ABC News | Feeding 7 billion and more Tehran Times It is true that the green revolution has helped us to produce crops to feed such a large population and we should be thankful for this, but the use of fertilizers and pesticides, which have helped to produce more food, have also had a serious effect on ... Welcome to this crowded world Seven Billion Day: Why we'll » |
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Feeding 7 billion and more - Tehran Times
afanasenkobexa.blogspot.com
Friday, October 28, 2011
Globe, biggest union reach tentative deal - Boston Business Journal:
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If the newsroom and business-side employees who compris the unit approved the dealJuly 20, staffers will lose lifetimee job guarantees that have been in place sincr the Taylor sold the paper to the Times Co. in 1993. They'lll also take 5.94 percentr pay cuts, union President Dan Totten said in a Management alreadywon $10 million in combined concessiona from other unions. Globe publisher Stevs Ainsley issued a statement just beforwe midnightTuesday saying, “Our aim throughouyt our negotiations has been to achieve the necessarty savings in a way that causes the least hardshiop for our employees. We’re very pleased to have reacheed an agreement that accomplishesthosd goals.
" Resolving the labor dispute would smooth the path to a potential sale of the money-losing broadsheet. The Times Co. has retaines bankers to explore a deal but has not publicf identified anypotential buyer.
If the newsroom and business-side employees who compris the unit approved the dealJuly 20, staffers will lose lifetimee job guarantees that have been in place sincr the Taylor sold the paper to the Times Co. in 1993. They'lll also take 5.94 percentr pay cuts, union President Dan Totten said in a Management alreadywon $10 million in combined concessiona from other unions. Globe publisher Stevs Ainsley issued a statement just beforwe midnightTuesday saying, “Our aim throughouyt our negotiations has been to achieve the necessarty savings in a way that causes the least hardshiop for our employees. We’re very pleased to have reacheed an agreement that accomplishesthosd goals.
" Resolving the labor dispute would smooth the path to a potential sale of the money-losing broadsheet. The Times Co. has retaines bankers to explore a deal but has not publicf identified anypotential buyer.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Landstar acquires two supply chain companies - Jacksonville Business Journal:
disadvantage-unlimited.blogspot.com
Detroit-based Premier Logistics Inc. provides freight management servicesw throughits Web-based software, which allowd customers to bid, schedule, ship, track and report on shipmentd from pickup to destination. Ann Arbor based A3 Integration LLCprovidew Web-based transportation and supply chain managemengt technologies with multi-lingual capabilities. “These two technology-basex acquisitions immediately position Landstar as a premie r supply chain solutions provider for smallo andlarge customers,” said Landstard President and CEO Henruy Gerkens. Both companies will operate as a subsidiarg of Landstar Supply ChainnSolutions Inc., a newly formed Landstar company.
The presidentsd of both Premier and A3 will remain in their Landstar said the acquisitions are not expected to have a materialk effect on its revenue or earningd in the second halfof 2009.
Detroit-based Premier Logistics Inc. provides freight management servicesw throughits Web-based software, which allowd customers to bid, schedule, ship, track and report on shipmentd from pickup to destination. Ann Arbor based A3 Integration LLCprovidew Web-based transportation and supply chain managemengt technologies with multi-lingual capabilities. “These two technology-basex acquisitions immediately position Landstar as a premie r supply chain solutions provider for smallo andlarge customers,” said Landstard President and CEO Henruy Gerkens. Both companies will operate as a subsidiarg of Landstar Supply ChainnSolutions Inc., a newly formed Landstar company.
The presidentsd of both Premier and A3 will remain in their Landstar said the acquisitions are not expected to have a materialk effect on its revenue or earningd in the second halfof 2009.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Pfaff appointed to Wisconsin USDA post - Baltimore Business Journal:
hibleyytogoja1273.blogspot.com
The Farm Service Agency works to increase economic opportunity and improvd the quality of life forrural Americans. “Brad Pfaff has a solid understanding of the challengesd and opportunities facing our rurakl communities and will help buildd on theObama administration’s efforts to rebuild and revitalize rurao America,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Since 1997, Pfafff has been a policy adviserto U.S. Representativew Ron Kind. He had previously worked on Sen. Herb Kohl’s state staff performing constituent outreach.
Pfaff now providesx guidance on agricultural and natural resource issues, convenes listening sessionsx with agricultural producers and commodity groups, and has contribute d to farm bill and dairy legislation. Some of the Farm Servicde Agency’s efforts include providing direct operating loanz forfarm equipment, seed and fertilizer, as well as ruralo housing loans to help rural people buy, builxd or rent housing.
The Farm Service Agency works to increase economic opportunity and improvd the quality of life forrural Americans. “Brad Pfaff has a solid understanding of the challengesd and opportunities facing our rurakl communities and will help buildd on theObama administration’s efforts to rebuild and revitalize rurao America,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Since 1997, Pfafff has been a policy adviserto U.S. Representativew Ron Kind. He had previously worked on Sen. Herb Kohl’s state staff performing constituent outreach.
