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By Todd Lappin
| Change? Phooey!
The Electronic Voice of America
Commissioner Harold Furchtgott-Roth
The Senate continues a tradition of hostility toward cyberspace.
Tradition dies hard in the US Senate, where members still sit at desks on the Senate floor that come with inkwells and blotting sand, while two brass spittoons stand ready near the podium at the front of the room. The Senate has carefully preserved these relics, much as it seems determined to preserve the institution's more recent tradition of hostility toward computers and the Internet.
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In November, the Senate Rules Committee voted to deny a request by Senator Michael Enzi (R-Wyoming) for permission to use his laptop computer at his seat. Citing the Senate's overarching ban on the introduction of mechanical devices onto the floor, the Rules Committee reasoned that the sound of a tapping keyboard might distract other members from their august deliberative duties.
The decision might have been a quaint sideshow, were it not for the fact that it served as a kind of overture for Senator Dan Coats (R-Indiana), who then introduced legislation to reimpose government censorship on the Internet. His bill, S 1482, represents the Senate's first real attempt to develop a successor to the failed Communications Decency Act, which was unanimously declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court last summer.
Coats, a cosponsor of the original CDA, is on a mission to craft Net censorship legislation that can pass constitutional muster. He's gotten a boost from Senator John McCain (R-Arizona), who plans to hold hearings on "Internet decency" in February. Coats's bill, which targets only the Web – not email or chat rooms – would outlaw the commercial distribution of material that is "harmful to minors." Violators could face six months in jail and a US$50,000 fine.
Civil libertarians are in an uproar. Ann Beeson, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union, says, "The court would reject the Coats bill for the same reason it rejected the original CDA – because it criminalizes speech that is protected among adults." Coats's revived effort to censor the Internet may carry on a Senate tradition, but only at the expense of forgetting a lot of recent history.
By Michele Rosen
| Change? Phooey!
Do Not Pass Go
The Electronic Voice of America
Commissioner Harold Furchtgott-Roth
New York's E-ZPass electronic toll-collection system hasn't done much to reduce traffic gridlock, but it has already become a valuable source for surveillance information. Since the FBI tapped E-ZPass toll records to gather evidence in a murder case last fall, privacy activists have worried that public demand for such records will increase. Without stringent protections, they say, the day may come when divorce lawyers can subpoena E-ZPass records to demonstrate, say, infidelity.
By Hans Johnson
| Change? Phooey!
The Electronic Voice of America
Commissioner Harold Furchtgott-Roth
With access to its Web site blocked and its shortwave broadcasts routinely jammed by the Chinese government, the Voice of America is turning to email to transmit news and information to the People's Republic of China. Each day, the VOA's email service delivers several short news bulletins in Guo Biao, a Chinese-language font that is used on roughly 60 percent of Chinese computers. "For 50 years, VOA has relied on shortwave radio to deliver our message," says Jay Henderson, managing editor for VOA's East Asia and Pacific division. "This is the first time we've been able to deliver our product in such a way that no one can serve as a gatekeeper."
After initially focusing on human-interest stories, the VOA's email bulletins have shifted to harder news that would otherwise be unobtainable in China. The service has already attracted several thousand subscribers, most of whom are government officials, members of think tanks, or university students and faculty. To boost subscriptions, the VOA plans to begin marketing its email service more aggressively in the months ahead by publicizing it on VOA shortwave broadcasts and placing notices on BBS systems worldwide. "Email is fast, easy, and inexpensive," says Henderson. "It's an answer to our prayers."
By Pamela Samuelson
| Change? Phooey!
The Electronic Voice of America
Database Debacle
Commissioner Harold Furchtgott-Roth
Having failed to secure passage of an international treaty creating new intellectual property rights for database contents, publishing giants Thomson Corporation (the Canadian owner of West Publishing) and Reed Elsevier Inc. (the UK-based owner of Lexis-Nexis) are now lobbying Congress to secure passage of HR 2652, the Collection of Information Antipiracy Act. Introduced by Rep-resentative Howard Coble (R-North Carolina), chair of the House Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual Property, the bill would sharply curtail the use of information in the public domain by giving data compilers perpetual and exclusive property rights to material in their databases.
As written, HR 2652 provides civil and criminal penalties for the unauthorized extraction and use of data gathered from any nongovernmental "collection of information." The only safe harbor in the bill is for news reporting – even scientific, research, and educational uses of information from a database would be illegal if harmful to any actual or potential market for the data compiler's own products or services. Proponents hope this bill will establish a pay-per-use system for information.
Critics contend that the bill could wreak havoc on search-engine providers and fantasy-baseball leagues while discouraging the development of new information products and services. According to Prudence Adler of the Association of Research Libraries, "HR 2652 would fundamentally change the way people use information by making it far more difficult to access and afford."
Who's who at the new FCC. By Rebecca Vesely
A major changing of the guard has taken place at the Federal Communications Commission. Under the watch of former FCC chair Reed Hundt, the commission struggled to deregulate the telecom-munications industry as required under the monumental Telecommunications Act of 1996. While Congress has been a consistent critic of the agency's progress, US district courts have been even more unforgiving – consistently rejecting the FCC's implementation plans and sending the bureaucracy back to the drawing board.
With a new lineup of commissioners coming in, observers are eager to see whether the FCC can kick-start competition while avoiding further legal setbacks. Meanwhile, the agency is trying to come to terms with new technologies – such as the Internet – that have the potential to dramatically alter the telecom landscape. During Hundt's tenure, the FCC consistently protected the Internet from undue regulation, but it remains to be seen whether the new commissioners will maintain that hands-off approach.
Chair William E. Kennard
As chief counsel for the FCC for the past four years, Kennard has been a staunch defender of the FCC orders implementing the Telecom Act. Kennard has said one of the difficulties is that Congress's intent is often "not particularly clear." A soft-spoken Washington insider, Kennard has none of Reed Hundt's panache. But members of Congress describe him as a master negotiator, and his staff says he is a quiet but fair leader. Guided by principles of "competition, community, and common sense," Kennard remains vague about what he would do differently than his predecessors. He supports the V-chip and says that the issue of broadcast standards for HDTV will be an important part of his tenure. Kennard also maintains that the FCC will continue to have a laissez-faire attitude about the Internet.
For the past two years, Furchtgott-Roth's main task as chief economist for the House Commerce Committee was drafting the Telecommunications Act, which he now must write orders to implement. A defender of the complex congressional mandate who knows the act's provisions like the back of his hand, Furchtgott-Roth could help bridge the rift between the FCC and Congress – although he admits that many of the current disputes stem from the fact that the law is "purposely vague." Sometimes described as a libertarian, Furchtgott-Roth believes net cost to the consumer should outweigh any regulation. He wrote his economics PhD dissertation at Stanford University on the measurement of technological change and has published articles and books on cable television regulation, copyright law, the software industry, and the economic consequences of the Exxon Valdez oil spill.
The last of the old guard still standing, Ness has been an FCC commissioner since 1994. She supports the V-chip and a voluntary ban on liquor advertising on television, and admits that the FCC has not kept up with technological change. A lawyer and formerly a senior lender to communications companies, Ness also did some time on Capitol Hill as assistant counsel to the Committee on Banking, Currency, and Housing. As for the Internet, she says the FCC should "observe, support, but not interfere." As Ness puts it, "It would be easier to lasso Jell-O than to successfully apply traditional regulatory structures to the Internet."
A charismatic figure with a famous father named Colin, the younger Powell brings expertise in mergers and monopolies he acquired while serving as chief of staff at the US Justice Department's antitrust division. As telecom mergers continue to make headlines, many in Congress are beginning to wonder whether competition and deregulation can indeed coexist. Powell believes some mergers are good for the economy, but he says that others are "real evils of anticompetitive conduct." Powell has not been shy about criticizing the FCC on the Telecom Act implementation and on spectrum auctions. In particular, he told a congressional panel that the agency should have been more proactive in opening long distance phone markets to competition and fostering technological innovation. As he told the panel at his confirmation hearing, "This post will be anything but peaceful."
As former commissioner to the New Mexico State Corporation Commission, Tristani could help bridge the gap between the FCC and rural states. Among the most contentious aspects of the Telecom Act are the universal-service provisions, which seek to guarantee low phone rates for consumers in high-cost rural areas. While a self-described "Farm Team" of senators from rural states is clamoring for the FCC to prevent rural phone rates from skyrocketing, members of Congress from urban areas contend that their constituents should not be forced to subsidize rural service. The Farm Team hopes that Tristani will be sympathetic to its view, but little is known about her opinions on many issues facing the commission. Although she suggests that the Internet should not be saddled with undue regulations, she told Congress that "the issue of Internet telephony needs to be monitored."
By Todd Lappin
| Change? Phooey!
The Electronic Voice of America
Commissioner Harold Furchtgott-Roth
Europe on the Offense
In an effort to restrict access to online pornography and hate sites, the European Commission plans to adopt voluntary codes of conduct for European ISPs and online publishers while encouraging the use of content rating and filtering systems. Under the plan, hotlines would also be set up to allow consumers to file complaints about online content that is "offensive to human dignity."
Outsiders no more, computer companies are learning to play the Washington, DC, money game. During the 1996 election cycle, these high tech firms gave the most.
|Contributions to Democrats
|Contributions to Republicans
|Electronic Data Systems
|Future Tech International
|EMC Corp
|Gateway 2000
|Diamond Multimedia Systems
|Sterling Software
|Microsoft Corp
|Pixar Animation Studios
|Powersoft Corp
|Telxon Corp
Note: All figures are in US dollars. Source: Center for Responsive Politics (www.crp.org/).
By Skip Kaltenheuser
| Change? Phooey!
The Electronic Voice of America
Commissioner Harold Furchtgott-Roth
Patent Rending
A quiet storm is brewing over plans to change American patent law. Launched with little public notice, the new patent proposals have been engulfed in controversy since last September, when 27 Nobel laureates announced their opposition to legislation introduced by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah).
Hatch's bill, S 507, the complex Omnibus Patent Act, has a similar counterpart that has already passed in the House. Backers include a coalition led by companies such as Intel, IBM, GE, Microsoft, Ford, and GM, with additional support coming from several Japanese conglomerates. At the forefront of the legislation is a proposal known as "prior-user rights," which would create exceptions to the temporary but exclusive intellectual property right that is the hallmark of US patents. With prior-user rights, a company caught infringing on another's patent could claim that the idea had been in use as a trade secret, thus making it possible to market similar products without paying royalties to the patentee.
Prior-user rights would undermine the core concept behind the US patent system – the grant of an exclusive property right in exchange for public disclosure of an invention's details. Inventors and venture capitalists warn that if the proposal becomes the law of the land, capital markets for small, entrepreneurial start-ups will dry up. But more important, critics ask, why tamper with a good thing? After all, the US patent system yields more breakthrough innovations than all other nations combined.Go Back to Top. Skip To: Start of Article.


