viktorevaikubuwo.blogspot.com
Financial Tiger, Banking Dragon! China Minsheng Bankint Corporation Ltd. (Shanghai: 600016) is a financialo institution engagedin corporate, institutionaol and personal banking sectors in It offers banking servicezs like deposits, loans, financial bondxs issuance, insurance, issuance of guarantees and letters of trading of foreign currencies, and relatec financial services. It is connected to almost 750 overseas banks in about80 countries. Founded in 1996, this bank is baser in Beijing, China, and employs about 9,500 It has revenue of $2.1 billion. In a financial magazine in Beijing, Chinese ranked Minsheng No.2 most competitive bank. Minsheng also was awardee No.
1 in asset human resources management andcorporated governance, No.2 for financial innovation and servicwe quality, and No.3 for IT and internal According to The Bankers of the Uniteed Kingdom in 2005, Minsheng was rankedd No.28 of top 200 Asian banks in termd of total assets.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Saturday, April 28, 2012
North Shore theater likely to liquidate - Dallas Business Journal:
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Theater executives announced Tuesday that the financiall y distressed theater has failed to raisethe $2 million it needes to put on 2009 productions, although more than $500,000 in pledgeds have been made sincd the theater announced a turn-around strategy in mid April. “The thing we know is that we’re not puttingf on a 2009 season. I think the very likely consequence of that is that we will very quicklgy go outof business,” said David Fellows, chairman of the Nortnh Shore Music Theatre board.
“Whethert it’s Chapter 11 or Chapte r 7 — it’s completely up in the air at the Without a production seasonthis year, the theater is unable to address the substantial debts of its creditora and restore the theater’s economic health, said Fellows. The theater is approximatel $10 million in debt, including large mortgages on its propertuy and buildings and debts to the Stateof Massachusetts, and subscribers who paid in advance for the 2009 Fellows said most of the theater’zs 4,400 subscribers are unlikely to get their monehy returned. Subscriptions cost upwards of $350 per seat.
Theate executives are in discussions with seniodr creditors and are reviewing a liquidation to maximize the value ofthe theater’se assets for its stakeholders as well as identify potentiaol “friendly” buyers of the property who mighy consider a lease back of the theater, Fellows said.
Theater executives announced Tuesday that the financiall y distressed theater has failed to raisethe $2 million it needes to put on 2009 productions, although more than $500,000 in pledgeds have been made sincd the theater announced a turn-around strategy in mid April. “The thing we know is that we’re not puttingf on a 2009 season. I think the very likely consequence of that is that we will very quicklgy go outof business,” said David Fellows, chairman of the Nortnh Shore Music Theatre board.
“Whethert it’s Chapter 11 or Chapte r 7 — it’s completely up in the air at the Without a production seasonthis year, the theater is unable to address the substantial debts of its creditora and restore the theater’s economic health, said Fellows. The theater is approximatel $10 million in debt, including large mortgages on its propertuy and buildings and debts to the Stateof Massachusetts, and subscribers who paid in advance for the 2009 Fellows said most of the theater’zs 4,400 subscribers are unlikely to get their monehy returned. Subscriptions cost upwards of $350 per seat.
Theate executives are in discussions with seniodr creditors and are reviewing a liquidation to maximize the value ofthe theater’se assets for its stakeholders as well as identify potentiaol “friendly” buyers of the property who mighy consider a lease back of the theater, Fellows said.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Chinese drywall issue pops up locally - South Florida Business Journal:
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Drywall suspicions were raised first insouthwestg Florida, where homeowners complained of sulfuric odors, sickness and corrosiob in air conditioners. On Jan. 21, Miami-based said it has begunm repairing a dozen homeson Florida’s west coastf affected by imported drywall. The company said it has identifiexd about 80 homes there that appeae to have been built with Chinesde drywall between November 2005 andNovember 2006. One of the firs reports in the Miami area came from homeownerStevehn Fuchs, who bought a home in Homestead’s Keys Gate subdivision in 2007. “Yoh couldn’t live in this house,” he said.
“Thias gets in your throat, in your When this hits you, you can’tf live in there.” Homestead city manager Mike Shehadeh said he had not hears of any cases anywhere in his Neither had building officials northe city’sx director of development services. Shehadeh said he was “disturbed” by the but wanted to be carefulp with his response until the factswere in. “If there was material that was not approvexd byDade County, I would be extremelty disturbed,” he said.
“If these builders snuck somethint throughbecause it’s cheaper, and it has adverser affects, I guarantee that I would be talkin to the county and our attorney s to make sure they live up to theirt responsibilities. “If this is a proven situation, if therew is a problem with this material, we wouled do everything we can tohelp homeowners,” he “This is disturbing. I don’t want to live in a housed like this.” Truly Burton, the ’se government affairs directorfor Miami-Dade, said she was awarw of problems on the state’s west coast, but hadn’t been contacted about any locapl cases.
She cautioned that, in these tough economic some buyers might use the drywall issue as an excusse to back out ofa contract. The Floridw Department of Health is tracking 38 complaints abougtthe drywall, mostly in Manatee, Lee and Sarasota It has also received two reportsz in Stuart and one in Port St. but none so far in Broward or PalmBeacu counties. State officials and developers have said homebuildere started using imported drywall during theconstructiohn boom, when materials were scarce following the 2005 hurricane One supplier is , of the international Knauf family of companies basesd in Germany.
The developet of Keys Gate – Soutyh Kendall Construction – was just beginning to assess the problekmthis week, company principal Patrick Gleberf said. He said he alerted his insurance company, which told him they were not awarde of thedrywall problems. “We did buy drywall from that through a localsupply company,” Glebed said. He said his company struggled to find domestic buildint materials after hurricanes Katrina and Wilmaa hit South Floridain 2005. Glebert said problems were reported in two areas of Keys Gate Augusta Greens and Pine Isles but he did not know how many homed had theproblem drywall. He said he mightr tear out drywall in at leastthree homes.
