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  • Maximize Strengths or Minimize Weaknesses?

    I’m really not a big reader of books. Perhaps it’s my short attention span, but web articles usually work best for me. However, I’m starting to read Tim Ferriss’ The 4-Hour Workweek, a gift that I got for Christmas. I’m a really slow reader and time has been at a premium so I’m only around page 70. I’ve found myself nodding and agreeing with most of Tim Ferriss’ reasoning. A lot of it is what I was trying to get at when I started this website. However, on page 34, there was one suggestion that has had me puzzled over the last week:

    Emphasize Strengths, Don’t Fix Weaknesses.

    Ferriss’ explanation for this logic is this:

    “My body was built to lift heavy objects and throw them… I tried swimming and looked like a drowning monkey. I tried basketball and looked like a caveman…. It is far more lucrative and fun to leverage your strengths instead of attempting to fix all the chinks in your armor. The choice is between a multiplication of results using strengths or incremental improvement fixing weaknesses that will, at best, become mediocre.”

    I understand what he’s trying to say. The odd thing is that he uses his physical body as an example, when he’s mostly talking about mental attitude. Is this a universal truth? I suggest it’s not.

    For instance let’s say I want to become a great calligrapher (you know those people who can hand-write perfect wedding invitations and such). I give it a shot and I’m really good with most of the letters, but I have a real problem with the letter “S”. Should I just focus on taking clients who have no need for anyone to write the letter “S”? No, I should work on that weakness, so that I can be a great all around calligrapher.

    Here’s another example… this time from baseball. The Boston Red Sox have a player known as David Ortiz. He’s particularly famous for hitting ball only to right field. When he steps up to the plate, the opposing team will shift the defense to right field so that they will be more likely to have a defender there to play the ball. While David Ortiz is often good enough to hit it by this defense, it will still stop him a good percentage of the time. One of David Ortiz’s weakness is that he is not a good bunter (when you attempt deaden a pitch in the infield). If he was a better bunter or if he made a conscious effort to hit it to the other side of the baseball diamond, he’d have a much greater chance at a hit (since the defense has shifted to the right). If Ortiz focused on his weakness, the defense would have to respect that aspect of his game, and the result would be more opportunities to get hits in right field.

    You also see this all the time in football. The most successful teams are not one-dimensional. The team is a good running team, a good passing team, has good defense, etc.

    Now, I’m not suggesting that the calligrapher trains his/her non-dominant hand. Nor am I suggesting that David Ortiz train to be faster (he’s a very big and slow player). However, I think you need to use basic judgment to figure out if improving a weakness is pay you a multiplication of results or incremental results (to borrow Mr. Ferriss words).

    In personal finance, I almost always find that it’s better to improve your weaknesses rather than focus on your strengths. If you are really good at being frugal, there’s not a to be gained by being extra frugal. It’s the law of diminishing returns. However, if you are a shopaholic, some quick gains can be made to bottom line with some minimal effort. I like to say it’s low-lying fruit.

    So what do you say, maximize strengths, minimize weaknesses, a little bit of both, or does it depend on the situation? Let me know in the comments.

    Related posts:

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  • Nice Collective – The Gathering Spring/Summer 2010

    nice-collective-thegatherin

    San Francisco-based label Nice Collective have taken an unorthodox approach into designing their upcoming spring lineup. ‘The Gathering’, a fitting name for their new collection, saw Nice Collective’s designers Joe Haller and Ian Hannula taking residence in a small community 160 miles north of San Francisco with a group of models, musicians, and artists among others without means of technology and material goods, spending six days with limited means in the process. The end product is a hybrid mix of styles reminiscent of natural workwear and everyday, casual fashion, with versatile pieces such as jackets, knits, and pants in a muted colour palette dominating Nice Collective’s spring lineup.

    Continue reading for more images.
























    Source: The Fashionisto


  • Zanim ławkę przykrył śnieg…

  • Detroit 2010: Regal GS concept seeks to reignite Buick’s performance fire [w/video]

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    Buick Regal GS – Click above for high-res image gallery

    Is the Buick Regal GS the most important “maybe” of the 2010 Detroit Auto Show? It’s been more than two decades since performance enthusiasts cared about Buick in any meaningful way. The car at that time was the now legendary Buick GNX. Even if the proposed Regal GS makes production – a big if – it’s not going to be a GNX replacement, at least not in the hearts and minds of power-mad Buick enthusiasts. However, at this chapter in Buick’s story, every little performance bit counts.

    That stated, here’s what we might get: Power comes from a beefed-up version of the direct-injected 2.0-liter turbocharged Ecotec four-cylinder making 255 horsepower and a walloping 295 pound-feet or torque. Compare that to the regular 2.0-liter DI Ecotec that we know and love in cars like the Pontiac Solstice GXP and Chevrolet Cobalt SS: 260 hp, 260 lb-ft of twist. Five horsepower less, sure (your lawnmower makes five horsepower), but we’ll gladly trade those ponies for the 35 extra torques. All that grunt gets routed through a six-speed manual before being kicked out to all four wheels. Speaking of wheels, the Regal GS rides on gorgeous 20-inch alloys that are hauled to a halt by big Brembos squeezing 14-inch cross-drilled and vented rotors.

