"Fiscal cliff" creates waiting game for payrolls firms

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - At payroll processing businesses across the United States, the "fiscal cliff" stalemate in Washington means uncertainty over tax-withholding tables just days before the start of 2013.
The U.S. Internal Revenue Service still has not issued the tables for next year that show how much money employers should hold back from workers' paychecks to cover federal income taxes.
Payroll processors need the tables to get their systems geared up for the new year. The tables are set by many factors, including tax rates and annual inflation adjustments.
In anticipation of late-breaking developments, Rochester, New York-based Paychex Inc will be serving Buffalo chicken wings for staffers working late on New Year's Eve, said Frank Fiorille, an executive at the payroll processing giant.
"Our systems are flexible enough that we can wait almost up until the last minute and still make changes," he said.
The IRS appreciates of the impact of Congress' inaction.
"Since Congress is still considering changes to the tax law, we continue to closely monitor the situation," IRS spokesman Terry Lemons said in a statement. "We intend to issue guidance by the end of the year on appropriate withholding for 2013."
Tax rates are slated to rise sharply for most Americans if Congress and President Barack Obama fail to reach an agreement that averts the "fiscal cliff" approaching at year-end.
"The political process will determine one way or the other what" the IRS must do, said Scott Hodge, president of the Tax Foundation, a business-oriented tax research group.
For now, he said, from the tax-collection agency's viewpoint, "doing nothing is probably the best course." This would be because withholding tables distributed now might only have to be revised if Congress acts in the next few days.
Some payroll servicers are not waiting for formal IRS guidance. The American Payroll Association, which represents about 23,000 payroll professionals, told members on Friday to rely on 2012 withholding tables until the IRS releases the new forms for 2013.
The association said its decision was based on a statement earlier this month from an IRS official.
The agency would not confirm that policy on Friday.
Tax preparer H&R Block Inc said it will use 2012 tax-withholding tables if the 2013 tables are not issued.
Executives said they were frustrated with the uncertainty in Washington, but were doing their best to cope.
"We are not doctors or surgeons and this is not life threatening," said Rob Basso with Advantaged Payroll Services, an Auburn, Maine-based payroll processor that serves 30,000 businesses. "It is annoying and disruptive to people's lives, but we will get through it."

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Future of state estate taxes hangs on U.S. "fiscal cliff"

Not necessarily for some state governments that could begin collecting more in estate taxes on wealth left to heirs if the United States goes over the "cliff," allowing sharp tax increases and federal spending cuts to take effect in January.
In an example of federal and state tax law interaction that gets little notice on Capitol Hill, 30 states next year could collect $3 billion more in estate taxes if Congress and President Barack Obama do not act soon, estimated the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, a Washington think tank.
The reason? The federal estate tax would return with a vengeance and so would a federal credit system that shares a portion of it with the 30 states. They had been getting their cut of this tax revenue stream until the early 2000s. That was when the credit system for payment of state estate tax went away due to tax cuts enacted under former President George W. Bush.
With the return of the credit system next year as part of the "cliff," states such as Florida, Colorado and Texas - which have not collected estate tax since 2004 - could resume doing so. California Governor Jerry Brown has already begun to add the anticipated estate tax revenue into his plans, including $45 million of it in his 2012-2013 revised budget.
Brown may or may not be jumping the gun.
CLOUDY CLIFF AHEAD
The outlook on the "fiscal cliff" coming up at year-end is uncertain. Democratic President Barack Obama has said he hopes for a last-minute deal to avert it. That would need to get done soon, with Congress just now coming back from its holiday break.
Chances of an agreement became more remote last week after Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives fumbled their own legislative attempt to prevent the fiscal jolt that economists say could trigger a recession.
House Speaker John Boehner abruptly adjourned the chamber for the holidays after failing to gather the votes from within his own party to pass legislation he and other Republicans had drafted, after walking out of negotiations with Obama.
Weeks of inconclusive political drama over the "cliff" have focused largely on individual income tax rates and spending on federal programs such Medicare and Social Security, but many tax issues are also involved, including the estate tax.
At the moment, under laws signed a decade ago by Bush, the estate tax is applied to inherited assets at a rate of 35 percent after a $5 million exemption. That means a deceased person can pass on an inheritance of up to $5 million before any tax applies. Inherited wealth passed to a spouse or a federally recognized charity is generally not taxed.
Obama wants to raise the rate to 45 percent after a $3.5 million exemption. Republicans have called for complete repeal of the estate tax, which they call the "death tax," though Boehner earlier this month called for freezing the estate tax at its present level. It was difficult to determine what the Republicans want after last week's events in the House.
STATES STAND TO GAIN
If Congress and Obama do not act by December 31, numerous Bush-era tax laws will expire, including the one on estate taxes. That would mean the estate tax rate will shoot up next year to the pre-Bush levels of 55 percent after a $1 million exemption.
It would also mean that for the first time in years, a portion of that estate tax would go to the states, through the return of the credit system.
Under that old law, estates paying the tax could get a credit against their federal tax bill for state estate tax payments of up to 16 percent of the estate's value.
If the fiscal cliff were allowed to take hold unaltered by Washington, 30 states would again automatically begin getting their share of federal estate taxes. The state laws are generally written so the state estate tax amounts are calculated under a formula based on the amount of the federal credit.
This would help states that have struggled with lower tax revenues since the 2007-2009 financial crisis and resulting recession, according to research by the Pew Center on the States, though painful federal spending cut backs would also hurt the states.

