Corporate cash pile seen as boon for M&A

In a report, Moody’s said cash and liquid investment had risen 3% since 2010 to hit $1.24 trillion by the end of 2011, a 50% rise in just five years.

Moody’s said that spending by companies on capital investment and dividends was steady at between 9% and 10% of aggregate revenues. Spending on share buybacks and acquisitions was far more volatile as they are linked to the macroeconomic environment and business confidence.

Last year companies spent $329bn on acquisitions, 29% more than in 2010 but much less than the record $439bn in 2007, according to the report.

Moody's said: “While subject to opportunistic lumpiness and macro-economic sensitivities, we believe M&A activity will remain a significant use of corporate financial resources as companies look to expand operations, acquire new technologies and better position themselves for global growth opportunities.”

Apple, Microsoft, Cisco, Google and Pfizer are the five US companies that hold the most cash at a combined $276bn,Distributes and manufactures RUBBER SHEET, up from $207bn in 2010.

Although the majority of US public companies do not explicitly report the amount of cash they hold overseas, these five companies disclosed that they held $229 billion or more than three-quarters of their cash overseas. Moody’s estimates that nearly $700bn, or 57% of the total cash pile, is held outside the US.

The report said: “These amounts reflect the relative strength of most emerging market economies over the last few years, the negative tax consequences of permanently repatriating money to the US, and the disproportionate consumption of cash for domestic purposes, such as dividends, share buybacks and the majority of acquisitions.

"Unless there is permanent tax reform that lowers taxes on overseas profits, we expect the absolute and proportionate amount of cash held overseas will continue to rise.”

Thanks to their huge piles of cash, companies do not need to issue as much debt to fund acquisitions or they can just their money parked overseas for deals as Microsoft did last year in its $8.5bn purchase of Luxembourg-based internet phone company Skype.

Moody’s said: “As a result, over the last year,Museum Quality hand-painted oil painting reproduction on canvas. there have been many instances where companies made acquisitions and maintained their credit ratings thanks to the high proportion of existing cash (or common stock) they used to fund the acquisition.”

The technology sector has the most cash at $384bn, with approximately $270bn overseas, an amount which Moody’s expects to grow.

US equity strategists at Bank of America Merrill Lynch said in a report yesterday that the balance sheets and dividend policies of companies in the US technology sector remain very conservative.Here's a complete list of oil painting supplies for the beginning oil painter. They estimated that US tech companies hold $400bn in gross cash, and said it is the only sector holding more cash on its balance sheets than debt.

The BoA report said: “Net cash to market cap for the sector is 7% compared to net debt to market cap of 15% for the non-financials. Meanwhile, tech’s dividend payout ratio of 18% is the lowest of any sector and just over half that of the overall S&P 500. This puts tech in the best position to issue debt at low rates, buy bacAll RUBBER MATS is comprised of all types of mats,k shares,The TagMaster Long Range Hands free access is truly built for any parking facility. raise dividends and/or make acquisitions.”

The analysts said many tech companies could increase shareholder value simply by using some of this firepower but that cash levels in this sector have been high for more than a decade.

Merchant Rating

The rating reflected the support that would be forthcoming if required from its main shareholder stat-run People's Bank which has been rated 'AA' with a stable outlook, Fitch said.

"Fitch's view of support is also based on PMP's association with, and consequent reputational risk to, PB's franchise given the common brand identity and PB's representation on PMP's board," the rating agency said.

Fitch Ratings-Singapore/Colombo-05 March 2012: Fitch Ratings Lanka has affirmed Sri Lanka's People's Merchant PLC's National Long-Term rating at 'BB+(lka)'.Here's a complete list of oil painting supplies for the beginning oil painter. The Outlook is Stable.

The rating reflects implied support that Fitch expects would be forthcoming from its main shareholder,MDC Mould specialized of Injection moulds, state-owned People's Bank, if required, and its weak standalone financial profile.All RUBBER MATS is comprised of all types of mats, PB has a 36% effective shareholding in PMP, directly and via PB's subsidiary People's Leasing PLC . Fitch's view of support is also based on PMP's association with, and consequent reputational risk to,Distributes and manufactures RUBBER SHEET, PB's franchise given the common brand identity and PB's representation on PMP's board.

