Smart Furniture Studio Will Feature Eames Demetrios in Opening
Reception of Traveling Exhibit Honoring Photography of Herman Miller
Modern Furniture Design Icon Charles Eames
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — SmartFurniture.com®
is proud to announce that its Chattanooga based Smart
Furniture Studio will host The
Gifted Eye of Charles Eames, a traveling exhibition of Charles
Eames’ personal photography, published by the Eames Office and
commissioned by Herman
Miller® (MLHR) to
celebrate the 100th anniversary of his birth.
The Gifted Eye of Charles Eames Exhibit will open at the Smart Furniture
Studio in Chattanooga, Tennessee on February 4th. Smart Furniture will
host a reception for the exhibit which will feature a presentation by
Eames Demetrios, principal of the Eames Office and grandson of Charles
and Ray Eames.
The Smart Furniture Studio will host the Gifted Eye of Charles Eames
Exhibit from February 4th through March 4th.
Charles Eames, together with his wife and design partner, Ray Eames, are
among the most influential American designers of the 20th Century. They
are best known for their groundbreaking contributions to furniture
design, including the Eames
Lounge Chair,
Eames Aluminum Office Chairs, Molded
Plastic Chair Collection, as well as architecture, industrial design
and manufacturing, textiles, and the photographic arts. For the Eameses,
and particularly Charles, photography was not merely a way to record
things; it was a part of the process of design. Charles had an
incredible eye for detail and this is evident in his photography.
Smart Furniture Studio Will Feature Eames Demetrios in Opening
Reception of Traveling Exhibit Honoring Photography of Herman Miller
Modern Furniture Design Icon Charles Eames
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — SmartFurniture.com®
is proud to announce that its Chattanooga based Smart
Furniture Studio will host The
Gifted Eye of Charles Eames, a traveling exhibition of Charles
Eames’ personal photography, published by the Eames Office and
commissioned by Herman
Miller® (MLHR) to
celebrate the 100th anniversary of his birth.
The Gifted Eye of Charles Eames Exhibit will open at the Smart Furniture
Studio in Chattanooga, Tennessee on February 4th. Smart Furniture will
host a reception for the exhibit which will feature a presentation by
Eames Demetrios, principal of the Eames Office and grandson of Charles
and Ray Eames.
The Smart Furniture Studio will host the Gifted Eye of Charles Eames
Exhibit from February 4th through March 4th.
Charles Eames, together with his wife and design partner, Ray Eames, are
among the most influential American designers of the 20th Century. They
are best known for their groundbreaking contributions to furniture
design, including the Eames
Lounge Chair,
Eames Aluminum Office Chairs, Molded
Plastic Chair Collection, as well as architecture, industrial design
and manufacturing, textiles, and the photographic arts. For the Eameses,
and particularly Charles, photography was not merely a way to record
things; it was a part of the process of design. Charles had an
incredible eye for detail and this is evident in his photography.
BEN MARSHALLS first goal of his loan spell rescued a point for Carlisle as Huddersfield lost ground on the play-off places. The visitors dominated the first half and almost took an early lead when Danny Livesey hit the bar with a header.
BARNSLEY 1 WATFORD 0 Hallfredsson 55 EMIL Hallfredsson fired Barnsley to a second straight win to spark some talk of a Championship play-off push at Oakwell. The Icelandic midfielder capped a slick move from the hosts by smashing his third goal of the season to sink Watford. Barnsley played the last 15 minutes with 10 men after Ryan Shotton was sent off for a foul on Lloyd Doyley. But they held out for the victory to move just three points off the top six.
BRISTOL CITY 1 COVENTRY 1 Clarkson 83 Bell 47 A LATE strike from David Clarkson (below) rescued Bristol City and denied Coventry their first Coca-Cola Championship victory in their last five games. David Bells first Championship goal of the season just after half-time looked to have given the Sky Blues a fortunate victory. But substitute Clarkson fired home seven minutes from time to salvage a point for the Robins, who missed a hatful of chances to secure all three points. But Westwood had to be alert to keep out Jamie McAllisters left- foot strike with his feet after 31 minutes as the home side pressed for the opening goal. Marvin Elliott then had a chance to put Gary Johnsons side in front just before half-time but he failed to get enough power on his shot and Westwood made the save.
WARRIORS VS. OKLAHOMA CITY
LOS ANGELES — Chauncey Billups tied his career-high with 37 points, including nine 3-pointers, and the Denver Nuggets defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 126-113 Friday night, ending the Lakers eight-game home winning streak. Billups was 12 of 20 from the floor, 9 of 13 from 3-point range and made 6 of 8 free throws to go with eight assists for the Nuggets, who played without Carmelo Anthony for the seventh straight game. CELTICS 96, NETS 87: At Boston, Eddie House scored all 10 of his points in the fourth quarter, helping the Celtics overcome a slow start and pull away. PACERS 107, PISTONS 83: At Indianapolis, Danny Granger scored 25 points and Brandon Rush added 16 to help Indiana to a lopsided win over Detroit.
Georgia Patients to Join Dialysis Patient Citizens in Asking
Lawmakers to Support Legislation – S.B. 316 – Providing Access to
Medigap Secondary Insurance to Improve Georgia Kidney Patients’ Health
and Reduce the Medicaid Burden on State Taxpayers
ATLANTA — On Tuesday, February 9, kidney patients from across the state of Georgia
will join Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) – a national, non-profit,
patient-led organization representing approximately 1,300 members in
Georgia and 22,000 members nationwide – in holding a briefing at the
State Capitol, followed by a series of meetings with lawmakers and
staff, urging the passage of key legislation this year that would help
thousands of Georgia’s kidney failure patients who are struggling to
access health insurance for the medical care they need.
The legislation – S.B. 316, sponsored by State Senators Don Thomas
(R-Dalton) and Ed Harbison (D-Columbus) – would provide the opportunity
for approximately 2,000 Georgia end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients
and disabled patients under the age of 65 to access Medigap secondary
coverage. Under current federal law, all Medicare beneficiaries over the
age of 65 are already able to purchase Medigap, which provides them with
access to needed medical treatments, including kidney transplant,
without cost being a barrier. Patients and kidney care advocates will
ask lawmakers to extend the same coverage to Georgia’s ESRD and disabled
Medicare beneficiaries under age 65.
If Georgia passes this important legislation, fewer people will be
forced to “spend down” their assets to enter the state Medicaid program,
resulting in Medicaid savings of up to
$20 million over the next five years for Georgia and protecting
taxpayers from higher program costs.
COMPLICATION INSURANCE® Provides Financial Security for Surgical
Patients
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Surgical Risk Solutions, LLC announced today the introduction of a
unique new insurance product designed to provide financial resources to
surgical patients in the event that they have adverse outcomes following
surgery. COMPLICATION
INSURANCE® is a patent-pending insurance product that provides
accidental death and dismemberment insurance to patients at a reasonable
cost.
“Every surgery, no matter how minor, comes with risks. Fear of an
unforeseen adverse outcome is every patient’s concern,” says Andrew
Kagan, Chief Executive Officer of Surgical Risk Solutions (SRS). “What
will happen to my family if my recovery is delayed or if I don’t
survive? What can I do to protect my family from financial problems if
my medical expenses balloon? What if I am not around to provide for
them? COMPLICATION INSURANCE® provides an easy
and affordable way to assure that additional money is available to help
offset unexpected costs. Most importantly, this policy pays whether
or not there is medical error or fault involved in a covered accident.
Having COMPLICATION INSURANCE® in place provides peace of
mind for both the patient and his family.
Kagan developed the concept for COMPLICATION INSURANCE® after he
heard about a Florida man who died from a blood clot following a total
joint replacement. The man’s family filed a lawsuit but lost at trial
after the jury ruled that the physician had done nothing wrong. “The
family spent years fighting in court, and they lost everything. They
were broke. It was nobody’s fault that their loved one died,” Kagan
says. “I kept thinking that there should have been some kind of
protection for that family.”
SCOTT BROWN didnt defeat just Martha Coakley in the Massachusetts Senate race. He also defeated a hardy band of political cliches. That Republicans cant win Senate races in deep-blue Massachusetts. That the state is devoted to “the Kennedy legacy.” That the Republican party has become hostage to extremists who would rather lose than support a pro-choice candidate. That the GOP has become a southern regional party. That what Democrats call “healthcare reform” is a fait accompli. That President Obama has magical powers of persuasion. Democrats are blaming Coakley for running a bad campaign. Actually, it was a terrible one. But she had won statewide before, and the local party establishment expressed no alarm when she won the nomination. They either didnt see her flaws or thought that in Massachusetts it wouldnt matter. What made a weak candidate a losing candidate was the national environment. Liberals–some of the same people who chalked up Obamas win to the publics new zeal for progressivism–blame the economy for the public mood. But is it really high unemployment that has moved the public against the health-care legislation, abortion, and gun control? Remember that just a few months ago the conventional wisdom was that a weak economy would build public support for Obamacare. The Massachusetts race was as close to a referendum on that legislation as can reasonably be imagined, and it lost. So another Democratic excuse is making the rounds: Massachusetts is a special case, since it already has near-universal coverage and thus has more to lose than gain from the legislation. But a lot of states, and indeed the whole country, will lose more than gain, and know it. Some Democrats have talked about putting Obamacare into law by having Democratic appointee Paul Kirk vote for it before Brown can be seated. We suspect that move would be too disgraceful to work. But to push the Senate bill through the House and make it law that way would also be to ignore the clear will of even blue-state voters. Democrats will deserve the thrashing they will get if they follow this course.
Nevada officials said the state may drop out of Medicaid if the health-care bill passes. Instead it would help its low-income legal residents participate in the federally subsidized exchanges that the bill would establish. The resulting insurance policies would doubtless be more attractive to beneficiaries than Medicaid is.
HUNT VALLEY, Md. — Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. (NYSE:OHI) (the “Company”) today
announced the pricing of a private placement of $200 million aggregate
principal amount of 7½% senior notes due 2020 (the “Notes”). The Notes
were priced at 98.278% of par value (before initial purchasers’
discount). The offering is expected to close on February 9, 2010 subject
to customary closing conditions. The Notes will be unsecured senior
obligations of the Company and will be guaranteed by substantially all
of the Company’s current subsidiaries. The notes will be offered only to
qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and to non-U.S. persons outside
the United States under Regulation S of the Securities Act.
The Company will use the net proceeds of the offering to repay mortgage
debt assumed in connection with the Company’s recent acquisition of 40
facilities, to repay outstanding indebtedness under its senior revolving
credit facility, for general corporate purposes and to pay related fees
and expenses.
The Notes issued in this offering have not been registered under the
Securities Act, or any applicable state laws. Accordingly, the Notes may
not be offered or sold in the U.S. or to U.S. persons absent
registration or an applicable exemption from registration under the
Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. This notice does
not constitute an offer of any securities for sale. Omega has agreed to
file a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, pursuant to which it would exchange the privately placed
notes for notes that are registered.
The Company is a real estate investment trust investing in and providing
financing to the long-term care industry. At December 31, 2009, the
Company’s portfolio of investments consisted of 295 healthcare
facilities located in 32 states and operated by 35 third-party
healthcare operating companies.
This announcement includes forward-looking statements. Actual results
may differ materially from those reflected in such forward-looking
statements as a result of a variety of factors, including, among other
things: (i) uncertainties relating to the business operations of the
operators of the Companys properties, including those relating to
reimbursement by third-party payors, regulatory matters and occupancy
levels; (ii) regulatory and other changes in the healthcare sector,
including without limitation, changes in Medicare reimbursement; (iii)
changes in the financial position of the Companys operators; (iv) the
ability of operators in bankruptcy to reject unexpired lease
obligations, modify the terms of the Companys mortgages, and impede the
ability of the Company to collect unpaid rent or interest during the
pendency of a bankruptcy proceeding and retain security deposits for the
debtors obligations; (v) the availability and cost of capital; (vi)
competition in the financing of healthcare facilities; (vii) the
Companys ability to maintain its status as a real estate investment
trust; and (viii) other factors identified in the Companys filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements regarding future
events and developments and the Companys future performance, as well as
managements expectations, beliefs, plans, estimates or projections
relating to the future, are forward-looking statements.
Editors note: This is the last in a series leading up to todays National Letter of Intent Day. Former Timpview High safety Chris Badger wasnt intent on playing college football in a different state. The first two scholarship offers he received came from Utah and BYU. He looked at both schools pretty hard, he said, but his decision came down to finding the right fit. “It came down to having to make a tough choice and going with my gut feeling,” Badger said earlier this week. “It came down to having a great opportunity to maybe play early, and play on a national stage in front of millions of people every week. Its a world-class institution.”
STANFORD signees Henry Anderson DL College Park, Ga. 6-6 245 Was the first to fax his letter-of-intent (4 a.m.). Dillion Bonnell OL Highlands Ranch, Colo. 6-4 295 Most acclaimed of the four offensive-line recruits. Barry Browning DB Everman, Texas 6-1 164 Can play several positions, but safety is best bet.
OGDEN — Weber State put the majority of its recruiting focus on one side of the ball. The Wildcats signed 22 players on Wednesday, and 14 of them play on offense. Six of the players signed were offensive linemen. “We stabilized our offensive line, which was our No. 1 goal,” said Weber State coach Ron McBride. “We now have 13 or 14 offensive linemen on scholarship. As long as we made the right decisions, the group should be solid for the next four or five years.” Running back was another priority for Weber State. The schools all-time leading rusher, Trevyn Smith, played his senior season for the Wildcats last season. The teams second-leading rusher, Bo Bolen, will soon serve an LDS Church mission.
Office of Management and Budget director Peter Orszag became a father again last November, six weeks before announcing his engagement. Putting the baby before the ring is increasingly common. But its still unusual for the baby to be borne by one woman while the ring goes on the finger of another.
SKANA Capital Corp. (TSX VENTURE: SKN) (”SKANA”) announces that the transaction with Sun River Energy, Inc., a Colorado corporation (”Sun River”) was not closed on January 31, 2010 as required under the terms of the agreement and previously disclosed in a news release dated December 29, 2009. Pursuant to the definitive agreement (the “Agreement”) it had with SKANA, Sun River agreed to purchase from SKANA 100% of the outstanding common shares of Raven Wing Resources, Inc. (”Raven Wing”), a wholly owned subsidiary of SKANA for an all-cash purchase price of US$3,500,000.
Under the Agreement, Sun River paid to SKANA a deposit of US$50,000 that became non-refundable on January 15, 2010. The purchase was to be completed on or before January 31, 2010 by payment to SKANA of the balance of the purchase price of US$3,450,000 against conveyance of the shares of Raven Wing to Sun River. In addition to the payment of the purchase price, the Agreement called for Sun River to assume all outstanding liabilities of SKANA and Raven Wing to Thomasson Partner Associates Inc. pursuant to an Exploration Projects Acquisition Services Agreement between SKANA, Raven Wing and Thomasson dated December 29, 2006.
