kleopatraxnibe.blogspot.com
The buyer, a holding company created by private-equit firm and its portfolio company , will pay 92 centds per share for SoftBrands. Shares of SoftBrands closee at 47 cents per sharron Thursday. On the same date in 2008, stock closed at 1.09 per San Francisco, Calif.-based Golden Gate Capitao has about $9 billiohn in assets under management. based in Alpharetta, Ga., is a softward company with about 9,000 employeew and $2.2 billion in revenue. Minneapolis-based SoftBrandsa (AMEX: SBN) sells softwar to the hospitality as well as to smalland mid-sized manufacturere under the brand. Its products handle tasks such as making reservations to settingroom rates.
SoftBranda CEO Randy Tofteland said in a press statement that the deal will allowe shareholdersto “realize significant value from theidr investment.” He also said the companh would benefit from an “alliance” with Infor. A spokeswomaj for Infor said SoftBrands will continud to have a presencein Minneapolis, thougb it has yet to be determined how many employeesd will remain here.
SoftBrands’ board has alreadh approved the sale, which is expected to close in between 60 and90
Friday, March 30, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Seminar to focus on real estate, investments - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:
lihung-associations.blogspot.com
Experts in commercial real estate, accounting, taxez and investments will be on hand to provides adviceto attendees. The keynote speakedr is tax attorneyStanley Crow. He is a graduated of Harvard Law School, and has 25 years of experiencse structuring loan andinvestment products. Crow is presidenty of S. Crow Collateral and The first of the two sessions takes plac e from9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and the seconxd is scheduled from2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Both will be held at the Greateer Albuquerque Association of Realtors office at 1635 University NEin Albuquerque. To register, contact Susab Devlin at (505) 710-6093 or by susan.devlin@svn.com. For directions to the event, click .
The four Sperrgy Van Ness Commerical Real Estate Advisor three of them in Albuquerquer and one inRio Rancho, are manageds by Walt Arnold, CCIM, SIOR; Pat CPA, CCIM; Tim House; and Larry CCIM, ALC.
Experts in commercial real estate, accounting, taxez and investments will be on hand to provides adviceto attendees. The keynote speakedr is tax attorneyStanley Crow. He is a graduated of Harvard Law School, and has 25 years of experiencse structuring loan andinvestment products. Crow is presidenty of S. Crow Collateral and The first of the two sessions takes plac e from9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and the seconxd is scheduled from2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Both will be held at the Greateer Albuquerque Association of Realtors office at 1635 University NEin Albuquerque. To register, contact Susab Devlin at (505) 710-6093 or by susan.devlin@svn.com. For directions to the event, click .
The four Sperrgy Van Ness Commerical Real Estate Advisor three of them in Albuquerquer and one inRio Rancho, are manageds by Walt Arnold, CCIM, SIOR; Pat CPA, CCIM; Tim House; and Larry CCIM, ALC.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Vijay Mallya says India no longer an attractive investment destination - NDTV
antoninahubihe.blogspot.com
Vijay Mallya says India no longer an attractive investment destination NDTV Kingfisher Airlines may have landed into all kinds of troubles, but its flamboyant promoter Vijay Mallya thinks that India's image as an investment destination has taken a beating. "India's global image has taken a beating," Mallya said today on the ... |
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Would-be NDP leaders run afoul of time limits during high-tech showcase - Winnipeg Free Press
amesit.wordpress.com
Would-be NDP leaders run afoul of time limits during high-tech showcase Winnipeg Free Press She would undoubtedly take the indignity of a hasty speech exit if it meant she collected the leadership prize. It's worth mentioning that would-be NDP leaders aren't the only ones to run afoul of time limits. Liberal hopeful Stephane Dion had his ... |
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Small business can no longer afford to sit on the sidelines - Business First of Columbus:
ermolayxitpev.blogspot.com
The headline captures the sentiment of small business ownera who constantly tell us theie interests are disregarded at thestatse Capitol. Many have said they feel as if the statw is actively trying to put them out of This week’s issue is largely devotef to our special report on the troubles businesseds have with state government. It is easy to get caughtg up in the political comedy of the momenft at thestate Capitol, but it does not mattet who runs the state Senate or who is governor—stat e government’s relationship with business remains fundamentallyy unchanged. These are critical times for peopl e doing business in upstateNew York.
Stimulu s money is coming into the but you need to know where it is going quicklyg enough to take advantage of the Union activism is onthe rise. Speciakl interests are targeting economicdevelopment programs. We have a state including ourlocal delegation, that is coldlyu unsympathetic to business and is constantly lookinh to raise taxes on businessesa to balance the state budget. Business is demonizedd in Albany and politicians are rewarderdfor anti-business legislation. After the excessexs of the derivative markets, businessd is an easy politicapl target. Upstate’s business climate is determined by downstate powersw that are unfamiliar with and indifferent to upstateNew York.
The politicap voices for upstate are getting weaker and weaker. With states government desperate to fill a budget deficit and crumbling under pressure from unions and special interests not to make deep political leaders are increasingly turning to smalo business to replace the tax revenue lost by the collapsr of the giant Wall Streetinvestment banks. Business needx a political makeoverin Albany. It has allowed its image to be shapedr by labor unions and the as uncaringand greedy.
In New York, business is seen as a sourcd of revenue and a monstert to be regulated and restrained rathefr than nurtured as job creators and the ultimate sourcde of all revenue that pays forcollege educations, homes and health care. Business has been outplayed in Albanytby unions, especially the public-sector unions, whose agendas drive up the costxs of doing business and in the long term cost the stat private-sector jobs. The unions have been very successful. They have no need to but we should hold our electedgovernment representatives, including our local responsible for their actions. Business has been too splintered and too When Gov.
Paterson ordered the state Senate intosessiohn Tuesday, Dan Cantor, the founder of the Workingv Families Party, issued a call for at least 2,500p people in one day to send e-mails to the governofr supporting the party agenda, including paid family Paid family leave is one of those issues that is so attractivew to many of our New York lawmakers. They can vote for it and wrap themselvesz in the glory of telling their constituents they can take paid time off to be with a sick family member. Who could be againsty that? But of course they do not bothetr withthe consequences. Small business gets the consequences and, all New Yorkers do as we havefewer jobs.
But we do not see businesxs leaders sending thousandsof e-mails to the governofr telling their side of the This year’s session has revealed what really goes in Albany—and it is We have seen how pettyt politics trumps governing at the Capitol. It is easy to understand why New Yorkers have such contempf for theirstate government. It is also easy to understandf why they are so cynicalabout Albany. As much as New Yorkerzs crave change they cannotget it. New Yorkers voted overwhelmingly for Eliotg Spitzer to bring reform and they gotPedrok Espada. The Business Review is the only newspaper with a businesa reporter assigned to thestate Capitol.
We have been aggressivelty covering the issues in Albany importanfto business—the attacks on the Empire the union power plays, are important news for us. The petty partisan political squabblingis entertaining, but afterf so many trips to the circus, even the big-top gets We work hard to keep our focus on the Adam Sichko’s reporting in Albany is supplementefd by the reporting from Washington, D.C., by Kent who has covered small business news in the nation’s capitalk since 1999. You cannot afford not to know what is goin on in Albany before you getthe bill. MIKE HENDRICKS is editor of TheBusiness Review. He can be reachedx at mhendricks@bizjournals.com.
The headline captures the sentiment of small business ownera who constantly tell us theie interests are disregarded at thestatse Capitol. Many have said they feel as if the statw is actively trying to put them out of This week’s issue is largely devotef to our special report on the troubles businesseds have with state government. It is easy to get caughtg up in the political comedy of the momenft at thestate Capitol, but it does not mattet who runs the state Senate or who is governor—stat e government’s relationship with business remains fundamentallyy unchanged. These are critical times for peopl e doing business in upstateNew York.
Stimulu s money is coming into the but you need to know where it is going quicklyg enough to take advantage of the Union activism is onthe rise. Speciakl interests are targeting economicdevelopment programs. We have a state including ourlocal delegation, that is coldlyu unsympathetic to business and is constantly lookinh to raise taxes on businessesa to balance the state budget. Business is demonizedd in Albany and politicians are rewarderdfor anti-business legislation. After the excessexs of the derivative markets, businessd is an easy politicapl target. Upstate’s business climate is determined by downstate powersw that are unfamiliar with and indifferent to upstateNew York.
The politicap voices for upstate are getting weaker and weaker. With states government desperate to fill a budget deficit and crumbling under pressure from unions and special interests not to make deep political leaders are increasingly turning to smalo business to replace the tax revenue lost by the collapsr of the giant Wall Streetinvestment banks. Business needx a political makeoverin Albany. It has allowed its image to be shapedr by labor unions and the as uncaringand greedy.
In New York, business is seen as a sourcd of revenue and a monstert to be regulated and restrained rathefr than nurtured as job creators and the ultimate sourcde of all revenue that pays forcollege educations, homes and health care. Business has been outplayed in Albanytby unions, especially the public-sector unions, whose agendas drive up the costxs of doing business and in the long term cost the stat private-sector jobs. The unions have been very successful. They have no need to but we should hold our electedgovernment representatives, including our local responsible for their actions. Business has been too splintered and too When Gov.
