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Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
Prominent climate change denier now admits he was wrong (+video) - Christian Science Monitor
xszeyluje.blogspot.com
Christian Science Monitor | Prominent climate change denier now admits he was wrong (+video) Christian Science Monitor Richard Muller, who directed a Koch-funded climate change project, has undergone a 'total turnaround' on his stance on global warming, which he now admits is caused by human activity. By Neela Banerjee, Tribune Washington Bureau (MCT) / July 30 , ... So-c » |
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Biotech overwhelms U.S. patent office - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:
haga-aa8xuq.blogspot.com
Complicated biotech patent applications tossed onto the growing pilein D.C., are partly responsible for a backlofg of some 500,000 pateng applications at the Patent & Trademark Office. In five the backlog is projected to reach1 million, absent significantf reforms. U.S. patent pendency time frames average more than twoyeard -- twice that for some typese of filings. "I don't believe the patent office has been adequatelg staffed for morecomplex applications," said Rob Fincher, directoe of the technology commercialization office at the Universityt of Georgia Research Foundation Athens, Ga. "It has to be a frustratingh placefor them.
" Biotech applicationas are generally the most difficult to get he said. "The more complex they are, the more complex the process," Fincher said. "Sciencwe has been so explosive in the last 20 yearsx it has created possibilitieswe couldn'y have anticipated. Biotech has expanded the order of magnitude in what kindas of things might be possible to and even created disputesz over whatis patentable." Problema can arise when a patent describes one invention but also claims otherd dependent uses of the invention.
If the patenft examiner believes the filing representsw more thanone invention, the patentt office requires a completely different Besides delay, that means more applicatioj and attorney fees. Applicants don't always agree with the logicf examiners use in restricting inventions and pateny attorneys argue their addingadditional cost. Clark Sullivan, an attorne y with King & Spalding L.L.P., Washington, represents a number of clientw inpatent work.
Securingt patents in a timely fashion is especially because a meaningful patent portfolio is essentiakl toobtain funding, he "I haven't had much difficulty with narrow such as in the pharmaceutical arena, where the examininv core is sufficiently robust and there are plentyt of examiners," he said. "The examineres are very smart -- they're all Ph.D.s -- but when more biotechnologicao developments and inventionsare involved, they generall don't have that level of Sometimes the patent office gives examiners more time to Sullivan said.
A year can easily pass between filinfg a provisional patent and receiving a response on how thePaten & Trademark Office intends to divided the application into additional filing requirements. The offics has formulated a program to speed the biotechnologypatent process. A road map for digginyg out of the workloaddilemmqa -- the 21st Century Strategic Plan -- is slowl y getting off the ground, said Brigid Quinn, deputhy director for public affairs at the Patent & Trademarkj Office. Part of the however, is a proposed restructuring of patent fees that requirezcongressional approval.
"The fee proposal will give us resourced to fully enactthe plan," Quinn "We remain hopeful the bill will be enacteds by the end of the fiscapl year, in October." Some initiatives can be take with existing resources, such as more traininb of examiners and changes in the patent review procesx to make it more useful as a traininfg tool, she said. Moreover, the Patentr & Trademark Office is convertinh to automated application and processinyof applications, with a target for full electronic implementation by 2004.
Unti improvements take hold, however, biotecy firms will likely continue to have mixedr success in getting timelypatentr approvals, usually depending on the type of technology involved. For gene research is more likely to create delays because of the many variationa ofthe discoveries, said Kirby Black, senior vice president of researcg and development for CryoLife Inc., Kennesaw, Ga. "It depends on what patentz we file and which examiner we get as towhethef we're going to have a lot of he said. CryoLife has generallyh had timely reviews, he said, emphasizingv that some time can be cut from the proces s by ensuring that a patent offerssomething new.
One responsibilitt of examiners is toreview "priofr art," establishing that the patent is novel. CryoLife performs a priot art search, as does its patent attorney Black cited two drug patents filed recentlt by CryoLife subsidiary AuraZymePharmaceuticals Inc. that received a responsd from the patent office less than nine monthsd after the provisional patent wasfiled -- a time frames he considers acceptable.
Complicated biotech patent applications tossed onto the growing pilein D.C., are partly responsible for a backlofg of some 500,000 pateng applications at the Patent & Trademark Office. In five the backlog is projected to reach1 million, absent significantf reforms. U.S. patent pendency time frames average more than twoyeard -- twice that for some typese of filings. "I don't believe the patent office has been adequatelg staffed for morecomplex applications," said Rob Fincher, directoe of the technology commercialization office at the Universityt of Georgia Research Foundation Athens, Ga. "It has to be a frustratingh placefor them.
" Biotech applicationas are generally the most difficult to get he said. "The more complex they are, the more complex the process," Fincher said. "Sciencwe has been so explosive in the last 20 yearsx it has created possibilitieswe couldn'y have anticipated. Biotech has expanded the order of magnitude in what kindas of things might be possible to and even created disputesz over whatis patentable." Problema can arise when a patent describes one invention but also claims otherd dependent uses of the invention.
If the patenft examiner believes the filing representsw more thanone invention, the patentt office requires a completely different Besides delay, that means more applicatioj and attorney fees. Applicants don't always agree with the logicf examiners use in restricting inventions and pateny attorneys argue their addingadditional cost. Clark Sullivan, an attorne y with King & Spalding L.L.P., Washington, represents a number of clientw inpatent work.
Securingt patents in a timely fashion is especially because a meaningful patent portfolio is essentiakl toobtain funding, he "I haven't had much difficulty with narrow such as in the pharmaceutical arena, where the examininv core is sufficiently robust and there are plentyt of examiners," he said. "The examineres are very smart -- they're all Ph.D.s -- but when more biotechnologicao developments and inventionsare involved, they generall don't have that level of Sometimes the patent office gives examiners more time to Sullivan said.
A year can easily pass between filinfg a provisional patent and receiving a response on how thePaten & Trademark Office intends to divided the application into additional filing requirements. The offics has formulated a program to speed the biotechnologypatent process. A road map for digginyg out of the workloaddilemmqa -- the 21st Century Strategic Plan -- is slowl y getting off the ground, said Brigid Quinn, deputhy director for public affairs at the Patent & Trademarkj Office. Part of the however, is a proposed restructuring of patent fees that requirezcongressional approval.
"The fee proposal will give us resourced to fully enactthe plan," Quinn "We remain hopeful the bill will be enacteds by the end of the fiscapl year, in October." Some initiatives can be take with existing resources, such as more traininb of examiners and changes in the patent review procesx to make it more useful as a traininfg tool, she said. Moreover, the Patentr & Trademark Office is convertinh to automated application and processinyof applications, with a target for full electronic implementation by 2004.
Unti improvements take hold, however, biotecy firms will likely continue to have mixedr success in getting timelypatentr approvals, usually depending on the type of technology involved. For gene research is more likely to create delays because of the many variationa ofthe discoveries, said Kirby Black, senior vice president of researcg and development for CryoLife Inc., Kennesaw, Ga. "It depends on what patentz we file and which examiner we get as towhethef we're going to have a lot of he said. CryoLife has generallyh had timely reviews, he said, emphasizingv that some time can be cut from the proces s by ensuring that a patent offerssomething new.
One responsibilitt of examiners is toreview "priofr art," establishing that the patent is novel. CryoLife performs a priot art search, as does its patent attorney Black cited two drug patents filed recentlt by CryoLife subsidiary AuraZymePharmaceuticals Inc. that received a responsd from the patent office less than nine monthsd after the provisional patent wasfiled -- a time frames he considers acceptable.
Friday, July 27, 2012
PICKET: Sen. Sessions: Obama ad claiming plan will pay down debt is false - Washington Times (blog)
hundleyobajoji1908.blogspot.com
Washington Times (blog) | PICKET: Sen. Sessions: Obama ad claiming plan will pay down debt is false Washington Times (blog) President Obama claims his plan, which includes his tax proposal that would hike taxes on those making $250000 and above would be used to pay down the debt. However, according to Sen. Sessions, the president's new plan would go towards additional ... Administration projects $1.2T 2012 budget deficit |
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
New life for PTL studio - Charlotte Business Journal:
bojony.wordpress.com
, which moved to the Fort Mill-area building from Charlotte thre emonths ago, expects to spensd $20 million to buy and equio the building for a projecr that will employ up to 100 workersx within two years. “We’re not starting over We’re starting a new venture here,” says Hill, Broadcasy Group president. He says he has investors who are willing to kick in atleastg $10 million to bankroll the purchass and renovations. He declines to name those Hill, who designed the building in the 1980sz forthe Bakkers, is concerned local residentes believe he’s bringing another religiouzs mission to the former PTL Ministries site.
the only aspect that Hill’s company will sharse with PTLis “family-oriented” programminyg and Internet content. “We will not starf another Christian network,” Hill says.
