Elway’s Car Dealership Accused Of Race Bias

A former employee is alleging workers were routinely subjected to racial discrimination at a California car dealership partially owned by former Denver Broncos star John Elway. In a lawsuit filed this week, a former sales manager at John Elway’s Manhattan Beach Toyota claims he and other minority employees were denied promotions and opportunities based on their race. A lawyer for the dealership says the lawsuit appears to have numerous inaccuracies and the allegations don’t appear to have merit.

Six Tips For Saving Money On Airfare

With fees, fine print and blackout dates, locking in a low price on your plane ticket can seem impossible. Consumer Reports has some tips that can help cut the cost of flying, plus help organize your search for the best deal. In addition to setting up alerts to track fares and searching for domestic flights months prior to booking, you should also buy your ticket early – you’ll pay a premium if you wait to within 14 days of travel. Also, when comparing flights online through sites such as Expedia, Kayak, Priceline and Travelocity, be sure to check the airline’s own site, which can be cheaper because there is no commission. More tips from CR:

1. Look beyond discount airlines: Keep in mind that discount airlines are not always the cheapest. Airlines cannot afford to be more expensive than their competitors for comparable flights at comparable times.

2. Buy at 3 p.m. on a Tuesday: Most sale fares kick in on Monday at 8 p.m., and end on Thursday at 8 p.m., and according to Rick Seaney, co-founder of FareCompare.com, the greatest number of cheap seats will be available at 3 p.m. on Tuesday.

3. Avoid flying on weekends: Watch booking weekend flights because these are popular with both business travelers and vacationers. More specifically, you should avoid flights on Friday afternoon through Monday morning, if you can.

4. Fly hungry: The least expensive flights tend to take off at dawn, or around lunchtime, as well as after 6 p.m.

5. Consider a connecting flight: Connecting flights can be substantially cheaper than flights that are non-stop, especially for international travel.

6. Shop for one seat: Reservation systems are programmed so that if there’s one too few cheap seats for your group, all members get bumped up to the next price level. So if you’re traveling with a group, establish the base price for one passenger and compare it with the price for all.

Going To The Gym – Not So Much

Losing weight and getting in shape are typically top New Year’s resolutions for many, but following through on those goals can be a challenge. According to a new CouponCabin.com survey, 74% of U.S. adults say they won’t be getting a new gym membership or renewing an existing one this year. In addition, 7% of U.S. adults said they have signed up for a gym membership as a New Year’s resolution and quit before the year was over; 70% of those who quit within a year quit within five months, with 9% saying they quit in January and 15% quitting in February. While hitting the gym and shedding the pounds can be a challenge for many, 20% of adults said they would get a new gym membership or renew an existing one this year. Of those who currently have a gym membership, their frequency at the gym varies:

• Go to the gym once a week or more – 53%
• Go once a day or more – 15%
• Go less than once a month – 10%

Men are significantly more likely to go to the gym than women, at 79% and 67%, respectively.

MLK Day To Be Marked As A National Day Of Service

Momentum is building for the annual Martin Luther King Day of Service, as thousands of organizations across the country put the finishing touches on volunteer projects to bring Americans together to serve their neighbors and advance Dr. King’s dream of social justice and economic opportunity for all. The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is urging Americans to visit MLKDay.gov to find volunteer opportunities in their communities and make MLK Day a “day on, not a day off.” Projects will take place in all 50 states, including weatherizing homes, beautifying schools, serving meals, and supporting veterans and military families. Many organizations use the day as a springboard for year-round service, such as signing up mentors and tutors for at-risk youth. A special focus of the 2012 MLK Day of Service is advancing Dr. King’s dream of economic opportunity, including job fairs and help with résumé writing, and interview preparation. Members of AmeriCorps VISTA will fan out nationwide to raise awareness of the Earned Income Tax Credit and offer free tax preparation services.