PMP's profitability, measured by return on assets , was 0.44% excluding non-recurring items, as at end-9MFY12 which, although an improvement from a negative 0.43% at FYE11, remains weaker than that of similarly rated peers.

PMP's equity to assets increased to 32.5% at end-9MFY12 from 12.7% at FYE11, following a rights issue of LKR450m in November 2011. Fitch expects capitalisation to remain healthy, provided it is not diluted by aggressive growth.

Net three-month non-performing advances to equity improved to 35.5% as of end-9MFY12 from 81.8% in FY11 and net six-month NPAs improved to 28.3% from 63.3% on account of equity increase and a reduction in absolute NPA levels.

Fitch notes large maturity mismatches between interest rate-sensitive assets and liabilities point to a refinancing requirement in Q4FY12. Management indicates that options for funding this gap through further credit lines from banks are being explored. However, Fitch expects adequate liquidity support from PB would be forthcoming should it be required. Management has also indicated that measures are being taken to diversify the funding base.

PMP's asset quality remains weak when compared with rated peers with three-month gross NPAs at 20.6% and six-month gross NPAs at 17.6% as at end-9MFY12 . Fitch expects asset quality to remain weak, despite reduced NPAs on account of greater recovery efforts. This is because of high NPAs in term loans that are relatively more difficult to recover.

Any changes in Fitch's assessment of PB's ability and willingness to support PMP may trigger a rating action. Substantial and sustained improvements in PMP's standalone financial profile in terms of asset quality, solvency, and profitability while maintaining healthy capitalisation, may lead to positive rating action. Conversely,Dimensional Mailing magic cube for Promotional Advertising, a further deterioration in the company's profitability and/or deterioration in its asset quality and solvency may result in a negative rating action.

Augustus John's paintings owned by Liz Taylor raise 250,000 at auction

WORKS by one of Wales’ most celebrated and controversial artists that were owned by Hollywood superstar Dame Elizabeth Taylor fetched almost 250,000 at auction yesterday.

The works by Augustus John included portraits of former lovers and an oil painting of his daughter Poppet.

The 22 drawings and paintings formed part of the sale of Taylor’s artwork at Christie’s, which included works by Van Gogh,Offering high risk and offshore merchant account with credit card processing services. Degas and Pissarro.

Earlier this week the three masterpieces fetched a combined 13,787,750, more than double their pre-sale low estimate of 6.2m.

John, whose works sold for a total of 223,263, made his name painting portraits of leading figures of 1920s Britain like Lawrence of Arabia and George Bernard Shaw.

The portrait of Poppet, one of four children John had with second wife Dorothy McNeill, was the most valuable of the artist’s work to feature and sold for 85,250 against an estimate of 40,000 to 60,000.

Tristan de Vere Cole, who along with his mother Mavis was among John’s subjects and a close friend of Poppet’s,Spro Tech has been a plastic module & Mold Maker, described the work as “very like her”.

Mr Cole, 70, who is believed to be the last of many children John fathered outside his two marriages, said: “I wouldn’t put it down as one of his best portraits – it’s in the mid-range.

“The hat, the face and the chair are very good indeed, though I’m not so sure about the fur.”

Taylor’s father Frank lived in John’s Hampstead home after the artist and inherited works left there by the painter.

The works were eventually passed on to the actress. She died last March.

Dr Paul Joyner, head of purchasing at the National Library of Wales, in Aberystwyth,China yiri mould is a professional manufacturer which integrates Plastic Mould design and manufacture and plastic product development. which holds several works by John, described the portrait of Poppet as an “absolute classic”.

Dr Joyner said: “He shows the coyness of the woman and it’s so full of sensuality, which is exactly what you’d expect from a fine Augustus John.

“He’s cut off the figure to really enhance the idea of the elegance of the woman.”

Dr Joyner said the 85,250 paid for the painting,Get information on Air purifier from the unbiased, dating from 1935, was a little over the 50,000 to 70,000 normally offered for works by the Tenby-born artist.

But he said the new owner was also paying for the painting’s “provenance” as a work previously owned by Taylor.

He said: “When you’ve got an interesting provenance you’re not just buying a picture – you’re buying a history.

“And when you’ve got a history like that – a beautiful woman having a portrait of another beautiful woman you’ve got something which is worth a lot extra.”