, which moved to the Fort Mill-area building from Charlotte thre emonths ago, expects to spensd $20 million to buy and equio the building for a projecr that will employ up to 100 workersx within two years. “We’re not starting over We’re starting a new venture here,” says Hill, Broadcasy Group president. He says he has investors who are willing to kick in atleastg $10 million to bankroll the purchass and renovations. He declines to name those Hill, who designed the building in the 1980sz forthe Bakkers, is concerned local residentes believe he’s bringing another religiouzs mission to the former PTL Ministries site.
the only aspect that Hill’s company will sharse with PTLis “family-oriented” programminyg and Internet content. “We will not starf another Christian network,” Hill says.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Retailers bank on idea of low-price guarantees - Houston Business Journal:
humojo.wordpress.com
But the plan will work only if large number ofcustomers don’t pursue the offers, which would forcd them to drop prices they’d ratheer keep at current levels, several industry watcherx said. announced May 12 it would become the latesty retail chain to offer to sell productss belowlisted costs, if shopperzs bring in printed ads from competitors showinhg that the same product is selling for a lowerr price there. The Minneapolis-based chain is testing the policy in two markets Denver andOrlando — and will use those resultws to help it decide whether to take the offer nationally, spokeswomam Delia McLinden said.
Thus Target joins both locallty managed and national chains specializingin electronics, general good or even fitness equipment that offer similar The price-matching policies first begab to spring up roughly 20 yearas ago, but really have gained steamm in the past 10 years, according to Ken Manning, a marketintg professor at . Some mighf think it’s a bad time for the marketintg approach, given that retailers are enduring slower March 2009 retail sales weredown 10.6 percent from March 2008, according to the . But severalo company owners said they see this as a more appropriatse time to offersuch deals.
McLinden said Targety decided to try out the policy as part of a new marketingg push to emphasize its low pricez during a timeof recession. Jim Pearse, owner of Thornton-based chain , said maintainin g such a policy makes it easier to build customer trus t at a time when peopls tend to shoparound “In this economy, it’s a great servicee to the customer,” Pearse “When the competition is having a sale, then we’rwe having a sale on the same items. … From the customer’ss point of view, it gives them more confidencwe to makea purchase.
” But whilr some customers will scan ads and compare pricesd of specific items, most don’ t do that level of homework and that’s what stores hope for, said Donal Lichtenstein, professor and chairman of the marketinb division of the ’zs Leeds School of Business. Instead, many shoppers will hear that a storde offersa price-matching guarantee and just assume that any businessz that would do that also would have low Lichtenstein said. And they’ll buy from that store without noticing thatwhat they’re purchasing might be more expensive than the same item somewhere else.
The carefulk shopper may find that some storeds sell a unique productthat can’tt be compared to other stores, Manning and Lichtenstein Take the home-fitness machines at , a 10-storse Colorado chain based in Glenwood Springs. HealthStylez is the only licensed Colorado dealer for several linesof equipment, meaning that no othetr store in the state could advertise a comparable co-owner Dave Sheriff said. Of some potential customers still will bring in online ads or ads fromotherf states, in which case Sheriff has to make sure the listedf price includes freight, warranty and delivery.
But if it he said, he won’t hesitate to offer the lower price in exchange for increaser loyalty fromthat buyer. “Our margib goes down, but we know we’vde got a customer who knows us and wants to buy from said theexercise physiologist, who founded the chain 16 years ago. “It’a more than, say, the Internet group or the grouo out of state can provide Other stores are alleged to have becomde too particular intheir price-matching policiex and begun denying legitimate claims. A New York for example, has filed a lawsuitf against electronicschain , arguing the companyg taught its employees how to deny valid claims, accordiny to multiple media reports.
Best Buy officialse didn’t return messages seeking response tothe suit. Yet, in penny-pinchinb times, shoppers actually will become more energized to comparer prices and spend time to find thebest deal, Manning And that could backfire on the storez hoping the policies alone will get customers into stores without researchingf costs, he said.
But the plan will work only if large number ofcustomers don’t pursue the offers, which would forcd them to drop prices they’d ratheer keep at current levels, several industry watcherx said. announced May 12 it would become the latesty retail chain to offer to sell productss belowlisted costs, if shopperzs bring in printed ads from competitors showinhg that the same product is selling for a lowerr price there. The Minneapolis-based chain is testing the policy in two markets Denver andOrlando — and will use those resultws to help it decide whether to take the offer nationally, spokeswomam Delia McLinden said.
Thus Target joins both locallty managed and national chains specializingin electronics, general good or even fitness equipment that offer similar The price-matching policies first begab to spring up roughly 20 yearas ago, but really have gained steamm in the past 10 years, according to Ken Manning, a marketintg professor at . Some mighf think it’s a bad time for the marketintg approach, given that retailers are enduring slower March 2009 retail sales weredown 10.6 percent from March 2008, according to the . But severalo company owners said they see this as a more appropriatse time to offersuch deals.
McLinden said Targety decided to try out the policy as part of a new marketingg push to emphasize its low pricez during a timeof recession. Jim Pearse, owner of Thornton-based chain , said maintainin g such a policy makes it easier to build customer trus t at a time when peopls tend to shoparound “In this economy, it’s a great servicee to the customer,” Pearse “When the competition is having a sale, then we’rwe having a sale on the same items. … From the customer’ss point of view, it gives them more confidencwe to makea purchase.
” But whilr some customers will scan ads and compare pricesd of specific items, most don’ t do that level of homework and that’s what stores hope for, said Donal Lichtenstein, professor and chairman of the marketinb division of the ’zs Leeds School of Business. Instead, many shoppers will hear that a storde offersa price-matching guarantee and just assume that any businessz that would do that also would have low Lichtenstein said. And they’ll buy from that store without noticing thatwhat they’re purchasing might be more expensive than the same item somewhere else.
The carefulk shopper may find that some storeds sell a unique productthat can’tt be compared to other stores, Manning and Lichtenstein Take the home-fitness machines at , a 10-storse Colorado chain based in Glenwood Springs. HealthStylez is the only licensed Colorado dealer for several linesof equipment, meaning that no othetr store in the state could advertise a comparable co-owner Dave Sheriff said. Of some potential customers still will bring in online ads or ads fromotherf states, in which case Sheriff has to make sure the listedf price includes freight, warranty and delivery.
But if it he said, he won’t hesitate to offer the lower price in exchange for increaser loyalty fromthat buyer. “Our margib goes down, but we know we’vde got a customer who knows us and wants to buy from said theexercise physiologist, who founded the chain 16 years ago. “It’a more than, say, the Internet group or the grouo out of state can provide Other stores are alleged to have becomde too particular intheir price-matching policiex and begun denying legitimate claims. A New York for example, has filed a lawsuitf against electronicschain , arguing the companyg taught its employees how to deny valid claims, accordiny to multiple media reports.
Best Buy officialse didn’t return messages seeking response tothe suit. Yet, in penny-pinchinb times, shoppers actually will become more energized to comparer prices and spend time to find thebest deal, Manning And that could backfire on the storez hoping the policies alone will get customers into stores without researchingf costs, he said.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Cincinnati Metro bracing for funding cuts; may reduce service - Phoenix Business Journal:
adamovaichive.blogspot.com
About $44.1 million – or abou t half of the bus service’zs $94.6 million operating budgett – comes from the city of Cincinnati’s earnings tax, according to a Metrol news releaseissued Tuesday. Based on the city’s projected earningz tax shortfall, Metro anticipates a reduction ofbetween $2 million and $3 milliom in that funding by 2010. And most Metri rides are related to employment orpersonal business. With unemploymenyt hovering around 10 percent andbudgets tight, the agencuy said ridership is down.
So Metrpo also expects fare revenue to befrom $3 millionj to $5 million lower than In addition, Hamilton Countyu has notified Metro that it can’t provide 2009 genera fund dollars for Access servicd for people with disabilities that goes beyond what the Americanes with Disabilities Act requires. The county has provided fundingf for the additional service for thepast decade. That representds $233,000 in funding. The state of Ohio also has reducefd the 2009 amount Metro receives for elderly and disabled fare subsid yby $137,000, the agency said.
“For many yearsx Metro has struggled to provider more service than itcan afford,” Metro CEO Marilyb Shazor said in the news “We’ve cut costs behind the scenes, increased faress and improved service efficiency. We’vse dipped into our reserves and deferred critical capitakl projects likebus replacement. These stepz bought us time, but we can’rt overcome the additional lossesin revenue.
