Following are ProfNet’s Expert Alerts for Monday, June 27.
Via Expert Alerts, ProfNet members can alert reporters to experts and potential stories by showcasing the experts' knowledge on timely issues or trends. Reporters can contact experts via the contact information listed at the end of each alert.
**1. BUSINESS: MAKING GREEN PROFITABLE. Edmond Cunningham, greening business expert at PA Consulting Group in New York: "Embedding green thinking into the DNA of an organization can be difficult. At times, the incentives are small, the benefits are unproven and the number of what-if scenarios is overwhelming. But efficient management of an organization's carbon footprint not only reduces energy costs (leading to increased profitability), but also promotes an environmentally aware image to stakeholders, generates new business opportunities and facilitates compliance with legislative requirements." News Contact: Carrie Gray, carrie.gray@paconsulting.com Phone: +1-212-973-5954
**2. FINANCE: MORTGAGES FOR THE SELF-EMPLOYED. Chip Poli, CEO of Poli Mortgage Group, Inc.: "Obtaining a mortgage should really not be any more difficult as a self-employed individual than a W-2 wage earner. There are some caveats that come along with obtaining a mortgage as a self-employed individual: First, most lenders require that you have two years of self-employment history to qualify for a mortgage. There are some exceptions to that rule, but you should check with your mortgage professional and discuss what options are available. Secondly, and maybe most importantly, lenders will use a self-employed individual's net income after all expenses to determine if you qualify for a mortgage. Be careful when talking about your self-employed income and consider your total net income, not your gross income. You also may need to sell your current home before you buy your new one." News Contact: Lucia Scott, Lucia@exposeyourselfpr.com Phone: +1-617-797-9869
**3. FINANCE: UNRAVELING THE CONFUSING NATURE OF GOOD-FAITH ESTIMATES IN THE MORTGAGE INDUSTRY. Holly Gustlin, senior loan officer and certified mortgage specialist, can discuss how confusing the new "Good Faith Estimates of Fees" required by HUD can be to consumers. Gustlin proposed simple solutions to Barton Shapiro, director of HUD: "The problem is that lenders are required to disclose upfront many fees that the borrower either may not pay or definitely will not pay (seller-paid fees). I suggested that lumping them all together with the fees the borrower definitely will pay creates confusion and fear for many borrowers. The solution is simple: Break them out into three categories, with totals at the end of each category: 1) fees you will definitely pay; 2) fees you may pay; and 3) fees the seller will pay." Gustlin authored “The Normal People’s Guide to Home Financing” in an effort to protect consumers from unethical lenders and to make the mortgage process easy for everyone to understand. News Contact: Cindy Rakowitz, cindy@brpublicrelations.com Phone: +1-818-783-3307
**4. INSURANCE: AS WILDFIRES RAGE, PROPERTY OWNERS SHOULD PREPARE. Phillip Sanov, Houston attorney and head of The Lanier Law Firm's Bad Faith Insurance Practice Group: "When you combine the severe drought plaguing the country with celebratory July Fourth fireworks, the risk for home fires and wildfires has never been higher. Unfortunately, home and business owners often find they are unprepared to deal with resulting insurance struggles. People dutifully pay their insurance company every year, never expecting the company to deny, delay or underpay claims when disaster strikes. In a fire where everything is destroyed, people struggle to document their possessions when making a claim -- that is why preparation is key. We all should take photos and videos of our belongings, so we have definite proof when making a claim." News Contact: Alan Bentrup, alan@androvett.com Phone: +1-800-559-4534
**5. REAL ESTATE: HOW REAL ESTATE AGENTS SUCCESSFULLY LAND BUILDERS AS CLIENTS. Kerri Bonarrigo, residential sales director of Gordon's Woods, located in West Roxbury, Mass.: "After recently hiring a Realtor to be the on-site sales representation for our newest project, I can attest to the fact that marketing makes the difference when it comes to a builder working successfully with an agent. Marketing concepts were a major deciding factor when we chose a Realtor to work inside sales for a new development. We believe it is important to make sure that everything from print to social media is uniformly represented in the media plan we execute. Having an experienced agent who understood the importance of leaving no stone unturned, in addition to a cohesive marketing plan, was very important to us." News Contact: Lucia Scott, Lucia@exposeyourselfpr.com Phone: +1-617-797-9869
**6. REAL ESTATE: SPRING SELLING SEASON NOT GOING WELL. Jonathan Smoke, executive director of research for Housing Intelligence, a real estate research and analytical firm that provides insight into 800 local markets: “While the census data provides a national view based on survey results from across the country, the data is not granular enough to provide state- or metro-level estimates. My estimates (based on actual deed closings) indicate a decline in the annualized rate of new closings of 4 percent in May, after a similar drop in April. In other words, the spring selling season has not gone well, or at least has not yet started to show positive signs of delivering year-over-year growth in actual new home closings. The average new home price per square foot rose to $145 per square foot in May, compared to $132 in May of 2010. At the same time, the median new home closing price also rose 9 percent. These improving price metrics are likely an indication that the nature of the buyers and product being closed in 2011 is less dominated by entry-level buyers, rather than an indication of pricing strength." Smoke is located in Washington, D.C. Profile: www.profnetconnect.com/jonathansmoke News Contact: Linda Stephen linda@iwprgroup.com Phone: +1-402-483-0747
**7. TAXATION: IRS BUSINESS AUDITS EXPANDING REACH. Dan Baucum, tax attorney at Dallas’ Shackelford Melton & McKinley and a former Special Assistant to the Associate Chief Counsel at the IRS: "After receiving notice of an IRS audit, the first call for entrepreneurs has traditionally been to the company CPA. However, that may no longer be enough. The IRS audit has gotten more sophisticated. When a small business is audited, it will automatically extend into areas such as real estate, expenses and business structure, as well as into the owner's personal finances, exponentially expanding the risk. As a result, entrepreneurs need someone who is looking strategically at the audit. At the revenue agent level, there is no authority to settle, so you have to go in knowing there will be a next step and plan accordingly." News Contact: Rhonda Reddick, rhonda@androvett.com Phone: +1-800-559-4534
**8. WORKPLACE: SEC RELEASES MUCH-AWAITED DODD-FRANK RULES; EMPLOYEES ARE NOW INCENTED TO GO STRAIGHT TO THE SEC. Shanti Atkins, Esq., president and CEO of ELT, specialists in ethics and workplace compliance training: "The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently delivered troublesome news to the financial services industry when it released the final rules implementing the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Most concerning is that these rules dictate that employees are not required to file an internal complaint before going to the SEC with concerns about unlawful conduct or retaliation related to federal securities laws. In short, HR departments and managers can be legally bypassed as complaints can be elevated straight to the SEC." Atkins can discuss recovery rewards for cases exceeding $1 million, how employers can implement an impactful compliance program and the importance of training. She is located in San Francisco. News Contact: Laura Schlecht, schlecht@forumlapr.com Phone: +1-212-219-0321
**9. WORKPLACE: DUKES AND FLSA COLLECTIVE ACTIONS. Allan King, a shareholder with Littler Mendelson, the nation’s largest labor law and employment firm, can discuss class-action filings and FLSA collective actions, including Title VII gender-discrimination class actions: "The Supreme Court’s decision in Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Dukes addressed the viability of a Title VII gender-discrimination class actions under Rule 23. As significant as that decision may be for Title VII litigation, those cases are now outnumbered at least 10-to-1 by FLSA collective actions. There are at least two principles in the Dukes majority opinion that pertain to FLSA collective actions: The first concerns what constitutes a 'common question'; the second lesson is that aggregate damages awards are unavailable." News Contact: Shani Wright, wright@formulapr.com Phone: +1-212-219-0321
**10. WORKPLACE: ICE CRACKDOWN GIVING BUSINESSES PAUSE. A.J. Irwin, director of investigations at Dallas' Yarbrough Strategic Advisors, worked with ICE and the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service for more than 25 years: "The Obama administration's recent workplace crackdown on illegal immigrants has many employers nervously awaiting the next round of promised ICE audits. However, it is a concern that can be corrected through diligence. When you are talking about workplace violations, the government has taken a strict view of the employer's responsibility in making sure all employees are verified to work in the United States. Any technical mistakes in the completion of the I-9 form expose the employer to additional scrutiny and liability. Egregious violators are going to be discovered by the wide net thrown out by ICE. But even for these companies, it is never too late to get assistance with federal rules and regulations, to show good faith and make corrections to comply with the law." News Contact: Rhonda Reddick, rhonda@androvett.com Phone: +1-800-559-4534
Each week, Dear Gracie answers questions from ProfNet Connect readers with advice from our network of more than 44,000 ProfNet experts. Has there been a question burning in your mind lately, something you've been wondering that none of your friends can answer? Please send it to grace.lavigne@prnewswire.com
Dear Gracie,
I have recently heard a lot about farm-to-table products. There is a meeting at my church about a local CSA. What exactly is a CSA and how do they work? What is the risk? What is the reward?
Sincerely,
Sick of the Supermarket
*******
Dear Sick of the Supermarket,
Here is an overview of CSAs from experts found within the ProfNet Connect community:
A CSA is "anything that connects the consumer directly to the farmer," says Melvin Atkinson, rural community coordinator of Virginia Beach Agriculture Department, president of his local Buy Fresh Buy Local chapter, and owner of a five-acre CSA farm called Briar Rose.
Typically, a CSA is an alternative food network that consists of a community of subscribers who support farms by pledging monetary support and sharing risk. CSAs have become a primary means of supporting local agriculture, and have become more popular as corporations grow and food-distribution channels change. "It's not necessarily for people who want cheap food," says Atkinson. "It's for the quality."
The typical model of a CSA is a consumer buying a subscription on an annual basis, says Eric Benfeldt, extension specialist for community viability at Virginia Tech. "It's wonderful for the farmer because it increases the cash flow (by taking enrollment in the wintertime) and allows planning for seeds," says Atkinson. The benefit for the consumer is generally a weekly allotment of some combination of fresh produce, meat, eggs or dairy, and a general season is about 20 to 25 weeks. "Many farmers are doing more to try and extend the season with things like greenhouses," he adds. So a subscription could be longer.
Some CSAs only include one farm, but many include several farms that coordinate the logistics of delivering food and providing a variety of products, says Benfeldt. Because farming is so dependent on the weather, there could be changes to the food orders, he adds.
CSAs are not always a direct exchange for products and money, says Atkinson. Sometimes farmers create a coupon program, where members can buy coupons during enrollment, and then when the season begins, they can pick and choose the products they want, or get different quantities. This gives the consumer more control, Atkinson adds.
Memberships dictate the size of a CSA. Some CSAs ask members to provide a couple of hours of labor per week or month to help the farm by reducing the workload, Benfeldt says. Members can also contribute by connecting the CSA to new farmer's markets or restaurants, or managing Internet sales, he continues. Online CSAs typically allow members to order their products online and then pick it up at drop-off points.
CSAs provide farm shares to a variety of people and organizations, including individuals, church or community organizations (generally to support low-income populations), business companies (sometimes via their HR benefit programs), hospitals and restaurants, says Benfeldt.
For example, Rick Martinez founded the Sweetwater Organic Community Farm in 1995 as a nonprofit, CSA-supported urban organic farm and educational center located in Tampa, Fla. He's now developing a second 7-acre farm near The Children's Home, a safe haven for abused children in Tampa. The home is providing the site for Sweetwater in exchange for a share of food (to be provided to the children), as well as teaching the children about organic farming.
"The children will get to participate by planting seeds, which they'll be able to put in a little container and take home to care for it," says Martinez. "They'll also have a chance to come out and plant some things from the greenhouse."
Sweetwater opens up membership during the summer months when a "cover crop" is planted to protect the soil, but nothing is grown. Each member collects a share every week (or every other week, depending on the type of membership they buy), and is obligated to spend at least four hours per season helping with the farm itself, says Martinez. The farm is funded entirely by donations and is being developed completely by volunteer work, he adds.
