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quick linksCURRENT ISSUE PREVIOUS ISSUES NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS COLUMNISTS BROWSE EDITORIAL TOPICS WEBINARS
resourcesABOUT MT AUTHOR GUIDELINES CLASSIFIEDS EDITORIAL CALENDAR MASSAGE MART SCHOOLS & EDUCATION FEEDBACK
Coming to Grips With Our Professional Realities
As an American citizen, watching divisions in our society sharpen and grow more barbed and distinct over the past decade has been painful.
A Dangerous Cause of Upper Back and Chest Pain
I was scuba diving in the Gulf of Mexico with several other divers to spear lionfish. Our first dive was to 100 feet and proved uneventful. On the second dive, a pair of divers went first while we waited for them to return.
AHPA is Taking the Lead: A Proactive Approach to Herbal Safety
The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) and Chinese Herbal Products Committee (CHPC) has taken the lead when it comes to defining "Good Herbal Compounding and Dispensing Practices."
The Do's & Don'ts of Office Humor
The new patient was a young, athletic-looking male who towered over me. As I shook his hand, I judged he was at least 6'6" tall. Walking back to the consultation room with him, just to be friendly and warm things up, I said, "I promise not to ask you if you ever played basketball in school!"
Exposing the Bias for Acupuncture
A pair of papers published recently in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine challenge the United Kingdom's NICE clinical practice guidelines for osteoarthritis of the knee, specifically the guideline's recommendation against the use of acupuncture as a treatment option for knee OA.
An Acupuncture Parallel in the Everyday
It was a breezy spring evening in San Francisco when I stepped out of the car in front of Quince restaurant. As I walked toward the front entrance, I could not help but notice the well-groomed trees, and neatly swept sidewalk.
Penetrating the Myserious: Strange Diseases & Hidden Qi
Often the root of our problems come not from what we can identify and explain, but from a deeper, hidden place. This is true for both physical problems as well as mental-emotional issues.
Canada Keeps Cutting Chiropractic
Manitoba is the only remaining Canadian province that covers a portion of chiropractic care for all residents, but a new funding formula effective June 1 cuts $4.8 million from Manitoba Health's annual subsidies for chiropractic.
University of Missouri Adds Chiropractic
The Missouri Orthopedic Institute, a branch of the University of Missouri (MU) Health Care System, has added chiropractic to its list of available services and named K. Jeffrey Miller, DC, MBA and Jose Ramirez, DC, MS, CCSP, assistant professors of chiropractic.
3 Reasons Patients Fire You
Any successful DC knows the secret to running a thriving practice involves having patients who return time and time again for your health-related services. But how do you get them to want to continue to walk in your door? You keep them satisfied.
A Herbal Guide for Digestive Complaints
One of the most common presentations in the clinical setting is digestive complaints. Almost daily I see patients presenting with a wide array of digestive issues ranging from simple issues such as gas or bloating to complex issues such as IBS or chronic food allergies.
Let's Restore Ilium Motion
If you are a practitioner who routinely evaluates sacroiliac function during standing hip flexion, you should notice the loss of sacroiliac motion on one or both sides following lumbar spinal injury, dysfunction or degeneration.
Coding for Maintenance Care
You are indeed correct that S8990 is indeed a code for maintenance for physical therapy or manipulation. It is a Health Care Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code and not part of the CPT coding set. HCPCS is a collection of codes that represent procedures, supplies, products and services which may be provided to Medicare beneficiaries and individuals enrolled in private health insurance programs.
Senior Care: Don't Forget the Feet
A number of significant health conditions begin to have a greater impact on our patients as they age. Some of these are not immediately symptomatic, and often patients are unaware of the deterioration until they develop a loss of functional capacity and independence.
A Better Way to Treat Back Pain
Eight out of 10 people will experience back pain at some point in their life.1 Lower back injuries are seen in patients who are sedentary or athletic or even those whose jobs require no sitting at all, including 37 percent of school-aged children.1
Prescription Rights: Be Careful What You Wish For (Part 2)
Some chiropractors hold the view that if given the authority to prescribe drugs, they would also have the right to counsel patients to modify or stop the use of at least some of the drugs prescribed by other professionals.
Chronic LBP: New Study Suggests Orthotics Can Help
A new study touted as "the first large-scale clinical trial assessing orthotics for treatment of LBP" suggests custom orthotics are an effective treatment option, alone or in combination with chiropractic care, for relieving pain and improving function in patients with chronic low back pain.
Integrative Healthcare: An East West Perspective
Acupuncture and Oriental medicine schools educate their students to understand that a patient's specific health concerns are important to understand, as well as the patient's more general concerns about elevating personal stress levels in navigating the health care system.
A Name Change Will Save Our Profession
When the art and science of chiropractic was established in 1895, the art and science of marketing, advertising and public relations was virtually nonexistent.
Tackling the Opioid Crisis: Big Insurance Victory for Rhode Island DCs
Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo has signed legislation requiring insurers to reimburse chiropractors for medically necessary non-opioid pain treatments.
Kudos to Consumer Reports
A well-rounded discussion of back pain, the problems with traditional treatment and the benefits of conservative care including spinal manipulation – now wouldn't that be great?
Denied Care: The Art of the Appeal (Pt. 1)
One of my patients was involved in an accident that left him permanently disabled. Although he finds welcome relief through an evidence-based, integrated approach to his injuries, the managed care organization (MCO) denied his care.
The Yang of Stress & Fat: Hormones Worth Monitoring in Your Patients
There are many risks associated with obesity, some even severe enough to lead to death, such as a heart attack or stroke.
Coming to a Hospital Near You: Acupuncture
Revised pain management assessment and management standards1 by The Joint Commission require accredited hospitals to "provide nonpharmacologic pain treatment modalities" as a necessary performance element.
Needling in Nepal: World Healing Exchange
In 2009 Acupuncturists Without Borders (AWB) traveled to Nepal for the first-ever "World Healing Exchange" trip. While they were there they visited rural villages, met with traditional healers of the region (particularly traditional Tibetan medicine healers), and got to know the acupuncture community.
Treating Gulf War Illness: The Lasting Effects of Desert Shield/Storm
Clinical and registry programs indicate that 25 percent of the 700,000 veterans of the first Gulf War (Operation Desert Shield/Storm, years 1990-1991), have been affected by clusters of symptoms, and co-morbid medical diagnoses.
The News Shaping Your Future
As Ferris Bueller said during his infamous "day off," "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." Such is the case with the most recent events shaping the role of chiropractic in America's health care.
News in Brief
National, Western States Forge CE Partnership; New Appointments at NYCC; Core Products Acquires Swede-O.
The Wellness Center Solution
Most of us didn't go to chiropractic school for the money. We did it because we genuinely wanted to be doctors. The dream of one day opening our own practice and having our own patients?
What's Causing That LBP? Facets vs. Discs vs. the SI Joint
Let's discuss some simple ways to differentiate the three major spinal joint sources of low back pain a chiropractor needs to address. Differential diagnosis is one of the keys to accuracy and success.
December, 2003, Vol. 03, Issue 12
Raging Water, Raging Fear
By Donna Snow Spears, LMT, NCTMB
Little did I know what lay ahead as I packed for my first advanced CranioSacral Bio-Aquatic workshop in the Bahamas. In hindsight, I believe my journey to self-discovery in the waters of the Bahamas was well choreographed by my personal angels - not one thing was by happenstance - and although I did not know it at the time, the universe would teach me many lessons.
At the small airport in Daytona Beach, I saw the twin-engine plane as it glided up the tarmac with its proud face slanted upward toward the sky.My plane! An hour later, I was in Freeport. All of my preconceived expectations were blown within the first hour of my arrival, one of which was the unpredictable and temperamental weather that would ultimately set the brutal stage for my process of self-discovery. Only later did I realize that the stormy water was divinely prepared to help purge the fears lodged deep in my subconscious. Oddly, I do not remember thinking that the threatening weather and rough water would be a deterrent to me.
Bio-Aquatic Therapy (Day One)
The captivating "swim with the dolphins" began with a car ride to Port Lucaya, then a relaxing boat ride over clear "glass-like" water. In groups of six, we spent 20 minutes "playing" with trained dolphins. The sweetness of these beings still resonates in my thoughts. A morsel of fish rewarded and promoted their favorable behavior and, notably, the disposition and happiness that radiated from the dolphins indicated their true enjoyment of our company. I believe we are no different as humans in our need for our "morsels."
Unmasking the Fearful Unknown - Ocean Therapy (Day Two)
I eyed the storm clouds on the horizon as we approached the dark, churning water. Once in the water, my footing was uneven because of the coral rock ocean floor; still, I felt unreasonably secure about proceeding into the world's largest washing machine.
Twelve of us were divided into three teams, and we looked at each other in procrastinating apprehension. Fool that I am, I volunteered to participate first. I kicked my feet up and lay back into the water, explaining that I don't float well. I floated for a moment, but not before stinging saline water drenched my face and sped up my nose and into my mouth. The fierce ocean had started its obnoxious therapy and did not wait for the rest of my team. A heavy arm plopped down and rested on me, and I felt heavy hands pushing me down. I cursed and flipped the hands off my body, repeating that I don't float well. My breath came quickly and without control; I was having an anxiety attack.
The sting of salt in my nose and eyes was overwhelming. Seeing my flailing, Dr. John [Upledger] shouted, "If you'll just try, you'll probably find that that is embryonic fluid going up your nose." Birth Trauma, I thought. With all the trust and respect that I have for this dear gentleman, at that panicky moment, I could not help my reaction. I quickly stood up and pushed the hands off of me. I withdrew from the session and asked somebody else to go.
I tried again a few moments later. I tried to lie back into the unrelenting waves but when the water hit my face, panic reared its ugly head again. I could hear my teammates telling me they were holding me up and it was my body that wanted to sink. I wondered what was happening and why I was so afraid. Then I became aware of an electric current generating from my solar plexus and surging to my heart; I felt it connecting with the sea, discharging from my solar plexus and heart, down my arms and out of my hands. The sensation grew with such intensity that I felt I was clinging to an electric eel in each hand. Its crescendo was accompanied by more energy shooting from the lateral aspects of my calves. My team immediately backed away and held a space. Bit by bit the energy discharged until it was gone. It was only minutes, but it seemed like an hour. I could not figure out what had just happened to me.
Later, during the afternoon discussion, I shared my experience everyone. I mentioned that I felt like my energy was balanced and peaceful, and that the shell that once separated my soul from the universe had been dissolved.
Facing Death (Day Three)
Standing on the beach, I studied the menacing clouds full of rain and lightening that loomed all around. With our sensory antennas at full mast, most of us went on into the raucous mocking waters. With my full (fool) mental regalia, I plunged right in, intending to face the part of myself that, prior to the day before, had been locked in my subconscious.
My breath became ragged as the familiar panic sunk into every cell in my body. My team knew me by now and grabbed onto me with a kind but unrelenting resolve to help get me through the moment. I begged Dr. John to help. Suddenly, I felt my head being pulled back into the water. I tried not to fight as the ocean washed over my face. The salt stung my sinuses and the water pounded its way down my throat. I tried to let go, but I felt that to do so would have certainly invited death.
"How much (expletive) water do I have to swallow?" I shouted, knowing that my real question was, "Do I have to die?" I knew that to let go would invite drowning.
"I don't (expletive) know!" Dr. John hollered right back.
I didn't know what to do! Give in and drown? "Why am I under the water?," my brain screamed at me. Throngs of hands were hanging on to me, trying to help, and I wondered again if I had to die. Then a voice behind me said, "Donna, you died in another lifetime. You don't have to die in this one. Just let go!" Those words made the difference. I let go and let the water own me. Fear loosened its grip, and the moment was over.
After several moments, the abundance of seawater that I had gulped made its presence known. Nausea. Suddenly, a therapists' palm was firmly planted in my stomach. I yelled in pain and began retching repeatedly. When I was done, I released an angry, primal roaring scream from the center of my soul; a force that had been pent up in my spirit was released. I had heard classmates release by screaming loud enough to curl your hair, but I had not felt compelled to do; however, it was incredibly satisfying and grounding, and I sensed, it brought closure to the session.
"How do you feel?" Dr. John asked at the discussion later that afternoon.
"My energy feels very smooth, not the 'core' tired like I had at the beginning of the year where there seems to be no reserve from which to draw. I couldn't feel better, aside from a very tender stomach," I added.
Salt water, it seems, helps cleanse us on many levels with a conductivity that speeds the process.
Sweet Resolution (Final Day)
There were no threatening clouds, and the ocean was more peaceful, though it still offered up buffeting waves. I welcomed the sun, and I was determined to know if I had completed my process. It was my turn.
I asked my team of seasoned therapists to let my body sink - if that is what it wanted to do. To do so would allow me to be sure I had completed my process of facing my fear of water in this particular lifetime. I floated on my back peacefully and surrendered to the water, my team, and whatever the universe wanted of me. I sensed my body balancing and releasing in ripples, while the therapist's hands worked intuitively. I thought about how amazing my teammates were and marveled at the body's desire to make itself right.
My thoughts were guided gently to an old, mysterious undercurrent in my soul where loneliness - an ancient longing within me - had been a driving force that I could never control or understand. I connected with this elusive phantom and ever-present demon. Suddenly, I felt gripping heart pain! I jerked my consciousness into the center of the nauseating and breath-robbing constriction in my upper chest. "I'm dying again," I thought. I could not breathe, and my heart felt heavy and sick.
In my mind's eye, the pain appeared as a corpse. I felt my scoliosis strain in its position and with it, I saw tissues and cords of light pulling together, choking my heart. I realized I had perished in one lifetime of a broken heart! Upon realizing this, the tension in my left side began to subside. I felt my spine release! My tears flowed and blended with the motherly sea that caressed me in her bosom. Gratitude overcame me at this self-realization; emanations from this death - a longing for someone or someplace that was wrenched from me - were free from my subconscious. Another memory from a past life would no longer be a driving force in this life. I opened my soul to the universe again.
In my mind's eye appeared a great spirit, a great orca. The vision floated before me and our thoughts blended. He allowed his great body to list slightly as though relaxing in the support of the water and his message came to me: Cease resistance to the water. In a few seconds, the boundary that was once my skin vanished, and the saline current blended completely and peacefully with my blood, mind and soul. I was aware of every nuance that is the ocean's whim. Every ripple and splash was inside of me. I perceived my transparent aqua body and saw the sunlight dancing, piercing through to form its undulating patterns on the sandy ocean floor. I sensed the plankton, the minnows, and invertebrates; every living thing was communicating to me through the salty matrix. I sensed my team's energy as they began to withdraw from me. They backed away, gently holding a space, and I floated peacefully in the company of the universe to freedom.
Why would someone go through such a process? Well, it was not a tribulation, and the existential value is directly equal to the results. For me, the results are lucid thoughts and a peaceful soul that has somehow blended with the vast universe.
The intrinsic value of this endeavor was moving closer to the real person I am and discovering a powerful inner being - the kind that exists in all of us. At the same time, I feel as though I have been "promoted" to a newborn, learning about a new world.
To quote my mentor's parting words to this class, "There is a lot of good in every one of us." In that process, I learned of a new and better way to live in the universe.
Donna Snow Spears is a massage therapist in Ormond Beach, Fla. She specializes in neuromuscular therapy and has been studying CranioSacral Therapy at the Upledger Institute for the past four years. She looks forward to completing the CranioSacral diplomat certification in the near future.
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David Ferguson
- Academic Chair
- Distinguished Service Professor
Associate Provost for Diversity and Inclusion
- Office Location: 1431 Computer Science
- Office Phone: (631) 632-8763
- Email: email@example.com
- Homepage: http://www.stonybrook.edu/est
David Ferguson is a Distinguished Service Professor of Technology and Society and Applied Mathematics and Statistics at Stony Brook Univeristy. Currently, he is chair of the Department of Technology and Society. His research and teaching are intertwined and focus on issues of Quantitative reasoning; Problem solving; Use and assessment of educational technologies; Technology in mathematics, science and engineering education; and Decision Making.
Dr. Ferguson has held many funded research and special projects. He co-directed the NSF-supported Algorithm Discovery Development project and two NSF-funded Faculty Enhancement workshops on the teaching of introductory computer science courses. Under support from the Sloan Foundation, he developed a course in Applications of Mathematics for liberal arts students. He also co-designed and co-taught a multidisciplinary course, jointly offered by Biological Sciences and the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, on Computer Modeling of Biological Systems. He was a co-PI on a multi-campus project, funded by NSF, on Mathematical Sciences and Their Applications Throughout the Curriculum. Currently, he is co-PI on two NSF-funded educational technology projects:
- MathThread project to study the learning and teaching of mathematics via distance learning
- Project on Innovative Approaches to Computer-Human Interfaces.
In addition, he has developed a variety of curricular materials to help undergraduates improve their quantitative reasoning.
At the graduate level, Professor Ferguson teaches courses in educational technology and decision making. He supervises projects in such areas as advanced technologies in the learning and teaching of mathematics, science and engineering; problem solving in a variety of content areas; computer-human interfaces; quantitative models in decision making; and teacher and faculty development.
In 1992, Professor Ferguson received the State University of New York Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching. He is a New York State and national leader in programs to enhance the participation of underrepresented minority students in undergraduate and graduate science, mathematics, engineering, and technology programs. Dr. Ferguson was a member of the executive committee of the NSF- supported Recognition Award for the Integration of Research and Education (RAIRE). From 1998 until 2002, Dr. Ferguson directed Stony Brook's Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT). He enjoys the very diverse learning environment where educators, engineers, enviromental professionals, and current, as well as emerging managers, learn collaboratively.

