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Qihoo 360 Technology (QIHU) has made quick progress in the Chinese web industry. The organization is presently giving stiff rivalry to Baidu (BIDU), taking endlessly piece of the pie, and is rubbing shoulders with the likes of Tencent (TCEHY) in the gaming market as well. Looking forward, will Qihoo have the capacity to sustain its stupendous performance, or will it wind up vanquished because of the presence of greater peers? We should attempt and figure out.
Qihoo is developing at a, fast pace. In the final quarter, its quarterly revenue increased 115% year over year to $221.6 million, agreeably beating analysts' estimate of $209 million. Moreover, Qihoo's earnings also increased an eye-popping 218% year over year to $0.70 per share, outpacing the consensus estimate of $0.43 per share.
Strength counts
Qihoo's success is a result of the organization's cement steps to strengthen its versatile security and portable application store products. With its PC-based dynamic users arriving at 475 million, Qihoo enjoys a prevailing position in the Chinese web industry. Additionally, 70% of China's dynamic PC web users use Qihoo's PC browser. Likewise, Qihoo is the pioneer in smartphone security in China with 70% piece of the pie.
Going ahead, Qihoo expects its heading position in Android-based application distribution in China to drive results. Qihoo leads this business sector with more than 40% of the business in its pack. Further, the organization's search motor is witnessing significant movement gains, hitting a piece of the pie of 23% at the end of 2013.
This is a huge accomplishment for the organization since Baidu was the predominant player in the search industry in China at one purpose of time. In May last year, Baidu ordered 70% of the search advertise in China. In any case, that metric has descended to 58% now, as indicated by Chinese research firm CNZZ. Going ahead, Qihoo is resolved to narrowing the hole with Baidu further by attaining 35% share of the Chinese search advertise before the end of 2014. What's more, the organization has officially dispatched a couple of versatile search related products to enhance its position on this stage as well.
Gaming development
Then again, Qihoo's diversion stage is also pulling in amusement developers and users in great numbers. Qihoo runs something like 800 games on its amusement stage and is including subscribers at a respectable pace. At the end of the final quarter, Qihoo had something like 700,000 paying gaming accounts as contrasted with 560,000 in the former quarter. Going ahead, as the Chinese gaming business is required to develop at a fast rate, Qihoo should see further improvements in this metric.
Then again, Qihoo has to defeat a titan as Tencent in an offer to make its check on the Chinese gaming industry. Tencent is the biggest amusement operator in China. In what would appear to be a striking truth, Tencent is the world's biggest organization in terms of diversion related revenue, as indicated by research firm Newzoo.
Tencent's QQ Games entry has been a huge success and now the organization is amplifying its arrive at through its prevalent Wechat messaging service. The Wechat customer also distributes computerized games and has 300 million registered users in China. So, Tencent has a strong hold in the Chinese gaming industry which Qihoo will need to overcome on the off chance that it is to make genuine progress later on.
Conservative investors may now like Qihoo in the wake of taking a look at its trailing P/E of 114, which appears profoundly exaggerated. Be that as it may, the forward P/E of 23 is very reasonable and indicates quick earnings development. Qihoo has to be sure conveyed solid earnings development in the past and provided for its developing strength in the Chinese web industry, the streak could extremely well proceed later on. So, taking a gander at its development rate, investors shouldn't fret paying a premium for the organization.


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Paul A. Weber0000-0002-4809-0936
Dr Paul Weber has a B.Sc. in geology; a M.Sc.(hons) in environmental science both from the University of Canterbury; and a P.hD. in Applied Science from the University of South Australia. His area of expertise is environmental management of mining operations, particularly the geochemistry associated with acid mine drainage. Dr Weber has 15 years experience in the Australasian mining industry and is currently the Manager, Environmental R&D for Solid Energy New Zealand Ltd.
Biography Updated on 16 April 2013

subset: commoncrawl


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South Sudan: Humanitarian Snapshot (August 2012)
South Sudan continues to face considerable humanitarian challenges. About 170,000 refugees have fled Sudan to Upper Nile and Unity states.
Soaring food and fuel prices, conflict displacement and border closures between South Sudan and Sudan have also led to rising food insecurity, widespread malnutrition and deepening vulnerability.
To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit http://unocha.org/.


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I Love Someone I Shouldn't
i met a girl a few weeks before dating my partner, we kissed, cuddled, and had a great time, i knocked it on its head because of her age (same as my sister) and went with my current partner, weeks later, my partner cheated on me, and i went straight back to this girl, we had sex, and were fine, the pressure got to great so i told my partner, admitted all, and stopped taking to her. i still fancy this girl like mad, but me and partner have a baby, so it could never be. what do i do? im sick of suffering in silence
As much as you should be in your child's life.. you should never let yourself suffer.

And I can say this from experience.. if a person cheats once, it is in them to cheat again. That is nothing you want to live with, ESPECIALLY when there is someone else out there that is more deserving.


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Detail Information
- Cancer mortality in a Chinese population exposed to hexavalent chromium in drinking waterJames J Beaumont
California Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, Sacramento and Oakland, California 95812 4010, USA
Epidemiology 19:12-23. 2008..The investigators reported rates, but did not report statistical measures of association or precision...
- Titanium dioxide and lung cancerJames J Beaumont
J Occup Environ Med 46:759; author reply 760. 2004


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Tigers sweep DH from Cortez with clutch hits and some long blasts
A close call and a romp.
The Grand Junction High School softball team experienced both Friday at Kronkright Complex in a doubleheader against Montezuma-Cortez. The Tigers won the first game 5-4 on a walk-off single and cruised to a 20-7 victory in the second game.
In the first game, The Tigers (12-4, 4-4 Southwestern League) took a 4-2 lead over the Panthers when junior Whitney Robinson hit a two-run home run over the left field fence in the fifth inning. The score stayed the same until the
Panthers plated two runs off freshman reliever Brianna Maston to tie the game in the top of the seventh inning.
In the bottom half of the inning, the first two Tigers reached base, but watched as the next two hitters failed to advance the runners. With two outs, junior Jennifer Kelly smashed a rope to left-center to score Kelsey Jull from second base for the victory.
Game Two was a slugfest, as both teams found their swings and lost their gloves. The two teams combined for six errors and 24 hits in the game.
The Tigers started off the hit parade in the first inning with patience and big rips at the plate. Eleven batters came to the plate, with the first seven all reaching base and scoring. Two runs came on catcher Paula Lage's home run to left field. Lage ended up going 5 for 8 in the doubleheader with four runs and two RBI.
The Tigers scored two more runs in the second when starting pitcher Elena Arrieta homered to left to take a 9-0 lead.
The Panthers rallied back, scoring three runs in the second and scoring four more in the third. After only recording one out in the third, head coach Adam Diaz lifted Arrieta for Maston with one runner on. Maston struck out two of the next three hitters to get out of the inning. Maston, who also relieved Arrieta in game one, clamped down on Cortez, allowing only two of the final 13 hitters she faced to reach base.
"Brianna's performance was awesome," Diaz said after the game. "She came through for us. She is probably gonna be the future of the Tigers."
After Maston's handcuffing of the Panthers' offense, the Tigers continued to pound the ball. They tacked on three more home runs, including Arrieta's second two-run shot of the game in the fourth.
Diaz said Arrieta has been struggling at the plate with poor mechanics and impatience, but he thinks her performance of five RBI on 3-for-5 hitting with three runs scored has pulled her out of the her slump. Diaz added that great things happen when you wait for your pitch, which is what Arrieta did all game.
Junior Roxanne Zich added more firepower coming off the bench for the Tigers. Zich doubled and homered to go with three RBI and two runs after taking over at second base.
After the doubleheader, Diaz said he wasn't sure what game he was more impressed with by his team.
"In the blowout we got our sticks going. We waited for our pitch," he said. "But in the first game, we showed a lot of heart."
The Tigers play a doubleheader starting at 10 a.m. today at Kronkright Complex against Durango.


