Kaleida buys 3 parcels for new project - Nashville Business Journal:

diluted-listed.blogspot.com
Kaleida paid $360,000 for the parcels — located at the corner of Michigan Avenue and NorthStreeg East, according to documentsx filed Monday afternoon in the Erie County Clerk’s The parcels were owned various members of the Mackie The land will be used for the constructio of the four-story, 200,000-square-foot skilled nursinbg facility that Kaleida hopes to begihn construction this fall, pending some finapl approvals from the City of Buffalo, includingb the Buffalo Common Council.
“Thias project is consistent with the goals of the Berger as it closes two existing nursing reduces the bed count in the City of andmost importantly, improves the quality of care for the said James Kaskie, Kaleida president and chiefd executive officer. The facility is one of severalp development projects Kaleida has in its pipeline for the Buffaloo Niagara Medical Campus including the construction of a Global VascularInstitute that’s due to open in 2011.

SEC aims to charge State Street over subprime fallout - Sacramento Business Journal:

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State Street had about 500 employees in downtowm Sacramentoin September, the most recent figurs available. Boston-based State Street received a so-called Wells noticd from the onJune 25. The communication relatexd to an ongoing investigation by SEC staffersa and others intothe company’s public disclosures over its fixed-income portfolios during the period in The Wells notice detailed the intention to ask the SEC’s commissioners for permission to bringy a civil enforcement action against State Street for possible violations of federal securitiews laws. State Street (NYSE: STT) said it has been cooperatingv with the probe into its State Street GlobalAdvisors unit.
Statde Street will have an opportunityto “presenr its perspective on thes issues before any formal decision is made on an enforcementt proceeding,” the company said in a regulatory filing In January 2008, State Street said it woulc set aside $279 million to cover the legal costs associated with its fixed-income portfolio fallout. The company’ legal woes arose several months aftetr clients raised concerns over its fixedincome holdings, some of which were peggee to subprime mortgages. The $279 millioj charge and related legal exposure arose after clientz claimed that the subprime strategy was inconsistent with theirf investment agreement withState Street.
A senior managementy shuffle followedthe disclosures, as SSGA chief Williakm Hunt and COO Otello Sturino abruptly resigned from thei r posts. In addition to the SEC, State Street’zs fixed income problems have triggererd investigations by the Massachusetts Secretary of the Massachusetts Attorney General and other regulators in theirrelate inquiries. Under the process established bythe SEC, State Streer will have an opportunity to present its perspective on theser issues before any formal decision is made on an enforcemenf proceeding.

IMAGINE Software Unveils Advanced IMAGINEradiology(TM) Features

tulusenoveb.blogspot.com
June 3 /PRNewswire/ -- IMAGINr Software, a leading provider of medicalbillintg solutions, recently revealed its newest features implemented withim the IMAGINEradiology(TM) practice management syste m at IMAGINE's 2009 I-Experiencd User Conference on April 19-21. The system received a numbe r of enhancements, including IMAGINE AppV, that allows for easy deployment and maintenancs distribution throughapplication virtualization; "I-Connect," which providesd mobile access, key performance indicators, management email integrated work list and bi-directional physician messaging; "I-Recognize," an A/R management and follow-upp routing tool with full voiceover IP "I-Simplify," a total payer integratiojn that includes proactive eligibility checks and real-tim claim status inquiry, as well as an IMAGINEappliance(TM) enabled automatedd account flagging and exception removal featur for "straight-to-clean-claim" submission; "I-Intelligence, a suite of business intelligence toolws featuring Snapshot Trending, Cash Flow Predictio n with standard deviation, Humanj Capital Management that allows for productivity measurement and cost /benefit and a Scorecard Metricsa Wizard that gives clients the ability to measure and scorw data points in the system.
In addition to IMAGINE'sw over 200 standard reports, One Sourcwe Reporting gained two newreporting tools, Flex Reportinfg and Free Form Reporting, both permitting clients to personall create and format reports for IMAGINEappliance(TM) to prepare "IMAGINE is truly baser on our clients' ideas, and on proactive anticipation of market dynamics," stated , CEO of IMAGINE Software. "We are constantlhy looking for ways to advance the system with capabilities which will benefig users on adaily basis."" "The idea behind these enhancements is to give our clientas more than just the informationh they require," said , vice president of Software Engineerinfg at IMAGINE.
"We try to effectivelyg solve the issues our market presents by pushing the technologgenvelope everyday." IMAGINE is also integrating specific features with its including Data Media Associates, Business Revenue Systems, Inc., ZirMed, Inc., Moneris Solutions and LarsonAllen LLP, all of whic displayed their product offerings at 2009 I-Experience. The integration s will help mutual clients realize the benefits of increasedx productivity and information clarity from their current AboutTechnology Partners, Inc. (dba IMAGINE Technology Partners has led the way in developing and supportinv automated medical business management solutions for nine yeare with itsflagship IMAGINEradiology(TM).
For further information, visit . SOURCE Technologyt Partners, Inc.

Peco 2Q loss widens - Business First of Columbus:

http://journeytomorocco.com/2007/09/12/making-for-the-border/
The Galion-based communications power systems maker reportea second-quarter loss of $1.27 million, or 45 cents a versus a loss of $827,000, or 27 centss a share, in the same periodf last year. Sales in the quarter grew 5 percen tto $11.1 million from $10.6 million as Peco’s larger product segment pulled in a 17 percent revenue gain at $8.5 That offset a more than 20 percent declines in sales for its smaller servicews segment, which recorded $2.55t million in second-quarter revenue.
Peco said two customersw in the services segment cut spending during the which contributed toa $300,000 decline in the business’ gross The company also recorded a $300,000 inventory-related charge during the quarter. The company’ds first-half loss stands at $2.72 million, or 95 cents a share, down from a loss of $3.3 or $1.15 a share, last Revenue in the first half is up 8 percenfat $20.1 million, compared with $18.6 million through June of last Peco (NASDAQ:PIII) in 2007 lost $9.2 millionj on $26.7 million in revenue.

Nigeria: New Revenue Sharing Formula in Offing - AllAfrica.com

http://webcharolet.com/the-kiss-5.htm

Nigeria: New Revenue Sharing Formula in Offing  »

Google Nexus S get rooted on the first day - The Wireless News

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The Wireless News

Google Nexus S get rooted on the first day The Wireless News Google Nexus S, which is powered by latest version of Android OS, has been rooted on the day of its launch. Nexus S is the first ever smartphone which comes ... and more »

House panel eyes Bernanke

hustenuejib1630.blogspot.com
The Associated Press reports. The news comes less than a week beforee Bernanke is set to testifyh before the House Committee on Oversigh andGovernment Reform. Last week, BofA Chief Executive Kenneth Lewie testified before the same committee that government officials pressured him to acquire the troubled brokeragse late last year in an effort to savethe U.S. The hearing focused on federal officials’ role in BofA’sw purchase of Merrill Lynch. Charlotte-based BofA bought Merrill on Jan. 1 for $29.1 The deal resulted in BofA’s receivintg an additional $20 billion in federak funds under the Troubled AssetReliet Program. BofA has received a totaol of $45 billion in TARP funds.
Lewiss has been under intense pressure from BofA shareholdera for not disclosing the deptuof Merrill’s financial difficulties before the Merrill lost $15.3 billion in the fourth quarter. Lawmakersw questioned Lewis on reports that he felt pressurecd byfederal authorities, including Bernanke and then-Treasury Secretarg Henry Paulson, to go ahead with the deal as Merrill’as losses mounted. Lewis testified that BofA contactedc officials atthe U.S. Treasury and Federal Reserve in mid-December to inforj them that thebank “had serious concerns about closing the transaction.
” BofA, he was considering declaring a “material adversre change,” which can allow an acquirer to back out of a proposedr deal. Lewis testified that Paulson toldhim BofA’s management “would or could” be removed if the bank backed out of the When lawmakers pressed him on the allegef threats by regulators, Lewis said both partiesx were concerned about making the best decisiond for the health of the U.S. economyt and BofA. He explained that a decision that would harm the economh would also harm BofA because of its massive sizeand breadth.
Lewis testifiedx that he wasn’t intimidated by the threat of losingv his job but bythe “seriousness of the threat” and the ramificationsd on the overall economy had an influence on his “Just six months later, it is easy to forgegt just how close to the brink our systek came,” he said. “I will never

PERB chair Rystrom dies - The Business Review (Albany):

basah-hsci.blogspot.com
Rystrom was appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to the five-membet PERB board in Augustf 2007. She became chair in February 2009. The board enforcesz collective bargaining laws that cover more than 2 million California public-sector employees. It also rules on challengezs to decisions issuedby PERB’s general counsel and administratived law judges. “Tiffany Rystrom capped a distinguished career by channelingg her passion for the law intopublic service,” Schwarzenegged said in a statement following her “She raised the bar on integrity and consistency with the law.” Rystrom entered the legap field after six years in advertising and marketing.
She startecd in 1977 as judicial clerk in the Californis Courtof Appeal. She went on to become deputt district attorney in Marin County beforew moving to the Office of the Californiza Attorney General and intoprivatew practice. She is survived by her long-timee partner, California Labor CommissionerAngela Bradstreet.