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Exclusive: Profits up, but Britain gets less tax from big firms

LONDON (Reuters) - Big companies in Britain now pay less tax than they did 12 years ago despite a big jump in profitability, a Reuters analysis of official data shows. Tax campaigners say the trend is the clearest signal yet that tax avoidance has blossomed under a more business-friendly strategy at the UK tax authority Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
Large companies' payments of corporation tax - the UK equivalent of corporate income tax - totaled 21 billion pounds ($34 billion) in 2011/12, HMRC data shows. That was down five billion pounds or 21 percent since 2000/01 when the government, then controlled by the Labour Party, took the first steps towards a more collaborative approach to big business.
At the same time, the gross operating surplus for all companies in the UK - a widely watched measure of companies' profitability compiled by the Office of National Statistics - has risen 65 percent, to 329 billion pounds. The economy has grown by 55 percent over the same period, and receipts of both personal income tax and small companies' income tax are higher.
HMRC and the finance ministry denied the figures showed an increase in tax avoidance - legal tactics used by multinationals such as Google, Amazon and Starbucks. They cited recent economic weakness and lower corporation tax rates. The UK's official corporation tax rate was steady at 30 percent between 2000 and 2007 but has been gradually cut. In the last tax year it was 26 percent.
Reuters calculations show the lower tax rate and the weak economy account for about half the fall, leaving around 2.6 billion pounds of the difference in the amount of corporate tax paid between 2000/01 and 2011/12 unaccounted for.
John Christensen of Tax Justice Network, a tax campaigningoogleg group, said the figures show successive governments' attempts to create a more business-friendly administration - which includes a policy known as "enhanced relationship" based on mutual trust - have encouraged companies to use such tactics.
"These figures tell a more powerful story than any figures I have seen so far," he said, adding that senior HMRC staff had told him in recent years that they were "alarmed" at the drop in payments from large companies. HMRC defines these as firms with annual profit of more than 1.5 million pounds.
The finance ministry declined to comment on the calculations.
"PARADOXICAL"
Prem Sikka, a professor of accounting at Essex University who has written extensively about tax avoidance, said that even allowing for the tax cut, the figures were "paradoxical".
"How are they managing to reconcile higher profits with lower taxes?" he said. "It can't be done ... unless they are booking these profits somewhere else." Companies reporting for tax purposes are increasingly diverting UK profits to lower-tax jurisdictions, he said.
Google, for example, channels $4 billion of UK sales through Ireland each year, most of which ends up in Bermuda. Google said it complies with tax law in every country in which it operates but that it also has an obligation to its shareholders "to run our business efficiently".
When shown the calculations, an HMRC spokesman said the downward trend may also have been emphasized by a shift in the way taxes were paid from 1999 which led to "elements of double counting" in 2000/01 and 2001/02. That could make revenues in those years look artificially high. He declined to quantify the impact of this.
Sikka dismissed the impact of this change.
"That wouldn't make any difference to the total tax liability," he said.
HMRC's own data does not point to a spike in corporation tax payments over the period the changes were initiated.
Total corporation tax payments were just 2 billion pounds higher in 2001-2002 than in 1998-1999, a rise of 7 percent, while GDP rose 16 percent over the period.
The government's tax minister, David Gauke, who has described corporation tax as one of "the most economically damaging taxes", called the tax authority's current approach "very successful" in a September speech. He declined requests for an interview.

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Rejected French tax measures worth 300-500 million euros: finance minister

PARIS (Reuters) - The French Constitutional Council's rejection on Saturday of a 75 percent upper income tax rate and other minor measures in the 2013 budget will affect some 300-500 million euros worth of tax revenues, Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici said.
"The rejected measures represent 300 to 500 million euros. Our deficit-cutting path will not be affected," Moscovici told BFM television.
He added that the Socialist government would resubmit a proposal to raise taxes on high incomes in 2013 and 2014.

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AP Sources: 'Fiscal cliff' deal emerging

WASHINGTON (AP) — Working with Congress against a midnight deadline, President Barack Obama said Monday that a deal to avert the "fiscal cliff" was in sight but not yet finalized. The emerging deal would raise tax rates on family income over $450,000 and individual income over $400,000 a year, increase the estate tax rate and extend unemployment benefits for one year.
"There are still issues left to resolve but we're hopeful Congress can get it done," Obama said at a campaign-style event at the White House. "But it's not done."
In the building New Year's Eve drama, the parties still were at an impasse over whether to put off the automatic, across-the-board spending cuts set to take effect at the beginning of the year and if so, how to pay for that.
One official said talks were focused on a two-month delay in the across-the-board cuts but negotiators had yet to agree on about $24 billion in savings from elsewhere in the budget. Democrats had asked for the cuts to be put off for one year and be offset by unspecified revenue.
The president said that whatever last-minute fixes are necessary, they must come from a blend of tax revenue and constrained spending, not just budget cuts.
And a little more than an hour after Obama spoke, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said it was time to decouple the two major issues.
"We'll continue to work on smarter ways to cut spending, but let's not let that hold up protecting Americans from a tax hike that will take place in about ten hours," he said.
Officials emphasized that negotiations were continuing and the emerging deal was not yet final. And a confident Obama, flanked by cheering middle class Americans in a White House auditorium, jabbed Congress, saying lawmakers were prone to last-minute delays.
"One thing we can count on with respect to this Congress is that if there's even one second left before you have to do what you're supposed to do, they will use that last second," he said.
Speaking shortly afterward on the Senate floor, Sen. John McCain said that "at a time of crisis, on New Year's Eve...you had the president of the United States go over and have a cheerleading, ridiculing-of-Republicans exercise." The Arizona Republican lost the 2008 presidential race to Obama.
Unless an agreement is reached and approved by Congress at the start of the New Year, more than $500 billion in 2013 tax increases will take effect immediately and $109 billion in cuts will be carved from defense and domestic programs
Though the tax hikes and budget cuts would be felt gradually, economists warn that if allowed to fully take hold, their combined impact — the so-called fiscal cliff — would rekindle a recession.
The current proposal in the works would raise the tax rates on family income over $450,000 and individual income over $400,000 from 35 percent to 39.6 percent, the same level as under former President Bill Clinton. Also, estates would be taxed at 40 percent after the first $5 million for an individual and $10 million for a couple, up from 35 percent to 40 percent.
Unemployment benefits would be extended for one year. Without the extension, 2 million people would lose benefits beginning in early January.
A Republican official familiar with the plans confirmed the details described to The Associated Press.
The officials requested anonymity in order to discuss the internal negotiations.
The president said his hopes for a larger, more sweeping deal have been dashed and said that such an accommodation was not possible "with this Congress at this time."
But even with this fight not finished, Obama warned Republicans, specifically, about the battles still ahead. He said he would not accept any debt-reduction deals in the new year that rely on slashing spending without raising taxes, too. Cuts alone won't happen anymore "at least as long as I'm president, and I'm going to be president for the next four years."
Urgent talks were continuing Monday afternoon between the White House and congressional Republicans, with longtime negotiating partners Vice President Joe Biden and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell at the helm. Underscoring the flurry of activity, another GOP aide said the two men had conversations at 12:45 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. Monday.
An agreement on the proposed deal would also shield Medicare doctors from a 27 percent cut in fees and extend tax credits for research and development, as well as renewable energy.
The deal would also extend for five years a series of tax credits meant to lessen the financial burden on poorer and middle-class families, including one credit that helps people pay for college.
The deal would achieve about $600 billion in new revenue, the officials said.
Despite the progress in negotiations, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid warned that time was running out to finalize the deal.
"Americans are still threatened with a tax hike in just a few hours," said Reid, D-Nev., as the Senate began an unusual New Year's Eve session.
Liberal Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, took to the Senate floor after Reid to warn Democratic bargainers against lowering levies on large inherited estates and raising the income threshold at which higher tax rates would kick in.
"No deal is better than a bad deal. And this look like a very bad deal the way this is shaping up," said Harkin.
Letting tax rates rise for couples with incomes of $450,000 a year is a concessions for Obama, who campaigned for re-election on a pledge to set the levels at $200,000 for individuals and $250,000 for couples. It also marked a significant concession by Republican leaders who pledged to continue the George W. Bush-era tax cuts for all income earners. .
The hope of the White House and lawmakers was to seal an agreement, enact it and send it to Obama for his signature before taxpayers felt the impact of higher income taxes or federal agencies began issuing furloughs or taking other steps required by spending cuts.
Regardless of the fate of the negotiations, it appeared all workers would experience a cut in their take-home pay with the expiration of a two-year cut in payroll taxes.
In a move that was sure to irritate Republicans, Reid was planning — absent a deal — to force a Senate vote Monday on Obama's campaign-season proposal to continue expiring tax cuts for all but those with income exceeding $200,000 for individuals and $250,000 for couples.
As the New Year's Eve deadline rapidly approached, Democrats and Republicans found themselves at odds over a host of issues, including taxing large inherited estates. Republicans wanted the tax left at its current 35 percent, with the first $5.1 million excluded, while Democrats wanted the rate increased to 45 percent with a smaller exclusion.
The two sides were also apart on how to keep the alternative minimum tax from raising the tax bills of nearly 30 million middle-income families and how to extend tax breaks for research by business and other activities.
Republicans were insisting that budget cuts be found to pay for some of the spending proposals Democrats were pushing.
These included proposals to erase scheduled defense and domestic cuts exceeding $200 billion over the next two years and to extend unemployment benefits. Republicans complained that in effect, Democrats would pay for that spending with the tax boosts on the wealthy.
"We can't use tax increases on anyone to pay for more spending," said Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas.

