Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Clinton Warns of Bio-Weapons Threat, Terrorism

During Geneva speech, US secretary of state cites evidence that al-Qaida was seeking to conduct biological attacks in Afghanistan

Source: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/usa/Clinton-Warns-of-Bio-Weapons-Threat-Terrorism-135175433.html

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Mid-Century Design, Quality and Style Built to Last

What goes around comes around. None of this could be more true than America’s returned fascination with mid-century modern design. Popularized by AMC’s TV show “Mad [...]

Source: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2011-11-21/mid-century-design-quality-and-style-built-to-last/

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By the Numbers: 1.6 Billion Square Feet

1.6 Billion Square Feet

Today, President Obama announced commitments from 60 major CEOS, universities, mayors, labor leaders, and others to improve the energy efficiency of 1.6 billion square feet of commercial and industrial property. That’s more square footage than 500 Empire State Buildings.

Refitting our nation’s buildings to be more energy efficient will help businesses save money, create jobs for out-of-work construction workers, and help protect our environment. In fact, meeting President Obama’s Better Building Initiative goal—improving energy efficiency in our commercial buildings 20 percent by 2020—will save businesses $40 billion per year and create 114,000 jobs.

President Obama knows that we can’t wait on Congress to offer incentives for building owners to move forward with energy efficiency upgrades on their properties. That’s why he partnered with the former President Bill Clinton and his Council on Jobs and Competitiveness to spur the $2 billion private sector investment that led to today’s announcement. To jumpstart even more energy efficient upgrades, President Obama also directed Federal agencies to make at least $2 billion worth of energy efficiency upgrades in the next two years.

Read more:

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/12/02/numbers-16-billion-square-feet

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Report: E. African Minorities Losing Resources

Commercial exploitation of natural resources exacerbates scarcity, deepens longstanding animosities between indigenous communities

Source: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/Report-E-African-Minorities-Losing-Resources-135092313.html

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By the Numbers: 26 Days and Counting

26 Days

If Congress doesn’t act, taxes on the middle class will go up in 26 days. That’s when President Obama’s payroll tax cut—signed into law last year—will end. Approximately 160 million workers will begin paying 6.2 percent of their wages in payroll taxes, rather than continuing to pay the current rate of 4.2 percent. As a result, the typical family earning $50,000 a year would pay an additional $1,000 in taxes in 2012.

As part of the American Jobs Act, President Obama asked Congress to extend and expand the payroll tax cut to continue helping middle class families--an extension Senate Republicans have already rejected once. His plan would cut the rate workers pay even further, down to 3.1 percent of their wages. Under President Obama’s proposal, the same family earning $50,000 would see an extra $1,500 in their pockets next year.

Want to see how changes to the payroll tax cut will affect you starting January 1st? Use our calculator to find out how much more you’ll be paying if Congress doesn’t act in the next 26 days...and counting.

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/12/05/numbers-26-days-and-counting

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How to prepare your home for winter

How to prepare your home for winter  It feels like I just wrote about celebrating our country and home ownership in July. Now I am already thinking and now writing about preparing our home for winter. How is that possible? Time flies when you are having fun, and the seasons change. Fall is my favorite [...]

Source: http://www.homefinder.com/news/opening-doors/2011/10/06/how-to-prepare-your-home-for-winter/

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