Who Is To Blame When Newegg Sends The Wrong Power Cord For Your Refurb Laptop?

newegglogoBuying a refurbished computer can be a way to save a significant amount of money off the retail price. But as one Consumerist reader found out when he bought a refurbed ASUS gaming laptop from Newegg, a small problem can earn you a seat on the customer service terror-go-round, with no one really wanting to [...]

Source: http://consumerist.com/2012/09/who-is-to-blame-when-newegg-sends-the-wrong-power-cord-for-your-refurb-laptop.html

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Smart Balance Caters to Affluent Health-Conscious Consumers

Meryl is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinions of our bloggers and are not formally edited.

Smart investors seek opportunities in industries and individual businesses about to take off in the marketplace. The market for health foods and natural personal care items is expanding, and one small company competing alongside larger fish is ready to take advantage of the opening.

Health food sales, however, faltered in recent years as recession-weary, belt-tightening consumers were reluctant to pay additional pennies for organic and health food products. During tough economic times many companies retreat and contract, while others look ahead and plan for better times. Smart Balance

realized the long-term outlook for their products were positive, and planned accordingly. Smart Balance is poised for growth as discretionary income allows Americans to pay more for healthier food alternatives.

Smart Balance successfully attracts and retains affluent, health-conscious consumers. Products include a variety of butters and spreads, fat free milk products, peanut butter, oils, mayonnaise, popcorn and gluten-free foods.  

SMBL not only survived but managed to thrive in recession, penny-pinching times. One aspect of the company?s growth plan has been a search for acquisitions with brands that fit into current product lines. Smart Balance bought Canadian-based Importations DE-RO-MA in 2011 and Udi?s of Denver, Colorado, in 2012. Both companies specialize in gluten-free foods.

SMBL stock collapsed with the market during the financial crisis, hitting a low of 3.56 on October 29, 2010. SMBL has steadily, slowly, if somewhat erratically moved up since, closing on September 12th at 11.22.  

Smart Balance posted 2011 revenues of $274.34 million, a 13.38% increase over 2010 revenues of $241.96 million. One of Smart Balance?s largest competitors is ConAgra

(NYSE: CAG)
. CAG brands appealing to health food advocates include Healthy Choice and Egg Beaters. CAG reported 2012 sales/revenues of $13.27 billion.

Another Smart Balance competitor with several natural food brands, Hain Celestial (NASDAQ: HAIN)

, reported $1.38 billion in sales/revenues for 2012. HAIN brand names include Arrowhead Mills, Healthy Valley, and Earth?s Best.

Smart Balance runs a tight ship. The revenue per employee ratio is 1.35 versus .37 for Hain and .51 for CAG. The income per employee ratio is .05. Hain Celestial?s income per employee is .03 and Con Agra?s is .02.

Smart Balance is prepared to take advantage of an improving economy, catering to health-conscious consumers seeking good tasting, healthy food choices. Smart Balance products are sold in most mainstream supermarkets throughout the country. The Earth Balance product line is sold primarily in natural food stores.

The company is probably a future take over target by larger corporations seeking immediate entry into the health food market, or competitors pursuing their own expansion, looking for foodstuffs compatible with their existing product line.

The stock is pricey, however, with a 12 month trailing P/E of an eye-popping 96.37. In comparison Hain Celestial?s 12 month trailing P/E is 32.93. Con Agra?s P/E is 22.89.

Smart Balance is a well-managed company offering products to a growing niche market. The stock bears watching, purchasing a few shares when the price falls, to some extent, once again. SMBL does not pay a dividend.

Smart Balance is a small company, and investing in small firms is riskier than purchasing large cap corporations with long track records. But investing is all about taking risks and, hopefully, reaping the rewards. A little luck helps too. Identifying market trends and finding companies able to effectively take advantage of the opportunities is key to success. John Maynard Keynes stated this investment principle well: Successful investing is anticipating the anticipations of others.

I think Smart Balance is a good example of a small company that knows their customers and caters to a particular market segment. Time will tell whether or not management can continue to grow their company and shareholder value.

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Source: http://feeds.fool.com/~r/usmf/foolwatch/~3/rlMJkyZaNl4/story01.htm

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The Mental Illnesses Of Historical Geniuses

Ludwig von Beethoven

Studies have shown that there are much higher instances of mental disorder in political leaders and creative geniuses than in the general population.

And while it’s impossible to be completely sure of a correct diagnosis of a historical figure, that hasn’t stopped researchers from making educated guesses.

Here’s a speculative look at the mental health of 11 of history’s big thinkers.

