heizundg.com – Page 252

Chrysler files for bankruptcy, Fiat Group SpA to run company

Posted on October 13, 2017October 13, 2017 by

Friday, May 1, 2009

The American auto company Chrysler filed for bankruptcy Thursday, however a deal with European auto maker Fiat went through. The emerging Chrysler will be owned 55 percent by the United Auto Workers, eight percent by the United States Government, two percent by the Canadian Government and Fiat would begin with a 20 percent share.

Chrysler Chief Executive Robert Nardelli will step down when the bankruptcy proceedings are finalized.

Initially, the Italian company, Fiat, will appoint three members on the emerging Chrysler’s new board, and the United States government will appoint six. Fiat can assume the majority of the ownership upon repayment of American loans.

Chrysler administrators expect that the bankruptcy should take a couple of months.

“We expect this to be a very short, 30-to-60-day bankruptcy process, during which the company will function normally,” a top administration official said, “People will be able to buy cars, they will have their warranties honored, and everything should go on normally.”

The bankruptcy filing indicated that Chrysler was in debt to 20 creditors to a tune of more than $10 million each.

Meanwhile, the deal with Fiat did go through, and Chrysler should have cars designed by Fiat out on the market by 2011.

“It’s a partnership that will give Chrysler a chance not only to survive, but to thrive in a global auto industry,” said American president Obama, “Fiat has demonstrated that it can build the clean, fuel-efficient cars that are the future of the industry.”

However, automotive analyst Erich Merkle has hesitations.

“History would show that alliances really don’t work that well,” Merkle said, “even though, no matter how good they may look on paper.”

The restructuring has been managed by Steve Rattner, a former investment banker, and the U.S. Government auto task force.

Obama has set three ultimatums before Fiat. Fiat should produce a 40 mile per gallon vehicle while managing the new Chrysler, transfer fuel efficient Fiat technology to Chrysler factories in the United States, and produce cars in Chrysler factories and distribute them in Europe.

Class action: Foreign workers pay thousands to obtain jobs in Canada

Posted on October 12, 2017October 12, 2017 by

This article is incomplete and has not been edited recently, and is considered abandoned. It is to be

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on October 7 (2 days ago), if work on it does not resume. Please edit it so it becomes un-abandoned. If you feel that this article is ready to be published, please add {{review}} to it.

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Thursday, September 21, 2017

The Supreme Court of British Columbia has certified a Class Action lawsuit against Mac’s Convenience Stores (Mac’s) and three immigration consultants. The case involves 450 foreign workers who allege they were enticed to come to Canada with promises of jobs. Each of the workers paid a fee of up to $8,500 to the consultants for a job with Mac’s. The Class Action lawsuit was certified on Monday by Justice Arne Silverman.

The jobs were offered to the workers under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program which specifies that fees for job placements must be paid by the employer. The government has not laid charges in this matter.

One of the plaintiffs, Prakash Basyal, says he met one of the defendants at a job fair in Dubai. He interviewed with a representative of Mac’s and signed a two-year contract for a low wage cashier’s job in Edmonton, Alberta, and paid the agreed fee of $8,000. After he quit his job in Abu Dhabi, he arrived in Vancouver, British Columbia and received a permit allowing him to work for Mac’s, but was told the job he contracted for was not available. He was then left with no choice but support himself working illegally at a bottle depot in Calgary where he was discovered by Canada Border Services Agency and arrested. He was handcuffed, detained and humiliated.

Lawyers representing the workers claimed that abuses under the Program are common. They say this leaves foreign workers vulnerable. The defendants declined comment.

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News briefs:July 14, 2010

Posted on October 12, 2017October 12, 2017 by

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Climate change impacts Wyoming

Posted on October 12, 2017October 12, 2017 by

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Cheek numbing, eye watering winds whip across the plains of the Laramie Basin, Wyoming. The ground is yellow brown with patches of recalcitrant snow. Sheep Mountain is losing its winter coat. All normal affairs for March. The March edition of the Wyoming Basin Outlook Report also reports, based on February accumulations, that Snow Water Equivalent is at 99% of average.

The SWE is a measure of the snow pack that feeds the streams, rivers and reservoirs that Wyoming, Nebraska and other states depend upon for water. Current averages are compared to the average SWE for 1971-2000. In recent years, snow pack in this region has been anything but normal.