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American General Life Companies (American General), a part of AIG, has named Joe Ross Vice President, Sales Productivity and Business Development. He joins American General from Protective Life in Cincinnati, where most recently he served as VP, Sales Development.
"At AIG, we continue to invest in top talent as we build our world-class sales support team," says John Deremo, Executive Vice President and Chief Distribution Officer for AIG Financial Distributors. "Joe's more than 33 years of experience in the life insurance and financial planning industries will further strengthen our relationships with our valued institutional and brokerage general agency distribution partners as we concentrate on helping them deliver customized, effective solutions to their clients."
He adds, "With responsibility for overseeing American General life product and sales training, Joe is focused on working closely with our distribution partners to help them grow their businesses. His hiring is further substantiation of our commitment to being their most valued carrier."
Ross has worked in the insurance industry since becoming licensed at the age of 16. A Chartered Financial Consultant, Chartered Life Underwriter and Certified Retirement Counselor, he is a member of the Society of Financial Services Professionals and the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA). He holds FINRA Series 6 and 63 licenses and earned his bachelor of business administration degree in finance and insurance from the University of Iowa.
By Ayo Mseka
Advisor Today


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Gun Owner/Shooter Public Identification
View Single Post
February 7, 2013, 12:25 PM
Senior Member
Join Date: May 29, 2007
Location: St. Louis, MO area
Posts: 4,039
I have an NRA Endowment Member sticker on my vehicle and a couple NRA jackets.
Immediately after Sandy Hook, I did think about storing the jackets and removing the sticker in order to go "under the radar." I finally decided that no, I'm going to make a stand and show the world that here's a responsible and law abiding gun owner who doesn't feel the need to hide. I channeled my energy into contacting my legislators, and it appears to have paid off (one Senator has tempered support for a ban).
I have not once had anybody even look askance at me for my NRA sticker or jackets. This tends to be a more conservative area, but even in the more left leaning pockets I haven't seen any blowback.
I don't think we need to hide. The majority of Americans know that we aren't to blame for the acts of a madman.
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Baumer as employer
Every day, 2,300 Baumer employees worldwide do their best to offer our customers innovative and reliable solutions in the field of sensor technology. Passion and team spirit have made Baumer into one of the leading sensor technology manufacturers worldwide. We need intelligent people to ensure that this remains so in future as well. Discover your professional opportunities and become a member of the Baumer family. We look forward to yourenthusiasm, your commitment and your personality.
We can offer you more than "just" a job, but also exciting personal opportunities and
- a friendly and open working climate
- plenty of scope for new and brave ideas
- flat hierarchies
- the chance to make use of your strengths and to develop further at a personal level
- a comprehensive introduction into your tasks and your working area
- an internationally oriented working environment
- long-term perspectives in a successful family-owned business
- market-driven salary and attractive social benefits


text: The Shi Ji Tong Hui Hotel is a four-star hotel located just 1 km (0.6 mi) from the Chongqing North Railway Station and 8 km (4.9 mi) from Jiefangbei downtown. >Free parking and free Wi-Fi in public areas are available to guests of this hotel. An on-site restaurant serves Chinese cuisine. A coffee shop and lobby bar provide additional spaces for guests to relax with a drink or meet up with friends. Meeting rooms and a business center offer comprehensive services for business travelers. For extra fun karaoke facilities a nightclub and a game room are also on the premises.


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Think you know your horoscope? Think again. There is now a 13th astronomical sign– Ophiuchus.
Yesterday an article saying that the Earth's rotation has changed position, causing astrological signs to change as well – bumping everything about one month forward.
Gene and Julie talk to William Lamb "The Horoscope Man" about the new shift in the signs!
Find out more about William Lamb HERE.
Astrologers say that although signs may change, horoscopes may not.
Regardless, check the table below to see your new sign:
Capricorn: Jan. 20 – Feb. 16
Aquarius: Feb. 16 – March 11
Pisces: March 11- April 18
Aries: April 18- May 13
Taurus: May 13- June 21
Gemini: June 21- July 20
Cancer: July 20- Aug. 10
Leo: Aug. 10- Sept. 16
Virgo: Sept. 16- Oct. 30
Libra: Oct. 30- Nov. 23
Scorpio: Nov. 23- Nov. 29
Ophiuchus: Nov. 29- Dec. 17
Sagittarius: Dec. 17- Jan. 20


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A group of young architects has been installing yellow nest boxes for birds around the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn.
So far the group has installed 21 nest boxes; their next goal is to build five 12-foot nesting chimneys for Chimney Swifts. They also hope that Tree Swallows will use some of the smaller boxes.
"Most of my work is in areas a bit more natural than Gowanus," Rowden joked. He advised the team against attracting bluebirds, which are not typically found so close to water, and to focus instead on birds such as chimney swifts, known for their insect-eating abilities, and on a small falcon called the kestrel.
A dramatically patterned bird with contrasting gray wings and a copper-colored back, the kestrel doesn't build its own nest, but instead uses natural crevices or manmade boxes it finds. It's a predator that hunts rats, patrolling its domain by hovering in place on outstretched wings.
"If people know wildlife is in the area, they'd appreciate it more," Rowden said. "If people see wildlife, they'd know industrial areas are not as dead as everyone thinks."
Since the spring of 2009, the Nest Colony group joined the Gowanus Canal Conservancy, and their members started participating in the Conservancy's monthly volunteer cleanup events on the canal. There, they demonstrate their birdhouse-building techniques while encouraging the public to think of other ways to benefit the canal. Also, with the Conservancy's support, they were able to secure grants that allowed them to build more birdhouses over the course of last summer.
I am glad to see that the group is taking advice from some ornithologists, as that should make it more likely that their efforts will be useful to birds. The target species seem appropriate for an urban setting. The American Kestrel is declining in much of the northeastern U.S. and might benefit from some assistance. Likewise, Chimney Swifts have been in decline because changes in chimney design have reduced nesting sites.
The choice of color for the nest boxes seems a bit odd. While bright yellow does look cheerful against the decaying industrial buildings, most advice I have read suggests using plain, untreated wood for nest box construction. I am not sure if painting the boxes will discourage birds from using them or increase nest predation in an unnatural setting like the Gowanus Canal. It still seems inadvisable.
The article mentions that American Kestrels will eat rats. Perhaps some New York City kestrels have been observed eating rats, but I would expect kestrels to pursue smaller prey. According to Birds of North America, an average kestrel's diet is composed of 74% invertebrates, 16% mammals, 9% birds, and 1% reptiles and amphibians. Major prey animals include grasshoppers, cicadas, beetles, dragonflies, spiders, butterflies, moths, voles, mice, shrews, bats, and small songbirds. I did not see any mention of rats, either in Birds of North America or in my raptor books.