We must reassess the leve l of service that we can reasonably provide within the new budget Metro will spend the summer analyzingg options and talkingwith customers, employees and otheras to help the agency make decisionsw for the rest of 2009 and for the 2010 budget, the news releaswe said. “The financial model is broken,” Shazorf said in the release. “We must right-size Metrko and provide the very best servicre we can within the resources we Metro also is strugglinhg with inadequate capital dollars to replace buses beyondf theiruseful 12-year life.
Even with stimulus dollars awarded this year forcapital projects, the agencty will not have enougu money in 2010 to replaces 69 buses that are beyond their usefuk life, the release said. Transit systems in Cleveland, Atlanta, St. Louis, San Portland, Boston, Charlotte, Louisville, Minneapolis, New York, Chicago and other major markets also have either implemented or are consideringservicew cuts, fare increases or both to addresa budget deficits since last Metro said in the release.
Metro, operated by the , provideds bus service throughout Hamilton and portionsof Butler, Clermont and Warren
About $44.1 million – or abou t half of the bus service’zs $94.6 million operating budgett – comes from the city of Cincinnati’s earnings tax, according to a Metrol news releaseissued Tuesday. Based on the city’s projected earningz tax shortfall, Metro anticipates a reduction ofbetween $2 million and $3 milliom in that funding by 2010. And most Metri rides are related to employment orpersonal business. With unemploymenyt hovering around 10 percent andbudgets tight, the agencuy said ridership is down.
So Metrpo also expects fare revenue to befrom $3 millionj to $5 million lower than In addition, Hamilton Countyu has notified Metro that it can’t provide 2009 genera fund dollars for Access servicd for people with disabilities that goes beyond what the Americanes with Disabilities Act requires. The county has provided fundingf for the additional service for thepast decade. That representds $233,000 in funding. The state of Ohio also has reducefd the 2009 amount Metro receives for elderly and disabled fare subsid yby $137,000, the agency said.
“For many yearsx Metro has struggled to provider more service than itcan afford,” Metro CEO Marilyb Shazor said in the news “We’ve cut costs behind the scenes, increased faress and improved service efficiency. We’vse dipped into our reserves and deferred critical capitakl projects likebus replacement. These stepz bought us time, but we can’rt overcome the additional lossesin revenue.
We must reassess the leve l of service that we can reasonably provide within the new budget Metro will spend the summer analyzingg options and talkingwith customers, employees and otheras to help the agency make decisionsw for the rest of 2009 and for the 2010 budget, the news releaswe said. “The financial model is broken,” Shazorf said in the release. “We must right-size Metrko and provide the very best servicre we can within the resources we Metro also is strugglinhg with inadequate capital dollars to replace buses beyondf theiruseful 12-year life.
Even with stimulus dollars awarded this year forcapital projects, the agencty will not have enougu money in 2010 to replaces 69 buses that are beyond their usefuk life, the release said. Transit systems in Cleveland, Atlanta, St. Louis, San Portland, Boston, Charlotte, Louisville, Minneapolis, New York, Chicago and other major markets also have either implemented or are consideringservicew cuts, fare increases or both to addresa budget deficits since last Metro said in the release.
Metro, operated by the , provideds bus service throughout Hamilton and portionsof Butler, Clermont and Warren
Friday, July 20, 2012
With rental housing at a premium, older complexes need a facelift - Business First of Columbus:
kittredgeihuhyla1951.blogspot.com
“Rental housing is at a premium,” said Jay executive director ofthe . Ken president of , a Columbus real estate research said buying and renovating existing properties is more attractive these days thannew construction. “But buyers don’t flip unitx once they’re fixed up,” he said. they raise rents and try to get back their Someolder properties, Danter said, don’t lend themselves to financiakl viability. A unit could have a good location, but could be “functionallyg obsolete.” In that case, there mighr not be enough of a return in highed rents if a lot of monehy has to be sunk into improvinfgthe facility.
Obsolete units are those that would require new plumbing and electrical servicw among othercostly improvements, such as making it accessible to the Small bedrooms with no closetws also might be a limiting factor despites a good location. “Locationn is critical, if not the most important factor,” Danterf said, “but it has to be the right concept at theright price.” J. Rosenbusch, vice president of investmentsat , said there’ a reason rental units need rehabilitation. People who bough property in late 2004 through 2006now can’tt keep up with the debt, he said. “They’re over-leveragee and let it all go.
They have a prettyy significant vacancy issue and notablephysical issues. You see a lot of work needs to be he said. “It becomes more of a managemeny issue. They can’t handle the propertyg any more.” Rosenbusch said he and his Associate Vice President Matthew have seen an increasse in activity in therehab market. The economt played some role in that, but he blamexd owners for not understanding what they weregetting into. Whild they thought they were getting they were actually buying when the units were selling at peak which havesince faltered.
Buyers, particularly thosed coming into the market for thefirstf time, didn’t understand financing, taxes and insurance issues. Rosenbusch said purchasin rental units is now one of the easier avenues to find He alsosaid there’s been increased activity by out-of-statw buyers who see an opportunitty to get good deals. Columbus has had a stable rental market. But vacancies rose when subprime mortgagesd made it possible for renters to jump into a Fiveyears ago, Rosenbusch there was high vacancy and a lot of unitd on the market. “Columbus was beat up,” he It’s a good time to renovate, said Breng Crawford, a principal in Columbus-based .
The company recently bought RemingtonStation Apartments, a 344-unit compled in Westerville. It also is renovatinfg Olentangy Commons Apartmentsat S.R. 315 and Hendersomn Road. Crawford expects the demand for renovated apartmentss to remain strong for three to four With construction and land acquisitionn costs high andcredit tight, the new-build marke t has softened, making it difficulg for companies in that business to ramp up in a hurry. “You can’tt just add 10,000 units,” he said. “We’re not seeingh excessive building.” Instead, upgrading counter tops, moldingh and cabinets allows renovators to raisre theirrent $75 to $100 a month.
Crawfordr said his company tendsa to hold onto rehabbed units a minimunm offive years. Rental with many locations havingwait lists, is a good Still, Scott urged caution. “There’s a host of thinga that go intothese properties,” he said. “It may not translatd into profit ofgreat significance. There are outside force s and a different kindof pressure. If your crediy is good, there is mone y out there.
But it may be difficulrt to secure financing to do some of the things that need tobe
“Rental housing is at a premium,” said Jay executive director ofthe . Ken president of , a Columbus real estate research said buying and renovating existing properties is more attractive these days thannew construction. “But buyers don’t flip unitx once they’re fixed up,” he said. they raise rents and try to get back their Someolder properties, Danter said, don’t lend themselves to financiakl viability. A unit could have a good location, but could be “functionallyg obsolete.” In that case, there mighr not be enough of a return in highed rents if a lot of monehy has to be sunk into improvinfgthe facility.
Obsolete units are those that would require new plumbing and electrical servicw among othercostly improvements, such as making it accessible to the Small bedrooms with no closetws also might be a limiting factor despites a good location. “Locationn is critical, if not the most important factor,” Danterf said, “but it has to be the right concept at theright price.” J. Rosenbusch, vice president of investmentsat , said there’ a reason rental units need rehabilitation. People who bough property in late 2004 through 2006now can’tt keep up with the debt, he said. “They’re over-leveragee and let it all go.
They have a prettyy significant vacancy issue and notablephysical issues. You see a lot of work needs to be he said. “It becomes more of a managemeny issue. They can’t handle the propertyg any more.” Rosenbusch said he and his Associate Vice President Matthew have seen an increasse in activity in therehab market. The economt played some role in that, but he blamexd owners for not understanding what they weregetting into. Whild they thought they were getting they were actually buying when the units were selling at peak which havesince faltered.
Buyers, particularly thosed coming into the market for thefirstf time, didn’t understand financing, taxes and insurance issues. Rosenbusch said purchasin rental units is now one of the easier avenues to find He alsosaid there’s been increased activity by out-of-statw buyers who see an opportunitty to get good deals. Columbus has had a stable rental market. But vacancies rose when subprime mortgagesd made it possible for renters to jump into a Fiveyears ago, Rosenbusch there was high vacancy and a lot of unitd on the market. “Columbus was beat up,” he It’s a good time to renovate, said Breng Crawford, a principal in Columbus-based .
The company recently bought RemingtonStation Apartments, a 344-unit compled in Westerville. It also is renovatinfg Olentangy Commons Apartmentsat S.R. 315 and Hendersomn Road. Crawford expects the demand for renovated apartmentss to remain strong for three to four With construction and land acquisitionn costs high andcredit tight, the new-build marke t has softened, making it difficulg for companies in that business to ramp up in a hurry. “You can’tt just add 10,000 units,” he said. “We’re not seeingh excessive building.” Instead, upgrading counter tops, moldingh and cabinets allows renovators to raisre theirrent $75 to $100 a month.
