The average 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage was 5.08 …
Two years ago, Anthony Keane and Michael McMahon were thinking about opening a burger joint.
When they came across a vacant storefront on Northampton Street in Holyoke, however, the location suggested something else: a cafe.
It wouldn't be the first time their plans changed. While remodeling the building for its eventual opening, they planned on calling it the Corner Cafe. But one day, during that lengthy, labor-intensive process, one asked the other over the phone how "the damn cafe" was coming along.
Suddenly, they had a new name--the Dam Cafe.
"Clearly, we're not even near the dam," said Celeste Long, who manages the cafe, referring to Holyoke's …
Mark Worthington scored 18 points Saturday as Australia beat New Zealand 94-57 for a two-game sweep of a pre-Olympic men's basketball series.
In the game Thursday in Auckland, Australia defeated New Zealand 75-60 to retain the Ramsay Shield, awarded to the winner of the annual two-game series between the countries.
New Zealand led 16-13 after the opening quarter but Australia scored 33 points in …
Few things in life are as powerful as the bond between a boy andhis dog (maybe a boy and his mother, but that's a whole differentstory).
Hollywood has made a pretty penny bringing a dog's life to the bigscreen -- the history of film is peppered with famous furry facesthat made their way into our hearts at 24 frames per second. Theyremembered all their lines, and not one of the following dog starswas ever involved in a scandalous love affair with a co-star. With anew version of "Lassie" set to open Friday, we take a look back atthe cinema's canine stars:
RIN TIN TIN
Breed: German shepherd
Cinema pedigree: "The Man From Hell's River" (1922); "Where …
WASHINGTON - President Bush, seeking to blunt international criticism of the U.S. record on climate change, on Thursday urged 15 major nations to agree by the end of next year on a global emissions goal for reducing greenhouse gases.
Bush called for the first in a series of meetings to begin this fall, bringing together countries identified as major emitters of greenhouse gases blamed for global warming. The list would include the United States, China, India and major European countries.
The president outlined his proposal in a speech ahead of next week's summit in Germany of leading industrialized nations, where global warming is to be a major topic and Bush will be on the spot.
The United States has refused to ratify the landmark 1997 Kyoto Protocol requiring industrialized countries to reduce greenhouse gases to 1990 levels by 2012. Developing countries, including China and India, were exempted from that first round of cuts. Bush rejected the Kyoto approach, as well as the latest German proposal for what happens after 2012.
"The United States takes this issue seriously," Bush said. "The new initiative I'm outlining today will contribute to the important dialogue that will take place in Germany next week."
Along with his call for a global emissions goal, Bush urged other nations to eliminate tariffs on clean energy technologies.
Germany, which holds the European Union and Group of Eight presidencies, is proposing a so-called "2-degree" target, whereby global temperatures would be allowed to increase no more than 2 degrees Celsius - the equivalent of 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit - before being brought back down. Practically, experts have said that means a global reduction in emissions of 50 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.
Instead, Bush called for nations to hold a series of meetings, beginning this fall, to set a global emissions goal. Each nation then would have to decide on how to achieve the goal, White House officials said.
"The United States will work with other nations to establish a new framework for greenhouse gas emissions for when the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012," the president said.
"So my proposal is this: By the end of next year, America and other nations will set a long-term global goal for reducing greenhouse gases. To develop this goal, the United States will convene a series of meetings of nations that produce the most greenhouse gasses, including nations with rapidly growing economies like India and China.
"Each country would establish midterm management targets and programs that reflect their own mix of energy sources and future energy needs," he said. "In the course of the next 18 months, our nations will bring together industry leaders from different sectors of our economies, such as power generation, and alternative fuels and transportation."
Bush's critics were quick to respond, even before the president's speech had concluded.
Daniel J. Weiss, climate strategy director for the liberal Center for American Progress, said the Bush administration has a "do-nothing" policy on global warming despite U.S. allies' best efforts to spur U.S. reductions.
"Our allies' pleas for action add to the voices of many big corporations such as Dow, Shell, General Electric, and General Motors," Weiss said. "These and other Fortune 500 companies endorsed a 60 percent to 80 percent reduction in global warming pollution by 2050, the level scientists indicate that we must reach to stave off the worst impacts. Unfortunately, these appeals from his foreign and corporate allies continue to fall on President Bush's deaf ears."
The U.S. last year actually experienced a drop in emissions of carbon dioxide, the heat-trapping gas most blamed for global warming. The 1.3 percent decline from 2005, the first drop in 11 years, was due to a mild winter followed by a cool summer.
Carbon dioxide is produced from burning fossil fuels, including natural gas and coal, which are used widely to produce electricity to heat homes in winter and run air conditioners in summer.
While Bush announced his new proposal, the administration registered its opposition to a number of approaches to combat global warming. Specifically, the White House said it does not support a global carbon-trading program allowing countries to buy and sell carbon credits to meet limits on carbon dioxide levels. The White House also expressed opposition to energy efficiency targets advocated by the EU, arguing that a standard applicable in one country does not fit another.
African Union Commission Chairman Alpha Oumar Konare, left, and Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen address a press conference at the Marienborg estate north of Copenhagen, Denmark Wednesday. Any deployment of U.N. troops in the Darfur region of Sudan should be large and swift, Konare said Wednesday. Konare, who was meeting with Fogh Rasmussen, said a decision on whether to send U.N. peacekeepers to Darfur would soon be made. AP/John McConnico
CHAMPAIGN With another touchdown here or a break there againstthe non-conference teams, Illinois would have been in a bowl game.
And with a little more experience, the Illini might haveimproved on a decent 5-3 Big Ten record.
But those are excuses, and they're for last season.
This season, the Illini vow, they'll be ready.
"In the past, people have said we're a young team," linebackerSimeon Rice said. "Now, there are no excuses. This is the year todo it."
With seven home games and a soft non-conference schedule, adecent bowl trip is the minimum standard for Illinois, which isexpected to field one of the strongest defenses in the nation.
"If everybody has their head on right," said Butkus Awardcandidate Dana Howard, "I think we have the capability to go 12-0."
The Illinois offense will have to take some giant strides toreach that goal, but it figures to be better in its second year undercoordinator Greg Landry.
The biggest key is quarterback Johnny Johnson.
After averaging eight points a game in three non-conferencegames last year, Illinois averaged 22.5 points a game in the Big Ten,when Johnson replaced Scott Weaver as starter.
Although Johnson is No. 1, Tepper said he won't hesitate to turnto Weaver, or Jeff Hecklinski, if Johnson struggles.
"Last year, I wanted to prove I could play," said Johnson, whohad some great games and some disastrous ones last season. "Thisyear, I want to prove I can win."
On the offensive line, the Illini lack depth and will need tostay healthy. They also need Ken Blackman, who has moved to lefttackle from the defensive line, to be a quick study.
Illinois' all-around experience should make its offense better.But Tepper also will be looking to his freshmen running backs to easethe load on returnees Ty Douthard and Damian Platt.
But defense still is Illinois' meal ticket.
"With the strong defense we have," Johnson said, "if we can put20 points up on the board, we can win."
That's the kind of pressure the Illini defense faces,particularly because its linebackers are receiving a gargantuanpreseason buildup.
To challenge his defensive stalwarts, and keep them interested,defensive coordinator Denny Marcin has added a lot of wrinkles to hisbasic scheme.
"I don't think it's going to be hard to leave the mediaattention at home and just go out and play," Howard said.
"Even when you're 1-10, there's pressure to win," Tepper said."I'd rather have this kind of pressure."
