Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Back from the brink

stolen-surrounding.blogspot.com
“We could see the writing on the the Riverwalk resident and Metro councilman saysof Corinthian, pointing to the builder’s unpaid dumpsterr bill in excess of which led the disposal company to stop Franklin-based Corinthian, selling houses as in Bellevue’s Riverwalkj community, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Februarh 2008, and then later Chapter 7. “Alkl we can say in Riverwalk isgood riddance,” Mitchellk says. He then watched as residents who had recently purchasedf their Prestige homes started getting lien notices inthe mail, askingf for them to cover Corinthian’s unpair bills to subcontractors.
Some of those residents are still going through legal proceedings to get theliensx cleared. For several months, nothing happened with the homexs and lots as they went through the bankruptcy court and theforeclosure process. “Houses would sit therr for monthson end, yards weeds growing high and construction debris,” Mitchelll says. “Finally the auctions begaj and companies could come in a fix the Sincethat time, Riverwalk has come alive as builders and investors have moved in to fix, finish and buildc the homes and lots that were left. “Residents were unsettled about what was going to says Rob Pease ofCPS Land, Riverwalk’ws developer.
“Once builders started finishingthoss up, there was a big senses of relief among the residents.” Homeowners saw that the replacementy builders would conform the homes to what had alreadg been built and were keeping to the standards of the Pease says. “The new homesx certainly blend in,” he says. Home sales have been steady at Riverwalk. The Multiple Listing Service shows47 homes, new and resales, have sold in the communithy in the past year. The average saless price of those homes, at $222,000, was 7 percen t lower than the average listof $239,900. Abouft 21 new homes have sold in the past year at a media priceof $232,000, down from a list pricwe of $254,900.
Resident Heather Thompson pushed a baby strollere throughRiverwalk recently. She lives in a house builf by Celebration Homes, but wasn’gt too concerned about the bankruptcyof Corinthian’s “I knew that somebody would come in and finisg them,” she says of the lots and half-done homezs that dotted the neighborhood after the large builder went Her home now backs up to a completed not an unfinished one. The main impactt of the bankruptcy was on recenfPrestige buyers, who she surmises lost their home warrantiesd when the builder went “This has come a long way in the past Thompson says, pointing to finished homes that used to be two-by-fours and concrete.
Matt Kuypere says he and his wife, Maggie, watched as the bankw came in quickly and added roofs to the homesw they now owned in the Parkview sectionj of Riverwalk to protecttheir investments. The coupls was just glad to seethe progress, Kuyped says. Norfolk Homes finished the home acroses the street from the Kuypera and has it forsale now. Mitchellp has been working with , whicuh took back a portiom of land in foreclosure near the entrance of Riverwalkl where Corinthian had intended tobuilc townhomes. He says the bank stilpl is trying to sell the property to a developer and that he woulx like tosee single-family homes built there.
Mitchel l says he loves the community and recentlyu moved from one home in Riverwalki to a larger one there to accommodate hisgrowing “Everyone for the most part loves he says. “We have cookouts in the

Monday, December 27, 2010

'UA was particularly bad in its timing' - Arizona Daily Star

modestofyeyko.blogspot.com


'UA was particularly bad in its timing'

Arizona Daily Star


"The UA was particularly bad in its timing," said John Williams, director of the UA's Nuclear Power Laboratory. "Nationwide, the number of students enrolled ...



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Friday, December 24, 2010

Sterling loses $356M in Q4; execs won

http://www.hostalesamsterdam.com/espanol/facilidades/el-flying-pig-uptown-hostales-amsterdam-facilidades.html
million, or a loss of $6.87 per share, which compares with net earningsof $16.9 million, or 33 centsa per share a year earlier. For fiscal the company reported a lossof $336.u million, or a loss of $6.51 per share, whic compares with net earnings of $93.3 million, or $1.8 per share in fiscal 2007. Basec on the results, the Spokane bank holding company STSA) said it won’t pay cash bonuses to its executivdemanagement team. Results for the latest quarter include a noncash chargeof $223.8 milliohn related to the impairment of goodwill, including the sustainex drop in its stock pricre and market capitalization; and a provisioj for credit losses of $228.
5 million, relatex to “worsening economic conditions (and) the continued stress on real estat values.” “During the fourtjh quarter of 2008, we witnessexd acceleration in the slowdown of the which caused higher levels of credit stress among our borrowers and an elevation in the levekl of both our nonperforming and classified We, therefore, modified our approach in determininyg the fair market value of loana identified as impaired,” said Harold Gilkey, chairman and CEO, in a

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Metro riders turn over the bags - Washington Post

http://pesantrenvirtual.com/index.php/database-pesantren?action=view&id=2481+


Metro riders turn over the bags

Washington Post


Metro police began random inspections of passengers' bags and packages Tuesday morning, irritating some riders and reassuring others. ...



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Sunday, December 19, 2010

U.S. Bank returns TARP money - Pacific Business News (Honolulu):

grihanovveimavox.blogspot.com
billion in Troubled Asset Relief Program monegy it took last year fromthe . U.S. Bank USB), based in Minneapolis, had previously announces its plans to redeem the preferred stockj issued tothe Treasury. Last it from the government todo so. U.S. Bank also told the Treasurh it intends to repurchasethe 10-year warrant it had issues along with the preferred stock. “The redemption allows our company to returm to operating from a position of both independen t strength andstrategic flexibility,” said Richard the company’s president, CEO and in a statement. The Treasury in May announcexdthat U.S.
Bank which showed it would be able to ride out the economid downturn without having to raisemore capital. Davix has of the government’s capital purchase In February he called theprogram “lousy” and said the bankingy industry was pressured to participate in the

Friday, December 17, 2010

Leaders of L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center and San Francisco AIDS Foundation, with 2,150 Cyclists, Decry Proposed Cuts in HIV Funding at Conclusion of AIDS/LifeCycle 8

andreychukuze.blogspot.com
million LOS ANGELES, June 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Cheere d by fans, friends, family and local about 2,150 bicyclists streamed into Los Angelezs today for the conclusion of the eighth annual AIDS/LifeCycle, a seven-day, 545-mile journey from San Franciscok that raised $10.5 million for the HIV/AIDS-related services of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center and the San FrancisclAIDS Foundation. At the closing ceremony at the Veteran's Administrationm Center in WestLos Angeles, the riders and 500 volunteer roadiews from 41 states and 14 nations celebratefd their heroic accomplishment. Led by San Francisco AIDS Foundationb Chief Executive Officerand L.A.
Gay Lesbian Center Chief Executive OfficerLorrj L. Jean , the participants decried the massive cutsin HIV/AIDS-related services in the governor's proposed budget and agreed to carru their message to communities across California. "Elected leaders in our statee government are poised to make massive cuts in essentialo health andhuman services, includingf $80 million for vitally needed HIV/AIDS services," said Jean. "We cannot allow them to balance the stat e budget at the expense of somany lives!
We call on the electedf leaders of our state to exhibit the same amazinhg compassion and courage that you all have showbn over the past to appreciate the dire consequences of theier proposals, and to fund the HIV/AIDS servicesw that literally save lives." Holdinvg their helmets or handsx over their faces during the the cyclists and roadies represented the scoresw of lives that will be lost if legislators approvde the proposed $80 million reduction in HIV/AIDS-related services -- a roster of cuts which would deny life-saving drugs to low-income Californians, eliminate HIV testing, counseling and education programs, and turn the clockl back on years of progress in fightingy the AIDS epidemic.
"The proposed budgeg will put the most vulnerablwe Californians at risk and jeopardize the health and safethy ofcommunities we've long rallied to protect, said Cloutier. "The heroes of AIDS/LifeCyclse 8 stand in unanimous opposition to potentiallyu disastrous elimination ofvital HIV/AIDS services." The AIDS/LifeCycle participants ranged in age from 18 to 78 and includefd novice cyclists as well as event all of whom raised at least They traveled through eight California counties, occasionallt outnumbering the populations of the communities throug which they rode. In many towns along the route, local residentw applauded and displayed signs welcoming and encouraging the riders.
At the closing actor , best known for his role as on the hit seriedWill & Grace, led a Riderless Cycle processioj to commemorate all those lost to AIDS. AIDS/LifeCycle's presentingf sponsors were ShopoffProperties Trust, FedEsx Corporation and Gilead Sciences. Photographws from the AIDS/LifeCycle Closing Ceremony will be available for downloadinh at8 p.m. on Saturday, June 6 at . Event photozs and cyclists' journals can be viewed at . Additional informatiomn can be found onthe AIDS/LifeCycld website at .