subset: commoncrawl


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The University of Arizona
Advanced Search
Stitching Rites
Colcha Embroidery along the Northern Rio Grande
Suzanne P MacAulay
188 pp. / 6.00 in x 9.00 in / 2000
Cloth (978-0-8165-2029-9) [
Cloth ($40.00)
Related Interest
Latina and Latino Studies
In the San Luis Valley of southern Colorado, there thrives a folk tradition with links to both the past and future.
Colcha embroidery is a traditional Spanish colonial style of textile, bed
For anyone interested in colcha this is the book to read for enjoyment and to gain a true understanding of the art of a people.
—Tradición Revista
covering, or wall hanging dating from the early nineteenth century. In the first book to consider this craft, Suzanne MacAulay provides a detailed account of this folk art tradition that is both old and constantly renewing itself, presenting a sensitive portrayal of artists and the contexts in which they live and work.
Stitching Rites
reveals how art, history, and memory interweave in a rich creative web. Based on archival research and on extensive interviews with artists, the book reveals the personal motivations of the embroiderers and their relationships with their work, with each other, with their community, and with outsiders. Through stitchers like Josephine Lobato and the San Luis Ladies Sewing Circle, MacAulay shows how colcha creation is bound up in a perpetual round of cultural commentary and self-reflection.
MacAulay includes detailed descriptions of changes in stitching techniques, themes, and styles to show the impact of a wide range of outside influences on the lives of the artists and on the art form. She also provides a discussion of New Mexican Carson colchas and their place in the collector market. By focusing on the individual creative act, she shows how colcha embroidery is used to record how a stitcher's memories of her life are intertwined with the history of her community.
Through this picture of a community of embroiderers, MacAulay helps us to understand their stitching rites and sheds new light on the relationship between Hispanic and Anglo cultures.
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© 2000 The University of Arizona Press
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Marijuana dispensary goes up in flames; Investigators say Arson
ARCATA-Law enforcement officials are investigating the motive behind an arson at a Marijuana dispensary in Arcata. The illegal dispensary caught fire early Monday morning and has been determined as arson by fire investigators.
Arcata Fire were dispatched to the scene at 5:20 a.m. on the corner of 4th and H Street. Battalion Chief Sean Campbell said the back door was open when crews arrived on scene and said there was evidence of a forced entry. Investigators have determined that there were two separate fires inside the home in two different rooms. Campbell said the two different points of origin are suspicious in nature.
The owner of the home had been operating the residence as a cannabis dispensary, but did not have business license by the city.
Arcata Police Sgt. Todd Dokweiler said the department is interviewing witnesses and looking at security footage from around the property. Dokweiler said the crime is still under investigation.


