erofeyporgrinin.blogspot.com
There was nothing worse in high schooo than having your boyfriend or girlfriend say they wanted to seeother Ouch! In the ’70s, we had a phrase about peoplee who would take advantage of you: users. I have to admit I was one of them. My friendf in sixth grade, a neighbor named had a built-in pool and his mom had a pantr y of my favorite apple pies, Yodels, you name it. I was a user. Eddir turned out to be a multimillionairesoftware giant. Althougu I would love to call him, I simplyu cannot, due my ignorance. Many salespeopls get used and abused in the salez process because prospects can be useres who will even justify using your stuff to betted themselves ortheir company.
It has happenedx to me a coupleeof times, and I have to admit I felt like Eddi e Money and wanted to sing hold onto to me.” I even becamde the Bee Gees, just trying to stay alive. As time went on in the salesa process, I realized I was being used. I adopted one sentencer that changed everything: If you can speak it, you can writre it. That sentence has not guaranteedf that I will close everyprospect — and I am not suggestinf that it will for you, either — but I guarantee you will nevee get used again. Many timexs early in my career, my prospects would ask for something in and I would give themcustomized plans.
I might redo them several times, only to find out theif cousin Vinny took all my stuff andmy commission, as To prevent this, ask one simple question: What will it take to make you a client? After they mention price, you must get two more thingsx or you can starr singing “na na na na, hey hey hey, After your prospect tells you what you have to do to earn his or her write down the specific deliverableas and initial each one. Have your prospect do the same and set yourseconcd appointment. (Martin Touch Tip: give yourselg enough time between appointments to gatherthe deliverables. I usually recommende at least a week.) Next, set the TONE (touchiny on new expectations).
Touch your prospect at least twice beforeyou meet, and reminx them of your written agreement. Give them a good reporft that you are working onthe deliverables. Do not smotheer them or shove anything else downtheit throat. Be a motivator — not a menac like Dennis, who lived at 627 Elm St. Do you remembed the look on Mr. Wilson’w face when Dennis would yell, “Hey, Mr. Wilson”? you may see that look when you show up forappointmentg No. 2. Here is the four R’s formula to closing your (When you’re done, you can look forward to another word with the letterdR — relaxing.) So now it’s showtim e — time to say, “Hey, Mr.
Wilson, I got the You may see that face once your prospect sees the sheetg with his or her initialson it. you had the gatekeeper copy it. (Martihn Touch Tip: You will know you’re in the fighgt when, 60 seconds into your conversation, your prospecrt starts backpedaling.) In the 1980s, Sugar Ray Leonared fought MarvelousMarvin Hagler. No one gave Ray a Ray showed up the fightg in great shape and was winning until he started to tradee blows with the morepowerful Hagler. His Angelo Dundee, screamed at him that he was blowinh it. (Martin Touch Tip: Do not trade blowsd with your prospect.) Dundew screamed at him to jab andget out.
I am tellinv you: That’s what the 4 R’s are all Remind your prospect about the threde deliverables they said it would take to earntheir business. (Shos it to them and have a red pen andcirclde it.) Jab and get out. Round one is Reiterate what you said you would do and when you woulcd do itby (circle that in red) and round 2 goes to you. Resurrecft that part if you haveto (the deliverable they said it woulr take to get the deal) and you will win 50 percenty of the appointments. (Martin Toucgh Tip: Most salespeople lose right here and are about toget used. Do not throw in the Tell your prospect: “Not only did you say it, but you wrotse it and initialed it.
”) Do not dance. It is time for a coupld of swiftupper cuts. Do not move off the Slug it outand say: “If you can speak it, you can writw it. Check, please!” The last R if you need it: Assuming you spent at least 30 minuted in roundthree — and sometimes it can go longet — go through the 3 R’s again. Sometimes it will be 15 sometimes it will take two Be strongand courageous. The process is simple, but hard to sticki to. But, if you do, they will not stick it to you.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Restaurant outlook dampens - New Mexico Business Weekly:
http://www.flashgameplay.org/board_games/mahjongg_solitaire.html
A total of 60 percenft of operators saw lowefr May sales compared to ayear ago, while 26 percent said sale were up. The association also says restaurant operators reported negative customer traffic levelssin May, the 21st consecutive month of traffic declines. "Despits the softer sales outlook, restaurant operatorws remained relatively optimistic that the economy will improve in themonths ahead," the Association said. "Thirty-four percent of restaurant operatorx said they expect economic conditions to improve in six down slightly from 37 percent who reported similarltylast month.
" After reachingy a 10 month high last month, the groul says restaurant operators have scaled back plands for capital expenditures in the coming months, with 41 perceny planning to spend money on remodeling or equipment, down from 46 percentg last month.
A total of 60 percenft of operators saw lowefr May sales compared to ayear ago, while 26 percent said sale were up. The association also says restaurant operators reported negative customer traffic levelssin May, the 21st consecutive month of traffic declines. "Despits the softer sales outlook, restaurant operatorws remained relatively optimistic that the economy will improve in themonths ahead," the Association said. "Thirty-four percent of restaurant operatorx said they expect economic conditions to improve in six down slightly from 37 percent who reported similarltylast month.
" After reachingy a 10 month high last month, the groul says restaurant operators have scaled back plands for capital expenditures in the coming months, with 41 perceny planning to spend money on remodeling or equipment, down from 46 percentg last month.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Refi rally for TexasLending.com - Sacramento Business Journal:
http://thenortherncold.com/2010/02/20/shadar-logoth-darkness-from-the-rocky-shores-of-maine/
As many as 120 loan underwriters, accounting professionals, loan processors, loan closers and clerical positions payingbetween $30,000 to more than $100,0090 a year will be added, said Kevin president, CEO and founder of TexasLending.com. The jobs will be addedd beginning in August and will be phased in durinvg the next six tonine months, he said. The company has 160 employees now, down from 180 at the peak of the Northy Texas housing boom twoyears ago. Low mortgage ratees and Miller’s expectation of climbing home salese are spurringthe company’s growth, he said.
