Citys upkeep costs rise

Retail sales drop 0.5 percent in June
WASHINGTON (AP) — Retail sales fell in June for the second straight month, more evidence that the recovery will slow in the second half of the year. Retail spending dropped 0.5 percent in June, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday. That followed a 1.1 percent fall in May. Excluding autos, spending …

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Working together key: minister: GOING GREEN
The Nanticoke Generating Station will remain part of Ontario’s long-term energy strategy but it won’t be as dominant player it once was, Ontario’s Energy minister. “It’s part of our long-term strategy and is part of our contingency planning,” Brad Duguid said in an interview with The Expositor.[...]

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Climate talks near deals on small steps
Nearly 200 environment ministers and others move Friday to wrap up U.N. climate talks with modest steps, including aid to poor nations coping with global warming.

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Vote for the 2010 Tech Car of the Year
CNET Car Tech opens its poll so you can vote for the 2010 Tech Car of the Year. Originally posted at The Car Tech blog

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Citys upkeep costs rise
Over the next 10 months, the city of Tuscaloosa will open a new amphitheater, a museum, a downtown park and a new stretch of its Riverwalk recreational trail.

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WRAPUP 1-China rate rise talk builds as loans, inflation rise

Bernanke defends Bush’s tax cuts, inflation
In a “60 Minutes” appearance, the Fed chairman continues to champion his $600 billion bond-purchase plan

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2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon Priced from $30,960
The 2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon arrives in showrooms soon wearing a base price tag of $30,960, not including destination charges. The Sport Wagon shares most of its basics with the TSX sedan, which showed up to this year’s 2010 Los Angeles auto show with some new spiffs of its own. But while the TSX sedan has an entry price of $29,610, the TSX…

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Marketo Announces More Than 600 Joint Customers With Salesforce.com
Dreamforce 2010 — Marketo, the global leader in Revenue Performance Management solutions that significantly increase customers’ marketing and sales success, today announced that more than 600 of its customers jointly use Marketo and salesforce.com.

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Global Investing Made Easy
Over the last few weeks, we have looked at various global investment themes, most of which can be captured by investing in a suitable ETF.This week will wrap up the series and look at some less familiar …

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WRAPUP 1-China rate rise talk builds as loans, inflation rise
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Boeing shares rise, helping boost Dow industrials

STACEY KENNEDY: From keeping country safe to protecting children
STACEY KENNEDY: From keeping country safe to protecting children

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Nissan Leaf: 99 miles per gallon
The Nissan Leaf electric car will get the equivalent of 99 miles per gallon according to its official EPA fuel economy label rating.

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Asian coal exports get boost from WA port approval
Efforts by the U.S. coal industry to expand its export market have taken a significant step forward Tuesday, as officials in Washington state approved a plan to ship the fuel to Asia through a Columbia River port.

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Nissan Leaf: 99 miles per ‘gallon’
The Nissan Leaf electric car will get the equivalent of 99 miles per gallon according to its official EPA fuel economy label rating, the automaker said Monday.

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Boeing shares rise, helping boost Dow industrials
(AP:NEW YORK) Shares of Boeing Co. rose Wednesday, making it the fourth-biggest gainer in the Dow Jones industrial average by percentage, and an analyst said the company might deliver its new commercial jetliner sooner than expected after a recent setback.

