KAHULUI — At least up until Jan. 1, about one-third of Mauians had had some direct contact with transient vacation rentals. Most, though not all, said they were getting along, according to a survey by SMS Research commissioned by the Realtors Association of Maui. The results generally mirrored an SMS survey in 2002, which was commissioned by the county. Since then, much has changed, including an alleged explosion of transient rentals. Except for a handful with permits, unlicensed operations were supposed to shut down last month. The recent SMS survey, taken in December and January, started out by asking whether the respondent lived in a neighborhood that had TVR operations. Half the respondents on the west side said “yes," as did three in 10 in Kihei. One in four who lived on Molokai or Lanai said they had a TVR neighbor.

SIRIUS Empowers Listeners to Change the World with Exclusive Show ...

NEW YORK, Nov. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SIRIUS Satellite Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) today announced the launch of One World, an exclusive weekly call-in talk show hosted by Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, visionary, renowned American economist, bestselling author, and Special Advisor to the United Nations Secretary-General.

Sachs has devoted his life's work to world issues such as hunger, disease, poverty, climate change, AIDS, malaria, politics and economic reform. Sachs works closely with world leaders, politicians, and high-profile individuals to develop policy and practices for meeting the Millennium Development Goals, and inspire others to get involved.

Superstar Alan Jackson to Take Over SIRIUS Satellite Radio's Prime ...

NEW YORK, Feb. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- To celebrate the release of his 17th album, Good Time, superstar Alan Jackson will take over SIRIUS Satellite Radio's NASDAQ: SIRI Prime Country channel for five days. The exclusive channel will be hosted by Jackson and feature a preview of the 17 songs on his new album.

A GRAMMY(R)-winning, three-time CMA Entertainer of the Year, Jackson has built a remarkable career, generating an amazing string of hit records since the 1990 release of his debut album, Here in the Real World.

CIVIC PRIDE: Glasgow's Lady Provost Sheena Duncan. Picture: James ...

You don't apply for it and nobody takes up references on you for it. My job is secondary to what the Lord Provost's agenda is, and I'm very happy for that to be the case: it's the way it should be. I wasn't elected - Bob was elected first by the people of Summerston, then by the Labour group and lastly by Glasgow City Council. That's a democratic process which I respect very much."

This warm and charismatic woman - who prefers informality and introduces herself as Sheena - is quick to point out, however, that while she has a clear role to play as Lady Provost, she is still "independent in life, in thought and in mind" and is very active in her own field. "I don't sit about waiting for things to happen with the Lord Provost. I have a very busy agenda of my own," she says with a smile.

Clinton and Obama clash on health, trade and rival tactics

Obama is agaist the surveilance program that has stopped Al Qaeda attacks, in America, he is for retreating in the face of our greatest threat,(Al Qaeda)and is as naive about the security of this country as the Clinton administration was that led to 9-11. His total ultra left-wing agenda for the security of this country is a great threat by itself.

SNP 'not fit to govern'

Here he seems to have missed a rather basic point. The SNP are proposing a tax cut. They have made that point clear, describing it as the largest tax cut in a generation.Mr. Midwinter says that moving from the council tax to the local income tax will raise £831 million less in tax than at present. That is half true. £450 million less will be raised. Put another way (and one I suspect that will ring more true to taxpayers) that means £450 million will be returned to Scottish taxpayers. That is a central feature of the SNP plans.This leaves £381 million in dispute. This £381 million is the amount of the current council tax rebate. Mr. Midwinter assumes that this money would be lost to Scotland in the maw of the Treasury.What we know from the Burt Review is that arrangements are flexible enough to deal with their proposed alternative to Council Tax.