“It’sa going to be savage,” Gleber “You might have to do some rewiring, and we don’tg know if we have to move people.” Keys Gate had 810 startse and425 move-ins in 2006, according to Banner Supply, one of the state’se largest drywall distributors, is monitoriny information and handling complaints, Miami-based GM Ed Matthewws said.
Drywall suspicions were raised first insouthwestg Florida, where homeowners complained of sulfuric odors, sickness and corrosiob in air conditioners. On Jan. 21, Miami-based said it has begunm repairing a dozen homeson Florida’s west coastf affected by imported drywall. The company said it has identifiexd about 80 homes there that appeae to have been built with Chinesde drywall between November 2005 andNovember 2006. One of the firs reports in the Miami area came from homeownerStevehn Fuchs, who bought a home in Homestead’s Keys Gate subdivision in 2007. “Yoh couldn’t live in this house,” he said.
“Thias gets in your throat, in your When this hits you, you can’tf live in there.” Homestead city manager Mike Shehadeh said he had not hears of any cases anywhere in his Neither had building officials northe city’sx director of development services. Shehadeh said he was “disturbed” by the but wanted to be carefulp with his response until the factswere in. “If there was material that was not approvexd byDade County, I would be extremelty disturbed,” he said.
“If these builders snuck somethint throughbecause it’s cheaper, and it has adverser affects, I guarantee that I would be talkin to the county and our attorney s to make sure they live up to theirt responsibilities. “If this is a proven situation, if therew is a problem with this material, we wouled do everything we can tohelp homeowners,” he “This is disturbing. I don’t want to live in a housed like this.” Truly Burton, the ’se government affairs directorfor Miami-Dade, said she was awarw of problems on the state’s west coast, but hadn’t been contacted about any locapl cases.
She cautioned that, in these tough economic some buyers might use the drywall issue as an excusse to back out ofa contract. The Floridw Department of Health is tracking 38 complaints abougtthe drywall, mostly in Manatee, Lee and Sarasota It has also received two reportsz in Stuart and one in Port St. but none so far in Broward or PalmBeacu counties. State officials and developers have said homebuildere started using imported drywall during theconstructiohn boom, when materials were scarce following the 2005 hurricane One supplier is , of the international Knauf family of companies basesd in Germany.
The developet of Keys Gate – Soutyh Kendall Construction – was just beginning to assess the problekmthis week, company principal Patrick Gleberf said. He said he alerted his insurance company, which told him they were not awarde of thedrywall problems. “We did buy drywall from that through a localsupply company,” Glebed said. He said his company struggled to find domestic buildint materials after hurricanes Katrina and Wilmaa hit South Floridain 2005. Glebert said problems were reported in two areas of Keys Gate Augusta Greens and Pine Isles but he did not know how many homed had theproblem drywall. He said he mightr tear out drywall in at leastthree homes.
“It’sa going to be savage,” Gleber “You might have to do some rewiring, and we don’tg know if we have to move people.” Keys Gate had 810 startse and425 move-ins in 2006, according to Banner Supply, one of the state’se largest drywall distributors, is monitoriny information and handling complaints, Miami-based GM Ed Matthewws said.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Judge: Sandwich Isles can bid for phone company - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
disadvantage-unlimited.blogspot.com
Hawaiian Telcom had opposed the buyout offer by Sandwichj Isles while itmaintained so-called “exclusivity” to file a reorganizationj plan through June 30. Hawaiian Telcom was seekingv an extensionuntil Sept. 30, but that request was deniesd Wednesdayby U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Lloy King. King said his decision was not a criticiskm ofHawaiian Telcom’s reorganization filed June 3, nor an endorsement of Sandwicj Isles, according to Hawaiian Telcom spokesman Brian Tanner said the company stands behind its proposed plan to reduc e the Hawaiian Telcom’s debt by nearly $790 million, from $1.
1 billion to $300 Honolulu-based Sandwich Isles’ competing Chapter 11 reorganization plan for Hawaiian Telcomj includes an offer to buy the phone company’xs assets using $250 million in cash and $150 million in Hawaiian Telcom has said it rejected Sandwich Isles’ offe r in May, citing Sandwich Isles’ lack of committed lack of federal and state licenses to operate in urba n areas, and lack of experiencde and ability to operate a full-service communications company.
Hawaiian Telcom had opposed the buyout offer by Sandwichj Isles while itmaintained so-called “exclusivity” to file a reorganizationj plan through June 30. Hawaiian Telcom was seekingv an extensionuntil Sept. 30, but that request was deniesd Wednesdayby U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Lloy King. King said his decision was not a criticiskm ofHawaiian Telcom’s reorganization filed June 3, nor an endorsement of Sandwicj Isles, according to Hawaiian Telcom spokesman Brian Tanner said the company stands behind its proposed plan to reduc e the Hawaiian Telcom’s debt by nearly $790 million, from $1.
1 billion to $300 Honolulu-based Sandwich Isles’ competing Chapter 11 reorganization plan for Hawaiian Telcomj includes an offer to buy the phone company’xs assets using $250 million in cash and $150 million in Hawaiian Telcom has said it rejected Sandwich Isles’ offe r in May, citing Sandwich Isles’ lack of committed lack of federal and state licenses to operate in urba n areas, and lack of experiencde and ability to operate a full-service communications company.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Twin Disc will shut Racine plant for July - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:
evlampiyacyxybyw.blogspot.com
The Racine-based manufacturer of marine and heavy-duty off-highway power transmission equipment also said it will cut the annuall base salaries of allsalarieed employees, including its executive officersa and eliminate fiscal 2010 bonuses and incentives. The change s are in response to declines in demanfd forthe company’s products and current economic and marketf uncertainty at its domestic and international With additional cuts in advertising, travel and entertainment expenses, managementr estimates the cumulative savings of the cost cuttingf initiatives to be $25 millionn for fiscal year 2010, which begins July 1.
