IPIP Blog

Vanessa Hudgens is happy go lucky as she leaves the Nail Garden in Studio City, Calif., on Monday afternoon (March 28).

The 22-year-old actress told JJJ in a recent interview that she might spend her summer in Spain! I might go with a couple of girlfriends. But nothings been planned yet.

Vanessa was spotted out over the weekend in Vegas, celebrating Sucker Punch, and out with Josh Hutcherson at the Lakers Game on Sunday night.

FYI: Vanessa is carrying the Jimmy Choo Roxana bag.

15+ pics inside

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PERTH (miningweekly.com) minus; Australian bourse operator ASX said it is undertaking a review of its small and medium enterprise, mid-cap and micro-cap equity market to better meet the needs of investors outside the Samp;P/ASX200.

Particular focus would be given to companies based in Western Australia, and participating in the resources and energy markets.

The ASX currently operates on a one-sizefits-all market, with one set of listing rules and one set of trading rules.

However, the bourse said it believed that there was scope for building on the success of the current market structure for securities outside the Samp;P/ASX200, which would assist the smaller companies to raise capital, manage risk, and grow their businesses.

The ASX has now called for public comment on how it could improve the market for these securities.

Around 870 of the companies outside the top 200 operate in the metals and mining and energy sectors, and many of these companies are based in Western Australia, the ASX said in its review document.

It noted that securities outside the Samp;P/ASX200 were characterised by smaller market capitalisation and, typically, less liquidity and lower frequency of trading activity compared to companies in the top 200.

However, there was also significant diversity among the 2 000 entities which were the focus of the review.

This diversity extends to attributes of the company itself and to attributes of trading in the companys securities, the bourse added.

After considering feedback from market users, and engaging with key stakeholders, the ASX would develop a series of recommendations prior to releasing for public comment details of any proposed listing and trading rule changes, details of enhancements to trade functionality and any other key changes.

The ASX said it would potentially consider changes in relation to a wide range of issues, including trading hours, admission, ongoing rule obligations and different ways to optimise trading volumes.

The period for public feedback would close on May 20.

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It didnt seem like it would be that bad, but that was before the weather reverted to winter, complete with snow.

It was before I found myself standing in the middle of the cattle feedlot, with an empty boot stuck in the muck while I balanced on the other foot, arms waving wildly.

It was before the overdue pregnant heifer refused to drop her calf and we spent three days constantly watching her, worrying about whether to call in the vet.

The week seemed like it would be easy enough. Make sure to stoke the outside wood furnace twice a day, feed all the dogs, drag some buckets of feed to the cattle every day and help our older parents.

We were supposed to count the 12 new calves. One of the calves was an orphaned twin and was kept separate so she was easy to count.

But what about the other calf in the feedlot that mysteriously kept showing up and then disappearing? We never did figure out how he did that.

Counting calves spread over a four-acre pasture was easier said than done. Calves arent very good at holding still and the count was constantly interrupted. They hide behind their moms and they lie down and just kind of disappear.

The mud is hard to describe. But just imagine that you are trying to walk and there are a bunch of people lying all around are grabbing at your feet and pulling your shoes off. Imagine that those people are covered in stinky mud and cow poop. Then imagine it rains and snows.

My big strong son easily can just carry a couple of large buckets of feed 200 yards to a group of cattle through large wallows of mud. His parents had to drive there somehow.

Even in the four-wheel drive utility vehicle, my wife and I got stuck. She pushed from the back while I roared the engine and mud flew everywhere. Eventually we escaped.

Be careful of the mud on your seat, I said as she walked up to the vehicle.

I dont think it is going to matter, she said, covered thickly from head to toe in mud. She didnt kill me. She is such a good sport.

All in all it was a successful week. Nobody died, human or animal.

My son is home again and all is well. But like the cliche says, my wife and I need a vacation to recover from our vacation.

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MASON CITY, IA-Census results show the number of homes sitting vacant is rising. The national rate is up more than 13 percent.

Experts say vacant homes are hurting the housing market. Locally things are not as bad.

Iowa has one of the lowest rates in the nation.

But local bank and real estate experts say rental and vacation homes are included in that number so things may be a little off.

Vice President of Estate Lending at Clear Lake Bank and Trust Robin Bratvold said, Weve been very fortunate at least in our institution as I know of other community banks and we have not had that, which goes back to our philosophy in lending in knowing our borrower.

The state with the highest vacancy rate is Maine; however a majority of their housing market is vacation homes.