The Outlook Reports are issued January to June. Since March 2000, only five of 46 months have been above normal. While many of the winter months have been near normal, June’s snow pack is far below average. Even in 2006, the wettest year of the last eight years, June snow pack was only 37% of the average.

In an e-mail interview with Wikinews, Lee Hackleman, Water Supply Specialist, said

	The snowpack is melting out several weeks earlier than average. The higher temperatures in the spring are responsible for this. There seems to be a significant drop in the amount of runoff that we are able to retain in our reservoirs, a lot of runoff seems to be soaking into the ground. We do not have the June flood events any more. We use to [sic] be cool then hot, not cool warm then hot.

In a phone interview with Wikinews, Myra Wilensky of the National Wildlife Federation in nearby Colorado, also commented on changing snow patterns.

In the west, nothing is ever clockwork, the patterns shift, a good amount of snowfall in the season and then a quick warm up. We don’t get the prolonged snowpack that we used to have. May have a really wet snow year, then really dry with rain.

Can’t count on getting estimated amount of snow anymore. March and November have historically been our snowiest months, but this year it’s been a fairly dry in March and November. Winter is shorter now.

This is part of a general increase in temperature in the region. An Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change cited by the National Wildlife Federation estimates that the temperature will rise almost 7 degrees (F) by 2100.

	This will likely cause most, if not all, of the state’s glaciers to disappear. Wildfires may increase, droughts could get worse and rains–when they do come–will likely come in more severe downpours that may cause more flash flooding. Warmer temperatures also mean less snowpack in the mountains, leading to more winter runoff and reduced summer flows in many Wyoming streams.

The NWF’s main concern is the fate of the wildlife in the region, particularly how the impact of pine bark beetles. Warmer winters have led to mass infestations in Western lodge pole pine forests and The New York Times reports that they are now moving on to white bark pines in Yellowstone particularly impacting grizzly bears there. In turn, the grizzlies are shifting to feeding on Canadian thistle, an invasive species that might be choking out native plants.

Changing weather patterns have also affected large migratory animals.

	This year winter came late. When the heavy snows hit, the mule deer and the elk were spread out, had to be fed. Feeding isn’t newsworthy, happened before like in 1982 but it wasn’t as successful this year because they were so spread out.

Water for people has also become a major issue in the region.

	There is a much greater concern for water rights than there used to be. There is not enough late season water to satisfy everyone all the time.

Kansas has long fought Wyoming over water rights issues. And Montana is currently suing Wyoming, claiming that the Yellowstone River Compact signed in 1950 gives rights to both surface and ground water, while Wyoming disagrees. On February 18, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the lawsuit.

Wyoming officials say they are adhering to the compact and that the drought has meant less water for both states.

But Montana says Wyoming is storing more water in reservoirs than the compact permits and allowing excessive pumping of groundwater reserves that feed into the two rivers.

Those “groundwater” reserves are tapped by some Wyoming farmers to irrigate their fields. Energy companies discharge large volumes of groundwater during production of coal-bed methane, a type of natural gas prevalent in northern Wyoming.

Authorities do not see this fight over increasingly limited water resources going away anytime soon.

	Everyone is going to have to learn to get by with less.

Borgo Iesolana: Your Chance To Relax In The Tuscan Countryside

Posted on October 11, 2017April 6, 2018 by

Submitted by: Giulio Detti

Borgo Iesolana is your very own secluded slice of Tuscany, hidden in a picturesque oasis. A cluster of luxurious apartments, each overlooking a scenery so splendid and untouched it’ll leave you lost for words.

A oasis in a scenery that is unbelievably still thoroughly untouched and organic, Borgo Iesolana is an amazingly quiet spot, with no noise for miles to bother the understated natural beauty of the Tuscan scenery, the olive groves and vineyards. And while the property may seem like it’s separated from everything, Borgo Iesolana is in reality no more than a few kilometres from Arezzo, Siena and Florence, making it a great base for visits to several of Italy’s most aesthetically beautiful and artistically interesting towns and cities.

The apartments themselves have extremely old foundations as the property was once a family farm. Lovingly preserved, they continue to embody the rustic desert sand-coloured brick external surfaces and red, terracotta roofs that are so identifiable with the Tuscan countryside, which stretches out in front of each apartment.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NFHPbJOL0o[/youtube]

Inside the apartments are earthy, comfortable and effortlessly sumptuous all at the same time. Oak floors and serena stone transport you to the Tuscan farm life and each room is infused with a comfy serenity that will make you never want to leave. Each piece of furniture is a beautiful carved antique collectible, chosen to memorialise the artisan heart of the district, and modern day comforts are not forsaken either, with a plasma television, phone and internet access added to each apartment to ensure you don’t lose touch with the rest of the world.

