Microsoft's desktop publisher ideal for home businesses.

The final word: Microsoft Publisher 07 is an affordable "all-in-one" publishing application ideal for home-run businesses. While it fails to match the professional sheen of its market leading rivals, there are more than enough features here to fulfil a variety of purposes.

Microsoft Publisher 07 is an affordable "all-in-one" publishing application ideal for home-run businesses. This latest version offers some significant improvements including automatic conversion of documents, an increased number of professional templates, a new Content Library and Design Checker tool, a revamped user-friendly interface and, for the first time ever, PDF output options.

For as long as anyone can remember, Microsoft has been churning out bi-yearly updates of its Publisher application, alongside the more famous programs in its Office suite. While some of these "upgrades" have been a tad trite and incremental, this latest version truly does offer some significa! nt improvements. These include automatic conversion of documents (from newsletter to webpage, for example), an increased number of professional templates, a new Content Library and Design Checker tool, a revamped user-friendly interface and, for the first time ever, PDF output options. While it won't win over fans of its top-end competitors, it remains an affordable 'branching off' point for beginners and small businesses.

As its name implies, Microsoft Publisher 07 is a desktop publishing application which allows you to professionally design and layout pages, whether they be for the Web, print publications, or both. It caters to all aspects of publishing, allowing you to create everything from business cards to brochures and posters. Traditionally aimed at entry-level users, it attempts to simplify much of the process at the expense of high-end functionality. (In other words, while beginners will be able to tackle the application with considerable success, advanced! users may be hamstrung by the limited tools on offer.) Thankf! ully, Pu blisher 07 attempts to loosen some of these restrictions, though it is still significantly underpowered when compared to the likes of Adobe InDesign or QuarkXPress.

If you're new to Microsoft Publisher, this latest addition does an admirable job of holding your hand, presenting you with an intuitive and clutter-free front end. It is surprisingly easy to create unique looking documents by simply playing around with the assorted templates on offer, which naturally can be tweaked and customised to your heart's content. Images can be inserted directly from a scanner or digital camera, with recolouring and cropping options built into the application. The inclusion of a new Tasks icon to the toolbar is also helpful for beginners, offering detailed assistance for a variety of tasks. Simply put, if your business is in need of a recognisable identity - but lacks the budget to hire a professional designer - Publisher 07 supplies enough tools to let you take a stab yourself.

One handy new addition to Publisher 07 is the Content Library, which allows you to store and reuse your items across multiple publications. This is a great time-saver, giving you instant access to frequently used text and graphics with all your customisations in place. Naturally, it also allows you to keep a professional consistency between different types of media; with your Web pages, letterheads and marketing materials all sharing identical templates.

Another neat feature in Publisher 2007 is the improved Design Checker; a wizard application that scans your finished publication for overlooked flaws or anomalies. Unlike previous versions of this application, it can automatically fix any mistakes it discovers for you (as opposed to just alerting you to their existence). Again, this helps you to invest your time more efficiently, though perfectionists can still elect to remove the errors themselves.

A major criticism levelled at previous Publisher rele! ases has been the lack of PDF output; instead sticking to a li! ttle-use d and under-supported file format of its own. Publisher 2007 is the first version to support the PDF format... and yet, it doesn't. For some reason, users are forced to download this PDF feature from the Microsoft Web site; as it does not appear in the boxed product (we're assuming this has something to do with Adobe legal wrangling). While this is a slight hassle, on the plus side, the download is free of charge. In any event, this significantly expands the usability of the product; allowing you to share your print publications online with a minimum of fuss.

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N.C. campus mourning loss of slain leader

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) You couldn't escape Eve Carson's presence at the University of North Carolina.

The student body president welcomed all incoming freshman - each and every one - to stop by her office for a chat. She was a member of the school's Board of Trustees and a tournament-winning intramural flag football team.

She had friends in the chancellor's office, friends on the school's top-ranked basketball team and more among the school's 28,000 students.

"She was a bright spot in anybody's day," said Seth Dearmin, a former student body president who met Carson during her freshman year. "She took time to talk to people, to listen to them. She cared about what they were interested in. That's what drove her. She was a completely selfless person."

And for it, North Carolina loved her back.

Twice in the hours after learning the 22-year-old Carson had been shot to death early Wednesday on a city street not far from campus, thousands of students, staff and fault! y gathered to mourn her death. The tears continued to flow Friday, and it's likely the school will hold another memorial service after students return from next week's spring break.

University Chancellor James Moeser plans to attend services this weekend for Carson at her home in Athens, Ga. The Board of Trustees, meanwhile, has offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in her death.

"She touched so many lives over the period of four years that she was here," Moeser said. "Kids who didn't even know her felt they were touched by her."

The many memories make the mystery of her death that much harder to accept on the campus of the nation's first public university. Detectives know Carson was killed by a shot from a handgun to her right temple but said Friday they still have no suspects in what they still consider a random act.

"It's just a huge blow. It's a blow against everything we assume about ourselves, about being a peaceful, safe place wher! e kids come," Moeser said. "She was a joyful person. She loved! this pl ace. She loved being here."

For now, police are looking for clues in her car: Officers believe the killer had access to her vehicle, but aren't sure of the circumstances. They are canvassing the neighborhood where Carson's body was found but don't know what she was doing there. Two callers to 911 reported hearing several gun shots, and one heard Carson scream.

"We've been getting a number of leads that we're trying to follow up on," said Chapel Hill Police Chief Brian Curran.

Carson was last seen a few hours before, when she stayed behind at home to study as her roommates went out for the night. There were no signs of forced entry to the home, but Curran said authorities have yet to find her keys and wallet. There are no indications she had been sexually assaulted.

Curran said Friday police had been in contact with authorities in Alabama investigating the killing of a female student at Auburn University, but added that the cases do not appear to be connected.

! As a high school student, teachers at Clarke Central High in Athens said, Carson seemed destined for greatness. She was courted by prestigious universities who admired her both her leadership and interest in everything: science, politics and government, music and art and sports.

"I've been teaching for 26 years and honestly, she's truly one of a kind," said Clarke Central biology teacher Buddy Sims. "I've taught a lot of smart kids - Eve was a lot more than a smart kid. She was just incredibly inquisitive. She always wanted to know more and more and more. She was never satisfied with just a cursory look at anything."

Those qualities made Carson a perfect for the prestigious Morehead-Cain Scholarship, an award that packages a full ride to North Carolina with a legion of opportunities on campus and off. While in college, Carson studied abroad in Cuba and spent time working and voluneteering in Ecuador, Egypt and Ghana.

She was involved in campus programs for hunger r! elief, among many other activities, and was featured on the Mo! rehead-C ain Web site that described her experiences working in Ecuador. "One of the most important lessons I learned ... is that poverty is not a pitiable thing," she said. "In Chillanes, I saw a respect for poverty and a respect for a non-material way of life."

Friends said Carson was weighing her next step. A pre-med student who majored in political science and biology, she was thinking lately about whether to instead accept an offer to work in New York for a business consulting firm. Another possiblity: taking a year off after four non-stop years of unquestioned achievement to travel the world.

"I could see Eve balancing a career as a professional, probably in the not for profit sector, but also being a wife and a mother because she was such a loving person," Moeser said. "The whole package. I get choked up thinking about it."

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Elcho eyes plans for spring referendum

A largely cordial crowd of about two dozen people discussed the details of a planned spring referendum with members of the Elcho board of education Tuesday.

The focus of the public informational meeting was the April 1 vote asking voters to allow the district to spend $500,000 above state-imposed revenue caps annually for the next five years.

The session was chaired by Board President Brian Flannery with input from Administrator Chris Thomalla.

"We've fought off the wolves as long as we can," Flannery said, stressing that "the board has been very accountable to the taxpayers."

Thomalla said the need for the cash infusion is through no fault on the part of the district.

"There is a structural, inherent deficit in the way we fund education," he said, and calls for deep cuts in student programs and extra-curricular activities would only make a bad situation worse.