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The one facet of mortgage lending that has not changed over the years is that lenders are generally comfortable lending more than 80 percent of a homes value as long as the borrower agrees to pay for insurance to protect the lender against possible loss due to default. That protection is called private mortgage insurance and it is the borrower that must pay the premium. If the lender experiences a loss due to a foreclosure, it is the mortgage insurance company that will help mitigate the lenders loss.

Mortgage insurance has its own underwriting guidelines that the borrower must meet before being approved, and they are stricter than the guidelines imposed by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae for loans at or under the 80 percent loan-to-value threshold. Loans for owner-occupied homes are available up to 95 percent of the value if the loan amount is under $417,000 or up to 90 percent if the loan amount is between $417,000 and $729,750. Loans for rental homes will only go up to 80 percent for loans under $417,000 and only up to 65 percent for loans between $417,000 and $729,750.

Mortgage insurance premiums can be paid either monthly or in one lump sum at the time of purchase. The fees vary based on credit score, loan amount and loan-to-value ratio. For a 90 percent loan-to-value loan, the monthly premium would add 0.56 percent per year to the homebuyers monthly mortgage payment. For a loan amount of $400,000, mortgage insurance would be $187 a month. Add that to the monthly

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ANDERSON COUNTY –
Artwork from more than 172 students at more than 20 different schools was submitted for the 11th Annual Anti-Litter Art Contest sponsored by Keep America Beautiful of Anderson County.

Students in Anderson School District 1-5 from public and private schools were asked to enter their best submissions for the KAB art contest. Students’ drawings illustrate the theme “It’s Take Out, Not Toss Out. Put LITTER in its place.”

Two grand-prize winners (Abbey Sheppard, eighth grade student, Palmetto Middle School and Elizabeth Reece, third-grader at McLees Elementary School) were chosen. Abbey and Elizabeth’s art will be displayed on 800 tee-shirts worn by volunteers who participate in beautification plantings and community cleanups.

In addition, one winner was chosen per grade (K-12); however, they did not receive submissions from kindergarten or ninth grade this year. The winners are as follows:

• First grade, Bryson Coy, Concord Elementary, teacher Kay King
• Second grade, Paige Fry, Concord Elementary, teacher Kay King
• Third grade, Morgan McConnell, McLees Elementary, teacher Kathy Browning
• Fourth grade, Madison White, Wren Elementary, teacher Barbara Wagher
• Fifth grade, Zoe Hurst, LaFrance Elementary, teacher Jeryl Hollingsworth
• Sixth grade, McKenzie Miller, McCants Middle School, teacher Beth Brannon
• Seventh grade, Hailey Nichols, Wren Middle School, teacher Jodi Dierks
• Eighth grade, Catherine Rivera, Wren Middle School, Jodi Dierks
• 10th grade, Darian Burrin, Anderson V Career Campus, teacher Sarah Jordan
• 11th grade, Breanna Hammonds, Anderson V Career Campus, teacher Sarah Jordan
• 12th grade, Aurelia Mance, Anderson V Career Campus, teacher Sarah Jordan

All of the winning entries will be on display at the Anderson County Arts Center during Youth Art Month, until March 25. Additional entries will be displayed at the branch libraries, area schools and in the storefronts in downtown Anderson.

For more information, call Jessica Powell at (864) 260-1001.

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* Top three banks get 2.6 trln yen in loan requests after
quake

* Total includes 1.4 trillion yen emergency loan for TEPCO

* Demand surge comes after months of sluggish lending
activity

(Updates with confirmation from banks)

By Taiga Uranaka

TOKYO, March 27 (Reuters) – Japanese companies demand for
funding has soared since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami,
with the countrys top three banks seeing a surge in new loan
requests, lenders said on Sunday.

Companies are rushing to secure extra financing to repair
damage to their operations in the areas worst-hit by the
disaster as well as fund their day-to-day operations following
fall in revenue amid output disruptions, the banks said.

Japans top three banks, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp,
Mizuho Corporate Bank and Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ have
received requests for new loans totalling 2.6 trillion yen ($32
billion) over two weeks, said the banks.

The total includes 1.4 trillion yen in emergency funds
sought by Tokyo Electric Power Co the operator of the
stricken Fukushima nuclear plant north of Tokyo. Even excluding
that number, requests were running at about four times the usual
levels, the banks said.

The top three banks and major trust banks are in talks to
provide up to 2 trillion yen in emergency loans to TEPCO,
sources said last week.

