Billions

By Property Reporters, The Nation The Phloenchit-Wireless intersection is set to become a new landmark for Bangkok, as three property developers, including the Central Group, Tan Passakornnatee and Charoen Siriwattanapakdi, get set to develop projects worth about Bt20billion at the location. The Central Group helped the Phloenchit-Wireless Road area gain popularity in March 2006 when it won [...]

AES Proposes BEC Switch To Natural Gas: By Quincy Parker - Nassau, Bahamas: AES Corporation – which wants to build an LNG plant in The Bahamas – could potentially help the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) both save millions in fuel costs and become more environmentally friendly, the company spokesman contends. AES has estimated – based on New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) foreca

Apple announced today that they had sold over 5 billion songs on iTunes. According to data from the NPD Group, iTunes remains the number one music retailer in the US. iTunes features the largest... Blog about Mac Computers, Apple Product and Design (from Photography, to Architecture). Embedded videos, apple commercials, photos, news, download links, a lot of tips and tricks, tutorials. Anything y

via Allhiphop Couple Damon Dash and Rachel Roy have announced a joint venture with Jones Apparel, Inc to expand the Rachel Roy Collection fashion brand. The Rachel Roy Collection was launched in... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Most biodiesel today is made from soybeans or recycled vegetable oil and does not offer the same performance as petroleum-based diesel. A California startup engineers microbes to transform them into molecular oil refineries, digesting sugar to produce low-carbon equivalents of petroleum based fuel.

A BBC investigation estimates that around $23bn (£11.75bn) may have been lost, stolen or just not properly accounted for in Iraq. The BBC's Panorama programme has used US and Iraqi government sources to research how much some private contractors have profited from the conflict and rebuilding. A US gagging order is preventing discussion of the allegations. The order applies to 70 court cases ag

A BBC investigation estimates that around $23bn (£11.75bn) may have been lost, stolen or just not properly accounted for in Iraq.For the first time, the extent to which some private contractors have profited from the conflict and rebuilding has been researched by the BBC's Panorama using US and Iraqi government sources.In the run-up to the invasion one of the most senior officials in charge of

Ho Chi Minh City is eyeing Japanese official development assistance (ODA) for investment in two metro projects at the total cost of 2.13 billion USD. Of this amount, 1.8 billion USD will come from ODA sources and the remainder from the State budget. In its recent submission to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the HCM City People’s Committee expects that some 1.05 billion USD will be

gamezine.co.uk Virtual world users to number in the billionsgamezine.co.uk, UK - 40 minutes agoGames like World of Warcraft, for example, already have millions and millions of users (ten million in WoW's case). Regardless, Strategy Analytics believes … Written by Google Inc. and Powered by WordPress

In Marketplace Forbes.com Its Profits AreUp by Billions Gas Prices Helped Shell, but Hurt ThisCar Giant: World's Biggest Companies Late-Night Icon Facing ForeclosureOwes $644K in Mortgage Payments Check Your BaggageAirline Cuts 1,000 Jobs, 100 FlightsWoman Gives Birth at 37,000 Feet Next

Pentagon auditors say billions of dollars in military spending is going unchecked because they are having trouble keeping pace with the ever-expanding defense budget and combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. In a recent report, the Defense Department inspector general estimates that nearly half of the military's $316 billion weapons budget went unchecked last year because the IG's office

Five cooperative and investment deals worth more than 10 billion USD were signed between domestic companies and foreign partners in the end of May, in Ho Chi Minh City. In particular, a deal was signed between VN234 Real Estate and Financial Investment Group and the E.VO Global Fund Management Group from Australia on May 27, with a total committed capital of 10 billion USD for nearly 30 real

You’d think the U.N. would be more careful after it’s oil-for-food scandal, but it appears the organization continues to mismanage their assets and authority. This time, the group has been handing out carbon credits to industries that have proclaimed their programs qualify. A watchdog group [...]

