| Unaffordable housing and barns
Look, our local government at work, spending your money. Seemingly the cost does not matter, it is just OPM -- Other People's Money. The Bill Clinton campaign motto was "It's the economy, stupid." For this, the appropriate motto is "It's Our Tax Money, Stupid." At 527 N. Market St., Frederick spent $600,000 on a building they sold as "affordable housing" for $300,000 -- $150k cash plus a $150k second mortgage. The lucky buyers of this bargain were Benjamin and Jasmine Snede. Frederick paid $32,000 for the property in 2002, spent $568,000 remodeling, and sold it for $300,000. You taxpayers eat the remaining $300,000 cost not recovered from the sale. By comparison, the News-Post reported that the 10 priciest "MacMansions" sold in Frederick County during the week the remodeling story appeared ranged from $480,000 to $810,000, averaging $609,468.
Bahrain launches debit card payment for eGovernment services
Previously, only credit card users could make payments online for services such as traffic fines, electricity and water bill payments etc. Over 70% residents of Bahrain will now be able to pay the fees for services available on the eGovernment portal - www.e.gov.bh. This facility is available, at no additional cost, to the users. An agreement to enable the debit card payment facility has been signed between the Ministry of Finance and Ahli United Bank which would be using the Benefit system. This is in continuation with the progressive leadership of Ministry of Finance to leverage the latest developments in Information Technology for the benefit of the Kingdom. In January 2007, the ministry celebrated ten years of introduction of the Financial Management Information System (FMIS) that enables the government organizations in maintaining their accounts efficiently.
Construction Threatens Danube's Natural Paradise
But excavation work, industry and ambitious transportation plans threaten the idyllic setting. Money from the European Union is accelerating the construction as part of the bloc's so-called Trans-European Networks initiative. The transformation of the Danube into a shipping waterway with a consistent depth of 2.5 meters is on the EU's economic development wish list. .
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