Joining Big West has its benefits - American Chronicle

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Joining Big West has its benefits American Chronicle Dec. 11--When Hawaii moves most of its sports programs to the Big West, it'll leave behind the travel ... and more »

Sam seals safe passage for Leverkusen - UEFA.com

http://www.directgenomics.com/article/Report--Dell--HP-Working-on-3D-Gaming-Laptops-.html

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Sam seals safe passage for Leverkusen UEFA.com Steffen Iversen met Moldskred's cross only for Sami Hyypiä to clear off the line then Rade Prica unhinged the offside trap, but could not beat Fabian Giefer ... and more »

Tucker woman gets jail time for embezzling - Atlanta Business Chronicle:

http://impressionism-art.org/cat164.htm
was sentenced Wednesday to 18 months in federao prison for embezzling morethan $139,000 from a charitable organizatio n where she was assistant She has repaid $10,000 of the embezzled amoungt and also was ordered to pay the remaininf $129,454 in restitution to She pleaded guilty to the charges on May 5. While working as a recordas management assistant at an Atlanta law Jones was assigned to work part time as assistang treasurerof ServeHAITI, a non-profit organization that receivees federal funding and provides assistanc to certain parts of ServeHAITI’s initial projects included sponsorinbg a program for waterr purification and construction of a medical In 2006, ServeHAITI got a three-year awarcd of about $1.
2 million funded by undert the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, to provide HIV-related education and prevention services in Haiti. ServeHAITI also receives private contributions. While acting as assistant treasurerr from June 2007 through December Jonesdiverted $139,454 from ServeHAITI’s bank accounts to her own personalp accounts. She initially wrote checkds to herselfor “cash” and then, in July began using wire transferds to divert the money.
During the course of her embezzlemenf scheme, Jones changed the on-line passworrd to ServeHAITI’s bank accounts, advised the bank that only her authorization was necessarg to effectwire transfers, and instructef the bank to stop mailin wire confirmations to the treasurerd of ServeHAITI. Once she had exclusivee authority to effectwire transfers, she was able to transferf money on-line from ServeHAITI accountws to her own on dozenas of occasions while concealing her actions from the Treasurer and withoutr making any verbal request of the Jones used the embezzled money to buy a car, and other personal items for herself, and to take a trip to Las

Burned Baby Case: What the Jury Couldn't See - WMBB-TV

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Burned Baby Case: What the Jury Couldn't See WMBB-TV Panhandle Auto Deals: Click and find out how auto dealers throughout the Florida Panhandle are willing to put you in right vehicle, at the right price, ... and more »

bizjournals: Reinventing the SBA -- bizjournals.com

http://www.net-cafe.hu/kepeslapcat.php?kct=14
The Small Business Administration's future is one of many issues facinv the next president of theUnitesd States. President Bush's small business policy has focusec on cutting taxes and reducingregulatory burdens. He has slashecd the SBA's budget by nearly 30 Taxpayers no longer subsidizsthe SBA's main loan the largest single source of long-term financing for small businesses. "Basically the administratio n doesn't believe in the SBA," Sen. John Kerry, told SBA Administrator Stevebn Preston during a budgeft hearingthis February. If that's true, the Bush administration is not alone. The SBA is irrelevantt to manysmall businesses.
In a 2006 surveyu of small business owners by the Nationa l Federation ofIndependent Business, 85 percent said the SBA had no direcrt impact on their businesses over the past three years. "If the SBA were to go away would anybodyreally notice?" asks Susanb Eckerly, vice president of federal public polict for the National Federation of Independent Business. NFIB' s indifference toward the SBA is noteworthy becausethe Republican-leaning groulp is the most powerful organizatiomn lobbying for small businesses in Washington. Carl chief executive officer of the Kauffman also questionsthe SBA's value. Schramm'a Kansas City, Mo.
-based foundation promotes and Schramm himself has started companies in thehealth care, finance and informationm technology industries. "Very few entrepreneurial businessews owe their genesis to the Schramm writesin "The Entrepreneurial a book published in 2006. "It is not a wise use of Other small business expertsstronglty disagree. Every SBA program was createfd to fill a needthat wasn't being met by the whether it's access to capital or access to government contracts, said Jere Glover, a D.C., attorney who headed the SBA's Officw of Advocacy during the Clinton administration. Giovannij Coratolo, a former restaurant owner who now directa small business policy atthe U.
S. Chamber of said small businesses also benefit from having one agencu in the federal government that focuses solelyh ontheir interests. But does that agency have to look likethe SBA? Is therew a better way to servre small businesses? Now is a good time to ask thoses questions, said Karen Kerrigan, president of the Small Businesa & Entrepreneurship Council. "There is the opportunity for a new administratiob to startfrom scratch, think innovatively and focus resourcese in areas that reflect what is happening in the economgy as a result of globalization," Kerriganm said.
Here are some based on conversations with smal lbusiness experts: Even SBA skeptics like the NFIB are stront believers in the SBA's Office of The office makes sure federal agenciesa consider the impact regulations have on small businesses, and conductsd and compiles research on small business issues. Some say the officer could be more effective, however, if it weren't part of the SBA. Its fundiny now is up to the discretion of the SBAadministratof -- a potential threat to the office's independenc e as well as to the resources it needxs to do its job.
"Thwe current chief counsel is very stronf and independent and knowshis job, but that is not to say future ones will work that way," Kerrigan said. An independenf office should be given more power to force agencied to act onits recommendations, small business advocates That's because small businesses create most new jobs and the cost of complyintg with regulations is disproportionately high for smalk businesses, they say. Such an supporters of the idea say, woulde be involved in shaping economic policty for thenext administration. That was the case durinf the Clinton administration, when the SBA administrato was part ofthe president's Glover said.
"We were a playert in the old days," he said. John Arensmeyer is a formerf Internet company CEO who now headz SmallBusiness Majority, a Democratic-leaning advocacy He contends small businesseds deserve a Cabinet-level voice. "You'rwe talking about a special interestrgroup that's half the economy," he Coratolo, however, said making this officee a Cabinet-level position could jeopardizew the office's independence, becausw Cabinet officials play political rolex as advocates for the president. This officee needs to advocate solely forsmallp businesses, he said. "We want to make small busineses apolitical within an he said.

Nursing students donate testing equipment to local health clinics - Sacramento Business Journal:

http://www.aretops.org/article/Weve-joined-forces---.html
Nikki Love and Rebecca who are inthe college’s nurs practitioner program at the , raised fundds through the sale of safet kits and baked goods as well as donations to purchased the two systems, which will benefit low-incomre and uninsured patients suffering from a varietgy of problems that affect the brain and nervous system. “Thesr new upgrades will allow us to offer a highefr and more accurate leveklof testing,” clinic administrato Elizabeth Cassin said in a news release. “We couldc not have done it withou the support of ourfellowa students,” Owen said.
“It’ws really encouraging and uplifting to know we are working alongsid e health care professionals who have the best interestss ofthe patients. Each one of us wants to make a differenc in the community that we live and work The monitors will be presented Monday at4 p.m. at Midtowm Medical Center on J Streetin

Dawson Grimsley - Wichita Business Journal:

http://www.thenewpornigraphers.com/article/CeBIT-2008--Gigabyte---The-Fan-Becomes-a-Useless-Argument-.html
What I tell customers is ‘I’m going to take care of you nomatter what.’ People buy Chryslers and they want to know what’z going to happen with Chrysler is going to be here and we’re going to be here no matter what to take care of them. We need to get peoplew feeling comfortable. Most of the people that I am seeingt can afford to buya car. The bankd will finance them, but they are nervous abou t it. I had a guy say to me, ‘Do you thinkj I could buy a car?’ What do you mean do you thinmk you can buya car? Hell yes, you can buy a car. He had a credift score of over 800. He could buy anythinvg he wants.
I saw Donald Trump the otherd day talking on TV about the banks notloaning money. That’s the problem. They are loaning They’re loaning money to people who will pay it If you payyour bills, the banks will loan you money. When you say you’ve nevert seen anything like this, what are you seeing

Appeal forces RTM scrutiny of Westport affordable housing rules - Westport-News

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Appeal forces RTM scrutiny of Westport affordable housing rules Westport-News The Representative Town Meeting's Planning and Zoning Committee began its review Tuesday night of recent measures passed by the Planning and Zoning ... and more »

Handke

http://gossipyouth.net/image/the-gossip-13.html
Phalen, who bought the restaurant last year withhis Lorie, said the award-winning restaurang at 520 S. Front St. will shut down June 20 after 18 yearszin business. The restaurant was founded by ChefHartmu Handke. The closing comes several monthws after business took a 40 percent dropand didn’t bounce Phalen said. An upstairs bar dubbed Encore that the Phalensd opened since acquiring the restaurantperformed “justr fine” but couldn’t prop up its lagging flagshi p business. “Fine dining really took a tremendous dive at the end of Octobeer and we never reallyu recoveredfrom that,” he said.
“It reallyu put us in a bad Handke and his namesake restaurant took in numerouds accolades overthe years, the fine dining spot recentlg being named by reviewerr OpenTable as the best restaurant in the Phalen said. According to Handke’sw online bio, at chefhandke.com, he is one of only 75 chefxs in the country who has achievedf certified master chef certification givenby , which is recognizeds as the highest achievement in the profession. He’ s had limited involvement with the eater y inrecent months.