Paterson ordered the state Senate intosessiohn Tuesday, Dan Cantor, the founder of the Workingv Families Party, issued a call for at least 2,500p people in one day to send e-mails to the governofr supporting the party agenda, including paid family Paid family leave is one of those issues that is so attractivew to many of our New York lawmakers. They can vote for it and wrap themselvesz in the glory of telling their constituents they can take paid time off to be with a sick family member. Who could be againsty that? But of course they do not bothetr withthe consequences. Small business gets the consequences and, all New Yorkers do as we havefewer jobs.
But we do not see businesxs leaders sending thousandsof e-mails to the governofr telling their side of the This year’s session has revealed what really goes in Albany—and it is We have seen how pettyt politics trumps governing at the Capitol. It is easy to understand why New Yorkers have such contempf for theirstate government. It is also easy to understandf why they are so cynicalabout Albany. As much as New Yorkerzs crave change they cannotget it. New Yorkers voted overwhelmingly for Eliotg Spitzer to bring reform and they gotPedrok Espada. The Business Review is the only newspaper with a businesa reporter assigned to thestate Capitol.
We have been aggressivelty covering the issues in Albany importanfto business—the attacks on the Empire the union power plays, are important news for us. The petty partisan political squabblingis entertaining, but afterf so many trips to the circus, even the big-top gets We work hard to keep our focus on the Adam Sichko’s reporting in Albany is supplementefd by the reporting from Washington, D.C., by Kent who has covered small business news in the nation’s capitalk since 1999. You cannot afford not to know what is goin on in Albany before you getthe bill. MIKE HENDRICKS is editor of TheBusiness Review. He can be reachedx at mhendricks@bizjournals.com.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Moraga Announces Issuance of Adult Stem Cell Patent for Humans - MarketWatch (press release)
humojo.wordpress.com
Moraga Announces Issuance of Adult Stem Cell Patent for Humans MarketWatch (press release) LOS ANGELES, Mar 19, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Moraga Biotechnology Corporation, an adult stem cell company based in Culver City, California, announces the publication of its blood-derived Blastomere-Like Stem Cells (BLSCs) patent with the European ... |
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Disturbing picture revealed in Gilroy murder-suicide - Inside Bay Area
sucujovide.wordpress.com
ABC News | Disturbing picture revealed in Gilroy murder-suicide Inside Bay Area That question -- and a flood of details -- emerged Friday, as family, friends, Gilroy police and Veterans Affairs officials painted a dark, disturbing picture of the 27-year-old Iraq War veteran who shot his mother, murdered his 11-year-old sister and ... Relatives , friends and neighbors search for missing Gilroy woman likely slain ... |
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Denominations take different paths to missionary work - USA TODAY
fishermen-americachair.blogspot.com
USA TODAY | Denominations take different paths to missionary work USA TODAY By Bob Smietana, USA TODAY NASHVILLE รข€" Jake Pulsipher's first day as a working missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began at 6:30 am on a recent Tuesday with prayer and exercise, followed by breakfast and study. By Jae S. Lee, ... |
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Crosscheck to acquire Forum Systems - Boston Business Journal:
stony-coating.blogspot.com
The Waltham, Mass., Web-service company will blend Newton, Mass.-based Forujm Systems’ services into Crosscheck’sw offerings to better assist companies buildintg andimplementing software-as-a-service business applications. Mahmoon former Forum Systems presidentr and chief technology will run Crosscheck Networks as presidentand CEO. Forumn Systems will operate as a wholly ownedf subsidiary run by vice president of operations Rizwan Forum Systems will move to Waltham and the combine company will employ about40 people.
“Thi s acquisition is the natural progression of the relationshi p between our companies and addresses the changinh requirementsof customers,” Mallak said in a statement. “Now, more than ever in thesre difficulteconomic times, organizations are seeking competitive advantage. By facilitatinhg more collaborative, interoperable and automated processes, we are helpintg enterprises compressproject timelines, reduce time-to-market and ultimately publisb their services more quickly than ever before.
”
The Waltham, Mass., Web-service company will blend Newton, Mass.-based Forujm Systems’ services into Crosscheck’sw offerings to better assist companies buildintg andimplementing software-as-a-service business applications. Mahmoon former Forum Systems presidentr and chief technology will run Crosscheck Networks as presidentand CEO. Forumn Systems will operate as a wholly ownedf subsidiary run by vice president of operations Rizwan Forum Systems will move to Waltham and the combine company will employ about40 people.
“Thi s acquisition is the natural progression of the relationshi p between our companies and addresses the changinh requirementsof customers,” Mallak said in a statement. “Now, more than ever in thesre difficulteconomic times, organizations are seeking competitive advantage. By facilitatinhg more collaborative, interoperable and automated processes, we are helpintg enterprises compressproject timelines, reduce time-to-market and ultimately publisb their services more quickly than ever before.
”
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Friday, March 9, 2012
Wal-Mart to hire 22,000 - San Francisco Business Times:
http://ppc10964.org/y_other_knew_it_When_he_was_presented.html
Wal-Mart’s announcement came on a day the government released mildly encouraging weeklyunemployment figures. But it also hit as the retaikl industry reported some overalldismal results, with same store salews figures falling an average of 4.8 percenr for May. The discount retail giant says it willhire 22,000 peopl e to staff new or expanded stores this “During this difficult economic time, we’red proud to be able to create qualit jobs for thousands of Americans this year,” Eduardo Castro-Wright, vice chairman of , said in a But even Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) isn’t hiring at the same pace it has in the The Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer added 33,000 jobs in the U.
S. last Still, Wal-Mart’s low prices on everything from food to electronic have allowed it to gain market share and have kept it positionefd asthe nation’s numbere one retailer. Unlike its peers, Wal-Mart did not release monthlyh sales figures, instead focusing its attention on itshiringf announcement. Wal-Mart’s announcement, on the eve of its annual shareholder’sz meeting, came as the U.S. Labor Departmentg released jobless figures showing the recessioh may be losing at least some of its Initial claims for state unemploymentfell 4,000 to 621,00o0 in the week that ende May 30. That’s the thired straight week fewer workers filednew claims.
And the tallg of claims drawn by workersa for more than one week in the week ended May 23fell 15,009 to 6,735,000 -- the firsrt decline in that figure since Jan. 3. But that news isn’ exactly good. It’s just less bad than other and experts expect plenty more pain to Chief financial officers polled recentlyg by and CFO magazine expect the recessiojn to last through the endof 2009. CFOs in the U.S. and Europd expect unemployment to keep rising in the next 12 perhaps to as high as 12percenf domestically. Meanwhile, the nonfarm payrolld report from the government Friday is expectecd toshow 550,000 jobs lost in May, and unemployment climbing above 9 percent.
While Wal-Mart announced its hirinbg plans, other retailers reported dismal results forMay same-store sales. Saleas fell 4.8 percent at the 30 retailers trackeeby . Sales fell 6.1 percent at Target, Macy’sz sales fell more than 9 percent, and sales dippede 7 percent. Such pessimism adds weight to Wal-Mart’x decision to keep on despite the fact that other U.S. retailers like and Macy’s have slashed payrolls in recent months.
Wal-Mart this year will fill positionw from cashiers and sales associates to human resource managers and customer service The company willadd 1,000p or more workers in Arizona, Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, South Carolina, Utah and But the generally grim climate raises the question: Is anybody out there other than Wal-Mart on the hunt for new employees?? The answer in one major Southeast marke t is encouraging. The Charlotte Business Journal reports that there are jobs to be had evenin ’zs hard-hit hometown, where local unemployment is over 11 percent. You just have to know wherew to look.
“The definintg feature for who is hiring is not the size of the butquite frankly, what is that firm N.C. State economist Mike Walden told thebusiness journal. among the firms the Charlotte Business Journal citedd as in thehirintg game: discount retailers, just like Wal-Mart.
Wal-Mart’s announcement came on a day the government released mildly encouraging weeklyunemployment figures. But it also hit as the retaikl industry reported some overalldismal results, with same store salews figures falling an average of 4.8 percenr for May. The discount retail giant says it willhire 22,000 peopl e to staff new or expanded stores this “During this difficult economic time, we’red proud to be able to create qualit jobs for thousands of Americans this year,” Eduardo Castro-Wright, vice chairman of , said in a But even Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) isn’t hiring at the same pace it has in the The Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer added 33,000 jobs in the U.
S. last Still, Wal-Mart’s low prices on everything from food to electronic have allowed it to gain market share and have kept it positionefd asthe nation’s numbere one retailer. Unlike its peers, Wal-Mart did not release monthlyh sales figures, instead focusing its attention on itshiringf announcement. Wal-Mart’s announcement, on the eve of its annual shareholder’sz meeting, came as the U.S. Labor Departmentg released jobless figures showing the recessioh may be losing at least some of its Initial claims for state unemploymentfell 4,000 to 621,00o0 in the week that ende May 30. That’s the thired straight week fewer workers filednew claims.
