OPEC holds steady on output levels

OPEC on Thursday agreed to leave current production levels unchanged, citing an oversupplied market and "downside risks associated with the extremely fragile recovery."

OPEC president Jose Maria Botelho de Vasconcelos of Angola opens the OPEC meeting in Vienna Wednesday.

The announcement came as oil prices rose above $72 a barrel.

Gathering in Vienna, Austria, for two-day talks, the 12-nation Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries said, "whilst there are signs that economic recovery is underway, there remains great concern about the magnitude and pace of this recovery."

"Market fundamentals remain weak, refinery utilization rates are low and product inventories have risen considerably," it said in a press release on its Web site.

The conference "reiterated its determination to ensure sound supply fundamentals and an adequate level of spare capacity for the benefit of the world at large," OPEC said.

In his opening address Wednesday, OPEC president and Angolan Oil Minister Jose Maria Botelho de Vasconcelos noted the effect of high levels of speculation and the "timing, the extent and the pace of global economic recovery."

OPEC member nations produce about 40 percent of the world's crude oil and 15 percent of its natural gas, the organization said.

Battle of the Budgets

Reading the papers, it's pretty easy to get a general idea about the State budget situation: it's bad.

But teasing out exactly what phrases like ERAF Shift, Prop 1A suspension, and Prop 98 repayment actually mean to us in practical terms is a little bit more challenging.

Lucky for concerned Oaklanders, the League of Women Voters has put together an event to help make sense of how decisions being made in Sacramento translate to tangible impacts here in town.

Come to the panel discussion next Tuesday at Oakland City Hall and get the scoop from Dr. Tony Smith, Oakland Unified School District Superintendent, Susan Muranishi, Alameda County Administrator, and Niccolo DeLuca, State lobbyist for the City of Oakland.

Here's the League's description of the event:

This year's California State Budget, precariously balanced, will have significant impact on local budgets and services. What will state budget cuts mean for Oakland schools, the City of Oakland, and Alameda County? Is there anything Oakland citizens can do about it?

The discussion will take place from 6 to 8 PM next Tuesday, September 15, at Oakland City Hall Hearing Room 3.

Read more: http://new-cycle.blogspot.com

Upgrades on the way

Funding for park maintenance in Oakland took a big hit in the City's new budget earlier this summer.

But the news for Oakland parks is not all bad. While some parks will soon begin to fall into disrepair (except, of course, those which have dedicated volunteers filling in the gaps left by the City), others are getting spruced up.

Two of downtown's historic parks, Jefferson Square Park and Lincoln Square Park, will soon be receiving some long overdue upgrades, courtesy of local redevelopment funds.

Today's post over at A Better Oakland outlines the improvements on the way for these two spaces, alongside photos of what they look like right now.

And if that leaves you hungry for more, you currently have an opportunity to learn about the history of downtown's parks at a new multimedia exhibit at the Oakland Art Gallery:

Pro Arts presents 10,000 Steps: A Profile of Four Squares, an exhibition of the artist group marksearch's multi-year participatory stewardship project in and around Oakland's historic downtown parks. These parks-Jefferson Square, Lafayette Square, Madison Square, and Lincoln Square, each occupying only one city block-are tiny spots of open space in the urban fabric of downtown, places where tai chi practitioners, men gathering for a pick-up game of basketball, kids in after-school programs, mothers with strollers, and the homeless can all come together.

This multimedia installation at Pro Arts will showcase the history of these parks and the diverse communities that surround them through image, text, maps and video. In celebration of the first phase of the 10,000 Steps project, the exhibit will incorporate an innovative series of events to familiarize the public with the parks and their neighborhoods, including guided walking tours (sponsored by the Oakland Heritage Alliance) and lunchtime demonstrations.

Read more: http://new -cycle.blogspot.com

Working closely

We developed the "Five-Day eBusiness Success clinic" for people who have limited or no business experience or technical skills, but want to achieve their goal of complete financial independence and security with a lucrative Internet business.

Working closely with our experienced real-world experts, you'll learn how to plan, research, build, and manage a robust online business from the ground up, overcoming any barriers that may have prevented you from succeeding online so far.

Unlike other training programs that can often take months to complete, we've compressed your entire learning experience into five intensive days, so you can be generating revenue within one week... and we guarantee you'll have a fully operational website already getting quality traffic by the end of your fifth day.

