By Butch Bacaoco

Cane Points

Monday, March 5, 2012

FORTUNATELY for Ceneco general manager Sulpicio Lagarde, Jr., he was in the United States on official travel when the daring hold-up at Ceneco main office occurred at around 9:15 in the morning last Friday, March 2.

Eight men, armed not only with short, high-powered firearms but also with detailed information on Cenecos physical lay-out and operating procedures, swooped down on the cashiers area and, in a matter of two to three minutes, disarmed the five security guards, picked up the P3.6-million cash collection and casually fled on board motorcycles.

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Indeed, Lagarde is lucky to be in the US when the heist occurred. The warning shot by one of the robbers pierced the office glass window and landed smack on the window of the Ford Everest service vehicle assigned to him.

If Lagarde was here, who knows what would have happened? He might have been inside the SUV and would have been hit by the errant bullet. Lucky you, GM!

Unfortunately for Lagarde, the Ceneco board headed by Atty. Arnel Lapore has prepared a 15-day suspension red carpet welcome for him when he sets foot in Bacolod.

Thats what you get for delaying the installation of the CCTV cameras which would have deterred or, at least, helped identify the robbers, the board seems to be telling the GM.

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Bacaoco: It’s more fun in Ceneco

Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei has sold part of his "Sunflower Seeds" installation to Britain's Tate Gallery, it said on Monday.

The London gallery has bought around eight million of the 100 million porcelain seeds, which covered the floor of the Tate Modern's Turbine Hall in 2010, for an undisclosed figure.

The public was initially able to walk over the 1,000 square metre (10,700 square feet) carpet of seeds when they went on show, but the work was later cordoned off when dust created by the porcelain raised health fears.

"The 10 tonnes of seeds can be displayed in the form of a one-and-a-half metre (five feet) high conical sculpture, stretching five metres in diameter, or as a 10 centimetre-deep square or rectangle," the Tate said in a statement.

The Tate Modern displayed the eight million seeds in the cone shape from June until last month.

Ai, whose activism has made him a thorn in the side of China's communist authorities, was held in custody for 81 days last year as police rounded up dissidents amid online calls for Arab Spring-style protests in China.

Upon his release in June, the 54-year-old was charged with tax evasion, charges he maintains are politically motivated attempts to silence him.

The gallery said the seeds, which were individually hand-made by artisans in Jingdezhen, eastern China, carried associations of the Cultural Revolution, the chaotic period of Chinese politics between 1966 and 1976.

"Propaganda images depicted Chairman Mao as the sun with the mass of people as sunflowers turning towards him," the Tate said.

Sunflower seeds are a popular street snack in China, while porcelain has traditionally been one of the country's most prized exports.

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Tate buys some of Ai Weiwei's 'Sunflower Seeds'

Celebrated South African artist Jane Alexander first shot to international fame in the mid-1980s with Butcher Boys, a provocative installation exploring issues relating to apartheid through a trio of mouthless, muscular animal-human hybrid sculptures.

Over the years, Alexander has deepened her inquiry into complex issues relating to injustice, conformity, exploitation, identity and violence.

My field of reference and research has broadened, she explained, and I have engaged with more complex aspects of social life through opportunity and the accumulation of knowledge and experience over the last 26 years.

Jane Alexander: Surveys (From the Cape of Good Hope), currently on display at the SCAD Museum of Art, is the first major North American survey exhibition of site-specific tableaux, sculptures and photomontages by this powerful creative talent. Guest curated by Pep Subirs and organized by the Museum for African Art in New York, the exhibit is part of SCADs 2012 deFINE ART program, which celebrates contemporary art through a series of exhibitions, lectures and public events.

This mind-bending solo exhibit demonstrates the raw, visceral power of Alexanders hybrid human-animal figures as well as the rich, provocative socio-political subtext that enlivens her work. In person, her life-sized installations and monstrous sculptures have a grotesque, eerie quality. This survey reveals her ongoing fascination with complex sociological issues as well as her technical mastery of three-dimensional form.

Showcasing a motley cast of characters, Jane Alexander merges human bodies with heads of baboons, jackals, ibises and other creatures. Through this cross-species mash-up, Alexander forces the audience to re-think human behavior and to question how evolved we truly are.

Part of what I focus on is the pervasive presence of oppression, violence and hierarchies and the dominant roles they play in social life, Alexander said. I think these are aspects of my work, not the sum of it.

