Shakira Niazi in Business of Bringing Clean Water to World

Shakira Niazi is grateful for the life she has lived.

Having escaped Afghanistan as a preteen, Niazi, now 40, has since lived the American dream. She received an MBA, drove a Maserati, earned an average of $250,000 a year in the mortgage banking industry, and both her children attend private high school De La Salle in Concord.

Then, last March, during World Water Day, she stumbled upon a report released by UNICEF about access to clean drinking water that changed the course of her professional life. In the report, she spotted a map with a little pink dot.

"That is my country of Afghanistan, and that color means that more than 52 percent of its entire population doesn't have access to clean water," she said. "Up until last year, I really had no idea. I knew this was an issue, but not to the level that I had just found out."

Niazi remembers her father subsequently planted the seed by telling her she had to figure out how to build water wells for those in need.

"I asked him why water wells and he responded, 'Water is life; with water those poor villagers could survive and become self-sufficient,' " she said.

That made her realize that instead of big paychecks being her inspiration, she wanted to find a career that would be bigger than herself. It wasn't good enough just to "live a comfortable life."

"In life, we can just go for the bigger house or bigger car, but at some point it reaches a point where (it becomes)  'What's next?' " she said. "At some point we feel like we need something more fulfilling."Niazi used $100,000 of her own money this month to launch Salvare La Vita Water, a water company with biodegradable bottles that will use its profits to address the lack of clean drinking water around the world. The Italian name "Salvare La Vita" translates to "Saving Lives."

"I've never done anything like this where I'm putting in everything out of pocket, and there is nothing right now in the projections that I can count on it coming back to me," she said. "Yet there's something about it that drives me with this inner contentment that it's all going to be OK."

Even though the company is run as a for-profit business, the profits are designated to help build wells around the world. The first profits will go to a village in Afghanistan where the unsafe drinking water level is more than 80 percent.

Niazi realizes that she could have just made a donation and impacted the lives of many, but she wanted to create a system that would make a difference even beyond her lifetime.

"Everybody is stuck on these other headlines going on in Afghanistan, but this is enormous," she said. "The only difference between us and them is that they are born into a part of the world that doesn't have a chance."
Niazi escaped from Afghanistan in 1981 after the Soviet Union invaded, traveled to Pakistan before flying to Germany for nine months, and then ended up in the United States.

"I remember watching the news and seeing some of the mountains and thinking, 'We actually walked across those,' " the graduate of Ygnacio Valley High School said. "We all very easily could have been one of the statistics."

Through a local nonprofit agency, Niazi has determined that 10 water pump wells will provide clean drinking water for 1,500 families, a minimum of 4,500 people.

Broken down even further, 31 bottles will provide one person clean drinking water for 20 years, a reminder that is placed on every bottle.

"I want to engage the general consumer so they can see how little it takes to impact someone's life clear across the world," she said.

Currently the water is being sold in Bay Area establishments such as Planet Fresh Gourmet Burritos in Pleasanton; Grub N Go and Northside Cafe in Berkeley; Jackson Street Cafe in Oakland; Mama's in San Francisco, and Milano Pizza in Tracy. Her hope is that grocers such as Whole Foods will offer the water, too.
She's also close to landing a deal with De La Salle to have the cafeteria offer the water.

Niazi realizes that Afghanistan is a political issue, and that many will wonder why she chose Americans to be the first target of her clean-water campaign.

But Niazi sees it as a second opportunity.

"If I can help bridge the gap between the two countries, I want to do that," she said. "Not everyone there is the Taliban. There are a lot of simple people like us just trying to make things meet, and if they can't get clean water, many of them won't make it."

'What's next?' " she said. "At some point we feel like we need something more fulfilling."

Niazi used $100,000 of her own money this month to launch Salvare La Vita Water, a water company with biodegradable bottles that will use its profits to address the lack of clean drinking water around the world. The Italian name "Salvare La Vita" translates to "Saving Lives."

"I've never done anything like this where I'm putting in everything out of pocket, and there is nothing right now in the projections that I can count on it coming back to me," she said. "Yet there's something about it that drives me with this inner contentment that it's all going to be OK."

Even though the company is run as a for-profit business, the profits are designated to help build wells around the world. The first profits will go to a village in Afghanistan where the unsafe drinking water level is more than 80 percent.

Niazi realizes that she could have just made a donation and impacted the lives of many, but she wanted to create a system that would make a difference even beyond her lifetime.