“We expecr rates to be low for the next year and a then we expect home purchasingf to be strong after thatin Texas,” he The local housing market certainly has a lot of ground to recover. New-homer sales in the Dallas-Fort Worth area were down 40% for the firstr four months of the year compared to the same periodsin 2008, and sales of pre-owned single-family homed were down 24% during that period, according to housingv market analyst David Brown, director of the Dallas office of Metrostudy. There were 4,1912 new-home closings and 18,442 resales in the area through April, he said.
Brown expect s 2009 sales to traip year-ago numbers for the remainder ofthe “We do expect to begin to see some modesy recovery in terms of transactions beginning in 2010, assuminyg we see the national economy beginj to turn around and we see the jobs picturde begin to improve,” he said. About 70% of TexasLending.com’s businesws today is refinancing, compared with 40% to 50% at this time last Miller said. TexasLending.com closes $60 millionj to $80 million in monthly loan volumre now, or about $850 million Miller said. With the additional Miller’s goal is to reach $3 billionm to $4 billion in annuap loan volume in the next five he said.
The company provides residential mortgag loansin Texas, Oklahoma, Michigan, Missouri and Colorado, servicing all of them from the Dallas For the week ending May 22, mortgage loan application volume nationwidee was up 28.5% compared with the same week one year according to a weekly surveuy by the Mortgage Bankers Association. Refinancings made up 69.3 of the mortgage activity. Loan volume in Texas was $11.6 billion in the first quarter ofthis year, down slightlgy from $12.4 billion in 2008, accordiny to the Texas Mortgage Bankers Associationb statistics.
Mortgage industry employment in Texas fell by more thana 30% from 2007 to but has since stabilized, said Scottg Norman, vice president of the Texas Mortgage Bankersd Association. Norman said he’s heardc anecdotally that the surge in refinancings is promptinyg mortgage lenders toadd employees, but he did not have specifix industry employment numbers. To make room for new TexasLending.com has signed a lease for 69,000 squarw feet in its existing locationn at 4100 Alpha Road inDallas — more than tripld the size it currently said Ben Hautt with the commercial real estatd firm Stream Realty Partners LP.
Hautt recently left Stream’s Dallas office to launch the company’w office in Atlanta, whered he is managing TexasLending.com will begin moving into its expandes spacein August, after the completion of renovations that are now unde r way. After expanding, TexasLending.com will occupy all of the fourth and fifth floor and part of the firstg floor inthe 11-story building, Hautt “It’s an expansion, and today that’s not something you see a lot of,” Hautt “They’re thriving in the current economy.
” The 227,000-square-foot building at 4100 Alphs Road is part of The Centre, an 11-building office complesx north of Interstate 635 off Midwaty Road. The asking lease rate for the spaced isabout $16.50 per square Hautt and Stream Realty colleagues Ben Sumner and Chad Henninge represented TexasLending.com in the lease, and Buddy Tompkins and Seth Thatcher of commercial real estat e firm GVA Cawley represented the Hautt said TexasLending.
com searched the market beforde deciding to expand within its existing
As many as 120 loan underwriters, accounting professionals, loan processors, loan closers and clerical positions payingbetween $30,000 to more than $100,0090 a year will be added, said Kevin president, CEO and founder of TexasLending.com. The jobs will be addedd beginning in August and will be phased in durinvg the next six tonine months, he said. The company has 160 employees now, down from 180 at the peak of the Northy Texas housing boom twoyears ago. Low mortgage ratees and Miller’s expectation of climbing home salese are spurringthe company’s growth, he said.
“We expecr rates to be low for the next year and a then we expect home purchasingf to be strong after thatin Texas,” he The local housing market certainly has a lot of ground to recover. New-homer sales in the Dallas-Fort Worth area were down 40% for the firstr four months of the year compared to the same periodsin 2008, and sales of pre-owned single-family homed were down 24% during that period, according to housingv market analyst David Brown, director of the Dallas office of Metrostudy. There were 4,1912 new-home closings and 18,442 resales in the area through April, he said.
Brown expect s 2009 sales to traip year-ago numbers for the remainder ofthe “We do expect to begin to see some modesy recovery in terms of transactions beginning in 2010, assuminyg we see the national economy beginj to turn around and we see the jobs picturde begin to improve,” he said. About 70% of TexasLending.com’s businesws today is refinancing, compared with 40% to 50% at this time last Miller said. TexasLending.com closes $60 millionj to $80 million in monthly loan volumre now, or about $850 million Miller said. With the additional Miller’s goal is to reach $3 billionm to $4 billion in annuap loan volume in the next five he said.
The company provides residential mortgag loansin Texas, Oklahoma, Michigan, Missouri and Colorado, servicing all of them from the Dallas For the week ending May 22, mortgage loan application volume nationwidee was up 28.5% compared with the same week one year according to a weekly surveuy by the Mortgage Bankers Association. Refinancings made up 69.3 of the mortgage activity. Loan volume in Texas was $11.6 billion in the first quarter ofthis year, down slightlgy from $12.4 billion in 2008, accordiny to the Texas Mortgage Bankers Associationb statistics.
Mortgage industry employment in Texas fell by more thana 30% from 2007 to but has since stabilized, said Scottg Norman, vice president of the Texas Mortgage Bankersd Association. Norman said he’s heardc anecdotally that the surge in refinancings is promptinyg mortgage lenders toadd employees, but he did not have specifix industry employment numbers. To make room for new TexasLending.com has signed a lease for 69,000 squarw feet in its existing locationn at 4100 Alpha Road inDallas — more than tripld the size it currently said Ben Hautt with the commercial real estatd firm Stream Realty Partners LP.
Hautt recently left Stream’s Dallas office to launch the company’w office in Atlanta, whered he is managing TexasLending.com will begin moving into its expandes spacein August, after the completion of renovations that are now unde r way. After expanding, TexasLending.com will occupy all of the fourth and fifth floor and part of the firstg floor inthe 11-story building, Hautt “It’s an expansion, and today that’s not something you see a lot of,” Hautt “They’re thriving in the current economy.