Hollywood’s Most Desired Bodies

Jennifer Aniston has regained the title of Hollywood’s Most Desired Body at the age of 42. Three years ago, she was crowned the most desired body in the annual Hollywood’s Hottest Looks survey, compiled by Beverly Hills plastic surgeons Richard W. Fleming and Toby G. Mayer. In 2010 singer Stacy “Fergie” Ferguson grabbed the top spot. Last year Aniston came in a close second to supermodel Gisele Bündchen. But in 2012, it is again all about Aniston, who topped the 15th annual Most Desired Female Body category at the age of 42, leaving 20-something stars Bar Rafaeli and Shakira in her dust. In the male category, Chris Hemsworth has the most desired body beating Taylor Lautner and Chris Evans. The survey takes into account the most desirable bodies according to public opinion for the past year. The winners in other categories include:

• Hair – Taylor Swift, Katherine McPhee, Jennifer Lopez
• Lips – Angeline Jolie, Charlize Theron, Katherine Heigl
• Eyes – Penelope Cruz, Amanda Seyfried and Katy Perry

Among male contenders, Justin Timberlake, Ryan Seacrest and Ryan Reynolds have the best skin and Jude Law, Johnny Depp and Brad Pitt have the most envied cheeks.

IBM Breaks U.S. Patent Record

IBM set a new U.S. patent record in 2011, marking the 19th consecutive year that the company has led the annual list of patent recipients. IBM inventors earned a record 6,180 U.S. patents in 2011. More than 8,000 IBMers residing in 46 different U.S. states and 36 countries are responsible for the company’s record-breaking 2011 patent tally. IBM inventors who reside outside the U.S. contributed to more than 26% of the company’s 2011 patents. 2011 U.S. Patent Leaders, according to IFI CLAIMS Patent Services:

1. IBM	6,180	6. Microsoft	2,311
2. Samsung	4,894	7. Sony	2,286
3. Canon	2,821	8. Seiko Epson	1,533
4. Panasonic	2,559	9. Hon Hai	1,514
5. Toshiba	2,483	10. Hitachi	1,465

Close The Lid Before You Flush

Here’s one for the germaphobes. When you flush your business down the toilet, it’s not a good idea to watch it swirl into oblivion. Researchers say that if you neglect to close the lid before you flush, you’re unleashing countless particles of waste into the air. British Professor Mark Wilcox says toilet flushes can unleash a cloud of nastiness that can hover in the air and settle on surfaces, possibly spreading sickness. An experiment found that a toilet flush sent infectious particles 10 inches into the air, and traces were still found 90 minutes later. Closing the seat still allowed the particles to escape when flushed, but greatly reduced the revolting cloud left hovering over the toilet.

Supreme Court Weighs In On TV Profanity, Nudity

The Supreme Court seemed reluctant yesterday to end the government’s historic policing of the broadcast airwaves and to strike down the “indecency” rules that guide primetime TV shows. Broadcasters use the public airwaves, and the “government can insist on a certain modicum of decency,” said Justice Antonin Scalia during l arguments on the constitutionality of a ban on four-letter words and nudity. “All we are asking for is for a few channels” where parents can be confident their children will not hear profanity or see sex scenes, said Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. The broadcast industry is urging the justices to strike down or sharply limit the government’s authority to police the airwaves. The FCC launched a crackdown on indecency in the last decade. Several TV networks were hit with heavy fines. Fox was fined for allowing celebrities, including Cher and U2’s Bono, to utter four-letter words during live awards programs. ABC was fined for showing a brief nude scene in an episode of “NYPD Blue.” Justice Anthony M. Kennedy said he would not like to see a time when “celebrities and want-to-be celebrities” had a free speech right to utter profanities on television and radio. Justice Elena Kagan agreed with the broadcasters that the rules on indecency seem arbitrary. “It seems no one can use dirty words, except Steven Spielberg,” she commented. The networks complain the FCC allowed profanity in such movies as “Saving Private Ryan,” and full-frontal nudity in “Schindler’s List” when they aired on broadcast TV, but fined stations for other allegedly “indecent” material.