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Marilyn Shepperson
Marilyn Shepperson (4th September 1949 / Hounslow. Middx)
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A Mouse
He had eaten his fill
Of the food left uncovered
In the pantry, by the busy wife
Whom in her haste
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YORKSHIRE Sculpture Park has seen its Grade II listed Chapel undergo two phases of restoration by a York specialist.
York-based William Anelay completed work on St Bartholomew's Chapel in the Wakefield park.
The initial phase of the project began in August 2013 and ran over a six-month period encompassing masonry, re-roofing, external decorations and groundworks to make the chapel watertight.
A second phase was initiated later in the year to provide improvements to lighting, heating and ventilation.
The Chapel, built by Sir William Wentworth in 1744, has now been transformed into a gallery and arts space.
William Anelay's contracts manager Nigel Kynaston said: "This is a wonderful and much loved chapel within the grounds of Yorkshire Sculpture Park that required some urgent refurbishment.
"We're delighted to have played our part in preserving such an important building which will be enjoyed by thousands of visitors in the years to come."


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What is in this article?:
- Cambrios Technologies Strikes Gold with Silver Nanowires
- Not Afraid to Fail
CEO John LeMoncheck is using tiny silver nanowires to build a major presence for Cambrios Technologies in the booming touch screen market.
Not being afraid of failing, knowing you have to move fast and having great competitors will really keep you on your toes."
- John LeMoncheck
Title: President and CEO
Organization: Cambrios Technologies Corp.
Professional background: More than 20 years in the high-tech electronics industry, including executive experience with SIBEAM, Silicon Image, TeraLogic and Arithmos.
The IndustryWeek Manufacturing Leader of the Week highlights the manufacturing leaders, executives and stars who are driving growth in today's industry and helping to shape the future of manufacturing.
A few years ago, Cambrios Technologies found that its product, a conductive coating used in touch-sensitive display screens, was suddenly not performing as well as it had previously. Their investigation turned up the fact that one of its materials suppliers had improved its product by removing some of the impurities. It turned out, though, that the "impurities" were the active ingredient in the product that helped its performance.
Cambrios was able to jump on the problem and solve it quickly, says President and CEO John LeMoncheck, because of a "tight coupling" between manufacturing and engineering. Indeed, he says Cambrios was able to file a patent because of its investigation into the issue.
That close relationship between product development and production of the product has been under attack in recent years as many manufacturers kept their R&D in the United States but moved the bulk of their manufacturing to Asia. And that view of the value of manufacturing activity is even rarer in Silicon Valley, where Cambrios Technologies has its home.
LeMoncheck says he is enjoying this close knit production environment, contrasting it with his earlier work experience "as a fabless semiconductor guy sending an electronic data file over to Taiwan and then hoping they do it right and send me back chips."
It's a potent mix of research, process development and agile leadership that has Cambrios Technologies, based in Sunnyvale, Calif., on the leading edge of the massive growth in touch-sensitive display screens. That market was ignited by the Apple iPhone in 2007 and just the smartphone segment is forecast by TechNavio to grow more than 10% a year through 2019.
"Touch on cell phones, tablets and so forth is a huge market," says LeMoncheck. "You need a transparent conductor to sense your finger touching the screen but not get in the way of the display behind it."
Cambrios creates very fine wires of silver – these nanowires are just tens of nanometers in diameter and tens of microns long– and immerses them in a coating that can be applied to various materials to create a conductive layer. The wires form a mesh – LeMoncheck likens them to "long threads of silver spaghetti" - that is not visible to the eye. This transparency allows the coating to be used on screens without blocking the display image.
Touch screens traditionally have used a conductive layer formed from indium tin oxide (ITO). Since ITO is a ceramic, LeMoncheck says, it must be vapor deposited under extreme heat and pressure. That works for glass but not more fragile materials. Cambrios' technology, however, can be coated on plastic at room temperature.
"You can make a thinner, much lighter touchscreen using our silver nanowires," LeMoncheck says. And since silver is more abundant than indium, a rare earth, it offers a price advantage.
See IndustryWeek's Previous Manufacturing Leaders of the Week
But LeMoncheck said Cambrios was careful not to base its approach to the market on simply being cheaper than ITO, but to look for an inherent advantage in the application of its technology
Happily for Cambrios, consumer electronics firms have been moving to larger touch screens. That was spurred by Microsoft's introduction of Windows 8, an operating system that uses touch for laptops as well as tablets and smartphones. As these screens get larger, the need for better conductivity to provide adequate response time increases. Since silver is so conductive, Cambrios' technology offered a good fit with these products.
Cambrios supplies its coating product to companies such as 3M, Hitachi Chemical, Samsung and others who then apply it to film. This coated product was supplied to LG for its 23-inch all-in-one computer, the launch vehicle for Windows 8 four years ago. Other computer firms adopting Cambrios' technology include Lenovo, HP, Acer and Toshiba. LeMoncheck estimates that the company has roughly 15% of the large-area touch screen market.
LeMoncheck knows the consumer electronics and high tech world well. Before joining Cambrios, he was president and CEO of SiBEAM, a pioneer and leader in millimeter-wave technologies for wireless communications. Prior to SiBEAM, he was vice president at Silicon Image, where he led the company's launch and commercialization of the HDMI standard. He has a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from U.C. San Diego and spent several years researching VLSI for imaging and pattern recognition applications at Caltech.
LeMoncheck says Cambrios is also making inroads into products with smaller screens. That is being spurred by efforts to make screens from plastics that are flexible and less fragile than glass.
"There is a lot of discussion now about curved devices for wearables, flexible phones, even things that you can actually fold in half. Imagine an 8-inch tablet that you can fold up and put in your pocket like a cell phone," said LeMoncheck. "These devices are coming and a lot of that technology is being enabled by our material."
Cambrios is also moving into other markets where transparent or flexible conductors are needed. For example, its material is used by Suntrica, a Finnish manufacturer of portable solar charging products used for camping and other applications. LeMoncheck says that solar offer a "great market" for Cambrios because its technology can be used to reduce the weight of solar panels.
"There are a lot of places you would like to retrofit with solar that just can't bear the weight of these big, heavy cells," he said, citing applications such as bus canopies and tents.
On November 17, Cambrios entered the medical device field, providing its ClearOhm films to Sigmascreening and Claymount, both Netherlands-based manufacturers, for use in a new mammography device that promises to offer women a less painful examination. The Sensitive Sigma Paddle is a compression plate that senses the size of the patient's breast and the stiffness of her breast tissue. The flexible conductor material provided by Cambrios enables the X-ray sensor film used in the paddle.
"This tray is flexible and cushioned so it can sense and conform to the woman and just is not as uncomfortable," LeMoncheck explained, adding that the new trays will be shipped with GE mammography machines in early 2016.


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Ice Cream Craze 3
Ice Cream Craze 3
Description: As Anna's ice cream empire prospers, a dangerous force threatens the rest of the world. Dr. Bane, a renowned super genius, has developed a line of ice cream made entirely of artificial chemicals. Determined to stop him, Anna decides to create her own all-natural brand. Guide Anna through unique challenges, find deals on delicious ingredients, uncover hidden bonuses, and make the right decisions to boost your business.. Ice Cream Craze 3 is a Food Games.
Instructions: This game is played with mouse only..
Category: Food Games
Played: 5,943
Favorite: ADD TO FAVORITES


text: The most recent short interest data has been released by the NASDAQ for the 08/30/2013 settlement date, which shows a 474,445 share increase in total short interest for KapStone Paper & Packaging Corp ( KS), to 1,928,908, an increase of 32.62% since 08/15/2013. Total short interest is just one way to look at short data; another metric that we here at Dividend Channel find particularly useful is the "days to cover" metric because it considers both the total shares short and the average daily volume of shares traded. The number of shares short is then compared to the average daily volume, in order to calculate the total number of trading days (at the average volume) it would take to close out all of the open short positions if every share traded represented a short position being closed. Average daily volume for KS at the 08/30/2013 settlement decreased to 301,867, as compared to 359,513 at the 08/15/2013 report. That brought "days to cover" up to 6.39, a 57.95% increase from the 4.05 days to cover calculated at the previous short interest data release.