Alexander first experimented with the human-animal hybrids, which have become signature subjects in her sculptural work, as a college student in the late 1970s.

Hybrid figures were and are interpretations of responses I have had to the social environments I find myself within at a time, she explained. By social environment, I include observations of aspects of social behavior and organization, the media, commerce, propaganda, chance as well as theoretical, historical and informal empirical research in various areas.

In her solo exhibit at the SCAD Museum of Art, Alexander presents dozens of strange, humanoid creatures engaged in enigmatic, often cryptic exchanges with seen and unseen forces. Several works hint at genocide and execution, with violence always strategically implied rather than explicitly depicted.

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Art & Soul: South African Jane Alexander's challenging sculptures haunt SCAD MOA

(PRWEB) March 02, 2012

Contract Carpet One, the premier retailer for carpet and flooring in Maryland and the DC metro area, announce a new look to their online presence. The Beltsville retailer gave their website a redesign with a focus on reaching their customers better, and turning more online visitors into customers.

The Beltsville carpet provider has spent over 30 years in the region, and has three generations of experience in providing carpet installation, commercial flooring, hardwood flooring and more to home & business owners.

Contract Carpets redesign of their website was not solely for aesthetic purposes, but is part of a commitment to reach the DC area and beyond, to provide all of their flooring needs. The newly-pressed site, developed on the WordPress platform, is built to increase the organic reach of Contract Carpet Beltsville.

Owner & President Kurt Zanelotti, the third generation of Zanelottis in this industry, and his company also offer expert tips and resources on their Beltsville Carpet Blog. This in hope of better educating incoming visitors on the best practices and latest trends in carpet and flooring.

About Contract Carpet One: Contract Carpet Systems/Contract Carpet One is one of the Washington areas leading floor covering providers licensed and operating in four states plus the District of Columbia.

Contract Carpet Systems was opened in 1976 by Tony Zanelotti, the son of an Italian immigrant and tile setter, Louis. Tony learned the craft of ceramic installation, before he was called into action in World War II. Upon returning to the States, Tony worked as a DC police officer while moonlighting for a local rug company before eventually opening Contract Carpet Systems.

In 1985, his son Kurt came on as the third generation of Zanelottis in the floor covering trade. Today, Kurt operates both Contract Carpet Systems, and Contract Carpet One Floor and Home as its President and Owner.

# # #

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Contract Carpet One Redesigns Website for Leads

*Note: This was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Do you have a real estate story that you'd like to share? Sign up with the Yahoo! Contributor Network to start publishing your own finance articles.

One thing I've learned as a renter is that it pays to think like a landlord. I can talk about what benefits me until the cows come home, but ultimately a landlord is only going to spend money when it benefits him. Period. This is why, when I'm interested in upgrades for the home I rent, I approach the landlord from a direction that will benefit him.

Hardwood or Laminate Floors

I hate carpet, so whenever I move into a new rental property, I always ask the landlord to rip it up. I suggest he install hardwood planks or faux-wood laminate prior to my moving in (or, if nothing else, ceramic tile). Carpet retains dirt, stains, and allergens, which makes it unsanitary and potentially dangerous. Since my wife suffers from allergies, I want to reduce her discomfort wherever possible. Plus, in my opinion, carpet is much less visually appealing.

I suggest the landlord make this upgrade because wood and laminate are easier to maintain. He won't have to rip up the flooring every time one tenant moves out and another moves in. If a plank is damaged, he need only repair that one, rather than the whole floor. Plus, wood and laminate increase the value of the home and show better to prospective buyers and tenants.

Programmable Thermostat

A programmable digital thermostat is one of the least expensive upgrades a landlord can undertake. If a landlord doesn't want to install one, I'll do it myself, but I prefer to broach the subject prior to move-in so I don't have to incur the expense or installation time myself. It is much easier to keep utility bills under control with a programmable thermostat. You can decide in advance when you want to adjust temperatures in the rental unit, and you don't have to worry about forgetting and racking up a huge bill.

This is a big selling point, whether the landlord chooses to rent out the property again or sell it to someone else. And if utility bills are low, he can use that data to entice future renters or buyers. Next to rent itself, utility bills are the next largest expense.