"Those cuts would be really detrimental to our students educationally and! would lead to more students leaving the district through the open enrollment process," he said, adding that as enrollment drops "then you are asking, do we keep a school in Elcho."

The goal of the referendum isn't to fund new facilities or programs, but to maintain the status quo and eliminate a projected budget deficit. Affected programs include family and consumer education, technical education, art, business and elementary music. Also included is the elementary Reading First program now funded largely by grant dollars.

The spending would increase the mill rate from the current $5.46 per $1,000 of equalized valuation to $6.10, a 64 cent increase. The owner of a $100,000 piece of property would see an increase of $64 annually to cover the cost.

Thomalla stressed that the increase represents a "worse case scenario," not figuring on any increases in property values.

"It is based on property values as they are today," he said.

Elcho current! ly has the 17th lowest tax rate out of 375 K-12 school distric! ts in Wi sconsin. The state's average mill rate is $8.45.

Flannery said that over the last several years, the board has been pushing a variety of programs that has required additional spending. The new 3x5 class schedule, implemented this year, required additional staff, the board hired a Spanish instructor instead of relying on distance learning classes and split one large elementary class into two sections, again requiring more staff.

"They were decisions made, we felt, in the best interest of our kids," he said. "It was to help our children. And that is what we are here for."

Flannery noted the poor condition of the national, state and local economy. But those same reasons are making the vote necessary.

"It is not a good time to ask for this," he admitted. 'But we have had a good record of savings....We don't want to go backwards."

Questions at the session focused largely on individual programs, including child care and home economics, and whethe! r the board has considered sports cutbacks.

Thomalla said that while trimming sports could save dollars, it would also hasten students leaving the district through open enrollment, adding to the detrimental effect.

Prior to the informational session the board met in special session to act on personnel matters.

Members accepted the resignations of special education teacher Betsy Shauger and junior high social studies and science teacher Stephanie Bures. They also accepted the retirement of kindergarten teacher Cindy Rife pending an agreement with the Elcho Teachers Association.

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Telstra seeks indemnity on network

The former government-owned monopoly advised the Australian stock exchange yesterday that it had received a request from Communications Minister Stephen Conroy to provide "various items of existing network information" that would be shared with potential bidders for the Government's $4.7 billion fibre-to-the-node (FTTN) contract.

"Telstra has responded to the minister's request by proposing to provide a set of existing network information subject to security safeguards and the full indemnification of Telstra by the commonwealth," Telstra acting company secretary Claire Elliott wrote.

Telstra, which has raised security and commercial concerns about releasing the information, which links in to many of Australia's security agencies, also said it would suspend some of its current infrastructure investment plans after the bid process.

"In view of the FTTN process now commencing, we will review current investment plans and it is ! likely that some investments will be put on hold until we know the outcome of the bid process," Ms Elliott wrote.

The move to suspend some investments - understood to include infrastructure that would probably be duplicated by the FTTN - signals Telstra's strong intention to compete against its rivals to win the national broadband contract.

Senator Conroy said through a spokesman: "We are aware of the concerns that have been raised and we remain in constructive discussions with the whole industry."

The Australian revealed on Friday that Senator Conroy had delivered an ultimatum to Telstra and its rivals demanding they voluntarily release details of physical network information or face a new legislative regime to force the disclosure and distribution of the data.

Telstra's rivals, including Singapore government-owned Optus, have the most to gain from the ultimatum and have argued over the past nine months that bidding for the na! tional broadband network would not be genuinely competitive un! less all players had access to Telstra's physical network information.

Opposition communications spokesman Bruce Billson questioned the impact of Senator Conroy's move on Telstra's investment plans.

"What's most disturbing is confirmation that the Government is using taxpayer money to displace private sector investment, as evidenced by Telstra's advice to the stock exchange that it will hold off on future investments until Labor's FTTN muddle is sorted out," Mr Billson said.

Telstra's share price closed down 2c to $4.64 yesterday.

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Dow Plunges 300 Points

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks tumbled on Friday as another round of weak economic data added to U.S. recession fears and a record loss at insurer AIG underscored worries about more write-downs in the financial sector.

The major indexes fell more than 2 percent and ended the month in the red for the fourth month in a row. It marks the longest string of monthly losses for the Dow and S&P 500 since 2002.

Anxiety about the economy increased after a report said business conditions in the Midwest were the weakest in more than six years while a separate survey said U.S. consumer sentiment was at its lowest since 1992.

Dismal quarterly results from the American International Group Inc overnight led financial services company shares lower after the world's largest insurer reported a $5.3 billion dollar loss stemming from housing related write-downs.

"AIG set the tone for the day, and then everybody kind of piled on. I definitely think people are more worr! ied about the financial crisis. It's seen as a major leader in the negatives," said Adam Tracy, director of listed trading at Thomas Weisel Partners in San Francisco.

Late in the session, JPMorgan Chase & Co said first-quarter home equity losses could total about $450 million, and that net charge-offs for bad debt could double from that level by the fourth quarter of 2008.

The Dow Jones industrial average slid 315.79 points, or 2.51 percent, to end at 12,266.39. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index fell 36.96 points, or 2.70 percent, to 1,330.72 while the Nasdaq Composite Index closed down 60.09 points, or 2.58 percent, to end at 2,271.48.

The faltering municipal bond market added to credit market concerns after distressed sellers dumped several billion dollars of debt on to the market.

For the month, the Dow dropped 3 percent, and the S&P fell 3.5 percent, bringing its losses since markets peaked in October to about 15 percent. The Nasdaq dropped 5 p! ercent for the month.

For the week, the Dow was down 0.! 9 percen t, the S&P was down 1.6 percent and the Nasdaq was down 1.4 percent.

On the day, AIG shares dropped 6.6 percent to $46.86, while JPMorgan Chase shares fell 4.2 percent to $40.65. An index of S&P financial shares dropped 4 percent.

On the Nasdaq, Dell Inc, the world's second-largest personal computer maker, fell 4.7 percent to $19.90 after late Thursday posting a lower-than-expected quarterly profit and cautioning that customers may rein in spending.

Shares of home builders also took a beating, sending the Dow Jones home construction index down 6.8 percent.

Toll Brothers, a luxury home builder, dropped 5.7 percent at $21.21.

Earlier in the day, the National Association of Purchasing Managers-Chicago said U.S. Midwest business activity contracted sharply in February.

In other data, the Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers showed that sentiment slumped to a 16-year low in February, hitting levels that usually sound alarm ! bells for recession.

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Stocks Worth Waiting For

Patient investors got the last laugh. Each of these stocks crushed the 10-year returns of both the S&P and the Nasdaq.

The mustard seed
Smaller companies can be particularly trying to wait for. While the larger companies have legions of analysts following their every move, small companies attract little or no Wall Street coverage, which means that even if the company is growing, the market might be slow to catch on.

For instance, in May 2003, the best stock of the past 10 years, Hansen Natural, traded at approximately the same price it did in June 1998. During this period, the company ran a good business -- it increased net income by 67% and revenue by 97%, and it posted a double-digit return on equity, while it ramped up its profitable energy drink lineup.

But the best was yet to come. When Wall Street eventually reali! zed Hansen's growth potential and its strong brand, the stock went up. Today, it's up more than 8,000% in almost five years -- turning $10,000 into $810,000 today. Patient investors who saw the potential in Hansen's growth strategy have been rewarded, to say the least.

How do I get those returns?!
OK, Hansen might be an extreme example. After all, not many stocks jump 8,000% in five years -- so I'll give you another example.

In July 2004, Fool co-founder Tom Gardner recommended Buffalo Wild Wings to Motley Fool Hidden Gems subscribers. He saw a rapidly growing $200 million restaurant chain with the potential of becoming a category-killer in casual dining. Moreover, the company had $47 million in cash, zero debt, and high insider ownership.

