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February 8th, 2010

MOST bank notes are made from cotton to prevent them being ripped too easily.
February 7, 2010

WASHINGTON — On Sunday, February 7, the country will commemorate the tenth annual
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. It’s a day that reminds us that
HIV/AIDS is still a public health crisis in the US. And it’s a day when
communities and organizations across the country come together to
recognize the impact this disease has had on the African American
community.

African Americans make up almost half of Americans living with HIV/AIDS
today. Blacks represent 12 percent of the population, but account for
nearly fifty percent of new HIV infections. In their lifetimes, 1 in 16
African-American men and 1 in 30 African-American women will get an HIV
diagnosis.

These are not just startling statistics—these numbers represent people
we know and love: neighbors, friends, members of our families and our
faith communities. And it’s time that we as a nation take action: to
improve care and treatment for those who are HIV positive and to
strengthen our prevention efforts to stop the spread of HIV.

President Obama has made domestic HIV/AIDS a priority. He has set goals
of reducing HIV incidence, increasing access to care and improving
health outcomes, and reducing HIV-related health disparities. His 2011
budget includes more than $3 billion, an increase of $70 million, for
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Health
Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to enhance HIV/AIDS
prevention, care, and treatment. The budget also focuses on HIV testing
among high-risk groups, including men who have sex with men, African
Americans, and Hispanics.

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February 8th, 2010

DALLAS — Broadlane, the leading end-to-end cost-management partner for healthcare
providers, today announced that Bill Shepley has joined its sales team
as vice president of new business development.

Shepley comes to Broadlane from WakeMed Health and Hospitals where he
was responsible for creating one of the largest healthcare alliances
ever formed through the founding of the Southern Atlantic Hospital
Alliance. This alliance consists of 18 independent hospitals throughout
North Carolina.

“We are pleased to welcome Bill Shepley to Broadlane,” said Joe
Greskoviak, executive vice president, sales and client management,
Broadlane. “His experience cultivating relationships with hospital
leadership will be invaluable as we continue to pursue new relationships
and expand our client base.”

“I am excited about the opportunities Broadlane provides to introduce
unique cost-management solutions to our partners throughout the
country,” said Shepley. “Broadlane’s partnerships quantifiably impact
the economic performance of our clients through creative responses to
their individual and regional needs.”

Shepley earned a master’s degree in healthcare administration from the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and serves as Adjunct
Faculty for UNC.

Tenon Consulting is a management consulting firm providing professional
services to Fortune 500, government, and emerging growth entities. The
firm assists its clients in leading the development of new business
operations and the definition and implementation of strategic business
initiatives. The firm maintains broad experience in the healthcare,
bio-security, technology, pharmaceutical, and defense industries.

SCOTT BROWN didnt defeat just Martha Coakley in the Massachusetts Senate race. He also defeated a hardy band of political cliches. That Republicans cant win Senate races in deep-blue Massachusetts. That the state is devoted to “the Kennedy legacy.” That the Republican party has become hostage to extremists who would rather lose than support a pro-choice candidate. That the GOP has become a southern regional party. That what Democrats call “healthcare reform” is a fait accompli. That President Obama has magical powers of persuasion. Democrats are blaming Coakley for running a bad campaign. Actually, it was a terrible one. But she had won statewide before, and the local party establishment expressed no alarm when she won the nomination. They either didnt see her flaws or thought that in Massachusetts it wouldnt matter. What made a weak candidate a losing candidate was the national environment. Liberals–some of the same people who chalked up Obamas win to the publics new zeal for progressivism–blame the economy for the public mood. But is it really high unemployment that has moved the public against the health-care legislation, abortion, and gun control? Remember that just a few months ago the conventional wisdom was that a weak economy would build public support for Obamacare. The Massachusetts race was as close to a referendum on that legislation as can reasonably be imagined, and it lost. So another Democratic excuse is making the rounds: Massachusetts is a special case, since it already has near-universal coverage and thus has more to lose than gain from the legislation. But a lot of states, and indeed the whole country, will lose more than gain, and know it. Some Democrats have talked about putting Obamacare into law by having Democratic appointee Paul Kirk vote for it before Brown can be seated. We suspect that move would be too disgraceful to work. But to push the Senate bill through the House and make it law that way would also be to ignore the clear will of even blue-state voters. Democrats will deserve the thrashing they will get if they follow this course.

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Michigan Auto Insurance Quotes

February 7th, 2010

Record Cash Flow in 2009 Drives Debt Reduction of $52 million

MILWAUKEE — Sensient Technologies Corporation (NYSE: SXT) reported that consolidated
revenue for the fourth quarter of 2009 reached $311.5 million, an
increase of 6.0% over the prior year’s comparable period. Diluted
earnings per share for the quarter were 47 cents prior to the previously
announced settlement charges of 14 cents per share. Fourth quarter
diluted earnings per share, as reported, were 33 cents and included
charges for the proposed settlements and related legal costs, net of
insurance reimbursements, related to environmental claims against a
company that Sensient acquired more than twenty years ago. The pre-tax
charges of $11.3 million were reported in the Corporate and Other
operating segment. Prior year fourth quarter diluted earnings per share
were 43 cents.

Without the fourth quarter charges of 14 cents per share, 2009 earnings
would have been $1.92 per share. For the twelve months ended December
31, 2009, Sensient’s reported diluted earnings per share, which include
the charges, were $1.78. Consolidated revenue for 2009 was $1.2 billion
compared to $1.3 billion in 2008.

For the twelve months ended December 31, 2009, foreign currency
translation reduced consolidated revenue and operating income by 4.3%
and 5.6%, respectively. In the fourth quarter of 2009, foreign currency
translation began to add to revenue and operating income as the U.S.
dollar weakened compared to its level in the prior year’s fourth
quarter. In the fourth quarter of 2009, foreign currency translation
added 5.5% and 5.3% to revenue and operating income, respectively.

Cash provided by operating activities for the twelve months ended
December 31, 2009, reached a record level of $138.3 million, compared to
prior year cash flow of $87.0 million. Total debt at December 31, 2009,
was $428.0 million, a reduction of $51.9 million since the beginning of
the year.

The Non-life
Insurance – Global Group of Eight (G8) Industry Guide is an
essential resource for top-level data and analysis covering the Non-life
Insurance industry in each of the G8 (United States, Canada, Germany,
France, United Kingdom, Italy, Russia and Japan) countries. The report
includes easily comparable data on market value, volume, segmentation
and market share, plus full five year market forecasts. It examines
future problems, innovations and potential growth areas within the
market.

Scope of the Report

Michigan Auto Insurance Quotes

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February 7th, 2010

STAMFORD, Conn. — World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:WWE) today declared the
Company’s regular quarterly dividend of $0.36 per share on its Class A
shares of common stock. As previously announced, members of the McMahon
family have waived $0.12 per share of the dividends. As a result, all
Class A and Class B shares owned by the McMahon family will instead
receive dividends in the amount of $0.24 per share. The record date for
the dividend will be March 15, 2010, and the payment date will be March
25, 2010.

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., a publicly traded company (NYSE:
WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in
global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses
that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global
audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly, PG content across all of
its platforms including television programming, pay-per-view, digital
media and publishing. WWE programming is broadcast in more than 145
countries and 30 languages and reaches more than 500 million homes
worldwide. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices
in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, London, Shanghai, Tokyo, Toronto and
Sydney.

Trademarks: All WWE programming,
talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, trademarks,
copyrights and logos are the exclusive property of World Wrestling
Entertainment, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, logos
and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.

Forward-Looking Statements: This
news release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe
harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which
are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and
uncertainties include the conditions of the markets for live events,
broadcast television, cable television, pay-per-view, Internet,
entertainment, professional sports, and licensed merchandise; acceptance
of the Company’s brands, media and merchandise within those markets;
uncertainties relating to litigation; risks associated with producing
live events both domestically and internationally; uncertainties
associated with international markets; risks relating to maintaining and
renewing key agreements, including television distribution agreements;
and other risks and factors set forth from time to time in Company
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results
could differ materially from those currently expected or anticipated. In
addition to these risks and uncertainties, our dividend is based on a
number of factors, including our liquidity and historical and projected
cash flow, strategic plan, our financial results and condition,
contractual and legal restrictions on the payment of dividends and such
other factors as our board of directors may consider relevant.

Nearly a month has passed since Katherine Truitt vanished at Point Reyes National Seashore while hiking her favorite beach. Her family and friends still nurse a faint hope the 37-year-old woman is out there somewhere, alive. But with each day bringing no word from Truitt or fresh clues as to what happened to her, its getting more and more difficult for them to believe the Alameda resident will one day return home. “Im just dealing with it day-by-day,” said Truitts best friend, Anna Christie, who has scoured McClures Beach for any trace of the missing woman.
One Saudi Arabian braved flash floods in Jeddah to rescue two family members and dozens of strangers from drowning. This act of heroism was made more remarkable by the fact that the driver, who threw a rope to stranded cars and then dragged them out, was a woman–which makes it a violation of Saudi Arabias ban on woman drivers.

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February 6th, 2010

If someone tries to rob you, do you care whether the policeman who stops him is black or white? The Department of Justice does. Using the standard of “disparate impact”–under which almost any test, no matter how carefully vetted, can be ruled illegally discriminatory if some group does not score high enough on it–DOJ has filed suit against New Jersey because of its exam for police sergeants.
ARLINGTON, Va. — The following statement in response to the remarks on trade of Commerce
Secretary Gary Locke at the National Press Club can be attributed to
Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association:

We welcome the Administrations quick action on President Obamas
admirable export goals promised in his State of the Union address last
week. We agree that Congress must pass trade agreements with three of
the United States dependable allies. We also agree that other nations
are entering trade agreements with each other while the United States
has been sidelined by politics. If we care about jobs, small businesses
and exports we need to enact these three trade agreements, enter others,
and confront the deficit choking our nation.

UPCOMING EVENTS

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February 5th, 2010

PORT CHESTER, N.Y. — Port Chester Nursing and Rehabilitation Centre, a highly-regarded short
term rehabilitation, subacute care and skilled nursing facility, is
among a select few nursing homes nationwide to receive a 5-Star rating
from the U.S. Department of Health Human Services Centers for Medicare
Medicaid Services (CMS).

The 5-Star rating is based on the facility’s deficiency-free surveys
over several years, an outstanding staff ratio and commitment to quality
measures.

Carol Spedaliere, Administrator of Port Chester Nursing and
Rehabilitation Centre, states, “We are proud to receive this important
recognition of high quality care. Our dedicated staff works tirelessly
to provide the highest level of care possible to each of our residents.”

With facility-wide renovations underway and the implementation of new
programs, Port Chester Nursing and Rehabilitation Centre will continue
to offer residents of our communities excellence in nursing, medical and
rehabilitative care.

Dorothea Survived by her sister Beth Reynolds; children: Sandy (Kendall) Brigman, Michael (Susan) Marker, Sherrie (Lynn) Casto, nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, with two more expected in May. Preceded in death by daughter Janice Marker, siblings: Glen, Mildred Anderson, Oral Burrows, Ralph Leroy, and Lynn.

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radiology degree

February 5th, 2010

Covalon Technologies Ltd. (the “Company” or “Covalon”) (TSX VENTURE: COV), is pleased to announce that Dr. Murray Miller and Mr. Brian Pedlar have been appointed to the Board of Directors.

Dr. Murray Miller is the managing director of Trillium Imaging Inc. which operates medical imaging centres in Mississauga and Toronto. He has served as Chief Radiologist at Trillium Health Centre – West Toronto, and has been a consultant to the medical industry, including medical device manufacturers and medical imaging vendors.

Mr. Brian Pedlar is President of Pedlar Ventures Limited, a private venture investment and consulting firm based in Oakville, Ontario. He has served in senior executive positions with public companies including Merge Healthcare, Cedara Software Corp. and IMAX Corporation. Mr. Pedlar is a Chartered Accountant.

Dr. Miller and Mr. Pedlar replace outgoing Directors, Mr. Brad Williams and Mr. David McFaul.

Mr. Martin Bernholtz, who has for the past four years served as a Covalon director and Chairman of the Audit Committee, has been appointed Chairman of the Board, a position previously held by Mr. Williams. Mr. Pedlar has been appointed to take over as Chairman of Covalons Audit Committee.

Editors Note: There is a photo associated with this Press Release.

WHAT: Marla R. Lander, M.D, the Chief Medical Officer of Solis Womens Health and Medical Director of two breast centers in Southern California, will be at JC Penneys Manhattan store on Sunday, February 7th and Monday, February 8th to speak about breast health, early detection of breast cancer and to promote the Dr. Marlas Wellness Bra. The launch event is an opportunity for women to meet the inventor of the bra, learn about breast health, early detection of breast cancer and ask general questions to a leading US radiologist.

Dr. Lander invented the Dr. Marlas Wellness Bra a wellness/sports bra with a patent-pending sling system designed to protect the breasts connective tissue with compression-free support. Dr. Lander is a board certified radiologist with a breast specialty fellowship has been published in The American Journal of Clinical Oncology. She has lectured worldwide to the public, academia and to fellow physicians and has worked for the California State Department of Health, training physicians on how to perform clinical breast exams.

Diagnostic Imaging International Corp. (OTCBB: DIIG) announced today that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Canadian Teleradiology Services (”CTS”), has entered into a new agreement to provide Teleradiology services to a hospital in south-western Ontario.

CTS signed a new contract to provide teleradiology services to a large hospital. CTS hardware has already been installed on site, and the Company is now completing the IT set-up with Company radiologists and hospital staff. Service is expected to commence within the next 30 days. The contract engages CTS for Teleradiology services weekdays from 5 p.m.-8 a.m., and 24 hours on weekends and holidays. The client hospital runs many types of studies using modalities that include MRs, CTs, Ultra Sounds and X-rays, all of which will be a part of the reading services that CTS will provide.

The new client contract should increase current company revenues by up to 25%. With this contract CTS will increase its cash flow and should become profitable.

CTS is continuing to grow its business by aggressively adding new client contracts and increasing radiologist reading revenue.

“The addition of this new contract demonstrates the success of Teleradiology, CTS and how the e-health market place is the wave of the future for the medical industry,” said Richard Jagodnik, CEO. “The development of CTS since its acquisition by DIIG is proving to be very beneficial to Diagnostic Imaging, improving the bottom line and creating shareholder wealth”

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February 5th, 2010

Continued progress in reducing nonperforming assets

CHANTILLY, Va. — Alliance Bankshares Corporation (NASDAQ:ABVA) today reported a fourth
quarter loss on continuing operations of $1.4 million compared to a loss
on continuing operations of $3.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2008.
On a year-to-date basis the company reported a net loss from continuing
operations of $3.6 million compared to a loss of $9.5 million for 2008.
Despite the net loss, all regulatory capital ratios remain above the
levels necessary to be considered a “well capitalized”
institution.

“This year presented a variety of challenges for the organization. I am
pleased to report a continued decline in nonperforming assets which
dropped to $13.5 million. We saw improvements in our net interest
margin, with the fourth quarter 2009 margin rising to 3.13%. In late
December we completed the sale of our insurance subsidiary. All of these
actions coupled with internal changes position the company for success
in the future,” said William M. Drohan, Chairman of the Board of
Directors.

He further added, “On January 29th, 2010, we announced the
appointment of William E. Doyle, Jr., as Interim President and CEO. Bill
brings strong community bank experience and leadership to Alliance. As
we enter 2010, the senior leadership team and the Board will be focused
on improving profitability and positioning Alliance for the future.”

