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This is nutty: Kind Bars are full of fat but healthy?

Written By limadu on Rabu, 15 April 2015 | 21.29

Kind says its snack bars are healthy, despite the FDA's warning letter requiring the bars to remove their 'healthy' labels.

In a response to a scathing warning letter from the FDA made public this week, the maker of Kind Bars says it is working to correct its mislabeled products that contain the words "healthy," "plus," "no trans fats," "antioxidant-rich," and "good source of fiber."

Kind admitted that its labels did not meet the FDA's standards. But the company also contested the the agency's narrow definition of "healthy." Kind noted that the key ingredient in its snack bars is nuts -- a naturally fatty food that nutritionists believe is nevertheless good for you.

"Nuts ... contain nutritious fats that exceed the amount allowed under the FDA's standard," the company said in a blog post. "This is similar to other foods that do not meet the standard for use of the term healthy, but are generally considered to be good for you like avocados, salmon and eggs."

Nuts are high in nutritious unsaturated fats, which, when eaten instead of refined carbohydrates and sugar, can lower cholesterol and the risk of heart disease, according to the Harvard School of Public Health.

At the same time, nuts are also high in the less-nutritious saturated variety of fat.

The FDA requires that for a food item to be labeled "healthy," it must contain less than 1 gram of saturated fat per serving. Four varieties of Kind Bars, including Fruit & Nut Almond & Apricot, Almond & Coconut, Dark Chocolate Cherry Cashew + Antioxidants and the Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate + Protein bar contain more than 2.5 grams of saturated fat, despite being labeled "healthy."

In its warning letter, the FDA also knocked Kind Bars for using the terms "plus" and "antioxidant-rich" when they do not contain enough nutrients to satisfy those labels.

The FDA took issue with Kind using terms like "good source of fiber" and "no trans fats," because they imply that the bars are healthy. Even if those claims are true, which they are, Kind is not allowed to put those lables on its bars without qualifying that the bars are high in fat.

Kind Bars were also reprimanded for putting a P.O. Box on its labels instead of a physical address. Companies can only do that if they are listed in the phone book.

The violations are "significant," according to the FDA. If Kind doesn't comply with the changes, the FDA could take them off store shelves.

Kind said it is working with the FDA and "moving quickly to comply with its request." The company also said that it is reviewing all of its labels -- even those that aren't subject to the FDA's warning letter. But Kind has no plans to change its ingredients.

"We couldn't be more proud of our snack foods and their nutritional benefits," the company said. "While we make these updates to our packaging and our website, please know that our recipes will stay the same."

Related: Is this the world's most expensive chocolate?

Related: This energy bar gets its kick from ... crickets

CNNMoney (New York) April 15, 2015: 10:05 AM ET

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ECB president Mario Draghi attacked by protester

Just minutes into his introductory statement, a women jumped onto his desk shouting "end ECB dictatorship!" She was dragged out of the room by security guards, but not before showering the startled Draghi with confetti.

The news conference was briefly interrupted. Draghi appeared unhurt.

He had just begun explaining how well the ECB's new program of money printing was working when the attack happened.

It's the second public protest against the central bank in a month.

Riots erupted outside the ECB's new $1.3 billion headquarters in March after thousands of protesters gathered to rage against an institution they blame for ruining the lives of millions in the eurozone.

Draghi has been credited with taking bold steps to save Europe from financial disaster. First in 2012 with his famous promise to do "whatever it takes" to prevent the euro from falling apart, and again earlier this year by persuading the bank to launch a $1.3 trillion stimulus program to get growth moving again.

But the ECB is also a high-profile symbol of the austerity that has caused hardship for millions across the region. Together with the International Monetary Fund and European Commission, it formed the so-called "troika" to police the bailouts that kept countries such as Greece, Ireland and Portugal afloat.

The rescue loans were provided in exchange for commitments by governments in those countries to get borrowing under control -- by slashing spending and raising taxes -- and to overhaul their economies to make them more competitive.

Nearly seven years on from the start of the financial crisis, economic hardship remains a reality for many in Europe. Unemployment in the eurozone is falling, but is still around 11%. Growth is recovering but from a very low base, and the rate of joblessness among young people is much higher in Spain and Greece.

Draghi has acknowledged that the central bank may have become a "focal point for those frustrated with this situation."

"This may not be a fair charge. Our action has been aimed precisely at cushioning the shocks suffered by the economy," he said at the opening of the new HQ last month.

-- Virginia Harrison and Ivana Kottasova contributed to this article.

CNNMoney (London) April 15, 2015: 10:01 AM ET

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Smith & Wesson: Gun orders are picking up again

Smith & Wesson (SWHC) shares soared 13% Wednesday as the company announced that firearm orders are picking up again. Sales in recent weeks have been better than expected.

The company now forecasts sales of between $175 million to $179 million for the quarter. That's up 8% from its projection just six weeks ago and will help boost the company's earnings as well.

Investors see potential in the gun market again. The company's stock is now up a whopping 50% since the start of 2015.

Smith & Wesson gun sales hit a record of $626.6 million last year. The company won't be anywhere near that for this fiscal year, which runs through the end of April, but the pick up in orders recently may signal a turning point. Its latest projection is for full-year sales of between $546 million and $550 million.

Investors appear to be reading this latest projection as a sign of the market getting back on track.

Related: Boom - Gun sales rebound

Strum, Ruger & Co. (RGR), the other publicly traded U.S. firearm manufacturer, also saw its shares jump almost 10% in early trading. Its stock has also jumped phenomenally since the start of the year.

Related: Snoop Dogg wants you to unload your gun stocks

CNNMoney (New York) April 15, 2015: 10:22 AM ET

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Mark Zuckerberg only works 50 to 60 hours a week

In a surprise Q&A session Tuesday evening, Facebook's (FB, Tech30) CEO said he only spends 50 to 60 hours each week doing "real work" in the office or in meetings. But he conceded that if the definition of "work" were expanded, he'd be working his "whole life."

"That depends on what you count as work," Zuckerberg said in response to a question about how many hours he works each day. "I spend most of my time thinking about how to connect the world and serve our community better, but a lot of that time isn't in our office or meeting with people or doing what you'd call real work."