And because starting an Internet business involves none of the significant expenses typical of other new ventures -- like retail outlets or franchise operations -- participation in the clinic is a virtually risk-free investment.

Viral Web site mocks

Viral Web site mocks Wal-Mart customers.

It's a blog where people post, and make fun of, pictures of out-of-shape, poorly dressed and otherwise awkward people shopping at Wal-Mart.

The "People of Walmart" blog features photos taken by users at the mega-chain.

And, in less than a month, with no marketing to speak of, it's become the toast of the Internet.

"People of Wal-Mart," a gag started by two 20-something brothers and their buddy to share crazy pictures with their friends, has gone viral. Promoted largely on sites like Digg and Funny or Die -- and linked ad nauseam on Facebook and Twitter -- the site picked up enough traffic to crash its servers on Wednesday.

"I'm still baffled -- I really am," said Andrew Kipple, 23, one of the creators of the site, who said his team was frantically working Wednesday to add enough server space to handle the surge in traffic.

Photos on the site, sent in by viewers all over the United States, frequently feature overweight people wearing tight clothes, bizarre hairstyles (with versions of the short-in-front, long-in-back "mullet" leading the pack) and fashion crimes ranging from furry leg warmers to miniskirts that leave absolutely nothing to the imagination.

There's a guy enjoying a can of beer outside a Wal-Mart, a guy dressed as Captain America and another guy with a goat. Yes, a live goat.

Andrew and his brother Adam, 25, said they thought of the site after a visit to a South Carolina Wal-Mart where they saw a woman they believed to be a stripper, wearing an obscene T-shirt and leading a toddler in a harness. Around the next corner was a man with a beard reminiscent of the rock band ZZ Top.

giant Pfizer

Drug giant Pfizer to pay record $2.3B fine

WASHINGTON -- Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has agreed to pay a record $2.3 billion settlement to resolve criminal and civil liability for illegally promoting certain pharmaceuticals, the Justice Department announced Wednesday.

Officials from the Justice Department and the Department of Health and Human Services said the world's largest drug company promoted four drugs for use on certain ailments or at dosages that were not approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

One of those drugs was the anti-inflammatory medication Bextra, which Pfizer pulled off the market in 2005 after it was linked to increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

"Pfizer promoted the sale of Bextra for several uses and dosages that the FDA specifically declined to approve due to safety concerns," the Justice Department said in a news release.

Planning and Start Business

Planning is critical to successfully starting and building a business. That’s why we’ve dedicated a section for it. Here you’ll find guidance on the tools and resources necessary to write a winning business plan. From sample plans to a business plan primer, we’ll get you started on this very important activity. Once your business is up and running, you’ll need to regularly review and update your plan to manage growth.

Starting a business requires you to complete a number of steps and make some key decisions. Though part of your overall plan, you’ll need to select a location, decide on a business structure, and obtain the necessary licenses and permits. In addition, determining which financing options will meet your short-term needs and long-term goals is crucial. Within this section, we’ll provide information on these topics along with guidance on buying an existing business, copyright and trademark issues, and getting support from an outside expert.

WePickPennyStocks

Colin Farrell and Alicja Bachleda Expecting a Child?
Atlanta, GA 8/18/2009 10:29 PM GMT (TransWorldNews)

Colin Farrell’s girlfriend Alicja Bachleda has sparked rumors she is pregnant with their first child. The actress was spotted sporting what appeared to be a baby bump as she landed at LAX with Farrell on Sunday.
Bachleda, 26, and Farrell, 33, began dating earlier this year. They star together in the film Ondine, which is due to hit theaters this December.
A rep for Farrell has not commented. Farrell already has a 5-year-old son with model Kim Bordenave.

Click here for more Entertainment News
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Penny Stocks Alert

Today's Focused Penny Stocks Alert Include:
Aug 10th 2009: SMWF, IDOI, CBAI, HTDS,
SMWF: MA 30 days flat trend at least 4 days (30 Days MA break out)
This is a wait signal. Watch your other buy or sell signs for direction.
A flat trend can indicate that the stock in preparing for a correction and it could begin to go down.

MACD upward crossed zero-line 3 days ago and still up (MACD 8-17-9)
As the MACD gets older, the time we have available to hold the trade becomes shorter and shorter. An MACD green arrow that is older than 2 days provides a fairly weak positive signal and still needs to be combined with a stochastics green arrow. This signal is ok in a bullish market environment but is much riskier in a down trending one.
A conservative investor will take action on an MACD green arrow only when it is combined with 150% of the average volume to avoid a 'fake out'.