Appliances

If appliances look old or outdated, I always ask the landlord to upgrade them. Sometimes it works and sometimes not, but it never hurts to ask. Upgraded appliances are easier and more fun to use, and they are much less likely to fail in the middle of cooking a meal or running a load of dishes.

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First Person: 5 Upgrades Every Landlord Should Make

InPro Corporation has introduced the new 807 standard cover-plate expansion joint system that is designed to accommodate various flooring thicknesses and finishes from carpet to VCT. InPro's replacement expansion joint covers deliver a quick fix. Most switch-outs can be done in a few hours. You simply remove the old cover and either snap or screw the new InPro joint cover in place. This means little impact on patients or residents, and should have a minimal effect on the operational pace of the facility.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin (PRWEB) February 28, 2012

InPro Corporation has introduced the new 807 standard cover-plate expansion joint system that is designed to accommodate various flooring thicknesses and finishes from carpet to VCT. The overlap design also reduces the 807's sightline.

The often-overlooked expansion joint helps buildings handle the rigors of thermal and seismic movement. A properly installed expansion joint cover can provide years, if not decades of silent service. But, they can take a beating – the joint cover can come loose due to heavy wheeled carts and other traffic, meaning a noisier transition point or possible trip hazard. And it’s not just the floor joints – wall joints can also become scratched by carts and equipment.

InPro's replacement expansion joint covers deliver a quick fix. Most switch-outs can be done in a few hours. You simply remove the old cover and either snap or screw the new InPro joint cover in place. This means little impact on patients or residents, and should have a minimal effect on the operational pace of the facility.

InPro offers an extensive line of standard cover plate systems that are a simple retrofit over existing expansion joints. Many come with pre-drilled counter-sunk holes for easy installation. Others are designed to accommodate various flooring finishes or uneven slab conditions. Custom finishes are available on some and others give a low sightline to enhance aesthetics.

InPro is the nation’s premier manufacturer of building products, offering the most choices and best service in door and wall protection, decorative surfaces, expansion joint systems, cubicle track & privacy curtains and signage & wayfinding. InPro products are used in the healthcare, senior living, hospitality, education, and government sectors.

The company leads the industry with the first biopolymer wall protection – InPro’s exclusive G2 Blend® made from BioPolyPETG+™ material containing both a biopolymer and recycled content. InPro is a proud participant in the UPS carbon neutral shipping program.

For more information on InPro Corporation, visit http://www.inprocorp.com, or call 800-222-5556.

###

Evan G. Bane
InPro Corporation
262-682-5318
Email Information

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New Expansion Joint Cover System a Solid, Quick Fix for Renovations

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Unity

Unity in the Foothills

102 Prospect Street, Torrington, CT 06790

http://www.unityinthefoothils.org

Sunday Celebration at 10:30 a.m.

Sunday School 10:45 a.m.

Methodist

First United Methodist Church

21 Fern Drive, Torrington, CT 06790

Rev. Barbara B. Shaffer, Pastor

860-489-8084www.fumctorr.org

Email fumctorr@sbcglobal.net

Sunday Service 9:30 a.m.

Sunday School 10:45 a.m. - 1:45 a.m. Pre K thru Adult

Evangelical

Northfield Bible Church

10 Camp Hill Road, Northfield, CT 06778

860-283-9598 http://www.nccindependent.org

Bible Doctrines Class: Sunday 9:00 a.m.

Sunday Service: 10:00 a.m.

Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00 p.m.

Pot Luck Supper every 4th Friday of the Month at 6:15

Roman Catholic

Immaculate Conception Church

4 North Street, Norfolk, CT 06058

860-542-5442/860-542-1536

(Office 860-824-7078)

http://www.sacrement7.org

Email imconception@sbcglobal.net

Weekend Liturgies:

Saturday Vigil Mass 6:00 p.m.

Sunday Mass 11:00 a.m.

Weekday Liturgies: Monday, Tuesday 8:00 a.m.

Saint Joseph Church

4 Main Street, Canaan, CT 06018

860-824-7078 / Fax 860-824-4925

http://www.sacrement7.org • sacarment@sbcglobal.net

Weekend Liturgies:

Saturday Vigil Mass 4:00 p.m.

Sunday Mass at 8:30 a.m.

Weekday Liturgies Wednesday and Friday at 7:30 a.m.