"I take a lot of time just to read and think about things by myself," he added. "If you count the time I'm in the office, it's probably no more than 50-60 hours a week. But if you count all the time I'm focused on our mission, that's basically my whole life."

Zuckerberg at work. Don't expect to find him here all day.

CEOs famously work long hours and have little time for their families. Though Zuckerberg works a much longer week than the average American, he seems to have struck a better work-life balance than most other heads of corporations.

Zuckerberg sets personal challenges for himself, including hunting all the meat that he eats, learning Mandarin and reading a new book every other week.

In the Q&A, Zuckerberg noted that he reads both fiction and nonfiction but "probably" more fact-based books. He said he is currently reading Peter Huber's "Orwell's Revenge," in addition to the books he is reading for his "A Year of Books" challenge.

As for learning Mandarin, he said the key to learning a language is to "put in the time and let it seep into your mind."

"Learning a language is extremely humbling because there's no way to 'figure it out' by just being clever," he noted.

In addition to discussing his work-life balance, Zuckerberg touched on a number of other subjects, including a couple controversial ones.

His Internet.org initiative to connect underprivileged people to the Internet has caught some flak for picking and choosing which apps those people will have access to. Rather than providing full Internet service, Internet.org will only give its customers "a few basic Internet services." He was asked how that jibes with his support for net neutrality.

"I think net neutrality is important...For people who are not on the internet though, having some connectivity and some ability to share is always much better than having no ability to connect and share at all," Zuckerberg said.

He also addressed his widely panned $100 million donation to the public school system of Newark, New Jersey, which critics say failed to live up to its promise of making the schools "a symbol of educational excellence for the whole nation." The donation was also criticized for giving too much of the money to consulting firms.

"A lot of good work has come from that grant," Zuckerberg said. "The highlight is that the graduation rate has improved by more than 10% since we're started our program there. The leaders we've worked with in NJ have started many new high performing schools, paid teachers more and have improved the schools in lots of other ways."

And, in a rare move, Zuckerberg even flashed some dry humor.

Q: Any chance you can add a sarcasm button for us Brits?

A: Sure, we'll get right on that :-)

Related: Zuckerberg has his Tim Cook moment

Related: Mark Zuckerberg has one rule for hiring

CNNMoney (New York) April 15, 2015: 7:35 AM ET

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OPEC pumps up output in fight for market share

The cartel has just chalked up its biggest monthly increase in production in almost four years as Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Libya all boosted output, the International Energy Agency said Wednesday.

OPEC supply jumped to 31 million barrels per day in March. That was 890,000 barrels per day more than in February -- the biggest rise since June 2011.

Faced with a boom in U.S. shale production, OPEC decided last November not to cut output quotas despite falling prices and calls from some members to act.

Oil prices dropped by about 50% in the last six months of 2014 but have stabilized since then.

The Paris-based IEA, which monitors energy market trends for the world's richest nations, said global oil demand in 2015 will be higher than previously expected. It increased its forecast by 90,000 barrels a day to 93.6 million.

The increase is mainly due to colder temperatures in the first few months of this year, as well as the improving global economy.

Related: Why OPEC can't kill the U.S. oil boom

But the report offered little clarity on how the price collapse would affect supply and demand in longer terms.

"In some ways, the outlook is only getting murkier," the agency said.

It blamed the uncertainty on constant changes in geopolitics -- such as the prospect of Iran sanctions being lifted.

"One of the many questions hanging over the market today is, how quickly could Iran be expected to ramp up output and exports if the agreement were to be made permanent," it said.

U.S. crude futures were trading about 1.2% higher at $54 per barrel on Wednesday.

Related: U.S. on track for record oil production in 2015

CNNMoney (London) April 15, 2015: 7:16 AM ET

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One in six retired NFL players goes bankrupt

A new study found that nearly 16 percent of former players end up filing for bankruptcy within a dozen years of retiring.

It also revealed that career earnings and the length of a player's career had little impact on whether they will end up broke. Star players are just as likely to file for bankruptcy as those who spent most of their time on the bench.

"Having played for a long time and been well paid does not provide much protection against the risk of going bankrupt," wrote the study's authors, who teach at Cal Tech, George Washington University and the University of Washington.

Among the high profile players who have filed for bankruptcy are Hall of Fame defensive tackle Warren Sapp, Pro Bowl wide receiver Andre Rison and Pro Bowl quarterback Mark Brunell. Sapp made more than $50 million during his career, according to salary tracker Spotrac, but filed for bankruptcy in 2012, within five years of his final game.

The study says that players should be able to save enough money they make during what they know will be a relatively short career so that they'll be financially secure when the paychecks stop. But many engage in risky investments and begin "rapidly drawing down limited savings" soon after they finish playing.

The study does knock down a widely repeated claim by Sports Illustrated that "by the time they have been retired for two years, 78% of former NFL players have gone bankrupt or are under financial stress because of joblessness or divorce."

Instead, the study found about 2% file for bankruptcy within two years of their career ending, and that rate climbs steadily to nearly 16% within 12 years before leveling off. The study's authors tracked players drafted by NFL teams from 1996 to 2003.

Related: This NFL player used connections as bait for Ponzi scheme

The current NFL minimum salary is $435,000 a year for a rookie and $970,000 for a player with nine or more years in the league. But NFL contracts are not guaranteed the way they are in Major League Baseball or the National Basketball Association, meaning if a player is cut he can lose most of the money promised to him.

NFL careers are also shorter on average than the other sports, with an average length of only a little more than three years. And football is a more punishing physical sport that is more likely to leave players with health problems that can limit their post-playing career opportunities.

Related: NFL gets billions in subsidies from U.S. taxpayers

The National Bureau of Economic Research is one of the nation's leading economics organization. It members determine when recessions begin and end and it publishes studies from many of the nation's top economists.

CNNMoney (New York) April 15, 2015: 8:20 AM ET

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U.S. economy still on track for best year since 2005

Written By limadu on Selasa, 14 April 2015 | 21.29

Official data for the first quarter will be released April 29, and forecasters are marking down their numbers due to weak spending by consumers and businesses.

