be taken by the Texas economy. The numbers include payroll figures for the staff as well as outside contractors. Additionally, business down with other companies will take a loss.

Many of BP’s employees found out about the sale of the Texas refinery when they came into work following the announcement. BP says it hopes that the new buyer will remain ‘sensitive to the area’.

BP (NYSE: BP) Announces Sale of Texas Oil Refinery was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Wozniak started his letter to the FCC with personal anecdotes from his life on how phone, cable, and DSL network restrictions have worked against him as a consumer. Back in 1972, Wozniak has a “dial-a-joke” service but was forced to shut it down because the restrictions from his phone company (which also had a monopoly of services) made it too expensive to continue.

Wozniak claims in the letter that he has never had a cable or DSL service in any of the four homes he has owned. As stated in the letter, “The local phone providers don’t have any obligation to serve all of their phone customers with DSL,” Wozniak wrote, “They also have no requirement to service everyone living in the geographic area for which they have a monopoly.” Wozniak claimed that he even offered to cover the cost of laying the three quarters of a mile of cable to run to his home, but was turned down by the cable company because they decided that  the company couldn’t make up the costs of the monthly rental for “running their cable on telephone poles.”

Wozniak also brings up the Constitution and Bill of Rights that are not being held up as they should. Wozniak explains, “The early Internet was so accidental, it also was free and open in this sense,” Wozniak continued. “The Internet has become as important as anything man has ever created. But those freedoms are being chipped away.” He then begs the FCC to keep the Internet as free as they possibly can. He strongly feels that the Internet should not be restricted on what consumers can watch and for how long they can watch it.

Net Neutrality is not the way to go, at least according to Wozniak who realized that “every time and in every way that the telecommunications careers have had power or control, we the people wind up getting screwed.”

He still has hopes that the FCC will be the good guy for the people it is supposed to be looking after. Wozniak concluded his letter by stating that, “Not only is current action on Net Neutrality one of the most important times ever for the FCC, it’s probably the most momentous and watched action of any government agency in memorable times in terms of setting our perception of whether the government represents the wealthy powers or the average citizen, of whether the government is good or is bad.”

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) Co-Founder Steve Wozniak Defends Free Internet was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Unfortunately for developers, there’s no clear path to inclusion in the “Hall of Fame.” There are more than 250,000 titles on Apple’s App Store, meaning that only one out of five-thousand applications have currently received a “hall of fame” ranking.  The company hasn’t announced any details about how applications will get on or get off the list. It’s not clear whether or not the ranking is based on internal Apple judges, user reviews, or another metric.

Currently the “Hall of Fame” includes a number of games which have seen popularity over a length of time, including Plants Vs. Zombies, Angry Birds and Flight Control. Non-game applications that made the list include Evernote, Facebook and Pandora.

The most expensive application in the Hall of Fame is Shotzoom Software’s GPS Rangefinder, a $20.00 application which allows golfers to plot the distance from various features on your chosen golf course.

Apple Inc. (Apple) designs, manufactures and markets a range of personal computers, mobile communication and media devices, and portable digital music players, and sells a range of related software, services, peripherals, networking solutions, and third-party digital content and applications. It’s products and services include Macintosh (Mac) computers, iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, Xserve, a portfolio of consumer and professional software applications, the Mac OS X and iOS operating systems, third-party digital content and applications through the iTunes Store, and a range of accessory, service and support offerings. The Company sells its products globally through its retail stores, online stores, and direct sales force and third-party cellular network carriers, wholesalers, retailers, and value-added resellers. As of September 25, 2010, the Company had opened a total of 317 retail stores, including 233 stores in the United States and 84 stores internationally.

Shares of AAPL traded down 0.36% during mid-day trading on Friday.

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) Gives 50 Apps “Hall of Fame” Status was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

New York US District Judge Kimba Wood issued the permanent injunction against LimeWire on Tuesday. The order requires LimeWire disable their ‘searching, downloading, uploading, file trading, and/or file distribution functionality’ of their software. LimeWire distributed their software to users who were able to access and share music files through the peer-to-peer service provider.

The judge also required within the 17-page ruling LimeWire must alert its employees, investors, and customers of the action. The site must file a progress report of with the judge showing all conditions were met by LimeWire within a 14 day time period.

On Tuesday, LimeWire posted a legal notice on its homepage showing the order to stop distributing the software. The post warned visitors that ‘downloading or sharing copyrighted content without authorization is illegal.’

“Naturally, we’re disappointed with this turn of events,” chief executive George Searle said in a statement. The company was also quick to point out that the injunction only related to the file-sharing software they used. LimeWire as a company is still open but it is not clear what they would be doing moving forward. Searle did say the company was still ‘deeply committed’ to working within the music industry.

The thirteen record companies that initiated the lawsuit against LimeWire said the ruling ‘will start to unwind the massive piracy machine that LimeWire and (founder and chairman Mark) Gorton used to enrich themselves immensely.”

LimeWire was one of the largest remaining music file sharing services still online. Started in 2000, it found success even after Napster and other sites were shut down.

Music-Sharing Site Limewire Must Shut Down Says Federal Judge was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The competition between MySpace and rival Facebook has been ongoing. MySpace claims a user-ship of 100 million users compared to the 500 million Facebook maintains. MySpace says the main component of the change is that the site is not content-focused rather than people-focused as it was in the past.

