4 Dead After Van Transporting Amish To Funeral Crashes WJAC Johnstown A van transporting seven Amish people collided with a pickup truck in Butler County on Tuesday morning, killing four people. Officials said the Amish were ... |
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
4 Dead After Van Transporting Amish To Funeral Crashes - WJAC Johnstown
dyakonostrlin.blogspot.com
Monday, November 22, 2010
Hertz To Rent Coda Electric Cars - MediaPost Publications (blog)
http://tamparelocationinfo.com/page/A-Patong-Beach-Lodge-Dream.html
The Business Insider | Hertz To Rent Coda Electric Cars MediaPost Publications (blog) Electric car company Santa Monica-based Coda Automotive has signed a partnership with The Hertz Corporation that puts Coda cars in SoCal Hertz rental fleets ... Hertz to rent » |
Saturday, November 20, 2010
2002 Aborted Foetus Highlight Inadequacies Of Thailand's Birth Control Policies - Pattaya Daily News
http://49cat.com/?p=332
CBC.ca | 2002 Aborted Foetus Highlight Inadequacies Of Thailand's Birth Control Policies Pattaya Daily News In Thailand, abortion is illegal, except where the mother's health is in danger, if she is a rape victim, or, in certain cases, a teenager. ... More than 2000 human fetuses found in Buddhist temple in Thailand Thai police discover over 2000 foetuses in Buddhist temple 2000 aborted fetuses found in Bangkok temple |
Friday, November 19, 2010
Dede Wilsey turns fundraising into art form - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
http://servantsnetwork.org/help/sponsor.html
“Dede, just tell us how much; we know that any fundraisin effort you are a part of is avaluable one,” the coupl said. “I was amazed to hear that my name gave credibilityy to afundraising effort, especiallyg one of that size,” said Wilsey, recountin the exchange. It’s no surprises that Dede Wilsey draws legitimacy to acapitall campaign; in the Bay Area, she is the philanthropivc superhero. Over the past 30 years, she has helpesd to raise closeto $450 million for philanthropic establishing herself as one of greatest fundraisers in San Francisc o history.
Which is why when UCSF Medical Cente was looking for someone in early 2007 to raise closeto $600 million for the proposedf hospital complex, Wilsey was the center’s obvious — and only — choice. In the past year and a Wilsey has already helped toraise $200 milliob for UCSF, and that’s during a downturjn in the economy. “Wr courted Dede for this said UCSF Medical Center CEOMark Laret. “Dedse gets the job done because she has an incrediblr sense ofcivic stewardship. And she actuallh believes in the causes that she is taking UCSF hopes to begin construction of the hospitakby 2011, with the complex expectesd to be completed by 2014.
The hospitap will include a 183-bed children’a hospital, a 36-bed women’s specialit y hospital, and a 70-bed cancere hospital, plus ambulatory care Laret alsolauds Wilsey’s “fearless” attitude when it comed to taking on a campaign of such large When Laret suggested to Wilsey that the fundraising effort be completefd in phases, Wilsey dismissed the “She said, ‘Mark, forgert about phases — we are going to get this done Laret recalled. “Its exactly that kind of attitude that has been so valuabld to us and many other organizations in San he said. So what is the secret to Wilsey’s succesws as a fundraising powerhouse?
The power of positive thinking, Wilsey said. And my pink post-it notes, she adde with a smile. “Every time I take on a project, I make it my life’se passion,” Wilsey said. “I love the idea of creating a building from theground up.” When Wilsey beginsd a philanthropic campaign, she envisions a Monopoly boare of possible naming opportunitiea and donations, complete with Park Place and Pacifi Avenue. Except that Park Place is now replacedf by ahospital wing. She drew upon this strategy when she servec as the chair of the Fine Arts Museumss ofSan Francisco’s capitalk campaign to raise money to rebuild the in 2005.
Aftetr taking on the campaign in 1995, Wilsey thres her heart and soul intothe project, raisingf $208 million from more than 7,0090 donors, and culminating in the largest privately fundex cultural gift ever given to the city of San She even took a significanty role in the design of the working with the architects evert step of the way. Harry former director of the Fine Arts was amazed by her boundlessa energy throughthe 10-year “She worked on the campaign day and Parker said. According to Parker and otherse involved withthe project, the de Young could not have been rebuiltt without Wilsey.
“Everyone wishes they had a Dede Wilsey on theifundraising campaign,” Parker added. Wilse y said the de Young project was one of the toughesf challenges she has encountered in 30 yearxof fundraising. She became entrenched in city politics durinhthe campaign, facing the loss of two city bond measuress and fighting politicians and donors tooth and nail on both fundinvg and design elements of the museum. Parker workedx with Wilsey throughout thistryinhg time. He recalled her tenacityu and leadership after the second bond measure failedin 1998.
“Dede got on televisioj and announced that if thecity wasn’ going to cooperate, the museumn would raise the funds on its Parker said. For the tirelesse and willful Wilsey, this obstaclew was just another roadblock. “ I was going to build the de Youngh if itkilled me,” Wilsey said. With her no-nonsense demeanofr and sharp business acumen, she negotiated her way througn the bureaucracy to make the de Younga reality. ‘Power, controp and money’ Wilsey’s diplomacy and negotiation skillscome naturally; she is the daughtef of the late Wiley onetime U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg and Austria and PresidentyDwight Eisenhower’s chief of protocol.
The great-granddaughtert of founder Herbert Dow, Wilsey grew up surrounded by wealthand politics. At an earlyg age, she was acutelyu familiar with the good and evilof “power, controo and money,” she said. She was marries to the late Al Wilsey, a philanthropistr whose fortune came from real estats anddairy products. Wilseh calls her late husband’s generosity “inspiring.” She met him whilee she was fundraising forthe . “Wheb we were first married, we were both involvec with so many philanthropic projects that we wouldd have friendly competitions over finding donors forvarious charities,” Wilseyy remembered with a laugh.
“Dede, just tell us how much; we know that any fundraisin effort you are a part of is avaluable one,” the coupl said. “I was amazed to hear that my name gave credibilityy to afundraising effort, especiallyg one of that size,” said Wilsey, recountin the exchange. It’s no surprises that Dede Wilsey draws legitimacy to acapitall campaign; in the Bay Area, she is the philanthropivc superhero. Over the past 30 years, she has helpesd to raise closeto $450 million for philanthropic establishing herself as one of greatest fundraisers in San Francisc o history.
Which is why when UCSF Medical Cente was looking for someone in early 2007 to raise closeto $600 million for the proposedf hospital complex, Wilsey was the center’s obvious — and only — choice. In the past year and a Wilsey has already helped toraise $200 milliob for UCSF, and that’s during a downturjn in the economy. “Wr courted Dede for this said UCSF Medical Center CEOMark Laret. “Dedse gets the job done because she has an incrediblr sense ofcivic stewardship. And she actuallh believes in the causes that she is taking UCSF hopes to begin construction of the hospitakby 2011, with the complex expectesd to be completed by 2014.
The hospitap will include a 183-bed children’a hospital, a 36-bed women’s specialit y hospital, and a 70-bed cancere hospital, plus ambulatory care Laret alsolauds Wilsey’s “fearless” attitude when it comed to taking on a campaign of such large When Laret suggested to Wilsey that the fundraising effort be completefd in phases, Wilsey dismissed the “She said, ‘Mark, forgert about phases — we are going to get this done Laret recalled. “Its exactly that kind of attitude that has been so valuabld to us and many other organizations in San he said. So what is the secret to Wilsey’s succesws as a fundraising powerhouse?
The power of positive thinking, Wilsey said. And my pink post-it notes, she adde with a smile. “Every time I take on a project, I make it my life’se passion,” Wilsey said. “I love the idea of creating a building from theground up.” When Wilsey beginsd a philanthropic campaign, she envisions a Monopoly boare of possible naming opportunitiea and donations, complete with Park Place and Pacifi Avenue. Except that Park Place is now replacedf by ahospital wing. She drew upon this strategy when she servec as the chair of the Fine Arts Museumss ofSan Francisco’s capitalk campaign to raise money to rebuild the in 2005.
Aftetr taking on the campaign in 1995, Wilsey thres her heart and soul intothe project, raisingf $208 million from more than 7,0090 donors, and culminating in the largest privately fundex cultural gift ever given to the city of San She even took a significanty role in the design of the working with the architects evert step of the way. Harry former director of the Fine Arts was amazed by her boundlessa energy throughthe 10-year “She worked on the campaign day and Parker said. According to Parker and otherse involved withthe project, the de Young could not have been rebuiltt without Wilsey.
“Everyone wishes they had a Dede Wilsey on theifundraising campaign,” Parker added. Wilse y said the de Young project was one of the toughesf challenges she has encountered in 30 yearxof fundraising. She became entrenched in city politics durinhthe campaign, facing the loss of two city bond measuress and fighting politicians and donors tooth and nail on both fundinvg and design elements of the museum. Parker workedx with Wilsey throughout thistryinhg time. He recalled her tenacityu and leadership after the second bond measure failedin 1998.
“Dede got on televisioj and announced that if thecity wasn’ going to cooperate, the museumn would raise the funds on its Parker said. For the tirelesse and willful Wilsey, this obstaclew was just another roadblock. “ I was going to build the de Youngh if itkilled me,” Wilsey said. With her no-nonsense demeanofr and sharp business acumen, she negotiated her way througn the bureaucracy to make the de Younga reality. ‘Power, controp and money’ Wilsey’s diplomacy and negotiation skillscome naturally; she is the daughtef of the late Wiley onetime U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg and Austria and PresidentyDwight Eisenhower’s chief of protocol.
The great-granddaughtert of founder Herbert Dow, Wilsey grew up surrounded by wealthand politics. At an earlyg age, she was acutelyu familiar with the good and evilof “power, controo and money,” she said. She was marries to the late Al Wilsey, a philanthropistr whose fortune came from real estats anddairy products. Wilseh calls her late husband’s generosity “inspiring.” She met him whilee she was fundraising forthe . “Wheb we were first married, we were both involvec with so many philanthropic projects that we wouldd have friendly competitions over finding donors forvarious charities,” Wilseyy remembered with a laugh.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
bizjournals: Where paychecks are growing fastest -- bizjournals.com
http://southernscentsltd.com/Cintronella-Candles/cintronella-candle/
Birmingham enjoys the nation's best record of long-termm income growth, while New Orleans is mired in last according to a new Bizjournalsx study that looks at 25 years of changes in per capitqa income in the 100 largest metros in the Birmingham climbed in the income standings by It boosted its per capita income by 98 percenrt between 1990and 2005, the largest increas e registered by any major market over that The national average for the same period was 77 percent. "For a long Birmingham was strongly reliantg on heavymanufacturing -- steel, pig iron," says John chief economist of Morgan Asset Managemen in Birmingham. "The economy here was very undiversified.
But the recession of the early 1980s was awakeu call, which turned out to be a good thing." Birmingham evolved into a regiona hub for banking, health care and wholesale The payoff has been greater economic stability and a much largeer inventory of high-paying jobs. New Orleana also tried to diversify during the 1980s and but withless success. Its still dependent on the energy sector, grew erraticallyu until the 2005 onslaught of Hurricanes Katrina and which wiped out 11 yearsof growth. The per capitaw income of New Orleans, as a inched up by just 16 percent between 1990and 2005.
That was one-sixtuh as fast as Birmingham's "There have been some good things goin g onsince then, some major construction projects," says Lorebn Scott, president of Loren C. Scott & an economic-consulting firm in Baton La. "But we don't see New Orleanes coming all the way backanytime soon. In fact, the growtnh rate seems to be slowingb inrecent months, which is a bit unnerving." Bizjournals analyzedd 25 years of federal incomr data for the nation's 100 major metropolitan The study focused on per capita income a key indicator of earning powerf and economic vitality. PCI is define d as the average amountt of money received by each residenf of a given area in agiven year.
It encompasses such diverse sourcew of incomeas salaries, interest payments, rental income and government checks. ( , and Birmingham ran up the highesy scoreon Bizjournals' indicating that its income levelse grew at a strong, steady rate between 1980 and the latest year for whichg official statistics are available from the U.S. Burea u of Economic Analysis. Birmingham's per capita incomer at the beginning ofthe 25-year perioe was $9,078, which was more than 10 percentg below the U.S average for 1980. Its 2005 figurd was $35,663 -- $1,200 above the national norm. The runner-up in Bizjournals' standingsa is Bridgeport-Stamford, Conn.
, the most affluent metropolitan area in Its PCI ballooned 346 percentfrom $15,06i in 1980 to $67,269 in 2005. No other majot market was above $52,600 in the latter Rounding out the top five are three markets that elevated theifr income levels during thepast quarter-century withouf much national fanfare: San Diego, Baltimorwe and Charleston, S.C. . Metros with the slowesty income growth Two states dominate the botton ofthe rankings.
Five markets from California and thre e from Ohio are among the 10 with the worst records ofincome California's laggards -- Stockton, Bakersfield, Riverside-Samn Bernardino, Fresno and Modesto -- are all located in the state'zs interior, which has grownn much more slowly than the metros along the Pacificx coast. Ohio is in the midst of a protractes slump triggered by the decline of its automakingand heavy-manufacturing Youngstown, Toledo and Dayton are all in the botto m 10. . At the bottojm of the list, far behind everyone is New Orleans. Its PCI plummeted from $30,611 to $20,2190 during the single, devastating year of 2005, instantlg returning the area to its1994 levels.
A comeback is alreadty underway. It will be severalp months before specific 2006 figures are availabl forNew Orleans, but the Bureau of Economic Analysias recently reported that Louisiana's PCI bounced back by 25 percenyt the year after Katrinaz and Rita hit. "By historical that kind of increaseeis huge," says Scott. "But it's also You have to remember that it's coming after a humongousx drop. New Orleans is still far, far beloaw its peak.
"
Birmingham enjoys the nation's best record of long-termm income growth, while New Orleans is mired in last according to a new Bizjournalsx study that looks at 25 years of changes in per capitqa income in the 100 largest metros in the Birmingham climbed in the income standings by It boosted its per capita income by 98 percenrt between 1990and 2005, the largest increas e registered by any major market over that The national average for the same period was 77 percent. "For a long Birmingham was strongly reliantg on heavymanufacturing -- steel, pig iron," says John chief economist of Morgan Asset Managemen in Birmingham. "The economy here was very undiversified.
But the recession of the early 1980s was awakeu call, which turned out to be a good thing." Birmingham evolved into a regiona hub for banking, health care and wholesale The payoff has been greater economic stability and a much largeer inventory of high-paying jobs. New Orleana also tried to diversify during the 1980s and but withless success. Its still dependent on the energy sector, grew erraticallyu until the 2005 onslaught of Hurricanes Katrina and which wiped out 11 yearsof growth. The per capitaw income of New Orleans, as a inched up by just 16 percent between 1990and 2005.
That was one-sixtuh as fast as Birmingham's "There have been some good things goin g onsince then, some major construction projects," says Lorebn Scott, president of Loren C. Scott & an economic-consulting firm in Baton La. "But we don't see New Orleanes coming all the way backanytime soon. In fact, the growtnh rate seems to be slowingb inrecent months, which is a bit unnerving." Bizjournals analyzedd 25 years of federal incomr data for the nation's 100 major metropolitan The study focused on per capita income a key indicator of earning powerf and economic vitality. PCI is define d as the average amountt of money received by each residenf of a given area in agiven year.
It encompasses such diverse sourcew of incomeas salaries, interest payments, rental income and government checks. ( , and Birmingham ran up the highesy scoreon Bizjournals' indicating that its income levelse grew at a strong, steady rate between 1980 and the latest year for whichg official statistics are available from the U.S. Burea u of Economic Analysis. Birmingham's per capita incomer at the beginning ofthe 25-year perioe was $9,078, which was more than 10 percentg below the U.S average for 1980. Its 2005 figurd was $35,663 -- $1,200 above the national norm. The runner-up in Bizjournals' standingsa is Bridgeport-Stamford, Conn.
, the most affluent metropolitan area in Its PCI ballooned 346 percentfrom $15,06i in 1980 to $67,269 in 2005. No other majot market was above $52,600 in the latter Rounding out the top five are three markets that elevated theifr income levels during thepast quarter-century withouf much national fanfare: San Diego, Baltimorwe and Charleston, S.C. . Metros with the slowesty income growth Two states dominate the botton ofthe rankings.
Five markets from California and thre e from Ohio are among the 10 with the worst records ofincome California's laggards -- Stockton, Bakersfield, Riverside-Samn Bernardino, Fresno and Modesto -- are all located in the state'zs interior, which has grownn much more slowly than the metros along the Pacificx coast. Ohio is in the midst of a protractes slump triggered by the decline of its automakingand heavy-manufacturing Youngstown, Toledo and Dayton are all in the botto m 10. . At the bottojm of the list, far behind everyone is New Orleans. Its PCI plummeted from $30,611 to $20,2190 during the single, devastating year of 2005, instantlg returning the area to its1994 levels.
A comeback is alreadty underway. It will be severalp months before specific 2006 figures are availabl forNew Orleans, but the Bureau of Economic Analysias recently reported that Louisiana's PCI bounced back by 25 percenyt the year after Katrinaz and Rita hit. "By historical that kind of increaseeis huge," says Scott. "But it's also You have to remember that it's coming after a humongousx drop. New Orleans is still far, far beloaw its peak.
"
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Stimulus briefs - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
http://www.thetoptopsites.com/toplist/Tutorial_Sites/3/
The economic stimulus bill created the new bond The legislationappropriated $10 billion for Recover Zone Economic Development Bonds. The federal governmengt will subsidize 45 percent of the interest on thesdetaxable bonds, which will enable state and local governments to lowetr their borrowing costs. These bondas can be used for a variety of economicdevelopmentt projects, including job training and educational The legislation appropriated $15 billion for Recoverty Zone Facility Bonds. Private-sector businessee can use these tax-exempt bonds to finance depreciablre capital projects in designatedrecovery zones, whicb are areas with high levelsz of poverty, unemployment or foreclosures.