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Realize Hudson Rise

Grow a Grass Roots Campaign… Realize Hudson Rise Join prominent neighborhood residents including Laurie Anderson, Lou Reed, James Gandolfini, Jennifer Connelly, Paul Bettany, John Slattery, Talia Balsam, Michael Stipe, Kirsten Dunst, Casey Affleck and others who have voiced their support for Saving our Lower Manhattan neighborhood and working together to create St. Johns Park at Hudson Rise. Hudson Rise is an American Institute of Architecture (AIA) award winning sustainable green community-based plan. It features three ADA accessible plateaus within a new 102000 square foot landscaped terrain, sheltering new Department of Sanitation facilities below. The Rise at new St. Johns Park, the former terminus of the Highline, would accommodate the majority of Department of Sanitation facilities now on Gansevoort Peninsula at 14th street so that the Hudson River Park could be expanded there. Like the Highline, the design would augment a green matrix on the eastern side of the Route 9A Boulevard Road while creating a 2.5 acre rooftop park above sanitation garages. The proposal which starts at Canal Street opposite Canal Park, also envisions a safe above-grade crossing to the 16-acre Pier 40 recreational facilities at Houston Street, part of the Hudson River Park, to prevent any further pedestrian injuries and deaths. Hudson Rise is estimated to cost $200MM less than the current plan by the City, which is strongly opposed by residents in Hudson Square, Tribeca and Soho and the …

U.S. Stocks Rise on Citigroup Earnings, Fed Easing Speculation

Oil workers, youths, truckers defy French govt
PARIS – French oil workers defied the government’s demand Monday to get back to work and end fuel shortages,…

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New Colorado Cleantech Action Plan Identifies Leading Drivers of Industry Growth in the State
New Colorado Cleantech Action Plan Identifies Leading Drivers of Industry Growth in the State The Colorado Cleantech Action Plan, released yesterday at a State Capitol news conference, finds Colorado’s innovation in the wind, solar, smart grid and bio-derived sectors, combined with the state’s progressive policies, will be the leading driver of industry growth over the next five years. The …

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France seeks to calm fuel fears
France has sought to calm fears of petrol shortages, with the oil industry admitting it cannot hold on.

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French protests intensify but government stands firm
French truck drivers staged go-slow operations on highways rail strikes intensified and petrol stations ran out of fuel on Monday as protests gathered pace ahead of a Senate vote on an unpopular pension overhaul.

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U.S. Stocks Rise on Citigroup Earnings, Fed Easing Speculation
Citigroup, the bank 12 percent-owned by U.S. taxpayers, rallied 5.8 percent to lead a measure of financial shares to the biggest gain among 10 groups. Hasbro Inc., the second-largest toymaker, advanced 4.3 percent after reporting higher-than- estimated earnings as sales of preschool products gained….

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Demand for eco-friendly items is still on the rise

Comparison-shopping for just the right product now includes a demand for the lowest carbon footprint.

When shoppers are given choices, for example, many say that eco-friendly products are a meaningful way to make an individual contribution to the good health of the planet.

“If that many people come together and act on their convictions to reduce chemicals and contaminants from reaching landfill, it’s going to make such a difference to protecting our land, air, and waterways,” says Steve Matyas, president of office supplies retailer, Staples Canada.

Recycling is a continuous service at Staples where handy, in-store bins for used ink and toner cartridges, rechargeable batteries and unwanted cell phones, make it easy to discard these toxic items.

“And in keeping with this commitment, our stores have also stocked the shelves with at least 2,000 eco-friendly products,” Matyas continued. “As a low-cost retailer, it’s important for us to weigh value alongside our environmental impact. The answer was to give Canadian shoppers a lot of choice in sustainable products and supplies.”

Details about these items are available online at www.staples/environmentfrom/community. Here’s a snapshot of just a few:

• Eco-friendly notebooks by Staples, made from 80 percent bagasse, a sugarcane waste by product. The bagasse line also uses eco-conscious vegetable and water-based inks for printing.

• Exercise books by Hilroy are made from 30 percent post-consumer waste and environmentally friendly ink.

• Scissors byWestcot KleenEarth have green handles made from 70 percent recycled plastic. And, the microband handles also have antibacterial protection against the growth of germs.

• Eco Easyreport covers by Staples are not only reusable, they are made with a starch-based cellulose and that makes them biodegradable.

• Chipboard binders by Avery are made 100 per cent recycled chipboard.

