What are the Consequences of Late Credit Card Payments?
National nonprofit credit counseling agency Take Charge America identifies short- and long-term impacts of missing a credit card payment
PHOENIX – (Sept. 18 2019) – Think a few late credit card payments aren’t a big deal? Think again. The repercussions can be widespread, negatively impacting your financial goals and preventing you from securing future credit or loans.
“It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, or to become overwhelmed with the state of your finances. Whatever the reason, it’s important to understand the implications of missing payments,” said Michael Sullivan, a personal financial consultant with Take Charge America, a national nonprofit credit counseling and debt management agency. “Once you are aware of the consequences, you are more likely to stay organized, set up recurring reminders or enroll in auto-pay to prevent glitches and readjust priorities.”
Sullivan notes that late credit card payments can have both small and hefty consequences:
Overwhelmed with credit card debt? Take a free online debt review.
About Take Charge America, Inc.
Founded in 1987, Take Charge America, Inc. is a nonprofit agency offering financial education and counseling services including credit counseling, debt management, student loan counseling, housing counseling and bankruptcy counseling. It has helped nearly 2 million consumers nationwide manage their personal finances and debts. To learn more, visit www.takechargeamerica.org or call (888) 822-9193.
ROCKETLIFE ANNOUNCES CIRCLELIGHT —
A NEW ERA IN LIGHTING WITH 3D GESTURE CONTROL
Filled with Magic, CircleLight Transforms Any Wall into Beautiful, Flowing Textures with a Wave of a Hand or Tap on a Phone – for Home and Business
CircleLight Is the Light of Tomorrow, Producing Beautiful Warm Whites, Brilliant Colors, and Dynamic, Moving Scenes
Includes Software and Mobile App to Let You Create Custom Moods &
Schedule Special Themes for Holidays
Technology Available for Licensing
Video: https://youtu.be/i9vppNOopgE
Press Release: http://www.thomas-pr.com/rocketlife/rocketlifecirclelightrelease.html
September 18, 2019, Folsom, California — RocketLife, www.RocketLife.com, award-winning developer of breakthrough visual technologies, today announced RocketLife CircleLight with 3D gesture control, a new kind of interactive wall light that produces beautiful warm whites, rich colors, and sophisticated motion effects.
Elegantly designed, computer-machined from aluminum Poly-Metal and high-tensile architectural polymer, CircleLight is 24 inches wide, one inch thin, and filled with magic. Hang it like a painting and choose a theme. CircleLight’s 200 HDR (high dynamic range) LEDs transform any space into a beautiful, flowing lightscape. Layers of color blend, flow, and sparkle to tell a story, creating everything from gorgeous, warm whites to motion effects like Desert Sunset, Shooting Stars, and Modern Art.
CircleLight’s advanced 3D gesture controls let you easily change the look of any room with the wave of a hand or a tap on a smartphone. Choose a crescent moon with fireflies for a baby’s room, a warm autumn orange for the living room, or sparkling fireworks for New Year’s Eve. You can even create your own themes with the included LightDesigner software.
Home & business décor -- Natural effects like sunsets and moonrise -- Bedroom ambience
Designing the Future of Lighting
RocketLife CEO Daniel Kaye says, “With our deep experience in visual effects, we saw a huge opportunity in the lighting world. Typical designer lights provide just one static color. We set out to make a beautiful, dynamic light that produced anything from rich shades of warm white to dramatic atmospheres that tell a story.”
RocketLife is Transforming a Wide Range of Industries, from Architectural lighting to Wearable Fashion
Like all RocketLife products, CircleLight is designed for creativity. The system includes the same LightDesigner software that RocketLife’s in-house artists use to create the effects, plus a simple smartphone app anyone can use to personalize lighting. RocketLife’s new Bluetooth animation processor drives the LEDs. CircleLight is built on the RocketLife Light platform, a powerful combination of Bluetooth hardware and graphic timeline software that enables designers to build interactive lighting products without software programming or hardware development. Users draw virtual LEDs on a photo of their project, add layers of visual effects to the timeline, and can even integrate external sensors and other peripherals. RocketLife Light systems are already transforming a wide range of industries, from architectural lighting to wearable fashion (see videos at www.rocketlife.com).
Includes RocketLife LightDesigner (Mac/Win) and LightMobile (iOS/Android).
RocketLife CircleLight Features:
Licensing and Distribution
For more information on availability and licensing and distribution partnerships, visit www.rocketlife.com/partner.