The IMF cut its forecast for U.S. GDP growth in 2015 to 3.1%, from 3.6% in January. But that's still much better than 2014, when the economy grew by 2.4%.

Low oil prices should begin to feed through to consumer spending, the IMF said, and even a gradual rise in interest rates and the strong dollar shouldn't prevent the U.S. from turning in its best performance since 2005.

"For the U.S. the strong dollar is good but it slows down spending," said Olivier Blanchard, chief economist at the IMF. "But the U.S. has the tools to respond to it if the economy were to slow down. They could ... increase interest rates later, or may be able to use fiscal [stimulus]."

Related: Fed rate hike: Speed and size matter more than the start

The flip side of a strong dollar is a weak euro and yen, which have lost about 25% and 10% of their value respectively since the start of 2014. That should support the tentative recoveries in Europe and Japan.

The IMF raised its forecast for eurozone growth to 1.5%, compared with 1.2% in January, and for Japan to 1%. Central banks in both economies are pumping vast quantities of cheap money into their banking systems to stimulate demand.

At 3.5%, the IMF's global growth projection is unchanged since its last update and just a shade stronger than 2014. High levels of debt -- public, household, or corporate -- continue to act as a brake on the world economy.

"Financial crises leave long scars," said Blanchard. "In most countries there is one of these things that is not right, there is a level of debt that is too high."

Advanced economies will make up for slower growth in most of the major emerging markets.

China's growth will slow to 6.8% from 7.4% last year. But India should power ahead with growth of 7.5% in 2015, according to the IMF.

Related: This Indian city has the world's worst air

CNNMoney (London) April 14, 2015: 9:01 AM ET

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Nearly 1 million new malware threats released every day

A new report from Internet security firm Symantec (SYMC, Tech30) provides an alarming picture of how difficult it's becoming for computer users to stay safe online.

Last year was a big one for high-profile cybercrime, from the Heartbleed bug to major corporate attacks, and Sony's embarrassing hack.

Symantec's analysis of security threats in 2014 revealed thieves are working faster than companies can defend themselves, and launching more malicious attacks than in previous years.

More than 317 million new pieces of malware -- computer viruses or other malicious software -- were created last year. That means nearly one million new threats were released each day.

Directed attacks and data breaches also grew. Five out of six large companies were targeted by cybercriminals, a 40% rise on the previous year. The mining industry was the world's most targeted sector.

Related: Hackers are stealing your tax refund

But it's some of the newer scams that might make tech users particularly nervous. Here are a few examples:

Digital exortion: Cyberthieves are increasingly blackmailing victims and so-called ransomware attacks surged 113% last year. Hackers steal files or photos from a victim's computer and demand a ransom -- typically between $300 and $500 -- in exchange for a key to decrypt their files.

Sophisticated attacks: Hackers are breaching networks with more targeted, selective attacks. Here's a common ploy: Hackers hide malware inside software updates and wait for user to install the update -- meaning companies are essentially infecting themselves.

Social media: Scams on social platforms are also on the rise. Victims do the work of the cybercriminals by sharing videos or stories with their friends that include links to sketchy sites. Symantec said these lucrative swindles spread rapidly because people are more likely to click on something posted by a friend.

"Likejacking" is another one: Using fake "like" buttons, hackers trick people into clicking on website buttons that install malware and may post updates on a user's news feed, spreading the attack.

Related: You got hacked. Cybersecurity stocks soar.

CNNMoney (London) April 14, 2015: 8:55 AM ET

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Amazon, HarperCollins avert public fight

With this deal, Amazon has struck accords with four of the so-called "big five" book publishers: Hachette, Simon & Schuster, Macmillan, and HarperCollins.

The fifth publisher, Penguin Random House, won't comment on its status with Amazon (AMZN, Tech30).

Business Insider reported in March that HarperCollins was bracing for a battle with Amazon, like the one that Hachette had with Amazon last year.

The web site flexed its marketplace muscle by delaying Hachette book deliveries and turning off preorder options. The two sides settled last November.

The deals establish new terms for e-book pricing, marketing of books on Amazon's site, and other aspects of distribution. As the dominant seller of books, Amazon wields a significant amount of power over publishers.

Macmillan's CEO John Sargent said as much when his company's new deal with Amazon was finished last December.

"In reaching agreement with Amazon, we have not addressed one of the big problems in the digital marketplace," he wrote in a blog post. "Amazon holds a 64% market share of Macmillan's e-book business."

Sargent added, "As publishers, authors, illustrators, and agents, we need broader channels to reach our readers."

Amazon declined to comment on the latest deal reached Sunday night with HarperCollins.

The publisher said in a statement that it had "reached an agreement with Amazon and our books will continue to be available on the Amazon print and digital platforms."

CNNMoney (New York) April 14, 2015: 10:14 AM ET

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KFC 'dreadful,' says man who brought franchise to Britain

The man who brought Kentucky Fried Chicken to Britain decades ago now says the food there is "dreadful" and pledged never to eat at the fast-food joint again.

Raymond Allen opened the first KFC franchises in the United Kingdom after a chance encounter with Harlan "the Colonel" Saunders 50 years ago in Chicago, according to The Telegraph.

"We have got one where I now live, but I would not go in there," Allen told the paper in an interview published Tuesday. "I don't use it and I think it is dreadful. The company has ruined the product."

Allen said that he still has a hand-written copy of the secret recipe for KFC locked away in a bank.

But the 87-year-old Allen claims the chicken chain has lost its way. He said KFC now has too many menu items and he doesn't think very highly of any of them.

"Instead of staying with one good thing that was sellable, they have tried to compete with the other fast food units," said Allen. "They should have just stuck with the chicken."

Allen's wife Shirley, 84, isn't impressed with the food either.

"We tried KFC only once about a year ago," she said in the same interview. "We had the traditional original chicken but there were so many different products it was difficult to know what to order. I don't think we will go back."

Related: KFC just can't give up on China

Allen helped spread the KFC franchise across the U.K. before he sold the business in 1973.

KFC, a division of global fast-food giant Yum! Brands (YUM), currently has nearly 200 locations in England, Ireland and Scotland.

However, Allen said it took some time for Kentucky-style fried chicken to catch on in the land of boiled meats.