"Everybody is stuck on these other headlines going on in Afghanistan, but this is enormous," she said. "The only difference between us and them is that they are born into a part of the world that doesn't have a chance."
Niazi escaped from Afghanistan in 1981 after the Soviet Union invaded, traveled to Pakistan before flying to Germany for nine months, and then ended up in the United States.

"I remember watching the news and seeing some of the mountains and thinking, 'We actually walked across those,' " the graduate of Ygnacio Valley High School said. "We all very easily could have been one of the statistics."

Through a local nonprofit agency, Niazi has determined that 10 water pump wells will provide clean drinking water for 1,500 families, a minimum of 4,500 people.

Broken down even further, 31 bottles will provide one person clean drinking water for 20 years, a reminder that is placed on every bottle.

"I want to engage the general consumer so they can see how little it takes to impact someone's life clear across the world," she said.

Currently the water is being sold in Bay Area establishments such as Planet Fresh Gourmet Burritos in Pleasanton; Grub N Go and Northside Cafe in Berkeley; Jackson Street Cafe in Oakland; Mama's in San Francisco, and Milano Pizza in Tracy. Her hope is that grocers such as Whole Foods will offer the water, too.
She's also close to landing a deal with De La Salle to have the cafeteria offer the water.

Niazi realizes that Afghanistan is a political issue, and that many will wonder why she chose Americans to be the first target of her clean-water campaign.

But Niazi sees it as a second opportunity.

"If I can help bridge the gap between the two countries, I want to do that," she said. "Not everyone there is the Taliban. There are a lot of simple people like us just trying to make things meet, and if they can't get clean water, many of them won't make it."

SHAKIRA NIAZI

Age: 40
Hometown: San Ramon
Claim to fame: Started business Salvare La Vita Water
Education: Ygnacio Valley High School, Cal State Hayward, University of Phoenix
Quotable: "I've never done anything like this where I'm putting in everything out of pocket, and there is nothing right now in the projections that I can count on coming back to me. Yet there's something about it that drives me with this inner contentment that it's all going to be OK."

PC Grievance Software Team Moved Some Operations to the San Francisco Bay Area

The Union Built PC grievance software team has recently moved some operations to the San Francisco Bay area. The move includes Development Manager Barry Diederich, who has been with the Company since 2003. 

"We're really excited about the move," says Diederich. "We're eager to take advantage of the leading edge technology environment in the Bay Area and nearby Silicon Valley, and we're looking to better serve our West Coast clients."

The Bay area has long been a Mecca for software development, and the "Web 2.0" boom of recent years has fueled a renaissance of sorts. 

"A lot is changing and improving in software," Diederich adds. "We intend to stay at the forefront. Since we launched Grievance Manager in 2005, software design and engineering has changed for the better, and we want to keep our products top quality for ease of use, speed and reliability." 

Since 2005, the Company has steadily improved its web-based Grievance Manager family of applications, taking advantage of newer, more powerful database and programming tools such as PHP5, MySQL5, and AJAX to make the web apps work and feel more like desktop apps. More is planned, including enriching user experience with Jquery and the new client-side data storage currently in beta and scheduled to become part of the HTML5 specification.The Company is also looking at up-scaling server capacity with new technologies including memcached and EC2, both born of the current generation of Web 2.0 mega-sites.

Union Built PC founder and Managing Partner, Brandon Weber, thinks the move positions the Company well:

"Our company deploys technology that saves unions and their affiliates time, money, and headaches. This is one of the flagship offerings that we provide. Our Grievance Manage software has made many of our clients happy, but mostly east of the Mississippi. We're excited to be on the West Coast now too, with easier access to unions there."

The Company's grievance software applications offer unions web-based software to manage grievance processes from start through arbitration. Each application is custom designed and coded to fit our client's specific processes and requirements, allowing for both optimal process efficiency for the client, and continuous technical improvement. Applications feature contract-specific input requirements, worker and other role-specific input screens, calendar-based email notifications of deadlines, online document storage and fine-grained advanced search. 

Union Built PC also offers website development services, in addition to its core hardware business selling and servicing network servers, desktop PCs, laptops, and soon Android-based touch tablets - union built and supported in the USA. Its clients include the National Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (NJATC), several JATC training centers nationwide, as well as a variety of local unions across the country such as IBEW, AFSCME, SEIU, CWA, USW, IAM, ILWU, and more.

Restrictions Set By the Greater Toronto Airport Authority (GTAA)

The Greater Toronto Airport Authority or simply called GTAA has recently set restriction on the taxis and limousines that can pick up fares at Toronto Airport Limo service. These are the passengers who have disembarked from flights and are looking for on-going transport into the Greater Toronto Area and other parts of Ontario.