Stochastics Value downward crossed 75 in 2 days (Stochastics 14-5 breakout)
Strong negative signal when combined with a red arrow on the MACD. Indicates reduced demand for the stock and could precede a flat or down trend in the price pattern.Today's Focused Penny Stocks Alert Include:
Aug 10th 2009: SMWF, IDOI, CBAI, HTDS,
SMWF: MA 30 days flat trend at least 4 days (30 Days MA break out)
This is a wait signal. Watch your other buy or sell signs for direction.
A flat trend can indicate that the stock in preparing for a correction and it could begin to go down.

MACD upward crossed zero-line 3 days ago and still up (MACD 8-17-9)
As the MACD gets older, the time we have available to hold the trade becomes shorter and shorter. An MACD green arrow that is older than 2 days provides a fairly weak positive signal and still needs to be combined with a stochastics green arrow. This signal is ok in a bullish market environment but is much riskier in a down trending one.
A conservative investor will take action on an MACD green arrow only when it is combined with 150% of the average volume to avoid a 'fake out'.

Stochastics Value downward crossed 75 in 2 days (Stochastics 14-5 breakout)
Strong negative signal when combined with a red arrow on the MACD. Indicates reduced demand for the stock and could precede a flat or down trend in the price pattern.

WTO rules China must open markets

WTO rules China must open markets

(CNN) -- The United States hailed a World Trade Organization ruling to open Chinese markets and ease controls on the import of U.S. films, DVDs, music downloads and books.

U.S. Trade Rep. Ron Kirk, shown, says WTO's decision will "help pave the way toward more open trade."

"Today, a WTO panel handed a significant victory to America's creative industries," U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said Wednesday. "These findings are an important step toward ensuring market access for legitimate U.S. products in the Chinese market, as well as ensuring market access for U.S. exporters and distributors of those products."
In its ruling, the WTO said China violates free-trade rules by requiring importers to channel media products such as movies, books and music through state-owned companies, rather than giving them direct access to Chinese markets.
China denied the charges in the ruling.
"The country has always fulfilled its obligations set by WTO on issues related to publication products market entrance permission," Yao Jian, a spokesman for China's Ministry of Commerce, said Thursday. "China will carefully evaluate the decision. ... Possibilities for China to issue an appeal on its concerned points cannot be ruled out."
The U.S. trade representative's office said the ruling could put an end to China's discriminatory trade practices.
"This decision promises to level the playing field for American companies working to distribute high-quality entertainment products in China, so that legitimate American products can get to market and beat out the pirates," Kirk said. "To me, that is a clear win. We believe that this report will help pave the way toward more open trade between China and America."
In recent years, U.S. officials have pressed Chinese officials for help in controlling the counterfeiting of U.S. products and the illegal copying and distribution of copyrighted U.S. products, including movies, music and software. Counterfeit products are estimated to cost U.S. companies billions of dollars in lost revenue.

Concept of Business

Start your own IT Education & Training Franchise with karROX

If you are an entrepreneur looking for business opportunities in the education sector, or an established enterprise/ group looking to enter or expand the area of Information Technology (IT) education and training, then a karROX franchise will be the perfect platform to achieve your business goals.

As demand for industry-ready information technology professionals in India continues to rise, given India's pre-eminent position as the global offshoring / outsourcing destination for IT services. Moreover, as more and more companies within the country, including those in the public sector, look to optimize their business processes using IT, the demand for qualified IT professionals will be unabated in the foreseeable future.

Employers in the IT segment are on the look out for IT professionals with expertise in diverse domains and various platforms. They lament the lack of adequate quality and skill-sets in students coming straight from mainstream education streams, thus leading to a serious shortfall of the right skills in the industry.

This widening gap between demand and supply is the BIG opportunity for those in the IT education and certification sector. Would you like to make the most of this opportunity?

Why Franchising:

• Franchising as a business model has witnessed high success rate globally. A new franchise opens every 8 minutes of each business day.
• Statistics reveal that more than 80% of new startups close down within 5 years, whereas 80% of franchisees are still successful after 5 years.
• Success stories show that franchisee startups that adhere to the franchise system and standards rarely fail.

Franchising has been an extremely successful business model in the IT Training Industry.

