With China continuing to make strides in the industrial world, American car manufacturers are bracing themselves for possible competition from the Chinese.

At the recent International Auto Show in Detroit, Chinese carmaker, Hunan Changfeng Motor Co. displayed its Liebao and Fiebao vehicles, which include a pair of small SUV’s and two pickup trucks. This follows the showing of another Chinese made car by Geely Automobile at last year’s international auto show. The fact that these companies had cars on display at the prestigious and popular auto show is seen by those in the auto industry as an indication that China could be targeting he U.S. market.

According the Associated Press American entrepreneur, Malcolm Bricklin, who was responsible for bringing the Yugo and Subaru to the USA, said “One of these days you’re going to see Chinese cars all over the place.” Bricklin wants to export Chinese cars from China to the U.S. as soon as 2009.

The unemployment rate among people with epilepsy is considerably higher than the national average — not necessarily because they have frequent seizures or can’t find jobs but because many continue to fear workplace discrimination, a new University of Florida study reveals.

The fear of discrimination at work was the major reason cited for continuing unemployment when UF researchers interviewed nearly 300 patients with epilepsy in northeast Florida and southeast Georgia in September 2005. Only about a third of patients in the study were employed. Nationally, the unemployment rate hovers at 4.5 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

The study, described in the journal Epilepsy & Behavior, describes a complex problem, said principal author Dr. Ramon Bautista, an assistant professor of neurology and director of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Program at the UF College of Medicine-Jacksonville.

Each year during the first week of January, many of us resolve to change something in our lives for the better. It may be something as simple as cleaning the garage or as difficult as losing weight or starting a savings account for retirement. And though we try, some of us are never able to follow through with the difficult commitments.

Well, how would you like some practical tips to tackle one of the difficult commitments? Say, finding the money to start the retirement savings account.

Tip # I: Control your spending – never let your spending control you.

This means, before you spend a dollar, asks yourself, do I really need this new item? And, will it enrich my life? If the answer to both is no, save your dollar.

Your Credit Score

Credit score range between 350 and 850 and jost creditors grant credit based on your FICO score. FICO scores consist of many factors about a borrower. For example, credit history, employment history, residency history and others. Therefore, maintaining stability in these areas is critical to borrowing, obtaining employment in some industries, and even renting an apartment.

Possible effects of lower credit score (Poor credit)

·           Higher cost to borrow money

·           Lower credit limit

·           Credit denial

·           May affect employment opportunity in some industries

People are diligent about some activities that protect their personal information both on and offline, but they also lack in several key areas, including not being fully aware of their credit report, according to a recent survey conducted by morefocus, an online research organization.

The results of the survey showed some contradictory behavior regarding how people handle documents containing their personal information. Eighty-six percent of those polled say they destroy documents and receipts that have personal information on them – credit card numbers, account numbers, social security numbers, etc. – before throwing them away. Yet 38 percent put outgoing mail that contains that type of personal information in an unlocked mailbox for the postal carrier to pick up.

Additionally, aljost 40 percent of those surveyed keep a vital piece of information – their social security card – in their wallet or purse.

"It's interesting to note that many people will take the time to destroy papers with personal info before they toss them in the trash, yet they'll turn around and leave similar papers out on their front porch for the mail carrier," said Dr. Regan Carey, Research Director. "People are missing the mark on some of the jost basic steps in preventing a stolen identity."