“On Gulf Coast, Praise for Obama Meets Criticism of His Visit - New York Times” plus 4 more |
- On Gulf Coast, Praise for Obama Meets Criticism of His Visit - New York Times
- Todd Shipyards Corporation Announces Ferry New Construction Award by ... - PR Inside
- Get in the Driver's Seat - MSNBC
- AAA to check cars for free tomorrow, Friday - Philadelphia Daily News
- When to Replace That Windshield - Driving Today
| On Gulf Coast, Praise for Obama Meets Criticism of His Visit - New York Times Posted: 14 Oct 2009 11:49 AM PDT NEW ORLEANS — At Willie's Auto Repair in the Lower Ninth Ward, just a few blocks from a school where President Obama is scheduled to speak on Thursday morning, Mr. Obama received Jerome Bienaime's endorsement. "President's doing a good job as far as I'm concerned," Mr. Bienaime, 71, said. "And he ain't even been there a year." Mr. Bienaime's sentiment was generally shared among officials and residents in interviews on the eve of Mr. Obama's first visit to the area since taking office, a marked contrast to local opinion about President George W. Bush. But the praise for Mr. Obama's work has, in recent days, been eclipsed by criticism of his visit. Mr. Obama, who visited the city five times during his campaign and attacked Mr. Bush for his response to Hurricane Katrina, is spending only a few hours here — at the charter school and at a campus of the University of New Orleans, where he is holding a town-hall-style meeting — before flying to San Francisco for a fund-raiser. He is not visiting the storm-ravaged areas in Mississippi. Representative Steve Scalise, a Republican from southeastern Louisiana, held a news conference calling the Mr. Obama's visit a "drive-through daiquiri summit." Representative Gene Taylor, Democrat of Mississippi, wrote a critical five-page letter to the president. Mississippi editorial writers are not pleased either. "The theater's all wrong," said Lawrence N. Powell, a professor of history at Tulane who describes himself as an otherwise strong supporter of the president. "I know he's got a lot going on, but I think this needed to be approached differently. You can't multitask a world-historical tragedy." Others say that presidential visits do not matter as much as the work that is being done. "Bush was here a lot of times," said Paul Rainwater, the executive director of the state-run Louisiana Recovery Authority, who praised the approach of the current administration over the previous one. "I would say it's more important to have your cabinet secretaries down here." According to the White House, there were 22 visits by senior administration officials to New Orleans or nearby Biloxi, Miss., from March to August — 13 of them by cabinet secretaries. Nick Shapiro, a White House spokesman, said: "The president has been to New Orleans five times since Katrina and has done most of the things people are saying they want him to do. What he hasn't done is hold a public event where he can hear directly from the people of New Orleans, so that is what he is doing on this trip — which of course will not be his last." Both Republicans and Democrats say that federal officials have generally been flexible and responsive to the area's needs. "I was extremely glad that they were able to go so quickly to get things done," said Representative Anh Cao, the Republican whose district includes nearly all of the city. He complimented the administration's ability to extract money — roughly $1.2 billion — from bureaucratic tangles that had been holding up projects for years. Changes, like dropping the deadline for vacating FEMA trailers, have been made when necessary, and new systems have been set up to resolve longstanding financing disputes. Mr. Cao did raise concerns, echoed by others, that there were still some problems in coordination between various agencies. And some are disappointed that more federal stimulus money was not spent here, largely because of the federal spending formulas. (The White House said that more than $1 billion from the stimulus program was directed to New Orleans.) But the issue that just about every New Orleanian brings up first is flood protection. It is, as in most matters of engineering and basic survival, a nonpartisan issue. But it is a politically difficult one: the restoration of coastal wetlands, essential to the protection of the region, is extremely costly and the returns can be long in coming. The Army Corps of Engineers is at work on a $14.3 billion plan to have improved flood protection in place for the city by summer of 2011, including an enormous storm surge barrier now rising to the east of the city. But residents are angry about the strictures that keep progress slow — including a lengthy project approval process mandated by Congress for work along the coastline, and a lack of congressional financing for what many officials believe are necessary, if costly, improvements to Corps plans in the city itself. The administration has set up a variety