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Orthopaedic and
Rehabilitation Devices Panel
Of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee
November 21, 2002
Draft Questions
In January of 2000, the FDA issued The Guidance Document for the Preparation of IDEs for spinal systems. Prior to its issuance, ORDB presented a preliminary background document to the Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Devices Panel. During the October 8, 1998 panel meeting, input was received from panel members and the public which resulted in the current guidance document. At that time, the FDA requested some input on Non-Fusion devices which are not intended to facilitate fusion of the spine. Unlike fusion devices, these devices allow some functional motion through the various levels of the spine. These include devices that provide stability while continuing to allow some percentage of normal or functional motion, devices which allow motion and growth, and devices which stabilize vertebral body and spine fracture repair. Examples of these types of devices are included in the references enclosed in this panel package.
The current spinal guidance focuses primarily on spinal fusion devices for
various etiologies, with brief guidance on such non fusion devices as vertebral
body replacements and disc replacement devices. While the FDA Guidance for
Spinal Implant 510 (k)s issued September 27, 2000, outlines in detail devices
intended for fusion and there is a voluntary testing standard available for
pedicle screw systems and intervertebral body fusion devices (i.e., ASTM F1717
and ASTM 2077, respectively), many sponsors use modified versions to address
different types of spinal systems. Because there are testing standards in
development, the FDA has advised sponsors to contact appropriate standards
bodies (e.g., ASTM, ISO) for additional information. As the scope of spinal
devices expands, the FDA recognizes the need to update the spinal guidance to
include additional clarification and suggestions for preclinical testing,
clinical assessments, endpoints and success determinations related to emerging
spinal technologies.
I. Preclinical Questions
1. Currently, the FDA Guidance for Spinal Implant 510(k)'s, which extensively covers devices intended for fusion, recommends various static and fatigue testing for spinal devices. Because devices not intended for fusion are intended to stabilize the spinal motion segment and retain functional motion, they must be designed to last for the lifetime of the individual rather than until a fusion occurs. Therefore, the current testing requested for devices intended for non-fusion may not be adequate. In addition, the current testing for fusion devices made of materials other than stainless steel and titanium may not be adequate. The FDA currently requests the following testing for spinal devices:
Fusion devices (devices intended to
stabilize by fusing motion segments, e.g., pedicle screw systems,
intervertebral fusion devices, vertebral body fusion devices, etc.)
· Fatigue - The fatigue testing should involve a minimum of six samples of the worst case construct to generate a stress (load) versus number of cycles (S/N) curve that characterizes the asymptotic endurance limit (e.g., a minimum of two samples per load level with one load level reaching a run out value of five million cycles) compared to a appropriate control device. Rationale for the components chosen as worst case should be provided. The interconnection mechanisms/systems may be tested in the same set of constructs or each in a separate set of constructs. Each interconnection mechanism should be tested or an adequate rationale for not testing an interconnection should be provided. Additionally, testing should be performed out to a minimum run out of 10 million cycles for intervertebral body replacement devices intended for tumor patients because these patients may present a great difficulty in achieving fusion, and, therefore, the device is acting more as a stabilizer.
· Static - The testing should involve a minimum of five samples of the worst case construct. As with the fatigue testing, the components tested and the loading mode should be justified.
Examples of the types of construct testing typically performed for a given type of spinal system in order to establish relative safety are as follows:
For lumbar and thoracic pedicle screw systems that are
intended for fusion, static and fatigue bending testing should be provided
(e.g., ASTM F1717).
For cervical, pedicle or lateral mass systems intended
for fusion, static and fatigue testing should be provided. The loading mode
(torsional or bending) is dependent on the design and material.
For intervertebral body fusion devices, static,
fatigue, and expulsion (push-out testing) testing should be provided. The
loading mode (axial, torsional, bending, and/or shear) is dependent on the
design, material, and levels of use.
· For vertebral body replacement devices, static and fatigue testing in bending and torsional loading modes should be provided.
Non-Fusion devices (devices intended
to stabilize yet retain functional motion, e.g., disc nucleus replacements,
intervertebral disc prosthesis, screw or hook based stabilization spinal
systems without attempting fusion)
These are some of the items FDA believes may be appropriate to consider:
Compression Fatigue - The fatigue testing should
involve a minimum of six samples of the worst case construct to generate a
stress (load) versus number of cycles (S/N) curve that characterizes the
asymptotic endurance limit (e.g., a minimum of two samples per load level with
one load level reaching a run out value of ten million cycles) compared to a
appropriate control device. Rationale for the components chosen as worst case
should be provided.
Durability Testing – The durability testing
should involve cyclic loading testing several loading modes (e.g.,
flexion/extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation) and involve a minimum
of six samples of the worst-case construct out to ten million cycles. This test
can either be combined to incorporate all testing directions into one test, or
separated into each loading mode. Durability testing establishes loading
direction, stability of the device, and wear generation potential. Clinical
justification for the loads and angles chosen should be provided.
Static Compression - The testing should involve
a minimum of five samples of the worst case construct. As with the fatigue
testing, the components tested and the loading mode should be justified.
· Other potential tests –
o Migration/Expulsion testing
o Static and Dynamic Shear Testing
o Creep and Stress Relaxation Testing
Examples of the types of construct testing typically performed for a given type of spinal system in order to establish relative safety are as follows:
For vertebral disc replacements, static and fatigue tests
in multiple loading modes should be provided out to 10 million cycles.
For a stabilization pedicle screw system intended for
non-fusion, dynamic shear testing and torsion testing should be provided.
For nucleus replacements, expulsion testing should be
For nucleus replacements, fatigue compression tests on
new and "aged" devices should be provided.
· For devices with polymer components (e.g., polyethylene cords, poyletheretherketone components, etc) creep and/or stress relaxation testing should be provided.
Depending on the design of the system, the sponsor may need to perform different tests in lieu of those identified above, perform additional tests in different testing modes, provide testing on individual components of the subject system, etc.
While there is a voluntary testing standard available for pedicle screw systems intended for fusion and intervertebral body fusion devices (i.e., ASTM F1717 and ASTM 2077, respectively), many sponsors use modified versions to address different types of spinal systems. Because there are testing standards in development, sponsors are advised to contact appropriate standards bodies (e.g., ASTM, ISO) for information regarding test set-ups, parameters, etc. for their specific device type.
· Please comment on the currently recommended preclinical mechanical, debris, or wear testing to evaluate new materials, device properties/integrity and wear debris for fusion and non-fusion devices.
· Discuss what additional testing, if any, should be added to current testing recommendations for the following devices
o Stabilization devices for non-fusion
o Intervertebral disc/joint replacements (cervical/thoracolumbar)
o Devices manufactured out of new materials.
o Intervertebral disc nucleus replacements
2. The FDA is currently requesting information for any device used in the area of the spinal cord and nerve roots, that has the potential to generate debris, regarding local and systemic adverse effects. For those incorporating new materials (e.g.., polymers, composites, etc.) or designs, both fusion and non fusion, the FDA recommends that manufacturers perform wear simulations and fatigue tests to evaluate the potential for the device to generate wear debris. The FDA believes the wear debris generated from these tests should be collected and characterized. For those devices where this may be an issue, the FDA suggests two options:
· Injection study of various sized particles into the spinal cord area of small animals
· Functional animal models
Because of the limitations of the current testing methods and models, should devices made of new materials and/or those intended to retain motion be tested for local and systemic adverse effects independent of the type of material or the amount of wear debris generated? If you suggest that testing be performed, please describe the testing you recommend. For example,
· Discuss viability and usefulness of injection animal study including amount and distribution of sizes and shapes of wear debris should be injected in the animal in predicting what may occur clinically for the life of the implant;
· Discuss recommendations, viability and usefulness of functional animal models in predicting what may occur clinically for the life of the implant; or
· Discuss alternatives.
II. Clinical Questions
1. For spinal assemblies not intended to fuse motion segments (Non-fusion spinal devices, e.g., disc replacement devices, nucleus replacement devices, joint replacement, spinal stabilization without fusion, etc.), the goals of treatment may be to stabilize the spine, maintain "normal/functional" motion, treat disease early in its course to prevent further progression and to conserve motion instead of fusing segments of the spine to alleviate pain and restore function. These types of devices provide challenges in choosing the best methods to evaluate safety and effectiveness.
Our current Spinal Guidance describes methods to assure that data collected provide adequate characterization of the safety and effectiveness of devices. These sections suggest appropriate patient inclusion and exclusion criteria (Section 4 and 5), effectiveness evaluations (Section 8: 8.1-8.4) safety evaluations (Section 9) and patient and study success criteria (Section 10). The FDA believes that the populations and goals of treatment may be different for devices that maintain functional motion. Therefore:
a. Please discuss study designs which may be better suited to evaluate Non-Fusion spinal devices. In your discussion, please comment on:
i. enrollment criteria,
ii. patient populations,
iii. controls,
iv. success criteria and
v. goals of the study
that would be suitable for these types of Non-fusion spinal devices.
b. Devices intended to stabilize the spine yet retain functional motion are expected to have an upper limit of motion beyond which one would consider the device to be unstable and a lower limit below which one would consider the device to have inadequate motion or possibly even consider the segment to be fused. Please discuss the amount of motion and on what scale, to define a patient as a functional and clinical success (i.e., a clinically significant improvement in condition) for each of cervical, thoracic and lumbar levels for Non-Fusion spinal devices.
III. Vertebroplasty (see enclosed references)
There is a growing body of literature describing devices to be used for the treatment of insufficiency fractures due to neoplasm or osteoporosis, either for stabilization or reduction of the fracture. These devices include high and low modulus bone cements and other non-resorbable and absorbable bone cement alternatives. As with other devices, these devices and procedures are emerging as new technologies for treating fractures in the spine, and the FDA considers these devices as permanent implants in the spine.
1. Describe the current treatment alternatives for the treatment of insufficiency fractures due to neoplasm or osteoporosis, and the timeframe of conservative treatment before additional intervention is considered.
2. In the study of devices for the treatment of insufficiency fractures due to neoplasm or osteoporosis, either for stabilization or reduction of the fracture, please discuss appropriate control groups and describe appropriate timeframes for comparison of safety outcomes and effectiveness outcomes. Based upon your recommendations regarding appropriate control groups and timeframes for safety and effectiveness comparisons, when would be appropriate for control treatment to continue before allowing patients to crossover to the treatment group?
3. Many of the devices used in vertebroplasty (e.g., high and low modulus bone cements and other non-resorbable and absorbable bone cement alternatives) are polymerized in situ and have either toxic monomers, copolymers, accelerators, or initiators. In addition to the adverse events known to occur with devices used in vertebroplasty, the FDA currently asks sponsors to collect additional information on specific aspects of safety including infection, neurological status and radiographic endpoints evaluating extravasations, adjacent fractures, osteolysis, fracture through the material at the level of repair, adjacent arthritis, secondary interventions, progression of disease and fusion at the level of treatment.
What animal study or clinical study time point(s)
should be considered in evaluation of chemical and toxic effects of the device
for short and long term implantation of the device?
· Please discuss any additional safety assessments you feel are valuable for evaluating these implants,
4. The FDA currently asks that spine studies collect information
on specific aspects of effectiveness using such tools as the pain scales,
function/disability questionnaires (NDI and Oswestry), maintenance of neurological
status, maintenance of vertebral height, and a quality of Life (SF-36, WOMAC)
·; Please discuss what clinically relevant endpoints in clinical practice should be measured to prove efficacy for these types of products.
· Please discuss the distribution of expected improvement in these evaluations
· Please discuss at what point you would expect maximum level of improvement to occur using each of these assessment tools.
· Please discuss any additional effectiveness assessments you feel are valuable for these implants,
· Please discuss what degree of improvements would be expected as clinically significant for the successful use of these devices.


