Saturday, November 10, 2007
The U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled more products over the last few days, though not all because of excessive lead.
While American toy companies have been rocked in the last few months by numerous unsafe Chinese-made products, mostly due to excessive amounts of lead in paint, a few of the latest recalls were actually due to design flaws.
Also recently recalled are sunglasses and toy cars from the Dollar General chain of price-point retailers.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Recent tests have shown that an inexpensive drug may be able to kill cancer cells in humans. Dichloroacetate, a drug generally used to treat rare metabolic disorders, has shown the potential to assist in the treatment of brain, lung, and breast cancers, researchers at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada say.
Dr. Evangelos Michelakis of the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada found that that DCA causes tumor regressions in animals with human cancers. Testing showed that DCA attacked cancer cells but did not attack healthy cells.
The researchers and the Alberta Cancer Board and Capital Health do not advise the use of DCA to treat cancer yet, as clinical trials for the drugs use to treat cancer have not been performed yet.
Unlike healthy cells, cancerous cells do not convert food molecules into energy in the mitochondria. Instead, they rely on a process known as glycolysis, which takes place in the main body of the cell, while the mitochondria are “shut down”, researchers believe possibly due to the lack of oxygen supply to cells in the middle of a tumor.
This means that another key function of the mitochondria – to activate an abnormal cell’s self-destruct mechanism, apoptosis – is also blocked.
When Dichloroacetate (DCA) enters a cancer cell, it restarts the mitochondria which in turn activate apoptosis, and the cancerous cell destroys itself.
DCA is known to be relatively safe, although pain, numbness and gait disturbances may occur. The drug is also expected to be cheaper to manufacture than other drugs since there is no patent for it.
By John Ash
One of the most tried and true methods of getting the best possible price on a home is to offer the seller less than the asking price.
Yet, many home buyers are hesitant to use this method of negotiating. They feel as if a low offer will insult the seller. Some real estate agents have acknowledged that many home buyers have also expressed a sense of shame or embarrassment by not offering the asking price.
True, you may in fact encounter many sellers who are offended by your low offer, but there are ways to prevent this from happening. It’s just a matter of assuring the seller that the price you are offering is what works best for your purposes and taking the time to explain your reasoning.
Is it not worth the gamble if there is potential to save anywhere from $10,000 or $40,000 on the deal? Think about it. That’s more money to allocate towards any renovations or furniture for the house.
Sellers definitely have an emotional attachment to their house but this doesn’t necessarily mean they will be insulted by a low offer. Many sellers and their realtors recognize that a buyer’s initial offer is nothing more than an opening negotiating ploy where the buyer is feeling out exactly how desperate the seller is to part with the property.
But, to cover your bases, you should accompany any low offer with an explanation as to why you feel the price cut is fair. For instance, if the property is in need of updating, particularly potentially expensive items like a roof, wiring, appliances and the furnace, you could specifically state this to help offset the possibility of insulting the seller.
If you have a friend or family member who is a contractor, take them with you to view the house, and have them work up an estimate of the potential cost of any renovations to include with the offer. If the bathroom doesn’t meet your criteria – how much will it cost to renovate the bathroom to suit your needs? By breaking things down like this, you are showing the seller that your offer isn’t intended as a slap in the face but more or less a means to show them the perspective from your side.
Hopefully, you are reducing the risk that the seller will be so insulted by your low offer that they refuse to counter and cut off negotiations completely. With any luck, particularly if the location isn’t necessarily a seller’s market, the seller might even question whether or not they’ve overpriced the house upon reviewing your offer and comments. Explaining your reasoning will also give the seller the opportunity to correct any misjudgment on your part. For instance, maybe the roof isn’t as old as you thought and they can make you aware of that fact.
Check out the market locally to determine if you have any leverage in making a low initial offer. It’s conceivable that the seller may have the home listed on the higher end of what comparable properties in the area are actually selling for. This gives you negotiating room. Also, if the house has been on the market for some time and has already been reduced several times, the owner may have already gone as low as they can possibly go and may not be so inclined to hear out your low offer. Some research on the part of you and your real estate agent is a means to ensure that you aren’t in any way insulting the seller.
