snooty fox el debarge portland weather clintonville derek fisher my morning jacket battlestar galactica blood and chrome
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Dragon Boat Racing ? A Well-known Company Team-building ...
[unable to retrieve full-text content]Dragon Boat Racing ? A Well-known Company Team-building Occasion. Posted on March 30, 2012 by trevorjersey75. Its correct that money issues a great deal to retain greatest workers and to create excellent output from them. Nevertheless ...
More People Are Now Shopping At Online Auction Sites | Internet ...
?
Everyone is familiar with the online auction phenomenon. Indeed more and more people are joining every day to make the most of what these websites have to offer. However, there are also several other online auction sites, including new generation auction models running different formats, which are also growing rapidly and becoming ever more popular.
The best place to get a bargain.
There are countless stories of people who have sought out amazing bargains on these various online auction sites. It is often quite possible to buy brand new items at a fraction of their normal price, and good quality second hand items are also changing hands at low prices.
Is this the place to buy more unusual items as well ?
Since these bidding websites are used by people of all ages and cultures all over the world, it is easy to see why there is such a comprehensive mix of items that can be bid on or purchased. Whatever you might be looking for, you can be sure there is a chance of finding it on an online auction site somewhere, whether it is one of the larger well known or smaller alternative sites.
Has the economy made online auction sites more popular ?
It may well have done. Saving money has become even more important for most people. In many cases you can buy items and even bearing in mind postage costs, you can still get them at greatly reduced prices. It is not always necessary to buy things brand new, and people are more willing to get second hand items especially if it means they can save a lot of cash while doing so.
Auction sites have also kicked off many successful home businesses.
Of course this hasn?t only provided people with the opportunity to save money. They have also provided many people with the opportunity to set up profitable businesses in their own right.
There are two ways to do this and reap financial rewards. Many people start by buying second hand items at a discount. Typical examples include job lots of books and toys (sometimes from the auction sites themselves). Then they list the items individually and make a profit on as many of them as possible. Lots of people also find it easy to offload their own unwanted items to make more money. Not only is this a fantastic way of de-cluttering the home, it is also a great way of bringing in more cash.
Other people have gone the extra step and bought wholesale stock to re-sell on these sites, however this method does require an upfront investment to begin with. But it has allowed many people to operate a business from home with little hassle and trouble.
Plenty of reasons to try online auction sites.
As you can see, people use various online auction sites for lots of different reasons. But it all boils down to two things ? saving money or making it. In the current financial climate it is no big surprise that online auction sites are becoming ever more popular. If you haven?t tried them yet, now may be the best time to do so.
roses flower delivery e cards smash kate upton sports illustrated outback chaka khan
Whole Foods to stop sale of unsustainable seafood
FILE - This Sept. 10, 2010, file photo, shows the seafood counter at Whole Foods Market in Hillsboro, Ore. Whole Foods Market says it will stop selling fish caught from depleted waters or through ecologically damaging methods, a move that comes as supermarkets nationwide try to make their seafood selections more sustainable. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)
FILE - This Sept. 10, 2010, file photo, shows the seafood counter at Whole Foods Market in Hillsboro, Ore. Whole Foods Market says it will stop selling fish caught from depleted waters or through ecologically damaging methods, a move that comes as supermarkets nationwide try to make their seafood selections more sustainable. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)
FILE - This Sept. 10, 2010, file photo, shows the seafood counter at Whole Foods Market in Hillsboro, Ore. Whole Foods Market says it will stop selling fish caught from depleted waters or through ecologically damaging methods, a move that comes as supermarkets nationwide try to make their seafood selections more sustainable. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)
FILE - This Sept. 10, 2010, file photo, shows a "Seafood Watch" sign with a color-coded rating program hangs over the seafood counter in Whole Foods in Hillsboro, Ore. Whole Foods Market says it will stop selling fish caught from depleted waters or through ecologically damaging methods, a move that comes as supermarkets nationwide try to make their seafood selections more sustainable. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) ? Whole Foods Market said Friday that it will stop selling fish caught from depleted waters or through ecologically damaging methods, a move that comes as supermarkets nationwide try to make their seafood selections more sustainable.
Starting Earth Day, April 22, the natural and organic supermarket chain will no longer carry wild-caught seafood that is "red-rated," a color code that indicates it is either overfished or caught in a way that harms other species. The ratings are determined by the Blue Ocean Institute, an advocacy group, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California.
Among the seafood disappearing from Whole Foods shelves will be octopus, gray sole, skate, Atlantic halibut and Atlantic cod caught by trawls, which can destroy habitats. The company will stock sustainable replacements like cod caught on lines and halibut from the Pacific.
"In the long term, what we're really looking to do is help reverse trends of overfishing and bi-catch, so that really we can move the industry as a whole toward greater sustainability," said seafood quality standards coordinator Carrie Brownstein. She added that Whole Foods is making the shift a year ahead of its internal deadline.
Retail prices could be higher in some cases in which sustainable suppliers have lower yields.
Whole Foods, which has been strengthening its buying practices for years, is among a number of supermarket chains responding as consumers become more concerned about the sources of their seafood.
In the past month, BJ's Wholesale Club announced a policy to ensure its seafood is sustainable or on track to meet sustainability standards by 2014, and Supervalu announced a comprehensive policy to ensure its farm-raised seafood is sustainable. Supervalu, which operates Albertsons, Shop 'n Save and seven other retail brands, also stopped selling six wild-caught species because of sustainability concerns.
The changes have come fast. In 2008, when Greenpeace first published its seafood sustainability scorecard of supermarkets, all 20 of the major chains surveyed failed. Last year, 15 of 20 companies had passing scores, said John Hocevar, the environmental group's oceans campaign director.
"It's pretty impressive to see that it was an issue that really wasn't on most of these companies' radar," Hocevar said, "and with encouragement from us and many others, they really did for the most part step up."
Greenpeace is among a number of private groups that certify or offer guidelines for seafood, meaning consumers sometimes must sort out multiple ratings.
For instance, some Whole Foods seafood will continue to feature labels from the Marine Stewardship Council, which maintains a widely used system that certifies seafood from sustainable fisheries. But Brownstein said the council doesn't assess every fishery, so Whole Foods relies on the color coding for seafood from fisheries not covered by the council. Whole Foods will now only sell green- and yellow-rated seafood, which is more sustainable.
Shrimp, salmon and other seafood grown on farms have yet another separate labeling system.
Hocevar said the profusion of ratings can confuse customers, which is why Greenpeace urges supermarkets to only sell sustainable products.