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Capella University Served as Pilot Institution in 'Assuring Quality' Assessment Tool
October 16, 2012
Capella University served as a pilot institution that helped design and test the higher education assessment tool "Assuring Quality: An Institutional Self-Assessment Tool for Excellent Practice in Student Learning Outcomes Assessment" by the New Leadership Alliance for Student Learning and Accountability. "Assuring Quality" is designed to be used as one of an institution's self-evaluation tools to identify its strengths and weaknesses when assessing student learning and using assessment results for program and institutional improvement.
Capella was the only online university invited to collaborate on this work. This is a great testament to our focus on, and commitment to, academic quality and leading best practices in the assessment of student learning and learning outcomes.
Leave a reply
Let us know what you think. All comments will be reviewed prior to going live. Comments that are profane or obscene, or unrelated to the topic of the post will not be published.

subset: commoncrawl


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'Martha Marcy May Marlene' Director Sean Durkin on How to Create a Cult
Before director Sean Durkin shot a single frame of his critically acclaimed "Martha Marcy May Marlene," he sat down and made a list 20 names long of 1970s movies that influenced him and his two best friends, Antonio Campos and Josh Mond. The films could have excellent dialogue, elegant cinematography or simply be "a beautifully told story," according to Campos, who is credited – like Mond – as a co-producer of the film. That list aided Durkin as he wrote and shot his first feature film, which follows a college-age girl named Martha (played by Elizabeth Olsen) as she escapes a cult and tries to assimilate into society by way of her sister.
Durkin has been fascinated with cults since childhood, although he hesitates to use that term. Instead he describes the rituals and traditions of multiple religions and looks to the Catholic school he attended as a reference point. "Even when I was six years old I would look at something and say 'this is weird.'" That perspective led him down what Durkin defines as the "emotional linear journey" that became the overarching narrative for the film.


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Scarlett Johansson at The Premiere of 'We Bought A Zoo'
She looks exactly like she always has. This is what happens when you see a head shot of an actress. You remember they have a face. And it's meh.
Sean Penn left something he caught in Hati in her belly and it is beginning to destroy her skin, hair and anything else that was once good about her.


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Kicker Joe Nedney has decided to retire. The 49ers have signed former Eagles kicker David Akers to a three year deal.
Nedney was scheduled to earn $1.87 million this season. Nedney who is 38, made 28 of 34 FG's over the past two years. Matt Barrows reported that Akers had other suitors but jumped at the chance to play for ST coach Brad Seely.


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The Original
Print advertisment created by Leo Burnett, Germany for Jeep, within the category: Automotive.
We also congratulate the Jeeps from BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Dacia, Land Rover, Toyota, Nissan and Volkswagen on their awards.
The inventor of offroad vehicles wants to say "thank you" for three trophies at the off road award 2011.
Creative Directors: Axel Tischer, Gen Sadakane
Art Director: Gen Sadakane
Copywriter: Axel Tischer
Highest Rated
Hasn't this "Congratulations to the competition" been done to death?
Hehe well it's true that Jeep is a synonym for off-road vehicles ;p
I don't think it goes against their brand. That's the whole joke - everyone copied them, but they're the original.
Hasn't this "Congratulations to the competition" been done to death?
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Coastal Carolina Scientists Predict Light Hurricane Season
CONWAY, S.C. (AP/WVOC) - Scientists at Coast Carolina University expect no hurricane to make landfall along the East Coast or the Gulf of Mexico coastline this year.
The school's second annual hurricane forecast anticipates a "below- to near-normal" season for 2014.
Coastal Carolina researchers say the most likely forecast is for no landfall in the Southeast.
The second most likely scenario would be for one hurricane to hit the East Coast and another to strike in the Gulf of Mexico.
The forecast predicts between three and six hurricanes this year.
Last year, Coast Carolina scientists forecast one hurricane would make landfall in the Southeast.
No hurricane did, although several tropical storms affected the Southeast.


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His background
- Today20172003
Founder/ CEOCapital Millesime SASBordeaux Negociant (professional wine merchant which can deal directly with Classified growths) www.capital-millesime.com
- Established a personal relationship with more than 175 classified growths in Bordeaux
- Became one of the 10 largest buyers and companies in Bordeaux in under 4 years (out of 400 negociants)
- Member of the exclusive association of the negociants in Bordeaux
- Developed private labels with exclusive classified growth chateau owners
- Conceived and drove strategy for Chateaux in the U.S. and European markets
- Today20172001
Founder/Managing PartnerBORDEAUX WINE PARTNERS LLCWine fund
- Raised and managed more than $ 60 million
- Dealt with CEO from Fortune 500 Company
- Today20171988
Founder/ President and CEOMETROWINE DISTRIBUTION CO., INCMetrowine is an National US importer, a wholesaler in NY, CT, NJ, FL, NV, CA
- Leader in the French wine Market
- Second largest Bordeaux wholesaler behind DIAGEO
- Specialized in the super-premium and luxury wine category
- Managed more than 4,500 accounts
- Worked closely with the top Chefs in the World ( A.Ducasse, Robuchon, Ripert, Daniel Boulud...)
- Today20112001
Founder/Managing PartnerVINTAGE CAPITAL WINE LLCNational Importer (www.vintagecapitalwine.com)
- Second Ranked Bordeaux importer in the U.S.A.
- Established a unique distribution network, Business to Consumer, through a network of warehouses around the country
- Negotiated with French government for Budgets
- Created and Developed a National Bordeaux Brand
- Today1988
Assistant to General Manager and Export Director10 - 49 employees
- Today1987
AnalystOSBORNE MERCANTILE BANK (INVESTMENT BANK)
- Today1985
Founder/PresidentSOCIETY OF JUNETUDES (STUDENT CONSULTANT FOR CORPORATIONS)
Please sign up to view Patrick Baugier's full profile.SIGN UP
His skills
- Budgets
- Business to Customer
- CT scan
- Distribution Network
About him
The professional commitment of Patrick Baugier is shown by the range of professional associations that he belongs to. During his many years of experience as a leading wine negociant, Patrick Baugier has become a central figure in the world of fine wine across the world, advising on policy, marketing and production.
Patrick Baugier's professional expertise has been recognized by the French government, who appointed him as a Conseiller du Commerce Exterieur - with the role of advising the government and French companies on how to operate in the global marketplace. Patrick Baugier is also a board member of a number of companies and organizations.
However, Patrick Baugier's influence goes beyond business. He is also a board member of social institutions such as the Association of Reserve Officers of the United States and has received its Medal of National Defense. He is also a board member of the Lumen Institute, which advocates for spiritual values in the world of business. Patrick Baugier is also a key player in the Young President Organization, heading the institution's International Wine Network with over 3000 members.
Patrick Baugier has put down roots in American life, having served as a member of the board of the Larchmont Franco-American School in New York. But he has retained his links to Bordeaux, being a member of the Chevalier du Tastevin, the exclusive Bordeaux Union Club as well as a commander in the Commanderie of Bontemps and Medoc - an important growers network in the region.
Patrick Baugier is also a literary man, having written three books, and is a member of the Company of Men of Letters (of which Balzac is an alumnus). He is also a member of the Knights of Malta, and makes regular charitable donations to causes across the world.
These associations and achievements demonstrate Patrick Baugier's passion for wine and the people who produce it, as well as the social benefits that successful entrepreneurs can bring.