Weekday Mass held in Chapel

WINTER SEASON: Geer Nursing 1st Tuesday at 2:00 p.m.

Communion Serivces 3rd Tuesday 10:30 a.m.

Confession Every Saturday from 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Assemblies of God

First Assembly of God

387 New Harwinton Road, Torrington, CT 06790

860-482-7464 http://www.firstagtorr.org

Sunday School for all ages 9:30 a.m.

Sunday Worship Service 10:45 a.m.

Family Night Thursday 7:00 p.m.

Adult Bible Study Prayer Service: Saturday 9:15 a.m.

Cable 5 Sundays, Wednesdays, & Friday at 3 p.m.

Wed - Fri. Noon

Roual Rangers Missionettes, Teens, "Cross - Walk"

Congregational Christian Churches

Founders Congregational Church

41 Birge Park Road, Harwinton, CT 06791

860-485-1120 http://www.founderscongregationalchurch.com

Sunday School and Services 10:00 a.m.

Bible Study: Tuesday 7:00 p.m. and Thursday at 10:00 a.m.

Center Congregational Church

155 Main Street, Torrington, CT 06790

860-489-8301

http://www.centerchurchtor.org

Email - centerchurch@snet.net

Sunday Services and Church School at 10 a.m.

Evangelical Lutheran

St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church (LCMS)

30 Prospect Street, New Hartford, CT 06057

860-379-3172

Website: http://www.stpaulsnewhartford.com

Rev. Timothy Yeadon

Sunday Services: 8:00 a.m., 9:15 a.m., 10:45 a.m.

Sunday School & Bible Study: 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday's Prayers at 6:30 p.m. & Service 7:00 p.m.

Home of St. Paul's Community Nursery School:

Programs for 3-4 year olds, September through May.

http://www.stpaulscns.net

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ctwatchdog.com: Sears service reputation is at risk

Now that the Super Bowl and Grammys are out of the way, movie lovers nationwide are gearing up for their TV spectacle.

And in Philly, cinephiles need not celebrate the Oscars alone. Flyers legends, celebrity impersonators, and open bars await them this year.

Oscar night is Sunday - 6ABC's red-carpet show for the 84th Academy Awards will begin at 7 p.m. - but a full weekend of Oscar fun begins Friday with last-minute re-screenings, pre-parties, and big-screen simulcasts.

For those looking to catch up on some of the best-picture contenders, Friday could be the night to screen Steven Spielberg's War Horse or the youth odyssey The Tree of Life - or to spend some time with Hollywood's handsomest leading men, watching Brad Pitt in the baseball movie Moneyball and George Clooney in the tropical family drama The Descendants.

For all the rest, AMC theaters have you covered. On Saturday, the movie theater chain offers the second half of its Best Picture Showcase starting at 11 a.m.; $40 buys access to the other five best-picture nominees - Hugo, The Help, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, The Artist, and Midnight in Paris. These films, ranging from fantastical to unflinchingly historical, should help moviegoers prepare for the Sunday panoply.

The movie marathon will be hosted at three area theaters: AMC Loews Cherry Hill, AMC Neshaminy, and AMC Hamilton.

On Oscar night itself, nonprofits across the city are rolling out red carpets.

Want to make a contribution to veterans and hear from Flyers goalie Bernie Parent? The Volunteers of America Delaware Valley is hosting its 13th installation of the only Academy-sanctioned event, the Oscar Night America Gala. Parent, who will be honorary chair, will speak about how he overcame an injury as a hockey player, according to a Volunteers spokeswoman.

The organization's goal this February is to raise $150,000 for the construction of a 30-bed shelter for homeless veterans in Camden, she said, and it is seeking to complete the building in September.

The event, held at the Loews Hotel, will also feature "Joan Rivers" and "Michael Jackson" impersonators, a jazz band, and an open bar. Individual tickets are $250 and available at voadv.org. Information: 856-854-4660.

Those seeking less expensive Oscar outings might try the parties held by the Bryn Mawr Film Institute ($60-$70) or Ambler Theater ($40-$60).

Many may opt to watch the show from their comfy living rooms, but film institute executive director Juliet Goodfriend listed advantages of going out. "It's the presence of other people sharing the experience that is of the greatest importance," she said.

