WESTERN PACIFIC TRUST COMPANY (TSX VENTURE: WP) (”the Company”) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Helen Wong, CGA, as Chief Financial Officer of the Company effective March 12, 2010. Ms. Wong has served as Manager, Accounting of the Company since October 8, 2004, prior to which she had been the Companys Senior Accountant for a number of years.
Western Pacific Trust Company is a non-deposit taking financial corporation. Western Pacific is licensed under the Financial Institutions Act in British Columbia as a Trust Company, and is also registered extra-provincially in Alberta as a non-deposit taking Trust Company. Western Pacific Trust has two wholly owned subsidiaries: Western Equity Loans Ltd., a registered mortgage broker in British Columbia, and Futureworth Financial Planners Corp., a fully integrated retail financial service company offering investment related products and services on an independent basis.
This news release was prepared by the Board of Directors which is solely responsible for its contents.
SANTIAGO, Chile — Chile may need to spend twice as much as Haiti to recover from its devastating quake and tsunami, but it doesnt have the same desperate need for international aid or generous loans. Thanks to surplus stashed away in better times, Chile will be able to finance much of its own reconstruction from last months disaster. On Friday, President Sebastian Pinera said the country will draw on foreign credit “with moderation.” And while both countries are still coping with the wrenching human cost of the disasters, Chile is on far sounder footing when it comes to addressing material losses. “I havent seen a country in such a favorable position to address a natural disaster in a long time,” said Carlos Felipe Jaramillo, the World Banks director for the Andean region, in an interview with The Associated Press. “They are in fabulous standing with us and have a tremendous capacity to respond.”
PHILADELPHIA — Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (NYSE: PEI) today reported
results for the quarter and full year ended December 31, 2009. A
description of each non-GAAP financial measure and the related
reconciliation to the comparable GAAP measure are located at the end of
this press release.
“We are very pleased to report that we have closed on a $670 million
credit facility agreement with our bank group, led by Wells Fargo. This
facility replaces the previous line of credit and term loan,” said
Ronald Rubin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Since the beginning
of 2009, we have reached several major milestones: the opening of
Nordstrom, numerous in-line tenants, and the restaurants of Bistro Row
at Cherry Hill Mall; the opening of Whole Foods Market and the retail
wing at Plymouth Meeting Mall; the opening of the offices of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania at The Gallery at Market East; and the
opening of shops along the boulevard at Voorhees Town Center.”
Funds From Operations, as adjusted to exclude gains on extinguishment of
debt and asset impairment charges, was $37.3 million, or $0.81 per
diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2009. FFO as so adjusted for
the fourth quarter of 2008 was $41.8 million, or $1.02 per diluted
share. FFO as adjusted for 2009 was $120.3 million, or $2.78 per diluted
share. FFO as adjusted for 2008 was $141.5 million, or $3.45 per diluted
share.
Funds From Operations (“FFO”) for the fourth quarter of 2009, including
the gains and charges, was negative $23.8 million, or $0.52 per diluted
share. FFO for the fourth quarter of 2008 was $41.3 million, or $1.00
per diluted share. FFO for 2009, including the gains and charges, was
$73.1 million, or $1.69 per diluted share, compared to $141.0 million,
or $3.43 per diluted share, for 2008. FFO and the adjustments for the
quarters and full years are as follows:
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) today signed a
memorandum of understanding (MoU) with CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd.
CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd is a private company established to
catalyze and accelerate the delivery of various eGovernance services
through the CSC framework. The purpose of the MoU is to make education and
health care solutions available and to promote social inclusion through
CSCs across India. The MoU was signed by Shankar Aggarwal, CEO, CSC
e-Governance Services India Ltd. and Naresh Wadhwa, president and country
manager, Cisco India in the presence of John Chambers, chairman and CEO,
Cisco; Wim Elfrink, chief globalisation officer and executive vice
president, Cisco Services; R. Chandrashekhar, secretary, Department of
Information Technology, government of India; and S. R. Rao, additional
secretary, Department of Information Technology.
The Common Service Centres program is a strategic cornerstone of the
government of Indias National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) with 250,000 CSCs
planned across 600,000 villages. The CSCs have the potential to offer
Web-enabled e-governance services in rural areas as well as to provide
high-quality and cost-effective video, voice and data content and services
in areas such as education, health and entertainment.
Key Facts/Highlights:
By working collaboratively toward a common vision of Smart Connected
Communities , Cisco and CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd intend to
make the technology platform available to CSCs to deliver transformational
education and health care solutions to citizens across India. Cisco has
worked with governments and communities around the world on delivering its
vision for Smart Connected Communities and believes that the delivery of
high-quality services to rural areas can help India produce more inclusive
and balanced growth.
The education services will use the Cisco® Remote Education Centre,
an education platform hosted in the cloud with the ability to support
30,000 simultaneous classes. Powered by the market-leading Cisco WebEx
on-demand collaboration solution, the Remote Education Centre platform
brings the teacher, along with e-content, virtually to remote classrooms.
It has been successfully piloted in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh and other
geographies.
The health care services will be offered through the Cisco
HealthPresence extended reach solution, a desktop-based telemedicine
solution that has immense potential in providing access to high-quality
health care across India.
The HealthPresence extended reach solution can also be hosted in a cloud
and support several thousand high-quality video-based telemedicine sessions
simultaneously and has been successfully piloted in India, Africa, and
Latin America. New delivery models for health care through the CSCs will
help expand access to health care and manage access to information in a
highly secure and reliable manner.
Cisco believes that a holistic transformation of the educational system
can be enabled by collaborative technologies that allow individuals to
create, adapt and share content and best practices. By providing
extraordinary access to
high-quality educational services through the CSCs, Cisco intends to help
create a knowledge economy by imparting vocational training to rural youth
and preparing students in India to become members of the global workforce.
The Cisco Smart Connected Communities initiative is designed to provide
cities and communities with smart and connected solutions for utilities,
safety and security, connected real estate, transportation, health care,
learning, sports venues, and government services. By providing a
network-enabled blueprint for successful smart communities of the future,
Smart Connected Communities solutions help transform physical communities
into connected communities that can help realize sustainable economic
growth and GDP, enable environmental sustainability through resource
management and operational efficiencies, and enhance quality of life for
residents.
Transformational health care services have the potential to break the
boundaries of geography and ease pressure from the increasing demand for
expert services in health care systems regionally and nationally. The
network as the platform allows for innovative delivery models with strong
communication and collaboration capabilities bringing 21st-century
education and health care services to the citizens of India.
Cisco intends to make available education and health care services with
the goal of building sustainable replicable models for the future. Cisco
has worked with governments around the world to further the cause of
inclusive education and health care through the use of technology.
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) today signed a
memorandum of understanding (MoU) with CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd.
CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd is a private company established to
catalyze and accelerate the delivery of various eGovernance services
through the CSC framework. The purpose of the MoU is to make education and
health care solutions available and to promote social inclusion through
CSCs across India. The MoU was signed by Shankar Aggarwal, CEO, CSC
e-Governance Services India Ltd. and Naresh Wadhwa, president and country
manager, Cisco India in the presence of John Chambers, chairman and CEO,
Cisco; Wim Elfrink, chief globalisation officer and executive vice
president, Cisco Services; R. Chandrashekhar, secretary, Department of
Information Technology, government of India; and S. R. Rao, additional
secretary, Department of Information Technology.
The Common Service Centres program is a strategic cornerstone of the
government of Indias National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) with 250,000 CSCs
planned across 600,000 villages. The CSCs have the potential to offer
Web-enabled e-governance services in rural areas as well as to provide
high-quality and cost-effective video, voice and data content and services
in areas such as education, health and entertainment.
Key Facts/Highlights:
By working collaboratively toward a common vision of Smart Connected
Communities , Cisco and CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd intend to
make the technology platform available to CSCs to deliver transformational
education and health care solutions to citizens across India. Cisco has
worked with governments and communities around the world on delivering its
vision for Smart Connected Communities and believes that the delivery of
high-quality services to rural areas can help India produce more inclusive
and balanced growth.
The education services will use the Cisco® Remote Education Centre,
an education platform hosted in the cloud with the ability to support
30,000 simultaneous classes. Powered by the market-leading Cisco WebEx
on-demand collaboration solution, the Remote Education Centre platform
brings the teacher, along with e-content, virtually to remote classrooms.
It has been successfully piloted in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh and other
geographies.
The health care services will be offered through the Cisco
HealthPresence extended reach solution, a desktop-based telemedicine
solution that has immense potential in providing access to high-quality
health care across India.
The HealthPresence extended reach solution can also be hosted in a cloud
and support several thousand high-quality video-based telemedicine sessions
simultaneously and has been successfully piloted in India, Africa, and
Latin America. New delivery models for health care through the CSCs will
help expand access to health care and manage access to information in a
highly secure and reliable manner.
Cisco believes that a holistic transformation of the educational system
can be enabled by collaborative technologies that allow individuals to
create, adapt and share content and best practices. By providing
extraordinary access to
high-quality educational services through the CSCs, Cisco intends to help
create a knowledge economy by imparting vocational training to rural youth
and preparing students in India to become members of the global workforce.
The Cisco Smart Connected Communities initiative is designed to provide
cities and communities with smart and connected solutions for utilities,
safety and security, connected real estate, transportation, health care,
learning, sports venues, and government services. By providing a
network-enabled blueprint for successful smart communities of the future,
Smart Connected Communities solutions help transform physical communities
into connected communities that can help realize sustainable economic
growth and GDP, enable environmental sustainability through resource
management and operational efficiencies, and enhance quality of life for
residents.
Transformational health care services have the potential to break the
boundaries of geography and ease pressure from the increasing demand for
expert services in health care systems regionally and nationally. The
network as the platform allows for innovative delivery models with strong
communication and collaboration capabilities bringing 21st-century
education and health care services to the citizens of India.
Cisco intends to make available education and health care services with
the goal of building sustainable replicable models for the future. Cisco
has worked with governments around the world to further the cause of
inclusive education and health care through the use of technology.
Signature Devices, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: SDVI) announced that it has signed a consulting agreement with DME Capital LLC, a New York based investor relations firm, to help the company develop and implement a new global investor relations plan.
Kenneth Hurley, CEO of Signature Devices, Inc., stated, “As we move forward in 2010, we expect significant growth for SDVI and its shareholders, and along with that growth, we believe this is the right time to send our message to the investment community. After careful consideration, DME Capital LLC, with their established relationships among institutional investors, combined with their extensive databases and proactive IR program, is the perfect partner for Signature Devices, Inc.”
About Signature Devices, Inc. and Graffiti Entertainment, Inc.:
Canpages , Canadas fastest growing local search firm today announced the launch of its free augmented reality iPhone application for local search called the CanadaEye . One of only a small handful of mobile applications in North America that leverages this new technology, CanadaEye lets users search and view the direction and distance to all specific business locations in real-time overlaid on iPhones screen.
Augmented reality is the latest technology coined for applications that leverage the iPhone 3GS compass, GPS and video camera simultaneously. The Canpages application enables users search for a specific business category-from local delis and mom and pop bakeries to Starbucks and Tim Hortons-and then shows the direction and distance to all of the businesses in the category in the local area. Essentially, CanadaEye is one application to find everything nearby as well as how to get there in real time.
The application is free to download through iTunes here and allows users to search Canpages more than one million business listings across Canada.
CanadaEye represents another innovation in a string of online and mobile product “firsts” for Canpages including the launch of Street Scene on Canpages.ca, which provides 360-degree views of Canadian cities at street level, as well as the first voice-recognition local search applications for the iPhone and Blackberry. Additionally, Canpages was the first local search firm to meaningfully embrace social media with the companys recent acquisition of GigPark , a social networking and recommendations platform.
After Watching IFBB Pro League bikini competitor and 2009 FLEX Swimsuit Issue cover model Monique Minton glide into place onstage or turn it on for the camera, its hard to imagine her putting the hurt on opponents on the jujitsu mat. Although “tough” is the last word anyone would use to describe a bikini competitor, in Mintons case, its more than appropriate, because this statuesque beauty won the womens novice class in the NAGA Texas and Europa Grappling Championships in 2009. “I like the challenge of getting on the mat and going against my opponent,” Minton said. “Competing in bikini and jujitsu, I get the best of both worlds–the glamour and the grit.” Minton credits her parents and her upbringing for her ability to excel at two disparate activities. Her mother, Nadine, was a model and her father, Oscar, was a strict disciplinarian who taught her humility and mental toughness and instilled in her a strong work ethic The result: a girl who will break your heart and your arm, then, smiling gently, help you into the car and drive you to the hospital. “My dad is very old-school 1 Filipino, so I wasnt allowed I to do anything other than go to school and stay home with the family until I finished high school. After that, we were on our own and could do what we liked, so Ive been doing a lot of catching up.” NO SISSY STUFF “I was never athletic growing up. My mom got me into runway modeling when I was 13, because she used to do it. I stopped when I was 21, because I got burned out. I took a year off and thats when I got into figure.”
CogniVue Corporation, an innovator in programmable Image Cognition Processors (ICPs) enabling real-time embedded image and video analytics applications in emerging markets such as automotive smart cameras, internet protocol (IP) video surveillance, and mobile consumer devices, and Future Electronics today announced the CV2101, a high performance small footprint video event recorder (VER) application specific standard product (ASSP) for use in automotive video cameras and black-box applications.
The CV2101 VER highly integrated feature set includes:
Production volumes of the CV2101 are available now with 10K volume pricing of $19.95.
“With our CV2101, customers have a cost-effective, small footprint, high-performance solution for video event recorders”, said Simon Morris, CEO of CogniVue. “Market adoption of VERs is steadily increasing and the highly integrated CV2101 offering is ideally suited to meet the needs of this new automotive application.”
South Africa Insurance Report provides industry professionals and
strategists, corporate analysts, insurance associations, government
departments and regulatory bodies with independent forecasts and
competitive intelligence on South Africas insurance industry.
Since the Q309 report, the main changes have been a review of the
company profiles both local and multinational. We have also included a
large quantity of new data. In virtually all cases the regulator or
trade association has published final premium figures for 2008, which
was not necessarily the case when we prepared the Q309 reports. In many
instances we have revised our projections of non-life penetration and
life density. This is because it has become clear that the linear
progressions that we had been expecting for most countries are not an
accurate reflection of what has been happening in recent months. As a
consequence, we have much greater confidence in our forecasts of premium
income for 2009.
Early 2009 in many ways was a challenging but far from disastrous period
for the major protagonists in most insurance markets. Notwithstanding
the fact that particular non-life markets suffered as a result of a
slump in the number of cars registered, and correspondingly lower demand
for compulsory third party motor (CTPM) insurance and voluntary motor
insurance, global non-life premiums generally held up well despite the
global economic downturn. In contrast, life premiums were lower in most
markets in Q109 than they had been in Q108. This was largely the result
of the past volatility in global equity markets, although there were
also other problems. Conditions remain fair in the global reinsurance
market.
In terms of the major regions whose insurance markets are covered Latin
America and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) stood out in terms
of growth in premiums, in non-life insurance in particular but also in
life insurance. Conditions were far more mixed in Central and Eastern
Europe (CEE), particularly in non-life insurance where the downturn in
car registrations hit hard, and Asia Pacific, where various factors
caused fall in life premiums in many markets.
General Metals Corporation (OTCBB: GNMT) (FRANKFURT: GMQ) (the Company) today announced that Paul Wang has been appointed to the Companys board of directors. Mr. Wang is a corporate finance executive with extensive experience in strategic mergers acquisitions, partnerships and operating agreements with a focus on natural resources that will round out General Metals management team as the company moves forward and focuses on becoming a profitable gold producer.
He has arranged cross border funding with the World Bank with insurance credit support and has sourced, negotiated and evaluated deal structures for private equity and direct investments developed with international banks, major European private equity houses, and investors for early stage financing, acquisition and buyout financing. Mr. Wang has over 15 years experience as a senior management consultant advising companies and private and institutional investors on acquisitions and complex transactions in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and the Middle East. He is well versed in corporate governance ranging from junior US companies to large multi-national corporations and as Chief Financial Officer of Untied Mining Corp., assisted in taking that company public. He recently advised the Multi-National Corps-Iraq on improving banking and financial institutions, and coordinated US Department of State programs with the Iraqi public and private sectors.
Mr. Wang has been Senior Planner at W.R. Grace Company, evaluating natural resource acquisitions, expansions and divestitures; Project Finance Advisor to Chase Manhattan Bank, arranging project financing for natural resource projects; Investment Advisor to Bankers Trust Company, NYC (Deutsche Bank), directing financial planning and strategy for Europe; Chief Financial Officer, United Mining Corp.; and Senior Vice President and Limited Partner, APL Ltd., NV, advising clients such as Raytheon Aircraft Co., Air Hanson Ltd., Litton of Canada, Network Solutions Inc., EDO Corp.
Mr. Wang holds a degree in Physics with a minor in Economics from McGill University and an MBA from Wharton Graduate School with a major in Corporate Finance, Money and Banking.
