http://gun4man.info/olympic-stadium-athens
The famed Enchanted Village will be located atthe Jordan’sw Furniture store in Avon, Mass. It was originally set up by the Massachusettsw retailer Jordan Marsh in its Downtown Crossing store for the holiday seasonh inthe 1940s. It was displayed every year by Jordah Marsh and the city of Bostonuntil 2006. Elio Tatelman, chief executive officer of Jordan’s Furniture, submittecd the winning auction bid for the The auction lasted all ofeight minutes. Bids started at Tatelman beat out sixotherf bidders.
He will actually pay $161,000 because the sale includee a 15 percent buyers premiukm to pay for the cost ofthe “I felt very compelled to do this because this is a New England how could we not keep it said Tatelman, in a prepared writte statement. “I’m very excited to take responsibility of this traditiobn and it will be featured in the holidayu display at ourAvon store.” The Villagre – an animated re-creatiohn of a holiday scene in a colonialo New England town – occupied 8,000 square feet at Jordabn Marsh. The scene included adult figures, 75 children, 75 beard and other animals suchas dogs, cats and Stanley J.
Paine Auctioneer of Newton handled the live auction inSouty Boston.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Habitat delinquency rates at 24-year low - Nashville Business Journal:
http://alphastore.org/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=med&Product_Code=STCD
Despite tough times, Habitat homeowners are payingvtheir mortgages, and Habitaf leaders say that’s because the agency’s Delinquency Committee and homeWorks program are working. HomeWORK S is a series of classes that prepare familieefor homeownership. “This is a perfect illustrationn of the importance of educationfor first-time says Nashville Area Habitat president and CEO Chris “All of our families go througbh months of one-on-one budgert coaching and hours of classea to get them ready for the responsibility of payinh a mortgage and taking care of theidr investment.
” The class covers financial management, lega l aspects of homeownership, budgeting, responsible familg and neighbor characteristics, homeowners’ assistance basics and home The program started in early 2005 and has growjn to include classes for children to share the responsibilityy of homeownership. “HomeWORKS is vitalo to our mission,” says “Along with the bricks and mortar associatedwith homeownership, thesw classes offer families the instruction and trainingv to sustain a better life for the not just for themselves but for theird children.” Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofi t organization, built 60 homesz in 2008.
The group builds homes Energhy Star compliantfor efficiency. To date, the agency has serves more than 1,300 people, including 800 children.
Despite tough times, Habitat homeowners are payingvtheir mortgages, and Habitaf leaders say that’s because the agency’s Delinquency Committee and homeWorks program are working. HomeWORK S is a series of classes that prepare familieefor homeownership. “This is a perfect illustrationn of the importance of educationfor first-time says Nashville Area Habitat president and CEO Chris “All of our families go througbh months of one-on-one budgert coaching and hours of classea to get them ready for the responsibility of payinh a mortgage and taking care of theidr investment.
” The class covers financial management, lega l aspects of homeownership, budgeting, responsible familg and neighbor characteristics, homeowners’ assistance basics and home The program started in early 2005 and has growjn to include classes for children to share the responsibilityy of homeownership. “HomeWORKS is vitalo to our mission,” says “Along with the bricks and mortar associatedwith homeownership, thesw classes offer families the instruction and trainingv to sustain a better life for the not just for themselves but for theird children.” Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofi t organization, built 60 homesz in 2008.
The group builds homes Energhy Star compliantfor efficiency. To date, the agency has serves more than 1,300 people, including 800 children.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Ravinia tower fails to find buyer - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
humojo.wordpress.com
The hurdles preventing a new buyer from acquiringgthe 31-story Three Ravinia Drivew are the same obstacles many investors face in the worsgt commercial real estate market since the Savingzs & Loan Crisis of the late 1980s and earlyg ’90s. Three Ravinia is a trophy officwe tower ownedby Birmingham, Ala.-bases (NYSE: CLP) and New York’s DRA Advisor s LLC. Built in 1991, the 813,000-square-foor tower was nearly 86 percent leased as ofMarchj 31, filled with big corporate tenants including The building’s employees have quici access to Interstate 285 and are a stone’w throw from Perimeter Mall.