Personal profiles still are used on the site but the site now boasts the latest content updates on celebrities, TV shows, bands, and movies instead of updates from long-lost friends. The welcome page of the site will consistently update with the latest news. Logged in users will have information displayed the pertains to their specific preferences.

Users have the option to choose between three user homepages including the traditional, a grid view, and a player view. The traditional uses a list view for information. The grid view is similar to a magazine-style content provider. The player view is a new television-style format that places an emphasis on video.

MySpace has also partnered with entertainment partners including MTV, Access Hollywood, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Village Voice, and Just Jared celebrity blog. Resident ‘experts’ will be enlisted to provide information on certain topics in the entertainment industry and cultural trends.

MySpace has also instituted a reward program where users can earn badges for their social activities on the site. The reward system has been called ‘Reputation’. The company is also planning to release a web-based mobile version of the new site. It plans to release an app for the iPhone and Android later in the year.

Currently the site is still in beta version but will be made available to worldwide users effective at the end of November.

MySpace Revamps Site for Entertainment, Not Profiles was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

As stated in the San Francisco Chronicle, “The agreements challenged here restrained competition for affected employees without any pro-competitive justification,” from Molly Boast, deputy assistant attorney general in the Antitrust Division.

This recent agreement follows an antitrust investigation into the recruiting and hiring practices that have involved some of the largest United States technology companies. The settlement is not as broad as some originally thought it would be, and it also does not include fines. The companies affected may still be faced with lawsuits from those who claim that they have missed out on higher paying jobs due to the recruiting practices, therefore they have not yet seen the end of this ordeal.

If the settlement is accepted by a federal court in Washington, it will be effective for five years. Representatives for both Microsoft Corp. and IBM Corp. said last week that their companies are no longer a part of this investigation.

As stated in the San Francisco Chronicle, “Intel does not believe its actions violated the law, nor does the company agree with the allegations,” spokesman Chuck Mulloy of Santa Clara-based Intel said in an e-mailed statement. “The company is settling the matter because it believes it would not harm the company or its ability to do business.”

Also stated in the San Francisco Chronicle, The settlement won’t have a ‘significant impact’ on business, according to Diane Carlini, a spokeswoman for Intuit, based in Mountain View. “We have agreed to disagree with the DOJ on the issue of any wrongdoing in this matter,” Carlini said in a statement.

According to Amy Lambert, Google’s associate general counsel of employment, Google and “a number of other tech companies” had no-cold-call policies.

In May of 2005, Adobe and Apple executives agreed not to cold call each other’s employees. According to the department, Adobe put Apple on a list of companies that are off limits to call, and Apple placed Adobe on an internal do-not-call list.

Similarly, Apple and Google had internal do-not-call lists. Apple and Pixar agreed not to call each other’s staffs. Google also had an agreement with both Intel and Intuit.

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) one of U.S. technology companies to end ban on recruiting workers from competitors was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Citigroup froze Mayo out in late Auguest after he essentially pointed the finger at the bank for using deferred tax assets against the rules of accounting. Mayo’s complaint contends that Citigroup is using the tax assets to boost the bank’s net income, making it seem more profitable than it may actually be.

While the bank has undergone worst scandals, this one suggests a larger problem within the bank. Banking executives are aware of what is happening but it is likely the problem is an impossible one to resolve because of its status after its recent financial crisis.

Citigroup find it’s difficult to define its identity because it is now a mix of executives and other businesses acquired under Sanford Weill. The mix includes the bank, Citibank. There is also the brokerage firm, Smith Barney and the investment bank, Salomon Brothers. There are also lesser names included in the mix such as Golden State Bancorp, Associates First Capital, and Banamex.

Citigroup has worked to streamline business and has cut nonessential divisions and assets but the turnover and controversy among the executive branch has been disastrous. As the Wall Street Journal reports ‘It’s a melting pot that never melted’.

The bank has stated that the turnover at the senior management has been stabilized and 23 of the 25 managers from 2009 are still in their same positions, adding stability within Citigroup. The company is working towards reestablishing its corporate culture which it has long been absent.

Chief executive of Citigroup, Vikram Pandit, is suspected to be the force behind Mayo’s ban though the bank denies the insinuation. Pandit is not exactly comfortable in the role as a leader of one of the country’s largest banks. Rarely does he do interviews and has a propensity for overreacting to criticism from any source.

Citigroup (NYSE: C) Bans Analyst Over Accusations of Tax Assets Misuse was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Bank of America is anticipating that the grant could potentially help fund at least $100 million or more in loans to small and rural businesses. This potentially could have a very significant, positive impact to small businesses throughout the country.

“Even the smallest grant enables a CDFI to leverage as much as ten times that amount to lend to small businesses, which helps initiate a ripple effect,” Mr. Darnell said in a statement reviewed by Dow Jones Newswires.

Federal Reserve Chairman, Ben Bernanke earlier this month called for help to small businesses. He voiced concern that big corporations have not done enough to help and it appears that Bank of America is answering his call.

Not surprisingly other companies are also saying that they plan to help out as well. Wells Fargo Executive Vice President Marc Bernstein said that they are also providing funds and have put into place a new initiative that is called the “second look” program. The program takes a second look at business applicants who have been turned down for loans, in hopes of finding a means to credibly approve the business for the loan.

JP Chase Morgan & Company is also claiming to do their part. They have rolled out a new program that offers their business partners perks like reduced rates. For example, they reduce rates when the business hires new employees.

