Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
A job seeker looks over event materials as she waits to enter the San Francisco Hirevent job fair at the Hotel Whitcomb on March 27, 2012 in San Francisco. California unemployment rate fell slightly in May 2012.
The Labor Department released data for May regional and state unemployment this morning. California's unemployment fell slightly, to 10.8 percent from 10.9.
Regionally, the West continues to have the highest unemployment rate in the nation, at 9.4 percent, while for what the Bureau of Labor Statistics calls "geographic regions," the Pacific has the highest rate, at 10.1 percent. Nevada has the highest unemployment rate for a single state, at 11.6 percent (which sounds terrible, until you note that last May, the number was a frightening 13.7 percent).
If you look at the current situation in California, we're definitely in a rut. These monthly tenth-of-a-percentage-point moves show a job market that's not recovering at a robust pace.
But if you contrast the current situation with a year ago, the picture brightens. This is from the BLS release:
No state experienced a statistically significant unemployment rate change over the month. However, 28 states reported statistically significant rate changes from a year earlier, all of which were decreases.
California was one of those states, with a change in to 10.8 percent in May 2012 from 11.9 percent in May 2011. No one is going to pleased by today's California unemployment numbers, but overall the state is continuing to add jobs, rather than lose them. However, some of this very small dip could be attributable to people chosing to leave the labor force, rather than continue to look for work in a sluggish economy.
Follow Matthew DeBord and the DeBord Report on Twitter. And ask Matt questions at Quora.
Source: www.scpr.org
Restaurant Furniture Supplier, Affordable Seating, and Mesa, Arizona’s Mad Dog Saloon Team Up to Create the Perfect Sports Bar - YAHOO!
The experts at Affordable Seating help Mad Dog Saloon find just the right bar stools and commercial outdoor patio furniture.
(PRWEB) June 15, 2012
Leading restaurant furniture manufacturer and distributor Affordable Seating recently helped Mesa, Arizona's number one sports bar, the Mad Dog Saloon become an even better place to relax, watch a game and enjoy some good, old-fashioned American comfort food.The Mad Dog Saloon features 100 high-definition televisions on which patrons can view their favorite sports while they enjoy affordable beers and cocktails during happy hour and listen to live DJs spinning almost nightly. Patrons can enjoy sandwiches, burgers and salads for lunch or dinner, in addition to classic appetizers and wings.
Affordable Seating salesman David M. helped Mad Dog Saloon's Dominic Lalicata find the right bar stools and outdoor furniture to help properly outfit the sports bar in the highly populous East Valley section of the Phoenix Metropolitan area.
"Dominic wanted durable bar stools that would last a long time. His is definitely a high volume business that draws in a good crowd with happy hour specials, as well as offering a place to hear DJs and watch all the sports they want at no cover charge. That's a lot of wear and tear that your bar stools have to be able to withstand," David said, adding that comfort is also a main priority for a sports bar like the Mad Dog Saloon. "Dominic made it clear that his patrons come to have a good time and want seating that will make them feel as comfortable as if they were in their own homes. Unlike a restaurant in which customers sit for a meal and leave after an hour-and-a-half at the most, sports bar patrons eat and order drinks for up to three hours while they watch a game or just have a good time."
The management of the Mad Dog Saloon was debating between Affordable Seating's Vertical Slat Wood Bar Stool, which sells for $70, and the Elongated Vertical Back Metal Bar Stool, which sells for $49.99. "They weren't sure whether the metal bar stool with the wood seat or the full wood bar stool was better for their venue. We sent them samples of each and let them check which stool went better with the decor and would be preferred by their clientele. It's important to know you're getting exactly what you want when you make a purchase that is so important to your business and is actually a long-term investment," David said.
Dominic and the team at the Mad Dog Saloon opted to go with the Vertical Slat Wood Bar Stoo l. "They knew that their clientele expects a very particular look and feel, so they decided to go with the wood stool even though it cost more than the metal stool. They still got a great deal and they are set for years, as far as bar stools go, even with the heavy stress that a business like that puts on its furniture," David noted. Affordable Seating's Vertical Slat Wood Bar Stool offers a traditional but attractive look, while remaining exceptionally durable. The stool's solid saddle wood seat is comprised of solid wood, rather than the plywood that many manufacturers offer. The bar stool ships fully assembled and ready for immediate use, as all of Affordable Seating's chairs and bar stools do. It is available in a variety of wood finishes and seat options.
