sgusers2的部落格

【本報北京訊】近日，文件倉快錢公司對外宣佈成功通過國際PCI-DSS標準認證2013年度審核。PCI-DSS又稱“支付卡行業數據信息安全標準”，由VISA、美國運通公司、萬事達國際組織等5家國際信用卡組織聯合推出，旨在通過嚴格控制數據存儲保障支付卡用戶在線交易的數據安全，最大程度降低支付卡風險，是目前全球最嚴格的針對持卡人數據保護的認證標準。快錢自2009年首度獲得PCI-DSS安全認證後，一直致力于以這項高級別的安全標準，確保交易的安全可靠。此次快錢再度通過PCI-DSS的年度審核，充分說明快錢為持卡人提供的安全環境受到了國際金融業界的持續認可。易觀國際金融及支付行業研究總監存倉萌表示：“中國已有越來越多的第三方支付企業完成了PCI-DSS數據安全標準的合規認證。快錢連續5年順利通過PCI-DSS認證，說明快錢系統安全性建設處於業內領先水平，有利於為商戶提供完善、規範安全的交易保障，實現安全便捷的信用卡交易服務。”快錢負責人告訴記者，以大數據時代為背景迅猛發展的互聯網金融，對數據安全和系統穩定性的要求達到一個前所未有的高度，快錢將以資金安全、信息安全為服務的根本和基礎，通過PCI-DSS數據安全標準的合規認證來進行數據保護，確保持卡人的資金和信息安全。快錢今後還將繼續加強系統穩定性和安全性建設，為超兩百萬商業合作伙伴提供無憂的安全支付服務。（張肖）自存倉

記者程瑞華中國銀行業協會日前發佈的《2012年中國資產托管行業發展報告》(以下簡稱 《報告》)顯示，迷你倉沙田截至2012年末，國內18家托管銀行托管資產規模突破22萬億元，達到22.39萬億元，較上年增長58.25%，無論增量還是增幅，均創下近3年來新高。資產托管業務作為商業銀行的一項戰略性業務，具有不佔用經濟資本、收入穩定、低成本、資金沉澱穩定、業務協同效應顯著等優勢，使得資產托管業務成為銀行業戰略轉型必由之選。隨著中國金融市場的蓬勃發展，資產托管業務日漸興起，逐步進入普通大�的視野。從以前主要面向金融客戶、機構客戶群體擴大至包含機構和個人、金融企業和實業公司等對象的廣泛服務群體，資產托管業務已經成為一個創新力強、極為活躍的商業銀行中間業務，被越來越多的商業銀行所看重。特別是隨著資本監管趨嚴 和利率市場化的來臨，各家銀行無一例外都將資產托管業務視為戰略重點。《報告》稱，2012年，中國證券市場整體低位徘徊，但隨著資產托管多元化發展，尤其是銀行理財托管、信托財產保管、各類創新型托管業務迅速發展，托管資產規模總體持續增長。統計顯示，2012年內地托管資產規模占金融機構存款總量的比例穩步上升，季度存托比從2011年末的17.12%升至2012年末的23.75%，全年提升6.63個百分點，升勢十分明顯。截至2012年末，中國18家托管銀行托管資產規模達22.39萬億元，較上年增長58.25%，2013年二季度末，規模突破27.6萬億元，同比大增61.4%。招商銀行副行長、托管業務專業委員會主任唐志宏表示，資產托管業務已成為托管機構立足于市場價值創造和制度創新的獨立、專業性基礎業務，成為各家金融機構實現經營轉型的戰略重點。在托管市場，國有大行則占據了絕對統治地位。在各家銀行中，工行成為我國銀行托管業務的“老大”。截至去年，工行托管各類資產規模淨值近4萬億元，連續15年保持市場份額第一。該行目前托管產品涵蓋所有資產管理領域，在證券投資基金、企業年金基金和保險資產等主要托管領域擁有最大市場份額。此外，中行、農行、建行的托管資產規模均在2.9萬億迷你倉價錢以上。四大行的托管資產規模在18家托管銀行托管資產規模中占比達到58.25%。但從2009年開始，平安銀行、郵儲行、廣發銀行、北京銀行等多家銀行獲得托管人資格，市場競爭日趨激烈，托管市場正呈現分散化的趨勢。監管新政下各類資管業務的創新和發展，將進一步拓寬金融托管市場的發展空間，促使資產托管由資本市場直接相關的餘額類資產托管，逐漸向交易類托管、民事商事托管領域發展。業內人士認為，內地金融改革促使銀行積極拓展非息收入，資產托管將是新增長點之一。有專家表示，商業銀行托管資產規模快速增加的大背景是社會直接融資總量占比逐年提高，2008年僅為20%多，到2012年已經占據半壁江山。有業內人士預計，隨著社會總體融資結構的調整，托管規模肯定會持續增長，今年將還有20% 到30%的增長空間。從發展趨勢看，國內季度存托比呈現穩步上升勢頭，從2011年末的17.12%上升至2012年末的23.75%，全年提升6.63個百分點。國際上通用存托比反映托管市場的地位，目前發達國家的存托比通常大於100%，而中國目前只有23.75%，這也說明中國托管業仍有巨大成長空間。國際經驗表明，資產托管業務有著廣闊的增長空間，建立托管制度可以實現資 金投資決策、交易執行、資金清算、會計核算、風險監督等職能的相互獨立與隔離，防範資金運用過程中的管理風險和道德風險，從根本上提升投資機構的公信力和競爭力。在金融全球化的背景下，國外銀行利用其發達的業務經營網絡以及在資源、信息方面的優勢，能夠為國內外投資者的境內外投資提供各種托管服務，進而實現各個金融市場業務的有效整合，形成龐大的業務規模從而取得較高的托管收入。《報告》顯示，2012年所有中小銀行托管資產增速均超過行業平均增速。一些基數較低的中小銀行增速竟達3倍以上。有業內人士稱，未來趨勢肯定是金融脫媒日益深化，銀行的息差空間正隨著利率市場化改革的推進而逐步縮小，銀行與其抗拒、掙扎，不如主動融入其中，資產托管業務就是主動融入這一趨勢的重要抓手。可以預見，資產托管業務作為商業銀行一項戰略性業務，必將成為銀行業戰略轉型必由之選。迷你倉庫

8月2日，迷你倉出租新滬商民企合作促進中心、新滬商聯誼會、新滬商企業家俱樂部有限公司宣佈正式運行。該組合功能平台由新滬商集團陳曉、富大集團袁立、中邦集團衛平、中通集團孫貼成四位本土優秀企業家牽頭合作，基於共同的理念和願景，攜手站在了聚光燈下。這是一個既有民辦非企業組織、社團組織，又有實體企業的民企合作組合平台，吸引了符合上海產業導向、極具潛力的近200儲存倉企業加入成員單位，諸如缶廬山莊、中邦艾格美國際公寓、雲海度假村、雲都溫泉商務酒店、聞道園、上海婚慶中心等一批品牌項目加盟了“新滬商”大平台。黃浦拍賣行、新滬商EMBA學院（和華師大合作）、新滬商投資並購基金、萬隆合作、萬隆創業公社等項目也開始�動。上海銀行、招商銀行、工商銀行、交通銀行、光大銀行紛紛與“新滬商”簽訂了戰略合作協議，以求銀企共贏。迷你倉沙田

□本報記者 高改芳據好買基金統計，新蒲崗迷你倉2013年7月，45家信托公司共成立221只固定收益信托產品，納入統計的104只產品總規模為99.82億元，平均每只產品規模為0.96億元，成立總規模較6月減少65.44%，且同比大幅減少78.25%。其中，房地產平均募集金額環比下降五成。平均募集規模最大的是基礎建設信托，平均募集金額1.68億元，高出平均募集規模75%。據信托界人士介紹，基礎建設類信托產品大多數都是地方融資平台類項目。7月信政合作類信托經歷了一波突擊發行。而房企再融資的放開勢必對房地產信托造成衝擊。房地產信托降溫據好買基金統計，今年7月有80款房地產信托產品成立，占比36.20%；發行數量相比于6月85款房地產產品，減少了5.88%，平均募集規模從6月的2.81億元跌至1.34億元，但仍高出平均募集規模的39.6%。業內人士分析，這恐怕是房企再融資放開後對房地產信托的第一波衝擊。8月6日晚間，繼新湖中寶之後，停牌一個月之久的宋都股份發佈了非公開發行預案，擬募集15億元資金投向商品房，再度印證了此前關於房地產企業再融資開閘的傳言。截至目前，按照申萬行業分類，已經有16家房地產上市公司公佈了半年報，數據顯示，上述房企今年上半年共計實現淨利潤82.18億元，同比增長了37%。中原地產研究部總監張大偉認為，房地產再融資事實上已經逐漸放開。自2010年以來，房地產企業上市、再融資和重大資產重組等事項已連續三年受阻。雖然證監會聲稱目前房企融資仍維持原有口徑，但預計未來涉及棚戶區改造項目、城鎮化概念、參與保障房建設等房企有望優先獲得政策mini storage斜性支持。