Chase and Bank of America also have initiatives in place to help small businesses and each have a similar “second look” program like Wells Fargo.

While there has been a huge initiative to increase lending to small businesses, one major difficulty is finding credit worthy companies. Lenders feel that they still need to be cautious.

Bank Of America (NYSE: BAC) Corp Giving $10 Million in Grants To Help Small Businesses was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Denying any reports, a BP spokesperson identified that Hayward would not be leaving and would not be stepping down. BP has been identified as not handling the capping and control of the massive oil spill, the worst of its kind in US history.

Hayward has been held responsible for the poor PR communications and the lack of action to stem the flow of oil during the three months that the leak has occurred.

BP has pledged to have $20 billion for the spill clean up. As a result, BP has been amassing its finances by selling its assets around the world. All this in an effort to address the cost of the spill and the associated clean up.

Recently the company reached a deal with a US firm, Apache Corp. for a portion of exploration and production plants in North America and in Egypt. The $7 billion dollar price tag includes natural gas in Western Canada, as well as other assets in New Mexico.

During the last three months the stock has fallen 40% but appears to be back on track with the most recent price at $36.36. This is a promising figure giving that the 52 week low is $26.75, but the 52 week high is reported as $62.38.

The saga continues but Louisiana residents are cautiously optimistic that the recent capping of the well will stop the flow of oil into the area. With the capping of the well, residents are hopeful that they will get their shoreline back.

BP (NASDAQ:BP) CEO Not Leaving After All was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

There is expected to be another vote, perhaps as early as Wednesday, by the house as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid filed a motion to force another extension vote by Thursday. If the payments are not continued for the unemployed in the US, more than 200,000 people would have payments phased out within a week. The previous extension ended in May and more than a million people have lost their unemployment benefits.

The bill was brought to vote under a special procedure that did not allow other amendments to the bill. It needed two-thirds majority to pass. The vote came in at 261-155, just short of the numbers needed. Had it passed, the move would have provided up to 99 weekly unemployment checks for people who had run out of the 26 weeks of state-paid benefits. The average amount of $335 and the payments would stretch out through the end of November. The total cost of the extension comes in at $33.9 billion. The costs of the bill would be added to that budget deficit.

Some lawmakers feel it is difficult to help those citizens hit by the recession. They fear they will be labeled as ‘big spenders’. Rep. Dave Camp (Michigan), the top Republican on the Ways and Means Committee stated “The American people know it isn’t right to simply add the cost of this spending to our already overdrawn national credit card. They want to help those in need but also know that someone has to pay when government spends money.”

The unemployment rates in the US are still up event though the economy is showing signs of recovery. A loss of more than 8 million jobs has taken its toll but the concern about the national deficit is at the forefront of many minds.

Unemployment Benefits Extension Rejected by the House Tuesday was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The Boycott BP Facebook page was organized as a boycott around the world of all BP gas stations and its other brands like Castrol, Amoco, and Wild Bean Cafes because of the on-going oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. The page hopes visitors will stop patronizing BP locations until all parts of the spill have been cleaned up. To date, there are more than 700,000 members of the page.

When the site went down on Monday, all page visitors were sent to the home page of Facebook. Spokesperson for the social networking company said the error was caused by an automated system that flagged the BP Boycott page for removal. All content on the page had been removed when the site was disabled. Technicians had to manually review the site and the error was discovered. The page had been restored shortly after.

Public Citizen, a non-profit public interest group that was promoting the boycott of BP began protests against Facebook, saying the company owed users a better explanation for what happened. “They didn’t explain why their system took it down, and just the fact that a community that large — with more than 700,000 users — could be taken down without explanation is problem. The automated system doesn’t tell us that much.” Said Greg Beck, a Public Citizen attorney.

Company representatives for BP said they were not involved in the controversy and as soon as they were alerted to the situation they contacted Facebook to have the mistake corrected. As the oil spill in the Gulf is on-going for more than two months, Boycott BP’s page has been filled with posts that criticize BP for mishandling the spill response and are in support of the boycott. Still, other comments reflect that a boycott is not the solution. With more than 11,000 gas stations in the US, BP sells more than 42 million gallons of gas each day. Since BP doesn’t own the stations directly, the independent franchisers who do will be the ones hurt.

Facebook Made Error in Disabling ‘Boycott BP’ Page was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The tax credits were meant for first-time, legitimate homebuyers. The purpose of the $8000 credit was to stimulate the housing market after the recession. But many who filed were prisoners that had filed a claim or multiple fraudulent claims. Some of the claims were not filed in the correct time period and were not paid out. Overall, the amount of credits sent out incorrectly to individuals totaled more than $28 million. The report stated that a total of 4,608 state and federal prison inmates filed credits and more than 1,200 actually received the tax credit.

According to the report, 174 of the filed claims were completed by paid tax preparers. The state of Florida had a high percentage of fraudulent prison claims with 61% of life sentence prisons receiving the tax credit. Florida Department of Corrections spokesman stated that people in prison can still buy a home and many have families outside of prison. Also, the Florida Department of Corrections provides the IRS with inmate information quarterly. When a prisoner receives a check through institution mail, the prison will contact the IRS to ensure the check is legitimate.

“Additional controls are necessary to address erroneous claims for the credit,” the Treasury’s report stated. “Further, fraudulent and questionable claims processed prior to implementation of controls will need follow-up action by the IRS.”