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Despite deal, taxes to rise for most Americans

WASHINGTON (AP) -- While the tax package that Congress passed New Year's Day will protect 99 percent of Americans from an income tax increase, most of them will still end up paying more federal taxes in 2013.
That's because the legislation did nothing to prevent a temporary reduction in the Social Security payroll tax from expiring. In 2012, that 2-percentage-point cut in the payroll tax was worth about $1,000 to a worker making $50,000 a year.
The Tax Policy Center, a nonpartisan Washington research group, estimates that 77 percent of American households will face higher federal taxes in 2013 under the agreement negotiated between President Barack Obama and Senate Republicans. High-income families will feel the biggest tax increases, but many middle- and low-income families will pay higher taxes too.
Households making between $40,000 and $50,000 will face an average tax increase of $579 in 2013, according to the Tax Policy Center's analysis. Households making between $50,000 and $75,000 will face an average tax increase of $822.
"For most people, it's just the payroll tax," said Roberton Williams, a senior fellow at the Tax Policy Center.
The tax increases could be a lot higher. A huge package of tax cuts first enacted under President George W. Bush was scheduled to expire Tuesday as part of the "fiscal cliff." The Bush-era tax cuts lowered taxes for families at every income level, reduced investment taxes and the estate tax, and enhanced a number of tax credits, including a $1,000-per-child credit.
The package passed Tuesday by the Senate and House extends most the Bush-era tax cuts for individuals making less than $400,000 and married couples making less than $450,000.
Obama said the deal "protects 98 percent of Americans and 97 percent of small business owners from a middle-class tax hike. While neither Democrats nor Republicans got everything they wanted, this agreement is the right thing to do for our country."
The income threshold covers more than 99 percent of all households, exceeding Obama's claim, according to the Tax Policy Center. However, the increase in payroll taxes will hit nearly every wage earner.
Social Security is financed by a 12.4 percent tax on wages up to $113,700, with employers paying half and workers paying the other half. Obama and Congress reduced the share paid by workers from 6.2 percent to 4.2 percent for 2011 and 2012, saving a typical family about $1,000 a year.
Obama pushed hard to enact the payroll tax cut for 2011 and to extend it through 2012. But it was never fully embraced by either party, and this time around, there was general agreement to let it expire.
The new tax package would increase the income tax rate from 35 percent to 39.6 percent on income above $400,000 for individuals and $450,000 for married couples. Investment taxes would increase for people who fall in the new top tax bracket.
High-income families will also pay higher taxes this year as part of Obama's 2010 health care law. As part of that law, a new 3.8 percent tax is being imposed on investment income for individuals making more than $200,000 a year and couples making more than $250,000.
Together, the new tax package and Obama's health care law will produce significant tax increases for many high-income families.
For 2013, households making between $500,000 and $1 million would get an average tax increase of $14,812, according to the Tax Policy Center analysis. Households making more than $1 million would get an average tax increase of $170,341.
"If you're rich, you're almost certain to get a big tax increase," Williams said.

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Computer & Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing in the UK Industry Market Research Report Now Updated by IBISWorld

The Computer & Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing industry is very competitive due to falling prices and low profit margins, and as a result, manufacturing has tended to shift to countries that have access to low-cost labour and deep and efficient supply chains. Industry revenue is expected to continue to fall over the next five years to 2017-18, but at a much lesser rate than it did in the previous five years to 2012-13.