It’s also not a bad strategy to offer the seller something in return to get them to look past the low offer or come back to you with a reasonable counter offer. It may help your case if you show the seller that you have mortgage pre-approval, can close within 30 days, are willing to pay a portion of the closing costs or can provide them with a larger earnest money deposit.
The main purpose of a low end offer is to alter seller expectations. There is an art to the whole process. Some experts state that you should never offer less than 20% – 25% of the asking price but many successful real estate investors will argue this. Their belief is that this method of negotiating for real estate is worthwhile if there is one seller who accepts a low offer after a dozen or more rejections from other sellers. The bottom line is you can never predict which owners may be open to a low offer so why not explore it? Some sellers are dealing with hardships like divorce or death. Other sellers may be in a hurry to sell in order to relocate.
Plus, let’s not forget how counter offers play into the process. Let’s say that the seller has their house listed on the market at $300,000 and your initial offer is $250,000. It’s fair to speculate that the seller will reject your low offer but they may also counter it at $280,000. So, by offering less initially, you’ve still managed to knock off $20,000 from their original asking price. The sellers may even claim this as a victory themselves because they’ve managed to get you to agree to $30,000 more than your initial offer. Everyone thinks they’ve won!
About the Author: John is a contributor to a Connecticut Real Estate, Connecticut Mortgage, and Connecticut Real Estate Guide.
Source: isnare.com
Permanent Link: isnare.com/?aid=250133&ca=Real+Estate
| This article mentions the Wikimedia Foundation, one of its projects, or people related to it. Wikinews is a project of the Wikimedia Foundation. |
Monday, November 5, 2012
The following is the twelfth and final edition of a monthly series chronicling the U.S. 2012 presidential election. It features original material compiled throughout the previous month after a brief mention of some of the month’s biggest stories.
In this month’s edition on the campaign trail: a fan of Wikinews asks a critical question at the Second presidential debate; Gary Johnson discusses Syria and foreign intervention with Wikinews, and three candidates give the their final plea to voters ahead of the November 6 election.
Monday, January 16, 2006
Israeli media is reporting that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon opened his eyes for the first time since he suffered a major stroke on January 4, 2006.
However, hospital officials said the reports were generated by the Sharon family’s “impression of eyelid movement, whose medical significance is unclear.”
“He was listening to a tape of his grandson and you could see tears in his eyes for a matter of seconds before he closed them again,” a doctor treating Sharon told AFP news agency on condition of anonymity.
Army Radio, citing unidentified close associates of Sharon, say the Prime Minister could “recognize people around him.”
However, hospital officials state that it is “too early to tell whether the development represented a significant improvement or was just a temporary reflex.”
Sharon had undergone a tracheotomy on Sunday to help with his breathing and to help prevent infection from his respirator tube.
byAlma Abell
There are debt settlement companies that have your best interest at heart and then there are others. These others charge exorbitant fees and often leave you in more debt than you started with. To make matters worse, they often have reputation management companies that hide the truth about them from their customers. This is why you may never see a negative review when you do a basic Internet search. In order to avoid these scammers, you can work directly with a qualified law firm.
Working with a law firm for the best results
A law firm can provide you with the legal counseling, advisement, and services you need when seeking debt settlement. If you work with a bankruptcy law firm, they are skilled in debt settlement and can provide you with the assistance you need. Filing for bankruptcy is one of the most effective ways to wipe away your debt once and for all. This type of debt settlement will provide you with the peace of mind you deserve so you can have a fresh start and a new life. Although it can be hard to know which debt settlement companies to trust, you can have faith in law firms that are local to your area. You will know that they are around for the long run and ready to provide trusted financial services on your behalf.
Debt settlement with bankruptcy
Filing bankruptcy can help you get the debt settlement results you are looking for. Chapter 13 bankruptcy can allow you to file for protection from creditors while wiping away all of your unsecured debt. You can also settle your debt through a debt repayment plan with Chapter 13 bankruptcy. This helps you get the best out of your money instead of wasting it on programs that don’t really work for you. Paying interest on past debts can result in more debt and some debt settlement companies don’t provide the help and assistance you were hoping for.
Moving forward with your life
After you have achieved adequate debt settlement, you can work towards moving your life forward. Rebuilding takes time and involves making smarter financial decisions. Even if a change in jobs prevented you from making payments, by not accruing huge amounts of debt, you will be better prepared to handle these challenges. Debt settlement with a qualified legal team can provide you with the tips and advice you need to make the best choices for your future.
Get the debt settlement you need from the law offices of James E. Hitchcock.
Friday, June 29, 2007
A car containing an large explosive device has been defused in the Haymarket, London. A second device was later found in a car park in Park Lane.
A car, a light metallic green Mercedes-Benz E Class saloon (produced 1984-1995), parked near the nightclub ‘TigerTiger’, contained petrol, gas cylinders and nails. Police described it as a “potentially viable explosive device”.
Police carried out a controlled explosion at 2:00 a.m. BST and the car has been taken to a forensic explosives laboratory for further investigation.
Eyewitnesses saw the car driving “erratically” and colliding with bins before being abandoned. An ambulance crew in the area alerted police after seeing smoke inside the car.
Deputy Assistant Police Commissioner Peter Clarke said there could have been “significant injury or loss of life”.
A meeting of COBRA, chaired by new Home Secretary Jacqui Smith was held about the incident.
Police say it is too early to tell who is behind the threat. Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the country faces a “serious and continued security threat” and urged people to “be vigilant at all times”.
Disruption has been caused to transport in the area with roads closed and bus routes diverted. Piccadilly Circus tube station has reopened after an earlier closure
Police are reviewing major events to be held in London over the weekend.
CBS News has reported that a message appeared on the widely used jihadist Internet forum Al-Hesbah at 8:09 a.m. June 28, saying: “Today I say: Rejoice, by Allah, London shall be bombed.” The message went on to mention the recently announced knighthood of Satanic Verses author Salman Rushdie.
Following an incident at Glasgow airport, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced the elevation of the UK’s national threat level from “Severe” to “Critical”, indicating that an attack could be expected “imminently”.
Two people have been arrested in Cheshire in connection with the Glasgow International Airport attack and attempted London car bombings.
Park Lane was closed to the public due to a suspicious car parked in the underground car park beneath Hyde Park. Police, who believed the two incidents to be linked, cordoned off Park Lane and Hyde Park to allow the bomb disposal unit access to the vehicle. The car was illegally parked on Cockspur Street and was towed to the pound on Park Lane, it was then discovered that the car contained an explosive device.
Monday, June 7, 2010
An acrobatic group known by the name of Spelbound has been declared as the winner of Britain’s Got Talent 2010, a televised variety talent show competition broadcast on ITV in the United Kingdom. As the winning act of the show, Spelbound have won £100,000 (US$144,580, €120,313, A$175,079) and a place at The Royal Variety Performance, an annual gala evening that is attended by senior members of the British Royal Family.
In no particular order, the top three acts were revealed to be two dancers known by their stage name of Twist and Pulse, gymnastic group Spelbound and Kieran Gaffney, whose act involves playing on the drum kit. After Kieran Gaffney was revealed to be in third place, Anthony McPartlin, who hosts Britain’s Got Talent with Declan Donnelly, said to Kieran: “Well done Kieran. Kieran, you’re a star, you came back, you got all the way to the final. I know you’ve loved this. You’ve loved this, haven’t you?” In response to this, Kieran Gaffney stated: “Thank you very much. Thank you, everyone for supporting me. Thank you.”
Shortly afterwards, on the episode that was broadcast live on ITV1 on Saturday, Anthony announced: “After tens of thousands of auditons, five semi-finals and an amazing final, this…this is it. One of you is about to walk away with £100,000 and a place at this year’s Royal Variety Performance. The winner of Britain’s Got Talent 2010 is…Spelbound!” Glen Murphy from Twist and Pulse commented about finishing in second place, stating: “Yeah, it’s amazing. I can’t even believe it. I can’t believe it at all.”