Barkley Calls Weight Watchers Gig ‘Scam’

Former NBA star Charles Barkley, believing his microphone was turned off, described his gig as a Weight Watchers spokesman as a “scam.” Barkley, who serves as an NBA commentator on TNT, made the comments during a commercial break in last week’s game between the Miami Heat and the Atlanta Hawks. “I thought this was the greatest scam going – getting paid to watch sports. This Weight Watchers thing is a bigger scam,” he said. YouTube took down a clip of the comment after a copyright claim by the NBA. Weight Watchers defended Barkley and put a positive spin on his unguarded remark. “We love Charles for the same reason everyone loves Charles – he’s unfiltered,” a Weight Watchers spokesman said. “We are thrilled that he is having great success and inspiring millions of men to join him. We agree that being a spokesman for Weight Watchers is a pretty great gig.” Weight Watchers also released a statement from Barkley, in which he said: “I meant what I said. The fact that I’m dropping pounds, getting healthier and getting paid at the same time is my definition of a great scam. The only problem is I’m going to have to use some of the money to buy a new wardrobe.”

Amazon To Begin Collecting Tax In Indiana

Amazon.com will begin collecting Indiana’s 7% sales tax from customers in the state in 2014. The agreement could lead to Indiana bringing in at least $20 million more in annual sales tax revenue. Governor Mitch Daniels’ office says Indiana will become the fourth state with such a tax collection agreement with Amazon. It follows a lawsuit by an Indianapolis-based shopping mall owner against the state over the issue and a lobbying push by traditional retailers to end what they call an unfair price advantage for online retailers. The deal doesn’t include any other companies, but Daniels said the state is asking Congress to require all online businesses to follow suit.

Recycle Your Pantyhose

High on the list of complaints about pantyhose is that it just doesn’t last long enough. But from an environmental point of view it lasts too long once a discarded pair hits the landfill. Efforts at recycling can include using old pantyhose to stake tomato plants and make sachets, but there’s a small snag considering that sheer hosiery sales alone exceeded $1 billion over a recent 12-month period, according to the NPD Group. Some hosiery companies have moved toward more environmentally-friendly manufacturing. Inside packages of No nonsense pantyhose are green cards encouraging you to gather your old pantyhose and mail them to the company, where they’ll be sent to recycling facilities to be used to make park benches, ropes and playground equipment. The company accepts all brands and colors of stockings, tights, and knee highs for recycling. The program was inspired, in part, by Nike’s recycling of athletic shoes, turning them into playground and athletic surfaces. Nike’s website claims the company recycles more than 1.5 million pairs of shoes a year. You can find out more about recycling your pantyhose at www.nononsense.com/PantyhoseRecycling.aspx.

Americans Binge-Drinking

There are a lot of Americans drinking a lot of alcohol. Binge drinking rates in the U.S. are at a much higher rate than previously thought, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC found that more than 38 million Americans binge drink four times a month – consuming an average of eight drinks each time. And it’s not just young adults. Although it is more common between the ages of 18-34, those 65 and older reportedly binge drink more often – five to six times a month. The frequency of binge drinking is higher in households with an income of $75,000 or more. But the highest number of drinks consumed per occasion is by people living just above or below the poverty line, with eight to nine drinks per occasion. Binge drinking is defined as consuming five or more drinks for men and four or more drinks for women on a single occasion. According to the CDC, binge drinkers are at a higher risk for many health and social problems, including car accidents, violence, liver disease, certain cancers, heart disease, sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancies. Overconsumption of alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of death, with more than 80,000 fatalities in the U.S. each year. The economic toll of binge drinking is also on the rise, costing more than $223.5 billion in 2006. The Top 20 binge-drinking communities:

1. (Tie) Kapaa, HA	23.0%	11. (Tie) Omaha, NE	19.5%
1. (Tie) Key West, FL	23.0%	11. (Tie) Springfield, MA	19.5%
3. Lincoln, NE	22.7%	12. Tie) Buffalo, NY	19.4%
4. Scranton, PA	21.4%	12. (Tie) Burlington, VT	19.4%
5. Worcester, MA	21.2%	12. (Tie) Grand Island, NE	19.4%
6. Bridgeport, CT	20.5%	12.(Tie)  Kahului, HI	19.4%
7. Akron, OH	20.4%	12. (Tie) San Antonio, TX	19.4%
8. Norfolk, NE	20.2%	18. Wilmington, DE	19.2%
9. Boston, MA	20.1%	19. Cape Coral, FL	19.1%
10. Virginia Beach, VA	19.9%	20. Sioux Falls, SD	19.0%

