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Friday, August 26, 2011

New York Times' Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

New York Times' Best Chocolate Chip Cookies - New York Times Chocolate Chip Cookies
Time: 45 minutes (for 1 6-cookie batch), plus at least 24 hours’ chilling
Yield: 1 1/2 dozen 5-inch cookies

INGREDIENTS

Combine Social Media with E-mail marketing

Combine Social Media with E-mail marketing - Here a few tips on how to promote social media in your e-mails. It is one more way to engage and involve your customers.

1. Add social networking logos to the header or footer of your e-mail template. A share icon would do.

2. Send solo e-mails promoting your presence on social media sites. You can also offer coupons for those who like your page or create unique promotions.

3. Capture data.

Sources : http://www.buzzbooster.com/marketing-blog/2011/08/14/combine-social-media-with-e-mail-marketing/

Utah Independent

Utah Independent - Mr. V.S. Peet of Salt Lake City announces that on Thursday, November 19, he will begin the publication of the Utah Independent, a sixteen page weekly whose motto will be, "Neither Politics, Religion, Friendship nor Pelf shall influence this paper from doing its plain duty." It will hew to the line for the betterment and up-building of Utah. (Utah Independent, Nov. 19, 1908 issue pg. 4) One of the Independent's subscribers says it is a very lively and readable sheet, containing much matter by the editor himself in refutation of many of the scurrilous slanders that are circulated in the East about Utah and its people. Mr. Peet also gives many reasons why he begins the publication of The Independent, the principal and most vital one being that he wants the truth spoken out on every subject of public moment. (Utah Independent, Dec. 3, 1908 issue pg. 4)
http://digitalnewspapers.org/newspaper/?paper=Utah+Independent

Salt Lake Community College Student Newspapers

Salt Lake Community College Student Newspapers - The student newspaper for Salt Lake Community College has been published under a number of different names. The Tradesman is the earliest title found to-date and the single issue on file was published in 1959. Tech Topics was published from December 1962 until August 1973. Utah Tech News was published as a supplement to the Murray Eagle for what looks like a single issue in August 1973. Beginning in September 1973 the title became Points West until June 1987. While a new name was being sought from student suggestions the masthead for the paper read No Name Paper for four issues from September to October 1987. The new name decided upon was Horizon which lasted from October 1987 until March 2001. The student newspaper resumed publication under its current name The Globe in October 2001. 
http://digitalnewspapers.org/newspaper/?paper=Salt+Lake+Community+College+Student+Newspapers

Use Social Media for Disaster Preparedness & Response

Use Social Media for Disaster Preparedness & Response - This video shows you some examples on how to use social media marketing in disaster preparedness. It is really very interesting.


Friday, August 19, 2011

How to Evaluate Your Risk Tolerance

How to Evaluate Your Risk Tolerance
Investing is such a reactionary event for some people that it becomes second nature to make changes based on the latest news or story told around the water cooler. People believe that's the fastest way to make a buck.
Not that making a buck is a bad thing--quite the contrary.
The issue is that very few people make money by investing based on the latest headline or a passing comment at work. Investing takes time, patience, and delving into the details to make sure you're getting a fair deal. Most of us, however, aren't interested in putting aside the time and doing it right. We want the instant gratification making a change in our portfolio gives us--that short-term feeling of taking control of the situation.
How do you overcome the need to take action based on a gut reaction when it comes to your long-term savings? You do a personality assessment.
Ask yourself these basic questions, and don't try to fool yourself with the answers you think you should have. There is no "right" answer. It's in your best interest to be truthful.
1. What is your tolerance for negative investment performance?
2. How would you feel if the market and your account lost 20 percent of its value in six months?
3. How likely are you to change the answers to these questions if there are large swings in the market?
Once you've answered the questions, you may want to ask someone who knows you well to answer the same questions on your behalf. Having a third party give their opinion about how they think you should respond will help you see the answers from a different perspective. Maybe you've felt all along that you are an aggressive investor, but your spouse sees the worry in your eye with every market fluctuation. Having that type of assessment should put you closer to a real evaluation.
Now compare your answers and the answers from your third party. Were you truthful? Were there any surprises?
Getting answers to these questions is the start of determining your risk preference: conservative, moderate, aggressive, or somewhere in between. If your answers indicate you would have a negative reaction to downward trends, you may have more conservative investing tendencies. If you're more tolerant of the markets' ups and downs, then you could be considered more aggressive.
If the outcome points to you being a more conservative investor, you'll most likely have more bonds and liquid assets, like a money market fund. Those who slide toward the aggressive investing side of the scale would have more stocks rounding out their portfolio. There will most likely be some cross-over between asset classes regardless of your investing style.
The key is to start with the base knowledge of who you really are as an investor. Then you can build your portfolio based on the facts. There are plenty of asset allocation calculators available to give you a more in-depth look at your investing personality.
The next step is to build a list of investment options that will fit in the right asset categories. You'll be less likely to want to make changes on the fly if you've created a solid plan. Your comfort level with your investment choices will grow. The news and watercooler talk will soon be just that for you--the news and talk, not your investment plan.
It is normal to have feelings of uncertainty about our assets when the market seems out of control. And it is normal to want to do something to gain control of a seemingly off-the-rails freight train. But if you take a few minutes up front to put a plan in to place, you'll be less likely to react every time a headline catches your eye.
Scott Holsopple is the president and CEO of Smart401k, offering easy-to-use, cost effective 401(k) advice and solutions for the every-day investor. His advice has been featured on various news outlets including FOX Business, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal. Keep tabs on Scott on Twitter and Facebook.

