http://www.iavias.com/2008/04/amd-phenom-x4-9850-phenom-fixed-but-not-phenomenal/
Planon Inc.’s Web-based software enablews large companies to manage their realestate portfolios, determining how much spacs a company really needs and calculatinhg the real estate savings of creating more mobil e workforces that allow consolidation of properties or As companies focus on cost-cutting acrosxs balance sheets, Planon executives say reducing property and plantr costs becomes paramount. “If you look at a company’s balancw sheet, the second biggest expense can be plantand equipment,” said Jim Nauen, senior vice president of sales and marketing. “It’s a savings to companies that actuallhy does notcut payroll.
” Through modeling with Planon’s software, a company can develop flexible space for those remote It also identifies space unuser by divisions that may have downsized or consolidated. By optimizingb the space it has, a company can eliminate the need to build new space or prompt divestment ofunused “Giving upper management a clear view of space acrosa their entire portfolio leads to some surprisin g conclusions,” Nauen said. The cost savingsd to property owners is translating into revenuew growth forthe company. Last year, it grew totall sales nearly 20 percentto $41.8 millionb with software sales making up 50 percent of U.S.
The balance of sales were of consulting serviceszand support, which the Braintree offic e performs. Nauen said the compant is profitable. Analysts say companies competingh inthis sector, known as integratesd workplace management systems, are poised to benefity from softness in the commerciao real estate market. “Whenever we’re in a situatio where there’s a fair amount of turmoipl in highlyfixed assets, the management of those componentds becomes very important,” said Jack vice president of research at Stamford, Conn.-based Founded 25 yearx ago by CEO Pierre Guelen in the Planon established its U.S. headquarters in Braintree threweyears ago.
The companu has about 15 employees locallyu and expects to grow head count by five to seveb employees by the end of the Nauen said. The company’s strategy has been to use its platforj to allow companies to manag various aspects of a real estat eportfolio — not just space management, but project developmenrt management, maintenance schedules, and, most an application to manage sustainability initiatives. While the company has customersw acrossthe globe, Planon expects North Americah companies, specifically ones with more than 1,0009 employees, to fuel short-term growth. It already counts , and regionapl bank BB&T Corp.
as Heine said these companies are ones that most need specifiv software to managereal estate. “If you have mayb four or five offices, then you mighg be able to manage it ona spreadsheet,” Heine “When you start to talk about larged office complexes, it requires a special The market for certainm aspects of real estate management, specifically financial asseyt management, is dominated by large technology companiex such as SAP AG and Planon’s software competes with dozens of other smalk vendors to provide space management software to companieas and property managers.
Wednesday 29 February 2012
Monday 27 February 2012
Syria: the two sides of President Assad - Telegraph.co.uk
http://twentybayard.com/635/who-will-buy-the-apple-tablet-steve-woz/
World Jewish Congress | Syria: the two sides of President Assad Telegraph.co.uk There are alternatives. We can swim on our own and alongside our friends and brothers, and there are plenty of them.†Without international help, the Syrian opposition is not yet capable of succeeding on its own. The Syrian National Council, ... WJC ANALYSIS - Syria: The search for alternatives to Assad |
Saturday 25 February 2012
Regents approve university tuition increases - Wichita Business Journal:
yjanebixe.wordpress.com
percent for the upcoming It was the highest increase of the statde universities governed bythe , which approvedx the tuition spikes Thursday. The action followexd the tuition increase proposaldthe state’s universities submitted in May. It marks the 15th straighft year tuitionhas increased. , the , WSU submittesd revised proposals that took into account the continued decline of theKansazs economy, the regents say. University and regents’ leaders blam the increases on decreases in state aid forhigher • — 3.5 percent. • Emporia State University — 4 percent. • University of Kansasw — 6 percent. — 6.8 percent. • — 7.
5 The board on Thursday also approvefd KU’s rate for its four-year tuition compact. It is the rate that appliexs for first-time, full-time students who beginh as freshmen in the Fall 2009 This rate, which will be locked-i n for those students over a four-yearr period, was increased by 7 percent. The board on Thursday also decided a majority of the federal stimuluas dollars the state universities will receive for fiscal yearsa 2009 and 2010 will be allocater for deferred building maintenance projects onthosde campuses. Two-thirds, or $26.6 million of the $39.9 milliomn in stimulus funds will be allocatedx to deferredmaintenance projects. A total of $13.
e million will be used for tuitioncost mitigation.
percent for the upcoming It was the highest increase of the statde universities governed bythe , which approvedx the tuition spikes Thursday. The action followexd the tuition increase proposaldthe state’s universities submitted in May. It marks the 15th straighft year tuitionhas increased. , the , WSU submittesd revised proposals that took into account the continued decline of theKansazs economy, the regents say. University and regents’ leaders blam the increases on decreases in state aid forhigher • — 3.5 percent. • Emporia State University — 4 percent. • University of Kansasw — 6 percent. — 6.8 percent. • — 7.
5 The board on Thursday also approvefd KU’s rate for its four-year tuition compact. It is the rate that appliexs for first-time, full-time students who beginh as freshmen in the Fall 2009 This rate, which will be locked-i n for those students over a four-yearr period, was increased by 7 percent. The board on Thursday also decided a majority of the federal stimuluas dollars the state universities will receive for fiscal yearsa 2009 and 2010 will be allocater for deferred building maintenance projects onthosde campuses. Two-thirds, or $26.6 million of the $39.9 milliomn in stimulus funds will be allocatedx to deferredmaintenance projects. A total of $13.
e million will be used for tuitioncost mitigation.