Raven Wing is the holder of five oil and gas exploration properties located in Montana, Wyoming and Utah known as Lewis and Clark, Black Thunder, Donkey Creek, Raven Creek and Wasatch.
SKANA is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange as an Investment Issuer and carries on business as a merchant bank. It makes strategic investments in oil and gas and other resource-based opportunities that it believes have significant potential for appreciation through its financial involvement and guidance.
Venoco, Inc. (NYSE: VQ) announced that its
Annual Stockholders Meeting will be held on June 2, 2010.
The meeting will be held at 7:30 a.m. Mountain Time on Wednesday, June 2,
2010, at the Brown Palace Hotel, 321 17th Street, Denver, Colorado.
Stockholders of record at the close of business on Monday, April 5, 2010,
are entitled to receive notice of the meeting and to vote the shares of
Venoco common stock they hold as of that date.
Venoco is an independent energy company primarily engaged in the
acquisition, exploitation and development of oil and natural gas properties
in California and Texas. Venoco operates three offshore platforms in the
Santa Barbara Channel, has non-operated interests in three other platforms,
operates four onshore properties in Southern California, has extensive
operations in Northern Californias Sacramento Basin and operates thirteen
fields in Texas.
Office of Management and Budget director Peter Orszag became a father again last November, six weeks before announcing his engagement. Putting the baby before the ring is increasingly common. But its still unusual for the baby to be borne by one woman while the ring goes on the finger of another.
Venoco, Inc. (NYSE: VQ) announced that its
Annual Stockholders Meeting will be held on June 2, 2010.
The meeting will be held at 7:30 a.m. Mountain Time on Wednesday, June 2,
2010, at the Brown Palace Hotel, 321 17th Street, Denver, Colorado.
Stockholders of record at the close of business on Monday, April 5, 2010,
are entitled to receive notice of the meeting and to vote the shares of
Venoco common stock they hold as of that date.
Venoco is an independent energy company primarily engaged in the
acquisition, exploitation and development of oil and natural gas properties
in California and Texas. Venoco operates three offshore platforms in the
Santa Barbara Channel, has non-operated interests in three other platforms,
operates four onshore properties in Southern California, has extensive
operations in Northern Californias Sacramento Basin and operates thirteen
fields in Texas.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dont get us wrong–your lady probably gives great massages. But sometimes we need more than just a happy ending. Like a muscle-relieving sports massage. In fact, more and more elite athletes are incorporating regular rubdowns into their recovery programs, hitting strained hamstrings, pulled groins, and aching backs. “Guys are bigger, faster, and stronger, and as a result, collisions are more violent,” says South Florida–based sports massage therapist Chris Pikosky, whos worked on Super Bowl (Pittsburgh Steelers) and Stanley Cup (Carolina Hurricanes) champs. But you dont have to be an elite athlete to benefit from a good sports massage. This aint your girls froufrou spa day. Think a vigorous deep-tissue treatment. “A Swedish massage is soothing, and theres a lot of value to it, but its different from what an athlete is looking for,” Pikosky says. Sports massages involve rubs and stretches that target specific muscles and increase athletes range of motion.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Swelling and pain are usually the result of a stretched or torn ligament.
WASHINGTON — With a season of record-breaking snowfalls and eight weeks of winter to
go, Washingtonians have become all too familiar with the icy sidewalks,
the sore muscles, and the coughs and colds that come along with winter
weather. But for those feeling the effects of a recent fall or tighter
joints due to a lack of exercise, therapeutic massage – including simple
tips you can do at home – can offer much-needed relief.
“We tend to be less active in the cold weather months, catch more colds
and flus, and get depressed more easily. Massage is proven to help with
all these winter ailments,” says Winston Moore, massage therapist and
the Regional Operations Manager for Massage Envy, which has 19 locations
in the Baltimore/Washington, DC area. “Massage increases circulation,
boosts the immune system and causes your body to release more
stress-fighting hormones. With winter not even half over, we can all use
that right about now,” adds Moore.
Massage Envy reports a significant increase in clients with aches and
pains, and many are weather-related. Integrating therapeutic massage as
a regular health practice can not only help alleviate pain but increase
overall wellness during the cold weather months and beyond.
But what happens when you’re snowed in? Moore says fighting the winter
woes can be easier than you think, and can be had with simple items from
around the house. Here are a few simple tips that he recommends:
In an effort to save the imperiled health-care bill, Democrats cut a tentative deal with organized labor that would exempt unionized employees from an excise tax on high-cost healthcare plans. Of the many unsavory bargains and rotten deals that have characterized the rush to get this thing passed (the “Louisiana Purchase,” the “Cornhusker Kickback,” etc.), the “Labor Loophole” surely takes the prize.
MINNEAPOLIS — Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information
for healthcare professionals and students, announced today that it has
relaunched its flagship drug information reference as Facts
Comparisons® eAnswers.
“The new name better describes our ability to meet the expectations of
our customers by providing drug information and answers in multiple
electronic formats,” said Arvind Subramanian, President and CEO,
Wolters Kluwer Health Clinical Solutions. “While the name has changed,
our commitment to providing trusted clinical content and comparative
data has not. Facts Comparisons continues to be the industry’s leading
drug information resource.”
Facts Comparisons eAnswers, formerly known as Facts Comparisons 4.0,
provides retail pharmacies and academia with online access to the most
up-to-date drug information and medication management tools tailored to
their unique needs, enabling better therapeutic decisions in less time.
For hospital pharmacies, it addresses the key pain points of workflow
efficiency and patient safety by providing the tools and information
needed to support drug dispensing activities.
In addition to the new name, Wolters Kluwer Health also unveiled a
number of enhancements to Facts Comparisons that are designed to
improve the overall user experience. For example, an expanded reference
menu now includes Immunization Schedules, Chemotherapy Resources and
Interaction Resources headings. Patient Handout secondary links have
also been expanded and secondary menus for Toxicology Guidelines and
5-Minute Clinical Consult have been added.
The Monograph page has been redesigned to include more secondary menus
and direct links to enhance navigation within and between full
monographs, subsections, summaries and off-label indications. Finally,
the “Patient Handouts” section has expanded to include both Medication
Guides and Medfacts Patient Handouts, as well as any linked Healthwise
handouts if the user has an active subscription.
LONDON — RIMES Technologies, the award-winning financial data integrator and
performance solutions provider for the investment community, today
announced that ERSEL Sim S.p.A, the Italian and Luxembourg domiciled
asset manager has selected Barra Performance on RIMES (BPR) to fulfil
its performance measurement and attribution requirements.
Ersel represents development and tradition, with over 70 years of
experience in asset management. Since 1936, the company capital has been
held entirely by the family of the founder; the choice to stay
completely independent has been pursued with tenacity and is the best
guarantee of a trustworthy, transparent and objective appraisal for
investment decisions.
Founded in Turin as ‘Studio Giubergia’, Ersel focused right from the
outset on asset management services. Ahead of time, in 1983 it set up
the first mutual fund management company authorised in Italy and, in
2000, was one of the pioneers in the hedge fund sector. With a staff of
170 people employed in its three offices in Italy and its office in
Luxembourg, Ersel now offers its private and institutional clients
tailor-made and highly-specialised private banking services.
Guido Giubergia, CEO for Ersel, confirmed, “We currently manage assets
in excess of €6.5B and 26 mutual funds. Barra Performance on RIMES will
enable our performance team to produce performance measurement and
attribution analysis on our equity and fixed income portfolios and
analyse the sources of portfolio return using the MSCI Barra attribution
model, reflecting our investment processes”.
Christian Fauvelais, CEO for RIMES, said, “We are delighted to be
including Ersel in our client list. Barra Performance on RIMES
simplifies the use of equity and fixed income benchmarks, which come
pre-loaded and ready to be utilised: the Ersel performance team will
have the wide range of high quality benchmark and market data from RIMES
at their disposal, combined with the multi-asset class performance
analytics from MSCI Barra”.
ATI FirePro™ professional graphics earn certifications for
AutoCAD® 2010 and Autodesk® Showcase® 2010
SUNNYVALE, Calif. — AMD
(NYSE: AMD) has announced its entire currently available family of ATI
FirePro™ professional graphics have been certified by Autodesk®
for AutoCAD® 2010 software on Windows® 71.
As an industry leader in 2D and 3D design and documentation software,
AutoCAD 2010 technology supports the latest Microsoft operating system
to help deliver fast performance and exceptional stability for
professionals working on complex design projects.
In addition, the ATI FirePro™ V5700, ATI FirePro™ V7750, ATI FirePro™
V8700, and ATI FirePro™ V8750 accelerators have been certified for use
with Autodesk® Showcase® 2010 software on Windows 71.
Autodesk Showcase visualization software facilitates informed decision
making on digital prototypes by allowing users to create highly
accurate, realistic imagery from 3D CAD data to help communicate brand
character.
Adding to the ever-growing list of more than 90
certifications for the AMD professional line of graphics products,
various AMD products are also certified for use with the Autodesk®
software listed below. Information on certified AMD products for each
Autodesk software application is available through the linked product
names.
D.C.-based UrbanLand Company has announced
it will begin selling the remaining 86 condos at The Floridian in the next
30 to 60 days — releasing homes at a new competitive pricing structure that
is sure to catch the eye of buyers looking to get into one of the hottest
neighborhoods in town. The upscale 118-unit Floridian, located at 919 and
929 Florida Avenue, N.W., was recently acquired by an affiliate of The
Goldstar Group, a Bethesda-based private real estate investment and
management company.
“You wont find a better value in the U Street Corridor,” said UrbanLand
Company founder Gerard DiRuggiero. “The Floridian has knock-out finishes,
10-foot ceilings, wood floors, euro-kitchens with granite counters, and
stone tile baths. Our new ultra-competitive pricing will give prospective
buyers an opportunity to purchase high-end units at very compelling prices.”
The Floridian, designed by respected local architect Eric Colbert, is
comprised of two dramatic 8-story towers, made of stainless steel, colored
glass and limestone. It is luxury condominium community that blends
sophistication with hip urban lifestyle and convenience. Units range in size
from under 500 square feet for a studio to over 1,400 square feet for a
penthouse. The finishes are top of the line including 10-foot exposed
concrete ceilings, exposed ductwork, floor-to-ceiling windows, granite
countertops, premium GE Profile appliances, maple and bamboo floors,
designer lighting and balconies in select units. The community features
underground parking, SMART technology, building security and a rooftop
terrace with sweeping views of the Capitol, the Washington Monument and the
National Cathedral.
UrbanLand released the following pricing structure:
Studios starting at $227K
One-bedrooms starting at $333K
Two-bedrooms starting at $392K
One-bedroom penthouses starting at $389K
Two-bedroom penthouses starting at $432K
Three-bedroom penthouse $1M
Aloha Enterprise helps Southeastern fast-casual chain enhance its
customer experience
ATLANTA — Radiant Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: RADS) today announced a new agreement
with Zoës Kitchen, a fast-casual restaurant chain emphasizing fresh
ingredients and made-from-scratch Mediterranean-inspired food, to
install the Aloha
Enterprise solution along with Radiant hardware in all current
restaurant locations as well as future site openings.
“A large part of the business at each of our locations is call ahead and
takeout service, and as we continue to grow, it was evident that we
needed new technology to help us serve those customers with more speed
and accuracy,” said Greg Dollarhyde, chief executive officer at Zoës
Kitchen. “The combination of online ordering, takeout and delivery
options gives our customers more flexibility in their ordering, which
enables us to provide them with a more valuable, customer-oriented
experience while also supporting a real-time database for future
marketing initiatives.”
The Aloha Enterprise solution helps restaurants in all areas of their
business – from managing day-to-day operations to creating targeted
marketing programs. In particular, the solution’s online
ordering, takeout and delivery capabilities give customers the
convenience of accessing the restaurant when and where they choose. Not
only do guests enjoy that Zoës can save their favorite orders and store
payment information in a secure environment to make future orders
easier, but restaurant operators can analyze customer information from
these applications to make better menu and marketing decisions. In
addition, Aloha
Enterprise’s loyalty functionality allows Zoës’ restaurants to
create loyalty programs that help stimulate repeat business and grow
revenues while also adding additional value to the guests’ dining
experience.
“Radiant has a long tradition of helping restaurants maximize and
improve their guest experience, and in Zoës case, giving customers more
flexibility in ordering and improving their takeout functionality were
priorities,” said Tad Phelps, vice president of sales and marketing for
the hospitality division at Radiant Systems. “Radiant’s Aloha Enterprise
solution is ideal for Zoës, offering them a single point of
accountability for their restaurant technology and the ability to
streamline their operations with more points of service, faster speed of
service and more ways to encourage repeat business – all driving results
straight to their bottom line.”
Im in Panama visiting my son Jeff and his family. Im back Feb. 3. Theyre printing some old columns from the past while Im gone. Todays is from Sept. 17, 1996. Our kitchen window is coated with heat resistant film (like one- way glass) which lets us have a private viewing of hummingbirds at the feeder a few inches away from the window. About two feed beyond the feeder is a clothesline, a convenient resting spot for them. After a lengthy training session with no progress, off they flew.
Lafayette — City Council: 7 p.m. Feb. 8, Lafayette Library and Learning Center, Community Hall, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. — Circulation Commission: 7 p.m. Feb. 16, Lafayette Library and Learning Center, Discovery Center, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. — Crime Prevention Commission: 7 p.m. Feb. 24, 3675 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Suite 265. — Design Review Commission: 7 p.m. Feb. 8, Lafayette Library and Learning Center, Discovery Center, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd.
RICHMOND — Police have released a sketch of a man they say grabbed a jogger and held her at knifepoint over the weekend. A Richmond woman was running along Castro Ranch Road near the Sobrante Ridge Regional Preserve about 9:45 a.m. Saturday when a man grabbed her from behind, said Sgt. Bisa French. He pulled a knife on her, told her not to say anything, and forced her toward a ravine, French said. But when the victim heard cars passing nearby, she broke free from his grip, ran toward the road and flagged down a motorist.
Here is a selected list of family friendly activities. Look here each Monday. Layton City Recreation Annual Valentines Dance, Feb. 12, 7-9:30 p.m., Central Davis Junior High Gymnasium, 663 N. Church St., Layton (801-336-3924)
Columbus-based Pretium Partners, Inc., corporate sales training provider
and leading enabler of value
selling for business to business technology companies around the world,
will speak at the 2010 International Association of Outsourcing
Professionals (IAOP)
Outsourcing World Summit .