Choosing the right credit card

Credit cards are essential for much of today's commerce — even if you want to avoid debt, you may need a card for on-line purchases, and booking hotels or flights. But given the hundreds of different cards on the market -- each designed for people with different incomes, lifestyles and values — finding the perfect credit card can be tricky. Here's an overview of some of the most common types of cards and their benefits, so you can determine which is right for you:

Loyalty rewards cards:

These cards offer you points that can be redeemed for items such as cash, merchandise, groceries or gifts. If you use a brand or service regularly — for instance if are a frequent moviegoer or regularly use a particular gas station — you may benefit from a rewards card, even if it has a yearly fee.

Frequent-flier cards:

These cards are of benefit if you are a regular traveller for business or pleasure. Like other loyalty cards, they allow you to accumulate points (or miles) that are redeemable directly for free flights, discounts or upgrades. Some frequent-flier cards may also offer travel benefits such as insurance for flights or automobile rentals and discounts at hotels or restaurants.

Cash-back cards:

These allow cardholders to get a portion of their purchases back as a cash reward. Generally, this cash reward is paid out annually, and to be eligible you shouldn't miss any of your minimum monthly payments. The amount of cash-back earned for each purchase depends on the dollar amount of the purchase and the terms and conditions of the reward plan.

Student cards:

Although students typically have modest incomes and try to avoid debt, student cards can be useful for younger people looking to establish a credit rating for their future. Usually student cards have low interest rates, low or no annual fees and relatively low credit limits.

Prepaid/debit-linked cards:

These are not 'credit cards' in the traditional sense as they don't involve debt and won't impact your credit rating - positively or negatively. With a pre-paid card, you deposit money on the card and reload it as needed. A debit-linked card will be tied to the amount you hold in your bank account, although it will be branded with a major international card firm and will have wider use than most bank-issued ATM cards. For instance, it will allow for purchases online or outside of Canada.

Charity cards:

If you want to give something back while you are spending, you may wish to consider a credit card that is affiliated with a charity rewards program. With these cards, you earn points for purchases, but these rewards go to a charity of your choice - perhaps an environmental agency or poverty-alleviation group.

As well as the rewards or incentives offered, remember to look at the bottom line when applying for any card - particularly the interest rate and possible annual fees. Be aware that some cards offer 'teaser rates,' which are low interest rates that will be increased after an introductory period. You should always look at the annual percentage rate (APR) for the true cost of borrowing. By weighing these factors alongside the benefits of reward or loyalty programs, you can decide which card is best for you.

Do you have buried treasure in your jewelry box?

