Wednesday, March 30, 2011

United Way, Dr. Phillips launch campaign - Sacramento Business Journal:

http://www.the-telephone.net/dir/satellite_tv/follow4/
The campaign, established with grants totalingnearlg $350,000 from Dr. Phillips Charities and , is beingb administered by United Way’es stewardship program that provides emergency assistance tolocal residents. The United Way boarfd backed a move allowint the organization to tap reserve fundw to cover administrative expensesz so that grant dollars will go directlh to help people in UnitedWay President/CEO Robert H. Brown said the campaign represents a temporary responser to an unprecedented burden being placed on the communityh by the ongoingeconomic challenges. Dr.
Phillip Charities is offering a grant ofnearly $300,000, whic h includes $98,100 in start up funds and a challengw matching grant of nearlyu $200,000. Dr. Phillips Charities, one of the region’se largest philanthropic organizations, has awarded more than $23 million to local nonprofits over the past three Bank of Americacontributed $50,000p to the campaign. The goal is to providse aid to morethan 1,350 families over the next five months. Agenciese providing similar services that have exhauste their resources can also accesdsthe dollars. Heart of Florida United Way isCentral Florida’zs largest provider of funds to the region’d health and human service programs.

Monday, March 28, 2011

BFC Financial, Woodbridge to merge - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:

andreychukuze.blogspot.com
In a joint press release the Fort Lauderdale-based companies said they entered into a merger agreement whereinWoodbridge (Pink Sheets: WDGH) would becomde a wholly owned subsidiary of BFC (Pinkl Sheets: BFCF). BFC currently control s majority voting stakes in both Woodbridgdand (NYSE: BBX). BFC lost $58.o9 million on revenue of $487.5 million in 2008. Woodbridges owns , which is building Tradition Florida inPort St. and has investments in various companies includingvand . Woodbridge lost $140.3 millioh on revenue of $25.5 million in 2008.
In its firstf quarter earnings report, Woodbridged warned that Core Communities could default on the loans for Tradition Floridas if its lenders demand that it put more equitcapital down. Under the merger deal, all shareholders of Woodbridge Class A common stocj except BFC wouldreceive 3.47 shares of BFC’s Clasas A common stock per share. With sharee of BFC opening at 40 cents it equalsnearly $1.39 a share for each share of which opened at $1.10 Monday. Levam and Abdo are chairman andvice respectively, of both companies. The merger would save between $1 millionb and $2 million in professional fees and SEC reporting costse forthe companies, Levan said.
It woulc also reduce the taxes Woodbridger would pay on its earning s once it returns to he said. Currently, Woodbridge pays taxes on its earnings, and then BFC pays taxez on the portionof Woodbridge’xs earnings that it counts on its balance The move will not cause any staff reductions, Levan noted. Woodbridge will continue operate independently. The agreement woulx include all current board members of Woodbridgeon BFC’s new board and add Woodbridger President Seth Wise and BankAtlantic Bancorp Presideng Jarett Levan to BFC’s 12-member board, as well. Wise woul d also become executive vice presidentof BFC. The deal is expected to close before the endof 2009.
BFC sharess closed unchanged at40 cents. The 52-week high was 95 centas on Sept. 2. The 52-week low was 6 centas on Feb. 5. Woodbridge shares closed down 2 centzto $1.08. The 52-week high was $6.60 on Aug. 21. The 52-week low was 2 centss on Oct. 24.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Brandon Knight On Winner - ESPN

goldenayreyg1666.blogspot.com


Globe and Mail


Brandon Knight On Winner

ESPN


NEWARK, NJ -- Here, then, Ohio State fans is your silver lining: Jared Sullinger says he is coming back. AP Photo/Bill Kostroun Jared Sullinger vowed after Ohio State's loss to return for his sophomore season. Sitting in the Ohio State locker room ...


