Let's make a deal! Easiest cars to bargain for

Dodge

The average dicount on a Dodge Charger is 9.9 percent.

By Jim Gorzelany, Forbes.com

Much to the dismay of new-car shoppers, strong sales in recent months have shaved both average dealer discounts and manufacturers? incentives, driving up transaction prices to sky-high levels in the process.

According to data compiled by TrueCar.com, the average price paid for a new vehicle was $30,369 in July, which is up by $487 (1.6 percent) over the last 12 months.

At the same time, the average?industry-wide sales incentive dropped to $2,480, which is down by $96 (3.7 percent) over July 2011?s level and $68 less (2.7 percent) than in June 2012. The ratio of incentives to average transaction price for light-vehicles was 8.2 percent in July 2012, compared to 8.4 percent in June and 8.6 percent in July 2011.

?Even though automakers may give the impression that they are ramping up incentives spending, the very low cost of funds and historically high resale values are in fact enabling them to create a ton of noise with fewer actual dollars spent,? explains Jesse Toprak, TrueCar.com?s vice president of market intelligence. ?Manufacturers are increasingly moving away from cash incentives and pushing finance and lease programs, which -- along with consumers continuing to buy highly-optioned out vehicles -- is helping with sustained high level of transaction prices.?

So what?s a bargain-hunting cash-strapped new-car buyer to do? Just because average transaction prices are on the rise and incentives are waning doesn?t mean there aren?t some great deals ripe for the picking. We?ve compiled a list of 14 models that offer the deepest average discounts below MSRP in their respective classes, based on information provided by TrueCar.com. We?re also including information on what are still surprisingly generous manufacturers? incentives that apply to each model.

Forbes.com slideshow: The?14 easiest cars to bargain for

Given that new-car prices are fluid and based largely on the forces of supply and demand, dealers tend to be far more willing to cut their margins on overstocked cars and trucks than they are on the hottest-selling models. Time is money in the new-car business, and the longer a new car sits unsold, the more he or she will pay in financing costs to keep it lingering in inventory. How to determine which models are most plentiful on dealers? lots? The industry publication Automotive News -- ?available at many public libraries -- publishes a list of so-called ?days in inventory? for most makes and models every month, and TrueCar.com similarly includes lists of models having the highest and lowest average inventories in its monthly True Trends report.

While it takes just nine days for the typical Toyota dealer to sell a compact Prius c hybrid, Mitsubishi stores are sitting on a whopping 177 average days? supply of the compact Outlander crossover SUV. Needless to say, the Toyota dealer can afford to risk turning away some prospects by commanding close to or even full list price for Prius c, while a Mitsubishi dealer will likely be eager to sell an Outlander at -- or even below -- invoice price (which is typically a few percentage above his or her actual cost) to help winnow down the excess stock.

Among model types, those looking for full-size cars and SUVs will likely be able to garner the most substantial discounts, with the former sitting on dealers? lots for an average 84 days and the latter for 75 days. At the other end of the size spectrum, subcompact and compact cars are moving the quickest at an average 37 days, which means meaningful discounts, especially on the most popular models, will probably be difficult to come by. By comparison, the industry-wide average days in inventory stands at 52 days.

Forbes.com: The most beautiful cars of 2012

But getting down to hard, real-world numbers, we?re highlighting an assortment of model-year 2012 cars and trucks that are being sold, on average, with the highest-percentage discounts off list price in their respective market segments. Among them, dealers are slashing a typical 14.7 percent discount off MSRP on the Chrysler 200 midsize sedan, which this month is being offered with a $3,500 cash rebate or $2,000 cash and zero percent financing for up to 72 months to help sweeten the deal. In the same market segment, the 200?s corporate cousin, the Dodge Avenger, offers the next highest discount at an average of 14.1 percent below list price with equivalent incentives.

While some automakers are able to command higher transaction prices and cut back on big-money rebates, Nissan is keeping the spigots running on sales incentives and their dealers are doing whatever it takes to keep the metal moving, as Nissan and Infiniti-branded cars and trucks account for seven out of 14 of the best deals in our list.

