Wednesday, April 24
Fake Clothing Donation Bins in Big Cities are Hurting Charities, Say Non-Profits
Lifestyle

Fake Clothing Donation Bins in Big Cities are Hurting Charities, Say Non-Profits

The New York Times reported recently that there's a significant increase in clothing donation bins being placed on city streetsacross the United States -- but the vast majority of those bins are actually illegal and not tied to charity. One New Yorker, Kyiesha Kelly, reported seeing employees of Narciso Recycling Company dump one of these bins onto a nearby sidewalk in front of a community late at night. When Kelly confronted the workers and told them to move the bin, they pretended to not understand her and left abruptly. It turns out that this was just one of thousands of these bins placed illegally and bearing a message that said, "Through Your Donations We Provide Money to Charities & Give Employees Occupation." But many of these companies, like Narciso Recycling, aren'...
Kimpton Hotels, Others Begin Offering Customer Loyalty Points for Sharing Photos on Social Media
Business

Kimpton Hotels, Others Begin Offering Customer Loyalty Points for Sharing Photos on Social Media

You know how people like to share photos of their vacations to wherever on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram? According to a new report from USA Today, they might not be doing that to show off and make you feel like your life is terrible. A recent program aimed at generating free press on social media platforms among multiple hotels could be to blame. Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants has launched a new program, the Kimpton Karma Rewards program, to reward their guests and potential customers for sharing positive news relating to their business on the world's most popular social media platforms. Social media statuses, reviews, tweets and pictures of their hotel rooms -- any of these actions will earn customers points towards discounts, complimentary stays and meals, and more. Kimpton joins ...
5 Easy-to-Avoid Moving Mistakes
Local

5 Easy-to-Avoid Moving Mistakes

Moving can be a high-pressure time, Whether you're moving cross country or just moving down the block. Here are some mistakes to avoid while packing to make your move as smooth as possible. 1. Procrastination You never have as much time as you think you have when it comes to moving. Packing is a big task! Too many people wait until the last minute to gather their belongings and find themselves staring down a monumental task. Remember, packing fragile items takes time and finding or building boxes can be a pain. 2. Not Planning Ahead Improvising and throwing things together is no way to move to a new place. Be strategic with your move. Don't pack and store something you might need before you move out. That might seem obvious, but sometimes the first instinct is to just start pac...
New Study Suggests Saving for Your Retirement Can Improve Your Health
Lifestyle

New Study Suggests Saving for Your Retirement Can Improve Your Health

A new study has found that saving up for your retirement may make you healthier in addition to wealthier. According to a July 13 USA Today article, the study, conducted by Lamar Pierce, an associate professor at Washington University, and doctoral candidate Timothy Gubler found that people who actively save money toward their retirement are also more likely to take care of themselves and their well-being. The reason behind this is a phenomena called time discounting, USA Today reports, which is an individual's affinity toward smaller, immediate rewards over long-term goals and desired results. Because people who allot money toward their retirement are the type of people to value long-term goals in the future, which means they are more likely to improve their health after receiving...
A Look Forward at What’s Next for Dental Technology
Business

A Look Forward at What’s Next for Dental Technology

Your next trip to the dentist could feature some of today's latest gadgets and technologies hitting the dental industry. A July 10 TechRepublic.com describes just some of these innovations that are cropping up in dental practices across America as these new technologies become more popular. "What I found more impressive was how that technology was integrated into the practice, not bolted on to show that this office 'gets' it, or introduced in an effort to modernize that creates friction, not efficiency," the writer of the TechRepublic article stated. Some of the new dental technologies described in the article included an iPad at reception for filling out new patient information, digital X-rays and radiography, intraoral digital cameras and more. Devices like the iPad have been...
Golden Globe Carpet Cleaner Caught Trying to Sell $250,000 Lost Diamond Ring
Fashion