Associated Pressverizon galaxy nexus verizon galaxy nexus lawrence lessig lawrence lessig time magazine person of the year 2011 time magazine person of the year 2011 new orleans jazz fest
Friday, March 30, 2012
Italian pharmacists threaten to halt Viagra sales
MILAN (AP) ? Hospital pharmacists are threatening to cut Italians off from their Viagra unless the government amends its plans to reform professions that have high entry barriers.
Union official Loredana Vasselli said pharmacists decided to focus the protest on Viagra because it is a sought-after drug whose absence "does not put patients' health at risk."
Pharmacists will stage a series of labor actions during April, culminating with the so-called "Viagra strike" if their complaints are not redressed.
One group protested Thursday outside Parliament under the banner "No Viagra, No Party."
Hospital pharmacists, part of Italy's public health care system, say Premier Mario Monti's economic liberalization plan is unfair because it gives private pharmacists preference for new licenses. The reform calls for opening 5,000 new pharmacies.
Associated Pressextract bobby jindal bobby jindal talladega pumpkin carving texas tech football bridge school
Work Your Way To A Healthy Body Through A Fitness Center ...
The number of fitness centers has continuously increased through the years as more and more people see the importance of keeping a healthy body and lifestyle. Nowadays, there are various kinds of gyms where people can go to, including public community-centered gyms and commercial gyms. In a commercial gym, you can see various equipment and facilities for exercise and fitness activities. In addition, you can expect a gym to offer different classes for members to sign up for as well as services of personal trainers.
Modern gyms can also have other facilities such as spas, and sports gyms may feature swimming pools, courts, and boxing areas. Of course, fees for these kinds of gyms are typically higher than what public gyms charge. Still, people normally choose commercial gyms than public gyms since the latter tend to be full on weekdays and on weekdays after office hours.
Other Factors To Consider In Enrolling In Gyms
Because you want to pursue certain goals by enrolling in a public or commercial gym, you have to choose a fitness center that will motivate you most. Therefore, factors including location, the variety of facilities and equipment, as well as the flexibility of its fitness programmes need to be considered.
Achieving health and fitness goals often gets easier when you do it with a support group. Working out with a group who shares the same goals as yours can be more motivating. However, if you wish to work out with a personal trainer, you can ask for the services of the right trainer for you. A personal trainer can draw up a fitness programme consisting of a diet plan and workout plans designed to meet your needs.
What To Expect From Personal Training Programmes
Through the fitness training programme, your personal trainer can help you lose weight and tone your body. To ensure best results, your trainer will initially evaluate your condition according to your fitness lifestyle, eating habits, and medical history before starting with the programme.
The results of the evaluation will determine the right training plan for you. Fitness programmes often include diet advice, weight training, and cardiovascular exercises. You have to follow the schedule of your training so your personal trainer can monitor your progress. This way, you can attain your goals fast and effectively.
Click for further information on fitness center or Singapore gym.. This article, Work Your Way To A Healthy Body Through A Fitness Center is available for free reprint.
ray j anthony shadid gary carter this means war bobby brown suzanne somers colbert
Romney gets Bush backing, but no sign of George W.
HOUSTON (AP) ? George W. Bush is as hard to find in his father's office, as he is in the 2012 presidential contest.
The 43rd president appears in a gold-framed picture tucked into a far corner of the room, partially hidden by a Texas flag and a cabinet door. The placement ? whether intentional or not ? is a reminder of the Republican presidential campaign and the lengths to which Romney and his rivals have tried to marginalize the two-term president.
The younger Bush was an afterthought Thursday as President George H.W. Bush met with current GOP front-runner Mitt Romney until a reporter raised the issue.
"I haven't met with President George W. Bush. We speak from time to time," Romney said when asked if he had sought the younger Bush's endorsement.
Reporters were forced to leave the room before they could ask more about Romney's connection to the Republican president who left office just three years ago with the nation on the brink of financial ruin. George W. Bush has been ignored for months in the Republican presidential campaign. But his absence has been more pronounced over the last seven days as Romney trumpeted the endorsements of the former president's father and younger brother, former Florida. Gov. Jeb Bush, while spending two days courting donors across Texas.
George W. Bush, who lives in Dallas, did not attend any of Romney's half dozen Texas fundraisers this week. And he's not expected to follow his family's migration to Romney's camp any time soon.
While largely unspoken, both sides acknowledge that Republicans would be best served by not reminding voters of the Bush legacy of gaping budget deficits, two wars and record low approval ratings. His eight-year presidency has merited no more than a fleeting reference from Romney and his rivals in debates, campaign stops and interviews.
"For now we're just staying out of it," George W. Bush spokesman Freddy Ford said Thursday, declining to comment on a possible endorsement. Ford said Bush was focused on promoting and developing a presidential library bearing his name at Southern Methodist University.
"That's really where he's spending his time," Ford said.
But George W. Bush's virtual invisibility from the presidential contest seemed to surprise even his 87-year-old father Thursday, as a handful of reporters visited the senior Bush's private office in Houston to watch him endorse Romney.
"Has he endorsed you?" George H.W. Bush quietly asked Romney as reporters were beginning to the leave the room.
"Uh, no, no," Romney responded, before Barbara Bush quickly ended the conversation: "We'll talk about that," the former first lady said.
The 43rd president has been noticeably absent from national politics since leaving office in 2009 with a Gallup approval rating of just 34 percent. His predecessor, Democrat Bill Clinton, had a 66 percent approval rating in early 2001 when he stepped down after two terms marred by a sex scandal and impeachment.
A plurality of Americans continue to blame Bush for the nation's economic struggles: 43 percent of voters said he deserved a lot or almost all of the blame, compared with 36 percent who point to Republicans in Congress, 33 percent who think Democrats in Congress are responsible and 30 percent who credit President Barack Obama, according to a December AP-GfK poll.
In a presidential contest dominated by concerns over the economy, government spending and federal debt, the Republican candidates have been loath to acknowledge the extent to which the George W. Bush administration's policies contributed to those problems.
There is no question that Obama's policies, including the federal stimulus program and the auto industry bailout, have swollen the deficit and deepened the debt. And three years into his presidency, Obama often falls back on complaints about the bad situation he inherited when defending his own economic performance.
But while Obama may be overly eager to blame the Bush years for the nation's problems, GOP presidential contenders seem just as eager to pretend those years never happened.
"George W. Bush is still too fresh in the minds of voters," said Republican operative Michael Dennehy, a top staffer for Sen. John McCain's presidential bid four years ago. "The Democrats' strategy is to try to pin the bad economy on him. ... It's smarter to just avoid being directly drawn into that line of attack right now."
Taking office in 2001 with a balanced federal budget and a surplus in the Treasury, Bush quickly pushed through sweeping tax cuts without nipping expenditures a corresponding amount. The Bush tax cuts were set to expire after 10 years, but Obama allowed them to remain in place temporarily in exchange for an extension of unemployment benefits and a payroll tax cut.
