PR Log (Press Release) –
Mar 16, 2010 – Over the years, building code inspectors, fire officials, the insurance industry and prospective home buyers have been curious about the fire performance of solid log walls. Numerous scientific studies conducted by Log Homes Council have proven that solid log walls offer a solid protection against the threat of fire.
The tests conducted by members of the Log Homes Council, on a variety of log species and log diameters, prove that log walls pass the fire endurance test and hose stream test, as required by many building codes. In one test example, a log structure endured a two-and-a-half hours of fire without structural damage or transmitting enough heat through the log wall to ignite cotton. This illustrates that solid log walls provide a strong thermal barrier that enables occupants to escape a fire, as well as proving this building material meets or exceeds all building code fire protection rules.
This fascinating scientific data has long been some of the most requested information in the Log Homes Council library of information. This is why the Log Homes Council is offering this information on its website, in html or as a down-loadable 20-page .pdf of the study. This information is free to building code officials, fire officials, the insurance industry and prospective home buyers.
The Log Homes Council is an association of the most reputable log home companies in the United States, Canada and beyond. “While hundreds of companies offer log and timber homes, less than 60 qualify for membership in the Log Homes Council,” says Jim Murphy, chairman of the Log Homes Council and a log home manufacturer from Mauston, WI. “Members of the council offer consumers peace of mind during the buying and building process. Council members not only contribute to scientific studies that advance log building technologies, they also abide by a strict code of ethics, grade their logs and timbers to ensure quality materials, provide construction manuals to ensure homes are built correctly and provide free information to consumers.”
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Looting Matters: Why Are Antiquities From Iraq Continuing To Appear On The Market?
PR Log (Press Release) –
Mar 07, 2010 – At the end of February a number of antiquities and other pieces of cultural property were handed over to Iraqi authorities. The objects had all been recovered by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). A statement made by John Morton (ICE Assistant Secretary) affirmed the U.S. commitment to investigate those who seek to "rob a nation for personal gain".
For more details visit http://www.dubaicityinfo.com
Among the items was a pair of Neo-Assyrian gold earrings. They are reported to have been found in 1988 "under the floor of the Royal Palace of King Ashur-Nasir-Pal II at Nimrud (Iraq)". The earrings then surfaced in the December 9, 2008 catalogue for Christie's New York as lot 215. Their estimated value was between US$45,000 and US$65,000. They were seized by ICE at the request of the Iraqi authorities. It is not clear how the earrings were removed from Iraq. The Nimrud material had been stored in the Central Bank in Baghdad. These finds were documented by Paul Bremer on "The Secrets of Nimrud" after the vaults were opened in early June 2003.
Another returned object was a Babylonian clay foundation cone dating to ca. 2100 BC. The inscription on the cone indicates that it came from a temple at Girsu, modern Tell Telloh in southern Iraq. The item had been recovered as it arrived at Chicago.
Two other pieces, a Sumerian bronze foundation cone and a stone tablet, were intercepted at Newark, New Jersey after being dispatched from a dealer in London, England. It is reported that they had been found in Syria but the Sumerian texts indicated that they had been placed in a temple in Iraq. The use of 'Syria' as the place of origin on import documents has been reported before with antiquities from Iraq.
A further item that was handed over was an AK-47 bearing an image of Saddam Hussein. This had been removed from Iraq as a "war trophy".
A number of antiquities seized in New York auction-houses were returned to Italy last year. This suggests that elements of the antiquities market needs to develop a more rigorous "due diligence" process to ensure that recently looted or stolen antiquities do not surface in North America.
For more details visit http://www.dubaicityinfo.com
Among the items was a pair of Neo-Assyrian gold earrings. They are reported to have been found in 1988 "under the floor of the Royal Palace of King Ashur-Nasir-Pal II at Nimrud (Iraq)". The earrings then surfaced in the December 9, 2008 catalogue for Christie's New York as lot 215. Their estimated value was between US$45,000 and US$65,000. They were seized by ICE at the request of the Iraqi authorities. It is not clear how the earrings were removed from Iraq. The Nimrud material had been stored in the Central Bank in Baghdad. These finds were documented by Paul Bremer on "The Secrets of Nimrud" after the vaults were opened in early June 2003.
Another returned object was a Babylonian clay foundation cone dating to ca. 2100 BC. The inscription on the cone indicates that it came from a temple at Girsu, modern Tell Telloh in southern Iraq. The item had been recovered as it arrived at Chicago.
Two other pieces, a Sumerian bronze foundation cone and a stone tablet, were intercepted at Newark, New Jersey after being dispatched from a dealer in London, England. It is reported that they had been found in Syria but the Sumerian texts indicated that they had been placed in a temple in Iraq. The use of 'Syria' as the place of origin on import documents has been reported before with antiquities from Iraq.