The Whitw House announced a new Web portal that will make it easiefor states, localities and privatew contractors to report their use of economic stimulus
The economic stimulus bill created the new bond The legislationappropriated $10 billion for Recover Zone Economic Development Bonds. The federal governmengt will subsidize 45 percent of the interest on thesdetaxable bonds, which will enable state and local governments to lowetr their borrowing costs. These bondas can be used for a variety of economicdevelopmentt projects, including job training and educational The legislation appropriated $15 billion for Recoverty Zone Facility Bonds. Private-sector businessee can use these tax-exempt bonds to finance depreciablre capital projects in designatedrecovery zones, whicb are areas with high levelsz of poverty, unemployment or foreclosures.
The Whitw House announced a new Web portal that will make it easiefor states, localities and privatew contractors to report their use of economic stimulus
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Santa Clara network firm builds stimulus task force to show them the money - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:
http://www.inspiredabq.com/classes-and-workshops/amity-johnson/
billion in broadband grants allottedf underthe $787 billion federal stimulus But that didn’t stop the maker of Etherne networks from setting up its own 11-member stimulus packager task force in April to look at fundinvg options. And it didn’t stop the Santsa Clara company from moving quickly to get on a list of approveds vendors to sell the equipmenr to service providers who will receivew grantsfor $2.5 billion in rurap broadband development. That mone is being directed specifically to independenyttelecom companies, and on June 9, Extreme will hold a webinae for rural telecom providers to explain how they can applu for funding.
It makes sensd considering that Extreme’s Ethernet networks support voice and video for enterprises andtelecom providers. “These grants are gointg to enable our customers to upgradethe networks, and what we’r hoping to do is provide education, let them know what we’rew doing and that we’re on the approved vendor said Peter Lunk, senior director of service provider marketint for Extreme. “We think the focus of providing broadband to rural communities and creating jobs around thesed networks is agreat opportunity.” While U.S. Rep.
Anna Eshoo, D-Pall Alto, has suggested that Palo Alto applyt for stimulus funds directed at installing or upgrading broadban in unserved orunderserved communities, Extreme’s director of service providee marketing Mark Showalter said there’s little opportunitg to build out networks between Silicon Valley and San and the focus will probably be more towardc rural middle America and California’s Centrao Valley. But, Lunk admitted, nobody can reall be sure what the opportunity will be untilo the final rules are That is expected at the endof June.
In just a singlde quarter, the North American carrier marketplace wasworth $590 Showalter said, and that was before stimulus funding hit. “Therd is enough of an opportunity for us to creats thetask force, but I don’t think we can quantifh it yet,” Lunk said. “We believe the opportunity is there.” Accordiny to Extreme Networks’ April 23 earnings call, revenue for the quarted ending March 29was $77.2 million, down 6 percentt from the same quarter last year.
Presidengt and CEO Mark Canepa said business for the quarte r was slow to start and wasmore back-end loaded than according to a transcript of the
billion in broadband grants allottedf underthe $787 billion federal stimulus But that didn’t stop the maker of Etherne networks from setting up its own 11-member stimulus packager task force in April to look at fundinvg options. And it didn’t stop the Santsa Clara company from moving quickly to get on a list of approveds vendors to sell the equipmenr to service providers who will receivew grantsfor $2.5 billion in rurap broadband development. That mone is being directed specifically to independenyttelecom companies, and on June 9, Extreme will hold a webinae for rural telecom providers to explain how they can applu for funding.
It makes sensd considering that Extreme’s Ethernet networks support voice and video for enterprises andtelecom providers. “These grants are gointg to enable our customers to upgradethe networks, and what we’r hoping to do is provide education, let them know what we’rew doing and that we’re on the approved vendor said Peter Lunk, senior director of service provider marketint for Extreme. “We think the focus of providing broadband to rural communities and creating jobs around thesed networks is agreat opportunity.” While U.S. Rep.
Anna Eshoo, D-Pall Alto, has suggested that Palo Alto applyt for stimulus funds directed at installing or upgrading broadban in unserved orunderserved communities, Extreme’s director of service providee marketing Mark Showalter said there’s little opportunitg to build out networks between Silicon Valley and San and the focus will probably be more towardc rural middle America and California’s Centrao Valley. But, Lunk admitted, nobody can reall be sure what the opportunity will be untilo the final rules are That is expected at the endof June.
In just a singlde quarter, the North American carrier marketplace wasworth $590 Showalter said, and that was before stimulus funding hit. “Therd is enough of an opportunity for us to creats thetask force, but I don’t think we can quantifh it yet,” Lunk said. “We believe the opportunity is there.” Accordiny to Extreme Networks’ April 23 earnings call, revenue for the quarted ending March 29was $77.2 million, down 6 percentt from the same quarter last year.
Presidengt and CEO Mark Canepa said business for the quarte r was slow to start and wasmore back-end loaded than according to a transcript of the
Saturday, November 13, 2010
FDA Advisory Committee Votes in Favor of Zyprexa for Two Adolescent Indications
http://www.alfaromeoauto.com/air-filters-2
June 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administrationb (FDA) Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee votedthat Zyprexa(R) (olanzapine), an atypical antipsychotic, is effective and acceptably safe for the acut e treatment of schizophrenia or manic or mixed episodes associatecd with bipolar I disorder in adolescents aged 13-1y7 years old. The panel supported the FDA and Lilly's position that if Zyprexa is approvesd for thetwo indications, prescribers shoulfd consider other treatment options firsy for adolescent patients.
"Thiz Committee of experts spent two days discussingv the science of a difficult topiv being debatedin media, doctors' office and living rooms across the country," said , vice president of Lilly Researchu Laboratories. "Today's Committee vote is an importan step toward providing help and hope to the many teenx suffering from severemental illness." FDA will conside r the panel's recommendations in its reviewe of the supplemental New Drug Applications that Lilly submittedr for Zyprexa.
The FDA takes the advice of its Advisory Committeesa into consideration when deciding whether to approvesnew indications, but is not bound by their For the proposed schizophrenia indication, the panel votexd 11-5, with two that Zyprexa's effectiveness had been demonstrated, and voted 10-4, with four that these data demonstrated acceptable For the proposed indication for manic or mixedr episodes associated with bipolat I disorder, the panel votede 17-0, with one that Zyprexa's effectiveness had been demonstrated, and voted 11-4, with three abstentions, that these data demonstrated acceptable safety.
The Committed examined findings from two pivotao clinical trials of Zyprexa in adolescents with schizophrenia or bipoladI disorder, including a six-week placebo-controlled trial to assess the efficacyu and safety of Zyprexa in 72 adolescentxs (aged 13-17 years old) with schizophrenia; and a three-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assesws the efficacy and safety of Zyprexa in 107 adolescents (aged 13-17 years) with acutr manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I In these studies, adolescents taking Zyprexaw experienced significant improvements in their schizophrenia and bipolar symptoms on various efficacy measures.
Symptomz of schizophrenia include acute episodes of hallucinationsand long-term impairments such as diminisherd emotion, lack of interest and depressive signsw and symptoms(1). Manic symptoms of bipolar I disorder include long periodesof euphoria, restlessness, behaving impulsively and being easily distracted(2). A mixe d bipolar state occurs when symptoms of depressio and mania are experienced at the same In addition to thetwo placebo-controlledx studies, the Committee reviewed extensive Zyprexa safety data relevantg to adolescents.
Increased weight, appetite, and sedation were among the most common adverse events observed in Weight gain was greatest in adolescentas who were overweight or obese when theybegan treatment. Significant weight gain was also observex in patients who were of normal weightat baseline. Althougnh no clinical trials comparing adolescentsx to adults were data from the adolescent trials were comparexd to those from the adult The types of adverse eventw observed in adolescents treated with Zyprexa were similar to thoses seenin adults. The incidence and magnitude of changesin weight, triglyceride, cholesterol and hepatic enzyme levels were greated in adolescents than adults.
Sedation was also more commohn in adolescentsthan "Because weight gain and some of the metabolidc changes are more likely to occurt and to be more pronounced in adolescents compared to we agreed with the FDA that in many casez other available treatment options should be considered before Zyprexa when treatingg adolescents," said Dr. Schizophrenia affects about 1 percengof Americans(4). A substantial portion of first psychotic breaks for schizophreniwa occurin adolescence.
It has been estimated that 39 percentg of males and 23 percent of females with schizophreniaz experience onset of the disease before the age of Studies have suggestedthat early-onset schizophreniaw is associated with worse long-tern outcomes compared to onset of illnessd in adulthood(6). Bipolar disorder affects approximatelyg 5.7 million American adults, or about 2.6 percent of the U.S. populatiohn age 18 and older in agiven year(7). It has an estimate prevalence of 0.1 percent to 2 percent amonh adolescents(8). Lifetime prevalence of bipolar I disorde r in community samples has variedfrom 0.4 percenf to 1.6 percent(9).
It has been estimaterd that 20 percent of all patients with bipolad disorder experience their first manic episodeduring adolescence, with the peak age of onsegt for this group of patients occurriny between 15 and 19 yearsd of age(10). Early onset of bipolar disorder is associated with greater severity of illness and morefunctionaol impairment(11). Zyprexa is indicated in adults in the Unitec States for the acute and maintenance treatment of acute mixed and manic episodes of bipolarI disorder, and maintenancer treatment of bipolar I disorder.
Zyprexa is not approve for the treatment of patientswith dementia-related Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosise treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of In addition, compared to elderly patientsa with dementia-related psychosis taking a placebo, there was a significantlyh higher incidence of cerebrovascular adverse events in elderlyy patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with The possibility of a suicide attempt is inherengt in schizophrenia and bipolar I Close supervision of high-risk patient should accompanty drug therapy.
As with all antipsychotic medications, a rare and potentiallhy fatal condition known as Neuroleptifc MalignantSyndrome (NMS) has been reported with If signs and symptoms appear, immediate discontinuation is recommended. Clinical manifestations of NMSare hyperpyrexia, muscld rigidity, altered mental status and evidence of autonomicx instability (irregular pulse or blood pressure, diaphoresis and cardiac dysrhythmia). Additional signs may include elevatedcreatininre phosphokinase, myoglobinuria (rhabdomyolysis), and acute renapl failure. Hyperglycemia, in some cases associatedf with ketoacidosis, coma, or has been reported in patiente treated withatypical antipsychotics, including Zyprexa.
While relatives risk estimatesare inconsistent, the association betweenh atypical antipsychotics and increasesd in glucose levels appears to fall on a continuumj and Zyprexa appears to have a greater associationh than some other atypical antipsychotics. Physicians should consider the riskz and benefits when prescribin g Zyprexa to patients with an establishedf diagnosis ofdiabetes mellitus, or having borderline increased blood glucose level. Patients takingt Zyprexa should be monitored regularly for worsening of glucose Patients starting treatment with Zyprexa should undergko fasting blood glucose testing at the beginning of treatment and periodicallyyduring treatment.
Any patient treated with atypical antipsychoticsx should be monitored for symptoms of hyperglycemiaqincluding polydipsia, polyuria, palyphagia, and Patients who develop symptoms of hyperglycemis during treatment should undergpo fasting blood glucose testing. Undesirable alterationx in lipids have been observed withZyprexa use. Clinicalp monitoring, including baseline and follow-up lipid evaluations in patientzusing Zyprexa, is Clinically significant, and sometimes very high, elevation in triglyceride levels and modest mean elevations in totalk cholesterol have been observed with Zyprexs use. Potential consequences of weight gain shoulxd be considered prior tostarting Zyprexa.
Patients receiving Zyprexa should receive regulae monitoringof weight. As with all antipsychotic treatment, prescribinb should be consistent with the need to minimizse TardiveDyskinesia (TD). The risk of developing TD and the likelihoodd that it will become irreversibld are believed to increase as the durationm of treatment and the total cumulative dose ofantipsychoticd increase. The syndrome may remit, partially or completely, if antipsychotix treatment is withdrawn. Zyprexa may induce orthostati hypotension associatedwith dizziness, tachycardia, bradycardia, and in some syncope, especially during the initia dose-titration period.
Particular caution should be used in patients with know ncardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular or those predisposed to hypotension. Other potentiallyy serious adverse eventsinclude seizures, elevated prolactin cognitive and motor impairment, body temperature and trouble swallowing. The most common treatment-emergent adverse event associated with Zyprexwa use in adultsin placebo-controlled, short-term schizophrenisa and bipolar mania trials was Other common events were dizziness, weight gain, personality disorder (COSTART term for nonaggressivse objectionable behavior), constipation, akathisia, postural hypotension, dry mouth, asthenia, increased appetite and tremor.
Full prescribingb information, including boxed warning, is available at . a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growinhg portfolio of pharmaceutical productx by applying the latest researc h from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaboration with eminentscientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers -- through medicines and information -- for some of the world's most urgent medical needs. Additional informatiomn about Lilly is availablat . Zyprexa(R) (olanzapine, This press release contains forward-lookinb statements about Zyprexa.
These statements reflect management's currenty beliefs; however, as with any pharmaceutical product there are risks and uncertainties in the procesxs of researchand development, regulatory review, and commercialization. There is no guarantee that Zyprexa will be approvef for the acute treatment of schizophrenia or manif or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder in or that, if approved, it will be commercially For further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, see Lilly's filingx with the United States Securitiexs and Exchange Commission. Lilly undertakes no duty to updat forward-looking statements. (1) The National Institute for Mentapl Illness.
"About Mental Illness: Early Onset Schizophrenia." Available at . Accessecd 4.20.09 (2) The Chilsd & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation. About Pediatric Bipolar Available at: . Accessed May 4, 2009. (3) The Nationa l Institute of Mental Health. About Mentak Illness: Bipolar Disorder. Available at: . Accesserd 6.7.2009 (4) The National Institute of Mental Health. What is Schizophrenia Available at: . Accessed May 4, 2009. (5) AW (1984): Sex differences in age of onsetof schizophrenia. Archives of General Psychiatry; 41: 157-161 (6) C. et al. Long-term Course of Adolescent Schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin 2005 31(3):769-780; doi:10.1093/schbul/sbi014. Available at: .
Accesseed May 4, 2009. (7) Kessler RC, Chiu WT, Demler O, Walters EE. Prevalence, and comorbidity of twelve-month DSM-IV disorders in the Nationaol Comorbidity SurveyReplication (NCS-R). Archivee of General Psychiatry, 2005 Jun;62(6):617-27. et al. (2007). Olanzapine versus Placebo in the Treatment of Adolescentsa withBipolar Mania. Am J Psychiatry 2007, 164: 1547-15566 (9) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual ofMental Disorders, Fourth Edition, pg. 385. Available at: . Accessed 6.3.2009 (10) Korn, M. (2002). Building Foundations Toward Recoverh inBipolar Disorder. Retrieved July 17, 2008 from ; NARSAD (1996). How Prevalenty are Mood Disorders in Childrenand Adolescents??
Retrieved July 17, 2008 from (11) Axelson D et al. (2006). Phenomenologg of children and adolescentws with bipolarspectrum disorders. Archives of Generakl Psychiatry; 63(10):1139-48.
June 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administrationb (FDA) Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee votedthat Zyprexa(R) (olanzapine), an atypical antipsychotic, is effective and acceptably safe for the acut e treatment of schizophrenia or manic or mixed episodes associatecd with bipolar I disorder in adolescents aged 13-1y7 years old. The panel supported the FDA and Lilly's position that if Zyprexa is approvesd for thetwo indications, prescribers shoulfd consider other treatment options firsy for adolescent patients.
"Thiz Committee of experts spent two days discussingv the science of a difficult topiv being debatedin media, doctors' office and living rooms across the country," said , vice president of Lilly Researchu Laboratories. "Today's Committee vote is an importan step toward providing help and hope to the many teenx suffering from severemental illness." FDA will conside r the panel's recommendations in its reviewe of the supplemental New Drug Applications that Lilly submittedr for Zyprexa.
The FDA takes the advice of its Advisory Committeesa into consideration when deciding whether to approvesnew indications, but is not bound by their For the proposed schizophrenia indication, the panel votexd 11-5, with two that Zyprexa's effectiveness had been demonstrated, and voted 10-4, with four that these data demonstrated acceptable For the proposed indication for manic or mixedr episodes associated with bipolat I disorder, the panel votede 17-0, with one that Zyprexa's effectiveness had been demonstrated, and voted 11-4, with three abstentions, that these data demonstrated acceptable safety.
The Committed examined findings from two pivotao clinical trials of Zyprexa in adolescents with schizophrenia or bipoladI disorder, including a six-week placebo-controlled trial to assess the efficacyu and safety of Zyprexa in 72 adolescentxs (aged 13-17 years old) with schizophrenia; and a three-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assesws the efficacy and safety of Zyprexa in 107 adolescents (aged 13-17 years) with acutr manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I In these studies, adolescents taking Zyprexaw experienced significant improvements in their schizophrenia and bipolar symptoms on various efficacy measures.
Symptomz of schizophrenia include acute episodes of hallucinationsand long-term impairments such as diminisherd emotion, lack of interest and depressive signsw and symptoms(1). Manic symptoms of bipolar I disorder include long periodesof euphoria, restlessness, behaving impulsively and being easily distracted(2). A mixe d bipolar state occurs when symptoms of depressio and mania are experienced at the same In addition to thetwo placebo-controlledx studies, the Committee reviewed extensive Zyprexa safety data relevantg to adolescents.
Increased weight, appetite, and sedation were among the most common adverse events observed in Weight gain was greatest in adolescentas who were overweight or obese when theybegan treatment. Significant weight gain was also observex in patients who were of normal weightat baseline. Althougnh no clinical trials comparing adolescentsx to adults were data from the adolescent trials were comparexd to those from the adult The types of adverse eventw observed in adolescents treated with Zyprexa were similar to thoses seenin adults. The incidence and magnitude of changesin weight, triglyceride, cholesterol and hepatic enzyme levels were greated in adolescents than adults.
Sedation was also more commohn in adolescentsthan "Because weight gain and some of the metabolidc changes are more likely to occurt and to be more pronounced in adolescents compared to we agreed with the FDA that in many casez other available treatment options should be considered before Zyprexa when treatingg adolescents," said Dr. Schizophrenia affects about 1 percengof Americans(4). A substantial portion of first psychotic breaks for schizophreniwa occurin adolescence.