Everything pointed to higher returns, but 10 months later, the pick was only up 7%. Despite the weak return! s, Tom still felt strongly about Buffalo Wild Wings' potential! and re- recommended the stock two more times to Hidden Gems subscribers during this period.

Sticking to his guns paid off -- at one point, the original Buffalo Wild Wings pick more than tripled in value, though recent volatility has reduced that gain to 92%. That hasn't diminished the team's confidence in the stock, and it continues to recommend it to subscribers.

The Foolish bottom line
Exceptional companies will eventually be recognized by the market -- and when they are, the returns can be huge. Sometimes all it takes is a little patience.

Want to find some great stocks with tremendous upside potential? The Hidden Gems team specializes in finding unrecognized small companies with solid balance sheets, dominant positioning in their markets, and shareholder-friendly management teams. Since 2003, their picks have averaged 33% returns versus the market's! 11%.

This article was first published on April 10, 2007. It has been updated.

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Oil prices close at record high as traders stay bullish despite US economic worries

NEW YORK - Oil futures surged to a new closing record above US$100 Tuesday as traders sought a safe haven against a U.S. dollar that is coming under increasing pressure from a shaky U.S. economy.

The greenback tumbled at one point to its lowest level ever against the euro, helping drive more money into energy futures. Supply concerns and a bullish attitude among stock traders also helped keep oil prices high.

The U.S. currency also fell against the Canadian dollar on Tuesday, as worries intensified about stagflation in the United States.

"You're seeing more of a switch into commodity prices as a hedge against inflation," said Adam Hewison, president of INO.com, a financial website that specializes in futures trading.

Light, sweet crude for April delivery jumped $1.65 to settle at $100.88 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. At one point in the session, prices surged as high as $101.15.

Crossing the psychologically significant $1! 00 mark once again - oil prices previously crossed that hurdle to set new records last week - in itself may have helped fuel the rally by triggering computer programs set to buy at certain levels and enticing new speculators into the market, said Jim Ritterbusch, president of energy consultancy Ritterbusch and Associates in Galena, Ill.

"You see additional buying among people who think they're missing something," he said. "Any time you move above ($100 a barrel), you're going to ignite some fresh buying."

Investors who recently were selling on weak economic data seemed to take a spate of bad news in stride.

The Conference Board, a business-backed research group, reported its Consumer Confidence Index fell to the lowest since February 2003, far below what analysts had been expecting, indicating that consumers might continue to curb their spending in the coming months.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Labor Department reported that wholesale inflation jumped on! e per cent in January, more than twice what analysts had been ! forecast ing. That report, coupled with the consumer confidence index, pointed to an economy that is slowing even as prices are rising.

And Standard & Poor's added to homeowners' angst when it said its quarterly home price index tumbled 8.9 per cent in the final quarter of 2007 - the indictator's sharpest decline in its 20-year history.

But traders in both the energy market and the stock market, which also advanced sharply, seemed largely unfazed.

"We're seeing a solid tone to the stock market," Ritterbusch said. "I think the oil market is using the stock market as a proxy for future economic activity."

Last week, March oil rallied to a new settlement record of $100.74 and a new trading record of $101.32 before the contract expired.

Hedge funds looking to cover future positions and foreign buyers, who because of the weak dollar can still lock in oil prices at a relative bargain, may have helped accelerate the day's buying, Hewison said.

O! n Tuesday, the 15-nation euro jumped to $1.4982 before trading late in the day at $1.4967, its previous record.

"In euro terms, oil is not that expensive, and it's likely to go even higher," he said.

In Toronto, the loonie closed at 101.79 cents US, up 1.31 cents on the day after zooming as high as 102.2 cents US.

Also supporting prices were concerns about supply disruptions from unrest in Iraq, a major oil exporter, and warnings by Iran against further international sanctions. Turkish ground forces pushed their offensive against Kurdish rebels deeper into the north of Iraq, seizing seven guerrilla camps, officials said.

Oil has risen in recent days amid an increase in speculative buying, with some traders believing that global demand will be high enough to support higher crude prices even if the U.S. economy is slowing. That thesis will be put to the test Wednesday, when analysts expect the U.S. Energy Department's Energy Information Administrat! ion to report that the nation's crude stocks rose for the seve! nth week in a row.

The government inventories report also is expected to show supplies of distillates, which include heating oil and diesel, fell by 1.8 million barrels last week, according to a Dow Jones Newswires poll of analysts. Cold weather across the Midwest and Northeast has also helped push heating oil prices higher.

On Tuesday, heating oil futures gained 2.97 cents to settle at $2.8150 a gallon, after earlier setting a new trading record of $2.8188 a gallon.

Gasoline prices rose 0.8 cents to settle at $2.5505 a gallon. Gas prices at the pump rose to $3.142 from $3.137 Monday, according to AAA and the Oil Price Information Service.

The EIA report also is expected to show that crude oil stocks rose last week by 2.4 million barrels, which would be the seventh straight week of gains. Gasoline inventories are expected to rise by 400,000 barrels.

Natural gas futures rose two cents to settle at $9.206 per 1,000 cubic feet. Earlier, Gazprom, Russi! a's natural gas monopoly, again threatened to cut supplies to neighboring Ukraine, according to Russian news agency reports.

In London, Brent crude futures rose $1.78 to settle at $99.47 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.

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Panel Says U.S. Will Avoid Recession

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. economy will likely avoid a recession but growth will slow to a crawl during the first half of this year, a panel of business economists forecast on Monday.

Among the panel of 49 National Association for Business Economics economists surveyed between January 25 and February 13, about 45 percent said they believe a recession will have occurred by the end of this year. But most believe it will be short and shallow.

The remaining 55 percent said a downturn will be relatively muted.

"U.S. economic growth is expected to slow to a crawl in the first half of 2008," said Ellen Hughes-Cromwick, NABE president and chief economist at Ford Motor Company.

While credit availability is generally viewed as a constraint on the overall economy, about 60 percent of the panelists see a moderate tightening of lending to consumers and businesses. But a similar percentage expect credit market liquidity and functioning to be restored to normal by t! he end of this year.

The consensus forecast among those surveyed calls for real economic output -- as measured by Gross Domestic Product -- to grow at a scant 0.4 percent annual rate in the first three months of this year and by 1 percent in the second quarter.

"While a slight majority of our panel of our forecasters expects the economy to avoid a recession in 2008, growth is expected to average just 0.75 percent before accelerating in the second half in response to fiscal and monetary stimulus," said Hughes-Cromwick.

STIMULUS IMPACT

The economists say that the stimulus package, signed into law earlier this month, with tax breaks for businesses and tax rebates worth up to $600 per individual and $1,200 per couple, could boost economic growth in the second half to a 2.8 percent annual rate.

That would bring growth for the year to 1.8 percent, still down significantly from the 2.6 percent growth projected in the prior survey taken in November.

A! bout 40 percent of those surveyed said the fiscal stimulus pac! kage wil l help ward off a recession. Another 30 percent believe it will keep any recession short and mild and the remaining 30 percent polled believe the package will either have a negligible impact, is unnecessary, or is coming too late.

The NABE panel significantly trimmed its estimates for consumer spending and housing and cut the outlook for business inventory accumulation. The housing slump is likely to have a "major negative impact" on consumer spending this year, according to more than 60 percent of the economists polled.

New home starts are expected to total just 1.0 million units in 2008, down from the 1.2 million units projected in November and the 1.5 million units forecast as recently as last May.

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Cerberus' problems deepen amid Chrysler, GMAC woes

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Cerberus Capital Management LP, the brash private equity firm named for a demonic dog, has been humbled in recent weeks by woes at two of its larger investments, automaker Chrysler LLC and auto and mortgage lender GMAC LLC.

Those companies' problems are merely among the most prominent in a series of bumps affecting one of the giants in private equity. Cerberus is run and founded by the reclusive Stephen Feinberg, and named for the three-headed canine that guarded the gates of the underworld in Greek mythology.