London, United Kingdom (PRWEB) January 04, 2013
The Computer & Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing industry is very competitive, characterised by falling prices and low profit margins. Demand for computers and peripheral equipment has been promoted by falling prices and the release of new and enhanced products, software and applications. However, computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing has tended to shift to countries that have access to low-cost labour and deep and efficient supply chains. As a result, the number of firms and establishments in this industry has been falling.
The UK industry is expected to generate revenue of £1.13 billion in 2012-13, down 0.5% compared with 2011-12. The domestic market for computers and peripheral equipment is estimated at £8.1 billion in 2012-13, down 0.5% compared with 2011-12. Industry revenue is expected to contract by an annualised 8.5% in the five years through 2012-13 due to falling unit prices, weak domestic demand and growing imports. According to IBISWorld industry analyst Nigel Fitzpatrick, “domestic demand for industry products has been negatively affected by the slow economy and associated weakness in business investment and consumer spending”. Some unprofitable operations have closed and some companies have transferred production capacity from the UK to countries where manufacturing costs are low, such as China and countries in Eastern Europe.
Industry revenue is expected to continue to fall over the next five years to 2017-18, but at a much lesser rate than it did in the previous five years to 2012-13. Fitzpatrick adds, “industry activity in the next five years will be affected by a loss of market share in both domestic and export markets”. Competitive downward pressure on average unit selling prices will also negatively affect revenue.
The Computer & Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing industry has a low level of market share concentration. The top four players are expected to account for 18.9% of industry revenue in 2012-13. Major companies include RM, Stone Group and Viglen.
For more information on the Computer & Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing industry, including latest industry trends, statistics, analysis and market share information, purchase the full report from IBISWorld, the nation’s largest publisher of industry research.
IBISWorld industry Report Key Topics
Companies in the Computer & Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing industry produce electronic computers, such as mainframes, desktop computers, laptops and computer servers; and computer peripheral equipment, such as storage devices and input/output devices such as printers, monitors and keyboards.
Industry Performance

Executive Summary

Key External Drivers

Current Performance

Industry Outlook

Industry Life Cycle

Products & Markets

Supply Chain

Products & Services

Major Markets

Globalisation & Trade

Business Locations

Competitive Landscape

Market Share Concentration

Key Success Factors

Cost Structure Benchmarks

Barriers to Entry

Major Companies

Operating Conditions

Capital Intensity

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Annual Change

Key Ratios
About IBISWorld

Recognised as the nation’s most trusted independent source of industry and market research, IBISWorld offers a comprehensive database of unique information and analysis on many UK industries. With an extensive online portfolio, valued for its depth and scope, the company equips clients with the insight necessary to make better business decisions. Headquartered in London, IBISWorld serves a range of business, professional service and government organisations through more than 10 locations worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.ibisworld.co.uk or call (020) 3008 6568.

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Hives Treatment for Men and Women Released Online by OxyHives

Hives treatment by OxyHives is now released online for men and women at OxyHives.com This all-natural and homeopathic relief formula is designed to takeaway the itching, burning and redness that happens when someone suffers a hives breakout.

Houston, Texas (PRWEB) January 04, 2013
Millions of men and women suffer from the condition known as hives. A new relief solution has been launched online to provide immediate hives treatment. This new homeopathic spray solution is now offered to help relieve the redness, burning and itching that are side effects that can happen during an outbreak.
The new OxyHives solution is designed to provide a different method to those that have tried creams or other solutions with no results.
A person that has known allergies, emotional distress or frequent sun exposure could develop hives. While doctors can diagnosis this condition, those that have already received diagnosis often have few treatments that produce results. Medicinal therapies are available and the all-natural ingredients that are included in the new relief spray are designed to offer a holistic healing alternative.
One of the benefits of this new solution is that it is not directly applied to the skin. Unlike creams or ointments, the ingredients are able to be absorbed into the blood stream faster instead of soaked through the skin layer. This absorption is able to administer the healing effects to men or women that require immediate relief. The spray is odorless and does not cause mouth or lip irritations.
Swelling and redness are two of the side effects that are included with a hives outbreak. Many people report raised areas that are itchy and red during a severe outbreak. One of the drawbacks of this swelling and redness is that the symptoms can disappear and return in a matter of hours. The new OxyHives treatment provides immediate relief and is designed to prevent future outbreaks.
The new launch of this relief spray is now combined with a special offer. Men or women that sample this product are eligible to receive a dual order for no cost. This new incentive is designed to provide extended relief during the use of this anti-itch formula. The detail page on the OxyHives.com website provides information on this special incentive.
To go with the new release, a period of 90 days is given in the company guarantee of the product. This period of time is extended to ensure that all people who sample the benefits of this spray can obtain the relief that is desired during a mild to severe outbreak.
About OxyHives Relief Spray
The OxyHives Relief Spray was launched in 2012 and is one of the products offered to men and women online. The natural ingredients that are used to create this breakthrough formula provide the homeopathic relief that many demand instead of pharmaceutical created creams or applications to treat hives. The company that produces this product is a member of the Natural Products Association for excellence in the application of natural ingredients. The OxyHives Relief Spray is one of the first of its kind to be offered to the public with a complete guarantee of use for a period of 90 days.

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Dr. Energy Saver Supports Long Island Green Homes’ 15% Off Coupon at All Modell’s Stores

Dr. Energy Saver® Long Island is participating in a fundraiser for the Long Island Green Homes’ initiative.