"In the UK in those days chicken was something you ate for Sunday dinner," said Allen. "It was way before its time. We had to give it away to passers-by initially."

But once Britons developed a taste for KFC, it seemed to take off. At one point, Allen was opening a new location every week, the paper said.

"We were in a race against time with McDonalds as we both wanted to get the best sites," said Allen.

Yet it was a struggle to find financing in the early days. Allen said he "walked the streets of London" looking for a loan because all the banks he went to said there was "no future in the business."

Eventually, he was able to raise the £100,000 he needed from an American company, on the condition that he would sell the business once he opened 100 locations, which he did.

Related: KFC parent cuts profit expectations in half

Allen, who like Saunders was made an official "Kentucky Colonel," couldn't remember the exact recipe for KFC's signature fried chicken, which is widely believed to be made up of 11 herbs and spices.

"It is a lengthy recipe," he said. "I think there are 11 herbs and spices but I can't remember it off the top of my head so I couldn't tell you even if I wanted to."

Allen said he doesn't get asked about the closely-guarded recipe very often since not many people are aware of his involvement with the company.

"I have no idea how much it is worth but I would never sell it," he said.

CNNMoney (New York) April 14, 2015: 7:53 AM ET

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The rocket built to take down Elon Musk

This week, Elon Musk's SpaceX once again tried to recycle its rocket boosters used to launch satellites, cargo and astronauts by landing the boosters on a barge after they detach from the rocket.

Meanwhile, Boeing (BA) and Lockheed Martin (LMT) on Monday unveiled what they think will be a better -- and cheaper -- booster recycling solution.

The companies' joint venture, United Launch Alliance, announced a new "Vulcan" rocket whose booster engines can be recaptured and preserved in mid-air after being intercepted by helicopters.

The Boeing-Lockheed venture is responsible for 70% of U.S. space launches.

The Vulcan's space capsule will also be equipped with a super-efficient engine that can be used in space for weeks instead of hours -- enabling visits to multiple space stations or moon missions. The engine will be powered by liquid natural gas, which is cheaper than standard fuel used to power missions.

The new engine is under development by Blue Origin, an aerospace company owned by Amazon (AMZN, Tech30) CEO Jeff Bezos. It will be "the highest-performing, most cost-efficient rocket on the market," according to Tory Bruno, CEO of United Launch Alliance.

Boeing and Lockheed Martin's announcement is aimed at preserving the joint venture's lucrative Pentagon and NASA contracts. Congress has criticized the venture's use of Russian-made RD-180 engines, and SpaceX's potentially cheaper space missions could steal business away from ULA.

"Whether it is scientific missions, medical advancements, national security or new economic opportunities for businesses, ULA's new Vulcan rocket is a game-changer in terms of creating endless possibilities in space," said Bruno. "It will open up new opportunities for the nation's use of space."

SpaceX aborted its attempt to land its rocket booster on a barge on Monday due to weather. The company has failed several times to recapture its boosters, but Musk believes the company has an 80% chance of succeeding by the end of the year.

Related: Brian Grazer and Ron Howard working on space series

Related: Why is Fidelity investing in SpaceX?

CNNMoney (New York) April 14, 2015: 7:48 AM ET

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Alan Turing manuscript fetches $1 million at auction

Turing apparently wrote the 56-page manuscript in 1942 when he was trying to create one of the world's first computers in order to break the German military's code, known as Enigma. Those efforts, which were successful and were credited with being a key to the Allied victory in World War II, are the focus of much of the movie. It received eight Academy Award nominations, including for Best Picture and Best Actor for Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays Turing, and won the award for best adapted screenplay.

The winning bid on Monday was near the low end of the expected sales price announced by Bonhams, which handled the New York auction.

"This is a wonderful result and a fitting testament to Alan Turing's impact and legacy," said Cassandra Hatton, an executive at Bonhams.

The book was originally left to a close friend of Turing, fellow mathematician Robin Gandy. Gandy also wrote his own notes in the blank spaces of the manuscript. Gandy died in 1995, and the owner of the manuscript who put it up for auction was not disclosed by the auction house, nor was the buyer. An undisclosed amount of the proceeds of Monday's auction are being donated to charity.

Related: First U.S. penny sold for $1.2 million

There was a time that computers were known as Turing machines. But Turing's life story became tragic when he faced criminal charges in England for being a homosexual, which was illegal at the time. He was given the choice between chemical castration to "cure" his homosexuality or imprisonment. He chose the former so that he could continue his work creating early computers.

He committed suicide in 1954, although there are conspiracy theories that he was murdered. He received a posthumous apology from British Prime Minister Gordon Brown for his "appalling" treatment in 2009 and a royal pardon five years later.

Related: Steve McQueen's old motorcycle goes for $775,000

CNNMoney (New York) April 14, 2015: 8:18 AM ET

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'You are all influencers': How lesbians in tech are gaining ground

Written By limadu on Senin, 13 April 2015 | 21.29

"You are all influencers," she says. "You know what's going on here."

LGBT women are advancing in the tech world, but they need help finding support in such a male-dominated field.

Pittsford, founder of the group Lesbians Who Tech, will be hosting a summit in New York later this year, and set up the happy hour to crowdsource what would make the event successful.

Lesbians Who Tech, which got its start at a bar in San Francisco in 2012, has grown to include 9,000 members worldwide.

The organization is just one of many that help LGBT women connect with each other, start their own businesses and access a growing network of LGBT mentors and investors. It's a serious need, given that women in tech earn significantly less than men and are less satisfied with their jobs, according to a Glassdoor study released last year.

"When we come together, we can start thinking of some of these issues and tackling them," Pittsford said, adding that she doesn't always see LGBT issues as part of the bigger conversation about diversity in Silicon Valley.

"We all know there are too few women in tech. Parse that down to lesbians in tech and there are very few," said Marie Trexler, head of the lesbian entrepreneur mentoring program for StartOut, a nonprofit working to create more LGBT-identified business leaders. "Sexual identity isn't always front and center in your business life, but it can be, and it can be very valuable."

Related: Lesbian dating app secures $1 million in funding

A few years ago, Trexler started attending gay tech events, but found, unsurprisingly, that the crowd was mostly male.

