Marriott UMUC Inn and Conference Center Sells Clothing for $5 per Bag at One-Day Community Thrift Store
Business Wire, Nov 23, 2009
Proceeds go to Help Sick Children
ADELPHI, Md. — Armed with $5 bills, the shoppers lined up waiting for the doors to
open. Sound like some kind of bizarre sale? This was no sale, it was the
scene at the opening of the temporary thrift store at Marriotts
University of Maryland University College Inn and Conference Center.
Local community members in need were invited to stuff as many clothes as
they could into shopping bags for $5 a bag. All proceeds went to the
Childrens Miracle Network (CMN).
The Childrens National Medical Center in Washington, DC, is the local
CMN hospital. CMN hospitals treat 98 percent of all children needing
heart or lung transplants and 88 percent of all children with cancer.
These hospitals devote 60 percent of their services to children under
age six and 25 percent to newborns, providing $2.5 billion in
uncompensated care each year. As a corporation, Marriott has contributed
more than $66 million to CMN.
Hotel associates, along with their friends and family members, teamed up
to collect gently used clothing for adults and children who need a
helping hand. Lea Callahan of ZIPS dry cleaners in College Park,
Maryland, donated over 100 pieces of clothing to help out the cause. The
bags used that day, several hundred of them, were purchased from CMN,
and the funds for these were provided by IESI/Pinnacle Waste, a local
vendor of the Inn and Conference Center.
Our spirit committee, made up of our associates at the Inn and
Conference Center, spent hours sorting clothing and organizing our
temporary thrift store, says Michael McCarthy, general manager of the
Marriott UMUC Inn and Conference Center
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Sprint Releases Time-Saving Applications on Smart Phones
0 Comments | Wireless News, Nov 23, 2009
Sprint announced it has released several time-saving smart phone applications through the Android Market, Palm App Catalog, BlackBerry App World and the Sprint Digital Lounge.
“As more consumers are purchasing smartphones, they are looking for mobile apps that can make them more productive,” said Len Barlik, VP of wireless and wireline services for Sprint. “Mobile applications are one the fastest growing segments in the wireless industry. Sprint customers can choose from thousands of apps and find the ones they want for fun, work or even to help with their holiday preparations.”
HTC Hero and Samsung Moment with Google users can download apps from Android Market:
– Carrr Matey – Customers can find their parked car in a busy mall parking lot.
– ShopSavvy – Use the camera in the wireless phone to scan the barcode of any product to find the best prices on the Internet and at nearby local stores.
Palm Pre and Palm Pixi users can find apps in Palm App Catalog:
– GiftJammer – Create gift lists during the holiday season.
– FlightView – Receive real-time flight status notifications and follow flights in the air while coordinating airport pick-ups.
– WeatherBug Elite – Stay informed and prepared with live local weather, severe weather alerts, in-depth forecasts, camera views and detailed radar maps.
BlackBerry users can download and search BlackBerry App World:
– Loopt – Customers can use Loopt to see who’s around, what to do, and where to go.
– Calorie Counter by FatSecret- Worried about eating healthy and staying fit during the holidays? Count calories and find nutritional details for any food.
Other Sprint phones, including Samsung Reclaim and LG Lotus, can download apps through Sprint Digital Lounge:
– Mobile Shopper – Find the perfect gift using Mobile Shopper, an app that lets customers shop at more than 70 online retailers.
– Sprint Navigation – Provides full-featured GPS navigation, including voice-guided, turn-by-turn driving directions with 3D moving maps, more than 10 million business listings, and real-time traffic alerts with one-click rerouting.
– NFL Mobile Live – Catch the game even with family holiday commitments. NFL Mobile Live provides live streaming game action for NFL Network broadcast games, live audio broadcasts of every game, customizable red zone alerts, and access to fantasy teams any time.
“The NFL Mobile application is really remarkable,” said former NFL star and current TV analyst Cris Collinsworth. “With NFL Mobile Live from Sprint it’s like carrying a little television set around
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Hi-Shear Technology Corporation Announces Stockholder Approval of Merger Agreement with Chemring Group PLC
Business Wire, Nov 20, 2009
TORRANCE, Calif. — Hi-Shear Technology Corporation (NYSE Amex:HSR) announced today that its
stockholders approved Hi-Shears merger agreement with Chemring Group
PLC (LSE:CHR), at a special meeting of stockholders held on November 19,
2009. Approximately 86% of the shares of Hi-Shear outstanding as of
October 9, 2009, the record date for the special meeting, were voted to
approve and adopt the merger agreement.
