Moving and Storage Business News

The News Review:

- Don’t get scammed by shifty movers this summer
- A life of generosity
- E.ON UK chief: Government ‘must come clean on cost of renewables&#…
- New Focus on Coal’s Part in Warming
- Are Extra Laptop Features Worth It?

Don’t get scammed by shifty movers this summer
San Diego Union Tribune – Apr 6, 2008
For starters, obtain references from your friends, neighbors and relatives. Even your real-estate agent may have some suggestions. Also, ask the moving companies themselves for references. Since movers are likely to give you the names of folks they can count on to offer glowing testimonials, ask for a list of their last 10 moves. Then, call those people, asking, among other things, whether they were careful and on time and whether they would use the company again. Web sites may or may not be another source for leads. But if you use the Internet, make sure that the company's site and collateral material provides licensing information, offers valuable moving tips, spells out possible warranties, lists a local address and notes that crews are put through background checks and are trained to perform their tasks…
Never select a mover on price alone, or on a verbal promise made over the telephone. Always require a physical, in-home estimate. Also ask whether your goods will be kept on the truck in storage or transferred to a warehouse. If storage is necessary, visit the mover's warehouse to be certain the facilities are in good condition – or even exist. Along the same lines, if there are any long, narrow driveways or other possible quirks to your move, make sure that the mover visits your destination, too. Extra labor may be necessary, which could lead to additional charges. Ditto shuttle trucks, stairs, parking problems and other extra challenges.

A life of generosity
Union of Grass Valley – The Union of Grass Valley – Apr 6, 2008
People donated clothes. Lyon attributes his generosity to his parents. My father was the founder of the Lyons moving and storage company in Oakland, and he was also a Rotarian, he said. He became a good friend with Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary. I think they talked back and forth, and the more they talked, I think, it made more sense for my father to be generous. I was taught to be generous. I never expected anything in return except a thank you.

E.ON UK chief: Government ‘must come clean on cost of renewables&#…
Telegraph.co.uk – Apr 6, 2008
In a frank warning yesterday, Mr Golby criticised the quality of debate about the country’s energy future, saying that it was dominated by single issue politics. He called on the Government to take a lead in improving understanding of just how serious was the challenge to “avoid the lights going out”. He criticised in particular the notion that moving towards renewables was cheaper. “We must dispel the myth that renewables are cheap. Because we have all been silent on this, people think it won’t cost anything…
ON’s energy manifesto, said his call for an “honest debate” about Britain’s energy future must include a recognition that new coal-fired generation “will play a significant role in restraining prices”. He said: “Without coal, bridging the energy gap will mean allowing gas to dominate our energy mix and a second “dash for gas” is something we need to avoid. ” But new power stations must include carbon capture and storage technology. ON UK would play a role in the building of a new generation of nuclear power stations, he said, adding that the company had three options: to buy power stations from British Energy, purchase sites from the Nuclear Decommisioning Agency or build on new greenfield or brownfield land.

New Focus on Coal’s Part in Warming
Washington Post – Apr 6, 2008
The exchange, carried out in full public view, highlights both a recent shift in the climate debate and the difficulty of translating this change into concrete action. Rogers does not question humans’ contribution to global warming, and he has pledged to largely “decarbonize” his company’s operations by mid-century. But he is not moving as fast as environmental activists would like, and some academics are now arguing that scientists have greatly underestimated the technological leap that will be required in coming decades to curb dangerous warming. The same day Rogers informed Hansen that he was willing to meet, Roger Pielke Jr. , a scientist at the…
That means it will be harder than expected for companies to meet tighter emissions limits this year. The report sent prices for emissions permits for December 2008 up 4 percent, to $36. 60 a ton on the European Climate Exchange in.

Are Extra Laptop Features Worth It?
PC World – Apr 6, 2008
Some features are decidedly optional, while others are becoming de rigueur. Which are worth the money? Let’s take a gander. Solid-State DrivesWith no moving parts, flash-memory solid-state drives (SSDs) operate silently and eliminate any risk to the drive from vibration or a sudden drop. SSDs are stunningly expensive at the moment. The largest capacity is just 64GB, and choosing one for your laptop can add from $900 to $1600 to the cost, depending on whether you select it as an option (such as on the base model of…
Travelers who frequently work in awkward lighting conditions, where glare, dimness, or reflections abound, would appreciate this $100 to $200 upgrade. The enhanced screen is useful if you intend to watch DVDs or other video on the laptop, too. The screen technology used varies from company to company; consult. Our verdict: If you spend a lot of time squinting at your current laptop display, it’s worth it; otherwise, save your pennies. Integrated Mobile BroadbandThe network is everywhere! Or so AT&T, Sprint Nextel, and.