此前上市房企的信托融資成本大約為12%至24%。收益超過20%的房地產信托產品也不少見。信托界人士表示，他們最近在向投資者強調，今後大家可能要接受房地產信托產品收益率下降的事實。從目前行業的最新動態看，包括中小型房企的綜合融資成本也開始從此前的17%至20%，下降至15%的水平。基礎建設信托仍紅火與房地產信托發行規模驟降形成鮮明對比的是，基礎設施類信托的“紅火”。據好買基金統計，今年7月投向基礎設施的信托該月占比為18.10%，此類產品平均募集規模高于平均募集規模0.72億元。這就是通常所說的政信合作信托，是指募集資金主要投資于城市基礎設施建設、保障房建設，以及舊城改造和新城區開發等項目。通常由地方政府平台公司發起，還款以地方財政作為擔保的信托。由於投資方向常為基礎建設，因此也被稱為基礎建設信托。該類產品有幾種模式。第一種是地方融資平台或相關企業通過信托公司設立單一資金信托計劃，再由銀行理財產品購買該信托計劃的受益權；第二種是銀行理財資金通過信托公司為地方政府融資平台發放信托貸款。據中國信托業協會的統計數據，截至今年一季度，信政合作項目餘額6548.14萬億，占比7.5%。好買基金統計，今年7月，房地產、其他、基礎建設類信托的發行數量領先，全月分別有80只、54只、40只信托產品成立。平均募集規模最大的是基礎建設信托，平均募集金額1.68億元，高出總體平均募集規模75%。“這可能和融資平台類信托的突擊發行有關。”上海某信托公司人士認為。今年7月已有傳聞稱，銀監會即將叫停政信合作類信托的發行，配合全國政府性債務審計工作。self storage

「以史為 鑑」，self storage待消息沉寂後，港資銀行股價又會被打回原形。回看08年永隆銀行被招商銀行(3968)收購一事，相關股份的炒作，至招行在港交所正式發出收購通告後2日才結束。 08年5月30日，招行和永隆簽訂收購協議，但有相關股份在5月27日便炒起，至30日，永亨的累計升幅已經超過一成，高見118.4元才見頂回落。其餘股份的升勢則到6月4日才停止，是招行在港交迷你倉發出收購通告兩日後。 另外，越秀集團出手收購多少令市場意外，惟觀乎該集團近期動作，可窺一斑。越秀集團旗下有越秀金融，業務範圍包括證券、小額貸款和擔保業務等8大業務，若成功收購創興銀行將產生很大的協同效應，包括在證券和銀行業務方面，廣州證券和越秀證券尚未有上市平台，將來不排除與創興整合後，在港實現上市夢；銀行業務則是一塊全新的業務，補足越秀金融的缺口。 張威紅文件倉

一如其他銀行CEO，迷你倉新蒲崗訪問當日龐華毅穿著一身黑沉沉的西裝出現，但他臉上常掛笑容，說話風趣，三言兩語間已令人感覺親切。龐華毅的家鄉在「香蕉之國」厄瓜多爾，南美洲人獨有的那種陽光性格，在他身上處處散發。曾駐南美中東非洲來港之前，龐華毅幾乎跑遍全世界，過去25 年的銀行家生涯中，南美、亞洲、中東、歐洲甚至非洲沙漠地區他都駐守過，與其說是當「賓架」，感覺更像冒險家。每到一個新地方，他總可迅速融入當地生活，並學曉當地語言。他能操西班牙語、英語、法語及德語，因為曾在印尼工作5 年（ 這是他為工作逗留最久的地方），連印尼話也會說。龐華毅在花旗集團任職近20 年，之後過檔到印尼P.T. Bank Danamon 擔任董事長，在短短5 年間，令該行的貸款業務增迷你倉出租超過一倍，客戶群由200 萬增至520 萬人，收入更增加近2.5 倍。香港「做好自己」仍是東方之珠2010 年星展集團推行業務改革，邀龐華毅出任港區行政總裁兼開拓中國業務，龐於是再踏上一段新旅途。來港後，他再次「點石成金」，翻看半年報，星展香港上半年盈利較2010 年半年增加逾九成，期內利潤增長更屢創新高。這名來自地球另一面的CEO，居於亞洲的日子不算長，管理亞洲市場卻是如魚得水。對於香港，他認為最大的市場機遇在神州大地。雖然近年來自香港本土的問題和外來環境的競爭不斷增加，但龐華毅堅定地說︰ 「隨�中國持續國際化及對外開放，香港只會愈來愈好，對這我是十分樂觀的」。他指出，香港只要專注做好自身，而非把周遭地區視為競爭對手，未來仍可繼續「閃耀」。儲存倉

　　內銀股中期業績，文件倉將於8月16日由招商銀行（3968）掀開序幕，市場重點將集中於8月下旬的四大行成績表，不過證券商普遍預期，內銀整體盈利增長將放緩，淨息差持續收窄，不良貸款問題或進一步令資產質素惡化。　　美銀美林估計，內銀業績難有驚喜，預測四大行中期盈利增幅介乎10至15%，中小內銀（不計中信銀行（998））則介乎14至18%，但該行認為，內銀股價應已反映中國經濟硬�陸風險，其中民生存倉行（1988）及農業銀行（1288）的中期盈利，或有較強勁增長，可帶動股價追落後。工行抗逆力較強　　瑞銀則看好建行（939）及工行（1398），認為兩行存款業務表現較佳。大摩亦於上周五出報告，重新將工行納入研究範圍，指工行於零售及企業銀行市場，可維持領導地位，資金成本具優勢，加上在貸款質素下降的情況下抗逆力較強，因此給予「增持」評級，目標價5.9元，相當於2013年預測市帳率的1.26倍。自存倉

陳洪米曉華黃龍縣地處黃土高原丘陵溝壑區，迷你倉價錢位於陝西省中北部，延安市東南。轄區礦產 資源匱乏，是以農為主的農業經濟縣。從以糧食種植為主，到發展特色農產品，走以核桃產業為主的農業產業化發展道路，黃龍人在選擇中走出了一條適宜自己發展的道路。農業產業化推進情況上世紀九十年代初，根據地域特點，從調整優化產業結構、發展地方經濟的角度出發，黃龍縣開始推進核桃產業發展，走農業產業化發展的道路。為此，黃龍縣政府出台了核桃栽種優惠政策，引導農戶栽種核桃。實行財政補貼、進行技術培訓、提供咨詢服務、對支持核桃產業的銀行業機構發放的小額貸款給予減免利息稅。核桃產業為黃龍縣注入了新的活力。黃龍核桃每年以萬畝的發展速度遞增，基地建設初具模，已成為陝西省最大的優質核桃商品基地。經過二十多年的發展，黃龍核桃栽種遍佈全縣各鄉鎮，發展為該縣的主導產業，與玉米、蘋果等成為縣域支柱產業。截至2012年末，黃龍縣核桃栽種面積25萬畝，掛果面積12萬畝，年產量達到60 00噸，實現產值1.8億元。特色農業產業化發展的�示黃龍縣核桃產業的快速發展與糧食種植的穩定發展態勢形成明顯對比，有四點值得借鑒。(一)堅持因地制宜。黃龍縣屬於渭北黃土高原丘陵溝壑區，轄區地貌特徵為�、梁(嶺)、�組成的溝間地和溝壑系統，大面積的丘陵、山區適宜核桃、蘋果等經濟樹木生長，而�面則適宜發展糧食生產。(二)堅持面向市場。核桃有較高的經濟價值，核桃栽種具有投資小、見效快、銷路好、效益高、易管理等特點。隨著人民生活水平的提高，對核桃的需求量日益增大。(三)尊重農民的意願。在推進核桃產業發展中，地方政府充分尊重農民的意願，讓群�幹自己喜歡幹的事情，以效益推動作為發展產業的前提，使農民切實得到實惠。(四)堅持農民受惠原則。從調查數據來看，農戶種植玉米的成本價每畝在650 元左右，玉米的平均畝產值1440元，扣除成本，種植玉米每畝收入在790元左右；而農戶栽種核桃，每畝投資大約1000元左右，核桃平均畝產值12500元左右，扣除投資和其他成本，栽種核桃每畝收入在11500元左右。顯而易見，農戶種植核桃與種植玉米，經濟收入懸殊，效益大不相同。農業產業化發展存在的問題 (一)資金供求矛盾突出。據調查，黃龍縣栽種核桃投資每畝在1000元左右，全縣25萬畝核桃，每年投資最少需2.5億元，玉米投資最少需0.85億元，蘋果投資最少需1億元，僅此三項需投資4.35億元，剔除農民自籌和政府補貼，資金缺口在2.4 9億元左右。截至2012年9月末，黃龍縣銀行業金融機構貸款餘額2.42億元，剔除公司類貸款、消費貸款、個體工商戶貸款等，實際投入到農戶的貸款大約在1.8億元，僅農業支柱產業資金缺口約1.37億元。(二)縣域金融服務弱化。一是機構數量少。截至2012年9月末，在黃龍縣設置機構的銀行業金融機構有農業銀行、郵儲銀行以及農村信用聯社三家共20個營業網點，其中，農行迷你倉庫個網點，郵儲銀行有5個網點，兩家機構的網點大多分佈在城區，業務範圍和服務對象勢必受到影響。