And what holiday in Tuscany is complete without the food? Guests can prepare their own Italian masterpieces in the fully equipped kitchen in their apartments or they can indulge by enjoying meals prepared by Borgo Iesolana’s brilliant chef. Rouse to a beautifully prepared breakfast of lovingly made cakes and bread, cut thick and spread with locally produced jams or smothered with proscuitto, salami, cheese and eggs, all sourced from nearby farms.

Guests can continue to enjoy ‘spuntini’ during the day in Borgo Iesolana’s wine bar, where uncomplicated and traditional dishes like bruschette and homemade pasta are served with wines produced on the residence. Guests can also learn to make these Tuscan delicacies by themselves in master cooking classes, organised without fuss by reception.

After a bruschetta or three, there’s nothing like an afternoon spent enjoying the natural splendours of Tuscany. Guests can soak up the splendour of the Tuscan panorama on foot or on horseback, by themselves or with an expert guide. But if your idea of a relaxing vacation doesn’t involve walking, then take a seat on one of the deckchairs by the pool and embrace the magnificient panorama… or try your hand at some ping pong.

Borgo Iesolana is the height of subtle elegance and country style. It captures so perfectly the essence of the Tuscan countryside, becoming a absolute extension of the countryside from its cobble-stoned counrtyard to its apartments covered with climbing ivy. A true slice of paradise, Borgo Iesolana goes beyond just a place to leave your luggage. And with its own conference and meeting room, it’s also the suitable location to host clients, business associates or even your wedding.

About the Author: Borgo Iesolana :

Holiday House Tuscany

in Agriturismo with swimming pool e private garden for your special Tuscan Vacation.

Source:

isnare.com

Permanent Link:

isnare.com/?aid=650329&ca=Travel

City to sue owner of partially collapsed 19th century livery in Buffalo, New York

Posted on October 11, 2017October 11, 2017 by

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Buffalo, New York — Two weeks after a 19th century stable and livery on Jersey Street partially collapsed and caused 15 homes to be evacuated in Buffalo, New York, residents still do not have answers from the city despite a court order to work with them and come to an agreement on a way to save some or all of the building, Wikinews has learned. Despite the frustration from residents, the city is planning on suing the building’s owner. A rally was held at the stable’s site where residents are hoping to bring more awareness to the situation and gain more support to save the building.

On June 11, a significant portion of the stable’s right side wall collapsed into the yard of a resident’s home. Authorities, including the Buffalo Fire Department were called to the scene to evaluate the collapse and evacuate 15 homes of residents surrounding the stable as a precautionary measure. The following day, the city ordered an emergency demolition on the building, which was stopped by a restraining order residents with Save The Livery (www.savethelivery.com) won on June 14. Two weeks later, five homes are still evacuated and residents don’t know when they will be able to return.

On June 19, Judge Justice Christopher Burns of the New York State Supreme Court ordered a halt to the emergency demolition and ordered the city and residents to come to an agreement to save the building, or at least a significant portion of it. Despite a court date today, no agreement has yet been reached between the two parties.

“It is in the interest of the city to have a safe environment–but also important to maintain a sense of historical preservation,” stated Burns in his June 19th ruling. The court ruled that a limited demolition could take place and that the city was only allowed to remove material in immediate danger to residents and pedestrians, but stated that the demolition could only be performed with “hand tools.” The court also ordered that any rubble which had fallen into neighboring yards when the building collapsed, to be removed. Since then, most of not all the significantly damaged portions of the building or portions in immediate danger of falling have been demolished. The roof has also been removed to put less stress on the stable’s walls.

“Its been over three years since we have been having problems with part of the livery falling down. There was an implosion two weeks ago and suddenly the city wanted to have an emergency demolition,” said Catherine Herrick who lives on Summer Street immediately behind the stable and is the main plaintiff in the lawsuit against the city. Many homes on Summer are small cottages which were used as servants quarters when the stable was in operation, many of which were built in the 1820’s. At least seven homes on Summer border the stable’s back walls. Residents in those homes have significant gardens which have been planted against the building and growing for decades.