"Often it would be me, two or three female friends and 50 to 60 guys," said Trexler, an experienced venture capitalist.

When she started asking lesbians in tech what they wanted, mentoring was repeated over and over.

"The role modeling component really does make a difference," said Trexler.

With StartOut's lesbian entrepreneurship program, each mentee is paired with a mentor for six months. Trexler said one of the biggest challenges for the mentees is funding, which is true for female entrepreneurs across the board.

Related: Record number of U.S. firms offering same-sex benefits

Several funds have been launched to support LGBT-identified entrepreneurs.

VentureOut funds seed-stage startups founded by business leaders in the LGBT community. LGBT Capital takes a different angle, supporting companies that target the LGBT consumer market.

Pitching investors is a big part of Trexler's program.

It made a difference for B. Cole, founder of Brioxy, a soon-to-be-launched platform that helps young people of color find fellowships. She completed the StartOut program last year.

"As a person of color who identifies as a lesbian and someone gender non-conforming, the deck is stacked, so they say," she said. The program helped her identify investors and build a network.

She is looking to raise $500,000 in the next year, to add to the $15,000 she raised on Indiegogo last year. "I'm ready to increase the size of the team and go after a larger market share," she said.

For women who may not want to build their own startups, but still have their sights set on tech, Pittsford said events like hers bring inspiring women together.

At one summit, Megan Smith, who President Obama named as U.S. chief technology officer last year, gave a talk and then stayed to talk to attendees.

Pittsford said the line to get face time with Smith was nearly out the door, and it's women like her that provide a solid role model not just for LGBT women, but women everywhere.

That means a lot to Pittsford, who said that before she started her organization, women said they didn't even have one person they looked up to who was in tech and a lesbian.

"I thought, 'There is something we can solve here,'" she said.

CNNMoney (New York) April 13, 2015: 9:21 AM ET

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You're right - flying got worse in 2014

The annual Airline Quality Ranking from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, tracks measures that affect a passenger's experience - on time performance, lost bags, customer complaints and being involuntarily bumped off of a flight. All got worse in 2014.

"Things are going in the wrong direction, that's for sure," said Wichita State professor Dean Headley, one of the report's authors. "This is just going to confirm the traveling public's perception that things aren't as good as they used to be."

The study's authors don't hold out hope for any improvement in the near term, especially with more people flying.

"I don't think it was an aberration. The data shows we've started a period of decline and there's no evidence that it's going to change," said Brent Bowen, dean of the college of aviation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. "I think it comes from a decision to not reinvest in customer service."

Related: Why flying stinks and you're still paying more

The increase in problems was spread across almost the entire industry, according to the report, with only two airlines, Frontier and JetBlue (JBLU), improving their on-time performance. But that wasn't enough to stop Frontier from having the highest consumer complaint rate in the industry.

In addition, only five airlines improved their mishandled baggage rates, while only two bettered their rate of bumping their passengers. And the complaint rate jumped by 22%.

Related: Legroom - How the airlines compare

But while customers had problems, the airlines themselves and airline investors did very well in 2014. The four major airline stocks - American Airlines (AAL), United Continental (UAL), Delta Air Lines (DAL) and Southwest (LUV) - were all among the best-performing stocks in the market with Southwest more than doubling to post the biggest gain in the S&P.

The airlines enjoyed filling a record percentage of their seats with paying passengers, a rise in air fares and a significant drop in fuel prices, their biggest expense, at the end of last year.

CNNMoney (New York) April 13, 2015: 9:27 AM ET

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Gap and Target among 13 stores probed for hourly wage practices

Some retail workers are required to call in the night before to see if they will have work.

The office of attorney general Eric Schneiderman sent letters last week to 13 retail chains asking for information about their so-called "on call shifts," where employees are given very little advance notice on what hours they will be working.

Workers find out if they are scheduled for work just hours or the night before the start of a shift. If they are told to stay home, employees are not paid.

Such erratic schedules make it difficult for employees to manage their family needs such as child care or school schedules, according to the letter. It says workers on these shifts "experience adverse financial and health effects, as well as overall stress and strain on family life."

Related: More workers are quitting and that's good news

Schneiderman's office says it has received reports that a growing number of major retailers are using these on call systems to manage staff levels so they have more people when it's busy and fewer when its slow.

In addition to Target (TGT) and Sears (SHLD), the letter was sent to Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF), Gap (GPS), Ann Taylor (ANN) , Burlington Stores (BURL), Crocs, JC Penney (JCP), J. Crew Group, L Brands (LB), TJX (TJX), Urban Outfitters (URBN) and Williams Sonoma (WSM).

The letter notes that New York law requires any employee who reports for a scheduled shift to be paid for at least four hours at the minimum wage.

Related: Microsoft tells its contractors to give workers paid time off

A spokesperson for Sears said the company is looking into the matter and plans to cooperate with the Attorney General. Representatives of the other companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Related: Nearly 90 percent of Americans have health coverage

Related: 35% of workers say they'll quit if they don't get a raise

CNNMoney (New York) April 13, 2015: 9:37 AM ET

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Revenge porn could get you two years in jail in England

The law forbids people from disclosing "a private sexual photograph or film if the disclosure is made without the consent of an individual who appears in the photograph or film, and with the intention of causing that individual distress."

Revenge porn has come under increased global scrutiny after several high-profile legal cases resulted in little or no jail time.

In November, 21-year old Luke King was the first person to be prosecuted in England for posting revenge porn. King had shared nude images of his ex-girlfriend on WhatsApp. But a national outcry erupted after he received just a 12-week jail sentence -- the maximum penalty under previous laws.

Following a U.S. Federal Trade Commission investigation, Craig Brittan agreed in January to destroy the 1,000 revenge porn images and videos he had posted to his now-defunct website, isanybodydown.com. Known as the "Revenge Porn King," Brittan also collected and posted women's personal information in addition to their intimate photos.

But Brittan didn't serve any jail time, because revenge porn isn't a federal crime in the United States. The FTC charged him with violating the Federal Trade Commission Act, opting to settle after he destroyed the pornographic images and information.