Based in Folsom, California, RocketLife is a company of designers, programmers, artists, and engineers with special expertise in visual effects technologies. Team members have shipped more than 100 products used by millions of people around the world and won multiple awards, including two Primetime Emmy® Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Engineering Development. RocketLife makes creative software, consumer electronics, and even a mobile game where you can save the Earth from giant mushrooms. For more information, visit www.rocketlife.com.
Photos:
All photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Bcf4A7pB8Ud1z5zo7
RocketLife CircleLight – bedroom: http://www.thomas-pr.com/136/photos/rocketlifecirclelightbedroom.html
RocketLife CircleLight – close-up: http://www.thomas-pr.com/136/photos/rocketlifecirclelightcloseup.html
RocketLife CircleLight – dining room: http://www.thomas-pr.com/136/photos/rocketlifecirclelightdining.html
RocketLife CircleLight – home & business: http://www.thomas-pr.com/136/photos/rocketlifecirclelighthomebusiness.html
RocketLife CircleLight – kitchen: http://www.thomas-pr.com/136/photos/rocketlifecirclelightkitchen.html
RocketLife CircleLight – sunset effect: http://www.thomas-pr.com/136/photos/rocketlifecirclelightsunset.html
RocketLife CircleLight Logo: http://www.thomas-pr.com/136/photos/rocketlifecirclelight.html
RocketLife LightDesigner for Mac & Win: http://www.thomas-pr.com/136/photos/rocketlifelightdesigner.html
RocketLife LightMobile for iOS & Android: http://www.thomas-pr.com/136/photos/rocketlifelightmobile.html
RocketLife Logo: https://photos.app.goo.gl/k2y1xwVAPbqo9ScCA
Website: www.rocketlife.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RocketLifeLight
CircleLight Video: https://youtu.be/i9vppNOopgE
YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UC2hDR_aKbwUaUtVe9rJ9T5A/videos
Press Contact:
Karen Thomas/Eva Yutani
Thomas PR
kthomas@thomaspr.com / eyutani@thomaspr.com
(631) 549-7575 Websites: http://www.thomasprsocial.com http://www.thomaspr.com
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Just Friends
Share New Single "Fever"
US Headlining Tour Kicks Off Tomorrow
"...the group has completely blown their sound out of the water and
created an immediate and recognizable identity that is
separate from their contemporaries."
September 18, 2019 - Today, funk-punk collective Just Friends have shared their latest single "Fever", out now via Pure Noise Records. Fans can listen to the single here: https://smarturl.it/jffever. Tomorrow, they kick off their US headlining tour in Fresno, CA. Following their headlining tour, which runs through mid-October, they will support The Story So Far on a run of tour dates through November. For a full list of tour dates, please see below.
Just Friends is made up of Sam Kless (vocals), Brianda Goyos León (vocals),Avi Dey (trumpet), Chris Palowitch (trombone, keys), Brandon Downum (guitar), Matt Yankovich (guitar), Kevin Prochnow (bass), Ben Donlon (drums), Eric Butler (trombone, vocals), Ryan Ellery (audio engineering, live sound, guitar), and occasionally Bart Thompson (bass) and Kent Soliday (guitar). Their musically diverse sound combines a unique range of punk, brass, hip hop, funk, and emo influences.
At the core of Just Friends is the idea of community. Although many of the group's members, including Kless, were in other local groups over the years, they began writing under their current moniker in 2013, originally reconvening during the summers when they'd come home from their respective colleges. In 2015, they released their debut collection, Rock 2 the Rhythm, followed by their sophomore effort, Nothing But Love, in 2018. Following the release, after of a slew of smash hit live performances supporting fellow Bay Area rockers Mom Jeans, the group signed to Pure Noise Records in early 2019 and released the music video for "Supersonic".
This past summer, the band toured on the 2019 Sad Summer Festival alongside the likes of The Wonder Years, The Maine, Mayday Parade, and more. They have also toured with bands like Mom Jeans., Oso Oso, Graduating Life, Prince Daddy & The Hyena, Kississippi, awakebutstillinbed, and more.