Franchise Opportunity with WWW.smile-too.blogspot.com

karROX has been one of the leading providers of Information Technology (IT) education & training in the country for nearly two decades now. karROX has trained more than 150,000 students globally and is affiliated to major IT & education giants like Microsoft, SUN, Pearson VUE and many more. We are also partners with Sikkim Manipal University & Indira Gandhi National Open University for providing distance learning education opportunities for students & professionals.

We have been successful in the franchising business model with our IT franchises in the domestic & global market. This is an attempt to motivate & support the upcoming entrepreneurs to venture into the IT Training business model.

• Leverage a well established brand that is recognized domestically and globally.
• Start with comparatively low initial establishment costs.
• karROX Franchise Business model has stood the test of time.
• Franchisees are provided complete guidance and training to run their centers.
• Franchisees play an important role in deciding the promotion of karROX centers in their area of operation.
• Course fees are finalized in consultation with Business Partners, taking into account local market conditions.
• Detailed Operations manuals and processes
• Center Management, Faculty and Sales training
• Latest and updated Curriculum
• Courseware and Promotional material
• TRMs
• Sales and Marketing, Technical and Systems support
• Profitable, sustainable and scalable business

Excited? Get in touch with us know with your complete details.

Information for small business

WHAT SYSTEM OWNERS SAY

I really apologize for not being able to write to all this while, but it was crazy busy for Easter (Its always good to be busy! J). I just wanted to share with you all that we have done so far here in Australia…Since we started only in December last year we practically lost the Christmas Season but we did put a Kiosk in one of the biggest shopping centres here in Melbourne called Southland Shopping Centre where we sold stock with Christmas images.

We recently took part in one of the biggest bridal show called The Australian Bridal Service Expo in Feb where we received an incredible response and some very good orders. I have attached a few photographs of the stall. Besides the bridal expo we have also taken part in Australias biggest food show called the Good Food & Wine show and will be exhibiting and printing LIVE, both in Melbourne and Sydney. You can view our listing on the show website below:

We will also be exhibiting in a trade show called HOTELS AUSTRALIA in order to capture the Hospitality industry.

Besides this we have also got ourselves listed in a few major directories for all the exposure possible. Following is the link to the directories:

Since our products are Kosher Certified and the Jewish community is fairly large here we have just taken out an advertisement in the Bar/Bat Mitzvah supplement of the only jewish newspaper here in Australia called the Australian Jewish News. Attached is a copy of the ad. The newspaper was so impressed with the product that they asked us to send a few samples and gave us special coverage in the supplement besides the ad. We will be taking out an advertisement in their wedding supplement also very soon.

Considering the fact that we have only been in business from December last year we have done a number of wedding, birthday and bar mitzvah orders and a couple of corporate orders which is what we are now concentrating on. We have also been booked for our first Live event scheduled 28th March.

I will keep you updated as we progress.

The credit for all that we have done and achieved so far goes to your constant effort and support and that of the entire Chocolography team.
Thank You.

I'd like to take this opportunity and thank all of you again for your warm welcome and your relentless efforts to teach me as much as possible about the Chocolography-technology. I spent 4 very intense days in the Bayview Ave – factory and I feel very confident about the whole thing now and very excited about getting my hands on the printer as fast as possible.

Thanks Alex, Marat, Stan for answering every silly question I could imagine.

My flight back was without major problems, I slept through the whole trip, my head filled with issues like "do-the-prime-test!", "get-rid-of-bordershape-before-saving-image!" or "what-kind-of-website-do-you-want?" (as well as Stan's talent to find a Toys-R-us store in the middle of nowhere…)

I'm sure we'll talk again soon via phone - until then take care!

Here are some pictures of our store...we officially opened last week and we have so many inquiries and several orders. Chocolography has really generated a lot of interest...everyone loves it! We plan to join some bazaars and trade shows this Christmas to reach more people, but word-of-mouth usually does the trick. I'm really happy about the response to our products and I have you and everyone at CPC to thank for! Keep in touch!

hi from snowy Alaska. We did our first 3 day show and people love your chocolate!!! Thanks for creating such a great item. People up here have never seen anything like it before. I tell them about all of you back there in NY and they say thanks, too. We are very, very happy!!!

Talk to you later,

Thanks for everything...everyone at CPC really made me feel welcome and part of a family, and yes, I do believe I was treated like a queen :) You guys never tire of answering my questions, and no doubt our store's success is also your success. I'll definitely update you on any developments.

Greetings from the Peach State. We have wanted to send you a note to update you on Chocolate Mountain Images and how it's going.