So far, 16 U.S. states have made revenge porn illegal. But those laws are largely ineffective against websites, which are protected by section 230 of the federal Communications Decency Act. The act gives platforms like Twitter (TWTR, Tech30), Facebook (FB, Tech30) and Reddit immunity when third parties post anything that doesn't violate federal law.

As a result, social networks are taking matters into their own hands. Twitter, Facebook and Reddit have all recently banned revenge porn.

The Scottish government is considering introducing similar legislation to England and Wales. Revenge porn is also illegal in Germany and Israel.

Related: Here's exactly what Facebook means by 'nudity'

Related: Revenge porn king wants a clean slate

CNNMoney (New York) April 13, 2015: 7:36 AM ET

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Nine things to know about legal pot

People who've never been high are suddenly wondering how much an eighth really is. And those that could spot an eighth of weed from across a room can now, in some places, walk into a store and buy it. (Try Mary Mart, Bud Commander or the Happy Crop Shoppe -- all stores in Washington.)

But rules are still hazy about where you can buy pot and who can smoke. It gets more complicated for those who want to sell it.

Here's what you need to know.

1. Anyone over 21 can buy marijuana in Colorado and Washington.

There are 833 recreational pot shops in Colorado and 123 in Washington.

2. You can smoke it legally in Alaska, D.C. and -- by the end of the year -- in Oregon, as long as you're older than 21.

But it won't be legal to buy it in those states for at least another year while lawmakers hammer out the details. It could take longer in D.C.

3. No one can smoke weed in public, anywhere.

4. Medical marijuana is legal in 23 states, and D.C.

5.You can still be fired for smoking marijuana.

Even if you show up for work stone cold sober, you can be fired for flunking a drug test in most states. But that's being challenged in court.

6. There is actually one government-run pot store.

The profits from a shop in Washington State called Cannabis Corner will go to special city projects, like upgrading the local playground.

7. There's still a black market for pot, even where it's legal.

That's because it's cheaper. Pot sold legally in stores is taxed heavily. In Colorado the rate is 28%.

8. Everyone in Colorado could get a pot tax refund.

Thanks to Colorado's new pot tax and a quirky state law, residents may get a special one-time tax refund next year. It's expected to be about $58 million distributed among 5.4 million residents.

9. Banking is still a huge problem for pot shops.

Pot is illegal on the federal level, which means many shops can't get bank accounts, since banks are regulated by the feds. Retailers have to pay employees and taxes in cash, which makes the business dangerous. But there is legislation has been proposed to make banking easier for selling medical marijuana sellers.

CNNMoney (New York) April 13, 2015: 7:14 AM ET

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Nearly 90 percent of Americans have health coverage

A poll by Gallup found that the uninsured rate among U.S adults declined to 11.9% in the first quarter, down one percentage point from the end of last year and an improvement from the 18% without insurance in the fall of 2013, when the Americans were first were able to sign up for coverage at state and federal exchanges.

This is the lowest percentage of Americans without coverage since Gallup started tracking the figure in 2008. Those without coverage was just under 15% at that time, then remained in the range of 15% to 18% before it started declining sharply two years ago. The law requiring most Americans to have coverage or pay a penalty took effect at the start of 2014.

"An improving economy and a falling unemployment rate may also have accelerated the steep drop in the percentage of uninsured over the past year," said the Gallup report. "However, the uninsured rate is significantly lower than it was in early 2008, before the depths of the economic recession, suggesting that the recent decline is due to more than just an improving economy."

Related: Five ways Obamacare has helped Americans

Those making less than $36,000 a year have seen the most significant rate of improvement. Though 22% still do not have coverage, that's down from 30.7% at the end of 2013.

Those 26 to 34 years old have also seen the most improvement of any age group, but again, more than 20% still lack coverage. About 98% of those age 65 and older have coverage, basically unchanged from two years ago, as almost all of them qualify for Medicare.

Related: Obamacare's second round attracts more Americans

And far more minority adults still are without coverage, as about 13% of of blacks and 30% of Hispanics don't have coverage. But once again, they've seen greater improvement in their rates of coverage than have whites.

CNNMoney (New York) April 13, 2015: 8:27 AM ET

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HBO still hasn't heard from Scientology lawyers for 'Going Clear'

Written By limadu on Minggu, 12 April 2015 | 21.29

"Facts are stubborn things," HBO CEO Richard Plepler said in an interview with CNNMoney this week.

"Everybody's entitled to their own opinion, but they're not entitled to their own facts," he added. "I think the documentary bears up very well to any kind of scrutiny."

Sheila Nevins, the president of HBO's documentary division, had a similar comment -- "facts are facts" -- when asked about the film at a party on Wednesday held by The Hollywood Reporter.

The March 29 premiere of "Going Clear" scored the highest overnight viewership for an HBO documentary in nine years. Nevins and Plepler pointed out that the documentary is still reaching new viewers every day thanks to repeats and HBO's various on-demand services.

John Travolta isn't interested in watching HBO's Scientology documentary 'Going Clear.'

"Going Clear" was back in the news this week when John Travolta, a member of the church, said he was uninterested in seeing it.

The documentary, by well-known filmmaker Alex Gibney, is based on the book of the same name by Lawrence Wright.

In an interview before the premiere, Gibney said he was well aware of the possibility that Scientology might try to strike back with lawsuits.

But, he said, "we were very rigorous in terms of how we checked our story, how we had it scrutinized extensively by lawyers -- not only my own lawyers but by HBO's lawyers," Gibney said.

Nevins once commented that there were "probably 160 lawyers" involved, but she meant that hyperbolically.

HBO's other recent documentary success was "The Jinx," a six-part series about the troubled multi-millionaire Robert Durst, a suspect in several murders.

There have been questions about the extent of filmmaker Andrew Jarecki's communication with law enforcement, particularly due to the recording of Durst apparently saying to himself he "killed them all."

"I can tell you unequivocally we did not withhold any evidence," Plepler said, calling Jarecki "very scrupulous."

"I think what's important to remember is that a 30-year -- 30-year -- murder mystery was essentially opened up" by Jarecki and his colleagues, Plepler added.

HBO and the parent of this web site, CNN, are both owned by Time Warner.