    One of the more interesting aspects of the Regal GS is its traction control system that Buick has dubbed “Interactive Drive Control.” There’s a Normal mode, a Sport mode and most enticing, a GS mode. That final setting changes the default torque split, routing most of the power to the rear wheels. Color us curious, excitedly so. The Regal GS also sits 10mm lower than the standard car and is further visually differentiated by twin intakes on the front clip and two through-fascia tailpipes. It’s even got sporty Recaros and a flat-bottomed steering wheel.

    Are they going to build it? Our gut says “yes,” or something very close to it. As a brand, Buick needs a shot in the arm of something hot and bothered. Why not a hopped-up Regal? And will we eventually see an even more muscular version of the Regal GS, fitted with a 325-hp turbocharged 2.8-liter V6 from the Opel Insignia OPC, possibly called the Regal GSX? Maybe GNX fans will have something to look forward to after all. High-res shots below, official press release with full specs and video of the live reveal after the jump.

    Gallery: Detroit 2010: Buick Regal GS

    Gallery: Buick Regal GS Concept

    [Source: Buick]

    Continue reading Detroit 2010: Regal GS concept seeks to reignite Buick’s performance fire [w/video]

    Detroit 2010: Regal GS concept seeks to reignite Buick’s performance fire [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • A SeaChange for VividLogic

    Wade Roush wrote:

    Acton, MA-based SeaChange International (NASDAQ: SEAC), which specializes in hardware and software for video-on-demand television, announced last week that it has acquired VividLogic of Fremont, CA, for $12 million in cash plus $8.6 million in working capital. VividLogic supplies software for home video networking and recording to cable operators, set-top box makers, and consumer electronics firms, and SeaChange said the acquisition will help it capitalize on growing interest in Internet-based video delivery to the home. SeaChange said it will owe VividLogic shareholders an additional $1 million on each of the first three anniversaries of the acquisition.

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  • Próxima Cumbre del Clima será ‘trascendental’

    MÉXICO, EFE

    El Gobierno de México, país anfitrión de la próxima Conferencia de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas sobre Cambio Climático (COP XVI), se comprometió a trabajar con “decisión y visión” en las negociaciones para construir consensos antes de esa “trascendental” cita de fines de año.

    Durante la XXI Reunión de embajadores y cónsules de México, la canciller Patricia Espinosa prometió que su país trabajará para “contribuir a la instrumentación de soluciones consensuadas y eficaces” al proceso de cambio climático global.

    Un avance
    Como sede de la próxima Cumbre sobre el tema, México redoblará sus esfuerzos “para que en el complejo proceso de negociación hacia la COP XVI contribuyamos a acercar las posiciones de los países de Asia, África y Medio Oriente”, apuntó.
    Espinosa agregó que hará lo mismo con los de América Latina y el Caribe, cuyos mandatarios visitarán México en febrero para la Cumbre del Grupo de Río que se celebrará los días 22 y 23 de febrero en el balneario de Cancún, “muchos de los cuales se verán severamente afectados por el proceso del cambio climático”.

    La conferencia del clima celebrada en diciembre en Copenhague (Dinamarca) concluyó con un acuerdo de mínimos entre EE.UU., China, India, Brasil, Sudáfrica, del que la Unión Europea se sintió excluida y que recibió un rechazo abierto de Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba y Bolivia.

    Fuente Bibliográfica

  • How Existing T-Mobile Customers Can Score The $180 Nexus One Discount [Nexus One]

    Last week we learned that existing T-Mobile customers were getting screwed on the Nexus One. Chances are Google and T-Mobile will work this out, but if you are impatient, here is one way current customers can get the $180 price.

    The same tipster that originally brought the discrepancy to our attention embarked on an epic journey to figure out how he could get out of spending the $379 price outlined for data plan upgrades in the Nexus One FAQ. In the end, Quinn managed to get the phone for $180, but it wasn’t easy:

    Starting the day of the release I attempted to secure a shiny new toy to replace my aging iPhone only to find out that Google/HTC/T-Mobile were hamstringing existing customers for anywhere from $100 – $200 on the cost of the phone, so I set out to get a fair price. I spoke with a long list of Customer Care/Billing/Tech Support/& Loyalty Specialists to work through the problem. A Tech Support agent along with help from Billing agents suggested that I add a line to my existing account, then swap the created phone number with the original after a cancellation and reuse request. This became difficult as someone on their end flagged my account wrong. I spent the better part of the next 36 hours asking if some flag had been activated on my account indicating I was no longer an Individual Regular Postpaid account. Only after threatening to cancel my account altogether did someone figure it out. Flag changed, I was now able to proceed. Added the line (865 area code), ordered the phone and waited for that to arrive. Once that was achieved, I called T-Mobile back to cancel my original line (not on contract – no fee) and file a reuse of the number. Then came the waiting game. This morning I awoke to a text message from T-Mobile stating that the number registered for the sim card was my original number (412 area code). To sum it up in steps:

    Requirements: Non-contract T-Mobile Customer, ability to add a line

    1. Add a line through Google check out process.
    2. Wait for phone arrival.
    3. Once acquired, call T-Mobile to cancel original number, then file a reuse request to swap it with the newly created number (similar to a number port)
    4. Wait. (12 hrs elapsed time prior to the swap).

    All said and done, Nexus One acquired for $179+taxes+$35 activation fee. One last caveat; by the end of the process, T-Mobile Specialists were getting weary of this method so I would verify they will do this for customers before proceeding.