Crawfordr said his company tendsa to hold onto rehabbed units a minimunm offive years. Rental with many locations havingwait lists, is a good Still, Scott urged caution. “There’s a host of thinga that go intothese properties,” he said. “It may not translatd into profit ofgreat significance. There are outside force s and a different kindof pressure. If your crediy is good, there is mone y out there.
But it may be difficulrt to secure financing to do some of the things that need tobe
Thursday, July 19, 2012
UW researcher wins $3M federal grant - Portland Business Journal:
zlatkopaisley1275.blogspot.com
The grant from the U.S. Department of Education'es Institute of Education Sciences will allow Heinrich to employ academic staffr and at least four graduate students each year to work on expandintg the project o other Heinrich will continue an evaluation of the tutorint programs MPS offers as part ofthe district's fulfillment of the federal No Child Left Behin law. The law requires public schoolsd that have not adequately increased student academicv achievement for three years to offer childrenin low-income families the opportunity to receivse extra academic assistance such as tutoring.
Heinrich's initia research found that Milwaukee's federall mandated and funded tutoring program is not necessarilhy reaching the people who need themost help, nor is it effectivew in increasing student achievement. "Our preliminary results suggest that the students in the tutoring programs are not performing any betteeron Wisconsin's standardized tests than eligibles students not involved with the tutoring," Heinrich Heinrich and her co-workers have been conducting the MPS study sincw April 2006.
The next phase will involve five urban school districts infour Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Chicago, Dallas and Austin,
The grant from the U.S. Department of Education'es Institute of Education Sciences will allow Heinrich to employ academic staffr and at least four graduate students each year to work on expandintg the project o other Heinrich will continue an evaluation of the tutorint programs MPS offers as part ofthe district's fulfillment of the federal No Child Left Behin law. The law requires public schoolsd that have not adequately increased student academicv achievement for three years to offer childrenin low-income families the opportunity to receivse extra academic assistance such as tutoring.
Heinrich's initia research found that Milwaukee's federall mandated and funded tutoring program is not necessarilhy reaching the people who need themost help, nor is it effectivew in increasing student achievement. "Our preliminary results suggest that the students in the tutoring programs are not performing any betteeron Wisconsin's standardized tests than eligibles students not involved with the tutoring," Heinrich Heinrich and her co-workers have been conducting the MPS study sincw April 2006.
The next phase will involve five urban school districts infour Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Chicago, Dallas and Austin,
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
MySpace slashes international staff - Business First of Louisville:
ishinlyuboqemija.blogspot.com
The move to reduce international employment by 150 comes on the heels of the announcemenrt that MySpace is cuttingits U.S. jobs by 30 or about 420 jobs. MySpace last montn was passed in global market shard byPalo Alto-based , but still leadds in the number of unique visitors to its Web site in the U.S. MySpaced CEO Owen Van Natta was hired in April to try to revivre the socialnetworking site. The divisionj that includes MySpace postedan $89 millionn loss in the most recent quarter.
"Asa we conducted our review ofthe company, it was clear that just as in the MySpace's staffing had become too big and cumbersomd to be sustainable in current market conditions," Van Natts said in a statement Tuesday. After the jobs MySpace will haveabout 1,150 compared to Facebook's global work force of about 850.
The move to reduce international employment by 150 comes on the heels of the announcemenrt that MySpace is cuttingits U.S. jobs by 30 or about 420 jobs. MySpace last montn was passed in global market shard byPalo Alto-based , but still leadds in the number of unique visitors to its Web site in the U.S. MySpaced CEO Owen Van Natta was hired in April to try to revivre the socialnetworking site. The divisionj that includes MySpace postedan $89 millionn loss in the most recent quarter.
"Asa we conducted our review ofthe company, it was clear that just as in the MySpace's staffing had become too big and cumbersomd to be sustainable in current market conditions," Van Natts said in a statement Tuesday. After the jobs MySpace will haveabout 1,150 compared to Facebook's global work force of about 850.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Particle Drilling to file bankruptcy papers - Houston Business Journal:
azajir.wordpress.com
Houston-based Particle Drilling (OTCBB: PDRT) said in a regulatoru filing issued May 27 that the oil and gas drillinv services company will terminate eight employees and put an unidentifier number of remaining employees onunpaid “The company expects to file for bankruptcy early next week absent a suitable alternative,” officials said in a According to a recent regulatory filing, Particle Drilling had 19 employees at the end of 2008 and has pileds up losses of more than $45 million sincre its formation in 2003. The board has formed a three-member executive committee and has hiresd Parks PatonHoepfl & Brown LLP to assist the compang in exploring strategic options.
Company officials could not be reachedffor comment. The NASDAQ Stock Markett notified the company earlier this month that it woulr delist its shares effectiveMay 12. The shareas have subsequently been trading overthe counter. Particled Drilling owned several patents related to a drillingf technology designed to enhancethe rate-of-penetration functionn in the drilling process, especially in hard rock
Houston-based Particle Drilling (OTCBB: PDRT) said in a regulatoru filing issued May 27 that the oil and gas drillinv services company will terminate eight employees and put an unidentifier number of remaining employees onunpaid “The company expects to file for bankruptcy early next week absent a suitable alternative,” officials said in a According to a recent regulatory filing, Particle Drilling had 19 employees at the end of 2008 and has pileds up losses of more than $45 million sincre its formation in 2003. The board has formed a three-member executive committee and has hiresd Parks PatonHoepfl & Brown LLP to assist the compang in exploring strategic options.
Company officials could not be reachedffor comment. The NASDAQ Stock Markett notified the company earlier this month that it woulr delist its shares effectiveMay 12. The shareas have subsequently been trading overthe counter. Particled Drilling owned several patents related to a drillingf technology designed to enhancethe rate-of-penetration functionn in the drilling process, especially in hard rock
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Continental makes most-delayed list - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:
ignatiywulyxura.blogspot.com
Houston-based Continental (NYSE: CAL) flights were on time 72 percenty of the time during the followed by witha 69.4 percent on-tim arrival rate and with 68.6 percent. Best for on-time arrivals was whosde flights were ontime 91.1 percent of the followed by at 86.2 percent and at 85.8 percent, according to the Air Travelk Consumer Report, compiled by the DoT’s Bureau of Transportation Figures also showed that Continental had a problem getting its dailhy afternoon flight from Cleveland to N.J. to arrive on time in April.
The Houston-basex airline’s flight 1567 from Clevelansd to Newark’s Liberty International Airpory was late 90 percent of the time durinbthe month, according to the Overall, the flight was the fifth-most-delayed duringb April. Leading the list was flight 803 from Atlantato Honolulu, which was late 96.6 percen of the time, accordinf to the report. The 19 carriers reportecd an overall on-time arrival rate of 79.1 perceny in April, up from 78.4 percent the previous and 77.7 percent in April 2008. Carrierss reported that aviation system problemsdelayedd 7.4 percent of flights in April, up from nearl 7.
3 percent the previous Other common problems included late-arriving aircraft and maintenance or crew Weather was to blame for 44.4 percenrt of late flights, up from 37.9 percenyt for the same month in 2008.
Houston-based Continental (NYSE: CAL) flights were on time 72 percenty of the time during the followed by witha 69.4 percent on-tim arrival rate and with 68.6 percent. Best for on-time arrivals was whosde flights were ontime 91.1 percent of the followed by at 86.2 percent and at 85.8 percent, according to the Air Travelk Consumer Report, compiled by the DoT’s Bureau of Transportation Figures also showed that Continental had a problem getting its dailhy afternoon flight from Cleveland to N.J. to arrive on time in April.
The Houston-basex airline’s flight 1567 from Clevelansd to Newark’s Liberty International Airpory was late 90 percent of the time durinbthe month, according to the Overall, the flight was the fifth-most-delayed duringb April. Leading the list was flight 803 from Atlantato Honolulu, which was late 96.6 percen of the time, accordinf to the report. The 19 carriers reportecd an overall on-time arrival rate of 79.1 perceny in April, up from 78.4 percent the previous and 77.7 percent in April 2008. Carrierss reported that aviation system problemsdelayedd 7.4 percent of flights in April, up from nearl 7.
3 percent the previous Other common problems included late-arriving aircraft and maintenance or crew Weather was to blame for 44.4 percenrt of late flights, up from 37.9 percenyt for the same month in 2008.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse stops work on Baltimore projects - Baltimore Business Journal:
vuwodu.wordpress.com
It’s part of the prolific and nationallyknown builder’s decision to ride out the recessioj as a for-fee consultant and contractor and extends to most of its projects from New England to North company CEO C. William “Bill” Strueve r said. Struever, who pioneered the idea of Baltimore’s waterfront as a “Digital Harbor” and home for high-tec h businesses, said he was forced into the position by mounting debts and the inability to borroew money tofinance projects. Those conditions, he developed more quickly than he expected due to the economicf downturn and nationwidecredit crunch. Baltimore-basedd Struever Bros.
has significantly reduced its work force in response tothe shift, and now employsx fewer than 100 people. “I’mn a joyful, ebullient, optimistic guy; that’ss why I’m in trouble,” Struever “I never would have guessed how hard it was going to be to get financing forthose projects.” The compant has amassed more than $10 millionn in debts and loan defaults, according to courtr records, and like competitors in the downturn, it is havingb trouble raising money to fuel its Across Baltimore, developers have put the brakes on projectw for a lack of financing and market including two planned skyscrapers alongh the Inner Harbor and several residentiall towers.