CNNMoney (New York) April 10, 2015: 6:34 PM ET

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Epic rally in stocks to keep running

That's the key takeaway from CNNMoney's survey of more than a dozen investing professionals. They believe, on average, the S&P 500 will claw its way to 2,155 by the end of the year. That's nearly 3% higher than current levels and would give the benchmark a 2015 gain of almost 5%.

It's mixed news for investors. While people want to see another year of gains, 2015 would represent a slowdown. The S&P 500 surged nearly 30% in 2013 and advanced another 11% last year.

So what's holding the bull back these days?

Related: Whoa. The Russian ruble is having a 'miracle' surge

Profit growth vanishes: There are a handful of challenges facing U.S. stocks, but let's start with what's been dubbed an "earnings recession." Earnings will take center stage this week as corporate "report cards" are on tap from brand names like General Electric (GE), Goldman Sachs (GS), JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Intel (INTC, Tech30), Netflix (NFLX, Tech30) and Wells Fargo (WFC).

S&P 500 companies are expected to reveal a decline in profits for the first time in several years.

At first blush, that's pretty alarming news. Stocks go up when people expect earnings to be higher in the future.

While this could be a temporary blip, there's added concern because stocks are on the expensive side right now. Earnings multiples, a common valuation metric, may not be able to expand much further.

"We don't believe stocks can go up further due to multiple expansion as we are at elevated levels already," said Deron McCoy, chief investment officer at Signature Estate & Investment Advisors. "Thus, earnings must propel stock prices. For this reason we see muted gains this year in U.S. stocks."

Related: Stocks: The risks are rising

First correction in four years? It's necessary to look at what is driving the lousy earnings. If it's the strong U.S. dollar and cheap energy prices, investors will likely shrug it off.

While both of these factors are important, they are unlikely to last forever. There are already signs of energy prices stabilizing -- or at least not falling further. The general consensus is that the economy and Corporate America will rebound strongly in the spring and summer, much like what happened last year.

Of course, all bets are off if it looks like the earnings decline is being caused by deeper economic problems and will stretch into the second half of the year. At a minimum, that could cause the market's first correction (a 10% decline from a previous high) since 2011.

Related: Fewer people are loving stocks now. Buy signal?

Weather slams the brakes on the economy: Much of that will depend on the economy, which stumbled way more than people anticipated during the first quarter. The Atlanta Fed downgraded its GDP forecast to zero, meaning forecasters there think the economy didn't grow at all in the beginning of 2015.

"We suspect the overall economy is not as robust as reflected by most investors and the media," said Peter Jacobs, chief investment officer at Jacobs Broel Asset Management.

However, there is reason to believe the economy was knocked off track by severe winter weather, and the West Coast port strike that disrupted trading activity. If that's the case, then the economy should bounce back later in the year.

Related: Good news: More workers are quitting

Will cheap oil finally energize consumers? The key to a second-half rebound may be consumer spending. So far, consumers seem to be hoarding, not spending, their gas savings.

That's partially due to a fear that oil prices will spike back up to $100 a barrel. It may also be a hangover from the 2008 financial crisis.

"We think much of this is the result of the scars, both physical and psychological, created by the Great Recession," said Kristina Hooper, U.S. investment strategist at Allianz Global Investors.

But optimists believe that will eventually change, lifting the broader economy.

"Expect consumers to 'step to the plate' as savings grow...and are eventually applied to home renovations, automobile purchases and leisure treats,' said John Stoltzfus, chief market strategist at Oppenheimer.

Related: Over half of Americans have $0 in stocks

Janet Yellen is watching: All of these developments will be carefully monitored by the Federal Reserve, which is poised to raise interest rates for the first time in nearly a decade. Wall Street now expects the first rate hike not to come until September.

While rising rates can make stocks look less attractive, the Fed has signaled the pace of liftoff from near 0% interest rates will be gradual and delicate.

After all, Fed chief Janet Yellen knows one of the worst thing for consumer spending and the broader economy is a tumbling stock market.

Related: 5 stocks Wall Street is betting will tank

CNNMoney (New York) April 12, 2015: 10:17 AM ET

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Hillary Clinton's economic plans need an overhaul

Clinton is expected to begin her presidential campaign this weekend, yet she's stayed mum on the economy -- something she hammered on during the 2008 campaign.

"She's a blank check at this point," says Dean Baker, co-director for the Center for Economic and Policy Research. "She'll be pressed to take positions."

America's economy has come a long way from 2008. Back then, the country was headed toward a recession. The unemployment rate was climbing -- eventually on its way to 10% -- while America's housing market was collapsing. The divide between Wall Street and Main Street was just beginning to widen, some argue.

Now, unemployment is down to 5.5% -- not far from its target level. Last year was America's best year of job growth since 1999. However, some big issues remain. Inequality is worsening and most people's wages have barely grown.

How Hillary approaches inequality, as well as her relationships with Wall Street and Main Street, will be key to her success in this campaign.

Here's how Hillary may shift her approach for 2016:

Related: 'Hillary' websites going for up to $295k

1. How will she tackle Inequality?

Then: Clinton heavily criticized President George W. Bush for his handling of the economy in 2008. She zeroed in on jobs losses, rising inequality and no wage growth.

While the economy hadn't fallen off a cliff yet -- unemployment was 5.6% when she lost the primary race -- her inequality rhetoric resonated with many Americans.

A Republican president ineligible for another election presented an easy punching bag for Clinton on inequality.

"President Bush had one final chance tonight to acknowledge what the American people have known for years: that the economy is not working for middle class families," Clinton said of Bush's State of the Union address in January 2008.

Now: Those problems haven't changed much under President Obama, but Clinton is unlikely to throw the same darts at her former boss.

Inequality is arguably worse now, and wage growth remains the economy's sore spot. In 2008, median weekly wages were $796 -- the exact same amount at the end of 2014, adjusted for inflation, according to the Labor Department.

Clinton must carefully calculate an inequality message without distancing herself from Obama's economic achievements, experts say.

"It s a very different world" from 2008, says Gary Burtless, an economist at the Brookings Institution. "There's more anger out there about the economy and inequality. She'll modify the rhetoric she uses."