On February 25, 2010, the Board of Directors of The Empire Life Insurance Company (Empire Life) declared the payment of an annual cash dividend for 2010 on Empire Life issued and outstanding common shares, in the amount of $15.2273 per share, payable March 15, 2010 to shareholders of record February 25, 2010.
This dividend is an increase from the 2009 dividend amount as Empire Life did not pay a dividend in 2009. Empire Life advises that the above referenced dividend is an eligible dividend for the purposes of the Income Tax Act, Canada and any similar provincial tax legislation.
A subsidiary of E-L Financial Corporation Limited and in business since 1923, Empire Life helps Canadians build wealth and protect their financial security with competitive individual and group life and health insurance, investment and retirement products. The Companys vision is to be the leading independently-owned Canadian financial services company committed to simplicity, being easy to do business with and having a personal touch.
Exploring the self through photography; activities for use in group work.
Question: How many therapists does it take to change a light bulb? Answer: Just one. But the light bulb has to want to change. Its that way with spiritual change, too. We dont get divine help if we dont truly want it. Who may be redeemed? As the Lord said to Adam, “As many as will.”
Motivate to communicate!; 300 games and activities for your child with autism.
Garda World Security Corporation (TSX: GW) (Garda) announced today it has successfully refinanced its existing debt with a combination of new bank loans and and long term unsecured financing. As a result, Garda expects to save approximately C$15 million in financing expenses during the first 12 months.
The new capital structure will consist in a bank three year term loan of C$340 million comprising a C$125 million revolving credit facility and C$215 million term loan, and the issuance of 9.75% senior unsecured notes of US$250 million and C$75 million due 2017. Net proceeds will be used to repay all bank facilities as well as the termination of all the interest rate swap agreements.
“Members of our leadership team are now focused on executing their strategies and business plans, optimizing cost efficiencies and growing their operational platforms,” says President and CEO Stephan Cretier. “We have certainly shown resiliency over the past year. With this enhanced capital structure, Garda is now well positioned to focus on growth opportunities in all the markets we serve.”
“With this long term capital structure and more attractive financing conditions, we now have the capital availability to enhance Gardas financial position and manage our debt optimally,” notes Garda Chief Financial Officer Patrick Prince. “Our business units enjoy predictable revenue streams and attractive cash flows from operations and we have the flexible cost and capital structure to maximize our opportunities for growth and to rapidly repay our debt. We are pleased that our financial partners and investors share our vision for Garda and actively worked with us on this successful refinancing.”
Deloittes Capital Advisory Group acted as financial advisors to Garda.
NEW YORK — Loss severities on distressed U.S. residential mortgage loans are likely
to rise this year as several key government support programs expire,
according to Fitch Ratings.
Low mortgage rates, homebuyer tax credits and government directed
loan-modification programs have led to an improvement in home prices and
loss severities since second quarter-2009. But the expiration in the
coming months of both the homebuyer tax credit and the Federal Reserves
$1.25 trillion MBS purchase program will increase negative pressure on
home prices and loss severities, according to Senior Director Grant
Bailey.
Additionally, an increase in the liquidation of loans with unsuccessful
loan modifications is expected to add to the supply of distressed
inventory in the housing market. Servicers are further along in
identifying borrowers ineligible for modifications and will likely be
more aggressive in liquidating those loans this year compared to last,
said Bailey. Less costly alternatives to foreclosure, such as
short-sales, should help stem rising loss severities due to the lower
costs and speed of the resolution.
Loss severities on loans resolved through short-sales are approximately
10% lower than loss severities on loans in which the servicer takes
possession of the property. Additionally, the seasonal increase in
housing activity through the summer may delay the full impact of the
withdrawal of the government support programs until later this year.
Loss severity trends continue to be strongly dependent on home price
trends, as shown in Fitchs most recent RMBS Performance Metrics
results. In the two years prior to the recent improvement, national home
prices dropped approximately 30% while loss severities on loans which
incurred losses doubled to record highs of 43% for private-label Prime
loans, 58% for Alt-A loans and 72% for Subprime loans.
PARIS BOSTON — Regulatory News:
Ipsen (Paris:IPN) (Euronext: FR0010259150; IPN), a global biotechnology
specialty care group, and Rhythm Pharmaceuticals (Rhythm), a
biotechnology company developing peptide therapeutics for metabolic
diseases, announced today that they have concluded a license agreement
for Ipsen’s proprietary peptide therapeutics targeting obesity,
metabolic diseases, and gastrointestinal disorders. Under the terms of
the agreement, Ipsen has granted Rhythm an exclusive worldwide license
for research, development, and commercialization of its melanocortin and
ghrelin programs originating from Ipsen research.
“The agreement with Rhythm is a clear catalyst for the development of
proprietary molecules from Ipsen in promising indications within the
area of metabolic diseases, which are outside of our core strategic focus,”
said Stéphane Thiroloix, Executive Vice President, Corporate
Development, Ipsen. “Given Rhythm’s complete focus on metabolic
diseases, this transaction will leverage our combined expertise and
resources to rapidly transform these important discoveries into valuable
medical treatments.”
“Rhythm has a great opportunity to develop significant new peptide
therapeutics to improve the health of people with obesity, diabetes, and
other intractable metabolic diseases,” said Bart Henderson,
President of Rhythm. “We are extremely fortunate to have access
to Ipsen’s peptide discoveries and expertise in peptide formulations to
help us achieve this vision.”
About the Agreement
Frank Ottaviani, President of UTRM, said, “Signing our first distributor for our Waterless Toothbrush is a seminal event in the short history of UTRM. CTS Dental Supplies has been in the dental health distribution business for over 30 years and has developed an efficient distribution network for both small and major players in the dental health industry in the UK and Ireland. We look forward to working closely with CTS Dental in introducing and selling our new innovative Waterless Toothbrush that has the potential to reach over 65 million new customers. In addition, we are in the middle of negotiations with a number of international and domestic distributors which we will announce as contracts are signed.”
WHAT: Social Media Marketing Summit hosted by BrightTALK
Companies are reexamining their marketing strategies with the growth of social networks. This summit will look at the extent social media marketing has transformed the way traditional companies work, as well as the most proven uses of social media marketing to get the results businesses want.
The live, vendor-neutral, interactive webcasts will feature experts examining how to use social networks effectively and share tips for how to integrate these social technologies into a marketing strategy that delivers a strong ROI.
WHEN: Wednesday, March 10, 2010, from 1:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. PST (The webcasts will also be immediately recorded and viewable on-demand at BrightTALK)
TOPICS AND PRESENTERS:
“Why Branded Communities Fail and Practical Steps to Succeed”
Richard Millington, Social Media Online Community Manager, UN Refugee Agency
Paula’s Choice Cosmetics Leverages Integrated Online Marketing
Capabilities in Lyris HQ to Increase Customer Reach and ROI
EMERYVILLE, Calif. — Lyris,
Inc. today announced that Paula’s
Choice Inc., a provider of cosmetics and skin care products, is
using Lyris
HQ to manage its online marketing campaigns. Leveraging Lyris HQ’s email
marketing and email
deliverability capabilities, Paula’s Choice has more than doubled
its direct revenue, achieved click-through rates that far exceed the
industry average, increased email deliverability to as high as 98
percent and enhanced customer engagement.
Paula’s Choice is using Lyris HQ to send more than two million emails
per month to customers around the globe, keeping them apprised of the
latest skin-care education, catalog promotions, and events. Leveraging
Lyris HQ’s email deliverability and segmentation capabilities the
company is also able to easily test email subject lines, graphics and
other content to optimize email campaign effectiveness and engagement.
In addition, Lyris HQ’s built-in analytics provide Paula’s Choice with
deep, real-time insight into results across products, regions and online
channels, giving a holistic view of email and online marketing ROI.
Lyris HQ has enabled Paula’s Choice to:
SoftBank 940SH is latest in series of 3G mobile platforms to benefit
from Dialog power management ICs
KIRCHHEIM/TECK, Germany — Dialog Semiconductor plc (FWB: DLG), a leading provider of highly
integrated innovative power management semiconductor solutions, has
announced its power management ICs have been designed into a series of
Sharp 3G cellphones. The first of which, the Sharp AQUOS SHOT 940SH, is
available now from the Japanese network operator, Softbank.
The high performance 3G cellphone features a TV tuner, 4 � VGA touch
screen, 12.1 mega pixel camera – capable of continuous shooting for 100
frames at 45fps. The device also supports the new services from Softbank
allowing downloads from its e-book store and video on demand service.
We have worked closely with Sharp to ensure that the latest AQUOS SHOT,
achieves the lowest possible power consumption while delivering to the
user an impressive multimedia experience, said Dr Jalal Bagherli, CEO
of Dialog Semiconductor. Effective power management was therefore
critical and Dialog is proud to be a key enabling factor for Sharp.
30-Minute Webinar Details the Benefits of Continuous Controls
Monitoring, Auditing with Automated Controls and Policy Reporting, and
ROI of Application GRC
ACTON, Mass. — How do finance departments keep track of every single data event, in
order to ensure the authenticity of business-critical information? They
need a “camera in the vault,” tantamount to a security camera inside
their primary business application, where they can leverage continuous
monitoring at the database level, so that nothing goes undetected.
In an upcoming webinar hosted by Lumigent
Technologies, Inc., the GRC business apps company, attendees will
learn how Lumigent’s automated continuous monitoring GRC solution
reduces the cost of auditing and compliance reporting. By mitigating
business risk through continuous monitoring of key business controls and
policies, finance and audit executives can ensure the integrity of
critical business information.
What: “AppGRC®
– The Camera in the Vault™” webinar
SAN DIEGO, March 5 /PRNewswire/ — Novalar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that results from the first OraVerse dental practice survey will be presented today by Richard Ghalie, M.D., Chief Medical Officer for Novalar at the Annual Meeting of the American Association of Dental Research (AADR) in Washington, D.C. taking place March 3-6, 2010 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The survey was conducted with 49 dentists and 370 patients. Participating dentists were provided with 10 cartridges of OraVerse and a survey to provide to their patients to record their experience with the product. Of those patients that participated in the survey: 86% reported that OraVerse improved their dental experience 82% would recommend OraVerse to their friends and family
North Bridge Venture Partners Joins Current Investor, HLM Venture
Partners, in Strategic Financing Round
WOBURN, Mass. — SensAble
Technologies, Inc®, a leading provider of 3D modeling software,
haptic devices and dental restoration design and fabrication solutions,
announced that it has received an $8 million investment to propel sales,
marketing and engineering efforts for its digital dentistry product
line. Existing investor HLM
Venture Partners led the round and was joined by North
Bridge Venture Partners, both of whom are headquartered in the
Boston area, and have extensive expertise with medical device company
funding.
SensAble will use the new capital to better compete in the $3 billion
worldwide market for dental restoration equipment and supplies. In 2008
SensAble introduced the SensAble
Dental Lab System, an award-winning solution that helps dental labs
of all sizes migrate to the use of digital tools in scanning, designing,
and fabricating dental prosthetics and oral devices. Since then,
SensAble more than doubled its dental
business revenues and won key strategic customers worldwide. The
additional funding will allow SensAble to build upon its initial success
in a sizable and growing market.
“As dentistry goes digital, the dental lab business is in the early
stage of a massive transformation – with less than 20% of all dental
labs currently leveraging digital technology – while demand is on the
rise as aging baby boomers need more and better dental restorations,”
said Curt Rawley, chairman and CEO of SensAble. “It’s an enormous market
with multiple opportunities to improve dental lab productivity and
quality of output with solutions that integrate a wide range of newly
advanced technologies. We’re pleased to have the support of two
high-caliber venture capital firms who share our vision and will help us
achieve these goals.”
FALL RIVER, Mass., March 5 /PRNewswire/ — Millstone Medical Outsourcing announced today that the company recently hired John F. Ferris to be Director of Manufacturing Engineering. Mr. Ferris will be responsible for enhancing Millstone Medicals manufacturing operations, including processes involving new technology and automation. Millstone, outsource partner to the nations top orthopedic companies, is the fast-growing provider of advanced inspection, clean room packaging, loaner kit processing, and distribution services to medical and dental device manufacturers worldwide. Mr. Ferris brings over 25 years of manufacturing and engineering experience, including over 15 years in operational and engineering positions at DePuy and other prominent companies. Prior to joining Millstone he served as Manager of Manufacturing Engineering for Flexcon Industries. Mr. Ferris received a degree in Manufacturing Engineering from the New England Institute of Technology. He is trained in Just-in-Time manufacturing concepts, International Standards Organization (ISO) 9001, Branson TDR programming, as well as CNC, Laser, and CMM programming. He is a member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. “We are excited to welcome John to the team. He is an incredibly talented manufacturing engineer. He offers Millstones customers the level of expertise they need to compete in todays competitive market,” said Christopher Ramsden, Chief Executive Officer.
BENSALEM, Pa. — Law Offices of Howard G. Smith announces that it is investigating
potential claims against the board of directors of RCN Corporation
(“RCN” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq:RCNI) related to the Company’s
agreement to be acquired by ABRY Partners, LLC. The cash transaction is
valued at approximately $1.2 billion, including assumed debt.
Under the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger entered into by the
parties, each share of RCN common stock issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the effective time of the merger will be cancelled
and converted into the right to receive $15.00 in cash. Completion of
the transaction is expected to occur in the second half of 2010. The
investigation concerns possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other
violations of law related to approval of the transaction by the RCN
board of directors.
SAN DIEGO — Robbins
Umeda LLP has commenced an investigation into possible breaches of
fiduciary duty and other violations of state law by the Board of
Directors of infoGROUP Inc. (”Infogroup”) (NASDAQ: IUSA) in
connection with their decision to pursue the sale of Infogroup to CCMP
Capital Advisors, LLC (”CCMP”). If the transaction is approved,
Infogroup shareholders will receive $8.00 in cash per share of Infogroup
common stock they hold. The deal is set to close early summer 2010.
Robbins Umeda LLPs investigation concerns whether Infogroups Board of
Directors acceptance and recommendation of CCMPs offer was the result
of a fair process designed to secure the best possible price for all
Infogroup shareholders.
The budget outlook is truly dismal. The deficit for the current fiscal year could hit $1.6 trillion, and experts project a tsunami of red ink for years to come. But there is a model for how to stop the countrys headlong rush toward fiscal ruin. Its called BRAC, an acronym for Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission. In the late 1980s, the Pentagon found itself with unneeded military bases. The obvious answer was to close them. But each meant jobs and revenue for a local community, and every lawmaker representing one of those communities freaked out at the thought of losing federal dollars. In a rare burst of self-knowledge, Congress realized it was too spineless to resist such protests. So in 1990, it passed a law creating a new procedure. The Pentagon would draw up a list of installations slated for closure; that list would be passed on to a BRAC, an independent, bipartisan commission appointed by the president. The BRAC could revise the Pentagons recommendations — and the lobbying at that point was furious — but once the panel approved a final list, Congress had to ratify or reject the entire package.
SAN DIEGO, March 5 /PRNewswire/ — Novalar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that results from the first OraVerse dental practice survey will be presented today by Richard Ghalie, M.D., Chief Medical Officer for Novalar at the Annual Meeting of the American Association of Dental Research (AADR) in Washington, D.C. taking place March 3-6, 2010 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The survey was conducted with 49 dentists and 370 patients. Participating dentists were provided with 10 cartridges of OraVerse and a survey to provide to their patients to record their experience with the product. Of those patients that participated in the survey: 86% reported that OraVerse improved their dental experience 82% would recommend OraVerse to their friends and family
Hu-Friedy, a global leader in the manufacture of dental instruments, acknowledged the work of two Dental Hygienists by sponsoring their trip to attend the Chicago Midwinter Meeting, which convened at McCormick Place February 25-27.
“Dental hygienists play such an important role in preventive oral health,” said Ron Saslow, president and Chief Executive Officer of Hu-Friedy. “Year after year they conscientiously attend to the dental health needs of their patients and passionately pursue continuing education.
Hu-Friedy has the honor of providing quality handcrafted instruments to this group and is committed to doing all we can to enable access to information and education that will add value to their professional lives. In the current economic climate it is sometimes difficult to attend some of the major conferences, so we are gratified that we could sponsor these two individuals who obviously have made a difference for so many.”
The contest winners were Lesa K, Crane, RDH, BSHS, Assistant Local Coordinator of the Dental Hygiene Program of the Northern Virginia/Germanna Community College in Locust Grove, Virginia and Debby Kurtz-Weidinger, RDH, M.ED., a dental hygienist at the Carl Hayden VA Medical Center Dental Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona.
Crane said she had not been to the Chicago meeting since 1984. It was then that the native of Decatur, Illinois heard a presentation by Irene Woodall. “She inspired me to believe I could become a periotherapist. Now, Ive come full circle. Im an educator myself and the Midwinter Meeting has course offerings that will help us develop our program. Hu-Friedy has always promoted excellence and quality with its products. This essay contest is an example of the Companys commitment to quality and excellence.”
1. ancestral barn and Church farm Cottage, derbyshire
Popular elements include fire pits, low maintenance landscapes and
low-frill entertaining
WASHINGTON — While outdoor living continues to grow in popularity, expect fewer
frills this year as homeowners get back to the basics in a cool economy,
according to an American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) survey
of residential landscape architects.