GTAA has not set any such restriction on taxis and limos that bring passengers to the airport. Passengers may choose any Toronto Airport Limousine company they like to get to Pearson International Airport. However, limousines that pick you up in a certain area to take passengers to the airport must hold license for that area. Passengers cannot get, for instance, an out of town limousine to pick them up in Toronto and take them to the airport.

The only purpose behind this restriction is to protect strangers who are visiting first time or who may not know the city and could be vulnerable to exploitation by Toronto Airport Limousine companies offering unsafe vehicles or overcharging their passengers.

Toronto Airport Limo Flat Rate that has permits to pick up passengers at the airport has been screened to high safety standards, and the drivers have agreed to charge their passengers consistent and fair rates. These rates are calculated on the distance and amount of time between the airport and various destinations in the Greater Toronto Area, as well as some outside destinations. There are still some areas that are not on the pre determined list is normally charged between $1 to $55 for limo service, and a little less, $1 to $45 for taxi service but this not  includes surcharges that may arise should the fuel price increase.

It is not necessary to book a limo or taxi at the airport, as they are always available. However, if any passenger has special needs, such as an infant car seat or wheelchair accessibility, they need to pre arrange for this beforehand.

If you are familiar with Toronto and you have a special preference for the services of a particular limousine company, you need to pre arrange with them well in advance, to give them time to obtain the special permit required by the Greater Toronto Airport Authority.

For disabled drivers and passengers arriving by car, taxi, or limo at the airport, there are, at both terminals, special parking areas, as well as a waiting area for passengers requiring special assistance. It is wise to arrange beforehand for help for passengers who need porters, wheelchairs, electric cars or other assistance within the airport. They will be helped to embark and disembark from the aircraft too.

If you have excess baggage, you will not be allowed to carry it in your limousine. You are allowed no luggage inside the passenger area, and only 20 cubic feet of luggage is allowed in the boot, or trunk.

In case of extra luggage passengers will have two choices:

·         They should hire another limousine or taxi.

·         They should arrange for a van to carry excess luggage.

Both these options will involve extra cost. Your driver should be able to find a dispatcher for you, who will be able to arrange this.

Mark Your Calendars for Bay Area Business Events

Toastmasters open house 

Wednesday. South Bay Toastmasters will host an open house to introduce Toastmasters to the community from 6:45 to 8 p.m. at Marie Callender's Restaurant, 21211 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance. For more information, contact Kryssie Mackey, 877-646-1101, Ext. 903.

QuickBooks workshop 

Wednesday. The Small Business Development Center is offering a workshop, "QuickBooks: Financial Data and Point of Sale," from 6 to 9 p.m. at El Camino College Business Training Center, 13430 Hawthorne Blvd, Hawthorne. Call 310-973-3177 to register.

ABWA Authors Day 

Sunday. The American Business Women's Association (ABWA), Peninsula Chapter will host Authors Day at
10 a.m. at Ports O' Call Restaurant, Ports O' Call Village, Berth 76, San Pedro. Meet authors Susan Straight, Brett Battles, Nina Revoyr and Sue Ann Jaffarian. Cost is $50 and includes lunch. For reservations, call 310-539-2649, Ext. 3.

Category of People Who Just Might be too Big -- or too Busy -- to Facebook

Facebook may have 500 million friends, an Oscar-nominated film and an Egyptian revolution to its credit. But not everyone embraces the social network, including plenty of Bay Area tech, sports and political luminaries.

That's right, there's a category of people who just might be too big -- or too busy -- to Facebook.

You can't "friend" Cisco CEO John Chambers on Facebook, or San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed, or Apple mastermind Steve Jobs (though you can find people pretending to be him). You won't find status updates from San Jose Sharks stars Patrick Marleau or Joe Thornton, or pithy posts from Carl Guardino of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group.

"I don't use Facebook," Marleau, the Sharks left wing, said after a practice Thursday. "The people who know me already know my number." And, he added, "You never know who is going to try to get hold of you, and the reasons behind it." 

Indeed, high-profile people who shun Facebook have a variety of reasons for avoiding the planet's most popular social networking platform, from privacy concerns to time constraints.

"Facebook isn't for everyone," said Zizi Papacharissi, communications professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and editor of the book "A Networked Self." "It's a technology, and you have to find a place for it in your life. Or maybe there isn't a place for it in your life." Chief executives of publicly traded companies, for example, wouldn't want to talk business on Facebook, some experts say, for fear of posting something that might get them in trouble with stock market regulators, or even with shareholders.