Middle Island, NY (PRWEB) January 04, 2013
Dr. Energy Saver® Long Island is proud to support Long Island Green Homes’ initiative promoting green home improvements. The fundraiser includes a 15% holiday season discount to Modell’s Sporting Goods, valid through January 3rd, 2013.
Dr. Energy Saver Long Island is certified by two sponsors of the Long Island Green Homes program: the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and Home Performance with ENERGY STAR®. They are volunteering their time and effort to promote green home energy improvements.
As part of NYSERDA, Dr. Energy Saver Long Island participates in Green Jobs - Green New York, which owner Larry Kogel says, “This program has allowed us to hire at least five additional people in a period of unemployment and difficult times for homeowners and businesses alike. We are proud to be a part of such a tremendous program by providing jobs to the community while also implementing green home improvement efforts.”
The 15% discount for Modell’s can be used multiple times on entire purchases through January 3, 2013. In addition, 5% of the money generated from the program will go toward the Energize Long Island Challenge prize winners (a retrofit installation contest; ask Dr. Energy Saver Long Island for details).
Long Island Green Homes Consortium is a cooperative effort whose goal is to reduce energy costs and usage for Long Island homeowners by helping them get comprehensive energy audits and make cost effective energy upgrades to their home. Programs are available to residents of all towns, cities, and villages on Long Island.
Dr. Energy Saver Long Island is a team of trained professional energy experts with decades of experience in the industry, all dedicated to helping homeowners save energy and money. Their wide variety of services includes crawl space encapsulation, air sealing, insulation, window and door replacement, and more.
As part of the national Dr. Energy Saver network, Dr. Energy Saver Long Island has exclusive access to patented products and the latest technologies in the home performance field. Contact them today for a free home energy audit or estimate!

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Remanufactured Ford Aerostar Engines Now Sold Online at RemanufactuedEnginesforSale.com

Remanufactured Ford Aerostar engines are now sold online at the RemanufacturedEnginesforSale.com website. This new engine addition is offered in a 4.0 configuration and is now sold to buyers that require replacement motors for Ford vehicles.

Seattle, Washington (PRWEB) January 04, 2013
The RemanufacturedEnginesforSale.com company is now selling the 4.0 edition of the Aerostar engine by Ford. This V6 motor is now custom built and offered to vehicle owners and installers that purchase replacement engines. These remanufactured Ford Aerostar engines are now priced as a special incentive for buyers. More information can be found at http://www.remanufacturedenginesforsale.com.
The minivan series produced by Ford started with the Aerostar and moved eventually to the Windstar. The mid 1980s addition of the van series competed directly with GMC and Dodge to expand vehicle sales in the U.S. Millions of these Ford vans were sold to buyers and many remain in use.
The online addition of this rebuilt engine type is expected to provide one additional resource to locate these motors.
New warranty terms have been applied to the in stock inventory at the RemanufacturedEnginesforSale.com website. These terms are designed to help provide an extended coverage period of time to all buyers of the inventory that is offered. The new 36-month coverage term is now applied to all orders online and offline.
A brand new quote system is helping to deliver pricing for the new 4.0 engine as well as the other variants in stock. This quote form can be used during and after business hours by buyers that require immediate pricing. This new form can be accessed online at http://www.remanufacturedenginesforsale.com/ford/ford-aerostar-40-engines.
About Remanufactured Engines for Sale
The Remanufactured Engines for Sale company has sold its inventory offline for decades and sold online since 2009. By innovating its company with engineering and other upgrades, customers that purchase engines from this company receive OEM tested motors. The integration of a dyno testing department has helped to improve the output quality of each rebuilt unit. The Remanufactured Engines for Sale company applies warranty coverage to all purchased inventory as well as provides same day shipping in an effort to allow customers to receive orders faster.

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Samuel M. Murray’s ‘Samuel’ is an Autobiographical Look at Picking Oneself up by One’s Bootstraps

ST. ALBANS, N.Y. (PRWEB) January 04, 2013
The story of men and women building themselves up from nothing to success is an integral part of the American Dream. In his autobiography“Samuel: In Search of the American Dream” (published by iUniverse) Dr. Samuel M. Murray, P.D., Ed.D., recounts for readers his story of rising from abject poverty to his current success.
“I wanted to write this book to leave a legacy concerning my difficult struggle to survive and achieve my goals after living in poverty and receiving very little help,” Murray says.
An excerpt from “Samuel”:
“The road to school was long, cold, and dangerous. School buses didn’t transport black children. Mama asked me, ‘How will you get there, son?’ I replied, ‘I guess I’ll just have to walk, mama. But, I’ll get there, I’ll get there.’”
“Samuel” has already been recognized as a valuable book by several sources, including Kutztown University in Pennsylvania, who assigned it as their summer reading assignment for all incoming freshmen in 2005. “I know that his story has influenced the lives of others,” says Regis Bernhardt, dean of Kutztown. “This is why I invited him to come to Kutztown. I marvel at his perseverance, and I am moved by his desire to influence the lives of others.”
“Samuel”

By Dr. Samuel M. Murray, P.D., Ed.D.

Softcover | 5.5 x 8.5 in | 244 pages | ISBN 9781462015542

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble
About the Author

Dr. Samuel M. Murray was born on a small farm in Yemassee, S.C. Murray and the former Eugenie Lewis were married on December 19, 1948. One month later, Eugenie Lewis Murray watched with pride as her husband received his high school diploma at age 20. Since then, Murray has earned the following degrees: B.A., M.S., P.D., and Ed.D. At Fordham University, Murray became a member of Kappa Delta Pi in 1975, and was accepted as a member of Phi Delta Kappa in 1976.
Murray had a successful career with the New York City Fire Department from 1958 to 1990. Before he became an author and publisher, Murray taught at William Paterson College in New Jersey, and at Nyack College in New York.

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Laclede to double customers in $1 billion deal with Energy Transfer