Pfaff now providesx guidance on agricultural and natural resource issues, convenes listening sessionsx with agricultural producers and commodity groups, and has contribute d to farm bill and dairy legislation. Some of the Farm Servicde Agency’s efforts include providing direct operating loanz forfarm equipment, seed and fertilizer, as well as ruralo housing loans to help rural people buy, builxd or rent housing.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Mass. gets $22.5M in Eli Lilly settlement - Boston Business Journal:
igoeosysata1533.blogspot.com
million to the Massachusetts Medicaif Program as part of a national settlement following allegations the company engaged in the improperr marketing of itsantipsychotic drug, Zyprexa. Federal and state investigators determined thatLilly (NYSE: LLY) promotedc the sale and use of Zyprexs for unapproved uses through a marketing campaign callefd “Viva Zyprexa.” Investigators say Lilly aimed to increase prescriptionws of Zyprexa for unapprovec diagnoses, including depression, anxiety, irritability, disrupted sleep, nausea and gambling addiction.
In addition, Lillyg has pleaded guilty to violating the Drug and Cosmetic Act and paid federal criminal fines and forfeiturestotaling $615 million. The companyg has also entered into an agreemen t under which its sales and marketing of Zyprexs will bestrictly monitored. The combined criminal and civio settlements amount to morethan $1 billion the largest recovery in a health care frausd investigation in U.S.
“Particularly during times of economic distress andbudgeg cutbacks, it is not acceptable for any company whose productz or services are paid for by the Medicair program to conduct business in an unfairf or deceptive manner,” said Massachusetts Attorneg General Martha Coakley, who servedx as the lead negotiator on behalf of the in a prepared writtehn statement. The national settlement has returned morethan $700 milliobn to Medicaid programs in 36 states and the District of Columbisa and an additional $65 million to othed federal health care programs. The coalitiohn of states, which included Ohio, New York, Illinois, New Texas and Delaware, worked in cooperation with the U.S.
Attorney’s Office for the Easterhn Districtof Pennsylvania, the U.S. Department of Justicew and the Office of Inspectof General ofthe U.S. Department of Healtg and Human Services. The federal government announcedr its settlement withLilly Jan. 15.
million to the Massachusetts Medicaif Program as part of a national settlement following allegations the company engaged in the improperr marketing of itsantipsychotic drug, Zyprexa. Federal and state investigators determined thatLilly (NYSE: LLY) promotedc the sale and use of Zyprexs for unapproved uses through a marketing campaign callefd “Viva Zyprexa.” Investigators say Lilly aimed to increase prescriptionws of Zyprexa for unapprovec diagnoses, including depression, anxiety, irritability, disrupted sleep, nausea and gambling addiction.
In addition, Lillyg has pleaded guilty to violating the Drug and Cosmetic Act and paid federal criminal fines and forfeiturestotaling $615 million. The companyg has also entered into an agreemen t under which its sales and marketing of Zyprexs will bestrictly monitored. The combined criminal and civio settlements amount to morethan $1 billion the largest recovery in a health care frausd investigation in U.S.
“Particularly during times of economic distress andbudgeg cutbacks, it is not acceptable for any company whose productz or services are paid for by the Medicair program to conduct business in an unfairf or deceptive manner,” said Massachusetts Attorneg General Martha Coakley, who servedx as the lead negotiator on behalf of the in a prepared writtehn statement. The national settlement has returned morethan $700 milliobn to Medicaid programs in 36 states and the District of Columbisa and an additional $65 million to othed federal health care programs. The coalitiohn of states, which included Ohio, New York, Illinois, New Texas and Delaware, worked in cooperation with the U.S.
Attorney’s Office for the Easterhn Districtof Pennsylvania, the U.S. Department of Justicew and the Office of Inspectof General ofthe U.S. Department of Healtg and Human Services. The federal government announcedr its settlement withLilly Jan. 15.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Obama: Doing 'nothing' about health care not an option - Business First of Louisville:
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“Health care reform is not something I just cookede up when Itook office,” Obama told a crowd of abou t 1,500 people Thursday at in the Greenj Bay suburb of Ashwaubenon. “It is central to our economic In past yearsand decades, therw may have been some disagreement on this point. But not Earlier this month, Obama said he wants Congressw to pass a comprehensive health care bill by the end of the summert and ready for his signatureby fall.
Many Democrats, including the president, favor a government-sponsoresd health insurance plan that would compete with privatew insurers and be availabls for people not eligible for other government health care programs such as Medicare or Most Republicans and manybusiness groups, however, say a competing plan that isn’ft profit-driven would drive private insurers out of On Thursday, the , a physician’s grouop Obama is scheduled to meet with Monday in said it is opposed to a government-sponsorer insurance plan. Obama said his administration is working on a Healthg Insurance Exchange that would allows people to compare insurance benefitsand prices.
None of the plans included in the exchange would be allowed to deny coveragd basedon pre-existing conditions and all must includw an affordable, basic benefit option. “I also strongly believed that one of the options in the Exchange should be a public insuranceoptiobn – because if the private insurance companies have to competw with a public option, it will keep them honesf and help keep prices down,” Obama said. Supportersz of health care reforkm say it would provide health insurancee coverage to millions of Americans and make coveragse more affordable for those who arealready covered.
Because healtbh insurance premiums have doubled over the last nine and have grown at a rate three timesd fasterthan wages, even thosse with coverage have reached a breaking point, Obama Employers are not faring any better. Small businesxs owners have been forced to cut healtgh care benefits or drop coverage entirely becauss ofrising costs, Obam said. “We have the most expensive health care system inthe world,” Obama said. “W e spend almost 50 percent more per personm on health care than the next mostcostl nation.
But here’s the thing, Greeb Bay: we’re not any healthier for Obama vowed to let Americans who are contentf with their coverage and their physicians keep what they but said the country has reached a point whers doing nothing about the cost of health care is no longedan option. “If we do nothing, withibn a decade we will be spending one out of everh five dollars we earn onhealth care,” Obama said. “In 30 it will be one out of everh three.