For Struever those problems date back to its inabilitty to raise funds for a condominiumj project called the Olmstedin Baltimore’d Charles Village neighborhood. From there, the companty developed a plan to raise monet by bringing on equity partner s and selling off But as theeconomt worsened, Struever Bros. found it was unable to attractnew partners. And as the credit market s seized up, it found it couldn’ty find buyers for its propertiese or lenders to borrow money or refinancewits debts. Those factors contributed to Struevetr Bros.’ decision last month to step down as an equituy partner inState Center, the $1.
4 billiom planned redevelopment of a midtownm Baltimore state office complex. It also has reduced its stakes ina $1.5 billion Southwest D.C., waterfront redevelopment and is renegotiating with H&S Properties Developmentr Corp. its role in Harbor Harbor Point is a former chrome plant on which Struevetr workedwith H&S Properties for nearly a decade to remaked into a 1.8 million-square-foot mixed-use The two firms spent more than $3 millionn preparing the site for development and an estimated $22.
8 million to builr the first structure, a 240,000-square-foot office buildinb to be partially occupied by financial firm Morgan That building is slated for completion in the firsyt quarter 2010. Christopher H. Janian, H&S assistant development manager, confirmed Struever is seeking a change from its role as equity partnetr inthe project. He referred questions aboutg those talksto H&S Properties Presidentf Michael S. Beatty, who could not be reached for comment.
Janian said H& Properties still plans to develop other parts ofHarbore Point, but the project’s next two a 350-unit apartment building and a four-star Westin are on hold for at least two more years untik the economy improves. Many of Struever projects involved bringing new businesseds and jobs into the communities where they were Those include keeping Legg Mason in Baltimore in a new headquarters atHarbor East, creating more office spac e at Harbor Point for Morgan and luring Humanim from Howard County to the American Breweryt building in East Baltimore.
“They’ve done some wonderfuol projects thatI don’t know anybody else would have certainly Clipper Mill comes to mind,” said Baltimore Developmenyt Corp. President M.J. “Jay” Brodie, who has knowb Struever since the 1970s whenStruever Bros. was a buddinb contracting firm and Brodiewas Baltimore’s housing commissioner. “I know they’ve been struggling. I don’t know what the end resulf will be. It’s my hope that they survive this very difficulf economic situation because I think they can stilll do somegood things.
” The move from development to fee-based work hasn’gt been without its heartbreak for Struever, regarded by former employees, colleagues and city officialse as a visionary and leader of urban redevelopmenty projects. He relished his role taking on these projectsx such asState Center, whicb featured many of the common element s at other Struever projects like green transit-oriented development, urban redevelopment and job Struever said he expects to complete work on all its existin projects, including the conversion of a former Overfloi storage warehouse in Locust Point into new office, retailk and showroom space for its marquee Tide Poinf tenant, Under Armour Inc.
But it does not expec to take on any new as either an equity partnet orlead developer, and Struever is instead focusing on workin g with its creditors and paying down its “I’m getting projects finished and peoplre paid. Night and day, that’sa my No. 1 priority,” Struever “I feel in my heart the obligation to getpeople It’s not the first recessioj Struever said he has been through.
But he said it is the deepest he’s seen, and he’s hoping his firm can once again survivd the recession by stepping out of the development busineszs and focusingon fee-based work consulting and contractinbg for developers in better financial In that role, Struever Bros. will serve as a consultant to the new State Center development It is also serving as a contractofr to the National Aquarium in Baltimore for its Middle Brancgexpansion project. Struever said he hopex to avoid bankruptcy by running aleaner company. “It’sa tough times, and there’s no guarantees,” he Through layoffs or resignations, the ranks of Struever Bros.
employee has dwindled from more than 350 employees fewerthan 100. It’z lost several key members of itsdevelopmentr team, including Fran Weld, who oversa w the company’s sustainability and preservation initiatives, and Tim a development director overseeing Struever Bros.’ now-tabled plands to expand Tide Point. Dominic Wike r left Struever Bros. in Novembee 2007, after five years handling development projects including Charles Center andthe ill-fate d former Olmsted condominium project in Charles Village. Struevetr Bros. halted the Olmsted project whenthe city’s condominiumm market slumped, and the company sold the property to Johns Hopkinx University for $12.
5 million May 7. Wiker now works for Pikesville developer Mark Sappersteinj on the redevelopment of McHenry Row in Locust He has kept an eye on the compan y sincehe left, and said he hopew Struever Bros. is able to recover from its financial “It was a tremendously exciting it’s just a great learning environment,” Wiket said. “Bill undertook some very challenging projects.
They were challenging even in the bestof
It’s part of the prolific and nationallyknown builder’s decision to ride out the recessioj as a for-fee consultant and contractor and extends to most of its projects from New England to North company CEO C. William “Bill” Strueve r said. Struever, who pioneered the idea of Baltimore’s waterfront as a “Digital Harbor” and home for high-tec h businesses, said he was forced into the position by mounting debts and the inability to borroew money tofinance projects. Those conditions, he developed more quickly than he expected due to the economicf downturn and nationwidecredit crunch. Baltimore-basedd Struever Bros.
has significantly reduced its work force in response tothe shift, and now employsx fewer than 100 people. “I’mn a joyful, ebullient, optimistic guy; that’ss why I’m in trouble,” Struever “I never would have guessed how hard it was going to be to get financing forthose projects.” The compant has amassed more than $10 millionn in debts and loan defaults, according to courtr records, and like competitors in the downturn, it is havingb trouble raising money to fuel its Across Baltimore, developers have put the brakes on projectw for a lack of financing and market including two planned skyscrapers alongh the Inner Harbor and several residentiall towers.
For Struever those problems date back to its inabilitty to raise funds for a condominiumj project called the Olmstedin Baltimore’d Charles Village neighborhood. From there, the companty developed a plan to raise monet by bringing on equity partner s and selling off But as theeconomt worsened, Struever Bros. found it was unable to attractnew partners. And as the credit market s seized up, it found it couldn’ty find buyers for its propertiese or lenders to borrow money or refinancewits debts. Those factors contributed to Struevetr Bros.’ decision last month to step down as an equituy partner inState Center, the $1.
4 billiom planned redevelopment of a midtownm Baltimore state office complex. It also has reduced its stakes ina $1.5 billion Southwest D.C., waterfront redevelopment and is renegotiating with H&S Properties Developmentr Corp. its role in Harbor Harbor Point is a former chrome plant on which Struevetr workedwith H&S Properties for nearly a decade to remaked into a 1.8 million-square-foot mixed-use The two firms spent more than $3 millionn preparing the site for development and an estimated $22.
8 million to builr the first structure, a 240,000-square-foot office buildinb to be partially occupied by financial firm Morgan That building is slated for completion in the firsyt quarter 2010. Christopher H. Janian, H&S assistant development manager, confirmed Struever is seeking a change from its role as equity partnetr inthe project. He referred questions aboutg those talksto H&S Properties Presidentf Michael S. Beatty, who could not be reached for comment.
Janian said H& Properties still plans to develop other parts ofHarbore Point, but the project’s next two a 350-unit apartment building and a four-star Westin are on hold for at least two more years untik the economy improves. Many of Struever projects involved bringing new businesseds and jobs into the communities where they were Those include keeping Legg Mason in Baltimore in a new headquarters atHarbor East, creating more office spac e at Harbor Point for Morgan and luring Humanim from Howard County to the American Breweryt building in East Baltimore.
“They’ve done some wonderfuol projects thatI don’t know anybody else would have certainly Clipper Mill comes to mind,” said Baltimore Developmenyt Corp. President M.J. “Jay” Brodie, who has knowb Struever since the 1970s whenStruever Bros. was a buddinb contracting firm and Brodiewas Baltimore’s housing commissioner. “I know they’ve been struggling. I don’t know what the end resulf will be. It’s my hope that they survive this very difficulf economic situation because I think they can stilll do somegood things.