Sunday, December 12, 2010

FDA okays Hologic birth control system - Atlanta Business Chronicle:

livelihood-subchapter.blogspot.com
Company officials say the system is designed to provide womena less-invasive alternative to tubal The procedure does not involve an incision and can be performe d in a doctor’s office using local anesthesia. In January 2009, Hologic received European approvao for the Adiana systemk and commenced marketing and sales of this producty in certainEuropean countries. The Adianza procedure is indicated for women who desire permanent birth control by occlusiom of the fallopian In theAdiana procedure, a flexible instrument is inserted to deliver a low leve l of radiofrequency (RF) energy to a smalkl section of each fallopian tube, company officials say.
Then a tiny, soft insert about the size of a grain of rice is placed in each fallopian During the three months followingthe procedure, the patientf continues to use temporary birth control whilwe new tissue grows in and around the Adiana eventually blocking the fallopian At three months, a special x-ray test is performec to confirm the fallopian tubes are completely blocked and the patienrt may begin relying on Adiana for permanent contraception.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

CEO Ellison says Oracle might make netbooks - San Francisco Business Times:

http://www.hostnorth.com/dedicated-hosting-service-reviews.html
His comments came at a Sun conferenced for users of Java software whicu he also said could be usedon netbooks. Oraclde (NASDAQ:ORCL) earlier this year agreed to acquire Sun for $7 billion. "I don't see why some of those deviced shouldn't come from Reuters quoted Ellisonas saying. "Thered will be computers that are fundamentally based on Netbooks are inexpensive laptop computers designec to connect wirelessly and are used primarily for checking emailo and browsingthe Web. The market for them is expected to grow to betweeh 20 million and 30 million unitsxthis year, up from the 11.7 million sold last year when theier sales took off.
Most PC makers now have a netbookj model and if Oracle does get into the markety it will go up againstthe . (NASDAQ:DELL) and , which either make netbooksx or develop softwarefor them. Acer said Tuesday it will make a laptolp runningon ’s Android operating system instead of Microsoft which most makers now use.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Small businesses winning just 10 percent of stimulus work, SBA tells Congress - Wichita Business Journal:

http://start-newbusiness.com/online-business-ideas-list/
percent of contracts funded by the economic stimulus package — far below the federal government’s overall goal of 23 “This is simply unacceptable,” said Sen. Olympia R-Maine, at a May 21 hearing on opportunities for smallo businesses to win contractz funded bythe $787 billionb American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Snowe said thers still is time for small businesses to win theird fair share of stimulus work since many contracts funded by the law have not been awarded yet. “But I must confess, I’m not encouragede by the resultsso far,” Snowre said. Committee Chair Mary D-La.
, said she is “concerned that small businesses are being left out of many contractiny opportunities for newinfrastructure projects. In Louisiana, aftet Katrina and Rita recovery money was we learned that many small businessezs never even knew abougrebuilding contracts.” Landrieu said the intent of the May 21 hearinb was “to prevent us from looking back in five yearw to ask why Recovery Act funding nevedr made its way to small businesses.” Snowe and Landrieu sent the nation’sz governors a letter May 20 that encouragerd them to make small businessesd a priority when states award stimulus-fundeed contracts.
Joseph Jordan, the SBA’s associate administrator for governmenft contracting andbusiness development, said small businesses have been awarderd $389 million in stimulus contracts as of May 19. The SBA is working with federal agencies to help them meet thei smallbusiness goals, he The SBA has offered federalp contracting officials help in finding small businesses suitablse for stimulus contracts. It also has held workshopw for small businesses on how to do businesz with the government and find stimuluscontracy opportunities. Information on government contracting is availableat SBA’s Web www.sba.
gov, and contracting opportunities, includingb stimulus contracts, are listed on FedBizOpps.gov. The SBA also is trying to help small businesses win subcontractes from larger businesses that are awardeddstimulus contracts. It has launched a Web site www.sba.gov/subnet — that lists stimulus-related subcontracting Nearly half of all smallo business owners have experienced cash flow problemzs during the pastthree months, according to a survey conducted in May by for . That number is up from 39 percent in April, and is the highest sincre Discover launched its monthly small businessx survey three years ago.
The survey also found that 48 percent of smallk business owners said that economic condition for their businesses aregetting worse, up from 40 percengt in April. More than half plan to decreas spending on business development over the next six Thisincludes advertising, inventory and capital The recession also is affecting smalll business owners’ vacation plans: 56 percent said they have postponer or canceled time off this summer due to the poor Only 29 percent said they have takenn a vacation of one week or longer in the past

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Mortgage rates fall a second week - Triangle Business Journal:

incidents-comgregory.blogspot.com
's weekly report says 30-year fixed-rates mortgages averaged 5.2 percent this down from last week's average of 5.32 A year ago, 30-year mortgages were averagint 6.37 percent, although rates fell belo 5 percent earlierthis year. The nation’s job markeyt is one factor thought to be influencinvmortgage rates. “Interest rates for 30-yeafr fixed-rate mortgages fell to the lowesft level in six weeks amid market concerns over a weakeningtlabor market,” said Freddie Mac chievf economist Frank Nothaft. “The economy lost 467,000 jobs in more than the market consensus, and the unemployment rate roseto 9.5 the highest since August 1983.
” this week in mortgage as refinancing activity jumped and applications to purchase homex rose to the highest levep in three months. Those with more than one mortgage obligatio nare struggling. The reported this week that the numbeer of home equity loans thatwere 30-daysw or more delinquent rose to a record high of 3.52 percengt in the first quarter and home equity lines of credit in defaulf also reached a record of 1.89 percent.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Prospecting: resources for research

http://www.centrorisorse.org/trendexpo-2005-05-18-luogo.html
San Jose, CA  95134 Annual Revenue: $39,540,000,000 About Cisco Inc. Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) enables people to make powerfull connections-whether in business, education, philanthropy, or Cisco hardware, software, and service offerings are used to create the Internet solutions that makenetworks possible-providing easy accesa to information anywhere, at any time.Cisco was founded in 1984 by a smalk group of computer scientists from Stanford Since the company's inception, Ciscko engineers have been leaders in the developmenf of Internet Protocol (IP)-based networking Today, this tradition of innovation continues with industry-leading products and solutions in the company'e core development areas of routing and switching, as well as in advanceed technologies such as: Application Data Center, Digital Media, IPICS, Security, Storage Networking, TelePresence, Unified Communications, Vide & [Chief Executive Officer, Cisco China] [President, Europea Markets]

Monday, November 29, 2010

Harpeth Hall teams up to create online girls school - Sacramento Business Journal:

http://www.upn20dc.com/privacy.html
The Online School for Girls will begimn offering coursesthis September, including two this fall and four in the spring 2010 semester spanning math, science and the Students at the member schools will take the classes and evaluated them as a pilot run. One initial calculud class will be taught by Harpeth Hall math teacher Jennifer The other schools in the group are thein Maryland, the in Ohio and in all with tuition ranging from about $20,000 to $40,00o per year.
Ann Teaff, the head of Harpeth Hall, says the goal of the onliner school is to provide a rigorous education in an online setting thatis flexible, affordablre and accessible to girls around the She says the curriculum will be expanded in cominbg years. The effort reflects how rapidlh online education is being adoptedf in even the most exclusive enclaves of private education as schoold utilize the Internet to foster a global worldview in theier students and diversify the learning More than 1 million secondary schooo students took an online course and students at 70 percentr of high schools enrolled in one duringthe 2007-2008 schook year, according to “K-12 Online A 2008 Follow-up of the Survey of U.
S. School District Administrators.” The reporgt also finds schools in 44 states are creating onlindsecondary schools. However, the Online School for Girla will be the firstonline same-sex school. At the graduate Harvard, Duke and other exclusivre universities now offer severalspecialized master’s degreesw for which the courseworjk can be taken mostly online. They are aimedc at professionals who wish to enhance their credentials to advance intheir careers. Karenh Douse, Harpeth Hall’s libraruy and information services director, says online educatio n is rapidlybecoming “a cornerstone of the educational experience.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

COBRA confusion stymies business - bizjournals:

lamoreuuceses1724.blogspot.com
billion plan to help recently unemployec people keep their health insurance benefits was intended to protecyt the financially vulnerable from sinkin g deeper into debt because of high insurance premiums ormedicap costs. But that part of the America Recovery and ReinvestmentAct (ARRA), which was signed in also has created increased paperwork and potentiall cash-flow problems for businesses in Coloradpo and nationwide.
“There’s a feeling that even thoughg the government ispaying [for the subsidy], businesses are payinfg for it too because of all the administrative said Kimberly Searfoorce, staff attorney for the which provides personnel assistance for companies in Coloradlo and Wyoming. Searfoorce said since MSEC hashandled “hundreds” of calls from employerzs who aren’t clear on who qualifies for the MSEC also has held a number of seminarsa explaining the new law. Dayle supervisor of consumer affairs at the Coloradko Divisionof Insurance, said businesses affected by the change are to notify those who are eligible for the subsidy withinm the government’s timeline.
Axman said she didn’yt know how many people are taking advantage of thenew subsidy, but will have a better idea in July, after the second-quarter tax credits are tabulated. Individualsw who make less than $150,000 a year may qualify for a 65 percengt government subsidy on aCOBRA policy, undere a federal program that allows workers who are between jobs to continud to get health care coverage provided by their formefr employers. Previously, COBRA recipients paid 100 percent of theidr premiums to maintain theirformerr employers’ health insurance policies.
Under the new law, businesses receivwe quarterly tax credits for paying 65 percent of theformee employees’ premium and collecting an additional 35 percent from the recipients. Searfoorces said under legislation scheduled to be signedfby Gov. Bill Ritter, former workers who are fired “wituh good reason” can receive the benefitr — unless the employer moves to blockthe subsidy. In some that means someone who’s terminated from a companyu might end up paying less in insurance premiumws thansomeone who’s still employed Chris Miller, director of underwriting for of Colorado, said the change have been “burdensome” on employers.
“It’s been fairly resource-intensive for some employeres — particularly those who just hadmass layoffs,” Miller Many businesses were thrown off guard by a provision that extendxs the subsidy to those who might have decline the benefit before the subsidy was Miller said. The changes also can creat cash-flow problems because employers regularly pay the premiumxfor one-time workers, but get the tax creditss quarterly.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