Organizations can also contribute by serving as a drop-off location, where subscribers can pick up their food orders. For instance, Gia LaRussa, marketing director at G2 Gallery, a photography exhibit with natural themes that donates proceeds to environmental causes, just started a drop-off point at the G2 Gallery. The gallery partnered with CSA California, a network that supports seven organic farms in the Los Angeles area.
LaRussa began the process of making G2 Gallery a drop-off point by contacting the CSA California coordinator. The coordinator came for a site visit and determined where the actual drop-off point would be in the building (in the garage). The biggest difficulty was settling on a date and time for weekly pickup, says LaRussa, because the coordinator wanted to do it based on their route, while she needed to consider other gallery events and building requirements. They worked it out in the end, and the first drop-off launched on June 14, and included items like strawberries, swiss chard, garlic, romaine and many other products. The G2 Gallery donates $2 to a charitable cause for every box sold, and LaRussa says it takes her about 10 minutes once a week to set up the operation and close it down.
As a green marketing specialist and primary author of "Guerrilla Marketing Goes Green: Winning Strategies to Improve Your Profits and Your Planet," Shel Horowitz sees CSAs accomplishing many benefits for farmers and the community, including increasing awareness about the benefits of supporting local farms (like land preservation or farm tourism), educating the public on the benefits of consuming local and sustainable food, building community, reaching out to service agencies that help those in need, providing new markets to compatible businesses, and connecting farms and agricultural organizations together to create larger markets.
Horowitz has also been a member of his local CSA since the mid-'90s, and can share the benefits firsthand: "My family and I eat salad almost every day, starting in June and going through October, and we cook a lot of veggies as well -- but we only pay a fraction of what it would cost to buy this food week by week."
Following are ProfNet’s Expert Alerts for Friday, June 20.
Via Expert Alerts, ProfNet members can alert reporters to experts and potential stories by showcasing the experts' knowledge on timely issues or trends. Reporters can contact experts via the contact information listed at the end of each alert.
On Tuesday, June 7, ProfNet hosted a Twitter-based #ConnectChat with Robert Hernandez, assistant professor of professional practice at USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Hernandez shared his thoughts and suggestions on multimedia tools that can help journalists enhance and improve online journalism. IJNet posted a recap of the chat, which you can view here: bit.ly/mz4oPD
EXPERT ALERT:
1. Building: Vinyl Siding Is a Sound Choice
2. Finance: Is It Harder to Qualify for a Loan Now More Than Ever?
3. Real Estate: Assisted-Living Projects Are the Future
4. Real Estate: It Pays for Agents to Invest in Their Community
5. Workplace: Anthony Weiner and Ethics Reform From the Top of the Employment Chain
6. Workplace: Online Educational Job Opportunities for Employees With Graduate Degrees
**1. BUILDING: VINYL SIDING IS A SOUND CHOICE. Brian Kearney, owner of Neponset Valley Construction in Norwood, Mass.: "Vinyl siding is the No. 1 choice of exterior cladding across the country. Vinyl siding features hundreds of trim and accent options with new profile styles, and now there is a broad spectrum of colors that enhances the aesthetics of any neighborhood. Nearly 300 different colors are certified to meet the ASTM standards for vinyl-siding color retention, so you can be sure the shades you select will resist major color changes in a variety of climates. With the ability to withstand high winds (certified up to 110 mph or higher), and a composition that resists heat, cold and moisture, vinyl siding retains its great looks over time. And vinyl siding never needs paint -- ever." News Contact: Lucia Scott, Lucia@exposeyourselfpr.com Phone: +1-617-797-9869
**2. FINANCE: IS IT HARDER TO QUALIFY FOR A LOAN NOW MORE THAN EVER? Chip Poli, CEO of Poli Mortgage Group, Inc.: "We have not seen a huge problem when it comes to our ability to qualify individuals to obtain a mortgage. Yes, the current process of obtaining a mortgage may require more documentation and slightly more scrutiny than in recent times, but really no more than what would be expected when borrowing a large amount of money for the purchase of a home. If the house has sufficient equity and the borrower is a qualified borrower, there is plenty of money to lend. Consumers with good credit, that pay their bills on time, have a consistent employment history and have money for a down payment should have no problem qualifying for a mortgage." News Contact: Lucia Scott, Lucia@exposeyourselfpr.com Phone: +1-617-797-9869
**3. REAL ESTATE: ASSISTED-LIVING PROJECTS ARE THE FUTURE. Michael Hartman, director of Reznick Capital Markets, a subsidiary of Reznick Group, a top 20 public accounting firm, focuses on the capital markets sector of the commercial real estate industry, including assisted-living projects. With the National Council on Aging reporting that the 65-and-over population is projected to double over the next three decades, Hartman can discuss why assisted-living facilities is one area in real estate circles that will continue to shine: "The demand for assisted-living housing currently outstrips supply, and this demand will not wane for decades to come. This situation is respectfully referred to as a ‘silver tsunami,’ as those turning 65 in 2011 will require independent care in less than 10 years, resulting in a tremendous demand for seniors' housing in every region of the U.S. for the foreseeable future. The larger question that remains for the assisted-living housing industry is: In this environment, who can secure the capital required to correct the imbalance between the number of projected seniors and available housing?" Hartman is located in Atlanta. News Contact: Michael Henry, mhenry@wrayward.com Phone: +1-704-926-1364
**4. REAL ESTATE: IT PAYS FOR AGENTS TO INVEST IN THEIR COMMUNITY. Chobee Hoy, owner of Chobee Hoy Real Estate Associates, Inc., in Brookline, Mass.: "As a business owner focused on real estate, I think it is extremely important to give back to the community. Being an active community advocate is an investment in both my neighborhood and my business; it helps build a strong referral network. Community involvement also gives brokers an extra layer of neighborhood knowledge to share with prospective buyers that less involved agents would not be able to share. In a sense, when you find a lot of success within a given community, you should want to pitch in so that people will continue to want to move there." News Contact: Lucia Scott, Lucia@exposeyourselfpr.com Phone: +1-617-797-9869
**5. WORKPLACE: ANTHONY WEINER AND ETHICS REFORM FROM THE TOP OF THE EMPLOYMENT CHAIN. Shanti Atkins, Esq., president and CEO of ELT, specialists in ethics and workplace compliance training: "Senior leaders set the tone for workplace culture enterprise-wide, and as evidenced by the recent scandals, claims of sexual harassment and ethical violations on behalf of senior leaders are infinitely more costly and damaging. In light of the recent issues surrounding Anthony Weiner, Dominique Strauss-Kahn and John Edwards, sexual harassment and ethics training are essential for all employees from the top down." Atkins is available to speak to the broader implications of harassment and sexual misconduct in the workplace and how employers can prevent an IMF-type situation or similar scandal. She can provide insight into what U.S. companies can learn from these scandals. Atkins is located in San Francisco. News Contact: Laura Schlecht, schlecht@formulapr.com Phone: +1-212-219-0321
**6. WORKPLACE: ONLINE EDUCATIONAL JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYEES WITH GRADUATE DEGREES. Dr. Dani Babb is an e-learning and entrepreneur advocate and adviser and helps those looking to earn money in online businesses get into the world of online teaching. She is the author of "The Online Professor's Guide to Starting an Internet Business" and "Make Money Teaching Online," and founder of The Babb Group: "Driven by the unemployment rate and the need for additional income in today's tight economy, coupled with the rising demand for online education to enhance one's skill set and competitiveness in the marketplace, many full-time employees are turning to part-time online education to share their expertise and get more value out of their graduate degrees. This opportunity provides great personal fulfillment and can be a strong income supplementation strategy for those looking to help offset lost income or generate more wealth while giving back to the community. This is a challenging and rewarding opportunity that requires expertise and a specific strategy to enter into the market." She is located in Newport Beach, Calif. Profile: www.profnetconnect.com/danielle-babb&nbs... News Contact: Jillian McTigue, jmctigue@entrepreneur.com Phone +1-949-622-5274 Website: www.thebabbgroup.com
I live in Maryland and the stink bugs in my house are driving me insane. Why did stink bugs just suddenly start appearing? Is this a nationwide problem? Should I hire an exterminator? Are there any health dangers?
Sincerely,
Ooh That Smell
*******
Dear Ooh That Smell,
Here is a breakdown of history and background info, impacts on homeowners and solutions from experts within the ProfNet community:
Background
The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, is an invasive species in the U.S., and in recent years has become an urban nuisance and serious agricultural threat.
"Marmorated" means "veined or streaked-like marble," according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, which is a reference to the stink bug's unique exterior. It's native to Eastern Asia, and was accidentally introduced into Pennsylvania in the late 1990s, says Missy Henriksen, who educates the public on the health and safety of pests as the vice president of public affairs for the National Pest Management Association. As of February 2010, 33 states have reported the presence of stink bugs, says Henriksen. The introduction was probably caused by shipping, and most likely spread across the country by driving or moving plants, adds Matt Daugherty, an entomologist at University of California Riverside who studies applied population ecology and provides outreach on the management of invasive insects.
There are more than 250 species of stink bugs worldwide, and more than 20 in U.S., according to StinkBugsControlSecrets.com. "They're not all bad," says Daugherty. Many stink bugs in the U.S. are native, and they don't all cause plant damage. The brown marmorated is the problematic one, since they invade homes and damage crops, he explains.
Although birds and lizards might feed on native stink bugs, the brown marmorated has no natural predators in the U.S. This problem can be explained by the "natural enemy release hypothesis," says Daugherty, the theory that an invasive species spreads rapidly when they are free of the natural enemies that evolved with them. This is why the USDA is considering bringing in a natural predator of the brown marmorated, a tiny parasitic wasp from Asia, which will attack the egg stage of the brown marmorated, says Henriksen. However, significant testing is necessary before the wasps can be introduced, to anticipate any side effects and prevent further harm to the environment.
Stink bugs prefer to live outdoors on the leaves of trees. They reproduce in the fall, laying their eggs on the underside of leaves, and then look for an indoor environment (like your house) to overwinter, which occurs when stink bugs wait out the winter season, during which their body functions slow, says Henriksen.
Picture from StopStinkBugs.com
Stink bugs live and overwinter near their food supply, so they might live near the edge of a farm or around forested areas, says Daugherty. While they can damage plant foliage, they mostly feed on fruit, like apples, peaches, berries and tomatoes. The impact on crops can be devastating. They damage and stain fruit when they eat it because they inject digestive enzymes into it, creating "necrotic spots" by causing the fruit tissue to die, says Daugherty. Brown marmorated stink bugs are particularly threatening to agriculture compared to native stink bugs due to their large population, and because they're faster-moving, he adds.
Stink bugs are attracted to light and heat, like sunlight, rather than body heat, says Henriksen. And the weird clicking noise you hear when they're around is due to the sound their wings make when they fly, she adds.
Humans v. Stink Bugs
To homeowners, stink bugs are a nuisance, but not dangerous. There are no studies that show stink bugs can transmit diseases, so they don't pose a threat to humans or pets, says Daugherty. Stink bugs can bite to defend themselves, but do so rarely (since they usually smell enough to keep most predators at bay), says Henriksen. The bite is painful, but not as bad as a bee or wasp sting.
"The best prevention is exclusion," says Henriksen. To minimize the chance of stink bugs entering your home, keep doors and windows closed (or use screens) and caulk all openings. Once the bugs are inside, she continues, pick them up with a tissue and throw or flush them away -- but don't squash them! Squashing them releases the smell, and attracts more stink bugs, she explains. You can also vacuum them up, but make sure you empty the vacuum bag afterwards, she advises. If the infestation is serious, talk to a pest professional who offers treatments against stink bugs to both prevent and contain. Prevention treatments would need to be applied in the late summer to early fall, before the breeding season, she adds.
