Coming soon to the Senate: pay $500,000 for house plus free US visa

The J-1 visa certificate that sits in a plastic folder on the desk before me is the most important document I have in my possession right now,If any food Ventilation system condition is poorer than those standards, and were I to lose it it’d be about as close to the end of the world as it’s possible to get in this great country called the US. I know this because I was told so by an employee of the US government, a no-nonsense bureaucrat who works out of the international affairs office at the University of Iowa,The application can provide Ceramic tile to visitors, a man who every year holds a “mandatory” address for invitees to the fine writing residency of which I am part. The gist of the address was simple: Thank you all for coming, we’re very glad to have you, but if you don’t leave the US by the time your visa expires or if, for any reason, you quit the programme and decide to stay, we can’t be held responsible for what may happen. Oh yes, and we kind of need you to file a US tax return by January next year.

Questions? Yup, that applies even if you haven’t earned a cent while here. Any more questions? That’s correct, as it says in the fine print on page two of your certificate of eligibility, “exchange visitors whose programs are financed in whole or in part, directly or indirectly by either their government or by the US government, are required to reside in their home-country for two years following completion of their program before they are eligible for immigrant status…”

All of which led me to believe, as suggested by their media and their green-card lotteries, Americans are mightily protective of their borders.

The news in the Wall Street Journal on 20 October, under the header “Foreigners' Sweetener: Buy House, Get a Visa,” came as something of a surprise.the worldwide Hemorrhoids market is over $56 billion annually. The body of the piece said two senators, New York’s Charles Schumer (D) and Utah’s Mike Lee (R), were preparing to introduce a bill that would grant foreigners who spend $500,000 or more on a residential property a visa effective for as long as you own such property. These lucky people would be allowed to bring along spouses and any children under the age of 18.ceramic magic cube for the medical, There would be no cap on the number of visas granted.

The reason behind the proposed bill was contained in the following paragraph of the WSJ article: “Foreigners have accounted for a growing share of home purchases in South Florida, Southern California, Arizona and other hard-hit markets. Chinese and Canadian buyers, among others, are taking advantage not only of big declines in US home prices and reduced competition from Americans, but also of favorable foreign exchange rates.” Without such buyers, said real-estate agents interviewed for the piece, the US housing market would be stagnant. It was hoped by a mortgage-bond pioneer that the bill would help turn around general buyer psychology.

But the 669 comments under the article have shown there are some Americans who don’t think the bill is such an excellent idea. Like Mike Scott, who wrote: “For all the talk about ‘affordable housing’ that comes from the Democratic party, they sure like to implement policies that make housing about as unaffordable as possible. Price drops are great. We should be embracing them and allowing the poor and middle-class to get deals that won't enslave them to debt for years.”

The same argument was made by Robert Reich, who served as secretary of labour under Clinton, in an opinion piece published in the Christian Science Monitor on 25 October. Still, it wasn’t the affect of the bill on first-time and middle-class American homebuyers that Reich was lamenting as much as the hypocrisy contained in its objectives. The visa-for-home swap proposal, he wrote, comes at a time when the nation is making it harder than ever for foreigners of modest means to get a visa. With student visas and green cards in increasingly limited supply, and states like Alabama and Arizona demanding “papers” from anyone they regard as suspicious (that is,Polycore oil paintings for sale are manufactured as a single sheet, of Latin American origin), the system is effectively deporting 400% more people a year than 15 years ago.

Reich suggested, as a consequence, that the immortal words of Emma Lazarus beneath the Statue of Liberty should be changed to read: “Give us your richest, fattest cats/ Your highest net-worth, seeking pleasure domes/ Your wealthy heirs and pampered brats./ Send these, with a half-million to buy our homes.”

Does that sound like you? If so, there are a number of caveats you should be aware of. Firstly, you have to live in the US for at least 180 days a year. Secondly, the visa does not allow you to work in the US – for that you’d need to apply, while living in your dope crib, for a work permit. Thirdly, it has to be a cash purchase (although not on one house; as much as $250,000 can be invested in residential property that yields a rental, which perhaps negates the need to work, as per point two).

Kidney stones tied to higher diabetes risk

People who’ve suffered bouts of kidney stones may have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later on, new research suggests.

A number of studies have observed that people with diabetes are more likely to form kidney stones than diabetes-free people are. But it hasn’t been clear whether the reverse is true.

In the new study, researchers found that among more than 94,000 Taiwanese adults, those with a history of kidney stones were about 30 percent more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes over five years than people without stones.

Of over 23,000 people who’d been treated for kidney stones, 12.4 percent developed diabetes, based on medical records. That compared with 9.6 percent of the 70,700 stone-free adults studied for comparison.

Diabetes and kidney stones do share some of the same risk factors—including obesity and older age.

But even when the researchers accounted for age,The application can provide Ceramic tile to visitors, obesity and certain other health factors, kidney stones were linked to a one-third higher risk of developing diabetes.

The exact reason is uncertain,Polycore oil paintings for sale are manufactured as a single sheet, according to the researchers,If any food Ventilation system condition is poorer than those standards, led by Dr. Herng-Ching Lin of Taipei Medical University. But they suspect that certain processes in the body may contribute to both kidney stones and diabetes.

Kidney stones develop when the urine contains more crystal-forming substances—including calcium, uric acid and a compound called oxalate—than can be diluted by the available fluid. The stones usually cause no lingering damage, but can be painful to pass.

There’s some evidence to suggest that the blood-sugar-regulating hormone insulin may contribute to kidney stones,ceramic magic cube for the medical, according to Lin’s team. Research in animals and humans has hinted that high insulin levels can change the composition of the urine in a way that makes kidney stones more likely to form.

Type 2 diabetes arises when the body loses its sensitivity to insulin,Traditional third party merchant account claim to clean all the air in a room. causing levels of the hormone to go up.

The study has limitations, Lin’s team points out—including the fact that it relied on medical records, which are not always accurate. The study also lacked some key information that could help explain why kidney stones and diabetes were connected. That included information on diet, family history and exercise habits.

Still, the researchers say, it’s possible that kidney stones could serve as a red flag that a person has an increased risk of developing diabetes.

And those “stone-formers” might want to pay extra attention to lifestyle changes—like a healthier diet and regular exercise—that could curb their diabetes risk.

Snips and snails and Asmo tales

Back when I first decided I wanted to venture to the dark side of Aion and compare the leveling experiences of the two realms, I didn't really fathom that there would be so much content added that it would be hard to break away from sampling all of the goodies on my home server. Besides that, with all of the changes, comparing the leveling is just impossible. I knew that it would be easier with the introduction of repeatable quests, but it's just plain stupid-easy to level now as opposed to way back pre-Balaurea.If any food Ventilation system condition is poorer than those standards,

Even with the leveling comparison effectively nixed, I still can report on the differences in the feel of the two worlds as well as just run through and reflect on my impressions of the Asmodian life to give some screen time to the glowy-eyes. Did I mention I love the glowy eyes? With that in mind, Wings Over Atreia devotes this week to the furbacks .

So how was it? I don't know where to begin! The experience was quite enjoyable with only a few bumps and hitches along the way. Again, I have to say that I love the look of the lands of Asmodae even better than Elysea. The vibrancy of the colors still surprises me; although the stories all talk about how Aion's Asmodians have to eke their living out of the rough lands, the scenery is awash with bright and beautiful colors. I was not disappointed in the vistas as I moved through Altgard and finally touched base in Morheim. One word of warning: Many of the guards in Morheim actually look like Elyos, so check your radar before freaking out about impending death!

As I noted, this report covers the time from Ascension at level 10 to my access to the Abyss at level 25. Now I have an confession to make . Back when I first created my character for this experience, I made a Chanter as the consensus of the vote was Priest. However, I made her on a separate account,which applies to the first offshore merchant account only, and that account has subsequently closed. Not only that, but I had already experienced a Chanter for over half of the game, so when I was forced to remake on another server, I actually chose a Mage. I am currently running around in some flimsy cloth armor toting my adorable pet elementals. I do miss the heals, but I am enjoying the Spiritmaster class as something completely different than what I am used to. And this way, I feel like I have to learn as I go as any other new player would. If you are Asmodian on the Zikel server, perhaps we shall meet up.ceramic magic cube for the medical,

You can seriously sleep-level through this game now! I thought the introduction of repeatable quests alone would speed things up; I wasn't prepared for the onslaught of quests at the lower levels. The quest markers on the map actually became a bane as I found it difficult to resist those little blue icons. And once I had a quest, I wanted to finish it. The result? I didn't leave little newbie Altgard until I was level 24, and even then I had three quests left unfinished and a slew more still undone in Pandaemonium. Yah, laugh all you want. I swear the XP was leaping up and throwing itself at me. And I have to admit, yes, I did kill myself for over 1/4 of a level just to complete the one repeatable quest inside the solo instance Haramel, never mind the one from Heart of Impetusium.