of groups to tackle the issue of coastal restoration, including the Ocean Policy Task Force, which is meeting in New Orleans next week, and another group dedicated solely to Gulf Coast restoration. The creation of these groups, which consist of senior officials from different federal agencies, has been welcomed by state environmental officials and coastal advocates who prefer them to the heavily criticized Army Corps. "Everybody's saying the right thing," said Garret Graves, who leads the state's Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. But he said it was too early to tell if the administration will act on these groups' recommendations with the urgency and vigor the situation demands. Some residents, and not just officials and advocates, are concerned that Mr. Obama will not understand the severity of the coastal problem without taking a look at it himself. Curtis Merricks, 55, a retired city worker who was brought up in the Ninth Ward but moved to another part of the city after Hurricane Katrina, said that was his priority. "Most people just about got their money," Mr. Merricks said. But "if we don't do nothing about coastal wetlands, we're going to go through this again. He needs to go down in the swamp, that's where he needs to go. He should have went to Mississippi, too. He's just riding through and riding out." This content has passed through fivefilters.org. |
| Todd Shipyards Corporation Announces Ferry New Construction Award by ... - PR Inside Posted: 14 Oct 2009 09:33 AM PDT 2009-10-14 18:30:06 -
Todd Shipyards Corporation (NYSE:TOD) announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Todd Pacific Shipyards Corporation ("Todd" or the "Company"), was awarded a $114.1 million contract from Washington State Department of Transportation, Ferries Division ("WSF") for the construction of two 64-Auto Ferries with an option for a third. Todd is currently constructing the lead vessel in the new class to be used on the Puget Sound ferry route between Port Townsend and Keystone.The current award is for the construction of vessels two and three in the class. As part of this award, WSF has an option for the construction of a fourth vessel in the class for $50.8 million, which must be exercised no later than May 31, 2011. The contract will commence once the Company has received a Notice to Proceed from WSF. The contract contemplates delivery of the second vessel in the class 18 months after Notice to Proceed, and the third vessel nine months after that delivery. The competition to build the 64-Auto Ferry was open to all shipyards located in the state of Washington. "The selection of Todd to build the ferries, especially when combined with our on-going work for the United States Navy, United States Coast Guard and commercial customers, looks like a win on several fronts. Todd will be a very stable employer for at least the next couple of years, and in the process help train a new generation of trades people through our apprenticeship programs. We get the opportunity to build quality vessels for our state and earn a fair return in the process," Steve Welch, Todd CEO, said. Todd performs repair and maintenance work on commercial and federal government vessels and provides new construction and industrial fabrication services for a wide variety of customers. Its customers include the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Coast Guard, NOAA, the Washington State Ferry system, the Alaska Marine Highway System, and various other commercial and governmental customers. Todd Shipyards Corporation has operated a shipyard in Seattle since 1916. Forward-Looking Statements Statements contained in this Report, which are not historical facts or information, are "forward-looking statements." Words such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "will," "should," and other expressions that indicate future events and trends identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause the outcome to be materially different than stated. The Company cautions that any forward-looking statement reflects only the belief of the Company or its management at the time the statement was made. Although the Company believes such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, such assumptions may ultimately prove to be inaccurate or incomplete. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement was made. Furthermore, market trends are subject to changes, which could adversely affect future results. See additional discussion in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 29, 2009, and other factors detailed from time to time on our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Todd Shipyards CorporationHilary PickerelShareholder Relations206-623-1635 Ext. 106 This content has passed through fivefilters.org.