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SANFORD, Fla. (AP) — Jurors in the George Zimmerman murder trial have been dismissed for the day after listening to opening statements from the prosecution and the defense.
Judge Debra Nelson had the jurors leave Monday as they were listening to the fourth witness for the prosecution. The witness was a custodian of police dispatch calls.
During her testimony, prosecutors started playing police calls Zimmerman had made in the months before he fatally shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin last year.
Defense attorneys objected, claiming the calls were irrelevant.
The judge said she would address the matter Tuesday and sent the jurors to their hotel where they are being sequestered for the duration of the trial that could last up to a month.
Zimmerman is pleading not guilty to second-degree murder.


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You are here
Let's Go Shopping!
Let's Go Shopping!
Part of Ep. 1002 Spring Games
Examine plants before you buy! Milwaukee County Commercial Horticulture Agent Lisa Johnson explains what to look for and what to avoid.
Premiere date: May 22, 2002
- Wisc Gardener Transcript:
By now, you probably have a really long list of trees and shrubs that you want to purchase. I know I do. But before you go shopping, we want to give you some tips to ensure the plants you buy will live long and prosper. I'm with Milwaukee County Commercial Horticulture Agent Lisa Johnson. We're at the UW-Madison Arboretum for a pretend shopping trip. I wish this was a real shopping trip, Lisa, I love shopping. I have to admit, though, I'm an impulse buyer. I'll see a tree or shrub in class and I want it now. So, I need your help in two ways. Help control me, and stop my impulses, and make sure that I'm getting the most for my money.
Well, Shelley, I'm not sure that I can control your buying, but I can give you some pretty good advice for buying trees and shrubs. The first thing to do is to shop at a reputable nursery, because you can be pretty sure, then, that the plants have been well cared for and you're getting a healthy plant. And then, you want to start inspecting the plant. A good place to start is at the ground level, looking at the soil.
You actually take it out of the pot?
Yes, you can take it out of the pot. It's a good idea.
Gently, I assume.
Yes, very gently. Make sure that you look at the root system. This is a good, healthy root system. But you'll notice that the soil is very dry. So, this plant is a little under stress, then, because it's dry.
So, maybe it wasn't taken care of as well as we'd like it to be. Look for something a little bit more moist?
Yes. The other thing is that this is a very light soil. That means you're going to have to remember to water it a little more often than a plant that's in a heavier soil.
Can we avoid buying light soil? I see this a lot, it seems like.
Yeah, it's really hard to avoid this. They plant in a light mix so that it's easier to ship and easier to work with.
So, the best thing to do when I get it home, is take better care of it.
That's right. Water it thoroughly when you plant it.
At least an inch of water per week is usual?
Mm-hmm. And also, you might want to mulch the plant.
Okay. Then, what about this one?
Well, you'll notice here that there are some roots coming through the bottom of the pot. That's a pretty good clue that your plant is root bound. And that can be a problem. You can see here that the roots, although they're healthy roots, they're very crowded. And they're starting to circle around each other. And that can cause problems.
So, these are root bound, where they've actually just started to spiral back.
And in fact, if you want to see a really good example of what can happen when you have plants where the roots are circling each other, we have here some roots that are what we call girdling roots. They are starting to actually strangle each other. That will cause a big problem.
When it gets this root bound, it's choking itself.
That's right.
So, we don't want to buy a plant that's doing this.
Another reason you don't want to buy this particular plant is because this is a Tall Hedge Columnar Buckthorn, which is an invasive species.
So, bad plant.
Bad plant. Definitely do not buy this plant.
All right. What's wrong with this one?
Well, that one is lacking a few roots. It's either got a root rot disease, possibly rodent damage. Another possibility is that it just hasn't been in the pot long enough to get established.
Okay, so we want something halfway between this and girdling itself.
Okay. Let's take a look at this one. This one's pretty light. Any problems with this one?
Well, you've got a nice, healthy top. However, the root system is much too small to sustain this massive leaf tissue and branches. So, this is a big problem. You want to make sure that the size of the pot is proportional to the size of the plant.
So, two, three, four times bigger than this?
Mm-hmm. At least a three or a five gallon pot for this size plant.
Now, you keep telling me that these are under stress. I assume, then, that that's a problem when we're planting.
That's right. If a plant is under stress, it's a lot more vulnerable to insects and diseases. And in fact, this plant, not only does it have the root system problem, but it's got some damage here, and that can be an avenue for insects to get in.
And then, I assume something even like the broken branch is a sign that it's not happy.
And it's going to go into stress just from us planting it, so we don't want to add to that stress. Okay. Well, you mentioned insects. I don't think of those as a problem, usually, in a nursery. But it sounds like we should be inspecting for that, too.
It's a good idea. This plant, for instance, you can see that it has some castoff skins, probably from aphids. And the leaf is sticky, so you can tell that a sucking insect has been attacking it. It's a good idea to check under the leaves, too, because a lot of insects hide under leaves.
So, we inspect for roots, for good soil, general overall health. And then, once I've found the perfect thing, I can go and take it home.
Well, maybe not. You want to make sure that you're planting the right plant in the right place. And so, you should go to a nursery with the following things in mind. What's the soil like? Is there a lot of sun? Is there a lot of shade? Are there power lines overhead? That sort of thing. That's exactly what the nursery people are going to ask you when you ask questions about a plant.
So, no more impulse buying because I'm really harming my self and my trees and shrubs in the long run.
That's right.
Okay, thanks, Lisa. And we have more information for you on our Web site.
I love shopping for new plants. So, I really enjoyed learning how to become a better shopper. Now, I have to admit, my husband isn't nearly so thrilled when I come home with more trees, more shrubs and more perennials. He says we're out of room, and that we'd need a bigger yard to plant everything that I want to grow. So, I was thinking, maybe I should go shopping for a bigger yard. That ought to make him happy!
Let's Go Shopping!
Examine plants before you buy! Milwaukee County Commercial Horticulture Agent Lisa Johnson explains what to look for and what to avoid.
Great Shade Trees
Discover the many shade tree choices with Dr. Laura Jull, the Woody Ornamental Extension Specialist for UW Madison.
Building A Living Playhouse
Create a wonderful playhouse out of concrete reinforcing wire covered in leftover prunings or vining plants. It's a perfect hideaway for children.
Staking Perennials
Learn how perennials are staked in Great Britain. Jeff Eppings demonstrates the pea staking method at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison.
Unusual Annuals
Looking for something different to put in your garden? Landscape manager Mark Dwyer introduces some uncommon annuals at Rotary Gardens in Janesville.
- Wisc Gardener Related Links:
Lisa Johnson, the Commercial Horticulture UW-Extension Agent for Milwaukee County, showed us what to look for when purchasing a tree or shrub and provided tips on buying healthy plants. Obviously you want to select something that looks healthy - this means checking both the upper parts and the roots. Choose a dormant tree or shrub with good structure (well-developed leader and straight trunk for trees) and live branches. Plants in leaf should have good leaf color and size, and should not appear wilted. The roots should be firm and light in color, and in containerized plants, should hold the entire contents of the container together. Plants that are loose in the soil may not have a healthy root system.
Trees are Good offers extensive information about trees and shrubs for for homeowners.
Iowa State University has a short article in their Horticulture & Home Pest News Series, A Guide to Buying Healthy Trees and Shrubs.
North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension: Purchasing: Trees and Shrubs.
Funding for The Wisconsin Gardener is provided, in part, by The Wisconsin Master Gardener Association.


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Physician Assistant
Marland D Gilbert, PAC
HealthEast Spine Center, 651-326-5544
He is a certified physician assistant and Doctor of Chiropractic.
Marland graduated from Life University in Marietta, Georgia, earning a Doctor of Chiropractic before earning a Masters of Science in Physician Assistant Studies at the University of Alabama.
Professional activities
He began his health care career as a surgical technician in the U.S. Navy and then as a surgical technologist in two Atlanta, Georgia, hospitals for 14 years in addition to providing chiropractic care four of those years. Marland has been practicing as a physician assistant and medical provider for National Guard in Minnesota since 2008.
Practice interests
Marland is interested in comprehensive spine care/pain management, spinal manipulation physical medicine, and combat medicine.
Personal interests
He enjoys golf, weightlifting, music and racquetball.
Personal statement
"My goal as a health care provider is to practice evidence-based medicine to facilitate healing and wellness in all my patients."