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I press play on the CD player and the opening bars of Madonna's 'Holiday' suddenly filled the car. Instantly my two sons, Mark, 7, … Continue Reading »
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Here's a harsh truth for you: blogging is a bit like sports. Anyone can do it, but few can do it at a professional level.
And while hardly anybody with an ounce of sanity who takes up tennis or golf thinks they'll eventually turn pro at it, just about everyone who starts a blog, or is secretly writing a novel, all of them are dreaming of hitting it big somehow.
This is a brave new world: anyone can do it, just push a button and you're out there. Suddenly everybody is blogging, and they all wish this was what they'd be doing as a job.
But there's a big difference between blogging and being a blogger.
Everyone who blogs and has even a single e-book for sale on their site is out to conquer the world. Just like the thousands of people who have self-published a novel, the name of the game is promotion. Networking. Linking. Joining a community. Branding yourself. One of the best strategies for all of it is blogging. It's why we're here today.
But pretty soon you may find yourself distanced from the writing itself.
Quality First, then Promotion
The best and most effective blogs are about the reader. About delivering value, however you want to define the word. A blogger who forgets about delivering value merely promotes… until the promotion itself becomes the blog. It becomes just about selling something (which ironically tends to sell less).
This is a mistake that I am guilty of. It's easy to get sidetracked, so to speak, when there are bills to pay, services and technology to buy, add-ons, domains, software, and all that jazz…
It's easy to forget that if you write the best blog posts that you can, if you work on over-delivering, then all else will somehow take care of itself.
In other words, if you write a fantastic blog that is read by hundreds of thousands of people, even a lousy donate button will do the trick. If your content sucks, then even the most amazing e-course accompanied by great copywriting won't sell.
Trust me, I've been there.
At the end of the day, at least if you do it right, it's just about quality content. About delivering a gift to your reader. About throwing it out there and seeing what comes back to you.
That's the difference between a blogger and someone who just blogs. A blogger is someone who thinks of their blog as their gift to the world.
High-quality blogs live this ethic day in and day out. Read them carefully and you'll see that the common element is a selfless focus on the reader, an enthusiastic delivery of real value, with a foundation of credibility.
It's why lots of folks subscribe, it's why they have the chance to earn a living by doing only that.
Bottom line – value is the one business model that never fails. Even for bloggers.


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Japan Earthquake
In the name of ICOMOS, President Gustavo Araoz conveyed a message to ICOMOS Japan, expressing condolences for the many deaths and solidarity at this dark hour for their country.
Despite the exemplary preparedness and calm of the Japanese people, such a massive disaster is too much to bear for any country alone. ICOMOS stands ready to support its Japanese colleagues in every way it can.
ICOMOS Japan has already met to discuss plans for the recovery and future assistance for the north of the country. ICOMOS, through its Scientific Committee on Risk Preparedness (ICORP) and the Blue Shield will participate in the coordination network set up by UNESCO.
According to Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs, on 15 March 125 nationally designated monuments and sites are known to have been damaged by the earthquake. However, these figures do not yet take into account the municipalities heavily damaged by the tsunami and the heritage toll risks being higher.
At present, the World Heritage sites of Shrines and Temples of Nikko, Shiretoko and Shirakami-Sanchi, all located in the region struck by the disaster, are reported as not having incurred damage. The sites Hiraizumi and Ogasawara Islands, both included on Japan's Tentative List for possible inscription on the World Heritage List, were also unharmed in the events.


