8511ysu.blogspot.com
United is expected to beginh sending out letters to its members and physicians who might be affectedc bySaint Joseph's termination of its Unitedr agreement, Atlanta Business Chronicle has learned. Under Georgiaa law, insurers are required to inform affected memberse within 30 days of acontracf expiration. The four-year contract was set to expird Aug. 1, but the deadlinse has been extendedto Aug. 8 as the two sides continu to negotiate. United provides health insurance coverage tonearly 1.5 millionj Georgians, including state About 6.5 percent of patient visitsw -- inpatient admissions and outpatient -- at Saint Joe were from Unitefd members.
If a contract cannot be reached, Sainr Joe facilities and doctors will be deemed “out-of-network” by United, requiring the insurer’s members to shell out more for hospitapl and doctors visits at Saintf Joe, than they would for “in-network” One of the main sticking pointw in the contract negotiations involvees Saint Joe seeking higher reimbursement from That issue has also bogged down contracf talks between and WellStar Health System. In mid WellStar issued letterswarning 14,000 Aetna patients that the healtnh system might terminate its agreement with the insurer if a new contractr cannot be negotiated by Aug. 31.
As hospitals face bottom-linw pressure from declining government reimbursement, couplerd with rising rolls of uninsured, many are turning to commercial insurers forrate hikes. Saint Joe is seekinyg a rate increase, said Heathed Dexter, the health system’s vice president of “We believe it to be very fair, very reasonable and in line with the Dexter said. “We are looking for a fair and equitablr contract andwe don’t believde we’ve reached that point yet.” . Both Saingt Joe and United officials expressex optimism that a deal woulde get done beforethe deadline.
“UnitedHealthcare’s negotiations with Sainft Joseph’s will continue to take place in good faitbh to address the important issues that are alwaye part ofsuch discussions,” the insurer said in an “UnitedHealthcare remains hopeful that the negotiations will result in a new contract that assurese our customers continued accesw to St. Joseph’s services."
Friday, December 30, 2011
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Medtronic subsidiary gets a win with FDA approval - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:
eragywaqer.wordpress.com
The Lucas 2 is the next generationn of the Lucas ChestCompression System. Manufactured by Swedish companuJolife AB, it’s distributedd in the United States by Redmond, Wash.-based , a subsidiarg of Fridley, Minn.-based Medtronic. The original Lucas is a pneumatid device, while the new Lucas is powered by either by battery or using a wall or carelectricitg outlet. “Customers have been askiny us fora battery-powered Lucas device for a couples of years and with Lucas 2 we are able to Brian Webster, president of Physio-Control, said in a news The Lucas is meant to avoid the complications that can arise when emergencyu responders are performing chest compressions by hand.
The device is designed to deliver uninterrupted compressions at a consisten t rateand depth. In the past the Lucas 2 has also won approval in Europesand Canada. Physio-Control plans to start shipping the Lucaw 2to U.S. markets in the
The Lucas 2 is the next generationn of the Lucas ChestCompression System. Manufactured by Swedish companuJolife AB, it’s distributedd in the United States by Redmond, Wash.-based , a subsidiarg of Fridley, Minn.-based Medtronic. The original Lucas is a pneumatid device, while the new Lucas is powered by either by battery or using a wall or carelectricitg outlet. “Customers have been askiny us fora battery-powered Lucas device for a couples of years and with Lucas 2 we are able to Brian Webster, president of Physio-Control, said in a news The Lucas is meant to avoid the complications that can arise when emergencyu responders are performing chest compressions by hand.
The device is designed to deliver uninterrupted compressions at a consisten t rateand depth. In the past the Lucas 2 has also won approval in Europesand Canada. Physio-Control plans to start shipping the Lucaw 2to U.S. markets in the
Monday, December 26, 2011
Embarq cuts may be deeper, faster as CenturyTel merger is set for June close - Nashville Business Journal:
gault-rickettsias.blogspot.com
Although a new brand could replacesome signage, jobs are a differeng matter. Embarq’s $11.6 billion merger with is slated to close this Sources expect that the including job cutsand moves, could go fasterd than initially indicated. The rural phones companies plan tosave $400 million annually in the firsr three years through the marriage. And they already operatse in anindustry that’s losing core a trend accelerated by the where part of maintaining strongh balance sheets is keeping a lid on “I’ve never seen a merger yet where the initial announcement wasn’ t conservative,” said analyst Todd Rethemeier of , who doesn’tf own shares in the “Right after, or a coupl quarters later, they’ll say they’re aheadf of schedule, or thered were more synergies.
It certainly coulxd be faster in an industrylike this.” The jobs most at risk are positionse that don’t deal with consumers, including functions such as accounting and possibly marketing, sources Overland Park-based Embarq’s efficiency measurees already have included local job When the company spun off from in 2006, it had 4,50o local employees. Now, after its logistics unit was pared off earlierthis year, Embarq employs abougt 2,800 in the area. With CenturyTel being much smallerf — roughly 1,300 corporate employees and half Embarq’s revenue it will have to retain a certain percentagwe ofEmbarq employees, said Chris Kuehl, managing directodr of .
But the current economic climate increases the urgency to cut saidTom Tilley, principal of . “As long as it doesn’tf interfere with the they’re probably going to try to realized that savings as quicklyas possible,” he Embarq’s first-quarter revenue fell 7.5 percent to $1.3 3 billion, less than analysts’ estimates. Earnings dropped 18 percent to $174 million, though without a loss from the sale of itslogisticsa business, earnings beat analysts’ predictions. CenturyTel’s first-quarter revenure was $636.4 million, down 2 percent. Earningss were $67 million, down 25 percent. The companies have revealedr few post-merger employment details.
But the top two tiers of managemenr havebeen named, and the third tier is nearlyh complete, CenturyTel spokeswoman Annmarie Sartoer said. Those managers then will evaluate whicuh positions are needed and which will need to some employees may retire or leave forother “As in most cases of consolidatio n with two separate companies, ther e is some inevitable job overlap and operational redundanct that we’ll have to work through,” she said. “Right now, we’re not quite sure what that will look She saidshe didn’y know whether the recessionb would speed integration but thinks it unlikely because of the complexity.
Combining all customer into the CenturyTel billingh system easily could take a year and a The headquarters will bein La. — CenturyTel’s currentf base — though CenturyTel doesn’t keep all corporate functionx there. Benefits and compensation are handledin Wash., Sartor said. “It’s not completelyu geographically driven,” she said. “We’rd going to keep a presence inOverlande Park. It’s highly feasibl e and likely that there will be corporate functionss not donein Louisiana.” Vice president or highedr positions probably will move or be eliminated, said John Hense Jr.
, a principal of Kansas City investment banking firm Sometimes, executivees will look at buying a local business or findintg another job that would let them stay in the Tilley said. But with the tough economy, more may be willinb to move. Sartor said it was too early to know what wouldc be donewith Embarq’s real estate The company recently vacated a 100,000-square-foo t space on the Sprint campus in Overlandc Park, and in November, it gave notice that it may terminat its lease of an additional 190,000 squarr feet in two years.
Although a new brand could replacesome signage, jobs are a differeng matter. Embarq’s $11.6 billion merger with is slated to close this Sources expect that the including job cutsand moves, could go fasterd than initially indicated. The rural phones companies plan tosave $400 million annually in the firsr three years through the marriage. And they already operatse in anindustry that’s losing core a trend accelerated by the where part of maintaining strongh balance sheets is keeping a lid on “I’ve never seen a merger yet where the initial announcement wasn’ t conservative,” said analyst Todd Rethemeier of , who doesn’tf own shares in the “Right after, or a coupl quarters later, they’ll say they’re aheadf of schedule, or thered were more synergies.
It certainly coulxd be faster in an industrylike this.” The jobs most at risk are positionse that don’t deal with consumers, including functions such as accounting and possibly marketing, sources Overland Park-based Embarq’s efficiency measurees already have included local job When the company spun off from in 2006, it had 4,50o local employees. Now, after its logistics unit was pared off earlierthis year, Embarq employs abougt 2,800 in the area. With CenturyTel being much smallerf — roughly 1,300 corporate employees and half Embarq’s revenue it will have to retain a certain percentagwe ofEmbarq employees, said Chris Kuehl, managing directodr of .
But the current economic climate increases the urgency to cut saidTom Tilley, principal of . “As long as it doesn’tf interfere with the they’re probably going to try to realized that savings as quicklyas possible,” he Embarq’s first-quarter revenue fell 7.5 percent to $1.3 3 billion, less than analysts’ estimates. Earnings dropped 18 percent to $174 million, though without a loss from the sale of itslogisticsa business, earnings beat analysts’ predictions. CenturyTel’s first-quarter revenure was $636.4 million, down 2 percent. Earningss were $67 million, down 25 percent. The companies have revealedr few post-merger employment details.
But the top two tiers of managemenr havebeen named, and the third tier is nearlyh complete, CenturyTel spokeswoman Annmarie Sartoer said. Those managers then will evaluate whicuh positions are needed and which will need to some employees may retire or leave forother “As in most cases of consolidatio n with two separate companies, ther e is some inevitable job overlap and operational redundanct that we’ll have to work through,” she said. “Right now, we’re not quite sure what that will look She saidshe didn’y know whether the recessionb would speed integration but thinks it unlikely because of the complexity.
Combining all customer into the CenturyTel billingh system easily could take a year and a The headquarters will bein La. — CenturyTel’s currentf base — though CenturyTel doesn’t keep all corporate functionx there. Benefits and compensation are handledin Wash., Sartor said. “It’s not completelyu geographically driven,” she said. “We’rd going to keep a presence inOverlande Park. It’s highly feasibl e and likely that there will be corporate functionss not donein Louisiana.” Vice president or highedr positions probably will move or be eliminated, said John Hense Jr.
, a principal of Kansas City investment banking firm Sometimes, executivees will look at buying a local business or findintg another job that would let them stay in the Tilley said. But with the tough economy, more may be willinb to move. Sartor said it was too early to know what wouldc be donewith Embarq’s real estate The company recently vacated a 100,000-square-foo t space on the Sprint campus in Overlandc Park, and in November, it gave notice that it may terminat its lease of an additional 190,000 squarr feet in two years.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Holiday food health: Watch for raw meat juice, leftover storage - Federal Way Mirror
azajir.wordpress.com
Holiday food health: Watch for raw meat juice, leftover storage Federal Way Mirror The state Department of Health (DOH) released a few tips for Washington residents on holiday food preparation and storage, citing the fact that "each year, hundreds of people in Washington become ill and some are hospitalized because food they ate at a ... Holiday food safety tips |
Thursday, December 22, 2011
5 Who Thrive: Aloha Salads grows by staying true to its mission - Pacific Business News (Honolulu):
elzeyfirekuut1795.blogspot.com
The signature salad dressings are among the reasons forthe company’e success. Aloha Salads continues to thrive, despite the weak economy, and is expectedx to gross morethan $1 millio this year. A third location is set to open in Juneat , followe d by another in the by There are plans to franchise Aloha Salads And a California food group has agree d to bottle four of the six salad dressings for retail distribution. The Lufranos’ success is due to a numbert of factors. They open storesa only in high-profile locations and form business partnerships withtrustec people. They also stick to their core mission, which is to server quick, healthy foods using local ingredients.
Now theif goal is to expand strategically in anticipationb ofthe economy’s rebound in 2010. “We have to continuwe reinventing ourselves to keep things fresh for customersw and attractnew customers, as well,” Chrisa said. “We’re not going to rush in. We’rde going to make sure we make the right decisionsmoving forward.” Careful growth has been the company’ss philosophy from the start.
In Decembed 2004, after seven years away from home, the Lufranoes returned to Hawaiifrom Chicago, wherw she was a patent lawyer and he worked in For more than a year, they scouted potentiap store locations on Oahu and experimented with recipes at Sara’zs parents’ home in Kahala. The couple opened their first Alohza Salads in May 2006 ina 440-square-foog space in the , using personap capital and a $50,000 loan guaranteed by the U.S. Smalkl Business Administration. The company’s creative saladxs — “Aloha Mediterranean,” “Maui Mozzarella” and “Thde Goddess” — instantly drew loyal customers.
One customed was local contractorFreddie Franco, owner of BEK whose building credits include Waikiki DFS Galleria, Neima n Marcus and Tony Auto-plex. He struck up a friendshipo with the Lufranos and two yearws later helped designAloha Salads’ second locationm in . The mall store, which openes in March 2008, briefly experienced a double-digit drop in salesz after health-food chain Whole Foods opened nearby latelast year. Saless have climbed since then but are slightlygbelow target, Chris said.
now an equal partner in the company, provided the capitap to build the Kapolei location set to opennext “Kapolei should be really good because there’ss nothing out there,” he said. “We’vre been getting lots of calls askinhgwhen we’re going to build in their The 1,200-square-foot store is uniqued in that it will have wine pairings with saladws and a mezzanine level for dine-inh customers, Franco said. As Aloha Salades continues to expand, the ability to quicklu change menu items to fit tastes willbe important. For instance, roast beef sandwichess that did not sell well in the Kailua store have been replaceed withpastrami sandwiches.
Periodically introducinv creative menu items also is crucial to This month, the Kahala Mall location began serving omelettes, organic coffees, fruit bowls and fresh-squeezedr juices. The response has been and there are plans to servse breakfast inother locations. “Wes really care about the food that goes out to Sara said. “People get used to what they’rwe eating and don’t realize there coulfd be so manygood options.
”
The signature salad dressings are among the reasons forthe company’e success. Aloha Salads continues to thrive, despite the weak economy, and is expectedx to gross morethan $1 millio this year. A third location is set to open in Juneat , followe d by another in the by There are plans to franchise Aloha Salads And a California food group has agree d to bottle four of the six salad dressings for retail distribution. The Lufranos’ success is due to a numbert of factors. They open storesa only in high-profile locations and form business partnerships withtrustec people. They also stick to their core mission, which is to server quick, healthy foods using local ingredients.
Now theif goal is to expand strategically in anticipationb ofthe economy’s rebound in 2010. “We have to continuwe reinventing ourselves to keep things fresh for customersw and attractnew customers, as well,” Chrisa said. “We’re not going to rush in. We’rde going to make sure we make the right decisionsmoving forward.” Careful growth has been the company’ss philosophy from the start.
In Decembed 2004, after seven years away from home, the Lufranoes returned to Hawaiifrom Chicago, wherw she was a patent lawyer and he worked in For more than a year, they scouted potentiap store locations on Oahu and experimented with recipes at Sara’zs parents’ home in Kahala. The couple opened their first Alohza Salads in May 2006 ina 440-square-foog space in the , using personap capital and a $50,000 loan guaranteed by the U.S. Smalkl Business Administration. The company’s creative saladxs — “Aloha Mediterranean,” “Maui Mozzarella” and “Thde Goddess” — instantly drew loyal customers.
One customed was local contractorFreddie Franco, owner of BEK whose building credits include Waikiki DFS Galleria, Neima n Marcus and Tony Auto-plex. He struck up a friendshipo with the Lufranos and two yearws later helped designAloha Salads’ second locationm in . The mall store, which openes in March 2008, briefly experienced a double-digit drop in salesz after health-food chain Whole Foods opened nearby latelast year. Saless have climbed since then but are slightlygbelow target, Chris said.
now an equal partner in the company, provided the capitap to build the Kapolei location set to opennext “Kapolei should be really good because there’ss nothing out there,” he said. “We’vre been getting lots of calls askinhgwhen we’re going to build in their The 1,200-square-foot store is uniqued in that it will have wine pairings with saladws and a mezzanine level for dine-inh customers, Franco said. As Aloha Salades continues to expand, the ability to quicklu change menu items to fit tastes willbe important. For instance, roast beef sandwichess that did not sell well in the Kailua store have been replaceed withpastrami sandwiches.
Periodically introducinv creative menu items also is crucial to This month, the Kahala Mall location began serving omelettes, organic coffees, fruit bowls and fresh-squeezedr juices. The response has been and there are plans to servse breakfast inother locations. “Wes really care about the food that goes out to Sara said. “People get used to what they’rwe eating and don’t realize there coulfd be so manygood options.
”
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Sanusi's fear of injunctions - The Nation Newspaper
qalymeled.wordpress.com
Sanusi's fear of injunctions The Nation Newspaper By Our Reporter 8 hours 39 minutes ago GOVERNOR of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has observed that the unrestrained granting of interlocutory and ex-parte injunctions by the courts is hampering the country's economic ... |
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Macerich, other landlords file objections in Eddie Bauer bankruptcy - Los Angeles Business from bizjournals:
xoqylyjibo.wordpress.com
Eddie Bauer Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: EBHI) wants a judger in U.S. bankruptcy court in Delaware to set a bid deadlin of July 14 and a July 16 date to auctiojn offthe retailer’s assets. But Macerich and the threes other landlords want more time to evaluate anyproposed deal. “The landlords did not creat debtors’ financial maladies, and shouldf not bear the consequences of this bankruptcy througn loss of theircontractual rights,” Macerich and the other landlord s said in a court filing Thursday. Eddie Bauetr filed for Chapter 11 bankruptc y protectionJune 17.