二是資金來源有限。從服務職能和服務方向看，三家銀行業金融機構都具有服務“三農”經濟的特徵，但由於黃龍縣人口稀少，資源貧乏，工業發展落後，縣域經濟主要以核桃等農業產業為主，經濟基礎薄弱，銀行業金融機構的可用資金有限。三是貸款投放對象有限。黃龍縣農村信用聯社的貸款占全縣貸款餘額的80%以上，農業銀行以及郵儲銀行的貸款投放對象以個體工商戶為主，對核桃及蘋果產業的貸款投放有限。而作為補充的民間借貸不僅資金有限，且利率很高，加大貸戶負擔，資金鏈容易斷裂。(三)貸款風險較大。農業是弱質產業，受自然災害、市場價格以及經營管理等因素影響較大，一旦遭遇自然災害或經營管理不善，農戶收入必將受到直接影響，貸款就會形成不良，而農戶一旦產生不良記錄，按照規定，銀行就不能再給予信貸支持，農戶融資就會更困難，形成惡性循環。(四)貸款額度有限。黃龍縣農村信用聯社的貸款占全縣貸款餘額的80%以上，由於農業生產的不確定性和高風險性，黃龍縣信用聯社給基層信用社的最高授信額度為5萬元，超過貸款限額，需要上報聯社審批，超過一定額度還需要提供抵押物，或具有一定經濟實力的人出具擔保，還要經業務部門審查、審貸會研究以及領導 簽批等環節，大部分農戶或因手續繁雜或因貸款時間長或因人員生疏不願去聯社辦理較大額度的貸款。發展農業產業化的建議(一)完善農村金融服務體系。地方政府要出台扶持獎勵政策，鼓勵和引導金融機構尤其是大型銀行在縣域設立機構，在鄉鎮增設網點機構，把服務觸角向基層延伸，向村鎮延長，完善商業金融、政策性金融互為補充、有序充分競爭的農村金融服務體系。(二)加大信貸投放力度，著力支持“三農”經濟發展。現有銀行業金融機構要立足縣域經濟發展特點，著眼地方主導產業發展的實際，堅持服務“三農”的宗旨，培養優良客戶，加大貸款投放力度，積極扶持農戶發展支柱產業，推進農業產業化發展，壯大地方經濟。(三)建立農業風險補償機制。地方政府部門要出台優惠政策，嘗試引導保險機構參與農業保險的承保工作，因地制宜創新保險產品，為糧食種植戶承擔部分損失，調動糧食種植戶尤其是種植大戶的積極性。(四)適度放寬貸款條件。農村信用聯社應根據地方經濟發展特點，在風險可控的條件下，適度放寬對農戶的貸款額度，特事特辦，急事急辦，縮短貸款辦理周期，及時解決農戶尤其是種植大戶的資金需求。(五)加大政策扶持力度。地方政府要因地制宜，積極研究制定、出台財政獎勵 、稅費減免等優惠政策，完善風險補償、擔保機制，對支農突出的銀行給予資金和政策傾斜，對銀行業機構在支持農業產業化發展中形成的不良貸款予以協助清收或資金補貼，以解決銀行業機構的後顧之憂，持續加大農村金融投入。同時，通過農業技術指導、農田管理、市場行情咨詢等方式，為農戶提供病蟲害防治、自然災害防範和銷售等服務，調動農戶的積極性。儲存

Source: Albuquerque Journal, N.mini storageM.Aug. 11--"Do I have a scam for you!" That was one of the phone messages waiting for me when I arrived for work one morning last month, the day after we published my Sunday column announcing the introduction of our new weekly feature, "Scam of the Week" (July 28: "Under siege by scammers? Tell us about it").Sure, I thought to myself, ever the skeptical journalist. That's what they are all going to say.As it turns out, the caller wasn't exaggerating. Not only that, but she was one of two people to contact us that day about this blatant telephone scam aimed at older folks on Medicare -- one that not so coincidentally has prompted renewed warnings of late from regional Better Business Bureaus across the country.Several weeks ago, Johannah Miller of Albuquerque received a telephone call from a man who claimed to be responsible for sending out new Medicare cards.According to Miller, the conversation went something like this:Caller : Is this Johannah Miller?Miller : Yes.Caller : I'm calling from Washington, D.C., and we are going to be issuing a new Medicare card. Do you live at ...Miller : Yes.Caller : What's the name of your bank?Miller : Why don't you tell me?Caller : I'm here to verify information from you; you're not to verify information from me.Miller : You know, this sounds like a scam.Caller : (Click).End of story? Not so fast.The next day, she says, her husband, Lewis, received a similar call, asking such personal questions as the name of his bank -- he had some fun with the caller by saying it was the Predators and Defaulters National Bank -- and whether the routing number on his bank account starts with a "0-1" or "1-0."When her husband asked, "Where are you calling from," the caller hung up.Unfortunately, not all of these phishing expeditions for personal financial information have such a happy ending.The second person to contact us about this scam -- this one by email -- told the sad tale about his 74-year-old sister, who had been persuaded to disclose personal information to the caller, including details about her checking account.Apparently, they aren't the only ones to have been tself storagergeted in the Albuquerque region