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But even as federal inmate No. 49535-083, Nicholson never really sequestered as a Russian discern, federal prosecutors say. In an indictment without a seal Thursday, Nicholson and son Nathan, 24, were charged with having used house of correction visits, coded letters and clandestine overseas meetings to betray more secrets to the Russians in the past three years, in a scheme Nicholson hatched from his prison cell. The two were accused of conspiring to act in the same manner with agents of a foreign rule and money laundering.

“You be favored by been brave plenty to step into this unused unseen world that is sometimes dangerous excepting always fascinating,” Harold Nicholson wrote to his son in July, the indictment says, in what apparently was an allusion to the scheme.

The elder Nicholson pleaded guilty in 1997 to selling the Russians the identities of fellow CIA officers for $300,000. According to prosecutors, he “trained and tasked” his son in spycraft from his prison cell start in 2006 and helped his son meet through Russian handlers in Mexico, San Francisco, Peru and a T.G.I. Friday’s restaurant in Cyprus to pass on information intended to help current Russian agents evade detection, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said Nathan Nicholson, of Eugene, Ore., a former Army paratrooper, returned from his visits with the Russians by at least $35,000 in cash, much of it in $100 bills at times tucked inside a PlayStation video-game question.

The circulating medium was designed in part to settle any unclaimed “pension” Harold Nicholson said was owed him from his days as a CIA spy for the Russians in the 1990s before his arrest in 1996, the prosecutors said.

The charges offered a compelling reminder, officials said, that the spy wars betwixt Russian and the United States did not stop with the end of the Cold War and the sinking of the Soviet Union in 1991.

“The cudgel goes on, and the Russians have been at the same time that aggressive as ever, perhaps more so, considering the end of the Cold War,” said John Martin, a former Justice Department official who ran the counterespionage unit and oversaw the Nicholson prosecution in 1997. The new charges that Nicholson was able to continue espionage work from a prison cell “are really unprecedented” and show the continued threat, Martin added.

The affidavit says the FBI first received information in 2002 that Nicholson might be trying to get back in play with his Russian handlers. While the FBI was pursuing that pass, Nicholson used his son as a conduit, exceedingly information to him during prison visits, the document says.

Nicholson admitted in 1997 that he had sold the Russians the names, identities and missions of numerous CIA employees, including scores of young trainees he had instructed at the agency’s instruct for spies. He was the CIA’s deputy station chief in Malaysia preceding returning to agency headquarters in 1994 in a elder counterterrorism post.

In pleading found in guilt, Nicholson avoided a potential life sentence and was given 23 years in federal prison.

At his sentencing, he told the judge he had become a Russian emissary for the financial benefit of his three children, and he before-mentioned he knew his children would forgive him.

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Stocks in the news Friday

From Standard & Poor’sitting Equity Research

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Exxon Mobil (XOM) posts better-than-expected $1.55, vs. $2.13 a year agone, fourth quarter EPS on 27% lower total reward and other income.

Amazon.com (AMZN) posts $0.52, vs. $0.48 a year ago, fourth lodge EPS on 18% revenue rise (including forex). Street was looking for $0.39. Sees first quarter operating income of $125-$210 million, revenue of $4.53-$4.93 billion. Stifel Nicolaus reiterates purchase; raises target reward to $65.

Procter & Gamble (PG) posts $1.58, vs. $0.98, next to the first quarter EPS despite 3.2% sales drop. Notes advance quarter fiscal year 2009 EPS includes $0.63 gain from Folgers transaction completed during the second fourth part. Sees third lodge organic sales growth of 2%-5%, $0.78-$0.86 EPS, incl. incremental Folgers-related restructuring charges. Sees fiscal year 2009 organic sales growth of 2%-5%, comfortable with current consensus EPS estimate of $4.29.

Sunpower (SPWRA) posts $0.70, vs. $0.39, fourth quarter non-GAAP EPS on 79% higher revenue. GAAP EPS was $0.35 vs. $0.06. Sees $2.20-$2.80 2009 non-GAAP EPS ($1.40-$1.90 GAAP) on $1.6B-$2.0B revenue. Sees 2009 lengthening capacity of more than 450 megawatts.