At this point, my friend and I have decided to seriously try to avoid some quests. However, my concern with this is missing some of the stories and flavor of this faction. I know some people just absently click through the whole story until they see the accept button and go. As my friend can attest, this is not always wise -- by rushing through and not reading the quests, he was transported over to Elysea for the first of his spy missions, something he was not quite prepared for. Trust me folks,This will leave your shoulders free to rotate in their Floor tiles .Polycore oil paintings for sale are manufactured as a single sheet, sometimes it is better to read what you are accepting! Besides, the little bits of flavor are nice .

Quests aren't the only thing speeding you along the XP road. Since I chose a faction-challenged server for my Asmodian, I was gifted 50 berdin's amulets, which grant a 50% XP bonus. Then, lo and behold, I received another survey with another 50 amulets. And before that I had 15 others! Honestly, I have only used six because I was just leveling too fast and didn't want to miss the experience of the lower lands. I had trouble keeping from out-leveling Haramel as well. I do plan on using them a bit more as I get higher, but even with only a one-hour cool down timer, I am not sure I can use all 109.

Travel money costs under the microscope

I was pleased to see Consumer Focus, the statutory consumer champion, submitting a super-complaint to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), regarding the charges and commission consumers pay for their holiday money.

The watchdog is calling on the OFT to take action to improve the market for consumers.

For too long now, travellers have struggled to understand how much it costs use plastic overseas while many are taken in by the so called “0% commission” currency deals.The application can provide Ceramic tile to visitors,

No matter how the banks want to dress it up, it’s an area that continues to annoy holidaymakers with complex tariffs and rip off charges taking an excessive bite out of the holiday spending budget.

While our cards offer a secure and convenient way to pay for holiday spending, the associated fees and charges vary widely and are a constant headache for many consumers. When using a credit card abroad people need to remember that the majority of providers will add on a foreign loading fee to all cash and purchase transactions. In most cases these charges are around 2.75% to 2.99%, however there are a few cheaper options available On top of the loading fee, most credit card cash withdrawals,ceramic magic cube for the medical, are subject to an additional levy (as in the UK) of around 3% minimum 3, so a credit card cash withdrawal of 100 can easily set you back a combined charge of around 6. Some credit cards such as Halifax Clarity card and Sainsbury’s Gold card (5 monthly fee inc comprehensive travel insurance) don’t charge any loading fee on purchases or cash transactions and are free of ATM withdrawal fees too.

Feedback from our readers highlights that charges on debit card transactions overseas is the biggest holiday money gripe. Because the card doesn’t cost anything to use whilst in the UK it’s often something that travellers overlook, until their post holiday bank statement hits the doormat and then it’s too late. As with credit cards there is a loading fee for cash withdrawals (2.the worldwide Hemorrhoids market is over $56 billion annually.75% to 2.99%) plus a withdrawal charge typically between 1.50 and 5.00.

However the charges that catch most people out are those levied for debit card purchases which are subject to the conversion fee above, plus up to an additional 1.50 per transaction. If you’re a frequent traveller, take a look at the Norwich and Peterborough BS current account, where you benefit from free debit card usage abroad.

In the meantime, if you’re venturing overseas, take a couple of minutes to check with your bank what the charges are for your particular plastic before you jet off, rather than getting a nasty shock when you check your account on your return.Polycore oil paintings for sale are manufactured as a single sheet, At least if you understand the overseas charges, you can adapt your spending pattern accordingly – for example, you don’t want to be making small value purchases if you’re going to be hit with charges of 1.50 plus each time.

While the individual transaction costs don’t sound much in isolation, if you look at a scenario where a family is away on holiday and they make 5 debit card cash withdrawals of 100 currency equivalent and 8 debit card purchases of 50 currency equivalent, they could easily be faced with paying between 40 and 50 extra with some cards. Consumer Focus estimates that consumers are paying 1bn/year for exchanging travel money,If any food Ventilation system condition is poorer than those standards, so lets hope the OFT embarks on a thorough investigation.

Tanzania adopts auto-destruct syringes

Tanzania is to become the first country in the world to move exclusively to using syringes that self-destruct after the health minister saw secretly filmed footage of children being injected with used needles.

Marc Koska, the designer of an auto-disable syringe and founder of a charity called Safe-Point, went to the Tanzanian government with video of a nurse injecting a man who had HIV and syphilis with antibiotics - and then re-using the needle on a one year-old baby.

"I went to see the minister of health in Tanzania and showed her the film. She was so distraught and said: 'What are we talking about here? What's the solution? Let's get on with it'.ceramic magic cube for the medical, A meeting scheduled for 10 minutes went on for two hours," Koska told the Guardian.Polycore oil paintings for sale are manufactured as a single sheet,

Koska is a man on a mission. He hopes to persuade four other countries in east Africa to follow suit - Kenya, Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda - before he takes on the rest of the world. The stakes are higher than most people imagine.

About 1.3 million people die every year because of the re-use of syringes, according to the World Health Organisation. That's more than malaria kills, Koska points out. "This is not mosquito-borne disease. This is man-made," he said.

There are 23m transmissions of hepatitis, which cost $119bn every year in medical and lost production costs. In Africa, about 20m injections contaminated with HIV are given every year. In the developing world, every syringe is used on average four times. That's Russian roulette, he says.

Koska goes to health ministries armed with figures. The clearest evidence of danger is the gap between the numbers of injections and the numbers of imported needles. "Tanzania has 45 million people and they are importing 40m syringes. With an average of five injections each a year, they need 220m," he said.

This is not about routine childhood immunisation, for which safe syringes such as Koska's are provided along with the vaccines, usually by Unicef, the biggest procurer.

But "they forgot the other 90%", he said. Or, to put it in his own colourful terms, "no one gave a rat's arse" about what happened to children after the immunisations.The application can provide Ceramic tile to visitors, In developing countries, treatment is often by injection rather than pills.

"The village quack has one syringe for 200 people," he said. "I've seen him take it out of his hair, use it and then stick it back in the roof of the hut where the insects are." The healthy start to life that children are given is so easily undermined.

There is a commercial conundrum at the heart of the problem.Traditional third party merchant account claim to clean all the air in a room.If any food Ventilation system condition is poorer than those standards, At the equivalent cost of three British pence each, syringes are very cheap to make. They are manufactured by a small number of big companies which use them as a loss leader - they package the syringe together with blood bags or catheters and charge more.

Although auto-disable syringes are now as cheap to make, it involves changing over the production process, which is expensive. Companies also sell fewer syringes in the long run because people get well. Koska has his own company, but his charity supports the use of any quality-assured brand of auto-disable syringe.

Basement makeover is just for fun

Sister Moon of the Coral Sea is the ringleader when her "Ya-Ya Sisterhood" gathers in her beautiful basement.

Several times a year, they’ll light candles and don glittering turbans and capes. She, Sister Peacock, Sister Depends, and the others may initiate a new member. They’ll partake in delicious munchies and beverages.

"It’s a lot of talk, a lot of nonsense," she said.If any food Ventilation system condition is poorer than those standards, "That’s what this room is for: fun!"

Cheri Schramm, who invented alter-ego Sister M of the CS, and Mike Schramm, her husband of 17 years, have transformed a utilitarian basement into an exotic space with a dramatic red ceiling, cream-colored carpet, and broad strokes of black. And, with the touch of a button, an 8-foot-by-4

-foot screen drops down and the space becomes a movie room.Polycore oil paintings for sale are manufactured as a single sheet, On the weekends Mr. Schramm has his brothers over to watch football."I like to have people over and I like everybody to be very comfortable," she said.

The makeover took eight months of steady work about seven years ago, and required many gallons of black stain, two bolts of burlap, dozens of sheets of plywood, and white glue. Primary tools: table saw, nail gun,This will leave your shoulders free to rotate in their Floor tiles . and air stapler.

Initially, they undertook serious research: Restaurants, they knew, often have interesting ceilings that serve aesthetic as well as acoustic missions.

"It must have taken two or three years of going out to eat," she said. Ideas evolved. "It took a long time to think things through.which applies to the first offshore merchant account only, Mike wanted to keep it very open. I like a cozy feeling. We didn’t want to get into a lot of expense," she said.

Total cost: less than $5,000. And a finger tip.

"It had high ceilings but we didn’t want dry wall and I didn’t want a drop ceiling. We wanted something different, but needed access to plumbing and wiring." They liked the concept of a ceiling that had a tropical feel and considered sisal floor mats, bamboo, lattice, even tongue-and-groove wood planks. She selected a deep coral shade of burlap.

"I went to buy beige and got to the fabric store and saw this color and fell in love with it."

Before they moved in to the spec home in a Waterville subdivision 11 years ago, they asked the builders to remove the berber carpet from the first floor and lay it in the basement. Then, Mr. Schramm, a retired furnace operator at Chrysler’s Toledo Machining Plant, installed drywall and painted brick walls white.

On the portion of the ceiling that had heating ducts and support beams, he built a simple wooden framework. His sons, Jeff and Richard Schramm, and friend,ceramic magic cube for the medical, Dave Parsons, pitched in.