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State of Emergency in effect in East Syracuse amid storm damage
Wed, 09 Jul 2014 00:05:40 GMT —
East Syracuse is under a state of emergency with significant damage from severe storms that pushed through Central New York Tuesday afternoon.
The village was hit particularly hard by the storms. With some streets blocked off due to many trees down, the Mayor is asking people to stay off the roads for now.
The Police Chief says Hartwell Avenue was hit especially hard. Crews are busy trying to clean up the damage left behind.
By late Tuesday night, most of the village was without power. Garry Campbell lives just north of the village center. He said the storm sounded like a freight train moving through. Four downed trees blocked his street when he was able to make his way outside.


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Criminal Minds Star Thomas Gibson Strikes a Plea Deal
Thomas Gibson who stars as Aaron "Hotch" Hotchner on the CBS Drama "Criminal Minds" has struck a plea deal with the LA District Attorneys office in his DUI arrest.
On January 6, 2013, Gibson drove through a Los Angeles area closed for a half marathon despite being told to stop by police. Gibson declined to take a breathalyzer test at the scene and was arrested on suspicion of DUI. He paid a $15,000 bail and was released on January 7.
Gibson appeared in court today and plead "no contest" to one count of alcohol-related reckless driving — and in exchange, prosecutors dropped the DUI counts.
The night of Gibson's arrest, multiple officers took him down while he screamed, "I am not resisting … I am not resisting."
Related Post:
Amanda Please! Amanda Bynes Pleads Not Guilty for Driving on Suspended License Charges
Amanda Please! Amanda Bynes, the troubled actress who starred in the The Amanda Show, on Nickelodeon in the mid to late 1990s and early 2000s..entered two not guilty pleas today in a Burbank, California court on two counts of driving with a suspended license.
Linda Hogan (Linda Bollea), former wife of professional wrestler Hulk Hogan (Terry Gene Bollea) was reportedly arrested yesterday in Malibu on suspicion of DUI. According to sources…Linda, was pulled over by Malibu police at around 1:34 AM Thursday morning.
More About Thomas Gibson
Prior to CRIMINAL MINDS, Thomas Gibson was well-known for his five years as Greg in the series "Dharma & Greg," for which he received a Golden Globe nomination. His other television credits include a starring role in the series "Chicago Hope," on CBS; the movies "Raising Waylon," "The Inheritance" and "Brush with Fate," all on the Network; the role of Beauchamp Day in the groundbreaking "Tales of the City" and "More Tales of the City"; "Evil Never Dies"; "A Will of Their Own"; "The Monkey King"; and the miniseries "Category 6: Day of Destruction," on CBS, and "The Kennedys of Massachusetts."
Gibson made his feature film debut with a starring role in the epic "Far and Away" and has since appeared in "Eyes Wide Shut," "The Age of Innocence," "Barcelona," "Love and Human Remains," "Sleep with Me," "Psycho Beach Party" and "Stardom," among others.
A graduate of Juilliard, Gibson made his New York stage debut in "A Map of the World" at the New York Shakespeare Festival. His additional theater work includes leading roles at Circle in the Square and Joseph Papp's "Shakespeare in the Park." He worked on and off Broadway for more than 10 years in a wide variety of roles.
Gibson lives in San Antonio with his wife and three children.
His birth date is July 3. Follow him on Twitter at @Gibsonthomas
Criminal Minds Cast Includes…
Active Cast
David Rossi
Jeanne Tripplehorn
Alex Blake