Roche (RHHBY) announces it intends to enter upon a pay in money tender offer for every one of unsettled publicly-held shares of Genentech (DNA) at $86.50 per share. RHHBY currently owns 55.8% of DNA outstanding shares. The offer replaces the public proposal made by RHHBY forward July 21, 2008 to procure all of the publicly-held shares of DNA at $89 per share in cash by means of means of a negotiated merger.

Cybersource (CYBS) posts $0.19, vs. $0.15, fourth quarter non-GAAP EPS on 37% revenue rise. Sees first quarter revenue of about $60 million, $0.15 non-GAAP EPS, 2009 return of $258-$263 million, EPS of $0.72-$0.74.

Broadcom (BRCM) posts $0.32 fourth quarter GAAP squandering, vs. $0.16 EPS, as impairment charges of goodwill and certain tangible assets of its mobile platforms business group, as well as in-process R&D charges offset 9.7% reward rise. Sees Q1 revenue of $800-$875 the masses. Believes current economic slowdown will abide to detriment its business in Q1 as want continues to decrease and settle into new levels and channel inventory adjusts accordingly. To cut workforce.

Monster Worldwide (MWW) posts $0.24, vs. $0.36, fourth quarter EPS from continuing operations on 16% revenue decline. Says weakening global economy significantly impacted hiring inquire.

Digital River (DRIV) posts better-than-expected $0.48, vs. $0.56, fourth quarter non-GAAP EPS on 1% revenue drop. Street was looking for $0.44. Sees Q1 revenue of $96-$100 the great body of the people, GAAP EPS of $0.37-$0.42, non-GAAP EPS of $0.48-$0.53.

Juniper Networks (JNPR) reports $0.25, vs. $0.22, fourth quarter EPS (GAAP) on 14% higher revenue. Non-GAAP EPS was $0.32 vs. $0.27. S&P believes fundamentals are worsening, as evidenced by Q1 guidance instead of about 12% sequential sales decline, reiterates vend. Credit Suisse cuts estimates, target.

PerkinElmer (PKI) posts $0.29, vs. $0.

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STIFEL RAISES TARGET FOR AMAZON.COM

Stifel algebraist Scott Devitt says Amazon.com’s (AMZN) fourth quarter was impressive and it gave strong guidance, particularly given the environment.

Devitt notes $6.7 billion revenue was up 24% on organic basis; operating margin was 5.4%, well ahead of expectations; the collection ended the fourth quarter with $3.3 billion in net pay in money. He says AMZN’s household reward growth of 18% compares to domestic eCommerce of -3%. He notes, importantly, while many retailers are experiencing tighter remuneration provisions, AMZN terms are improving.

He raises $1.36 2009 EPS estimate to $1.37. He also lifts $61 excellence target to $65, 19 times his $1.3 billion estimate of 2009 unlevered artless cash flow. He reiterates a bribe opinion on the stock.

ROTH CAPITAL CUTS INFORMATICA TO HOLD FROM BUY

Roth Capital analyst Nathan Schneiderman says Informatica (INFA) fourth quarter was mixed: $124 million revenue missed consensus by $3 million, but $0.24 pro forma EPS thrash by $0.01. He notes operational metrics deteriorated sharply; big deals were disappointing, DSOs spiked, anarchy backlog fell; medium-sized deals down sharply.

Schneiderman says metrics propose INFA is hostile more exposed for the first quarter than last year, so not surprisingly, the company cut guidance sharply.

He cuts $0.85 2009 EPS esteem to $0.82 and $0.97 for 2010 to $0.90, reflecting lower estimates for income offset somewhat by the agency of higher operating margin. He lowers $16 target to $14.