Total assets amounted to $576.3 million as of December 31, 2009 compared
to $572.8 million as of December 31, 2008. We have taken strategic
actions to reduce our fair value option trading portfolio. As of
December 31, 2008, the trading portfolio was $73.5 compared to the
reduced December 31, 2009 level of $7.5 million. Our loan strategies to
diversify the portfolio and reduce our exposure to certain real estate
sub categories have yielded positive results in 2009. Our loan portfolio
was $359.4 million as of December 31, 2009 or $8.0 million less than the
December 31, 2008 level of $367.4 million.

Genoil Inc. (the “Corporation”) (TSX VENTURE: GNO) (OTCBB: GNOLF) is pleased to announce that it has closed a private placement, whereby it issued a total of 4,712,305 Units, at a price of U.S. $0.13 per Unit, each Unit consisting of one common share and one common share purchase warrants (the “Warrants”) for gross proceeds of approximately U.S. $612,600. The Warrants are exercisable until 24 months following their issue date at a price of U.S. $0.20. The common shares and Warrants issued in connection with this offering are subject to a four-month hold period.

Genoil has also completed a shares for debt transaction to satisfy amounts outstanding to certain lenders (the “Creditors”) of the Corporation. Common shares and common share purchase warrants (”Creditor Warrants”) were issued pursuant to debt cancellation agreements between the Corporation and the Creditors, whereby each of the Creditors agreed to forgive and cancel debts currently owing to such Creditor by the Corporation. The total debt owing to the Creditors which has been cancelled is an aggregate amount of U.S.$85,896.09, which amounts have been cancelled in exchange for issuance of an aggregate of 649,258 common shares and 37,314 Creditor Warrants. The Creditor Warrants are exercisable until 24 months following their issue date at a price of U.S. $0.20. The common shares and Creditor Warrants issued to the Creditors are subject to a four-month hold period.

The securities to be issued by the Corporation have not and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), or the securities laws of any state of the United States, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption therefrom under the 1933 Act and the securities laws of all applicable states.

Genoil is an international engineering technology development company based in Alberta, Canada, that develops innovative hydrocarbon, oil and water separation, and marine technologies for the oil and gas and commercial marine industries. Genoils shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol GNO, as well as on the OTC Bulletin Board under GNOLF.OB.

Genoil Inc. (the “Corporation”) (TSX VENTURE: GNO) (OTCBB: GNOLF) is pleased to announce that it has closed a private placement, whereby it issued a total of 4,712,305 Units, at a price of U.S. $0.13 per Unit, each Unit consisting of one common share and one common share purchase warrants (the “Warrants”) for gross proceeds of approximately U.S. $612,600. The Warrants are exercisable until 24 months following their issue date at a price of U.S. $0.20. The common shares and Warrants issued in connection with this offering are subject to a four-month hold period.

Genoil has also completed a shares for debt transaction to satisfy amounts outstanding to certain lenders (the “Creditors”) of the Corporation. Common shares and common share purchase warrants (”Creditor Warrants”) were issued pursuant to debt cancellation agreements between the Corporation and the Creditors, whereby each of the Creditors agreed to forgive and cancel debts currently owing to such Creditor by the Corporation. The total debt owing to the Creditors which has been cancelled is an aggregate amount of U.S.$85,896.09, which amounts have been cancelled in exchange for issuance of an aggregate of 649,258 common shares and 37,314 Creditor Warrants. The Creditor Warrants are exercisable until 24 months following their issue date at a price of U.S. $0.20. The common shares and Creditor Warrants issued to the Creditors are subject to a four-month hold period.

The securities to be issued by the Corporation have not and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), or the securities laws of any state of the United States, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption therefrom under the 1933 Act and the securities laws of all applicable states.

Genoil is an international engineering technology development company based in Alberta, Canada, that develops innovative hydrocarbon, oil and water separation, and marine technologies for the oil and gas and commercial marine industries. Genoils shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol GNO, as well as on the OTC Bulletin Board under GNOLF.OB.

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February 4th, 2010

NEW YORK — Fitch Ratings expects to assign the following ratings to CarMax Auto
Owner Trust 2010-1:

–$110,000,000 class A-2 AAA; Outlook Stable;

–$142,000,000 class A-3 AAA; Outlook Stable;

–$69,050,000 class A-4 AAA; Outlook Stable;

Report highlights include:

“Its great to see the year-over-year positive gain in national home prices
continue into 2010 the pricing stability we saw the last half of 2009,”
said Dr. Alex Villacorta, Senior Statistician, Clear Capital. “The
stabilization in prices is significant in that it has occurred despite near
record levels of unemployment and REO saturation.”

“While it is a very positive sign that the overall national trends show
yearly improvements in prices and REO saturation, market trend volatility
and prices continue to vary considerably by micro market and price tier,”
said Villacorta. “The sustainability of current price gains will be
challenged in 2010, given that most lenders and analysts predict a
significantly larger number of REOs will reach the markets. Further, this
suggests that as the dynamics of supply and demand evolve, different
markets will have varied responses to increased REO activity.”

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phlebotomy classes

February 3rd, 2010

Last year, MLO published a summary of existing and pending state legislation on minimum training standards, licensure, and mandatory certification of blood-specimen collection personnel (”States fail to follow Californias lead in certifying phlebotomists,” July 2008, pp. 40-42). At the time, reports indicated that bills languished in the legislative bodies of Massachusetts and Missouri. No other bills in any state were pending. Because laboratory licensure is a topic of perennial interest to MLO readers, an update at this time seems to be in order. The Massachusetts bill was to create a board of registration of phlebotomists that would set forth licensure requirements, standards, fees, continuing education, and professional and ethical conduct for all healthcare professionals who draw blood specimens. In Massachusetts, HR312–known informally as the “Dracula Bill”–provides a Board of Registry for phlebotomists that:
Natisha Luke believes in the positive nature of life, something she credits to her Mormon upbringing. “I try to focus on my abilities rather than my disability,” she said. Although she lost her hearing as a newborn because of an ear infection, she hasnt let it stop her from achieving her dreams. Luke is a certified phlebotomist. She dances, signs, works as a cashier at Home Depot and is engaged to be married.

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becoming a cop

February 2nd, 2010

THE EXERCISE: Scoop/Slam WHAT IT HITS: Core HOW IT APPLIES: The vertical vector of core training is the most trained movement pattern of the three (the other two are diagonal up and down, and across the body; we covered the former last month). Its aligned with the midline of the body, is the strongest and most stable area of the core, and is involved in virtually every physically strenuous task where military, police and fire personnel are concerned. The scoop and slam movement patterns train the up (scoop) and down (slam) axis in the center of the body. HOW TO DO IT: To execute a scoop movement, begin in a quarter- to half-squat position with your feet hip-width apart, back flat and core tight, holding a medicine ball between your knees. Explosively extend your hips, knees and ankles, and throw the ball underhand as far as possible; release it between shoulder and head level. Retrieve the ball and repeat. For beginners looking to develop strength and learn the pattern integration, execute this movement without the release. Make sure not to hyperextend your lumbar spine at the top or collapse your core at the beginning. For the slam portion, begin with your feet about hip-width apart and the medicine ball (we recommend using a “dead” med ball that doesnt bounce such as one made by Dynamax) overhead, reaching as high as possible without overarching your spine. Throw the ball straight down to the floor as hard as you can by explosively flexing your hips and knees, and releasing the ball around knee level. Then pick it back up and repeat for reps. To improve power, slam the ball off the floor to a partner. Keep your core tall and stable throughout the movement. Just as with the scoop, beware of hyper extending your spine at the top or allowing your core to fold at the bottom.
Hollywood star and Celebrity Big Brother contestant Vinnie Jones is hoping he wont be two-tyred after the reality TV show when he stars in a new action-packed British film featuring motorbike stunts.

Jones will star alongside Ving Rhames and Danny Dyer as a squaddie who returns home after serving in the Royal Marine Commandos to find his neighbourhood crippled by gangs and violence.

Fight Back is due to start filming in May and according to the films producer, Martin J. Thomas, the lead character: “puts his military training to good use and embarks on a brutal crusade to take down corrupt police, drug dealers and organized crime”.

The ex-Wimbledon footballer bought a Harley-Davidson after starring in biker film Hell Ride reigniting his love of two-wheel transport after an a crash put him off motorcycles, recalling: “When I was 17 I bought a Kawasaki and nearly killed myself on it. I was just going around a country lane too fast, as you do, leaning right over, and a great big lorry was coming the other way and I went right into a barbed wire fence. I had to go to hospital, so I thought that was the end of my riding days.”

Jones latest film plans to use a Ducati Hypermotard , Victory Hammer S and KTM RC8R in the stunts.

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February 2nd, 2010

First the RACs, now wait for whats coming next Medicaid, commercial insurers starting their audits By the end of the year, its likely that every type of medical record in your hospital will be scrutinized by one auditor or another, predicts Brian Flood, managing director for KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax, and advisory firm. The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfares Bureau of Program Integrity has been auditing fee-for-service Medicaid claims for the past three years, using one of the Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services (CMS) contractors for the Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) demonstration project, reports Charleeda Redman, RN, MSN, ACM, director of corporate case management for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, an integrated health system with 20 acute care hospitals.
First the RACs, now wait for whats coming next Medicaid, commercial insurers starting their audits By the end of the year, its likely that every type of medical record in your hospital will be scrutinized by one auditor or another, predicts Brian Flood, managing director for KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax, and advisory firm. The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfares Bureau of Program Integrity has been auditing fee-for-service Medicaid claims for the past three years, using one of the Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services (CMS) contractors for the Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) demonstration project, reports Charleeda Redman, RN, MSN, ACM, director of corporate case management for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, an integrated health system with 20 acute care hospitals.
Nurses improve medication administration accuracy The study involved the implementation of the Integrated Nurse Leadership Program (INLP), which provides frontline nurses and other hospital staff with training, resources, and authority to devise and implement solutions. In addition to showing the importance of empowering frontline nurses, the most significant finding of the study is that “significant improvement in outcomes can be accomplished without very expensive fixes,” says Julie Kliger, MPA, BSN, RN, INLP creator and program director at the Center for the Health Professions, University of California, San Francisco; principal and founder of The Altos Group; and lead author of the article. “Thats important because there are a lot of financial and resource pressures today, and people sometimes think they need to spend millions for bar-coding; this demonstrates through almost old-fashioned QI and engaging the people who are doing the work and providing them with tools, skills, and resources, that they can make statistically significant improvement.”

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February 2nd, 2010

Terra Ventures Inc. (”Terra” or the “Company”) (TSX VENTURE: TAS) announces that its newly incorporated and wholly-owned Calgary based subsidiary, Terrex Energy Inc. (”Terrex”), has entered into a purchase and sale agreement to acquire a 100% interest in a basal quartz oil pool in central Alberta from a private oil and gas company, for a purchase price of $650,000. The pool is currently producing approximately 80 barrels of oil equivalent per day and has produced nearly 5 million barrels of oil to date. The management of Terrex has assessed that this asset has the potential for significant undeveloped long term oil exploitation and is the first step in a larger acquisition and exploitation business plan. Terrex activities will provide an attractive compliment and diversification to the Companys existing operations.

The Company plans to use Terrex to carry out its proposed spinoff transaction that was originally announced on November 26, 2009. The Company has appointed Kim Davies and Harry Knutson as directors of Terrex and has appointed Norm Knecht Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Knutson is the Chairman of Nova Bancorp Group, an investment banking firm he founded in 1982. He is also a director of Bonavista Energy Trust and Pure Energy Services Ltd. Ms. Davies and Mr. Knecht have extensive oil and gas experience, both having served in a variety of senior positions over the past 15 years. Ms. Davies served as Vice President of Exploration and New Ventures at Compton Petroleum from 1996 until 2006. Mr. Knecht served as Chief Financial Officer of Compton Petroleum from 1997 until 2009. Terrex will add to its management team before completion of the spinoff transaction.

The Company has entered into a letter agreement with Terrex whereby the companies have agreed to work to complete the spinoff transaction, including the completion of additional financing for Terrex. The spinoff transaction will be effected by way of a statutory plan of arrangement pursuant to which all of the Companys shares in Terrex will be distributed to its shareholders. It is a condition of the spinoff transaction that the shares of Terrex be listed on a stock exchange at the time the transaction is completed. The spinoff transaction is subject to approval by Terras shareholders and the TSXV. Terra expects to be able to complete the transaction before the end of March, subject to receipt of all required approvals.

On behalf of the board of directors of TERRA VENTURES, INC

DALLAS — Celanese Corporation (NYSE:CE), a leading, global chemical company,
announced today that it has called for redemption all 9.6 million shares
of its outstanding 4.25% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock (the
“Preferred Stock”), bearing CUSIP 150870202. The redemption date for the
Preferred Stock is February 22, 2010 and the redemption price is $25.06
per share of Preferred Stock, which represents an amount equal to the
Liquidation Preference of $25.00 per share of Preferred Stock, plus
accumulated and unpaid dividends (whether or not declared) up to, but
excluding, the Redemption Date, of $0.06. The redemption price will be
paid in shares of the Company’s Series A Common Stock (the “Common
Stock”). Each share of Preferred Stock will be redeemed for a number of
shares of Common Stock equal to (i) the redemption price divided by (ii)
97.5% of the average closing price of the Common Stock for the ten
trading days ending on the fifth trading day prior to the redemption
date. The Company will pay cash in lieu of any fractional shares of
Common Stock due to holders of shares of Preferred Stock (each, a
“Holder”) as a result of the redemption.

In order to collect the redemption price, Holders must surrender their
shares of Preferred Stock to the paying agent, Computershare Trust
Company, N.A., by book-entry transfer or physical delivery of
certificates representing the shares of Preferred Stock, together with
any necessary endorsements, prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on
February 22, 2010. Unless the Company defaults in making payment of the
redemption price, dividends on shares of Preferred Stock will cease to
accumulate on and after February 22, 2010.

Holders may exercise their right to convert such shares of Preferred
Stock into shares of Common Stock prior to the redemption at a
conversion rate of 1.2600 shares of Common Stock per share of Preferred
Stock. Holders wishing to convert their shares of Preferred Stock prior
to redemption must follow the procedures for conversion set forth in the
Preferred Stock’s Certificate of Designations on or before 5:00 p.m.,
New York City time, on February 19, 2010. Dividends on shares of
Preferred Stock will cease to accumulate dividends on and after the date
of conversion. Holders of shares of Preferred Stock who elect to convert
their shares will not receive accumulated and unpaid dividends, but will
be deemed to have received such dividends through the delivery of shares
of Common Stock.

In order to collect the conversion price, Holders must surrender their
shares of Preferred Stock to the conversion agent, Computershare Trust
Company, N.A., by book-entry transfer or physical delivery of
certificates representing the shares of Preferred Stock, together with
any necessary endorsements, prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on
February 19, 2010. No shares of Preferred Stock may be converted after
February 19, 2010.

The paying agent and conversion agent can be contacted at:

Amsterdam, 1 February 2010 — AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.s
(”AMG,”
EURONEXT AMSTERDAM: “AMG”) 42.6% owned affiliate, Timminco Limited
(”Timminco”;
TSX: TIM) announced that its senior secured lender has agreed to
delay the
requirement for an additional $5 million of minimum availability reserve
that
would have become effective as of February 1, 2010, until March 1, 2010.

Under the Credit Agreement dated April 15, 2005, as amended, with
Bank of
America, N.A., Timminco is able to access funds up to the amount
of the
availability under the revolving credit facility. Availability is equal
to (i)
the lesser of the borrowing base and the revolving credit commitment
under the
revolving credit facility, minus (ii) the sum of the amounts borrowed under
such
facility, and the minimum availability reserve. In the fourth quarter of
2009,
the Credit Agreement was amended to increase the minimum availability
reserve
from $2 million to $7 million, effective for the 45 day period from
February 1
to March 17, 2010. The current amendment delays the commencement of this
period
for one month.