of late.Connie Quillen, executive assistant of the Albuquerquebased Better Business Bureau Serving New Mexico and Southwest Colorado, says her office is receiving several calls a week related to two variations of this Medicare scam.Essentially, she says, Medicare recipients are being told their new card is ready, but there is a $50 fee to get it. They also are being asked to reveal their Social Security and bank routing numbers.Quillen says there are no circumstances under which Medicare would call someone and ask those type of personal questions."Medicare already knows your information," she says. "They know your Medicare number. They know your Social (Security number). They know everything."When her office takes a call from someone who admits to releasing bank account information, callers immediately are advised to contact their bank and freeze their account.If they disclose their Social Security number, they are advised to put a fraud alert on their number by contacting one of the three major credit-reporting companies: Equifax (1-800-525-6285), Experian (1-888-397-3742) or TransUnion (1-800-680-7289).Quillen says another option is to go online to AnnualCreditReport. com and request a fraud alert be placed on your file. You also should request a free credit report to make sure there hasn't been any suspicious activity on your accounts.The Federal Trade Commission also recommends that you file a report with your local police department and with the FTC either online or by calling 1-877-438-4338.Better yet, you can make like the Millers and avoid having to go through this process altogether.Nick Pappas is assistant business editor at the Albuquerque Journal. Contact him at npappas@abqjournal.com, 505-823-3847 or on Twitter at @nickpapp if you are aware of what sounds like a scam in the area. To report a scam to law enforcement, contact the New Mexico Consumer Protection Division toll-free at 1-800-678-1508.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, N.M.) Visit the Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, N.M.) at .abqjournal.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉

Source: Pittsburgh Post-GazetteAug.新蒲崗迷你倉 11--JAMESTOWN, N.Y. -- The ride from the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport to Jamestown takes about 90 minutes on a two-lane highway flanked by old farm houses and barns. As you near the place once known as "The Furniture Capitol of the World," cows graze near the road in deep green pastures.This is the route that Taiwanese-born Jin-De Jhang and the rest of the Jamestown Jammers, a Pirates short-season Class A team, traveled in early June after being in Florida for extended spring training. He and the 12 other international players from nine countries are learning about America in a town that feels like it peaked in the 1950s and in a stadium, Russell Diethrick Park, that was built during World War II (1941).Jhang, a catcher, got a $250,000 signing bonus from the Pirates in 2011 after scouts became enamored with his tight, compact swing. He speaks limited English and Spanish, can't read either language at all, and has teammates from Lithuania, Australia, Colombia and everywhere in between. Jhang and Jamestown are part of a scouting revolution for an organization considered one of the worst in baseball at signing international talent a few years ago.These players are learning about America through a town where you can go either left or right on the main road. It's not big enough to have other directions.At a local Mexican restaurant, a waitress asks out-of-towners where they're from because, if she doesn't know them, they aren't from around here. She's a local, calling herself a loser for not leaving years ago. Wrinkling her nose at visitors, she'll pass out a menu and say, "Why in the world are you visiting Jamestown?"