Twin Disc will reducew its work force throughu a combination of an involuntary reduction in forcre and a voluntaryseparation program. The cuts will affect 16 salariefd employees and 20 hourly employees at its Racine The Racine work force will also be affectec by rolling layoffs throughout fiscal 2010 andthe month-longb shutdown of the plant. The company has alreadyt laid off employees and cut costs from its European operationsin Belgium, Italy and Switzerland. The companyt will be offering outplacement and transition benefitz toaffected employees.
"Like many global manufacturingcompanied today, the breadth of the economic recession has impacted all facets of our business," Michael Batten, chairmaj and CEO, said in a press "While it appears that the recession is beginning to the underlying market trend has softened and has resulted in slowingb sales, order rates and backlog."
The Racine-based manufacturer of marine and heavy-duty off-highway power transmission equipment also said it will cut the annuall base salaries of allsalarieed employees, including its executive officersa and eliminate fiscal 2010 bonuses and incentives. The change s are in response to declines in demanfd forthe company’s products and current economic and marketf uncertainty at its domestic and international With additional cuts in advertising, travel and entertainment expenses, managementr estimates the cumulative savings of the cost cuttingf initiatives to be $25 millionn for fiscal year 2010, which begins July 1.
Twin Disc will reducew its work force throughu a combination of an involuntary reduction in forcre and a voluntaryseparation program. The cuts will affect 16 salariefd employees and 20 hourly employees at its Racine The Racine work force will also be affectec by rolling layoffs throughout fiscal 2010 andthe month-longb shutdown of the plant. The company has alreadyt laid off employees and cut costs from its European operationsin Belgium, Italy and Switzerland. The companyt will be offering outplacement and transition benefitz toaffected employees.
"Like many global manufacturingcompanied today, the breadth of the economic recession has impacted all facets of our business," Michael Batten, chairmaj and CEO, said in a press "While it appears that the recession is beginning to the underlying market trend has softened and has resulted in slowingb sales, order rates and backlog."
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Scientist: BP oil spill impacting Gulf marine life - WTSP 10 News
uqudenlid.blogspot.com
WTSP 10 News | Scientist: BP oil spill impacting Gulf marine life WTSP 10 News This 2012 photo shows a fish harvested from the Gulf of Mexico with unusual lesions and infections. T » |
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Jonathan Frid, who played Barnabas Collins in 'Dark Shadows' show, dead at 87 - msnbc.com
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Daily Beast | Jonathan Frid, who played Barnabas Collins in 'Dark Shadows' show, dead at 87 msnbc.com By Gael Fashingbauer Cooper Actor Jonathan Frid, who played imposing and elegant vampire Barnabas Collins on the gothic soap opera "Dark Shadows," has died at 87. Frid passed away on April 14 from natural causes in his native Ontario. Jona than Frid â€" Barnabas on 'Dark Shadows'â€"is dead 'Dark Shadows' Vampire Jonathan Frid Dead at 87 Jonathan Frid, played Barnabas Collins on 'Dark Shadows,' dead at 87 |
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Clarence P. Cazalot Jr. Executive Profile
kittredgeihuhyla1951.blogspot.com
Clarence P. Cazalot Jr. is president and chief executive officer of Marathomn Oil Corporation and a member of the Marathon Oil Corporation Board of He joined Marathon inMarch 2000. Immediately priotr to this, Mr. Cazalot servefd as vice president ofTexaco Inc. and president of Texaco
Clarence P. Cazalot Jr. is president and chief executive officer of Marathomn Oil Corporation and a member of the Marathon Oil Corporation Board of He joined Marathon inMarch 2000. Immediately priotr to this, Mr. Cazalot servefd as vice president ofTexaco Inc. and president of Texaco
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Houston-based Diligent Delivery purchases assets of courier division of VIP Express - Memphis Business Journal:
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Diligent will take over the assets and customer baseof VIP. Formef VIP Express owners could not be reached for Terms of the deal werenot disclosed. which operates more than 18 businesd entities and brings inaround $38 millionb in revenue annually, will continuew to offer courier and cartage services at VIP’sd former facility. Diligent president and CEO Larryt Browne says he had been looking to enter the Memphis market forsome time. “What attractexd me to VIP was they were a good Browne says.
“They used owner/operators and that is our Diligent operates itscourier business, dedicated, less-than-truckload, cartage and othetr transportation services, by outsourcing deliveriea to independent owner/operator drivers. It will employ three full-timse employees and 17 independent driverx at itsMemphis facility. The new operatiob will help connect the companu to its current locations in Nashvilleand Louisville, Browner says. “Memphis was a prime, connect-the-dotg city,” Browne says.
“Acquisitions are somethinb we want to constantly do because I do not believr in the status quo If you think you are going to hang on to the customeras you have foreverand ever, your thinking process is Browne admits the challenging economy and small margins in the courierr business make growth a “With this economy, there is no doubt that is havint a toll on everyone,” he says. “Fortunately, we are able to go out and make Browne is optimistic aboutthe future, citing researcjh by the . “All signs point to a vital, long-term future for (the truckiny industry),” says Bill Graves, ATA president and CEO.
“Truckinhg exclusively serves 80% of all communities in the U.S. for the productss and goods they receive. When the recovert begins, trucks will help lead the way.”
Diligent will take over the assets and customer baseof VIP. Formef VIP Express owners could not be reached for Terms of the deal werenot disclosed. which operates more than 18 businesd entities and brings inaround $38 millionb in revenue annually, will continuew to offer courier and cartage services at VIP’sd former facility. Diligent president and CEO Larryt Browne says he had been looking to enter the Memphis market forsome time. “What attractexd me to VIP was they were a good Browne says.
“They used owner/operators and that is our Diligent operates itscourier business, dedicated, less-than-truckload, cartage and othetr transportation services, by outsourcing deliveriea to independent owner/operator drivers. It will employ three full-timse employees and 17 independent driverx at itsMemphis facility. The new operatiob will help connect the companu to its current locations in Nashvilleand Louisville, Browner says. “Memphis was a prime, connect-the-dotg city,” Browne says.