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Analysts’ opinions on stocks in the news Friday

From Standard & Poor’s Equity Research

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S&P MAINTAINS BUY RECOMMENDATION ON SHARES OF AMAZON.COM (AMZN; 50.00):

Fourth quarter EPS of $0.52, vs. $0.48, is $0.08 higher than our view. Even more impressive, in our view, is the 18% rise in sales defiance headwinds including forex translation and an unprecedented slowdown in retail expenditure, to which place online sales declined 3% over holiday season. While unrefined margins were pressured modestly, AMZN’s perpetual focus on providing value to consumers from one side price and selection should lead to continued marketshare gains. We are raising our 2009 EPS estimate to $1.56 from $1.48, and setting 2010’s at $1.88. We are also lifting our DCF-based mark price to $68 from $59. -M. Souers

S&P REITERATES STRONG BUY RECOMMENDATION ON SHARES OF EXXONMOBIL (XOM; 78.56):

Our preliminary calculation indicates that XOM posted fourth quarter operating EPS of $1.55, vs. $2.06, reflecting look sullen crude oil prices, higher operating expenses, lower chemical volumes, and the impact of Gulf of Mexico hurricanes. Results were in employment with our estimate. Oil & aeriform fluid production declined 3.3%, in mark by our expectations, reflecting lower entitlement volumes, OPEC quota goods, divestments and field declines. Refining & marketing earnings rose 6.5% on higher international results. We will update on the original of morning conference call. -T. Vital

S&P MAINTAINS STRONG BUY OPINION ON SHARES OF PROCTER & GAMBLE (PG; 56.56):

PG says its total global mart participate in is basically holding, however, it is seeing consumers trading down from its premium brands to its set a high value on brands and is experiencing retailer and consumer de-stocking, a 5% negative forex impact, and still-high commodity costs. Also, restructuring costs following the Folgers opportunity to sell are running higher than expected. As a result, December-quarter EPS of $0.94 was $0.01 less than our calculate, and we are reducing our full fiscal year 2009 (June) EPS estimate by $0.08 to $3.65; we are setting FY 2010’sitting at $3.97. We are trimming our 12-month mark price by $5 to $71. -L. Braverman-CFA

S&P KEEPS HOLD OPINION ON SHARES OF SUNPOWER CORP (SPWRA; 32.01):

Fourth quarter operating EPS of $0.49, vs. $0.22, is $0.11 above our estimate. Sales rose 79% on eager global demand. Gross margin was above our model, widening on internal sourcing, healthful selling prices and cost cuts. Operating margin also rose. With guidance a bit below our view, we trim our non-GAAP 2009 EPS set a price on by $0.35 to $1.64. We also lower our 12-month target price by $6 to $44. Although we papal court the solar industry facing demand and oversupply hurdles, we keep our hold sentiment on these volatile shares due to our favorable view of SPWR’s differentiated products and business model. /C.Montevirgen

S&P REITERATES SELL OPINION ON SHARES OF JUNIPER NETWORKS (JNPR; 16.97):

JNPR reports fourth quarter EPS of $0.29, vs. $0.24, too high for our $0.24 estimate, aided by cost management and reduced share count. Sales, however, declined 3% from third lodge, at the low end of conduct, on weak telecom bestow. We believe fundamentals are worsening, as evidenced by first quarter guidance for a roughly 12% sequential sales decline. Despite the sharp drop in requirement, the assemblage aims to increase R&D investment by 15% annually, which should substantially pressure operating margin. We are lowering our 2009 EPS estimate by means of $0.35 to $0.80, and our 12-month target price by dint of. $3 to $12, 15 times our 2009 EPS projection. -A. Bensinger

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Investors digested improve news from Exxon Mobil and Amazon.com, along with a drop in fourth-quarter GDP and other economic reports

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U.S. stocks were trading lower Friday afternoon after a brief short-covering indulge in banter attempt fizzled. Indexes moved lower following a declare that showed the U.S. economy fell by a less than expected 3.8% in the fourth quarter; however, gross domestic product was down 5.1% excluding inventories. Also, the fourth-quarter employment cost index rose 0.5%, a bit less than expected.

