New York City should hike taxes on big business-comptroller

(Reuters) - New York City's top financial officer and possible contender for mayor in 2013, John Liu, proposed on Thursday tax hikes for big businesses and an end to Madison Square Garden's $15 million annual property tax exemption.
The proposals by New York City Comptroller John Liu include tax hikes on private equity firms, which would help offset his plan for $500 million in tax breaks and lowered fines for 90 percent of the city's small businesses.
Liu is expected to vie for the Democratic mayoral nomination for the election in November 2013.
The city could end tax breaks for big companies - more than $250 million of which were handed out last year, Liu said.
The city could also eliminate its $15 million annual property tax exemption for Madison Square Garden, the indoor arena in midtown Manhattan that's home to the New York Knicks basketball team. Madison Square Garden has been exempt from paying taxes on real property since 1982 under New York state law.
The arena is owned by The Madison Square Garden Co, which also owns the Knicks and other professional sports teams. The company also owns Radio City Music Hall, the Beacon Theatre and others venues, as well as television networks.
Liu also proposed examining tax breaks for special interests. Insurance companies, for instance, have not paid the general corporation tax since 1974, at a cost of $300 million annually to the city, he said.
Private equity firms could also start paying the unincorporated business tax for carried interest or gains from assets being held for investment. The exemption costs New York City about $200 million a year, Liu said.
Liu's package would use the revenue generated by those measures to offset his plan to ease the tax burden for small businesses.
He proposed ending the city's general corporation tax for all businesses with liabilities under $5,000 -- about 240,000 business in the city, or 85 percent of those that currently pay the tax.
His plan would also reduce some fines, as well as exempt businesses that make less than $250,000 in annual income from the city's unincorporated business tax.
The proposals would have to be approved by the governor and state legislature after a request by the city council.
The city is facing a possible $2.7 billion gap in fiscal 2014 that could grow to $3.8 billion the following year, Liu said.

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Republicans push own "fiscal cliff" plan; talks frozen

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans in the Congress pushed ahead on Thursday with a "fiscal cliff" plan that stands no chance of becoming law as time runs short to reach a deal with President Barack Obama to avert a Washington-induced economic recession.
House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner's "Plan B" to limit income-tax increases to the wealthiest sliver of the population appeared likely to pass the House on Thursday evening after it narrowly cleared a procedural hurdle in the afternoon.
However, Obama has vowed to veto the plan, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he will not bring it up for a vote in the Democratic-controlled chamber. White House spokesman Jay Carney called it a "multi-day exercise in futility."
Still, passage of Plan B could give Boehner the political cover he needs to strike a deal that would break with decades of Republican anti-tax orthodoxy.
"Time's running short. I'm going to do everything I can to protect as many Americans from an increase in taxes as I can," Boehner told a news conference.
Though it does not raise taxes on as many affluent Americans as Obama wants, the bill would put Republicans on record as supporting a tax increase on those who earn more than $1 million per year - a position the party opposed only weeks ago.
That could make it easier eventually to split the difference with Obama, who wants to lower the threshold to households that earn more than $400,000 annually. Obama also faces resistance on his left flank from liberals who oppose cuts to popular benefit programs, which Republicans say must be part of any deal.
Obama and Boehner will need to engage in more political theater to get lawmakers in both parties to sign on to the painful concessions that will have to be part of any deal to avert the cliff and rein in the national debt, analysts say.
"They are now in the mode where they have to demonstrate how hard they're trying to get everything they can," said Joe Minarik, a former Democratic budget official now with the Committee For Economic Development, a centrist think tank.
Even as he pressured Obama and the Democratic Senate to approve his plan, Boehner indicated that he was not willing to walk away from the bargaining table.
"The country faces challenges, and the president and I, in our respective roles, have a responsibility to work together to get them a result," Boehner said.
TIME RUNNING OUT
Obama and Boehner aim to reach a deal before the end of the year, when taxes will automatically rise for nearly all Americans and the government will have to scale back spending on domestic and military programs. The $600 billion hit to the economy could push the U.S. economy into recession, economists say.
Investors so far have assumed the two sides will reach a deal, but concerns over the fiscal cliff have weighed on markets in recent weeks. The S&P 500 index of U.S. stocks was up 0.4 percent in Thursday trading, despite a round of strong data on economic growth and housing.
"The closer we get to the end of the year without a deal, the more optimism is going to evaporate," said Todd Schoenberger, managing partner at LandColt Capital in New York.
Shares crept up after Boehner said he was prepared to work with Obama to prevent the fiscal cliff from kicking in.
Lawmakers are eager to wrap up their work and return home for the Christmas holiday, but congressional leaders kept the door open for last-minute action.
The Senate was expected to leave town on Thursday or Friday, but Reid said it could return next week to vote on any deal.
Boehner indicated the House would stay in session after Thursday's vote, scheduled for 7:45 p.m. EST (0045 GMT on Friday).
Several influential conservative groups have condemned Plan B, and some Republicans are expected to vote against it. But passage appeared likely after the House narrowly voted by 219 to 197 to bring the bill to the floor for debate.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, an influential business group that has often tangled with the Obama administration, offered grudging support.
"We are not comfortable allowing tax increases on anyone in this environment. However, we understand that, at times, politics requires compromise," the Chamber's top lobbyist, Bruce Josten, wrote in a letter to lawmakers.
To placate conservatives, Boehner also scheduled a vote on legislation that would shift $55 billion in scheduled defense cuts to cuts in food and health benefits for the poor and other domestic programs.
That measure also would roll back some of the Dodd-Frank financial regulation reforms of 2010. It is not expected to become law.

