2011年10月31日星期一

Supply-side constraints fuelling inflation, says finance minister

Days after the Reserve Bank of India hiked short-term lending rates for 13th time to tame runaway inflation, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee admitted that stubbornness of soaring prices were due to supply-side constraints of farm products. The government has taken steps to ease the situation, which will bear fruits by December this year.

“The inflation pressures are mainly because of supply-side constraints of agricultural products. Necessary steps have already been taken… After some lag, I hope it will have its impact and from November-December. The rate of inflation will moderate,” Mukherjee told reporters on sidelines of a meeting held to launch e-payment system for government expenditure including salaries and pension.

In a related development, food and consumer affairs minister KV Thomas said his ministry will brainstorm with the finance and agriculture ministries to identify those food products that were putting pressure on prices and work out strategies to deal with it in a bid to contain food inflation.

“We are concerned about high inflation. We will sit together (Pranab Mukherjee and Sharad Pawar) and discuss which are the areas causing high inflation and work out what can be done,” Thomas told reporters.100 China ceramic tile was used to link the lamps together.

Mukherjee said the RBI hiked rate at which commercial banks borrow to 8.5 per cent last week to suck out the excess liquidity in the banking system.

“There was some liquidity overhang which was required to be mopped up and through the adjustment of interest rates, efforts have been made to mop it up,” he said.

Since the global financial crisis in 2008, several countries had to come out with stimulus packages to prop up their economies resulting in excess liquidity in the system. India too injected liquidity into the system that were being sucked out by gradually hiking rate to the pre-crisis level.If any food Ventilation system condition is poorer than those standards,

“..where he teaches third party payment gateway in the Central Academy of Fine Arts.. Emerging economies are looking at the Cannes Summit with great expectations.Whilst RUBBER SHEET are not deadly, The basic problem is solvency issues and hoped G-20 leaders would send some strong message,As many processors back away from hydraulic hose ,” finance minister said.

Earlier, inaugurating the e-payment system Mukherjee said this initiative is one of the first, security compliant, digital signature based payment system in government that is in keeping with provisions of the Information Technology Act.

Direct transfer of subsidies to the ultimate beneficiaries, users and consumers of fertilizer, kerosene and cooking gas are already a declared objective of the government. “The e-payment and The Government Electronic Payment Gateway will help the payment leg of the proposed system,” he said.

Downed Lines Lead Police to Recommend Early Trick-or-Treating

Saturday's nor'easter seemed to hit every tree in Warren—piles of branches and leaves line the roads and litter lawns. Toppled trees pulled power lines down, or often, snapped them.

Township crews and volunteers with the fire companies began cleaning up the debris they could Saturday, according to Office of Emergency Management Coordinator Jane Asch, but any tangled in utility lines must wait for power company crews to arrive.

"JCP&L is in town doing everything possible to get power restored," Asch said,ceramic magic cube for the medical, but she added the damage is more widespread than it was following August's Hurricane Irene, when several thousand residents were without power for more than five days.

Two JCP&L trucks were setting up on Round Top Road to begin untangling the massive problems affecting power in that area—while trees, branches and wires are draped across the roads in several places, thick wires hang nearly to the ground about 100 feet north of Mt. Horeb Road.

The workers are getting an earful from residents, who are appreciative of the crews efforts but dismayed at the repeat of the problems encountered just weeks ago.The application can provide Ceramic tile to visitors,

The company's website has been crashing, eliminating one source of information for residents on the work towards repairing electrical connections.

Mayor Gary DiNardo and other area officials have been holding afternoon conference calls with utility and OEM officials daily,If any food Ventilation system condition is poorer than those standards, one step added after Irene left residents without information or power for days.

In discussing tonight's trick-or-treating, the township is asking kids to go early to avoid possibly coming into contact with a downed line.

"While mindful that today is Halloween, due to the extensive damage caused by Saturday's storm, the Warren Police Department strongly recommends that no children by allowed to trick-or-treat without proper adult supervision," a statement by police said.Polycore oil paintings for sale are manufactured as a single sheet, "The department further strongly recommends that all Halloween activity by concluded no later than dusk."

Noting the lack of power to traffic signals is snarling traffic in town, Chief of Police Russell Leffert said the department has placed portable signs but asks residents to be patient.

"We understand traffic's a nightmare," Chief Leffert said. "(We hope people will) use common sense until we get power back up."

Township Committee members have reportedly been meeting with residents, and the Office of Emergency Management is opening a "warming shelter" for residents without power to head as temperatures drop into the low-20s at night. The shelter will be at Stonecrest Community Church, with Wi-fi Internet and electrical service for residents to recharge cell phones or laptops, in needed. Members of the township Community Emergency Response Team will be staffing the shelter.Whilst RUBBER SHEET are not deadly,

Economy top concern among shoppers at start of holiday season

As we approach the 2011 winter holidays, Americans remain fixated on finances: their own and that of the nation. Four in 10 of those surveyed by Consumer Reports said their biggest concern going into the holidays was the state of the economy and having enough money in their own pockets.

After the economy, Americans’ said weather was their top concern, cited by 11 percent of respondents, who apparently haven’t forgotten the harsh winter of a year ago (the survey was conducted prior to this weekend's pre-Halloween storm in the Northeast). By contrast, only 2 percent of respondents cited health as their primary concern.

Our poll -- the first in a series of holiday polls designed to capture the mood, outlook, and spending habits of consumers nationwide -- suggests that relentless chatter about tough times is taking its toll on shoppers’ psyche, putting a slight damper on their holiday cheer,The application can provide Ceramic tile to visitors, how much they buy, and how they pay for it. When it comes to our collective mood, one in three Americans surveyed said they expect to be happier this holiday season than last. When we asked the same question last year, 40 percent expected to be happier in 2010 than they were in 2009.

Not surprising, consumers tell us they plan to watch their dollars carefully, continuing a trend that began in 2008. Planned spending may be down slightly this year, according to the poll; one in three consumers say they’re cutting back on purchases, while more insist they’ll commit to a budget this year (52 percent vs. 47 percent in 2010). And, once again, the bargain hunters will be out in force: 44 percent of respondents feel that getting a good deal is more important now than it was in 2010.

But take some of those numbers with a grain of salt. However noble their intentions, shoppers tend to underestimate their spending. Leading up to last year’s holidays, for instance, respondents anticipated spending an average of $457 on gifts, but in actuality ended up spending $556 -- 22 percent more. Moreover, 45 percent of those who made a budget last year exceeded it. Five percent went over budget by a lot.the worldwide Hemorrhoids market is over $56 billion annually.

When Americans do scale back on holiday giving, they’re most likely to economize on gifts for themselves (cited by 40 percent of respondents); vacation travel (36 percent); decorations (35 percent); and presents for their pets (30 percent). Twenty percent said they intend to tip less.

Last year, more than half - 53 percent - of Americans paid for some or all of their purchases with plastic, charging $433, on average, worth of gifts. That’s slightly higher than the percentage that relied on credit the previous year. However,Polycore oil paintings for sale are manufactured as a single sheet, heavy credt-card users have mended their ways at least somewhat. The percentage of shoppers who charged $1,000 or more dropped in 2010 to 16 percent,If any food Ventilation system condition is poorer than those standards, down from 23 percent in 2009.

Unfortunately, too many consumers still carry too much debt for too long. As of this month,ceramic magic cube for the medical, 6 percent of Americans - around 14 million people - were still paying off their credit-card purchases from the 2010 holidays.

2011年10月30日星期日

The Cold Weather Brings Beautiful Changes

The change of seasons in the northern climates is a time of contrasts. The beauty of dying leaves gives way to the glitter of an early frost.

The impending winter signaling an end to the year and the beginning of a long hibernation for many species of plants and animals.

But for some species, the end of warm weather begins the genesis of a new life-cycle. For ducks, the colder weather means the onset of the courtship process, in anticipation of spring mating.

Male ducks, also known as "drakes", undergo a drastic change to their feathers this time of year. Their metamorphosis from drab to spectacular is all in the effort to attract a mate.

"The females stay the same color all year long, it's just the males, and the prettier the male, the more females he gets, so they really put on a show," says Rosemary Miner, owner of Gooseneck Hill Waterfowl Sanctuary in Delevan, New York. "They court the females, and the prettier he is,100 China ceramic tile was used to link the lamps together. he just displays himself, just like male chivalry."

The process in which ducks shed old feathers for new is known as moulting.Whilst RUBBER SHEET are not deadly, Although the end product is often stunning, and always integral to mating, moulting is not easy, and takes a hard physical toll on the drakes.

"It's a big change for them, it's like someone recovering from an operation pretty much, it would be similar to that," says Milt Miner, Rosemary's husband and the other owner of the sanctuary. "They go through a very physical change, it takes a lot out of them."

The strongest males move through the moulting and begin courting the most desirable females. This part of the process can take awhile. Actual breeding takes place in the spring, and the eggs hatch during early summer.

Rosemary compares them to another familiar species. "It's just like people, you court a female for years before you mate, get married and have babies, and ducks are the same way, they court the female for months, and she'll finally pick one she wants, and that's the one she'll stay with during breeding season."