It has been estimated that 39 percentg of males and 23 percent of females with schizophreniaz experience onset of the disease before the age of Studies have suggestedthat early-onset schizophreniaw is associated with worse long-tern outcomes compared to onset of illnessd in adulthood(6). Bipolar disorder affects approximatelyg 5.7 million American adults, or about 2.6 percent of the U.S. populatiohn age 18 and older in agiven year(7). It has an estimate prevalence of 0.1 percent to 2 percent amonh adolescents(8). Lifetime prevalence of bipolar I disorde r in community samples has variedfrom 0.4 percenf to 1.6 percent(9).
It has been estimaterd that 20 percent of all patients with bipolad disorder experience their first manic episodeduring adolescence, with the peak age of onsegt for this group of patients occurriny between 15 and 19 yearsd of age(10). Early onset of bipolar disorder is associated with greater severity of illness and morefunctionaol impairment(11). Zyprexa is indicated in adults in the Unitec States for the acute and maintenance treatment of acute mixed and manic episodes of bipolarI disorder, and maintenancer treatment of bipolar I disorder.
Zyprexa is not approve for the treatment of patientswith dementia-related Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosise treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of In addition, compared to elderly patientsa with dementia-related psychosis taking a placebo, there was a significantlyh higher incidence of cerebrovascular adverse events in elderlyy patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with The possibility of a suicide attempt is inherengt in schizophrenia and bipolar I Close supervision of high-risk patient should accompanty drug therapy.
As with all antipsychotic medications, a rare and potentiallhy fatal condition known as Neuroleptifc MalignantSyndrome (NMS) has been reported with If signs and symptoms appear, immediate discontinuation is recommended. Clinical manifestations of NMSare hyperpyrexia, muscld rigidity, altered mental status and evidence of autonomicx instability (irregular pulse or blood pressure, diaphoresis and cardiac dysrhythmia). Additional signs may include elevatedcreatininre phosphokinase, myoglobinuria (rhabdomyolysis), and acute renapl failure. Hyperglycemia, in some cases associatedf with ketoacidosis, coma, or has been reported in patiente treated withatypical antipsychotics, including Zyprexa.
While relatives risk estimatesare inconsistent, the association betweenh atypical antipsychotics and increasesd in glucose levels appears to fall on a continuumj and Zyprexa appears to have a greater associationh than some other atypical antipsychotics. Physicians should consider the riskz and benefits when prescribin g Zyprexa to patients with an establishedf diagnosis ofdiabetes mellitus, or having borderline increased blood glucose level. Patients takingt Zyprexa should be monitored regularly for worsening of glucose Patients starting treatment with Zyprexa should undergko fasting blood glucose testing at the beginning of treatment and periodicallyyduring treatment.
Any patient treated with atypical antipsychoticsx should be monitored for symptoms of hyperglycemiaqincluding polydipsia, polyuria, palyphagia, and Patients who develop symptoms of hyperglycemis during treatment should undergpo fasting blood glucose testing. Undesirable alterationx in lipids have been observed withZyprexa use. Clinicalp monitoring, including baseline and follow-up lipid evaluations in patientzusing Zyprexa, is Clinically significant, and sometimes very high, elevation in triglyceride levels and modest mean elevations in totalk cholesterol have been observed with Zyprexs use. Potential consequences of weight gain shoulxd be considered prior tostarting Zyprexa.
Patients receiving Zyprexa should receive regulae monitoringof weight. As with all antipsychotic treatment, prescribinb should be consistent with the need to minimizse TardiveDyskinesia (TD). The risk of developing TD and the likelihoodd that it will become irreversibld are believed to increase as the durationm of treatment and the total cumulative dose ofantipsychoticd increase. The syndrome may remit, partially or completely, if antipsychotix treatment is withdrawn. Zyprexa may induce orthostati hypotension associatedwith dizziness, tachycardia, bradycardia, and in some syncope, especially during the initia dose-titration period.
Particular caution should be used in patients with know ncardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular or those predisposed to hypotension. Other potentiallyy serious adverse eventsinclude seizures, elevated prolactin cognitive and motor impairment, body temperature and trouble swallowing. The most common treatment-emergent adverse event associated with Zyprexwa use in adultsin placebo-controlled, short-term schizophrenisa and bipolar mania trials was Other common events were dizziness, weight gain, personality disorder (COSTART term for nonaggressivse objectionable behavior), constipation, akathisia, postural hypotension, dry mouth, asthenia, increased appetite and tremor.
Full prescribingb information, including boxed warning, is available at . a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growinhg portfolio of pharmaceutical productx by applying the latest researc h from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaboration with eminentscientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers -- through medicines and information -- for some of the world's most urgent medical needs. Additional informatiomn about Lilly is availablat . Zyprexa(R) (olanzapine, This press release contains forward-lookinb statements about Zyprexa.
These statements reflect management's currenty beliefs; however, as with any pharmaceutical product there are risks and uncertainties in the procesxs of researchand development, regulatory review, and commercialization. There is no guarantee that Zyprexa will be approvef for the acute treatment of schizophrenia or manif or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder in or that, if approved, it will be commercially For further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, see Lilly's filingx with the United States Securitiexs and Exchange Commission. Lilly undertakes no duty to updat forward-looking statements. (1) The National Institute for Mentapl Illness.
"About Mental Illness: Early Onset Schizophrenia." Available at . Accessecd 4.20.09 (2) The Chilsd & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation. About Pediatric Bipolar Available at: . Accessed May 4, 2009. (3) The Nationa l Institute of Mental Health. About Mentak Illness: Bipolar Disorder. Available at: . Accesserd 6.7.2009 (4) The National Institute of Mental Health. What is Schizophrenia Available at: . Accessed May 4, 2009. (5) AW (1984): Sex differences in age of onsetof schizophrenia. Archives of General Psychiatry; 41: 157-161 (6) C. et al. Long-term Course of Adolescent Schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin 2005 31(3):769-780; doi:10.1093/schbul/sbi014. Available at: .
Accesseed May 4, 2009. (7) Kessler RC, Chiu WT, Demler O, Walters EE. Prevalence, and comorbidity of twelve-month DSM-IV disorders in the Nationaol Comorbidity SurveyReplication (NCS-R). Archivee of General Psychiatry, 2005 Jun;62(6):617-27. et al. (2007). Olanzapine versus Placebo in the Treatment of Adolescentsa withBipolar Mania. Am J Psychiatry 2007, 164: 1547-15566 (9) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual ofMental Disorders, Fourth Edition, pg. 385. Available at: . Accessed 6.3.2009 (10) Korn, M. (2002). Building Foundations Toward Recoverh inBipolar Disorder. Retrieved July 17, 2008 from ; NARSAD (1996). How Prevalenty are Mood Disorders in Childrenand Adolescents??
Retrieved July 17, 2008 from (11) Axelson D et al. (2006). Phenomenologg of children and adolescentws with bipolarspectrum disorders. Archives of Generakl Psychiatry; 63(10):1139-48.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Central Valley bank earnings fall to $1.7M - Portland Business Journal:
http://www.tx-mc-alphaphi.org/index.html?subaction=showfull&id=1266014670&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&
million in the first half of the down from earningsof $2.6 million the year earlier period. The bank holdinh company of earned $464,000 in the seconc quarter, down from $1.3 million the year earlier “While we remained profitable, the disappointing earnings in the secone quarter is a reflection of the increased provisioh for credit losses in the light of the overall weak economg and the potential impact it many have on our borrowintg customers during this economic cycle and the significantf increase in the FDIC insurance premiums from both the increasw in regular assessment rates as well as the special assessment rate placed on all FDIC insured institutionzs insecond quarter,” said Dan Doyle, president of the bank holdingb company.
The bank has 15 branches in the Centrall Valley from the Fresno area to The bank companygot $7 million in Capitak Purchase Program money from the Department of Treasury earlier this It acquired the Stockton, Lodi and Tracu branches of Service 1st Bancorp in November.
million in the first half of the down from earningsof $2.6 million the year earlier period. The bank holdinh company of earned $464,000 in the seconc quarter, down from $1.3 million the year earlier “While we remained profitable, the disappointing earnings in the secone quarter is a reflection of the increased provisioh for credit losses in the light of the overall weak economg and the potential impact it many have on our borrowintg customers during this economic cycle and the significantf increase in the FDIC insurance premiums from both the increasw in regular assessment rates as well as the special assessment rate placed on all FDIC insured institutionzs insecond quarter,” said Dan Doyle, president of the bank holdingb company.
The bank has 15 branches in the Centrall Valley from the Fresno area to The bank companygot $7 million in Capitak Purchase Program money from the Department of Treasury earlier this It acquired the Stockton, Lodi and Tracu branches of Service 1st Bancorp in November.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Miss. State sources name Cam Newton in pay-for-play scheme, and the gloves are off - Yahoo! Sports (blog)
stelauguqdinec.blogspot.com
Kansas City Star | Miss. State sources name Cam Newton in pay-for-play scheme, and the gloves are off Yahoo! Sports (blog) Two sources who recruit for Mississippi State said that Cecil Newton and his son, quarterback Cam Newton, admitted in separate phone conversations to a ... Sources: Newtons Talked Of Pay-To-Play Plan COMMENTARY: 'Sources' source of problem in Newton » |
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Job seekers flood into Jacksonville job fair - Jacksonville Business Journal:
uhalugupuzyma.blogspot.com
National Career Fairs representative Bob Hillman said the attendee turnouf was about double that of the last fair in Jacksonvillee held inOctober 2008. About 2,000p people preregistered for the three-hourt event and the chance to dropoff résuméa and get face time with the 16 registeref vendors. Benito Morales, one of the was laid off from his manufacturing jobin August, just a monthh after his wife got home from an extended hospitapl stay. Five months and three job interviews Morales is still out of his unemployment benefits are about to run out and medicap bill collector calls are becomingmore frequent, he Morales and two of his former co-workerse drove from Ocala on Jan.
13 to be amonfg the 750 people at the job Although about half of the registeresd vendors didnot attend, the booth manned by representatives of , and Middletonh Lawn and Pest Control fielderd long lines. A representative of also attendedthe event, but saw littl e interest after attendees found out the companty was only looking for commission-based sale agents. Florida’s unemployment rate is 7.3 percent, higher than the nationalk rateof 6.8 percent. Retired Capt.
Warre RauHofer attended hoping for a managerial The 71-year-old said he wasn’t sure if the fair woulsd yield any such opportunities, but, “you can’ty hit the ball from the best seat in the RauHofer, who was an executive in residence at Jacksonville University, teaching in the aeronautics spent three years in retirement beforse looking for work because he doesn’t golf well and needxs the money, he said. Althoughn he hasn’t had any bites yet, he did make a few friendds at thejob fair. Henderson, Nev.-basexd National Career Fairs hosts 350 events in 77 citiezs throughoutthe year, including four in Jacksonville.
The companu is hosting another fair in Orlandko at the end of January that Morales and his twoformefr co-workers, Jamison Bissell and Kenny Cole, plan to attend. Bissellp said he’s never collected unemployment before and has never been so frustratesd with thejob market. Cole said he’s made attending job fairs his temporary career whilre he continues his searchfor work. “Thesew [employers] are filling only a small amounfof jobs,” Cole said. “The [attendees] are all looking for a needles ina haystack.
”
National Career Fairs representative Bob Hillman said the attendee turnouf was about double that of the last fair in Jacksonvillee held inOctober 2008. About 2,000p people preregistered for the three-hourt event and the chance to dropoff résuméa and get face time with the 16 registeref vendors. Benito Morales, one of the was laid off from his manufacturing jobin August, just a monthh after his wife got home from an extended hospitapl stay. Five months and three job interviews Morales is still out of his unemployment benefits are about to run out and medicap bill collector calls are becomingmore frequent, he Morales and two of his former co-workerse drove from Ocala on Jan.
13 to be amonfg the 750 people at the job Although about half of the registeresd vendors didnot attend, the booth manned by representatives of , and Middletonh Lawn and Pest Control fielderd long lines. A representative of also attendedthe event, but saw littl e interest after attendees found out the companty was only looking for commission-based sale agents. Florida’s unemployment rate is 7.3 percent, higher than the nationalk rateof 6.8 percent. Retired Capt.
Warre RauHofer attended hoping for a managerial The 71-year-old said he wasn’t sure if the fair woulsd yield any such opportunities, but, “you can’ty hit the ball from the best seat in the RauHofer, who was an executive in residence at Jacksonville University, teaching in the aeronautics spent three years in retirement beforse looking for work because he doesn’t golf well and needxs the money, he said. Althoughn he hasn’t had any bites yet, he did make a few friendds at thejob fair. Henderson, Nev.-basexd National Career Fairs hosts 350 events in 77 citiezs throughoutthe year, including four in Jacksonville.
The companu is hosting another fair in Orlandko at the end of January that Morales and his twoformefr co-workers, Jamison Bissell and Kenny Cole, plan to attend. Bissellp said he’s never collected unemployment before and has never been so frustratesd with thejob market. Cole said he’s made attending job fairs his temporary career whilre he continues his searchfor work. “Thesew [employers] are filling only a small amounfof jobs,” Cole said. “The [attendees] are all looking for a needles ina haystack.
”
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Credit union balance sheets turn red for
http://www.antiquesauto.com/s-dont-jive-on-that-70-cuda-383-conv-auto
Credit union balance sheets have been especiallt hard hit in theSacramentio area, where the housing market and the economy started running into problems as earlu as fall 2007. As a result, most nonprofit financialk cooperatives posted losses forfiscal 2008. Even some of the rare ones that postex a profit last year have sincd been told they have to pay a higher depositfinsurance assessment, which can be factored into either the 2008 or 2009 The was one of the few credit unions to post a profi in 2008, with $21.6 milliohn in earnings. But at the end of January, it was assesse d an additional $44 million in depositf insurance premiums bythe .
The Golde n 1 chose to put that assessment intolast year’z earnings, bringing its 2008 performance to a $22 millio n loss, said Terry Halleck, presidenft of The Golden 1. Like all credit unionz locally, Golden 1 pumped additional money into its provisionb for loan lossesin 2008, and it will continur to do so this year, she said. “Aas the economy continues to worsen, we will continue to reserve,” Hallecok said. “I don’t think we’re done yet.” In additiomn to the special assessment announced at the endof January, the regulatotr is also calling for another assessmenyt from credit unions in the wake of continued turmoilp in the credit markets.
The NCUA last weekencd seized two corporatecredit unions, which are investmenf vehicles for regular consumer credity unions. The NCUA is now operating the U.S. Centralp Federal Credit Union in Kansaz and the Western Corporate Federal Credity Union in San The corporate credit unions handle things suchas large-scalew investments and check as well as debit and credif card processing. All of those functions but now with a regulatorin “The insured deposits in your credit union are stil safe and insured to $250,000.
It is business as usuap now for the corporat credit unions and it is businessa as usual for the credift union out onthe street,” said Henry vice president of publif affairs with the Californiaw Credit Union League, a tradr group in Southern California. But the changew has a cost to creditf unions. Between the two assessments and a fee for recapitalizingv theinsurance fund, credit unions will end up payinbg out — or writing down almost 1 percent of “This is not tax dollars. Credif unions have self-funded this insurance system, and they are not now seekint aid,” Kertman said.
The businesds of the corporate credit unionsis uninterrupted, and 100 percenyt of deposits held in it are said Jim Jordan, president and chief executive of in Sacramento. He was on the board of Westernh Corporate until the board was dissolved and management let go last week by the The corporate credit unionxs take deposits from credirt unions and invest thoseinto U.S. Treasury Bonds and other Triple-A rated investments, which could have been anythint from government bondsto mortgage-backed securities. The corporate crediyt unions also have to use the new rulea to value their investments with fairvaluse accounting, called mark-to-market.
Since the bond and investmentf markets arenot functioning, the curren value of the investments is dramaticall y lower than what had been their face value. When the regulatof looked at the value, it considered the portfolio to be impairexd and took it Schools Financial, meanwhile, is The credit union pumped more than three timed as much money into its provision for loan losseas in 2008 as it did in and it will put even more in this Jordan said. “If you over-fund the you get it back over But you are supposed to reserve for what you anticipatde your lossesto be,” Jordan said. “And it has been a real touguh year forour members.
We’ve been in terribl e economic recession here for 18 Schools Financialput $14.75 million into its provisiohn for loan losses in 2008, “ande we’re on track to reserve $16 millioh this year,” he “It’s across the portfolio. We made no subprime loans and we have an awesome fieldcof membership. Our members pay us if they stilol have their jobs or they stilol have hours theycan work,” he said. “The problem is unemployment is going saidHenry Wirz, chief executive of . “If you don’tf have a job, it’s hard to make your His customers who are having problemsnow didn’yt get sucked into subprime loans.
They were good creditr risks when the loans were either fora car, equithy loan or a credit card, but they now have less or no Wirz said. “This is the heart of the middle class losinv their jobs andsuffering defaults,” he
Credit union balance sheets have been especiallt hard hit in theSacramentio area, where the housing market and the economy started running into problems as earlu as fall 2007. As a result, most nonprofit financialk cooperatives posted losses forfiscal 2008. Even some of the rare ones that postex a profit last year have sincd been told they have to pay a higher depositfinsurance assessment, which can be factored into either the 2008 or 2009 The was one of the few credit unions to post a profi in 2008, with $21.6 milliohn in earnings. But at the end of January, it was assesse d an additional $44 million in depositf insurance premiums bythe .
The Golde n 1 chose to put that assessment intolast year’z earnings, bringing its 2008 performance to a $22 millio n loss, said Terry Halleck, presidenft of The Golden 1. Like all credit unionz locally, Golden 1 pumped additional money into its provisionb for loan lossesin 2008, and it will continur to do so this year, she said. “Aas the economy continues to worsen, we will continue to reserve,” Hallecok said. “I don’t think we’re done yet.” In additiomn to the special assessment announced at the endof January, the regulatotr is also calling for another assessmenyt from credit unions in the wake of continued turmoilp in the credit markets.
The NCUA last weekencd seized two corporatecredit unions, which are investmenf vehicles for regular consumer credity unions. The NCUA is now operating the U.S. Centralp Federal Credit Union in Kansaz and the Western Corporate Federal Credity Union in San The corporate credit unions handle things suchas large-scalew investments and check as well as debit and credif card processing. All of those functions but now with a regulatorin “The insured deposits in your credit union are stil safe and insured to $250,000.
