It's not your common or garden peace dividend. But the name Jollibee resonates so strongly in the Philippines that when President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in her annual address to the nation applauded the army's success in tackling Muslim insurgents, she described how the Philippines' home-grown fast-food chain has now opened a store in the heart of the rebels' old stomping grounds.

The Jollibee outlet on Basilan island, the home of the Abu Sayyaf militant group in the deep south of the country, is Jollibee Foods' 500th store. Like all the rest, it offers slightly sweetened spaghetti topped with sliced hot-dogs, ...

Green homes get state aid

Thanks to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, Paula and David Kucera are saving $30,000 off the cost of their new house.

Lobbying in a democracy

This is part of a paper delivered by Dr Goddy Nwabueze at the 2nd National Summit of State legislatures under the auspices of the conference of Speakers of State legislators in Nigeria in September 2006 at the New Rivers State House of Assembly Complex.

Now let us return to the two factors on our bill (a) Interpersonal Relations (b) Lobbying. Interpersonal Relations. How does relationship among persons enhance or negate the consolidation of democracy? One of the greatest English Political Philosophers, Thomas Hobbes, very early in the history of modern era captured the very essence of human motivation, which determines and defines human relationship. He pointed out that man is a system of mechanical matter in motion. In other ways that man is at all times driven by the quest for material needs.

Friendship branches out to Woodward

They shade the rocky side streets of this town of 1,200 people just outside the reach of a sprawling metropolitan Des Moines, the falling leaves adding to its small-town charm.

First, Dutch elm disease killed many of the trees on Main Street in the 1970s, a signal of struggle ahead facing small Iowa towns.

Then last year, a vicious and surprising November tornado ripped through the southern edge of Woodward, ripping apart 40 homes and laying waste to many of the tall, leafy sentinels that make any prairie town feel warm and protected from the winds.

On Saturday, trees will symbolize new growth. Nearly 200 trees will be planted by newly inspired volunteers along a mile-long stretch of Iowa Highway 210, Woodward's front entrance.

Among the volunteers will be a family whose home was destroyed by the tornado, a family whose father and grandfather died two months ago while helping clean up the community, a student who doesn't have much but is willing to give and an elderly man who for years traveled the same stretch of road on his bicycle picking up garbage.

MU students help raise money, home

Cool air whipped against Jerry Mitchell as he sped down a Wisconsin road, the engine of his motorcycle humming smoothly through each curve of the asphalt. A headlight appeared, traveling toward him, swaying from its place across the center line. Moments later, metal smashed into metal.

Then Mitchell heard about Habitat for Humanity, which builds and sells houses for 69 percent of the appraised value, basically covering the cost of materials.