    Again, there are no guarantees, but in this situation Quinn managed to save $200 on the price of the phone. So, if your contract has expired, and you are willing to add a line then swap it later for your original number (if you have Google Voice there would be no need to swap numbers in the first place), it is worth inquiring about before you upgrade. [Thanks Quinn!]







  • Next week’s holiday under RESPA; news on SAFE Act, VA Circular, Reverse Mortgage REMIC

     

    pipeline-press

    rob-chrisman-daily

    A man in New Jersey is accused of having sex with five cows…
    Or as he is known in Wisconsin: a player.

    I can’t believe that I heard a comedian use that line (or that I would even repeat it) – Wisconsin folks are fine folks. In an unrelated incident, an originator from Wisconsin wrote to say that the State of Wisconsin’s Department of Financial Institutions take on the SAFE Act is they won’t give a license to anyone who has had a foreclosure or non-medical bankruptcy in the last three years. Any originator with open judgments is iffy for licensing. And it appears that this is not only Wisconsin.

    Another originator wrote, in response to RESPA and the new GFE, “If a broker understands how to do the new GFE, they are still able to make the same point structure as always – but everyone’s going to have to eat the escrow and processing fees on RRR’s.” As I have said all along, it is a controversial topic, but it appears that, once again, most firms are adjusting and moving forward.

    But how many companies out there won’t be able to do FHA loans if HUD moves toward a minimum $2.5 million net worth to do FHA loans? Some estimates peg the loss at 70% of all current lenders! HUD estimates that about 40% of all currently approved lenders have less than $1.0 million net worth. Maybe they’ll grandfather small companies in… maybe not…

    Anyone originating VA loans knows about “Circular 26-10-01”, issued last week and reiterating that the 1% cap on origination fees would continue, stating new documentation requirements and the elimination of the interest rates and discount disclosure statement. The fees a veteran may pay are limited when obtaining a VA guaranteed home loan: the lender/broker may only charge the veteran a flat fee up to one percent (1%) of the loan amount to cover the lender/broker’s costs and services, which are not reimbursable as “itemized fees.”  For an IRRRL, the 1% origination fee may not exceed one percent (1%) of the existing VA loan balance of the loan being refinanced plus the cost of any energy efficient less any cash payments from the veteran, and if an origination fee is charged, lenders/brokers may NOT assess veterans any other fees other than the allowable fees shown below (as long as they are reasonable and customary). Check it out:http://www.homeloans.va.gov/new.htm

    more news on Colony Capital Acquisitions, GNMA reverse mortgage REMIC, Washington Federal, Flagstar, Plaza Home, Freedom Mortgage, unemployment, economy, upcoming holiday and recission, and joke of the day … <<< CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE

  • Green Monday forum tackles bioenergy – Asheville Citizen-Times

    Green Monday forum tackles bioenergyAsheville Citizen-TimesThe monthly forum will explore definitions of bioenergy and biofuels, and describe the multifaceted biofuels supply chain, including feedstock production, …and more »


  • UT Students Sought for UT Baker Center Scholar Program

    KNOXVILLE — The Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is seeking high-achieving, rising juniors and seniors interested in public policy, politics, government and public service. Exceptional rising sophomores will be considered on a case by case basis with a very strong recommendation from a UT faculty member.

    Baker Scholars attend Baker Center events throughout the year and assist with promotion of these events to peers and faculty. The scholars also complete a project, prepare an end-of-the-year summary of the project and participate in the end-of-the-year Baker Scholar Symposium and celebration dinner.

    All applications are due at the Baker Center, 1640 Cumberland Ave., by 5 p.m. Feb. 1. Applications are available on the Baker Center website.

    All new applicants must be enrolled at UT Knoxville for at least a full academic year (fall 2010 to spring 2011) and not enrolled in semester abroad, to be considered for this program. Successful applicants typically have a GPA of 3.35 or above.

    This is a one-year appointment subject to renewal annually. The number of Baker Scholars is limited; selection is a competitive process. Baker Scholars will be chosen based on their application, academic history, UT faculty appraisal and an interview with the selection committee.

    Interviews with finalists will be held between Feb. 17 and March 4.

    Students chosen to be scholars will be notified on March 5. For more information, contact Gavin Luter at [email protected] or 974-1462.

    C O N T A C T :

    Amy Blakely (865-974-5034, [email protected])

  • Chicago White Sox Announce 2010 Spring Training Broadcast Schedule

    Spring Training Games to be Featured on TV, Radio and Internet

    The Chicago White Sox, Comcast SportsNet, WGN-TV and WSCR Radio (670 AM) have announced the team’s 2010 broadcast schedule for spring training.

    The White Sox will televise six Cactus League games (five on Comcast SportsNet and one on WGN). WSCR, the club’s flagship radio station, will air 10 spring training games.

    The Sox also will Webcast nine spring training games free on whitesox.com.

    The first televised spring training game by Comcast SportsNet is on Saturday, March 13 at 3:05 p.m. when the White Sox face the Chicago Cubs at Cashman Field in Las Vegas.

    WGN-TV will televise one Cactus League game when the White Sox take on the San Diego Padres Saturday, March 20 at 3:05 p.m.

    Ken “Hawk” Harrelson and Steve Stone will work all six games in their second season together as the White Sox television broadcast team.

    Harrelson is set to begin his 21st season as the television voice of the White Sox, while Stone enters his second year on television.

    WSCR broadcasts the first of its 10 games on Thursday, March 4 at 4:05 p.m. when the White Sox open spring training against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in Tempe.

