FED:HMAS Kanimbla to be retired

AAP General News (Australia)
08-18-2011
FED:HMAS Kanimbla to be retired

The elderly amphibious landing ship HMAS Kanimbla is to be retired early.

Defence Minister STEPHEN SMITH says Kanimbla needs extensive repairs at an estimated
cost of 35 million dollars and that will keep her out of service until mid-2012.

In any case, a detailed assessment of the ship's found the most cost effective and
lowest risk option is to decommission the vessel, set to happen in 2014.

AAP RTV mb/rl/nap

KEYWORD: MANOORA (CANBERRA)

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Diary Events for Thursday, February 22, 2007

AAP General News (Australia)
02-22-2007
Diary Events for Thursday, February 22, 2007

EVENTS LISTED IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER AND LOCAL TIME UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED:

ADELAIDE
No items listed.

BRISBANE
0930 - State Parliament sits.

1330 - AFL media conference with Kangaroos captain Adam Simpson and Collingwood's Nick
Maxwell. Gold Coast Stadium, Carrara. Enter Gate 2. Contact Sue-Anne Chapman 0402 005
261.

CANBERRA
0900 - Minister for Defence Brendan Nelson will deliver the keynote speech, Australian
Defence Magazine 4th Annual Congress, Hyatt Hotel, Commonwealth Ave, Yarralumla, Canberra.

Contact: 02 9080 …

NSW:Detention riot agreement needed: O'Farrell

AAP General News (Australia)
04-21-2011
NSW:Detention riot agreement needed: O'Farrell

SYDNEY, April 21 AAP - NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell says he's concerned there isn't
an agreement between the state and federal governments about how to deal with detention
centre riots.

Mr O'Farrell said he would wait for an official briefing on the riot at Villawood detention
centre, during which detainees set fire to as many as nine buildings.

"I've asked for a brief on the Villawood issue, but the issue that concerns me, the
issue that has not been resolved, is there is no agreement between the federal and state
government on (an) emergency response to any incident at Villawood," he said.

"(That's) despite ongoing evidence by emergency service of NSW to put in place such an agreement.

"Without an agreement there's going to be problems. We need the agreement, it's an
issue I intend to raise with the prime minister."

Mr O'Farrell said he would not comment on reports fire fighters had objects thrown
at them during the stand-off until he has a briefing.

AAP eb/tr/psm/

KEYWORD: DETAINEE OFARRELL

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

FED:Universities fail to make the grade

AAP General News (Australia)
02-01-2011
FED:Universities fail to make the grade

More than two-thirds of Australia's universities have an overall research performance
that doesn't reach international benchmarks.

An analysis of the government's Excellence in Research for Australia report by the
The Australian newspaper .. has found just 12 universities were performing research at
or above international standards.

The remaining 29 .. out of 41 higher education institutions .. did not meet those benchmarks.

AAP RTV vpm/psm/

KEYWORD: UNIVERSITIES (SYDNEY)

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

FED:State of play at 0730 (AEST) Tuesday

AAP General News (Australia)
08-24-2010
FED:State of play at 0730 (AEST) Tuesday

State of play with continued counting on Tuesday 0730 (AEST):



Labor 72

Coalition 70 (includes Tony Crook in O'Connor)

Independent 3

Australian Greens 1

Doubtful: 4 - Boothby (Sitting Liberal MP leads by 657 votes); Denison (Labor leads
independent by 408 with half the preferences distributed by Australian Electoral Commission);
Hasluck (Sitting Labor MP trails by 383); Dunkley (Sitting Liberal MP leads by 616 votes).

AAP rl

KEYWORD: POLL10 SEATS FACTBOX

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: NAPLAN boycott "professional and ethical" issue - NSWTF

AAP General News (Australia)
04-16-2010
NSW: NAPLAN boycott "professional and ethical" issue - NSWTF

SYDNEY, April 16 AAP - The decision to boycott national literacy and numeracy tests
is a professional and ethical issue, says the NSW Teachers Federation.

The union unanimously voted on Friday to ban teachers giving the National Assessment
Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) tests next month.

It defies a recommendation by the NSW Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) on Monday
which could be upgraded to an order, making the boycott potentially illegal.

The vote follows a similar decision by the Australian Education Union, raising the
prospect of education department staff or other replacements being put in charge of conducting
the tests.

"The (boycott) decision means that the tests will not proceed unless the federal government
takes action to prevent the misuse of student data to create and publish league tables,"

federation president Bob Lipscombe told reporters in Sydney on Friday.

"While NAPLAN tests are useful, teachers will not support them while the federal government
allows the results to construct damaging league tables.

"No other tests or reports will be affected.

"This is a professional and ethical issue for teachers. We cannot stand by while our
students are harmed."

He says league tables detailing individual school performances in England have devalued
education and shouldn't be replicated in Australia.

Mr Lipscombe says teachers support transparency in the reporting of test results and
providing teachers, parents and students with meaningful information about educational
performance.

He says teachers aren't opposed to the federal government's controversial My School
website, provided the information on it is "accurate and not misleading".

Mr Lipscombe believes the vast majority of teachers across Australia will boycott the tests.

He urged the federal and NSW governments to end the stand-off by introducing measures
which prevent publication of simplistic league tables.

The federal government indicated on Wednesday that in the event of a teacher boycott
the tests could go ahead by drafting in education department staff and other replacements
to administer them.

But Mr Lipscombe says replacing teachers will mean the tests have little or no credibility.

AAP mdg/evt/it

KEYWORD: SCHOOLS NSW UPDATE

2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: ETS defeat a disaster for green jobs: unions

AAP General News (Australia)
12-02-2009
Fed: ETS defeat a disaster for green jobs: unions

Unions say the defeat of Labor's emissions trading scheme is a disaster for future green jobs.

ACTU president SHARAN BURROW'S urged the government to waste no time calling an early
election .. if talks over summer break down.

She says up to one million new green energy jobs are at risk.

The Senate today rejected the ETS bill for the second time .. giving the government
a double dissolution early election trigger.

AAP RTV cmb/pmu/wf

KEYWORD: CLIMATE BURROW (MELBOURNE)

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

VIC: Thousands gather for dawn service in Melbourne

AAP General News (Australia)
04-25-2009
VIC: Thousands gather for dawn service in Melbourne

MELBOURNE, April 25 AAP - Unfavourable weather forecasts have failed to stop thousands
of people from gathering at Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance for the Anzac Day dawn service.

The service, beginingg at 5.45am (AEST), marks the 94th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings.

People of all ages have quietly gathered in the darkness at the base of the shrine.

There are young families, groups of teenagers amd diggers proudly wearing their medals
waiting for the service to begin.

More than 35,000 people are expected to attend the service.

AAP ao

KEYWORD: ANZAC DAWN VIC

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

FED: Very fast train from Melbourne to Sydney a possibility

AAP General News (Australia)
12-19-2008
FED: Very fast train from Melbourne to Sydney a possibility

A very fast train linking Melbourne .. Canberra and Sydney is at the top of a federal
government wish list for road and rail projects.

The 59 billion dollar project tops a list of 94 projects selected by the government's
Infrastructure Australia .. which was charged with sifting through one thousand submissions.

Transport Minister ANTHONY ALBANESE hasn't committed to any projects .. but says the
list will allow further prioritisation.

The government's infrastructure czar Sir ROD EDDINGTON says the global financial crisis
will affect short-term plans.

But he says it won't hurt the long-term ambitions of Prime Minister KEVIN RUDD.