The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan launched after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks never were budgeted and have cost taxpayers more than $1.4 trillion so far. Obama ordered the last troops out of Iraq in December, but the Afghanistan conflict is set to continue through 2014.
Bush also signed legislation in 2003 enacting a prescription drug benefit as part of Medicare, the government health care plan for seniors, a huge entitlement program projected to cost as much as $1.2 trillion over 10 years.
The Troubled Asset Relief Program, the bank bailout program widely loathed by many conservatives, was another Bush-era package. Congress authorized nearly $700 billion for the program at the recommendation of Bush's treasury secretary, former Goldman Sachs executive Henry Paulson, in response to the collapse of Lehman Brothers and the subsequent financial crisis in the fall of 2008. As a presidential candidate, Obama supported the TARP bailout, as did his GOP rival, Sen. John McCain.
Romney shared a deep sense of respect for the Bush family while glancing at the picture in the corner, which featured the faces of the former presidents, George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush.
"I love that picture over there of the two presidents. Father and son," Romney said as reporters were leaving the office. "What a legacy."
__
AP Deputy Director of Polling Jennifer Agiesta in Washington contributed to this report.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/romney-gets-bush-backing-no-sign-george-w-070348483.html
evelyn lauder devin hester devin hester shayne lamas cain velasquez dos santos waterboarding
Thursday, March 29, 2012
422Just what are Low Doctor Home loans and therefore are They're ...
Posted by FlitcroftKaleohano157 on March 29th, 2012
Perth Mortgage Broker Little Accreditation Financial loans (and also Lower Document Financial loans to put it briefly) are specially designed to permit people that is not going to be eligible for a standard mortgage. The applying really has to receive stated in crafting, even so you actually aren?t forced to found just as much details than the typical home mortgage. The lowest file personal cash loan makes use of people presenting precise details about your income level devoid of the enclosed paperwork. Decrease Health practitioner financial loans tend to be obtained by your self-employed, since they most often include several problem articulating resistant a standard earnings ( clear ) payday loans are likewise distributed around those who your below-average credit score heritage.
Why would you Apply For a Low Medical professional Financial loan?
Firstly, when you are self-employed rather than utilize a frequent salary, subsequent lower documentation loan from the bank in many cases are a new good accommodate available for you. Consider in the event you present additional information on the way to financial institution (one example is you could start to any distance learning from the cost per action) the exact terms of the home finance loan as well the interest rate is often more beneficial.
Just the thing Am i allowed to take into account?
Using the probabilities affecting a large number of financial products, every bank will normally require larger sized house mortgage rates. In the event you complement a kind of smaller record unsecured loan referred to as a good thing lend, which normally sometimes calls for without any paperwork in any way, future don?t be surprised to spend bigger prices.
And a factor to be able to topic in connection with is frequently house loan insurance policy, and that is an element that tons of financial institutions forces you to include for your desire for the loan, which additional improves the impose. Much better remains to be usually are normally wanted.
Net profit:
About FlitcroftKaleohano157
bowling green marysville tornados dr. seuss dr seuss the temptations lamar odom
Supermassive swirling solar tornado 5 times the size of Earth
We're not sure your standard tornado shelter will keep you safe from this one
Tornadoes can be absolutely devastating here on Earth, costing billions of dollars yearly in property damage. But even the most severe of Earthly tornadoes has nothing on this behemoth: Scientists have recently discovered a massive supertornado on the?surface of the Sun five times bigger than our own planet.
The swirling gas was discovered by NASA's?Solar Dynamic Observatory satellite in September 2011. News of the tornado's existence was presented to the?National Astronomy Meeting 2012 today in England. Clocking in at 186,000 miles per hour, the speeds of this tornado absolutely dwarf those of a storm on Earth. Terrestrial storms don't exactly get as hot as this tornado either: The solar storm's temperature ranges between 90,000 and 3.6 million degrees Fahrenheit.
While scientists have viewed large solar tornadoes in the past, this one is easily the biggest ever observed. The cause of the storm is believed to be the twisting of the Sun's magnetic field. A video of a similar storm is available below.
[Image source:?NASA]
[Aberystwyth University via?Wired]
This article was written by Fox Van Allen and originally appeared on Tecca
More from Tecca:
dallas cowboys cheerleaders leftover turkey recipes leftover turkey recipes the muppets percy harvin percy harvin best cyber monday deals
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Travel + Leisure: The Coolest New Disney Vacations (PHOTOS)
T+L rounds up the coolest new Disney vacations, including the rides, experiences and hotels.
A pack of Disney villains wants to take over the Magic Kingdom, and it's up to you, as Merlin's apprentice sorcerer, to stop them by unlocking clues to their whereabouts.
Disney spent more than four years perfecting this brand-new role-playing interactive scavenger hunt, Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom. And it's just one of the company's inventions this year: cool new experiences are rolling out on every front. Huge expansions at Disney World and Disneyland as well as new guided trips make Disney vacations more appealing than ever.
New Disney rides and adventures will naturally charm kids, but some will resonate more deeply with grown-ups, who can better appreciate the sheer genius that goes into melding the latest technology with nostalgia and Walt's original vision.
A fan of cruising, Walt would surely approve of Disney Cruise Line's Fantasy, which sets sail on its maiden voyage at the end of March 2012. "She was built in Germany at the finest shipyard in the world, Meyer Werft," says Anita Dunham-Potter of ExpertCruiser.com. "No expense was spared, no corners cut; it's first class all the way." Luckily, Art Nouveau-inspired d?cor and an elegant French restaurant coexist with features like the super-cool AquaDuck waterslide, making Disney vacations on this ship fun for all generations.
Could it be that our love of Disney is as much about his idealism and optimistic take on life as it is about character breakfasts? By pulling our heartstrings and reminding us of happy childhood memories, the company is managing to persuade folks of all ages that we're never too old for Disney vacations. As Walt said, "Adults are only kids grown up, anyway."