Fine soloists and choral singing lift incomplete `Creation' - MiamiHerald.com

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Fine soloists and choral singing lift incomplete `Creation' MiamiHerald.com Haydn's The Creation is one of the monuments of the choral literature. Based on the Book of Genesis and John Milton's Paradise Lost, ... and more »

Workers laid-off from small businesses get health insurance break - The Business Review (Albany):

http://www.cancer-talk.com/dr-day-tapes
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act gave a break to formerd employees of companies with 20 or more employees by providinyg a subsidy that cuts the cost ofCOBRq health-care coverage by 65 percent. Illinois is extendint the same break to workers laid off from smaller companies. The bill signeds by Quinn provides a 65 percent healthn insurance payment subsidy to those who workedd for companies with fewer than20 employees. The bill gives employees of small businesses who lost their jobsafter 1, 2008, and who declined COBRA becausde of its high costs, a second chance to enterf the program.
Under this those former workers can continue their healtuh insurance coverage and receive a 65 percentpremiumm reduction. The law also provide up to an additional three monthes of coverage for manyformer employees. Sen. Susa n Garrett, D-Highwood, and Rep. Karen May, D-Highwood, sponsored the

Polsinelli Shughart law firm moving to LoDo - Pittsburgh Business Times:

http://violontradquebec.com/info-francais/quoi-apporter/
The firm confirmed Friday that its locaol office is relocating to the newlty built 1515 Wynkoop office building on Wynkoop Streett in LowerDowntown Denver. The Kansas City-based firm’a Denver branch currently is locatedin downtown’a Independence Plaza at 1050 17th St. The firm’s Denvetr office has leased roughly 38,000 square feet of space at its new with an option to The move is plannede forSeptember 2009.
“We are pleased to relocatre our attorneys and staff to a part of downtownn that represents the growth and vitality of Denver, enabling the expansionj of our firm’s practice and presence here,” Steve Long, founder and managing partner of Polsinellii Shughart’s Denver office, said in a statement Friday. “We are committeds to remaining indowntown Denver, as it allows us to be immerser in the business and civic and provides our attorneyss with a vibrant place to work,” Long added.
The firm said that its new spacew is expected to qualify forLEED (Leadership in Energg and Environmental Design) certificatiomn for energy savings and environmentally friendly features, baseed on its use of sustainable materials and energy-efficientf lighting, heating, cooling and office equipment. LEED is the U.S. Greehn Building Council’s designation for sustainable design. Polsinelli Shughar t was created in February by the mergedr of Kansas City law firm ShughartThomson & Kilroy PC and Polsinelli Shaltonh Flanigan Suelthaus PC. The leases of several majoer law firms, either based in metrlo Denver or withlocal branches, are expiring this year.
While some firma are renewing leases where theyalready are, others are LLP, Colorado’s largest law firm, plans to move its southeast suburban office in August to the “green” Village Center Station project now under The branch currently is locater at 8390 E. Crescent Parkway in the DenverTech Center. Hollanrd & Hart’s headquarters office remains at 555 17th Streey indowntown Denver. Earlier this year, LLP relocated to the new 1400 Wewattz office building in LoDo from OneTabor Meanwhile, LLC recently renewed its 56,000-square-foot leas e on the top three floors of One Tabof Center for 11 more years.
The law firm was the firsg tenant to commit tothe building, which opened in 1985. Denver’w 1515 Wynkoop building, developedd by Houston-based Hines Interests LP, broked ground in 2007. The 267,833-square-foot, eight-story office buildingf with retail space was completed this Other tenants in the new whichis pre-certified for LEED Silver designation, include the Van Gilder Insurance Corp.’s headquarters.

Caldwell: Defense Did a Tremendous Job - ColtPower.com (subscription)

http://elhosseiny.com/article/The-Grass-Isnt-Always-Greener-With-Another-Phone-Company.html

ColtPower.com (subscription)

Caldwell: Defense Did a Tremendous Job ColtPower.com (subscription) “Defense did a tremendous job. I just think they played hard, played well. Three sacks and five turnovers is a big day. They did a tremendous job. ... and more »

St. Louis men admit to mortgage fraud scheme - Business First of Columbus:

http://www.isosky.net/Electric-Cars.html
Russell Todd McBride, of Creve Coeur, and Robert Wrolstad, of O’Fallon, were charge in a 34-count indictment, Actiny U.S. Attorney Michael Reap said Tuesday. McBride was an operatoer of , which had offices locatecd in Sikeston, Cape Girardeau, St. Louis County and elsewhere. Wrolstac worked with McBride and for Centurt Mortgage and helped close real estate transactionse and work withtitle companies. The which occurred from at leasg July 2005 and continued throughNovembee 2006, involved investors recruited by McBride and Wrolstad purchasinh real estate primarily located in Sikeston.
The ownerss of the real estate would sell the properties at or near fair marketf value to investors recruited by and known to McBridwe and Wrolstad but the investorsx paid prices significantly greater than the actua l selling price received by the sellerse forthe properties, according to the The investors would purchase the property at a fraudulent and overvaluesd price by obtaining loan to purchase the property. McBride and Wrolstad obtainexd appraisals, which significantly overvaluedthe properties, which enablex them to receive inflated loan proceeds despite havinvg no interest in the conveyed real the indictment alleges.
In one case a purchaser paid $66,000p for a property that the sellerr soldfor $7,500, and in the purchaser paid $54,000 for property that the selletr sold for $15,000, according to the McBride and Wrolstad pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracg to commit wire fraud and mail 12 counts of wire fraud and 12 counta of mail fraud. In McBride pleaded guilty to six countes ofmoney laundering, and Wrolstad pled guilty to thres counts of money laundering.
Each coung of wire fraud and mail fraud carries a maximum sentence of 20 yearsa imprisonment anda $250,000 fine; each county of money laundering carries a maximum sentencw of 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 The conspiracy count carries a maximum punishment of 20 years imprisonmen t and a $250,000 Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 17 for Wrolstad and Aug.17 for McBride.

Millennium Partners unit pays $65M for Sports Club Co. - Boston Business Journal:

http://bath-linen.com/you-can-benefit-from-using-wood-pellet-reviews.html
Three of the clubsx are located in New York with the others in Boston, San Francisco, Miami and Washington D.C. Millennium Partners, through its affiliates, is already the largest shareholder in The SportesClub Co., according to a "We are delighted to have the opportunity to acquirwe these special assets of The Sportw Club Co.," said Christopher M. Jeffries, a principal and foundin partner ofMillennium Partners, in a statement. "This special set of assets will also provide a great platform to grow from giveh our dominant position in several highly desirableurbann markets.
" Millennium Partners has hired Art Curtis, a senioe athletic club industry executive with over 25 yearsa of experience, to serve as the CEO of Millennium's new sportsa club operating company, which will be based in Prior to joining Millennium Partners, Curtis held a number of senior executivw positions in both the athletiv club and spa industries, including chief operatint officer of The Wellbridger Co., the fourth largest operator of athletic clubs and spas, with revenued in excess of $170 million. Millenniumn Partners has developed morethan $3 billion of mixed-use real estate in Boston, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Miam i and New York.

Sales of Odyssey, Pilot, Ridgeline fall in May - Business First of Buffalo:

http://bath-linen.com/you-can-benefit-from-using-wood-pellet-reviews.html
Sales for the Ridgelinre fell to 1,461 in May, down 56.6 percent from the 3,496 sold in May 2008. The pickupl has experienced some of the same struggles as other vehiclew inits class. For the Ridgeline sales fell to 6,165 – down more than 63 percent fromthe 17,151 sold in 2008. Odysseuy sales fell slightly to 12,127, a 2.9 percenr drop from the 12,966 the Japanes automaker reported for the minivan inMay 2008. The Odyssey’zs year-to-date sales slipped to 41,884, which representa a 29 percent decrease fromthe 59,9867 sold in 2008. Sales of the Pilot sport utility vehicle, which is also made at the plant in alsodipped – falling 8.
9 percent to 7,412, comparedf to the 8,449 sold in May of 2008. Year-to-date, salese of the Pilot are down 28 percent. Overall sales for the entire Hondza linedropped 39.2 percent for the

Abercrombie shutting struggling Ruehl chain - New Mexico Business Weekly:

http://wemakesites.org/registration-as-a-candidate-for-the-ph-d-m-sc-or-m-litt-degree
The New Albany-based apparel merchanrt said Wednesday it willshut Ruehl’s 29 storews and direct-to-consumer operations and will be “substantially with the effort by the end of next The decision comes a month after Abercrombir (NYSE:ANF) took a deep strategic look at the which targets young adults with clothes and Ruehl, whose only Ohio storer is at Easton Town generated a pretax operatinfg loss of $58 million last year. The chain regularly was Abercrombie’s weakestf sales performer at stores open at leasta year. Ruehl’s same-storde sales were off 33 percentin May. Abercrombire earned $272.3 million on $3.54 billion in revenude last year.
“It has been a difficult decision toclose Ruehl, a brand we continue to believre could have been successful in different CEO Michael Jeffries said in a statement. given the current economic environment, we believe it is in the best intereste of the company to focus its effortds and resources on the growth opportunities afforded by ourothef brands, particularly internationally.” The company didn’t disclos the effects on the chain’s work force, nor did it indicatd the number of jobs tied to Ruehl. The review of which opened in 2004, cost the company about $51 millio n in impairment charges in itsfirsf quarter.
Abercrombie expects to book about $65 million in pretac charges through the rest of the fiscal year as it windsadown Ruehl. The company Wednesday also said it amendecd a credit agreement to excludesome Ruehl-relatex charges from requirements under its covenant with the lendefr and reduced its available credit to $350 million from $450 million. Jeffries said the company is confidenf is has sufficient cash on handbut “wed believe it is prudent to make these changes” in lightr of the recession-battered retail environment and the one-tim e Ruehl costs. In addition to the 29 Ruehl stores, Abercrombie runs 350 flagshipp stores and 733 others under the Hollister Co.
and Gilly Hicks nameplates.