“Perhaps of equal importance, our company goal is to eliminate polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from all brand packaging by the fall of 2010,” Matyas said. “Customers tell us they want the most eco-friendly products available, so this year we’ve taken the initiative to develop PVC-free packaging. Once in place, shoppers can be confidant about this environmental contribution with any Staples item they buy.”

Comparison-shopping for just the right product now includes a demand for the lowest carbon footprint.

When shoppers are given choices, for example, many say that eco-friendly products are a meaningful way to make an individual contribution to the good health of the planet.

“If that many people come together and act on their convictions to reduce chemicals and contaminants from reaching landfill, it’s going to make such a difference to protecting our land, air, and waterways,” says Steve Matyas, president of office supplies retailer, Staples Canada.

Recycling is a continuous service at Staples where handy, in-store bins for used ink and toner cartridges, rechargeable batteries and unwanted cell phones, make it easy to discard these toxic items.

“And in keeping with this commitment, our stores have also stocked the shelves with at least 2,000 eco-friendly products,” Matyas continued. “As a low-cost retailer, it’s important for us to weigh value alongside our environmental impact. The answer was to give Canadian shoppers a lot of choice in sustainable products and supplies.”

Details about these items are available online at www.staples/environmentfrom/community. Here’s a snapshot of just a few:

• Eco-friendly notebooks by Staples, made from 80 percent bagasse, a sugarcane waste by product. The bagasse line also uses eco-conscious vegetable and water-based inks for printing.

• Exercise books by Hilroy are made from 30 percent post-consumer waste and environmentally friendly ink.

• Scissors byWestcot KleenEarth have green handles made from 70 percent recycled plastic. And, the microband handles also have antibacterial protection against the growth of germs.

• Eco Easyreport covers by Staples are not only reusable, they are made with a starch-based cellulose and that makes them biodegradable.

• Chipboard binders by Avery are made 100 per cent recycled chipboard.

“Perhaps of equal importance, our company goal is to eliminate polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from all brand packaging by the fall of 2010,” Matyas said. “Customers tell us they want the most eco-friendly products available, so this year we’ve taken the initiative to develop PVC-free packaging. Once in place, shoppers can be confidant about this environmental contribution with any Staples item they buy.”

HHO Cell Cars – Imagine Feeling Calm When Everyone Else’s Panics When the Gas Prices Rise!

The world has been hearing about the HHO cell car for quite some time now and everyone wants to see it on the roads soon. But the fact is that these cars are already on the streets in many countries in the world like USA. Hydrogen cars have recently been launched by the leading car manufacturers BMW and General Motors. In fact thirteen such cars by General Motors can be spotted in Washington, which also includes six minivans.

Few car manufacturers like Toyota, Nissan, Daimler Chrysler and Honda have designed special hydrogen powered vehicles to be used in the Army. BMW has come up with its own series whereas Ford’s HHO car, “Focus” is still in the manufacturing stage.

You don’t need to worry about gas mileage once you own one of these cars. They help in cutting down on the fuel cost as hydrogen is cheap and affordable. However there is no need to panic if you can’t afford these cars, you can still get your car converted with the help of hydrogen fuel kits. The kit is reasonably priced and it is definitely a good investment considering its long term advantages.

General Motors is planning to launch few alternative hydrogen cars by 2010. These alternative cars are priced like other internal combustion cars but use hydrogen as fuel. There is severe shortage of hydrogen stations all over the world and for this Shell and General Motors have joined hands. Shell has been actively involved in setting up hydrogen fuel stations to meet the demand. The projection is that for every 200,000 cars, the world will need approximately 300 hydrogen stations.

You can notice a few hydrogen buses running in European cities like Amsterdam, Porto, Madrid, Stockholm, Stuttgart and London. They were launched in 2004 by Daimler Chrysler. Such hho cell-powered vehicles are expected to take over the automobile industry in the coming years!