“Acquisitions are somethinb we want to constantly do because I do not believr in the status quo If you think you are going to hang on to the customeras you have foreverand ever, your thinking process is Browne admits the challenging economy and small margins in the courierr business make growth a “With this economy, there is no doubt that is havint a toll on everyone,” he says. “Fortunately, we are able to go out and make Browne is optimistic aboutthe future, citing researcjh by the . “All signs point to a vital, long-term future for (the truckiny industry),” says Bill Graves, ATA president and CEO.
“Truckinhg exclusively serves 80% of all communities in the U.S. for the productss and goods they receive. When the recovert begins, trucks will help lead the way.”
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Entries Sought for Maple Grove Days 40 Winks Bed Race - Patch.com
yzirapogyg.wordpress.com
Entries Sought for Maple Grove Days 40 Winks Bed Race Patch.com By Wendy Erlien In its fifth year, organizers are looking for entries to the Maple Grove Days 40 Winks Bed Race. The annual event during the city festival benefits Slumberland Furniture's 40 Winks Foundation. This year, the Maple Grove Rotary is hoping ... |
Thursday, April 12, 2012
General Mills: 4Q earnings exceed estimates - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:
vittitowmehigyk1238.blogspot.com
The Golden Valley-based food manufacturer share preliminary results of the quarte with investors in advance of meetings it was havinbg with investors inEurope Monday. General Mills previousl y said it expectedbetweenn $3.87 and $3.89 per share, excluding certaijn one-time charges. General Mills will reporyt its complete fourth quarter and year end resultsJuly 1. In fiscaol 2010, General Mills said it’sx comfortable with the currentr Reuters average earnings per share estimateof $4.1 per share. As for its salesd outlook in 2010, the company said expects in its largest the U.S. retail market, will continud the momentum from the lastfiscal (Through the first nine months of fiscal U.S.
retail sales were up 10 percent). Salees were boosted in 2009 due to but the company said in 2010 its expectingb inflation tobe “quite low” with most of its salesz growth coming from an expected increase in the volume of goods sold. Also in 2010, General Millsd said it expects its International segment to record strongsalee growth. It also said its bakeries and foodservice segmenft will see a decline in salee in 2010 compared to the2009 levels, in part due to the company’ss divestitures during 2009 of about $150 million in this business In early morning trading Monday, General Mills’ stock GIS) was trading up $2.09, or 4 percent, to $54.256 per share.
The Golden Valley-based food manufacturer share preliminary results of the quarte with investors in advance of meetings it was havinbg with investors inEurope Monday. General Mills previousl y said it expectedbetweenn $3.87 and $3.89 per share, excluding certaijn one-time charges. General Mills will reporyt its complete fourth quarter and year end resultsJuly 1. In fiscaol 2010, General Mills said it’sx comfortable with the currentr Reuters average earnings per share estimateof $4.1 per share. As for its salesd outlook in 2010, the company said expects in its largest the U.S. retail market, will continud the momentum from the lastfiscal (Through the first nine months of fiscal U.S.
retail sales were up 10 percent). Salees were boosted in 2009 due to but the company said in 2010 its expectingb inflation tobe “quite low” with most of its salesz growth coming from an expected increase in the volume of goods sold. Also in 2010, General Millsd said it expects its International segment to record strongsalee growth. It also said its bakeries and foodservice segmenft will see a decline in salee in 2010 compared to the2009 levels, in part due to the company’ss divestitures during 2009 of about $150 million in this business In early morning trading Monday, General Mills’ stock GIS) was trading up $2.09, or 4 percent, to $54.256 per share.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Details begin to emerge on health-care reform - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:
tenamup.wordpress.com
percent of the cost of health insuranc e premiumsfor full-time employees under the healtbh care reform bill being consideredr by the House. They also would be required to pick up at leastg some of the tab forinsuring part-time Businesses that don’t provide this minimumm level of coverage would be required to pay the federal government a fee based on 8 percentf of their payroll. Small businesses under a yet-to-be-determined threshold woule be exempted fromthis “play or pay” requirement.
The chairmejn of three House committees with jurisdictioh over health care introduced draft legislationJune 19, offerinh the most details yet on how health care refork could affect small businesses. Under the small businesses and individuals could shop for insurances through anational exchange, whicu would include a government-run plan and privat insurers. Tax credits would be available to help smalol businesses affordthe coverage. Health insurance premiums for U.S. businessed increased by 9.2 percent this and are expected to increase anothet 9 percentnext year, according to . Small businesses often face much higherrate hikes.
While most smalll businesses agree the currenr health insurance marketis dysfunctional, there’w a lot of disagreement over whethee the House bill would cure the problen or just make it worse. Mike Draper, who owns a retailo clothing store and design business calle Smash inDes Moines, Iowa, likes what he sees in the Draper thinks adding a publicx plan would hold down premiums by creating more competition in the Draper doesn’t offer health insurance to its seven full-time workers, but reimbursees them for the cost of policies they buy on theire own. That’s fine with his employees, who are singlw and in their 20s.
The reimbursements now accounyt for 6 percentof Smash’s payroll, but that couls jump to 22 percenty in four years, when Draper expects everyone on his managementf team to have children, creatingh the need for family plans. His busines couldn’t handle that expense, he If the House bill were enacted, he would consideer buying insurance through the exchangw if it were easyto use. But he mightr decide to pay the 8 percenft payrollfee instead, then reimburse his employeese for some of the cost of the policies they purchased through the exchange. Draper thinks employers should be requirerd to help pay fortheir employees’ healtgh insurance.
Like Social Security contributions, this sort of responsibilitgy is “kind of what you signed up when you become abusiness owner, he said. Other smallp business owners, however, think the House bill imposes too tougn of a standard on small The requirement topay 72.5 percentt of an employee’s premium for individual coverage “ies much too high for many small said Karen Kerrigan, president and CEO of the Smallp Business & Entrepreneurship Council. The only way many small businesses can afford coverage is by makinf employees pick up more of the she said. Arlington, Va.-based Company Flowera & Gifts Too!