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Miss pucci - 0.33 oz eau de parfum spray
1 Recommendation
Sephora's recommendation
Youthful, fresh, and seductive, miss Pucci is undeniably modern while opening a window to the retro Pucci lifestyle of vibrant color, perpetual motion, and sun-soaked destinations. This sparkling musky floral comes alive with the elegance of magnolia and the lightness of Sicilian winter lemon, playfully blossoming to heart notes of Turkish rose and seductive Comoros ylang-ylang. Its base lingers on woody Texas cedar, powdered iris from Florence, and the delicate sensuality of white musk. The bottle, created by Parisian designer Ora Ito, uses kaleidoscopic ribbons of color to playfully tie together feelings of freedom, sophistication, and beautiful style that belong to the quintessential "Pucci girl." Notes: Sicilian Lemon, Turkish Rose, Comoros Ylang-Ylang, Tunisian Orange Blossom, Arabian Jasmine, Texas Cedar, Florentine Iris, Musk. Style: Chic. Feminine. Energetic.


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Product Information
A pair of high-fashion breeches with elegant crystal accents.
Medium waist breeches with crystal detail and elegant slim design are the ultimate choice for a formal, polished look. The high-rise back and Horze Crescendo styling with detailed crystal and embroidered logos are a sophisticated addition to your collection. The colours are classic and the fabric forms to your body for supreme comfort and fit.
• Intricate crystal details.
• Medium waist with high rise at back for better fit.
• Stretchable, extremely comfortable and well-shaped bi-stretch fabric.
• Vertically stretchable Alos leather fullseat.
• Formal, elegant look with cotton comfort inside.
• Elastic leg bottoms.
• Inseam in size 36 is 72cm.
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The Green Bay Packers' interest in center Duke Preston both makes sense and is surprising all at once.
While the interior of the Packers' offensive line isn't a strength, they can at least get by with Scott Wells battling Jason Spitz to be the starting center, and Spitz, Josh Sitton, Daryn Colledge and Allen Barbre all in the mix at guard. All are young players, and the hope is a couple of them will develop into above-average starters.
Adding Preston — who the Bills seemed all-too-happy to replace this offseason with career backup Geoff Hangartner — seemingly doesn't do much to strengthen that group.
"Duke Preston was often the fall-guy on Buffalo's offensive line last season," said Tyler Dunne, who writes for Packer Report as well as Scout.com's Buffalo Bills site. "Arguably the main reason the Bills slid from 4-0 to 7-9 last year was their ineffectiveness against 3-4 defenses. New England, Miami and New York all employ the alignment in the AFC East, and those defenses ate Preston as the appetizer, Marshawn Lynch for lunch and went 6-0 against Buffalo."
What Preston would add is some beef. On a Packers offensive line built more for agility than power, the 6-foot-5 Preston tipped the scales at 326 pounds last season. Beyond that, his youth (he turns 27 in June), upside (20 starts in four seasons) and ability to play both guard positions makes him interesting to the Packers.
"The Bills' rushing attack was churning by year's end — in large part to Preston's development," Dunne said. "After getting stuffed through the meat of Buffalo's schedule, Lynch found his legs late with big games against San Francisco (16 carries, 131 yards) and the Jets (21 carries, 127 yards). Preston can swing at guard, which must be intriguing to the Packers. Hard to totally write off Preston just yet, but in 11 starts last year, he looked like nothing more than a nifty pivot to play in a pinch."
Signing Preston would lead to a few other questions. Would Wells, 28, who's in the middle of a five-year, $15 million deal inked during the 2006 season, be the odd man out after an injury-plagued season? Or would adding another interior lineman mean Colledge and/or Barbre would be shifted to tackle? And if that's the case, would that signal the end for Mark Tauscher, a free agent coming off of a torn ACL?
Adding Preston probably would mean the Packers wouldn't be adding an interior lineman during the early rounds of the draft. This is a great class of centers, led by possible first-round picks Alex Mack of California and Max Unger of Oregon. Louisville's Eric Wood, Arkansas' Jonathan Luigs, Alabama's Antoine Caldwell, Penn State's A.Q. Shipley and Oklahoma's Jon Cooper are mid-round prospects. Caldwell, at 307, is the biggest of the bunch, and Cooper dominated the athletic drills at the Combine.
"This is a very good center class," Scout.com draft analyst Chris Steuber said. "This is one of the better center classes I've seen in a long time. Players like Alex Mack, Eric Wood and Max Unger are borderline first-round picks and have the ability to make an immediate impact at the next level."
Preston's agent, Craig Domann, was at the NFL owners meetings and not available for comment.
What do you think about free agency and the draft?: Discuss hot Packers topics in our, free forums. Leave Bill a question in the subscribers-only Lambeau Level forum
Bill Huber is publisher of Packer Report magazine and PackerReport.com and has written for Packer Report since 1997. E-mail him at email@example.com, or leave him a question in Packer Report's subscribers-only Lambeau Level forum. Bill also is giving Facebook and Twitter a try. Find him on Twitter at twitter.com/packerreport


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Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) recently announced that they would be paying out a cash dividend of $2.65 per quarter, which is around a 1.8% dividend. They also announced that they would be instituting a share buyback plan of $10 billion starting in September. While this is great for income investors, I think Apple could have made better use of its cash by making some strategic acquisitions.
I believe the following companies would have been great acquisitions for Apple:
Corning provided the initial touchscreen for the iPhone 1st generation. They also provide the glass for most of the HTC, Samsung, LG, and Motorola phones. Corning produces Gorilla Glass, which is thin, light, and scratch-resistant. Apple should consider purchasing Corning, as it would yield great synergies for the company. In addition to this, the company would effectively be able to stop supplying the glass to its competitors such as HTC. It is widely believed that Apple has been using Gorilla Glass for the current iPhones as well. There is a chance that Corning's Gorilla Glass 2 is in the iPad 3 as well.
Market Cap: $22 billion
Possible Buyout Market Cap: $33 billion
Net Cash: $3.43 billion
Synergies: Control of one of the largest electronics display manufacturers. Access to patents on products such as Gorilla Glass.
Omnivision develops semiconductor image-sensor devices. Rajvindra Gill, an analyst from Needham and Co., said Omnivision will be producing the front and back cameras for the new iPad:
According to Chipworks, "Apple has recycled the 5MP back illuminated CMOS image sensor from the iPhone 4. That unit was the Omnivision OV5650. The OV5650 is the second-generation back illumination (NYSE:BSI) technology from OmniVision. This 5MP camera features 1.75 μm pixels, and is designed to deliver DSC quality in a mobile phone application."
Gill said the company could produce a $191 million in revenue just from the iPad alone. We still don't know how much revenue is produced from iPhones, but there is a pretty good chance is much more than the iPad.
Market Cap: $1 billion
Possible Buyout Market Cap: $1.75 billion
Net Cash: $189 million
Synergies: Control of camera sensor supplier for iPhone and iPad. With this acquisition, Apple might even be able to generate enough revenue to offset its purchase within the next 5 years.
Cirrus Logic, Inc., a fabless semiconductor company, develops high-precision analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits for audio and energy markets worldwide. In the most recent quarters, Apple accounted for 62% of Cirrus' revenue. Cirrus' chips control the power and sound in electronics. Its important to note that every single Apple product uses Cirrus' chips. So with Apple contributing to more than half of Cirrus' revenue stream and both companies having a strong relationship, it would be in Apple's best interest to acquire Cirrus Logic.
Market Cap: $1.6 billion
Possible Buyout Market Cap: $2.2 billion
Net Cash: $137 million
Synergies: Apple is already using Cirrus in all of its products. Instead of paying Cirrus, they could acquire the company. This would save them costs over the long-term as well as having access to Cirrus' patents.
Broadcom Corporation designs and develops semiconductors for wired and wireless communications. While Broadcom does not depend on Apple as much as Cirrus does, 11% of Broadcom's total revenue came from Apple. Broadcome supplies the Bluetooth and WiFi chips for the iPad. Broadcom's BCM4330 chip is also inside the Apple TV.
Its also important to note that the same chip is in the Samsung Galaxy tablets, so it will allow Apple to have some control over its competitors, even though Samsung does not even come close to Apple's market share.
Market Cap: $21 billion
Possible Buyout Market Cap: $32 billion
Net Cash: $3.33 billion
Synergies: Control of WiFi and Bluetooth chips market. Control over supply to competitors. Access to patents.
Apple really has no intention to drive its competitors out of the market. Its main job is to simply build a superior product than its competitors. Even with these acquisitions, Apple could choose to supply or not at their own discretion. These acquisitions would yield significant synergies to the bottom line. Apple would essentially be supplying itself by integrating these companies.
Also when I posted a buyout market cap, I was actually overestimating how much Apple would pay. I was mainly observing it from a shareholder's point of view on how much of a premium they would need to accept an offer. If Apple made acquisitions like this, its possible it may send the wrong signal to the market about the company's growth strategy. However, I think it would have been much more efficient than simply paying a dividend and buying back shares.
Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.