Wednesday 22 February 2012
Tri-State leaders, Brookings tap mutual growth outlook - Business Courier of Cincinnati:
gorbunovabowiper.blogspot.com
Officials at the Washington, D.C.-based knew when they releasesd their Blueprint for American Prosperity last Novembedr that Ohio would be a critica state inthe campaign, just as it is in this year's presidential race. But Brookings has focusec more intensely onthe Tri-State in recengt months, hoping to build upon the time and efforr that elected officials and local busineszs and community leaders have invested in developing plans to grow the region's economic base. And the blueprint has become part of the local conversatiobn aboutthe region's future. "We've really stepped up to identifuy opportunities to support thework they're President Ellen van der Horst said.
"We very much 'We think the work you're doinvg is important, and we'd like to understan how we can be supportive of Plus with thework we're doing in this region, we becoms sort of a beta site for a lot of their work and theirf policy agenda." At a gatherinf at the April 21, University of Cincinnatki President Nancy Zimpher explained to dozens of electecd officials and business and community leaders how Cincinnatui Mayor Mark Mallory's GO Cincinnati plan overlape with the regional Agenda 360 planning which is modeled aftert Northern Kentucky's Vision 2015 plan.
The Brookingds Blueprint, she said, is connected with all of thos efforts because of the federal changes it advocates and what thos e could mean for the regionlong term. "We're a regiojn that's ready. That's what's so exciting about Zimpher said. "All this buildup - identifyingy industry clusters, investing in entrepreneurshipp and commercialization throughCincy Tech. That's all groundwork that Southwest Ohio isready for, and that puts us ahead of the Two policy papers released by Brookings April 22, for recommend new federal approaches to innovation programd and regional industry clusters.
One argues the federalk government should establish a devoted to supportin g business effortsto innovate. The othef calls for the government to establish a federal industryg clusters program to encourage companiess and other groups to organize in clustersx to produce more commercial innovationand higher-payinfg jobs. Both proposals would benefit the Tri-State, said Doug Moormann, vice president of economic development for the Cincinnati USARegional "Anything we can do to spur innovationn is essential because that is one of the placew that America competes best," he "We can't always produce things at the lowesg price anymore, but we can be the people who figuree out how to do it The partnership already has focused on promoting industryt clusters to attract companies that have similar products or services and, need similar resources and labor.
And the GO Cincinnatk plan unveiled earlier this year has a similar focuws as a way to grow the economy andcreatd jobs. The federal government could help by makinhg moreinformation available, Moormann "Right now it is very difficulr to find out which companiesd are in a particular cluster," he said, becaused it keeps that data confidential. The key with both proposala is to make the government ahelpful partner, said Howardc Wial, an economist with Brookings and coauthor of the innovatio n policy paper.
"In our proposal, government doesn't pick which industry to favor," Wial "We think that there is plenty of room for this sort of innovatiob in just aboutany industry." And Tri-State busineses leaders hope it starts The Brookings Institution's Metropolitan Policy Program unveiled its Blueprint for Americanb Prosperity campaign last year. The goal is to changr the federal government's approach towarrd the nation's metropolitan areas, which account for the vast majoritty ofthe country's population, jobs and wealth.
Brookingz released two new policy papers as part of the campaignmApril 22: "Boosting Productivity, Innovation and Growtn through a National Innovation Foundation" and "Clusterxs and Competitiveness: A New Federal Role for Stimulating Regional Economies." More informatioh at www.brookings.edu under recent research and commentary.
Officials at the Washington, D.C.-based knew when they releasesd their Blueprint for American Prosperity last Novembedr that Ohio would be a critica state inthe campaign, just as it is in this year's presidential race. But Brookings has focusec more intensely onthe Tri-State in recengt months, hoping to build upon the time and efforr that elected officials and local busineszs and community leaders have invested in developing plans to grow the region's economic base. And the blueprint has become part of the local conversatiobn aboutthe region's future. "We've really stepped up to identifuy opportunities to support thework they're President Ellen van der Horst said.
"We very much 'We think the work you're doinvg is important, and we'd like to understan how we can be supportive of Plus with thework we're doing in this region, we becoms sort of a beta site for a lot of their work and theirf policy agenda." At a gatherinf at the April 21, University of Cincinnatki President Nancy Zimpher explained to dozens of electecd officials and business and community leaders how Cincinnatui Mayor Mark Mallory's GO Cincinnati plan overlape with the regional Agenda 360 planning which is modeled aftert Northern Kentucky's Vision 2015 plan.
The Brookingds Blueprint, she said, is connected with all of thos efforts because of the federal changes it advocates and what thos e could mean for the regionlong term. "We're a regiojn that's ready. That's what's so exciting about Zimpher said. "All this buildup - identifyingy industry clusters, investing in entrepreneurshipp and commercialization throughCincy Tech. That's all groundwork that Southwest Ohio isready for, and that puts us ahead of the Two policy papers released by Brookings April 22, for recommend new federal approaches to innovation programd and regional industry clusters.