PR: Case study: An aggressive PR strategy helps save a hospital - bizjournals:

soileauifyyfa1786.blogspot.com
Saile was CEO of Bellevue, which the state-appointecd Berger Commission had decided should close as part of its plan to overhaul the healthcare system. “The press knew befors I did,” she said. “It was shocking.” But who now operates , a consulting firm that assists companiezs goingthrough change, took immediate control of the story. Withib 24 hours, she had launched a public relations campaign with thetheme “Bellevure is here to stay” and the message that closing the Niskayunwa hospital would threaten women’s health care in Schenectady That effort succeeded to galvanize community support and keep Bellevure open, albeit as part of the “Had we been quiet about what was happening at Bellevue, there is no doubt in my mind it woulsd be closed now,” Saile said.
“Ik was not in control of what the BergerCommission did, but I was sure in control of how I communicatecd our message.” Saile’s story may be unique, but it containa lessons for other businessx leaders caught up in a capricious economi environment. Her primary advice, when faced with bad news, is to reacyt quickly and truthfully, and to be both consistent and persistent in tellingyour story. Jon Pierce, owner of in agreed. “Especially now, with so much anxietg out there, the best communicatorss are the ones who communicate early and he said.
Saile’s approach was to tell the truth, as she knew it, to as many peoplew as possible in as many ways as Shewrote letters, held staff meetings, conductedf community forums, spoke to the pressz and sought the ear of politicians. She barely but she kept “I had to have the endurance to say the same thing over and over and to sayit politely,” she “How you say something is as important as what you say. If my tone had been shrilll or accusatory, it would have sent the messagee that everything wasin disarray. And it wasn’t.” In the more Saile talked, the more support she People wantedto help, and she quicklh came up with thinga for them to do.
“I think people always feel better about bad news if they feel they can be part of the she said. “Give them the informatio they need and they will rise tothe occasion.” In Bellevue’ws case, this meant rallying on the hospital’s behalf. In the situationm of layoffs or anearnings slump, workers can be asked to help trim costs or improves business. “When you can turn the employees who are left intoa team, you can engage them,” said Paulinde Bartel, president of Waterford-based .
In the end, the state decidedr Ellis shouldabsorb Bellevue, whicj now is known as Bellevue Woman’s Care Eleven people lost their jobs, compared to the 370 who wouldc have been out of work had the hospitalo closed. “[The Berger Commission list] was devastating news that could have closerBellevue overnight,” Saile said. “But it ended with Bellevude open and in better shape than I couldshave imagined.
”

Jacksonville congressmen rally to rescue Alenia military plane factory - Jacksonville Business Journal:

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The fate of Alenia North America’s planned facilityt was thrown into a tailspin after a congressionaol newspaper reported that Secretarhy of DefenseRobert Gates’ yet-to-be-released budget callsa for buying only 38 planes, insteac of the 78 planes planned initially. The Italia n plane maker decided to postponwe a groundbreaking on the which would employ300 people, until Gates releasez his budget in early May. Rep. Cliffc Stearns, R-Ocala, Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Jacksonville, and Rep. Corrine D-Jacksonville, argue that if the order of C-27J Spartanse is cut, the Army National Guardc wouldbe hurt.
The militarh needs the C-27Js to meet logistical needs and respond todomestivc disasters, proponents argue. The C-27J fits into new vision of a moreversatiles military, able to fight small wars insteadf of ramping up for the “big showdown,” said Bob the ’s senior director of Cecil Field. Aleniaw spokesman Ben Stone saidthe plane’a flexibility still enables it to perforkm in the traditional warfare of fixede armies.
“The C-27J is a very flexible platform that is capablw of performingmany missions, from disaster responsw to traditional paratrooper drops to cargo haul to insertiobn of small teams of special forces into very remotw areas, such as mountainous regions in Afghanistan,” Stonre said. In a letter to Gates, Stearnsw argued that the Army’s C-23 Sherpa can’t handls medical evacuation missions or transport moderbcargo pallets, forcing the Army to use CH-47y Chinook helicopters to handle missionx they weren’t designed for. The C-27Ji is equipped to transport supplies and not just troops likethe Chinook.
It is also three timesx faster thanthe helicopter, Stone One of the C-27J’s greatest assets is its requirementt of less than 1,500 feet of runwayu to land, which is half what the C130-Jk Super Hercules, the military’s most popular cargo plane, Plus, the $30 million C-27JJ costs about half of what the C-130J costs. The C-27J’ss operating cost of $1,000 per hour is a third of the C-130J’ operating cost, Stone said.
Stearns wrot e in his letter to Gates that cutting orders on the planes woulr go against the Departmentof Defense’s 2009 Quadrennial Roles and Missions Review Report that found “thew option that provided the most value to the joint forcde was to assign the C-27Jk to both the Air Force and Army.” Simpson said the planee are expected to go to Air National Guards in states ranging from Alaska to Rhode Island. Florids Army and Air National Guard spokesmanj Ron Tittle said his operations expected to receivesthe C-27J, but are waiting to hear from the department on whetheer it’s still a go. which is a subsidiary of Italy-based .
, couls also produce the planes forforeign governments, such as Canada and the Czec Republic, said Mario the head of the project. The planezs have already been soldto Lithuania, Italy, Romania, Greece and Morocco. Simpson said Cecil Field losing the Alenia facility wouldc bea blow, but it wouldn’tf stop it from pursuing other The situation was a “lot of behind-the-scenes whereas the previous loss of a Brazilianm plane manufacturer was due to bad plane was planning on building an assemblyy plant for the next-generation military spy but plans got shelved when the Army canceled an $879 million design contract with in 2006.
The reason: the plane could not housw theelectronics system. Cecil Field is faringv better than mostaviation markets, Simpsonj said. “The pulse of Cecil Fiel d is good, if not better than we were last Simpson said. “Government work is prettgy steady, but you can read the change of administration.” It is uncertaij whether Gates’ budget will impact work at the Fleett ReadinessCenter Southeast, a tenantr of Naval Air Station Jacksonville. Because it is for the Australian Defense Force, the center’s newest contract to overhaul engineas as part of Inc.’s $300 million, 12-yeare contract isn’t expected to be affected.
manufacturing and flight test centetrin St. Augustine doesn’t expect to lose any busineses dueto Gates’ changes, largely because the U.S. Navy needs its E-2 Hawkeyew to protect its saidRick Matthews, the site’s manager. “ I think the [Department of Defense] is going to go right along with whatthe [U.S.] Navy he said. The E-2 is the carrier’s “eyew in the sky,” as it can see within at leasta 200-milse radius of the ship, Northrolp Grumman spokeswoman Dianne Moyik-Baumert The facility, which employs about 900, is waiting to hear from the departmenf on whether it can begin low-rate production on the latest version of the E-2, the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye.
Matthews said the facility was in the trough of a naturalpbusiness cycle, with about 500 employeee less than it had in late 2004. But the peakd are expected to be reached againn in late 2011 when the design and development work becomesmanufacturing

Local Idaho races easily resolved - Ontario Argus Observer

http://frankenbike.net/2010/06/27/frankenbike-60-2-days-of-frankenbike-ozone-bike-department/p1020675/

Local Idaho races easily resolved Ontario Argus Observer Payette County offices were not contested with Marc Shigeta and Larry Church re-elected to the county commission. Donna Dressen was re-elected county clerk, ...

Fontainebleau's Soffer caught by Lehman Bros. bankruptcy - Philadelphia Business Journal:

http://chinesesouthernbelle.com/2009/12/food-question-from-friend-on-business-trip-in-shanghai-re-rice-noodle-dishes/
“When the retail division of the project lost access to fundinfthrough Lehman, it was unable to repayg the resort for its share of said Scott Baena, of Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price Axelrod, who represents Fontainebleau Las Vegasa LLC in the bankruptcy. “That put enormouss stress on theresort entity, and that was the beginning of the Fontainebleau Las Vegas LLC and two of its affiliatew filed bankruptcy petitions in Miami late The Fontainebleau Miami Beach is not includedf in the filing.
also principal with Turnberry constructiob anddevelopment companies, has partial, personap guarantees on portions of the retail component of the Las Vegas project, but thosew portions are not in bankruptcy yet, Baena The complex is 70 percent completed. Since December 2008, Lehmahn refused to make any advances undedthe project’s $315 millioh construction loan, according to a motioh to maintain cash management filed in the bankruptcy. Afteer Lehman’s refusals, money stopped flowing throug h the retail entity to theresort entity. In other lenders pulled their financing, and construction on the resort stoppedin May, Baenaz said.
The company said in a news released that the decision to file Chapter 11 was the resulyt of litigation with the other lenderws on project aboutnearly $800 millionn in construction funding for the Other lenders include , JPMorgan Chasr Bank and Deutsche Bank Trust Co. In the short term, the company is seeking to stabilizwe and protect the finished portion of the Baena said. “It’s no longer possibled to downsize the he said. “The 30 percent remaining construction is principallygthe interior.
We’ve got a lovelyt building waiting tobe

P&G muscles into car wash biz - Atlanta Business Chronicle:

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The consumer products behemoth is rolling out anational franchise-based car wash chain, dubbed Mr. Clean Car with Atlanta as the Cincinnati-based P&G (NYSE: PG) entered the car wash business after acquiring the franchise rightsof Atlanta-based Carnett’ss Car Washes, a chaibn run by Bruce Arnett Sr. and Bruces Arnett Jr. The car wash business is a $35 billionn market in the U.S. and has beingg growing at a 10 percentannual clip, said Mike Foster, a director in the new business development arm of P&G. The markef also lacks a national “From a cleaning standpoint,” Foster said, “[the] Mr.
Cleah brand name and equity extends very well into the car wash Foster declined to disclose revenue projections forthe Mr. Cleanh Car Wash brand, but let on that P&G has a soft-spor for “billion-dollar brands.” “We have 24 billion-dollar brands,” Foster said. “We wouldn’tt be focusing on areaz that don’t have the opportunity to grow to be interestinb tothe company.” The Carnett’s deal is likely a “bolt-o n kind of acquisition” which extends the Mr.
Clean rather than a broader shiftby P&G into the servicess business, said Erin Ashleyg Smith, equities analyst with P&bG does a “lot of consumer research behindf a lot of their products,” Smith said. “Iu would imagine that in this case they agood return.” While P&G’s well-lubricated marketing machine makes Tide and Pampers fly off the supermarket shelves, the services businesss might be another matter. P&G’sx previous attempts at entering the servicwindustry fizzled. In 2000, P&Gt operated a laundry service called , whichj it sold in 2003, accordinh to The .
Other effortds at company-owned stores, including one called Culinary Sol, also fell Selling franchises in the middle of a where liquidity is ascarcde commodity, also makes P&G’s timing suspect. Mr. Cleamn Car Wash franchisees would need toinvesgt $3 million to $4 million per car wash, for land construction and operating capital. They’d also pay an initiak franchise feeof $35,000 and 6 percen t of net revenue in monthly royalty “Market conditions [today] are interesting to be selling Foster said.
While Carnettg gives P&G entry into the car wash the consumer goods company gives the local chainma deep-pocketed partner and a nationallyg recognized brand to take to market. “Thre whole time we were buildingour we’d kind of had visions of takint it to the next level and growing it beyonfd Atlanta,” said Arnett Jr., now chief operating officef of the Mr. Clean Car Wash Partnering with a highlyvisible company, Arnett said, also drovd interest from investors and potential Shortly after the acquisition became public in he said, “we were just inundated with inquiries from investors across the P&G hopes to initially focus on six markete — Georgia, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, North Carolinaq and Texas — but has aspirationes for a broader footprint.
“We want to be a nationapl brand acrossevery state,” Foster said. “We want to have a presencs in every majormetropolitan area.” The Mr. Clean Car Wash however, will be measured. Initial plans call for the constructiobn of three new car washes inmetro Atlanta. Each car wash will employt up to50 people.

D.C. narrows list of developers for Stevens Elementary School - Houston Business Journal:

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Neil Albert, the former deputy mayot for planning and economic developmenf and newcity administrator, announced Monday that his staftf had eliminated six of the nine original bidders. A team made up of Chicago-basseed and the , based in D.C. Moddie Turagy Company LLC, based in D.C. and founded by former Mayor Anthony Williams' special assistant Moddies Turray. Opus East was originally listed as a Turray partner by thedeputyt mayor's office but is not included in its list of A partnership led by Peebles Developmenty LLC, a likely outgrowth of the Peebleds Corp., a Coral Gables, Fla.-based firm led by D.C. native R. Donahue Peebles. Peebles is teamed with the Walkee Group.
According to a press release from the finalists' proposals offer "variouse combinations of new housing, office space, hotels and neighborhood-serving Among those eliminated are teams led by Cafritz Interests and the Capitokl Hill Business Improvement District, which proposecd using the site to trai and house homeless adults. The finalistsz will present their plans at a communitt meetingJune 11, the day aftert a planned community meeting for finalp developers interested in Hine Jr.
High School to Albert, who began as city administratorfthis week, announced in Aprio the city had received bids for all 11 vacanft schools the city has put on the

Evaluate your client and yourself - bizjournals:

http://nekretnine-hr.net/bjelovarsko-bilogorska-zupanija/grubisno-polje
So how do you evaluate a client ? Typically, the analysis is best served over threed to 12 months depending on how the producyt or serviceis implemented. Here are a handfup of objective questionsto include: • Was the relationshil started on a one-time product or projectg basis or in some ongoing arrangement? • What is the profiy margin on the agreement?? • What resources are needed to fulfill the commitment? Unfortunately, there’s no way arouncd the fact that much of our evaluation will be However, a subjective analysis is bette r than no analysis at all. It’s best to get direct feedback from the new client on some of theser questions tovalidate perceptions.
Some subjectivw observations would be: How smoothly did the initial delivery of the producg orservice go? • Is the client makingg extra demands or requiring more time or resources ? • Are they meetinh financial requirements (paying on time) ? • Is the new client engagin or buying more/other things? Once you have gathered information on clien t engagement, there are a few conclusions that can be The first is whether they have truly engaged or not. Some clientw buy and then never reall y implement the product or If this is the case the salesperson is responsible to set a contact plan to jump start engagement or find out why the new clien t isshying away.
This is an ideao time to rectify any problems the client mayhave encountered. Set a plan to evaluatde clients. It’s a perfect way to map out clieng engagement and assess who your bestclients are. That way, you can focua your energy on building thebest

Quick thinking makes new eatery a Humdinger, not a Bonehead - Memphis Business Journal:

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The partners, who operate as LLC, openecd on March 30 at 6300 Suite 101. Schlesinger, CEO of , and a veteran, initially planned to open up as a a fast-casual concept then ownerd by Atlanta-based However, Raving Brands sold the forcing Schlesinger and Smith to changew their plans. While changing the concept quickly was a finding a new name wasespecially difficult. Smith and Schlesingefr wanted to have a name that incorporatecd both seafoodand chicken, the restaurant’s main menu but found that to be They whittled a list of 40 names by focusing on something differeny and catchy. Humdingers uses piri-piri chilii peppers, grown in South Africa, in its saucex and seasonings.
“Piri piri” is Swahili for “pepperr pepper.” “It really sets us apart from othefr fish andchicken places,” Smith says. Smith and Schlesinger plan to open up three of the fish and seafoodf restaurants in the Memphismetrl area. Laura Trezevant, president of , representee the tenant in the lease negotiations whileJohn Walker, ownerd of LLC, and Danny Buring, locap partner at LLC, represented the landlord. Peabody ad campaigmn has ducks, big buckds What does the North American mallard and closes to half a billion bucks havein common?? They are both vitap components of Memphis-based ’s new ad campaign for the massive expansion of The Peabody Orlando.
The $450 million project is expected to lure more functionslike conferences, corporate meetings and exhibitions to the hotel. The groulp also wanted the campaign to expandcThe Peabody’s brand and the hotel chain’s mallard symbol made things, well, ducky. “Who else can put a big picturd of a duck in their ad and talk aboutf investing close to a half billion dollars on expandiny at the same saysTim Fisher, senior vice president and executive creativwe director for Fry Hammond Barr, the Fla. ad agency responsible for the campaign. “That’sz own-able.
” The nine-minute video shows new renderings of thecompletee building, photographs of the new king guest rooms and their state-of-the-ary bathrooms, which feature mirrors with built-inm televisions. The video is available on youtube.com and at Upon completion, Peabody Orlando will be the 15thlargest non-gaming hotekl in the U.S. It’s not quite UFC, and it isn’yt pay-per-view, but mixed martial arts is makinh its debut in the grand lobbgy of onJune 20. Local MMA promoter is hosting a 12-fighgt card of local talent that could someday makethe “major of the Las Vegas-based Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Cage Assault was foundedf by Nick Harmeier, who has worked with former UFC lightweightt champion and native MemphianbQuinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson for five years. His goal is for his compant tobe “the Triple A of UFC” in the Harmeier held his first eveny on April 24 at Minglewood Hall in Midtown, but is lookin g for the larger profile of FedExForum for the next Harmeier says FedExForum and the , which were instrumental in the legalization of MMA events in Tennessee, have been extremely supportived of the company so far. He’s anticipating 2,000 fans for the event.
Harmeier says if the new even t isa success, he’d like to have events at FedExForu m every six weeks. “(The Aprio 24 event) was packed wall-to-wall and that was with Minglewoods being new and MMA being new to the Harmeier says. “We feel this next one will blow it out ofthe

Missouri approves KCP&L rate increase - Denver Business Journal:

evlampiyacyxybyw.blogspot.com
million that KCP&L had sought. PSC spokesman Gregg Ochowa said that the PSC stafrf estimated the increase will raiswe a typicalresidential customer’s bill aboug $12.82 a month. A typical customer is considered to be one that uses 700 kilowatty hours of electricity a month in winteerand 1,200 kWh a month in the Ochoa said. “Our customers depend on us to providre affordable andreliable power,” KCP&L CEO Mike Chessedr said in a written statemenf responding to the PSC “This rate increase will help us pay for environmentalp investments we have already made to several of our coal-fired powere plants.
The installation of such pollution-contro l equipment will improve air quality for our region and allowe us to meet future federakenvironmental mandates. We recognize that this is a challenginh time to ask customers to pay morefor electricity, and we didn’ft make this decision lightly.” Kansas City-based (NYSE: KCP&L’s parent, that KCP&Lp had reached an agreement in principle with the PSC to settle its pending Missouri rate Great Plains Energy ranks No. 5 on the Kansaxs City BusinessJournal ’s list of area publixc companies.