Demand For Hybrid Cars Continues To Rise

The number of hybrid cars registered in America last year set a record. The high cost of gasoline is one reason for the surge in demand, but other elements are technology and variety, KMBC’s Micheal Mahoney reported. “Now that we’re looking at $4 a gallon gas, these are up to about 35 to 40 percent of our sales,” car dealer Ray Adams said. Hybrid vehicles have smaller gasoline engines that are supplemented by electric motors, which are recharged. The electric batteries for the hybrids are now coming with longer warranties and replaceable elements. However, folks need to change the way the drive to improve the mile-per-gallon ratio. “Smooth (driving) — not really punching it, is the best way if you want to get 45 to 50 miles per gallon,” Adams said. While most car sales went down in 2007, hybrid registration jumped up 38 percent. Overall, hybrids are 2 percent of the American market. The Toyota Prius is the dominant hybrid vehicle in America, but there are more models than there used to be.

Car Emissions On The Rise

Car emissions have been on the rise in North America each and every year now for the past while and it appears that most people don’t really want to pay attention to the issue at hand because more and more cars are on the road. The number one emission problem is CO2 and this is causing our atmosphere to crumble apart and it’s not good for anyone. Everyone needs to begin to realize that they need to find alternative means of energy to power their vehicles or they need to stop using their vehicles as much.

With gas prices soaring higher and higher each day it should help keep some of the cars off of the road, and hopefully some of the big truck owners have to keep their trucks in park while the gas prices are high. Millions of trucks are sold each year and they are causing the most CO2 emissions into our air and it’s causing the environment lots of problems which will cause us problems in the near future. If something isn’t done about the amount people drive then soon something catastrophic is going to happen.

Almost all of the car manufactures in North America have announced that they will be releasing some sort of alternative energy model vehicle throughout the year. There are different methods of running these vehicles on different energy sources and they are all a lot better for the environment. With gas prices rising so high it’s also a pretty big money saver for anyone who is spending hundreds of dollars on gas. With a green car that runs off of an alternative energy source you will save on the money you’d otherwise be spending on gas to run your vehicle.

The savings on gas over the long haul will be greater then the cost of the green cars being introduced to us and it means that buying a green car is the smart choice. It not only will help the environment for our children but it will also save us for having to buy gas off of crooks, who continually raise the price of gas.

Green cars are also not much more then your average priced car but they will cost a bit more then your usual car although the savings on gas are tremendous over the years. Some places also offer rebates if you buy an environmentally friendly car, so if you look into this you may be eligible to receive a few thousand dollars rebate off the purchase of any car that runs off of alternative fuels. Even if you can’t receive a rebate it’s still definitely worth your money to invest in a greener car which will help to create a greener tomorrow. These cars are built very well now with advanced technology and they can run for long periods of time now. When they first came out they needed some work but they have received that over the past couple years now and look to keep expanding upon it.

As temps rise, so do A/C sales, service calls

Honda adds another hybrid car, 2-seat CR-Z
By ANN M. JOB For The Associated Press Honda is at it again – building a fuel-sipping, two-seat gasoline-electric hybrid car. This time, though, the car is not just thrifty, it’s comfortable and lively.

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Honda adds another hybrid car, 2-seat CR-Z
By ANN M. JOB For The Associated Press Honda is at it again – building a fuel-sipping, two-seat gasoline-electric hybrid car. This time, though, the car is not just thrifty, it’s comfortable and lively.

Read more on WBTV Charlotte

Honda adds another hybrid car, 2-seat CR-Z
By ANN M. JOB For The Associated Press Honda is at it again – building a fuel-sipping, two-seat gasoline-electric hybrid car. This time, though, the car is not just thrifty, it’s comfortable and lively.

Read more on KCBA FOX 35 Salinas

Toshiba To Expand US Plant To Build Electric Vehicle Motors
Toshiba To Expand US Plant To Build Electric Vehicle Motors

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As temps rise, so do A/C sales, service calls
TUPELO – On Monday, the first day of summer, the Tennessee Valley Authority said power consumption across its eight-state footprint reached nearly 30,000 megawatts.

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