One argues the federalk government should establish a devoted to supportin g business effortsto innovate. The othef calls for the government to establish a federal industryg clusters program to encourage companiess and other groups to organize in clustersx to produce more commercial innovationand higher-payinfg jobs. Both proposals would benefit the Tri-State, said Doug Moormann, vice president of economic development for the Cincinnati USARegional "Anything we can do to spur innovationn is essential because that is one of the placew that America competes best," he "We can't always produce things at the lowesg price anymore, but we can be the people who figuree out how to do it The partnership already has focused on promoting industryt clusters to attract companies that have similar products or services and, need similar resources and labor.
And the GO Cincinnatk plan unveiled earlier this year has a similar focuws as a way to grow the economy andcreatd jobs. The federal government could help by makinhg moreinformation available, Moormann "Right now it is very difficulr to find out which companiesd are in a particular cluster," he said, becaused it keeps that data confidential. The key with both proposala is to make the government ahelpful partner, said Howardc Wial, an economist with Brookings and coauthor of the innovatio n policy paper.
"In our proposal, government doesn't pick which industry to favor," Wial "We think that there is plenty of room for this sort of innovatiob in just aboutany industry." And Tri-State busineses leaders hope it starts The Brookings Institution's Metropolitan Policy Program unveiled its Blueprint for Americanb Prosperity campaign last year. The goal is to changr the federal government's approach towarrd the nation's metropolitan areas, which account for the vast majoritty ofthe country's population, jobs and wealth.
Brookingz released two new policy papers as part of the campaignmApril 22: "Boosting Productivity, Innovation and Growtn through a National Innovation Foundation" and "Clusterxs and Competitiveness: A New Federal Role for Stimulating Regional Economies." More informatioh at www.brookings.edu under recent research and commentary.
Monday 20 February 2012
Extended Stay Hotels files Chapter 11 - bizjournals Business Travel Guide
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The Spartanburg, S.C.-based company filed the reorganization petitiomn in New Yorkbankruptcy court, Secretary and Generalp Counsel Joseph Teichman writing that Extended Stay had abou $7.1 billion in assets and $7.6 billiobn in liabilities at the end of 2008. Extended whose more than 680 propertiesz are managed byHVM LLC, has 21 locations in the Houston area. The companyh bills itself as the largest operatoeof mid-priced extended-stay hotels in the Teichman in a court filin on Monday wrote that the company sought protection from creditors amid a general downturn in the hospitality industry and a hit takenh as fewer potential customers need the company’s “Since the typical Extended Stay customer seeks a lengtht stay based on commercial relocation, the contraction of constructionh and new business developmeny began to significantly and adversely affected Extended Stay’s revenue Teichman w rote.
The company said its average revenue per room dropped about 23 percent in the first five months of the year compared with the same periodof 2008. As a it was unable to deal with its debt burdenn with cash flow and is seekinga “comprehensive restructurinv of the entire capital Extended Stay said it plans to run operationes following the Chapter 11 petitionb under a lender-approved arrangement using cash collateral. Debtor-in-possessio n financing won’t be needed, the company About 9,900 employees work in hotels operated byExtendexd Stay. The company is in 44 stated and hasabout 77,000 rooms.
The Spartanburg, S.C.-based company filed the reorganization petitiomn in New Yorkbankruptcy court, Secretary and Generalp Counsel Joseph Teichman writing that Extended Stay had abou $7.1 billion in assets and $7.6 billiobn in liabilities at the end of 2008. Extended whose more than 680 propertiesz are managed byHVM LLC, has 21 locations in the Houston area. The companyh bills itself as the largest operatoeof mid-priced extended-stay hotels in the Teichman in a court filin on Monday wrote that the company sought protection from creditors amid a general downturn in the hospitality industry and a hit takenh as fewer potential customers need the company’s “Since the typical Extended Stay customer seeks a lengtht stay based on commercial relocation, the contraction of constructionh and new business developmeny began to significantly and adversely affected Extended Stay’s revenue Teichman w rote.
The company said its average revenue per room dropped about 23 percent in the first five months of the year compared with the same periodof 2008. As a it was unable to deal with its debt burdenn with cash flow and is seekinga “comprehensive restructurinv of the entire capital Extended Stay said it plans to run operationes following the Chapter 11 petitionb under a lender-approved arrangement using cash collateral. Debtor-in-possessio n financing won’t be needed, the company About 9,900 employees work in hotels operated byExtendexd Stay. The company is in 44 stated and hasabout 77,000 rooms.
Saturday 18 February 2012
Legislator wants Nixon to cut stimulus money for Kokam battery plant - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
adamovaichive.blogspot.com
Kokam’s , to be dubbed Summit Batterg Park, would employ an estimated 900 peoplw with average annual salaries of Kokam President Don Nissankaw has said he hope s to break ground before the end ofthe year, probably at a site of more than 40 acresx in the vicinity of Kokam’s current 50,000-square-foot Lee’s Summit plant. Nissanka was out of the country Mondauyand couldn’t be reached for comment.
Kokam, a startu p founded in October 2005, burst into the limelight this picked Kansas City for an assembly facilith largely becauseof Kokam’s And with federal stimulus dollars and states money seeking advanced-battery-makers, a joint venture involving Kokakm landed a commitment in Aprilp of nearly $145 million in incentivese from Michigan to build a battery planr there that’s similar to the one planned locally. The group also appliesd for federalstimulus money. Schaefer, R-Columbia, sent a letter to Nixob on Thursday proposing that financing be cutby $11.45 million combined for Kokam’s Lee’s Summit plant and anotherd battery plant in Joplin to help preserv e $31.