AAP RTV pv/af

KEYWORD: INFRASTRUCTURE (CANBERRA)

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Catholic priest arrested on 30 sex charges =2

AAP General News (Australia)
08-14-2008
NSW: Catholic priest arrested on 30 sex charges =2

The offences were allegedly committed while the priest was working in the Newcastle
area, police said.

Strike Force Georgiana has been investigating the allegations after an initial complaint
was made in April this year.

Detectives have received assistance from the Newcastle-Maitland diocese of the Catholic
Church, police said.

Anyone with information that could help the investigation should call Crime Stoppers
on 1800 333 000.

AAP ab/evt/jl/de

KEYWORD: PRIEST 2 SYDNEY

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

QLD: Nationals members to be asked merger question

AAP General News (Australia)
04-05-2008
QLD: Nationals members to be asked merger question

The Queensland Nationals have agreed to hand the decision of pursuing a merger with
the Liberals to its 10 thousand state members.

The party's central council met on the Gold Coast today and voted in favour of holding
a state-wide member vote on the proposed conservative union.

Queensland president BRUCE MCIVER says the motion was passed with overwhelming support
.. with only one vote against it.

AAP RTV cj/wz

KEYWORD: NATIONALS PLEBICITE (GOLD COAST)

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Qld: Govt signs land deal with farmers, greens

AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-2007
Qld: Govt signs land deal with farmers, greens

Queensland Premier ANNA BLIGH has signed a new deal with rural landholders and conservationists
to protect the environment.

The historic agreement .. signed in Hughenden in north-western Queensland today ..

will provide landholders with lease extensions of 40 or 50 years in exchange for better
environmental management.

Ms BLIGH says the agreement has global importance.

She says because the Queensland government is the third largest landholder in the world
.. after China and Russia .. what it does with its land really matters .. not just to
Queensland and Australia .. but to the whole world.

AAP RTV rm/pjo/crh/wf

KEYWORD: LAND QLD (HUGHENDEN)

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Milestones for the week

AAP General News (Australia)
04-20-2007
Fed: Milestones for the week

SYDNEY, April 20 AAP - - Milestones of the week



PARCHED - The Murray-Darling Basin, where Prime Minister John Howard says irrigators
will lose their water supplies unless there is significant rain in the next six to eight
weeks.



QUIT - Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd and Workplace Relations Minister Joe Hockey, from
their regular spot on morning television show Sunrise, amid a row over planning for a
"fake" Anzac Day dawn service in Vietnam.



PLANNED - A new refugee exchange scheme, in which asylum seekers detained on Nauru
would be taken to the US and Cuban refugees held at Guantanamo Bay would be resettled
in Australia.

AAP sg/cjh/bwl

KEYWORD: MILESTONES

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Government to cut business red tape

AAP General News (Australia)
12-19-2006
Fed: Government to cut business red tape

CANBERRA, Dec 19 AAP - The federal government is to cut some of the red tape between
businesses and government, possibly saving companies billions of dollars a year, Treasurer
Peter Costello said today.

"Government reporting requirements from the various levels of government impose a significant
burden on Australian business," Mr Costello said in a statement.

"The recent Report of the Taskforce on Reducing Regulatory Burdens on Business considered
that getting rid of unnecessary regulatory compliance costs could save business billions
of dollars per annum."

The new initiative, "Standard Business Reporting", will aim to reduce the number of
different agencies to which businesses have to report the same or similar information.

It will also aim to standardise the amount of data that businesses report to government,
while looking for a greater degree of automation.

"The participation of state and local governments, and close consultation with the
business community, will be crucial to achieving the maximum benefits for Australian businesses,"

Mr Costello said.

AAP cb/sb/wjf/de

KEYWORD: BUSINESS

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Vic: Dog killed in unit fire

AAP General News (Australia)
08-12-2006
Vic: Dog killed in unit fire

A small dog's been killed .. but his mate's been resuscitated by fire officers .. after
an electric heater left on to keep the animals warm .. sparked a fire in a suburban apartment
block in Melbourne last night.

Firefighters performed oxygen therapy and heart massage on the dogs after being called
to a blaze at an apartment block in Glen Huntly around 11.30pm.

Metropolitan Fire Brigade commander DAVE MILLER says one of the dogs regained consciousness
and was take to the local vet .. but the other one couldn't be revived.

Mr MILLER says the apartment was occupied by two university students who left an electric
heater on to keep the dogs warm while they went out.

Clothing left too close to the heater caught alight .. setting the unit on fire.

A neighbour heard the smoke alarm .. and called the fire brigade.

The fire caused about 50 thousand dollars damage .. one bedroom's been extensively
damaged and the rest of the apartment's been affected by smoke .. heat and water.

AAP RTV jmw/bart

KEYWORD: DOGS (MELBOURNE)

) 2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Pilot "did not stand a chance": witness

AAP General News (Australia)
04-05-2006
NSW: Pilot "did not stand a chance": witness

By Katherine Danks

SYDNEY, April 5 AAP - A light plane pilot killed during a takeoff exercise stood no
chance of surviving the high-speed crash, a witness says.

The male pilot, aged in his 40s, died on impact when his Lancair 360 crashed in front
of horrified onlookers at Bankstown Airport, in Sydney's south-west, about 2.40pm (AEST)
today.

Airservices Australia said the pilot was practising "touch and go's" - where the pilot
almost lands the plane before taking off again - in the minutes before it crashed.

A spokesman said the pilot did a steep right-hand turn from a height of about 380 metres
before hitting the ground upside down at high speed.

Wreckage from the plane hit at least one other parked aircraft and some runways, which
have since been cleared.

Witness and fellow pilot Todd Jackson told Southern Cross Broadcasting the pilot did
not stand a chance of surviving the crash.

"I really felt for the gentleman. He had no chance at all, just none at all," Mr Jackson said.

"The first thing I did was ring my wife Susan ... it just prompts you to ring your loved ones."

Mr Jackson said he heard the engine backfire a couple of times before it hit the ground
at "a hundred miles an hour" beside a hangar at the airport.

One man had run to the wreckage with a fire extinguisher but there was no fire, he said.

Another witness, identified only as Adam, said there were no apparent problems with
the aircraft before takeoff.

"I was there when the owner turned up and he apparently witnessed the takeoff and saw
the undercarriage turn up as per normal and he turned away just thinking it was a normal
takeoff," Adam told Macquarie Radio.

"A few minutes later he was told it crashed."

The Airservices Australia spokesman said it was not known if the man was a trainee
pilot or why he was practising touch and go's.

"He could have just been testing the aircraft. I don't have any information as to why
he was doing that," he said.

A Bankstown Airport spokeswoman said it would conduct a full investigation into the crash.

AAP kjd/was/jnb/de

KEYWORD: PLANE NIGHTLEAD

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Fine for tunnel drunk who halted city trains

AAP General News (Australia)
08-04-2005
NSW: Fine for tunnel drunk who halted city trains

By David Crawshaw

SYDNEY, Aug 4 AAP - A drunk who wandered into a Sydney train tunnel, bringing the city
centre rail system to a halt and sparking fears of a terrorist attack, will not face charges.

Instead, his punishment will be a $400 fine for trespassing on train tracks - courtesy
of CityRail's transit officers.

The drama happened towards the end of peak hour yesterday when the man jumped off the
end of a platform at Martin Place station and walked into the tunnel, towards Town Hall,
RailCorp said today.

An underground search was launched while trains were stopped across the CBD and eastern
suburbs, although no stations were evacuated.

RailCorp spokesman Matthew Vane-Tempest said a member of the public had alerted station
staff when he saw the man, apparently drunk, jump onto the tracks and walk into the tunnel.

Security and train-control staff searched for the man before he was apprehended, without
incident, after spending about 10 minutes in the tunnel.

