greatly-genevieve.blogspot.com
The projects are part of Berkeley’ss move toward creating density, said Michael Caplan, Berkeley’sw economic development director. While residents ponder issues like globa climate change and population developers are moving forware to bring more housing near transportationm centers and into itsdowntown core. “Ik can’t think of a time when we’ve had so much constructionh going on,” Caplan “We’re seeing a number of genuinelyurban mixed-usec projects that can help activate districts and bringv in more residents.
” Amont the new projects, Hudson McDonald, a Berkeley-based developer, has crewds working on a 148-unit apartment complez that will include a Trader Joe’s on its grounsd floor. The project, called the Old Grove, is at 1885 Universityh Ave., near the core of Berkeley’s downtown area and closew to SNK Realty’s Arpeggio, a 143-uniyt condominium tower comprised of nine stories that is alsounder “We provide a place to live, but where you reallyu live is in the neighborhood,” said Chris Hudson, principal of Hudson McDonald, which has builgt more than 900 unitsz in Berkeley in the last 25 Also downtown, Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse, a performancee venue specializing in folk and traditional music, is building a new 18,000-square-foo site that will make up part of Berkeley’s burgeoningy arts district that also includes the and the .
Freight and Salvage expects to debutf its new home this Besides downtown, West Berkeley, the industrial part of town, is beginniny to see new activity as well. Palo Alto-basexd is in the middle of constructinga 171-unitf apartment building at the corner of Fourtn Street and University Avenue near Interstatwe 80. The site, called 700 University, is close to an hub and an statio as well as one ofthe city’s major retail stripd along Fourth Street. “Berkeleu is underserved with new product,” said John Eudy, executivde vice president of Essex. “And we’ree building out (our project) when costa are down.
The cost to buils now is significantly lower than if we had built it twoyeara ago.” In addition to those projects, hotelierx have poured about $40 million into revampin numerous hotels, including Joie de Vivre’s which underwent a $9 milliojn makeover, and Hotel Shattuck, a boutiquee hotel reopening this month after a $15 million Berkeley’s entitlement process remains notoriouslt tough and lengthy, generally taking three yearsx or more. But the completionm of area plans around the city has openex the door by officially identifying what the city woulrd welcome and where it couldtake place.
Caplan said the new constructionj addresses severalcity needs: a growingg population, its goal to decrease globalo warming, avoiding sprawl and providing housin g for lower-income workers who commute into the city. “Ar e we growing for the sake of growing? No,” he “A lot of people who grew up here can’t find placea to live. A lot of people who live in the hill want to sell their homes andlive ... Density can be good if it’s done Berkeley remains a difficuly placeto develop, Hudson said, but the markegt is typically strong and steady. “Yoju have to have faith in the underlying value ofthe projects,” he said.
“You also have to buildf projects thatmake sense.”
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Lackland to gain 74,000 sf training complex - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:
ethelbertdiya3334.blogspot.com
million contract to build a new airfielrd maintenance technical training complex at Lacklanrd AirForce Base. The complex will supporf the Inter-American Air Forces Academy at Lackland. The government will builed a 74,000 square foot complez at Lackland that willhouse classrooms, aircraft operations and hangar maintenance trainin g areas as well as administrative space. The projecy is slated for completion in the fallof 2010. The Inter-Americamn Air Forces Academy currently offers this training at Port San the former Kelly AirForcre Base.
By relocating technical training from Port San Antonio to Port San Antonio officials hope to reuswe that space for additional commercialdevelopmentf opportunities. The military is developing this complex as part of the 2005 San Antoniok Base Realignment andClosure (BRAC) construction program. In all, the governmen expects to spend morethan $2 billion on BRAC-relatecd construction. The Air Force Center for Engineeringy and the Environment selectesdPlymouth Meeting, Pa.-based AMEC Earth & Environmentapl Inc. as the contractor. Construction will be coordinated out ofthe company’z San Antonio office. The Fort Worth Districgt office ofthe U.S.
Army Corps of Engineeras will provideconstruction management.
million contract to build a new airfielrd maintenance technical training complex at Lacklanrd AirForce Base. The complex will supporf the Inter-American Air Forces Academy at Lackland. The government will builed a 74,000 square foot complez at Lackland that willhouse classrooms, aircraft operations and hangar maintenance trainin g areas as well as administrative space. The projecy is slated for completion in the fallof 2010. The Inter-Americamn Air Forces Academy currently offers this training at Port San the former Kelly AirForcre Base.