About AMG

AMG, incorporated in the Netherlands, is a global leader in the
production of
highly engineered specialty metal products and advanced vacuum furnace
systems.
AMG serves growing industries worldwide with its unique
combination of
metallurgical engineering expertise and production know-how. AMG is a
market
leader in many of its products and systems, which are critical to the
production
of key components for the aerospace, energy (including solar and
nuclear),
electronics, optics, chemicals, construction and transportation
industries. AMG
has two operating divisions of businesses, Advanced Materials and
Engineering
Systems, and owns interests in publicly-listed companies Timminco Limited
(TSX:
“TIM”) and Graphit Kropfmühl AG (Deutsche Börse: GKR.DE).

The Advanced Materials Division develops and produces niche specialty
metals and
complex metals products, many of which are used in demanding, safety-
critical,
high-stress environments. AMG is one of a limited number of
significant
producers globally of niche specialty metals, such as
ferrovanadium,
ferronickel-molybdenum, aluminum master alloys and additives, chromium
metal and
ferrotitanium, used by steel, aluminum, chemical and superalloy
producers for
aerospace, automotive, energy, electronics, optics, chemicals,
construction and
other applications. Other key products produced by AMG include specialty
alloys
for titanium and superalloys, coating materials, tantalum and niobium
oxides,
vanadium chemicals and antimony trioxide.

christian dating advice

Shedding Dog Brush

February 1st, 2010

twb enterprises llc (”twb”), a niche
marketing company focused on bringing to market organic products for pets,
today announced an exclusive marketing relationship with Organic Pet
Nutrition (”OPN”), Menlo Park, CA to expand their portfolios online
presence.

“We are extremely excited to partner with twb to help expand the reach to
consumers of our flagship product LEAP® Certified Organic Olive Extract
for Dogs,” said Catherine Bitler, Principal, OPN. The company provides the
highest quality organic nutraceuticals for pets, companion animals, and
sporting animals to improve the quality of life for both the animal and
owner.

The company has partnered with twb to accelerate their on-line go to market
strategy. “This relationship allows OPN to concentrate on their operations
while taking advantage of twbs total focus on accelerating the online
presence of OPNs product line to the broader market. LEAP® is a terrific
organic product with proven efficacy for dog arthritis and joint
pain, as well as digestive problems, and our well defined promotion
capabilities will bring this message to the consumer market much more
quickly,” said Tim Baxter, President, twb enterprises llc.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Almost every guy thinks he knows what but, just as youve found with pleasing your girlfriend, there is usually a better option. By taking three exercises youve already been and giving them a slight tweak, you can fully the muscle-building potential in your pecs.
SHEPHERD RESCUE

Shedding Dog Brush

Auto Zoom

February 1st, 2010

IN APRIL 2008, The Orange County Register published a bombshell of an investigation about a license plate program for California government workers and their families. Drivers of nearly I million cars and light trucks–out of a total 22 million vehicles registered statewide–were protected by a “shield” in the state records system between their license plate numbers and their home addresses. There were, the newspaper found, great practical benefits to this secrecy. “Vehicles with protected license plates can run through dozens of intersections controlled by red light cameras with impunity,” the Registers Jennifer Muir reported. “Parking citations issued to vehicles with protected plates are often dismissed because the process necessary to pierce the shield is too cumbersome. Some patrol officers let drivers with protected plates off with a warning because the plates signal that drivers are one of their own or related to someone who is.” The plate program started in 1978 with the seemingly unobjectionable purpose of protecting the personal addresses of officials who deal directly with criminals. Police argued that the bad guys could call the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), get addresses for officers, and use the information to harm them or their family members. There was no rash of such incidents, only the possibility that they could take place. So police and their families were granted confidentiality. Then the program expanded from one set of government workers to another. Eventually parole officers, retired parking enforcers, DMV desk clerks, county supervisors, social workers, and other categories of employees from 1,800 state agencies were given the special protections too. Meanwhile, the original intent of the shield had become obsolete: The DMV long ago abandoned the practice of giving out personal information about any driver. What was left was not a protection but a perk. Yes, rank has its privileges, and its clear that government workers have a rank above the rest of us. Ordinarily, if one out of every 22 California drivers had a license to drive any way he chose, there would be demands for more police power to protect Californians from the potential carnage. But until the newspaper series, law enforcement officials and legislators had remained mum. The reason, of course, is that the scofflaws are law enforcement officials and legislators.
IN APRIL 2008, The Orange County Register published a bombshell of an investigation about a license plate program for California government workers and their families. Drivers of nearly I million cars and light trucks–out of a total 22 million vehicles registered statewide–were protected by a “shield” in the state records system between their license plate numbers and their home addresses. There were, the newspaper found, great practical benefits to this secrecy. “Vehicles with protected license plates can run through dozens of intersections controlled by red light cameras with impunity,” the Registers Jennifer Muir reported. “Parking citations issued to vehicles with protected plates are often dismissed because the process necessary to pierce the shield is too cumbersome. Some patrol officers let drivers with protected plates off with a warning because the plates signal that drivers are one of their own or related to someone who is.” The plate program started in 1978 with the seemingly unobjectionable purpose of protecting the personal addresses of officials who deal directly with criminals. Police argued that the bad guys could call the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), get addresses for officers, and use the information to harm them or their family members. There was no rash of such incidents, only the possibility that they could take place. So police and their families were granted confidentiality. Then the program expanded from one set of government workers to another. Eventually parole officers, retired parking enforcers, DMV desk clerks, county supervisors, social workers, and other categories of employees from 1,800 state agencies were given the special protections too. Meanwhile, the original intent of the shield had become obsolete: The DMV long ago abandoned the practice of giving out personal information about any driver. What was left was not a protection but a perk. Yes, rank has its privileges, and its clear that government workers have a rank above the rest of us. Ordinarily, if one out of every 22 California drivers had a license to drive any way he chose, there would be demands for more police power to protect Californians from the potential carnage. But until the newspaper series, law enforcement officials and legislators had remained mum. The reason, of course, is that the scofflaws are law enforcement officials and legislators.

Auto Zoom

lvn to rn

January 30th, 2010

Though Delta city has strict laws prohibiting dogs running at large, we havent had Animal Control enforcement for some time. And it shows. Dogs of every description regularly roam our streets and litter our parks. Theyre a public nuisance and a threat to health and safety. As a retired emergency room registered nurse, Ive witnessed the heartbreak of parents whose children were victims of dog attacks, left with physical and psychological scars for the rest of their lives. The elderly, too, are especially vulnerable. Delta dog owners, save your pets the trauma of an “arrest” and impoundment — or worse. They deserve your protection.
SEATTLE — A group of 18 physicians, nurses and logistical support staff from the
Northwest Physicians Network (NPN), the region’s largest delegated
independent physician association, are headed to Haiti, Friday, January
29 at 1pm.

With no federal support or NGO affiliation, chief medical officer Stan
Flemming is leading the team. He believes first actions will be to treat
neglected wounds and rising disease.

The team plans to be in Port au Prince for three days, then divide and
head north approximately 100 miles (travel distance) to Cap-Haitien and
Plaine du Nord. While less structural damage occurred in these cities,
many of the wounded taken there have been neglected while NGO medical
teams focus in Port au Prince, and transportation is limited.

“We are prepared to handle acute medical and orthopedic-type injuries,”
said Flemming. Their range of expertise includes family medicine,
orthopedic surgery, pediatrics, psychology and emergency medical
training. Some of the physicians bring disaster relief experience,
though for many, this will be their first time treating patients in a
disaster setting.

The NPN Foundation, the 501c3 arm of NPN, collected donations for the
group’s logistical support, however, most participants are covering
their own expenses.

The floor was shaking, the walls were crumbling and the babies at Ruuska Village Orphanage in Haiti were bouncing out of their cribs. Mandi McBride dived to shelter the screaming toddlers rolling across the ground, risking her life to keep them alive. “I just knew we were all gone,” said the Logan nurse, who has adopted two Haitian children and was on a humanitarian mission at the orphanage when a 7.0 earthquake hit Jan. 12. “I was praying as hard as I could. Ive never been so close to death in my life.” Their orphans are homeless. They cant join their families in America because the Haitian government, worried about human trafficking, has stopped issuing humanitarian parole. And they are running out of food. As horrific as the earthquake was, it wasnt the first twist of fate thats kept these children from their would-be American families. Many have been stuck in limbo for three, four and five years, waiting for adoption paperwork to be finalized. Kidnapping, hunger, sickness and death had already become a part of many hopeful parents lives before the earthquake struck.

lvn to rn

Massachusetts Auto Insurance Quotes

January 30th, 2010

As the Met office issues flood warnings this week, motorists could be left submerged – both literally and financially.

Flooding can cause extensive damage to a vehicle, both to the bodywork and the engine. Drivers can face extremely high repair bills or worse still have their car written off. It is estimated that nearly 27% of UK drivers may not be insured if their vehicle is damaged as a result of flooding.

The North East of England has been issued with a Flood Warning with the Midlands, South West Greater London areas being issued with Flood Watch warnings.

Leading high street insurance retailer, Swinton is advising UK drivers to check their car insurance policy for flood cover as many drivers may not be covered should their vehicle be damaged.

Steve Chelton, Swintons Insurer Development Manager said: “Some drivers choose third party only or third party fire and theft policies because they are less expensive and easy to understand. However these car insurance policies might not provide cover for flood damage and it is crucial that drivers are conscious of what is and isnt included in their policy.”

Hospital reimbursement from all payers is at risk Take proactive approach to responding to auditors If your hospital has been focusing solely on improving Medicare records in preparation for the permanent Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) program, you may find yourself in a bind as other payers roll out their own audit programs. Hospitals should prepare for the MICs and the commercial auditors in much the same way as they have been preparing for the RACs, and develop an organized group, similar to the RAC committee, with well-defined roles with each discipline, says Brian Flood, CHC, CIG, Esq., managing director for KPMG LLC.
“Stable and Consistent in Volatile Times” Says Chairman and CEO

MILWAUKEE — Northwestern Mutual today announced its financial results for 2009,
highlighted by more than $4.7 billion in dividends approved for payment
to policyowners in 2010. The company expects to remain the industry
leader in the payment of life insurance dividends. The company also
strengthened its total surplus and financial position during 2009,
continuing to earn the highest
available ratings for insurance financial strength from all four major
rating agencies – Moody’s (Aaa), Standard Poor’s (AAA), Fitch
Ratings (AAA) and A.M. Best (A ) – each with a stable rating outlook.

“Given the rotten economy during 2009, we are more than satisfied with
what we have accomplished for our policyowners,” said Edward
J. Zore, chairman and chief executive officer of Northwestern
Mutual. “At its heart, our brand of financial security is about
giving people confidence in their future. I’m proud of how we’ve been
able to keep our promises at a time when people need to know who they
can really count on.”

The company’s commitment to its policyowners is demonstrated in both its
continued financial strength and the increased amount of policyowner
dividends approved for payment in 2010. “This year we expect to once
again lead our industry by a wide margin with our dividend
payout of over $4.7 billion,” Zore said. In addition, he cited the
company’s record
recruiting results, high customer loyalty and strong sales activity
in 2009 as endorsements of the company’s performance.

“As the dust starts to settle on a difficult period for the economy, we
can look back on 2009 and know that our business model performs well in
both good times and bad. Our results have been remarkably stable and
consistent in volatile times,” said Zore. “We provided industry-leading
value and maintained our unquestioned financial strength. That
performance brings more talented financial representatives to our system
and gives our clients the confidence to stick with the plans they have
made for their financial future.”

Massachusetts Auto Insurance Quotes

uninterruptible power supplies

January 30th, 2010

The Texas Business Leader Brings Forty Years of Successful
Entrepreneurial Stewardship, Data Mining Development and Mapping
Expertise to Cartifact’s Growing Location-Based System Design and
Application Businesses

LOS ANGELES — Cartifact announced today that J. Fred Baca has joined the executive
team of Cartifact as CEO. Mr. Baca’s leadership, management and
marketing skills will provide a solid basis for Cartifact’s accelerated
development as a major player in the areas of web and mobile mapping,
worldwide.

“I am thrilled to welcome Fred to our diverse and talented team,” says
Graham Marriott, President of Cartifact. “Fred’s depth of knowledge in
the fields of data mining and cartography will be a vital ingredient in
our growth and expansion into new markets.”

Prior to joining Cartifact, Baca was President of Colliers International
in Houston, Texas (2001 – 2009). Within 8 years, under Baca’s
leadership, the company grew fourfold in revenue; more than doubled its
size to include over 40 brokers and emerged as a dominant
multidiscipline commercial brokerage house in the highly competitive
Houston market.

In the 1990s Mr. Baca, as Baca Landata, a co venture with Houston based
Stewart Title Company, purchased both the Wilson Maps and Zingerey Map
Company, making Baca the sole provider of Houston parcel and ownership
mapping services. Baca Landata developed the first Internet “smart” map
of The Greater Houston Area and the first Internet distributed GIS
mapping product for the Harris County Appraisal District. Baca Landata
also created the first public record back end to the MLS system allowing
Houston area Realtors to instantly research over 2.5 million properties
via their proprietary listing tool.

The Texas Business Leader Brings Forty Years of Successful
Entrepreneurial Stewardship, Data Mining Development and Mapping
Expertise to Cartifact’s Growing Location-Based System Design and
Application Businesses

LOS ANGELES — Cartifact announced today that J. Fred Baca has joined the executive
team of Cartifact as CEO. Mr. Baca’s leadership, management and
marketing skills will provide a solid basis for Cartifact’s accelerated
development as a major player in the areas of web and mobile mapping,
worldwide.

“I am thrilled to welcome Fred to our diverse and talented team,” says
Graham Marriott, President of Cartifact. “Fred’s depth of knowledge in
the fields of data mining and cartography will be a vital ingredient in
our growth and expansion into new markets.”

Prior to joining Cartifact, Baca was President of Colliers International
in Houston, Texas (2001 – 2009). Within 8 years, under Baca’s
leadership, the company grew fourfold in revenue; more than doubled its
size to include over 40 brokers and emerged as a dominant
multidiscipline commercial brokerage house in the highly competitive
Houston market.

In the 1990s Mr. Baca, as Baca Landata, a co venture with Houston based
Stewart Title Company, purchased both the Wilson Maps and Zingerey Map
Company, making Baca the sole provider of Houston parcel and ownership
mapping services. Baca Landata developed the first Internet “smart” map
of The Greater Houston Area and the first Internet distributed GIS
mapping product for the Harris County Appraisal District. Baca Landata
also created the first public record back end to the MLS system allowing
Houston area Realtors to instantly research over 2.5 million properties
via their proprietary listing tool.

ON ELECTION Day, by a margin of 59 percent to 41 percent, Maine voters approved a ballot initiative that expands the conditions covered by the states medical marijuana law and establishes a system of state-licensed dispensaries. Maine has allowed medical use of marijuana since 1999. But as in California, the right to grow and possess marijuana was restricted to patients and their “caregivers” Under the new law, nonprofit organizations regulated by the state Department of Health and Human Services will be allowed to operate storefront dispensaries that sell marijuana to patients with doctors recommendations. While California has many such pot shops, ostensibly operating as patient “collectives” or “cooperatives,” their legal status is a matter of dispute. Maine now becomes the third state, after Rhode Island and New Mexico, to explicitly authorize a distribution system for medical marijuana. Ten other states, including California, have laws that allow medical use of the plant but are silent or hazy on the question of where patients can get it.