 Natural gas distributor Laclede Group Inc is buying two utilities from Energy Transfer Equity LP for $1 billion, doubling its customer numbers and boosting its exposure to more stable state-regulated income.
More than 91 percent of Laclede's earnings will come from rate-regulated business after the acquisition of Missouri Gas Energy and New England Gas Co, owned by Energy Transfer's affiliate, Southern Union Co.
About 68 percent of Laclede's operating revenue of $1.12 billion came from its regulated gas distribution business in the year ended September 30.
"With lower ... prices, more and more customers are interested in using natural gas," Chief Executive Suzanne Sitherwood told Reuters. "The other emerging market that is taking place is with natural gas vehicles."
Gas prices have fallen sharply from their peak of more than $13 per million metric British thermal unit (mmBtu) to about $3 now due to vast supplies from shale fields in North America.
This has prompted increased use of gas for heating and power generation. Westport Innovations Inc , General Motors Co , Caterpillar Inc and Ford Motor Co are some of the companies developing technologies to drive the use of the fuel in vehicles.
Laclede too has been working on fueling natural gas vehicles and has received a lot of interest for possible partnerships, Sitherwood said. She did not name the interested parties.
GOOD PRICE FOR ETE
Missouri Gas and New England Gas, which had combined revenue of about $517 million for the year ended September 30, serve more than 500,000 customers in western Missouri and about 50,000 in Massachusetts.
The acquisition, which includes debt of about $20 million, will take Laclede's customer base to 1.2 million, the company said in a statement.
Laclede expects the acquisition to be neutral to its earnings per share in the first full year after close, likely in the third quarter of 2013.
Energy Transfer Partners LP , a unit of Energy Transfer Equity and a party to the deal, said the transaction was part of the company's efforts to divest non-core assets.
The gas utilities passed into Energy Transfer's hands when it bought pipeline operator Southern Union Co last year.
"For the Energy Transfer family, this (deal) compares favorably to our previously modeled $710 million sale estimate," analysts at Robert W. Baird wrote in a note to clients.
St Louis, Missouri-based Laclede said Wells Fargo Bank will provide a $1 billion bridge facility for the purchase.
Laclede shares were down about 2 percent at $39.12 in afternoon trading on Monday on the New York Stock Exchange. Shares of Energy Transfer Equity and Energy Transfer Partners were slightly up.
Wells Fargo Securities LLC advises Laclede, while Credit Suisse Securities LLC is advising Energy Transfer and Southern Union. Moelis & Co gave the fairness opinion to Laclede.

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Sun Life sells U.S. annuity business, shares drop

 Sun Life Financial Inc will sell its U.S. annuity business for $1.35 billion to a firm connected to Guggenheim Partners in a deal that should reduce the exposure of the insurer's earnings to market swings and boost its cash levels.
While the deal could bring long-term benefits to Sun Life, whose earnings have been derailed by wild market swings during recent years, investors pulled the company's shares down by nearly 4 percent as the financial terms fell short of initial expectations.
"The stock's sort of correcting back because the deal isn't quite as big a windfall as I think the market was anticipating," said National Bank financial analyst Peter Routledge.
Delaware Life Holdings, owned by certain Guggenheim clients and shareholders, will rename itself Delaware Life Insurance Co following the cash purchase. Guggenheim will provide investment management services to the new company.
Sun Life, Canada's No. 3 insurer, said last year it would stop selling variable annuities and individual life products in the United States to focus more on group insurance and voluntary benefits.
Variable annuities - retirement products that guarantee the investor a minimum monthly payment - became a source of earnings volatility for Sun Life in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. That is because low interest rates and Canadian accounting rules force insurers to take upfront losses on products that will not come due for years.
"The business makes money, but not enough," said Routledge.
Weak equity markets and low bond yields sent Sun Life's profit down 87.5 percent during the second quarter of 2012 and caused losses during the third and fourth quarters of 2011.
EARNINGS HIT
The deal will cut Sun Life's profit by 22 Canadian cents a share annually and reduce book value by C$950 million ($965 million), the company said in a statement. According to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S, Sun Life was expected to earn C$2.53 a share on a net basis in 2013.
The deal has also prompted Sun Life to take a second look at its 2015 financial targets, which include a goal of C$2 billion in operating profit.
In an interview, Sun Life Chief Executive Dean Connor said he would update the market on the targets after the deal closes, which is expected during the second quarter next year.
"I'm not saying we will necessarily reduce them. I'm not saying we will necessarily leave them as they are, because we don't know yet," he said.
The deal is also expected to reduce the company's earnings sensitivity to equity markets by 50 percent and its sensitivity to interest rates by 35 percent, compared with estimates on September 30.
It will raise Sun Life's cash position to C$1.9 billion.
"Over time, we'll redeploy that cash to fund growth," said Connor. He said the growth could include acquisitions on the "smaller end of the spectrum."
Sun Life, which also owns U.S. asset manager MFS Investment Management, is targeting growth in its Asian business.
SHARES DOWN
Sun Life shares, which have outperformed its rivals with a 47 percent year-to-date rise coming into Monday's session, ended down 3.9 percent at C$26.74 on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Despite the strong rise this year, the stock still trades at less than half its all-time high set in 2007.
Robert Sedran, an analyst at CIBC World Markets, said in a research note that the earnings and book value reductions were worse than he had expected.
"Moreover, while the decline in the earnings sensitivity to market variables improves the risk-reward profile, we did not view those sensitivities as excessive to begin with," he said.
However, he said the deal will free up time and capital that would otherwise have been engaged in what is essentially a closed business, which is a positive.
Morgan Stanley & Co advised Sun Life on the transaction financials.
Law firm Debevoise & Plimpton LLP was legal adviser to Sun Life, while Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom advised Guggenheim Partners.

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FactSet forecasts second-quarter results largely below estimates, shares fall

 FactSet Research Systems Inc reported lower-than-expected first-quarter revenue, and the financial information provider forecast current-quarter results largely below estimates as banks and brokerages cut costs.
FactSet shares fell 5 percent before the bell on Tuesday.
The company, which provides data to portfolio managers, research analysts and investment bankers, forecast second-quarter earnings of $1.11 to $1.13 per share, on revenue of $212 million and $215 million.
Analysts on average were expecting earnings of $1.13 per share on revenue of $216.3 million, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
FactSet's financial sector clients are cutting staff and trimming costs to cope with increased regulation and a struggling global economy.
In the United States, financial companies have announced plans to cut 28,000 jobs through the first nine months of this year, compared with 54,000 during the same period in 2011, according to executive placement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.
FactSet said its net income rose to $49.8 million, or $1.11 per share, in the first quarter, from $45.5 million, or 99 cents per share, a year earlier.
The company earned $1.22 cents per share, excluding items.
Revenue rose 7.5 percent to $211.1 million for the quarter ended November 30.
Analysts on average had expected earnings of $1.11 per share, on revenue of $212.3 million.
FactSet rival Thomson Reuters Corp, the owner of Reuters News, last month reported a 15 percent fall in operating profit for the quarter ended September 30, on declining revenue and higher costs in its division that serves the financial industry.
FactSet's shares closed at $96.39 on the New York Stock Exchange on Monday.