See the diagnoses >

More from mental_floss

Abraham Lincoln ? Depression?

The Great Emancipator managed to lead the country through one of its more trying times, despite suffering from severe depression most of his life. According to one Lincoln biographer, letters left by the president’s friends referred to him as “the most depressed person they’ve ever seen.”

On at least one occasion, he was so overcome with “melancholy” that he collapsed. Both his mother and numerous members of his father’s family exhibited similar symptoms of severe depression, indicating he was probably biologically susceptible to the illness. Lincoln is even assumed to be the author of a poem published in 1838, “The Suicide’s Soliloquy,” which contains the lines:

Hell! What is hell to one like me
Who pleasures never knew;
By friends consigned to misery,
By hope deserted too?

Ludwig von Beethoven ? Bipolar Disorder?

When the composer died of liver failure in 1827, he had been self-medicating his many health problems with alcohol for decades. Sadly, much of what he may have suffered from probably could have been managed with today’s medications, including a serious case of bipolar disorder.

Beethoven’s fits of mania were well known in his circle of friends, and when he was on a high he could compose numerous works at once. It was during his down periods that many of his most celebrated works were written. Sadly, that was also when he contemplated suicide, as he told his brothers in letters throughout his life.

During the early part of 1813 he went through such a depressive period that he stopped caring about his appearance, and would fly into rages during dinner parties. He also stopped composing almost completely during that time.

Edvard Munch ? Panic Attacks?

The world’s most famous panic attack occurred in Olso during January 1892. Munch recorded the episode in his diary:

“One evening I was walking along a path, the city was on one side and the fjord below. I felt tired and ill. I stopped and looked out over the fjord — the sun was setting, and the clouds turning blood red. I sensed a scream passing through nature.”

This experience affected the artist so deeply he returned to the moment again and again, eventually making two paintings, two pastels, and a lithograph based on his experience, as well as penning a poem derived from the diary entry.

While it isn’t known if Munch had any more panic attacks, mental illness did run in his family; at the time of his episode, his bipolar sister was in an asylum.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Please follow Science on Twitter and Facebook.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/businessinsider/~3/CF-3oH6IbPA/mental-disorders-of-historical-geniuses-2012-9

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Here's Everything Apple Announced Today (AAPL)

iphone 5

Apple announced a bunch of new stuff today at its huge iPhone event.

We petty much knew everything that was going to be announced, there were no surprises.

Here's what was announced:

Here is the iPhone 5

It looks exactly like what we expected.

The iPhone 5 features a glass an aluminum design. The 4-inch screen supports an 1135 X 640 pixel resolution and a 16:9 screen ratio. It's packed with LTE connectivity, meaning your data speeds will be about as fast as your home internet. 

Touch sensors are packed right into the screen, so you'll get more accurate touch response. The Wi-Fi chip supports a 5GHz connection so users will see stronger connectivity and faster wireless speeds.

The new iPhone 5 will get 8 hours of 3G talk time and 8 hours of LTE web browsing.

Apple's newest device will be available for pre-orders starting Sept. 14 and will be available for purchase on Sept. 21.

The iPhone 5 will cost $199, $299, and $399 for the 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB models, respectively. It will be available in black/graphite and white/silver.

This is the new iPod touch.

Apple's new iPod Touch comes in five colors. It will feature the same 4-inch touch screen as the iPhone 5. For the first time, the iPod touch is available in five colors, black, blue, white, yellow, and pink. The new touch is super thin, it's only 6.1mm thin. It weighs just 88 grams. The touch also  will support Apple's new lightning dock connector.

The touch feature's Apple's A5 dual-core processor, the same chip inside the iPad 2. It features increased battery life, supporting up to 40 hours of music, and 8 hours of video. The touch also now supports a 5 megapixel iSight camera, with flash and 1080p video recording.

The strangest addition to the new iPod touch is a strange "hidden button" called the loop. The loop pops out and lets you attached a wrist strap.

For the first time, the iPod nano features a touch screen. It also comes in six different colors and will be available in October.

The new Nano supports multi-touch, its screen is 2.5-inches. It's the thinnest iPod and measures just 5mm thick. The new nano also comes in seven new colors.

Just like the previous iPod Nano, the new Nano has a built-in pedometer and Nike+ integration.

A new addition to the Nano is Bluetooth support and this iPod will take advantage of the new lightning dock connector.