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kodak easyshare

January 30th, 2010

IN APRIL 2008, The Orange County Register published a bombshell of an investigation about a license plate program for California government workers and their families. Drivers of nearly I million cars and light trucks–out of a total 22 million vehicles registered statewide–were protected by a “shield” in the state records system between their license plate numbers and their home addresses. There were, the newspaper found, great practical benefits to this secrecy. “Vehicles with protected license plates can run through dozens of intersections controlled by red light cameras with impunity,” the Registers Jennifer Muir reported. “Parking citations issued to vehicles with protected plates are often dismissed because the process necessary to pierce the shield is too cumbersome. Some patrol officers let drivers with protected plates off with a warning because the plates signal that drivers are one of their own or related to someone who is.” The plate program started in 1978 with the seemingly unobjectionable purpose of protecting the personal addresses of officials who deal directly with criminals. Police argued that the bad guys could call the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), get addresses for officers, and use the information to harm them or their family members. There was no rash of such incidents, only the possibility that they could take place. So police and their families were granted confidentiality. Then the program expanded from one set of government workers to another. Eventually parole officers, retired parking enforcers, DMV desk clerks, county supervisors, social workers, and other categories of employees from 1,800 state agencies were given the special protections too. Meanwhile, the original intent of the shield had become obsolete: The DMV long ago abandoned the practice of giving out personal information about any driver. What was left was not a protection but a perk. Yes, rank has its privileges, and its clear that government workers have a rank above the rest of us. Ordinarily, if one out of every 22 California drivers had a license to drive any way he chose, there would be demands for more police power to protect Californians from the potential carnage. But until the newspaper series, law enforcement officials and legislators had remained mum. The reason, of course, is that the scofflaws are law enforcement officials and legislators.
American Traffic Solutions Selected to Manage Program

HUNTINGDON, Tenn. — The Town of Huntingdon, Tenn., is implementing a new traffic enforcement
program after a 2009 study revealed that speeding on State Highway 70
threatens public safety. Huntingdon selected American Traffic Solutions
(ATS) of Scottsdale, Ariz., to develop, install and monitor an automated
red-light and speed camera traffic enforcement program that Town
officials expect will encourage drivers to decrease their speeds and
stop for red lights.

The analysis done last year of traffic safety issues on two
well-traveled roads in the community determined that:

Two cameras will be placed on Veterans Drive S to monitor speeders and
red-light runners in each direction, according to Chief Parker. An
analysis of where to place the cameras on West Main Street (State
Highway 70) is still underway. A determination has not yet been made
whether the Highway 70 cameras will just monitor speeders or both
speeders and red-light runners. The results of the analysis will drive
that decision.

kodak easyshare

Internet Reputation Management

January 29th, 2010

WASHINGTON — With the biggest day of the year for football fans fast approaching,
more viewers may find the game bigger than ever – at least on screen.
According to the Retail Advertising and Marketing Association’s 2010
Super Bowl survey, conducted by BIGresearch, of the estimated 168
million (73.2%) people who will watch the game, at least 3.6 million
(3.6%) will take advantage of retailers’ promotions and buy a new
television, compared to the 2.6 million who said so last year.

Overall, however, consumers will keep expenditures to a minimum, with
the average person expected to spend $52.63 on game-related merchandise,
apparel and snacks, down from $57.27 last year. Total Super Bowl
spending is expected to reach $8.9 billion.*

“With slight improvements in the economy boosting consumer’s confidence,
many people are looking at flat screen televisions as a way to splurge
on something they’ve had their eye on for a while,” said Mike Gatti,
Executive Director, RAMA. “Retailers have restocked their shelves and
are already offering low prices on popular TV brands for those who have
their heart set on watching the game in better quality this year.”

The survey found nearly 32 million people (13.8%) will host a Super Bowl
party and an additional 59 million (25.6%) will attend a party. Grocery,
apparel, electronic, sporting goods and home furnishing stores can
expect to see increased traffic as sports fans head out to buy food and
beverages (71.4%), team apparel or accessories (6.5%), decorations
(6.1%), and furniture or a new entertainment center (1.9%).

Of the millions of people who plan on tuning in February 7 to watch the
Indianapolis Colts play the New Orleans Saints, nearly half (47.8%) say
the game itself is the most important part. Nearly one-quarter (24.3%)
of viewers watch for the commercials, 20.1 percent enjoy getting
together with friends,and 7.8 percent say the half time performances are
most important.

Conference Call and Webcast Also Rescheduled to February 1, 2010

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Pacific Capital Bancorp (Nasdaq: PCBC) has rescheduled the release of
its fourth quarter 2009 financial results to before the market opens on
Monday, February 1, 2010. The release is being delayed in order to
provide the Company with additional time required to finalize the
accounting treatment related to changes in healthcare benefits provided
to retirees.

The Company has also rescheduled its conference call to discuss fourth
quarter 2009 financial results and operational highlights. The call will
now be held at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time/8:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Monday,
February 1, 2010.

Pacific Capital Bancorp is the parent company of Pacific Capital Bank,
N.A., a nationally chartered bank that operates 46 branches under the
local brand names of Santa Barbara Bank Trust, First National Bank of
Central California, South Valley National Bank, San Benito Bank and
First Bank of San Luis Obispo.

ANYONE WHO HAS expended energy arguing for free trade, market competition, and the open exchange of ideas has repeatedly encountered the same obstacle: zero-sum assumptions misapplied to dynamic, nonlinear phenomena. Almost anywhere you see statism advancing–in economic policy, national security, even the basic conditions for free speech–you can bet that underneath theres a faulty zero-sum argument. All complicated matters of life, according to this way of thinking, can be reduced to a simple binary scale: Press your thumb down on the bad end, and the good one will go up. So when President Barack Obama slaps a 35 percent tariff on Chinese tires, as he did on September 11, he does it in the name of ensuring that (as he put it in a campaign promise) “China is no longer given a free pass to undermine U.S. workers.” In this yin-yang formulation, there is a single pie of domestic American tire consumption, and Chinas slice is growing bigger at the expense of domestic producers. Forget the over-all U.S. economy, with its 99.9 percent non-tire-industry workers (and its government-owned, money-hemorrhaging auto companies), all of whom are happy to take advantage of cheaper tire prices. And forget a once-starving country that has catapulted more human beings out of poverty within a generation than any nation in the history of the world. Most of all, forget the famous formulation by Adam Smith, dating back to the Declaration of Independence: “If a foreign country can supply us with a commodity cheaper than we ourselves can make it, better buy it of them with some part of the produce of our own industry employed in a way in which we have some advantage.” You might have thought that the New Democrats routed those zero-sum arguments years ago, perhaps when then-Vice President Al Gore eviscerated Ross Perot while debating the North American Free Trade Agreement on Larry King Live. But Old Democrat economics made a rousing and depressing comeback during the 2006 congressional elections, to the point where Hillary Clinton felt the need to actively campaign against the policies (including NAFTA) of her husband. Ideas long marginalized to the Ralph Nader slice of the left are back in vogue in the mainstream, and everywhere you look you see a pie. “The truth is,” first lady Michelle Obama said in April 2009, “in order to get things like universal health care and a revamped education system, then someone is going to have to give up a piece of their pie so that someone else can have more.”

Internet Reputation Management

Granbury real estate

January 28th, 2010

LAST OCTOBER, New Yorks highest court heard oral arguments in Goldstein v. New York State Urban Development Corporation. At issue was the states use of eminent domain to seize private property on behalf of Bruce Rather, a real estate tycoon and owner of the New Jersey Nets basketball team, who intends to build a 22-acre “urban utopia” in central Brooklyn. The development will boast office towers, a hotel, and a new taxpayer-subsidized basketball stadium for his Nets.
SEA ISLAND, Ga. — Sea Island Company, a private resort and real estate development
company, today announced that its Board of Directors has approved the
retention of an investment bank to review strategic alternatives for the
Company. At the same time, the Company said it has reached a forbearance
agreement with its lending group after defaulting on its three-year debt
restructuring agreement.

The decision to retain an investment bank has the full support of the
lending group, led by Columbus Bank and Trust, and the review is
expected to be completed in a timely manner. The Company is confident it
has sufficient liquidity to maintain its high standards of member and
guest services throughout this process.

“Over the past year-and-a-half, Sea Island’s management and Board of
Directors have taken decisive action to address the significant downturn
of our industry and our near-term obligations to lenders. Unfortunately,
even as we took these prudent actions, the market deterioration
continued,” stated Bill Jones III, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
of Sea Island Company, in messages to employees and members.
“Nevertheless, we have continued Sea Island’s legacy of ‘service from
the heart’ throughout this period, earning four 2010 Forbes Five-Star
Awards from Forbes Travel Guide. This is a testament to the dedication
and perseverance of our employees and our enduring commitment to
members.”

David Bansmer, President and Chief Operating Officer of Sea Island
Company, added, “Reaching an agreement with our lenders is an important
step for Sea Island because it gives our Company the necessary time to
address our loan situation in an orderly manner. We expect our
investment banking partner, which we anticipate will have a strong
record in advising on corporate transactions, to provide us with
important strategic options for consideration. Meanwhile, we at Sea
Island will remain focused on what we do best – providing superior
service to our members and guests.”

The Company emphasized there will be no impact on services at The
Cloister, The Lodge or the golf facilities during this period. Sea
Island Company, the PGA TOUR, the Davis Love Foundation and RSM
McGladrey confirmed that these actions will have no bearing on the
planning, staging or quality of The McGladrey Classic, which was
announced on January 19 and will be held at Sea Island’s Seaside Course
on October 7 -10.

NEW YORK — Fitch Ratings has downgraded the ratings for The South Financial Group,
Inc. (TSFG) and its principal banking subsidiary, Carolina First Bank,
including the long-term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to CC from B-.
All ratings have been removed from Rating Watch Negative. A complete
list of ratings is provided at the end of this release.

Fitchs downgrade of TSFGs ratings follows the companys release of
fourth quarter 2009 (4Q09) operating results including a loss of $193.9
million and the announcement of deferral on its preferred instruments.
Fitch had previously downgraded TSFGs ratings on Jan. 13, 2010
following an expanded review of commercial real estate (CRE) exposures
for banking and thrift institutions. Based on this analysis, Fitch
believed TSFG would suffer further and material capital losses over the
coming quarters. In the earlier press release Fitch also stated that if
TSFG is unable to raise capital to cover losses from its loan portfolio,
the risk of deferral of preferred stock dividends would increase
significantly. The companys 4Q09 loss materially reduced tangible
common equity to 3.67% of tangible assets at Dec. 31, 2009 from 5.25% at
Sept. 30, 2009. While TSFG remains well capitalized by regulatory
standards, continued high loss levels as the company deals with problem
loans have quickly eroded the companys capital cushion. As evidenced
this quarter, TSFG has had some success modestly reducing NPA levels and
NCOs. However, Fitchs current ratings reflect the belief that TSFG is
likely to require additional capital to survive.

Fitch considers TSFGs deferral on its preferred securities to be
non-performance, which translates into a C rating. Fitch has applied a
liquidation scenario to TSFGs balance sheet to determine the recovery
prospects of the rated obligations. This approach is consistent with
Fitchs Recovery Ratings for Financial Institutions dated Dec. 30,
2009. Using this approach, Fitch has determined the recovery potential
for uninsured depositors to be in the range of 51% to 70%, which is
consistent with an RR3 and the assignment of a rating that is one
notch higher than the banks IDR. The same liquidation scenario presents
minimal recovery potential, less than 10%, for the holders of preferred
obligations of the holding company and Fitch maintains a recovery rating
of RR6 on the preferred securities of TSFG. The immediate recovery
recognized by depositors in the event of a seizure could be higher than
the aforementioned range if a subsequent sale is consummated quickly and
the acquiring institution bids for the entire deposit base. Fitch does
not envision such a sale improving the recovery prospects for the rated
preferred obligations.

Additional rating actions include lowering the Individual Rating to E
from D/E and downgrading the ratings for TSFGs preferred securities
to C/RR6 from CC/RR6. TSFG announced that the company will be
deferring on its dividend payments for these securities, including its
$347 million of preferred stock issued to the U.S. Treasury as part of
the capital purchase program (CPP).

The South Financial Group, Inc. is a $11.9 billion bank holding company
headquartered in Greenville, SC that operates a branch network of 177
offices. It operates as Carolina First Bank in North Carolina and South
Carolina and under the Mercantile Bank name in Florida.

Granbury real estate

Granbury real estate

January 27th, 2010

BETHESDA, Md. — First Potomac Realty Trust (NYSE:FPO), a regional leader in the
ownership, management, development and redevelopment of business parks
and industrial properties, today announced that its Board of Trustees
has declared a dividend of $0.20 per common share for the Companys
fourth quarter ended December 31, 2009. The dividend, which equates to
an annualized rate of $0.80 per share, is payable on February 12, 2010,
to common shareholders of record on February 5, 2010.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are
subject to various risks and uncertainties. Although the Company
believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements
are based on reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that its
expectations will be achieved. Certain factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations include
changes in general or regional economic conditions; the Company’s
ability to timely lease or re-lease space at current or anticipated
rents; changes in interest rates; changes in operating costs; the
Company’s ability to complete acquisitions on acceptable terms; and
other risks detailed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and
described from time to time in the Company’s filings with the SEC. Many
of these factors are beyond the Company’s ability to control or predict.
Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. For
forward-looking statements herein, the Company claims the protection of
the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company assumes no
obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements that
become untrue because of subsequent events.

CHICAGO — Zacks.com releases the latest Industry Outlook. Today, Zacks Equity
Research discusses the Real Estate Investment Trusts Industry, including American
Capital Agency Corp. (Nasdaq: AGNC),
Fannie Mae (NYSE: FNM),
Freddie Mac (NYSE: FRE),
Vornado Realty Trust (NYSE: VNO)
and Simon Property Group Inc. (NYSE: SPG).

Many REITs are still trading at discounts to NAV (net asset value),
traditionally a good “buy” signal. Over the past 7 or so years, REITs
had traded near or in excess of NAV.

Granbury real estate

canopy crib

January 26th, 2010

IN APRIL 2008, The Orange County Register published a bombshell of an investigation about a license plate program for California government workers and their families. Drivers of nearly I million cars and light trucks–out of a total 22 million vehicles registered statewide–were protected by a “shield” in the state records system between their license plate numbers and their home addresses. There were, the newspaper found, great practical benefits to this secrecy. “Vehicles with protected license plates can run through dozens of intersections controlled by red light cameras with impunity,” the Registers Jennifer Muir reported. “Parking citations issued to vehicles with protected plates are often dismissed because the process necessary to pierce the shield is too cumbersome. Some patrol officers let drivers with protected plates off with a warning because the plates signal that drivers are one of their own or related to someone who is.” The plate program started in 1978 with the seemingly unobjectionable purpose of protecting the personal addresses of officials who deal directly with criminals. Police argued that the bad guys could call the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), get addresses for officers, and use the information to harm them or their family members. There was no rash of such incidents, only the possibility that they could take place. So police and their families were granted confidentiality. Then the program expanded from one set of government workers to another. Eventually parole officers, retired parking enforcers, DMV desk clerks, county supervisors, social workers, and other categories of employees from 1,800 state agencies were given the special protections too. Meanwhile, the original intent of the shield had become obsolete: The DMV long ago abandoned the practice of giving out personal information about any driver. What was left was not a protection but a perk. Yes, rank has its privileges, and its clear that government workers have a rank above the rest of us. Ordinarily, if one out of every 22 California drivers had a license to drive any way he chose, there would be demands for more police power to protect Californians from the potential carnage. But until the newspaper series, law enforcement officials and legislators had remained mum. The reason, of course, is that the scofflaws are law enforcement officials and legislators.
A correction from source is being issued with respect to the release that was disseminated on January 25, 2010 at 13:55 ET. The timelines provided in the first paragraph were not accurate. The complete and corrected release follows.