Do you have buried treasure in your jewelry box?
You know that old ring — the one stuffed away in the corner of your jewelry box? A dusty old clunker of a ring, passed down from a dearly departed relative. You would feel guilty getting rid of it, yet the ring is so hopelessly unfashionable that you've never worn it and know you never will.
Or maybe you have a gold bracelet from a high-school or university sweetheart. Back in those early, innocent days of dating (when gold was selling at less than $400 an ounce), a gold bracelet said: "I think you're awesome and so I will buy you jewelry because I know girls like that, but I'm only 20 and if I buy you a ring, you might freak out and think it means marriage." Back then, those 14K serpentine links meant everything to you. Now, the bracelet looks kind of um, quaint, and you can't even remember which cute boy gave it to you.
Nostalgia aside, the price of gold recently rose to over $1,700 an ounce. Dig deep - you may have buried treasure in your jewelry box.
Why is the price of gold so high?
When financial markets are turbulent and economic uncertainty looms, investors seek "safe havens" and that means buying up gold. Even governments will buy gold to shore up their own reserves if they are feeling panicked, as Greece, South Korea and Thailand have recently done. With greater demand, supply shrinks and the price shoots upward.
Retail value versus salvage value
When you buy gold jewelry, you are paying for more than just the cost of the metal. A jeweler must buy gold to make her own designs and therefore her cost of business is massively affected by the ever-changing price of gold. She puts in her design skills, labour and factors in overhead and marketing costs to finally arrive at a retail price for the gold ring she creates.
When you bring in a ring to sell to a jeweler, she may buy it for 'scrap' or 'salvage'. She will remove any stones from the jewelry, melt the metal down and pay to have it "refined" — to the point where the metal can be used to make new jewelry. The condition or type of jewelry you bring in is not important — the price the jeweler will pay you is based on the market price of gold plus a fee for the service of refining.
Selling second-hand
If your gold has some unique vintage appeal, is set with some fabulous quality stones, or is by a famous designer such as a Tiffany & Co. (NYSE: TIF) or Harry Winston (TSX:HW), you may consider selling the piece to a second-hand jeweler, placing on consignment or selling through an auction house. For any of these methods, you will need to have an appraisal, confirming the authenticity, quality, design and value of the piece of jewelry.
The price you get for 'estate jewelry' will depend on the quality, condition, rarity and intangible 'vintage' value. Choose a jeweler or auction house that specializes in vintage and estate jewelry.  Make sure you understand any fees involved for photography, marketing, cataloguing, insurance and commission. You will likely receive a share of the profit, so once the piece sells don't expect to earn the full-appraised value. However, if the sale price is significantly higher than what you could fetch on eBay (or surprises you by selling for more than the appraisal), you might end up with a nicer sum than you expect.
Being refined about it
Hilary Druxman of Hilary Druxman Design - a Winnipeg-based designer who has designed private collections for Saks Fifth Avenue, Banana Republic and Club Monaco - offers the following tips when selling your old gold:
1.       Gather it up — Search the corners of your jewelry box for broken chains, unmatched earrings or pieces you never wear and bring them in for a bulk sale. "Little pieces really add up," says Hilary. "People are surprised when they bring in a small bag of what they considered junk and then find out what the gold is worth."
2.       Karats matter — The higher the karats, the better price you will get. Gold jewelry that is marked 24K (karats) is pure gold and will command the highest salvage value as well as the highest resale value. 18K, 14K, 12K and 10K are alloys - mixtures of gold and other metals - and will therefore have lower salvage value.
3.       Not just gold — Silver and platinum are also experiencing high market prices and can be sold to jewelers for melting down and refinement.
4.       Keep your stones — According to Hilary, most customers choose to keep the stones she unsets from their gold jewelry. Gems often show wear and tear (yes, even diamonds!) and don't hold the value the same way as metal, which can be refined. Since jewelers and diamond traders are used to buying loose stones at wholesale prices, they are not likely to be interested in buying a used stone for anything but a bargain bin price. The exception would be stones from some estate jewelry, or what the auction houses would call "an important stone" — you know, the kind of diamond that comes with its own name.
5.       Deal with a reliable jeweler — Stay away from those "Cash for Gold" pawnshops! These shops are the equivalent of going to a paycheque-cashing service rather than your own bank to cash a cheque. You will be charged high fees and not receive as favourable a rate than if you go to a reputable jeweler whom you can trust. As well, in working with a jeweler, you can negotiate to have your metal recast or stones reset into new creations.
6.       Recast & reset— Rather than taking the cash, once your jewelry has been melted down, you may choose to have it fashioned into a new piece that you will love. This way you can still carry the spirit of granny's gift with you whenever you wear your new bling. You can do the same with any stones the jeweler has unset from the scrap metal.
7.       Trade up — If you choose to sell your gold to a jeweler whose designs you love, you can always use the proceeds of your metal meltdown as a credit toward one of the shop's lovely creations.
Golden karma
To assuage any guilt you might feel at selling an old sentimental piece of jewelry, consider the good karma that comes from reusing, reselling and recycling. At the Hilary Druxman Inc. workshop in Winnipeg, all scrap metal and sweepings produced in the manufacturing of jewelry are saved and recycled. Even dust is sent off to be refined and recycled back into the world's precious metal market.
Hilary encourages clients to bring her their old gold as part of this commitment to reduce the long-term effects of metal mining on the earth's natural resources. "Old metals, whether gold, silver or platinum, can be melted down and turned into new jewelry," Hilary says, "This minimizes the demand for newly mined metals."
Now, how's that for a feel-good ending? You get a little extra money in your pocket and help save the world. We think your granny would approve.