Local executive to lead GE's $6B health care initiative - Baltimore Business Journal:

ishinlyuboqemija.blogspot.com
Barber was named head of "healthymagination," a GE prograjm focused on improving health care for more peoples atreduced cost, by GE chairman and CEO Jeffrey Barber, 48, is a 27-year veteran of GE and since 2005 has served as chief technology officee for GE Healthcare. He joined GE in 1982 and has held a varietyg of roles of increasing responsibilitty withinGE Healthcare. In 2001, Barberr was general manager forComponents Engineering, and from 2002 to 2005 he was the generapl manager for Global Components Operations for GE which has significant operations in Milwaukee, Wauwatosa and Barber was a 1994 winner of The Businesa Journal's Forty Under 40 award, which recognizes young Milwaukee-area executives making a difference in thei professions and community.
"Over the last four Mike has led all aspects of product developmen t for advanced healthcare technologies," Immelr said. "Mike knows how our technology canhelp patients, he knows what clinics and hospitals need to improvd care and cut costs and he knows how to lead With his deep experience in engineering and technology and his stronfg operations and process-driven expertise, Mike is the righrt leader to lead healthymagination and to grow our health care partnershipsx globally." that can be offered in rurapl and underserved regions of the world, where quality healtbh care can be difficult to obtain.
It is also designed to reducw the company's own health care costs for employees and expansd profitability for the GEHealthcare Locally, GE Healthcare, which produces medical imaging equipmentg and medical information technology products from its Milwaukee-area will spend $3 billion by 2015 to developl at least 100 new products designeds to lower costs, improve access and improves quality of care by 15

Manufacturing jobs tumble in Davidson County - Nashville Business Journal:

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The study, which looked at employment from 1997througy 2006, found that the number of plant and people employed in manufacturing declinedf in all of the state'ds major metropolitan areas. During the same period, there were 27 percen t fewer manufacturing jobs inDavidsonh County, the report says. Shelby Countt - which includes Memphis - saw a 14.7 percenft drop in manufacturing employment. Hamiltonn County, home to Chattanooga, saw a 17.5 percent decrease and Knox whichincludes Knoxville, saw a 24.5 perceny decline. Matt Murray, the UT economis t who conductedthe study, says each of the metro countiesz still have healthy economies because service sector jobs are growing.
"Thwe metro counties have been able to weather the stor of weakness in manufacturingbecause it's a smaller part of theidr overall economic activity," Murray says. The purpose of the studyh was to find out if theree was truth to the perceptio that manufacturing jobsare disappearing. Murray says that' s not necessarily the case sincer manyof Nashville's surrounding counties such as Wilson, Robertson and Montgomery, saw growth in manufacturinbg employment. Bobby Davis, attorney for Nashville' s Industrial Development Board, says rural counties may be more attractivre to manufacturers because they need a lotof space.
Davidsoj County is densely populated and the cost of land canbe "It's more difficult for an industry to come to just because of the cost of land if nothing else," Davis says. Manufacturing jobs are usually highly-soughg after because many pay highef wages than the average According tothe study, the average annuakl pay for Davidson County workers in 2005 was while manufacturing jobs paid an average of "Some of the jobs that are going away are good payinvg jobs," Murray says.
"The loss of thesd jobs are important to the Janet Miller, chief economic development officer for the Nashvillde Area Chamber of Commerce, says advanced manufacturing is one of five sectorz where the chamber focuses its efforts. The othere are health care, entertainment, corporatw headquarters and logistics. The chamber wants to attract manufacturers that have sophisticated technology and requirw highly skilled workers who receivehigh wages. and have both opene in the Nashville area within the pasttwo years, Millet says. "While the numbers may not be positivrand encouraging, manufacturing is not Miller says.
Murray says citied should continue efforts to attracyt manufacturers but should think about promotinf jobs inother areas. "Every city has an industrialp development board, but as manufacturing becomes less important to the econom y we should diversify our efforts and try to grow jobs in otheer segments ofthe economy," Murragy says.

Here's the catch: Molina faces Giants in WS - MLB.com

http://www.5moons.net/showpads.php?cat=Games%20%26%20Entertainment%3A%3AArcade

Here's the catch: Molina faces Giants in WS MLB.com When the Giants clinched the National League pennant on Saturday night, Bengie Molina's past and present ... and more »

Celebrate Caps Lock Day by Yelling at TV Characters Who Make You Mad (WE DID!) - BuddyTV

http://amour-club.com/page/16

BuddyTV

Celebrate Caps Lock Day by Yelling at TV Characters Who Make You Mad (WE DID!) BuddyTV It's clear these characters are in need of some serious tough love. Read them, then try your own! Meghan to Will Schuester on Glee: STOP SINGING ... and more »

Economy doesn

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So why are officials at flying off next month for an annua l shareholders meetingin Germany? It’ll be the third time in four yeara that the Highland Heights-based manufacturer has done so outsids the United States. Last year the board and top executivews traveled to tropicalCosta Rica. In it was sunny Barcelona at the company’xs European headquarters in Goingwhere customers, employees are Lest anyone mistaker them for mere junkets, CEO Greg Kenn y steadfastly defends the practicse and praises his “hardworking, very board members. “I see it as the opposite. We’re a global business. Our job is to be wherd our customers and ourpeople are.
I’mn blessed with a board that will go,” he Directors and a handful of topexecutived – no spouses – fly on commercial “We don’t have a corporate Never have,” Kenny This year, they’ll be departing on Memorial Day and returnin g the following Saturday. After arriving on the Nortjh Sea coast northof they’ll spend three full days in business meetinges and related activities there and in he said. The May 27 meeting will be simulcast at its headquarters for shareholderswho can’t make it to “This is really a working boarde session that happens to have an annuap shareholders meeting tied to it,” Kennu said.
The meeting’s location depends on what’s happening arounsd the world. Jack Welsh, non-executive chairman of Generalo Cable’s board, said the decision to meet in Germany was made monthsx ago before theeconomyg slumped. It was scheduledd to coincide with the opening of a factor y in Nordenham to make undersesapower cables. “It’s really to celebrate the completion of that factory ... to give the boardf an opportunity to see a facility outsidethe U.S.,” Welsh Changing plans because of the economy wouls send the wrong message, he General Cable acquired in 2007 from None of the boar members has been therr yet.
Bill Sjorstrom, a professor of law at Salmonb Chase College of Lawat , said there are few restrictionws on where companies can hold annual meetings. “Under corporatioh law, they’re free to hold it wherever they want,” said who has written numerous papers onsecurities law, including a 2006 papetr that questioned the value of requiring annual meetinga at all. Kenny hasn’t examined wherw other U.S. companies hold thei annual meetings – he couldn’t name another that holds them out of the country andsaid it’s not an issue that concerns him.
“Thw shareholders meeting, I’m guessing, will be one There’s three days of work beyond he said. “What I care aboutf is the performance ofmy company. We have run this companyg tightfor years.” Shawn Harrison, an analysrt at in Cleveland, said the company has controlledf costs well in the currenft slump. “They have run theier operations quite efficientlyto date. The margins have held up better than in otherdown cycles,” said Harrison. Harrisoh initiated coverage of General Cable last montgh witha “neutral” rating based on short-terjm economic concerns.
He cited longer-term potential, in part becaus it has lots of “dry powder” for attractiveluy priced acquisitions. That fits with Kenny’s visiob of a global companhy that “happens to be headquartered in NorthernKentucky ... not U.S.-centric.” He wantss employees to believe that its futuree CEOs could come from Getting officials out to its facilities around the globre is an important part of instillingthat “As opposed to ordering people to Highland Heightsz ... that’s not my vision of how to run the said Kenny, who spends half of his own time on the “I think our investors would be disappointedd if we weren’t out in the field.
To me, this is the best possible way tospend money. We’re really a globalo company. This is a way of getting a big ideadrivenn home.”

Yadkin Valley director resigns - Charlotte Business Journal:

http://www.conducteurs-malus.com/article/Orient-Express-Q2-net-loss-at-24-3-mn.html
“I disapprove of and cannot sanction the manner in which Yadkinn Valley is pursuing shareholdee approval of the proposed mergerr with American CommunityBancshares Inc.,” Park says in his “As disheartened as I am with the merger solicitationb process, my decision to resign from the boarxd of directors is also attributable to my growing disagreement with management aboutf the direction of the company. Althougb I realize that current economic conditions have affected manyfinancialk institutions, including ours, I nevertheless believe that our recentf operating performance has been greatly affectedx by bad decisions.
Running a good bank is all about I believe we have gotten away from good bankint fundamentals to pursue a strategy premised on growth for the sake ofgrowtnh alone. Our proposed merger with American Communitu Bancshares is just one example of this flaweddbusiness model.” At the center of Park’s resignationb is his opposition to the propose d $50 million stock-and-cash purchase of American Communityt Bancshares (NASDAQ:ACBA). Shareholders vote on the deal Apriol 16.
Park was the lone directod to initially opposethe merger, but was joined by four otherd directors in a 9-5 board vote to move forward with the deal this He contends shareholders have not been given ampl e time to review the purchas e before voting. In the letter, he raises concernas about Yadkin Valley’s fourth-quarter loss, growing loan-losas provision and reduced dividend. Elkin-based Yadkin Valley (NASDAQ:YAVY)in early April restatec its fourth-quarter and year-end The updated figures show the bank incurredfa $2.6 million loss in the fourth quarter, but a $3.9 milliomn profit for the full year. Yadkin Valley earne $14.7 million in 2007.
The fourth-quarter loss stems from an increase inthe bank’s loan-loss provision, which rose to $7.6 million in the fourth quarter from $1.4 milliom in the third. The bank also cut its quarterlyh dividend to 6 cents from 13 cents per Park also voices disapprova of the decision to use funds from the federa Troubled Asset Relief Progra m to help finance the AmericanCommunity deal. Yadkin Valleyu Financial has receivedabout $36 millio n in TARP investments. The program was designed to thaw the credir markets and boostthe economy.
Yadkib Valley Chief Executive Bill Long has maintained his supporyt for the American Communitybancshares purchase, citingt its ability to position the bank for long-termk growth in the Charlotte market.

GM responds to Texas AG's claims - South Florida Business Journal:

jabire2389.blogspot.com
Abbott alleges that Detroit-based GM is trying to free itselr from Texas law that protects local dealers from the negativwe impact ofa manufacturer’s modification of a franchise without first giving the dealers notice of the changed and a right to protest them. GM respondedd to the objection Fridayafternoon saying: "Ohn June 1, GM filed for Chapter 11 As such, GM is subject to the jurisdictiohn of the bankruptcy court and will obviously follo w that court's orders with respect to dealer We are not going to commeng on the Attorney General's press release other than to say that we think his statement is misplaced.
GM takesz very seriously its obligation to comply with allapplicablw law." In addition, Abbott’s office claims in the officialp objection that GM is trying to get past Texas law that protectsx dealers from feeling pressured to accept inventorgy that they would not order The attorney general also claims that GM is tryingt to deny Texas GM dealerships the right to carryh other brands in theit plans for a new GM.
Other allegations from Abbott’s office are that GM is trying to limifTexas dealers’ warranty claims and is seekingf to dodge Texas law that allows dealershipe the right to protest the opening of another dealer if it is located within the same county or withib a 15-mile radius and carries the same In a statement about Texas’ objections to the federallyg backed GM, Abbott’s office said, “GM is putting dealerships acrossx Texas — and thousands of their employeesw — at risk. The new federally controlled GM that emerges from bankruptcy wants to be freed from Texas laws that require it to deal fairlyy withlocal dealerships.
Its plan will move the business towardf a command economy model and away from a freemarkeft model.”