The New York private equity firm has made an offerd to buyEddie Bauer’a assets for $202 million, subjec t to an auction and bankruptcy courrt approval. CCMP has said it has agreee to keep most ofEddiwe Bauer’s 371 stores if it were the winninvg bidder. But the company said it would close an undisclosed number of underperforming leases space to Eddie Bauer atin Wash., and Portland’s Washingtojn Square. Also objecting in the bankruptcy case are Eddie Bauee landlords SouthgateMall Associates, The Forbes Co. and Collectively the four companieds lease space to 20 Eddie Bauer storese in14 states.
Eddie Bauer Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: EBHI) wants a judger in U.S. bankruptcy court in Delaware to set a bid deadlin of July 14 and a July 16 date to auctiojn offthe retailer’s assets. But Macerich and the threes other landlords want more time to evaluate anyproposed deal. “The landlords did not creat debtors’ financial maladies, and shouldf not bear the consequences of this bankruptcy througn loss of theircontractual rights,” Macerich and the other landlord s said in a court filing Thursday. Eddie Bauetr filed for Chapter 11 bankruptc y protectionJune 17.
The New York private equity firm has made an offerd to buyEddie Bauer’a assets for $202 million, subjec t to an auction and bankruptcy courrt approval. CCMP has said it has agreee to keep most ofEddiwe Bauer’s 371 stores if it were the winninvg bidder. But the company said it would close an undisclosed number of underperforming leases space to Eddie Bauer atin Wash., and Portland’s Washingtojn Square. Also objecting in the bankruptcy case are Eddie Bauee landlords SouthgateMall Associates, The Forbes Co. and Collectively the four companieds lease space to 20 Eddie Bauer storese in14 states.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Keller Manufacturing reports $1.2 million loss for 2007 - Business First of Columbus:
obofym.wordpress.com
million for 2007. In a news Keller (Pink Sheets: KMFI) said the loss was a resulrt ofa $1.5 million chargd related to the company's pensiob plan, which Keller sought to terminat in April 2006 because it no longer could afford to fund the In July, the federal assumed responsibility for the pensions of 477 formert Keller employees. And in December, the company reported that it paid $400,00o0 to the PBGC to settle all of its liabilities relatedr to thepension plan.
After closiny plants in Corydon andNew Salisbury, and making an unsuccessful attempt to sell imported furniture under the Keller brand, the compan y decided in January 2005 to exit the furnitured business amidst lagging sales and increasing competition from foreign In January 2006, the 123-year-old businesz bought an 85 percent stake in Louisville-basecd for about $1.14 million in cash. Paragon makesz custom steel and fiberglass residential entry andstormk doors. Despite posting a net loss for the Keller reported that operating income increasedfto $77,331, compared with a loss of $16,391 in 2006. It was the first time the company recognized operatinh incomesince 2000.
Sales in 2007 increased to $4.7 million from $4.3 milliobn a year earlier. Kelleralso announced that it has acquires the manufacturing assets of stormm door maker Medlin CustomWoodworking Inc. The releaswe did not disclose detailsabout Medlin's operations but said Keller paid "lessz than $100,000" for the
million for 2007. In a news Keller (Pink Sheets: KMFI) said the loss was a resulrt ofa $1.5 million chargd related to the company's pensiob plan, which Keller sought to terminat in April 2006 because it no longer could afford to fund the In July, the federal assumed responsibility for the pensions of 477 formert Keller employees. And in December, the company reported that it paid $400,00o0 to the PBGC to settle all of its liabilities relatedr to thepension plan.
After closiny plants in Corydon andNew Salisbury, and making an unsuccessful attempt to sell imported furniture under the Keller brand, the compan y decided in January 2005 to exit the furnitured business amidst lagging sales and increasing competition from foreign In January 2006, the 123-year-old businesz bought an 85 percent stake in Louisville-basecd for about $1.14 million in cash. Paragon makesz custom steel and fiberglass residential entry andstormk doors. Despite posting a net loss for the Keller reported that operating income increasedfto $77,331, compared with a loss of $16,391 in 2006. It was the first time the company recognized operatinh incomesince 2000.
Sales in 2007 increased to $4.7 million from $4.3 milliobn a year earlier. Kelleralso announced that it has acquires the manufacturing assets of stormm door maker Medlin CustomWoodworking Inc. The releaswe did not disclose detailsabout Medlin's operations but said Keller paid "lessz than $100,000" for the
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Travel + Leisure lauds Denver
avaohev.blogspot.com
Travel + Leisure’s annual poll is determinedf by reader inputon cruises, airlines, travel companies and top cities to visit. Top winnere this year included Udaipur, India, as the world’s top city and the Bushman s Kloof in the Cedar Mountains of South Africs asthe world’s best hotel. Denver’s is the only Coloradoo facility to be named as oneof America’es top 50 large city hotels, a designation reserved for hotela with at least 100 rooms. The hotel at 1100 14th Streetg was listedat No. 46. Hotel Teatrol General Manager David Craig said he was very proud of the honofr bestowed uponhis 110-room luxury hotelo that includes Restaurant Kevin Taylor.
What set this awardr apart from others it has won was thejudging panel, he “Ultimately, the thing that makew me feel the best is it comesz from reader polls. So it comes from our and those are the people we are tryingv to impress the Craigsaid Monday. Meanwhile, a half-dozen Colorado most located inski towns, were listed among the top 50 resortzs in the U.S. and Canada. Thoses are: Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch in BeaverfCreek (No. 8), Littlew Nell in Aspen (No. 9), St. Regis Resort in Aspemn (No. 24), Sonnenalp Resort of Vail (No. 28), The Broadmoord in Colorado Springs (No. 31), and Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort andSpa (No. 39).
, which is base d in Denver, also received a citation, being listed eighth among the top 10domestic airlines, down two spots from 2008 in the magazine’s Virgin America claimed the top of the list in 2009. “Certainlt we are pleased to be recognize d on a national scalelike this,” Frontiedr corporate communications director Steve Snyder said. “We have workedf extremely hard over the last year to make sure our customerw havea safe, high-quality, affordable product and a clear choiced in what their travepl experience looks like.” The magazine’s awardss issue is slated to hit newsstandss on July 24.
Travel + Leisure’s annual poll is determinedf by reader inputon cruises, airlines, travel companies and top cities to visit. Top winnere this year included Udaipur, India, as the world’s top city and the Bushman s Kloof in the Cedar Mountains of South Africs asthe world’s best hotel. Denver’s is the only Coloradoo facility to be named as oneof America’es top 50 large city hotels, a designation reserved for hotela with at least 100 rooms. The hotel at 1100 14th Streetg was listedat No. 46. Hotel Teatrol General Manager David Craig said he was very proud of the honofr bestowed uponhis 110-room luxury hotelo that includes Restaurant Kevin Taylor.
What set this awardr apart from others it has won was thejudging panel, he “Ultimately, the thing that makew me feel the best is it comesz from reader polls. So it comes from our and those are the people we are tryingv to impress the Craigsaid Monday. Meanwhile, a half-dozen Colorado most located inski towns, were listed among the top 50 resortzs in the U.S. and Canada. Thoses are: Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch in BeaverfCreek (No. 8), Littlew Nell in Aspen (No. 9), St. Regis Resort in Aspemn (No. 24), Sonnenalp Resort of Vail (No. 28), The Broadmoord in Colorado Springs (No. 31), and Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort andSpa (No. 39).
, which is base d in Denver, also received a citation, being listed eighth among the top 10domestic airlines, down two spots from 2008 in the magazine’s Virgin America claimed the top of the list in 2009. “Certainlt we are pleased to be recognize d on a national scalelike this,” Frontiedr corporate communications director Steve Snyder said. “We have workedf extremely hard over the last year to make sure our customerw havea safe, high-quality, affordable product and a clear choiced in what their travepl experience looks like.” The magazine’s awardss issue is slated to hit newsstandss on July 24.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Missouri angel credit bill fails, but effort will take wing again - bizjournals:
ogarawo.wordpress.com
As soon as the summer, they hope for opportunitiews at legislative committee meetings to pitcnh an angel tax credit program even greaterd than the one legislators dropped one on parwith Kansas, said Mark director of government and busines s relations for the . “That’s the opportunitt we see exists now,” he said. “Thered are a number of other supporters around thestates — we’re trying to develop a coalition (of states angel investor groups).
” Without the credit, Missouri has been at a disadvantagw in attracting new businesses and new particularly on the state line, Dickey The Missouri measure was dropped alonb with other new tax credit programs late in the session. It wouled have provided a 30 percent angel investor tax credit for thefirsf $500,000 invested in a company. Dickey said proponents would like to reach equal footintg with Kansas by offerinbg a 50 percent credi for thefirst $1 milliobn invested in a company. John president of Eastern Jackson County angel investorgroup , testifierd during the session in favor of a credit.
“I thinj it’s reasonable for an entrepreneur to be able to locatee their company where they want to withouy being forced to bygovernment policy,” he A credit, particularly one as high as in also could help stimulate the state’s economy, Carlson The angel investor credit in Kansas has proved effectivw at landing young tech Greg Kratofil Jr., a lawyer at , said he’s set up five or six companiex this year in Kansas rather than Missouri to try to take advantagd of the Kansas credits.
“Wheh somebody comes to me and asks me whered should they set up a newtech startup, Kansads or Missouri, I always say Kansas because of the ability to take advantagr of the angel investor tax Kratofil said. “It’s extremely helpful for early-stage companies to attract the type of angeol capital that they need to take the next step from friends and famil y money to moreinstitutionall funds.” A Missouri tax credift would need to at least equal the one in Kansae to make a difference in this he said.
As soon as the summer, they hope for opportunitiews at legislative committee meetings to pitcnh an angel tax credit program even greaterd than the one legislators dropped one on parwith Kansas, said Mark director of government and busines s relations for the . “That’s the opportunitt we see exists now,” he said. “Thered are a number of other supporters around thestates — we’re trying to develop a coalition (of states angel investor groups).
” Without the credit, Missouri has been at a disadvantagw in attracting new businesses and new particularly on the state line, Dickey The Missouri measure was dropped alonb with other new tax credit programs late in the session. It wouled have provided a 30 percent angel investor tax credit for thefirsf $500,000 invested in a company. Dickey said proponents would like to reach equal footintg with Kansas by offerinbg a 50 percent credi for thefirst $1 milliobn invested in a company. John president of Eastern Jackson County angel investorgroup , testifierd during the session in favor of a credit.
“I thinj it’s reasonable for an entrepreneur to be able to locatee their company where they want to withouy being forced to bygovernment policy,” he A credit, particularly one as high as in also could help stimulate the state’s economy, Carlson The angel investor credit in Kansas has proved effectivw at landing young tech Greg Kratofil Jr., a lawyer at , said he’s set up five or six companiex this year in Kansas rather than Missouri to try to take advantagd of the Kansas credits.
“Wheh somebody comes to me and asks me whered should they set up a newtech startup, Kansads or Missouri, I always say Kansas because of the ability to take advantagr of the angel investor tax Kratofil said. “It’s extremely helpful for early-stage companies to attract the type of angeol capital that they need to take the next step from friends and famil y money to moreinstitutionall funds.” A Missouri tax credift would need to at least equal the one in Kansae to make a difference in this he said.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Metro plans to build new bus facility - Business First of Louisville:
bojony.wordpress.com
The facility will house 114 Metro but if the land isfullyh developed, up to 250 buses will be able to live The new bus facility, expected to be ready as early as 2012, will be built at a site knowh as D.C. Village. Metrp wants the facility to meet environmental standards that would enabld it to receive a Silver rating undetrthe U.S. Green Building Council’ program for Leadership in Energy andEnvironmentalp Design. The new facility will replace the Southeasternbbus garage, which was sold for $69.25 milliojn and vacated last year because of its closenes s to Nationals Park. The land at D.C. situated at Shepherd Parkway and BluePlainws Drive, was appraised at $8.05 million.
The sale'es $6.45 million price tag representsa the appraisal value minus the additional operating costsof $1.6 million incurred by Metro for moving the buses. Buses that had been runningh out of the Southeastern bus garage have been dispersed to other garages in the region at an additionaoloperating cost. Until the new facility is completed, the additionak operating costs for the busews will be fundedfrom Metro’s operating reserve account, whicb was created from the proceeds of the Southeasterbn bus garage sale. The final sale of propertyh must first be approved bythe D.C. Council, which will considert it at a June2 meeting.
The facility will house 114 Metro but if the land isfullyh developed, up to 250 buses will be able to live The new bus facility, expected to be ready as early as 2012, will be built at a site knowh as D.C. Village. Metrp wants the facility to meet environmental standards that would enabld it to receive a Silver rating undetrthe U.S. Green Building Council’ program for Leadership in Energy andEnvironmentalp Design. The new facility will replace the Southeasternbbus garage, which was sold for $69.25 milliojn and vacated last year because of its closenes s to Nationals Park. The land at D.C. situated at Shepherd Parkway and BluePlainws Drive, was appraised at $8.05 million.
The sale'es $6.45 million price tag representsa the appraisal value minus the additional operating costsof $1.6 million incurred by Metro for moving the buses. Buses that had been runningh out of the Southeastern bus garage have been dispersed to other garages in the region at an additionaoloperating cost. Until the new facility is completed, the additionak operating costs for the busews will be fundedfrom Metro’s operating reserve account, whicb was created from the proceeds of the Southeasterbn bus garage sale. The final sale of propertyh must first be approved bythe D.C. Council, which will considert it at a June2 meeting.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Kepler Finds A Goldilocks Zone Planet - Aviation Week
loxezop.wordpress.com
Telegraph.co.uk | Kepler Finds A Goldilocks Zone Planet Aviation Week Scientists analyzing data from NASA's Kepler extra-solar planet-finding mission have confirmed their first Earth-like planet orbiting in the habitable zone of a star 600 light years from Earth, while almost doubling the number of ... Alien planets get pigeonholed „Earth 2.0†does exist! Earth-like planet found in distant sun's habitable zone |
Sunday, December 4, 2011
State may expand I-95 express toll lanes from Fort Lauderdale to Boca Raton - Sun-Sentinel
belyaevostapuki.blogspot.com
State may expand I-95 express toll lanes from Fort Lauderdale to Boca Raton Sun-Sentinel A 13-mile stretch of Interstate 95 between Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton may gain another lane in each direction in five years. But you'll likely have to pay to use it. The Florida Department of Transportation has ... |
Friday, December 2, 2011
Spending on Bell shows Marlins are serious - CBSSports.com (blog)
opexibu.wordpress.com
Spending on Bell shows Marlins are serious CBSSports.com (blog) You don't spend $9 million a year on a closer if you're not serious about trying to win. And the Marlins just gave Heath Bell $27 million for the next three years. If it's their only big move of the winter, it makes no sense. But if it's their only big ... |
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Report examines building permits granted in U.S. metro areas - Phoenix Business Journal:
jaqezuweg.blogspot.com
Some are studying data and asking themselves questionssuch as: Whered did we go wrong? How can we learn from this When will the market change ? Some of them, including Chairmaj Steve Hilton and Arizona Presidentg Pat Moroney, are studying The Frank an analysis of building permits issued in 110 U.S. metropolitan statistical areas. The reportr was published this spring byFrank Owens, a Scottsdale-basesd executive recruiter who has specialized in the home-building industrh for 25 years. He stil l handles executive staffing, but the economy and personak interestsadded focus.
“I enjoy data, and you’ve got to know your business well to talk intelligently about what is said Owens, who started compiling various housing reports three yearzs ago. “I put it on my (Web) and the builders just loved the information.” That led him to examind historical trends of buildingpermits issued, particularly in the Phoenixx and Tucson markets, but he was unable to track data preceding the 1983 U.S. Censue through Internet sources. He wanted to traced data back to 1960 for multiple markets across the That necessitated spending many hours last summer at the Arizonas StateUniversity library. “It was an enormous job.
The Censuse (Bureau) would change format and tables, but the peopler at ASU were fabulous,” Owens said. “Too my knowledge, this information hasn’t been compiled in one document anywhere.” Hilton concurred. “There are people who provide some ofthat data, but no one has it to the degre e of completeness that Frank has done it over such a long he said. With all of the information he gleaned by the end of Owens published the data intofour U.S. regional East, West, North and South. The volumees sell for $495 each, or two for The report will beupdatee yearly, probably by the end of January, when Owensd gets the data from the Census Bureau.
“Whatf is cool is when we have the 2009 that will represent 50 yearesof permits,” he said. While The Frank Report is driven largely by trendsw inbuilding permits, other local research firms provide an amalganm of housing-related data. One of the longest-operating locap housing data firms is RL Brown Housing which has been churninv out reports sincethe mid-1980s. It focuses on monthly analysiswand year-to-year comparisons of new home closings, permitting and resale in the Phoenix metro area. It has a proprietarhy software program called Magic data analysisthat co-owner Greg Berged describes as the “golc standard” for home builders.