Rounding the features off is 30 hours of battery life.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Please follow SAI: Tools on Twitter and Facebook.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/businessinsider/~3/5wtkzSY1mHo/new-apple-products-fall-2012-9

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Why The Phillies Still Have (Almost) No Chance Of Making The Playoffs

cliff lee phillies

After last night's win, their sixth in a row, many now believe that the Phillies are suddenly back in the playoff race, in a season that many thought was over long ago. But a closer look at the numbers shows that the Phillies still have almost no shot at making the playoffs, and their fans are dancing with false hopes.

According to CoolStandings.com the Phillies have just a 3.0% chance of making the playoffs. And here is why:

By reaching the .500 mark (71-71) for the first time since early June, the Phillies are now just four games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the second Wild Card spot in the National League. But four games at this time of year is a lot bigger than it sounds.

The Cardinals have just 20 games remaining. Even if they go just 10-10 down the stretch, the Phillies would have to go 14-6 just to tie. Not impossible. But not easy either.

But maybe more importantly, there are two teams (Dodgers, Pirates) between the Phillies and the Cardinals. And a third team is tied with the Phillies. It is one thing to hope the Cardinals suddenly play horrible baseball. It is something else to blindly hope that four good teams all start playing losing baseball at the same time.

Here are the chances for each team of reaching the playoffs...

playoff chances

Please follow Sports Page on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/businessinsider/~3/w3qSJ5YOIf0/why-the-phillies-still-have-almost-no-chance-of-making-the-playoffs-2012-9

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Joining Together Credit Card Bills The Correct Way

Bringing together consumer debt comes into play a new range of shapes and forms. Absolute confidence the things your overall pacificdebt.com|pacificdebt consolidation|pacificdebt|pacificdebt loansoverall credit score is therefore how very good involving credit debt you have, you’ll be able to obtain a lending product which can suit your specifications. The following are some frequent strategies that [...]

The post Joining Together Credit Card Bills The Correct Way appeared first on legal debt help online.

Source: http://www.legaldebthelponline.com/2012/06/27/joining-together-credit-card-bills-the-correct-way/

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The iPhone 5 Is Here

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There's something rather peculiar about Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL  ) product launches nowadays. Thanks to a steady stream of supply-chain leaks and the never-ending rumor mill, careful watchers always have a very good idea of what to expect.

That rang true today, when Apple unveiled its iPhone 5 to the world. Just about every aspect of the event went according to expectations, and there really weren't any big surprises, for better or for worse. That being said, just because Apple didn't surprise everyone, that definitely doesn't mean it disappointed anyone. On the contrary, with analysts already expecting the device to see one of the biggest upgrade cycles in the "history of man" based in part on those same rumors as well as pent-up demand, coming in on target is hardly a bad thing.

The iPhone 5 is here.

"The biggest thing to happen to iPhone since iPhone"
The physical casing has been redesigned, and while it looks similar, there are some important differences between the iPhone 5 and its predecessors. Apple has managed to slim down the device by 18%, from 9.3 millimeters to 7.6 millimeters, while also losing 20% of its weight, from 140 grams to 112 grams. The body is made out of glass and aluminum, the same grade used in its notebooks.

Source: Apple.

Apple didn't mention it by name, but it is using in-cell technology to slim down the device. That involves integrating the touch sensors directly into the display panel and eliminating the need for a separate layer. The display is now taller, measuring 4 inches diagonally, while keeping the same width and changing the aspect ratio to 16:9. The resolution is 1136 x 640, keeping the same Retina pixel density.

Get to the guts
The iPhone 5 comes with 4G LTE speeds, the first for the product family and the second Apple product to do so after the third-generation iPad. Instead of using separate chips for voice and data, the iPhone 5 uses one. That happens to coincide nicely with this baseband chip from Qualcomm (Nasdaq: QCOM  ) , built on a smaller 28-nanometer process that helps improve power efficiency.

The Wi-Fi combo chip onboard also fits Broadcom's (Nasdaq: BRCM  ) bill, supporting dual-band frequencies of 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Broadcom announced these chips in February and is also moving down in its manufacturing process to a 40-nanometer one. The company says these newer chips can reduce power by as much as 40% to 50%, yielding even more power efficiencies. Dual-band Wi-Fi support is also something Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN  ) made a big deal about at its Kindle Fire event last week.

On its A6 processor, Apple is playing this one close to the chest. The company simply showed a few vague stats that both the CPU and graphics should see twice the performance, without elaborating how many processing cores it features. That's exactly the opposite of what it did at the iPad event in March, when it devoted time to talking about the A5X and its dual-core CPU and quad-core GPU. The processor isn't even listed on the official tech spec page as it normally is, making me think Apple has stuck with a dual-core processor instead of moving up to quad-core. The chip is smaller, probably built on Samsung's 32-nanometer process, but Apple's not giving a lot of detail in this department.

