text:
May 2009: New TFW Report; New Labour Economic Monitor; New safety rules coming; Keep jobs in Canada petition
Entrenching Exploitation: Canada's Shameful Record on TFWs
- In its latest report on the working and living conditions of Temporary Foreign Workers, the AFL's Foreign Worker Advocate reports that things are getting worse, not better. Called "Entrenching Exploitation" the report recounts how, without public debate, the Canadian and Alberta governments are quietly creating a European-style guest worker program, which threatens to create a permanent exploited underclass of foreign workers who work in Canada for years without receiving the rights that come with citizenship. Read Entrenching Exploitation...
LEM: The Recession Edition
- What do a "dead cat bounce" and sheep on drugs have in common? Both are part of the insightful economic analysis to be found in the Spring 2009 issue of "Labour Economic Monitor." The latest issue looks at the recent Alberta budget and the effects of the recession on wages and earnings. All explained with entertaining prose and colourful graphs. Check out the latest economic data ...
New Safety Rules Coming
- On July 1, an extensive series of amendments to the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code come into force. The changes will likely affect every workplace in one way or another. Some of the major changes include: revamping fall protection standards, updating chemical hazard exposure limits, tougher working alone rules, and new section related to health care workers. To help workers become acquainted with the new provisions, the AFL has produced a document summarizing the changes. Find out about the OHS Code Amendments ...
Solidarity in Hard Times
- The latest issue of Union Magazine is out and it takes a good look at the challenges to maintaining solidarity in this era of globalization and aggressive union tactics. It explores new forms of solidarity and examines ways workers can stick together in tough times. And remember, if you want Union sent directly to your mailbox or email inbox, be sure to sign up for a free subscription. Read the latest issue of Union ...
Urgent Action
Keep Jobs in Canada Petition
- The Telecommunications Workers Union (TWU) has launched a cross-Canada campaign to raise awareness about the growing problem of unemployment in Canada and to demand governments do something to keep jobs in Canada. They are touring a National Unemployment Clock across Canada, which will be in Alberta May 24-26. They have also set up an online petition where Canadians can add their voices to the growing numbers demanding action to save Canadian jobs. Do your part to save Canadian jobs ...
Public Interest Alberta's 5th Anniversary Celebration
Friday, June 5, 2009
Grand Ballroom
Chateau Louis Conference Centre
11727 Kingsway, Edmonton
This evening will give us an opportunity to come together to socialize and reflect on the important work we have undertaken over the past five years. We will also be presenting our annual Public Interest Award to this year's recipients.
Tickets - Individual $65.00 / Table of 8 - $500.00
6:00 pm - Cocktails
7:00 pm - Dinner
8:00 pm - Celebration & Entertainment
Did you know ...
Top Six Source Countries for temporary foreign workers in Alberta (2007):
1. Philippines
2. United States
3. United Kingdom
4. Mexico
5. Australia
6. India
Harper refuses to ease EI rules: Opposition demands called an 'absurdity'
In the face of steep job losses and a battering recession, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Friday his government won't ease eligibility rules for unemployment benefits.
Harper, who was in Calgary to announce $100 million in funding for the southeast ring road project, called demands from opposition parties to reduce the work period required for employment insurance(EI) aid to 360 hours absurd.
The Alberta government is also seeking reduced qualifying hours for the province's growing pool of laid-off workers. Alberta's jobless rate rose to six per cent last month, its highest level in seven years.
Harper, however, suggested he's not willing to make further changes to the federal program, noting benefits have been extended by five weeks and Ottawa has invested significant dollars in training.
"They(opposition parties) are suggesting that what we should do is bring in an EI system where any Canadian in anywhere in the country in perpetuity could work 45 days and collect EI benefits for a period up to a year.This is an absurdity. It is not responsible," the prime minister said.
"This has nothing to do with the real problems of this recession. This is just a recipe to raise payroll taxes."
The number of work hours needed to qualify for EI varies across the country, from 420 hours to 700 hours, depending on the health of a region's employment.
Albertans require the most hours to qualify, based in part on a jobless rate that was once the lowest in the country.
The Stelmach government has been lobbying Ottawa for equity in EI rules. Along with easing eligibility rules, it wants the Harper government to further extend how long Canadians can collect unemployment benefits.
"We're just saying that as conditions may change . . . we (should) get equal or close to equal recognition of some of the EI program," Stelmach said.
Federal opposition parties have threatened to force an election over the EI issue.
In an opinion piece written for publication in newspapers, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff contends Canada's employment insurance system "wasn't built for a national crisis of this scope."
"More than 40 per cent of the unemployed in this country aren't eligible for EI, even though they have paid into the system. As a result, Canadians aren't getting the help they need when they need it," he wrote.
The Liberals want the Harper minority government to introduce a national 360-hour standard for EI eligibility during the recession. The party proposes to cover the added cost of benefits through general revenues and keep payroll taxes frozen.
"The distortions produced by the current EI rules are striking," Ignatieff added in his open letter.
"Unemployment is up 83 per cent in Alberta and 68 per cent in British Columbia --but it's still twice as hard to qualify for EI in Western Canada as it is elsewhere in the country."
Pressure to change the insurance program is also coming from union groups.
Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil McGowan accused Harper of using EI as a wedge issue in the run-up to a possible federal election.
"What's being lost in this approach is the fact that the unemployment insurance system is simply not up to the task of helping Canadians through this recession," McGowan said.
"The employment insurance system should be there for workers when they lose their jobs no matter where they live, whether it's Calgary or Cape Breton."