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Globe and Mail: Answer from Dr. Marjorie Dixon, fertility specialist and member of the expert panel on infertility and adoption:
This is an excellent question for which I have no logical answer. A blocked vas deferens is not exactly the same as blocked fallopian tubes, but in principle, it is similar. Often, the blockage occurs as a result of infection with STI's such as gonorrhea or chlamydia. Alternately, the blockage or absence is due to prior surgeries, trauma or simply a congenital issue (noted from birth). Nevertheless, it is currently not covered by OHIP. In our research for the recommendations of the panel regarding male infertility, it became clear that there is room for improvement in all aspects of this coverage. It should also be noted that though IVF was previously delisted (in 1994) for a host of female infertility indications, it was never their practice to cover male fertility. Whether this sets the stage for the Human Rights Commission is not for me to answer.
Comment From Michel: Hello, this is probably off-topic a bit...I am a quadriplegic, and my wife and I had a child who is now a terrific 12 year old girl. We have not yet told her that she was conceived with donor sperm, partly because we felt she should be mature enough to work out some of these implications with us, and partly out of fear of her reaction to this important issue in her life...any thoughts?
Comment From Chris: To Michel re: donor sperm... The information about her conception belongs to her, you and your wife are merely the guardians of it until she knows. We told our son when he was 3 so he will always know. Our friends told their boys at age 13, with sensitivity and openness. They are fine. Most important is that you DO tell her, and that you remain open to communicating about it on her terms.
Globe and Mail: A question from a reader: Dr. Leader, could you explain a bit more about the panel's stance on legalizing the sale of donor eggs in Canada?
Globe and Mail: Dr. Art Leader: The panel is not asking that the sale of eggs be legalized. It is recommending that compensation be broadened from just receipt able expenses to such reasonable costs as time lost from work, travel time and child care expenses.
Globe and Mail: One of our commenters noted: "If the province is going to pay for in vitro, then I think that it should also pay for birth control. Fair is fair." Dr. Leader, what's your take on that?
Globe and Mail: Dr. Art Leader: The panel recommended that procedures, not drugs be paid for by OHIP. For anyone who cannot afford medications, there is a drug benefit program in operation and we recommended its expansion or a tax credit to cover IVF-related drugs.
Comment From Lynn: In response to Michel's comment: When we went through the process of possibly needing donor sperm the counselor suggested to us that it would be best for them to grow up knowing, it would be normal to them that way, instead of a big shock when they are older
Comment From sandi: how long before we find out if they will pass the ivf bill and when will we know if it will be covered or not?
Globe and Mail: From Jennifer MacMillan: Hi Sandi, thanks for your question. Both Premier Dalton McGuinty and Minister of Child and Youth Services Deb Matthews have confirmed the report is currently under review by the Ontario government. The recommendations are just that at this point, and no timeline has yet been attached for approving/implementing them.
Comment From Tess B.: Isn't this recommendation only for the province of Ontario? In Calgary, where my husband an I went to have our IVF/ICSI done, the fertility clinic has created a not for profit organization aimed to help less fortunate couples to have their own. As far as I know, application are screened and there are criteria before they get accepted. And as far as whether my twin sons' awareness how they come to life, we will deal with it later when they are big enough to understand. Right now, their focus is the joy being in a kindergarten class.
Globe and Mail: From Jennifer MacMillan: Yes, you're right Tess. This report applies only to the province of Ontario. Quebec is the only other province that has taken big steps forward in funding IVF. Their National Assembly passed Bill 26, which provides funding for up to three rounds of IVF, in late June.Report Typo/Error


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Get an overview of this hotel3-star Cochin hotel in Fort Kochi with free breakfast
Popular property highlights
Located in Fort Kochi, this hotel is within a 10-minute walk of Santa Cruz Cathedral, Chinese Fishing Nets, and St. Francis Church. Fort Kochi Beach and Jain Temple are also within 1 mi (2 km).
Hotel Features
Along with a restaurant, this hotel has dry cleaning and free breakfast. Free WiFi in public areas and free self parking are also provided.
Room Amenities
All 15 rooms boast fireplaces and offer refrigerators and TVs. Guests will also find room service, free bottled water, and ceiling fans.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!Opens in a new window
Bright Heritage
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
The hotel offers a restaurant. A complimentary breakfast is offered each morning. Wireless Internet access is complimentary. This Cochin hotel also offers dry cleaning/laundry services, room service (during limited hours), and shopping on site. Onsite self parking is complimentary.
- Total number of rooms - 15
- Free breakfast
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Free WiFi
- Restaurant
- Free self parking
- Shopping on site
Family Friendly Amenities
- Family Hotel
- Free Wi-Fi
- Refrigerator
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Free self parking
Room Amenities
- Fireplace
- Ceiling fan
- Air conditioning
- Phone
- Free bottled water
- Refrigerator
- Daily housekeeping
- Free toiletries
- Desk
- Television
- Room service (limited hours)
- Separate bedroom
- Rollaway/extra beds (surcharge)
Where to Eat
Guests are offered a complimentary continental breakfast each morning.
Bright Heritage has a restaurant on site.
Room service (during limited hours) is available.
Hotel Policies
Check-in time starts at noon
Special check-in instructions:
Check-out time is noon
Payment types
Children and extra beds
- Children are welcome.
- Rollaway/extra beds are available for INR 750 per stay.
- Cribs (infant beds) are not available.
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
No cribs (infant beds) available
Please note: To comply with local law, no alcohol will be served in this property on the first day of every month. For more details, please contact the office using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
Optional extras
- Rollaway bed fee: INR 750 per stay
Hotel Name
- Bright Heritage
- Bright Heritage Cochin
- Bright Heritage Hotel
- Bright Heritage Hotel Cochin
- Bright Heritage Kochi (Cochin), India - Kerala


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Sleep in sleek style
289 Beach Rd T: 6298 8505
The Pod brands itself as a "boutique capsule hotel" and you'll find it on the upper floors of a modern building on Beach Road, just around the corner from Arab Street in Kampong Glam. The look and feel of the entire place, from the gift-box presented Nespresso cartridges at the front desk (one cartridge per night!) through to the polished bathrooms with arty tiles underfoot, lends Pod a distinctly upmarket air.
Check rates at The Pod Boutique Hotel on Agoda.com
It does however also possess boutique pricing. Just as the Bunc hostels are a step up in quality and comfort from the more run-of-the-mill hostels in Singapore, Pod is a step up again from the Bunc style properties.
Two pod styles are available at Pod: front entry, where your feet face towards the corridor, and side entry where you sleep parallel to the hallway. We went with the latter and were glad we did as the front entry is considerably more claustrophobic. While the overall dimensions are the same, the side entry, with an entire side open, just feels are more spacious and comfortable.
Mattresses are firm with clean linen, and a small desk falls out the side of the wall. While this last feature looked good, in practice it wasn't comfortable to work at and we ended up just with our laptop on our lap. A swipe-key secured locker lies below the bed and, at least with the side entry bed, there was plenty of space to cram stuff in. The pod also has its own light, a single power outlet and access to the included good quality WiFi throughout the premises. Most importantly, each pod has a blind that can be pulled down to give more privacy.
Each floor has its own bathroom and with these facilities, which are really of a hotel standard, Pod Boutique leaps ahead of the rest — they're immaculate, spacious and extremely well looked after. Double thumbs up. The upper floor also has a DIY laundry room where you can do your laundry for free.
The one spot Pod falls down a little is the common area, which sits beside the lobby. It's a combined breakfast area and small lounge section and while it is comfortable enough, with 83 pods on site there is no way on earth it is big enough. It wasn't too busy on our visit but it really hasn't been designed in a way to make many people comfortable — so get there early!
Staff were competent but quite perfunctory — when we asked after the location of a cafe with WiFi, we were pointed to KFC, which was really not what we were after.
Overall we felt that Bunc was considerably better value mainly due to its larger common area and more spacious pods, but the Pod Boutique does have a bit more flair to it and if having extremely clean bathroom facilities are of a high concern, then you'll be glad you spent the extra money to stay here.
Check rates at The Pod Boutique Hotel on Agoda.com
By Stuart McDonald
Last updated on 3rd February, 2016.
A selection of some of our favourite sights and activities around Downtown Singapore.
The Travelfish newsletter is sent out every Monday and is jammed full of free advice for travel in Southeast Asia. You can see past issues here.


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Iconic Louisville Slugger bats get a makeover
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The familiar smell of hot dogs and freshly cut grass on Opening Day will be complemented by changes to the iconic Louisville Slugger bat, which is now made with firmer wood and stamped with a new logo.
The 129-year-old manufacturer hopes the harder bat, which is less likely to splinter, and more modern logo will help the family-owned company stay relevant in the sporting good supply market and ahead of competitors in luring younger ballplayers to its products.
The new logo is the first such change since the company dropped the "Hillerich & Bradsby" name from the center of its oval design and replaced it with "Louisville Slugger" in 1980. And the new bats, which are made from a high-grade wood and processed to enhance the surface's hardness, are the biggest change in the hardware since the introduction of cup-ended bats in 1972.
"You have to ask yourself, 'Do you really need to change it?' " Louisville Slugger CEO John Hillerich said. "Our greatest asset is our brand."
The changes were the result of a multi-year process that involved talking with everyone from corporate partners to players about what they wanted in a bat to how the new logo looked on the equipment.
The new bats — made of ash or maple — are designed to be harder than previous models. Bobby Hillerich, director of wood bat manufacturing for Louisville Slugger, said new selection processes for the wood, as well as drying and processing methods, have created a bat hard enough to reach a grade of "9h," the highest rating possible by the American Society for Testing and Materials.
Part of the aim of the new bat is to keep it from splintering. In recent years, baseball officials have been concerned about maple bats breaking or shattering, creating potential hazards for infielders. Bobby Hillerich said the new bats have held up well in tests.
"The crack of the bat is just so much different because of the drying process," Hillerich said.
Howard Smith, vice president of licensing for Major League Baseball, said players tested the new bats toward the end of the 2012 season and gave it "rave reviews." Louisville Slugger has refined bat-making to a science, Smith said.
"In terms of the slope of the grain, which determines how hard the wood will be, Louisville has been able to harvest the best wood with the most perfect as you can get slope of grain," Smith said. "It has absolutely contributed to less bats breaking on the field."
With the new bats comes a new look. The old Louisville Slugger logo — an oval featuring the company name at the center with the number "125" above it — is being replaced by a new logo that keeps the oval but slightly alters the look of the Louisville Slugger name and has an interlocking "LS" above it. The bats also will feature a player's signature boxed in by the Louisville Slugger name, the model number, a notation that the bat is genuine and the wood from which it is made.
Older bats featured the model number and the Louisville Slugger name in parallel lines around a player's signature.
"We saw the brand in need of a small bit of an infusion of modernity," said Kyle Schlegel, vice president of global marketing for Hillerich & Bradsby.