“Both parties are to continue to work together to see how we can meet everybody’s needs. This is the third time we have been in that courtroom, and that is what we were basically told to do,” added Herrick who said the rally was held today because this “is Buffalo’s history. Buffalo is a wonderful place to live because of its history and this is a historical, beautiful building and we need to keep those beautiful buildings.”

Herrick states that the city is working with residents, but also believes that its “slow moving” and they are allowing the owner to get away with neglect on the property.

“I believe right now that they are letting the owner get off. The owner was negligent for 20 years, and hasn’t done anything to it despite what he has claimed to say. Now that this is an emergency situation, the city has a lot to say about it,” added Herrick.

Currently the building is owned by Bob Freudenheim who has several building violations against him because its poor condition. He has received at least five violations in three months and residents who live near the building state that Freudenheim should be “100% responsible” for his actions.

Freudenheim gave the city permission to demolish the building on June 12 during an emergency Preservation Board meeting, because he would not be “rehabilitating the building anytime soon.” Freudenheim, along with his wife Nina, were part-owners of the Hotel Lenox at 140 North Street in Buffalo and were advocates to stop the Elmwood Village Hotel from being built on the Southeast corner of Forest and Elmwood Avenues. They also financially supported a lawsuit in an attempt to stop the hotel from being built. Though it is not known exactly how long Freudenheim has owned the stable, Wikinews has learned that he was the owner while fighting to stop the hotel from being built. Residents say that he has been the owner for at least 22 years. Attorneys for Freudenheim confirm that the city is starting proceedings against him for his violations beginning as early as Wednesday June 25. Freudenheim has not released a statement and could not be reached for comment.

Many residents want the building preserved and Herrick states that their engineer can have it stable in “four days” as opposed to the 14-30 days it would take to demolish the building and “at a lesser cost than what it costs to demolish it.”

It will cost the city nearly US$300,000 to demolish the building which is paid for with tax money collected from residents in the city. The Buffalo News reports that fees are approaching $700,000. Though reports say there is a potential buyer of the stable, Wikinews cannot independently confirm those reports.

Residents say the stable was designed by Richard A. Waite, a 19th century architect, and was first owned by a company called White Bros., used as a stable and housed at least 30 horses at any given time. It also stored “coaches, coupes, broughams, Victorias and everything in the line of light livery,” stated an article from the West Side Topics dated 1906. According to the article, The company first opened in 1881 on Thirteenth Street, now Normal Avenue, and later moved into the Jersey building in 1892. The Buffalo Fire Department believes the building was built around 1814, while the city property database states it was built in 1870. It is believed to be only one of three stables of this kind still standing in the country.

At about 1950, the stable was converted into an automobile body shop and gasoline station.A property record search showed that in 1950 at least four fuel storage tanks were installed on the property. Two are listed as 550 square feet while the other two are 2,000 square feet. All of the tanks are designated as a TK4, which New York State says is used for “below ground horizontal bulk fuel storage.” The cost of installing a tank of that nature according to the state, at that time, included the tank itself, “excavation and backfill,” but did not include “the piping, ballast, or hold-down slab orring.” It is not known if the tanks are still on the property, but residents are concerned the city was not taking the precautions to find out.

Wikinews has called the city along with the Mayor’s office several times, but both have yet to return our calls. There are conflicting reports as to the date of the next hearing. According to Herrick, the next hearing is July 1, 2008 though the Buffalo News states the next hearing is July 8. The News also states that Burns will make a final ruling on the stable at this time.

Business Process Management (Bpm) Software For Government Agencies

Posted on October 11, 2017October 11, 2017 by

Here’s An Opinion On:

By Samir Gulati

A lot’s been written about what Business Process Management software (BPM) does for government agencies. However, a brief overview of BPM benefits to Civilian and Defense agencies include:

BPM for Acquisition & Procurement

– Lack of an organized, process-focused method for managing procurement results in administrative overhead, mountains of paperwork, and lost savings. BPM software for Acquisition Business Management allows federal purchasing organizations to successfully manage all purchasing and contracting activities.

BPM for Personnel Administration & Security

– Administering security credentials, access, badges, and background investigations can be a manual, labor intensive task. BPM software for Personnel Administration & Security integrates internal and external systems to ensure agencies can badge new staff on day one, track security investigation costs and progress with real-time dashboards and rules-based notifications, and improve security with automated off-boarding.