One of the Mad Dog Saloon's central features is a 4,000 square foot climate controlled patio. In addition to offering restaurant chairs, bar stools, booths, table tops and table bottoms for standard indoor use, Affordable Seating also carries a full line of commercial outdoor patio furniture. The Mad Dog Saloon decided to go with the matching Brushed Aluminum Patio Chairs and the Brushed Aluminum Patio Bar Stools to complete their outdoor area. The brush finish on the easily stackable and storable aluminum commercial patio chairs and bar stools offers a clean look, perfect for the sports bar’s patio.
“Dominic and the guys at the Mad Dog Saloon were thrilled to take care of the seating needs of a venue of that size for roughly $25,000. The place looks great and it’s wildly popular. I was really pleased to be able to send them samples to make sure they were getting just what they wanted,” David said.
For more information visit affordableseating.net to browse its selection of restaurant chairs, bar stools, table tops, table bases, booths, patio furniture and sale items.
Check out the Mad Dog Saloon on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/maddogsaloon
Nick Warren
Affordable Seating
(888) 495-8884
Email Information
Source: news.yahoo.com
California man in dramatic sea rescue after his yacht collides with a WHALE - Daily Mail
- Max Young, 66, from Sacramento, was on the last leg of a world trip and had been through pirate-infested waters without a hitch
- US Coast Guard describes how Mr Young feared he was going to drown
- Wife Debra says boat was just two feet from sinking when he was rescued
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A 66-year-old man was dramatically rescued after his yacht was hit by a whale and started sinking off the coast of Mexico.
Max Young of Sacramento, California, was sailing alone 40 miles west of La Playa, Mexico, when his 50-foot sailboat Reflections was struck by the giant mammal.
The impact from the collision knocked out the vessel's propeller and rudder and it started flooding with seawater.
Scroll down for video
Lucky escape: Max Young (pictured) was described by the US Coast Guard as a 'seasoned sailor'
Young, described by the US Coast Guard as a 'seasoned sailor,' activated an emergency signal that was picked up by officials in Alameda, California, and a C-130 Hercules plane was sent to find him.
By the time the coast guard made radio contact with the stranded mariner three hours later it was pitch black, his boat was close to being totally flooded and he feared the worst.
Lieutenant Amy Kefarl, of the US Coast Guard, told KXTV in Sacramento: 'He thought he was done.
'He was actually pretty frantic.
'He asked me to make sure [we] told his wife that he loved her and that he had something for his grandkids to give them. We reassured him [and] told him that help was on the way.'
Video footage shot from the nose of the coast guard's aircraft showed rough waves tossing Mr Young's boat around.
Whale of a tale: Max Young of Sacramento, 66, was rescued on Wednesday after his sailboat was hit by a whale
Rescuer: Lieutenant Amy Kefarl, of the US Coast Guard, (pictured) reassured Max Young he would be rescued
Luckily for Mr Young, a container ship was only about 60 miles away and altered course to rescue him.
When it arrived at about 4am on Wednesday, Mr Young was able to scramble off his boat by a rope ladder thrown down by the crew and escaped unharmed.
'This case is one of those success stories,' Petty Officer 2nd Class Pamela Boehland, of the US Coast Guard, said.
'A man went out prepared, the worst happened to him and he was able to respond.'
Mr Young had safely sailed all around the globe in the yacht, including pirate-infested waters off Yemen, and was on the last two days of his journey back to California.
His brother, Joe Ferro, had been due to join him on the final leg of his world trip.
Mr Ferro told CBS Sacramento: 'I just can't believe it because he is very careful and that boat has got every warning device there is for anything coming at him except a whale.'
He said his brother would have remained calm as the boat began sinking.
