The newest U.S. texting champion has a message for parents across the land - although they might not want to hear it.
"Let your kid text during dinner! Let your kid text during school! It pays off," 15-year-old Kate Moore said Tuesday after winning the LG U.S. National Texting Championship.
After all, she said: "Your kid could win money and publicity and a phone."
For the Des Moines, Iowa, teenager, her 14,000 texts-per-month habit reaped its own rewards, landing her the competition prize of $50,000 just eight months after she got her first cell phone.
Moore, with a speedy and accurate performance, beat out 20 other finalists from around the U.S. over two days of challenges such as texting blindfolded and texting while maneuvering through a moving obstacle course.
In the final showdown, she outtexted 14-year-old Morgan Dynda, of Savannah, Georgia. Both girls had to text three lengthy phrases without making any mistakes on the required abbreviations, capitalization or punctuation. Moore squeaked through by a few seconds on the tiebreaking text, getting the best two out of three. As she anxiously waited for confirmation of her win, tears streamed down her face.
The teen dismisses the idea that she focuses too much on virtual communications, saying that while she has sometimes had her phone taken away from her in school, she keeps good grades, performs in school plays and socializes with friends _ in person _ on the weekends.
In between, she finds time to send about 400 to 470 texts a day. Among her uses of the text messages? Studying for exams with friends, which she says is better done by text because she can look back at the messages to review.
The finalists, all 22 or younger, were among 250,000 people who tried to get spots in the competition. Some won their spots at the Manhattan finals by being the fastest people to text responses to televised ads.
It's the third year for the texting competition, sponsored by LG Electronics Inc.'s mobile-phones division. But it's the first time that it was held at a flashy sound stage with an illuminated platform and surrounded by TV cameras. LG, based in Seoul, South Korea, is considering using the footage in a televised special of some kind.
Twenty-year-old Jackie Boyd, who came in fifth in the competition, said she usually prefers text messages to phone calls because they get through faster and they're more private _ leaving her unworried about other people listening in.
"You can get more of what you really truly want to say" across with texting, said the Syracuse University psychology major. "Especially if it's an argument, you don't have to worry about saying the wrong thing.
"And if you don't want to respond, you can always say, 'Oh, I didn't get your text.'"
The bank was attacked by unions and customers over the party, which was being held just days after the bank raised interest rates on its variable mortgage, adding nearly $220 a year to repayments on a $300,000 homeloan.
The bank issued a statement this afternoon announcing that the party, which was to have had a 1920s gangster theme, had been postponed.
CBA spokesperson Bryan Fitzgerald said the bank acknowledged public concerns over the staging of the party in the current economic envrionment but remained committed to rewarding and recogising the contribuition of its staff.
Mr Fitzgerald added that reports that the party was to have featured Krug champagne and cavier were incorrect adding that the event was "to be of a modest scale with an Australian wine package and mini burgers".
The party had been organised for the bank's financial services dvision to celebrate the end of the financial year.
"The Bank would like to point out that the Financial Services event was a once a year function for staff of all levels in this division in lieu of a christmas party," Mr Fitzgerald said.
The bank angered homeowners and politicians late last week by announcing a 10 basis point rise in its variable mortgage interest rate.
The bank blamed higher funding costs on the move, but Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the bank’s action threatened Australia's fragile economic recovery, while Treasurer Wayne Swan called the bank “selfish”.
Mr Swan warned yesterday of community outrage if another retail bank lifts its lending rates, adding that he did not believe the decision was justified.
"I believe that if any other bank were to take a similar decision, there would be understandable community outrage," he told reporters.
Reports this morning suggested that National Australia Bank and Westpac had raised rates on their fixed mortgage interest rates while ANZ bank raised rates on its fixed rate mortgages for 10 year loans two weeks ago.
North Korea's football team have qualified for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa! They secured qualification after drawing 0-0 with Saudi Arabia in Riyadh. Both teams ended up with equal number of points on the final standings, but North Korea (also known as DPR Korea) qualify because of a better goal difference. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia will have to enter the Asian playoffs to get to the World Cup.
Commonwealth Bank of Australia will throw a party for 800 staff at a cost of nearly $100,000 just days after slugging homeowners with rise in variable interest rates.
A spokesperson for the bank confirmed that the party, which will have a 1920s gangster theme, will take place this week in Sydney. A report in the Herald Sun newspaper said the bank would spend $500,000 on the party, a claim that CBA spokesperson Bryan Fitzgerald denied.
"The cost of the event is around $100 per head," Mr Fitzgerald said. "This is the same as last year. Many of these staff will not receive any salary increase in the coming year as has already been announced by the bank."
He added that the division for whom the party is being held – the financial services division – does not have a Christmas party.
"This division has a once a year function to recognise the end of the financial year. It does not have a christmas party," Mr Fitzgerald said. "The event is a staff rewards and recognition event that reflects the hard work and long hours undertaken by the financial services team over the end of the financial year period."
The bank angered homeowners and politicians late last week by announcing a 10 basis point rise in its variable mortgage interest rate, a move set to add nearly $220 a year to payments on a $300,000 mortgage.
The bank blamed higher funding costs on the move, but Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the bank’s action threatened Australia's fragile economic recovery, while Treasurer Wayne Swan called the bank “selfish”.
Mr Swan warned yesterday of community outrage if another retail bank lifts its lending rates, adding that he did not believe the decision was justified.
"I believe that if any other bank were to take a similar decision, there would be understandable community outrage," he told reporters.
Reports this morning suggested that National Australia Bank and Westpac had raised rates on their fixed mortgage interest rates while ANZ bank raised rates on its fixed rate mortgages for 10 year loans two weeks ago.
Argentina lose another away game, this time 2-0 away to Ecuador in the high altitude of Quito. They seem to be floundering under Diego Maradona's coaching - if u can call him a coach. The Ecuador debacle came just days after Argentina narrowly & unconvincingly beat Colombia 1-0 at home. Reports say Argentina may have been a little unlucky in Ecuador, with a penalty missed when the score was stil goalless & chances created but not converted. Pffffhhh, enough with all that. And the end of the day, they didn't do the business they were supposed to do, & so it's back to the drawing board.
Submitted by Martin Myers: "90 minutes of classic British comedy (defending) set in Rome". 
In news that's hardly eyebrow-raising (but is a little depressing)...junk food is addictive. 