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Jefferies results beat estimates on higher fixed-income revenue

Jefferies Group Inc reported a higher-than-expected adjusted quarterly profit as the investment bank benefited from higher earnings from its fixed-income unit, and said its business expansion in Asia has started delivering.
The midsized investment bank has been expanding in China and India and recently poached bankers from the Royal Bank of Scotland to expand its business in China.
Jefferies said it also benefited from a pickup in trading across the board in September thanks to fresh stimulus plans from the U.S. Federal Reserve, and that it was gaining market share from larger rivals. The Fed had unveiled a program to purchase $40 billion in mortgage bonds.
The company saw its trading revenue more than double to $293 million from $141 million a year earlier.
"Our competitive position is very strong so across the products within fixed income I think we're gaining market share," Chief Executive Richard Handler said on a post-earnings conference call.
As the first investment bank to report earnings, Jefferies is often viewed as an indicator for larger Wall Street banks such as Goldman Sachs Group and Morgan Stanley .
Jefferies, founded in 1962 in Los Angeles to trade large stock orders away from the New York Stock Exchange, agreed last month to be bought by top shareholder Leucadia National Corp for $2.76 billion in stock.
"Combining our company with an extremely well-capitalized parent will allow us to continue to aggressively add value to our clients," Jefferies said in a statement on Tuesday.
Compensation costs at the company remained high with the company paying 59.9 percent of net revenue to employees, in line with previous periods but higher than the 50 percent industry peers generally target.
Net income rose to $72 million, or 31 cents per share, in the fourth quarter from $48 million, or 21 cents per share, a year earlier.
On an adjusted basis, earnings were 35 cents per share.
Analysts had expected the company to earn 32 cents per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Revenue for the quarter rose 39 percent to $769 million, above estimates of $722.6 million. Investment banking revenue rose 8 percent to $283 million.
Jefferies shares, which have risen 12 percent since the Leucadia deal was announced in mid-November, was trading up 2.5 percent at $18.70 on the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday.

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Oracle 2Q earnings rise 18 pct as tech spending up

 Oracle says its latest quarterly earnings rose 18 percent as companies splurged on more software and other technology toward the end of the year.
The results announced Tuesday are an improvement from Oracle's previous quarter, when the company's revenue dipped slightly from a year earlier.
The latest quarter spanned September through November. That makes Oracle the first technology bellwether to provide insights into corporate spending since the Nov. 6 re-election of President Obama and negotiations to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff began to heat up.
Oracle Corp. earned $2.6 billion, or 53 cents per share, in its fiscal second quarter. That compares with net income of $2.2 billion, or 43 cents per share, last year.
Revenue increased 3 percent to $9.1 billion.
Oracle is based in Redwood Shores, Calif.

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Cannabis Chewing Gum from Medical Marijuana Inc. Coming Soon, Says UnitedPatientsGroup.com

CBD-based chewing gum, the latest development of the medical marijuana industry produced by Medical Marijuana Inc. and CanChew Bio-technologies, will hit the shelves of health food markets in the near future, says UnitedPatientsGroup.com.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) December 22, 2012
Cannabis chewing gum may sound like a fairy tale product from the future, but patients can expect it to be a reality soon. CanChew gum, the newest addition to the Medical Marijuana Inc. portfolio of revolutionary CBD-based products, is in the market testing phase right now and will become available at health food markets in early 2013. UnitedPatientsGroup.com explains how this gum can benefit many medical marijuana patients.
“Medical Marijuana Inc. recently acquired a 50% interest of CanChew Bio-technologies from European based pharmaceutical company Sanammad to come up with this industry changing product that will offer a discreet way for patients to take their medication and find relief,” says John Malanca, founder and owner of UnitedPatientsGroup.com.
Malanca says other benefits of CanChew gum include:

    Rapid absorption of pain relieving Cannabidiol (CBD) – When the gum is chewed, the active compounds are released directly into the blood stream via the oral mucosal glands, providing more rapid relief.
    Regulated dosages – Each piece of gum contains a regulated amount of CBD, so the guesswork of pain relief is virtually eliminated.
    A socially acceptable delivery method – Unlike smoking, CanChew gum allows patients to take their medication any place and any time without having to worry about the negative social stigma.
    A travel-friendly alternative to medical marijuana – CanChew has the potential to give patients a completely new way to travel with their medication without the stress of security checks and possession fines. (More information about traveling with medical marijuana.)
In addition to these benefits, UnitedPatientsGroup.com says Medical Marijuana Inc’s CBD products provide an innovative way for patients to find relief.
For more information about CanChew gum, visit canchewbiotech.com or medicalmarijuanainc.com.
To learn more about UnitedPatientsGroup.com, please call (415) 524-8099 or visit UnitedPatientsGroup.com. The best way to stay informed about developments is to “like” United Patients Group on Facebook and “follow” Untied Patients Group on Twitter.
About UnitedPatientsGroup.com
UnitedPatientsGroup.com is a discreet, safe, and professional [online medical cannabis information resource for prospective and current patients, caregivers, and medicinal cannabis industry professionals.
While most online medical marijuana sites cater to patients already familiar with medical marijuana, the UnitedPatientsGroup.com website is a comprehensive and easy-to-use information source for people of all ages and experience levels, from novice medical cannabis users to experienced industry professionals. The site’s News, Resource, and Blog pages introduce new patients to the ins and outs of medical marijuana healthcare, while helping experienced providers stay abreast of the latest developments in CBD therapies.
A complimentary Five Star-rated UPG medical marijuana app is now available on the iTunes app store for iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation) and any iPad.

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Tees For Your Head Announces Exclusive Reissue of Geeky Astronomy T-Shirts Created for South Pole Telescope Team Members

Online retailer Tees For Your Head offers a line of tees for geeks in the arts and sciences, and now they've added an exclusive set of South Pole Telescope tees.