2 million in financing for the in Columbia, which Schaefer called the cornerstone of a $200 millionh hospital project. “Every indication that I’mm getting is that (Nixon) intends to veto the money for the Schaefer said, adding that Nixon’s veto probablu would kill the entire $200 million project. “Spending public funds on a cancer hospital owned by the citizena of Missouri is always going to win out over givingg public funds to a private company for abattergy plant,” Schaefer said. “Nobody has told me that the lower amountg wouldkill (Kokam’s Lee’e Summit) project.
” Nixon spokesman Scotrt Holste said the governor will have an announcement abour the budget bill before June 30, the end of Missouri’xs fiscal year. Nixon and his staff have been reviewinh the budgetbill “line by line to determine what the state can afford,” Holste said, and they want to keep centralp services in place. Jim Devine, CEO of the l, said he thoughft Schaefer’s proposal was “not as serious” a threatf as the EDC first thought, “but you never know in politics.” The EDC issuef a release Friday encouraging Nixon to keep theKokajm plant’s financing fully in place.
Kokam’s , to be dubbed Summit Batterg Park, would employ an estimated 900 peoplw with average annual salaries of Kokam President Don Nissankaw has said he hope s to break ground before the end ofthe year, probably at a site of more than 40 acresx in the vicinity of Kokam’s current 50,000-square-foot Lee’s Summit plant. Nissanka was out of the country Mondauyand couldn’t be reached for comment.
Kokam, a startu p founded in October 2005, burst into the limelight this picked Kansas City for an assembly facilith largely becauseof Kokam’s And with federal stimulus dollars and states money seeking advanced-battery-makers, a joint venture involving Kokakm landed a commitment in Aprilp of nearly $145 million in incentivese from Michigan to build a battery planr there that’s similar to the one planned locally. The group also appliesd for federalstimulus money. Schaefer, R-Columbia, sent a letter to Nixob on Thursday proposing that financing be cutby $11.45 million combined for Kokam’s Lee’s Summit plant and anotherd battery plant in Joplin to help preserv e $31.
2 million in financing for the in Columbia, which Schaefer called the cornerstone of a $200 millionh hospital project. “Every indication that I’mm getting is that (Nixon) intends to veto the money for the Schaefer said, adding that Nixon’s veto probablu would kill the entire $200 million project. “Spending public funds on a cancer hospital owned by the citizena of Missouri is always going to win out over givingg public funds to a private company for abattergy plant,” Schaefer said. “Nobody has told me that the lower amountg wouldkill (Kokam’s Lee’e Summit) project.
” Nixon spokesman Scotrt Holste said the governor will have an announcement abour the budget bill before June 30, the end of Missouri’xs fiscal year. Nixon and his staff have been reviewinh the budgetbill “line by line to determine what the state can afford,” Holste said, and they want to keep centralp services in place. Jim Devine, CEO of the l, said he thoughft Schaefer’s proposal was “not as serious” a threatf as the EDC first thought, “but you never know in politics.” The EDC issuef a release Friday encouraging Nixon to keep theKokajm plant’s financing fully in place.
Thursday 16 February 2012
Abandoned properties could worsen the hurricane season - South Florida Business Journal:
uqyvemiwu.wordpress.com
More than 101,000 residences in South Floridaz sat empty for three months or more as of according tothe . Many of these likelyg were bank-owned, in the process of foreclosure or the assetxof cash-strapped developers. In the even of a hurricane warning, many experts doubt most lenderse would have the coordination and capabilitgy to fortify those homes with shuttersor boards. Sincd banks almost never respond to homeowner associationn complaints about poor conditions atabandoneds bank-owned properties, they probably won’t be proactive in protecting thesse properties from a hurricane, said Ken Direktor, an attorney at Fort Lauderdale-basedf who represents numerous homeowner associations.
Most banks and mortgage-servicinhg companies are overwhelmedwith foreclosures, and can’t effectivelt manage them all, he said. “I would be shockex if banks mobilize in front of a Direktor said. “A hurricane now would be absolutely catastrophic. The negative effect on the community would bemultipliecd exponentially.” Bill Hardin, director of real estatee programs at , said foreclosures held by mortgage-backed securitiexs would be must vulnerable. He doubts that most MBS servicing companies have the capabilities to mitigate propert losses beforea hurricane.
If there’sa a pending foreclosure on a home and thebank hasn’ft taken possession of it, then the lende r can’t legally enter the property and secure it. A homeownerr or renter still living there mightf protect the home fortheir safety, but an abandone home facing foreclosure would be less likely to have a Some condo associations have the ability to enter abandoned homes and secures them, but homeowner associations do not, said Donnas Berger, executive director of the Plantation-basedd .
has a plan for hurricanes that includese contracts with property management companies and bank employeez to make sure propertieseare storm-ready, said Nancy Norris, a spokeswoman for the which also services mortgages for other lenders. “When there is a threat, we have a businessx resiliencyteam that’s always on top of emergency she said. “We are confident that we will get the job When a homeowner stops paying a mortgageand insurance, or when a propertty becomes bank-owned, the lender covers the property throughb a blanket insurance policy called forced coverage. Theses expensive policies cover the outstandingmortgage amount, regardless of the valu of the property.