You shouldn't squash stink bugs when you kill them because doing so releases their pheromones, which smell bad and, more importantly, attract other stink bugs. Pheromones are chemicals released by insects to trigger a behavioral response in members of the same species, according to Merriam-Webster. Stink bug pheromones are produced by glands on different parts of their bodies, says Daugherty, which make them smell. Stink bugs use pheromones to defend themselves against predators, warn other stink bugs or attract mates, he continues.
Now you might be wondering: Why would a dead stink bug attract other stink bugs? It doesn't make evolutionary sense! They should retreat when they see the corpses of their comrades!
Because when you crush them, all of their pheromones are released simultaneously, says Daugherty. So the stink bugs are confused: Does the dead stink bug want to mate? Is it trying to communicate danger? Does it need backup? The others can't be sure, and you know the saying -- curiosity killed the stink bug.
Exterminator 2: Judgment Day
If you need to break out the big guns, consider a few of these solutions:
Garlic
Andrew Peric, a junior at Haddonfield Memorial High School in Haddonfield, N.J., was the leader of a stink bug project for his AP biology class this year, and discovered a unique and green solution for getting rid of the pests: Allicin, a compound in garlic.
Peric's teacher, Gene Kornak, asked each of his three AP biology classes to create a fictional company and come up with a product that would prevent or stop stink bug infestations. Peric and his group named their "business" The Franklin Initiative and wanted to market an idea that was simple, efficient and nature-friendly.
His team researched ideas and discovered that plugging up a house won't effectively prevent stink bugs from entering. And because dead stink bugs attract other stink bugs, they wanted to find a solution without killing them. Pesticides were not considered, due to harmful environmental side effects.
The environmental approach they decided on was based on case studies by World Intellectual Property Organization that showed Allicin might be effective at deterring stink bugs. Allicin is naturally found in garlic, so although Peric and his team decided to "market" a fertilizer infused with Allicin, they also discovered that simply placing garlic around your house or deck prevents stink bugs. But don't crush the garlic, says Peric, because that causes the Allicin compound to decompose.
The other biology classes considered ideas like infecting stink bugs with a fungus to kill them, or putting up physical barriers or using sprays to prevent them from entering, but a panelist of teachers and past students decided that Peric and his team had come up with the most effective and green solution.
The "Best Stink Bug Trap Ever"
This video shows how to make a homemade stink bug trap using some tape, a book light and a 2-liter soda bottle. The trap plays off of the bug's attraction to heat and light.
We know that stink bugs are attracted to certain pheromones, and some sources also show that stink bugs might be attracted to the color yellow, so traps could also play into these factors.
Insecticides
According to an E-How article, spraying topical stomach poisons on plants won't kill stink bugs because they feed on internal plant juices, so use a contact insecticide. You could also use nicotine as a green alternative, or insecticidal soaps.
If you know of other solutions, let me know and I'll add it to this list!
Founded in September 2006, Intelligence Squared U.S. was launched by Robert Rosenkranz as an initiative of the nonprofit The Rosenkranz Foundation. "Intelligence Squared U.S. brings together the world's leading authorities for an exciting contest of ideas, wit and persuasion in a series of provocative and timely debates," according to their website. Intelligence Squared U.S. presents debates in the traditional Oxford style and attempts to raise awareness about public issues.
The debate centered on the motion: "Freedom of the press does not extend to state secrets," featuring Michael Chertoff and Gabriel Schoenfeld versus Alan Dershowitz and David Sanger. John Donvan, correspondent for ABC News' "Nightline" was the moderator.
Before the debate began, the audience was polled (like how they do the "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" Ask the Audience question) and asked to say if they were "for" or "against" the motion. This information was used later to determine which team of debaters convinced the most people to change their minds (and thereby win the debate).
The experts went toe to toe battling freedom of the press versus national security.
(Image taken from Intelligence Squared website)
Biographies of Debaters
(Information taken from debate pamphlet.)
For the Motion
Michael Chertoff was the second United States Secretary of Homeland Security under George W. Bush and co-author of the USA Patriot Act. He previously served as a federal judge, federal prosecutor and assistant Attorney General. He is co-founder of the Chertoff Group, a risk management and security consulting company, and Senior Of Counsel at Covinton & Burling LLP.
Gabriel Schoenfeld is author of "Necessary Secrets: National Security, the Media, and the Rule of Law" (W.W. Norton, 2010). He is a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and resident scholar at the Witherspoon Institute. His articles on national security and intelligence have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post and many more.
Against the Motion
Alan Dershowitz is the Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law at Harvard Law School and has been called "the national's most peripatetic civil liberties lawyer." He is an advisor to the legal defense team for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. He has published hundreds of articles, and 27 fiction and nonfiction books.
David Sanger is Chief Washington Correspondent for The New York Times and one of the newspaper's senior writers. He is author of "The Inheritance: The World Obama Confronts and the Challenges to American Power." He has twice been a member of teams that won the Pulitzer Prize.
Arguments for: Freedom of the press *should not* extend to state secrets.
Chertoff:
Trusting the press to exercise judgment about whether U.S. intelligence should be considered "secret" or not is dangerous. The press is not held accountable to the public like the government is. The press can include people like Julian Assange. Assange's publication of classified U.S. documents is an attempt to cripple the U.S. government by stopping dialogue between government workers, thereby destroying government functionality. Do we want to trust someone with our secrets who is motivated by ill will?
Some things should be kept secret, like the building plans for nuclear weapons, the identities of undercover CIA agents, the recipe for Anthrax, etc.
Schoenfeld:
WikiLeaks in the name of transparency has dumped thousands of documents. Without a doubt these documents help us know what our government is doing and what other governments are doing. Some of the documents are innocuous, but some of them are "outright dangerous." Why should we publish information that puts our soldiers, foreign officials and nation in general at so much risk?
Arguments against: Freedom of the press *should* extend to state secrets.
Dershowitz:
Who decides to classify or release secrets? Which secrets are chosen? When should they be released, and when should they not be released?
The government wants us to trust them to use their judgment to make the right decisions. Don't trust the government. And don't trust The New York Times. "Trust the process of checks and balances, whereby the government tries to keep secrets, the press tries to release the secrets -- that process is the best guarantee of liberty."