We came upon a small space in a strip of shops (that should be shoppes) at the entrance to Brookstone Country Club Estates. It is right beside an Italian Restaurant and the strip is alongside a Publix shopping area so there's quite a bit of traffic. When people turn in to go to Publix they face our store and the lighted CHOCOLATES sign seems to draw them to us.

When we first signed the lease the only drawback we could see was the walls were neon lime and yellow and bright purple. But a little bit of "cup of cocoa" and "cafe au lait" paint and we were ready to go. Our opening day was 07-07-07 - the luckiest day of the century.. From that point to this (4 weeks later) it has been a steady increase week by week.

A few people who have been in have seen the products (at trade shows) but for the most part people are just amazed. One elderly lady walked in and said "I went on vacation and when I got back I praised the Lord that he had given me a chocolate shop in my neighborhood."

We have been able to do some special things for people at special moments in their lives already. One lady came in and bought 50 coins with the Coast Guard logo because her son was accepted in the rescue swimmer training program. She said that "challenge coins" are a big thing in the service and thought it would be fun to make chocolate ones. Another young lady came in to have us do a chocolate cd of some fighter planes because her fiancé is receiving his wings in the Air Force. When she saw the Coast Guard coins she had to have some Air Force ones. Another lady who was very-very pregnant and had 4 boys came in and ordered 25 It's a Girl lollipops. That was a week ago and she hasn't come back in to pick them up - we thought she might have delivered early but when she called today she said she was just busy with back to school stuff and will be in tomorrow. We're finding every person who walks in the door has some kind of story and that's what makes it exciting for us. We also found we are the topic of a lot of emails that are being sent around to different PTSAs and soccer and tennis moms. I hear it's good stuff they are saying so that can't hurt.

We really believe the retail shop is the way to go - at least for us - people can actually stop by and see samples and they tend to add a few more items as they check out - A good reason to also sell other truffles, pretzels turtles etc.

School is starting next week in our county and today one of the PTSA ladies came in and bought out all of the gift bags of pretzels we had in the case for a teacher's luncheon. She'll be back for some chocolate printing for the next event.

We have heard that summer is tough in the chocolate business and if that is true we'll have to start taking our vitamins!

Thanks for all you do in keeping all the chocolate people connected.

Just dropping a note to say thanks a bunch for being there in a pinch - as always. This order was for a repeat customer - she placed her order last minute and was picking it up at 8 AM the next morning. May God repay you for all your kindness, and grant you all that you need.

Best wishes

A laconic Thank You,
Not so much for Chocolography Printing Company's Agreement with Chocellas; Not so much for CPC's trust in CHOCELLAS ability to Launce CHOCOLOGRAPHY within its Territory and beyond;

BUT (ALLA…for Simon)

SO MUCH for the heart felt Hospitality Each and Every one of you displayed during our business trip to N.Y. which you transformed into fertile ground for mutual benefit, a Home within home-N.Y.should be proud to copy and project

Not so much for the enthusiasm we already shared before our arrival but SO MUCH for the Enthusiasm you re-enforced and installed in us, making us Feel part of the family!

We will be in touch soon,
Kind Regards,

Dear Lenny, Simon, Alan, Max, Alex, Vlad, Tamar, Marat, Villy, Stan, Ann, Natalie and crew!
Thank you for welcoming us so warmly to the world of Chocolography. We are greatly appreciated all your hard work and assistance. We look forward to many years of success and growth together. May God grant you all continued blessing of long, happy, healthy and wealthy years.

Thank you so much for all your assistance. We deeply appreciate, and are humbled at your constant gestures of helping us to your fullest capacity. Thank you so much!

Thank you!
Sincerely,

Good Day Angela,
I only got the opportunity to look at the first layer and the product looks more amazing in person than on the screen, I can't wait to go through the box. I also can't wait for my partner to view the samples you enclosed.

Thank you very much for your assistance with the samples.

Carla Grosvenor
C & C Custom Creation President

From Guiherme Soter Silva - Chocoprint Brazil

My first contact with Chocolography USA was in April / May 2006. Since the very beginning, all the Chocolography team, especially Mr.Simon Swerdlow was extremely professional and very helpful to answer any questions I had and all my concerns regarding the technology and the business to reproduce it in my country, Brazil.

