General Motors automobile sales plunge by 45%
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General Motors automobile sales plunge by 45%

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

General Motors Corporation (GM) announced on Wednesday that it saw a 45% drop in United States vehicle sales for its cars in March.

Executives from several auto firms, however, said that there was some hope for the auto industry to stabilise, as car sales rebounded in the last week of March.

“The market is starting to show small signs of life which need to be nourished like seedlings,” said the vice president and chairman of Chrysler LLC Jim Press. “It’s too early to see a trend, but spring shows signs of hope.”

Other automobile manufacturers also saw their car sales slip: Chrysler and the Japanese Toyota both reported a 39% loss, whilst Ford Motor Company sales fell 41%.

Annualised sales of vehicles in the car industry in the US are predicted to have dipped below nine million in March, compared to February’s 9.12 million, which was the lowest number since 1981.

“Auto makers are pulling every lever in their effort to attract buyers, as evidenced by the new programs from Ford and GM. The typical incentive programs simply do not resonate in today’s economy,” Jesse Toprak, an analyst for Edmunds.

Ford shares gained 2.3% to a level of US$2.69 in early trading at US stock markets on Wednesday, while stocks for Toyota’s US depository increased 5.9% to $67. GM shares slipped 1.6% down to $1.92.

Iraqi restaurant hit by suicide bomber
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Iraqi restaurant hit by suicide bomber

Thursday, December 11, 2008

A suicide bombing in Iraq has killed at least 55 people and injured at least 120 more, according to local police.The suicide bomber struck at a restaurant located about 2 miles north of the ethnically mixed city of Kirkuk on Thursday morning. The Abdullah restaurant, where the explosion took place, is popular among Kurdish officials. The attack comes on the Muslim religious holiday Eid al-Adha, known in English as the “Festival of Sacrifice”.

At the time the restaurant was struck, it was full of families marking the final day of Eid. Five women and three children were among the dead.

Kirkuk is the scene of ongoing ethnic tensions, although the reasons for this attack in particular are currently unknown.

Salam Abdullah, 45, was one of the people in the restaurant at the time of the attack. “I held my wife and led her outside the place. As we were leaving, I saw dead bodies soaked with blood and huge destruction,” he stated, commenting on his experiences. “We waited outside the restaurant for some minutes. Then an ambulance took us to the hospital.”

Awad al-Jubouri, who was injured in the incident, condemned the bombers. “I do not know how a group like al-Qaida claiming to be Islamic plans to attack and kill people on sacred days like Eid. We were only meeting to discuss our problems with the Kurds and trying to impose peace among Muslims in Kirkuk.” Jubouri is a tribal leader, who was attending a lunch that was intended to precede a meeting discussing was to lessen tensions between local communities.

Last July, an affiliated restaurant of the same name was the site of a suicide bombing which claimed the lives of six and wounded twenty five.

Fernando Alonso wins 2006 Japanese Grand Prix
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Fernando Alonso wins 2006 Japanese Grand Prix

Sunday, October 8, 2006

Renault driver Fernando Alonso won the FIA Formula-1 2006 Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix on the Suzuka International Racing Course. Though Ferrari drivers Felipe Massa and Michael Schumacher started the race from the first row, Alonso managed to overtake both Toyotas on the first part of the race and Massa after the pit stops. Then Alonso started to push on Michael Schumacher and closed the gap to about 5 seconds. An engine failure forced Schumacher to park his car after the tunnel on lap 36 and the Spaniard rushed to his seventh victory in this season.

Giancarlo Fisichella, Fernando’s teammate, had a bad start, but burst through Toyota and finished on the back of the second-placed Filipe Massa. Toyota drivers Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher lost even more positions, when Honda driver Jenson Button and McLaren Mercedes driver Kimi Räikkönen slipped in front of them and finished on 4-th and 5-th place respectively.

The situation in the drivers’ championship became almost critical for Schumacher, who lost 10 points this week-end. Only one chance remains for Schumacher to win his eighth champion’s title – if he wins the final 2006 Brazilian Grand Prix and Alonso doesn’t score any points. “I have to say clearly I don’t really believe in the championship anymore,” was Schumacher’s reaction.

There remains a battle for the third place in drivers’ championship, where Massa has a one point lead ahead of Fisichella. In the constructor’s championship Renault is 9 points ahead of Ferrari.

RadioShack CEO resigns
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RadioShack CEO resigns

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

CEO of RadioShack Corp., David Edmondson resigned Friday after admitting to lying in the contents of his resume. Claiming to have two college degrees, a theology diploma called a ThG, and four years of education, Mr. Edmondson only attended two semesters at a college known now as Heartland Baptist Bible College (formerly known as Pacific Coast Baptist College). There are no records of any diplomas issued to Mr. Edmondson. These discrepancies caused Edmondson and the board to mutually agree to his resignation as president and CEO of RadioShack. Initially, RadioShack launched an internal investigation of Mr. Edmondson’s statements; however, this investigation has since been halted.

