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Obama Appoints Auto Chief Bloom to Manufacturing Policy Post

Published by viorel on September 7th, 2009 in Politics

politics Ron Bloom, head of the government’s auto task force, was named President Barack Obama’s senior adviser for manufacturing policy as part of an effort to boost employment in a sector where jobs have been vanishing for 30 years.

Bloom, a former United Steelworkers union adviser and Lazard Ltd. investment banker, helped guide General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC through bankruptcy as part of the government’s rescue of the auto industry. In his new role, he will plan Obama’s agenda to “revitalize” manufacturing jobs, according to a statement from the White House Press Secretary.

Michael Jackson Commemorative Coins

Published by viorel on September 4th, 2009 in Coins

Fans of Michael Jackson can soon carry a little bit of the singer with them wherever they go with the release of a commemorative coin collection.

Debuting exclusively on HSN on August 29th, what would of been the singer’s 51st birthday, the coins are set to be a sure fire hit with Jackson fans all over the world.

There’s various coins to be had including colorized quarters with images of the Prince of Pop throughout his career, a silver eagle dollar with Jackson in his “military uniform” at the height of his fame and a multi denomination collection tracing Jackson’s life.

ECB May Keep Rates at Record Low to Nurture Recovery

Published by viorel on September 3rd, 2009 in Business

The European Central Bank will leave interest rates at a record low and signal it’s in no rush to withdraw emergency stimulus measures as the economy shows signs of recovering from its worst recession since World War II, economists said.

ECB officials meeting in Frankfurt today will keep the benchmark rate at 1 percent, according to all 58 economists in a Bloomberg News survey. The central bank, led by President Jean- Claude Trichet, won’t raise rates before the third quarter of 2010, another survey shows.

The ECB is wary of nipping the nascent euro-region recovery in the bud by tightening policy too soon. While the bank is likely to raise its forecasts for economic growth today after Germany and France unexpectedly exited their recessions in the second quarter, rising unemployment and the expiry of government rescue packages may damp expansion next year.

Polk Dollar Debuts

Published by viorel on September 2nd, 2009 in Numismatics

Visitors to President James K. Polk's ancestral home in Columbia, Tenn., Aug. 20 were the first to get the Presidential dollar coins bearing his portrait. The Polk coin, 11th in the U.S. Mint's Presidential dollar series, was made available following the Mint's ceremony to officially present the coin to the nation.

To commemorate the event, each child 18 years old and younger received a newly minted James Polk Presidential dollar. Adults at the ceremony exchanged their currency for rolls of the new coin.

John Seigenthaler, renowned author and journalist, and John Holtzapple, director of the James K. Polk House, joined Andy Brunhart, Mint deputy director, to celebrate the coin's release.

Hawaiian Notes, Medals and Coins Top Sale

Published by viorel on August 26th, 2009 in Numismatics

Highlights include an 1879 (1880) $100 Hawaii Kingdom Silver Certificate,
PCGS-40 cancelled, and an 1882 $10 Date Back from the First National Bank of
Hawaii at Honolulu (Fr. 545), Territory of Hawaii, in PCGS EF-40.

An 1879 $500 Hawaii Kingdom
face proof in PCGS Gem New 67 PPQ will also be sold.

The sale also features an 1895 Republic of Hawaii
$5 (SCWPM 11A) in PCGS Fine-15.

Other important
notes from the First National Bank of Hawaii at Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, include:

Watch for platinum mining strike

Published by viorel on August 25th, 2009 in Coins

It has been an uneventful week for precious metals. They traded lower for a few days and have settled in the middle of the recent trading range. Premiums remain constant at recent levels with good continued demand apparent. One thing to watch for in the platinum market is the possibility of a mining strike. Should this happen, I believe we will see a spike in pricing.

In the Walking Liberty half series the early high grade dates remain strong although a few more 1921-P and 1921-D coins were available in low grade. The inevitable correction in low- to mid-grade circulated 1938-Ds continues with the first three grades down. These will probably over correct, but are approaching fair value at current levels.

Lawsuit claims info valueable

Published by viorel on August 21st, 2009 in Coins

A lawsuit has been filed against California dealers Steve Contursi and Don Kagin by Michigan hobbyist Bill Swoger over the value of information Swoger says he supplied to them that makes the dealers’ “EB” stamp-on-breast Brasher doubloon more valuable.

The coin owned by the two dealers was purchased by Contursi for $2.99 million at a Florida United Numismatists auction in 2005 and he then arranged for Kagin to take a one-third ownership.

All Brasher doubloons have a 1787 date, but six have the “EB” initials of Ephraim Brasher on the wing. Brasher was a New York jeweler. Brasher doubloons were made by him. A doubloon at the time was worth roughly $16

Ford's plug-in hybrids will talk to electrical grid

Published by viorel on August 20th, 2009 in Technology

Several automobile companies have been taking steps towards the implementation of hybrid technologies, and Ford is not about to be left behind. On Tuesday, it announced the development of a control system that would allow its electric cars to communicate with electric grids to adjust the timing of its charging schedule. The technology is designed for use in Ford's plug-in hybrid cars that will reach the market by 2012.

The new technology, which is conceptually similar to smart grids, allows customers to program when the car recharges, for how long, and at what utility rate. When plugged in, the battery system of the car can talk directly to the grid through a wireless network with smart meters provided by utility companies. The settings are chosen by the car's operator through a touchscreen in the car's dashboard, and works with other Ford technologies like SYNC, SmartGauge with EcoGuide, and Ford Work Solutions.

Iron Age Coin Find Ruled Treasure Trove

Published by viorel on August 18th, 2009 in Coins

The largest find of Iron Age coins in Great Britain discovered in the past 160 years has been declared treasure trove at a coroner's inquest in Suffolk, England.

The find consists of 840 gold staters discovered in a field near Wickham Market, Suffolk, in March 2008. The initial discovery was made by Michael Dark with a metal detector.

Following British treasure trove laws, Dark notified authorities, who then dispatched archaeologists to the dig site. The coins were studied at the site, then removed to the British Museum for further examination. The bottom half of the jar in which the coins had been hidden was recovered.

Magazines Show Babies Sleeping Unsafely

Published by viorel on August 17th, 2009 in Health

Many magazine photos show babies sleeping in unsafe positions, according to researchers at Children's National Medical Center.

Sudden infant death syndrome researcher Dr. Rachel Moon analyzed pictures of sleeping babies in 24 magazines that are widely read by 20- to 40-year-old women.

More than one-third of the photos had problems, according to a news release on the work.

The authors of the study looked at whether the baby was on its side or stomach, positions recommended over placing a baby on its back. They also looked for hazards such as soft bedding.

Business, politics, numismatics