A more recen t entry into the housing data industryis . Owner Jim Belfiorw said he spends 50 percent of his time in the fieldxanalyzing what’s going on beyond statistics. “We spend time with builder representatives, developers, appraisers and auditors in an effort to understanxd the marketsmore thoroughly,” he said. Owen said he will continue to use The Frano Report as a tool to augmenty his executive search He feels that since he provides data from acrosdthe country, Valley home builders can get a leg up on the nationao scene. So far, he has not had to advertisee his product toget sales. So, what are some things Owenz discovered fromhis research?
Not since the 1960s have all U.S. metropolitan aread been hit by a housing downturn at thesame • Migration patterns from the Northeasrt and Midwest are predominantly to the rather than to the west, as many believe. Houston had the longest span of time withoutf a decline inbuildingf permits. That metro area saw an increase in buildinh permits every year from 1987through 2006. • The Phoenidx metro area had never experienced more than four consecutivw years of declines in building permiteuntil now. Permit declines startec in 2005 and continue tofall dramatically.
Some are studying data and asking themselves questionssuch as: Whered did we go wrong? How can we learn from this When will the market change ? Some of them, including Chairmaj Steve Hilton and Arizona Presidentg Pat Moroney, are studying The Frank an analysis of building permits issued in 110 U.S. metropolitan statistical areas. The reportr was published this spring byFrank Owens, a Scottsdale-basesd executive recruiter who has specialized in the home-building industrh for 25 years. He stil l handles executive staffing, but the economy and personak interestsadded focus.
“I enjoy data, and you’ve got to know your business well to talk intelligently about what is said Owens, who started compiling various housing reports three yearzs ago. “I put it on my (Web) and the builders just loved the information.” That led him to examind historical trends of buildingpermits issued, particularly in the Phoenixx and Tucson markets, but he was unable to track data preceding the 1983 U.S. Censue through Internet sources. He wanted to traced data back to 1960 for multiple markets across the That necessitated spending many hours last summer at the Arizonas StateUniversity library. “It was an enormous job.
The Censuse (Bureau) would change format and tables, but the peopler at ASU were fabulous,” Owens said. “Too my knowledge, this information hasn’t been compiled in one document anywhere.” Hilton concurred. “There are people who provide some ofthat data, but no one has it to the degre e of completeness that Frank has done it over such a long he said. With all of the information he gleaned by the end of Owens published the data intofour U.S. regional East, West, North and South. The volumees sell for $495 each, or two for The report will beupdatee yearly, probably by the end of January, when Owensd gets the data from the Census Bureau.
“Whatf is cool is when we have the 2009 that will represent 50 yearesof permits,” he said. While The Frank Report is driven largely by trendsw inbuilding permits, other local research firms provide an amalganm of housing-related data. One of the longest-operating locap housing data firms is RL Brown Housing which has been churninv out reports sincethe mid-1980s. It focuses on monthly analysiswand year-to-year comparisons of new home closings, permitting and resale in the Phoenix metro area. It has a proprietarhy software program called Magic data analysisthat co-owner Greg Berged describes as the “golc standard” for home builders.
A more recen t entry into the housing data industryis . Owner Jim Belfiorw said he spends 50 percent of his time in the fieldxanalyzing what’s going on beyond statistics. “We spend time with builder representatives, developers, appraisers and auditors in an effort to understanxd the marketsmore thoroughly,” he said. Owen said he will continue to use The Frano Report as a tool to augmenty his executive search He feels that since he provides data from acrosdthe country, Valley home builders can get a leg up on the nationao scene. So far, he has not had to advertisee his product toget sales. So, what are some things Owenz discovered fromhis research?
Not since the 1960s have all U.S. metropolitan aread been hit by a housing downturn at thesame • Migration patterns from the Northeasrt and Midwest are predominantly to the rather than to the west, as many believe. Houston had the longest span of time withoutf a decline inbuildingf permits. That metro area saw an increase in buildinh permits every year from 1987through 2006. • The Phoenidx metro area had never experienced more than four consecutivw years of declines in building permiteuntil now. Permit declines startec in 2005 and continue tofall dramatically.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Barracuda Networks makes $188M buyout offer for Sourcefire Inc. - Baltimore Business Journal:
iwegasely.wordpress.com
Barracuda disclosed its all-cash offert to Sourcefire (NASDAQ: FIRE) late Thursday. The offere is a 13 perceng premiumover Sourcefire's closing pricd on May 23, and a 16 percent premiumn over Sourcefire's average trading price for the past 60 Barracuda said. Sourcefire has about 25 million outstanding making the deal worthroughlhy $188 million. Columbia-based Sourcefire said in a statement Friday morning that its board had reviewed the proposed dealand "haes concluded that the proposal is not in the best interestds of Sourcefire and its Sourcefire CEO Wayne Jackson recently stepped and the firm has said it is narrowinhg down candidates for a new CEO.
Sourcefires is committed to maximizing shareholder value by growinh the business and making a strong transition to anew CEO, its statemeny said. Sourcefire officials could not immediately be reachedfor comment. Aske d Friday whether Barracuda would continue to pursue aSourcefire deal, Barracudaw CEO Dean Drako said he couldn't comment on any specificx plans. "We are big fans of Drako said. "We realize they've stumbles a bit on the business execution but not on thetechnology Together, we could make a formidable long-term successful player in the world of information That would be a good thingg for everybody.
" Privately held Barracuda which provides e-mail and Web security, said in the statemeny detailing its proposal that it is "uniquelu positioned to address the challengex that have impacted [Sourcefire's] performance and stocok price." Sourcefire went public in March 2007, after a deal to sell to Israelk software firm fell apart amid regulator y concerns. Sourcefire's stock price has declined by abouf half since the initialpublic California-based Barracuda released a letter it sent to Sourcefire'as board May 27, saying the firm expectec to be able to pull off the proposed deal without any financingb troubles or major regulatory pitfalls.
Barracudaa also said in its lette r that itbelieves Sourcefire's inaction in dealingf with the possibility of litigation by a company called has affected Sourcefire'x stock price. Barracuda had said in news releasexs earlier this year that Tren d Microclaimed Barracuda's use of open-source software product ClamAV infringed a Trend Micro patent. Sourcefire owns ClamAV, which helps protect computerr systemsfrom viruses. Barracuda filer suit in federal court last year seekingt to invalidateTrend Micro's patent on a gateway antivirus scanning technology.
Trend Micro filed a clainm with the in November against Barracuda and another firm over the Sourcefireis well-known in the open-source community for Snort, a softwarw program that ferrets out hacking attempts and othet potential security breaches. Sourcefire shares closed up 15 percen tto $7.64 Friday.
Barracuda disclosed its all-cash offert to Sourcefire (NASDAQ: FIRE) late Thursday. The offere is a 13 perceng premiumover Sourcefire's closing pricd on May 23, and a 16 percent premiumn over Sourcefire's average trading price for the past 60 Barracuda said. Sourcefire has about 25 million outstanding making the deal worthroughlhy $188 million. Columbia-based Sourcefire said in a statement Friday morning that its board had reviewed the proposed dealand "haes concluded that the proposal is not in the best interestds of Sourcefire and its Sourcefire CEO Wayne Jackson recently stepped and the firm has said it is narrowinhg down candidates for a new CEO.
Sourcefires is committed to maximizing shareholder value by growinh the business and making a strong transition to anew CEO, its statemeny said. Sourcefire officials could not immediately be reachedfor comment. Aske d Friday whether Barracuda would continue to pursue aSourcefire deal, Barracudaw CEO Dean Drako said he couldn't comment on any specificx plans. "We are big fans of Drako said. "We realize they've stumbles a bit on the business execution but not on thetechnology Together, we could make a formidable long-term successful player in the world of information That would be a good thingg for everybody.
" Privately held Barracuda which provides e-mail and Web security, said in the statemeny detailing its proposal that it is "uniquelu positioned to address the challengex that have impacted [Sourcefire's] performance and stocok price." Sourcefire went public in March 2007, after a deal to sell to Israelk software firm fell apart amid regulator y concerns. Sourcefire's stock price has declined by abouf half since the initialpublic California-based Barracuda released a letter it sent to Sourcefire'as board May 27, saying the firm expectec to be able to pull off the proposed deal without any financingb troubles or major regulatory pitfalls.
Barracudaa also said in its lette r that itbelieves Sourcefire's inaction in dealingf with the possibility of litigation by a company called has affected Sourcefire'x stock price. Barracuda had said in news releasexs earlier this year that Tren d Microclaimed Barracuda's use of open-source software product ClamAV infringed a Trend Micro patent. Sourcefire owns ClamAV, which helps protect computerr systemsfrom viruses. Barracuda filer suit in federal court last year seekingt to invalidateTrend Micro's patent on a gateway antivirus scanning technology.
Trend Micro filed a clainm with the in November against Barracuda and another firm over the Sourcefireis well-known in the open-source community for Snort, a softwarw program that ferrets out hacking attempts and othet potential security breaches. Sourcefire shares closed up 15 percen tto $7.64 Friday.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
'A Dangerous Method,' 'Melancholia' take cues from Richard Wagner - Los Angeles Times
fixyruw.wordpress.com
Ology | 'A Dangerous Method,' 'Melancholia' take cues from Richard Wagner Los Angeles Times In the case of two recent films -- David Cronenberg's "A Dangerous Method" and Lars von Trier's "Melancholia" -- Wagner pervades the scores as well as the story lines, informing the psychology of the characters while adding crucial sonic subtext. ... Movie review: A Dangerous Method Michael Fassbender Talks A DANGEROUS METHOD, ROBOCOP, and AT SWIM-TWO BIRDS A Dangerous Method |
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Education News - View Education business News Across the US
viktorevaikubuwo.blogspot.com
| | | U.S. Departmenty of Labor | | | | | | | | | | | | Universityh of Florida | | | University of Kentuckyg | University of Louisville | | Universityy of Massachusetts atBoston | | Universitg of Michigan | University of Minnesota | | | | | | Universit of North Carolina System | University of Notre Dame | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Wichitsa State University | | | | | |
| | | U.S. Departmenty of Labor | | | | | | | | | | | | Universityh of Florida | | | University of Kentuckyg | University of Louisville | | Universityy of Massachusetts atBoston | | Universitg of Michigan | University of Minnesota | | | | | | Universit of North Carolina System | University of Notre Dame | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Wichitsa State University | | | | | |
Monday, November 21, 2011
April construction spending rises - Pacific Business News (Honolulu):
ocybakenos.wordpress.com
percent in April, the biggest one-month increase sincr August 2008, and was led by a jump in both private andresidential construction. A Bloomberg survey of 45 economists had projected a medianj dropof 1.5 percent. The ’ report from the Censua Bureau says spending on privats construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rateof $657.32 billion, up 1.4 percent from the revisedr March estimate of $648.23 billion. Residential construction rose 0.7 percenty to a seasonally adjusted annual rateof $249.2 billion. Nonresidential construction rose 1.8 percent to an annuall rate of $408.
2 Total public construction fellin April, althougu spending on highway projectss rose nearly 1 percent from the previous month. A separatwe report from the Commerce Department last week showex constructionof single-family homes rose 2.8 perceng in April, the second consecutive monthlg increase. Gains in single-familhy construction were overwhelmed by a 46 percent drop in apartmenr andcondo buildings, bringing total housingt starts down 13 percent in April.
percent in April, the biggest one-month increase sincr August 2008, and was led by a jump in both private andresidential construction. A Bloomberg survey of 45 economists had projected a medianj dropof 1.5 percent. The ’ report from the Censua Bureau says spending on privats construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rateof $657.32 billion, up 1.4 percent from the revisedr March estimate of $648.23 billion. Residential construction rose 0.7 percenty to a seasonally adjusted annual rateof $249.2 billion. Nonresidential construction rose 1.8 percent to an annuall rate of $408.
2 Total public construction fellin April, althougu spending on highway projectss rose nearly 1 percent from the previous month. A separatwe report from the Commerce Department last week showex constructionof single-family homes rose 2.8 perceng in April, the second consecutive monthlg increase. Gains in single-familhy construction were overwhelmed by a 46 percent drop in apartmenr andcondo buildings, bringing total housingt starts down 13 percent in April.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Ivy Tech system to establish call center to reach prospective students - Business First of Louisville:
xszeyluje.blogspot.com
The statewide community colleg e system has signeda two-year agreement with The , an Indianapolis-bases communications marketing company, to operate the call center, said Kelluy Lucas, director of marketing and publicx relations for Ivy Tech. The Jackson Groulp will operatea five-employees call center in Indianapolis to fieldd calls on behalf of Ivy Tech, Lucas Call center employees will be trainex to answer basic questions abourt the college system, Lucas They will send information about Ivy Tech to prospectivd students through the mail and e-mail. Abouty 10,000 Indiana residents each month request information aboutIvy Tech’s 23 campuses.
Becauses much of the information will be sent outvia e-mailk rather than through the United States Postal outsourcing the fulfillment operations is expected to save Ivy Tech more than $100,0090 a year in postal charges, Lucas Ivy Tech operates a Southern Indiana campus off Interstate 65 in
The statewide community colleg e system has signeda two-year agreement with The , an Indianapolis-bases communications marketing company, to operate the call center, said Kelluy Lucas, director of marketing and publicx relations for Ivy Tech. The Jackson Groulp will operatea five-employees call center in Indianapolis to fieldd calls on behalf of Ivy Tech, Lucas Call center employees will be trainex to answer basic questions abourt the college system, Lucas They will send information about Ivy Tech to prospectivd students through the mail and e-mail. Abouty 10,000 Indiana residents each month request information aboutIvy Tech’s 23 campuses.
Becauses much of the information will be sent outvia e-mailk rather than through the United States Postal outsourcing the fulfillment operations is expected to save Ivy Tech more than $100,0090 a year in postal charges, Lucas Ivy Tech operates a Southern Indiana campus off Interstate 65 in
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Ryder picks Odenton for distribution site - Baltimore Business Journal:
utyziluz.wordpress.com
, a shipping subsidiart and the Miamitrucking company'xs fastest growing business is consolidating its warehousing and office functions into 150,00p0 square feet of space at the Arundel Crossinvg business park in Odenton. The company's move from Va., is more evidence of the Baltimore-Washingtobn corridor's growing dominance as a distributiomn andlogistics hub. Ryder's Odenton facility will mean between 75 and 100Marylanfd jobs, said Jim Stamm, director of customer logistics for multi-usew facilities. Stamm hopes to complete the transitionm by the endof November.
Ryder officials and leasing brokers involves with the deal would not reveal therent "We've basically outgrown the facility and are looking forward to being in Marylane to be centralized," he citing access to the Port of Baltimorw and Baltimore/Washington International Airport as reasons for the Distribution and warehousing has eclipsef manufacturing as a key Maryland industry, according to a stud y by the Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies, which notede that 30 percent of the U.S. population is within an overnigh t drive ofthe region.
"It's a natural," Stamm said, and addec that Ryder anticipates leasing the rest of thebuildinb -- an additional 70,000 square feet of spacew -- over the coursre of the year. Ryder Integrated Logistics storees and ships parts for national clients such as Xerox andGeneral Motors. At the Odentomn facility, Ryder will house repair parts for Generalp Electric appliances and deliver them as needex torepair facilities. Ryder will also housed merchandise for retailers Linens Things and 9 West and deliver it to the local stores.
The lease, at its preseny size, already represents one of the largest deals so far this year inthe Baltimore/Washingtonm corridor, said James Lighthizer, the CB Richard Ellis broker who along with John Wilhide represented the owner s of the business park, Opus East LLC. "This continuexs another successful transaction that Opus has been able to consummatw atArundel Crossing," said William A. Badgerf Jr., senior vice president at the Anne Arundeol EconomicDevelopment Corp. Opus finished building the 220,000-square-foot, speculative warehous e buildinglast year.
Other tenants at the Arunde Crossing park includeAdvancerd Marketing, Guardian Moving & Storage and retailer Values City. Richard Fields and Timothy brokers withCasey & Associates/Oncod International, represented Ryder. Ryder claimw to be the world'xs largest provider of logistics and transportation Probably best known for its yellow rentall trucksfor consumers, that division was actuall spun off into a separate company in 1996. What remainse is a transportation company that provides corporate truck leasing and rental and publictransportation services, as well as integrated logistics.
Integrated logistics refers to third part delivery of raw materials to a plant and distributiohn offinished goods. The integrates logistics part of Ryder is the fastest accountingfor $1.2 billion in annualized revenu e and employing more than 10,00 people, Stamm said. For the three months that endedMarch 31, parentr company Ryder Systems reported net income of $37.3 millionj on revenues of $1.2 billion.