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Get in the Driver's Seat - MSNBC Posted: 14 Oct 2009 08:21 AM PDT Is there anything you could want done with a car that isn't available from an auto franchise? Not likely. The franchise industry is spreading into every facet of our daily lives--including our cars--because we're all looking for the same things: dependable products, systems and services. Today more than ever, automotive franchises strive to deliver the choices that value-conscious consumers are looking for--which translates into lots of choices for aspiring franchisees as well. Let's take an imaginary road trip in and around the car to see just how comprehensive automotive franchise opportunities world has become. Body Windows Wheels and tires Interior Under the hood Source Franchise opportunities are available for almost any automotive product or service you can imagine. No matter what a person needs, a franchise probably exists to help them deal with it. And if you've got the entrepreneurial itch--and a love for cars--you could be the person filling that need. As this tour of a car has shown, there's no shortage of demand for automotive products and services, so there are lots of opportunities for you to become a franchisee in this rapidly growing field. Jeff Elgin is the "Buying a Franchise" coach at Entrepreneur.com and has 25 years of experience in franchising, both as a franchisee and a senior franchise company executive. He's currently the CEO ofFranChoice Inc., a company that provides free consulting to consumers looking for a franchise that best matches their needs. This content has passed through fivefilters.org. |
| AAA to check cars for free tomorrow, Friday - Philadelphia Daily News Posted: 14 Oct 2009 08:21 AM PDT
Tomorrow in the Northeast, Friday in Southwest Philadelphia, and Oct. 28 in King of Prussia, AAA will do free 40-point inspections of all vehicles, regardless of whether the driver belongs to the motorist-assistance organization. Tires, batteries, belts, fluids and much more will get the once-over by AAA experts from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Wawa at 2600 Grant Avenue, and 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday at Quartermaster Plaza, 2300 Oregon Avenue. The Oct. 28 event will be from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the parking lot near the AAA office in a shopping center at 139 E. DeKalb (Route 202), adjacent to Henderson Road. Heavy rains, but not a light drizzle, could force a postponement. The hope is to help motorists who have put off needed repairs because of the down economy or other reasons, said Catherine Rossi, spokeswoman for AAA Mid-Atlantic. October - dubbed Car Care Month by AAA - is also a good time to get ready for the winter driving season. There's no ulterior, greedy motive, like drumming up business for AAA-affiliated repair facilities or other service stations, she said. The only items for sale at the events will be batteries, she said. Technicians also will inflate tires, if needed. "The experts on-site are AAA employees who work in roadside assistance, former auto technicians who work in AAA management positions now, current auto technicians who work for AAA, and, at some events, we are getting extra hands from some technicians from our network of repair facilities," she said. By helping make more vehicles reliable, the program could help prevent breakdowns and reduce the burdens on AAA's roadside-assistance network. For more information, call AAA Mid-Atlantic at 1-866-636-2377, or e-mail aaaevent@aaamidatlantic.com.
Contact staff writer Peter Mucha at 215-854-4342 or pmucha@phillynews.com.
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| When to Replace That Windshield - Driving Today Posted: 14 Oct 2009 06:34 AM PDT Oct 14, 2009 It happens all the time. You're driving on a heavily traveled thoroughfare, minding your own business, whistling a happy tune and thinking pleasant thoughts, and suddenly a piece of road debris smashes into your windshield. It may produce a tiny pit or a gaping hole, but one thing is for sure: Your happy thoughts will come to a quick conclusion. After you pull to the side of the road to inspect the damage, you have a decision to make: Do you replace the windshield? Do you have it repaired? Or do you ignore the whole incident? Well, in this instance, as in so many, an expert opinion is valuable, so we consulted with Jace Green, who modestly refers to himself as the Auto Glass Guru, and he offered some general guidelines for consumers who ask the time-honored question "Do I need to replace it, or can it be repaired?" Your windshield can usually be repaired if:
Your windshield should probably be replaced if:
"Repair is often a good option, but there are certain times when it just isn't the best choice," Green said. "It's important to remember that the windshield is a safety device … if the safety of the windshield will be called into question by an attempted repair, we always recommend replacement." Next Driving Today News>>This content has passed through fivefilters.org. |
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