Other economic reports were weaker. The Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index eased to 61.2 in January from a 61.9 preliminary reading, but rose from 60.1 in December. And the January Chicago PMI unexpectedly hem to 33.3 from 35.1 in December.

Market sentiment may have also been injury Friday by means of a CNBC recital that the so-called “Bad Bank” proposal floated earlier this week to create a government-sponsored being to soak up toxic debt is on hold.

Treasuries were higher on safe haven buying, through the yield on the 10-year note lower at 2.80%. The U.S. dollar director was higher at 85.99. Gold futures were sharply higher on a flight to preservation bid at $928.50 per ounce. Crude oil futures were besides higher at $41.69 by means of barrel in New York trading.

On Friday at around 2:10 pm ET, the 30-stock Dow Jones industrial average was lower by 98.37 points at 8,050.64. The broad S&P 500 index was facing 13.07 points to 832.07. And the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index lost 18.12 points to 1,489.72.

On the New York Stock Exchange, 21 stocks were lower in cost against every seven that advanced. Nasdaq openness was 15-8 negative. Trading was moderate.

U.S. GDP fell at a 3.8% annual rate in the fourth quarter, the largest decline since 1982, on the contrary not nearly as bad as the -5.6% unison appreciate. The surprises came from three categories: foreign trade, inventories, and government spending. The data on consumer spending came in near expectations (into disrepute 3.5%). Business fixed investing. malignant 19.1%, near expectations, while residential construction dropped 23.6%, not as bad as anticipated. The biggest amaze was founded on spending, which surged 5.8%, mostly because of nondefense expenditure. Inventories were up $6.2 billion, which added 1.3 percentage points to real GDP growth. Trade was more familiar than expected, by exports dropping 19.7% and imports 15.7%; the import fall away was larger than expected, but this could get revised when we get the December trade data.

Without the contributions from government and inventories, real GDP would have dropped 5.5%, in the same proportion that expected by the market.

“The impact on the market will be muted both because the surprise was in elements not in a fair way to subsist sustained and because its last year’s data; they are now worrying about 2009, not 2008,” says S&P Economics.

The U.S. employment cost index rose accurate 0.5% in the fourth quarter, below the 0.7% in third quarter and the 0.7% expected by markets. Wages and salaries were up 0.5%, decelerating from the 0.7% manner of walking previously. Benefit costs increased only 0.4%, below a 0.6% increase in the third quarter. On a year-over-year basis, compensation was up 2.6% in the fourth quarter from 2.9% in the third. Wages and salaries compensation rose 2.7%, decelerating from 3.1% antecedently. Benefits compensation was up 2.2% year-over-year from 2.6% the quarter in front of.

The reading was much tamer than expected, as the tart contraction in fourth-quarter housekeeping exercise slowed engagement costs, according to S&P Economics.

Former presidential rival John McCain expressed disappointment that President Obama has not negotiated with Republicans covering a huge relating to housekeeping stimulus plan and said he is working on an other package. Speaking to Reuters, Arizona Sen. McCain said the alternative plan would include what he described taken in the character of “more effective put a tax upon cuts, such as a payroll tax cut” and expenditure on projects aimed at immediately creating jobs.

The nation’s meridian housekeeping officials are discussing a new way to stabilize the financial hypothesis by buying a portion of banks’ bad assets and offering guarantees against future losses on some of the remainder, in an trial to help banks while trying to mitigate the cost to taxpayers. This approach, which merges two competing ideas, was discussed this week at a meeting that included Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Chairman Sheila Bair, according to people briefed on the conflux. The latest bank-aid discussions represent one idea of several being contemplated through officials.

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NEW YORK — Stocks turned lower Friday as investors worried that the frugality, though perhaps not as troubled to the degree that feared in late 2008, is no other than acquirement worse.

The Commerce Department before-mentioned gross domestic product, the widely followed measure of the economy, shrank at a 3.8 percent pace in the final three months of the year. That compared with a 0.5 percent decline in the previous quarter.

Friday’s reading was much superiority than the 5.4 percent drop economists expected.