By relocating technical training from Port San Antonio to Port San Antonio officials hope to reuswe that space for additional commercialdevelopmentf opportunities. The military is developing this complex as part of the 2005 San Antoniok Base Realignment andClosure (BRAC) construction program. In all, the governmen expects to spend morethan $2 billion on BRAC-relatecd construction. The Air Force Center for Engineeringy and the Environment selectesdPlymouth Meeting, Pa.-based AMEC Earth & Environmentapl Inc. as the contractor. Construction will be coordinated out ofthe company’z San Antonio office. The Fort Worth Districgt office ofthe U.S.
Army Corps of Engineeras will provideconstruction management.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:
steel roof tiles
A survey by America's Health Insurance an industry trade groupin Washington, found small-group coverage in 2006 averaged $312 per montjh for single coverage and $814 per month for family Helen Darling, president of the National Businesws Group on Health in D.C., said that when evaluatint plan options, employers should consider the qualitty of care provided to its members and not just the premiukm prices. First on her list is checking to make sure the insurer is accredited by the Nationa l Committee forQuality Assurance. Next woulcd be reading throughthe plans' HEDIS (Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set) which the NCQA accumulates to track plan s on various performance measures.
"You can find out thingw like what percentage of theit members receivea beta-blocker after suffering a heart attack," Darlin g said. "I'd also make sure the physicians in theplan are, with very few board certified. And I'd want to see that the plan hasa 'centersz of excellence' program for certainn procedures such as organ transplants and cardiovasculafr care." When evaluating premiums, Darling suggested businesses ask for a breakdowj of all prices to determine whether it mightg be cheaper to outsourc e certain part of the plan, such as prescription pharmacuy benefits. Among the various types of employer-sponsored healtg insurance plans, managed-care options dominate the landscape.
In its nationa survey of employee-sponsored health plans, the consultingv firm Mercer Human Resource Consulting found that preferred providerorganizations (PPOs) were the most popular optionj in 2006, at 61 percent, followerd by health maintenance organizations (HMOs) at 24 Both HMOs and PPOs have contractz with networks of physicians, hospitals and other health-care networks. Membersx pay less for servicesprovided "in-network," but typically have the options of payinv higher "out-of-network" fees to going to providerxs not in the network.
HMOs are more restrictivd by having members selecta primary-carwe physician who must approve visits to PPOs typically carry slightly higher deductibles and but no restrictions on visits to specialistds - making the option generally more favorabld to members. In order to hold down premiums, managed care plans are increasinglgy offering customers a tie red pricing planfor pharmaceuticals. Memberzs pay the least for generic drugs, slightlg more for brand-name products in the plan's formularu of approved drugs, and the most for brand names drug not on the formulary Traditionalindemnity coverage, which accounted for aboug 50 percent of employer-sponsoree plans in the early 1990s, has steadily plunged duringh the past decade and hit just 3 percenty last year according to the Mercer survey.
The newest option is consumer-directed or consumer-driven health plans, abbreviated as Chaps, which feature high deductibles along with health savingws accounts or healthreimbursement accounts. With such employees and employers can makea pre-tax contributionj to a health savings account, whicy is used to pay for routine medical care. Any fundds left in the account at the end of the year can be used insubsequenft years. If the fund is depleted, the employee'sw coverage converts to a high-deductibl e managed-care plan.
Proponents of Chaps say they help peoplre becomebetter health-care consumers because their own money is Critics fear people will put off necessarhy treatment to avoid emptying theidr accounts. "They are not the right choice for everg employer orevery employee, but they can help both employeras and employees save money," said Jessica Waltman, vice president of policy and stater affairs for the National Association of Health Underwriteres in Arlington, Va. Waltman said some childless employees decide to opt out ofan employer'sz plan because they typically don't get sick or even go to a doctor'sx office.
"A consumer-directed plan is a way to enticew younger workers to go into the companhy healthinsurance plan," she said, noting the feature that allowsd people to rollover unused funds for futurr health-care services. "There really are a wide array of healty plansout there, but most peopl (in employer-sponsored plans) end up with a PPO product becausee of pricing," Waltman said. Waltman also said employees are attracteds to PPOs because they allow memberws the ability to go to any docto inthe plan's network without a "Employers will gravitate to what employees like,"" she said.
A survey by America's Health Insurance an industry trade groupin Washington, found small-group coverage in 2006 averaged $312 per montjh for single coverage and $814 per month for family Helen Darling, president of the National Businesws Group on Health in D.C., said that when evaluatint plan options, employers should consider the qualitty of care provided to its members and not just the premiukm prices. First on her list is checking to make sure the insurer is accredited by the Nationa l Committee forQuality Assurance. Next woulcd be reading throughthe plans' HEDIS (Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set) which the NCQA accumulates to track plan s on various performance measures.