Free Tax Preparation

More than 3,000 Walmart stores nationwide are now offering free preparation of simple tax forms. The nation’s largest retailer has contracted with H&R Block and Jackson-Hewitt to set up kiosks inside its stores where customers can have their tax returns completed by trained preparers. As it is doing in its own retail locations nationwide, H&R Block will offer free preparation of 1040EZ forms at Walmart through February 29th. Block will have kiosks in about 250 Walmart stores. Jackson-Hewitt will provide free prep throughout the tax season at about 2,800 Walmarts, up from 2,000 last year. A spokesman said some of its retail outlets may also offer free 1040EZ prep, but doing so is not companywide policy. About 39% of the total 133 million individual returns filed with the Internal Revenue Service last year were submitted before the end of February. Early filers usually expect a refund. The average refund last year was $2,805, down 2.6% from $2,880 in 2010.  Customers who have their taxes prepared at Walmart will have the usual options for receiving a refund, either direct deposit into a bank account or to a prepaid card, or a mailed check.

‘Gayest’ Cities In America

The “gayest” city in the U.S. isn’t San Francisco or New York – it’s Salt Lake City, Utah, according to The Advocate, the gay and lesbian newsmagazine. Rather than rely on the U.S. Census tabulation of gay and lesbian populations, which would put San Francisco as No. 1, The Advocate used different measures to establish “per capita queerness” – including a city’s number of teams entered in the Gay Softball World Series, gay bookstores, openly gay elected officials and semifinalists in the International Mr. Leather Contest, which is held every year in Chicago. “While those unfamiliar with the Beehive State are likely to conjure images of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, far-less-oppressive-than-it-used-to-be Salt Lake City has earned its queer cred,” the magazine says. Orlando was second, thanks to annual Gay Days at Disney World and “more gay softball teams than you can shake a Louisville Slugger at.” The 25 Gayest Cities, according to The Advocate:

1. Salt Lake City, UT	8. Knoxville, TN	15. Denver, CO	22. Eugene, OR
2. Orlando, FL	9. Atlanta, GA	16. Washington, D.C.	23. Oakland, CA
3. Cambridge, MA	10. Grand Rapids, MI	17. New Orleans, LA	24. Boston, MA
4. Fort Lauderdale, FL	11. Little Rock, AR	18. San Francisco, CA	25. Kansas City, MO
5. Seattle, WA	12. Portland, OR	19. Pittsburgh, PA
6. Ann Arbor, MI	13. Austin, TX	20. Salem, OR
7. St. Paul-Minneapolis, MN	14. Long Beach, CA	21. Madison, WI

Doomsday Clock Moves 1 Minute Closer To Midnight

The Doomsday Clock has advanced one minute, symbolizing increased nuclear dangers in our world. It’s now 11:55 p.m. on the symbolic clock that reflects threats to humanity and the planet, especially from nuclear weapons. Midnight represents the end of mankind from its own destruction. The clock has become a universally recognized indicator of the world’s vulnerability to catastrophe from nuclear weapons, climate change and emerging technologies in the life sciences. The announcement was made in Washington, D.C. yesterday by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Reasons for the advance included no dramatic evidence in the reduction of nuclear weapons, the talk of developing new nuclear weapons systems and damage to the Japanese nuclear reactors from the earthquake and tsunami. The last time the Doomsday Clock minute hand moved was in January 2010, when the clock’s minute hand was pushed back one minute from five to six minutes before midnight. BAS noted, “Two years ago, it appeared that world leaders might address the truly global threats that we face. In many cases, that trend has not continued or been reversed. For that reason, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists is moving the clock hand one minute closer to midnight, back to its time in 2007.” Find out more at www.thebulletin.org.