Battery life has been improved relative to the iPhone 4S, an amazing accomplishment considering how much more powerful the device is and LTE's notoriety for battery drainage. This is particularly true considering the battery has roughly the same capacity, so those gains are the result of improvements in power consumption.

Shutterbugs
The primary image sensor remains at 8 megapixels, but Apple has made it smaller as well as continued to refine the optics system. The company now uses sapphire crystal for the lens, and the camera shoots 40% faster thanks to the A6 chip. The front-facing FaceTime camera has been greatly improved, up to 1.2 megapixels, and is capable of 720p HD video.

Now both image cameras are backside-illuminated sensors, but we'll have to wait for teardowns to know whether they're coming from OmniVision (Nasdaq: OVTI  ) or Sony. Based on OmniVision's recent guidance, I think it's safe to say it's the former.

The little things
The iPhone 5 has an improved speaker design, and Apple has now introduced a new dock connector called "Lightning." It's a rather cheesy name that naturally goes hand in hand with its Thunderbolt connector. The original 30-pin dock connector has been around since 2003, and Lightning has just 8 pins. It's also 80% smaller, all digital, and reversible so you can't plug it in the wrong way.

There's naturally an adaptor available so you don't have to trash all your third-party accessories. Apple is also releasing new earbuds, which it calls EarPods, that it says it's been designing for three years.

When can it be yours?
Preorders for the new device start on Friday, and it ships a week after that, on Sept. 21. The usual carrier suspects are AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint, as all three have LTE networks in various stages of deployment. There will be separate GSM and CDMA models for the different networks, a departure from last year, when the iPhone 4S supported both standards.

The on-contract price points remained unchanged, with previous models getting bumped down a notch.

Source: Apple.

Last year, the iPhone 4S sold 4 million units on launch weekend. I think the iPhone 5 can move at least 6 million this time around. How many do you think Apple will sell? Chime in in the comments section below.

Don't forget to sign up for our new Apple research service, which comes with a bonus iPhone 5 report on how investors can profit on the new device. Sign up today to get it all, and it comes with free updates for a year.

The Steve Jobs Betrayal
You may already know that in the final year of his life, Jobs revealed a stunning betrayal ? and told his biographer, "I will spend my last dying breath... and every penny of Apple's $40 billion in the bank to right this wrong." What was it that made Jobs so irate ? and why could it make a few in-the-know investors some major profits over the coming months and years?

Enter your email address below to find out what made Jobs so enraged!

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Source: http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2012/09/12/the-iphone-5-is-here.aspx

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Retirement or College Funding: Which Comes First?

If you?re working your way out of debt, one of the most difficult questions you might face is how to prioritize college savings and retirement.

If you?re like most parents, you?ll phrase the question this way: What is more important?my own security at retirement or my child?s education and future? It?s easy to think about it that way because it?s an emotional issue.

Lately, a lot of parents have decided that college savings should come first. The economy has seen better days, and desperate, misguided parents have dipped into their 401(k)s to pay for their child?s college tuition.

According to a Sallie Mae and Gallup study, 7.4% of parents took out a loan from their 401(k)s in 2010. That?s more than double the amount in 2009. It?s an alarming trend?one based on fear and desperation. And, after taxes on the loan and an early withdrawal penalty, it?s a trend that will get quite expensive and stressful.

It?s never a good idea to pull money out of your retirement fund before the time comes. But the more difficult question is this: Should you delay saving for retirement to pay for your child?s tuition?

No. Dave prioritizes retirement over college savings because you need retirement money to live, eat, and pay for shelter?the basics. You?re not working, so that money is your only source of income.

Saving for college is extremely important, but it?s a luxury. Your child will have other ways to pay?scholarships, grants, part-time jobs. They can select a more affordable school. Pay for your child?s college if you can, but remember that it?s not as important as retirement.

Retirement is a necessity. If you don?t have retirement money saved up, then you?re working until you die or living on Alpo. Get to a place financially where you can start putting 15% of your income toward retirement first, then begin working on an ESA or 529 for your kid?s college.

Don?t guilt-trip yourself into doing something you?ll regret in a few years, like taking money out of your retirement. Your child will be okay?with or without your help. This isn?t child abuse. It?s wise parenting.

Remember: College is a luxury. Living, eating, and having shelter during retirement is a necessity.

We all face challenges in both our parenting and our money. Financial Peace University offers practical answers to many of the questions you have, including saving for retirement and college. Find the class starting nearest you!