Outsourcing providers consistently struggle with quantifying the financial
benefits their solutions produce for their customers. New to this years
summit is the option for participants to select from one of two hands-on
practicums designed to help customers, providers and advisors get more
value, right now, out of their current outsourcing efforts.
Kyle Andrews and Bill Hall, Pretiums Founders, will lead “Benefits
Quantification and ROI Analysis” as one of the two featured practicum
sessions.
Benefits quantification is a critical element of the outsourcing business
case, but it loses all relevance without the necessary customer
collaboration. This fast paced, hands-on workshop will tackle the
challenges of working with the customer to create assumptions and gain
their agreement on the elements required to quantify benefits and perform
investment analysis. Participants will gain valuable insights and take away
a professional, easy to use investment analysis tool for future use.
Formed in 2005 by a consortium of leading companies involved in outsourcing
as customers, providers, and advisors, IAOPs global membership encompasses
over 200 organizations representing almost every industry type and
functional activity. More than 40,000 individuals are members or
subscribers.
Traditional models for predicting
marketplace potential for “one-size-fits-all” drugs are inadequate for the
new world of personalized medicine in which developers of targeted
therapies hope to follow in the footsteps of successful drugs, such as
Genentechs Herceptin® or Tarceva®, according to the authors of a special
report in the current issue of Personalized Medicine (Vol. 7, Issue 1,
2010, pp.103-114).
The report describes why conventional financial models for predicting net
present value (NPV) and return on investment (ROI) for traditional drugs
dont work for development of targeted therapies. Currently, pharmaceutical
development teams lack financial benchmarks needed to understand how
targeted therapies and related diagnostics will perform in the emerging
personalized medicine marketplace — with a potential value of $245
billion, by some estimates.
Personalized medicine involves diagnostic testing to identify a patients
or a diseases specific genetic makeup and the use of this information to
identify the most appropriate therapy for that patient.
“Typically, executives fail to understand that targeted therapies and
associated tests are fundamentally different products from
one-size-fits-all drugs,” said Peter Keeling, chief executive officer of
Diaceutics and a co-author of the report. “Targeted drugs and stand-alone
tests do not behave in the market in the same way as one-size-fits-all
drugs or diagnostic tests.”
According to Keeling, pharmaceutical development teams have yet to
establish a financial model that enables them to maximize NPV and ROI for
targeted drug therapies that rely on a companion diagnostic test. In fact,
the authors estimate that Herceptin, as successful as it was, lost an
additional $3 billion in revenue as a result of a poorly executed companion
diagnostic strategy.
Follow-up calls help avoid readmissions In an effort to improve transitions of care, the nurse care coordinators at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston make follow-up calls to patients who have been discharged, identify problems and solve them, and answer questions the patients may have about medication, symptoms, or their discharge plan. The hospital has an average of 53,693 discharges and 59,323 emergency department visits each year and had a 30-day readmission rate of 8.79% for medical-surgical patients in 2009.
CONCORD, N.H. — For drum circle devotees, the beat goes on. The case of a young New Hampshire women who contracted a rare form of anthrax at a drum circle in December has done little to deter fans of the gatherings, which range from informal outdoor jam sessions to professionally run sessions in corporate conference rooms. Some focus on the music of specific cultures, while others promote spirituality, healing or a sense of community. The Dec. 4 drum circle held at a campus ministry center in Durham was a monthly event advertised as “Good food! Fun music! Excellent company!” About 60 participants — most of them University of New Hampshire students — filled up on a pasta dinner then cleared away the tables in the centers great room to enjoy drumming games, music and dancing. The woman who later became ill wasnt drumming that night. Instead, she was the first one to get up and dance, said Julie Corey, a drum circle facilitator hired to lead the session.
CONCORD, N.H. — For drum circle devotees, the beat goes on. The case of a young New Hampshire women who contracted a rare form of anthrax at a drum circle in December has done little to deter fans of the gatherings, which range from informal outdoor jam sessions to professionally run sessions in corporate conference rooms. Some focus on the music of specific cultures, while others promote spirituality, healing or a sense of community. The Dec. 4 drum circle held at a campus ministry center in Durham was a monthly event advertised as “Good food! Fun music! Excellent company!” About 60 participants — most of them University of New Hampshire students — filled up on a pasta dinner then cleared away the tables in the centers great room to enjoy drumming games, music and dancing. The woman who later became ill wasnt drumming that night. Instead, she was the first one to get up and dance, said Julie Corey, a drum circle facilitator hired to lead the session.
First the RACs, now wait for whats coming next Medicaid, commercial insurers starting their audits By the end of the year, its likely that every type of medical record in your hospital will be scrutinized by one auditor or another, predicts Brian Flood, managing director for KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax, and advisory firm. The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfares Bureau of Program Integrity has been auditing fee-for-service Medicaid claims for the past three years, using one of the Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services (CMS) contractors for the Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) demonstration project, reports Charleeda Redman, RN, MSN, ACM, director of corporate case management for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, an integrated health system with 20 acute care hospitals.
Nevada officials said the state may drop out of Medicaid if the health-care bill passes. Instead it would help its low-income legal residents participate in the federally subsidized exchanges that the bill would establish. The resulting insurance policies would doubtless be more attractive to beneficiaries than Medicaid is.
The president has done it again: called Guantanamo Bay a “recruiting tool,” something that causes Muslims to join up with the jihad. He said, “Make no mistake: We will close Guantanamo Prison, which has damaged our national-security interests and become a tremendous recruiting tool for al-Qaeda.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — National Health Investors, Inc. (NYSE:NHI) has completed the previously
announced purchase of six Florida skilled nursing facilities from Care
Foundation of America, Inc. (CFA) for a total of $67 million. The
facilities are leased to affiliates of Health Services Management, Inc.
for $6.2 million annually, plus a 3% escalator starting at the beginning
of the third lease year. The lease expires in 2014 and the tenant has a
3 year optional renewal term. The facilities total 780 beds and have
been part of NHI’s mortgage loan portfolio for 16 years. The purchase
resulted in the dismissal of pending litigation between NHI and CFA. The
earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and rents
(EBITDAR) for these facilities for the trailing twelve months ended
November 30, 2009 totaled $10.6 million and provides a lease coverage
ratio of 1.71. NHI will fund the purchase with the full satisfaction of
the $23.3 million in principal and interest on a mortgage note due to
NHI from CFA, $29.7 million in cash deposits and $14 million in advances
from NHI’s revolving credit facility.
First the RACs, now wait for whats coming next Medicaid, commercial insurers starting their audits By the end of the year, its likely that every type of medical record in your hospital will be scrutinized by one auditor or another, predicts Brian Flood, managing director for KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax, and advisory firm. The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfares Bureau of Program Integrity has been auditing fee-for-service Medicaid claims for the past three years, using one of the Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services (CMS) contractors for the Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) demonstration project, reports Charleeda Redman, RN, MSN, ACM, director of corporate case management for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, an integrated health system with 20 acute care hospitals.
The 2009 Fall Virtual Avnet Tech Game Winners Announced
PHOENIX — Students from Arizona’s colleges and universities will compete in Avnet,
Inc.’s (NYSE:AVT)
fifth annual Avnet
Tech Games on Saturday, April 10, 2010, to apply what they are
learning in school to real-work scenarios. Each winning student will
receive a $1,000 scholarship, and faculty members will collect $200 for
leading participating teams and an additional $300 for each winning
team. Registration closes as early as February 12, 2010 for some games.
The Avnet Tech Games feature eight multidisciplinary technology
competitions that require students to test their knowledge, creativity,
decision-making, problem-solving and technical skills.
The Avnet Tech Games competitive events include:
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — On Monday, January 25, 2010 Midas franchisee Mike Glad settled the
actions with the State of California. In the interest of Glad’s 130
employees and other Midas dealers throughout the State, Glad decided to
settle rather than continuing to incur the significant financial losses
that resulted from the adverse publicity of the actions.
Glad remarked that “Over our thirty-three years and 6 days of business
operations our greatest treasures were our loyal customers, business
associates, employees and their communities. I am extremely proud of the
young people we have helped either through on the job education, social
programs and or scholarships. The public has always looked to us with
respect. Thank-you.”
Friends of Hu-Friedy provides an interactive experience for the dental
hygiene community with opportunities to share stories, evaluate products,
gain continuing education credits and obtain insights into delivering
optimal patient care.
Launched in August 2007 to share information, provide educational
resources, clinical tips and more, Friends of Hu-Friedy is increasingly
seen as an online destination point for dental hygienists. Susan Maynard,
an RDH from Poquoson, VA, says she visits the site regularly for the
professional insights found there. “I find it to be a very valuable site
when researching instruments that will fill the needs of my office.”
Michelle Walsh, an RDH from Hilliard, OH says she relies on the sites peer
networking and Hu-Points instrument trial program and states, “I enjoy
Friends of Hu-Friedy and all the opportunities that it provides, including
but not limited to, CE Courses, interaction with others, and the ability to
trade in points to evaluate Hu-Friedy instruments.”
Commenting on the 15,000-member milestone, Ron Saslow, President and CEO of
Hu-Friedy stated, “Friends of Hu-Friedy has great significance because it
provides us with a platform to deepen our connection with the hygiene
community that has been so critical to the success of our company.
Furthermore, it illustrates something we have known for a long time — that
dental hygienists are passionate about their profession, their patients and
each other. Hu-Friedy is extremely proud of our heritage of advocacy for
dental hygienists and is thrilled to be part of creating a unique community
that is adding real value to the lives of dental professionals.”
Public Announcement/News Conference January 27 at 10 a.m. Will
Provide Details and Illustrate the Medical and Dental Plight Threatening
California’s Adult Medi-Cal Beneficiaries
Serious Ailments, Like Oral Cancer, Can be Found During Regular Exams
PHILADELPHIA — A dental exam is much more than a cavity-spotting expedition. In
addition to decay, dentists look for potentially life-threatening
conditions including oral cancer.
According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, 35,000 Americans are diagnosed
each year with oral cancer, while 8,000 Americans each year die from it.
Without early detection, survival rates significantly worsen.
“Since oral cancer is not in the news as often as other types of cancer,
education is extremely important,” Dr. Sun said. “If people learn about
the disease and its symptoms, oral cancer can be detected sooner.”
First the RACs, now wait for whats coming next Medicaid, commercial insurers starting their audits By the end of the year, its likely that every type of medical record in your hospital will be scrutinized by one auditor or another, predicts Brian Flood, managing director for KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax, and advisory firm. The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfares Bureau of Program Integrity has been auditing fee-for-service Medicaid claims for the past three years, using one of the Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services (CMS) contractors for the Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) demonstration project, reports Charleeda Redman, RN, MSN, ACM, director of corporate case management for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, an integrated health system with 20 acute care hospitals.
Kaiser/VA/DoD partnership piloting a nationwide EHR network Early testing encouraging; improvements in quality anticipated “The ability to share critical health information is essential to interoperability,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki in announcing the program. “Utilizing the NHINs standards and network will allow organizations like VA and the Department of Defense to partner with private-sector health care providers to promote better, faster, and safer care for veterans.” The pilot program currently connects Kaiser Permanente HealthConnect and the VAs electronic health record system, VistA, two of the largest electronic health record systems in the country. The DoDs ALTA system will be linked to the other two shortly.
“The scene is Capitol Hill. Its the year 2035. Thousands of elderly protesters assemble outside the Capitol building. Inside, the House Ways and Means Committee meets to enact huge cuts in both Medicare and the national health insurance program.” That is the opening of “The Medicare Monster,” a reason article from January 1993; authors Steven Hayward and Erik Peterson highlighted predictions of Medicares impending fiscal insolvency to warn against the push for government-run health care. Substitute 2017 for 2035, and you could write the scene today. Hayward and Petersons cautionary tale pointed out that Medicare costs had been dramatically underestimated from the inception of the program in 1966. Medicare cost $3 billion in 1966. A “conservative” estimate by the House Ways and Means Committee in 1966 projected that Medicare would cost $12 billion after inflation by 1990. The actual 1990 cost was nearly nine times more: $107 billion. Today Medicare costs $408 billion, consuming about 13 percent of the total federal budget. Since 1993 projections about Medicares eventual date of bankruptcy have oscillated considerably. In 1997 the Medicare Trustees projected that its hospital fund would be depleted by the middle of 2000. Fiscal collapse was avoided when the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 imposed what amounted to price controls on physicians and hospitals. As a consequence, in 2000 the Medicare Trustees sunnily projected that the program would be solvent through 2029. Nine years later, the latest Medicare Trustees report projects that the hospital fund (Part A) will be depleted by 2017. The trustees assert that bringing it into actuarial balance during the next 75 years will require either immediately raising the Medicare payroll tax from 2.9 percent to 6.78 percent or cutting current benefits by 53 percent. Medicare Part B, which pays for outpatient care and doctor bills, and the recently added Part D, which pays for prescription drugs, are “both projected to remain adequately financed into the indefinite future because current law automatically provides financing each year to meet next years expected costs.” Translation: About 75 percent of Medicare funds spent on doctors and drugs come from general tax revenue.
Q I am in the market for a new TV and some of the deals are very attractive right now. I know new models are coming out soon, do you think I should buy now or wait? A If you are looking for a bargain on entry and mid-level models, buy now. If you are looking at higher-end models, Id wait as there are some great things coming soon. I think high definition resolution wedded to 3D is what makes the difference, turning gimmick into near-reality. Lots of content is coming via Blu-ray and DirecTV, and Samsung demonstrated a TV that did a fair job rendering 3D content from 2D sources. Multiple manufacturers told me the price premium for 3D will be modest, within reach of anyone looking at higher-quality televisions. There are lots of 3D questions coming in already, so expect to read more about 3D in upcoming columns.
For die-hard fans of “Lost,” the end is finally near — and they want answers. Crave them. Demand them. “Obviously wed like some closure when it comes to our biggest questions,” says Nikki Stafford, a best-selling author who has written books and blogs on ABCs enthralling plane-crash drama. “But I also hope that they leave a few things open to allow fans to ponder and speculate until the end of time.”
Q I am in the market for a new TV and some of the deals are very attractive right now. I know new models are coming out soon, do you think I should buy now or wait? A If you are looking for a bargain on entry and mid-level models, buy now. If you are looking at higher-end models, Id wait as there are some great things coming soon. I think high definition resolution wedded to 3D is what makes the difference, turning gimmick into near-reality. Lots of content is coming via Blu-ray and DirecTV, and Samsung demonstrated a TV that did a fair job rendering 3D content from 2D sources. Multiple manufacturers told me the price premium for 3D will be modest, within reach of anyone looking at higher-quality televisions. There are lots of 3D questions coming in already, so expect to read more about 3D in upcoming columns.