Still, Nissan isn?t the top brand in the industry with regard to cut-rate transaction prices. Last month Dodge?s Ram truck division boasted the biggest discounts at an average 11.4 percent below MSRP, followed by Chrysler at 10.9 and Dodge at 9.1 percent, which at least in part helps explain why Chrysler LLC?s domestic sales jumped by 13 percent in July. The industry average discount among all automakers, according to TrueCar.com, is 5.9 percent.

Forbes.com:?The most appealing cars and trucks

Keep in mind that the figures presented in the accompanying slideshow represent average transaction prices. An astute haggler should be able to negotiate even bigger discounts. No matter what model you ultimately choose, be sure to aim for the so-called invoice price (which is a few percent higher than a dealer?s actual cost) as a target, and that?s before deducting any applicable rebate or negotiating to obtain the additional dealer discount. Always predetermine the invoice price, including options, of any vehicle you?re considering before heading out to a dealership via an online pricing service. Substantial discounts may not be forthcoming on some of the most in-demand cars, but they should be much easier to come by on any of the models we?re featuring here.

In addition to average discounts, we?re highlighting applicable direct-to-consumer cash rebates, discounted financing promotions and so-called marketing-support incentives, which we call additional dealer discounts. Often favored by luxury automakers, the latter are cash allowances given to dealers to lower the prices on select models without seeming to cheapen the brand by offering cash rebates. The only catch is that a dealer may or may not automatically pass them on to the customer.

Be aware that additional incentives may apply, such as those offered to recent college graduates, members of the military and/or certain groups and owners or lessees trading in same-brand or competing models.?Offers may vary by region and are subject to subsequent modification or termination by the manufacturer; cited financing rates are typically open only to qualified buyers with top credit ratings and may vary based on eligibility.

Forbes.com:?The?cars?drivers love best

Forbes.com:?The best compact crossover utility vehicles

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Source: http://bottomline.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/10/13165522-lets-make-a-deal-easiest-cars-to-bargain-for?lite

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Swazi king ends forum with no reform commitment

Swazi King Mswati III on Saturday closed a forum where his subjects called for democratic reforms, promising "expert" reviews but making no formal commitments.

"Experts" would be asked to solve the issues raised, Mswati told some 13,000 people who gathered at his royal palace in Ludzidzini, north of the capital Mbabane.

He discouraged public protests, saying the peace-loving Swazis believe in dialogue as opposed to "fighting each other".

The king promised to review a 2010 law that gave members of parliament a 30 percent salary hike.

But at the same time he urged teachers on strike for a salary raise to return to work after nearly seven weeks.

Mswati made no comment on calls to lift the ban on political parties.

Opposition and rights groups have slammed the forum, known as Sibaya, as an empty move designed to ease tensions but with no formal power in Africa's last absolute monarchy.

Protests have grown since last year in the traditionally peaceful kingdom, which is bordered on three sides by South Africa.

The country's problems are partly blamed on Mswati's extravagant lifestyle, supporting his 13 wives each in her own palace and high-flying international shopping trips, all paid for by state funds.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/swazi-king-ends-forum-no-reform-commitment-174255404.html

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U.S. judge backs RIM in patent dispute with Mformation

TORONTO (Reuters) - A U.S. judge late on Wednesday overturned a $147.2 million jury award against Research in Motion Ltd, ruling that the BlackBerry maker has not infringed a Mformation Technologies Inc patent covering a remote management system for wireless devices.

The ruling, outlined in court documents, gives RIM a much needed reprieve as it battles to conserve cash and turn around its fast-fading fortunes. More nimble competitors have outmaneuvered RIM in recent months, luring away many long-time BlackBerry users.

Crucially for RIM, U.S. District Chief Judge James Ware also granted RIM's motion seeking a new trial if a higher court overturns his ruling. This means that the jury award cannot be reinstated should Mformation successfully appeal the new ruling.