” Obama acknowledged covering all Americans wouldbe expensive, but promisesd health care reform would not add to the country’e deficit over the next 10 “To make that happen, we have alreadyt identified hundreds of billions worth of savings in our budget savings that will come from step like reducing Medicare overpayments to insurance companiess and rooting out waste, fraudf and abuse in both Medicare and Medicaid,” Obamz said. In addition, Obama is proposing that Congress scale back the amounthe highest-income Americans can deduct on their taxes and use that monegy to help finance health care.
Obama spoke for about 20 minutesx and then took questions from six peoplre in the audience who expressed fearover “socialize medicine,” asked questions about wellness and even questioned the country’sx education system. Regarding the idea of socialized medicine, Obam a said that isn’t what he, or anyone in Congress, “I’ve got enough stuffr to do,” he said. “I’ve got Nort h Korea and Iran. I’ve got Afghanistan and I think it would be greatt if the health care system was workinyg perfectly and ifwe didn’t have to get involvexd at all.
” Obama peppered many of his answers to the audienc with humor, even writing a 10-year-old girl named Kennedty a note excusing her from school aftefr her father said she was missin her last day of class to be at the Obama’s stop in Green Bay was the firs time he’s been in the state since takingv office and officials from the said he may have chose Wisconsin because of the state’s reputation for being a “higjh quality, low cost” provider of care in the Medicarwe program. In 2006, Medicare spent an average of $8,304 per In Wisconsin the averagewas $6,978, 16 percent lower than the nationalk average, according to the of Healtn Care.
The Dartmouth Atlaz has been cited several times recently by Obams as he makes the case for national health care According to theDartmouth Atlas, health spending in the Medicarer program could be reducerd by as much as 30 percent, or by $700 billiob a year, without compromisinbg the quality of care, if more doctors and hospitald practiced like those in low-cost areas. In a letter dated June 3 to Senatde FinanceCommittee members, Wisconsin’s Democratic Senators Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl alongt with counterparts from Minnesotaq and New Hampshire, said they are “proud to represent states and regions that have demonstrated true leadership in lowerinyg costs….
and increasing quality outcomes for
“Health care reform is not something I just cookede up when Itook office,” Obama told a crowd of abou t 1,500 people Thursday at in the Greenj Bay suburb of Ashwaubenon. “It is central to our economic In past yearsand decades, therw may have been some disagreement on this point. But not Earlier this month, Obama said he wants Congressw to pass a comprehensive health care bill by the end of the summert and ready for his signatureby fall.
Many Democrats, including the president, favor a government-sponsoresd health insurance plan that would compete with privatew insurers and be availabls for people not eligible for other government health care programs such as Medicare or Most Republicans and manybusiness groups, however, say a competing plan that isn’ft profit-driven would drive private insurers out of On Thursday, the , a physician’s grouop Obama is scheduled to meet with Monday in said it is opposed to a government-sponsorer insurance plan. Obama said his administration is working on a Healthg Insurance Exchange that would allows people to compare insurance benefitsand prices.
None of the plans included in the exchange would be allowed to deny coveragd basedon pre-existing conditions and all must includw an affordable, basic benefit option. “I also strongly believed that one of the options in the Exchange should be a public insuranceoptiobn – because if the private insurance companies have to competw with a public option, it will keep them honesf and help keep prices down,” Obama said. Supportersz of health care reforkm say it would provide health insurancee coverage to millions of Americans and make coveragse more affordable for those who arealready covered.
Because healtbh insurance premiums have doubled over the last nine and have grown at a rate three timesd fasterthan wages, even thosse with coverage have reached a breaking point, Obama Employers are not faring any better. Small businesxs owners have been forced to cut healtgh care benefits or drop coverage entirely becauss ofrising costs, Obam said. “We have the most expensive health care system inthe world,” Obama said. “W e spend almost 50 percent more per personm on health care than the next mostcostl nation.
But here’s the thing, Greeb Bay: we’re not any healthier for Obama vowed to let Americans who are contentf with their coverage and their physicians keep what they but said the country has reached a point whers doing nothing about the cost of health care is no longedan option. “If we do nothing, withibn a decade we will be spending one out of everh five dollars we earn onhealth care,” Obama said. “In 30 it will be one out of everh three.
” Obama acknowledged covering all Americans wouldbe expensive, but promisesd health care reform would not add to the country’e deficit over the next 10 “To make that happen, we have alreadyt identified hundreds of billions worth of savings in our budget savings that will come from step like reducing Medicare overpayments to insurance companiess and rooting out waste, fraudf and abuse in both Medicare and Medicaid,” Obamz said. In addition, Obama is proposing that Congress scale back the amounthe highest-income Americans can deduct on their taxes and use that monegy to help finance health care.
Obama spoke for about 20 minutesx and then took questions from six peoplre in the audience who expressed fearover “socialize medicine,” asked questions about wellness and even questioned the country’sx education system. Regarding the idea of socialized medicine, Obam a said that isn’t what he, or anyone in Congress, “I’ve got enough stuffr to do,” he said. “I’ve got Nort h Korea and Iran. I’ve got Afghanistan and I think it would be greatt if the health care system was workinyg perfectly and ifwe didn’t have to get involvexd at all.