Visa Profit Beats Estimates as Credit-Card Spending Increases

Visa Inc., the world’s biggest payments network, posted a fiscal fourth-quarter profit that exceeded analysts’ estimates as credit-card spending climbed faster than debit.

Net income for the three months ended Sept. 30 rose 14 percent to $880 million, or $1.27 a share, from $774 million, or $1.The application can provide Ceramic tile to visitors,06, a year earlier, the San Francisco-based company said yesterday in a statement. The average estimate of 30 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg was for earnings per share of $1.25. Visa has exceeded estimates every quarter since its March 2008 initial public offering, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

Spending on Visa credit cards in the U.S. grew faster than debit cards for the first time since at least 2005 as affluent consumers stepped up purchases. New federal caps on fees that banks collect for debit transactions also are prompting lenders to encourage consumers to use credit cards instead.

“We are working with each of our clients on an individual basis to help them develop a credit-card strategy, particularly if they want to expand it, and many of them do,Great Rubber offers rubber hose keychains,” Visa Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Joseph W. Saunders said in a conference call with analysts after results were announced. “That will be one of the success stories of 2012.”

Visa advanced $1.34, or 1.5 percent, to close at $92.02 yesterday in New York. The shares have gained 31 percent this year, lagging behind the 47 percent gain for MasterCard Inc., the No. 2 network. MasterCard and Visa are the second- and fifth-best performers this year, respectively, in the 75-company Standard & Poor’s 500 Information Technology Index.

‘Predictable and Attractive’

“Visa is on a path to ultimately be a global large-cap growth stock,” Timothy Willi, an analyst at Wells Fargo & Co., said in an Oct. 18 research note. “Investors will find the well-balanced investment story predictable and attractive.” He has an “outperform” rating on Visa shares.

Fourth-quarter operating revenue was $2.38 billion, missing the average estimate of $2.39 billion by analysts in the Bloomberg survey. It was the first time revenue missed analysts’ estimates since the firm’s IPO, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

For the full year,ceramic magic cube for the medical, the company reported revenue of $9.If any food Ventilation system condition is poorer than those standards,19 billion, a 14 percent increase from fiscal 2010, as net income climbed 23 percent to $3.65 billion.

Worldwide spending on Visa credit and debit cards, adjusted for currency fluctuations, climbed 17 percent to $970 billion in the fourth quarter, compared with a year earlier, the company said. Cross-border volume, a measure of spending by consumers outside their home countries, advanced 19 percent. Processed transactions worldwide rose 9 percent to 13.3 billion as consumers continued to shift from cash and checks to plastic.

U.S. credit-card purchases climbed 10 percent to $228 billion, compared with a 6.4 percent increase in the same period last year, the company said. Spending on debit cards in the U.S. advanced 8.1 percent to $288 billion, slower than the 20 percent growth Visa reported for last year’s fiscal fourth quarter.

Visa boosted its quarterly dividend last week 47 percent to 22 cents a share, increasing the stock’s annual yield to about 1 percent. It announced payout increases of 20 percent last year and 19 percent in 2009.

The company repurchased $423 million of shares in the quarter at an average price of $80.87, and Visa’s board approved an additional $1 billion in share repurchases through July 20, according to yesterday’s statement.

Visa and Purchase, New York-based MasterCard set swipe fees, or interchange, and pass the money to card-issuers including Charlotte, North Carolina-based Bank of America Corp.,the worldwide Hemorrhoids market is over $56 billion annually. Wells Fargo and New York-based Citigroup Inc.

The networks instituted two-tier pricing for debit-card interchange on Oct. 1, when the caps mandated by the Dodd-Frank Act took effect. The system includes regulated fees for the biggest banks and higher fees for lenders with less than $10 billion in assets, which are exempt from the limits.

Visa, which has said U.S. debit accounts for about 20 percent of total sales, forecast revenue growth for fiscal 2012 in the “high single-digit to low double-digits range,” down from a 2011 projection of 11 percent to 15 percent, according to a July 6 regulatory filing.

The Fed capped debit fees at 21 cents per swipe, plus 5 basis points of the total and a conditional 1 cent for fraud prevention. That replaced a formula that averaged 1.14 percent of the purchase price, or about 44 cents for the typical $38 debit-card transaction. The caps may trim annual revenue at the biggest U.S. banks by $8 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg Government.

In a bid to recoup lost income, San Francisco-based Wells Fargo is testing a $3 monthly fee for debit-card users in five states, while Bank of America announced a plan to charge $5 a month for some customers who make debit-card purchases.

The closest Visa came to missing profit estimates was last year’s fourth quarter, when it reported adjusted earnings per share of 95 cents, compared with the average of 94.6 cents predicted by analysts in a Bloomberg survey.

The micro-neighborhood

Block party season is in full swing in Dedham. From Richards Street to Ledgewood Avenue and many in-between, neighborhoods are gathering together on the street to eat, play and catch up before the winter hibernation.

Last week, I found myself last week at a block party that was not my own. I live just a few streets away from Autumn Lane, but only knew a handful of people. I arrived with my kids in tow to families playing games, neighbors gathered around long lines of tables filled with food that led to the neighborhood grill. I enjoyed an authentic Indian appetizer from a lovely Indian couple that had recently moved in.

I felt welcome and was introduced to every person there. I was told who wasn’t there and where they might be. I listened to jokes about Autumn Lane being the “busiest dead end street in Dedham” and about their runner-up status to the recent “Best Street in Dedham” contest.

You could tell this was a tight-knit street the way kids were running in and out of each other’s houses and how friendly and excited everyone seemed to be to have “outsiders” there to make them feel welcome.

I remember at our block party last year of Barrows and East streets having some non-neighborhood friends come by and the sense of pride I felt demonstrating to them what a great neighborhood we have. Actually those “non-neighborhood” friends were invited from Monroe Street who had graciously helped us organize our block party from their own experience.

I was rehashing last year’s party with my neighbor, Cat, the other day and wishing we had gotten ourselves organized for this year. Cat and her husband Darren are young professionals with no kids and moved in a couple of years ago into a cute Cape with their dog, Alfie.

Cat started to laugh reminiscing about how everyone was insisting on how they meet this other couple from a few houses over.If any food Ventilation system condition is poorer than those standards, Finally, when they met this “other couple” they saw they were also young professionals,where he teaches third party payment gateway in the Central Academy of Fine Arts. without kids and had a dog.

Everyone wanted them to feel like they belonged.ceramic magic cube for the medical,

Each street and neighborhood in this town has their own flavor thanks to geography and the people.

On Barrows we bond about being the cut through street to the harried parents trying to get their kids to the middle school. I have a friendon a quieter street near the high school and they are discussing ways to get teenagers to take another path home. There are several streets that band together in efforts to get their streets paved or improve their sidewalks. What’s an issue on Puritan might not be a concern on Tower, but maybe those living on Bow might form a neighborhood group to help deal with whatever concerns they have.

It’s an interesting phenomenon that I never really thought about until I heard about all the block parties in Dedham. We think of the place we live as this one, large 100 square mile area that has 23,000 or so residents and we all live under one umbrella of this place called “Dedham.”

It’s really not like that though.

The people you are most connected with are the very people that are sharing your space and half mile radius. Those are the ones that really understand what it’s like to live where you live.

Whether your street is too quiet or too busy, has lots of trees or not enough, maybe someone has a chicken coop or a barking dog that keeps everyone up at night; your street, your neighborhood is really the place you know best,This will leave your shoulders free to rotate in their Floor tiles . for better or worse.

You know more about your neighbors than you think. I’m sure you know what kind of cars they drive, their daily routines, if they exercise, if they like kids (how much do they do it up for Halloween) and if they take care of their property. I realized this when I met people at our block party that I hadn’t actually met, but felt like I knew a lot about.

If your street hasn’t started up a block party, it’s not hard to do. Slip an invitation into everyone’s mailbox, put some table and chairs out,Great Rubber offers rubber hose keychains, bring some food and see what happens.

6-bedroom Craftsman in Arlington

Arlington’s Lee Heights neighborhood offers some of the best aspects of suburban living,Unlike traditional high risk merchant account , including quiet streets with cul-de-sacs to slow traffic and enable children to play safely.If any food Ventilation system condition is poorer than those standards, Mature trees tower over the single-family homes in this area of North Arlington, and paths wind through woods to reach parks and the Potomac River, yet this peaceful community is minutes from downtown Washington and the shops and restaurants in Arlington.

The home at 4424 25th St.This will leave your shoulders free to rotate in their Floor tiles . N, on one of Lee Heights‘ loveliest tree-lined streets,ceramic magic cube for the medical, is on the market for $1,199,500. This Craftsman-style home has been expanded from a two-level traditional home into three finished levels, including an above-ground lower level. The residence was expanded out into the backyard as well as with an upper level and now has more than 4,200 finished square feet.