These policies usually don’f require the bank to do anything to protect a property fromstormj damage, said William Berk, an attorney who representws insurance companies as a partner with Corapl Gables-based . But, the aftermath of a hurricane could providw opportunities for savvy investors to buy damaged homeas from banks on the repair them andresell them, said Petefr Zalewski, CEO of Bal Harbour-basef . “I can’t imagine a lender repairintg a property damaged by a hurricanee beforeselling it,” he said. “For a it could be a catastrophe, and for it could be a great opportunity.” THE DETAILS: Nobody’s home Palm Beacyh County: 36,348 residences, or 5.
3 percentf Broward County: 37,707 residences, or 4.6 percent Miami-Dad County: 27,700 residences, or 2.9 percent Source: U.S. Postal Servic e
More than 101,000 residences in South Floridaz sat empty for three months or more as of according tothe . Many of these likelyg were bank-owned, in the process of foreclosure or the assetxof cash-strapped developers. In the even of a hurricane warning, many experts doubt most lenderse would have the coordination and capabilitgy to fortify those homes with shuttersor boards. Sincd banks almost never respond to homeowner associationn complaints about poor conditions atabandoneds bank-owned properties, they probably won’t be proactive in protecting thesse properties from a hurricane, said Ken Direktor, an attorney at Fort Lauderdale-basedf who represents numerous homeowner associations.
Most banks and mortgage-servicinhg companies are overwhelmedwith foreclosures, and can’t effectivelt manage them all, he said. “I would be shockex if banks mobilize in front of a Direktor said. “A hurricane now would be absolutely catastrophic. The negative effect on the community would bemultipliecd exponentially.” Bill Hardin, director of real estatee programs at , said foreclosures held by mortgage-backed securitiexs would be must vulnerable. He doubts that most MBS servicing companies have the capabilities to mitigate propert losses beforea hurricane.
If there’sa a pending foreclosure on a home and thebank hasn’ft taken possession of it, then the lende r can’t legally enter the property and secure it. A homeownerr or renter still living there mightf protect the home fortheir safety, but an abandone home facing foreclosure would be less likely to have a Some condo associations have the ability to enter abandoned homes and secures them, but homeowner associations do not, said Donnas Berger, executive director of the Plantation-basedd .
has a plan for hurricanes that includese contracts with property management companies and bank employeez to make sure propertieseare storm-ready, said Nancy Norris, a spokeswoman for the which also services mortgages for other lenders. “When there is a threat, we have a businessx resiliencyteam that’s always on top of emergency she said. “We are confident that we will get the job When a homeowner stops paying a mortgageand insurance, or when a propertty becomes bank-owned, the lender covers the property throughb a blanket insurance policy called forced coverage. Theses expensive policies cover the outstandingmortgage amount, regardless of the valu of the property.
These policies usually don’f require the bank to do anything to protect a property fromstormj damage, said William Berk, an attorney who representws insurance companies as a partner with Corapl Gables-based . But, the aftermath of a hurricane could providw opportunities for savvy investors to buy damaged homeas from banks on the repair them andresell them, said Petefr Zalewski, CEO of Bal Harbour-basef . “I can’t imagine a lender repairintg a property damaged by a hurricanee beforeselling it,” he said. “For a it could be a catastrophe, and for it could be a great opportunity.” THE DETAILS: Nobody’s home Palm Beacyh County: 36,348 residences, or 5.
3 percentf Broward County: 37,707 residences, or 4.6 percent Miami-Dad County: 27,700 residences, or 2.9 percent Source: U.S. Postal Servic e
Tuesday 14 February 2012
Lawyer trio close firm, join Vedder Price - Phoenix Business Journal:
yzirapogyg.wordpress.com
is a boutique firm -- a platform that “had its pluses and minuses,” said who founded the firm in 1996. “It’s good at what it does but is limitef in what itcan do.” Jagtiani+Guttag’s handfu l of lawyers interviewed 64 law firms over the past two yearsw to find the right placer to take their clients to. Jagtiani said it was tougnh finding a right match for his unusual firm -- a small intellectual property boutique firm. “Vedder Price was a good, solic fit,” said Jagtiani, which has client such areas as diagnostics, genomics, and “We brought chemistry and biotechnology and they adderd substantial capabilitiesto us.
” Vedder, a 250-attorneh firm with other offices in Chicago and New offers a complete range of IP services, includinhg patents, trademarks and copyrights, as well as intellectua property litigation. The attorney trio -- all registered to practicd withthe U.S. Pateny and Trademark Office -- is already working for Vedder, but Jagtiani+Gutta g on Democracy Lane is still being woune down and will officially close in acoupld months.
is a boutique firm -- a platform that “had its pluses and minuses,” said who founded the firm in 1996. “It’s good at what it does but is limitef in what itcan do.” Jagtiani+Guttag’s handfu l of lawyers interviewed 64 law firms over the past two yearsw to find the right placer to take their clients to. Jagtiani said it was tougnh finding a right match for his unusual firm -- a small intellectual property boutique firm. “Vedder Price was a good, solic fit,” said Jagtiani, which has client such areas as diagnostics, genomics, and “We brought chemistry and biotechnology and they adderd substantial capabilitiesto us.
” Vedder, a 250-attorneh firm with other offices in Chicago and New offers a complete range of IP services, includinhg patents, trademarks and copyrights, as well as intellectua property litigation. The attorney trio -- all registered to practicd withthe U.S. Pateny and Trademark Office -- is already working for Vedder, but Jagtiani+Gutta g on Democracy Lane is still being woune down and will officially close in acoupld months.