--Before general manager Neal Huntington took over in 2007, the Pirates were considered by many to be one of the worst teams in the league at signing international players. It wasn't that they were swinging and missing -- the organization didn't seem to care about getting in the international batter's box.But right before Huntington started with the Pirates, owner Robert Nutting committed $5 million to build an academy in the Dominican Republic, while Pirate City -- the organization's spring training ballpark and minor league complex in Bradenton, Fla. -- underwent a $20 million renovation in 2008. It also helped that after Huntington arrived, he estimated that the organization's international scouting budget doubled if not tripled.Over the past few years, the Pirates have signed Major League Baseball's first-ever players from Belarus, Lithuania and India. There are players in the system from the Netherlands, South Africa and Honduras. If a country is playing baseball, chances are it is represented in the organization.Part of this international expansion is to find the most talent from the most places, but there's also the added benefit of having a foot in the door for future players. Even if one signing doesn't work out, if that player is treated right and says good things about the organization, the next big player out of that country might be more willing to sign with the Pirates.Case in point: The Pirates have a strong footing in Australia thanks to Tony Harris, a roaming scout who lives and coaches in that country. They've signed several Aussies -- including Jamestown pitcher Jackson Lodge -- the past couple years. Some have panned out, some haven't. Lodge is 3-2 with a 4.50 ERA this season.In 2012, the Pirates signed Sam Kennelly, a 16-year-old, and their most high-profile Australian prospect commanded a $225,000 signing bonus."You're talking about 16-, 17-year-old young men that are trying to make a decision as to where to go," Huntington said. "International guys are coming to a whole new country and environment and culture. To have the Pirate City dorm and the controlled structure and discipline and assistance programs we have in place -- we believe those are an asset for us and we believe will help us not only develop but also recruit players."Still, it's impossible to be perfect no matter how diligent the scouting system is. In 2008, the Pirates signed shortstop Yhonathan Barrios out of Colombia for $250,000. He hit .196 in the New York-Penn League in 2012 and .143 for Jamestown this season before being sent back to the Gulf Coast League to be converted into a relief pitcher.Also in 2008, the Pirates made a splash by becoming the first team to sign Indian baseball players after Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel won a reality show called "The Million Dollar Arm." Even though Singh has never made it above Class A and is in Bradenton rehabilitating an injury