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Riverview wins back-and-forth game over Union
With the top of its order coming to the plate in a three-ring-circus of a WPIAL Class A quarterfinal playoff game, Riverview knew anything was possible.
Even after it lost a six-run lead and took a three-run deficit into the top of the seventh inning, the No. 11-seeded Raiders remained poised against No. 14 Union on the turf at Fox Chapel.
And junior Tanner Bierly was perhaps the most unflappable under the pressure of playoff elimination as he delivered a two-out, two-run double to cap a five-run rally and help the Raiders to a 12-10 victory Wednesday that pushed them into the WPIAL semifinals for the first time since 2007.
"This was the best game of my life," said Bierly, who had three hits, including two doubles and three RBIs as the designated hitter. "We just stayed positive; so much of it is mental."
Riverview (14-5) will play No. 10 Carmichaels (13-2) next week at a time and site to be determined. Carmichaels beat Western Beaver, 17-8.
Both playing back-to-back games, Riverview and Union combined for 28 hits — 14 each — 14 walks and seven errors before the Raiders finally exhaled.
"Just when you think you've seen it all," Riverview coach Rich Griser said. "That's one of those games that can take its toll on you. That was a zany one."
An early 6-0 lead long gone, Riverview had left 11 runners on base and was on its third pitcher when it came up in the seventh, down 10-7.
Union (8-8), the team that upset No. 3 Vincentian, 6-5, in a first-round game played over two days because of a weather suspension, was relentless. The Scotties scored three runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings to take a 9-7 lead. An RBI single by Evan Torsello scored one, and an overthrow allowed another.
In that time, Riverview starting pitcher Dom Conte was pulled, moved to left field but reentered the game to replace reliever Shayne Slebich — a rare occurrence but allowed.
"I have done that before," Griser said. "I did that with (former Pitt recruit) Dave Kaye."
Union, though, made it 10-7 on a single by Cole Gorgacz, which came off Jason Anthony, the Raiders' normal closer who went on to earn the win.
Anthony had four hits, including a pair of doubles, and three RBIs. Conte scored the final run.
"A lot of guys came through for us today," Anthony said. "The seniors have been here for four years and we didn't like losing in the first round."
In the pivotal seventh, a walk and three straight singles set the stage for Riverview, which scored on a sharp infield single by Anthony, a bases-loaded walk and a RBI ground out by Shayne Slebich to tie it 10-10.
With runners at second and third, Bierly drove a shot over left fielder Anthony Bertolino's head and the ball rolled to the fence. That allowed two runs to score to make it 12-10.
"It seemed like a routine fly ball and (Bertolino) camped under it," Bierly said. "I was surprised it got by him."
Anthony Rush pitched a complete game for Union.
Bill Beckner Jr. is the local sports editor of the Valley News Dispatch. Reach him at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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May 31, 2013 • The Women's Review of Books published a lovely and dynamic excerpt of Judy Grahn's memoir in their 2013 May/June issue. Highlights of the excerpt include Judy's description of the first all women's dances occurring in Berkeley in 1970 and the formation of Bay Area collective feminist households.
May 16, 2013 • Judy Grahn's memoir, A Simple Revolution: The Making of an Activist Poet, is a finalist for the 32nd Annual Northern California Book Awards! Her memoir is one of five nominated in the Creative Nonfiction category for books written by Northern California authors. The awards ceremony takes place this Sunday, May 19 at 1pm in the Koret Auditorium at San Francisco Main Library.
May 9, 2013 • Judy Grahn's A Simple Revolution: The Making of an Activist Poet wins the silver medal in the Gay/Lesbian Non-Fiction category of the 2013 Independent Publisher Book Awards.
May 3, 2013 • Congratulations to Judy Grahn and the other 10 Lammy Award Finalists who read at yesterday's event at the San Francisco Public Library!
April 16, 2013 • Judy Grahn's memoir, A Simple Revolution: The Making of an Activist Poet, has been announced as a finalist for the 32nd Annual Northern California Book Awards, and Judy receives a special honor from Sophia University.
March 12, 2013 • Judy Grahn's memoir, A Simple Revolution: The Making of an Activist Poet, has been announced as a finalist for the 25th annual Lambda Literary Awards. Join us this Thursday at Modern Times Bookstore for the book's launch party and reception!
March 5, 2013 • The California Institute of Integral Studies is honoring Judy Grahn throughout the semester, calling her "an important voice in American culture for more than forty years."
February 15, 2013 • Aunt Lute Books is delighted to report that Judy Grahn's memoir, A Simple Revolution: The Making of an Activist Poet, has recently been reviewed by Lambda Literary Review. Julie R. Enszer writes "A Simple Revolution is a memoir to read and cherish" that "documents the life of a woman 'faithfully serving that demon-lover: activist art.'"
In telling her life story, Grahn reflects on the profound cultural shifts brought about by the women's and gay rights movements of the 1960s and 1970s. The "simple" revolution she recounts involved not just the formation of new institutions (the Women's Press Collective, Oakland Feminist Women's Health Center, A Woman's Place Bookstore), but the creation of whole new ways of living, including collective feminist households that cut through the political and social isolation of women.
To celebrate the official launch of A Simple Revolution, we invite you to join us for a night of community, refreshments, and a live reading by Judy.
Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza. Celebrate this foundational text with each sip from our limited edition Borderlands mug.
Now sold exclusively in white.
54 writers reflect on the complex terrain—the deeply felt psychic, social, and geopolitical borderlands—that Gloria Anzaldúa inhabited, theorized, explored, and invented.
El Mundo Zurdo 5 is a collection of diverse essays and poetry that offer scholarly and creative responses inspired by the life and work of Gloria Anzaldúa.
Good Girls Marry Doctors: South Asian American Daughters on Obedience and Rebellion, edited by Piyali Bhattacharya, is the first anthology to examine the multiple facets of daughterhood in South Asian American Families.


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Ecolab Inc., ECL is in the exchange NYSE and its industry is Cleaning Products in the sector of Consumer Goods. Based in USA, Ecolab Inc., ECL has a market cap of 36114.14. Since its IPO date on the 1/5/1988, Ecolab Inc., ECL performance year to date is 9.07%. Today Ecolab Inc., ECL has gained 0.07%, with a current price of 123.98.
Ownership of the company is 0.40% for insider ownership while institutional ownership is 87.50%. The management of the company have seen the company have a payout ratio of 42.50%. Return of assets are at 5.20%, with return on investment at 9.40%.
In terms of debt levels and profit levels, Ecolab Inc., ECL is seeing a long-term debt/equity of 0.77. While Total debt/equity is 1.04. With a profit margin of 7.20%, this is combined with a gross margin of 47.50%, and operating margin of 11.50%. Ecolab Inc. ability to meet debt levels, with a current ratio of 1, while the quick ratio is 0.7.
For the last year Ecolab Inc., ECL has seen a EPS growth of -15.40%. A performance for the year of 15.00%. The 52-week high is -0.14%, and the 52-week low is 26.51%. The average volume for Ecolab Inc., ECL is 787200.
With a target price of 127.06, can Ecolab Inc., ECL reach this target? Looking at the value indicators of Ecolab Inc., ECL. Ecolab Inc. has a P/E of 38.77 and a forward P/E of 24.74. Perhaps the more useful indicator than P/E, is PEG which has a value of 3.29. Ecolab Inc. also has a P/S and a P/B of 2.72 and 5.49 respectively. For P/cash, Ecolab Inc. has a value of 215.74, while it is 35.31 for P/free cash flow.
At the current price of 123.98, Ecolab Inc. has a dividend yield of 1.13%. We see a return on equity of 14.20%.
Looking more long-term Ecolab Inc., is projected to get an EPS growth for the next five years of 11.79%. In the short-term an EPS growth of 12.99% in the next year is forecasted. This is after a EPS growth of -15.40% for this year and for the last five years a 8.30% growth has been seen.