    WSCR again will feature the on-air team of Ed Farmer and Darrin Jackson. Four of the 10 game broadcasts (March 6, 12, 19 and 20) feature an “interactive” format, allowing listeners to interact with broadcasters after the third inning of the game.

    White Sox spring training radio pre-game shows begin 10 minutes before game time.

    In addition to television and radio broadcasts, BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois will present the Webcast of nine White Sox spring training games, in their entirety, at whitesox.com.

    The spring training webcasts, which begin on March 5, are available free to all fans with Internet access.

    2010 Spring Training Schedule

    DATE OPPONENT SITE TV RADIO ONLINE GAME TIME
    Thursday, March 4 LA Angels Tempe WSCR 4:05 p.m.
    Friday, March 5 LA Dodgers Glendale whitesox.com 2:05 p.m.
    Saturday, March 6 LA Dodgers (ss) Glendale WSCR* 2:05 p.m.
    Cubs (ss) Mesa 2:05 p.m.
    Sunday, March 7 Cubs Glendale WSCR whitesox.com 2:05 p.m.
    Monday, March 8 Seattle Glendale whitesox.com 2:05 p.m.
    Tuesday, March 9 San Francisco Scottsdale 2:05 p.m.
    Wednesday, March 10 Oakland Phoenix 2:05 p.m.
    Thursday, March 11 Cleveland Glendale whitesox.com 2:05 p.m.
    Friday, March 12 LA Angels (ss) Tempe 4:05 p.m.
    Cubs (ss) Las Vegas (Nev.) WSCR* 9:05 p.m.
    Saturday, March 13 Milwaukee (ss) Glendale whitesox.com 2:05 p.m.
    Cubs (ss) Las Vegas (Nev.) CSN WSCR 3:05 p.m.
    Sunday, March 14 Cincinnati Goodyear 3:05 p.m.
    Monday, March 15 Kansas City Glendale CSN 9:05 p.m.
    Tuesday, March 16 Colorado Glendale whitesox.com 3:05 p.m.
    Wednesday, March 17 LA Dodgers Glendale 3:05 p.m.
    Thursday, March 18 OFF DAY
    Friday, March 19 Cubs Glendale CSN WSCR* 3:05 p.m.
    Saturday, March 20 San Diego Glendale WGN WSCR* 3:05 p.m.
    Sunday, March 21 Milwaukee Maryvale WSCR 3:05 p.m.
    Monday, March 22 Kansas City Surprise 3:05 p.m.
    Tuesday, March 23 San Francisco Glendale whitesox.com 3:05 p.m.
    Wednesday, March 24 Arizona Glendale CSN 3:05 p.m.
    Thursday, March 25 San Diego Peoria 3:05 p.m.
    Friday, March 26 Arizona Tucson 3:05 p.m.
    Saturday, March 27 Colorado Tucson 3:10 p.m.
    Sunday, March 28 Kansas City (ss) Glendale WSCR whitesox.com 3:05 p.m.
    Texas (ss) Surprise 3:05 p.m.
    Monday, March 29 LA Angels Glendale CSN 9:05 p.m.
    Tuesday, March 30 Oakland Glendale whitesox.com 3:05 p.m.
    Wednesday, March 31 Cleveland Goodyear 3:05 p.m.
    Thursday, April 1 Seattle (ss) Peoria WSCR 2:00 p.m.
    Charlotte (ss) Charlotte (N.C.) 6:05 p.m.
    Friday, April 2 Atlanta Atlanta (Ga.) 6:05 p.m.
    Saturday, April 3 Atlanta Atlanta (Ga.) 12:05 p.m.


  • HP’s Android Slate is Coming

    The torrent of new Android devices was definitely flowing out of last week’s CES 2010. After Dell and Archos, the latest tablet to run Android  is the HP’s Slate.  A prototype of the Windows 7 version of it was used by Microsoft’s CEO, Steve Balmer, during a keynote address.  There wasn’t any mention to the Android’s version of it, but TechCrunch’s source mentioned that they had seen the device and that it looks identical to the one showed off by Balmer except for the running OS.

    This new tablet from HP features a powerful Snapdragon chip and will surely be one of the many of this type of devices to come soon.  As these tablet/netbooks roll-out to the market, people begin to wonder when and how Chrome OS will come out. It looks to us like the ideal platform for them.


  • God of War III scans: Kratos 1-on-1 with a massive Poseidon

    When we last saw Kratos in God of War II, he was on his way up to Olympus with the Titans by his side. The mission: to resume beating the crap out of Zeus and give the

  • NAPOLI – Recupero del Centro Storico (patrimonio mondiale UNESCO)

    Riprendo da altra discussione:

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by oppard
    (Post 49874621)
    Meno male che i cantieri dovevano aprire già "in autunno", come si disse all’epoca. Non vedremo niente fino al prossimo autunno credo.