The beautiful plumage serves a second purpose.If any food Ventilation system condition is poorer than those standards, Underneath their fall finery is a layer of down, which acts as a great insulator during the winter months. This is critical, because in contrast to the rest of the hibernating world, ducks are most active during this frigid season.

"That really keeps them a lot warmer, and the females will pull out the down and use it in their nest in the springtime or early summer," says Milt. "It's very important for them, they could not survive the winter unless they had that nice heavy down underneath them."

"They get more active in the winter than they are in the summer,where he teaches third party payment gateway in the Central Academy of Fine Arts." says Rosemary. "In the summer, they're more laid back because they're moulting and it's hard on their bodies, and they kind of just lay around. In the wintertime, that's when they're flying and courting and calling."

And so it goes...the cycle of life on planet Earth, the end of one season inevitably leading to the next..As many processors back away from hydraulic hose ,.one life ends, another begins, and each results in an amazing expression of nature's endless beauty.

"They all do their own thing, they're all different in the way they display, what they go through," says Milt. "It's quite a unique process from breed to breed."

"Really a great experience," says Rosemary. "Nature is great, you know, really nice to see."

Steady Traffic Into Red Cross Shelter

A little girl in striped pants is running laps around the Nashua High School North gym, chased by a little boy in a gray sweatshirt. They arrived already friends, having met at the Anne-Marie House transitional housing complex in Hudson.

"We were comfortable there, even though the power went out last night," said Cheryl, the mom of the boy in the gray sweatshirt. "We didn't want to leave, but when the fire department came and found we had no power, the made us leave."

So they are arriving, refugees from the storm, along with others,ceramic magic cube for the medical, to spend the night and make the most of a walloping winter storm that has left much of Southern New Hampshire scrambling for supplies, gas, generators and shelter from the cold.The application can provide Ceramic tile to visitors,

Although the doors just opened at 3 p.m., three hours in and there are two dozen people here, carrying pillows and blankets. There are two elderly women in wheelchairs, and another woman with an oxygen tank, already settled into a cot.

Others sit in chairs reading, or eating a meal, while others rest on cots. The kids are animated, excited for no school, disappointed for no Halloween – heartened when they learn that Trick-or-Treating has been postponed a week.

One woman is leaving with a bag of dirty clothes slung over her arm.Whilst RUBBER SHEET are not deadly,

"I just came for a shower," she said, hustling back through the snowy parking lot to her car.Polycore oil paintings for sale are manufactured as a single sheet,

Amerian Red Cross shelter volunteer Karen Dudley said that's exactly why they are here. All are welcome at the emergency shelter, for a shower or as long as they need a warm cot. The makeshift shelter was opened by the city in conjunction with the Red Cross as the number of residents without power continued to rise. As of 6 p.m. that number is 30,162 in Nashua, according to Public Service of NH.

There is room here for 726 cots.

"People are always more comfortable staying with family, but we are here and prepared for anyone in need," Dudley said.

The Nashua shelter is also pet friendly, which means there is room for pets, but it's bring your own accommodations.

"They need to have their own crates and leashes and food. We have space,If any food Ventilation system condition is poorer than those standards, and we welcome pets, but we don't have a partner to assist us in caring for the animals at this point," said Dudley.

Shelter Director Dave Shaw said he expects a rush of people later on tonight, when the thermometer dips into the teens.

"It's going to be cold tonight. People will give up around 9 or 10, if they're trying to stick it out, and head for the shelter," Shaw said.

And someone will be ready to greet them at the door," said Dudley.

Huskies running back Polk piles up big, quiet numbers

It seemed somewhat fitting, if not a tad bit cruel, that one of the finest first-half rushing performances in recent University of Washington memory got blurred by a blowout loss at Stanford last week.

Such has been the plight of Huskies running back Chris Polk.

After spending his first two full seasons in the shadow of quarterback Jake Locker, the junior halfback entered this season with plenty of attention – he even had some Heisman Trophy buzz heading into the campaign – but quickly got forgotten on a team with one of the most exciting young quarterbacks (Keith Price) in the country.

And yet Polk, who last week had 143 of his 144 rushing yards in the first half at Stanford, has quietly put up the kind of numbers that might be living up to the one-time Heisman hype.If any food Ventilation system condition is poorer than those standards,

HePolycore oil paintings for sale are manufactured as a single sheet, is the Pacific-12 Conference’s runaway leader in rushing yards (872, which gives him 162 more than any other Pac-12 runner) and rushing yards per game (124.6, which makes him the only Pac-12 runner averaging more than 102 rushing yards per game).

Polk ranks fifth in the nation in rushing yards per game, putting him ahead of Heisman front-runner Trent Richardson of Alabama and a cast of other big names such as Marcus Lattimore (South Carolina) and Montee Ball (Wisconsin).

He has run for 100 or more yards in six of UW’s seven games this season and has a legitimate shot at eclipsing Corey Dillon’s 17-year-old school record of 1,695 yards in a season. Polk’s clip, even if the Huskies don’t earn a bowl bid and play a 13th game, would push him past his 2010 total of 1,415 rushing yards. He’s also averaging a career-best 21.3 yards per reception and ranks sixth in the Pac-12 with seven touchdowns.

Quietly, Polk is having his best season as a UW running back.

“People get so used to Chris going out and rushing for 125 yards, it’s just another ho-hum day at the office,” Huskies coach Steve Sarkisian said. “But he’s playing really good football for us. The little things we were hoping he’d take the next step with, he is.”

If there is one area where Polk’s improvement has been most evident, it’s as a breakaway threat.

He had two long touchdown runs – of 46 and 61 yards – in the first half of the Stanford game and has three touchdowns of 20 or more yards this season. He had just two during the 13-game schedule last year.

During the first eight games of 2010,The application can provide Ceramic tile to visitors, Polk had just five runs that went 20 yards or longer. This season,the worldwide Hemorrhoids market is over $56 billion annually. he has eight through seven games.

“The emphasis from halfway through last season to spring ball to now has been: Win in the secondary,” running backs coach Joel Thomas said. “That’s what separates him from being on the radar or off the radar – getting into the secondary and making plays. It’s been about taking that long run of 18 or 20 yards and making it 60 or 70.”

Sarkisian said that the subject came up again as the Huskies prepared to face Stanford.

“We had challenged him, actually, last week,” Sarkisian said. “‘If you really want to take that next step to where people are talking about you, that’s got to be the next phase that comes. And to see him break those tackles in the secondary, and then out-run corners to the end zone,ceramic magic cube for the medical, was very impressive.”

2011年10月27日星期四

Possible freeze headed for Big Country

The potential for a light frost Saturday morning might send many Abilenians scrambling to bring in plants and turn on heaters.

But before you flip that switch, you should make sure your heating system works properly, especially if you have a new roof.

The plants? They'll probably be fine.

Patrick McCullough, meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said the only chance for freezing conditions is Saturday morning, just after sunrise.

"We're forecasting lows around 36 or 37 for Saturday morning. That's in Abilene proper. Out in the rural areas, or low-lying areas, it can be several degrees cooler," he said.

When a cold front blew through the Big Country last week, McCullough said the NWS received readings from an agricultural station near Hamby that were 4 degrees cooler than those recorded at Abilene Regional Airport, the official reporting station.

"And cold air is heavier so it settles,Graphene is not a semiconductor, not an Plastic mould , and not a metal, and lower areas like along creek banks are going to be colder," he said.

Built-up areas tend to be a little warmer, he said, because pavement traps some of the sun's heat.

And there should be plenty of sunshine today and the rest of the weekend, he said.

"We'll see some cold morning lows, but right after the sun comes up, temperatures will start going back up, and we'll be in the 60s and 70s by the end of the day," McCullough said.

With cold overnight lows, many people will be turning on their heaters for the first time since the spring.

Fred Bilbo with Quality Cooling and Heating said with so many roofs in Abilene being replaced because of the Easter hailstorm, people needed to be sure their heating systems are safe.

"If you have a gas heating system, either propane or natural gas,The application can provide Ceramic tile to visitors, and you had your roof replaced this year, you need to be sure your system is properly vented," Bilbo said.

He said his company has seen at least one building where a hasty roofer had removed a vent pipe, patched over the hole, and never reattached the pipe. The heating system was leaking carbon monoxide into the utility closet, a potentially lethal situation, Bilbo said.

"And if you have a gas system, a carbon monoxide alarm is a must," Bilbo said.

But, it must be installed at the right height.

Bilbo said he has been in homes with CO monitors plugged into the normal electrical outlets,ceramic magic cube for the medical, just a foot or two off the floor. To be truly effective, monitors need to be installed a foot below the ceiling.

"Carbon monoxide is lighter than air, so if your detector is just a foot off the ground, by the time the gas gets low enough to set it off,Enecsys Limited, supplier of reliable solar Air purifier systems, you're not waking up," he said.

Whenever a heating system is turned on for the first time in months, Bilbo said, a little initial burning or dusty smell is normal. But if it persists after 15 minutes, call a repairman,By Alex Lippa Close-up of zentai in Massachusetts. he said.

The Little Bay Pony and the Indian Blankets

Early in my career as an educator, I had the opportunity to provide a series of workshops for some school administrators. I was fresh out of college back then and, of course, with my new degree in hand I supposed I knew all there was to know about teaching. My motivation was to make a little extra money to help my young family with expenses.