In addition to the fraudulent prison claims, the report also found the IRS paid out $17.6 million to individuals who purchased their home before the tax incentive program even began. Some 2,555 individuals received the credit despite the supposed strict deadlines. The IRS has stated they have been working on improving their efforts to cut down on fraudulent activities. They plan to review filed claims and ‘recapture’ the fraudulent claims already paid out

Prison Inmates Claimed Homebuyer Tax Credit, $28 Million in Fraud was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

According to the June 22nd press release available on Walmartstores.com, the results of the six week campaign which launched on May 1 and lasted through June 19, donations made at the register as well as in-store fundraisers raised $20 million for the Children’s Miracle Network. This amount exceeded the annual fundraising goal of $15 million.

The Children’s Miracle Network is committed to improving and saving the lives of children through fundraisers that go toward the 170 children’s hospital in the network. The non-profit organization supports hospitals that provide the highest level of medical care, prevention education and life-saving research. Walmart has been a major supporter of the Children’s Miracle Network since 1987. Since that time, $530 million has been raised and contributed to Children’s Miracle Network hospitals, from Walmart and Sam’s Club customers, associates and members. This is the largest amount every raised by a partner of the Children’s Miracle Network.

“Raising $20 million in such a short time period is a significant accomplishment, especially when you consider that most of this was raised a dollar or two at a time,” said Scott Burt, president and CEO, Children’s Miracle Network. “We couldn’t have achieved this amount without the generous Walmart and Sam’s Club associates who understand the power they have to create miracles at children’s hospitals by asking customers to give. We are also grateful to Walmart and Sam’s Club customers and members who responded to the ask, choosing to support their local Children’s Miracle Network hospital.”

“Our annual fundraising campaign allows for customers to donate directly to their local Children’s Miracle Network hospital, providing funding to sick and injured children in local communities,” said Margaret McKenna, president, Walmart Foundation. “We’re proud to have exceeded our fundraising goals and to be giving $20 million to children in need.”

Consumers who donated to the Children’s Miracle Network can rest assured that their donation not only made it to the organization but also contributed to overwhelming success of the campaign.

Walmart Customers Contribute to Children’s Miracle Network Fundraising Success (NYSE: WMT) was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

If Walmart is able to move forward with their plans, several dozen stores would be opened. The locations would create about 10,000 store jobs and an estimated 2,000 unionized construction jobs to Chicago-area residents. The sizes and format of the Walmart stores would vary based on location.

Even in large, urban areas like Chicago, jobs are needed. Community groups are concerned about what kind of jobs will be brought to the community. Walmart has said the store locations in Chicago would pay ‘competitive wages’ and would generate more than $500 million in sales and property taxes. No other details about job descriptions were provided. However, the company did state they also have plans for $20 million in charitable partnerships over a five-year period, including the donation of 1.2 million meals annually to residents of Chicago plus another 200,000 meals for children starting this summer.

Expert analysts say that if Walmart were to break into the urban areas they are looking at, the retailer could add $80 billion in sales. The company is looking to open smaller stores around the country and has plans to build both new stores locations from scratch as well as taking over existing buildings as it continues to find new areas of growth in the United States.

Walmart (NYSE: WMT) Focused on Entering Chicago, Creating Jobs was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The same company wrote the plans for the oil companies even including references to ensuring oil spills would not affect walruses, which do not even inhabit the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Michigan Democratic Representative Bart T. Stupak said the disaster plans were ‘great for public relations but these plans are virtually worthless in the event of a spill.

CEO of Exxon Rex Tillerson stated investigators need to determine whether BP took risks outside of the normal protocol which ultimately led to the oil spill crisis. The CEOs of Exxon, CononcoPhillips, Chevron, and Royal Dutch Shell Plc testified after the committee released internal documents from BP which is said to show the company put cost ahead of safety in the days before the incident.

In a letter written to Tony Hayward, CEO of BP by Stupak and Democratic Representative Henry Waxman of California, it was stated that BP made five questionable decisions to cut costs and speed up the project completion before the disaster occurred. Hayward is set to appear June 17 before a subcommittee which will be his first testimony since the oil well explosion.

President Obama is also set to address the nation about the spill. His administration is demanding an escrow account for the damage claims be set up by BP. Seventeen house members from the Gulf Coast states called on the President to end the drilling ban out of concern many suppliers and drilling companies will not be able to survive the six month ban period. They will either have to move abroad or go out of business altogether.

Oil Companies Criticized for Disaster Plans Similar to BP (NYSE: BP) was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

On May 20th, BP and the Coast Guard have announced a new plan to hopefully cap this oil spill. They announced they will try a “Top Kill” procedure on May 23^rd. Essentially this is when they try to pour a special kind of concrete into the oil cap below the water, hopefully sealing it. This works in conjunction with the “Relief drilling” effort. Relief drilling is when they drill from another location into this oil pocket hopefully relieving some pressure from the broken oil cap, and then when that’s done they hope to divert the oil.

There are further back up plans in case the “top kill” fails to seal the oil spill. For instance the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority have filed for permits to bolster there barrier islands with sand to add some possible protection from the oil, if or when it hit’s the shoreline.

To date British Petroleum has spent some $625 million dollars in an attempt to clean this mess up. It has also seen its stock in the London markets drop some 18%. This is a public relations night mare that may wreck havoc on its stocks for some time to come.