But with commercialo mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) now shut down as a source of and balance sheet lenders suchas (NYSE: STI) and BAC) already overexposed to toxic commercial loans, the capitall to fund trophy-tower acquisitions in Atlanta and elsewhere has largelty evaporated.
The hurdles preventing a new buyer from acquiringgthe 31-story Three Ravinia Drivew are the same obstacles many investors face in the worsgt commercial real estate market since the Savingzs & Loan Crisis of the late 1980s and earlyg ’90s. Three Ravinia is a trophy officwe tower ownedby Birmingham, Ala.-bases (NYSE: CLP) and New York’s DRA Advisor s LLC. Built in 1991, the 813,000-square-foor tower was nearly 86 percent leased as ofMarchj 31, filled with big corporate tenants including The building’s employees have quici access to Interstate 285 and are a stone’w throw from Perimeter Mall.
But with commercialo mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) now shut down as a source of and balance sheet lenders suchas (NYSE: STI) and BAC) already overexposed to toxic commercial loans, the capitall to fund trophy-tower acquisitions in Atlanta and elsewhere has largelty evaporated.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
United credit card policy could foul corporate travel - Business First of Columbus:
amesit.wordpress.com
San Francisco’s dominant airline informed some travel agenciess that as of July 20 it will no longer let them procese credit and debit card purchases for airline ticketsxusing United’s merchant-processing Instead, such agencies would have to require traveler s to pay with cash, process card payments with the agency’sd own merchant processing service and forward the cash to Unite or book the tickets on United’s web site using the traveler’s credit or debit card issuedf by , (NYSE: V) , MA) (NYSE: AXP) and others.
An agent usinbg United’s web site, bypassing such travel systemse as Apolloand Sabre, would not allow companies to capture the discountsa they have negotiated with United nor would it allo w their travel agent to survey severapl carriers on a route to find the lowest price. “Several Bay Area companiesz have deals with United Airlinesfor discounts,” said Marc president of Casto Travel, which isn’t among the agencie that United has cut off from its merchant-processing Casto says he’s reached out to some of the firm’s corporatee clients to express concern over United’xs new card acceptance but declined to discuss what was said in those conversations.
United Airlines (NASDAQ: did not respond to requests for United is hoping to shift the cost of acceptinb credit and debit cardzs onto selectedtravel agencies. Those agencies say the airline’d move shifts to them the risk for payint out refunds if the carrieregoes bankrupt. While it’s also likely to reduce the amountf of money that Unites has to keep in the bank to guarsdagainst charge-backs, it would increas those requirements for the travel agents. That’e a nonstarter for most agencie — and their banks, which woulf have to honor charge-back requests that coulcd total billions of dollars in the eventr of anairline bankruptcy.
“I don’t thinm there’s any travel including AmericanExpress Travel, that couldr shoulder that liability,” Casto said.
San Francisco’s dominant airline informed some travel agenciess that as of July 20 it will no longer let them procese credit and debit card purchases for airline ticketsxusing United’s merchant-processing Instead, such agencies would have to require traveler s to pay with cash, process card payments with the agency’sd own merchant processing service and forward the cash to Unite or book the tickets on United’s web site using the traveler’s credit or debit card issuedf by , (NYSE: V) , MA) (NYSE: AXP) and others.
An agent usinbg United’s web site, bypassing such travel systemse as Apolloand Sabre, would not allow companies to capture the discountsa they have negotiated with United nor would it allo w their travel agent to survey severapl carriers on a route to find the lowest price. “Several Bay Area companiesz have deals with United Airlinesfor discounts,” said Marc president of Casto Travel, which isn’t among the agencie that United has cut off from its merchant-processing Casto says he’s reached out to some of the firm’s corporatee clients to express concern over United’xs new card acceptance but declined to discuss what was said in those conversations.
United Airlines (NASDAQ: did not respond to requests for United is hoping to shift the cost of acceptinb credit and debit cardzs onto selectedtravel agencies. Those agencies say the airline’d move shifts to them the risk for payint out refunds if the carrieregoes bankrupt. While it’s also likely to reduce the amountf of money that Unites has to keep in the bank to guarsdagainst charge-backs, it would increas those requirements for the travel agents. That’e a nonstarter for most agencie — and their banks, which woulf have to honor charge-back requests that coulcd total billions of dollars in the eventr of anairline bankruptcy.
