On July 15th, a mysterious man in a goat suit was spotted and photographed in the Wasatch Mountains on the Ben Lomond peak. While being at that specific spot is not too out of the ordinary, what he was wearing was.

Near Ogden, Utah, he has been practicing his stealth abilities for the upcoming wild goat hunting season. His goat man suit was simply a hooded painter’s outfit and a fleece, which was more than enough to make people turn their heads and to catch the attention of locals and the national headlines.

As this man roamed amongst the herds of goats, some wildlife officials were worried that hunters could mistake him for a live goat and suit and injure or kill the man. Phil Douglass of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has gone on record stating that the man has been identified and is in fact a 57 year old man from California who was simply getting ready for the hunt. The man said he was getting ready for an archery hunt of wild mountain goats set for next year and wanted to see how well his disguise would work. Utah is also apparently the place to go to get close to live goats for training.

Economic Impact: This will not leave a huge dent on a national or even local economy, but it has been a story that has caught people’s attention. Obviously the 57 year old hunter saw the benefits of testing his goat suit amongst wild goats as outweighing the cost of potential public attention or the risk of being shot by a hunter. The general population is also attracted to weird out of the ordinary stories and tend to like to take a few moments to read what the headline means, giving newspapers a few potential sales as the mystery was unfolding.

Pete Rose is infamous for racking up hit records among many others in his 17  years in the Majors, but being barred from the Hall of Fame for gambling on the outcome of the games he managed for with the Cincinnati Reds. Rose, now 71 years old, is currently engaged to Kiana Kim who is about half his age in her 30′s and whose beauty has been modeled in such formats as Playboy.

The couple’s relationship made headlines when they first went public about it, considering she is half his age and is known for her beauty while Mr. Rose is not quite blessed with that – though his on the field talents made up for that easily. As a result, the show will follow their lives as they merge into one stable family unit. Mr. Rose resides in Las Vegas where he signs autographs and Miss Kim lives in Los Angeles with her children. The merging of these 2 radically different lifestyles in different cities, as certain family members are still opposed to the relationship, has been selected as entertaining enough for its own show.

Mr. Rose went on to say that they go through the same things as everyone else does in life and relationships. Having kids means they go through education, sports, braces and all the typical events of growing up together. He also went on to add that unlike many reality shows about icons or celebrities, that this show will not classless.  It will be legitimately real and entertaining.

An already confirmed incident in Pete Rose and Kiana Kim Family Project include the family visiting Cooperstown to visit the Hall of Fame that Pete Rose most certainly  deserves to be in on his stats alone. Rose has also said that the show will show the public his true personality. During his baseball career he was known as an aggressive player, sliding head first, making every at bat count and being a true competitor. Since retirement though, he insists he is a down to earth guy and can be approached and talked to at his events.

His lifetime ban from baseball activities has always been a big issue, and while no guarantees that it will come up, he has gone on record stating that if Bud Selig gives him another chance, it would certainly be addressed in the show. For the time being though, we can plan for 5 episodes to air this year.

Economic Impact: This story is a bit of a fun one that looks into the life of a Cincinnati based celebrity and Major League Baseball Icon and his life. TLC is known for their family based reality shows and has had success airing them. The show is likely to get attention as it portrays an often controversial star and his popular fiancee. Any event he signs onto tends to attract visitors and bring in revenue, as he has an iconic and almost cult like following in Cincinnati after his successful career in the city. In addition to driving in revenue to his events and where he goes, with such a big name couple being portrayed on television, it is certain the first few episodes at minimum will tune in and advertisers will be there to leave their mark as well.

Andy Griffith is Dead

After the show ended, Andy Griffith found himself staring in Matlock and making guest appearances in other television shows as well. In addition to his acting career, he was a Grammy award winning gospel singer. Having demonstrated his ability to sing and play guitar on the Andy Griffith show for years, his musical talent was obvious.