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Pot-store proprietors in Washington state have a blunt warning for their Canadian customers on the first day of legal marijuana sales.
"Don't take it home," says Aaron Nelson, the senior vice-president of operations at 2020 Solutions, a pot vendor that will be open for business Tuesday in Bellingham, Wash. "We are eager to see our customers from across the border. We just want to make sure they understand that the products are for consumption in the state of Washington."
The state's Liquor Control Board issued 24 retail marijuana licences on Monday, a development 20 months in the making after both Washington and Colorado voted in November, 2012, to legalize pot for adults over 21.
Colorado kicked off sales on Jan. 1.
Many of Washington state's newly minted pot emporiums are expected to run out of product shortly after opening their doors Tuesday morning, because of a shortage of legally produced marijuana in the state. High prices and celebrations are also expected.
Mr. Nelson said he has gotten a number of calls from excited Canadians – mostly from Vancouver – who are planning to cross the border to see "history being made." The owners of Top Shelf Cannabis in Bellingham and Cannabis City in Seattle also said they're expecting Canadian customers.
Meanwhile, the Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. Customs and Border Protection are making an effort to remind travellers that smuggling drugs across the border is still a crime.
"CBSA officers are mandated to enforce Canadian laws and regulations at our ports of entry and are committed to preventing illegal narcotics from entering into Canada," the Canadian agency said in a statement.
"Changes to American laws do not affect the CBSA's mandate. In Canada, the possession of cannabis is illegal, and it is a criminal offence to import illegal drugs, including cannabis, into Canada."
U.S. Customs and Border Protection echoed the warning, adding a strongly worded caution that being found guilty of violating a federal or state law related to controlled substances could result in being barred from entering the U.S. in the future.
"In enacting the Controlled Substances Act, Congress determined that marijuana is a Schedule I controlled substance and CBP's enforcement of that Act remains unchanged irrespective of any changes in Washington State law," the agency said in a statement.
As Washington state's marijuana shops were gearing up for business, Canada's "prince of pot" was preparing to be freed from a U.S. prison.
Marc Emery, now 56, was extradited to Seattle in May, 2010, and pleaded guilty to selling marijuana seeds from Canada to American customers before serving his time in several U.S. jails.
His wife, Jodie Emery, said Mr. Emery's sentence ends Wednesday, but it could be several weeks before he can celebrate his freedom. Mr. Emery will be transported to a private deportation facility, where he'll wait for a flight to Detroit and then a transfer across the border.
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Tuckey doesn't want a bar of Labor fight talk
Jason Dowling
Page Tools
Former minister Wilson Tuckey, one of the tough men of the Liberal Party, yesterday dismissed the matter of whether Mark Latham had engaged in fisticuffs as a "non-event".
Mr Tuckey said it was "not an issue of interest", as the Labor leader had given the Government "much better opportunities to show he can't run the country".
The allegation that Mr Latham, then a councillor in Liverpool in western Sydney, threw a punch in 1989 at a local man, Don Nelson, is made in a Nine Network Sunday profile being aired this morning.
The 40-minute profile has caused concern in the Labor party with Mr Latham going on radio on Friday to pre-empt its claims.
Mr Tuckey, who has the nickname "Iron Bar" arising from an incident when he was a hotel keeper, said he would not want to be accused of hypocrisy. "Throughout my life as a hotel keeper I came in contact with recalcitrant clients from time to time," he said. He said Labor seemed to be running around suggesting the allegations were some sort of Liberal plot but "the bloke (making them) doesn't look like a Liberal to me".
Labor frontbencher Julia Gillard defended Mr Latham as "an ordinary Australian bloke", saying "a lot of other ordinary Australian blokes have probably had comparable experiences".
Greens leader Bob Brown also played down the significance of the incident. "I do believe we need humans as politicians," said Senator Brown, who added he was sure Mr Latham could look after himself.
He said the public was more concerned with schools, hospitals and the environment than what someone had done many years ago. He also said that the electorate would not be forgiving if the Government had been muck-raking.
John Howard again refused to be drawn on the issue. Pressed at a doorstop he called to paint Labor as a threat to jobs, the Prime Minister also brushed off questions about whether he would call an election today.
Instead, he seized on a report commissioned by the Business Council of Australia on the implications of Labor's labour market policies to say that Australia would be "back to the bad old days of a regulated labour market" if Mr Latham were elected.
- with AAP


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Corruption, Exogenous Changes in Incentives and Deterrence
In this article we apply and extend the model elaborated by Acemoglu and Verdier in their seminal paper (2000), to examine how the economy represented in their theoretical framework responds to an exogenous change in the agent's incentive. In particular, we focus on the consequences of a famous sentence of the Italian Supreme Court in plenary session, no. 500 of 1999, in which a revolutionary interpretation of civil liability rules is introduced, allowing private agents of our economy to appear before the court to demand reimbursement for the damages suffered as a consequence of illicit behavior of the public administration. This is one of the few cases in which the judex substantially makes law in a system of civil law, and the modification in incentive whether or not to be corrupted comes from an authority that is not part of the game (the jurisdictional power). Basing our affirmations on the model, we can say that corruption may have declined in Italy since the year 2000, as a result of a change in the incentives for both private agents and bureaucrats.
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- Lorenzo Pellegrini & Reyer Gerlagh, 2004. "Corruption's Effect on Growth and its Transmission Channels," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 57(3), pages 429-456, 08.
- Ellickson, Bryan, 1973. "A Generalization of the Pure Theory of Public Goods," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 63(3), pages 417-432, June.
- Mo, Pak Hung, 2001. "Corruption and Economic Growth," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 29(1), pages 66-79, March.
- Axel Dreher & Thomas Herzfeld, 2005. "The Economic Costs of Corruption: A Survey and New Evidence," Public Economics 0506001, EconWPA.
- Del Monte, Alfredo & Papagni, Erasmo, 2001. "Public expenditure, corruption, and economic growth: the case of Italy," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 17(1), pages 1-16, March.
- repec:cup:cbooks:9780521659123 is not listed on IDEAS
- Shouyong Shi & Ted Temzelides, 2004. "A Model Of Bureaucracy And Corruption," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 45(3), pages 873-908, 08.
- Paolo Mauro, 1995. "Corruption and Growth," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, Oxford University Press, vol. 110(3), pages 681-712.
- Besley, Timothy & McLaren, John, 1993. "Taxes and Bribery: The Role of Wage Incentives," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 103(416), pages 119-141, January.
- repec:cup:cbooks:9780521632935 is not listed on IDEAS
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MARANA, Ariz. — A possibly injured motorcyclist is missing after an accident that closed eastbound Interstate 10 in southern Arizona
for much of the night.
The state Department of Transportation said eastbound lanes were closed near
Marana about 10 p.m. Wednesday and reopened about 4 a.m. Thursday. Westbound
lanes weren't affected.
The state Department of Public Safety said first-responders searched for hours along the highway near the Marana Road exit for a motorcycle rider.
DPS said the biker was thrown from his bike after a collision with another
vehicle and several vehicles then struck the motorcycle.
That search included draining a nearby canal.
Hospitals and truck stops in the region have been alerted to watch for anyone
requesting medical assistance for injuries consistent with a motorcycle
Associated Press,


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We have a large selection of woodworking, cabinet, and furniture tools and supplies to meet the needs of all businesses building and repairing furniture and cabinets, trade professionals, homeowners, and Do-It-Yourself (DIY) weekend warriors.
You can count on Woodworker Express to have the products you need in-stock and at the best prices and fast shipping to get those products to you quickly. Express Eddie works hard to make sure that many of our products ship out the same day you order them.


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Here where the end of bone is no end of song
And the earth is bedecked with immortality
In what was poetry
And now is pride beside
And nationality,
Here is a battle with no bravery
But if the coward's tongue has gone
Swording his own lusty lung.
Listen if there is victory
Written into a library
Waving the books in banners
Soldierly at last, for the lines
Go marching on, delivered of the soul.
And happily may they rest beyond
Suspicion now, the incomprehensibles
Traitorous in such talking
As chattered over their countries' boundaries.
The graves are gardened and the whispering
Stops at the hedges, there is singing
Of it in the ranks, there is a hush
Where the ground has limits
And the rest is loveliness.
And loveliness?
Death has an understanding of it
Loyal to many flags
And is a silent ally of any country
Beset in its mortal heart
With immortal poetry.
Poet: Laura Riding Jackson
Poem: The Poet's Corner
Poem of the Day:
Mar 29 2013
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|Date added:
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Strained ligaments for Anichebe
Everton have confirmed Victor Anichebe strained knee ligaments during the 0-0 draw at Newcastle.
Last Updated: 24/02/09 11:44am
Everton have confirmed Victor Anichebe strained knee ligaments during the 0-0 draw at Newcastle United.
Anichebe was hurt by a horror challenge from Kevin Nolan just before half-time which resulted in the Newcastle midfielder being sent off.
The Toffees were initially hopeful that Anichebe had not suffered a serious problem, with the striker having a heavily bruised shin.
However, Everton physio Mick Rathbone has revealed there is some ligament damage and the club are now waiting to learn how long the forward will be out.
Very sore
"Victor has got very bad bruising on his shin and on the outside of his ankle, but we're not overly concerned about that," Rathbone told the club's official website.
"However, he has had a series of scans and he appears to have strained ligaments on the outside of his right knee.
"He is very sore indeed and we need to take a few days to let the area settle down before we can properly make an accurate clinical evaluation."
But, despite suffering ligament damage, Rathbone is confident that Anichebe has not picked up a serious knee injury.
Rathbone added: "He's got big strong legs and that helps. I think he's just about got away with it.
"He bent his knee, so the strain came on the outside of the knee."