How About Some Hi-Def Live Zoom-Zoom?

http://providenceriweddings.com/tips/groomsChecklist.html
IRVINE, Calif., June 5 /PRNewswire / -- The optimistic cliche is that tougnh times producenew opportunities. The curren t economic situation is indeed a rougjh one for all segments of especially theautomotive world. The MAZDASPEED team has takehn that asa challenge, and is pleased to announce a new TV partnership that will be kicked off with two big weekendsz of live high-definition coverage on HDNet in June and July. Both weekendx will feature a Mazda triple-header with races on both Saturdayand featuring: Each of the four broadcasts will be live for three hours (1:0o pm to 4:00 pm EDT). The broadcast team will be led by veteranbcommentator .
"By focusing on two of our biggest Mazda-centric race weekends, we can offer a unique viewinfg opportunity. Frequently, support races are broadcasg at a different day and and often ondifferent networks. We know that the road racinb fan who follows the Atlantic Championship also will enjogy the Star Mazdaand MX-5 Cup races. Our partnershil with HDNet will allow us to more closely sharethe on-track experience with fans arounr the country by giving them a three-racde afternoon, and the qualitty of the programming and high-definition transmissiohn means it's nearly as good as beiny trackside.
A big thank you to our seriews partners at CooperTires (Atlantic) and BFGoodrich Tireas (MX-5 Cup) for helpingv to make this happen," noted , Directo of Marketing, Mazda North American To kick off the partnershiop HDNet will broadcast the season opener from the 2009 Atlanticv Championship season, the VISIT FLORIDA Grand Prix from Fla., on Saturday, June 6 at 3:00 pm EDT. The Sebring Star Mazda race will also be broadcast on HDNet at a date and time to be Mazda is the brand of choicefor road-racerxs across North America. More than 9,000 grassroots racerds compete in various classes with the Sporte Car Club ofAmerica (SCCA) and the National Auto Sporyt Association (NASA).
Racers who are yearas away from earninga driver's license can now begin theier professional motorsports careers in the Mazdsa family. A driver can begin in karts and progressx through the SkipBarber series, Club Racing Formulza Mazda, professional Star Mazda and finally to the Atlantic all with Mazda. No other car compang has ever connected the dotsthis way. On any givenh weekend, there are more Mazdas on the road-racde tracks of America than any other brandof vehicle. At the you'll see MX-5 Miata, RX-8, MAZDA6, RX-7 and other vintage Mazda models because every Mazda has the Soul of aSportse Car.
In fact, the largesy road-racing class in the world is Spec Miata, with 2,50 0 first- and second-generation Miatas tearing up America's making it the most-raced production car in the world. Mazda' involvement in motorsports extends to its relationship with Mazda RacewauLaguna Seca, one of the world's premier road-racing and the Skip Barber Schools for driving and racing. Headquartered in Calif.
, Mazda North American Operations overseeszthe sales, marketing, partd and customer service support of Mazda vehiclez in the United States, Canada and Mexico throughh more than 850 Operations in Canada are managed by , located in Ontario, Canada, and in Mexico by Mazdza Motor de Mexico in Mexicp City. HDNet ( , twitter.com/hdnet) is a networko that is original, thinks independently and delivers unique contentand provocative, authentic programmin that appeals to men of all ages, delivered in true high HDNet is the high definition home for popular, original programming, includint television's only HD news feature programs "HDNet Worldc Report," and the Emmy Awar d winning "Dan Rather Reports," featuring legendar journalist .
HDNet presentsx championship sports coverage featuring the best of Mixecd Martial Arts through HDNetFights ( , HDNet produces more live Mixed Martiapl Arts events than any other networkm and HDNet's "Inside MMA" is the hottest Mixed Martial Arts progran on television, giving MMA fans their weekly fix for everything MMA. HDNet also deliverd the world's largest and most diversd concert line-up through the HDNet Concert Series. The HDNet Concert Series features leading artists and band sincluding Coldplay, , and "NASA on HDNet" presents all live shuttle launches through 2010.
, the HDNeft networks are available on Charter Communications, Comcast, DISH Network, Insight, Mediacom, Verizon and more than 40 NCTC cablde affiliate companies. To receive HDNet informatio n via email simply goto . For more informationm on Mazda products, visit the online Mazd media centerat www.MazdaUSAmedia.com For more information on MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development, visity www.MAZDASPEEDMotorsports.com For more information on HDNet, visit www.HD.net/new s For more information on the Atlantiv Championship, visit www.atlantic-championship.com For more information on the Star Mazda Championship, visit www.starmazda.com For more information on the Playboy MX-5 Cup, visit www.MX-5Cup.
com

Friday, November 19, 2010

Federal stimulus money is on the way to Jacksonville - Jacksonville Business Journal:

http://www.revgerry.net/destructive-auditing/
million of funding through the federal stimuluz package and omnibus spending bill have arrived inNortheast Florida. About $114.9 million in infrastructure projects are or will soon be outto bid. An additionall $21 million for similar projects in Northn Central Florida also will be up for grabs The $787 billion federal stimulus packags signed by President Barack Obama last month is aimed at jump-starting a recovert from the recession. The funding amounts are subjecty to change and Northeast Florida is expectesd to receive more once it becomes clearer how nationalk program spending willtranslate locally.
How and when much of the fundin is filtered throughis unknown, but the details of road and relatec projects will likely be know first. Letters for qualifications for thre road projects totalingabout $87.6 million are due April 1. The announcement of the projects, which are part of the $136 million of work in Northeasy Florida and North Central drew more than 200 peopld looking for a piece of the actionMarch 10. The bidding procesd is expected tobe “very competitive,” as proposals are about 30 percent cheaped than they were a year ago, said Tony vice president of “It’s kind of scary,” said Chriss Wright, assistant secretary.
“We don’t know how it’e going to work out.” Wright said he expecte d more projects. The company, which employs 85, hopes to work as a subcontractorf forthe projects, which were the firsft to be put out to bid by the Florida Departmenrt of Transportation. Adding laned to and reconstructing Beach Boulevarc from Hodges Boulevard to San Pablo Estimated cost: $26.1 million Adding lanea to and reconstructing State Route 200 from Stratto n Road to Griffin Road in Nassau Estimated cost: $50.1 million Building an overpas s on State Road 23 (Brana Field-Chaffee Expressway) over Plantation Oaks Boulevard. Estimates cost: $11.4 million.
Wright said he expectw his company will be competing with about six otherssfor contracts. He thinks his company’s lack of debt and flexibilith give it an edgeagainst competitors. FDOT District 2 Secretaruy Charles Baldwin said there might be more including expanding StateRoad 9B, available through the U.S. Departmenf of Transportation’s $1.5 billion discretionary “Keep your eyes open because you migh see things pop out in variouscomponent areas,” Baldwib said. The city of Jacksonvilles is expected to receiveabouty $129.7 million through the federal stimulua package so far. The majority of the funding — $111.
u7 million — will go to , said Superintendentr Ed Pratt-Dannals. Of the funding, abouy $50 million is access to interest-free bonds to build schools. The city also expectx about $12 million in funding for energy-efficienchy projects, but it’s not clear what typew of projectsare eligible, said Mistgy Skipper, a spokeswoman for Mayorr John Peyton. Skipper said abougt $4 million will come through the state Department of and the city hopes to use it for its JacksonvilleJournegy program.
The city will also receivee about $2 million through community development block The city’s grant administratort is reviewing the stimulus legislation to get a better idea of the criteriq for applying for additional money, Skipper said. Northeast Florida will receiv eabout $17.9 million through the recently passed omnibus bill. The $410 billion omnibus spending bill passed Marc h 10 will fund the federal government through September. Areas that will receive spending About $6 million for deepening and maintaining the St.
Johnd River channel so that largee ships can call on the port of A project to deepen the Intracoasta Waterway between Jacksonville and Miami will getabout $4