    CAMPANIA – Napoli cambia look al centro
    Brunella Giugliano
    Il Sole 24 Ore (Edilizia e Territorio) 11/01/2010

    Entro il 2013 il centro storico di Napoli cambierà volto. Non solo restauro di monumenti e di tessuti edilizi storici, ma un’articolata serie di interventi sulla parte fisica dell’area antica, dagli impianti tecnologici ai sottoservizi all’arredo urbano. E’ quanto previsto dal progetto Piu Europa il programma integrato urbano partenopeo che mette sul tavolo 240 milioni della misura 6.2 del Por Campania 2007-2013 e che dovrebbe partire nel 2010. Nuovo look per Piazza Mercato, Quartieri Spagnoli, Sanità e Antica Neapolis, ovvero Portosalvo e l’area angioina, l’area dei teatri, le mura nordorientali e l’area dei Decumani. Il programma interesserà 700 ettari di territorio cittadino, l’80% dell’area tutelata dall’Unesco. L’obiettivo è di completare il tutto in tempo utile per il Forum delle Culture 2013 che si terrà nel capoluogo campano. Ai 240 milioni di fondi europei già disponibili si calcola di aggiungerne, a progetto avviato, altri 80 del piano Baia di Napoli già approvato dalla Regione Campania e ulteriori 134 milioni di un Protocollo aggiuntivo mirato su formazione, aiuti alle imprese, energia e fonti rinnovabili, ambiente, innovazione tecnologica. In totale il piano prevede il restauro di 42 chiese sulle circa 350 censite nel centro storico. Gli interventi di recupero e restauro di edifici storici e monumentali riguardano circa il 38% del Piu Europa, mentre quelli di riqualificazione urbana e archeologica compongono circa il 35 per cento. Il restante 27% si articola in interventi di potenziamento dell’offerta culturale, ospitalità e di servizi già presenti nell’area. «Per la prima volta un grande intervento prevede non solo il restauro di edifici ma anche azioni sulle cause del degrado – spiega Pasquale Belfiore, assessore all’Edilizia del Comune di Napoli. Non cambieremo i connotati alla città. Non sarà demolito nulla di storicamente valido, ma si procederà all’abbattimento della spazzatura edilizia post-bellica per dare spazio a edifici antisismici ispirati al risparmio energetico». IL PIANO L’iter di approvazione del programma è partito nell’ottobre 2007 con un Protocollo d’Intesa tra Regione Campania, Comune di Napoli, ministero per i Beni Culturali e Arcidiocesi di Napoli. A luglio 2008 è stata costituita la cabina di regia che a maggio scorso ha approvato il Progetto integrato urbano di Napoli. Subito dopo è stato aperta una fase di confronto con la città mediante incontri che hanno coinvolto il mondo culturale e produttivo, le municipalità e, più in generale, i cittadini. E’ venuto fuori un documento, composto da 70 progetti pubblici, tutti compatibili con il piano regolatore, che impegnano la totalità dei fondi europei stanziati. Il documento è stato approvato a novembre dalla Giunta comunale. L’intero pacchetto dei progetti è oggi all’esame del nucleo di valutazione regionale, per approdare. per l’ok definitivo, in Giunta. «Prevedmamo che la Regione approvi il documento ertro gennaio commenta Belfiore. Questo ci consentirà di poter disporre dei finanziarnenti e di pubblicare le prime gare. Con l’approvazione, infatti, verrà siglato con la regione un protocollo d’intesa con cui sarà definita anche la delega per gli interventi. In pratica, sarà assegnato alla cabina di regia il compito di destinare le risorse per i progetti già predisposti in sede locale». GLI INTERVENTI Sono sette gli interventi che sono immediatamente eseguibili per un costo totale di 36,3 milioni. Per questi è già stata completata la progettazione definitiva. Il primo, per un valore di 20 milioni, è la messa in sicurezza di due lotti del Real Albergo dei Poveri, il maggior palazzo monumentale di Napoli con una superficie di 103mila mq e oggi in stato di abbandono. Altri 5,7 milioni saranno destinati alla riqualificazione del castello di Lamont Young da riutilizzare come Casa del turista, dotandolo di tutti i necessari servizi d’informazione e d’accoglienza. Per il completamento dell’intervento di restauro e ristrutturazione del complesso monumentale dell’Educandato statale, sito in piazza Miracoli, sono stanziati 2,5 milioni. 700mila euro saranno destinati al restauro della Casina del Boschetto, all’interno della villa comunale, chiusa da diversi anni, abbandonata e in parte vandalizzata. Altri 700mila euro, invece, serviranno per la Casina Pompeiana, anch’essa collocata nella villa comunale e in fase di restauro. Altro intervento molto atteso è la riapertura del Museo Filangieri per le arti applicate per cui sono stanziati 3,2 milioni. Ultimo intervento previsto, per 3,5 milioni, è il recupero e restauro del Complesso Santa Maria della Fede ai Cristallini che diventerà una casa per anziani ecosostenibile, mediante attrezzature per aree sociali, sportive, ludiche e sanitarie, tunnel solari, impianti di biogas. «La progettazione esecutiva per questi primi interventi verrà effettuata dagli uffici tecnici del Comune continua l’assessore all’Edilizia. Contiamo di terminarla per gli inizi di febbraio, per poter bandire le relative gare in primavera. Per gli altri 63 progetti siam ancora in una fase preliminare. Entro febbraio bandiremo le gare per le relative progettazioni». Oltre agli interventi pubblici, per il coinvolgimento delle forze private, a luglio 2009 è stata pubblicata una manifestazione di interesse per la presentazione di interventi pubblici da realizzare con il concorso di risorse private o con risorse pubbliche e di interventi privati da realizzare con risorse private o con il concorso di risorse pubbliche. Alla scadenza, ottobre 2009, sono state presentate 240 proposte di collaborazione, da inserire nell’ambito del programma e che attualmente sono al vaglio del Comune. «Abbiamo ccminciato l’analisi delle proposte conclude Belfiore, stiamo incontrando i proponenti uno a uno. Daremo priorità a quelle che prevedono l’apporto più ingente di capitali privati».
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by 1799
    (Post 49875129)
    speriamo che per spazzatura edilizia postbellica siano compresi anche i palazzi ottieri.
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Skeltar
    (Post 49875553)
    Mamma mia… non sai quanto ci tengo all’abbattimento di quei mostri (soprattutto quello di Piazza Mercato e Piazza Mancini…).