RIM, whose share price has fallen over 70 percent this year as its devices have ceded ground to a new crop of smartphones like Apple Inc's iPhone and a range of devices that run on Google Inc's Android software, cheered the ruling.

"We appreciate the judge's careful consideration of this case. RIM did not infringe on Mformation's patent and we are pleased with this victory," said RIM's Chief Legal Officer Steve Zipperstein in a statement on Thursday.

RIM's shares rose 4.1 percent to $7.93 in morning trading on the Nasdaq. Its Toronto-listed shares rose to C$7.87.

Mformation sued RIM in 2008 and the jury trial began in June. Last month, the jury ruled that RIM had infringed the Mformation patent and awarded the New Jersey-based company $147.2 million in damages.

Waterloo, Ontario-based RIM argued that the jury did not have sufficient evidence to reach this verdict and sought to have it overturned by the judge, who was overseeing the trial.

"The court finds that there was no 'legally sufficient evidentiary basis' on which a reasonable jury could have found for Mformation on the issue of infringement," said Judge Ware in his ruling.

Spokespersons for Mformation, which helps companies manage their smartphone inventory, were not immediately reachable for comment on the new ruling. It is also not clear whether the company will file an appeal.

RIM is no stranger to patent litigation - it was almost crippled by a five-year patent fight with NTP that began in 2001 and at one point threatened to shut down RIM's U.S. operations. RIM eventually paid out more than $600 million to NTP Inc, a patent holding company, to settle that case.

RIM said the dispute with Mformation highlights the need for lawmakers to reform patent laws.

"The purpose of the patent system is to encourage innovation, but the system is still too often exploited in pursuit of other goals," said Zipperstein.

The case in U.S. District Court, Northern District of California is Mformation Technologies Inc vs. Research in Motion Ltd et al., 5:08-cv-04990.

(Reporting by Euan Rocha in Toronto and Sakthi Prasad in Bangalore; Editing by Mark Potter and Janet Guttsman)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/u-judge-backs-rim-patent-battle-mformation-073816813--finance.html

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Losing ground, Romney is looking to shift campaign

BOSTON (AP) ? Mitt Romney faces urgent tasks as he heads into a new phase of the White House race. He's trying to repair an image damaged by negative Democratic advertising and shift the trajectory of a campaign that's seen him lose ground to President Barack Obama.

He's got opportunities, starting with a big battleground-state bus tour beginning Saturday. Then comes his critical running-mate announcement and the TV hoopla of a national convention, where he'll accept the nomination he's sought for nearly a decade.

If the past few days are any indication, Romney will spend the coming weeks trying to gain ground largely by trying to drag Obama down on a host of issues. It's a shift away from the all-economy, all-the-time strategy of the past several months.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/losing-ground-romney-looking-shift-campaign-202918898.html

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The Truth About Philanthropy ? ArticleMeembu / Dofollow Article ...

The Importance of Celebrity Philanthropy

During these difficult times, who are the persons you turn to when some things go wrong? Sometimes, the world looks cruel and unkind. Seldom, there are no people reaching out to help you in your saddest and darkest days. You?ll absolutely feel terrible when this happens to you. Probably, you see you?ll see your life as a nightmare.

However, thanks to generous people like some celebrities who have given hope to the hopeless people through celebrity philanthropy. How nice of them to extend their help to people they don?t even know and they make them feel that they are valued. The act of sharing what celebrities have to the less fortunate with that desire of making the world a better place is what celebrity philanthropy is all about. This can be in a form of supporting charitable causes established by nonprofit organizations or establishing their own charitable foundation to cater to the needs of the poor, hopeless, and those with less in life.

The celebrities who have the heart to help improve the spiritual well-being, economic and social aspects of others get into celebrity philanthropy. These celebrities believe that one of the reasons of their existence is to be there for other individuals who are experiencing so much difficulties in their life. Celebrity philanthropists are able to help others in so many ways and because of their kindness many adore them. There are many reasons that could motivate a celebrity to do this but the bottom line is that they have helped others in really important and valuable ways and they have helped in alleviating the troubles of the world.