At the height of the private-equity boom, Cerberus made big returns for investors by investing in companies such as Vanguard Car Rental Group Inc, the parent of Alamo and National, which it sold to Enterprise Rent-A-Car in 2007.

Other good bets it has made have been on investments in AerCap Holdings N.V. (AER) based in the Netherlands, and Montreal-based Teleglobe International.

But it has made some contrarian bets s! uch as Chrysler, whose salvation confounded Germany's Daimler AG , causing some to wonder if Cerberus' Midas touch is fading.

The latest hits came on Friday.

GMAC and its Residential Capital LLC mortgage unit suffered large credit downgrades from Standard & Poor's. Cerberus bought a majority stake in GMAC from General Motors Corp , the largest U.S. automaker, in 2006,

Also, Scottish Re Group Ltd , a reinsurer into which Cerberus injected $300 million last May, said it would try to sell some units and cut costs to preserve capital and liquidity. The reason: its business plan does not work.

"Cerberus has among the smartest, most connected people the private equity business has ever seen," said Michael Holland, a money manager who runs Holland & Co, and is a former partner at private equity firm Blackstone Group LP . "But it shows you the enormous challenges facing private equity right now."

A Cerberus spokesman said the firm remains ! "enthusiastic" about Chrysler, which he said is on track to ex! ceed its long-term targets "on all key metrics." He also called GMAC "a resilient business platform with strong long-term growth prospects." The spokesman declined to discuss Scottish Re.

Last month, the Wall Street Journal quoted Cerberus' No. 2 executive, Mark Neporent, as saying the firm never commits more than 5 percent of its $26 billion under management to any one investment. That would limit risk.

INVESTMENTS FACE STRUGGLES

But much of the attention has focused on investments that look unwell, went sour -- or never happened.

Chrysler is a key focus, after Cerberus last August acquired an 80.1 percent stake from Daimler in a $7.4 billion transaction, taking on an estimated $18 billion of pension and health-care liabilities. It installed former Home Depot Inc chief Robert Nardelli to run the automaker.

The Wall Street Journal in December said Nardelli confirmed he told employees in a meeting that month that Chrysler, which is cutting thousand! s of jobs, was "operationally" bankrupt.

In January, Chrysler sales declined 12 percent as demand fell for pickup trucks and SUVs. On Feb 8, Chrysler President Jim Press said the automaker plans to shrink its dealer network and eliminate slow-selling models.

GMAC, which was once a profit center at GM's otherwise troubled operations, is another area of concern. Cerberus led a group that bought 51 percent of the company, which provided auto loans and mortgages.

But the U.S. housing crisis led to a $2.33 billion loss at GMAC in 2007, including a $4.35 billion loss at ResCap.

Standard & Poor's on Friday slashed GMAC's and ResCap's credit ratings to medium "junk" status, to the same levels assigned by Moody's Investors Service. S&P said ResCap might need more capital to avoid tripping its own loan covenants.

Feinberg acknowledged problems in his January 22 letter.

"GMAC is an investment about which we have significant concerns," ! he wrote. "If the credit markets continue to decline and we fi! nd ourse lves in a prolonged environment of capital market shutdown, GMAC could run into substantial difficulty."

Cerberus has stumbled before on mortgages. Last August, its Aegis Mortgage Corp unit went bankrupt, becoming one of dozens of home loan providers to exit the industry since 2006.

ACQUISITIONS FALL THROUGH

Some deals have fallen apart altogether.

Cerberus' $1 billion agreement last year to buy H&R Block Inc's Option One Mortgage Corp subprime unit as demand for risky home loans collapsed.

And in a bigger blowup, Cerberus backed out of a $4 billion agreement to buy equipment renter United Rentals Inc , a decision a Delaware court said it was within its rights to do.

"Walking away from the transaction was very difficult for us because we knew we would get criticized and there would be significant reputational fallout," Feinberg wrote. "We stuck to our guns, and the truth prevailed."

In the last six months, Blackstone, Gol! dman Sachs Group Inc private equity arm, J.C. Flowers & Co. and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co are among private equity firms to also back out of mergers.

As a result, planned buyouts of such companies as student lender Sallie Mae , mortgage and vehicle fleet company PHH Corp and audio equipment maker Harman International Industries Inc never closed.

It's not just shareholders of such companies that get hurt. Investors who bought Blackstone partnership units when the firm went public last June have lost about half their investment.

But it is Cerberus that is now associated with more higher-profile, troubled acquisitions.

"You simply don't see the problems other people face because they're not as big and not as obvious, but it is throughout the industry," Holland said. "But I don't think (Cerberus is) distinguishing itself by bad choices."

(Additional reporting by Megan Davies, Editing by Maureen Bavdek)

Copyright 2008 Reuters

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Source: http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?feed=OBR&date=20080224&id=8234027
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Non-roster invitees to make their cases

VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Over the past 10 years, only 12 position players invited to Major League training camp have made the Dodgers' Opening Day roster.

Among them were Olmedo Saenz, who turned it into a four-year pinch-hitting gig, and Ramon Martinez, who is one of the 10 candidates in camp this spring. Martinez pulled it off in 2006 and played well enough to earn a guaranteed contract for '07, but he's back this year fighting for a utility job.

Here's a rundown on the non-roster position players invited to this year's Major League camp:

Danny Ardoin, 33, C: He has the Crash Davis resume of spending at least some time at Triple-A in each of the past nine seasons. He's logged 141 big league games behind the plate for Minnesota, Texas, Colorado and Baltimore, and was essentially the Rockies' starter in 2005 until tearing up his knee in a plate collision with Jose Cruz Jr. against the Dodgers. In 2007, he played for three organizations -- Washington, Housto! n and St. Louis.

Angel Chavez, 26, INF: The Panamanian is linked to both general manager Ned Colletti and manager Joe Torre, having spent six years in the Giants' system with Colletti and the last two in the Yankees' Minor League system. He played all four infield positions for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last year, mostly at third base.

A.J. Ellis, 26, C: Andrew James Ellis is on a return trip to big league camp. He's got a big body (6-foot-3, 240 pounds) and is considered a defensive specialist. He started to show some power at the end of last season at Double-A, hitting five of his eight homers in August.

John-Ford Griffin, 28, OF: Anybody who has had Triple-A seasons of 30 and 28 home runs is intriguing, even more so for a 28-year-old former Yankees first-round Draft pick. The left-handed slugger was traded in the Jeff Weaver deal and played in the Blue Jays' organization since 2003. Shoulder problems ruined his 2006 season, but he sa! ys he's healthy now. Last season, he hit .252 with 26 homers a! nd 83 RB Is in 133 games for Triple-A Syracuse.

Gabriel Gutierrez, 24, C: He's smaller than Russell Martin, but he was rated by Baseball America as the best defensive catcher in the Dodgers Minor League organization two years ago. He was signed by Mike Brito out of Mexico, where he played winter ball after spending the entire 2007 season at Class A Inland Empire. On the organizational depth chart, he seems to have been passed by converted third baseman Lucas May.

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Source: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080223&content_id=2386075&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb&partnered=rss_mlb
Online Home Based Business

A banner business

After successful careers separately in retail and manufacturing, Maureen and Dennis Criscuolo are trying out their business acumen together.

In 2005, the Germantown couple kicked off an Internet-based retail operation from their home selling flags with a $12,000 investment.

Then, last year, on a tip from their main supplier -- and with $185,000 of their own money -- they bought an existing flag and banner business at 4550 Summer which gave them a storefront.

The Criscuoloes have invested another $35,000 improving both the retail side of the house as well as equipment for custom work. A small portion of existing space is about to be converted to display the varieties of custom flags and banners Flagcenter.com LLC can produce.

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Source: http://memphis.bizjournals.com/memphis/stories/2008/02/25/smallb1.html
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Court says Menard Inc. owes $200,000 less in taxes

Menard, 68, who started the home improvement retail chain, is considered Wisconsin’s richest person, worth $7.3 billion in 2007, according to Forbes magazine.