Born on June 1, 1926 , there is now a statue of his character and his tv son – Opie – in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was also honored in 2005 by President George W. Bush, when he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Honor.

Andy Griffith Dead

Andy Griffith, dead at the age of 86, was the father of two children, and his death leaves behind as survivors the entire television audience that grew up and cherished his likeness on tv. He was found dead at his Roanoke Island home in North Carolina. The cause of death has yet to be determined, but at the age of 86, the cause is pretty much determined.

No word has been announced on his ceremony yet or whether it will be open to the public. With Andy Griffith’s large fan base and fan adoration, it is likely that some form of public service will be held in his honor.

Andy Griffith seen in the Andy Griffith Show with co-star Don Knotts

 Impact of the Recession on America

The American family’s net worth has decreased to the lowest level in two decades. One of the driving forces in this drastic decrease in net worth for Americans is the severe cut in value of their homes, which have fallen by near 40% on average.

This survey information comes from the Federal Reserve’s survey which has shows that since President Obama took office 3 years ago the American family’s median wealth has tanked from $126,400 in 2007 down to $77,300 in 2010. The last time median wealth was this low was in 1992.

Also in this time frame there has been near zero change in the median value of American debt per household. In short, debt has remained unchanged while net worth has decreased unemployment has risen and home values have decreased.

The Federal Reserve conducts this survey every three years and is considered one of the most in depth reports of the American family’s economic situation. Amongst reports of “economic improvement” this report does not look so well and on top of the dismal job reports the situation is likely far from being over.

The Great Recession, as many have coined the government caused economic downturn that began in 2007/2008 has seen slow recovery as government intervention has failed thus far. Despite “injecting” billions into the economy, artificially creating demand and buying up goods and services that cannot be paid for – thus creating debt, and keeping interest rates at unnaturally low levels – the economy is still in a dismal condition.

Green Lantern is Gay

After speculation on which character would “come out of the closet” and admit in printed comic form that they are openly gay; it appears that the Green Lantern is gay. Rumors before the announcement had fans, critics and news reporters guessing on who would be the character taking the hit for DC’s push on changing their character after decades of success. Batman was one of the most often talked about characters to have a chance of being announced as gay, but with The Dark Knight Rises coming out to follow up the highly successful box office hit “The Dark Knight”, the company seems to have not wanted to mess with the character they had grown into a huge financial success. Others had predicted that if not a main character, we might be seeing side kicks in the story coming out, but some feared that DC would then be viewed upon as not willing to commit to the cause.

DC was stuck in a hard position as they tried to find a balancing act of adjusting to the social times and not interfere too much with characters that already had a large fan base that may not respond well to the character they had grown up enjoying all of a sudden being a completely different person. Of course it would have just been easier to create a new character, but they wanted to send waves through the community and this way would and have created more publicity and news for them.

The news came out in issue 2 of “Earth 2″ and is being written by James Robinson has stated that the Green Lantern being gay will not be exploited for further story lines. It has also been noted by fans and purists of the series that the character in this story line is not the original Green Lantern, so it is not as upsetting. Just like there have been different Batmans over time, there are different Green Lanterns. The original Green Lantern though had a son, making the new Green Lantern gay is quite different from previous stories crafted for the hero.

Gay Green Lantern

Mr. Robinson’s son is also openly gay, giving him the desire to push that concept into his comic book writing as well. He wants to note that the Green Lantern is a complex character who has many elements to him and his personality.

Other comic books following along with this trend as well include:  Northstar by Marvel who is set to marry this year. The Catwoman. And Archie and the gang now hangs out with an openly gay character.

Past E3’s have seen Nintendo show off the Nintendo 64, Twilight Princess, Donkey Kong Country Returns, the introduction of Mario into 3D,  the Nintendo Wii-U… They have had long lines of people simply wanting 5 minutes of time with their hands on a controller demoing the newest Zelda or console. The expectations are high and this will surely lead to new accomplishments being shown off again this year. Taking what is already known and mixing in some new elements, here are some bold predictions for the 2012 Nintendo E3 show.

