Fred Harteis News Articles – Planes bump on runway in New Jersey
Fred Harteis News - Two commercial planes bumped into each other Tuesday on a Newark International Airport runway, delaying hundreds of passengers on a trans-Atlantic flight.
A tip of the wing of Lufthansa Flight LH403, headed to Frankfurt, Germany, brushed the right winglet of a second plane, said Lufthansa spokeswoman Jennifer Urbaniak. A wing on the Lufthansa Boeing 747 was damaged, she said.
In a statement, Lufthansa said there were 291 passengers, three infants and 17 crew members on board. No injuries were reported. The passengers were taken off the plane.
The second plane was an empty Continental Airlines Boeing 757, which was being relocated to a remote overnight parking spot "and was in a stationary position" when the contact occurred, the airline said in a statement.
It "was apparently brushed by a taxiing Lufthansa 747 aircraft," Continental said. "It appears that the 747's left wing brushed the 757's right wing."
The Lufthansa flight was canceled, said Alan Hicks, spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
The incident occurred about 6:30 p.m., said Hicks. No delays resulted at the airport.
To read this complete Fred Harteis News Article visit our news partner at:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/10/31/plane.crash/index.html?eref=rss_topstories
Source: Cnn.com
About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Fred Harteis News Articles - Worst ways to get fired
Fred Harteis News Articles - You probably have never done a perp walk, been suspected of stealing or been treated as if you were a toxic agent.
Yet you may feel like you have if you ever are laid off by a company that practices some of the moves ripped straight from The Corporate Guide to Crazy.
The list of dehumanized moves is long and not likely to get shorter in an age where speed, telecommuting, cost cutting, efficiency and assets rather than human capital are king.
"The things that get done in the name of expediency are quite shocking," said Dale Klamfoth, senior vice president at WJM Associates, an executive and organizational development firm.
Just last week we were treated to news of 400 employees at Radio Shack who were laid off by e-mail.
Before that we heard of money-saving tips offered to newly laid-off employees at Northwest. The list includes helpful advice like "Don't be shy about pulling something you like out of the trash" and that ever-useful tip when you lose a job: "Bicycle to work."
Based on conversations with several human resource experts, here are some examples of companies that followed the advice in the Corporate Guide chapter "Layoffs: Six Easy Strategies."
Strategy 1: It can be extremely taxing to ruin people's day face to face, so create a little breathing room.
Besides e-mail, companies have been known to fire people by FedEx, registered letter, text message, voice mail and conference call.
Strategy 2: Consider the cattle call. It can build team spirit.
One company herded employees into an auditorium and gave them one of two color-coded information packets. Those with the same color packets sat together. The two groups were then escorted out of the auditorium through different exits. One led back to the office, which meant that group of employees could stay. The other led to the street, which meant the workers should file for unemployment.
Strategy 3: There is no such thing as "too low." So don't be afraid to test bottom. One option is to let employees figure things out for themselves.
One company deliberately left a new organizational chart on the photocopy machines. Some employees were left off entirely, and others were moved to new positions.
Strategy 4: Remember, no one is ever too old to play musical chairs.
Some companies in the middle of a merger have asked all employees to resign and reapply for jobs. The goal: to disengage from the old and reinvent the organizational structure - with fewer employees.
Strategy 5: It can be a nice touch when you offer the newly fired a ride home.
It actually can be, unless you've organized the corporate equivalent of a funeral procession. One company had cabs lined up around the block before alerting employees on the layoff list of their new jobless status.
Strategy 6: You know what they say: it's always the quiet ones. So make sure the meek don't go ballistic.
During a layoff, it's perfectly reasonable for a company to want to protect its computer files, other property and the remaining employees. But bringing in armed guards, as some companies have done, can be completely dehumanizing. An inconspicuously placed plainclothes security person is far preferable, said Lee Miller, a negotiations expert who used to run HR divisions at three companies.
Source: Cnn.com
About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.
Fred Harteis News Articles - You probably have never done a perp walk, been suspected of stealing or been treated as if you were a toxic agent.
Yet you may feel like you have if you ever are laid off by a company that practices some of the moves ripped straight from The Corporate Guide to Crazy.
The list of dehumanized moves is long and not likely to get shorter in an age where speed, telecommuting, cost cutting, efficiency and assets rather than human capital are king.
"The things that get done in the name of expediency are quite shocking," said Dale Klamfoth, senior vice president at WJM Associates, an executive and organizational development firm.
Just last week we were treated to news of 400 employees at Radio Shack who were laid off by e-mail.
Before that we heard of money-saving tips offered to newly laid-off employees at Northwest. The list includes helpful advice like "Don't be shy about pulling something you like out of the trash" and that ever-useful tip when you lose a job: "Bicycle to work."
Based on conversations with several human resource experts, here are some examples of companies that followed the advice in the Corporate Guide chapter "Layoffs: Six Easy Strategies."
Strategy 1: It can be extremely taxing to ruin people's day face to face, so create a little breathing room.
Besides e-mail, companies have been known to fire people by FedEx, registered letter, text message, voice mail and conference call.
Strategy 2: Consider the cattle call. It can build team spirit.
One company herded employees into an auditorium and gave them one of two color-coded information packets. Those with the same color packets sat together. The two groups were then escorted out of the auditorium through different exits. One led back to the office, which meant that group of employees could stay. The other led to the street, which meant the workers should file for unemployment.
Strategy 3: There is no such thing as "too low." So don't be afraid to test bottom. One option is to let employees figure things out for themselves.
One company deliberately left a new organizational chart on the photocopy machines. Some employees were left off entirely, and others were moved to new positions.
Strategy 4: Remember, no one is ever too old to play musical chairs.
Some companies in the middle of a merger have asked all employees to resign and reapply for jobs. The goal: to disengage from the old and reinvent the organizational structure - with fewer employees.
Strategy 5: It can be a nice touch when you offer the newly fired a ride home.
It actually can be, unless you've organized the corporate equivalent of a funeral procession. One company had cabs lined up around the block before alerting employees on the layoff list of their new jobless status.
Strategy 6: You know what they say: it's always the quiet ones. So make sure the meek don't go ballistic.
During a layoff, it's perfectly reasonable for a company to want to protect its computer files, other property and the remaining employees. But bringing in armed guards, as some companies have done, can be completely dehumanizing. An inconspicuously placed plainclothes security person is far preferable, said Lee Miller, a negotiations expert who used to run HR divisions at three companies.
Source: Cnn.com
About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Fred Harteis News Articles - D.C. sniper admits killing golfer in Arizona
Fred Harteis News Articles - Convicted Washington-area sniper Lee Boyd Malvo confessed to police that he and cohort John Allen Muhammad were responsible for the 2002 killing of a 60-year-old man on a Tucson golf course, Tucson authorities said Friday.
"He admitted to the killing of Jerry Taylor," said Capt. Bill Richards, commander of the Tucson Police Department's violent crimes division.
Richards said Malvo spoke to police in Maryland for two hours Thursday after he received a grant of immunity of prosecution. He said the shooting took place while he and Muhammad were in the area visiting Muhammad's older sister, Richards said.
Tucson police had long sought to speak with Malvo about the March 19, 2002, death of Taylor, 60, who died from a single gunshot fired from long range as he practiced chip shots at the Tucson course. The case had never been conclusively tied to Muhammad and Malvo.
Richards and Detective Benjamin Jimenez flew to Montgomery County, Maryland, this week to discuss the shooting. Jimenez said Malvo was contrite and said he was sorry for Taylor's family.
"He welled up a few times in tears during the interview," Jimenez said.
Jimenez said Malvo, 21, shot Taylor as he lay in the bushes and Taylor was retrieving a golf balls. According to Malvo, the two decided to shoot someone on the golf course after conducting surveillance in the desert, Jimenez said.
Authorities said Taylor's body was moved after the shooting and his wallet was near the body but nothing was taken.
Richards said that Malvo agreed to testify against Muhammad if Pima County develops a solid enough case to bring charges. He said police are still investigating and have not submitted the case to prosecutors.
Muhammad and Malvo were arrested for 10 killings and three woundings in the Washington, D.C., area during three weeks in October 2002. They were accused of roaming the area with a Bushmaster .223-caliber rifle that they fired from the trunk of a Chevrolet Caprice at random victims.
To read this complete Fred Harteis News Article visit our news partner at:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/10/27/malvo.ap/index.html?eref=rss_topstories
Source; Cnn.com
About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.
