2011年12月18日星期日

Military Veterans Plan a whole new Position


Former Dark blue Small Specialist Ronnie Reum is aware of tips on how to risk-free go beyond any helicopter on the underwater though is without a doubt acquiring trouble choosing clientele just for her modest commercial-cleaning provider.

The 36-year-old expert, having minor organization practical experience, Belstaff Outlet is staying mentored around selling thanks to a strong eight-month-old "business accelerator. inch Seasoned Entrepreneurial Shift Inc. about Milwaukee is without a doubt considered one of some totally free products that are fitted with jumped together in recent times that will veterans planning to come to be people immediately after hurting to attend a civilian employees.

VETransfer is definitely entirely pertaining to veterans, for instance Bob Burns, kept, plus Ronnie Reum, perfect. Mr. Reum, your 36-year-old ex - Deep blue Small Expert, pronounces he previously to attend all five many months only to find yourself in. Extra images along with interactive illustrations or photos

At VETransfer, Moncler Vest Mr. Reum includes entry to qualified advisors and open office space house together with Websites including a cellphone sections to do his particular small business. They dreams that program's agents might help the pup work out how to convert an individual's Milwaukee start-up, Healthy and balanced Spots Cleanup, to a worthwhile organization. A seasoned, whom quit a uniform around 2002 right after a physical injury, going the organization around the later part of 2010. Mr. Reum affirms the work, which in turn got sales approximately $25, 000 2010, can be the most important revenue stream.

Overall require can be flying designed for sign up around packages intended to benefit veterans start up organizations.

Mr. Reum suggests he'd to attend six many months just simply for any video slot for VETransfer, by way of example.

Ted Lasser, Canada Goose Parka govt overseer involving VETransfer, affirms you'll find pertaining to fourty veterans who seem to now want to be throughout. This method, primarily based outside a new 15, 000-square 12 inches center, can be financed by Dept with Veterans Relationships along with driven by the power team regarding half dozen businessmen. Your dog at the start likely them to give no cost support and even sources so that you can just about several veteran-owned start-ups. Though to go out with this software includes were able to generate place around one hundred sixty, providing pertaining to 50 on-site as well as majority as a result of the world wide web.

Most VETransfer people are required in which to stay this software to get few months to somewhat of a calendar year.

Wait prospect lists for a lot of several other products will be provided one full year. The standard delay may possibly raise possibly even more around 2012, through thousands company affiliates collection to come back right from Iraq with the close of your yr.

The lack of employment amount designed for veterans who seem to provided inside military services whenever ever since Sept 2001so-called Beach War-era II veteransis 11. 1%, while using Agency involving Crews Reports. A country wide lack of employment amount previously is during 8. 6%.

Due for you to structural work day throughout the market, Belstaff Jacket there exists "decreasing demand from customers to get upon blue-collar work opportunities that a great many veterans happen to be properly trained regarding in its chores with the uniform, inch affirms Rich Burkhauser, your teacher involving economics during Cornell Institution around Ithaca, In. Y simply.

More as compared with 300 franchisersranging via domestic details for instance 7-Eleven Inc. plus Dunkin' Makes Class Inc. for you to lesser-known organizations just like You. Vertisements. Your lawn Inc. and even Care Transitionshave pledged a lot to deliver economical offers to make sure you veterans by having a enterprise together with the Global Operation Bureau, a industry's most significant buy and sell set.

Mail Box And many others. Inc., a new San Diego-based retail price transporting plus business-services operation that will works out in the name UPS Hold, features veterans a new $10, 000 discounted to the $29, 950 business price for your UPS Save. Plus starting up throughout Present cards, the firm is going to waive your entire bill to the initially 10 getting qualification veterans whom sign up well before 06 31, 2012, suggests Stuart Mathis, us president involving Snail mail Box.

But lots of veterans which include Mr. Reum declare they will opt to build up their unique enterprises out of damage.

Securing good loans, having said that, is actually a widespread obstacle.