Pursuant to the merger agreement, it is proposed that Chemring will
acquire Hi-Shear in an all cash transaction for $19.18 per share or
approximately $132.0 million.
Approval of the merger agreement was the final remaining condition to
consummation of the merger (other than conditions to be fulfilled by the
parties at the closing). In accordance with the terms of the merger
agreement, Chemring and Hi-Shear expect to complete the merger on or
about November 24, 2009.
About Hi-Shear
Hi-Shear provides pyrotechnic, mechanical, and electronic products to
prime aerospace customers for use in aerospace and defense markets where
safety, performance and high reliability are essential. It develops and
produces advanced systems and products that are primarily used worldwide
in space satellites, launch vehicles, national defense, and government
programs.
About Chemring
Chemring, with 2008 revenues of 354.2 million, is a global company that
specializes in the manufacture of energetic material products and decoy
countermeasures. Chemring provides solutions for highly demanding
customer requirements in defense, security and safety markets. Chemring
is a world-leading defense company involved in critical defense
development programs in the UK, US, Europe and Australia. Chemrings
capabilities to provide solutions to customer requirements are based on
its core competencies in: (i) energetic materials, (ii) high reliability
and safety and (iii) volume manufacturing. Chemring is built on a
hundred-year history of innovation and development and currently employs
over 3000 people in the UK, US, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain
and Australia. Chemring sells to over 80 countries and its end-users
include the military services, security forces and commercial marine
operators.
This release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties. The forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the
safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in
the forward-looking statements as a result of certain risk factors,
including but not limited to: (i) adverse changes in general economic or
market conditions; (ii) the satisfaction of closing conditions in
connection with the proposed transaction; (iii) fluctuations in
Hi-Shears operating results and risks associated with trading of
Hi-Shears stock; (iv) war or acts of terrorism; (v) the ability to
attract and retain highly qualified employees; (vi) changes in
government laws and regulations; and (vii) other one-time events and
other important factors disclosed previously and from time to time in
Hi-Shears filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
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STRENGTH THROUGH EDUCATION
Rough Notes, Apr 2009 by Zinkewicz, Phil
AAMGA University uses a variety of instruction vehicles
For more than 20 years, the AAMGA has provided technicalbased education to its members and the members of NAPSLO. According to Jeff D. Henry, M.Ed., the AAMGA University Director of Education, the original plan was to provide classes that would “help our people understand the coverages that were provided by the E&S; and Specialty marketplace and how they differed from the admitted/ standard marketplace.”
Henry says that the first course offerings were in the trucking and auto specialty lines of business, expanding to property, general liability and professional. “Now we offer programs in everything from the technical insurance programs to human resources, agency management, claims, leadership, and interpersonal skills development. We also have created a basic fundamentals program, called ‘MGA Fundamentals,’ for new entrants into our business,” he explains.
Henry points out that there are four basic methods of delivering these programs: stand-alone programs; AAMGA University weekends; satellite programs; and annual and mid-year meetings.
He says: “The first method, standalone programs, represents the original format. A stand-alone course is typically given over a weekend for 12 hours of class time and filed for continuing education credits. These courses include the trucking’ track of courses (3 levels) – garage risks, general liability, personal lines, and property. They are generally an indepth review of the current policy forms in use and include discussions of the issues particular to the underwriting and servicing of accounts within the specific line of business.”
The second method is through University weekends, Henry explains. “In this format, multiple courses are offered in a number of different tracks. The tracks include underwriting, claims, sales, management and leadership, as well as human resources. The University weekend generally is held from Friday morning through Sunday afternoon and offers attendees the opportunity to choose from among at least two four-hour courses in five different time slots, or 20 hours worth of education.