The company had recently suffered a drop of 62% of net income in its fourth-quarter, prompting restructuring plans and a closing of up to 10% of stores.

David Edmondson will receive a severance package valued at less than one million dollars in cash from RadioShack.

Building Atrium Custom Homes

Building Atrium Custom Homes by Charles DIckens Everybody dreams of building or at the very least living in atrium custom homes at some point in their lives. They save money; they plan the rooms and then start looking for the right architect and designer to turn their dream into reality.They often find some designer or the other but only to be disappointed by the final product. Unless they are lucky enough to meet Eddy Jabre. Known for his superlative designs and customized offering, Eddy is one of the best in the business.Using his technique and style as a benchmark here are some tips that you may want to keep in mind when building atrium custom homes. Take your Time to Know the Customer: To be able to customize anything, you need to know who you are customizing it for. People have different tastes, requirements, life situations as well as idiosyncrasies that guide their choice.Building a house is a long drawn expensive project and needs to be done right the first time around. Things that may appear to be very simple to an architect may not even occur to the lay person. Be sure to ask all the relevant questions so that you understand what the client is looking for.Reach an Agreement: Everybody wants the moon when it comes to their homes. It is important to discuss costs and other implications of building the atrium custom homes in a certain way as against another. In case there is more than one stakeholder, ensure that some kind of agreement is reached which is acceptable to all.People often change their minds mid way and get upset with the vendor. Try and record all major decisions on paper to avoid confusion at a later stage. Also, keep the client updated on all major challenges as well as progress at all stages.Charles Dickens is a specialist in Articles & Blog writing. His writing skills reflect the outcome of years of exposure to the Real Estate industry. Working with real estate giants as a consultant has enriched his knowledge base and his passion for writing got fire. Now he has researching on Atrium Custom Homes. He has find interesting fact related to Custom Homes in your budget in your city. For more info visit- www.achmodular.comArticle Source: eArticlesOnline.com

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Che Guevara’s ”Motorcycle Diaries” companion dies
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Che Guevara’s ”Motorcycle Diaries” companion dies

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Alberto Granado Jiménez, the Argentinian biochemist who was Che Guevara’s companion on his transformative motorcycle trip through South America, died in Havana on Saturday, reported Cuban state television. He was 88 and died of natural causes.

The politically active Jiménez met Ernesto “Che” Guevara, then a medical student, in Hernando, Argentina where Guevara had gone to play rugby. Both were intellectually curious and interested in exploration. In 1951 they set out on an eight-month motorcycle trip through South American that exposed them to the poverty in which most South Americans lived. The pair worked in a leprosy colony and met wtih destitute miners and indigenous people. Both men kept diaries which served as the basis for the 2004 film, The Motorcycle Diaries, produced by Robert Redford and directed by Walter Salles.

According to the Guardian, “Their road trip awoke in Guevara a social consciousness and political convictions that would turn him into one of the iconic revolutionaries of the 20th century.” The trip is widely believed to have inspired Guevara to go to Cuba and join Fidel Castro in his 1959 revolt against Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista.

By the time the two men met again eight years later, Guevara was a revolutionary hero and chief of Cuba’s central bank. Jiménez, who had remained in Argentina working in a clinic, accepted Guevara’s invitation to move to Cuba in 1961 and founded a medical facility in Santiago. Later he moved to Havana where he continued his medical work. The two remained friends although they did not always agree. Jiménez rejected Guevara’s belief that social reform in Latin America had to be accomplished through guerrilla warfare.

The book The Motorcycle Diaries was published in the 1990’s. Jiménez said of the book that it inspired the image of the young Che as a romantic figure.

Jiménez authored the book Traveling with Che Guevara: The Making of a Revolutionary, published in 2003.

Ontario Votes 2007: Interview with NDP candidate Glenn Crowe, Bramalea-Gore-Malton
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Ontario Votes 2007: Interview with NDP candidate Glenn Crowe, Bramalea-Gore-Malton

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Glenn Crowe is running for the NDP in the Ontario provincial election, in the Bramalea-Gore-Malton riding. Wikinews’ Nick Moreau interviewed him regarding his values, his experience, and his campaign.

Crowe did not reply to various questions asked.

Stay tuned for further interviews; every candidate from every party is eligible, and will be contacted. Expect interviews from Liberals, Progressive Conservatives, New Democratic Party members, Ontario Greens, as well as members from the Family Coalition, Freedom, Communist, Libertarian, and Confederation of Regions parties, as well as independents.

NASA says Martian soil could sustain life
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NASA says Martian soil could sustain life

Thursday, June 26, 2008

The scientists behind the Mars Phoenix Lander project announced that the soil on Mars was more alkaline than expected and could sustain life.

Scientists at NASA or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration claimed that they were “flabbergasted” by their discovery on the possibility that life could grow on Martian soil.