--Suzanne Rowan Kelleher
See More Cool New Disney Vacations
More on Travel + Leisure:
Coolest Disney Rides
Disney World Do's and Don'ts
Disney California Adventure, Disneyland Resort
1? of ?7
Now in the final stages of a $1.1 billion extreme makeover, the new Disney California Adventure evokes the retro glam of a Los Angeles colorized postcard. The park's centerpiece re-creates the iconic Carthay Circle Theatre, where Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs premiered in 1937, and there will be a Red Car trolley clanging along Buena Vista Street. But the most highly anticipated addition is Cars Land, based on the Pixar film. Three new attractions, including a Radiator Springs Racers ride, will delight Lightning McQueen fans.See More Cool New Disney Vacations Photo: The Walt Disney Company
Now in the final stages of a $1.1 billion extreme makeover, the new Disney California Adventure evokes the retro glam of a Los Angeles colorized postcard. The park's centerpiece re-creates the iconic Carthay Circle Theatre, where Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs premiered in 1937, and there will be a Red Car trolley clanging along Buena Vista Street. But the most highly anticipated addition is Cars Land, based on the Pixar film. Three new attractions, including a Radiator Springs Racers ride, will delight Lightning McQueen fans.See More Cool New Disney Vacations
Photo: The Walt Disney Company
CURRENT TOP 5
"); if((typeof(HPAds.ad_store['slideshow_300x250_req']) === 'undefined' || HPAds.ad_store['slideshow_300x250_req'] != null) && (HPAds.ad_check_page_config('slideshow_300x250_req'))) { var ks = []; if(typeof ad_overrides != 'undefined' && ad_overrides.keyvalues_supress) { ks = ad_overrides.keyvalues_supress; } HPAds.ad_store_push('slideshow_300x250_req', 'by_request', 300, supress_keyvalues(ks, '{"magic_number":"93320172","call_type":"ajax","width":300,"height":250}'), false, false, 'false', 'false'); } else { HPAds.ad_store['slideshow_300x250_req'] = null; }}} else if(true){if(true){document.write(""); if((typeof(HPAds.ad_store['slideshow_300x250_req']) === 'undefined' || HPAds.ad_store['slideshow_300x250_req'] != null) && (HPAds.ad_check_page_config('slideshow_300x250_req'))) { var ks = []; if(typeof ad_overrides != 'undefined' && ad_overrides.keyvalues_supress) { ks = ad_overrides.keyvalues_supress; } HPAds.ad_store_push('slideshow_300x250_req', 'by_request', 300, supress_keyvalues(ks, '{"magic_number":"93320172","call_type":"ajax","width":300,"height":250}'), false, false, 'false', 'false'); } else { HPAds.ad_store['slideshow_300x250_req'] = null; } if((typeof(HPAds.ad_store['slideshow_300x250_req']) === 'undefined' || HPAds.ad_store['slideshow_300x250_req'] != null) && (HPAds.ad_check_page_config('slideshow_300x250_req'))) { var ks = []; if(typeof ad_overrides != 'undefined' && ad_overrides.keyvalues_supress) { ks = ad_overrides.keyvalues_supress; } HPAds.ad_store_push('slideshow_300x250_req', 'by_request', 300, supress_keyvalues(ks, '{"magic_number":"93317088","call_type":"ajax","width":300,"height":250}'), false, false, 'false', 'false'); } else { HPAds.ad_store['slideshow_300x250_req'] = null; }}}Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/travel-leisure/coolest-new-disney-vacati_b_1375554.html
nebraska football nebraska football online deals leap pad lauren alaina lowes best buy black friday
Thinklogical Expands Video and KVM Routing to Address Small to Medium-Sized Computing Environments
[ [ [['Afghan security forces and police killed three', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/H9BcJE', '[Related: Bales\' wife on his alleged shooting: \'He would not do that\']', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['looking for fireworks between the opposing camps', 16]], 'http://yhoo.it/GSvEsj', '[RELATED:\?It?s going to be a circus\?: Activists begin protests outside Supreme Court]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 8]], 'http://yhoo.it/GE6jSh', '[RELATED: Obama\?s health care law passed 2 years ago, but where are we now\?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Witnesses said the gunman pulled up on a black scooter', 7]], 'http://yhoo.it/GzwOIW', '[Related: New York police tighten security at Jewish sites]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['test Zimmerman for alcohol or drugs', 11]], 'http://yhoo.it/Gzn6VF', '[Related: White House says Trayvon Martin is local issue]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Trayvon Martin decked the Neighborhood', 7]], 'http://yhoo.it/GUovUP', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/2/61/261d2c36bccf0971c2734a4d4398aa5a.jpeg', '512', ' ', 'AP/David Goldman', ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 12]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/tea-party-activists-defy-rain-to-rip-obama-health-care-law-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/4/31/431f2f4f7ed388d5bc5557b0a76267fa.jpeg', '450', ' ', 'Reuters/Jonathan Ernst', ], [ [['associated with such a small earthquake', 4]], 'http://yhoo.it/GTco9z', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/0/b4/0b493c1a47b6e3f97f8f48a2b251d7d4.jpeg', '630', ' ', 'AP Photo/Carrie Antlfinger', ], [ [['Fox News host Geraldo Rivera sparked outrage', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/GKMVTk', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/2/7c/27c7367bc512d233ae1790b320a5e92c.jpeg', '630', ' ', 'AP Photo/John Minchillo', ], [ [['The charges signed against Bales include', 1]], 'http://yhoo.it/wZT5zV', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/7/a0/7a07c51b2aa0f39b1a23355046d13870.jpeg', '512', ' ', 'AP Photo/DVIDS\, Spc\. Ryan Hallock\, File', ], [ [['George Zimmerman, if I had a son', 6]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/thousands-protest-fla-teen-death-1332387124-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/os/152/2012/03/22/d761a49f3fcc99080a0f6a70670053cd-jpg_150905.jpg', '500', ' ', 'AP Photo/John Minchillo', ], [ [['Mohamed Merah', 10], ['prosecutor Francois Molins', 5]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/four-dead-in-french-jewish-school-shooting-1332173151-slideshow', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120321/2012_03_21t151508z_425380421_gm1e83l1sqs01_rtrmadp_3_france_shootings_raid.jpg', '630', ' ', 'REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier', ], [ [['Shortly after he wrapped up his victory remarks', 2]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/4-straight-romney-wins-washington-gop-caucus-1330835515-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/3/e9/3e9b0082c3c3111dcc19e3527ae94cc7.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP Photo/Steven Senne', ], [ [['best understands the problems of average Americans', 2]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/4-straight-romney-wins-washington-gop-caucus-1330835515-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/3/e9/3e9b0082c3c3111dcc19e3527ae94cc7.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP Photo/Steven Senne', ], [ [['Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery', 7]], 'http://yhoo.it/GB2RVy', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/os/152/2012/03/20/photo-1332257995646-4-0-jpg_171722.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AFP', ], [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/russian-grannies-win-bid-to-sing-at-eurovision-1331223625-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/1/56/156d92f2760dcd3e75bcd649a8b85fcf.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP', ] ]
[ [ [['presume laws are constitutional', 7]], '28747556', '0' ], [ [['has destroyed 15 to 25 houses', 7]], '28744868', '0' ], [ [['short answer is yes', 7]], '28746030', '0' ], [ [['opportunity to tell the real story', 7]], '28731764', '0' ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 7]], '28723797', '0' ], [ [['point of my campaign is that big ideas matter', 9]], '28712293', '0' ], [ [['As the standoff dragged into a second day', 7]], '28687424', '0' ], [ [['French police stepped up the search', 17]], '28667224', '0' ], [ [['Seeking to elevate his candidacy back to a general', 8]], '28660934', '0' ], [ [['The tragic story of Trayvon Martin', 4]], '28647343', '0' ], [ [['Karzai will get a chance soon to express', 8]], '28630306', '0' ], [ [['powerful storms stretching', 8]], '28493546', '0' ], [ [['basic norm that death is private', 6]], '28413590', '0' ], [ [['songwriter also saw a surge in sales for her debut album', 6]], '28413590', '1', 'Watch music videos from Whitney Houston ', 'on Yahoo! Music', 'http://music.yahoo.com' ], [ [['keyword', 99999999999999999999999]], 'videoID', '1', 'overwrite-pre-description', 'overwrite-link-string', 'overwrite-link-url' ] ]
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/thinklogical-expands-video-kvm-routing-address-small-medium-130000647.html
ostara zsa zsa gabor illinois primary denver broncos trayvon martin 911 call kiribati vernal equinox
Kirkcaldie & Stains rejects offer for unprofitable retail business ...