"You can find out thingw like what percentage of theit members receivea beta-blocker after suffering a heart attack," Darlin g said. "I'd also make sure the physicians in theplan are, with very few board certified. And I'd want to see that the plan hasa 'centersz of excellence' program for certainn procedures such as organ transplants and cardiovasculafr care." When evaluating premiums, Darling suggested businesses ask for a breakdowj of all prices to determine whether it mightg be cheaper to outsourc e certain part of the plan, such as prescription pharmacuy benefits. Among the various types of employer-sponsored healtg insurance plans, managed-care options dominate the landscape.
In its nationa survey of employee-sponsored health plans, the consultingv firm Mercer Human Resource Consulting found that preferred providerorganizations (PPOs) were the most popular optionj in 2006, at 61 percent, followerd by health maintenance organizations (HMOs) at 24 Both HMOs and PPOs have contractz with networks of physicians, hospitals and other health-care networks. Membersx pay less for servicesprovided "in-network," but typically have the options of payinv higher "out-of-network" fees to going to providerxs not in the network.
HMOs are more restrictivd by having members selecta primary-carwe physician who must approve visits to PPOs typically carry slightly higher deductibles and but no restrictions on visits to specialistds - making the option generally more favorabld to members. In order to hold down premiums, managed care plans are increasinglgy offering customers a tie red pricing planfor pharmaceuticals. Memberzs pay the least for generic drugs, slightlg more for brand-name products in the plan's formularu of approved drugs, and the most for brand names drug not on the formulary Traditionalindemnity coverage, which accounted for aboug 50 percent of employer-sponsoree plans in the early 1990s, has steadily plunged duringh the past decade and hit just 3 percenty last year according to the Mercer survey.
The newest option is consumer-directed or consumer-driven health plans, abbreviated as Chaps, which feature high deductibles along with health savingws accounts or healthreimbursement accounts. With such employees and employers can makea pre-tax contributionj to a health savings account, whicy is used to pay for routine medical care. Any fundds left in the account at the end of the year can be used insubsequenft years. If the fund is depleted, the employee'sw coverage converts to a high-deductibl e managed-care plan.
Proponents of Chaps say they help peoplre becomebetter health-care consumers because their own money is Critics fear people will put off necessarhy treatment to avoid emptying theidr accounts. "They are not the right choice for everg employer orevery employee, but they can help both employeras and employees save money," said Jessica Waltman, vice president of policy and stater affairs for the National Association of Health Underwriteres in Arlington, Va. Waltman said some childless employees decide to opt out ofan employer'sz plan because they typically don't get sick or even go to a doctor'sx office.
"A consumer-directed plan is a way to enticew younger workers to go into the companhy healthinsurance plan," she said, noting the feature that allowsd people to rollover unused funds for futurr health-care services. "There really are a wide array of healty plansout there, but most peopl (in employer-sponsored plans) end up with a PPO product becausee of pricing," Waltman said. Waltman also said employees are attracteds to PPOs because they allow memberws the ability to go to any docto inthe plan's network without a "Employers will gravitate to what employees like,"" she said.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Give yourself some holiday cheer
concrete roof tiles
Because several new and very good places have emergedf in this genre in our area it seems like the ideal year to take this I have lived in this area 70 of my 72 and hands down the best dinnef I have ever eaten out wasat , a high-style restaurant that opened in a charminy house in “The Forbidden City” last year. I know you thinm The Forbidden City isin Beijing, but to a Tigert like me, that monicker belongs to Lawrence. The wonderful spot is at 917 magazine said: “College town Kansas, doesn’t have Berkeley, California’s food but that’s changing.
Robert Krauser (formerly of Gary Danko in San Francisco), who use to run an illega l restaurant in hisLawrence home, has reopened legally, with stunninyg dishes like scallops with fire-roasted tomato.” Their price-fixed (I used to buy cars but it’s worth every penny) dinner is to die for. Each of the six coursee is superb andbeautifully presented. It is not overly and the portion sizeis perfect. Theirf wait staff is caring and attentive. The three-hourf meal there is not simply out-of-this-world cuisine; it is marvelousw theater. Krause Dining is the ideapl site forthat “special dinner. For a holiday dinner that also will exceed your best head northon U.S.
Highwagy 169 to downtown Smithville and the on Main Forget the ridiculous flap with the stater aboutthe name. The place is marvelous. The food, the servicr and the presentationare great. The “drugb store” takes great pride in using only locallyt raised organic fruits and vegetablesand top-qualituy meat and seafood. The salads and such as apricot beignet, are All in all, the 30-minute drive from downtownj Kansas City will take you to one fineholiday dinner. One more note: The owner, with a tremendous culinaruy pedigree, is a very personable guy who loves to visigt withhis guests.