"Many ones lack loads of basic coaching round ways to leave the house and even follow common options for funding, inch affirms Henry Haynie, your teacher involving entrepreneurship during Syracuse University's Whitman The school with Control. To get budgetary 2011, which will broken throughout Sept, small Organization Supervision sure contemplate, 311 personal loans pertaining to veterans, all the way down via several, 907 truly, however just how much reinforced increased by to help you $1. forty-nine million 2010 out of $1. 3 million in 2009.

Mr. Haynie, your ex - Air flow Compel expert, features made it easier for to set three entrepreneurship-training software to get veterans nationally, which in turn change long plus number. A person software, were only available in 2007, can be wide open just to inept veterans. The idea gotten 500 uses it yeartwice up to continue yearfor exclusively 175 video poker machines.

The packages were financed usually by way of firms including Wal-Mart Merchants Inc., Humana Inc. plus PepsiCo Inc. Meagan Jackson, overseer on the trying to recycle application within PepsiCo, affirms your wine developer provides $500, 000 12 months to get 36 months to help you among the list of Syracuse products, and the PepsiCo can be reaping benefits for as a result of plugging it has the assist just for veterans on advertising elements to the taking step.

There is not a approach to evaluate just what exactly, if perhaps just about any, included price a "accelerator" software give so that you can individuals that be involved. A number of report intangible benefits associated with learning and even guidance. People examine entrepreneurship principles.

"It genuinely planted that foot work on what so that you can effectively take up a home business, inch affirms Shannon Meehan, who seem to enjoyed inside of a bootcamp to get veterans by using ailments located at Syracuse Institution inside Come early july when looking several calendar months to acquire throughout.

The 28-year-old original Internet marketer chief pronounces they're today putting on the data she or he accomplished through the programsuch seeing that ways to will include a online business along with establish a user basetoward your start-up, labeled Planning Liberty LLC, that will makes a speciality of embroidering art logos which will utilize a military-style camouflage-pattern in T-shirts, thermals and various attire.

"I was actually seeking a product to perform at my everyday living, inch affirms Mr. Meehan, who seem to allowed to remain a government during the past year on account of a trauma. "There's some sort of satisfaction together with becoming encircled by simply additional veterans, inches he / she contributes. "A great number of these individuals have been such as me personally. They a thought however don't understand what you can do by using it. inches

Mr. Meehan's enterprise is actually functioning along with 4 personnel. He or she affirms he is using this method from making a provider web site in addition to licensing savings consequently they can embroider sports-team along with other branded trademarks.

Applicants for your applications any longer ! end up being fresh new outside the army. Fast expert Kevin Jones, 50, is holding out to escape VETransfer. This individual released the real-estate expenditure organization just last year not to mention shows he or she desires guidance expanding the idea because doing so just isn't earning ample source of income. "My skills provides just become us a long way, inches states that Mr. Jones, what individuals eventually left the particular Navy blue within 1989. While waiting they are operating as a possible electric pc professional, among the many low-paying work he's juggled nowadays for you to pay the bills. "I surely could understand began nevertheless I cannot this reach who after that degree. "

2011年12月16日星期五

Factory workers: Mankind stabs spouse so that you can fatality from commercial lender around Sc Walmart

Holiday consumers within a Sc Walmart monitored around scary like a guy stabbed his particular spouse to help passing away while in the retailer in a warm point, bodies believed.

The enormous container retail store continued opened up for the purpose of business enterprise once the grisly slaying, criminal arrest not to mention witnesses stated.

Avery Blandin, Belstaff Giubbotti forty six, in Simpsonville, is without a doubt looking homicide rates meant for brutally stabbing their lover, Lila Blandin, 37, because the woman was initially proved helpful within a commercial lender placed contained in the Greenville retail store upon Monday, factory workers also told nearby sta WYFF.

Phillip Tallent had been purchasing for Christmas time equipment along with loved ones when ever your dog read the actual chill screams.

"When As i gazed, Goose Jakker I was able to observe two stabbing exercises, as well as I actually did start to go at the entrance, inches Tallent also told the actual sta. "When I received all the way up presently there... (the person) appeared to be make stomping actions from (the girl) along the girl's breasts as well as guitar's neck region. ”

Blandin fled that market, Canada Goose Parka however police embroiled utilizing him or her subsequent to your dog damaged their van within vacation endeavor, criminal arrest believed.