Kirkcaldie & Stains has ended discussions with a potential buyer of its unprofitable retail business, saying the parties have ?substantially different? views on the unit?s value.
The Wellington-based company said it won?t hold any further discussions with J C Capital, which was arranging an offer to buy the retailer?s flagship department store. The offer emerged last year.
?At this stage the board has a substantially different view on the value of the retail business from that of J C Capital,? chairman Falcon Clouston said in a statement. ?The board is not proposing any further discussions at this stage.?
The retail unit has been unprofitable for the past two years, and made a loss of $465,000 in the 12 months ended Aug. 31. The group posted a loss of $56,000 in the year as the property unit offset those losses.
As well as its flagship store on Lambton Quay, Kirkcaldie?s owns the Harbour City Centre, a historic six-floor retail and office building next door, which is currently being earthquake strengthened.
The shares last traded at $2.75 apiece, valuing the company at $28.2 million.
(BusinessDesk)
BusinessDesk.co.nz
Comments from our readers
No comments yet
Add your comment:
Related News
Kirkcaldie mulls further property development
Kirkcaldie buyer yet to make firm offer
Interest sparked in ailing Kirkcaldie's retail business
Kirkcaldies cuts guidance by 15%
Get quotes for Kirkcaldie & Stains Limited Ordinary Sha (KRK)
NZX Annoucements for KRK
idaho potato bowl cagayan de oro cagayan de oro bowl schedule 2011 bowl schedule barry bonds hazing
'The Hunger Games' Breaks Records: What'd You Think?
It's official: The Hunger Games is one of the biggest hits in movie history. This past weekend, the highly-anticipated film raked in $155 million -- meaning The Hunger Games had the third-highest opening weekend ever, behind Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 and The Dark Knight, and the biggest for a non-sequel. (And sorry, Twihards: It even left The Twilight Saga in the dust, with New Moon and Breaking Dawn - Part 1 coming in at No. 5 and No. 6, respectively.)
chuck liddell chuck liddell beanie wells beanie wells dina manzo dina manzo once upon a time
Monday, March 26, 2012
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Facebook Says: You Will Break Up on a Friday This Summer [Facebook]
daytona 500 winner cleveland plain dealer barry sanders barry sanders john scott jimmie johnson juan pablo montoya crash
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Fix Your House Or Decorate It: Find Out More About Home ...
March 24, 2012 ? Posted in Family?
When you feel like your home needs a change, try making home improvements that will give your home a new look and add conveniences for you. While you can contract this job out, it is entirely possible to do this yourself. These tips will help you do this.
If your living room screams boring and too natural looking, add a bold print in the room to help give it extra personality. Animal prints are a good choice as well. Leopard print pillows or zebra striped cushions are a good choice, as are posters and wall art.
Consider improving little things around your home like minor landscaping, or replacing an old mailbox. A new mailbox also increases your home?s curb appeal. Check with your city to make sure that it follows regulations. Likewise, if you live in a neighborhood with a homeowner?s association, then you want to make sure that it is allowable before purchasing it. You could finish this project in a few hours at most.
You should always focus on the exterior of your home first when doing renovations in order to sell the house. A dingy or shabby exterior will make it harder to sell your house at the price you want.
It is imperative that you receive copies of documentation such as inspection reports, permit applications and permits to keep on file. Before you hire a contractor, ask him if you will be receiving those items.
When performing home improvements in areas with heavy plumbing, (e.g. kitchens and bathrooms) replace ordinary wall board with water-resistant wall board. This type of wall board is generally called ?green board? by insiders. It also tolerates moisture better than ordinary wall board, and can also retard mold growth.
Install a lighting system that is enabled by motion detectors. When you are only turning on the light when required, you are saving a lot of money on electricity. Motion detectors installed on your outdoor lights will deter thieves.
Updating your home with the features you want does not have to be impossible. Even without experience, you can do most of your own home improvement projects yourself. Implement the tips that you have just learned into your own home improvement projects.
If you?re looking for more information about construction, check out Julia Harris?s site, Mt. Zion IL Remodeling.
Comments
world aids day 2011 chester mcglockton chester mcglockton arsenic los angeles weather big ten acc challenge scott disick
After Pope criticizes Marxism, Cuba diplomatic
A woman uses a public phone next to images of Cuba's leader Fidel Castro, left, and Pope Benedict XVI in Havana, Cuba, Friday March 23, 2012. Cuba will listen with respect to Pope Benedict XVI during his visit next week even if he differs with island leaders, the country's foreign minister said Friday after the pontiff described Marxism as out of step with the times.(AP Photo/Javier Galeano)
A woman uses a public phone next to images of Cuba's leader Fidel Castro, left, and Pope Benedict XVI in Havana, Cuba, Friday March 23, 2012. Cuba will listen with respect to Pope Benedict XVI during his visit next week even if he differs with island leaders, the country's foreign minister said Friday after the pontiff described Marxism as out of step with the times.(AP Photo/Javier Galeano)
ALTERNATIVE CROP TO XRE101 - A child looks through a barbershop window displaying a poster of Pope Benedixt XVI in Havana, Cuba, Friday March 23, 2012. Benedict's week-long trip to Latin America takes him first to Mexico, the region's most Catholic country, and then to Cuba where he arrives Monday. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
A computer technician works in a press center set up for journalists covering the upcoming visit of Pope Benedict XVI at the National Hotel in Havana, Cuba, Friday March 23, 2012. Pope Benedict XVI arrives to Mexico on Friday and will then travels to Cuba on Monday. (AP Photo/Franklin Reyes)
A woman walks next to a poster with an image of Pope Benedict XVI, in Havana, Cuba, Friday March 23, 2012. Benedict's week long trip to Latin America takes him first to Mexico, the region's most Catholic country, and then to Cuba where he arrives Monday. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
A woman holds an image of Mercedes Virgin ( Virgen de las Mercedes ) as she walks downtown Havana, Cuba, Friday March 23, 2012. Pope Benedixt's XVI week long trip to Latin America takes him to Mexico, the region's most Catholic country, and then to Cuba where he arrives Monday. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
HAVANA (AP) ? Cuba will listen with respect to Pope Benedict XVI during his visit next week even if he differs with island leaders, the country's foreign minister said Friday after the pontiff described Marxism as out of step with the times.