Just Friends Upcoming Tour Dates:
US Headlining Tour
September 19 - Fresno, CA - Strummers
September 20 - Reno, NV - The Holland Project
September 23 - Iowa City, IA - Gabe's
September 24 - Kansas City, MO - The Rino
September 25 - St. Louis, MO - The Firebird
September 27 - Chicago, IL - Cobra Lounge
September 28 - Ferndale, MI - The Loving Touch
September 29 - Lakewood, OH - Mahall's
September 30 - Columbus, OH - Big Room Bar
October 2 - Somerville, MA - ONCE Ballroom
October 3 - Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church
October 4 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Bazaar
October 5 - Asbury Park, NJ - House of Independents
October 6 - College Park, MD - MilkBoy Arthouse
October 7 - Richmond, VA - Canal Club
October 9 - Charlotte, NC - Amos' Southend
October 10 - Orlando, FL - Soundbar
October 11 - Tampa, FL - Crowbar
October 12 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade
October 13- Nashville, TN - The End
October 15 - Indianapolis, IN - The Hoosier Dome
October 16 - Newport, KY - The Southgate House Revival
US Tour w/ The Story So Far
October 24 - San Diego, CA - The Observatory North Park
October 26 - Ventura, CA - Ventura Theatre
October 27 - Las Vegas, NV - house of Blues
October 29 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Depot
October 30 - Denver, CO - Summit Music Hall
November 1 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues
November 2 - Austin, TX - Emo's
November 3 - Houston, TX - House of Blues
November 5 - Phoenix, AZ - The Van Buren
November 7 - Anaheim, CA - House of Blues
November 9 - Oakland, CA - Fox Theater
Follow Just Friends:
Website: jfcrewfanclub.com
Twitter: twitter.com/jfcrewbaby
Facebook: facebook.com/JustFriendsCA
Instagram: instagram.com/jfcrewfanclub
Sen. Lee Calls for Clarity in Antitrust Enforcement
WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Wednesday after yesterday’s Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on antitrust.
“Yesterday’s oversight hearing illustrated the dysfunction that comes with having two federal agencies responsible for civil antitrust enforcement.” Sen Lee said.
“We need robust investigations and enforcement of the antitrust laws, especially in the tech arena. That objective is likely to be hindered if the agencies are stumbling over each other trying to investigate the same companies for the same conduct,” Sen. Lee continued. “Such efforts will be wasteful and could very well undermine their ability to enforce the antitrust laws. I wouldn’t recommend that they get any additional resources until they demonstrate their willingness to put the interests of consumers above their bureaucratic gamesmanship.”
An online version of this release can be found here.
You can watch Sen. Lee’s opening statement and questioning of the witnesses here.
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Press Release
USDA Announces Nearly $12 Million in Funding to Improve Public Facilities in 17 States, Benefiting More Than 200,000 Rural Americans
WASHINGTON, Sept. 18, 2019 – USDA Rural Housing Service Administrator Bruce W. Lammers today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing almost $12 million in 41 community facilities projects that will benefit 214,000 Americans (PDF, 134 KB) in rural communities in 17 states.
“Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, USDA is committed to partnering with rural communities to bring essential facilities and services to rural communities,” Lammers said. “Investments in our rural areas provide a foundation for growth and prosperity that strengthens the Nation’s overall economy.”
USDA is making the investments and has additional funding available through the Community Facilities Direct Loan Program. Interested parties should contact their USDA Rural Development state office for application and eligibility details. Also see the Community Facilities Direct Loan Program Guidance Book for Applicants (PDF, 669 KB), a detailed overview of the application process.
The 41 projects that USDA announced today are in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington. For example:
More than 100 types of projects are eligible for Community Facilities program funding. Eligible applicants include municipalities, public bodies, nonprofit organizations and federally recognized Native American tribes. Projects must be in rural areas with a population of 20,000 or less.
USDA will make additional funding announcements in coming weeks. Congress appropriated $2.8 billion for Community Facilities direct loans and grants in fiscal year 2019.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
In April 2017, President Donald J. Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to President Trump. These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America. Increasing investments in rural infrastructure is a cornerstone recommendation of the task force.
To view the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (PDF, 5.4 MB). In addition, to view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic (PDF, 190 KB).