    Progetti ambiziosi comunque… speriamo bene.
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Pavlvs
    (Post 49877427)
    DEVONO esserci quei palazzi, altrimenti parlare di abbattimento della spazzatura edilizia post bellica – come testualmente scritto in articolo – non ha senso.

    Ottieri sta a Napoli come Vitige sta a Roma: un cazzo di barbaro mandato da Dio a vandalizzare la città.

    Si sfruttino le norme antisismiche: si vede ad occhio che quei palazzi di antisismico non hanno nemmeno la puzza, accetto qualsiasi scommessa che alla prima indagine seria si scopre che sono fatti di farina e che bastano 5 gradi richter per farli venire giù come castelli di carta seppellendo centinaia di persone.

    Possiamo tollerare un rischio del genere?

    Quindi, in nome della sicurezza di chi vive in quei palazzi, si abbattano quei palazzi e si costruiscano altrove palazzine decenti, e la facciamo finita qua con quelle vergogne.
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Barium caput mundi
    (Post 49879063)
    Cosa sono i palazzi Ottieri?
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Skeltar
    (Post 49879669)
    Palazzi bellissimi e amatissimi che il Comune di Napoli ha purtroppo deciso di abbattere. :ohno:

    Non è vero. Sono dei palazzi orrendi sparsi per Napoli. A mio parere, i più "famosi" sono quello di Piazza Mercato (la cui ombra oscura la piazza):

    E quello di Piazza Mancini (CREDO sia Ottieri anche lui…) -l’edificio con la scritta KIMBO:

    Se non erro, di Ottieri è anche la "muraglia" del Vomero…

    Se ho sbagliato correggetemi.
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Barium caput mundi
    (Post 49879845)
    Ah si ma quello di Piazza Mercato non è sul lungomare??Perchè vidi un palazzone identico XD
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Pavlvs
    (Post 49881405)
    Anche a Via Foria c’è un palazzo Ottieri.

    In genere è facile riconoscere un palazzo Ottieri: se a Napoli vedi qualcosa di terrificante che non c’entra una mazza con Napoli, con il quartiere dove è stato costruito e colla tecnica edilizia stessa….puoi stare sicuro che quello è palazzo Ottieri.
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Pavlvs
    (Post 49881523)
    Sì, visto dall’altra parte.

    Tanto per capirsi, questo è davanti alla stazione.

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Pavlvs
    (Post 49881707)
    Ma sicuramente no, a giudicare dalla qualità del complesso quello è un palazzo Ottieri vomerizzato, cioè appena meglio della media dei palazzi Ottieri, ma sempre un Ottieri è.
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Barium caput mundi
    (Post 49881821)
    ^^ Terrificanti..ma anche se sembra una cosa brutta questa alta presenza di contrasti forti tra le architetture è tipica di Napoli..Proprio sul lungomare c’erano uno affianco all’altro mi ricordo un palazzone che letteralmente perdeva pezzi e un palazzone nuovo di vetro tutto splendente..
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Skeltar
    (Post 49882975)
    ^^
    Ecco. Stavo cercando questa foto, ma per qualche ragione non sono riuscito a trovarla.

    Il "Palazzo KIMBOttieri" (e la "banda" di palazzacci che gli sta intorno) è forse il peggiore di tutti, considerando soprattutto che è stato abbattuto un monastero angioino per costruirlo (se non erro).

    Inoltre la sua orribile mole sembra "soffocare" la bellissima chiesa dell’Annunziata Maggiore (la cui cupola, che ammiro molto, è ben visibile dalla Stazione Centrale / Piazza Garibaldi).
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Skeltar
    (Post 49883107)
    In effetti quel coso alto brutto e giallo che si trova alla fine di Via Duomo (su Via Foria, appunto) solo di Ottieri poteva essere. Orribile anche lui (se è di "lui" che stiamo parlando…).
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Coma White
    (Post 49883393)
    Non sapevo che la Villa Comunale fosse nel centro storico. 😆

    E questo è il "RILANCIO" e lo "SVILUPPO" del centro storico???
    Rifare qualche piazza e rimettere in piedi qualche sito storico?
    Spero proprio di no!

    Io mi aspettao(avo) qualcosa di veramente impattante, perchè credo che i rilanci si facessero con dei piani di sviluppo programmatici.
    La riconversione dei bassi in botteghe e vetrine artigianali?
    Quello sì che era un progetto veramente interessante e potenzialmente molto più riqualificante/integrante delle aree "problematiche"!
    Non è inserito in questo fantomatico piano di riconversione?

    L’unica cosa inserita in questo piano di interventi che desta un minimo di interesse è l’intervento di piazza Mercato e l’ipotetico intervento edilizio… fermo restando che bisogna vedere se prenderà veramente piede o se si bloccherà con i primi comitati di proteste.