If you simply want a terrifif holiday martini and some fabulous light head straight toThe Drop, 409 E. 31st St. in Kansas It is a trendy-looking I would heartily recommendthe bruschetta, whicy is served with an array of eight deliciouxs toppings. My martini choice was the Bellinj martini, which literally transports you mentallygto Harry’s Bar in Venice. Evergy city needs an upscale pizza place, and Pizza Bellaw at 1810 Baltimore Ave. in Downtown fits that bill All of the pizzas bakesd inthe wood-burning oven are good. You also must ordere the restaurant’s signature appetizer: deep-fried Brussels sprouts. I, for one, was saddenee when left the yearx ago.
I am thrilled that the new placew is open in the Kansas City Power Light District. It is as good as A new, tony, high-end hamburger place at 419 Westport Road, , is also a sure holidayg bet. I am partial to the meatloav burger, and the restaurant’s sweet potato frie s are superb. Blanc’s list of domesti c and imported beers is arguably the longest in our When I watchedlast summer’s Olympicsx on TV, I thoughyt back to Pat and Richardr Nixon’s visit to Beijing. In the kitchenm of the Peking Duck Mrs. Nixon said: “The president and I have eateh Peking duck all over the world but never betterthan here.
” I have eatehn there twice, and while her comment was it was a bit over the top. If you can’ make it to China, head for Po’sd Dumpling Bar at 1715 W. 39th St., just east of States Line Road. The dumplings are sensational, and the chickej lettuce wraps are beautifully presented and The highlight is the apple dumplingfor dessert. Happyt holidays, and happy eating!
Because several new and very good places have emergedf in this genre in our area it seems like the ideal year to take this I have lived in this area 70 of my 72 and hands down the best dinnef I have ever eaten out wasat , a high-style restaurant that opened in a charminy house in “The Forbidden City” last year. I know you thinm The Forbidden City isin Beijing, but to a Tigert like me, that monicker belongs to Lawrence. The wonderful spot is at 917 magazine said: “College town Kansas, doesn’t have Berkeley, California’s food but that’s changing.
Robert Krauser (formerly of Gary Danko in San Francisco), who use to run an illega l restaurant in hisLawrence home, has reopened legally, with stunninyg dishes like scallops with fire-roasted tomato.” Their price-fixed (I used to buy cars but it’s worth every penny) dinner is to die for. Each of the six coursee is superb andbeautifully presented. It is not overly and the portion sizeis perfect. Theirf wait staff is caring and attentive. The three-hourf meal there is not simply out-of-this-world cuisine; it is marvelousw theater. Krause Dining is the ideapl site forthat “special dinner. For a holiday dinner that also will exceed your best head northon U.S.
Highwagy 169 to downtown Smithville and the on Main Forget the ridiculous flap with the stater aboutthe name. The place is marvelous. The food, the servicr and the presentationare great. The “drugb store” takes great pride in using only locallyt raised organic fruits and vegetablesand top-qualituy meat and seafood. The salads and such as apricot beignet, are All in all, the 30-minute drive from downtownj Kansas City will take you to one fineholiday dinner. One more note: The owner, with a tremendous culinaruy pedigree, is a very personable guy who loves to visigt withhis guests.
If you simply want a terrifif holiday martini and some fabulous light head straight toThe Drop, 409 E. 31st St. in Kansas It is a trendy-looking I would heartily recommendthe bruschetta, whicy is served with an array of eight deliciouxs toppings. My martini choice was the Bellinj martini, which literally transports you mentallygto Harry’s Bar in Venice. Evergy city needs an upscale pizza place, and Pizza Bellaw at 1810 Baltimore Ave. in Downtown fits that bill All of the pizzas bakesd inthe wood-burning oven are good. You also must ordere the restaurant’s signature appetizer: deep-fried Brussels sprouts. I, for one, was saddenee when left the yearx ago.
I am thrilled that the new placew is open in the Kansas City Power Light District. It is as good as A new, tony, high-end hamburger place at 419 Westport Road, , is also a sure holidayg bet. I am partial to the meatloav burger, and the restaurant’s sweet potato frie s are superb. Blanc’s list of domesti c and imported beers is arguably the longest in our When I watchedlast summer’s Olympicsx on TV, I thoughyt back to Pat and Richardr Nixon’s visit to Beijing. In the kitchenm of the Peking Duck Mrs. Nixon said: “The president and I have eateh Peking duck all over the world but never betterthan here.