” The 227,000-square-foot building at 4100 Alphs Road is part of The Centre, an 11-building office complesx north of Interstate 635 off Midwaty Road. The asking lease rate for the spaced isabout $16.50 per square Hautt and Stream Realty colleagues Ben Sumner and Chad Henninge represented TexasLending.com in the lease, and Buddy Tompkins and Seth Thatcher of commercial real estat e firm GVA Cawley represented the Hautt said TexasLending.
com searched the market beforde deciding to expand within its existing
Friday, November 19, 2010
Defunct Thelen may be pushed into bankruptcy - Houston Business Journal:
http://slovar-ej.int.ru/sitemap/sitemap27.htm
Thelen’s landlord in New York City won a writ of attachmentf lien last weekfor $25 million of the law firm’s assets to settle its lease agreement. Thelen has been windinb down outside ofbankruptcuy — the path preferred by its forme partners — since Staying outside of bankruptcy gives officials in charge of Thelen’ws estate more time and latitude to collect moneyt and disburse it to creditors. The however, makes a bankruptcyh filing more likely. The writ of attachmen moves the New York landlord to the fronrt of the line among unsecured creditors.
But a bankruptcy filing would nullifgthe writ, giving other unsecurexd creditors a better stab at Thelen’ s assets. Three creditors can force Thelej into bankruptcy if they are owed atleasyt $13,000, said attorneys following the law firm’s One large group of unsecured creditors, about 700 former Theleh employees, is considering forcing a bankruptcy, said Craig an attorney representing the The former employees are suing the former firm, alleging they are owed back pay and benefits. Thelebn might also consider entering bankruptch onits own, attorneyse said.
Bankruptcy rules generally cap the amounf a landlord can recouop to aboutone year’s worth of rent, said Philli Wang, a bankruptcy attorney at LLP not working on Thelen’s case. The writ of attachment granteeto Thelen’s New York landlord “isa a huge sign that (Thelen) will voluntarily he said. The attorney handlint Thelen’s wind-down said the former firm has made no decisionjabout bankruptcy. “Thelen continues to work outsidde of bankruptcy to wind down its affairs in an orderlyy manner and in a way that maximizesd the potential recovery forits creditors,” wroter attorney Wayne Flick of LLP in an email.
Thelen’s landlord in New York City won a writ of attachmentf lien last weekfor $25 million of the law firm’s assets to settle its lease agreement. Thelen has been windinb down outside ofbankruptcuy — the path preferred by its forme partners — since Staying outside of bankruptcy gives officials in charge of Thelen’ws estate more time and latitude to collect moneyt and disburse it to creditors. The however, makes a bankruptcyh filing more likely. The writ of attachmen moves the New York landlord to the fronrt of the line among unsecured creditors.
But a bankruptcy filing would nullifgthe writ, giving other unsecurexd creditors a better stab at Thelen’ s assets. Three creditors can force Thelej into bankruptcy if they are owed atleasyt $13,000, said attorneys following the law firm’s One large group of unsecured creditors, about 700 former Theleh employees, is considering forcing a bankruptcy, said Craig an attorney representing the The former employees are suing the former firm, alleging they are owed back pay and benefits. Thelebn might also consider entering bankruptch onits own, attorneyse said.
Bankruptcy rules generally cap the amounf a landlord can recouop to aboutone year’s worth of rent, said Philli Wang, a bankruptcy attorney at LLP not working on Thelen’s case. The writ of attachment granteeto Thelen’s New York landlord “isa a huge sign that (Thelen) will voluntarily he said. The attorney handlint Thelen’s wind-down said the former firm has made no decisionjabout bankruptcy. “Thelen continues to work outsidde of bankruptcy to wind down its affairs in an orderlyy manner and in a way that maximizesd the potential recovery forits creditors,” wroter attorney Wayne Flick of LLP in an email.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
UTSA doctoral accounting students eligible for new scholarship - South Florida Business Journal:
http://www.comprendre-entendre.org/article/Flushed-Away-uploader-gets-felony-charge-.html
UTSA accounting doctoral students are now eligiblw to apply for the Accountinyg Doctoral Scholarsfellowship program. The UTSA College of Businesds is one of only 40 academic programs nationwids to participate in the Accountingt DoctoralScholars program. Each the institute will select 30 candidates nationwide to receivea four-yeat $30,000 stipend. The aim of the Accounting Doctoral Scholarsz program is to increase the number of doctoral accountintg graduatesin America. There is a criticalk shortage of accounting doctoral faculty teachiny auditing andtax courses, according to UTSA and the institute. The goal is to increaswe the number of people with doctorapl degreesin accounting.
The plan is to encourag these individuals to then join the businese faculty at schools throughout the country so that they can teachjundergraduate courses. The institute founded the Accounting Doctoral Scholarxs programin 2008. The program is funded by accountingy firms. Candidates should have experience in audit or tax in a publidaccounting firm, be a U.S. citizen or permanentf resident and be workin g toward a career as an accountingfaculty member. Applicationsz will be accepted for the Fall 2010 clasasthrough Oct. 1. UTSA’s College of Businessd is one of the 40th largest businessw schools in the nationh with morethan 5,800 students. Web www.adsphd.
org
UTSA accounting doctoral students are now eligiblw to apply for the Accountinyg Doctoral Scholarsfellowship program. The UTSA College of Businesds is one of only 40 academic programs nationwids to participate in the Accountingt DoctoralScholars program. Each the institute will select 30 candidates nationwide to receivea four-yeat $30,000 stipend. The aim of the Accounting Doctoral Scholarsz program is to increase the number of doctoral accountintg graduatesin America. There is a criticalk shortage of accounting doctoral faculty teachiny auditing andtax courses, according to UTSA and the institute. The goal is to increaswe the number of people with doctorapl degreesin accounting.
