CARACAS, Venezuela (CNN) -- Venezuelan voters narrowly rejected a constitutional referendum that would have bolstered President Hugo Chavez's embrace of socialism and granted an indefinite extension of his eligibility to serve as president, the National Electoral Council reported early Monday.

In the battle between record companies and Internet users over copyright issues, an 18-month-old baby dancing to Prince's "Let's Go Crazy" finds himself smack in the middle.

Stephanie Lenz posted a 29-second video clip of her son dancing to the Prince track back in February, according to ABC News. In June, she received an email from YouTube saying that her video had been removed at the request of Universal Music Publishing Group, and that she could have her YouTube account canceled in the event of any future copyright infringements.

In response to Universal's "takedown notice," Lenz filed a "counter-notice" and her video was restored six weeks later. For its part, YouTube told ABC that they are bound by provisions in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act to honor all takedown and counter-notices.

In a statement released to ABC, Universal said, "Prince believes it is wrong for YouTube, or any user-generated site, to appropriate his music without his consent ... It's simply a matter of principle."

Clouds Hover Over High-Yield Bonds

With many signs indicating that it is still the best of times for credit markets, it could well be another summer of smooth sailing for speculative-grade bond investors.

But a confluence of events this week -- including a selloff in Treasurys and the announcement of about $11 billion in junk-bond issuance -- combined with a lingering disbelief that conditions have remained so good for so long, have many sounding decidedly more cautious on junk or "high yield" bonds. And that doesn't include mega offers on the horizon such as First Data Corp.'s $8 billion deal and Alltel Corp.'s $7.7 billion offering.

At the New York Society of Security Analysts' annual high-yield bond conference this past week, the mood remained generally upbeat, but market participants sounded a surprisingly uniform tone of skepticism.

10 Credit Card Myths that put your credit scores at risk.

MYTH #1: You Should Avoid Using Credit Cards - FALSE!

This is just unbelievable! Click here to read an article in the January 10, 2007 issue of American Chronicle that actually advocates that consumers stop using their credit cards, pay off everything, and go to an all-cash plan. That may be a good way to get rid of debt, but it's utter destruction to your credit score. Why? Because per Fair Isaac, the creator of the credit scoring system, there are 5 factors that make up your credit score, one of which is how you use and manage your credit card debt-a factor that makes up 30% of your score. That's 255 points!

In order to prove to the scoring system that you know how to manage revolving debt, you MUST have active credit card accounts. Use your cards every month, for groceries, gas, etc. and pay them off every month. If you do not have a credit card at this time and your scores are under 650, immediately apply for an on-line secured credit card at one of the following banks: www.orchardbank.com or www.firstpremierbankcards.com. If your scores are high enough (ask your bank what the score requirements are), you may want to consider going to your bank to apply for a card. Exception: Do not apply for credit of any type when you are about to enter into or have already entered into a loan transaction. New Credit temporarily brings down your score due to the debt and the new account.

Click here to read another article advising consumers not to use their credit cards.

Click here to read yet another article advising consumers to use cash instead of credit cards.

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jasonpye

Republicans said Monday during their House caucus meeting that the time is ripe for restructuring the state's tax system. The GOP maintained its lock on the state House of Representatives, Senate and Governor's Mansion and picked up the lieutenant governor's office.

House Majority Leader Jerry Keen (R-St. Simons Island) received a standing ovation at the meeting when he pitched the tax cut. "As we dismantle the current tax code, let's put it back together in a simple, fairer, flatter manner," Keen told the GOP lawmakers moments before they re-elected him House majority leader. "And when it gets to that portion on personal income tax, maybe we will leave that section out and we won't have that anymore in this state."

The issue now goes to the House Ways and Means Committee for a study. Keen said he wants to see a resolution within two years. But House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) suggested it may take up to four years.

-No exit polls this year.

-Turnout is unusually high – much higher than expected – in many states, including Maryland and Virginia, where senate races are very close. As to who benefits from high turnout, both sides say it benefits them.

-Final polls predicted Democrats would take House, but not Senate. But pollsters also expected low turnout.

-Many of the Republican seats in contention are on the East coast, meaning control of the House should be decided before West Coast polls close. Senate control may not be known until tomorrow or later, according to DC pundits.

-All reporters who have contacted me today are working on gridlock-is-good-for-the-markets stories. They all figure that whichever party wins, neither will have a mandate.

Name? Andrew Richardson
What brings you here? "Beautiful people, beautiful clothes."
What kind of sunglasses are those? "No name."
Why are you wearing them inside? "Why not? They match my shirt."

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The Justice Department filed an immediate notice of appeal to the Sixth Circuit Court, and asked Judge Taylor to stay her ruling pending the outcome of the appeal. Both sides agreed to a stay while that request is pending in District Court, the Department said in a statement. (That statement can be found here.) The Department called the NSA program "an essential tool for the intelligence community in the War on Terror." It repeated the government claim that the Constitution "gives the President the full authority necessary" to "protect the American people."

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