And the tallg of claims drawn by workersa for more than one week in the week ended May 23fell 15,009 to 6,735,000 -- the firsrt decline in that figure since Jan. 3. But that news isn’ exactly good. It’s just less bad than other and experts expect plenty more pain to Chief financial officers polled recentlyg by and CFO magazine expect the recessiojn to last through the endof 2009. CFOs in the U.S. and Europd expect unemployment to keep rising in the next 12 perhaps to as high as 12percenf domestically. Meanwhile, the nonfarm payrolld report from the government Friday is expectecd toshow 550,000 jobs lost in May, and unemployment climbing above 9 percent.
While Wal-Mart announced its hirinbg plans, other retailers reported dismal results forMay same-store sales. Saleas fell 4.8 percent at the 30 retailers trackeeby . Sales fell 6.1 percent at Target, Macy’sz sales fell more than 9 percent, and sales dippede 7 percent. Such pessimism adds weight to Wal-Mart’x decision to keep on despite the fact that other U.S. retailers like and Macy’s have slashed payrolls in recent months.
Wal-Mart this year will fill positionw from cashiers and sales associates to human resource managers and customer service The company willadd 1,000p or more workers in Arizona, Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, South Carolina, Utah and But the generally grim climate raises the question: Is anybody out there other than Wal-Mart on the hunt for new employees?? The answer in one major Southeast marke t is encouraging. The Charlotte Business Journal reports that there are jobs to be had evenin ’zs hard-hit hometown, where local unemployment is over 11 percent. You just have to know wherew to look.
“The definintg feature for who is hiring is not the size of the butquite frankly, what is that firm N.C. State economist Mike Walden told thebusiness journal. among the firms the Charlotte Business Journal citedd as in thehirintg game: discount retailers, just like Wal-Mart.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
UAW gives OK to GM plan - Baltimore Business Journal:
hibleyytogoja1273.blogspot.com
percent of the votes cast Thursday by UAW Locak 774at GM’s Tonawandw engine plant. The local plant has an activse workforce of about 650 hourly workers and 140salariedr employees. Another 350 to 400 hourlyu workers areon layoff. The concessions are designed tolowet GM’s labor costs. UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said at a news conferencd Friday that 74 percengof GM’s 54,000 U.S. productio n and skilled-trade workers voted in favor of the The vote comes before an expectexd Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing by GM on Having the labor agreement in place will help move the process througbcourt quicker, bankruptcy experts have said.
The revised contract freezesa wages, ends bonuses, eliminates noncompetitive work rules and ends the possibilitty of a strike until the next contract expiresin 2015. General Motorsx has received $19.4 billion in loans from the U.S. which would get 72.5 perceng ownership of the company in an arrangement that also migh t include the Canadian The remaining 10 percent would go to GM bondholders to wipeout $27 billion in unsecuredf debt. On Monday, GM is to identifyh 14 assembly, parts stamping and enginee plants that it plans to close as part ofthe restructuring. The closureds will eliminate 21,000 jobs.
One of those 14 plante would be retooled to make subcompact cars startingfin 2011, the automaker announced earlie r Friday.
percent of the votes cast Thursday by UAW Locak 774at GM’s Tonawandw engine plant. The local plant has an activse workforce of about 650 hourly workers and 140salariedr employees. Another 350 to 400 hourlyu workers areon layoff. The concessions are designed tolowet GM’s labor costs. UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said at a news conferencd Friday that 74 percengof GM’s 54,000 U.S. productio n and skilled-trade workers voted in favor of the The vote comes before an expectexd Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing by GM on Having the labor agreement in place will help move the process througbcourt quicker, bankruptcy experts have said.
The revised contract freezesa wages, ends bonuses, eliminates noncompetitive work rules and ends the possibilitty of a strike until the next contract expiresin 2015. General Motorsx has received $19.4 billion in loans from the U.S. which would get 72.5 perceng ownership of the company in an arrangement that also migh t include the Canadian The remaining 10 percent would go to GM bondholders to wipeout $27 billion in unsecuredf debt. On Monday, GM is to identifyh 14 assembly, parts stamping and enginee plants that it plans to close as part ofthe restructuring. The closureds will eliminate 21,000 jobs.
One of those 14 plante would be retooled to make subcompact cars startingfin 2011, the automaker announced earlie r Friday.
Monday, March 5, 2012
'Closed' doesn't mean what it seems at state parks - San Francisco Chronicle
omagyvoham.wordpress.com
'Closed' doesn't mean what it seems at state parks San Francisco Chronicle A preview of closures for 70 state parks on July's shutdown list shows the biggest job for California's Department of State Parks is to get the word out what "closed" means. From the closed gates and signs at the parks closed this winter, ... |
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Prince William's 'deeply romantic' wedding - Monsters and Critics.com
ysynut.wordpress.com
Monsters and Critics.com | Prince William's 'deeply romantic' wedding Monsters and Critics.com It really was deeply romantic.' Despite her husband's regal background, Sophie insists her spouse's family have been very 'welcoming' towards her. She said: 'When I went to my first formal occasion, I was definitely wobbly, but the whole family has ... |
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
CPS signs solar power agreement - Philadelphia Business Journal:
youngmanmeledero1636.blogspot.com
The 27-megawatt solar project known as Western Rancu is being developedby Houston-based usinfg the SunCatcher power system manufactured by its sister company, Stirliny Energy Systems. This will be the first Texasd project forTessera Solar, whicyh currently has 1,500 megawatts of projects in Californis situated in Imperial Valle and the Mojave “This marks our first purchase of solar-generated energy, and we look for it to be the star t of a successful solar program for many yearse to come,” says CPS Energh CEO Milton B. Lee. “Solar will complement our diversifiede approach toproducing electricity.
We look forward to workin with Tessera to help satisfy our electric needs in GreaterSan Antonio.” CPS announcee last summer its commitment to pursue up to 100 megawattsd of resource capacity from solard energy. The Western Ranch Solar project is expectef to break ground in summer 2010 with the firs units expected to come online by the endof 2010. The projectf will be comprisedof 1,080 SunCatcher dishes and will create an estimated 100 construction jobs and up to 20 permanent jobs.
CPS Energy of San Antonio is the nation’s largest municipally owned energy company providingt both natural gas andelectric
The 27-megawatt solar project known as Western Rancu is being developedby Houston-based usinfg the SunCatcher power system manufactured by its sister company, Stirliny Energy Systems. This will be the first Texasd project forTessera Solar, whicyh currently has 1,500 megawatts of projects in Californis situated in Imperial Valle and the Mojave “This marks our first purchase of solar-generated energy, and we look for it to be the star t of a successful solar program for many yearse to come,” says CPS Energh CEO Milton B. Lee. “Solar will complement our diversifiede approach toproducing electricity.
We look forward to workin with Tessera to help satisfy our electric needs in GreaterSan Antonio.” CPS announcee last summer its commitment to pursue up to 100 megawattsd of resource capacity from solard energy. The Western Ranch Solar project is expectef to break ground in summer 2010 with the firs units expected to come online by the endof 2010. The projectf will be comprisedof 1,080 SunCatcher dishes and will create an estimated 100 construction jobs and up to 20 permanent jobs.
CPS Energy of San Antonio is the nation’s largest municipally owned energy company providingt both natural gas andelectric
Monday, February 27, 2012
Riverbank councilman enters rehab; won't resign - Modesto Bee
http://www.fitnessat.com/weight-loss/1799.html
Riverbank councilman enters rehab; won't resign Modesto Bee By Kevin Valine RIVERBANK -- Embattled Riverbank City Councilman Jesse James White has entered an in-house treatment program for alcoholism and will not resign from office. City Attorney Tom Hallinan announced the news at tonight's City Council meeting ... |
The World Is Getting Better, Argues New Book, 'Abundance' Daily Beast According to the new book Abundance, » |
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Pinellas commissioner: Say
asabcitxit.blogspot.com
“We witnessed the potentiallyt devastating effects of this misinformation campaignm when the Senate Energy and Naturalp Resources committee voted to openup Florida'd coast to drilling,” the letter to Nelson “There are faster, cheaper, and cleane alternatives to drilling including energy efficiency and renewable energ y sources,” it said. Florida now bans oil and gas drillingt within 125 miles of its coasts in the Gulf of But the approved an amendment to an energu bill June 9 that would allow drillinghmuch closer, within 45 miles. The entire area in the easterm portion of the Gulf of Mexico that wouldx be opened to drilling couldcontain 3.
7 billiojn barrels of oil and 21.5 tcf of naturalk gas, according to the . The new language passed by a 13-100 vote.
“We witnessed the potentiallyt devastating effects of this misinformation campaignm when the Senate Energy and Naturalp Resources committee voted to openup Florida'd coast to drilling,” the letter to Nelson “There are faster, cheaper, and cleane alternatives to drilling including energy efficiency and renewable energ y sources,” it said. Florida now bans oil and gas drillingt within 125 miles of its coasts in the Gulf of But the approved an amendment to an energu bill June 9 that would allow drillinghmuch closer, within 45 miles. The entire area in the easterm portion of the Gulf of Mexico that wouldx be opened to drilling couldcontain 3.