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Canada's seven-month budget gap narrows to C$10.6 billion

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada's federal budget deficit narrowed in the first seven months of the fiscal year to C$10.57 billion ($10.68 billion) from C$13.90 billion in the same period last year as personal and corporate income tax revenues rose and debt charges were lower.
The monthly shortfall in October was C$1.68 billion, compared with a gap of C$2.13 billion a year earlier, the Department of Finance said in a report on Friday.
The Conservative government in October pushed back by one year, to 2016-17, the date it expects to eliminate the deficit. Most economists believe that if the economy continues to grow, the books could be balanced sooner.
Ottawa has estimated a 2012-13 deficit of C$26 billion, including a C$1 billion cushion for risk.
In the April-October period, revenues increased by 3.6 percent, or C$4.9 billion, from the same period in 2011, pushed up by personal income tax and corporate income tax. Program expenses rose by 2 percent, or C$2.7 billion, on increases in elderly benefits and direct program expenses.
Public debt charges decreased 6.1 percent, or C$1.1 billion, on a lower effective interest rate.

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House Republicans say resigned to tax hike in fiscal cliff

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives are resigned to seeing some sort of income tax increase in legislation to avoid a "fiscal cliff," but such efforts could be doomed in the absence of spending cuts, some Republican lawmakers say.
Congress and President Barack Obama are gearing up for a last-ditch attempt to avoid $600 billion in tax increases and spending cuts that could halt progress in the U.S. economy, which lately has been showing signs of gaining ground.
The White House said Obama will host a meeting on Friday with the four top congressional leaders - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. The Republicans have a majority in the House, while Obama's Democrats control the Senate.
House Speaker John Boehner informed his 241 Republican members on Thursday that the House would come back into session late on Sunday in anticipation of possible fiscal-cliff votes.
This Sunday's session "was about the only thing decided" during a half-hour conference call among House Republicans, said Representative Jeff Flake of Arizona, who will leave the House at the year-end to join the Senate.
In an interview shortly after the phone call, Flake said Republicans in the House and Senate were resigned to seeing some sort of increase in top income-tax rates, although he did not specify a dollar threshold.
While he said he did not want to see any income tax rates go up, Flake said: "I've felt we should've moved a week or two ago to accept the top rate going up and tell the president 'congratulations.'"
The bigger problem in avoiding the fiscal cliff, Flake said, would be if Obama demanded cancellation of the $109 billion in automatic spending cuts set to begin on January 2 without alternative spending cuts to replace them.
"There will be resistance from a lot of House conservatives to a deal that does that," Flake said.
Asked if the days leading up to next Monday, December 31 could thus be fruitless, Flake said, "That is what I am afraid of."
A Senate Democratic aide did not discount the possibility of some spending cuts being included in a limited bill to avert the fiscal cliff - even if they fell far short of the $1 trillion or so in cuts over 10 years that at one point was being discussed in talks between Boehner and Obama.
'TIRED OF WAITING'
Representative Tom Cole of Oklahoma, who also participated in Thursday's House Republican conference call, said its overarching theme was that the Senate should take the bill passed by the House earlier this year to extend all expiring income tax rates and amend it in a way senators see fit.
The House could then either accept that measure, or amend it, and bounce it back to the Senate.
"People are tired of waiting on the Senate to do things," Cole said.
Senate Democrats counter that last July they passed a bill extending the Bush-era tax cuts - except on net household income above $250,000 a year.
Nevertheless, the Senate must still couple its tax-cut bill with Obama's request for extending jobless benefits and possibly some other budget or tax measures.
"I assume the House would want to come back on Sunday knowing that we (the Senate) were going to do something on Friday or Saturday," said Senator Roy Blunt of Missouri, a member of the Senate's Republican leadership.
House Republican leaders informed their members that the chamber could stay in session dealing with the fiscal cliff through Wednesday, January 2 - the last day of the current Congress and a day before the new Congress is sworn in.
Cole said Boehner "made very apparent he is not interested in passing a bill that didn't have a majority of Republicans" supporting it.
But Cole said this was "not quite as elusive to achieve" as many people thought. He said Boehner had "over 200 votes" out of 241 Republicans for his failed "Plan B" - a bill extending lower tax rates except for millionaires - which everyone knew would not become law.
Thus, a bill with prospects of being enacted could attract more support, Cole suggested.
If a new bill came to the House floor to raise taxes on upper incomes, Boehner could force passage with a combination of Democratic and Republican votes.
With public opinion polls showing that Republicans would get most of the blame if the country were to go over the fiscal cliff, some House Republicans have become nervous about their political fortunes.
Both Flake and Cole told Reuters that during Thursday's conference call, some Republicans urged Boehner to bring the House back to Washington sooner than Sunday - a request Flake described as being aimed at improving the "optics" of House Republicans being absent from Washington so close to the December 31 deadline.
But Boehner stuck with his promise to give members at least 48 hours notice of a return.
Cole remained upbeat about a positive end to the fiscal-cliff mess that has gripped Washington for two months now.
"I'm a hopeless optimist. I still think there's a chance we'll get things done. All major deals get done at the end," said Cole, who was one of the first House Republicans to say that he could go along with raising some income-tax rates.