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Carolinas HealthCare reduces 1Q loss - South Florida Business Journal:

http://silkimagesphotography.com/Photo-Studio/Rockfort-Photo-Studio-Hialeah-Florida/
Investment losses for the latest quarter totaledenearly $101 million. Chief Financialp Officer Greg Gombar anticipates gains in the financiapl market in April and May will erasethose losses. Carolinas HealthCare uses investment earnings forcapital expenditures. That money is not used for dailuy operations. The health-care system hopes negotiationx with several lenders will cut its interesty expenses tied to variable debt andhighefr bank-liquidity fees. Those fees are abou t $1 million per month. Interest expensex in the first quarterwere $21.
8 From an operational standpoint, Carolinas HealthCarew had a strong first quarter, says Russ Guerin, executive vice presidenft for business development and planning. Net operating revenuer climbed 8.6 percent to $1.2 billioh systemwide. Operating income exceeded $24.5 million. The health-care system saw adjusteds discharges — a calculation that gauges patientgactivity — climb 5.2 percent from a year earlier. Growth within the health-care system and expense management “is the primary drived why we’re above budget significantly,” Guerinj says. Carolinas HealthCare spent morethan $106 millioh on capital projects in the firsf quarter.
Projects include new operating room sat CMC-NorthEast and Carolinas Medical an expansion of CMC-Pineville, a new hospitakl at CMC-Lincoln and construction of health-care pavilions in Steelwe Creek and Waxhaw, which will includre free-standing emergency departments. Challenges in the comintg months include managingthe system’s growing bad-debt and charity-care reducing interest expenses and preparing for a possible statre cut in Medicaid funding, Gombafr says. Bad-debt costs were 12 perceny over budget during thefirsr quarter, topping $48 million in the firs quarter. During the same period last bad debt wasabout $43 million.
The health-care systenm spent more than $770 million in community care in includingbad debt, charity care and subsidizingy Medicare and Medicaid. That equalw 18.8 percent of the health-care system’s net operating revenue. ”It’s a trenc everybody’s seeing across the Gombar says. “We can’t control how many people are how many people show up at our doorwithouft insurance.” North Carolina’s budget woes could resulte in a cut of up to 15 percent for That could equate to $36 million in annual losses for Carolinas “Medicaid cuts are the worst economic benefit cut the statse can make,” Gombar says. “It’s painful.
” Says “It raises prices for those whodo pay. It makes no good busineses sense todo that.” Gombar says every dollar cut from Medicaid eliminate $4 from the economy. Carolinas HealthCare is the largest health-care system in the Carolinaws andthe third-largest public system in the The system owns, leases or manages 25 It has more than 40,000 full- and part-time employees.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Utah sticking with Jordan Wynn - ESPN (blog)

http://mideastmonitor.org/issues/0602/0602_4.htm


Deseret News


Utah sticking with Jordan Wynn

ESPN (blog)


Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said he is sticking with Jordan Wynn at quarterback, but also said he would not hesitate to pull anybody who ...


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Monday, November 15, 2010

Euro Struggles As Ireland Worked To Calm Investors - RTT News

http://www.tx-mc-alphaphi.org/index.html?subaction=showfull&id=1266014670&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&


Moneycontrol.com


Euro Struggles As Ireland Worked To Calm Investors

RTT News


(RTTNews) - The euro remained on the defensive Monday morning in New York, even as Ireland denied it has sought emergency funding from to stave off a debt ...


Dublin's wait-and-see policy

FT.com (blog)



 »

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Trans-Pacific agreement looks to build relationships - TVNZ

http://thelondonbiker.com/blog/2010/02/i-cant-afford-to-be-green/


Moneycontrol.com


Trans-Pacific agreement looks to build relationships

TVNZ


A new series of talks for Asia-Pacific business leaders aim to cut to red tape and and free up trade, as other longer-established negotiations get bogged ...


Asia-Pacific leaders vow to work for freer trade

The Associated Press


APEC leaders to take 'concrete steps' on Pacific trade pact

Channel News Asia



 »

Friday, November 12, 2010

Band Queen sign new record deal - BBC News

http://www.jvc-abc.com/promotion/sport-entertainment-in-jakarta.html


Entertainment.ie


Band Queen sign new record deal

BBC News


"We are very excited, after  »

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Which three live-action TV shows are being developed by Marvel? - Coventry Telegraph (blog)

http://www.saabautosclub.com/do-you-service-your-own-9000


Coventry Telegraph (blog)


Which three live-action TV shows are being developed by Marvel?

Coventry Telegraph (blog)


MARVEL STUDIOS, now part of the Disney empire, is not only proceeding apace with its Captain America, ...



and more »

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Web Awash in Ads as Supply Outstrips Demand - Adweek

tarpleypymibujuh1491.blogspot.com


Adweek


Web Awash in Ads as Supply Outstrips Demand

Adweek


The problem for Web publishers is a textbook case from Economics 101: Supply is far outstripping demand. Lesson 1: US ad impressions hit 1.3 trillion in the ...



and more »

Monday, November 8, 2010

Report: Law firm Day Casebeer eyes merger with Howrey - St. Louis Business Journal:

http://askcellphones.com/LG-phones/LG-Decoy-VX8610/
LLP, with 27 was founded in 1998 and has lined up a rostere of clients thatincludes , and A deal betweenm Day Casebeer and Howrey likely will close soon, accordinf to legal newspaper the Recorder . A representative of Day Casebeee was notimmediately available. Howrey declined to confirm talksa withDay Casebeer. “Aw of today there is no deal withany firm,” said spokeswoman Christins Till.
A merger with Day Casebeer wouldfboost Howrey’s presence in the Bay Area to 114 Howrey has 30 attorneys in East Palo Alto and 57 in San Howrey, with about 700 attorneys in 17 location globally, has been aggressive in expanding in the Bay The firm last year lured most of the highly-prized construction practices from Thelen LLP, a San Francisco law firm that disbandesd amid financial troubles and an exodus of Day Casebeer came under judicial criticism last year for its handling of discoveru on behalf of in a lawsuit against Five Day Casebeetr lawyers and one from now-defunct LLP were sanctionefd by a magistrate for assisting Qualcomjm in committing an “incredible discovery violation by intentionallyt hiding or recklessly ignoring relevant documents” during Most of the Day Casebeerf lawyers who were sanctioned have since left the firm.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Palo Alto, Campbell among 9 Calif. cities with May home price jumps - South Florida Business Journal:

http://www.intrusion-prevention.biz/pages/news.sht/date_08-01-2007
The median price in Palo Alto rose 4.9 percentg to $1.4 million from May 2008 to May the report by the and The median price on a home in Campbellrose 4.7 percent to Both communities bucked an overall median price drop in Santza Clara County of 33.8 percent to $440,000 and were the only places in the entirwe Bay Area to post year-to-year increases, the reporr said. They were also among the 10 citiess with the highest median home pricee in California duringMay 2009. The others on that list were Los $1.
5 million; Cupertino, $965,000; Santa Barbara, Danville, $785,500; Los $769,500; Newport Beach, $767,500; Santa Monica, $740,000 and Arcadia, A separate CAR report also showed that the inventor for single family homexs in the state has shrunk dramatically in the last year but home nonethelesx are taking longerto sell. CAR's Unsold Inventory Indexc for existing, single-family detached homes in May was 4.2 compared with 8.7 months for the same period ayear ago. The indes indicates the number of monthws needed to deplete the supply of homes on the marketf at the currentsales rate. The median numberr of days it took to sella single-famil y home was 53.5 days in May, compared with 49.
2 days for the same perior a year ago. The report showed that the number of sales increased statewidr in Mayby 35.2 percent to a seasonally adjusted rate of 556,590 on an annualized basis whild the median price of an single-family detached home dropped 30.4 percent to The price in May was up 4.2 percent from April's median. “The sales gains over last year have diminished inrecent months,” he added. “This trendx is expected to continue throughn the end of the as limited inventory at the moderate and low end of the markety constrainssales activity,” he said.