Overall, 94.4 percent of residential landscape architects rate outdoor
living spaces like kitchens or entertaining space as somewhat or very
popular for 2010. Among kitchen features, the most popular include the
classic outdoor grill (94.4 percent) and counter space (73.5 percent).
More elaborate kitchen elements like outdoor refrigerators (52.8
percent) and sinks (50 percent) were much less popular.
Following a similar trend, the most popular outdoor entertainment
features eschewed more expensive, elaborate items in favor of the
essentials. For 2010, expect the continued interest in seating/dining
areas (95.6 percent) using installed seating like benches and seatwalls
(90.6 percent) or weatherized outdoor furniture (77.1 percent), along
with the ever-popular fire pit/fireplace (94 percent). Landscape
architects anticipate less enthusiasm for items like stereo systems
(57.2 percent), outdoor heaters (43.9 percent) and TVs (35.5 percent).
“Homeowners want to create a sense of place for their family, friends,
and neighbors to enjoy outside, but an uncertain economy means many will
dial back some of the extra features we’ve seen in past years,” said
ASLA Executive Vice President and CEO Nancy Somerville, Hon. ASLA.
LOS ANGELES — California Pizza Kitchen, Inc. (Nasdaq:CPKI) announced today that
management will be presenting at the Raymond James Institutional
Investors Conference in Orlando, Florida on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at
1:05 p.m. ET.
California Pizza Kitchen, Inc., founded in 1985, is a leading casual
dining chain. The Companys full service restaurants feature an
imaginative line of hearth-baked pizzas, including the original BBQ
Chicken Pizza, and a broad selection of distinctive pastas, salads,
soups, appetizers and sandwiches. As of March 3, 2010 the company
operates, licenses or franchises 252 locations, of which 205 are
company-owned and 47 operate under franchise or license agreements. The
Company also has a licensing agreement with Kraft Pizza Company which
manufactures and distributes a line of California Pizza Kitchen premium
frozen pizzas.
BREA,Calif. — New Century Infusion Solutions, Inc. (NCIS), the first Oncology
Benefit Management (OBM) company, is pleased to announce the publication
of a white paper by the Lewin Group: “Medicare Cancer Care
Coordination Using The Integrated Single Specialty Provider (ISSP)
Model.” The report estimates that over a 10-year horizon, a payer could
realize oncology savings of “$16.3 million for every 10,000 Medicare
beneficiaries included in the ISSP arrangement.”
According to Joel Menges, a Lewin Group Managing Director and the
report’s lead author, “The Integrated Single Specialty Provider model’s
ability to initially hold flat a payer’s outpatient cancer costs creates
considerable savings given the sharp trends typically occurring in this
sector.” In addition, commented Menges, “Applying the model
more broadly in the Medicare arena creates particularly large-scale
savings opportunities.”
Chris Nee, PharmD, a founder of New Century Infusion Solutions,
said: “The white paper is indicative of the range of oncology savings
we’ve provided to various payer groups across the country during the
past several years. Since its introduction almost four years ago, the
ISSP model has enabled our Medicare, Medicaid and Commercial healthcare
clients to shift the cost curve for cancer care and realize ongoing cost
reductions while providing evidence-based care.”
BOSTON — pSivida Corp, (NASDAQ:PSDV, ASX:PSD, FF:PV33), a leader in the
development of ophthalmic sustained release drug delivery products, with
two of the only three such products approved by the FDA for treatment of
back of the eye diseases, today announced it will be presenting at the
Cowen Company Annual Health Care Conference in Boston, March 8. Dr.
Paul Ashton, president and chief executive officer, will present at 4:45
p.m. Eastern time.
pSivida is a world leader in the development of tiny, sustained release,
drug delivery products that are administered by implantation, injection
or insertion. pSividas lead development product delivers fluocinolone
acetonide (FA) for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME). This
product candidate, formerly known as Medidur™ FA for DME, is licensed to
Alimera, which is conducting fully-recruited Phase III clinical trials
and intends to commercialize the product under the name Iluvien®.
pSivida also has two products approved by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA): Retisert® for the treatment of posterior uveitis
and Vitrasert® for the treatment of AIDS-related cytomegalovirus (CMV)
retinitis. pSivida has licensed both of these products and the
technologies underlying them to Bausch Lomb Incorporated. pSivida has
a worldwide collaborative research and license agreement with Pfizer
Inc. under which Pfizer may develop additional ophthalmic products.
pSivida owns the rights to develop and commercialize a modified form of
silicon known as BioSilicon™, which has potential therapeutic
applications. The most advanced BioSilicon product candidate,
BrachySil™, delivers a therapeutic P32, a radioactive form of phosphorus
used to treat cancer, directly to solid tumors. pSivida conducted an
initial safety clinical trial of BrachySil for the treatment of
pancreatic cancer and in October 2009 completed of a follow-on
dose-ranging clinical trial.
Kabira Technologies, Inc., a leading innovator of communications software applications and performance technology elements that accelerate Pace of Return, announced today that Manish Gupta , vice president of global marketing for Kabira, will be a featured panel speaker at ” Policy Control, DPI the Mobile Packet Core ,” hosted by Light Reading as part of CTIA, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. This panel is part of the one day conference event dedicated to examining the evolving role of policy tools including policy servers and PCRF-compliant policy decision points, policy enforcement points including DPI gear, and the future IP service world.
Mr. Gupta will participate in the session “The Mobile Services Revolution: What Is the Role of Policy?”, which will take place on March 24, 2010 from 2:30pm – 3:30pm. As a contributor on the panel, Mr. Gupta will offer insight into how Policy Orchestration by Kabira allows operators to offer existing products, new services and emerging technologies to create unique and rich solutions to enable maximum ROI, drive up data revenues, manage network-enterprise resources, capacity and QoS, while minimizing the need for additional investment in network infrastructure. Kabiras Policy Orchestration solutions are game-changers in the Policy ecosystem as they deliver ultimate scale, flexibility and high-availability. They are designed to help accelerate new revenue streams while delivering dramatically reduced long-term cost of growth.
The panel discussion will include Communication Service Providers (CSPs) best practice recommendations for implementing 3GPP standards driven telco-grade, real-time software, logic, switching and caching layer that helps operators further monetize their IP networks to enhance and differentiate an increasing number of smart applications including: enablement of bandwidth guarantees, over the air provisioning, personalized services and targeted advertising campaigns and partner programs. Panelists will discuss how to increase the ability to execute decisions and enforcement logic based on user data, such as profile information, account balance, specific policies, privacy rules and location and presence — all in real-time and at network speed. Discussions will also center on reacting to network data and analysis with knowledge and in real-time without compromising the network, to provide carrier class, scalable, high-performance processing of service requests to allow their systems to provide unparalleled scalability, throughput and low latency to address the challenging service requirements that face communications service providers today and in the future.
About Kabira Technologies, Inc.
Kabira Technologies provides communications service providers software applications and performance technology elements that accelerate their Pace of Return by reducing time-to-revenue while lowering overall cost of growth. With installations serving over 700 million subscribers for over 100 customers in more than 40 countries, Kabira has established its reputation for delivering highly scalable and highly reliable solutions. Based on Fluency, Kabiras powerful transaction platform, Kabiras Policy, Fulfillment and Payments Orchestration product suites are designed to provide essential capabilities that enable service providers to launch services in record time, while creating new ways to monetize their investments. Some of Kabiras customers include, ATT Corp., Orange/France Telecom, Visa, VimpelCom, T-mobile, Hutchison, Saudi Telecom and NTT.
Deloitte tax specialists across the country are available to provide commentary and analysis on todays federal budget. From personal income tax rate cuts to RRSPs to reducing the deficit to tougher tax enforcement, Deloitte tax leaders can help explain how the budget will affect business and individual taxpayers in each region across Canada. They will also be able to provide insight on a wide variety of economic and business issues.
Post-lock-up commentary in Ottawa following budget lock-up at 4 p.m. ET
National Tax Leader Andrew Dunn and Partner John Hutson will participate in the federal budget lock-up and will be available to provide both commentary, analysis and interviews immediately following the budget lock-up in Ottawa: Centre Block, Parliament Hill (Railway Committee Room 253-D) at 4 p.m. ET.
Live reaction to budget scheduled for 6 p.m. ET
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — American Traffic Solutions, Inc. (ATS) welcomed a U.S. District Judge’s
decision yesterday that reaffirmed the legality of speed and
intersection safety cameras in 18 cities across the state of Washington.
(Todd, et al. v City of Aberdeen, et al., USDC W.D. Wash. No. CV
09-1232 JCC).
U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour who presides in the United States
District Court for the Western District of Washington rendered his
ruling Tuesday morning. The decision wholly rejected three separate
challenges to the use of safety cameras brought by more than 40 traffic
infraction violators who received tickets.
Although the plaintiffs argued that the cities violated state law
requirements for issuing tickets because the infraction forms were not
treated in the same manner as parking tickets, the Court disagreed. In
his order, Judge Coughenour explained that state law allows for
differences in how the form of parking tickets and safety camera tickets
are developed. Furthermore, regarding the question of whether the fees
associated with the violations were unreasonable, the judge held that
state law “grants municipalities flexibility in determining fine levels,
and that the fines are not excessive.”
George Hittner, vice president and general counsel for ATS, called the
judge’s ruling “yet another validation of the legality of safety
cameras. Across the country, courts have consistently upheld the
constitutionality and use of safety cameras. ATS will continue to work
with states and municipalities to bring life-saving technology to
communities to protect motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists.”
The Todd ruling aligns with court decisions in numerous states,
as well as the with U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Idris
v. City of Chicago (U.S. 7th Cir., No. 08-1363, decided Jan. 5, 2009;
holding “No one has a fundamental right to run a red light.”),
which upheld the use of photo safety cameras as legal law enforcement
tools to protect the public’s safety.
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:TDY) announced today that its
subsidiary, Teledyne Scientific Imaging, LLC (TSI), has a key role in
NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), with two of
Teledyne’s megapixel imaging sensors at the heart of the WISE infrared
camera. The mission will be the most sensitive infrared survey ever made
of the universe.
Operating in a sun-synchronous low Earth orbit, WISE is designed to scan
the entire sky in infrared light, picking up the glow of hundreds of
millions of objects and producing millions of images. It is anticipated
that objects never seen before will be discovered, including the coolest
stars, the universe’s most luminous galaxies and some of the darkest
near-Earth asteroids and comets. Its vast catalogs will help answer
fundamental questions about the origins of planets, stars and galaxies,
and provide a mountain of data for astronomers to mine for decades to
come. The WISE catalog will guide the observations of the Hubble Space
Telescope (HST), ground-based observatories, and the James Webb Space
Telescope (JWST).
The WISE observatory is hundreds of times more sensitive than previous
space missions due in part to its advanced detector technology. There
are four megapixel infrared sensors in WISE and Teledyne provided two of
them (each is 1024×1024 pixels). The Teledyne sensors detect light at
bands centered at 3.4 and 4.6 microns; 5 to 7 times longer than the
longest wavelengths that can be detected by the human eye. At these
wavelengths, WISE will detect the thermal emission of cooler objects,
such as brown dwarf stars, and will see the visible light from distant
galaxies that has been stretched into infrared wavelengths by the
expansion of the universe (known as “redshift”).
The Teledyne infrared detectors are made from an advanced detector
technology pioneered by Teledyne called “substrate-removed HgCdTe.” The
detector material is a crystal lattice that is specially grown from the
elements mercury, cadmium and tellurium. This type of detector provides
improved infrared sensitivity with the lowest noise, vital for detecting
the faint signals from distant objects. Teledyne’s sensors with this
advanced technology have already been critical to the success of several
NASA missions. A megapixel sensor was installed in May 2009 in the HST
Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) instrument, a combined visible-infrared
sensor operated in the Moon Mineralogy Mapper that discovered water on
the moon, and fifteen 4-megapixel sensors from Teledyne will be used in
the JWST. Teledyne’s substrate-removed HgCdTe focal plane array is the
baseline technology for several future space astronomy and Earth
observation missions, and is now the standard for ground-based astronomy.
The most sensitive infrared surveys of the universe must be made from
space to avoid the high level of infrared light produced by the Earth’s
atmosphere and to avoid the absorption of infrared light by the
atmosphere. In spite of the limitations of ground-based observations,
the most thorough all-sky infrared survey to date has been the Two
Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS) that was conducted by the University of
Massachusetts and the California Institute of Technology during
1997-2001. The 2MASS used telescopes located in Arizona and Chile with
the largest infrared arrays that were available at the time; each
infrared camera had three Teledyne sensors of 256×256 pixels,
one-sixteenth the size of the WISE sensors. 2MASS produced a catalog of
over 500 million objects that has guided infrared astronomy for the past
decade.
Boxer Beat Huge Odds to Win His First World Poker Tour® Title;
Turned $19.95 Subscription into $100,000 Win
LOS ANGELES — World Poker Tour® television cameras captured history last night at
Commerce Casino as boxer and amateur poker player LeRon “Dream187”
Washington earned his first major poker title at the 8th
Annual WPT Celebrity Invitational. The 34-year-old West Virginia
resident beat incredible odds to take home a big chunk of the $200,000
prize pool—which was donated by Commerce Casino for this exclusive
freeroll charity tournament—walking away with $75,000 in cash, a seat to
play in the $25,000 WPT World Championship in April and a chance to go
pro.
On February 20, Washington flew to Los Angeles where he played in the
WPT Celebrity Invitational among Hollywood A-listers and poker’s elite,
including Teri Hatcher, Eric Dane, Jenny McCarthy, Hank Azaria, Dave
Annable, Jerry Ferrara, Eddie Cibrian, LeAnn Rimes, Howard Lederer,
Chris Ferguson, Antonio Esfandiari, Mike Matusow and Phil Laak. After
two days of tournament play, Washington had fought his way through the
field of 567 players to secure his place at the televised final table.
On March 3, he returned to Commerce Casino to take his shot at
history—and won. It was his first WPT tournament.
Washington’s journey has been incredible so far, but this may just be
the beginning. Next month he will head to Las Vegas to play in the
$25,000 WPT World Championship at Bellagio, which pays out millions and
turns amateurs into poker superstars.
The British Banded Academy Film Brothers – Awards The Mongoose Mob (9.00pm) Annual ceremony celebrating the past 12 months cinema, live from London. Leading the nominations are Avatar, An Education and The Hurt Locker with eight each. (7.00pm) Documentary following a family of mongooses in Ugandas Queen Elizabeth National Park, learning about the species unique breeding cycle and social structures. Wild at Heart Glee (8.30pm) Du Plessis rallies the troops to prevent Danny from losing his career when the vet is blamed for the death of a rare black leopard. Drama from the wilds of Africa, starring Stephen Tompkinson, Deon Stewardson, Dawn Steele and Cal Macaninch. (5.30pm) Sue is named co-director of the glee club and plans to use her position to divide the group, introducing a tough competition designed to cause friction among the members. Meanwhile, Will demands to go with Terri to her next doctors appointment.
CALGARY, Alberta — Vermilion Energy Trust (“Vermilion” or the “Trust”) (TSX – VET.UN) is
pleased to report operating and unaudited financial results for the
three and twelve months ended December 31, 2009.
2009 Highlights:
Vermilion will discuss these results in a conference call to be held on
Wednesday, March 3, 2010. The conference call will begin at 8:00 AM MST
(10:00 AM EST). To participate, you may call toll free 1.877.407.9205
(North America) or 1.201.689.8054 (International). The conference call
will also be available on replay by calling 1.877.660.6853 (North
America) or 1.201.612.7415 (International) using account number 286 and
conference ID number 341974.
The replay will be available until midnight eastern time on March 10,
2010.
CALGARY, Alberta — Vermilion Energy Trust (“Vermilion” or the “Trust”) (VET.UN-TSX)
announces the 2009 tax treatment on distributions for unitholders in
Canada and the United States.
For the 2009 taxation year, the treatment of distributions is 100%
return on capital (taxable income).
For purposes of the Canadian Income Tax Act, the Trust is a mutual fund
trust. Each year, an income tax return is filed by the Trust with the
taxable income allocated to and taxable in the hands of unitholders.
Distributions paid by the Trust can be both a return of
capital (i.e. a repayment of a portion of the investment) and a
return on capital (i.e.
income).
Each year the taxable income portion or return on capital, is calculated
and reported in the Trust’s T3 return and allocated to each unitholder
who received distributions for that taxation year and reported in Box 26
‘Other income’ on the T3 Supplementary forms, which are mailed to
unitholders before March 31st in accordance with regulatory
requirements. Registered unitholders will receive a T3 Supplementary
form directly from the Trust’s transfer agent, Computershare Trust
Company of Canada. Beneficial unitholders will receive a T3
Supplementary form from their broker or other intermediary. The T3 slip
will report both the taxable and non-taxable income components of their
distributions. The tax deferred, or return of capital component of
distributions which is reported in Box 42 “Amount Resulting in Cost Base
Adjustment” reduces the unitholder’s adjusted cost base of trust units.