So far the Coast Guard and British petroleum have been able to capture some 3,000 barrels a day. This task is stuffed with difficulty because some of the oil is reaching certain currants that spread it faster then they can keep up with. 20,000 volunteers are waiting on stand by to help clean and isolate oil if it starts to reach the shore line, but the Coast Guard remains optimistic they will not have to call upon these volunteers, if the “top kill” procedure works.

So far more than 100,000 barrels have leaked into the Gulf of Mexico since the April 20^th explosion. If you noticed a rise is prices on oil, gas or oil based products this is your main culprit. We have to keep our faith that BP and the Coast Guard will be able to solve this problem before it get way out of hand, and the damage is too great to fix.

Resource:

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-05-20/bp-moves-closer-to-top-kill-of-leaking-oil-well-update2-.html

BP’s (NYSE: BP) Slippery Oil Spill was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

This program is a year long and will connect current AT&T suppliers, various industry experts and community leaders with a selected group of California DVBEs. AT&T’s goal for the program is to spend 1.5% of its total purchases with DVBEs and to address the challenges DVBE’s face in the business world by providing them with the tools necessary to improve business operations and win corporate contracts.

According to AT&T’s press release, “DVBEs possess unique leadership skills and a remarkable mission-focused ethic that enable companies like AT&T to succeed and provide world class products and services.  Some of this comes from their top-notch military training,” said Tim Harden, AT&T president of Supply Chain and Fleet Operations. “At AT&T, we are proud of our legacy and will continue to work with value-add suppliers, thought-leaders and stakeholders to promote supplier diversity.”

Operation Hand Salute will match seven qualified mentees with two mentors (a current AT&T supplier and an AT&T employee on the Operation Hand Salute Task Force). As part of the program, workshops will be offered covering everything from quality certification to a thorough overview of global procurement processes and corporate supply chain requirements.

As stated in the press release, “This is about finding more diverse vendors and suppliers to help support our California business,” said Ken McNeely, President, AT&T California.  “For the next year we’re stepping up our help to disabled veteran business owners, so they can improve their operations and navigate the complex certification process required of them. We expect it will result in more businesses joining our supply chain–and will help disabled veterans in a significant way.”

AT&T is a supporter and also a member of the Association for Service Disabled Veterans, National Veteran Owned Business Association, Elite Service Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses, the California DVBE Alliance, and the DVBE Alliance Corporate Advisory Board, and also supports several other supplier diversity organizations.

Operation Hand Salute will begin on Thursday, May 13, 2010 at the AT&T San Ramon Administrative Center, in San Ramon, California. The mentees chosen are expected to graduate from the year long program in May 2011.

AT&T to Help Disabled Veteran Business Owners (NYSE: T) was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

“This recovery, unlike previous recoveries, is going to have a little bit of the consumer, but it’s going to have to have a lot more business investment,” Immelt stated today. While there is still a push for consumers to pick up the slack and keep spending to get the country back on track, he believes that businesses are what will make the difference. The CEO believes that while GE has taken a hit in the areas of credit cards, commercial real estate, and mortgages, their industrial business will help the company bounce back and recover from the worst recession in US history since the Great Depression.

General Electric, the largest conglomerate in the United States is planning to put action behind that theory with plans to add jobs to the US market in the next few months. The company also plans to increase its dividend in line with earnings growth. Immelt made his statements to the press prior to the annual shareholders meeting in Houston, TX where General Electric maintains substantial natural gas and oil industry operations in the area. Immelt told investors during the gathering “The clouds are breaking and the forecast ahead of us is promising,”

General Electric, based in Fairfield, Connecticut, is optimistic about the economy as well as their profit growth, even after profits for the company have fallen for nine consecutive quarters when the credit problems and the recession in the US damaged GE’s operations. The company cut the dividend 68% during the recent credit crisis but expects to see profits resume next year. Investors were told at the meeting to expect flat earnings this year.

The company also has priorities on the plan to buy back preferred shares they sold to Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.

General Electric (NYSE: GE) CEO Theorizes on Recovery was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

This year’s top financier of the Charlotte, North Carolina’s PGA Tour Event is Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC). The San Francisco-based bank will be spending $7 million on the tour and is the tournament’s biggest sponsor. However, despite the large check, Wells Fargo hopes to remain mostly anonymous and viewers from television will only hear promotions of the Quail Hollow Club, the host club’s name.

Initially Wachovia had been the company to provide the golf tournament’s sponsorship and had put its name all over the event, even calling it the Wachovia Championship from 2003 to 2008. This year the tournament will be called Quail Hollow Championship instead. Wells Fargo had taken its name off of the event in 2009 due to concerns of negative publicity from sponsoring a golf event while it was receiving bailout funds from the government. The $7 million annual agreement to sponsor the event through 2014 was part of a contract extension Wachovia signed in 2008. Wells Fargo acquired the contract in 2008 when it acquired Wachovia and plans to see it through until the end. The bank just plans to do the sponsorship a bit differently than in the past by remaining rather mum about their affiliation with the event, even though they are still set to write an enormous check.

Wachovia wasn’t the only company who underwent criticism for its sponsorship of golf tournaments. Other companies including Morgan Stanley and Northern Trust were also pointed to by Congress for wasting money during times of such financial crises. Companies that had very little to do with the financial meltdown were still being blamed for their tie to PGA sponsorships. The PGA Tour actually went to Washington to speak with legislators about the advantages of sponsoring golf tournaments. They contended that sponsoring the tournaments were not a sign of excess or flaunting. Since Goldman Sachs and Lehman Brothers were not involved in the golf sponsorships, it seems the golf community won the debate. Past banks that sponsored the golfing events are still involved though scaling back. Many are taking their names off of the big events but still acting as sponsors.

Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) Takes $7 Million to Charlotte’s PGA Tour was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Comcast Cares Day is a year-round commitment to making a difference in the communities. In addition to having an annual volunteer day, Comcast provides free internet and cable television service to libraries and schools in the communities it serves, as well as supporting local nonprofit organizations.

Comcast began it’s volunteer day in 2001, with over 225,000 Comcast volunteers contributing more than a million hours of community service. More than 1,750 projects nationwide have been completed through Comcast Cares Day. Last year, a record breaking Comcast Cares Day saw more than 60,000 volunteers serving on more than 600 project sites across the country.

After this year’s Comcast Cares Day is finished, there will be more than 2,300 completed projects and nearly 1.4 million hours of volunteer service provided.

Long time partners of Comcast, including City Year, National Urban League and NCLR join in on Comcast Cares Days each year. State governors and U.S Senators have also been known to volunteer and participate side-by-side with Comcast employees.
For every employee and family member volunteering on Comcast Cares Day, the Comcast Foundation provides grants to local community partner organizations across the country. The grants are used to help the community partners serve their community throughout the year.

For more information on Comcast’s volunteer and community investment initiatives, visit http://www.comcast.com/inthecommunity.

About Comcast Corporation

Comcast Corporation  is one of the nation’s leading providers of entertainment, information and communication products and services. With 23.6 million cable customers, 15.9 million high-speed Internet customers and 7.6 million Comcast Digital Voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.

Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSK)Cares Day – More Than 55,000 Volunteers Nationwide on April 24th was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Three women are filing the lawsuit, Judy Calibuso, a financial adviser for 15 years in Merill Lynch’s Miami office; Julie Moss, a former financial adviser for Bank of America for 9 years; and Dianne Goedtel, a former financial adviser for Bank of America for 7 years. In December of 2008, Bank of America acquired Merill Lynch, which made it the largest financial company in the United States.

The women say that the companies gave male financial advisers larger bonuses and better opportunities for advancement, and that when the women complained about the inequalities – they were punished. When one woman protested, she was verbally reprimanded and then had to seek pre-approval when filing any expensive reports for business lunches – something she says the men in the same office did not have to do. The gender discrimination lawsuit claims that Bank of America and Merill Lynch are making female employees “second-class citizens”, by allowing male employees the opportunity to earn more money. “Beneath the veneer of a world-class financial institution, the defendants treat their female financial advisers as second-class citizens,” the complaint says.

The lawsuit alleges,”The violations are systemic, based upon company-wide policies and practices, and the result of unchecked gender bias that pervades defendants’ corporate culture. They are not isolated or exceptional incidents, but rather the regular and predictable result of defendants’ company-wide policies and practices “, according to an article on Nasdaq.com.

The lawsuit is looking for back pay and unspecified damages, as well as class-action status. Shirley Norton, a spokeswoman for Bank of America, provided a statement that indicates the accusations made by the plaintiffs were false. Another Bank of America spokesperson was quoted saying, “Bank of America has a strong track record of hiring and developing associates and has been recognized for its success in creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work force. We do not tolerate discrimination, and discrimination of the type alleged in the complaint violates the bank’s policies and values.”

Bank of America intends to defend itself against the claims.

Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) and Merill Lynch Accused of Discriminating Against Women was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

In addition to American Idol, CKX also owns rights to Muhammad Ali’s name, brand and image (the retired boxer), and the rights to the Elvis Presley estate (Graceland) in Memphis, Tennessee. At one time, Mr. Sillerman was planning an Elvis themed hotel and casino, too – and even borrowed $475 million to buy the land but it never happened. Instead, Sillerman successfully opened an Elvis-themed Cirque du Soleil show in the new $8.5 billion complex in Las Vegas. The complex is owned and operated by the MGM Mirage.

Five years ago, Sillerman purchased 19 Entertainment, owned by Simon Fuller, for $160 million. This company is the primary profit earner for CKX, thanks mostly to American Idol. American Idol attracts the best advertising rates in broadcasting thanks to American Idol’s success in the ratings in the US for the last eight years the show has been on the air.

With the outspoken Simon Cowell leaving American Idol next season to judge The X Factor, American Idol faces challenges and it’s unknown if the show will continue having the same level of success without Cowell.

Simon Fuller is leaving CKX to start a new entertainment venture next year, as well – but will continue to earn 10% of all American Idol profits. He has a deal with CKX which gives him the right to purchase up to 33% of the company. The new company, of which Fuller currently owns 100%, is labeled XIX, and has a starting value of $163 million.

Owner of American Idol May Sell To One Equity Partners, of JPMorgan (NYSE: JPM) was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The teenager picked up a store courtesy phone and made the following announcement “Attention Walmart shoppers, all black people leave the store now.” The store had approximately 100 shoppers inside at the time. More than a dozen went to the customer service desk to call police.

The Washington Township police took custody of the teenager on Friday afternoon assisted by the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s office. After the large amount of media attention following the incident, it was an anonymous tip that pointed investigators in the direction of conversations on a social networking website. The teen was not the one posting information but police were able to gather evidence through conversations about the supposed prank and ultimately got a lead on a name. Walmart provided video surveillance footage from the event on Sunday.