But some CEOs have "fan" pages with updates and photos posted by their public relations teams. Chambers' page, for example, which recently featured news that he will deliver Duke University's next commencement address, states "posts are not from John Chambers himself." Chambers doesn't use a personal Facebook account, says John Earnhardt, director of social media at San Jose-based Cisco Systems. "There's not a lot of time for him to go on and utilize it," he said. Case in point: Chambers' schedule this week included being in Spain for a mobile conference on Wednesday and then back in the Bay Area for dinner with President Barack Obama and other tech bigwigs on Thursday.

Lack of spare time is primarily what keeps Guardino from using Facebook, too. "I'm afraid of being sucked in," said Guardino, who added that he does have a personal account on Twitter because the super-brief format appeals to his yearning for efficiency.

Even though there are privacy controls on Facebook -- confusing and labyrinthine, some would say, but controls nonetheless -- many in high-visibility positions don't want to use the site for fear of spilling too much information about themselves in public. Earlier this month, for example, first lady Michelle Obama said during an interview with the "Today" show that presidential daughters Malia and Sasha are not allowed to use Facebook.

And in a recent Newsweek interview with Oscar-nominated actors, none said they were on Facebook when asked. Actor James Franco said he had been briefly, but quit because he didn't like the way his different groups of friends got slung together in one big pool.

Social media strategist Jeremiah Owyang of the Altimeter Group, based in San Mateo, said some celebrities are "concerned that social media will dilute their brand" by overexposing them to the public. Some celebs discover, just as the nonfamous have, that Facebook doesn't suit them. Thornton, the Sharks center, was on Facebook for about a year, a few years back, and then dropped it. "There's no use for it for me," he said in a locker-room interview. "I like to keep in contact with about six people in my life, and that's about it." Of course, you can find a good-sized handful of Bay Area luminaries who use Facebook for personal use, including venture capitalist Heidi Roizen, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff and Olympic ice-skating champion Kristi Yamaguchi. Not to mention the numerous accounts that pretend to be those of famous people like Jobs or Oracle's Larry Ellison. (Neither company would comment on the topic of high-profile Facebookers. Nor would Facebook.) Venture capitalist Roger McNamee said he spends at least an hour a day on Facebook, partly promoting his band, Moonalice, and partly keeping in much more regular touch with his friends than he did before Facebook. "Facebook is the best environment for a well-known person, as you have significant control of every aspect of your profile and communications," he said, though he acknowledged it takes time to learn those controls.

For some hyper-scheduled executives, Owyang said, Facebook can be a streamlined way to check in with one's personal circle. Godfrey Sullivan, CEO of Splunk, a privately held San Francisco information technology company, said he enjoys using Facebook to keep up with friends and family only, no business contacts -- so much so that he'd even pay for the service. If he gets "friend" requests from "characters who you've known well from business, you like them, but you don't need them looking at your vacation pictures," he simply asks them to join his network on LinkedIn, the business-oriented online network.

"I tend to think of it as a digital family photo album," he said of Facebook. His two teenage daughters lavish their time on the site, he says, but he has to keep his visits succinct, posting a few pictures and commenting on family updates. He goes on Facebook once a week to read and once a month to post. "And then I'm off and back to work."

Civil and Structural Engineering Solution

Landtech Consultants is growing and we'd like to find out if you're the kind of professional who can grow with us. If you're attracted to the notion of testing your technical, management, and marketing skills by working on a variety of projects for a diverse base of clients, we want to hear from you.

 

Structural engineering is a field of engineering dealing with the analysis and design of structures that support or resist loads. Structural engineering is usually considered a specialty within civil engineering, but it can also be studied in its own right. Structural engineers are most commonly involved in the design of buildings and large nonbuilding structures but they can also be involved in the design of machinery, medical equipment, vehicles or any item where structural integrity affects the item's function or safety. Structural engineers must ensure their designs satisfy given design criteria, predicated on safety (e.g. structures must not collapse without due warning) or serviceability and performance (e.g. building sway must not cause discomfort to the occupants). Buildings are made to endure massive loads as well as changing climate and natural disasters. Structural engineering has existed since humans first started to construct their own structures. 

 

It became a more defined and formalised profession with the emergence of the architecture profession as distinct from the engineering profession during the industrial revolution in the late 19th Century. Until then, the architect and the structural engineer were usually one and the same - the master builder. Only with the development of specialised knowledge of structural theories that emerged during the 19th and early 20th centuries did the professional structural engineer come into existence.