Fred Harteis News Articles - Convicted Washington-area sniper Lee Boyd Malvo confessed to police that he and cohort John Allen Muhammad were responsible for the 2002 killing of a 60-year-old man on a Tucson golf course, Tucson authorities said Friday.
"He admitted to the killing of Jerry Taylor," said Capt. Bill Richards, commander of the Tucson Police Department's violent crimes division.
Richards said Malvo spoke to police in Maryland for two hours Thursday after he received a grant of immunity of prosecution. He said the shooting took place while he and Muhammad were in the area visiting Muhammad's older sister, Richards said.
Tucson police had long sought to speak with Malvo about the March 19, 2002, death of Taylor, 60, who died from a single gunshot fired from long range as he practiced chip shots at the Tucson course. The case had never been conclusively tied to Muhammad and Malvo.
Richards and Detective Benjamin Jimenez flew to Montgomery County, Maryland, this week to discuss the shooting. Jimenez said Malvo was contrite and said he was sorry for Taylor's family.
"He welled up a few times in tears during the interview," Jimenez said.
Jimenez said Malvo, 21, shot Taylor as he lay in the bushes and Taylor was retrieving a golf balls. According to Malvo, the two decided to shoot someone on the golf course after conducting surveillance in the desert, Jimenez said.
Authorities said Taylor's body was moved after the shooting and his wallet was near the body but nothing was taken.
Richards said that Malvo agreed to testify against Muhammad if Pima County develops a solid enough case to bring charges. He said police are still investigating and have not submitted the case to prosecutors.
Muhammad and Malvo were arrested for 10 killings and three woundings in the Washington, D.C., area during three weeks in October 2002. They were accused of roaming the area with a Bushmaster .223-caliber rifle that they fired from the trunk of a Chevrolet Caprice at random victims.
To read this complete Fred Harteis News Article visit our news partner at:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/10/27/malvo.ap/index.html?eref=rss_topstories
Source; Cnn.com
About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Fred Harteis News Articles - 10 Jobs for TV Junkies
Fred Harteis News Articles - You long for the days when waking up early on Saturday meant curling up on the couch with a bowlful of sugary cereal and Saturday morning cartoons. Life was simple then, with plenty of room for playtime and your favorite television programming, but somewhere along the way your life went from after-school special to prime-time drama, and a busy work lifestyle to boot.
Consider some of these jobs for TV junkies:
1. Animator
What they do: Use art and computer applications to create and manipulate images that convey a story or meaning and create the illusion of motion. The work can include 2-D animation, used for cartoons, or 3-D computer generated animation.
What it pays: The median annual salary is $40,000.*
2. Camera Operator
What they do: Working under the instruction of a director, the camera operator sets up cameras and supporting equipment such as lights, tripods and headphones to assist with on-site and studio television footage.
What it pays: The median annual salary is $44,000.
3. Broadcast Captioner
What they do: Provide captioning for offline productions, including pre-recorded television programs or movies, or for real-time captioning, such as live news broadcasts.
What it pays: The annual salary starts at $35,000, and may earn between $60,000 and $120,000.
4. Broadcast News Reporter
What they do: Evaluate leads on events and information, write stories based on those findings and communicate the results through televised news reports.
What it pays: The median annual salary is $32,500.
5. Film/Video Editor for Broadcast/Television
What they do: Oversee, assemble and establish the final post-production shots of a televised project. Editors work under the director's requests to cut and develop the final collaboration of a televised product, which includes overseeing the quality and progress of audio and vision engineering, upgrading tape to higher quality resolution, and experimenting with the style of the edit.
What it pays: The median annual salary is $35,000.
6. Executive Producer
What they do: Work closely with the directors and other production staff, overseeing the televised project from conception to completion. Duties include aiding in directing, researching scripts and maintaining the budget for the project's creation, distribution and marketing.
What it pays: The median annual salary is $75,000.
7. Promotions Producer
What they do: Plan, write, produce and edit on-air information used for marketing, promotions, fund-raising and other activities. Duties may include aiding in planning promotional special events, checking production in correlation with industry regulations and/or other related tasks.
What it pays: The median annual salary is $40,000.
8. Director
What they do: Lead the show production and are responsible for guiding the actors and pointing the cameras in a way that translates the script according to his/her vision. Directors need to have an understanding of all of the technical work, as well as how to work with their actors to carry out the scenes.
What it pays: The median annual salary is $43,890.
9. Staff Writer
What they do: Create and develop dialogues, characters and situations for the television series.
What it pays: The salary ranges between $60,000 and $80,000 annually to start. The Writer's Guild of America sets minimum rates, and writers may earn royalties.
10. Casting Director
What they do: Break down the script by role, age and characteristics. After creating a list of potential actors, the casting director leads the auditions and negotiates their salary rates.
What it pays: The median annual salary is $52,162.
Source: AOl.com
About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.
Fred Harteis News Articles - You long for the days when waking up early on Saturday meant curling up on the couch with a bowlful of sugary cereal and Saturday morning cartoons. Life was simple then, with plenty of room for playtime and your favorite television programming, but somewhere along the way your life went from after-school special to prime-time drama, and a busy work lifestyle to boot.
Consider some of these jobs for TV junkies:
1. Animator
What they do: Use art and computer applications to create and manipulate images that convey a story or meaning and create the illusion of motion. The work can include 2-D animation, used for cartoons, or 3-D computer generated animation.
What it pays: The median annual salary is $40,000.*
2. Camera Operator
What they do: Working under the instruction of a director, the camera operator sets up cameras and supporting equipment such as lights, tripods and headphones to assist with on-site and studio television footage.
What it pays: The median annual salary is $44,000.
3. Broadcast Captioner
What they do: Provide captioning for offline productions, including pre-recorded television programs or movies, or for real-time captioning, such as live news broadcasts.
What it pays: The annual salary starts at $35,000, and may earn between $60,000 and $120,000.
4. Broadcast News Reporter
What they do: Evaluate leads on events and information, write stories based on those findings and communicate the results through televised news reports.
What it pays: The median annual salary is $32,500.
5. Film/Video Editor for Broadcast/Television
What they do: Oversee, assemble and establish the final post-production shots of a televised project. Editors work under the director's requests to cut and develop the final collaboration of a televised product, which includes overseeing the quality and progress of audio and vision engineering, upgrading tape to higher quality resolution, and experimenting with the style of the edit.
What it pays: The median annual salary is $35,000.
6. Executive Producer
What they do: Work closely with the directors and other production staff, overseeing the televised project from conception to completion. Duties include aiding in directing, researching scripts and maintaining the budget for the project's creation, distribution and marketing.
What it pays: The median annual salary is $75,000.
7. Promotions Producer
What they do: Plan, write, produce and edit on-air information used for marketing, promotions, fund-raising and other activities. Duties may include aiding in planning promotional special events, checking production in correlation with industry regulations and/or other related tasks.
What it pays: The median annual salary is $40,000.
8. Director
What they do: Lead the show production and are responsible for guiding the actors and pointing the cameras in a way that translates the script according to his/her vision. Directors need to have an understanding of all of the technical work, as well as how to work with their actors to carry out the scenes.
What it pays: The median annual salary is $43,890.
9. Staff Writer
What they do: Create and develop dialogues, characters and situations for the television series.
What it pays: The salary ranges between $60,000 and $80,000 annually to start. The Writer's Guild of America sets minimum rates, and writers may earn royalties.
10. Casting Director
What they do: Break down the script by role, age and characteristics. After creating a list of potential actors, the casting director leads the auditions and negotiates their salary rates.
What it pays: The median annual salary is $52,162.
Source: AOl.com
About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Fred Harteis News Articles – Ground Zero human remains won't halt construction
Fred Harteis News Articles - Construction at the World Trade Center site will continue despite discovery nearby of apparent remains of 9/11 victims, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Monday.
After the remains were found Thursday and Sunday, angry family members of victims demanded that officials halt construction on the Freedom Tower and begin intensive searches.
Bloomberg said the site where construction is occurring has "been thoroughly gone through and excavated" and operations would not be shut down.
The Medical Examiner's office said 18 pieces of human remains were found Sunday; other human remains discovered last week in a manhole at a work site in lower Manhattan had led to the further searches.
"I think the reasons that these [remains] weren't discovered before was that these are not functioning manholes or service boxes," Bloomberg said. "They were abandoned a long time ago, and when they were covered I just assume people said, 'Oh, there's nothing in there,' and didn't go in. But you have to remember that this was a massive cleanup."
"It's tragic that a handful of places were apparently not cleaned or scrutinized as well as they should have been," Bloomberg said. "But remember, the fire department, who cares perhaps more than any group, did go through almost all these buildings."