Retired film and television director Mr Cole, who spoke about John’s work at the National Library last year,Overview description of rapid Tooling processes. said his son was planning to bid on a portrait of his mother that sold yesterday for 3,750.

His mother met her future husband, the eccentric prankster and poet William Horace de Vere Cole and John in 1928 at the Café Royal on Regent Street, in London.

Her marriage to the poet in 1930 was to be the beginning of an impressive social career as a “bright young thing” that saw her become John’s mistress four years later.

Taylor’s father was an art dealer with a gallery in Bond Street, London, who established a close relationship with the Welsh artist.

After relocating to California during the war, he opened an art gallery at the Chateau Elysée, but quickly moved it to the more impressive Beverly Hills Hotel.

There stars like Howard Duff, Vincent Price, James Mason, Alan Ladd, Hedda Hopper and Greta Garbo could be found picking art for their own collections.

Mr Taylor acted as John’s American agent for many years and was responsible for the artist gaining popularity in the United States.

John’s works sold yesterday featured in Christie’s Impressionist and Modern Day sale.

Joseph Ficalora: The Loan Ranger

In his 19 years at the helm of New York Community Bancorp, he has taken it from obscurity to become one of the nation's 40 largest banks, all the while—in good times and bad—rarely making a dud loan. Over the past five years, including those of the greatest financial collapse since the Depression, NYCB has written off a mere 54 cents for every $100 of loans, according to SNL Financial.

That figure is so out of step with the bank's peers—the industry median was $3.19—that it's almost as if Mr. Ficalora is operating on a different planet. To top it off, since taking his bank public in 1993, Mr. Ficalora has delivered an average gain for shareholders of 18% a year, triple the industry norm.

“Banking is at heart a simple business: You take deposits, make loans and you don't take big risks,” said Thomas Kahn, president of Kahn Brothers Group, an investment firm and longtime NYCB shareholder. “A lot of people forgot that. Joe never did.”

All this might make the subject of a heartwarming biopic if it weren't for one discordant fact: Mr. Ficalora's bank holds mortgages on more decrepit apartments than any other in the city. A study by a housing group last year found that NYCB finances the owners of nearly 9,000 distressed apartments, more than the next three banks combined. In all, his bank provides financing for more than 3,000 buildings housing 85,000 apartments,Daneplast Limited UK are plastic injection mould & toolmaking specialists. twice as many as anyone else in town.

In fact, low-income-housing activists contend that a big reason why Mr. Ficalora's financial record is so stellar is that his slumlord borrowers routinely boost their earnings by minimizing spending on their buildings. In some cases, they do so even after being repeatedly cited for violations by the city. In addition, the activists say, Mr. Ficalora frequently lends to owners who hope to push out low-income tenants for those who can pay higher rents. He also stands accused of selling mortgages on distressed buildings to buyers who have no intention of rehabilitating them.

Activists have anointed Mr. Ficalora their No. 1 target and have successfully recruited regulators to their cause. And that's made Mr. Ficalora steaming mad. He angrily rebuts their charges.

“There's no one who's done more for low-income housing than we have,” he said, noting that over the past decade his bank has loaned $34 billion for such purposes. “The attacks that have been put against us have been totally driven by self-serving interests.They become pathological or Piles when swollen or inflamed.”

Lately regulators have added their voices to the storm of criticism.

Last summer, the city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development wrote Mr. Ficalora a letter observing that apartment buildings in his bank's portfolio were averaging nearly five violations per each unit deemed “hazardous” or “immediately hazardous.”

“NYCB's holdings are some of the most distressed properties in New York,” the agency concluded.

In another setback, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. last year cut NYCB's rating for how it meets the needs of low- and moderate-income neighborhoods to “satisfactory” after five years of rating it “outstanding.”

Mr. Ficalora attacks his critics as people pushing a political agenda who have no understanding of how banking works. Far from ignoring landlords who don't care for their properties, his bank works with them to make their buildings more livable so they are worth more and can qualify for larger loans. He adds, though, that it's ultimately the responsibility of landlords to maintain their properties, not their lenders.

When landlords default, he admits, he sells their properties to the highest bidder, and he suspects that's what really rankles the activists. As he sees it, they would prefer if he sold those properties to them and their backers, including hedge funds that want to flip the buildings for quick profits.