 

Seismic Engineering services or, simply, seismic analysis is a major intellectual tool of earthquake engineering which breaks the complex topic into smaller parts to gain a better understanding of seismic performance of building and non-building structures. The technique as a formal concept is a relatively recent development. In general, seismic analysis is based on the methods of structural dynamics^. For decades, the most prominent instrument of seismic analysis has been the earthquake response spectrum method which, also, contributed to the proposed building code's concept of today^. However, those spectra are good, mostly, for single-degree-of-freedom systems. Performance evaluations is generally carried out by using nonlinear static pushover analysis or full direct nonlinear time history analysis. In these analysis process, first nonlinear modeling of building components such as beams, columns, beam-column joints, shear walls etc. are required. It is essential that nonlinear response of these components should be validated by the experimental results in order to ensure the accuracy of the analysis. After validating all components of buildings with experimental results, these components are assemble to create a full nonlinear model of the structure. Thus created model are analyzed to evaluate the performance of buildings.

Counseling Services for Seniors

Counseling Services for Seniors - where we provide assistance to seniors and their families in their place of residence: home, assisted living, board & care, and select nursing facilities. We offer three services to assist with the aging process:

Mental Health Counseling: You may find yourself faced with concerns or problems including increased isolation, limited physical ability, or loss of a spouse. Whatever the situation you may find yourself in, speaking with a non-judgmental and caring professional can make a difference.

Geriatric Case Management: When you observe mental or physical decline in the life of an older loved one whether they live nearby or in another area it can be overwhelming to know what to do or how to help. Developing a plan with a licensed professional who has experience in the geriatric field and knowledge of the available resources can help determine the best course of action.

Family Consultation: Sit down with a trained specialist to discuss your concerns about the older adult in your life. It is possible to develop a plan in as little as one session.

Bad News for Borders Books

TAMPA - Bad news for Borders Books. Almost every one of their stores across Tampa Bay is closing. On Wednesday the company announced it's filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and shutting down about a third of its locations nationwide. One of the stores located on Dale Mabry is among the 200 nationwide closing in just a few weeks.

"It's really sad to be honest with you, but we have online shopping so that's a good thing I guess," says Binqa Bozeman. That's part of the reason for the cuts."The bookstore market, the big box bookstores have really been in a tough fight with the preponderance of ecommerce and the willingness of shoppers to go online," explains Alexis Mueller, editor of Tampa Business Journal.

"It's a lot cheaper online and on a lot of other websites I've found," says John Nelson. Cindy Handon isn't surprised the stores are closing, because "everyone downloads music."

People download books, too, not to mention movies. Convenience and low overhead have contributed to the success of Redbox movie rentals. They seem to be popping up all across Tampa Bay, and of course some people have chosen to get rid of the DVD altogether, choosing to stream movies at home or on their cell phone. Mueller says, "This is the future. E-commerce is definitely going to affect bricks and mortar. People still like to have the physical shopping experience of getting out and touching and seeing things, but to a certain extent people who are in these worlds need to think about their game plan over the next ten years.”

Right now, Borders is pushing e-readers on its website; hoping online sales and fewer brick and mortar stores will turn things around. "Basically online is taking over everything; so, I guess in the future it will be nothing like Borders or stores or anything. We'll just order it online," Bozeman says. A lot of customers hope for a big going out of business sale. There's no official word how stores in Tampa, Clearwater and Sarasota will liquidate. The St. Pete Borders near Tyrone Square Mall will remain open. And if you have a Borders gift card you can use it there or on the company's website.

WBENC has Certified Bay Area Business Magazine as a Woman-Owned Business

The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) has certified Bay Area Business Magazine as a woman-owned business, which gives the magazine an added advantage with many businesses. “I’m very excited about the WBENC certification knowing that companies with diversity vendor programs receive an added tax benefit by doing business with BABM. It’s truly a win-win,” said Bevv Beirl, the CEO and Editor in Chief of Bay Area Business Magazine, LLC (BABM).

Beirl founded BABM in October 2006 and it has become the go-to business resource for small and mid-size business owners. BABM’s mission is to educate, support and inspire business owners and emerging entrepreneurs. The bi-monthly publication showcases the experience of local business leaders, providing case studies and useful tips for readers. It delivers its exceptional content through a robust multimedia format, combining print, online, social media, E: and radio. It constantly challenges business leaders to ask themselves, “Is what I’m doing working? If not, what can I be doing differently?” Its expert columnists share their opinions and advice, providing a roadmap for others to follow.

In addition to providing educational content, it also provides business resources including a list of venues and vendors in the Bay area. It’s a useful tool for any business owner planning an event. Being certified as a woman-owned business allows Bay Area Business Magazine to be registered in multiple places where contractors can learn about it.