Following the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that
rocked the island nation of Haiti on January 12, 2010, a Texas search and
rescue team, dubbed “Texas Task Force One,” was mobilized for deployment to
Haiti. Sadly this team, which was called up by Texas Gov. Rick Perry just
two days after the massive earthquake, was asked to stand down. Had this
team arrived in Haiti, their goal was to search for “hot spots” which in
infrared terms can mean hidden fires, trapped people or animals beneath the
rubble. The search and rescue team had planned on doing this with infrared
/ thermal imaging cameras . An infrared camera is a device that
detects heat (infrared energy) and converts it into an electronic signal,
which then produces a thermal image on a video screen. Heat sensed by a thermal imager can be very precisely measured,
allowing the user to monitor and identify thermal changes in just about any
material, including block and concrete. A qualified infrared
thermal imaging inspector can interpret these real time images for many
applications, including search and rescue operations. Recent innovations in
infrared technology have allowed these infrared cameras to become more
affordable, but more importantly for 16 earthquake victims in Haiti, the
innovations have allowed them to become more accessible to the public.
The Texas Task Force One urban search and rescue team consisted of roughly
80 personnel, including search dogs and an arsenal of infrared camera
equipment. While the search and rescue team did not make the trip to
Haiti, the infrared equipment did. Three Fluke TiR1 thermal imagers , Donated by
the Fluke Corporation (Everett, Washington), a subsidiary of the Danaher
Corporation (NYSE: DHR) and AC Tool Supply, Inc. (Tempe, Arizona), were
specifically noted in the saving of 16 Haitian earthquake victims and one
very lucky canine. On January 23, 2010, the Haitian government called off
the search and rescue efforts in order to focus their attention on the
humanitarian efforts needed for the survivors.
As of January 27, 2010, with the infrared equipment heading back to the United States, a
total of 135 victims had been saved by U.S. and international search and
rescue teams, while roughly 170,000 bodies were said to be cleared from
Haitian streets and remains of toppled buildings. Approximately 13,000
military personnel from all branches have been part of this relief, as well
as 1,739 rescue workers with 161 rescue dogs. To date, the United States
Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided more than $36
million is support of U.S. Armed Forces and has contributed another $68
million in food and water assistance. Donations like the ones made by the
Fluke Corporation and AC Tool Supply, Inc., along with the effort of the
rescue workers utilizing the infrared
thermal imaging equipment , helped make the lives of 16 people and one
dog possible.
PARK CITY — When it comes to Sundance, there are star-gazers, and then there are autograph/picture seekers. With our $20 parking tab paid, we strolled from the top of Main Street, down and up and down again. It doesnt take long before the buzz spreads that actor Ben Affleck has been spotted; and its even quicker to figure out where he is.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For maximum results in minimal time, Hood started Bettany with five days of interval circuit training every week. Knowing Bettanys abs were going to be showcased, each workout began with several core exercises. “We wanted to give that our full attention,” Hood says. They followed that with a three-round circuit. “The idea was to blast his body. We didnt do a lot of cardio. The heart rate was elevated throughout the workout. He was never sitting around.”
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Teeth–they help us chew our food and speak clearly, and they give us our dazzling smiles. Some animals use their teeth for other functions, such as fighting enemies or cutting down plants to build homes. But for scientists, teeth have another benefit: They tell secrets! A peek inside an animals mouth can tell researchers everything from what the animal eats to how old it is. When scientists dig for fossils of ancient animals, they often look for dental remains. Teeth last much longer than other bones, which can break down over time. “Bones are porous, or have many tiny holes, while teeth are solid,” explains Robert Feranec, a fossil expert at the New York State Museum in Albany, New York. This means that as bones become fossils, they can wear away more quickly than teeth.
This view shows the Smith frame home in Palmyra, N.Y., as one looks north. Construction of the home was undertaken by Alvin Smith, older brother of the Prophet Joseph. Alvin died unexpectedly in November 1823 before the home was completed. There is a tradition that the grieving Smith family planted a tree near the home in memory of Alvin. Though it is not known with certainty, the large tree to the right of the home may be that tree. It is usually referred to as the “Alvin Tree.”
In “The Myth of the Multiplier” (November) Veronique de Rugy notes that when it comes to the stimulus, “reported job numbers will need to [be] used with caution.” That aint the half of it! I happen to work for a non-profit research institute that gets American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funding. On one of our grants, weve reported two jobs. Neither is a result of creation or retention. One “job” amounts to a month of work by the lead investigator. He is our most senior scientist and was not/is not in any danger of losing his position. The other “job” was similarly reported against a months worth of time by one of our research support specialists. Our initial attempt to file this particular report resulted in a validation error, because we tried to report those single months worth of time for jobs. When the administration starts touting the utter and complete success of the stimulus funding, believe about a tenth of it. And know, without a doubt, that the American public is being played.
Co Air Force Airman 1st Class Jeanpaolo Co, the son of Lety and Manuel Co of Martinez, graduated last fall from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. He completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills. Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
OGDEN — A 2-month-old boy who died Sunday was smothered with a sleeping bag and had multiple other injuries, including a fractured skull, according to charges filed Wednesday against the childs mother. Jewell Marie Hendricks, 25, is charged in 2nd District Court with murder, a first-degree felony, in the death of Robert Hendricks. Officers responded to Hendricks apartment at 449 27th St. about 5:30 a.m. Sunday after she called 911 to report that her son was not breathing. Investigators said Jewell Hendricks later came to the police department and voluntarily “confessed” to killing her son. Hendricks was advised of her rights, police said, and waived those rights.
CAPELLA RESOURCES LTD. (TSX VENTURE: KPS)(PINK SHEETS: CPSJF) (”Capella” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that drilling at the Lajitas Project in Chile has encountered a zone of continuous gold mineralization 50 meters north of the Santa Fe historic resource. Drill hole LJ10015r has intersected 318m (1043 ft) at 0.68 grams per metric ton (”g/t”) gold (0.02 oz/t) over the entire length of the 318m (1043 ft) drill hole which includes 140m (459 ft) at 1.02 g/t gold (0.033 oz/t). Mineralization in the drill hole remains open to the north, east, at depth, and lies under a mineralized outcrop. Gold mineralization is hosted in diorite porphyry.
LJ10015r was drilled to the east at an angle of -60 degrees using reverse circulation techniques. Gold and copper assaying were conducted by Activation Laboratories Ltd of Coquimb, Chile (an ISO 9001-2008 certified lab). Addition step-out drill holes to the north are planned; however, an engine failure on the drill rig has caused a temporary delay in program. Drilling operations are expected to recommence early February 2010.
Four drill holes (LJ09012r, LJ09013r, LJ09014 and LJ10015r) have been completed since the startup of the Lajitas program in December 2009 (totaling 1102 meters). Drill hole collars for LJ09012r, LJ09013r and LJ0914r are located 350m east, 400m east-northeast, 450m northeast, respectively of the Santa Fe resource area. LJ09012r is drilled to the northeast and intersected a new zone of gold mineralization of 74m at 0.11 g/t gold. LJ09013r is drilled to the northeast and encountered no gold mineralization. LJ09014r intersected anomalous gold (8m at 0.08 g/t) at the bottom of the hole, possibly representing the edge of the extreme northern extension of the Santa Fe zone.
Detailed drilling results from this press release are summarized as follows:
CHICAGO — General Growth Properties, Inc. (“GGP” or the “Company”) today announced
it has engaged UBS Investment Bank, a leading global full service
financial firm, to assist the Company in evaluating potential financial
transactions for emergence from Chapter 11, raising exit capital and
with such other matters as may be required by the Board of Directors.
The engagement of UBS is subject to Bankruptcy Court approval.
GGP and certain of its subsidiaries filed bankruptcy in April 2009 as a
result of the inability to refinance maturing mortgage loans due to the
collapse of the credit markets. Since the filing, the Company has
pursued subsidiary plans of reorganization to extend mortgage
maturities, and, as previously reported, has confirmed plans to
restructure secured mortgage loans on 112 properties aggregating
approximately $11.6 billion. The Company is focused on the emergence
from bankruptcy for the remaining debtors and in connection with such
emergence, the reduction of corporate debt and overall leverage and
establishment of a sustainable, long-term capital structure for the
Company. The Company has determined that new financing will be desirable
to achieve these objectives and emerge from Chapter 11.
At the outset of the bankruptcy process, the Company engaged Miller
Buckfire Co., LLC as financial advisor and investment banker. Given
the unique circumstances of the Company’s bankruptcy filings and the
fundamental soundness of the Company’s core retail business, the Board
of Directors and management of the Company have determined that the
Company should consider all forms of exit financing, including capital
sources not generally associated with financing a company’s emergence
from bankruptcy. UBS has been retained to assist with this process.
“The engagement of UBS complements the services provided to us by Miller
Buckfire,” said Adam Metz, chief executive officer of GGP. “With both
advisors, we are positioned to analyze and source the most cost
effective primary capital that we will need to complete the
reorganization process, a goal intended to benefit all of our
stakeholders.”
A hearing to consider the Company’s motion to engage UBS is currently
scheduled before the Bankruptcy Court on February 16, 2010.
NEW YORK — Macquarie Infrastructure Company (NYSE: MIC) announced that its airport
parking business, Parking Corporation of America Airports (“PCAA”), has
entered into an asset purchase agreement with Bainbridge ZKS –
Corinthian Holdings, LLC. The agreement, which is subject to approval by
the bankruptcy court in Delaware, will result in Bainbridge ZKS –
Corinthian Holdings, LLC acquiring the assets of the airport parking
business for $111.5 million, subject to certain adjustments.
The signing of the asset purchase agreement is the first step in a
bankruptcy court-led sale. Today, PCAA and its subsidiaries also
commenced voluntary Chapter 11 cases with the bankruptcy court for the
District of Delaware. If approved, the transaction is expected to close
within the first half of 2010.
“The previously disclosed process involving the airport parking business
is moving ahead as expected,” said James Hooke, Chief Executive Officer
of Macquarie Infrastructure Company. “Following a sales process, the
business has negotiated an agreement with a bidder who will take matters
forward within the context of a bankruptcy filing and asset sale,” he
added.
The sale of the airport parking business and the repayment of MIC’s
holding company level debt reported in December, 2009 provides
shareholders with resolution on the two highest priority issues
identified by management in mid-2009.
The sale would result in the elimination of approximately $201.0 million
of current debt from MIC’s consolidated balance sheet. The debt in
excess of the sale proceeds used to repay such debt would be booked as
income (cancellation of debt income). MIC would also record proceeds in
excess of the business’ assets as a gain on sale. As a part of the
bankruptcy sale process, all cash proceeds would be paid to creditors of
the business and not to MIC.
WASHINGTON — The Sequoia Restaurant announced today that Ford Motor Company is the
recipient of its first “Don’t Give Up the Ship!” Award. The award
states, “As the only American automobile company to avoid bankruptcy and
turn down a government bailout, Ford exemplifies the spirit of the
award, which honors an individual or corporation that exhibits
ingenuity, tenacity, grace under pressure and the strength of character
to persevere against any and all odds to get the job done.” The honor
will be presented in the form of a congratulatory full-page, color ad in
the Jan. 26 Washington Post, the morning Ford Motor Co. CEO Alan Mulally
gives the keynote speech at the Washington Auto Show’s (WAS) Public
Policy Days and one day before the start of the 2010 WAS on Jan. 27th.
“We are proud to launch the “Don’t Give Up the Ship!” Award by
recognizing the Ford Motor Company, an iconic American corporation whose
actions set an example for all of us,” said Michael Weinstein, CEO of
Ark Restaurants, the parent company of the Sequoia Restaurant.
In the War of 1812, Captain James Lawrence, in command of the U.S.S.
Chesapeake, engaged in a bloody battle just outside Boston Harbor with a
British frigate. Lying mortally wounded, the heroic captain spoke his
legendary last words: ‘Don’t give up the ship!’ That intrepid mantra is
a pertinent way to remind Washingtonians and visitors, who are seeking
the essence of our nation’s capitol, about Sequoia’s grand heritage of
being named after America’s celebrated presidential yacht. Bestowing,
when appropriate, a “Don’t Give Up the Ship!” Award to recognize and
commemorate an heroic and unique act of patriotism in these trying times
will not only make the restaurant’s staff proud, but will also please
its patrons and all the concerned citizens of our great nation.
BACKGROUND
Under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Alan R. Mulally, Ford
Motor Company was the only one of the Big Three American Automakers to
refuse government bailout money and to avoid government-sponsored
bankruptcy. The company’s persistence during one of the toughest years
in history has paid off; in the third quarter of 2009, it reported its
first profitable quarter in two years with earnings of $1 billion.
According to its web site, Ford posted higher sales for every brand,
resulting in a 33 percent increase in sales in December over the
previous year. Additionally, “every consumer metric about the Ford brand
– including favorable opinion, consideration, shopping and intention to
buy – ended the year at record levels. In fact, favorable opinion is up
more than 20 percent from the beginning of the year, and intention to
buy Ford increased more than 30 percent,” the web site said.
Homeland Security Company Nominates New Key Supplier to Growing
Team of World-Class Firms Working Hard to Put Americans Back to Work
CONNERSVILLE, Ind. — Following last week’s announcement from the U.S. Department of Energy
that Carbon Motors Corporation’s loan application was deemed
substantially complete under the provisions of Section 136 of the Energy
Independence and Security Act of 2007, the Company announced today that
it has designated Autoliv ASP, Inc. as a preferred supplier for certain
key systems relative to its Carbon E7, the world’s first purpose-built
law enforcement patrol vehicle.
“The ability of Carbon Motors to continue to attract top caliber firms
to improve the security of our homeland not only validates the business
but continues to accelerate the process towards full-scale production,”
said William Santana Li, chairman and chief executive officer,
Carbon Motors Corporation. “We literally scoured the planet for
world-class suppliers across a variety of sectors and disciplines and we
are thrilled to have Autoliv join the effort to put Americans back to
work.”
Autoliv Inc. has been designated as the preferred supplier of the E7’s
air bags, seat belts and related safety sensors. Autoliv Inc., with 10
locations in the United States, is the global leader in the automobile
occupant restraint market and estimates that it accounts for more than
one third of the airbag products market, and for almost one third of the
seatbelt market in North America. Autoliv’s vision to substantially
reduce traffic accidents, fatalities and injuries is uniquely aligned
with the needs of the over 800,000 law enforcement officers in the U.S.
Preferred supplier designations are subject to terms and conditions, and
are intended to establish a framework pursuant to which the parties will
work together to develop mutually acceptable sourcing targets, which
would ultimately form the basis of definitive supply agreements.
Advisors and previously announced suppliers include:
Loan Modification Company Responds to Rapid Rise of Homeowners
Opting to Short Sell Instead of Foreclose
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — US Home Loan Advocates, Inc. (USHLA) a leading loan modification
company, is extending their expert loss
mitigation negotiation services to real estate agents.