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French government says will propose a rejigged 75 percent tax plan

PARIS (Reuters) - The French government will redraft a proposal for a 75 percent upper income tax band and resubmit it, the prime minister's office said on Saturday, after the Constitutional Council rejected the measure included in the 2013 budget.
"It will be presented as part of the next budget law," Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault's office said in a statement, without giving a time frame. The statement said the Council's rejection of the 75 percent tax would not affect efforts to trim the public deficit.

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French court rejects 75 percent millionaires' tax

PARIS (Reuters) - France's Constitutional Council on Saturday rejected a 75 percent upper income tax rate to be introduced in 2013 in a setback to Socialist President Francois Hollande's push to make the rich contribute more to cutting the public deficit.
The Council ruled that the planned 75 percent tax on annual income above 1 million euros ($1.32 million) - a flagship measure of Hollande's election campaign - was unfair in the way it would be applied to different households.
Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said the government would redraft the upper tax rate proposal to answer the Council's concerns and resubmit it in a new budget law, meaning Saturday's decision could only amount to a temporary political blow.
While the tax plan was largely symbolic and would only have affected a few thousand people, it has infuriated high earners in France, prompting some such as actor Gerard Depardieu to flee abroad. The message it sent also shocked entrepreneurs and foreign investors, who accuse Hollande of being anti-business.
Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici said the rejection of the 75 percent tax and other minor measures could cut up to 500 million euros in forecast tax revenues but would not hurt efforts to slash the public deficit to below a European Union ceiling of 3 percent of economic output next year.
"The rejected measures represent 300 to 500 million euros. Our deficit-cutting path will not be affected," Moscovici told BFM television. He too said the government would resubmit a proposal to raise taxes on high incomes in 2013 and 2014.
The Council, made up of nine judges and three former presidents, is concerned the tax would hit a married couple where one partner earned above a million euros but it would not affect a couple where each earned just under a million euros.
UMP member Gilles Carrez, chairman of the National Assembly's finance commission, told BFM television, however, that the Council's so-called wise men also felt the 75 percent tax was excessive and too much based on ideology.
FRANCE UNDER SCRUTINY
Hollande shocked many by announcing his 75 percent tax proposal out of the blue several weeks into a campaign that some felt was flagging. Left-wing voters were cheered by it but business leaders warned that talent would flee the country.
Set to be a temporary measure until France is out of economic crisis, the few hundred million euros a year the tax was set to raise is a not insignificant sum as the government strives to boost public finances in the face of stalled growth.
Hollande's 2013 budget calls for the biggest belt-tightening effort France has seen in decades and is based on a growth target of 0.8 percent, a level analysts view as over-optimistic.
Fitch Ratings this month affirmed its triple-A rating on France but said there was no room for slippage. Standard & Poor's and Moody's have both stripped Europe's No. 2 economy of its AAA badge due to concern over strained public finances and stalled growth.
The International Monetary Fund recently forecast that France will miss its 3 percent deficit target next year and signs are growing that Paris could negotiate some leeway on the timing of that goal with its EU partners.
The INSEE national statistics institute this week scaled back its reading of a return to growth in the third quarter to 0.1 percent from 0.2 percent, and the government said it could review its 2013 outlook in the next few months.
Saturday's decision was in response to a motion by the opposition conservative UMP party, whose weight in fighting Hollande's policies has been reduced by a leadership crisis that has split it in two seven months after it lost power.
The Constitutional Council is a politically independent body that rules on whether laws, elections and referenda are constitutional.

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Bard and Book Offers e-Reader Content Through Innovative Program

As millions of people received the popular reading technology over the Holidays, Bard and Book provides content for readers through innovative program.

Holmen, Wisconsin (PRWEB) January 03, 2013
Millions tapped into the growing popularity of e-readers this past Holiday season and now those recipients are looking for material to fill their new gifts. Bard and Book Publishing represents an incredible new vision for connecting publishers, authors and readers. Those who subscribe to the reader community get access to every creative piece Bard and Book authors generate, for as long as the reader maintains his membership!
All Subscriber-Readers Get:

Exclusive access to the authors throughout the creative process.
Copies of every digital book produced by the community’s authors throughout the duration of their memberships, obtained through Smashwords.com. (Approximately 5 per month).
Discounts on printed editions of Bard and Book’s published books.
The collected works of each author in a single digital file throughout the duration of their memberships.
The gratification of knowing that they are directly supporting the authors, because the majority of their membership fee goes straight to them!
To experience the Bard and Book service, two subscription options are currently available. The free membership option gives a reader full access to digital edition of works the authors produce but only within 30 days of the work’s release. The premium (paid) membership gives the reader full access to every digital edition of works the authors produce, past and present, as well as full access to the authors themselves in forums, comments, chats, etc. An added bonus to the paid membership is that the subscriber will receive 1 free copy of a printed edition of a Bard and Book publication each year, including shipping. The paid membership plan is available for only $5.95 per month.

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Stylish Power Banks Let People Worry About Running Out of Power No More

Stylish power banks with OLED display from Shenzhen Esorun Technology solve people’s problems of running out of power for their gadgets. This power bank will show the instant electric current on its mirror OLED board.