The government needs to be better at keeping secrets to begin with. The burden of government secret-keeping should not be on the press.
The Espionage Act of 1917 gives the government total power to decide what should be secret. The laws are too vague; they need to specify exactly what needs to be kept secret and what does not need to be kept secret. (Sanger disagrees, because that's less flexible than the espionage laws and therefore cannot be reconsidered under extenuating circumstances.) A narrow list would be better than the status quo.
If the press is to be checked by the threat of prosecution, then there is no risk of prosecution when the government voluntarily gives the press the information. For example, the government only released information to support its own case in the War in Iraq. Later on, documents proved that there had never been weapons of mass destruction there.
Sanger:
"The hard question is: What do you do to make sure that the press in the United States can force the government to debate policy on the most important questions?" A bias in favor of publication is necessary to ensure that the government is focusing on the right issues and making the right decisions -- and not just the public's bias in favor of publication, but legal bias, so that we can press for publication whenever there is doubt.
The government wildly over-classifies information as secret. We need to draw a line between embarrassing information and operational informational. If the information is simply embarrassing to the government, then it should not be protected as a secret. If the information is pertinent to a government operation, like the assassination of Osama bin Laden, then that should be protected as a secret.
Overarching Issues Discussed:
Should Espionage Act of 1917 be revised?
Should the law prevent the publication of classified documents, or should the media simply have to face legal consequences after publication? (How do we enforce publication rules?)
Who is the press? Does the press include bloggers? Can bloggers be prosecuted as the press?
Motive analysis: What is the intent behind releasing government documents?
Poll Results: "Against" Team Wins
The pre-debate poll of the audience showed that 39 percent were for the motion, 31 percent were against and 30 percent were undecided. The post-debate poll showed that 46 percent were for the motion, 47 percent were against the motion and 7 percent were undecided. Therefore, the team against the motion (Dershowitz and Sanger), arguing that freedom of the press should extend to state secrets, won by a 16 percent increase (rising from 31 percent to 47 percent). The team for the motion (Chertoff and Schoenfeld) only increased their votes by 7 percent.
Following are ProfNet’s Expert Alerts for Monday, June 13.
Via Expert Alerts, ProfNet members can alert reporters to experts and potential stories by showcasing the experts' knowledge on timely issues or trends. Reporters can contact experts via the contact information listed at the end of each alert.
2. Business: New Efficiencies in Large File Transfers Fuel Increased Corporate Use of Video
3. Finance: Regulations Top of Mind for Banking Industry
4. Real Estate: How to Make a Buyer's Market Work for You
5. Technology: Protect Against Hackers
6. Technology: Security Storm Hiding in iCloud?
7. Technology: Smart Energy Trends
8. Workplace: Start Whistleblower Complaints From Inside
**1. BUILDING: SUMMER HOME MAINTENANCE. Brian Kearney, owner of Neponset Valley Construction in Norwood, Mass.: "Take advantage of inclining temperatures and detail your windows and siding. Contrary to what some may say, avoid using a pressure washer on these areas; a garden hose works best to avoid damage to your home’s exterior. Repair any damaged siding and invest in a fresh coat of paint if necessary. Be aware of pests, especially termites, when you are inspecting the exterior of your home. Telltale signs of infiltration include mud buildup, flaking wood and tunneling systems. If you have any doubt at all, you won’t regret calling a professional pest-control inspector, because termites can easily go undetected until significant damage has been done." News Contact: Lucia Scott, Lucia@exposeyourselfpr.com
**2. BUSINESS: NEW EFFICIENCIES IN LARGE FILE TRANSFERS FUEL INCREASED CORPORATE USE OF VIDEO. Jim Janicki is CEO of Ignite Technologies, a leading provider of content-delivery solutions: "To keep staff current with new products, pricing and promotions, and general corporate information from the executives, Fortune 1000 companies are increasingly turning to video. Content security, bandwidth efficiency, costs and ease of use are among considerations driving business video demand. Video has also increasingly become the medium for face-to-face communications between executives and employees, and between companies and their customers. Additionally, video often plays a training role as well. Sophisticated content-delivery solutions provide the means to target, track and provide feedback in the learning process. The result: travel and material costs are often reduced by as much as 85 percent.” Janicki is available for media interviews. He is located in Frisco, Texas. News Contact: Richard Berman, gobermanpr@gmail.com Phone: +1-914-572-2707
**3. FINANCE: REGULATIONS TOP OF MIND FOR BANKING INDUSTRY. Marty Green of the Dallas-Fort Worth residential mortgage law firm Polunsky & Beitel: "This week's International Monetary Conference in Atlanta included concerns about the new regulations banks are facing as part of the government's financial reform effort. While most reforms are targeted at large banks, even local lenders are dealing with new rules. The new rules for residential mortgage lenders can be complicated, but they're manageable if you take the right steps from the start." News Contact: Bruce Vincent, bruce@androvett.com Phone: +1-800-559-4534
**4. REAL ESTATE: HOW TO MAKE A BUYER'S MARKET WORK FOR YOU. Lisa Johnson Sevajian, vice president of Coldwell Banker in Andover, Mass.: "The idea that a dated home in good condition will get top dollar in my market couldn't be further from the truth. Unappealing paint colors are enough to kill a sale. Remember: it's a declining marketplace. If your closest comparable sold four weeks ago at $400,000, don't price your house above it. To ensure you attract immediate attention, go $399,000. As home inspection issues come up, you need to remember the goal is to move. If you didn't disclose the issues that arose then, then the buyer couldn't have factored them into their offer." Johnson Sevajian: Lisa.Johnson@nemoves.com
**5. TECHNOLOGY: PROTECT AGAINST HACKERS. Rupert Chapman, head of IT infrastructure consulting at PA Consulting Group: "The IT industry needs to take to deal with its vulnerability to attack by hackers and cyber criminals. Rather than looking at whether an individual technology or individual people are vulnerable, look at it as a coherent business system. You might be secure in one part, but not be securing the total." He is located in London. News Contact: Carrie Gray, carrie.gray@paconsulting.com Phone: +1-212-973-5954
**6. TECHNOLOGY: SECURITY STORM HIDING