Deputy Mayor Ed Skyler said most of the 12 subterranean locations being searched had not been entered since the attacks.
"They will go through every grain, every piece of material carefully and sift through it," he promised.”
To Read this complete Fred Harteis News Article visit our news partner at:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/10/23/attack.remains/index.html?eref=rss_topstories
Source: Cnn.com
About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.
Fred Harteis News Articles - Construction at the World Trade Center site will continue despite discovery nearby of apparent remains of 9/11 victims, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Monday.
After the remains were found Thursday and Sunday, angry family members of victims demanded that officials halt construction on the Freedom Tower and begin intensive searches.
Bloomberg said the site where construction is occurring has "been thoroughly gone through and excavated" and operations would not be shut down.
The Medical Examiner's office said 18 pieces of human remains were found Sunday; other human remains discovered last week in a manhole at a work site in lower Manhattan had led to the further searches.
"I think the reasons that these [remains] weren't discovered before was that these are not functioning manholes or service boxes," Bloomberg said. "They were abandoned a long time ago, and when they were covered I just assume people said, 'Oh, there's nothing in there,' and didn't go in. But you have to remember that this was a massive cleanup."
"It's tragic that a handful of places were apparently not cleaned or scrutinized as well as they should have been," Bloomberg said. "But remember, the fire department, who cares perhaps more than any group, did go through almost all these buildings."
Deputy Mayor Ed Skyler said most of the 12 subterranean locations being searched had not been entered since the attacks.
"They will go through every grain, every piece of material carefully and sift through it," he promised.”
To Read this complete Fred Harteis News Article visit our news partner at:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/10/23/attack.remains/index.html?eref=rss_topstories
Source: Cnn.com
About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Fred Harteis News Articles - Digging Out of Debt
Fred Harteis News Articles - THE SECRET to paying off credit-card debt is really very simple: All you need to do is earn more than you spend, and apply the savings toward paying down your debt.
So then what makes tackling credit-card debt so hard? Sadly, many seem to be losing the battle of the credit-card balance. Consider that 57% of all credit-card holders carry a balance, according to CardWeb, an industry tracker. And among families that have at least one credit card, the average balance is a staggering $9,313. Ten years ago it was $4,301.
"People are out of control," says Howard Strong, a consumer attorney and author of "What Every Credit-Card User Needs to Know." "They're out buying love at the malls." And they aren't succeeding. According to a recent survey of 1,500 consumers by Consolidated Credit Counseling Services, a whopping 71% said debt is making their home life unhappy.
Part of the problem is that the credit-card companies have made it easier than ever to carry a balance. "People are addicted to minimum-payment crack," says Steve Rhode, co-founder of Myvesta, a debt-counseling service. But many fiscally responsible people can also find themselves woefully in debt after some sort of personal crisis, such as a divorce, illness or the loss of a job.
So what are the warning signs that your credit-card debt has changed from nuisance to crisis? For starters, if you think that you might be having a problem, then you probably are, says Rhode. Generally speaking, your debt-to-income ratio (not including mortgage payments) shouldn't exceed 20%, which means that you shouldn't be devoting more than 20% of your net monthly income to paying off credit cards and other nonmortgage debt. Other signs of trouble, according to Gerri Detweiler, author of "Slash Your Debt," include:
· Only being able to make the minimum payments on your debt.
· Maxing out several or all of your credit cards.
· Frequently charging items with the intention of paying them off at the end of the month, but then finding that you're financially unable to do so.
· Using credit cards for everyday purchases like groceries.
· Using credit cards to pay for things you know you can't afford.
· Worrying that people close to you will find out just how deep in debt you really are.
If the creditors are calling or if your credit report is already suffering due to late payments or bills that you've been unable to pay at all, then you probably should consider visiting a credit counselor. But if your credit rating remains intact and you're feeling disciplined, you should be able to dig yourself out of this hole on your own. Here's some advice:
Get a Grip
The first thing you need to do is figure out just where you stand financially. This means knowing how much you owe (and how much you're paying for it) as well as how much you've saved. In other words, you need to know both your net worth and your cash flow. Ultimately, you're going to have to come up with the ever-dreaded budget, so you can know just how much you have to spend and how much you can use to pay down your debt each month. Based on your answers, our calculator will give you a reasonable estimate of when you can kiss that debt goodbye — and how much it will cost you before you do.
Source: Cnn.com
About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.
Fred Harteis News Articles - THE SECRET to paying off credit-card debt is really very simple: All you need to do is earn more than you spend, and apply the savings toward paying down your debt.
So then what makes tackling credit-card debt so hard? Sadly, many seem to be losing the battle of the credit-card balance. Consider that 57% of all credit-card holders carry a balance, according to CardWeb, an industry tracker. And among families that have at least one credit card, the average balance is a staggering $9,313. Ten years ago it was $4,301.
"People are out of control," says Howard Strong, a consumer attorney and author of "What Every Credit-Card User Needs to Know." "They're out buying love at the malls." And they aren't succeeding. According to a recent survey of 1,500 consumers by Consolidated Credit Counseling Services, a whopping 71% said debt is making their home life unhappy.
Part of the problem is that the credit-card companies have made it easier than ever to carry a balance. "People are addicted to minimum-payment crack," says Steve Rhode, co-founder of Myvesta, a debt-counseling service. But many fiscally responsible people can also find themselves woefully in debt after some sort of personal crisis, such as a divorce, illness or the loss of a job.
So what are the warning signs that your credit-card debt has changed from nuisance to crisis? For starters, if you think that you might be having a problem, then you probably are, says Rhode. Generally speaking, your debt-to-income ratio (not including mortgage payments) shouldn't exceed 20%, which means that you shouldn't be devoting more than 20% of your net monthly income to paying off credit cards and other nonmortgage debt. Other signs of trouble, according to Gerri Detweiler, author of "Slash Your Debt," include:
· Only being able to make the minimum payments on your debt.
· Maxing out several or all of your credit cards.
· Frequently charging items with the intention of paying them off at the end of the month, but then finding that you're financially unable to do so.
· Using credit cards for everyday purchases like groceries.
· Using credit cards to pay for things you know you can't afford.
· Worrying that people close to you will find out just how deep in debt you really are.
If the creditors are calling or if your credit report is already suffering due to late payments or bills that you've been unable to pay at all, then you probably should consider visiting a credit counselor. But if your credit rating remains intact and you're feeling disciplined, you should be able to dig yourself out of this hole on your own. Here's some advice:
Get a Grip
The first thing you need to do is figure out just where you stand financially. This means knowing how much you owe (and how much you're paying for it) as well as how much you've saved. In other words, you need to know both your net worth and your cash flow. Ultimately, you're going to have to come up with the ever-dreaded budget, so you can know just how much you have to spend and how much you can use to pay down your debt each month. Based on your answers, our calculator will give you a reasonable estimate of when you can kiss that debt goodbye — and how much it will cost you before you do.
Source: Cnn.com
About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Fred Harteis News Articles - U.S. to get 115 million flu vaccines this year, CDC says
Fred Harteis News Articles - Flu vaccine makers will provide 115 million doses to the U.S. market this year, by far the most ever, but vexing distribution problems mean it may still be difficult to get a shot, health officials said this week.
Doctors should start vaccinating patients as soon as they receive their vaccine orders, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
They should aim to get high-risk patients, such as the elderly, vaccinated first but there is no advisory calling for such patients to be first in line, as in past years.
"We recommend beginning vaccinating now, instead of waiting until later, when more vaccine arrives," Dr. Jeanne Santoli, deputy director of the CDC's Immunization Services Division, told reporters.
"More vaccine will be arriving throughout the season and we anticipate that there will be more vaccine available this season than ever before."
Santoli said 40 million doses had arrived at either distributors or doctors' offices from the manufacturers, and estimated that 75 million doses would arrive by the end of October. The flu season peaks in February or later in the United States, so there is plenty of time to be vaccinated, she said.
The United States has had continual battles over flu vaccine, with regular shortages due either to manufacturing troubles or distribution woes. Every flu season many people are forced to wait in lines for their vaccines or to seek them again and again.
Yet fewer than half of all Americans plan to get the vaccine -- including fewer than half of the 185 million people who are strongly advised to be immunized every year.
Last year, 81.2 million doses of vaccine were available and a few went unused.
Influenza kills an estimated 36,000 Americans, mostly elderly, in an average year and puts 200,000 into the hospital. Globally, flu kills 250,000 to 500,000 every year.