Billions of Entrepreneurs: How China and Bharat Are Reshaping Their Futures–and Yours (Hardcover)By Tarun Khanna Buy new: $29.95$19.7735 utilised and new from $14.97 Customer Rating: First tagged “microsoft” by Donald uranologist “a Practical Optimist” [...]

Don deBethizy is describing a class of drugs called nicotinics, which he says can restore the memory of Alzheimer’s patients, control pain, and improve attention spans. What’s more, they may boost cognition and memory in healthy people.It seems far out even for the neurotechnology industry, a rapidly growing cluster of companies—small upstarts as well as pharmaceutical giants—that want to

Quick Post:CBS (NYSE: CBS) is acquiring CNET (NSDQ: CNET) for $1.8 billion in cash. The purchase price comes to $11.50 per share, representing a 44.6 percent premium over last night’s closing price of $7.95. This article can be also be found at: paidcontent iBeginShare.attachButton('share-tool-838193776', {title: 'Acquisition:CBS Is Buying CNET for 1.8 Billions', link: '-is-buying-cnet-for-18-b

This survey from the CBI reveals that companies are paying out on average £476 per employee for sick days. Public sector workers take more sick days than private sector workers. Bare-bones research like this hides the real human story of how work stress is affecting us all.

The Sports Ministry of the union government has provided a massive fund of Rs. 802 crores ( Rs.8.02 billion) to train India's elite sports persons for the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games. The fund, would facilitate state-of-art training, foreign exposure, scientific backup and equipment to athletes. The selection process under the scheme is done by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) in consultation

The mortgage crisis has had a negative impact on everyone, not just homeowners. Elected officials are working hard to pass legislation that is designed to prevent future banking debacles. Unfortunately, history has proven that when legislators over-regulate banks that it tightens the reins on lending. This is done by raising the bar on what it takes to qualify for a mortgage or installment loan. P

Americans are sending billions to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and that money has been used to pay: Compensation to the families of suicide bombers in Israel For flying lessons for the September 11th hijackers Purchasing weapons and munitions for the faithful Muslim in terrorist attacks world wide Americans are literally paying [...]

Wall St. said WiMax was dead. Sprint (NYSE: S) which was going to build a $5 billion network for its broadband wireless network did not have the capital.... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Mukesh Ambani, the richest resident indian in india, is building a house in mumbai which is a 27-storey skyscraper with a height of 550 feet and interior space measuring 400000 square feets. It is estimated to be worth around $2 billions by forbes and could also be the world's largest and most expensive home.So what does this guy do to have that much wealth to get a home build for his family

ST. PETERSBURG -- Hungarian property developer TriGranit Development has announced that it will invest $2 billion to $3 billion into new premises in St. Petersburg, including the construction of a shopping and exhibition complex.The development will be built on the site of the former Badayevskiye warehouses -- wooden buildings dating to the beginning of the 20th century located on Kievskaya Ulitsa, said Sandor Demjan, chairman of the company's board of directors, Interfax reported. The warehouses have caught fire several times in recent years and have been largely destroyed.TriGranit Development plans to complete construction within four years of obtaining the required permits from city authorities, Demjan told the news agency.

Already more than once and not two, I predicted that the battle Microsoft and the executive European Union still very, very far from completion. But, in truth, never expecting that the prolonged strife in the TV series of communal flat suddenly become a tight thriller. However, that is exactly what happened on February 27.Already 10 years I do an overview of the IT business, and all this time fined Microsoft Corporation. In my mind it fined for claims users and competitors, the antimonopoly authorities of different countries and territories on the initiatives of other departments. Thus, in the late 90 - x Microsoft tired potrepali prosecutors and the state Attorney General United States - many have not remember, but in America, Microsoft is still officially under procuratorial supervision.

Wall St. has digested the fact that Boeing (BA) has delayed its 787 Dreamliner again and that it will be more than a year late in launching. The plane-maker... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Co announces that it entered into definitive agreements to raise an aggregate $7 bln through direct sale of equity securities to an investment vehicle managed by TPG Capital, and to other investors, including many of WaMu’s top institutional shareholders. TPG’s investment vehicle, as anchor investor, will purchase $2 bln in newly-issued WaMu securities. With the [...]

Strategic Assets As Congress gets an update next week on the Iraq war, lawmakers are personally invested in companies reaping billions of dollars from defense contracts. By Lindsay Renick Mayer April 03, 2008 | When Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S military officer in Iraq, comes to Capitol Hill next week to brief Congress, he will be addressing [...]

Deutsche Bank, UBS, Lehman Bros. and Thornburg announce writedowns to boost liquidity amid credit crisis. Banks, hit hard by the recent credit crisis, are struggling for cash.Tuesday, four financial institutions announced plans to boost liquidity amid slumping profits and no offers for outside help. It was the latest indication of how far the severe plunge in U.S. housing prices and a credit crisis triggered by rising mortgage defaults has reached.UBSSwiss bank UBS AG on Tuesday reported more serious damage from exposure to the U.S. subprime crisis, saying it would post first-quarter losses of $12.1 billion and that it would seek $15.1 billion in new capital.Switzerland' s largest bank said it expects writedowns of approximately $19 billion and announced the resignation of Chairman Marcel

Official has a sample San Francisco “The Billions fitted cap that has been seen in their office.  No word on the meaning or if it will release on the retail side.  Regardless, dope colorways of course and you have to love the contrast stitching. Image\Info: StrictlyFitteds Tags: Official, "San, Francisco, The, Billions", Fitted, Cap

TOKYO - Japanese households and businesses could end up paying more than $500 billion to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 11 percent over the next decade, the trade and industry ministry said Wednesday. The report mapped out the changes that consumers and industry would have to make in order to cut emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases blamed for global warming below 2005 levels by 2020. The forecast, by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, comes as Japan is struggling to meet obligations under the kyoto global warming pact to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 6 percent under 1990 levels by 2012.source:- Yahoo Newsfull article

The Fed delivered a 200 Billion Dollar death blow to the economy, and in so weakened the Federal Reserve and guaranteed a finance collapse. This effort which is a cloaked bailout gives money to failing financial institutions and moves the debt that exists between the Bond industry and it’s creditors and places it on the Fed. [...]

Cleanup of nuclear weapons sites is behind schedule and over budget, audit shows, but DOE cuts program OPTIMISTIC MILESTONES in cleaning up the nuclear weapons complex cannot be met, the Department of Energy recently announced. With much fanfare, the Bush Administration set milestones just a few years ago. Now, DOE must begin renegotiating agreements reached with states to reflect new and more accurate costs and schedules revealed last year in a program-wide audit, says Assistant Secretary James A. Rispoli, who manages the agency's cleanup program. The audit shows that the cost to clean up extensive radioactive and hazardous waste contamination is likely to be as high as $305 billion, more than $50 billion higher than the Administration's earlier estimate. It also may take unt

God I love this! For those of you who don't know Lou Perlman owns a company called Trans something fiddly and he claims to be the big know it all when it comes to music. He wrote a book - Bands, Brands and Billions and told us all about how smart... Read and post comments | Send to a friend

A model of Open Source school computing is emerging which could save the taxpayer billions of pounds and provide enormous opportunities for the home-grown technology sector based around Open Source software.read more | digg story

Capital IQ has estimated that since October of last year, six CEOs have lost more than $1 billion through holdings of their companies’ stock. Here is the list: Larry Ellison of Oracle, Michael Dell of Dell Inc., Micky Arison of Carnival, Jeffrey Bezos of Amazon.com, Eric Schmidt of Google and Rupert Murdoch of News [...]