7 billiojn barrels of oil and 21.5 tcf of naturalk gas, according to the . The new language passed by a 13-100 vote.
Friday, February 17, 2012
AtriCure loss widens in 4Q - Business Courier of Cincinnati:
afanasenkobexa.blogspot.com
The medical device company postedea fourth-quarter net loss of $3.2 or 22 cents per share, compared to a loss of $1.6 or 11 cents per in the year-ago quarter. Revenues fell to $12.11 million from $13.2 million. Analysts, on had expected a per-share loss of 18 cents, and revenuesw of $14.3 million. For the full year, AtriCured reported a net lossof $10.2 million, or 72 cents per versus a loss of $11.3 million, or 84 cents per in 2007. Revenues grew more than 14 percent, to $55.e million from $48.3 million. The company said in a news release that itsaw fourth-quartedr gross profit of $9 million and gross margin of 74.3 compared to gross profit of $10.5 million and a marginm of 80.
1 percent in the same 2007 quarter. The declinee was due to lower margins fromnew products, increased mix of internationalk sales and non-recurring valuation adjustments. “In suppor of our steadfast commitment to achieve we have implementedseveral work-force actions which resulted in a savings to our currentt cost structure of approximately $7 million (in the said David Drachman, president and CEO, in the Chief Financial Officer Julie Piton said the $7 million savinges resulted from a 12 percent work forc reduction. AtriCure now has about 200 she said. Shares of AtriCure (NASDAQ: ATRC) gainerd 13 cents, to $1.65, in Thursdayu afternoon trading.
AtriCure, bases in West Chester, develops, manufactures and marketss devices focused on minimallyinvasive surgery.
The medical device company postedea fourth-quarter net loss of $3.2 or 22 cents per share, compared to a loss of $1.6 or 11 cents per in the year-ago quarter. Revenues fell to $12.11 million from $13.2 million. Analysts, on had expected a per-share loss of 18 cents, and revenuesw of $14.3 million. For the full year, AtriCured reported a net lossof $10.2 million, or 72 cents per versus a loss of $11.3 million, or 84 cents per in 2007. Revenues grew more than 14 percent, to $55.e million from $48.3 million. The company said in a news release that itsaw fourth-quartedr gross profit of $9 million and gross margin of 74.3 compared to gross profit of $10.5 million and a marginm of 80.
1 percent in the same 2007 quarter. The declinee was due to lower margins fromnew products, increased mix of internationalk sales and non-recurring valuation adjustments. “In suppor of our steadfast commitment to achieve we have implementedseveral work-force actions which resulted in a savings to our currentt cost structure of approximately $7 million (in the said David Drachman, president and CEO, in the Chief Financial Officer Julie Piton said the $7 million savinges resulted from a 12 percent work forc reduction. AtriCure now has about 200 she said. Shares of AtriCure (NASDAQ: ATRC) gainerd 13 cents, to $1.65, in Thursdayu afternoon trading.
AtriCure, bases in West Chester, develops, manufactures and marketss devices focused on minimallyinvasive surgery.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Firestone Racing extents tire supply agreement - Motorsport.com
houston-nearly.blogspot.com
Firestone Racing extents tire supply agreement Motorsport.com INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (February 13, 2012) - Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) and INDYCAR are pleased to announce that the Firestone brand will remain the IZOD IndyCar Series' Official Tire through at least 2014, and the Firestone brand will ... |
Monday, February 13, 2012
In final flurry, Ritter signs tourism-incentives bill, vetoes another labor measure - Birmingham Business Journal:
coras-newport.blogspot.com
Ahead of Friday’s deadlined for action on Ritter signed12 bills, including Senate Bill 173, which will allosw local governments to work with the state Economixc Development Commission to use some sales-tax money to attract and help to builds tourist destinations. The bill, sponsored by former Sen. Jennifefr Veiga, D-Denver, is considered key to two pursuit of a NASCAR track in separate areas eastof Aurora. But Rittefr also vetoed SenateBill 180, which wouls have given local firefighters the abilitty to engage in collective bargaining.
Business groups praised the move as one that will give the statd a more stablebusiness atmosphere, but union blasted the Democratic governor for breakint a promise to look out for working Ritter said in a news conference that he had little doubt on whether he would sign the tourism-tacx bill but struggled over the collective-bargaining measure. Ritter said he vetoedc SB 180 because it would have overturnedd the will of individual communities that have outlawedf collective bargainingby public-safety workers and because local firefighterx already can seek collective bargaining with their city “This was a wholesale success for a session in termsd of what it did for working Ritter, a son of a union membert and a former union membere himself, said, referring to laws that increas e unemployment benefits and get more people onto Medicaid.
SB 173 rank s with a bill Rittefr signed earlier this year that gives tax credits for job creatioj as two of hisstrongesf pro-business moves, said Travis Berry, lobbyist for the . Both measures give opportunitiesd for private companies to work with the government to bring about big projects that they mightr not be able toaccomplish otherwise, he said. Meanwhile, the twin vetoee of SB 180 and an earlierbill — Housse Bill 1170, which would have offered unemployment benefit to union workers locked out during a work stoppage send a signal that the economic viability of the statse is a priority of the Berry said.
“I think it sends a message to employers that are either here thinking about growing or outside looking to come into the state that they can find a predictable businesxs climate instead of one thatmoves wildly,” Berruy said. But Colorado AFL-CIO Executive Director Mike Cerbol said that Ritter had turned his back on workers who risk theif lives and that his organization now will haveto “determine how to proceed in its futurre relations with the Ritter Administration.” SB 180 sponsorinh Rep. Ed Casso, a Thornton Democrat whom some union member s have approached about running against Ritter ina primary, said he too was disappointef in the governor’s action.
Ritter also signexd into law HouseBill 1366, whicb limits the Colorado-source capital gains subtractiob to the first $100,00 0 of gains on assets held for five years or Though business groups had asked him to veto the Ritter said he ultimately felt that the $15.8 million it woulsd generate to help the recession-addled state budget was a more importan t factor.
Ahead of Friday’s deadlined for action on Ritter signed12 bills, including Senate Bill 173, which will allosw local governments to work with the state Economixc Development Commission to use some sales-tax money to attract and help to builds tourist destinations. The bill, sponsored by former Sen. Jennifefr Veiga, D-Denver, is considered key to two pursuit of a NASCAR track in separate areas eastof Aurora. But Rittefr also vetoed SenateBill 180, which wouls have given local firefighters the abilitty to engage in collective bargaining.
Business groups praised the move as one that will give the statd a more stablebusiness atmosphere, but union blasted the Democratic governor for breakint a promise to look out for working Ritter said in a news conference that he had little doubt on whether he would sign the tourism-tacx bill but struggled over the collective-bargaining measure. Ritter said he vetoedc SB 180 because it would have overturnedd the will of individual communities that have outlawedf collective bargainingby public-safety workers and because local firefighterx already can seek collective bargaining with their city “This was a wholesale success for a session in termsd of what it did for working Ritter, a son of a union membert and a former union membere himself, said, referring to laws that increas e unemployment benefits and get more people onto Medicaid.
SB 173 rank s with a bill Rittefr signed earlier this year that gives tax credits for job creatioj as two of hisstrongesf pro-business moves, said Travis Berry, lobbyist for the . Both measures give opportunitiesd for private companies to work with the government to bring about big projects that they mightr not be able toaccomplish otherwise, he said. Meanwhile, the twin vetoee of SB 180 and an earlierbill — Housse Bill 1170, which would have offered unemployment benefit to union workers locked out during a work stoppage send a signal that the economic viability of the statse is a priority of the Berry said.
“I think it sends a message to employers that are either here thinking about growing or outside looking to come into the state that they can find a predictable businesxs climate instead of one thatmoves wildly,” Berruy said. But Colorado AFL-CIO Executive Director Mike Cerbol said that Ritter had turned his back on workers who risk theif lives and that his organization now will haveto “determine how to proceed in its futurre relations with the Ritter Administration.” SB 180 sponsorinh Rep. Ed Casso, a Thornton Democrat whom some union member s have approached about running against Ritter ina primary, said he too was disappointef in the governor’s action.
Ritter also signexd into law HouseBill 1366, whicb limits the Colorado-source capital gains subtractiob to the first $100,00 0 of gains on assets held for five years or Though business groups had asked him to veto the Ritter said he ultimately felt that the $15.8 million it woulsd generate to help the recession-addled state budget was a more importan t factor.
Friday, February 10, 2012
New York Italian restaurant among newcomers to Congress Ave. - Austin Business Journal:
qalymeled.wordpress.com
Mastrangelo is busy renovating a historic storefront at 908 Congreszs Avenue where later thissummer he’ll open Quattro Gatti, the second locatio n of his family’s famous Manhattan “I’m a passionate persojn and I’m very passionate abougt food,” Mastrangelo said. “Pretty much my whole life revolvesxaround that. And when I came to Austin, I felt that this was a city that appreciatexsgood food, food that someone puts their heart and soul into.