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Michael C. Tu Partner, Securities Litigation, Class Actions and Shareholder Derivative Lawsuits, Complex Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Los Angeles
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Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Michael Tu leads the firm's securities litigation practice in Southern California, with nearly 25 years of experience obtaining successful results for clients in stockholder litigation, regulatory investigations and proceedings, and mergers and acquisitions disputes under the federal and state securities laws. He provides practical and business-focused advice to business executives and boards on securities and corporate governance matters.
Michael is recognized as a leading trial lawyer who has successfully prosecuted and defended numerous trials to verdict in federal and state courts, and is among the few lawyers in the country who have defended a securities class action trial to verdict. That shareholder class action trial, which resulted in a complete defense verdict, was recognized as one of the "Top Defense Verdicts" in California by the Daily Journal.
In addition to his representation of clients in litigation disputes, he provides counsel to public and private companies regarding securities, corporate governance and disclosure issues, and has represented numerous board committees and accounting firms in connection with investigatory and litigation matters. He frequently advises multi-national companies and executives based in the United States, Asia and Europe with respect to business disputes and securities matters. His successful representation of clients in high-profile securities and corporate governance disputes has been widely reported in the media (Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, New York Post, Hollywood Reporter, Variety, New York Times, Fortune, The Recorder), and he has been recognized as one of the "Most Influential Minority Attorneys in Los Angeles" by the Los Angeles Business Journal.
Michael is:
Michael has moderated and spoken at numerous events on securities law and corporate governance developments, including as a past faculty member of the Stanford Senior Executive Leadership Program, where he has taught business executives and leaders on subjects such as cross-border litigation, risk management and securities and accounting liability issues.
Michael serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Litigation Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, where he has served as the Court Alerts Editor, and as Co-Chair of the Federal Courts, Programs and Breakfast at the Bar Committees. He is also a member of the Board of Advisors of the monthly Securities Reform Act Litigation Reporter publication. He has previously served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Constitutional Rights Foundation, and as a Lawyer Representative for the Central District of California to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference.
Yufeng (Ethan) Ma, a partner and the chief representative in Orrick's Shanghai office, has over 18 years of experience assisting clients in intellectual property (IP) related matters including IP litigation before the US International Trade Commission (ITC) and the US federal courts.
In addition to specializing in complex IP litigation relating to patent infringement, ITC 337 investigations, trade secrets misappropriation and unfair competition, Ethan has extensive experience advising clients on IP administrative disputes and reexamination, IP strategies, IP due diligence, and IP aspects of strategic transactions, including licensing or transfer, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and collaborations. His clients cover a wide range of industries, including medical devices, hardwares, softwares, internet, semiconductors, electronics, telecommunications, AI, automobile, chemical, materials, energy, etc. His recent clients include Baidu, Tencent, SMIC, JD.com, Bianlifeng, Shanghai Sansi Electronic Engineering, Yaham Optoelectronics, CreateLED Electronics, Coolpad, vivo, Shenzhen Howshow Technology, Huayi Mechanical and Electrical, Shenzhen INFiLED Electronics, Applied Materials, Synopsys, Carbon, Inc., etc.
Over the years, Ethan has represented dozens of Chinese companies in resolving their IP disputes in the U.S. Ethan and his litigation teams won a number of high-profile ITC investigations involving Chinese companies and earned clients' long-term trust. In one investigation (337-TA-623), his clients are four subsidiaries of a large state-owned company in China, who were sued for patent infringement. The Commission reversed the late Chief Administrative Law Judge's unfavorable decision and found that Ethan's clients were not infringing and did not violate Section 337. In another investigation (337-TA-655), he represented the complainant and its subsidiaries in China suing a group of Chinese respondents for trade secret misappropriation. The ITC issued a 10-year exclusion order against these respondents. This landmark decision represents a new development of trade secret law and ITC jurisdiction in the U.S., and was upheld by the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Since then, Ethan has won case after case on behalf of his clients, keeping his undefeated record to this day. He is also committed to resolving disputes in the most cost-effective and timely way. "Ethan always tries to resolve matters for clients at the lowest cost possible," said a client who won a case as he recommended Ethan to his peers.
For instance, in 2017, Ethan successfully defended Shenzhen Howshow Technology against Kent Displays, Inc. in an ITC 337 investigation (337-TA-1035) involving alleged infringement of patents relating to liquid crystal e-writers and components. Orrick secured a complete victory for the client by forcing the complainant to unconditionally withdraw after four months of active litigation. The case was named "Deal of the Year 2017 – Disputes and Investigations" by China Business Law Journal.
In another case, Ethan successfully defended Shanghai Sansi Electronic Engineering Co., CreateLED Electronics Co., Yaham Optoelectronics Co. and other Chinese respondents against Ultravision Technologies in an ITC Section 337 investigation (337-TA-1114) filed on 27 March 2018 involving alleged infringement of patents relating to certain modular LED display panels and components. The complainant was forced to withdraw the complaint unconditionally during the expert discovery period in November 2018, which led to a final termination by the ITC on 21 February 2019.
Prior to joining Orrick, Ethan served as Director of IP, Asia of a world leader in specialty glass and ceramics, where he was in charge of the company's daily IP matters in China and throughout Asia. Before that, he was a partner and member of the Board at McAndrews, Held & Malloy in Chicago, Illinois. Ethan was the first non-US born lawyer of that firm.
In the past 18 years, Ethan has been committed to building bridges and facilitating understanding between China and the US on IP protection and exchange. In addition to being a frequent speaker at various seminars and conferences in China and the US, Ethan regularly publishes articles and has been interviewed by numerous media. He served as a committee member of the Asian Legal Committee of Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) for many years.
Ethan is also actively involved in the "One Belt One Road" and "Going Out" initiatives led by the PRC government and non-profit organizations. He participated in Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce's "Going Overseas Service Portal" project in 2019, and acts as a special advisor to Wisdom IP - Overseas Intellectual Property Alliance (WIPA), Nanjing, Jiangsu.
Beijing; New York
Beijing; New York
Jinsong (Jeff) Zhang, a partner in Orrick's Beijing and New York offices, is a trusted advisor to international and Chinese investors and corporates on their transactional, regulatory and compliance matters. His work spans a variety of industries, including financial services, technology (automotive technology and mobility, life sciences, and Fintech), as well as energy and infrastructure.
Being recognized by Legal 500 Asia Pacific, clients have praised Jeff as a practitioner "who is dedicated to serving his clients and is able to leverage off the firm's global network to provide services in specialized areas".
Jeff's practice focuses on China-related inbound and outbound mergers and acquisitions and private equity transactions. He has extensive experience with share and asset acquisitions, growth capital and buyout transactions as well as tender offers, privatizations, restructurings, spin-offs, strategic alliances and joint ventures.
In addition, Jeff advises multinationals, financial institutions and private equity funds on their general corporate, capital markets and regulatory compliance matters.
Prior to joining Orrick, Jeff was a partner at the New York office of an international law firm. Earlier in his career, Jeff practiced in New York, Hong Kong, and mainland China with two major international law firms, and also served as the Head of Legal and Compliance of the U.S. operations of a leading Chinese investment bank, where he gained tremendous experience in helping Chinese clients navigate regulatory and compliance issues in the U.S.
Jeff serves on the International Advisory Board of Duke Law School, where he was also appointed as a Senior Lecturing Fellow. In his leisure time, Jeff serves on a volunteer basis as the Chief Legal Officer of The Chinese Finance Association (TCFA), a non-profit professional organization headquartered in New York with more than 7,000 members globally.
Beijing; New York
Dr. Xiang Wang is the Co-Chair of Orrick's Global Advisory Board, Partner in Charge for Asia and the head of China IP practice, splitting his time between three offices: Shanghai, New York and Beijing, where he is the Managing Partner.
Xiang has extensive experience in assisting local and foreign-based multinational companies with all aspects of their IP rights in the U.S., China and Asia, including IP litigation and arbitration, patent, copyright and trademark infringements, Section 337 U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) investigations, patent office proceedings including inter partes reviews (IPR), IP due diligence and portfolio counseling, industrial espionage, trade secrets misappropriation, mass torts and product liability, securities litigation, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), technology export control, the Alien Tort Statute (ATCA) and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) investigations and compliance. These matters have implicated a vast array of technologies, from software and electronics to renewable energy and medical devices as well as agricultural and building materials, to name just a few. Xiang also works extensively on cybersecurity & data privacy issues for both Chinese and international clients.
Xiang is a Guiding Expert of the China Overseas IP Dispute Response & Guidance Center. Xiang has been particularly active in Chinese state-owned enterprises related U.S. litigation. Clients turn to his strategic and innovative advice thanks to the in-depth understanding of their business needs and political risks, and appreciate that he "understood the environment in the China legal system and can give nuanced advice".
Xiang has developed the region's premier IP practice based on his reputation as one of the few IP lawyers who has a doctorate in electrical and computer engineering, a Chinese Certificate of Laws and admission to practice law in New York, Indiana and before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Due to its success in patent disputes in the U.S. and China, involving both foreign and Chinese companies, Orrick IP team was exclusively featured in a documentary film "Patent Wars" by the China Central Television (CCTV).
Xiang is highly regarded for his practical legal advice that results from more than 10 years of experience at medical and electronic device businesses before becoming a lawyer. He also has received four U.S. medical-technology patents in his name.
Yaoli (Shelley) Zhang, a partner in Orrick's Beijing office, is a member of the Intellectual Property Group. Her practice focuses on IP prosecution and enforcement. Shelley has extensive experience in patents, trademarks, domain names, copyrights and trade secrets.
Shelley's related IP experience includes the following:
Hong Kong
Erica Chong, a partner in Orrick's Hong Kong office, is a member of the Complex Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group. She is a commercial litigator with 10-year experience in complex commercial disputes, international arbitration, corporate investigation and employment matters.
Her expertise includes advising international and regional clients on high-value commercial disputes arising from breach of contract, employment, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty and business torts, cross-border fraud and asset tracing claims, and insolvency, professional negligence, product liability, corporate compliance and antitrust issues. She also has significant experience in enforcement actions, arbitrations under the HKIAC, UNCITRAL and ICC Rules, as well as FCPA and SFC investigations.
Erica serves as Secretary to the Committee on Arbitration and ADR of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) - Hong Kong and is ICC Young Arbitrators Forum's Regional Representative for North Asia.
Hong Kong
Sook Young Yeu is the Office Leader of Orrick's Hong Kong office and a member of the M&A and Private Equity Group.
Sook focuses her practice on corporate and securities matters in connection with the establishment of private investment funds and ongoing representation of investment funds, fund managers, fund sponsors and fund investors. This includes private equity and venture capital investment, along with related mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, and public and private securities offerings throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
During the last 30 years, Sook has advised Asian institutional investors investing in U.S., European and Asian private funds, as well as Asian private equity and venture capital funds sponsored by U.S., European and Asian financial institutions, and Asian hedge funds managed by independent fund managers. Her extensive experience covers virtually every type of fund, including private equity funds, venture capital funds, real estate investment funds, hedge funds, buyout funds, mezzanine funds, funds-of-funds, co-investment funds and restructuring funds.
Sook has served as the administrative partner in charge of Orrick's Hong Kong office since 2005. Before joining Orrick, she was a partner of Coudert Brothers and the partner in charge of its Hong Kong office responsible for the firm's Asian Investment Management Practice.
Orange County
Orange County
Cecilia Chen is a litigation attorney in Orrick's Orange County office with a focus on general commercial litigation.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Jeremy Peterman is a member of Orrick's Litigation Group and Supreme Court and Appellate practice.
Jeremy's work spans a number of subject areas, including intellectual property, administrative law, securities, and criminal law. He has represented leading technology companies before the Federal Circuit and the Supreme Court. He also maintains an active pro bono practice in Courts of Appeals and in the New York Appellate Division.
Prior to joining Orrick, Jeremy served as a law clerk to Judge David Tatel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and to Judge David Hamilton of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
Verena is a Managing Associate in the Munich office and a member of the M&A and Private Equity Group and Technology Companies Group. Verena advises national and international clients on all aspects of corporate law with a particular focus on domestic and cross-border M&A and Private Equity transactions, corporate restructurings, venture capital investments as well as ongoing legal advice.
Prior to joining Orrick, Verena worked at the Munich office of a leading international law firm.
Silicon Valley; San Francisco
Silicon Valley; San Francisco
Richard Vernon Smith, a partner in our Silicon Valley and San Francisco offices and a member of our Global Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity Group, has over 35 years of experience in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, securities law and corporate law.
Richard has advised on more than 500 M&A transactions and has represented clients in all aspects of mergers and acquisitions transactions involving public and private companies, including negotiated mergers, auction bid processes, cross-border transactions, distressed asset sales (including 363 sales), leveraged buyouts, tender offers and exchange offers, going private transactions, mergers of equals transactions, going dark transactions, hostile takeovers, proxy contests, takeover and activist defense, purchases and sales of divisions and subsidiaries and joint ventures.
Richard also has represented clients in a wide range of SEC-registered, underwritten and privately placed stock and debt offerings, and he has assisted companies in connection with issuer tender offers (both equity and debt), recapitalizations, restructurings and rights offerings. He regularly represents clients in the preparation and filing of periodic SEC reports, proxy statements and Williams Act reports. He also assists clients in compliance with the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010 and Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; real time disclosure compliance; sales of restricted securities and sales of securities by insiders; disclosure issues, including with respect to Rule 10b-5 and Regulation FD; and NYSE/NASDAQ rule compliance and inquiries.