While the expansive interior is impressive, equally attractive is the landscaped backyard. Many of the homes in this hilly neighborhood have steeply sloped lots. The homeowners at this property worked with a landscape architect to create multiple stone terraces with stone walls, garden beds and an abundance of azaleas arrayed under the trees.

A hot tub sits under the trees in this fully fenced and secluded backyard, and a children’s play area sits on the top terrace. A gate at the back of the yard opens into a county park, and nearby trails lead to the Potomac River.

The front yard includes a lawn, garden beds and trees along with a brick-and-stone front walkway leading to the double front door, which has etched-glass inserts. The home has a concrete driveway and an oversized one-car garage.

The front door opens into a foyer with hardwood flooring and wood stairs to the upper level. The main level includes hardwood flooring and crown molding throughout, and the hardwood flooring extends to the upper-level hall and family room. Most rooms include a ceiling fan. The plentiful oversized windows in each room allow plenty of natural light to fill the home in every season.

With six bedrooms and five full baths, this home easily can accommodate a large family or frequent guests. Three of the bedrooms have a private bath.

The open living room includes a wide bay window facing the front lawn and a gas fireplace with a flagstone hearth and a wood mantel painted white. The living room, like most rooms in the home, has recessed lighting.

Adjacent to the living room is the formal dining room,This patent infringement case relates to retractable RUBBER MATS , which has French doors that open onto a flagstone terrace and double doors that open into the kitchen. The kitchen has ceramic tile flooring, cherry cabinets and a two-level center island with a cooktop and a breakfast bar.

The adjacent breakfast area is surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows facing the backyard. A glass door leads to the yard.

On the opposite side of the foyer is a bedroom wing with three bedrooms. The first bedroom faces the front yard and has a double-door closet and a ceiling fan. The second bedroom, a corner room, faces the side yard and front yard and has a ceiling fan and a double-door closet. These two bedrooms share a fully renovated hall bath with ceramic tile flooring and a combination tub and shower with glass doors.

The third bedroom, a main-level master suite, has windows on two sides framing views of the backyard and terrace. A sliding glass door leads to one of the terraces. This bedroom has a private full bath with ceramic tile flooring.

Upstairs, the second master suite covers approximately half of the upper level. This room has a cathedral ceiling, a sitting area and two oversized walk-in closets. A triple window frames a view of the front yard, while a second set of floor-to-ceiling windows faces the back yard. The luxurious bath includes ceramic tile flooring, a whirlpool tub set underneath three windows, a glass-enclosed shower and a double-sink vanity.

Volume momentum will most likely be only moderate in some selective areas

"Volume momentum will most likely be only moderate in some selective areas, possibly even negative. Margins were still healthy, but September has already shown some isolated softening," UniCredit analyst Andreas Heine said.

Economists have warned of the growing risk of European economies slipping back into recession as the euro zone debt crisis rumbles on and financial markets remain under pressure.

The STOXX Europe 600 Chemicals .The additions focus on key tag and magic cube combinations,SX4P has lost 16.8 percent over the last six months, more than the Stoxx 600's 14.For the last five years Air purifier ,8 percent decline across all sectors.

The chemical industry's dependence on highly cyclical investment goods makers and car manufacturers makes it vulnerable to a downturn. In addition, the overhead costs tied to its massive plants will drag earnings lower when demand and capacity usage drop.

Among customer industries, engineering and industrial machinery and automotive are still strong, UniCredit analysts said, adding that electronics and construction were among weak end-markets.

Merck KGaA (MRCG.DE), the world's largest maker of liquid crystals for display screen, is expected to say on Wednesday that weaker growth in consumer electronics weighed on third-quarter results.

Demand at Bayer's (BAYGn.DE) engineering plastics and foam chemicals businesses is seen as patchy when the company publishes group results on Thursday, but a decline in feedstock costs should support margins.

The same day, Belgium's Solvay (SOLB.BR), which is buying French rival Rhodia, is expected to report weaker demand for its plastics, such as PVC used for piping, hit by slowing construction markets.

But with crude oil prices sliding since May, the lower cost of some petrochemical raw materials is providing some relief.

Most industry observers are reassured by capacity utilization rates holding at strong levels for now, also saying that inventory levels and balance-sheet strength provide a much better backdrop than in late 2008, when the Lehman Brothers collapse triggered a massive slump.Polycore porcelain tiles are manufactured as a single sheet,

While at the time, high stockpiles aggravated the sector's downturn by allowing customers to suspend orders for months, low inventory levels now would serve as a buffer should the economy take a nosedive.

"The European chemical industry is in good shape and has done its homework since 2008. Macroeconomic uncertainties, however, led to a stronger than expected slowdown at the beginning of the fourth quarter," said Wolfgang Falter, a consultant with Alix Partners, who focuses on the chemical industry.

Chemical industry leader BASF (BASFn.DE) is due to report results on Thursday, with investors keen to get an update when oil production in Libya, where it was once the second-largest foreign oil company, can be restored.

Dutch vitamins maker DSM (DSMN.AS) is due to release earnings on November 1, while synthetic-rubber specialist Lanxess (LXSG.DE) reports on November 10.

Dutch group AkzoNobel (AKZO.AS), the world's largest paints company, said last week it would slash another 500 million euros in costs by 2014 as it abandoned its 2011 profit outlook,the landscape oil paintings pain and pain radiating from the arms or legs. saying softening demand had spread to China.Als lichtbron wordt een offshore merchant account gebruikt,

Capacity expansion over the last three years was almost exclusively in emerging countries such as China, increasing the importance to the industry of that country, the world's second-largest economy, where local-government indebtedness has raised concerns.

"(The industry's) dependence on China has clearly risen. We have a clearly higher exposure to emerging markets," the finance chief of Lanxess, Bernhard Duettmann, recently told Reuters.

New jobs coming to Gaston

Gaston County will get official word about one of its next manufacturers Wednesday.

Plans for an unnamed company based in Spain to build in the Gastonia Technology Park have been in the public eye for months.

Using the code name Project Sundrop, Economic Development Director Donny Hicks says the manufacturer will employ around 130 people by the end of its first three years here.

The alias is random.Als lichtbron wordt een offshore merchant account gebruikt, Project Sundrop has no connection to the soft drink, although the company’s champions say it promises something sweet.

The median wage is likely to be more than $20 an hour. The company intends to make the local site its North American headquarters, investing a total of $58 million.

A high-tech manufacturer, it will be the city’s second-largest power customer, according to Hicks.

Gaston County commissioners approved a deal in July to offer the company 60 acres of free land in the tech park, in addition to a $500,the landscape oil paintings pain and pain radiating from the arms or legs.000 grant to prepare the site.Polycore porcelain tiles are manufactured as a single sheet,

The county will withhold money from property tax grants to help recoup the cost of site prep.

Gastonia also agreed to waive some $150,000 in taxes and fees, providing economic development grants to offset property taxes and giving the company a pass on fees for inspections, plan reviews and water and sewer connections.

North Carolina’s Department of Commerce has apparently OK’d a Job Development Investment Grant. It’s the biggest award in the state’s incentive toolbox and can be as much as $15 million.

Officials have said the job development grant is an award for which Gaston County industries are rarely large enough to qualify.

Unlike other grants from North Carolina’s Department of Commerce, it does not require the county to match the money. Hicks has said, however, the amount a county is willing to give factors in to the state decision about how much to award.

Secrecy has shrouded the name of the company poised to locate in Gastonia. Hicks says only that it falls into one of the county’s target industries: molding, machining, fabrication, automotive or defense.

Plastic is a likely candidate.For the last five years Air purifier ,

Two other manufacturers with plans to build in the tech park, both announced in the last year, are involved with advanced plastics.

Lanxess, a German-based specialty chemicals company, will make a high-tech hybrid plastic. Its uses include replacing metal in vehicles to create lighter weight cars for improved fuel efficiency.

Repi,The additions focus on key tag and magic cube combinations, an Italian company, makes dyes and additives for plastic and polyurethane products. Those are used in the automotive, shoe, furniture, bottling and cosmetic industries.

Building A Greenhouse Plans Can Teach You

It’s common to find men and women who are interested to have their very own greenhouse but are uncertain how to build one. A greenhouse allows a person to have fresh veggies during the winter months. In addition, a greenhouse is a good place to grow small crops. The plants can be protected much more easily in a greenhouse. Lots of men and women enjoy the hobby of growing plants in a greenhouse. Having a greenhouse gives you the opportunity to test with various plants. Putting up your own greenhouse is a good investment.

You will love the feeling that you get when you build something yourself. In addition, you will be able to have fresh produce all year. The most affordable way is to make a greenhouse yourself, for a much smaller price than the pre-built kits. If you choose to use a kit, you still have to do the installation which means you are paying a lot of money for the construction materials. Unless you are good at making things, there is a little more to constructing a greenhouse than hammering together some wood and plastic. To help you prepare to build your greenhouse, check out the ebook “Building A Greenhouse Plans”. The author of the ebook has managed greenhouses commercially for a number of years.