Shenzhen,China (PRWEB) January 04, 2013
Stylish power banks with OLED display now available in the market from Shenzhen Esorun technology solve people’s problems of running out of power for their gadgets. Its portable and fashionable design with the function of instant electric current display on a mirror board makes it handy and convenient for all gadget users.
Gadgets are essentials in people’s lives. People use them so much throughout their days and take them and use them everywhere they go. Gadgets also have many different programs and applications on them that use up battery power. It is no wonder why gadgets run out of power easily.
It is always good to have supply power for phone, camera and other digital devices. Many times it is not enough to charge them once and have that power last several days or sometimes even just one day. It is also inconvenient to keep looking for power outlets to charge their phones or gadgets. Power banks solve this problem and make power supply convenient. People can just charge a power bank and bring them wherever they go and they have an emergency charger for their smart phones.
The power banks available from Shenzhen Esorun Technology Co. Ltd are stylish and fashionable and come in mini-sizes for extra portability and convenience. There are different models and designs with an 85% efficiency and double USB connector. They have an A-grade cell battery with an output current of 2A that also supports iPad. It is the first power bank with the function of OLED display to show the user electric current. For those who want more information on these great power banks, can look them up on their website at http://www.esorun.com or visit youtube for a video display.
About Shenzhen Esorun Technology Co. Ltd.
Esorun is a professionally run technology company that manufactures and supplies iPhone and iPad accessories, wireless hard drives, power banks, external batteries, Bluetooth speakers, fly mouse’s and other phone accessories.
The company’s core technology team consists of professionals who have over 10 years of experience working with Foxconn and Huawei Groups.

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DataBid.com Construction Lead Provider of Southern Ontario is Currently Reporting on Toronto Restaurant/Banquet Facility Design Build Finance & Operate

DataBid.com Provider of Timely Accurate Project Information and Commercial Construction Leads in the Greater Toronto Area is Currently Reporting on The Toronto Restaurant/Banquet Facility Design Build Finance & Operate, Due: 1/25/13.

Toronto, Ontario (PRWEB) January 03, 2013
DataBid.com Provider of Timely Accurate Project Information and Commercial Construction Leads in the Greater Toronto Area is Currently Reporting on The Toronto Restaurant/Banquet Facility Design Build Finance & Operate.
As of 12/31/2012 Bids are due: January 25, 2013 12:00 PM     - 19th Floor, West Tower
Location: 96 Richmond West, Toronto, ON
Click Here To See Complete Details On This Project
Divisions:   

Division 02 - Existing Conditions

Division 03 - Concrete

Division 05 - Metals

Division 07 - Thermal and Moisture Protection

Division 08 - Openings Doors and Frames, Windows

Division 09 - Finishes Ceilings, Flooring, Painting and Coating

Division 10 - Specialties, Signage

Division 21 - Fire Suppression

Division 22 - Plumbing

Division 23 - HVAC

Division 26 - Electrical

Division 31 - Earthwork

Division 32 - Exterior Improvements
Detail of Services:

Proponents to Design, Build, Finance and Operate a Restaurant/Banquet Facility at the Location Historically Known as the Shopsy's Restaurant along with the Adjacent Concession and the Commissary Kitchen
President Jim Lamelza: "General Contractors, Subcontractors, and Material Suppliers doing business in Southern Ontario are invited to a free trial of DataBid.com today. Our clients enjoy the quality of data as well as the helpful access to our editorial team and customer service specialists."
Subscribe during the month of Januaryr, 2013 and earn one free month of access to DataBid.com. Use the following promo code: #JANFREE. Inquiries can be made by calling: 1-888-929-3282 Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM Est.
More About DataBid

DataBid.com is a new data-centric construction lead service that focuses heavily on providing unmatched customer service backed up by some of the highest quality information around. DataBid is a new company owned and managed by a dream-team of commercial construction reporting professionals who have combined industry experience of more than 50 years. Local commercial construction companies’ access DataBid.com construction leads to gain market share and to reduce the time required to find new projects and opportunities.
With more than 50 years of combined experience in commercial construction lead reporting; general contractors, subcontractors and material suppliers have access to the following features and benefits with DataBid.com:

*Complete Bidders Lists

*Access to More In Design Opportunities

*Advanced Project Searching

*Immediate Access to Our Editorial Team

*Complete Project Descriptions

*Advanced Project Tracker

*Most Bid Results Reported Within 24 Hours of Bid Opening

*Available Friendly Effective Customer Service

*Searchable Construction Company Directory

*Complete Company & Contact Information

*Historical Company Bidding with Past and Current Project Results
Some Industries Published In DataBid.com are as follows:

Procurement & Contracting Requirements, General Requirements, Performance Requirements, Concrete, Masonry, Metals, Wood, Plastics & Composites, Thermal & Moisture Protection, Openings, Finishes, Specialties, Equip., Furnishings, Special Construction, Conveying Equip. , Fire Suppression, Plumbing, HVAC, Integrated Automation, Electrical, Communications, Electronic Safety & Security, Earthwork, Exterior Improvements, Utilities, Transportation, Waterway & Marine Construction, Process Integration, Material Processing & Handling Equip., Process Heating, Cooling & Drying Equip., Process Gas & Liquid Handling, Purification & Storage Equip., Pollution & Waste Control Equip., Industry Specific Manufacturing Equip., Water & Wastewater Equip., and Electrical Power Generation.
Areas Of Coverage Include the Following Counties:

Brant, Bruce, Chatham-Kent, Dufferin, Durham, Elgin, Essex, Grey, Haldimand, Halton, Hamilton, Huron, Lambton, Middlesex, Niagara, Norfolk, Oxford, Region of Peel, Perth, Simcoe, Toronto, Waterloo, Wellington, York.
DataBid is a source for Commercial Construction Leads, Public Tenders, Private Negotiated Bids, Commercial Construction Projects in Southern Ontario, and the GTA.

