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Firefighters worked throughout the night to protect several properties south of Toodyay from a bushfire that claimed one home and several sheds.

The fire tore through 150ha of bush with fire crews working desperately to control the fast-moving blaze.

It was reported about 1.40pm as temperatures across the State soared above 40C yesterday.

By 2.30pm, residents in an area bounded by Salt Valley Road, Challeon Lane, Panorama View, Hoddy Well Road and Sandplain Road were told it was too late to leave and they needed to defend their homes.

Five helitacs and water bombers assisted 150 firefighters throughout the afternoon.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services said one home had been destroyed and the owner informed last night.

At least three sheds and a free-standing garage were also lost.

The fire, believed to have been accidental though the cause remained unknown, was downgraded from a bushfire emergency to a watch and act at 7.30pm.

With roads around the bushfire closed, more than a dozen residents gathered at a makeshift evacuation centre in the Toodyay town hall.

It was deja vu for Twilight Brae residents Bruce and Linda Sharman. The blaze came almost five years since another big fire ripped through the area on December 29, 2009.

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Fire burns down home, sheds

The CD player is going the way of the tape deck in Hyundai Vehicles. The Korean automaker announced today that its new infotainment unit will eschew the compact disk reader, choosing instead to embrace smartphone connectivity. The system will be optimized for use with Apple CarPlay as well as Android Auto, software that carries some apps from your mobile OS of choice over to the cars center console.

The Display Audio system will be centered around a seven-inch touch screen that Hyundai wishes to make the head unit for all its cars, even the entry-level volume cars. As affordable car buyers are often younger, Hyundai aims to provide what they want most in their car all the latest smartphone-enabled technologies at a lower price, said Cason Grover, senior group manager, cross-carline planning of Hyundai Motor America.

Those smartphone technologies include text messaging via voice commands, accessing navigation via a phone connection, and making calls, naturally.

With Apple CarPlay, drivers will be able to use Siri eyes-free mode, giving them the ability to use a compatible vehicles steering-wheel-mounted voice command button and call up driving directions, compose texts, and access any notifications they may have received. Android Auto will offer the use of many apps like TextMe and WhatsApp to do something similar.

If drivers happen to be sans smartphone, the Hyundai Display Audio system will still have basic HD radio station access as well as SiriusXM satellite radio, but youll be missing out on the Blue Link connectivity that lets Hyundai owners monitor overall car health and access certain functions via a downloadable app.

Related:Hyundai Blue Link review

Hyundai will be demonstrating all the available functions on its new Display Audio system next week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

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Hyundai sheds the CD player with its new Display Audio infotainment system

Hedge funds made larger adjustments to their bets on U.S. interest rates than other financial firms during the U.S. Treasury markets unusual moves on Oct. 15, according to a Federal Reserve survey released Tuesday.

The Feds quarterly poll of senior credit officers at major securities dealers offered new insight into trading activity during the sudden plunge in Treasury yields that day. The dive raised questions among regulators and traders about whether new regulations or the rising role of electronic-trading technology are making the market more prone to large swings.

Hedge funds, including macro funds that invest based on broad economic trends, made relatively large adjustments in their bets on moves in U.S. interest rates between 8:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. on that Wednesday in October, the Fed survey of 22 dealers found.

For most other client types, dealers indicated that there was little or no change in net positioning, the Fed said. The survey was conducted during the second half of November.

The Managed Funds Association, a hedge-fund industry group, had no immediate comment.

The survey helps explain why market supervisors at the Fed and the U.S. Treasury have paid special attention to the role of speedy trading firms and hedge funds that day. Computer-driven, superfast trading has also been a focus since the speed of the market move and the volume of trading that took place were consistent with that activity. The Fed survey didnt mention high-frequency traders, but several market participants have pointed to their role in the Oct. 15 moves.

Investors that day were fleeing for the safety of government debt due to concerns about global growth, geopolitical events such as unrest in the Middle East and the Ebola scare. But market participants said the move on Oct. 15 was larger than what would have been expected based on the confluence of events leading up to it alone, suggesting other factors amplified the action that day.