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How to Motivate Off-Label Promotion? Gives Reps Trays of $50 Bills
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Three years ago, a former Cephalon manager filed a whisteblower lawsuit over alleged illegal marketing of two drugs – the Treanda treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and the Fentora painkiller – prompting the US Attorney in New York to open an investigation into the drugmaker, which is now owned by Teva Pharmaceutical. Now, though, further details are emerging about the extent to which Cephalon executives allegedly conspired to use questionable studies and off-label marketing tactics to boost sales of Treanda, in particular. The allegations, which were made by a former Cephalon employee listed as 'John Doe,' cite familiar-sounding shenanigans, but an executive strategy session sheds new light on the effort. Here is the background: Cephalon sought to promote Treanda for an unapproved use - in this case, front-line treatment for indolent, or slowly progressing, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, according to the lawsuit. The medication was only approved for CLL and second or third-line iNHL. But in 2008, Cephalon executives were nervous that marketing exclusivity tied to orphan drug status would expire in 2015.
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|Play Day: Northwestern Mutual employees built this playground as part of the Million Minutes Project. It was a gift to the Milwaukee community on behalf of departing CEO Edward J. Zore (inset). Photo courtesy of Northwestern Mutual
Company: Northwestern Mutual
Timeframe: June - Dec. 2010
CEO retirements are commonplace, and are typically a notation on a press release, a party, gold watch and a set of golf clubs. But when Northwestern Mutual's longtime chairman and CEO Edward J. Zore decided to retire in 2010, the organization's communications department knew that "typical" wasn't good enough.
So Northwestern Mutual decided to honor its long-standing tradition of serving its hometown of Milwaukee by giving to a community that meant so much to Zore a very special gift: time.
Northwestern Mutual commemorated Zore's community ties by developing "Leaving a Legacy: The Million Minutes Project." The idea behind the project was strong and clear: Northwestern Mutual would donate 1 million minutes of employee time to nonprofits throughout Milwaukee. All 5,000 employees would be given four hours of paid time off, and be challenged to find a way they could help their community from June 1 through Dec. 31, 2010.
Ultimately, Zore's departure, coupled with NM's commitment to the community, created a perfect storm of CSR, internal communications and media relations that would result in a big PR win.
Milwaukee is the fourth-most impoverished city in the U.S., with an unemployment rate of more than 10%. In the first quarter of 2010, NM surveyed employees, revealing a statistically significant link between employees who say that NM is a good corporate citizen and those who were more likely to say that they are proud to work for the company. In the same survey, 95% of NM employees strongly agreed that Northwestern Mutual is a good corporate citizen.
NM also surveyed nonprofits in Milwaukee about their current circumstances and about donation trends in general. Results showed that half felt vulnerable about the future; almost one-third expected to operate at a deficit in the coming year; and about one-third considered merging with another nonprofit.
"We wanted to make sure that whatever we came up with was authentic to the outgoing CEO and to our company, our culture and the stakeholders of Northwestern Mutual," says Kimberley Crews Goode, VP of communications and corporate affairs at NW.
Zore said early on—in coordination with NM's mandatory retirement age of 65—that he didn't want his retirement celebration to be all about him, which Goode says was an interesting challenge considering a retirement really is all about an individual. "We decided to give some thought to how we could turn an ordinary event like a CEO transition into something bigger and more meaningful."
A 16-person communications team crafted the following specific, measurable objectives for the campaign:
• Commit 1 million volunteer minutes to the greater Milwaukee community.
• Successfully build a playground—in a single day—at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee's Camp Whitcomb/Mason with help from Kaboom!, a nonprofit dedicated to creating places for kids to play across America.
• Secure media coverage in 80% of targeted local print media; secure media coverage in 50% of targeted local broadcast medial; secure one trade media placement.
Although the concept was simple enough, the Million Minutes Project was a major undertaking that required coordination from several departments, including HR, communications and corporate affairs, information systems, legal, facility operations and the Northwestern Mutual Foundation.
A volunteer intranet was launched that allowed employees to send their personal greetings and congratulations to Zore, as well as to read about some of his accomplishments and look at a timeline of his career.
Employees could also record their volunteer efforts as part of the Million Minutes campaign on this site. To help further promote the project, Northwestern Mutual's integrated team created cafeteria table tents, T-shirts, videos and produced internal and external news stories that showcased employees' stories on volunteering.
To launch the project, 200 NM volunteers came together to build a playground on June 1, 2010, at the Milwaukee Boys & Girls Club.
"Since we didn't need all 5,000 employees out there building one playground, we extended an opportunity for those who identified their own volunteer efforts elsewhere in the community," says Darryll L. Fortune, director of corporate and public relations for Northwestern Mutual.
After the kickoff event, the remaining 3,800 NM employees volunteered with other nonprofits throughout the community.
The planned departure of an outgoing CEO is not newsworthy in and of itself, so Northwestern Mutual had to find the right hooks to make the creation of the playground a draw for the media. The team's hooks came in the form of addressing the community's need for this particular playground; the overwhelming volunteer effort of Northwestern Mutual employees to complete the build in just one day; and the organization's partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee.
"The physical nature of the playground served as a great visual because it ended up becoming a permanent structure with a lasting effect," says Fortune.
Northwestern Mutual had a video crew of its own on site to capture key moments throughout the build and to interview key executives, including Zore.
"We created a time-lapse of the playground site from before and after the build, and used our YouTube, Facebook and Twitter channels to get the word out that we were supporting the community in a big way," says Fortune.
Goode says that alongside all the activity for the Million Minutes campaign the communications team also had to manage the issues surrounding the actual CEO retirement and replacement, such as notifying internal and external stakeholders in the proper business communication sequencing in naming a new CEO.
In addition, to manage client obligations throughout 2010, the HR department had to design a program that ensured all employees, regardless of their work schedule or volunteer interests, had an opportunity to participate.
Goode says she was happy with the results of the Million Minutes program, but if she were to replicate it she would work on finding ways to extend the story outside of the Milwaukee area.
"Since we're a Milwaukee-based company, we did a great job getting coverage here, but we could have broadened our focus to involve more of our field force," says Goode, who notes that the organization is certain to extend its PR reach during the next CEO transition.
Results included:
• More than 4,000 employees (80% of the workforce) volunteered just over 1 million minutes to more than 1,120 nonprofit organizations throughout Milwaukee, ranging from schools and food banks to home building and special needs programs.
• In a wrap-up survey of Northwestern Mutual employees, their positive impressions of the company increased to 97%.
• While the time itself was valued at more than $350,000, the impact those minutes had on the community, its leaders and the people of Milwaukee is immeasurable. NM received more than 120 thank-you notes from community leaders.
• All media coverage goals were exceeded.
While the Leaving a Legacy: The Million Minutes Project was associated with the ephemeral event of a CEO retirement, Goode says it not only was a proper fit for both the company's and the departing CEO's ideals, but will serve as lasting call to action for Northwestern Mutual and its employees to continue their volunteer efforts and build upon the company's commitment to the community. PRN
Darryll L. Fortune, firstname.lastname@example.com, Kimberley Crews Goode, email@example.com; email@example.com.


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Отзывы покупателей iHerb
Blown away!!
Отзыв оставлен Клиент iHerb сен 14, 2010 | Проверенная покупка
I've had an injury at the ball of my right foot for quite some time. For quite some time the pain was only in the first few steps after waking in the morning. About six months ago the pain stayed longer becoming somewhat permanent with the odd respite. Around the two week mark it hit me how much better my foot was feeling. Still sore but a lot less. Blown away!! This formula has given me new confidence in the power of healing. My current dose is 12 caps a day I take 12 caps of He Shou Wu also
Seems to be working!
Отзыв оставлен celestialleo окт 01, 2011 | Проверенная покупка
I have been using frame builder for about three weeks now, mainly taking two twice a day, and it appears to be helping with strengthening my tendons, knees and back.
High Quality
Отзыв оставлен energetyx июн 23, 2011 | Проверенная покупка
This is another high quality product from Dragon Herbs, with a strong, malty taste. Works well blended into cacao and coffee type beverages.
Seems authentic
Отзыв оставлен nutshell май 27, 2015 | Проверенная покупка
Product seems to be authentic but I honestly could not say if it is helping my bones etc. People say I look well and perhaps this product along with many others that I take contributes to that. I'll keep taking it.
Yang tonic
Отзыв оставлен Клиент iHerb мар 15, 2012 | Проверенная покупка
smells delicious and good kidney Yang and good for ligaments and tendons
1-5 из 5 всего


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I love Android. I love the Community.
Since my G1 days I have slowly evolved from total noob, to someone who helps answer questions daily on XDA, writing instructional guides, and now testing the waters in app development and theming. The reason I have progressed is the kindness of the community. Every themer/developer I have ever contacted has been so incredibly gracious with their time and sharing their talent. I truly respect these people – and you should too.
I say this so bluntly only because it's that passion that fuels the article.
There are also many bad elements to the Android Community. The most notable in my opinion are the 3rd party paid app sites AND sites like www.akaskriller.com. I want to focus on the latter, but feel the need to point out those 3rd party app sites give you "free†paid apps, but they also give you App Permissions not requested by the original app – they are malicious.
Please do not be a self-inflicted victim over $0.99. You are on this site, you are smarter than that.
Back to my real intent here. For those not familiar, akaskriller is a site that has a nice front – and that is what it is, a front. They appear to be very genuine and caring, they act like they are helping developers, and they act like they want to help the Android noob.
Nothing could be further from the truth. They want money – money for others work.
Sites that offer others work (ROMs & Themes) behind a $5 donate wall (yes, you pay to get access) are wrong people. Not just wrong for those new to Android – those who genuinely need help and do not know better. But more importantly, it is wrong for the developers who work so hard to improve our phones, at no cost to us.
I am no expert on Apache/Licensing but I would have to assume paying/donating $5 for free software is wrong on a larger scale than I know how to address.
Those familiar with the Samsung Vibrant may recall a movement I suggested. It was called "#NeverAgain Samsung.†I proposed a social media blitz where we told Samsung on Twitter, blogs, Facebook and YouTube that we would not continue to buy their products if they would treat the Android Community the way they did – withholding updates and source.
Shortly after the movement started (and it grew FAST), I received calls from Samsung and they were following me on twitter. Froyo and source was given to us via Kies/their site. Perhaps due to our combined community efforts.
I am suggesting we have another outcry – an outcry that our community will not tolerate this. Let the community know this is wrong. I will not be formal and say "do this,†but do something.
Tweet about it, post on Facebook… heck, just tell a developer you appreciate them.
Since mentioning the idea of one developer has told me when he requested his ROM be removed from the site, he was told that they would simply change the build.prop so it was a "new ROM.†Taking away the work this developer did and making it their own.
This is wrong. Do something.
You can find me on Twitter @CallipH. If you are noob and you want help, ask me and I will tell you if I can help, for free.
Submitted By: Callip