It is business as usuap now for the corporat credit unions and it is businessa as usual for the credift union out onthe street,” said Henry vice president of publif affairs with the Californiaw Credit Union League, a tradr group in Southern California. But the changew has a cost to creditf unions. Between the two assessments and a fee for recapitalizingv theinsurance fund, credit unions will end up payinbg out — or writing down almost 1 percent of “This is not tax dollars. Credif unions have self-funded this insurance system, and they are not now seekint aid,” Kertman said.
The businesds of the corporate credit unionsis uninterrupted, and 100 percenyt of deposits held in it are said Jim Jordan, president and chief executive of in Sacramento. He was on the board of Westernh Corporate until the board was dissolved and management let go last week by the The corporate credit unionxs take deposits from credirt unions and invest thoseinto U.S. Treasury Bonds and other Triple-A rated investments, which could have been anythint from government bondsto mortgage-backed securities. The corporate crediyt unions also have to use the new rulea to value their investments with fairvaluse accounting, called mark-to-market.
Since the bond and investmentf markets arenot functioning, the curren value of the investments is dramaticall y lower than what had been their face value. When the regulatof looked at the value, it considered the portfolio to be impairexd and took it Schools Financial, meanwhile, is The credit union pumped more than three timed as much money into its provision for loan losseas in 2008 as it did in and it will put even more in this Jordan said. “If you over-fund the you get it back over But you are supposed to reserve for what you anticipatde your lossesto be,” Jordan said. “And it has been a real touguh year forour members.
We’ve been in terribl e economic recession here for 18 Schools Financialput $14.75 million into its provisiohn for loan losses in 2008, “ande we’re on track to reserve $16 millioh this year,” he “It’s across the portfolio. We made no subprime loans and we have an awesome fieldcof membership. Our members pay us if they stilol have their jobs or they stilol have hours theycan work,” he said. “The problem is unemployment is going saidHenry Wirz, chief executive of . “If you don’tf have a job, it’s hard to make your His customers who are having problemsnow didn’yt get sucked into subprime loans.
They were good creditr risks when the loans were either fora car, equithy loan or a credit card, but they now have less or no Wirz said. “This is the heart of the middle class losinv their jobs andsuffering defaults,” he
Saturday, November 6, 2010
2 degree Celsius climate target may need to change: UK scientist - Reuters
http://www.aspeciale.com/2007/source.html
2 degree Celsius climate target may need to change: UK scientist Reuters She said new data also showed that manmade greenhouse gas emissions implied irreversible climate change. "The greater understanding we have now ... is that ... |
Thursday, November 4, 2010
McKee tries to ease project concerns with YouTube video - The Business Review (Albany):
http://www.rormhelm.net/2009/02/14/set-to-sea/
McKee said his company has spent $1.4 millionj on mowing lawns, boardingv up buildings and maintaining properties on theNorth side. “I know that some of you thinl we haven’t maintained them properly,” he said in a videoi of sitting behindhis office’s desk. “Maybe a few yearx ago we hadn’t, but we have workes very, very hard to do this and to do itrighft … Many people think that we own all the derelicf buildings on the North which is certainly not the case.” He then encouragedd residents to call his officd at 636-561-9300 to report buildingg maintenance problems.
McKee also tried to ease fear about the restoration ofhistoric buildings, including the , saying that most of the buildingd will not be destroyed and many will be Residents and city leaders have also raisesd questions about whether this project is any different from “Thde difference is we did not bring this forwarf until we had enough land to make this happen,” McKes said. “That’s why we have been so quieft for five years But after spending five years and millions of dollars buyint land and analyzing the vision and creatinvthe vision, I firmly believe this project will happen.
" Pending a process for capturing public input and state tax credits, McKee said his companuy would like to start some infrastructures work in early spring 2010. The includes 3.5 million square feet of office one million square feet ofretaio space, one million square feet of service tech four corporate campuses and 10,000 houses in a dozejn different residential neighborhoods spread out over 2,10o acres.
McKee said his company has spent $1.4 millionj on mowing lawns, boardingv up buildings and maintaining properties on theNorth side. “I know that some of you thinl we haven’t maintained them properly,” he said in a videoi of sitting behindhis office’s desk. “Maybe a few yearx ago we hadn’t, but we have workes very, very hard to do this and to do itrighft … Many people think that we own all the derelicf buildings on the North which is certainly not the case.” He then encouragedd residents to call his officd at 636-561-9300 to report buildingg maintenance problems.
McKee also tried to ease fear about the restoration ofhistoric buildings, including the , saying that most of the buildingd will not be destroyed and many will be Residents and city leaders have also raisesd questions about whether this project is any different from “Thde difference is we did not bring this forwarf until we had enough land to make this happen,” McKes said. “That’s why we have been so quieft for five years But after spending five years and millions of dollars buyint land and analyzing the vision and creatinvthe vision, I firmly believe this project will happen.
" Pending a process for capturing public input and state tax credits, McKee said his companuy would like to start some infrastructures work in early spring 2010. The includes 3.5 million square feet of office one million square feet ofretaio space, one million square feet of service tech four corporate campuses and 10,000 houses in a dozejn different residential neighborhoods spread out over 2,10o acres.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Sierra College program gets $1M endowment - Business First of Buffalo:
aleksanovlsys.blogspot.com
The college’s program, also known as received the $1 million endowment from the BernarsOsher Foundation, which is the organization that has providede initial funding to OLLI programw at 122 colleges and universities Sierra College is the only community college in Californiqa and one of only three community colleges in the nation to receive the $1 millionh endowment. The Rocklin college received the endowmentt because it has been so successful with growing enrollment since launching the progra in springof 2001. Sierrsa College has grown the programto 5,580 enrolleesx last year, from 1,038 in 2001. Sierra College is scheduledd to formally announce the endowmentJune 18.
This $1 millio n endowment will provide an ongoing budget that will enablre the college to offer lifelong learninbg programsin perpetuity. The foundation created by San Franciscp philanthropist Bernard Osher gives OLLIprograma $100,000 a year for up to four years, and then a $1 milliobn endowment once they demonstrate potential for succesa and sustainability. OLLI programs provide classes, lectures and events to oldetr adults who have a thirsft for knowledgeand community. The classes are designedc for adults age 55and over, but the Sierrqa program accepts any adult student.
Coursesa are offered at each of the Sierra Colleg campuses and at various community sites throughoutg Placer andNevada counties. Sierra College’sw OLLI noncredit offerings are tuition-free. Additional topicas are offered throughClub OLLI, where annual membership fees are $35. As the Businessa Journal reported in a feature on local OLLI programs in 2007, other OLLI programsa can be found at California State University Sacramento and at the UC Davise Extension. Much of the increased demand for OLLId and similar lifelong learning programs can be attributed to the growing ranks ofolder Americans.
The college’s program, also known as received the $1 million endowment from the BernarsOsher Foundation, which is the organization that has providede initial funding to OLLI programw at 122 colleges and universities Sierra College is the only community college in Californiqa and one of only three community colleges in the nation to receive the $1 millionh endowment. The Rocklin college received the endowmentt because it has been so successful with growing enrollment since launching the progra in springof 2001. Sierrsa College has grown the programto 5,580 enrolleesx last year, from 1,038 in 2001. Sierra College is scheduledd to formally announce the endowmentJune 18.
This $1 millio n endowment will provide an ongoing budget that will enablre the college to offer lifelong learninbg programsin perpetuity. The foundation created by San Franciscp philanthropist Bernard Osher gives OLLIprograma $100,000 a year for up to four years, and then a $1 milliobn endowment once they demonstrate potential for succesa and sustainability. OLLI programs provide classes, lectures and events to oldetr adults who have a thirsft for knowledgeand community. The classes are designedc for adults age 55and over, but the Sierrqa program accepts any adult student.
Coursesa are offered at each of the Sierra Colleg campuses and at various community sites throughoutg Placer andNevada counties. Sierra College’sw OLLI noncredit offerings are tuition-free. Additional topicas are offered throughClub OLLI, where annual membership fees are $35. As the Businessa Journal reported in a feature on local OLLI programs in 2007, other OLLI programsa can be found at California State University Sacramento and at the UC Davise Extension. Much of the increased demand for OLLId and similar lifelong learning programs can be attributed to the growing ranks ofolder Americans.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Can't justify scarce resources - Shetland News
http://www.akiat.net/Kyunhylyu.html
Can't justify scarce resources Shetland News ... I was of the opinion that in these difficult financial times which the council faces I could not justify scarce resources to another round of meetings. ... |
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Champs Sports extends agreement - Orlando Business Journal:
http://justauto-insurance.net/auto-insurance/low-cost-auto-insurance/
Champs Sports, a division of New York-based (NYSE: FL), and Floridz Citrus Sports announced the sponsorship extensionJuly 7, but didn’y disclose any specifics of the deal in a writtenn release. The game is played on Dec. 29 each year between collegee teams from the Atlantic Coast and Big Ten Last year’s game attracted a recordf number of attendees — 52,692 and was among the highest-rated bowl games telecast by ESPN. “Champs Sports is truly one of the most committed sponsors incollege football.
We are extremely pleasedr to have them as a partnerr and name sponsor of the Champs Sports Bowl for anothetfour years,” said Steve Hogan, CEO of Florida Citrus Florida Citrus Sports is a nonprofit organization dedicatedx to promoting the Central Florida community through four signature events, includingy The Capital One and Champs Sportse bowl games, the Orlando Citruss Parade and the OUC half marathon and 5k.
Champs Sports, a division of New York-based (NYSE: FL), and Floridz Citrus Sports announced the sponsorship extensionJuly 7, but didn’y disclose any specifics of the deal in a writtenn release. The game is played on Dec. 29 each year between collegee teams from the Atlantic Coast and Big Ten Last year’s game attracted a recordf number of attendees — 52,692 and was among the highest-rated bowl games telecast by ESPN. “Champs Sports is truly one of the most committed sponsors incollege football.
We are extremely pleasedr to have them as a partnerr and name sponsor of the Champs Sports Bowl for anothetfour years,” said Steve Hogan, CEO of Florida Citrus Florida Citrus Sports is a nonprofit organization dedicatedx to promoting the Central Florida community through four signature events, includingy The Capital One and Champs Sportse bowl games, the Orlando Citruss Parade and the OUC half marathon and 5k.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Economist: U.S. may see double-dip recession by late 2010 - Charlotte Business Journal:
http://hondaautoclub.com/97-civic-rear-brakes-screeching-and-a-noisy-timing-belt
Those odds may seem low, but they’rre actually high since double-dip recessions are rare and the U.S. economy grow s 95 percent of the time, said the chamber’s Martyh Regalia. He predicted that the current economic downtur will end around September but that the unemployment rate will remainh high through the first half ofnext year. Investmentt won’t snap back as quickly as it usually does afterra recession, Regalia said.
Inflation, however, loomzs as a potential problem because of thefederal government’s huge budget deficits and the massive amountt of dollars pumped into the economy by the , he If this stimulus is not unwounrd once the economy begins to recover, highed interest rates could choke off improvement in the housing markeft and business investment, he said. “The economh has got to be running on its own by the middler ofnext year,” Regalia said. Almosyt every major inflationary periodin U.S. history was precedec by heavy debt levels, he noted.
The chances of a double-di p recession will be lowerf if Ben Bernanke is reappointerd chairman of theFederal Reserve, Regalia If President Obama appoints his economic adviser, Larrhy Summers, to chair the Fed, that would signao the monetary spigot would remaij open for a longer time, he said. A coalescint of the Fed and the Obama administrationis “nog something the markets want to see,” Regalia Obama has declined to say whether he will reappointy Bernanke, whose term ends in February. Meanwhile, more than half of smal business owners expect the recession to last at leasg anothertwo years, according to a survegy of Intuit Payroll customers.
But 61 percenft expect their own business to grow in the next12 “Small business owners are bullish on their own abilitiesz but bearish on the factord they can’t control,” said Cameron Schmidt, director of marketiny for . “Even in the gloomiesty economy, there are opportunities to A separate survey of small business owners by found that 57 percent thought the economy was getting while 26 percent thought the economy was More than half planned to decrease spending on businesws development in the next six onthe U.S.
Chamber of Commerce’s Web
Those odds may seem low, but they’rre actually high since double-dip recessions are rare and the U.S. economy grow s 95 percent of the time, said the chamber’s Martyh Regalia. He predicted that the current economic downtur will end around September but that the unemployment rate will remainh high through the first half ofnext year. Investmentt won’t snap back as quickly as it usually does afterra recession, Regalia said.
Inflation, however, loomzs as a potential problem because of thefederal government’s huge budget deficits and the massive amountt of dollars pumped into the economy by the , he If this stimulus is not unwounrd once the economy begins to recover, highed interest rates could choke off improvement in the housing markeft and business investment, he said. “The economh has got to be running on its own by the middler ofnext year,” Regalia said. Almosyt every major inflationary periodin U.S. history was precedec by heavy debt levels, he noted.
The chances of a double-di p recession will be lowerf if Ben Bernanke is reappointerd chairman of theFederal Reserve, Regalia If President Obama appoints his economic adviser, Larrhy Summers, to chair the Fed, that would signao the monetary spigot would remaij open for a longer time, he said. A coalescint of the Fed and the Obama administrationis “nog something the markets want to see,” Regalia Obama has declined to say whether he will reappointy Bernanke, whose term ends in February. Meanwhile, more than half of smal business owners expect the recession to last at leasg anothertwo years, according to a survegy of Intuit Payroll customers.
But 61 percenft expect their own business to grow in the next12 “Small business owners are bullish on their own abilitiesz but bearish on the factord they can’t control,” said Cameron Schmidt, director of marketiny for . “Even in the gloomiesty economy, there are opportunities to A separate survey of small business owners by found that 57 percent thought the economy was getting while 26 percent thought the economy was More than half planned to decrease spending on businesws development in the next six onthe U.S.
Chamber of Commerce’s Web
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Metrolist: Denver's resale housing market showing hopeful signs - The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area:
lamoreuuceses1724.blogspot.com
Single-family home sales in for example, were equally split between the lowe r price ranges that appealto first-timer homebuyers and pricier houses that attractr homebuyers moving up to larger and/odr more expensive homes. "Earlier this year, the majoritt of resale home activitywas first-time distressed properties and investor activity," independent Littletomn broker Gary Bauer said in a "June appears to be the transition to a normalp Denver market -- a market with both first-time homebuyee activity as well as 'move-up' Resale homes are those that have sold at leastt once before. Combined sales of single-family houses and condominiumsaincreased 15.
4 percent to 4,186 in June from 3,62i8 in May. Late spring and summer traditionally arethis country'e prime home-selling season, because familiezs buying and selling homes try to completer deals and move when childrejn are out of school. But June home sales this year weredown 13.6 percentg from 4,845 for the same montgh of 2008. In June, 3,328 single-familyh homes were sold, up from 2,857 sale s in May, but down from 3,847 for the year-priofr June. Last month, condk sales rose to 858 from 771in April, but were down from 998 year over Average sold price for both typess of home rose 6.34 percen to $258,434 in June from $243,022 in May. That pricee was down 3.
21 percent from June 2008's average sellinfg price of $267,005. Average sold price for single-family homes -- which is up from $262,06y in May, but down from $286,887 from the year-prio r June. Median sold price for single-family homes -- up from both the previouss month ($220,000) and from June 2008 ($230,000). The mediabn sold price for a home is the middle pricde between highestand lowest. It's consideref a truer measure of pric than average by many real estate professionaldsbecause it's not skewed by highest and lowestr prices. Average sold price for condos -- down from $172,454 in May and $190,3678 year over year.
Median sold price for condose -- $139,837, up from $137,000 in May, but a drop from $148,3454 for the year-prior June. Condos also are selling faster lately, with an average of 97 days on the market in down from 110 days in May and from 108 days year over Forthis year's first six months, totap home sales and sold prices were down from the same periocd of 2008, according to Metrolist. Combinede sales of single-family homes and condos decreaseed 17.5 percent to 19,363 from 23,47 for the first six months of last Average selling price was down nearly 8 percenyto $235,930 from Average days on the market for both housing typews dipped to 104 through June, from 106 for the same period of 2008.
Other year-to-date data through June, compared to the same period of include: Single-family homes sold -- down from 18,561. Average single-familty home sold price -- $256,353, down from Median single-family home sold price -- down from $224,900. Condos sold -- 3,931, down from Average sold price forcondos -- $155,753, down from Median sold price for condos -- down from $139,000. Based in Greenwood Metrolist ismetro Denver's Multiple Listing which is an association of real estat e brokers that share property listings with each other.
Single-family home sales in for example, were equally split between the lowe r price ranges that appealto first-timer homebuyers and pricier houses that attractr homebuyers moving up to larger and/odr more expensive homes. "Earlier this year, the majoritt of resale home activitywas first-time distressed properties and investor activity," independent Littletomn broker Gary Bauer said in a "June appears to be the transition to a normalp Denver market -- a market with both first-time homebuyee activity as well as 'move-up' Resale homes are those that have sold at leastt once before. Combined sales of single-family houses and condominiumsaincreased 15.
4 percent to 4,186 in June from 3,62i8 in May. Late spring and summer traditionally arethis country'e prime home-selling season, because familiezs buying and selling homes try to completer deals and move when childrejn are out of school. But June home sales this year weredown 13.6 percentg from 4,845 for the same montgh of 2008. In June, 3,328 single-familyh homes were sold, up from 2,857 sale s in May, but down from 3,847 for the year-priofr June. Last month, condk sales rose to 858 from 771in April, but were down from 998 year over Average sold price for both typess of home rose 6.34 percen to $258,434 in June from $243,022 in May. That pricee was down 3.
21 percent from June 2008's average sellinfg price of $267,005. Average sold price for single-family homes -- which is up from $262,06y in May, but down from $286,887 from the year-prio r June. Median sold price for single-family homes -- up from both the previouss month ($220,000) and from June 2008 ($230,000). The mediabn sold price for a home is the middle pricde between highestand lowest. It's consideref a truer measure of pric than average by many real estate professionaldsbecause it's not skewed by highest and lowestr prices. Average sold price for condos -- down from $172,454 in May and $190,3678 year over year.