The number of homeowners with upside down mortgages is growing
rapidly. The credit recovery period for a short sale is two-three years
as opposed to the lengthily seven-year stay of a foreclosure. For
that reason, more homeowners are opting to short sell their properties
instead of facing foreclosure. A short sale will reflect
negatively on a homeowner’s credit report; however, compared to
foreclosure, it is the lesser of the two evils.
“As the number of homeowners forced to short sell rises, our
support will enable real estate agents to concentrate on listing and
selling more properties; thereby, increasing the number of distressed
homeowners the agents are able to help,” explains David Bartels,
president of USHLA.
The short sale process is time consuming and requires persistence
and experience. USHLA’s experienced professionals will conduct the
required financial consultation with the seller, collect the paperwork
and appropriately package all of the documentation for the lender.
Thereafter, an USHLA expert will work with the lender to quickly
and successfully negotiate the purchase price and the real estate
agent’s full commission for the short sale transaction.
“Signature Properties trusted relationship with USHLA
substantially improves my ability to efficiently manage the increase in
short sale activity. USHLA provides my customers with consistent quality
and expert service,” explains Judy Dunham of Signature
Properties in Coronado, California.
Sanofi-aventis VP of U.S. Human Resources to Help Lead Workplace
Effort to Eliminate Cancer as a Public Health Threat
CARY, N.C. — Judy O’Hagan has been named Chairman of the CEO Cancer Gold Standard
Task Force and will help lead a nationwide, workplace-based effort to
encourage more companies to reduce the cancer risk for employees and
their families through screenings, early detection, and healthy changes
in lifestyle.
The CEO Cancer Gold Standard™ calls for
companies to evaluate their health benefits and corporate culture and
take extensive, concrete actions in five key areas of health and
wellness. To earn Gold Standard accreditation, a company must
establish programs to reduce cancer risk by discouraging tobacco use;
encouraging physical activity; promoting healthy diet and nutrition;
detecting cancer at its earliest stages; and providing access to quality
care, including participation in clinical trials. The CEO Cancer Gold
Standard Task Force is comprised of representatives from the nearly
50 companies that have already achieved this high standard of cancer
prevention and workplace wellness excellence.
William C. Weldon, chairman and chief executive officer of Johnson
Johnson, chairs the CEO Roundtable on Cancer, a nonprofit
organization of cancer-fighting CEOs who created the CEO Cancer Gold
Standard™, in collaboration with the National
Cancer Institute, many of its designated cancer centers, and leading
health non-profit organizations and professionals. Today, more than one
million employees and family members are benefiting from the vision and
leadership of employers who have chosen to become Gold Standard accredited.
“The Gold Standard was established because it is our
belief that as employers we can and should embrace our unique ability to
conquer cancer, starting in our own workplaces,” said Weldon. “With the
support of CEO, Chris Viehbacher, Judy led efforts to make
sanofi-aventis a Gold Standard workplace and has demonstrated the
commitment and capability to help other employers, large and small,
reach this same goal.”
ATI FirePro™ Professional Graphics Certified for Leading-Edge
3D CAD Technology Solutions
SUNNYVALE, Calif. — AMD
(NYSE: AMD) announced today that its entire family of ATI
FirePro™ professional graphics has been certified by Dassault
Systèmes SolidWorks Corp. for SolidWorks 2010 on Microsoft® Windows®
7.1 Used by more than one million engineers, designers and
other creative professionals worldwide, SolidWorks software is optimized
to work in tandem with ATI
FirePro professional graphics and the latest Microsoft operating
system to deliver fast performance and advanced stability for
professionals working with mechanical designs.
“Leading-edge technology and reliable work environments are imperative
to professionals working in 3D design. Now that the ATI FirePro
professional graphics are certified for SolidWorks 2010 on Windows 7,
professionals can rest assured knowing they’re working on validated
hardware in conjunction with the latest Windows OS,” said Janet Matsuda,
senior director, AMD Professional Graphics. “The rigorous and exacting
certification processes put ATI FirePro professional graphics up against
a battery of simulations and real-world scenarios, to deliver hardware
compatibility and stability for SolidWorks users. Certification by
Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp. confirms the company’s confidence and
support of the ATI FirePro graphics family.”
“In today’s fast-paced competitive environment, it’s imperative for
designers and engineers to have access to tools that help them realize
ideas better and faster, because it’s all about who has the best product
right now,” said Nick Iwaskow, Manager, Alliances, Dassault Systèmes
SolidWorks Corp. “SolidWorks 2010 contains many new user-driven features
that help professionals work faster and smarter every day, and with
certified ATI FirePro professional graphics, our customers can achieve
advanced productivity, design great products, and bring them to market
quickly.”
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Imaging Diagnostic Systems, Inc., (OTCBB:IMDS), a pioneer in
laser optical breast imaging, announced today that Ultra–X BH has been
selected as the exclusive distributor for the CT Laser Mammography
(CTLM®) system throughout Brazil. The company will market the system to
the private and public sector.
“We are pleased to have representation in Brazil, and to have the
opportunity to introduce CTLM technology to the market,” stated Deborah
O’Brien, IDSI’s Senior Vice President. “Through the efforts of our new
distributor, CTLM could provide a solution to some of the clinical
problems that physicians and women in the region are currently facing.”
Ultra-X was founded in 1987 specializing in software and hardware
diagnostic solutions with locations in Brazil, Europe and Asia. Ultra-X
Brazil will introduce the CTLM system to the private and public sector,
government officials, exhibit at local trade shows, and support
additional clinical studies for future applications of the CTLM
technology.
About Imaging Diagnostic Systems, Inc.
Imaging Diagnostic Systems, Inc. has developed a revolutionary
new imaging device to aid in the detection and management of breast
cancer. The CTLM® system is a breast imaging system that utilizes
patented continuous wave laser technology and computer algorithms to
create 3-D images of the breast. The procedure is non-invasive,
painless, and does not expose the patient to ionizing radiation or
painful breast compression. CT Laser Mammography (CTLM®) is
designed to be used in conjunction with mammography. It reveals
information about blood distribution in the breast and may visualize the
process of angiogenesis, which usually accompanies tumor growth.
Hall of Fame deadline today Today is the deadline for nominations to the Alameda County Womens Hall of Fame Nominations are being accepted for outstanding women in 11 categories: business and professions; community service; culture and art; education; environment; health; justice; nontraditional careers; science; sports and athletics; and youth. The program raises money for local charities addressing womens health issues.
Childbirth Connection today released two
landmark reports that create a framework for revamping maternity care in
the U.S. and advancing health care reform: ” 2020 Vision for a High
Quality, High Value Maternity Care System ” and ” Blueprint for Action .”
The reports were developed through an extensive multi-year collaboration
with more than 100 maternity care leaders representing industry
stakeholders — from hospitals and health plans to consumers and providers.
These reports and related papers have just been published in a special
supplement of Womens Health Issues.
“Recognizing that rapid gains in the quality, value and outcomes of
maternity care are well within reach, Childbirth Connection launched its Transforming Maternity Care
project several years ago,” said Maureen Corry, executive director,
Childbirth Connection. Although a wealth of
high-quality evidence and experiences of high-performing segments of the
maternity care system were readily available to improve maternity care,
these resources were not impacting most women and newborns. “It was time to
act and we called upon key leaders across the health care system to develop
a long-term vision for the future of maternity care in the United States.
This vision served as a starting point for a collaborative process to
develop action steps for broad-based maternity care system improvement,”
said Corry.
Maternity care is the runaway leader in hospital charges and is the number
one reason for hospitalization in the country. Maternal and newborn
hospital charges alone exceeded $86 billion in 2007, with employers and
private insurers paying for 50% of all births and Medicaid paying for 42%.
While most childbearing women and their babies are healthy and at low risk,
the current style of maternity care is technology-intensive. Costly
childbirth procedures that entail risk are overused and wasteful, while
proven ones that are generally safer and less expensive are underutilized.
Marked disparities in access, quality and outcomes persist, with many
maternal and newborn health indicators moving in the wrong direction. The
return on investment for our significant expenditure in this important
sector is poor.
“The good news is that every challenge is an opportunity for improvement
that can benefit millions of mothers and babies annually. The 2020 Vision
developed by a multi-disciplinary, multi-stakeholder team, puts forth the
values, principles and attributes of an optimal maternity care system and
describes fundamental goals for a system meeting those criteria,” said Rima
Jolivet, Transforming Maternity Care Project Director, Childbirth
Connection. “With the 2020 Vision in hand, five stakeholder workgroups
collaborated to develop reports with recommendations and action steps for
moving toward the vision,” said Jolivet.
Stakeholder workgroup chairs presented their reports and recommendations at
an invitational policy symposium commemorating Childbirth Connections 90th
anniversary. Transforming Maternity Care: A High Value Proposition was held
at Georgetown University, Washington DC, in April 2009. Invited
discussants, moderators and the audience provided comments to strengthen
the reports and recommendations. The Transforming Maternity Care Steering
Committee then synthesized the workgroup reports and additional feedback
into the direction-setting report, “Blueprint for Action: Steps Toward a
High-Quality, High-Value Maternity Care System.” The Blueprint answers the
question “Who needs to do what, to, with and for whom to improve the
quality of maternity care over the next five years?” Actionable strategies
to improve maternity care quality and value are centered on eleven critical
focus areas for change:
Constructech Magazine Has Awarded BuilderMT’s “Business Process
Management” With a 2010 “Top Product” Award
LAKEWOOD, Colo. — BuilderMT, the nation’s best-selling, most-award-winning home-builder
software, today announced that it has won another technology award: Constructech
has given a 2010 “Top Product” award to BuilderMT’s Business Process
Management software tool.
This 2010 Top Product award is another in a long string of awards for
BuilderMT that now exceeds two dozen. With this award, BuilderMT
maintains its position as the most-ward-winning home-building software
company in North America.
The Top Product winners are selected by the Constructech
editorial team, and according to a statement from the magazine, they are
chosen for innovation and successful results in the marketplace: “These
products are selected based on the product’s description, the overall
usefulness and uniqueness of the product to the construction industry,
and the customer growth rate for the particular product throughout the
past few years,” the magazine said.
“As many times as we have won these awards, it never gets old and it’s
always an honor,” said BuilderMT’s Tom Gebes. “For 2010 and beyond, we
will continue to offer home builders the innovations they need to save
money, optimize processes, and success in the housing turnaround.”
Software Simplifies Online Collaboration, Increases Management
Visibility and Enhances Customer Interaction
HOUSTON — DRE Software Inc., a leading provider of business collaboration
technology for sales and marketing professionals, today announced the
general availability of its online collaboration tool, Business
Collaboration Network (BCN). Created with sales and marketing
professionals in mind, the tool is designed to address the growing
market need for increased visibility into sales cycles, simplified
collaboration between clients, prospects, partners and colleagues and
enhanced customer interaction.
“Despite all the technologies being used today, companies are still
searching for a better way to create, categorize, and disseminate,
business-critical information among employees, prospects and customers,”
said Donald Hatter, CEO and founder, DRE Software. “Sales and marketing
teams are always looking for more insight into existing relationships.
Understanding the unique needs of clients and prospects is critical for
accelerating sales cycles, forecasting more accurately and enhancing
customer loyalty. The BCN was uniquely designed for this specific
reason.”
Management and key players need the ability to understand what is going
on with relationships between the company and its prospects and clients.
Most management members may not care to know every question that is
being asked, or every document that is being requested, and they may not
want to read all the meeting notes. However, having the ability to get
closer to the original source of information when desired can be very
beneficial as the company makes decisions on sales strategies,
forecasting, pricing strategies, and even the creation of new products.
“We needed a cost effective way to shorten our sales cycles,” commented
Richard Tinsley, CEO, Therapy Track™, LLC, the makers of Total
Productivity Track, the leading productivity solution for caregiver’s
performance in hospitals and clinics across America. “The BCN
allows us to quickly and effectively collaborate with clients and
prospects in a secure environment and obtain market feedback almost
instantaneously. In addition to providing us valuable information,
client communities enhance customer loyalty.”
MIDDLESBROUGH 0 CUP King Roberto Mancini saluted his makeshift Manchester Citys march into the FA Cup fourth round with their 1-0 win at Middlesbrough. Mancini, winner of 10 Italian Cups as a player and manager, joked: “It was very cold.
Byline: KERRY WOOD THEYVE mastered the pat-a-cake and got to grips with Incy Wincy spider – now these youngsters are learning to toddle to their own beat. For the first time since the Christmas break, the group of youngsters were back together for their weekly Wobbly Walkers group. The interactive music sessions at the Central Library, in South Shields, aims to help the one to two-year-olds get to grips with walking while making music and having fun. Early Years librarian Clare Craig said: “The children really enjoy the group. We sing, shake instruments and play with scarves.
McCormick Helps Make Food Fun and Flavorful with Cupid’s Cuisine for
the Entire Family
HUNT VALLEY, Md. — A red letter day, sometimes called a “scarlet day,” is any day of
special significance. This year, Valentine’s Day happens to fall on a
Sunday, and what better way to celebrate than with a special “Red Letter
Day” menu – filled with fun and flavorful McCormick recipes and tips for
the entire family. From a colorful twist on a breakfast favorite to a
signature red velvet cake for dessert, McCormick has created treats to
start and end your “Red Letter Day.”
“Sure, Valentine’s Day is about love and romance, but why not make it
about fun and food too,” says Mary Beth Harrington, Senior Culinary
Specialist, McCormick Kitchens. “Infusing the signature color of the day
– red – into baking and activities is a great way to bring everyone
together to celebrate.”
Jump start your day of red with a hearty and warm family breakfast by
serving up “Love Bug” Cinnamon Pancakes spiced up with the
flavors of cinnamon and vanilla, topped with red strawberries or
raspberries and a sprinkle of red colored sugar or coconut.
Cinnamon-spiked Hot Cocoa with Red Sugar-Crusted Marshmallows is
the perfect way to share a heart-warming moment with everyone in the
family. Say ”I love you” for dessert with rich and delicious Red
Velvet Cupcakes, and get the kids involved by personalizing each one
with a special love note.
McCormick offers these Valentine’s Day tips…from Cupid himself:
Sanofi-aventis VP of U.S. Human Resources to Help Lead Workplace
Effort to Eliminate Cancer as a Public Health Threat
CARY, N.C. — Judy O’Hagan has been named Chairman of the CEO Cancer Gold Standard
Task Force and will help lead a nationwide, workplace-based effort to
encourage more companies to reduce the cancer risk for employees and
their families through screenings, early detection, and healthy changes
in lifestyle.