The Bryn Mawr event at 7 p.m. will include a gourmet buffet, a cash bar, and a silent auction with $100 raffle tickets for a trip to Paris (time-traveling car not included); it's at 824 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr. A pair of film experts will provide commentary and comic relief during the screening of the awards, and proceeds will go to the restoration of the Bryn Mawr Theater. Information: 610-527-9898, http://www.brynmawrfilm.org.

The Ambler Theater's Oscar party doubles as the building's ninth birthday celebration. All three of the nonprofit theater's screens will show the Academy Awards. Food, drink, and live music are included, and a $60 Red Carpet Pass includes preferred seating, dessert, and champagne at the theater, 108 E. Butler Ave., Ambler. Information: 215-345-7855, http://www.amblertheater.org.

These celebrations are about the closest Philadelphians are going to get to the actual red carpet - unless, like Fiona Otway, a Temple grad student and editor of the documentary Hell and Back Again, they work on an Oscar-nominated film and receive an invitation from the Academy.

But for those spending Oscar night in Philly, the city's film fanatics are making their own glamour.

 

Contact staff writer Matt Huston at 215-854-5289 or mhuston@philly.com.

 

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A date with George, Brad, Oscar

Tenants: Dick's Sporting Goods, J.C. Penney, Macy's and Sears are anchors; more than 120 other stores.

Moving in: Green Spa massage center, The Limited, Smart Toys.

Renovating: Aeropostale, American Commodore, American Eagle Outfitters, Bath & Body Works, Belongings (added Pandora jewelry), Buckle, Cache, Charlotte Russe, Claire's, Dairy Queen/Orange Julius, Express (adding men's clothing), Freedom Wireless, Gap, Hat World (changing to Lids), Hot Topic, Justice, Kay Jewelers (expanding), Mastercuts, Morini, Motherhood Maternity, Pacific Sunwear, Pro Image, Starbucks Coffee, Wet Seal, Yankee Candle.

More West Hills news, discussion, events and more at YourMoonTownship.com

Kim Leonard is a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review staff writer and can be reached at 412-380-5606 or via e-mail.

The Mall at Robinson said Wednesday it will add stores and remodel common areas while 25 of its tenants freshen up with a whole new look, or at least new paint and carpet.

The mall owned by Forest City Enterprises Inc. marked its 10-year anniversary in October. Mall officials asked tenants to upgrade after a decade at their own expense, said Beth Edwards, general manager, and, "Most of them do want to provide their latest look."

As to new stores, The Limited will open at the mall by Nov. 1, Smart Toys will open in April and a Green Spa massage center, by the end of March.

The most dramatic change may be Express' move to a larger space, with the addition of men's clothing, Edwards said. Buckle and American Eagle Outfitters will remodel to their newest store concepts, and work will be staggered through the year so that not too many stores will be under construction at once. Some retailers may move temporarily.

The Mall at Robinson also will replace carpet and otherwise upgrade common areas. Installation of Wi-Fi access to the Internet was completed in the last three weeks, she said.

Established malls need to switch it up occasionally. "For a mall that has been around about a decade or so, you want to keep it exciting or shoppers will go somewhere else" such as newer centers, said Audrey Guskey, marketing professor at Duquesne University.

"It pays for stores to be constantly upgrading. The atmosphere is very important." The growing Settlers Ridge retail complex that opened three years ago is about a mile from the mall.

Edwards said she doesn't know much Forest City is investing in upgrades to The Mall at Robinson. The center's tax assessment was reduced last year from $104.7 million to $93.5 million.

And Cleveland-based Forest City said this month that while it has no immediate plans to divest properties in Pittsburgh, it plans to focus on rental properties in seven cities that don't include Pittsburgh or Cleveland.

Paige Beal, marketing professor at Point Park University, said it's standard for malls to stipulate that stores be upgraded every 10 to 15 years. "It's not in the mall's best interests to have a store become obsolete or old-looking," she said.

Edwards said the mall, 96 percent occupied, also is looking to diversify its store mix with options for professionals and other, more mature shoppers -- in addition to keeping stores that appeal to teens and young families.

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Mall at Robinson polishing itself up, adding tenants

20-09-2011 15:23 Don't get taken on your next carpet installation project. So how do you make sure the installer does a good job? In this video we describe how to perform a proper carpet quality check as the owner-builder of your new finished basement. Visit us at ArmchairBuilder.com for more free help on your project.

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Basement Remodel Carpet Installation - Video