Sumitomo Mitsui is the core unit of Sumitomo Mitsui
Financial Group , Mizuho Corporate Bank is a unit of
Mizuho Financial Group and BTMU is the core commercial
banking unit of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group .

Commercial paper issues also jumped by more than 50 percent
in the first week after the disaster, with new offers totalling
about 1.1 trillion yen and rates for one- to two-month paper
rising above 0.2 percent from 0.11 percent before March 11, the
Nikkei business daily reported on Sunday.

In the weeks following the disaster, the Bank of Japan has
been pumping record amounts of funds into the banking system to
ensure that credit keeps flowing to affected businesses and it
has also increased its purchases of commercial paper.

LOAN DEMAND LIKELY TO INCREASE

Japanese banks had been suffering sluggish lending demand as
households and businesses remained cautious on spending amid
prolonged deflationary trend. Bank lending fell 1.8 percent in
February, the 15th month of decline, the Bank of Japan data
shows.

Awash with deposit money, the banks had been buying up
Japanese government bonds to make up a fall in profit from
lending.

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We’ve seen an awful lot of alien movies over the years and ironically this is the second alien based movie I’ve reviewed in two weeks – further driving home the point that there’s a lot of movies on the subject. There’s been endless interpretations of how encounters with intelligent life from space or a world not our own would transpire.#160; Simon Pegg and Nick Frost offer us a close encounter of a comedic kind in their sci-fi geek fest Paul. Yes, the dynamic, British bro-mance duo is back to give us another heart felt tale of friendship and hilarity.#160; Though this film is no exception viewers expecting another Shawn of the Dead or Hot Fuzz will probably come away a bit disappointed.#160; The banter between Pegg and Frost – which is a big reason the other films are so beloved – takes a bit of a back seat in this one and gives center stage to Paul, a wisecracking, slacker alien voiced by Seth Rogen. This might turn some die-hard Pegg-Frost fans away, but the pair compliment Rogen very well as they play two British nerds Clive (Frost) and Graeme (Pegg). The duo attends Comic-Con and takes a tour of America’s alien hot spots. On the way they run into our protagonist, Paul, in a pretty amusingmeeting.#160;

From there things gets pretty darn funny as they discover Paul is an extra terrestrial on the run from the government trying to ehem, “phone home.” When our socially inept and charmingly awkward duo agrees to help him we get a road trip full of oddball characters, wisecracks aplenty and a huge helping of geeky pop culture references – no joke. You’d be hard pressed to get through a minute or two without a reference to some sci-fi movie or comic book. Pegg and Frost usually have their other movies full of these, but they’re a bit subtler, however on this one they go all geek out. There’s some beautifully timed lines you’ll recognize, a certain cantina tune playing in the background of a bar and a hilarious celebrity voiceover.#160;

But don’t let all this geek talk turn you away, Paul’s got comedy for everyone and the yucks are aplenty. Pegg and Frost do a good job of mixing the dry, word play centered British humor with the crude and loud American flavor of laughs.#160; Along with Pegg and Frost’s usual brilliant odd couple banter Rogen really shines as the film’s protagonist. Paul is an easy going, good hearted, albeit sarcastic, alien who you’d like to party with.#160; He’s also a very well developed, fully realized character with some depth. It’s interesting to watch this funny little Martian help Clive and Graeme come out of their shells. The supporting cast is packed with funny actors as well and they are all given some great material to work with. Supporters include: Jason Bateman, Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig, and Jane Lynch. With a cast like that the comedy almost makes itself.#160;

Paul may not be the knockout of Pegg and Frost’s other films but it’s a funny, nerdtastic road trip with loads of laughs and a good amount of heart.#160; From the opening shot to the classically understated final line Paul gives us the levity and heart warming relationships we expect from Pegg and Frost. Live long and prosper guys and keep making greatcomedy.

#160;

#160;

Rated: R #160; #160; #160; #160; #160; #160; #160; #160; #160; #160;#160;

Running Time: 1hr56mins#160;

Verdict:#160; A close encounter worth having!#160;#160;

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DALLAS, March 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — After months of drizzling winter storms and cabin fever, vacation planning season has finally arrived. Even the mesmerizing turquoise Caribbean water and pristine beaches can warm winter-worn spirits. Americans are turning to travel agents who have the goods and are armed with stunning videos and photography to plan their dream vacations. National Plan a Vacation Week kicked off a free web matching service which showcases Mexicos best tropical resorts at http://www.planavacationweek.com

Developed for travelers who want to save time and work with an expert on the region, the free online service runs through May 21st to help Americans find the best vacation options based on six major travel themes and eighteen unique preferences. More than 1,600 agents are on call!