GoldenGirlFinance.ca is a free personal finance and education site for women.
Nothing contained herein is intended to provide personalized financial, legal or tax advice. Before implementing any financial strategy, you should obtain information and advice from your financial, legal and/or tax advisers who are fully aware of your individual circumstances.

10 Stocks to Watch: Clearwire, HP

10 Stocks to Watch: Clearwire, HP 
, On Friday August 19, 2011, 8:39 am EDT
NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Sprint Nextel in discussions with cable companies about a possible investment that could result in the buyout of partner Clearwire, according to a Bloomberg report.
Clearwire shares were surging 25.5% to $2.90 in premarket trading Friday. Sprint shares were rising 0.3% to $3.50.

HP, desperate to boost its margins, unveiled a major corporate and strategic overhaul Thursday, which will involve ditching its WebOS devices and potentially spinning off its PC business.
The computer hardware company also gave weak guidance after reporting adjusted earnings per share of $1.10 on sales of $31.20 billion for its fiscal third quarter, compared to $1.08 a share on revenue of $30.70 billion reported in the year-ago period.
Analysts expected adjusted earnings per share of $1.09 on sales of $31.17 billion.
Shares were plunging 16.1% to $24.77.

Chipmaker Marvell Technology reported second-quarter earnings of 38 cents a share vs. the Wall Street consensus target of 37 cents a share.
Shares were advancing 9% to $13.05.

Shares of salesforce.com were spiking 5.2% to $120 after the cloud computing applications company increased its full-year revenue guidance to $2.22 billion to $2.23 billion, up from $2.15 billion to $2.17 billion.
The software company posted second-quarter adjusted earnings of 30 cents a share, in line with analysts' estimates. Revenue was $546 million, above analysts' projections of $528.8 million.

Software company Autodesk reported second-quarter profit of 44 cents a share vs. the average analyst estimate of 41 cents a share.
Shares were rising in premarket trading by 3.7% to $27.50.

Barnes & Noble said Liberty Media would invest $204 million in the bookseller, but discussions to buy it for $1 billion have ended.
Barnes & Noble shares were rising 2.6% to $12.40.

Bank of America plans to cut 3,500 jobs in the current quarter and thousands of additional cuts are expected as part of an aggressive overhaul, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the situation.
Shares were sliding 1.9% to $6.88.

Apparel company Gap has reaffirmed its full-year earnings guidance of $1.40 to $1.50 a share after reporting that its second-quarter profit fell to 35 cents a share from 36 cents a share a year ago. The Wall Street consensus estimate for the quarter was earnings of 33 cents a share.
Shares were up 0.2% to $15.55.

Intuit Inc., the financial management software provider, reported fourth-quarter loss of 19 cents a share vs. loss of 15 cents a share last year.
Revenue was $593 million, beating the average analyst estimate of $583 million.
-- Written by Andrea Tse in New York.
>To contact the writer of this article, click here: Andrea Tse.

How to Make a Basic Budget

How to Make a Basic Budget - If you're like most people, you probably hate the thought of making a budget. Perhaps it seems too difficult, or simply unnecessary. But in reality, making a budget is a simple process, and one that can save you a lot of money. Just focus on completing one step at a time.
The first thing you need to do is gather all your information. Collect all your paycheck stubs, bank statements, credit card statements, and credit card receipts. Get any documentation you have pertaining to how you spend or make money and get it all in one place.
Now that you have all your financial information together, you should determine how much is coming in. Most people have fewer sources of income than categories of expenses so it is easier to determine your income first. List all the money you have coming in from your job, part-time job, side business, dividends, interest, or any other source of income. Add all those together to come up with your income. If your income fluctuates greatly from month to month estimate your average income. It is better to be a little on the low side of average than above your average.
Next you need to determine where all your money is going. Using your bills, credit card statements, and other financial documentation you gathered break your expenses into fixed expenses and discretionary expenses. Your fixed expenses are items such as your rent or mortgage, cell phone bill, health insurance, loan payments, and utility bills. These are costs that you have every month and have little control over. Your discretionary expenses would normally include things like food, gas, clothing, cleaning supplies, and entertainment. These are items that you either don't have to spend money on each month or you have the option to spend less on them in any given month.
Now comes the moment of truth. You need to compare your total expenses to your total income. You might be surprised to see that you are spending more than you make. You might find that you have a lot of money in the miscellaneous expense category and you are not sure exactly where it all goes. These are the types of problems that keeping a budget can help solve. Once you have your expense categories added up you can set a target for your expense categories for the next month. You just need to make sure that the total of your expense categories isn't more than your income. If you do not see anyway to decrease your spending to your income level, than you are going to need to increase your income to cover your spending.
Now that you have a budget you need to actually stick to the budget. If you don't follow the budget then it will not be much help to you. The budget might be difficult to follow the first few months since you are used to spending and may have forgotten about irregular expenses. Don't get down about small failures, just learn from them and use them to help set a realistic budget.
Once you see where your money is going each month it will become easier to find places to cut back. Knowing where all your money is going and that you have enough money to cover all your expenses will help bring you financial peace of mind. If you need a little help getting started budgeting there are many places on the internet with sample budgets and budgeting tools to assist you in making a budget. A little effort spent making a budget can pay off big.
Andy Hough writes about frugality and living well on a small income at TightFistedMiser.com.