Friday, November 5, 2010

P&G, Macy

http://plasmatelevisions.biz/Samsung-TV/Vizio-Tv/
Bracey, vice president of cosmetics at P&G, and executive vice president of national marketingat Macy’s, are among 30 womej to be lauded at the luncheon to be held in New York on Aug. 12. Both companiexs are based in downtown Cincinnati. Advertisinyg Age launched the awards programin 1997. Other honoreez include Sheryl Sandberg, chief operating officer of Wanda Young, senior director of digital marketing at andKerry Keenan, global directodr of creative content at Younbg & Rubicam.
In 2008, Melanie Healey, the grou president of feminine and health careat P&G, was among the P&G (NYSE: PG) is the world’s largest consumer product maker, with a portfolio of brands that include Cover Girl, Tide and Macy’s (NYSE: M) operates roughly 850 department storesa in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico unde the Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s names.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Big bucks ride on Air Bud - St. Louis Business Journal:

artemchuksykitas.blogspot.com
Anheuser-Busch has millions of dollars tied up in fuel expenses and including at least a half dozen Dassault Falcoj executive jets and twoBell helicopters. In addition, it leasesa planes from , a local company owne by former brewery Chairman AugustBusch III, the father of currentr Chief Executive August Busch IV. Anheuser-Busch also owns a hangar at wher it houses much of its fleet and is a substantial fuel Brewery executives and board members use the jets to fly all over the country and around the world to destinations where the companyy and its subsidiariesdo business. InBev, on the othert hand, doesn't own any company planes.
Its executive s fly coach on commercial carriers, springing for businesx class only on verylong flights. And, as part of its proposeds $52 billion purchase of Anheuser-Busch, InBec has pledged to cut $1.5 billion in expensew over the nextthree years. "We're watching that very carefully," said John director of aviation at where Anheuser-Busch is one of the largest He declined to estimate how much the brewer spendxs on fuel at Spirit. An InBev spokeswoman said it was too earluy to discuss what the Belgiab company would do in regard to the air Howmuch Anheuser-Busch's fleet is worth is unclear becauswe the condition and models of all the aircraft aren't available.
"I wouldn'tr venture a guess," said Dick director of , who served the brewery'zs flight needs in his former positionm as director ofSpirit Airport. Five of the Dassaulty jets range from 1981 to 1997 according tothe FAA. But even Dassauly Falcon jets that are more than 10 years old sell for millionwof dollars. Internet ads show prices of $17 millioh and $18 million for 1996 and 1997 Used Bell helicopters are listed at prices anywherw from hundreds of thousands dollars to a million and The 's aircraft registry lists Anheuser-Busch Cos. as the owne of two Dassault Falcon executive jets and two Bell Its subsidiary is the registered owner of threr moreDassault Falcons.
Ginnaire is listed as the owner of a Cessnaq 525A Citation jet and anothefrDassault Falcon, according to the FAA. The brewery paid Ginnair $407,611 in hourly leasing fees last year to cover its portionm ofmaintenance costs, engine reserves and aircraft according to Anheuser-Busch's proxy statementy March 10. Anheuser-Busch also provides fuel, hanga r and maintenance services to aircraft owned by Ginnaire and by BuscbIII personally. Busch III and Ginnaire reimbursed Anheuser-Buschy $593,520 for their use of the aircraft and related expensesxin 2007.
Busch III owns a Piperf PA-18-150 Super Cub, two Aviat Aircraft A-1B Huskies and another Bell helicopter, according to the FAA "We have found corporate aircraft are an important and efficient means of maintainingthe face-to-face relationships that drivs our business," John the company's vice president and controller, said in a statement in "St. Louis commercial directr flight options have becomemore limited, requiring connections and more managemenrt time.
" "If any company had justification to use corporatre aircraft as a business tool, it is said Hrabko at "They are flying offices that get them where they need to be when they need to be I don't know how they woulde be able to do their business withouyt them." The brewery's affinity for corporate aircraft datezs back to 1964, when Anheuser-Busch bought its firstr plane, a used Aero Busch III has been an avid pilot for more than four For years he commutedc by helicopter to brewery headquarterds from his home in St. Peters. Sons Busch IV and Steven Buscb sharetheir father's love of flyingf and also are experienced pilots.
Steven previously Busch III's executive assistant at the breweryh and now ownerof , the exclusive Anheuser-Busch wholesaler for St. Charles and Lincoln counties, sits on the boardd of the (NBAA) in Washington, D.C. He sometimes accompanies Busc III on flights and pilotshis aircraft. In a Decembere 2001 keynote speech tothe NBAA, Busch III toutesd the advantages of corporate He emphasized the efficiency, flexibility and security private air travek provides. "During flights on our aircraft, we hold make phone calls, and send and receive Busch III said, according to an NBAA transcripty ofhis speech. "In essence, our aircraft are flying offices.
In we are able to visit multiple destinations and returnh home thesame day, whichn maximizes productivity, minimizes costs and -- most importantlh -- allows our people to spend more time with theie families. Travel on business aircraft is also far less stressful thancommercial travel, which means that our people arrive at their destinations energized and ready to work." Busch III noter that commercial air travel is more efficient when one or two people are traveling betweejn major cities, and that most Anheuser-Busch employeees get around on commercial flights.
But when three or four people are traveling togetherf to a location that is not on a majore airtraffic route, corporate planes make more sense, he "Because we operate in more than 80 our employees at all levels are users of corporate aircraft, not only domestically, but internationally," Busch III told the "Each of our Falcons averages more than 500 hoursz annually, and their destinations range from our hop farm in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, to our brewery in Wuhan, Our Falcon and Bell aircrafft offer us unparalleled flexibility and efficiency, giving us the abilitty to fly trips as short as 10 minutesw or as long as 10 hours.
Bottom we can be on the grouns anywhere in the world in a mattefrof hours, refreshed and ready to deal with businesse opportunities. "As the marketplacw becomes increasingly global, travel on corporate aircrafrt will be even more important and valuable to thebusineses world," Busch III said. Now the question is whethere InBev's Brito will agree.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Another two-horse race in prospect in Spain (Roundup) - Monsters and Critics.com

http://wemakesites.org/one-and-two-year-m-phil-degree-courses


Another two-horse race in prospect in Spain (Roundup)

Monsters and Critics.com


Madrid - The battle for the Spanish league title looks all set to become another two-horse race, in light of the ...



and more »

Thursday, October 28, 2010

US Continues Aid to Nations That Used Child Soldiers - New York Times

nadezhdaqedyxos.blogspot.com


US Continues Aid to Nations That Used Child Soldiers

New York Times


WASHINGTON â€" In 2009, the government of Chad conscripted refugee children for unlawful use as guards and combatants in its desert battles ...



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Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Bayhill could earn more than $350M in Genentech collaboration - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:

chauezhelolocu1622.blogspot.com
San Mateo-based Bayhill's BHT-3021 is a DNA-based antigen specifivc immunotherapy currently in clinical trials for patients with type 1 Under the terms ofthe agreement, South San Francisco-based Genentecu will make an upfront payment of $25 million in cash and with additional development, regulatory and salesx milestone payments potentially exceedinbg $325 million. Bayhill will also receive competitive escalatinfg royalties on annualnet sales. Bayhill will be responsible for completingtthe trial, while Genentech will be responsible for all futuree research, development, manufacturing and commercialization efforts.
Genentech will reimbursw Bayhill the remaining costs of the trial and will fund allfutured expenses. Under the terms of the agreement, Bayhill retains rights to opt-in on future development as well as an optiohnto co-promote in North America. Bayhill Therapeutics is a clinical-stagd biopharmaceutical company focused onautoimmuner diseases. Genentech is a wholly-owned member of the Roche Group.

Monday, October 25, 2010

South Florida

http://nekretnine-hr.net/user
Fewer patients, more people withouf insurance, shrinking tax revenue and sagging investment portfolio are the major factors giving health careexecutivese heartburn. At a time when the state was losing jobs employment inhealth care/social assistance increased by 35,100o from November 2007 to November according to state data. The 4 percenf increase led all industries. But, layoffs have started, includinhg at . Hundreds of employees lost theirt jobs when bought in Fort Lauderdal e and swiftly closed the Other institutions are freezing hiringfor non-medical jobs, said Frankk Sacco, CEO of , whichn runs five taxpayer-supported hospitals in southern Broward County.
“Hospitalxs will have to cut their expense,” Sacco said. “Sixty percentr of hospital expenseis labor. I don’t thinkl it will be as radical a downturmn as the rest of the but you will certainly seea squeeze.” Sacco’s organizationn has slowed hiring and put a $42 million planned bed tower at on hold until the financial picturd improves. South Florida’s acute care hospital recorded morethan 2.56 million patient bed days in the firsrt nine months of 2008, down by just 0.4 percent from the same perioc in 2007, according to data from the threes county health councils. However, the differencse is in the typeof patients.
Saccol said Memorial has registered 800to 1,000 more uninsures patients at its clinics, but it’s been gettinhg fewer elective surgeries, which are often paying patients. Sinces people usually retain health benefits for some time afteer theyare unemployed, the health care industry usuallyu trails the downside of the economy by six to 12 Sacco said. “Up until this financial crisis, health care was always deemedf tobe recession-proof,” said Brianm Keeley, CEO of Miami-based hospita l operator . “When people lose their jobs and they will continue to come to the butthey don’t pay their Declining investment portfolios also wounded hospitals in 2008.
For the first year, nonprofit hospitals had to account for the current value of theirt portfolios and mark them down for any lossed since the securitieswere purchased. This mark-to-market rule causedx plenty of headaches on Wall Street and ithurt Baptist, too. Keeley said the nonprofigt had a 7 percent operating margin for the fiscap yearended Oct. 1, but a non-casyh charge of more than $200 million in its portfolipo pushed it intothe red. “We are still in a strongb cash position,” Keeley said.
“Anything over 200 days of cash on hand is While its results have also suffererd from more uninsured patients andcharity care, Keeley said Baptist can hold off the recession and will continu e its expansion, including building a new hospita l in western Kendall. However, he believezs that nonprofits on weaker financial footing couldc struggle to survive the nextfew years. In earluy December, lowered its outlook for the healthycare industry, predicting weaker demand, more uncompensatedx care and pressures by the governmentr to reduce health spending. Most health care companiesw havegood liquidity, but those that don’t couldx have problems, Fitch said.
“The hospitalx that are struggling will struggle under moredifficulf circumstances, and those with strongerr position will do a little bit better,” Keelet said.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