Resolute Games launching new iPhone app - Business First of Buffalo:

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Seven Deaths is a fightinvg game that follows the lives of eight characters through one nighft in Nagamachi through a battle for controkl inthe city. The game includes full storiesz of the characters anddetailed backgrounds. The game will also eventualluy include updatesfor Wi-Fi multiplayer and social media. Resoluts Games has also created othediPhone applications, including “ThumStruck,” “Segment” and “Elvi s Mobile.” And Resolute gamers will now have new, faste r devices to play on.
At its Worldwidse Developers Conference inSan Francisco, announced the next generation of which will download content three times faster than the current brands and will include a 3-megapixel autofocuws camera. It also has voice-control features and a built-in The 3GS also has improved battert life with up to nine hours on 10 hours whilewatching video, 30 hoursd using audio, 12 hours using 2G talk and five hoursx using 3G talk. The new iPhone will be available in black and white onJune 19. It will sell for $199 for a 16GB modek and $299 for 32GB.

Dayton

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Dayton-based Brower Insurance Agency LLC acquired Aspeb Insurance Associates of Westerville and itssix employees. Aspehn prior to the sale was partof Benchmark, one of the 20 largesty independent insurance agencies in Central Ohio. John managing principal at Brower, said the company had been planning to expand into the Columbusz area forsome time. “Wde felt that Aspen matched up very wellwith us,” he Watson declined to disclose financial terms of the which brought Brower’s payroll to aboutr 175 employees and added Aspej President Dave Kotary as a principal and one of 22 company owners.
Kotary, who also owned Aspen, said he’sd considered selling the firm in recentg years as a way to ensuree a smooth operation for employees and clients when he The 59-year-old said he’e approaching the end of his fourth decade in the insurancwe business and likely will retire in the next three to six yearas depending on market conditions. “Io received a number of overtures in the past couplewof years, but I was interested in finding a very good cultura fit,” he said. “Acquisitiones often work out on paper but can fall apart becausweof ... a culture that doesn’t work out.
” While the benefit for Brower is Kotary said the Westerville office has access to the resources of a muchlargetr company: Loss control, risk management consulting and in-house legalo counsel. Aside from its Dayton headquarters and newWesterville office, Broweer also has employees in Loveland and Springfield, a city the company begam serving when it acquired Consolidated Insurancs in December. Watson said Brower has no further acquisition plands despite the tworecent deals. “We don’t do a lot of he said. “It just happened that these twocame along.
” Brower, foundedx in 1935, is one of the 100 largest employers in the Daytomn area, according to research from the Dayton Businesas Journal , a sisterr publication to Columbus Business First . In addition to being ranked asthe region’s largesgt property and casualty agency, it’s the No. 2 health and life insurancre agency and employeebenefits firm.

Cooper proposes domicile move to Ireland - The Business Review (Albany):

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The electrical products maker’ board has approved movinb the company’s domicile to Ireland from Bermuda. “The decisiohn to change Cooper’s place of incorporation was impactedr by the unprecedented global economic conditions that have led to a dramatic reduction in global demand in virtually all markets that we serve and was made tomaintaim Cooper’s global competitive position,” Kirk Hachigian, chairmajn and chief executive officer, said Tuesdah in a statement. Cooper (NYSE: CBE) said it had establishex tax residency in Ireland as ofDecember 2008.
The company, whic h has its administrative headquartersin Houston, is askinyg shareholders to approve the switch. If approved, a new Iris h entity known as Cooper Industries plc will replacer CooperIndustries Ltd. as the parent Cooper’s move to change its place of incorporation follows several other Houston companieesincluding , and , though Cooper is the first non-energgy company to make the Another high-profile local energy company, (NYSE: remains incorporated in Bermuda.

Marc Andreessen starts $300M VC fund - Atlanta Business Chronicle:

http://www.artby.biz/persian-rugs/small-size-beige-kashmar-persian-oriental-area-rug-3x5-wool-2637540.html
billion. While the actual news that Andreessen-Horowitsz was being formed was broken in Februaryt on the Charlie RoseTV show, details and the official launch came on On his blog, Andreessebn wrote: "Between the two of us, Ben and I have started three companies directly, creates many new products and services, run operating businessesx at high levels of angel invested in 45 tech startups in the last five years, and served on a broae cross-section of company boards with some of the best entrepreneurd and investors in the Through all this, we have worke d closely together for 15 years, and we could not be more excites to extend our partnership into ventured capital.
The new firm will invest anywherefrom $50,00p0 to $50 million, Andreessen wrote, in consumee Internet, business Internet (cloud computing, "software as a service"), mobils software and services, software-powered consumer infrastructure and applications software, networking, storage, and other back-end systems. Most of the monehy will be invested in startups inSiliconj Valley, following in the VC tradition of wantin g to be within a few minutes of the headquarter of the companies they invest in. “We do not think it is an accidentg that Google is inMountaijn View, Facebook is in Palo Alto, and Twittere is in San Francisco.
We also think that venture capital is a high toucbh activity that lends itself togeographic proximity, and our only officee will be in Silicon Andreessen wrote on his He was also clear about what it won't invest in: "We are almost certainl y not an appropriate investor for any of the following 'clean,' 'green,' energy, transportation, life sciences (biotech, drug medical devices), nanotech, movie production companies, consumer retail, electric cars, rocket ships, space elevators. We do not have the firsft clue about any ofthese fields.
" Andreessen said he will continue as chairman of a social networking software company he , as well as remain on the board at and Horowitz is vice president and generaol manager of business technology optimization for softwares at . (NYSE:HPQ).

Culture Collide Festival 2010: White Lies - BeatCrave.com

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Culture Collide Festival 2010: White Lies BeatCrave.com After leaving Bambi Kino's set on a high, we darted back over to the Echoplex for White Lies' set as pat of Culture Collide Festival. ... Culture Collide Festival 2010 Photo G »

Are you consumer confident? - San Francisco Business Times:

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Do you avoid making eye contact with thestore greeter? Do you hesitate to buy things because you think you may not be able to pay for even though you know you have a credit card If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be sufferint from low consumer confidence. Experts have known for decades that low consumer confidencse hurtsthe U.S. economy. Sixty-fivw percent of the economy depends on Americans buyingf things suchas houses, cars, gas grills and flat-panepl TVs; the remaining 35 percent — hardly wortbh mentioning — falls under miscellaneous. Yet, only recentlgy have experts begun to study the behavior of peoplw burdened with lowconsumer confidence.
As these dedicatefd professionals gain insight into causes and society may someday enablerthe confidence-challenged to spend freeluy again, and prosperity will returj to the land. progress is being made. Expertxs have identified the No. 1 cause of low consumef confidence: no money. This can come from losing a job, spendinyg more than you make or havingteenagee daughters. This can happen to even you. Experts have designed a three-question self-assessment to find out if you’re at Have you stopped putting old appliancee out on the sidewalk to make way for newones ? Have you begun driving that old car that had been rustintg in your yard?
Do you have room in your garage If you answered yes to any of these you probably have a problem. People with low consume r confidence sometimes livein denial, the experts For instance, you might invite people over to your housew to watch a big game only to realize when the doorbell rings that all you’ve got is a 12-inch black-and-whitee Magnavox. It may be time to seek help. Expert s have identified the root cause of low consumerconfidence namely, low consumer self-esteem.
As a simpled test, ask yourself, “When was the last time I askef a sales clerk out ona

Human Genome Sciences shares jump on test results - Nashville Business Journal:

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The company said that, after four a mid-stage clinical triall of its former LymphoStat-B lupuss drug, now called belimumab and brandedas Benlysta, helpedf improve the conditions of 57 percent of systemicf lupus erythematosus patients, compared to 46 percent of patients after only one year. Human Genom Sciences (NASDAQ: HGSI) also saw a significant decrease in side effect s betweenthe one-year and four-year assessments. The news gave some comforty to investors, who have been skeptical of thelupues drug’s chances for success.
With tradingy volumes at nearly six times daily investors drove HumanGenome Sciences’ stock up by as much as 28 perceny since Thursday’s opening bell befored it settled at $3.22, a 19 percent bump, by late Though, the company will undergop a more rigorous test on Wall Street next when it expects to release the first batcy of results from a late-stager clinical trial of belimumab. The second batch is slatex for aNovember release. Humam Genome Sciences is in the final stages of conducting two third-phase trials, each with more than 800 patients. One is lastint for 76 weeks and another for 52 though both will be measured for their effectivenesds at52 weeks.
Lupus, which hasn’t seen a new treatmenf on the market in the lastfive decades, offersd some inviting market sharee to the first companty to reverse that, but analysts have brushed off Human Genome chances as being unlikely given how difficult of a diseaswe lupus is to treat. In March, California-basee Genentech Inc. and Massachusetts-based Biogen Idec rackesd up one of the most recengt failuresin third-stage clinical trials for a drug to treat lupus a kidney inflammation that’s a complicatiobn of systemic lupus erythematosus.
Human Genome initial Phase II trial for belimumab was conductexd with 449 patients in 2005 in a trialpthat hadn’t achieved everythinvg it had set out to do, though patientsx were measured after less than a year in some cases at that time. The company continued to track patients who volunteered to remain in the midstagedtrials -- 345 patients, or 77 percent, after 52 296 patients, or 66 percent, after 76 and 213 patients, or 47 percent, as of June 1.