IN iCLOUD? Peter S. Vogel, Dallas technology attorney of Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP: "Apple's recent introduction of its iCloud wireless data-sync service came with a prediction from Steve Jobs that the free service will allow anyone to store all of their music, video, photos and documents on the Internet. Although the success of the service is almost assured, recent high-profile security breaches, such as the theft of passwords and usernames from the FBI, might cause some hesitation for those who are otherwise anxious to use the service. Even for those who are not overly concerned about security, the FBI break-in should be a wake-up call. The cloud is unbelievably hot right now, but the Internet is still not secure enough for all users to rely on iCloud." News Contact: Rhonda Reddick, rhonda@androvett.com Phone: +1-800-559-4534
**7. TECHNOLOGY: SMART ENERGY TRENDS. Kevin Ashton has been a leader in the clean-tech revolution since its inception, commissioning dozens of research studies around the world; previously working as the first vice president of marketing at the publicly traded clean-energy company EnerNOC; then as co-founder and CEO of the clean-tech startup Zensi; and now heading up Belkin Conserve, the new clean-tech division of the global consumer electronics company: "We need to bring ubiquitous, standardized sensor networks, coupled with smart thinking about behavior change and automation, to bear on the problem of reducing consumption around the world. The human race has doubled in size since I was born, and on average, every one of those people is living longer and consuming more. Consumption rates will keep accelerating, and the population will reach 10 billion by the end of the century. We see advanced technology as the only solution to the conundrum of consuming while conserving." Ashton is available to discuss the Smart Grid system, energy-efficiency in the midst of our exponentially growing population, conservation and how efficient technologies can be brought to everyday life. News Contact: Lauren Song, song@formulapr.com Phone: +1-310-578-7050 Website: www.belkin.com/conserve
**8. WORKPLACE: START WHISTLE-BLOWER COMPLAINTS FROM INSIDE. Joe Ahmad, executive employment lawyer at Houston-based Ahmad, Zavitsanos & Anaipakos: “The Securities and Exchange Commission's recently released rules for the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act that favor company whistle-blowers who work for change inside their companies, as well as those who head directly to an outside agency. New incentives call for a larger payday for employees who spot wrongdoing and start their complaint inside the business. The SEC obviously decided they wanted to promote the internal checks fostered by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. It was after extensive commentary from all sides that the SEC decided to build-in this respect for internal company process. The SEC still encourages executives and others with insider knowledge of fraud to come right to the government, though." News Contact: Mary Flood, mary@androvett.com Phone: +1-800-559-4534
What do movie mistakes, juggling and Big Brother have in common? They all made the list of my favorite queries this week:
Tech Products for the Ultimate Party Dorm Room: How many beer pong tables can you fit into one room?
Where Trash/Recycling Goes After It's Collected: All garbage goes to heaven.
Experts on National Donut Day: Would a donut-hole expert suffice?
Top 10 Ways to Make Your Employees Happier at Work: Our demands: 1) Naptime. 2) Recess. 3) Fruit snacks.
Professional Athletes Who Use Juggling/Hula-Hooping/Jane Fonda to Train: Attention all uni-tard aficionados!
Coffee, Pickled Vegetables, Cellphones Could Cause Cancer: Starbucks now discontinuing pickle lattes.
Horror Stories of "If it's yellow, let it mellow…": If it's green, what's that mean? Oh dear.
Americans Concerned About Government Checking Online Activities: We are outnumbered by the machines. Find John Connor.
How to Wear Lemon Perfume: Dab Joy dish detergent on wrists, neck.
World's Best Storm-Watching Destinations: Your couch.
Benefits of Avoiding Premarital Sex: Jermaine Stewart already covered this (We don't have to take our -- clothes off … to have a good time -- ohhhh no)
Bomb/Explosion Mistakes in Movies: So you're saying fender benders do not actually cause cars to burst into flames?
What Does the First Day of School Mean to You? One word: Despair
What Are the Odds of Crashing Your New Car? It's that new-car-smell high.
How to Feel Good About Yourself in the Summer: Eat whatever you want and don't get on the scale afterwards.
Finding Happiness: Let me know when you find out.
* Publication names have been omitted to protect the innocent.
What were some of your favorite queries this week? Are they on this list?
My house has been on and off the market for the past five years. I've lowered it by $50,000, but I can't afford to lower it anymore. What should I do? Should I cut my losses and get out before the market gets worse, or should I sit on it for a few more years and hope for it to get better? How long do you think I'll have to wait? If I do wait, is there anything I can do in the meantime?
Sincerely,
Haunted by My House
***********************
Dear Haunted by My House,
Recent news stories tell us that the housing market is crumbling; that if you're selling a house now, you're going to get ripped off. How true are these assessments? What should someone who is looking to sell do? Should you cut your losses and get out now, or wait and hope for the market to get better? Four real estate experts weigh in:
Real homeowners are motivated by life circumstances, says Diane Saatchi, senior vice president at Saunders & Associates, a Hamptons real estate agency. People might move for a new job, a new baby, to be closer to a parent or something outside of their original planning. "You can't always buy when you want to and sell when you want to," she says.
"You have to do what is right for you and your family and your own situation," echoes Kathy Braddock, co-founder of Rutenberg Realty, a New York City residential real estate firm. "Do not make any important decisions like keeping your home in the 'hope' that the market might go up. It all depends on your needs."
So if you're moving from House A to House B, it doesn't make sense to wait for the market to improve. If it's a down market, then you're going to sell low and buy low, and if it's an up market, then you're going to sell high, but buy high too, Saatchi says.
"The smartest thing you can do is try and sell your house for the best possible price," she continues. But it's not just the price of the house that matters, Saatchi adds. Consider equities and mortgage rates too.
Shanna Middleton, owner of Real-eStage, a real estate firm and staging company in one, provides advice on how to consider equities when trying to sell: "Homeowners with negative home equity -- meaning they owe more than it is worth after paying Realtor and closing fees -- must consider why they want to sell. If they just want to test the market, my recommendation is for them to hang on for a couple of years."