March Madness: Knight Hits Game Winner as Kentucky Advances to Elite Eight

Bleacher Report


Brandon Knight hits another game-winner

College Fantasy Hoops Insider


Matta builds a winner, and does it his way

Columbus Dispatch


The Japan Times -International Business Times -The Star-Ledger - NJ.com


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Friday, March 25, 2011

Leeds Utd news - Spurs youngster signs, Two loan exits, Howson out for U21's - A Different League

lyubomiradete.blogspot.com


Eurosport.com AU


Leeds Utd news - Spurs youngster signs, Two loan exits, Howson out for U21's

A Different League


Tottenham Hotspur youngster Jake Livermore has signed for Leeds United on loan until the end of the season. The 21 year old signed on the final day for emergency loan transfers as Simon Grayson shuffled his pack for the final push for ...


One player in, two out for Leeds United

The Press, York


Tottenham loan Jake Livermore to Leeds United as Bongani Khumalo joins Preston ...

Goal.com


Leeds United: Whites sign Tottenham Hotspur star on loan

Yorkshire Evening Post


BBC Sport -Yahoo! Eurosport UK -Vitalfootb »

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Monsanto

Frigidaire FAH12ER2T
The product provides protection from feedinyg damage caused by insects and tolerance to Roundupagricultural herbicides. Monsanto anticipates the product’sw value will be between $300 million and $500 million in 2020. This is the firsg biotech insect-protected product in soybeans and Monsanto's firs biotech product targeted primarily at a market outsidde theUnited States, the biotecjh giant said. The company expects to commercialize the soybeans in Brazi l in the early to middle part of the next decader pending globalregulatory approvals. Submissionsd to the and the have also been Submissions to the and import marketas will occur over the nextseveralk months, Monsanto said.
Creve Mo.-based Monsanto Co. (NYSE: MON), led by Chairman, Presidenr and CEO Hugh Grant, develops insect- and herbicide-resistantg crops and other agricultural products. It is one of the largest employersin St. Louis with 4,009 local employees.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Florida Blue insurance stores to open in Tampa, Orlando this year - Tampa Bay Business Journal:

Friedrich SS12M10
The stores offer a products and services, plans, denta and life coverage, and health savinges account-compatible coverage. They also offer wellness-related servicezs such as smoking cessationm and weightmanagement programs. The first Floridza Blue store opened in February 2007 in Jacksonville at a costof $300,000-$500,000 for renovations. The compangy opened a second opened in Januarhy 2008 inPembroke Pines, just outside Fort “Our goal is to add several Florida Blue stores within the next year,” said Lauralee Shapiro, spokeswoman for Jacksonville-based Blue the largest health insurer in Florida with 32 percent of the markeft and 4.2 million members.
The Orlando store’sa size and location haven’t been determined yet, nor have an architecr or contractorbeen chosen. Blue Crossw decided to open a store in Orlando because it has a steadgy influx ofnew residents, many of whom are age said Shapiro, who didn’t disclose the anticipated cost of openingb the store. The number of employees for thestore hasn’t been determined, but they’llp include insurance agents and customer service About 15,000 to 20,000 people, or up to 50 a day, have visitef the 2,500-square-foot Jacksonville store which employs 10 people — since it opened two yeard ago, said Nick store manager, who declined to revea l the number of policieds sold.
“We’ve been busy from .” Visitors to the stores can researcjh plans and existing clients canget face-to-face service, Tant said. Generapl information seminars and events also are The Jacksonville store mainly deals with individua healthcare policies. Business has picked up sinces the recession began because many people were used to havinb benefits through their employersand aren’t sure how to find coverag themselves, Tant said. Retail insurancw is a niche Blue Cross expectwto grow, said Shapiro, addingt that research shows 20- to 40-year-olds and youn g families are “more comfortable making purchasexs in a retail store environment.
The interactive natured makes it easier for consumers to understand the plan differenceas and benefits so they can make the best Dave Gentry, COO of Fringe Benefit Plans in Winter Park, doesn’t expect the plannee new Florida Blue stord to affect his agency. Although it will be directy competition, it will offer only Blue Cross products. And “most consumers are comparison shoppers who want access to multiple insurance companiesand options,” whichu is exactly what independent insurance agents offer, said Gentry, who last year added individual Local insurance specialist Leslie Glogau doesn’t expecyt to be hurt by the new Florida Blue store Blue Cross has some affordable she said, and it’s grear if the insurer can reach people she Blue Cross Blue Shield of Floridwa won’t be the only insurer with a storefronf presence in Central Florida.
already has two local storefron Guidance Centers that openerd inOctober 2008, said spokeswoman Nancu Hanewinckel. Humana is Florida’s largest Medicarre health benefits company with nearlya half-milliobn members statewide. However, the Humana staffed with a full-time customer service primarily are aimed at providing guidance for seniors who have questionsx about theirMedicare policies, she They also offer senior exercisee and wellness programs.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Free Chick-fil-A meal on July 10 - Memphis Business Journal:

Air Purifiers Norwalk
The giveaway is part of the Atlanta-based chain’a fifth-annual Cow Appreciation Day, which honors its "Eat Mor Chikin" Cows. In a related promotion, parents can enter photos of their cow-clad children as part of a "Show Us the online photo contest, for a chance to win a $1,00o0 U.S. Savings Bond. Between now and Aug. 31, childrenn ages 10 and youngedr are encouraged to work with an adult to submit creative photoxs of themselves dressedas cows. The contest Web www.CowAppreciationDay.com, has details about uploading photos for the Once the picturesare uploaded, the public can vote for theirf favorite photo through Aug. 31.
The 20 photographse that get the most Internet votes will benamed semifinalists. From the Chick-fil-A will select five finalists and one grandc prize winner based onoverall quality, appearance, creativity and skill. The entrant's age will be take n into accountfor judging, Chick-fil-A said. The grand prize winnet will receivea U.S. Series EE Savings Bond with a maturithy valueof $1,000, a catered party for theirt classroom, free Chick-fil-A Kid's Meals for a year and a digital among other gifts. Also each Kid's Meal from June 22 to July 25 will includ e miniatureCow figurines, while supplies last.
One out of every 100 of the cows will have gold spots insteaxd of the traditional black spots and will be packages with a card redeemable for a freeIce cream.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Residents Question School Board over Health Science Academy Policy and the ... - Patch.com

Air Purifiers St. Louis


Residents Question School Board over Health Science Academy Policy and the ...

Patch.com


But it's not ready to be formalized.รข€ It was noted that a written agreement regarding Health Science Academy students from Lawrence participating in spring sports at Lawrence High School had been signed by the respective principals of HAS and LHS, ...



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Monday, March 14, 2011

Less than 24 hours to digital TV - Atlanta Business Chronicle:

Fujitsu ASTA30JFC
The switch to digital which frees up bandwidth for other communicationes uses such as public safetyfirsg responders, was scheduled to be completec Feb. 17, but was postponedd because about 6 million householdas were still unprepared to continu receiving a signal on theid television sets and government funds to subsidizee purchases of converter boxes hadrun out. The convertee boxes are necessary to allow households with televisionx receiving analog signals to also receive the new digital New antennas for some televisionzs also will be necessary to providee the best reception afterthe switch.
With the extensiojn of the digital televisiontransition deadline, another $650 milliom was added to the $1.5 billion initialluy committed to the transition, including the $40 coupoh program and other and preparednesse programs. Now, the latest industry estimates indicate that the numbef of unprepared households has been cut nearly in TheNielsen Co. and NAB, the , put the unpreparecd households numberbetween 2.8 millionj and three million, according to recent measuresz by each entity.
That’sz about 12 percent of at-risk householdws that could still lose access to importanty news and alerts when theswitch happens, according to NAB’sz latest survey completed by SmithGeiger LLC June 3. However, 3 percent of those households have either applied for or received a converter box coupon fromthe government, according to the survey. Whiled commissioners at the are anticipatiny a smoother transition than they say woul d have occurred in they willspend $40 million to staff call centera across the country.
One last challenge for television viewersx afterthe switch: finding your favorite On June 12, some digital stationes already on the air will change channel To ensure televisions receive all available stations broadcasting in a particulad market, viewers may need to force their digitall televisions or set-top converte r boxes to “auto tune,” or re-scan, for all availablee channels.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Negotiators today best advised to do homework, know market - Nashville Business Journal:

nautical-different.blogspot.com
Both the and the predict the economic downturn in commercial real estate markets may lastinto 2010. “Thw commercial mortgage-backed securities market is allbut frozen, makingb it very difficult to roll-ovee existing debt that is comintg due,” says Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist. John a commercial real estate consultant and member ofthe , says commerciakl property, just like residential, is driven by supplyy and demand.
He believes builders didn’t overbuild causing the currentgsoft market, rather, demand is just “The economy has simply caused vacanchy rates to go up,” he “Businesses aren’t doing as well and can’t afforfd their leases.” Since business has many tenants have contacted landlords to ask for a varietyh of concessions, says Richard Buxbaum, a commercial brokerr with Baker Katz in Houston. “A struggliny tenant might reasonably expect the landlord to make short term adjustmentsain rent, but a landlord shouldn’tt be expected to make long term he says.
“If a landlored provides some type of rent relief toits tenant, then the landlorf will likely request something in return.” A term makinbg its way into the vocabulary of the industry toda y is “most favored-nation provision,” a clause incorporated into leaseds that requires a potential tenant to receive no less favorable treatment than any curren t or future tenant with regarr to a specific lease or terms. “Ifc the landlord charges less rent or make s other concessions in order to attract new tenantds or to maintain old then the same concessions should be grantex to thepotential tenant,” explains attornet Brett Slobin of Slobin & Slobin PC.
“Landlordw will likely be very much against the idea ofa ‘most provision, but if the real estate market continues its negative trending, such provisions may become more in The current state of commercial real estate, many say, makes any negotiations in today’s markegt that much more Greg Schenk, a membe of the SIOR who teaches negotiation skills, said the firsg step is to have a plan. “A lot of executivew don’t — and it can kill a company’s bottonm line,” Schenk says. “You have to know where the companyyhas been, where it is now and where it wants to go.
” He added a plan usually focuses on one of four scenarios: A leasde renewal — which he said is the case abouft 70 percent of the time — a new a purchase or putting up a new Negotiations typically include a landlord, a a tenant and representative for the “And each principal may hire an attorney, plus you have to conside r lenders; they often like to see the leases or they’lp have lease forms they like to Blumer says.
Schenk also recommendas a certifiedpublic accountant, a good commercial insurancew agent and finally a good space planner and architect to ensur the company gets the space Blumer and Schenk warned of landmine in negotiations that can blow up “Some go in trying to win at the expense of opponents and end up losintg all around,” Blumer said. “The key poinft of a negotiation is a business arrangemenrt and the tenants are at the table becauses they want to operatee theirbusiness profitably.
If aftere six months they can’t do that because of unfai r terms, that doesn’t help Schenk added that another mistakw is failing to planearly “We like 18 months to two years with most of our he says. “There’s a lot to know: Rentao rates, operating expenses, concessions available like free rent, moving over standard tenant improvement allowances, tax etc.”

Monday, March 7, 2011

Denver Tea Party lands former GOP and Democratic leaders - Denver Post

http://chantiers.org/bousquet2.htm


Denver Tea Party lands former GOP and Democratic leaders

Denver Post


The Denver Tea Party has snagged two unlikely members to serve on its advisory board: former chairmen of the Colorado Republican and Democratic parties. From 1997 to 1999, Phil Perington served as the Colorado Democratic Party chairman. ...



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Friday, March 4, 2011

Wave of protests now touches nearly all of Arab world - MiamiHerald.com

http://freesoftwhere.org/2010/02/08/getting-things-bird/


Wave of protests now touches nearly all of Arab world

MiamiHerald.com


CAIRO -- From North Africa to the Arabian Peninsula, virtually no Arab country remained untouched Friday by the two-month wave of revolts that's overthrown two heads of state and left many other leaders teetering or rolling out ...



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Wednesday, March 2, 2011

SAN MARCOS: Janet McClean appointed to 19-month school district term - North County Times

bestimmung-amendments.blogspot.com


SAN MARCOS: Janet McClean appointed to 19-month school district term

North County Times


Trustees in the San Marcos Unified School District appointed Carlsbad resident Janet McClean to the school board Tuesday after saying they hoped her financial background would help them as they face another year of possible budget cutbacks. ...


Accountant tapped to fill San Marcos school board vacancy

San Diego Union Tribune



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