In yesterday's (10-26-04) Akron Beacon Journal, on page D-1:

"Maytag Corp's longterm debt was downgraded to below investment grade by Fitch Ratings because of the appliance maker's weaker-than-expected performance in its floor care and commercial businesses, and higher material costs.

Fitch downgraded Maytag's senior unsecured debt to BB+ from BBB-, Fitch's lowest investment grade designation.

Maytag reduced its debt by $149 million during the thrid quarter to about $996 million, and about 426 million of debt is payable in 2006 and 2007.

Shares of Maytag, the parent of The Hoover Co., which has offices in North Canton, rose 22 cents to close at $16.87."



Food for thought!


Lawrence/Maytagbear

Lawrence, completely off topic, but out of curiosity: You always post picture under your name, but I have never been able to see what it was, it's always a white spot with a red cross. What is it? Are other people able to see it?

Greetz,

Louis

No we are not able to see the picture, I was just wondering the same thing actually. Lawrence what are you putting in the Upload JPEG box before you post???

"Test."

I didn't know if I should delete that or not.

Let me put it this way--I know more about running a washer than I do about running a computer :)

Much more.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

It says Test???? Does it automatically come into your Upload JPEG box every time you go to reply to a message?

I have a real computer, but I am on line with a device called a "webtv". Long story, and some "real" computer people may now laugh and hold me in low regard. I'm used to it.

Yes, I get "test" in the "upload jpeg or gif" box every time I go to post something.

Going to manually delete it.

"tis a puzzlement!"

However, I do like it here, and find most of the threads and posts to be interesting, sometimes amusing, and sometimes odd.


Lawrence/Maytagbear

Lawrence,

Yes, being on a computer is indeed sometimes a puzzlement. Don't hesitate to ask questions. Anyway, this puzzle is solved!!

Greetz,

Louis

Very kind of you, Louis. I like the photographs of your collection.

Might as well ask here as anyplace else on the board.

It seems that European dryers are more often electric. Are there any gas heated dryers, other than the Bosch Nexxt? Here, a gas dryer is considerably less expensive to run.


Lawrence/Maytagbear

Lawrence,

Gas dryers are indeed very rare in Europe, Miele makes one for the European market and perhaps there are one or two other (British?) brands that make one too.

The Bosch Nexxt is not a European dryer, it's made in the US.

I have often wondered why gas dryers haven't gotten more popular overhere, we have huge resources of natural gas and almost the whole country seems to cook on gas. I can think of a few reasons, for example the fact that dryers are not sold as much as in the US. Another reason might be the place of the laundry in the European houses, a lot of the laundryrooms might lack the possibility of venting a gas dryers, hence the popularity of condenser dryers.

Louis

Just a note, although the Bosch Nexxt/Siemans washers and dryers are assembled in the United States, most if not all parts come from Germany/Europe. It is almost the reverse of American manufacturers sending parts off shore to be made, then importing them back to the United States so they can claim "made in America".


Launderess