| Volvo used car prices strenghten across the range
Volvo Car UK has seen used car prices strengthen across its range over the past four months following a change in strategy for used car disposal. Volvo has traditionally sold all of its 6-12 month old used cars direct to its dealer network through closed physical and online auctions run by British Car Auctions (BCA). Since October 2006, Volvo used cars have been available through BCA open auction, with an average of 20% being snapped up by buyers from outside the dealer network. This positive demand is reflected in used car valuation guides from both CAP and Glasss, with .
Commissioner Kathy Thompson bids office goobye at open house
COSHOCTON - It's been eight years since Commissioner Kathy Thompson was first appointed to the Board of Commissioners. She was greeted by more than 50 fellow county employees and friends from the community Friday at a going away open house. Thompson will resign Sunday to assume new duties as the executive director of the Coshocton Foundation on Monday, April 16. .
Visalia to seek bids for new software
City leaders poised to spend millions on a new 911 communications center want to make sure Visalia is not getting gouged on upgraded computer software for police and fire services.City Council members rejected a proposal by staff members to declare Public Safety Systems Inc., whose software the city now uses, a "sole source" vendor -- a designation that would enable the city to award a contract without bids from other companies.Mike Allen, Visalia's information-services manager, said upgraded software is one part of an overall public safety communications master plan that also includes replacing or upgrading mobile computer terminals in Visalia's police patrol cars and providing new laptop computers for the city's fire engines.The upgrades would enable features for officers and firefighters such as automatic vehicle location, mobile mapping and document retrieval.Allen said the city has used PSSI's software for about 25 years."Certainly it's been a system that's worked for us," Police Chief Bob Carden said.
Looking Ahead to the Auctions
In the absence of major works of art coming on the market through restitution, the forthcoming evening sales in New York at Christie's and Sotheby's in May promise to be less dominated by individual star works and more reflective of general trends in the market than last fall's auctions. The one exception will be Rothko's " White Center (Yellow, Pink and Lavender on Rose)," which David Rockefeller has consigned to Sotheby's in exchange for a guarantee that is rumored to be $46 million, which is more than twice the artist's previous auction record. "When you put an estimate on something that is truly a masterpiece, you have to think somewhat out of the box," a senior specialist in contemporary art at Sotheby's, Anthony Grant, said. "You cannot just extrapolate from previous prices that have been established." But the co-head of postwar and contemporary art at Sotheby's rival, Christie's, Amy Cappellazzo, said that although Rockefeller is "one of those magical names in terms of provenance," she had no regrets about passing on a deal with those terms.
Speculation surrounding DoubleClick bidding war continues
Following last weeks rumor regarding Microsoft bidding to acquire DoubleClick, Internet giant Google is now rumored to be bidding for the online advertising services provider. Google must now step in and make sure they keep Microsoft out of the DoubleClick buy at all costs, said Mark Simon, vice president of industry relations for Did-it Search Marketing, New York. We do not comment on market rumor or speculation, said Jon Murchinson, a Google spokesperson. Although Google is not ready to talk about the bidding war, people in the industry have a lot to say. Google's main benefit is defensive, Mr. Simon said. They keep MSN out and protect its relationship with AOL. If Microsoft wins, then it will be serving ads through DoubleClick in AOL properties.
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