The Fed survey also found that on Oct. 15 and in the following days, some dealers increased the amount of collateral, or margin, that dealers required to backstop financial contracts that referenced short-term U.S. Treasury rates. Nearly one-fifth of dealers increased margin requirements for clients such as mutual funds and pension plans during that time, the survey said.

That suggests dealers were adjusting to the more volatile trading by demanding clients post more collateral. The survey didnt specify how the margin requirements on Oct. 15 and the following days compared to previous or subsequent time periods.

Originally posted here:
Fed Survey Sheds Light on Hedge-Fund Activity During Oct. 15 Volatility

Published: Wednesday, December 31, 2014 at 10:40 a.m. Last Modified: Wednesday, December 31, 2014 at 3:33 p.m.

DAYTONA BEACH A man who claimed he was locked in a closet for two days after being chased by unknown subjects was actually holed up in a janitors room at Daytona State College with a 25-year-old woman, police said.

When John Arwood and Amber Campbell were found on Tuesday afternoon in room 169 at the school a janitors closet in brown building 420 officers also discovered a Chore Boy scouring pad commonly used to smoke crack cocaine, police said, but no drugs were found inside the small room.

The 31-year-old Arwood of Daytona Beach initially claimed he was being held against his will in a closet.

According to the reports and the Volusia County Sheriffs Office, Arwood called his father in Osceola County on Tuesday and told him he was being held captive in a closet, Volusia sheriffs spokesman Andrew Gant said. When the father called the Osceola County Sheriffs Office to report his son was in trouble, Osceola sheriffs deputies then called Arwood on his cellphone and were able to track his location by the phones signal, Gant said. They discovered Arwood was somewhere on the college campus; in addition Arwood told them he could see a white boat outside the room where he was being held, reports state.

Osceola officials notified Daytona Beach police, but also warned officers that Arwood has a history with law enforcement that includes armed burglary and theft of firearms, the reports show.

Familiar with the Daytona State College campus, Daytona Beach Officer Daniel Matero knew that the only boat at the college was the one near the brown building. Officers obtained a key to the building from a security guard and began searching for Arwood. They reached room 169 and positioned themselves tactically, based on Arwoods criminal history and the potential for an ambush, the reports state.

Officers announced themselves and Arwood responded and offered a knock from inside the closet, the report states. Police opened the door and discovered their man was not alone. Campbell, who sports a dollar sign tattoo on her throat, as well as vampire bite tattoos, was with him, reports state. The 25-year-old is on probation for escape and resisting an officer with violence in 2013, police said.

The disheveled pair told officers they had been in the closet for two days because they were locked inside. Police said a green garden hose had been wrapped around the door handle to prevent anyone from opening the door from the outside. Arwood and Campbell could have opened the door from the inside whenever they wanted, police said.

Arwood, who has been arrested 10 times between 2005 and 2014 and has a handful of felony and misdemeanor convictions for drug and traffic violations, was charged with trespassing on school property. Campbell was charged with that as well, and violation of probation. They are both in custody at the Volusia County Branch Jail on $250 bail and no bail, respectively.

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Man, woman spent 2 days in Daytona State College closet, police say

Samsungs burgeoning line of multi-room wireless speakers is about to expand in all directions. Following last years premiere of the futuristic M7and M5fin-shaped speakers, Samsung today unveiled to new pods of sound to add to the fold, the WAM7500, and the WAM6500, both of which will make their debut next week at CES in Las Vegas.

The WAM series is designed around a growing new trend in wireless audio in which speakers emit audio in all directions to fill the room with sound from any focal point. The new speakers follow other spherical sonic companionslike the similarly designed Kickstarter darling, the Archt One speaker. Samsungs new speakers achieve their wafting 360-degree radius of sound thanks to a proprietary driver design called Ring Radiator technology.

Related:Archt One 360-degree wireless speaker

Looking remarkably close to something youd find on the bridge of a starship in asci-fi flick, both of Samsungs new speakers offer an attractive way to get your audio fix without rearranging the room, and are sure to draw attention even in silence. The WAM7500 Table Top speaker is meant to be the centerpiece of your listening room, while the smaller WAM6500 is designed for portability, with a handle and a rechargeable battery on board so you can take the sound with you.