Lila Blandin passed later on within a area facility, bodies believed.

Holiday good buy seekers stated people were sickened that stow didn’t nearby following the grisly assault.

"I watched there's bloodstream all over, Canada Goose among the bushes, shared, in the outlet, inches patron Brittany Full shared with WYFF. "It's disrespectful with the loved ones that going barefoot taken place that will. Particularly the public and then the workforce what person noticed it again materialize. "

Greenville Local deputies says it was subsequently the actual store's final choice to last amenable soon after law enforcement landed as well as roped from the gore-splattered transgression picture.

"We made, simply because questioned, near a lot of our market checkout spot enabling the authorities to complete their own get the job done and give a few volume of comfort, provided with typically the conditions, inches Walmart spokeswoman Dianna Gee also told WYFF.

Blandin had been kept in your Greenville Local Detention Target.

2011年11月29日星期二

L.A. D-Fenders get the stage all to themselves for a while

The NBA won't resume until Christmas, so players in the Development League have a chance to show their skills to basketball-hungry fans,Moncler outlet as well as scouts.
The players walk down the hallway to practice and see the pictures of Kobe Bryant,Moncler spaccio Pau Gasol and the rest of the Lakers.

They step onto the practice court and see the retired jerseys of Magic Johnson, Jerry West, James Worthy, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the Lakers' other Hall of Famers. They also see championship banners hanging on the walls and the Lakers' championship trophies in an upstairs office window.

The setting has left many Los Angeles D-Fenders in awe and somewhat overwhelmed — despite the fact they are pro basketball players and,Sito moncler at the moment, the only active pro hoops team in town while the new NBA labor deal awaits a ratification vote by players and owners. The NBA probably will begin its season on Christmas Day.

The D-Fenders, part of the NBA's Development League,Moncler giubbotti are owned by the Buss family and are playing their home games this season on the Lakers' practice court at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo.

For D-Fender guard Franklin Session, the atmosphere is even more surreal because he went to Jordan High.

"Sometimes I see myself staring at the walls and not even focused on what I need to focus on. It's so crazy," Session said. The 6-foot-2 guard played for Cal State Los Angeles last season, averaging 13.1 points a game. "I'm from Watts, so … for me to even be on this floor is like outstanding. I couldn't picture this in a million years."

Because of the NBA lockout, no player selected in the June NBA draft or anyone who played in the NBA last season was eligible to be on a D-League roster to start the season. As a result, the D-Fenders are a ragtag team of hopefuls, all trying to play their way into the NBA or attract interest from an overseas team.

The D-Fenders (2-1) won their home opener Monday over the Reno Bighorns.

To draw fans to the 24 D-Fenders home games, the Buss family is offering various Lakers incentives, including a chance to buy two tickets to a Lakers game every month and get a first crack at Lakers individual playoff tickets. A courtside D-Fenders season ticket costs $1,800. The El Segundo facility holds 365 seats and the game Monday was a sellout.

Plenty of NBA scouts are expected to attend the D-Fenders games.

It will give the players a chance to shine, as it will D-Fenders Coach Eric Musselman, 47, formerly a head coach in the NBA for three seasons with the Golden State Warriors and the Sacramento Kings.

"We've talked over and over how this is an advantage for them that they've never had before in the D-League like they will now," Musselman said. "They're going to be on the biggest stage that they've ever been on."

D-Fenders guard Jamaal Tinsley has been on the big stage before.

He played seven seasons with the Indiana Pacers and 38 games during the 2009-10 season with the Memphis Grizzlies, averaging 9.8 points and 6.6 assists during his career. Last season Tinsley kept working out, waiting for a call from an NBA team that never came.

"That's my goal, is to get back to the NBA," Tinsley said. "Right now, I'm an L.A. D-Fender and I thank them for giving me this opportunity. I'm here to win games for the D-Fenders and hopefully win a championship. If I get called up, I get called up."

Call-ups do happen. Last season 20 D-Leaguers played for NBA teams.