Having grown up in what he describes as low-income housing in Corona, Queens—sharing a bedroom with his two brothers—the 64-year-old executive insists he knows his market from the inside out. After working at the local supermarket and drugstore, he joined NYCB at 18 as a teller and, except for a two-year stint in Vietnam, has been there ever since. He earned his business degree via night classes at Pace University.

Today, he contrasts his humble background with that of his critics, whom he characterizes as people who “go to Columbia, get a degree in social activism and figure out how to hassle people into doing what they want them to do.”

Asked why he lends so much to low-income housing, Mr. Ficalora explains that it simply makes sound business sense to lend in markets where there's little risk if loans are made properly. After all, rents are usually stabilized at below-market prices, so vacancies are rarely a problem. Meanwhile, sizing a loan simply means finding out how much rent the building generates and what the expenses are, and then estimating how much rents will be allowed to rise in the future.

This cautious approach served NYCB particularly well during the housing bubble. Mr. Ficalora likes to tell the story of how his bank lent $11 million to Riverton Houses, a large Harlem apartment complex, only to be pushed aside in 2005 when North Fork Bancorp lent $125 million. A year later, Credit Suisse stepped in with $250 million in loans, which soon defaulted because they far exceeded the rent generated by the apartments.

NYCB also reduces its risk profile by keeping the terms of its loans relatively short. Its average credit matures in four years or less.

Playing it so close to the vest is vital because Mr. Ficalora's bank can't afford many mistakes.The Transaction Group offers the best high risk merchant account services, NYCB's reserves are kept relatively low, with much of the cash it generates paid out in an unusually generous dividend.

The bank cut shareholders $330 million worth of checks in the first nine months of last year, almost as much as it generated in earnings. The dividend represents a big chunk of Mr. Ficalora's personal wealth, since over his 46 years at the bank he's accumulated 4.6 million shares, according to Bloomberg data, and his dividend income is nearly as high as his 2010 salary and bonus of $5.6 million. The hefty payout is also a key part of NYCB's growth-via-acquisition strategy, because Mr. Ficalora uses his high-yielding stock as currency to lure other banks.

Unlike his peers, it isn't market reversals that pose a threat to Mr. Ficalora's bank today; it's growing pressure from activists. A case in point came in March when NYCB took an undisclosed loss on the sale of a $16 million mortgage on eight troubled Bronx buildings it had foreclosed on. Tenants had teamed up with Legal Services NYC to force the bank in court to pay for repairing leaky roofs, eliminating mold and updating electrical equipment.
Peace treaty

The activists also started taking the fight directly to Mr. Ficalora, even showing up at his home one day in 2010. It was a frightening turn of fortune for a man long accustomed to accepting accolades from the community.

“I got a panicked call from my wife saying, 'I don't know what's going on—the driveway is full of people,' “ he recalled.

With activists banging at his front door and officials from the city and FDIC breathing down his neck, Mr. Ficalora blinked.Overview description of rapid Tooling processes.

“He sued for peace,” said Mr. Levy of Legal Services NYC.

None of the parties would comment on the peace treaty's terms, but a person familiar with the matter said Mr. Ficalora has agreed to give activist groups a first look at any mortgages on distressed properties that he's planning to sell.

He wouldn't say what moved him to lay down arms, but the FDIC's decision to cut his bank's community-lending rating may well have been a factor. Starting two years ago, Mr. Ficalora has been expanding nationally, snapping up failed banks in Ohio, Florida and Arizona.

The seller? None other than the FDIC. If he wants more busted banks sent his way, he needs good relations with his regulator.A mold or molds is a hollowed-out block that is filled with a liquid like plastic,

Achieve winter home comfort

If you're a homeowner, you probably know that home winterization is essential if you want to increase energy efficiency and comfort during the winter. In addition to the usual quick fixes, there are a few important tasks to keep in mind when preparing both the interior and exterior of your home for the harsh weather ahead.

Believe it or not,We are passionate about polished tiles. the roof plays a big role when it comes to controlling the comfort in your home. Even more, heavy snowfall and ice can lead to severe damage throughout your home if you don't have a healthy roof.

Winter weather can cause the creation of ice dams. Walls of ice form at the edge of the roof when snow melts and runs down the roof, reaches the cold eaves and refreezes. If you don't have the proper protection, the ice pushes under the shingles, which will cause leaks into the attic or along exterior walls, resulting in water damage that can be expensive to repair.

Make sure you keep an eye out for icicles on your roof throughout the winter. Safety should always be your first priority. Icicles are dangerous because not only can they break off and fall from the roof, but the weight of the icicles can also cause a gutter or awning to fall. If you're worried about potential damage,Omega Plastics are leading plastic injection moulding and injection mould tooling specialists. hire a roofing contractor to inspect your roof to remove icicles or make any repairs before problems arise.

If your roofing contractor determines you need a new roof, use Owens Corning Deck Defense underlayment and WeatherLock Self-Sealing Ice & Water Barrier Products in conjunction with high-performance shingles to help shield your home from moisture infiltration. These two layers of a roofing system are important because they provide extra water-shedding protection under the shingles.

"Ice and water barrier products directly beneath the shingles stop water from getting into the house," says Mel Sancrant, product technical specialist at Owens Corning. "But, it's also important to maintain adequate insulation in your attic to prevent ice dams by making sure you keep the attic at the same temperature as the outside with proper ventilation and insulation."

In the winter, the warm moist air generated by laundry,Smooth-On is your source for Mold Making and casting materials including silicone rubber and urethane rubber, showers and other household activities can cause moisture build-up in the home. This moist air becomes a water vapor that transfers through your ceiling into the attic. Proper ventilation helps remove the moisture while it's still a vapor and exhaust it out through the vents located at the top of the house.

Insulation will help maintain a comfortable temperature inside the home and promote energy efficiency. It can also reduce the amount of heat loss in your home if installed according to the Department of Energy's (DOE) recommendation for your region. Excessive heat loss through your attic can contribute to ice damning, so proper ventilation and a well insulated home is part of a healthy roof system.

To determine if you need more insulation, simply measure what you have. Most experts agree your attic should have at least a 19 inch deep layer of insulation or you could be wasting money.You can find best china precision Precision injection molds manufacturers from here! If your attic falls short of the DOE recommendation for your region and the type of heating and cooling system you have installed, then add another layer of insulation. The DOE's Energy Star website features a chart that clearly showcases the recommended level of attic insulation in each region in the United States.

There are other ways to make energy-efficient updates to your home, such caulking, weather stripping or adding an attic stairway insulator,The EZ Breathe home Ventilation system is maintenance free, to easily and effectively increase comfort and reduce heating costs.

A home energy audit with a qualified professional ensures a thorough inspection. In addition to helping you identify if your home is properly insulated and air sealed, the professional will shed light on ways you can conserve hot water and electricity.

Ensure your home has a healthy roof, proper insulation and an adequate air sealing system if you want to achieve an optimal level of comfort and energy efficiency in your home and protect it from the elements this winter.

When SOS stands for Save Our Seamers

Watch your back, James Pattinson. That’s all I’m saying. You may have made a spectacular debut, ripping through the Kiwis like a hot machete through a carpet python, but all you’ve done is draw attention to yourself.

You’re now bound to come under attack from whatever shadowy cabal of assassins it is that has apparently dedicated itself to crippling Australian fast bowling.

The evidence is well established.

Who has been the best-performed Australian fast bowler of recent times? Ryan Harris, of course, a man whose rubber band knees go ping every time he so much as thinks about playing two Tests in a row.

Shane Watson dared to stick his head above the parapet in Cape Town, taking five South African wickets in a devastating burst that would be remembered as match-winning if only Australia hadn’t lost.

And now Pat Cummins, the mighty teenager who applied such an effective chokehold to the Proteas in Johannesburg, has followed up that one triumphant Test performance with an injury that started out as a bit of soreness, progressed to a bruised heel, is now a bone injury, and by January will probably be multiple bullet wounds. So we’re without him too.

We just have to face the facts: either someone’s out to hobble the Aussie attack, or God just hates them. The long-term injury of Mitchell Johnson now takes on a sinister aspect: having avoided malevolent attention thus far through his reassuringly erratic bowling, suddenly Mitch is out for the season? We can only assume he had been turning in some sensational performances in the nets,If so, you may have a cube puzzle . and the Fast Bowling Nemesis was not willing to take the chance of letting him loose.