The Ring Radiator driver configuration is promised to provide balanced audio across the bass and treble in all directions.Samsung developed the speakers as the first offering to come out of the companys shiny new state-of-the-art audio lab in Valencia, CA.

The speakers will connect to Samsungs Multi-room app, a Sonos-like systemthat allows the user to play audio from multiple sources including smartphones, computers, and Internet services, as well as working in tandem with select Samsung TVs, Blu-ray players, and sound bars.

In addition to its new pods of sound, Samsung has announced a few new curved sound bars designed to match its line of curved LED TVs. Joining Samsungs curved 7500 modelare three new models, including the 6000, the 6500, and the 8500 for an array of sizes from 45 to 78-inches to match up with just about any curved TV in the Samsung fleet.

Well have an in-depth look at all of Samsungs new audio gear from the CES showroom floor in Vegas next week, so stay tuned.

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Samsungs new multi-room speaker pods offer 360 degrees of sound

Wednesday, 31 December 2014 09:22

Winter Registration News

Registration for winter programs is scheduled to begin Monday, Jan. 5 at 9:30 a.m. Registration for story times and special programs can be done online via Eventkeeper (www.gardencitypl.org). Registration for book discussions must be done in person in the Childrens Room. For more information about Childrens story times, book discussions, and special programs, check online on Eventkeeper or in the Childrens Room for winter fliers beginning mid-December.

Childrens Chinese Auction

Children in grades K-5 who complete the requirements of the Childrens Winter Reading Club will receive an invitation for themselves and a parent or adult caregiver to attend the Childrens Chinese Auction on Thursday, Feb. 26 from 6 to 7 p.m. At the auction, children can use their book review cards earned during the Childrens Winter Reading Club as raffle tickets to win prizes. Children should be accompanied by an adult caregiver during the Chinese auction at all times. Children must be present at the auction to win a raffle from the auction. Prizes, including the amount available, will be determined by the prize donations received from outside organizations.

Drop-In Lego Club

The first meeting of the year for the Drop-In Lego Club will be held Wednesday, Jan. 7 from 4 to 5 p.m. This monthly club is for children in grades kindergarten through fifth grade. In addition to Jan. 7, the Lego club will meet on the following Wednesday afternoons from 4 to 5 p.m.: Feb. 4, March 4, April 1, and May 6. No registration is required, but space is limited. When arriving at the library, please come to the Childrens Room and get a number. Numbers will be distributed starting at 3 p.m. the day of the program. Children will be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis. The library will provide Lego bricks for children to build with during the program. The Drop-In Lego Club was made possible through the generosity of the Friends of the Garden City Public Library as well as through Lego donations from library patrons.

The Art Of Zentangle With Joanne Van Meter

On Saturday, Jan. 24, Joanne Van Meter will be hosting the Art of Zentangle. This fun art program will be held at 1 p.m. for children in grades kindergarten to 2 and at 2:15 p.m. for children in grades 3 to 5. Registration begins Monday, Jan. 5 at 9:30 a.m. on Eventkeeper (www.gardencitypl.org). You must do a separate registration for each child you wish to attend the program. Please arrive promptly. If you are late, your spot may be given to someone on the wait list.

Lapsit Storytime

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The Children's Room

Published: Wednesday, December 31, 2014 at 3:46 p.m. Last Modified: Wednesday, December 31, 2014 at 3:46 p.m.

Meanwhile, city officials suspended a portion of the program and have contemplated whether to suspend it entirely. There has even been talk of scrapping it, but the city is bound by contract until 2019.

The debate has raged since 2010 and could reach its highest decibels in 2015. The 4th District Court of Appeal ruled in October that private companies may not legally issue uniform traffic citations. The city of Palm Coast, in conjunction with American Traffic Solutions, which has a contract to run the cameras until 2019, issues such citations when a suspected violator doesnt pay the initial fine within 60 days.

As of today, the city issues those initial fines but cannot charge late fees because of the court ruling, which is being appealed.

The red-light cameras have become a quagmire of state and local policy and law, said Steven Nobile, one of two new Palm Coast City Council members elected in November. Nobile was a vocal critic of the citys red-light program during his campaign, .