About Bay Area Business Magazine

Bay Area Business Magazine, LLC dba BABM Business Group was founded in October 2006 by Bevv Beirl, CEO/Editor in Chief. The first print publication rolled off the presses in April 2007. BABM Business Group (babm.com) has grown from a single business resource print publication to a multimedia and marketing company that strives to build a strong business community through exceptional content delivered through print, online, email, social media and radio.

About WBENC

The Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), founded in 1997, is the largest third-party certifier of businesses owned controlled, and operated by women in the United States. WBENC, a national 501©(3) non-profit, partners with 14 Regional Partner Organizations to provide its national standard of certification to women-owned businesses throughout the country. WBENC is also the nation's leading advocate of women-owned businesses as suppliers to America's corporations.

Bay Area Business News - This Week

Cisco irks shareholders ... again

For the fourth quarter in a row, Cisco Systems' earnings disappointed investors and sent the stock into a tailspin. The shares dropped 14 percent on Thursday, following lower-than-expected gross profit margins last quarter. Competition has forced the company to cut prices, and it's spending more money to enter new markets. Some analysts are worried the company is turning into a conglomerate and spreading itself too thin. "They've become the Procter & Gamble of networking," said Joanna Makris, an analyst at Mizuho Securities.

 

Top Wells Fargo executive departs

Howard Atkins, Wells Fargo's chief financial officer, unexpectedly resigned Wednesday for personal reasons, taking an unpaid leave of absence until he retires in August. He'll be replaced by Chief Administrative Officer Timothy Sloan. The San Francisco bank said Atkins' departure was "unrelated to the company's financial condition or financial reporting," though it wouldn't discuss reasons for his departure. Atkins may be eligible to receive more than $22 million in compensation and benefits when he officially retires.

 

Chevron wins round in Ecuador fight

On Tuesday, Chevron won a reprieve against lawyers representing Ecuador residents, who aim to collect billions of dollars in damages against the oil company. A federal judge in New York granted a restraining order for 28 days against the attorneys, which means they won't be able to enforce an expected award against Chevron outside the South American country during that time. The case hinges on claims that Texaco, acquired by Chevron in 2001, fouled the Amazon basin. Chevron says that the lawyers and activists fighting the company fabricated evidence to make their case.

 

Hewlett-Packard unveils TouchPad

Capitalizing on its acquisition of Palm last year, Hewlett-Packard rolled out a tablet computer called the TouchPad on Wednesday. The Palo Alto company is relying on the expertise of Palm leader Jon Rubinstein, an Apple veteran, to challenge the market-leading iPad. The company also rolled out new smart phones based on Palm's WebOSPCs as well. software - the Veer and the Pre 3 - and it announced plans to put the operating system on some.

 

Facebook moving to Menlo Park

Facebook announced plans Tuesday to uproot its headquarters from Palo Alto and move across the border to Menlo Park. The social-networking giant will rent about 1 million square feet of a corporate campus formerly occupied by Sun Microsystems - the biggest lease deal in Silicon Valley in two decades. Facebook currently has more than 2,000 employees - 1,400 of them in Palo Alto.

Key Factors behind the Success of Bay Area Web Designers

Bay Area of San Francisco is a hub of talent and creativity. The inhabitants of this area have played vital role in the development and advancement of any emerging technology. The literate masses of this area also understand the usage and conveniences provided by the new technologies and, adopt them as soon as they come into the market. Same is true about Bay Area Web Design market.  Bay Area has been very active contributor throughout the history of wed development and design. That’s why; Bay Area Web Designers are among the top and expert designers of the globe. No doubt, they have worked really hard to join this community of experts. But, the surroundings also played very vital role. They had access to every type of technology and education. They had the great faculty and, above all, they had the talent and passion of conquering the world that made them win their goals and set examples for others. However, they have some tricks also to reach this level. Huge and traceable Web Design Portfolio, giving Demo Website Design and offering Free Demo Website are a few of them.

He most important factor behind the global success of Bay Area Web Designers is their tremendous, traceable, Web Design Portfolio. During the learning and the training period, portfolio is on the hit list. They are posed new challenges everyday and they come up with innovatively amazing solutions of simple to complex problems. This approach gives very good impression to the regular employers. Their experience counting starts from the very first semester they completed in any course. Another attractive thing in their Web Design Portfolio is their own creative creations. Their minds are built in way that can give them solutions of complex problems and ideas for the new creations :while walking on the road, having conversation over a cup of tea, or even finding some alone time in the bathroom. The other considerable factor in the success of Bay Area Web Design industry is their Demo Website Design offer.    