Redwood Asset Management today announced changes to the Ark Aston Hill Opportunities Class (the “Fund,”) a class of Ark Mutual Funds Ltd.

Pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement dated January 21, 2010, Trapeze Asset Management Inc. will assume management of the Fund. The Funds name has also been changed to Trapeze Value Class.

Aston Hill Financial Inc.s Catapult Financial Management division continues as portfolio advisers to two top-quartile portfolios within the Ark Family of Funds; the Ark Aston Hill Monthly Income Class and the Ark Aston Hill Energy Class.

Trapeze Asset Management Inc. (”TAMI”) is a Toronto-based investment manager. Since its inception in 1999, TAMI has followed a value investment approach and an investment process which combines macroeconomic and general market analysis with a bottom-up approach which emphasizes security selection backed by its fundamental research. Together with its affiliated investment dealer, Trapeze Capital Corp. (”TCC”), TAMI and TCC have in excess of CDN $500 million of assets under administration.

IN APRIL 2008, The Orange County Register published a bombshell of an investigation about a license plate program for California government workers and their families. Drivers of nearly I million cars and light trucks–out of a total 22 million vehicles registered statewide–were protected by a “shield” in the state records system between their license plate numbers and their home addresses. There were, the newspaper found, great practical benefits to this secrecy. “Vehicles with protected license plates can run through dozens of intersections controlled by red light cameras with impunity,” the Registers Jennifer Muir reported. “Parking citations issued to vehicles with protected plates are often dismissed because the process necessary to pierce the shield is too cumbersome. Some patrol officers let drivers with protected plates off with a warning because the plates signal that drivers are one of their own or related to someone who is.” The plate program started in 1978 with the seemingly unobjectionable purpose of protecting the personal addresses of officials who deal directly with criminals. Police argued that the bad guys could call the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), get addresses for officers, and use the information to harm them or their family members. There was no rash of such incidents, only the possibility that they could take place. So police and their families were granted confidentiality. Then the program expanded from one set of government workers to another. Eventually parole officers, retired parking enforcers, DMV desk clerks, county supervisors, social workers, and other categories of employees from 1,800 state agencies were given the special protections too. Meanwhile, the original intent of the shield had become obsolete: The DMV long ago abandoned the practice of giving out personal information about any driver. What was left was not a protection but a perk. Yes, rank has its privileges, and its clear that government workers have a rank above the rest of us. Ordinarily, if one out of every 22 California drivers had a license to drive any way he chose, there would be demands for more police power to protect Californians from the potential carnage. But until the newspaper series, law enforcement officials and legislators had remained mum. The reason, of course, is that the scofflaws are law enforcement officials and legislators.

canopy crib

Pennsylvania Auto Insurance Quotes

January 25th, 2010

WEVE teamed up with award-winning travel group Monarch and with Louis Hotels so one lucky reader can win a seven-night holiday to Larnaca in Cyprus for a family of up to four. This fantastic prize includes return flights with Monarch from Birmingham, Gatwick, Luton or Manchester airports, half-board accommodation at the four-star Louis Princess Beach and travel insurance courtesy of Insurefor.com The Louis Princess Beach is a beautiful hotel set in attractive gardens and situated on a sandy bay in Larnaca. to For those looking for a more active holiday, a wealth of activities are on offer including mini golf, tennis and beach volleyball. And children will be kept entertained with a separate childrens pool, playground, electronic games room and animation programme.
How wonderful that the state of Massachusetts, which gave us the revolutionary “Boston Tea Party,” has given us the “Shock heard around the country,” through the political philosophy of newly elected Sen. Scott Brown. The message: Rein in Congress, its left- wing leaders and our president. Stop the great leap into the private sector and the socialistic takeover of the car industry, health care, banks and insurance companies. Stop the massive deficit spending. Stop the bribery and business as usual.

Pennsylvania Auto Insurance Quotes

click here

January 25th, 2010

THE House and Senate have now each passed a health-care bill. It remains to be seen whether they can agree to pass the same one, especially since their negotiations will take place amid public hostility to the entire enterprise. The Senate bill is likely to provide the template for the negotiations. To the dismay of the Left, it lacks a new government-run insurer. Instead it imposes on the industry a new business model that could never survive in a free market and makes up for the imposition by forcing Americans to buy its products. As far as we can tell, the only reason to carry out this maneuver is to have an industry that can be called “private” while actually acting as an agency of the government. The industrys products will be more expensive, and its profits pure waste. Both bills expand Medicaid, ensuring that many Americans–some of whom lack health insurance and some of whom have good insurance–will now have low-quality insurance that many doctors refuse to take. They will also cut Medicare, crippling its popular private-sector elements and inducing doctors and hospitals to turn down Medicare patients, too. One of the Mayo clinics, touted by President Obama as a model for reform, has announced already that it will not be accepting Medicare payments because it does not want to accept Medicare price controls. Both bills include mandates on employers that are guaranteed to reduce hiring, wages, or both. Scores of House Democrats have pledged to vote down any bill that lacks a government-run insurer. We will now see whether they are as good as their word or their threats are empty. Pro-life Democrats in the House may also be tested, since the Senate bill provides federal funding to help people buy abortion coverage.
First the RACs, now wait for whats coming next Medicaid, commercial insurers starting their audits By the end of the year, its likely that every type of medical record in your hospital will be scrutinized by one auditor or another, predicts Brian Flood, managing director for KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax, and advisory firm. The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfares Bureau of Program Integrity has been auditing fee-for-service Medicaid claims for the past three years, using one of the Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services (CMS) contractors for the Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) demonstration project, reports Charleeda Redman, RN, MSN, ACM, director of corporate case management for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, an integrated health system with 20 acute care hospitals.
Studies show decrease in senior care continuity If the discharge planning communitys ideal is to begin the discharge process at the door, when patients are admitted to the hospital, then community provider input is necessary for a smooth care transition. But care continuity has been low, and its decreasing for older adults, recent studies show..sup.1,2

click here

eliminatefacialwrinkles.net

January 25th, 2010

First the RACs, now wait for whats coming next Medicaid, commercial insurers starting their audits By the end of the year, its likely that every type of medical record in your hospital will be scrutinized by one auditor or another, predicts Brian Flood, managing director for KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax, and advisory firm. The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfares Bureau of Program Integrity has been auditing fee-for-service Medicaid claims for the past three years, using one of the Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services (CMS) contractors for the Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) demonstration project, reports Charleeda Redman, RN, MSN, ACM, director of corporate case management for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, an integrated health system with 20 acute care hospitals.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Swelling and pain are usually the result of a stretched or torn ligament.

eliminatefacialwrinkles.net

Mini Exercise Bike

January 23rd, 2010

Truesport Alliances, Ltd. (OTCBB: SEWE), a
mixed martial arts (MMA) company, announced today their presence at the
leading fitness expo, the most elite that the industry will present this
year. Truesport Alliances, Ltd. will be attending the trade show to educate
MMA companies and leaders about the innovative manufacturing of MMA
equipment and the private labeling opportunities also available.

Company representatives are looking forward to introducing the opportunity
to re-configure existing fitness facilities with the newest line of MMA
equipment.

“The Truesport Alliances, Ltd. brand offers incomparable manufacturing of
MMA equipment and integration opportunities. We are extremely proud to be
the premier MMA company in this industry,” said Scott Ence, President of
Truesport Alliances, Ltd.

NEW YORK — Levi Korsinsky is investigating the Board of Directors of Health
Fitness Corp. (“Health Fitness” or the “Company”) (AMEX: FIT) for
possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of state law in
connection with their attempt to sell the Company to Trustmark Mutual
Holding Company (“Trustmark”). Under the terms of the transaction,
Health Fitness shareholders are to receive $8.78 in cash for each share
of common stock they own for total transaction value of approximately
$97 million.

The investigation concerns whether the Health Fitness Board of Directors
breached their fiduciary duties to Health Fitness stockholders by
failing to adequately shop the Company before entering into this
transaction and whether Trustmark is underpaying for Health Fitness
shares, thus unlawfully harming Health Fitness stockholders.

Levi Korsinsky has expertise in prosecuting investor securities
litigation and extensive experience in actions involving financial fraud
and represents investors throughout the nation, concentrating its
practice in securities and shareholder litigation.

SALT LAKE CITY — What does female, full-contact roller derby have in common with coed,
non-contact underwater hockey? In addition to an abundance of athletic
ability – albeit applied in a non-conventional way – and a need to
hydrate, both have signed on to become charter members of the CamelBak®
“Official Water Bottle Of” program.

As the official water bottle of the Santa Cruz Derby Girls and San
Francisco Sea Lions Underwater Hockey, CamelBak has water-carrying
rights at all sanctioned events, so team members can enjoy the
refreshing taste and health benefits of H2O at every practice
and every game.

CamelBak, which boasts two decades of hydration innovation and
leadership, wants this ambitious endeavor to highlight the importance of
hydration in all fitness activities. Its looking to partner with
passionate and committed players, teams and leagues that place an
emphasis on fun and break free from conventional fitness activities.

“We want to call attention to some unconventional athletic organizations
that have a great time doing what they love,” said Sally McCoy, CEO for
CamelBak. “Regardless of the sport, water is essential and we want to
emphasize the performance benefits of hydration in all activities.”

CamelBak is embarking on a nationwide search for sports and fitness
groups – the quirkier the better. As if the opportunity to partner with
the hydration leader isn’t mouthwatering enough, CamelBak is sweetening
the deal by providing BPA-free Better Bottles™ and t-shirts with the
team logo, as well as promotion on the CamelBak Web site and its
Facebook Fan Page.

Mini Exercise Bike

FinePix-S3500

January 23rd, 2010

Some towns emphasize a fireworks show. Others close streets for a nightlong party or a morning parade. In Richmonds flatland neighborhoods, the ringing-in of the new year takes on a percussive quality — one that sends even police officers scurrying for cover at the stroke of midnight. But the city aims to curtail celebratory gunfire, on holidays or otherwise, with the help of thousands of dollars invested in surveillance cameras and gunshot-detection technology. Officers using ShotSpotter technology detected 119 gunshots around town during the minutes after midnight Jan. 1. A few days later, teams of officers with lists of addresses canvassed the Southern Policing District.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Ambarella, Inc., a leader in low-power, high-definition video
compression and image processing semiconductors, has announced that its
HD hybrid camera SoC solution is featured in the third-generation
Creative Vado HD™ pocket video camera. The new Vado HD™ pocket video cam
combines a sleek design with stunning HD video quality powered by an
Ambarella processor. Ambarella’s superior H.264 video compression and
image processing pipeline, low-power design and flexible software
architecture make it the natural partner for Creative to enable the new
Vado HD™.

The third-generation Vado HD video cam is powered by the Ambarella A2S
chip, today the industry’s most broadly adopted and mature system
platform for hybrid camera systems. The new Vado HD™ exhibits improved
video quality and sleeker overall user experience. An Ambarella
processor supports manual exposure adjustments to handle low-light or
brightly lit conditions, as well as a motion detection mode for
recording as soon as motion is sensed. With greatly improved H.264
compression and low-power features, the new Vado HD™ can now hold up to
120 minutes of HD video in 4GB of onboard memory.

“We are pleased to partner with Creative to help deliver a new
generation of Vado HD™,” said Fermi Wang, Ambarella CEO. “We share
Creative’s vision that superior visual quality and better user
experience will further expand the growing market for pocket-size,
lifestyle cameras. Ambarella is in a unique position to benefit from
this growth with its comprehensive portfolio of advanced silicon
technology and best-in-class video and image processing technology.”

Brite-Strike® Tactical Illumination
Products, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: BSTK) announced today that Sears has placed the
DLC-200 Flashlight/Camera in their February Tool Catalog, while also
planning on placing the product on their website.

“We are excited to have Sears as a retailer of Brite-Strike® products,”
said Mr. Glenn Bushee, President of Brite-Strike. “This will be the first
Brite-Strike product carried by Sears, which has other Brite-Strike
products under review, as well,” said Mr. Bushee. “This unique product
combines a super duty flashlight with built in hi-resolution digital video
and audio. The DLC 200 was designed for police officers, but has a wide
application for contractors and housing inspectors. This is the first step
in a line-up that will be presented under the marketing program, From
Cops to Contractors,”™ said Mr. Bushee.

About Brite-Strike Tactical Illumination Products, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: BSTK)

FinePix-S3500

Crepes Dolci

January 22nd, 2010

SAN FRANCISCO — ACT Biotech Inc., a privately held biotechnology company developing a
portfolio of oral kinase inhibitors as anti-cancer drugs, today
announced the acceptance of the Investigational New Drug (IND)
application for ACTB1003 by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The company has now assembled a complete preclinical package, including
manufacturing and toxicology studies, allowing ACTB1003 to enter a
clinical trial.

ACTB1003 is a novel oral kinase inhibitor that targets cancer cells
through multiple modes of action. ACTB1003 inhibits cancer cell growth
by targeting the FGF receptor family, which are mutated in a number of
human cancer types. ACTB1003 also directly induces apoptosis by
targeting the RSK and S6K kinases in the PI3K pathway, all at low
nanomolar concentrations.

“Based on many advanced pre-clinical studies and favorable toxicology
results, we see ACTB1003 as the first in the next generation of targeted
anti-cancer drugs. ACTB1003 has the ability to hit cancer cells via
multiple therapeutic modalities and the potential to treat patients
according to the genetic profiles of their tumors. Therefore, this drug
candidate has a profile that is unmatched in the industry,” said Ali
Fattaey, Ph.D., Chief Operating Officer and Chief Scientific Officer of
ACT Biotech.

Wolf D. Busse, Chief Executive Officer and President of ACT Biotech
said, “We are excited that ACTB1003 has reached this important
milestone. In the first half of 2010, we will determine whether we will
enter into Phase 1 clinical trials on our own or with a partner. Along
with Telatinib, which is currently in Phase 2 trials, ACTB1003 will be
our second drug in the clinic and we are eager to continue advancing our
portfolio of oral kinase inhibitors.”

THINK: What types of food, drink, and habits might damage teeth? What can people do to keep their teeth healthy and strong? PREDICT: Dentists recommend brushing teeth at least twice daily to keep food and bacteria from building up. Brushing prevents discolored teeth and cavities. An eggshell is made from a substance similar to tooth enamel, the hard covering that protects teeth. What would happen if an eggshell were left in soda overnight?
Success of Starbucks Premium Ready-to-Drink Coffee Products in the
U.S. and Asia Demonstrates Strong Business Opportunity for Europe

SEATTLE — Starbucks Corporation (Nasdaq: SBUX) announced today that it will enter
the ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee category in Europe, an approximately
US$550 million (EUR368 million) market. Starbucks also announced today
that it has signed an agreement with Arla Foods for the manufacture,
distribution and marketing of Starbucks-branded premium RTD coffee
beverages in Europe. This new relationship complements Starbucks coffee
expertise and experience in the ready-to-drink coffee category.

Extending the Starbucks brand into new distribution channels globally is
part of Starbucks long-term plans to target international growth in key
regions such as Europe. “Starbucks Global Consumer Products business
allows us to extend the Starbucks Experience to consumers beyond
our retail stores while broadening our distribution channels globally,”
said Rich DePencier, vice president, Starbucks Global Consumer Products
International. “The success we have had bringing ready-to-drink coffee
products to consumers in North America and Asia demonstrates the global
potential of the business and we are proud to join with Arla Foods to
bring our premium RTD beverages to consumers in Europe.”