Citibank has announced that they are yet another casualty of the sub-prime lending spree that has been going on for the past several years. They wrote off approximately $18 billion on Tuesday. I’m pretty sure that’s about 75% of all the money in the world. Tiger Woods has the other 25%. I’m no bank executive, but I think I understand what happened here: Citibank loaned a bazillion dollars

Actually this is true. Right now according to the latest research that is being carried recently, I came to know that £6.68 billion will be transferred between credit cards over the upcoming six months. Sainsbury’s finance showed that 4.3 million people or willing to transfer a balance between now and July, in order to switch to 0% credit card deals from their current plastic. Donald MacLeod, head of cards at Sainsbury's said that "Our research shows that there are an estimated five million people with outstanding balances who are not only incurring interest but also admit that it may take them longer than one month to clear their spend".I was really surprised after seeing this because I never expected this much from credit cards. And as so many or willing to clear credit card debts, th

Mikhail Khodorkovsky was born on June, 26th 1963 in Moscow. Lived with parents in the Moscow two-room flat. Both mother, and the father were the engineers-chemists, all life worked on the Moscow factory “Calibre”. By an example of parents, Michael since the childhood took a great interest in chemistry, has left school with profound teaching [...]

Citibank has announced that they are yet another casualty of the sub-prime lending spree that has been going on for the past several years. They wrote off approximately $18 billion on Tuesday. I’m pretty sure that’s about 75% of all the money in the world. Tiger Woods has the other 25%. I’m no bank executive, but I think I understand what happened here: Citibank loaned a bazillion dollars to

Welcome to the inflationist days. Central banks are pouring money in unprecedented amounts into markets reeling from an insolvency crisis that cannot be solved by throwing artificially created bills of credit onto a market while accepting dubious collateral. Just have a look at the explosive growth of "other assets" in the ECB's balance sheet. At the same time European central banks salt away their only asset with alpha performance: gold holdings in ounces keep declining, and this practice has never been questioned by politicians so far. Is it ignorance or incompetence? Watching ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet telling a very empty European Parliament on Wednesday nothing new about the current crisis it enforces my belief that European politicians do not have the faintest idea how grave the situation is."Liquidity" actions by central banks will not help to avoid but only delay the inevitable process of deflating the layers of debt created in this century. After all what is a few hun

A blockbuster drug is a drug that reaches more than a billion dollars of sales in one year. Today, a good example of this type of drug would be Lipitor whose sales topped $7.1 billion dollars. So how do these companies turn a drug with normal sales into a blockbuster drug? According to the book, The Truth about the Drug Companies, there are two different ways to go about this. Usually if a drug

King 5 News recently reported on the discovery of secret documents held by Allstate Insurance Company that showed how this carrier purposely shortchanged legitimate claims to reap billions more in profits. The documents were created by a business consulting firm hired by Allstate in the early 1990's. The firm, McKinsey and Company, recommended that Allstate adopt a policy to intentionally pay out less money to accident victims who filed legitimate claims. Although the claims filed by accident victims were clearly valid and involved legitimate injuries, Allstate found that by intentionally undercutting the value of the claim by 20, 30 or even 50%, Allstate could earn much more in profits. This policy was revolutionary in the industry since no other company adopted a specific policy of int

Markets fear banks have $1 trillion in toxic debt by Independent UK - 11/6/07 snip:A new phase in the credit crunch, one of “$1 trillion losses” seems to be dawning. The crisis at Citigroup and renewed doubts about some of the world’s leading banks disquieted stock markets on both sides of the Atlantic yesterday, with the fractious mood set to continue...Foreclosure wave sweeps America by BBC - 11/5/07 snips:A wave of foreclosures and evictions is about to sweep the United States in the wake of the sub-prime mortgage lending crisis. This could destabilise the US housing market and may also lead to further turmoil in financial institutions, who collectively own $1 trillion worth of sub-prime debt. Cleveland, Ohio.... is the sub-prime capital of the United States. One in ten homes in the city is now vacant, and whole neighbourhoods have been blighted by foreclosed, vandalized and boarded-up homes... Cleveland's situation is not unique. All around the country, aid agencies rep