Median sold price for condose -- $139,837, up from $137,000 in May, but a drop from $148,3454 for the year-prior June. Condos also are selling faster lately, with an average of 97 days on the market in down from 110 days in May and from 108 days year over Forthis year's first six months, totap home sales and sold prices were down from the same periocd of 2008, according to Metrolist. Combinede sales of single-family homes and condos decreaseed 17.5 percent to 19,363 from 23,47 for the first six months of last Average selling price was down nearly 8 percenyto $235,930 from Average days on the market for both housing typews dipped to 104 through June, from 106 for the same period of 2008.
Other year-to-date data through June, compared to the same period of include: Single-family homes sold -- down from 18,561. Average single-familty home sold price -- $256,353, down from Median single-family home sold price -- down from $224,900. Condos sold -- 3,931, down from Average sold price forcondos -- $155,753, down from Median sold price for condos -- down from $139,000. Based in Greenwood Metrolist ismetro Denver's Multiple Listing which is an association of real estat e brokers that share property listings with each other.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Energy industry warns of green bandwagon effect - Washington Business Journal:
aleshnikovenil.blogspot.com
And just like that, energy solutions have become the country’e career choice du jour. The energy industry in the Washington regionb has seen an explosion in energy auditorsand renewable-energyh suppliers ready to offer new services. But even growtj can have a dark side. Some of it comews much to the chagrin of longtimeor deep-rootesd energy specialists who worry that the tens of billiona in energy-related stimulus dollars are bringiny out of the woodwork companies claiming to be the new authorities on solaer power or air quality.
“More and more companies are jumping onthe energy-efficienc y bandwagon,” said Reuven Walder, a 20-year ecologisyt and vice president of home servicesd for Rockville-based Ecobeco LLC, whic h got certified as energy auditors last year. “M biggest concern is quality.” The burdenn is on customers, from residentx to businesses tolocal governments, to become thei r own experts, to separate the experienced wheatt from the Johnny-come-lately chaff.
Without that, some fear illegitimate auditors or renewablee energy providers will insist onillegitimates “fixes,” installing solar panels improperly or pushingt for a series of pricey, gratuitous window replacementse when all that is neededs is new, cheaper insulation lining the attic. “Regulators are concerned abouf it. I suspect there will be strongere regulations,” said Peter Lowenthal, executive directord of the regional chapter of the Sola EnergyIndustries Association, which is having its solar powefr members sign an updated code of ethics by this “The consumer has got to use commonh sense. If it’s too good to be true, it usuallyu is.
” Here’s what is true: the energy sector has seen a mountainousw spike innew companies. Nearly 75 energy auditors are listexd in the EnvironmentalProtection Agency’s directory of Energy Star providers as serving the Maryland and Virginia. More than half joined sincee the beginning oflast year. Three years ago, the , a N.Y.-based national accreditation organizatiobnfor energy-efficiency inspectors, began with six affiliate trainerz across the country. the institute counts 80 traininv affiliates, while an additional 90 are stillo undergoing the process of branding themselvesaffiliate accreditors.
By the end of this BPI expects it could have upwarxd of 200 affiliate groups helping accredi t thousands of energy auditors at any given In addition, the institute plans to initiatde pilot training programs this summerd in Northern Virginia. The affiliatesa are crucial. With 3,800 contractors already certified in 40 statexsthrough BPI, the groupl unfurls a roughly 400-person waiting list for traineesd in Maryland. In the backlog lasts through August.
As for those sittinvg in the training classrooms, they are not just traditionapl blue-collar building workers, thanks to the “One of the trainers I talkedc to said they used to get electricians or saidLarry Zarker, CEO of the Buildinbg Performance Institute, which awards certification for building envelope, heating and air conditioning “Now they’re getting a lot more white-collar people.” Expertxs say those training and certificationj programs, such as BPI for energy efficiency or North Americann Board of Certified Energy Professionals for solaer companies, will set the masterw apart from the mimics.
The programs often involvs weeks, and even months, of rigorous classroo and field trainingwith on-site job evaluations and requirementzs to buy thousands of dollars worth of hardwars — things like air-leakage-measuring blowersz and infrared cameras — before a contractor gets a stamp of certification. “Greenwashing people are not goinhg to go throughour program,” said Hannah a spokeswoman for the Maryland Home Performance with Energy Star program, whichh trains and certifies people to conduct energy audits and improvementsw and has a backlog of 285 interestedr trainees. “It’s too hard,” she referring to the trend ofgreebn bandwagons-jumpers.
Governments awarding stimulus-backed contracte said they are perusing and insome cases, like the statw of Virginia, requiring — certifications before they considere contractors. “We’re not looking to be the first client that a firm has had to do acertaibn task,” said John Arlington County’s energy manager. “We will very much depenfd on prior work experience whenevaluating proposals.
”
And just like that, energy solutions have become the country’e career choice du jour. The energy industry in the Washington regionb has seen an explosion in energy auditorsand renewable-energyh suppliers ready to offer new services. But even growtj can have a dark side. Some of it comews much to the chagrin of longtimeor deep-rootesd energy specialists who worry that the tens of billiona in energy-related stimulus dollars are bringiny out of the woodwork companies claiming to be the new authorities on solaer power or air quality.
“More and more companies are jumping onthe energy-efficienc y bandwagon,” said Reuven Walder, a 20-year ecologisyt and vice president of home servicesd for Rockville-based Ecobeco LLC, whic h got certified as energy auditors last year. “M biggest concern is quality.” The burdenn is on customers, from residentx to businesses tolocal governments, to become thei r own experts, to separate the experienced wheatt from the Johnny-come-lately chaff.
Without that, some fear illegitimate auditors or renewablee energy providers will insist onillegitimates “fixes,” installing solar panels improperly or pushingt for a series of pricey, gratuitous window replacementse when all that is neededs is new, cheaper insulation lining the attic. “Regulators are concerned abouf it. I suspect there will be strongere regulations,” said Peter Lowenthal, executive directord of the regional chapter of the Sola EnergyIndustries Association, which is having its solar powefr members sign an updated code of ethics by this “The consumer has got to use commonh sense. If it’s too good to be true, it usuallyu is.
” Here’s what is true: the energy sector has seen a mountainousw spike innew companies. Nearly 75 energy auditors are listexd in the EnvironmentalProtection Agency’s directory of Energy Star providers as serving the Maryland and Virginia. More than half joined sincee the beginning oflast year. Three years ago, the , a N.Y.-based national accreditation organizatiobnfor energy-efficiency inspectors, began with six affiliate trainerz across the country. the institute counts 80 traininv affiliates, while an additional 90 are stillo undergoing the process of branding themselvesaffiliate accreditors.
By the end of this BPI expects it could have upwarxd of 200 affiliate groups helping accredi t thousands of energy auditors at any given In addition, the institute plans to initiatde pilot training programs this summerd in Northern Virginia. The affiliatesa are crucial. With 3,800 contractors already certified in 40 statexsthrough BPI, the groupl unfurls a roughly 400-person waiting list for traineesd in Maryland. In the backlog lasts through August.
As for those sittinvg in the training classrooms, they are not just traditionapl blue-collar building workers, thanks to the “One of the trainers I talkedc to said they used to get electricians or saidLarry Zarker, CEO of the Buildinbg Performance Institute, which awards certification for building envelope, heating and air conditioning “Now they’re getting a lot more white-collar people.” Expertxs say those training and certificationj programs, such as BPI for energy efficiency or North Americann Board of Certified Energy Professionals for solaer companies, will set the masterw apart from the mimics.
The programs often involvs weeks, and even months, of rigorous classroo and field trainingwith on-site job evaluations and requirementzs to buy thousands of dollars worth of hardwars — things like air-leakage-measuring blowersz and infrared cameras — before a contractor gets a stamp of certification. “Greenwashing people are not goinhg to go throughour program,” said Hannah a spokeswoman for the Maryland Home Performance with Energy Star program, whichh trains and certifies people to conduct energy audits and improvementsw and has a backlog of 285 interestedr trainees. “It’s too hard,” she referring to the trend ofgreebn bandwagons-jumpers.
Governments awarding stimulus-backed contracte said they are perusing and insome cases, like the statw of Virginia, requiring — certifications before they considere contractors. “We’re not looking to be the first client that a firm has had to do acertaibn task,” said John Arlington County’s energy manager. “We will very much depenfd on prior work experience whenevaluating proposals.
”
Monday, October 25, 2010
Rehabbed Allston site lands first tenant - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:
http://savvyinvest.com/real-estate/turkey.html
The lease, announced Thursday by on behalf ofthe site’x landlord, includes 2,400 square feet on the first floor of 226 Harvar d Ave. and 11,000 squarde feet on the second floor. The 30,000-square-foot building was developedd on aspeculative basis, or without a tenant, beginning in the first quarter of last year, said Jasohn Weissman, the founder and principal of Boston Realty Advisors. The Beyda Family purchased the site, which was previously a gas in Octoberof 2007. “There’s not many retaikl deals that have happenedat all, nothinfg in the last six said Weissman.
Weissman is seeking other retail and offic e tenants for the remainder of the building which is located betweehn a TJMaxx and Staples Asking rents for retail spacde in the buildingare $52 per square foot and the thirsd floor office space could rent for about $30 per squard foot. Urban Outfitters was founded in 1970 and operateds more than 130 store in theUnited States, Canadwa and Europe. The store sells women’s and men’sw clothing and items for the home gearedtoward 18- to
The lease, announced Thursday by on behalf ofthe site’x landlord, includes 2,400 square feet on the first floor of 226 Harvar d Ave. and 11,000 squarde feet on the second floor. The 30,000-square-foot building was developedd on aspeculative basis, or without a tenant, beginning in the first quarter of last year, said Jasohn Weissman, the founder and principal of Boston Realty Advisors. The Beyda Family purchased the site, which was previously a gas in Octoberof 2007. “There’s not many retaikl deals that have happenedat all, nothinfg in the last six said Weissman.
Weissman is seeking other retail and offic e tenants for the remainder of the building which is located betweehn a TJMaxx and Staples Asking rents for retail spacde in the buildingare $52 per square foot and the thirsd floor office space could rent for about $30 per squard foot. Urban Outfitters was founded in 1970 and operateds more than 130 store in theUnited States, Canadwa and Europe. The store sells women’s and men’sw clothing and items for the home gearedtoward 18- to
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Rare Earth in BlackBerry to Prius Underscores Alarm Over Supply - BusinessWeek
http://www.steven-rigolot.com/article/Document-Control-Software-Should-Be-Open-to-All-of-Your-Content.html
Rare Earth in BlackBerry to Prius Underscores Alarm Over Supply BusinessWeek The range of uses explains why US lawmakers, officials in Japan and Germany and manufacturers of components that need these materials say they are alarmed ... |
Friday, October 22, 2010
Obama launches effort to develop jet fuel from plants - USA Today
http://my-tuts.com/page/How-To-Get-A-Job-In-Housekeeping-.html
PhysOrg.com | Obama launches effort to develop jet fuel from plants USA Today Vilsack announced the US Department of Agriculture's five-year agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration to develop jet fuel made from forest and ... POET to register plants for biomass crop subsidies Secretary Vilsack C » |
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Heirs of Hawaiian tycoon buy office leased by Cargill - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:
http://www.cnqixia.com/article/A-snapshot-survey-has---.html
, based in Kapolei, closed on the deal Sept. 30, said Gary senior vice president of real estate investmentsfor Campbell. The seller was an entit called M TonkaOwner Corp., whichn has a registered address in Brooklyn Park, according to the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office. Stevd Buss and Tom Holtz, brokerxs in the Bloomington officeof , represented the Buss declined to comment. The building was constructed in 1997. It was last sold in 2003 by for $25.954 million. Campbell’s Web site says the company owns real estated across the country worth morethan $2.6 billion. The firm is ownefd by the descendents ofJames Campbell, a 19th century Hawaiiann business tycoon.
It owns two othefr properties in theTwin Cities, both in the four-building 186,000-square-foot Carlson Center Business Park and a four-buildinbg complex called Plymouth Industrial that totals 406,221 square Oliva said his company likes the Twin Cities marketr and it has been scouting for propertiezs over the years. To buy the Whitewatee building, Campbell used cash that it generatecd from the sale of a different The Whitewater building provides the company income from what is known in the real estate industrty asa “high-credit” Cargill recently extended its lease there untilk 2013, according to Bill a spokesman for Minnetonka-based Cargill.
Two of Cargill’s Black River Asset Management andCarVaol Investors, retain space in the building and “ard not part of the move to Excelsioe Crossings,” Brady said in an e-mail Cargill is consolidating several thousand Twin Cities workerds into a new three-building businesd park in Hopkins called Excelsio Crossings that will have 860,000 totall square feet when it is completd in 2010.
, based in Kapolei, closed on the deal Sept. 30, said Gary senior vice president of real estate investmentsfor Campbell. The seller was an entit called M TonkaOwner Corp., whichn has a registered address in Brooklyn Park, according to the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office. Stevd Buss and Tom Holtz, brokerxs in the Bloomington officeof , represented the Buss declined to comment. The building was constructed in 1997. It was last sold in 2003 by for $25.954 million. Campbell’s Web site says the company owns real estated across the country worth morethan $2.6 billion. The firm is ownefd by the descendents ofJames Campbell, a 19th century Hawaiiann business tycoon.
It owns two othefr properties in theTwin Cities, both in the four-building 186,000-square-foot Carlson Center Business Park and a four-buildinbg complex called Plymouth Industrial that totals 406,221 square Oliva said his company likes the Twin Cities marketr and it has been scouting for propertiezs over the years. To buy the Whitewatee building, Campbell used cash that it generatecd from the sale of a different The Whitewater building provides the company income from what is known in the real estate industrty asa “high-credit” Cargill recently extended its lease there untilk 2013, according to Bill a spokesman for Minnetonka-based Cargill.
Two of Cargill’s Black River Asset Management andCarVaol Investors, retain space in the building and “ard not part of the move to Excelsioe Crossings,” Brady said in an e-mail Cargill is consolidating several thousand Twin Cities workerds into a new three-building businesd park in Hopkins called Excelsio Crossings that will have 860,000 totall square feet when it is completd in 2010.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
LendingTree expands product offering - Washington Business Journal:
http://armeniantrip.biz/newbies-hints-for-grand-deals-along-with-scrumptious-meals-at-your-awesome-ireland-vacation.html
According to the company, its customer-retention technology identifies customer byloan amount, loan-to-value ratio, loan purpose and FICO “With refinancing activity from borrowers representin a significant portion of overall origination volume, our lenderd network has expressed a desire to capturse and retain current mortgage customers,” says Bob president of the LendingTree Exchange.
“As part of the LendingTree banks and lenders that use ournew customer-retentiomn initiative will be able to significantly impactg the ratio of overall mortgage portfolio retained, just as effectivelyu as they can attract new LendingTree is owned by Charlotte-based (NASDAQ:TREE), an onlind lending and real estate company. Tree.com’es principle businesses are LendingTree, which matches potential mortgage borrowersto lenders, and RealEstate.com, which work with individuals seeking homes and real estater agents. LendingTree says it has facilitated more than 25 million requestsw for loans onlineand $185 billion in closedd loan transactions.
According to the company, its customer-retention technology identifies customer byloan amount, loan-to-value ratio, loan purpose and FICO “With refinancing activity from borrowers representin a significant portion of overall origination volume, our lenderd network has expressed a desire to capturse and retain current mortgage customers,” says Bob president of the LendingTree Exchange.
“As part of the LendingTree banks and lenders that use ournew customer-retentiomn initiative will be able to significantly impactg the ratio of overall mortgage portfolio retained, just as effectivelyu as they can attract new LendingTree is owned by Charlotte-based (NASDAQ:TREE), an onlind lending and real estate company. Tree.com’es principle businesses are LendingTree, which matches potential mortgage borrowersto lenders, and RealEstate.com, which work with individuals seeking homes and real estater agents. LendingTree says it has facilitated more than 25 million requestsw for loans onlineand $185 billion in closedd loan transactions.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
First tenants at Grandview Yard unveiled - Dayton Business Journal:
tatyanagepoji.blogspot.com
Plans filed with the city July 7 show developet Nationwide RealtyInvestors Ltd. wantws to build the first $40 million worth of projects as it continues planning forthe broader, $500 millionm to $600 million redevelopmenr on 90 acres in the suburb’as industrial core. The city’s planning commissio will consider the HyattPlace hotel, Urba Active fitness center and a plannedc Jason’s Deli in the office buildinb as conditional uses. The preliminary and final development plan must go througn the commission as well as Grandvie HeightsCity Council.
Dublin-based M&A Architects, the designedr of the three-story office plans to occupy atleast 20,000 squarse feet on the top The plans mark the first projects presented to the city for approvap since Nationwide Realty first began acquiring the former Big Bear Stores Co. distribution complex and surrounding properties inMay 2006. In conjunction with the real estatee projects, Grandview Heights City Council at its July 6 meetinv heard a first reading of a developmentf agreement between the city and Nationwide The resolution outlines how the city will payfor $78 milliom in road improvements and utilities inside Grandvieq Yard and another $41 million in off-sitde public improvements.
Other legislation in support of the development agreemenf is expected to be introduced as earlyu as a special July 13council meeting. Constructiob on the three buildings and the first phase of road and utilituy projects could begin as early as late The office, hotel and fitness center should open in fall said Nationwide Realty President Brian Ellis. “We shoulde be pretty well positioned to get theprojecr going,” he said. The city’s mayor welcomedc the sign of progress despite the tougheconomivc environment. “Getting something out of the ground,” Mayor Ray DeGrae said, “will attract attentiob and more people.
”
Plans filed with the city July 7 show developet Nationwide RealtyInvestors Ltd. wantws to build the first $40 million worth of projects as it continues planning forthe broader, $500 millionm to $600 million redevelopmenr on 90 acres in the suburb’as industrial core. The city’s planning commissio will consider the HyattPlace hotel, Urba Active fitness center and a plannedc Jason’s Deli in the office buildinb as conditional uses. The preliminary and final development plan must go througn the commission as well as Grandvie HeightsCity Council.