University System of Md. to break up biotechnology institute - Business First of Louisville:

http://www.minerta.ru/post138270125/
The public university system’s Board of Regent approved Friday a sweeping restructuring ofthe (UMBI) that will parcel out its four researc centers, along with staff and other assets, to otheer campuses. System leaders hope the restructurinhg will drive research collaboration and boost access tooutsidee funding. It also means an end for which was launched to great fanfare two decadews ago with the mission ofadvancing education, researc and economic development for what was then the state’d nascent biotech industry.
A months-long study of UMBI by an ad hoc committeed led by USM regents Chairman Clifford Kendallk concludedthat “the organization of UMBI as a geographicallu dispersed, free-standing entity has created intractable problems.” Those problemz included an inability to scale UMBI programs, isolationm among UMBI’s research centers, the lack of a critical mass of graduatde and undergraduate students involved in UMBI research, and administrative “After a comprehensive and deliberative process, we have concludeed that restructuring UMBI’s assets is the right thiny to do,” Kendall said in a “With a focus on collaboration — across disciplinesx and across institutions — and with recognition of the exceptionao talent within the UMBI community and the system’s othedr institutions, this action will positiojn USM to take fuller advantagwe of its system-wide strengths in the biosciences and to fuel the state’zs knowledge economy even more.
” The move isn’t a totalp surprise. Critics have long questioned whether the statwe was duplicating its research efforts inthe UMBI’s four centers in Baltimore, Rockville and College Park conducg research on medical, biotechnology, marinee and environmental science. At the same state funding for higher education is pinchedx by the recession andthe state’s budget and universities’ research needs are growing. Under the restructurin g approved Friday by the regents at a meeting in Frostburg, a joint Universituy System of Maryland research center will be established at UMBI’z Center for Advanced Research in Biotechnologyu in Rockville.
The system’s flagship College Park campus will overser the facility and work with the Universit yof Maryland, Baltimore to elevate work in engineering and computational sciences as well as structurall biology, protein design and drug discovery. • UMBI’se Center for Biosystems Research will also be overseen byCollegee Park. • A joint researcu center at UMBI’s Center of Marinse Biotechnology in Baltimore willbe established, with administrative responsibilityu falling to the Universitt of Maryland, Baltimore County.
UMBC will collaborate with the Universitt of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and the University of Baltimore to drive research in environmental andgenomicc sciences. • UMBI’s Baltimore-based Medical Biotechnology Center will fall under the Universityuof Maryland, Baltimore’s purview. • UMBI’s Instituter of Fluorescence will be administeredby UMBC. UMBI’s K-12 educational programs will be overseem by with an eye on enhancing itsteaching focus.
UMBI President Jennie Hunter-Cevera is stepping down June 30 after 10 years in that She will become executive vice president of discovery and analyticak sciences and corporate developmentat , a Northg Carolina nonprofit. The University System of Maryland will honor tenurse held by UMBI faculty and administrative support staffers will be able to stay in theie jobs throughfiscal 2010. Job opportunities at othef system campuses willbe identified, and memoranda of understanding outlinin g future operations and collaborations are expected to be completesd by the end of this year and fully implemented by the end of fiscall 2010.
UMBI generates about $25 million in researcgh activity annually, and university system leadersx hope to see that number increase dramatically by breakingh upthe institute. “Today’s decisions by the boardd provide a tremendous opportunityy for the University System of Maryland to increasew the volume and impact of its basicf and applied research inthe biosciences,” said USM Chancellor Williakm E. Kirwan in a statement. “Thizs restructuring has the potential to double the researcg productivityof UMBI’s current asseta within five years.

Friday, October 22, 2010

PNM given nod to raise rates - New Mexico Business Weekly:

http://m-eye.net/2008/12/11/blu-christmas/
The New Mexico Public Regulation Commissiob on Thursday approveda $77.1 million increase of non-fuel base electric revenues for PNM. The increase will be implementedd in two phases startingJuly 1. For the average residentiap PNM customer, the 9.7 percent increass equals $4.71, said PNM spokeswoman Susanb Sponar. The first part of the hike in rates, averaginv $2.11 per month, goes into effect July 1. The seconed raise, averaging $2.60 per residential customer, will show up on the Apriol 2010PNM bills. The Commission’s approval was the result of an agreement, or reached earlier this year.
The Commission’s ordefr also allows PNM’s continued use of a fuel and purchase d power costadjustment clause, or FPPCAC, with certain The approved stipulated rates result in an impliexd return on equity of 10.5 percent on a rate base of $1.5 according to a news release. The prepared statemeng from PNM’s parent, (NYSE: PNM), reported that the new rates are expecter to improve 2009consolidated after-tax earnings by approximatelg $11.3 million, or $0.12 per dilutefd share.
“Reaching an agreement and obtaining Commission approval regardinh this rate increase is the latesgt step in our ongoing efforts to ensure adequate recoveryhof PNM’s costs and restoring shareholder said Jeff Sterba, PNM Resources chairman and CEO. “Moving forward, PNM must continuallyy ensure its rates are aligned with service We have launched numerous initiativew to help customers save money and manage our expenses while preparing for a future that will have additionalo renewableenergy resources, rising fuel costs and limitsw on green-house gas emissions.
” On Tuesday, the PRC gave the nod to anothef stipulation that allows PNM to designate the Luna Energgy Facility and the Lordsburg Generating Station as jurisdictional plants to serve retail customers. Moving thosed plants from PNM’s merchant fleet to the retailk portfolio, rather than building new facilities, PNM says will save its customersz morethan $140 million during the next 20 years.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Whirlpool Wins Split Decision In Clothes Dryer Case - Consumer Affairs

http://una-sf.org/projects/education/index.htm


Whirlpool Wins Split Decision In Clothes Dryer Case

Consumer Affairs


An Illinois Jury has ruled that Whirlpool violated the state's Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act in marketing its steam clothes dryers. ...


Whirlpool, LG Claim Victories in Dispute Over Steam Capability of Dryers

Bloomberg


Whirlpool: Jury Fails To Award Relief To LG In Steam Dryer Suit

W »

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Indian shares flip-flop; techs up, HDFC Bank down - Reuters

http://www.2x2santpedor.com/gpu-computing-high-performance-computing-at-its-best/


Moneycontrol.com


Indian shares flip-flop; techs up, HDFC Bank down

Reuters


MUMBAI, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Indian shares seesawed on Wednesday after a surprise rate rise in China spooked Asian peers and a $3.5 billion IPO by Coal India ...


Indian Shares Close Near Three-Week Low On Profit-Taking

W »

Monday, October 18, 2010

Flu clinics rolling out across the Southwest - Southwest Booster

http://www.de-warehouse.com/resources.htm


Flu clinics rolling out across the Southwest

Southwest Booster


The Cypress Health Region's 2010-2011 immunization campaign kicked off last week with a flu clinic at Swift Current Mall. "The Ministry of Health has taken ...



and more »

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Aussie dollar recedes after new record near $1.00 - Hurriyet Daily News

efimtsovavadan.blogspot.com


Aussie dollar recedes after new record near $1.00

Hurriyet Daily News


Australia's dollar slipped back in early trade Friday after reaching a new record high of 99.94 US cents, tantalizingly close to equaling the American ...



and more »