The court in Washington, D.C., ruled late Tuesday, modifying a 2005 decision in which it sided with the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS claims the company and Menard owe back taxes and penalties because the company paid him too much in 1998.

Judge L. Paige Marvel ruled that of the $20.6 million Menard received that year as the home improvement chain’s chief executive officer, only $7 million qualified as a salary and the rest was a dividend.

She compared Menard’s salary with those of executives running similar companies, such as Lowe’s Cos. and Home Depot Inc.

Marvel also ruled that $1.6 million that Menard Inc. paid to the Team Menard Inc. auto racing organization in 1998 was really a dividend paid to John Menard. Menard Inc. had argued that! the $1.6 million should be a deductible business expense for marketing.

Unlike salaries and other business expenses, dividends are not deductible. For that reason, Menard Inc. owed an additional $5.7 million in back taxes, plus a penalty, Marvel said. Menard himself owed more than $1 million in back taxes and a penalty, the court said.

In later filings, Menard said he and his company should get credit for a 1.45 percent Medicare tax levied on all salaries because it had been paid on the money Marvel had since decreed a dividend.

Marvel agreed Tuesday, writing for the entire Tax Court. But she said the company owes taxes on the deduction it took for paying the Medicare tax. The difference is just under $200,000 in the company’s favor, according to Marvel’s decision. Menard will also get a similar deduction in the amount he owes, the court ruled.

Menard and the IRS are involved in similar disputes for five other tax! years. But those cases are not expected to be settled until t! he 1998 case is.

Tax Court cases can be appealed through the federal court system.

Robert E. Dallman, the Milwaukee lawyer representing Menard and the company, said he had no comment on Thursday.

Menard Inc. has more than 220 stores in 11 Midwestern states.

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Source: http://www.chippewa.com/articles/2008/02/21/news/752l.txt
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India losing sheen as offshore R and D hub

BANGALORE: India used to be seen as the perfect offshore research and development hub for global firms seeking to tap its low-cost and supposedly vast engineering talent pool to devise products for world markets.
Companies including Microsoft, IBM, Intel, AMD, Google, Motorola, Yahoo!, Cisco and Siemens have opened R and D centres in India, drawn by payroll costs that were once a quarter of those in the US and Europe.
But the cost advantage is fading and engineers trained in basic research are harder to find, reducing India?s appeal, says Zinnov, a consultancy that advises overseas firms on R and D issues.
?Some companies witnessed a 20% rise last year in the cost of running their R and D operations in India,? Zinnov chief executive Pari Natarajan said.
?If this trend continues, the cost advantage of doing R and D in India compared to the US will go away,? he said, predicting a shakeout in the R and D offshoring market.
India is home to 594 R and D facili! ties set up by overseas firms that invested a combined $5.83bn, according to Zinnov.
Rising costs and a shortage of skilled workers have also hurt other industries ?from software to retailing ? in an economy that has expanded at an annual average of 8.6% over the past four years. But the R and D offshoring market has received scant attention.
?Costs are going up all over, and we are also facing a shortage of shop floor workers,? said Anjun Roy, economist at the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
?There is a need to improve skill sets in a lot of areas.?
Like software makers, R and D centres whose expenses are incurred mainly in rupees were hurt by a more than 12% rise last year in the value of the Indian unit against the dollar.
Wages jumped about 15% as companies fought to hire and retain hard-to-find engineers skilled in research.
India turns out more than half a million engineers every year, but institutions do not train them ! in basic research, limiting the available talent pool to no mo! re than 100,000 people, said Natarajan.
The shortage may set back the ambitious expansion plans announced by companies such as networking giant Cisco, which said in October that it plans to triple its headcount in India to 10,000 in three years.
?It?s going to be very difficult for companies which have very aggressive hiring targets,? Natarajan said. ?It?s almost impossible to hire unless you compromise on the quality of talent.?
Cisco, which plans to use India to develop products for customers in emerging markets, has opened 170 academies across the country and is training 8,600 students to overcome the talent crunch, human resources executive Leo Scrivener said.
?We are aware that a large pool of technical specialists and business solutions experts can?t be readily hired from the market,? Scrivener said.
Cisco has benefited from its R and D facility in India that has generated 110 US patents, with another 400 pending with the US Patents and Trademark Office. Hundreds of patents have been filed by other research facilities based in the country. Half the work on an Intel wonder chip, a fingernail-sized device unveiled last year that offers supercomputer performance, was done by its India research centre.
Despite the problems facing R and D, Zinnov predicts that investment in existing facilities by large global companies capable of riding out rising costs, and with the infrastructure to train fresh graduates, will drive India as an offshore R and D destination.
That will pump up the R and D market by an annual average of 23% until 2012, even as per-employee cost in India increases by a yearly 13.3%.
Smaller facilities may have to shut shop or sell out while investment in new R and D centres will likely dry up as part of a looming consolidation, said Natarajan.- AFP

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Unaffordable Family Formation in the Islamic World

CAIRO ? The concrete steps leading from Ahmed Muhammad Sayyid?s first-floor apartment sag in the middle, worn down over time, like Mr. Sayyid himself. Once, Mr. Sayyid had a decent job and a chance to marry. But his fiancée?s family canceled the engagement because after two years, he could not raise enough money to buy an apartment and furniture.

Mr. Sayyid spun into depression and lost nearly 40 pounds. For months, he sat at home and focused on one thing: reading the Koran. Now, at 28, with a diploma in tourism, he is living with his mother and working as a driver for less than $100 a month. With each of life?s disappointments and indignities, Mr. Sayyid has drawn religion closer.

Here in Egypt and across the Middle East, many young people are being forced to put off marriage, the gateway to independence, sexual activity and societal respect. Stymied by the government?s failure to provide adequate schooling and thwarted by an economy without jobs to matc! h their abilities or aspirations, they are stuck in limbo between youth and adulthood.Dreams Stifled, Egypt?s Young Turn to Islamic Fervor, By Michael Slackman, February 17, 2008]

Egypt has lots of education but few seem to learn any skills worth paying for:

Mr. Sayyid?s path to stalemate began years ago, in school.

Like most Egyptians educated in public schools, his course of study was determined entirely by grades on standardized tests. He was not a serious student, often skipping school, but scored well enough to go on to an academy, something between high school and a university. He was put in a five-year program to study tourism and hotel operations.

Five years “studying” tourism?

His diploma qualified him for little but unemployment. Education experts say that while Egypt has lifted many citizens out of illiteracy, its education system does not prepare young people for work in the modern world. Nor, acco! rding to a recent Population Council report issued in Cairo, d! oes its economy provide enough well-paying jobs to allow many young people to afford marriage.Egypt?s education system was originally devised to produce government workers under a compact with society forged in the heady early days of President Gamal Abdel Nasser?s administration in the late 1950s and ?60s.

Every graduate was guaranteed a government job, and peasant families for the first time were offered the prospect of social mobility through education. Now children of illiterate peasant farmers have degrees in engineering, law or business. The dream of mobility survives, but there are not enough government jobs for the floods of graduates. And many are not qualified for the private sector jobs that do exist, government and business officials said, because of their poor schooling. Business students often never touch a computer, for example.

On average, it takes several years for graduates to find their first job, in part because they would rather remain unemployed t! han work in a blue-collar factory position. It is considered a blow to family honor for a college graduate to take a blue-collar job, leaving large numbers of young people with nothing to do.

It’s not totally clear why all this contributes to increased Islamic fanaticism, other than that’s what they always seem to do over there when they have a problem: get more fanatical.

Marriage also plays on important financial role for families and the community. Often the only savings families acquire over a lifetime is the money for their children to marry, and handing it over amounts to an intergenerational transfer of wealth.

It’s not clear from this what “the money for their children to marry” is for–presumably, some mixture of a home, furnishings, and a fancy wedding ceremony.

But marriage is so expensive now, the system is collapsing in many communities. Diane Singerman, a professor at American Univers! ity, said that a 1999 survey found that marriage in Egypt cost! about $ 6,000, 11 times annual household expenditures per capita. Five years later, a study found the price had jumped 25 percent more. In other words, a groom and his father in the poorest segment of society had to save their total income for eight years to afford a wedding, she reported.

The result is delayed marriages across the region. A generation ago, 63 percent of Middle Eastern men in their mid- to late 20s were married, according to recent study by the Wolfensohn Center for Development at the Brookings Institution and the Dubai School of Government. That figure has dropped to nearly 50 percent across the region, among the lowest rates of marriage in the developing world, the report said. In Iran, for example, 38 percent of the 25- to 29-year-old men are not married, one of the largest pools of unattached males in Iranian histo! ry. In Egypt, the average age at which men now marry is 31.

Egypt’s population is now 80 million and growing 1.7% per year. It’s three times the size of New Mexico, but only 0.5% of the land (i.e., the banks of the Nile) are devoted to permanent crops.

The Egyptian total fertility rate is down to 2.77 babies per woman per lifetime, so Egypt’s population problem, which looks rather like a classic Malthusian trap, is slowly being resolved by the classic Malthusian method of delayed marriage and strict controls against illegitimacy leading to fewer births, just as in England before the Industrial Revolution. Of course, 2008 is after the Industrial Revolution, so you’d think they could come up with something better.

The only good idea the government has come up with is to cut down on the cost of wedding ceremonies by turning them into a mass production ope! ration, like high school graduations:

In Egypt and i! n other countries, like Saudi Arabia, governments help finance mass weddings, because they are concerned about the destabilizing effect of so many men and women who can not afford to marry.

The mass weddings are hugely festive, with couples, many in their late 30s and 40s, allowed to invite dozens of family members and friends. … The couples were ferried to an open-air stadium in 75 cars donated by local people. They were greeted by a standing-room-only, roaring crowd, flashing neon lights, traditional music, the local governor and a television celebrity who served as the master of ceremonies for the event.

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Source: http://blog.vdare.com/archives/2008/02/17/unaffordable-family-formation-in-the-islamic-world/
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Divorce proceedings for former New Jersey governor McGreevey last longer than his marriage did

The McGreeveys were married in October 2000 and split in November 2004, when they left the governor's mansion in Princeton and began living apart. As of February, they've been separated with the intention of divorcing for three years and three months — nearly as long as the marriage.

After the breakup, he wrote a tell-all book, then went on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and acknowledged having a gay tryst while his wife was in the hospital giving birth to their daughter, Jacqueline. She followed with a tell-all book of her own, and they argued over whose would sell more copies.

On custody, their lawyers — he's on his third, she's kept the same one throughout — have squabbled over all sorts of issues. Matos McGreevey has complained about artwork in her husband's home, demanding that one nude photograph be removed, and arguing that Jacqueline should not be allowed to sleep in her father's bed.

McGreevey, who is! studying to be an Episcopal priest, wants to keep his daughter for overnight visits on a school night and wants to take her to Episcopal services when she's with him.

The couple once rushed to court days before McGreevey was set to throw Jacqueline a birthday bash because his wife argued it wasn't his weekend for visitation. McGreevey has his daughter every other weekend and one night during the week. The child spends the rest of her time with her mother.

"Mr. McGreevey is extremely hopeful that in Jacqueline's best interest her mother will relent in her so far obstinate refusal to consent to true joint custody of this child, which would allow Jacqueline to have the benefits of a deep and bonded relationship with both of her parents," said Stephen P. Haller, McGreevey's lawyer.

McGreevey's request to hire experts was denied by a judge Friday. The McGreeveys already retain a parenting coordinator to help mitigate their squabbles! , and a counselor for their daughter, a kindergartner. They al! so have a temporary parenting plan in place, governing such issues as who gets the girl on holidays, which both parties signed after hours of negotiations.

Their bickering also involves money: Matos McGreevey claims he isn't living up to his earning potential as a licensed attorney. She also insists his live-in boyfriend, Mark O'Donnell, should have to disclose his finances and business dealings.

Matos McGreevey lives in a modest home in Springfield. She is an executive with Columbus Hospital, but likely will lose her job in the spring when the hospital is slated to close. Matos McGreevey and her lawyer, John Post, did not return messages seeking comment.

Like other divorces, it's also been expensive: McGreevey said his legal expenses have topped $400,000 so far and that they easily could double before the divorce is final.

By: Cha! rles Fuchs

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Source: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/15/america/Gay-Governor-Divorce.php
Starting a Home Business

Gen X paints town red

With flower sellers lining up at every nook and corner of the twin cities, bouquets of fresh flowers were seen flying off the shelves as they day wore on. And boy! Did the youngsters have a ball - hanging out at coffee shops, malls, theatres and restaurants, not to mention Tank Bund and the Necklace road.

Most business shops were decorated with stuffed toys and flowers while those selling greeting cards and gifts made a killing as people of all ages bought them. “The day is a reason to party with friends and loved ones. All our friends got together and went out for a lunch,” said Taran Singh, an engineering student.

Candlelight dinners, sparkling wine and a live band added to the romantic ambience in most of the star restaurants in the evening. All the pubs and discs had Valentine’s Day theme party with DJs spinning groovy romantic numbers.

“The day is not only for couples but also for families. Every year we have a famil! y dinner at home, followed by a long drive and ensure that we have a blast,” said Rachana Kaur, a lawyer. Anticipating protests from Left parties and the ‘moral brigade’ in general, policemen were stationed at several locations like the Tank Bund, Lumbini Park and a few malls.

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Source: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/15/stories/2008021558150200.htm
Starting a Home Business

Twist of Fate as Canadian Dollar Rallies While Australian and New Zealand Dollars Retrace

The Australian and New Zealand dollars failed to participate in today’s Japanese carry trade rally.

This was partly due to Kiwi bearish news and the expectations for tonight’s Australian employment numbers. Starting with New Zealand, Finance Minister Cullen warned that the slowdown in the housing market was sharper than expected. Combined with the recent drought, he projects a slowdown in growth. Home sales, food price and manufacturing PMI were all weaker than expected, adding to the Kiwi’s slide. In Australia, employment numbers are due for release in a few hours. The recent decline in business confidence suggests that the Australian labor market will continue weaken. Meanwhile, the Canadian dollar rebounded despite the lack of economic data. The trade balance is due for release tomorrow and we expect the recent slowdown in US growth to hurt Canadian exports.

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Source: http://www.dailyfx.com/story/currency/aud_fundamen! tals/Twi st_of_Fate_as_Canadian_1202942374822.html?engine=rss&keyword=article
Free Business Articles Blog

Laski book takes aim at City Hall

The 54-year-old Southwest Sider handwrote his book in a West Virginia federal penitentiary. He served 11 months for accepting $48,000 in bribes while city clerk in exchange for steering Hired Truck business to personal and political friends.

"I put friendship before my family and my job, and that was the problem," Laski said.

In My Fall from Grace: City Hall to Prison Walls, Laski listed other Daley administration officials with whom he brokered Hired Truck deals. They include the mayor's then-council floor leader Alderman Patrick Huels, former intergovernmental affairs director Victor Reyes, convicted patronage chief Robert Sorich, and convicted deputy water commissioner Donald Tomczak.

Laski insists there is no way the detail-oriented Daley could not have known about so many Hired Truck deals.

"This is a guy who...prides himself on detail. And he doesn't know certain things? Selective amnesia," said Laski.

But the mayor has ! insisted for the past four years he knew nothing of the scandal, or for that matter who hired Angelo Torres, the Hired Truck program's boss.

"He got the job. I don't know how he got the job," Mayor Daley said in February 2005.

"The fact you can't say I didn't know who hired this person or didn't know about this or that, you can't seep saying that," said Laski.

In the book, Laski writes that as the feds were closing in on him, he was actually approached by the mayor, who Laski speculated seemed to know something was amiss.

"He asked me if I heard anything. And I, 'Heard from who?' And he said, 'The guys down the street.' I assume that he was talking about the US attorney or the Feds," said Laski.

In a published report, the mayor's press secretary Jacqueline Heard questioned Laski's motivation for including the alleged encounter with the mayor. She dismissed the charge, saying she believed the former city clerk is just trying to se! ll books.

The book is not in the stores yet, but it i! s on Ama zon.com.

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Source: http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=5953185!
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Australian woman murdered in Bali

A NSW woman has been found stabbed to death in her Bali home, the Department of Foreign Affairs says.

The 34-year-old woman was found with multiple stab wounds to her neck and back in a villa in the suburb of Canggu, north of the major tourist area, Kuta.

The woman has been named in some reports as Heidi Murphy of Sydney.

DFAT officials would not confirm the name, but said consular assistance was being provided to the woman's family.

A police investigation was underway in Bali, DFAT said.

"Indonesian authorities are investigating the woman's death," the spokesman said.

"The Australian consul-general in Bali and the department in Canberra are providing consular assistance to the woman's family."

Ms Murphy, of Sydney, owned a garment and textile business in the neighbouring suburb of Kerobokan, News Ltd said.

She was last seen alive on Saturday evening by a friend, it said.

Police told the paper there were no signs! of a break-in at Ms Murphy's home and no murder weapon had yet been found.

It's believed she fought with her attacker as her hands and ears were also injured, they said.

AAP

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Source: http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=145&ContentID=57975
Home Business Articles Blog

"A mafia is active at Delhi airport"

Parul Sharma

NEW DELHI: An Abu Dhabi-based Indian has claimed that jewellery and diamonds worth Rs.2 lakh were stolen from his family’s luggage at Delhi airport when they were on their way to Abu Dhabi this past month.

Parvez Siddiqui has alleged that two necklaces -- one of diamond and the other golden – apart from four sets of ear-rings, two rings and nose-pins were missing from the luggage when his family reached their Abu Dhabi home.

The theft, the family suspects, took place on January 10 when Mr. Siddiqui’s wife Iffat Jahan, his little daughter Lubna, his brother Arshad and their mother Fakhrun Nisa checked in their luggage at Terminal 2 of Indira Gandhi International Airport here to board an Air India flight to Abu Dhabi.

“I strongly suspect that our baggage was burgled after check-in at the airport. Someone must have detected the presence of jewellery when the luggage was being screened and tipp! ed off the others. When my family reached home, we were shocked to see that only one of the four bags – the one that was carrying the valuables -- was broken,” said Mr. Siddiqui from Abu Dhabi.

“The case carrying the jewellery was also broken and an unidentified cloth had been shoved inside the luggage. It seems to me that a mafia is active at Delhi airport,” he alleged.

A distraught Mr. Siddiqui contacted the Air India office in Abu Dhabi who asked him to get in touch with officials in Delhi.

“I have sent e-mails and faxes to everyone, right from officials in the Union Civil Aviation Ministry in New Delhi to the Airports Authority of India to Delhi International Airport (Private) Limited and Air India. I also wrote to Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel. A senior DIAL official responded to me asking me to take up the matter with Air India General Manager B. Chaturvedi,” he said. In response to his frantic miss! ives, Mr. Siddiqui received an e-mail from Air India Assistant! General Manager S. T. Norbula on behalf of Mr. Chaturvedi stating that the airline had not been able to trace the alleged missing items. Drawing his attention to the notice of “Baggage liability limitation -- Items unacceptable as baggage”, Mr. Norbula said: “The notice printed on the ticket jacket says ‘The passenger shall not include in checked baggage fragile or perishable items, money, jewellery, precious metals, silverware, negotiable papers, securities or other valuables, business documents, passport and other identification documents or samples. Notwithstanding this, we regret the unfortunate incident.”

When contacted, Mr. Norbula refused to comment.

“I have flown so many times with different international airlines but something like this has never happened before. No one seems to be interested in helping us out,” rued Mr. Siddiqui.

By: Terri Toon

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Terri is a fulltime stay at home mother who writes and mystery shops on the side. She has just finished an eBook called "Mystery Shopping Madness" which is on her website. For more legitimate income opportunities you can visit her website at:www.momsmoneymaker-website.com

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/10/stories/2008021057090100.htm
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Tennessee's Parker uncertain for Rutgers

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—As a doctor checked Candace Parker's knee on Friday, the Tennessee star turned to her trainer and mouthed, "Don't count me out for Monday."

A day after Parker bruised her knee in No. 2 Tennessee's 87-69 win over Mississippi State, the 6-foot-4 forward was plotting how she'd prepare for Monday's game against a No. 7 Rutgers team that's rolling off an upset of top-ranked Connecticut.

"I am going to be rehabbing like crazy," she said Friday at practice, where she hobbled around on crutches. "(Tennessee trainer Jenny Moshak) and I are going to be buddies for the next 48 hours and just try to get back."

Coach Pat Summitt is urging caution with the knee that's already undergone two surgeries to repair a torn ligament that Parker suffered in high school and won't decide until Monday if Parker will play.

Parker was one of three Lady Vols to be injured in the scrappy game against the Lady Bulldogs. Freshman guard Angie Bjorklund broke her nose and s! enior forward Alberta Auguste reaggravated a shoulder injury.

Tennessee's schedule doesn't get much easier, with key Southeastern Conference opponents LSU and Vanderbilt up next.

"As big a game as it is to play Rutgers here at home, I'm hopeful that they will be able to play. But if they are not ready, they are not ready, and other people are going to have to step up," Summitt said.

None of the Lady Vols (21-1) are underestimating the stakes of Monday's game, also a rematch of the 2007 national championship game won by Tennessee 59-46. The game will air as part of ESPN2's "Big Monday" broadcast.

"It is a very emotional game for us as well," guard Alexis Hornbuckle said. "They knocked off the number one seed. If we can come in here Monday night and take care of business then we would become the number one seed, so we have a goal in mind as well."

Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer doesn't think Tennessee would be any less dangerous without Parker as other Lady V! ols will jump at a chance to show Summitt they can play just a! s hard a s the star.

But, she also realizes just how important Parker is to women's basketball.

"She is the most versatile player in America, hands down. There has not been a player like her in the past 10 years or 20 years," Stringer said. "She is a game changer, there is no question about it. "

ESPN probably wouldn't mind having the fan favorite and dunking sensation back in the lineup for the broadcast, but said the Tennessee-Rutgers rematch meant more than just one player.

"We are disappointed about Candace Parker's injury, however the rematch of the 2007 national championship game led by two legendary coaches will still be a terrific game for an ESPN2 Big Monday franchise," said Carol Stiff, senior director of programming and acquisition for ESPN.

Doctors will monitor Parker's knee through Monday afternoon as she works with trainers. X-rays showed the ligament didn't sustain any permanent damage and shows no signs of swelling.

"Jenny Moshak is the best in the b! usiness at rehabbing. I told her she is going to earn her money, and she said she would be spending a lot of time with all of them, just trying to get them back and healthy and ready to play," Summitt said.

———

Associated Press Writer Duncan Mansfield in Knoxville and AP Sports Writer Doug Feinberg in Indianapolis contributed to this story.

By: Dan Pine

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Alaska commercial fisherman and entrepreneur Dan Pine works to build a million dollar business in the next three years and wants a few motivated individuals to join the team. Visit www.CreateBuildInnovate.com for a free introdu! ction to a steel-plated business plan.

Source: http://www.denverpost.com/rockies/ci_8209102
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Pictorea Pro Range of Digital Photo Frames Launch in UK

Pictorea Pro Range of Digital Photo Frames Launch in UK

This month sees the launch of an industry-leader in harnessing the realm of Digital Photo Frame technology.

Lincolnshire, UK (PRWEB) February 3, 2008 -- This month sees the launch of an industry-leader in harnessing the realm of Digital Photo Frame technology.

Pictorea digital picture frame products combine the best and most reliable technology currently available with an outstanding sense of elegant design and style. Specializing solely in what are emerging as simply the most versatile and colourful display products currently available for the UK's demanding consumer and business display market, Pictorea provides this standard of product at an affordable price without compromising on quality.

Martin Ford, Head of Operations for Pictorea, sees bright things for the company! 's future in expressing its unique selling point. "The most exciting aspect of Pictorea is that we've already turned heads in the industry, way before our full range is even available for purchase! We really feel we've hit on a niche in this competitive technology market in remembering that these types of products will reside in pride of place within people's homes and offices; in other words, they should not resemble the unsightly products of our competitors, but should instead be as much a stylish and elegant piece of art as the images they will display."

Pictorea is a fantastic example of a UK company utilising the latest in digital display technology, this being even more relevant and impressive in the face of what has previously been a U.S. and eastern-led segment of the consumer electronics market.

Background Information on Pictorea

Pictorea is set to be the UK's leading brand of high-end digital photo frame products, ! by effec tively leveraging the management teams 10years experience in the UK and International computer and consumer electronics markets.

Their mission statement is to provide a high-end standard of product at an affordable price without compromising in any way on quality.

Pictorea is geared towards a wide range of applications also. Customers range from bargain-hunters searching for high quality gifts for the home or office, to the most discerning businesses looking for an entirely unique way to visually showcase their products. Current stockists already include leading online retailers; Udiggit.com, Dabs.com & CPC.co.uk.

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By! : mcomo

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Michael Comeau has been owner of many successful businesses over the years including his current online business which can be viewed at www.workfromhome4dollars.com/ArticleProcessRebates.php You may also find more articles by Michael Comeau at www.workfromhome4dollars.com

Source: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/02/prweb671614.htm
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Trial ordered in Puerto Rico pet deaths

A judge on Wednesday ordered the owner of an animal control company and two of his employees to stand trial for animal cruelty charges for the October massacre of about 80 seized pets that were hurled off a bridge.

Following several days of hearings, Superior Court Judge Nelson Canabal ruled there was sufficient evidence for Julio Diaz, owner of Animal Control Solutions, and the two employees to stand trial.

The killings of pets seized from housing projects brought revulsion around the world and triggered calls for tourist boycotts of this U.S. Caribbean territory.

"At last we are going to see justice in these killings," said Alma Febus, who investigated the case for the territorial government.

Diaz's attorney, Manuel Reyes, said he would appeal the judge's decision.

After the hearing, Diaz blamed the municipality of Barceloneta for seizing the animals and said he didn't know who threw them from the bridge. Only a half-dozen survived the 50-foot! fall, some with serious injuries.

"I will no longer do any animal-related business in Puerto Rico," he said. "We are the only ones who have been blamed. We are innocent."

Municipal officials in Barceloneta, a town along Puerto Rico's north-central coast, said they hired Animal Control Solutions to remove pets from housing projects, believing that regulations banned them. Barceloneta officials said they understood that the company, which drove off with the animals in vans, would take them to shelters.

Instead, they wound up at the bottom of a bridge along a highway that runs between Barceloneta and San Juan.

During Wednesday's hearing, Angel Rafael Sierra recalled rushing home with his young daughters after learning that people were seizing pets at the complex. They found their beloved dog "Tuti" was gone.

Sierra testified that he got in his car and followed a white van, which stopped at a municipality building in Barceloneta. He said he could ! hear dogs barking but was prevented from seeing if Tuti was in! side.

The next day, he discovered Tuti's body beneath the bridge.

"My daughters saw too," Sierra said. "They started crying."

An investigation by The Associated Press later showed that such brutal methods have been routinely used in the killing of thousands of pets and stray animals on this island.

 

By: Lubano Lim

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Source: http://www.macon.com/world//story/260121.html
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Dispute with parts supplier could close up to 14 Chrysler plants

DETROIT (AP) - A dispute between Chrysler LLC and parts supplier Plastech Engineered Products Inc. forced Chrysler to shut down or cancel a shift at five factories Monday, and the automaker said it could idle all 14 of its assembly factories.

Plastech supplies Chrysler with about 500 plastic interior, exterior and powertrain components for nearly all of its vehicles, according to a lawsuit Chrysler filed Friday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Detroit.

The automaker is seeking the tools used by Plastech, which are owned by Chrysler, to make the components. Without the tools, Chrysler says it eventually will have to cease production of vehicles systemwide. Chrysler terminated its contracts with the Dearborn-based supplier on Friday, before Plastech filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

"It takes us out of their computerized system. We couldn't ship anything," he said. "We're willing to do it if they would work with us, but up to now, they have not."
Plastech's contracts with the automaker were worth about $200 million, Plastech spokesman Kelvin Scott said. Plastech does about $1.3 billion in total business, he said.

"We are continuing to supply parts to our other customers, including Ford and GM," he said.

One industry analyst said the production slowdown may be short because Chrysler should have little trouble finding new companies to replace Plastech.

Faced with stiff competition and a shrinking market, many suppliers are willing to take on work if it means getting contracts, said Craig Fitzgerald, a partner in Plante & Moran's Strategy and Global Services Group.

"Suppliers in the tier one to tier four level are severely challenged," Fitzgerald said Monday. "Production values are declining, there is high debt, weak earnings and cash flow, and difficulty in getting credit."

In its lawsuit filed Friday, Chrysler claimed Plastech no longer can meet its production demands.

Mon! day morning, Chrysler announced plans to temporarily close fou! r assemb ly plants and shut down one shift at another, affecting about 10,500 workers.

Plants to be closed are in Sterling Heights, Mich.; Newark, Del.; Toledo, Ohio; and Belvidere, Ill., while the second shift at Toledo Supplier Park in Toledo will be dismissed, the company said.

Of the vehicles made at the four factories to be shut down, the Dodge Durango sport utility vehicle had the lowest supply in January, at 46 days, according to Wards AutoInfoBank. The largest supply is the Jeep Wrangler, at 117 days.

Although Chrysler has an inventory of vehicles made by the plants, it will not benefit from any plant closures, said Aaron Bragman, an auto industry analyst for the consulting company Global Insight.

"When a plant is idle, you're not making any money. You've got people standing around, so it's just a cost," he said.

Auto companies want enough inventory to have a buffer and don't want it to become depleted, Bragman said. Chrysler has reduced its! inventory substantially since it became bloated last year, he said.

Even if Chrysler lays off workers, they would still get most of their pay under their contract with the United Auto Workers.

Overall, the company had 413,874 vehicles in its inventory last month, a 75-day supply, according to Ward's.

The shutdowns are having a ripple effect as auto parts maker Dana Corp. canceled Monday night's second-shift at its modules plant in Toledo. About 150 people work at the plant, which supplies drivetrain parts for Chrysler's Toledo Jeep plant.

Employees at the Sterling Heights stamping plant were sent home early Friday night and after four hours of work Monday, union steward Russell Phillips said.

"We have no extra stock," said Phillips, who adds that Chrysler works on a "just-in-time" policy for parts delivery.

"Most of (the workers) are saying 'this is what they get for not wanting to keep stock in the house,"' Phillips said.

C! hrysler employees will be notified of return-to-work schedules! from pl ant officials or through local media, the automaker said.

Plastech has 36 facilities and 7,600 employees in the United States and Canada.

Engine covers, grill panels, moldings, metal stampings, door panels, floor consoles and safety restraint system components are some of the parts Plastech supplies to Chrysler, Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp., according to the company's Web site.

Ford is not planning any plant closures or shutdowns related to Plastech, Ford spokesman Todd Nissen said.

"We are working with Plastech to ensure there is an adequate supply of parts to our facilities," Nissen said.

Chrysler's work shutdown should last no more than a week or two, Fitzgerald said.

"I think they will not have any problems filling the void," he said. "There is a lot of excess capacity. Chrysler would do everything it can to get up and running."

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Source: http://www.komotv.com/news/business/15282956.html
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