Tuesday, April 24, 2007

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has seized 20 tons or nearly 40,000 pounds of cocaine with a street value of over US$500 million in what authorities call one of the largest cocaine busts in history.

Three busts in total were made in a period of nearly one month. The first on February 19, off the coast of Mexico, March 18 off the coast of Panama and on March 25, also off the coast of Panama.

In the first bust on February 19, “the Ecuadorian-flagged fishing vessel Don Juan K was approached in the Pacific Ocean February 19 off the coast of Mexico while allegedly offloading cocaine into “go-fast” (cigarette-style boat) boats. The fishing vessel’s crew apparently set fire to Don Juan K in an attempt to destroy the evidence and flee in the go-fasts. The USCGC Sherman stopped the go-fasts and recovered about 900 pounds of cocaine as Don Juan K sank. The 14 crew members are being processed for further legal action,” said a statement on the USCG’s website.

The second bust on March 18 yielded nearly 40,000 pounds of cocaine.

“The 330-foot Panamanian-flagged motor vessel Gatun was interdicted in the Pacific Ocean Mar. 18 off the coast of Panama while heading north toward the United States. Sherman’s crew stopped and boarded the vessel and found 765 bales of cocaine weighing approximately 38,000 pounds in two shipping containers. Gatun was escorted back to Panama and its 14 crew members processed for further legal action,” added the statement.

In the third bust on March 25, at least 2,000 pounds of cocaine was seized, also from a ship off Panama’s coast.

“[The] Sherman’s crew stopped and boarded a small stateless go-fast in the Pacific Ocean Mar. 25 off the coast of Panama following a short chase, in which, the go-fast attempted to flee at a high rate of speed. Approximately 2,000 pounds of cocaine was found aboard the go-fast and its four crew members were processed for further legal action,” said the statement.

Several agencies both in the U.S. and in other countries in Central and South America and will continue to investigate the extent of the drug ring.

“The Coast Guard works in close coordination with Joint Interagency Task Force South, U.S. Attorney’s office, Panama Express South, DEA, FBI, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Customs and Border Protection, as well as the Departments of Justice, State and Homeland Security on counter drug operations in the Pacific Ocean near Central and South America. These drug smuggling routes are some of the most active, yielding roughly 70 percent of the cocaine seized annually by the Coast Guard,” added the statement.

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Tuesday, September 13, 2005

On the 20th birthday of Nintendo‘s mascots, Mario and his brother Luigi, Nintendo has released the newest addition to the popular Game Boy line.

The Game Boy Micro is the smallest handheld release by Nintendo to date. Unlike other handhelds in the Game Boy Advance series, the Game Boy Micro can only play Game Boy Advance games and not games designed for the original Game Boy system. The handheld features a new link port, includes multiple removable faceplates, and additional faceplates can be purchased separately. This system has an MSRP of USD$99.99.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Nintendo_releases_GameBoy_Micro_in_the_US&oldid=439058”
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Heating & air conditioning repair -Install Electric heating systems to compete with the Chilly winte

by

skynetac

Air conditioning installation : The arrival of winter days brings with it many changes, not simply in the climatic conditions but also in the life-style. People those who living in United Kingdom are well aware of the constant snowfall and extremely chilling temperature. However, we cannot blame anyone for that since it is a natural phenomenon. But that also does not mean we cannot do anything to tackle that and let the chilly winters affect our otherwise smooth lives. Heating the rooms is a very common practice all across the world. In addition, underfloor heating systems are changed the way we led our lives.

Installing it, hardly requires more than a day or two in most cases. This is because, it does not involve air, water or latent heat from earth like other heating and so there are no additional complexities in those aspects. Damp free walls and good wires and an electrical outlet are all you need to install the system and a good protection to keep it away from rain water. So you do not have to worry about water pipes or boiler rooms and all you do is flick a switch to keep the system going.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3TEkCqw-64[/youtube]

Actually there are various benefits of installing this contemporary heating system. Compared to conventional room radiators, they are not messy. There is no smoke and no left outs. In addition, like other underfloor room warmers, the heat is not cantered at a particular place. The warmth can be felt all over the room evenly which means your whole body can feel the heat, and not just some parts. Another benefit of having this type of room warmer is that the owner can adjust the temperature depending upon his requirement. As they are not messy, they leave you with more space in the room adding a touch style and elegance.