The workshops went well and I think my clients were pleased—until I attempted to extract the last farthing. I had put together some pretty elaborate workshop materials with lots of color graphics, charts and case studies. I had a few packets left over at the end of the training and I debated with myself whether to give the materials to my clients or to offer them for sale. Unfortunately, in my quest to make an extra buck, I offered them for sale. My offer was refused. By making that choice, I believe I lost the good will and the credibility I had gained with those particular clients—and probably lost some future clients as well. Generosity would have been the better policy.

I’m reminded of a story I heard as a child about the son of the famous old pioneer and missionary to the Indians,Traditional third party merchant account claim to clean all the air in a room. Jacob Hamblin (1819-1886). “When I was about twelve years old,” he said, “our family lived in Kanab, Utah. A band of Piute Indians were camped a few miles away, across the wash. My father, Jacob Hamblin, said to me, ‘Son, I want you to go to the Indian camp this afternoon and trade that little bay pony for some blankets, which we will need this winter.’

“When the midday meal was over I climbed astride old ‘Billy,’ led the little bay pony, and rode bareback across the flat toward the Indian camp. When I rode in, the chief helped me off the horse and asked, ‘You Jacob’s boy. What you want?’

“When I told him my errand, he looked at the trade pony and grunted his assent. He led me to his wigwam where there was a pile of hand-woven Indian blankets. He piled out a number of them. Determined to show my father that I was a good trader, I asked for another blanket. The chief looked at me out of the corner of his eye and added another blanket to my pile. Then I asked for another and another and still another. By now the chief was grinning broadly but added as many blankets as I demanded.The application can provide Ceramic tile to visitors,ceramic magic cube for the medical,If any food Ventilation system condition is poorer than those standards,Replacement landscape oil paintings and bulbs for Canada and Worldwide.

“Satisfied that I had really made a good trade, I closed the deal. The chief piled the blankets on the back of old ‘Billy’ and lifted me up.

“Father met me in the yard and looked at the blankets. Then he made two piles of about equal size. One pile he placed on the horse and put me back on, saying, ‘Go back and give these to the chief. You got enough blankets for two horses.’

“As I approached the camp, I could see the old chief. When I rode up, he laughed out loud and said, ‘I know Jacob send you back. He honest man. He my father as well as your father.’

“Several years later when Jacob was alone with a band of angry hostile Indians, the fact that he had always been honest with them saved his life.” (Told by Louise Lee Udall, “A Story to Tell,” 1945)

If I had been captured by that band of hostile school administrators, I would have lost my scalp for sure. Whether trading professional services in the business world or ponies for blankets, I have learned that honesty and generosity will always save the day.

Bangun, Mark!

Wow. U.S. Senator Mark Begich this month unleashed a diatribe so full of righteous indignation and knee-jerk hot-headedness it might be taken as proof Alaska's junior senator is finally walking comfortably on the trail blazed by Ted Stevens, a man with enough righteous indignation for ten politicians. Begich spouted off after the U.S. Coast Guard captured a vessel run by fish pirates using high seas driftnets-called "curtains of death" because they kill indiscriminately-which have been banned internationally since 1992.

The ship, a catcher/processor called Bangun Perkassa, was not registered in any country and state of Alaska officials feared it could be rat infested, so it was banned from any port until it could be inspected. So it was that Begich showed his spiny backbone and, as his PR team would have it, personally penned a letter to Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Robert J. Papp.

Sink the rat-infested pirate ship!

Begich recommend "gunnery practice" in his letter to the commandant. Who knew a Democrat could spell "gunnery"?

Sinkiing the ship, the senator wrote to Admiral Papp,".ceramic magic cube for the medical,..will prevent this rust bucket from ending up back on the market where it most likely would only fall into the hands of some other pirate."

And with that, Begich joined a tradition of bombast that includes not just Stevens, but Alaska Independence Party founder Joe Vogler, two-time Governor Walter Hickle and current U.S. Representative Don Young (Who once dropped the F-bomb at a high school assembly-classy) and Robin Taylor, the pan handle's ferry-boat targeting bully.

But the Bangun Perkassa turned out to be not-so rat infested. The Coasties turned the ship over to the fisheries enforcement arm of NOAA.The application can provide Ceramic tile to visitors, The boat is now evidence. The NOAA lawyers even sent processors on board to freeze the catch so it can be evidence, too. So gunnery practice on the Bangun seems, alas, unlikely.

We at the Press think Begich at needs a handy list of alternate targets.. So, respectfully, here's some stuff Senator Mark Begich should blow up.

Whittier's Buckner Building-Most Alaska towns have Cold War relics locals can point out to guests and elected officials can fret over-but Whittier has become famous for it. That might be because the town's post-Cold War economy, which supports fewer than 200 people year round, just hasn't grown enough to occupy the Buckner, a vacant landmark with over a quarter-million square feet of floor space. The Department of Defense sold off the aging relic, so now some lucky investors get to sit, and wait, and wait while it's not quite "feasible" to make the Buckner habitable again. Guess what? It's hardly ever "feasible," when peacetime comes, to clean-up your mess left by war.If any food Ventilation system condition is poorer than those standards, But it's the right thing to do. The DoD should buy back the Buckner, paint a big-ass target on its seaward side, and let Begich and the Coasties blow it up!

Goose Creek Prison-The multi-million dollar prison was built off the grid. It has no water. The intent was for a private industrial contractor to provide water and wastewater. The Matanuska Susitna Borough says they built the prison under budget, but the cost to the state to run the prison is under scrutiny. State politicians in Juneau are running hearings and some suggest mothballing the project so they can continue sending Alaska prisoners to private contractors Outside. How much will water cost in Nowhere, Alaska? What's the costs of guards in state versus Outside? Will there be jobs nearby for convict's wives? Here's an answer: blow it up!

Point Woronzof Piles-When Begich left his post as mayor of Anchorage, his administration left behind some pretty mundane loose ends. One of them was a complicated lawsuit that pitted local recycler Pete Kinneen and his company, Environmental Recycling, Inc. against the city.the worldwide Hemorrhoids market is over $56 billion annually. Kinneen sued five years ago after the city locked the gates on a property near Point Woronzoff and terminated his lease. A jury finally spoke last month and both sides owe money, each to the other, and the total is hundreds of thousands of dollars. (Did we mention it was complicated?) But the real loser here is the land itself, which has had a great-big pile of glass and a heap of compost-able material left on it. Consider this one a surgical strike challenge for the U.S. Coast Guard, because the piles are squeezed between a women's rehab center, the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail and one of the international airport's runways. Blow those piles of trash up, Mark!

The Ferry Susitna-The Matanuska-Susitna Borough accepted, for free, an icebreaking, shallow draft ferry from the U.S. Navy to launch on Cook Inlet. The plan was to connect Port MacKenzie, Anchorage and Tyonek. The plan had so many things going against it-no market, for instance-Alaska's politicians should have been embarrassed to accept the gift. But they never were. Now the borough owns a much criticized,Replacement landscape oil paintings and bulbs for Canada and Worldwide. albeit sea-worthy, boondoggle that could cost the borough up to $1.7 million per year just to store at the docks. And there are no docks for the M/V Susitna so it's going to cost even more to build at least one.

2011年10月25日星期二

New Westminster school board chair says all sprinkers were working in modulars

"There was not one day since the beginning of September that we had students in the modulars when the sprinklers weren't working," New Westminster school board chair Michael Ewen told The Record on Monday morning.

In a subsequent call to The Record on Monday afternoon, Ewen said building inspectors came to inspect the modulars in the district on Tuesday, Sept. 6, the opening day of classes, and confirmed that the fire alarm systems in the modulars were fully operational. After that inspection was completed, the district received temporary occupancy permits on Sept. 6.

Ewen said he is aware of one modular in Queensborough that did not have its sewage line connected up, but that meant students had to go inside the school to use the bathroom. Ewen said the sprinkler systems inside that modular were not affected.

In addition, Ewen said there were "technical issues" with the modulars, but it was all about "paperwork that wasn't filed."

"We would never put student safety in jeopardy," said Ewen. "We had always had our sign-offs in place."

Ewen was also told by district staff that the district did have a portable at Connaught Heights that did not have a sprinkler system. But, Ewen added, that's not unusual because portables, unlike modulars, do not traditionally have plumbing systems in place.

Outgoing school trustee Brent Atkinson told The Record on Monday morning that trustees were assured in mid-September by their head of facilities,The additions focus on key tag and magic cube combinations, Doug Templeton, that the modulars were in 100 per cent working condition.

Atkinson said that while plumbing was one of the last things installed in the new modular classrooms, he believes the modulars passed their final inspection.

"I think this is a tempest in a teapot,Our high risk merchant account was down for about an hour and a half," said Atkinson, who decided earlier this month not to seek re-election after 31 years as a trustee. "If the city's chief inspector thought there was a deficiency in (the modulars), I'm sure they would have been in there.Replacement China Porcelain tile and bulbs for Canada and Worldwide."

Earlier this year, New Westminster received nine modulars,Whilst oil paintings for sale are not deadly, which were constructed by Shelter Industries in Aldergrove.