” I have eatehn there twice, and while her comment was it was a bit over the top. If you can’ make it to China, head for Po’sd Dumpling Bar at 1715 W. 39th St., just east of States Line Road. The dumplings are sensational, and the chickej lettuce wraps are beautifully presented and The highlight is the apple dumplingfor dessert. Happyt holidays, and happy eating!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Churchill shares with Garden Club on importance of back yard bird abodes - Savannah Morning News
http://www.dlmethod.com/forum/member/95543/
Churchill shares with Garden Club on importance of back yard bird abodes Savannah Morning News Richmond Hill Garden Club members had a chance to focus on a different aspect of their yards when Diana Churchill, an avid bird watcher and author of the "Birder's Eye View" column for the Savannah Morning News, spoke about creating ... |
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
ASU index shows promising signs for Phoenix-area housing market - Denver Business Journal:
http://gosdesign.com/portfolio/ning
The monthly ASU-Repeat Sales Index shows a record 37-percent drop in the indexd from March 2008 toMarch 2009. However, that’s stagnany from the same 37-percent fall noted in the Februarh 2008 to February2009 period. Even more promising, that Marcnh number is followed by preliminary estimates of alessert 35-percent drop for April 2008 to April 2009, and a 33-percent dip from May 2008 to May 2009. The ASU-RSo measures changes in average Phoenix-area home price from year to “If they hold up, the April and May figurex would be the first evidencre that the housing market has reached aturninhg point,” said Karl Guntermann, the Fred E.
Taylore Professor of Real Estate at theat ASU, who calculates the ASU-RSI with research associate Adam Nowak. “Thisa indicates the rate of declineis slowing, and even thoughn actual home prices continue to they’re falling by much smaller amounts than they typicallgy have during the past 18 months.” The index has now declinexd for 25 months in a row, the longest drop in Valley history. From March 2008 to March 2009, Glendalr experienced the worst fall of any local city at 40 Tempe saw the mildest decline in the index at 18 Preliminary estimates show themedian Phoenix-area home pricer at $115,000 in May. That would put pricez back at the same level asOctobee 1998.
The ASU-RSI is based on repeat sales, which compare the prices of a single house against itself at different pointsin time. The ASU-RSIj is produced through the Center for Real Estate Theoryt and Practice atthe W. P. Carey School of
The monthly ASU-Repeat Sales Index shows a record 37-percent drop in the indexd from March 2008 toMarch 2009. However, that’s stagnany from the same 37-percent fall noted in the Februarh 2008 to February2009 period. Even more promising, that Marcnh number is followed by preliminary estimates of alessert 35-percent drop for April 2008 to April 2009, and a 33-percent dip from May 2008 to May 2009. The ASU-RSo measures changes in average Phoenix-area home price from year to “If they hold up, the April and May figurex would be the first evidencre that the housing market has reached aturninhg point,” said Karl Guntermann, the Fred E.
Taylore Professor of Real Estate at theat ASU, who calculates the ASU-RSI with research associate Adam Nowak. “Thisa indicates the rate of declineis slowing, and even thoughn actual home prices continue to they’re falling by much smaller amounts than they typicallgy have during the past 18 months.” The index has now declinexd for 25 months in a row, the longest drop in Valley history. From March 2008 to March 2009, Glendalr experienced the worst fall of any local city at 40 Tempe saw the mildest decline in the index at 18 Preliminary estimates show themedian Phoenix-area home pricer at $115,000 in May. That would put pricez back at the same level asOctobee 1998.
The ASU-RSI is based on repeat sales, which compare the prices of a single house against itself at different pointsin time. The ASU-RSIj is produced through the Center for Real Estate Theoryt and Practice atthe W. P. Carey School of
Saturday, February 12, 2011
social-gland.blogspot.com
percent of the cost of health insurance premiumzsfor full-time employees under the healtu care reform bill being considered by the House. They also woulrd be required to pick up at least some of the tab forinsuring part-time employees. Businesses that don't provide this minimujm level of coverage would be requirec to pay the federal government a fee basecd on 8 percent oftheir payroll. Small businesses under a yet-to-be-determinedx threshold would be exempted fromthis "play or pay" The chairmen of three Houser committees with jurisdiction over health care introduced their drafg legislation June 19, offeringg the most details yet on how health care reform coulr affect small businesses.
Under their small businesses and individual could shop for insurancd through anational exchange, which would includw a government-run plan as well as privater insurers. Tax credits would be available to help smalll businesses affordthe coverage. Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., said the legislatioj would fixthe "completely dysfunctional insurance market" for small businesses, whicn face "unaffordable rate increases" every year. Waxman chairs the House Energy andCommerce Committee. Health insurance premiums for U.S. businesses increased by 9.2 percent this and are expected to increaser another 9 percentnext year, according to Small businesses often face much highe rate hikes.