“There are continuing education credits available during each of the five time slots,” Henry continues. “The University format has been operating successfully in Arizona for over 10 years, and it is now entering the second year in the Philadelphia area. We are experimenting this year with the Philadelphia program by including one of the stand-alone programs in the offerings.”
Henry describes the third method, the satellite program, as offering a number of four-hour courses that can be presented at the offices of both company and agency members – for their staff and/or customers. “These programs are generally the same programs offered at the University weekends, but they give a member the ability to bring it in-house and keep control over the costs. The University can also offer courses that are specifically built for a member’s need as well. These programs are filed for continuing education credits where applicable and can provide a good marketing tool for the members.”
Finally, the fourth method represents those classes specifically designed to be timely and offered in conjunction with the AAMGA’s annual or mid-year meetings, according to Henry. “The last couple of years have seen the mid-year meeting agenda focus on the legislative issues that are current and going to be of issue in the coming year,” he says.
In reviewing the past three years, Henry says the AAMGA has seen on a conservative basis – the number of individual students increase from 853 in 2006 to 1,512 in 2007 to 2,080 in 2008
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Tongjitang Chinese Medicines Company Post 3Q Financial Results
0 Comments | Wireless News, Nov 21, 2009
Tongjitang Chinese Medicines Company, a specialty pharmaceutical company focusing on the development, manufacturing, marketing and selling of modernized traditional Chinese medicine in China, announced its financial results for the quarter ended September 30.
In a release dated November 18, the company stated:
Financial Results for the Quarter Ended September 30:
– Net revenue was RMB104.6 million ($15.3 million) compared to RMB110.4 million in the prior year period.
– Gross margin was 57.6 percent in the third quarter of 2009, compared to 62.4 percent in the same period of 2008.
– Net loss attributable to the company was RMB13.7 million ($2.0 million), which yielded net loss per ADS of RMB0.43 ($0.06) and net loss per share2 of RMB0.11 ($0.02).
– Non-GAAP loss per share was RMB0.04 ($0.01), compared to non- GAAP earnings per share of RMB0.11 in the third quarter of 2008.
Xiaochun Wang, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Tongjitang, said, “Our third quarter performance reflects the introduction of the newly-launched sales rebate program to the majority of distributors. As a result of this rebate program, RMB6.2 million has been recorded against revenues year to date. Additionally, even though the Essential Drug List was announced by China’s Ministry of Health during this third quarter, uncertainties regarding execution details and pricing continued to cause hospitals and distributors to destock their inventory levels, leading to low sales during the quarter. However, we believe that such declines in purchases from hospitals and distributors should recover noticeably when the pending Chinese healthcare policies are finalized and disclosed.”
– Gross profit was RMB60.3 million ($8.8 million) in the third quarter of 2009, down from RMB69.0 million in the third quarter of 2008. Gross margin was 57.6 percent in the third quarter of 2009, compared to 62.4 percent in the same period of 2008. Tongjitang’s decreased gross margin reflects reduced revenues from XLGB and Guizhou LLF (which enjoys a higher margin) and the introduction of sales rebates. The price of barrenwort, used in the production of XLGB, remained stable in the third quarter of 2009.
– Operating loss in the third quarter of 2009 was RMB12.8 million ($1.9 million), compared to operating income of RMB7.7 million in the third quarter of 2008, primarily reflecting increased selling and marketing expenses related to Jingfang’s products.
– Net loss attributable to the company was RMB13.7 million ($2.0 million), which yielded net loss per ADS of RMB0.43 ($0.06) and net loss per share2 of RMB0.11 ($0.02).
– Non-GAAP net loss in the third quarter of 2009 was RMB5.4 million ($790,000), compared to non-GAAP net income of RMB15.3 million in the third quarter of 2008. Non-GAAP loss per share was RMB0.04 ($0.01), compared to non-GAAP earnings per share of RMB0.11 in the third quarter of 2008. For the third quarter of 2009, the number of shares used in the computation of GAAP and non-GAAP net loss per share was 126.8 million.