"Transit officers at Town Hall intercepted him and he was held until police arrived,"

Mr Vane-Tempest said.

The transit officers later fined the man $400 for trespassing on the train tracks or
"crossing running lines", he said.

Mr Vane-Tempest said there were no cameras in Sydney's rail tunnels but RailCorp was
looking at ways of improving security on trains after the London attacks.

Sydney commuters have been urged to be on the lookout for suspicious activity after
terrorist attacks in London on July 7 killed 55 people on the underground train system
and a bus.

Police said the man would not face any charges as a result of his behaviour.

"He was just given the infringement notice," a NSW Police spokesman told AAP.

"If he wants to fight it he can go to court but there will be no charges per se."

RailCorp chief executive Vince Graham praised the member of the public who alerted
rail staff, saying his action showed the government's campaign to encourage the public
to report suspicious activity at train stations was working.

"Our systems worked exceptionally well and our congratulations to the public for picking
up so well on the 'See something, say something' program," Mr Graham told reporters.

NSW Premier Morris Iemma will soon release details of an emergency plan to evacuate
the city in the event of a terrorist strike.

AAP dcr/jt/sp

KEYWORD: TUNNEL NIGHTLEAD

2005 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Plimsoll line

Plimsoll line See load line.

Construction Industry Tries to Build Image with Earth Day Activities.

Environmental News Network, Sun Valley, Idaho Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Apr. 19--Where developer meets land is where environmental protection often ends, but on Earth Day 2001 this year the Associated General Contractors of America will take to the airwaves to share its green solutions to construction.

The contractors association is joining with ABC Radio, Select Marketing Services and the U.S. State Department to sponsor a consumer awareness program for Earth Day.

Stephen Sandherr, CEO of AGC, said of the education campaign: "AGC had a unique occasion to broaden the awareness of how construction contributes to our everyday quality of life, highlight the construction industry's environmental solutions and how the construction industry is a major player in recycling our Earth's precious resources."

Contractors often find themselves on opposite sides of contentious legal issues from environmental groups. In February, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia agreed with four Missouri chapters of the Associated General Contractors that the Sierra Club cannot sue in federal court to sever all federal funding for highway construction in the state of Missouri.

The Sierra Club case was based on the argument that the city of St. Louis should not be permitted to build more highways until it conforms to its federal ozone limit.

Sandherr said: "AGC has always urged these activist groups to work with us during the planning process. However, AGC will aggressively react to continued attacks from national environmental groups who want to block construction projects. AGC has dedicated significant resources to improving environmental education, advocacy, public relations and litigation."

Still, America's largest and oldest construction trade association is taking advantage of Earth Day "to applaud the efforts of construction contractors nationwide who appreciate that environmental improvements are a part of their responsibility to the local communities that support them."

The construction industry must observe air quality standards, transportation conformity requirements, storm water management, wetland preservation, endangered species protection, hazardous waste cleanup and toxic chemical requirements. More and more contractors are recycling on site, saving money on landfill fees, new materials and wear-and-tear on trucks, the association says.

These efforts and the idea that the Earth's resources must be managed, conserved and recycled to serve future generations are the focus of the association's Earth Day program, dubbed "The Federal Spotlight."

The three-part program includes a month-long radio and Internet awareness and education campaign, followed by a trade event inside the State Department.

The contractors have created 30-second radio spots to air on three ABC radio stations in the Washington, D.C. area: WMAL Newstalk (630 AM), WRQX Mix (107.3 FM) and WJZW Smooth Jazz (105.9 FM).

AGC's environmental services Web site (http://www.constructionenvironment.org) is linked to ABC radio affiliates.

AGC represents more than 33,000 companies, including 7,500 general contractors, and 12,000 specialty-contracting firms.

To see more of Environmental News Network, go to http://www.enn.com

(c) 2001, Environmental News Network, Sun Valley, Idaho. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

UK GOVERNMENT: Inland Revenue making tax law clearer.

M2 PRESSWIRE-24 March 1999-UK GOVERNMENT: Inland Revenue making tax law clearer (C)1994-99 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

RDATE:230399

The Tax Law Rewrite project, which aims to make tax law clearer and easier to use, has today published its latest Exposure Draft.

In written answer to a Parliamentary Question, the Paymaster General, Dawn Primarolo said:

"I am pleased to announce that the Tax Law Rewrite project continues to make very good progress. The Inland Revenue have today published the project's fourth Exposure Draft, which contains draft clauses on the trading income of individuals.

This latest publication includes rewritten legislation covering the rules for calculating the profits of a trade, the basis period rules and the rules on farming. I would strongly encourage anyone with an interest in these areas to participate fully in the consultation process, which is key to the success of the project."

DETAILS

1. The Tax Law Rewrite project aims to rewrite the UK's primary direct tax legislation so that it is clearer and easier to use, but without changing its general effect.

The project commands the support of all parts of the tax community.

2. The key points of the project are:

use of plain language and other reader aids;

clearer, more logical structure for tax legislation;

no alteration of main tax policies (but will not prevent policy simplification);

(possibly) some minor policy changes, where these enable greater simplification;

full consultation with interested parties throughout the life of the project; and

new streamlined procedures for enactment of `rewrite bills'.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. The project was established in 1996 on the basis of full consultation. Since then, three Exposure Drafts and two Technical Discussion Documents have been published. The project is currently rewriting three areas of income tax - trading income, savings and investment income and employment income - together with the capital allowances provisions. The first rewrite Bill, on capital allowances, will be ready next year.

2. A high-level Steering Committee was set up to oversee the project. Chaired by The Rt Hon The Lord Howe of Aberavon CH, QC it has now held 14 meetings, the first being held on 27 February 1997. A Consultative Committee of representative bodies and other interested parties also meets every month to consider issues and clauses in more detail.

3. Copies of "Trading Income of Individuals: Part 2" can be obtained free of charge from the Inland Revenue Information Centre, Bush House, South West Wing, Strand, London WC2B 4RD.

4. Copies are also available on the Internet at the Inland Revenue home page, the address of which is given below.

*M2 COMMUNICATIONS DISCLAIMS ALL LIABILITY FOR INFORMATION PROVIDED WITHIN M2 PRESSWIRE. DATA SUPPLIED BY NAMED PARTY/PARTIES.*

Robertson Stephens Names Bob Emery President and CEO, -CEO Mike McCaffery Becomes Chairman and Senior Strategic Advisor-.

Business Editors

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 19, 2000

Robertson Stephens, the San Francisco-based investment bank, announced that, effective today, its current CEO Mike McCaffery will become Chairman of the firm and that its current President, Bob Emery, will become President and CEO.

"Over the past 11 years we've created a world-class investment banking and brokerage organization with incredibly talented and dedicated people," said McCaffery. "Bob and I have been leading the firm for the past several years. Together we've built a powerful management team by bringing in new leadership and developing internal leadership. I am proud of what we've accomplished and am confident Bob and Robertson Stephens will continue to achieve great things."

"Robertson Stephens has grown remarkably under Mike's leadership," said Emery. "He has been a significant force in helping shape the firm and its culture. Mike also successfully shepherded our organization through three complex mergers. We have emerged from this experience stronger and better positioned competitively than ever. As we enter the new century we are perfectly positioned to provide our world-class investment banking capabilities to growth companies and investors on a global basis."

As Chairman, McCaffery will act as senior strategic advisor, help to market the firm and continue to develop new and existing client relationships. McCaffery joined Robertson Stephens in 1988 and became CEO in 1993. Since 1988, the firm has grown from 125 employees with $38 million in revenues to over 1,100 employees worldwide and $1 billion in revenues.

