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Technology, Professional Expertise Go Hand-In-Hand With Appraisals

July 31, 2013 - 3:10pm

Nothing can replace the services of a skilled appraiser. But sometimes, a collector just needs or wants a general idea of the worth of an object. A Wisconsin appraiser and auctioneer said going online can be a great way to start.

Shirley Baumann is a certified personal property appraiser and a registered Wisconsin auctioneer. As the owner of both Baumann Auction Services and Heirloom Appraisal & Estate Services, she has seen technology drastically change the world of appraisals.

“When I first started in this business, I was in so...

Filmmaker Examines Online Privacy In New Documentary

July 31, 2013 - 2:18pm

A filmmaker has completed a new documentary that seeks to define the real cost of some online services and social media applications that have become so prevalent in people's lives.

In his film, "Terms And Conditions May Apply, Cullen Hoback said that these online user agreements and the terms and conditions can have very significant impacts to users' online privacy.

The topic of online privacy has been garnering headlines in recent weeks because of revelations about U.S. government information gathering in the era since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

In a discussion about...

Study: Women Influence Philanthropic Efforts of Men

July 31, 2013 - 2:01pm

What makes a man a cheapskate and another man generous to a fault? It could be that he has a female in his life. A new study reveals the presence of the female gender, especially a family member, can influence men to be more generous.

Adam Grant, a professor of management at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, wrote an article for the New York Times about what the study found.

“Daughters apparently soften fathers and evoke more caretaking tendencies. The speculation is that as we brush our daughters’ hair and take them to dance classes, we become...

Nationwide Strikes Spark Debate Over Increasing Minimum Wage

July 31, 2013 - 12:15pm

Fast-food workers in cities across the country -- including Milwaukee -- are striking this week over low wages, and sparking debate about whether to raise the country's minimum wage.

Protesters said that they want the minimum wage raised to $15 and are demanding a union. They're arguing that many can't live on their current salaries. Opponents, however, said that raising the minimum wage could spell the end for those jobs.

Mike Wilder, of Wisconsin Jobs Now, a nonprofit that is helping organize the protests, said fast-food workers aren't who many might think they are. He said...

West Point Professor Says U.S. Military Should Rethink Counterinsurgency Strategy

July 30, 2013 - 4:38pm

A U.S. Army colonel and West Point history professor said that there's something wrong in the modern-day counterinsurgency tactics currently being used in today’s military.

Col. Gian Gentile wrote in his book, "Wrong Turn, America ’s Deadly Embrace of Counter-Insurgency," that attempting to win the trust and allegiance of foreign populations will often lead to death and destruction, instead of “protecting” those civilians.

Gentile said that the goal of Counterinsurgency (COIN) is to win-over the local population by providing them with tangible benefits of the occupation of military forces. This could be roads, schools, and establishing banks...

Professor Says Pope's Recent Comments Suggest Catholic Church Is Updating

July 30, 2013 - 4:02pm

Pope Francis made headlines earlier this week when he told reporters that he won't judge gay Roman Catholics -- including gay priests -- as long as they search for God and have good will. A college professor said that the new pope's comments suggest change is afoot in terms of church policy.

The pope made these comments on Monday during his flight back to Rome from a trip to Brazil. While on the plane, the pontiff answered questions from reporters and discussed nearly every hot-button issue facing the Catholic Church, including the so-called "gay lobby" inside the church, what...

Security Expert: Americans Overreact To Terrorism Threats

July 30, 2013 - 2:35pm

There’s a built-in incentive for politicians and security officials to overreact to the threat of terrorism, according to a security analyst who says Americans put a lot of money and effort into counter-terrorism efforts that don’t make anyone safer.

Author and security technologist Bruce Schneier said policy-makers have nothing to lose by calling for anti-terrorism measures. If an attack happens, their fears are confirmed. But, if it doesn’t, they can credit their anti-terror efforts for preventing catastrophes.

Schneier said the risk of terror attacks is actually very low, but politicians of both parties are prone to...

Cell Phones Allow Stores To Track Customers In New Ways

July 30, 2013 - 2:32pm

A cell phone has multiple uses besides making a phone call -- it can send text messages, type an email and search the Web -- just to name a few. But, many people don't know their phone also acts as a device to inform retailers about a person's shopping habits.

Pam Dixon, the executive director of World Privacy Forum, a public interest research group in San Diego, said that consumers should be aware of what information their phone transmits about their activities and what stores are increasingly taking an interest in.

"It’s actually our phones that are tracking us. It’s...