For achieving a powerful celebrity philanthropy, they simply follow easy steps like getting financial education, and spending finances wisely and giving without any greed. Moreover, one should have the right mentality too. Leaving a legacy in this world is quite easy with celebrity philanthropy.

It is important for celebrity philanthropists to consult professionals when they want to give donations. Furthermore, celebrities should be teaching their children or younger relatives about how valuable it is to give and help other individuals who barely have anything in life.

The celebrity philanthropists need not to spend so much. Knowing what things to buy or purchase is also quite important and one should be thrifty. Making wise investments is also important and one should get an ideal lifestyle by creating wealth and giving to others as well. There are lots of people who agree that the way to achieve wealth and long-term success in life is by giving to others who have less in life.

Get To Know The Author: Harvey is a freelance writer and powerful industry voice. He enjoys discussing trends, blogging about , and taking long walks. Find out more on the author?s website.

Source: http://www.articlemeembu.com/the-truth-about-philanthropy/

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Ethylene of no effect -- why peppers do not mature after picking

Friday, August 3, 2012

Tomato breeders scored a coup several years ago when they identified tomatoes with a genetic defect that made the fruits mature very slowly, even under the influence of the phytohormone ethylene. Traders and growers were delighted as it gave them more time to transport the crop, initially still green, from where it was harvested to where it would be sold. At the stores, the tomatoes could then be treated with ethylene to bring them to maturity. Other fruits, like peppers, grapes and strawberries, generally do not mature after picking; they need to be harvested when ripe and consumed as soon as possible. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology in Potsdam investigated why ethylene causes some plants to mature after picking and has absolutely no effect on others.

In order to make it easier to compare the metabolism and the gene expression level of climacteric and non-climacteric plants, the scientists concentrated their work on two closely related species: the climacteric tomato and the non-climacteric habanero chilli pepper, both of the nightshade family. The team studied the plant metabolism at different times of day, before and after the so-called breaker point, the day on which the fruit begins ripening, as evidenced by a visible change of colour.

What happens with tomatoes is that ? on this very day ? they release huge quantities of ethylene, experiencing what is known as "ethylene shock". The gaseous phytohormone ethylene activates its own synthesis as soon as the plant comes into external contact with ethylene. That is why green bananas turn yellow quicker when they are stored next to apples, as apples represent an excellent source of ethylene.

Two enzymes are instrumental in the synthesis of ethylene. These are called ACC synthase and ACC oxidase. During the ripening process, climacteric tomato fruits produce much more of these enzymes, which causes ethylene levels to rise continuously. The ethylene then sets a cascade of signals in motion in the tomatoes, causing the fruits to ripen. Green chloroplasts convert to colourful chromoplasts, the hard cell wall components break down, sugars are formed and the nutrient content changes.

This is not the case with the chillis. "It looks like the ethylene has absolutely no influence on the gene expression or the metabolism of habenero chilli peppers," says group leader Alisdair Fernie, who studied the fruits' metabolism and gene activity with his team. Surprisingly, though, genes lower down the ethylene signal chain showed heightened levels of activity. "The genes for breaking down the plant cell wall or the carotenoid biosynthesis during the plant's normal process of ripening were produced in greater quantities in the tomatoes and peppers alike," explains Fernie. The molecule that triggers the ripening process in peppers and other non-climacteric fruits is something that the scientists are still searching for.

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Integrative comparative analyses of transcript and metabolite profiles from pepper and tomato ripening and development stages uncovers species-specific patterns of network regulatory behaviour Plant Physiology August 2012 vol. 159 no. 4 1713-1729 doi:10.1104/pp.112.199711

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft: http://www.mpg.de

Thanks to Max-Planck-Gesellschaft for this article.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/122332/Ethylene_of_no_effect____why_peppers_do_not_mature_after_picking

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