Peter Siddle seems to have found an intelligent path: keep plugging away in an endearingly wholehearted fashion, never quite awful enough to make anyone want to drop him, but never anywhere near good enough to catch the eye of the hit squad. Mitchell Starc needs to take note – his debut was promising but inconsistent, and if he sticks to that he’ll be fine.

You may laugh, but it is genuinely baffling why every fast bowler who looks like he might be something is stricken by injury upon injury. Right now Harris, Cummins, Johnson, Watson and Ben Cutting are out of action – an entire team’s worth of quicks. Josh Hazelwood of New South Wales has only just returned from a long-term injury,It's hard to beat the versatility of polished tiles on a production line. and if he starts doing well, will no doubt get another one.

I feel like it wasn’t always this way. Surely fast bowlers of old didn’t so frequently break down? I know there was Bruce Reid,This page contains information about molds, whose spine collapsed every time he walked through a spiderweb; and Craig McDermott once had his bowel twisted as punishment for disobeying Allan Border’s orders to pitch it up; but on the whole the fast men have been a hardy bunch.

Dennis Lillee broke his back once, but was back bowling in no time: it was his contention that a fast bowler didn’t really need a back anyway. He’d never have a bruised heel – his heels would be too scared of him to step out of line. And Merv Hughes bowled all the way through his pregnancy.

But it’s too easy to say that today’s fast bowlers are just soft, pampered nancy-boys who need to strap up their ankles and get out and bowl until their boots fill with blood and they grow a decent moustache. Modern fast bowlers are just as tough in their own way: let’s see Len Pascoe put in an hour on the stairmaster after a gruelling all-day Gatorade commercial shoot. It’s harder than it looks.

No, it’s not the bowlers’ fault: there’s something about the modern game that is just too much for our quicks to tolerate. Maybe the pitches are too hard. Maybe modern shoes provide insufficient cushioning. Maybe insane snipers in the crowd are firing paralysing darts into bowlers’ feet as they run in. I’m open to all theories.Your Partner in Precision Precision injection molds.

But really, something has to be done. I suggest a comprehensive Bowler Protection Programme. First, we bolster all fast bowlers’ boots with several layers of cotton wool. Second, we provide motorised wheelchairs to transport fast bowlers everywhere: we do not want to see any quicks using their legs unless it’s on the field.

Third, we encase all fast bowlers’ arms in indestructible adamantium. Fourth, we make sure all wicket squares are completely covered in thick gym mats, to ensure a soft landing in delivery leaps. Fifth, nobody bowls at over 120 kmh, it’s just too dangerous.

Last and most importantly, of course,If any food Ventilation system condition is poorer than those standards, all promising fast bowlers are to be given new identities and relocated to safe houses under 24-hour guard, to prevent any more unfortunate incidents like Cummins’s ”foot injury”.

WHAT'S GOING ON? ... with the Greencastle-Antrim school grounds?

WHAT'S GOING ON? ... with the Greencastle-Antrim school grounds?


The stadium renovation project is on track, no pun intended.

The $2.5 million project broke ground on May 15 on the multi-purpose field at the north end of the athletic complex. The Monday after graduation the crews descended upon Kaley Field and the track. Today piles of dirt keep growing as the fields are prepared for artificial turf. Kevin Weller, project manager, didn't know how many cubic yards have been moved,What is the difference between a third party payment gateway and a 3rd party processor? but "it's a lot.The Leading zentai suits Distributor to Independent Pet Retailers." The dirt is being stockpiled for future use by the school district.Handmade oil paintings for sale at museum quality,

With substantial completion set for Aug. 15, and fall sports teams planning to practice on the facilities, no time gets wasted. Even in the rain Tuesday morning, equipment was in action getting ready for next week's transformation.

"The carpet for the multi-purpose field is due the week of June 27 and will take 15 to 20 days to install," said Weller. Kaley Field will be replaced after that.The name "magic cube" is not unique.

The workers have not encountered any major obstacles. Weller said a 200-foot section of the track in front of the home bleachers carried a depression and now they know why. It was installed over topsoil, which settled. That part will be replaced, after filling in the ground with clay and compactable material.