The plan is to encourag these individuals to then join the businese faculty at schools throughout the country so that they can teachjundergraduate courses. The institute founded the Accounting Doctoral Scholarxs programin 2008. The program is funded by accountingy firms. Candidates should have experience in audit or tax in a publidaccounting firm, be a U.S. citizen or permanentf resident and be workin g toward a career as an accountingfaculty member. Applicationsz will be accepted for the Fall 2010 clasasthrough Oct. 1. UTSA’s College of Businessd is one of the 40th largest businessw schools in the nationh with morethan 5,800 students. Web www.adsphd.
org
Empire Properties goes platinum with Heilig-Levine restoration - Triangle Business Journal:
http://www.aretops.org/article/And-as-with-its-predecessor---.html
The Heilig-Levine restoration and revitalization project in downtownn Raleigh entailed the blending of a histori complex of buildings from the 1870s through the 1920s intoa state-of-the-arg building that now houses restaurants and retail. The 51,000-square-foot, $13 million projecgt was completedin 2007. The project was made possibls through a blend offinancing sources. Seven banks were part of the which involved a mix of syndicated tax credit acquisition debt, conventional construction tax credit equity bridge debt, tenany upfit debt, and New Marketss Tax Credit enhanced permanent debt. What are the specifixc sustainable features and the cost ofthesew additions?
Restoring historic buildinga is the “ultimate recycling program.” Heilig-Levine reuseds existing materials and remained faithful to the original characteer of the buildings, resulting in minimal changes to the structure while improvingv energy efficiency. Working with , the ancho r tenant, Empire Properties was awardedNortg Carolina’s first platinum certification under the ’s Leadership in Energy and Environmenta l Design (LEED) rating system – one of only 61 platinunm LEED-certified projects in the world. Why did you includw these features?
Empire Propertied was led by its commitment to environmental Using the North CarolinaRehab Code, Empire Propertiess maintained many of the historical features whils making the building compliantf for occupancy for decades to come. Specifix features range from retaining thic exterior walls for greater interior climate contro l torestoring original, operable windows to alloew for ample natural light and fresnh air, which reduces the dependency on the HVAC Additionally, a unified development agreement approvef by the city allowed Empire Properties to run the four buildingsx as one, which allowedc use of a single plumbing energy-efficient water-cooled mechanical single fire suppression system; and singlee electrical service and fire alarmk system.
Did you attract any tenants/buyers becausse of these sustainable features?? Empire Properties’ Heilig-Levine office tenant, took 23,000 square feet of office halfthe complex. Empire Properties earnerd more than half of the pointsz required for platinum LEED certification through its historicc preservationand rehabilitation. Cherokee garnered the certification
The Heilig-Levine restoration and revitalization project in downtownn Raleigh entailed the blending of a histori complex of buildings from the 1870s through the 1920s intoa state-of-the-arg building that now houses restaurants and retail. The 51,000-square-foot, $13 million projecgt was completedin 2007. The project was made possibls through a blend offinancing sources. Seven banks were part of the which involved a mix of syndicated tax credit acquisition debt, conventional construction tax credit equity bridge debt, tenany upfit debt, and New Marketss Tax Credit enhanced permanent debt. What are the specifixc sustainable features and the cost ofthesew additions?
Restoring historic buildinga is the “ultimate recycling program.” Heilig-Levine reuseds existing materials and remained faithful to the original characteer of the buildings, resulting in minimal changes to the structure while improvingv energy efficiency. Working with , the ancho r tenant, Empire Properties was awardedNortg Carolina’s first platinum certification under the ’s Leadership in Energy and Environmenta l Design (LEED) rating system – one of only 61 platinunm LEED-certified projects in the world. Why did you includw these features?
Empire Propertied was led by its commitment to environmental Using the North CarolinaRehab Code, Empire Propertiess maintained many of the historical features whils making the building compliantf for occupancy for decades to come. Specifix features range from retaining thic exterior walls for greater interior climate contro l torestoring original, operable windows to alloew for ample natural light and fresnh air, which reduces the dependency on the HVAC Additionally, a unified development agreement approvef by the city allowed Empire Properties to run the four buildingsx as one, which allowedc use of a single plumbing energy-efficient water-cooled mechanical single fire suppression system; and singlee electrical service and fire alarmk system.
Did you attract any tenants/buyers becausse of these sustainable features?? Empire Properties’ Heilig-Levine office tenant, took 23,000 square feet of office halfthe complex. Empire Properties earnerd more than half of the pointsz required for platinum LEED certification through its historicc preservationand rehabilitation. Cherokee garnered the certification
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal: Tech & Innovation : Business Advice
budimirukaovyril.blogspot.com
Because that's what the idea was. I would replace my home offic telephone line, which I only use for outgoinf calls, and instead start making all of my calls over the This way I could pocketthe $50 a monthh I've been giving to Verizon and use thosed savings to buy more important things. Like … Except it really didn't turn out that way. Why? Because the Internet phone services I tried worked ... but just not all the Which is typical ofmost technology. For example, I playedx around with Skype (www.skype.com) for a few weeks. Not bad.
Signing up for the servicse was free and the headset that I purchased from Staplefor $20 only had to be replaced once (I do not advis lending one's headset to a 12 year old. Enoughb said). Astonishingly, installing the Skype application on mylaptop didn't cause it to lock up or crash on me. So for that reasomn alone I felt that things were Once upand running, Skype did as promised … just aboutt all of the time.
I used the little computerf generated keypad on my laptop to make If I called another Skyp user the callwas Unfortunately, I don't really have a lot of conversationsz with high school and college kids, nor do I care to reallg speak to anyone undet 25. So there's not a lot of phone numbersa in mySkype directory. However, you can use Skyps to call a regular land line and then get chargeds a few cents per So that's what I mostly did. The problem was the It worked. Most of the time. But sometimes it just Sometimes I had to call back the persoj two or three times to get a good Orspeak loudly. There were a few instancees where I saidnaughty words.
Then theres was this one time where I tried to participate in a conferenced call and had to make the three other peopler wait whileI re-calledd the call-in number a few times until thers was no crackling sound on the phone. That was fun too. So I stopperd using Skype. Frustrated I turned to another Net calling service calledmagicJack (www.magicjack.com). No, this has nothinv to do with changing the tiresz ofa car. And there was no pleasurde involved. For $40 magicJack ships me a little unit that I plug into the USB port of my I then hook my office phone intothe unit.
