| On the brink of the wild, Alaska's largest city grows up
Strip malls have replaced strip clubs, big-box stores draw more customers than bars and residential neighborhoods have supplanted the RV parks that once sprawled across the state's most populous city. Located in southcentral Alaska, Anchorage is the economic capital of a state more than twice the size of Texas."Anchorage has kind of grown up," said Alaska author and longtime resident Charles Wohlforth, who writes the annual Alaska travel guide for Frommer's. "It's left its adolescence and is becoming more of a mature city."The tumultuous years of oil-fueled booms and busts in the 1970s and '80s, have given way to two decades of steady growth, as Anchorage's economy has expanded to include burgeoning retail, health care and tourist industries. Since the mid-1990s, its air cargo hub has become one of the three largest in the world.
Pat Riley's scouting trips show Heat fans it's all about the future
Finally, some good Heat news: Starting next week, Pat Riley will skip some games to scout college players. He says he'll be "flying in and out" at times because the upcoming draft is so important.
He says, "I think, right now, I've got to do that. I need to do that."
This isn't just the proper thing to do, considering his role and the draft's importance. It's also the perfect message to send right now. You know how Mark Twain used to say that everyone talked about the weather but no one did anything about it?
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K.J. gets overlooked, but shouldn't
He is a solid 2-hole hitter and if that OBP is up, Tex and Chipper should have a field day with those guys on base a lot. As for the Tex trade rumors, I don't understand because a lot of fans have conceded him leaving because of Boras. I think that him staying will depend on how well the team does and how welcome he is made to feel in Atlanta. Boras is the reason there is no loyalty in baseball anymore, and I hope Tex is the guy that finds the happy medium of making a lot of money and being somewhere he can win. Need to lock Francoeur up with an extension. Should look into Blanton, he could be had with a prospect and a major leaguer. Benson is also a possibility that would not only bring a solid number 4 guy, but would also keep him out of Philly. This looks like a solid club and I'm excited to see how it goes.
Consumers' Alarm Grows Contagious
AMERICAN CONSUMERS TODAY are a faithless bunch. They trust neither the economy nor the government. They worry about their jobs, their depreciating homes, the debilitated dollar, tight-fisted lenders, $4 gasoline and the creeping proliferation of $14 martinis. Just last week, the Conference Board's index of consumer confidence plunged to its lowest level since March 2003, before the Iraq war began. Their alarm -- and apprehension in the credit market -- is becoming contagious. Stocks fell hard Friday as investors hoping for a swift economic rebound found their faith sorely tested on several fronts: Continued dislocations in the debt market, surging commodity prices and yet more evidence of an economy in decline. For a while last week, stock-market investors had held out hope despite the accumulation of bad news, which included data showing a 7.7% year-over-year jump in producer prices, the biggest such increase since 1981.
Juvenile Busted Like an Adult ... For Pot
Nice lookin' mouth there, thug. I'll be looking for gun charges to be added next. Keep on glorifying these societal enemas. You'll enjoy a long and rewarding career in the fast food industry. Posted at 9:41PM on Feb 12th 2008 by CompleteMoralDecayBroughtToYouByRappers .
Tameer host high ranking Turkish delegation at the Emirates Palace
From right to left: Dr. Omar Bulat, President of the Turkish Businessmen Association presenting a Token of Appreciation to Mr. Omar Ayesh , President of Tameer Holding Investment and in the photo appears Mr. Gazwan AlMasri, a Member of the Turkish Delegate. .
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