Warren Buffet has made billions investing in the stock market, and is considered to be the second richest man in the world (after Bill Gates). The company he manages, Berkshire Hathaway, has the highest priced stock on the market – at just under $130,000 per share currently. His long-term buy and hold investment style is encapsulated in this quote:"Your goal as an investor should simply be to purchase, at a rational price, a part interest in an easily-understandable business whose earnings are virtually certain to be materially higher five, ten and twenty years from now. Over time, you will find only a few companies that meet these standards - so when you see one that qualifies, you should buy a meaningful amount of stock. You must also resist the temptation to stray from your guidelines

Between April 2003 and June 2004, $12 billion in U.S. currency—much of it belonging to the Iraqi people—was shipped from the Federal Reserve to Baghdad, where it was dispensed by the Coalition Provisional Authority. Some of the cash went to pay for projects and keep ministries afloat, but, incredibly, at least $9 billion has gone missing, unaccounted for, in a frenzy of mismanagement and greed. Following a trail that leads from a safe in one of Saddam’s palaces to a house near San Diego, to a P.O. box in the Bahamas, the authors discover just how little anyone cared about how the money was handled. This is a positively surreal Vanity Fair story Billions over Baghdad: Politics & Power about where the money went in Iraq (or where it didn’t go). For instance, That transfer of cash (forty pallets of it, weighing 30 tons) to Iraq was the largest one-day shipment of currency in the history of the New York Fed. It was not, however, the first such shipment of cash t

“Several of the world’s biggest banks are in talks to put up about $75 billion in backup financing that could be used to buy risky mortgage securities and other assets, a move designed to ease pressure on a crucial part of the credit markets that still looms over the broader economy.” http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/14/business/14bank.html?ref=business  “But it also shows the heightened concerns of both government and financial players that problems in a crucial part of the credit market have not stabilized, even after a half-point drop in interest rates, and threaten to derail the overall economy.” “Banks have been meeting to come up with a plan to create a fund that could prevent a sharp sell-off in securities owned by bank-affiliated investment vehicles. ” ——————————– Selling off would only extend the depression to current market and probably carry it heavily through next year. Bo

Oh, this is the kind of guy I like… I found this story about this billionaire named Chuck Feeney, who from what I have read about him was a great example of someone who understands that money is NOT the root of all evil. Below I have listed a few excerpts from the story I read. He wears a $15 watch, flies economy class and does not own a house or car. For years few guessed that Chuck Feeney was one of the world’s biggest philanthropists, secretly giving away his billionaire fortune. Witty, self-deprecating, frugal and astute, Feeney was listed by Forbes Magazine in 1988 as the 23rd richest American alive and worth $1.3 billion, richer than Rupert Murdoch and Donald Trump. He wasn’t. Four years earlier, Feeney had placed most of his money in charitable foundations. “I had one idea that never changed in my mind that you should use your wealth to help people. I try to live a normal life, the way I grew up,” Feeney said. “I set out to work hard, not to

Workers who have diabetes with neuropathic symptoms such as numbness or tingling in feet or hands lose the equivalent of 1.4 hours a week or $3.65 billion per year in health-related lost productive time, a recent study finds. According to a press release from EurekAlert, the 1.4 hours lost was more than twice the amount of lost time of diabetic workers without neuropathic symptoms. For this reason, individuals with diabetes are much more likely to be unemployed. Geisinger Center for Health Research investigators looked at 19,075 working adults, including 1,003 who were diagnosed with diabetes. Of these workers, 38% reported diabetes-related numbness or tingling in their feet or hands. When the investigators compared health-related lost productive time, it was 18% higher in diabetics with symptoms and 5% higher in diabetics without symptoms. Those with diabetes were about twice more likely than those without diabetes to be unemployed. (Source: Medical News Today | Geisinger) Shar