“It is the type of soil you would probably have in your back yard, you know, alkaline. You might be able to grow asparagus in it really well. … It is very exciting for us,” said Sam Kounaves, the lead wet chemist at NASA.

The project did not elaborate any further if there was indeed life on Mars, down to the microbe level and instead stated that their discovery was only preliminary and more analysis will be needed.

There was still no evidence in the soil that “would preclude life,” and instead of an assumption of a toxic environment, Martian soil is actually, “very friendly.”

The discovery was made after the Mars Phoenix Lander scooped up Martian soil for analysis. The lander touched down on Mars on May 25, 2008 and has been conducting several survey projects.

How To Succeed With Your Business Coach}

How to Succeed with Your Business Coach

by

Alan GilliesIt is a clearly documented fact that Coaching is an exceptional method for managing and guiding people onto higher and higher levels of personal success. Whether this is on the sports field or in a place of business, the proliferation of the use of coaches has expanded beyond all expectations over the last couple of years.This is not without good reason; numerous studies – most notably one called the Manchester Review, demonstrated that coaching increased the ROI and effectiveness of Managers and Executives by over 500%. Coaching as a technique is utilised throughout our world, and it’s certainly of use to everyone who has any significant responsibility for individual management or leadership.Its use in business has grown massively in recent years, as it has proven to be one of the most effective tools for gaining increases in efficiency and effectiveness. Coaching is also something that is generally viewed positively by the “Coachees”, who usually see it as a beneficial interaction with their managers or superiors as compared to the more traditional methods that were used in the past.Often, coaching is mistakenly viewed as something only for salespeople – this is a completely false misconception, as all functions can benefit from managers and senior staff being trained in the tools and techniques used by coaches.Coaching is the approach of delivering support and advice to a person or group of people in order to assist them with finding avenues in which they can increase the overall effectiveness of their businesses. Coaches work to improve leadership, establish employee accountability, inspire teamwork, generate sales, expand communication, motivate goal setting, implement strategic planning and much more. This can be provided in a number of ways, including one-on-one or group coaching sessions. Mistakenly, coaching is often seen to be only needed when things are not going well, however successful businesses recognize the benefits of coaching even when their organisation is at its best.Coaching is not the same as mentoring, and the two should not be confused. Mentoring involves a developmental relationship between a more experienced “mentor” and a less experienced partner, typically involving the sharing of advice. A coach can act as a mentor – given that he or she has adequate expertise and experience. However, mentoring is not a form of coaching. An exceptional coach doesn’t need to have specific business knowledge and understanding in the particular field that the person getting the coaching is dealing with in order to deliver top-notch coaching services.Coaching is also NOT training. Often, companies I have worked with have said to me that they want their managers to be coaches or that they want to improve the organisations coaching capabilities, but in reality they want people to become on-the-job trainers.An efficient coach can add value far past the expense of the sessions or the expense of an employee utilised as a coach. In the Pharmaceutical Industry for example, Sales Managers will often go through an excess of 120 days each year in the field with their team – working on a 1:1 basis; this is a colossal investment of time and resources. If these managers can eventually become exceptional coaches, the value acquired here will be colossal, and if they can’t, then that’s a great deal of money thrown away on warming the passenger seat of a vehicle.Many organisations expect their senior leaders and middle managers to coach their team members toward higher levels of performance, increased job satisfaction, personal growth, and career development. Those that do, usually back up their expectations with training in coaching skills, access to feedback tools, and/or specific coaching behaviours described in their leadership competency models. However, few organisations link coaching activities to compensation, and until there is a prominent culture that links effective coaching to reward, there will continue to be minimal coaching by managers. In order to establish this culture into an company it is first of all a requirement to give proper training and support to the individuals that are counted upon to coach, and also relate their fringe benefits and payment to the noticeable improvements that they bring while in this position.Copyright (c) 2009 Alan Gillies

Alan Gillies is the Managing Director of the L2L Group, specialising in delivering Executive Coaching, Training and Consultancy Services to Businesses around the World. Want to discover more about these inspiring business building success strategies? Get Alan’s essential

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68 pieces of luggage found behind Texas pet store
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68 pieces of luggage found behind Texas pet store

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

At least 68 different pieces of luggage has been found behind a pet store inside a garbage dumpster in Houston, Texas. The luggage came from several different international flights and authorities do not know how they got there or if the contents of the luggage have been stolen.

“We’re going to be investigating and the authorities are going to be investigating,” said spokeswoman for Continental Airlines, Mary Clark. All luggage was handed over to Continental Airlines.

The luggage is reported to have been sifted through, and most pieces have come from all over the world. The luggage is reported to have come from Bush Intercontinental Airport. Some pieces of the luggage have name tags and Clark states that “we’re trying to reach whoever we need to let them know the bags are there.”

Officers with the Houston Police Department are in charge of the investigation. The luggage was found by individuals who own the pet store.

The FBI has stated that the bags do not pose any danger.

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