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FEDERAL CARTRIDGE CO Gold Medal Centerfire Match Cartridges
World class centerfire shooters, military and Law Enforcement officials use the match rifle cartridges. Gold medal centerfire rifle cartridges are legendary for extreme accuracy and has become the choice of competition shooters and law enforcement sharpshooters alike. The aerodynamic design of the Sierra matchking bullet helps overcome wind resistance, resulting in flatter trajectory, consistent accuracy and higher retained energy.
SPECIFICATIONS:Mfg Item Num: GM6555M2 Category: AMMO CENTERFIRE Caliber :6.5mmX55mm SwedeBullet Type :Sierra MatchKing BTHPBullet Weight :93 GRMuzzle Energy :1425ft lbsMuzzle Velocity :2625 fpsRounds/box :20 Rounds Per Box, 10 Boxes Per CaseGame Category :Fragmentation :Casing Material :Penetration Factor :


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Although the unit can operate in standard laptop 'clamshell' mode, a twist and a swivel turns the unit into a tablet, complete with included stylus. There's also a 'nipple' mouse controller, similar to those that used to grace ThinkPads and Toshiba laptops, but here located to be accessible whether the keyboard is hidden or open. Also available from either configuration is a dedicated screen-orientation button that allowed this left-handed user to hold and operate the unit as easily as a right-hander might.
The built-in keyboard, though small - a 14 mm key pitch, according to the publicity, with a fairly generous 1.3mm keystroke travel - proved relatively easy to use, even for my fat foreign fingers, though as with all Japanese keyboards the space bar is too short for my liking, and I kept changing between Japanese and English input. I also disliked the cursor keys needing a modifier Fn key to operate, but keyboards are a matter of personal taste. This is certainly not a keyboard that you'd want to do a lot of work on, but fine for form-filling, etc. In any case, the port replicator contains a few more USB ports, as well as an external VGA display port. The built-in Ethernet - 100-Base-T - also finds its outlet here.


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Continuing the overview — Archmage and Shaman
All caveats still apply – theorizing from external info, NOT from the game itself.
In the last post I said that if you wanted a pure healer the RPZ was probably your analog pairing of choice. This is and is not true, and this post's subject – the AMSH pair – is the reason why.
The RPZ was going to be a healer regardless of spec. Our AMSH has a choice. It starts with the fact this career pair has a dual path of strenght – damage and healing. On paper, they're just as good at either job – and can flip freely and without penalty from one to the other. I say on paper… lots of forum comments here that say that up to the point where you start the mastery (spec) work, this is absolutely true. And you're a very strong DPSer and/or you're a very strong healer. Which means that as an AMSH you stand a darn good chance of being embroiled in controversy. I've mentioned that controversy before – "healers should HEAL. If you want to be DPS, roll a [various classes]". Here's the deal, before we get to the special mechanism…
We can sorta compare our AMSH to the priest, and that's not a little bit because of the mastery tracks. See, we've got one track that's dedicated to healing. And then we've got two tracks that are damage tracks. One's allegedly a direct damage track while the other is a DoT and Debuff focus, though both have each. In other words, it'd be as though the WoW priest had Holy, Shadow, and the warlock Affliction talent trees. If the AMSH specs the healing mastery, the player is a great complement to the RPZ, able to provide solid and near-continuous spike heals to mesh with the RPZ's sustained heals. Doing so, however, means not taking the DPS tracks. And there… For the WoW player, particularly one who played prior to TBC, it's a familiar experience. "Why are you Shadow? We need a healer, not a knock-off Warlock." Even though fully specced and oriented the AMSH is a strong, powerful, and dangerous DPS player (who can provide backup heals in a pinch). That backup point brings us to the peculiar mechanism of the AMSH – the balance trick.
No, that's not what it's called, but since it's different in each career it'll work. Here's the deal: each time you cast a spell of healing, you get a balance point for the pain. And the reverse applies. You can only have points of one or the other, not both, and they're capped at five points. These points have an effect on THOSE spells if/when you cast them. They make them more powerful and/or faster. The latter is especially useful as they can… picture casting five SW:P, and your next Greater Heal becomes an instant. Yeah, that sort of useful. And that leads to some of the tactical options.
Logically, the AMSH does the most healing by only casting heal spells. As any WoW healer can tell you, however, healing is a matter of quality, not quantity. And so it might be a lot smarter to pop some small damage spells so when the Massive Spike hits I'm ready. Of course if I have to sustain, I can. And by the same token, if I've run lots of damage spells then my "OMG I'm Under Attack" spells (there is a lot of PVP, remember) are.. no, let me rephrase. I now have a lot more options to use as OMG spells – spells that would normally not be used due to time of cast.
The races are High Elf and greenskins (another goblin), for those who choose based upon race. Armor is… snicker, what armor? Well, robes, and we priests are more than aware of what THAT means in the long run. This is another strong healer, but this one CAN be offensive instead (at the risk of receiving a lot of LRN2PLY messages). Nobody will care how good a shadowpriest you are – you're supposed to heal.
For me, another possibility as an alt. I'm tired, for now, of paper armor. Though I must admit the idea of a Warlock Priest is kind of fun…


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Darlene Coulanges, a former Penn State Beaver student, was named the first Ms. West Indies PSU in a competition sponsored by the Penn State Caribbean Student Association (CSA). Coulanges, of Providence, RI, spent her freshman and sophomore years at Beaver and is now a junior majoring in human development and family studies at Penn State University Park. The event was held Nov. 27 at Heritage Hall in the Paul Robeson Cultural Center.
The CSA is designed to assist students as they adjust to the daily challenges of University life. The group is a medium for the active dissemination of cultural, political and historical information about the Caribbean nations, Penn State and the people at large. The CSA is open to all undergraduate and graduate students, regardless of nationality.
In April, Coulanges was named the Penn State Beaver Outstanding Student of the Year and also was a finalist for the University's prestigious Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award. Last semester, she also was a member of the Beaver campus Cultural Fiesta: A Taste of Africa Committee which sponsored a campus-wide event featuring African food, music, dances and history.


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site being abused?
I just got (9:04pm EDT, Sat Aug 6, 2011) a "Private Message" from a "julianaforlove" that's only been registered as a TFL user for a few tens of minutes. If the message had come in to my email inbox rather than TFL, it would have been classified as "spam" and immediately discarded.
Given the human presence and all the clicks normally necessary to send a PM on TFL, I'd expect such abuse to quickly be judged "too expensive" and so to go away. But I wonder if somebody has found a way to have a machine (i.e. not a human) send tons of these messages very quickly. How many others have received an unwanted Private Message?


text: NOW that she's pregnant, Kourtney Kardashian is making nice with her baby daddy, Scott Disick. The on-again couple joined Kevin Federline and his girlfriend Victoria Prince for dinner the other night at Gotham Steakhouse in Miami Beach. "Kourtney and Scott looked really happy. He was spoon-feeding her," said one onlooker. But Disick hasn't totally changed his partying ways. After dinner, Kardashian went to bed, while he and K-Fed hit LIV nightclub.


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I am a novice programmer trying to create the following application:
1. Can just be a simple CLI program.
2. Gets mouse input from WM_Input, not for buttons just whatever the mouse sends for left/right/up/down.
3. When a mouse event is received a timer starts.
4. If there has not been a mouse event for x amount of milliseconds, stop the timer, report the time elapsed with the idle time subtracted along with the counts that were received during the time interval.
5. Program then idles and waits for another mouse event. Perhaps it can wait on some key to quit (although I could just ctrl+c).
I think I can figure out the timer part (#include <ctime>?). I should be able to figure out the printing of the x and y variables provided I can get it to 'live update'.
The WM_INPUT stuff is over my head though. I tried using the MS example, but it says "case WM_INPUT" which would need a switch would it not? I just did if WM_INPUT whatever it equals so that control could look through the rest of the code.
It compiles but doesn't run without crashing. Running it I get a runtime error "application has requested the Runtime to terminate it in an unusual way".
If I put init() in main I get an init failed with invalid flag (getlasterror 1004). RIDEV_NOLEGACY is a valid flag though. Maybe when I removed the keyboard stuff from the MS example it's no longer asking for the right variable or somet. I'm so confused.
Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.
Code:#include <Windows.h> #include <iostream> #include <Strsafe.h> static bool Mouse_Initialized = 0; HRESULT hResult; TCHAR szTempOutput[3000]; void init() { if (!Mouse_Initialized) { RAWINPUTDEVICE Rid[2]; Rid[0].usUsagePage = 0x01; Rid[0].usUsage = 0x02; Rid[0].dwFlags = RIDEV_NOLEGACY; Rid[0].hwndTarget = 0; if (RegisterRawInputDevices(Rid, 2, sizeof(Rid[0])) == FALSE) { std::cout << "init failed " << "\n"; std::cout << GetLastError() << "\n"; } } Mouse_Initialized = 1; return; } int main() { init(); MSG msg = {0}; DefWindowProc(msg.hwnd, msg.message, msg.wParam, msg.lParam); if (WM_INPUT == 0x00FF) { UINT dwSize; GetRawInputData((HRAWINPUT)msg.lParam, RID_INPUT, NULL, &dwSize, sizeof(RAWINPUTHEADER)); LPBYTE lpb = new BYTE[dwSize]; if (lpb == NULL) { std::cout << "lpb == NULL" << "\n"; return 0; } if (GetRawInputData((HRAWINPUT)msg.lParam, RID_INPUT, lpb, &dwSize, sizeof(RAWINPUTHEADER)) != dwSize ) OutputDebugString (TEXT("GetRawInputData does not return correct size !\n")); RAWINPUT* raw = (RAWINPUT*)lpb; if (raw->header.dwType == RIM_TYPEMOUSE) { hResult = StringCchPrintf(szTempOutput, STRSAFE_MAX_CCH, TEXT("Mouse: lLastX=%04x lLastY=%04x \r\n"), raw->data.mouse.lLastX, raw->data.mouse.lLastY); if (FAILED(hResult)) { // TODO: write error handler std::cout << "FAILED(hResult)" << "\n"; } OutputDebugString(szTempOutput); } delete[] lpb; return 0; } return 0; }