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August 3, 2007
TOKYO (August 3, 2007)--Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. has revealed a new concept car featuring multiple preventative features designed to help reduce drunk driving. Presently integrated on-board a production model Fuga sedan, the various technologies are designed to detect the driver's state of sobriety and to activate a range of preventive measures including immobilization of the vehicle.
This concept car was developed as an exploratory platform to showcase breakthrough technologies that could potentially be applied in future production cars, part of an ongoing program from Nissan contributing towards the prevention of drunk driving.
Nissan has already launched and is developing several initiatives to help prevent drunk driving. In June, the company introduced the "drunk driving" message alert on its navigation system. In July, Nissan also began testing of a new on-board breathalyzer system in cooperation with several local government authorities, where an interlock mechanism will immobilize the vehicle if the driver's breath indicates the presence of alcohol above a specified level.
Nissan is taking holistic approach towards safety that extends beyond the technology built into its vehicles. To achieve a "safe driving environment", Nissan has embarked on the Intelligent Transport System Project (ITS) in Kanagawa Prefecture – aimed at helping to reduce road accidents via the analysis of traffic data collected from on-the-road vehicles and traffic beacons. In Japan, the company's safety vision is to halve the number of traffic fatalities or serious injuries involving Nissan vehicles by 2015 compared with the level in 1995.


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Domitalia USA - Barrique - Pub TableProduct Id: 480710 Phone Code: 6AF2-5211
Regular: $769.00 Sale: $538.56 (You Save 30%)
Usually ships in 1 to 3 Days
Product Description
Care for a minimalist and simple furniture look; you certainly have your pick in this unique and stylish bar table. its sturdy design is complemented by a lacquered metal frame over a satiated aluminum base. the walnut table top features a laminated finish, giving the table a brilliant brown shade. this table serves as the perfect accessory to display champagne glasses and finger snacks.
- Pub table in satinated aluminum and wild oak finish
- Made of aluminum and steel
- Lacquered steel frame
- High pressure laminate top
- Bar table
- Overall Product Dimensions: 44"H x 29"W x 29"D


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David Horsey
|This article includes a list of references, but its sources remain unclear because it has insufficient inline citations. (September 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
David Horsey (born 1951) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist in the United States. His cartoons appeared in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer until December 2011 and in the Los Angeles Times currently and are syndicated to newspapers nationwide.
Life and career[edit]
Horsey was born in Evansville, Indiana and moved to Seattle, Washington at age 3. He began working as a cartoonist in the Cascade, the school newspaper at Ingraham High School. He was a French horn player in the Seattle Youth Symphony. He attended the University of Washington, where, as a freshman, he became the editorial cartoonist of the student newspaper The Daily. He went on to become the first editorial cartoonist to be chosen as editor-in-chief of The Daily. He graduated in 1976 with a degree in communications.
Horsey's first job was as a reporter for the Bellevue Journal-American, but in 1979 he was hired to be the editorial cartoonist of the Post-Intelligencer. In 1986, he earned a master's degree in international relations from the University of Kent in England. In 2004 he received an honorary doctorate degree from Seattle University.
At the end of 2011, he left the Post-Intelligencer and went to work for the Los Angeles Times.[1]
Horsey has been recognized for his work with numerous awards over the years, the most notable of which is the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning. He received this award first in 1999, when many of his cartoons focused on the Monica Lewinsky scandal, and again in 2003, when he often lampooned the Bush administration. In 2014, he was again a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and also received the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for his cartoons related to social justice issues.
- Horsey's Rude Awakenings (1981)
- Horsey's Greatest Hits of the '80s (1989)
- The Fall of Man (1994)
- One Man Show (1999)
- From Hanging Chad to Baghdad (2003)
- Draw Quick, Shoot Straight (2007)
- "Refuge of Scoundrels" (2013)
- ^ Rick Anderson (27 December 2011). "David Horsey Draws His Dream Job: Work for The Los Angeles Times While Living in Seattle". seattleweekly.com. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
External links[edit]
- David Horsey's page at the Los Angeles Times
- David Horsey's page at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
- 1999 Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoons
- 2003 Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoons
|This profile of an American cartoonist is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.


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Amy Kronish
Film Consultant
Travels from Jerusalem, Israel
Availability: Contact JNF Speakers Bureau for availability or contact the speaker directly.
Website: www.israelfilm.Blogspot.com
Topics:Media and Current Events
Amy Kronish works as a consultant in the field of Jewish and Israeli film and curates film programs for Beit Avi Chai in Jerusalem. Previously, she directed coexistence programs at the Jerusalem International YMCA and served for 15 years as the Curator of Jewish and Israeli Film at the Jerusalem Cinematheque. She lectures and writes widely on film and is the author of two books on Israeli film – "World Cinema: Israel" (1996) and "Israeli Film – A Reference Guide" (2003). Born and bred in the United States, she has an M.A. in Communications from N.Y.U. (1973), and has lived in Jerusalem since 1979.
Download a prepared introduction for Amy Kronish amy-kronish.doc
Popular Speeches:


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The home of Elinor Curry, the last of an old Decatur County family, 1988 Dec.
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yeah baby!!
so i'd just like to thank a few people real quick:
Mr. Rick Rothstein, ICE BOWL Founder!!
The Greater Portland Bible Church and Lunchtime DGC
Portland Neighborhood House!!
My Hero's: Ryan Gwilim and Jeff Hagerty at STUMPTOWN Disc Golf!!! thank you guys for eveything you do!
Firefly Disc Golf Promotions
Miles Parkhill and Paragon Disc Golf!
Chris Anderson and GBDS (gorilla Boy)
DC Dan and Disc-Van-Go!! Love ya!!
Andy Mann @ Ching Custom Dyed Discs
Jimmy and Jimmys Sports Bar in multnomah village!
Steve Core @ Trophy Printing
Derek Nadvornick @ Sterling Savings Bank
Cross The Line Outdoor Adventure
Kenin "loki" Mykelz @ Chronic Art Studios
Kevin "Blu666z" Davis and his Ice Bowl Pale Ale!
and all the DGOD! Members who have helped with the course clean up: Andy V, Vince E, Trey E, Ben G, Craig F, Rich D, Jonny M, Zac C, Josh D, Dusty A, Crazy Dave, And Tyler "Tee Box" F.
thank you all!!
P.S. remember this is also a FOOD DRIVE!


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While I was most interested to see XAU [ the metal ] move a wee bit, I tried to remember if Labor Day was celebrated in the Commonwealth Countries. No matter, NO, I am not daft taking a 12 hour road trip on Labor Day Weekend ! ! Simply one business associate told me that my long awaited prize was ready for pickup, and LABOR DAY is the only day I can get it done ! Sound familar >? ?
I publish that here, so that no one HAS to continue checking here for posts, other than daily. Much to the heartburn of a few who know me well, I really dont change my opinions about trends, reversals, top zones, bottom zones and the like until I weigh all the most timely available evidence in the most expeditious manner AT A SPECIFIC TIME. Therefore, the information in the Summit Trend Update issued 9:30 Sat 8/30/08, [to those whoms subscribe to it ]will be valid [ if dated some ] until I issue a NEW Summit Trend Update.
I tend to publish UPDATES as conditions change, and therefore, can most easily reach those who subscribe [ and receive my promotions also ]. Reports will be issued via the subscription also, again as they are produced, rather than upon a specific schedule.
My private indicators are computed weekly and issued to Associates and Indicator Subscribers immediately. Details on these services are about to be published on my website, which is listed in the links.
Please be safe and enjoy the fruits of your labors on this Labor Day Weekend.