To read this complete Fred Harteis News Article visit our news partner at:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/10/19/flu.vaccine.reut/index.html?eref=rss_topstories
Source: Cnn.com
About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.
Fred Harteis News Articles - Flu vaccine makers will provide 115 million doses to the U.S. market this year, by far the most ever, but vexing distribution problems mean it may still be difficult to get a shot, health officials said this week.
Doctors should start vaccinating patients as soon as they receive their vaccine orders, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
They should aim to get high-risk patients, such as the elderly, vaccinated first but there is no advisory calling for such patients to be first in line, as in past years.
"We recommend beginning vaccinating now, instead of waiting until later, when more vaccine arrives," Dr. Jeanne Santoli, deputy director of the CDC's Immunization Services Division, told reporters.
"More vaccine will be arriving throughout the season and we anticipate that there will be more vaccine available this season than ever before."
Santoli said 40 million doses had arrived at either distributors or doctors' offices from the manufacturers, and estimated that 75 million doses would arrive by the end of October. The flu season peaks in February or later in the United States, so there is plenty of time to be vaccinated, she said.
The United States has had continual battles over flu vaccine, with regular shortages due either to manufacturing troubles or distribution woes. Every flu season many people are forced to wait in lines for their vaccines or to seek them again and again.
Yet fewer than half of all Americans plan to get the vaccine -- including fewer than half of the 185 million people who are strongly advised to be immunized every year.
Last year, 81.2 million doses of vaccine were available and a few went unused.
Influenza kills an estimated 36,000 Americans, mostly elderly, in an average year and puts 200,000 into the hospital. Globally, flu kills 250,000 to 500,000 every year.
To read this complete Fred Harteis News Article visit our news partner at:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/10/19/flu.vaccine.reut/index.html?eref=rss_topstories
Source: Cnn.com
About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Fred Harteis News Articles - 4 renovations that kill a home's value
Fred Harteis News Articles - Read a home decorating magazine or watch a cable-TV home improvement show, and you might easily conclude that any upgrade will pay off when you sell.
Not so. Even in good times, not all projects have widespread appeal. You'll earn back virtually your entire investment in a kitchen or deck, but less than 75 cents on the dollar if you add a home office or sunroom, according to "Remodeling" magazine's annual cost vs. value survey.
What's worse, some renovations can even hurt you in the eyes of home buyers, a costly problem if you hope to sell in a softening market like today's.
The Swimming Pool
In some areas, especially hot-weather spots like Arizona and Florida, a pool is a must-have. In the Southwest, adding one boosts your home's value by 11 percent on average, according to a National Association of Realtors study. But elsewhere it can just as easily turn off buyers, who worry about affording the upkeep and insurance. And if the most likely buyer of your home is a family with small children, think long and hard before installing a pool.
The Addition
You've thought about how that great room and master bedroom wing will let the family spread out. But what you probably haven't considered is what the space will look like from the outside.
"A badly designed addition can kill your resale value," says Sal Alfano, the editorial director of Remodeling. "People focus on the floor plan and the flow, but not on how it fits into the neighborhood or even the house itself." Watch out for boxy, poorly detailed additions. Proportions matter.
Trendy Finishes
Be careful of a style that will look dated when you throw your open house. Spotting the trend that's on its way out is trickier than you think. While it is easy to assume that sleek red European kitchen cabinetry is tomorrow's harvest gold fridge, other design staples that seem like sure bets can quickly drift into obscurity too.
That's what Mark Johnson, a Whirlpool design manager, says is happening to stainless-steel appliances. "For a period of time, people aspired to a commercial kitchen," he says. "What I am seeing is more interest in warmer finishes."
You want a design trend with legs. Johnson says custom panels that dress appliances in maple or mahogany finishes are likely to remain popular for several years.
The Jacuzzi
The elaborate master bath is okay, but the big circular tub with 15 jets that can pulse or massage is risky. According to Holly Slaughter, brand manager at RealEstate.com, you're better off with an oversize shower that has a rain showerhead and multiple jets (think of it as a car wash for humans).
Busy boomers have little time to spend hanging out in the bathtub, and parents with small kids prefer a conventional tub. Ultimately, don't expect a future buyer to pay up for the luxury you considered an essential.
Source: Cnn.com
About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.
Fred Harteis News Articles - Read a home decorating magazine or watch a cable-TV home improvement show, and you might easily conclude that any upgrade will pay off when you sell.
Not so. Even in good times, not all projects have widespread appeal. You'll earn back virtually your entire investment in a kitchen or deck, but less than 75 cents on the dollar if you add a home office or sunroom, according to "Remodeling" magazine's annual cost vs. value survey.
What's worse, some renovations can even hurt you in the eyes of home buyers, a costly problem if you hope to sell in a softening market like today's.
The Swimming Pool
In some areas, especially hot-weather spots like Arizona and Florida, a pool is a must-have. In the Southwest, adding one boosts your home's value by 11 percent on average, according to a National Association of Realtors study. But elsewhere it can just as easily turn off buyers, who worry about affording the upkeep and insurance. And if the most likely buyer of your home is a family with small children, think long and hard before installing a pool.
The Addition
You've thought about how that great room and master bedroom wing will let the family spread out. But what you probably haven't considered is what the space will look like from the outside.
"A badly designed addition can kill your resale value," says Sal Alfano, the editorial director of Remodeling. "People focus on the floor plan and the flow, but not on how it fits into the neighborhood or even the house itself." Watch out for boxy, poorly detailed additions. Proportions matter.
Trendy Finishes
Be careful of a style that will look dated when you throw your open house. Spotting the trend that's on its way out is trickier than you think. While it is easy to assume that sleek red European kitchen cabinetry is tomorrow's harvest gold fridge, other design staples that seem like sure bets can quickly drift into obscurity too.
That's what Mark Johnson, a Whirlpool design manager, says is happening to stainless-steel appliances. "For a period of time, people aspired to a commercial kitchen," he says. "What I am seeing is more interest in warmer finishes."
You want a design trend with legs. Johnson says custom panels that dress appliances in maple or mahogany finishes are likely to remain popular for several years.
The Jacuzzi
The elaborate master bath is okay, but the big circular tub with 15 jets that can pulse or massage is risky. According to Holly Slaughter, brand manager at RealEstate.com, you're better off with an oversize shower that has a rain showerhead and multiple jets (think of it as a car wash for humans).
Busy boomers have little time to spend hanging out in the bathtub, and parents with small kids prefer a conventional tub. Ultimately, don't expect a future buyer to pay up for the luxury you considered an essential.
Source: Cnn.com
About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Fred Harteis News Articles - U.N. slaps trade, travel sanctions on North Korea
Fred Harteis News Articles - The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Saturday to slap North Korea with trade, travel and other sanctions as punishment for its claimed nuclear weapons test.
U.S. President George W. Bush described the U.N. action as a "swift and tough" message that the world is "united in our determination to see to it that the Korean Peninsula is nuclear-weapons free."
He said North Korea has an opportunity for "a better way forward" and promised help to the impoverished country if it verifiably ends its nuclear weapons program. North Korean ambassador to the United Nations Pak Gil Yon said Pyongyang "totally rejects the unjustifiable resolution."
"If the United States increases pressure upon [North Korea] persistently, [it] will continue to take physical countermeasures considering it as a declaration of war," Pak, said.
After Pak spoke, he walked out of the chamber. That prompted John Bolton, the U.S. ambassador, to point to Pak's empty chair and denounce him.
Bolton said the 15-0 vote sent a "clear and strong message" to North Korea, whose claimed nuclear test on Monday poses "one of the gravest threats to peace and security" the council has ever confronted.
The resolution calls on Pyongyang to end all nuclear weapons programs, Bolton said. It forbids U.N. member nations from North Korean trade involving nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction.
North Korean government officials known to be involved in WMD efforts are banned from traveling to member states. It also includes a North Korean ban on "luxury goods." (Resolution text)
The ban appeared to be directed at North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, who has a long, documented record of living a life of luxury while his people battled against a national famine. On Friday Bolton said, "The North Korean population's been losing average height and weight over the years, and maybe this will be a little diet for Kim Jong Il."
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Sunday his country was considering additional measures against North Korea.
To read this complete Fred Harteis News Article visit our news partner at:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/10/15/nkorea.sanctions/index.html?section=cnn_topstories
Source: Cnn.com
About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.
Fred Harteis News Articles - The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Saturday to slap North Korea with trade, travel and other sanctions as punishment for its claimed nuclear weapons test.
U.S. President George W. Bush described the U.N. action as a "swift and tough" message that the world is "united in our determination to see to it that the Korean Peninsula is nuclear-weapons free."