'Knowing Max, he doesn't panic - he figures out "OK, what do I have to do next?" and he does it.'
But Mr Young's wife Debra said she was horrified at just how close her husband had come to drowning.
'He said there was two feet before she [the boat] was completely under,' Mrs Young told CBS.
She said Mr Young stuffed mattresses into a hole made by the whale, but had to bail out water for nine hours before the coast guard found him.
Mr Young is thought to still be on the freighter, which is heading for Panama, and his family hope he will be home in time for Father's day on Sunday.
There was a less happy ending for his yacht, however, which was last seen sinking.
Stranded: Max Young was sailing alone 40 miles west of La Playa, Mexico, when his boat was struck by a whale
That sinking feeling: Footage of Max Young's yacht taken from the nose of a US Coastguard C-130 Hercules plane
Collision: Max Young's 50-foot sailboat Reflections (pictured) was struck by a whale
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
Cars Land starts its engines at Disney California Adventure Park - USA Today
The centerpiece of Disney California Adventure Park's five-year, $1.1 billion tune-up is off to the races with thumbs-up reviews - but would-be visitors to the Anaheim park's new 12-acre theme land can expect a traffic jam of fellow admirers over the next few weeks.
The Los Angeles Times reports that the next two weekends are likely to be particularly crowded when up to a million annual passholders join regular park visitors at Cars Land before a summer blackout for the passes begins, and says Disney California Adventure could be forced to shut its gates and direct fans to its neighboring big sister, Disneyland.
PHOTO GALLERY: A peek under the hood at Cars Land
Disneyland had to turn away visitors for several hours when crowds overwhelmed the park during a recent 24-hour Leap Day event, the paper notes.
USA TODAY's Matt Krantz writes that the theme zone based on the Disney/Pixar film Cars "features a complete rendition of Radiator Springs, the desert town Cars star Lightning McQueen finds himself stuck in on the way to Hollywood. Popular spots from the fictitious city, including Tow Mater's junkyard, Flo's Cafe and the Cozy Cone Motel, are re-created. The shops, rides and attractions take their cues from the Cars films, including a 125-foot-high mountain range like the one in Radiator Springs."
Cars Land's biggest draw is Radiator Springs Racers, "the best new ride at either park since Space Mountain," adds Tony Hicks of MercuryNews.com. "The concept is simple: Get into your race car, encounter a few of Radiator Springs' more colorful characters while going to town to get some new tires, then blast off against another car, racing around the mountains above town, screaming all the way. It combines thrill and concept the way Splash Mountain does - only you don't get your hair wet."
Cars Land and rest of Disney California Adventure "will be one of the first large-scale tests of Disney's strategy to get consumers to open their wallets even wider if given inspiration," writes Krantz. "Even before the revamped park opened, Disney in May announced large increases in ticket prices for its California parks. Single-day "Park Hopper" tickets were bumped up 19%, meaning it costs $125 for just one person to spend a day at California Adventure and Disneyland."
Readers, will you be mapping a course to Anaheim and Cars Land? Or is the price of admission too high-octane for your taste?
Source: travel.usatoday.com
California scrambling to stave off summer blackouts - Reuters
SAN FRANCISCO |
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California officials responsible for the state's electric grid are scrambling to avoid blackouts in southern California this summer following news that a major nuclear power plant will be offline indefinitely.
The effort to avoid a repeat of the costly power outages that plagued the state in 2000 and 2001 includes bringing old plants back online, commissioning new transmission lines and activating a multipronged emergency response system to cut power demand at peak times.
"We're not forecasting blackouts, but during very hot periods, either a very hot day or an extended heat wave, there are going to be challenges in southern California," said Steven Greenlee, a spokesman for the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), which manages the power grid that serves 30 million people.
The problem stems from breakdowns at the San Onofre nuclear power plant, located between Los Angeles and San Diego, which normally produces about 8 percent of the state's electricity. The plant's owner, Southern California Edison, announced earlier this month that both reactors at San Onofre would remain offline all summer as investigators determine what caused steam tubes in the plant to show premature wear.