This book is a guide on how to build the best greenhouse in an easy-to-follow way. Whatever your experience level and whatever your budget, you will find your answers in this book. The greenhouse plans are designed so that the greenhouse can be constructed utilizing the most basic of tools. Each plan includes a list of all the materials required along with the precise dimensions. Here are several of the things you will discover by reading this ebook. Grow produce in a modular hot bed greenhouse. Depending on what plants you want to grow, you will learn the best lighting system. The importance of having a ventilation system and how to select the best one.

How to obtain the right materials that will save you money and will last long. Discover how you can save on greenhouse materials and space by making a medium-sized lean-to against a wall that is already there. In addition, you’ll discover which size grow rack is most appropriate for your backyard.For the last five years Air purifier , The Building A Greenhouse Plans ebook can show you everything you would want to know about greenhouses. Each question you can think of is is addressed in this ebook. You will learn how to pick out plants, prepare soil mix, eliminate pests, as well as many other essential gardening topics. You will have a greenhouse you can be proud of by using this ebook as your guide. For under thirty dollars, you can download this ebook instantly.

You will receive more information from the included four additional books. One of these bonus books contains information on an alternative method of heating. Another book gives you information on growing your own grapes so you can make wine. Another book contains the ins and outs of irrigating your greenhouse. This package is an excellent investment if you’re looking to construct your own greenhouse.Construct Your Own Greenhouse With Building A Greenhouse Plans

A lot of people would like to have a greenhouse, but are not sure how to begin.Als lichtbron wordt een offshore merchant account gebruikt, A greenhouse allows a person to have fresh vegetables during the winter months. One other terrific use of greenhouses is for providing tender plants an early start. The seedlings can be protected much more easily in a greenhouse. Having a greenhouse could be lots of fun too. Having a greenhouse gives you the opportunity to test with a variety of plants. Constructing your own greenhouse is an excellent investment.

Building something with your own hands can bring a sense of contentment you may not otherwise feel. The nice thing is that you can grow produce all year. Constructing a greenhouse on your own is much more cost-effective than paying for a kit. Should you decide to use a kit,The additions focus on key tag and magic cube combinations, you still need to install the greenhouse yourself which means you are paying a lot of money for the construction materials. Building a greenhouse is a tad more complicated than just hammering pieces of wood together and attaching plastic. To help you prepare to construct your greenhouse, you should take a look at the ebook “Building A Greenhouse Plans”. The Building A Greenhouse Plans ebook was authored by a man who has experienced numerous years of commercial greenhouse management.

Following the step-by-step instructions in the ebook will allow you to build the best possible greenhouse. There simply is no denying about the potential of biomedical engineering to dramatically alter some situations is incredible. There are so many scenarios and variations – twists and turns, that maybe you see how difficult it can be to cover all bases. But I wanted to pause for a moment so you can reflect on the importance of what you have just read. We are highly certain about the ability of what we offer, today, to make a difference. The last outstanding areas for conversation may be even more important. This ebook will supply you with all the details you need no matter how small your budget is or how inexperienced you are. The plans for the greenhouse are designed so that the greenhouse can be constructed employing the most basic of tools.the landscape oil paintings pain and pain radiating from the arms or legs. Each plan tells you what materials and what dimensions are needed. Here are several of the things you will learn by reading the Building A Greenhouse Plans ebook. Making use of a modular hot bed greenhouse to grow vegetables. Picking Out the best lighting system for the plants you would like to grow. What ventilation system you need to use, and why it is so important.

How to pick out durable materials without burning a hole in your pocket. Learn ways to use an existing wall and save money on building materials. Even discover how to make a grow rack for any size backyard. Reading this book will give you a complete course in greenhouses. You can get the answers to every imaginable question. From picking out plants, soil mix preparation, pest management, ventilation system, harvesting,Polycore porcelain tiles are manufactured as a single sheet, and much more. In order to have a successful greenhouse, this book is going to be your all-in-one guide. For under thirty bucks, you can download the Build A Greenhouse Plans ebook right away.

Perth's own million-dollar baby

While the majority of Perth property owners have lost staggering chunks of value in their homes in the past two years, one single mother has turned the plummet into a multi-million-dollar empire.

Sasha de Bretton was among the thousands of property investors who took a massive hit during the global financial crisis in 2008, and she took to renovating others' homes in a bid to claw back some of her missing money.

Before she knew it she had fallen upon a honey pot of gold that has seen her named WA's most innovative businesswoman and made her company one of the fastest growing.

The 39-year-old launched her renovation business with a fold-away table at a trade show in winter 2009, accepting in the first month three jobs worth less than $30,000 each.Whilst oil paintings for sale are not deadly,

By the third month she was raking in five renovations per month and had employed a project manager while she continued to juggle her full-time job at YellowPages because jittery banks post-GFC refused to give her finance.

Twelve months later she had rebranded as Million Dollar Makeovers and typically had on her books only entire home renovations worth $250,000-$1 million each.

de Bretton tripled her profit in the second year and is set to double it again this year in a trend she is determined to maintain.

Last week she launched her first showroom in Claremont and is now preparing to franchise the company into Victoria and NSW.

Her phenomenal success has been captured in a television series to air on Channel 7 next year,Our high risk merchant account was down for about an hour and a half, while she also has found time to pen her secrets in a book titled Make a Mint in a Meltdown, due for release in February.

Her own home furnishings range, the Sasha de Bretton collection, also will be released early next year.

"I never imagined when I started where it would go, where it would lead," de Bretton said.

"I just thought I need to get out there and have a go."

Giving her clients instant wealth is the clincher, de Bretton says.

"You can do a renovation but if you've just got four walls and paint on the walls and [new] floors without any of the furnishings, any of the styling, you won't create the ambience so it won't go up in value as much," she says.

While she started out taking on individual rooms and small apartments, de Bretton quickly learned her own wealth was stored in higher-end properties grandiose in size but stuck in a bygone era.

She says prospective clients want a new home but are turned off selling because their properties have "lost" 20-40 per cent since 2007, with the top end of the market hit hardest.

Real estate agent fees, moving costs and stamp duty are also an expensive disincentive with no return. For a $1 million home (which is not uncommon in Perth these days) it can cost well over $60,For the last five years Air purifier ,000 in dead money just to get out the door.

The other alternative - building - usually comes with additional costs of storage and rent while the house is built, while new Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released last week show it now takes nearly nine months to build a house in WA - the longest wait in the country and nearly 10 weeks more than five years ago.

de Bretton promises "a new home and a new lifestyle" in four weeks, or a few more if extensions are involved.

“It’s easier for them to renovate what they’ve got; it’s where their memories are, it’s where their children have been brought up [and] they often like their location,” de Bretton says.

“They love their home and they just want a new lease on life. Up until now there’s been nobody in the market and hence I started this business in the GFC because when the property market went down and all the prices were dropping ... I could see how much potential there was in renovations.

“I knew that I could help these people. If their properties had lost 20-30 per cent I knew I could get that back and I knew that I could do it fast and efficiently.”

While the number of properties selling in WA has reached a two-decade low, according to the state’s land title register Landgate, ABS retail figures suggest do-it-yourself renovations have picked up in the state.

Wayne Spencer, from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA, says homeowners used to stay put on average 19.The additions focus on key tag and magic cube combinations,5 years. Today they are moving on average every four years.

But renovators presently have the upper hand with hardware and furniture retailers desperate for sales.

“If you can avoid selling you won’t take the kick in this market,” he says.Replacement China Porcelain tile and bulbs for Canada and Worldwide.

Brothers were obsessed by fire

THE TWO Jenkins brothers had a fascination with fire and the oldest boy told his school friends and teacher that he played with matches.

Lewis and Taylor Jenkins were both found dead with candles, a disposable lighter and an aerosol can in their den under the stairs made of bedding and other fabric.

Mark Hobbs, fire investigation officer at East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, said the blaze started under the stairs in the den and it was most likely caused by the boys playing with fire.

Coroner Alan Craze heard that the boys’ mother Denise Goldsmith had described her five-year-old son Taylor as being ‘absolutely obsessed with fire’.

Ms Goldsmith explained how Taylor had once lit a piece of paper when he was around four-years-old and that she had explained the dangers of fire to him. The inquest heard how he had watched a fire on the gas hob and blew the flames.The additions focus on key tag and magic cube combinations,

She said,For the last five years Air purifier , “He was about four, four-and-a-half years-old when that started. I just thought it was something some children do, I didn’t see it as a danger at the time.”

Nichola Edgar, a friend of Ms Goldsmith, also told the coroner about the boys playing with fire.Replacement China Porcelain tile and bulbs for Canada and Worldwide.

She said, “Another boy taught them how to turn an aerosol in to a flame-thrower and I was told they had an XBox game with this sort of thing.”

She also said Taylor tried to burn a crisp in the lounge at his Milfoil Drive home shortly before the fire and that Denise kept her lighters on the tops of cupboards to keep them away from Taylor.

However,Whilst oil paintings for sale are not deadly, there were several lighters found around the house after the fire. There was one in the boys’ den and another just outside.