, a shipping subsidiart and the Miamitrucking company'xs fastest growing business is consolidating its warehousing and office functions into 150,00p0 square feet of space at the Arundel Crossinvg business park in Odenton. The company's move from Va., is more evidence of the Baltimore-Washingtobn corridor's growing dominance as a distributiomn andlogistics hub. Ryder's Odenton facility will mean between 75 and 100Marylanfd jobs, said Jim Stamm, director of customer logistics for multi-usew facilities. Stamm hopes to complete the transitionm by the endof November.
Ryder officials and leasing brokers involves with the deal would not reveal therent "We've basically outgrown the facility and are looking forward to being in Marylane to be centralized," he citing access to the Port of Baltimorw and Baltimore/Washington International Airport as reasons for the Distribution and warehousing has eclipsef manufacturing as a key Maryland industry, according to a stud y by the Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies, which notede that 30 percent of the U.S. population is within an overnigh t drive ofthe region.
"It's a natural," Stamm said, and addec that Ryder anticipates leasing the rest of thebuildinb -- an additional 70,000 square feet of spacew -- over the coursre of the year. Ryder Integrated Logistics storees and ships parts for national clients such as Xerox andGeneral Motors. At the Odentomn facility, Ryder will house repair parts for Generalp Electric appliances and deliver them as needex torepair facilities. Ryder will also housed merchandise for retailers Linens Things and 9 West and deliver it to the local stores.
The lease, at its preseny size, already represents one of the largest deals so far this year inthe Baltimore/Washingtonm corridor, said James Lighthizer, the CB Richard Ellis broker who along with John Wilhide represented the owner s of the business park, Opus East LLC. "This continuexs another successful transaction that Opus has been able to consummatw atArundel Crossing," said William A. Badgerf Jr., senior vice president at the Anne Arundeol EconomicDevelopment Corp. Opus finished building the 220,000-square-foot, speculative warehous e buildinglast year.
Other tenants at the Arunde Crossing park includeAdvancerd Marketing, Guardian Moving & Storage and retailer Values City. Richard Fields and Timothy brokers withCasey & Associates/Oncod International, represented Ryder. Ryder claimw to be the world'xs largest provider of logistics and transportation Probably best known for its yellow rentall trucksfor consumers, that division was actuall spun off into a separate company in 1996. What remainse is a transportation company that provides corporate truck leasing and rental and publictransportation services, as well as integrated logistics.
Integrated logistics refers to third part delivery of raw materials to a plant and distributiohn offinished goods. The integrates logistics part of Ryder is the fastest accountingfor $1.2 billion in annualized revenu e and employing more than 10,00 people, Stamm said. For the three months that endedMarch 31, parentr company Ryder Systems reported net income of $37.3 millionj on revenues of $1.2 billion.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Family, Friends, Community Say Goodbye to Milpitas Marine - Patch.com
framptongeqeaqu1461.blogspot.com
Family, Friends, Community Say Goodbye to Milpitas Marine Patch.com At funeral services for SSgt. Stephen J. Dunning of Milpitas, friends, family and supporters shared their favorite memories and bid him goodbye as videos from his life were shown, and his parents were given his Purple Heart. ... |
Sunday, November 13, 2011
King Soopers, workers heading back to bargaining table - Denver Business Journal:
ramoledef.blogspot.com
The contract at hand involved an increasw inpreventative health-care programs and a wage increase, as well as a decreasw in pension benefits, King Soopers spokeswoma n Diane Mulligan said. However, workers had protested the pension benefit with the United Food and Commercial Workers UnionLocalp No. 7 warning that some could lose $100,00o over the life of the benefits, and said the wage increases werenot enough. “We are willing and able to get back to the bargainint table if the corporation is willingf to meetus halfway,” King Sooperds worker Julie Gonzalez said in a news releass put out by the union.
“All we’ree asking for is a fair And we really hopethey don’ lock us out for asking for livablr wages and a pension plan that recognizes our contribution to compan profits.” About 17,000 union workers from the area’s threde largest grocery chains — Albertsons, King Soopers and have been in negotiationsw with the grocers since April 9 on new five-yea r contracts. Safeway workers have voted to extend thei contract untilJune 26, whic Albertsons and King Soopers employees currently are working without contracts.
The rejection of the latest King Sooperzs contract proposal came quickly after voting began Workers inColorado Springs, Longmon and Boulder are voting today, whilde Pueblo workers are scheduled to cast ballots Wednesday. King Soopers spokeswoman Diane Mulligan said that the rejection of the deal will not have any tangible effect onstore operations. King Soopers workeras have not cast ballotsto strike. “We’re disappointe in the vote, but we look forwarcd to getting backto negotiations,” Mulligam said Tuesday.
King Soopers is a unit of Cincinnati-basedd
The contract at hand involved an increasw inpreventative health-care programs and a wage increase, as well as a decreasw in pension benefits, King Soopers spokeswoma n Diane Mulligan said. However, workers had protested the pension benefit with the United Food and Commercial Workers UnionLocalp No. 7 warning that some could lose $100,00o over the life of the benefits, and said the wage increases werenot enough. “We are willing and able to get back to the bargainint table if the corporation is willingf to meetus halfway,” King Sooperds worker Julie Gonzalez said in a news releass put out by the union.
“All we’ree asking for is a fair And we really hopethey don’ lock us out for asking for livablr wages and a pension plan that recognizes our contribution to compan profits.” About 17,000 union workers from the area’s threde largest grocery chains — Albertsons, King Soopers and have been in negotiationsw with the grocers since April 9 on new five-yea r contracts. Safeway workers have voted to extend thei contract untilJune 26, whic Albertsons and King Soopers employees currently are working without contracts.
The rejection of the latest King Sooperzs contract proposal came quickly after voting began Workers inColorado Springs, Longmon and Boulder are voting today, whilde Pueblo workers are scheduled to cast ballots Wednesday. King Soopers spokeswoman Diane Mulligan said that the rejection of the deal will not have any tangible effect onstore operations. King Soopers workeras have not cast ballotsto strike. “We’re disappointe in the vote, but we look forwarcd to getting backto negotiations,” Mulligam said Tuesday.
King Soopers is a unit of Cincinnati-basedd
Friday, November 11, 2011
Wal-Mart ruling makes the state less attractive - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:
oryzacody.wordpress.com
Unfortunately, a recent decisionm by the state Court of Appeals undermines theGenerall Assembly’s goal. While the decisio reached the right result, it did so for the wrong reasons, and in the proceses introduced further uncertainty intoNorth Carolina’s already-complicateed corporate tax system. The case involved a complex schemeby Wal-Mart to reduce its state tax burden. Wal-Mar tried to do this by transferring all of its Northj Carolina stores into a Delaware real estateinvestment trust. The properties were then leased back from the trust toa Wal-Mart subsidiary. Why do this? Becausd Delaware imposes practically no tax on real estateinvestmentf trusts.
Therefore Wal-Mart escaped tax on the received bythe trust. Meanwhile, the operating companhy was able to deductthe “rents” it paid to the trust, therebuy reducing North Carolina taxes. The bottom line was by moving the stores to theDelawared trust, Wal-Mart reduced its North Carolinas taxes by about $24 milliobn over a five-year period. Clearly, the transfer of the storeds had no business purpose other than to avoidstates taxes. As such, it was a tax sham and shouldf have been struck down forthis reason. The Court of however, declined to decide the case onthe straight-forwared basis that Wal-Mart’s purpose in transferring its storez was tax avoidance.
Instead, the Court ruled againsyt Wal-Mart based on an interpretation of the North Carolina corporate tax statutes that significantly expands the Departmentfof Revenue’s authority to require affiliatede entities (like the real estatr trust and the operating company) to combin e their income for tax In North Carolina, separate entities (even if generally must file separate tax returns. According to the Court’ws decision, however, any time relatesd companies engage ina “unitary the Department of Revenue has the authorityu to require them to combine their incomwe for tax purposes.
The problem is that the Courty gave noclear guidance, and there is none in the as to when the Department of Revenude will exercise its new-founds authority. Compounding this uncertainty is the fact that until instructed otherwise by the Departmentof Revenue, corporate taxpayers are requiredd as a matter of statute to file separate returns for separatre entities. By the time a corporatio receives the instruction that it must file a combinedc return formultiple entities, the corporation may be subject to interest and penalties, as Wal-Marft was to the tune of over $4 million. North Carolina has made considerable efforts to make the state a more attractivd homefor businesses.
These efforts include the creatiobn ofthe N.C. Business Court, whicy has issued consistent and well-reasoned as well as a current bill in the General Assembly to reduce the corporatetax rate. But businesses seek The uncertainty created bythe Court’s decision in the Wal-Mart case undermineas the efforts to attract and retain businesses in Nortnh Carolina.
Unfortunately, a recent decisionm by the state Court of Appeals undermines theGenerall Assembly’s goal. While the decisio reached the right result, it did so for the wrong reasons, and in the proceses introduced further uncertainty intoNorth Carolina’s already-complicateed corporate tax system. The case involved a complex schemeby Wal-Mart to reduce its state tax burden. Wal-Mar tried to do this by transferring all of its Northj Carolina stores into a Delaware real estateinvestment trust. The properties were then leased back from the trust toa Wal-Mart subsidiary. Why do this? Becausd Delaware imposes practically no tax on real estateinvestmentf trusts.
Therefore Wal-Mart escaped tax on the received bythe trust. Meanwhile, the operating companhy was able to deductthe “rents” it paid to the trust, therebuy reducing North Carolina taxes. The bottom line was by moving the stores to theDelawared trust, Wal-Mart reduced its North Carolinas taxes by about $24 milliobn over a five-year period. Clearly, the transfer of the storeds had no business purpose other than to avoidstates taxes. As such, it was a tax sham and shouldf have been struck down forthis reason. The Court of however, declined to decide the case onthe straight-forwared basis that Wal-Mart’s purpose in transferring its storez was tax avoidance.
Instead, the Court ruled againsyt Wal-Mart based on an interpretation of the North Carolina corporate tax statutes that significantly expands the Departmentfof Revenue’s authority to require affiliatede entities (like the real estatr trust and the operating company) to combin e their income for tax In North Carolina, separate entities (even if generally must file separate tax returns. According to the Court’ws decision, however, any time relatesd companies engage ina “unitary the Department of Revenue has the authorityu to require them to combine their incomwe for tax purposes.
The problem is that the Courty gave noclear guidance, and there is none in the as to when the Department of Revenude will exercise its new-founds authority. Compounding this uncertainty is the fact that until instructed otherwise by the Departmentof Revenue, corporate taxpayers are requiredd as a matter of statute to file separate returns for separatre entities. By the time a corporatio receives the instruction that it must file a combinedc return formultiple entities, the corporation may be subject to interest and penalties, as Wal-Marft was to the tune of over $4 million. North Carolina has made considerable efforts to make the state a more attractivd homefor businesses.
These efforts include the creatiobn ofthe N.C. Business Court, whicy has issued consistent and well-reasoned as well as a current bill in the General Assembly to reduce the corporatetax rate. But businesses seek The uncertainty created bythe Court’s decision in the Wal-Mart case undermineas the efforts to attract and retain businesses in Nortnh Carolina.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
An incomplete heavyweight bout - ESPNcricinfo.com
yvejodo.wordpress.com
ESPNcricinfo.com | An incomplete heavyweight bout ESPNcricinfo.com Even before South Africa and Australia begin the first Test in Cape Town, the abiding sentiment among the two teams is that the series they are about to play in will be an incomplete contest. The series was squeezed to two matches from the original ... |
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Sanofi-aventis will pay $95.5M to settle federal claim - Kansas City Business Journal:
kittredgeihuhyla1951.blogspot.com
million to settle a federal civil claim that a predecessotr company skirtedMedicaid requirements, the companyh and the said Thursday. The company said in a release that it admitted no wrongdoing through the The Justice Department had accused of underpayinhg drug rebates it was required to pay into Medicaid between 1995 and according to a separate Justice Departmentnews release. Aventisd Pharmaceuticals allegedly partnered with HMOs Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program and an affiliate to repackagethe steroid-based anti-inflammatort nasal sprays Azmacort, Nasacort and Nasacort AQ.
In doinhg so, the Justice Department alleged, Aventia Pharmaceuticals did not accurately represenyt the price ofthe products, enabling it to avoid paying millionzs of dollars in rebates. Accordinfg to the Justice Department, $49 million of the settlemenr will be paid to the federal Morethan $40 million will be paid to though it was not immediately clea r which states would receive the money. The remaininvg $6 million will go to public health providers. Sanofi-aventids termed it an “opt-in” fund availablew to states wishing to settle claims similar to those of theJustice Department. Sanofi-aventis (NYSE: SNY) is base in Bridgewater, N.J.
According to the company’s Web the Kansas City facility “izs one of the company’s primaru manufacturing sites.” A company spokeswomanm couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
million to settle a federal civil claim that a predecessotr company skirtedMedicaid requirements, the companyh and the said Thursday. The company said in a release that it admitted no wrongdoing through the The Justice Department had accused of underpayinhg drug rebates it was required to pay into Medicaid between 1995 and according to a separate Justice Departmentnews release. Aventisd Pharmaceuticals allegedly partnered with HMOs Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program and an affiliate to repackagethe steroid-based anti-inflammatort nasal sprays Azmacort, Nasacort and Nasacort AQ.
In doinhg so, the Justice Department alleged, Aventia Pharmaceuticals did not accurately represenyt the price ofthe products, enabling it to avoid paying millionzs of dollars in rebates. Accordinfg to the Justice Department, $49 million of the settlemenr will be paid to the federal Morethan $40 million will be paid to though it was not immediately clea r which states would receive the money. The remaininvg $6 million will go to public health providers. Sanofi-aventids termed it an “opt-in” fund availablew to states wishing to settle claims similar to those of theJustice Department. Sanofi-aventis (NYSE: SNY) is base in Bridgewater, N.J.
According to the company’s Web the Kansas City facility “izs one of the company’s primaru manufacturing sites.” A company spokeswomanm couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Greek crisis could have indirect impact on Canada - CTV.ca
takes-trendsthe.blogspot.com
CTV.ca | Greek crisis could have indirect impact on Canada CTV.ca But economists say that while Canada's direct exposure to Greece and other peripheral European countries facing grave debt issues is minimal, the indirect impact could be significant. In the summer, the Bank of Canada calculated that the direct claims ... Canada 's ties to Greece tiny, but indirect hit still could be big |
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Ethiopian court to rule in Swedish journalists' case - The Africa Report
mastering-input.blogspot.com
AFP | Ethiopian court to rule in Swedish journalists' case The Africa Report By The Africa Report An Ethiopian court will on Thursday rule on whether a video » |
Monday, October 31, 2011
Sainsbury's becomes largest retail user of anaerobic digestion - Materials Handling World Magazine
ogarawo.wordpress.com
Materials Handling World Magazine | Sainsbury's becomes largest retail user of anaerobic digestion Materials Handling World Magazine Sainsbury's has become the UK's largest anaerobic digestion (AD) retailer after signing a ground breaking deal with Biffa. The three year deal means » |
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Air taxis to ease traffic in Moscow - The Voice of Russia
http://html-tutorial-site.com/effective-web-design-determines-hotel-marketing-success.html
The Voice of Russia | Air taxis to ease traffic in Moscow The Voice of Russia Buryat President Vyacheslav Nagovitsyn said that the problem of congested traffic in Moscow could be resolved with the help of air taxis. The aircraft manufacturing plant in Ulan-Ude produces a variety of aircraft, including passenger planes which can ... |
Monday, October 24, 2011
Kansas City-area brokers, real estate agents remodel efforts to grow in residential market - Baltimore Business Journal:
lebexab.wordpress.com
During the first five monthds ofthis year, 8,863 homesd were sold in the metro according to the . That was down more than 30 percentfrom 12,7922 sales in the same period two yearws ago. Nevertheless, some professionals are bulkingb up sales through a combinationof high-tecnh and traditional marketing approaches. “Attitudse is everything” in overcoming market said Kathy Koehler, a lead agentt with Realtors Inc.’s in Leawood. The 23-agent Koehlet Bortnick Team ranked No. 1 on the ’sw list of Top Area Residential Real EstateAgentw & Teams, closing 405 sales totaling $148 millionb last year. That volume was down from $178 milliom in 2007.
But a positive attitude and return to basics havethe team’s sales trending back up in Koehler said. “We’re dressing for success. We’res dialing for dollars. We’re going back to how we did it befored we were fat and happy and everyone was comingyto us,” she said. “Dressing for refers to the “I Choose Not to Participate inthe Recession” buttonsd that Koehler Bortnick Team members have begun wearing. “Dialinyg for dollars” refers to new monthly call Agents eat pizza and spend two to threw hours onthe phone.
Calls to present clientd often result in price adjustments that make homes easiereto sell, Koehler said, and calls to past clients ofteb generate referrals. In addition, the agents call homeowners with for-sale-by-owner listings and listings with other agents that have Calls to homeowners theteam hasn’ done business with before may be subjectf to do-not-call restrictions. “So the first thing I say ... is, ‘Wil l you give me permission to give you greagt news aboutyour house, your subdivision or the marke t in 60 seconds or less?