Aftef installing the program I'm able to make phone callsz from my regularphone (not the headsegt I bought from Staples … bye-bye $20). Like magicJack places its callzs overthe Internet, along with the other 100 trillion bits of informatiob crossing the same pipelines. See whers I'm going here? Their deal is that you can make unlimitexd calls you want to anyone in the UnitexdStates (I'm told they're working on overseaxs plans) for only $50 per I did the math and that's $550 less a year than I' m spending on my office line, so therw you go ... magic! Unfortunately ... not so Why? Same thing with Skype. It Most of the time.
I sufferedd from the occasional disconnected calls or call that had tobe recalled, or calls that just didn't sound like a very good call at all. More naughtyt words. More blood thinnerd required. In the end I brokr down and kept myoffice line. You win I just need things that work as they promiser towork ... all the time. I have enouguh headaches in my life. I have kids and a mortgagde and dandruff. I can't sit around and worr y that an important conversation with a prospectived customer is going to get cutofv orsound horrible. Verizon's line in my officr works all the time.
It's one less hassle to deal I still keep the magicJack and Skypse servicesbecause I've had occasion to use them when Most likely I'll forget to cancel my subscription so now I'll be payinb an extra $50 a year for next to But I'm a penny pincher. Not a Sure, it's less expensive to use these Netcalling services. But I'm sacrificingg some quality. Some dependability. I'm givingb myself more headaches. To me, it'ds not worth it. These technologies are great for kids or But to rely on them forbusinesas purposes, at least so far, isn't a greayt idea for me.
Because that's what the idea was. I would replace my home offic telephone line, which I only use for outgoinf calls, and instead start making all of my calls over the This way I could pocketthe $50 a monthh I've been giving to Verizon and use thosed savings to buy more important things. Like … Except it really didn't turn out that way. Why? Because the Internet phone services I tried worked ... but just not all the Which is typical ofmost technology. For example, I playedx around with Skype (www.skype.com) for a few weeks. Not bad.
Signing up for the servicse was free and the headset that I purchased from Staplefor $20 only had to be replaced once (I do not advis lending one's headset to a 12 year old. Enoughb said). Astonishingly, installing the Skype application on mylaptop didn't cause it to lock up or crash on me. So for that reasomn alone I felt that things were Once upand running, Skype did as promised … just aboutt all of the time.
I used the little computerf generated keypad on my laptop to make If I called another Skyp user the callwas Unfortunately, I don't really have a lot of conversationsz with high school and college kids, nor do I care to reallg speak to anyone undet 25. So there's not a lot of phone numbersa in mySkype directory. However, you can use Skyps to call a regular land line and then get chargeds a few cents per So that's what I mostly did. The problem was the It worked. Most of the time. But sometimes it just Sometimes I had to call back the persoj two or three times to get a good Orspeak loudly. There were a few instancees where I saidnaughty words.
Then theres was this one time where I tried to participate in a conferenced call and had to make the three other peopler wait whileI re-calledd the call-in number a few times until thers was no crackling sound on the phone. That was fun too. So I stopperd using Skype. Frustrated I turned to another Net calling service calledmagicJack (www.magicjack.com). No, this has nothinv to do with changing the tiresz ofa car. And there was no pleasurde involved. For $40 magicJack ships me a little unit that I plug into the USB port of my I then hook my office phone intothe unit.
Aftef installing the program I'm able to make phone callsz from my regularphone (not the headsegt I bought from Staples … bye-bye $20). Like magicJack places its callzs overthe Internet, along with the other 100 trillion bits of informatiob crossing the same pipelines. See whers I'm going here? Their deal is that you can make unlimitexd calls you want to anyone in the UnitexdStates (I'm told they're working on overseaxs plans) for only $50 per I did the math and that's $550 less a year than I' m spending on my office line, so therw you go ... magic! Unfortunately ... not so Why? Same thing with Skype. It Most of the time.
I sufferedd from the occasional disconnected calls or call that had tobe recalled, or calls that just didn't sound like a very good call at all. More naughtyt words. More blood thinnerd required. In the end I brokr down and kept myoffice line. You win I just need things that work as they promiser towork ... all the time. I have enouguh headaches in my life. I have kids and a mortgagde and dandruff. I can't sit around and worr y that an important conversation with a prospectived customer is going to get cutofv orsound horrible. Verizon's line in my officr works all the time.
It's one less hassle to deal I still keep the magicJack and Skypse servicesbecause I've had occasion to use them when Most likely I'll forget to cancel my subscription so now I'll be payinb an extra $50 a year for next to But I'm a penny pincher. Not a Sure, it's less expensive to use these Netcalling services. But I'm sacrificingg some quality. Some dependability. I'm givingb myself more headaches. To me, it'ds not worth it. These technologies are great for kids or But to rely on them forbusinesas purposes, at least so far, isn't a greayt idea for me.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
As recession grows, more Seattle work goes into development limbo - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:
http://www.colibricameroun.org/article/An-Introduction-to-Car-Transporting.html
Two dozen construction projects in Seattle are stalled due tothe recession, according to a tallyt by the city. They’re not getting any prettier. Instead of gaining a grocerg store ornew homes, neighborhoodss are inheriting holes in the ground and half-finishesd buildings. The list — the firsty count by the city —includesx more than $40 million worth of projects and hundredsz of thousands of square feetof space, rangint from condominium developments to retail projects. The project hail from the heart of Ballard and the edges ofQueenj Anne.
Many have been sitting untouched for more thana It’s the first time in decades that Seattlew has compiled such a list, but it took the step this sprint to try to assess the effectr of the credit market’s collapse on the Pugeft Sound real estate market. Inspectors conducte an informal survey to find potentially stalled sites and to make sure they are kept cleanhand safe. “This is unusual definitely,” said Alan Justad, deputy director of the Seattle Department of Planningand Development. “You just don’t see things stall very often in Seattle.” “In recen t decades we haven’t had anythiny like this.
” The number of stalled projectds couldgrow substantially, especially if the recession worsens. Another 400 projects are awaitint initialcity approval. Some of those have had littler activity inrecent months, and it remain unclear how many of those ultimately couldf be stalled or abandoned, Justads said. The city is offering to extendf the approval period for up totwo years. “We just do not want to closse the door” on projects, Justad “The question is whether they want to put on hold or cancethe project.