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ANNOUNCES
CELEBRATORY PLANS FOR THE
15-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF CHUCK
ON UPCOMING
ORDER IN DECLINE
NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
TOUR STARTS OCTOBER 1ST
ORDER IN DECLINE AVAILABLE TO STREAM
AND PURCHASE TODAY AT http://smarturl.it/OrderInDecline
"The 15-year anniversary of the record was befitting of a revisitation;
coupled with the velocity of many of the tracks on Order In Decline,
it's a downright no-brainer." - Alternative Press
September 18, 2019 - Sum 41 are gearing up for their upcoming North American headlining tour in support of their most recently released record, Order In Decline. While putting together a set list for this massive run of shows with The Amity Affliction and The Plot In You, the band knew they wanted to do something special for the fans. In addition to launching this world tour for their seventh studio album, the band is celebrating the 15th Anniversary of multi-platinum album Chuck this year.
"We are so excited to be hitting the road throughout North America for the Order In Decline World Tour. We'll be combining two of our heaviest albums, as well as fan favorites from throughout our career into one behemoth sized set each night. We couldn't let this monumental anniversary pass us by and we are so ready to bring 2 full albums (and then some) worth of music to fans across the United States" shares front man Deryck Whibley. Each night on the upcoming tour, the band will be playing hits from Order In Decline, Chuck and the rest of their storied catalogue, making this the longest running live show the band has played to date in North America. In an exclusive interview with Alternative Press, Whibley shares "Some of those songs we're going to be playing, we've never played ever."
Ahead of the release of Chuck in 2004, Sum 41 were in the Democratic Republic of the Congo filming a documentary for War Child Canada on the effects of the Civil War, so it is only fitting that the band aligns themselves philanthropically with the organization again on this upcoming tour. With the help of PLUS1, $1 from every ticket sold on the Order In Decline North American Tour will go to War Child to support children and families in communities affected by war throughout the world. More information can be found below or at http://warchildusa.org/ and http://warchild.ca/.
While the band was in the Congo, the cease-fire in the civil war quickly ended, leaving Sum 41 literally in the middle of RPGs, mortar rounds and gunfire. A UN peacekeeper named Chuck helped the band and 40 other people evacuate their hotel safely during the fighting; therefore saving their lives so they aptly named their third studio album after him.
Order In Decline, which was released in July via Hopeless Records, has solidified that Sum 41 is here to stay. It secured #2 spots on both the Current Rock and Hard Music Album Charts, #3 on both the Alternative and Record Label Independent Charts, as well as #8 on the Top Current Albums chart here in the US. Worldwide, the success continued with a #2 spot on Canada's Top 200 and Top Current Albums, #2 on the UK Rock & Metal Charts, #9 and #17 on Germany and France's Top Album charts, respectively. Order In Decline is available to stream and purchase today via Hopeless Records at http://smarturl.it/OrderInDecline. Chuck peaked at No. 2 on the Canadian Albums Chart and No. 10 on the US Billboard 200.
The band will be joined by Of Mice and Men for a few dates on the upcoming tour and will be making appearances at festivals like Menace in Minneapolis, Aftershock Festival, Louder Than Life Festival and The 27th Annual Halloween Howler. November will see the band kicking off a massive Canadian tour with The Offspring and support from Dinosaur Pile-Up. A full list of upcoming tour dates is below with all tickets and more information available at http://www.sum41.com/.
Upcoming Sum 41 North American Tour Dates
September 29 - Louisville, KY - Louder Than Life Festival
October 1 - McKees Rocks, PA - Roxian Theatre*
October 2 - Detroit, MI - The Fillmore*
October 4 - Kansas City, MO - Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland
October 5 - Minneapolis, MN - Menace in Minneapolis at Skyway Theatre^
October 6 - Chicago, IL - The Riviera Theatre
October 8 - Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre
October 9 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Complex
October 11 - Sacramento, CA - Aftershock Festival
October 12 - Chico, CA - Senator Theatre
October 13 - Seattle, WA - Showbox SODO
October 16 - Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues
October 17 - Los Angeles, CA - Palladium
October 18 - San Diego, CA - Soma
October 20 - Tempe, AZ - The Marquee
October 22 - Dallas, TX - Gas Monkey Live
October 23 - Houston, TX - Revention Music Center
October 24 - Memphis, TN - Soundstage at Graceland
October 26 - Raleigh, NC - The Ritz
October 27 - Silver Spring, MD - The Fillmore Silver Spring
October 28 - New York, NY - Hammerstein Ballroom
October 29 - Philadelphia, PA - The Fillmore
October 31 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium
November 2 - Edmonton, Canada - The 27th Annual Halloween Howler.#
* - Of Mice & Men replaces The Amity Affliction
# - Support from The Lazys and Kane Incognito
^ - Festival with The Amity Affliction, Bowling For Soup, Less Than Jake and more
December 14 - Cincinnati, OH - Bogarts
December 15 - Belvidere, IL - The Apollo Theatre AC
December 17 - Nashville, TN - Cowan
December 18 - Orlando, FL - House Of Blues
December 20 - Fort Wayne, IN - The Clyde
December 21 - Grand Rapids, MI - Monroe Live
Sum 41 with The Offspring and Dinosaur Pile-Up
November 12 - Halifax, Canada - Scotiabank Centre
November 13 - Moncton, Canada - Avenir Centre
November 15 - St Catharines, Canada - Meridian Centre
November 16 - Sudbury, Canada - Sudbury Arena
November 17 - Laval, QC - Place Bell
November 19 - Sault Ste Marie, ON - GFL Memorial Gardens
November 21 - Winnipeg, MB - Bell MTS Place
November 22 - Moose Jaw, SK - Mosaic Place
November 23 - Estevan, SK - Affinity place
November 25 - Medicine Hat, AB - Canalta Centre
November 26 - Calgary, AB - The Palace Theatre
November 27 - Cranbrook, BC - Western Financial Place
November 29 - Penticton, BC - South Okanagan Events Centre
November 30 - Abbotsford, BC - Abbotsford Centre
December 02 - Kamloops, BC - Sandman Centre
Armed with the most honest and intimate songs of his career, front man Deryck Whibley poured everything he had into Order In Decline. Producing, engineering, and mixing the album in his home studio, he pain-stakingly crafted and fine-tuned each song, highlighted by fast and full riffs, guitar solos from lead guitarist/backing vocalist Dave Brownsound, harmonious chords from guitarist Tom Thacker and the heavy, heart-thumping rhythm section of bassist/backing vocalist Cone McCaslin and drummer Frank Zummo.
###
About PLUS1
PLUS1 is an initiative that channels the collective energy of a concert to catalyze social change. By partnering with performing artists, PLUS1 raises and grants millions of dollars to high impact nonprofits addressing our most serious global challenges around Access, Equity, and Dignity. Beyond the dollar, PLUS1 supports artists as educators and advocates, fueling their passion, reach, impact. To date, PLUS1 has raised and granted over $7 million, and served as the connective tissue between over 100 artists, millions of their fans, and 100s of leading social justice organizations tackling global injustice.
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Can you imagine a world without smart phones, smart TVs or the multitude of other automated systems that make products we use daily safer, cheaper and more enjoyable? I know a few who would gladly trade it all in. But for the rest of us, it is hard to fathom a world without the constant innovations in technology that fuel better experiences with goods and services. People with the computer science skills that make this a reality clearly are talented at what they do. Unfortunately, they are also in short supply.
In order to keep this technology wave going, we need more people with these skills—not just in Silicon Valley firms or technology corridors—but in diverse businesses like banks, manufacturing plants, power companies and farms. Computer science skills cross all sectors of our economy and are needed in an increasing number of jobs. However, employers are finding these jobs hard to fill, forcing companies to miss out on growth, employees to miss out on good jobs and states to miss out on revenues needed for education and healthcare.
As a result, we could be facing slower growth and innovation. Luckily, folks smarter than me are working on addressing these issues.
That’s why Code.org’s latest report, 2019 State of Computer Science Education, is very encouraging. Code.org and members of the Code.org Advocacy Coalition – of which ExcelinEd is a member – have been working on improving access to high-quality computer science opportunities for all students.
In just the last year, the percentage of high schools teaching computer science has grown from 35% of high schools in 24 states to 45% of high schools across 39 states.
Twenty-six states are funding professional development for computer science teachers (up from 19 states last year).
Thirty-four states are upgrading or developing computer science standards (up from 22 states last year).
Roughly 28% of female and almost 22% of underrepresented students now take one of the College Board’s Advanced Placement computer science exams.
That is significant growth.
However, we aren’t ready to run up the victory flag and do laps around the school - although I for one, would benefit from any exercise. More work needs to be done. Although access to computer science is growing, many students remain on the sidelines, without the skills needed to power the jobs of the future and grow our country’s technology and financial might.
If we want to continue to see the significant technological gains of the past decades, we need to continue to invest in the brains of the future. These skills will lead not only to increased battery life on our smart phones, they can make the world a better place. Let’s give these students a chance to make a better world. Let’s invest in more computer science education.