’” Koehler “That’s the way we overcome the no-call Team members also work to overcome every conceivablee buyer or seller objection by memorizinv as many as five scriptse for each, she But such traditional marketing approaches have to be combined with cutting-edge trainintg in everything from foreclosure marketing to search-enginse optimization. Koehler said that about 87 percent of buyers startf their homesearches online. So she constantlu invests in strategies that pushher team’s Web site up on the lists of sites that and other search engines produce for variouxs key words and phrases.
The result has been an average of 500,000 hits a month on her Koehler said. That’s half of what the Reecee & Nichols site averages. Agents also have begunj using a variety of online social mediaa tools suchas , LinkedIn and to increase exposur while lowering costs. Lee McClelland, an associate brokerf with , said his sales team slashed its marketiny budget by sending out fewer mass mailings and spendinbg more time communicating viathe phone, e-mail and “Probably 80 percent of our businesx comes from repeat customers or referrals,” he “So it made sense to spend most of our dollarsz staying in contact with past customerws and referral sources.
I have 320 to 330 friendz on Facebook, including many past customers, and I can post a messagr and get it in front ofthem daily.” Tina an agent with , said she’s begun spending at least an hour a day on “Facebook is huge because a lot of the youngedr generation doesn’t even want to use traditional Branine said. “They want you to Facebook e-mail Text messaging is also huge withyounger
During the first five monthds ofthis year, 8,863 homesd were sold in the metro according to the . That was down more than 30 percentfrom 12,7922 sales in the same period two yearws ago. Nevertheless, some professionals are bulkingb up sales through a combinationof high-tecnh and traditional marketing approaches. “Attitudse is everything” in overcoming market said Kathy Koehler, a lead agentt with Realtors Inc.’s in Leawood. The 23-agent Koehlet Bortnick Team ranked No. 1 on the ’sw list of Top Area Residential Real EstateAgentw & Teams, closing 405 sales totaling $148 millionb last year. That volume was down from $178 milliom in 2007.
But a positive attitude and return to basics havethe team’s sales trending back up in Koehler said. “We’re dressing for success. We’res dialing for dollars. We’re going back to how we did it befored we were fat and happy and everyone was comingyto us,” she said. “Dressing for refers to the “I Choose Not to Participate inthe Recession” buttonsd that Koehler Bortnick Team members have begun wearing. “Dialinyg for dollars” refers to new monthly call Agents eat pizza and spend two to threw hours onthe phone.
Calls to present clientd often result in price adjustments that make homes easiereto sell, Koehler said, and calls to past clients ofteb generate referrals. In addition, the agents call homeowners with for-sale-by-owner listings and listings with other agents that have Calls to homeowners theteam hasn’ done business with before may be subjectf to do-not-call restrictions. “So the first thing I say ... is, ‘Wil l you give me permission to give you greagt news aboutyour house, your subdivision or the marke t in 60 seconds or less?
’” Koehler “That’s the way we overcome the no-call Team members also work to overcome every conceivablee buyer or seller objection by memorizinv as many as five scriptse for each, she But such traditional marketing approaches have to be combined with cutting-edge trainintg in everything from foreclosure marketing to search-enginse optimization. Koehler said that about 87 percent of buyers startf their homesearches online. So she constantlu invests in strategies that pushher team’s Web site up on the lists of sites that and other search engines produce for variouxs key words and phrases.
The result has been an average of 500,000 hits a month on her Koehler said. That’s half of what the Reecee & Nichols site averages. Agents also have begunj using a variety of online social mediaa tools suchas , LinkedIn and to increase exposur while lowering costs. Lee McClelland, an associate brokerf with , said his sales team slashed its marketiny budget by sending out fewer mass mailings and spendinbg more time communicating viathe phone, e-mail and “Probably 80 percent of our businesx comes from repeat customers or referrals,” he “So it made sense to spend most of our dollarsz staying in contact with past customerws and referral sources.
I have 320 to 330 friendz on Facebook, including many past customers, and I can post a messagr and get it in front ofthem daily.” Tina an agent with , said she’s begun spending at least an hour a day on “Facebook is huge because a lot of the youngedr generation doesn’t even want to use traditional Branine said. “They want you to Facebook e-mail Text messaging is also huge withyounger
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Big story for the dailies is coping with parent companies
omagyvoham.wordpress.com
The parent companies of both the Southy Florida and could be under mounting pressure to sell newspapedr businesses in the face of falling ad revenur andsuffocating debt, according to industrt sources and published reports. Despite their parent companies’ problems, both newspapers are regardec assolidly profitable, and the Herald’s headquarters offers the bonu s of a prime waterfronft location in downtown Miami. The challenges for a potential sale would be whether a buyer is willin g to step forward in the middle of a recessiojn to bid on businesses withdeclining revenue. Financingt is another hurdle. In a Dec. 9 the Herald reported parent Sacramento, Calif.
-basef had been in talks to sell thedailty – which has an average daily circulatiobn of 288,179 – to condoi king Jorge Perez and sugad executive Alfonso Fanjul. Herald spokeswoman Elissa Vanaver said the pape had no more information beyondits “It is accurate, and that is all there is to say,” she said The day Chicago-based , owner of the Sun-Sentinel, and Chicago among other papers, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcyy under the stress of a $13 billioj debt delivered at the hand of real estatse mogul Sam Zell. The Tribune chairmah and CEO used an employee stock ownershipo plan to crafthis $8.2 billion leveraged buyout to take the company private last December.
As for McClatchy, it took on $3.1y billion in debt to buy the Herald and the rest of the newspaper chainin 2006. It sold off several newspapers to help pay downthat debt. “Most on an operating basis, are newspaper analyst John Morton said. “They are too overlty leveraged.” Morton said such high leverage makes it difficulft to ride out thiseconomic downturn. But, selling won’g be a walk in the park, “This is a terrible time to sell a Morton said. “First of all, there are no and second, newspaper values have dropper in half in the pastfive years.” Mortoj said the Tribune Co.
bankruptcy is the firstf he can recall for a major company since he entered the industrgin 1970. said it will continue to operate its media businesses – newspapers, television stations and interactivwe media – and has sufficient cash to do so throug the bankruptcy process. But, that may changs once the case hits bankruptcy court and the company faces the challengre of drafting an acceptablerestructuring plan, accordinyg to Porter Bibb, managing partner of , a New York City-basexd merchant bank that specializes in media companyy investments. “A good part of the less-than-cored businesses will be sold off. It is as much strategy as it is financial,” Bibb said.
He said Tribune’sd Florida papers could be vulnerablrebecause “they don’t contribute very much to the needsz of Tribune Co.” Tribune has already sold New York’ s Newsday. Bibb estimated operating profits for most newspapers stilpl hover at about18 percent, which is down from the 20 perceny to 30 percent of three years ago. The Sun-Sentinel recentlyy signed a 10-year deal to print The Palm Beacu Post, a publication that is cutting 300 jobs by closing itsprinting plant. The Sun-Sentinel’es printing plant in Deerfield Beach is aprofif center. It also prints , The , Barron’s and New Times, the Post said in announcinh itsmove there.
The parent companies of both the Southy Florida and could be under mounting pressure to sell newspapedr businesses in the face of falling ad revenur andsuffocating debt, according to industrt sources and published reports. Despite their parent companies’ problems, both newspapers are regardec assolidly profitable, and the Herald’s headquarters offers the bonu s of a prime waterfronft location in downtown Miami. The challenges for a potential sale would be whether a buyer is willin g to step forward in the middle of a recessiojn to bid on businesses withdeclining revenue. Financingt is another hurdle. In a Dec. 9 the Herald reported parent Sacramento, Calif.
-basef had been in talks to sell thedailty – which has an average daily circulatiobn of 288,179 – to condoi king Jorge Perez and sugad executive Alfonso Fanjul. Herald spokeswoman Elissa Vanaver said the pape had no more information beyondits “It is accurate, and that is all there is to say,” she said The day Chicago-based , owner of the Sun-Sentinel, and Chicago among other papers, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcyy under the stress of a $13 billioj debt delivered at the hand of real estatse mogul Sam Zell. The Tribune chairmah and CEO used an employee stock ownershipo plan to crafthis $8.2 billion leveraged buyout to take the company private last December.
As for McClatchy, it took on $3.1y billion in debt to buy the Herald and the rest of the newspaper chainin 2006. It sold off several newspapers to help pay downthat debt. “Most on an operating basis, are newspaper analyst John Morton said. “They are too overlty leveraged.” Morton said such high leverage makes it difficulft to ride out thiseconomic downturn. But, selling won’g be a walk in the park, “This is a terrible time to sell a Morton said. “First of all, there are no and second, newspaper values have dropper in half in the pastfive years.” Mortoj said the Tribune Co.
bankruptcy is the firstf he can recall for a major company since he entered the industrgin 1970. said it will continue to operate its media businesses – newspapers, television stations and interactivwe media – and has sufficient cash to do so throug the bankruptcy process. But, that may changs once the case hits bankruptcy court and the company faces the challengre of drafting an acceptablerestructuring plan, accordinyg to Porter Bibb, managing partner of , a New York City-basexd merchant bank that specializes in media companyy investments. “A good part of the less-than-cored businesses will be sold off. It is as much strategy as it is financial,” Bibb said.
He said Tribune’sd Florida papers could be vulnerablrebecause “they don’t contribute very much to the needsz of Tribune Co.” Tribune has already sold New York’ s Newsday. Bibb estimated operating profits for most newspapers stilpl hover at about18 percent, which is down from the 20 perceny to 30 percent of three years ago. The Sun-Sentinel recentlyy signed a 10-year deal to print The Palm Beacu Post, a publication that is cutting 300 jobs by closing itsprinting plant. The Sun-Sentinel’es printing plant in Deerfield Beach is aprofif center. It also prints , The , Barron’s and New Times, the Post said in announcinh itsmove there.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Ferrellgas profit dips, sales drop - San Antonio Business Journal:
uraa-quartely.blogspot.com
In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission afterd the market closed on theOverland Park-based propane retailer (NYSE: FGP) reportede earnings available to common shareholders of $32.54 million, or 48 cents a for the quarter. This compares with earning s of $34.8 million, or 55 cents a share, for the same period last year. Revenue for the quarter was $561.1 million, down from $712. million last year. Ferrellgas said in the SEC filing that lower propane prices contributed tothe quarter’s lower revenue. The company said it sold 239.2 millionn gallons of propane duringthe quarter, down 5 percent from 252.
1 millionh gallons in the same quarter last Retail sales volumes decreasedf mainly because of temperatures that were 5 percenyt warmer than last year and custome r conservation related to the weak economy, the compan said. Ferrellgas ranks No. 10 on the Kansa City Business Journal ’s list of area publif companies.
In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission afterd the market closed on theOverland Park-based propane retailer (NYSE: FGP) reportede earnings available to common shareholders of $32.54 million, or 48 cents a for the quarter. This compares with earning s of $34.8 million, or 55 cents a share, for the same period last year. Revenue for the quarter was $561.1 million, down from $712. million last year. Ferrellgas said in the SEC filing that lower propane prices contributed tothe quarter’s lower revenue. The company said it sold 239.2 millionn gallons of propane duringthe quarter, down 5 percent from 252.
1 millionh gallons in the same quarter last Retail sales volumes decreasedf mainly because of temperatures that were 5 percenyt warmer than last year and custome r conservation related to the weak economy, the compan said. Ferrellgas ranks No. 10 on the Kansa City Business Journal ’s list of area publif companies.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Two Years of 2B - Mpls./St. Paul Business Travel Guide
meaning-sarajevo.blogspot.com
But be warned: There are no overarchingy trends here. As is so often the case on the road, these last two years have been almosytotally reactive: to insane swings in the priced of fuel to the apparently endless cycle of boom-and-bust that dominates hotel and, of course, to the economic wave that has carrief us from the relatively giddy timesd of April 2007 to our current…uh, well…to whatever it is we'r living and working through. Southwest's Steadyg Course Even the nation's one financially sound U.S. Southwest Airlines, hasn't been able to escape the ravages ofthe nation'ds economic collapse.
Its traffic is down about in linewith industry-widw trends and it has taken the unprecedentedc step of trimming its overall capacity by 4 percenr this year. And the airline'sd vaunted fuel-hedging strategy, which savedr the carrier about $3.5 billion in the last cost it money in the second half of 2008 as oilpricesz collapsed. But some thingd never change: Southwest is using the downturn to position itselcf as an alternative tothe nation's mainlinw carriers. After decades of shunning some of thelargestt U.S.
cities, it launched flights to Minneapolislast month, is schedulede to begin its first-ever flights into New York (via LaGuardiaa Airport) in June, and will serve Boston'a Logan Airport in the fall. United'ws Inexorable Decline It's gone from worstt to even worse than that atUniterd Airlines, the most troubled of the nation's so-called carriers. Once the nation's largesty airline, United is hemorrhaging after abunglede mega-bankruptcy and years of managementt missteps.
About 40 percenft of what flies as United Airlines is subcontracted to regionalp airlines and much of the remaining service isactually code-share operationss with its international partners in the Star Every one of its union contracts becomess "amendable" next year (airline contractse never technically expire). Compared with the other legacyh carriers, its cash reserves are smalo and there are few unencumbered assets to And earlynext year, it will have to discussd cash-draining "holdbacks" with JP Morgabn Chase, its credit-card processor.
Operationally, there's no good news, since its once-profitable service to the Pacificf Rim is deteriorating rapidly due to plunging yields to Asia and freshj competition on itsAustralia routes. Fate of the Fourthu Class The worldwide collapseof premium-class traffic since last fall has had the expecte effect: Airlines have stepped up thei discounting in business class and more carrierds are adding a fourth class, which is rathef generically known as "premium economy.
" The discounting trend is both structurallhy strategic—the airlines now offer a range of discountse from three to 60 days before departure—and tantalizingly tactical, with sale fares slashing as much as 75 percenr off the price of international business class. As for premium Air France added the new cabi on three premierroutes (from Paris to New Tokyo, and Osaka). But the fate of fourtuh class is farfrom secure. Even as Air Francse was debuting, OpenSkies, British Airways' boutique was renaming its fourth cabin asthe "biz seat." The reason?
Premium economy still existws in a computer-coded limbo, which makes selling it via the airlinre industry's omnipresent global reservation servicesd difficult. The Banking Blues and London RediscoverecdIf I've been at all prescien in the last two years, it was the Run on the Banker column that posted shortly afterf Lehman Brothers tanked last September. Exactlu in line with the meltdown ofthe markets, bankeras stopped flying, and that has causexd the calamitous decline in premium-class airline revenue. It's been especiallt tough on British Airways, whichy is disproportionately dependent on premium flying on theNyLon (New route.
And there's no doubt that BA (and are still suffering a year on from the disastrousd opening weeks of Terminal 5 at Heathroe Airport inMarch 2008. The good news for thosde of us wholove London? The Britishy capital is cheap again for upscale Americanh visitors, thanks to massivse airfare and hotel discounts and the precipitous declind of the value of the British pound. Counterintuitive Currencyt Just beforethe world'sz economies shuddered, the U.S. dollar was at an unconscionable, unaffordable low ebb. But for reasons known only to the masterw ofthe universe, the U.S. dollaf has gained strength against almost all ofthe world's currencies as the Americahn economy weakened.
If you've got any discretionary income left, this will be a great summerf to travel virtually anywhere in the The dollar is buying 20 to 50 percent more than last sprinvand summer. The only exception: where the dollar continues to languish at or belowsthe 100-yen mark. A Fee By Any Other Name it isn't all bread and dollar-denominatefd chocolates overseas. Banks and othee financial institutions continue to raise the fees they charger when you use your ATM or credif card outside of theUnitede States.
The latest trick: Currency-exchange fees of 3 percent or more even if you use yourown bank'sa ATM card to make a withdrawall from your own account at an overseas ATM owned and operated by said bank. Even financiapl institutions that continue toadvertise fee-free ATM usage are adoptin the currency gambit. One Charles Schwab Bank, whose print ads promisw in big, bold type that there are "No ATM fees—w e rebate all ATM fees from any ATM. But as Schwab's fine print makes "ATM free rebates do not include currency exchange fees orother fees." Some of the few trulyy fee-free ports in the storm are the credigt cards and ATM cards issued by Capital One.
The Fine Allow me to end this column wherwe I began inApril 2007: I still believe the singls best investment you can make in your on-the-roadc comfort and productivity is Priority Pass, the worldwid e airport-lounge access program. The fees haven't but the lounge network has grown by20 percent, to more than 600 clubs in 300 cities. Portfolio.com © 2009 Cond Nast Inc. All
But be warned: There are no overarchingy trends here. As is so often the case on the road, these last two years have been almosytotally reactive: to insane swings in the priced of fuel to the apparently endless cycle of boom-and-bust that dominates hotel and, of course, to the economic wave that has carrief us from the relatively giddy timesd of April 2007 to our current…uh, well…to whatever it is we'r living and working through. Southwest's Steadyg Course Even the nation's one financially sound U.S. Southwest Airlines, hasn't been able to escape the ravages ofthe nation'ds economic collapse.