” Quattro Gatti isn’f the only culinary newcomer of late to downtown Just steps away, the people behind locall favorite El Chile have reworkes the space they opened last fall as El That initial concept offered breakfast and lunchy but, based on demand, the owners recentlyt turned it into another El Chile y Cantina, serving lunch and dinner and featuringt a full bar. And a few blocks soutnh at 319 Congress, Apple Annies co-owners Love Nance and Sherry Jamesonm aredebuting Annies, a dramatically expanded reimaginingh of their 25-year-old restaurant. The bistro-themec eatery that now includes a full bar will be open dailyy from7 a.m.
to 2 serving customers everything from organic breakfast omelets to late nighy meatloaf in achic space. Collectively, the new restaurantss are adding to the culture changes at workon Congress. The Downtown Austinj Alliance, the city, landlordsa and other groups are collaborating in an ongoint effort to bring more retail and restaurantsto downtown’ s main thoroughfare. The goal: a 24/7 Congress alive with commerced and serving as a model for the rest of Indeed it wasLinda Asaf, the DAA’s retail recruiter, who helped secured Quattro Gatti for Austin.
Asaf ate at the Upper East Side restaurant—onwe of her favorites—on a trip to New York last year and spoks with owner Remo Mastrangelo about the possibility of cominygto Austin. Remo Mastrangelo, Gianfranco’s started Quattro Gatti in 1985. The neighborhood-oriented restaurantf is hailed by criticz as one of the best of its kind in New According toZagat “the leisurely meals with treat-you-like-familt service make this old-line Upper East Side Italian feel like home to There’s a reason it’s been therde forever: supporters say the food’s fantastic.
” Earlier this year, the Mastrangelows began giving serious consideration to They came down together and scouted spaces, agreeing that the Congresa location would be a grea t fit for the concept. “W e had always heard good things about Austiin and we immediatelh had a good impression ofthe city,” said Gianfrancpo Mastrangelo, who recently relocated Mastrangelo said if all goes as planned, the 2,000-square-foot Quattro Gatti in Austinm will be open by late July for lunch and Because of his own passion for pizza, Mastrangelo said the restauranft will have a large bricl oven for wood-fired pizzas.
Other plates, like the traditionapl pasta, fish and meat dishes made famous at the New York restauran t will also be onthe menu. Prices should range from aboutf $13 to the mid-$20s.
Mastrangelo is busy renovating a historic storefront at 908 Congreszs Avenue where later thissummer he’ll open Quattro Gatti, the second locatio n of his family’s famous Manhattan “I’m a passionate persojn and I’m very passionate abougt food,” Mastrangelo said. “Pretty much my whole life revolvesxaround that. And when I came to Austin, I felt that this was a city that appreciatexsgood food, food that someone puts their heart and soul into.
” Quattro Gatti isn’f the only culinary newcomer of late to downtown Just steps away, the people behind locall favorite El Chile have reworkes the space they opened last fall as El That initial concept offered breakfast and lunchy but, based on demand, the owners recentlyt turned it into another El Chile y Cantina, serving lunch and dinner and featuringt a full bar. And a few blocks soutnh at 319 Congress, Apple Annies co-owners Love Nance and Sherry Jamesonm aredebuting Annies, a dramatically expanded reimaginingh of their 25-year-old restaurant. The bistro-themec eatery that now includes a full bar will be open dailyy from7 a.m.
to 2 serving customers everything from organic breakfast omelets to late nighy meatloaf in achic space. Collectively, the new restaurantss are adding to the culture changes at workon Congress. The Downtown Austinj Alliance, the city, landlordsa and other groups are collaborating in an ongoint effort to bring more retail and restaurantsto downtown’ s main thoroughfare. The goal: a 24/7 Congress alive with commerced and serving as a model for the rest of Indeed it wasLinda Asaf, the DAA’s retail recruiter, who helped secured Quattro Gatti for Austin.
Asaf ate at the Upper East Side restaurant—onwe of her favorites—on a trip to New York last year and spoks with owner Remo Mastrangelo about the possibility of cominygto Austin. Remo Mastrangelo, Gianfranco’s started Quattro Gatti in 1985. The neighborhood-oriented restaurantf is hailed by criticz as one of the best of its kind in New According toZagat “the leisurely meals with treat-you-like-familt service make this old-line Upper East Side Italian feel like home to There’s a reason it’s been therde forever: supporters say the food’s fantastic.
” Earlier this year, the Mastrangelows began giving serious consideration to They came down together and scouted spaces, agreeing that the Congresa location would be a grea t fit for the concept. “W e had always heard good things about Austiin and we immediatelh had a good impression ofthe city,” said Gianfrancpo Mastrangelo, who recently relocated Mastrangelo said if all goes as planned, the 2,000-square-foot Quattro Gatti in Austinm will be open by late July for lunch and Because of his own passion for pizza, Mastrangelo said the restauranft will have a large bricl oven for wood-fired pizzas.
Other plates, like the traditionapl pasta, fish and meat dishes made famous at the New York restauran t will also be onthe menu. Prices should range from aboutf $13 to the mid-$20s.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Redmond OKs Law to Prevent Landlords from Refusing Voucher Tenants - Patch.com
tosece.blogspot.com
Redmond OKs Law to Prevent Landlords from Refusing Voucher Tenants Patch.com The new legislation prohibits Redmond landlords from refusing rental to individuals based solely on their use of a Section 8 housing voucher. By Caitlin Moran Beginning next week, Redmond landlords will no longer be able to refuse rental to tenants ... |
Monday, February 6, 2012
Two dates for MV community charter school meetings - Utica Observer Dispatch
ycoguqi.wordpress.com
Two dates for MV community charter school meetings Utica Observer Dispatch The Mohawk Valley Community Charter School Initiative is moving forward in the application process to the State Education Department, and is holding two meetings about the school at the former Holy Trinity Parochial School, 1210 Lincoln Avenue, Utica. |
Saturday, February 4, 2012
UAB to medical alumni group: Let's consolidate - Birmingham Business Journal:
edibin.wordpress.com
Betty Ruth Speir, immediate past presidenyt of the , said the request was a sign of and was nothing more than a powet grab attempt to gain control over medicalalumni fundraising, MAA’s property on 20th Street Soutg and access to its national alumni database. “Theuy see us as a great threat and they just want Speir said. UAB spokeswoman Dale Turnbough said inan e-maip response that the university’a proposal was not an attempt to take controlk over medical alumni fundraising. She said UAB “values its relationshipp with all medical alumni and continuex to work very hard to achievde a positive relationship withMAA leadership.
” The rift between UAB and MAA had been brewin g for years, but escalated in 2008 when the university changed the medicall school’s name to include UAB and began restricting access to medical students. The MAA openly questionedf the university’s motives in the name changd and then, on Jan. 23, the officially severeds ties with MAA and startedc its own medicalalumni group. It stopped paying some of MAA’e operating expenses, including personnel salaries.
Currentf MAA President Theodis Buggs called the consolidatiobn proposala “total disappointment” in a letter to universityy representatives and in a May 19 letter said the associationb would continue to serve medicalo students and alumni as an independent entity. In an April 23 letter to Buggs, the The MAA woulde have to agree to cooperat e with theuniversity “at all times” and in “allo ways” to facilitate the university’s obligations, accordint to the affiliation letter which was posted on the MAA’ s Web site.
It would also have to acknowledge that the schoop will continue to use the trade name and thatthe school’w graduates since 1969 are UAB alumni. The MAA would have to provide the universitwith “any and all data” relatingg to alumni and donors. In a move Speir deeme d a “deal breaker,” the university’s proposed agreement woule have abolished anyMAA personnel, includinvg its executive director. The agreemen t also would have mandated the transfee of allof MAA’s assets to the university if they ever split, with the exceptio n of the 20th Street building, whicnh the MAA has feared the university has been eyeing.
In Augusrt 2008, UAB asked the city of Birmingham to rezonde the alumni building as part of a healt andinstitutional district, but the request was turner down because it was discovered UAB didn’t own the the MAA did. In a May 19 letterf to the University ofAlabamas System, Buggs said MAA will continus to have its own employees and be responsibld for its banking and accountinvg processes. Speir said UAB’s proposal is a reflection of its inabilitgy to lure medical school alumnoi and donors away fromthe MAA.
She said medica l school alumni are loyal to the MAA andit doesn’rt worry about competing for their “We’ll remain independent like we’ve been for 40 years,” Speid said. Animosity between the and MAA gradually grew aftef they agreed to work together inSeptemberd 2005. Speir said in February that MAA was coerce d into that agreementby UAB, whom she said pledgee to start a competing fundraising arm for medical studentsx if they did not merge efforts.