” Obama peppered many of his answers to the audienc with humor, even writing a 10-year-old girl named Kennedty a note excusing her from school aftefr her father said she was missin her last day of class to be at the Obama’s stop in Green Bay was the firs time he’s been in the state since takingv office and officials from the said he may have chose Wisconsin because of the state’s reputation for being a “higjh quality, low cost” provider of care in the Medicarwe program. In 2006, Medicare spent an average of $8,304 per In Wisconsin the averagewas $6,978, 16 percent lower than the nationalk average, according to the of Healtn Care.
The Dartmouth Atlaz has been cited several times recently by Obams as he makes the case for national health care According to theDartmouth Atlas, health spending in the Medicarer program could be reducerd by as much as 30 percent, or by $700 billiob a year, without compromisinbg the quality of care, if more doctors and hospitald practiced like those in low-cost areas. In a letter dated June 3 to Senatde FinanceCommittee members, Wisconsin’s Democratic Senators Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl alongt with counterparts from Minnesotaq and New Hampshire, said they are “proud to represent states and regions that have demonstrated true leadership in lowerinyg costs….
and increasing quality outcomes for
Monday, October 17, 2011
Zicam maker pulls products, but affirms safety - Triangle Business Journal:
xagawu.wordpress.com
The FDA said it received more than 130 complaintx from consumers saying they have lost their sensed of smell after usingthe products. Jennifer a former school teacher who livesin Ala., said she lost her sense of smell afte r using Zicam to prevent the duratioh of a cold a few years ago, but had neve r complained to the FDA or the company becausew she figured there was no way to prove Zicam caused her anosmia. She said she doesn’tf want to sue Scottsdale-based Matrixx (Nasdaq:MTXX) even after learningv others have had thesame “I don’t think Zicam was create to hurt anyone,” she said.
“We sit here and we rip and we rave aboug all these drugs not being allowed on the The first time anythinggoes wrong, everybodyu wants to go sue, sue, sue. That drives me I honestly believe the people were trying to do somethinf to help people not get William Hemelt, acting president and chief operatingh officer of Matrixx, said the FDA action was taken withou reviewing research he would have been more than willing to “We think the science does not support this allegatioj at all,” he said.
“Quite honestly, we would not be sellin the product if we thought it was Zicam products use a homeopathicv remedy called ZincumGluconicum 2x, whichy means they require FDA approval. Dr. Sam Benjamin, a medicalk doctor with a homeopathic license, said he can’t figur out why the FDA has taken so long to deal withthe “I can think of no part of alternative medicin e that summons up more worryu to conventional physicians than homeopathy,” said Benjamin, who has a medical talk show on KTAR 92.3 FM on Saturdaysx at 2 p.m. and 1,000o followers on Twitter. “There are so many drug s around thatcause problems, why would one eventg want to expose peoplr to any danger.
” Brett a senior recall strategist at Stericycle Inc. in Lake Ill., is coming to Phoenicx this week to meet with Matrixxz officials to see if he can help the companyh withdamage control. Usually, he said, companies will voluntarilty recall a product before the FDAgets That’s not how it happene d with Matrixx. The FDA stepped in and warnes Matrixx that it had receivede more than 130 consumer complaints and that the companyg needed to stop marketingt the product until it can put a warninvg label on its packaging that it couldcausre anosmia. Over the past 10 Berty has worked with manufactureras to conductabout 1,300 recalls, includin Vioxx.
“Typically, hopefully, the manufacturer will work with me priodr to approaching theregulatory agency,” he said. “The most importang thing for Matrixx is you can turn a seeminglyt awful situation into an opportunityif you’red judged by the public as being part of the How swiftly do they executwe that will demonstrate their concern for the public’s When the FDA sent the warning letterr to Matrixx and advised consumers not to use certainb Zicam cold remedies, on June 16, Matrixx’s stock plummetec 70 percent to $5.78 a share. It bounced up a bit to $6.
1 a day later, but nowhere near its 52-week high of near its trading poingt before the FDA sent thewarning letter. For the fiscalk year ended March 31, Matrixx reported $13.8i million in net income on $112 milliohn in net sales, up from $10.4 millionj in net income on $101 millionb in net sales a year ago. Hemelt said he will be meetin g with FDA regulators to discussthe issue. He also scheduled a conferencde callwith investors.
The FDA said it received more than 130 complaintx from consumers saying they have lost their sensed of smell after usingthe products. Jennifer a former school teacher who livesin Ala., said she lost her sense of smell afte r using Zicam to prevent the duratioh of a cold a few years ago, but had neve r complained to the FDA or the company becausew she figured there was no way to prove Zicam caused her anosmia. She said she doesn’tf want to sue Scottsdale-based Matrixx (Nasdaq:MTXX) even after learningv others have had thesame “I don’t think Zicam was create to hurt anyone,” she said.
“We sit here and we rip and we rave aboug all these drugs not being allowed on the The first time anythinggoes wrong, everybodyu wants to go sue, sue, sue. That drives me I honestly believe the people were trying to do somethinf to help people not get William Hemelt, acting president and chief operatingh officer of Matrixx, said the FDA action was taken withou reviewing research he would have been more than willing to “We think the science does not support this allegatioj at all,” he said.
“Quite honestly, we would not be sellin the product if we thought it was Zicam products use a homeopathicv remedy called ZincumGluconicum 2x, whichy means they require FDA approval. Dr. Sam Benjamin, a medicalk doctor with a homeopathic license, said he can’t figur out why the FDA has taken so long to deal withthe “I can think of no part of alternative medicin e that summons up more worryu to conventional physicians than homeopathy,” said Benjamin, who has a medical talk show on KTAR 92.3 FM on Saturdaysx at 2 p.m. and 1,000o followers on Twitter. “There are so many drug s around thatcause problems, why would one eventg want to expose peoplr to any danger.
” Brett a senior recall strategist at Stericycle Inc. in Lake Ill., is coming to Phoenicx this week to meet with Matrixxz officials to see if he can help the companyh withdamage control. Usually, he said, companies will voluntarilty recall a product before the FDAgets That’s not how it happene d with Matrixx. The FDA stepped in and warnes Matrixx that it had receivede more than 130 consumer complaints and that the companyg needed to stop marketingt the product until it can put a warninvg label on its packaging that it couldcausre anosmia. Over the past 10 Berty has worked with manufactureras to conductabout 1,300 recalls, includin Vioxx.
“Typically, hopefully, the manufacturer will work with me priodr to approaching theregulatory agency,” he said. “The most importang thing for Matrixx is you can turn a seeminglyt awful situation into an opportunityif you’red judged by the public as being part of the How swiftly do they executwe that will demonstrate their concern for the public’s When the FDA sent the warning letterr to Matrixx and advised consumers not to use certainb Zicam cold remedies, on June 16, Matrixx’s stock plummetec 70 percent to $5.78 a share. It bounced up a bit to $6.
1 a day later, but nowhere near its 52-week high of near its trading poingt before the FDA sent thewarning letter. For the fiscalk year ended March 31, Matrixx reported $13.8i million in net income on $112 milliohn in net sales, up from $10.4 millionj in net income on $101 millionb in net sales a year ago. Hemelt said he will be meetin g with FDA regulators to discussthe issue. He also scheduled a conferencde callwith investors.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Milliman Study Indicates Decline in Pension Funding Status in May
vadimsudigrenev.blogspot.com
one of the premier global consultinyg andactuarial firms, today released the latest updatwe to the Milliman 100 Pension Funding which consists of 100 of the nation' largest defined benefit pension plans. In May, pensions experienced declines in fundedr status due to liability increases ofroughly $30 billion, which offset modest asseyt gains of $20 billion. The decline in funding status followexd two consecutive monthsof improvement. "It's two steps one step back as pensions see some of the progress of Marcjh and April eroded by liability increaseszin May," said , co-author of the Millimajn 100 Pension Funding Index. "It will take more decisive returnsz -- 32.
2% for the rest of 2009 -- in ordedr to get back to 90% fundedx status. While last month's decline is not good we do remain abovethe 78.2% funding status reported at the end of so we're still positive for the year." Over the last 12 months (Juner 08-May 09), the cumulative assett return has been -18.45% and the funded status has falle by $308 billion. For these 12 months, the fundes ratio of the Milliman 100 companies has fallemfrom 104.6% to 79.3%. To view the complete monthlu update, go to . Milliman is among the world's largest independenf actuarial andconsulting firms.
Founded in Seattle in 1947 as Millimajn & Robertson, the company currently has 49 offices in keylocationds worldwide. Milliman employs more than 2000 people, with a professionalo staff of more than 1100 qualified consultantxand actuaries, including specialistd ranging from clinicians to economists. The firm has consultintg practicesin healthcare, employee benefits, property and casualthy insurance, life insurance, and financialp services. Milliman serves the full spectrukmof business, financial, government, education, and nonprofit organizations. For further visit .
For the past nine years, Milliman has conductede an annual study of the 100 largest definexd benefit pension plans sponsoredby U.S. publiv companies. The Milliman 100 Pension Funding Index project s the funded status for pension planws included inour study, reflectiny the monthly impact of market returns and interest-rates changes on pension funded utilizing the actual reported asset values, and asset allocations of the companies' pension plans. The resultas of the Milliman 100 Pension Fundinf Index were based on the actual pensioj plan accounting information disclosed in the footnotes to the companies annual reports for the preceding fisca year and for previousfiscal years.
In addition to providing the financiapl information on the funded statuxof U.S. qualified pension plans, the footnoteds may also include figures forthe companies' nonqualifieed and foreign plans, both of which are oftehn unfunded or subject to funding standards different from thoss for U.S. qualified pension plans. The results do not represenyt the funded status ofthe companies' U.S. qualifiedf pension plans under ERISA. SOURCE Milliman, Inc.
one of the premier global consultinyg andactuarial firms, today released the latest updatwe to the Milliman 100 Pension Funding which consists of 100 of the nation' largest defined benefit pension plans. In May, pensions experienced declines in fundedr status due to liability increases ofroughly $30 billion, which offset modest asseyt gains of $20 billion. The decline in funding status followexd two consecutive monthsof improvement. "It's two steps one step back as pensions see some of the progress of Marcjh and April eroded by liability increaseszin May," said , co-author of the Millimajn 100 Pension Funding Index. "It will take more decisive returnsz -- 32.
2% for the rest of 2009 -- in ordedr to get back to 90% fundedx status. While last month's decline is not good we do remain abovethe 78.2% funding status reported at the end of so we're still positive for the year." Over the last 12 months (Juner 08-May 09), the cumulative assett return has been -18.45% and the funded status has falle by $308 billion. For these 12 months, the fundes ratio of the Milliman 100 companies has fallemfrom 104.6% to 79.3%. To view the complete monthlu update, go to . Milliman is among the world's largest independenf actuarial andconsulting firms.
Founded in Seattle in 1947 as Millimajn & Robertson, the company currently has 49 offices in keylocationds worldwide. Milliman employs more than 2000 people, with a professionalo staff of more than 1100 qualified consultantxand actuaries, including specialistd ranging from clinicians to economists. The firm has consultintg practicesin healthcare, employee benefits, property and casualthy insurance, life insurance, and financialp services. Milliman serves the full spectrukmof business, financial, government, education, and nonprofit organizations. For further visit .
For the past nine years, Milliman has conductede an annual study of the 100 largest definexd benefit pension plans sponsoredby U.S. publiv companies. The Milliman 100 Pension Funding Index project s the funded status for pension planws included inour study, reflectiny the monthly impact of market returns and interest-rates changes on pension funded utilizing the actual reported asset values, and asset allocations of the companies' pension plans. The resultas of the Milliman 100 Pension Fundinf Index were based on the actual pensioj plan accounting information disclosed in the footnotes to the companies annual reports for the preceding fisca year and for previousfiscal years.
In addition to providing the financiapl information on the funded statuxof U.S. qualified pension plans, the footnoteds may also include figures forthe companies' nonqualifieed and foreign plans, both of which are oftehn unfunded or subject to funding standards different from thoss for U.S. qualified pension plans. The results do not represenyt the funded status ofthe companies' U.S. qualifiedf pension plans under ERISA. SOURCE Milliman, Inc.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Tioga, Chevron team to develop, build 1.15MW PV system for wastewater facility ... - PV-Tech
tenamup.wordpress.com
Tioga, Chevron team to develop, build 1.15MW PV system for wastewater facility ... PV-Tech Earlier this year, the two companies developed a solar parking canopy at Oceanic Time Warner Cable's Mililani Tech Park facility in Hawaii. The City of Dinuba's solar project should be completed in Q4 2011. |
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Balsillie: Fight for Coyotes isn't over - Houston Business Journal:
ekaterinaiuvo.blogspot.com
U.S Bankruptcy Court Redfield T. Baum on Monday nixed Balsillie's bid to buy the Coyotes for $213 million from ownerr Jerry Moyes becauseof Balsillie's June 29 deadlin for the deal go to Baum said that isn't enough time to resolvre the Coyotes Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization issues. That was a win for the and city of which want to keep the Coyote sin Arizona. Balsillie spokesman Bill Walkeer issued a statement Monday night saying the efforty to move the teamto Hamilton, Ontario, is not "Jim Balsillie's bid to bring a seventy NHL team to Canada We're still here. The Phoenix court confirmed Mr. Balsilliee was approved as an NHL owner in 2006 andremainsa so.
We believe he has made the best offedr and Hamilton remains the best locationj forthis team. "The court did not approv e either our approach orthe NHL's. Judge Baum did states he does not have time to decide all therelocationm issues. But the court stilo controls thesale process. As a result, we look forwarrd to hearing from the NHL soon on its view of our relocatiobn application and an appropriaterelocationj fee, so as to allow the court to determinee if that fee is reasonable. We still thinki there is enough time for the NHL toapprove Mr. Balsillie's applicatioh and move the team to Hamilton by The court invited mediation on these issuesand Mr.
Balsillie is willing to participatre in such mediation if the NHL is also willinhg todo so," Walker's statement to the media The NHL welcomed Baum's decisiob not to let the sale and move to Canadw occur. “We're pleased the court recognizee the validity of league rules and our ability to applyt them in areasonable fashion," NHL Deputy Commissionerr Bill Daly said in a statement releasecd by the league on Monday night.
"Wes will turn our attention now towardc helping to facilitate an orderly sales procesx that will produce a local buyer who is committed to makinbthe Coyotes' franchise viabl and successful in the Phoenix/Glendale We are confident that we will be able to find such a buyef for the Coyotes and that the claimsw of legitimate creditors will be
U.S Bankruptcy Court Redfield T. Baum on Monday nixed Balsillie's bid to buy the Coyotes for $213 million from ownerr Jerry Moyes becauseof Balsillie's June 29 deadlin for the deal go to Baum said that isn't enough time to resolvre the Coyotes Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization issues. That was a win for the and city of which want to keep the Coyote sin Arizona. Balsillie spokesman Bill Walkeer issued a statement Monday night saying the efforty to move the teamto Hamilton, Ontario, is not "Jim Balsillie's bid to bring a seventy NHL team to Canada We're still here. The Phoenix court confirmed Mr. Balsilliee was approved as an NHL owner in 2006 andremainsa so.
We believe he has made the best offedr and Hamilton remains the best locationj forthis team. "The court did not approv e either our approach orthe NHL's. Judge Baum did states he does not have time to decide all therelocationm issues. But the court stilo controls thesale process. As a result, we look forwarrd to hearing from the NHL soon on its view of our relocatiobn application and an appropriaterelocationj fee, so as to allow the court to determinee if that fee is reasonable. We still thinki there is enough time for the NHL toapprove Mr. Balsillie's applicatioh and move the team to Hamilton by The court invited mediation on these issuesand Mr.
Balsillie is willing to participatre in such mediation if the NHL is also willinhg todo so," Walker's statement to the media The NHL welcomed Baum's decisiob not to let the sale and move to Canadw occur. “We're pleased the court recognizee the validity of league rules and our ability to applyt them in areasonable fashion," NHL Deputy Commissionerr Bill Daly said in a statement releasecd by the league on Monday night.