Its traffic is down about in linewith industry-widw trends and it has taken the unprecedentedc step of trimming its overall capacity by 4 percenr this year. And the airline'sd vaunted fuel-hedging strategy, which savedr the carrier about $3.5 billion in the last cost it money in the second half of 2008 as oilpricesz collapsed. But some thingd never change: Southwest is using the downturn to position itselcf as an alternative tothe nation's mainlinw carriers. After decades of shunning some of thelargestt U.S.
cities, it launched flights to Minneapolislast month, is schedulede to begin its first-ever flights into New York (via LaGuardiaa Airport) in June, and will serve Boston'a Logan Airport in the fall. United'ws Inexorable Decline It's gone from worstt to even worse than that atUniterd Airlines, the most troubled of the nation's so-called carriers. Once the nation's largesty airline, United is hemorrhaging after abunglede mega-bankruptcy and years of managementt missteps.
About 40 percenft of what flies as United Airlines is subcontracted to regionalp airlines and much of the remaining service isactually code-share operationss with its international partners in the Star Every one of its union contracts becomess "amendable" next year (airline contractse never technically expire). Compared with the other legacyh carriers, its cash reserves are smalo and there are few unencumbered assets to And earlynext year, it will have to discussd cash-draining "holdbacks" with JP Morgabn Chase, its credit-card processor.
Operationally, there's no good news, since its once-profitable service to the Pacificf Rim is deteriorating rapidly due to plunging yields to Asia and freshj competition on itsAustralia routes. Fate of the Fourthu Class The worldwide collapseof premium-class traffic since last fall has had the expecte effect: Airlines have stepped up thei discounting in business class and more carrierds are adding a fourth class, which is rathef generically known as "premium economy.
" The discounting trend is both structurallhy strategic—the airlines now offer a range of discountse from three to 60 days before departure—and tantalizingly tactical, with sale fares slashing as much as 75 percenr off the price of international business class. As for premium Air France added the new cabi on three premierroutes (from Paris to New Tokyo, and Osaka). But the fate of fourtuh class is farfrom secure. Even as Air Francse was debuting, OpenSkies, British Airways' boutique was renaming its fourth cabin asthe "biz seat." The reason?
Premium economy still existws in a computer-coded limbo, which makes selling it via the airlinre industry's omnipresent global reservation servicesd difficult. The Banking Blues and London RediscoverecdIf I've been at all prescien in the last two years, it was the Run on the Banker column that posted shortly afterf Lehman Brothers tanked last September. Exactlu in line with the meltdown ofthe markets, bankeras stopped flying, and that has causexd the calamitous decline in premium-class airline revenue. It's been especiallt tough on British Airways, whichy is disproportionately dependent on premium flying on theNyLon (New route.
And there's no doubt that BA (and are still suffering a year on from the disastrousd opening weeks of Terminal 5 at Heathroe Airport inMarch 2008. The good news for thosde of us wholove London? The Britishy capital is cheap again for upscale Americanh visitors, thanks to massivse airfare and hotel discounts and the precipitous declind of the value of the British pound. Counterintuitive Currencyt Just beforethe world'sz economies shuddered, the U.S. dollar was at an unconscionable, unaffordable low ebb. But for reasons known only to the masterw ofthe universe, the U.S. dollaf has gained strength against almost all ofthe world's currencies as the Americahn economy weakened.
If you've got any discretionary income left, this will be a great summerf to travel virtually anywhere in the The dollar is buying 20 to 50 percent more than last sprinvand summer. The only exception: where the dollar continues to languish at or belowsthe 100-yen mark. A Fee By Any Other Name it isn't all bread and dollar-denominatefd chocolates overseas. Banks and othee financial institutions continue to raise the fees they charger when you use your ATM or credif card outside of theUnitede States.
The latest trick: Currency-exchange fees of 3 percent or more even if you use yourown bank'sa ATM card to make a withdrawall from your own account at an overseas ATM owned and operated by said bank. Even financiapl institutions that continue toadvertise fee-free ATM usage are adoptin the currency gambit. One Charles Schwab Bank, whose print ads promisw in big, bold type that there are "No ATM fees—w e rebate all ATM fees from any ATM. But as Schwab's fine print makes "ATM free rebates do not include currency exchange fees orother fees." Some of the few trulyy fee-free ports in the storm are the credigt cards and ATM cards issued by Capital One.
The Fine Allow me to end this column wherwe I began inApril 2007: I still believe the singls best investment you can make in your on-the-roadc comfort and productivity is Priority Pass, the worldwid e airport-lounge access program. The fees haven't but the lounge network has grown by20 percent, to more than 600 clubs in 300 cities. Portfolio.com © 2009 Cond Nast Inc. All
Sunday, October 16, 2011
EzTimeSheet Employee Time Clock Software Adds New Features to Handle PTO - PR.com (press release)
guronelogoh.blogspot.com
PR Web (press release) | EzTimeSheet Employee Time Clock Software Adds New Features to Handle PTO PR.com (press release) Founded in 2003, Halfpricesoft.com has established itself as a leader in meeting the software needs of sm » |
Thursday, October 13, 2011
WisdomArk raises $6.3M in first round funding - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:
http://thesparkcentre.com/privacy.html
million in Series A Los Alto-based WisdomArk, which is developing a new Web site aimed at helpinhg communities of family and friends collaboratee in the sharing and preservatiob oflife stories, said the rounx was led by , and . The plannesd Web service of WisdomArk is currently being testedx in preparation for a futurepublic launch, the compan said. "WisdomArk taps into the deep need that people of all cultures have to connect to those close to them through the tellingt oflife stories," said Eric CEO of Benhamou Global Ventures, in a release. Benhamouu formerly served as chief executive officer of bothPalm Inc.
and 3Com "We are pleased to be investing in a company that will give peopld an easy way to deepen their connections with familyuand friends," said Shanda general partner at El Dorado Ventures. WisdomArkl was founded in early 2005 by CEO Andy Hallidah andChris Lunt, the company's vice president of engineering. Hallidahy formerly worked as vice president of the Electronic Commerce Group at theformer Excite. Lunt has worked as an engineering manager at bothOraclee Corp. and Excite.
million in Series A Los Alto-based WisdomArk, which is developing a new Web site aimed at helpinhg communities of family and friends collaboratee in the sharing and preservatiob oflife stories, said the rounx was led by , and . The plannesd Web service of WisdomArk is currently being testedx in preparation for a futurepublic launch, the compan said. "WisdomArk taps into the deep need that people of all cultures have to connect to those close to them through the tellingt oflife stories," said Eric CEO of Benhamou Global Ventures, in a release. Benhamouu formerly served as chief executive officer of bothPalm Inc.
and 3Com "We are pleased to be investing in a company that will give peopld an easy way to deepen their connections with familyuand friends," said Shanda general partner at El Dorado Ventures. WisdomArkl was founded in early 2005 by CEO Andy Hallidah andChris Lunt, the company's vice president of engineering. Hallidahy formerly worked as vice president of the Electronic Commerce Group at theformer Excite. Lunt has worked as an engineering manager at bothOraclee Corp. and Excite.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Good managers can alleviate some staff fears - bizjournals:
ysynut.wordpress.com
Even if your business is in great shape andyou don’t expecg any negative outcomes from less-than-perfect macro-economic conditions, your employees likely are feeling a littls uneasy. If they are not worrier about theirjob security, they might be worried about their spouse’x job, the value of their 401(k), the valu of their home or other things. Because the outputs of an organization are built from the actions of their health and wellnesws matter toan organization’s success. If uncertaintty and fear are not deal twith positively, they can lead to stress and emotionak troubles, a weakened immune system and other healtu problems.
And those personal issues add up to issues foran organization. An organization teeminvg with people paralyzed by fearis doomed. It will feel the pain in the form oflowee productivity, absenteeism and low morale. On the other hand, an organization with a resilienr and confident work force will have greater productivity resilient people work harder than others during greaterjob satisfaction, higher retention and lower absenteeismm — among other benefits.
Whether feard are based on real or perceived good managers can alleviate some oftheir staff’s Good managers can help peopled stay focused and positive durinyg tough times, and help them continu e to perform and add to the bottom line. When peoplew feel uncertain, they try to re-establish understanding, support and purpose. Peopld naturally seek ways to feelin control, because they don’g like to feel change is happeningh “to” them.
They can find a feelinv of control in smal things that might not be relates to thechange — such as carving out a small project at home and tackling it start to creating or making something from scratch or organizing filex and drawers. Managers can encourage peoplse to focus on the immediate and take prider in evensmall accomplishments. Peopl e also look to re-establisu understanding during times of We feel like we are thrown into a it takes a few minutesa to learn to navigate sloping floorsand floor-to-ceiling By developing a communication plan and engaging peoplw in discussions about where the organization is going, managers can help peoplew understand how the new world will People seek support in the midst of uncertaintg and change.
Somehow, everything seems a little bettef when people feel they arenot alone. Those gathere d around the water cooler are instinctively looking for Managers can channel this need by settingh up small meetings with leaders to chat or having teams focus on manageable tasks that move theorganizationh forward. People also look to re-establish their purpose during timexsof change. They often feel like their old purpos e is threatened or mightt become irrelevant when their surroundings arein flux.
Thosed who define themselves as spouses, parents, community members and job holders do a much better job at maintaininy their sense of purpose during uncertainty than those who view themselve sas “a doctor” or “ann accountant” or “a factory worker.” Managers can help peoplde remember that the change is not abouyt them — it is not a reflectionm of any one person or their value. Manageras can stress that they have a value that is much broadet than just their and they can encourage people to focus on what they aregood at.
Fear mighft be prevalent during tougheconomifc times, but it does not have to be an albatross for an Organizations can continue to thrive, and even use this time to builf a foundation for a stronger organization in the Just realize what people are experiencing and what they and then meet people where they are. Kate Nelsonm is a partner in Change Guides LLC anda co-author of “Thr Change Management Pocket Guide” and “The Eight Constants of Reach her at kate.nelson@changeguidesllc.com.
Even if your business is in great shape andyou don’t expecg any negative outcomes from less-than-perfect macro-economic conditions, your employees likely are feeling a littls uneasy. If they are not worrier about theirjob security, they might be worried about their spouse’x job, the value of their 401(k), the valu of their home or other things. Because the outputs of an organization are built from the actions of their health and wellnesws matter toan organization’s success. If uncertaintty and fear are not deal twith positively, they can lead to stress and emotionak troubles, a weakened immune system and other healtu problems.
And those personal issues add up to issues foran organization. An organization teeminvg with people paralyzed by fearis doomed. It will feel the pain in the form oflowee productivity, absenteeism and low morale. On the other hand, an organization with a resilienr and confident work force will have greater productivity resilient people work harder than others during greaterjob satisfaction, higher retention and lower absenteeismm — among other benefits.
Whether feard are based on real or perceived good managers can alleviate some oftheir staff’s Good managers can help peopled stay focused and positive durinyg tough times, and help them continu e to perform and add to the bottom line. When peoplew feel uncertain, they try to re-establish understanding, support and purpose. Peopld naturally seek ways to feelin control, because they don’g like to feel change is happeningh “to” them.
They can find a feelinv of control in smal things that might not be relates to thechange — such as carving out a small project at home and tackling it start to creating or making something from scratch or organizing filex and drawers. Managers can encourage peoplse to focus on the immediate and take prider in evensmall accomplishments. Peopl e also look to re-establisu understanding during times of We feel like we are thrown into a it takes a few minutesa to learn to navigate sloping floorsand floor-to-ceiling By developing a communication plan and engaging peoplw in discussions about where the organization is going, managers can help peoplew understand how the new world will People seek support in the midst of uncertaintg and change.
Somehow, everything seems a little bettef when people feel they arenot alone. Those gathere d around the water cooler are instinctively looking for Managers can channel this need by settingh up small meetings with leaders to chat or having teams focus on manageable tasks that move theorganizationh forward. People also look to re-establish their purpose during timexsof change. They often feel like their old purpos e is threatened or mightt become irrelevant when their surroundings arein flux.
Thosed who define themselves as spouses, parents, community members and job holders do a much better job at maintaininy their sense of purpose during uncertainty than those who view themselve sas “a doctor” or “ann accountant” or “a factory worker.” Managers can help peoplde remember that the change is not abouyt them — it is not a reflectionm of any one person or their value. Manageras can stress that they have a value that is much broadet than just their and they can encourage people to focus on what they aregood at.
Fear mighft be prevalent during tougheconomifc times, but it does not have to be an albatross for an Organizations can continue to thrive, and even use this time to builf a foundation for a stronger organization in the Just realize what people are experiencing and what they and then meet people where they are. Kate Nelsonm is a partner in Change Guides LLC anda co-author of “Thr Change Management Pocket Guide” and “The Eight Constants of Reach her at kate.nelson@changeguidesllc.com.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
17 Countries, but Even More Unknowns - New York Times
xoqylyjibo.wordpress.com
17 Countries, but Even More Unknowns New York Times As the situation in Europe deteriorates, our own financial institutions are coming under growing scrutiny from investors. American banks have made loans to European ones. Some have also written credit insurance on the debt of European institutions and ... Geithner's Confidence in US Banks Sparks R » |
Friday, October 7, 2011
Leggett wants $68m from feds for BRAC - Washington Examiner (blog)
esivyjifag.wordpress.com
Leggett wants $68m from feds for BRAC Washington Examiner (blog) Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett is seeking $40 million more from the feds to complete BRAC-related construction projects, in addition to $28.2 million the county has already acquired from the Department of Defense. ... Montgomery County Wants More Money for BRAC: Report Montgomery County objects to Rockville's parking lease with FRIT |
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Legislature approves carbon fuel standard - Portland Business Journal:
ogarawo.wordpress.com
The so-called “low-carbon fuel passed the Senate bya 16-14 vote on Wednesday after previouslh passing in the House. Gov. Ted Kulongosko intends to signthe “This is the most significant step taken this sessionh to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in everyu corner of the state,” Kulongoski said in a “Establishing a low carbon fuel standard will not only resulyt in cleaner burning gasoline for all of our but will also encourage the development of new, renewabl and lower emission transportation fuels.
” Rather than mandatin a specific fuel type, the bill allows fuel providers to determine on their own how to meet the That means a diesel producer couled choose to mix more low-carbon biodiesepl into their fuel, while other providers couled choose to buy creditsw from electric utilities that supplyy low-carbon electrons to electric The legislation includes some consumer including a clause that calls for deferring the standard if Oregon’s fuel prices become substantially higher than in neighborinh states.
The program will expir in 2015 if not reauthorized by the The bill also gives the state Environmental Quality Commissiohn the authority to require that mechanics checki tire pressure and fill tiresas necessary, unlesd the service station doesn’t have a compressor. The commissiohn will also consider measures to improve the aerodynamic efficiencyof heavy- and medium-dutyy trucks.
The so-called “low-carbon fuel passed the Senate bya 16-14 vote on Wednesday after previouslh passing in the House. Gov. Ted Kulongosko intends to signthe “This is the most significant step taken this sessionh to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in everyu corner of the state,” Kulongoski said in a “Establishing a low carbon fuel standard will not only resulyt in cleaner burning gasoline for all of our but will also encourage the development of new, renewabl and lower emission transportation fuels.
” Rather than mandatin a specific fuel type, the bill allows fuel providers to determine on their own how to meet the That means a diesel producer couled choose to mix more low-carbon biodiesepl into their fuel, while other providers couled choose to buy creditsw from electric utilities that supplyy low-carbon electrons to electric The legislation includes some consumer including a clause that calls for deferring the standard if Oregon’s fuel prices become substantially higher than in neighborinh states.
The program will expir in 2015 if not reauthorized by the The bill also gives the state Environmental Quality Commissiohn the authority to require that mechanics checki tire pressure and fill tiresas necessary, unlesd the service station doesn’t have a compressor. The commissiohn will also consider measures to improve the aerodynamic efficiencyof heavy- and medium-dutyy trucks.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Newmark Homes Houston buying local TOUSA assets - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:
lydiryl.wordpress.com
TOUSA plans to complete and sell all homes currentl yunder construction. Moody said the new company will beprivatelg held, locally owned and financed. “Ouer management team has over 70 combined experience,” he said. The new companyh plans to build 60 homes ranging in pricefrom $160,000 to more than $600,00 in the first 60 days of operation, which will officially begin June 15. Moody said 55 employees of TOUSA will remainm with the new company after TOUSA winde down its localbusiness operations. TOUSA’d predecessor company was founded in Houston in 1983 as and completeds an initial public offering in March 1998. In December 1999, TOUSA Inc.
acquirefd 80 percent of Newmark’se stock. TOUSA Inc. also acquired 100 percengt of then-public in November 2000. On June 25, Engle merged with Newmark, and the mergecd company changed its name toTOUSA Inc. In Hollywood, Fla.-based TOUSA (Pink TOUSQ) told the it plannexd to lay off 156 people in the Houston area from its Newmarjk Homes brand beginning May 22 due to the downturnn in thehousing market.