and Patel was released in 2010, a movie about their lives is in the works.For a small- to mid-market team, the international acquisition process is incredibly valuable, but that doesn't mean it's easy."In my mind, it's the most challenging elements that we have in our sport, the projection of what a young player is going to look like and all the variables that go into the development of that player," Huntington said.This is how the Jammers wound up with a player from Lithuania living with a player from Venezuela and a Taiwanese catcher discussing strategy on the mound with a pitcher from Australia.The coaching staff in Jamestown seems set up perfectly to help international talent adjust. Jhang goes to English classes with 10 other teammates run by the team's video coordinator, Braden Laruffa, who spoke English, Spanish and Portuguese growing up. Dave Turgeon, Jhang's manager, played internationally, including a long stint in Taiwan. Jhang is shown around by Dave Valesente, who is familiar with Taiwanese culture because his dad played in Taiwan."I know how hard it is," Turgeon said. "I feel all of their hearts. That goes right to my staff, and my staff is sensitive to all that, too. We understand how hard it is. The game is hard itself, then throw everything else into the mix? That's really hard."--There's a cubbyhole full of cell phones inside the Jammers' locker room, guarded like a safe by the coaches and coordinators. Turgeon implemented a rule at the beginning of the year: No cell phones once you get to the ballpark. Players can't stick to what makes them comfortable, which in Jhang's case, is reading or messaging people that actually speak his language, Mandarin Chinese.In lieu of the phones are a ping-pong table, card games and a makeshift barbershop in a corner next to the lockers. Turgeon insists he would have implemented the rule even if he didn't have nine countries represented on his team, but for a non-English speaker, the phone is a lifeline to his family and girlfriend, to his country. Trying to talk and interact with a group of people that don't speak your language isn't the easiest option."When I was playing, we didn't have all of that stuff," Turgeon said. "We had each other, so we were always more tight-knit. I'm trying to create more of an old-school atmosphere where guys are more invested in each other than they are their phones ... I'm trying to get communication amongst the players instead of through the outside world."Jamestown has international prospects from traditional baseball hotbeds -- the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Mexico, Colombia -- but also prospects from Lithuania, Australia, Taiwan and Cuba. Turgeon could trot out a lineup of nine players from different countries if he wanted.Onmini storagethe field, communication isn't that difficult. Baseball has its own language, and international players pick up the lingo pretty quickly. Jhang may not know what "throw" means, but he knows that when he says it, a ball is coming toward him.Jhang's translator has been stuck in Taiwan for months, work visa troubles leaving Jhang (called Johnny by his teammates) without a person around who speaks his native language. His de facto tutor is his roommate, Valesente, 25, a veteran by New York-Penn standards and the team's backup catcher."What's that language program? Rosetta Stone? It's like Rosetta