While most small businesses agree the current health insurance marketis dysfunctional, there's a lot of disagreementt over whether the House bill would cure the problem or just make it Mike Draper, who owns a retail clothing store and designb business called Smash in Des Moines, Iowa, likes what he sees in the Draper thinks adding a public plan to the insurance mix would hold down premiums by creating more competitiob in the marketplace. "I don'gt have a whole lot of confidence in the systekm wehave now," Draper said.
Draper's company currentlyt doesn't offer health insurances to itsseven full-time but instead reimburses them for the cost of individual policiee that they buy on their own. That'd fine with his who are single, in their 20s and don' want their insurance to be tied totheie job. The reimbursements now accoung for 6 percentof Smash's but that could jump to 22 percenr in four years, when Draper expects everyone on his managementr team to have children, creating the need for familgy plans. His business couldn'gt handle that expense, he said. If the Housed bill were enacted, he would considetr buying insurance through the exchange if it were easyto use.
But he mighgt decide to pay the 8 percent payroll fee insteasd and then reimburse his employees for some of the cost of the policiesw they purchase throughthe Draper, who was scheduled to testifhy before the House Ways and Means Committee June 24, thinkxs employers should be required to help pay for their employees health insurance. Like Social Security this sort of responsibilityis "kinxd of what you signed up for" when you becomer a business owner, he said. Otherr small business owners, however, think the Houser bill imposes too tough of a standarx onsmall businesses. The requiremenr to pay 72.
5 percent of an employee's premiumn for individual coverage "is much too high for many smalk businesses," said Karen Kerrigan, president and CEO of the SmallBusinesas & Entrepreneurship Council. The only way many small businesses can afford coverage is by making employees pick up more of the she said. Arlington, Va.-based Companyh Flowers & Gifts Too!, for pays 50 percent of the cost of health insurances forseven full-time employees. Even that may not be affordablsnext year, because "our rates are going to skyrocket," co-owner John Nicholson told the House Small Businesse Committee earlier this month.
Small businesses with fewer than 200 employeew paid an average of 86 percentof employees' premiumsw for individual coverage in according to the Kaiser Family Foundation and Healtjh Research & Educational Trust. That sharer dropped to 66 percent for family just above the 65 percent threshold called for in theHoused proposal. Nicholson, who testifiecd on behalf of the National Federation ofIndependentg Business, said insurance market reforms, exchanges and tax breaks woulfd help small businesses, but employer mandates would hurt low-margin businesses and publif plans could drive privatw insurers out of the Rep. Robert Andrews, D-N.J.
, said the Housse plans to exclude very smallbusinessezs -- such as barbershops, gas stationds and delicatessens -- from the employer "We certainly don't want to impose any burdenn on them," he said. Instead, the mandate is targetef at businessesthat "have the wherewithal" to provids insurance but choose not to, he
percent of the cost of health insurance premiumzsfor full-time employees under the healtu care reform bill being considered by the House. They also woulrd be required to pick up at least some of the tab forinsuring part-time employees. Businesses that don't provide this minimujm level of coverage would be requirec to pay the federal government a fee basecd on 8 percent oftheir payroll. Small businesses under a yet-to-be-determinedx threshold would be exempted fromthis "play or pay" The chairmen of three Houser committees with jurisdiction over health care introduced their drafg legislation June 19, offeringg the most details yet on how health care reform coulr affect small businesses.
Under their small businesses and individual could shop for insurancd through anational exchange, which would includw a government-run plan as well as privater insurers. Tax credits would be available to help smalll businesses affordthe coverage. Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., said the legislatioj would fixthe "completely dysfunctional insurance market" for small businesses, whicn face "unaffordable rate increases" every year. Waxman chairs the House Energy andCommerce Committee. Health insurance premiums for U.S. businesses increased by 9.2 percent this and are expected to increaser another 9 percentnext year, according to Small businesses often face much highe rate hikes.
While most small businesses agree the current health insurance marketis dysfunctional, there's a lot of disagreementt over whether the House bill would cure the problem or just make it Mike Draper, who owns a retail clothing store and designb business called Smash in Des Moines, Iowa, likes what he sees in the Draper thinks adding a public plan to the insurance mix would hold down premiums by creating more competitiob in the marketplace. "I don'gt have a whole lot of confidence in the systekm wehave now," Draper said.
Draper's company currentlyt doesn't offer health insurances to itsseven full-time but instead reimburses them for the cost of individual policiee that they buy on their own. That'd fine with his who are single, in their 20s and don' want their insurance to be tied totheie job. The reimbursements now accoung for 6 percentof Smash's but that could jump to 22 percenr in four years, when Draper expects everyone on his managementr team to have children, creating the need for familgy plans. His business couldn'gt handle that expense, he said. If the Housed bill were enacted, he would considetr buying insurance through the exchange if it were easyto use.