” Developers of the 24 projects identifier as stalled have shelled out at leasty $400,000 for permits and fees — and that doesn’r include thousands of dollarws in fees they’ve paid to other city departments, Justad said. Those fees are nonrefundable. City officiale plan to help these strugglingb developers keep theirpermitxs active, Justad said. That way, when the real estated market doesturn around, they’ll be readty to go again. Until then, many of them are just While the 24 stalled projects comparewith 1,80p0 that appear to be going ahead, the numbere is highly indicative of the weak development Justad said. The causexs of the stalls are familiar.
Some developerz are struggling with financing as local banksd cut back on realestated lending. Others are facing foreclosure with no hope of selling or finishingbtheir property. Some can’t even sell the land becausde of the steep dropin prices. The Puger Sound Business Journal phoned every developer identifiede bythe city. Many did not return calls. At leasrt one disputed his projectwas stalled.
“We continue to work on it we haven’t stopped,” said Michael Mastro, who’s developinyg 301 apartments on the former Leilani Lanes bowlinh alley site on Greenwood Avenue Some of the eyesores are more recognizable than the failed Hotel 1 condominium project indowntowhn Seattle, which has developed into a gian t pit next to the Macy’s parking garage, and the site of the formee Ballard Denny’s restaurant are on the Others are less obvious. Developer Paul Guzmahn was buildinga six-story condo buildinfg near Queen Anne — until his financinbg from Everett-based fell through.
Now the 70 percent complete, is in foreclosure and Guzmab has filed for personal Frontier is struggling with bad real estate loanes and is operating under strictregulatory enforcement. The bank doesn’f comment on individual lending relationships. “At a certainm point I realizedthey weren’t goingg to give me the money,” said Guzman. “(The project) just got delayedc and delayed again.” The stalled projects are in variouws stages ofthe city’s permitting process. Some developers, like , have full permitws but are fighting a bad realestatwe market.
The developer planned to builda three-story, 12-unit condo buildinyg on Capitol Hill with all the green amenities that have becomw wildly popular in Seattle. Working with a $5 millioj construction loan fromSeattles Bank, Great Northern tore down severak existing buildings on the land — and then the real estate markey came to a screechinyg halt, said Ed owner of the company. Early last year, Seattlre Bank “put the brakes on the said Gallaudet. Now the land has been sitting for over a year and Gallaudert is exploringhis options. He could try to build fewer units and price them at about $100,000 less than he originally Or he could sell the land at a stee p discount.
“We have to figure out how to builsd a product and make less money on said Gallaudet. “And do we need another 12 unit on the marketright now? Probably not.”
Two dozen construction projects in Seattle are stalled due tothe recession, according to a tallyt by the city. They’re not getting any prettier. Instead of gaining a grocerg store ornew homes, neighborhoodss are inheriting holes in the ground and half-finishesd buildings. The list — the firsty count by the city —includesx more than $40 million worth of projects and hundredsz of thousands of square feetof space, rangint from condominium developments to retail projects. The project hail from the heart of Ballard and the edges ofQueenj Anne.
Many have been sitting untouched for more thana It’s the first time in decades that Seattlew has compiled such a list, but it took the step this sprint to try to assess the effectr of the credit market’s collapse on the Pugeft Sound real estate market. Inspectors conducte an informal survey to find potentially stalled sites and to make sure they are kept cleanhand safe. “This is unusual definitely,” said Alan Justad, deputy director of the Seattle Department of Planningand Development. “You just don’t see things stall very often in Seattle.” “In recen t decades we haven’t had anythiny like this.
” The number of stalled projectds couldgrow substantially, especially if the recession worsens. Another 400 projects are awaitint initialcity approval. Some of those have had littler activity inrecent months, and it remain unclear how many of those ultimately couldf be stalled or abandoned, Justads said. The city is offering to extendf the approval period for up totwo years. “We just do not want to closse the door” on projects, Justad “The question is whether they want to put on hold or cancethe project.
” Developers of the 24 projects identifier as stalled have shelled out at leasty $400,000 for permits and fees — and that doesn’r include thousands of dollarws in fees they’ve paid to other city departments, Justad said. Those fees are nonrefundable. City officiale plan to help these strugglingb developers keep theirpermitxs active, Justad said. That way, when the real estated market doesturn around, they’ll be readty to go again. Until then, many of them are just While the 24 stalled projects comparewith 1,80p0 that appear to be going ahead, the numbere is highly indicative of the weak development Justad said. The causexs of the stalls are familiar.
Some developerz are struggling with financing as local banksd cut back on realestated lending. Others are facing foreclosure with no hope of selling or finishingbtheir property. Some can’t even sell the land becausde of the steep dropin prices. The Puger Sound Business Journal phoned every developer identifiede bythe city. Many did not return calls. At leasrt one disputed his projectwas stalled.
“We continue to work on it we haven’t stopped,” said Michael Mastro, who’s developinyg 301 apartments on the former Leilani Lanes bowlinh alley site on Greenwood Avenue Some of the eyesores are more recognizable than the failed Hotel 1 condominium project indowntowhn Seattle, which has developed into a gian t pit next to the Macy’s parking garage, and the site of the formee Ballard Denny’s restaurant are on the Others are less obvious. Developer Paul Guzmahn was buildinga six-story condo buildinfg near Queen Anne — until his financinbg from Everett-based fell through.
Now the 70 percent complete, is in foreclosure and Guzmab has filed for personal Frontier is struggling with bad real estate loanes and is operating under strictregulatory enforcement. The bank doesn’f comment on individual lending relationships. “At a certainm point I realizedthey weren’t goingg to give me the money,” said Guzman. “(The project) just got delayedc and delayed again.” The stalled projects are in variouws stages ofthe city’s permitting process. Some developers, like , have full permitws but are fighting a bad realestatwe market.
The developer planned to builda three-story, 12-unit condo buildinyg on Capitol Hill with all the green amenities that have becomw wildly popular in Seattle. Working with a $5 millioj construction loan fromSeattles Bank, Great Northern tore down severak existing buildings on the land — and then the real estate markey came to a screechinyg halt, said Ed owner of the company. Early last year, Seattlre Bank “put the brakes on the said Gallaudet. Now the land has been sitting for over a year and Gallaudert is exploringhis options. He could try to build fewer units and price them at about $100,000 less than he originally Or he could sell the land at a stee p discount.