We really cant make a move right now ... Nonetheless, I am continuing to look at other avenues to put a stop to the program and replace it with a local law enforcement program to analyze and provide direction as to (the) best methods to reduce red-light (violators), Nobile said.

Heidi Shipley, the other newly elected council member, has not taken as strong a stance as Nobile on the red-light camera issue but her patience has worn thin since the October court ruling.

The red-light cameras divide people ... and for that reason I would like to rid our city of them, Shipley said.

Including the mayor, the council consists of five elected officials. If Shipleys staunch opposition doesnt change, the number of council members opposed to the camera program appears now to be greater than the number who support it.

Nobile and Shipley joined the City Council just before it faced another controversial issue the construction of a new city hall building. For years, Palm Coast has used retail space for its headquarters, but has since approved the design and construction of a standalone building in Town Center. Construction is scheduled to be completed in the fall.

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Red lights, green space dominate new year in Flagler

Published: Wednesday, December 31, 2014 at 10:41 AM.

MOUNT AIRY -- A Cracker Barrel restaurant is on the menu for Mount Airy, city government sources say, which will serve up new jobs as well as home-style meals.

Rumors have swirled for months about such a development, leading to steps recently being undertaken through the Mount Airy Planning Department to make the new restaurant a reality. Construction is expected to begin in February at a site on U.S. 601 (Rockford Street) near its intersection with U.S. 52.

The plans have gone through and theyve been approved, city planner Andy Goodall said Tuesday regarding the restaurant. Goodalls work includes dealing with such projects, which must clear various regulatory hurdles.

I think theyve already gone through technical review, Mount Airy Community-Development Director Martin Collins said Tuesday of the plans by Cracker Barrel Old Country Store.

The restaurant will be built on a 2.85-acre site at 1948 Rockford St., the longtime home of Merritt Supply and Mount Airy Saw and Mower, two businesses that have shared the same building. Officials of those operations earlier announced plans to open at a new location on North South Street by this Friday.

This paves the way for the new Cracker Barrel on Rockford Street/U.S. 601.

The anticipated start date of construction is February, now that Mount Airy Saw and Mower has moved out of that building, Goodall said.

Details on the number of jobs to be available at the restaurant were unavailable Tuesday, including from a Cracker Barrel representative who would only confirm that the project is in its early stages.

We are in the preliminary stage at this time and hope to have more information to report in the future, added Janella Escobar, a spokeswoman for the restaurant chain headquartered in Lebanon, Tennessee.

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Mayberry's getting a Cracker Barrel

By TOM JOYCE, The Mount Airy News

A Cracker Barrel restaurant is on the menu for Mount Airy, city government sources say, which will serve up new jobs as well as home-style meals.

Rumors have swirled for months about such a development, leading to steps recently being undertaken through the Mount Airy Planning Department to make the new restaurant a reality. Construction is expected to begin in February at a site on U.S. 601 (Rockford Street) near its intersection with U.S. 52.

The plans have gone through and theyve been approved, city planner Andy Goodall said Tuesday regarding the restaurant. Goodalls work includes dealing with such projects, which must clear various regulatory hurdles.

"I think theyve already gone through technical review, Mount Airy Community-Development Director Martin Collins said Tuesday of the plans by Cracker Barrel Old Country Store.

The restaurant will be built on a 2.85-acre site at 1948 Rockford St., the longtime home of Merritt Supply and Mount Airy Saw and Mower, two businesses that have shared the same building. Officials of those operations earlier announced plans to open at a new location on North South Street by this Friday.

This paves the way for the new Cracker Barrel on Rockford Street/U.S. 601. To read more from The Mount Airy News, click here.

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Cracker Barrel coming to Mount Airy

Condo Remodeling Chicago | Remodeling Contractors | Designs Ideas.
Condo Remodeling Project completed by Dynasty Innovations in Chicago Loop. We specialize in complete home/condo renovations. Contemporary design #39;s, Ideas R...

By: Home Remodeling Chicago Suburbs Dynasty Innovations

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Condo Remodeling Chicago | Remodeling Contractors | Designs & Ideas. - Video