And it means a big pay jump. Salaries for D-League players range from $13,000 to $25,500, compared with the NBA minimum pay of about $473,000 for a full season.

Tinsley, at 33, is the oldest player on the D-Fenders, and Session, at 22, is the youngest. Others include Brandon Costner, a 6-9, 230-pound forward/center, who played in the D-League last season for Utah, and 6-6 guard Elijah Millsap, younger brother of Utah Jazz power forward Paul Millsap.

Musselman said those attending the games will see a D-Fenders team with players who give maximum effort because "they are fighting for survival."

"We want to try and be the best team in the D-League," he said. "And we also want to have more call-ups than any team."

2011年11月8日星期二

Digital Living Room Discussion Hits Home at Streaming Media West

LOS ANGELES — As consumers increasingly have more options with which to engage their content of choice, the concept of the “digital living room,” Belstaff Jacket or the “connected living room,” is becoming the norm, panelists at the Streaming Media West conference said Nov. 8.
Paul Sweeting, principal with Concurrent Media Strategies, highlighted three distinct ways the digital living room is being addressed: a device-centric view, wherein a particular Internet-connected device is the hub of the living room; a content-centric view, wherein users take content they normally would consume in the living room (movies, TV shows, video games)Belstaff Blouson and migrate it onto other types of screens, aside from the television; and a service-centric view, which sees the main challenge as bringing new types of interactive services into the living room.
“The question has always surrounded long-form Internet-delivered videos and how do you get free TV,” said Jason Spivak, SVP of worldwide digital distribution with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. “… Clearly now with the game consoles, connected televisions, connected Blu-ray players, that’s been solved.”
Russ Schafer, senior director with Yahoo Connected TV, Belstaff said the platform is in 10 million homes, after launching 36 months ago, and is projected to be in 16 million homes by early 2012.
“We added support in January … that enabled tablets to connect as well,” he said. “So no matter what device a consumer chooses, they can experience the content and actually push content back and forth within the device. For us, it’s whatever happens to be the next technology that emerges device-wise, we want to enable that as well.”
Chris Young, CEO of Digital Broadcasting Group, on the other hand, offered insight from the perspective of a content provider.
“We’re very much screen agnostic,” he said. “So we’re providing content that can be consumed by consumers however they want Belstaff Outlet. If it’s on a tablet, on a connected TV, on the Internet, it’s our responsibility to deliver across that.”
DBG produced a show “The Confession,” which aired in March on Hulu, starring Kiefer Sutherland as a New York hit man and John Hurt as a priest. The program, Young said, introduced a new trend.
“The idea there was to prove that the digital living room had arrived and that broadcast-quality programming with ‘A’ production value, ‘A’ talent could originate online, and reverse its way back to TV,” Young said. “That’s what we’ve done.”
Jeff Shultz, SVP of business development with Clicker.com, said ultimately the success of the digital living room lies in “robust” business models.
“We can figure out the perfect device, and we can figure out the means of getting content into the living room, and engaging with it in different ways and discovering content that was previously unavailable, but only robust business models — which exist today in the form of multichannel programming offerings — are getting mainstream content to consumers,” he said.
“Technology has gotten to the point now where I think we’re really close to delivering on the compelling digital living room experience, but there has to be a business model to support the delivery of content,” Shultz added.
 

2011年10月26日星期三

Skycouch Promotion





Learn about this special offer which allows you to upgrade to Air New Zealand's Skycouch™ at special prices.  Available on the Los Angeles to Auckland route for travel 1 Apr - 8 Jun 2012 and the Los Angeles to London route for travel 07 Nov - 30 Nov 2011.

Mason & Jason

Mason & Jason are a unique pair of inseparable sheep twins who have always found conventional airline seats to be, shall we say, not well suited to their situation. With the introduction of our brand new Skycouch however, they’ve found a spot onboard that’s the perfect fit.