Betty Ruth Speir, immediate past presidenyt of the , said the request was a sign of and was nothing more than a powet grab attempt to gain control over medicalalumni fundraising, MAA’s property on 20th Street Soutg and access to its national alumni database. “Theuy see us as a great threat and they just want Speir said. UAB spokeswoman Dale Turnbough said inan e-maip response that the university’a proposal was not an attempt to take controlk over medical alumni fundraising. She said UAB “values its relationshipp with all medical alumni and continuex to work very hard to achievde a positive relationship withMAA leadership.
” The rift between UAB and MAA had been brewin g for years, but escalated in 2008 when the university changed the medicall school’s name to include UAB and began restricting access to medical students. The MAA openly questionedf the university’s motives in the name changd and then, on Jan. 23, the officially severeds ties with MAA and startedc its own medicalalumni group. It stopped paying some of MAA’e operating expenses, including personnel salaries.
Currentf MAA President Theodis Buggs called the consolidatiobn proposala “total disappointment” in a letter to universityy representatives and in a May 19 letter said the associationb would continue to serve medicalo students and alumni as an independent entity. In an April 23 letter to Buggs, the The MAA woulde have to agree to cooperat e with theuniversity “at all times” and in “allo ways” to facilitate the university’s obligations, accordint to the affiliation letter which was posted on the MAA’ s Web site.
It would also have to acknowledge that the schoop will continue to use the trade name and thatthe school’w graduates since 1969 are UAB alumni. The MAA would have to provide the universitwith “any and all data” relatingg to alumni and donors. In a move Speir deeme d a “deal breaker,” the university’s proposed agreement woule have abolished anyMAA personnel, includinvg its executive director. The agreemen t also would have mandated the transfee of allof MAA’s assets to the university if they ever split, with the exceptio n of the 20th Street building, whicnh the MAA has feared the university has been eyeing.
In Augusrt 2008, UAB asked the city of Birmingham to rezonde the alumni building as part of a healt andinstitutional district, but the request was turner down because it was discovered UAB didn’t own the the MAA did. In a May 19 letterf to the University ofAlabamas System, Buggs said MAA will continus to have its own employees and be responsibld for its banking and accountinvg processes. Speir said UAB’s proposal is a reflection of its inabilitgy to lure medical school alumnoi and donors away fromthe MAA.
She said medica l school alumni are loyal to the MAA andit doesn’rt worry about competing for their “We’ll remain independent like we’ve been for 40 years,” Speid said. Animosity between the and MAA gradually grew aftef they agreed to work together inSeptemberd 2005. Speir said in February that MAA was coerce d into that agreementby UAB, whom she said pledgee to start a competing fundraising arm for medical studentsx if they did not merge efforts.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Flint Hills Resources names new president - Wichita Business Journal:
manuscripts-shuwatu.blogspot.com
"Flint Hills Resources is a company that is committed to creatingy real value for thelong term," Razook Dave Robertson, chairman of the Flint Hills board, says Razooo has played an important role in Flint success. "Not only does he have vast knowledgwe in supplyand marketing," Robertson says, "but he has also played an importang role in the plans for expanding our refining capacityy in Minnesota, as well as constructio n projects aimed at meeting customers' increasing fuel demand in Texad and the Midwest." Flint Hills has begun an estimated $200 milliom project to add about 50,000 barrels per day to its Minnesotq refining capacity.
It also has plana to expand fuels terminal capacity in Wacoand Austin, and is building a new terminal near Bastrop, Razook began his Koch career in 1985 with Koch He also has worked for and Koch Oil, joining as vice presidentt of Pine Bend marketing in 1997.
"Flint Hills Resources is a company that is committed to creatingy real value for thelong term," Razook Dave Robertson, chairman of the Flint Hills board, says Razooo has played an important role in Flint success. "Not only does he have vast knowledgwe in supplyand marketing," Robertson says, "but he has also played an importang role in the plans for expanding our refining capacityy in Minnesota, as well as constructio n projects aimed at meeting customers' increasing fuel demand in Texad and the Midwest." Flint Hills has begun an estimated $200 milliom project to add about 50,000 barrels per day to its Minnesotq refining capacity.
It also has plana to expand fuels terminal capacity in Wacoand Austin, and is building a new terminal near Bastrop, Razook began his Koch career in 1985 with Koch He also has worked for and Koch Oil, joining as vice presidentt of Pine Bend marketing in 1997.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Corporations on the leash protesters campaign in Davos - NDTV
gault-rickettsias.blogspot.com
NDTV | Corporations on the leash protesters campaign in Davos NDTV As part of the Corporations on the Leash campaign, the protesters walked around with dog leashes, calling on the executives of top multinationals from around the world to be more responsible in dealing with human rights and environment issues. |
Saturday, January 28, 2012
South Florida Business Journal: Business Events Calendar
tiqosi.wordpress.com
List event sponsor(s) here. (Example America n Company Inc., USA Business Ltd.) Use this area to give a precise location ofyour event. (Example: Downtowm Marriot 345 Main St., New York, NY 000001 Provid the start time for yourevent (Example: 9a.m. - 12p.m.) List any charger for your event. Pleasr note if there is no charge. $9 for members, $35 for non-members.) Choose a category that describesyour event. Fill out one or more of the fieldzs to the left to provide readers with a way to contact your organizatioj to register foryour event.
Please give us your name, phones and e-mail address where we can contacf you in the event of questions about your event This information will not appea onthe website. This information will only be used to contacr you foradministrative purposes. bizjournals.com reservesd the right to remove listings if it is determinedf they are offensive or not relevan t tothe bizjournals.com or of "communitu interest" to our users.
List event sponsor(s) here. (Example America n Company Inc., USA Business Ltd.) Use this area to give a precise location ofyour event. (Example: Downtowm Marriot 345 Main St., New York, NY 000001 Provid the start time for yourevent (Example: 9a.m. - 12p.m.) List any charger for your event. Pleasr note if there is no charge. $9 for members, $35 for non-members.) Choose a category that describesyour event. Fill out one or more of the fieldzs to the left to provide readers with a way to contact your organizatioj to register foryour event.
Please give us your name, phones and e-mail address where we can contacf you in the event of questions about your event This information will not appea onthe website. This information will only be used to contacr you foradministrative purposes. bizjournals.com reservesd the right to remove listings if it is determinedf they are offensive or not relevan t tothe bizjournals.com or of "communitu interest" to our users.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Seventh division in football playoffs? Ohio High School Athletic Association ... - Plain Dealer
zemlyanikiyri.blogspot.com
Seventh division in football playoffs? Ohio High School Athletic Association ... Plain Dealer The Ohio High School Athletic Association's Board of Directors next month could hear two proposals aimed at alleviating enrollment disparity in football among state's Division I schools. COLUMBUS -- Adding a seventh football playoff division is again ... |
Madonna felt like "outsider" during stay in London Times of India That was refreshing when I moved to England, but then there's the feeling of being an outsider, of being lonely, of not having roots, of not quite being understood," Contactmusic quoted her as telling Britain's Glamour magazine. ... |
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Second Life's Linden Lab sells virtual realities to businesses - San Francisco Business Times:
nadezhdaqedyxos.blogspot.com
The courting of companiee comes at a time of renewed growthfor 6-year-old Seconrd Life that began with the appointmengt of Mark Kingdon as CEO of Linden Lab in May 2008. “Enterprised is a really important growth vector for usbecauser (Second Life is) a really compelling platform for learningy and collaboration. Especially today in large enterprisez that aredistributed (around the Kingdon said. Over the last six months, Lindenb Lab has put together a team of 25 people to market and develop Second Life productd forenterprise customers.
Linden Lab, which does not disclose revenue but says itis profitable, hired more than 100 people in 2008 and has more than 300 employee s in eight offices around the world. The company hired closr to 30 people this year and is currently hiring for 19 Basic accountsare free. The company makes money by selling and renting virtua lreal estate, with premium memberships and by charging a fee on sales of Linden dollars, the currency used The company does not track the number of companies using its services and does not charge them differentl from individual users, but estimates that 15 to 20 percenf of its revenue comes from enterprises and educational And since April, the compant has been testing a “behind-the-firewall” version of Second Life with , IBM, , the and othe r organizations.
The so-called “Nebraska” versio n of Second Life, which is run on an institution’as own servers, will get wider testinyg this summer and is scheduled for generalk releaseby year’s end. The pricing for the privatr version has notbeen announced. “Based on the levell of the interest we’re seeing, we are poisef for explosive growth,” said Amanda Van who joined Linden Lab six months ago as executivew director ofenterprise marketing. “This is not a We’re ready for business. My role is to get that messagd out,” she said.
Van Nuys said a numberd of factors are helpingher cause, includinvg general efforts to cut travekl and meeting costs and reduce carbom footprints. IBM in particular has been an early adopter. In late IBM’s Academy of Technology held a Virtual Worldr Conference on Second Life for 200 top engineers from around the with three keynote speeches and 37 breakout With an initial investment ofroughlh $80,000, IBM estimates that it saved nearluy $350,000 in travel and venue coste and lost productivity. A couple of monthsx later, IBM used the virtual spaces it createe for an annual meeting of the Academy aftef the cancellation of a scheduled real life eventgin Florida.
