| Britain ‘seen as a soft touch’
It's sad that the tone of this article is bound to attract the comments of people who have racist tendencies. Does it not occur to many that the wealth of variety of colours, customs and creeds actually enriches this country? If I were to leave the UK to find a new life abroad, it wouldn't be because of immigration; it would be because of the intolerance of many of the indigenous population. An intolerance that, quite frankly, sometimes leaves me ashamed. My fear is that kids today are going to pick up the unfounded fears of their uninformed parents, and use immigrants as easy targets for their perceived frustrations. Attitudes will change, as the older generations die away, but for now, more tolerance should be encouraged through education. I take, and judge, people as I find them, not because of their colour or origins.
Struggling mortgage payers get guidance
Golik explained the new HUD-insured mortgage, FHA Secure, that provides a refinancing option to creditworthy homeowners who were making mortgage payments on time before an increase in their interest rate caused them to default. "The worse thing you can do is to do nothing," said Golik. "Take action ... because the longer you wait, the fewer your options." Patty Amador, owner of Ambeck Mortgage Associates in Modesto, agreed that the further behind homeowners get on their mortgage, the harder it is to get lenders to renegotiate the loans. "You must be persistent, and I can't emphasize this enough," Amador said. When calling lenders, she said homeowners who are in trouble with their mortgage shouldn't settle for talking to clerks who offer vague answers.
AGL Resources Reports Third Quarter Earnings Results
ATLANTA, Nov. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AGL Resources Inc. (NYSE: ATG) today reported third quarter net income of $13 million, or $0.17 per basic (and diluted) share, compared with $36 million, or $0.46 per basic (and diluted) share reported for the third quarter of 2006. The company's third-quarter results reflect lower results in the Wholesale Services segment, partially offset by improved results in the Distribution Operations and Retail Energy Operations segments. "As we announced last week, our third quarter results and our outlook for the year have been impacted by lower volatility in the natural gas wholesale market throughout the quarter, which has reduced profits generated from our trading activities," said John W. Somerhalder II, president and chief executive officer.
Aquila Completes Acquisition of Binks Forest
Aquila Property Company, a South Florida-based real estate investment and management firm, announced this week that it completed its acquisition of Binks Forest Golf Club from Peninsula Bank. The closing followed announcements earlier this year that Aquila had entered an agreement to purchase and restore the once-acclaimed Palm Beach County golf venue, and that the firm had hired Northbrook, Ill.-based KemperSports to operate the 18-hole layout in Wellington, Fla. .
Quebecor bankruptcy delays paychecks
Employees at the Quebecor World printing plant in Versailles may see their next paychecks delayed, a product of the Canadian company's decision to file for bankruptcy protection this week. A federal judge has approved the company's $1 billion financing plan, but the timing of the approval and bank policies may mean paychecks will be delayed. Frank Setlak, vice president and general manager at the plant, said he called all employees together on Wednesday afternoon to inform them of the prospective late payments. He said that most will probably have their payment by Friday afternoon instead of Friday morning, but those who bank with smaller banks might see the process take longer. Otherwise, Setlak said, he expects the bankruptcy protection and reorganization to not have an effect on the plant, whose 750 employees make it Woodford County's largest employer.
|