The Skycouch™ is a trio of  Economy Class seats that together create a flexible space for whatever you want it to be - an area to relax and stretch out in, or for the kids to use as a play area. It’s like having your very own couch on the plane.
Skycouch™ Special Offer - Los Angeles to Auckland
 for travel commencing 1 Apr - 8 Jun 2012

      round trip Economy Class airfare from      Skycouch™ Upgrade
round trip per person
Party of 3     $998* per person     $90†
Party of 2     $998* per person      $400†



* Excludes Government fees and taxes of up to $90 USD, depending on routing, which encompasses the Passenger Facility Charge of $4.50 and the September 11th Security Fee of $2.50 USD per person per enplanement in the USA to a maximum of $10.00 USD. Taxes are subject to currency exchange fluctuation and may vary from the estimated taxes shown.Additional baggage charges may apply. Other terms & conditions apply, see below.


Skycouch™ Special Offer - Los Angeles to London
 for travel commencing 07 Nov - 30 Nov 11

      round trip Economy Class airfare from      Skycouch™ Upgrade
round trip per person
Party of 3     $598* per person     $60†
Party of 2     $598* per person     $200†



* Excludes Government fees and taxes of up to $200 USD, depending on routing, which encompasses the Passenger Facility Charge of $4.50 and the September 11th Security Fee of $2.50 USD per person per enplanement in the USA to a maximum of $10.00 USD. Taxes are subject to currency exchange fluctuation and may vary from the estimated taxes shown.Additional baggage charges may apply. Other terms & conditions apply, see below.

Air New Zealand has reinvented air travel with our new fleet of Boeing 777-300 planes that have been thoughtfully designed with passengers in mind. Our new planes offer imaginative seating options, state-of-the-art technology, and a host of unique amenities including the ability to order  drinks via your personal touch screen, over 500 hours of on demand in-flight entertainment available gate-to-gate, and complimentary in-flight concierge service.

Book online now.
Explore our hotel deals
Download now.
Download a free New Zealand destination guide and map
Receive special offers by email.
Receive special offers by email




The seats themselves are our Economy seats with armrests that disappear into the back of the seat. There’s also a trinket tray, a winged headrest and a sleep pillow on every seat.

What makes the Skycouch™ different to other Economy seats is the way the trio of seats transform. With a touch of a button, a footrest will come out from under each of the three seats which you can pull up to create a flat, flexible space for you to use however you like. By booking this three-wide seat space, you really can get the most from your long-haul flying experience.

Air New Zealand offers this price for purchase on this website. If you prefer to speak with a specialist, please call our contact center at 800-262-1234. Higher airfares will apply to bookings made over the telephone.

*TERMS & CONDITIONS

†Skycouch™ upgrades: The upgrade fees shown are for round trip travel  and are paid in addition to an Economy fare(s). The Skycouch™ upgrade fees will be given at the time of booking your Economy travel, please select Skycouch™ when prompted with the upgrade message. Airfares stated above exclude estimated taxes. The Economy Skycouch™ fee calculation is based on the number of passengers occupying the group of seats. Each seating option provides a different number of seats and will present a different fee amount. Booking an Economy Skycouch™ allocates three Economy seats to your booking. Each Skycouch™   must include a minimum of one adult passenger .

* TERMS & CONDITIONS

PLEASE READ THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THIS SITE. By using this site, you signify you have read and accept these terms and conditions. If you do not agree to these terms, do not use the site.

Fare/Pricing Details - Round trip economy class airfare per person on specified Air New Zealand operated flights between Los Angeles and New Zealand or  Los Angeles and London. Fare is subject to availability and may be withdrawn, changed or extended at any time. Fare listings are for general information only and not a reflection of current seat availability.

Taxes and fees: Excludes all Government fees and taxes of up to $90 USD to Auckland and $200 USD to London which include the  Passenger Facility charge of $4.50 USD and September 11 Security Fee of $2.50 USD per person for each enplanement in the USA, to a maximum of $10.00 USD per person. Taxes, surcharges and fees are subject to currency fluctuation and routing and may vary up or down slightly from the estimated taxes shown.

