| EBay posts better than expected profits
EBay Inc posted better than expected profits in the first quarter as several of its newer businesses compensated for disappointing results in its mainstay auction service. The faster-growing units include shopping.com, a price comparison site; some classified listing sites; a service to let online merchants accept credit cards; and Skype, the online voice chat service. "We are on track with our well-crafted portfolio," Meg Whitman, eBay's chief executive, said in an interview after the earnings report was published by the firm on Wednesday. The results sent eBay's stock up about 3 percent in after-hours trading. Overall, the company earned US$377 million in the first quarter, up 52 percent from a year earlier. Excluding charges related to stock-based compensation and some other items, the company earned US$0.33 a share, above the US$0.29 average that analysts had predicted.
NASA auction closing soon
However, when collecting artifacts documenting mans endeavors in outer space, the enterprise provides an indication of the future as well. Manions International is currently offering a collection of historic importance. A former NASA Saftey Inspector amassed the items during his lifelong service with the organization, and features personal items from many different space missions. It is a huge collection of items documenting a very exciting time, said Manions representative John Conway. Its not only historically important, but technologically as well. One highlight of the lot is a group of items belonging to Astronaut Wally Schirra. It includes a framed photo with signature, a set of his Astronaut wings, a USN flight suit nametag featuring wings of the same design, and two of his id badges.
If you like your cars rare ...
If you're searching for a supercharged '51 Bugatti Type 101 or a 1935 MG Airline Coupe, plan on driving to Marshall next weekend. And, yes, that's Marshall, Texas. RM Auctions is selling the private collection of Gene Ponder, founder of H.I.G. Capital, in a two-day auction of 60 vintage European and American cars. Nearly 1,000 lots of auto memorabilia will also be sold without reserves. The sale will be held at the Ponder Estate at 4801 Victory Drive in Marshall. There will be a preview Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the auctions on Friday and Saturday start at 10 a.m. and conclude at 7 p.m. For more information, visit www.rmauctions.com. Included in the auction will be five Jaguars, five Ferraris, a '57 Thunderbird, '57 Corvette, '37 Cord Phaeton, '31 Duesenberg Model SJ Boattail and a '53 Bertone-bodied Bentley – the only Bentley Bertone ever built.
Bidding Joe Savage a sad goodbye
Willing their eyes not to well, clenching their jaws lest a sob slip out, Joseph Savage's friends and family carried his body into the church. Carefully, slowly, they parted a crowd of 500 or more to gently, awkwardly, place his casket before an altar still white with Easter lilies. Joe died in a fire in the basement of his Walden home on Friday. He had come home late from a friend's house, unbeknownst to his family, and had fallen asleep downstairs. The rest of the family escaped, not knowing there was one more to account for. Fire officials have not released the cause of the blaze. There is something to be said for a volunteer department that hoists an American flag from the top of its ladder trucks, letting the fabric snap in the stiff crosswinds over the road to the cemetery.
Energy Ministry to open bidding for power buy in Apr
Energy ministry will open bidding for purchasing electricity from private power producers in April as scheduled, Minister Piyasvasti Amranand said Wednesday.
Invitations to IPPs (independent power producers) will be issued late this month. The selection process will be by the next government, Piyasvasti said.
Bids must be submitted by October, with the selection of winners set for April 2008 and the finalisation of a power purchase agreement in October that year, Piyasvasti said.
According to Piyasvasti, the government plans to buy 3,000-4,000 megawatts from private producers for adding new power generation capacity during 2011-2013. This will boost the country's current total installed capacity of 27,789 MW.
- The Nation
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