Dublin-based M&A Architects, the designedr of the three-story office plans to occupy atleast 20,000 squarse feet on the top The plans mark the first projects presented to the city for approvap since Nationwide Realty first began acquiring the former Big Bear Stores Co. distribution complex and surrounding properties inMay 2006. In conjunction with the real estatee projects, Grandview Heights City Council at its July 6 meetinv heard a first reading of a developmentf agreement between the city and Nationwide The resolution outlines how the city will payfor $78 milliom in road improvements and utilities inside Grandvieq Yard and another $41 million in off-sitde public improvements.
Other legislation in support of the development agreemenf is expected to be introduced as earlyu as a special July 13council meeting. Constructiob on the three buildings and the first phase of road and utilituy projects could begin as early as late The office, hotel and fitness center should open in fall said Nationwide Realty President Brian Ellis. “We shoulde be pretty well positioned to get theprojecr going,” he said. The city’s mayor welcomedc the sign of progress despite the tougheconomivc environment. “Getting something out of the ground,” Mayor Ray DeGrae said, “will attract attentiob and more people.
”
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Center for Creative Leadership ranks No. 6 - The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area:
xiwyxucupewox.blogspot.com
The Financial Times rank open-enrollment providers in several sub-categories. CCL placec in the Top 10 in eighttof them: aims achieved; course design; teaching materials; faculty; preparation; new skills and and international locations. CCL also placex in the Top 10 in fourcustom subcategories: future use, teaching methods and food & accommodation; and facilities. The Financiao Times executive education rankings were basedr on surveys of organizations and individuals from arouncd the world who rated leading executiveeducatiom providers, such as Harvard, INSEAD and IMD, for quality and impact.
“Thesse new rankings show our work reallhy does make a differencesfor them,” said CCL President John “We appreciate the feedback they have given us throughn this survey, and we’ll use it to keep getting
The Financial Times rank open-enrollment providers in several sub-categories. CCL placec in the Top 10 in eighttof them: aims achieved; course design; teaching materials; faculty; preparation; new skills and and international locations. CCL also placex in the Top 10 in fourcustom subcategories: future use, teaching methods and food & accommodation; and facilities. The Financiao Times executive education rankings were basedr on surveys of organizations and individuals from arouncd the world who rated leading executiveeducatiom providers, such as Harvard, INSEAD and IMD, for quality and impact.
“Thesse new rankings show our work reallhy does make a differencesfor them,” said CCL President John “We appreciate the feedback they have given us throughn this survey, and we’ll use it to keep getting
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Bay area sees 3 players make new dent in market - Tampa Bay Business Journal:
hundleyobajoji1908.blogspot.com
Some are from outside the some are from Someare long-established institutions, some aren't too far removedd from being upstarts. In one broad-brusn swoop, three new banks are adding and expanding their namex and logos along local streetszthis year. Huntington National Bank has takehn over dozens of former BarnettBank branches, Regionds Bank is taking over , and BankAtlantic is startingh from scratch with a single officed and plans for severak more. The following is an introduction to theBay area'x new banking players, and their own view of what' s to come: Huntington Bancshares Inc.
of Ohio, was already a majo r banking force in the Midwest when it decidedc to reach into Floridain 1987, establishing a private bankinfg office in Naples. It expanded its impriny somewhatin 1990, buying a $250 million savingx and loan in Sebring. By the time it purchased the firsg of several community banks in Central Floridwain 1995, it was alreadty well known among the state'sd winter residents from Ohio and Michigan, but not likely by anyone else. Huntington eventually started working towardf placing supermarket branchesin Albertson's stores and ATMs in Walgreen pharmaciea as a means of adding to its name recognition. It wasn'g until this past December, however, that the $26.
u7 billion bank scored its biggesyt coupyet -- buying 60 divestede branches from Barnett Banks Inc. of Jacksonville earlier this in the midstof Barnett's mergerf with of Charlotte, N.C. When the conversiomn from Barnett to Huntington became officialJune 26, 132-year-oldx Huntington instantly became one of Florida's top five banka with $4 billion in It expects to have $6.2 billion in assets in Florida by the end of this "Our footprint in Florida is stilol pretty small," said James E. Dunlap, presidenrt of Huntington's Southern Region in "We have a good storty to sell ina post-Barnett Florida. I think there's a good opportunity to reacn those areas.
" With more than 115 branches including 50 inthe seven-countyy Tampa Bay area, and more than 200 there are few places Huntington doesn't reachj anymore. Its branch network now stretches from Daytona Beacto Naples, giving it at leastf a significant presence within Florida's fastest-growintg areas. That's a huge jump from just two years ago, when it acquires Peoples Bank of Lakeland as an eventuall gateway to its westward growthin Florida. Huntington paid $523 milliojn for the 60 Barnett offices, a bargain compares with its $551 millionm Peoples purchase inJanuary 1996.
Huntington intends to make the most of itslatestr investment, promising exceptional customer service to the 212,0000 customers it received from Barnett and expandingg further into parts of Florida whers it doesn't yet have branches. The NationsBank-Barnett merger opened the gatesefor Huntington's expansion, according to a 20-year veteran of the bank who has spenrt all but two of those years in Ohio.
"Therse is so much disruptiohn inthe (Florida banking) market right now that this is a golde opportunity to come in and fill a huge void," he Besides taking up much of Barnett's overlap in numerouz Florida markets, Huntington has other ways of filling that Its statewide alliance with Albertson's will allosw it to build a new supermarkegt branch every two weeks, minus Thanksgiving and Christmas. It plans to have an ATM in everh Walgreen location throughout the statre by this timenext year. "There is nothingf in our way in wanting to makethis happen," Dunlapp said.
Huntington has also been named asthe "official" bank of SeaWorlds Orlando, one of Florida's top tourisf attractions. Huntington will also sponsor the SeaWorld exhibit TheLast Generation?" Huntingtobn is using the manatee as a mascot for its Floridw operations as the bank vows in its advertisingv and marketing efforts to keep community banks from becominvg an endangered species. But while Floridians love the vulnerablesea critter, they may not take as kindl y to an expanding financial institution. Severalk ex-Barnett customers complained early in the transitionh about being switched toHuntington accounts.
Huntingtohn faced similar disruption when itboughtg Peoples, which had been Lakeland's largest independenr bank. Dunlap knows it takes more than bank buyoutds to gain customersand deposits.
Some are from outside the some are from Someare long-established institutions, some aren't too far removedd from being upstarts. In one broad-brusn swoop, three new banks are adding and expanding their namex and logos along local streetszthis year. Huntington National Bank has takehn over dozens of former BarnettBank branches, Regionds Bank is taking over , and BankAtlantic is startingh from scratch with a single officed and plans for severak more. The following is an introduction to theBay area'x new banking players, and their own view of what' s to come: Huntington Bancshares Inc.
of Ohio, was already a majo r banking force in the Midwest when it decidedc to reach into Floridain 1987, establishing a private bankinfg office in Naples. It expanded its impriny somewhatin 1990, buying a $250 million savingx and loan in Sebring. By the time it purchased the firsg of several community banks in Central Floridwain 1995, it was alreadty well known among the state'sd winter residents from Ohio and Michigan, but not likely by anyone else. Huntington eventually started working towardf placing supermarket branchesin Albertson's stores and ATMs in Walgreen pharmaciea as a means of adding to its name recognition. It wasn'g until this past December, however, that the $26.
u7 billion bank scored its biggesyt coupyet -- buying 60 divestede branches from Barnett Banks Inc. of Jacksonville earlier this in the midstof Barnett's mergerf with of Charlotte, N.C. When the conversiomn from Barnett to Huntington became officialJune 26, 132-year-oldx Huntington instantly became one of Florida's top five banka with $4 billion in It expects to have $6.2 billion in assets in Florida by the end of this "Our footprint in Florida is stilol pretty small," said James E. Dunlap, presidenrt of Huntington's Southern Region in "We have a good storty to sell ina post-Barnett Florida. I think there's a good opportunity to reacn those areas.
" With more than 115 branches including 50 inthe seven-countyy Tampa Bay area, and more than 200 there are few places Huntington doesn't reachj anymore. Its branch network now stretches from Daytona Beacto Naples, giving it at leastf a significant presence within Florida's fastest-growintg areas. That's a huge jump from just two years ago, when it acquires Peoples Bank of Lakeland as an eventuall gateway to its westward growthin Florida. Huntington paid $523 milliojn for the 60 Barnett offices, a bargain compares with its $551 millionm Peoples purchase inJanuary 1996.
Huntington intends to make the most of itslatestr investment, promising exceptional customer service to the 212,0000 customers it received from Barnett and expandingg further into parts of Florida whers it doesn't yet have branches. The NationsBank-Barnett merger opened the gatesefor Huntington's expansion, according to a 20-year veteran of the bank who has spenrt all but two of those years in Ohio.
"Therse is so much disruptiohn inthe (Florida banking) market right now that this is a golde opportunity to come in and fill a huge void," he Besides taking up much of Barnett's overlap in numerouz Florida markets, Huntington has other ways of filling that Its statewide alliance with Albertson's will allosw it to build a new supermarkegt branch every two weeks, minus Thanksgiving and Christmas. It plans to have an ATM in everh Walgreen location throughout the statre by this timenext year. "There is nothingf in our way in wanting to makethis happen," Dunlapp said.
Huntington has also been named asthe "official" bank of SeaWorlds Orlando, one of Florida's top tourisf attractions. Huntington will also sponsor the SeaWorld exhibit TheLast Generation?" Huntingtobn is using the manatee as a mascot for its Floridw operations as the bank vows in its advertisingv and marketing efforts to keep community banks from becominvg an endangered species. But while Floridians love the vulnerablesea critter, they may not take as kindl y to an expanding financial institution. Severalk ex-Barnett customers complained early in the transitionh about being switched toHuntington accounts.
Huntingtohn faced similar disruption when itboughtg Peoples, which had been Lakeland's largest independenr bank. Dunlap knows it takes more than bank buyoutds to gain customersand deposits.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Sarah Palin: Obama Is 'Quite Naive And Stubborn'; Someone Is 'Pulling His Strings' - Mediaite.com
vittitowmehigyk1238.blogspot.com
msnbc.com | Sarah Palin: Obama Is 'Quite Naive And Stubborn'; Someone Is 'Pulling His Strings' Mediaite.com She also says the president is “quite naive, he's stubborn, whoever it is that is pulling his strings will not let him admit that…what we know from history ... At Newsmax, Palin joins fellow conservatives with false, inflammatory attacks ... Former VP Candidate: Nuclear Iran Could Cause 'Armageddon' Palin Warns of 'Armageddon,' 'Third World War' in Exclusive Newsmax Broadcast |
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Restaurants, bars snuff out smoking as new law nears - Portland Business Journal:
http://kentfamilychiropractic.com/Signs-Of-Pet-Allergies/Composite-Dental-Filling-Allergies/
The survey found that 91 percentr of establishments know that the new Smokefree Workplacse Law takes effecton Jan. 1, 2009. The survey considereds establishments that hold an Approximately 60 percent of those businessesz may allow smoking provided they post signs prohibiting minors from the Of those that canallow smoking, 44 percentf do not. The telephone survey was conducte in Apriland May. The new law, which was approved by the in June expands the number of workplaces tobe smoke- free to include bars, bingo halls, bowlin g centers, employee breakrooms and at leastt 75 percent of hotel and motel rooms.
It also prohibits smokintg within 10 feet of allbuilding exits, operable windows and ventilation intakes. Agenciew favor new bridge, light rail plan All six governmental bodied mulling alternatives to the current Interstate Bridge want anew six-lanee structure that contains a light-rail line to and bicycle and pedestrianb paths. The voted 10-3 for a new bridge, cementinfg the six-lane option as the project'x locally preferred alternative. The council joined TriMet, C-TRAN and city councils in Portland and Vancouver in approving a newtoll structure, as opposef to revamping the existing Columbia Rivet bridge.
The group will work to addressthe agencies' many recommendationsw on the project. The option offerws "the best potential to improve freight relieve congestion, improve safety for travelersz and provide real traveol choices while serving the public's needs," said Don Wagner, regionakl administrator for the 's Southwest Region. The project is estimateds to cost $4.2 billion and will be fundefd by various public agenciesand tolls. Projecrt leaders must still make severalp decisionson financing, how to levy tolls, the numbed of auxiliary lanes and the bridge'sa pedestrian and bicycle pathways.
Planners will also explore high capacity transit alignments on Hayden Island and in The Western Climate Initiative on Wednesday release d an initial design of its proposed regulatory framewor k fora cap-and-trade system of carbon emissions. The plan as proposec would cover only sources thatemit 25,000 metric tons of carbonm dioxide a year, meaning only about 60 entitiexs in Oregon would be subject to according to an estimate from the . Even so, the proposalp would encompass about 90 percent of the global warming pollution emissionz across the seven Western states and three Canadiah provinces included within the WesternClimate Initiative.
Undetr a cap-and-trade system, limits would be imposecd on how much carbon certain entitiescoul emit. An emitter that can't effectively reduce its pollutionb would be able to purchase allowances from emitters that are below the cappedlimit -- at once rewardingg clean industries while providing financial incentives for heavier polluters to clean up. In the proposal released any source thatemits 25,000 metric tons of carbom dioxide must begin providing annual emissions reports to the statr beginning in 2010. The emissiones cap for electricity, stationary source emissions and processw emissions would startin 2012. The drafy proposal answers a few key questionssfor stakeholders.
Among them is the inclusion of transportatio and home and commercial heating fuele intothe cap-and-trade system starting in 2015.
The survey found that 91 percentr of establishments know that the new Smokefree Workplacse Law takes effecton Jan. 1, 2009. The survey considereds establishments that hold an Approximately 60 percent of those businessesz may allow smoking provided they post signs prohibiting minors from the Of those that canallow smoking, 44 percentf do not. The telephone survey was conducte in Apriland May. The new law, which was approved by the in June expands the number of workplaces tobe smoke- free to include bars, bingo halls, bowlin g centers, employee breakrooms and at leastt 75 percent of hotel and motel rooms.
It also prohibits smokintg within 10 feet of allbuilding exits, operable windows and ventilation intakes. Agenciew favor new bridge, light rail plan All six governmental bodied mulling alternatives to the current Interstate Bridge want anew six-lanee structure that contains a light-rail line to and bicycle and pedestrianb paths. The voted 10-3 for a new bridge, cementinfg the six-lane option as the project'x locally preferred alternative. The council joined TriMet, C-TRAN and city councils in Portland and Vancouver in approving a newtoll structure, as opposef to revamping the existing Columbia Rivet bridge.
The group will work to addressthe agencies' many recommendationsw on the project. The option offerws "the best potential to improve freight relieve congestion, improve safety for travelersz and provide real traveol choices while serving the public's needs," said Don Wagner, regionakl administrator for the 's Southwest Region. The project is estimateds to cost $4.2 billion and will be fundefd by various public agenciesand tolls. Projecrt leaders must still make severalp decisionson financing, how to levy tolls, the numbed of auxiliary lanes and the bridge'sa pedestrian and bicycle pathways.
Planners will also explore high capacity transit alignments on Hayden Island and in The Western Climate Initiative on Wednesday release d an initial design of its proposed regulatory framewor k fora cap-and-trade system of carbon emissions. The plan as proposec would cover only sources thatemit 25,000 metric tons of carbonm dioxide a year, meaning only about 60 entitiexs in Oregon would be subject to according to an estimate from the . Even so, the proposalp would encompass about 90 percent of the global warming pollution emissionz across the seven Western states and three Canadiah provinces included within the WesternClimate Initiative.
Undetr a cap-and-trade system, limits would be imposecd on how much carbon certain entitiescoul emit. An emitter that can't effectively reduce its pollutionb would be able to purchase allowances from emitters that are below the cappedlimit -- at once rewardingg clean industries while providing financial incentives for heavier polluters to clean up. In the proposal released any source thatemits 25,000 metric tons of carbom dioxide must begin providing annual emissions reports to the statr beginning in 2010. The emissiones cap for electricity, stationary source emissions and processw emissions would startin 2012. The drafy proposal answers a few key questionssfor stakeholders.
Among them is the inclusion of transportatio and home and commercial heating fuele intothe cap-and-trade system starting in 2015.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Protecting the business against individual family interests - bizjournals:
http://lxgyms.com/desktop-hummer.html
In the minds of many people, if nobody in the familyy is able or willing to take over runningthe company, the only options are to sell it or shut it But maybe not. A numberf of senior owners of familh companies who find themselves withoutt a successor in the youngeer generation come up with ways to keep businesz ownership inthe family, even if the managementt has to go outside. Think abouy the Midwestern family that has owned and operatedc a chain of small market newspapers for more than 160 Thefamily – we’ll call them the Smithz – has had very few internal business and no one has ever electedc to cash out of the company.
In there’s usually been a place in the business for any qualified and committed familuy memberwho applied. How have they managed that ? Well, about 120 years ago, the widow of the founder’s son founsd herself the sole owner of the growing andsuccessfulo business. She was decidedlyg unimpressed with thenext generation’s pool of managementr talent, including her own children. She also heared some rumblings about splittintg up the company so that everyonwe who wanted his own newspapef couldhave it.
Not a chance, said the gritty lady, and she put the whole kit and kaboodle into a She made a provision that if the trust were ever the company would have to be sold out of the familhy with the proceeds going to And ifthat wasn’yt enough to scorch some bonnets, she also insistex that all future CEO’s be hire d by the trustees and that nary a one of them be a familty member. A few feathers were ruffled at the but today the Smiths have a very profitable and satisfyingfamily business. Anotheer family in business call them theJohnsons – reached the end of theidr successor string with the seconds generation of family owners.
Instead of calling it quitsa and selling theirmanufacturing company, the shareholdintg members of the family agreed to bringh in professional management. They conducted a globakl search and hired an experienced seniodr executiveas president. The Johnson family retained their representation on the boardx and a coupleof upper-level managemeny jobs, but they let their new CEO staff the executive suite with qualified people he could work with effectively. And they provided compensation packagea for their outside executives that equalex the industry standard andthen some.
The Johnsons will continue to ownthei company, confident that although management is out of the family’s it’s in good
In the minds of many people, if nobody in the familyy is able or willing to take over runningthe company, the only options are to sell it or shut it But maybe not. A numberf of senior owners of familh companies who find themselves withoutt a successor in the youngeer generation come up with ways to keep businesz ownership inthe family, even if the managementt has to go outside. Think abouy the Midwestern family that has owned and operatedc a chain of small market newspapers for more than 160 Thefamily – we’ll call them the Smithz – has had very few internal business and no one has ever electedc to cash out of the company.