Alex Uttley, a 24-year-old member of Spelbound, commented on the gymnastic group’s victory, commenting: “Oh, my god. This is unbelieveable. We just want to say thank you to everyone out there. It just shows that all our hard work has paid off.” One of the coaches of Spelbound, named Neil Griffiths, stated about Spelbound: “Oh, they’ve worked so hard over the last few weeks. Um, since the semi-final, we…we really had to pull out the stops to try and up the game. They’ve not known they’ve worked in the gym from six in the morning till twelve…twelve o’clock of the night. I couldn’t have asked for more. Um, it’s a team of coaches. I don’t take all the credit myself. There’s, uh, two people up there that know who they are who’ve been fantastic.”
Spelbound consists of 24-year-old Alex Uttley, Nicholas Illingworth, aged 24, Adam Buckingham, aged 21, 20-year-old Adam McAssey, 19-year-old Douglas Fordyce, 18-year-old Edward Upcott, 18-year-old Leighanne Cowler, 17-year-old Katie Axten, 17-year-old Lauren Kemp, 15-year-old Jonathan Stranks, Abigail Ralph, aged 15, 13-year-old Hollianne Wood and Amy Mackenzie, aged 12. Bookmakers had previously predicted that Spelbound would be the most likely act to become the winner of the series.
The running order for the final started with Twist and Pulse. The second act to perform was Liam McNally, a 14-year-old singer. The running order subsequently continued with 40-year-old impressionist Paul Burling, singer Christopher Stone, aged 28, Tina & Chandi, a woman and dog dancing act, Connected, a five-piece singing group, Kieran Gaffney, aged 12, 22-year-old Tobias Mead, a dancer, 80-year-old singer Janey Cutler and Spelbound in that particular order.
Earlier on in the final, Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden has stated to Spelbound: “We are hosting the 2012 Olympics and I think ‘what a brilliant opening act’.” Fellow judge Piers Morgan also commented that “[t]he purpose of this show is to identify hidden great British talent. You are that act.” After Spelbound won in the final, another judge, named Simon Cowell, stated that “the right boys and girls won on the night” and that he could “only say on live TV that that was one of the most astonishing things I have ever seen. Seriously.”
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
In solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street and other “Occupy” protests, activists set up camp outside St Paul’s Cathedral in London on Saturday, and they plan to remain indefinitely. The protest thus far has been described as “largely peaceful” by a police spokesman.
On Saturday, an estimated thousand or more people attempted to protest in Paternoster Square, the site of the London Stock Exchange, but were blocked by police enforcing a High Court judgment. Julian Assange from Wikileaks also joined the protest to address the activists. A flag flies over the occupation showing the ‘Anonymous’ logo of a headless man in a black suit.
At around 9:30am Wednesday, many campers were still asleep, but around 30–50 people were listening in solidarity to trade union representatives from the National Shop Stewards Network, while 20 to 30 officers from the City of London police watched on. On the steps of St. Paul’s Cathedral, the speakers spoke about a variety of struggles including strikes by electricians that started in August against Balfour Beatty, one of Britain’s largest construction firms. Solidarity was expressed with the travellers at Dale Farm, and speakers described how the media and others were trying to “divide” workers, students and elderly people. One of the speakers said that while today they are occupying the square in London, “tomorrow we will be occupying universities and colleges” and spoke of the suspension of Vik Chechi, the Unison branch secretary who has been suspended by Queen Mary University. By 9:45am, the trade union talks had finished and the sound system was reactivated and reggae music started playing.
After the talks peter out, activity begins to resume on the site: people sorting out tents and serving food, under signs and banners playfully mixing politics (“The London Stock Exchange: Britain’s Biggest Casino”) with Internet memes (a Reddit cartoon man depicted saying “Y U NO JOIN US?”).