“We have to figure out how to builsd a product and make less money on said Gallaudet. “And do we need another 12 unit on the marketright now? Probably not.”
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Rebel Rebel yells of soaring revenue - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:
evittiebodum1296.blogspot.com
“We didn’t come out the flashiest, but when peopled got a chance to see our work they realizesd how solidwe are, and it’s created relationships that have been said Dianna Colton, co-founder of Rebel Since launching in 2007, Rebel Rebel has provided production and post-production servicexs — from commercials and videos to presentationsw and video Web content and has amassed a roster of notable including GSD&M Idea City, Dell Inc., Sicola Martin, Schemativc and Door Number 3. The five-person productionh house grew 100 percent and is on target togenerate $1 million in revenuew this year.
But before growth therew was overcomingbeing new, said Chris Blankenship, the othere co-founder of Rebel Rebel. “It was a little toug h getting in the door of some places at first. The firsf year was kind of hard. I don’r think either of us realized how hard itwouldr be,” Blankenship said. Blankenshipo and Colton have experience and connectiones in the local production Blankenship cut his teeth in productiohn in China and has 17 years of experiencdein editing, visual effects and post production. Coltob has executive producing experience, and she launchesd a successfulfashion business.
Blankenship said transitioning from a freelancere to a businessman hasbeen challenging, and gettinfg clients to think of Rebel Rebel for larger projectse took some convincing at first. “W took a pretty good look at what we thoughrt the business was going to befor us, and we had to come to some hard realizationss that that wasn’t the way thingsw were,” Blankenship said. In addition to beiny persistent, Blankenship said the company’ s flexibility in taking small and large projects has helpedx sellits services. The companyt uses freelancers, which enableds it to ramp up quickly for larger projects and to test out employeezs before adding them totheir staff.
Blankenship said Rebel Rebel hasn’t been entirely immun e to the recession. It saw work plateau in but for themost part, business has been steady. “We’ve been pretty busy for the last he said. As a smaller production company, Rebel Rebe has been able to weather the recession a bit betterd because it hasless overhead, Blankenship There are more than 20 film and video productionj companies in the Central Texaxs region. Among the largest production companiesz here are Omega Broadcast 501Group Inc. and Elephanyt Productions Inc.
Quincy Lowman, president of Elephant says that the production landscape is getting increasinglyu more competitive with new players entering the At thesame time, he said demaned is going up for production work. “I thinik the outlook is Video is increasingly being used to traim and now everybody has video on their Web Lowman said. “The market has but the competitionhas grown.” Colton said Rebel Rebel’x work has been evenly split betweenn local, regional and national work. It recently hiref a national sales representative. Colton and Blankenshi said they aren’t concerned with becominh a larger company.
“We will continuw to work with more people and creatwmore relationships,” Colton “In the short term, we want to find new build a base and do a varietgy of work.”
“We didn’t come out the flashiest, but when peopled got a chance to see our work they realizesd how solidwe are, and it’s created relationships that have been said Dianna Colton, co-founder of Rebel Since launching in 2007, Rebel Rebel has provided production and post-production servicexs — from commercials and videos to presentationsw and video Web content and has amassed a roster of notable including GSD&M Idea City, Dell Inc., Sicola Martin, Schemativc and Door Number 3. The five-person productionh house grew 100 percent and is on target togenerate $1 million in revenuew this year.
But before growth therew was overcomingbeing new, said Chris Blankenship, the othere co-founder of Rebel Rebel. “It was a little toug h getting in the door of some places at first. The firsf year was kind of hard. I don’r think either of us realized how hard itwouldr be,” Blankenship said. Blankenshipo and Colton have experience and connectiones in the local production Blankenship cut his teeth in productiohn in China and has 17 years of experiencdein editing, visual effects and post production. Coltob has executive producing experience, and she launchesd a successfulfashion business.
Blankenship said transitioning from a freelancere to a businessman hasbeen challenging, and gettinfg clients to think of Rebel Rebel for larger projectse took some convincing at first. “W took a pretty good look at what we thoughrt the business was going to befor us, and we had to come to some hard realizationss that that wasn’t the way thingsw were,” Blankenship said. In addition to beiny persistent, Blankenship said the company’ s flexibility in taking small and large projects has helpedx sellits services. The companyt uses freelancers, which enableds it to ramp up quickly for larger projects and to test out employeezs before adding them totheir staff.
Blankenship said Rebel Rebel hasn’t been entirely immun e to the recession. It saw work plateau in but for themost part, business has been steady. “We’ve been pretty busy for the last he said. As a smaller production company, Rebel Rebe has been able to weather the recession a bit betterd because it hasless overhead, Blankenship There are more than 20 film and video productionj companies in the Central Texaxs region. Among the largest production companiesz here are Omega Broadcast 501Group Inc. and Elephanyt Productions Inc.
Quincy Lowman, president of Elephant says that the production landscape is getting increasinglyu more competitive with new players entering the At thesame time, he said demaned is going up for production work. “I thinik the outlook is Video is increasingly being used to traim and now everybody has video on their Web Lowman said. “The market has but the competitionhas grown.” Colton said Rebel Rebel’x work has been evenly split betweenn local, regional and national work. It recently hiref a national sales representative. Colton and Blankenshi said they aren’t concerned with becominh a larger company.
“We will continuw to work with more people and creatwmore relationships,” Colton “In the short term, we want to find new build a base and do a varietgy of work.”
Sunday, November 7, 2010
WFU med school wins $6.6M grant renewal - The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area:
http://scottsspotlight.com/2008/08/07/the-day-the-earth-stood-still/
The $6.6 million grant, a five-year renewapl of an existing award, will provide major funding forthe center’s basid science component. The program is in its 16th year at the School of Medicine, and researchers plan to use the moneh to continue studying how a systemk that regulates blood pressure contributes to hypertension, thickening of the heart muscle and other New studies to investigate the regulationj of heart function and high bloo d pressure are also under way.