Arla Foods is a leading producer and distributor of quality milk
products in Europe and has more than 100 years experience of providing
consumers with inspirational products that create well-being. Arla is
one of the largest dairy companies in the world, with particularly
strong markets in Northern Europe. Arla Foods will manufacture,
distribute and market Starbucks premium milk-based ready-to-drink coffee
beverages that are made with the same high quality arabica coffee
blends that are used in the handcrafted coffee beverages available at
Starbucks retail stores around the world.

Crepes Dolci

golf

January 22nd, 2010

Stay and Play Golf Package in Full Swing from Only $249

ORLANDO, Fla. — Its’ a New Year and time to enjoy unlimited championship golf at Hawk’s
Landing Golf Club located at the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort,
where the Stay and Play Orlando
Golf Package is in full swing. Available from $249 per room, per
night through January 2, 2011, this action-packed offer includes:

Free Accu-Length rental clubs are available for kids after 3:00 pm at
this kid
friendly hotel in Orlando. Prior to hitting the links, warm-up at
the extensive practice facility, or schedule a private lesson at the
Bill Madonna Golf Academy, which is under the tutelage of Bill Madonna,
named a Top 100 Golf Teacher by Golf magazine.

About Orlando World Center Marriott Resort

Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 11 to Ship This June

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — Electronic Arts Inc., (NASDAQ:ERTS) announced today the upcoming product
lineup for the Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® franchise, which includes the
launch of Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® Online open beta and Tiger
Woods PGA TOUR® 11 on multiple consoles this June.

Golf enthusiasts globally can now get a free* preview of Tiger Woods
PGA TOUR Online and invite others via Facebook® to join the open
beta. Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online, developed by EA Tiburon, is
the most accessible, authentic and feature-rich golf video game
experience available through a web browser, with no game installation,
no disc, and no additional peripherals required. In addition, Tiger
Woods PGA TOUR 11 will be available on the Wii™, Xbox 360®,
PlayStation®3 and iPhone™ platforms.

“During beta testing we’ve already seen tremendous participation and
enthusiasm from golf fans around the world for Tiger Woods PGA TOUR
Online,” said Executive Producer Mike Taramykin. “We’re looking
forward to offering all players the opportunity to preview the game for
free* in the coming weeks. Also, during open beta gamers can invite
others to play via Facebook and we continue to encourage the community
to help to drive the game’s evolution and development.”

Since May, EA SPORTS has invited players to participate in four closed
beta tests and consumers have showed overwhelming interest and support
for the offering. During this time, more than 500,000 rounds of golf
have been played.

golf

wood wine rack

January 22nd, 2010

In the weekly feature called “e-views,” we invite readers to answer a question via e-mail. When the temperatures drop and the sun stays hidden, what do you do to stay warm and keep your spirits up? WELL, A ROARING FIRE in my fireplace is nice, except being given the limitation of “no burn” days.
The
Venetian and The Palazzo will
celebrate Chinese New
Year and the Year of the Tiger with an authentic dragon and lion dance
with firecrackers and festive decorations featuring a 16.5-foot long Tiger
and Chinese Bridge in the atrium gardens of The Shoppes at The
Palazzo with citrus trees representing good luck and fortune.

The dragon and lion dance symbolizes good luck and prosperity for the year
to come and is an important ritual of Chinese culture. The Chinese consider
dragons to be friendly and helpful creatures associated with strength, good
fortune, wisdom and longevity. Lions are traditionally seen as guardians
and are used to exorcise evil spirits and summon luck and fortune.

On Saturday, February 13th at 3 p.m., a ceremonial dragon and lion dance,
complete with firecrackers and eye painting ceremony, will begin at The
Venetians lavish Porte-Cochere, making its way through The Venetian Casino , into
The Palazzo Waterfall Atrium, through The Palazzo Casino and
end in the upper Palazzo Porte-Cochere. The colorful spectacle will feature
a parade of dancers and musicians dressed in elaborate costumes playing
authentic music.

One additional dragon dance, minus the eye painting ceremony, will be held
on Sunday, February 14th at 1 p.m. beginning in The Venetian Porte-Cochere,
make its way through the casino into The Palazzo Waterfall Atrium and
ending in The Palazzo Porte-Cochere. All dragon dances will be open to the
public.

wood wine rack

Parallel Importers

January 21st, 2010

Nationwide Insurance and Turner Sports Deliver Custom Video Series,
In-Car Audio and Fantasy Game in Robust Section on NASCAR.COM

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR.COM, the official online destination of NASCAR, and Nationwide
Insurance announced today a new section of NASCAR.COM devoted to
covering the NASCAR Nationwide Series as never before. The customized
website, which launches in February, brings together the best innovative
interactive programming from Turner Sports, NASCAR and Nationwide
Insurance.

A first-of-its-kind NASCAR eliminator-style fantasy game debuts on the
site today with registration available by visiting:
FantasyGames.NASCAR.COM/Eliminator. NASCAR.COM is operated in
partnership between Turner Sports and NASCAR.

“The 2010 season promises to bring an unprecedented amount of attention
to the NASCAR Nationwide Series,” said John Aman, associate vice
president for Nationwide Insurance. “This unique partnership gives fans
a first of its kind, interactive experience with our Series while
providing up to the minute, behind-the-scenes coverage.”

The special section of NASCAR.COM will delve into the NASCAR Nationwide
Series with an exclusive level of access previously unavailable to fans.

The Iranian theocracys war on Iranians continues. In year-end violence, government thugs in Qom disrupted the funeral of Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, a disaffected cleric, and attacked a car carrying opposition politician Mir-Hossein Mousavi. That was theater. In Tehran they went further, murdering Mousavis nephew.
With the increasing amount of shared information on the internet, customer-generated reviews are part of everyday consumer life. It is now a common practice to read about a product or service that has been extensively reviewed by the trustworthy and reliable viewpoints of our fellow consumers. The car hire industry is no different, drivers are interested in what other drivers have to say. Through the process of these reviews, potential customers can have a detailed report outlining if the promised service can deliver the expected results.

Decodecarhire.co.uk launches a new feature which gives customers a chance to leave feedback about their personal experience with a specific company. It is a means to allow former customers the chance to help future customer either pursue or avoid a certain car hire supplier. It is the best way to give new users all of the necessary tools before they make a reservation for a rental car. It will also be used so that Decode Car Hire can monitor the quality of service provided by their partners.

The new review system will give website users one more way to determine the car hire that is best for them. “With the car hire company reviews, our customers will be able to make the best decision based on not only price, but also the overall quality of service.” says Michael Ribzamen, the Business Development Executive for Decode Car Hire. With the availability of these car hire company reviews, potential customers will be able to make very informed choices.

The five point ranking system is based on vehicle quality, service quality, pricing, and location. Although the rankings will carry a lot of weight, the additional comments section will be the one of the most powerful tools for rental car seekers. Decode Car Hire hopes to attract a lot of new customers to their website that want to make knowledgeable decisions based on factual evidence.

Raising the quality of service through the disclosure of such vital information will be a key to success for Decodecarhire.co.uk in the future. Together with the recent implementation of total transparency, new language portals, no booking fees and the increase of customer service employees, the consumer-generated review system is one more way Decode Car Hire is improving their business.

Parallel Importers

Eye Bag Surgery

January 21st, 2010

Many other views of incidents in the area can be seen visually, and for
those operating live on the ground, SMS alerts provide up to the minute
information. Clickatell customer Ushahidi , a citizen-reporting
platform, is working with a number of organizations in Haiti and around the
world including the US Department of State, United Nations, Frontline SMS,
International Network of Crisis Mappers, mobile carriers, Red Cross, EIS
and InSTEDD among others. The system tracks data gathered from people on
the ground while teams of specialists work to ensure that incoming
information is accurate and filtered appropriately so decisive action can
be taken. An SMS shortcode, 4636, has been introduced to speed the process;
this SMS alerts service is only available in Haiti and is free of
charge, people can use it to report developments as they happen to aid
relief efforts.

Thanks to the ubiquity and availability of SMS — even with damaged
infrastructure — people are able to stay in contact to communicate to
volunteers, convey information about the location of food and medical
supplies, and SMS alert those looking for missing persons when information
has been discovered, all helping to restore a country that has resorted to
violence as people fight for survival.

“The SMSs being sent and received are vital at this time, and, of course,
time is of the essence. People have lost loved ones and support needs to be
provided immediately to those on the ground dealing with the realities of
the situation. Sometimes a matter of 5 minutes can make or break a persons
survival and spirit working in this environment. Not only can text messages
get there, they get there fast,” said Pieter de Villiers, Clickatell CEO.
“Clickatell is honored to support customers like Ushahidi and FrontlineSMS,
by ensuring messages are delivered accurately and instantaneously.”

LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y. — Steve Madden (Nasdaq: SHOO), a leading designer and marketer of fashion
footwear and accessories for women, men and children, announced today
that it has entered into a licensing agreement with Lucas Design
International to design and market a women’s fashion jewelry collection
for the Steve Madden brand. The line is scheduled to launch in better
department stores and specialty retailers as well as in Steve Madden
stores and on stevemadden.com in Fall 2010.

Edward Rosenfeld, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Steve Madden,
commented, “We look forward to working with the Lucas Design team to
offer a jewelry collection that will reflect the Steve Madden design
image. We believe that fashion jewelry represents a great complement to
the portfolio of categories that carry the Steve Madden name and that
Lucas Design’s expertise in the fashion jewelry business makes them an
excellent partner for this endeavor.”

Daniel Landver, Chief Executive Officer of Lucas Design International,
stated, “In today’s challenging economy, very few products help a woman
differentiate herself more than her accessories, particularly her shoes
and jewelry. Lucas Design is very excited at the opportunity to create
unique fashion jewelry for the Steve Madden customer.”

Steve Madden designs and markets fashion-forward footwear and
accessories for women, men and children. The shoes and accessories are
sold through 89 company-owned stores (including the Company’s online
store), department stores, and apparel, footwear, and accessories
specialty stores. The Company has several licensees for its brands,
including for ready-to-wear, outerwear, cold weather accessories,
eyewear, hosiery, and bedding and bath products. The Company is the
licensee for footwear, handbags and belts for Olsenboye and Fabulosity,
for footwear for Elizabeth and James and l.e.i. and for handbags and
belts for Betsey Johnson and Daisy Fuentes.

Eye Bag Surgery

Massachusetts Auto Insurance Quotes

January 20th, 2010

e-Policy Summit Held with 10 of Nation’s Top Carriers Validates
Feature-Rich Solution

EXTON, Pa. — iPipeline™, a leader in on-demand software that supports marketing,
selling, and processing solutions for the nation’s top insurance
carriers, distributors and producers, today announced the launch of its
e-Policy solution–the first digital, interactive experience for policy
delivery. iPipeline received validation for its feature-rich e-Policy
solution and secure, compliant e-Signature technology at an e-Policy
Summit held on January 12th with 10 of the nation’s top carriers. All
attending carriers indicated the primary benefits for adopting an
interactive e-policy solution are reduced costs and increased placement
ratios.

“iPipeline’s greatest assets are our customers and their participation
in designing an industry leading solution that drives growth and
efficiency within the insurance industry. Based on discussions with
these leaders, iPipeline has created a digital, interactive experience
for the consumer. Our e-Policy solution enables carriers to reduce the
20-30 day delivery period by 40-50%, while reducing printing and mailing
costs for the carriers, distributors, and agents and providing an
opportunity to educate, cross sell and up-selling the consumer. Another
benefit built into the e-Policy is the ability for the producer to
generate leads and referrals,” said Tim Wallace, CEO, iPipeline. “What
our e-Policy solution really delivers is a significant placement ratio
lift. One of our major carriers attending the summit stated they had
reviewed all leading e-Policy solutions in the market place, and what
iPipeline presented to the group is ‘way ahead’ of anything else in the
market place.”

iPipeline’s new e-Policy solution delivers several benefits to carriers,
distributors and agents. Attending carriers prioritized them as follows:

Safe, Low-Mileage Driving Can Mean Discounts of up to 25 Percent or
More

MAYFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio — Safe drivers. Business travelers who park their cars at the airport
several days a week. People with a car they only drive on nice summer
days. These drivers are all less likely to be in an accident, so they
deserve to pay less for car insurance. Progressive’s MyRate®
program, now available in Georgia, gives drivers a personalized price
based on their driving habits.

When drivers sign up for MyRate, they plug a small device into their car
that measures how they drive. Then, when they renew their policy, they
could save up to 25 percent or more based on their driving habits. Cars
driven less often, in less risky ways, and at less risky times of day
get a discount.

Other Facts

Hospital reimbursement from all payers is at risk Take proactive approach to responding to auditors If your hospital has been focusing solely on improving Medicare records in preparation for the permanent Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) program, you may find yourself in a bind as other payers roll out their own audit programs. Hospitals should prepare for the MICs and the commercial auditors in much the same way as they have been preparing for the RACs, and develop an organized group, similar to the RAC committee, with well-defined roles with each discipline, says Brian Flood, CHC, CIG, Esq., managing director for KPMG LLC.

Massachusetts Auto Insurance Quotes

medical billing and coding schools

January 20th, 2010

NEW YORK — Deutsche Bank today announced it has been appointed as Qualified
Intermediary (QI) on Toyota Motor Credit Corporation’s like-kind
exchange program.

A like-kind exchange is also known as a 1031 exchange, referring to
section 1031 in the Internal Revenue Code. A like-kind exchange is a way
of deferring capital gains taxes by reinvesting proceeds from a sale
into a like-kind asset. This structure is frequently used in the
automotive, aircraft, equipment and real estate industries. In
accordance with section 1031 a taxpayer must appoint a Qualified
Intermediary on such transactions in order to appropriately comply with
the tax code.

Kevin Plein, Managing Director within Deutsche Bank’s Global Transaction
Banking (GTB) division said, “We are pleased to have been selected by
Toyota for our high quality and integrated Qualified Intermediary
solution and welcome Toyota as a like-kind exchange client. We have seen
quite an influx of these programs over the past 12 months and look
forward to transitioning more program exchange clients in 2010.”

Deutsche Bank entered the Qualified Intermediary business because of a
market need for a strong, stable and committed bank provider of
like-kind exchange services. It is a regulated financial institution
which holds like-kind exchange assets in segregated trust accounts for
added client security.

The Bank has been appointed on a number of significant mandates for
Fortune 500 companies, amongst others, and is now a leader in providing
Qualified Intermediary services for like-kind exchange programs.

BERWYN, Pa. — Dollar Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: DLLR) will host a conference call on
January 28, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. ET to discuss the Companys fiscal second
quarter.

Investors can participate in the conference call by dialing 888-200-2794
(U.S. and Canada) or 973-935-8766 (International); use the confirmation
code “Dollar.” Hosting the call will be Jeffrey A. Weiss, Chairman
CEO, and Randy Underwood, Executive Vice President and CFO.

For your convenience, the conference call can be replayed in its
entirety beginning from two hours after the end of the call through
February 4, 2010. If you wish to listen to the replay of this conference
call, please dial (706) 645-9291 and enter passcode “51416196.”

ARLINGTON, Va. — Virginia Commerce Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:VCBI), today announced it will
host a teleconference call for the financial community on January 26,
2010, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time to discuss its fourth quarter
2009 financial results which will be released that morning. The public
is invited to listen to this conference call by dialing 866-227-1607 at
least 10 minutes prior to the call.

A replay of the conference call will be available at 2:00 p.m. Eastern
Standard Time on January 26, 2010 until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
on February 2, 2010. The public is invited to listen to this conference
call replay by dialing 888-266-2081 and entering access code 1428686.