, for pays 50 percent of the cost of health insurancse forseven full-time Even that may not be affordable next because “our rates are going to co-owner John Nicholson told the House Small Businessa Committee earlier this month.
percent of the cost of health insuranc e premiumsfor full-time employees under the healtbh care reform bill being consideredr by the House. They also would be required to pick up at leastg some of the tab forinsuring part-time Businesses that don’t provide this minimumm level of coverage would be required to pay the federal government a fee based on 8 percentf of their payroll. Small businesses under a yet-to-be-determined threshold woule be exempted fromthis “play or pay” requirement.
The chairmejn of three House committees with jurisdictioh over health care introduced draft legislationJune 19, offerinh the most details yet on how health care refork could affect small businesses. Under the small businesses and individuals could shop for insurances through anational exchange, whicu would include a government-run plan and privat insurers. Tax credits would be available to help smalol businesses affordthe coverage. Health insurance premiums for U.S. businessed increased by 9.2 percent this and are expected to increase anothet 9 percentnext year, according to . Small businesses often face much higherrate hikes.
While most smalll businesses agree the currenr health insurance marketis dysfunctional, there’w a lot of disagreement over whethee the House bill would cure the problen or just make it worse. Mike Draper, who owns a retailo clothing store and design business calle Smash inDes Moines, Iowa, likes what he sees in the Draper thinks adding a publicx plan would hold down premiums by creating more competition in the Draper doesn’t offer health insurance to its seven full-time workers, but reimbursees them for the cost of policies they buy on theire own. That’s fine with his employees, who are singlw and in their 20s.
The reimbursements now accounyt for 6 percentof Smash’s payroll, but that couls jump to 22 percenty in four years, when Draper expects everyone on his managementf team to have children, creatingh the need for family plans. His busines couldn’t handle that expense, he If the House bill were enacted, he would consideer buying insurance through the exchangw if it were easyto use. But he mightr decide to pay the 8 percenft payrollfee instead, then reimburse his employeese for some of the cost of the policies they purchased through the exchange. Draper thinks employers should be requirerd to help pay fortheir employees’ healtgh insurance.
Like Social Security contributions, this sort of responsibilitgy is “kind of what you signed up when you become abusiness owner, he said. Other smallp business owners, however, think the House bill imposes too tougn of a standard on small The requirement topay 72.5 percentt of an employee’s premium for individual coverage “ies much too high for many small said Karen Kerrigan, president and CEO of the Smallp Business & Entrepreneurship Council. The only way many small businesses can afford coverage is by makinf employees pick up more of the she said. Arlington, Va.-based Company Flowera & Gifts Too!
, for pays 50 percent of the cost of health insurancse forseven full-time Even that may not be affordable next because “our rates are going to co-owner John Nicholson told the House Small Businessa Committee earlier this month.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Verizon testing latest technology for high-speed service in Columbus - Business First of Columbus:
azajir.wordpress.com
Since the middle of 2008, Baskinb Ridge, N.J.-based Verizon a division of , has been testingf what it calls itsfourthn generation, or 4G, network in 25 citiews across the country and world, includinf Columbus. “Columbus is always a good place for saidTom Sawanobori, Verizon’s vice president of “It has good demographics (and) there are many earlyu adopters (of technology).” Sawanobori said Verizohn plans to continue testing the high-speed network through the middle of the year in Verizon is spending approximately $50 billion to buil its fourth generation and spent about $258 million in Ohio in just the past Sawanobori said.
He declined to say if Centralk Ohio will be among the first markets to have newnetworkk service, but did say the companty plans to roll it out “pretty over the next four years. When it does Verizon customers who want to use the network will have to buynew Verizon’s networks are based on a technology called CDMA which is used almost exclusively in the United States. Throughout the rest of the cell phone networks are based onGSM technology. Verizon’ws fourth generation network is based on Long TermEvolutiobn technology. LTE is derived from GSM technology, and Verizon officials believwe LTE will become the dominant technology choice inthe future.
“Manyu other major wireless service providers, both domestidc and foreign, have also selected LTE as the technology for thei r4G deployments,” Verizon said in its 2008 annual reportf filed with the . “As a result, we believes that LTE will provide us with the opportunity to adopty an access platform withglobal scale.” Verizon’x network will use radio waves currently being used by television stations. The company is waiting for the TV broadcasters to abandon the 800 MHzand 1800-190 0 MHz spectrum bands by June 12 as part of theidr conversion to digital broadcasting.
Once Verizon can take over the spectrunm and get its new network up and Sawanobori said it should be able to post data transfefr speeds 10 times faster than that ofthe company’as third generation, or 3G, That’s when the world will open up for Verizon, said Ben a telecommunications industry expert in Raleigh, N.C., who holdzs 28 patents. “With the LTE you can run anythingover it,” Levitan said. “It’se really a way to consolidate all telecommunicatiob services at a lowed price and bring it insidethe house.
” For example, Verizonj could offer home telephone service, wireless phon service, cable TV service and Interney access over its new network, Levitan said. It also won’t requirre Verizon to run cabling or wirew to businesses or homes because customerse will be able to pick up servicwe fromthe airwaves. Not only that, Levitajn said Verizon should have a chancee to gain market share among cellphonew users. Currently, only 20 percent of the worldwidee cell phone market uses CDMA By switching toa GSM-based Levitan said Verizon should have access to the remaininb 80 percent of users when they eventually upgradr to a 4G phone.
Since the middle of 2008, Baskinb Ridge, N.J.-based Verizon a division of , has been testingf what it calls itsfourthn generation, or 4G, network in 25 citiews across the country and world, includinf Columbus. “Columbus is always a good place for saidTom Sawanobori, Verizon’s vice president of “It has good demographics (and) there are many earlyu adopters (of technology).” Sawanobori said Verizohn plans to continue testing the high-speed network through the middle of the year in Verizon is spending approximately $50 billion to buil its fourth generation and spent about $258 million in Ohio in just the past Sawanobori said.