Carol Jean Carol Jean Montague Folsom, 77, passed away October 17th, 2009 at her home in American Fork, UT after a valiant fight with lung cancer.She was born September 25th, 1932 in Payson, UT to Grover and Idona Olsen Montague.
Carol Jean Carol Jean Montague Folsom, 77, passed away October 17th, 2009 at her home in American Fork, UT after a valiant fight with lung cancer.She was born September 25th, 1932 in Payson, UT to Grover and Idona Olsen Montague.
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing
(NCSBN®) Center for Regulatory Excellence Grant Program announces a
deadline of March 1, 2010, for application submissions for its third
funding cycle. To be eligible for funding grants, applicants must either be
a member board of NCSBN, or a professional organization, state agency or
individual interested in the advancement of nursing regulation.
The Center for Regulatory Excellence Grant Program funds innovative
projects that can have measurable impact on nursing regulation and can
create meaningful change. Research priorities include: patient safety;
practice (licensed practical/vocational nurses [LPN/VN], registered nurses
[RN] and advanced practice registered nurses [APRN]); nursing education;
continued competence; discipline and alternatives to discipline; and
national and international portability.
Grant awards have a $300,000 per project limit. The deadline for the 2010
Center for Regulatory Excellence Grant Program submissions is March 1,
2010.
Since the Center for Regulatory Excellence Grant Program began in 2007, it
has awarded nearly $5 million in grants.
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) is a not-for-profit
organization whose members include the boards of nursing in the 50 states,
the District of Columbia and four U.S. territories — American Samoa, Guam,
Northern Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands. There are also four
associate members.
Featured companies on this weeks program include:
Gazoo Energy Group, Inc. (OTCBB: GAZU) Spokesman AC Green spoke about the PACE program, wherein property owners and companies can access $95 million in low interest financing for green energy upgrades.
Featured companies on this weeks program include:
Gazoo Energy Group, Inc. (OTCBB: GAZU) Spokesman AC Green spoke about the PACE program, wherein property owners and companies can access $95 million in low interest financing for green energy upgrades.
Teekay LNG Partners L.P. (Teekay LNG or the Partnership) (NYSE: TGP), today announced that it has agreed to acquire two 2009-built Suezmax tankers, the Bermuda Spirit and the Hamilton Spirit, and one 2007-built Handymax product tanker, the Alexander Spirit, from Teekay Corporation (NYSE: TK) for a total purchase price of $160 million. Teekay LNG will finance the purchase by assuming $126 million of existing debt related to two of the ships, and cash-on-hand for the remaining $34 million. The Partnership does not anticipate raising further equity to complete this acquisition. The transaction, which is subject to standard closing conditions, is expected to be completed by mid-March 2010.
The Bermuda Spirit and the Hamilton Spirit are currently serving under 11-year fixed-rate contracts to Centrofin, an international owner of 28 vessels, and the Alexander Spirit is currently employed on a 10-year fixed-rate contract to Caltex Australia. These ships will join the Partnerships Conventional Tanker Segment which currently includes eight Suezmaxes, all on long-term fixed-rate charter. During the contract periods, the newly acquired vessels are expected to generate distributable cash flow of approximately $8 million per annum. As a result, management of the Partnerships General Partner intends to recommend that its Board of Directors increase the Partnerships current quarterly cash distribution of $0.57 per unit by $0.03 per unit, or 5.3 percent, commencing with the first quarter distribution to be paid in May 2010.
The Board of Directors of the Partnerships General Partner and its Conflicts Committee have both approved the transaction. To assist in its evaluation of the transaction, the Conflicts Committee retained independent legal advisors and obtained independent vessel valuations.
More information about the transaction will be provided on the Partnerships Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2009 Earnings conference call to be held on Friday March 5th at 11:00 am (ET). All unitholders and interested parties are invited to listen to the live conference call by choosing from the following options:
- By dialing (800) 820-0231or (416) 640-5926 , if outside North America, and quoting conference ID code 5033499.
Callaway Golf today announced a formal relationship between its Diablo brand and all-or-nothing alpine skier and Olympian Manuel “Manny” Osborne-Paradis.
Osborne-Paradis is the first Canadian member of Team Diablo, a collection of intrepid Callaway staffers from around the globe who have been chosen for their passion and determination in sport to represent Callaways Diablo brand of golf equipment.
“Callaway is thrilled to welcome Manny, one of the worlds greatest downhill skiers, into the Diablo family,” said Preben Ganzhorn, Director of Marketing, Callaway Golf. “Manny embodies the spirit of Diablo in the courageous, daring and competitive way he approaches all aspects of his life.”
North Vancouver-born Manny is a charter member of the Canadian Cowboys, a new breed of Canadian ski racer. His devotion, lack of fear and natural talent have led him to multiple World Cup Downhill and Super-G victories. Manny also gives back to the sport as co-creator of a yearly youth ski camp in Whistler, BC.
“With hobbies as diverse as surfing, mountain biking and golf, 26-year-old Mannys devotion to sports, the outdoors, and his fun-loving personality make him the perfect ambassador for Callaways no-holds-barred Diablo brand,” said Ganzhorn.
BB Electronics Ltd . (BB), a distribution company specializing in best-in-class products for the Automotive, Marine and Consumer Electronics markets, announced today they are the exclusive Canadian importer and distributer of Focal-JMlab (FOCAL) car audio.
FOCAL is a leading international producer of award winning Acoustical Loud Speakers, Car Audio and Professional Audio Systems. Focals Car Audio products are world renowned for being among the highest quality of car audio systems on the market globally. BBs partnership with FOCAL celebrates the spirit of sound with the ultimate mission being to elevate the automotive musical experience for Canadians.
“FOCAL has maintained the spirit of sound through innovative technologies while maintaining a family business approach of pride and excellence in the quality of their product line,” said Kim Jensen, BB Electronics General Manager. “BB Electronics, a family business in itself, has always exemplified such values in our community and in our way of doing business. It is because of these shared core values, good business sense and mutual trust, that FOCAL has extended the honour to BB Electronics to become part of their exclusive business family.” BB employees are very excited to bring the spirit of FOCAL corporate culture, instilled from Focal-JMLabs France, to the exclusive list of Authorized FOCAL Car Audio dealers across Canada.
BB Electronics acquired the import and distribution rights for Focal car audio from U.S. based Orca Design Manufacturing Corp . The Canadian distribution rights were approved by FOCALs manufacturing parent company Focal-JMlab out of France; a multiple-year exclusive distribution agreement was signed by BB and Focal-JMlab.
NUREMBERG, Germany — Express Logic, Inc., the worldwide leader in royalty-free real-time
operating systems (RTOS), announced today that Express Logic’s ThreadX®
RTOS has been selected by Wincor-Nixdorf for their reverse vending
machines (RVMs). Wincor-Nixdorf’s reverse vending machines facilitate
consumer returns of recyclable containers through advanced technology.
By using pioneering camera-based recognition technology, these reverse
vending machines examine the shape and color of single bottles and cans,
weigh them at the same time (full container recognition), and control
the data logging and compacting mechanics all in a single,
network-friendly device. Through automatic posting of the receipts to
the POS system, retailers can ensure that an individual transaction
receipt issued by the reverse vending system is only paid or credited
once. This results in a significant reduction of inventory discrepancies.
Express Logic’s ThreadX RTOS controls the real-time operational needs of
the machine from bottle identification to final receipt. ThreadX is
designed for small-footprint, high-volume intelligent devices such as
RVMs. ThreadX provides full real-time multithreading operation,
including preemptive real-time scheduling, message-passing, interrupt
management, and memory management services common to most embedded
applications. ThreadX is designed to be easy to learn and use, helping
developers to achieve rapid time to market.
“Wincor Nixdorf, the world’s leading provider of high-end banking and
retail solutions, chose ThreadX for its robust in-field reputation in
many applications to control our innovative reverse vending solutions,”
commented Wincor Nixdorf. “ThreadX provides an optimal combination of
footprint, performance and functionality, which delivers excellent
support for real-time operations.”
Reverse vending machines significantly reduce the manual processing of
empties, increasing staff productivity. Notably, such systems are widely
accepted by consumers, who prefer to return their empty beverage
containers at a reverse vending system to avoid waiting in line.
“Express Logic is proud that ThreadX plays a key role in the ingenuity
of its customers’ products. We are thrilled to have assisted Wincor
Nixdorf in achieving such an efficient solution for the retail
industry,” said William E. Lamie, President of Express Logic. “Wincor
Nixdorf is yet another example of our increasing adoption by successful,
European cost- and environmentally-conscious developers.”
NUREMBERG, Germany — Express Logic, Inc., the worldwide leader in royalty-free real-time
operating systems (RTOS), announced today that Express Logic’s ThreadX®
RTOS has been selected by Wincor-Nixdorf for their reverse vending
machines (RVMs). Wincor-Nixdorf’s reverse vending machines facilitate
consumer returns of recyclable containers through advanced technology.
By using pioneering camera-based recognition technology, these reverse
vending machines examine the shape and color of single bottles and cans,
weigh them at the same time (full container recognition), and control
the data logging and compacting mechanics all in a single,
network-friendly device. Through automatic posting of the receipts to
the POS system, retailers can ensure that an individual transaction
receipt issued by the reverse vending system is only paid or credited
once. This results in a significant reduction of inventory discrepancies.
Express Logic’s ThreadX RTOS controls the real-time operational needs of
the machine from bottle identification to final receipt. ThreadX is
designed for small-footprint, high-volume intelligent devices such as
RVMs. ThreadX provides full real-time multithreading operation,
including preemptive real-time scheduling, message-passing, interrupt
management, and memory management services common to most embedded
applications. ThreadX is designed to be easy to learn and use, helping
developers to achieve rapid time to market.
“Wincor Nixdorf, the world’s leading provider of high-end banking and
retail solutions, chose ThreadX for its robust in-field reputation in
many applications to control our innovative reverse vending solutions,”
commented Wincor Nixdorf. “ThreadX provides an optimal combination of
footprint, performance and functionality, which delivers excellent
support for real-time operations.”
Reverse vending machines significantly reduce the manual processing of
empties, increasing staff productivity. Notably, such systems are widely
accepted by consumers, who prefer to return their empty beverage
containers at a reverse vending system to avoid waiting in line.
“Express Logic is proud that ThreadX plays a key role in the ingenuity
of its customers’ products. We are thrilled to have assisted Wincor
Nixdorf in achieving such an efficient solution for the retail
industry,” said William E. Lamie, President of Express Logic. “Wincor
Nixdorf is yet another example of our increasing adoption by successful,
European cost- and environmentally-conscious developers.”
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — American Traffic Solutions, Inc. (ATS) welcomed a U.S. District Judge’s
decision yesterday that reaffirmed the legality of speed and
intersection safety cameras in 18 cities across the state of Washington.
(Todd, et al. v City of Aberdeen, et al., USDC W.D. Wash. No. CV
09-1232 JCC).
U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour who presides in the United States
District Court for the Western District of Washington rendered his
ruling Tuesday morning. The decision wholly rejected three separate
challenges to the use of safety cameras brought by more than 40 traffic
infraction violators who received tickets.
Although the plaintiffs argued that the cities violated state law
requirements for issuing tickets because the infraction forms were not
treated in the same manner as parking tickets, the Court disagreed. In
his order, Judge Coughenour explained that state law allows for
differences in how the form of parking tickets and safety camera tickets
are developed. Furthermore, regarding the question of whether the fees
associated with the violations were unreasonable, the judge held that
state law “grants municipalities flexibility in determining fine levels,
and that the fines are not excessive.”
George Hittner, vice president and general counsel for ATS, called the
judge’s ruling “yet another validation of the legality of safety
cameras. Across the country, courts have consistently upheld the
constitutionality and use of safety cameras. ATS will continue to work
with states and municipalities to bring life-saving technology to
communities to protect motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists.”
The Todd ruling aligns with court decisions in numerous states,
as well as the with U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Idris
v. City of Chicago (U.S. 7th Cir., No. 08-1363, decided Jan. 5, 2009;
holding “No one has a fundamental right to run a red light.”),
which upheld the use of photo safety cameras as legal law enforcement
tools to protect the public’s safety.
Partnership will enable rapid, cost-effective, production of novel
Humacyte vascular grafts for transplantation utilizing Xcellerex’s XDR
single-use technologies
MARLBOROUGH, Mass. RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — Humacyte, Inc. and Xcellerex, Inc. have entered into an initial
strategic collaboration for Xcellerex to develop a novel manufacturing
process that will enable the production of Humacyte’s lead regenerative
medicine product using Xcellerex’s XDR single use bioreactor system in
its FlexFactory®. Humacyte’s product is a large diameter vascular graft
that is based on its innovative and proprietary platform technology for
engineering human, extracellular matrix-based tissues that have
properties that are similar to native tissues. Humacyte’s vascular
grafts represent a breakthrough that will first be used for
arterio-venous access in patients on hemodialysis and eventually would
be used as a replacement of diseased or damaged blood vessels. Xcellerex
will provide development expertise and product manufacturing in exchange
for manufacturing development fees from Humacyte. Humacyte will utilize
the initial grafts produced under this collaboration for preclinical
development, and the parties may continue their collaboration for the
development of large scale manufacturing of vascular grafts for
transplantation for clinical and commercial use. The FlexFactory will
enable Humacyte to later scale up its production to meet late stage
clinical and worldwide commercial market demands. The technology for
cultivation of vascular grafts was developed by Humacyte using
small-scale bioreactors that produced one graft at a time. The grafts
have successfully completed animal tests, enabling Humacyte to begin
scale up for manufacturing of grafts for human clinical trials and
eventually commercial production. The collaboration is partially funded
by a Small Business Innovation Research grant awarded to the companies
by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Diabetes
and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
“We are pleased to utilize our unique manufacturing technology and
development know-how to enable the rapid development of a potent
single-use manufacturing platform for Humacyte. Our technology offers
Humacyte a cost-effective and novel manufacturing solution for their
full pre-clinical and clinical development needs through to commercial
production, using our FlexFactory platform. We are excited to see our
novel single use manufacturing technologies applied in such an important
application that holds such great promise for significant advances in
improving treatment options for patients,” stated Joseph Zakrzewski,
Xcellerex’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We
continue to see the expanding applicability of our technologies to help
treat human diseases in not just the over 20 clinical phase drugs
manufactured in our technology, but also through such novel applications
such as in enabling Humacyte’s unique vascular graft technology.”
The goal of the collaboration is to transform the current small-scale,
single graft bioreactor manufacturing process into a robust process able
to produce commercial supply of multiple vascular grafts in the more
efficient and flexible XDR single use bioreactor system configured in
the modular turnkey FlexFactory platform. In the first proof of concept
phase of the collaboration, grafts will be produced and subjected to
physical and chemical testing to demonstrate equivalence to grafts
produced to date using small-scale approaches.
“Our exciting collaboration with Xcellerex will both advance our novel
vascular graft for transplantation technologies, but also enable us to
move more rapidly into clinical development upon the achievement of key
development and preclinical milestones. We are looking forward to
working with Xcellerex on this critical novel development and
manufacturing program,” said Laura Niklason, Humacyte’s Founder.
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council on Education (COE) has granted Full Accreditation to the College of Veterinary Medicine for three years.
“This is an important and critical step in our Colleges development, one for which we have worked hard to achieve,” said College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) Dean Phillip Nelson, DVM, PhD. “Every member of the CVM family should be justifiably proud of the pioneering efforts of the faculty and staff in establishing a new model that has proven, by all outcome measures used to evaluate any veterinary college, to produce competent, practice-ready DVM graduates. It is never easy blazing new trails, and creating new models while assuring that quality standards continue to be met. The decision by the COE validates this accomplishment.”
The COE is the only recognized accrediting agency for colleges of veterinary medicine in the U.S. and Canada.
Western University of Health Sciences established the College of Veterinary Medicine on Aug. 8, 1998 and welcomed its first class in fall 2003. The College progressed from Provisional Accreditation in 2003 to Limited Accreditation to Full Accreditation.
This progression is a result of many contributors, Nelson said. Students and alumni invested their faith that the College would prepare them for the careers of their choice.
NicOx S.A. (NYSE Euronext Paris: COX) today announced its financial results
for full year 2009 and provided an overview of its activities, in
particular those related to its lead compound naproxcinod, which is
currently under review by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the
European Medicines Agency (EMEA).
Michele Garufi, Chief Executive Officer of NicOx, commented: “We are very
pleased that we met our planned goal of submitting the marketing
authorization applications for naproxcinod in the United States and in
Europe in 2009 and that we have received the acceptance of both
applications by the relevant health authorities. This is a very important
step in the implementation of our strategy to grow NicOx into a specialty
pharmaceutical company, which we began in 2008 through a targeted
investment in our US based Commercial Affairs department. We have also had
a very good start to 2010 with the recent signature of a major licensing
agreement with Bausch Lomb, confirming the potential of our innovative
nitric oxide-donating RD platform in the attractive field of
ophthalmology.”
Key highlights 2009
- Significantly reinforced balance sheet with EUR 148.3 million in cash and
cash equivalents as of December 31st, 2009 following the successful
completion of a two-step capital increase, raising total net proceeds of
EUR 94.6 million. The French Fonds Stratégique dInvestissement (FSI) was
an important investor in this capital increase.