To help fill the gap, California grid operators have called back into service two gas-fired units at an aging power plant in Huntington Beach that had been retired in January.
The state also accelerated the completion of two major transmission lines - Barre-Ellis and Sunrise Powerlink. Barre-Ellis connects two key southern California substations, while the 117-mile (188-km) Sunrise Powerlink electric "superhighway" connects Imperial County to San Diego.
The two measures together will almost make up for the loss of San Onofre's output, grid operators say.
AIR CONDITIONING RUSH HOUR
In case the summer brings especially hot weather, the state has also reactivated two different emergency alert systems for the public and for businesses.
The Flex Alert program, which has been on the shelf for years, will inform the public via television, radio, email and even text message to limit their consumption by turning off lights, air conditioners and other household appliances during peak hours.
That's especially important during what CAISO's Greenlee refers to as the "air conditioning rush hour" between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
"People come home and the first thing they want to do is crank up the air. That sucks a lot of juice," he said.
CAISO has also activated an emergency program for businesses that use a lot of power, such as manufacturers and refineries. On days of extreme demand, the state can trigger the system, which will notify utilities to tell their large industrial users to limit or shut down their operations.
This summer may also test some power market reforms implemented in the wake of the California electricity crisis of 2000 and 2001, when millions of Californians experienced large-scale blackouts.
The blackouts, eventually found to have resulted from manipulation of the electricity market by now-defunct Enron Corp, were estimated to have cost the residents and businesses between $40 billion and $45 billion.
Following the crisis, CAISO sped up implementation of its "day-ahead" electricity market. Under that system, generators and purchasers agree on their needs ahead of time, giving the grid operator an early indication if demand is going to outstrip supply.
WEATHER KEY
Officials say that weather is now the key factor determining whether blackouts will occur.
A hot summer with prolonged heat waves or the unexpected failure of another power plant or transmission line could trigger rolling blackouts, warned a report in May by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), a quasi-governmental agency that monitors bulk power systems.
The dry California winter has also increased the risk of wildfires this summer, which could force major power lines out of service.
"We have confidence in our mitigation plan," said Greenlee. "We may have to scramble, but we believe that we're going to be covered," he said.
(Reporting by Rory Carroll in San Francisco; Editing by Jonathan Weber and Lisa Shumaker)
Source: www.reuters.com
Furniture China 2012 set for Sept. 11-15 in Shanghai - Furniture Today
Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, June 15, 2012
SHANGHAI — Furniture China 2012 said it is extending its show here by a day to meet buyers' needs and will highlight exhibitor pavilions, design and a new conference on the global furniture industry.
The event is scheduled for Sept. 11-15 at three venues here with more than 8 million square feet of exhibition space.
Home furniture, office furniture, kitchen and cabinets and furnishings will be featured at the Shanghai New International Expo Center and JSWB global home furnishings center. A woodworking machinery and raw material show will be held at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center.
Show officials expect 3,000 exhibitors from throughout the world, with 170 overseas exhibitors and country pavilions for France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore.
The show said it is setting aside two locations devoted to design, which will give visitors a chance to see new pieces by talented designers and a chance to join forums and presentations on relevant design topics.
In addition, the World Furniture Summit 2012 is slated concurrently on Sept. 11 at the Kerry Hotel, Pudong. The summit is organized by the China National Furniture Assn. and the Shanghai UBM Sinoexpo International Exhibition Co., and co-organized by the International Alliance of Furniture Publications.
The theme is "The Impact and Outlook of the World Furniture Industry after the Global Financial Crisis," with the goal of exchanging information among world furniture markets while strengthening relationships in the worldwide industry.
Invited speakers include Todd Wanek, president and CEO of Ashley Furniture; Zhu Chang Ling, president of the China National Furniture Assn.; Dennis Heylen, president of European Furniture Retailers Assn.; and Dr. Lim Cheok Sin, chairman of the Council of Asian Furniture Associations.
According to the China National Light Industry Information Centre, the total output value of China's furniture industry reached about $154 billion in 2011, an increase of 25.3% over the previous year, with China's exports reaching $39 billion, an increase of 15.3%, which accounts for 35.3% of the total global furniture trade.