The police in the case have stated the store’s intercom system can be accessed by anyone at any time. It is a matter of picking up a store courtesy phone and pressing a certain button that gives the access to the store-wide intercom system. The manager of the Walmart location quickly apologized via the system immediately after the remark but shoppers were already expressing outrage.

A spokesman for Walmart said they have updated the intercom system at the store, which is the first Walmart store location in the state of New Jersey,  to prevent additional incident. Company representative David Tovar stated “We again apologize to all of our customers and associates who has to listen to something so offensive.” In another statement released by the company, Walmart representatives said “We’re appalled by this incident and are amazed that anyone could be so backward and mean-spirited in this day and age.”

The suspect’s identity is not being released because he is a minor. He was arrested and released to his parent’s custody. The suspect was in the store with a friend and the friend’s mother. Neither the friend nor the mother was charged but investigators said there is a possibility either could face charges for not reporting the crime.

This is not the first time this type of incident has occurred within the same store location. During the investigation, it was revealed that there were at least two other similar occurrences in recent months.

16 Year Old Charged in Walmart (NYSE: WMT) Racial Case was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

On February 7, 2010, the city of Miami, Fl will host Super Bowl XLIV at Land Shark Stadium, which was previously known as Dolphin Stadium. The New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts compete for football’s elite prize, the Vince Lombardi Trophy, named after the legendary Green Bay Packers coach.

It’s safe to say that business owners in the Miami area will see profit increases during this time. After all, the Super Bowl is expected to bring in tens of thousands of visitors to the area. With this many people flooding the city, hotels should fill up quickly, if they haven’t already. Restaurants can expect to be packed as well.

Even though stores and shops in the Miami area will benefit from plethora of tourists, businesses across the country are looking to cash in on the Super Bowl as well.

Businesses that specialize in electronics can typically expect an influx of television sales. After all, the Super Bowl is the most-watched event in any given year. This usually prompts sports enthusiasts to rush out and purchase high-definition televisions and surround sound systems. Some of the larger retail chains sometimes offer promotions and discounts around this time of year to boost sales.

Grocery stores can expect to see serious traffic, even more so than usual during this time of year, as many people are opting to host their own Super Bowl parties instead of going out to public places, like bars or restaurants. With money being tight for millions of Americans around the country, hosting parties while requiring guests to bring food and beverages is a much more cost-effective way to celebrate the Super Bowl for most.

During any football game, fans can expect to see scores of commercials touting refreshing and tasty alcoholic beverages. It’s no secret that drinking beer and/or liquor is a favorite pastime for many people. Millions of Americans suffer from Alcoholism, and millions more drink occasionally or are “social drinkers”. The Super Bowl offers many of these people an excuse to drink. That said, liquor stores, convenient stores, or any other place that sells alcohol can expect to see their stock fly off their shelves faster on Super Bowl weekend than any other time of year.

Hundreds of millions of dollars are expected to be spent in south Florida alone, most of which on Super Bowl weekend. However, businesses can expect increased traffic at least one week prior to the big game.

Businesses Hope for Super Profits from Super Bowl was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

According to Toyota, once the gas pedal mechanism becomes worn, it may become more difficult to push down and return slower or even remain depressed. Toyota says that they are working to remedy the problem as quickly as possible. The recall includes cars, SUV’s, and pickup trucks. The accelerator pedal recall does not include Lexus or Scion vehicles. It is limited to the following vehicles:

• 2009-2010 RAV4,

• 2009-2010 Corolla,

• 2009-2010 Matrix,

• 2005-2010 Avalon,

• 2007-2010 Camry,

• 2010 Highlander,

• 2007-2010 Tundra,

• 2008-2010 Sequoia

This recall comes on the heels of another recall that was announced in November of 2009 that affected both Toyota and Lexus vehicles. In that recall, 4.2 million Lexus and Toyota vehicles were recalled because the gas pedal was getting trapped underneath the floor mat. This problem was attributed to a loose or improperly attached floor mat. Toyota has been working to change the configuration of the gas pedal as well as replace the floor mat on those vehicles. In addition to those measures, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has said that Toyota will also be installing a brake override system on the vehicles involved in that recall. The brake override system would enable the vehicle to stop despite the accelerator being simultaneously depressed.

Should a driver experience a sticking pedal Toyota offers this advice:

• Control the vehicle by firmly and steadily applying the brake.
• Do not pump the brake as that could deplete the vacuum assist which would mean more pressure would need to be applied to the brake in order to safely stop.
• Drive the vehicle to a safe location and turn it off.
• Contact the nearest Toyota dealer for immediate assistance.

Toyota recommends that any customer that has any questions or concerns should contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

Toyota Announces Another Recall was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Looking back at the downsizing of America jobs.

Twelve months ago we seen the largest downsizing of jobs in nearly ten years. Approximately 1.6 million jobs were lost between July 2008 and June 2009. In January 2009 the number of jobs cut appears to have peaked at 241,729 for the month, the largest number of jobs lost since January 2002. Looking back at the month of November 2009, there were over 15 million unemployed workers when two years prior the number was closer to 7 million people unemployed. This is not including the number of people (6 million) who are currently unemployed but have not actively looked for a job for a period of four weeks or more.

Job opportunities in 2010.

With the number of job seekers in the millions, it may take some time for everyone to begin to feel the effects of the turnaround predicted in the job market. Fortunately the number of jobs being cut has declined steadily throughout the second half of the year. With job losses on the decline and more opportunities for growth expected in the coming year, it appears we might be entering a period when more people will have the opportunity to find full time employment. The first people likely to see the effect will be those currently working part-time or in temporary positions. Since they already have a foot in the door, they will probably benefit first when employers begin to increase hours and hire temps to fill permanent positions.