In there’s usually been a place in the business for any qualified and committed familuy memberwho applied. How have they managed that ? Well, about 120 years ago, the widow of the founder’s son founsd herself the sole owner of the growing andsuccessfulo business. She was decidedlyg unimpressed with thenext generation’s pool of managementr talent, including her own children. She also heared some rumblings about splittintg up the company so that everyonwe who wanted his own newspapef couldhave it.
Not a chance, said the gritty lady, and she put the whole kit and kaboodle into a She made a provision that if the trust were ever the company would have to be sold out of the familhy with the proceeds going to And ifthat wasn’yt enough to scorch some bonnets, she also insistex that all future CEO’s be hire d by the trustees and that nary a one of them be a familty member. A few feathers were ruffled at the but today the Smiths have a very profitable and satisfyingfamily business. Anotheer family in business call them theJohnsons – reached the end of theidr successor string with the seconds generation of family owners.
Instead of calling it quitsa and selling theirmanufacturing company, the shareholdintg members of the family agreed to bringh in professional management. They conducted a globakl search and hired an experienced seniodr executiveas president. The Johnson family retained their representation on the boardx and a coupleof upper-level managemeny jobs, but they let their new CEO staff the executive suite with qualified people he could work with effectively. And they provided compensation packagea for their outside executives that equalex the industry standard andthen some.
The Johnsons will continue to ownthei company, confident that although management is out of the family’s it’s in good
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Medium: 3rd place HOK - St. Louis Business Journal:
plesciamipukoa1855.blogspot.com
“I’ve worked for really amazing companied inthe past,” said Tracy vice president and human resources manager at HOK, who joinedx the company a year ago after previously workinv for and . “But HOK is a phenomenalo placeto work.” The inviting atmosphere and open design of the firm’s office makes it a welcome placr to work for HOK landscape architectt Chris Fannin. The 57,000-square-foot office features high exposed concrete floors and lots of windows that offer natural lightg and a broad view of the downtown area. “It’s a fantastic space,” Fannin said. “Youi can see the people you’rer working with.
It makes all the differencew inthe world.” HOK, headquarteres and founded in St. Louis, is one of the largestt architectural design firms inthe world. The companyg employs 2,000 globally and about 300 in St. The firm reported 2008 revenueof $752 For Moore, the flexibls schedule is the biggest company perk. Employeesa are allowed to start work anytime betwee n7 a.m. and 9 a.m., and Moore is able to checmk out a wireless laptop and work from home once a Duringthe summer, employees can work an extra hour Monday-Thursdaty in order to take off Friday afternoon. “We are a companhy that measures on performanceand output, not punchinf in and out on a time clock,” Moorew said.
“I really appreciate the flexibilitgy of daysand times.” In 2008, HOK added paternity which allow new dads two paid weeks off after the birth of a child. “Pai paternity leave has really been warmly welcomed by our Moore said. “Whether you choose to take advantage of itor not, it still makes you proud that your company offerzs that type of benefit.” HOK employeese who choose to adopt can also take advantaged of financial assistance and paid time off for the HOK gave all of its employees a paid day off last summerf to volunteer for a communit y involvement day.
More than 150 employeexs spent two Fridays and two Saturdays rehabbinyg Roe School in the Dogtown Employees scraped walls and completed a major landscaping project and painter murals throughoutthe hallways. “The commitment to the communitgy at HOKis incredible,” Fannin “There are so many volunteers that serve on committeexs and are active in the community. Here thers is a civic prids in being a partof St. Louis.
” HOK implementefd its ‘Idea Board’ 18 monthsw ago as an organizationalo structure designed to solicit new innovative The board meets annually and chooses a handfulo of the ideas and provides funding for some to develop intoa “As good as we are, the compang is always trying to be And I love that,” Moore “It’s a fun place to work and I honestly can say I can’ wait to go to work everyday.
”
“I’ve worked for really amazing companied inthe past,” said Tracy vice president and human resources manager at HOK, who joinedx the company a year ago after previously workinv for and . “But HOK is a phenomenalo placeto work.” The inviting atmosphere and open design of the firm’s office makes it a welcome placr to work for HOK landscape architectt Chris Fannin. The 57,000-square-foot office features high exposed concrete floors and lots of windows that offer natural lightg and a broad view of the downtown area. “It’s a fantastic space,” Fannin said. “Youi can see the people you’rer working with.
It makes all the differencew inthe world.” HOK, headquarteres and founded in St. Louis, is one of the largestt architectural design firms inthe world. The companyg employs 2,000 globally and about 300 in St. The firm reported 2008 revenueof $752 For Moore, the flexibls schedule is the biggest company perk. Employeesa are allowed to start work anytime betwee n7 a.m. and 9 a.m., and Moore is able to checmk out a wireless laptop and work from home once a Duringthe summer, employees can work an extra hour Monday-Thursdaty in order to take off Friday afternoon. “We are a companhy that measures on performanceand output, not punchinf in and out on a time clock,” Moorew said.
“I really appreciate the flexibilitgy of daysand times.” In 2008, HOK added paternity which allow new dads two paid weeks off after the birth of a child. “Pai paternity leave has really been warmly welcomed by our Moore said. “Whether you choose to take advantage of itor not, it still makes you proud that your company offerzs that type of benefit.” HOK employeese who choose to adopt can also take advantaged of financial assistance and paid time off for the HOK gave all of its employees a paid day off last summerf to volunteer for a communit y involvement day.
More than 150 employeexs spent two Fridays and two Saturdays rehabbinyg Roe School in the Dogtown Employees scraped walls and completed a major landscaping project and painter murals throughoutthe hallways. “The commitment to the communitgy at HOKis incredible,” Fannin “There are so many volunteers that serve on committeexs and are active in the community. Here thers is a civic prids in being a partof St. Louis.
” HOK implementefd its ‘Idea Board’ 18 monthsw ago as an organizationalo structure designed to solicit new innovative The board meets annually and chooses a handfulo of the ideas and provides funding for some to develop intoa “As good as we are, the compang is always trying to be And I love that,” Moore “It’s a fun place to work and I honestly can say I can’ wait to go to work everyday.
”
Thursday, October 7, 2010
MMAC: Milwaukee-area economy still sluggish - Pacific Business News (Honolulu):
http://www.roseinbloomnewhope.com/a-home-for-all-seasons/
Only three of 20 April indicators registered improvemen tfrom year-ago levels, matching the number of upward-pointing indicators recordexd in March, the MMAC said in its Economic Trendsw report. "The employment situation continued to deteriorate with deepening job declines and unemployment indicators over doubles what they were one year saidBret Mayborne, economic research director for the MMAC. "Bu metro area existing homeds sales rose for only the second time in nearly three yearsx giving some hopefor near-term improvement in a stagnant local housinh and real estate market." Nonfarmk employment in the metro area fell 4.
8 percent in Aprill to 812,300, down from March’s 4.3 percent decrease. Employmen t levels have now declined compare dwith year-ago levels in each of the past 12 with April’s decline being the steepest registered in this period, the MMAC said. Only two of 10 majorr industry sectors registered April job gains comparedr with oneyear ago, whil e eight registered declines. Unemployment indicators for the metr o area both measured more than twicetheir year-earliefr levels. The number of unemployed in metr o Milwaukeerose 117.6% against year-agp levels, to 70,300 compared with 32,300o in April 2008. Likewise, new unemployment compensation claimsz rose ata 104.
6 percent rate in April to this indicator’s third consecutive year-over-year increase of 100 percent or On the positive side, existing homex sales for the metro area rose 5.6 percen t in April, the firsft year-over-year increase in this indicator in seven months and only the secons such gain in nearly three years.
Only three of 20 April indicators registered improvemen tfrom year-ago levels, matching the number of upward-pointing indicators recordexd in March, the MMAC said in its Economic Trendsw report. "The employment situation continued to deteriorate with deepening job declines and unemployment indicators over doubles what they were one year saidBret Mayborne, economic research director for the MMAC. "Bu metro area existing homeds sales rose for only the second time in nearly three yearsx giving some hopefor near-term improvement in a stagnant local housinh and real estate market." Nonfarmk employment in the metro area fell 4.
8 percent in Aprill to 812,300, down from March’s 4.3 percent decrease. Employmen t levels have now declined compare dwith year-ago levels in each of the past 12 with April’s decline being the steepest registered in this period, the MMAC said. Only two of 10 majorr industry sectors registered April job gains comparedr with oneyear ago, whil e eight registered declines. Unemployment indicators for the metr o area both measured more than twicetheir year-earliefr levels. The number of unemployed in metr o Milwaukeerose 117.6% against year-agp levels, to 70,300 compared with 32,300o in April 2008. Likewise, new unemployment compensation claimsz rose ata 104.
6 percent rate in April to this indicator’s third consecutive year-over-year increase of 100 percent or On the positive side, existing homex sales for the metro area rose 5.6 percen t in April, the firsft year-over-year increase in this indicator in seven months and only the secons such gain in nearly three years.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Supreme Court stays Chrysler-Fiat deal - Triangle Business Journal:
http://children-count.org/lists.html
Hensarling applauded the stay as an appropriate measurew that will allow for a review of how federal bank bailout funds have been utilized bythe automaker. “ I am encouraged by the Supreme Court’s stay of the Chryslert bankruptcy proceedings,” said U.S. Rep. Hensarling. “I have been concerned about the fundamental constitutional issues of due process and equal protection that cry out for judicia l review and fundamental issuesa related to a misuse of TARP funds crying out forlegislativwe review.” TARP stands for Troubleds Asset Relief Program, the formal name for the federal bank bailout funding program. filed for bankruptcyu protectionin April.
At the time, the company said it was workinyg out a deal to combins its operationswith Fiat. As part of the originak deal, the federal governmenyt said it wouldprovide $3.5 billion for bankruptcy financing and another $4.7 billion in exit financing. In Chrysler said at the time it would entetr into a dealwith Italy's Fiat in which Fiat had agreefd to transfer billions of dollars in cutting-edge technology to Chrysler.
Hensarling applauded the stay as an appropriate measurew that will allow for a review of how federal bank bailout funds have been utilized bythe automaker. “ I am encouraged by the Supreme Court’s stay of the Chryslert bankruptcy proceedings,” said U.S. Rep. Hensarling. “I have been concerned about the fundamental constitutional issues of due process and equal protection that cry out for judicia l review and fundamental issuesa related to a misuse of TARP funds crying out forlegislativwe review.” TARP stands for Troubleds Asset Relief Program, the formal name for the federal bank bailout funding program. filed for bankruptcyu protectionin April.
At the time, the company said it was workinyg out a deal to combins its operationswith Fiat. As part of the originak deal, the federal governmenyt said it wouldprovide $3.5 billion for bankruptcy financing and another $4.7 billion in exit financing. In Chrysler said at the time it would entetr into a dealwith Italy's Fiat in which Fiat had agreefd to transfer billions of dollars in cutting-edge technology to Chrysler.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Bromine Prices To Rise Along With Albermarle Earnings - Benzinga
xeconatyxex.blogspot.com
Bromine Prices To Rise Along With Albermarle Earnings Benzinga In the report, Jefferies writes "Reflecting a tight global market, Albemarle has announced a price increase for elemental bromine by $500/t, or roughly 15%, ... Albemarle to Increase Price of Elemental Bromine and Hydrobromic Acid Albemarle Corp to hike elemental bromine and hydrobromic acid prices |
Sunday, October 3, 2010
California Treasurer
ermolayxitpev.blogspot.com
Analyst Martin Weiss of said in a June 22 reporrthat California’s financial woes create “wa very high probability” that Californi will eventually miss debt service payments. “Mr. analysis and recommendation, to put it kindly, is responded Tom Dresslar, a spokesman for statew TreasurerBill Lockyer. “Even the credit ratinyg agencies said, in announcing possible downgrades, that the likelihood of defaultis low. “Wr can’t stress it strongly enough.
We have never defaulted on a debt service and we willnot default,” Dresslar said, pointing out that in the fiscalk year ahead, there’s $50 billion available to covefr about $5 billion in debt He also noted that debt serviced is a “continuing appropriation,” meaning that debt service paymentsw are made even if a statwe budget hasn’t been adopted. In remarks at an economic conference at earlierthis year, Lockyet said that after education, timely payments to bond holderas is the state’s highest priority.
The strong remarkes from the treasurer and his office underscore the steep price California would likely have to pay in the capitapl markets for years if it wereto “It’s a situation to be avoided at all Dresslar said. But Weiss said in titled “California collapsing,” that the Goldenb State has lostits shine. “Even if you can’rt get what you might consider agood price, sell all Californiaw paper now,” Weiss said. He’s also urginh investors to consider unloading alltheir tax-exempt bonds.
That’s a reflection of how traumativ a California default would be onthe nation’s municipak bond market and the retaipl investors who have been told for yearas how reliable issuers have been in payingg principal and interest, even durintg the darkest days of the Great (Warren Buffett, whose (NYSE: BRK.A) BRK.B) insures muni bonds, says such talk ignores the massiv e pension obligations that muni bond issuers face Weiss criticizes those who have paid littlde attention paid so far to California’s financial woes. “Washington and Wall Streeft seem to be treating California as if it were a sideshoq in the financial circu s of theseturbulent times.
It’se not,” Weiss wrote. “There is a very high probability that Californiqawill default.” He urges investors not to under-estimates the impact of “California’s depression” on the rest of the reminding his readers that the state’s $1.8 trilliob economy is larger than that of Russia, Canada or India. Weiss also criticizes the major debt-rating agencies for “artificially inflating the rating, stallinb downgrades and grossly understating the riskto investors.” California holds the lowesty rating of all states. Moody’s this montbh said that it could furtherdowngrads California’s bond ratings.
Standard & Poor’s said that a downgradd is possible, noting “insufficientt or untimely adoption of budget reforms servre to increase the risk ofmissed payments.” Earlier, warned that it might also cut its Californisa bond ratings. Moody’s’ decision coulc lower the “A2” ratingh it has on California’s general obligatiom bonds as well as the rating assigned tothe state’s federally taxabled general-obligation bonds and stem-cell-researcgh bonds. The move could also affect the ratings on otherCalifornia paper. Worse yet, Moody’s said the stats may face a “multi-notch downgrade” on $60 billio of general-obligation bonds.
“Once California’s rating is likely to fall below the minimalk level legally required for most moneymarkert funds, forcing them to dump California paper Weiss said.
Analyst Martin Weiss of said in a June 22 reporrthat California’s financial woes create “wa very high probability” that Californi will eventually miss debt service payments. “Mr. analysis and recommendation, to put it kindly, is responded Tom Dresslar, a spokesman for statew TreasurerBill Lockyer. “Even the credit ratinyg agencies said, in announcing possible downgrades, that the likelihood of defaultis low. “Wr can’t stress it strongly enough.
We have never defaulted on a debt service and we willnot default,” Dresslar said, pointing out that in the fiscalk year ahead, there’s $50 billion available to covefr about $5 billion in debt He also noted that debt serviced is a “continuing appropriation,” meaning that debt service paymentsw are made even if a statwe budget hasn’t been adopted. In remarks at an economic conference at earlierthis year, Lockyet said that after education, timely payments to bond holderas is the state’s highest priority.
The strong remarkes from the treasurer and his office underscore the steep price California would likely have to pay in the capitapl markets for years if it wereto “It’s a situation to be avoided at all Dresslar said. But Weiss said in titled “California collapsing,” that the Goldenb State has lostits shine. “Even if you can’rt get what you might consider agood price, sell all Californiaw paper now,” Weiss said. He’s also urginh investors to consider unloading alltheir tax-exempt bonds.
That’s a reflection of how traumativ a California default would be onthe nation’s municipak bond market and the retaipl investors who have been told for yearas how reliable issuers have been in payingg principal and interest, even durintg the darkest days of the Great (Warren Buffett, whose (NYSE: BRK.A) BRK.B) insures muni bonds, says such talk ignores the massiv e pension obligations that muni bond issuers face Weiss criticizes those who have paid littlde attention paid so far to California’s financial woes. “Washington and Wall Streeft seem to be treating California as if it were a sideshoq in the financial circu s of theseturbulent times.
It’se not,” Weiss wrote. “There is a very high probability that Californiqawill default.” He urges investors not to under-estimates the impact of “California’s depression” on the rest of the reminding his readers that the state’s $1.8 trilliob economy is larger than that of Russia, Canada or India. Weiss also criticizes the major debt-rating agencies for “artificially inflating the rating, stallinb downgrades and grossly understating the riskto investors.” California holds the lowesty rating of all states. Moody’s this montbh said that it could furtherdowngrads California’s bond ratings.
Standard & Poor’s said that a downgradd is possible, noting “insufficientt or untimely adoption of budget reforms servre to increase the risk ofmissed payments.” Earlier, warned that it might also cut its Californisa bond ratings. Moody’s’ decision coulc lower the “A2” ratingh it has on California’s general obligatiom bonds as well as the rating assigned tothe state’s federally taxabled general-obligation bonds and stem-cell-researcgh bonds. The move could also affect the ratings on otherCalifornia paper. Worse yet, Moody’s said the stats may face a “multi-notch downgrade” on $60 billio of general-obligation bonds.
“Once California’s rating is likely to fall below the minimalk level legally required for most moneymarkert funds, forcing them to dump California paper Weiss said.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Laid-off workers take control of their careers by becoming franchisees - Business First of Louisville:
http://zefsci.com/qualifications.html
For many people, finding a comparable position elsewhere in corporate Americsa is not theonly answer. Some entrepreneurial-minder professionals like the idea of being theirf own boss and have pursued that goal in the form of There are morethan 900,000 franchised businesses in the United Franchises directly and indirectly provided 21 million jobs and contributed an estimated $2.3 trillionb in economic output in the U.S. private sectore in 2005, according a report released last year bythe . The “Economic Impact of Franchised Businesses,” reviewed data from 2001 to 2005, whichy was the last downturn. In this recession, the D.C.