What do you think about saving for retirement and college? Leave a comment below.

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Source: http://www.daveramsey.com/article/retirement-or-college-funding-which-comes-first-/lifeandmoney_investing

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Dad Claims Six Flags Halloween Character Went Too Far By Bursting From Portable Toilet & Chasing Daughter

sixflagsffestI used to have a recurring nightmare where a person dressed in a giant dog suit was pursuing me down the aisles of the convenience store near where my grandmother lived, and let me tell you, it was horrifying. So the thought of a Halloween character at a theme park chasing a girl through Six [...]

Source: http://consumerist.com/2012/09/dad-claims-six-flags-halloween-character-went-too-far-by-bursting-from-portable-toilet-chasing-her.html

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Buy Chipotle Despite the Metrics

Douglas is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinions of our bloggers and are not formally edited.

There are a great many things in investing that are cyclical, including attitudes. The buy-and-hold mentality that allowed investors like Warren Buffet to build empires was abandoned in the technology boom of the late 1990?s. Several swings of the pendulum later, the meltdown of the housing market and the overall economy has led to renewed discipline when considering which stocks are worthy of our investment dollars. With this squarely in mind, Chipotle Mexican Grill

is a buy, despite a P/E over 39 and the lack of a dividend.

The Conservative View

Looking at metrics like P/E and operating margin, there is a reasonable argument to be made that Chipotle is still overpriced even after its fall over the past three months. Based on Friday?s 8% jump, the stock is trading at a trailing P/E of 39.7 and a forward P/E of 29.9. To provide some context, McDonald?s

(NYSE: MCD)
, which looks great at current levels, has a trailing P/E of 17.1 and a forward P/E of 15.3. While McDonald?s, Chipotle?s former parent, is a more mature company, the valuation differential is significant.

Another area in which McDonald?s outshines is in its operating margin. The Golden Arches boast an operating margin of 30.6% as compared to Chipotle?s 17.2%. Finally, when McDonald?s dividend yield of 3.1% is figured in, under this type of analysis, Chipotle gets overlooked.

The Growth Story

While the days of buying stocks trading at absurd multiples with romanticized views of the future have passed, this is a case where the growth story warrants owning the stock ? both by the numbers and anecdotally. In terms of hard figures, Chipotle had year-over-year quarterly revenue growth of 20.9%; McDonald?s reported 0.2%. Additionally, over the last five years, Chipotle has had average annual sales increases of 22.5% compared to just 5.25% for McDonalds. This is particularly impressive when put into the correct context.

The last five years have seen a significant economic slowdown and reduction in spending by most consumers. During a period of abnormally high unemployment, Chipotle has been able to grow faster than McDonald?s, despite a higher average price point. Enter the anecdotal part of the growth story.

As Americans continue to strive to eat better and make healthier choices, Chipotle has been incredibly successful at differentiating itself as the healthy option for consumers. While McDonald?s would consider its biggest threat to be Subway, this is hardly a reach in an industry that contains Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM)

and Wendy?s (NASDAQ: WEN). Yum!?s KFC and Dave Thomas?s cheeseburgers hardly seem like a threat to either McDonald?s or Chipotle on the health spectrum. Both of the competitor-companies have made strides similar to those taken by McDonald?s to improve the health profile of their food, but this is not a problem faced by Chipotle.

Chipotle has been able to keep its brand pure, which has been a large part of its success. Where competitors are trying to become healthier, Chipotle remains focused on providing the same healthy choices it always has. For the record, before the health police object, I am not advocating burritos as health food, rather I am pointing out that this perception is widely held by quick-casual dinners.

What About Timing?

Last July, when the company missed revenues by quite a large margin, the market punished the stock to the tune of 21.5% in a single day. While commodity prices played a significant role in the then-surfacing concerns, the figures left investors wondering if the blush was off the rose, so to speak. Since then, the stock has traded mostly sideways and shown some life in the last week or so. As can be seen from the chart below, Chipotle had been outperforming the S&P 500 since January.

CMG data by YCharts

The Trade

Based on a combination of the factors above, Chipotle looks attractive at current levels. While typically ignoring valuation is not advisable, the growth trends in both sales and attitudes warrant the risk in this stock. Given that the recommendation is based on the medium and long-term fundamental outlook for the company, the timing for buying the stock looks favorable as well. Within the restaurant space, Chipotle should make a strong addition to your core portfolio.

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Source: http://feeds.fool.com/~r/usmf/foolwatch/~3/C7pPPvDgOZI/story01.htm

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