Related: The tough task of going through Hillary's emails

2. Too cozy with Wall Street?

Then: The stock market boomed during Bill Clinton's time in office. Hillary liked to remind Wall Street of that in 2008. The tech boom, free trade agreements and bull market were all hallmarks of President Clinton's economy.

Bill had cemented a relationship with Wall Street that Hillary benefited from in 2008, says Larry Sabato, a politics professor at the University of Virginia.

"She was the candidate of Wall Street" in 2008, says Sabato.

Now: Wall Street is still expected to doll out millions to Hillary's campaign, but she must tip-toe more carefully around that support, experts say. The recession generated a scathing image of the bankers who helped finance Hillary's run in '08.

Most recently, democratic senator Elizabeth Warren is hammering big banks for more reforms and could press Hillary and others to take stance as well.

Hillary will have to find the balance between appealing to the Warren democrats that want greater financial change and Clinton's loyal Wall Street donor base, experts say.

"She'll want the populist rhetoric but also the money," says Sabato. With the Clintons, "the money comes first and it may be completely separate from the rhetoric."

Related: He serves BBQ to Bill & Hillary Clinton

3. Can she connect with Main Street?

Then: Clinton ridiculed President Bush in 2008, telling USA Today that the "moneyed class" had reaped all the benefits of his economy.

As a New York senator -- and former First Lady -- she championed middle class jobs, minimum wage laws and pushed for health care reform.

Several years later, Clinton's relationship with the moneyed class is much more public and perhaps political dynamite for her economic policies during this campaign.

Now: Average Americans are still struggling. Inequality is a much bigger issue than it was eight years ago, propelling Thomas Piketty's 700-page book "Capital in the 21st Century" to bestseller status last year.

Experts say Clinton's problem will be connecting with typical Americans. Since leaving the State Department, Hillary has made a fortune on speeches and her book, on top of Bill's well-known wealth.

Knowing this perception, Clinton plans to hold small campaign events this week geared at giving face time to average folks. How Clinton tries to relate to Americans on hot topics like inequality, middle class jobs and the federal minimum wage could be key early on.

Clinton has already tried once to convince Americans she had it hard. One political slip-up came when she wrote in her book, "Hard Choices" that she and Bill were "dead broke" when they left the White House in 2001. The comment was widely viewed as out-of-touch with Main Street realities.

"It was just bizarre," says Baker. The Clinton's wealth "is not anyone's idea of flat broke."

Related: 'President' Hillary Clinton: Good for stocks?

CNNMoney (New York) April 11, 2015: 9:05 AM ET

21.29 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hillary Clinton's economic plans need an overhaul

Clinton is expected to begin her presidential campaign this weekend, yet she's stayed mum on the economy -- something she hammered on during the 2008 campaign.

"She's a blank check at this point," says Dean Baker, co-director for the Center for Economic and Policy Research. "She'll be pressed to take positions."

How Hillary approaches inequality, as well as her relationships with Wall Street and Main Street, will be key to her success in this campaign.

Here's how Hillary may shift her approach for 2016:

Related: 'Hillary' websites going for up to $295k

1. How will she tackle Inequality?

Then: Clinton heavily criticized President George W. Bush for his handling of the economy in 2008. She zeroed in on jobs losses, rising inequality and no wage growth.

While the economy hadn't fallen off a cliff yet -- unemployment was 5.6% when she lost the primary race -- her inequality rhetoric resonated with many Americans.

A Republican president ineligible for another election presented an easy punching bag for Clinton on inequality.

Now: Those problems haven't changed much under President Obama, but Clinton is unlikely to throw the same darts at her former boss.

Clinton must carefully calculate an inequality message without distancing herself from Obama's economic achievements, experts say.

Related: The tough task of going through Hillary's emails

2. Too cozy with Wall Street?

Bill had cemented a relationship with Wall Street that Hillary benefited from in 2008, says Larry Sabato, a politics professor at the University of Virginia.

"She was the candidate of Wall Street" in 2008, says Sabato.

Most recently, democratic senator Elizabeth Warren is hammering big banks for more reforms and could press Hillary and others to take stance as well.

Hillary will have to find the balance between appealing to the Warren democrats that want greater financial change and Clinton's loyal Wall Street donor base, experts say.

"She'll want the populist rhetoric but also the money," says Sabato. With the Clintons, "the money comes first and it may be completely separate from the rhetoric."

Related: He serves BBQ to Bill & Hillary Clinton

3. Can she connect with Main Street?

Then: Clinton ridiculed President Bush in 2008, telling USA Today that the "moneyed class" had reaped all the benefits of his economy.

As a New York senator -- and former First Lady -- she championed middle class jobs, minimum wage laws and pushed for health care reform.

Several years later, Clinton's relationship with the moneyed class is much more public and perhaps political dynamite for her economic policies during this campaign.

Experts say Clinton's problem will be connecting with typical Americans. Since leaving the State Department, Hillary has made a fortune on speeches and her book, on top of Bill's well-known wealth.

"It was just bizarre," says Baker. The Clinton's wealth "is not anyone's idea of flat broke."

Related: 'President' Hillary Clinton: Good for stocks?

CNNMoney (New York) April 11, 2015: 9:05 AM ET

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The Obamas paid $93,362 in federal income taxes

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama reported about the same amount of income in 2014 as they did in 2013.

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama reported $495,964 in gross income last year, according to their 2014 tax returns released by the White House on Friday afternoon.

The president's salary accounted for nearly $395,000 of that, while their net business income came to $88,181 from Random House and literary management company Dystel & Goderich. They also earned about $16,000 in taxable interest.

After accounting for $17,400 in tax-deferred retirement savings and a $1,181 deduction for the self-employment payroll taxes they paid, their adjusted gross income came to $477,383, just a little less than they earned the year before.

Related: Top 400 taxpayers' average income jumps to $336 million

So how much of all that went to Uncle Sam? The Obamas' federal income tax bite came to $93,362, or 19.6% of their AGI.

A piece of that tax burden -- $2,035 -- was attributable to the Medicare surtax on high earners that was created to help fund Obamacare.

The Obamas donated $70,712, or about 15% of their AGI, to more than 30 charities.

They also paid $22,640 in income taxes to their home state of Illinois.

CNNMoney (New York) April 10, 2015: 6:33 PM ET