June 2013

A startup company in Washington named Viableware is making dining out a more enjoyable experience for diners, and less stressful for servers.  Viableware is building a portable device that provides diners with digital versions of restaurant checks, allowing them to automatically swipe their credit cards and collect receipts, without waiting on a server.

Last week, the American Medical Association (AMA) labelled one-third of the US population as diseased for being overweight.  The declaration was immediately criticized by many self-identified “fat” people, who proudly advocate their lifestyles through organizations like ‘Health At Every Size’ (HAES).

The AMA is criticized by health advocates for putting business ahead of promoting good health.  Groups like the HAES argue that taking a dogmatic approach to weight loss often results in a person eating poorly, which in many cases increases the likelihood of anorexia.

Outrage over higher flood insurance rates was the catalyst for an unusual alliance between Democrats and Republicans.  Bipartisan lawmakers near the Gulf Coast are challenging reforms to the National Flood Insurance Program, and demanding proposed premium hikes be shelved to help homeowners who are still rebuilding from Hurricane Katrina.

The National Flood Insurance Program is run by FEMA, which charged flood insurance premiums that averaged around 45 percent of their full cost.  State and federal taxes financed the rest of the premiums. 

The housing market was awaiting an update from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke regarding the country’s QE3 stimulus spending.  The tone taken by the Fed, and Bernanke’s suggestions of an early withdrawal of stimulus sent stock markets tumbling near the end of the week.