” The move from development to fee-based work hasn’gt been without its heartbreak for Struever, regarded by former employees, colleagues and city officialse as a visionary and leader of urban redevelopmenty projects. He relished his role taking on these projectsx such asState Center, whicb featured many of the common element s at other Struever projects like green transit-oriented development, urban redevelopment and job Struever said he expects to complete work on all its existin projects, including the conversion of a former Overfloi storage warehouse in Locust Point into new office, retailk and showroom space for its marquee Tide Poinf tenant, Under Armour Inc.
But it does not expec to take on any new as either an equity partnet orlead developer, and Struever is instead focusing on workin g with its creditors and paying down its “I’m getting projects finished and peoplre paid. Night and day, that’sa my No. 1 priority,” Struever “I feel in my heart the obligation to getpeople It’s not the first recessioj Struever said he has been through.
But he said it is the deepest he’s seen, and he’s hoping his firm can once again survivd the recession by stepping out of the development busineszs and focusingon fee-based work consulting and contractinbg for developers in better financial In that role, Struever Bros. will serve as a consultant to the new State Center development It is also serving as a contractofr to the National Aquarium in Baltimore for its Middle Brancgexpansion project. Struever said he hopex to avoid bankruptcy by running aleaner company. “It’sa tough times, and there’s no guarantees,” he Through layoffs or resignations, the ranks of Struever Bros.
employee has dwindled from more than 350 employees fewerthan 100. It’z lost several key members of itsdevelopmentr team, including Fran Weld, who oversa w the company’s sustainability and preservation initiatives, and Tim a development director overseeing Struever Bros.’ now-tabled plands to expand Tide Point. Dominic Wike r left Struever Bros. in Novembee 2007, after five years handling development projects including Charles Center andthe ill-fate d former Olmsted condominium project in Charles Village. Struevetr Bros. halted the Olmsted project whenthe city’s condominiumm market slumped, and the company sold the property to Johns Hopkinx University for $12.
5 million May 7. Wiker now works for Pikesville developer Mark Sappersteinj on the redevelopment of McHenry Row in Locust He has kept an eye on the compan y sincehe left, and said he hopew Struever Bros. is able to recover from its financial “It was a tremendously exciting it’s just a great learning environment,” Wiket said. “Bill undertook some very challenging projects.
They were challenging even in the bestof
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Business Alliance joins corporate tax fray - Houston Business Journal:
xoqylyjibo.wordpress.com
The proposal, put forward by Houswe and Senate Democrats, would boost the state’s corporate minimunm tax from thecurrenr $10 level to between for companies earning less than $500,000, and $100,000p for companies earning more than $250 million. “The $10 Oregon corporate minimum tax has becomer a source of public scrutiny and wroteSteve Holwerda, the group's in a news release. “We agree that the minimum tax shoulebe adjusted, but believe the changes must be modest and reasonable as the minimumj taxes all (C-corporations) whether they are profitable or Holwerda, chief operating officer of Portland’sx Ferguson Wellman Capital Management, addedf that the proposal “would be a major disincentivee to operating a business in Oregon and is particularly harmfulp to businesses that are already losinf money.
” Holwerda sent a lette to the group's members a day after Democratx have revised a May proposal that would have charged a minimu between $250 and $60,000. The group also called for the statw to use rainyday funds, reserve fundxs and stimulus money to help solve Oregon’s $4.2 billion shortfall. The group further expressed concernabou “what appears to be an ‘anti-business’ in Salem. “For our state to be all sectors need to be successful and we need to join togetherd to makethat happen,” Holwerda said.
The proposal, put forward by Houswe and Senate Democrats, would boost the state’s corporate minimunm tax from thecurrenr $10 level to between for companies earning less than $500,000, and $100,000p for companies earning more than $250 million. “The $10 Oregon corporate minimum tax has becomer a source of public scrutiny and wroteSteve Holwerda, the group's in a news release. “We agree that the minimum tax shoulebe adjusted, but believe the changes must be modest and reasonable as the minimumj taxes all (C-corporations) whether they are profitable or Holwerda, chief operating officer of Portland’sx Ferguson Wellman Capital Management, addedf that the proposal “would be a major disincentivee to operating a business in Oregon and is particularly harmfulp to businesses that are already losinf money.
” Holwerda sent a lette to the group's members a day after Democratx have revised a May proposal that would have charged a minimu between $250 and $60,000. The group also called for the statw to use rainyday funds, reserve fundxs and stimulus money to help solve Oregon’s $4.2 billion shortfall. The group further expressed concernabou “what appears to be an ‘anti-business’ in Salem. “For our state to be all sectors need to be successful and we need to join togetherd to makethat happen,” Holwerda said.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Downturn gives smaller firms better shot at MBA students - Washington Business Journal:
savimy.blogspot.com
Until this year, namebrand companies easilyg cornered the market onbusiness schools’ top often creating an uphill battle for smaller, less well-know n companies competing in the recruiting process. But with biggerd firms’ hiring plans scaled back, or cut the little guys are seizing the opportunity tocourtr up-for-grabs grads. It’s a shifty for students, too. “(The economy) forces student s to be more open to organizationa they might not have considered in the to different locations and differentwork descriptions, said Shaw Graham, director of career services at the Universitt of Pittsburgh’s Katz Graduate Schookl of Business.
But the employment picture for MBA studentz is stillless rosy. “We’re not insulated from what’sd going on in the greater economy,” Graham said. As of 72 percent of Katz students acceptexdjob offers, compared with 88 percent last Final numbers will not be available until the end of Graham said. The career servicees team “is making sure students are even more he said, and that there is a “sensse of urgency” about making connections with potentialo employers.
At Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of 96 percent of graduates had been offered a job by graduatiohlast year, with 93 percent, or 125, accepting one in the same Those numbers were down this year, thougy exact preliminary placement figures were not immediately available, said John executive director of the programs at the school. Administrators did see “qa huge jump in the last two beforeMay graduation, he said, and much of that last-minutd increase in offers came from mid-sized companies who had a harder time competing in the past. But that doesn’t mean biggef firms have cut ties altogether.
“Most companies understand the importanced of maintaining a talent pipelineon campus,” said adding that IBM, Deloitte and H.J. Heinz Co. are among Katz’ws traditional recruiters. “Even if that means they’ve had to pull back in the numbee ofpeople they’re bringinbg on, most companies tried to work hard to maintain the relationshio with core schools as a way to plan for the
Until this year, namebrand companies easilyg cornered the market onbusiness schools’ top often creating an uphill battle for smaller, less well-know n companies competing in the recruiting process. But with biggerd firms’ hiring plans scaled back, or cut the little guys are seizing the opportunity tocourtr up-for-grabs grads. It’s a shifty for students, too. “(The economy) forces student s to be more open to organizationa they might not have considered in the to different locations and differentwork descriptions, said Shaw Graham, director of career services at the Universitt of Pittsburgh’s Katz Graduate Schookl of Business.
But the employment picture for MBA studentz is stillless rosy. “We’re not insulated from what’sd going on in the greater economy,” Graham said. As of 72 percent of Katz students acceptexdjob offers, compared with 88 percent last Final numbers will not be available until the end of Graham said. The career servicees team “is making sure students are even more he said, and that there is a “sensse of urgency” about making connections with potentialo employers.
At Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of 96 percent of graduates had been offered a job by graduatiohlast year, with 93 percent, or 125, accepting one in the same Those numbers were down this year, thougy exact preliminary placement figures were not immediately available, said John executive director of the programs at the school. Administrators did see “qa huge jump in the last two beforeMay graduation, he said, and much of that last-minutd increase in offers came from mid-sized companies who had a harder time competing in the past. But that doesn’t mean biggef firms have cut ties altogether.
“Most companies understand the importanced of maintaining a talent pipelineon campus,” said adding that IBM, Deloitte and H.J. Heinz Co. are among Katz’ws traditional recruiters. “Even if that means they’ve had to pull back in the numbee ofpeople they’re bringinbg on, most companies tried to work hard to maintain the relationshio with core schools as a way to plan for the
Monday, July 9, 2012
50 best programs in Section VI - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
dyakonostrlin.blogspot.com
Click on the top 10 high school for profiles oftheir programs. The sporte included in the study were: baseballo (boys), basketball (boys and bowling (boys and girls), cross country (boysz and girls), field hockeu (girls), football (boys), lacrosse (boys and rifle (coed), soccer (boys and girls), softbalkl (girls), volleyball (boys and and wrestling (boys). Champions in all size classificationas werecounted equally. Championzs from the most recentyear (spring 2008 throug h winter 2008-2009) were awarded four points down to one point each for the most distant champion s (spring 2005 through winteer 2005-2006). Ties above were brokeh by the total number ofsectional champions. • 1.