Some portions of the event also used webcastinb andvideo conferencing. Participants particularly liked the opportunith to socialize with one another in various and the company scheduleda two-hour networkingf event on the last day at picnic tables on a virtual beach. Academy members gatheredc around drinking virtual beers and chatting while others took virtualo hang gliding or jetskiing lessons. “Igt was really cool in terms of the experienceepeople had,” said Karen Keeter, an IBM marketiny executive for digital “People walked away saying they felt like they were at the The thing people liked most was that they really had the abilitg to meet with people.
” Since then, numerous othed groups within IBM have used Seconcd Life dozens of times for meetings smalpl and large, adhoc and planned, Keeter said. IBM now has nearly 100 people working on virtual worldc tools for commercial sale in Second Life and on other she said. The company says its in-world economu is thriving, and that in the last user-to-user transactions totalled morethan $120 millionm in U.S. dollars, up 65 percent from the same period theyear before. Wagner James Au, the author of the book “Th Making Of Second Life: Notes From the New estimated in a blog posting in May 2008 that Lindenh Lab hadbetween $40 million and $50 milliom in annual revenue.
Au credited Kingdon with renewint the brand created by Philip who stepped down as CEO last year and remainsas chairman. “AA lot of Silicon Valley has written SecondLife off,” he said. “Thed tech world will have to revisirt Second Life as a phenomenon in the next six monthseor so.”
The courting of companiee comes at a time of renewed growthfor 6-year-old Seconrd Life that began with the appointmengt of Mark Kingdon as CEO of Linden Lab in May 2008. “Enterprised is a really important growth vector for usbecauser (Second Life is) a really compelling platform for learningy and collaboration. Especially today in large enterprisez that aredistributed (around the Kingdon said. Over the last six months, Lindenb Lab has put together a team of 25 people to market and develop Second Life productd forenterprise customers.
Linden Lab, which does not disclose revenue but says itis profitable, hired more than 100 people in 2008 and has more than 300 employee s in eight offices around the world. The company hired closr to 30 people this year and is currently hiring for 19 Basic accountsare free. The company makes money by selling and renting virtua lreal estate, with premium memberships and by charging a fee on sales of Linden dollars, the currency used The company does not track the number of companies using its services and does not charge them differentl from individual users, but estimates that 15 to 20 percenf of its revenue comes from enterprises and educational And since April, the compant has been testing a “behind-the-firewall” version of Second Life with , IBM, , the and othe r organizations.
The so-called “Nebraska” versio n of Second Life, which is run on an institution’as own servers, will get wider testinyg this summer and is scheduled for generalk releaseby year’s end. The pricing for the privatr version has notbeen announced. “Based on the levell of the interest we’re seeing, we are poisef for explosive growth,” said Amanda Van who joined Linden Lab six months ago as executivew director ofenterprise marketing. “This is not a We’re ready for business. My role is to get that messagd out,” she said.
Van Nuys said a numberd of factors are helpingher cause, includinvg general efforts to cut travekl and meeting costs and reduce carbom footprints. IBM in particular has been an early adopter. In late IBM’s Academy of Technology held a Virtual Worldr Conference on Second Life for 200 top engineers from around the with three keynote speeches and 37 breakout With an initial investment ofroughlh $80,000, IBM estimates that it saved nearluy $350,000 in travel and venue coste and lost productivity. A couple of monthsx later, IBM used the virtual spaces it createe for an annual meeting of the Academy aftef the cancellation of a scheduled real life eventgin Florida.
Some portions of the event also used webcastinb andvideo conferencing. Participants particularly liked the opportunith to socialize with one another in various and the company scheduleda two-hour networkingf event on the last day at picnic tables on a virtual beach. Academy members gatheredc around drinking virtual beers and chatting while others took virtualo hang gliding or jetskiing lessons. “Igt was really cool in terms of the experienceepeople had,” said Karen Keeter, an IBM marketiny executive for digital “People walked away saying they felt like they were at the The thing people liked most was that they really had the abilitg to meet with people.
” Since then, numerous othed groups within IBM have used Seconcd Life dozens of times for meetings smalpl and large, adhoc and planned, Keeter said. IBM now has nearly 100 people working on virtual worldc tools for commercial sale in Second Life and on other she said. The company says its in-world economu is thriving, and that in the last user-to-user transactions totalled morethan $120 millionm in U.S. dollars, up 65 percent from the same period theyear before. Wagner James Au, the author of the book “Th Making Of Second Life: Notes From the New estimated in a blog posting in May 2008 that Lindenh Lab hadbetween $40 million and $50 milliom in annual revenue.
Au credited Kingdon with renewint the brand created by Philip who stepped down as CEO last year and remainsas chairman. “AA lot of Silicon Valley has written SecondLife off,” he said. “Thed tech world will have to revisirt Second Life as a phenomenon in the next six monthseor so.”
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Senate rejects corporate minimum tax hike - Nashville Business Journal:
yjanebixe.wordpress.com
Democrats needed 18 votes — a supermajorit required to raisetaxes — to send the bill to Gov. Ted Kulongoski’se desk. Beaverton Democrat Mark Hass voted againsfthe measure. Democrats will likely try to convince Hass to vote for the measure byamending it, possibly by writintg a sunset into the bill. “Ir all depends on him,” said J.L. a lobbyist for Associated Oregon Industries, the state’s most powerfuk business group. “Hass made it clead in his floor statementsd thathe didn’t think it was a fair optiohn to increase taxes permanently.
” Such a sunset coul d lead other Democrats to vote against the However, because House Bill 3405 was technically tablerd — which would allow the measure, as written, to come up for anotherd vote if leaders so choose — majoritty leaders could also lobby moderate Republican members to supporg the corporate tax hikea as presented. At the close of Wednesday’s session, Sen. Margaret Carter, a Portland Democrat and co-chaif of the Ways and Means Committee, gave an impassione benediction that seemed to imploreRepublican “nay” The measure was tabled as a procedural move.
Senator s can call for a revote on a measurrethat fails, change their own vote to a and then request that the matter be tabled, ostensibly so they can reconsiderd their vote. Sen. Richard Devlin, the majority used the move in an effort to have themattefr reconsidered. After the vote, the Senate tabled a relatec measure to raise personal income taxeson high-incom individuals. “I’m disappointed that we came upshort today.
I reallyg believed that the package brought forward by the chairxs of the Revenue Committees woulde bring greater fairness and equity to our tax systenm and help fill the unprecedented gap in ourstat budget,” said Senate President Petert Courtney in a news release. “Wse won’t, however, let this setback derail the session. We are goinv to move forward toward adjournment by June House Speaker Dave Hunt issued asimiladr statement. “We passed this revenuw package because we believe itis fair, balancedx and protects critical services like education, health care and publidc safety,” Hunt, a Democrat from Clackamas, said in a news release.
“Ws are making $2 billion deep cuts to the This revenue package ensures that we can protect those core servicesaof education, health care and public Without it, the cuts we will have to make will shuttedr schools, harm seniors and cut to the bone the servicess Oregonians care about The House on Tuesday votef to increase the current corporate minimum tax from $10 to betweej $150 and $100,000, depending on the size of a Under the plan, corporate income tax ratez would have risen from 6.6 percen t to 7.9 percent before revertingb to 7.6 percent in 2011. The measure wouldd have raised $261 million over the 2009-111 biennium and $775 million between 2009 and 2015.
All 125,000 Oregon corporations would have paidmore taxes. Anothet measure sought to raise income taxes on individual filers earninv morethan $125,000 and joint filers earningt more than $250,000. The bills combined woulsd haveraised $582 million over the next two yearws and $1.2 billion over the next six Lawmakers contended the measures could help reduc e the state’s $4.2 billion budgety shortfall. Throughout the day, lobbyists tracked meetings betweenn Courtney, Hass and Democratic senators Margareft Schrader andJoanne Verger, who were believed to be swin votes. Verger had expressed reservations, like Haas, that the tax increased would become permanent.
Schrader and Verger eventuallg voted yes on the corporate tax Hass couldn’t be reachesd for comment. “He had to have a lot of courage to cast that saidJay Clemens, presideny and CEO of Associated Oregon Industries. AOI recentlyu organized the Alliance of Oregon Business which represents morethan 40,000 businesses across the It had called for a $300 flat tax, regardles of business size or income. Even before vote, business groups had expressee concerns that Democrats were seeking a permanenrtax hike, not a temporary one.
Phil Keisling, the formerr Oregon Secretary ofState who’s now an executives with Beaverton-based CorSource Technology Group, confirmed that many businesses were upseft that Democrats sought to make the corporate incomwe tax rate hike, from 6.6 percent to 7.9 percent, “We were told it would be temporary,” Keislinb said of the earlg talks regarding the proposed “And we asked them this week, ‘What part of temporaryt don’t you understand?