Still, the outline could be revised lower in the months ahead — and some analysts believe the economy has been contracting in early 2009 at an even faster pace. Earnings reports have been disappointing, and layoffs have been piling up.

“GDP is a backward-looking piece of information,” said Craig Peckham, market strategist at Jefferies & Co. “It’s hard to pinpoint a in a great degree convincing case that the economic and income picture will increase.”

Exxon Mobil Corp. latest year surpassed its own record for annual earnings by a U.S. concourse, but saw a big drop in advantage during the fourth quarter. Chevron Corp.’s fourth-quarter results also suffered from the late-2008 plunge in oil prices.

And consumer-products company Procter & Gamble Co. uttered that while fourth-quarter quarter profit jumped 53 percent after selling its Folgers coffee business, sales dipped 3 percent on weakening demand for its products — which include Tide detergent, Olay skin cream and Crest toothpaste.

Declining sales are also hitting Honda Motor Co. hard — the Japanese automaker slashed its 2009 profit mark by more than half as its earnings dropped 90 percent in the latest quarter.

And Japanese electronics maker NEC Corp. aforesaid it will cut 20,000 jobs worldwide as it reported a $1.46 billion destruction for the fourth quarter.

In midmorning trading, the Dow Jones industrial average futures hem 48.91, or 0.60 percent, to 8,100.10. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index fell 5.92, or 0.70 percent, to 839.22, and the Nasdaq composite index fell 7.92, or 0.53 percent, to 1,499.92.

The Russell 2000 integral part of smaller companies fell 0.52, or 0.11 percent, to 452.72.

On Thursday, the Dow Jones industrial average sank 226 points, while other indicators tumbled greater amount of than 3 percent, on news that unemployment claims reached a record high and that new home sales strike in requital for a record low. This erased whole of the gains from the previous day, at the time that stocks soared on hopes that the government choose take bad debt off banks’ books.

Volatility has been high this week, with the market zigzagging on a mix of earnings and economic recent accounts similar to investors try to determine what the rest of 2009 will bring. Unrelenting concerns from one place to another the shaky banking industry have also kept investors from buying with confidence.

A bit of good recent accounts came from Amazon.com Inc. far advanced Thursday, which reported that its fourth-quarter profit rose 9 percent and easily surpassed analysts’ forecasts. The online retailer too provided an optimistic forecast with regard to 2009.

Amazon shares rose $8.85, or 17.7 percent, to $58.85.

Exxon rose $1.53, or 2 percent, to $78.53.

Chevron rose 97 cents to $71.59.

Procter & Gamble fell $1.94, or 3.3 percent, to $56.28.

Bond prices rose in good time Friday. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, that moves opposite its price, relentless to 2.80 percent from 2.87 percent late Thursday. The yield on the three-month T-bill, considered any of the safest investments, rose to 0.24 percent from 0.23 percent.

The dollar was mixed against other greater currencies. Gold prices rose.

Light, sweet crude rose 78 cents to $42.22 a barrel put adhering the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Overseas, Japan’s Nikkei stipe average fell 3.12 percent. In afternoon trading, Britain’s FTSE 100 rose 0.55 percent, Germany’s DAX index rose 0.24 percent, and France’session CAC-40 rose 0.27 percent.

— — —

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AP-WS-01-30-09 1022EST

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Amazon.com delivered something rare on account of a retailer these days — good news.

The Seattle Internet giant reported a fourth-quarter profit that beat Wall Street’s expectations and predicted lusty sales with respect to the first locality.

Amazon beforehand said the 2008 holiday season was its “best ever,” and Thursday’session report confirmed that it’s not being horribly grieve by a pullback in consumer spending.

For the three months that ended Dec. 31, Amazon made a profit of $225 million, or 52 cents a share, up from $207 million, or 48 cents a share, a year ago. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected a per-share profit of 39 cents.

Amazon’s sales also exceeded expectations, rising 18 percent to $6.7 billion. Sales would have increased as plenteous as 24 percent if not for the strengthening U.S. dollar, which diminished the duration of sales in other currencies.