Stone every day in the clubhouse," Valesente said. "It's all about learning."The players live within a long toss of the left-field fence, four or five in each suite-style apartment in dorms that house Jamestown Community College students during the school year. One sample apartment includes representatives of Taiwan (Jhang), Venezuela, Ithaca, N.Y. (Valesente), Las Vegas and Texas.The group ordered Chinese food the other week, and Valesente made Jhang go downstairs and pick up the food. Any bit of interaction helps. Restaurants are difficult for Jhang -- he can't read the menu and nobody is there to translate, so pictures are helpful. Dinner usually winds up being chicken or a burger, unless he's on the road. There, Jhang and Lithuanian pitcher Dovydas Neverauskas have a ritual: They eat sushi.--At a local restaurant in Jamestown, out-of-towners who get lunch two days in a row will have their drink order remembered. The city feels old because it is; one of those American towns that's stuck as a remnant of a different period. Downtown takes no more than a couple of minutes to drive through, past the museum and gigantic murals of Lucille Ball -- Jamestown's most famous former resident.The town around Diethrick Park has changed even if the building itself hasn't had a major renovation since 1941. Most of the big, brick factories are either abandoned or have been turned into storage. The "Furniture Capitol of the World" had its glory days years ago. The industrial town isn't known for anything anymore, but the town's primary businesses make truck engines and truck-engine parts at companies such as Cummins Engines and Truck-Lite.According to the Census Bureau, Jamestown's per capita income is slightly less than $19,000 a year, which is above the poverty line but not by much. Fewer than 20 percent of Jamestown's citizens have graduated from college, and people who are born in Jamestown tend to stay in Jamestown.One constant has been the Jammers, who remain in a small city even though so many other teams in their league did not."I love the town," Turgeon said. "The place is exactly the same since I was in the league in 1987. It's about the work, not about the thrills. All the talent hotbeds in the world come from Spartan conditions, and there's a reason for that -- it's all about the work and not about anything else extracurricular."Little baseball towns such as this used to exist all across the country and especially all over the New York-Penn League. Geneva, N.Y., population 13,000, had a team. So did Oneonta, N.Y., population 14,000, and Watertown, N.Y., population 27,000.Those teams still exist in some places -- Batavia, Auburn, Hudson Valley -- but the majority of the league has moved on to play in new, state-of-the-art stadiums. The Brooklyn Cyclones built a $55 million stadium in 2001, while the Staten Island Yankees built their own in 2000 for almost $30 million.In Aberdeen, Md., the Orioles play in an $18 million stadium that looks like a major league outfit from the press box and club levels, as long as you turn your head away from the field.In Jamestown, getting to the press box requires climbing up a ladder and through a hatch in the ceiling to get on the roof of the grandstand, which supports a press box that is fashioned like a motor home -- long, skinny and outfitted with the bare necessities.Yet, the Jammers are still at Diethrick, the second-oldest stadium in the league. The clubhouse feels cramped, and whatever amenities that pro athletes have don't exist. Tall trees poke up from beyond the outfield fence, and the grass has been known to retain large amounts of water.It's simple, with no frills. Like Jamestown.