Technology continues to march on at warp speed—but we, as consumers, apparently aren’t always so willing, ready and able to go along for the ride; no matter how bigger, better, faster or more awe-inspiring the newest toy may be. Take 3DTV. 3DTV—really?

I am still trying to identify all of my HDTV channels and trying to figure out the technology that must exist to enable them to pop up automatically whenever I turn on the TV instead of having to hunt for them. And, now I have to prep myself for 3DTV? I’m a little hesitant.

(NNPA)—In the 1930s movie classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” a family run savings and loan was the only opportunity in a town for working families to secure a mortgage and know the pride of home ownership. Fast forward to 2009, and the available financial tools to home ownership are still elusive, especially for people of color. According to the recently released Home Mortgage Data Act Report, last year African-Americans and Latinos experienced “notably higher” application denial rates than those experienced by White applicants. Moreover, this disparity existed even when taking risk factors into account whether the application was for a home purchase or refinance of an existing loan.

Business series

OCT. 7—The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh will host their Business Program Series at 12:15-1 p.m. at the Downtown and Business branch, 612 Smithfield St. The topic is “Grants and Loans for Qualifying Individuals.” James Lutton, nonprofit consultant will lead the session and discuss how to research grants and low-interest loans in the database and on the Internet. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 412-281-7141.

Washington, D.C.— Annual data released by the U.S Census Bureau indicates that 43.6 million Americans—one in seven people—now live in poverty. This is the largest number of people in poverty in the 51 years for which the estimates are available. The figures also show that African-Americans experience poverty at a much higher rate than whites.

“It’s troubling that in one of the world’s wealthiest nations, one in four African-American households struggle to provide for their families,” said Bishop Don Dixon Williams of Bread for the World’s Church Relations department. “The vast disproportion in poverty rates between African-Americans and Whites suggests that we must urge our nation’s leaders to do more to end poverty and hunger.”