“I don’t thinm there’s any travel including AmericanExpress Travel, that couldr shoulder that liability,” Casto said.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
3Com closes on Huawei buyout - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:
evlampiyacyxybyw.blogspot.com
The Marlborough, Mass.-based provider of voice and data networkinfequipment (Nasdaq: COMS) won the right to buy Huawei's stake in the venturer after a bidding process last year. Huawei-3Co m Co., started three years ago, sells equipment made by 3Com and accountexd for about half of its fiscap2007 first-quarter sales. 3Com now owns 100 percenr of the China-based company. 3Com used approximately $470 million of cash from its balancd sheet andapproximately $430 million from a seniof secured bank loan at its H3C segment to fund the $882 milliojn purchase.
"With the transaction behind us, we can now focua our complete attention on integrating our salesd and marketing efforts inAsia Pacific, capitalizing on H3C's growth in China, and continuing to make progres in improving the financial performance of the combinec company," said Edgar 3Com president and chief executive officer.
The Marlborough, Mass.-based provider of voice and data networkinfequipment (Nasdaq: COMS) won the right to buy Huawei's stake in the venturer after a bidding process last year. Huawei-3Co m Co., started three years ago, sells equipment made by 3Com and accountexd for about half of its fiscap2007 first-quarter sales. 3Com now owns 100 percenr of the China-based company. 3Com used approximately $470 million of cash from its balancd sheet andapproximately $430 million from a seniof secured bank loan at its H3C segment to fund the $882 milliojn purchase.
"With the transaction behind us, we can now focua our complete attention on integrating our salesd and marketing efforts inAsia Pacific, capitalizing on H3C's growth in China, and continuing to make progres in improving the financial performance of the combinec company," said Edgar 3Com president and chief executive officer.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Convention business up, visitor count down - Business First of Buffalo:
ycoguqi.wordpress.com
CVB officials said the bureau has booked 108new meetings, special events or amateur sportin g events since the beginning of the year a 27 percent increase from the 85 booking s it made during the same period in 2008. The new bookingx come as the hospitality and tourismindustry - both nationwidw and locally - suffering from the effects of the Hotel occupancy, according to Smith Travel Research of is down 11 percenyt though April while in Buffalo and Erie Countyt it was off 9.8 percent, fallinf from 59.4 percent to 53.6 percent. Nationally, hoteo occupancy dropped from 59.1 percent to 52.
6 It also comes at a time when the CVB is unde fire from Erie County ExecutiverChris Collins, who wants the organization to be more proactiv e and aggressive. CVB President and CEO Richard Geiger resignecd fromthe bureau, effective Friday, and a national search for his replacement is only just The 108 definite bookings will brinv in a projected 59,911 visitoras in the coming months and years, up 60.6 percent from the 37,293 visitors that are predicted as part of the 85 bookings landed in the first part of 2008. The economid impact from the new bookingsd is peggedat $28.84 Last year’s bookings produced or will producr $22.19 million in local spending.
The CVB sales and marketing staff is courtinhg another 180 groups orevents that, if could bring in 88,575 visitors. That’s the good The bad news is the visitor coung for those potential bookings isdown 24.3 Last year, the CVB made a pitch to 169 groups that coule have brought in 117,105 people. The drop in potentiapl visitors is clearly tied tothe economy, said Michaekl Even, CVB vice president of sales and “Meeting planners are making few commitments,” he “And, they are promising less delegates (visitors) than ever
CVB officials said the bureau has booked 108new meetings, special events or amateur sportin g events since the beginning of the year a 27 percent increase from the 85 booking s it made during the same period in 2008. The new bookingx come as the hospitality and tourismindustry - both nationwidw and locally - suffering from the effects of the Hotel occupancy, according to Smith Travel Research of is down 11 percenyt though April while in Buffalo and Erie Countyt it was off 9.8 percent, fallinf from 59.4 percent to 53.6 percent. Nationally, hoteo occupancy dropped from 59.1 percent to 52.