--Things are different at PNC Park this year. The Pirates have a shot at finishing above .500 and making the playoffs for the first time in 20 years while buoyed by young, homegrown talent surrounded by key veteran free agents.Seven Jammers recently were named New York-Penn All-Stars, including Jhang and two other foreign-born players. Maybe a few will get the chance to play in Pittsburgh, but not many and certainly not all. In 2012, 243 major league players (more than 28 percent) were born outside of the United States, mostly from the Dominican Republic or Venezuela. Two were from Taiwan. The odds aren't high, but it can be done.Still, most of these players won't have an effect at the big-league level. What they will have is an effect on the Pirates system and culture and on the way the organization operates in the international market. Changing a culture isn't just about changing the immediate product on the field -- it's about changing the entire system, from top to bottom, from Pittsburgh to Jamestown to Bradenton.Two weeks ago, Jhang stood on the diamond while children ran around him. He and the rest of the Jammers were helping to run a kids camp, one of the many community-service events that the Pirates require their prospects to participate in. Kids met Jhang and stopped in their tracks, amazed. They asked Valesente questions about Jhang, because they've never met somebody who speaks a foreign language. Fewer than 2 percent of all Jamestown citizens were foreign-born."It's a nice, small, typical American city," Jammers general manager Matt Drayer said. "We can show these young kids in Jamestown that there is a grander scale from where we get our ballplayers from, and, sometimes, even show their parents."So maybe it's not just Jamestown helping almost half the Jammers' roster adjust to America.Maybe it's the Jammers helping Jamestown see the world.About the Jammers--Team: Jamestown Jammers.--Location: Jamestown, N.Y.--League: New York-Penn League, a short-season Class A minor league.--Affiliation: First season with the Pirates after a decade with the Miami Marlins. The Pirates' Class A short-season team previously was in State College.--This season: 31-18 entering play Friday and in first place in the Pinckney Division. It should be noted that the franchise has never won a championship of any kind since its inception in 1989.--2013 leaders: Shortstop Adam Frazier is second in the league in batting (.344) and left fielder Harold Ramirez is second in RBIs (35). ... As a team, the Jammers lead the league with a .275 batting average and 5.14 runs a game.--Of note: Peters Township's Jimmy Rider, taken in the 26th round of the 2012 draft by the Pirates, plays for Jamestown. He is hitting .275 with 11 RBIs.--History: The New York-Penn League dates to 1939. Jamestown originally had a team in it -- the Jaguars.Everett Cook: ecook@post-gazette.com and Twitter @everettcook.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Visit the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at .post-gazette.com Distributed by MCT Information Servicesself storage