He said North Korea has an opportunity for "a better way forward" and promised help to the impoverished country if it verifiably ends its nuclear weapons program. North Korean ambassador to the United Nations Pak Gil Yon said Pyongyang "totally rejects the unjustifiable resolution."
"If the United States increases pressure upon [North Korea] persistently, [it] will continue to take physical countermeasures considering it as a declaration of war," Pak, said.
After Pak spoke, he walked out of the chamber. That prompted John Bolton, the U.S. ambassador, to point to Pak's empty chair and denounce him.
Bolton said the 15-0 vote sent a "clear and strong message" to North Korea, whose claimed nuclear test on Monday poses "one of the gravest threats to peace and security" the council has ever confronted.
The resolution calls on Pyongyang to end all nuclear weapons programs, Bolton said. It forbids U.N. member nations from North Korean trade involving nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction.
North Korean government officials known to be involved in WMD efforts are banned from traveling to member states. It also includes a North Korean ban on "luxury goods." (Resolution text)
The ban appeared to be directed at North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, who has a long, documented record of living a life of luxury while his people battled against a national famine. On Friday Bolton said, "The North Korean population's been losing average height and weight over the years, and maybe this will be a little diet for Kim Jong Il."
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Sunday his country was considering additional measures against North Korea.
To read this complete Fred Harteis News Article visit our news partner at:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/10/15/nkorea.sanctions/index.html?section=cnn_topstories
Source: Cnn.com
About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.
Friday, October 13, 2006
Fred Harteis News Articles - New Study: Taller People Are Smarter
Fred Harteis News Article - While researchers have long shown that tall people earn more than their shorter counterparts, it's not only social discrimination that accounts for this inequality -- tall people are just smarter than their height-challenged peers, a new study finds.
"As early as age three -- before schooling has had a chance to play a role -- and throughout childhood, taller children perform significantly better on cognitive tests," wrote Anne Case and Christina Paxson of Princeton University in a paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research.
The findings were based primarily on two studies that followed children born in 1958 and 1970, respectively, through adulthood.
Other studies have pointed to low self-esteem, better health that accompanies greater height, and social discrimination as culprits for lower pay for shorter people.
But researchers Case and Paxson believe the height advantage in the job world is more than just a question of image.
"As adults, taller individuals are more likely to select into higher paying occupations that require more advanced verbal and numerical skills and greater intelligence, for which they earn handsome returns," they wrote. For both men and women a height advantage of four inches equated with a 10 percent increase in wages on average.
But the researchers said the differences in performance crop up long before the tall people enter the job force. Prenatal care and the time between birth and the age of 3 are critical periods for determining future cognitive ability and height.
"The speed of growth is more rapid during this period than at any other during the life course, and nutritional needs are greatest at this point," the researchers wrote.
The research confirms previous studies that show that early nutrition is an important predictor of intelligence and height.
"Prenatal care and prenatal nutrition are just incredibly important, even more so than we already knew," Case said in an interview.
Source: AOl.com
About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.
Fred Harteis News Article - While researchers have long shown that tall people earn more than their shorter counterparts, it's not only social discrimination that accounts for this inequality -- tall people are just smarter than their height-challenged peers, a new study finds.
"As early as age three -- before schooling has had a chance to play a role -- and throughout childhood, taller children perform significantly better on cognitive tests," wrote Anne Case and Christina Paxson of Princeton University in a paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research.
The findings were based primarily on two studies that followed children born in 1958 and 1970, respectively, through adulthood.
Other studies have pointed to low self-esteem, better health that accompanies greater height, and social discrimination as culprits for lower pay for shorter people.
But researchers Case and Paxson believe the height advantage in the job world is more than just a question of image.
"As adults, taller individuals are more likely to select into higher paying occupations that require more advanced verbal and numerical skills and greater intelligence, for which they earn handsome returns," they wrote. For both men and women a height advantage of four inches equated with a 10 percent increase in wages on average.
But the researchers said the differences in performance crop up long before the tall people enter the job force. Prenatal care and the time between birth and the age of 3 are critical periods for determining future cognitive ability and height.
"The speed of growth is more rapid during this period than at any other during the life course, and nutritional needs are greatest at this point," the researchers wrote.
The research confirms previous studies that show that early nutrition is an important predictor of intelligence and height.
"Prenatal care and prenatal nutrition are just incredibly important, even more so than we already knew," Case said in an interview.
Source: AOl.com
About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Fred Harteis News Articles - $1 million for arrest of American al Qaeda charged with treason
Fred Harteis News Articles - An American al Qaeda propagandist was indicted Wednesday on treason charges, the first person charged with the offense during the United States' war on terrorism, officials said.
Adam Yahiye Gadahn, who has appeared in five al Qaeda videos, is also charged with offering material support for terrorism, U.S. Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty said.
He has been put on the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists list, and the State Department is offering a $1 million reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction.
The 28-year-old California native is the first American to face the charge since the World War II era, McNulty said.
"A charge of treason is exceptionally severe, and it is not one we bring lightly," McNulty said at a news conference in Washington. "But this is the right case for this charge."
If apprehended and convicted, Gadahn could face the death penalty.
Nicknamed "Azzam the American," Gadahn is not in U.S. custody and is believed to be living in Pakistan, McNulty said.
McNulty said he believes that Gadahn has been involved in issuing propaganda but not in carrying out any terrorist attacks.
Gadahn has appeared in several al Qaeda messages speaking English and appealing to Americans.
In his latest video appearance, Gadahn called for the world to convert to Islam and praised the hijackers who carried out the September 11, 2001, attacks as "dedicated, strong-willed, highly motivated individuals with a burning concern for Islam and Muslims."
That video, issued days before the fifth anniversary of 9/11, featured both Gadahn and Osama bin Laden's second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahiri.
In a September 2005 video, Gadahn referred to the 9/11 attacks as "the blessed raids on New York and Washington." According to the indictment, Gadahn, referring to prior attacks in Europe, said, "Yesterday, London and Madrid. Tomorrow, Los Angeles and Melbourne, Allah willing. And this time, don't count on us demonstrating restraint or compassion."
To read this complete Fred Harteis News Article visit our news partner at:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/10/11/gadahn/index.html?section=cnn_topstories
Source: Cnn.com
About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harties has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.
Fred Harteis News Articles - An American al Qaeda propagandist was indicted Wednesday on treason charges, the first person charged with the offense during the United States' war on terrorism, officials said.
Adam Yahiye Gadahn, who has appeared in five al Qaeda videos, is also charged with offering material support for terrorism, U.S. Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty said.
He has been put on the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists list, and the State Department is offering a $1 million reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction.
The 28-year-old California native is the first American to face the charge since the World War II era, McNulty said.
"A charge of treason is exceptionally severe, and it is not one we bring lightly," McNulty said at a news conference in Washington. "But this is the right case for this charge."
If apprehended and convicted, Gadahn could face the death penalty.
Nicknamed "Azzam the American," Gadahn is not in U.S. custody and is believed to be living in Pakistan, McNulty said.
McNulty said he believes that Gadahn has been involved in issuing propaganda but not in carrying out any terrorist attacks.
Gadahn has appeared in several al Qaeda messages speaking English and appealing to Americans.
In his latest video appearance, Gadahn called for the world to convert to Islam and praised the hijackers who carried out the September 11, 2001, attacks as "dedicated, strong-willed, highly motivated individuals with a burning concern for Islam and Muslims."
That video, issued days before the fifth anniversary of 9/11, featured both Gadahn and Osama bin Laden's second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahiri.
In a September 2005 video, Gadahn referred to the 9/11 attacks as "the blessed raids on New York and Washington." According to the indictment, Gadahn, referring to prior attacks in Europe, said, "Yesterday, London and Madrid. Tomorrow, Los Angeles and Melbourne, Allah willing. And this time, don't count on us demonstrating restraint or compassion."
To read this complete Fred Harteis News Article visit our news partner at:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/10/11/gadahn/index.html?section=cnn_topstories
Source: Cnn.com
About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harties has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.
Monday, October 09, 2006
Fred Harteis News Articles - Top 10 Editors' Tips to Prevent a Car Accident
Fred Harteis News Articles - As automotive journalists, we at Edmunds.com tend to be a little more practiced on the road than the average driver. Not only is driving cars our job but we're required to go to high-performance driving school every year "for insurance purposes." So take it from us when we say we know a thing or two about how to avoid a car accident. We're not talking about obvious tips your mom told you, like, "Look both ways before you enter an intersection" or "Don't tailgate." Rather, tips we've picked up in the field, interacting with L.A. drivers in particular, driving cross-country, and testing cars on the track.