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New Long Term Airport Parking Now Available Near Fort Lauderdale International Airport Through SimpleAirportParking.com

Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale Beach and West Palm Beach Residents now have a great long term parking option when looking for a place to leave their vehicle while traveling. SimpleAirportParking.com Makes Hotel Parking Space Available Near FLL for Airport Travelers.

Fort Lauderdale, FL (PRWEB) January 03, 2013
Travelers looking for long term parking near Fort Lauderdale International Airport now have a new, convenient way to locate secure airport parking. SimpleAirportParking.com has introduced its partner parking locations to travelers looking for secure long-term parking options. By visiting the website, a traveler can locate an array of inexpensive airport parking options near Fort Lauderdale International Airport.
The company recently expanded its services to offer travelers in the Fort Lauderdale and Fort Lauderdale Beach areas a variety of parking options to suit their needs while traveling by air. The site lists many options for parking near Fort Lauderdale International Airport.
The different options available provide significant discounts over parking directly at the airport itself. SimpleAirportParking.com's goal is to provide secure, convenient parking sites for its customers. Each location offers complimentary shuttle service to the airport terminals. The company also makes it a point to ensure that the price travelers find on the site is the price they pay. Pricing is all-inclusive at every location, and no additional fees will ever be added.
When a traveler makes a parking reservation on SimpleAirportParking.com, a confirmation email receipt is sent that contains a user ID and password. Using this login information, a traveler has the ability to modify a reservation, leave reviews of a parking location, and print receipts for tax purposes. Payments made in advance through the SimpleAirportParking.com website can make the day of travel less hectic for travelers as no cash has to change hands at the parking location. Valet and self-parking options are available at multiple locations as well as covered parking and accommodations for over-sized vehicles.
Customer-created reviews of parking locations that are posted on SimpleAirportParking.com provide future travelers with information that will help them make decisions about which parking site they wish to use. The many amenities offered by the various parking locations can make your travel experience simply amazing.

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HUD Reports a Decline in Homelessness in Recent Years: No More Poverty Vows to Work until All Have Homes

Recently the Los Angeles Times reported that the number of homeless people in the United States has decreased in recent years. While this is terrific news, the Omidi brothers will continue their fight against poverty both here and around the world.

Los Angeles, California (PRWEB) January 03, 2013
No More Poverty co-founders Michael Omidi, MD and his brother Julian Omidi are both enthused and encouraged by recent news stemming from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), confirming that homelessness has dropped by 5.7 percent since 2007.
“We are thrilled to see progress in the eradication of homelessness in the United States,” said Julian Omidi. “However, there is still work to be done. The goal, which can never change, is to make sure that every man, woman and child in this country and abroad has a home to go to. No More Poverty is a tireless advocate for the homeless and we will continue to work on behalf of that underserved population until the fight against poverty is won.”
“The current administration has set a goal: to eliminate homelessness in America by the year 2020,” said Michael Omidi, MD. “My brother and I, along with everyone in the No More Poverty organization, are 100% behind that goal and we will dedicate as many of our resources as possible to making homelessness a thing of the past.”
There has been a significant drop in chronic homelessness in the past three years, the HUD report said. The chronic homeless population decreased 6.8 percent since 2011. Since 2007, the number of chronically homeless dropped 19 percent. The Department of Veterans Affairs is also reporting that the veteran homeless rate dropped 7 percent in 2011 alone, and has decreased 17 percent since 2009. The White House has set a goal to eliminate veteran homelessness by 2015.
Chronic homelessness is characterized by the failure of a person to house him or herself for a period of more than one year, or if a disabled person experiences four or more instances of homelessness over a period of three years.
Shaun Donovan, the Housing and Urban Development secretary said the news came as a bit of a surprise, considering the severity of the current economic downturn which is the worst since the Great Depression. The HUD press release for the announcement is at: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/press/press_releases_media_advisories/2012/HUDNo.12-191. It also contains a link to the full report.
“Any reduction in the homeless rate is good news,” said Dr. Omidi. “Nonetheless, an indication that homelessness is on the decline shouldn’t dilute our efforts, or make us less vigilant.”
No More Poverty (http://www.nmp.org) is a not-for-profit charity organization with a pending 501(c)3 application founded by brothers Michael Omidi, M.D. and Julian Omidi. The organization seeks to end poverty at home and abroad by supporting the efforts of like-minded charities and agencies. Current efforts are focused on increasing awareness of and donations to charities already doing great work to address poverty and its staggering effects throughout the world. The plan is to expand our activities to include fostering business development and job creation in disenfranchised areas.

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Empire Co profit rises on higher sales at Sobeys

Empire Co Ltd reported a higher second-quarter profit as sales at its Sobeys supermarket chain rose due to acquisitions.
Net earnings increased to C$93.3 million ($95 million), or C$1.37 per share, from C$78.1 million, or C$1.15 per share, a year earlier.
Total sales rose 9 percent to C$4.40 billion in the quarter ended November 3.
Sales at established stores, a key measure for retailers, rose 1.3 percent at Sobeys, Canada's No. 2 grocer behind Loblaw Cos Ltd .
Sobeys' contribution to sales rose 11 percent to C$4.34 billion from C$3.98 billion. The growth was a result of the acquisition of 236 retail gas locations and related convenience store operations in the fourth quarter, the company said.
Canadian grocers are under pressure as Wal-Mart Stores Inc expands its food offerings in the country and will see even more competition when Target Corp kicks off its aggressive Canadian roll-out in the spring.
But Sobeys may be somewhat insulated, thanks to its contract to supply some of Target's groceries.
Empire shares were up about 3 percent at C$60.05 in morning trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