The CEO Cancer Gold Standard™ calls for
companies to evaluate their health benefits and corporate culture and
take extensive, concrete actions in five key areas of health and
wellness. To earn Gold Standard accreditation, a company must
establish programs to reduce cancer risk by discouraging tobacco use;
encouraging physical activity; promoting healthy diet and nutrition;
detecting cancer at its earliest stages; and providing access to quality
care, including participation in clinical trials. The CEO Cancer Gold
Standard Task Force is comprised of representatives from the nearly
50 companies that have already achieved this high standard of cancer
prevention and workplace wellness excellence.
William C. Weldon, chairman and chief executive officer of Johnson
Johnson, chairs the CEO Roundtable on Cancer, a nonprofit
organization of cancer-fighting CEOs who created the CEO Cancer Gold
Standard™, in collaboration with the National
Cancer Institute, many of its designated cancer centers, and leading
health non-profit organizations and professionals. Today, more than one
million employees and family members are benefiting from the vision and
leadership of employers who have chosen to become Gold Standard accredited.
“The Gold Standard was established because it is our
belief that as employers we can and should embrace our unique ability to
conquer cancer, starting in our own workplaces,” said Weldon. “With the
support of CEO, Chris Viehbacher, Judy led efforts to make
sanofi-aventis a Gold Standard workplace and has demonstrated the
commitment and capability to help other employers, large and small,
reach this same goal.”
MADISON, Wis. PENZBERG, Germany — Researchers from University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Roche
Applied Science (SIX:RO)(SIX:ROG)(Pink
Sheets:RHHBY) have recently published a research study on human
exome resequencing results from eight individuals that span across three
generations of a family. The findings of this study showcased the value
of targeted enrichment for family-based studies which allows researchers
to quickly identify potential disease-causing genetic variants and will
provide the data and information for further research to better
understand disease and the impact across generations of a family. This
research represents a “real-world” case in human genetics and provides
strong evidence that targeted sequencing of the exome is a revolutionary
technology to efficiently identify potential disease-causing genes.
The human exome is comprised of the most functionally relevant 1% of the
human genome, namely all the coding exons, which are the small pieces of
DNA that encode for proteins. From our understanding of the genome thus
far, a disproportional majority of DNA changes that cause human genetic
diseases lay within the exome. Therefore exome sequencing is an
extremely important method to study human genetic diseases.
Compared with other recent publications on exome sequencing, what is
unique about the new study is that the eight individuals were selected
from three generations of the same family. This lineage-based approach
allowed for additional information, confirmation, and discovery that
will facilitate genetic discoveries in this and future studies. In
addition, the DNA research samples were extracted from blood and have
been stored for 13 years, thus representing typical conditions for
larger human genetic disease sample collections. By combining NimbleGen
Sequence Capture Arrays and the Genome
Sequencer FLX System from 454 Life Sciences, the study covered up to
98% of the targeted bases, and identified up to 14,284 SNPs and small
indels per individual exome. The researchers also developed an advanced
genotype calling strategy that is based on empirical data, and were able
to detect >99% of SNPs covered ≥8x.
Stephan Züchner, MD, Director at the Center for Human Molecular Genomics
at University
of Miami Miller School of Medicine, led the study and is
enthusiastic about the technology, “Without a doubt, massive sequence
enrichment approaches, such as the NimbleGen Sequence Capture Exome
capture kit, are very important transitional genomic tools until whole
human genome sequencing becomes truly affordable and computationally
manageable. The technology of Roche NimbleGen appears very mature and we
are currently applying it to a number of disease related studies.”
”We are excited to see that the NimbleGen Sequence Capture Arrays are
continuing to set the standard for targeted enrichment and are being
adopted for important studies identifying the underlying causative
mutations in human diseases,” said Andreas Görtz, Vice President of
Marketing for Roche NimbleGen. “Being able to target the specific
genomic regions of interest for sequencing allows researchers to quickly
and efficiently uncover the genetic mechanism of disease, which could
lead to important insights into personalized medicine.”
“The service we offer is completely unique in that clients get all
the benefits of hiring a traditional decorator, but without the hassles
of scheduling appointments, driving around the city for samples, and
dealing with high-pressure commission salespeople,” says Sasha
Stricker, President and Creative Director of DecorateITOnline. “For
less than the price of one poorly chosen accessory, we offer
professional guidance and custom design solutions specifically targeted
to our clients tastes and needs.”
Users simply upload photos and measurements of the room they would like
to decorate, and complete a brief questionnaire (known as the StyleFinder
Guide) to indicate their style, color, and lifestyle preferences. In
about a week, clients receive a detailed custom design Portfolio
outlining the decorator’s recommendations for color, space planning,
furniture, accessories, and lighting along with explanations, tips, and
a detailed shopping list.
Clients also have the option to choose a premium 3D package,
which also features computer-generated 3-dimensional renderings of their
room, complete with all the recommended changes, as well as a video
presentation and a virtual tour of the finished room. “Our 3D
portfolios are an ideal option for people who haven’t had a lot of
decorating experience, or for those that might be reluctant to start a
new project without being able to see the final product,” says
Stricker.
Fashion4Home, Inc. launched today as the first
online-only furniture retailer in the US to offer consumers high quality modern furniture at 50-70% less
than traditional retail prices. Fashion4Home.com is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the German company of the same name, which launched in Europe
in November 2009.
To celebrate the companys US launch, Fashion4Home.com is giving away
discount codes through Twitter . Just follow @Fashion4Home and tweet “Send me
a discount code @Fashion4Home #design #furniture #deals.”
Fashion4Home.com is reorganizing the home furniture supply
chain by creating a direct-to-consumer connection for high-end furniture,
designers and manufacturers. By eliminating all of the associated costs of
inventory and compressing the entire supply chain, Fashion4Home.com is able
to give consumers the highest quality designer
furniture at a fraction of the price.
In addition, Fashion4Home.com gives consumers the ability to comment and
vote on designs in consideration, thereby influencing the products offered
in the online store. This creates an open innovation environment for top modern furniture designers to
share their ideas directly with consumers, gain immediate feedback and
speed up product design. Fashion4Home.com is the worlds first hub for
furniture designers and consumers to interact directly, making the design
and purchasing process more engaging, fun and affordable.
Fashion4Home, Inc. launched today as the first
online-only furniture retailer in the US to offer consumers high quality modern furniture at 50-70% less
than traditional retail prices. Fashion4Home.com is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the German company of the same name, which launched in Europe
in November 2009.
To celebrate the companys US launch, Fashion4Home.com is giving away
discount codes through Twitter . Just follow @Fashion4Home and tweet “Send me
a discount code @Fashion4Home #design #furniture #deals.”
Fashion4Home.com is reorganizing the home furniture supply
chain by creating a direct-to-consumer connection for high-end furniture,
designers and manufacturers. By eliminating all of the associated costs of
inventory and compressing the entire supply chain, Fashion4Home.com is able
to give consumers the highest quality designer
furniture at a fraction of the price.
In addition, Fashion4Home.com gives consumers the ability to comment and
vote on designs in consideration, thereby influencing the products offered
in the online store. This creates an open innovation environment for top modern furniture designers to
share their ideas directly with consumers, gain immediate feedback and
speed up product design. Fashion4Home.com is the worlds first hub for
furniture designers and consumers to interact directly, making the design
and purchasing process more engaging, fun and affordable.
B Green Innovations, Inc. (OTCBB: BGNN)
announced today that MEGA Group USA has created a special introductory
offer on “VibeAway” to all MEGA Group USA members; “Recycling the planet
one product at a time.”
MEGA Group USA stores will market the “VibeAway” through its members
across the United States. MEGA Group USA members will promote the
“VibeAway” to customers seeking an environmentally responsible solution to
an age old problem of walking, vibrating and shaking washing machines; the
innovative design of the “VibeAway” provides a unique solution for this
problem.
About B Green Innovations:
The B Green Innovations, Inc. (”B Green”), “Go Green” mission from its
inception, is to create a “Green” company for the development of solutions
to eliminate waste from the worlds environment. B Green offers consumers
a realistic and necessary solution to the problem of waste around the
world. We believe that to truly have an impact on the planet, one must be
committed to the environment and seek out environmentally friendly
products.
Bonnie Shiner Bonnie Jewel Atkin Shiner, 81, passed away January 23, 2010 in Richfield, Utah.She was born June 7, 1928 in Salina, Utah to Ralph Sharon and Trilba Allen Atkin. She married Dee Shiner, they later divorced. She is survived by: grand-daughters, Laurie (Warren “Buddy”) Wynn, South Jordan; Michelle (Matt) Graves, Matthews, NC; three great-grandchildren: Emma and Ellie Wynn, Zach Graves; sister: Mignon Payne, West Valley; sister-in-law: Martha Atkin, Torrance, CA; many nieces and nephews.
ProGEL Sealant Technology Platform Expected to Have Broad Applications
IRVINE, Calif. — Neomend,
Inc., an innovator in sealant and adhesion-prevention products for the
surgical marketplace, announced today it has completed a funding round
of $30 million, with Clarus
Ventures, LLC investing $17 million.
Also joining the Series D funding round were the other major investors
in Neomend: Sanderling Ventures, Novo Ventures, Vivo Ventures, and
Prospect Venture Partners.
“We are extremely pleased by the level of support we’ve received from
Clarus and our current investors who are knowledgeable leaders in the
medical device investment community,” said David Renzi, President and
CEO of Neomend.
“This new funding is once again recognition of the value of our ProGEL
platform technology. In addition to thoracic surgery, ProGEL has
potential applications in spinal, gynecological and general surgery, as
well as in adhesion prevention,” Renzi said. “This new funding will move
Neomend toward cash flow break-even, as we also pursue approvals for
other applications of ProGEL.”
Neoprobe Assumes Antibody Licensing Responsibility from Dow
DUBLIN, Ohio — Neoprobe Corporation (OTCBB: NEOP), a diversified developer of
innovative oncology surgical and diagnostic products, announced today
that it has completed a license amendment with The Dow Chemical Company
(NYSE: DOW) for a variety of antibodies used in its proprietary surgical
oncology system called radioimmunoguided surgery or RIGS®.
The license amendment covers antibodies that target a variety of cancers
including colon, rectal, breast, bladder, ovarian and endometrial. The
antibodies were developed in the research laboratories of the National
Institutes of Health (NIH) and Dow. In addition, Neoprobe and Dow have
agreed that Neoprobe will assume direct responsibility for the licensing
agreements. Dow will be compensated for its contributions when Neoprobe
successfully introduces commercial products.
“The completion of the agreements for the portfolio of antibodies with
both NIH and Dow clarifies the development rights for the RIGS
technology,” said David Bupp, Neoprobe’s President and CEO. “We
commenced updated cell line development activities for the antibodies
last year and we are pleased with the results to date. Our clinical and
pharmaceutical development teams have been working on the clinical and
regulatory strategies for the program including the recently filed Phase
3 trial design which has been submitted to FDA under the special
protocol assessment provisions,” concluded Mr. Bupp.
The most clinically evaluated RIGS antibody is called RIGScan™
CR, which when combined with a hand-held gamma radiation detection
probe, provides surgeons with real-time information used to locate tumor
components not detectable by conventional methods, and assists in the
more thorough removal of the potentially cancerous tissue. The RIGScan
CR targeting agents are monoclonal antibodies labeled with a radioactive
isotope that emits low energy gamma rays. Before surgery, a cancer
patient is injected with the monoclonal antibody targeting agent, which
circulates throughout the patient’s body and binds specifically to
cancer cell components (cancer antigens). Concentrations of the
targeting agent are then located during surgery by the gamma detection
device, which emits an audible tone to direct the surgeon to
tumor-involved tissue. Information on the clinical history and current
development status of RIGScan CR can be obtained from Neoprobe’s recent
press releases and filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission.
CHICAGO — National Surgical Hospitals, an owner, operator and developer of
surgical hospitals and surgery centers in partnership with local
physicians, today announced the opening of its newest surgical hospital,
South Texas Surgical Hospital, 6130 Parkway Drive in Corpus Christi,
Texas. The 63,000-square-foot surgical hospital, adjacent to the
Companys Coastal Bend Surgery Center, is equipped with five operating
rooms and 33 inpatient beds. It was designed to accommodate a range of
multi-specialty surgical care, including orthopedics, general surgery,
gynecology, otolaryngology and other surgical specialties.
The new hospital, which NSH will operate in partnership with a group of
55 area physicians, is the Companys fifteenth surgical hospital to open
nationwide and its fifth surgical hospital in Texas.
Commenting on the opening, John G. Rex-Waller, Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer of NSH, said, “We are pleased to open the South
Texas Surgical Hospital following nearly two years of development and
construction. By accelerating the construction process by more than 90
days, we completed this facility well ahead of schedule and have already
received accreditation from the Joint Commission, which enables the
hospital to participate in Medicare and Medicaid programs, and positions
it to grow and thrive in the current regulatory environment.
“Like all of our surgical hospitals, South Texas offers a specialized
approach to quality healthcare, playing an important role in the
continuum of surgical care,” Rex-Waller continued. “We think our ability
to offer expanded healthcare choices to consumers in South Texas will
bring greater cost efficiency and convenience to the area while creating
increased practice efficiencies for the surgeons who utilize our
facility. We appreciate and value the support we have received from our
physician partners and the community during this process as we shared
their vision and have now, together, brought this project to a
successful culmination. This is yet one more step in our companys
journey to fulfill a transforming, forward-looking strategy in surgical
care, and we look forward to serving the greater Corpus Christi area.”
Commenting on the agreement, Dr. Michael Mintz, managing partner for the
physician group, said, “In 2008, our group first partnered with NSH to
enhance the day-to-day management and strategic vision for Coastal Bend
Surgery Center. Two years into this process, we have validated firsthand
the Companys strong reputation in surgery center management
capabilities and its expertise in the critical areas against a very
challenging economic and regulatory backdrop. Today, we also are pleased
to have witnessed their skills in conceptualizing, developing and
completing such a significant project like South Texas Surgical
Hospital, so professionally, effectively and efficiently. As always, our
overarching interest is the welfare of our patients, and we continue to
believe the specialized focus that NSH brings to high-quality surgical
care will enhance our ability to provide patients with a better overall
hospital experience and, thus, help this facility achieve its mission
for improved patient care.”
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Swelling and pain are usually the result of a stretched or torn ligament.
