Technology Slice Blog

Plane Crash in Chicago Crystal Lake - Four people from out of state were killed this morning when a plane crashed near northwest suburban Crystal Lake. The single-engine aircraft crashed about 10:30 a.m. in a farm field near U.S. Hwy. 14 and North Ridgefield Road in unincorporated McHenry County, officials said. There was no information available about where the plane took off or where it was headed, said FAA officials, who also said the plane was operating on "visual flight rules" and was not in touch with air traffic control. The victims are two men and two women who all appear to be age 18 or older, according to McHenry County Deputy Coroner Curt Bradshaw. “They have not been positively identified,’’ Bradshaw said Saturday evening. “We only have presumptive identities.’’ Bradshaw said the victims are not from Illinois and authorities are trying to reach their family members, who are also out of state. They were all pronounced dead on the scene and autopsies are sche...

Hidden Costs of Divorce - Child support, mortgage payments and attorney fees are the bulk of expenses in a divorce. To keep costs down many people opt for the pro se route — the Do-It-Yourself divorce solution — and represent themselves. Since the other expenses are typically fixed, and an attorney’s final invoice billed at hundreds of dollars an hour is a variable amount, the DIY route is an attractive solution for budget-conscious parents. However, the price tag of a DIY divorce isn’t calculated during the divorce process. Down the line parents usually discover they had a right to certain property, funds or child custody. Visiting court and filing motions to modify comes with their own expenses. If someone has their heart set on the DIY divorce route they should still consult an attorney. An initial consult with an attorney will cost a couple hundred dollars, but the information about divorce laws and state laws could pay for itself tenfold. "With consults, fathers can get ...

Nick Swisher in Afghanistan - Yankee outfielder Nick Swisher is finally taking his new wife, JoAnna Garcia, on a honeymoon -- to Afghanistan, the New York Post reported Wednesday. Swisher and actress Garcia, a star of ABC's "Better Without You," plan to visit U.S. troops in November, marking their first trip since they married in December 2010. Speaking to the Post at the Yankees Unite for Tornado Relief event at Southern Hospitality Hell's Kitchen in New York, Swisher said, "Three military officers came to the Yankee locker room and asked if any of us would like to visit the troops. My hand went straight up, I said, 'I'm in.' I knew Joanna would want to go. It will be our first trip since we got married." "I come from a military family ... and no matter what your views are, these men and women are out there risking everything for us. I realize how fortunate I have been, so I like to give back at every opportunity I can," he added. ...

Obama Classic Basketball Game - President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign is bringing together more than two dozen NBA stars for a fundraising basketball game next month. Obama’s campaign says Carmelo Anthony(notes) of the New York Knicks, Ray Allen(notes) of the Boston Celtics, Chris Bosh(notes) of the Miami Heat and many others will headline the “Obama Classic Basketball Game” on Dec. 12 in Washington. With the NBA season in jeopardy because of the lockout, the game will serve as a fundraising All-star game. Others confirmed to play include Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant(notes), New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul(notes) and Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard(notes). Tickets range from $100 to $5,000 for courtside seats. The money will go to the Obama Victory Fund, a joint fundraising account by the Democratic Party and Obama’s re-election campaign. Obama Classic Basketball Game

How to Maximize Social Security Benefits - In 1935, the U.S. established Social Security, motivated by the Great Depression. Approximately, two-thirds of U.S. retirees count on the mandated supplemental retirement program for most of their retirement income, which sustains them for the remainder of their lives and keeps them out of poverty. The government funds this mandated program through payroll taxes, collecting a percentage of paychecks automatically for the Social Security fund. This provides benefits to retirees and current Social Security recipients. You can apply for as much as 50 percent of your spouse's social security benefit payout if your spouse's benefit is higher than yours. You can gain from this provision when one spouse never worked outside the home or when one spouse has lower earnings than the other. The lower-earning spouse can receive 50 percent of the spouse's benefit when the spouse reaches full retirement age. How to Maximize Social Security B...

Billy Bob Daughter - The estranged daughter of actor Billy Bob Thornton has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the 2008 death of a child in her care. Amanda Brumfield, 32, was convicted of manslaughter earlier this year. Authorities say Brumfield killed her best friend's daughter during an overnight stay in October 2008. Brumfield says 1-year-old Olivia Madison Garcia was trying to climb out of a playpen and hit her head. The defense suggested the fall may have aggravated a previous injury, causing her death. Prosecutors say it's impossible that a fall from that height caused a three-and-a-half inch (9-centimeter) fracture on the back of the girl's skull and the bleeding and swelling found in her brain. Brumfield's father, Billy Bob Thornton, is best known for the movie "Slingblade" and his marriage to Angelina Jolie. Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2011/10/06/billy-bob-thorntons-estranged-daughter-sentenced-to-20-years-for-killi...

Is Anywhere Safe to Invest your Money? - When it comes to investing, you can go two ways. You can look for the highest returns, but in order to get those high returns you need to take a higher amount of risk. Or you can choose safe investments to keep your principal protected. While these safer investments might not earn as much, there is no risk that the money will evaporate the next time the stock market enters a bear market phase. A money market account works much the same as a savings account, but the interest rate tends to be higher. The minimum balance requirement might be higher too, so make sure you have enough liquid cash to open the account. A money market account is a good place to stash your emergency fund, and as you add more money to the account, the amount of interest you earn goes up as well. Be sure to shop around for the best rate, since the interest rates on money market accounts can vary quite widely. Treasury securities provide absolute safety and security for i...