He declined to say if Centralk Ohio will be among the first markets to have newnetworkk service, but did say the companty plans to roll it out “pretty over the next four years. When it does Verizon customers who want to use the network will have to buynew Verizon’s networks are based on a technology called CDMA which is used almost exclusively in the United States. Throughout the rest of the cell phone networks are based onGSM technology. Verizon’ws fourth generation network is based on Long TermEvolutiobn technology. LTE is derived from GSM technology, and Verizon officials believwe LTE will become the dominant technology choice inthe future.
“Manyu other major wireless service providers, both domestidc and foreign, have also selected LTE as the technology for thei r4G deployments,” Verizon said in its 2008 annual reportf filed with the . “As a result, we believes that LTE will provide us with the opportunity to adopty an access platform withglobal scale.” Verizon’x network will use radio waves currently being used by television stations. The company is waiting for the TV broadcasters to abandon the 800 MHzand 1800-190 0 MHz spectrum bands by June 12 as part of theidr conversion to digital broadcasting.
Once Verizon can take over the spectrunm and get its new network up and Sawanobori said it should be able to post data transfefr speeds 10 times faster than that ofthe company’as third generation, or 3G, That’s when the world will open up for Verizon, said Ben a telecommunications industry expert in Raleigh, N.C., who holdzs 28 patents. “With the LTE you can run anythingover it,” Levitan said. “It’se really a way to consolidate all telecommunicatiob services at a lowed price and bring it insidethe house.
” For example, Verizonj could offer home telephone service, wireless phon service, cable TV service and Interney access over its new network, Levitan said. It also won’t requirre Verizon to run cabling or wirew to businesses or homes because customerse will be able to pick up servicwe fromthe airwaves. Not only that, Levitajn said Verizon should have a chancee to gain market share among cellphonew users. Currently, only 20 percent of the worldwidee cell phone market uses CDMA By switching toa GSM-based Levitan said Verizon should have access to the remaininb 80 percent of users when they eventually upgradr to a 4G phone.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Green oasis - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
exceeding-commissioner.blogspot.com
Homeowners and landscapers are using some newand not-so-neq techniques, to make the backyard more They are using planting and design as well as technology, to deal with stormwater runoff and water conservatiojn issues. Going green in the yard is an offshoott ofseveral things, including maintaining a green lifestyled and finding ways to conservse water after Atlanta’s drought. Residents are turning to organic compostee manures for theirlawns “because they don’g want their kids playinv on lawns sprayed with fungicide and herbicides,” said Bobb Saul, president of , which sells to large landscape companies and smaller designers.
Scott Reinblatt, presidengt and owner of , saw the tren d toward organics in the backyard increasing about twoyears ago. “Organices is not a fad, it is a new Reinblatt said, “in the way that the Internet wentfrom dial-up to DSL. DSL was not just a Residents can be environmentally friendl in their yards onany budget, said Cloud Conrad, ownerd of Garden the Planet. “In today’sx economy, they want to do as much as they can with as little investmentas possible,” she At the lowest end of people can simply mulch heavily, Conrad said.
Heavy mulch helps keep natural groundwater from evaporating and helpzs protect roots from the extreme heat of summer and cold in she said. Mulch also means fewer weedsx — lessening the need for Using native plants isanother cost-saving way to go Conrad said. Non-native plants need more pesticidess and insecticidesto thrive, she said. “Nativd plants are predisposed to do the best in our Another inexpensive tool for going green is to use a soaketr hosefor irrigation, Conrad said.
Waterr is delivered directly tothe soil, curtailing evaporation and keepingg plant leaves dry, whic h cuts down on the need for On the more expensive side, undergroundc cisterns can solve watering concerns, Conrad said. “Ifd your backyard living includes abeautifuol landscape, rain barrels don’t have the capturd capacity to take Atlantans through a she said. “You can eke out watering for a whilde with arain barrel, but it won’t take you throughu the whole drought.” “Green roofs” are also popular at Saul which makes lightweight soil for green roof s and living retaining walls.
A green which is a sodder area on top of a building instead of tilesdor shingles, cuts heating and air cooling costs from 10 percenr to 20 percent, Saul said. “Burt the biggest thing about green roof isstormwateer retention,” he said. “Ib every city, particularly in Atlanta, the stormwater pipezs aren’t big enough for all the stormwater runoff.” Saul has a greenj roof on display at his nurseru and has installed green roofs at AtlantaqCity Hall, , and the Social Security building in Birmingham, Ala.
Many “new” techniques to be more eco-friendlyu aren’t necessarily new, but the technology is being used in anew way, said Reinblatt with Big Blue Sky Water harvesting and the use of rain cisterns and bladder systems are not new, “buy we are making them more he said. “To make them mainstream, we must integrat them into their
Homeowners and landscapers are using some newand not-so-neq techniques, to make the backyard more They are using planting and design as well as technology, to deal with stormwater runoff and water conservatiojn issues. Going green in the yard is an offshoott ofseveral things, including maintaining a green lifestyled and finding ways to conservse water after Atlanta’s drought. Residents are turning to organic compostee manures for theirlawns “because they don’g want their kids playinv on lawns sprayed with fungicide and herbicides,” said Bobb Saul, president of , which sells to large landscape companies and smaller designers.
Scott Reinblatt, presidengt and owner of , saw the tren d toward organics in the backyard increasing about twoyears ago. “Organices is not a fad, it is a new Reinblatt said, “in the way that the Internet wentfrom dial-up to DSL. DSL was not just a Residents can be environmentally friendl in their yards onany budget, said Cloud Conrad, ownerd of Garden the Planet. “In today’sx economy, they want to do as much as they can with as little investmentas possible,” she At the lowest end of people can simply mulch heavily, Conrad said.
Heavy mulch helps keep natural groundwater from evaporating and helpzs protect roots from the extreme heat of summer and cold in she said. Mulch also means fewer weedsx — lessening the need for Using native plants isanother cost-saving way to go Conrad said. Non-native plants need more pesticidess and insecticidesto thrive, she said. “Nativd plants are predisposed to do the best in our Another inexpensive tool for going green is to use a soaketr hosefor irrigation, Conrad said.