Demo Website Design gives boost to the customer satisfaction and interactivity. Many of the customers are themselves unclear about their goals and needs. In this case, the web design companies take the ideas from the customers and convert them into presentable rough outcome of the ideas. Bay Area Web Designers were among the first very few web designers across the globe who dared to offer Demo Website Design service to their customers. Most of the times, they charge their customers for this service although, charges are very nominal. With the passage of time, they have evolved ways to make it more effective and controlled practice. Offering Free Demo Website is advancement in this regard.

Free Demo Website offer goes two steps ahead. First is the free offering and the second is the demo of almost of the whole website. This is risky in many ways but, surprisingly, this technique has helped a lot in increasing the number of customers. Again, Bay Area Web Design industry is among the pioneers of this trick.

Expectations of 42,000 Job Opportunities because of World Expo to California

It's been 27 years since the United States hosted a world's fair - known to the rest of the world as an expo - and the Bay Area Council, the regional business group based in San Francisco, thinks it's time.When? 2020. Where? Moffett Field. Why? To rally Silicon Valley to reclaim its image as the center of the tech universe and, organizers hope, to pump billions of dollars into the region's economy.

To do that, one thing has to happen immediately: The United States has to rejoin the Bureau of International Expositions, which chooses expo locations much like the International Olympics Committee chooses game sites. Membership only costs about $33,000 a year. Bay Area Council CEO Jim Wunderman says if necessary, he'll pass the hat.

The U.S. dropped out of the Bureau of International Expositions during a fit of isolationism a few years back. Today, competing in a global marketplace, we need to be in this game no matter where the expos are.
Last fall the Bay Area Council and then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger went to Shanghai to launch a bid for the 2020 Expo. Wunderman thinks it's ours to lose if the U.S. pays those dues.

The Shanghai Expo drew some 73 million visitors over six months. The council predicts 25 million here, closer to average. But a study commissioned by the council predicts that the event would spark $5.6billion in new economic activity in this region and create 42,000 jobs. We're always leery of studies funded by advocates of a project, but it's common sense that the ripple effects of a well-done event would be significant.

This presents a challenge for the Bay Area bid. Given the state of the economy today and projections well into this decade, the Bay Area bid will have to rely on private investment. The only realistic hope of public dollars would be to expedite projects like road or transit improvements already in the pipeline.None of this will even be possible unless the U. S. agrees to sign that $33,000 dues check. Political leaders from not just the Bay Area but all of California - and from other U.S. tech hubs, for that matter - should be pressing the case.

San Jose Job Growth Seen Outpacing San Francisco

In a sign of how the technology industry is driving certain parts of the Bay Area's economic recovery more than others, employment growth is projected to be higher this year in San Jose and its suburbs than in San Francisco and other Bay Area cities, according to a forecast from the University of the Pacific Business Forecasting Center. San Jose's employment growth also is expected to be higher than in California as a whole and in other big cities such as Sacramento. 

Fast-growing industries like high tech are concentrated in the San Jose area, while other cities' economies also depend on industries that have been slower to rebound, like financial services in San Francisco, according to the forecast. In 2011, nonfarm payroll employment is expected to grow 1.5% to 859,000 in San Jose, versus 0.5% to 921,300 in San Francisco and 1% to 14 million in California, according to the forecast.

Effects of Bristol Bay Development Projects

The EPA says the study will give the agency a better understanding of how future projects could affect water quality and salmon fisheries. The EPA initiated the assessment after concerns from tribes and other Bristol Bay business petitioned the agency last year. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is planning a rare scientific study of the potential effects and possible water contamination from proposed large-scale development projects like the proposed Pebble Mine in the Bristol Bay area. 

The EPA intends to conduct research by gathering data and public opinion.Nuna Resource, an organization made up of business leaders in the Bristol Bay area, says it supports sustainable resource development through due process and is on board with the EPA's decision."I think the EPA should be looking at the scientific information brought forth by the industry and what it means to the environment and how it's potentially going to impact the sustainability of communities that have high unemployment rates that need diversity in their economies," said Abe Williams, Nuna Resource Director.

Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association, a collection of about 2,000 commercial fishermen, says it couldn't be more pleased with the EPA's announcement.The group originally requested a 404(c), a provision in the Federal Clean Water Act that allows the EPA to bar certain waters in the U.S. from dredge, field development and mine."We depend upon clean waters and healthy habitat in Bristol Bay to prosecute our businesses, which are extremely wealthy-over 400, 500 million dollars a year in raw value that comes out of that area and wages, so we are extremely concerned about the sustainability of the fishery in Bristol Bay," said Bob Waldrop, executive director for Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association.