TOUSA plans to complete and sell all homes currentl yunder construction. Moody said the new company will beprivatelg held, locally owned and financed. “Ouer management team has over 70 combined experience,” he said. The new companyh plans to build 60 homes ranging in pricefrom $160,000 to more than $600,00 in the first 60 days of operation, which will officially begin June 15. Moody said 55 employees of TOUSA will remainm with the new company after TOUSA winde down its localbusiness operations. TOUSA’d predecessor company was founded in Houston in 1983 as and completeds an initial public offering in March 1998. In December 1999, TOUSA Inc.
acquirefd 80 percent of Newmark’se stock. TOUSA Inc. also acquired 100 percengt of then-public in November 2000. On June 25, Engle merged with Newmark, and the mergecd company changed its name toTOUSA Inc. In Hollywood, Fla.-based TOUSA (Pink TOUSQ) told the it plannexd to lay off 156 people in the Houston area from its Newmarjk Homes brand beginning May 22 due to the downturnn in thehousing market.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
MathStar schedules liquidation vote - Portland Business Journal:
ralawizewy.wordpress.com
The board of Hillsboro-based MathStae (PINK SHEETS: MATH), a fabless semiconductor company, recommends voting against theliquidation proposal. MathStar shut down operatione more than a year ago and company officials have said they hope to merg with another semiconductor But severalshareholders — including the company’s two largest have urged MathStar to Dallas-based investor Joe Gensor said the companhy hasn’t had a shareholder meeting sincee May 22, 2008, and by law must call one withinj 13 months of the previoua meeting. He threatened to take the issuse toDelaware court, where the company is to force a meeting.
But MathStar on Thursday filedx a proxy statement indicating it will hold a shareholdefr meeting on June 29 in Minneapolis whichy will include a voteon Gensor’ss liquidation request. On Monday MathStar received a tender offer from LLC to buy a majority stake in MathSta rfor $1.15 per share in cash a 6.48 percent premium over the previous Friday’s closing price. But Salvatore Muoio, an investmentg fund manager in New York andthe company’s largestf single shareholder with 7.35 percenrt of outstanding shares, said MathStar’s $14 millio n cash balance as of March 31 representz $1.61 per share. MathStaf shares jumped 4.3 percent in morning tradiny to $1.20.
It has a 52-weeko range between 63 cents and $1.73. MathStafr was previously basedin Minneapolis.
The board of Hillsboro-based MathStae (PINK SHEETS: MATH), a fabless semiconductor company, recommends voting against theliquidation proposal. MathStar shut down operatione more than a year ago and company officials have said they hope to merg with another semiconductor But severalshareholders — including the company’s two largest have urged MathStar to Dallas-based investor Joe Gensor said the companhy hasn’t had a shareholder meeting sincee May 22, 2008, and by law must call one withinj 13 months of the previoua meeting. He threatened to take the issuse toDelaware court, where the company is to force a meeting.
But MathStar on Thursday filedx a proxy statement indicating it will hold a shareholdefr meeting on June 29 in Minneapolis whichy will include a voteon Gensor’ss liquidation request. On Monday MathStar received a tender offer from LLC to buy a majority stake in MathSta rfor $1.15 per share in cash a 6.48 percent premium over the previous Friday’s closing price. But Salvatore Muoio, an investmentg fund manager in New York andthe company’s largestf single shareholder with 7.35 percenrt of outstanding shares, said MathStar’s $14 millio n cash balance as of March 31 representz $1.61 per share. MathStaf shares jumped 4.3 percent in morning tradiny to $1.20.
It has a 52-weeko range between 63 cents and $1.73. MathStafr was previously basedin Minneapolis.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Mirabilis companies face $400M fine - Orlando Business Journal:
uhalugupuzyma.blogspot.com
The companies listed in the indictment are doingb business asMirabilis HR, , , and doinb business as Inc. They are charged with conspiracy and wire and could face fines of upto $400 The professional employee organization companies, alont with chief executive Franko Amodeo, would divert payroll taxesa collected from clients to the PEO accountx instead to the , said U.S. Attornet A. Brian Albritton. Taxes totalingb $200 million were never paid tothe IRS, includint $157.8 million in FICA and withholdingy taxes, prosecutors said. Despite proclaiming his innocence Amodeo pleaded guilty to charge of conspiring to commit wire fraud and obstructio of an agencyproceeding Sept. 23.
He faceds 25 years in prison anda $1.25 millionb fine. Amodeo’s sentencing is set for Jan. 16.
The companies listed in the indictment are doingb business asMirabilis HR, , , and doinb business as Inc. They are charged with conspiracy and wire and could face fines of upto $400 The professional employee organization companies, alont with chief executive Franko Amodeo, would divert payroll taxesa collected from clients to the PEO accountx instead to the , said U.S. Attornet A. Brian Albritton. Taxes totalingb $200 million were never paid tothe IRS, includint $157.8 million in FICA and withholdingy taxes, prosecutors said. Despite proclaiming his innocence Amodeo pleaded guilty to charge of conspiring to commit wire fraud and obstructio of an agencyproceeding Sept. 23.
He faceds 25 years in prison anda $1.25 millionb fine. Amodeo’s sentencing is set for Jan. 16.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Cincinnati Restaurants & Cincinnati Dining Guide
bafepexu.wordpress.com
Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 784-1200 $60-$8o per person, with wine One of the nation's few restaurantsd that dry-ages its steaks on premises; downtown's Jeff Ruby'zs has a 1940s-style Art Deco interior. The beef is dry aged in an "exhibition" aging room that is visible from Walnut The wine cellar not only storex 140 differentred wines; it also serves as a privats dining room for 10. Jean-Roberty at Pigall's 127 W. Fourth St.
Cincinnati, OH 45202 721-1345 $75 prix fixe, not includiny wine French-American cuisine in an historicdowntown building; the most upscale of chef Jean-Robert deCavel
Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 784-1200 $60-$8o per person, with wine One of the nation's few restaurantsd that dry-ages its steaks on premises; downtown's Jeff Ruby'zs has a 1940s-style Art Deco interior. The beef is dry aged in an "exhibition" aging room that is visible from Walnut The wine cellar not only storex 140 differentred wines; it also serves as a privats dining room for 10. Jean-Roberty at Pigall's 127 W. Fourth St.
Cincinnati, OH 45202 721-1345 $75 prix fixe, not includiny wine French-American cuisine in an historicdowntown building; the most upscale of chef Jean-Robert deCavel
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Intel to buy Wind River for $884M - San Francisco Business Times:
laxykeha.wordpress.com
Intel's $11.50-per-share offer is about a 44 percentr premium overWind River's closing pricse on Wednesday of $8. Wind Riverd stock lost more than half its value betweena 52-weekm high of $12.99 last Augusr and a low of $5.61 in March. The stoci closed Thursday at $11.72, up 47 percent. Santa Clara-basecd Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) said buying Alameda-based Wind Rive r (NASDAQ:WIND) will help it expand its software into thousands of embeddedr systems and mobile devices includingsmart in-car "info-tainment" systems, aerospace and defense, energy and thousands of otherr uses.
Wind River will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary aftef the deal closes duringthe summer, reporting to Reneed James, head of Intel’s software and services "Our combination of strengths will be of greaty benefit to Wind River’s existingh and future customers," said Ken Wind River chairman, president and CEO. Foundeds in 1981, Wind River has more than 1,600 employees and operations in more than 15 During its fiscal yearenderd Jan. 31, Wind River reported $10.7 million in net incomre on annual revenueof $359.7 million. The company on Thursday posted a 21 percent increase in netincome $561,000, or 1 cent a share, for its firsg quarter despite a 6.
5 percenf drop in revenue to $63.8 million.
Intel's $11.50-per-share offer is about a 44 percentr premium overWind River's closing pricse on Wednesday of $8. Wind Riverd stock lost more than half its value betweena 52-weekm high of $12.99 last Augusr and a low of $5.61 in March. The stoci closed Thursday at $11.72, up 47 percent. Santa Clara-basecd Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) said buying Alameda-based Wind Rive r (NASDAQ:WIND) will help it expand its software into thousands of embeddedr systems and mobile devices includingsmart in-car "info-tainment" systems, aerospace and defense, energy and thousands of otherr uses.
Wind River will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary aftef the deal closes duringthe summer, reporting to Reneed James, head of Intel’s software and services "Our combination of strengths will be of greaty benefit to Wind River’s existingh and future customers," said Ken Wind River chairman, president and CEO. Foundeds in 1981, Wind River has more than 1,600 employees and operations in more than 15 During its fiscal yearenderd Jan. 31, Wind River reported $10.7 million in net incomre on annual revenueof $359.7 million. The company on Thursday posted a 21 percent increase in netincome $561,000, or 1 cent a share, for its firsg quarter despite a 6.
5 percenf drop in revenue to $63.8 million.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
U.S. Chamber economist: Get ready for another recession - New Mexico Business Weekly:
zyluzugizovota.blogspot.com
Those odds may seem low, but they’rs actually high since double-dip recessionx are rare and the U.S. economyu grows 95 percent of the saidthe chamber’s Marty Regalia. He predictes the current economic downturn will end around but the unemployment rate will remain high through the firstr half ofnext year. Investment won’gt snap back as quickly as it usuallhy does aftera recession, Regalia said. Inflation, looms as a potentiall problem because of thefederal government’s huge budget deficit s and the massive amount of dollars pumped into the econom by the Federal Reserve, he said.
If this stimuluxs is not unwound once the economy beginszto recover, higher interest ratees could choke off improvement in the housing market and businesxs investment, he said. “The economy has got to be running on its own by the middlre ofnext year,” Regalia said. Almost every major inflationaru periodin U.S. history was preceded by heavu debt levels, he noted. The chanceds of a double-dip recession will be lower if Ben Bernankde is reappointed chairman of theFederal Reserve, Regalia If President Barack Obama appointx his economic adviser Larry Summers to chaid the Fed, that would signal the monetaryu spigot would remain open for a longer he said.
A coalescinh of the Fed and the Obama administrationis “not somethinhg the markets want to Regalia said. Obama has declinedr to say whether he willreappoint Bernanke, whosd term ends in February. Meanwhile, more than half of small busines s owners expect the recession to last at leastf anothertwo years, according to a survey of Intuift Payroll customers. But 61 percent expect their own business to grow in the next12 “Small business owners are bullish on theif own abilities, but bearisuh on the factors they can’t said Cameron Schmidt, director of marketinv for Intuit Employee Management “Even in the gloomiest economy theree are opportunities to seize.
” A separate survey of small business owners by Discovedr Financial Services found that 57 percent thoughft the economy was getting worse, while 26 perceng thought the economy was improving. More than half plannee to decrease spending on business development in the nextsix
Those odds may seem low, but they’rs actually high since double-dip recessionx are rare and the U.S. economyu grows 95 percent of the saidthe chamber’s Marty Regalia. He predictes the current economic downturn will end around but the unemployment rate will remain high through the firstr half ofnext year. Investment won’gt snap back as quickly as it usuallhy does aftera recession, Regalia said. Inflation, looms as a potentiall problem because of thefederal government’s huge budget deficit s and the massive amount of dollars pumped into the econom by the Federal Reserve, he said.
If this stimuluxs is not unwound once the economy beginszto recover, higher interest ratees could choke off improvement in the housing market and businesxs investment, he said. “The economy has got to be running on its own by the middlre ofnext year,” Regalia said. Almost every major inflationaru periodin U.S. history was preceded by heavu debt levels, he noted. The chanceds of a double-dip recession will be lower if Ben Bernankde is reappointed chairman of theFederal Reserve, Regalia If President Barack Obama appointx his economic adviser Larry Summers to chaid the Fed, that would signal the monetaryu spigot would remain open for a longer he said.
A coalescinh of the Fed and the Obama administrationis “not somethinhg the markets want to Regalia said. Obama has declinedr to say whether he willreappoint Bernanke, whosd term ends in February. Meanwhile, more than half of small busines s owners expect the recession to last at leastf anothertwo years, according to a survey of Intuift Payroll customers. But 61 percent expect their own business to grow in the next12 “Small business owners are bullish on theif own abilities, but bearisuh on the factors they can’t said Cameron Schmidt, director of marketinv for Intuit Employee Management “Even in the gloomiest economy theree are opportunities to seize.
” A separate survey of small business owners by Discovedr Financial Services found that 57 percent thoughft the economy was getting worse, while 26 perceng thought the economy was improving. More than half plannee to decrease spending on business development in the nextsix
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Four Earthquakes Rattle Guatemala (Photos) - International Business Times
doqujamup.wordpress.com
Globe and Mail | Four Earthquakes Rattle Guatemala (Photos) International Business Times By IBTimes Staff Reporter | Sep 20, 2011 08:11 AM EDT Four earthquakes of magnitudes 5.8, 4.5 and 4.8 hit southern Guatemala on Monday, killing at least three persons. The four earthquakes continuously struck Guatemala within two and a half hours. ... Earthquakes rattle Guatemala, kill 3 |
Sunday, September 18, 2011
City extends kill date on stadium deal - Business First of Louisville:
obesonuqa.wordpress.com
The date was changed to July 15, from July 1, aftefr , which is providinhg a $100 million letter of credit toward the asked to modify the terms of its County commissioners are to meet Friday toconside Wachovia's request to change the date of when the bank'xs fees are to be paid. Wachovia is asking it be paid its fees instead of after debt and reserve paymentzare made, as stipulated under the current In a 3-2 vote the city commissioners approved the following: Allow the terminatiojn date to be moved to July 15. Give the countu until July 17 to terminatse the deal if it has not closed on the bond Extend the date forthe city’w $13 million contribution to July 17.
Amend the provisiojn to allow the city to suspend deposi of its contribution to the project if there is a delaty dueto litigation. Amend the warranty deed for the stadium site so that it woulrd revert back tocity ownership, if the deal is terminated. In Miami-Dade County commissioners approved issuing bonds totalint a maximumof $536 million towardr construction of the $640 million, 37,000-seat ballpark. On Monday, opponentss of the financing deal filed a motion to stop thebond sale, prompting Miami-Dade to push back the sale of its bond by two On Thursday, Miami-Dade County Circuit Court Judge Lawrencw A. Schwartz heard argments from both sides regarding the emergency motion.
He said he would try to issuw an order by no latefthan Monday. Grace Solare s and Elvis Cruz, who filed suit in February, are behind that The motion for injunction allegesz the county is exceeding its constitutional tax and spendingb powers by issuing bonds tied to the professionaklsports tax/tourist development tax. The plaintiffs contend that the county is inappropriately using the current bond to repa y a prior bond issuedin 1992. As a resuly of the motion, and to avoid a clous that could affect interest rates on the the county pushed back the bondsale Miami-Dade spokeswoman Vicki Mallette said Monday.
The date was changed to July 15, from July 1, aftefr , which is providinhg a $100 million letter of credit toward the asked to modify the terms of its County commissioners are to meet Friday toconside Wachovia's request to change the date of when the bank'xs fees are to be paid. Wachovia is asking it be paid its fees instead of after debt and reserve paymentzare made, as stipulated under the current In a 3-2 vote the city commissioners approved the following: Allow the terminatiojn date to be moved to July 15. Give the countu until July 17 to terminatse the deal if it has not closed on the bond Extend the date forthe city’w $13 million contribution to July 17.
Amend the provisiojn to allow the city to suspend deposi of its contribution to the project if there is a delaty dueto litigation. Amend the warranty deed for the stadium site so that it woulrd revert back tocity ownership, if the deal is terminated. In Miami-Dade County commissioners approved issuing bonds totalint a maximumof $536 million towardr construction of the $640 million, 37,000-seat ballpark. On Monday, opponentss of the financing deal filed a motion to stop thebond sale, prompting Miami-Dade to push back the sale of its bond by two On Thursday, Miami-Dade County Circuit Court Judge Lawrencw A. Schwartz heard argments from both sides regarding the emergency motion.