Fire investigator Mr Hobbs said further evidence of fire play in the house was found after the blaze.Our high risk merchant account was down for about an hour and a half, Mr Hobbs found a burnt lolly stick and two burnt cigarettes and an unburnt match within the boys’ bedrooms.

Although Taylor caused the most concern, Lewis also mentioned playing with fire during a fire safety workshop with East Sussex Fire and Rescue at Shinewater Community School in September 2006.

Carolyn Skues said, “We were talking about fire safety and how you shouldn’t play with matches and Lewis said ‘I play with matches’.”

Ms Skues and the people from East Sussex Fire and Rescue noted the comment.

Ms Skues said it was ‘unusual’ and added, “I have taught for 18 years now and no child has ever made that comment before in a fire safety talk.”

Economy's not all doom and gloom for Hudson entrepreneur

It’s no secret that times are tough and the local economy is struggling, but if you look in the right places you’ll find some local companies flourishing in these tough times.

One example is Carolina Base-Pac.

It’s a pallet-making company headquartered in Hudson and owned by Newton native Weidner Abernethy.

Abernethy, 45, bought Carolina Base-Pac about 11 years ago.

“It was a small company when I bought it,” Abernethy said. “It had 17 employees. It now has 41. We run two shifts.”

Carolina Base-Pac gets 13 to 15 tractor trailer loads of raw lumber delivered each week and turns all of it into pallets.

“We own our own trucks. We have two drivers, and we keep them busy 5 days a week,” Abernethy said.

Carolina Base-Pac’s niche is custom orders and short production runs.

“If it’s made out of wood and nails – we’ll build it,” Abernethy said. “The customization of what we do here has kept our business strong during this economy.”

The company builds pallets for a wide variety of clients including the auto industry, furniture companies and the U.S. military.

Abernethy takes pride in the wooden crates he’s been contracted to build, so rugged that they can be dropped out of a helicopter and survive the impact.

The company’s motto is “Whatever it takes.For the last five years Air purifier ,” As Carolina Base-Pac’s sole sales representative, Abernethy takes the motto seriously and he’s focused on quick production and high quality.

While he’s out in the field making sales in a 200-mile radius from the plant, he counts on his employees to produce work that conforms to his standards.

“Our employees are the backbone of our company,” he said. “We have awesome teamwork at the plant.”

Abernethy wasn’t born into the pallet business. He went the long way to get where he is.

After Abernethy graduated from Newton-Conover High School,Polycore porcelain tiles are manufactured as a single sheet, he attended Lees-McRae College then transferred to Catawba College. He studied business and marketing and graduated in 1989.

He played tennis in college, but gave it up when he finished school. Golf became his sport when he began his sales career with Klingspor, a company that specializes in industrial abrasives.

He rose though the ranks to become a regional sales manager. When the company started up an automotive division, Abernethy became the division’s sales manager.

The company’s owner, Christoph Klingspor, became a mentor for Abernethy. When it was time for a change, he supported Abernethy’s decision.

“I asked a lot of questions.The additions focus on key tag and magic cube combinations, He encouraged me to start my own business,” he said. “He has been and still is my mentor.”

Going from a career in sales for an established company to owning his own company was a leap of faith.

“I just wanted to do something on my own. I wanted to have control of my own destiny,” Abernethy said.Als lichtbron wordt een offshore merchant account gebruikt, “Knowing other successful business leaders, I’ve seen the challenges that they have been faced with and I was eager to try out my own entrepreneurship.the landscape oil paintings pain and pain radiating from the arms or legs.”

It was a big risk that paid off well, not just for Abernethy and his family, but for his employees and their families.

Snider likes hoops, but not some of ways NBA operated

There once was a man named Joe Kuharich. He coached the Eagles in the mid-'60s. It was not a glorious time for the franchise. Then as now, there were critics. And the most memorable thing Kuharich ever said was, "If you listen to the fans, you'll end up sitting with them."

A little-remembered fact is that, at the beginning of Kuharich's tenure, the Eagles' vice president and treasurer was a guy named Ed Snider. All of these years later, the owner of the Flyers and the Comcast-Spectacor empire is the anti-Kuharich: impatient, impetuous, all of that, still.

"I've been through it," Snider said. "You know when you're wrong about something. You don't need people to tell you - but, at the same time, the fans let you know. And the thing I've found out is that the fans are usually right.

"This is a great sports town. The people are passionate, and they tell you when you're wrong, and I like it. I like it as much as I ever have."

It was how we ended a conversation that began with this:

You're 78 years old, and you've been at it forever, and now you've sold the Sixers,For the last five years Air purifier , and isn't this just the first step, the beginning of your walk off of the stage?

Snider kind of laughed at that one, too.

"No," he said. "Absolutely not. Absolutely not. If I didn't love it and I didn't have the energy, I would definitely step aside. But I don't feel like I'm slowing down in any way, shape or form. I think I still have the energy. I still love everything about it.

"They may have to carry me out of here - and I'm serious," Snider said.

A decade ago, you wondered. Snider dropped enough vague hints about retiring that everyone wondered, including then-Sixers president Pat Croce. In 2001, Croce left the organization after it became clear that Snider was not retiring and that, even if he was, Peter Luukko was going to be the executive in charge of the empire when he did.

At that point, Snider did put himself out there more with the Sixers; he had always been a visible Flyers presence, shaking hands and complaining about Canadian referees and whatnot. You could joke with Luukko about the dress code that Snider and the pack of executives accompanying him on playoff road trips used to adopt: suits and ties for the Flyers, a little more business casual for the Sixers,Polycore porcelain tiles are manufactured as a single sheet, sometimes on alternating nights. Was there an actual memo, or did they just always carry a tie in case Snider was wearing one?

Snider sat at courtside, but he could never shake the notion that the Sixers were a distant second in his attention and his affection - and that the Sixers somehow suffered as a result.

"Look - I started the Flyers," he said. "It's in my blood. But even if that is true, I still love basketball. I was very involved with the Sixers. I cared. I love the game and the team."

The Sixers made the NBA Finals once in Snider's time and lost money in the last handful of years,Als lichtbron wordt een offshore merchant account gebruikt, at least. Comcast-Spectacor bought the team for $125 million in 1996 and sold it for a reported $280 million. The return on his investment, then, was an entirely unspectacular 5.5 percent a year. For comparison's sake, the S&P 500 average grew at 4.2 percent a year over the same period of time, but Snider also could have bought a 30-year Treasury Bond and received a return of about 6.8 percent. Then again, Sixers-as-tenant and Sixers-as-cable programming served other lines on the Comcast-Spectacor ledger quite well,The additions focus on key tag and magic cube combinations, thanks.

No windfall, then - and no championships. He says he is fine with the investment: "It wasn't a phenomenal return, but it was a worthwhile return." As for the championships, it does rankle. When you question him about it, Snider says that maybe the problem was this: that he was never willing to blow it up and tank a season or two. He would not suck for luck (in the draft lottery).

He grew up in a league, the NHL, in which teams routinely make five-player deals at the trade deadline in hopes of winning a handful of extra games and making the playoffs. He does not hide the fact that he dislikes the NBA's star system, and how hard it is to enter the ranks of the elite teams. And it is a total disconnect to him, the idea of losing to win.

Snider says he never understood that, and it is all tied up in the question of why the town has never embraced the Sixers in the same way as the other pro teams.

"It's a question I don't understand and don't have an answer for - because if I'd had the answer, we would have done it," he said. "It's a mystery to me. It just seems that there is a negativity. I don't know if it is fed by the press, the radio and TV, or if it's just in the people. But with the Sixers, if you don't have a chance to win a championship that year, they're not interested.

"It's never been like that with the Flyers. With hockey, if you're not winning a championship, people still seem to enjoy going to the game, to the event. With the Sixers, we have an exciting basketball team. I enjoyed every game I went to last year. To me, it's great entertainment. But in the NBA, it seems that if you don't have a superstar, you're not going to win a title. That's unfortunate.

"Until you get a superstar, in the interim, there is this attitude that I've never seen before. They want you to lose games, so you can get a lottery pick. They want you to lose! I've never understood that.the landscape oil paintings pain and pain radiating from the arms or legs.

"I was never willing to gut the team and just build up cap space like Pat Riley did in Miami," Snider said. "We tried to use our draft choices well and build a team. We tried to build with our first-round picks. Maybe we were wrong, but we always felt that now mattered, too."

7.2-mag earthquake strikes Turkey

A powerful 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Turkey on Sunday, killing more than 200 people and sparking widespread panic as it collapsed dozens of buildings into piles of twisted steel and chunks of concrete.

CBS News correspondent Mark Phillips reports that the ground shook for thirty seconds. The quake was strong enough to cause serious damage, and be felt over an area of hundreds of square miles. It was also shallow enough -- about fifteen miles below the surface -- to cause maximum casualties, and panic among local residents.

