When getting ready to go to college my mother told me not to sign up for any credit cards offers unless I talked to her first. College students are constantly targeted by credit card companies at college fairs, pre-approved cards, freebies and more. But not so much anymore thanks to the new credit card from reform. Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009, also known as the Credit CARD Act, will go into effect on Feb. 22, 2010. This is meant to help protect people from credit card companies hidden fees, change in APR (interest), and fine print. When proposing the bill President Obama said, "Americans know that they have a responsibility to live within their means and pay what they owe but they also have a right to not get ripped off by the sudden rate hikes, unfair penalties and hidden fees that have become all too common in our credit card industry."
 

The Credit CARD Act has many aspects to help Americans, and is going to attempt to help the Under 21year olds who often get swept up in the instant gratification of credit. The Act will affect Under 21 year olds in several ways:

Basically,
• Credit for young consumers: Ban credit cards for people under 21 unless they have a co-signer or proof that they have income to pay them back, Bans pre-screening and pre approved credit cards, and the Under 21 year old has get permission from co-signer to increase credit limits on joint accounts
• College marketing: Colleges have to disclose the student information they give credit card information; Credit card issuers are required to file annual reports with the Federal Reserve Board detailing the terms and conditions of all business, marketing and promotional deals with colleges and universities, including the amount of any payments made to the school; Recommend colleges universities and alumni associations to not allow credit card companies to promote on campus or near campus (now near campus is defined as 1,000 miles from the border of the campus)
• No more freebies or promotional gifts to get young
More details
(VIA: Creditcard.com)

College students have already reacted. Some student like Cierra Jackson, a 21-year-old public relations major at Florida A & M University, says "I think it's a good law. Most people get credit cards and are in debt before they finish their first year in college." While others are strongly opposed like Todd VanDuzer, 19, a business major at Arizona State University (ASU) in Tempe. He says he has Capital One and Chase credit cards with no debt. He says, "I think such a law is ridiculous because it is further limiting our rights that we deserve as adults. If we can get tried in court as an adult and go to war, we deserve the same rights as an elder would.

Video and more after the Break

Dear Friends,

It is with great sadness that I write to inform you that Evelyn D. Haas, the co-founder and co-chair of the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, passed away on February 3, 2010.

Mrs. Haas and her husband, Walter A. Haas, Jr., established their family foundation in 1953. Through their grantmaking, the Haases sought to fulfill their vision of a just and caring society that provides fundamental rights and opportunities to all people. They wanted their foundation to be a beacon for visionary and innovative philanthropy; an organization that would make a real difference in people's lives; and one that would boldly address the difficult issues facing our communities and our society.

The Haas, Jr. Fund has awarded more than $364 million in grants. Grantees have included neighborhood grassroots organizations and some of the Bay Area's most notable cultural and civic institutions. The Haases' philanthropy has brought hope, opportunity and joy to countless people's lives, and today the foundation continues this work under the leadership of their children, Robert D. Haas, Betsy Haas Eisenhardt and Walter J. Haas.

All of us who knew and worked with Mrs. Haas will miss her boundless energy and her heartfelt and dedicated commitment to the work of making the world a better, more beautiful place. If you are interested in learning more about the legacy that Mrs. Haas and her husband left through their family foundation, we invite you to visit our website at www.haasjr.org.

Please join us for a celebration of the life of Evelyn D. Haas at Temple Emanu-El in San Francisco on Monday, Feb 8 at 2:00 pm. Reception to follow.

We will miss her very much.


Ira S. Hirschfield
President
Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund

The following originally aired on KCBS.

By Anna Pieri and Megan Maerz

Our San Francisco Bay is known across the globe for its iconic beauty, but it may not be so for long. Bay monitoring shows that contaminants are slowly increasing.

The first time I volunteered at the annual Coastal Cleanup, I was shocked by the amount of trash that ends up in our bay. Combing through the grass, we found plastic bags, bottle caps, and beer cans as far as 10 feet off the road.

I wondered how anyone could be thoughtless enough to litter and put marine animals in danger. I found out that even in “green” Marin, water pollutants can be found everywhere.

Fertilizers cause algae blooms that suffocate fish. Shampoo and other cleaning products can contain neurotoxic ingredients. Dumping car oil down the sewer can cause the same kind of problems as an oil tanker spill, since a single gallon of oil can spread to contaminate a million gallons of water.