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Gilberto Silva has warned Wigan Athletic against prematurely celebrating reaching their first major final as Arsenal, after Tuesday's first-leg defeat, gear up to deliver a backlash in the semi-final return at Highbury this month.
The Arsenal team, including arguably only four first-team regulars, were beaten 1-0 at the JJB Stadium so that Wigan travel to the capital with a narrow advantage. The Brazilian World Cup winner was one of the more experienced members of Arsène Wenger's selection and he remains convinced the London side will recover their poise in the second leg and earn their passage to the final at the Millennium Stadium in February. "The next game will be totally different," said the midfielder. "We were disappointed with our display because we know we can play a lot better, but we still believe we can get to the final."
Wenger may consider fielding a stronger side for the second leg, despite insisting that his priority remains improving Arsenal's Premiership position and maintaining their challenge in the Champions League. "Maybe we do need some more experienced players to make us play a bit better," said Gilberto. "If we play with our experienced players we should not lose. When you have a lot of youngsters it can be very hard to keep the ball up front, but the manager believes in young players and they need experience."
Wigan will enjoy their first-leg advantage until attempting to secure their place in Cardiff in two weeks' time, with the locals fans left to toast a new hero after Tuesday's victory. Paul Scharner, a centre-half signed from the Norwegian club Brann Bergen last week for £1.5m, replaced the injured Lee McCulloch just after half an hour and played out of position in central midfield, emerging to head Wigan's winning goal with 12 minutes remaining. The Austria international, who conceded his country's decisive penalty to England in their World Cup qualifier at Old Trafford in October, grew up supporting Arsenal and still has hopes of playing for the club.
"If someone had said a couple of years ago that I'd be playing in a semi-final involving Arsenal, I would have dreamed it was for them," said the 25-year-old. "I would also have told them they were crazy.
"I didn't change shirts with anyone at the end because I want to present it to my family. Scoring the winner on my debut in a semi-final against Arsenal - I want to keep that one. Maybe one day I will be playing for Arsenal - I always enjoyed their games more than everyone else's when I grew up watching English football and it would be my dream to play for them.
"Now I have got the chance to play at Highbury in a fortnight in one of the last games there - I should go down early and do the stadium tour."
Scharner almost joined Birmingham City this season, though he has no regrets about playing his part in what has, so far, been a remarkable campaign for Wigan.
"I was very close to joining Birmingham but I think [the manager] Steve Bruce had a few problems getting the money," he said. "Then Wigan came in. I didn't know much about them but from the moment I had contact from them I had a good feeling about the place."


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text:
About the Book
The Hardcover 12" x 12" version (ISBN: 978-0-9872716-3-1), this beautiful Fine Art book by noted Australian photographic artist, Chris Armytage is filled with light and color and includes over 60 stunning original images from her portfolio, chosen by the Artist as her own personal favorites.
"Chris Armytage brings us images that glow with incomparable energy and compel us to look at the world through new eyes. Beauty, luminosity, tenderness, power; all present in Chris' work. It's a delight to see."
- Robin King, Artist, U.S.A.
Features & Details
- Category Fine Art
Large Square, 12×12 in, 30×30 cm
60 Pages
- Hardcover, Dust Jacket: 9781320577533
- Publish Date Oct 02, 2012
- Language English
- Tags square, 12x12, Hardcover, ChrisArmytage, book, portfolio, landscapes, seascapes, florals, flowers, fauna, animals, birds, whimsical, luminous, powerful, beauty, Daylesford, Victoria, Australia, purple, blue, green, yellow, white, pastel, pink, bright, orange, red, colorful, colourful, delightful, dust jacket, ISBN: 978-0-9872716-3-1, noted artist, collected works, Fine Art, Chris Armytage, photographic artist, digital manipulation
About the Creator
Chris Armytage is a self-taught photographic artist, resident in the Central Spa District of Victoria, Australia, Her work has been featured in solo exhibitions both within Australia and internationally, and she has recently been invited to submit her art for inclusion in Volume VI of "International Contemporary Masters".
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REALTOR®-supported federal legislation has been introduced to delay potential flood insurance rate increases and the reclassification of some at-risk properties. NAR has details on the proposed legislation [1] and IAR Housing Policy Advisor Sharon Gorrell writes about the issue and the work of several Illinois Congressmen in an IARbuzz blog post [2]. On the subject of flood insurance, IAR has a new form, Flood Insurance Disclosure to Buyer Clients [3] (No. 346) available for download.
IAR's leadership team met with top state officials [4] in Chicago last week to discuss real estate in Illinois. They met with acting director of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Manuel Flores as well as Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn.
The lure of owning a home and the financial and lifestyle benefits it affords are strong, even for homeowners who are struggling. A recent Fannie Mae survey [5] of delinquent buyers found that their views of homeownership are more favorable than a year ago.
You can still follow all of the action and ideas for your business with Conference Live 2013 [6], your one-stop spot for coverage of the event. You can also follow on Twitter with the hashtag #narannual.
The deadline to submit an application is Nov. 15. Click here [7] for details about the program and to download an application.
IAR offices in Springfield and the IAR Legal Hotline will be closed on Monday, Nov. 11 in observance of Veterans Day.
Now is the time of year when brokerages review year-end issues and look ahead to what will be important in the coming year. IAR Chief Legal Counsel Steve Bochenek highlightsseven issues [8] to be aware of including: termination dates for brokerage agreements, community association management and concealed carry in the latest D.R. Legal News [9].
Read about the latest disciplinary actions [10] taken by the Real Estate Division of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
[11]IAR is offering two fast-track options to help you earn credit for Course I so you can move directly to Course II this December. Take the new IAR Proficiency Exam [12] to earn full credit or take a course through the GRI Course I Equivalency Program [13]. Courses II, III and Grad are being held Dec. 2-5 at the Westin Chicago Northwest in Itasca. The deadline to register for the Chicagoland GRI courses is Nov. 22 and the last day to get a discount on hotel rooms is Friday.
By April 30, 2014, Illinois Broker licensees must have completed the CE requirements and applied to renew their license through IDFPR. IAR's Licensing & Training Center has created a Q&A and checklist [14] to help you get ready. This week's question:
Earn a professional designation and boost your professional skills and income potential. Learn more [16] about how you can begin earning a designation or certification. The Graduate REALTOR® Institute of Illinois (GRI) [17] is a good place to start and this year Courses II, III and Grad return to Chicagoland.
There are differences in the way men and women approach the process of buying a home and in what they value most about homeownership, according to a recent Prudential survey. One finding: women enjoy the home search more than men. Read more about the survey in realtor.org [18].
The groundwork laid by IAR's advocacy efforts can be long-lasting. In a recent IARbuzz blog post [19], GAD Howard Handler writes of repeated successes by REALTORS® to block real estate transfer stamps in various communities.
Read NAR President Gary Thomas' testimony [20] before the U.S. Senate Banking Committee on the need to keep mortgages available and affordable.
Illinois General Assembly Veto Session [21]
2013 NAR REALTORS® Conference & Expo in San Francisco [22]
IAR Licensing & Training Center Webinar [23]: Broker Pre-License Applied Real Estate Practices (15-hour interactive) with Norm Willoughby. REGISTER [24] | 800-523-5077 [25]
Graduate REALTOR® Institute (GRI) Courses II and III, Itasca [26]
Graduate REALTOR® Institute (GRI) Grad Course, Itasca [27]
Did you miss it?
Hot topics from last week:
[1] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/5717/5/
[2] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/5718/6/
[3] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/4130/7/
[4] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/5719/8/
[5] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/5720/9/
[6] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/2944/10/
[7] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/4924/11/
[8] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/5710/12/
[9] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/2171/13/
[10] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/5712/14/
[11] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/4570/15/
[12] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/5701/16/
[13] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/5702/17/
[14] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/5593/18/
[15] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/4232/19/
[16] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/5721/20/
[17] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/1793/21/
[18] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/5722/22/
[19] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/5723/23/
[20] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/5724/24/
[21] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/955/25/
[22] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/5455/26/
[23] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/2058/27/
[24] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/5465/28/
[25] tel:800-523-5077
[26] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/1793/29/
[27] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/4856/30/
[28] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/1769/31/
[29] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/5699/32/
[30] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/1568/33/
[31] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/3842/34/
[32] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/1810/35/
[33] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/5725/36/
[34] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/1793/37/
[35] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/5362/38/
[36] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/4570/39/
[37] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/5703/40/
[38] http://lyris.illinoisrealtor.org/t/350428/20157360/5716/41/


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Former MISS USA to Star in Super Bowl Ad From Kia Motors
Technology is an integral part of everyday life and advancing faster than ever. And when one unsuspecting auto enthusiast gets a little too touchy-feely with the all-new 2014 Kia Forte compact sedan in Kia Motors America's (KMA) latest Super Bowl ad, a futuristic robot played by former Miss USA Alyssa Campanella springs into action to help him learn an important lesson: Always respect the tech. "Hotbots" is scheduled to air during the third quarter of Super Bowl XLVII on February 3 and introduces the technology-laden Forte, which will offer the next iteration of Kia's hands-free infotainment and telematics system, UVO eServices, when it goes on sale in the coming months.
"The Super Bowl's audience of more than 100 million people has served as the perfect platform for launching many of Kia's most memorable ad campaigns over the past three years, resulting in higher consumer awareness for our brand and record-setting sales," said Michael Sprague, executive vice president, marketing & communications, KMA. "Everyone can relate to 'kicking the tires' at an auto show or in a showroom, and 'Hotbots' is sure to bring a smile to the faces of youthful car buyers seeking the technologies, connectivity and premium features found on the all-new 2014 Forte."
Created by David&Goliath, KMA's advertising agency of record, a special expanded version of "Hotbots" can be viewed now at YouTube.com/Kia. As one of the fastest growing car companies in the U.S. over the last five years[1], Kia returns as a Super Bowl advertiser for the fourth straight time, including the previously released "Space Babies" spot for the new 2014 Sorento CUV. "Hotbots" is a fully integrated marketing campaign incorporating TV, digital, print, social media and in-dealership components.