 Nintendo E3 Wiki

1. It is a safe bet to assume the Nintendo Wii-U will be revealed in full since it has a supposed 2012 release date. Stirrings of a controller redesign have already been on the internet, but it would not be beyond Nintendo to show off a new controller that has drastically larger changes than just a button being moved or a logo being switched to a new spot. The controller revealed last year received a lot of hype, and rightfully so, but look for it to introduce some new elements that was not previously announced and for even a possible entirely new design altogether. The cost of the controller revealed last year would be high and could be a turn off for consumers; something had to be done to address the problem.
2. When Nintendo needs to make some money, which they surely do after this past  year’s terrible income statement, they have to turn to Mario or Zelda. With Mario having already saved the Nintendo 3DS from failure and pushing it into a successful zone, it looks like it is time for a new Zelda game. A demo was shown last year for the Wii-U that  had a realistic version of Link. While stated to be for display purposes only, there is a good chance that display could become reality. The Wii-U needs a strong launch, unlike the 3DS and one way to ensure that happens is to have a new Zelda game on the day of or within a month or two of launch.
3. Another prediction to make is the return of some oftentimes overlooked franchises. Donkey Kong made a return on the Wii lately, and though not the strongest of efforts, it got the character relevant again. A 3DS installment could be likely, if not an early Wii-U title. Metroid has also been absent for years as it last made an appearance on Other M. The series has a committed group of fans and the company could see a boost of sales in either console if the iconic hero returns. Some online rumors have suggested a Star Fox – Metroid mix, which could provide for a lot of hype if done properly. Pikmin has also been missing for an entire generation. It would seem that it is time for a comeback.
4. Nintendo has been trying to show that they are ready to compete online. The quickest way to show they are serious with that is to show off an entirely new online network that is centralized and functional. What better way to do that would be to demo a brand new Smash Brothers?
5. The Nintendo 3DS is overdue for a redesign announcement. We all know it is coming, so this may be the event to do so.
6. For one final prediction, let’s go bold. Nintendo will demonstrate a new capability for the Wii-U that allows the games to be played in 3D without glasses.

Payday loans are quite popular in states in which they are legal, and many folks take them out in the hopes of getting themselves out of a tight financial spot. Unfortunately, positive payday loan experiences are negatively impacted by high interest rates, among other things. In response to public criticism of their onerous fees and penalty interest charges, recent regulatory changes have made payday loans both fairer and more difficult to secure. The following primer outlines the most pertinent of these.

Efforts to Cap Interest Rates

The loudest criticism of payday lending concerns the industry’s high interest rates. Since most payday loans are taken out for the short-term, typical fees of $15 or $20 per $100 borrowed seem like an acceptable burden for most borrowers. If annualized, however, these rates can be jaw-dropping: 300 to 500 percent is the norm, with rates spiking to nearly 1,000 percent in some states when penalty interest is taken into account.

With Congress and federal regulatory agencies issuing conflicting statements on the issue, some states have taken matters into their own hands. In Missouri, for example, a currently-pending ballot initiative aims to cap annualized rates on payday loans at 36 percent. Montana’s state legislature has already passed a law instituting a cap at the same rate, and Idaho’s is expected to take up the matter shortly.

New Federal Regulations

The recent creation of the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau heralds several important changes for the payday loan industry. Some of its decrees include:

• Truth-in-lending statements. Payday lenders are now required to provide their customers with “truth-in-lending” documents that spell out, in annualized fashion, a precise summation of their interest rates. The problem is, payday lenders often hand out these documents in sealed envelopes to borrowers already on their way out the door. That’s not exactly transparent.
• Limitations on outstanding loans. Payday lenders are now required to receive full payment for an outstanding loan before they issue a new one to the same customer. This eliminates the “rollover” problem, wherein interest charges are magnified as unpaid loan balances and are then rolled into new loans.
• Better accountability. Payday lenders must now keep detailed records of their outstanding and current loans so that auditors can detect patterns in their lending practices and uncover evidence of illegal activity. This has virtually eliminated a once-common arrangement in which payday lenders cashed their customers’ post-dated collateral checks early in order to collect fees for non-sufficient funds.