Sunday 12 February 2012
Residents encouraged to attend volunteer orientation at AIWC - Airdrie City View
yfimuna.wordpress.com
Residents encouraged to attend volunteer orientation at AIWC Airdrie City View Airdrie residents are encouraged to take part in an upcoming volunteer orientation at the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC). “Being a volunteer at the AIWC is a completely unique opportunity,†said Tara Tamasi, director of wildlife ... |
Friday 10 February 2012
Everything You Need to Know: Waivers, Flexibility, and Reforming No Child Left ... - The White House (blog)
adepylex.blogspot.com
The White House (blog) | Everything You Need to Know: Waivers, Flexibility, and Reforming No Child Left ... The White House (blog) States have reformed teacher and principal evaluations to better determine which ones are effective and which ones aren't, and developed support systems to help the less effective ones improve. President Obama offered every state a deal: If you're ... No Child Left Behind: 10 States Receive Waivers, Raising Debate on Education ... |
Wednesday 8 February 2012
Madoff gets 150 years in prison - St. Louis Business Journal:
amesit.wordpress.com
“I’m not surprised. That’s what he deserved,” said Adele Fox of who lost thousands of dollarsto Madoff's scheme. The mastermindf behind the biggest Ponzi schemein U.S. historyt was sentenced on Mondauy morning in federal court in Manhattan to 150 year sbehind bars, the maximum requesteed by federal prosecutors. Madoff's attorney had asked for a far more lenienty sentence of12 years. In sentencing Madoff, U.S. District Judgse Denny Chin called thefraud “staggering” and said that the “breacj of trust was massive.” The judge describesd his acts as “extraordinarily evil.
” “Nlo other white-collar case is comparablew in terms of the scope, duratiomn and enormity of the fraux and the degree of the betrayal,” Chin said. Madoffg confessed in March to 11 counts including money laundering theft and amongother things. His victim reportedly number morethan 1,300 and stretch acrosws the globe. Their losses are estimated at morethan $13 Prior to sentencing, Chin heard from nine of the victimes who talked about the devastation Madoff’s fraud had caused to theird lives and their families. Many of Madoff’s wealthyy clients lived in South Florida and lost their life savingse tohis scheme.
Fox, 86, said she is still furiouas that the and the federal government didn’t expose Madoff’s frauds earlier. “The SEC is just as guilty as Madoff and theyfaile us. Nobody seems to do anything about it,” Fox said. She also took issure with the large fees being paid to people such asIrvinv H. Picard, the trustee who is handlinb the liquidation ofBernard L. Madoff Investment Securities. “The trustew Picard is making hisown rules. They’re payingy these guys millionsof dollars. It would be bettert to pay theinvestors directly,” Fox said.
Fox, a widowq who once worked as secretary in New said sheinvested $50,000 in 1987 because she was relatexd to Madoff’s accountant, Jerry Horowitz. She said she was able to get some mone back from Social Securittypayments she’d made over the years on “phantom” incomse from Madoff accounts. However, she is worried that her disbursementsa may eventually be targeted in clawback efforts by the trustee in bankruptcu proceedings who has begun sending out letterws demanding the return of profits derived from their Guy Fronstin a Boca Raton attorney who hasadvisef Fox, said the government has “bee good about refunding taxes quickly” but therr are delays in processing claimsx to the Securities Investor Protectioj Corporation.
“Some of the people I know are too busy with thesde other issues to really care that much aboug whathappened today. They believed he wouldf spend the rest of his daysin jail,” Fronsti said. Jan Atlas, an attorney with Adorno said he believes the court had little choices but to levy the maximum sentencron Madoff. “I don’t think the victimds should have been victimized again by having him be able to leavee prisonone day,” said Atlas, whose firm continues to advisd clients about tax returns and possiblgy future claims against investment advisors who invested with Madoff.
“I’nm wondering if the trustee will be able to locate more than the billiom plusthat he’s located, and what is the real Atlas said. In addition to his prisonb term, Madoff was ordered to forfeitnearlhy $170 billion, which represents the proceeds of, and property involved in certain of his according to a news release from the U.S. Departmentt of Justice. “While today’s sentence is an importantr milestone, the investigation is Lev L. Dassi, acting U.S. Attorney for the Southerbn District of New said in anews release. “We are focused on restraining and liquidating assets to maximizs recoveries forthe victims.
”
“I’m not surprised. That’s what he deserved,” said Adele Fox of who lost thousands of dollarsto Madoff's scheme. The mastermindf behind the biggest Ponzi schemein U.S. historyt was sentenced on Mondauy morning in federal court in Manhattan to 150 year sbehind bars, the maximum requesteed by federal prosecutors. Madoff's attorney had asked for a far more lenienty sentence of12 years. In sentencing Madoff, U.S. District Judgse Denny Chin called thefraud “staggering” and said that the “breacj of trust was massive.” The judge describesd his acts as “extraordinarily evil.
” “Nlo other white-collar case is comparablew in terms of the scope, duratiomn and enormity of the fraux and the degree of the betrayal,” Chin said. Madoffg confessed in March to 11 counts including money laundering theft and amongother things. His victim reportedly number morethan 1,300 and stretch acrosws the globe. Their losses are estimated at morethan $13 Prior to sentencing, Chin heard from nine of the victimes who talked about the devastation Madoff’s fraud had caused to theird lives and their families. Many of Madoff’s wealthyy clients lived in South Florida and lost their life savingse tohis scheme.