Santa Cruz, CA (PRWEB) December 22, 2012
Imagine working in unusually dry, cold conditions, two miles above sea level, where night and day don't follow the rules: winters are never light and summers are never dark. Welcome to the South Pole.
Online store Tees For Your Head is the only retailer to offer t-shirts created by and for the researchers, engineers, and support staff of the South Pole Telescope project.
Tees are available for 2008 through 2012, with 2013 coming soon. The original print runs were screen printed, and were available only to the people personally connected to the project. Now Tees For Your Head will maintain former and current versions of the tees, printing them to order using direct-to-garment printers on the blank of the buyer's choice.
Blank t-shirt styles to choose from include:

A men's classic cut (a looser fit) in heavyweight cotton with a crew neck
A men's lightweight, fitted style in organic cotton with a crew neck
A women's lightweight, fitted style in organic cotton with a crew neck
A women's lightweight, fitted style with a v-neck
A unisex youth heavyweight cotton with a crew neck
For the first time, the general public is invited to celebrate the South Pole Telescope project by wearing their favorite shirts, anything from the playful Nibiru design for 2012 to the elegant wire frame-style drawing of the telescope for 2011.
Shirts are available now on the Tees For Your Head website. "We are lucky to be able to offer these designs, and we have sizes for kids and tee styles for women. It’s a great way for the people who have been involved in creating, and now using, the South Pole Telescope to share the experience with their families without making them go to the south pole," says Tom Bates, co-owner of Tees for Your Head.
About Tees For Your Head: the online home of geeky t-shirts for lovers of the arts and sciences was launched in 2012. Husband and wife team Tom Bates and Karin Carter have an arts and science background and create their own designs to appeal to the geeks of the world. Santa Cruz tee shirt designs are in the works for this Santa Cruz based business. By the way, these tees are worn on the body, not really on the head. Just a helpful hint. Find their unique geeky tees at http://www.teesforyourhead.com online now.

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Mail Box Stores Announces the Opening of 1 Stop Mailbox Shop in Brandenton, FL, DRSS Reports

1 Stop Mailbox Shop is a full service mailbox store recently opened for business in Brandenton, FL offering 25 shipping, business, and postal services along with a range of office, packing, and shipping merchandise.

Brandenton, FL (PRWEB) December 22, 2012
1 Stop mailbox Shop is a new full-service mailbox store recently opened by local entrepreneur, Joy Grimes. It is located at 4456 Cortez Road West, Brandenton, FL 34210. The location offers residence a convenient place for all of their essential shipping and mailbox needs as well as office, packing, and packing supplies, saving them a lot of time and money according to store owner, Joy Grimes.
1 Stop Mailbox Shop offers national and international shipping of items of any size for a good price, plus packing and packaging materials, key cutting, color copy services, passports and ID photos, letterheads, business cards, mailbox rentals, a range of office supplies, and shipping supplies like loose fill, tape, cushioned mailers, shipping labels, decorated boxes, corrugated boxes, bubble wrap and more.
The Mail Box Stores assisted 1 Stop Mailbox Shop in securing financing, site location, lease negotiation, business training and store operation training, store build-out, and securing a network of wholesale suppliers, and they are committed to providing ongoing business and marketing support. These services were available for a one-time cost and there are no franchise fees because 1 Stop Mailbox Shop is independently owned by Joy Grimes.
The Mail Box Stores is a non-franchise independent developer of mailbox stores specializing in all areas of mailbox store business development including financing assistance plus credit repair when needed, site location, lease negotiation, business training, store build-out, securing a network of wholesale suppliers, and ongoing support for the life of the business at no additional cost.
Discount Retail Store Services is an independent business development company that offers turn-key business start-up opportunities across six proven business models including Dollar Stores, Clothing Stores, Mail Box Stores, Teen Stores, party Stores, and Fitness Centers. DRSS is not a franchise operation and owners have 100% control over their store and pay no franchise fees. You can get upcoming news about DRSS on Facebook.

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LED Tube [ZT-T1009-20014A] is Introduced by Zhongtian Lighting

Zhongtian Lighting, a leading LED light manufacturer in China, launched 10W T10 LED tube light [ZT-T1009-20014A] with CE and RoHS certificates. It can be used to replace the 25W traditional fluorescent lamp.

(PRWEB) December 22, 2012
Zhongtian Lighting, a leading LED light manufacturer in China, launched 10W T10 LED tube light[ZT-T1009-20014A] with CE and RoHS certificates. It can be used to replace the 25W traditional fluorescent lamp. In addition, It is widely used in meeting rooms, restaurants, office buildings, factories, shopping malls, schools, airports, subway stations, garages, hotels, homes, hospitals, libraries and teaching buildings and other indoor lighting. The lamps save 80% energy and last up to 25 times longer than conventional lamps.

The technical specification as following:

Model:    ZT-T1009-20014A

Shade dimension:    30*900mm

Rated power:    10W

Lamp beads:    200pcs

Housing material:    PC+6063 Aluminum

Input voltage:     85-264VAC/DC，50-60Hz

Efficiency:    0.90

Luminous flux:    950lm±150lm

Beam angle:    120 degrees

Color rendering index:    75±5Ra

Color:    Warm white/White/Cool white

Color temperature:    (3000K-3500K),(4000K-4500K), (5500K-6500K)

Working temperature:    -20℃ - 45 ℃

Luminous intensity:    400lux@1.0M, 120lux@2.0M, 55lux@3.0M

Luminous efficiency:    >70lm/w

At 10W energy consumption, the lumens start at 1100lm with high efficiency. Stylishly designed to resemble traditional light tubes and fit standard sockets, Zhongtian Lighting’s LED tube lights are available in warm white, cool white and dimmable variants. All its LED tubes are rigorously tested, RoHS compliant, approved by CE and come with 3-year replacement guarantee. Because they contain no mercury, they can be responsibly recycled with other metals and glass. Zhongtian Lighting’s LED tube lights are designed to address the demand for energy efficient, non toxic alternatives to today’s fluorescent lamps, which are only 10% efficient, wasting 90% of their energy to heat dissipation.

As pioneers of the LED industry, Zhongtian Lighting knows that those certificates on their products will assist their end users in getting rebates, and will also prove that they provide quality lasting products. It is the ideal LED energy saving lamp due to its low power consumption, non-ultraviolet and infrared, low thermal radiation, high light efficiency and low attenuation. As AC converts to DC directly, it has high color rendering index without stroboscopic.

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