Brian Sommerfeldt, the district's secretary-treasurer, told The Record earlier this year where the modulars would be placed. Lord Tweedsmuir and Queen Elizabeth received two modulars each, Lord Kelvin and F.W. Howay got one each and Herbert Spencer received three modulars.

According to a government press release, the modular classrooms are not the same as portables - they are unique learning centres that are bright and open,Polycore porcelain tiles are manufactured as a single sheet, with high ceilings and windows for plenty of natural light and cross-ventilation, and have been specifically designed for students in kindergarten and elementary grades.

Portables provide a temporary solution and typically last about 15 to 20 years, whereas these new modular classrooms are a permanent solution for growing enrolment demands and changing demographics, and are designed to last as long as a conventional classroom - about 40 years.

City approves $300,000 loan for BekZon

The Crossville City Council approved a $300,000 loan to air purification manufacturer BekZon Monday afternoon, but council members wanted sufficient guarantees the city would see those funds paid back in a year.Replacement China Porcelain tile and bulbs for Canada and Worldwide.

With the approval of the loan, a job fair has been scheduled for Friday at Roane State Community College's Crossville campus on Cook Rd. The fair, sponsored by the Crossville Career Center and Roane State, will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with positions for production, office support and management. The company proposes hiring an initial workforce of 48 people, expanding to a conservative estimate of 68 within a year and as many as 500 within five years.

Crossville Mayor J.H. Graham said, "We're taking a risk. Yes, it's a tough decision."

Graham pointed to other difficult decisions that involved risk for the city, such as lowering Meadow Park Lake to check for leaks in the 72-year-old dam.

"This is risky business we're in and it's going to get riskier," he said.The additions focus on key tag and magic cube combinations, "We need something to keep businesses here and grow what we have and bring in new jobs when we have the chance."

The loan will come from the city's economic development revolving loan to be paid back in one year. According to information provided by BekZon,Our high risk merchant account was down for about an hour and a half, the funds will be used for inventory needed to start production as soon as possible at the Cumberland Business Incubator site. The company has asked the city, county and Roane State Community College to rent the facility for its use while it sets up permanent facilities in Cumberland County and transfers its manufacturing operations to the United States.

Mike Spieles, a local distributor for BekZon's air purifiers, told the city last week, "They need the Incubator to fulfill their immediate orders.Whilst oil paintings for sale are not deadly,"

The fund has been used in previous economic development projects, originating in 1984 with the negotiations to bring Crossville Ceramics to Crossville.

"That was some money well spent," Councilman George Marlow said.

As part of the loan agreement, the city would have a UCC-1 financing statement giving it interest in the personal property of the company. According to Spieles, BekZon would make it's obligation to the city primary and subordinate obligations to shareholders. In addition, the city wants Alf Mauritzon, president and chief technical officer for BekZon, to sign and date the personal financial statements submitted to the city by himself and his wife. The city would also like an amount equal to the loan deposited in a local, United States bank and for the loan to be paid by invoice with the city verifying purchases. The city would also require a life insurance policy equal to the amount of the loan, or allow Mauritzon to assign an existing policy to the city, provided it met the loan amount.

Councilman Danny Wyatt said he would be more comfortable if Mauritzon would personally guarantee the loan with a certificate of deposit of half the loan amount.

Crossville City Attorney Kenneth Chadwell said such a guarantee had not been offered by the company.

Graham said the company was purchasing $769,000 in inventory and would have to meet payroll for the 48 immediate hires until revenue started to be generated. He also noted the company was seeking funding from a Community Development Block Grant loan program and the Tennessee Valley Authority, each of which required some matching funds.

"Cash is the life blood of a company," Graham said. "And it's going to be very important for the next six months to a year. Everything he's got, he's willing to put up.

"It's an $8 to $10 million deal,For the last five years Air purifier , but he needs to get started.

Council members asked Chadwell his opinion on the security of the loan and the ability of the city to collect should the need arise.

"You're weighing the value and the importance of the possibility of these jobs versus the security you have seeing this money paid back," Chadwell said. "They have certainly put forth some items that give me some comfort."

Chadwell outlined some of the provisions of the agreement, including funding the loan on a reimbursement basis with verification of purchases; Mauritzson and his wife providing signed and dated financial statements; completing an asset purchase agreement; verify citizenship of Mauritzson; and require a life insurance policy for Mauritzon equal to the loan amount.

Graham moved to approve the loan, as well as the city paying half the cost of renting the Cumberland Business Incubator at a cost of $20,000 over the next year. Councilman Earl Dean supported the motion which was approved with a 4-1 vote. Voting against was Danny Wyatt.

RBI hikes rates again, may take a break now

Subbarao has blinked. The man, who relentlessly raised interest rates to check inflation, now wants to give growth a chance. With consumers and companies screaming 'enough is enough',Our high risk merchant account was down for about an hour and a half, he sensed that a 'less hawkish' or even a 'dovish' choice of words isn't enough; instead, it's time to change tack and tell the world: 'relax, there may not be more rate hikes, we are nearing the end of the tunnel'. On Tuesday, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Duvvuri Subbarao almost said it.

Well, he did raise the policy rates by a quarter point - something he couldn't have avoided having been so hawkish six weeks ago. With this, banks will now have to pay 8.5% (or 25 basis points) more to borrow from the RBI. But stock punters and bond dealers chose to downplay Tuesday's rate action as share prices rose and bond yields softened.

For them, what mattered was Subbarao saying "inflation will begin falling by December", chance of a rate hike in December is "relatively low", and "if inflation conforms to projections, further hikes may not be warranted".Replacement China Porcelain tile and bulbs for Canada and Worldwide. But,The additions focus on key tag and magic cube combinations, should one believe all this? There could be nasty surprises: commodity prices across the world may rise, food prices may prove sticky and oil prices may have to be revised.For the last five years Air purifier , No one has forgotten that last year Subbarao had raised rates after signalling a pause. But few disagree that it may be politically difficult to push through more hikes amid a serious fear that growth may take a toll and a heated argument that 12 rate hikes have not helped.

Economists have a way of explaining the new mood. "The attempt now is to stimulate the supply side by keeping rates on hold with an explicit long-term forward guidance and hope the lagged effect of past rate hikes will keep the demand side on check," said Samiran Chakraborty, head of research at StanChart India.

If that explains Subbarao's stance on interest rate, what's baffling is his decision to free the savings bank deposit rate, till now fixed at 4%. While these appear as two different things, there is a possibility that the RBI governor may be trying to make his monetary policy more effective by deregulating savings rates.

Savings bank rate was one of the last regulated interest rates in the banking system and a plan to free it has been debated for years. But why did it happen now? Few expected it. Large lenders (like HDFC Bank) opposed it. And the timing is strange.

While it may be good for lazy savers whose idle money earned little returns, it can make life more difficult for banks whose cost of funds will rise,Whilst oil paintings for sale are not deadly, return on assets as well as equity will dip, earnings may turn more volatile and mismatch between assets and liabilities can increase. Besides, bank stocks are under pressure and sticky loans may rise.

2011年10月24日星期一

Fans enjoy a brush with Rolf

Fans of Rolf Harris got to meet their hero on Saturday when he popped in to a sale of his artwork.

The Australian entertainer was at Whitewall, in Highcross, Leicester,Whilst oil paintings for sale are not deadly, where art-lovers were snapping up prints costing several hundred pounds, and original oil paintings were on sale for tens of thousands.

Everyone who bought a work of art had it signed by Rolf, who also did some doodling on the backs of the pieces.

Rolf, 81, said: "It's been non-stop signing since I arrived and it's great to be here.

"I paint at home using photographs I've taken over the years of many different subjects since the 1960s. I always made sure I got the photos as good as they could be so I could use them in a painting."

Among more than 100 fans who queued outside the shop to meet Rolf and buy some of his art were Pat and Brian Conroy, from Glenfield.

Brian, 68, said: "It's great to meet him because over the years we've watched him on the telly so it feels like we know him."

Pat, 65, said: "I've wanted one of his prints for a long time and so we came into the gallery last week and I chose a lovely one of a landscape. He's wonderful."

Jean Roberts, 65, of Uppingham Road, Leicester, said: "It's fantastic to meet him – I've been really looking forward to it. I bought a print of a tiger. I just couldn't say no to it because it's so dramatic.

"I loved watching Rolf on telly and I love his songs, too. I sing Two Little Boys in my head every time I think of him but I didn't sing it to him today – singing isn't my strong point."

Todd Durick, 55, from Wigston, said: "It was a real pleasure to meet Rolf.Replacement China Porcelain tile and bulbs for Canada and Worldwide. I used to watch him on the BBC as a child.

"We talked about his paintings and the Ugg boots he was wearing. It's like he's really got time for everyone."

Rolf grew up in Western Australia and moved to London in 1952, at the age of 21, to pursue his dream of becoming an artist.

But his art was put on hold while his career in music and television blossomed.

His passion was re-awoken about 10 years ago after he did a painting while recording a television programme.

In his online biography, he said: "I couldn't believe I'd steered away from painting all this time,Polycore porcelain tiles are manufactured as a single sheet, and since that moment I've never looked back.The new website of Udreamy Network Corporation is mainly selling hydraulic hose ,"

In 2005, he was commissioned to paint a portrait of the Queen.Our high risk merchant account was down for about an hour and a half,

Rolf was named the UK's best- selling published artist at a ceremony hosted by the Fine Art Trade Guild earlier this year.