Pebble Mine officials say they're pleased the EPA decided not to implement the 404(c) process.The Pebble Partnership says what the EPA is studying isn't clear yet, so declined to comment.According to the EPA, "The Bristol Bay watershed is essential to the health, environment and economy of Alaska. Gathering data and getting public input now, before development occurs, just makes sense."Governor Sean Parnell said, "The governor has always been clear that the Bristol Bay fishery will be protected under existing permitting processes. We are skeptical that EPA's planned information-gathering process, which is still not clearly defined, will add value."

Key Factors behind the Success of Bay Area Web Designers

Bay Area of San Francisco is a hub of talent and creativity. The inhabitants of this area have played vital role in the development and advancement of any emerging technology. The literate masses of this area also understand the usage and conveniences provided by the new technologies and, adopt them as soon as they come into the market. Same is true about Bay Area Web Design market.  Bay Area has been very active contributor throughout the history of wed development and design. That’s why; Bay Area Web Designers are among the top and expert designers of the globe. No doubt, they have worked really hard to join this community of experts. But, the surroundings also played very vital role. They had access to every type of technology and education. They had the great faculty and, above all, they had the talent and passion of conquering the world that made them win their goals and set examples for others. However, they have some tricks also to reach this level. Huge and traceable Web Design Portfolio, giving Demo Website Design and offering Free Demo Website are a few of them.

He most important factor behind the global success of Bay Area Web Designers is their tremendous, traceable, Web Design Portfolio. During the learning and the training period, portfolio is on the hit list. They are posed new challenges everyday and they come up with innovatively amazing solutions of simple to complex problems. This approach gives very good impression to the regular employers. Their experience counting starts from the very first semester they completed in any course. Another attractive thing in their Web Design Portfolio is their own creative creations. Their minds are built in way that can give them solutions of complex problems and ideas for the new creations :while walking on the road, having conversation over a cup of tea, or even finding some alone time in the bathroom. The other considerable factor in the success of Bay Area Web Design industry is their Demo Website Design offer.    

Demo Website Design gives boost to the customer satisfaction and interactivity. Many of the customers are themselves unclear about their goals and needs. In this case, the web design companies take the ideas from the customers and convert them into presentable rough outcome of the ideas. Bay Area Web Designers were among the first very few web designers across the globe who dared to offer Demo Website Design service to their customers. Most of the times, they charge their customers for this service although, charges are very nominal. With the passage of time, they have evolved ways to make it more effective and controlled practice. Offering Free Demo Website is advancement in this regard.

Free Demo Website offer goes two steps ahead. First is the free offering and the second is the demo of almost of the whole website. This is risky in many ways but, surprisingly, this technique has helped a lot in increasing the number of customers. Again, Bay Area Web Design industry is among the pioneers of this trick.

Useful Instruments - Handtrucks & Carts

A hand truck is a very useful instrument for moving or shifting things over short distances, it will also be helpful in carrying over unstable levels, and some special models are designed for this purpose. A hand truck is a practical and dependable control. Moving or shifting things can be very monotonous and straining specially when exist level differences. A hand truck is a very useful instrument for moving or shifting things over short distances, it will also be helpful in carrying over unstable levels. Some special models are designed for this specific purpose. Although there are many models available in handtrucks & carts, one of the most popular types is stair climbing version. It is called as stair climber; it has rotating wheels fitted to it in the place of normal wheels. This rotating wheel makes it possible to push or pull the hand truck over stairs.  

Tri-Star is also an example of the rotating wheels or tracks with three wheel configuration three wheels are arranged in a triangle configuration which is used in the place of standard wheels. So it is very convenient to use over stairs, Also there are another versions for climbing stairs available in collection of the triangular wheel configuration.These are used for various types of tasks like shipping equipment, elating heavy items, stocking, arranging, among others. It is very dangerous of elating heavy things manually and how it can devastate our backs. For these reasons as well hand trucks carts is a very wise buy. Different kinds of handtrucks & carts available, each kind of handtrucks & carts has their own features.

 

If we have much knowledge of these kinds of handtrucks & carts and their objectives they are capable so we can select the best one from them according to our need. 

The Best Handtrucks & Carts Selection / Kinds of Handtrucks & Carts:

• The standard hand trucks can carry maximum weight of about 600 pounds
• The heavy duty hand trucks can carry weight more than standard.
• The 2 in 1 Convertible handtrucks & carts

o    Brag of a bigger freight capability than that of the average 2 wheel hand truck.

o    Easy to operate

o    Easy to plot loads even as on 4 wheel force.