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The best way to go in style is owning a private jet. It will take you to an airport in any parts of the world. You can enjoy maximum comfort and privacy. A small price to pay for billionaires who can afford the lifestyle. Private jets are known to be status symbols. The bigger their planes, the pricier it gets. What do these big boys get for their toy? Pure luxury. Plenty of room stuffed with first class amenities to suit his every whim. For people of their stature, they would want nothing but the best when they are traveling. May it be for business or vacation. Definitely it's a combination of both once they are aboard their private jets. As compared to flying commercial, there are more stringent safety standards. On a private jet, you can more or less do what you like on board. That makes a difference.
If you're interested in getting away for awhile, you may be interested in chartering a private jet. A private jet is optimal if you need to go a long distance but do not need to sit in a commercial plane. When flying on a private plane, you will also find that you are able to avoid some of the normal regulations that are normally required by airports. This varies by airport, so be sure to check. When you are flying privately, you will also notice that you are more comfortable and relaxed, and you do not have anyone bothering you by loud music or with annoying children. If you're interested in chartering a private jet to an airport you should ask your pilot how many years of experience they have, what they charge, and how long they expect the flight should be. If you're interested in hiring them again, you should also ask if they're available for repeat business. If you're interested in chartering a private aircraft, you should start your research today.
If you intend to buy a private jet plane either for business or holiday, it is importaan airport nt to consider some things before you spend your hard-earned money on it. There are a myriad of brand new and used private jets available in the market, and the amount that you should pay for one all depends on the features and size of the jet. Before you decide to buy one, make sure that you know and you have thought about what you really want. Think about the number of passengers or the an airport you will travel most of the time. In that way, you will have an idea on what you should have. You can ask some people who are knowledgeable about private planes, or you can also scrounge in the internet to know the average prices of the jet planes that you are looking for.
When chartering private jets for your employer, there are some things that you should make certain of before finalizing any deal. Many people wishing to travel in this level of luxury to an airport are seeking certain amenities and accommodations that their party can enjoy. While there are several companies who offer these services, not all of the services that are provided are of equal quality. Taking the time to take a virtual tour of any plane that you intend to book will help you to ensure that it will meet the high standards of your employer. You should also read the online reviews that have been provide by other consumers such as yourself. These will inform you of the costumer service benefits of a charter services. In addition to having a vast array of amenities for travelers to enjoy, the service provider will ideally be able to provide individual attention to all guests.
Hiring private jets can be an easier and private alternative then flying on a commercial air liner. Several companies are available at your disposal to rent a private jet for your flying needs to an airport, one just has to do a bit of research before hand to find out their fees and what the brokerage firms offer. Many of them offer luxury flights, that are available with just four hours of notice. A private plane can fly anywhere world wide, come in several different sizes, and options to arrange ground pick up for you and your party. A number of of companies even offer a "frequent flier" club at no extra cost; so you do not have to worry about tacked on fees to your flight and thus spending even more money. Why fly commercial when you can have the luxury and privacy and a charter jet?
There are numerous things to consider when choosing a leasing company. Others may say and think that it is a simple and easy task, but in fact, it is a difficult process. First of all, one must search a charter company that is reputable and trust-worthy. Ask your friends or your family members for their suggestion or you can also look in the computer for reviews regarding charter companies. Once you have decided on a business, you should ask them for documents like safety records, operating certificate, and insurance just to name a few. In addition, it is also important to ask the company how often their pilots get simulator training. In that way, you can be assured that your life, and those who will ride with you in the private jet plane to an airport, is in good hands. It is still better to be safe than sorry.
زبين في طيزي, للعب فى كس, العاب حرب طىارت, صورنیک, مجاني سكس رجال, اجمل مقاطع نيك, قصص سكسيه, عمل كس صناعى فى المنزل, نيك رجله, اكبر موقع\نيك, فيديو نيك رجال مع نساء, درجات نيك عند المراه, فيديو مجنا زب داخل في سوة, اكبرطيز النساء, اكبر موقع\نيك , موسيقى اللي في المطار, طيران محج قلعة, المسافر للخارج والذ متعه لنيك, طيارات الي سالزبورغ, شيمبو, أرقام الطرق في ولاية أركنسو, صور مطار دالاس بولايه تكساس, فورت براج, مطار دالاس التنفيذي, الطائرة الخفيفة, كم عدد مقاعد falcon 900b, جزيرة بانجاسينان, فيرفيلد, افضل الطائرات التجارية الصغيرة, carbondale ولاية


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Dan Boudreau has devoted the last 20 years to coaching and mentoring regular folks into the captivating world of business. He authors and facilitates lively, transformative workshops on the topics of entrepreneurship, business planning, and training for trainers. He has inspired thousands of entrepreneurs to become successful business owners and leaders.
Launching into his first venture in 1980 with barely enough knowledge to fill the back of a beer cap, he has embraced (and survived) the wide spectrum of business ownership, from single owner home-based enterprises to ventures employing more than 300 workers.
Dan's top life essentials are: laughing, loving, and learning. Armed with the business planning process as a teaching tool, he empowers ordinary women and men to create the financial stability and lifestyle they dream of. He is most proud of being acknowledged and appreciated by peers and friends for his ability to bring entrepreneurial ideas to fruition with a nod towards his warm, engaging personable style.
In 2006, Dan bundled his knowledge (and bruises) into his first book, Business Plan or BUST! In writing the book, he combined his practical experience as a business owner with his expertise as a lender for an economic development agency, and tossed in his unique brand of wit. The end result: A refreshing perspective and no-nonsense style that makes the time-worn topic of business planning easy, fast and fun!
When Dan takes those occasional days off from navigating the business world you might find him stuffed into a floating toothpaste tube sometimes referred to as a kayak (rarely right side up), or perhaps coaxing disturbing sounds from his guitar. From botched attempts to outsmart fish in the rivers of northern British Columbia to flopping around in the waves or practicing applied inertia on just about any tropical beach… his ultimate enjoyment almost always incorporates fresh air, clean water, and sandy beaches.


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A police operation was launched in Sydney in the early hours of Sunday morning to evict the Occupy protest that had been taking place in Martin Place, in the city centre, since October 15. The state attack followed the violent dismantling of the occupation in Melbourne's City Square on Friday, and large police mobilisations in both cities on Saturday to intimidate the protests against social inequality and corporate power.
In Sydney on Saturday, close to 1,000 people rallied in Martin Place in support of the Occupy movement. The police presence was markedly increased, hinting at the preparations underway to attack the occupation, as had taken place the day before in Melbourne.
Up to 100 people were occupying Martin Place when several hundred police descended upon the site at approximately 4.45 a.m. on Sunday. The majority of protesters had just woken up when they were instructed they had 10 minutes to leave. Police, including from the Riot Squad and other specialised units, were deployed to physically drag out people who refused. As many as 40 were arrested and at least nine were charged and will have to appear before court. Protesters suffered a range of minor injuries as a result of police brutality.
Australia: Riot police evict Occupy Sydney
Current Status: Blessed (1)
Seeded on Mon Oct 24, 2011 1:40 PM
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Roundup: Fed survey shows steady growth; Hostess has 80 potential buyers; more
Fed survey: Economy growing at steady pace
A pickup in consumer spending and steady home sales helped lift economic growth in October and early November in most parts of the United States, according to a Federal Reserve survey. The one exception was the Northeast, which was slowed by Superstorm Sandy. The Fed says growth improved in nine of its 12 regional banking districts. Growth was weaker in New York, Philadelphia and Boston — areas where Sandy caused widespread disruptions. The survey says growth improved despite nervousness about tax increases and spending cuts that could kick in next year if Congress and the Obama administration can't reach a budget deal before then.
Group urges Medicaid expansion
A statewide coalition of social service organizations is urging Gov. Tom Corbett to expand the state's Medicaid program, known as Medical Assistance, as called for by federal health care reform. The Pennsylvania Health Access Network sent the letter to Corbett, a Republican who opposed the Affordable Care Act, asking him to accept federal funding starting in 2014. "Right now more than 1.3 million Pennsylvanians do not have health insurance," according to the letter, signed by more than 60 groups. The Supreme Court in June upheld most of the Affordable Care Act, except for a provision that would penalize states that did not expand Medicaid, the government's health insurance program for poor people. The court ruled states could decide to opt out of the expansion without penalty. Corbett is waiting for more information from the federal government on how much the expansion will cost the state before making a decision, spokeswoman Christine Cronkright said.
Many interested in Hostess
Days into its plan to dismantle itself, the former maker of Hostess Twinkies has attracted serious interest from more than 80 potential bidders, the company's chief executive said Wednesday. "I can't answer details about bidders and (the) bid process, but I can tell you that we now have over 80 parties signed up to confidentiality agreements, and the vast majority are capable and serious bidders," said Gregory Rayburn, who is presiding over the wind-down of 82-year-old Hostess Brands. Hostess assets, including brands such as Ho Hos and Wonder Bread, could fetch more than $1 billion.
Rue21 profit falls 6.5% to $8M
Teen clothing retailer rue21 Inc. said third-quarter profit fell by 6.5 percent to $8.17 million, or 33 cents a share, although sales grew 15.6 percent because of new store growth and better results from existing stores. Marshall-based rue21 said its latest results compare to a profit of $8.74 million, or 35 cents, a year ago. Sales totaled $225.16 million, up from $194.76 million. The company said it had a $2.9 million pretax litigation expense, or about 8 cents a share, in the third quarter related to a prospective settlement of wage and hours claims in California. The 879-store chain raised earnings guidance to $1.83 to $1.86 a share for the year, up from $1.55 in fiscal 2011.
Nominate a volunteer
Trib Total Media and energy services provider Direct Energy, co-sponsors of the Pittsburgh Volunteer Citizen of the Year award, are seeking nominations for the second annual competition through Jan. 6. The award recognizes individuals whose efforts make their communities better places to live. A prize of $1,000 will go to the winner, and $5,000 will go to the winner's community organization or cause. Nominees must live in one of the communities served by Trib Total Media newspapers. Contest rules, nomination forms and other information are available at www.directenergy.com/vcoypittsburgh/.
Other business news
• Financial Transaction Services, Philadelphia, said Wednesday it acquired Dependable Payment Processing and Discount Payment Processing, affiliated companies based in Mars. Collectively known as DPP, the companies provide electronic payment processing products. They employ six people, who are retaining their jobs. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
• Millcraft Investments Inc. promoted Lucas B. Piatt and Marcus M. Piatt to president of the two major divisions of the company, while their father and Millcraft founder, Jack B. Piatt Sr., remains as company chairman and CEO. Lucas, who also retains his job as chief operating officer, will head up Millcraft Investments, which includes development, property management and brokerage services, while Marcus heads the Millcraft Hospitality and Millcraft Tenant Construction Services.
• Steve Steinour, CEO of Huntington Bancshares Inc., was named Banker of the Year for 2012 by American Banker, the industry's leading daily trade newspaper. Steinour was credited for turning around the Columbus-based bank, which operates about 40 branches in the Pittsburgh area. A Gettysburg native, Steinour previously was CEO of RBS Citizens Financial Group, the parent of Citizens Bank.
— Staff and wire reports