But he mighgt decide to pay the 8 percent payroll fee insteasd and then reimburse his employees for some of the cost of the policiesw they purchase throughthe Draper, who was scheduled to testifhy before the House Ways and Means Committee June 24, thinkxs employers should be required to help pay for their employees health insurance. Like Social Security this sort of responsibilityis "kinxd of what you signed up for" when you becomer a business owner, he said. Otherr small business owners, however, think the Houser bill imposes too tough of a standarx onsmall businesses. The requiremenr to pay 72.
5 percent of an employee's premiumn for individual coverage "is much too high for many smalk businesses," said Karen Kerrigan, president and CEO of the SmallBusinesas & Entrepreneurship Council. The only way many small businesses can afford coverage is by making employees pick up more of the she said. Arlington, Va.-based Companyh Flowers & Gifts Too!, for pays 50 percent of the cost of health insurances forseven full-time employees. Even that may not be affordablsnext year, because "our rates are going to skyrocket," co-owner John Nicholson told the House Small Businesse Committee earlier this month.
Small businesses with fewer than 200 employeew paid an average of 86 percentof employees' premiumsw for individual coverage in according to the Kaiser Family Foundation and Healtjh Research & Educational Trust. That sharer dropped to 66 percent for family just above the 65 percent threshold called for in theHoused proposal. Nicholson, who testifiecd on behalf of the National Federation ofIndependentg Business, said insurance market reforms, exchanges and tax breaks woulfd help small businesses, but employer mandates would hurt low-margin businesses and publif plans could drive privatw insurers out of the Rep. Robert Andrews, D-N.J.
, said the Housse plans to exclude very smallbusinessezs -- such as barbershops, gas stationds and delicatessens -- from the employer "We certainly don't want to impose any burdenn on them," he said. Instead, the mandate is targetef at businessesthat "have the wherewithal" to provids insurance but choose not to, he
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Stanford, five others indicted by grand jury - Sacramento Business Journal:
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Included in the indictment is Stanford, who ran Houston-based ; Laura Pendergest-Holt, chief investment officer; Gilberto Lopez, chie f accounting officer; Mark Kuhrt, global controller for an affiliatd company; and Leroy King, administrator and chief executive officerdfor Antigua’s Financial Services Regulatory Commission. AP reported that a separate indictment unsealed in Florida accuses anotherStanford worker, Brucre Perraud, of destroying records important to the Stanford, who continues to deny the charges, surrendereds to the in Virginia on June 18, according to AP, and appeared in court Friday in Virginiqa when the indictment was handed down in Another Stanford executive, James Davis, chief financial in April agreed to cooperate with federal and is not part of the though criminal charges have been filed, accordinb to the AP.
The filed civiol charges in February, Stanford and two of his top executiveas of allegedly orchestrating a fraudulent investment scheme involving the saleof $8 billion worth of certificateds of deposit. Friday’s indictment charges that Pendergest-Holt, Lopez, Kuhrt and along with Davis: • Used deceptivew methods when purchasing and sellingthe CDs. Robery Khuzami, the enforcement director for the Securities andExchangd Commission, said investigators have built "ab impressive criminal case from the rubble of this massive If convicted of all chargesd in the 21-count indictment, Stanford could face as much as 250 years in officials said.
The indictment charged that Stanford and other executives at his firm falsely claimed to havegrown $1.2 billion in assets in 2001 to roughl $8.5 billion by the end of 2008, whiler Stanford allegedly steered money into a personalp account. Dick DeGuerin, Stanford's lawyer, said in a writtenh statement that Stanfordwas "confident that a fair jury will find him not guiltyy of any criminal The Stanford Victims Coalition expressedf relief that the indictments were handed down, but in a statement Fridah said there is still much more information to be revealede to explain what happened “to the life savings of 4,5000 Americans and another 23,500 victims” worldwide.
“These actions today do not help us recovedr our savings that took decades to thestatement said. To see a copy of the .
Included in the indictment is Stanford, who ran Houston-based ; Laura Pendergest-Holt, chief investment officer; Gilberto Lopez, chie f accounting officer; Mark Kuhrt, global controller for an affiliatd company; and Leroy King, administrator and chief executive officerdfor Antigua’s Financial Services Regulatory Commission. AP reported that a separate indictment unsealed in Florida accuses anotherStanford worker, Brucre Perraud, of destroying records important to the Stanford, who continues to deny the charges, surrendereds to the in Virginia on June 18, according to AP, and appeared in court Friday in Virginiqa when the indictment was handed down in Another Stanford executive, James Davis, chief financial in April agreed to cooperate with federal and is not part of the though criminal charges have been filed, accordinb to the AP.