Although, it is an electric heating system, this may surprise you that no wires are visible. The reason is quite simple. The wires are set under the floor carpe in a manner they never appear outside. Therefore, giving you room a neat and clean look that never affects the decor of your room. The range of electric under floor heating systems available with us helps save money. This one time investment would yield you benefits for a long time to come.

Therefore, if you are planning to install a heating system, skynetac advise you to go for electric heating systems because of the comfort offered by them.

For more details about www.skynetac.com

SkyNet Air Conditioning & Heating Service is a full service licensed company, family owned & operated, providing sales, repair and installation on most makes and models. We are factory trained and experienced in all aspects of cooling and heating systems. Proudly serving cities in Southern California.Telephone: (888) 807-2390URL: www.skynetac.com

Article Source:

ArticleRich.com

Posted in Air Conditioning Servicing

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

The body of a man was discovered on a street in Lancaster, California around 1:45 a.m PDT (UTC-7) Tuesday morning with an arrow stuck deep into his chest. Sheriff’s deputies who responded to the crime scene at 13th Street and Avenue K initially thought the victim to have been homeless, but he was later identified as Angel Martinez, age 62, who resided in Lancaster.

“Who would want to do something like that to an elderly person?” said Tony Martinez, a local resident who was among those who found the victim. “And what was an elderly man doing out here anyway that late?”

The attacker, who struck by night, is being sought by authorities.

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Saturday, October 11, 2008

In the midst of the intensifying global financial crisis, finance ministers and central bankers of the G7 nations – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom – met in Washington, D.C. and released a joint statement.

With failures of large financial institutions in the United States, the crisis rapidly evolved into a global crisis resulting in bank failures in Europe and the Americas, and sharp reductions in the value of stocks and commodities worldwide. The crisis further lead to a liquidity problem and the de-leveraging of world assets, which further accelerated the problem. The crisis has roots in the subprime mortgage crisis and is an acute phase of the financial crisis of 2007–2008.

After the meeting, a joint statement was released with a commitment to “stabilize financial markets and restore the flow of credit.” The statement outlined five steps to achieve these goals:

  1. Take decisive action and use all available tools to support systemically important financial institutions and prevent their failure.
  2. Take all necessary steps to unfreeze credit and money markets and ensure that banks and other financial institutions have broad access to liquidity and funding.
  3. Ensure that our banks and other major financial intermediaries, as needed, can raise capital from public as well as private sources, in sufficient amounts to re-establish confidence and permit them to continue lending to households and businesses.
  4. Ensure that our respective national deposit insurance and guarantee programs are robust and consistent so that our retail depositors will continue to have confidence in the safety of their deposits.
  5. Take action, where appropriate, to restart the secondary markets for mortgages and other securitized assets. Accurate valuation and transparent disclosure of assets and consistent implementation of high quality accounting standards are necessary.
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“Central banks from around the world have acted together to provide additional liquidity for financial institutions, taking the necessary steps to support the global economy,” said US Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson in a statement after the meeting.

“We have taken a lot of actions,” said European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet. “My experience of markets is that it always takes a little time to capture the elements [of the decisions taken].”

The Governor of the Bank of England Mervyn King said: “Central banks will work together as we demonstrated this week, to ensure sufficient short term liquidity is provided to stabilise banking systems. But it is also vital that governments work together to ensure their banking systems are recapitalised to enable them to lend to finance spending in the real economy.”

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Friday, August 3, 2007

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell more than 280 points, Friday, to 13181.91, just two weeks after soaring to a historic record of 14,000. Two other major indexes, the Nasdaq and the Standard and Poor 500, fell more than 2% in a widespread market sell-off.