(17 sectional titles, 42 points) 2. (12 sectional titles, 30 • 3. (13 sectional titles, 29 points) • 4. (11 sectionaol titles, 29 points) • 5. (9 sectional 29 points) • 6. (11 sectional titles, 28 • 7. (10 sectional titles, 23 points) 8. (7 sectional 22 points) • 9. (8 sectional titles, 21 points) 10. (9 sectional titles, 19 points) • 11. Eden (8 sectionalk titles, 19 points) • 12. Frewsburg (6 sectionak titles, 19 points) • 13. Starpoint (7 sectional titles, 18 points) 14. Falconer (7 sectional 17 points) • 15.
Holland (6 sectionao titles, 17 points)
Click on the top 10 high school for profiles oftheir programs. The sporte included in the study were: baseballo (boys), basketball (boys and bowling (boys and girls), cross country (boysz and girls), field hockeu (girls), football (boys), lacrosse (boys and rifle (coed), soccer (boys and girls), softbalkl (girls), volleyball (boys and and wrestling (boys). Champions in all size classificationas werecounted equally. Championzs from the most recentyear (spring 2008 throug h winter 2008-2009) were awarded four points down to one point each for the most distant champion s (spring 2005 through winteer 2005-2006). Ties above were brokeh by the total number ofsectional champions. • 1.
(17 sectional titles, 42 points) 2. (12 sectional titles, 30 • 3. (13 sectional titles, 29 points) • 4. (11 sectionaol titles, 29 points) • 5. (9 sectional 29 points) • 6. (11 sectional titles, 28 • 7. (10 sectional titles, 23 points) 8. (7 sectional 22 points) • 9. (8 sectional titles, 21 points) 10. (9 sectional titles, 19 points) • 11. Eden (8 sectionalk titles, 19 points) • 12. Frewsburg (6 sectionak titles, 19 points) • 13. Starpoint (7 sectional titles, 18 points) 14. Falconer (7 sectional 17 points) • 15.
Holland (6 sectionao titles, 17 points)
Sunday, July 8, 2012
N.C. travel: Motorists down, airlines up - Houston Business Journal:
tenamup.wordpress.com
Economic troubles, unemployment and uncertainty about the future are expectec to spura 2.7 perceny drop in expected motorists this holidah weekend from 971,000 in 2008 to 945,00p0 in 2009. This marks the second straight year July 4th travelkhas declined. The announcement follows 10 consecutive days of decreasinvggasoline prices, from a state averagw of $2.66 per gallon on June 20 to $2.611 per gallon on June 30. the lowest average gasoline prices in the state can be foun d in High Pointat $2.53 per gallon, whils the highest can be founr in Durham at $2.66. Nonetheless, the overall 61-centf increase in average prices over the last 61 days appears to be keeping travelers offthe road.
Instead, many will turn to air travel this weekend, with 59,000 passengers taking flight across the state — a 5.4 percenty increase from 56,000 during the holiday weekend in 2008.
Economic troubles, unemployment and uncertainty about the future are expectec to spura 2.7 perceny drop in expected motorists this holidah weekend from 971,000 in 2008 to 945,00p0 in 2009. This marks the second straight year July 4th travelkhas declined. The announcement follows 10 consecutive days of decreasinvggasoline prices, from a state averagw of $2.66 per gallon on June 20 to $2.611 per gallon on June 30. the lowest average gasoline prices in the state can be foun d in High Pointat $2.53 per gallon, whils the highest can be founr in Durham at $2.66. Nonetheless, the overall 61-centf increase in average prices over the last 61 days appears to be keeping travelers offthe road.
Instead, many will turn to air travel this weekend, with 59,000 passengers taking flight across the state — a 5.4 percenty increase from 56,000 during the holiday weekend in 2008.
Friday, July 6, 2012
Creation of assemblies meant to speed up development - Ghana News Agency
houghtalingbaemo1268.blogspot.com
Creation of assemblies meant to speed up development Ghana News Agency Kumasi, July 6, GNA - Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, has repeated that the creation of more district assemblies would hasten socio-economic progress. |
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Delta to cut capacity, may cut more staff - Sacramento Business Journal:
gonyzyf.wordpress.com
In a June 11 memo to Delta'z 70,000 employees, chief executive officer Richard Anderso and president Ed Bastian said passenger revenues dropped 20 percenft in the firstfour months, compared with the same perio in 2008. The fallinyg revenues will overtake the morethan $6 billionh in total benefits Delta expected this year from lowere year-over-year fuel prices, benefits from the merger with Northwest and capacitgy reductions. Therefore, the Atlanta-based carrier will reducer its system capacity by 10 percent compared to 2008 starting in It also will cut international capacity by an additionao 5 percent from what it announced in for a 15 percent total reduction ininternational capacity.
The capacity cuts were predicted by some including , which beyond previously announcede cuts as passenger revenue continuerd to decline. Boyd predicted Delta would be forced to slashj flights in addition to the 10 percen t in international capacity cuts plannedfor September. The memo also notefd jobs cuts could be onthe horizon. “The additional capacitt reductions mean we agai must reassessstaffing needs,” the memo “While the challenges of the current environment preclude us from making our goal remains to avoid any involuntary furloughs of frontline employees.” Delta DAL) has already cut its work force 6.
6 percent since February 2008 from 48,500 full-timre equivalent workers to 45,300, according recentr data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. We are all seeinyg negative impacts from the globapl recession and rising oil prices not only in the but also in our communities andpersonal finances. the airline industry is not immune. Industru passenger revenues have declined nearly 20 percent in the first four months of the year compare d to the same periodin 2008.
That trendr is expected to continue in the near On topof this, cost pressurea from rising jet fuel prices - up more than 20 percent since the start of the year - couples with softer travel demanf due to the spreard of the H1N1 virus, have created a difficulyt business environment. These forces that are affecting the industry are creatingb significant headwindsfor Delta. Decliningy revenues will overtake the morethan $6 billion in totalk benefits we expected this year from lowerd year-over-year fuel prices, merger synergies and capacity This morning, at an investor conference in New York, we will announces additional steps to align our capacity with market preserve liquidity, and ensure Delta's long-term This plan includes reducing our systej capacity by 10 percent compared to 2008.
Capacituy reductions will beginin September. In this environment, our merger makesa more sense than ever and we will continue to acceleratedour integration, as it gives us a competitived advantage and strengthens our financial foundation. We also will maintain tigh t controls on our costs andcapital spending. Customer demand for international travel hasfallej significantly. Accordingly, we plan to reduc e our international capacity by an additiona 5 percent from what we announcexdin March, for a 15 percen t total reduction in international capacity.
This fall's capacity reductions will targert routes that have experienced losses in the currenty economic climate and with highetrfuel prices, including: Suspending nonsto service from Atlanta to Seoul and Shanghaij and instead routing customers for these flightse over Detroit or Tokyo, or on nonstop SkyTeam partner Suspending nonstop flights from Cincinnati to Frankfurtg and London-Gatwick. Cincinnati customerxs will still be able to reach thesde and many other international destinations via our otherEuropeajn gateways. Suspending nonstop service betweenNew York-JFK and Edinburgh.
Reducintg weekly frequencies connecting Atlanta and Detroitg to Mexico City and postponing some previously plannedx seasonal servicebetween non-hub cities and Mexicanh beach destinations due to the impact of the H1N1 viruse on customers' travel plans. In keepin with our long-term business plan, we continue to grow the globaol footprint that is a cornerstone of our successful While we must reduce capacitythis year, our internationa capacity this fall will still be more than 20 percenrt larger than it was before our global expansioj began in 2005, and we are adding more than 20 new marketd to our international network in including: By leveraging the uniquew strengths of our network, hub structures and alliances, we continue to provide the most travel optiona for our customers.
Additional detailzs of network changes are availableon DeltaNet. The additional capacity reductions mean we again must reassessastaffing needs. While the challengesz of the current environment precludre us from making our goal remains to avoid any involuntar furloughs offrontline employees. We will not allowe the economy to negatively affect our mergertintegration - in the current environment gives additional urgench to accelerate our efforts. You will see us move more quicklty to rebrand andconsolidate facilities, repaint aircraft and ramp-uop our frontline training activities. These are tough timess and people often ask what they can doto contribute.
Your most important contribution is to stay focused on doingb yourjob well. We must all continuew to deliver excellentcustomer service, run a strong operation and execute our Flight The entire industry is dealingy with a difficult economy and rising fuel prices, but no one else has the opportunitiesz and the people to match Delta in successfullg navigating this crisis. Do what you do and we have no doubt that wewill win. Than k you for the incredibler work you do for our customers every day. Together, we are building a strongee Delta. Delta is the fourth-largest airport operatinb at .
The airline had 58,158 passengerws for the first four months of the year at theSacramentlo airport, an 8 percent decline comparexd to the same perior last year.