Source: www.furnituretoday.com
Hamilton Square showroom set for foreclosure sale - The Business Journal
Hamilton Square, a 113,000-square-foot furniture showroom building at 101 S. Hamilton St. in High Point, is scheduled for sale at a foreclosure auction on Tuesday, according to the High Point Enterprise .
Hamilton Square is owned by McDonald Capital Properties Alpha. The nearby Centennial Station, which has related ownership, is also due for sale at the same time. The total amount owed on both properties is $440,034, an attorney involved in the case told the paper.
The city of High Point is owed $55,810 in back showroom taxes on Hamilton Square and has a lien in place against the property that should allow it to collect after the building is sold.
Matt Evans covers biotech, entrepreneurship, higher education, financial services and furniture. Contact him at (336) 370-2916.
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Furniture in Fashion Expands its Social Media Presence - YAHOO!
FurnitureInFashion is expanding in terms of its social media presence to reap the maximum advantages of online marketing.
(PRWEB UK) 15 June 2012
Social media platform has become a very critical element of an online business as it has opened the door for business owners to develop a sustainable base of communication with their customers. This is helping the businesses to strengthen their relationship with customers and reach out for potential customers. FurnitureInFashion in order to grow business online and conquer traffic has expanded its social presence as well by joining Twitter and Facebook.Among the many social media platforms, Twitter and Facebook have taken the world by storm, spreading information, news, opinions and advice. Taking advantage of their potential, FurnitureInFashin has allocated a special team and marketing plan for Twitter and Facebook. The company now has a Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Furniture-in-Fashion/145615265460821 and a Twitter account.
These two platforms are being used to provide news, new items, service, discount and everything else about the company. Both these platforms have helped FurnitureInfashion to communicate directly with their customers and design products as per the demand of customers. Twitter has been a successful venture for FurnitureInFashion as it has helped the company to develop daily interaction with the customers. The company has been able to address critical issues immediately rather than having meet clients or send emails. The company has benefited from Twitter by using it to announcing the new arrivals, several different offers, discounts and other details about the company.
This has helped the word to spread from one set of people to the other along with bringing bright business prospects. Twitter has turned out to be a very effective way to advertise the unique product lines of FurnitureInFashion at almost a negligible cost. FurnitureInFashion has improved the customer service and products overtime by using the services of Twitter as it has provided the company with the most appropriate feedback hence making the company to rectify the problems and mistakes. Twitter has helped the company to reach out for potential customers in different regions hence expanding the business. The enormous benefits that FurnitureInFashion has reaped from Twitter can be seen with the ever increasing number of followers their Twitter account has.
Facebook on the other hand through its business page has helped FurnitureInFashion develop long lasting relationships with customers because it provides a center point where all visitors can discuss and argue over one common thing. The Facebook business page of FurnitureInFashion is a very active medium to communicate with customers. It has helped the company to arrange special online events, offers and discounts. With one status update, the company alerts all its fans about its new product, service, discount offer and other company news. FurnitureInFashion has been able to create new products and improve the current services by managing campaigns on Facebook page.
In addition to this, the company has been able to drive a lot of traffic on their website as well through the Facebook. The major benefit of Facebook is that FurnitureInFashion has been able to retain fans that could be potential clients as well. This has helped FunritureInFashion to expand its business globally as the word has gone viral through the Facebook page.
The polling feature of Facebook page has allowed the company to get the feedback of its customers over the range of products that have been launched and those which are still to be launched aggressively. In addition to this, the company is using different custom tabs on its Facebook page which has helped develop a business brand and credibility among the online furniture market.
FurnitureInFashion is expanding in terms of its social media presence to reap the maximum advantages of online marketing. With the increase of fans on Twitter and Facebook, FurnitureInFashion has been able to convert potential clients into regular clients. The ultimate accessibility with these social media tools has given the company a much needed exposure and profit.
Luke Patel
FurnitureinFashion
01204 792700
Email Information
Source: news.yahoo.com
Hope the whale is o.k
- Louise, Liverpool, 15/6/2012 17:56
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