After studying the business, I decided to visit the Chocolography headquarters, since I was invited by the group to see the operation live and feel the spirit of the business. Again, the whole team received me with Great Spirit of professionalism and great effort to answer every single question I had, with no rush to sell me anything, and specially the team made me feel that I was among friends. This was a very important issue to me which gave me a great deal of confidence to close the deal after all, I must add.

After visiting the headquarters, I came back to my country with all the information and tools to finish my research on how reproduce the business in Brazil. The information I got was more than enough to see the business happening in my country and since I felt the team, once again, didn't rush me to make a decision sooner, I felt that not only the business was great, but also the Chocolography team was the perfect partners I was looking for to back me up in a new business adventure in Brazil. Therefore, me and my group decided to close the deal and start the business in Brazil.

Once we made this decision, we stared the process to see the best possibility to import all the equipment and tools to Brazil, and due to some unpleasant Brazilian bureaucracies matters, this process took more than what we expected.. This was when I felt another great support from the Chocolography team, which helped me and guided me in every single step of the way. So again, I felt that these guys were the partners I could rely on...

Again, just complements... All the technical team was great, the presentation and explanation was extremely clear, the software and tools are very user friendly, and summarizing, the whole training was very smooth. All the team is great hosts and again, I felt among friends. Lenny, the genius behind the Chocolography technology, is a great host and a very social active guy in NY, therefore we had a great time together.

When I got back to Brazil, I prepared all the plant and details to receive all the equipment and tools, and everything arrived as planned, with no missing items or broke tools, etc.. In the meantime, I was in direct contact with Mr.Simon Swerdlow taking care of all the final details, and again, always available to talk and exchange emails without a single hesitation...

Now, we are operating the business in Brazil for two Months, producing the chocolate and icing with great perfection I must add. Thanks to all my team in Brazil and Chocolography USA, who's willing to work hard to make things happen as fast as possible.. We are in constant contact with Chocolography USA, actually, we make a conference call every Friday to update the projects and do some brainstorming to improve the business. This is another great tool.

We are very pleased with our achievements in Brazil and now hope the sales grow in monthly bases as our progress to make the operation happen in Brazil.

Now we are moving to new level of partnership, thinking in use Chocolography Brazil as a South American headquarters for training and maybe some degree of supplier. Therefore, I can see a great future of our partnership and hope we grow here as Chocolography is growing all over the world!

I would be very happy to talk about the business with any potential Chocolography partner; therefore, if anyone would like to exchange some thoughts and ideas, Mr.Simon Swerdlow has all my contact information. I'm sure he would be happy to arrange this contact.

Best Regards,

Dear Lenny, Simon, Alex, Max, Marat, Vlad, Larry & all Chocolography Staff,

I can't begin to express my thanks for all you have done to help me begin my new business. Operating a unique, personalized business such as Chocolography is a dream come true which wouldn't have been possible without the kindness of Simon & Lenny who accommodated my every need. I realize how difficult it was for Marat & Max to spend such long hours with us. Please know that all that was done for me is greatly appreciated and will never be forgotten. I pray that my business is a huge success & that I make my mentors (Lenny & Simon) extremely proud of me. I look forward to a long-lasting business relationship with your company and your continued support.

Again, thanks a million for all your guidance.
You are the best.
With much Appreciation,

I Started my Chocolography Business with an open mind and a positive attitude...... yes, I have been quite successful. I believe in my product and that my success stems from my energetic approach to selling. I truly believe I have something that is unique and of quality. It's a great party favor, it's a great promotional tool and it's remembered by all... something that both audiences want when they give something out! Biggest clientele? Anybody who is breathing... I sell to churches, schools, car dealerships, party planners, caterers, dentists, lawyers, real estate agents (that's probably my biggest), fund raisers, painters, lawn maintenance companies,.. need I say more? Treated by Lenny and the gang... let's say that I look at them as my second family... you WILL NOT find better people. We keep in touch on a regular basis... they answer questions, concerns, help with technical things and always deliver product when I need it.

I believe that all people who do well in sales, must believe in the product that they are selling. I believe in Chocolography. Get Creative, Get Motivated and Get a Chocolography Business!

I purchased my Chocolate Printing system from you a little over a year ago, and on behalf of Gateway Chocolate Printing Company, I want to express my sincere gratitude for the commitment of the staff at Chocolate Printing Company to customer service and product quality. Our chocolate products have created great excitement everywhere we have taken them. We are continually reaching new customers ourselves and by word-of-mouth. For each piece of chocolate we sell, the customers are showing maybe five other people so the word is spreading. It is incredible having a product that is different than consumers are used to seeing. Our sales exceeded our first year expectations, and we look forward to doing even better in our second year with repeat customers and new customers.