A further item that was handed over was an AK-47 bearing an image of Saddam Hussein. This had been removed from Iraq as a "war trophy".
A number of antiquities seized in New York auction-houses were returned to Italy last year. This suggests that elements of the antiquities market needs to develop a more rigorous "due diligence" process to ensure that recently looted or stolen antiquities do not surface in North America.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Matt Malouf Earns NAR Short Sales and Foreclosure
PR Log (Press Release) –
Mar 04, 2010 – Norwalk, CA February 28, 2010 — Matt Malouf with Prudential California Realty has earned the nationally recognized Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource certification. The National Association of REALTORS® offers the SFR certification to REALTORS® who want to help both buyers and sellers navigate these complicated transactions, as demand for professional expertise with distressed sales grows.
According to a recent NAR survey, nearly one-third of all existing homes sold recently were either short sales or foreclosures. For many real estate professionals, short sales and foreclosures are the new “traditional” transaction. REALTORS® who have earned the SFR certification know how to help sellers maneuver the complexities of short sales as well as help buyers pursue short sale and foreclosure opportunities.
“As leading advocates for homeownership, REALTORS® believe that any family that loses its home to foreclosure is one family too many, but unfortunately, there are situations in which people just cannot afford to keep their homes, and a foreclosure or a short sale results,” said 2009 NAR President Charles McMillan, a broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Dallas-Fort Worth. “Foreclosures and short sales can offer opportunities for home buyers and benefit the larger community, as well, but it’s extremely important to have the help of a real estate professional like a REALTOR® who has earned the SFR certification for these kinds of purchases.”
The certification program includes training on how to qualify sellers for short sales, negotiate with lenders, protect buyers, and limit risk, and provides resources to help REALTORS® stay current on national and state-specific information as the market for these distressed properties evolves. To earn the SFR certification, REALTORS are required to take one core course and three Webinars. For more information about the SFR certification, visit www.REALTORSFR.org or call 1-877-510-7855.
According to a recent NAR survey, nearly one-third of all existing homes sold recently were either short sales or foreclosures. For many real estate professionals, short sales and foreclosures are the new “traditional” transaction. REALTORS® who have earned the SFR certification know how to help sellers maneuver the complexities of short sales as well as help buyers pursue short sale and foreclosure opportunities.
“As leading advocates for homeownership, REALTORS® believe that any family that loses its home to foreclosure is one family too many, but unfortunately, there are situations in which people just cannot afford to keep their homes, and a foreclosure or a short sale results,” said 2009 NAR President Charles McMillan, a broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Dallas-Fort Worth. “Foreclosures and short sales can offer opportunities for home buyers and benefit the larger community, as well, but it’s extremely important to have the help of a real estate professional like a REALTOR® who has earned the SFR certification for these kinds of purchases.”
The certification program includes training on how to qualify sellers for short sales, negotiate with lenders, protect buyers, and limit risk, and provides resources to help REALTORS® stay current on national and state-specific information as the market for these distressed properties evolves. To earn the SFR certification, REALTORS are required to take one core course and three Webinars. For more information about the SFR certification, visit www.REALTORSFR.org or call 1-877-510-7855.
Nightingale for Governor Website Generating Significant Attention
PR Log (Press Release) –
Mar 04, 2010 – California –
Nightingale for Governor website, operating on minimal funding, generates significant web visits in relation to the other three "big box" candidates. According to Stat Brain.Com, a website that displays web visits to any website on the internet, listed www.nightingaleforgovernor.com ahead of Steve Poizner's website, rivaling Jerry Brown's and pulling 21% of Meg Whitman's overall web traffic. The Nightingale for Governor website generates 323 web visits per day; Steve Poizner approx: 263; Jerry Brown at 463 per day; Whitman at 1934. http://www.statbrain.com/www.nightingaleforgovernor.com/
The Nightingale for Governor team attest this internet success to current voter temperament, as 44% of Californians are still undecided with respects to Republican and Democratic gubernatorial candidates. The California Public Policy Institute released this information in the 2010 quarterly report. http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/survey/S_110MBS.pdf
Nightingale for Governor website, operating on minimal funding, generates significant web visits in relation to the other three "big box" candidates. According to Stat Brain.Com, a website that displays web visits to any website on the internet, listed www.nightingaleforgovernor.com ahead of Steve Poizner's website, rivaling Jerry Brown's and pulling 21% of Meg Whitman's overall web traffic. The Nightingale for Governor website generates 323 web visits per day; Steve Poizner approx: 263; Jerry Brown at 463 per day; Whitman at 1934. http://www.statbrain.com/www.nightingaleforgovernor.com/
The Nightingale for Governor team attest this internet success to current voter temperament, as 44% of Californians are still undecided with respects to Republican and Democratic gubernatorial candidates. The California Public Policy Institute released this information in the 2010 quarterly report. http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/survey/S_110MBS.pdf
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)