Bank of Canada rate hike now more distant

Bank of Canada rate hike now more distant - OTTAWA (Reuters) - Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney, in his first remarks since the recent global turmoil began, backed away from previous language that had suggested an interest rate hike was coming relatively soon.

Following are hints to his thinking, which he provided in testimony before a rare summer meeting of a parliamentary committee on Friday.

LIKELIHOOD OF DELAYS

* In May the central bank had said monetary stimulus would be "eventually withdrawn"; in July it said it would be "withdrawn" as long as growth continued; he now spoke of "the possible withdrawal of any degree of monetary stimulus".

* Says the bank will be "prudent" on any withdrawal.

* Several downside risks to the July Monetary Policy Report have been realized.

* Downgrades second-quarter growth forecast from 1.5 percent to "minimal to slightly negative growth".

* Considerable external headwinds "are now blowing harder".

* There is "a little tightness in financial conditions."

* The "persistent strength" of the Canadian dollar is compounding the effect of sluggish U.S. demand.

* Delicate European debt situation hasn't yet been fully addressed.

ARGUMENT FOR EVENTUAL HIKE

* Says Bank of Canada will not be constrained by the U.S. Fed's conditional plan to keep rates low for two years: "We do not outsource monetary policy to the Federal Reserve."

* Renews warning to households taking loans and mortgages that they should bear in mind that rates will not stay low forever.

* The broad outlines of the July Monetary Policy Report projections still hold.

* Still expects growth to accelerate in the second half of the year.

* Output gap is only 1 percent.

* July inflation numbers are consistent with forecast.

* Commodity prices to remain relatively elevated.

* Sees reasonable but not torrid U.S. growth

DOESN'T RULE OUT RATE CUTS

* Does not specifically speak about rate cuts, which are currently priced into the market, but does conclude his introductory remarks by saying "the bank has a wide range of tools and policy options that it will continue to deploy as appropriate."

* Still sees growth in the United States, Europe and Canada.

Background:

* Bank of Canada was the first among the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations to raise its target overnight rate, increasing it three times in 2010, to 1 percent.

* Its remaining rate decisions this year are September 7, October 25 and December 6.

(Reporting by Randall Palmer; editing by Rob Wilson)

Sartor steps down as Forzani Group's CEO as Canadian Tire installs new team

Sartor steps down as Forzani Group's CEO as Canadian Tire installs new team - By The Canadian Press

TORONTO - Robert Sartor formally stepped down Thursday as chief executive officer of the Forzani Group Ltd. as Canadian Tire Corp. completed its $771-million takeover of the Calgary-based sporting-goods retailer and installed a new management team.

Sartor had been CEO since 2003 and prior to that had been the company's president of business support and chief financial officer for six years.

During his time in those senior roles, Forzani evolved into Canada's largest independent retailer of sporting goods and clothes through a combination of acquisitions and internal growth.

Michael Medline, who led the Canadian Tire acquisition team and formerly served as president of Canadian Tire Automotive and Dealer Relations, becomes president of Forzani.

Gregory Craig, Canadian Tire's vice-president of financial planning and analysis, has been appointed Forzani's chief financial officer, replacing Michael Lambert.

The entire Forzani board also resigned and were replaced with directors appointed by Canadian Tire, including Medline and Craig.

Canadian Tire got Competition Bureau clearance for its takeover earlier this month. It said Thursday that 97 per cent of Forzani's shares had been tendered to its offer of $26.50 cash per class A share by the Aug. 18 deadline.