Emery joined Robertson Stephens in 1985 to establish the firm's technology and healthcare merger and acquisition practice. He was promoted to co-head of the firm's investment banking group, and again promoted to Chief Operating Officer, prior to being named president. Emery is well known in the Internet and technology industries for his investment banking expertise. In 1999, he advised eight of the 13 largest, industry-defining M&A transactions, including @Home's acquisition of Excite, E*Trade's acquisition of Telebank, and CMGI/AltaVista. "Bob is a great banker and leader; he will be an outstanding CEO," said McCaffery.

"Under the leadership of Mike and Bob the firm has set the industry standard for execution and growth," said Paul Hogan, Vice Chairman, FleetBoston Financial. "Robertson Stephens has grown 2 1/2 times this year alone. We couldn't be happier with the new leadership and are confident that Bob and the strong management team he established will continue to exceed expectations."

Robertson Stephens (www.rsco.com) is the leading full-service investment bank, focused exclusively on growth companies. In 1999, the firm completed over 230 public offerings and over 40 private offerings, raising more than $40 billion in capital for clients. In addition, the firm advised on over 80 M&A transactions in 1999 with an aggregate value in excess of $50 billion. The firm's 47 equity research analysts cover nearly 700 companies. Founded in 1978, Robertson Stephens (Legal name: FleetBoston Robertson Stephens Inc.) is a section 20 subsidiary of FleetBoston Financial Corporation (NYSE: FBF) and a member of the NASD and all major exchanges. Together, Robertson Stephens, FleetBoston Robertson Stephens International Ltd., and Robertson Stephens Evergreen Securities Ltd. has over 1,000 employees worldwide with offices in Boston, San Francisco, New York, Menlo Park, Chicago, London, and Tel Aviv.

Manulife Signs Seven-Year Services Agreement with IBM.

New computing environment provides platform for continued resiliency and security of business applications

TORONTO, July 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced that it has entered into a seven-year services agreement with The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company (Manulife) valued at close to $90M CAD annually to support Manulife Financial's (TSX:MFC)(NYSE:MFC)(PSE:MFC)(SEHK:0945) ongoing business growth, as well as continued evolution of its information technology operations.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090416/IBMLOGO )

One of the greatest challenges facing financial services organizations today is adapting to the accelerating change and complexity of their competitive industry landscape for governance models and regulations, organizational effectiveness and business productivity. With an increased volume and variety of information to monitor and manage, it is imperative for financial services leaders to keep pace with the latest technological developments to improve efficiency and provide access to secure relevant information quickly to make business decisions.

The agreement will advance Manulife infrastructure services for mainframe, midrange server and storage, desktop services, business continuity, disaster recovery and security. Manulife will also evaluate, as part of ongoing joint innovation, the application of cloud computing and high-performance computing environments to accelerate and enhance the deployment of business applications.

"This contract will provide us with leading-edge technologies in the efficient and effective growth of our business," said Joe Cooper, Executive Vice President, Global Services & Chief Information Officer, Manulife Financial. "IBM's expertise in the finance and insurance sectors also assists Manulife in the execution of its information services strategy by providing industry skills as required to support our businesses and customers."

Manulife has collaborated with IBM for ongoing business transformation since 2002.

"Our 10-year relationship with Manulife provides a strong foundation for us to share global expertise in cloud computing, infrastructure reliability and security," said Leslie Keating, Vice President, Global Technology Services, IBM Canada. "In today's interconnected world, there is an increasing need for businesses to be prepared and agile to deal with new and evolving opportunities and threats. By continuing to enhance Manulife's core infrastructure to improve service and increase efficiency, we are helping strengthen their competitiveness."

Today's announcement with Manulife is another example of how IBM Global Services teams with its clients to solve business problems and help them capitalize on new opportunities. Clients today are looking to IT services providers for more than just cost cutting. Global clients need help finding ways to better leverage IT into their business to stimulate growth and prepare for the future. By tightly weaving together business insights, an industry-leading software portfolio, world-class technology research and operations expertise, IBM is redefining what it means to design, deploy and deliver IT services on a global scale. As a result, IBM Global Services clients achieve faster return on investment while freeing up resources to focus on innovative projects.

The agreement was signed on June 29, 2011.

About Manulife Financial

Manulife Financial is a leading Canadian-based financial services group operating in 22 countries and territories worldwide. For more than 120 years, clients have looked to Manulife for strong, reliable, trustworthy and forward-thinking solutions for their most significant financial decisions. Our international network of employees, agents and distribution partners offers financial protection and wealth management products and services to millions of clients. We provide asset management services to institutional customers worldwide as well as reinsurance solutions, specializing in life and property and casualty retrocession. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were C$478 billion (US$492 billion) as at March 31, 2011. The Company operates as Manulife Financial in Canada and Asia and primarily as John Hancock in the United States. Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under '945' on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at www.manulife.com.

About IBM

On Smarter Banking

For more information on IBM banking solutions, visit

http://www.ibm.com/smarterplanet/ca/en/banking_technology/nextsteps/solution

On Smarter Computing

For more information on IBM cloud solutions, visit http://www.ibm.com/cloud/ca

http://www.ibm.com/smarterplanet/ca/en/smartercomputing/overview/index.html

For further information: Joanne Fortin External Communications Manager - IBM Canada t:514-964-8558/m: 514-238-2995 Fortin@ca.ibm.com twitter: www.twitter.com/jf_ibm

Tara Sucato Tsapepas IBM Communications (U.S.) 917.472.3701 tjsucato@us.ibm.com

SOURCE IBM

A.G. SCHNEIDERMAN URGES NEW YORKERS TO REPORT INTERNET PREDATORS AND SCAMMERS PREYING ON KIDS TO HIS OFFICE.

ALBANY -- The following information was released by the office of the New York Attorney General:

As the school year comes to a close, Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today called on New Yorkers to notify his office of any online scam or sexual solicitation that threatens the safety and privacy of their families. To address a growing problem that has proliferated with the expansion of social media platforms, the Attorney General issued a series of tips for New Yorkers to protect children from Internet predators and scammers.

"The Internet is an incredible resource, but it is also the crime scene of the 21st century. To protect the privacy and safety of New York families, New Yorkers should report any suspicious activity online to our office so that we can stop cybercriminals in their tracks," said Attorney General Schneiderman. "With schools out for summer, parents need to be armed with information to protect their children from potentially dangerous Internet predators who prey on kids."

Research shows that one in seven children - from the ages of 10 to 17 - using the Internet has received an unwanted sexual solicitation, and many are the target of scams that can lead to identity theft. Children use the Internet more than any other age group.

The following is a list of tips designed to help protect your child on the Internet:

Place your home computer in a central location, such as a family room, to make it easier to monitor what websites your child is accessing.

Use blocking, filtering and monitoring software to protect your child from potentially dangerous sites.

Log your child onto the Internet yourself and keep the password a secret.

Ask your Internet service provider about blocking services that prevent your child from accessing bulletin boards and websites you find objectionable.

Instruct your child not to provide any personal information about him or herself or other family members without your permission.

Advise your child not to use his or her full name when online.

Warn your child about strangers who attempt to set up meetings either online or in person.

Encourage your child to tell you if something online makes him or her uncomfortable or frightened.

Monitor your service bills or usage records to keep track of how much time your child is spending online.

Attorney General Schneiderman urges parents to take an active role in protecting their children from online predators. They can educate themselves about the potential dangers on the Internet by visiting: www.ag.ny.gov/publications/2011/Publications/Your_Childs_Digital_Life.pdf

The Internet Bureau of the Office of the Attorney General enforces a range of laws to ensure that online consumers, children and businesses are protected by state and federal statutes. The Attorney General's office is also a member of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force designed to counter the growing threat of offenders using the Internet or other online technology to exploit children.