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To the world of the Savannah cat!
The Savannah cat is a domestic breed of cat, that is in Championship status in The International Cat Association (TICA), that is created using the exotic Serval cat. The Savannah cat is a fun loving, always on the go cat that you won't find resting very often. These wonderful cats are extremely active and the earlier generations (first and second generation) can grow up to 20 lbs. The majority of Savannah cats range in size from 8 lbs to 18 lbs with the larger cats being the early generation males. Savannah cats normally look like they weigh more than they do. With their long lean bodies and long legs a Savannah can often look like it weighs at least 5 lbs more than it actually does.
History of the Savannah Cat Breed
Savannah Cats were originally bred back in the 1980's by a woman named Judee Frank. Since then breeders have embraced her vision and have worked to get fertile generations of males to be used with the early generation Savannah females. Over the last few years this dream has been realized. Most breeders including Marechal Cattery are now using fertile male Savannahs in their programs to create even more exotic looking offspring. This was a long process of breeding with feline outcrosses to finally reach the distance needed from the Serval cat to have males that were actually fertile. So far there have been a very small amount of fourth generation males that are fertile with most males having to be fifth or later generations to be fertile. As we breed back to our Savannah females using the fertile Savannah males we will begin to set the type of the breed which is, large ears, long lean legs and bodies and large dark spots. For more information about how Savannahs are produced please click here.


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A Madison Township man was sentenced Monday to eight years in prison for helping to commit burglaries in Lake and Ashtabula counties.
Robert Nelson, 30, previously pleaded guilty to four counts of burglary before Lake County Common Pleas Judge Richard L. Collins Jr.
The judge also ordered him to pay nearly $3,000 in restitution.
Nelson was one of at least 14 people charged as a result of a joint investigation involving the Madison Township and Geneva police departments.
There were 34 separate burglaries in Mentor, Concord Township, Painesville Township, Madison Township and Geneva. Most of them occurred between July and September.
The culprits were mainly after gold jewelry, which they pawned to get money for heroin and meth, police said.
The combined value of the stolen property is more than $100,000.


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This week in children's apps features four Byron Barton apps in one: Planes, Trains, Boats, and Trucks. Also this week, the latest Dr. Seuss app, Bartholomew and the Oobleck, is about a king who orders magicians to create new weather.
Title: Byron Barton Collection #1
Publisher: Oceanhouse Media
Release date: June 18, 2013
Price: $4.99
Background: Includes four apps: Planes, Trains, Boats, and Trucks.
Features: Record your own voice, page selector, share voice tracks, animations and movable objects on every page, professional narration.
Title: Bartholomew and the Oobleck
Publisher: Oceanhouse Media
Release date: July 10, 2013
Price: $3.99
Background: King Derwin of Didd is tired of just snow, fog, sunshine and rain coming down from the sky. When he orders his royal magicians to create something new, they concoct greenish blobs called "oobleck" that fall from the sky to the delight of the king. The gooey oobleck, however, soon gets bigger and bigger until it overtakes the entire kingdom, including the king himself. Will the king listen to his page boy, Bartholomew, and save the kingdom?
Features: Professional narration, background audio and enlarged artwork, three modes of play.


text:
Residents decry permits that allow building noise
When is a noise not a noise? When it's not covered by the law. At least, that's the contention of some residents in Mid-Levels, who say the government's definition of construction noise has left them having to put up with the clatter of building work from 7am to midnight seven days a week.
Companies building in Seymour Road have obtained a construction noise permit, which is granted if a noise assessment by the Environmental Protection Agency is passed. For a built-up area like Mid-Levels, the limit is 65 decibels from 7pm to 11pm, and 50 decibels 11pm to 7am.
'If building sites do not exceed these levels they will be granted the permit because the noise levels will not cause any nuisance,' senior agency officer Lau See-hon said.
In theory, such levels would not be a nuisance as 65 decibels is equivalent to the sound of a cash register and 50 to that of a quiet radio. But the permit only considers the noise of powered mechanical equipment and ignores the extra noise made by workers during the usually restricted hours of 7pm-7am and Sundays.
One of the sites granted a permit is Wing Tai Properties' development in Seymour Road, where for two years work has gone from 7am until 11pm.
'It's like living in a war zone,' said Elizabeth Wilson, who lives in Fortune Gardens, an upscale block beside the site. 'There is dust and debris everywhere, and I have not been able to sleep past seven when they start, even if I wear earplugs.'
The machine on the site covered by the permit is a hoist that transports building material up and down the 43-storey block, due to be finished at the end of the year.
'The hoist itself is quiet and is not the problem,' Wilson said. 'It's the workers who use the hoist who arrive at 7am, half an hour before it starts, who slam things around. This noise is not considered in the permit.'
After Wilson wrote a complaint to the agency, an enforcer was sent to the site. 'We found that there was no violation of the permit,' Lau said. Asked if it would take action over residents' complaints, a spokesman for the developer said: 'Neither Wing Tai Properties nor the contractor of Seymour has received any complaint regarding the construction at Seymour, which has been carried out in compliance with ... permits.'
Wilson said she had little hope that anything would change before construction was finished - but 'why can't we have peace and quiet until 8am? Is that too much to ask?'
She is not the only resident in Mid-Levels whose patience is wearing thin. Law Ngar-ning, who has lived in Caine Road for 40 years, said: 'The vibration noise is everywhere. It's becoming unlivable because of the noise and overdevelopment. Seeing the sun is starting to be a luxury.'
For David Lamb, who lives on Tregunter Path, even breathing has become a luxury. 'The trucks used to transport building materials have caused so many fumes that if you sit in the reception area of my apartment or in our outside playground, you feel like you're chained to an exhaust pipe,' he said.
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May 1, 2012 10:56PM - edited May 1, 2012 11:04PM by leaf
I had some 'thickening' around the incision site for *months*. I had hematomas on all my core biopsies and excisional. Almost all my pathology reports reported blood in the sample. After each core, I would look down and see that I was dripping blood into a bucket below me. The beautiful autumnal colors (black, purple, green, yellow) went on for months-it takes your body some time to reabsorb the heme iron (in hemoglobin) from the blood. The incision was on the top of my breast, but the hematomas (the black/purple/green/yellow) leaked down to the lower part of my breast - I assume this was gravity. It took me months for my incision area to turn to normal, but after maybe 6-9 months, there was only a slight pink scar. . After a month or so, I gently massaged it. Eventually it all became soft; you can hardly see it now.
While breasts were not designed to have excisional biopsies, they were designed to be poked, etc (from breast feeding, etc.)
Your mileage may vary, but this is what happened to me.


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Paris (Sep. 4)
Marcel Vidal, Jewish Engineer, Also in Accident; Bokanowski son of Polish Jewish Family (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
The French capital mourned the death of Maurice Bokanowski, Minister of Commerce and Aviation, who with four companions, was killed Sunday morning when the biplane in which they had started a flight at Toul caught fire in the air and crashed to the earth in flames. All the victims were so badly burned they could not be recognized and the Cabinet member was identified only by means of a platinum watch.
Marcel Vidal, Jewish engineer, was another of the victims. Edouard Defranc, general secretary of the Compagnie Internationale de Navigation Aerien Henri Willins, radio operator, and Gabriel Hanin, pilot, died in the accident.
Bokanowski, who was the son of a Polish Jewish family which settled in France some time ago, is survived by his wife and four children. Madam Bokanowski was formerly Miss Wolf.


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|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|Nov 29, 2005
|Filing date
|May 28, 2003
|Priority date
|Aug 26, 1999
|Fee status
|Also published as
|Publication number
|David R. Forward
|Original Assignee
|Internest, Inc.
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (17), Non-Patent Citations (7), Referenced by (14), Classifications (29), Legal Events (13)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/383,196 filed Aug. 26, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,578,011 entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DIRECTING AND INSTRUCTING CUSTOMERS TO DEAL WITH SPECIFIC MERCHANTS USING INCENTIVES," the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
The present invention relates generally to an Internet e-commerce business method of promoting products to prospective customers, and instructing and enticing those prospective customers to deal with specific merchants by offering the customers a valuable incentive that is redeemable when the customer purchases from the specific merchant, with the merchant then providing a fee or commission to the Internet company that directed the customer to that merchant.
When making purchases for items, such as, for example, houses, boats, or cars, customers often enlist the aid of a broker or intermediary to assist them in locating items for purchase. Brokers may provide information about the product to be bought as well as information about merchants (or "sellers") selling the product. Information may include the quality of the product and the merchants, other prices, and the like. This information allows a customer (or "buyer") to make an informed decision with regard to which products to purchase and at what price. For some types of items, such as real estate, sellers of the items typically pay a commission to the brokers involved in the transaction. When the buyer uses a broker's agent, commonly called a co-broker, the commission is divided between the co-broker and the seller's broker. For example, in many situations, the total commission paid on the sale of a house is six percent. In that situation, the seller's broker and the co-broker each will typically receive three percent of the purchase price of the house as a commission.
This same situation may also apply with the sale of new houses, where the new house is being sold directly by the builder of the house. The new house builder retains a broker to act as his agent and if the volume of houses is significant, the new house builder may be able to negotiate a reduced percentage arrangement with that broker. The new house builder, however, usually must pay a full 3% to any co-broker that brings him a buyer because the co-broker will not bring him buyers if he is not going to receive the "normal" commission. With such a system, the new house builder must pay up to six percent of the sale price of the house which represents a significant cost for the new house builder.
Several World Wide Web sites have been developed to assist the new house builder in identifying potential purchasers. For example, many new house builders have a web site of their own dedicated to houses that they build. Some of these sites may even provide a directory of neighborhoods that the particular builder is developing.
Other web sites provide a listing of homes by region with a number of different builders being listed. This provides the advantage of providing a single location that a house buyer may visit in order to look for a house to purchase. While these sites may seem advantageous to house buyers, they are costly to the house builders. These sites typically charge a fee for the house builders to be included in the directory. This cost represents an additional cost to the house builder that is undesirable.
These and other drawbacks exist with existing systems.
An object of the present invention is to overcome these and other drawbacks in existing systems and methods.
Another object of the invention is to provide a mutually beneficial environment for bringing together buyers and sellers for the purchase of items that typically involve a commission for a third party paid by either the buyer or the seller of the item.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a central system that promotes an item-for-sale over a network to potential purchasers with an incentive to those potential purchasers to purchase the item. That incentive, or reward, is provided by the operator of the central system only after the purchase is made, and only after the purchaser has notified the operator of the central system that he has made the purchase.
Another object of the invention is to provide a new business method for eliminating agent's commissions in the sale of items through the use of a central system for bringing together buyers and sellers of items.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a business method that provides financial incentives for sellers to participate in a central directory system by offering to provide their content in exchange for a fee paid based on sales generated. These and other objects of the invention are accomplished according to various embodiments of the invention. The present invention provides an item locator system that comprises a repository of information about items for purchase. Users may connect to the item locator system to identify an item for purchase and the identity of the seller of the item. Along with each item, the user may be presented with an incentive to execute the purchase. The user then executes the purchase with the seller, and receives a proof of purchase. The user may then advise the system operator of his purchase and the operator of the central system then provides the purchaser with the valuable reward promised.
As part of this method, the item locator system may have an agreement with item sellers whose items are being displayed. The item locator system agrees to provide information about the item provider and his products, to its users in exchange for a fee based on the actual sale of the item. The fee may be set as a percentage of the sale price of the item, may be a flat fee or may be some other type of fee arrangement.
In one embodiment, the present invention may comprise a method relating to sale of new houses through a web-site accessible by potential buyers over the Internet. The potential buyers utilize a web browser system to connect to a server providing a web site displaying new houses. The web site may enable the user to search for and locate a new house to be purchased. The web-site further provides an incentive (or reward) to encourage the user to purchase the new house. The potential buyer then takes the information provided by the web-site and visits the new house seller. If a purchase is completed between the buyer and the seller, then the buyer returns to the web-site to collect the promised reward. The reward is provided upon verification that a purchase took place between the buyer and the seller. The operator of the central system may be paid a commission or fee that may be received at the closing or settlement of the sale from the seller to the buyer. The operator of the central system web-site provides the promised reward to the purchaser or issues a certification that entitles the buyer to the incentive through another entity, as a method of checking that the seller has paid the agreed fee to the operator of the central system.
In one embodiment, as part of the incentive, the buyer agrees to forego use of a co-broker that otherwise would be entitled to a commission. The fee or commission paid by the seller to the operator of the central system may be less than a fee to which a co-broker would ordinarily be entitled. Further, the web-site may forego up-front payment from the seller for promoting his homes for sale and presenting the builder's information because they receive the agreed fee only when and if a sale occurs.
A method and system according to the present invention provides advantages and economic incentives for all involved through the elimination of the co-broker's fee. Specifically, the house seller benefits from avoiding a 3% co-broker's fee and receives advertising in a widely distributed environment without any up front cost. Therefore, house sellers are provided an incentive to participate in this system to reduce their overall sales and marketing costs and to be introduced to motivated buyers.
Purchasers are provided an incentive to use the system because of the value of the incentive and the convenience in locating new houses. The incentive may be significant depending on the type of house being purchased. For example, the incentive may be a percentage rebate on the house of one or more percentage points for larger purchases.
Finally, the web-site operator benefits by making a fee paid to him by the seller. Due to the price of new houses, even a small percentage commission could yield significant revenues that would overshadow the incentive costs and costs of operating the web-site.
Accordingly, this new business method and system for employing this business method utilize web-based technology to bring together buyers and sellers for their mutual benefit. Other objects and advantages exist for the present invention.
For purposes of illustration, a system and method according to an embodiment of the present invention are described below. That system is described as being part of an Internet based system that enables buyers to contact a web-site that contains new house information. It should be understood that the invention is not limited to an Internet system or to provision of new house information. The characteristics and parameters pertaining to a web-site for selling new homes are equally applicable to other types of sales, such as for selling cars, yachts, boats or other products. Further, the present invention could be implemented without use of a different networked environment, such as a cable television network, a telephone network, a satellite connection network, or any other system that provides information to a user. In particular, the present invention is particularly useful for sale of items for which an agent for the buyer and/or seller may receive a commission. Through use of the present invention, a commissioned co-broker may not be used to the benefit of both the buyer and seller.
According to an embodiment of the present invention,
In step 202 of method 200, a buyer 10 transmits an information request 26 to the item locator system 12. The item locator system 12 may comprise a server system connected over the world wide web or Internet to provide web-pages upon request from one or more users utilizing a web browser. Accordingly, step 200 may comprise buyer 10 using a browser to connect over the Internet to a web-site that provides new house information, for example. Use of existing browser/server technology may be used to transmit the request to the item locator system 12.
In response to the potential buyer's request for information from the item locator system 12 in step 204, the item locator system 12 provides item information 28 and incentive information 29.
The item information 28 may comprise new house information related to a request transmitted in step 202. In the example of new houses, the item information may comprise a vast amount of information for the user to review in selecting a potential new house. For example, the item-related information may include all of the information typically included in a multiple listing and additionally include pictures of the new house, layouts of the house, floor plans, the address, maps, options for the interior, summary of the builder's history, chat related to the builder, a section for comments from previous purchasers from that builder, pricing information, availability information, pictures of the neighborhood, listings of community activities, directions to nearby restaurants and places of interest, a virtual tour of model homes, location of school, school district rating information, location of churches, refuse information, community association fees, etc.
Specifically, the item information may also include contact information for the seller. In the case of a new house builder, the information may include the name of the builder, the builder's address, a telephone number, an electronic-mail address, a link to the web-site for the builder, directions to the builder's offices, directions to the location and any other information that may be used to contact the builder. Other seller-specific information may also be provided, including the number of years in business, any licenses obtained, certifications obtained, or honors bestowed.
The item information may be organized into a plurality of different pages, with links between the pages. Additionally, the pages may contain links to other web-sites to advertisements, promotions, or information. The advertisements, promotions, information, real estate news, information about moving, Frequently Asked Questions may be customized based on a user profile, location of the house being displayed, price range, etc. For example, the pages may contain links to mortgage calculator sites to enable the user to determine how much a mortgage payment would be based on a specific purchase price.
Steps 202 and 204 may be iteratively performed with the buyer refining, modifying, expanding, or issuing new searches until an item of interest is identified. For example, the item locator system 12 may enable the user to search for new houses by region, by sub-division, by builder, by construction date, or by any number of different search criteria, number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, total rooms, square feet, cars in garage, square feet of lot, etc. By way of example only, according to an embodiment of the invention, a buyer may need information about a number of different sellers at a number of different times, and may need information about various locations for new houses from one or more sellers at a number of different times, thereby requiring the buyer to request information at a number of different times. Information provider 12 may provide the requested information at appropriate times to buyer 10.
Along with the item-related information 28, the web-site may also provide incentive information 29 to the buyer. The incentive information may include an indication of an incentive that will be provided through the item locator system if the buyer purchases the item from the item-related information 28. That incentive may comprise any thing of value that would encourage a purchaser to purchase the item of interest. For example, the incentive may comprise a rebate or a reward such as an offer for a free or reduced cost appliance, a cash offer, points towards closing, moving expenses, cleaning services, landscaping, pool installation, finished basement, alarm system, several months mortgage payment, vacation trip, etc. Incentive information 29 may also include the incentives options offered (e.g., choices of products awards, cash awards, etc.), buyer requirements to receive the incentive, and what an incentive may be worth. For example, the incentive information may specify that the buyer may not use a co-broker in order to be eligible to receive the incentive or may only use a specific buyer's agent with whom the item locator system has a fee sharing arrangement. Other incentive information may also be included.
Upon locating the item information 28 desired and corresponding incentive information 29, in step 206, the potential buyer contacts the seller using the information provided in the item information 28. That contact may be via telephone, electronic mail, person-to-person or any other method of communication. In the new house example, the buyer typically visits the potential new house site and meets with the new house builder or his agent, although other scenarios are also contemplated by the present invention.
In step 208, buyer 10 and a specified seller 24 create a contract 30 for the purchase of the item. That contract 30 may be negotiated in any manner desired. The contract may be formed over a network communication, for example, using digital signatures or other means of authentication. In one embodiment of the present invention, the contract 30 may be formed without the use of a co-broker in order to qualify for the incentive. Also, item locator system 12 may provide a buyer's agent paid out of the revenues generated by the fee or commission received.
As part of that contract 30, buyer 10 receives a purchase certification 32 in step 210. That purchase certification 32 may comprise a copy of the contract, an identification number, a signature, or any other method of certifying that the buyer and seller formed a contract for the purchase of an item at issue. The purchase certification 32 may comprise an electronic certification or a hard copy that is provided. Verification may comprise standard documentation, such as sales contracts, or may comprise the seller issuing a redemption certificate to buyer.
In step 212, the buyer transmits an incentive execution request 34 along with the purchase certification 32 received from the seller to the item locator system 12. That transmission may be electronic or through any other method of delivery. Upon receipt of the request for an incentive and the purchaser certification, the item locator system 12 will verify that the commission or fee has been received from the seller according to a predetermined arrangement. For example, the item locator system 12 and seller 24 may negotiate an arrangement for providing the seller's information on the item locator system for a set fee or for a commission based on the price of the item sold. The fee/commission arrangement may be a percentage of the price of the house, in the new house example, may comprise a flat fee (e.g., $5,000), may comprise a lock-step fee structure, may comprise a point system, with the value of points increasing with the number of sales (e.g., $2,000 per house if 1–5 houses sold per year, $2,200 per house if 6–10 houses sold per year), may comprise a bonus system whereby the seller pays a flat rate with bonuses for volume, or any other compensation system that can be negotiated between these two entities. In another example, large volume house sellers may be given further benefits for participating, including a reduce fee or waiver of the fee every predetermined number of houses sold, such as every fifth house.
Therefore, in step 214, the item locator system 12 transmits a request 38 for the fee or commission from the seller identified in the purchase certification. In step 216, the seller transmits a commission/fee 40 to the item locator system as agreed. These transmissions may be electronic or manual. The proceeding needs to be redone slightly because our plan envisions us being paid at closing by the builder just like the co-broker is now paid at closing. When the buyer requests his entitlement from us we should be able to check to see if the seller has already paid us. It is only if we have not been paid already that we would contact the builder to ask for payment.
Then, in step 218, the item locator system 12 may provide the incentive execution 36 to the buyer. The incentive execution may comprise an electronic certificate, identification number, check, coupon, or any other device that the buyer may use to execute the incentive indirectly with a third party. Alternatively, in step 218, the item locator system 12 may actually deliver the incentive directly. For example, if the incentive is cash, then the item locator system 12 may transmit electronic payment of the cash directly to the buyer. Also, step 218 may be performed prior to or during the performance of steps 214 and 216.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the item locator system 12 may negotiate arrangements with incentive providers. These incentive providers may recognize the advertising value of being offered as an incentive on a widely accessed web-site. In exchange for the advertising exposure, the incentive providers may provide reduced or free incentives that the item locator system 12 may then offer. For example, the web-site may offer an incentive of a free mortgage point towards closing costs if the purchaser buys a house identified through the web-site. A particular mortgage company may desire to be listed on the new house web-site to attract customers. Therefore, the incentive may specify that the free point is provided if that particular mortgage company issues the loan. For the exposure on the site, the mortgage company may thus provide financial incentives to the web-site to be listed as an incentive provider, such as offering the point at a reduced rate to the item provider system.
Additionally, the incentives may be customized to better entice purchasers to purchase. For example, the incentive may be customized based on personal profile information about the potential purchaser (e.g., age, gender, income level, credit rating, location), demographic information about the items being offered (e.g., price range, location, climate, customs), characteristics about the builder (e.g., different incentives for different builders) or any other method of customization. For example, the incentive for a house in the $200,000 range may be different than houses in the $100,000 range. In Florida, the incentive may comprise a swimming pool, whereas in Minnesota, the incentive may comprise a hot tub. Also, one builder may have an affiliation with a particular lender and therefore, the incentive for houses for that lender may relate to deals for better mortgage rates with that lender, whereas another builder may have an affiliation with a landscaping company, so the incentive may relate to provision of landscaping services. Therefore, the builder whose information is posted may have some say in the incentive provided as well. In this arrangement, the builder may also make financial arrangements with the incentive provider for sharing of revenues out of the sale of the new house.
An embodiment of a system for implementing this method is depicted in
Item locator system 12 may comprise a plurality of modules that function to perform the functions described above in addition to other functions set forth below. Although separate modules are described for performing these functions, it should be understood that additional modules may also be provided and that modules may be combined.
According to an embodiment of the invention, item locator system 12 may comprise a search module 42, an item request processing module 44, a server module 46, an incentive module 48, a linking module 50, an incentive customization module 52 and a storage module 54.
Search module 42 may cooperate with one or more databases 56 in communication with item locator system 12 to retrieve item information based on user defined requests. Many technologies for searching web-based information exist and such technologies may be utilized. Other search technologies may also be used. Databases 56 may store both item information and incentive information in item information data structure 58 and incentive data structure 60. These data structures may be combined into a single data structure as well, as desired or may be distributed over a network, including the internet.
Search module 42 cooperates with an item request processing module 44 to receive user requests and generate output. Output from search module 42 may be provided to buyers 10 over network 14 using server module 46. Server module 46 may comprise any server technology, and particular may comprise a web-based server.
Incentive module 48 may comprise a module for selecting and presenting incentives along with item information generated by search module 42. Incentive module 48 cooperates with database 56 to retrieve information from the incentive data structure 60. Also, an incentive customization module 52 may be provided to customize the incentive provided based on selected criteria. Customization module 52 may access one or more other databases to select the appropriate incentive based on data as compared with the established criteria.
Additionally, a linking module 50 may be provided for linking advertisements, graphics or other information to be displayed associated with the incentive that may be located at other sites. Additionally, linking module 50 may enable linking to seller sites 24 that offer items for sale on the item locator system 12. According to an embodiment of the invention, each seller may have its own website 24 accessible over the internet by item locator system 12.
A storage module 54 may store various information about buyers, certificates issued, seller information and other data. Also, buyers may register with the item locator system to receive updates of new homes added to the site or other purposes.
According to one specific embodiment of the present invention, the modules of item locator system 12 may comprise computer software components. Other arrangements may also be provided.
Other embodiments, uses, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. The specification and example should be considered exemplary only. The intended scope of the invention is only limited by the claims appended hereto.
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|Priceline.Com Incorporated
|Bounce back method, system and apparatus
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|Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
|Revenue sharing by a printer manufacturer for sales of prescription drugs
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|Shaw R. Frank
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|Yufik Yan M
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|U.S. Classification
|705/14.23, 705/14.73, 705/14.39, 705/26.35
|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification
|May 13, 2004
Owner name: OXFORD MANAGEMENT, INC., MARYLAND
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:NEW HOMES AMERICA, INC.;REEL/FRAME:015320/0502
Effective date: 20040506
|Sep 17, 2004
Owner name: OXFORD MANAGEMENT, INC., MARYLAND
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:NEWHOMESAMERICA.COM, INC.;REEL/FRAME:015139/0093
Effective date: 20040917
Owner name: OXFORD MANAGEMENT, INC., MARYLAND
Free format text: CLARIFICATION OF PTO ASSIGNMENT RECORDS AND TITLE;ASSIGNORS:NEWHOMESAMERICA.COM, INC.;OXFORD MANAGEMENT, INC.;REEL/FRAME:015139/0097
Effective date: 20040917
|Sep 21, 2004
Owner name: INTERNEST, INC., ILLINOIS
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:FORWARD, DAVID R.;NEWHOMES AMERICA.COM, INC.;OXFORED MANAGEMENT, INC.;REEL/FRAME:015810/0293
Effective date: 20040917
|Jul 20, 2005
Owner name: INTERNEST, INC., ILLINOIS
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:FORWARD, DAVID R.;NEWHOMESAMERICA.COM, INC.;OXFORD MANAGEMENT, INC.;REEL/FRAME:016547/0009
Effective date: 20040917
|Jan 24, 2008
Owner name: INEST REALTY, INC., ILLINOIS
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:INTERNEST, INC.;REEL/FRAME:020403/0421
Effective date: 20071126
|Jun 1, 2009
|Surcharge for late payment
|Jun 1, 2009
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 4
|Aug 31, 2011
Owner name: REALESTATE.COM, INC., NORTH CAROLINA
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:INEST REALTY, INC.;REEL/FRAME:026834/0146
Effective date: 20110831
|Oct 12, 2011
Owner name: MARKET LEADER, INC., WASHINGTON
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:REALESTATE.COM, INC.;REEL/FRAME:027049/0128
Effective date: 20111007
|Mar 8, 2013
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 8
|Nov 29, 2016
Owner name: FASTSTART REAL ESTATE SERVICES HOLDCO, INC., WASHI
Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:MARKET LEADER, INC.;REEL/FRAME:040456/0034
Effective date: 20151029
|Nov 30, 2016
Owner name: INTERNEST, INC., ILLINOIS
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:OXFORD MANAGEMENT, INC.;NEWHOMESAMERICA.COM, INC.;FORWARD, DAVID R.;REEL/FRAME:040465/0819
Effective date: 20040917
Owner name: OXFORD MANAGEMENT, INC., MARYLAND
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:NEWHOMESAMERICA.COM, INC.;REEL/FRAME:040465/0649
Effective date: 20040917
Owner name: NEWHOMESAMERICA.COM, INC., VIRGINIA
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:FORWARD, DAVID R.;REEL/FRAME:040465/0545
Effective date: 19990825
Owner name: INEST REALTY, INC., ILLINOIS
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:INTERNEST, INC.;REEL/FRAME:040465/0916
Effective date: 20071126
Owner name: MARKET LEADER, INC., WASHINGTON
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:REALESTATE.COM, INC.;REEL/FRAME:040466/0191
Effective date: 20111007
Owner name: REALESTATE.COM, INC., NORTH CAROLINA
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:INEST REALTY, INC.;REEL/FRAME:040466/0089
Effective date: 20110831
|May 18, 2017
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 12