Pending Enforcement

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has put the payday lending industry on notice that it may be the target of future action, including a “compliance examination” to investigate whether it fits within the Bureau’s definition of “abusive lending practices.” If it is found to be out of compliance with new federal regulations, the practice may be curbed even further than it is currently or banned outright.

Payday lending’s proponents have a point when they argue that it provides a valuable service to low-income workers who need extra cash to cover everyday expenses. New regulations have changed the industry for the better in recent years, making it more transparent and reducing the overall cost of payday loans. Since more may be done, keeping up on new regulatory developments is essential for anyone who regularly uses the industry’s services.

A Powerful 3 Step Method to Job Interview Success

Have a big job interview coming up? Well, good! So do 10 – 20 other people. You are the select few from the application process that actually get a job interview. So, congratulations! You were picked from among potentially hundreds of applicants to have an interview.

That is just one victory though. The most important victory is the job interview itself. In a down economy, many people are looking for jobs and having job interviews. You need to set yourself apart from the crowd by having a solid interview!

This is  a 3 part method: 1) before the interview, 2) during the interview, and 3) after the interview.

1) Before the Interview

Before you go to the job interview, you need to prepare yourself physically and mentally. You need to be ready to make a strong first impression (because you only get one chance) and to build a relationship of trust that makes the interviewer remember you.

This starts with your personal appearance and mindset. You need to be well-groomed and in professional looking clothes when you go to the interview. Make sure to iron your clothes and follow good hygiene standards.

Now the mindset part. Visit the website of the company for which you are interviewing. Get an overall feeling of what their values, mission statement, and company objectives are. These will give you an idea of what is most important to the company and, by extension, the interviewer.

Last, practice answering basic interview questions. These are questions that will be about you, your work ethic, your work history, education, experience, people skills, customer service skills, etc. Practice answering questions about each of these areas and notice what you are saying and how you’re saying it.

2) During the Interview

When you walk into the job interview, make good eye contact with the interviewer, give a good, firm handshake, and speak clearly and loud enough for him or her to hear your name. Also, remember to give a good, genuine SMILE!

Practice good manners. Don’t sit down until you are invited to do so. Make sure that you are always courteous, yet confident.

The best way to make a good first impression and to keep building a relationship of trust and confidence is to give a good sincere smile and be genuine in all your answers.

The worst way to build a relationship of trust is to be dishonest or fake in your answers. The reasons for this is because 1) most interviewers can sense when you are faking and 2) if somehow you get the job, and you lied about what you can actually do, it will become clear very quickly and you’ll get fired!

So, in summary, smile and be confidently genuine to make a good, lasting impression and build a relationship of trust.

3) After the Interview

Before the job interview ends, ask the interviewer when you can expect to hear about the job. He or she will usually give you a time period, like 3 or 4 days. Then, ask if you can follow-up with him or her if you haven’t heard anything in that time.

Be sure that when you do this that you get a business card from the interviewer and ask about the best way to contact him or her.

The purpose of doing this is that you want to make sure your face and name stay in the interviewer’s mind. You want to show determination and strong desire to get the job. The key is to do this without becoming a nuisance. So, make sure that stay within that time period the interviewer gave you for follow-up.

The only exception to this is a thank you letter. Just a simple handwritten note for the interviewer thanking him or her for taking the time to interview you. This must be sincere and, when possible, sent THE DAY OF THE INTERVIEW so that it gets to the interviewer the day after the interview.

In the note, you’ll want to give your sincere thank you and a short statement of how your skill set will BENEFIT THE COMPANY. Nothing too long, but reinforcing that you are the right person for the job.