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30 Search Changes At Google
#1 Guest_rustybrick_*
Posted 06 January 2012 - 07:43 AM
Any thoughts on this recent Google blog post?
Posted 06 January 2012 - 08:36 AM
Image Search landing page quality signals. [launch codename "simple"] This is an improvement that analyzes various landing page signals for Image Search. We want to make sure that not only are we showing you the most relevant images, but we are also linking to the highest quality source pages.
Sounds like Panda for Images. That makes me worry that if you own an image and a "higher quality" site uses it, you'll no longer get your image shown in the image serps. Similar to the situation where content from pandalized sites were being outranked by the exact same content from scraper sites. Original content should never be usurped by another site either because Google thinks the other site is higher quality or because Google has demoted your own site to lower than low quality sites.
If the content (text, image, whatever) is public domain, sure, show me the content from the highest quality site if that makes you happy, Google, but if the content is owned by someone, show it to me from their site only.
My thought process on this particular change:
Improvements to image size signal. [launch codename "matter"] This is an improvement to how we use the size of images as a ranking signal in Image Search. With this change, you'll tend to see images with larger full-size versions.
Takeaway 1: If you want to rank better for images, make them bigger.
Takeaway 2: Bigger images get scraped more often, so now you can expect a "higher quality site" to steal the image and outrank you.
Posted 06 January 2012 - 09:47 AM
The result... they have decreased the ability of other people to mooch image search traffic with stolen images... and that increases the diversity of images in each image SERP.
I am happy about this.
I started a thread about this a few weeks ago...
Edited by EGOL, 06 January 2012 - 09:48 AM.
Posted 06 January 2012 - 11:18 AM
I see this as a smart marketing move by Google. It will keep the conversation going with a monthly 'approved' change log and allow them to direct if not control the conversation. And giving each change a 'public' code name!!! Sheer genius.
Free Manure!
Free Ripe Manure!!!
Free Ripe Hot Manure!!!
* for some existential definition of same, several terms and conditions apply, acceptance of sticky everlasting data strings implied...
Despite my facetious bit above I think this is very smart on Google's part. I also think that paying much attention to the monthly announcements would be counterproductive for most webdevs; a distraction from getting on with their own business.
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Latest content added for The Portal to Texas History Collection: George Ranch Museum Collectionhttps://texashistory.unt.edu/explore/collections/GR/browse/?fq=untl_decade:1850-18592006-01-26T10:27:17-06:00UNT LibrariesThis is a custom feed for browsing The Portal to Texas History Collection: George Ranch Museum Collection[Texas map, 1852]2006-01-26T10:27:17-06:00https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth7163/

Texas map, 1852. Titled "No. 13 Map of the State of Texas Engraved to Illustrate Mitchell's School and Family Geography."
[Broadside stock certificate]2006-01-26T10:27:17-06:00https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth7194/

Broadside stock certificate. Texas and German Emigration Company stock certificate, signed August 2, 1854.
[William Ryon wearing a dark jacket and cravat]2006-01-26T10:26:54-06:00https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth8295/

Pre-1971 copy of an original oval photograph of William Ryon. In the bust portrait, Ryon is wearing a dark jacket and vest with white shirt and dark cravat. His gray hair is thinning at the top and curls above his ears. The photograph is mounted on a tan cardboard substrate. Image dimensions are: 13.7 cm X 19.5 cm
[A photograph of Lizzie Lamar George and a photograph of Ezekial George]2006-01-26T10:26:54-06:00https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth8212/

The photograph is a copy of two separate photographs compiled into one. The photograph on left is portrait of Lizzie Lamar George taken by Kersting, Galveston (written on bottom of cardboard substrate of original). Lizzie was the third wife of Ezekial George. The oval portrait, shows Lizzie wearing a dark button front dress with rounded, velvet collar. She has a floral corsage pinned on her right shoulder. Her hair is loosely pulled up and back into a bun. The second photograph on right is a copy of an original tintype of Ezekial George. The tintype shows a bust portrait of George who has dark hair and mustache. The original tintype is cut in an oval and is placed in a folder. The back of the photo is stamped in magenta type: "A. S. Masterson Commercial Photography & Picture Framing Cathedral 7541 - San Antonio."
[Photograph of Lizzie Lamar George]2006-01-26T10:26:54-06:00https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth8206/

Photograph of Lizzie Lamar George. Lizzie was the third wife of Ezekiel George. The oval portrait shows Lizzie wearing a dark button front dress with a rounded, velvet collar. She has a floral corsage pinned on her right shoulder. She is wearing a long necklace and her hair is loosely pulled back into a bun. On bottom of substrate: "Kersting, Galveston".
[Photograph of Polly Ryon]2006-01-26T10:26:54-06:00https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth8284/

Photograph of Polly Ryon. In this portrait that has been made into an oval, Polly is wearing a black dress with high neck collar. Lace edges can be seen above the top of the black collar. Ryon has a gold neck chain fitted around the collar with ends that fall below the chest, where portrait ends. She has her dark hair parted down the center and pulled back into a tight bun. Ryon is wearing ear drop earrings.
[Bust portrait of William Ryon]2006-01-26T10:26:48-06:00https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth7453/

Bust portrait of William Ryon. The photograph is a copy from a book. William, who is dressed in a three piece suit, white shirt, and black ascot, has thinning hair that curls up over his ears. The picture has a thin black line bordering it. The photograph was placed in page 1 (top) of Mamie George's photo album.
[Two unidentified men sitting in wooden chairs with their legs crossed]2006-01-26T10:26:28-06:00https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth8817/

Tintype image of two unidentified men sitting in wooden chairs. Man on left is wearing knee high boots plaid pants, white shirt, jacket, and hat. He has his left ankle crossed over his right knee. He is holding a whiskey bottle in his left hand. The man on the left is wearing boots, dark pants (cuffed at the ankles), vest, jacket, white shirt, and hat. He has his left leg crossed over his right. His right arm is around the shoulders of the man to his right. The photo is securely taped in a white paper frame with oval cut. There is embossed pattern around the perimeter of the oval.


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'Deliver Us From Evil' Could Deliver Big at the Box Office
By ALEX UNGERMAN
July 02, 2014
With surprising summer hits like The Purge, and The Conjuring, some are calling summer "the new October" for releasing horror movies.
ET is with Eric Bana and Olivia Munn, stars of 'Deliver Us From Evil,' ahead of its weekend premiere.
Get their take on what makes audiences love to be scared at the movies.
More On: Deliver Us From Evil, Eric Bana, Olivia Munn


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Andrew Baggarly of CSNBayArea.com is reporting the San Francisco Giants have hired former big leaguer and former top prospect Todd Linden as a minor league coach.
The 33-year-old will serve as a hitting coach and will be spending his time at Augusta in the Low-A South Atlantic League. Linden will be mentoring some players in spring training and assisting Hector Borg.
During his five seasons with the Giants, Linden produced a .217 batting average with seven home runs and 28 RBI's in 373 at-bats.
According to a report from Korean news service, SBS, free agent right-handed pitcher Suk-Min Yoon had a throwing session in front of Giants and Baltimore Orioles scouts last Friday at the University of California-Irvine.
The 27-year-old won the 2011 MVP in the Korean Baseball Organization after recording a 2.45 ERA and 178 strikeouts in 172 1/3 innings. Yoon has been represented by agent Scott Boras since November 2011.
Tags: Baseball, MLB, San Francisco, San Francisco Giants


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Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra was among the Allied Forces that stormed the beaches of Normandy 70 years ago yesterday.
The 19 year old from St. Louis was part of a six-man crew operating a 36-foot landing craft support ship (LCSS). Their mission was to fire rockets at the German gun targets to protect Allied troops who were making their way on shore. Three of Yogi's young crew members died that fateful day, but Berra survived and the rest as they say is history. Not only the history of the World War II, but the beginning of an unbelievable life for Yogi.
Berra was honored yesterday by the museum that bears his name the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center in Montclair, New Jersey, the Navy and several veteran groups. Confined to a wheelchair the 89 year old Berra did not speak formally to the gathering, but did tell the Associated Press afterwards the horrors of that day including firing at Nazis just 300 yards from shore. Yogi explained their orders were never to hit the beach, but stay in the water and protect others.
Yogi was presented with a Quilt of Honor from the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation. The quilt bared Berra's likeness and had several quotes about his memories of that day.
Yogi Berra played 18 seasons for the Yankees from 1946-1963 and won 10 World Series Championships. He made 18 All-Star appearances, won 3 MVP titles and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972. That same year the Yankee organization retired his number 8 into Monument Park.
Berra was one of many Major Leaguers who were in the war and some other notable names like Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio lost years of playing time because of their military service.
We honor all the Army, Marine Corp, Navy and Air Force personnel who have defended this country and sacrificed so much so we can enjoy all the freedoms it has to offer.
Also . . .
Like Yankees 101 on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Google +
Tags: Baseball, MLB, New York, New York Yankees, Yogi Berra, Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center