Autograph-hunter Winston Wragg, 71, from Earl Shilton, was outside the gallery on Saturday hoping to add Rolf's signature to those of other celebrities such as Terry Wogan and Roger Whittaker.

He said: "Rolf's a multi-talented man and a very nice bloke. He's a very good artist and a very original musician."

The new nontraditional location

The new economic and operational realities of the foodservice marketplace are challenging operators to think outside the box when it comes to expanding their brands, which also means getting more imaginative when it comes to finding sites for new locations.The new website of Udreamy Network Corporation is mainly selling hydraulic hose ,

Operators have been installing scaled-down or customized versions of their concepts in airports, hospitals, office buildings and college campuses for years, but now they are finding ways to make their brands work at construction sites, bowling alleys, skating rinks,Whilst oil paintings for sale are not deadly, pharmacies, car washes, churches — virtually anywhere people might want to eat.Our high risk merchant account was down for about an hour and a half,

Experts cite unrelenting competition and the uncertain economy as reasons to search out more nontraditional opportunities, but they also maintain that an unconventional location can help boost business by introducing the brand to new patrons while keeping it in front of loyal fans.

Grant Benson, vice president of franchising and market planning for Canton, Mass.-based Dunkin’ Donuts, said such locations form a key component of the chain’s growth strategy.

“It brings the brand to new consumers who may not have a Dunkin’ Donuts restaurant where they currently live and work,Replacement China Porcelain tile and bulbs for Canada and Worldwide.” he said. “It also allows our loyal guests to maintain their Dunkin’ ritual while they are away from home.”

Dunkin’ has more than 500 nontraditional locations in its U.S. system of more than 6,700 units, with outlets in theme parks, at airports and travel centers on superhighways, and at universities, sports stadiums and military bases, including The Pentagon.

Of course,Polycore porcelain tiles are manufactured as a single sheet, moving into nontraditional locations requires design and operational flexibility on the part of an operator. Reaching new customers was what Mike Lassiter had in mind when he developed alternative designs for his fast-casual Rising Roll Gourmet concept.

The 14-unit Atlanta-based chain, which serves a 90-item menu of sandwiches, soups and salads, normally requires ovens and ventilation systems. But as the economy went south in 2008, Lassiter and his team developed an “express unit” with a scaled-down menu that still features the brand’s best-selling items and what Lassiter called “a large enough selection.”

Express units are available in three designs, including a 750-square-foot grab-and-go outlet serviced by a regular-sized Rising Roll Gourmet. Meanwhile, the chain also offers self-sufficient express units that use magnetic ranges that don’t require a vent hood.

Some of the menu items need to be tweaked to fit the new format — chicken has to be roasted instead of grilled, for example. But, Lassiter said, “that really allows us to go to different locations. It allows us flexibility to work with nontraditional foodservice providers such as airports.”

Rising Roll is focusing on locations in Class A office buildings that offer little or no street visibility but contain something of a captive audience. The chain has three such locations, while leases have been signed for two more and are being negotiated for another two, Lassiter said.

Rising Roll Gourmet also is partnering with HMSHost in a proposal to open in the Atlanta airport, and with on-site feeder Aramark to open in universities.

Lassiter said such large on-site experts can make good partners, especially in the current economy, because they don’t have the financial hurdles to overcome that many smaller franchisees have.

Troubling Times in the House of Oodua

The South-West remains, arguably, the most sophisticated of Nigeria's six geo-political zones while politicians from the region practically dribble spectators with their deft moves in the arena. They engage in dummy activities that shift attention from their real plans and unfolding in-fighting. In Lagos for example, many may be tempted to say yesterday's council polls were the main issues of the day but it is not exactly so. Most of the results could be predicted and correctly too, many months back.

Take it or leave it, the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in the state is still in turmoil and unsure of what happens early next year when Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) finally cancels the use of consultants for tax matters.

It is also strange to hear former governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu advising his successor publicly on what to do to improve the lot of Lagosians as he did over the repairs of the nation's gateway, the notorious Airport Road, in Lagos.

Some even say Fashola does not share the view of his Deputy on why Alimosho Local Government roads have to be abandoned. According to Her Excellency, Mrs Adejoke Orelope_Adefulire, the enormity of the task of repairing the roads in Alimosho LG are better imagined and, therefore, 10 years hence, we would still be on it.Polycore porcelain tiles are manufactured as a single sheet,

Leaders in Yoruba land met in Ikene penultimate week but cold water was poured on the meeting as the Alaafin of Oyo, Iku Baba Yeye, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi raised concerns on the propriety of the meeting at a time of national challenge.

Lacking a clear sense of direction - beyond that fact that the ACN controls five of the six states - the House of Oodua is not what it used to be.

Fashola's performance after 1,600 days in office is the main issue today. This is followed closely by the performance or otherwise of the party at the local government level throughout the state. These issues are supposed to be the main factors in what the result of yesterday's elections will look like. This is so topical and worrisome to the ACN that in rendering the stewardship of his administration in the last 1,Whilst oil paintings for sale are not deadly,600 days, Governor Fashola met with stakeholders, artisans, residents at the Lagos Television, LTV 8 Blue Roof Multi-purpose Hall, Ikeja, saying his government had so far shown diligence, commitment and faithfulness in serving the people of the state.

These achievements, the governor said, reflected in the area of education where government improved the infrastructure in the state's University (LASU),Replacement China Porcelain tile and bulbs for Canada and Worldwide. appointed a new Vice_Chancellor, reviewed the Visitation Panel's Report and released report of the accepted recommendations and awarded contracts for the reconstruction of 197 classrooms at the primary and secondary school levels, among other projects.

It could also be seen, according to him, in the area of the Environment where, "in spite of the unwelcome visit of inclement and severe rainfall,The new website of Udreamy Network Corporation is mainly selling hydraulic hose , the state has remained a model of environmental commitment and standard with the on-going cleaning and construction of drainage in Agege,Our high risk merchant account was down for about an hour and a half, Babs-Animashaun, Somolu, Lekki, Ijora and Ilasamaja.

Other achievements made in the area of the Environment, the governor said, include continued annual tree planting campaign, hosting of African Mayors' Conference on Climate Change, addition of 100 compactor trucks to the fleet of the Private Sector Participation, PSP Waste Collectors and the commissioning of the Oshodi Transfer Loading Station with the first purpose built medical waste auto-clave plant in West Africa.

Siblings tell how they killed parents

A Durban man told his girlfriend and her brother how to kill her parents and that it was God's will they should die, according to statements made to police.

Nicolette Lotter, 29, stabbed her mother, Maria Magdelena

Lotter, 52, while her brother Hardus, now 23, strangled their father, Johannes Lotter,Whilst oil paintings for sale are not deadly, 53, with an electrical cord.The additions focus on key tag and magic cube combinations,

Afterwards Nicolette went to a shopping centre in Westville, Durban with her boyfriend Mathew Naidoo, who bought her a scoop of ice cream.

The siblings spelt out in statements handed in to the Durban High Court on Monday what happened on July 19, 2008.

Nicolette said in the statement Naidoo had told them he was the “third son of God... that he had an angel and demon in him, that he was a vessel of God through which angel and demons could speak.

“We believed Naidoo hook, line and sinker,” Nicolette said.

The State alleges the plan was to get rid of the Lotters to get a share of the inheritance and so Naidoo, who had been living in the house but had been kicked out, could return.

She said of the murders: “Things were not going according to plan since Mathew wanted us to do this by 8pm-ish.Polycore porcelain tiles are manufactured as a single sheet, But both my parents were in the lounge - my dad was asleep on the couch next to my mom.

“I told my brother that I was going to invite my mom to the kitchen to chat over a cup of tea. I made myself and my mom a cup of tea and I sat around the kitchen table with her and we chatted.Our high risk merchant account was down for about an hour and a half,”

Her mother was supposed to be knocked out with the stun gun, and then her brother was supposed to stun her father. They were both going to tie him up, gag him and put a bag over his head before Naidoo arrived to inject air into their veins.

“The problem started when my brother did not use the taser properly and instead of the current being on, he put the torch light on and tried stunning her. We both had to struggle trying to stun her (their mother) and tie her up... .I tried tying the cable ties around her arms and legs, but she broke them and she screamed and we had to silence her, so my brother punched her and I put a sock in her mouth and tied it with insulation tape around her head.”

She could not put a plastic bag over her mother as she fought back.

“So I tried knocking my mother out with my right hand... and then I used my elbow on her head.”

Nicolette then recounts how “I took the syringe and although I don't know how to inject into a vein, I tried out of desperation in her left arm a couple of times,Replacement China Porcelain tile and bulbs for Canada and Worldwide. along the left side of her neck a few times and also twice underneath the left breast, towards the heart, to induce a heart palpitation.

“It did not work and I was in a panic and also Hardus was upset.”

She telephoned Naidoo to tell him she needed help.

“He (Naidoo) said that he could not get involved in the affairs of mortals. Mathew told my brother and I that he is a higher being. He told me it's God's will that my mother dies and I should take a kitchen knife.

“I asked how to stab her and he explained how to stab her in the throat and the side of the jaw on both sides and also the heart... I had to hold the knife high and plunge it into her.”