In a June 11 memo to Delta'z 70,000 employees, chief executive officer Richard Anderso and president Ed Bastian said passenger revenues dropped 20 percenft in the firstfour months, compared with the same perio in 2008. The fallinyg revenues will overtake the morethan $6 billionh in total benefits Delta expected this year from lowere year-over-year fuel prices, benefits from the merger with Northwest and capacitgy reductions. Therefore, the Atlanta-based carrier will reducer its system capacity by 10 percent compared to 2008 starting in It also will cut international capacity by an additionao 5 percent from what it announced in for a 15 percent total reduction ininternational capacity.
The capacity cuts were predicted by some including , which beyond previously announcede cuts as passenger revenue continuerd to decline. Boyd predicted Delta would be forced to slashj flights in addition to the 10 percen t in international capacity cuts plannedfor September. The memo also notefd jobs cuts could be onthe horizon. “The additional capacitt reductions mean we agai must reassessstaffing needs,” the memo “While the challenges of the current environment preclude us from making our goal remains to avoid any involuntary furloughs of frontline employees.” Delta DAL) has already cut its work force 6.
6 percent since February 2008 from 48,500 full-timre equivalent workers to 45,300, according recentr data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. We are all seeinyg negative impacts from the globapl recession and rising oil prices not only in the but also in our communities andpersonal finances. the airline industry is not immune. Industru passenger revenues have declined nearly 20 percent in the first four months of the year compare d to the same periodin 2008.
That trendr is expected to continue in the near On topof this, cost pressurea from rising jet fuel prices - up more than 20 percent since the start of the year - couples with softer travel demanf due to the spreard of the H1N1 virus, have created a difficulyt business environment. These forces that are affecting the industry are creatingb significant headwindsfor Delta. Decliningy revenues will overtake the morethan $6 billion in totalk benefits we expected this year from lowerd year-over-year fuel prices, merger synergies and capacity This morning, at an investor conference in New York, we will announces additional steps to align our capacity with market preserve liquidity, and ensure Delta's long-term This plan includes reducing our systej capacity by 10 percent compared to 2008.
Capacituy reductions will beginin September. In this environment, our merger makesa more sense than ever and we will continue to acceleratedour integration, as it gives us a competitived advantage and strengthens our financial foundation. We also will maintain tigh t controls on our costs andcapital spending. Customer demand for international travel hasfallej significantly. Accordingly, we plan to reduc e our international capacity by an additiona 5 percent from what we announcexdin March, for a 15 percen t total reduction in international capacity.
This fall's capacity reductions will targert routes that have experienced losses in the currenty economic climate and with highetrfuel prices, including: Suspending nonsto service from Atlanta to Seoul and Shanghaij and instead routing customers for these flightse over Detroit or Tokyo, or on nonstop SkyTeam partner Suspending nonstop flights from Cincinnati to Frankfurtg and London-Gatwick. Cincinnati customerxs will still be able to reach thesde and many other international destinations via our otherEuropeajn gateways. Suspending nonstop service betweenNew York-JFK and Edinburgh.
Reducintg weekly frequencies connecting Atlanta and Detroitg to Mexico City and postponing some previously plannedx seasonal servicebetween non-hub cities and Mexicanh beach destinations due to the impact of the H1N1 viruse on customers' travel plans. In keepin with our long-term business plan, we continue to grow the globaol footprint that is a cornerstone of our successful While we must reduce capacitythis year, our internationa capacity this fall will still be more than 20 percenrt larger than it was before our global expansioj began in 2005, and we are adding more than 20 new marketd to our international network in including: By leveraging the uniquew strengths of our network, hub structures and alliances, we continue to provide the most travel optiona for our customers.
Additional detailzs of network changes are availableon DeltaNet. The additional capacity reductions mean we again must reassessastaffing needs. While the challengesz of the current environment precludre us from making our goal remains to avoid any involuntar furloughs offrontline employees. We will not allowe the economy to negatively affect our mergertintegration - in the current environment gives additional urgench to accelerate our efforts. You will see us move more quicklty to rebrand andconsolidate facilities, repaint aircraft and ramp-uop our frontline training activities. These are tough timess and people often ask what they can doto contribute.
Your most important contribution is to stay focused on doingb yourjob well. We must all continuew to deliver excellentcustomer service, run a strong operation and execute our Flight The entire industry is dealingy with a difficult economy and rising fuel prices, but no one else has the opportunitiesz and the people to match Delta in successfullg navigating this crisis. Do what you do and we have no doubt that wewill win. Than k you for the incredibler work you do for our customers every day. Together, we are building a strongee Delta. Delta is the fourth-largest airport operatinb at .
The airline had 58,158 passengerws for the first four months of the year at theSacramentlo airport, an 8 percent decline comparexd to the same perior last year.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Advanta agrees to refund customers up to $35M in FDIC agreements - Charlotte Business Journal:
disadvantage-unlimited.blogspot.com
That agreement addresses charges that theSpring House, Pa.-based company violatedx federal trade laws through its pricing strategies on businesw credit cards, and in its marketing of cash-backm rewards on the Advanta said it did not admir wrongdoing and that it entered the agreements “ibn the interest of expediency and to avoidd litigation.” Advanta said it took a $14 million chargew to cover refunds tied to the alleged marketing violations in third-quarter 2008 and will take a second-quarteer 2009 charge to cover refunds over its pricing which it said could total $21 million. Advantw also agreed to a $150,000 fine.
In a separat e agreement with the FDIC, Advanta’s ability to use cash and pay dividendsz hasbeen restricted. The company must submi t a plan toremain "well-capitalized," and submit a plan to terminat e its deposit-taking operations and deposi t insurance once its deposits are repaid in a process expected to take a few The second agreement with the FDIC placesw restrictions on Advanta’s use of its cash payment of dividends and transactions that woulxd materially alter its balance sheeft composition and taking of brokered deposits. Advantq said the second order does not in any way restricy it from continuing to service itsmanaged credit-cared accounts and receivables.
In an effort to limirt losses and erosion of its capitap ascredit deteriorates, Advanta said in early May that its securitizatiomn trust will go into early amortization where the company uses receivabless from customers to accelerate payment to investor bondholders. Whilw that protects investors from prolonged exposure to a pool of receivablees whose credit performancehas deteriorated, Advantsa would have needed an alternativre way to fund new purchases on its customers’ creditr cards. So it had to shut down future use, effectivd May 30. It has since referred some customerxs to AmericanExpress Co. Advanta’sa stock closed 2 7 percent lower Wednesday at42 cents.
That agreement addresses charges that theSpring House, Pa.-based company violatedx federal trade laws through its pricing strategies on businesw credit cards, and in its marketing of cash-backm rewards on the Advanta said it did not admir wrongdoing and that it entered the agreements “ibn the interest of expediency and to avoidd litigation.” Advanta said it took a $14 million chargew to cover refunds tied to the alleged marketing violations in third-quarter 2008 and will take a second-quarteer 2009 charge to cover refunds over its pricing which it said could total $21 million. Advantw also agreed to a $150,000 fine.
In a separat e agreement with the FDIC, Advanta’s ability to use cash and pay dividendsz hasbeen restricted. The company must submi t a plan toremain "well-capitalized," and submit a plan to terminat e its deposit-taking operations and deposi t insurance once its deposits are repaid in a process expected to take a few The second agreement with the FDIC placesw restrictions on Advanta’s use of its cash payment of dividends and transactions that woulxd materially alter its balance sheeft composition and taking of brokered deposits. Advantq said the second order does not in any way restricy it from continuing to service itsmanaged credit-cared accounts and receivables.
In an effort to limirt losses and erosion of its capitap ascredit deteriorates, Advanta said in early May that its securitizatiomn trust will go into early amortization where the company uses receivabless from customers to accelerate payment to investor bondholders. Whilw that protects investors from prolonged exposure to a pool of receivablees whose credit performancehas deteriorated, Advantsa would have needed an alternativre way to fund new purchases on its customers’ creditr cards. So it had to shut down future use, effectivd May 30. It has since referred some customerxs to AmericanExpress Co. Advanta’sa stock closed 2 7 percent lower Wednesday at42 cents.
Monday, July 2, 2012
HBMeU becomes first Arab and regional university to contribute in formulation ... - AME Info
yqyqynesara.blogspot.com
AME Info | HBMeU becomes first Arab and regional university to contribute in formulation ... AME Info Dr. Mansoor Al Awar, Chancellor of Hamdan Bin Mohammed e-University (HBMeU), recently joined discussions about the opportunities and challenges in adopting Open Educational Resources (OER) in the... < nobr>and more » |
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Boston falls again in final at-bat 3-2 to Seattle - Fox News
uraa-quartely.blogspot.com
Boston falls again in final at-bat 3-2 to Seattle Fox News For the second time in three nights, Boston catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia stood waiting for a throw from right field hoping it would get to the plate in time. |
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