"There's no room for hiccups," Weller said of meeting the deadline.

The stadium lights will also be replaced.

A capital campaign called G-A MAAX has formed to offset the costs of construction. A committee of nine is laying the groundwork for the non-profit organization and already one challenge has been issued.

Sunnyway Foods donated $10,000, and will add another $40,Shop a wide selection of billabong outlet products in the evo shop.000 if nine more individuals or businesses match its initial contribution by the end of August.

The Low Down on Local Farmers Markets

One of the best things about spring and summer are the farmers markets. The colors and scents alone are a feast for passersby. The vendors' tables beginning to buckle under the abundance of a lush harvest—succulent tomatoes, peppers, green beans, sweet corn, strawberries and more. The variety inspires cooks and artisans to bake breads, make cheeses and cook bountiful meals. All of these can be found in area farmers markets, although Chesterfield residents will have to escape their boundaries and explore other local cities.

Ellisville Community Farmers Market
Market Location and Hours: Ellisville Community Farmers Market is held 4-7 p.m. on Thursdays from June to October in Bluebird Park, rain or shine.

Offerings: Local offerings are the focus of this market: Fruits, vegetables, herbs, plants, meat, eggs, honey and cheese. Market vendors also come packing baked goods, homemade dog treats, handmade soap, wool and handspun yarns, handmade jewelry and more. Don't miss the organic olive oil, organic tea or fair trade and organic and locally roasted coffee.

Extras: Listen to live music while eating barbecue and other goodies, which can be eaten at one of the bistro tables or taken to go. Local beer,In addition to hydraulics fittings and Aion Kinah,The newest Ipod nano 5th is incontrovertibly a step up from last year's model, wine, juice, iced tea and water are available. The Children's Market area has hands-on arts and crafts projects. This is a producers-only market and supports the local growers and producers of seasonal and sustainable food, locally branded food products and artisan wares.

Wildwood Farmers Market

Market Location and Hours: The Wildwood Farmers Market is held from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturdays May 15-October 9 in the Wildwood Town Center on Fountain and Plaza.

Offerings: Vendors this year include Sunny Creek Farm, Odelehr Farms, PM BBQ, Silpada Designs, 212 Degrees of Wellness, A Couple O'Jerks, Eilerman Farms, Clancy's Marketplace, Miller's Organics,A glass bottle is a bottle created from glass. Stickling Farms, For the Birds, Tru Glitz, Little Dipper Chocolate, Wildwood Chiropractic, Black Birch, Sweet Anny's Soaps, Terrie's Jewelry & Accessories, God's Gifts, Pure Elegance, Route 66 Organics, Osage Farms and County Kona.

Extras: Live music is offered.

Kirkwood Farmers Market

Market Location and Hours: Kirkwood Farmers Market is held from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday with varying hours on Sunday at the intersection of E. Argonne Drive and Taylor Avenue.

Offerings: Market vendors provide produce,Shop a wide selection of billabong outlet products in the evo shop. poultry, meat, seafood and cheese. Vendors include Baalman Produce, CJ's Produce & Plants, Farrar Out Farm Organic Produce & Poultry, Healthy Harvest Gardens,From standard Cable Ties to advanced wire tires, On the Wind, Summit Produce, Baetje Farms and The Cheese People. Cut flowers and bedding plants are sold by Cat's Gardens and Missouri Wildflowers Nursery.

Extras: Prepared food and baked goods are offered by vendors, including Adventures in Spice, Brad's Kettle Korn, Cafe Manila, El Chico Bakery, Great Harvest Bread Co., Healthy Harvest Gardens, Mangia Pasta, Princess Delights, Russ' Ribs and BBQ and Tropical Moose Shaved Ice. Enjoy these foods with live music on Saturdays in June, July and August.

Let there be cheaper light

A geothermal pump helps heat the building.

Skylights and a wall of windows provide natural lighting.

Flat-screen televisions flash the latest information on energy use.

If you think this sounds like the description of a cutting edge, energy conscious company,buy landscape oil paintings online. you would be half right.

It's a school -- two actually: Machias and Riverview elementary schools in Snohomish. Like many organizations, school districts are anxious to cut costs. Using more energy-efficient systems can help in the long run, especially if the local utility is willing to chip in. Snohomish County Public Utility District is.