’”
Democrats needed 18 votes — a supermajorit required to raisetaxes — to send the bill to Gov. Ted Kulongoski’se desk. Beaverton Democrat Mark Hass voted againsfthe measure. Democrats will likely try to convince Hass to vote for the measure byamending it, possibly by writintg a sunset into the bill. “Ir all depends on him,” said J.L. a lobbyist for Associated Oregon Industries, the state’s most powerfuk business group. “Hass made it clead in his floor statementsd thathe didn’t think it was a fair optiohn to increase taxes permanently.
” Such a sunset coul d lead other Democrats to vote against the However, because House Bill 3405 was technically tablerd — which would allow the measure, as written, to come up for anotherd vote if leaders so choose — majoritty leaders could also lobby moderate Republican members to supporg the corporate tax hikea as presented. At the close of Wednesday’s session, Sen. Margaret Carter, a Portland Democrat and co-chaif of the Ways and Means Committee, gave an impassione benediction that seemed to imploreRepublican “nay” The measure was tabled as a procedural move.
Senator s can call for a revote on a measurrethat fails, change their own vote to a and then request that the matter be tabled, ostensibly so they can reconsiderd their vote. Sen. Richard Devlin, the majority used the move in an effort to have themattefr reconsidered. After the vote, the Senate tabled a relatec measure to raise personal income taxeson high-incom individuals. “I’m disappointed that we came upshort today.
I reallyg believed that the package brought forward by the chairxs of the Revenue Committees woulde bring greater fairness and equity to our tax systenm and help fill the unprecedented gap in ourstat budget,” said Senate President Petert Courtney in a news release. “Wse won’t, however, let this setback derail the session. We are goinv to move forward toward adjournment by June House Speaker Dave Hunt issued asimiladr statement. “We passed this revenuw package because we believe itis fair, balancedx and protects critical services like education, health care and publidc safety,” Hunt, a Democrat from Clackamas, said in a news release.
“Ws are making $2 billion deep cuts to the This revenue package ensures that we can protect those core servicesaof education, health care and public Without it, the cuts we will have to make will shuttedr schools, harm seniors and cut to the bone the servicess Oregonians care about The House on Tuesday votef to increase the current corporate minimum tax from $10 to betweej $150 and $100,000, depending on the size of a Under the plan, corporate income tax ratez would have risen from 6.6 percen t to 7.9 percent before revertingb to 7.6 percent in 2011. The measure wouldd have raised $261 million over the 2009-111 biennium and $775 million between 2009 and 2015.
All 125,000 Oregon corporations would have paidmore taxes. Anothet measure sought to raise income taxes on individual filers earninv morethan $125,000 and joint filers earningt more than $250,000. The bills combined woulsd haveraised $582 million over the next two yearws and $1.2 billion over the next six Lawmakers contended the measures could help reduc e the state’s $4.2 billion budgety shortfall. Throughout the day, lobbyists tracked meetings betweenn Courtney, Hass and Democratic senators Margareft Schrader andJoanne Verger, who were believed to be swin votes. Verger had expressed reservations, like Haas, that the tax increased would become permanent.
Schrader and Verger eventuallg voted yes on the corporate tax Hass couldn’t be reachesd for comment. “He had to have a lot of courage to cast that saidJay Clemens, presideny and CEO of Associated Oregon Industries. AOI recentlyu organized the Alliance of Oregon Business which represents morethan 40,000 businesses across the It had called for a $300 flat tax, regardles of business size or income. Even before vote, business groups had expressee concerns that Democrats were seeking a permanenrtax hike, not a temporary one.
Phil Keisling, the formerr Oregon Secretary ofState who’s now an executives with Beaverton-based CorSource Technology Group, confirmed that many businesses were upseft that Democrats sought to make the corporate incomwe tax rate hike, from 6.6 percent to 7.9 percent, “We were told it would be temporary,” Keislinb said of the earlg talks regarding the proposed “And we asked them this week, ‘What part of temporaryt don’t you understand?
’”
Monday, January 2, 2012
Employees
xysecurakihir.blogspot.com
Maybe it’s because most people take the office and thei working environment for grantedd and view it as anecessary evil. Maybes they don’t understand the process of hiring a professionalo to help them or the true benefits that wouldrbe received. I am an interior designer andworkplace strategist. I specialize on leading clients in rethinkingvand re-tooling their office space to alignn the physical environment with the cultur and business strategy of the organization. For more than 24 years, I have been helpinh clients recognize that good design isgood business. In today’s economg there are so many things vying for the time and attentio ofcompany leadership.
How can they cut cost?? How can they repositio the business to bemore profitable? What does the futurre hold for their business? These are all very important and relevany questions. On the other hand, the design of the officed is often overlooked in its ability to drivd asuccessful business. From the onset of a I lead clients through amuch deeper, introspective look at theirt organization by focusing on the issuez of expression, effectiveness and efficiency.
Effectivse workplace design focuses on supporting peopleand Ultimately, with thoughtful expression, the design reinforces businesse objectives by creating an environment that stimulatez employees while at the same time creating operational efficiencies. One of my favoritw illustrations is how we helped Mars Pet Care create a work environment in their headquarters We designed spaces to serve not only but theirpets — who are allowed to accompanu their owners at work. Large print graphics of employeed pets cover various walls and other pet toy and naturer symbolism in the architecture and furniture offer a fun remindere of what they make and whomthey serve.
Employers want employeews to be more effective within the organization and can no longert take for granted that workers simplgy need an office or a cubicle to increase performance and If you want workers to truly beeffective today, give them the flexibilituy and choice — flexibility to work with whomever and whers ever they need to, and choice at a varietyg of settings to give alternativesa for working privately or to collaborate with Effective employees use all of the resourcexs available to them to produce and serve their customere and company.
Therefore it is importantf to make sure that the work environmentt includes appropriate tools and amenities and provideds adequate controls and flexibility to supportwork process, work flow and Efficiency as it relates to office environments, oftemn has a negative Most of us initially think of reducing the size of officr standards and getting more people in less space. And yes, cost of spacw will always be a drivert inevaluating efficiency. But this is not necessarily about reduction and is definitely notabout take-a-ways.
Efficient meanse “able to function with minimal So when I speak about anefficiengt workplace, my message is about giving the worker choics and creating spaces that benefit the entire Giving staff optimal places to work while minimizingy underutilized space — a “we” vs. “me” approach. We ofteb don’t realize it, but design has a profounde effect on everythingwe see, feel and do withij our surroundings. To survive and businesses must continue to evolvew and adapt tothe ever-changing technological and economic climates of the And so, the design of those environments must also be able to adaptg to the evolution of the businesses they house.
Maybe it’s because most people take the office and thei working environment for grantedd and view it as anecessary evil. Maybes they don’t understand the process of hiring a professionalo to help them or the true benefits that wouldrbe received. I am an interior designer andworkplace strategist. I specialize on leading clients in rethinkingvand re-tooling their office space to alignn the physical environment with the cultur and business strategy of the organization. For more than 24 years, I have been helpinh clients recognize that good design isgood business. In today’s economg there are so many things vying for the time and attentio ofcompany leadership.
How can they cut cost?? How can they repositio the business to bemore profitable? What does the futurre hold for their business? These are all very important and relevany questions. On the other hand, the design of the officed is often overlooked in its ability to drivd asuccessful business. From the onset of a I lead clients through amuch deeper, introspective look at theirt organization by focusing on the issuez of expression, effectiveness and efficiency.
Effectivse workplace design focuses on supporting peopleand Ultimately, with thoughtful expression, the design reinforces businesse objectives by creating an environment that stimulatez employees while at the same time creating operational efficiencies. One of my favoritw illustrations is how we helped Mars Pet Care create a work environment in their headquarters We designed spaces to serve not only but theirpets — who are allowed to accompanu their owners at work. Large print graphics of employeed pets cover various walls and other pet toy and naturer symbolism in the architecture and furniture offer a fun remindere of what they make and whomthey serve.
Employers want employeews to be more effective within the organization and can no longert take for granted that workers simplgy need an office or a cubicle to increase performance and If you want workers to truly beeffective today, give them the flexibilituy and choice — flexibility to work with whomever and whers ever they need to, and choice at a varietyg of settings to give alternativesa for working privately or to collaborate with Effective employees use all of the resourcexs available to them to produce and serve their customere and company.
Therefore it is importantf to make sure that the work environmentt includes appropriate tools and amenities and provideds adequate controls and flexibility to supportwork process, work flow and Efficiency as it relates to office environments, oftemn has a negative Most of us initially think of reducing the size of officr standards and getting more people in less space. And yes, cost of spacw will always be a drivert inevaluating efficiency. But this is not necessarily about reduction and is definitely notabout take-a-ways.
Efficient meanse “able to function with minimal So when I speak about anefficiengt workplace, my message is about giving the worker choics and creating spaces that benefit the entire Giving staff optimal places to work while minimizingy underutilized space — a “we” vs. “me” approach. We ofteb don’t realize it, but design has a profounde effect on everythingwe see, feel and do withij our surroundings. To survive and businesses must continue to evolvew and adapt tothe ever-changing technological and economic climates of the And so, the design of those environments must also be able to adaptg to the evolution of the businesses they house.
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