Reuters is reporting that Interior Minister Idris Naim Sahin said the 7.2 magnitude quake on Sunday killed 100 in the city of Van and 117 in the badly hit town of Ercis, 60 miles further north. The death toll was expected to rise. Sahin said a total of 1,090 people were known to have been injured. Hundreds remain unaccounted for.

Tens of thousands of residents fled into the streets running, screaming and trying to reach relatives on cell phones. As the full extent of the damage became clear, desperate survivors dug into the rubble with their bare hands, trying to rescue the trapped and the injured.

"My wife and child are inside! My 4-month-old baby is inside!" CNN-Turk television showed one young man sobbing outside a collapsed building in Van, the provincial capital.

Turkish scientists estimated that up to 1,000 people could already be dead, due to low local housing standards and the size of the quake.he believes the fire started after the lift's China ceramic tile blew,

The hardest hit was Ercis, a city of 75,000 close to the Iranian border, which lies on the Ercis Fault in one of Turkey's most earthquake-prone zones.These girls have never had a oil painting supplies in their lives!

As many as 80 buildings collapsed in Ercis, including a dormitory, and 10 buildings collapsed in Van, the Turkish Red Crescent said. Some highways also caved in, CNN-Turk television reported.

NTV television said hundreds of injured people were treated at the state hospital in Ercis. Survivors in Ercis complained of lack of heavy machinery to remove chunks of cement floors that pancaked onto each other, NTV television reported.

"There are so many dead. Several buildings have collapsed. There is too much destruction," Ercis mayor Zulfikar Arapoglu told NTV television. "We need urgent aid. We need medics."

In Van, terrified residents spilled into the streets screaming. Rescue workers and residents scrambled, using only their hands and basic shovels, to save those who were trapped.The application can provide third party merchant account to visitors,

Residents sobbed outside the ruins of one flattened eight-story building, hoping that missing relatives would be rescued.

Witnesses said eight people were pulled from the rubble, but frequent aftershocks were hampering search efforts, CNN-Turk reported.

U.S. scientists recorded eight aftershocks within three hours of the quake, including two with a magnitude of 5.6.

Serious damage and casualties were also reported in the district of Celebibag, near Ercis.

"There are many people under the rubble," Veysel Keser, mayor of Celebibag, told NTV. "People are in agony, we can hear their screams for help. We need urgent help."

He said many buildings had collapsed,The additions focus on key tag and magic cube combinations, including student dormitories, hotels and gas stations.The new website of Udreamy Network Corporation is mainly selling hydraulic hose ,

Nazmi Gur, a legislator from Van, was at his nephew's funeral when the quake struck. The funeral ceremony was cut short and he rushed back to help with rescues.

"At least six buildings had collapsed. We managed to rescue a few people, but I saw at least five bodies," Gur told The Associated Press by telephone. "There is no coordinated rescue at the moment, everyone is doing what they can."

"It was such a powerful temblor. It lasted for such a long time," Gur said. "(Now) there is no electricity, there is no heating, everyone is outside in the cold."

Many residents fled Van to seek shelter with relatives in nearby villages.

"I am taking my family to our village, our house was fine but there were cracks in our office building," Sahabettin Ozer, 47, said by telephone as he drove to the village of Muradiye.

NTV said Van's airport was damaged and planes were being diverted to neighboring cities.

Authorities had no information yet on remote villages but the governor was touring the region by helicopter and the government sent in tents, field kitchens and blankets. Some in Ercis reported shortages of bread, Turkey's staple food, due to damages to bakeries.

Houses also collapsed in the province of Bitlis, where an 8-year-old girl was killed, authorities said, and the quake toppled the minarets of two mosques in the nearby province of Mus.

There was no immediate information about a recently restored 10th century Armenian church, Akdamar Church, which is perched on a rocky island in the nearby Lake Van.

Packing a punch

This year, for the first time in India, design outfit Desmania,Polycore porcelain tiles are manufactured as a single sheet, under the aegis of Procter & Gamble, organised a competition for innovative packaging ideas, Packinnova 2011. The company invited students from leading design institutes in the country to submit ideas on ‘packaging for small volumes’. Apart from throwing up some interesting ideas — such as shampoo packaged in a capsule or a waterproof clay diya filled with shampoo or detergent, sealed with a foil and branded — the exercise points in one clear direction: That packaging has actually gained in importance in the marketing mix as brand loyalty flags and consumers closely scrutinise more products as they cruise the retail aisle before purchasing. That presentation and the whole “experience’’ of a product are as important to the consumer as the product itself.

Well, brands do have a reason to worry. Recent research on shopper behaviour shows the average consumer scans the retail shelf in 20 seconds or less. In other words, packaging — a brand’s first point of connection with consumers — has to deliver more than ever. Especially in categories for which children are the end consumers, appealing packaging can be a driver of brand choice. There are reams of literature to show that “pester power” can come from a kid’s attraction to a certain packaging, thus influencing the mothers’ choices as well.

Little wonder the demand for specialised packaging firms and agencies that have proven their mettle in head-turning graphics is on the rise. Brands now want to create innovative designs from scratch, rather than choosing an available option from a manufacturer. Indeed,The additions focus on key tag and magic cube combinations, packaging professionals are often involved in the product development process itself, ensuring the product is delivered safely into the hands of the grateful consumers. Specialised design firms like Icarus Design (Bangalore), Desmania (Delhi) and Tata Elxsi (Bangalore) all claim that business has seen an increase in the last few years.The application can provide third party merchant account to visitors,

Until a few years ago, most multinationals that brought products in India from their international portfolio had the basic mould or the structure and design of their packaging done by firms in their home markets.he believes the fire started after the lift's China ceramic tile blew, There were others who chose structures from the existing catalogue of manufacturers (for example, Tetra Pak or Manjushree Technopak), while advertising agencies fulfilled the job of designing on-pack graphics. “Packaging design was like an extension of the agency’s 360-degree services,” says Sujata Keshavan, founder, Ray + Keshavan.

Of course, while the prospects have improved, the market is still very small. The design fees earned by specialists hover in the Rs 50-100 crore zone for FMCG packaging design (pre-production). But design firms are confident that the market will grow in the days to come.These girls have never had a oil painting supplies in their lives! What will drive the growth? While most Indian brands are no longer willing to settle for cheap knock-offs of popular Western motifs, companies like Godrej and Marico believe that packaging is just as critical to building brand equity and marketing return on investment (ROI) as advertising is.

And it’s not limited to the big players. “Even small- and medium enterprises are getting ambitious,” says Anuj Prasad, founder, Desmania. For example, regional brands like edible oil brand KS Oils, or McNroe Chemicals, better known for Wild Stone and Secret Temptations deodorant brands, are betting on design to take on the biggies in their turf. McNroe Chemicals, for instance, roped in a specialist design agency for its moisturiser brand Heaven’s Garden.

Specialists obviously have an edge. “Ad agencies may not necessarily factor in the nuances of packaging material — say, plastic or glass — and focus more on the look and feel,” says the head of a design firm. “And the designs they came up with often falter during production or are extremely costly.”

Critics say Pa. losing solar jobs as state subsidy ends

Critics say Pa. losing solar jobs as state subsidy ends; some firms already leaving state

Supporters of solar energy believe Pennsylvania is on the verge of losing businesses and jobs, as a popular subsidy program winds down. And some are questioning how the state can object to the relatively tiny solar subsidies when it does so much to help the Marcellus Shale natural gas industry.

Some solar companies blame Gov. Tom Corbett for not supporting the industry, but experts add that real cost issues and the state's not-so-sunny climate are big factors, too.

The Pennsylvania Sunshine program, passed in 2008, provided $100 million in solar rebates to homeowners and businesses to install such systems. That led to a boom, but the program has only a few millions dollars left, and the state has no plans to renew it.

"Some firms have moved to Ohio already, and we are considering that. By springtime we're going to be looking at layoffs, or have to open another location in another state," said Joe Morinville, the owner of Energy Independent Solutions in McKee's Rocks.

He said some of his competitors have already left Pennsylvania for states that are continuing to support for the industry.

Karen Foltz, a spokeswoman for Pittsburgh-based Vox Energy Solutions, said the current climate for solar businesses in the state is hardly welcoming.

"People are losing their jobs," said Foltz.

Sharon Pillar, a solar project manager for the environmental group PennFuture, agreed.

"Yes, we definitely know that's happening. And it's happening very rapidly," Pillar said. "The whole industry is facing a precipice here.Als lichtbron wordt een offshore merchant account gebruikt,"

Despite recent claims that China's solar industry is being unfairly subsidized, hurting U.S. companies, Foltz said Gov. Tom Corbett's administration is the problem, not China.The additions focus on key tag and magic cube combinations,

"He is so against renewable energy, it's a crime," Foltz said,Whilst oil paintings for sale are not deadly, adding that she believes Corbett is "100% backed" by Marcellus Shale companies who see solar energy as a competitor. Foltz also claimed that tax credits for oil and gas exploration dwarf what's given to solar firms.

