Archive for the ‘News’ Category

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Ford to put air bags into back seat belts of SUV

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

Air bags have long been mounted in the steering wheel, dashboard and sides of vehicles. Now, they’re in the seat belts.

Ford Motor Co. plans to introduce seat belt-mounted air bags in the back seat of the 2011 Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle, which will hit the market next fall. Ford says it’s the first automaker to mass produce the technology.

The belts have a cylindrical air bag that stretches from the buckle to the shoulder and fits inside a pocket sewn into the belt. The car sends a signal that releases the bag, which inflates more gently than a front air bag, so it’s safer for children.

Srini Sundararajan, the Ford engineer who was chiefly responsible for developing the device, says the wider belts and bags help distribute crash forces across the occupant’s chest, so there’s less chance of serious injury. It also supports the head and neck.

Tags: ,
Posted in News | No Comments »

House votes to expand homebuyer tax credit

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

Buying a home is about to get cheaper for a whole new crop of homebuyers — $6,500 cheaper.

First-time homebuyers have been getting tax credits of up to $8,000 since January as part of the economic stimulus package enacted earlier this year. But with the program scheduled to expire at the end of November, the House voted 403-12 Thursday to extend and expand the tax credit to include many buyers who already own homes. The Senate approved the measure Wednesday, and the White House said President Barack Obama would sign it Friday.

Buyers who have owned their current homes at least five years would be eligible for tax credits of up to $6,500. First-time homebuyers — or anyone who hasn’t owned a home in the last three years — would still get up to $8,000. To qualify, buyers in both groups have to sign a purchase agreement by April 30, 2010, and close by June 30.

Tags: ,
Posted in News | No Comments »

Technology not causing social isolation: Pew study

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

Contrary to popular belief, technology is not leading to social isolation and Americans who use the Internet and mobile phones have larger and more diverse social networks, according to a new study.

“All the evidence points in one direction,” said Keith Hampton, lead author of the report by the Pew Internet and American Life Project released Wednesday. “People’s social worlds are enhanced by new communication technologies.

“It is a mistake to believe that Internet use and mobile phones plunge people into a spiral of isolation,” said Hampton, an assistant professor of communication at the University of Pennsylvania.

Tags: ,
Posted in News | No Comments »

Suspected U.S. missile strike kills two in Pakistan

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

A suspected U.S. drone aircraft fired two missiles on Thursday into North Waziristan, a major al Qaeda and Taliban sanctuary in northwest Pakistan, killing two people, Pakistani intelligence officials said.

The United States has launched 44 such strikes on suspected militants in Pakistan this year compared with 32 last year. Pakistani forces launched an offensive against militants in the neighboring South Waziristan region on the Afghan border in mid-October.

(Reporting by Haji Mujtaba; Writing by Zeeshan Haider; Editing by Robert Birsel)

Tags: ,
Posted in News | No Comments »

Rising commodities, dealmaking lift stocks

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

Investors sidestepped some of their doubts about the economy and bought energy and industrial stocks as commodity prices rose.

Stocks ended back-and-forth trading mostly higher Tuesday as a spike in the price of gold and corporate dealmaking extended an advance from Monday. The gains in commodity prices helped stocks pare early losses.

The Dow Jones industrial average slipped 17 points, while broader indexes rose modestly.

Investors were encouraged by billionaire investor Warren Buffett’s decision to pay $34 billion for the railroad Burlington Northern Santa Fe in what he termed an “all-in wager” on the future of the U.S. economy. Meanwhile, tool maker Stanley Works struck a deal to acquire Black & Decker Corp. for $3.46 billion in stock.

Tags: ,
Posted in News | No Comments »

Buffett buying Burlington rail in his biggest deal

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc will pay $26 billion to buy out Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp in a bet the nation’s largest rail company will benefit from a recovering U.S. economy.

The deal, announced on Tuesday, is the billionaire investor’s biggest-ever acquisition and may prompt him to sell some of his other investments, which include a wide range of companies from Coca-Cola Co to General Electric Co, some Buffett watchers said.

By betting on BNSF, Buffett — the world’s second-richest person and a long-time model train buff — renewed interest in a storied, but highly cyclical American industry that has tried to reinvent itself by emphasizing its ability to move goods cheaply and efficiently.

“It’s an all-in wager on the economic future of the United States,” Buffett, who has been building up his rail holdings for several years, said in a statement. “I love these bets.”

Tags: ,
Posted in News | No Comments »

Half of US kids will get food stamps, study says

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

Nearly half of all U.S. children and 90 percent of black youngsters will be on food stamps at some point during childhood, and fallout from the current recession could push those numbers even higher, researchers say.

The estimate comes from an analysis of 30 years of national data, and it bolsters other recent evidence on the pervasiveness of youngsters at economic risk. It suggests that almost everyone knows a family who has received food stamps, or will in the future, said lead author Mark Rank, a sociologist at Washington University in St. Louis.

“Your neighbor may be using some of these programs but it’s not the kind of thing people want to talk about,” Rank said.

Tags: ,
Posted in News | No Comments »

CIT Group’s biggest hurdle: Keeping customers

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

A Chapter 11 filing usually means the end of the road for financial companies since they rely so heavily on customer trust. CIT Group Inc. is hoping that its case will be different.

The commercial lender’s trip through bankruptcy reorganization may well be speedy given that it’s already reached agreements with creditors on restructuring its debt. But the real test will come from CIT customers, who could decide to take their business elsewhere.

“Their image is tarnished right now,” said Len Blum, a managing partner at investment bank Westwood Capital. “They have an uphill climb because they are only worth the value of the portfolio,” Blum said of CIT’s pool of loans it has extended to customers.

Just as a bank would fail if all of its depositors tried to get money out at the same time, CIT wouldn’t be able to survive if too many of its customers close their accounts. Some have already been pulling their business in recent months as CIT struggled for survival, but it’s still too early to know how many will remain.

Tags: ,
Posted in News | No Comments »

Ugg boots

Sunday, November 1st, 2009

1

Ugg short boots have been rising in popularity over the last few years, but Ugg ultra are always attractive your eyes which there are unique design. Improved arch support, replaceable inner and high grip sole not only improves the health of your feet but result in what we believe is the world’s most comfortable sheepskin boot. Your feet deserve nothing less. Maybe now, you will confuse that, which style about ugg classic tall boots you love best now because of my new introducing. That is ok for choosing any one, as they are all the perfect. Here I can give a suggest for choosing. If you are not tall enough, I think ugg ultra tall or ultra short is suitable for you. As such, it can slim your feet better, also black colour can make your feet thinner.

Tags: ,
Posted in News | No Comments »

‘This Is It’ tops charts with $101M worldwide

Sunday, November 1st, 2009

“Michael Jackson’s This Is It” pulled in $101 million worldwide in its first five days, and distributor Sony is extending the farewell performance film beyond its planned two-week run.

The film was the No. 1 Halloween thriller domestically with a $21.3 million opening weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The previous weekend’s No. 1 movie, Paramount’s low-budget horror sensation “Paranormal Activity,” slipped to No. 2 with $16.5 million, lifting its total to $84.8 million.

“This Is It” raised its domestic total to $32.5 million. The movie pulled in $68.5 million overseas, including $10.4 million in Japan, $6.3 million in Germany, $5.8 million in France and $3.2 million in China.

Tags: ,
Posted in News | No Comments »

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »