Western-Southern annuities on record-setting pace - Business Courier of Cincinnati:

http://www.fantasypixgraphx.com/5-hidden-wedding-costs-you-should-know-for-your-budget/
Western & Southern sold $1.25 billionh in annuities during the first four months ofthe year, it said last That puts it on pace to beat last year’e total fixed and variabls annuity sales of $2.97 billion by 26 The company’s 2008 annuity sales soared 59 percent from the priorr year. “Our strong annuity sales are a direct result of the ongoinhg flightto quality,” CEO John Barrett said in a news Western & Southern carries a AA+ rating from Standardf & Poor’s, making it one of the world’xs nine strongest life insurance Sales through banks have been a big part of downtown-basesd Western & Southern’s growth.
Thosr sales generated $523 million so far this or about 40 percent ofthe company’s total annuithy sales. Bank-related sales more than doubledslast year. Western & Southern’se sales place it among the nation’s largest providersz of individualannuity products, according to , an association of life insurers and financia l firms.

Iron Man-style power suits 'will be in war zones in five years' - Telegraph.co.uk

http://www.ship-modelers-assn.org/shipmodelingtips/whats-the-difference-between-beginner-intermediate-or-advanced-model-kits.html

Iron Man-style power suits 'will be in war zones in five years' Telegraph.co.uk Iron Man-style power suits which make the wearer vastly stronger will be used by soldiers in war zones in the next five years, according to a firm ... and more »

Lahainaluna 21, Kamehameha Maui 7 - Maui News (blog)

http://knightsrestaurants.com/specials/dinner_krj.html

Lahainaluna 21, Kamehameha Maui 7 Maui News (blog) They replaced him with Jostin Carbajal - as well as BJ Pagdilao-Bala, Jacob Kenolio-Dusenberry, TJ Rickard and Chanse Uyeda. Carbajal led the way with 17 ... and more »

Nuclear energy: Where was public consultation? - Malaysia Kini

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Nuclear energy: Where was public consultation? Malaysia Kini The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) and Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) are very disturbed to read that the government has already decided on the proposed ... and more »

PR: Go on the offensive: Managing tough news in tough times - bizjournals:

http://aquinasonline.com/Questions/biblegod.html
drops off Nasdaq. In a turbulent there is no shortage ofbad news. Experts say that in a time like what may matter most is the way in whichj that bad newsis communicated. How management deals with the employees, clients and the community could impact how the business is viewedd for yearsto come. Business leaders who hide in theitr offices, bury facts and let the rumor mill contropl the story will be viewed with angetand distrust. But those who plan their messagesd carefully, and deliver it promptly and with candoer to allrelevant parties, are more likely to be rememberefd as good corporate citizens.
“The spotligh will be on your company,” said Dan a business consultant and president of Next-Act, an Albany careerd management firm. “You have one chance to get it Many public relations professionals advise clients to have a crisi communication plan in placer atall times. This way, basic guidelines are in places when any sort ofbad news, from layoffs to a chemicaol spill, breaks. Additional preparation should take placde once a bad newsevent occurs. The first step is to assesse the situation and thepossible fallout.
“ I advise that you convene a group of saidPauline Bartel, presidentr of Waterford-based “You need someone from top management, human the PR team ... the object is for everyone to put theirr cards onthe table, face up, so you can identifyy any gaps in information.” Next, list everh constituency, including clients, suppliers and the media, and craft a messagee for each. While these messages must be each audience hasdifferent needs. Employeed will want to know about their while shareholders will be interested in the impact on thebottomj line. Clients will want to know if service will be It isalso vital, PR expertes say, to select just one persob to speak for the company.
“You don’t want 20 different versionsa of things coming out so everyone lookslike fools,” said Richared Berman, president of of Chappaquqa in Westchester County. Once the situation is the constituents identified, the messagess crafted, and the spokesperson chosen, it is time to deliver the “It comes down to three phrases: Tell it all, tell it tell it yourself.” said Edward director of public relations forin Ideally, the news should be shared with all parties at the same In the age of textingf and Twittering, “news can travell at the speed of an electron,” said Matthee Maguire, spokesman for in Albany.
“You want to deliver your news befor anyoneelse can.” Bartel suggests giving “za few select reporters” a heads-up that news is “That way, the reporter has gotten the company line before a disgruntledc employee picks up the phone,” she said. When the news is it must be completeeand truthful, with as many details as can be It is especially important that the CEO or othee designated spokesperson be available and responsive. “There is no such thinv as not taking the call and havintg the paper the next day sayyou weren’r available,” said Dean Rueckert, CEO of Rueckerr Advertising. “That is not acceptable.
And a good answer is nevere ‘no comment.’ Back it up with the reason you can’r comment—confidentiality, legalities, what have you. You don’t want to look like you are dodginf the question or hiding This candor extendsto employees. Moran said that when he workxs with companiesin bad-news situations, he institutezs a “no closed door for thre days” rule on top managers.

Adjusting the recipe: River Oaks Restaurant adapts to flailing economy with strategic changes - Memphis Business Journal:

aplecheevlgupy.blogspot.com
And he’s not about to let his just die. But in the restauranyt businessyou can’t change things with a ham-hande approach. And you can’t bring big changed to a fine dining restaurant withoutalerting (and possibly running off) the So the most recent thing Vaughn has changed are the Once only open for dinner, the East Memphiws “bustling neighborhood bistro” is now open every day from 11 a.m.-1q p.m. “Houston’s is open at 11 a.m. and they’rre on wait until they Vaughn says. “That’s a piece of our pie.
” The River Oaks menu will not change for will be the same until the doors closed and is the samemenu “our regulars have come to expect.” The only difference is the lunchu portion will be half of the dinner portiomn and cost half as much. Vaughn says the Memphis dining scenwe is inbad shape. The restaurant scene, he is holding its own with a firm foundationn laid years ago by pioneering chefs and new directiond from chefslike himself. But the recession has made customers scale back. Some folks that used to go to River Oaks are now goingbto . Those that went to Houston’sx are going to or other fast casual places.
Vaughm says he’s seen a 30% decline in businesse over thepast year, which is a large chunok for a small restaurant that seats 85. But for the Rivere Oaks loyals, Vaughn isn’t about to change their culinary “The goal for this restaurant is to ride out thetouguh times, manage our costs and not allow it to reflecg to our guests,” Vaughn “We’re not going to cheapen the placde up.” For example, you’re not goinvg to find two-for-one drinik specials every night. But on Mondays, you’ll find all wine labelsx half off. Vaughn’s able to do he says, through a good relationship with hislocapl distributor.
The biggest change for Rive Oaks came about two yeard ago when Vaughn says he firstf sawbusiness decline. Back then, he was shippingf ingredients to Memphis from all over the worlds via The hundreds of dollars in additional freight costs began toadd up. “What I failed to realize is that (local farmers) are in the same boat I’jm in,” Vaughn says. “We’re all struggling for a biggetr piece ofthe pie.” So, Vaughn now choosews his ingredients from more local farms. He gets as much as he can from Arkansasand Mississippi, but stretches out to Florida, Louisianw and Alabama. The local food movement is in full swingh says editor and publisherMelissa Petersen.
When she and her husbande arrived here two years ago there weretwo farmer’ markets. Now there are five in the Memphis area. Her magazine’s food guidde used to highlight local restauranta that cooked with local ingredients and then listthosr ingredients. Frankly, she she’s run out of room in the prinf edition. With local help, farmers are slowly able to conver t from a retail to a wholesalebusiness model, she “They are working with chefs and growing what they Petersen says. “The farmer s are bringing fresh deliveries to chefs each day and the whole thingv produces a little cost savingse forthe restaurants.
” Fresh ingredients means a freshg menu, Vaughn says, as he has to cook with the differentt growing seasons. This has produced a following that include s executives with FedEx and other businesses who go to River Oaks to see whatVaughb creates. That free rein to do as he pleasess is one of the biggest business forcea that guidesRiver Oaks. The restaurant is ownee by a groupof five, local investors who take theie “silent partner” titles very seriously and have put Vaughn’se name at stake for the place. The same investorx are responsible for the renovation on the same lot asRiver Oaks.
In developinvg the hotel, they couldn’t leavd the former Cockeyed Camelspace vacant, so they invested $2.5 millioh in transforming the Camel into River named for the East Memphis neighborhood. Vaughn came to Memphiws in 2003 as a chef with HiltonjHotels Corp. River Oaks opened in 2006 with another chef. Vaughn was tapped after that relationship didn’t work out. “It takexs some people a lifetime and a fortune to get to that placre where you have the ability to do what you how you want and when you Vaughn says. “So, this has been an amazing experiencerfor me.
”

The Philosophy of Freedom - Desicritics.org

http://www.dvadestudio.com/?p=1469

The Philosophy of Freedom Desicritics.org I read verociously, collecting evidences to prove the efficiency of free markets. But in the process I have come to realise that this is not an argument ...

Jessica Alba turned into party animal since daughter was born - Monsters and Critics.com

http://www.dvadestudio.com/?p=1469

Monsters and Critics.com

Jessica Alba turned into party animal since daughter was born Monsters and Critics.com Actress Jessica Alba said she's turned into more of a party animal since she became a mum. ... and more »

Kauai's football players adjust to daytime games - Honolulu Star-Advertiser

oryucyjofec1482.blogspot.com

Kauai's football players adjust to daytime games Honolulu Star-Advertiser When the Kauai Interscholastic Federation resumes play on the football field this weekend, it will be all natural lighting for a change. ... and more »

Norris sets scene for bankers' bonanza - Sydney Morning Herald

symowugebeda.blogspot.com

Brisbane Times

Norris sets scene for bankers' bonanza Sydney Morning Herald Gail Kelly of Westpac, Mike Smith of ANZ and Cameron Clyne from National Australia Bank can expect to receive generous increases in their long-term ... Banking's Mr 75% Ralph Norris Herald Sun CBA boss nets $16m pay packet Sydney Morning Herald 75pc rise takes CBA boss's pay to $16.2m The Australian The Australian -Sydney Morning Herald  »

Fannie losses below $400 billion: regulator - MarketWatch

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eCreditDaily.com

Fannie losses below $400 billion: regulator MarketWatch WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) â€" Costs to taxpayers from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could reach as high as $400 billion, ... Fannie losses will stay below $400 bln: regulator MarketWatch Freddie Mac, FHLB, Fannie Mae 2010 note calendar Reuters  »

Social institutions hope for fasting month generosity - Jakarta Post

awipekyhila.blogspot.com

Social institutions hope for fasting month generosity Jakarta Post “People have forgotten us,” Bina Insan Bangun Daya 2 temporary shelter administrative chief Ruminto said Friday at his post in Cipayung, East Jakarta. ...

Palm Beach County clerk cuts 66 employees - Kansas City Business Journal:

acklinegymejac1362.blogspot.com
million, or 18 percent, reduction in the office’s budger by July 1, county clerm Sharon Bock said in anews release. The cuts are expectede to “significantly impact service levels atthe Clerk’s sevem Palm Beach County locations,” she noted in the The required staff cuts leave the officre with fewer people to pursue and collect millions of dollars in unpai d traffic and court fees, which will lead to more budgety cuts.
“It’s a viciouds cycle designed to underfund usinto extinction,” she Thirty-two employees accepted a buyout offer this month and will leavde June 30 with a full payout on theidr sick leave, rather than the normal 25 percentr to 50 percent offered under current terminatiojn policies. On May 29, an addition 34 employees were told durinf staff meetings that they were beinglaid off, effective June 12. They will receivr four weeks of pay. With these layoffs and the positionspreviously eliminated, the office has cut 101 positions -- 16 percenty of management positions and 12 percent of hourly positionw -- in the past year.
The Clerok & Comptroller’s Office, which employs more than 800 in officex throughout PalmBeach County, handles the business arm of the courtg system. Employees receive, file and retrieve court documents, processx fees and traffic fines, and enter and maintain case informatiomn inthe court’s computerf system.

Virginia submits Chesapeake Bay restoration plan - BusinessWeek

http://farlink.info/index.php?s=D&c=489

Baltimore Sun (blog)

Virginia submits Chesapeake Bay restoration plan BusinessWeek The restoration plan developed by Virginia offers tax incentives to farmers to use pollution- and erosion-reducing practices, yet still estimates the cost ... Murky Bay cleanup "roadmaps" Baltimore Sun (blog) Community Viewpoint: Goodlatte's Bay Cleanup Bill Too Weak Lynchburg News and Advance Bay Foundation: Md. restoration plan lacks details BusinessWeek Delmarva Daily Times -Elmira Star-Gazette -Richmond Times Dispatch  »

Sun Microsystems to lay off 36 in Pennsylvania; eight in Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Business Times:

http://www.cruised.net/authors/author-1312.html
Sun said in its letter to the state that it expecte to release employees nationwidew beginning May 30 as part ofa "need to reducre overall spending in fiscal year 2009, includinvg a reduction in head count." The locak cuts will come from Sun's Pittsburgh its King of Prussia site, whic will lose 24 and its Lemoyne location, which will eliminate 4 According to its Web Sun has more than 33,000 employeews worldwide, and had fiscal 2008 revenue of $13.88 The company announced Tuesday it was layinv off 1,500 workers across the country.
The cuts are part of a plan announce d in the fall to trim18 percent, or abourt 6,000 jobs, from Sun's total work Sun (NASDAQ:JAVA) said earlier the cuts were part of a corporates restructure that was necessary because of fallin g demand. Sun is reportedly in discussions on areporteed $6.5 million acquisition offere from Armonk, N.Y.-based (NYSE:IBM) .

Survey: Outlook on finance, accounting hiring improves for 3Q - Baltimore Business Journal:

http://www.businessseek.co.uk/index.php?s=D&c=167
Staffing firm ’s quarterly hiring outloojk survey indicates 8 percent of chief financial officerds in the Columbus area plan to add stafrf from July through September while 5 percenty expect tocut jobs. The remaining 87 percen don’t expect any changes. The hirinhg outlook marks an improvementthe second-quarter plans among CFOs. Robert Half’s survey for the seconc quarter found 6 percent of area CFOs plannecd to add jobs while 7 percent expected to cut Columbus hiring plans also best the national In a national quergyof 1,400 CFOs, Robert Half foun 5 percent plan to add jobs from July through September while 8 percent expect “Many companies remain hesitant to commit to adding staff until they are certain of an economic Robert Half CEO Max Messmer said in a “In the meantime, most firms are workint with their current teams to manage key initiatives, with some employerws also bringing in project professionals to assis t with rising workloads and support full-tims personnel.
” Robert Half’s survey included 200 interviews with financia executives at companies with 20 or more employeese in the Columbus area.

Woman to Watch: Betsy Lulfs - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:

http://thetrafficcount.com/authors/author-1277.html
Continuing education: Bachelor of arts, Bowlint Green State University; Master of arts in technical Bowling Green State University What professional accomplishmentt makes youmost proud? Working to create the Office of Science and Technology. This opportunity has allowed me to meet many peopler from various federal companies and organizations around and begin to buildthe “triple helix network” — industry and academia.

Doctors start to prescribe radical treatment of insurance - Kansas City Business Journal:

http://2wc.info/node/58
With health care emerging as an issue in thepresidential campaign, researchers reported on March 31 that 59 percenft of physicians favor replacing the system of private individual and employer-sponsorefd health plans with a federally administeredc Medicare-for-all-type system. The study, which included a survey of 2,193e doctors selected at random from anmaster list, revealef a 10 percentage-point leap in physician supportt for national health insurance sinces 2002, when a similar survey was "This is a really interestingv story because the fact is that doctors tend to be very conservativse about all this," said Dr. Sharon Lee, director of , a safety-neg clinic in Kansas City, Kan.
Lee, a member of the nonprofit , said doctords have been influenced by the facts that 47 million Americans are 50 million moreare underinsured, and the ranks are swellintg as the economy stagnates. "Th e Institute of Medicine indicated that lack of insurancew isthe sixth-leading causde of death," Lee said. "And when thousandxs of people are dying each year becausethey don'tf have insurance to get the care they doctors are seeing that." Meanwhile, doctors are beinb increasingly harassed and underpaid by privatre insurers, said Dr. William Soper, president of a local 1,400-member physician advocacy organizationcalled .
"Somew of the numbers I've seen indicatee that over 40 percent of health care premiums are chewed up by theinsurancde companies, through either their overhead and profit or the extrsa expense burdens they place upon the system becausee of the difficulties in collecting from Soper said. "I talk to more doctors every day who say the only answerf isa revolution, a wholesale reorganization of the Because many doctors view Medicare as the most efficient and hassle-free payer they deal with, Soper said, Medicare-for-all has emerges as a leading reform But Dr. Lancer Gates of Nortbh Kansas City-based said he isn't readyt to board that meat wagon.
"On July 1, Medicare is planningh to cut physicians' reimbursements by 10.1 percent, followed by anothe 5 percent in January 2009 and further cutsbeyoncd that," Gates said. "Evej so, Medicare is expected to run out of fundsby 2020. So the idea of expandin it is very concerningto Dr. Steffie Woolhandler, an associate professor at and co-founder of Physicians for a NationaolHealth Program, said 55 percent of doctorsz in a recent survey supported reform alternatives, such as mandating the purchasee of private insurance. But mandates have been tried elsewher eand haven't worked, she said.
Building on Medicare maked more sense, Woolhandler said, because of its low overhea d cost -- about 2 percent. She said single-payer national healtg care would eliminate anestimated $350 billion that is wasted annually on medical bureaucracy, including privates insurers' overhead of 13 percent or greater. Tom CEO of Blue Croses and Blue Shield ofKansas City, said one reasonb for the higher costs is better pay for doctors. "Medicare for if nothing else changes, would mean a substantia pay cutfor physicians," he said. "Health insurance companiea typically pay 10 to 30 or 40 percen t above Medicare allowables forphysician services.
" Rather than eliminating a system that provides employer-sponsored insurancse to 162 million Americansz who are largely satisfied, reformeres should focus on the poor and small and cost-control measures, Bowser said. Meanwhile, accordiny to the 's "Pathway to Covering America" reform doctors and patients need to evaluate the health care roles theyare playing. Patients have only a 50-5o0 chance of getting the most advisable care fromtheir doctors, the plan states, and 75 cents of ever health care dollar is goin for treatment of chronic illnesses, most causesd by bad lifestyle choices.

WESTERN AT SUNRISE MOUNTAIN - Las Vegas Sun

http://v15.kiev.ua/2.htm

WESTERN AT SUNRISE MOUNTAIN Las Vegas Sun Our goal is not to limit the discussion, but rather to elevate it. Comments should be relevant and contain no abusive language. Comments that are off-topic, ... and more »

MSU AD: U-M, Northwestern games vital to preserve - Detroit Free Press

http://www.axionova.ru/soedinenie_polimernykh_trub_v_samotechnykh_truboprovodakh.html

Globe and Mail

MSU AD: U-M, Northwestern games vital to preserve Detroit Free Press EAST LANSING -- The Big Ten schedule-makers didn't do Michigan State any favors in the conference's first year after expansion. ... Week 1 preview in the Big Ten CardinalSports.com (subscription)  »