SAN FRANCISCO — Urigen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTCBB: URGP), a specialty pharmaceutical
company focused on the development of treatments for urological
disorders and pain, announced today that Edward R. Teitel, MD, JD has
been elected Chairman of the Board of Directors.
“Dr. Teitel practiced surgery before becoming an attorney and an
entrepreneur,” said Urigen’s CEO William J. Garner, MD. “He brings
important clinical and legal expertise to Urigen at a critical time as
we work to advance URG101.”
Edward R. Teitel, M.D., J.D., M.B.A. currently serves as the President
and Chief Executive Officer of ThromboVision, Inc. Prior to founding
ThromboVision in 2005, Dr. Teitel served as Senior Vice President and
Chief Medical Officer at MicroMed Technology, Inc. (now MicroMed
Cardiovascular, Inc.). As a part of senior management at MicroMed, Dr.
Teitel participated in all aspects of clinical trials and regulatory
matters, business scope and fund raising activities, as well as legal
matters. As chief medical officer for the DeBakey Left Ventricular
Assist Device at MicroMed, Dr. Teitel acquired extensive experience in
platelet function and anti-platelet therapy, especially relating to
artificial surface devices. Before joining MicroMed Technology in 2002,
Dr. Teitel practiced for many years as a board certified general and
vascular surgeon. He founded, managed, and developed a multi-specialty
group practice in Alabama until he closed his practice in 1997 to
transition into corporate medicine and management. Dr. Teitel earned his
MBA at Auburn University and worked with a boutique investment banking
firm, Colby Capital, in Atlanta where he worked to fund start-up
companies in the life sciences. After completing law school in 2002, he
joined the senior management team at MicroMed. Dr. Teitel earned his MD
degree at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio,
and completed his surgical residency at St. Joseph Mercy Medical
Hospital in Pontiac, Michigan. He received his Juris Doctor degree from
the University of Houston, with a focus in healthcare law, intellectual
property and business law. Dr. Teitel holds a BS in chemistry from Sul
Ross State University.
About Urigen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
WALTHAM, Mass. — Fresenius Medical Care, the world’s largest provider of dialysis
services and products, today announced that its subsidiary, U.S.
Vascular Access Holdings, LLC has completed the acquisition of National
Vascular Care Inc. Based in Rosemont, Pennsylvania, National Vascular
Care is a premier provider of vascular services that works in
partnership with leading vascular surgeons, nephrologists,
interventional radiologists and cardiologists throughout the United
States to develop, own and manage specialty outpatient surgery centers
dedicated to improving the delivery of vascular care in the U.S.
The acquisition unites two market leaders that are uniquely positioned
to provide physician practices with the most comprehensive set of
solutions available to effectively and economically manage vascular
access centers. In turn, this enables physicians to focus on clinical
excellence by reducing hospital admissions related to vascular
access-related complications and improving patient outcomes. The
combined companies will operate under the name Fresenius Vascular
Care and provide services to twelve vascular access centers and
more than fifteen physician practices. Ronald Rodgers, Co-Founder, CEO
and Chairman of National Vascular Care will serve as President of
Fresenius Vascular Care.
“As one of the largest and most successful operators of vascular access
surgery centers in the U.S., National Vascular Care has a demonstrated
track record of operational and clinical excellence. We are delighted to
have the opportunity to partner with Ron Rodgers and his team, and
expect that the synergy of our new organization will position our
company to contribute to improved patient outcomes and reduced costs to
healthcare insurers,” said William Valle, Senior Vice President of
Fresenius Medical Care. “We believe that the system’s demand for
efficiency will continue driving the shift in these types of procedures
from hospital settings to outpatient surgery centers, delivering the
corresponding benefits of ease of use for physicians combined with a
lower overall cost for payors. We believe that the model of partnering
with leading physicians to provide superior patient outcomes will allow
Fresenius Vascular Care to grow at an attractive rate. This is a
significant milestone in our effort to expand our services to more
physicians and access centers across the country.”
“I am excited for the opportunity to join the Fresenius Medical Care
team and continue the quest to provide dialysis patients in the United
States with efficient access to quality vascular care. National Vascular
Care was built on a set of core values – starting with quality and
efficient care of patients – that we will continue with the new venture.
The NVC team and I are looking forward to working with the Fresenius
Medical Care clinical network and physicians to create centers of
excellence for vascular care,” said Rodgers. “The efficient and
proactive treatment of the vasculature of dialysis patients is critical
to the efforts to reduce the cost burden on the Medicare program. We
will partner with leading physicians to create centers within the
Fresenius Medical Care footprint in the United States that ultimately
provides nephrologists the opportunity to focus on the total continuum
of care of patients.”
With more and more high profile celebrities being diagnosed with the “silent killer” known as prostate cancer (most recently the actor Louis Gossett Jr.), Dr. David B. Samadi, Chief of Robotics and Minimally Invasive Surgery at The Mount Sinai Medical Center, believes this is a good time to advise the public on the facts of prostate cancer.
“The best practice in fighting prostate cancer is not to wait until you have warning signs,” says Samadi. “Once a patient has symptoms of prostate cancer, it can be too late, which is why frequent screenings are a must.”
Patients may witness blood in their semen or urine, or experience urination problems. When the cancer spreads, it can present itself in bone and back pain, or compression of the spine. “What is important to keep in mind is that while prostate cancer is a serious health problem for men, it is not a death sentence,” Samadi advises. “There is life after prostate cancer, which is why I wanted to provide simple facts so that men can be proactive with their prostate.”
– Prostate cancer is currently the second-leading cause of death in American men
Safety Camera Programs continue to be Deemed Legal
PHOENIX — Redflex Traffic Systems, Inc., the largest provider of automated
enforcement systems for roads and highways in the U.S., announced that a
federal court in Washington has dismissed in its entirety a putative
class action lawsuit against the company alleging that the automated
enforcement programs violate state law and are unconstitutional.
On June 25, 2009, a group of plaintiffs in Washington filed a class
action lawsuit against Redflex Traffic Systems. Plaintiffs alleged that
the automated enforcement programs were illegal because of excessive
fines, failure to obtain approval of infraction forms and improper
stop-loss contractual provisions.
On March 2, 2010, United States District Court Judge John C. Coughenour
granted Redflex’s dismissal motion on all claims with prejudice,
entering judgment in Redflex’s favor. The Court found that Plaintiffs
misinterpreted the law, determining that the fine amounts are not
excessive, the infraction forms comply with state law and that stop-loss
provisions were permissible under state law. As a result, the Court
ruled that the Automated Traffic Safety Camera programs enacted by
municipalities in the state of Washington are consistent with state law
and the constitution. This is consistent with Bell v. Redflex Traffic
Sys. Inc., 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 85263, *7 (E.D. Tex. 2009) where it
was stated “Plaintiffs do not have a legally protected right to engage
in illegal conduct and be free from the consequences of that activity.”
“This ruling once again negates unfounded claims against intersection
safety camera programs and their legality,” said Karen Finley, President
and CEO of Redflex Traffic Systems. “With each case, we close the gap on
unconstitutionality claims and leave less room for argument about the
documented public safety benefits this technology provides in reducing
preventable fatalities on our roads.”
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — American Traffic Solutions, Inc. (ATS) welcomed a U.S. District Judge’s
decision yesterday that reaffirmed the legality of speed and
intersection safety cameras in 18 cities across the state of Washington.
(Todd, et al. v City of Aberdeen, et al., USDC W.D. Wash. No. CV
09-1232 JCC).
U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour who presides in the United States
District Court for the Western District of Washington rendered his
ruling Tuesday morning. The decision wholly rejected three separate
challenges to the use of safety cameras brought by more than 40 traffic
infraction violators who received tickets.
Although the plaintiffs argued that the cities violated state law
requirements for issuing tickets because the infraction forms were not
treated in the same manner as parking tickets, the Court disagreed. In
his order, Judge Coughenour explained that state law allows for
differences in how the form of parking tickets and safety camera tickets
are developed. Furthermore, regarding the question of whether the fees
associated with the violations were unreasonable, the judge held that
state law “grants municipalities flexibility in determining fine levels,
and that the fines are not excessive.”
George Hittner, vice president and general counsel for ATS, called the
judge’s ruling “yet another validation of the legality of safety
cameras. Across the country, courts have consistently upheld the
constitutionality and use of safety cameras. ATS will continue to work
with states and municipalities to bring life-saving technology to
communities to protect motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists.”
The Todd ruling aligns with court decisions in numerous states,
as well as the with U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Idris
v. City of Chicago (U.S. 7th Cir., No. 08-1363, decided Jan. 5, 2009;
holding “No one has a fundamental right to run a red light.”),
which upheld the use of photo safety cameras as legal law enforcement
tools to protect the public’s safety.
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — Newport
Digital Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB:
NPDT) (NDT) announced today that it has developed and launched its
first leading-edge wireless LED digital signage solution that offers
wireless high definition video and audio streaming that is compatible
with Wifi, WiMax and nationwide 3G networks offered from companies such
as ATT. The LED digital signage solution will provide modular and
customizable display sizes from 50” to stadium-size displays. The
solution will also encompass a digital content management and delivery
system that will allow users to deliver digital content from anywhere by
connecting a laptop to a signage display via the Web.
“This wireless LED digital signage solution is yet another achievement
of NDTs in its ability to bring leading-edge technology through its
collaboration with its technology incubators, the Institute
for Information Industry (III) and the Industrial
Technology Research Institute (ITRI),” said Newport Digital’s CEO,
Michael Lutton. “This product line reflects the company’s ability to
bring leading-edge technology to market in a cost-effective manner and
is now available to our ATT and Ingram Micro sales channels. We
anticipate this unique wireless signage solution to generate significant
revenue for NDT in calendar years 2010 and 2011.”
“The 3G and WiMax features will enable this signage solution to have
video and audio streaming connectivity anywhere there is 3G nationwide
or WiMax network,” commented Richard Tanimoto, NDT’s Senior Managing
Director. “The customizable display sizes will offer a myriad of
solution applications that include retail, public, commercial buildings,
sporting event venues and anywhere where marketing real estate is a
premium, making that real estate even more valuable.”
About Newport
Digital Technologies, Inc.
Newport Digital Technologies, Inc. (NDT) is a technology solutions
driven company organized to focus on serving five of the
fastest-emerging businesses in the technology space – RFID
(Radio-Frequency Identification), WiMax, eLearning, and LED Digital
Signage and LED Lighting solutions. NDT develops and delivers these
technology solutions through strategic collaborations with global
partners, including Taiwan industry and Taiwans premier technology RD
incubators — the Institute
for Information Industry (III) and the Industrial
Technology Research Institute (ITRI). NDT
will customize these technology solutions and market them through
Fortune 1000 channel partners and systems integrators on a worldwide
basis.
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) will host a webcast with
a corresponding slide presentation to discuss its global channel partner
strategy as a sustainable long term differentiator.
Who: Cisco executive Edison Peres, Senior Vice President, Worldwide
Partner Organization, will discuss Ciscos global channel sales model and
its value versus volume strategy. Following a brief presentation, a
question answer session will be held.
No previously unannounced issues will be discussed in this webcast.
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) will host a webcast with
a corresponding slide presentation to discuss its global channel partner
strategy as a sustainable long term differentiator.
Who: Cisco executive Edison Peres, Senior Vice President, Worldwide
Partner Organization, will discuss Ciscos global channel sales model and
its value versus volume strategy. Following a brief presentation, a
question answer session will be held.
No previously unannounced issues will be discussed in this webcast.
Report highlights include:
“Although many markets have seen a slow down in price gains, Im encouraged that prices have remained positive through the first two months of the year despite all the negative economic news and threat of more REOs hitting the markets,” said Dr. Alex Villacorta, Senior Statistician, Clear Capital. “If the increase in demand that preceded the end of the last tax credit is any indication, home prices may dip only slightly into negative territory before getting an added boost before the April tax credit deadline.”
“We observed an expected increase in REO saturation this month as the flow of foreclosures continued to come into the market, while traditional non-distressed sales wait to be listed in the spring and summer months,” added Villacorta.
Kabira Technologies, Inc., a leading innovator of communications software applications and performance technology elements that accelerate Pace of Return, announced today that Manish Gupta , vice president of global marketing for Kabira, will be a featured panel speaker at ” Policy Control, DPI the Mobile Packet Core ,” hosted by Light Reading as part of CTIA, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. This panel is part of the one day conference event dedicated to examining the evolving role of policy tools including policy servers and PCRF-compliant policy decision points, policy enforcement points including DPI gear, and the future IP service world.
Mr. Gupta will participate in the session “The Mobile Services Revolution: What Is the Role of Policy?”, which will take place on March 24, 2010 from 2:30pm – 3:30pm. As a contributor on the panel, Mr. Gupta will offer insight into how Policy Orchestration by Kabira allows operators to offer existing products, new services and emerging technologies to create unique and rich solutions to enable maximum ROI, drive up data revenues, manage network-enterprise resources, capacity and QoS, while minimizing the need for additional investment in network infrastructure. Kabiras Policy Orchestration solutions are game-changers in the Policy ecosystem as they deliver ultimate scale, flexibility and high-availability. They are designed to help accelerate new revenue streams while delivering dramatically reduced long-term cost of growth.
The panel discussion will include Communication Service Providers (CSPs) best practice recommendations for implementing 3GPP standards driven telco-grade, real-time software, logic, switching and caching layer that helps operators further monetize their IP networks to enhance and differentiate an increasing number of smart applications including: enablement of bandwidth guarantees, over the air provisioning, personalized services and targeted advertising campaigns and partner programs. Panelists will discuss how to increase the ability to execute decisions and enforcement logic based on user data, such as profile information, account balance, specific policies, privacy rules and location and presence — all in real-time and at network speed. Discussions will also center on reacting to network data and analysis with knowledge and in real-time without compromising the network, to provide carrier class, scalable, high-performance processing of service requests to allow their systems to provide unparalleled scalability, throughput and low latency to address the challenging service requirements that face communications service providers today and in the future.
About Kabira Technologies, Inc.
Kabira Technologies provides communications service providers software applications and performance technology elements that accelerate their Pace of Return by reducing time-to-revenue while lowering overall cost of growth. With installations serving over 700 million subscribers for over 100 customers in more than 40 countries, Kabira has established its reputation for delivering highly scalable and highly reliable solutions. Based on Fluency, Kabiras powerful transaction platform, Kabiras Policy, Fulfillment and Payments Orchestration product suites are designed to provide essential capabilities that enable service providers to launch services in record time, while creating new ways to monetize their investments. Some of Kabiras customers include, ATT Corp., Orange/France Telecom, Visa, VimpelCom, T-mobile, Hutchison, Saudi Telecom and NTT.
Genomma Lab Delivers Remarkable Top Line Growth of 122.4% and EBITDA
Growth of 139.3% in 4Q09
MEXICO CITY — Genomma Lab Internacional, S.A.B. de C.V. (BMV: LAB) (“Genomma
Lab” or “the Company”), announced today its results for the fourth
quarter and full year periods ended December 31, 2009. All figures
included herein were prepared in accordance with Mexican GAAP; figures
are stated in nominal Mexican pesos. Also, the following consolidated
figures show the Company’s Spanish operations reclassified as
discontinued operations according to Mexican GAAP.
4Q09 Highlights (vs. 4Q08)
Paladin Labs Inc. (TSX: PLB), a leading Canadian specialty pharmaceutical company, today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2009. The Company achieved record revenues for the fourth quarter of 2009 and has achieved its 14th consecutive year of record revenues.
2009 Highlights
It is no secret that there currently exists a lack of job opportunities in the United States. In fact, even the US government does not expect it to get better soon, as the White House released an economic report predicting high unemployment rates — well over 6% until 2015 on February 11, 2010, according to the New York Times. Despite these grim statistics, there are jobs that are still flourishing among less than perfect economic circumstances, namely those in healthcare and IT, or information technology.
According to Denise Dubie of Network World, there are specifically 10 areas of IT jobs that will flourish in 2010, including Security Specialists, Virtual Systems Managers, and Electronic Health System Records Managers, just to name a few. Mark McDonald, group vice president and head of research for Gartner Executive Programs also adds, “There will continue to be opportunities in analytics, for people who understand lean IT, Six Sigma , business processes and improvements — its going to be about information, connectivity and collaboration.”
Although Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma are traditionally thought of in the realm of improving Business Manufacturing rather than Information Technology, these concepts fit together very nicely. According to Craig Setter, President and CEO of Aveta Business Institutes Six Sigma Online, the leading provider of online Six Sigma Certification, many students exhibit the combination of Six Sigma and Information Technology in their Six Sigma Projects required for Certification. “We are beginning to see more and more Six Sigma students from the IT sector of the business world,” says Setter.
Aveta Solutions Six Sigma Online is the world leading provider of online six sigma certification and six sigma courses .