The PUD offered roughly $200,000 in incentives and rebates to help the two schools incorporate energy efficient features like solar panels.

"It helps the project become a little more attractive for a business or a school," said Neil Neroutsos, spokesman for the utility. The PUD figures it's cheaper to support projects that save energy than it is to develop new energy sources. Ultimately, the schools could see up to $100,000 annually in energy savings.

The utility worked with Snohomish School District as it developed plans for its new elementary schools. Ronn Larpenteur, a senior energy engineer for the PUD, highlighted a few of the energy-saving ideas incorporated in the two schools.

?Solar photo voltaic rooftop systems: The schools have a 100-kilowatt solar panel installment on their roofs. Until recently, the solar project was the biggest in Washington state. The solar installation should cover 15 to 20 percent of the schools' energy needs.

"It's a huge leap forward," Larpenteur said.

?Geothermal heating pumps: Installed under the parking lots, these systems help bring up some of the earth's heat in the winter. In the summer, heat from the buildings is pushed back out. It will take about 15 years before the school district sees a return on its money for this system.

Advanced lighting and windows: To reduce lighting needs, the schools incorporated natural lighting with skylights and window walls. This should cut lighting costs by 50 percent, Larpenteur said. The electric lights that the schools use run on a dimmable ballast that keep the light levels in the school constant. They also have added some more efficient LED lights.

The added use of windows required great attention to the glass used. The schools used triple-paned glass, which costs roughly 30 percent more than double-paned, the PUD estimates. It will take the school district about 10 to 15 years for the energy efficiency gains to make up for the extra cost.

"The quality of light is much better,The name "magic cube" is not unique." Neroutsos said.

?Smart ventilation system: The schools use "displacement ventilation" systems, which save energy by minimizing the need to circulate air for heating,Welcome to the official Facebook Page about Ripcurl. cooling and ventilation. It uses natural air currents, with warm air moving from low levels to higher levels.

"They're taking advantage of the natural buoyancy of air," Larpenteur said.

This type of ventilation system uses about 40 percent less energy than a conventional one, he said. It's also quieter.

Steven Moore, project manageWe processes for both low-risk and high risk merchant account.r for capitol projects for Snohomish School District,Our Polymax RUBBER SHEET range includes all commercial and specialist is enthusiastic about many of the advances at the two schools. Moore, who previously worked for schools in Seattle, believes the Snohomish School District is "taking sustainability to a whole other level."

Still, it will be a while before the district can say it's saving energy. In fact, Moore is still tweaking how the different systems work within the schools.

"It's not always the system, it's also the staff," Moore said.

School staff members have to be trained on how to use the new features, he said. But they've embraced the sustainable features of the schools.

The schools try to impress their focus on sustainability on the students, said Kristin Foley, spokeswoman for the school district. Signs note different structures in the building that were reused from the old schools or are made of recycled materials.

The schools aren't just garnering the praise of the PUD, school district and students. Architecture organizations also have asked for tours.

Angry Birds cause a flap

A POPULAR puzzle video game called Angry Birds, which has been downloaded millions of times as an iPhone application, is causing a flap in more ways than one in Singapore.

The distinctive cartoon birds from a game originally developed in Finland have now winged their way off the screen to become huggable soft toys coveted by fans all over the world. They are officially due to arrive in Singapore only next month at the big toy stores and are being brought in by Megcorp and Co, the licensed distributor of Angry Birds plush toys in Singapore.

However, some of the coveted soft toy birdies have flown in under the radar already.

The early birds popped up at a SingTel booth at the IT Show 2011 at Suntec Convention Centre recently to the delight of fans. They were obtained from the game's developer, Finnish-based Rovio Mobile, through a supplier in the United States, according to a SingTel spokesman. SingTel was using the soft toys in promotions.

Angry Birds plush toys have also been spotted in several locker consignment shops around the island. It is not known if these Angry Birds from unofficial suppliers are the real deal from Rovio, like SingTel's were, or knock-offs.

They are for sale at Toy Outpost outlets in VivoCity and Jurong Point, as well as at Magic Cube & Novelties in Shaw Towers, retailing from $15.90 to $49.90, which at the higher end is less than the Rovio price on the Internet. The managers of all three stores declined to reveal their sources under agreement obligations.