| Japan may move to support crashing dollar
Japan's industrial output fell 2pc in January on slowing exports to the US, Europe, and lately the rest of Asia. While China has held up well so far, there is mounting evidence that tighter credit rules are starting to bite. The Xinhua Finance index of business confidence fell from 67.7 to 60.3 in February and production index tumbled from 61.1 to 51.3. "Over coming months, we expect this deteriorating outlook to becoming increasingly evident in industrial production," said Barclays Capital. China's yuan has risen 2.6pc against the dollar this year alone as Beijing attempts to head off an inflationary crisis. Prices rose 7.1pc in January, with clear signs of knock-on effects into pay demands. The minimum wage in Guangdong is to rise 18pc in April. The triple effects of tight credit, inflation, and a rising yuan are squeezing export margins, tipping hundreds of companies into the red.
Pinellas: News and Notes
How much respect do folks at Academy of the Holy Names have for former St. Petersburg Catholic pitcher Deanna Henriott? Well, they invited her to throw out the first pitch of Wednesday night's SPC-AHN game in Tampa. "Deanna is a great kid and was an awesome pitcher," AHN athletic director Pete Young said. "It was nice of her to drop by." Henriott, an all-Suncoast performer who graduated last year, now plays for the University of Tampa. Among those who helped arrange her appearance at AHN were Ben and Laurie Vyzas, parents of Jaguars catcher Becky Vyzas. Becky, who is an all-county performer, will be one of Henriott's teammates next year at UT. With Henriott watching Wednesday, SPC won 4-0. Check it out Catch 47 will air Saturday night's region boys basketball final, Lakewood 27-2 at Pinellas Park (25-4), 7 p.m.
O'Neal's sun setting in West
My son couldn't get into the game with seven shots," he would say.
But he's averaging 8.7 points and 11 rebounds a game in Phoenix. That's Brendan Haywood. That's the O'Neal of '07 and '08, not the O'Neal of '05, when he and now-teammate Steve Nash were the yin and yang of the league's Most Valuable Player discussion.
He can be that O'Neal now and then, if the universes align and his body doesn't bark too loudly. He did it once for the Heat this season, in November against Houston's Yao Ming, scoring 26 points with 14 rebounds, three blocks and just two fouls.
But that's the exception. The truth is he turns 36 next week, and he looks every day of it. It's not just the scoring. He has five total assists, so it's not like his presence immediately opened up chances for the Suns' shooters (the equal point when you study that roster: what shooters?).
Ramon Vazquez's top five clubhouses to visit
Rangers infielder Ramon Vazquez has made his rounds in the major leagues, starting his career with Seattle before also playing for San Diego, Boston and Cleveland before landing with the Rangers last year. In his career, Vazquez has seen just about every clubhouse in the league. Here are his top five: 1. Seattle: "It's a big clubhouse that's comfortable. The food is great and the guys take care of you." 2. Milwaukee: "The clubhouse is huge and it's really comfortable. It also has good food." 3. Arizona: "Again, it's big. The cages are right next to the clubhouse." 4. Houston: "It's comfortable; the food is pretty decent. The cage is right next to the clubhouse so you don't have to run around." 5. St. Louis: "The new park has a nice clubhouse.
Autism online: Video 'glossary' shows parents disorder's red flags
Stefanie Voss plays a computer game with her son Nicholas in Tallahassee, Fla., recently. At 14 months old, Nicholas didn't exhibit any of "the classic signs" of autism. At 17 months, however, he was diagnosed with the disorder. Nicholas is featured in a video "glossary" clip on the Autism Speaks Web site.
STEVE CANNON/Associated Press .