SUPPORTERS OF health care reform need money–a lot of money–to pay for it. So its not surprising that they would try to get it from the people with the most money to spare. Hence the so-called millionaires tax, a levy embedded in the House health care bill. As the noted philanthropist (with other peoples money) and House Ways and Means Committee chairman, Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), explained, lawmakers are targeting big earners because it “causes the least amount of pain on the least amount of people.” Thats the theory, anyway. In fact, the millionaires tax is a good example of how poorly some politicians understand the policies they propose. At press time, the Senate was still debating the bills details. But the health care bill that the House narrowly approved in November included a 5.4 percent tax on the portion of gross income (which includes capital gains and dividends) that exceeds $500,000 for individuals and $1 million for a couple. The surtax would apply to tax years that begin after December 31, 2010. So the first sign that the tax will hit more than millionaires is the fact that it targets half-millionaires from the get-go. The ideas main selling point is that the increase would hit only 0.3 percent of tax fliers–roughly 400,000 people–yet would raise $460.5 billion over the next 10 years. Congress Joint Committee on Taxation estimated that the new rate would affect only 1.2 percent of relatively small business owners, including sole proprietorships (that is, businesses owned by just one person), partnerships (owned by a few people), and S corporations (which have up to 75 shareholders). But because the tax isnt indexed for inflation, over time it will apply to more taxpayers as inflation affects income levels. Sound familiar? It should, because this is how the alternative minimum tax (AMT) became such a nightmare. The AMT was created in 1969 to prevent just 155 wealthy taxpayers from using deductions and credits to avoid paying any federal income taxes. Because it was not indexed for inflation, it came to affect an ever-growing share of the population, prompting Congress to pass a patch each year limiting its reach; next year, without the patch, it is projected to strike 27.4 million Americans–nearly 20 percent of the countrys taxpayers. And even with the patch, the AMT hits far more than just millionaires: In 2009, it swept up 4 million
Studies show decrease in senior care continuity If the discharge planning communitys ideal is to begin the discharge process at the door, when patients are admitted to the hospital, then community provider input is necessary for a smooth care transition. But care continuity has been low, and its decreasing for older adults, recent studies show..sup.1,2
“Jewish Artists for Haiti Benefit Concert”
30 top names in Jewish hip hop, Klezmer Yiddish music to join Haitian
musicians, master drummer and community leaders for 3-hour rousing
concert expected to raise $30,000 for Haiti relief efforts. All proceeds
to The American Jewish World Service Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund.
Ann Toback, Executive Director of national Jewish group Workmens
Circle, “As Jews, and as citizens of the world, we see this concert as
one action we can take to help relieve the urgent suffering of the
Haitian people.”
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
VANCOUVER NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Sun Entertainment Holding Corporation (TSX VENTURE:SED.V) (OTC:SETHF)
wishes to advise that Shelby Singleton, former Chairman of the Company,
will be honored in the “In Memoriam” segment of the 52nd
Grammy Awards, which air live on CBS on January 31st. The
Recording Academy is paying tribute to the men and women that passed
away in the last year, by acknowledging their impact on the music
industry.
Sun Entertainment Corporation (SEC), based in Nashville, Tennessee, is a
wholly owned subsidiary of Sun Entertainment Holding Corporation (SEHC),
a publicly traded entity. SEHC/SEC owns the trademarks associated with
the legendary Sun Records label that originated in Memphis, Tennessee
with producer Sam Phillips. The Company, internationally recognized for
rock-n-roll and the evolution of rockabilly is involved in merchandising
and management of its vast catalog of approximately 8000 master
recordings, with artists including Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl
Perkins, Roy Orbison, Conway Twitty, Elvis Presley and others.
The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved this
announcement
Articles Appear on EE Times’ GreenSupplyLine.com and in Advanced
Imaging Pro Magazine
SAN FRANCISCO — The 1394 Trade Association has published a pair of new technical
articles detailing innovative applications of the 1394 (FireWire)
standard in security camera designs, and in systems used to measure the
operating condition of industrial equipment such as wind turbines.
Both new articles were developed by Burke Henehan, a former Texas
Instruments Corporation engineer and veteran of FireWire applications
development.
AUSTIN, Texas — Salient Systems announces CompleteViewTM release 3.4 which
includes 16 x 9 widescreen view support, enhanced live view layout
creation, Disable Server Processing which dramatically increases the
number of IP camera feeds which can be recorded to one server and offers
integration to ACTi and Bosch camera products plus Agent VI video
analytics.
“This release version is a ‘robust’ offering for our resellers and end
user customers,” says Per Hanssen, President of Salient Systems. “We
have included features which benefit our users, such as widescreen
support, optional title bars, free form and snap-to-grid layout
configurators, while at the same time, we have stayed true to our
commitment to keep CompleteView the ‘easiest to use’ video management
system on the market today,” added Hanssen. “We are proud to partner
with quality companies like Bosch, ACTi and Agent VI and we continue to
develop important product partnerships for ongoing releases.”
Zumobi and Jastrow Productions Bring Lessons into the Hands of Golfers
SEATTLE — Golf’s equipment, its courses, even its rules change but the constant
key to success and enjoyment in the game is to get the ball in the hole,
quickly. It’s with that in mind that Phil Mickelson today announces his Phil
Mickelson: Secrets of the Short Game iPhone and iPod touch
application. Created by mobile media company Zumobi and Jastrow
Productions, which last year created the hugely successful DVD of the
same name, the application was designed for players of all levels who
want to improve on a most demanding, and rewarding, aspect of the game.
With more than half of all shots played taking place within 50 yards of
the cup, the app offers players valuable tips and techniques to master
short game shots and features the first two chapters of the DVD and
companion book, “Putting” and “Chipping.” In them, Mickelson shares the
widely acknowledged expertise he has developed through the last 30 years
in a practical, easy-to-use mobile format. Zumobi re-imagined and
enhanced the content to optimize it for iPhone and iPod touch use,
including creating easy to use, interactive flashcards for quick
reference on the course or as a reminder before a round.
“I think Zumobi’s production of the Secrets app is sensational,”
said Mickelson, who has 37 career PGA Tour victories, 12th
best in Tour history. “The color and clarity are nearly identical to the
DVD and book. It’s easy to navigate and perhaps best of all it’s
embedded. Without question this app is a very useful, friendly tool for
anyone who wants to improve his or her game.”
The Phil Mickelson: Secrets of the Short Game app puts
Mickelson’s valuable instruction into a sophisticated mobile tool to
create a vibrant app with on-the-go lessons including:
BOSTON — Converted Organics Inc. (NASDAQ:COIN)
announced today that the Company’s Turf-Blend™ 6-0-0 organic liquid
fertilizer is now being used on all greens and tees on the Green Course
at Bethpage State Park Golf Course in Farmingdale, NY. In 2009, a study
conducted at Bethpage Green in which standard synthetic liquid
fertilizer applications were replaced with Turf-Blend™ 6-0-0 on greens
and tees yielded favorable results.
“The course superintendents at Bethpage Green were extremely pleased
with the performance of Converted Organics’ Turf-Blend™ 6-0-0 during the
study, the results of which led to their recent decision to use
Turf-Blend™ 6-0-0 as the primary nitrogen source on all Bethpage Green
tees and greens,” said Edward J. Gildea, President of Converted
Organics. “Golf courses can now switch from synthetic fertilizers to
Turf-Blend® 6-0-0 liquid fertilizer without sacrificing championship
results in turf quality and performance. We look forward to the
possibility of Turf-Blend® 6-0-0 being used on other Bethpage courses
this season.”
Converted Organics’ Turf-Blend™ 6-0-0 liquid organic fertilizer combines
all the bioactive, disease suppressing characteristics of Converted
Organics™ LC 1-1-1 liquid fertilizer, plus the high nitrogen organic
lysine technology developed by Archer Daniels Midland Company to deliver
a totally soluble, rapid response organic liquid fertilizer. Converted
Organics’ Turf-Blend™ 6-0-0 has been thoroughly tested and proven to be
the first liquid organic fertilizer that can perform as effectively as
synthetic liquid fertilizers, such as urea.
About Converted Organics Inc.
Frozen North Trading Ltd, Inventors of Temperature Adjusted Pelletized Ice Cream and Frozen Desserts, is pleased to announce the allowance and forthcoming issuance of its United States Patent as applied for related to said invention.
This revolutionary application of cryogenic know how combined with the science of ice cream, formerly licensed to Mollicoolz LLC, created a new and vibrant market for mass distributed frozen novelties. Formerly restricted to deep cold specialty hardware and distribution methods pelletized frozen desserts are now available through normal ice cream channels, vending and grocery, alongside conventional ice cream treats and all made possible by Frozen North Tradings unique proprietary ingenuity.
The company is actively seeking partnerships in the United States and Worldwide to further the already tremendous commercial success experienced.
Byline: KATIE GRANT A TODDLER was bitten by a Rottweiler just yards from his Newsome home. Terrified mum Claire Shaw watched in horror as the Rottweiler bit into her three-year-old sons arm, fracturing it. Little Kaden Shaw-Britton was with his mum buying lollies from the ice-cream van on his Newsome street when a neighbours dog, named Tyson, struck. Claire is outraged the police havent confiscated the dog from its owners and she, along with her neighbours, say they are now worried about the safety of young children playing out.
As THE HEALTH care debate dragged on last year, Democrats searched high and low for Republican support. But aside from Olympia Snowe, the ever-coy centrist senator from Maine, everyone with an R attached to his or her name was consistently opposed to Democratic plans. The always-useful bipartisan label remained elusive. Finally, in October, the majority party found four prominent Republicans to support the cause: former Senate majority leaders Bill Frist and Bob Dole, and former health and human services secretaries Louis Sullivan and Tommy Thompson. This was big news: The New York Times, The Washington Post, and ABC News all published stories on the endorsements, and President Barack Obama praised the four Republicans in his weekly radio address. But it turns out the turncoats were not necessarily motivated by bipartisan concern for the greater good. As reported by Timothy Carney in The Washington Examiner, all four had direct financial ties to health care interests that stand to gain from ObamaCare. Dole lobbies for a firm that represents the pharmaceutical industry and insurance companies. Frist has a partner stake in an investment firm that, according to its online description, has “deep expertise in the healthcare reimbursement and regulatory environments.” Thompson works as a health care consultant for Akin Gump, a lobbying firm paid by the pharmaceutical industry, medical device makers, and hospitals.
First the RACs, now wait for whats coming next Medicaid, commercial insurers starting their audits By the end of the year, its likely that every type of medical record in your hospital will be scrutinized by one auditor or another, predicts Brian Flood, managing director for KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax, and advisory firm. The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfares Bureau of Program Integrity has been auditing fee-for-service Medicaid claims for the past three years, using one of the Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services (CMS) contractors for the Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) demonstration project, reports Charleeda Redman, RN, MSN, ACM, director of corporate case management for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, an integrated health system with 20 acute care hospitals.
Kaiser/VA/DoD partnership piloting a nationwide EHR network Early testing encouraging; improvements in quality anticipated “The ability to share critical health information is essential to interoperability,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki in announcing the program. “Utilizing the NHINs standards and network will allow organizations like VA and the Department of Defense to partner with private-sector health care providers to promote better, faster, and safer care for veterans.” The pilot program currently connects Kaiser Permanente HealthConnect and the VAs electronic health record system, VistA, two of the largest electronic health record systems in the country. The DoDs ALTA system will be linked to the other two shortly.
PHILADELPHIA, Miss. — Citizens Holding Company (NASDAQ:CIZN) announced today results of
operations for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2009.
Net income for the three months ended December 31, 2009 decreased to
$1.703 million, or $0.35 per share-basic and diluted, from $2.055
million, or $0.42 per share-basic and diluted for the same quarter in
2008. Net interest income for the fourth quarter of 2009, after the
provision for loan losses for the quarter, was $6.838 million,
approximately 2.2% higher than the same period in 2008, due to a
decrease in the amount of interest expense partially offset by an
increase in the provision for loan losses. The provision for loan losses
for the three months ended December 31, 2009 was $749 thousand compared
to $195 thousand for the same period in 2008. The increase in the
provision reflects management’s assessment of inherent losses in the
loan portfolio including the impact caused by current local and national
economic conditions. The net interest margin decreased to 4.22% in the
fourth quarter of 2009 from 4.31% in the same period in 2008 primarily
because of the decrease in yields on earning assets was greater than the
decline in rates paid on interest bearing deposits.
Non-interest income increased in the fourth quarter of 2009 by
approximately $984 thousand, or 63.4%, while non-interest expenses
increased $1.938 million, or 34.9%, compared to the same period in 2008.
The increase in non-interest income was due primarily to an $855
thousand gain on the sale of surplus bank property left from the
relocation of a branch. Non-interest expense increased mainly due to a
$207 thousand increase in FDIC premiums paid in 2009, an increase in
salaries and benefits in the amount of $532 thousand and write-downs on
other real estate of $1.017 million.
Net income for the twelve months ended December 31, 2009 decreased 13.7%
to $7.139 million, or $1.47 per share-basic and $1.45 per share-diluted,
from $8.274 million, $1.70 per share-basic and $1.69 per share-diluted,
for the twelve months ended December 31, 2008. Net interest income for
the twelve months ended December 31, 2009, after the provision for loan
losses, increased 8.1% to $26.540 million from $24.559 million for the
same period in 2008. Net interest margin decreased to 4.20% in 2009 from
4.41% in 2008. The provision for loan losses for the twelve months ended
December 31, 2009 was $3.013 million compared to $1.224 million in 2008.
The increase in the provision reflects management’s assessment of
inherent losses in the loan portfolio including the impact caused by
current local and national economic conditions.
Non-interest income increased by $194 thousand, or 2.5%, and
non-interest expense increased by $3.968 million, or 18.2%, for the
twelve months ended December 31, 2009 when compared to December 31,
2008. The increase in non-interest income was primarily the result of an
$855 thousand gain on the sale of surplus branch property offset by
one-time items in 2008 including termination of a sweep program that
resulted in $442 thousand in non-interest income in 2008 and insurance
proceeds in 2008 on the life of a bank officer of $770 thousand.
Non-interest expense increased mainly due to a $901 thousand increase in
FDIC assessments paid in 2009, an increase in salaries and benefits of
$1.204 million and write-downs on other real estate of $1.017 million.
Salaries and benefits rose mainly due to the addition of personnel in
the loan administration department, staffing for the loan production
office in Biloxi and normal raises.
NEW YORK — Fitch Ratings has published its U.S. CMBS Focus Performance Report on
Banc of America Commercial Mortgage Inc., Series 2007-5 (BACM 2007-5).
The report provides a detailed and up-to-date perspective on key credit
characteristics of the BACM 2007-5 transaction and property-level
performance of the related trust loans.
Sectors >> Structured Finance >> CMBS >> Research
ALL FITCH CREDIT RATINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS AND
DISCLAIMERS. PLEASE READ THESE LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS BY FOLLOWING
THIS LINK: HTTP://FITCHRATINGS.COM/UNDERSTANDINGCREDITRATINGS.