The scientists report uScientific sleuths have a new suspect for a mysterious affliction that has killed off honeybeesby the billions: a virus previously unknown in the United States.sing a novel genetic technique and old-fashioned statistics to identify Israeli acute paralysis virus as the latest potential culprit in the widespread deaths of worker bees, a phenomenon known as colony collapse disorder. Next up are attempts to infect honeybees with the virus to see if it indeed is a killer"At least we have a lead now we can begin to follow. We can use it as a marker and we can use it to investigate whether it does in fact cause disease," said Dr. W. Ian Lipkin, a Columbia University epidemiologist and co-author of the study. Details appear this week in Science Express, the online edition of the journal Science. Experts stressed that parasitic mites, pesticides and poor nutrition all remain suspects, as does the stress of travel. Beekeepers shuffle bees around the United States t

We found this video to be interesting and was rated 4 1/2 stars of 5 on youtube.com Federal Reserve ---Related Articles at Consumer Mortgage Reports:Problems are Unprecedented But Could Be Better Long-Term for MarketsThis Is How The Week Ended - How Will It Begin?Ben Bernanke, Don't Kill The Real Estate Golden GooseMortgage Market Uncertainty Cause Stock Markets Plunge Around The WorldCredit Fears Rattle Asia But Activity RemainsGlobal Market Contamination And Tumble On Credit/Subprime Mortgage Woes

Euro still holds below the 1.3700 level after a major crisis on the world financial markets and currency interventions made by European and Japanese central banks. Dollar's fundamental future isn't looking bright, but from the technical side EUR/USD is turning the trendline down currently.Yesterday's initial jobless claims news release wasn't very encouraging - 316,000 new claims - almost 10k higher than expected. This is a bad sign as the employment market looked better previous weeks.Today export and import prices indexes were released - 2.8% and 1.5% respectively, which both much higher than expected numbers and previous months' numbers.Budget deficit in June came out at $36.3 billion dollars, while experts expected $34.0 billion dollars deficit.Overall fundamental data this week came out worse than several last weeks and this can affect Fed's decisions on interest rates change.

While the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) joyfully announced the monthly inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) into Vietnam, the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has nearly ‘blockaded’ all information about the Foreign Institutional Investment (FII) flow. According to statistics of the foreign bank which is managing the largest number of accounts for financial investment institutions, there are around 74 foreign investment funds pouring money into Vietnam, including 22 funds that have been established so far this year. Among new funds are Sumitomo Misui Vietnam, Fullerton Vietnam Fund, TongYang Vietnam, Maxford Growth Vietnam Focus, Vietnam Resource, Credit Agricole Fund.

Lev Leviev didn't miss a beat. It was evident that his answer, ostensibly off the top of his hat during the interview, had been prepared in advance: "Seven billion dollars by year-end," he said confidently, and smiled. The question we had asked him, at the Davos economic conference in late January 2007, had been what his goal for Africa Israel (TASE: AFIL) , his main business arm, is.

Lev Leviev didn't miss a beat. It was evident that his answer, ostensibly off the top of his hat during the interview, had been prepared in advance: "Seven billion dollars by year-end," he said confidently, and smiled.

Democrats Press Plan to Channel Billions in Oil Subsidies to Renewable FuelsExcerpt:"Senate Democrats are seeking a major reversal of energy tax policies that would take billions of dollars in tax breaks and other benefits from the oil industry to underwrite renewable fuels.The tax increases would reverse incentives passed as recently as three years ago to increase domestic exploration and production of oil and gas. The change reflects a shift from the Republican focus on expanding oil production to the Democratic concern about reducing global warming."Read Story

Google bets billions to lock-in search dominance - Digital MarketsExcerpt:"The Googleplex is spending billions not only investing in engineering R & D to “optimize” its SERP ranking algorithims, but, perhaps more importantly, to build-out its “massively scalable infrastructure” around the search world."http://blogs.zdnet.com/micro-markets/?p=1491GoogleAlex

New York Times - Billions in Oil Missing in Iraq, U.S. Study SaysExcerpt:"Between 100,000 and 300,000 barrels a day of Iraq’s declared oil production over the past four years is unaccounted for and could have been siphoned off through corruption or smuggling, according to a draft American government report."http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/12/world/middleeast/12oil.html?ex=1179633600&en=e4761a5010834cce&ei=5123&partner=BREITBARTAlex