Benedict made the comment to reporters during his long flight to Mexico, the first stop in his six-day tour. While it was in keeping with the Vatican's position, it was an unexpectedly blunt statement to come just days before he will be on Cuban soil.
Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez avoided any clash over the statement.
"We consider the exchange of ideas to be useful. Our people have deep convictions developed over the course of our history," Rodriguez said at a news conference. "Cuba will listen with all respect to his holiness."
He added that the Cuban system "is a democratic social project, genuinely chosen, which is constantly perfecting itself."
Benedict said it is "evident that Marxist ideology as it was conceived no longer responds to reality," and exhorted Cubans to "find new models, with patience, and in a constructive way."
Asked about reports of harassment and detention of dissidents on the island, Benedict said the church wants "to help in the spirit of dialogue to avoid trauma and to help bring about a just and fraternal society."
Benedict's comments were as bold as any his predecessor, John Paul II, made during his historic 1998 tour of Cuba. But they stopped short of directly challenging the country's single-party political model, which has been in place for five decades. Benedict arrives Monday in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba.
Robert A. Pastor, a professor of international relations at American University and former national security adviser for Latin America during the Carter administration, said Benedict's words seemed calculated to initiate a dialogue about political change while giving the Cubans space to maneuver by underscoring the importance of gradualism.
"He placed himself on the side of freedom, but not necessarily in a manner that would put the Cuban regime on the defensive," Pastor said. "They will not be excited by this. They won't be happy with it. But I think they have to be realistic enough to understand that the pope could say nothing less."
President Raul Castro has initiated a slate of economic reforms in recent years permitting more private-sector activity on the communist-run island where the state has long controlled nearly the entire economy.
Many Cubans have opened small businesses and are farming previously state-held land. It is now legal for all islanders to buy and sell homes and cars.
Benedict made even stronger remarks during his first visit to Latin America, a 2007 trip to Brazil.
"The Marxist system, where it found its way into government, not only left a sad heritage of economic and ecological destruction, but also a painful destruction of the human spirit," the pope said then.
He has also been critical of unrestrained capitalism and globalization.
Rodriguez emphasized areas of common ground between Havana and the Vatican, such as opposition to "the oppression of finances, opposition to treatment of human beings as if they were animals of consumption."
"The most important message to get from this exchange is that it's good that the pope is going," Pastor said. "And it's good that he's doing so in a manner that gives the Cuban regime some room to change instead of be defiant."
Reaction to Benedict's comments in South Florida, where some Cuban-Americans have criticized the pontiff's trip, was mixed.
"I'm very optimistic that the Pope's words and actions will have a great impact on the Cuban people that will lead to political change," said Andy S. Gomez, a senior fellow at the University at Miami's Institute for Cuban & Cuban-American Studies, who is traveling to Cuba as part of a church delegation. Gomez came from Cuba to the U.S. in 1954 at age 6.
Former U.S. Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, a Cuban-American and staunch opponent of the Cuban government, said he would reserve judgment about the pope's visit for now, but criticized the role of the Roman Catholic Church has played in Cuba. Last week, Havana Cardinal Jaime Ortega asked state security to remove 13 dissidents from a church they had occupied to press Benedict to raise their complaints with the Cuban government.
Diaz-Balart said the pope should meet with representatives of the island's small but vocal dissident community ? something that Benedict does not plan to do.
"This pope is not visiting the Cuba that John Paul II visited," Diaz-Balart said. "There's much more opposition. There's a new generation of leadership, a new generation of leaders in every municipality of Cuba, and they have to be acknowledged."
Cuban officials said 797 journalists from 295 media outlets in 33 nations were issued visas to cover the 84-year-old pope's visit, which is to include a meeting with Raul and possibly Fidel Castro.
___
Associated Press writers Andrea Rodriguez in Havana and Laura Wides-Munoz in Miami contributed to this report.
___
Follow Peter Orsi on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Peter(underscore)Orsi.
Associated Pressdark shadows trailer nate mcmillan clooney arrested southern miss uconn rod blagojevich rod blagojevich
Friday, March 23, 2012
Fed officials clash on view of economy
CHICAGO (Reuters) - The gap between the Federal Reserve's dovish core and its hawkish wing was on display on Thursday as a top Fed official said the economy is in better shape even as Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke focused on a source of weakness.
While growing "slower than we would like," the U.S. economy is expanding fast enough that it does not need further help from the central bank, Dallas Fed President Richard Fisher told Fox Business Network.
"We will not support further quantitative easing under these circumstances because there's a lot of money lying on the sidelines, lying fallow," he said, according to a transcript provided by the network. "We don't need any more monetary morphine."
Bernanke, by contrast, sounded more cautious, saying U.S. consumer spending is still too weak to ensure a healthy pace of economic growth.
"Right now, in terms of debt and consumption, we're still way low relative to the pattern before the crisis," Bernanke told students in the second of two lectures at The George Washington University. "We lack a source of demand to keep the economy growing."
Fisher is in the minority at the Fed, which last week reiterated its expectation that it will need to keep short-term interest rates near zero through late 2014 to help a lackluster recovery.
But his vocal opposition to further easing points to the challenges Bernanke faces as he seeks consensus on future policy in the face of subpar growth and high unemployment. While Fisher does not have a policy vote this year, he participates in the Fed's regular policy-setting meetings.
In response to the deepest recession in generations, the Fed, under Bernanke's leadership, slashed short-term borrowing costs to zero and promised to leave them there until at least late 2014. The central bank has also sharply expanded its balance sheet through the purchase of some $2.3 trillion in Treasury bonds and mortgage-backed debt.
Although Bernanke has been highly visible this week, jumping between congressional testimonies and his lectures to students, he has not shed additional light on what investors are primarily concerned with - the prospect for further monetary easing.
Analysts now see a third round of bond purchases or quantitative easing as less likely given recent improvement in the economic backdrop, especially in the job market.