Forzani owns some 500 stores under various banners, including Sport Chek, Athletes World, and Atmosphere as well as more niche brands like Nevada Bob's Golf and Hockey Experts.

Canadian Tire has long sold basic sporting equipment such as skates and bikes, but the Forzani purchase will allow it to cater to 18-to-35-year-olds who tend to shop in malls for more specific equipment and trendier brands.

MTY Food Group acquires sandwich maker Mr. Submarine for $23 million cash

MTY Food Group acquires sandwich maker Mr. Submarine for $23 million cash - By LuAnn LaSalle, The Canadian Press

MONTREAL - MTY Food Group Inc. is reaching beyond its presence in shopping mall food courts and sinking its teeth into the fast-food sandwich market with the acquisition of Mr. Submarine Ltd. for $23 million in cash.

The Montreal-based franchisor and operator of various quick service restaurants such as Thai Express, TacoTime and Sushi Shop said Thursday the purchase is its biggest to date, and will help it reach new customers.

"With three out of four Mr. Sub outlets being street front locations, the transaction will reinforce MTY's presence on the street," the company said in a statement.

Mr. Sub, a privately owned 43-year-old company, is one of Canada's best known fast-food chains, with 335 stores across the country that are under either franchise or operator agreements.

About 80 per cent of Mr. Sub's restaurants are located in Ontario with the rest spread out in six other provinces, MTY said. The Mr. Sub outlets will expand MTY's network to 2,070 restaurants

MTY (TSX:MTY) said the acquisition of Mr. Sub is in line with its strategy to acquire profitable chains that diversify its food offerings and strengthen its marketshare. In fiscal 2011, Toronto-based Mr. Sub generated sales of more than $100 million, it said.

The Quebec company also announced this week that it will acquire restaurant chain Koryo Korean BBQ Franchise Corp. for $1.8 million in cash. Koryo has 20 mostly franchised restaurants in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan generating annual sales of more than $8 million.

M Partners Inc. analyst Michael Krestell said the acquisition diversifies MTY's offerings outside food courts and adds to its geographic reach.

"Much of MTY's exposure right now is through the foodcourts and it's still quite heavily weighted towards Quebec," Krestell said from Toronto.

"Generally speaking, MTY has proven themselves to be very solid operators. They execute well across all of their brands and adding some of that expertise into the existing Mr. Sub infrastructure can only help them."

The sub shop business is intensely competitive in Canada, with major American chains, Subway and Quiznos, expanding aggressively in many markets and having about 3,000 restaurants between them.

Quiznos, based in Denver, Colo., is the second-largest submarine sandwich shop chain in North America, after Subway, with more than 4,000 Quiznos shops in the U.S. and 300 in Canada.

Subway, based in Milford, Conn., has about 35,000 restaurants around the world, with nearly 2,700 shops in Canada.

In its release announcing the friendly Mr. Sub deal, MTY said the transaction is scheduled to close before the end of October.

MTY also franchises the banners Country Style, Cultures, Yogen Fruz, Tiki-Ming, Sukiyaki, Panini Pizza Pasta and several other food banners.

In Thursday trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange, MTY shares rose 11 cents to $14.06

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Are You Planning On Moving To A Provo Home?

Are You Planning On Moving To A Provo Home?
Provo is the third largest city of Utah and more and more people are considering this place for residing and raising a family. The place is blessed with beautiful natural surroundings and is heaven for those who believe in leading an active life close to nature.

The place provides variety of homes and apartments for people who come from varied backgrounds. You can choose to make a choice from stand along bungalows, apartment in a society, and beautiful variety of independent houses. The increasing popularity of Provo has brought tremendous boost in the real estate market. Houses are designed in a way that they serve the purpose of catering to the needs of people who intend to settle down in this lovely city.

Many people prefer to take home in Provo on rent initially. The main idea behind it is to get acquainted to the place before they actually choose to make a decision of buying a house. It can also provide wide choice in selecting a home. Renting a home can get them a better idea of their requirements and the fulfillment from the place. In view of the rising popularity and the upward real estate trend, having a home in Provo is a smart choice.

Are You Thinking About Owing A Salt Lake City Home

Are You Thinking About Owing A Salt Lake City Home
Salt Lake City is one of the fastest growing cities of Utah. The real estate market in Salt Lake City has observed a constant rising trend in the recent years. Owing a home in Salt Lake City offers variety of advantages.