Hughes: Years 1, 2
In an October 2005 editorial endorsing Hughes for mayor, the Leader-Herald noted the Democratic candidate had some fresh ideas. "If city department heads refuse to cooperate with [Hughes], he’d try to remove them, he says," according to the editorial. So far, three department heads have left their jobs under controversial circumstances that involved Hughes. A boisterous critic of the way Hughes’ conducts city business, former 4th Ward Councilwoman Shirley Savage said much of the litigation the city has been involved in recently could be laid at the mayor’s feet. She specifically mentioned the ongoing litigation involving former City Clerk Gary Margiotta, and the recently ended case of suspended Police Chief John Harzinski. Margiotta was not reappointed to his position at a council meeting Jan.
Aboriginal Contributions to Sport Honoured in B.C.
Wrestling pro Chief Thunderbird used to enter the ring to the sound of pounding drums, dressed in full Indian regalia complete with feather headdress and handmade blanket. His headdress was the first artifact to be placed in the new Aboriginal Sport Gallery at the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame in Vancouver. (B.C. Sports Hall of Fame) .
A Mexican view of U.S. immigration debate
I don't agree with it, because I don't believe we should violate human rights in order to stop what the United States calls ''OTM,'' or ''other than Mexican,'' immigration. But unless it's part of an overall deal, as in comprehensive immigration reform, there's really no incentive to change. If there is an immigration agreement with Mexico, then there is incentive for Mexico to seal off its southern border in an honest, secure, humane way. Q. Isn't there a Mexican interest in closing its southern border in a humane way? A. What do we have to gain? They're not coming to Mexico, they're going to the United States. Q. But doesn't Mexico have to deal with the consequences of the immigration, in terms of the criminal activity such as smuggling, and then the cost of deporting those they catch? A.
Romanov says plumber's bid to buy Hearts 'just a pipe dream'
You know, there are some jokes that are so funny that it's worth wheeling them out at every opportunity, that isn't one of them. Give it a rest now.Can't believe the Supporters Trust are against Munro making an offer. Which supporters do the purport to represent? I've been through all this on another thread already today, so I'll just summarise it here:- supporters pissed off- need someone to push for answers- this mob should be doing something- but they're as much a part of the problem as Romanov himselfWhether we need a new owner or not, we need someone to do something. If he comes in with an offer at least it gets things out in the open. .
Briefly in Tompkins
The Ulysses Philomathic Library has planned a Dessert Gala and Goods and Services Auction from 7-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8. The citizens of Trumansburg have donated an array of goods and services, among them dinners at homes and luncheons with local dignitaries; delivery of exotic home-crafted foods; books; instruction in coffee roasting, working with phyllo dough, birding (along with breakfast) and ceramics; palm reading; beauty treatments; wheel-thrown, woven, knitted, quilted, marbled silk and other quality handmade craft items; a complete eye exam; computer and needlework consulting; and overnight stays in local bed and breakfasts. Trumansburg auctioneer Peggy Haine of Cash & Caring Fundraising Auctions will conduct the auction. Desserts, coffees, hot chocolate and teas will be served, and proceeds will support the library's periodical subscriptions.
RBS takes prize for biggest takeover deal of the year
Another Edinburgh institution that found new owners was Radio Forth, with former owner Emap flogging it for £1.14bn as part of a sale of its consumer magazine and radio assets to German media group Bauer.In October, Cairn Energy, the Edinburgh-based oil and gas explorer, announced a surprise sale of its Bangladeshi operations in a deal worth up to £34m, as part of its focus on its core exploration activities. Smaller Edinburgh firms also struck deals, with JRG Financial sold to the national Cavanagh Group for £5.3m. Sir David Murray sold his Apollo Metals arm to German giant ThyssemKrupp for an undisclosed fee.However, it was RBS that grabbed the takeover limelight in 2007. Apart from raking in £4.2bn from the sale of Southern Water to a joint venture between JP Morgan and Australian infrastructure fund Challenger, the bank saw off intense competition from Barclays in a six-month battle for the flagship takeover of 2007: the £49.1bn consortium buyout of Dutch bank ABN Amro by RBS, Santander and Fortis.The triumph by RBS chief executive Sir Fred Goodwin marked the world's biggest banking takeover, and easily the largest completed deal of the year.Sir Fred was accused of overpaying for ABN.
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