Shares of Bear Stearns, the largest United States underwriter of mortgage bonds, fell 6.3% today, resulting from Standard and Poor’s altering its outlook toward the company to “negative” from “stable”. The investment banking firm recently saw two of its major hedge funds sink after exposure to the sub-prime mortgage decline. Standard and Poor’s report said the firm may have problems, including its hedge funds, that could hurt the firm “for an extended period.”

The company held a press conference at noon, but was unable to salvage its stock, leading to heavy losses in the rest of the financial sector. Chief Financial Officer Sam Molinaro remarked that the credit market was in the worst condition he had seen in 22 years.

American Express shares fell 5.6%, while homebuilder Hovnanian Enterprises fell 9.4% in the sell-off which impacted all the indexes. American Home Mortgage Investment Corporation shares fell 52.07% in the session after announcing plans to close most operations and lay off over 6000 employees. The company has also lost its lending license in four states including New York.

“It is with great sadness that American Home has had to take this action,” Chief Executive Michael Strauss said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the market conditions in both the secondary mortgage market as well as the national real estate market have deteriorated to the point that we have no realistic alternative.”

Analysts say that the weakness in the stock markets and economy in general could prompt the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates, consequently allowing inflation to rise, but that it would also support stocks and ease borrowing. The Fed has not changed interest rates since June 2006.

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How to Get a Bad Credit Auto Loan in Michigan?

by

Williams Orchard

Nothing in this world has changed our lives like a car. Every other invention has come and gone but none has matched the car revolution. Right from the first model T to the new power packed machines, cars have come a long way. And, which State has witnessed it all? The State of Michigan is where it all started. Ford, GM and Chrysler are all located in the State. Hence, Michiganders love for cars is well understood.

Buying a car is a great experience for everyone; it s phenomenal if you are in the State of Automobiles. Don t you remember buying a car with your parents? Being in the car hub of America, there used to be the excitement of walking into the lot and seeing several amazing cars. Your family chose the perfect one after a thorough analysis. Back then, things were pretty simple because you didn t know much about credit history. Now, things look complicated and the fun has turned into uncertainty -uncertainty of choosing that perfect car, uncertainty of getting loans. Even if you got a loan with a poor credit score, there is the uncertainty of getting reasonable interest rates.

But, here s something to remove all the clouds of doubts and uncertainty. This is an article to help you get an affordable car loan even with an imperfect credit score in Michigan.

Money Comes First, Wherever You Go

Whenever you have to buy something, money comes first. You must know your affordability. For that, prepare a budget. Calculate the surplus that remains after paying all the bills and expenses. If you have a sufficient amount left with you, then making monthly payments will be very easy.

Now, your loan amount depends on your car. A brand new car and pre-owned one have substantial difference in pricing. If you buy a new car, then your loan amount will increase. This decision is good only when you are able to make regular payments. So, think twice before deciding on the car.

Know Your Score

Every lender checks your credit score. But, before he does and wrongly charges you high interest rates, you must check your own score. According to the Federal Law, you have the privilege of getting your free credit report once in a year. Annualcreditreport.com is the name of website where you will have to apply for it. Now, this site will only give you the credit report and not the score. For that, you must apply with any of the three bureaus.

Go through your report and search for any errors. In case you find any, report it to the credit bureaus. You must apply for any loan only after the discrepancies are taken care of. Also, ask your current lenders to report your regular monthly payments. This will definitely improve your credit score.

The economy has suffered a lot during recession. Many have not been able to keep up with their payments and as result their credit scores have taken a toll. There are many people tackling bad credit scores, just like you. How do they get loans? Well, the answer is sub-prime lenders.

You must know that your credit score is just one aspect of the approval criteria. There are many other things that the lenders consider before taking a decision. Income, employment details, residence, down payment amount, co-signer and many other factors help lenders in taking a decision.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3HlFewKByw[/youtube]

What Documents Are Considered For Bad Credit Auto Loan?

Income Proof

You must be currently employed. Lenders are fine if you are individual contractor. The only thing that is important for them is your income. Your gross monthly income should be at least $ 1,000.

If you are employed, then you must present a copy of your pay stubs. Most lenders will ask you to send them a copy of last two months.

If you are a self-employed contractor, you will have to submit IT returns of at least three years, although it all depends on the lender.

The following documents will be considered income-proof for self employed

Michigan Tax Forms

1.MI 1040 (Michigan Individual Income Tax Return)

2.MI 1040 ES (Michigan Individual Estimated Tax)

3.Michigan Business Tax

Federal Tax Forms

1.Form 1040 (U.S. Individual Income Tax Return)

2.Schedule C (Profit or Loss from Business)

3.Schedule F (Profit or Loss from Farming)

4.Schedule SE (Self-Employment Tax)

Bank Statements

Bank statements are a proof of your regular financial transactions. Lenders want to be assured of the safety of their money and hence would be interested in your bank accounts.

Residential Proof

If you are living in the same house for at least six months, it means you have been paying your utility bills regularly. Lenders will require a copy of your recent utility bills like phone or electricity.

Tips for Getting Approval

Co-Signer

When you have a bad credit score, you must make up for other aspects of the lending criteria. If you get a co-signer on-board, the lender s risk will be reduced. Lenders generally ask for co-signer so that when you miss a payment, the co-signer can be held responsible.

Anyone can be a co-signer as long as he has a decent credit score.

Down Payment

Down payment is the initial upfront amount that you pay while buying a car. When you make a down payment, you lower your loan amount. This reduces the lender s risk and thus, approving your loan application won t be a problem for him.

These two factors play a very crucial rule when it comes to a bad credit car loan. If you can manage them well, getting a loan will be very easy for you. These tips will help you buy your dream car in the Wolverine State.

So with all the information available, don t wait for anything. Apply with a lending company that offers sub-prime auto loans in Michigan.

All the best!

Rapidcarloans.net is an online auto lending company that offers

bad credit auto loans Michigan

at reasonable rates. We have a large network of

sub-prime auto lenders

in Michigan. Take advantage of our robust coverage and get ready to drive your car in style.

Article Source:

ArticleRich.com

Posted in Finance

Monday, November 24, 2008

Although Israel briefly lifted its blockade of crossings in the Gaza Strip today, United Nations (UN) officials warn that a further blockade could lead to dire consequences for some 750,000 Gazans who rely on UN food aid. Israel blockaded the Gaza Strip in early November, preventing access for UN aid workers and journalists.

The border crossing was opened to allow some food aid and medical supplies through, however, United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) spokesman Christopher Gunness warned that “it is just not enough.”

The UNRWA also warns that Gaza faces “a humanitarian catastrophe.” Karen Abu Zayd, commissioner general of UNRWA, said the death toll since the beginning of the Israeli blockade is the gravest since the early days of the Palestinian intifada eight years ago. The Israeli blockade has shut down power for the Gaza Strip, and patients at local hospitals are in grave risk of death because of faulty generators.

“Almost every part of the intensive care unit runs on electricity which comes from Gaza’s main power plant […] that plant is run on fuel from Israel, but no supplies have reached the plant for well over a week now,” said Al Jazeera‘s correspondent in Gaza.

Israel closed the Gaza Strip on November 5 because of rocket fire emanating from the area after the Israeli army units entered and carried out an operation against members of the Hamas combat wing. Currently all foreign journalists are banned from entering Gaza. AP, Reuters, the New York Times, the BBC, CNN and other major news organizations have protested the blockade.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=UN_official:_Gaza_faces_humanitarian_catastrophe&oldid=1122233”
Posted in Uncategorized

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Viktor Schreckengost, the father of industrial design and creator of the Jazz Bowl, an iconic piece of Jazz Age art designed for Eleanor Roosevelt during his association with Cowan Pottery died yesterday. He was 101.

Schreckengost was born on June 26, 1906 in Sebring, Ohio, United States.

Schreckengost’s peers included the far more famous designers Raymond Loewy and Norman Bel Geddes.