Calgary Herald, Sat May 23 2009
Byline: Renata d'Aliesio
May 2009: Say No to Old Dutch Chips; Keep Energy Jobs in Alberta; Green Jobs; Friends of Medicare Rally
Say No to Old Dutch Chips
- Rather than bargain fairly, Old Dutch Chips on March 30 locked out 170 workers at its Calgary plant. The workers are simply looking for provisions that most workers take for granted: sick pay, minimum hour guarantees, stronger food safety standards and a requirement that all workers pay union dues. The workers, members of UFCW 401, are asking Albertans to not purchase Old Dutch products until the company agrees to a fair deal. Old Dutch chips include the generic brands made for Safeway and Superstore. Take a bite out of Old Dutch profits ...
How To Keep Energy Jobs in Alberta
- Alberta's boom has started to bust with the global economic recession, and thanks to the Alberta government's insistence on a "hands off" policy in the oil sands, thousands of future jobs in upgrading and refining will be located in the U.S. instead of Alberta. The AFL has released a new report, "Lost Down the Pipeline," examining the problem and offering solutions on how we can retain these high quality jobs in Alberta when the downturn ends. Read Lost Down the Pipeline ...
Getting Some Green...Jobs That Is
- The old claim that we have to choose between jobs and the environment is a myth. It is possible to take action to protect the environment AND create good jobs at the same time. To prove it, the AFL has partnered with the Sierra Club and Greenpeace to craft a groundbreaking report on the potential for green jobs in Alberta. Called "Green Jobs: It's time to Build Alberta's Future," it defines a "green job" and looks at concrete ways we can put Albertans to work improving the environment and strengthening our economy at the same time. Read the Green Jobs Report ...
See It On YouTube
- You read our reports. You surf our website. You check out Labourbytes. Now you can see the video version of AFL activities. The AFL has begun producing short videos of our report releases and other events and posting them on YouTube, just like all the cool kids do. Also, for ease of reference, we are linking them to a single page in our website. So, next time you are looking for the AFL's position on an issue, try checking out our YouTube video. http://www.afl.org/pressroom/youtube.cfm?pageId=434&action=preview
AFL Officers Re-elected
- At the AFL Biennial Convention at the end of April, both AFL President Gil McGowan and Secretary-Treasurer Nancy Furlong were re-elected . The Convention also selected a new Executive Council to guide AFL activities for the next two years.
Urgent Action
Stand Up for Public Healthcare!
Friends of Medicare Rally
Saturday May 9, 2009 @ 1:30pm
Alberta Legislature, Edmonton
We are standing up to tell our Health Minister that we do not agree with the attack on seniors, the threats to our services, closures of hospitals, along with the rest of the dismantling that has been occurring.
Let's give the Health Minister a strong message that we want positive improvement to our public Healthcare system!
We are organizing buses and car pools from around the province!
If you are wanting to get on one of these buses, call the Friends of Medicare: (780)423-4581. Stand up for Medicare ...
Public Interest Alberta's 5th Anniversary Celebration
Friday, June 5, 2009
Grand Ballroom
Chateau Louis Conference Centre
11727 Kingsway, Edmonton
This evening will give us an opportunity to come together to socialize and reflect on the important work we have undertaken over the past five years. We will also be presenting our annual Public Interest Award to this year's recipients.
Tickets - Individual $65.00 / Table of 8 - $500.00
6:00 pm - Cocktails
7:00 pm - Dinner
8:00 pm - Celebration & Entertainment
Did you know ...
Green Job Creation in Alberta
Short Term: 53,000 to 65,000
Medium Term: 85,000 to 140,000
Possible Green Jobs:
- Retrofitting buildings
- Building and operating public transit
- Manufacturing Green Products
- Building High Speed Rail
- Creating Green Energy Infrastructure
Labour Economic Monitor (May 2009)
Labour Economic Monitor (May 2009)
It's springtime in Alberta, and signs of the new season are everywhere. Birds are flocking back, the ice is out of the river, and down at the Legislature, the government has unveiled Budget 2009, Building on Our Strength. Like most Alberta budgets, this one is as much about show business as it is about provincial finances.
A New Direction for Alberta's Energy Economy (2009)
A New Direction for Alberta's Energy Economy (April 2009)
Policy paper adopted at AFL 46th Constitutional Convention, April 23-26, 2009
Green Jobs: It's time to build Alberta's future
Green Jobs: It's time to build Alberta's future
The emerging cooperation between labour and environmental groups is flipping the traditional story, and creating a new way to see the environment and the economy. People get it. They understand that you can have a clean environment and a strong economy, and they like the idea of governments pursuing policies that will lead to the creation of green jobs.
Myths fuel the eco lobby's emissions-slashing, green-jobs fantasy: Ideologically-driven employment claims don't stand up to scrutiny
In December 2007, just as the worst recession in decades got underway, 54 leading U.S. economists were asked by Business Week magazine to share their economic outlook for 2008.
More than 96 per cent saw another year of modest growth. Only two predicted a recession -- even though it had already started.
In July 2008, when oil prices hit $147 US a barrel, some of the biggest brains on Wall Street -- along with famed energy tycoon T. Boone Pickens -- predicted crude would soon hit $200.
Wrong again. With oil now hovering around $50, the experts overshot the mark by $150.
As these gigantic goofs illustrate, forecasting anything -- from next year's economic growth, to the outcome of the Stanley Cup playoffs, to this weekend's weather, to the growth of man-made carbon emissions by 2050 -- is a fool's game.
Most forecasts turn out to be dead wrong. Why?
They're often based on faulty assumptions, an inability to anticipate the impact of complex future technological or societal changes, incomplete or inaccurate data, and last but not least, built-in biases.
Even the most fair-minded forecasters often see what they want to see -- depending on their particular vested interest -- and then do their best to rationalize the preordained conclusions their "research" inevitably produces.
All of which brings me to the current topic du jour: the glorious dream, perpetuated by the green lobby and its allies that the world can end its reliance on evil fossil fuels, slash carbon emissions, save the planet, and create millions of well-paid new green jobs, with little or no pain.
Along the way, we're told, we could also end the recession, replace the millions of North American jobs that have disappeared since the downturn began, and set the world on course for a bright, sustainable, shiny future.
This is pure fantasy, of course, and it's even more delusional in light of the current global economic crisis.
Entire countries are now flirting with bankruptcy, global bank losses are expected to top $4 trillion US, according to the International Monetary Fund, and the U.S. has already lost more jobs -- 5.1 million -- than Barack Obama's celebrated green-jobs plan promises to create over the next 10 years.
Yet, if anything, the fantastical dream of economic salvation through green jobs grows stronger by the day. But that doesn't change a simple fact. The world depends on fossil fuels for an obvious reason. They're cheap, plentiful, efficient and flexible.
The preferred green alternatives -- solar power, wind power, biofuels, geothermal, tidal power, fuel cells -- are far more costly, less reliable and largely unproven, on a mass commercial basis.
All rely heavily on massive public subsidies -- from cash-strapped governments that are already straining under the weight of huge deficits -- and in the case of corn-based ethanol, are arguably more damaging to the planet than fossil fuels.
Most thoughtful people know this. But that doesn't stop the greens from pushing their sanitized version of the future.
Witness the 70-page report issued Wednesday by Greenpeace, the Sierra Club Prairie Chapter, and the Alberta Federation of Labour, titled It's Time to Build Alberta's Future.
At a time when Alberta -- and the rest of the country -- is shedding thousands of jobs every month, the report suggests the province could create more than 200,000 green jobs in areas such as mass transit, renewable energy and publicly funded home retrofits.
Predictably, the report slams "false solutions" such as Alberta's $2-billion commitment to carbon capture and storage technology, which doesn't align with the green movement's selective enthusiasm for new technology.
I hope you read the report. It's thought-provoking. But after you do, I'd suggest you read another report, produced last month by a group of economists and legal experts from four U.S. universities, titled Green Jobs Myths.
The report can be downloaded, free of charge, from the U.S.-based Social Science Research Network.
Be forewarned: the painstakingly researched 97-page document doesn't make for easy reading. It's a scholarly study, full of footnotes, detailed tables, and comprehensive economic and energy data. It's not a polemic.
But in the end, it paints a damning, highly critical picture of the lofty job creation claims that are so casually tossed around by people like Al Gore, and pressure groups such as Greenpeace.
It's impossible to do the report justice in this column. It covers far too much ground, and the details are exhaustive. But it concludes that there are seven myths behind the current ideological push to create so-called green jobs:
Myth One: There is no coherent, standardized definition of a green job, thus creating a smokescreen behind which political coalitions, labour unions and lobby groups can hide in pursuit of other goals.
Myth Two: Creating green jobs will boost productive employment. In fact, green jobs estimates include huge numbers of clerical, bureaucratic and administrative positions that do not produce goods or services.
Myth Three: Green jobs forecasts are reliable. Not so, say the report's authors. In fact, estimates vary enormously, and are often based on faulty logic, questionable assumptions, and reflect inherent bias.
Myth Four: Green jobs promote employment growth. Untrue, the authors conclude. Economic growth can't be mandated through central planning or regulation.
Myth Five: The world economy can be remade based on local production, and reduced consumption, without dramatically decreasing human welfare. "This is a recipe for economic disaster, not ecotopia," the report finds.
Myth Six: Mandates are a substitute for markets. History shows that markets are far more efficient at accomplishing the very goals greens purport to seek, the authors say.
Myth Seven: Wishing for technological progress is sufficient. Not so, say the authors, who decry the green lobby's "selective technological optimism/pessimism," and unrealistic expectations.
Edmonton Journal, Mon Apr 23 2009
Byline: Gary Lamphier
Green economy could create thousands of new jobs in Alberta: report
Creating a more environmentally sustainable economy could create tens of thousands of jobs in Alberta, according a report released Wednesday by the Alberta Federation of Labour, Greenpeace and the Sierra Club of Canada.
"There are many people who argue you can't have a strong economy and a healthy environment - that somehow we have to make a choice between the two," said Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labour.
'Green jobs include familiar jobs with a new twist ...'-Green Jobs report
"We're starting to realize that in the long run, a healthy environment is essential for a healthy economy and that the economy can be put to work to improve the health of the environment."
A move toward creating more environmentally sustainable energy sources could provide jobs for electricians, computer and electrical engineers, iron and steel workers, welders, construction workers and sheet metal workers, the report says.
"Green jobs include familiar jobs with a new twist, like construction workers retrofitting homes to make them more energy efficient," the report says.
It calls on the Alberta government to shift its focus from oil and gas extraction to initiatives to improve energy efficiency, the expansion of light rail and transit and the expansion of the province's renewable energy sector.