1. Avoid the "fast lane." By using the center or right lane on multilane roads, you have more "escape routes" should a problem suddenly arise that requires you to quickly change lanes or pull onto the shoulder. Most highway accidents occur in the left lane. Furthermore, you are more conspicuous to highway patrol if you are in the "fast lane."
2. Keep your eyes scanning the area ahead. Don't just eyeball the car in front of you but watch the traffic in front of that car as well. This increases your chance of seeing a problem while still having enough time to react to it, and decreases your chance of rear-ending the vehicle in front of you should they make a sudden stop.
3. Beware of blind spots. Yes, adjust your side mirrors and rearview mirror to provide you with one near seamless panoramic scene of the view behind you, but don't rely solely on them. Actually turn to look directly into the lanes beside you to avoid missing something left undetected by your mirrors. Also consider the blind spots for other drivers around you, especially truckers, and try to minimize the amount of time you spend in them.
4. Drive with your hands in the 9 and 3 o'clock position. Instead of the lazy, typical way people drive with one hand at 12 o'clock or both hands resting at the bottom of the steering wheel, this recommended position facilitates maximum vehicle control when you're forced into quick maneuvering to avoid a potential car accident.
5. Get racecar driver control of the wheel. Another trick to maintain control of the wheel is to move your seat close enough to the steering wheel so that your wrist can rest on the top of the wheel with your arm outstretched and your back against the seat. This not only ensures your arms won't easily fatigue but they'll be in the optimum position for some last-minute evasive maneuvers.
6. Judge a driver by his/her car's condition. If a car's condition indicates an inattentive owner because of body damage or dirty windows, it could easily suggest an inattentive driver, too. Also, drifting in the lane often identifies a tired, drunk or cell phone-preoccupied driver — so you should get away from that person.
7. Know your car's limits. After getting behind the wheel of everything from minivans to exotic sport cars, our editors know the performance limits of the cars they drive. Pay attention to how your particular vehicle reacts in certain situations — if the vehicle leans a lot when you're rounding corners, this means that wrenching the wheel at high speeds to avoid an accident will be a scary proposition. It's also key to be familiar with the limits of your car's brakes and tires. How long does it take to stop when you apply maximum pressure? How much grip do your tires have? If you replaced your car's stock tires with a cheap set, chances are you've reduced its braking and handling capability.
8. Keep your car in good shape. At Edmunds, we stick to the manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedule for our long-term cars. This ensures that they'll accelerate, stop and steer when we need them to. Reconsider the wisdom of "getting another 1,000 miles out of old tires" — if you encounter an unexpectedly slick road, you may find yourself rubbing up against the guard rail.
9. The nighttime is not the right time. Some people like to travel at night to avoid traffic, but with it comes certain hazards. In addition to your own increased fatigue and decreased field of vision, you need to be aware of joyriding teens and drivers who may be tired or drunk. Drive extra defensively around the witching hour, after midnight when some people are leaving bars, parties or sports arenas. And for goodness' sake, don't drive down a dark road with burned-out headlights or taillights.
10. Learn how to drive a racecar. It may sound like a frivolous expense, but going to a high-performance driving school is one of the best ways to improve your skill as a driver. Here you'll learn what it feels like to drive a car "at the limits" and have an opportunity to practice accident avoidance maneuvers and skid recovery in a safe, controlled environment. Understanding how to make your car do what you want it to do in emergency situations could save your life.
None of these are surefire ways to prevent a car accident. You can only control what you do behind the wheel, not what your fellow drivers do. But take responsibility when you drive and focus on the task at hand. It's not a time to return phone calls or shave or log onto your e-mail. Take it from our editors: Driving isn't a mindless activity, it's an exercise in self-restraint, self-defense and self-preservation.
Source: Edmunds.com
About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.
Fred Harteis News Articles - As automotive journalists, we at Edmunds.com tend to be a little more practiced on the road than the average driver. Not only is driving cars our job but we're required to go to high-performance driving school every year "for insurance purposes." So take it from us when we say we know a thing or two about how to avoid a car accident. We're not talking about obvious tips your mom told you, like, "Look both ways before you enter an intersection" or "Don't tailgate." Rather, tips we've picked up in the field, interacting with L.A. drivers in particular, driving cross-country, and testing cars on the track.
1. Avoid the "fast lane." By using the center or right lane on multilane roads, you have more "escape routes" should a problem suddenly arise that requires you to quickly change lanes or pull onto the shoulder. Most highway accidents occur in the left lane. Furthermore, you are more conspicuous to highway patrol if you are in the "fast lane."
2. Keep your eyes scanning the area ahead. Don't just eyeball the car in front of you but watch the traffic in front of that car as well. This increases your chance of seeing a problem while still having enough time to react to it, and decreases your chance of rear-ending the vehicle in front of you should they make a sudden stop.
3. Beware of blind spots. Yes, adjust your side mirrors and rearview mirror to provide you with one near seamless panoramic scene of the view behind you, but don't rely solely on them. Actually turn to look directly into the lanes beside you to avoid missing something left undetected by your mirrors. Also consider the blind spots for other drivers around you, especially truckers, and try to minimize the amount of time you spend in them.
4. Drive with your hands in the 9 and 3 o'clock position. Instead of the lazy, typical way people drive with one hand at 12 o'clock or both hands resting at the bottom of the steering wheel, this recommended position facilitates maximum vehicle control when you're forced into quick maneuvering to avoid a potential car accident.
5. Get racecar driver control of the wheel. Another trick to maintain control of the wheel is to move your seat close enough to the steering wheel so that your wrist can rest on the top of the wheel with your arm outstretched and your back against the seat. This not only ensures your arms won't easily fatigue but they'll be in the optimum position for some last-minute evasive maneuvers.
6. Judge a driver by his/her car's condition. If a car's condition indicates an inattentive owner because of body damage or dirty windows, it could easily suggest an inattentive driver, too. Also, drifting in the lane often identifies a tired, drunk or cell phone-preoccupied driver — so you should get away from that person.
7. Know your car's limits. After getting behind the wheel of everything from minivans to exotic sport cars, our editors know the performance limits of the cars they drive. Pay attention to how your particular vehicle reacts in certain situations — if the vehicle leans a lot when you're rounding corners, this means that wrenching the wheel at high speeds to avoid an accident will be a scary proposition. It's also key to be familiar with the limits of your car's brakes and tires. How long does it take to stop when you apply maximum pressure? How much grip do your tires have? If you replaced your car's stock tires with a cheap set, chances are you've reduced its braking and handling capability.
8. Keep your car in good shape. At Edmunds, we stick to the manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedule for our long-term cars. This ensures that they'll accelerate, stop and steer when we need them to. Reconsider the wisdom of "getting another 1,000 miles out of old tires" — if you encounter an unexpectedly slick road, you may find yourself rubbing up against the guard rail.
9. The nighttime is not the right time. Some people like to travel at night to avoid traffic, but with it comes certain hazards. In addition to your own increased fatigue and decreased field of vision, you need to be aware of joyriding teens and drivers who may be tired or drunk. Drive extra defensively around the witching hour, after midnight when some people are leaving bars, parties or sports arenas. And for goodness' sake, don't drive down a dark road with burned-out headlights or taillights.
10. Learn how to drive a racecar. It may sound like a frivolous expense, but going to a high-performance driving school is one of the best ways to improve your skill as a driver. Here you'll learn what it feels like to drive a car "at the limits" and have an opportunity to practice accident avoidance maneuvers and skid recovery in a safe, controlled environment. Understanding how to make your car do what you want it to do in emergency situations could save your life.
None of these are surefire ways to prevent a car accident. You can only control what you do behind the wheel, not what your fellow drivers do. But take responsibility when you drive and focus on the task at hand. It's not a time to return phone calls or shave or log onto your e-mail. Take it from our editors: Driving isn't a mindless activity, it's an exercise in self-restraint, self-defense and self-preservation.
Source: Edmunds.com
About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Fred Harteis News Articles - North Carolina chemical plant fire evacuees going home
Fred Harteis News Articles - Most residents who left their homes to escape the fumes from a fire at a hazardous materials plant began returning Saturday, two nights after officials urged 17,000 people to evacuate.
The blaze at Environmental Quality Industrial Services died down just after midnight, Apex Fire Chief Mark Haraway said. About 90 percent of the evacuees were allowed to return at 9 a.m.