Still, Fed officials have made clear they still see the 8.3 percent unemployment rate as too high for comfort, and the risk of contagion from Europe's financial crisis, while smaller, has not completely abated.
The U.S. economy grew 3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011 but that rate was seen slowing to just under 2 percent in the first three months of this year.
Among analysts and investors, however, expanding U.S. manufacturing and improving labor and housing markets in recent months have lifted hopes for recovery.
Traders have reacted by betting the Fed will start raising rates as soon as July 2013.
Fisher said he is not worried about inflation, which he expects to come down to around the Fed's 2 percent target.
"The real problem in our country is job creation and prosperity," he said. "And we need to get better fiscal policy to complement what we at the Fed have done, because it's not working as effectively as it should."
Separately, one of the Fed's most dovish policymakers offered an analysis of the central bank's verbal clues on the future path of interest rates, concluding they are effective at lowering borrowing costs.
Based on data going back to the mid-1990s, Charles Evans, president of the Chicago Fed, and three other economists, found that markets do indeed listen when the Fed speaks, according to the research, presented at a Brookings Institution conference on Thursday.
The paper from Evans lends support to the Fed's decision earlier this year to begin publishing policymakers' own forecasts for the path of rates, and to clearly state that the Federal Open Market Committee expects rates to remain near zero until at least late 2014.
"It seems possible for the FOMC to change longer term interest rates out of its control by promising to persistently lower the shorter term rates within its control," the paper says.
(Reporting by Ann Saphir and Pedro Nicolaci da Costa; Editing by Andrew Hay)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/fed-officials-clash-view-economy-224332381.html
tony stewart kurt busch kurt busch nba dunk contest 2012 act of valor woody guthrie benson henderson
PHOTOS: Pregnant Snooki Flashes a Smile!
Mom-to-be Snooki is all smiles! Plus, see more of your favorite celebs on the scene!
the muppet movie the muppet movie mars rover mars rover trent richardson apple cup jewelry stores
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Just not worth it: The worst gas cards
A credit card that lets you earn cash or points can help cut the cost of your fill-ups. But if you want to get the best payback, you need to shop around and compare offers. Two new reports show the rewards cards offered by the big oil companies are not the way to go.?
?Don?t think you?re saving a lot by having one of those gas company credit cards,? says Odysseas Papadimitriou, CEO of comparison website CardHub.com. ?For most people, you?ll literally get almost nothing in return for giving up your flexibility.??
For example, with the Conoco card you need to buy at least 45 gallons of gas in a month to get the meager savings of 5 cents a gallon. And rewards stop after 110 gallons in any qualifying month.?
The Citgo card limits rewards to the first 90 days after opening a new account. The payback is capped at $50. After the first three months, there is no reward.?
A survey by another comparison site, NerdWallet.com, came to the same conclusion: You?d be better off with a general purpose rewards card.?
Anisha Sekar, vice president of credit and debit products at NerdWallet, analyzed cards from five major brands: BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Gulf and Shell. She found that these branded cards offer few rewards and have many gimmicks.?
?There is so much fine print,? Sekar says. ?You?ll find limits on how much you can earn a month and limits on how you can redeem what you?ve earned.??
Card Hub analyzed the major gas reward credit cards and picked these as the worst:?
- Chevron and Texaco Gas Card: This card only saves you 10 cents per gallon, but at current prices that's only 2.7 percent. (You can get 3 to 5 percent on most good rewards cards.) Savings are capped at $300 per year. You stop earning rewards after the first 60 days.?
- Shell Platinum MasterCard: Savings with this card are variable. If you spend less than $500 per month, you get absolutely nothing. Spend $500 to $999.99 in one month and you save 10 cents a gallon off the Shell gasoline you buy the next month.?
Do oil company gas cards make sense for anyone? Card Hub?s Papadimitriou says these cards are for people with damaged or limited credit who want to be able to pull up for a fill-up and not have to pay in cash. For everyone else, he says, a generic rewards credit card that can be used at any station makes more sense.?
What are the best reward gas credit cards right now??
I contacted four websites that specialize in credit card comparisons -- CardHub.com, LowCards.com, Credit.com and NerdWallet.com -- and asked for their top picks for gas cards. Three cards got the most recommendations.
- Chase Freedom Visa: It pays 5 percent cash back on up to $1,500 of gasoline purchases in the first and third quarters. The rest of the year the gas reward drops to 1 percent. This card offers a $200 cash bonus if you spend $500 in the first three months. No annual fee.
- American Express Blue Cash Everyday Card: You get 2 percent back on gasoline, 3 percent on grocery and department store purchases and 1 percent on everything else. Spend $1,000 in the first three months of receiving the card and you get a $100 cash back bonus. No annual fee.
- Pentagon Federal Credit Union Platinum Rewards Credit Card: With this PenFed Visa card you earn points that you convert to cash (in the form of a Visa prepaid card), merchandise or travel. The points work out to 5 percent for gas, 3 percent for groceries and 1 percent for everything else. And there?s a bonus: You get 5,000 points after your first purchase and 20,000 points if you spend $1,000 in the first three months of having the card. There is no annual fee. You don't need to be in the military or work for the government. Anyone who joins the National Military Family Association ($15 one-time fee) or Voices for America's Troops ($20 one-time fee) can get the card.
A few cautions
Before you apply for any credit card, take the time to read all the terms and conditions. Be sure you know how the cash-back offer works and look for any restrictions. These pitfalls include:
- Spending categories that rotate each quarter. That 5 percent reward on gasoline purchases could be limited to certain times of the year. And you may have to go online to sign up for that higher reward every quarter.
- Spending tiers that must be reached in order to qualify for the maximum cash-back reward.
- Limits on how much you can earn in a quarter or a year.
Rewards credit cards have some of the highest interest rates. So they are only for people who pay off their bill on time each and every month. If you miss even one month, you?ll lose money.?
"The interest charges are going to outweigh whatever you would have earned on the reward,? notes Greg McBride, senior financial analyst at Bankrate.com. ?Instead focus on cards that have the lowest possible interest rate.?
You can compare these cards at sites such as: CardHub.com, LowCards.com, Credit.com, NerdWallet.com and Bankrate.com.
?
new years wake forest wake forest old dominion insync the duchess the duchess
HomeGain Real Estate Website : Search Homes for Sale, List Your ...
HomeGain.com is a division of Classified Ventures, LLC that is based in Emeryville, California.
HomeGain.com has been connecting homebuyers and sellers with real estate professionals since 1999 through a comprehensive database of real estate listings and local realtors. The database includes homes for sale, new homes, foreclosed homes and condominiums all over the United States.
Shop new and resale homes at HomeGain.com and/or list your home for sale.
Consumers can search through the real estate listings on the website, get in contact with realtors in their area and learn about the real estate transaction in the site?s Real Estate Library. The homeowner and homebuyer guides on Homegain.com help guide visitors through the process of buying or selling real estate, while the Home Sale Maximizer offers advice to potential sellers on how to increase a home?s value.
Homegain.com was the first online real estate resource to offer instant home value tools and continues to offer instant quotes and home valuation information. In the website?s blog, visitors can find information on home improvement ideas, such as the top low-cost, do-it-yourself improvements that can increase a home?s value, and the effective energy-efficient improvements that benefit the environment and save the homeowner money. The blog also discusses the benefits of staging a home for an open house to maximize the value of the home and sell more quickly. Other topics discussed in Homegain.com?s blog include leads, motivation and online marketing for real estate professionals, and home loans and home ownership for consumers.
In addition to these features, HomeGain.com also offers real estate market trend information, mortgage information and mortgage financing tools. While at the site, consumers can calculate monthly mortgage costs, figure out what down payment is needed and the total costs involved in purchasing a new home. HomeGain.com?s blog helps keep visitors apprised of changes to the website and ?in the know? regarding the changing real estate market. Homegain.com also keeps consumers up-to-date with the latest real estate news from a wide variety of media providers.
Visit the website of HomeGain.com for more details.
Connect with HomeGain on Twitter | HomeGain on Facebook
Corporate Headquarters of HomeGain.com
View Larger Map
See also:
Have Overpriced Home Values Prolonged a Recovery?
31 Different Ways to Get Your Home in Front of Buyers
Zillow Real Estate Website
Related Posts:
Source: http://www.newhomessection.com/blog/homegain-is-your-real-estate-connection-2/2012/03/21/
olin kreutz au pair au pair trinidad trinidad jeff bezos chattanooga
Not just for the birds: Human-made noise has ripple effects on plants, too
ScienceDaily (Mar. 20, 2012) ? A growing body of research shows that birds and other animals change their behavior in response to humanmade noise, such as the din of traffic or the hum of machinery. But human clamor doesn't just affect animals. Because many animals also pollinate plants or eat or disperse their seeds, human noise can have ripple effects on plants too, finds a new study.
In cases where noise has ripple effects on long-lived plants like trees, the consequences could last for decades, even after the source of the noise goes away, says lead author Clinton Francis of the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center in Durham, North Carolina.
The study appears in the March 21 issue of Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
In previous studies, Francis and colleagues found that some animals increase in numbers near noisy sites, while others decline. But could animals' different responses to humanmade noise have indirect effects on plants, too?
Because they can't move, many plants rely on birds and other animals to deliver pollen from one flower to the next, or to disperse their seeds.
To find out what animal responses to noise might mean for plants, the researchers conducted a series of experiments from 2007 to 2010 in the Bureau of Land Management's Rattlesnake Canyon Wildlife Area in northwestern New Mexico.
The region is home to thousands of natural gas wells, many of which are coupled with noisy compressors for extracting the gas and transporting it through pipelines. The compressors roar and rumble day and night, every day of the year.
The advantage of working in natural gas sites is they allow scientists to study noise and its effects on wildlife without many of the confounding factors often associated with noisy areas like roadways or cities, such as pollution from artificial light and chemicals or collisions with cars.
To find out what animal responses to humanmade noise might mean for plants, first the researchers did an experiment using patches of artificial plants designed to mimic a common red wildflower in the area called scarlet gilia.
Each patch consisted of five artificial plants with three "flowers" each -- microcentrifuge tubes wrapped in red electrical tape -- which were filled with a fixed amount of sugar water for nectar. To help in estimating pollen transfer within and between the patches, the researchers also dusted the flowers of one plant per patch with artificial pollen, using a different color for each patch.
Din levels at noisy patches were similar to a highway heard from 500 meters away, Francis explained. When the researchers compared the number of pollinator visits at noisy and quiet sites, they found that one bird species in particular -- the black-chinned hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) -- made five times more visits to noisy sites than quiet ones.
"Black-chinned hummingbirds may prefer noisy sites because another bird species that preys on their nestlings, the western scrub jay, tends to avoid those areas," Francis said.
Pollen transfer was also more common in the noisy sites. If more hummingbird visits and greater pollen transfer translate to higher seed production for the plants, the results suggest that "hummingbird-pollinated plants such as scarlet gilia may indirectly benefit from noise," Francis explained.
Another set of experiments revealed that noise may indirectly benefit some plants, but is bad news for others.
In a second series of experiments at the same study site, the researchers set out to find out what noise might mean for tree seeds and seedlings, using one of the dominant trees in the area -- the pi?on pine (Pinus edulis).
Pi?on pine seeds that aren't plucked from their cones fall to the ground and are eaten by birds and other animals. To find out if noise affected the number of pi?on pine seeds that animals ate, the researchers scattered pi?on pine seeds underneath 120 pi?on pine trees in noisy and quiet sites, using a motion-triggered camera to figure out what animals took the seeds.
After three days, a number of animals were spotted feeding on the seeds, including mice, chipmunks, squirrels, birds and rabbits. But two animals in particular differed between quiet and noisy sites -- mice, which preferred noisy sites, and western scrub jays, which avoided them altogether.
Pi?on pine seeds that are eaten by mice don't survive the passage through the animal's gut, Francis explained, so the boost in mouse populations near noisy sites could be bad news for pine seedlings in those areas.
In contrast, a single western scrub jay may take hundreds to thousands of seeds, only to hide them in the soil to eat later in the year. The seeds they fail to relocate will eventually germinate, so the preference of western scrub jays for quiet areas means that pi?on pines in those areas are likely to benefit.
In keeping with their seed results, the researchers counted the number of pi?on pine seedlings and found that they were four times as abundant in quiet sites compared with noisy ones.
It may take decades for a pi?on pine to grow from a seedling into a full-grown tree, Francis said. This means the consequences of noise may last longer than we thought. "Fewer seedlings in noisy areas might eventually mean fewer mature trees, but because pi?on pines are so slow-growing the shift could have gone undetected for years, he explained.
"Fewer pi?on pine trees would mean less critical habitat for the hundreds of species that depend on them for survival," he added.
Other authors of the study include Catherine Ortega, most recently of Fort Lewis College, and Alexander Cruz and Nathan Kleist of the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:
Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:
Story Source:
The above story is reprinted from materials provided by National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent), via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
- Francis, C., N. Kleist, et al. Noise pollution alters ecological services: enhanced pollination and disrupted seed dispersal. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 2012
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PJ9aciqQYss/120320195747.htm
eddie long eddie murphy ufc 143 weigh ins micron ceo glenn miller who do you think you are superpac
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)