By using this 3 part method during the whole job interview process, you will effectively make a good impression on the interviewer and be able to build a relationship of trust with whomever you are interviews you.

Guest Bio: Matt Smith is a college student and webmaster of college-student-answers.com, a site that helps college students find simple answers to their college questions.

How Much is Facebook IPO Worth

Starting off as a small college based social website, as portrayed in the movie, “The Social Network” the site has grown into a network of millions of users including business pages, political pages and even for entertainers. As it has grown into a force and generated mass revenue from ads, Mark Zuckerberg has played with the idea of going public and as of this week it will finally become reality.

180 million shares are being offered in the facebook initial public offering with another 157 million coming from existing stockholders- including Mark Zuckerberg himself, primarily to cover the tax liabilities. At the end of the day of trading, which is already causing a stir in the investment community as everyone wants to get a piece expecting success such as what was seen from Apple and Google, Zuckerberg will still own around 57% of the stock with voting rights in the company, keeping him in charge of the decision making.

How Much is Facebook Stock

In the regulatory filing on Tuesday, the stock was listed as being sold between $34 and $38 a share, higher than previously expected. With excitement rising over having a chance to own just a piece, even just one share, of the biggest internet social media site, demand has risen and prices are expected to rise one trading opens.

Mark Zuckerberg is expected to make $1.06 billion from his shares if valued at $35 per share.   Other people looking to make several million to billions from this facebook initial public offering are: Goldman Sachs, Peter Thiel (Paypal co-founder), James Breyer, Microsoft…

At the end of the day, the Facebook IPO is expected to be worth near $104 billion, putting it near the range of top corporations in the matter of just one day. In the matter of hours, facebook would pass up the value of such economic powerhouses as McDonalds and Citigroup. With stocks already oversubscribed, the Facebook initial public offering will be the topic on everyone’s mind for days.

JPMorgan, a long standing financial giant took a risk and it ultimately failed and cost them $2 billion. It has been just days since the loss and people are calling for action as a response. Investing in a company though does carry risks, which includes the risks that come from their own investments, so should any further action be taken?

JPMorgan personnel associated with the deal have already took responsibility for the large investment loss. Chief Executive Jamie Dimon is ready to accept resignations of Ina Drew and at least 2 other traders that worked for her. Ina Drew has been with the company for decades and previous resignation attempts had been declined, but as the government begins investigations and seek to add more harmful regulations to an already damaged industry that has been hurt through previous regulations, people are trying to limit the damage any further by resigning explaining what happened.

It was an investment risk that had it succeeded, Dimon and Drew would be hailed as market geniuses and being praised instead of criticized by officials who have overseen one of the largest self-inflicted economic crises in the nation’s history. Dimon though, went on record calling the bank “sloppy” and “stupid” over its transaction that saw a loss over a bet on credit derivatives that went opposite of how they thought it would.

The original transactions were actually meant to protect the bank and the public investors from any harm from the government caused European Economic crises. Drew attempted to protect JPMorgan from losses and even potentially earn some large profits, but with such an unpredictable situation in Europe and the EU continuing to interfere in the healing process, the damage was already done. Despite efforts to scale back and cut smaller losses, it was too late and as we know, an estimated $2 billion was lost.

Misses Drew has a history in JPMorgan as being successful and had a long career with them, so is it proper to release her and send criticism her way on transactions that went sour? Many government officials are already trying to butt in and further harmful regulations to play off of the public backlash that is wrongly misdirected. But what further punishments and information is needed? Stocks fell 9% already on Friday alone, resignations are being handed in and the company learned a lesson on risky investments. The public is now also aware that the company may at given times take risks that can impact the value of the company, allowing them to decide on their own whether to stay partial owners in JPMorgan or not.

Investments carry risks, but larger losses in investment banking has occurred before. Shareholders have the option of choosing other investment strategies and to opt for more risk managed portfolios. It is only to appease regulators that the pressure to resign is being felt.