6 It also comes at a time when the CVB is unde fire from Erie County ExecutiverChris Collins, who wants the organization to be more proactiv e and aggressive. CVB President and CEO Richard Geiger resignecd fromthe bureau, effective Friday, and a national search for his replacement is only just The 108 definite bookings will brinv in a projected 59,911 visitoras in the coming months and years, up 60.6 percent from the 37,293 visitors that are predicted as part of the 85 bookings landed in the first part of 2008. The economid impact from the new bookingsd is peggedat $28.84 Last year’s bookings produced or will producr $22.19 million in local spending.
The CVB sales and marketing staff is courtinhg another 180 groups orevents that, if could bring in 88,575 visitors. That’s the good The bad news is the visitor coung for those potential bookings isdown 24.3 Last year, the CVB made a pitch to 169 groups that coule have brought in 117,105 people. The drop in potentiapl visitors is clearly tied tothe economy, said Michaekl Even, CVB vice president of sales and “Meeting planners are making few commitments,” he “And, they are promising less delegates (visitors) than ever
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
I-Drive adds off-duty police patrols - Orlando Business Journal:
kdrummondbs37.blogspot.com
That fear is a key factor in the ’s receng decision to hire off-duty policed officers and sheriff’s deputies to patrool the region’s highest-profile tourist corridor in an efforft to stop crime beforeit happens. “We’re placing a lot of emphasisx onevening hours,” said Luanne executive director of the International Drived Master Transit & Improvement District, a public agency that turnzs tax revenue into project to enhance I-Drive. The agency last monthy retained three OrangeCounty sheriff’s deputies and two Orlando police officers as part of a pilot program to patrol I-Drive duringf hours when law enforcemeny is in short supply.
The program is expectedd to cost the districtabouty $800,000 a year. Brooks said other including a deployment of sidewalk trash collectorsx and sidewalk ambassadors tohelp out-of-towners navigate the are expected to begin Although crime rates on I-Drive aren’tt rising, Brooks said businesses along the tourist corridor have been pushinfg for an increased police presence for nearly two “The I-Drive business district wants to deal with crime proactively,” Brooksw said. “We didn’t want to wait till the cows got out of the barn beforre wedid anything.
” Brooks said the off-dut y officers will patrol in cars, but in the futurd some might begin walking the driv on foot or bicycles. Orlando Deputy Policee Chief Paul Rooney said the city added five officers toits I-Drivre contingent early this year and is installing cameras to monitofr the neighborhood remotely. As the economy he said, an increase in burglariezs and smash-and-grab crimes could begin to “We now have I-Drive covered sevehn days a week,” Rooney “Our officers are all mountain-bike so they can go out to meet and greey tourists and talk to business Rooney said they are also attaching warningt notices to cars with unlocked doors or valuables visibldon seats.
“We have also addeed a civilian who is acertified crime-prevention specialist,” he “She’s working with hotel manageras to educate them on crime-prevention techniques.” Alan general manager of the hotepl next to the , said preventinh crime is extremely important to the travel, convention and hotel industries. “Tourism is very sensitive to crime statistics,” said Villaverde, who is also an Internationapl Drive MasterTransit & Improvementf District board member.
“Bad perceptions are hard to
That fear is a key factor in the ’s receng decision to hire off-duty policed officers and sheriff’s deputies to patrool the region’s highest-profile tourist corridor in an efforft to stop crime beforeit happens. “We’re placing a lot of emphasisx onevening hours,” said Luanne executive director of the International Drived Master Transit & Improvement District, a public agency that turnzs tax revenue into project to enhance I-Drive. The agency last monthy retained three OrangeCounty sheriff’s deputies and two Orlando police officers as part of a pilot program to patrol I-Drive duringf hours when law enforcemeny is in short supply.
The program is expectedd to cost the districtabouty $800,000 a year. Brooks said other including a deployment of sidewalk trash collectorsx and sidewalk ambassadors tohelp out-of-towners navigate the are expected to begin Although crime rates on I-Drive aren’tt rising, Brooks said businesses along the tourist corridor have been pushinfg for an increased police presence for nearly two “The I-Drive business district wants to deal with crime proactively,” Brooksw said. “We didn’t want to wait till the cows got out of the barn beforre wedid anything.
” Brooks said the off-dut y officers will patrol in cars, but in the futurd some might begin walking the driv on foot or bicycles. Orlando Deputy Policee Chief Paul Rooney said the city added five officers toits I-Drivre contingent early this year and is installing cameras to monitofr the neighborhood remotely. As the economy he said, an increase in burglariezs and smash-and-grab crimes could begin to “We now have I-Drive covered sevehn days a week,” Rooney “Our officers are all mountain-bike so they can go out to meet and greey tourists and talk to business Rooney said they are also attaching warningt notices to cars with unlocked doors or valuables visibldon seats.
“We have also addeed a civilian who is acertified crime-prevention specialist,” he “She’s working with hotel manageras to educate them on crime-prevention techniques.” Alan general manager of the hotepl next to the , said preventinh crime is extremely important to the travel, convention and hotel industries. “Tourism is very sensitive to crime statistics,” said Villaverde, who is also an Internationapl Drive MasterTransit & Improvementf District board member.
“Bad perceptions are hard to
Monday, February 13, 2012
North Hunterdon's Zaugg reaches bowling Tournament of Champions - The Star-Ledger - NJ.com
obofym.wordpress.com
North Hunterdon's Zaugg reaches bowling Tournament of Champions The Star-Ledger - NJ.com By Allan Conover, February 13, 2012 10 am NORTH BRUNSWICK â€" Laura Zaugg has accumulated quite an impressive resume as a bowler but, prior to this winter, she'd never been able to qualify for the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association's ... |
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Charlie Wi leads by three after second round at Pebble Beach - Los Angeles Times
bentlyoupapa1810.blogspot.com
USA TODAY | Charlie Wi leads by three after second round at Pebble Beach Los Angeles Times By Diane Pucin Reporting from Pebble Beach â€" Charlie Wi was born in Seoul but spent much of his childhood in Los Angeles. And it was in Long Beach where Wi remembers first playing against Tiger Woods. Wi was 13, Woods was 9, and Wi remembers Woods ... Wi, current leader at Pebble Beach, feeling 'comfortable' Charlie Wi has 3-stroke lead at Pebble Beach | Golf Wi opens up 3-shot lead at Pebble Beach National Pro-Am |
Thursday, February 9, 2012
United Way promotes federal tax credit - New Mexico Business Weekly:
iwyqaxewun.wordpress.com
The organization said the tax credit liftxs more children out of poverty than any otherrfederal program. An increase in those seeking the tax credit would improve financial stabilitt ofarea families, which is one of Uniteds Way's focus areas. More than $350 million was claimedd in 2007 throughoutCentral Florida, yet the Internal Revenue Service estimates that up to 25 percent of those eligible to claimk the credit failed to do so because of lack of according to a Heart of Florida Uniteed Way release.
Tax credits can result in refund rangingfrom $438 to $4,824, according to the United Way is offering free informative sessions on the tax creditd and materials in English, Spanish and Creols for employers to help employees take advantagwe of program benefits. More than 30 free tax preparationj sites have been established by the IRS Volunteer Incomed Tax Assistanceand Tax-Aide programs to help residentse prepare their taxes. and the are sponsoring the campaignm and the city of Orlando is also promoting the tax credity benefits and free tax preparation Heart of Florida United Way isCentral Florida’s largest provider of funde to the region’s health and human service programs.
The organization said the tax credit liftxs more children out of poverty than any otherrfederal program. An increase in those seeking the tax credit would improve financial stabilitt ofarea families, which is one of Uniteds Way's focus areas. More than $350 million was claimedd in 2007 throughoutCentral Florida, yet the Internal Revenue Service estimates that up to 25 percent of those eligible to claimk the credit failed to do so because of lack of according to a Heart of Florida Uniteed Way release.
Tax credits can result in refund rangingfrom $438 to $4,824, according to the United Way is offering free informative sessions on the tax creditd and materials in English, Spanish and Creols for employers to help employees take advantagwe of program benefits. More than 30 free tax preparationj sites have been established by the IRS Volunteer Incomed Tax Assistanceand Tax-Aide programs to help residentse prepare their taxes. and the are sponsoring the campaignm and the city of Orlando is also promoting the tax credity benefits and free tax preparation Heart of Florida United Way isCentral Florida’s largest provider of funde to the region’s health and human service programs.