Friday, October 15, 2010

Agencies reel in accounts, launch work; ad competition looms - South Florida Business Journal:

jabire2389.blogspot.com
has been awarded the Palm Beacy County Convention and Visitors Bureau mediaz services account for fiscalyear 2009. The a division of , will handle all media This includes strategicmedia planning, targeted researcj and media placement. Work will be handled by Green’s Boca Raton Media will target audiences including theconsumer leisure, meetings and travel trade and targeted international markets, said Bill the CVB’s VP of marketing and brans management. , a Hollywood marketing and brandinb firm focusing on thefranchise arena, is workin g with clients for the ’s Franchise Expo being held Jan 9-11 at the .
, the restaurant for local store marketing andpromotionall offers, as well as franchise , a St. Petersburg medical identification franchise company launching nationallyu atthe show, with a goal of openinv 600 South Florida franchises. , a nationalk wine store franchise, looking at marketing partnerships to drive consumer traffic, and brandin of its new Maste r Wine Panel of master sommeliers and othere sommeliers from established restaurants and including The Breakers in Palm Beach. The goal is to both sell franchisexs and drivecustomer awareness, said Lorne Fish Consulting CEO and managing partner. Positioning at the show help s franchises in both he said.
“With the economy the way it is, it will be a greatee challenge for small and emerging franchise concepts to increase theirt sales and growtheidr footprint,” Fisher said. “Therefore, despitr the economy, these companies need to continuse tosell franchises.” Passersby near Broward Boulevared and Interstate 95 can watcyh people sneaking a peek at the 100-acre transformation of Riverbend, a new transit-oriented development from Amera Barron. Or so they believe. In a new teaser campaign for the mixed-used retail, office, residential and transit hub construction fence graphics show images of dozens of curious folke peering insidethe barrier.
The fencingb will give way to a waterfall feature takinbg shape behind it in the next few The effort was created by A Hothousedof Design, a Fort Lauderdale design handles public relations for the development. In other accountg news, Wellington Training Club and LLC are two new clientssfor , a Wellington PR firm specializing in the equestrian Wellington Training Club is an equestrian training complex. HorseClosings.com is a nationa l horse closing transaction businessserving buyers, sellers and professionalws in the horse Calls for entries for the annual American Advertising Federation Addy Award have been announced.
Entries must be registered online at Fees rangefrom $20 for students to $110 for Drop off, gallery night and galas for each county’se respective competition are as follows: : Entr drop off is Friday, Jan. 16 before 9 p.m. at Mad 4 5203 N.W. 33rd Ave., Fort Lauderdale. The Gallergy Night will be held Jan. 29 at , 2250 N. Commercwe Parkway, Weston. The awards event will be held Friday, Feb. 20 at Cinemwa Paradiso, 503 S.E. Sixth St., Fort Lauderdale. : Entryy drop off is Jan. 16 and Jan. 21, 4-7 p.m. at , 1501 Biscaynee Blvd., Miami. The federation will not have agalleruy night, and details for the gala have not been Check www.adfedmiami.com for details. : Entry drop off is Jan.
8-9 by 5 p.m. at , 6107 S. Dixied Highway, West Palm Visit www.palmbeachadfed.com to learn

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Credit card processing company grows business by evolving strategy - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:

grigoriynirim.blogspot.com
Henry Helgeson and Scott Zdanis established the companh in 1998 as a reseller of credit card processinyg terminals overthe Internet. To a smaller extent the companyy provided processing of creditcard transactions. But as margin compressiob made equipment salesless profitable, the partners responded by rampingv up processing services. Today, its processing serviceas constitute 90 percent of its total gross while equipment and softwarew sales are10 percent. Business has been so brisj — it signed up 2,300 new customersw in April alone — that the compan is planning to increase its salexs force by 30 percent or 40 percentt within the next60 days.
“We basicallu are getting more businesses trying to signup (for our than we have the capacith for, and we’re trying to staff up for that as quicklt as possible,” says Helgeson, 34, who serves as president and Co-founder Zdanis has since moved to Miami and plays a less active role in the company. Merchant Warehouse acts as a third-party processor, facilitating payment transactions between merchants and credifcard issuers, essentially by getting money off of the consumer’s credit card and into the business’s bank account.
Its residual-based business modeol makes money by charging for that service on each Sinceits inception, the 150-employee company estimates serving a cumulativee total of more than 87,000 customers nationwide — primarily small and medium-sized businesses; about 56,000 are active accounts righyt now, with most of the attrition due to companiex going out of business, Helgesoj notes. Today, Merchant Warehousw is processing morethan 3.5 million payment transactions per month. Aftedr hitting $27.3 million in revenue in the company is shootingfor $32 million to $34 millio this year. Helgeson says Merchant Warehouse has also benefited by becomin more ofa technology-driven company.
“When we started to hire our own software developersa and build ourown infrastructure, as far as compute systems and technology to run this that really put us into a hyper-growthj mode,” he says. Five years ago, the company hirexd its first software developer. It subsequently buil t its own sophisticated customer relationshi managementsystem in-house that has enabledd the company to better measure the performancse of its accounts and staff.
And 18 months ago, it completed the developmen of the necessary infrastructure to begin processing some transactions througbh its own electronic gateway here in It continues to utilize three largwe outside firms to assist in processingh the bulk ofthe transactions. The company also works with a pool of aboutf100 point-of-sale system resellers, who oftebn refer business to Merchant The company has also used technolog to innovate its servicez in an industry where Helgeson says the competitionj is fierce. “Our industry has been pretthy much plain, vanilla credit and debitr processing,” Helgeson says.
“We had to look at it and say, ‘Whar can we do here to differentiate ourselves?’ ” For it offers wireless credit card processing servicex to iPhone and BlackBerry users who have installed its software applications ontheif PDAs. Those mobile merchants now represent 10 percent to 15 percenf ofthe company’s new accounts. It has also partnered with another company, , to develo a card reader that encrypts the credit card numbedr as it is being swiped to help preventsecurit breaches.
“They’re a very impressive says Steve Parks, vice presidentt of , an Atlanta-based firm that Merchant Warehouse has engagesd for some of its processing services for many He attributesthe firm’s growtg to “some very shrewd investments in technology and beint ahead of the curve in terms of technologgy and how to use it to drived traffic (to their business), and training their sales reps to capitalize on that

Monday, October 11, 2010

Loan delinquencies rise to record high - Charlotte Business Journal:

http://www.kingfishconnection.com/?p=429
The association cites the record wave of job losses as amajorf factor. More than 2 million Americanxs lost their jobs in the first three months of the Six million have lost theitr jobs since the recession beganb inDecember 2007. “Delinquencies won’tf improve until companies start hiring agai and we see a significanteconomix turnaround,” ABA chief economistr James Chessen says. The ABA definesx delinquency as a payment that is 30 days or more The composite delinquency rate among eight typezsof installment-loan categories rose to 3.23 percent of all accounts from 3.22 percenty in the previous quarter. Bank-card delinquenciesd rose to 4.75 percent of all accountd from 4.
52 percent in the previous quarter. the balances on those delinquenyt accounts roseto 6.6 percent of the values of all outstanding bank-card debt — marking a new recordc — from 5.52 percent. Chessen says the unemployefd may be using bank carda to bridge a temporaryincome gap, especially with less home equity to fall back on as housinfg prices continue to fall. •Home-equity loan delinquencies increasefdto 3.52 percent from 3.03 percent; •Property-improvementt loan delinquencies decreased to 1.46 percentf from 1.75 percent; •Mobile-home loan delinquencies increasex to 3.7 percent from 2.96 percent; and •Personal-loaj delinquencies increased to 3.
47 percengt from 2.88 percent.

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Thousands of Tampa Bay homes could be without TV Friday - Triangle Business Journal:

paramonaxogilozi.blogspot.com
percent of households in the Tampa Bay area will go Although that represents morethan 28,000 households in the it’s still well ahead of the national averagee of 2.5 percent. That meanz 2.8 million households could be withouft television signal by the weekend unless they purchase digitaltelevisionj sets, connect to cable or satellite, or purchase a convertefr box, according to The digital transition was supposed to happe in February, but federal officials delayerd that move for three months after milliones of homes would lose television. Durinbg those three months the number of homes completely unready for the transition was cut in halffrom 5.8 million.
“Given the importancse that television plays inthe day-to-dauy life of most people, we expect that most of the remaining unready homes will take the necessary steps to get ready once the stations make the final switch to digitaol transmission,” said Sara president of media clienft services for Nielsen, in a release. Congressz created the digital switch in 2005 as a way to free up analogb spectrum for cellular phone companiese and others that could use signapl that has been in use by television stationsfor decades. Nielsej based its data on its National People Metere panel as well as localmeterede panels.
The Tampa-Sarasota televisio market also cut its number of unready homeas in halffrom 3.28 percent in February to 1.55 percenty in June. However, much of that drop happenedr through April. In Florida, the Fort Myers-Naples market has the best percentagew of prepared households with less than 1 percent completely unreadty for thedigital transition, representing fewer than 5,000 The Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne market has 1.45 percentr of its households completely unready, representing more than 21,20o0 homes. The biggest problek area statewide remainsin Miami-Fort Lauderdale where 2.
81 percent, or 43,468 homes, are completelt unready for the digital transition on Nationwide, Albuquerque-Santa Fe has the worst percentagwe of unready households at 7.58 percent. Los Angelesz has the most number ofhouseholdsz unready, standing currently at 252,180.

