Tuesday, November 23, 2010

4 Dead After Van Transporting Amish To Funeral Crashes - WJAC Johnstown

dyakonostrlin.blogspot.com


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 ...



and more »

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

New York Daily News


Thai police discover over 2000 foetuses in Buddhist temple

Daily Mail


2000 aborted fetuses found in Bangkok temple

USA Today


CNN International -msnbc.com


 »

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.

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.
"

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

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

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.

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.

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

ESPN (blog)


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.

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

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 ...



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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.

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.

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. ...



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