IN ADDITION, RATING DEFINITIONS AND THE TERMS OF USE OF SUCH RATINGS ARE
AVAILABLE ON THE AGENCYS PUBLIC WEBSITE WWW.FITCHRATINGS.COM.
PUBLISHED RATINGS, CRITERIA AND METHODOLOGIES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THIS
SITE AT ALL TIMES. FITCHS CODE OF CONDUCT, CONFIDENTIALITY, CONFLICTS
OF INTEREST, AFFILIATE FIREWALL, COMPLIANCE AND OTHER RELEVANT POLICIES
AND PROCEDURES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE CODE OF CONDUCT SECTION OF
THIS SITE.
“The scene is Capitol Hill. Its the year 2035. Thousands of elderly protesters assemble outside the Capitol building. Inside, the House Ways and Means Committee meets to enact huge cuts in both Medicare and the national health insurance program.” That is the opening of “The Medicare Monster,” a reason article from January 1993; authors Steven Hayward and Erik Peterson highlighted predictions of Medicares impending fiscal insolvency to warn against the push for government-run health care. Substitute 2017 for 2035, and you could write the scene today. Hayward and Petersons cautionary tale pointed out that Medicare costs had been dramatically underestimated from the inception of the program in 1966. Medicare cost $3 billion in 1966. A “conservative” estimate by the House Ways and Means Committee in 1966 projected that Medicare would cost $12 billion after inflation by 1990. The actual 1990 cost was nearly nine times more: $107 billion. Today Medicare costs $408 billion, consuming about 13 percent of the total federal budget. Since 1993 projections about Medicares eventual date of bankruptcy have oscillated considerably. In 1997 the Medicare Trustees projected that its hospital fund would be depleted by the middle of 2000. Fiscal collapse was avoided when the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 imposed what amounted to price controls on physicians and hospitals. As a consequence, in 2000 the Medicare Trustees sunnily projected that the program would be solvent through 2029. Nine years later, the latest Medicare Trustees report projects that the hospital fund (Part A) will be depleted by 2017. The trustees assert that bringing it into actuarial balance during the next 75 years will require either immediately raising the Medicare payroll tax from 2.9 percent to 6.78 percent or cutting current benefits by 53 percent. Medicare Part B, which pays for outpatient care and doctor bills, and the recently added Part D, which pays for prescription drugs, are “both projected to remain adequately financed into the indefinite future because current law automatically provides financing each year to meet next years expected costs.” Translation: About 75 percent of Medicare funds spent on doctors and drugs come from general tax revenue.
First the RACs, now wait for whats coming next Medicaid, commercial insurers starting their audits By the end of the year, its likely that every type of medical record in your hospital will be scrutinized by one auditor or another, predicts Brian Flood, managing director for KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax, and advisory firm. The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfares Bureau of Program Integrity has been auditing fee-for-service Medicaid claims for the past three years, using one of the Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services (CMS) contractors for the Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) demonstration project, reports Charleeda Redman, RN, MSN, ACM, director of corporate case management for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, an integrated health system with 20 acute care hospitals.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Swelling and pain are usually the result of a stretched or torn ligament.
The Ultimate Anti-Aging Power of Red Wine Captured in One Softgel*
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Slow the pace of aging with new Resveratrol-forte High
Potency from Enzymatic Therapy®.* This unique formula contains select
French red wine grapes, resveratrol, and rutin. It activates the
longevity enzyme to help slow aging with 175 mg of 100%
trans-resveratrol.* That’s more resveratrol than leading competitors!
1 One dose contains as much trans-resveratrol as 118 bottles of
red wine. 2
This easy to swallow, one per day softgel, contains a synergistic combination
of trans-resveratrol and rutin (quercetin-rutinoside). It provides more
anti-aging and immune support than resveratrol alone.* The special
extraction and purification methods support high-potency and
stability.*
Longevity expert, Dr. Gaetano Morello, ND, a member of the Enzymatic
Therapy Scientific Advisory Board, recommends resveratrol widely to his
patients concerned with healthy aging.* ”An important aspect of reducing
the impact of the aging process is currently centered on siRT1, a
longevity enzyme, that plays a part in reducing the impact of aging,” *
he explained. “It’s been shown that people consuming very low calorie
diets have increased levels of this enzyme.”*
“Studies show that resveratrol duplicates the effects of calorie
restriction and activates this enzyme without cutting calories,”* said
Dr. Morello. “Resveratrol may also support anti-aging effects by
reducing the development of new fat cells and boosting the use of fat
within existing fat cells.”*
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Over the past few years, grapes have taken center stage in the of superfoods, thanks to an antiaging compound in grape skins known as resveratrol. But it turns out that the lowly grape has even more to recommend it–health benefits found in the seeds. In fact, the tiny seeds of this juicy fruit harbor compounds that can make us look and feel younger and more vibrant both inside and out thanks to their potent antioxidant power. These miniature marvels are so powerful that they outperform vitamins C and E and beta-carotene, making grape seed extract a highly effective warrior against the free radical damage that can injure our DNA and age us prematurely. Crape seed extracts antioxidant power is 50 times greater than that of vitamin E and 20 times more potent than vitamin C. It also boasts anti-inflammatory and antimutagenic properties, as well as the ability to protect against the harmful effects of radiation in animal studies. Yet these abilities arent grape seeds main claim to fame. Crape seeds contain substances called proanthocyanidins, commonly referred to as oligomeric proanthocyanidins. These water-soluble flavonoids help to strengthen and protect our cell membranes from the oxidative damage caused by free radicals. Without this protection, our skin begins to prematurely show the signs of aging from overexposure to the suns harmful rays. According to researchers at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., grape applied topically boosted the skins natural SPY (sun protection factor) in a group of human volunteers.
THINK: What types of food, drink, and habits might damage teeth? What can people do to keep their teeth healthy and strong? PREDICT: Dentists recommend brushing teeth at least twice daily to keep food and bacteria from building up. Brushing prevents discolored teeth and cavities. An eggshell is made from a substance similar to tooth enamel, the hard covering that protects teeth. What would happen if an eggshell were left in soda overnight?
The Water Research Foundation has named Dennis
W. Doll, President and CEO of Middlesex Water Company (NASDAQ: MSEX), to
its Board of Trustees. Founded in 1966, the Water Research Foundation is
an international, 501c(3) nonprofit organization that sponsors
comprehensive, scientific and timely research to enable water utilities,
public health agencies and other professionals to provide safe and
affordable drinking water to the public.
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, among others,
our long-term strategy and expectations, the status of our acquisition
program, the impact of our acquisitions, the impact of current and
projected rate requests and the impact of our capital program on our
environmental compliance. There are important factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements including: general economic business conditions,
unfavorable weather conditions, the success of certain cost containment
initiatives, changes in regulations or regulatory treatment, availability
and the cost of capital, the success of growth initiatives and other
factors discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The stone faces of four former United States Presidents stare out from Mount Rushmore. Elizabeth Lee is planning a trip to this world-famous monument in South Dakotas Black Hills. Most visitors shoot Mount Rushmore with cameras. But Lee and her co-workers will shoot it with laser beams. Their goal is to create a three-dimensional model of the site, using computers. Lee is a project director at CyArk, an organization that makes digital models of the worlds monuments. These sites, like Egypts pyramids and Indias Taj Mahal, have a special place in history and culture. Over time, weather, tourists, and natural disasters can wear down or destroy these treasures. Thats why experts like Lee want to create digital models of the worlds monuments before they are beyond repair. This way, damage to the sites can be monitored over time and repairs can be planned accurately. Whats a monuments number one enemy? Everyday weather. “Water is really the chief cause [of ruin],” says John Stubbs, who works at the World Monuments Fund in New York. It can strike as rain, floods, or even humidity.
IN APRIL 2008, The Orange County Register published a bombshell of an investigation about a license plate program for California government workers and their families. Drivers of nearly I million cars and light trucks–out of a total 22 million vehicles registered statewide–were protected by a “shield” in the state records system between their license plate numbers and their home addresses. There were, the newspaper found, great practical benefits to this secrecy. “Vehicles with protected license plates can run through dozens of intersections controlled by red light cameras with impunity,” the Registers Jennifer Muir reported. “Parking citations issued to vehicles with protected plates are often dismissed because the process necessary to pierce the shield is too cumbersome. Some patrol officers let drivers with protected plates off with a warning because the plates signal that drivers are one of their own or related to someone who is.” The plate program started in 1978 with the seemingly unobjectionable purpose of protecting the personal addresses of officials who deal directly with criminals. Police argued that the bad guys could call the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), get addresses for officers, and use the information to harm them or their family members. There was no rash of such incidents, only the possibility that they could take place. So police and their families were granted confidentiality. Then the program expanded from one set of government workers to another. Eventually parole officers, retired parking enforcers, DMV desk clerks, county supervisors, social workers, and other categories of employees from 1,800 state agencies were given the special protections too. Meanwhile, the original intent of the shield had become obsolete: The DMV long ago abandoned the practice of giving out personal information about any driver. What was left was not a protection but a perk. Yes, rank has its privileges, and its clear that government workers have a rank above the rest of us. Ordinarily, if one out of every 22 California drivers had a license to drive any way he chose, there would be demands for more police power to protect Californians from the potential carnage. But until the newspaper series, law enforcement officials and legislators had remained mum. The reason, of course, is that the scofflaws are law enforcement officials and legislators.
Dr. Reddys Laboratories
(NYSE: RDY) and Aegis Therapeutics, LLC (Aegis) today announced a
partnership providing Dr. Reddys access to Aegis Intravail® drug
delivery technology for certain undisclosed therapeutics currently being
marketed with annual worldwide sales in excess of U.S. $1 billion.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
Commenting on the collaboration, Raghav Chari, Senior Vice
President-Proprietary Products business, Dr. Reddys said, “We are
extremely pleased to be working with Aegis and gaining access to their
patented Intravail® drug delivery technologies. The results of successful
human studies completed to date will provide a unique product offering,
satisfying a significant unmet need in the market. We hope this will
continue to provide affordable and innovative medicines to a much wider
population.”
Edward T. Maggio, Chief Executive Office, Aegis Therapeutics, added, “Dr.
Reddys has a worldwide reputation for developing innovative, high quality
branded pharmaceuticals. We are pleased to be working with Dr. Reddys on
this exciting application of our technology, another significant milestone
in Aegis commercialization strategy.”
The products under the exclusive license agreement will be developed,
manufactured and marketed worldwide by Dr. Reddys.
Featuring 0.5 Basis Point Pricing; Live on February 15
LONDON KANSAS CITY, Mo. — BATS Europe, the operator of an innovative and technology-leading
European Multilateral Trading Facility (MTF), today announced the
addition of a pan-European smart order routing service for access to
multiple market centres including exchanges, MTFs and dark pools,
effective Monday the 15th of February.
“Our new smart order routing solution is designed to give BATS Europe’s
market participants even more choice for deploying their trading
strategies whilst minimising market access complexities and costs of
meeting best execution criteria,” said Mark Hemsley, CEO of BATS Europe.
“Smart order routing is one of a series of new features for BATS Europe
that we expect to lead to further growth in market share and notional
value traded.”
The fast-growing MTF, which launched less than 15 months ago, saw
pan-European trading volume of €2,189,384,623 on Friday the 22nd
of January, setting a record for the fourth straight day. Other daily
marks established in January include market share for all of Europe
(5.18% on the 6th of January), the FTSE100 (10.18% on the 6th),
the FTSE MIB (9.9% on the 6th), the DAX (5.76% on the 20th),
the SMI (4.27% on the 20th) and the STOXX50 (5.80% on the 20th).
BATS Europe’s smart order router features the exclusive CYCLE strategy.
With CYCLE, orders are routed to pan-European market centres, searching
for liquidity at the best price points up to, and including, the limit
price on the original order.
BLACKPOOL 3 BRETT ORMEROD struck a last-minute winner to hand Blackpool a Coca-Cola Championship victory over Watford.
By Mike Hall VALLEY FALLS — While other cities are scrambling for new business development, it is happening with little special incentive in Valley Falls. Valley Falls Mayor Charles Stutesman said local businessman Brian Lane came up with the idea on his own to expand and relocate his bulk seed facility to a new high-visibility site at the south edge of the city. He came to the Valley Falls City Council with two requests: the property be annexed into the city, and water and sewer service be extended to the site. And thats the only governmental assistance involved, Stutesman said.
IT has become fashionable to allow assistant managers to take some extra element of control in cup matches – Ally McCoist has had a go at Rangers and now Mark Venus at Celtic. From his handling of the preview of Celtics midweek match at Morton, it is clear that Tony Mowbrays right hand man has attended the Bobby Williamson School of Management. The former Killie and Hibs boss was the master of the smart-ass comment, the snide riposte to a routine query that attempted to undermine the questioner. In their current form, every public relations word uttered from Parkhead is precious. Mowbray and not his lackey must be responsible for them.
A GRANDFATHER has been given the chance of life after a charity agreed to pay for life-saving cancer treatment the NHS refused to fund. The Sunday Mirror revealed how Brendan Moriarty, 67, was devastated after being told he could not have high-tech radiotherapy costing pounds 22,000 that could kill the cells causing his bowel cancer.
A MEDICAL blunder that led to a young mans death was covered up by a hospital. because they feared bad publicity. Senior consultant Ivan Phair wrote a report blaming hospital staff over the death of 20-year-old John Moore-Robinson who died after a junior doctor failed to notice he had ruptured his spleen in a cycling accident. The report was to be sent to a coroner but Mr Phairs boss, NHS executive Kate Levy, told him to delete the part of it which blamed Stafford Hospital staff. The cover-up was exposed when a lawyer handed copies of Mr Phairs report – and Levys letters – to Johns parents at a Government inquiry into over 400 deaths at the hospital.
Moscow talk-radio host Matvey Ganapolsky said the following thing on air in October: “Stalin signed an order that children can be shot from the age of 12 as enemies of the nation. Which of the bastards dares say a single word in his defense?” Well, heres one: Eugene Dzhugashvili, Stalins grandson.
Opponents of the health-care bill, said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D., R.I.) in the pre-Christmas marathon debate, “are desperate to break this president. They have ardent supporters who are nearly hysterical at the very election of President Barack Obama. The birthers, the fanatics, the people running around in right-wing militia and Aryan support groups, it is unbearable to them that President Barack Obama should exist.” Now discount maybe 20 percent of that as passion-of-the-moment.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Swelling and pain are usually the result of a stretched or torn ligament.
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| « Jan | ||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
[H]* = Home[L]* = Lizenz[I]* = Impressum[R]* = RSS (Einträge)[K]* = RSS (Komment.)
© Family Resources | Impressum | WordPress | Iconis-Triple | Einträge und Kommentare.
Dieser Inhalt ist unter einer Creative Commons-Lizenz lizenziert.