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Beat the Streak Report: Monday, April 20
Today's recommended picks
Miguel Tejada, SS, Astros
11-for-27 (.407 AVG) lifetime vs. Reds starter Bronson Arroyo
Carlos Lee, OF, Astros
10-for-28 (.357 AVG) lifetime vs. Reds starter Bronson Arroyo
Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3B, Padres
5-for-12 (.417 AVG) lifetime vs. Phillies starter Jamie Moyer
BTS all-time leader: Michael Karatzia, 49
MLB all-time leader: Joe DiMaggio, 56
Yesterday's results
Thanks in part to a hitless performance from Mets third baseman David Wright — yesterday's most popular BTS selection — we're down to 64 users tied for first place at 14 games. Congratulations to those who made flawless selections through the first two weeks of action. And for those who found themselves starting from scratch on at least one occasion — it's a long season, so don't give up!
Yesterday's Top 5 most selected players
1. David Wright (NYM): 7.8%, 0-for-4
2. Albert Pujols (STL): 4.4%, 0-for-0
3. Derek Jeter (NYY): 4.2%, 1-for-4
4. Kevin Youkilis (BOS): 3.9%, 1-for-2
5. Miguel Cabrera (DET): 3.7%, 2-for-4
8 Comments
Single for Youkilis in the bottom of the 7th, which could be his last PA!
I was going to be sooo mad to lose my streak with an 0 for 1 and 4 walks!
This game is tough.
Who did you pick today?
And it is the toughest of the 3 games. No one has ever won in its 8 full years of existence.
MLB.com Survivor is pretty tough too. It took until the 7th season last year (There was 1 season with just Beat the Streak I believe. The Home Run Edition of Beat the Streak began in 2006, but someone wins that contest annually.) for someone to eclipse a 26-game win streak.
That was a magical 6 weeks, in which the entire leaderboard eclipsed the 26-game win mark and the leader hit 36 games!
I had a feeling the Boston hitters would beat up on the O's today with Hendrickson on the mound. Although it looks like they did more damage against their bullpen rather than Hendrickson. I went with Kouzmanoff though, sucks it got PPD.
Here is the data at the top level so far:
Miguel Tejada: 20
Brian Roberts: 5—–> 1 for 4
Shane Victorino: 3—–> Game Postponed
Kevin Youkilis: 12—–> 1 for 2, 3 walks
Dustin Pedroia: 7—–> 4 for 6
Chase Utley: 3—–> Game Postponed
Chipper Jones: 1
Robinson Cano: 2—–> Game Postponed
Adrian Gonzalez: 1—–> Game Postponed
Hanley Ramirez: 4
Nick Markakis: 1—–> 1 for 4
Lance Berkman: 1
Raul Ibanez: 2—–> Game Postponed
Jimmy Rollins: 1—–> Game Postponed
No Selection: 1—–> FAIL
I would love, love, love to see Tejada go 0-for-X
Tejada walks in the bottom 8th to leave him at 0-3 with a BB. It should be his PA. That leaves 20 out of the 64 people out of 1st place. Im glad i picked Youkilis.
I've been playing this game for a few years now and with D-Wright and now Tejada this year it again is continuing to prove to me that this game is much more than strategy but luck has to bring you a very long way. Sometimes I don't like taking the "sexy pick" because just because a guy as a great average AND hot at the plate like Tejada has been it leading up to today by no means does it mean he's gonna get a hit. I don't pick no-namers but I love the occasional times I choose a guy and he's at the bottom or not even on the Most Selected list the next day


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Click on a vendor for their contact information and to view a list of all their plants or supplies.
Didn't find the supplier or nursery you're looking for? Try searching again using just the first few letters of their name or expand your search distance. Want to see a supplier here? Have them send us their plant or supply availabilty list to take advantage of our free advertising!


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Terrence Howard and Taraji Henson are two of Hollywood's acclaimed actors. Both have been nominated for Academy Awards: Howard for "Hustle and Flow" and Henson for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." However, they feel that there need to be more working opportunities for minorities in Tinseltown.
Henson said that "there were several times when I didn't even want to watch the Emmys because I mean, who am I looking at?", The Associated Press reported.
Her comments come in the wake of actress Regina King's recent blog post for the Huffington Post, in which she remarked that the Emmys have under-represented minorities in its major categories.
U.S. & World
Henson further added that King had a point. Fellow actor Howard in the same interview that Hollywood is catching up.
"The truth is, the country still has a lot more growth it needs to make and in due time, I'm sure none of those questions will even be relevant anymore," Howard said, adding: "The whole country seems to have started toward a trend of equality and brotherhood."
Both Henson and Howard will reprise their roles as co-hosts of the Soul Train Music Awards, which will broadcast on Centric and BET Nov. 28.
Selected Reading: The Associated Press


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Download Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? Study Guide
Style and Technique
(Comprehensive Guide to Short Stories, Critical Edition)
Oates's masterful mixing of literal and figurative, psychological and allegorical levels makes "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" a powerful and fascinating story. This mix is particularly evident in her depiction of both Connie's and Arnold's double identities. Connie carefully pulls her sweater down tight when she leaves home: "Everything about her had two sides to it, one for home and one for anywhere that was not home." Arnold stuffs his boots in order to appear taller and more attractive or perhaps to hide the cloven feet of his satanic self. In Connie's action, the reader recognizes the adolescent beginning to break away from her family and to test the powers of her emerging sexuality. In Arnold's, the reader sees the devil's traditional role as arch-deceiver and seducer. On a still deeper psychological level, Arnold Friend is the subconscious nightmare version of Connie's waking desires and dreams, erotic love as her sister June might suppose it, not "sweet and gentle" as promised in Bobby King's songs. Allegorically viewed, Friend brings the vehicle that will lead Connie to the "vast sunlit reaches" of the future, a metaphor that expresses the vagueness of her dreams while also representing an unknown—attractive, perilous, and as inevitable as death.
Though the story is heavy with thematic significance and symbolism, it also reads quickly because of Oates's skill in building suspense. Each stage of Arnold Friend's unmasking and Connie's resulting terror and growing hysteria is carefully delineated. When Arnold first arrives, Connie cannot decide "if she liked him or if he was just a jerk." The reader becomes more suspicious than she does as she notices his muscular neck and arms, his "nose long and hawk-like, sniffing as if she were a treat he was going to gobble up and it was all a joke." Gradually, Connie realizes that all the characteristics she "recognizes" in him—dress, gestures, the "singsong way he talked"—do not come together the way they should. Her heart begins to pound faster when she questions his age and notices that his companion has the face of a forty-year-old baby. Worse yet, Arnold seems to possess preternatural vision to the point of describing all the guests at the family barbecue, what they are doing, how they are dressed. As he states more explicitly what he wants from her, Connie's terror and the story's suspense mount. When Arnold promises not to enter the house unless Connie picks up the phone, the reader may recall that the devil as evil spirit cannot cross a threshold uninvited. At this point, the end seems inevitable; in her presumed murderer's words, "The place where you came from ain't there any more, and where you had in mind to go is cancelled out."
It is no wonder that "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" is the most frequently anthologized and critically acclaimed of Oates's short stories. Its popularity is ensured by the famous Oates blend of violence, sex, and suspense; its place in the American literary canon by its thematic importance, Oates's frightening vision of the contemporary American inability to recognize evil in its most banal forms.
Though many critics have complained about the gratuitous violence of Oates's work and seem to distrust her extraordinary fluency (she produced more than thirty-five volumes of stories, novels, and literary criticism in her first twenty years as a published writer), this particular story demonstrates her ability to achieve tight compression and careful stylistic control. From the first line, "Her name was Connie," to the last, "'My sweet little blue-eyed girl,' he said, in a half-sung sigh that had nothing to do with her brown eyes," this is a story in which every word counts.
Literary Style
(Short Stories for Students)
Point of View
The first line of "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?"—"Her name was Connie''— signals that it is being told by a third-person narrator. This...
(The entire section is 2,900 words.)