  • Why Investors Are Crazy For Rare-Earth Metals, And The Exporting Countries That Have The World By Its Balls

    rare earthFor now the world is still obsessed with the price and geopolitics of oil.

    Every other commodity remains secondary.

    But while the internal combustion engine will be with us for awhile, the world is changing, and oil will slowly fade in importance.

    In its place, the world will increasingly focus on rare elemants that are used in various power and technological applications.

    Already in 2009, there was a huge spike in interest in rare earth elemants, as the world discovered that the green technologies of the future (new engines, batteries, not to mention iPods and other technological devices) would lead us on a journey to countries like Bolivia, Chile, and China, and that in China’s case especially, there would be serious concerns about access and ongoing supply.

    So to get ready for this future, we’ve put together a brief overview of rare earth elemants, and other commodities that you must pay attention to. The first part is a presentation from Avalon Rare Metals, explaining what they’re all about, and the second lists key countries to pay attention to.

    Now, meet the new OPEC — >

    Join the conversation about this story »

    See Also:


  • Belém de todos os tempos – parte I

    Belém de todos os tempos

    Olá pessoal do SSC! Amanhã é um dia especial para todos que nasceram em Belém e amam essa cidade e para aqueles que são de outros estados e outros países que aqui chegaram e aqui criaram raiz e possuem e passaram a ter um carinho especial por essa terra caliente, de povo alegre e acolhedor. Belém, capricorniana do dia 12.01.1616, completa amanão 394. São muitos anos, mas Belém continua um bela e sedutora senhora. Sedutora porque, com seus encontos, seus cheiros, seus sabores, suas músicas; seduz a todos que aqui chegam. Viva Belém do Pará essa pujante metropóle do norte do Brasil!
    :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

    TODAS AS FOTOS SÃO MINHAS. UMAS INÉDITAS OUTRAS JÁ VISTAS EM OUTROS THREADS
    1. Uma aérea pegando o Barrio Umarizal

    2.

    3. Belém Moderna

    By odilson, shot with FE170,X760 at 2010-01-11

    4

    By Odilson at 2010-01-11

    5. Tapiocaria no Distrito de Mosqueiro

    By odilson, shot with FE170,X760 at 2010-01-11

    6. Tribunal de Contas do Estado – prédio contruido na década de 60, no Governo de Alacid Nunes

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    7, Belém da Belle Époque

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    8. Belém da Belle Époque

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    9. Praça D. Pedro II

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    10. Catedral Metropolitana

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    11. Ola do Complexo Feliz Luzitânia

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    12. Barco Museu da Marinha

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    13. Forte do Presépio – Marco Zero da Cidade

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    14. Praça São João

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    15. Igreja de Sáo João

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    16. Antigo Cine Guarani – atualmente é uma anexo do Fórum Cívil

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    17. Fórum Cível de Belém

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    18- Corpo de Bombeiro de Belém

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    19. Hangar Centro de Convenções e Feiras da Amazônia

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    20. Belém Moderna – Torre de Toledo

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    21. Solar Antique

    By odilson, shot with FE170,X760 at 2010-01-11

    22

    By odilson, shot with FE170,X760 at 2010-01-11

    23. Santa Casa

    By odilson, shot with FE170,X760 at 2010-01-11

    24

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    25. Antiga Fundação Educacional do Pará – Hoja é a UEPA

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    26. Praça Amazonas

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    27. Conservatório Carlos Gomes – foi a antiga residência do maestre que nasceu em São Paulo e passou o final de sua vida em Belém, onde faleceu

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    28

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    29. Av. Governador José Malcher

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    30. Assembléia Paraense – Clube da elite de Belém com mais de 20 mil, sócios.

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    31. Campus da UFPA

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    32. Paisagismo ao lado do Hangar

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    33. Paisagismo ao lado do Hangar

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    34. Av. Marquês de Herval

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    35. Prédio na Praça das Mercês

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    36. Prédio na Praça da Bandeira

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    37

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    38

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    39

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    40

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    41

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    42

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    43. Prédio da Rocinha – Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    44. Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    45. Antiga Residência dos Governadores do Pará – Hoje faz parte do Parque da Residência

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    46. Parque da Residência

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    47

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    48. Mercado de São Braz

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    49. Planetário de Belém

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    50. Hotel Ibis

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    51. Castanheira Shopping Center

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    52. Aldeia Caban – Sambódromo de Belém

    By odilson, shot with FE170,X760 at 2010-01-11

    53. Av. Antônio Everdosa

    By odilson, shot with FE170,X760 at 2010-01-11

    54. Av. Pedro Miranda

    By odilson, shot with FE170,X760 at 2010-01-11

    55

    By odilson, shot with FE170,X760 at 2010-01-11

    56. Pondinho passando em frente a antigo Arcebispado de Belém. Hoje faz parte do Museu sacro

    By odilson, shot with FE170,X760 at 2010-01-11

    57. Praça Eneida de Moraes

    By odilson, shot with FE170,X760 at 2010-01-11

    58. Praça Batista Campos

    By odilson, shot with FE170,X760 at 2010-01-11

    59. Praça Batista Campos

    By odilson, shot with FE170,X760 at 2010-01-11

    60

    By odilson, shot with FE170,X760 at 2010-01-11

    61. Tribunal de Justiça dos Estado

    By odilson, shot with FE170,X760 at 2010-01-11

    62. Chalé Tavares Cardoso, no distrito de Icoaraci

    By odilson, shot with FE170,X760 at 2010-01-11

    63. Aeroporto Internacional de Val-de-Cans

    By odilson, shot with FE170,X760 at 2010-01-11

    64. boulevard Shopping

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    65.