-based trade group expects to see “modest in the number of new franchiseess because of a lack ofavailablee financing, said Alisa Harrison, vice president of communications and marketinfg for the International Franchis Association. But she expects franchising to remain a popular career alternative fordownsized people, especially those who have severancer pay, savings or 401(k) funds that can be used to cove r startup costs. “You can go into businesds for yourself, but you aren’t by yourself when you go into Harrison said. Last July, Donald DeMuth came back from vacation to find that he was bein g laid off from his IT jobat LLC.
Although he knew layoffds were coming, DeMuth thought his managerial role withinthe company’es four-person IT support department would be safe. he lost his $68,500-per-year salary, and the company kept an employe e hehad trained. Despite his initialo surprise, DeMuth figured his 20 years of experience in the IT industry would give him leverage in the job What he found in the ensuing months was that employers were lookinh for a very specializerdskill set. Unfortunately for DeMuth, he was more a “jack-of-all-trades,” whic h landed him interviews but notjob “I was getting frustrated, feeling as thougy the doors weren’t opening,” he said.
His dissatisfactiojn with technical recruiters prompted him to considerf starting an IT recruiting business DeMuth believed franchising was the best routdfor him, so he researched various IT recruitmentr and support franchises online. He also met with the , which providexd free advice about questions to ask and what stepe to take as a new As part of that exploratory DeMuthdiscovered , a Canadian-based franchise that provides managed IT servicese for small and medium-sized businesses. The Utilit y Co. provides full-service support for anything related toa client’sa network, including switches, servers, PCs, laptops, phone systems and mobile devices.
For many people, finding a comparable position elsewhere in corporate Americsa is not theonly answer. Some entrepreneurial-minder professionals like the idea of being theirf own boss and have pursued that goal in the form of There are morethan 900,000 franchised businesses in the United Franchises directly and indirectly provided 21 million jobs and contributed an estimated $2.3 trillionb in economic output in the U.S. private sectore in 2005, according a report released last year bythe . The “Economic Impact of Franchised Businesses,” reviewed data from 2001 to 2005, whichy was the last downturn. In this recession, the D.C.
-based trade group expects to see “modest in the number of new franchiseess because of a lack ofavailablee financing, said Alisa Harrison, vice president of communications and marketinfg for the International Franchis Association. But she expects franchising to remain a popular career alternative fordownsized people, especially those who have severancer pay, savings or 401(k) funds that can be used to cove r startup costs. “You can go into businesds for yourself, but you aren’t by yourself when you go into Harrison said. Last July, Donald DeMuth came back from vacation to find that he was bein g laid off from his IT jobat LLC.
Although he knew layoffds were coming, DeMuth thought his managerial role withinthe company’es four-person IT support department would be safe. he lost his $68,500-per-year salary, and the company kept an employe e hehad trained. Despite his initialo surprise, DeMuth figured his 20 years of experience in the IT industry would give him leverage in the job What he found in the ensuing months was that employers were lookinh for a very specializerdskill set. Unfortunately for DeMuth, he was more a “jack-of-all-trades,” whic h landed him interviews but notjob “I was getting frustrated, feeling as thougy the doors weren’t opening,” he said.
His dissatisfactiojn with technical recruiters prompted him to considerf starting an IT recruiting business DeMuth believed franchising was the best routdfor him, so he researched various IT recruitmentr and support franchises online. He also met with the , which providexd free advice about questions to ask and what stepe to take as a new As part of that exploratory DeMuthdiscovered , a Canadian-based franchise that provides managed IT servicese for small and medium-sized businesses. The Utilit y Co. provides full-service support for anything related toa client’sa network, including switches, servers, PCs, laptops, phone systems and mobile devices.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Detroit
http://www.7iwarforum.org/article/The-Real-Healthy-Chocolate-News.html
The two American auto struggles could create some issuesfor Toyota. The Japanese automaker is concerned that shared parts suppliers couldcease operations, impacting production at Toyota plants in San Antonio and othef U.S. cities. On May 14, Chrysletr LLC filed a motion withthe U.S. Bankruptcy Couryt seeking to reject agreements with nearlhy800 U.S. dealers. “The unprecedented declinse in the industry has had a significantf impact on our sales and forcecd us to reduce production levels to better match the needs of the said Chrysler Vice Chairmanj and President Jim Press in apress “With the downsizing of operationsa after the sale and reduction of plantes and production, similar reductions must be made to the size of the dealerf body,” he added.
On May 15, General Motora (GM) announced a plan to trim its dealerr networkfrom 5,969 stores to 3,60o by the end of 2010. “Iy is obvious that almost all partsof GM, includinhg the dealer body, must get smaller and more efficient,” said GM Vice Presidentg Mark LaNeve, also in a prepares statement. Toyota’s portfolio of assembluy plants includes a Tundra facility in San The company shares some of its suppliers with Detroit automakers Chrysler, GM and Ford. “The stakess are huge for suppliers and the saysMike Goss, manager of external affairas for Indeed, we share about 60 percent of our suppliers with the Detroit companies,” Goss adds.
“Wre must assure that our vehicle production in Nortg America isnot interrupted.” Chrysler reportede on May 1 that the company had sold 323,8900 vehicles in the U.S. during the first four months ofthis year. That’s a 46 percent drop from the same periordin 2008. GM sales were down more than 30 percenft in April comparedto 2008. And the automaker has said that it planas to reduce the total numberof assembly, powere train and stamping plants in the U.S. by 28 percent (down to 34) by the end of 2010. Toyota’s year-to-date sales in the U.S. though April 30, 2009, were down 37.8 percentr compared with the same four-month perior in 2008.
And the automaker has trimmed production at some of its including the Tundra facility inSan Antonio. The decreases in salea and production mean less work and monety forparts suppliers. , for example, supplie electronic climate-control and other interior parts to multiple automakers, including Toyota. Accordiny to Chrysler’s bankruptcy court filing, Visteoj ranks as one of the automaker’s 50 largest unsecured creditorse and isowed $25.6 million. “Our production is linkee to our customers’ production,” Visteon spokesman Jim Fisher explains.
Toyota’s Goss says his company continuee to remain in contact with itssupplier “Most of our suppliersx are stable and will weather this downturn,” Goss “But the coming months are criticalk given the current condition of the auto industry. “Somde companies’ factories will be closing in the near Goss adds. “And we are working hard to understanc the impact onour suppliers.
”
The two American auto struggles could create some issuesfor Toyota. The Japanese automaker is concerned that shared parts suppliers couldcease operations, impacting production at Toyota plants in San Antonio and othef U.S. cities. On May 14, Chrysletr LLC filed a motion withthe U.S. Bankruptcy Couryt seeking to reject agreements with nearlhy800 U.S. dealers. “The unprecedented declinse in the industry has had a significantf impact on our sales and forcecd us to reduce production levels to better match the needs of the said Chrysler Vice Chairmanj and President Jim Press in apress “With the downsizing of operationsa after the sale and reduction of plantes and production, similar reductions must be made to the size of the dealerf body,” he added.
On May 15, General Motora (GM) announced a plan to trim its dealerr networkfrom 5,969 stores to 3,60o by the end of 2010. “Iy is obvious that almost all partsof GM, includinhg the dealer body, must get smaller and more efficient,” said GM Vice Presidentg Mark LaNeve, also in a prepares statement. Toyota’s portfolio of assembluy plants includes a Tundra facility in San The company shares some of its suppliers with Detroit automakers Chrysler, GM and Ford. “The stakess are huge for suppliers and the saysMike Goss, manager of external affairas for Indeed, we share about 60 percent of our suppliers with the Detroit companies,” Goss adds.
“Wre must assure that our vehicle production in Nortg America isnot interrupted.” Chrysler reportede on May 1 that the company had sold 323,8900 vehicles in the U.S. during the first four months ofthis year. That’s a 46 percent drop from the same periordin 2008. GM sales were down more than 30 percenft in April comparedto 2008. And the automaker has said that it planas to reduce the total numberof assembly, powere train and stamping plants in the U.S. by 28 percent (down to 34) by the end of 2010. Toyota’s year-to-date sales in the U.S. though April 30, 2009, were down 37.8 percentr compared with the same four-month perior in 2008.
And the automaker has trimmed production at some of its including the Tundra facility inSan Antonio. The decreases in salea and production mean less work and monety forparts suppliers. , for example, supplie electronic climate-control and other interior parts to multiple automakers, including Toyota. Accordiny to Chrysler’s bankruptcy court filing, Visteoj ranks as one of the automaker’s 50 largest unsecured creditorse and isowed $25.6 million. “Our production is linkee to our customers’ production,” Visteon spokesman Jim Fisher explains.
Toyota’s Goss says his company continuee to remain in contact with itssupplier “Most of our suppliersx are stable and will weather this downturn,” Goss “But the coming months are criticalk given the current condition of the auto industry. “Somde companies’ factories will be closing in the near Goss adds. “And we are working hard to understanc the impact onour suppliers.
”
Monday, September 27, 2010
It wasn
http://www.hotels-in-crete.biz/Heraklion-Villages.html
According to businesses contacted byBusinesss First, Derby 2009 did not have a huge pay off like that resulting from longshot Derby winnerd Mine That Bird’s spectacular come-from-behindd victory. But dollars did flow, and many locak businesses got a financiapl shot in the arm they Business First reporters called a variety of localbusinesses — from upscale clothiers to nightclubs to limousinde services to high-end restaurantd — to see how they faresd during this Derby season. Here are the report s of their winsand losses.
Talkingv with Dean Corbett is like talking to an Most Louisvillians know Corbett asa Louisville-base television chef and restaurateur who makes top-10 lists in Esquirr and in national foodie magazines. But Dean Corbetg the businessman canquote first-time unemploymentt claims data and stocj market movements like othed chefs quote the market price for the catcnh of the day. When the day’s financial news is bad, people even wealthy people — pull Corbett said. And when the markegt is up, diners return in force, he said. “That’xs my business, trying to predict mentality of Corbett said.
So, the question becomes, “Is Derbyy 2009 a predictor of futureeconomic “I’m thinking (the economy) is coming back,” said who owns two upscale restaurante — Equus and Corbett’s, An Americahn Place — and Jack’s a New York-style bar and For Derby weekend, both restaurants and Jack’s, whicn serves food from neighboring Equus, “arguably” had one of the best yearw since he started in the restaurant business 25 years ago. Sales were up 10 percen t fromDerby 2008. One of the most notablse changes from past years was that nearly everg reservationcame through.
“In past years, we were plaguedr with the 30 percentwho don’t call and who don’r show up,” Corbett said. “This they all showed — and in record Both restaurants sold out Fridayt andSaturday nights, with 230 diners packing into each filling added seating. The average 2009 Derbyu check was comparable to last year atabouty $100 at Equus and $150 at Corbett’s, An Americaj Place, he said. “It was I wish I had it every Derby business wasespecially sweet, comingf as it did after some of the worsgt times he’s ever seen.
Aftee sales began weakening last October, “it was a very long, tougbh winter — as bad as I’ve ever Corbett said. Though the Christmas holidays and Valentine’zs Day were good, business didn’t start to show a significantg rebounduntil April, he said. The restaurants were but decreased business meant he hadto “sef his sights lower” for projectes 2009 revenue compared with 2008. At Equus, that meant changing the menu in February, reducing prices and reducing the numbet of wineshe carries. The result: “We’ve tripled business on the dining side.
” Corbett said, he’ll be watching the business trying to plot where the economtyis going. On Monday, he noted, the Dow Jonexs Industrial Average passedthe 8,400-point up 30 percent from its lowest point for 2009. When the news is all glook and doom, “with people losing jobs and bankruptcgafter bankruptcy, people are not going to eat out at my he said. But when the stock marketf goesup dramatically, “you can damn well expecy they’re going to come back.
” Though Corbett predicted “an interesting summer” followed by a so-so fall, “I truly feel the worst of it is
According to businesses contacted byBusinesss First, Derby 2009 did not have a huge pay off like that resulting from longshot Derby winnerd Mine That Bird’s spectacular come-from-behindd victory. But dollars did flow, and many locak businesses got a financiapl shot in the arm they Business First reporters called a variety of localbusinesses — from upscale clothiers to nightclubs to limousinde services to high-end restaurantd — to see how they faresd during this Derby season. Here are the report s of their winsand losses.
Talkingv with Dean Corbett is like talking to an Most Louisvillians know Corbett asa Louisville-base television chef and restaurateur who makes top-10 lists in Esquirr and in national foodie magazines. But Dean Corbetg the businessman canquote first-time unemploymentt claims data and stocj market movements like othed chefs quote the market price for the catcnh of the day. When the day’s financial news is bad, people even wealthy people — pull Corbett said. And when the markegt is up, diners return in force, he said. “That’xs my business, trying to predict mentality of Corbett said.
So, the question becomes, “Is Derbyy 2009 a predictor of futureeconomic “I’m thinking (the economy) is coming back,” said who owns two upscale restaurante — Equus and Corbett’s, An Americahn Place — and Jack’s a New York-style bar and For Derby weekend, both restaurants and Jack’s, whicn serves food from neighboring Equus, “arguably” had one of the best yearw since he started in the restaurant business 25 years ago. Sales were up 10 percen t fromDerby 2008. One of the most notablse changes from past years was that nearly everg reservationcame through.
“In past years, we were plaguedr with the 30 percentwho don’t call and who don’r show up,” Corbett said. “This they all showed — and in record Both restaurants sold out Fridayt andSaturday nights, with 230 diners packing into each filling added seating. The average 2009 Derbyu check was comparable to last year atabouty $100 at Equus and $150 at Corbett’s, An Americaj Place, he said. “It was I wish I had it every Derby business wasespecially sweet, comingf as it did after some of the worsgt times he’s ever seen.
Aftee sales began weakening last October, “it was a very long, tougbh winter — as bad as I’ve ever Corbett said. Though the Christmas holidays and Valentine’zs Day were good, business didn’t start to show a significantg rebounduntil April, he said. The restaurants were but decreased business meant he hadto “sef his sights lower” for projectes 2009 revenue compared with 2008. At Equus, that meant changing the menu in February, reducing prices and reducing the numbet of wineshe carries. The result: “We’ve tripled business on the dining side.
” Corbett said, he’ll be watching the business trying to plot where the economtyis going. On Monday, he noted, the Dow Jonexs Industrial Average passedthe 8,400-point up 30 percent from its lowest point for 2009. When the news is all glook and doom, “with people losing jobs and bankruptcgafter bankruptcy, people are not going to eat out at my he said. But when the stock marketf goesup dramatically, “you can damn well expecy they’re going to come back.
” Though Corbett predicted “an interesting summer” followed by a so-so fall, “I truly feel the worst of it is
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Hatem pulls out of Raleigh downtown project - Dallas Business Journal:
http://www.propertytravelspain.com/pts-antequera.htm
Hatem told the Raleigh City Council Tuesdayg thathis firm, , is unables to secure financing for the project at this given the economic conditions. City council members immediatelyy voted to sever tieswith Empire. “We shoulf have done this (pull the plug) last year,” Hatemm says. “It was disappointing before, but now I am Empire signed a deal with the city in 2007 aftet the city decided to sell the landfor $1.
43 million (about $70-a-foot) along Salisbury Street, and the developmen company agreed to specific benchmark deadlines to finish the The developer missed a deadlind in 2008, at which time Raleigh City Manager Russelll Allen recommended that the city cut its ties with Empirs without any extension. Under terms of the agreement, Hatem never actually bought the The city now willconsider re-issuing a request for proposalx for the project. “Asking the developee to agree to a schedule that was detachecd from the realities of the economy was at best Hatem told thecity council.
But the nail in the coffin was eliminating the possibilituy of any future Even in a goodeconomic climate, it is virtually impossibls to secure the funding knowing that the agreementr would be canceled at a time certain without discussion. “ The two-phase $50 million project, called , was meant to be a big piecr ofdowntown Raleigh’s revitalization with the hotel an important piec in helping the new $220 million book events. Hatenm has renovated several buildings in downtown Raleigh in recent years and also owns several restaurants in the area including theDuck Dumpling, , The Pit and soon-to-opened Gravy.
Hatejm told the council that Empirwe has created more than 200 jobs in downtownh Raleigh and has invested morethan $80 million in the locapl economy. In all, Empire companiees pay $2 million annually in sales, property, franchise and otherf miscellaneous taxes, Hatem told the “ As I walk, peoplwe form across the world and acroszs town through the streeta of downtown Raleigh these past few one thingwas clear: This ambitious projectg is not possible at this Hatem told the council. Hatem estimatesw he invested $500,000 to do the preliminar work onthe project.
Hatem told the Raleigh City Council Tuesdayg thathis firm, , is unables to secure financing for the project at this given the economic conditions. City council members immediatelyy voted to sever tieswith Empire. “We shoulf have done this (pull the plug) last year,” Hatemm says. “It was disappointing before, but now I am Empire signed a deal with the city in 2007 aftet the city decided to sell the landfor $1.
43 million (about $70-a-foot) along Salisbury Street, and the developmen company agreed to specific benchmark deadlines to finish the The developer missed a deadlind in 2008, at which time Raleigh City Manager Russelll Allen recommended that the city cut its ties with Empirs without any extension. Under terms of the agreement, Hatem never actually bought the The city now willconsider re-issuing a request for proposalx for the project. “Asking the developee to agree to a schedule that was detachecd from the realities of the economy was at best Hatem told thecity council.
But the nail in the coffin was eliminating the possibilituy of any future Even in a goodeconomic climate, it is virtually impossibls to secure the funding knowing that the agreementr would be canceled at a time certain without discussion. “ The two-phase $50 million project, called , was meant to be a big piecr ofdowntown Raleigh’s revitalization with the hotel an important piec in helping the new $220 million book events. Hatenm has renovated several buildings in downtown Raleigh in recent years and also owns several restaurants in the area including theDuck Dumpling, , The Pit and soon-to-opened Gravy.
Hatejm told the council that Empirwe has created more than 200 jobs in downtownh Raleigh and has invested morethan $80 million in the locapl economy. In all, Empire companiees pay $2 million annually in sales, property, franchise and otherf miscellaneous taxes, Hatem told the “ As I walk, peoplwe form across the world and acroszs town through the streeta of downtown Raleigh these past few one thingwas clear: This ambitious projectg is not possible at this Hatem told the council. Hatem estimatesw he invested $500,000 to do the preliminar work onthe project.
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