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Do we smell a Kourtney and Scott reality show spin-off in the near future? ccording to The Real Estalker, Kourtney Kardashian and her baby daddy Scott Disick have quietly purchased a two-story home for $1.7 million in The Oaks development in Calabasas, CA. In recent years, three different notices of default were recorded on the 5,199 square foot spread. Fortunately for the non-celeb owner of the home, Kourtney and her mirror-punching boyfriend snatched up the residence before the property descended into foreclosure.
Kourtney's new crib has four bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms and is located in the celeb-friendly neighborhood of Calabasas, CA. The home also boasts an office, a fitness room, a master suite with a private balcony, a wine cellar, and dark chocolate hardwood floors throughout. While the residence is certainly spacious enough to accommodate Kourtney, Scott and their tot Mason, the home is surprisingly quite understated and ordinary for a Kardashian sister who together with her famed family collectively earned over $65 million in 2010.
Copyright LXTVN - LXTV


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Academies Update
I've posted before about the development of Academies and thought I would give an update on how things are progressing. The youth council from the area concerned wrote to Cabinet Members, District and Parish Councillors, youth officers and also their local MP, Tim Loughton to organise a meeting to express their concerns about the lack of planning and potential loss of 'their' youth wing. This took place this week and was a real compliment to both them and the staff working with them. They had a number of questions and queries for the invitees which they presented really positively.
As mentioned previously, the Academies programme does not allow for capital build of non-educational buildings. This means that there isn't any funding available for a new youth wing (the old one will be knocked down to make space for the rebuild.) It is the first foray into Academies for both Woodards, the Charitable Trust we are working in partnership with and who will be taking on the running of the Academy, and ourselves. At the moment Cabinet Members have been in touch with Ed Balls Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families to raise the issue with a specific concern about the lack of joined up policy. I think the young people are now looking to write to him directly as well and Tim will also be scheduling some questions.
Locally we're also looking at how we might define 'Education' in its broadest sense so that we can include informal education as a potential solution. We also discussed other possible sites with the group although everyone agreed that the school location is the best place in this situation. (more…)


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Testor Corporation (Testors) is the leading manufacturer of premium product paints, adhesives, tools and airbrushes for hobby and craft purposes. Its leading brands are Aztek, CreateFX, Model Master, Testors, Testors Craft, Testors Pactra and Air Brainz.
Headquarters: Rockford, Illinois Phone: (877) 385-8155 Website: www.testors.com
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CHICAGO — Bally Total Fitness and its two largest shareholders were embroiled in a tug of war over control of the board of the directors and the management of the company, but after the annual shareholder meeting last month, all parties indicated they were pleased with the outcome and would focus on moving the company forward.
On Jan. 26, more than 100 shareholders and Bally employees packed a ballroom at the Renaissance Hotel in Chicago for the meeting. Many expected fireworks to erupt. However, when Karim Samii, president of Pardus Capital Management, Bally's largest shareholder, stood at the microphone to speak, he surprised more than a few shareholders with his call for a truce.
"There's been enough fighting happening between the shareholders, and it's time for peace," said Samii, whose New York-based hedge fund owns 14.4 percent of Bally's shares and spent millions of dollars waging a proxy fight. "Let my vote speak for itself."
As of press time, preliminary results show that shareholders supported Pardus' proposal to elect three new board members — Charles Burdick, Barry Elson and Don Kornstein. Nearly 85 percent of the votes cast at the meeting and 60 percent of the outstanding shares supported Pardus' slate of directors. Bally had supported the nomination of Burdick and Elson but objected to the election of Kornstein due to his longstanding ties to Lee Hillman, former Bally CEO. Samii said the vote represented a clear mandate for corporate reform and a fair strategic sale process.
"We and the other shareholders want the company to move past the recent conflict and focus on building shareholder value through the sales process," he said. "Bally's directors have said they hear us, and we hope they will move forward constructively with the new directors to create that value."
A majority of shareholders also voted for Liberation Investment's proposal to oust Bally CEO Paul Toback, but the measure failed because it did not receive the necessary 75 percent of the votes.
Still, Emanuel Pearlman, director of Liberation, the second largest shareholder, called it a great day for corporate democracy.
"About 55 percent of the shareholders supported our proposal, which sent a clear message to the board and the management that the shareholders weren't happy with the status quo," said Pearlman, who was allowed three minutes to address the shareholders during the annual meeting.
New Faces
The election of the three new board members means that one of the current board members — Eric Langshur, who led the company's audit committee in the process of restating financials — lost his board seat. Martin Glotzer, a shareholder and a corporate governance advocate, said that Bally's board could have up to 17 board members so the board could vote to return Langshur to the board.
"I would not be happy with that," Pearlman said about that possibility. "It would dilute the new members' say on the board."
Pearlman has suggested to Bally that Kornstein be appointed leader of the special committee to enhance shareholder value through the sale of Bally. Mark Wattles, Bally's third largest investor and the founder of Hollywood Entertainment, agreed with Pearlman.
"Based upon my conversations with Mr. Kornstein and other sophisticated investors that I know who have had dealings with Mr. Kornstein, I believe he would be an excellent addition to the board and would fairly represent the interests of all shareholders," Wattles stated in a Jan. 25 letter to Toback.
After the one-hour meeting, Kornstein relaxed in a chair outside the meeting room and said he looked forward to working with the other board members and management to pursue strategic shareholder objectives. Whether or not he will lead the special committee remains to be seen. John Rogers, chairman and CEO of Ariel Capital Management, a Chicago-based money management firm, currently directs this committee and is working with the Blackstone Group and JP Morgan Securities to explore a sale of the company. Rogers said he welcomed the three new board members and hoped to work with them to lead the company's operational turnaround.
"While a number of forces and agendas appear to have been at work, it is clear from today's vote that Bally's investors intended to send a strong message about the importance of board leadership at the company," he said.
Burdick, one of Bally's trio of new board members, plans to serve as an active, engaged board member during his three-year term, he said.
"Bally is a great company and has been around a long time," said Burdick, who flew from London to Chicago for the meeting. "Now that they have their accounting issues behind them, it's an excellent time to join the board."
Unlike Pearlman and other investors who supported the removal of Toback as CEO, Burdick expressed full support for Toback.
"Paul knows the company very well, and he gets a thumbs up from me," he said. "During the meeting, he provided a nice presentation of where the company has been and where it's going. It was well handled, and everyone had the chance to have their say. While everyone had an agenda, the meeting was handled well, and Pardus and Liberation presented their opinions in a non-confrontational way without getting personal."
Toback Charges Ahead
Jan. 26 could have been one of Toback's final days as CEO of Bally, but enough shareholders agreed with Richard Kahan, a shareholder in Wilmette, IL, to keep him on board. Kahan said Toback had Bally moving along the right track.
"I'm very excited about the future of Bally," he said. "It has the design and infrastructure in place to make its clubs more successful and to remain a dominant player in the market."
Another shareholder, Jim Booker, said his relationship with Bally stretched back 20 years. He sold his American Fitness Clubs to Bally in 1990 and has owned stock for the past five years. After the meeting, he talked to other shareholders and said many shared the same view about ousting Toback.
"A lot of the shareholders all had the same question — who would we replace him with?" he said. "We concluded that Bally had made great strides over the past few years, and we need to stick with them. Some people are ready to throw out the baby with the bath water, but that can be very destructive."
Jane Riddell, a shareholder who flew to Chicago from Toronto, agreed. Since Toback has only served as CEO for three years, she's willing to give him more time to see what he can do for Bally.
Toback has a significant supporter in Wattles, who has a 9 percent stake in the company. When Wattles announced in his Jan. 25 letter that he would support Toback, it significantly weakened Liberation's chance to oust the Bally CEO.
In Wattles' letter, he said it wasn't clear how much of the responsibility for Bally's problems resided with current management, but a foundation was being laid for a successful turnaround. Now that the annual meeting is behind Bally, he hoped the company would refocus its attention on improving operations to benefit shareholders whether Bally remains public or goes private. Following the shareholder meeting, Wattles said it was up to management, not shareholders, to help the company succeed.
Bally's turnaround plans include build-your-own and pay-as-you-go memberships, Toback announced at the meeting. The company also plans to shift its focus from sales to service by having the sales team meet with potential members in a juice bar by the front desk rather than in private offices. In addition, Bally is adding products and services in weight loss and nutrition, converting retail stores within the clubs into space for Pilates and tanning and expanding its martial arts training program.
Franchising will also be part of Bally's strategy to improve the balance sheet. The company, which is still under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission and which recently sold Crunch to Marc Tascher for $45 million, is selling franchises nationwide and worldwide.
Modernizing its clubs will also be a way for Bally to turn the company around. During the meeting, Toback unveiled Bally's new club model, which features brighter colors and a more open floor plan. Booker said the new club model is right on target.
"Just as K-Mart had all of its problems and then began to turn stores around and charge ahead, Bally got too big, lost control and is now redoing its image," he said. "There's still a lot of positive feelings about Bally, and if they redo their image, they can deliver a tremendous amount of people."
To improve its image, Bally launched an advertising campaign that shows real people who achieved real results. After showing the commercials to the attendees, Toback took questions from shareholders. A question from shareholder Lotty Blumenthal about how Toback planned to improve the quality of existing operations elicited applause from several shareholders. Toback responded by saying that Bally plans to invest $8 million in 2,400 new treadmills at Bally clubs across the country.
As Bally moves forward, the fitness chain will continue to work with its advisors to explore the sale of the company, gear up for a new year with a new board and work for peace with its shareholders rather than a tug-of-war.
Fast Facts: A Look Inside The Bally Shareholder Meeting
Who: More than 100 attendees, who were mostly dressed in dark business suits, wore name tags stating whether they were shareholders, Bally employees or members of the press. The room was set up for 140 people, and only a few seats remained empty. About half of the attendees worked for Bally. According to sources, the meeting had the best turnout of any previous meeting, which drew only a handful of attendees. CEO Paul Toback led the meeting from a table at the front of the room and sat next to Carl Landeck, senior vice president and chief financial officer, and Marc Bassewitz, senior vice president, secretary and general counsel.
What: After filing its financial statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Bally arranged this annual shareholder meeting to meet its obligations as a publicly traded company. It was Bally's first annual meeting since July 2006.
When: The meeting began at 8:30 a.m. central time on Thursday, Jan. 26, and lasted a little more than an hour.
Where: Salon A of the Renaissance Hotel, which was three miles from the Chicago O'Hare airport, two blocks from Bally's corporate headquarters and a few blocks from Bally's Cumberland club, served as the location for the annual meeting.
Why: Following the opening of the meeting and the introduction of company directors and officers, Bally shareholders voted on five key proposals including the election of directors, the approval of the 2006 equity compensation plan (which would have made 1.75 million additional shares available to Bally employees), the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the independent auditor, Liberation's proposal to oust Toback and Pardus' proposal to add three new board members. Shareholders could vote on the telephone, on the Internet, through the mail or in person at the shareholder meeting. As of press time, the preliminary votes showed that Pardus' slate of directors was accepted, Liberation's proposal to oust Toback was rejected and the equity compensation plan was voted down. IVS Associates, the independent election inspector, was tabulating the final results as of press time.
Meet Bally's New Board Members
Charles Burdick, 54, served as CEO of Hit Entertainment, a London-based production company of children's TV programming until July 2005 when it was sold to Apax Partners, a private equity firm. From 2002 to 2004, he served as CEO of Telewest Communications Group Ltd., the second largest cable company in the United Kingdom, and from 1996 to 2002, he served as the CFO.
Barry Elson, 64, is acting CEO of Telewest Global Inc., the successor to Telewest Communications plc. He served as COO of UrbanMedia Communications Corp. in Alpharetta, GA, between 2000 and 2003, and was president of ConectIV in Wilmington, DE, from 1997 to 2000. From 1983 to 1997, he was executive vice president at Cox Communications in Atlanta.
Don Kornstein, 53, is the chairman and CEO of Alpine Advisors LLC, a strategic, management and financial consulting firm. Prior to founding Alpine Advisors, he served from 1994 to 2000 as the CEO, president and director of Jackpot Enterprises Inc., a Las Vegas-based gaming company. He also worked as an investment banker at Bear, Sterns & Co. Inc. from 1997 to 1994, according to Shuffle Master Inc.