    By odilson, shot with FE170,X760 at 2010-01-11

    66. Av. Pte. Vargas

    By odilson, shot with FE170,X760 at 2010-01-11

    67. Av. Doca de Souza Franco

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    68. Sun e Moon – As mais altas torres da Amazônia

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    69

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    70. FIEPA

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    71. Banco do Brasil

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    72. Restauranre La Madre

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    73. Porto Fino Condomíniun

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    74

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    75. Condomínio Atalanta

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    76. Av. Visconte de Souza Franco

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    77. Av. Visconte de Souza Franco

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    78. Av. Alcindo Cacela

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    79. Caixa d’água da COSANPA

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    80. Av. Almirante Barroso

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    81. Av. Almirante Barroso perto do Jardim Botânico

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    82. Av. Almirante Barroso em frente ao Jardim Botânico

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    83. Praça Celso Sarub

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    84. Av. 25 de Setembro

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    85. Praça das Mercês

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    86. Rua João Alfredo

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    87

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    88

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    89. Doca do Ver-o-peso

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    90. Mercado de Ferro do Ver-o-peso

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    91. Boulebard Castilhos França

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    92

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    93.

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    94

    By odilson, shot with FE170,X760 at 2010-01-11

    95

    By odilson, shot with FE170,X760 at 2010-01-11

    96. Av. João Paulo II

    By odilson, shot with FE210,X775 at 2010-01-11

    Espero que tenham gostado dessa primeira parte desse passeio pela Belém de todos os tempos. Desde já agradeço a todos pela visita e pelos comentários.

  • Green Jobs: Blue-Collar or White Coat?

    The idea that America’s clean-energy push has become, first and foremost, a jobs push is now indisputable. The White House announcement Friday of an additional $2.3 billion in clean-energy manufacturing tax credits was specifically touted as a vehicle for jobs creation first and a way to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, second.

    Associated Press
    President Obama unveils his latest green jobs push last Friday

    The link between jobs and energy has been with Team Obama since the presidential campaign; and given the recession and 10% unemployment, it’s probably the only way to advance environmental legislation at all, as Jeff Ball notes today in The Wall Street Journal.

    That doesn’t mean there’s not plenty to be wary about in the latest White House announcement.

    For starters, the $2.3 billion is expected to help create about 17,000 jobs. That works out to roughly $135,000 per job—and remember, a “job” is defined as one year of employment. (To be fair, private-sector clean-energy job-creation may not be a lot cheaper. The White House estimates the new tax credits will spur an additional $5.4 billion in private investment, creating 41,000 jobs at a cost of $131,000 a head.)

    The latest green-jobs push is also confusing in its timing. Some of the projects eligible for tax credits, the White House notes, are already up and running—suggesting they don’t necessarily need federal money to make a go of things. Other projects that won’t be completed until 2013 are also eligible for the tax credits—hardly a short-term stimulus to tackle double-digit unemployment.

    But the bigger question, it seems, is whether clean-tech manufacturing is really the best way for America to jump on the green bandwagon. Manufacturing jobs in all sectors have for decades been fleeing to countries with lower costs for labor, energy, and raw materials. Why should clean energy be any different?

    China, for instance, in the space of a few years has become a global leader in the manufacture of equipment for solar- and wind-power. It’s also making heady inroads in other areas, from batteries for electric cars to gear for the smart grid.

    Granted, Chinese equipment still faces plenty of technological challenges. The country is a huge producer of wind turbines, for example, but has yet to start exporting them at a large scale.

    But even Tom Friedman, a tireless cheerleader for a clean-energy revolution in the U.S., recognizes that America isn’t going to win a workshop battle with China to build clean-tech gear. Instead, he envisions a partnership, “with the U.S. specializing in energy research and innovation, at which China is still weak, as well as in venture investing and servicing of new clean technologies, and with China specializing in mass production.”

    Which raises the question: Should the billions being poured into American factories be steered toward American laboratories instead?


  • Vredespaleis, Den Haag

    Gegevens:
    Naam:Vredespaleis
    Plaats: Den Haag
    Architect:Louis M.Cordonnier.
    Functie:http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vredespaleis
    Bouwjaar:1913
    _____________________________________________________

    Foto’s Fabian2412

  • AcadiaSoft Finds $4M

    Ryan McBride wrote:

    AcadiaSoft, which makes software for managing derivative investments, has raised $4 million in equity financing, according to an SEC filing. The Pembroke, MA-based startup told Mass High Tech that the investors in the financing included large financial institutions such as HSBC Holdings and ICAP, both of which are based in London, and New York-based JP Morgan Chase & Co.

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  • Video: Adobe Demos Flash Games On webOS

     We’ve already seen a demo from Adobe that showed us some of what’s possible with Flash 10.1 on webOS, and they’ve released another video showcasing the gaming capabilities we’ll see when the software becomes available. It’s slick stuff: double tapping on a flash element makes it go full screen as if you were using a native application, and the Pre appears to be running 3 browser cards with a Flash element quite effortlessly. So not only do we have access to excellent 3D games like Need For Speed thanks to the Plug-in Development Kit, we’ll soon have access the hundreds of thousands of Flash based games out there. 

    Thanks to everyone who sent this in!