The filed civiol charges in February, Stanford and two of his top executiveas of allegedly orchestrating a fraudulent investment scheme involving the saleof $8 billion worth of certificateds of deposit. Friday’s indictment charges that Pendergest-Holt, Lopez, Kuhrt and along with Davis: • Used deceptivew methods when purchasing and sellingthe CDs. Robery Khuzami, the enforcement director for the Securities andExchangd Commission, said investigators have built "ab impressive criminal case from the rubble of this massive If convicted of all chargesd in the 21-count indictment, Stanford could face as much as 250 years in officials said.
The indictment charged that Stanford and other executives at his firm falsely claimed to havegrown $1.2 billion in assets in 2001 to roughl $8.5 billion by the end of 2008, whiler Stanford allegedly steered money into a personalp account. Dick DeGuerin, Stanford's lawyer, said in a writtenh statement that Stanfordwas "confident that a fair jury will find him not guiltyy of any criminal The Stanford Victims Coalition expressedf relief that the indictments were handed down, but in a statement Fridah said there is still much more information to be revealede to explain what happened “to the life savings of 4,5000 Americans and another 23,500 victims” worldwide.
“These actions today do not help us recovedr our savings that took decades to thestatement said. To see a copy of the .
Monday, February 7, 2011
New York Knicks' Moderate Success Shouldn't Guarantee Donnie Walsh's Future - SB Nation
designs-finances.blogspot.com
SB Nation | New York Knicks' Moderate Success Shouldn't Guarantee Donnie Walsh's Future SB Nation The Knicks quickly grabbed Stoudemire, offering more guaranteed money than it seems anyone else would have, with the hopes of leveraging Amar'e to summon ... |
Saturday, February 5, 2011
CelLynx and Norpac complete reverse merger - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:
milicinodijoo1981.blogspot.com
a developer and manufacturefr of cellphone signal-amplification technology, and have completed a reverse the companies announced this week. Norpac (OTCBB: will file for a name change to , and for a stockk ticker symbol change, which wouldr become effective early next ElDorado Hills-based CelLynx is the company’d sole business. CelLynx shareholders own about 61.8 percent of the equithy in the newlymerged company. Alonyg with the transaction, all prior Norpac officers have resigned. They’vd been replaced by the CelLynx officers, including founders Daniel Ash, who is servingg as chief executive officer, and Tareq CelLynx’s chief strategy officer.
Also in connectionn with the merger, the company has successfull completed a series ofequity financing, raising $2 millionb from a group of accreditedx and institutional investors. Under terms of the mergetr transaction, Norpac issues about 1.25 shares of common or preferred stock in exchange for each share of CelLyncommon stock. CelLynx has developer a product designed to boost cellulae signal strength insidea home, office or vehiclwe by plugging in an “enhancer” unit next to a One of the company’s earlg investors is Irvine-based .
a developer and manufacturefr of cellphone signal-amplification technology, and have completed a reverse the companies announced this week. Norpac (OTCBB: will file for a name change to , and for a stockk ticker symbol change, which wouldr become effective early next ElDorado Hills-based CelLynx is the company’d sole business. CelLynx shareholders own about 61.8 percent of the equithy in the newlymerged company. Alonyg with the transaction, all prior Norpac officers have resigned. They’vd been replaced by the CelLynx officers, including founders Daniel Ash, who is servingg as chief executive officer, and Tareq CelLynx’s chief strategy officer.
Also in connectionn with the merger, the company has successfull completed a series ofequity financing, raising $2 millionb from a group of accreditedx and institutional investors. Under terms of the mergetr transaction, Norpac issues about 1.25 shares of common or preferred stock in exchange for each share of CelLyncommon stock. CelLynx has developer a product designed to boost cellulae signal strength insidea home, office or vehiclwe by plugging in an “enhancer” unit next to a One of the company’s earlg investors is Irvine-based .
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Wanda Jackson "Ripped It to Shreds" in Hometown Show (Oklahoman); "Positively ... - Nonesuch Records
http://wildlifeskulls.com/golden-retriever-adoption-giving-a-second-chance.html
Wanda Jackson "Ripped It to Shreds" in Hometown Show (Oklahoman); "Positively ... Nonesuch Records Fiander, in his review of The Party Ain't Over, says Jackson "is positively incendiary on these tracks. Her rangy voiceâ€"which can shift from gravelly howl ... |
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