Golden Globe Carpet Cleaner Caught Trying to Sell $250,000 Lost Diamond Ring

Earlier this year, jewelry-maker Lorraine Schwartz -- also known as the "jeweler to the stars" -- was more than a little upset after her $250,000 ring went missing at the Golden Globes. Schwartz had been wearing the ring, which sported a 10.62 carat yellow diamond, and said that it was possible the ring had either been stolen off her finger or had dropped off during the ceremony. Schwartz has designed engagement rings for well-known celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Blake Lively and Beyonce. As it turned out, the ring had not originally been stolen. Instead, it ended up on the red carpet, where carpet cleaner Henry Bernal found it later that night. Bernal and his girlfriend, Christina Gonzales, decided to take the ring to Kevin Jewelers. The store made an offer, at which point Be...
Weather Conditions in Western U.S. Cause Concern For Homeowners
Local

Weather Conditions in Western U.S. Cause Concern For Homeowners

A news headline may invoke some skepticism when it names both "flooding and fires" as problems which are wreaking havoc in the same region, at the same time. Nevertheless, this phrase was used recently in a headline by ABC News to describe the environmental conditions in the western half of the U.S. Furthermore, it is becoming increasingly difficult to figure out which concern is the most problematic. And even more frustrating is the fact that both weather conditions have the ability to cause incredible damage to property, while homeowners are left with little to show. Extreme forest fires and flooding are nearly impossible to stop -- and in some cases, impossible to prevent -- and professional emergency responders are given the task of attempting to control them. These are often the si...
McDonald’s Wedding Venue in Hong Kong Offers Matrimony With a Side of Fries
Business, Lifestyle, World

McDonald’s Wedding Venue in Hong Kong Offers Matrimony With a Side of Fries

When you think wedding venue, do you think of the phrase, "and I'll take a side of fries with that?" In Hong Kong, McDonald's restaurants are becoming a popular wedding venue option for couples seeking a cheap alternative to more expensive and lavish destinations. McDonald's first offered its wedding party program in Hong Kong as a result of consumer demand for the service. Since then, they've been able to expand, so that there are now 15 participating locations that host everything from wedding receptions to engagement parties. In an interview with CNBC, Jessica Lee, a spokeswoman for the company, explains why, exactly, the choice has been in demand. "We started the program because many customers tell us that McDonald's is where they first started dating...McDonald's is where their...
Cadet Files Sexual Discrimination Case Against Virginia Military Institute
Local

Cadet Files Sexual Discrimination Case Against Virginia Military Institute

According to the Roanoke Times, A Virginia Military Institute cadet has filed a sexual discrimination complaint with the U.S. Department of Education. The complaint follows a reported sexual assault, and the treatment the cadet received at the hands of State police. The cadet stated in her original report that a male campus police officer came to her dorm room to investigate a theft -- her roommates had come home to find their belongings disturbed, and $160 missing. During the investigation, the officer led the cadet to the basement, ordered her to strip, and then performed a body cavity search. The officer claimed that she was a suspect herself in the theft, and that by submitting to the search, she would clear herself. The cadet discovered later that she was still considered a susp...
Diet Queen Receives $60,000 for Pill Mislabeling That Caused Six NFL Suspensions
Sport

Diet Queen Receives $60,000 for Pill Mislabeling That Caused Six NFL Suspensions

This past week, Nikki Haskell, a socialite who had referred to herself as a "Diet Queen to the Stars," was fined $60,000 by a U.S. magistrate judge for mislabeling her weight-loss supplement. The now-defunct company Haskell operated, known as Balanced Health Products Inc, was under investigation because of a pill they sold known as StarCaps. The pills, which were labeled as “a natural blend of papaya and garlic from the higher Andes of Peru," were spiked with an undisclosed prescription drug. The drug contained the ingredient bumetanide, which can have dangerous side effects. It is also on the NFL's list of banned substances, and in 2008, six NFL players were suspended after testing positive for the drug after having used the diet pills. Bumetanide is typically used to treat high blo...