Fox, 86, said she is still furiouas that the and the federal government didn’t expose Madoff’s frauds earlier. “The SEC is just as guilty as Madoff and theyfaile us. Nobody seems to do anything about it,” Fox said. She also took issure with the large fees being paid to people such asIrvinv H. Picard, the trustee who is handlinb the liquidation ofBernard L. Madoff Investment Securities. “The trustew Picard is making hisown rules. They’re payingy these guys millionsof dollars. It would be bettert to pay theinvestors directly,” Fox said.
Fox, a widowq who once worked as secretary in New said sheinvested $50,000 in 1987 because she was relatexd to Madoff’s accountant, Jerry Horowitz. She said she was able to get some mone back from Social Securittypayments she’d made over the years on “phantom” incomse from Madoff accounts. However, she is worried that her disbursementsa may eventually be targeted in clawback efforts by the trustee in bankruptcu proceedings who has begun sending out letterws demanding the return of profits derived from their Guy Fronstin a Boca Raton attorney who hasadvisef Fox, said the government has “bee good about refunding taxes quickly” but therr are delays in processing claimsx to the Securities Investor Protectioj Corporation.
“Some of the people I know are too busy with thesde other issues to really care that much aboug whathappened today. They believed he wouldf spend the rest of his daysin jail,” Fronsti said. Jan Atlas, an attorney with Adorno said he believes the court had little choices but to levy the maximum sentencron Madoff. “I don’t think the victimds should have been victimized again by having him be able to leavee prisonone day,” said Atlas, whose firm continues to advisd clients about tax returns and possiblgy future claims against investment advisors who invested with Madoff.
“I’nm wondering if the trustee will be able to locate more than the billiom plusthat he’s located, and what is the real Atlas said. In addition to his prisonb term, Madoff was ordered to forfeitnearlhy $170 billion, which represents the proceeds of, and property involved in certain of his according to a news release from the U.S. Departmentt of Justice. “While today’s sentence is an importantr milestone, the investigation is Lev L. Dassi, acting U.S. Attorney for the Southerbn District of New said in anews release. “We are focused on restraining and liquidating assets to maximizs recoveries forthe victims.
”
Sunday 5 February 2012
myFreightWorld loads up cost-cutting, sales push to deliver positive results - Houston Business Journal:
ocybakenos.wordpress.com
Cost-cutting and a renewed sales focus, alonf with a deal that positioned it in thepublic market, have the business service s outsourcing company steering toward abou t $40 million in managed revenuew this year and positioned for futuree growth. myFreightWorld, based in Overland Park, offeras wholesale online services — such as Web rate-quoting systems and tracking systems for third-party logistics providers, which coordinatd shipments. The company wasn’t losing clients, but the volumed its clients were handling had takeja hit, and myFreightWorld gets paid on a transactiobn basis.
“Our short-term process focus cleaned up some ills, but we can’tr stay in the short term,” Presidenr Mike Head said. “Nobody knows for sure whether the economy hasbottomec out, so you have to stay on your toes and have But, as Head found, some of those short-term efforts bring improvements that promiswe long-term results, as well. DRIVE DOWN NOT EFFICIENCY As business hitthe skids, Head began cutting any discretionary spending. The company cut a quartefr of workers, from about 55 to 40. He taskedx his information technology staff with prioritizing projects that would increaser efficiency to make duties easier withfewet employees.
One tool they created automated the input of client An auditing tool that points out likelhy errors introubled shipments, rather than requiring someone to look througy the entire order, brought at least four times more Even when myFreightWorld began replacin g lost business — it’s now back to, as Head put it, “pre-tsunamii levels” — the diminished staff could handle the Taking a hard look at processes has brought greater productivity, he The move had broader effects, too. Work for myFreightWorld varies based onthe client. In some cases, stafc handles tasks such as making sure shipmentrarrangements work. In otherd cases, clients do the tracking.
So when the IT departmenr improved efficiency formyFreightWorld functions, customers felt it. , based in Calif., has been a client for a coupldeof years, using primarily the tool that helpsa determine the cost of Vice President Mark Christos said. The functiob has allowed the company to avoid adding staff and thus avoid layoffs when volumezfell — and increase the productivity in that area by 15 “It’s a significant contributor to our efficiency,” Christoz said. When the job ax fell, it didn’t touch the sales made up of contract workers paid primarilyon commission. Head said, myFreightWorld increased the sales force from 10to 17.
With suppresses volumes for existing customers, the compan sought new ones to make up the It hammeredthe cost-saving potential of outsourcing to a message that rings true for third-party logistics provider s these days. Industry revenue will fall about 7 percentrto $118 billion this year, comparee with $127 billion last year, according to , a Wisconsin-baser supply-chain research and consulting firm. That’ds the first year-to-year drop since the firm bega tracking the datain 1996. Even in it won’t revert to 2008 levels — the firm estimater that revenue willreach $125 “I think everybody’s looking for opportunities to save money,” said John Wagnef Jr.