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About AIF
The Atlantic Innovation Fund (AIF) was launched in 2001 to help Atlantic Canada grow its knowledge-based economy through increased research and development. The purpose of the fund is to:
- increase research and development (R&D) being carried out in Atlantic Canada research facilities leading to the launch of new products, processes and services;
- improve the region's capacity to commercialize R&D;
- strengthen the region's innovation system by supporting R&D and commercialization partnerships and alliances among private sector enterprises, universities, research institutions and other organizations in Atlantic Canada; and
- enhance the region's ability to access national R&D programs.
AIF encourages partnerships among private sector firms, universities, colleges and other research institutions to develop new or improved products and services. Hundreds of technologies, products, processes and services developed with the support of the AIF were successfully commercialized, resulting in millions of dollars in incremental sales. $195.5 million dollars has been invested in Newfoundland and Labrador through nine rounds of AIF. Of that amount, $85.6 million has been awarded to applicants from Memorial University. AIF is a Government of Canada program that is administered through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
AIF has recently undergone changes and interested researchers may now apply at any time. Researchers wishing to apply are asked to make their intentions known to RGCS well in advance through a Project Concept Template (PCT), prior to applying. RGCS serves as the main point of contact in the AIF application process.
For more information, contact:
Joy Carew, Manager, Institutional Research Programs, (709) 864-6891
Marc Kielley, Manager, Major Research Partnerships, (709) 864-2095
Click hereto read more about the changes to AIF application process.
Click here to read the announcement.


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Gun safety task force begins work
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A Rhode Island legislative commission has begun looking at ways to balance the Second Amendment with a desire to keep guns out of the hands of those with severe mental illness.
The Firearms Safety Task Force met for the first time Thursday to review state policies on the use of mental health records in gun background checks. Rhode Island currently does not share mental health records with the federal background check system.
Members say they want to strike a balance between gun rights and public safety without stigmatizing those who struggle with mental illness.
The task force includes lawmakers, mental health professionals, law enforcement officers and gun rights advocates.
The commission is set to report its findings to the General Assembly in January.
Image- Shutterstock Nomad_Soul


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Priceline (NASDAQ:PCLN) is one of America's great companies and success stories. It is a very popular online service that helps consumers shop for travel arrangements, and, in turn, for transportation and hospitality businesses to reach their clients. The corporation and its stock are known for generating wealth in recent years, closing today at $724.77, a decade after trading below $10 per share in 2003. As a winner, it may be associated with Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), AutoZone (NYSE:AZO), or Google (NASDAQ:GOOG). While it might be ironic that two out of three of those names also pose increasing threats to Priceline's future prospects, I am in agreement with two of the largest and most respected financial institutions that the company should be viewed favorably by investors.
Here is the ten year chart for PCLN, showing how the stock has performed:
A Barron's article is not optimistic, and cites increasing competition as a concern. It may be considered alongside Deutsche Bank's most recent research note reiterating a Hold rating placed on PCLN since 12/10/12, and providing a price target of $745. Expedia (NASDAQ:EXPE) is Priceline's rival, with pressure exerted by TripAdvisor (NASDAQ:TRIP), and Orbitz Worldwide (NYSE:OWW). Concern about Google is widespread. Barron's also adds that:
Wall Street's sanguine expectations mean that the disappointment could be severe if margins slip.
Sure enough, Jim Cramer and his staff at The Street like Priceline. For this article, the research of three highly regarded European firms, that all are also identified with Wall Street, is being utilized to assess the company's investment potential. UBS and Credit Suisse recommend the stock, and Deutsche Bank's methodology and insight is quite helpful.
UBS (April 1, 2013)
UBS has initiated coverage with an $825 price target and a Buy rating. In sum, it says the company's
Strengths include a strong intent to purchase travel on the part of Priceline's visitors and a reputation as one of the original disruptors of the traditional travel agency model. Offsetting this are increasing competitive pressures in the form of increased marketing spend to drive bookings…In particular, we expect the combination of the Booking.com and Agoda.com to outperform Expedia and the overall global online travel market…Over the next twelve months, we are more biased to the upside.
Priceline operates primarily through four global brands, all of which UBS views favorably:
- Priceline.com - Website known for its Name Your Own Price to North American leisure travelers.
- Booking.com - Global online hotel reservation service.
- Agoda.com - Hotel reservation service primarily focused in Asia-Pacific.
- Rentalcars.com - Global car rental service.
According to UBS,
The bull case around the OTAs (Online Travel Agents) is that they only comprise a mid-single digit percentage of hotel room nights sold on a global basis at present, and therefore there is a multiple year growth trajectory ahead for those businesses. Broadly, we agree...
UBS views the situation through a prism of Margins v. Investment, as Priceline "…Re-deploy(s) margin improvements into driving brand loyalty and more direct site traffic…significant acquisitions to increase international footprint have been made."
UBS is clear, and makes a compelling case that Priceline is a top operation and preferred over Expedia.
Despite the recent efforts of Expedia, on a pure operating basis, we expect the combination of the Booking.com and Agoda.com assets to outperform Expedia and the overall global online travel market from the period of 2012-2017… By 2015, we expect that Expedia will have EBITDA margins of 21.2% and FCF conversion of revenue of 16.3% (increases of 130bps and 80bps from our expected 2013 levels, respectively). During that same time period, we expect that Priceline will have EBITDA margins of 38.8% and FCF conversion of revenue of 31.4% (increases of 140bps and 100bps from 2013 levels, respectively). Also, Priceline lacks exposure to air travel (~2% of revenues) and organized corporate travel, businesses that impact the consolidated margins at Expedia.
Lower exposure to air transport is currently good. UBS adds that
the airline industry has recently become more disciplined in terms of capacity levels, resulting in an uptick for both occupancy and pricing levels…Additionally, given airlines tend to pay a flat fee to the OTAs (while hotels generally pay a percentage of the product price)…OTAs are not able to easily offset the lower airline seating capacity with benefits from improved pricing.
Credit Suisse (April 25, 2013)
Credit Suisse has an $886 Price Target and an Outperform rating. Its research note says,
We continue to believe PCLN shares are reflecting a scenario in which it will suffer online advertising deleverage and operating margin compression without giving the management team credit for finding ROI against what equates to an incremental $500+ million in online advertising spend between 2012/2013.
Paraphrasing Priceline's 10-K (17 of 160), it refers to this issue and risk factor:
Priceline has a need to maintain or enhance consumer awareness and acceptance of brands, and even if successful, it may not be cost-effective. There has been a significant increase in online advertising expense through recent years, which is expected to continue. Online advertising ROIs are down YoY.
Credit Suisse expects an increase from 275,000 properties at the time of its 4Q12 earnings, to over 300,000 properties when it reports:
Suggesting about 44.3% year-over-year growth in inventory… Also, the hotel room night mix is expected to shift away from Europe as our checks also suggest that Agoda.com grew its inventory in the AsiaPac region by 60%+…We have modeled Agoda to grow Gross Travel Bookings by ~45% ex-FX in 1Q13…Among dangers to Priceline's achievement of its $886 target: (1) economic uncertainty: any downturn in consumer sentiment could adversely affect travel bookings; (2) competition: Priceline is subject to intense competition...
Deutsche Bank (4/18/13)
Deutsche bank has had a Hold rating on the stock since 12/10/12, and currently has a $745 price target. Perhaps most pertinent for an options trade:
We expect Priceline to report upside to 1Q consensus and guide conservatively for 2Q13, as usual, the key question comes down to magnitude as buyside expectations are above consensus, and the recent upside has been below average…we expect similar ~300bps margin compression in the guidance, and then start to improve in late 2013 based on management's comments. Overall demand trends [occupancy and Average Daily Rates (ADRs)] in Europe largely remain unchanged from prior quarters, despite some of the macro grumblings following the Cyprus events and currency fluctuations.
The German firm bases its neutral thesis on:
1) Increasing competition from Expedia following its re-platforming,
2) Lower ROI from desktop search, and
3) Google's eventual aggressive move into the space…Google's increasing Hotel Finder push in Europe should be largely benign to financials but could impact sentiment.
The note also says that "Key risks include a slowdown in international travel, currency fluctuations and ADR declines." It is revising down estimates for total 2014 bookings -1% with a -.9% hit to gross margins.
For the clarity and ease of presentation, and also methodology that is agreeable, I currently favor Deutsche Bank's calculations. The firm uses an average of Implied Stock Prices based on (1) forward Adjusted EPS, $791; (2) forward Adjusted EBITDA, $711; and (3) forward FCF, $713 to calculate a 2013 $745 target price. For the purposes of valuing a stock, my preference is to use the following year's figures, and Deutsche Bank's forward estimates based on EPS is $917, on EBITDA is $849, and on FCF is $822. The result of averaging the three, which Deutsche Bank does not do for 2014, is $867.22. Data to produce price targets using the German firm's methods follows:
UBS's figures are:
- $2.44B 2014 FCF estimate, using 51M shares, $47.84/share (its uses a 13x EV/Cash Flow multiple).
- $2.97B 2014 EV estimate, their EV/EBITDA multiple is 12x.
- $47.82 2014 EPS, their multiple is 14.4.
Credit Suisse's figures:
- $2.207B 2014 FCF estimate, using 51M shares, we get $43.28 per share.
- $3.022B 2014 EV estimate, their EV/EBITDA multiple is N/A.
- $42.42 2014 adjusted EPS, their multiple is 16.5.
For the purpose of calculating a consensus, I am using an estimated 51M share count. This allows for the possibility of small buybacks, which is discussed in greater depth later. Without repurchasing, the number of shares outstanding is likely to be closer to 52M. All three firms use different tactics to arrive at their price targets. I am applying their data to part of Deutsche Bank's methodology in order to provide a 2014 consensus using an average of implied stock prices based on each's 2014E FCF and also EPS. This procedure deviates from firms' methods, which in turn are unique to each other. For example, it does not include Credit Suisse's Discounted Cash Flows and 2018E Terminal Value, or UBS's emphasis on Enterprise Value.
Forward Estimates
Credit Suisse
Deutsche Bank
2014 Free Cash Flow per Share
$47.84 (5.21% Yield)*
$43.28 (5.21% Yield)*
$45.23 (5.5% Target Yield)
2014 Earnings Per Share
$47.82 (14.4x)
$42.42 (16.5x)
$45.83 (20x)
2014 Target
($918.23+$688.61)/2 = $803.42
($830.71+699.93)/2 =$765.32
($917+$822)/2 = $869.50
Firm's Actual Target
$825 (12 months)
$886 (12 months)
$867.22 (applying 2014 estimates to 2013 methods)
Consensus (2014 Calculated Targets / Actual Target price)
$812.75 / $859.41
Sources: Current research notes for April, 2013. *yield calculation extrapolated and based on 5/3/13 closing share price of $724.77 and firm's 2013E FCF
I am comfortable using $812.75 as a 12 month price target for Priceline in consideration of these three banks' data and estimates. There is 12% upside from the current $724.77 price, and it is likely conservative, as it is lower than each of their actual projections. As much can happen in the course of a year, closer examination of fundamentals is needed. Further, confidence pertaining to Priceline's future margins is lacking. Apple needs results, having guided lightly. I think it could be nearly as formidable an entrant as Google.
Search engine algorithm changes could negatively impact Priceline's relative appearance in results, potentially decreasing traffic to sites and resulting revenue. Additionally, increased competition for key words could drive pay-per-click pricing higher, leading to higher traffic acquisition costs. Priceline obtains "Significant revenue through pay-per-click advertising campaigns on Internet search engines…(p. 23 of 160)." Google has launched a flight search tool that excludes OTAs within search results (p. 16 of 160). Current and potential competitors may be able to leverage search or mobile device businesses (p. 15 of 160). Apple, for example, has a new patent for "iTravel," a mobile app allowing a traveler to check in for a reservation, and offers "Passbook," a virtual wallet app that holds tickets, passes, and gift cards (Source: Priceline 10-K).
Also, some suppliers may offer exclusive product offerings and rewards programs at the supplier-owned sites only, which could make direct booking a more attractive option to traveler customers. One example of this threat is Room Key, an online hotel reservation service intended product launched by Choice Hotels International (CHH), Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt (H), InterContinental Hotels Group (NYSE:IHG), Wyndham Hotel Group (NYSE:WYN), Marriott (NYSE:MAR), La Quinta and Millennium, to drive consumers directly to the merchants' own web sites (10-K 16 of 160).
However, UBS
Believe(s) Priceline presents a compelling risk/reward at current valuations given [its] above industry growth forecasts and the potential for cash returns to shareholders (e.g., buybacks) following the close of the pending Kayak acquisition.
It is the only one of the three firms to explore the possibility of capital returns, and specifically repurchasing, in its most recent research note. In November, 2012, Priceline spent $1.3B in common stock and $500M in cash to acquire Kayak, and the deal is expected to close during the first half of 2013 (10-K 45 of 160). For its "Upside case scenario," UBS projects $2B in buybacks changing the outstanding share count from 51M to 48M in 2014. A review of Priceline's past share repurchase activity leads me to believe that this is optimistic.
As of December 31, 2012, we had remaining authorizations from our Board of Directors to repurchase $459.2 million of our common stock. We may from time to time make additional repurchases of our common stock, depending on prevailing market conditions, alternate uses of capital, and other factors (10-K 62 of 160).
Here is a table showing pertinent data in recent years:
Priceline Stockholders' Equity & Share Repurchase Data
(Numbers in 1,000s)
Treasury Stock Balance (Dec. 31)
Common Stock Balance (Dec. 31)
Stock-based Compensation and Payments
Repurchase of Common Stock
Source: Priceline 2012 10-K pp (81-2 of 160)
Let me remark that UBS recently released a statement saying that a significant return of cash to shareholders could result in Apple's share price increasing 10%. The company's share price has increased from the high $390 range to over $440 after announcing a record buyback during its Report. UBS could be accurate again, it just does not seem to be widely held position.
Also, per the 10-K (41 - 42 of 160), Priceline:
Experienced strong year-over-year growth in recent years, though that growth has generally decelerated. For example, in the fourth quarter of 2012, our hotel room night growth was 38%, a substantial deceleration from 53% in the fourth quarter of 2011…We expect the long term deceleration trend to continue, and we therefore expect to experience further deceleration in growth rates in the first quarter of 2013 and beyond.
Priceline is reporting First Quarter, 2013 earnings on Thursday, May 9th. Anyone who has read my articles knows that I like to consider option trades to take advantage of similar events. It is worth the time to describe what may be a terrific volatility skew, alongside a long term investment opportunity.
For the immediate future, I am inclined to adopt Deutsche Bank's view calling for strong earnings and conservative guidance. However, in agreement with UBS and Credit Suisse, competition from Expedia is probably exaggerated. Further, Google's and Apple's entry into the industry is more relevant to results in 2014 and after. Any buyback announcement is not forecast until after completion of the Kayak acquisition. Thus, the share price can increase dramatically because of earnings and guidance, though review on Friday and over the weekend is likely to proceed that type of buying. For shareholders, margin issues may be the foremost immediate concern, though Credit Suisse offers comfort.
A May 10, 2013 weekly option can be sold. The most time value can be obtained for it on Monday. However, an increase in implied volatility ("IV") throughout the week may lead to a higher price in following days; though the price for May 18 weeklies can increase also. Records show IV spiking above 50% at this time last year, and it is currently at 35.96%. Priceline does not report until after the close on Thursday, so the real worry is that the option is not assigned on Friday before it expires. With this in mind, the share price can change throughout the week, and I am inclined to sell an option that is far enough out of the money on Monday to lower the risk.
A May 10 $750 call should bring in $13.70 and a May 18 $755 is slightly cheaper at $13.30. The options show wide spreads, so liquidity and execution could be issues. However, if a trade goes through at the specified prices, then a $40 credit would be the minimum profit in all scenarios, except a rise in share price above $750.19. Seeking Alpha lists the 52 week high at $752.46, and a price above $750 at the conclusion of next week would be surprising. Here is a table and graphic showing projected profit and loss at close on Friday the 10th. Profit projections may be high, though a 20% IV collapse is assumed. However, chances are the $755 call can be kept for the beginning of the following week to watch for the stock to rise above the strike price, or sold. The maximum loss shown is -$456, almost $200 below the share price.
Priceline offers plenty to investors. Prospects for long term, international growth are obvious, though so is the competition. There is also the potential to rapidly earn profits through an options trade, which can be a lucrative and low risk course of action.
Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, but may initiate a long position in PCLN, UBS, CS, DB over the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.