In 2000, the Cleveland Museum of Art curated the first ever retrospective of Schreckengost’s work. Stunning in scope, the exhibition included sculpture, pottery, dinnerware, drawings, and paintings.

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How To Get a Real Estate License

by

Martin Dolemo

Any individual seeking employment as a real estate salesperson for a licensed broker must obtain a salesperson license. Real estate experience is not required to obtain a license and the licensing process is not difficult. However, potential real estate agents must meet certain eligibility requirements and must comply with all licensing procedures required by the Their state\’s Department of Real Estate. To be eligible for a license, a salesperson candidate must be at least 18 years of age and a lawful resident of the United States. Eligible salesperson candidates must: (1) complete required education; (2) submit an application; and (3) pass a written examination.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

Before applying to become a licensed real estate salesperson, candidates are required to complete at three semester-long real estate courses or four quarter-long real estate courses. Courses must be completed through an accredited college or university. There are two required courses, Real Estate Principles and Real Estate Practice. The remaining course(s) may be selected from a variety of topics ranging from appraisal to accounting to computer applications. Licensed attorneys and law school graduates are generally exempt from the education requirements

APPLICATION

After completing the required college-level courses, candidates must submit a salesperson license application. There are certain fees associated with processing the application. An examination fee and an application fee must be paid in full before a license may be issued. Fingerprints are required and may be taken by any Live Scan provider or by ink on an FBI Applicant Fingerprint Card. Live Scan providers charge a fee to take fingerprints. Candidates must truthfully and completely disclose all criminal charges, disciplinary actions and citations for unprofessional conduct. Candidates must also provide a copy of a birth certificate, passport or other proof of legal residency in the United States. In addition, a transcript showing completion of the education requirements and a State Public Benefits Statement must be submitted for all first-time applicants.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lecKNDGN6BU[/youtube]

WRITTEN EXAMINATION

Scheduling the Examination:

Upon receipt of a candidate\’s examination application and fee, the state\’s Department of Real Estate will schedule an examination date. The date, location and time for the examination will be sent to the candidate by mail or through the Department\’s e-Licensing program. Examinations are administered in Various cities throughout most states. Additional locations may be available, depending on the number of candidates. If a candidate needs to reschedule his examination, an additional application must be submitted and additional fees may apply.

Preparing for the Examination:

The real estate salesperson examination consists of 150 multiple choice questions. The questions must be completed within 3 hours and 15 minutes. The examination is designed to test each candidate\’s reading, writing, spelling and mathematics, as well as his understanding of real estate and business principles.

There are seven main topic areas:

(1) Property Ownership and Land Use Controls and Regulations (2) Laws of Agency and Fiduciary Duties (3) Property Valuation and Financial Analysis (4) Financing (5) Transfer of Property (6) Practice of Real Estate and Mandated Disclosures (7) Contracts.

To prepare for the test, candidates should download the Reference Book – A Real Estate Guide and current and prior editions of the Real Estate Bulletin and Real Estate Law from the Department of Real Estate website. Many public and university libraries also offer real estate resources. However, candidates should avoid out-of-date books and materials. When changes in the law or practice of real estate occur, new materials are added to the examination.

After the Examination:

Examinations are generally conducted using an electronic system, and results are provided immediately after the examination is completed. For a passing score, at least 70 percent of the examination questions must be answered correctly. If a candidate does not receive a passing score, he may apply to retake the examination. The candidate will be provided with his final score and the percentage of questions he answered correctly for each subject area. If a candidate receives a passing score, has submitted a complete application and has paid his licensing fee, the Department of Real Estate will issue to the candidate a real estate salesperson license.

Applications and additional information can be found online.

Saxony Real Estate is your expert source for all California real estate matters. Owner

Martin C. Dolemo

has worked in real estate for more than 22 years, and President Bill Taylor has 35 years of experience as a licensed salesperson and broker. Visit

saxonyrealestate.com

for more information about California real estate.

Article Source:

ArticleRich.com

Posted in Quantity Surveyors

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