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Burundi coffee earnings rise 46 pct in November

 Burundi's coffee revenues rose 46 percent in November from the previous month on higher prices and export volumes, the country's industry regulator said on Friday.
The country earned $5.7 million from the sale of 1,671,638 kg versus $3.9 million it earned in October from the export of 1,205,919 kg.
"Coffee farmers were asked to produce Arabica beans of highest quality following an uncertain world market. This resulted in the selling in November of an important quantity of speciality brands, boosting earnings," regulator ARFIC said in its monthly report.
ARFIC predicts revenues for the 2012/13 crop will inch up to $61.4 million from $61.2 million earned in the 2011/12 season.
Projected good harvests by top global producers like Brazil, Vietnam and Colombia, could lead to a drop in coffee prices on global markets, the Burundian regulator said.
Coffee is the country's top foreign exchange earner and the commodity provides a livelihood for 800,000 smallholder farmers in a nation of 8 million people.

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Zurich puts Sandy storm damage claims at $700 million

ZURICH (Reuters) - Zurich estimates that damage claims relating to tropical storm Sandy, which hit the United States in October, will amount to $700 million in its fourth-quarter earnings.
The Swiss insurer's announcement on Monday also said that it expects $58 million of "reinstatement premiums due on reinsurance covers". The company gave no further explanation. It is due to report quarterly earnings on February 14.
The storm, which killed 132 people in the United States and Canada on October 29, led to power outages, disruptions of public transport and massive damage to infrastructure.
U.S. insurer AIG said it expects post-tax losses of at least $1.3 billion from Superstorm Sandy, while Travelers Companies Inc and Swiss Re estimated their claims burdens at $650 million after tax and $900 million before tax respectively.
Sandy is expected ultimately to be the second-costliest catastrophe in U.S. history, with insured loss estimates as high as $25 billion. The costliest catastrophe was hurricane Katrina in 2005.

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MetLife warns on 2013 profit, expects no stock buybacks

MetLife Inc warned that 2013 earnings might be well below Wall Street expectations and said it did not expect to buy back any shares next year, a blow to investors who have been waiting more than a year for a capital return.
The largest life insurer in the United States also said it needed to move faster on strategic changes amid a persistently low-interest-rate environment.
While MetLife has said in the past that it was well equipped to handle years of low rates, particularly with a hedging program it has put in place, the company acknowledged on Thursday that it was in a "lower-for-longer" scenario.
Because their obligations are usually long-term, life insurers invest the premiums they collect in hopes of generating sufficient return to pay those obligations over time. In a low-rate environment, it becomes much harder for insurers to generate enough return to meet those commitments.
MetLife said operating earnings per share next year would be lower than this year, compared with Wall Street expectations for growth in the low single digits. However, it also said the forecast was "broadly consistent" with its long-term outlook of a year ago.
For this year, the insurer expects operating earnings of $5.5 billion to $5.6 billion, or $5.15 to $5.25 per share, compared with analysts' average estimate of $5.25.
In 2013, it expects $5.5 billion to $5.9 billion, or $4.95 to $5.35 per share. Analysts' average forecast is $5.47, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
MetLife's operating earnings forecast excludes discontinued operations and net investment gains and losses.
Shares of MetLife rose 2 percent to $34.29 in morning trading. At Wednesday's close, the stock had risen about 5 percent this year.
NO BUYBACKS
On a year-end investor call with analysts, MetLife management said the 2013 forecast assumes no share buybacks. Chief Executive Steve Kandarian later added, "I don't have total confidence" the company will be free to buy back shares after 2013, either.
MetLife investors have waited since the autumn of 2011 for the company to buy back shares and raise its dividend, but regulators foiled the company's plans.
Because of its online bank, MetLife has a bank holding company charter and is subject to Federal Reserve oversight. The Fed blocked MetLife from a buyback in late 2011, and the company failed a Fed bank stress test earlier this year.
On Wednesday, the insurer won approval from banking regulators for a long-delayed deal to sell the deposits portion of its bank to General Electric Co's GE Capital unit. Once that sale closes, MetLife will seek to relinquish the bank charter, which may mean the end of Fed oversight.
RBC Capital Markets analyst Eric Berg, in a research note, said the sale "was certainly a step in the right direction."
But MetLife executives said they could not be sure when the sale would close, and how that timing would affect whether the company has to participate in another stress test, meaning it was "prudent" to assume it would not buy back shares next year.
Even with the bank sold, MetLife is also considered at risk of being declared a systemically important financial institution by a federal panel, which would put it right back under Fed supervision and could restrict its payout ability.
"And we fear that knowing this, Met will go slow on share repurchase - exactly the opposite of what investors want to hear from the company," RBC's Berg said.

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Vietnamairlinesgroup.net Released its New Website

Recently, Vietnamairlinesgroup.net, a well-known fashion review blog, has announced its new website. Vietnamairlinesgroup.net features the latest fashion news from a broad variety of stars, designers and companies.

(PRWEB) December 22, 2012
Recently, Vietnamairlinesgroup.net, a well-known fashion review blog, has announced its new website. Vietnamairlinesgroup.net features the latest fashion news from a broad variety of stars, designers and companies.
According to Marc Walters, president of Vietnamairlinesgroup.net, the new website is to help luxury lovers stay well-informed on the latest in upscale fashion and helps people choose the best women's fashion handbags before making any purchasing decisions.
Luxury handbags are a main affair of common concern for all women, and many females have a fairy storyline when it comes to top fashion handbags from a high-class brand.
Marc Walters said, “The Internet must be the most critical device of the 21st century, and it makes it simple to compare the prices with other online retailers. We offer visitors with much information from our rich product database. Moreover, we offer a service of quality guarantee, which provides customers a risk-free way when buying our amazing product lines."
Vietnamairlinesgroup.net loves high-end fashion, and believes finding a high quality but classic piece is an enjoyable thing. It has built a reputation for providing amazing deals on handbags.
About Vietnamairlinesgroup.net

Founded in 2005, Vietnamairlinesgroup.net is a popular fashion review blog. It has developed its own fashion shop recently. Vietnamairlinesgroup.net has always paid much attention to the latest fashion trends. With the effort of Vietnamairlinesgroup.net, customers can get better fashion shoes and handbags at affordable prices.

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GL Announces INAP Emulation Over IP (Intelligent Network Application Part)

Gaithersburg, MD (PRWEB) December 22, 2012
GL Communications Inc. announced today the release of its latest product INAP Emulation over IP.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Jagdish Vadalia Senior Manager for product development of the company said, “INAP is part of SS7 protocol suite and used for services such as single number translation (800), local number portability, incoming call management (do not disturb or call forwarding), backup call destinations in case of disaster, and similar services.”
He added, “MAPS™ ANSI INAP is an advanced protocol simulator/tester for ANSI INAP (Intelligent Network Application Part) services. The tester supports testing network elements gsmSCF and gsmSSF, error tracking, regression testing, conformance testing, and load testing/call generation. It is able to run pre-defined test scenarios against ANSI INAP test objects in a controlled & deterministic manner.”
Mr. Vadalia further added, “MAPS™ ANSI INAP scripts are suitable for testing objects accurately, reliably and validated for compliance with ANSI specifications. It is suitable for controlling telecommunication services such as CNAM (Calling Name Delivery), LNP (Local Number Portability), and Toll-free 800 Number over TCAP layer."
"The MAPS™ ANSI INAP application gives the users the unlimited ability to edit ANSI INAP messages and IN service scenarios (message sequences). "Message sequences" are generated through scripts. "Messages" are created using message templates.”
Main Features:

ANSI INAP Emulator can simulate GSM SSF and GSM SCF entities
User-friendly GUI for configuring the SCTP Layer
User configurable signaling links
Access to all ANSI INAP message parameters like CNAM, TCAP 800 Number, LNP, Signaling .Link Test Message, and more
User controlled access to optional parameters such as timers
Ready scripts for Customizable 800 Number, CNAM, LNP, Call Diversion
Supports customization of call flows and message templates using Script editor and Message editor
Supports scripted call generation and automated call reception
Provides protocol trace with full message decoding, and graphical ladder diagrams of call flow with time stamp
Script based & protocol independent software architecture
Provides call statistics with associated captured events and error events during call simulation
About GL Communications Inc.,

Founded in 1986, GL Communications Inc. is a leading supplier of test, monitoring, and analysis equipment for TDM, Wireless, IP and VoIP networks. Unlike conventional test equipment, GL's test platforms provide visualization, capture, storage, and convenient features like portability, remotability, and scripting.
GL’s TDM Analysis & Emulation line of products includes T1, E1, T3, E3, OC-3, OC-12, STM-1, STM-4, analog four-wire, and analog two-wire interface cards, external portable pods, and complete system solutions. Capabilities include voiceband traffic analysis and emulation across all traffic types (voice, digits, tones, fax, modem), all protocols (ISDN, SS7, GR-303, Frame Relay, HDLC, V5.X, ATM, GSM, GPRS, LTE, etc.), and with capacities up to thousands of channels. Our newest products provide astonishing capacity and capture capability up to and including gigabit speeds.
GL’s VoIP and IP products generate / analyze thousands of calls and traffic simultaneously with traffic types such as frames, packets, voice files, digits, video, tones, noise, and fax.  Almost all codecs are supported including G.711, G.729, AMR, EVRC-A,B,C, GSM, iSAC,  and many more. Additional features include visual analysis, real-time listening, and recording. The product line also includes Ethernet / IP Testing capability that simulates and checks frame transport and throughput parameters of Ethernet and IP networks, including delay, errors and other impairments.
GL's Voice Quality Testing (VQT) product line complements all of GL's products. Using ITU-standard algorithms (PAMS, PSQM, and PESQ), GL's VQT provides a widely accepted solution for assessing voice quality in the telecom industry. Voice Quality Testing across multiple networks (T1, E1, T3, E3, OC-3, OC-12, VoIP, Wireless, and Landline) are all available.
GL’s Wireless Products perform protocol analysis and voice quality assessment on GSM, CDMA, UMTS, and LTE networks. Connections can be made to any wireless phone with automated call control, GPS mapping and real-time signal measurements.
GL’s Echo Canceller testing solutions provide the broadest range of simulation and analysis, including line and acoustic echo. GL’s compliance testing per G.168. G.167, and P.340 across TDM, IP, VoIP and Wireless networks is widely accepted in the industry.
GL’s wireless VQT solutions help assessing impairments to voice quality such as poor mobile phone quality, voice compression and decompression algorithms, delay, loss and gain in speech levels, noise, acoustic and landline echo, and other distortions are easily assessed and accurately measured.
GL’s Handheld data testers can test a wide variety of communications facilities and equipment including T1, fractional T1, E1, fractional E1, T3 and E3 modems, multiplexers, CSU, DSUs, T1 CSUs, DTUs, NTUs and TIUs and more. The testers provide convenience, economy, and portability for almost any interface, including RS232, RS-422, RS-530, X.21, T1, E1, T3, E3, and many others.
GL’s Network Surveillance and Monitoring products include Probes for TDM, IP, VoIP, ATM, and Wireless networks. An open standards based approach provides a scalable, feature rich, real-time access to network characteristics.  Centralized or distributed access, efficient transport and database loading allow compatibility with 3rd party and standards based monitoring systems.