The addition of the web-site is invaluable and I believe we will all reap huge benefits from it. Once again, I want to compliment you on the organization you have established and I look forward to a long and profitable relationship.

We are thrilled to have purchased your Chocolate Printing financial opportunity. It was very easy to master the operation and put to immediate use. There have been few times that your unit is idle. We had such a demand for printing that we had to open a retail location so people would have a real store to come in to. We have done a number of events and every event is a great opportunity to book the next one and the next one. Custom Printed Images on Chocolate is Exciting Entertainment for every event. When guests see their pictures printed on a delicious chocolate treat, they experience the Magic and Fun of Chocolography. If someone is looking for an easy to master financial opportunity, Chocolography is one of the best. Thank you Chocolate Printing Company for your training, support and opportunity.

economy crisis

Bank says banking crisis easing

Mervyn King wants to limit the size of banks in the future

The Bank of England says conditions in the financial system are easing, although the banking system is fragile and vulnerable to disruption.

In its Financial Stability Report, it said the total losses from the financial crisis reached $15tn (£10tn).

However, that is a substantial improvement from March's estimate of a $25tn fall in the value of such assets.

The Bank also calls for further regulation to prevent banks getting too big and tougher controls on lending.

Prevention and cure

With the debate now shifting on how to prevent future financial crises, Paul Tucker, the deputy governor for financial stability said: "The policy debate now underway matters enormously if we are to achieve a more stable financial system in the future."

Recent statements by Governor Mervyn King have highlighted differences between the Bank of England, the Treasury and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) about how to regulate the banks in the future.

Mr King would like the Bank of England to have a larger role in any future regulation, and in the Financial Stability Report the Bank sets out its stall.

It would like to see:

• Strengthened market discipline: Greater disclosure by banks backed by a credible threat that the government will close failing banks
• Greater self-insurance: Banks required to hold more capital and liquidity reserves, including putting extra money aside in good times
• Improved management of risk within the financial system as a whole, not just of individual banks
• Size and structure of banks to be limited
• Clear principles of public support, avoiding future moral hazard, which encourages banks to take more risks because they know they will be bailed out

In some of its conclusions, the Bank still seems at odds with the chancellor, who for example, is not in favour of limiting the size of banks.

And although the Bank of England is in broad agreement with the FSA on many of these principles, there is a dispute over who should be the lead enforcer.

Mr King said earlier this month that he did not just want to preach "sermons" to the banks without having the power to enforce them, and he appears to have won the backing of the Conservatives in his bid for a more central role.

Large losses

The Bank says that the unprecedented policy action by governments and central banks had prevented disaster when "the financial system came close to collapse in the autumn of 2008, following the collapse of Lehman Brothers".

KEY FINDINGS Banking crisis is easing Banks will still face funding problems in future Banks will need bigger reserves Government should consider limiting size of banks

But the consequence was that the banking system received some $14 trillion in support or guarantees by central banks in the US and Europe, equivalent to half of their GDP.

Almost half of the world's largest 20 banks received direct government investment, and central banking lending to the economy more than doubled.

And although losses are less now than they were in March, the world financial system has taken a huge knock.

Losses at major UK banks soared from £150bn to £400bn between October and December, and have outpaced bank attempts to raise additional capital of around £100bn.

However, in recent months the Bank says that "sentiment has improved", with stock markets recovering some 25% to 35%.

Key bond markets have also recovered, with losses on residential mortgage backed securities (RMBS) -the key instrument that hit banking balance sheets - now estimated at $1.3tn compared with $1.8tn, and total losses on all debt instruments down $4.6tn compared with $2.7tn it estimated in March.

Funding gap

However, the huge losses have made the banks more reluctant to lend.

The Bank of England estimates that UK banks had a "large and rising funding gap" of £800bn, half of which was backed by securitisations which will be difficult to refinance.

And they are finding it more difficult to bridge that funding gap (the difference between what they lend and the amount they get in from savers).

The Bank warns that when the emergency support it is providing expires, some banks may find it difficult to raise enough funds.

And it says the difficulty in raising money cheaply on capital markets could be made worse if the UK and other governments still have huge budget deficits, which could make the cost of borrowing more expensive for everyone.