IHI program building foundation for more quality-conscious providers Open School med students are initiating their own QI programs The goal of the school, she says, is “to advance health care improvement and safety competencies in the next generation. Its an attempt to address the fact that many academic organizations were teaching improvement and safety in a very limited capacity — some not at all — so we wanted to bring it directly to students.” The schools offerings, she explains, “vary from what feel like formal courses to case studies, video clips on YouTube, discussion boards, and journal articles.” Probably the development the IHI found most interesting, she continues, “is that while the program was initially targeted at students, weve also found a large number of faculty members showing interest. They view the content and integrate it with their course curriculum and share it with other faculty so the knowledge can be spread.”
FAMILY and friends walked behind murdered republican Kieran Dohertys tricolour-covered coffin as his remains were brought back to his home yesterday. A funeral mass is due to take place for the Derry dad-of-one tomorrow at the Long Tower Church in the city. The Real IRA claimed responsibility for killing Mr Doherty, 31, who, it said, was one of its senior members. They also demanded an inquiry into M15s involvement with Mr Doherty.
ST. LOUIS, Feb. 19 /PRNewswire/ — Financial blog , ChristianPF.com released an article discussing why the best college savings plan is a 529 for most savers. The 529 college savings plan is probably the most flexible college savings option out there at the moment. It is named for Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code, which created the fund concept and codified it in 1996. 529 Savings Plans function much like a *401k* or *an IRA* – they are accounts into which you place funds that are then put into mutual funds or other mainstream investments. The article goes on to explain how 529 plans are administered by state agencies, but the investing, record keeping and reporting is usually delegated to a commercial investment firm. Every state has at least one 529 in place and some have several. *1. Impact on Scholarship and Financial Aid Eligibility is Minimal* When a college financial aid office is calculating student eligibility for aid, they will only apply 5.64% of the 529 Fund value as an asset. If the student controls the fund, that same 5.64% is used to calculate the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) which is based on assets and income. For a standard student savings account, the financial aid calculation applies 20% of the balance. This protective feature is one of the major innovations of a 529 plan.
Educational Tools and Resources and Access to Schwab Professionals Offer
Guidance for IRA Savings Heading Into Tax Season
“People are recognizing the opportunity to get back into the market and
use the market momentum as a way to refocus on their savings goals,
particularly younger investors,” said Rene Kim, Charles Schwab senior
vice president. “Because of the compounding savings power in an IRA,
money saved now can be much more valuable than money saved later.”
Schwab’s Smart, Easy IRA
Officer, gunman dead in California gunfight SANGER, Calif. (AP) — A gunman opened fire Thursday on authorities who tried to serve search warrants at his mobile home in central California, killing a sheriffs detective and critically wounding a police officer before barricading himself in the residence during a raging gunbattle that also left him dead. It was not immediately clear if his injuries were self-inflicted or suffered during the barrage of bullets he exchanged with officers, Dyer said. Authorities need to fingerprint the man to confirm his identity before releasing his name, he said.
Panasonic Corporation, the Official Worldwide
Olympic Partner in the Audio and Visual Equipment category for the
Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, is pleased to announce that the Royal
Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have selected two models of Panasonic IP
surveillance cameras for indoor and outdoor competition venues and other
Olympic facilities for the 2010 Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Winter
Games.
Panasonics state-of-the-art technology is intended to be used in
conjunction with other security technology to secure official Olympic sites
and sporting venues. The high picture quality and high-sensitivity
surveillance camera systems will be an integral part of the RCMPs plan to
offer all visitors and athletes a safe and enjoyable experience at the
Games.
“Panasonic security products have been used by the RCMP in many
high-profile rapid and temporary deployments,” said Jim Brown, Director,
Professional Imaging and Display Solutions, Panasonic Canada Inc. “Our
surveillance cameras provide them with the reliability and high-quality IP
imaging which will assist in providing the RCMP a birds eye view of the
Olympic sites.”
About Panasonic System Networks Company of America
BURGLARS have stolen pounds 2,000 from a charity HQ. They broke into Reclaim, which distributes furniture and household items to people on low incomes in Cheltenham, Glos, in the early hours.
Company to Host In-Booth Product Demonstrations Highlighting How
Today’s Healthcare Organizations Can Revolutionize the Management of
User Workspaces
PHILADELPHIA — RES
Software, the proven leader in user workspace management,
will feature a series of product demonstrations and interactive
presentations with a special emphasis on its desktop transformation
solution, RES
PowerFuse, during the 2010 HIMSS
conference in Atlanta, GA, March 1-4. RES Software’s solutions are
designed to help organizations, including those in the healthcare
sector, better manage and maintain their PC populations. This is
especially important as healthcare systems across the world look to
accelerate and minimize the overall impact of migrations to Windows 7
and VDI. The company currently works with several leading healthcare
systems including Country
Villa in California, Children’s
Hospital of Denver and Orbis
Healthcare and Medical Center in the Netherlands.
At HIMSS 2010, RES Software will be offering demonstrations of its
flagship product, RES PowerFuse 2010. This solution offers the
unprecedented ability to transform traditional desktops into dynamic
user workspaces. Organizations operating in Citrix,
Microsoft
and VMware
environments can now separate the desktop from the operating system,
automating the management, creation and dynamic composition of user
workspaces. RES PowerFuse 2010 also provides the essential
context-aware, secure and centrally managed delivery of applications,
data, printing and personalized settings to users irrelevant of their
location, ensuring optimal end-user productivity.
“We’re excited to bring our industry leading solutions to HIMSS 2010,”
said Jim Kirby, president of the Americas, RES Software. “Today’s
healthcare organizations are becoming increasingly more progressive in
their use of technology. As a result, it is more demanding to
cost-effectively manage the assets of their end-user populations. Our
solutions are designed to minimize these challenges, offering a
centrally-managed, automated option that guarantees user satisfaction
and productivity and reduces the amount of resources needed from IT.”
For live updates from HIMSS 2010, follow RES Software on Twitter @RES_Software.
Founded in 1982, Suffolk Construction Company is one of the leading
privately held construction management firms in the country, with main
offices in the northeast, mid-Atlantic, southeast and west coast regions
of the country. Suffolk provides preconstruction, construction
management, design/build and general contracting services, and has a
strong reputation for delivering challenging building construction
projects in the healthcare, education, science/technology, government
and commercial sectors.
If the ides of March mark the beginning of sniffle season for you, take heart. You can relieve allergy symptoms without a trip to the drugstore, says Jordan S. Josephson, M.D., a nasal and sinus specialist in New York City. RETHINK YOUR DIET Ditch foods you dont digest well (wheat, dairy and nuts are the most common). They send your immune system into “attack” mode, weakening its power to fight allergens. CLEANSE YOUR SINUSES One of the best ways to counteract congestion, an itchy nose and eyes and even fatigue is to irrigate your sinuses with a neti pot (an Indian vessel designed specifically for clearing the nasal passages). Make your own saline solution for the pot by mixing 1/4 teaspoon salt with 8 ounces of warm water, and use morning and night.
Your article, “Antibiotic Alternatives,” (Good Medicine, December/January 20l0) was my go-to handbook this winter. When I felt a sore throat coming on or started to get a little congested, Id refer to this article and go down to my local health-food store to pick up the supplements you recommended. And I didnt have to go to the doctor once.
Q: Does my dog need an omega-3 supplement?
A list of local contract awards this week includes projects as large as $35.8 million and as small as $20,485. Senger Design Group has won a $25,000 contract from the U.S. Air Forces Air Mobility Command based at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., for interior designer services. Wolverine Services LLC won a $1.3 million federal contract from the U.S. Air Forces Direct Reporting Units on behalf of the United States Air Force Academy for medical transcriptionist services. Locally based T.D. Support Services Corp. won a $27,197 federal contract from the U.S. Air Force Materiel Command at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., for distance learning center services. Hair on Wheels, headquartered in Canon City, has won a $20,486 contract from the U.S. Department of Justices Bureau of Prisons based in Grand Prairie, Texas for barber services. Work will take place at the Federal Correctional Complex, Florence, Colo.
In response to our advice on removing a stuck pessary, Dr. Linda Harris of Med-ford, Ore., sent in a little pearl that she recently learned at a lecture. Apparently the Gellhorn pessary is actually designed with a central “canal” meant to be used to inject water or saline at the time of removal to aid in breaking the suction. In the July 15, 2008, issue, we published an interesting pearl about the simultaneous use of more than one pessary and mentioned that an article had actually been written on that subject. However, I failed to give credit where it was due. That article was written by Dr. Christine A. LaSala, Dr. Deborah L. Myers, and Dr. John A. Murphy (Obstet. Gynecol. 1998;91:1019-20).
The Music Producer teams up with URBAN BORN and I Heart Haiti Kids to host a free concert benefiting the children of Haiti at Six Flags Theme Parks.
Bring two books to Six Flags Magic Mountain and receive discounted admission to the theme park and a free concert on Saturday, February 27. First 500 kids in line who have donated 2 books will receive a free copy of the Music Producer 2.0 Music Production Software.
The Music Producer Software is a music creation tool enabling users to write and produce their own music on their own PC. You can make your own music, beats, loops, ringtones, and music for your home video or school projects. Its affordable, easy to use and fun for everyone.
The goal is to bring awareness, collect books and raise funds to rebuild schools for Haiti kids, focusing on the importance of education and helping devastated Haiti kids through their recovery process to receive a basic education. In the U.S., attending school is a requirement; however in poor countries like Haiti, it is unfortunately a luxury.
Romeo College Boyyz, JoJo, Anna Marie Perez De Tagle, Logan Charles, Ariel Winter, Ashley Argota, Cymphonique, Fabulous Girls, Lil King, Lil Fresh Boys and other Special Guests will be performing.
Carlocks original sound and style transcends musical genres, drawing and influence from such icons as Alanis Morissette, Fiona Apple and Sarah McLachlan. Carlocks powerful and heartfelt vocals, melded with her sophisticated and melodic songwriting, create a unique musical style that has been embraced by a wide range of listeners. Tracks from her “Human” release have been receiving heavy play across the country on platforms such as Radio AOL , Women of Substance Radio , Appleseed Radio and on New Yorks premier rock station Q104.3 .
On “Human,” Carlock combines talents with her new husband, Keith Carlock, acclaimed drummer of Sting and Steely Dan, who provided the beats on the title track as well as other tracks on the album. Energetic producer Shane McConnell was called upon to fuse and inject the direction of the CD, keeping it fresh and unique. Four of the tracks welcomed the visionary input of Steve Skinner (Bette Midler and Chaka Khan), as Arnie Roman (Cher, Trisha Yearwood, Pointer Sisters and Celine Dion) brought his eclectic styling to the full-length release.
Carlocks greatest fulfillment comes from being able to perform her music to live audiences. Her truth and passion, which is ignited in her deliverance and aura on stage, is a golden testament to that. Carlock, accompanied by the genial vocal offerings of her backup singers, cousin Stephanie Float and Jennifer Dearing, will deliver the truth in her fun and sophisticated songs during tonights performance.
Lynne Timmes Carlock will perform tonight, Feb. 26, at Whisky a Go Gos night of Women In Rock at 9 p.m., at 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 90069. For ticketing information, please call 917.345.8090.
The envision Group is pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary, Western Construction and Combustion Service Inc. (Western), has been awarded a $2.4 Million contract with Tourism Alberta, Parks and Recreation.
This project involves modernization of the Sandy McNabb campground near Turner Valley, AB. The scope of work includes installation of a double vault washroom and electrical services for all campsites as well as the completion of gravel surfacing for the campground. The project will begin in March and is slated for completion in November, 2010.
“Westerns growth in 2010 will be exceptional, it continues to build great client relationships and provides a high level of service,” stated President and CEO, Frank DAddario.
The envision Group is one of Canadas premier suppliers of environmental, construction and contracting services; specializing in building construction and renovation, earthworks, utility installation and electrical contracting.
It pays to stay at Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort, literally! The beachfront gem is enticing travelers to Southwest Floridas Gulf Coast with the Paradise Pays offer, featuring a $100 resort credit per room, per night. Available through April 10, the daily credit can be redeemed at The Spa at Marco Island, The Rookery at Marco Island golf course, the Tiki Tribe kids club, or any of the resorts dining and retail outlets. There is no limit to the number of nights, or resort credits, so five nights translates into a $500 bonus.
Serving up additional savings is the “Passport to Paradise,” presented to all guests at Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort upon check-in. The customized booklet includes value-added incentives such as 50% off recreation and golf, 20% off spa, and discounts on dining, shopping and more. Guests are encouraged to travel around the resort and take advantage of the passport discounts while earning stamps for each experience. Five stamps equal a $100 resort credit, while ten or more stamps earn $200, for your return visit during subsequent Marco Island, Florida, vacations .
A recent addition to the Naples golf resort s six dining venues, Korals, a cocktail and sushi bar, was unveiled late last year. The $2.5 million space includes floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Gulf of Mexico and an 11-foot tall, 3,600-pound aquarium column with live Hawaiian moon jellyfish. The onyx bar in Korals features a four-inch chilled drink rail to keep cocktails cold, using a thin layer of man-made snow, and serves select appetizers and small plates from the hotels signature restaurant Kurrents, specializing in creative Pan-Asian cuisine. Guests looking for a more casual setting can opt for the brick-oven pizza at 400 Pazzis or enjoy a sunset cocktail at Quinns on the Beach, one of the only Marco Island, Fl, restaurants located right on the white sand shore.
For Paradise Pays reservations, please visit marriott.com/mrkfl and use promotional code D50 or call 800-GET-HERE. Nightly rates start at $504.* For resort information, visit marcoislandmarriott.com .
Nestled on three miles of pristine southwest Florida white sand beaches, Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort is the perfect island within an island escape. Caressed by tropical breezes and inspired by a Balinese sense of harmony, balance and hospitality, this is simply, paradise found and is the ideal location for a south Florida beach wedding . From the magnificent new Quinns Pool, surrounded by lush landscaping and outdoor dining and meeting spaces, to our elegant spa, private resort Rookery Golf Course, and our luxurious rooms and lanai suites that overlook the dazzling Gulf of Mexico, Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort is the sanctuary for relaxation, rejuvenation, discovery and play. Our attentive concierge service, choice of shopping, dining and recreational activities makes Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort the choice for unforgettable family vacations and memorable business meetings.
SALT LAKE CITY — The fallout from a 2008 Utah Supreme Court decision that defined the right of recreational access to state waterways continued to feed a legislative imbroglio Monday as one of two bills trying to address the issue was dumped in a House floor vote. A year ago, the Legislature took a shot at addressing the issue but couldnt find common ground between opposing groups. Rep. Lorie Fowlke, R-Orem, said since that impasse shes been working toward a compromise with stakeholders on the issue, one she said was embodied in her proposal, HB80. “Weve worked on this bill a year and have had meetings with many different agencies,” she said. “This bill acknowledges the main concerns. protecting both private property rights and access to rivers and streams that are owned by the public.” Fowlkes bill looked to define the access corridor for those recreating on Utah waterways as the water itself, and the adjoining bank or shore up to the “ordinary high water mark,” a spot she said was not the flood level, or highest point the water has been, rather its seasonal, regular high flow mark.
ST. LOUIS, Feb. 19 /PRNewswire/ — Financial blog , ChristianPF.com released an article discussing why the best college savings plan is a 529 for most savers. The 529 college savings plan is probably the most flexible college savings option out there at the moment. It is named for Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code, which created the fund concept and codified it in 1996. 529 Savings Plans function much like a *401k* or *an IRA* – they are accounts into which you place funds that are then put into mutual funds or other mainstream investments. The article goes on to explain how 529 plans are administered by state agencies, but the investing, record keeping and reporting is usually delegated to a commercial investment firm. Every state has at least one 529 in place and some have several. *1. Impact on Scholarship and Financial Aid Eligibility is Minimal* When a college financial aid office is calculating student eligibility for aid, they will only apply 5.64% of the 529 Fund value as an asset. If the student controls the fund, that same 5.64% is used to calculate the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) which is based on assets and income. For a standard student savings account, the financial aid calculation applies 20% of the balance. This protective feature is one of the major innovations of a 529 plan.
1673 The first recorded win auction took place in London. 1811 Austria declared itself bankrupt. 1939 The British Industries Fair exhibited the countrys first washing machine. 1939 Nylon stockings went on sale in America for the first time. 1947 Lord Mountbatten was appointed the last Viceroy of India. 1962 American astronaut John Glenn orbited the Earth three times in the space capsule Friendship 7. 1985 The sale of contraceptives became legal in the Irish Republic. 1989 An army barrack at Fern Hill in Shropshire was destroyed by an IRA bomb. 1993 Two boys were charged with the murder of James Bulger.
ST. LOUIS, Feb. 19 /PRNewswire/ — Financial blog , ChristianPF.com released an article discussing why the best college savings plan is a 529 for most savers. The 529 college savings plan is probably the most flexible college savings option out there at the moment. It is named for Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code, which created the fund concept and codified it in 1996. 529 Savings Plans function much like a *401k* or *an IRA* – they are accounts into which you place funds that are then put into mutual funds or other mainstream investments. The article goes on to explain how 529 plans are administered by state agencies, but the investing, record keeping and reporting is usually delegated to a commercial investment firm. Every state has at least one 529 in place and some have several. *1. Impact on Scholarship and Financial Aid Eligibility is Minimal* When a college financial aid office is calculating student eligibility for aid, they will only apply 5.64% of the 529 Fund value as an asset. If the student controls the fund, that same 5.64% is used to calculate the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) which is based on assets and income. For a standard student savings account, the financial aid calculation applies 20% of the balance. This protective feature is one of the major innovations of a 529 plan.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] “In all their battling over the defense budget, the administration and Congress are forgetting the most important question: How much real defense are we getting for our $300 billion? Unfortunately, the answer is, pretty damn little.” –Robert W. Poole J r., “For This We Pay $300 Billion?” “Stocks and bonds drop like a rocket when a huge increase in the money supply is announced. According to the theory of rational expectations, which has recently gained considerable attention, the old Keynesian prescription of inflating the money supply to stimulate the economy wont work anymore–too many people have caught on to the game.”
REDWOOD SHORES, Calif. — Kensington Computer Products Group, a worldwide leader in mobile
computing accessories, today announced that Christopher Franey,
President of Kensington has been named a 2010 Channel Chief by the
Everything Channel’s CRN. Channel Chiefs are leaders in creating
effective channel programs for solution providers. They consistently
defend, promote and execute effective channel partner programs and
strategies.
Twelve months under Franey’s leadership of building into channel
infrastructure has resulted in significant improvement for Kensington’s
supply chain and customer service metrics, relationships with all major
customers, reach into the mass market channel, company financial
foundation, and credibility with Wall Street analysts and investors.
Channel partner organization accomplishments such as adding new
distribution through SYNNEX Corporation® helped improved overall
availability of Kensington in the channel. Franey’s approach also
championed the recruitment of a new channel sales team, ultimately
growing the year-over-year revenue of Kensington security products in
particular.
For the eighth consecutive year the Channel Chiefs were chosen based by
Everything Channel editorial on criteria including policy and program
innovations made during the past year, the amount of revenue their
company generates through partners, their willingness to speak out
publicly on behalf of the channel, and the number of years they have
dedicated to channel activities.
“I am pleased to accept this recognition on behalf of the hard working
employees of Kensington Worldwide,” said Christopher Franey, President
of Kensington. “During an exceptionally challenging year; Kensington
resisted the urge to pull away from the channel as our industry reeled
from sagging sales in early 2009. At a time when many companies were
slashing budgets, channel resources and marketing support, we invested
in channel infrastructure, making it easier for partners to secure
volume discounts for enterprise customers, established dedicated channel
marketing organization, increased MDF spend in key channel partners
marketing, and made key corporate acquisitions that resulted in more
channel sales staff, and end users being serviced by Kensington channel
partners.”
“Being named a Channel Chief is one of the most
prestigious honors in the IT industry. This year’s Channel Chiefs offers
tremendous insight into the who’s who of the Channel,” said Kelley
Damore, VP, Editorial Director, Everything Channel. “Top channel
executives consistently ensure that the Channel’s voice is heard when
strategic decisions are being made and continually nurture mutually
profitable relationships. We applaud the 2010 Channel Chiefs for their
successful partner programs and strategies.”
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] From the health-trends-we-never-saw-coming file: backyard chickens! As part of the movement away from mass-produced, factory-farmed food and toward environmental sustainability and self-sufficiency, a growing number of suburbanites and city dwellers are raising chickens in their own backyards. In addition to providing fresh, humanely raised, nutrient-dense, organic eggs, many flocks become entertaining members of the family. Mailee Jones, who keeps three chickens in San Leandro, Calif., says she wanted her son to see where eggs came from. “We were interested in seeing if we could stop purchasing something from the store and rely on ourselves completely,” she says. Although the trend has often been framed as a recession-buster, most chicken enthusiasts say economics isnt their primary concern. “People keeping chickens on a small scale are probably not going to save money in the short term,” says Jennifer Megyesi, an organic farm owner in South Royalton, Vt., and author of The Joy of Keeping Chickens (Skyhorse Publishing). But in addition to being surprisingly cuddly, homegrown chickens mean health benefits, too. Megyesi says free-range eggs have higher omega-3 fatty acid levels than the ones youll find in conventional cartons. But the satisfaction of rearing a flock might be best of all.
I am what you might call a pack mouse, not a pack rat. I dont have a huge clutter problem–just a little one, I think. But people have varying degrees of clutter tolerance, Ive discovered. A few years ago, a young woman came in for an interview, stood at the door of my office and gasped, literally, before stepping inside. (She didnt get the job, poor dear.) Then again, a friend of mine said the nicest thing when I apologized for the state of my house: “It doesnt look messy, it looks like a family lives here.” I admit, though, that Im always trying to improve in this area. Thats why I love this issues feature “Cluttered?” (pg. 72). Its full of simple solutions for painless organizing in every room of the house. But reading it didnt make me feel like a pathological hoarder. Instead, it was soothing to hear that many of us hang on to things because of the desires and memories attached to them–or because were just too busy to deal with all the stuff that comes into our lives. Clutter isnt necessarily bad, our experts say–its a problem only when it starts interfering with your ability to be happy. Spring is an excellent time to take a look at cleaning up your body, too. In “The Doable Detox,” on pg. 58, we break down the process of flushing out toxins into three phases that you can incorporate into your everyday life: the preparation, the actual detox and the transition back into your regular routine. Its a great primer for a beginner, as well as a motivating refresher course for the experienced detoxer. In with the new weve got some additions to Natural Health departments as well: On pg. 22 youll find the first Vital Love, which covers your most important relationships: family, friendships and romance. And on pg. 48, we debut The Bliss Factor, where well run essays about the emotional side of life. Also in this issue, Lisa Fayne Cohen joins Natural Health as a contributing book editor.
Representatives at 15miles , the interactive division of New York-based TMP Directional Marketing, reported a banner year in 2009 of 20-percent revenue growth.
In 2009, the company signed several new clients including Farmers Insurance, 800-GOT-JUNK and Great Expressions Dental.
“While many companies retrenched their marketing budgets in the midst of nationwide recession, 15miles saw significant growth last year,” said Gregg Stewart, president of 15miles. “We attribute this to our metrics driven approach to online marketing and helping our clients reach their sales goals.
Through interactive and mobile marketing solutions, 15miles, which was launched in 2009, connects businesses with consumers in locally targeted markets. The agency currently services more than 200 national brands and their local agents, dealers and franchisees.
Other recent accolades for 15miles include being recognized as a top Search Marketing Agency by AdAge in November and most recently a top Local Search Agency by the independent authority on internet marketing vendors, topseos.com.
Remedent, Inc. (OTCBB: REMI), an
international company specializing in the research, development, and
manufacturing of oral care and cosmetic dentistry products, announced the
current information for the replay of the conference call held on February
18, 2010.
A telephone replay of the call is available until March 17, 2010.
Toll-free replay number: 1-800-839-5490
International replay number: 1-402-220-2550
(No passcode required)
PHILADELPHIA — The American Dental Association’s Continuing Education Recognition
Program (ADA CERP) has approved CIGNA (NYSE:CI) as a recognized provider
of continuing dental education courses. The program, which evaluates and
recognizes organizations that provide continuing dental education, helps
ADA members and the dental community select quality courses that promote
continuous improvement.
“Investing in continuing dental education is one important way that we
help dental professionals stay current on the latest clinical and
administrative developments,” said Dr. Michael Hahn, national dental
director for CIGNA.
Dental Insurance 101 (developed with assistance from CIGNA
Dental Clinical Advisory Panel* member Marjorie K. Jeffcoat, D.M.D.,
Professor and Dean Emeritus of the School of Dental Medicine, University
of Pennsylvania)
This new type of modern eldercare will postpone, if not eliminate, many elderly persons from having to endure the loneliness and loss of independence due to leaving their own homes and living in nursing homes and other assisted living facilities. Their families can now better manage the difficult decisions regarding independence they allow their now dependent aged parent while minimizing the concern and risk the adult care giving child is willing to assume to enable an acceptable level of independence and consequent risk (to the care giver) for their now dependent parent.
“For the last several years, the US eldercare crisis is commonly portrayed as not happening until the baby boomers reach the age of great reliance on their children and younger family members. The truth of the matter, since the US is the only country in the top ten of the worlds industrialized nations without national healthcare, is that we really dont have solid statistics for our true bottom line annual US eldercare costs. Many middle class baby boomers are presently suffering significant financial, time and emotional pressures attempting to care for their surviving WWII and Korean War era parents,” observed Martin Spencer, President/CEO, GeckoSystems.
At the time of the companys founding, extensive primary market research was performed to determine the demographic profiles and the market segments appropriate to identify the probable early adopters of eldercare capable personal robots. Not surprisingly the scientific statistical analyses revealed that elderly over 65 living alone in metropolitan areas with broadband Internet available and sufficient household incomes to support were identified as those most likely to adopt initially. Using U.S. Census Bureau data from the 2000 census the pent-up demand, to the degree possible for metro areas only, is — to those not privy to this type of statistical analysis — nearly unbelievable. Due to the high cost of assisted living, nursing homes, etc. the payback for a CareBot is expected to be only six to eight months while keeping elderly care receivers independent, in their own homes, and living longer due to the comfort of more frequent attention from their loved ones.
“We project the available market size in dollars for cost effective, utilitarian, multitasking eldercare personal robots in 2011 to be $74.0B, in 2012 to be $77B, in 2013 to be $80B, in 2014 to be $83.3B, and in 2015 to be $86.6B. With market penetrations of 0.03% in 2011, 0.06% in 2012, 0.22% in 2013, 0.53% in 2014, and 0.81% in 2015, we will anticipate CareBot sales, from this consumer market segment, only, of $22.0M, $44.0M, $176M, $440.2M, and $704.3M, respectively. We expect these sales despite — and perhaps because of — the present recession due to pent up demand for significant cost reduction in eldercare expenses,” opined Spencer.
This new type of modern eldercare will postpone, if not eliminate, many elderly persons from having to endure the loneliness and loss of independence due to leaving their own homes and living in nursing homes and other assisted living facilities. Their families can now better manage the difficult decisions regarding independence they allow their now dependent aged parent while minimizing the concern and risk the adult care giving child is willing to assume to enable an acceptable level of independence and consequent risk (to the care giver) for their now dependent parent.
“For the last several years, the US eldercare crisis is commonly portrayed as not happening until the baby boomers reach the age of great reliance on their children and younger family members. The truth of the matter, since the US is the only country in the top ten of the worlds industrialized nations without national healthcare, is that we really dont have solid statistics for our true bottom line annual US eldercare costs. Many middle class baby boomers are presently suffering significant financial, time and emotional pressures attempting to care for their surviving WWII and Korean War era parents,” observed Martin Spencer, President/CEO, GeckoSystems.
At the time of the companys founding, extensive primary market research was performed to determine the demographic profiles and the market segments appropriate to identify the probable early adopters of eldercare capable personal robots. Not surprisingly the scientific statistical analyses revealed that elderly over 65 living alone in metropolitan areas with broadband Internet available and sufficient household incomes to support were identified as those most likely to adopt initially. Using U.S. Census Bureau data from the 2000 census the pent-up demand, to the degree possible for metro areas only, is — to those not privy to this type of statistical analysis — nearly unbelievable. Due to the high cost of assisted living, nursing homes, etc. the payback for a CareBot is expected to be only six to eight months while keeping elderly care receivers independent, in their own homes, and living longer due to the comfort of more frequent attention from their loved ones.
“We project the available market size in dollars for cost effective, utilitarian, multitasking eldercare personal robots in 2011 to be $74.0B, in 2012 to be $77B, in 2013 to be $80B, in 2014 to be $83.3B, and in 2015 to be $86.6B. With market penetrations of 0.03% in 2011, 0.06% in 2012, 0.22% in 2013, 0.53% in 2014, and 0.81% in 2015, we will anticipate CareBot sales, from this consumer market segment, only, of $22.0M, $44.0M, $176M, $440.2M, and $704.3M, respectively. We expect these sales despite — and perhaps because of — the present recession due to pent up demand for significant cost reduction in eldercare expenses,” opined Spencer.
SAN FRANCISCO — Global executive search and assessment firm Russell Reynolds Associates
today announced the 2010 fellows selected to attend the California
Health Leadership College (CHLC).
A partnership between Russell Reynolds Associates and the Center for
Creative Leadership (CCL), supported by the California Hospital
Association (CHA) and the California HealthCare Foundation, CHLC is
dedicated to the development of next generation CEOs. Fellows entering
the program will participate in the yearlong curriculum that combines
intensive and comprehensive leadership assessment, coaching, interactive
lectures, and action learning assignments to help executives develop the
interpersonal, and overall leadership skills needed for success in
today’s healthcare environment.
“Today’s rapidly-changing healthcare industry demands leadership with
the skills and depth necessary to develop new solutions for a better
future,” said Barbara Anderman, Consultant at Russell Reynolds
Associates. “This program is unique in the industry, and provides
talented executives with the tools they need to create new ideas and
move their organizations forward.”
Russell Reynolds Associates is also pleased to announce that six of the
fourteen fellows attending the CHLC in 2010 will receive scholarship
grants supported by the California HealthCare Foundation. The grant
funding will continue to enable safety net hospital executives and those
executives from rural healthcare organizations to participate in the
rich learning environment that CHLC offers and further support
leadership throughout the healthcare sector in California.
The California Health Leadership College Fellowship Class of 2010
includes:
Comport Consulting Corp ., a
leading expert in the design and implementation of information management
solutions for enterprises and healthcare providers, announced that it has
completed an expansion of the demonstration capabilities available to its
customers and IT partners for 2010. Over 40 demonstrations are now
available at the Comport Solution Center, covering a wide spectrum of
hardware, software, and information management products.
The Comport
Solution Center is located outside New York City in Ramsey, NJ.
Demonstrations are available by appointment on-site, and many are also
available for remote access. Company experts demonstrate, test and
preflight the products and software-based solutions they sell. Comports
Solution Center is a valuable resource for customer teams to further define
solutions, and for proof-of-concepts before purchase.
Among the exciting new solutions available for demonstration at Comport in
early 2010 is TierData AutoPilot, the first complete application
performance management platform aimed at addressing performance issues
caused by data growth in critical enterprise applications, including the
Oracle® E-Business Suite, data warehouses, and PeopleSoft®. Unlike
other fixes, such as performance tuning and adding CPU power which must be
repeated as databases grow, TierData AutoPilot permanently solves this
performance issue in a cost effective and sustainable way.
Comports Extensive Demo Capabilities Overview
Healthcare solutions demos include: Compliant Shared Storage for Clinical
Patient Data (MAS); Automated Clinical Workflow for the Healthcare Provider
(Acuo); Integration of multi-vendor PACS Applications (Acuo); PACS and HIS
Vendor Neutral Archive (HP MAS/Acuo); Consolidated Storage for All
Modalities in Healthcare (HP MAS); Cross-Enterprise Patient Data Sharing
(Acuo/Initiate); and Universal Medical Workstation (Etiam).
(NYSE: CAE) (TSX: CAE) – CAE Healthcare today announced that is has partnered with Ornge, a leader in the field of Transport Medicine, to become the exclusive provider of Ornges simulation and education programs for healthcare practitioners worldwide.
“We believe Ornges suite of programs is an excellent addition to our growing portfolio of best-in-class medical education and simulation solutions. We share a common vision with Ornge for the delivery of innovative and quality education to health practitioners in order to improve patient care and safety,” said Guillaume Herve, President of CAE Healthcare. “Transport medicine requires healthcare providers to be highly trained in providing specialized medical care in a mobile environment. Ornges expertise in providing patient care and education coupled with CAEs simulation-based aviation training experience will be deployed in air, ground and marine medical transport applications. CAE Healthcare will be able to offer its customers comprehensive solutions that bring a new level of excellence to critical care transport and emergency medical services.”
Under terms of the agreement, CAE Healthcare will be the exclusive provider worldwide of Ornges current and future product portfolio of educational programs save and except that Ornge will continue to provide Transport Medecine solutions including these educational programs in Ontario. This includes the only Canadian Medical Association (CMA) accredited Critical Care Flight Paramedic program in Canada, as well as Ornges CMA-accredited education program for Advanced Care Flight Paramedics. All educational programs are based on innovative and flexible models that integrate different types of learning. Students participate in classroom sessions, videoconferences, seminars, high fidelity patient simulations, on-line learning, and placements in hospitals, helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft and land ambulances.
“We are delighted to partner with CAE, a brand that is well respected and globally recognized. This opportunity will enable Ornge to leverage CAEs expertise in simulation and modelling technology, educational program development, and its sales channel to expand our transport medicine offerings to healthcare providers worldwide,” said Dr. Chris Mazza, President and CEO of Ornge.
CAE Healthcare and Ornge will jointly develop solutions for transport medicine and critical care programs. Both organizations will be attending and exhibiting at HELI-EXPO 2010, taking place in Houston Texas from February 20 to 23.
Palls Centrisep EAPS Enhances Engine Performance
PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. — Pall Corporation (NYSE:PLL),
a global leader in filtration, separation and purification, today
announced that it has signed an agreement with Carson Helicopters, Inc.