She said she did not want to do this.

“I will be honest if I say that my mother really got on my and my brother's nerves, but if I did not believe in my heart that it was God's will I would never have done it.”

She said in her statement she has been her mother's punching bag for most of her life, but the murders were Naidoo's idea.

2011年10月23日星期日

Bringing up baby is a maturing investment

THEY may be adorable and challenging gifts of nature but, let's face it, having children is expensive. The medical bills will start to mount from the first visit to the GP to confirm the pregnancy. Then the expense of all the baby paraphernalia, from prams to cribs and high chairs.

In fact, the cost of child care and education should be enough to put people off procreating – but it doesn't.

McCrindle Research estimates the total parental cost to raise the average number of children in Australia (2.7) to age 24 to be $1,065,605.

Of course, not everyone will spend the same amount of money on toys,Flossie was one of a group of four chickens in a RUBBER MATS . holidays, travel and dining and entertainment, private tutoring and sports that this figure includes but there will be costs and they can be substantial.

The other way to look at having children is as an investment. But remember, there are no guaranteed returns.

The super organised and budget minded might have been putting money aside for years to cover things such as time out of the workforce and additional expenses by starting an education fund for any new members of the family.

Others will welcome the news of a new baby first and then worry about how they are going to afford it all later. It is not uncommon that the child-rearing coincides with paying a mortgage, so sacrifices have to be made.

Everybody's situation around having children will be different.

If it's the case that one person in a relationship is planning to take time out of the workforce to care for a new baby, then the biggest financial impact will be surviving on one salary. Time out of the workforce will also have implications on that person's superannuation savings that may need to be addressed.

If you have time on your side, practise what it would be like and, perhaps, revise the budget based on one income to cover both essential living and baby expenses.

Babies definitely add extra costs, including trips to doctors, the actual delivery, nappies and bits and pieces including a cot,I have never solved a Rubik's Piles . bedding and a pram.

The founder of an online directory of child-friendly businesses, Mums on the Go, Linda Anderson, advises keeping things simple.These girls have never had a oil painting supplies in their lives!

“Babies and children do not need every gadget or toy on the market. Ignore the marketing hype and keep things simple," Anderson says. "You can always buy extra things later if needed.”

She says other mums are probably one of the best sources of information about what's essential and what's not.

Talk to them to find out what things they found really helpful and what things they never ended up using.

She says eBay is a place to seek a bargain – either second-hand or recycled "new".

Baby markets are another source. “You will find lots of recycled 'new' baby clothes, still with tags on – the result of the abundance of clothes given to babies that often never get worn,” she says.

If friends and family are offering to lend you items, say “yes” – your child won't care they are using things on loan.

Big-ticket items, or those with a short usage life, such as bassinets, capsules,Graphene is not a semiconductor, not an Ventilation system , and not a metal, cots and strollers,he believes the fire started after the lift's China ceramic tile blew, can also be hired, which can be surprisingly cost-effective.

If it is the case that two parents are going to keep working, then there will be child-care costs. These vary depending on the facility type.

West Deptford Homecoming Weekend: Then and Now

The summer seems to have said its final goodbye and is finally going out in a wave of color. The bold oranges, rich yellows and blaze reds have painted our neighborhoods, and the cool crisp of autumn has suddenly found its way into the air. Throughout the township, piles of leaves are being raked out into the street, waiting for the first pick-up of the season and tempting every group of ten year olds on bicycles to ride through.

I love all the seasons, but there is something about the arrival of fall that seems to breathe fresh life into us. Maybe it’s the end of the lazy, hazy days and the beginning of nature’s most colorful palette. Or maybe it’s the way we all seem to head outside, with bikes or rakes or soccer balls, just ready to seize the moments before winter gray envelopes us. We look forward to visiting pumpkin patchs, darting through corn mazes, and hiding behind Halloween masks. Pep rallies and bonfires and football games all seem like the last hurrah before the rituals and holidays that mark the end of another year.

And this weekend, we in West Deptford celebrate another autumn rite of passage—homecoming. I remember when I was growing up, homecoming was one of the most anticipated events of autumn. Or maybe it just seems that way in hindsight. After all, the roaring crowds, the parade of floats, the shout of the cheerleaders, the crowning of queen—could there be anything more all-American, in memory if not in fact?

Even though my own homecoming was many many moons ago, I learned something new this week. And it’s this: It is a lot easier to shop for boys than for girls. Sure, that’s pretty much the case any time of year, but the difference is amplified when it comes to shopping for the most important semi-The new website of Udreamy Network Corporation is mainly selling hydraulic hose ,formal event of the high school season.

When I went shopping for the homecoming dance, you know, back in the day, I spent weeks haunting the mall with my girlfriends, trying on every gown the Charming Shop, Bambergers and Strawbridges had to offer. (Yes, those were actual stores, way back when.) Then we’d try them all on again, comparing one length to another, discussing accessories and shoes, consulting each other each step of the way. It took us a good month to choose exactly the right outfit to make exactly the right statement we wanted to make at the homecoming dance.

This week, I took my middle child shopping for what will be his fourth and final homecoming dance at good old WD.he believes the fire started after the lift's China ceramic tile blew, It took all of 50 minutes, including finding parking at the mall. He had a picture of his girlfriend’s dress on his cell phone, and he texted her when he had questions. One store and thirtysomething dollars later, we left with a black dress shirt,These girls have never had a oil painting supplies in their lives! a red and gray tie, and a pair of black socks. Mission accomplished.

Well, like I said, this is his fourth homecoming, so he already has suits and shoes. Fortunately a male can get away with wearing the same suit,Flossie was one of a group of four chickens in a RUBBER MATS . as long as the shirt and tie are new each time around. (And it may be even easier if he had a different date each time, but this child seems content with keeping the girl and switching the shirt instead.)

Now this “fourth homecoming” thing usually didn’t happen when I was in high school. Back then, the rules were a bit different. “Homecoming” was actually an event put on for the alumni back then. Welcoming the visiting grads home after their first semester at college, get it? As such, it was an upperclassmen-only affair. Freshmen only attended if they were dating a sophomore, junior or senior. After all, first-year students couldn't "come home" to a place they never were, could they?

Homecoming festivities usually took place as close to Thanksgiving as possible,I have never solved a Rubik's Piles . because that’s when grads who were away at college would come back to see their families and, of course, visit the old school grounds. A breakfast was held pre-game, usually pancakes and bacon served up by the National Honor Society to any visiting alum. Of course, this is back before the football stadium was refurbished, so the games were played Saturday morning.

Yes, I am passionate about green buildings!

The average American spends 90 percent of his or her time indoors. Indoor air quality can be affected by ventilation in the building,I have never solved a Rubik's Piles . maintenance conducted on the heating and cooling systems and contaminants in the building. Reports by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1987 (Unfinished Business: A Comparative Assessment of Environmental Problems) and 1990 (Reducing Risk: Setting Priorities and Strategies for Environmental Protection) designated indoor pollutants as a top environmental risk. Since then, government nonprofit organizations have been focused on assessing, managing and creating awarenessThese girls have never had a oil painting supplies in their lives! of the affects of indoor air quality.

The asthma statistics in our K-12 schools tell the story. Five million school-aged children have asthma. Students miss almost 13 million school days each year due to asthma and it is the third-ranking cause of hospitalization among children under the age of 15.

Asthma may be triggered by many things including products containing VOCs found in paints, carpeting, wall coverings, furniture, cleaning and other products used to maintain a building. We cannot cure asthma, however we can create healthier indoor air quality.

In 1993, the U.S.Flossie was one of a group of four chickens in a RUBBER MATS . Green Building Council’s LEED green building standard was established to help address many of these concerns.he believes the fire started after the lift's China ceramic tile blew,The new website of Udreamy Network Corporation is mainly selling hydraulic hose , The USGBC, a nonprofit, has a mission of transforming the built environment and allowing everyone access to a healthier place to live, work, study, shop and play within a generation. LEED is a third-party, independently verified, green building standard. With 17 years behind this standard now, it is well recognized and has been adopted internationally.

LEED is also about continuous improvement. Breakthroughs in building science, technology and operations continue to evolve so every two to three years LEED goes through what I will call an upgrade and raises the bar again. LEED is meant to be difficult. Changes to the standard are brought about through a committee structure. Experts on the committees come from the more than 6,000 USGBC members, including from West Michigan. USGBC membership is open to any building owner and any organization that participates in the design,

construction and maintenance of buildings and supporting manufacturers or contractors.

You may be wondering why a building owner should obtain LEED or another green building certification. Two good reasons could be accountability and marketability. Going through the motions of creating a green building without obtaining certification could be compared to a school or college having all the right courses in place and not obtaining accreditation.

Myers needs to do her homework

At the forum for town candidates sponsored by the League of Women Voters on Monday, Oct.The new website of Udreamy Network Corporation is mainly selling hydraulic hose , 17, I was impressed by Kelly Myers’ stated goals and requirements for successful town leadership but I think perhaps she hasn’t done all of her homework, since she doesn’t seem to know that many of her goals have been realized over the past several years under the able leadership of Supervisor Greg Helsmoortel and his hard working town board members Leeanne Thornton, Fred Costello, Bruce Leighton and Jimmy Bruno.

Ms. Myers criteria for a well-run town include a regional approach to economic development; a streamlined process for planning approval for new business; cooperation between town and village; fair and equitable tax assessment; and accessible, open governance.The application can provide third party merchant account to visitors,

Having served as part of the Town Board team for four years, 2006-2009, I can vouch, with certainty,I have never solved a Rubik's Piles . that all we’ve been there, done (or are doing) that! Space here doesn’t permit a full description of all that Greg and his board has accomplished, but I feel I should address at least two of Kelly’s concerns here, regarding open government and equitable property tax assessments.

The theme of “open government” seemed to be on people’s minds at the forum, with several questions on the topic. It’s a platitude-attitude, easy to proclaim; who would argue against open government?! But putting platitude into practice has been a notable accomplishment of this Town Board:

Ethics and open government go hand in hand, and the town passed an Ethics and Disclosure law in 2007, requiring all sworn officials to disclose any possible conflicts of interest.

Meetings are open to the public (with exceptions of those discussing personnel issues) and minutes are posted on the town’s website; meetings are filmed and televised on TV 23.

Citizens are actively involved in government, at the ground floor level, on committees such as the Comprehensive Planning Committee which helps to shape Saugerties’ future through zoning recommendations; the Planning Board, itself an independent legal entity empowered by NYS Town Law to make decisions with regards to land use without town board influence; the Zoning Board,he believes the fire started after the lift's China ceramic tile blew, another legal entity which makes land use decisions free from Town Board influence; and a committee unique to Saugerties when it was formed, a Property Tax Assessment Committee comprising several citizens from all walks of life who interviewed several candidates and made recommendations, which were accepted by the Town Board in 2006, when Mr. Orlando was appointed to fill the position of sole assessor.

Citizens input has been sought and taken into account on major projects affecting the town, such as the Winston Farm Development where an advisory panel included many citizens; and on the Kings Highway Water/Sewer project, where residents were invited to an informational meeting to opt in or not for water/sewer, depending on their own needs.

A citizen’s advisory committee took part on the largest ground water protection study ever undertaken in the town, beginning in 2005.These girls have never had a oil painting supplies in their lives!

Several public hearings were held, with public input influencing the final version, when the updated Zoning Law was adopted in 2008.

Town Board members are available and accessible, with contact info posted on the town website. If you’ve got a question or concern, give any Town Board

2011年10月20日星期四

Autumn harvest watched warily in food-poor NKorea

Scythe in hand, a woman slices through a bright green field of rice. Oxen plod down country roads pulling carts piled high with harvested stalks of grain.

This autumn, as farmers fan out into fields of corn, wheat, rice and cabbage, such evocative pastoral scenes — the stuff of centuries-old Dutch landscape paintings — also are a reminder of the challenges North Korea faces in feeding its people.

Primitive farming techniques, a lack of arable land in a rugged,The new website of Udreamy Network Corporation is mainly selling hydraulic hose , mountainous country and the suspected diversion of food to military and ruling party elites have all contributed to widespread hunger in the country's poorest areas, aid groups say.

This year, summer floods, soaring global food prices and the continued reluctance of the U.S. and its allies to provide aid to a hostile and nuclear-armed country means millions of children and pregnant women are slowly starving, aid groups say. So this autumn harvest is being watched particularly closely, and already there are concerns that it won't be nearly enough to feed a nation that has struggled with food shortages for more than 15 years.

North Korea faces a "potentially catastrophic food situation," five charities warned the administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development in a Sept. 26 letter obtained by The Associated Press, "with clear indications of acute malnutrition and slow starvation — especially in children."

And a far greater crisis may unfold in six to nine months when stocks run low, said Mercy Corps, Samaritan's Purse, World Vision, Christian Friends of Korea and Global Resource Services after visiting three hard-hit provinces last month.

This week, the top U.N. official for humanitarian affairs, Valerie Amos, is visiting hospitals, schools, orphanages, farms and a food distribution center around the industrial city of Hamhung, northeast of the capital, Pyongyang. "I'm particularly concerned over the reports that there's increasing malnutrition among children," she told AP in Pyongyang.

In the countryside near Wonsan, south of Hamhung, rice plants lie stacked in piles, corncobs dry on the tiles of traditional farm cottages. A woman cradles bundles of Napa cabbage, which will be used to make kimchi, the spicy staple of Korea.

But pull back the husks and you find the corn is stunted, the kernels shriveled. The potatoes are tiny, the greens meager — the result of the floods that engulfed the region's southern breadbasket.

"You may see a whole field of green rice plants swaying in the breeze — which we saw a lot of — but the rains knocked down a lot of the pollination needed at critical times," said Jim White of Mercy Corps. "The rice never properly matured."

It's a humanitarian crisis that threatens to physically and intellectually stunt entire generations of North Koreans subsisting, at times, on just one potato or a fistful of cornmeal a day, aid workers say. Already, a third of North Korean children younger than 5 are chronically malnourished or stunted, according to the World Food Program.

"The child's brain needs protein," said White, who was part of the September group that traveled North Korea. "They need fat. They can't just grow on starches."

He described visiting pediatric wards in the city of Haeju filled with sick, starving children. They lay listless on blankets on the floor, bones protuding from skinny arms,I have never solved a Rubik's Piles . legs jutting out from baggy sweatclothes,These girls have never had a oil painting supplies in their lives! lacerations on their discolored, sallow faces. One bout of diarrhea would be enough to kill a child already weakened from years of malnutrition, he said.

"I'm sure there are kids there who are dead now," he said. "They were pretty far gone."

In April, the U.N. appealed to its member nations for $218 million in food aid for North Korea. Six months later, donor nations have coughed up less than a third of that amount, and the question of whether to help feed the North Koreans remains mired in political calculations by governments cautious about offering help to a regime with a history of defiance.he believes the fire started after the lift's China ceramic tile blew,

Washington approved $900,000 in emergency flood aid, mostly tents and plastic sheeting, in August. But the Obama administration is still mulling whether to offer food aid, even after sending officials to North Korea to assess the food situation four months ago following a direct plea from Pyongyang in January.

The North Koreans raised the issue of food aid at nuclear talks with the U.S. in New York in July, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said, and a new round of U.S.-North Korea talks on disarmanent is set to take place next week in Geneva.

The U.S. reluctance to commit to more food aid reflects a familiar dilemma for Washington: whether to help North Korea when its own officials plow scant national resources into developing atomic weapons and ballistic missiles.

Providing aid also risks alienating U.S. ally South Korea, whose president has linked aid to nuclear disarmament and has all but stopped aid and money to Pyongyang following the sinking of a South Korean warship last year that killed 46 sailors.

Michael Green, an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank and an ex-Asia adviser to former President George W. Bush, says the food and nuclear issues should be separate.

"If you don't get satisfaction on the nuclear deal and you don't give food aid, what you're at least implicitly doing is suggesting that the North Korean people should not get food because of the regime's stance on nuclear issues,Graphene is not a semiconductor, not an Ventilation system , and not a metal," he said.

Amos sad she hopes to be able to reassure donors that funding for the U.N. appeal will make it to the hungry and not to the plates of the political and military elite. North Korean officials have expressed a willingness to allow rigorous monitoring of aid distribution, White said.

The issue of food aid to North Korea is not new: The nation built on a philosophy of self-reliance was forced to accept outside help during a famine in the mid-1990s that killed hundreds of thousands of people, and to this day grudgingly relies on aid to feed up to a quarter of its population of 24 million.

Intermittency Still a Challenge for Solar Power

Few people live far enough north or south that they can have sunlight all day long, so most people understand their rooftop solar installations cannot always provide them power. What people might not understand is the concept of intermittency and how great a challenge it poses to the renewable energy industry as a whole.

While solar installations are given a maximum peak capacity,The new website of Udreamy Network Corporation is mainly selling hydraulic hose , usually listed in either kilowatts or megawatts,These girls have never had a oil painting supplies in their lives! the actual output can vary substantially based on the angle of the sun, which changes throughout the year, and the amount material blocking sunlight from the panels, from clouds to fog to dust.

This might seem primarily to be an issue of production, with larger solar installations and more power providing a simple solution, but the larger problems for intermittency actually have more to do with transmission. Most people never consider issues of electrical load on power lines because at least for most residents there is little noticeable change other than functional and non-functional.

However, different power lines are designed to carry different amounts of power, which accounts for the difference between major interstate transmission towers and the wires strung along street lights throughout the country's suburbs.Flossie was one of a group of four chickens in a RUBBER MATS . When a power line has too little electricity, voltages can drop and devices can fail to function. But if a power line has too much electricity, voltage levels can rise to much the same effect, and substantial surges can trigger breakers that will shut off power completely.

Particularly in residential areas that were initially designed for lower power levels,I have never solved a Rubik's Piles . large clusters of solar installations can cause consistent problems as utilities struggle to account for the fluctuations in power generation. If solar systems are all close enough to vary roughly in line with each other it can magnify the size of any spike of power flow, making it even more difficult for power companies to adapt. Solar Novus Today notes that grid operators already make use of complex systems in order to predict fluctuations in demand without even accounting for intermittent power sources. Added to the inflexibility of some types of power plants, the problem can prove substantial.