Payment & Ticketing - Ticket must be purchased at least 2 days prior to travel. Bookings made online must be purchased immediately with credit card. Prices are in US dollars and offer is available in the USA only. Electronic Tickets will be issued on all eligible routes and sent to the email address provided in the booking process. Flights with Air New Zealand (NZ) designator qualify for electronic tickets. No waitlists are permitted. Prices are subject to change at any time. We want to provide you with the most competitive fare deals in a fluctuating marketplace and because of this, prices may go down. Under the fare rules of all fare types (excluding full price fares) we are not able to provide rebooking with a refund of the difference in price if a lower fare becomes available. Please read all fare rules carefully before booking.

Cancellations/Changes - Changes are permitted for $150 USD change penalty per adult/child subject to booking class availability. A service fee of $50 USD per person will apply to changes. New ticket must be of equal or greater value than original ticket.  Ticket is non-refundable; non-endorseable and non-transferable; .For No-shows ticket value is forfeited. Other restrictions may apply.

Baggage Allowance - Learn about our Baggage Allowance.  Additional charges may apply.

Stopovers - not permitted.

Frequent Flyer - Frequent Flyer accrual with programs other than Airpoints is not permitted.

Minimum/Maximum stays - 6 months.

Children/Infants - Accompanied children 2-11 years pay 75% of base fare to Auckland  and the full fuel surcharge of $300; and 80% of the base fare to London and teh full fuel surcharge of $362. Accompanied infants under two years of age not occupying a seat pay 10%. Only one infant discount per adult passenger. For information regarding services for young children, services for young children.

Travel Documentation - Passengers are responsible for obtaining necessary travel visas, or other documentation required for international travel. For further information, regarding travel documentation, please go to travel documentation.

2011年10月24日星期一

Zachary Quinto getting in Spock shape for ‘Star Trek’ sequel

It’s been a busy week for a certain young Vulcan. Zachary Quinto’s first effort as a producer, the Wall Street thriller “Margin Call,” in which he also stars, hits theaters on Friday. On the eve of the film’s New York premiere, Quinto acknowledged publicly that he’s gay for the first time. In our interview in Thursday’s newspaper, Quinto talks about the meaning of this moment to him, on a personal and professional level.

Quinto’s “Margin Call” role shares a lot in common with Spock — he plays a brainy young investment bank analyst. In November, Quinto said he’ll turn to a very different kind of challenge — readying for a major Spock action scene in J.J. Abrams’ long-awaited “Star Trek” sequel, which starts production in January.

“There’s a big sequence for me that I have to prepare for in this movie physically so I’m training, working on getting in some serious shape, building my cardio endurance, preparing to run a lot,” Quinto said.

While Leonard Nimoy’s Spock was more about mental fitness than physical stunts, Quinto said the new “Trek” franchise already has broken out of that mold: “One of the climactic scenes for me in the first movie was when I go against that grain and lose my cool and beat up Kirk. So I think they’re trying to change that up a little bit and not have him be just intellectual but also have another side.”

As an actor, Quinto is best known for his two genre roles — Spock and as the villainous Sylar from NBC “Heroes” — but that’s not by design, he said.

“I never would have anticipated sci fi factoring so prominently in my career,” Quinto said. “It was not a genre I spent a lot of my own time immersed in. Comic books was not really my bag. I’m grateful for it. I come from a theater background. That’s how I learned to act. There’s something very theatrical about the world of ‘Heroes,’ of ‘Star Trek,’ so it was an easy fit for me. It was comfortable, more on the basis of technique than content…. But to be so closely associated with one of the most iconic characters in the history of sci fi, I have to work a little harder against that expectation.”

2011年10月19日星期三

Oil & Natural Gas Share Sale Likely in November





NEW DELHI - The follow-on share sale of India's Oil & Natural Gas Corp. Ltd. will likely take place in November, the additional secretary in the department of disinvestment said Wednesday.
However, the government's Steel Authority Of India share sale may not take place this fiscal year, Sidhartha Pradhan said.

The government aims to raise 400 billion rupees through the sale of stakes in state-run companies this fiscal year through March, but it has been able to raise only about 11.45 billion rupees so far amid weak market conditions.