South of the border, the perfect place for year-round sand and surf, is undoubtedly Cancun, Mexico, where an average high of 81 degrees guarantees a great day on the beach or putting greens. Secluded off the Riviera Maya coast of the Caribbean, Cancuns resorts beckon from an island dedicated to vacationing, carved from the exotic jungles of the ancient Mayan culture not more than one hour from this vacation epicenter.

We offer resort vacations at all price points, from budget-minded to five star-rated properties, says Fernando Betanzos Tenorio, Director of Sporting Events for Quintana Roo Tourism, and our friendly service personnel are highly trained to focus on extraordinary customer service everywhere.

Travel to Cancun is easy, with non-stop major carrier flights from US cities including Denver, New York, Houston, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Miami, plus numerous charter flights from many other cities on all-inclusive tours including Funjet Vacations, which has been in Mexico since 1974.

Not only does Cancun draw visitors for its reliable weather and its romantic setting for weddings and honeymoons, many come to participate in world-class sporting events including Iron Man Cancun, IGTs World-Class Billfishing Tournament or kiteboarding championships, one of the worlds newest sports. The FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup will feature open water swimming, a new Olympics event.

After a day of touring Chichen Itzas Mayan ruins, the quaint Isla Mujeres or the natural beauty of Xcaret eco-parks underground rivers, consider the new spa treatments at the resort, each with its own flavor. Indulging in spa treatments is such a big draw for visitors, Fiesta Americana expanded their indoor spa which occupies the size of three indoor tennis courts.

While many Americans just havent allowed themselves to take a vacation over the last few years, Mexicos attention to service and hospitality are second to none, remarks Fernando. There is something for everyone and the turquoise water is just as beautiful today as it was 25 years ago when we arrived here. We are safe and a key international destination serving many guests from the USA and Europe.

Cancun — the sand and surf sound like just what the doctor ordered for the winter blues. Log on to http://www.planavacationweek.com and look for the Viva Mexico theme where travel professionals are available to help with all the vacation details.

Contact:

Chris Bertrand, travel editor
The Destination Group
626-355-3471
Chris@dgrp.com

National Plan a Vacation Week – Viva Mexico theme

http://www.planavacationweek.com

This press release was issued through eReleases(R). For more information, visit eReleases Press Release Distribution at http://www.ereleases.com.

SOURCE National Plan a Vacation Week

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Christie’s Atlantic City Revival Seeks Halt to 30% Casino Plunge
March 18, 2011, 12:04 AM EDT

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By Terrence Dopp and Beth Jinks

March 18 (Bloomberg) — New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is bucking voter skepticism and pushing ahead with his plan to revive the Atlantic City gambling resort, where casino revenue has plunged the most since the first one opened in 1978.

Christie, a first-term Republican, took control of the tourism district in the 48-block-long coastal city of 40,000 last month and relieved the 11 casinos there of some regulations. He redirected gaming fees to clean up and promote the area, and provided tax breaks to help restart construction of the $2.5 billion Revel casino that stalled in 2009.

The intervention may come too late, even with Revel opening in 2012, said Dennis Forst, a gaming analyst at KeyBanc Capital Markets. Gambling revenue in Atlantic City, the second-largest U.S. casino market, is down 30 percent from 2006. Older betting parlors may close as Sands Casino Resort in Pennsylvania, Dover Downs in Delaware and other rivals draw gamblers from Philadelphia and New York, he said.

“Outside competition is only going to increase,” he said during an interview in New York. “Atlantic City had 30 years to work this out, to make themselves indestructible, and they’ve wasted all of those years,” said Forst, who has covered the industry for 40 years. He received top rankings of analyst polls in the Wall Street Journal and Institutional Investor and Forbes magazines, according to KeyBanc.

Tax Collections

New Jersey is seeking to halt a drop in the 8 percent tax on casino revenue that funds programs for seniors and the disabled. The industry gives another 1.25 percent of revenue to the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, which helped fund $1.8 billion of projects since 1984, including airport expansion and housing for casino workers.

Atlantic City’s gambling houses employed 33,272 as of last month, down from more than 45,000 in 2004, according to state data. The 8 percent gaming tax netted the state $260.9 million in 2010, down from more than $400 million in 2006.