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Results 1 to 1 of 1
Ravens' Staff Faces a 'Critical' Draft - Washington Post
The Crazy Newshound has found a new Ravens article.
Washington Post
<img alt="" height="1" width="1">
Ravens' Staff Faces a 'Critical' Draft
Washington Post, United States - 5 hours ago
By Camille Powell OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Eric DeCosta, the Baltimore Ravens director of college scouting, has been known to joke that last year's dismal 5-11 ...
Blueprinting the Ravens' contingency plans Ravens Insider
Ravens Gear Up for the Draft ABC2 News
SPORTS: Ravens to call audible if Ryan is gone Delmarva Daily Times
Baltimore Ravens - Baltimore Sun
all 17 news articles
Link to the full story.


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CULLOWHEE Western Carolina University will offer a new bachelor's degree program in health systems administration beginning spring 2006 to help meet a growing demand for the skilled professionals needed to manage the increasingly complex health care delivery systems of the 21st century.
Establishment of the program, to be housed in the health sciences department of Western's College of Applied Sciences, was approved during the January meeting of The University of North Carolina Board of Governors.
The program will be offered through a distance education format designed to respond to the needs of practicing professionals holding certificates or licenses from accredited health care education programs.
Over the past few years, we received numerous requests from individuals, area health care facilities and organizations to provide a four-year degree program in health care administration, and to do so via distance learning to better serve the needs of the students, said Noelle Kehrberg, dean of the College of Applied Sciences.
The program is part of the university's mission to extend its educational reach to meet the needs of place-bound adult learners, Kehrberg said. It will help those working health care practitioners with associate degrees get the additional education they need to advance into leadership and managerial roles.
The U.S. Department of Labor has projected as much as a 35 percent increase in demand for health systems administrators by the year 2010, said Christine Stevens, head of the department of health sciences.
The structure and financing of health care is changing rapidly, with an increasingly complex regulatory environment and restructuring of work environments, Stevens said. Our new program will prepare future health systems administrators to deal with evolving integrated health care delivery systems and technological innovations, and will prepare them to improve efficiency in health care facilities and in the quality of care provided.
The additional program is part of Western's on-going efforts to provide high-quality health care education to help meet the needs of Western North Carolina through undergraduate degree programs in nursing, clinical laboratory sciences, health information administration, emergency medical care, environmental health, nutrition and dietetics, athletics training, communication sciences disorders and therapeutic recreation, and master's level programs in nursing, physical therapy and health sciences.
For information on the new degree program in health systems administration, contact the department of health sciences, (828) 227-7113.