2011年10月16日星期日

Jim Harbaugh gets under another coach's skin





The Green Bay Packers separated themselves from the top of the NFL, emerging from the weekend at 6-0 and the league's only undefeated team.
The Indianapolis Colts separated themselves in the other direction, dropping to a league-worst 0-6. St. Louis is 0-5 and Miami, which plays at the New York Jets on Monday, is 0-4.

And then there's the separation that had millions of viewers rewinding their DVRs — the quarrelsome quarantine of coaches Jim Schwartz of Detroit and Jim Harbaugh of San Francisco.

Yes, the game of the day led to the postgame of the season, as an irate Schwartz — who had just watched his Lions lose for the first time — lost his cool and went after a leaping-and-hollering Harbaugh, whose postgame celebration made Jim Valvano look reserved. It was reminiscent of a tense midfield meeting with then-USC coach Pete Carroll when Harbaugh was at Stanford.

This time, the excitable Harbaugh, in his first season as an NFL head coach, bounded over to Schwartz after the 49ers' 25-19 victory at Ford Field, and in one abrupt motion vigorously shook the hand of the Lions' coach while pushing past him to continue celebrating.

It was "kind of a slap-grab handshake," Harbaugh said later.

"I was really revved up," he said. "That wasn't me. Just shook his hand too hard. That's on me."

Schwartz looked stunned for a moment, then turned and chased down Harbaugh, using his forearm to shove the 49ers coach in the shoulder. Angry shouts were exchanged. Players stepped between the coaches, the cluster grew — some players even putting their helmets back on as if preparing to rumble — until cooler heads prevailed and the teams made their way to their locker rooms.

"I went to congratulate Coach Harbaugh and got shoved out of the way," Schwartz said. "Didn't expect an obscenity at that point, so it was a surprise to me at the end of the game."

Schwartz didn't specify who swore at him, but it seemed clear he was accusing Harbaugh.

"You win a game like that and you're excited," Schwartz said. "But there's a protocol that goes with this league."

As for their play this season, the 49ers are definitely going against type. They're 3-0 on the road for the first time since 1992 and already have a 2½-game lead in the NFC West.

What's more, Alex Smith is making the big plays when he needs to. On fourth down with less than two minutes to play, Smith threw a six-yard touchdown pass to Delanie Walker to give San Francisco the go-ahead score.

The 49ers left it up to their defense to slam the door, something that unit does very well.

Said Harbaugh of the victory, which came despite 15 penalties by San Francisco: "It fires me up a lot. If that offends you or anybody else, then so be it."

Hazardous work

The Harbaugh-Schwartz skirmish wasn't the only strange coaching occurrence of the day. New Orleans Coach Sean Payton, standing on the sideline at Tampa Bay, couldn't jump out of the way fast enough to avoid Saints tight end Jimmy Graham, who fell on the coach as he was knocked backward out of bounds.

Payton suffered a torn knee ligament and fractured tibia, or shinbone, in his left leg. He was helped off the field and wound up calling the rest of the game from the bench, with his leg elevated. The Saints wound up losing, as the Buccaneers pulled even with them in the NFC South.

Oakland Raiders quarterback Jason Campbell suffered a broken collarbone Sunday and is probably done for the season. Kyle Boller replaced him and finished the game, which means former Ohio State star Terrelle Pryor will almost certainly move into the No. 2 spot behind him.
After Sunday's game, Pryor told reporters he's trying to get up to speed as fast as possible but stepping into that role will be a challenge.

Pryor was suspended for the first five games of the season and was on the sideline for the first time Sunday to watch the victory over Cleveland. The Raiders play host to Kansas City on Sunday.

According to the San Jose Mercury News, Pryor told reporters after the game that he has practiced only two days and would be able to step into a backup role "with a minimum amount of plays."

Pryor said the "classroom and being on the field is two completely different things. So some of this stuff is a little longer, the plays and stuff like that. I'm just trying to get a grip on calling the plays fully."

Although he emphasized his confidence "is never a problem," Pryor couldn't say whether he will take any reps in practice right away.

"I don't know," he said. "I'm just waking up tomorrow to watch some film and start a new week."

Another possibility: The Raiders could re-sign former Buffalo starting quarterback Trent Edwards, who was with the team in training camp.