"We've been given every assurance that it's safe for our citizens to go back home," Mayor Keith Weatherly said.
Those who live in the area immediately surrounding what's left of EQ Industrial Services had to wait for the environmental testing results, expected later Saturday.
Firefighters used heavy machinery to pull away the twisted metal that had been guarding the heart of the smoldering fire, fed by industrial wastes including paints, solvents, pesticides and weed killer.
The fire released a plume of thick black smoke and a yellow cloud of gas after it started late Thursday with a series of thundering explosions that lit up the night sky.
Firefighters mostly let the fire burn until it ran out of fuel.
"It's the best thing for the environment and the best thing for the community," Haraway said.
Worried officials had closed downtown Apex, canceled school on Friday and urged more than 17,000 people to leave their homes, but it wasn't known how many complied.
To read this complete Fred Harteis News article visit our news partner at:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/10/07/plant.fire.ap/index.html?section=cnn_topstories
Source: Cnn.com
About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.
Fred Harteis News Articles - Most residents who left their homes to escape the fumes from a fire at a hazardous materials plant began returning Saturday, two nights after officials urged 17,000 people to evacuate.
The blaze at Environmental Quality Industrial Services died down just after midnight, Apex Fire Chief Mark Haraway said. About 90 percent of the evacuees were allowed to return at 9 a.m.
"We've been given every assurance that it's safe for our citizens to go back home," Mayor Keith Weatherly said.
Those who live in the area immediately surrounding what's left of EQ Industrial Services had to wait for the environmental testing results, expected later Saturday.
Firefighters used heavy machinery to pull away the twisted metal that had been guarding the heart of the smoldering fire, fed by industrial wastes including paints, solvents, pesticides and weed killer.
The fire released a plume of thick black smoke and a yellow cloud of gas after it started late Thursday with a series of thundering explosions that lit up the night sky.
Firefighters mostly let the fire burn until it ran out of fuel.
"It's the best thing for the environment and the best thing for the community," Haraway said.
Worried officials had closed downtown Apex, canceled school on Friday and urged more than 17,000 people to leave their homes, but it wasn't known how many complied.
To read this complete Fred Harteis News article visit our news partner at:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/10/07/plant.fire.ap/index.html?section=cnn_topstories
Source: Cnn.com
About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Fred Harteis News Articles - Pushed to the Edge at Work?
Fred Harteis News Articles - Think it takes a crisis to throw you off your game? Research shows that life's everyday hassles, frustrations and disappointments exact an even higher toll on your energy and concentration levels.
According to Robert K. Cooper, author of 'High Energy Living,' how you handle the little things can mean the difference between feeling energized or exhausted. "Chemical and hormonal changes in your brain and body can tighten muscles and unleash negative emotions so quickly that your thinking becomes clouded, your mood turns negative, and tension or tiredness sets in," Cooper says.
Because the effects of these changes are harder to reverse once they've occurred, neuroscientists say it is far better to nip tensions in the bud.
Cooper's strategy for defusing stress and creating positive energy is called the Instant Calming Sequence (ICS). Based on years of research, it involves five steps:
Step One -- Keep Breathing: When stress levels rise, most people unknowingly stop breathing for several seconds or more. This propels feelings of anxiety, anger and frustration, causing you to lose perspective and overreact.
Step Two -- Lighten Your Eyes: A relaxed and positive (or at least neutral) facial expression increases blood flow to your brain and transmits nerve impulses to your limbic system, a key emotional center of your brain that guides your core perceptions of life and your immediate reactions to it.
Step Three -- Release Tension: Many people react to sudden rises in everyday pressure with a posture known as somatic retraction -- chest collapsed, shoulders rolled forward and down; abdomen, back and neck tensed. This restricts your breathing (making step one impossible). And it reduces blood flow by as much as 30 percent, depriving your brain of oxygen, which results in muscle tension, slowed reaction time and feelings of panic and helplessness.
Step Four -- Notice Uniqueness: The brain has a lightning-fast tendency to categorize situations and put problems into neat boxes. But packaged solutions are rarely the best answer. Take a moment to identify the unique features of each challenge.
Step Five -- Call Upon Your Best Self: What you do with your mind and heart in the initial moment of a challenge often determines the outcome. Far too many of us get caught up in bemoaning every challenge we face "Not another problem!" "Why does this always happen to me?" "Well that blows my day!"
By wishing the situation weren't happening or complaining about life's unfairness, you set off a biochemical avalanche that makes you overload with anxiety and lose control.
You must first acknowledge reality. Tell yourself: "What's happening is real, and I'm finding the best possible solution right now."
Then, calmly ask yourself, "What is the real problem I'm trying to solve? What can I learn from this situation? How does this fit into the greater picture of my priorities or vision? If I get angry or impatient, what will the consequences be in the long term?"
One mishandled incident can ruin your entire day -- or week. Practicing these steps may be the best investment you can make in boosting your energy, health and personal success.
Source: Careerbuilders.com
About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.
Fred Harteis News Articles - Think it takes a crisis to throw you off your game? Research shows that life's everyday hassles, frustrations and disappointments exact an even higher toll on your energy and concentration levels.
According to Robert K. Cooper, author of 'High Energy Living,' how you handle the little things can mean the difference between feeling energized or exhausted. "Chemical and hormonal changes in your brain and body can tighten muscles and unleash negative emotions so quickly that your thinking becomes clouded, your mood turns negative, and tension or tiredness sets in," Cooper says.
Because the effects of these changes are harder to reverse once they've occurred, neuroscientists say it is far better to nip tensions in the bud.
Cooper's strategy for defusing stress and creating positive energy is called the Instant Calming Sequence (ICS). Based on years of research, it involves five steps:
Step One -- Keep Breathing: When stress levels rise, most people unknowingly stop breathing for several seconds or more. This propels feelings of anxiety, anger and frustration, causing you to lose perspective and overreact.
Step Two -- Lighten Your Eyes: A relaxed and positive (or at least neutral) facial expression increases blood flow to your brain and transmits nerve impulses to your limbic system, a key emotional center of your brain that guides your core perceptions of life and your immediate reactions to it.
Step Three -- Release Tension: Many people react to sudden rises in everyday pressure with a posture known as somatic retraction -- chest collapsed, shoulders rolled forward and down; abdomen, back and neck tensed. This restricts your breathing (making step one impossible). And it reduces blood flow by as much as 30 percent, depriving your brain of oxygen, which results in muscle tension, slowed reaction time and feelings of panic and helplessness.
Step Four -- Notice Uniqueness: The brain has a lightning-fast tendency to categorize situations and put problems into neat boxes. But packaged solutions are rarely the best answer. Take a moment to identify the unique features of each challenge.
Step Five -- Call Upon Your Best Self: What you do with your mind and heart in the initial moment of a challenge often determines the outcome. Far too many of us get caught up in bemoaning every challenge we face "Not another problem!" "Why does this always happen to me?" "Well that blows my day!"
By wishing the situation weren't happening or complaining about life's unfairness, you set off a biochemical avalanche that makes you overload with anxiety and lose control.
You must first acknowledge reality. Tell yourself: "What's happening is real, and I'm finding the best possible solution right now."
Then, calmly ask yourself, "What is the real problem I'm trying to solve? What can I learn from this situation? How does this fit into the greater picture of my priorities or vision? If I get angry or impatient, what will the consequences be in the long term?"
One mishandled incident can ruin your entire day -- or week. Practicing these steps may be the best investment you can make in boosting your energy, health and personal success.
Source: Careerbuilders.com
About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Fred Harteis News Articles - Police: School killer told wife he molested family members
Fred Harteis News Articles - Pennsylvania schoolhouse killer Charles Carl Roberts IV told his wife he molested young relatives 20 years ago and was dreaming about molesting children again, police said Tuesday.
Investigators talked to relatives and analyzed suicide notes as they tried to determine what made Roberts barricade himself inside the tiny Amish school, tying up girls and shooting them -- five fatally -- before killing himself Monday.
Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Jeffrey Miller said Roberts may have targeted the school for its girl students and -- given various items found in the school -- intended to molest the children. Roberts brought KY Jelly lubricant to the schoolhouse where the assault occurred, but there is no evidence that the victims were sexually assaulted in any way, Miller said.
"It's very possible that he intended to victimize these children in many ways prior to executing them and killing himself," Miller said.
Police found a checklist in Roberts' truck that "matches the evidence found and recovered in the school," Miller said.
The list included tape, eyebolts, a hose, bullets, guns, binoculars, earplugs, flashlights, wood and candles; many of the items were checked off.