To report complaints about possible predators preying on children, contact the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force by calling: (877) 474-KIDS (5437).

To report complaints about consumer-related Internet scams, consumers are encouraged to file complaints by visiting the Office's website: .

APAC SqueezeTrigger Price is $5.79. There is $7,085,326 That Short Sellers Still Need To Cover.

M2 PRESSWIRE-May 18, 2011-BUYINS.NET: APAC SqueezeTrigger Price is $5.79. There is $7,085,326 That Short Sellers Still Need To Cover.(C)1994-2011 M2 COMMUNICATIONS

RDATE:17052011

BUYINS.NET / www.squeezetrigger.com is monitoring APAC CUSTOMER SERVICES INC (NASDAQ:APAC) in real time and just received an alert that APAC is crossing above its primary SqueezeTrigger Price, the price that a short squeeze can start in any stock. There are 1209100 shares that have been shorted at the volume weighted average SqueezeTrigger Price of $5.79. To access SqueezeTrigger Prices ahead of potential short squeezes beginning, visit http://www.squeezetrigger.com .

From August 2009 to April 2011, an aggregate amount of 29743393 shares of APAC have been shorted for a total dollar value of $148716965. The APAC SqueezeTrigger price of $5.79 is the volume weighted average price that all shorts are short in shares of APAC. There is still approximately $7,085,326 of potential short covering in shares of APAC.

SqueezeTrigger.com has built a massive database that collects, analyzes and publishes a proprietary SqueezeTrigger Price for each stock that has been shorted. The data has then been integrated into an automated trading platform which can be used to connect to a live online broker and automate your trading of short squeeze events. It is extremely powerful with lightening fast execution at a very low price. Both the trading software and SqueezeTrigger data feed are available at http://www.squeezetrigger.com .

APAC CUSTOMER SERVICES INC (NASDAQ:APAC) - APAC Customer Services, Inc. provides customer care services and solutions. The company offers its services and solutions through multiple communication channels, including telephone, Internet, on-line chat, email, fax, mail correspondence, and automated response generated through technology. It provides customer service support for various medical plans, including pharmacy, medical, dental, vision, and Medicare Part D to plan members and healthcare plan providers; delivery scheduling, delivery issue resolution, strategic account management, international services, business to business contact management and sales, account set-up and maintenance, billing research and resolution, and claims processing; and targeted inbound customer acquisition, product sales, ongoing account maintenance, billing issue resolution, identifying and remediating product issues, warranty and exchange processes, product set-up services, pre-paid account inquiries, and customer retention activities for communications industry. The company also provides services for account management, subscriber acquisition, verification and retention, and billing and payment support in publishing industry; reservation booking for general and corporate travel, information on hotels, resort properties locations and amenities, car rental and airline policies, cancellations, billing, and account management, as well as complaint resolution for travel and entertainment industry; and assists customers with card activation, credit inquiries, billing issue resolution, account maintenance, balance increases and transfers, and balance inquiries for financial services industry. As of January 3, 2010, it operated nine customer care centers in the United States, four off-shore customer care centers in the Philippines, and 1 near-shore customer care center in the Dominican Republic. The company was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in Bannockburn, Illinois.

The SqueezeTrigger database of approximately 1 billion short sale transactions goes back to January 1, 2005 and calculates the exact price at which the Total Short Interest is short in each stock. This data was never before available prior to January 1, 2005 because the Self Regulatory Organizations (primary exchanges) guarded it aggressively. After the SEC passed Regulation SHO, exchanges were forced to allow data processors like SqueezeTrigger.com to access the data. Total Short Interest is the number of shares shorted but not yet covered, and is different from total short volume. To access SqueezeTrigger Prices ahead of potential short squeezes beginning, visit http://www.squeezetrigger.com

About SQUEEZETRIGGER.COM

WWW.SQUEEZETRIGGER.COM is a service designed to help bonafide shareholders of publicly traded US companies fight short selling. SqueezeTrigger.com has built a proprietary database that uses Threshold list feeds and short sale time and sale data from NASDAQ, AMEX and NYSE to generate detailed and useful information to combat the short selling problem. For the first time, actual trade by trade data is available to the public that shows the attempted size, actual size, price and average value of short sales in stocks that have been shorted. This information is valuable in determining the precise point at which short sellers go out-of-the-money and start losing on their short trades.

SQUEEZETRIGGER.COM has built a massive database that collects, analyzes and publishes a proprietary SqueezeTrigger for each stock that has been shorted. The SqueezeTrigger database of nearly one billion short sale transactions goes back to January 1, 2005 and calculates the exact price at which the Total Short Interest is short in each stock. This data was never before available prior to January 1, 2005 because the Self Regulatory Organizations (primary exchanges) guarded it aggressively. After the SEC passed Regulation SHO, exchanges were forced to allow data processors like SqueezeTrigger.com to access the data.

The SqueezeTrigger database collects individual short trade data on over 7,000 NYSE, AMEX and NASDAQ stocks and general short trade data on nearly 8,000 OTCBB and PINKSHEET stocks. Each month the database grows by approximately 50,000,000 short sale transactions and provides investors with the knowledge necessary to time when to buy and sell stocks with outstanding short positions. By tracking the size and price of each month's short transactions, SQUEEZETRIGGER.COM provides institutions, traders, analysts, journalists and individual investors the exact price point where short sellers start losing money and a short squeeze can begin.

All material herein was prepared by SQUEEZETRIGGER.COM, based upon information believed to be reliable. The information contained herein is not guaranteed by SQUEEZETRIGGER.COM to be accurate, and should not be considered to be all-inclusive. The companies that are discussed in this opinion have not approved the statements made in this opinion.

Occassionally companies pay $995.00 to purchase data for information provided in reports issued by BUYINS.NET, a company affiliated with SQUEEZETRIGGER.COM. The data service can be cancelled at any time. This opinion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. This material is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities. SQUEEZETRIGGER.COM is not a licensed broker, broker dealer, market maker, investment banker, investment advisor, analyst or underwriter. Please consult a broker before purchasing or selling any securities viewed on or mentioned herein. SQUEEZETRIGGER.COM will not advise as to when it decides to sell and does not and will not offer any opinion as to when others should sell; each investor must make that decision based on his or her judgment of the market.

SQUEEZETRIGGER.COM and SQUEEZETRIGGER are intended for use by stock market professionals. As a member, visitor, or user of any kind, you accept full responsibilities for your investment and trading actions. The contents of SQUEEZETRIGGER.COM, including but not limited to all implied or expressed views, opinions, teachings, data, graphs, opinions, or otherwise are not predictions, warranty, or endorsements of any kind. Please seek stock market advice from the proper securities professional, or investment advisor.

By visiting SQUEEZETRIGGER.COM or using any data or services, you agree to assume full responsibility for the decisions or actions that you undertake. Global Automated Trading Systems, LLC, its owner(s), operators, employees, partners, affiliates, advertisers, information providers and any other associated person or entity, shall under no circumstances be held liable to the user and/or any third party for loss or damages of any kind, including but not limited to trading losses, lost trading opportunity, direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental, or punitive damages. As a user, you agree that any damages collected shall not exceed the amount paid to SQUEEZETRIGGER.COM and/or its owners. As a website user, you agree that any and all legal matters of any kind are to be reviewed and handled in their entirety within the State of California only. By using the services of this website, you are consenting to the terms as outlined, and forfeit all legal jurisdictions in any other State.

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Please seek investment and/or trading advice, council, information or services from a securities professional. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and SQUEEZETRIGGER.COM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

"Forward-looking statements" describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may", "future", "plan" or "planned", "will" or "should", "expected,"

"anticipates", "draft", "eventually" or "projected". You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a companies' annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the SEC.

SqueezeTrigger is a registered trademark, Reg. No. 3,120,641

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KAI EKHOLM REAPPOINTED AS CHAIR OF THE FAIFE COMMITTEE.

HAGUE, Netherlands -- The following information was released by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA):

The National Librarian of Finland, Kai Ekholm, has been reappointed by the IFLA Governing Board as Chair of the Freedom of Access to Information and Freedom of Expression (FAIFE) Committee for the period August 2011 - August 2013.

In acknowledging his reappointment, Ekholm commented "FAIFE has become a strong network of specialists who carry out their work with a big heart and passion. We are witnessing historical change, when freedom of expression will take crucial steps on the Internet. Every fourth person in the planet lives under censorship. There are still many captive societies that will and should break in future. FAIFE is there to point the target, bring information, and train people."

The objective of the IFLA's FAIFE (Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression) Committee is to enhance the public's awareness of freedom of speech and expression in library operations. Besides publishing international reports and surveys, the Committee activates discussion in the library world and its immediate surroundings.

Metatron Inks iPhone App Pact with A3 Network.

Metatron announced that it has entered into a long term relationship to publish a series of iTunes Applications with A3 Network, a streaming video developer.

A3 Network is a group of online TV channels that reflect the modern lifestyle. A3 Network averages 5M video stream views a month on YouTube and other streaming services.

Joe Riehl, Metatron CEO, said, "Online video streams have passed 10 billion per month according to Nielsen, so this is our first step into one of the hottest sectors on the internet today. We will also move very quickly -- i-Mobilize expect to release dozens of popular apps based on A3 Content within the next 30 days.

"This is the first in a series of content deals expected to be announced soon with major publishing, TV, music and movie companies."

((Comments on this story may be sent to health@closeupmedia.com))

Buyers want quick hits.

By Clint Engel

Seek products that offer help soon

LAS VEGAS - The continuing economic slide has some furniture buyers heading to the Las Vegas Market this week thinking a little more short-term than usual.

They want bargains and quick hits. They need value now - something they can advertise quickly, with a price or value story to draw traffic into their stores.

Several say this is not the time to buy containers, and instead will be searching for suppliers with the best domestic warehouse programs and quick-ship capability.

Some noted that Las Vegas is a premier market for home accents and bedding and will shop hard in both categories, and also will look for contemporary home furnishings in all categories, which continues to gain appeal.

Mark Mueller, marketing director of the family-owned Mueller Furniture in Belleville, Ill., said his store's open-to-buy 'really comes down to what kind of success our upcoming promotions have.

'Usually you can forecast out a little bit longer, but now really everything is more day-to-day,' he said. Although he said business was up in January from a year ago, 'You just don't know what's coming.'

Mueller was getting ready to run a three-times-a-year 'Half Off Sale,' which usually is a strong promotion. But in this economy, said he's not taking anything for granted.

'It's not just furniture,' he said. 'Consumers are expecting to get something for nothing right now.'

That said, Mueller has a few things on his shopping list, including transitional styles in furniture that integrates today's electronics, like TV consoles with iPod docks and wire management systems. He wants to see what's new in home office 'nano-desks' - smaller-scale pieces made for laptops, with wire management systems and easy Internet connection capability.

In upholstery, he said the trend is toward smaller-scale transitional sofas, at least for his customers.

'The day of the 94-inch sofa has come and gone,' said Mueller, who will look for more 80-inch track arm sofas in transitional styles that lean toward casual contemporary.

Mueller expressed frustration with suppliers that have been transitioning their production overseas, saying it has often led to headaches in quality and style. He said his emphasis is on 'stability' - companies that aren't going through the logistical shifts that can 'affect us getting the product to customers undamaged and on time.'

Among his stops here will be the Howard Miller showroom - where he has been impressed with the Ty Pennington-licensed line and is eager to see what's new - as well as Aspenhome and Mueller mainstays Broyhill and Flexsteel.

'What's important to me? Vendors who can deliver quickly out of U.S. warehouses,' said Jeff Hosking, president and CEO of the 90-store Columbus, Ohio-based PMD Furniture Direct.

'I'm not looking to buy containers. I'm looking to companies that make a commitment to inventory product and deliver it quickly with little or no damage,' he said.

Hosking, who said his network of primarily licensed stores showed a same-store sales gain last year (though store count and total sales were down), said price is always important, but secondary to the importance of turning inventory quickly. PMD turns its inventory 15 to 20 times a year, he said.

'That's one of the reasons why we think we're successful,' Hosking said. 'I think the industry got bogged down in the last five years looking at price.'

Too many retailers buy containers full of furniture without factoring in the cash that is tied up waiting on the goods and selling them through, he said.

'If the industry had focused on inventory turns and looked at things like (gross margin return on investment) instead of looking at price all the time, I think it would be a healthier retail climate,' he said.

Buying group AVB/BrandSource is thinking along the same lines. 'Having vendors with inventory in the U.S. - that's where our focus is,' said Michael Allen, executive vice president of home furnishings.

'Retailers right now don't want to stock up on boatloads of inventory.'

Allen added that BrandSource members who are promoting regularly and constantly giving consumers a reason to buy are having some success.

That has meant getting away from some of the long-term credit promotions the industry has used for so long, he said. Credit approval rates have dropped to the point where dealers have had to move back to basics - promotions that include premiums, for instances, such as a set of steak knives. BrandSource has a

sweepstakes promotion planned for later this year for the same reason.

In Las Vegas, Allen and the group's buyers will shop existing suppliers for 'promotions and specials our members can offer that show significant value to their customers - again getting back to that need to give them a reason to come in,' he said.

They'll look for hot values in casual dining, recliners and other traffic-building items. They'll check in with program partners Coaster, Ashley, Broyhill, Catnapper, Hillsdale Furniture and others.

Some of the largest furniture stores are less concerned with U.S. warehousing by suppliers. It can be a plus, but in some cases it can be a negative because some suppliers don't manage warehousing very well, said Carlos Capo, vice president of merchandising for Miami Gardens, Fla.-based El Dorado.

He said his goal in Las Vegas is to find items in styles and categories not well covered with the current lineup and some looks that may 'be different from what we have, but not too different.'

In a tough economy, 'people are not willing to go that wild,' Capo said.

At the same time, he said, there's a fine line between conservative and boring. He was disappointed during the High Point Market in October, because El Dorado was looking for new goods but didn't find much that fit the 'a little bit different' theme.

'Hopefully in Vegas we'll have a little better luck,' he said.

Capo added that in a tough economy, the emphasis on categories changes. Formal living room, bedroom and formal dining room become secondary because cash-strapped consumers are more likely to postpone those purchases. Motion, entertainment and casual dining become more important, he said.

At the 12-store American Furniture Warehouse in greater Denver, sales were off about 10% last year and this year isn't looking much better yet, said President CEO Jake Jabs.

'We don't have a lot of open to buy,' he said. 'I think what we're mainly looking for is some deals. They're floating around.'

Jabs expects to find better pricing in Las Vegas this time partly because oil prices have crashed from their highs this past summer. And while Las Vegas has not been a great upholstery market for AFW, Jabs said he will look at what's new from several importers, including Cheers Man Wah and Emerald Home Furnishings, in search of sofas he can retail for $299 and motion upholstery at $399.

The retailer has been selling a recliner from China priced at $149, and Jabs said he'd like to find more at that price point.