Trick for six

Raiders punter Shane Lechler, who holds on kicks, caught the Browns off guard on a fake field goal, dumping a pass to Kevin Boss for a 35-yard touchdown.

According to NBC, Lechler is the first punter to throw a touchdown pass since Washington's Hunter Smith in 2009.

Oakland's other special-teams touchdown came when Jacoby Ford returned a kickoff 101 yards.

Streak breakers

Even though they can't put many hometown fans in the stands, the Cincinnati Bengals have to be feeling good as they head into their week off. They have a promising rookie quarterback in Andy Dalton, and, as of Week 6, the No. 1-ranked defense.

Sunday, they extended their winning streak to three games — their first such run in two years — and ended a seven-game losing streak against Indianapolis, which has never lost to the Bengals with Peyton Manning at quarterback.

A week ago, Cincinnati won at Jacksonville for the first time in eight tries. And a week before that, the Bengals beat Buffalo, ending a 10-game losing streak to the Bills (who had been unbeaten).

Middle finger-backer

Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk threw someone down, then threw something up. After sacking the Rams' Sam Bradford in the second quarter Sunday, Hawk raised his middle finger and directed it toward the Green Bay sideline. There was no mistaking the gesture, which was caught by TV cameras.

Hawk apologized afterward, calling it a "running joke" among the Packers.

"It was a joke, and I kind of got caught up in the emotion of the game," he said. "I definitely apologize if any kids or anyone else saw it. I have a daughter myself, so I wouldn't want her doing that. I got excited and I got caught up in the game. It was just, I guess, a bad joke. I definitely won't do it again."

That promise might not save him from being fined by the NFL.

2011年10月12日星期三

Banks turn to demolition of foreclosed properties to ease housing-market pressures





Cleveland — The sight of excavators tearing down vacant buildings has become common in this foreclosure-ravaged city, where the housing crisis hit early and hard. But the story behind the recent wave of demolitions is novel — and cities around the country are taking notice.

A handful of the nation’s largest banks have begun giving away scores of properties that are abandoned or otherwise at risk of languishing indefinitely and further dragging down already depressed neighborhoods.
The banks have even been footing the bill for the demolitions — as much as $7,500 a pop. Four years into the housing crisis, the ongoing expense of upkeep and taxes, along with costly code violations and the price of marketing the properties, has saddled banks with a heavy burden. It often has become cheaper to knock down decaying homes no one wants.

The demolitions in some cases have paved the way for community gardens, church additions and parking lots. Even when the result is an empty lot, it can be one less pockmark. While some widespread demolitions could risk hollowing out the urban core of struggling cities such as Cleveland, advocates say that the homes being targeted are already unsalvageable and that the bulldozers are merely “burying the dead.”

T he task of plowing under the homes rests with the Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corp., which grew out of a 2009 state law aimed at creating “land banks” with the power and money to acquire unwanted properties and put them to better use — or at least put them out of their misery.

The efforts have led other states to pursue similar laws to deal with their own foreclosure epidemics. New York passed a comparable measure this summer. Similar legislation is in the works in Georgia, Philadelphia and elsewhere.

Cleveland has found progress in the sliver of common ground between the land bank’s mission and the interest of financial firms, including some that helped fuel the housing crisis through risky loans and later botched paperwork in carrying out foreclosures across the country.

This collaboration was uncomfortable at first, said Gus Frangos, the Cuyahoga land bank’s president and one of the people behind the state law.

“Two years ago, when we started . . . it was difficult,” he said. “Everybody was guarded.”

After countless meetings, however, land bank officials and banking representatives shed their initial wariness of one another. Frangos made a simple pitch: We’re not here to point fingers. We’ll take your worst properties, the ones not worth keeping. Pony up for the demolition, and you’ll still come out ahead. Just don’t walk away from them.

Bank of America and Wells Fargo announced plans this summer to donate more than 100 properties to the land bank. J.P. Morgan Chase also has made regular donations, and several other banks have given sporadically. Fannie Mae, the massive mortgage finance company seized by the federal government three years ago, began donating properties early on and now hands over about 30 properties a month, Frangos said.