By owing a Salt Lake City home, you get the advantage to create an environment that reflects your taste and personality. You can choose to live close to Mother Nature and that too with latest amenities around you. You can get freedom from the noisy neighbors and traffic chaos.

You can opt to choose from high-quality homes and condos. The place comes with the advantage of ownership with appreciation where the overall value of your house is going to increase every year and you are sure to get higher returns. By investing in Salt Lake City Homes, you get a chance to have an appreciable asset.

Large Firm v. Small Firm

I receive many phone calls from potential clients medical malpractice clients who ask about the size of my firm. It seems that many people have an idea in their head about the size of the firm they would like representing them. I don't know if this pre-conceived idea comes from prior experience or from stereo-types used on popular TV shows.

Whatever the reason, people seem to believe that the larger the firm, the better it must be. I would suggest that this is not the best way to select an attorney. Would you pick a doctor simply based on the number of other doctors that work in the same office? Or would you select a doctor that has a good reputation and good "bed-side" manner, regardless of how many other doctor's names on are on the door?

As with doctors, it doesn't matter how many attorney's names are on the letterhead if your attorney never has time to meet with you and doesn't return your phone calls. What I often hear from clients who come to me after first testing the waters of the big firm is that they rarely even got to speak with their attorney. Any communications were filtered through the attorney's paralegal or secretary.

I believe this is the case for a couple of reasons. First, lawyers are human. They get caught up in the "big firm" atmosphere and eventually convince themselves that they don't need to deal directly with their clients. They're too important for that. Second, they likely have too many clients. The ability of a big firm lawyer to advance in the firm and achieve partnership status is determined by his/her ability to bring in clients. The result is an attorney with an extensive list of clients, few of whom get the attention they need or reserve.

If your big firm attorney is "in a deposition" or "in a conference" every time you try and call him, I would start to suspect something. He's either too important to talk to you or too busy to handle your case. Either way, you suffer.

However, the atmosphere at a smaller firm can, and should be completely different. At my firm, for example, we specifically limit the number of cases we take so that we can offer personalized service to all of our clients. If you call, I will speak with you. If you want to have a meeting, we will arrange it. I have met with many of my clients in their own homes when it is most convenient for them.

Also, because my smaller firm limits the number of cases we take, we are able to spend whatever time and expense is necessary to prosecute the case. I can set aside an afternoon to do nothing but sit and think about your case and how to prove it to a jury because I have made a conscious decision to not overwhelm my office with too many cases. No attorney is doing you a favor if they take your case but do a lousy job working on it.

Another significant difference between large firms and smaller firms, especially when it comes to medical malpractice, is that larger firms cannot afford to take on claims with lesser damages. Because of the massive overhead that goes along with operating a larger firm, they cannot justify the time and expense of representing clients with damages that may not be worth millions of dollars. Smaller firms, on the other hand, do not have as many mouths to feed.

Medical malpractice takes many forms and results in varying degrees of injury. You shouldn't be denied the right to recover simply because a big firm doesn't think you were hurt bad enough. Many smaller firms are able to offer you the representation you need, regardless of how bad your injury is.

So, if you've never actually met your big firm attorney, or you are tired of never getting past the secretary when you have questions about your case, then maybe its time to give a smaller, more personalized firm a chance.

Tips On Choosing Home In Provo

A home is where we put our heart and effort into. Buying a home is an important decision. If you are looking to buy a home for investment purposes and even for residing, buying a Provo can be an intelligent move. According to Forbes, Provo is one of the 10 best places to raise a family.

Once you make a decision on buying a home, it is important to have a decent real estate agent by your side who can help you in buying process at every step. It is important to understand your needs and then check out the variety of options. Try investing time in looking around for attractive offers and variable mortgage rates.

Once you shortlist the properties provided by your real estate agent, it is important to visit each site personally to have a clear idea about it. Consider the aspect of re-sale when shaping your decision of buying. Investing in a property that will yield you higher returns is very important. Given the natural beauty and being blessed with latest amenities to raise a family, having a Provo homes can be greatly advantageous for you and your family.

Newcars guide: Audi

Click on any Audi Canada model name for more detailed vehicle information, including pictures, specs and reviews from Audi Canada.