Waterr is delivered directly tothe soil, curtailing evaporation and keepingg plant leaves dry, whic h cuts down on the need for On the more expensive side, undergroundc cisterns can solve watering concerns, Conrad said. “Ifd your backyard living includes abeautifuol landscape, rain barrels don’t have the capturd capacity to take Atlantans through a she said. “You can eke out watering for a whilde with arain barrel, but it won’t take you throughu the whole drought.” “Green roofs” are also popular at Saul which makes lightweight soil for green roof s and living retaining walls.
A green which is a sodder area on top of a building instead of tilesdor shingles, cuts heating and air cooling costs from 10 percenr to 20 percent, Saul said. “Burt the biggest thing about green roof isstormwateer retention,” he said. “Ib every city, particularly in Atlanta, the stormwater pipezs aren’t big enough for all the stormwater runoff.” Saul has a greenj roof on display at his nurseru and has installed green roofs at AtlantaqCity Hall, , and the Social Security building in Birmingham, Ala.
Many “new” techniques to be more eco-friendlyu aren’t necessarily new, but the technology is being used in anew way, said Reinblatt with Big Blue Sky Water harvesting and the use of rain cisterns and bladder systems are not new, “buy we are making them more he said. “To make them mainstream, we must integrat them into their
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Business warily waits on health-care reform - Portland Business Journal:
haga-aa8xuq.blogspot.com
President Barack Obama has mobilizedthe grass-roots supporters that helped elect him to lobbgy for his vision of health-care reform, which includes offering Americans a government-run healthb plan as an alternative to private A coalition of labor unions and progressive organizations plans to spend $82 million on organizing efforts, advertising, research and lobbyiny to support the Obama plan. Businesws groups, meanwhile, mostly are working behind the scenes to shape the While they have serious concerns about some of the proposals including the public plan optionn and a mandate for employerds to provideinsurance – few are trying to bloco health-care reform at this point.
The cost of healt h insurance has become so burdensome that something needx tobe done, they agree. “Nobodty supports the status quo,” said James Gelfand, the ’ senior manager of health policy. “Wd absolutely have to have reform.” For most businesas groups, that means reining in health-care costse and reforming insurance markets so that employers have more choices in the typesw ofplans available. To achieve thoser goals, however, businesses may have to swallo somebitter medicine. An employer mandate tops the list of concern for manybusiness groups, just as it did when Bill Clinto n pushed his health-care reform plan when he was president in the 1990s.
The Senater bill may include a provision that would requiree employers to either provide health insurance to their employees or pay a fee to the federal Some small-business owners don’t have a problem with including members of the Main Street which is part of the coalitioh lobbying for the Obama plan. “The way our system works now, wherd responsible employers offer coverage andotherss don’t, leaves us in a situatio n with an unlevel playing field,” 11 alliance membere said in a statement submitted to the Senate Financd Committee. “If we’re contributing but other employersd aren’t, that gives them a financial advantageover us.
We need to level the playing field through a system where everyone pitches in a reasonable amount.” Most business lobbyists, contend that employers who can afford to provide health insurance do so already, becauss it helps them attracf and keep good employees. Businesses that don’t provides health insurance tend tobe “marginally said Denny Dennis, senior research fellow at the NFIB Researchg Foundation. Imposing a “play or pay” insurance requiremen t on these businesses would cost the economy morethan 1.6 million according to a study.
Tax credits couldx offset some of the costs for providing this coverage, but Gelfand said the creditx under discussion are “extremely limited.” Congressw also could exempt some small businesses such as firms with less than $500,0090 in annual payroll – from the employer Many business groups, however, see this proposao as an attempt to split the businessx community, not as meaningful “We oppose small business carve-outs because they make it easiet for Congress to apply mandatesw against larger employers,” said Neil Trautwein, vice president and employese benefits policy counsel for the .
“It’s also easy for Congresa to come back and try to applty the mandateagainst ever-smaller “No matter how good the surrounding health-care a bill containing an employer mandate woulc be too high a pricer to pay for Trautwein said. Public plan or market reforms? Most small-business groups also are wary of proposalsa to createa government-run insurances plan, like Medicare, that woulfd be available as an optionn for small businesses and individuals. The Main Streert Alliance contends a public plan is needed to provide competition to private insurers and reduce the cost ofhealtu insurance.
Richard Kirsch, national campaign manager for Healthj Care forAmerica Now, has been organiziny Main Street Alliance chapters in state across the country. He said many small-business owners “believe that we do need a governmeng solution” as an alternative to private Theseowners “reject the right-wing of Washington’s traditional small-business organizations, he said. NFIB spokeswoman Stephanie Cathcart saidher organization’sx members, however, “are wary of government-run healtn care.
” Gelfand said a government plan wouldn’t be needed if insurances market reforms, such as prohibitingv insurers from denying coverage for pre-existinh conditions, were enacted. He hopes the larger goal of health-care refor – lowering costs so more peopl can affordcoverage – doesn’g get lost in battles over public planss and employer mandates.
President Barack Obama has mobilizedthe grass-roots supporters that helped elect him to lobbgy for his vision of health-care reform, which includes offering Americans a government-run healthb plan as an alternative to private A coalition of labor unions and progressive organizations plans to spend $82 million on organizing efforts, advertising, research and lobbyiny to support the Obama plan. Businesws groups, meanwhile, mostly are working behind the scenes to shape the While they have serious concerns about some of the proposals including the public plan optionn and a mandate for employerds to provideinsurance – few are trying to bloco health-care reform at this point.
The cost of healt h insurance has become so burdensome that something needx tobe done, they agree. “Nobodty supports the status quo,” said James Gelfand, the ’ senior manager of health policy. “Wd absolutely have to have reform.” For most businesas groups, that means reining in health-care costse and reforming insurance markets so that employers have more choices in the typesw ofplans available. To achieve thoser goals, however, businesses may have to swallo somebitter medicine. An employer mandate tops the list of concern for manybusiness groups, just as it did when Bill Clinto n pushed his health-care reform plan when he was president in the 1990s.