For the full year, sales jumped 29 percent to $19.17 billion, pushing Amazon’s produce up 36 percent to $645 the multitude.

The report bucked a widespread trend toward dismal holiday-sale results. Many retailers describe the season as the worst in several decades, saying they had to discount further deeply than planned to lure cash- and credit-strapped consumers.

If the recession showed up anywhere in Amazon’s report, it would have being in a gross-profit-margin decline to 20.1 percent from 20.6 percent a year ago. Chief Financial Officer Tom Szkutak told reporters in a conference call that the drop could be attributed to price cuts.

Amazon “did handle some pressure in terms of pricing, but it wasn’t almost as much as I or others expected,” said Dan Geiman, who follows Amazon as an analyst with McAdams Wright Ragen in Seattle.

“Amazon shoppers tend to think they’re getting a pretty obliging value anyway, and there’s the suitableness factor,” Geiman said, sacrifice a possible explanation in favor of wherefore the company did not have to resort to severe, profit-eroding markdowns. “It may be that shoppers weren’t as mordant to check out promotions at brick-and-mortar stores and were contented to shop on Amazon.”

Shares of the company’sitting stock rose in after-hours mercantile to about $51.44. Amazon released its report rear the end of regular trading. Earlier Thursday, shares closed into disgrace 36 cents to $50.

Looking ahead, Amazon expects first-quarter sales of up to $4.9 billion, an increase of being of the class who much as 19 percent from a year ago.

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After 21 years, the Northwest Flower & Garden Show might not make it through another hibernate.

Founding owner Duane Kelly wants to try to obtain other interests and is seeking a buyer to take over the show — the second largest of its kind in the United States and, for many in the Northwest, a colorful reprieve from late winter’sitting gloom.

If he doesn’t find a buyer willingly, Kelly says, he testament close the show for dutiful after a five-day run next month at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center in downtown Seattle.

Talks with a dozen possible buyers in the past four months haven’privately led to a deal, Kelly reported, partly because of the bad economy.

“For a variety of reasons,” he said, “the fit wasn’t right, or the timing wasn’t right. The metropolis markets are tough.”

Tens of thousands of people attend the appear each year, to see its mature plant and tree displays, hear speakers from around the world and stock up on springtime supplies.

Despite a novel downturn in attendance, the show outdraws all similar U.S. gardening events except Philadelphia’s flower show, which began in 1829.

For those who go, the Seattle show has be transformed into an advance rite of spring in February, “when we’re all in this way starved for color and flowers,” said Valerie Easton, who writes a garden column for Pacific Northwest magazine. “You see people whole transversely downtown carrying potted orchids and cut branches of pussy willows. They’re just captivating that spring pointedly with them.”

Kelly’s Ballard company, Salmon Bay Events, is listing the Seattle demonstrate along with the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show, which it also owns, for between $1 million and $2 million. The price includes Salmon Bay’s rod of nine people, trademarks, purchaser lists and long-term-venue agreements.

Kelly, 59, said he wants to point of convergence on a new career writing plays and to devote more time to his wife, Alice. He aforesaid he has until late March to find a buyer, since that’s when planning for the next year would need to begin.

“I had to look reaching far down inside myself before I made this decision,” he said, “but it’session time for me to propel on.”

Kelly said Seattle attendees buy, on average, $100 worth of lawn and garden products at the show, making it some important selling opportunity for regional merchants during an otherwise lingering time of the year.

The show also functions as an annual reunion for serious, or not-so-serious, gardeners.

“I’ll miss it terribly,” said Dan Hinkley, a gardening consultant and secretary who founded and later sold Kitsap County’s internationally known Heronswood Nursery. “It’s equal homecoming each year … walking the floor and seeing all the familiar faces.”

The show itself makes coin from vendor fees, ticket sales and corporate sponsorships, Kelly said. The show took in $1.8 very great number in 2008, little else than the anterior year, as record sponsorships offset a continued decline in attendance. Last year’sitting show attracted 54,000 folks, down from a peak of 84,000 in 1999.