Wang said, “During the third quarter, we are very pleased to see that our recently-integrated business, Jingfang, started to show great potential in sales. We also expect to see initial progress from our ongoing marketing campaign and the restructuring of Jingfang’s sales team in the fourth quarter
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Susan Boyle and Adam Lambert: Battle of reality TV stars
0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Nov 21, 2009 | by Chuck Barney
SUSAN BOYLE vs. Adam Lambert in a steel-cage match? Well, not quite, but the year’s two biggest reality TV superstars both drop hotly anticipated debut albums Monday, setting up an epic battle for sales supremacy and a stark contrast in musical style and personality.
In one corner, we’ve got Boyle, the shy Scottish homebody whose soul-stirring ballads made her a global sensation on “Britain’s Got Talent.” In the other, there’s Lambert, the brash, openly gay glam rocker who sent “American Idol” fans into mass hysteria.
Boyle’s “I Dreamed a Dream” has racked up the most pre-orders in Amazon.com history. Lambert’s “For Your Entertainment” already has reached No. 1 on the iTunes charts and sparked debates about its over-the-top cover.
All this for two performers who didn’t even finish first in their respective TV talent shows
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Awake laminotomy and discectomy using dexmedetomidine as anesthetic
Puerto Rico Health Sciences Journal, Dec, 2009 by Hector M. Torres, Serafin C. Lopez
Lumbar discectomy is the most common surgical procedure performed in the United States for patients having back and leg symptoms; the vast majority of the procedures are elective and are performed under general anesthesia (1).
Case Report
This is a case report of a 40 year-old woman with worsening symptoms of LS-S 1 disc herniation unresponsive to conventional therapies. Patient was scheduled for awake laminotomy and discectomy of affected disc. The use of Dexmedetomidine was discussed with the patient, explaining the advantages of motor and sensory testing during the surgery and immediate patient feedback.
Dexmedetomidine infusion was started at 0.8 mcg/kg/ hr. Patient was placed in the prone position. Forty-five minutes after the infusion had begun a right paramedian incision was done. During the laminotomy, the infusion of Dexmedetomidine was increased to 1 mcg/kg/hr. Before closing the lamina, the rate of the infusion was decreased to 0.5 mcg/kg/hr. At the end of the surgery, the infusion of Dexmedetomidine was discontinued, after having lasted exactly two hours. Motor testing of lower extremities was performed during, and at the end of the surgery, and the patient was awake and able to walk, giving us immediate feedback that she was relieved of pain. She also reported being comfortable during the procedure. Then, the patient placed herself on the stretcher with minimal assistance, and was taken to the post anesthesia care unit with stable vital signs. After 48 hours in the ward, the patient was discharged with normal muscle strength and no neurological deficits.
Discussion
Dexmedetomidine is a short-acting, highly selective and potent alpha2-adrenergic agonist, working through activation of central nervous system alpha2 receptors, with several desirable pharmacologic properties, including sedation, anxiolysis, hypnosis, analgesia, amnesia, antisialagogue effects, and a unique respiratory-sparing effect (2-4). The sedative effect produced by Dexmedetomidine has a different quality than that produced by other intravenous anesthetics in that it resembles a physiologic sleep state through activation of endogenous sleep pathways (2). This property gave us the advantage of performing motor testing during the operation, and the patient was able to provide immediate feedback that her right leg paresthesia had disappeared.
Due to the prone position required for the surgical procedure, airway patency and respiratory depression were a concern. We were able to keep a patent airway, by carefully titrating the anesthetic to an adequate level without causing excessive sedation. Dexmedetomidine also has minimal ventilatory effects because one of its sites of action is the locus ceruleus, which is known to play a role in both respiratory control and sleep modulation; and because Dexmedetomidine converges on the natural sleep pathway to exert its sedative effects, whereas natural sleep does result in ventilation modulation (5).
Dexmedetomidine, has been associated with hemodynamic adverse effects such as bradycardia and hypotension (4). An initial hypertensive response usually occurs when using high doses given at a fast rate, secondary to stimulation of the peripheral alpha2-receptors (4). However, the patient’s blood pressure and heart rate remained stable during the procedure, and the initial hypertensive response did not occur.
Lumbar disc herniations from intervertebral disc degeneration are common in elders (6), who also might have other co-morbidities. Therefore awake procedures would offer more benefits and fewer complications related to general anesthesia in this population.