Virginia Commerce Bancorp, Inc. is the parent bank holding company for
Virginia Commerce Bank (the “Bank”), a Virginia state chartered bank
that commenced operations in May 1988. The Bank pursues a traditional
community banking strategy, offering a full range of business and
consumer banking services through twenty-eight branch offices, one
residential mortgage office and an investment services office,
principally to individuals and small-to-medium size businesses in
Northern Virginia and the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. area.

medical billing and coding schools

Texas Auto Insurance Quotes

January 18th, 2010

MarkView for Accounts Payable Software Will Enable the Automated
Processing of More Than 150,000 Non-Claims Based Invoices Received
Annually at its Shared Services Center

IRVINE, Calif. — Kofax plc (LSE:KFX), the leading provider of document driven
business process automation solutions, today announced that Progressive
Casualty Insurance Corporation, one of the largest automobile insurers
in the United States, will implement MarkView for Accounts Payable
software to automate the processing of approximately 150,000 non-claims
based invoices it receives annually at its shared services center. The
value of the contract to Kofax is approximately $500,000.

MarkView for Accounts Payable automates financial processes to ensure
the consistent, efficient, cost effective and timely processing of
invoices from receipt through payment. Invoices are captured in
Progressive’s ERP system the day they arrive from suppliers, thereby
accelerating approval and payment cycles and improving cash management
as each invoice is closely managed from receipt through payment and
automated business rules are applied to make appropriate tradeoffs
between payment timing, potential discounts and late payment penalties.
A single repository for all invoices and the associated back up and
processing history increases
the company’s financial controls.

“Organizations are accelerating investments to automate document based,
labor intensive business processes such as accounts payable functions to
reduce costs, strengthen controls, better manage cash and improve
profitability,” said Alan Kerr, Executive Vice President of Field
Operations at Kofax. “Kofax can provide a complete accounts payable
solution for capturing and processing invoices arising via paper, fax
and electronic sources that result in direct labor savings, better
visibility into the business and in improved customer service levels.”

SALT LAKE CITY — Kaysville-based Barnes Bancorp Inc. was closed Friday by the Utah Department of Financial Institutions after several troubled months and a formal investigation by federal regulators. Barnes Bank is the first Utah financial institution to have failed in 2010. The last local bank to fail was Laytons America West Bank, which went under in May of last year. The Barnes Bank Web site refers customers to the FDIC for information. Deposits and some special accounts are insured up to $250,000, according to federal law. Other accounts are fully insured. Checks written through Barnes Bank will be honored until Feb. 12, according to the FDIC, and ATMs will be open until Jan. 29. Customers with loans financed by Barnes Bank are encouraged to continue making regular payments.
NEW YORK — Fitch Ratings has withdrawn the BB- Insurer Financial Strength (IFS)
rating of Mortgage Guaranty Investment Corp. (MGIC) and the B-
long-term issuer rating of its parent company MGIC Investment Corp.
(MGIC IC). In addition, the ratings of MGIC ICs senior notes and
convertible junior subordinated debentures have also been withdrawn.

Fitch has withdrawn the following ratings:

Texas Auto Insurance Quotes

medical billing and coding schools

January 18th, 2010

A LAWYER who admitted looking at internet child porn but was cleared on a technicality has lost his bid to get taxpayers to foot his EUR100,000 legal bill. Solicitor Sean Foley was cleared of possessing child porn after Judge Yvonne Murphy directed a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to acquit him on day 10 of his trial five years ago. So far, Foleys legal battle has lasted almost eight years and cost at least EUR100,000. He said not being awarded costs was against his human rights. Computer forensic experts found child pornography on his PCs hard-drive.
THE House and Senate have now each passed a health-care bill. It remains to be seen whether they can agree to pass the same one, especially since their negotiations will take place amid public hostility to the entire enterprise. The Senate bill is likely to provide the template for the negotiations. To the dismay of the Left, it lacks a new government-run insurer. Instead it imposes on the industry a new business model that could never survive in a free market and makes up for the imposition by forcing Americans to buy its products. As far as we can tell, the only reason to carry out this maneuver is to have an industry that can be called “private” while actually acting as an agency of the government. The industrys products will be more expensive, and its profits pure waste. Both bills expand Medicaid, ensuring that many Americans–some of whom lack health insurance and some of whom have good insurance–will now have low-quality insurance that many doctors refuse to take. They will also cut Medicare, crippling its popular private-sector elements and inducing doctors and hospitals to turn down Medicare patients, too. One of the Mayo clinics, touted by President Obama as a model for reform, has announced already that it will not be accepting Medicare payments because it does not want to accept Medicare price controls. Both bills include mandates on employers that are guaranteed to reduce hiring, wages, or both. Scores of House Democrats have pledged to vote down any bill that lacks a government-run insurer. We will now see whether they are as good as their word or their threats are empty. Pro-life Democrats in the House may also be tested, since the Senate bill provides federal funding to help people buy abortion coverage.

medical billing and coding schools

Tummy Tuck Surgery

January 18th, 2010

A WOMAN who almost died in a botched operation was awarded pounds 50,000 compensation – while the lawyers made pounds 250,000. Her case is just one shocking example of how grasping law firms made an extraordinary pounds 140million from the NHS last year. Yesterday the female patient, a former doctor who cant be named, told how her case dragged on for THREE years. It led to solicitors fees and case costs spiralling five times her payout.
THE distraught partner of a British woman feared dead in the Haiti earthquake has been keeping a 24-hour vigil in the car park of the collapsed building she is thought to have died in. United Nations worker Ann Barnes, 59, from Leighon-Sea, Essex, has not been seen since the quake on Tuesday and the hopes of her family and her partner Bruno, a French UN worker, are fading.
BORDER police have arrested 10 suspected illegal immigrants working at a Littlewoods warehouse. The 10, all from Africa, are accused of using fake papers to get jobs via the Blue Arrow Recruitment Agency.

Tummy Tuck Surgery

food-nutrition

January 18th, 2010

Pro Pointer, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: PPII), through
its wholly-owned subsidiary Coenzyme-A Technologies, Inc., is pleased to
announce the continuing preparation towards the launch of an exciting new
product — the “Coenzyme A Body Energizer Drink.”

The “Coenzyme A Body Energizer Drink” will consist of a combination of
cognitive enhancers, cellular energy promoting nutrients, immune system
boosters and detoxifying health promoting agents. Unlike other popular
energy drinks which produce feelings of “highs and lows” based on sugar and
stimulants, our product is being formulated to be a whole body mind and
mood enhancing energy drink that is not addictive, does not affect sleep
patterns and has no adverse side effects. The formula will not only
enhance alertness and vigilance but will also be beneficial in improving
memory and concentration.

The information contained in this news release, other than historical
information, consists of forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act.
These statements may involve risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those described in such
statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown
risks and uncertainties, including all business uncertainties relating to
product development, marketing, market acceptance, future capital
requirements, competition in general and other factors that may cause
actual results to be materially different from those described herein as
anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. The Company is under no
obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update or
alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.

JOURNALISTS all over Washington, D.C., have already written the big story for February. The headline will be “Democrats Score Major Win on Health Care.” The lead: “After a bruising battle, President Obama has accomplished what Harry Truman and Bill Clinton couldnt. His friends and foes alike see comprehensive health-care reform as the most significant change in American government in decades.. White House sources say that while the president is of course pleased by the historic achievement, he intends to continue his recent focus on the economy and jobs in the months ahead, and signs of economic recovery will soon result in a political recovery for the Democrats.” Passage of health legislation is probable, though not nearly as certain as the Washington consensus would have it. But the extensive debate over the legislation has revealed more opportunities for conservatives than anyone imagined possible a year ago. Moreover, that debate will not end if the Democrats bill passes–and in fact, the opportunities may increase. The resilience of conservative attitudes on the part of the public is the chief reason those opportunities exist. The reigning assumptions a year ago were that the financial crisis had made the public much more favorable toward government activism than it had been during the age of Reagan, and that the new presidents eloquence would allow him to rally the public behind his agenda. Neither assumption proved true. The polls show a public that is skeptical, even resistant, toward big government in general and this health legislation in particular. President Obamas statements on health care have failed to arrest, let alone reverse, the growth of opposition. As the new year began, the chief political argument impelling congressional Democrats to enact the legislation was no longer that it would be popular, but that passing the bill would let them change the subject. Passage would indeed be historic: There is no modern precedent for such sweeping legislations becoming law without a public consensus in its favor. Republicans were supposed to be powerless over health legislation, marginalized in the House and unable to sustain a filibuster in the Senate. They were nonetheless able to drive much of the public debate. They did so by resisting the temptation to accept the inevitability of a liberal health-care overhaul and make a deal that would have merely tinkered with it around the edges–the only sort of deal that could have been on offer, given the balance of forces in Washington. The Democrats were not even willing to meet the Republicans halfway on tort reform, which would not have required them to abandon any of their bills core elements.

food-nutrition

Wardrobe Storage Cabinet

January 17th, 2010

THE British Heart Foundation is urging Huddersfield people to donate their unwanted electrical goods or furniture. They want them to sell in their local charity stores. Unwanted Christmas presents are also being requested. By donating any unwanted gifts rather than throwing them away, someone will benefit. Mike Lucas, director of retail at the British Heart Foundation, said: “Recycling your unwanted goods by donating them to your local BHF Furniture and Electrical store is an easy and practical way for people to help fight heart disease as well as helping the environment.”
DOES THIS SOUND familiar? “I just moved into a new home. Though I love the new floor plan, my furniture and accessories dont seem to work as well as they did in our old home. I think I need more accessories as these rooms are larger than the rooms in the old home. What can I do to make it look right?” Every room needs at least one or two anchors, depending on the size and scale of the room. These anchor pieces should be large enough to be the heavyweight in the room. A room without one of these large pieces will look unfurnished or make all the accessories look like a lot of misplaced floating objects. The solution is easy enough. Take these real-life examples.

Wardrobe Storage Cabinet

scholarships for single moms

January 17th, 2010

SALT LAKE CITY — She once was a healthy and normal 7-year-old girl who thrived with a foster family who loved her. But now “K.L.,” as she is called in court documents, cannot walk or talk and will be in a semi-vegetative state for the rest of her life. The reason? Prosecutors say her mother viciously beat the girl on July 2, 2009, which caused permanent brain damage. “It was flat-out torture,” prosecutor Mandy Rose said of the abuse Emperatriz Meza-Reyna inflicted on the girl. “Its a miracle shes not dead.”
CLEARFIELD — Police have arrested a Clearfield man suspected of sexually abusing several girls under the age of 10. Eldon Lee Seagrist, 40, was found hiding at his mothers home Wednesday and was taken into custody, said Clearfield police detective Kyle Jeffries. Authorities went to Sandra Lee Solaas home, 150 S. Lakeview Drive, after receiving a tip and found him hiding in a basement closet. “We had the Taser (pointed at) him, and as soon as he saw that, he gave up,” Jeffries said.
SALT LAKE CITY — She once was a healthy and normal 7-year-old girl who thrived with a foster family who loved her. But now “K.L.,” as she is called in court documents, cannot walk or talk and will be in a semi-vegetative state for the rest of her life. The reason? Prosecutors say her mother viciously beat the girl on July 2, 2009, which caused permanent brain damage. “It was flat-out torture,” prosecutor Mandy Rose said of the abuse Emperatriz Meza-Reyna inflicted on the girl. “Its a miracle shes not dead.”

scholarships for single moms

quick payday advances

January 17th, 2010

NEW YORK — Fitch Ratings assigns an A rating to Vermont Housing Finance Agencys
1990 single family housing bond resolution (the resolution) as follows:

–approximately $447 million in outstanding bonds, which includes series
9 – series 27. The Rating Outlook is Stable.

While the program was originally created in 1990 and actively issued
bonds between 1990 and 2007, this is Fitchs initial rating assignment.

–The loan portfolio consists of 30-year fixed-rate seasoned loans, with
53% of the portfolio privately insured, 11% insured by Rural
Development, 27% uninsured with loan-to-value (LTV) ratios of 80% or
lower, and 9% securitized mortgage-backed securities, minimizing
potential loss exposure.

Like other credit reporting sites, Syphr’s MoreThanACreditReport.com
provides consumers with their credit report, credit score, and credit
monitoring. Where it differentiates is the additional services it
provides that can save users cash each month, such as a Loan Rates
Report powered by Syphr’s RateTrac®, a Loans Monitor powered
by Syphr’s Payment Patrol®, and a payment savings guarantee.
The average savings per month for a user is $239.

“As with all of our sites, we dedicate ourselves to providing consumers
true value in an easy, straight forward fashion,” says Chris Langley,
President of Syphr, LLC, “We wanted to create a new affiliate site that
evaluates their existing loans showing them where they are overspending
and points them to better deals at a local, community-based bank or
credit union so they can save money every month. And we believe
MoreThanACreditReport.com does just that. It’s the only credit reporting
service that actually pays users back.”

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lpn classes

January 16th, 2010

30% Of the Home Health Claims Are Discharged Sooner Than Physician
Anticipated

ORLANDO, Fla. — Thirty percent of the home health care workers’ compensation cases
managed by Total Medical Solutions (TMS) were discharged prior to the
“order-end date,” the last date the physician had anticipated that
services would be required.

The figure comes from an internal review of 250 cases with an intake
date between March 1 and July 15, 2009. Of the early discharges, 27
involving RN or LPN services were discharged an average of nine days
early. Twenty four of the cases involved physical therapy and were
discharged an average of 10 days early and 10 cases involved home health
care aides and nine involved intravenous or infusion services.

“With home health care adding hundreds of dollars a day to a claim,
earlier discharge represents significant savings for our clients,” said
Cara Barde, president of TMS.

TMS has a policy of having staff in patients’ homes within 24 hours of
the receipt of doctors’ orders. “We start treatment early and provide
the level of professional expertise these complex cases require,” she
added.

OAKDALE, Pa., Oct. 23 /PRNewswire/ — Pittsburgh Technical Institute (PTI) announces initial approval of its Practical Nursing program by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. At its Monday, September 28, 2009, meeting, the Nursing Board granted PTI permission to offer a 12-month certificate in Practical Nursing through the career colleges School of Healthcare. Graduates of PTIs Practical Nursing program earn a certificate and are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing leading to licensure required for employment as an LPN, Licensed Practical Nurse. Beginning July 2010, PTIs first class of practical nursing students begins a year-long curriculum comprised of classroom instruction and clinical experience in preparation for employment as an LPN, Licensed Practical Nurse, in hospitals, nursing homes, physician and dentist offices, emergency medical centers, community health clinics, and public health departments. PTIs curriculum includes classes in Biological Sciences, Nutrition, Foundations in Nursing, Human Behavior, Nursing across the Life Span, Pharmacology in Nursing, Geriatric Nursing, Transitions in Nursing Practice, and clinical experience. Classroom instruction and hands-on labs are offered at PTIs North Fayette Campus. In-field clinical experience is provided by The Childrens Home and Lemieux Family Center, Kane Regional Centers, Kindred Hospital, Ohio Valley Hospital, Southwood Hospital, UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, UPMC Senior Communities, and Washington Hospital. “Market demand for the LPN, particularly in Pittsburgh with its aging population, is evident,” says Jeff Belsky, PTIs vice president of strategic initiatives. “Recognizing our track record and commitment to career-focused education, area healthcare providers encouraged PTI to pursue Nursing Board approval for a licensed practical nurse preparation program and expressed interest in providing clinical experience opportunities and hiring our nursing graduates.”

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christian interracial dating

January 16th, 2010

The death of economist Paul Samuelson occasioned, in these pages and elsewhere, recollection of the great economists persistent overestimation of Soviet Communism and its economic policies. But as George Mason University economics professor Alex Tabarrok points out, it wasnt just Samuelson: The standard economics textbooks also overestimated Soviet economic growth, from the 1960s right up until the bitter end.
The death of economist Paul Samuelson occasioned, in these pages and elsewhere, recollection of the great economists persistent overestimation of Soviet Communism and its economic policies. But as George Mason University economics professor Alex Tabarrok points out, it wasnt just Samuelson: The standard economics textbooks also overestimated Soviet economic growth, from the 1960s right up until the bitter end.
LOS ANGELES — Kilroy Realty Corporation (NYSE: KRC) announced today the tax
treatment of its 2009 dividend distributions. The companys total
dividend distributions per share of common stock (CUSIP #49427F108) are
to be classified for income tax purposes as follows:

The dividend distributions being made to holders of record as of
December 31, 2009 and being paid on January 15, 2010 are considered 2010
dividend distributions for federal income tax purposes.

The companys total dividend distributions per share of Series E
cumulative redeemable perpetual preferred stock (CUSIP #49427F405) are
to be classified for income tax purposes as follows:

christian interracial dating

dental hygienist careers

January 15th, 2010

Dental hygienists from across the United States, Canada, and Europe came together 15–17 June this year to explore questions, and to discuss how we could all work together to expand our knowledge about dental hygiene research. One hundred and fifty dental hygienists travelled to Washington, D.C., to talk about the future of our profession, the newest oral care technologies, the latest evidence linking oral health to systemic health, access to oral health care, and many more topics. It was all about curiosity and collaboration. Our common curiosity spurred us to explore a wide range of issues as is evident from the work found in the poster presentations highlighted in this issue of the Canadian Journal of Dental Hygiene. The proceedings reflect the collaboration of two national organizations as well as collaborations among researchers. This issue provides an overview of our collaborative research conference; however, the influence of the conference was greater than the sum of its various presentations. The conference provided diverse opportunities to make connections with others. Participants explored ways they could collaborate to further investigations and to explore areas of mutual interest in a more comprehensive way. It was all about sharing and expanding the horizons of our research to support the oral health of our societies. It was about building collaborations to more effectively use scarce resources in the best interests of the public. Through this issue of the journal we would like to extend these connections to our members, the dental hygienists of North America, who have an equal sense of curiosity and a desire to collaborate. Our curiosity is a characteristic that brings us together regardless of the work setting; it underpins the relationship between research and practice. The questions we are exploring arise from you, the dental hygienists, working with clients–be they individuals, families, groups, or communities. The work of researchers is to take the questions that you identify, and shape them into realistic and relevant research questions that can be explored in a systematic way. This is the foundation of our collaboration. You stimulate the questions, and we attempt to find ways to provide you with insights that will support client safety and better oral health outcomes
The dental hygienists guide to nutritional care, 3d ed.
Summer is a particularly busy time of year for conferences, and this summer was no exception. Some dental hygienists attended and presented research findings at the North American Dental Hygiene Research Conference this past June in Bethesda, Maryland. As well, on 4 July, dental hygienists, Sandra Cobban, Eunice Edgington, Leeann Donnelly, and Jessica Dube attended and presented their research findings at the 19th World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics in Paris, France. Full abstracts are published in The Journal of Nutrition, Health Aging, Volume 13, Supplement 1, 2009. Research poster titles that our four dental hygiene researchers presented at the conference are: * Sandra Cobban: Strategies for improving oral health in long term care: A scoping review.

dental hygienist careers

baby crib bedding set

January 15th, 2010

No Fee Money Transfer Services to Haiti from the U.S., Canada and
France

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — To help the victims of Haiti’s deadliest earthquake in more than 200
years, The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU), a leader in the money
transfer segment of global payments, today announced a number of
disaster relief efforts in support of Haiti, including: grants;
consumer, Agent and employee donation programs; and a “No Transfer Fee”
initiative when sending money to Haiti from the U.S., Canada and in
France, in cooperation with our Agents.

Through its corporate signature program, Our World, Our Family®,
The Western Union Company will contribute $150,000 towards disaster
relief efforts. The Western Union Foundation will donate an additional
$100,000 to help provide basic human relief efforts such as food, safe
drinking water, access to sanitation facilities, clothing and temporary
shelter through Mercy Corps and Save the Children response teams
actively working in Haiti.

Western Union, through its global foundation, has activated its Agent
Gift Matching Program in support of Haiti, matching one-for-one Agent
donations from around the world. Western Union also is encouraging
employee donations to be made directly to the Western Union Foundation
in support of the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund. All employee donations
will be matched one-to-one.

It’s the consumer-preferred brand in national taste test

ELGIN, Ill. — For America’s biggest sports celebration, great snacks and beverages are
probably more important than the game itself. The Super Bowl, after all,
has evolved into a holiday – an annual reason for family and friends to
spend some time together, have some fun and fight cabin fever during the
winter.

In a survey on snack preferences, a clear majority (64 percent) of
adults said they prefer sweet snacks, while about half (54 percent) like
their snack foods salty. Four in five said they like them crunchy as
well. Those three qualities in one snack concisely describe Fisher Honey
Roasted Peanuts! The thing is, not all such products are created equal.

How do Fisher Honey Roasted Peanuts Stack up? Fifty-six percent of 100
consumers who participated in a blind taste study conducted by a
credible outside research firm, preferred the honey flavor of the Fisher
product when compared to other leading brands. More than half (56
percent) said they either “liked extremely” or “liked very much” the
honey flavor of the Fisher product, compared with only 37 percent of
consumers for the next best scoring brand.

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Ohio Auto Insurance Quotes

January 14th, 2010

To Offer Quality, Cost-Effective Personal Health Insurance Choices in
20 States

INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON — The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) and
UnitedHealthcare’s Golden Rule Insurance Company have teamed up to offer
new personal health insurance choices to entrepreneurs, micro-business
owners and other self-employed businesspeople in 20 states and
Washington, D.C.

The new comprehensive health plans for individuals and families are
offered in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South
Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.
North Carolina and West Virginia are expected to be added in March of
this year.

Health insurance options include co-pay plans similar to traditional
employer-sponsored coverage as well as high deductible health plans that
work in tandem with health savings accounts (HSAs). Golden Rule
pioneered the HSA concept more than 15 years ago. Today, nearly
one-third of Golden Rule’s current customers are covered by HSA plans
because of the premium savings, tax advantages and control over health
care spending these accounts offer.

NASE members choosing one of the health plans also will have access to
UnitedHealthcare’s extensive network of more than 600,000 physicians and
health care professionals and 5,000 hospitals. Network discounts can
result in additional savings to consumers, even before they meet their
annual deductibles.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — As a result of continued reduction in reimbursement under the State of
Washington Medicaid program, Walgreens (NYSE: WAG)(NASDAQ: WAG) today
announced it will withdraw 64 of its pharmacies from the state’s
Medicaid program as of Feb. 15. These pharmacies represent 75 percent of
the company’s total Medicaid business in the state. Walgreens operates
121 pharmacies throughout Washington.

The most recent payment reduction results from a Massachusetts court
ruling last fall that reduced the industry pricing standard, even though
pharmacies’ acquisition costs haven’t changed. While many private
insurance providers have adjusted pharmacy reimbursement rates to limit
the impact of the court ruling, Washington’s Medicaid program has yet to
do so. That’s led to significantly lower payments to pharmacies that
severely impact the economic viability of doing business in Washington.

In fact, the most recent payment reduction has resulted in Washington
Medicaid reimbursing Walgreens below its cost to break even on nearly 95
percent of brand name medications.

Kermit Crawford, Walgreens senior vice president of pharmacy, said,
“Walgreens is committed to providing cost-effective pharmacy services
across the state. We have thousands of loyal patients who appreciate and
trust our pharmacists, and we are absolutely committed to patient care.
That’s why we have worked, and are committed to working, diligently with
the state on ways to lower its spending on prescription drugs while
ensuring patients have access to the full benefit of their drug therapy.”

In the past year, Walgreens and the state’s pharmacy community have
identified tens of millions of dollars in savings to the state through
more effective medication management. If implemented, these savings
would more than offset the lower payments pharmacies are now receiving.

Ohio Auto Insurance Quotes

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January 14th, 2010

PASADENA, Calif. — The Board of Directors of Ameron International Corporation (NYSE:AMN)
declared a quarterly dividend of 30 cents per share of common stock
payable February 16, 2010 to stockholders of record on January 28, 2010
and established February 9, 2010 as the record date in connection with
its Annual Meeting of Stockholders which will be held on Wednesday,
March 24, 2010.

Ameron International Corporation is a multinational manufacturer of
highly-engineered products and materials for the chemical, industrial,
energy, transportation and infrastructure markets. Traded on the New
York Stock Exchange (AMN), Ameron is a leading producer of water
transmission lines and fabricated steel products, such as wind towers;
fiberglass-composite pipe for transporting oil, chemicals and corrosive
fluids and specialized materials and products used in infrastructure
projects. The Company operates businesses in North America, South
America, Europe and Asia. It also participates in several joint-venture
companies in the U.S. and the Middle East.

CORRECTION FROM SOURCE-CANCELLATION – Please note that this event is cancelled.

The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry and the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, will be available

to the media.

Weststar Resources Corp. (TSX-V: WER)
(FRANKFURT: HN3) (the “Company”) is pleased to announce it has purchased a
100 percent interest in 27 strategic claims in the Red Chris area of
northwestern British Columbia. The claims are within 10 km of the Red Chris
copper-gold property owned by Imperial Metals Corp.

In a recent announcement (see NR Dec 20, 2009 for Imperial Metals Corp.)
results of drilling assays from Imperial metals Deep East zone at Red Chris
included the following:

“Drill hole RC09-350 previously reported the highest grade intercepted at
Red Chris to date (Stockwatch news, Nov. 9, 2009: RC09-350 returned 152.5
metres grading 4.12 per cent copper and 8.83 grams per tonne gold starting
at a depth of 540 metres). The higher-grade material extends to 962.5
metres and averages 2 per cent copper and 3.8 grams per tonne gold over
432.5 metres. With all intervals assayed, drill hole RC09-349 intercepted
625.3 metres of 0.82 per cent copper and 0.93 gram per tonne gold starting
at a depth of 390 metres.”

The 27 claims acquired by Weststar cover an area of approximately 26,544.48
acres located to the northwest of the Red Chris property. Terms of the
agreement include a cash payment of $10,000 and the issuance of 1,000,000
shares of Weststar upon TSX Venture Exchange approval. A finders fee is
payable on this transaction. The acquisition is subject to the acceptance
of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The Company is planning an exploration program to follow up on numerous
historic copper showings located on the northwest portion of the newly
acquired claims.

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eliminatefacialwrinkles.net

January 13th, 2010

Hospital Executives Concerned That Healthcare Reform with a Public
Option Would Negatively Impact Quality of Care; Plan to Accommodate
Increased Patient Demand Through Improved Productivity and Efficiency

ATLANTA — Seventy-four percent of U.S. healthcare executives polled believe the
U.S. healthcare system is in crisis and they are concerned healthcare
reform legislation may negatively impact the quality of care and
hospitals’ profit margins, according to the findings of the 2009
National Survey on the Impact of Technology in Healthcare Reform.

Eighty-six percent of healthcare executives say improving productivity
and efficiency was their primary strategy to accommodate future patient
demand on the healthcare system. The survey also showed that 69 percent
of executives plan to invest in improving their technology during 2010.

Ninety-three percent of healthcare executives responded they are relying
on case management to manage length-of-stay (LOS) in their facilities,
and 63 percent are also using process improvement efforts to improve
LOS. In answer to the question “which solution has the most potential to
improve patient throughput at your facility,” 68 percent of respondents
indicated a patient flow and logistics solution.

Reaching the pinnacle of their profession
nationally, Olivia Edwards and Mary Murphy of The Platinum Group with
McGuire Real Estate, were accepted as Members of the Top 5 in Real Estate
Network®, the most prestigious of all industry achievements.

More than just a sales-driven recognition, the Top 5 in Real Estate
Network® meets a need that heretofore has never been addressed — helping
consumers identify the most professional real estate agents in North
America. To qualify, each member must first meet a stringent set of
criteria, based upon performance, as well as educational and professional
skills and service to the consumer.

Members of the Network are carefully selected and managed by RISMedia,
which has provided the real estate industry with objective, unbiased news
for nearly 30 years. As Members of the Top 5 Network, Edwards and Murphy
are among the first real estate agents to be accepted into this elite
organization.

Allan Dalton, the president and co-founder of RISMedias Top 5 Network,
congratulated Edwards and Murphy for earning this top status within the
industry. “Olivia and Mary have reached the very highest level of North
Americas residential real estate industry. Not only are their professional
accomplishments extraordinary, they have long been true champions for
homebuyers and sellers in their area. It is a pleasure to welcome Olivia
and Mary into this elite group of industry leaders.”

According to John Featherston, RISMedias CEO publisher and co-founder of
the Top 5 in Real Estate Network, the significance of Top 5 is that
consumers deserve full transparency regarding all matters related to the
real estate transaction, which often begins with the need to select a
highly competent, experienced and results-oriented real estate
professional. Top 5 in Real Estate has been established to both empower
consumers with leading real estate content through Top 5 members, as well
as to ensure that consumers are made fully aware that there is a material
difference between average and exceptional real estate professionals.

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Canon Canonet

January 13th, 2010

GOOGLES first mobile. Launched this week, it beats the iPhone on hardware – its faster, thinner, has a superior camera and a bigger, better 3.7in touch screen thats great for watching clips. But it doesnt quite match the Apple device for ease of use or apps. 9/10 A SLIGHTLY chunky mobile with an excellent 12.1 megapixel digital camera built in. Again it has a touch screen but the user interface is slow and feels dated. Pre-recorded videos looked good. YouTube and iPlayer are built in but we couldnt get them to work on the handset we tested. 6/10
Electronic Control Security, Inc. (OTCBB: EKCS)
(ECSI) and Balinor International, LLC announced today that they have
entered into marketing and sales agreements with Operational Security Ltd.
to market ECSIs advanced perimeter security technology and leading-edge
maritime Anti-Piracy Technology, APT, in India, Africa and the Middle East.
ECSIs perimeter security technologies include state-of-the-art
surveillance, monitoring and access control systems. The APT System
Solution provides automated, seamless integration of the most advanced
small-target radar, ECSI-exclusive long range day/night cameras and
optional thermal imaging systems, and American Technology Corporations
Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD), with new water jet and “dazzle” laser
deterrent options now available.

“I believe these represent some of the most exciting security-related
technologies available today,” said Peter Earnshaw, Managing Director of
Operational Security Ltd. “ECSIs perimeter security systems have been
proven time and again to offer the most effective intrusion detection and
perimeter control available in a range of applications. With respect to
the anti-piracy realm, we believe APT is the only really comprehensive and
effective anti-piracy solution available to the maritime community,
offering 24/7 protection with automated and integrated long-range
detection, identification, tracking, recording, communication and
non-lethal deterrence. We feel privileged to have this opportunity to
participate in bringing these technologies to market.”

Norman Barta, CEO of Balinor International, said, “It is with great
pleasure that we engage with Operational Security Ltd. to support Balinors
marketing and sales efforts in India, Africa and the Middle East.
Combining ECSIs technologies with our new leading-edge deterrent options,
I believe we have an unbeatable product in the maritime security and
anti-piracy realm, given APTs suitability to both ports and vessels. With
their knowledge and experience in the maritime domain, Operational Security
is the right partner to support bringing this powerhouse to market in the
coming year.”

Arthur Barchenko, President and CEO, stated, “Were pleased to be joining
forces with Operational Security for our perimeter security technologies,
as well as having them partner with Balinor International in offering APT
to the maritime marketplace. Operational Security offers a strong
presence in their marketing space that I believe will be extremely valuable
to us in 2010 and beyond.”

Canon Canonet

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