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Gladden Water Awarded 2012 Food Excellence Award

Gladden Water, a bottled water delivery company in Dallas/Fort Worth, was awarded the 2012 Food Excellence Award from the City of Garland Texas.

Dallas (PRWEB) December 22, 2012
Gladden Water, a bottled water delivery company, was awarded the 2012 Food Excellence Award from the City of Garland Texas Health Department. Gladden Water manufactures, bottles and delivers Premium Purified Bottled Water to homes and businesses in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and surrounding North Texas communities.
The City of Garland Texas states, "The award is difficult to obtain and one in which the the management and employees should be proud."
Company spokesman Bob Jesperson says, "We are very pleased to win this award from the City of Garland. The quality of our water and the cleanliness of our facilities have always been a priority. Our dedicated employees insure these standards are met every day."
Gladden Water reports tremendous growth in 2012 following expansion into many new communities in North Texas including Weatherford, Waxahachie, McKinney, and Allen. To handle the expanded coverage area Gladden opened additional bottling facilities in the Dallas Fort Worth area and now bottles and dispatches water delivery trucks from multiple locations.
About Gladden: Gladden Water purifies, bottles and delivers bottled water throughout North Texas. Most recently Gladden has been getting ready to enter into the water filtration business in North Texas. On the Gladden Water website several new options have popped up. They include options for reverse osmosis systems, bottleless water coolers and ice machines. Gladden will be making a formal announcement soon.

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HairStylistExam.com Registers its 100th Member Two Months After Launch

The first portal dedicated to helping hairstylists pass the hairstylist exam registers new members daily.

Toronto,Canada (PRWEB) December 22, 2012
HairStylistExam.com is Ontario’s only web-portal dedicated to helping hairstylists pass their hairstylist exam, better known as the certificate of qualification exam. Launched in late October, the web portal is seen as a success as it just recently registered its 100th member.
Individuals looking to practice hairstylist exam questions can register for the portal and gain access to the 21 hairstylist sample quizzes and tests. This equates to over 1,000 questions. Membership costs $49 for six months of unlimited access.
Specifically, each hairstylist test contains questions from eight problem areas including occupational skills, hair and scalp, cutting hair, styling hair, wigs, chemically waving, sales and marketing, and coloring hair.
All the questions on the sample tests are universal to North American hairstyling standards and practices, and therefore anyone looking to write their hairstylist exam for their specific region can use the portal.
With the coming new year, and as more regions in North America make it mandatory for hairstylists to write their qualification test, HairStylistExam expects the number of registers it will get in the coming months to continue to grow.

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Fire Island Social Media Fundraising Campaign Brings Aid to an Island Devastated by Hurricane Sandy

Refusing to allow Fire Island to become forgotten in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, a grassroots fundraising effort went viral across the Internet with support by the local news website FireIsland.com.

Fire Island, New York (PRWEB) December 20, 2012
Refusing to allow Fire Island to become forgotten in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, a grassroots fundraising effort went viral across the Internet with support by the local website FireIsland.com.
Primarily known as a summer destination, there was no Red Cross or National Guard presence on Fire Island, like there was in other coastal areas affected by Sandy. The job of cleanup and public safety was primarily left to the volunteer fire departments that mobilized in short order, the largest of which is Ocean Beach Fire Department whose encompassing district covers a significant central swath of Fire Island.
“I knew that the Ocean Beach Fire Department must be blowing through their budget on chain saws, generator repair and fuel being used every day,” said Lauren Eckstein Forman, founding organizer of the drive. “I tracked the homeowner association newsletters that were circulating, and recognized an opportunity to reach a much larger audience among renters, groupers, day trippers and greater Long Island residents.”
However, Eckstein-Forman’s on-line campaign to benefit OBFD hit a plateau of about $2,000 until she aligned forces with an old high school friend Brendan Smith, President of FireIsland.com. Coincidentally, Smith was also trying to spread the word of this devastating storm. Smith’s FireIsland.com network has tremendous reach with a Facebook readership over 25,500 strong, thousands of twitter followers and a Fire Island iPhone app with over 30,000 downloads. In just one week Smith managed to increase the fundraiser six-fold, raising a total of $14,318.
“I know the kind of traffic we have and how it responds,” said Smith. “So when Lauren came to me I knew our network would be able to raise at least $10,000 in a few days.”
Shortly after starting their fundraising, an online petition for dune restoration began to circulate. The petition calls local, state and U.S. Congressional elected officials to rebuild the decimated dune system of Fire Island “as soon as possible.”
The petition had limited reach and was not getting enough exposure. Once again Smith and Eckstein-Forman volunteered to take it online. Utilizing FireIsland.com network they exceeded all expectations and secured over 24,000 signatures.
"When touring the damage on Fire Island I was shocked to see sand dunes completely gone for miles,” stated New York State Senator-Elect Phil Boyle, who also signed of the petition. “Its a much more dangerous situation than we have ever seen. Rebuilding the dunes will be top priority in my role as state senator, we cannot afford to be unprotected from the next big storm."

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