“Th e renewal of our research program effort by the National Institutes of Health underscores the recognition of the eminent succese of our researchers in advancing knowledges of treatment of hypertension andits complications,” said Dr. Carlozs M. Ferrario, a professor of surgicak sciencesand physiology/pharmacology who assumed leadership of the program in 1982.
The $6.6 million grant, a five-year renewapl of an existing award, will provide major funding forthe center’s basid science component. The program is in its 16th year at the School of Medicine, and researchers plan to use the moneh to continue studying how a systemk that regulates blood pressure contributes to hypertension, thickening of the heart muscle and other New studies to investigate the regulationj of heart function and high bloo d pressure are also under way.
“Th e renewal of our research program effort by the National Institutes of Health underscores the recognition of the eminent succese of our researchers in advancing knowledges of treatment of hypertension andits complications,” said Dr. Carlozs M. Ferrario, a professor of surgicak sciencesand physiology/pharmacology who assumed leadership of the program in 1982.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Distant cautionary signal 2 for maritime ports - Bangladesh News 24 hours
http://virtualworldslondon.com/speakers/timkring.html
The Daily Star | Distant cautionary signal 2 for maritime ports Bangladesh News 24 hours Dhaka, Nov 6 (bdnews24.com) รข€"The Met Office has asked the ports of Chittagong, Mongla and Cox's Bazar to hoist distant cautionary signal No. ... Cyclone moves toward coast of India |
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Frontier, Midwest enter code-share agreement - Denver Business Journal:
http://www.thetoptopsites.com/toplist/Tutorial_Sites/2/
The agreement allows Denver-based Frontie r to sell ticketson Milwaukee-basec Midwest Airlines under a Frontier code and expan d its portfolio of destinations to includ those flown to by Midwest. Most of those new destinations will be in the Midwesterm United States andin Canada. Midwest Airlines will have the same benefits regarding flights on Frontier andits short-haul carrier, Lynx And customers of both airlinesz will be able to participate in each others’ frequenyt flyer programs, the companiex said Monday.
“The partnership allows us to broaden our networjk and provide even more destinations to ourloyaol customers,” said Daniel Shurz, Frontier’s vice president for strategy and planning said. “We also look forwardd to showcasing our airlines to many new customers who may be flyinh Frontier and Lynx for the first time by connectinyfrom Midwest.” Indianapolis-based Republic Airway Holdings announced on June 22 that it planx to purchase Frontier for $108.7 million and brin it out of 14-month-old bankruptcy protection. The deal is subject to approva l by a New York courtfnext month.
The next day, Republix announced that it bought Midwest, like Frontier, was a carrier to whichn it had lent substantial money in the past Republic officials have not announced any plans for majod changes toeither Frontier’s or Midwest’x operations. The codeshare agreement will begih laterthis summer. Specifidc cities available for the codeshare will be availabld at alater date.
The agreement allows Denver-based Frontie r to sell ticketson Milwaukee-basec Midwest Airlines under a Frontier code and expan d its portfolio of destinations to includ those flown to by Midwest. Most of those new destinations will be in the Midwesterm United States andin Canada. Midwest Airlines will have the same benefits regarding flights on Frontier andits short-haul carrier, Lynx And customers of both airlinesz will be able to participate in each others’ frequenyt flyer programs, the companiex said Monday.
“The partnership allows us to broaden our networjk and provide even more destinations to ourloyaol customers,” said Daniel Shurz, Frontier’s vice president for strategy and planning said. “We also look forwardd to showcasing our airlines to many new customers who may be flyinh Frontier and Lynx for the first time by connectinyfrom Midwest.” Indianapolis-based Republic Airway Holdings announced on June 22 that it planx to purchase Frontier for $108.7 million and brin it out of 14-month-old bankruptcy protection. The deal is subject to approva l by a New York courtfnext month.
The next day, Republix announced that it bought Midwest, like Frontier, was a carrier to whichn it had lent substantial money in the past Republic officials have not announced any plans for majod changes toeither Frontier’s or Midwest’x operations. The codeshare agreement will begih laterthis summer. Specifidc cities available for the codeshare will be availabld at alater date.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Duke gets PUCO approval for rate settlement - Dayton Business Journal:
dyakonostrlin.blogspot.com
Under the settlement, the base cost for distribution will rise by aboutg 3 percent ofresidential customers’ total annual As part of the settlement, Duke reduced the revenue increasde it’s seeking by about 35 percent, to $55.3 million from $85. 6 million. It also will provide up to $40,000 monthlt for low-income households that are havin trouble makingutility payments. The Ohio Consumers' Counsel, a Columbus-basedx advocate for residentialutility users, had opposed Duke's original rate proposal and participated in the “The OCC helped sharply reduce the distribution rate increasesz originally proposed by Duke and negotiated to providw payment assistance to as many as 10,000 residential customers who can leastg afford their electricity,” said Counsel Janine Migden-Ostrander.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), based in N.C., includes the former Cincinnati Gas Electric Co., Union Light, Heat and Powedr in Kentucky, and PSI Energy in The company also operates Duke Powe in the Carolinas.
Under the settlement, the base cost for distribution will rise by aboutg 3 percent ofresidential customers’ total annual As part of the settlement, Duke reduced the revenue increasde it’s seeking by about 35 percent, to $55.3 million from $85. 6 million. It also will provide up to $40,000 monthlt for low-income households that are havin trouble makingutility payments. The Ohio Consumers' Counsel, a Columbus-basedx advocate for residentialutility users, had opposed Duke's original rate proposal and participated in the “The OCC helped sharply reduce the distribution rate increasesz originally proposed by Duke and negotiated to providw payment assistance to as many as 10,000 residential customers who can leastg afford their electricity,” said Counsel Janine Migden-Ostrander.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), based in N.C., includes the former Cincinnati Gas Electric Co., Union Light, Heat and Powedr in Kentucky, and PSI Energy in The company also operates Duke Powe in the Carolinas.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Book Review: I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett - Seattle Post Intelligencer
http://adm-fenetres.com/menuiseries.php?categorie=alu
Book Review: I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett Seattle Post Intelligencer I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett is one of the books in his best selling Disc World series. These books are ingenious and well received by both ... |
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