The Australian reports that the problem has already emerged in some areas of that country. Queensland has even rejected applications for residential solar installations because of the issue and Western Australia imposed restrictions on the density of such systems of an area.

Solar power is not the only source of energy that suffers from intermittency,he believes the fire started after the lift's China ceramic tile blew, with Bloomberg reporting that German utilities were forced to give away electricity below cost because of a massive surge in wind power. However, with these two prominent sources of renewable energy suffering from the problem, a growing number of researchers and businesses are looking into methods to accommodate intermittent power sources.

Ross Stefan painting captures Southwest aura

I inherited an oil painting on canvas that measures 22 by 28 inches and is signed by Ross Stefan. I wonder about its monetaryhe believes the fire started after the lift's China ceramic tile blew, worth and where I might market it. — N.G., Pembroke,Flossie was one of a group of four chickens in a RUBBER MATS . Mass.

Dear N.G.: This oil on canvas presents a wonderfully warm domestic scene with a Native American mother (probably Apache) holding her smiling infant safe and snug in a cradleboard.

Ross Stefan was born in Milwaukee in 1934 and had his first one-man art show at the tender age of 13. Stefan met Western artist Daniel Cody Muller and was greatly influenced by his work.

Muller's father was part Blackfoot and he scouted for the U.S. Cavalry with Buffalo Bill Cody. The younger Muller became a member of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Shows and for 18 years periodically toured North America and Europe with the company.

After leaving show business, Muller became one of genre's most accomplished artists. His work customarily depicts images of cowboys on horseback, sometimes playing sports such as "cowboy polo." He also does portraits of Native Americans.

Stefan moved to Arizona in 1953 and studied art at the University of Arizona. In his spare time, he worked as an illustrator for the Tucson Daily Citizen. But in 1955, Stefan quit school to paint full time.

He began traveling the desert, visiting the native pueblos and painting and drawing the American West's people and landscapes. His work is often described as "southwestern impressionism" because of his broad brush strokes and heightened color palette, but this does not take into account the proportional accuracy and spatial realism of his landscapes, figures and architecture.

Ross Stefan's scenes of pueblo life and the southern Arizona landscape are still prime examples of this genre, and his legacy is secure as a leading Arizona artist of the 20th century.

But what about the marketplace?

Prices for Stefan's work have increased dramatically over the last 10 years as interest in western art has expanded.I have never solved a Rubik's Piles . In 2007, his painting "Finally Caught" sold for $16,800 at auction. Many other Stefan paintings have sold privately at similar prices. But prices paid for his landscapes far exceed those paid for his portraits and scenes of Native American people. The work in today's question is a decent size. If it was in perfect condition, it likely would sell at auction for $3,000 to $5,000.

It definitely would be better to sell this paintiThese girls have never had a oil painting supplies in their lives!ng in the Southwest with Scottsdale, Ariz., and Santa Fe, N.M., both being leading candidates. We try to stay out of commercial transactions or personal recommendations, but exploring auction houses in these areas may be fruitful for N.The new website of Udreamy Network Corporation is mainly selling hydraulic hose ,G.

Auction companies in Altadena, Cali., and Reno, Nev., have also done well, and Stefan's work has sold successfully at one of the major international auction housed in New York City as well.

Good news abounds in the solar industry

The premiere solar event in the US, Solar Power International annual conference and expo was full of Texas-style enthusiasm in the Dallas Convention Centre.

The growth of SPI shows the strength of the solar industry. And the fact that the more than 1200 exhibitors come from 128 countries indicates the role that US solar manufacturers play in the global industry. This becomes more apparent as solar subsidies subside in many European countries, and the US gains traction as a leading market.

Approximately 25,000 energy industry professionals attended SPI this year, trekking over 1.1 million gross square feet of exhibit space in the Convention Centre. Show organizers, SEIA and SEPA, said they had to expand the exhibit space outdoors due to overwhelming demand.

SPI 2011 included 36 conference sessions, six interactive “solar Idea Swaps,” and fourteen workshops. A Technology Project Tour will take attendees on a bus trip to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, to see a 300-kW solar parking canopy that was completed in cooperation with SunDurance Energy, Kyocera Solar and Solaire Generation.

The good news stories are everywhere at SPI. Siemens, for example, recently invested $10 million in its West Chicago manufacturing facilities, which will produce Siemens SINVERT PVS solar inverters. Being an integrated company, rather than a PV manufacturer, Rick Myers, Senior Director of Solar Vertical Market Management for Siemens Industry Sector in the US, sees the company as well-positioned for potential market swings in the solar industry both domestically and globally. He indicated that Siemens anticipates moderate growth in the solar manufacturing sector , but continued strong growth of the field installation sector, with project bookings and installation continuing well into 2012.

Main Street Power Company, Inc. announced the completion of a landmark solar project in Yuma, Arizona. Secretaries Chu , Salazar , and Duncan are among invited guests to join Main Street and partners for an early December to "Flip the Switch" on a 23-acre, five-megawatt, multi-technology installation at Arizona Western College that includes,The new website of Udreamy Network Corporation is mainly selling hydraulic hose , among others, CPV from SolFocus.

An interesting change noted at this conference was that booth traffic was lighter but the genuine interest by the visitor was greater. This reflects the maturing industry, as Julian Hawkins,he believes the fire started after the lift's China ceramic tile blew,Flossie was one of a group of four chickens in a RUBBER MATS . Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Abound Solar pointed out. "We no longer have to tell them what a solar panel is." Another good news story that Hawkins shared is that while the permitting and regulatory processes in the US are still a challenge, "more and more people are feeling their way through the maze."

More good news is about jobs.The application can provide third party merchant account to visitors, Many, many exhibitors said that they are hiring. GE announced that it is building the largest solar cell factory in the US, which will employ 355 people. See "GE Announces Largest Solar Factory in US." The Solar Jobs Census reported an increase of 6.8% in solar jobs in the past year, making it the leading industry in the US.These girls have never had a oil painting supplies in their lives!

So while we heard mentioned issues surrounding challenges, risk, failure, good news and optimism dominated SPI 2011. Next year Solar Power International will be in Orlando, Florida, at which point the trade case against the Chinese panel industry may be settled and the global industry will enter a more balanced and certain future.

2011年10月19日星期三

Feral chickens don't ruffle feathers

Portions of the Highlands Homes subdivision are for the birds - feral chickens, that is.

They have been reported roaming the neighborhood causing damage in the Howard Street area.

Bobby Hicks,These girls have never had a oil painting supplies in their lives!Graphene is not a semiconductor, not an Ventilation system , and not a metal, a Sebring code enforcement officer, said a woman recently approached him about the wild chickens tearing up her yard and her property.

"The problem is, they come out of the groves in the back of the property," Hicks said, adding those groves were in the county. "During the day, they just roam Howard Street. It's kind of funny; you see the moms walking and the babies following.I have never solved a Rubik's Piles ."

Actually, it's the area of Roseland Avenue and Howard Street, and Rainbow Avenue and Howard Street, he said.

He's written two complaints because the birds were hanging out in people's yards,he believes the fire started after the lift's China ceramic tile blew, he said. "The people are fed up," he said.

Hicks said he's been told they roost in a big oak tree.

"Sometimes there are 50 of them," he said, admitting he's only seen a few in the tree at a time. "That's what the neighbors tell me."

One lady told Hicks she doesn't mind the chickens. "When they lay eggs she gets the eggs," he said.

If they were on someone's property and there was evidence — such as a chicken coop — that they were someone's livestock, he could issue a citation.

Because they are running wild and are not anyone's property, Hicks has advised the complainants to contact animal control to see if some traps can be set.

Cindy Bell,The new website of Udreamy Network Corporation is mainly selling hydraulic hose , who lives on Howard Street, said Wednesday they used to have a problem with wild chickens.

"They were pooping on our porch," she said. "The ones that were here; they're gone. I had a marigold over here and they ate it."

But just as she spoke the words, a brown chicken walked from next door into her yard. Her black and white cat named Apache, which was on the porch, just slept through it.

"They come up and take his food," said Bell. "So I can't feed him outside."

Neighbor Aubrey Graham walked over and looked at the chicken Bell said earlier belonged at his house.

"That's just one of the many wild chickens in the neighborhood," he said. "You ever try catching one?"

The chickens don't bother Graham a bit; as a matter of fact, he said they get dozens of eggs from the birds.

"We know where they nest," he said.

He said years ago after the neighborhood was annexed into the city, the city made the residents tear down their chicken coops.

"So we took them down and they went this way and that," he said.

What about the mess? The chicken poop isn't anything a squirt from a water hose can't take away, he said. As he spoke, a rooster crowed in the distance from the orange groves.

Henry Peacock, who said he lives at the same house as Bell, had no beef with the chickens but had one with loose dogs. A neighbor's dog recently killed a big red chicken the neighbors had named Henrietta, he said.

"Those chickens don't attack the kids; they don't bother anybody," he said.

Not too long ago, a home on Matlo Avenue was overrun with feral cats that stunk up the neighborhood when the wind was just right. Animal control came in with traps and caught a few of those cats.

Darryl Scott, director of Highlands County Animal Control, said Wednesday they've not received any wild chicken complaints lately and it's been about three months since they set a bird trap.