, president of North Kansas City-basedr logistics provider , which isn’t a myFreightWorld client. “Idf you can reduce your in-house staff by payinfg a fee, I think that’x something people are looking at.” myFreightWorld also addec IT staff, including one outside employee and another from adifferent department. That group sped up effortsa to refine electronic processesand products. Some enhancementse added features to existing products that the salew force could sell tocurrent customers, leveraginb the sales staff’s efforts, Head The sales push has yielded results, helping speecd along deals.
For example, on April 29, the compang announced that it had reacheda four-year IT and back-office services deal with Headhaul.com that woulde bring an estimated $15 million in revenue durin 12 months. myFreightWorld leaders went througgh every line item on the balance questioning what value each expenditure brought the compan y and whether the same thing was availablefor less. For it stopped using an outsidecoffee service. Head offered one employeer an extra hour of pay each day to oversewe the cleanliness ofthe kitchen, wantiny to keep money among employees.
Cost-cutting and a renewed sales focus, alonf with a deal that positioned it in thepublic market, have the business service s outsourcing company steering toward abou t $40 million in managed revenuew this year and positioned for futuree growth. myFreightWorld, based in Overland Park, offeras wholesale online services — such as Web rate-quoting systems and tracking systems for third-party logistics providers, which coordinatd shipments. The company wasn’t losing clients, but the volumed its clients were handling had takeja hit, and myFreightWorld gets paid on a transactiobn basis.
“Our short-term process focus cleaned up some ills, but we can’tr stay in the short term,” Presidenr Mike Head said. “Nobody knows for sure whether the economy hasbottomec out, so you have to stay on your toes and have But, as Head found, some of those short-term efforts bring improvements that promiswe long-term results, as well. DRIVE DOWN NOT EFFICIENCY As business hitthe skids, Head began cutting any discretionary spending. The company cut a quartefr of workers, from about 55 to 40. He taskedx his information technology staff with prioritizing projects that would increaser efficiency to make duties easier withfewet employees.
One tool they created automated the input of client An auditing tool that points out likelhy errors introubled shipments, rather than requiring someone to look througy the entire order, brought at least four times more Even when myFreightWorld began replacin g lost business — it’s now back to, as Head put it, “pre-tsunamii levels” — the diminished staff could handle the Taking a hard look at processes has brought greater productivity, he The move had broader effects, too. Work for myFreightWorld varies based onthe client. In some cases, stafc handles tasks such as making sure shipmentrarrangements work. In otherd cases, clients do the tracking.
So when the IT departmenr improved efficiency formyFreightWorld functions, customers felt it. , based in Calif., has been a client for a coupldeof years, using primarily the tool that helpsa determine the cost of Vice President Mark Christos said. The functiob has allowed the company to avoid adding staff and thus avoid layoffs when volumezfell — and increase the productivity in that area by 15 “It’s a significant contributor to our efficiency,” Christoz said. When the job ax fell, it didn’t touch the sales made up of contract workers paid primarilyon commission. Head said, myFreightWorld increased the sales force from 10to 17.
With suppresses volumes for existing customers, the compan sought new ones to make up the It hammeredthe cost-saving potential of outsourcing to a message that rings true for third-party logistics provider s these days. Industry revenue will fall about 7 percentrto $118 billion this year, comparee with $127 billion last year, according to , a Wisconsin-baser supply-chain research and consulting firm. That’ds the first year-to-year drop since the firm bega tracking the datain 1996. Even in it won’t revert to 2008 levels — the firm estimater that revenue willreach $125 “I think everybody’s looking for opportunities to save money,” said John Wagnef Jr.
, president of North Kansas City-basedr logistics provider , which isn’t a myFreightWorld client. “Idf you can reduce your in-house staff by payinfg a fee, I think that’x something people are looking at.” myFreightWorld also addec IT staff, including one outside employee and another from adifferent department. That group sped up effortsa to refine electronic processesand products. Some enhancementse added features to existing products that the salew force could sell tocurrent customers, leveraginb the sales staff’s efforts, Head The sales push has yielded results, helping speecd along deals.
For example, on April 29, the compang announced that it had reacheda four-year IT and back-office services deal with Headhaul.com that woulde bring an estimated $15 million in revenue durin 12 months. myFreightWorld leaders went througgh every line item on the balance questioning what value each expenditure brought the compan y and whether the same thing was availablefor less. For it stopped using an outsidecoffee service. Head offered one employeer an extra hour of pay each day to oversewe the cleanliness ofthe kitchen, wantiny to keep money among employees.
Friday 3 February 2012
How Campaign Goofs Expose Candidates' Lack of Attention - Yahoo! Contributors Network
efimtsovavadan.blogspot.com
Los Angeles Times | How Campaign Goofs Expose Candidates' Lack of Attention Yahoo! Contributors Network By Dan Rackley By Dan Rackley | Yahoo! Contributor Network â€" 12 hrs ago This story comes from the Yahoo! Contributor Network, where individuals publish their unique perspectives on some of the world's most popular websites. A snapshot of Mitt Romney Newt Pulls Out » |
Wednesday 1 February 2012
Dr. David Classen and Stanley Pestotnik Join Pascal Metrics - Sacramento Bee
iwyqaxewun.wordpress.com
Dr. David Classen and Stanley Pestotnik Join Pascal Metrics Sacramento Bee By Pascal Metrics WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2012 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Pascal Metrics is pleased to announce that Dr. David Classen has joined Pascal Metrics as Chief Medical Information Officer (CMIO) and Stanley Pestotnik as Senior Advisor. |
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