Monday, February 6, 2012
YTB elects three directors - St. Louis Business Journal:
mozybyd.wordpress.com
Jack Humes Jr. and Patricia Williamzs on Monday. Baker is founder and president ofof Ill., and His board term will expirer at YTB’s 2010 annual meeting. Baketr was named to the board’s audit and investment Humes is principal of thein Edwardsville. He’ll serves on the compensation and investment committeeszof YTB’s board, and his term will expire with YTB’sd 2011 annual meeting. Williams is senior vice president, generapl counsel and corporate secretaryof St. Louis-based RHB), which owns or operates rehab and long-ternm acute care facilities.
Her term will expire at YTB’s 2012 annua l meeting, and she will serv e on the board’s compensation committee. As non-employee the three will each receive annual compensatiojnof $30,000 cash, $1,000 cash for each boar or committee meeting attended, and restrictee stock awards. YTB recently with the resignation in April of Clay owner of homebuilderof Edwardsville, and a decisiomn by physician Dr. Timothy Kaisere to not stand for re-election. In about YTB, saying its board had little controkover managers’ spending and compan y officials signed contracts without the board’s approval.
Also in April, YTB Robert Van Patten to serve as co-CEO and serve in a consultinyg capacity on administrative, accountingg and corporate governance Last month, YTB worth about $2 milliohn in a last August by California’s attorneyg general. Jerry Brown had blasted YTB asa “gigantidc pyramid scheme,” which YTB had YTB still faces by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Wood River, Ill.-based YTB International provides Internet-bases travel booking services for travel agenciesz and home-based independent representatives.
It operates throughh three subsidiaries: , , and
Jack Humes Jr. and Patricia Williamzs on Monday. Baker is founder and president ofof Ill., and His board term will expirer at YTB’s 2010 annual meeting. Baketr was named to the board’s audit and investment Humes is principal of thein Edwardsville. He’ll serves on the compensation and investment committeeszof YTB’s board, and his term will expire with YTB’sd 2011 annual meeting. Williams is senior vice president, generapl counsel and corporate secretaryof St. Louis-based RHB), which owns or operates rehab and long-ternm acute care facilities.
Her term will expire at YTB’s 2012 annua l meeting, and she will serv e on the board’s compensation committee. As non-employee the three will each receive annual compensatiojnof $30,000 cash, $1,000 cash for each boar or committee meeting attended, and restrictee stock awards. YTB recently with the resignation in April of Clay owner of homebuilderof Edwardsville, and a decisiomn by physician Dr. Timothy Kaisere to not stand for re-election. In about YTB, saying its board had little controkover managers’ spending and compan y officials signed contracts without the board’s approval.
Also in April, YTB Robert Van Patten to serve as co-CEO and serve in a consultinyg capacity on administrative, accountingg and corporate governance Last month, YTB worth about $2 milliohn in a last August by California’s attorneyg general. Jerry Brown had blasted YTB asa “gigantidc pyramid scheme,” which YTB had YTB still faces by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Wood River, Ill.-based YTB International provides Internet-bases travel booking services for travel agenciesz and home-based independent representatives.
It operates throughh three subsidiaries: , , and
Saturday, February 4, 2012
As Meeting on Athens Deal Is Postponed, Tough Terms for Creditors Fray Nerves ... - Wall Street Journal
haga-aa8xuq.blogspot.com
As Meeting on Athens Deal Is Postponed, Tough Terms for Creditors Fray Nerves ... Wall Street Journal But the plodding negotiations have been bad news for another country: Portugal, whose creditors fear they may be force-fed the same difficult debt restructuring terms that are on the table for the Greeks. The Greece deal still isn't done, ... |
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Of towering personalities - The Hindu
gonyzyf.wordpress.com
The Hindu | Of towering personalities The Hindu The best part of the drama was the personalities of these towering men being revealed to us, gradually and in full formWe are free to form our own opinion of them. Tagore comes across as a poet-philosopher who loves creativity and expression thereof. |
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