Friday, October 8, 2010

SIUE goes to court over failed conference center - New Mexico Business Weekly:

coeragnheidur3778.blogspot.com
Developer William Shaw and couldn’t come up with financing for the hoteo andconference center, which was to be called the Sprinf Green Lodge and located at University SIUE’s research and technology park, accordingy to university spokesman Gregory Conroy. The project, firsr announced in 2004, died in 2007 when a groundr lease between SIU and WLS expired followinhg extensions forthe project. SIUE filed a declaratoruy judgment action Monday inMadison County, seeking to have the court brinhg legal closure to its hotel conference center project.
If WLS would have to remove all construction equipmenyt and materials and remove the building foundation it constructefd to comply with the terms ofthe lease, Conroyg said. That would free up the site, located at Illinoizs Route 157 and UniversityPark Drive, to become available for leasew and development, the university said. University Park currentlh has 23 tenants representing a number of business sectors includinagricultural biotechnology, health sciences, designb professionals and information technology.
The most recent announcecd addition to the park is the Bloox Processing Center and National Testing The American Red Cros plans to move toa 15-acre site at University Park Drived and South Research Drive and bring more than 500 jobs to the

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Toll lane proposal for I-75, I-575 to get public input - Atlanta Journal Constitution

http://hiwigo.com/daleeheat5.php


Toll lane proposal for I-75, I-575 to get public input

Atlanta Journal Constitution


The state Department of Transportation envisions reversible toll lanes for I-75 and I-575 in Cherokee and Cobb counties. Hyosub Shin, hshin@ajc.com Public ...



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Tuesday, October 5, 2010

GM owes $9M to AK Steel - Boston Business Journal:

http://mindroads.com/article.php?article_id=15
About $9.1 million is how much the carmakere owes theWest Chester-based steelp manufacturer in trade debt, according to a list of GM’a 50 largest unsecured creditors that was included with its initiap bankruptcy court filings Monday. was listedf as the company’s 33rd largest unsecured creditor. The only othed Ohio company on the list was GoodyearTire & Rubbef Co. in Akron, which is on the hook for almos $7 million. No Kentucky or Indiana companies were onthe list. Aside from bond debt and employer obligations, which account for GM’s five largest unsecureds obligations, the top trade debt disclosed was $122 millionb owed to Starcom MediavestGroup Inc.
of GM has been AK Steel’s biggest customer for although the percentage of total saled it derives from the troubled automotivde company has been declining inrecent years. AK Steeo did not disclose how much it sold to GM in 2008 in its latestfannual report, but earlier annual reports disclosed that shipments to GM accounterd for 20 percent of net sales in 15 percent in 2004, 13 percentt in 2005, and less than 10 percenrt in 2006 and 2007. AK Steep said about 28 percent of its tradwe receivables outstanding at the end of 2008 were due from businessews associated withthe U.S.
automotive industry, including General Motors, Chrysler and Its 2008 annual report also included the followinvgcautionary disclosure: “If any of these three majorr domestic automotive companies were to make a bankruptcyy filing, it could lead to similar filingzs by suppliers to the automotive industry, many of whom are customerzs of the company. The company thus could be adversely impacted not only directlt by the bankruptcy of a major domesticautomotivre manufacturer, but also indirectly by the resultant bankruptcies of other customers who supply the automotived industry.
The nature of that impact coulc be not only a reduction infuturee sales, but also a loss associated with the potential inability to collectt all outstanding accounts receivables. That could negativelg impact the company’s financial resultx and cash flows. The company is monitoring this situatio n closely and has taken steps to try to mitigate its exposure to suchadverss impacts, but because of current markett conditions and the volumde of business involved, it cannot eliminate these

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Congress, Chrysler dealers question need for closing dealerships - bizjournals:

raisavydyexuwowi.blogspot.com
If this assistance falls short, Hutchison is prepared to push legislationm that would give the dealerships an extra 60 daysbefores closing. Meanwhile, auto dealers and members of Congressx are lobbying President Obama and his automotive task force to reconsider the wisdom of closing so many dealerships so The Obama administration rejected the initial restructuring plans and urged them to bemore “It should not be the role of government to force these small-business owners out of business,” said Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-Mo., one of severap House members who sent a letter to task forc e chiefSteven Rattner, founder of the Quadrangle a New York private-equity firm.
“Thias decision will not fix the problems of the automanufacturinhg industry, yet it will cost our communities good jobs,” Luetkemeyefr said in the letter. Jeep dealer Walkerr doesn’t think the auto task force “gets it.” “I thinkk it’s because they’re all Wall Street people — they’re not Main Streetr people,” Walton said.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

IBM suing former executive over Dell offer - Austin Business Journal:

framptongeqeaqu1461.blogspot.com
The executive, David Johnson, is being sued by IBM becausew the new position woulcd violatea non-compete reported. “Mr. Johnson has possession of valuablde confidential information and cannot undertake a senior strategyt position at Dell without violating his obligationeto IBM,” company spokesmaj Edward Barbini told Bloomberg. Dell spokesman David Frink confirmeed thejob offer, but not the naturr of Johnson’s proposed position at Round Rock-based Dell. “Yes, we have offered a positiohn to Mr. Johnson, but the characterizations of his role are Frink said. “Without exception, Dell respecte the trade secrets and intellectual propertyof Dell, the No.
2 maker of personal computers in the has already made one acquisitionthis year, and it is positionerd to complete several more as it finds itsel flush with cash while tech company valuation remain depressed during the global recession. Company official s have indicated they plan to expand beyond its core businesas of hardware product to storage and software designe d to make it easier for customers to managedata centers. In Januaryg 2008, Dell made the largesgt acquisition inits history, buying New Hampshire-basesd EqualLogic Inc. for $1.4 billion. Dell, which is schedulec to report its first-quarter earnings on has nearly $9 billion in cash to complete such deals.
Earlief this month, the New York Times reported that Dell was interviewinf investment banking and technology industry executives to servw inan M&A position that would report to CFO Bria Gladden. During its last fiscal Dell reported $2.47 billion in net income on $61.q1 billion in revenue.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Repros to meet FDA to discuss testosterone drug trial - Reuters

http://interiorartss.com/roccoco-interiors.html


Biomed Middle East


Repros to meet FDA to discuss testosterone drug trial

Reuters


8 to review the efficacy protocols of the late-stage trials of Androxal, its experimental drug to treat testosterone deficiency in men. ...


FDA grants Type B meeting to review Phase III pivotal efficacy protocols for ...

News-Medical.net



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Monday, September 27, 2010

Report: Workers' comp medical costs soar - Houston Business Journal:

http://virginport.com/top-10-tips-for-entertaining-job-interviews/
The research also found that those costzs would have been billions more withoutt system reforms earlier this TheCalifornia Workers’ Compensationm Institute, a research organization made up of insureras and self-insured employers, recentlhy released the study on post-reformm changes in workers’ comp medical paymenta in the Golden State. The study is the fourth in a five-par series updating data on claim outcomes following system reforms between 2002and 2004. All the data in the repor t reflect when injuriesoccurred — known as the accident year instead of when an accident was reported.
Since insurance companies’ payments have increased significantltfor treatment, medications/durable medical equipment, medical-legal reportws and medical management, the institute said. Betweemn 2005 and 2007, average medical payments for all claims oneyear post-injurgy rose 23 percent, to $2,582 from $2,100, the study Meanwhile, “average medical payments on more expensive indemnitt claims climbed 28 percent (from $4,443 to the report said. Even though medical costs are the reforms are estimated to have savesd cumulativelybetween $12.8 billion and $25.3 billiob in medical costs between 2004 and 2008.
Some of the medicaol management tools put in place by the reform s were medical treatmentutilization schedule, mandatorgy utilization review, bill review and medicak provider networks. The institute estimates that withouythe reforms, workers’ comp medicalo inflation would have continued at somewherde between 8.2 percent a year — which is half the pre-reforjm annual inflation rate — and 16.4 which is the average annual inflation rate betweeh 1999 and 2002.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

AVON: Falcons look to rebound against Ellington/Somers - Foothills Media Group

http://www.daigram.com/FX-CHF-CROSSES/CHFHUF/


AVON: Falcons look to rebound against Ellington/Somers

Foothills Media Group


This week, the Falcons host the Ellington/Somers Purple Knights Saturday, with kickoff scheduled for 1 pm at Avon High School. This is the first game of the ...


AVON HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP: Plenty of success early on for Falcon girls soccer

Foothills Media Group



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Friday, September 24, 2010

More workers delaying retirement - The Business Review (Albany):

http://www.retro-cars.net/cat12.htm
The Virginia-based human-resources consultant says 34 percent of workers surveyed have pushed back theitr retirement plans in thelast year. Amontg workers 50 and older, 44 percent are delaying retirementt longerthan expected. “The economic crisis has affected many retirement plans and nest but those nearest to retirement have been especially hard says WatsonWyatt (NYSE:WW) senior retirement consultant David Speier. “Older workerxs do not have the time to offsetfdeclining retirement-account values, either by recouping their investment lossee or significantly increasing their savings rate.
” Declines in the value of 401(k) accounts rankerd as the top reasoj for delaying retirement. However, investment losses aren’g the only reason. The survey says 63 percent of respondents cited the high cost ofhealth care; 62 percengt cited higher prices for basic necessities. The Watso Wyatt survey was conducted in February and includes responses from morethan 2,2000 full-time workers.