Jabs also said Las Vegas has become the best home accent market and his accessories buyer Judy LaMontagne was pushing to come in a day early. In home entertainment, AFW's case goods buyer will be looking for more contemporary and smaller units for the new widescreen televisions.

The retailer also will look for more contemporary goods in bedroom and better-quality bedrooms with hand carving that Jabs said fell away as antidumping duties were imposed on China.

Bruce Berman, CEO of Lombard, Ill-based The RoomPlace, said his buyers will spend more time on the bedding category in Las Vegas because it's now the dominant bedding market. He'll also look for contemporary lines.

'I can say with 100% certainty there will be things in Las Vegas we will see that we think are better than what we're carrying,' said Berman. 'I've never been to a market where it was zero.'

VoiceXML Forum Certifies Verizon Business' Hosted Interactive Voice Response Platform.

Platform Conforms to VoiceXML 2.0 Standard; Reinforces Company's Commitment to Open Development Standards

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., April 3, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Business' award-winning Hosted Interactive Voice Response (IVR) platform has been certified by the VoiceXML Forum as compliant with the VoiceXML 2.0 standard and the latest release of the forum's VoiceXML 2.0 test suite. The forum is a global industry organization chartered to promote and accelerate the worldwide adoption of VoiceXML-based applications.

The VoiceXML open standard enables telephone-based speech applications to interoperate with Web applications. For example, a Verizon Business customer is currently using speech recognition to enable callers to check road conditions via the telephone, with an underlying VoiceXML application retrieving updates in real time from the customer's Web site.

Verizon Business has found that customers prefer open standards that facilitate integration with a variety of speech services over proprietary code that would lock them into a particular platform.

"VoiceXML platform certification has helped to mature the industry by encouraging the cross-vendor interoperability of platforms, tools and applications," said Ken Rehor, chair of the VoiceXML Forum's Conformance Committee. "Moreover, certification gives customers the confidence that the VoiceXML platforms they purchase are sound speech-technology investments. We applaud Verizon Business for successfully completing its VoiceXML platform certification."

Mike Marcellin, vice president of global product marketing for Verizon Business, said, "Verizon Business is committed to doing business in a flexible way that supports individual customer requirements, and this certification underscores that commitment. We support the freedom of choice that VoiceXML affords our customers and, in fact, have delivered VoiceXML applications to our enterprise clients for several years."

The VoiceXML Forum's Platform Certification Program has been extremely successful since its initial launch in 2004. Increasingly, platform certification has become a requirement for technology decision makers in organizations deploying speech systems.

Hosted IVR Among Award-Winning Products in Verizon Business' Contact Center Suite

Verizon Business' Hosted IVR suite of products is part of the company's comprehensive contact center portfolio. The Hosted IVR product line, which uses speech technology and touch-tone commands to provide information to callers or to route calls to representatives, includes Enhanced Call Routing (ECR), Global ECR, Speech Services and Internet Protocol (IP) IVR.

In addition to Hosted IVR, Verizon Business offers a range of contact center services, such as Automatic Call Distributor (ACD) and Intelligent Contact Routing (ICR), to manage the distribution of voice and data traffic to agents, based on business rules, agent skills and real-time priorities. Verizon Business' Professional Services and Service Delivery teams can provide hosted, managed and premises-based contact center solutions, as well as tailored combinations of all three.

Verizon Business is one of the largest providers of and a recognized leader in delivering advanced data, Internet and voice communications services for large-business customers around the world.

About the VoiceXML Forum

Founded in 1999, the VoiceXML Forum is an industry organization whose mission is to promote and to accelerate the worldwide adoption of VoiceXML- based applications. To this end, the Forum serves as an educational and technical resource, a certification authority and a contributor and liaison to international standards bodies, such as the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) IETF, ANSI and ISO. The VoiceXML Forum is organized as a program of the IEEE Industry Standards and Technology Organization (IEEE-ISTO). Membership in the Forum is open to any interested company. For more information, please visit the Web site at http://www.voicexml.org/ .

About Verizon Business

Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications , is a leading provider of advanced communications and information technology (IT) solutions to large-business and government customers worldwide. Combining unsurpassed global network reach with advanced communications, security and other professional service capabilities, Verizon Business delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world. For more information, visit http://www.verizonbusiness.com/ .

VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at http://www.verizon.com/news. To receive news releases by e-mail, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.

CONTACT: Lisa Fels, +1-703-886-6042, Lisa.Fels@verizon.com

Web site: http://www.verizon.com/ http://www.voicexml.org/ http://www.verizonbusiness.com/

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/618232.html

Feingold blasts Bush's priorities: Expanding power is an obsession, senator says.

Byline: Craig Gilbert

Sep. 26--Philadelphia -- Sen. Russ Feingold contended Monday that the Bush administration was more preoccupied with expanding executive power than finding the "best way to stop the terrorists." "This administration and this president have had two obsessions, and it has not been stopping those who attacked us on 9-11," the Democrat from Middleton told members of MoveOn.org, a group that organizes liberals and pro- gressives online and claims more than 3 million members. "One of them is justifying this tremendous mistake of our intervention in Iraq," said Feingold, whose speech was broadcast on the Internet to MoveOn members. "The second obsession is expanding executive power. They're obsessed with it. They're not interested in trying to figure out the best way to stop the terrorists when they do these things," Feingold said, referring to the Bush administration's push for broader police and surveill- ance powers. "They want to use that as a cover to justify changing our system of government." A potential presidential candidate in 2008, Feingold has been a sharp critic of the administration's conduct in the war on terrorism, saying it infringes on constitutional rights. This year, he proposed censuring President Bush over wiretapping.

Asked for a response to Feingold's comments Monday, Ann Marie Hauser of the Republican National Com- mittee said: "Pandering to the left fringe of the Democrat Party has become Russ Feingold's calling card. But by suggesting that this administration isn't con- cerned with stopping the terrorists, Feingold has moved from far-left to completely off the charts." Feingold's appearance was part of a series of speeches by Democratic politicians hosted by MoveOn. Feingold's criticisms weren't aimed solely at Republicans. Asked by an audience member why "more Democrats in Washington don't stand up like you do," Feingold blamed (but did not name) Democratic insiders and operatives. "There is this cadre of consultants, frankly people that are from the previous administration, who are bright people, who always urge caution: 'Be careful, or they'll say you don't support the troops. Be careful, the censure issue is a loser. Be careful, you can't really talk about a timeline' " for getting out of Iraq, Feingold said. "There is too much timidity encouraged by these consultants." Speaking in a small auditorium at the National Constitution Center, Feingold was received enthusiastically by the audience, which numbered 150 to 200 people. Talking to reporters beforehand, Feingold criti- cized administration-backed legislation coming before Congress this week on both detainees and warrantless surveillance. He said talk of a filibuster was "premature" but didn't rule it out. Congress is due to adjourn at week's end and not return until after the Nov. 7 election. "I'm in no hurry to get out of town . . . I am not going to just stand by and not use some of my rights to slow this down if I think it continues to be unacceptable," Feingold said. "This is legislating on the fly on some of the most fun- damental questions that we've ever addressed as a govern- ment . . . The way this is being done to jam it through because the Republicans see this as 'National Security Month' is irresponsible. And it's my job to put the brakes on it, and I hope other senators feel the same way. We need to get these bills right."

Copyright (c) 2006, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business

News.

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WFCA's new chairman vows high tech push, Web site to link shoppers with member stores.(World Floor Covering Association)(Brief Article)

The World Floor Covering Association's in-coming chairman, Aaron Pirner, said he will help launch the trade organization's "first internet consumer outreach effort that will link consumers in the market for floor covering with WFCA member retailers." He said his goal was to increase the flooring industry's profile on the internet while also encouraging members to embrace B2B technology. Pirner, the CEO of CAP Carpet in Wichita, Kan., noted that technology is reshaping the business.