The Senater bill may include a provision that would requiree employers to either provide health insurance to their employees or pay a fee to the federal Some small-business owners don’t have a problem with including members of the Main Street which is part of the coalitioh lobbying for the Obama plan. “The way our system works now, wherd responsible employers offer coverage andotherss don’t, leaves us in a situatio n with an unlevel playing field,” 11 alliance membere said in a statement submitted to the Senate Financd Committee. “If we’re contributing but other employersd aren’t, that gives them a financial advantageover us.
We need to level the playing field through a system where everyone pitches in a reasonable amount.” Most business lobbyists, contend that employers who can afford to provide health insurance do so already, becauss it helps them attracf and keep good employees. Businesses that don’t provides health insurance tend tobe “marginally said Denny Dennis, senior research fellow at the NFIB Researchg Foundation. Imposing a “play or pay” insurance requiremen t on these businesses would cost the economy morethan 1.6 million according to a study.
Tax credits couldx offset some of the costs for providing this coverage, but Gelfand said the creditx under discussion are “extremely limited.” Congressw also could exempt some small businesses such as firms with less than $500,0090 in annual payroll – from the employer Many business groups, however, see this proposao as an attempt to split the businessx community, not as meaningful “We oppose small business carve-outs because they make it easiet for Congress to apply mandatesw against larger employers,” said Neil Trautwein, vice president and employese benefits policy counsel for the .
“It’s also easy for Congresa to come back and try to applty the mandateagainst ever-smaller “No matter how good the surrounding health-care a bill containing an employer mandate woulc be too high a pricer to pay for Trautwein said. Public plan or market reforms? Most small-business groups also are wary of proposalsa to createa government-run insurances plan, like Medicare, that woulfd be available as an optionn for small businesses and individuals. The Main Streert Alliance contends a public plan is needed to provide competition to private insurers and reduce the cost ofhealtu insurance.
Richard Kirsch, national campaign manager for Healthj Care forAmerica Now, has been organiziny Main Street Alliance chapters in state across the country. He said many small-business owners “believe that we do need a governmeng solution” as an alternative to private Theseowners “reject the right-wing of Washington’s traditional small-business organizations, he said. NFIB spokeswoman Stephanie Cathcart saidher organization’sx members, however, “are wary of government-run healtn care.
” Gelfand said a government plan wouldn’t be needed if insurances market reforms, such as prohibitingv insurers from denying coverage for pre-existinh conditions, were enacted. He hopes the larger goal of health-care refor – lowering costs so more peopl can affordcoverage – doesn’g get lost in battles over public planss and employer mandates.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
T. Cook's chef shares cruising cuisine - Phoenix Business Journal:
grearqakususi1426.blogspot.com
Holland America invited Hilsonn to host cooking classes as part of its Food and Wine atSea Hilson, known for his bubbling personalitg and “Iron Chef” will host demonstrations and classes as the ship sails the While Hilson sets sail on June 24 for the 12-day he has left a four-course menu for Arizonans not lucky enoughg to get out of the T. Cook’s will feature beef carpaccio with arugula andparmesajn (Venice), followed by a traditional Greek pseftokeftedes (fried tomato cakes) with fava bean (Santorini), an entree of pasta alla carbonaraw (Rome), with a desert of cremaq Catalena (Barcelona).
The four-coursse dinner costs $40 per person with Spanish and Italiabn wine pairings for each coursde costing anadditional $20 per person. The menu will be featuredr through June, July and August. Hilson will visit Corfu, Argostoli, Santorini, Catania, Naples, and Florence before arriving at the finalo port of Barcelona as part ofthe cruise.
Holland America invited Hilsonn to host cooking classes as part of its Food and Wine atSea Hilson, known for his bubbling personalitg and “Iron Chef” will host demonstrations and classes as the ship sails the While Hilson sets sail on June 24 for the 12-day he has left a four-course menu for Arizonans not lucky enoughg to get out of the T. Cook’s will feature beef carpaccio with arugula andparmesajn (Venice), followed by a traditional Greek pseftokeftedes (fried tomato cakes) with fava bean (Santorini), an entree of pasta alla carbonaraw (Rome), with a desert of cremaq Catalena (Barcelona).
The four-coursse dinner costs $40 per person with Spanish and Italiabn wine pairings for each coursde costing anadditional $20 per person. The menu will be featuredr through June, July and August. Hilson will visit Corfu, Argostoli, Santorini, Catania, Naples, and Florence before arriving at the finalo port of Barcelona as part ofthe cruise.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Sling Media gets $10.5M in funding - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:
axilecyqih.wordpress.com
of San Mateo, says it's received $10.65 million in Series A fundingfrom , and undisclosed strategic investors. Terms of the investmentf were not disclosed. "A n enormous gap exists between what is possiblewith today'sw digital entertainment technology and its usability by It is our position that should stand as much for consumer experience as it does for consumetr electronics," says Blake Krikorian, chief executivew officer of Sling Media, in a written statement. The company says it's readying its first product -- the Slingbox Personal Broadcastet -- for market.
It's described a devicde that allows users to enjoy their entirs live TV experience from any viaany network, anywhere in their home or aroundc the world. The Slingbox connects to and "placeshifts" content from any cablse box, satellite receiver, or personal video It's expected to be in the market during the firsgt quarterof 2005, the company
of San Mateo, says it's received $10.65 million in Series A fundingfrom , and undisclosed strategic investors. Terms of the investmentf were not disclosed. "A n enormous gap exists between what is possiblewith today'sw digital entertainment technology and its usability by It is our position that should stand as much for consumer experience as it does for consumetr electronics," says Blake Krikorian, chief executivew officer of Sling Media, in a written statement. The company says it's readying its first product -- the Slingbox Personal Broadcastet -- for market.
It's described a devicde that allows users to enjoy their entirs live TV experience from any viaany network, anywhere in their home or aroundc the world. The Slingbox connects to and "placeshifts" content from any cablse box, satellite receiver, or personal video It's expected to be in the market during the firsgt quarterof 2005, the company
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