| Temple pitcher was part of a kid-size cereal set
Q. Enclosed is a photo of the Shirley Temple pitcher given to me by my grandmother, who is 86 years old. She had it for more than 60 years. Can you tell me something about it? A. The anecdotal history proves your keepsake to be authentic. Manufactured in the early 1930s (at the height of Shirley's movie career) by Hazel Atlas, at that time the largest glass maker in the world, this cobalt blue creamer has been duplicated a number of times. In fact, on a good day, one can find replicas by the dozens on eBay, the Internet auction site. Part of a kid-sized cereal set offered by Wheaties, which included a bowl and tumbler, your vintage pitcher is worth $20-$30. Q. Enclosed is a picture of a cast iron pan smaller than an ashtray. I've never seen one before; any value? A.
Aides: Iraq PM Barred From Iran Airspace
BAGHDAD - Iran refused to allow the Iraqi prime minister to fly across its airspace as he was traveling to Tokyo, members of the delegation traveling with Nouri al-Maliki told The Associated Press early Sunday.The delegation members said al-Maliki's plane was diverted on Saturday night to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where al-Maliki stayed in the airport for more than three hours while his government aircraft was refueled and a new flight plan was filed. .
Foreclosure pain spreading in Lower Hudson Valley
A home foreclosure would rank on anyone's list of most traumatic financial experiences, right up there with a job loss, sky-high medical bills or an IRS notice for back taxes. The pain of losing a home is hitting hundreds of people in the Lower Hudson Valley, as lenders seek to recover what they can from customers who fell behind on payments. In Westchester, lenders began foreclosure proceedings on 527 homes during the first three months of the year. That's a 39 percent increase over the first quarter of last year. In Putnam County, the number rose 91 percent from 68 last year to 130 this year. In Rockland County, the clerk's office reports 200 foreclosure initiations through the first two months of the year, a 33 percent rise over the 150 filed in January and February of 2006.
Are public sector firms arm-twisting PSU banks?
Public sector banks are being arm twisted by their kin PSU heavy weights. The public sector heavy weights are trying to make a quick buck by pressurising PSU banks, reports CNBC-TV18. The RBI has been systematically making life difficult for bank treasuries by squeezing out money supply and pushing up rates. The problems of PSU banks have gotten compounded by the behaviour of their biggest clients - the public sector companies. Cash rich companies like LIC, SAIL, ONGC and BHEL largely bank with state-owned banks and in these days of cash crunch these companies have been able to effectively arm twist the banks to make a fast buck. Bankers say they have no choice but to lend money against deposits or they risk losing the deposit, at a time when they are in dire need of cash.
We are ready to talk to anyone, says Plaid Cymru
PLAID is ready to "talk to anyone" in order to run an effective Assembly administration after May 3, according to its Director of Elections, Adam Price. In a speech to party activists in Caernarfon, during which he talked about the "essence of real leadership", Mr Price said a Plaid Government would hold daily talks with other parties in Cardiff Bay. With voters likely to deliver a "hung" Assembly, possible coalition scenarios have been endlessly traded and used as campaigning tactics. Labour is basing much of its strategy on suggesting that Plaid would serve in a "Tory-led" coalition. Plaid rejects this and has threatened legal action over the claim. But it is promising a more inclusive approach should it emerge as the first or second largest party. Mr Price said he wanted "maturity and dialogue and mutual respect at the heart of the political process, and [an] end to the vicious sectarianism that passes for politics." .
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