BPM for Federal Hiring

– Designed for HR managers, BPM software for Federal Hiring Management enables federal HR departments to overcome current barriers, accelerate the hiring process, and acquire the talent needed for their organizations to meet current and future goals.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03X1FwF6udc[/youtube]

BPM for Grants Management

– Agencies are managing and distributing funds at an unprecedented pace. Many agencies are using BPM for Grants Management to closely track their grant processes and to generate automatic audit trails that help simplify compliance with reporting requirements.

BPM for Case Management

– From the initial triggering call or event, through servicing and resolution to summary reporting and audit trail availability, Business Process Management software helps government agencies manage all aspects of complex Case Management. Appian enables better, faster service for constituents, while agencies receive bottom-line cost reductions, enhanced decision-making and regulatory compliance capabilities.

But let’s take a step back and explain what BPM is in the context of government effectiveness and efficiency. BPM can mean different things to different people. Some call it discrete software, some a technology suite, and some an operational management method. The fact is, all are right.

While definitions of BPM vary, what matters is that at its core, BPM is a means for aligning IT and business, whether the ultimate objective is cutting costs, improving service, increasing transparency, complying with regulations, or achieving a combination of all the above.

The most fundamental thing to understand is the bottom line: the value BPM software delivers.

Business Process Management in Government Saves Dollars and Makes Sense

Government agencies are adopting the technology because it helps them achieve their missions more effectively and more quickly. How? By orchestrating and integrating employees, applications, and data for defined business processes; by increasing collaboration within and across organizations; by delivering a better, more consistent experience for constituents when they interact with an agency; and by making agencies more nimble in response to constituent, market and regulatory changes.

Some of these BPM software benefits can be ‘fuzzy,’ and difficult to translate into a dollar figure of return-on-investment. But when those calculations are figured out, the resulting numbers can be astounding. According to the Business Transformation Agency’s ‘2010 Congressional Report on Defense Business Operations,’ the BPM-based Army Knowledge Online (AKO) delivers $500M in annual cost avoidance. The U.S. Marine Corps. reported a $9M savings in just the first year of using BPM software to streamline its acquisition and procurement processes.

Likewise, those doing business with the government can also improve their own efficiencies.

Business Process Management Assessments

The next logical question is, ‘How do you know if you even need BPM software?’ One of the features in the official BPM Kit for government from Appian Corporation, is a 10-question assessment you can take to get at the true nature of your agency’s business processes, and how they support (or don’t support) daily requirements and mission goals.

Maybe your current business process management systems are working fine, managers have the visibility they need, accountabilities and ownerships are clear, and assignments are handled completely and consistently. Great – you’ll ace the quiz and you can go back to running the most efficient operation in government. But maybe not. Government employees, and even contractors who take a Business Process Management assessment may get a clearer perspective on

why your processes aren’t functioning quite as well as they could – and some initial insight into what can be done to improve them. The results offer and a new way to look at and for solutions for improved overall business efficiency. About the Author: Samir Gulati is an expert in Business Process Management and BPM Software. He offers advice to government, software industry and U.S. corporate leaders in his role as VP of Marketing for www.Appian.com. Appian Local, state and federal governmental agencies can learn more, by reading the official BPM Kit for Government. Source: isnare.com Permanent Link: isnare.com/?aid=780795&ca=Business

Parts of New Orleans flood again

Posted on October 10, 2017October 10, 2017 by

Friday, September 23, 2005

Rain and the storm surge from Hurricane Rita have overwhelmed one of the fragile levees in New Orleans. The Industrial Canal levee gave way, reflooding parts of the Ninth Ward. There are three significant breaches.

“Our worst fears came true,” said Maj. Barry Guidry of the Georgia National Guard.

“We have three significant breaches in the levee and the water is rising rapidly,” he said. “At daybreak I found substantial breaks and they’ve grown larger.”

The U.S. Corps of Engineers estimated that 6 inches of rainfall could breach the previously damaged levees. The Ninth Ward, which saw flooding as high as 20 feet during Hurricane Katrina, is currently in waist-high water as the nearby levee was overtopped. Water is spilling over the levee in a section 100 feet wide.

The Gentilly neighborhood has water accumulations of 6 to 8 inches deep as the patched London Avenue Canal has sprung leaks near its base.

