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The general economic sluggishness continued into 2012, and conditions are expected to remain similar in 2013. While the U.S. economy continues to move very slowly in an upward direction, and consumers have gained some confidence,Do you know any polishedtiles wholesale supplier? the business side of the economy remains worrisome. We appear to be operating in a “stably depressed” market condition, with businesses making necessary adjustments to the new normal.

Real gross domestic product of approximately 2 percent is forecast to remain at the same level in 2013. Given this modest level of growth, Federal Reserve officials have extended the forward guidance on interest rates to mid-2015. This suggests that long-term interest rates are expected to remain low for a long time. Short-term rates also remain at historical lows, ranging from 0-25 basis points, and are likely to remain unchanged until unemployment levels, currently around 7.7 percent, decline to 6.5 percent.

General forecast economic conditions and other factors will continue to present challenges and put pressure on the banking industry in 2013. Low interest rates, pressure on earnings, hyper competition for assets, and consolidation will continue to pose challenges.

This year will present significant headwinds for the banking industry. Most important, the industry will continue to provide consumers and businesses alike many choices. Given the pressures I previously outlined, over time these choices will likely be different and fewer!

At Centrix Bank, our focus remains unchanged. We will continue to offer an exclusive focus on business banking services by customizing our products and services to fit individual business needs. We remain committed to taking the time to fully understand your business, so we can identify opportunities for growth and success.

Accepting this, I would put forth that if our state were to grasp the opportunity at hand as Seward first did Alaska could lead the country by becoming the cleanest state in the union.

What follows is an expansion of an idea that was recently highlighted for me in a little read report on liquefied natural gas (LNG) submitted to our Legislature this month by the city of Valdez. Contained in this report is the seed of a vision that not only could provide clean and affordable energy for Alaskans,Cheaper For bulk buying drycabinet prices. but also improve our economy and create a cleaner environment. I will endeavor to explain.High quality chinamosaic tiles.Why does bobblehead grow in homes or buildings?

Delivery of LNG to the coastal communities of our state could be accomplished with LNG-powered shuttle ships. At least two of these vessels would constitute the "main line" of this service. One for Southeast Alaska, and one for Western and Southcentral Alaska. The rest of the fleet would be compromised of "feeder ships" of various sizes and drafts, designed for the smaller ports that are spread out along our waterfront.

All these vessels could be managed under our current state marine ferry system. By utilizing the state's existing ferry infrastructure and taking ownership of these vessels Alaska would increase its "skin in the game" so to speak. The vessels themselves along with the receiving stations for the LNG facilities in each community would be made "cookie cutter" style thereby minimizing design, installation, and operating costs. These ships and facilities would be built at the same time as the pipeline so each community would be ready to receive product as soon as the gas arrives at our waterfront.

Next, Arctic development. This is not just a futuristic thought. It is upon us. This development must be balanced out with all due regard for the protection of the Arctics unique environment. A good place to start this process would be to require all ships operating in the Arctic to utilize LNG as their principle fuel source so as to minimize their carbon footprints.

Alaska could help make this a reality by 1) using the newly formed Alaska Arctic Policy Commission to create Arctic policy that requires ships operating in the Arctic to utilize LNG as their primary means of propulsion and 2) the establishment of a refueling station designed specifically for these ships. The location of this facility would be near Unimak Pass where more than five thousand other ships annually transit through our state's waters as they engage in ever-growing Pacific Rim trades. By building a world-class re-gasification plant mid way along the Pacific Rim's great circle route Alaska places itself in the confluence of these trades, making our LNG an attractive option for ship owners seeking to save costs and struggling to comply with future emission standards.

The bottom line: While LNG may not be as pure as the driven wind or as harmless as solar power, it is far less toxic to the environment than all other fossil fuels that we now depend on to meet our energy needs. In addition to being clean it is abundant and inexpensive compared with other low sulphur fuels. Moving LNG from a deep water terminus for large volume exports and to the Alaskan population are central to making a new frontier out of the last frontier.

A census of any kind that involves attempting to get a head count on wild animals traversing continents via the sky is a sizeable undertaking that on its surface could resemble a fool’s errand. But knowing where birds are and how many of a certain species are present is too valuable a piece of data to leave out of any sensible management plan.

So the forces at Audubon joined those at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and then invited Bird Studies Canada on board, to form a wide network of birding experts. Their goal was to organize and orchestrate the largest census of bird life that North America had ever witnessed.

Once the consortium came together, their most crucial move was to enlist a massive volunteer army of foot soldiers to do the actual counting. The group then had to come up with a practical format, and a place to handle the data.

The Great Backyard Bird Count was hatched — an annual four-day affair that utilizes bird watchers of all ages and in as many nooks and crannies across the map as possible to count birds and create a real-time snapshot of winter bird populations.We have a fantastic range of Glass Tiles and iccard Tiles.

The most common birds observed in terms of numbers have been the snow goose, Canada goose, red-winged blackbird and the European starling.

“This is a milestone for citizen science in so many respects — number of species, diversity of countries involved, total participants, and number of individual birds recorded,” Fitzpatrick said.

Audubon chief scientist Gary Langham said he hopes that interest and involvement in the Great Backyard Bird Count continues to grow and spread around the globe.

“People who care about birds can change the world,” Langham said. “That’s why this year’s record-setting global participation is so exciting. Technology has made it possible for people everywhere to unite around a shared love of birds and a commitment to protecting them.”

While many birding enthusiasts in the northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan area took an active role in the organized international bird count, others continue to report unusual sightings from their backyard feeders, front lawns, or neighboring green space.

It looked like a somewhat normal winter day for Mel Kwiatkowski of Maumee recently as the cold, stiff wind had knocked over his recycling bins and sent him out of the house to retrieve them.

“And then I heard all of this noise, all of this chattering, and I thought it was a bunch of chickadees,” said Kwiatkowski, who has been feeding the birds in his backyard for many years. “But then I saw the rust colored breasts and realized I was looking at 10 robins, at least 10 of them, and it seemed awfully early for robins to be here in such numbers.”