Amid the slump, car traffic into Atlantic City has fallen so sharply that Moody’s Investors Service this week downgraded the toll-revenue bonds of the South Jersey Transportation Authority, which operates the 44-mile (71-kilometer) Atlantic City Expressway. The municipality itself, which relies on casinos for 74 percent of its taxes, had its credit rating cut by Moody’s in November.

‘Crisis Level’

Christie, 48, announced the planned takeover of the casino district last July, six months after he took office. Standing on the 50-yard line of the New Meadowlands Stadium in northern New Jersey, the governor said the state needed to make a “new, bold commitment to Atlantic City” by taking control of policing, land use and business development in the area.

“It wasn’t a selection done philosophically,” Christie said during a March 15 press conference in Trenton. “Atlantic City, given the continued declines in gaming revenue and the continued loss of employment in the southern part of the state, was at a crisis level. We decided to deal with that crisis.”

Christie’s decision has yet to win over taxpayers. In a February poll by Fairleigh Dickinson University’s PublicMind, voters opposed the takeover, 43 percent to 29 percent. Republicans were more likely than Democrats to disapprove, with 48 percent of respondents in Christie’s party opposed.

“Many voters want to curb state government spending, not expand its functions,” said Peter Woolley, the poll director. “They’re simply not confident the state can run things well.”

Neither is Lorenzo Langford, the city’s Democratic mayor. While Christie’s plan may help the casino district, Langford said it won’t help the rest of the city, which suffers from 16.4 percent unemployment. The statewide rate is 9.1 percent.

‘Big Brother’

“All of the predominantly white neighborhoods and the commercial district are in it, and the historically black neighborhoods are left out,” Langford, who is black, said in a telephone interview. “It’s Big Brother wanting to come in and control Atlantic City.”

Atlantic City was a decaying resort area until New Jersey legalized casino gambling in 1976 and limited it to one location. The first casino, Resorts International, opened in 1978. Revenues rose steadily each year, reaching a peak of $5.2 billion in 2006.

Wagering then tumbled for four straight years, to $3.6 billion in 2010, after nearby states including Pennsylvania, New York and Delaware allowed slot machines. Six of the 11 Atlantic City casinos went through bankruptcy or restructuring.

“New Jersey is one of the more stressed states in the country, and any revenue flow is important,” said Alan Schankel, a fixed-income analyst at Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, a Philadelphia-based money-management firm. “He has more to work with in Atlantic City and there is no comparable revenue stream outside of it.”

‘Las Vegas East’

Keeping the casinos profitable and hiring is Christie’s best shot for reversing the state’s economic slide, said James Hughes, dean of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. There is also little or no up-front investment, he said.

“You have an entity that was once known as Las Vegas East, and through many years all of a sudden it’s in peril,” Hughes said in an interview. “This was a situation he had to address. Given the position we’re in right now, the best shot was at retention.”

Christie’s changes, lobbied for by companies including Caesars Entertainment Corp., which has four Atlantic City resorts, improve the city’s prospects, according to Chief Executive Officer Gary Loveman.

“We don’t have high aspirations for things being especially dynamic,” Loveman said on Caesars’ Feb. 25 earnings call. “But I do think we’re in a period now where we could see some stabilization in that market, improving margins as we manage these businesses more efficiently, and over time, the reinvigoration of the market.”

Revel Construction

The half-built hulk of Revel bears witness to the challenge Christie faces. The governor has said he’s counting on the casino, the only new one under construction there, to add jobs and inject new life into the city’s gambling industry.

Revel last month raised $1.15 billion to restart construction after some investors were reassured by the government’s decision to provide $261 million of incentives by reimbursing state taxes the resort is expected to generate over 20 years. The arrangement includes $125 million to upgrade the boardwalk and other parts of Revel’s neighborhood. The project is estimated to create 5,500 permanent jobs.

The risk, analysts say, is that Revel will woo customers from other Atlantic City casinos rather than lure new visitors, hastening the demise of older, struggling resorts.

“New and refurbished casino resorts will likely take share from their dated peer group,” said Dennis Farrell, a casino- debt analyst with Wells Fargo Securities LLC.

–Editors: Stacie Servetah, Rob Golum

To contact the reporters on this story: Terrence Dopp in New York at tdopp@bloomberg.net; Beth Jinks in New York at bjinks1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Mark Tannenbaum at mtannen@bloomberg.net

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