A project to change the retail landscape

Assembly Row’s developer plans to open dozens of outlet stores at the massive Somerville project, hoping to cater to Boston-area shoppers tired of trekking to the suburbs in search of bargains on popular brands.

Federal Realty Investment Trust said it expects to open as many as 50 such stores at the $1.5 billion complex, which is designed to be a mixed-use neighborhood with offices, stores, hundreds of homes, a new MBTA station, and a refurbished park on the Mystic River.

The strategy is a bold one, with Federal Realty betting that national retailers will break from the traditional practice of keeping their outlet stores far from urban centers to avoid undercutting their full-price stores.

http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2011/11/16/assembly_row_shopping_center_in_somerville_to_get_outlet_stores/?p1=News_links

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by Casey Ross

 

 

 

 

Panel cuts lobster catch to rebuild population

NEW LONDON, Conn.—A fisheries panel has cut the number of lobsters that can be caught in southern New England waters to help rebuild depleted populations.

The Day of New London reports (http://bit.ly/sb6AIP) that the reduction will take effect in 2013. It was approved this week by the Atlantic State Marine Fisheries Commissions' American Lobster Management Board.

Additional actions could include steeper harvest reductions and cutting the number of traps. http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/11/11/panel_cuts_lobster_catch_to_rebuild_population/

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe from the Associated Press

 

Union Pacific train celebrates Ariz. centennial with stops in Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma

Trains were a vital part of Arizona's past.

They moved goods and people quickly, and were the cornerstone of such industries as mining and ranching. They helped launch tourism in the region long before statehood and put small towns on the map.

To celebrate Arizona's centennial, Union Pacific will send a steam engine to the Grand Canyon State for a series of whistle stops. The train will stop in Gilbert, Tempe and Phoenix as it makes its way through the state. http://www.azcentral.com/travel/articles/2011/11/04/20111104arizona-centennial-train-stops-phoenix-tucson.html#start

Article courtesy of The Arizona Republic by Ron Dungan

NOAA greenhouse gas index climbs

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its Annual Greenhouse Gas Index (AGGI) number today, which measures the direct climate influence of a select set of greenhouse gases, and the news is not good. The numbers continue to climb, further evidence that the greenhouse effect is on the rise.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/11/noaa-greenhouse-gas-index-climbs.html

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times-Greenspace posted by Dean Kuipers

 

Hewlett-Packard tops Greenpeace Guide to Greener Electronics

Hewlett-Packard Co. has claimed the No. 1 spot on the Greenpeace Guide to Greener Electronics released Wednesday. The Palo Alto-based manufacturer of printers, computers and other consumer electronics scored 5.9 out of a possible 10 points on the 17th iteration of the guide from the international environmental organization.

Hewlett-Packard took the No. 1 position due largely to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from its own operations as well as its suppliers, and a procurement policy that excludes paper from companies linked with illegal logging and deforestation. Computer maker Dell Inc., based in Round Rock, Texas, took second place, and also scored well for its greenhouse gas emission reductions and paper policies.  http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/11/greenpeace-guide-to-greener-electronics.html

Article Courtesy of The Los Angeles Times Greenspace posted by Susan Carpenter

 

 

 

Russians desperately try to save Mars moon probe

MOSCOW—A Russian space probe aiming to land on a Mars moon was stuck circling the Earth after equipment failure Wednesday, and scientists raced to fire up its engines before the whole thing came crashing down.

One U.S. space expert said the craft could become the most dangerous manmade object ever to hit the planet

http://www.boston.com/news/science/articles/2011/11/09/russian_scientists_try_to_save_mars_moon_probe/

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by Vladimir Isachenkov Associated Press

IEA: Time running out to limit earth's warming

PARIS—The chief economist for the International Energy Agency says the world is hurtling toward irreversible climate change unless governments cut fossil fuel subsidies and improve energy efficiency.

Fatih Birol says that even though governments the world over have put increasing energy efficiency at the top their to-do lists, efficiency has worsened for two years in a row. http://www.boston.com/news/science/articles/2011/11/09/iea_time_running_out_to_limit_earths_warming/

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by from the Associated Press