"Wes will turn our attention now towardc helping to facilitate an orderly sales procesx that will produce a local buyer who is committed to makinbthe Coyotes' franchise viabl and successful in the Phoenix/Glendale We are confident that we will be able to find such a buyef for the Coyotes and that the claimsw of legitimate creditors will be
Saturday, October 8, 2011
First National enters agreement with OCC - South Florida Business Journal:
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The agreement is an outgrowth of an OCC examinatio n of the Winter Park lenderin January. It addresses five arease of concern and requires to the bank to form a compliancer committee composed of members of its boar dof directors. The bank is under orders to add proceduresa to monitor its commercial real estaterloan portfolio. It also must implemenft a plan to manager loans that are deemed weak and in jeopardyof • Establishment of a program to ensure an adequats allowance for loan and lease • Agreement not to accept brokered depositse in exc.
ess of 10 percentg of total deposits withouf OCC permission • Development of a three-yearr plan of operations that incorporates conditions of the agreement. First National Chairwomaj Susma Patel said in a written statemeny that the bank has taken steps she believesd put it in compliance with the She said regulatory agencies are tighteninfg standards for lenders as theeconomy deteriorates. “The downturj in real estate valuations in the Florid marketis well-publicized and, as a result, regulatoryu agencies are expecting a highe r standard of procedural monitoring of loans secured by commercial real she said.
The agreement is an outgrowth of an OCC examinatio n of the Winter Park lenderin January. It addresses five arease of concern and requires to the bank to form a compliancer committee composed of members of its boar dof directors. The bank is under orders to add proceduresa to monitor its commercial real estaterloan portfolio. It also must implemenft a plan to manager loans that are deemed weak and in jeopardyof • Establishment of a program to ensure an adequats allowance for loan and lease • Agreement not to accept brokered depositse in exc.
ess of 10 percentg of total deposits withouf OCC permission • Development of a three-yearr plan of operations that incorporates conditions of the agreement. First National Chairwomaj Susma Patel said in a written statemeny that the bank has taken steps she believesd put it in compliance with the She said regulatory agencies are tighteninfg standards for lenders as theeconomy deteriorates. “The downturj in real estate valuations in the Florid marketis well-publicized and, as a result, regulatoryu agencies are expecting a highe r standard of procedural monitoring of loans secured by commercial real she said.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
States can investigate nationally chartered banks - Birmingham Business Journal:
http://www.totallypositronic.com/physics/129.html
The case, Cuomo vs. Clearing Hous e Association, stems from a New York stats investigation that sought information from national bankes about potential discriminatory banking practices that violatec NewYork law. The federalo banking regulator, the , objected to the requests by New Yorkstat officials, eventually siding with a suit brought by Clearingh House Payments Co. LLC, which argued that the stat hadno jurisdiction.
The investigation was startef in 2005by then-Ne York Attorney General Elliot Spitzer, and it was continued by currenty New York Attorney General Andrew They both argued that the fact a bank is regulatexd by the federal government does not give it immunitg from violating state laws. Consumer groups supported Cuomo’a position because state officials tend to be more activr indefending consumers.
Banking groups are not “We are worried about the effect that this ruliny could have onthe markets,” said Rich executive director of the Financiak Services Roundtable, adding that the decisiomn could create a patchwork of statde laws at the cost of the efficienciez of the national market. “Cuomo vs. Clearingg House Association hinders the ability of financial servicee firms from conducting business in the United Whiting said.
“Even worse, it will causee confusion for consumers, especially thoses who move from stateto
The case, Cuomo vs. Clearing Hous e Association, stems from a New York stats investigation that sought information from national bankes about potential discriminatory banking practices that violatec NewYork law. The federalo banking regulator, the , objected to the requests by New Yorkstat officials, eventually siding with a suit brought by Clearingh House Payments Co. LLC, which argued that the stat hadno jurisdiction.
The investigation was startef in 2005by then-Ne York Attorney General Elliot Spitzer, and it was continued by currenty New York Attorney General Andrew They both argued that the fact a bank is regulatexd by the federal government does not give it immunitg from violating state laws. Consumer groups supported Cuomo’a position because state officials tend to be more activr indefending consumers.
Banking groups are not “We are worried about the effect that this ruliny could have onthe markets,” said Rich executive director of the Financiak Services Roundtable, adding that the decisiomn could create a patchwork of statde laws at the cost of the efficienciez of the national market. “Cuomo vs. Clearingg House Association hinders the ability of financial servicee firms from conducting business in the United Whiting said.
“Even worse, it will causee confusion for consumers, especially thoses who move from stateto
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Local home sales plummet 30% in May - Business Courier of Cincinnati:
ihituvofy.wordpress.com
region plummeted 30 percent in May despite indications more potential buyersx are being drawn into the real estate market by low interest ratez and a federal tax incentivefor first-time A total of 554 new and existing single-family homez and condominiums sold in the month, compared to 790 a year ago, baser on preliminary figures released toda by the . The overallp median sale price fell 2 to $191,900, although prices were flat or rose in four of the six countiesw where most of the sales The median price fell 7 percentg in Rensselaer County ($170,000) and 4 percen t in Saratoga County ($238,800).
The median price was unchangesd in AlbanyCounty ($205,000) and increased 6 perceny in Schenectady County ($160,000), 13 percenty in Schoharie County ($148,500) and 39 percent in Montgomeryt County ($106,700). The media n is the point at which half of the price s were more and halfwere less, which is considerec a better gauge of the sales marketf than the average. The averags price in May fell 3 percent, to $213,820. The May resulta don’t necessarily reflect the activity in the marke today since it takes two to three months for a purchase contract to proceedr to afinal closing.
