| American Standard finishes year with Trane ride
It has been anything but a standard year for American Standard. The Piscataway-based company completed the sale of its renowned bath and kitchen business and spun off its vehicle-control systems operation to focus solely on its more-profitable air-conditioning and heating systems. And Wednesday, it completed its three-way business split by announcing its name change to Trane, to identify with its popular HVAC brand. "Everyone has been clearly focused on the separation plan, and we're in the final stages," company spokesman Skip Colcord said. It was February when American Standard Chief Executive Officer Fred Poses announced that the company, which employs about 1,450 in New Jersey, would separate into three units in the hopes of creating greater shareholder value for its varied operations.
Ask the Carey Brothers: Cleaning vinyl siding
Q. I have a small, portable one-room air conditioner that I've used for several years. Now, some of the grease has leaked from the rear of the unit onto the vinyl siding of my house. How do I clean it off?
A. Always try soap and water first or the cleaner that is recommended. Having said that, and because the grease you're describing is probably a petrochemical based material (not silicone), it can probably best be cleaned using something like gasoline or acetone.
First, make sure there are no flames or sparks nearby, and turn off and disconnect any nearby appliances that could spark while you're working. No smoking during this project.
Then, simply put a very small amount of gasoline onto the rag and wipe. The stain will disappear.
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Older Belligerent Men
If John McCain wins the nomination, he'll do so on the backs of older belligerent men. What is this new swing voter bloc? It's something I've teased out from exit polls and anecdotal observations. It helps explain why McCain has decent enough conservative appeal to keep racking up pluralities in places like South Carolina and Florida. First, the exit polls. McCain does best with older voters. He does better with men than women. He wins military veterans and those who believe the war in Iraq is the most important issue. None of this should be surprising. All of these qualities apply to McCain personally. But there is something more raw and instinctual at work here too. Older belligerent men are not afraid of confrontation, either personally or politically. I've heard more than one guy mention McCain's volcanic temper as a positive.
Forget biofuel, try a car that runs on air
A car that runs on air and releases no pollutants into the atmosphere at low speeds could be on sale in India as soon as this year. The three-seat fibreglass OneCAT weighs only 350kg (770lb) and is expected to be priced at about £2,500. The engine technology is backed by Tata, the Indian conglomerate that last month unveiled the world’s cheapest car, the £1,250 Nano. Refuelling involves topping up on compressed air, which is used to power the OneCAT’s piston engine. In a couple of minutes - and at a cost of as little as £1 - the vehicle is ready to travel another 200 to 300 kilometres (125 to 185 miles), its inventors said. The vehicle, which burns small amounts of conventional fuels at higher speeds, has been developed by Moteur Development International (MDI), a French-based, family owned group that has been working on an "air car" for the past decade.
More Act 309 inmates needed, board member says
Jay Campbell was sentenced to 40 years in prison and his wife received a 20 year sentence. Also former Lonoke Mayor Thomas Privett pleaded no contest to theft of services, a misdemeanor, for having state inmates perform chores at his home."Those are issues of the past," Jones said Tuesday. "I don't see those types of issues now. We really keep a tight reign on the program ... we're doing a really, really good job of supervising the program now."The prison board voted Tuesday to support the Arkansas Sheriffs Association as it studies raising the state reimbursement rate for housing state inmates in county jails. Currently, the state pays counties $28 a day to hold state inmates because of overcrowding in the state system.Board member Mary Parker said she did not want the board to be viewed as advocating the association's effort, while member Leroy Brownlee urged the board to support the association.
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