“It’session always been a very positive thing for us,” said Wally Kerwin, owner of Swansons Nursery in north Seattle. “I think people are not going to shows being of the kind which much as they used to, but the real gardening enthusiasts are still coming.”

Nationally, several trends are hurting the gardening walk of life, including the aging of baby boomers, some of whom are swapping big homes on wooded lots concerning in-town condominiums and dual-income families by less time to spend outdoors, experts say.

In 2007, an estimated 82 million U.S. households participated in at least one type of gardening activity, 3 the great body of the people fewer than the previous five-year average, according to the National Gardening Association.

Easton credits Kelly with trying to grant the Seattle show relevant to new generations, emphasizing such things during the time that urban-style gardens and recyclables. Still, at 56, Easton tends to be excited like one of the youngsters in attendance.

“That just indulgent of tells you what’s going on with gardening,” she said. “It’s very rare that I’m one of the younger people in a room — but gardening events, yea.”

The splendor takes up five floors at the assembly center and is the largest annual event in terms of attendance, said John Christison, the venue’s president and whole manager. Smaller business gatherings, such as a Microsoft convention, typically generate more money for the center, but the show “holds a great distribute cards of cachet,” Christison said.

“It’sitting a gorgeous ceremony, and people really love it,” he before-mentioned. “We would loathe to see it go, but Duane is of the inclination that he wants to irritate in continuance, and I rate that.”

Because February tends to be a popular month for business gatherings, Christison added, filling the appear’s dates by a different affair shouldn’t have being too tough.

Kelly said he’sitting optimistic about this year’s attendance, suggesting that people will want to brighten up their winter even more than usual for the reason that of the dark economy. “People might not exist going to Hawaii or Europe, but they still want to get out and do things,” he said.

The economy is hurting the show in other ways, though: Corporate sponsorships are down more than 50 percent from endure year, Kelly said. About 300 exhibitors plan to partake, the same as last year.

“This is a tough year after the economy tanked, and that increases the pressure on me,” he before-mentioned. “At my age, that pressure is not as appealing as it once was.”

Kelly said the Seattle and San Francisco shows might have fetched up to $8 very great number 10 years ago.

“No undivided could go out and start from scratch these two shows and nurture them to profitability for else than what I’m asking,” he said. “I’m hoping someone last will and testament step forward and keep these shows going in the same state our great-grandchildren be able to enjoy them.”

Amy Martinez: 206-464-2923 or amartinez@seattletimes.com

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Victorinox introduces the first new Swiss Army soldier knife since 1961

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Swiss Army Knives have not been left astern by the advent of modern technology by the inclusion of Flash drives, MP3 players, laser pointers, newly even biometric security into the 200 strong model range to compliment the traditional offerings which began at the time that the first Swiss developed Soldier Knife arrived back in 1891. These knives are still part of standard kit for the Swiss Army and, following the issue of the first

As you might count upon, there are a few changes from the original wooden-handled Soldiers Knife from 1891 which featured a leaf punch, have power to opener and screwdriver. The new incarnation features a new ergonomic handle made from dual-density materials designed to provide in a superior manner clutch in wet and devoid of warmth conditions and a serrated locking blade that can be opened with one hand, plus the usual array of the utmost practical tools found on a Swiss Army Knife—a Phillips screwdriver, can opener, bottle opener, metallic thread stripper, reamer, tweezers, toothpick and wood saw.

Despite having provided knives to the Swiss Army in the place of over 100 years, Victorinox was not an automatic excellent as the new supplier. The group won the upright to produce the new Soldiers Knife after a tender process in which contenders from seven international suppliers were rigorously field and laboratory tested and analyses for cost behalf. A compact was signed betwixt Victorinox AG, Ibach and armasuisse in September 2008 for 75,000 soldier’s knives worth CHF 1.38 million. The modern knives will be issued to troops during the first basic training sessions of 2009 and will be successful stores in Spring.

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