"If homeowners have equity in their home and a good reason for selling now, and they are comfortable with the fact that they will not receive top dollar, I suggest they go ahead," she continues. "If they wait a couple of years, the homeowner might end up getting more money for their home, but they also might end up losing the equity they currently have due to another drop in the market."
"Don't gamble if you cannot afford to lose," says Braddock. "Sell and cut your losses if you need to get out. We don't always win on every transaction."
According to Middleton, homeowners who must sell now have three options:
Rent out your house for a couple of years.
Sell your house and cut your losses.
Consider a short sale.
"A short sale is essentially an agreement between the bank and the homeowner that the bank will take less than what is owed for the home, so that the homeowner does not need to bring money to the closing table," says Middleton. The downside of a short sale is it negatively affects the homeowner's credit, and the bank might ask the homeowner to repay the difference, she says.
When it comes to staging your house, says Saatchi, depersonalize! "It sounds counterintuitive, but it works 100 percent of the time," she assures. "Your house must look universally appealing." Sentimental value means nothing to potential buyers, so get rid of anything too personal, like family photos or keepsakes.
Before you bring in the brokers, you also need to get rid of the clutter and junk. Have a tag sale, Saatchi suggests. And with the profits, get a landscaper, and get them to remove bushes and branches that block light from coming into your house. Wash the windows and paint. "Keep it clean and fresh looking," she says.
When everything looks spiffy, bring in the brokers. Find a broker via word-of-mouth, or look at who they have worked with in the past, says Neil B. Garfinkel, Esq., real estate lawyer and partner at Abrams Garfinkel Margolis Bergson (AGMB) (check out his real estate blog here). "In a selling relationship, the seller has to commit to one broker. In a buying relationship, the buyer does not have to commit exclusively to any particular broker," he says.
They will give you a range of prices, says Saatchi, but pick the broker with one of the lower offers. Most sellers don't want to price low, thinking that they can price high initially and be haggled down later, but creating competition is key, she says. Not only will you get the honest broker (and not the one who's just trying to get the listing), you'll also be inviting more people to come and look at your house. Pricing low generates excitement, says Saatchi, and buyers will feel like they're getting a great deal.
She illustrates the importance of pricing right with this example: If there are two brand-new cars on the market, with the same performance and amenities, which one will you consider? The car that's priced at market value, not the car that's priced too high.
But how do you know what the real market price is, especially considering the turbulence? "In this marketplace, education is tremendously important," Garfinkel says. "Know the local market." Although the media are touting the market's collapse, it's not possible to generalize. "Some areas are severely depressed, while other places are not," Garfinkel says, and he knows from experience. As a real estate lawyer in New York, he illustrates the inconsistency of home values by pointing out that while Manhattan is a hotspot for real estate, the outer boroughs aren't as energetic.
"Before you sign anything or give anyone any money, make sure you know what you're getting into," Garfinkel advises. "Speak to a trusted advisor or attorney."
Following are ProfNet’s Expert Alerts for Monday, June 6.
Via Expert Alerts, ProfNet members can alert reporters to experts and potential stories by showcasing the experts' knowledge on timely issues or trends. Reporters can contact experts via the contact information listed at the end of each alert.
ProfNet Connect features more than 44,000 profiles, all searchable by keyword, institution type, location, and even language(s) spoken. In addition, the site's Blogs section has hundreds of articles each month on topics ranging from expert opinion pieces to social-media tip sheets. And now through June 10, every media professional that registers for the free network will be entered into a drawing to win an iPad 2! Want to know more? Visit bit.ly/profnetcontest for all the details and then register at www.profnetconnect.com
EXPERT ALERT:
1. Real Estate: Helping Your Landscape Recover From Winter Salt Damage
2. Real Estate: Internet Marketing Sells
3. Retail: Impact of Google Wallet Launch: Disruption of Relationships
**1. REAL ESTATE: HELPING YOUR LANDSCAPE RECOVER FROM WINTER SALT DAMAGE. Chobee Hoy, owner of Chobee Hoy Real Estate, Inc., in Brookline, Mass.: "Landscape can make the difference when it comes to selling a home. In order to maintain and increase your property value, it's important to spend time on it, and because last winter was so harsh, homeowners are noticing more damage than usual. The rock salt used to melt away ice and snow can easily soak into the ground, causing brown patches of grass and dying plants. Affected areas need to be over-watered in order to the dilute the salt; if they haven't recovered by summer, they should be replanted. If you do have to replace shrubs and plants, it might be a better idea to buy a salt-tolerant plant." News Contact: Lucia Scott, Lucia@exposeyourselfpr.com
**2. REAL ESTATE: INTERNET MARKETING SELLS. Kelly O’Ryan, office manager of Coldwell Banker in Lexington, Mass.: "Staging is critically important -- not only for buyers viewing the home in-person, but for the online photography. A poorly staged house can be OK in person, but online the pictures exaggerate clutter, cramped areas and dated decor. Gone are the days when agents can get away with putting their own pictures up on the Internet. While no one buys a house because of the pictures, they certainly do reject homes based on the Internet viewing. The key to selling a home is to get buyers into it. If the Internet presentation is a misfire, you are seriously impacting the sale of the home." O’Ryan: Kelly.oryan@nemoves.com
**3. RETAIL: IMPACT OF GOOGLE WALLET LAUNCH: DISRUPTION OF RELATIONSHIPS. Ted Bissell, expert in mobile payments technology at PA Consulting Group in New York: “Behind the excitement of yet another new innovation in mobile services, we are witnessing a disruption in the relationships among telecom providers, banks, handset manufacturers, and coupon and loyalty programs. By professing its interest in applying its well-honed customer analytics to the retail payment environment, Google is taking a further major step out of the online world by pursuing retailer relationships traditionally assumed by consumer brands and credit card issuers and acquirers.” News Contact: Carrie Gray, carrie.gray@paconsulting.com Phone: +1-212-973-5954