This patient could be discharged in 24 hrs or less. A shorter hospital stay would represent a savings both to the patient and the hospital.
Conclusions
Awake laminotomy and discectomy could be performed as an ambulatory procedure, since the use of Dexmedetomidine as main anesthetic represented a safe and convenient alternative to general anesthesia in this patient with lumbar disc herniation.
References
(1.) Weinstein JN, Tosteson TD, Lurie JD, Tosteson AN, Hanscom B, Skinner JS, Abdu WA, Hilibrand AS, Boden SD, Deyo RA
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Digi-Key Stocking Weidmuller's New DRAC Line
0 Comments | Wireless News, Nov 21, 2009
Electronic components distributor Digi-Key, offering a broad selection of electronic components, announced it has stock for Weidmuller’s new line of AC DIN rail receptacles.
The following DRAC line products are now available for purchase on Digi-Key’s global websites and will be featured in future print and online catalogs:
– 6720005420 (Digi-Key #281-2579-ND) Module Outlet AC Dual 20A 120VAC
– 6720005421 (Digi-Key #281-2580-ND) Module Outlet AC Dual 15A 120VAC
– 6720005422 (Digi-Key #281-2581-ND) Module Outlet AC GFI 15A 120VAC
– 6720005423 (Digi-Key #281-2582-ND) Module Outlet AC GFI 20A 120VAC
Compact at only 2.9-inches wide and 4.6-inches wide, these new receptacles are fully enclosed and touch safe. They include 15A or 20A power outlets, which provide a simple and convenient power source inside a panel or closure for such applications as laptops, test equipment, lighting, and solder irons.
Digi-Key reported that the DRAC line offers design flexibility and savings on setup time. Ready to be put into place right out of the box, these receptacles can be installed onto 35mm DIN rail or, for added convenience, directly panel mounted. They accept solid or stranded wiring from 20AWG to 10AWG
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Redefine chain training by Using these new techniques to stimulate: massive muscle growth
Muscle & Fitness, Jan, 2010 by Jim Stoppani, Rob Fitzgerald
WHEN YOU SEE CHAINS HANGING FROM A BARBELL, it’s safe to assume there’s a powerlifter lurking nearby with visions of strength and explosiveness dancing in his head. [paragraph] Yet chains aren’t solely the province of the powerlifting set. Used correctly, they’re a simple and effective tool for stimulating muscle growth. If you’ve ever been jealous of the guys you’ve seen lugging buckets of chains into the gym, wishing you could get in on their “hardcore” motif, this workout offers you a whole new way to reap the myriad benefits of lifting with chains without having to shave your head and grow some neck rolls. * Chains add a unique drag to the barbell known as linear variable resistance. Picture a set of chains attached to either end of a bar. At the bottom of a squat, the chains are piled on the floor. As you stand up, they lift off the floor link by link, forcing you to move an increasing amount of weight. This makes you recruit more fast-twitch muscle fibers–the ones that contract the fastest and strongest, and grow the biggest.
Linear variable resistance is effective because the weight becomes heavier during the second half of the range of motion (ROM), where you’re stronger. When you use a barbell alone, you’re limited in how much you can lift because you’re weaker during the first part of the movement. Some muscle groups–the bi’s and delts in particular–don’t fully kick in until you’re nearly halfway through the rep. During a curl, for example, the load you can lift through the first half isn’t enough to overload your biceps at the top. Using chains solves this problem.
You can also use chains to target specific areas of various muscle groups. Research shows that during a squat, for example, the vastus medialis (the teardrop just above the inner knee) is engaged during the top half of the exercise
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Cut and thrust ; The rate cuts that followed the de-regulation of premiums have crippled profitability of the players. How long will this last?
Business Today, August, 2009 by Virendra Verma
In 2002, when India’s telecom regulator said incoming calls on
mobile telephony networks would be free, the move was seen as the
death knell for an industry then reeling under losses. Seven years
later, the Indian telecom market is the word’s fastest-growing, with
tariffs that are among the lowest and operators making a profit.
Two years ago, when the Insurance Regulatory & Development
Authority of India (IRDA) freed (or de-tariffed) premiums in the
general insurance sector, some players were apprehensive that it
would lead to cut-throat pricing pressure
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