So, I’ve been reading a bit about people discussing the cost of MMOs. Or, more exactly, what it costs to get one made and what a realistic budget is. Don’t get me wrong, I basically agree with what some have said about not requiring all that much money, but one thing that I haven’t heard about is what kind of money people making “blockbuster” MMOs are dishing out. Big companies like SOE, NCSoft and Blizzard/Vivendi. So that’s become my new pet project. I’m currently working to figure out just what goes into pricing an MMO and how much it actually costs, from the big names in the industry. I’ll update soon and see how far I can get with it. Hopefully I’ll have some responses to share. money, cost of mmo, blizzard, vivendi, ncsoft, soe, mmog, mmorpg

A day after announcing a $4.2 billion investment in Europe to develop and build the next-generation Astra and sister models, General Motors executives said the company also plans to invest billions of dollars in Asia over the next two years, in part to build a new family of subcompact vehicles.GM said it will spend $3.2 billion in Korea, where affiliate GM Daewoo is engineering replacements for the Chevrolet Aveo, Daewoo Gentra, Opel Corsa and other future products to be based on the next-generation Gamma platform.[Source: Inside Line: Edmunds]Continued- Article, linkThe first of the new Gamma2 models are slated to go into production in late 2009 and early 2010. The Gamma family will be produced at various GM plants around the globe, including China, India and Korea, as well as Central Europe and Latin America.The GM investment includes funding for a new Korea R&D center and development of a diesel engine and six-speed transmission.In India, GM chairman Rick Wagoner suggested the a

In 2005, EPAÂ’s 12 voluntary climate protection programs prevented 63 million metric tons of carbon equivalent emissions - up from 57 million in 2004, according to a new EPA report released today.   Highlights of the report, Energy Star and Other Climate Protection Partnerships 2005 Annual Report, include savings from the governmentÂ’s Energy Star program. Americans, with the help of Energy Star, avoided greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 23 million automobiles in 2005 – up from 20 million in 2004 – while saving about $12 billion on their energy bills. Americans also saved a significant amount of energy in 2005 – 150 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) – or about 4 percent of the total 2005 electricity demand.   Other voluntary climate protection programs included in the report are the Climate Leaders Program, the Green Power Partnership, Methane Programs and initiatives that develop clean energy solutions and minimize emissions of other non-carbon dioxide gases

A Positive Change for Change: My American DreamI am a thirty-four year old, single, white, middle-class, tax paying male who commutes 110 miles round-trip to my full-time, civil service job in another state. I also attend graduate school part-time in the evenings. Not that this matters, for I could be any average American living in this country. Government loves figures and statistics so group me into any category you seem fit. I live life the way I do, not only to pay the bills, but to enhance my self-worth as a human being, and to fulfill my obligation as a positive, integral part of society. One day I hope I can look back and say I had a good life, lived it to the fullest, provided love and security for my family, and spoke for those not having the ways or means to always do so. This is my American dream.On my commute home yesterday, I was listening to NPR and there was a discussion of Governor Swartzenegger's proposal to provide health care that would cover all of the people

Back in May, presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton refused to endorse a specific change to federally-mandated Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. In a speech in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the former first lady jumped into the debate with both feet. The Detroit News reports that Ms Clinton gave her support to non-existent legislation that would raise U.S. automakers' CAFE averages to 55 miles per gallon by 2030. Hang on; the toughest standard currently under consideration would hoik the CAFE standard to 35mpg by 2020. How the Hell would Detroit up their fleets' fuel economy average by 2mpg per year for 10 years after that? Why, by using the $20b in low-interest government funds she's promising to help them retool factories. Plus $2b in R&D funding for battery research. And a $10k tax credit for consumers who purchase an as yet non-existent plug-in hybrid. Oh, and the aspiring president said she'd add 100k as yet non-existent plug-in hybrids to the federal gov