But oil isn’t the only thing that spreads – since finding out about these pollution problems, my friends and I have been spreading the word about our everyday impact on the Bay.

Here are ten tips worth sharing about how to reduce water pollution in the bay.

1. Use household products that are all-natural and non-toxic.

2. Don’t overuse pesticides and fertilizers on your lawn or garden. Plain apple vinegar can be used as an effective weed killer in your home garden!

3. Check your car regularly for oil or antifreeze leaks.

4. Dispose of motor oil properly. The Jiffy Lube in San Rafael recycles used motor oil into lubricating oil!

5. Don’t litter.

6. Participate in the annual Coastal Cleanup at Rodeo Beach to pick up litter before it harms ocean wildlife.

7. Wash your car at commercial car washes. They use less water than is typically used at home, and the soapy water is treated.

8. Dispose of hazardous waste like paint and appliances correctly.

9. Do not overwater lawns and gardens. Overwatering can flush large quantities of pesticides and fertilizer directly into storm drains.

10. Compost garden and kitchen waste. Compost can be used as a fertilizer, reducing nitrate runoff from artificial fertilizers.

Previously:

• The Oceans Are Dying
• Toxic Schools: The Video
• Toxic Schooling: The Story Behind the Scoop

Pierre Garcon has become known for supplying the NFL with dramatic storylines. The wide receiver for the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts defied the odds by catching for over 700 yards this year after having only four catches as a rookie out of Division III Mount Union College. In addition, he helped lead the Colts to Super Bowl XLIV with a record-breaking performance in the AFC Championship Game.

Unfortunately, it's a somber event that's added the latest chapter in the personal narrative of this rising star. As the son of Haitian immigrants, Garcon watched with the result on January 12 as a massive earthquake devastated Haiti. The country now has an estimate of 200,000 people dead and 1.2 million homeless.

"People down there don't deserve for this to happen. Nobody deserves anything like this," Garcon told USA Today.

It’s clear that Garcon has been thinking about the tragedy on and off the field. In the AFC Championship Game against the New York Jets, he caught an AFC Championship record 11 receptions while catching for 151 yards and a touchdown. During the post-game celebration, he draped the Haitian flag over his shoulders as he held the Lamar Hunt Trophy. Off the field, he inspired students at his alma mater, Mount Union, to raise $10,000 for the relief efforts in Haiti.

To this reporter, Garcon is an inspiration not only to those wanting to overcome long shot odds, but to those who feel helpless about Haiti.

"All I'm trying to do is have them not think about what they are going through," Garcon told USA Today.

Valentine's Day is almost upon us: rejoice!

Valentine's Day is almost upon us: break out the pitchforks!

There's really no middle ground on the battlefield of love, since everyone knows the opposite of love isn't hate, it's indifference. Which would normally be the superior, hip position to take. Whatever.

We invite you to declare your allegiance: when it comes to Valentine's Day which side are you on? Are you a lover or a fighter? A lover and a fighter?

Drop us a line, hit us up on twitter, or jump in at Facebook and let us know where you stand.

To help you figure it out, check out some of our recent posts about love, lust, and other complications of the heart:

Super Bowl Bites: Glutster Cajun Dip

By Javier Cabral

Time for a confession: I’m not a sports nut. So the Super bowl is just another game—at least, for me. I know. I know. For many, the Super Bowl is an unofficial American Holiday-- a time of gathering, a time of excitement and a time of expensive commercials. But there is one thing I can get behind this weekend: food. The Super Bowl is a great opportunity to eat with friends.

Gang members have begun using Twitter to organize meetings and set up fights. In New York City gang members are being apprehended through their own tweets. NYC officers are keeping a close eye on how gang members are utilizing Twitter. Cops are using Twitter to tweet messages directly to gang members in order track them down. The city has already had their first violence facilitated through Twitter in which a boy was shot in a leg. Officers in the case seem to believe that the accident happened because of a battle between gangs that originated on Twitter. But officers aren’t the only ones taking actions to crackdown on these gang members.