In depth: Buffalo, N.Y. hotel proposal controversy

Posted on October 10, 2017October 10, 2017 by

Friday, May 26, 2006

Buffalo, N.Y. Hotel Proposal Controversy

Recent Developments

“120 year-old documents threaten development on site of Buffalo, N.Y. hotel proposal” — Wikinews, November 21, 2006
“Proposal for Buffalo, N.Y. hotel reportedly dead: parcels for sale “by owner”” — Wikinews, November 16, 2006
“Contract to buy properties on site of Buffalo, N.Y. hotel proposal extended” — Wikinews, October 2, 2006
“Court date “as needed” for lawsuit against Buffalo, N.Y. hotel proposal” — Wikinews, August 14, 2006
“Preliminary hearing for lawsuit against Buffalo, N.Y. hotel proposal rescheduled” — Wikinews, July 26, 2006
“Elmwood Village Hotel proposal in Buffalo, N.Y. withdrawn” — Wikinews, July 13, 2006
“Preliminary hearing against Buffalo, N.Y. hotel proposal delayed” — Wikinews, June 2, 2006

Original Story

“Hotel development proposal could displace Buffalo, NY business owners” — Wikinews, February 17, 2006

In February of 2006, the Savarino Services Construction Corp. proposed the construction of a seven million dollar hotel on Elmwood and Forest Avenues in Buffalo, New York. In order for the hotel to be built, at least five properties containing businesses and residents would have to be destroyed. It was not certain whether the properties were owned by Savarino or by the landlord Hans Mobius. The hotel was designed by Karl Frizlen of the Frizlen Group, and is planned to be a franchise of the Wyndham Hotels group.

Elmwood Avenue is known by the community as a popular shopping center, and Nancy Pollina of Don Apparel (who is “utterly against” the construction) claims it’s the only reason why students from Buffalo State College leave campus. Additionally, Michael Faust of Mondo Video said he did not want to “get kicked out of here [his video store property].”

In 1995, a Walgreens was proposed to be built on the same land, but Walgreens later withdrew its request for a variance because of pressure from the community. More recently, Pano Georgiadis tried to get the rights to demolish the Atwater House next to his restaurant on Elmwood Avenue, but was denied a permit due to the property’s historical value. He has since been an opponent to the hotel construction.

In the process of debating the hotel, it was thought that a hotel had previously existed on the proposed site, however; research done at the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society had shown that no hotel had previously existed on the site.

1 In depth
- 1.1 The initial meeting
- 1.2 Hotel redesign
- 1.3 The second meeting and the planning board’s decision
- 1.4 Threats of lawsuit
- 1.5 Approval by the Common Council and Planning Board
- 1.6 Lawsuit filed
- 1.7 Proposal withdrawn
- 1.8 Properties for sale
- 1.9 Documents threaten hotel proposal, businesses on site
2 Chronology
3 Gallery

Driftwood crucifix listed on eBay for $25,000

Posted on October 10, 2017October 10, 2017 by

Monday, March 21, 2005 A piece of driftwood in the shape of a crucifix is listed for sale on eBay with a starting bid price of $25,000. The seller, known as “Marzipanda,” from Scottsdale, Arizona lists its description as a “Natural Found Wood Jesus Christ Crucifix Cross Easter.”

Maripanda describes the discovery of the piece as, “My very dear friend found this amazing natural driftwood while hiking a few years ago. So striking because it clearly resembles the Lord and all the details.”

Expensive found art Christiana made international headlines in November 2004 when a Florida woman named Diana Duyser sold a partially eaten grilled cheese sandwich on eBay for $28,000 to Canadian online gambling website, GoldenPalace.com, after claiming she saw the likeness of the Virgin Mary burned onto the toast.

But not all high-priced Christian fare on eBay is of dubious value. A perusal of Christian-themed items as of March 20, showed 13,944 for sale on eBay. They ranged from other found art to some very expensive and authenticated rare art.

One such item has an eBay seller from Tel-Aviv, Israel listing a 19th century iron wall plaque with a starting bid of $30,000 and a shipping cost of $2,000, making it the most-expensive Christian religious item listed for sale on the auction web site.

Under the “Christian Icons” section of the site, the 14 cast iron plaques are advertised to have been made in 1855 and portrays “Jesus in Jerusalem” with the 14 stations of Christ.

Another high-priced Christian-themed item is a set of chalices and paten in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida for $3,550. The gold-plated silver is thought to have been made in the 1870s.

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