A 2-by-4 board of wood found in the school had 10 large eyebolts that were spaced about 10 inches apart, Miller said.
"It's important to note that we had 10 victims at that time that were in the school," he said.
Roberts "became disorganized" when police arrived at the schoolhouse and "shot himself in the head as [police] were coming in through the window," Miller said.
Roberts also wrote in suicide notes that he was mad at God for how his baby, Elise, died just 20 minutes after being born prematurely nine years ago, Miller said.
Many of the details police revealed Tuesday came from interviews with Roberts' wife, Marie Roberts. She told investigators that she spoke with her husband by cell phone Monday and he said, "'I am not coming home. The police are here,'" Miller said.
In a note left for his wife, Roberts mentioned an incident 20 years ago, but it wasn't until he spoke on the phone with her that he revealed he had molested two female relatives who were between the ages of 3 and 5 at the time, Miller said.
To read this complete Fred Harteis News Article visit our news partner at:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/10/03/amish.shooting/index.html?section=cnn_topstories
Source: Cnn.com
About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.
Fred Harteis News Articles - Pennsylvania schoolhouse killer Charles Carl Roberts IV told his wife he molested young relatives 20 years ago and was dreaming about molesting children again, police said Tuesday.
Investigators talked to relatives and analyzed suicide notes as they tried to determine what made Roberts barricade himself inside the tiny Amish school, tying up girls and shooting them -- five fatally -- before killing himself Monday.
Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Jeffrey Miller said Roberts may have targeted the school for its girl students and -- given various items found in the school -- intended to molest the children. Roberts brought KY Jelly lubricant to the schoolhouse where the assault occurred, but there is no evidence that the victims were sexually assaulted in any way, Miller said.
"It's very possible that he intended to victimize these children in many ways prior to executing them and killing himself," Miller said.
Police found a checklist in Roberts' truck that "matches the evidence found and recovered in the school," Miller said.
The list included tape, eyebolts, a hose, bullets, guns, binoculars, earplugs, flashlights, wood and candles; many of the items were checked off.
A 2-by-4 board of wood found in the school had 10 large eyebolts that were spaced about 10 inches apart, Miller said.
"It's important to note that we had 10 victims at that time that were in the school," he said.
Roberts "became disorganized" when police arrived at the schoolhouse and "shot himself in the head as [police] were coming in through the window," Miller said.
Roberts also wrote in suicide notes that he was mad at God for how his baby, Elise, died just 20 minutes after being born prematurely nine years ago, Miller said.
Many of the details police revealed Tuesday came from interviews with Roberts' wife, Marie Roberts. She told investigators that she spoke with her husband by cell phone Monday and he said, "'I am not coming home. The police are here,'" Miller said.
In a note left for his wife, Roberts mentioned an incident 20 years ago, but it wasn't until he spoke on the phone with her that he revealed he had molested two female relatives who were between the ages of 3 and 5 at the time, Miller said.
To read this complete Fred Harteis News Article visit our news partner at:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/10/03/amish.shooting/index.html?section=cnn_topstories
Source: Cnn.com
About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Fred Harteis News Article - Fatal mistakes when starting a new job
Fred Harteis News Articles - Congratulations on landing that new job! Now, listen to some scary statistics: About one-quarter of all new hires won't make it through their first year, according to research from the Employment Policy Foundation. And that may be a conservative estimate: Almost half - 46% - of rookies wash out in the first 18 months, found Leadership IQ, a training firm that studied 20,000 newly hired employees over three years.
These dire numbers don't just apply to the lowly rank and file. In fact, other studies suggest that the higher up in an organization you climb, the more likely you are to fail. Indeed, 53% of managers and executives brought on board from outside are gone within a year, according HR consultants Development Dimensions International.
Obviously, when you start a new job, you want to impress your co-workers and bosses so you'll thrive. Milo Sindell and Thuy Sindell, Ph.D., a husband-and-wife team of consultants for clients like Charles Schwab, Cisco Systems, Wells Fargo, and Yahoo!, have written a book called Sink or Swim that just might help. They've also got a web site, www.hitthegroundrunning.com, that offers in-depth interactive training for newbies.
"In our consulting work, we saw a real need for a blueprint that would give new hires a manual for success," says Milo. "Our goal here is to spare people unnecessary misery," agrees Thuy.
Here are a few tips from them.
Q. Why do so many new hires wash out in their first year?
Milo: A big reason is that a huge percentage of new employees, including new managers, are not clearly told what they were hired to do or what their goals should be for the first six months and the first year.
Thuy: They also usually aren't told where to find information that they need, so they spend a lot of time reinventing the wheel - and their managers think they're idiots for wasting so much time and not asking colleagues or bosses for help.
Q. What are some "red flags" that might indicate you're in trouble in a new job?
Thuy: One is, if you don't know why you are doing something. If you don't know your goals or what success looks like, you can't succeed. Another red flag would be if you frequently find your mouth open. You need to listen at least five times as much as you talk.
Milo: It's a warning sign, too, if no one on your team comes up to you and tells you they're glad you're on the team. If you don't know what your team wants from you and how they want it, you haven't got a chance.
Q. Suppose there are people with hostile attitudes or petty turf concerns who are really hoping you'll fail at this job? How can you deal with that?
Milo: Three things. First, try to bring to the surface the reasons behind the attitude. Ask questions to understand what's really going on. Second, change the conversation. Focus on the goals of the group, team, or company.
Thuy: And third, rise above. If all else fails, you need to be the one who takes the higher road.
Q. Your book emphasizes the first 12 weeks in a new job as being the most crucial for laying a solid foundation. What is most important for someone just starting his or her first job out of college?
Thuy: Meet as many people as you can, and explore lots of different opportunities and areas of interest. Constantly look for chances to build your experience.
Source: Cnn.com
About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.
Fred Harteis News Articles - Congratulations on landing that new job! Now, listen to some scary statistics: About one-quarter of all new hires won't make it through their first year, according to research from the Employment Policy Foundation. And that may be a conservative estimate: Almost half - 46% - of rookies wash out in the first 18 months, found Leadership IQ, a training firm that studied 20,000 newly hired employees over three years.
These dire numbers don't just apply to the lowly rank and file. In fact, other studies suggest that the higher up in an organization you climb, the more likely you are to fail. Indeed, 53% of managers and executives brought on board from outside are gone within a year, according HR consultants Development Dimensions International.
Obviously, when you start a new job, you want to impress your co-workers and bosses so you'll thrive. Milo Sindell and Thuy Sindell, Ph.D., a husband-and-wife team of consultants for clients like Charles Schwab, Cisco Systems, Wells Fargo, and Yahoo!, have written a book called Sink or Swim that just might help. They've also got a web site, www.hitthegroundrunning.com, that offers in-depth interactive training for newbies.
"In our consulting work, we saw a real need for a blueprint that would give new hires a manual for success," says Milo. "Our goal here is to spare people unnecessary misery," agrees Thuy.
Here are a few tips from them.
Q. Why do so many new hires wash out in their first year?
Milo: A big reason is that a huge percentage of new employees, including new managers, are not clearly told what they were hired to do or what their goals should be for the first six months and the first year.
Thuy: They also usually aren't told where to find information that they need, so they spend a lot of time reinventing the wheel - and their managers think they're idiots for wasting so much time and not asking colleagues or bosses for help.
Q. What are some "red flags" that might indicate you're in trouble in a new job?
Thuy: One is, if you don't know why you are doing something. If you don't know your goals or what success looks like, you can't succeed. Another red flag would be if you frequently find your mouth open. You need to listen at least five times as much as you talk.
Milo: It's a warning sign, too, if no one on your team comes up to you and tells you they're glad you're on the team. If you don't know what your team wants from you and how they want it, you haven't got a chance.
Q. Suppose there are people with hostile attitudes or petty turf concerns who are really hoping you'll fail at this job? How can you deal with that?
Milo: Three things. First, try to bring to the surface the reasons behind the attitude. Ask questions to understand what's really going on. Second, change the conversation. Focus on the goals of the group, team, or company.
Thuy: And third, rise above. If all else fails, you need to be the one who takes the higher road.
Q. Your book emphasizes the first 12 weeks in a new job as being the most crucial for laying a solid foundation. What is most important for someone just starting his or her first job out of college?
Thuy: Meet as many people as you can, and explore lots of different opportunities and areas of interest. Constantly look for chances to build your experience.
Source: Cnn.com
About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.
Fred Harteis. Fred Harteis, president of Harteis International a independent business owner provides commentary and business news. Harteis Case Study focuses on business success in Harteis global holdings and general good business role models.
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