By retrofitting every home, the province could put 6,500 to 14,000 people back to work over the next two years, while reducing energy consumption and emissions, the report says, adding that this would cost less and have a greater long-term effect than the $2 billion the province spent over six years on the recently cancelled natural gas rebate program.
Transit, rail projects could employ thousands
Spending $10 billion to build better transit systems and construct a high-speed rail link between Calgary and Edmonton could create 19,000 to 28,000 jobs over seven years.
Establishing renewable energy tariffs, mandatory renewable energy targets for utilities and bans on new carbon-emitting projects would encourage development of more wind, solar and geothermal technology.
Other jobs could be created to provide water treatment for First Nations communities, reforestation, and cleaning up contaminated sites, the report adds.
The Alberta government needs to step in and make the policy changes for this shift to occur.
"This is a task that government will need to undertake. The private sector on its own hasn't been able to do this," the report says, adding the province has "tens of billions of dollars" available to move toward a greener economy
CBC News, Wed Apr 22 2009
Green jobs touted as fix for struggling economy: Eco-friendly investment could put 'tens of thousands' to work, new report says
Stephani Carter earned a reputation early in her career as "the Green Girl who asks tough questions," constantly pushing the envelope of her Earth-first sensibilities about architecture and design.
Today, she heads her own company -- EcoAmmo -- researching materials, teaching commercial builders how to go green, and generally spreading the word about sustainable design.
In the past, Carter has observed Earth Day by challenging her staff to a spirited round of Eco Bingo, a game she invented years ago, where the spaces on the card are filled with eco-friendly initiatives instead of numbers, and prizes are organically prepared dinners for two rather than cold, hard cash.
Carter and a growing number of others with so-called green jobs believe a healthy environment and a healthy economy are intertwined.
That belief is at the heart of a report to be released today that calls on the provincial government to invest in creating more green jobs to strengthen Alberta's sagging economy.
The report says "tens of thousands" of such jobs can be made available "right away," not only shrinking the province's oily footprint, but developing "a new green economy" at the same time.
The report is the result of an unlikely alliance between organized labour and environmentalists.
Recent job losses in Alberta -- 44,000 full-time jobs in the past three months alone, according to government statistics -- have prompted the Alberta Federation of Labour, Greenpeace Canada and the Sierra Club's Prairie chapter to join forces in calling for a shift toward greater sustainability.
The report suggests the government stop pouring money into oil and gas and start investing in other green-job industries, such as transit.
The province can dramatically reduce automobile dependency by refurbishing buses and light-rail transit cars now in use, building rapid-bus systems, expanding LRT systems and creating a new high-speed rail system on the Edmonton-Red Deer-Calgary corridor.
The report also calls for the creation of a new provincial Crown corporation to focus on renewable energy resources, such as wind, solar and geothermal.
Energy efficiency should be another major focus for green-job investment, the report suggests.
By retrofitting homes -- insulating, weather-stripping and installing high efficiency windows and furnaces -- up to 14,000 Albertans could be put to work in the next two years, while energy consumption, emissions and heating costs would be reduced.
For Carter and her fellow advocates, the recommendations in the report are timely, if not overdue.
"I'm 29, and a lot of us from the Earth Day generation of the '90s have really embraced environmentalism," she said.
"We're actually out in the job market now, looking to change jobs to be green, or starting green companies ourselves.
"We want to be part of a green workforce."
Edmonton Journal, Wed Apr 22 2009
Byline: Jamie Hall
Environmental groups and AFL release groundbreaking Green Jobs report
The report, entitled Green Jobs: It's Time to Build Alberta's Future, was commissioned by Greenpeace, Sierra Club Prairie Chapter and the Alberta Federation of Labour. This unique coalition responds to the interest Albertans have in a strong bottom line that also supports ecological health.
"This report shows what we've been saying for some time now: that a green economy is a healthy economy. Right now, we have the ability to put tens of thousands of Albertans back to work building the future," said Jeh Custer, Energy Campaigner with the Sierra Club Prairie Chapter. "All we need is a little bit of vision and a lot of leadership."
The green jobs strategy is needed now at a time when Alberta has record job losses and its first deficit in over a decade. Alberta has slipped from having the lowest unemployment levels in Canada to third. Since August 2008, employers have cut over 135,000 full-time positions.
The vision in the report will breathe new life into the province's economy and help improve its environmental track record, which has recently come under international criticism.
Green Jobs: It's Time to Build Alberta's Future, shows a new way forward. It outlines what a green economy should look like. The green jobs of the future include electricians, computer software engineers, iron and steel workers, electrical engineers, electrical equipment assemblers, welders, metal fabricators, electrical equipment technicians, construction workers, machinists, construction labourers, operating engineers, and electrical power line installers and repairers, and sheet metal workers - a truly "green collar" industry.
"It's time this government invests in people and put our dollars towards building safe, vibrant and sustainable communities in Alberta," said Gil McGowan, President of the Alberta Federation of Labour. "This report shows undeniably that a green investment will allow us to diversify our economy, to stabilize it and to put tens of thousands of people to work immediately building our green energy future."
Other green jobs could be created in providing water treatment for First Nations communities, improving wastewater treatment systems, reforestation, and cleaning up contaminated sites. These opportunities can create many more good green jobs in rural and urban areas.
"Instead of investing $2 billion in false solutions like Carbon Capture and Storage, the government should choose solutions that will help every Albertan," said Mike Hudema, Climate and Energy campaigner with Greenpeace, Canada. "The time has come to let go of what's clearly not working and begin focusing our energy on creating the clean, green economy that will sustain us for generations to come. It's time to build the future."
- 30 -
For more information, please contact:
Gil McGowan, President, AFL, office - 780-483-3021; cell � 780-218-9888
Jeh Custer, Sierra Club Prairie Chapter, 780-660-5483
Mike Hudema, Greenpeace Tar Sands Campaigner, 780-504-5601
Jessica Wilson, Greenpeace Media and Public Relations Officer, 778-228-5404


text:
|a good sport
|a person who is fair and friendly
|What a good sport! You never complain, even when you lose.
|a grain of salt
|(See take it with a grain of salt)
|a grain of truth
|a bit of truth, take it with a grain...
|There's not a grain of truth in what Brian says. It's all untrue.
|a handful
|a child who is difficult to manage
|Jason is not easy to manage. He is a real handful for his mother.
|a handout
|free food or money, freeload
|I'm not asking for a handout. I'll pay you back when I find work.
|a hard day
|a day full of hard work, put in a hard day
|You look tired, Dear. Did you have a hard day at the office?
|a hard-on [B]
|an erect penis, a hard penis
|When our dog gets a hard-on, he tries to crawl up my leg.
|a hard row to hoe
|a difficult task, many problems
|A single parent has a hard row to hoe, working day and night.
|a hard time
|teasing or bugging, a bad time
|Ken will give you a hard time about missing that free throw.
|a hassle
|a problem, a bother
|The tax form is a hassle this year. It's difficult to understand.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Developed for conveyor and transfer lines, specifically for painting systems.
Silicone exposure is prohibited in belts used in paint areas. Megapaint was developed to prevent any chance of silicone to mitigate from the belt. Silicone prevents paint from adhering. Water and solvent-based paint environments require belts that are silicone and contaminant free. Megapaint meets these requirements. Megapaint is manufactured in a silicone-free environment and specially packaged to remain silicone and contaminate-free until ready for use.
Megapaint is available in the entire 8mm pitch length range; minimum order quantities apply.
Isoran® RPP® Megapaint Synchronous Belts are specified by pitch length, tooth pitch and belt width in millimeters – Example: 1600-RPP8M-50PNT
Features & Benefits
- Silicone & Contaminant Free – Meets criteria set forth by Forschungsinstitut fur Pigments und Lacke e.V. of the Stuttgart University
- High Purity NBR Compound – Guarantees contaminate-free belt
- RPP Parabolic Tooth Profile – Complete interchangeability on RPP® and HTD® pulleys
- Special Packaging – Belts are packaged in special protective packaging to guarantee complete surface purity from manufacture to installation.
- Compound – Contaminant Free High Purity NBR
- Cord – Fiberglass
- Tooth Cover – Nylon, with nitrile based treatment
Technical Info
- Applications – Applications requiring silicone-free construction. Often used on conveyor and transfer line drives, specifically for painting systems
- Availability – Various sizes in stock. Contact Megadyne
Engineering Standards – Conforms to ARPM standard IP-27, ISO 13050
- Recommended Pulleys – Use pulleys made to ARPM or ISO 13050 standards
- Special Widths – Can be supplied in any width – available upon request


text:
Stents Stunt Guidant Sales
Thursday unveiled a first-quarter financial report that barely beat Wall Street's consensus opinion but disappointing second-quarter guidance.
Excluding charges, Guidant earned $178 million, or 56 cents a share, on revenue of $934 million. According to Thomson First Call, the consensus prediction was earnings of $175.5 million, or 55 cents, on sales of $928.3 million.
In addition, Guidant provided guidance for its second quarter, suggesting earnings of 54 cents to 60 cents a share and sales of $910 million to $950 million. Both figures were below the consensus Wall Street estimate of 62 cents a share and $967 million in sales.
The company also reiterated its full year projection of sales in the range of $3.75 billion to $3.95 billion and EPS of $2.40 to $2.55. The Wall Street consensus is sales of $3.84 billion and EPS of $2.45.
Applying generally accepted accounting principles, Guidant's second quarter EPS prediction is a range of 52 cents to 58 cents. Its full-year EPS guidance is $2.30 to $2.45, excluding charges totaling 10 cents in the first half of the year.
Guidant's stock was down $1, or 1.5%, to $67.68.
The Indianapolis-based medical devices company said Thursday it was discontinuing its radiation-therapy business, a process that will take about six months, affect 100 jobs, and result in the closing of two Texas plants.
Guidant has been using radiation to treat in-stent restenosis: the reclogging of arteries that have been cleared of fatty deposits and that also have had stents inserted. Stents are wire mesh tubes inserted into arteries to facilitate blood flow after plaque is dispersed.
Guidant said it was exiting this business because drug-coated stents have made a "significant impact" on the overall stent market. These products, also known as drug-eluting stents, release medication periodically and are more successful in reducing reclogging rates than traditional stents.
Two companies make drug-coated stents
Johnson & Johnson
(JNJ) - Get Report
Boston Scientific
(BSX) - Get Report
and they are rapidly taking over the stent market.
Guidant's worldwide stent sales for the first quarter, for example, dropped 22% to $171 million compared to the same period last year. Analysts believe Guidant is about two years away from getting its own drug-coated stent into the U.S. market. The company recently signed a deal to help J&J sell its Cypher drug-coated stent.
Guidant reported better news for some other cardiac care products. Worldwide sales of implantable defibrillators rose 22% to $405 million, and the U.S. component grew 19% to $324 million. Worldwide pacemaker sales rose 13% to $180 million, but the U.S. segment only added 3% to $104 million.


text:
Over the past few weeks, I have noticed my sleep become quite poor again.
Ever since I was little, sleep has been an "issue" for me. I remember going for sleepovers and asking my friends "how do you manage to get to sleep so quickly?!" with their reply always being something useful like "well I'm tired." I used to be in awe at how they could be snoring to their heart's content within five minutes of their head hitting the pillow.
I've been a sleep-talker for years. My most commonly used phrase is shouting at my sister, telling her to get out of my room. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever actually had a dream about that scenario..! I get quite loud when I talk, and have often woken up the entire household while I'm still in the land of nod (oops). My talking and/or shouting will frequently wake me up. It's horrible when I'm chattering away and I wake up mid-sentence. I tend to feel really out of sorts, which I've always put down to it being a very blurred line between being awake and asleep. I've been quite lucky to have experience a few occasions of "dream giggling" and waking up to that - I must admit, that does brighten my day.
In the past, when I've been particularly low, or The Man is close, or I've been quite high on the anxiety scale, my sleep becomes disturbed. That could be not being able to drift off for hours on end, or waking up in the night due to anxiety for example. But recently, I've wondered if the reason I have been so tired is because of the dreams I've been having, and for the first time ever, I've decided to keep a track of them.
The Dream Dictionary & Record book I picked up from The Works for about £2 when I was on honeymoon. It has some basic dream interpretations at the back, and space to write about your dreams with really handy prompting questions.. You're encouraged to try and recall details like interiors and colours. The only downside of the book is that I can't write in something so small! The line spaces are minuscule and I have quite big writing, so I bought a cheap notebook and have decided to use the diary as a guiding tool.
I've only been recording my dreams for the past three nights or so, and therefore, I'm yet to decide what I'll do with the information. What I have found is that I really enjoy doing this. I have extremely vivid dreams, and being able to write every excruciating detail down is oddly quite comforting. I've even thrown in the odd doodle when I've thought it might help jog my memory at a later date.
What have I recognised so far? Well, a lot of my dreams seem to have something to do with control, for example not being able to fix a situation, or protect someone from getting hurt. And when I'm struggling in a dream, no one listens. People seem to ignore me completely, and I get the impression I deserve this treatment. I'm able to write down how I feel in the dream, which might come in use at a later date somehow. I can recall if I felt panicked or anxious, if I was tearful, in a rush, frustrated or scared. I think this is some way perhaps in which my anxiety is manifesting itself through my dreams.
I told my OT today that this was something I'd started, and he asked some good questions, most of which I didn't really have an answer for! He asked what I thought I might get from this, and how it might be useful, and I hesitated. What will this solve? I can't control a dream, as far as I'm aware, so what's the point in jotting essays about it down? The only thing I could think of at that moment was that it gives me something to do, a focus. For some unknown reason, I feel I should be doing it. Plus, I enjoy it. It's like a make-shift story I've created from scratch, which, however nasty and cruel they can be, is actually quite interesting to watch unfold.
Another thing I chatted to my OT about was that I'm not doing this for any spiritual reason. What I do believe though is that there is a "message" in my dreams of some description, but I think it's a way of my mind telling me I'm not looking after myself somehow and I need to figure it out. Maybe these dreams about control are indeed linked to my anxiety, and therefore, I need to establish what it is I'm worried about not being in control of. The upset/anger/frustrated parts of me in the dream seem to be a running theme, and I wonder if this is more of a mood thing. I'm struggling to bring myself up from lows at times, so what do I need to change to avoid me falling too low in the first place? Am I frustrated in my dreams because I'm frustrated with myself in "reality?"
I don't believe that my dreams will be the answer to everything, but what I do know is that they're some sort of reflection of my current state of mind, and it's like a little warning light that has come on to inform me to take care of myself. Perhaps this is a positive step - I'm becoming more active in keeping track of my moods in some ways.
Watch this space and we'll see what happens..! I'd love to hear from anyone else who has kept/keeps a dream journal and whether they have any hints or tips for the complete novice over here.


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Agriculture Output Marketing: Marketing of Fast Food in India
By Harsh Sunil Upadhyay
Under the guidance of Dr. Shubhangi Salokhe
Submitted by Harsh Sunil Upadhyay | Symbiosis Institute of International Business, MBA- Agribusiness (2016-18)
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Firstly, I would like to thank to thank God for giving me the mental and physical strength and health to complete this project. I would like to thank my family for their constant support and guidance which helped me to stay motivated, confident and calm during times of distress.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my faculty mentor Dr. Shubhangi Salokhe, Professor- Agribusiness department, for her constant guidance and inputs. I would further like to thank my faculty members and my friends who took out time to share their valuable feedback.
Lastly, I would like to thank each and everyone who have played a role in helping me complete this project.
Food diversity in India is an implicit characteristic of India's diversified culture consisting of different regions and states within. Conventionally, Indians like to have home-cooked meals. This concept supported religiously as well as individually. However, with times there is a slight shift in food consumption patterns among urban Indian families due to increasing awareness and influence of western culture.
It started with just eating outside casually and went on to welcoming a wide variety of delicacies from all over the world.
Liberalization of the Indian economy in the early 1990s and the following entry of new players has played a significant change in lifestyles and the food preferences of Indians.
After the multinational fast food players adapted the basic Indian food requirements viz. vegetarian meals and selected non-vegetarian options excluding beef and pork totally from their menu, fast food gained acceptance of Indian palate.