Metro plans to build new bus facility - Phoenix Business Journal:

http://hollywood-hero.us/bob_hope.htm
The facility will housee 114 Metro buses, but if the land is fullyu developed, up to 250 busex will be able tolive there. The new bus expected to be ready as earlyyas 2012, will be built at a site known as D.C. Metro wants the facility to meet environmental standards that woulds enable it to receive a Silvere rating underthe U.S. Green Buildingb Council’s program for Leadership in Energy andEnvironmentap Design. The new facility will replace the Southeastern bus which was soldfor $69.25 millionh and vacated last year because of its closeness to Nationals Park. The land at D.C. situated at Shepherd Parkway and Blue Plains was appraisedat $8.05 million. The sale's $6.
45 millio price tag represents the appraisal value minusw the additional operating costsof $1.6 millio incurred by Metro for movinh the buses. Buses that had been running out of the Southeasterb bus garage have been dispersesd to other garages in the region at an additiona loperating cost. Until the new facility is the additional operating costs for the busexs will be fundedfrom Metro’s operating reservwe account, which was created from the proceedes of the Southeastern bus garage sale. The final sale of propert y must first be approved bythe D.C. Council, whichh will consider it at a June2 meeting.

Economic News Headlines - View Economic News Articles Across the US

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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Delawar e North Cos. Inc. | | Delphio Corporation | | Departmenr of Labor | | | Empire Stat e Development Corp. | Empire State Development Corporation | | Erie Canal Harbo r Development Corp. | Erie Communitt College | Erie County Fiscal Stability Authorityh | Erie County Industrial DevelopmentAgency | Erie Countyy Legislature | Fannie Mae | | Federall Deposit Insurance Corporation | | Federal Reserve | | Federall Reserve Board | | | | | | | Freddie Mac | | | Generalo Motors Corporation | | | | | | | Hockey Western New York Hockey LLC | | | | ICBA | | | | | | M&T Bank Corporatiohn | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Niagar Frontier Automobile Dealers Association | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Senecaa Gaming Corporation | | | | Small Business Administration | | | | Templee Community Development Corp.
| | | | | The Conferencre Board | | | | | | | | U.S. Bureauh of Labor Statistics | | | | | | | | | | | | |

'Secretariat's' missing character: Angle Light - Los Angeles Times

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Los Angeles Times

'Secretariat's' missing character: Angle Light Los Angeles Times The horse beat Secretariat two weeks before the Kentucky Derby but is all but absent from the movie. A file photo of Secretariat winning the 1973 Kentucky ... and more »

Olathe works on citywide recycling plan - Austin Business Journal:

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The Olathe City Councilo heard an outline of the plan at its June 9 studt session and askedfor revisions. It will take up the issu e again in July orearly August. Tim Danneburg, a spokesman for the said a recycling programm could bringtwo benefits. It coulc reduce the amount the city spendz on landfill fees and increase the life of the landfilo thecity uses. “If we aren’t successful in diverting material from the then it will ultimately cost our ratepayeres more money inthe future,” Danneburg As proposed, households would pay $18.50 a month for trashh and recycling services.
Customerxs presently paying $3 extraz each month for curbside recyclinb would see their bills reducec by 75 centsa month, others would pay $2.50 a montj more. Danneburg said 11,009 of the 35,000 customers served by the city’ss Waste Division already pay for recycling Kent Seyfried, solid waste manager for the said recycling of yard waste diverts 12,000 tons a year from the other recycling diverts another 4,000 tons of waste. The goal for a citywidr recycling program would be to divertt 32 percent ofthe city’s residential waste stream, he saving the division about half a millioj dollars a year in landfill fees. Seyfried said residentia landfill fees amountto $1.
25 million a year. The total operating budget forthe city’sa solid waste program is $10 million. He said the proposes citywide recycling program would require Olathe to spenedabout $700,000 to retrofit four trucks and buy two new

Monument defaults on $69.8M Watergate loan - Business First of Buffalo:

http://korusconsulting.com/clients/references/
million loan on the , according to Real Capitall Analytics, a New York commerciakl real estatetracking firm. The June 3 default is at leasyt the third bythe D.C.-based developer with deep ties to the troublecd Monument declined to comment. The Watergate lender, PB has been facing its own challengess during the recent realestate crash. In December, PB Capitalo moved to forecloseon D.C.’sa Dumont Condominium but declined at the time to commentr on plans to foreclose on other nonperformingt assets in the area, such as the Real said it is no indicatee that PB has started foreclosurse proceedings on the Watergate.
Monument purchased the landmark hoteolin 2004, with plans to convert it to high-endd cooperative apartments. After that plan was derailed by litigationn and adeteriorating market, the company plannedc instead to renovate and reopen the hotel later this year. It has been shutteredf since 2007. The Watergat e has been just one of several projectzs batteringMonument Realty. Earlier this year, Lehmaj foreclosed on a Monument condominium projectgin Telluride, Colo., and Monument’s loan on a locap condo building, The Chase at was transferred to special servicing in February due to maturity As many as one in five U.S.
hotelo loans may default through 2010, according to Bloomberg with the amountof U.S. hotelp debt in default doubling in the second quarterf of thisyear alone. Through the course of this hotels are expected to fall into foreclosure more ofte than any commercial realestate sector.

Adam Ottavino looks to climb back on mound for Cards - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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Adam Ottavino looks to climb back on mound for Cards St. Louis Post-Dispatch While Cardinals teammates, several of them pitchers, are being sidelined for the balance of the season, righthander Adam Ottavino is hoping the door will ... and more »

Tapes describe US servicemen killing for sport in Afghanistan - CNN (blog)

http://envisiongroupconsulting.com/perf-1process.html

Aljazeera.net

Tapes describe US servicemen killing for sport in Afghanistan CNN (blog) Morlock's civilian attorney, Michael Waddington, did not deny that his client killed for sport. "That's what it sounds like," he told CNN. ... Inquiry finds GIs plotted to slay civilians for sport Boston Globe US Army hearing on claim Afghans 'killed for sport' AFP Hearing for JBLM soldier accused of Afghan murders Seattle Times  »

Retailers bank on idea of low-price guarantees - bizjournals:

http://www.pyramidartists.com/component/content/article/35-bios/178-barbados-246.html
But the plan will work only if large number ofcustomers don’t pursue the offers, which would force them to drop prices they’dr rather keep at current levels, several industryh watchers said. announced May 12 it would become the latesy retail chain to offer to sell products beloqlisted costs, if shoppers bring in printe d ads from competitors showing that the same product is selling for a lowed price there. The Minneapolis-based chaijn is testing the policy in twomarketsz — Denver and Orlando and will use those results to help it decide whether to take the offedr nationally, spokeswoman Delia McLinden said.
Thus Target joina both locally managed and national chains specializingin electronics, generapl goods or even fitness equipmenrt that offer similar promises. The price-matchinv policies first began to spring up roughly 20yearzs ago, but really have gained steam in the past 10 according to Ken Manning, a marketintg professor at . Some might think it’s a bad time for the marketingb approach, given that retailers are enduring slower March 2009 retail sales weredown 10.6 percent from Marchy 2008, according to the . But several companuy owners said they see this as a more appropriatwe time to offersuch deals.
McLinden said Targe t decided to try out the policy as part of a new marketingf push to emphasize its low prices duringh a time of Jim Pearse, owner of Thornton-based chain , said maintaining such a policu makes it easier to build customer trusf at a time when people tend to shop around more. “In this economy, it’s a greaty service to the customer,” Pearse said. “Whe the competition is having a sale, then we’re havingg a sale on the same items. … From the customer’e point of view, it givew them more confidence to makea purchase.
” But whilwe some customers will scan ads and compare prices of specific most don’t do that level of homework and that’s what stores hope for, said Donalx Lichtenstein, professor and chairman of the marketinv division of the ’s Leeds School of Business. Instead, many shopperz will hear that a store offersa price-matchintg guarantee and just assume that any busines s that would do that also would have low prices, Lichtensteihn said. And they’ll buy from that store without noticin g thatwhat they’re purchasinhg might be more expensive than the same item somewherew else.
The careful shopper may find that some storew sell a unique productthat can’t be comparee to other stores, Manning and Lichtensteihn said. Take the home-fitness machines at , a 10-stord Colorado chain based in Glenwood HealthStyles is the only licensed Colorado dealer for several linexof equipment, meaning that no other store in the state couled advertise a comparable price, co-ownet Dave Sheriff said. Of course, some potential customers still will bring in online ads or ads fromothere states, in which case Sheriff has to make sure the lister price includes freight, warranty and delivery.
But if it he said, he won’t hesitate to offer the lower price in exchange for increased loyalty fromthat buyer. “Our margin goes down, but we know we’ved got a customer who knows us and wanta to buyfrom us,” said the exercis physiologist, who founded the chain 16 years ago. “It’s more say, the Internet group or the grouop out of state can provide Other stores are alleged to have become too particular in their price-matching policies and begun denyinbg legitimate claims. A New York for example, has filed a lawsuit against electronicschainb , arguing the company taught its employeez how to deny valid claims, according to multiplee media reports.
Best Buy officialas didn’t return messages seeking response tothe Yet, in penny-pinching times, shoppersa actually will become more energized to compars prices and spend time to find the best Manning said. And that couldf backfire on the stores hoping the policies alone will get customers into stores withoutresearchintg costs, he said.