John A. Challenger CEO of Gray & Christmas, Inc (a global outplacement and executive coaching consultancy) predicts the following areas will see increased job creation in 2010 and coming years; health care, government, energy, financial services and information technology.

With the decline in lost jobs and the anticipation of more jobs being made available, this year might bring the change that many unemployed workers have been desperately looking for in the past two years. If you are out of work don’t give up, employers are hiring and the number of jobs offered will likely continue to increase as we move forward.

Employment Opportunities To Improve In 2010 was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

According to The National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association (NEADA) an anticipated 9.2 million people will be relying on federal and state aid to keep their homes heated this winter. This number is up 20 percent from last year, with a number of people struggling to pay heating costs despite the fact that certain heat sources have dropped in price from last year. The problem of course can be contributed to the effects of the recession which may be over nevertheless millions are left trying to regain their financial footing.

The number of jobs lost each month is declining, however the number of people who remain unemployed is still record breaking. With so many families dealing with one or more incomes lost, it isn’t surprising that people are struggling to pay their bills. More people are facing tough decisions on what bills will get paid each month. Unfortunately during the long, cold months of winter, not having money to heat your home can become a life threatening issue.

The situation is not without hope for households dealing with unemployment or other financial difficulties. There are government, state and even private programs available to offer assistance to pay for heating expenses during the winter months. While programs such as Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) are available, income restrictions may eliminate some families that are just barely getting by. If you or a loved one fear losing your heat this winter contact your local, state and government agencies to see what assistance is available. Congress has recently doubled LIHEAP’s budget however as many people are finding out, that simply isn’t enough to cover the need that is out there. Last year only 8.1 million of the 44 million households eligible for assistance received aid. This is where private programs can make the difference, providing assistance for families in need who have otherwise fallen through the cracks of government programs.

Families living in states which experience harsh winter weather have some protection as a result of laws that restrict utility companies from turning off services due to unpaid bills. This helps consumers who heat their home with electric, however those who use fuel oil are offered no such protection. Due to the record number of people expected to apply for heating assistance this winter, consumers are urged to get their applications in early for any programs that are available or risk being left out in the cold.

Millions Face Winter Without Heat was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

• Fireplaces and chimneys should be inspected and cleaned at least once per year.
• Pay a professional to check, clean and service your furnace each year, preferably at the beginning of the winter season.
• Use caution when using secondary sources of heat. There are several options available for those who want to use alternative heat sources. Wood and coal stoves, kerosene heaters, electric space heaters and other supplementary heat sources must be used as directed. Read and follow all directions to avoid accidental fires.
• Portable heaters should be turned off when no one is in the room.
• Check the batteries in your smoke detectors and make sure you have at least one working fire extinguisher in your home (that everyone knows how to use).
• Map escape routes from various rooms of the house and have a fire drill to ensure everyone knows where to exit and what location to meet once outside.
• Fireplaces and heaters should be placed a safe distance from any flammable objects.
• Decorate with safety in mind. Look for the “fire retardant” label on artificial trees and keep real trees well watered to reduce fire risks. Do not overload outlets and follow safety instructions when using extension cords.
• Do not leave major appliances running when you leave the house. Washers,dryers and stoves should be turned off to avoid fires.
• Keep your home and children safe by keeping matches and lighters out of reach.

Residential fires increase during the winter months as families work to stay warm. Many fires occur at night when residents are sleeping increasing the chance of serious injury or even death. Armed with this information as well as the tips listed here, you can greatly reduce the likelihood of a fire damaging your property. With that in mind, house fires are extremely dangerous and should a fire begin in your home, get out of the building immediately and call 911. Leave the fire fighting for the trained professionals and resist the temptation to re-enter the home to retrieve property.

Tis The Season- For Winter House Fires was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Results of the survey indicate the following:

• Of the 134 million consumers who indicated they might venture out this weekend, 57 million have definite plans to shop while 77 million will wait to see what deals are offered before they decide.

• Roughly 66% of consumers plan to shop at discount stores with 62.4% saying they will spend money at department stores.

• Twenty-seven percent of consumers plan to shop online this weekend.

• Over 25% of shoppers intend to hit the stores in the early morning hours to take advantage of early-bird specials with 10% willing to shop between 12am-3am Friday.

The results of this survey and others indicate that consumers are feeling slightly more confident this holiday season versus the past two years. Although consumer confidence is up, retailers are still concerned that a successful holiday season might not be enough to make up for poor sales in recent months. Many consumers have cut back on spending as a result of the recession. Unemployment, the continued rise of living expenses and the lack of available credit have impacted how and where people are spending their money.

It would appear that consumers are willing to spend more money this year, however there are no signs of the excessive consumerism we have seen in the past few decades. If you are heading out this weekend, you can expect plenty of company and packed stores, nevertheless you will not see the same number of people as you did in the late 90′s through 2005.

Consumers are reminded that many manufacturers have reduced production this year, therefore if you see a great deal, you might do well to purchase it rather than waiting to see if you get a better deal later in the season. This year it is more likely that early shoppers will have the best choice of inventory and discounts versus those who wait until the last minute to purchase gifts.

Millions Gear Up For Holiday Shopping was created by and is property of American Consumer News.