Multinational fast food outlets initially faced protests and non-acceptance from
Indian consumers.
This happened due to primary perception that these fast food players serve do not serve vegetarian meals and server only chicken. In addition, fast food is perceived expensive besides being out-of-way meals in Indian culture.
Today, fast food industry is growing in India as they are adapting to Indian food requirements. It is gaining acceptance predominantly from Indian youth and younger generations as it is becoming part of their routine life.
Fast food is a very fast growing industry in world as well as in India especially in
urban areas (small and large cities).
Fast food industry in India
According to worldwatch.org, India's fast-food industry is growing by 40 percent a year and supposed to generate over a billion dollars in sales in 2005 as per their estimates. Before the entry of multinational fast food outlets, Nirula's was a popular domestic fast food provider for eating-out. Nirula's started with ice-cream parlours and later moved on the range of fast food including burgers, pizzas, sandwiches etc.
Established in 1934, Nirula's today is a diversified group having a chain of Elegant
Business Hotels, Waiter Service Restaurants, Family Style Restaurants, Ice Cream
Parlours, Pastry Shops and Food Processing Plants in India. The chain with over 60
outlets operating in five states successfully caters to the Indian palate of over 50,000 guest everyday for over 70 years.
Wimpy was another fast food provider besides Nirula's in Indian market. Wimpy
was the only multinational fast food outlet in India before 1990s with one outlet in New Delhi. In the initial years of its operations, Wimpy used to be visited by foreigners in India. Indians were occasional visitors. Today Wimpy has 8 outlets in the capital city New Delhi and it is expanding its menu with Indian dishes with a view to attract Indian consumer.
After the liberalization policy that came in force in 1991, fast food industry grown in India as multinational fast food providers have set up their business either jointly with Indian partners or independently. McDonald's signed two joint ventures – one with Amit Jatia and another one with Vikram Bakshi in April 1995. The first outlet was opened in New Delhi. It has 50 outlets in North India and 76 in total all over India. It aims for 100 outlets by the end of 2006. In 1995, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) also entered the Indian market and opened its first outlet in Delhi. In 1996, Domino's set up base in India by entering into a long-term franchisee agreement with the Bhartia Brothers who had businesses in chemicals and fertilizers. By 2000, Domino's had presence in all the major cities and
towns in India. Domino's had grown from one outlet in 1995 to 101 outlets in April 2001. Pizza Hut entered India in June 1996 with its first outlet in Bangalore. Initially, the company operated company-owned outlets and then moved on the franchisee owned restaurants. McDonald's, Domino's, Pizza Hut and Nirula's are the most popular and frequently visited fast food outlets. KFC has limited outlets and has faced number of problems since entry in India. Besides these, there are Pizza Express and Pizza Corner of which are not so popular. With changing life style and aggressive marketing by fast food outlets, fast food is also becoming popular in small towns; therefore, success of existing fast food outlets and entry of more is inevitable (Gupta, 2003).
Fast food and consumption patterns
According to the findings of the recent online survey from AC Nielson, India being at the seventh place, is among the top ten markets for weekly fast food consumption among the countries of Asia-Pacific region. Over 70 per cent of urban Indians consume food from take-away restaurants once a month or more frequently. Survey indicates that Pizza Hut is the most preferred fast food outlet in India. Identifying the drivers for preference of one-brand over another, the survey results indicate that Indians (66 per cent) are amongst the consumers who consider hygiene and cleanliness their most important criterion for selection. A total of 24 per cent of Indians use the quality of service as a decision making criterion to purchase a fast food brand's offering and 22 per cent rely on their perception of whether a take-away brand offers them healthy food options.
In Indian context, there is high concern towards health in twenty-first century.
There are health related articles in daily newspapers, and health shows on television.
There are special health related magazines that are now very popular. Health related articles do mention to consume more fruits, vegetables, water and to consume less or nil of junk food including fast food being high on fat and calories. Recent news article by Barker (2006) indicates that Indians are facing the problem of obesity and among kinds of food – fast food is one of the reasons for the same. However, there is gap of a particular research in Indian context to have a link between the health problems and fast food consumption. In future, genetically modified food may take the place of fast food of today.
Marketing strategy is a big part of fast food success. Fast food chains have branches almost everywhere because, this is part of their marketing strategy. High Visibility along with global recognition is the most significant and prevalent theme of fast food chains. According to a New York Times article, there are about three new Mc Donald's Opening every day. The main goal is to increase their outreach by not having any person more than four minutes away from a branch. Just as Mc Donald's follows this marketing strategy, even other fast food chains does so. The competitor must be able to keep up to be able to complete with the biggest name in the industry, and hence, when new Mc Donald's opens nearby, a competitor is also opening in the same area.
To understand the growth of fast food industry in India.
To take a look and study the fast food market store and market share in India
To understand the developing marketing strategies in fast food industry in India
The paper has been written by using secondary data collected from articles, books, journals, newspapers, reports, working papers and websites.
Also information has been referred from annual reports of various fast foods organizations.