Photo Model Price

Models 2012

 
Audi A3 MSRP: $34,100 - $37,500
Invoice: -
 
Audi A4 MSRP: $37,800 - $49,400
Invoice: -
 
Audi Q5 MSRP: $41,200 - $49,900
Invoice: -
 
Audi A5 MSRP: $46,700 - $61,000
Invoice: -
 
Audi TT MSRP: $48,400 - $52,900
Invoice: -
 
Audi S4 MSRP: $53,000 - $59,400
Invoice: -
 
Audi TTS MSRP: $57,900 - $62,200
Invoice: -
 
Audi Q7 MSRP: $58,000 - $72,900
Invoice: -
 
Audi A6 MSRP: $58,800 - $65,700
Invoice: -
 
Audi S5 MSRP: $60,500 - $72,400
Invoice: -
 
Audi TT RS MSRP: $67,600 - $67,600
Invoice: -
 
Audi A7 MSRP: $68,600 - $74,300
Invoice: -
 
Audi A8 MSRP: $104,700 - $172,000
Invoice: -
 
Audi R8 MSRP: $134,000 - $228,000
Invoice: -
 

Models 2011

 
Audi S6 MSRP: $99,500 - $99,500
Invoice: -
 
 

Newcars guide: Aston Martin

Click on any Aston Martin Canada model name for more detailed vehicle information, including pictures, specs and reviews from Aston Martin Canada.

Photo Model Price

Models 2012

 
Aston Martin Virage MSRP: $224,100 - $244,350
Invoice: -
 

Models 2011

 
Aston Martin V8 Vantage MSRP: $136,495 - $159,000
Invoice: -
 
Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster MSRP: $151,795 - $174,300
Invoice: -
 
Aston Martin V12 Vantage MSRP: $186,600 - $197,000
Invoice: -
 
Aston Martin DB9 MSRP: $206,765 - $235,970
Invoice: -
 
Aston Martin Rapide MSRP: $223,100 - $245,120
Invoice: -
 
Aston Martin DBS MSRP: $309,530 - $330,447
Invoice: -
 
 

Newcars guide: Chevrolet

Click on any Chevrolet Canada model name for more detailed vehicle information, including pictures, specs and reviews from Chevrolet Canada.

Photo Model Price

Models 2012

 
Chevrolet Sonic MSRP: $14,495 - $20,995
Invoice: -
 
Chevrolet Cruze MSRP: $15,495 - $25,930
Invoice: -
 
Chevrolet Orlando MSRP: $19,995 - $29,735
Invoice: -
 
Chevrolet Malibu MSRP: $24,045 - $34,125
Invoice: -
 
Chevrolet Colorado MSRP: $24,045 - $36,670
Invoice: -
 
Chevrolet Equinox MSRP: $26,315 - $35,700
Invoice: -
 
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 MSRP: $26,605 - $51,865
Invoice: -
 
Chevrolet Camaro MSRP: $27,855 - $48,405
Invoice: -
 
Chevrolet Impala MSRP: $28,035 - $34,180
Invoice: -
 
Chevrolet Traverse MSRP: $35,910 - $50,835
Invoice: -
 
Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD MSRP: $35,995 - $55,190
Invoice: -
 
Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD MSRP: $38,455 - $56,655
Invoice: -
 
Chevrolet Express MSRP: $39,210 - $46,775
Invoice: -
 
Chevrolet Volt MSRP: $41,545 - $41,545
Invoice: -
 
Chevrolet Avalanche MSRP: $42,485 - $58,655
Invoice: -
 
Chevrolet Tahoe MSRP: $49,555 - $71,800
Invoice: -
 
Chevrolet Suburban MSRP: $52,220 - $73,215
Invoice: -
 
Chevrolet Corvette MSRP: $59,310 - $118,630
Invoice: -
 

Models 2011

 
Chevrolet Aveo5 MSRP: $13,995 - $16,710
Invoice: -
 
Chevrolet Aveo MSRP: $14,210 - $16,910
Invoice: -
 
Chevrolet HHR MSRP: $20,460 - $22,105
Invoice: -
 
Chevrolet Express Cargo MSRP: $31,805 - $36,805
Invoice: -
 
 

Newcars guide: Acura

Click on any Acura Canada model name for more detailed vehicle information, including pictures, specs and reviews from Acura Canada.

Photo Model Price

Models 2012

 
Acura TL MSRP: $39,490 - $48,990
Invoice: -
 

Models 2011

 
Acura CSX MSRP: $24,290 - $27,090
Invoice: -
 
Acura TSX MSRP: $31,890 - $41,890
Invoice: -
 
Acura RDX MSRP: $40,490 - $42,490
Invoice: -
 
Acura MDX MSRP: $52,690 - $62,690
Invoice: -
 
Acura ZDX MSRP: $54,990 - $54,990
Invoice: -
 
Acura RL MSRP: $64,690 - $64,690
Invoice: -