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Father of teen in loud music slaying speaks out
Investigators say teen shot over loud music
The father of a Florida teenager allegedly shot to death over loud music is vowing to fight the state's Stand Your Ground law.
Ron Davis's 17-year-old son was killed last month in Jacksonville. A Brevard County man, 45-year-old Michael Dunn, says someone in the teen's car pointed a shotgun at him after he asked them to turn down their music.
The Satellite Beach man claims he fired in self defense.
The suspects attorney may use Florida's Stand Your Ground law as a defense in the case.
Ron Davis spoke out against Stand Your Ground and said he misses his son, Jordan Davis.
"I was so looking forward to helping him shave on Monday," Davis said.
Me standing there while he gets married. Those are the things , the immediate things, that I'm going to miss -- that I'm not going to be able to do."
Witnesses said Dunn left the scene of the shooting without alerting authorities. He was taken into custody at his home.


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The various allegations made against Shri Robert Vadra, the husband of Ms Priyanka Gandhi and the son-in-law of Mrs.Sonia Gandhi,the President of the Congress, fall into two categories----criminal and ethical.
2.The criminal allegations relate to accumulation of wealth beyond his known sources of income.
3. The other allegations relating to the favours shown to him by the DLF in matters of loans, advances and under-estimation of property value would indicate, if established to be true, a pattern of unethical and not illegal conduct by Shri Vadra.
4.All these allegations, even if they remain allegations without proof, will have their political fall-out in influencing the perceptions of large sections of the people regarding Ms.Priyanka Gandhi, Mrs.Sonia Gandhi and the Congress.
5. The allegations have to be countered at the political, ethical and legal levels. The political counter has to come from Mrs.Sonia Gandhi in her capacity as the Congress President and the authorised spokespersons of her party. The objective of the political counter would be to prevent Mrs.Sonia Gandhi, Ms.Priyanka Gandhi and the Congress from being tainted by the alleged wrong-doings of Shri Vadra and to convince the public that whatever Shri Vadra did was in his individual capacity and that the party, its President and daughter cannot be blamed for his actions.
6. For this purpose, it is quite legitimate for Mrs.Sonia Gandhi to direct the spokespersons of her party to interact with the media and appear on TV channels to refute any allegations against the Congress, Mrs.Sonia Gandhi and Ms.Priyanka Gandhi.
7. The allegations of an ethical nature have to be countered by Shri Vadra and the DLF company through their personal and institutional explanations to the public. The DLF has sought to do this to some extent, but Shri Vadra has avoided doing this and has sought to take a holier than thou attitude.
8.On the criminal allegation regarding accumulation of wealth beyond his known sources of income, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has to take cognisance of the published reports and initiate the following action:
( i). Register a Preliminary Enquiry Report (PER) summarising the allegations publicly made against Shri Vadra and start a PE into these allegations.
( ii ). Issue a written directive to Shri Vadra to submit a list of his movable and immovable assets, a collation of his sources of income, a list of his bank accounts and Xerox coplies of his banking transactions and income-tax returns.
(iii ).Scrutinise the documentary evidence so submitted by Shri Vadra and reach a conclusion as to whether his known sources of income would have legitimately enabled him to acquire all the property owned by him.
( iv ).If the conclusion is that the accumulation of wealth by Shri Vadra was in order, inform him and the public and close the PE into the criminal allegations.
( v ). On the other hand, if the conclusion is otherwise, register a First Information Report (FIR) against Shri Vadra and take up a formal investigation for determining whether he should be arrested and prosecuted.
9.In this connection, the fielding of senior members of the Council of Ministers headed by Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh and the Governor of Karnataka to certify his business transactions as above board without a formal PE as required under the laws relating to corruption and income tax evasion is not only unethical and irregular, but also illegal. The interventions of these representatives of the Government in order to discount in advance the need for any PE amounts to attempts to obstruct and influence the course of justice in order to ensure that the law does not take its course against Shri Vadra.
10.By pronouncing , without an enquiry, Shri Vadra innocent, these Ministers can be held to be trying to influence the investigating agencies not to go into the matter because Shri Vadra is a privileged person related to Mrs.Sonia Gandhi and Ms.Priyanka Gandhi and is above the law and any investigation.
11. It is not known whether the Ministers have sought to intervene officially in a matter with possible criminal connotations on their own to proclaim their loyalty to Mrs.Sonia Gandhi or at her instance and whether Dr.Manmohan Singh, as the Prime Minister, has approved of their actions.
12.If all these interventions have been made by the Ministers without his knowledge and approval, it is time for him to call them to order and to state clearly to the public that the Government headed by him would not try to prevent or influence any follow-up action that may be required under the law by agencies of the Government to investigate the allegations.
13.If Dr.Manmohan Singh strongly feels unhappy over the actions of some of his Ministers, it is time for him to resign from office instead of allowing the dignity and moral stature of his high office to be tainted by their actions.
14. In the Watergate enquiry in the US, serious allegations of obstruction of justice and prevention of enquiry by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were made against the then President Richard Nixon and his aides, including the then acting Director of the FBI. When these allegations were found to be true, he had to resign and his aides who sought to obstruct justice and prevent the law from taking its course were prosecuted and jailed.
15.Personally, Shri Vadra cannot be equated with Nixon. He does not hold any office in the Government of India. Whatever unethical or illegal acts he allegedly committed were in his individual capacity.
16. If an ordinary citizen of India had been accused of such acts, large sections of the Governmental machinery would not have activated itself or would not have been activated in order to protect him from the arms of the law. The public perception will be that this has been done in his case because he is the son-in-law of Mrs.Sonia Gandhi.
17. This matter should be debated in all its details and implications in order to ensure that there is no attempt to prevent the law from taking its course. ( 9-10-12)
(The writer is Additional Secretary (retd), Cabinet Secretariat, Govt. of India, New Delhi, and, presently, Director, Institute For Topical Studies, Chennai, and Associate of the Chennai Centre For China Studies. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com Twitter @SORBONNE75)


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Oxfam and the World Food Programme Announce R4 Partnership for Resilient Livelihoods in a Changing Climate
Dec 04, 2010, 12:30 ET
CANCUN, Mexico, Dec. 4, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Oxfam and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today announced they are seeking $28 million from public and private investors for their ground-breaking five-year partnership to help poor rural people protect their crops and livelihoods from the impact of climate change.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080221/DC14723LOGO)
The innovative new R4 partnership is based around the idea of managing 4 risks - community risk reduction, productive risk taking, risk transfer and risk reserves. R4 will address the communities most vulnerable to climate variability in Ethiopia and three other countries, starting in 2011. The aim is to give farmers and rural communities in developing countries the resources they need to manage their own risk in the face of a changing climate.
Through R4, farmers will be able to take out weather-indexed insurance and pay for their premiums through labor in WFP's food-and-cash-for work programs. Community members will work on irrigation and forestry projects that will reduce the impact of climate change for their villages.
Having insurance will in turn make it easier for poor people to access credit on better terms, so that farmers can buy the tools and the drought-resistant seeds needed to grow bigger and better crops and poor families can protect their savings in tough times.
"We continue to bring the non-profit and private sectors together to focus on helping communities most vulnerable to climate change," said Jeremy Hobbs, Executive Director of Oxfam International. "It's clear that substantial new public funds are desperately needed to help poor communities build resilience to a changing climate, but working together to create sustainable, market-based solutions can also play a vital role in helping poor people reduce their risks of falling deeper into poverty because of weather-related disasters."
The R4 partnership builds on the success of the Horn of Africa Risk Transfer for Adaptation (HARITA) program, supported by global reinsurer Swiss Re, Oxfam and a dozen other partners. Piloted in Ethiopia in 2008, HARITA broke new ground with its holistic approach and in supporting cash-poor farmers to pay for their insurance with their own labor. The number of poor households taking out insurance policies grew from 200 in the first year to 1,300 in 2010.
R4 integrates the HARITA model with WFP's global food-and-cash-for-work programs in an "insurance-for-work (IFW)" innovation which makes risk reduction insurance products available to the poorest of poor.
"Our food-for-work programs around the world are already making vulnerable communities stronger and more food-secure. This innovative new partnership will enable poor people to act now to manage the new risks that come with a changing climate," said Sheila Sisulu, WFP Deputy Executive Director for Hunger Solutions.
Oxfam is an international relief and development organization that creates lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and injustice. Together with individuals and local groups in 99 countries, Oxfam saves lives, helps people overcome poverty, and fights for social justice. To join our efforts or learn more, go to www.oxfam.org.
WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. Each year, on average, WFP feeds more than 90 million people in more than 70 countries. WFP now provides RSS feeds to help journalists keep up with the latest press releases, videos and photos as they are published on WFP.org. For more details see: http://www.wfp.org/rss.
SOURCE Oxfam America