Growth of the fast food Industry in India
India that is extremely conservative about its food is expressively fond of home cooked and fresh food. This trend is slowly shattering due to the globalization of India and increase of new markets. With number of people eating out increasing, the industry has major opportunities to offer to the players to capture a larger consumer base. In 1996 the international food players like McDonalds, Dominos, Pizza Hut and KFC entered Indian market and at the moment they are investing huge amount of money to seize a share of this extremely profitable market present in India. CRISIL reported that conventionally, the Indian consumers have preferred eating road side foods such as Dhabas and stalls which till date occupies a major share of the unorganized sector; where fast food has been eaten traditionally. However, domestic players like Jumboking, Kaati zone, Fasso's are growing quickly with the changes in the economy and help of modern employment, in 2001. Jumboking is one of the fastest and biggest growing food chain in local fast food in India. The industry is currently having more than 75 stores across 12 regions in the country. The analysis predict that in 2020 their stores might increase to 200. Indian fast food market is growing at the rate of 40% per annually (CRISIL). India's QSR business is expected to double in three years from Rs34billion in the 2012-13 to about Rs70billion in 2015-16. The analysists predict that in 2017 their QSR business will increased into Rs172billion in tier-1, tier-11 cities in India.
Present scenario in India
Market stores in India
The table-1 shows that in 2006 Dominos had 128 stores in India to market their produce. In 2010 it increased to 362 stores and in 2014 it increased further to772 stores. In contrast with previous year number of store of dominos has increased in ten years. Similarly McDonald's market store has increased to 500 in 2015. Same is the case for KFC India's market store which has increased significantly 372 in 2015. Therefore from the table it is quite evident that Dominos is the leading fast food market store in India.
Market Share of fast food in India
The above table -2 shows that in 2001 Dominos had market share of 4.5% in India. In 2005 it was 5.2%, 2009 it was 9.3% of market share. In 2013 contrast of market share of dominos has increased in twelve years. Even Mc Donald's market share is quite constant from 2001 to 2013. Similarly KFC India's market share has increased quite a lot to 12.2%. Therefore from the table it is clear that Dominos remains the leading fast food chain in India.
The above table-3 shows the Indian fast food market size has seen the constant growth from 2010 – 2014 that is 29.78% to 35.18%. It decreased to 26.02% in 2015. The year 2014 has shown the highest market growth rate in India. Furthermore fast food and food industry is highly competitive and conquered by large companies.
Marketing strategies that have emerged in fast food industry
Indians have embraced fast food as it fits well with the busy pace of everyday life, and also as it looks and tastes good. In order to keep its foothold in the front line of modern culture, the $2bn a year fast food industry also uses a variety of marketing strategies. Marketing is constantly evolving, but there are various emerging strategies the industry uses to sell fast food.
Visibility & Volume
The India is that the consumers don't have to hunt for fast food as it's everywhere. Fast food restaurants are made so as they often appear in clusters, but individual chains also tend open multiple restaurants within short distances.
Although it might come across as over-saturation, but it is the basic element of fast food marketing. A continuous stretch of highly visible logos and brand names has become part of the setting where people work, live, and play in their day to day lives. The nonstop access to fast food strengthens brand recognition and highlights the convenience and ease that are trademarks of the industry.
Marketing Strategies to attract Kids & Teenagers
It is estimated that the fast food industry spends about $10 billion annually on marketing products directly to their target segment which mostly comprises of kid and teenagers. Advertisements for kids' meals feature film starts, cartoon characters giving out toys and characters that are in the current fad in order to attract kids.
In order to engage children, websites offers kids' clubs with stories, games and contests which in turn exposes them to brand names and logos.
The fast food industry targets young teens by using product placement in various movies, shows, video games and music videos.
Another major wayof marketing is to send out text messages with coupons for free products, and Webbased rewards programs that offer free merchandise and meals. According to Eric Schlosser, author of "Fast Food Nation," the goal is to initiate and develop a customer relationship with kids and teens that will last through adulthood.
Affordability & Value
Fast food marketing responds to the needs and moods of customers, and highlighting value and affordability has always been a vital part of the industry's overall strategy, product qualities have become even more significant in a close-fitting economy.
Free samples, value menus that feature items for $1 and special monthly deals are all marketing tools aimed at consumers. Two-for-one coupons, combination meals with free drinks or side orders and senior discounts also bring in customers to whom cost is a concern. Affordable prices have become a strong marketing tool.
Social Responsibility Marketing
One aspect where the fast food industry has been constantly criticized is that menus offer processed foods that are high in fat, and packaging that generate tons of waste.
The industry has responded with advertisements featuring whole foods purchased from domestic farmers, and fresh, lowcalorie menu options geared toward health-conscious consumers.
Some companies in order to highlight reductions in packaging and the use of recycled materials have also developed green advertising. The fast food companies have potrayed themselves as socially responsible businesses that share the public's worry about health and the environment through marketing.
Social responsibility marketing is aimed at consumers who try to make purchases that reflect their values
Fast food industry is one of the biggest emerging markets in India. Fast food industry has managed to become so successful due to emerging marketing strategies in India.
It is often observed that when something is unique and stands apart from other things, and this in order will lead it to be noticed and checked. The emerging marketing strategies of fast food will undoubtedly increase the GDP by giving reputation to an Indian industry.
Indian economy will gain if Indian fast food and food sectors follow the emerging marketing strategies which has been mentioned above. Emerging marketing strategies of fast food industry provide best products of quality and best features as per the preference and demand of the target market. But on the contrary, fast food contains several ingredients can harm the health of the consumers. Hence, taking into account a long term business strategy, fast food companies must do research and development to make their recipes more healthy and filled with nutritional values. This would ensure not only the growth of fast food businesses but also safeguard its consumers from health hazards and lifestyle diseases.


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five Methods To Explain Search engine optimisation To Clients
29 Aug 2018 01:16
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