The New York Daily News spoke to Harlem pastor Vernon Williams, of Perfect Peace Ministry Youth Outreach—an organization uses Twitter, MySpace and instant messaging to keep track of 4,000 at-risk teens. Williams told The New York Daily news

“Twitter helped the volunteers stop a street war after they saw the Get Money Boys, based in the St. Nicholas Houses on W. 127 St., exchanging threats with Goodfellas and The New Dons, based just a few blocks north. "They were threatening to go and hurt two people," said Williams who sent staff out to find the tweeters.”

In Britain inmates are able to create Facebook accounts. Times Online brought to light a profile on Facebook that was being updated daily by a gang member while in prison.

“In one posting, Gunn, 42, said: “I will be home one day and I can’t wait to look into certain people’s eyes and see the fear of me being there.” In another message he wrote: “It’s good to have an outlet to let you know how I am, some of you will be in for a good slagging, some have let me down badly, and will be named and shamed, f****** rats.”

After Times Online brought this profile to officials they had no choice but to delete the account. This isn’t the first case in which social networking sites have been used to crack down on someone. Facebook helped police detain a group of high school kids who chatted about blowing up their school.
 

Do you remember way back when fame came to those with talent? Way back when you had to be an actor, an author, a philanthropist, an athlete, a politician? Then around the 90’s, cast members from MTV’s “The Real World” started slowly appearing in the mix with actual celebrities. Fast forward to today. Now we have a group of famous people who are known for basically hanging out on camera.

It upsets me that I can recognize Jon Gosselin, Kim Kardashian and “Snookie”. But I, personally, can’t identify their talents. It seems they are famous because of these things: Kim Kardashian is famous for filming her intimate moments with Ray-J. Snookie is known as the girl who got sucker punched at the bar. And besides his marital troubles, Jon Gosselin is famous for fathering eight children.

I had the opportunity to audition for a dating reality show. The production company was looking for single contestants who were willing to try dating—on air. When I arrived for the taped Q&A session, however, I realized how far we have come from and how far people are willing to go be famous. I was asked to lay out my entire life. For instance... “Tell us surprising things about yourself or your past that most people don’t know."  Or  “Tell us your unique life story in 50 words or less."  After my interview session, I started to have nightmares about being introduced to the world on such a medium. You have no control over how you are presented or how you are perceived. What if I get punched on TV, like Snookie?  I haven’t been called yet to appear for the show. But one thing’s for sure…I’m not waiting for the phone to ring.

The power of text messages and social networking sites in political communications was proven during President Obama’s campaign. People continue to spread change only this time the issue is immigration reform.

The Center for Community Change in Washington, DC created a text message network managed by the Reform Immigration for American campaign (RI4A) in order to better communicate with people. The company noticed that most Latinos don’t have access to email, blogs, or internet but do have access to phones. The Huffington Post quoted Rachel LaBruyere, Deputy Online Director of RI4A about their new texting network. "Text messaging is a tool that's immediate enough to drive calls quickly, but also sophisticated enough to build a much larger network, which enables ongoing action and cultivation of engaged activists. Texting from a mobile network makes it possible for the community to quickly respond in real time when President Obama or another legislator makes a controversial or important comment about immigration reform."

Here is an example of a text message:

“Immigration Alert:1000's of Haitian undocumented immigrants risk deportation 2 Haiti. Call Obama, ask 4 Temporary Protected Status NOW! 866-930-3396 Pls Forward"

Their goal is to send a text message no longer than 160 characters including spaces. It’s short and simple and according to them effective. RI4A also uses text messages to organize events.

Currently there are 12 million undocumented people living and working in the United States and according to Diego Graglia from Feet in 2 Worlds Obama is walking a thin line with Latinos.

“Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D.-Ill.), who last year introduced an immigration reform bill in the House, is even calling for Latinos to punish Democrats and Republicans alike at the polls this year, saying that if the issue sees no action before April’s Congressional recess, it won’t be addressed at all in 2010.Gutierrez told the Mexican news service Notimex, the reform movement should set a March 21 deadline for the Democratic administration to get the issue started.“If the issue is not broached by that date, the Hispanic vote will have to reflect on the idea of a punishment with a vote of absence in the next elections, so that our power and importance are felt,” he said, in a statement that was reported in Spanish by the wire service.”

If politicians want Latino support then immigration is the way to obtain it. I know President Obama is busy with health care and fixing the economy, but kids continue to be taken from their parents. This is an issue that needs some attention.