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Givat Shmuel, Israel - April 12, 2007 - Cimatron Limited (NASDAQ: CIMT) a leading provider of integrated CAD/CAM solutions for the toolmaking and manufacturing industries, announced today that Headland Machinery will become its distributor in Australia and New Zealand.
Since its inception in 1949, Headland has built its reputation as a leading distributor of advanced technological solutions for the sheet metal, fabrication, and tooling industries in Australia and New Zealand, representing leading suppliers such as Haeger, Makino, Matsushita, Nakamura, Trumpf, and now Cimatron. Headland offices are located in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Auckland, New Zealand.
"Manufacturers and toolmakers worldwide are facing mounting global competition and the challenge of delivering high quality products at lower cost and faster turnaround time," said Kobi Rosenwasser, VP Asia Pacific for Cimatron. "With over 55 years experience and a reputation for providing leading edge technology and superb customer service, Headland is well positioned to deliver and support our advanced CAD/CAM solutions in Australia and New Zealand."
"Cimatron offers high-end yet affordable software solutions that deliver significant benefits to manufacturers and toolmakers. Having a commitment to provide our customers with solutions that would place them at the forefront of the productivity curve, we are very excited to add Cimatron's products to our portfolio," said Annaliese Kloe, Director of Headland Machinery.
CimatronE is the most comprehensive, integrated CAD/CAM solution designed to address the specific needs of manufacturers and toolmakers. Incorporating Cimatron's best-of-breed applications for design, modeling, electrodes, and NC, CimatronE covers the entire manufacturing and toolmaking processes, from quoting to delivery.
Manufacturers attending the upcoming Austech 2007 show (Melbourne, May 22-25) will have the opportunity to view Cimatron's products, including the newly released CimatronE Version 8, at the Headland booth E40.
For additional information, contact Headland Machinery office or visit http://www.headland.com.au/.
About Cimatron
With more than 20,000 installations worldwide, Cimatron is a leading provider of integrated, CAD/CAM solutions for mold, tool and die makers as well as manufacturers of discrete parts. Cimatron is committed to providing comprehensive, cost-effective solutions that streamline manufacturing cycles, enable collaboration with outside vendors, and ultimately shorten product delivery time. Cimatron's cutting-edge CAD/CAM solutions are widely used in the automotive, medical, consumer plastics, electronics, and other industries.
Founded in 1982, Cimatron is publicly traded on the NASDAQ exchange under the symbol CIMT. Cimatron's subsidiaries and extensive distributor network are located in over 35 countries to serve customers worldwide with complete pre- and post-sales support. For more information, please visit http://cimatron.com/
About Headland
Since its inception in 1949 Headland has continued to offer solutions to customers which best meet the needs of the customer. As an importer of premier products its objective is to market leading edge solutions to the industry, with the customer as the centre of all its efforts.
Headland's qualified employees are committed to providing the very best outcomes, and Headland remains a close and flexible partner to each and every one of its customers. Customer confidence is gained through not only product offering but from product efficiency and continuous investment in training and service. For more information, please visit http://headland.com.au/
This press release includes forward looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act Of 1995, which are subject to risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Such statements may relate to the company's plans, objectives and expected financial and operating results. The words "may," "could," "would," "will," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," and similar expressions or variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of the future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company's ability to control. The risks and uncertainties that may affect forward looking statements include, but are not limited to: currency fluctuations, global economic and political conditions, marketing demand for Cimatron products and services, long sales cycle, new product development, assimilating future acquisitions, maintaining relationships with customers and partners, and increased competition. For more details about the risks and uncertainties of the business, refer to the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchanges Commission. The company cannot assess the impact of or the extent to which any single factor or risk, or combination of them, may cause. Cimatron undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.


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Peter_Frank wrote:Prices are really high ...
...BUT, there are two tricky parts in this game:
1. Compared to a windsurf board/rig or other similar items, we are very much at risk because we can hit a rock or similar, at the bottom - thus the "small fortune" can get lost or damaged to "uselessness" (I know it is not a correct word, but somehow it makes sense to just say/write it...) before you can blink with your eye...
2. Almost noone has the option to try a foil, before he/she buys one.
Because there are few, and those who got one are thinking about above #1 often, so of course not willing to lend out to everyone.
AND, even if you could try one, it would be a waste of time - because it is so difficult and takes time to master - so you will not get ANY useful "trial" experiences whatsoever.
These are the reasons why only a few buys a foil IMO, to these prices.
This is why there needs to be a low-cost beginner foil. It amazes me that no-one is addressing this issue. If someone was the entrepreneur type, this seems like it would be easy money.


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Instant Book
FREE 24/7 Vet Line
1 Bedroom
Sleeps 2
Three dogs welcome
This pair of charming 200-year-old cottages are peacefully located by an historic church, enjoying stunning country views. Set on a working farm in a tiny unspoilt village, visitors are welcome to explore the farm and wonderful walks over 60 acres of fields and woodland, abundant with birds and other wildlife. Beach, golf and coastal walking at West Bay, 6 miles. Shop and restaurant 1.5 miles, pub serving food 350 yards.


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Famous Footwear created its seasonal Stylezine with mag+ to let customers browse and shop from its full collection of shoes on a native iPad app. Best of all, every single pair is "clickable and shippable.
Digital Catalogs
Contact your magazine readers more frequently with mag+'s app creation and distribution software! Use your existing design tools and the mag+ InDesign Plug-In to add interactive elements to your current print content. Segment your readers and deliver highly relevant articles to their tablets and smartphones.View More »
Sales Materials
Use our mobile publishing software to replace cumbersome sales documents with a mobile app that quickly delivers up-to-date and engaging materials to the devices your reps are already using. With mag+, you can distribute your sales apps to the app store of your choice or privately to members of your enterprise.View More »
mag+'s mobile publishing software helps you create personal connections with your audience. Showcase your brand through today's technology. Send targeted messaging through push notifications, and create multiple feedback loops to learn what your audience truly wants.View More »
Guides & Brochures
Take advantage of mag+'s software to give your product or service the ultimate showcase in a powerful native app. Beautiful layout and natural interactivity drive longer dwell times and lasting interest. Add direct feedback, sharing, and even purchasing.View More »
Our software for digital catalog publishing brings your products to life. With mag+, you can create custom catalogs with 360-degree rotations, slideshows, and interactivity to give customers every incentive they need to click "buy."View More »
Internal Communications
Create a personal and instant connection with your employees where they live: on their mobile devices. Use mag+'s digital publishing software to distribute your app internally and send personalized content by region or division.View More »
Deliver the latest campus news and scores to the mobile devices of your school's community. Use mag+'s mobile publishing software to add rich media to admissions materials and personal messaging to specific segments of your campus audience.View More »
Power your client's mobile strategy with mag+'s digital publishing software. Quickly create mobile apps for multiple clients. Create interactive designs for multiple devices, include e-commerce capabilities for clients looking for additional revenue streams, and utilize mag+'s automated production tools to maximize efficiency.View More »


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Oakland Raiders Merchandise and Raiders Authentic Jerseys for Fans
Raiders fans, check out the official Oakland Raiders store for officially licensed Raiders Jerseys. Shop the most in-demand styles of Raiders Merchandise and Raiders Clothes at the official fan store. Show your love for Oakland Raiders Athletics with Oakland Raiders Jerseys, T-Shirts, Hats and Sweatshirts for every fan. Oakland Raiders Apparel includes a wide variety of licensed items for Oakland Raiders fans to wear at the big Raiders game and year round. Don't forget to show your friends and family you care by shopping for Raiders Gifts.


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The Melnikov House
Moscow, Russia, 25/04/2013..Ekaterina Karinskaya inside the Melnikov House [1927-1929], the most famous construction by Soviet avant-garde architect Konstantin Melnikov, in central Moscow. The house, which is slowly collapsing, is the subject of a complex dispute between the architect's grand-daughter Ekaterina, who lives there and wants to turn it into a museum, her sister Elena, and businessman Sergei Gordeev.
Copyright © Jeremy Nicholl 2013. All rights reserved..Tel: +7 495 360 0870 / +44 1263 firstname.lastname@example.com
Date: 25 Apr 2013
Size: 3744x5616 / 4.2MB
Restrictions: COPYRIGHT © JEREMY NICHOLL. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS IMAGE MAY NOT BE STORED, COPIED, DISTRIBUTED OR PUBLISHED IN ANY FORM WITHOUT THE PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHER. CONTACT firstname.lastname@example.com FOR ALL RIGHTS PERMISSIONS PRIOR TO ANY USE.