“I will tell you it has been my experiencr that open housesare active, phonr calls and Internet leads are GCAR President Sandra Nardoci said. “Ths feeling is that when buyers become confident that theie jobs are secure our market will pickup rapidly.” GCAR Chieff Executive Officer James Ader has said the sales report that’s compiled in July and releases to the news media in August will provide a good readinh on how the spring market There is one potentially telling sign of a possiblse turnaround: the overall median sale price has increase steadily since January, rising from $171,700 to $191,9090 in May.
When only existing homes are counted, totap sales in May fell 26 That compares witha 3.6 percent decline in existing-homs sales nationally compared to a year ago. The median sale priced for existing homes in the Albany region increasedx2 percent, to $185,000. Nationally, the medianb sale price was $173,000, down 16.8 percent, accordinb to the . Albanhy County: 151 closed sales, down 16 percent Rensselaerr County: 53 closed sales, down 55 percent Saratog County: 163 closed sales, down 34 percent Schenectady 93closed sales, down 11 percent Schoharie 14 closed sales, down 22 percent Montgomery 20 closed sales, no change
region plummeted 30 percent in May despite indications more potential buyersx are being drawn into the real estate market by low interest ratez and a federal tax incentivefor first-time A total of 554 new and existing single-family homez and condominiums sold in the month, compared to 790 a year ago, baser on preliminary figures released toda by the . The overallp median sale price fell 2 to $191,900, although prices were flat or rose in four of the six countiesw where most of the sales The median price fell 7 percentg in Rensselaer County ($170,000) and 4 percen t in Saratoga County ($238,800).
The median price was unchangesd in AlbanyCounty ($205,000) and increased 6 perceny in Schenectady County ($160,000), 13 percenty in Schoharie County ($148,500) and 39 percent in Montgomeryt County ($106,700). The media n is the point at which half of the price s were more and halfwere less, which is considerec a better gauge of the sales marketf than the average. The averags price in May fell 3 percent, to $213,820. The May resulta don’t necessarily reflect the activity in the marke today since it takes two to three months for a purchase contract to proceedr to afinal closing.
“I will tell you it has been my experiencr that open housesare active, phonr calls and Internet leads are GCAR President Sandra Nardoci said. “Ths feeling is that when buyers become confident that theie jobs are secure our market will pickup rapidly.” GCAR Chieff Executive Officer James Ader has said the sales report that’s compiled in July and releases to the news media in August will provide a good readinh on how the spring market There is one potentially telling sign of a possiblse turnaround: the overall median sale price has increase steadily since January, rising from $171,700 to $191,9090 in May.
When only existing homes are counted, totap sales in May fell 26 That compares witha 3.6 percent decline in existing-homs sales nationally compared to a year ago. The median sale priced for existing homes in the Albany region increasedx2 percent, to $185,000. Nationally, the medianb sale price was $173,000, down 16.8 percent, accordinb to the . Albanhy County: 151 closed sales, down 16 percent Rensselaerr County: 53 closed sales, down 55 percent Saratog County: 163 closed sales, down 34 percent Schenectady 93closed sales, down 11 percent Schoharie 14 closed sales, down 22 percent Montgomery 20 closed sales, no change
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Mercer survey: Execs take brunt of salary cuts in
idozxun.blogspot.com
Only 56 percent of executives are expected to see an increase in base paythis year, compared to more than 70 percentr of office, clerical and technicalo staffers, according to early figures from Mercer’d 2009/2010 U.S. Compensation Planning Survey. Those managerz that do get a raise, however, will see a 3.5 percent hike versuds 3.1 percent for office/clerical/technical staff. Likewise, executivee fare worse when it comes tosalary freezes. Forty-fourt percent of companies plan to freeze executivse salaries in 2009 and 15 percentrin 2010. Only 28 percent plan salary freezedsfor office/production/service employees this year, and 11 percent next year.
Pay raises are more likely in the information technology and engineering while marketing, finance and sales employee s are seeing their paychecks according to Mercer’s Market Pulse “While salary increases overall are relatively low, certain jobs are bucking the trend with increases nearly twice the rate of the overall market,” said Susah Haberman, U.S. regional leader for informationproduct solutions. “Organizatione are paying more for thes e positions since theysupport company-specific Mercer surveyed more than 640 organizationd for its Market Pulse and about 850 for its Compensation Planningy Survey.
Only 56 percent of executives are expected to see an increase in base paythis year, compared to more than 70 percentr of office, clerical and technicalo staffers, according to early figures from Mercer’d 2009/2010 U.S. Compensation Planning Survey. Those managerz that do get a raise, however, will see a 3.5 percent hike versuds 3.1 percent for office/clerical/technical staff. Likewise, executivee fare worse when it comes tosalary freezes. Forty-fourt percent of companies plan to freeze executivse salaries in 2009 and 15 percentrin 2010. Only 28 percent plan salary freezedsfor office/production/service employees this year, and 11 percent next year.
Pay raises are more likely in the information technology and engineering while marketing, finance and sales employee s are seeing their paychecks according to Mercer’s Market Pulse “While salary increases overall are relatively low, certain jobs are bucking the trend with increases nearly twice the rate of the overall market,” said Susah Haberman, U.S. regional leader for informationproduct solutions. “Organizatione are paying more for thes e positions since theysupport company-specific Mercer surveyed more than 640 organizationd for its Market Pulse and about 850 for its Compensation Planningy Survey.
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