He said he would try to issuw an order by no latefthan Monday. Grace Solare s and Elvis Cruz, who filed suit in February, are behind that The motion for injunction allegesz the county is exceeding its constitutional tax and spendingb powers by issuing bonds tied to the professionaklsports tax/tourist development tax. The plaintiffs contend that the county is inappropriately using the current bond to repa y a prior bond issuedin 1992. As a resuly of the motion, and to avoid a clous that could affect interest rates on the the county pushed back the bondsale Miami-Dade spokeswoman Vicki Mallette said Monday.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Hints From Heloise: The scrubbing power of nylon net - Washington Post
cicugaha.wordpress.com
Hints From Heloise: The scrubbing power of nylon net Washington Post By Heloise, Dear Heloise: I recall that years ago your mom used nylon net to make cleaning scrubbers that didn't scratch. Can you tell me how she did this? -- Eleanor, via e-mail Happy to, Eleanor! The Heloise net scrubbers are easy to make. ... |
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Hercules taps Richmond development director for city manager post - San Jose Mercury News
fishermen-americachair.blogspot.com
Hercules taps Richmond development director for city manager post San Jose Mercury News Hercules Mayor Myrna de Vera announced the City Council's unanimous choice of Duran following a closed session preceding Tuesday's regular council meeting. Duran said he likely will take the helm in Hercules next month. The Hercules city staff is ... |
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Mother tongue actually comes from prehistoric fathers: Study - Times of India
hyperwave-exhausted.blogspot.com
Mother tongue actually comes from prehistoric fathers: Study Times of India PTI | Sep 12, 2011, 06.54AM IST LONDON: Language change among our prehistoric ancestors came about via the arrival of immigrant men - rather than women - into new settlements, according to a new research . The claim is made by two University of ... |
Friday, September 9, 2011
Is Apple preparing a legal assault on Google over Android? - InfoWorld
http://www.theinsyderz.com/2002/italiano/scheda-laghi-idregione7idlago1.html
Is Apple preparing a legal assault on Google over Android? InfoWorld Apple could well be preparing to sue Google, which means going nuclear in the ugly mobile patent war that's roiling and distracting the industry. "In legal terms, since Rubin never worked for HTC, this doesn't have nearly as much weight in the ITC ... |
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Credit card processing company grows business by evolving strategy - Sacramento Business Journal:
pabigy.wordpress.com
Henry Helgeson and Scott Zdanis establishec the company in 1998 as a reseller of credif card processing terminals overthe Internet. To a smallef extent the company provided processing of credit card But as margin compression made equipmenrt salesless profitable, the partners respondeds by ramping up processinh services. Today, its processing servicese constitute 90 percent of its total gross while equipment and software sales are10 percent. Business has been so brisk — it signed up 2,300 new customers in Aprilp alone — that the company is planninh to increase its sales forcer by 30 percent or 40 percent withijn the next60 days.
“We basicallt are getting more businesses trying to signup (for our services) than we have the capacity for, and we’rse trying to staff up for that as quickly as says Helgeson, 34, who serves as president and co-CEO. Co-founder Zdanis has since moved to Miami and plays a less active role in the Merchant Warehouse acts asa third-party processor, facilitating payment transactions between merchants and credit card essentially by getting money off of the consumer’s credit card and into the business’s bank account. Its residual-basedd business model makes money by charging for that servic e oneach transaction.
Since its inception, the 150-employer company estimates serving a cumulative totaol of morethan 87,000 customersw nationwide — primarily small and medium-size about 56,000 are active accounts right now, with most of the attritionj due to companies going out of business, Helgesobn notes. Today, Merchant Warehouswe is processing morethan 3.5 millionm payment transactions per month. Aftet hitting $27.3 million in revenue in 2008, the company is shootintg for $32 million to $34 millio this year. Helgeson says Merchant Warehouse has also benefited by becomingv more ofa technology-drivebn company.
“When we started to hire our own softwar e developers and build ourown infrastructure, as far as computef systems and technology to run this office, that reallgy put us into a hyper-growtjh mode,” he says. Five years ago, the compangy hired its first softwarr developer. It subsequently built its own sophisticated customer relationship managementsystem in-house that has enabled the company to better measure the performance of its accounts and And 18 months ago, it completede the development of the necessary infrastructur to begin processing some transactions througu its own electronic gateway here in Boston.
It continuee to utilize three large outside firms to assisy in processing the bulk ofthe transactions. The companh also works with a pool of about100 point-of-salre system resellers, who oftenj refer business to Merchant Warehouse. The company has also used technology to innovate its services in an industry where Helgeson says the competitionis fierce. “Ouer industry has been prettt much plain, vanilla credit and debit processing,” Helgeson says. “We had to look at it and say, ‘What can we do here to differentiated ourselves?
’ ” For instance, it offers wirelessz credit card processing services to iPhone and BlackBerry users who have installec its software applications on their Those mobile merchants now represent 10 percenf to 15 percent ofthe company’s new accounts. It has also partnereed with another company, , to develop a card readetr that encrypts the credit card numberr as it is being swiped to help prevent security breaches.
“They’re a very impressive group,” says Steve vice president of , an Atlanta-based firm that Merchant Warehousse has engaged for some of its processing services for many He attributesthe firm’s growtgh to “some very shrewd investments in technology and being ahead of the curvse in terms of technology and how to use it to drived traffic (to their business), and training their saleas reps to capitalize on that
Henry Helgeson and Scott Zdanis establishec the company in 1998 as a reseller of credif card processing terminals overthe Internet. To a smallef extent the company provided processing of credit card But as margin compression made equipmenrt salesless profitable, the partners respondeds by ramping up processinh services. Today, its processing servicese constitute 90 percent of its total gross while equipment and software sales are10 percent. Business has been so brisk — it signed up 2,300 new customers in Aprilp alone — that the company is planninh to increase its sales forcer by 30 percent or 40 percent withijn the next60 days.
“We basicallt are getting more businesses trying to signup (for our services) than we have the capacity for, and we’rse trying to staff up for that as quickly as says Helgeson, 34, who serves as president and co-CEO. Co-founder Zdanis has since moved to Miami and plays a less active role in the Merchant Warehouse acts asa third-party processor, facilitating payment transactions between merchants and credit card essentially by getting money off of the consumer’s credit card and into the business’s bank account. Its residual-basedd business model makes money by charging for that servic e oneach transaction.
Since its inception, the 150-employer company estimates serving a cumulative totaol of morethan 87,000 customersw nationwide — primarily small and medium-size about 56,000 are active accounts right now, with most of the attritionj due to companies going out of business, Helgesobn notes. Today, Merchant Warehouswe is processing morethan 3.5 millionm payment transactions per month. Aftet hitting $27.3 million in revenue in 2008, the company is shootintg for $32 million to $34 millio this year. Helgeson says Merchant Warehouse has also benefited by becomingv more ofa technology-drivebn company.
“When we started to hire our own softwar e developers and build ourown infrastructure, as far as computef systems and technology to run this office, that reallgy put us into a hyper-growtjh mode,” he says. Five years ago, the compangy hired its first softwarr developer. It subsequently built its own sophisticated customer relationship managementsystem in-house that has enabled the company to better measure the performance of its accounts and And 18 months ago, it completede the development of the necessary infrastructur to begin processing some transactions througu its own electronic gateway here in Boston.
It continuee to utilize three large outside firms to assisy in processing the bulk ofthe transactions. The companh also works with a pool of about100 point-of-salre system resellers, who oftenj refer business to Merchant Warehouse. The company has also used technology to innovate its services in an industry where Helgeson says the competitionis fierce. “Ouer industry has been prettt much plain, vanilla credit and debit processing,” Helgeson says. “We had to look at it and say, ‘What can we do here to differentiated ourselves?
’ ” For instance, it offers wirelessz credit card processing services to iPhone and BlackBerry users who have installec its software applications on their Those mobile merchants now represent 10 percenf to 15 percent ofthe company’s new accounts. It has also partnereed with another company, , to develop a card readetr that encrypts the credit card numberr as it is being swiped to help prevent security breaches.
“They’re a very impressive group,” says Steve vice president of , an Atlanta-based firm that Merchant Warehousse has engaged for some of its processing services for many He attributesthe firm’s growtgh to “some very shrewd investments in technology and being ahead of the curvse in terms of technology and how to use it to drived traffic (to their business), and training their saleas reps to capitalize on that
Monday, September 5, 2011
Stephen Garcia to the rescue for Gamecocks - ESPN (blog)
http://exhumator.com/00-130-00_esoteric-religious-spiritual-judaism-orthodox.html
ABC News | Stephen Garcia to the rescue for Gamecocks ESPN (blog) The fumbles have been popping out at a dizzying pace, and for a while, it looked like No. 12-ranked South Carolina's bubble might be popped. The fifth-year senior quarterback didn't start the game, but came off the bench in the second ... South Carolina's b » |
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Tech watch - Reuters
disadvantage-unlimited.blogspot.com
Reuters | Tech watch Reuters The Heliodome, a bioclimatic solar house is seen in Cosswiller in the Alsacian countryside near Strasbourg, Eastern France, August 4, 2011. The house is designed as a giant three-dimensional sundial, set on a fixed angle in relationship to the sun's ... |
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Starbucks wins California tip-pooling case appeal - Los Angeles Business from bizjournals:
yzirapogyg.wordpress.com
A class-action lawsuit brought by Jou Chau, a formerr barista for Starbucks (Nasdaq: SBUX), alleged that the coffee chain’s policy allowing shift supervisors to share in tip moneu that customers place in jars violated Californislabor laws. A San Diego lower court sidef with Chau in the suit and awardede morethan $86 million in damagess but on Tuesday, that ruling was overturned. “We conclude the triao court erred in rulingthat Starbucks'ss tip-allocation policy violated California law.
The applicabl statutes do not prohibit Starbucks from permittingg shift supervisors to share in the proceeds placed in collectivstip boxes,” wrote Fourth Appellate District Court judges, in theid decision. Chau alleged that Starbucks’ shift supervisor s should be considered managers and not eligiblfor tip-sharing. Shift supervisors perform various dutiesd atthe company’s stores, such as making coffee drinks, cleaninb tables, cleaning bathrooms and working the cash and Chau said they shouldn’ty be allowed to share in the tips collected in the plastic containeras at each store location.
The lowert court awarded more than $86 million in damages plus with the total award estimated at morethan $100 Starbucks countered that all baristas and shifr supervisors are eligible to share in tips, and the appeals courtf agreed. “It is undisputed here that the tippingv public intended to collectively tip both the baristas and the shiftysupervisors — for their work as a ‘team,’” wrotre the appeals court.
A class-action lawsuit brought by Jou Chau, a formerr barista for Starbucks (Nasdaq: SBUX), alleged that the coffee chain’s policy allowing shift supervisors to share in tip moneu that customers place in jars violated Californislabor laws. A San Diego lower court sidef with Chau in the suit and awardede morethan $86 million in damagess but on Tuesday, that ruling was overturned. “We conclude the triao court erred in rulingthat Starbucks'ss tip-allocation policy violated California law.
The applicabl statutes do not prohibit Starbucks from permittingg shift supervisors to share in the proceeds placed in collectivstip boxes,” wrote Fourth Appellate District Court judges, in theid decision. Chau alleged that Starbucks’ shift supervisor s should be considered managers and not eligiblfor tip-sharing. Shift supervisors perform various dutiesd atthe company’s stores, such as making coffee drinks, cleaninb tables, cleaning bathrooms and working the cash and Chau said they shouldn’ty be allowed to share in the tips collected in the plastic containeras at each store location.
The lowert court awarded more than $86 million in damages plus with the total award estimated at morethan $100 Starbucks countered that all baristas and shifr supervisors are eligible to share in tips, and the appeals courtf agreed. “It is undisputed here that the tippingv public intended to collectively tip both the baristas and the shiftysupervisors — for their work as a ‘team,’” wrotre the appeals court.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Hemispherx getting closer to satisfying application issues - Philadelphia Business Journal:
adatynu.wordpress.com
In December, the Food and Drug Administratioj told Hemispherx its application forAmpligen -- a controversial new drug candidated that has been underf development for more than three decaded -- was incomplete. Hemispherx officials said part of the problem with its filingf was tied to changes in clinicao data reporting guidelines that have occurred since the initial studies on Ampligen were conductexd in the late 1980s and early The company has subsequently submitted a clarifyin amendment to its application and hada face-to-face meetinyg with FDA officials. Hemispherx, led by Dr.
Williamk Carter, said it has reducefd the number of items it now must accomplish to submirt a complete NDA from the originalp 14to five. The companyy said it plans to address the remaining five items through a series of additiona amendments to its new drug The unresolved items all relatwto clarifying, or providingh additional, clinical trial data. "While the compangy is optimistic as to the progrese of theNDA filing, there are no assurances that the FDA will accepft the amended NDA for review, and if acceptedx there are no assurances that the NDA will be Hemispherx said in a statement.
Hemispherx's submission includes study data covering morethan 1,20o0 patients who were administered more than 90,000 dosesa of Ampligen. BioNJ is joining forces with the New York Biotechnology Association for a networking cruise on theHudsonn River. The "NewX2 BioCruise" will take placer March 25 aboard the World Yacht Princess Sol Barer, chairman and CEO of Celgene Corp., and Colin CEO of OSI Pharmaceuticals, will be the featuree speakers for the events. Tickets are $150 for memberws of the biotech trade groupsand $105 for nonmembers ... of Fort Washingtonn hired Dr. Richard Gregg as chief science officer.
Gregfg was previously with Bristol where he was vice president of clinical discovery. Gregg's appointment is part of a formal succession plan to allowVitae co-founder Dr. Jack Baldwi to step back from day-to-day oversight of the company'e research programs and focus onthe Vitae'zs long-term strategic, scientific and technica planning ... Joel F. Smituh was named chairman of Elkins Park-based BioStrategty Partners Inc., a nonprofit servic e organization thatassists early-stage life sciences companies in the region. Smithg succeeds former chairwomanPatricia Weeks, who recently retired as vice presidentf of planning and business development at .
Weekz was named chair emeritus of Smith is principaland co-founderr of The People Source Group, a human resources and information technology consulting firm based in Maple Glen ... of Malvernj initiated of a multicenter clinical trial for Reslizumab, its experimental treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis in pediatricf patients. Eosinophilic esophagitis, a condition for which there isno cure, is a chronic inflammatory diseasse characterized by difficulty swallowing, stomach or chest pain, and a failure to thrive. Ception's goal is to enroll about 172 patientsz intoits phase-II/III clinica trial.
Phase III trials are the last step a companh takes before seeking approval for a new drugcandidate ... received notification from the NASDAQ stockk market that the company has regainede compliancewith NASDAQ's $1 minimumk bid price requirement for continuex listing. The Montgomeryville medical device maker had till May 19 to regaih compliance with the minimujm bidprice rule.
In December, the Food and Drug Administratioj told Hemispherx its application forAmpligen -- a controversial new drug candidated that has been underf development for more than three decaded -- was incomplete. Hemispherx officials said part of the problem with its filingf was tied to changes in clinicao data reporting guidelines that have occurred since the initial studies on Ampligen were conductexd in the late 1980s and early The company has subsequently submitted a clarifyin amendment to its application and hada face-to-face meetinyg with FDA officials. Hemispherx, led by Dr.
Williamk Carter, said it has reducefd the number of items it now must accomplish to submirt a complete NDA from the originalp 14to five. The companyy said it plans to address the remaining five items through a series of additiona amendments to its new drug The unresolved items all relatwto clarifying, or providingh additional, clinical trial data. "While the compangy is optimistic as to the progrese of theNDA filing, there are no assurances that the FDA will accepft the amended NDA for review, and if acceptedx there are no assurances that the NDA will be Hemispherx said in a statement.
Hemispherx's submission includes study data covering morethan 1,20o0 patients who were administered more than 90,000 dosesa of Ampligen. BioNJ is joining forces with the New York Biotechnology Association for a networking cruise on theHudsonn River. The "NewX2 BioCruise" will take placer March 25 aboard the World Yacht Princess Sol Barer, chairman and CEO of Celgene Corp., and Colin CEO of OSI Pharmaceuticals, will be the featuree speakers for the events. Tickets are $150 for memberws of the biotech trade groupsand $105 for nonmembers ... of Fort Washingtonn hired Dr. Richard Gregg as chief science officer.
Gregfg was previously with Bristol where he was vice president of clinical discovery. Gregg's appointment is part of a formal succession plan to allowVitae co-founder Dr. Jack Baldwi to step back from day-to-day oversight of the company'e research programs and focus onthe Vitae'zs long-term strategic, scientific and technica planning ... Joel F. Smituh was named chairman of Elkins Park-based BioStrategty Partners Inc., a nonprofit servic e organization thatassists early-stage life sciences companies in the region. Smithg succeeds former chairwomanPatricia Weeks, who recently retired as vice presidentf of planning and business development at .
Weekz was named chair emeritus of Smith is principaland co-founderr of The People Source Group, a human resources and information technology consulting firm based in Maple Glen ... of Malvernj initiated of a multicenter clinical trial for Reslizumab, its experimental treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis in pediatricf patients. Eosinophilic esophagitis, a condition for which there isno cure, is a chronic inflammatory diseasse characterized by difficulty swallowing, stomach or chest pain, and a failure to thrive. Ception's goal is to enroll about 172 patientsz intoits phase-II/III clinica trial.
Phase III trials are the last step a companh takes before seeking approval for a new drugcandidate ... received notification from the NASDAQ stockk market that the company has regainede compliancewith NASDAQ's $1 minimumk bid price requirement for continuex listing. The Montgomeryville medical device maker had till May 19 to regaih compliance with the minimujm bidprice rule.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)