"The Internet is creating a new paradigm for how retailers conduct business in the floor covering industry," said Pirner. "Smart retailers are quickly recognizing the efficiencies to be gained by adopting a B2B platform in their business model. And more and more consumers are using the web to learn about their floor covering purchases before they visit our stores."

Pirner, whose company operates 12 stores, is set to begin his one-year term July 1, succeeding David Alton, the president of DCA Enterprises of Portola, Calif. At the conclusion of his term, Pirner will be succeeded by Robert Hill, the CEO of Floor Covering Associates in Chicago who was tapped as chairman-elect.

The trade organization's directors also elected Donny Phillips, the president of Atlanta Flooring Design Center in Duluth, Ga. as WFCA's new CFO. Mike Duck, the president of Duck's Carpet and Flooring in Jackson, Tenn. becomes corporate secretary. Keith Rhodes, president of GCO Flooring Outlet in Ocean Springs, Miss. was re-elected vice chairman. Also, Jeri Pischke, the president of Home Valu Interiors, Fridley, Minn. was elected vice chairman.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Bangkok Post, Thailand, Insider Column.

Jul. 18--HIGH-TECH ETHICAL SOLUTIONS: Perhaps you've been amused by the notion that our American friends are belatedly discovering crony capitalism in their own back yard. Tales in recent days of George W. Bush's curious business career have made for entertaining reading.

Yesterday this space was given over to Paul Krugman, who detailed how a young but connected Texas businessman parlayed a $606,000 investment in a baseball team into $14.9 million over nine years. You can look it up.

Clearly, some remedial work is needed on the ethics front. Could technology help? Absolutely, says Matt Richtel, the highly entertaining technology columnist with the New York Times. He envisions a world where people facing dilemmas could dial, point or click their way to moral certainty. The following excerpts detail the devices that he says Corporate America needs now: The GPS: Are you asking yourself: "Who are these so-called `shareholders' I've heard so much about?" It may be time to consult your new GPS -- the Global Positioning Spitzer.

This handy navigational device keeps you on the straight and narrow by telling you at all times where you can find Eliot Spitzer, the New York attorney-general. Then it's just a matter of firing off an instant message asking him whether it would be considered illegal, or just creative bookkeeping, to burn down your office, then shred the ashes.

A related product is a global positioning system for your conscience. Using expert triangulation, you can find where your sense of right and wrong has wandered.

SHELL-CHECKER: In the spirit of spelling-checker programs, this remarkable new software will give you a heads-up if you start working on a document or e-mail message about starting partnerships like ones that Enron has been accused of setting up.

With squiggly red underlines, it will highlight offending words you otherwise might not blanch at, such as "pyramid," names of Star Wars characters or "steal".

In one version of the software, an animated creature appears at the top right corner of the screen and says: "It looks as if you're trying to start a shell corporation. Would you like assistance drafting a letter to the parole board?" (For better or worse, you will never be able to turn off this feature.)

THE TIME MACHINE: This is a handy application for the Palm that can help keep you on the righteous path. Simply enter your plans for overstating revenue, doing off-book transactions, or telling all your friends to dump your stock. This program will help you automatically calculate how much time you can expect to serve.

Made by the finest Silicon Valley and legal minds, the algorithm deftly accounts for any legal breaks you may receive for past political contributions. And it doubles as a phone!

Version 2.0 will offer virtual landscapes of a white-collar prison so you can see where you can expect to spend the next 18 months.

ASK THE LORD: Ask Jeeves, the service that lets you ask questions over the Internet, has its advantages. But if you're in an ethical quandary, why not seek counsel from a higher power?

Yes, the new Altar Vista service is a search engine with soul. It comes with all the instant response of Ask Jeeves, but with the moral underpinnings of Scripture. And have no fear that you won't be able to log in; God's servers are never down!

Questions for this ethical query engine might include: Is it okay to engage in insider trading? Should I move my corporation offshore to avoid paying taxes? Can I continue to make TV appearances from my prison cell?

VS, VERSION 1.0: Sometimes it is tough to remember that you are not the centre of the universe. After all, you are a chief executive, or have an otherwise sweet parking spot. Using Virtual Shareholder technology will help you remember the people to whom you have a sworn duty -- no, not the other energy executives, but your stockholders.

Yes, VS will create a three-dimensional image on your desktop of the little people who may not have picked up the sarcastic tone in your prospectus. The on-screen icons, representing various demographic groups and using the latest in voice synthesis, will give you a polite reminder that it's not right to make quotation signs with your hands, or wink, when you say the word "revenue".

--Email us at insider@bangkokpost.net

To see more of the Bangkok Post, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.bangkokpost.com

(c) 2002, Bangkok Post, Thailand. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

TICKER SYMBOL(S): ENRNQ, ASKJ

Iomart sets sail with [pounds sterling]60m float.

Byline: BRETT ARENDS

FORMER Navy officer Angus MacSween expects to be worth [pounds sterling]23m when iomart, his Scots Internet company, braves market turbulence to float next month.

MacSween, the chief executive, and director Bill Dobbie founded iomart in 1998 with [pounds sterling]1.5m after leaving Scottish Telecom.

They sold their previous company to ST for [pounds sterling]11m.

Dobbie will be worth [pounds sterling]15m after the float. Neither is selling shares and MacSween says: 'There are no vulture capitalists involved.' Iomart provides net access through its Madasafish portal, with 108,000 registered users, and hosts websites for smaller companies through WinBiz.com. It is also launching Jings!, a new ISP with a Scottish image but 'no tartan or shortbread.' Sales this year have already passed last year's [pounds sterling]300,000 and iomart hopes to raise [pounds sterling]20m, valuing it at around [pounds sterling]60m. Would-be investors must register by April 12 at www.madasafish.com. The expected price range is 110p to 145p. Trading begins on April 19.

Studies from P.Y. Chao and Co-Researchers Update Current Data on Education and Learning Science and Technology.

"Research on note taking in pedagogical settings has received considerable attention. However, the awkwardness of integrating information across different media formats may present physical and cognitive barriers that prevent students from effectively organizing annotations from both printed and digital content while studying paper textbooks," investigators in Taipei, Taiwan report.

"The purpose of this paper is to develop a cross-media annotation system that incorporates a paper textbook with a computer as an integrated whole to facilitate the question-driven organization of annotations. While taking notes, students can digitally extract printed text and organize the copied passages based on guiding questions, all by using digital pens. Students can also link Internet-based learning resources to printed content to supplement their print-based studies. A user-based formative evaluation was conducted to assess the new functions of the cross-media annotation system and to explore their influence on students' note-taking behavior and performance," wrote P.Y. Chao and colleagues.

The researchers concluded: "The results show that the new functions may facilitate the retention of key concepts of the paper textbooks and may improve knowledge construction based on explicit learning goals."

Chao and colleagues published their study in Educational Technology & Society (Developing a Cross-media System to Facilitate Question-Driven Digital Annotations on Paper Textbooks. Educational Technology & Society, 2010;13(4 Sp. Iss.):38-49).

For additional information, contact G.D. Chen, National Cent. University, Dept. of Computational Science & Engineering, Taipei, Taiwan.

The publisher of the journal Educational Technology & Society can be contacted at: IEEE Computer Society, Learning Technology Task Force, Bag 11-222, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.

Keywords: City:Taipei, Country:Taiwan, Computers, Education and Learning Science and Technology, Educational Technology

This article was prepared by Computer Weekly News editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2011, Computer Weekly News via VerticalNews.com.