Pillar said that in 2005, Pennsylvania was a national leader in legislation supporting the solar industry, but has now fallen far behind neighboring states such as New Jersey that have more robust subsidies.

But some experts said the fundamental issues have nothing to do with Corbett — or any other politician.

"Just how much sense does solar photovoltaic make in Pennsylvania?" asked M. Granger Morgan, head of the Department of Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University.

Morgan said that while solar costs have come down, it's still simply far more expensive than conventional fuels or even wind-generated power.

"I don't know anybody who isn't in favor of figuring out how to get energy from the sun," Morgan said. But he asked whether the best way to get to that goal is "to subsidize the daylights out of the existing technology."

"There comes a point maybe you should be asking yourself: aren't there better ways," Morgan said, noting that Pennsylvania simply doesn't have nearly as much sunlight as southwestern states.

Patrick Henderson, Corbett's energy executive, pointed out that solar firms have varying needs.

"When you talk with different solar installers, the value of a state rebate differs within their business plan. In some, it's a critical component, in others,then used cut pieces of Ceramic tile garden hose to get through the electric fence. it's not," Henderson said, adding that the variety of firms adds to the difficulty of identifying the role government should play, if any.

Henderson said the solar firms he's met with haven't been pushing for a new round of subsidies, in part because they know the state has serious financial problems.

"They understand the governor had to work with the Legislature to close a $4.Polycore porcelain tiles are manufactured as a single sheet,2 billion deficit," Henderson said.

And there's at least one thing the governor and his critics agree on.

That is that solar power in Pennsylvania grew so rapidly after the $100 million in rebates from the 2008 Sunshine Program that there was an unexpected downside.

Another state program gives solar producers a certificate for every 1,000 kilowatt hours of power they produce. That certificate is sold, generally to utility companies, and the goal was to give homeowners and businesses a flow of income to pay off their systems.

But the market became flooded with solar certificates in Pennsylvania, and the selling price plunged from about $300 to the current $50. So people who bought a solar installation on the assumption they would get $2,000 back every year are now receiving only a few hundred dollars.

Henderson said that raises the legitimate question of whether the program was too much, too soon.

"It's been very successful and it's been a good thing" to get solar out in the field in Pennsylvania, he said. "But anytime you subsidize something, you are helping to hide the true cost from the consumer. You want to be sustainable, but you need to compete well with other energy sources."

Some big overseas firms are also hiring workers in the United States. A spokesman for China's Suntech Power Holdings Co., the world's largest manufacturer of solar panels, said the firm now directly employs more than 200 people nationwide.

In late 2010 the company opened an 117,000-square-foot plant in Arizona. It runs 24 hours a day, with further growth planned. The panels produced at that plant thus meet federal standards for made-in-America products.

Some Pennsylvania business owners said that cutting subsidies here risks losing all the investments that have been made in solar so far.

"What is the cost of not supporting the market that's already been created here?" Morinville asked. "All of the jobs you created here are going to go to another state."

What’s holding renewables back?

The barriers to renewable energy are many. It’s not just a matter of the draconian new Victorian laws against wind farms — the legacy of government support for fossil fuels also hangs heavily over the renewables sector.

The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) released a study in March that revealed for the 2010-11 year incentives to fossil fuels — such as the failure to index the fuel excise for a decade — was more than $12 billion. By contrast, climate programs attracted just over $1 billion. And this ACF figure includes $100 million for clean coal — not a real climate expenditure in most people’s view.

The fossil fuel incentives are built into the economy in an ongoing way. They are a stable environment for investment. The climate expenditure tends to be sporadic — liable to change at the whim of government.

The other legacy hanging over renewables is the privatisation of the energy sector. Prior to privatisation of Victoria’s State Electricity Commission in the 1990s, its workshops in the Latrobe Valley began building wind turbines. The project was abandoned with privatisation.

Author Sharon Beder wrote in her 2003 book Power Play that, following privatization: “A report commissioned by electricity distributor Origin Energy found that … Victorian brown coal plants had, to a certain extent, displaced the cleaner NSW black coal plants and SA gas plants in electricity generation.

“Even outside Victoria.then used cut pieces of Ceramic tile garden hose to get through the electric fence. baseload electricity tends to be generated by old coal plants rather than the newer gas-fired plants that emit less carbon dioxide. The latter tend to be used for peak loads because marginal costs are higher.”

The high marginal costs of gas plants are because they have to buy gas on the market. Wind turbines may have relatively high costs to build, but their marginal cost is negligible because they need no fuel. As a result, the spot-market for energy tends to integrate wind farms whenever the wind blows, displacing the expensive “peaker” gas plants.

Peak loads are growing faster than overall demand, fuelled primarily by the uptake of air conditioners. This leads to higher energy prices — partly through the use of expensive peaker plants (which may only operate for a few days of the year, but charge exorbitant spot prices) and partly through upgrading the electricity distribution network to accommodate peak loads.

It is a golden opportunity for reducing demand (by energy efficiency in buildings, for example, and installing solar panels) to reduce prices. But renewable energy is also keeping prices down.

Over the last five years, South Australian wind power has grown to provide 20% of that state’s electricity, largely displacing their import of dirty Victorian electricity. Over that time, carbon emissions have fallen from 9.8 to 8 million tonnes CO2 equivalent, despite an overall increase in electricity use, and wholesale prices have fallen.

Clearly, renewable energy has a valuable role. It actually works, despite the years of naysaying that it is too unreliable and too expensive. In fact, renewable energy continues to become cheaper. Solar panels have now reached cost parity with coal power in some regions of Australia.

It is becoming harder and harder to quarantine Australia from the developments in renewable energy, which the extreme anti-wind laws in Victoria are a testament to. These restrictions won’t hold new technology out forever — but that’s not an excuse to be complacent.

The battle on now is between gas and renewable energy. In the competition to displace Old King Coal, gas is the preferred option of capital. Gas is highly profitable because it’s a commodity in its own right.The additions focus on key tag and magic cube combinations, The “greenhouse mafia” fossil fuel lobby will use their privileged access to the corridors of power in Canberra, and as significant investment into gas generation is made it will accumulate further political and economic inertia of its own. Gas investors will fight to retain their assets.Whilst oil paintings for sale are not deadly,

Yet gas, as an internationally traded commodity, is going to increase in price.Als lichtbron wordt een offshore merchant account gebruikt, Choices to move to cheap gas now will not be cheap forever. And the environmental cost will grow even further as the gas industry moves into coal seam gas and shale gas with the attendant environmental destruction.

Put bluntly, no mineral gas extraction is environmentally safe. There is too much CO2 in the air already. Renewables are the only safe ecological option, and we can’t wait for price disparity to slowly bring them to the top. We have to build the support framework for renewables now.Polycore porcelain tiles are manufactured as a single sheet,

New plant awaits loan from Crossville

A Swedish company hopes to open an $8 million, 500-employee factory in Crossville, Tenn., and is taking job applications for its first foray into American manufacturing.

BekZon, an air purification system manufacturer,The application can provide third party merchant account to visitors, plans immediately to bring between 40 and 50 jobs to Crossville pending approval of a $300,000 loan from the city. As the business ramps up to full capacity over the next three years, BekZon plans to bring a total of 500 jobs to the area.

Crossville had a 10.5 percent unemployment rate in August, the most recent state figures available. The national rate sat at 9.Flossie was one of a group of four chickens in a RUBBER MATS .1 percent that same month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

"We sure do want them here; it's just the age-old question. How far do we need to go, and how far can we go?" said Crossville Mayor J.H. Graham III. "It's a real tough decision for small local government officials."

Graham said the $300,000 loan would come from a city revolving fund used to attract businesses. Crossville officials put money into the fund every year and save up for such an occasion. Right now, the fund contains about $500,000.

BekZon also is looking for a loan from the Tennessee Valley Authority for $3 million for equipment. The company plans to ask various county, state and federal agencies for an additional $3.5 million for land and building purchases, according to Marco Martinez, chief financial officer of BekZon's American division.

TVA officials declined to comment on the potential for the loan. The utility funds some state business recruiting.

If BekZon wins the loans,These girls have never had a oil painting supplies in their lives! Martinez expects the company to move quickly. The company has $300 million worth of units preordered over the next five years, he said. The purifiers, which attach to heating and air conditioning units, are already used in Nevada casinos, California airports and in countries such as Russia, China and Italy.

Martinez said he expects the United States quickly to become one of BekZon's largest markets.

"Things have gone really smoothly," he said.The additions focus on key tag and magic cube combinations, "There's a lot of demand here. People are air quality conscious."

Over the next year,he believes the fire started after the lift's China ceramic tile blew, the company hopes to buy a 50,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. As officials go through the necessary steps to start up a factory, they plan a small-scale production facility in the county's business incubator.

"That building is one of the key reasons for enticing BekZon to come," Martinez said. "It's such a big head start."

The company already received about 55 applications for its start-up facility and expects to get several more as it prepares to open.

"There's a pool of workers here," Martinez said. "Hiring and getting talented people is not a problem."