Pall will supply its Centrisep® engine advanced protection systems
(EAPSs) to support a joint modernization program for the Sikorsky S-61
helicopter.
With approximately 620 aircraft in service today, the S-61 model is one
of the most widely used commercial and military helicopters. The
modernization program provides enhancements to this well-known aircraft
that will enable it to perform effectively in severe operating
environments and allow for many more years of service. Pall’s EAPS
technology is a key contributor to these improvements, providing
superior engine protection under conditions that include sand, dust,
rain, snow and ice.
Centrisep EAPSs protect helicopter engines from airborne contamination
by utilizing centrifugal force to continuously remove particles before
they can enter the engine air intake. The EAPS technology extends the
life of a helicopter engine against erosion, while enhancing engine
safety, reliability, availability and performance.
Under the terms of the agreement, Carson Helicopter will hold the
Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) on the Pall EAPS. Carson is a US
Federal Aviation Agency (FAA)-approved helicopter repair station for the
overhaul, repair and remanufacture of all major model helicopters. The
Company holds over 20 STCs for improvements and modifications to the
Sikorsky S-61 and was the first to develop performance enhancements such
as composite main rotor blades and a shortened version of the aircraft
for commercial and government use.
ON NOVEMBER 30, 2009, North Koreans awoke to find that their savings had lost 99 percent of their official value. Kim Jong Ils dictatorship dropped two zeros from the North Korean won, making a 100-won note worth only one. Exchange of old currency for new is capped at 300,000 of the old won per family in bank savings and half that amount in cash. The limit is a de facto ceiling on savings, rendering worthless any currency held above the cutoff. The sudden revaluation may be an attempt to crack down on the black markets that have long existed in the comers of North Koreas centralized economic system. Defending the monetary change, which was imposed against a background of rampant inflation and widespread poverty, an official at the countrys central bank told a pro-Pyongyang paper in Japan that “in the future, a large share of economic activities will be subject not to the market, but the planned supply and distribution system.”
VELDHOVEN, the Netherlands — ASML Holding NV (ASML)(NASDAQ:ASML)(Amsterdam:ASML) today announced the
shipment of its 100th TWINSCAN XT:1900 series lithography
system, capable of imaging industry-leading chip features as small as 38
nanometers.
The XT:19×0 series includes the XT:1900Gi and XT:1950Hi systems, both
featuring the industry’s largest numerical aperture of 1.35. In total,
ASML has shipped more than 160 TWINSCAN immersion systems, all capable
of imaging sub-60 nm chip features.
TWINSCAN XT:19×0 series immersion systems are the enabling technology
behind the most advanced memory and logic chips in volume production.
Semiconductor manufacturers around the world, including 18 of the
world’s top 20, use TWINSCAN immersion scanners to produce an estimated
350 million chips every month.
“Immersion lithography is now a mature technology,” said Jan Smits,
senior vice president, TWINSCAN product group at ASML. “However, our
immersion development continues in order to provide chipmakers with
products that meet application-specific needs. Our XT systems provide
cost-efficient, single-exposure manufacturing down to 38nm, while our
new NXT platform provides the enhanced overlay and productivity
performance required for double-patterning of critical features as small
as 22 nm.”
As of December 31st 2009 ASML had shipped five TWINSCAN NXT systems and
had another 17 NXT systems in backlog, positioning this new class of
immersion systems to become the preferred productivity system for DRAM
and Logic chip manufacturing and future Flash nodes. Multiple customers
will start volume production on NXT in the second quarter of 2010.
PETER STORRIE has lifted the lid on the financial chaos engulfing Portsmouth and the reasons why the club are drowning in debt. Chief executive Storrie decided to speak out after growing increasingly agitated by speculation over the clubs fate. He said: “Naturally there are lessons to be learned from what has gone on at Portsmouth but fundamentally the club was run no differently than Chelsea, whereby we had owners supporting substantial debt. “When Milan Mandaric was at the club he personally supported the debt and overdraft facilities. Obviously the level of spending during his time was in line with what the club could afford.
CHELTENHAM 2 MORECABME 0 JuLIan aLsoP wrote himself into the record books as Cheltenham grabbed a crucial victory. morecambe were left to rue early chances from Paul mullin and david artell as alsop headed home his 38th goal for Town from a corner – equalling the clubs all-time League scoring record.
MARCO ISLAND, Fla. — Kevin Hale, Executive Vice President of Mutual of Omaha Bank, will be
available to the news media on Monday, Feb. 22, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30
a.m. at the Mutual of Omaha Bank (formerly Marco Community Bank) at 1770
San Marco Road in Marco Island.
Mutual of Omaha Bank opened in Marco Island taking over the deposits and
loans of the failed Marco Community Bank.
Mutual of Omaha Bank assumed substantially all the deposits and loans of
the failed bank, including those that exceeded the FDIC insurance limit,
after federal regulators closed the banks on Friday. Depositors of the
failed bank automatically became depositors of Mutual of Omaha Bank and
no depositor lost money as a result of the failure.
With more than $4 billion in assets, Mutual of Omaha Bank operates a
network of full-service community banks in Florida, Arizona, California,
Colorado, Florida, Nebraska, Nevada and Texas, and has loan production
offices in Iowa and Kansas. It recently opened its first full-service
Florida bank in Naples, and a Tampa location is slated to open this
spring.
For more information or to make other coverage arrangements, please
contact Jim Nolan at (402) 616-6455.
CryptoLogic Limited (TSX: CRY)(TSX: CXY)(NASDAQ: CRYP)(LSE: CRP) announced today that its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2009 will be released on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at 2:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time and 7:00 a.m. Greenwich Mean Time.
Brian Hadfield, CryptoLogics President and CEO, cordially invites analysts and shareholders to participate in the companys conference call to be held on March 2, 2010 at 8:30 am (EST) and 1:30 pm (GMT). A live webcast of the call will be available. Management will review the financial results for the fourth quarter and year 2009 and discuss recent developments, followed by a question and answer period.
Conference Call
Beneficial Holdings, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: BFHJ), a casino and hospitality investment and management holding company, previously announced its intention to issue a share dividend of 6 shares of free trading common stock for every 1 share of unrestricted common stock that a shareholder owns (holders of restricted shares will receive restricted certificates). This means that the shareholder will have 7 shares of common stock after the dividend for every 1 share currently held.
The Company issued a resolution directing that the ex-date for the dividend will be March 5, 2010. The Company requested that the shares be prospectively distributed on March 10, 2010. However, the Company notes that these dates are tentative in nature and subject to approval by FINRA. In the event that FINRA cannot perform their review in time for the March 10 date, the distribution may be delayed; however, the ex-date probably will not be delayed. The ex-date is the date you must have settled your positions to receive the dividend. This will not be treated as an ordinary forward split, so shareholders must factor in the settlement times for the
ex-date when deciding when to purchase or sell their shares. In the event that the Company is notified of any changes, it will advise shareholders promptly.
In addition, the Company received information that a large portion of the daily sales of its common stock is due to short sellers and not retail investors trying to sell their shares. This short selling action is precisely why the Company needed to issue a dividend to make our common stock more liquid. Our shareholders cannot benefit from liquidity when short sellers are manipulating the price of the securities by creating a wall.
The following information was received from FINRAs published reports.
February 19, 2010: 220600 short shares of 306612 volume (72%).
February 18, 2010: 157000 short shares of 619360 volume (25%).
February 17, 2010: 660383 short shares of 1419469 volume (47%).
February 16, 2010: 255864 short shares of 324864 volume (79%).
February 12, 2010: 6000 short shares of 34500 volume (17%).
February 11, 2010: 75000 short shares of 213000 volume (35%).
February 10, 2010: 135000 short shares of 170700 volume (79%).
February 09, 2010: 729786 short shares of 853186 volume (86%).
February 08, 2010: 105000 short shares of 132895 volume (79%).
February 04, 2010: 125000 short shares of 155400 volume (80%).
EVERTON 3
LOOKING good has never been so affordable with our fantastic health and beauty promotion, giving you 50 per cent off! The Sunday Mirror has teamed up with Embody to offer you half- price pampering on a complete range of therapies and treatments including reflexology, aromatherapy, a relaxing facial or body massage and many more.
PASS the sick bag, Tiger. You must think we are all as gullible as cocktail waitresses. Your State of the Union address was nauseating, a media-training snuff movie.
BLACKBURN v BOLTON OWEN COYLE believes he can become a bigger hero to the Bolton fans than former boss Sam Allardyce. The supporters will get a chance to see their former idol when they travel to face his Blackburn side today. Allardyce guided the club into the top flight and Europe during his eight-year reign as well as overseeing the building of their state-of-the-art training complex.
SLEAZY Ashley Cole took a glamour model home for sex – on the night he first went public about his relationship with Cheryl. Just minutes after waving goodbye to Cheryl on their first official night out together, he sidled up to Alexandra Taylor in the bar of a London nightclub. And she became the FIFTH woman with whom Cole cheated on Cheryl. The shameless footballer brought Alexandra home for sex – in his bachelor flat in the same apartment complex where Cheryl was living.
Dear Dr Cath, MY girlfriend has two close friends and sometimes I feel like Im dating all three. When I try to arrange a quiet evening together, her friends invite themselves along and I end up paying for all of them. My girlfriend doesnt see how they are trying to stop us being together.
CHERYL Cole has spoken of her pain and humiliation over her husband Ashleys cheating – and is struggling to forgive his latest betrayal. The Girls Aloud singer and X Factor judge, 26, has revealed to a friend how she jetted out to LA on the spur of the moment to give herself some space away from the love-rat Chelsea footballer. As a fifth girl came forward to claim she has had a fling with shamed Ashley, she is using the trip to decide whether their marriage can survive the revelations. At one point, Cheryl told a close pal: “I cant forgive him this time.”
Dear Dr Cath, MY girlfriend has two close friends and sometimes I feel like Im dating all three. When I try to arrange a quiet evening together, her friends invite themselves along and I end up paying for all of them. My girlfriend doesnt see how they are trying to stop us being together.
A CHARITY backed by the Sunday Mirror today launches an appeal to help our troops returning from Afghanistan with horrific injuries. The Army Benevolent Fund Soldiers Charity is urging people to back its Homes for Heroes fund, which aids servicemen who have lost limbs in conflict by adapting their homes so they can lead their lives as normally as possible. It comes as a growing number of troops return from Afghanistan as amputees after being blown up by Taliban bombs. But the full tragic toll of injuries, some dating back years, often goes unreported as they are overshadowed by the 263 deaths our forces have suffered in the conflict. And now the charity is asking Sunday Mirror readers to donate to its fund, used to adapt soldiers houses. Major General Sir Evelyn Webb-Carter, chief executive of The Soldiers Charity, said: “We have a duty to provide everything we can for those who serve and have served this country. We anticipate that in the next few years we will see a surge in applications for help.”
Quality Check measures added by Joint Commission Quality Check displays data on National Quality Improvement Goals for hospitals on selected performance measures in six treatment areas: childrens asthma care, heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, pregnancy, surgical care, and pregnancy. The EDs performance in all of these areas becomes part of the hospitals data submission to Quality Check. That information then can be accessed by consumers as part of their search for hospital care. Bruce S. Auerbach, MD, FACEP, vice president and chief, emergency and ambulatory services at Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro, MA, says, “Once a person has been admitted to the hospital, the ED really has no further involvement in what goes on while in theyre in the hospital or upon discharge.” However, he notes, “Some EDs have instituted programs that process or provide more care in the ED or through which patients are overseen in adjacent areas — like observation or clinical decision units — as a means to manage those individuals they think they can take care of within a 24-hour-period and not admit them.” These patients, he continues, will be discharged from the ED or the other units, in which case the ED staff that oversee that unit will provide discharge instructions, he says. In addition, he notes, some institutions will put case managers in the ED. “Because they have so much to do with discharge planning, they will use them in the ED even for patients who are being admitted since they can start work early on discharge planning so that when theyre discharged there are no obstacles in the way of going home,” Auerbach explains.
IHI program building foundation for more quality-conscious providers Open School med students are initiating their own QI programs The goal of the school, she says, is “to advance health care improvement and safety competencies in the next generation. Its an attempt to address the fact that many academic organizations were teaching improvement and safety in a very limited capacity — some not at all — so we wanted to bring it directly to students.” The schools offerings, she explains, “vary from what feel like formal courses to case studies, video clips on YouTube, discussion boards, and journal articles.” Probably the development the IHI found most interesting, she continues, “is that while the program was initially targeted at students, weve also found a large number of faculty members showing interest. They view the content and integrate it with their course curriculum and share it with other faculty so the knowledge can be spread.”
The DAISY Foundation is encouraging nurses seeking to impact and improve treatment of patients with auto-immune diseases and cancer to apply for a research or evidence-based practice project grant awarded by the foundation. The deadline to submit a letter of intent for the J. Patrick Barnes Research Grant is April 2, 2010.
The foundation offers two types of research grants: research grants of up to $5,000 for projects that involve clinical research studies that directly benefit patients and/or families; and evidence-based practice grants of up to $2,000 that use patient-focused data to study and develop improved nursing practices.
For the first time this year, successful applicants will also be allowed to apply for subsequent funding to share their findings at professional conferences. This funding will provide grantees with up to $2,000 for expenses and fees for attending or presenting at a professional conference.
The DAISY Foundation provides these grants to support registered nurses who continually evaluate their practice, seek answers to clinical questions in an effort to improve their practice, and change their practice based on evidence and evaluation of that change.
HOLLAND, Ohio — Wellstar International, Inc. (OTCBB:WLSI) has announced they have
started the Beta Test in a Long Term Care Facility.
Wellstar has implemented its TMI Imaging system in an initial nursing
home through an arrangement with a company that currently works with and
supplies care to several hundred facilities.
The Beta Test is scheduled to run for 90 days. During this period,
images will be captured of existing patients on a time schedule, as well
as any new patient admitted to the facility will also be imaged. The
data that will be compiled will be used to determine the type of
specific care for the patient, as well as to demonstrate the practical
use of the TMI System within the workplace.
The goal is to expand up to 3 additional facilities as the Beta Test
progresses. Once the Beta Test is complete, Wellstar will move into a
Gamma Test. During the Gamma Test, Wellstar will begin charging for the
systems and be revenue producing.
This press release contains statements, which may constitute
“forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities Act of
1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended by the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Prospective investors are
cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of
future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual
results may differ materially from those contemplated by such
forward-looking statements. Important factors currently known to
management that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those in forward-statements include fluctuation of operating results,
the ability to compete successfully and the ability to complete
before-mentioned transactions. The company undertakes no obligation to
update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed
assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes to future
operation results.
Springer Realty Group of Elverson Pays 100% Commissions
ELVERSON, Pa. — “This is a wonderful although challenging time to be in real estate,”
says Dave Springer, Broker-Owner of the Springer Realty Group of
Elverson, PA. “We’re making those challenges easier and fairer for our
real estate agents by offering two distinct benefits. First, our 100%
commission plans help our agents maximize earnings; second, our
technologically advanced paperless records system virtually eliminates
office time. We invite agents to talk to us who are tired of giving up
to 50% of their hard-earned commissions to their real estate offices in
the 50%-50% split or even the more liberal 70%-30% commission plan, or
who hate dealing with office paperwork drop-offs and floor time issues.”
Springer Realty Group serves home buyers and sellers in a wide area
surrounding its Chester County location: all of Berks, Bucks, Chester,
Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties.
According to Dave Springer, either of the firm’s two commission plans
(both of which pay 100%), result in definite financial advantages for
the selling agent compared with the commissions earned even in the
70%-30% compensation plan.
Under Springer’s first plan, the agent pays Springer Realty Group $195
per month as an office fee, and $395 per property sold. In plan two, the
agent pays Springer a $495 monthly office fee and nothing per
property sold.
PHILADELPHIA — Sunoco, Inc. (NYSE: SUN) announced today that its Board of Directors has
elected Stacy L. Fox as Senior Vice President and General Counsel,
effective March 1, 2010. Michael S. Kuritzkes, who has been serving as
General Counsel since 2000, has elected to pursue other interests.
A seasoned corporate lawyer with more than 25 years experience in
business, Ms. Fox, 56, joins Sunoco most recently from the Roxbury
Group, a Detroit-based real estate development and legal consulting
firm, where she was founder and principal. From 2005 to 2008, Ms. Fox
served as Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and
General Counsel for Collins Aikman Corporation, a leading supplier of
automotive interior systems.
Ms. Fox served from 2000 to 2005 as Senior Vice President of Corporate
Transactions, General Counsel and Secretary for Visteon Corporation, a
global automotive supplier, where she was responsible for worldwide
legal activities, corporate compliance and governance, real estate,
mergers and acquisitions, and government affairs. Prior to Visteon, Ms.
Fox was Vice President and General Counsel at Johnson Controls from 1989
to 2000, where she led both the legal department and the environmental,
health and safety department for the worldwide automotive systems group.
Ms. Fox earned both her undergraduate and law degrees from the
University of Michigan.
“Stacy has the qualifications, experience, and record of performance to
contribute to Sunoco’s success from the start. We are pleased that she
will be joining the company,” said Lynn L. Elsenhans, Sunoco’s Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer.