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CLR News
Continental Resources Reports Record Results for 2008 First Quarter
Higher Cash Flow Outlook Prompts $167 Million Increase in Capital Expenditures for Drilling, Land and Seismic
ENID, Okla.
Continental Resources, Inc.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh20080505/LAM014LOGO)
The Company reported net income of $88.0 million, or $0.52 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2008. This included an unrealized loss of $2.2 million (or $1.3 million net of taxes) recognized for the change in the fair market value of open crude oil derivative contracts not designated for hedge accounting. Net income for the first quarter would have been $89.3 million, or $0.53 per diluted share, without the effect of the derivatives loss. The fixed price contract covering 10,000 barrels of crude oil per day at $72.90 per barrel expired on April 30, 2008. The Company's oil and natural gas production is currently not subject to any commodity price hedges.
For the first quarter of 2007, the Company reported net income of $53.8 million, or $0.34 per share. However, on a normalized basis, the Company's pro forma net income for the first quarter last year was $33.4 million, or $0.21 per share, after pro forma adjustments to provide for income taxes as if the Company had been a subchapter C corporation during the first three months of 2007. Continental converted from a subchapter S corporation to a subchapter C corporation at the time of its initial public offering of stock in May 2007.
Total revenues for the first quarter of 2008 were $227.7 million, an increase of 88 percent over total revenues of $121.1 million for the first quarter of 2007. The Company's average sales price per barrel of crude oil equivalent for the first quarter of 2008 was $81.35 per barrel, compared with $46.47 for the first quarter last year.
EBITDAX for the first quarter of the year was $184.0 million, an increase of 102 percent over EBITDAX of $91.0 million for the first quarter of 2007. For the Company's definition and reconciliation of EBITDAX to GAAP measures, please see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" at the end of this press release.
The following table contains financial and operational highlights for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to the same period in 2007.
Three Months Ended March 31, 2008 2007 Average daily production: Crude oil (bopd) 24,043 23,105 Natural gas (Mcfd) 37,160 28,835 Crude oil equivalent (boepd) 30,237 27,911 Average prices: (1) Crude oil ($ / bbl) $90.55 $48.48 Natural gas ($ / Mcf) 7.55 6.15 Crude oil equivalent ($ / boe) 81.35 46.47 Production expense ($ / boe) (1) 8.33 6.40 EBITDAX ($ in thousands) $183,968 $90,996 Net income ($ in thousands) (2) 87,971 33,365 Diluted net income per share 0.52 0.21 (1) Crude oil sales volumes exceeded oil production by 19,000 barrels for the quarter ended March 31, 2008. Sales volumes were 16,000 barrels less than production for the first quarter of 2007. Average prices and per unit production expense were calculated using sales volumes. (2) First quarter 2007 net income and diluted net income per share are after pro forma adjustments to provide for income taxes as if the Company had been a subchapter C corporation during the quarter. Strong Start for 2008
"I am very pleased with the financial results for this first quarter of 2008," said Harold Hamm, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Continental achieved new records in terms of oil and gas sales, net income and cash flow from operating activities. With the expiration of our crude oil price hedge at the end of April, we look for the Company's financial results to strengthen through the balance of the year.
"Over the past six months, our 2008 cash flow outlook has increased significantly, and as a result the Board of Directors has approved a $167 million increase in 2008 capital expenditures for drilling, land and seismic, raising our total capex budget to $783 million," he said.
Approximately $100 million of the increase will be allocated to additional drilling operations in the North Dakota Bakken, Arkoma Woodford Shale and Continental's Eastern Division. Since the beginning of 2008, the Company's operated drilling rig count has increased from 13 to 22, and is expected to reach 30 by year-end.
An additional $51 million in capex has been allocated for incremental lease and seismic acquisition in the Bakken Shale and emerging U.S. shale plays, such as the Haynesville, Marcellus and Huron shale plays. The remainder of the capex increase is allocated for expansion of secondary recovery operations in the Cedar Hills Units, located within the Red River Units. The Company now expects to achieve peak production in the Red River Units of approximately 21,000 boepd in mid-2009.
"As a result of our increased drilling and enhanced oil recovery activity, we expect to exit 2008 with a daily production rate of approximately 43,000 boepd, an increase of 42 percent over average daily production for the first quarter of 2008," Mr. Hamm said.
Operations Update
The following table presents average daily production for the Company's principal operating areas for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to the three months ended December 31, 2007 and March 31, 2007.
(boe per day) Q1 2008 Q4 2007 Q1 2007 Red River Units (1) 13,620 14,086 12,506 Montana Bakken 6,678 7,244 7,685 North Dakota Bakken 1,532 1,382 429 Other Rockies (1) 2,060 1,888 1,817 Arkoma Woodford 1,900 1,338 440 Other Mid-Continent 3,831 3,767 4,307 Gulf Coast 616 664 727 Total 30,237 30,369 27,911 (1) Daily production of 288 boe in the fourth quarter of 2007 and 93 boe in the first quarter of 2007 has been reclassified from the Red River Units to Other Rockies to conform to the current period presentation. Red River Units
To further accelerate production in the Red River Units, Continental has increased its 2008 capital expenditure budget from $168 million to $185 million for that area, with the majority of the incremental funding focused on expanding water processing capacity for injection operations in the Cedar Hills Units section. Additional water injection capacity and additional production equipment will be installed to handle accelerated volumes. Peak production in the Red River Units is now expected to reach approximately 21,000 boepd in mid-2009, an 11 percent increase over the previously estimated peak of 19,000 boepd.
During the first quarter of 2008, the Company continued to implement its Red River Units enhanced oil recovery program as planned, including increasing the density of drilling locations in the play. Continental converted nine producing wells to injection wells during the first quarter, and as a result realized a short-term decline of three percent in daily oil production from the fourth quarter of 2007 to the first quarter of 2008. Response to water injection is expected to occur approximately six months following conversion. The Company currently has four drilling rigs operating in the Red River Units, including three in the Cedar Hills Units and one in the Medicine Pole Hills Units.
Bakken Shale
In the Bakken Shale play of North Dakota and Montana, Continental is currently the largest producer and leasehold owner, with approximately 487,000 net acres. The Company is also one of the most active operators in the Bakken, currently participating in one-third of the wells being drilled in the play.
Drilling results continue to be in line with expectations from Continental's 320-acre infield and 640-acre tri-lateral, field-extension drilling in Montana, and from its 1,280-acre drilling along the Nesson Anticline area in North Dakota. During the first quarter of 2008, the Company completed 18 gross wells (8.1 net) in these plays. Recent notable completions below are shown with 7-day average initial production rates:
-- LeaJoe 1-1H (63% WI) in Richland Co., MT -- 609 boepd; -- Patten 1-27H (30% WI) in Mountrail Co., ND -- 542 boepd; -- Demicks Lake 41-18H (40% WI) in McKenzie Co., ND -- 533 boepd; -- Whitman 11-34H (32% WI) in Dunn Co., ND -- 482 boepd; -- State Dolezal 44-1H (12% WI) in Dunn Co., ND -- 464 boepd; -- Kelling 1-4H (36% WI) in Dunn Co., ND -- 432 boepd; and -- Pennie 1-4H (93% WI) in Richland Co., MT -- 348 boepd.
Continental recently drilled a well of geological significance in the North Dakota portion of the Bakken Shale play. The Bice 1-29H (41% WI) in Dunn County, ND, was drilled into the Three Forks/Sanish formation and encountered good oil shows during the drilling process. The Bice 1-29H is scheduled to begin its initial fracture treatment today. Previous Company-operated Bakken completions have targeted the Middle Bakken formation. In Continental's area of operations along the Nesson Anticline, the Middle Bakken and the Three Forks/Sanish formations are separated by the Lower Bakken Shale. Continental is testing the theory that the Three Forks/Sanish zone is not being drained by wells that have been drilled in the Middle Bakken horizontal lateral, and, therefore, that the Three Forks/Sanish may hold significant additional reserve potential under the Company's acreage.
In its revised 2008 capital expenditures budget, the Company increased its 2008 drilling funding for the Bakken Shale area from $180 million to $245 million, and the number of net completed wells from 33 to 41. The Company plans to increase its operated drilling rig count from 10 to 12 later this month and to 13 in the third quarter.
Other Rockies
Elsewhere in the Rocky Mountains operating area, Continental recently began drilling the first of eight test wells planned for the Haley prospect in Harding County, SD, targeting the Red River B formation. The Company has 70,000 net acres leased in the Haley prospect and has acquired 100 square miles of proprietary 3D seismic over the property.
In Roosevelt County, MT, the Company plans to begin drilling later this month the first of three locations in its East Lustre project, targeting Lodgepole reefs and other objectives. Continental owns 42 square miles of 3D seismic over the project and to date has identified 25 prospective drilling locations on its 28,000 net acres.
Arkoma Woodford Shale
In the Arkoma Woodford Shale play, the Company is currently operating four drilling rigs and expects its operated rig count to increase to six by July 2008.
In late March 2008, Continental began drilling four parallel, equally spaced horizontal wells within a 640-acre area in order to execute the first synchronized stage-by-stage simultaneous frac in the Arkoma Woodford Shale play. The Company successfully completed the multi-stage simultaneous frac in late April, and initial gas flow rates in the four wells averaged 3,800 Mcfd, 40 percent higher than the initial flow rates of the original wells in the spacing units.
Continental has raised its 2008 drilling budget for the Arkoma Woodford from $103 million to $130 million, increasing the number of wells it expects to complete from 19.9 net wells to 23.3 by year-end.
Other Mid-Continent
In Hillsdale County, MI, Continental's initial three operated wells are producing at an aggregate state-restricted rate of 650 gross bopd. Continental plans to drill eight additional Trenton/Black River wells by year-end 2008, with the first of these expected to spud this month.
Continental's lease position in the Trenton/Black River play is approximately 35,000 net acres. The Company has shot and processed 11 square miles of 3D seismic over this acreage and is currently acquiring 3D seismic over another 20 square miles.
In Western Oklahoma, the Company recently completed the Marriott 1-18 (63% WI) in Blaine County, with an initial flow rate of 2,600 Mcfd from the Springer Britt sand. Continental plans to keep one drilling rig active in Blaine County through year-end, targeting both Springer and Morrow sands.
Continental continues to lease acreage in prospective resource plays, including its recent acquisition of 64,000 net acres in the Atoka and Woodford shale plays in western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle. Drilling operations have begun on the acreage.
In addition, the Company has allocated $27 million to fund leasing of acreage in the Haynesville Shale play in Louisiana, the Marcellus Shale play in Pennsylvania, and the Huron Shale play in Ohio and West Virginia. In those plays, the Company currently has leases and agreements to acquire approximately 36,000 acres.
"We clearly have tremendous growth opportunities ahead of us," Mr. Hamm said. "We are focused on growing production, reserves and our lease position, particularly in resource plays, which we believe will create significant additional value for our shareholders for many years."
Conference Call Information
Continental Resources will host a conference call on Monday, May 5, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. ET (9 a.m. CT) to discuss its first quarter 2008 results. Interested parties may listen to the conference call via the Company's website at http://www.contres.com/ or by phone:
Dial in: (866) 831-6247 Intl. dial in: (617) 213-8856 Pass code: 34686170 Replay number: (888) 286-8010 Intl. replay: (617) 801-6888 Pass code: 90575461 Conference Presentations
Continental management is currently scheduled to present at two investor conferences in May: Thursday, May 22 at the UBS Global Oil and Gas Conference in Austin, Texas, and Thursday, May 29 at the Deutsche Bank 2008 Energy and Utilities Conference in Miami, Florida. Presentations and audio links will be posted on the Company's web site.
Continental Resources is a crude-oil concentrated, independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company with operations in the Rocky Mountain, Mid-Continent and Gulf Coast regions of the United States. The Company focuses its operations in large new and developing plays where horizontal drilling, advanced fracture stimulation and enhanced recovery technologies provide the means to economically develop and produce oil and natural gas reserves from unconventional formations.
This press release includes forward-looking information that is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control. All information, other than historical facts included in this press release, regarding strategy, future operations, drilling plans, estimated reserves, future production, estimated capital expenditures, projected costs, the potential of drilling prospects and other plans and objectives of management are forward-looking information. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Although the Company believes that the plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements are reasonable, there is no assurance that these plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated due to many factors, including oil and natural gas prices, industry conditions, drilling results, uncertainties in estimating reserves, uncertainties in estimating future production from enhanced recovery operations, availability of drilling rigs and other services, availability of crude oil and natural gas transportation capacity, availability of capital resources and other factors listed in reports we have filed or may file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONTACT: Continental Resources, Inc. J. Warren Henry, VP Investor Relations (580) 548-5127 Three months ended Condensed Consolidated Income Statements March 31, (in thousands, except per share amounts) 2008 2007 (unaudited) Revenues: Oil and natural gas sales $225,425 $115,984 Loss on mark-to-market derivatives (4,608) - Oil and natural gas service operations 6,834 5,139 Total revenues 227,651 121,123 Operating costs and expenses: Production expense 23,073 15,985 Production tax 12,775 6,163 Exploration expense 5,262 2,304 Oil and gas service operations 4,230 3,219 Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion 28,646 20,408 Property impairments 4,520 2,970 General and administrative (1) 7,531 12,973 (Gain) loss on sale of assets (79) (61) Total operating costs and expenses 85,958 63,961 Income from operations 141,693 57,162 Interest expense and other 3,112 3,348 Net income before income tax expense 138,581 53,814 Income tax expense 50,610 - Net income 87,971 53,814 Basic net income per share $0.52 $0.34 Diluted net income per share 0.52 0.34 Basic weighted average shares outstanding 167,890 158,344 Diluted weighted average shares outstanding 169,138 159,585 (1) Includes non-cash charges for stock-based compensation of $1.4 million and $7.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets March 31, December 31, (in thousands) 2008 2007 (unaudited) Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $3,663 $8,761 Receivables 195,427 163,090 Inventories and other 28,497 33,713 Net property and equipment 1,308,294 1,157,926 Other assets 1,533 1,683 Total assets $1,537,414 $1,365,173 Liabilities and shareholders' equity: Current liabilities $266,600 $266,106 Long-term debt 211,500 165,000 Other noncurrent liabilities 345,670 310,935 Shareholders' equity 713,644 623,132 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $1,537,414 $1,365,173 Three months ended Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows March 31, (in thousands) 2008 2007 (unaudited) Net income $87,971 $53,814 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Non-cash expenses 67,106 32,255 Changes in assets and liabilities (30,271) (37,754) Net cash provided by operating activities 124,806 48,315 Net cash used in investing activities (176,726) (112,565) Net cash provided by financing activities 46,822 65,306 Effect of exchange rate on change in cash and cash equivalents - 6 Net change in cash and cash equivalents (5,098) 1,062 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 8,761 7,018 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $3,663 $8,080 Non-GAAP Financial Measures
EBITDAX represents earnings before interest expense, income taxes (when applicable), depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion, property impairments, exploration expense, unrealized derivative gains or losses, and non-cash compensation expense. EBITDAX is not a measure of net income or cash flow as determined by generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). EBITDAX should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income or cash flow as determined in accordance with GAAP or as an indicator of a Company's operating performance or liquidity. Certain items excluded from EBITDAX are significant components in understanding and assessing a company's financial performance, such as a company's cost of capital and tax structure, as well as the historic costs of depreciable assets, none of which are components of EBITDAX. The Company's computations of EBITDAX may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. The Company believes that EBITDAX is a widely followed measure of operating performance and may also be used by investors to measure its ability to meet future debt service requirements, if any. The Company's credit facility requires that it maintain a total debt to EBITDAX ratio of no greater than 3.75 to 1 on a rolling four-quarter basis. The credit facility defines EBITDAX consistently with the definition of EBITDAX utilized and presented by the Company. The following table represents a reconciliation of the Company's net income to EBITDAX.
Reconciliation of Net Income to EBITDAX Three months ended March 31, (in thousands) 2008 2007 (unaudited) Net income $87,971 $53,814 Unrealized oil derivative loss 2,180 - Income tax expense 50,610 - Interest expense 3,411 3,653 Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion 28,646 20,408 Property impairments 4,520 2,970 Exploration expense 5,262 2,304 Equity compensation 1,368 7,847 EBITDAX $183,968 $90,996
First Call Analyst:
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk,
SOURCE: Continental Resources, Inc.
CONTACT: J. Warren Henry, VP Investor Relations of Continental
Web site: http://www.contres.com/


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Conquer ULC handset design challenges
Keywords:ULC market? ultralow-cost handset? design challenge? 3G?
NXP Semiconductors
Ultralow-cost (ULC) handsets have been a hot topic in the past three years. ULC today refers to handsets that can be built for $20 or less. They represent a unique segment of the cellular market and require a unique set of strategies for success.
The typical buyers of ULC handsets have limited average disposable income. Furthermore, many of these buyers are difficult to track due to a lack of the necessary infrastructure and systems required. It therefore does not make practical or economic sense for operators to significantly subsidize a phone in the hope that they will recover the revenue in service fees. Operators are further reluctant to adopt subsidy models since the majority of revenue they make in the ULC segment is from relatively inexpensive pure voice and SMS services rather than from higher average revenue per user (ARPU) data services.
The typical ULC handset customer then has to save up enough money to buy the phone. Despite the 'low-cost' nature of the ULC market, it is absolutely not acceptable to have a poorly performing phone. Since the user will tend not to replace his or her handset often, there is the preference to have 'as much as possible' within the acceptable price range.
Now let's look at ULC handset requirements from the operator's point of view. Revenues and profits are driven by two key factors: the number of customers and how much the customers use their phones. In a competitive market, little prevents a user from switching providers. They simply obtain a new SIM card and swap it into their phone. Therefore, it's critical for an operator to offer the best possible service and experience to the user. Better service means that the network should support as many simultaneous users as possible without adverse side effects such as dropped calls. It also means good network coverage so that the user will not be prevented from using the phone wherever needed. These aspects of better service are largely network-centric. There is much that can be done on the handset side as well to facilitate better service.
Practical choice: ULC handsets
At the core of each handset is the cellular chipset employed. The choice of cellular chipset, therefore, is key in having a winning product in the ULC market. There are four key drivers essential to creating a winning ULC product:
Radio Performance
In emerging markets, the 2.5G (GSM/GPRS/Edge) cellular infrastructure is often bought from Western nations who are migrating to next-generation technologies such as 3G. For ULC markets, this leads to an interesting deployment of infrastructure manufactured by a variety of vendors, who each implement the GSM specification slightly differently. Interoperability testing (IOT), therefore, is critical to ensure that the handset can seamlessly switch between base stations that are manufactured by different vendors. IOT requires the radio transceiver to be robust and flexible in its handling of the various infrastructure flavors. IOT also requires that the entire system including the software protocol stack is robust and tested for its ability to handle subtle timing variations between the different infrastructure implementations.
Emerging market networks suffer from problems ranging from oversubscribed networks in urban areas (thanks to limited spectrum allocated by regulatory authorities) to sparse coverage in rural areas. To combat the issue of too many users in urban areas, each handset must perform within specification on the network and not generate interference while transmitting which could affect other phones on the network that are receiving.
In rural areas, due to sparse network coverage, the sensitivity of the handset, i.e. its ability to pick up signals and function well in areas with weak network coverage is critical. Due to far from perfect network planning, the radio performance needs to be guaranteed in weak and strong field environments that are continuously varying. The sensitivity of the handset needs to be ensured across every channel that could be allocated by the network to the phone.
In addition, due to the technical challenges of designing a radio that is able to perform well on every single possible radio channel, the specification grants many exceptions to cellular chipset providers. Therefore, most chipset suppliers only guarantee robust performance on the low, middle and high ends of the frequency band. These stringent performance requirements need to be consistent even across temperature and voltage.
'Across temperature' means that in ULC markets, which tend to fall into some of the world's hotter tropical areas, even as the ambient temperature rises, the radio should perform as well as in ideal conditions (typically 25°C). 'Across voltage' means that as the phone's battery discharges the radio performance should be not be compromised. At the very minimum, a complete GCF (Global Certification Forum) compliant chipset must be insisted upon where all tests including the RF tests have been run and passed.
Power consumption
Good power consumption performance (i.e. the ability to have the longest standby and talk times without recharging) is of enormous importance. We have explained the need for stringent radio performance already even as the battery discharges (i.e. available voltage falls). This need is further amplified in ULC markets, particularly in rural areas where the existence of a good and always available electricity source cannot be guaranteed. But there are other benefits of good power consumption metrics as well. A smaller battery with fewer mAh can be utilized in the phone. This allows for smaller phone form factors to drive stylish designs, and also, a smaller battery drives down the total cost of the phone.
Instead of a staid feature set comprising of just voice, SMS and a black and white screen, if a ULC phone were to add a color screen, FM tuner, music playback (MP3, etc.) and even data services like WAP and MMS, then, all of a sudden, ultralow-cost doesn't have to be ultra-boring.
From an operator point of view, additional features present the possibility of additional ARPU. Aggressive cellular service subsidy models are being experimented with, where operators lock the phone solely to their network and then provide the phone to subscribers at either a discount or even for free, and then realize revenue through the ARPU. With this business model, it is imperative that the phone cannot be hacked or the business model fails. Of course, the operator doesn't make any money if the phones are compromised, but more importantly, the ULC consumers will be unable to avail of yet another innovative way to obtain a handset and benefit from its use. So it is extremely important that the cellular chipset solution offers a robust and flexible hardware-based security mechanism so that operators have the freedom to implement innovative business models. There are challenges in adding and integrating all these features and yet maintaining the stringent cost and performance requirements of the phones in this segment. This leads us into our final point—total cost.
Total cost
The confluence of high mixed-signal integration with low-cost semiconductor processes has ushered in a new era of available 'single-chip' cellular chipset solutions where all the major subsystems of a phone, except for the power amplifier and non-volatile memory have been integrated on a single CMOS die. Also, with the same CMOS integration techniques, it has been possible to even integrate a large proportion of the erstwhile discrete electronic components that used to be pervasive in mobile phone designs. The result of these advances in IC technology is a reduced cost structure for the single-chip solutions and the reality of the true sub-$20 ULC handset.
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subset: commoncrawl


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The actress Stephanie March, who plays the assistant district attorney Alexandra Cabot on "Law & Order: SVU," was talking on a recent afternoon about a perk of her job: getting her makeup done professionally. "My lawyer makeup was like me only better, which was a revelation to people who saw me after work," said Ms. March, 39.
Rebecca Perkins, 33, Ms. March's makeup artist on the show, said that "we heard feedback from her girlfriends who wished they had a makeup artist to touch them up before they went out the door."
So the two partnered to open Rouge New York, a salon on Thompson Street in SoHo, late last year. The salon offers makeup services ranging from You ... Only Better, a natural look that costs $50, to Total Polish, for makeup worthy of a Met gala, for $75. They also offer tattoo coverage, facial waxing and the application of false eyelashes.
Their idea was inspired by blow-dry salons like DreamDry in New York or Drybar, with 35 locations nationwide, whose business model is to narrowly focus on one beauty niche with same-day appointments and inexpensive pricing. (That is, if you consider $40 for a blowout cheap.)
Ms. Perkins had thought that the options for makeup application were limited. "There are places where you can spend a lot of money for a professional to come to your house or you can go to a department store," she said, "but you have to fend off the hard sell or decide in advance to buy the products."
Makeup counters, Ms. March said: "have a mission to sell the brand's look. The end point is generating volume for the latest palette. We wanted to create a look tailored to the lifestyle and comfort of that person." (Rouge New York does stock the makeup lines they use in case a customer loves a particular shade of lipstick.)
Rouge New York has competition. Pucker has recently opened on Grand Street, with a similar concept, and Blushington has salons in Los Angeles and Dallas.
The next iteration of the blow-dry business model isn't confined to makeup. Clear Clinic, which offers treatment for acne, has locations in Midtown Manhattan, the Flatiron district and the financial district.
The idea came from Dr. Eric Schweiger, 36, a dermatologist who had a large following for his acne treatments. "I heard the same story with my patients that they thought acne was a beauty problem and didn't know it was a medical problem," he said. "They were treating it on their own with one-size-fits-all approach."
Dr. Schweiger says the media focuses too much on aging remedies. "The media makes anti-aging so sexy," he said. "Kim Kardashian will get a facial but not an acne treatment. I wanted acne patients to have a place that was their own that didn't feel like going to the doctor."
Clear Clinic opened in November 2012, with appointments available from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; a retail area to buy products; and an area for procedures like acne surgery, cortisone shots ($95 if not covered by insurance), peels and extractions. The clinic accepts insurance, has its own product line and offers Wi-Fi in the waiting area.
Dr. Schweiger said: "We looked at dry bars, teeth-whitening centers or vein clinics: businesses that found success sticking to a model that works, focusing on what they know and can do well. When a patient realizes they have a breakout, they want to be seen the same day, but when you call a dermatologist, it's usually 'See you in six weeks.' "
The clinic has seen patients who have come from as far away as Africa, Saudi Arabia and Europe for treatments, he said, adding that it expanded to four offices in two years and had 30,000 appointments last year.
A year ago in Santa Monica, Calif., Chris Carey, 35, a former executive at the apparel lines RVCA and Abercrombie & Fitch, opened Skin Laundry, a clinic that specializes in laser-powered facials that promise decreased pore size and collagen stimulation, with a pristine white ambience and musicians like Drake playing on the stereo. The business has expanded in California to West Hollywood and Newport Beach, and plans to open in New York City by next fall.
Mr. Carey said his business model differed from that of dry bars. "They are pioneers in taking one piece of the beauty world and making it a niche," he said. "Our customers can't decide one day that they'll save money and do it at home." The combination of laser and intense pulsed-light treatment, which costs $75 for an introductory three-visit package, "are our secret sauce," he said.
Also in Santa Monica is Tint, a hair salon owned by David Abrams, 45, that offers only hair color touch-ups, such as color added to the roots of the hair ($49), partial highlights ($65) and toner ($15).
"Most women can't afford high-end hair color," Mr. Abrams said. "The magic is in the consultation. Choosing a color is where the real talent comes in. I thought, why couldn't we take one well-trained colorist and give them all the help they need on as many clients as we could handle? This way a single consultant could handle 50 clients, whereas normally they would see 10 to 15 clients in a salon."
It's a low-cost, no-frills approach: even having your hair blown dry afterward is extra. "We have a time-crunch society," Mr. Abrams said. "You can just walk in if you want to. Because the process is so streamlined, we're able to charge much less for it."


text:
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Citrix (NASDAQ:CTXS) today announced that Tim Minahan is joining its executive team as chief marketing officer (CMO). Minahan will be responsible for leading and evolving the Citrix marketing strategy to continue to drive the company's vision of securely and reliably delivering applications and data. Minahan will report to Citrix interim CEO and president, and executive chairman, Bob Calderoni.
As a change agent for digital transformation, go-to-market strategy, demand generation, sales execution, M&A, and supply chain, Minahan has generated billions of dollars for both fast-growing start-ups and premier technology brands. He comes to Citrix from SAP where he was CMO of SAP Cloud. Previously, he was at Ariba, where he served as senior vice president of Network Strategy as well as CMO. An active evangelist on technology and business trends, he is a sought-after industry speaker and a published author on subjects ranging from business transformation and e-commerce to leadership and technology.
"Minahan has a proven track record in driving transformation, growing businesses, and leading high-performing teams to unprecedented success," said Calderoni. "His passion and experience is a great complement to the executive team as Citrix continues to build positive momentum and focus on the company's transformative initiatives announced earlier this year."
"Citrix has always measured the value of its technology by how it benefits people and that is something I am passionate about," said Minahan. "The company has uniquely helped businesses manage IT complexity for more than 25 years and they continue to look for ways to innovate. I look forward to working with the executive team to build and execute the next chapter in helping Citrix customers and partners find new ways to work better."
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About Citrix
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Thursday, November 13, 2008
You Are Not Limited By Your Instrument
You are only limited by your imagination.
3 comments:
- Sammy said...
This is rather ironic, given another blog's entry with a Mike Portnoy video. Doing a lot with a lot or a lot with a little, talent is talent.
- Friday, 14 November, 2008
- Dave Jacoby said...
I would not say that Mike Portnoy is not talented. There's a lot of amazing drummers. I remember one drum duet on YouTube where the drummers heads were all clear and you could clearly see "G#" written on the back of one of his wall of toms. Steve Gadd vs. someone. I forget.
But it's easier to play a melody on drums if you have a wall of tuned toms than if you have just a hi-hat, and here, Max Roach plays melodically on just a hi-hat.
- Friday, 14 November, 2008
Oh, I didn't meant to imply Portnoy's not talented. I think he's a drum god - talent cousin to Peart. I just found it funny that this Roach and Portnoy illustrate that talent is as talent does, regardless of equipment. :)
- Sunday, 16 November, 2008


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text: Share: Comments Print February 8, 2014 at 2:32 PM Science vs. creationism: Losing the math and science race Posted by Letters Coordinator Now that the debate between Bill Nye and Ken Ham is completed ["Bill Nye: Bible doesn't tell Earth's true history," Nation & World, Feb. 4], I find myself disturbed. I am not disturbed by the outcome and who won the debate, but rather due to Bill Nye's inference based on a fictional narrative, namely, that our math and science woes as a nation are due to creationists. This is an astounding washing of hands coming from an evolutionist whose perspectives and teachings have dominated the public education for many years. Yes, our nation is on the decline in math and science. However, it is not because of home-schooled creationists. If you want the answer to what has been happening then take a look at what has been transpiring the last 50 years. Journey to other countries like China and India and see how their high-school students spend their evenings and weekends, and take a look on where the educators focus their energies. It's a tough reality that we will have to face sooner or later. Gary Ford, Mission Viejo, Calif. Comments | More in Religion, Science | Topics: Bill Nye, creationism, Gary Ford


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Voices of Immigrants Demonstrating Achievement
Voices of Immigrants Demonstrating Achievement (VIDA) is a resource center for friends, allies, and all students affected by issues of immigration or citizenship status. We are located in the Student Union building in room 104A. Come by and meet the people who make VIDA a welcoming student hub.
Founded in 2012, VIDA is a product of the hard work and dedication of previous generations of undocumented youth activists at City College. We are proud to be a part of the greater network of undocumented student resource centers located throughout the state of California. With the help of staff, faculty, and administrators, VIDA is growing and always welcoming new student involvement.
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Financial Aid for Dreamers at VIDA
Every Wednesday from 10:00am-2:00pm throughout the semester we have in house financial aid counseling. Come and get your financial aid questions answered by Karen Colom, our financial aid specialist.
Below is the link to our sign up sheet where you can sign up for a 30min appointment.
Below is a small sample of the type of events and engagements we organize for our student community.
Please click through for more information
CA Dream Act
2016-2017 CA Dream Act Application
VIDAs Facebook
VIDAs Instagram


text: janpeeters 31 Report post Posted August 16, 2013 I places social network icons in a text box in the footer of my site http://www.janpeeters.nl. Strangely enough after that the icons shows up every time I place a text box anywhere else. When I put new content in it en save/publish it my site removes the 'default' content with the new content. I would love to know how this 'memory' of content works. It feels like a bug but maybe it's a feature I don't understand. Thanks, Jan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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Archive for October, 2013
#MESEN Democratic Candidate Shenna Bellows: "Something Deeply Wrong in Washington When Senators Congratulate Themselves for Doing Their Jobs"
(Updated 10/25/13- What I did not yet know yesterday when posting this diary is that the campaign has an Act Blue donation page– please feel free to donate and share the link. Many thanks!)
Link to Shenna Bellows for Senate website.Maine Democrat U.S. Senate candidate Shenna Bellows kicked off the start of her official campaign yesterday with events in Ellsworth, Portland, Lewiston and finally Eliot.
Today she is in Presque Isle and Bangor; her week concludes with events in Topsham, Rockland and Skowhegan, as Bellows plans to speak in every Maine county this first week of campaigning with a target goal of stops in all of Maine's cities and towns over the next year. The photos below were taken at the Portland event, held at Rising Tide Brewing Company- a local Maine business hit by the recent federal government shutdown.
The 38 year old Manchester resident and native of Hancock was introduced by friend and former ACLU of Maine coworker Jill Barkley, with supporters of all 16 Maine counties speaking briefly on why they support Shenna's run for Senate and then addressed the large crowd assembled:
(Speech as prepared)
- Good morning. My name is Shenna Bellows and I am running for United States Senate because I believe we need more courage and honesty in Washington.
- To make things better.
- To put government back to work for everyone and not just the few.
- To get our country back on the right track.
And that work starts here and it starts today.It's been a whirlwind few weeks.
As some of you may know, I was married on September 21.
My husband, Brandon Baldwin – a Skowhegan native – is here with me today, and I am so grateful for his love and support. And I promise, he knew what he was getting into when he said "I do."
Brandon and I made the decision to spend our lives together in 2010.
But we had made a vow that we wouldn't get married until every loving committed couple could do the same, including our gay and lesbian friends and family members could be legally married.
Last November, Maine made history when our state became the first to pass the freedom to marry at the ballot box.
It was an amazing day made even better when the first couples started to wed last winter.
But it wasn't until June, when the Supreme Court overturned the outrageously named Defense of Marriage Act, which discriminated against gay and lesbian couples.
I don't think they knew it at the time, but when the Supreme Court justices said DOMA was unconstitutional, they were also opening the door for Brandon and I to tie the knot.
We were engaged on a trip to the Potato Blossom Festival in Aroostook County. We were married at our home in Manchester. We honeymooned in Rockland.
And though we're still traveling around Maine, I think the honeymoon is over.
Being part of the leadership team of Mainers United for Marriage for seven years was to date one of the greatest honors of my life.
We stood up for equality and freedom, and we created positive change one conversation and one person at a time. And we did it together.
I share this story because it is fundamental to who I am, why I am running and what I would like to see change in Washington.
First, who I am. I am a principled leader who has a proven track record of standing up for people's rights.
I was the Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine, a non-profit organization.
Our mission was to defend the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
I am proud of the work I did there – defending the right to vote, protecting privacy and fighting for freedom of speech and equality.
Through that work, I had the opportunity to be involved on several statewide campaigns where I gained valuable experience that I plan to put to work over the next year.
I grew up in Hancock.
My mom, Janice Colson, is here this morning.
She just got off the night shift at the hospital.
She is the bravest person I know.
When I was a kid, we grew our own food, organically. I don't think we were trendsetters. Truth is, I don't think we could afford pesticides and fertilizers.
One day, mom was pounding fence posts in the backyard.
She smashed her thumb. It was terrifying to us kids seeing mom hurt.
We didn't have a telephone so there was only one thing to do.My dad, Dexter Bellows, is here this morning too.
Calm as could be, she just put the three of us in the car and drove herself to the emergency room.
He's a carpenter, and he and his wife Bethany Reynolds worked hard to make this day happen today.
I get my courage and my work ethic from my parents.
Thirty-three years ago, my dad started his own carpentry business, Bellows Woodworks.
My mom stayed home with me, my brother and my sister.
When I was in the fifth grade, she went back to work at the local greenhouse, Surry Gardens, and we were able to afford electricity.
It takes a lot of courage to start your own business, especially when you're trying to take care of a young family.
My father took a risk.
His story is the story of countless other entrepreneurs.
And it's the story of our country and what gives America the reputation of being the land of opportunity.
My mom worked in the greenhouse for over 20 years. At age 49, she too took a risk by going back to school, first with adult education courses at Ellsworth, and then at the University of Maine where she obtained a degree in nursing.
My parents' courage and work ethic have inspired me my entire life to work hard and to try to make the world a better place.
I have worked throughout my career to do my part to change the world.
From my time as a volunteer in the Peace Corps in Panama, to service as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer in Nashville to standing up for the Constitution and the Bill of Rights at the ACLU.
I understand what it's like to work for a living.
I've waited tables, worked retail, worked at the local lobster pound and was even a Subway sandwich artist. When I was in college, my job was in the recycling program, which meant essentially that I collected the trash each week.
My community and education gave me other opportunities along the way too – the opportunity to go to Middlebury College, to work as a research assistant at the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory and then as an assistant to an economics professor who writes leading economics textbooks.
These experiences shaped who I am today. I am unafraid of hard work, and I am inspired to make the world a better place.
I'm running for United States Senate because I believe we need more courage and honesty in Washington.
A dear friend tried to dissuade me from running when he heard the news. "Politics in Washington are too corrupt and too partisan," he argued, "for an honest and independent person like you to be happy there."
The sequester, the shutdown and the default debacle made his argument for him.
When senators congratulate themselves for doing their jobs – for doing what decent people do all the time and talk through challenges – something is deeply wrong in Washington.
It took three weeks and cost our country billions of dollars because grown men and women couldn't put aside their ideology and do the peoples' business.
When Congress acts merely to kick the can down the road three months, so that we will continue to lurch from one economic crisis to another, something is deeply wrong in Washington.
The sequester and the shutdown are unforgiveable.
When Head Start and Meals on Wheels programs are cut back while members of Congress pay themselves hundreds of thousands of dollars in salary and benefits, something is deeply wrong in Washington.
When workers' pensions are underfunded or frozen but government pensions for members of Congress are not, something is deeply wrong in Washington.
Our democracy is too important for good people to stay on the sidelines.
Our democracy demands a full and fair debate in this race about our priorities.
The future of our democracy requires that good people with good ideas participate and that at all levels we debate in a civil and respectful way the solutions that will move our country forward.
Look, I understand that the road ahead in this campaign will be hard.
Daughters of carpenters don't usually run for the United States Senate.
Races like this can cost millions of dollars, which is why we have a Congress of millionaires instead of a Congress of working people.
I understand the power of the incumbency, but I am undaunted and promise to run a strong campaign that will challenge the status quo and give voters a real choice next November.
And if elected to the United States Senate, I can assure you: I will work hard to advance meaningful campaign finance reform so that more sons and daughters of carpenters and working people can represent us in Washington.
In addition to courage and honesty, we need more people in Washington who will listen respectfully to people with different points of view and work together toward meaningful solutions.
No two people can ever agree 100% of the time. Even my husband and I don't agree on everything.
While we may not agree, you will always understand where I stand, and I promise that I will come to any policy debate with an open mind and treat everyone with respect.
Earlier this year, I organized a broad coalition that included Democrats, Republicans, Independents and Greens to pass a groundbreaking law that protects cell phone privacy.
While we might disagree on other issues, we all came together to fight against the dangers posed by government intrusion into our personal lives.
Our opposition was intense, bipartisan and included some of my close friends, but we were able to disagree respectfully.
After months of hard work, Maine was one of two states in the country to pass cell phone privacy protections in the wake of the NSA spying abuses, and we were one of just five successful veto override votes when the Governor vetoed the legislation.
I am proud of my work in Augusta to build broad coalitions across party lines to pass legislation that has made Maine a leader and a model for the rest of the country when it comes to civil liberties.
This brings me to what I would like to see change in Washington and what I would do if elected to be Maine's next Senator.
In the last two decades, we have experienced a constitutional crisis, an economic crisis and an environmental crisis that threaten our country's future.
What unites us as a country are our shared values set forth in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
Politicians in Washington have trampled on the Constitution over the last decade.
Washington has created a constitutional crisis.
My first job at the ACLU was as a "Safe and Free" organizer working back in 2003 to educate the public and organize opposition to the Patriot Act.
I think it's terrible that only one Senator, Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, voted no to the Patriot Act.
It's concerning that only Rand Paul is taking to the floor to filibuster on drones. Abuses of power like the Patriot Act, REAL ID, NSA spying, and domestic drone surveillance threaten our democracy.
- We need to repeal the Patriot Act and REAL ID.
- We need to stop the NSA and the FBI from wasting their time and taxpayer dollars spying on ordinary Americans through our cell phones and email.
- We need to place limits on drones.
A reporter asked me last week why should we care if we have nothing to hide. The question suggests that we need to sacrifice our freedoms for security.
But it's a false choice. As Benjamin Franklin famously said, "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
We do not have to sacrifice our fundamental freedoms to be safe.
When the government spies on its own people, we, the people, lose trust in our government.
We can restore trust and a sense of community by restoring our constitutional freedoms.
In addition to a constitutional crisis, we have an economic crisis, manufactured by politicians in Washington who seek short-term solutions rather than visionary change.
When I graduated from college with a degree in international politics and economics, I had more than $30,000 in student loans.
It took me 10 years to pay off my loans, but I was lucky: I was able to get a good job after graduation.
I met a woman a couple of weeks ago who told me with anger and sadness that her college-educated son and his wife are living with her at home because they can only find part-time work.
Another friend laughingly told me that perhaps his college-educated daughter would work for my campaign for free: he is supporting her financially right now because the only work she can find in her field of study is an unpaid internship.
She's not the only one.
Young people in this state are graduating with record levels of student loan debt, and they can't find jobs.
Not only has unemployment in Maine doubled since 2000 from 3.5% to 7.7% in 2012, but unemployment for young people ages 20 to 24 is in the double digits at 12.3%, up from 6.7% in 2000.
We need to invest in our young people and in the next economy.
We need to stop spending billions of dollars on a surveillance industrial complex we can't afford and start investing in entrepreneurs. We can't afford to be the world's policeman anymore.
We need to stop propping up big businesses that are too big to fail and start investing in local economies.
We need to eliminate the sweet-heart deals that protect large corporations and stop writing new rules that block entry for small entrepreneurs and farmers.
When I think about Maine's economy, it's those small entrepreneurs and farmers who are critical to our success.
Young people are staying in or returning to Maine to farm in record numbers. The local food and economy movement – built in our communities, not in Washington, is thriving.
We can learn from this model and bring rural innovations to the rest of the country.
Politicians in Washington have failed to be forward thinking in their approach to the economy, so our communities here have picked up the pieces and thrived where Washington has failed.
We need to bring this fresh energy and entrepreneurial approach to our federal economic policy debates.
The local approach is not only economically sustainable but environmentally sustainable as well.
In the last two decades, politicians in Washington have wrought an environmental crisis that threatens Maine's economic future.
Anyone who gardens, farms or fishes can tell you that Maine's climate is warming.
Politicians in Washington occasionally talk a good game, but they have done nothing substantive to address the looming environmental crisis.
And as we all know, in Maine our economy and our natural environment are fundamentally connected.
We have brilliant minds working in the environmental movement here in Maine to protect land for future and also promote and grow local economies.
If elected, I will advocate and organize support for a power shift in our approach to energy and environmental policy.
We need to have a debate about the best ways forward to fix environmental crisis. The politicians might say that solving climate change is impossible, but it's too important not to try, and we cannot wait.
Today is the beginning of my campaign for the United States Senate. And for the next year, I will work every day to convince voters that we don't have to be content with the status quo.
I know what's coming and that this won't be easy.
But I've seen what good people, working together, can do.
As Helen Keller, who triumphed over blindness and deafness to be an extraordinary leader and successful advocate, said, "Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much."
Together, we can make a difference. Together, we can change the world. The future starts now.
Unfortunately, both are in short supply.
But we have an opportunity for change.
Link to video of her address to supporters in Lewiston.Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )
Shenna Bellows Kicks Off U.S. Senate Campaign With Busy Statewide Schedule
Shenna Bellows, former executive director for ACLU of Maine and recently announced U.S. Senate candidate, is officially kicking off her campaign with multiple stops around the state today. Her day started with a radio interview with The Pulse AM 620's Don Cookson; she is holding a national call-in media press conference later today as well.
Link to Shenna Bellows for Senate website.
The scheduled stops for the Hancock native today include the following:
- 7:45-8:45 am
Riverside Café, 151 Main Street, Ellsworth
(scheduled to speak at 8am)
- Noon
Rising Tide Brewing Company, 103 Fox Street, Portland
- 3 pm
Forage Market, 180 Lisbon Street, Lewiston
- 6 pm
Optimus Room at the Regatta Banquet & Conference Center, Eliot Commons on Rte 236.
From there, Shenna has visits all across Maine scheduled for the rest of the week:
- October 24, 7:30 am
The Whole Potato Café and Commons, 428 Main Street, Downtown Presque Isle
- October 25, 11 am
The Main Lodge, The Highlands at 30 Governor's Way in Topsham ME
(To RSVP, contact Bellows for Senate at 629-8131 or email email@example.com)
- October 26, 11 am
Hike on the Breakwater in Rockland
(From the campaign: No RSVP required. Join us for the hike at 11!)
- October 26, 7 pm
Home of Carole Baldwin, Shenna Bellows' mother-in-law (House Party in Skowhegan)
RSVP required here.
There will be videos and photos updating this post later on.Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )
Maine's First Family Hosts 3rd Annual Blaine House Food Drive, Gives Personal Tours to Visitors
The First Family is hosting the Third Annual Blaine House Food Drive on three consecutive Saturdays during the month of October: Oct. 12, Oct. 19 and Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mainers will have an opportunity to bring a food donation, receive a tour of the Blaine House led by Governor Paul R. LePage and enjoy light refreshments.
LePage has also issued a "Food Drive Challenge" to Maine Chambers of Commerce. In a letter issued to the chambers, the governor encouraged participation in a local food drive throughout the month of October. Chambers that participate will have a chance to host a "Business After Hours" event at the Blaine House.
"As our holiday season approaches, it is very important that we remember those who are less fortunate," LePage said in a release. "The first lady and I will be hosting Blaine House food drives, but I am encouraging local chambers to get involved and help out their local food pantries or homeless shelters."
"We are a small state with big hearts," said the governor's wife, Ann LePage. "In our family, we have taught our children that giving is more important than receiving. Giving money is great, but giving your time is just as valuable. So we encourage Mainers to consider volunteering at a shelter, food pantry or soup kitchen. It's a great gift to give."
While all offerings are gratefully accepted, there is a great need for infant formula and baby food this year according to First Lady Ann LePage.
Gov. Paul LePage provided history lessons about some of the artifacts found within the Blaine House while leading tours during the open house and in this photo, sat at former Maine Governor James Blaine's senatorial desk in the Blaine Study.
Besides being a Senator, Blaine was Speaker of the House, an 1884 Republican presidential candidate, US Secretary of State and part-owner of the Kennebec Journal. Among the room's artifacts is a hand-written note on the back of a business card given to Blaine by President Abraham Lincoln dated April 7, 1865. The note was to ensure Blaine safe passage from DC's City Point to Richmond and back during wartime.
Governor LePage took the visitors into another room with a billiards table and spoke of playing a game against a visiting professional player from Finland. He also showed a rather new piece to the room- a handsome oak sideboard made by LePage himself back in the 1980s. Apparently wood working has been a hobby of his for 35 years.
This past Saturday marked the first of the three weekends set aside for the donations. The food, said Lauren LePage, the governor's daughter and assistant to his chief of staff, will go to the Auburn-based Good Shepherd Food Bank, which will distribute the food where it is most needed statewide. According to both Governor Paul and First Lady Ann LePage, the first open house day saw a much heavier volume of generous donations than in past years with the Governor remarking that in the past, the last day has usually seen the most visitors.Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )
Emergency Hearing on Riverview Psychiatric Center Held; Dems Voice ConcernsLast Wednesday, Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew met with a joint session of the members of the 125th Legislature's Appropriations and Financial Affairs (AFA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) Committees to discuss what lead to the federal government's $20 million defunding of Maine's Riverview Psychiatric Center. According to the feds, the decision to pull funding was based upon the center's failure to comply with safety standards. The LePage administration received notification on October 2nd (letter dated September 27) of the decision by Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) in a 17 page document which detailed concerns going back to March of this year.
In late August, legislators passed emergency measure LD 1515, "An Act To Increase the Availability of Mental Health Services" designed to correct the safety and understaffing issued raised by CMS. In early September, the administration repeatedly assured lawmakers that this measure to expand the Maine State Prison's mental health unitwould address the federal government's concerns by reducing the patient load at Riverview. But that was not the case, as CMS terminated its $20 million funding to the psychiatric hospital following an unannounced site visit to the facility in mid-September. It cited ongoing operational, governance, and management deficiencies leading to safety concerns and human rights violations.
Here are links to some of the discussions between DHHS Commissioner Mayhew, legal counsel Ken Albert, and various members of the joint committees in their 3 1/2 hour long meeting.
Afterwards, some lawmakers continued to voice concerns:
"Today's meeting was about fulfilling the Legislature's responsibility to work together with the Department in solving critical problems at Riverview. We expected to hear answers about how Riverview got here, why the Legislature was not kept in the loop, and what we must do going forward," said Senator Dawn Hill of York, the Senate Chair of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee.
House Chair Peggy Rotundo of Lewiston expressed frustration with the lack of answers provided: "Today was a beginning but we still don't have clear answers from the administration about how they're going to fix this problem and how we're going to pay for patient care in the interim."
She continued: "Since March, I believe, the administration has known that funding for Riverview could be in jeopardy, but the Legislature was not informed until August," Rotundo said. She said lawmakers were then told the bill to expand mental health services at the prison would correct those problems.
"And that we would be kept in the loop in terms of what was happening at Riverview," Rotundo said. "But since then the Legislature was not informed that CMS had been to Riverview to do the survey."
Representative Mike Carey of Lewiston: "This comes down to staffing and money. This is what it will take to ensure the safety of the workers and to help the patients who go to Riverview to get better. But if we are going to get this done, we need direct answers and more timely information from the administration."
AFA Committee member Senator Emily Cain of Orono: "We are all pulling for the same positive outcome. We have a responsibility for, and care deeply about the patients and staff and Riverview, and the budget implications of this crisis. And it is in the spirit of resolution that we are here today seeking answers that are long overdue."
Mayhew responded to all: "It is unfortunate that we must continue to spend additional financial and staff resources to appeal the decision and reapply for certification. I remain confident, however, that Riverview Psychiatric Center will be recertified by CMS and will receive necessary funding for critical psychiatric services for the people of the state of Maine."
It is still unclear what the next steps beyond the state applying for recertification will be, if there will be more discussion within the Legislature at this point and how the ongoing federal government shutdown will affect this situation and the funding woes at Riverview.Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )
Federal Government Shutdown Having Major, Immediate, Widespread Effect On Maine
In the days leading up to the federal government shutdown, some of Maine's Congressional members warned constituents of the approaching crisis, with Rep. Chellie Pingree stating that the September 29 vote by the House GOP linking the budget to removing funding for provisions of the Affordable Care Act was "a reckless and irresponsible move on the part of House Republicans that has taken us one step closer to a government shutdown".The Congresswoman also set up a web page ("Government Shutdown FAQ"), describing the potential effect on federal agencies and programs, if such a shutdown were to occur.
The nation watched and waited, as the efforts for a "clean continuing resolution" or a "CR" went back and forth between the two chambers in DC, with House Republicans refusing to allow a clean CR to come up for a vote in their chamber and the Senate Democrats voting down each and every House-passed CR with ACA-defunding provisions attached to it. Inevitably, America went into its first federal shutdown in seventeen years, as of midnight on October 1, with an estimated 800,000 workers nationwide immediately furloughed.
Here in Maine, experts announced that there could be "profound effects on businesses" from a prolonged shutdown for the state.
Maine Democratic leaders, who had faced similar gridlock and a potential shutdown locally earlier this year but managed to come together with enough Republicans to avert that situation by overriding Governor LePage's budget veto (LD 1509) for our state were quick to respond:
"As lawmakers it is always our job to make sure government works for the people. We should question the motives behind those who work against us. The fact that one small group from one political party is blackmailing the rest of the country is shameful," said Senate President Justin Alfond of Portland. "Because of their actions, here in Maine, some folks will be prevented from moving forward with their home loans, thousands will lose their paycheck, and scores of businesses will be put on hold until this mess is cleaned up. I'm proud that in the Maine Legislature, we don't behave that way. We show up and do our job—even when we disagree."
"The people of Maine and millions of Americans across the country woke up shaking our heads this morning,"said Speaker of the House Mark Eves. "We are tired of Tea Party politicians who are more interested in running our government into the ground than making it work. Now, more than ever, we must collaborate to move our state and country forward. Democrats are committed to doing so as we head into the next legislative session."
But when it was Governor LePage's turn to respond, he minimized the effect of the Tea Party fueled shutdown with the following statement and mention of 280 furloughed federal employees:
"Although some positions and programs in state agencies are federally funded, all functions of state government will proceed as normal through the end of the week," Governor LePage said. "The shutdown of the federal government is a result of the failure of leadership in Washington, D.C. A short-term shutdown won't impact the operation of Maine state government. But if the shutdown continues for an extended period, then it could affect some state agencies. With the politicians constantly fighting over the budget, sequestration and the debt ceiling, in addition to $17 trillion in national debt, we cannot rely on the federal government to pay for public assistance programs or state services for Maine people."
It has now been a week. Let's examine the numbers of those directly affected here in Maine, shall we?
- More than 200 federal employees at Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor.
- 280 immediately furloughed Maine Army National Guardsmen. Scratch that; try 400.
- 44 more administrative Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management employees in Maine.
- 56 SSDI health workers, with 52 of them, being the entire staff of the Disability Determination office in Winthrop.
- "Thousands" of state employees", possibly by the end of this week.
- Potentially more than 500 employees of Defense Finance and Accounting Services in Limestone.
- 1500 workers at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard were furloughed last week, with some now returning to work. As many as 2800 received furlough notices.
More layoffs, as provided by Maine AFL-CIO via press release last week:
- In Cutler, 12 workers at the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station are locked out of their jobs.
- In Limestone, over 500 workers are still working but may be sent home without pay within days.
- In Bangor and Portland, Professional Aviation Safety Specialists who inspect the planes we all fly on to ensure safety have been told not to come in, and others that are deemed essential are working without pay.
- Across the state, OSHA inspectors who keep workplaces safe for all Maine workers are wondering when their next paycheck may be and how they will pay their bills.
- In Augusta, workers who process veteran benefits at Togus in the VBA will likely be sent home within days.
- In Kittery, thousands of workers at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard are out of work and more are working but unsure if they will be paid.
- In Bangor and Portland, Air Traffic Controllers are working without pay.
Today Rep. Pingree's office announced that nearly 10,000 VA workers have been furloughed nationwide. It remains to be seen what effect this announcement will mean on those workers at Togus or the veterans receiving care. Her statement:
"The shutdown has already slowed down the claims process and these furloughs can only make things worse. For veterans who have been waiting months or even years for the benefits they deserve, that's outrageous," Pingree said. "This is the latest example of the real pain that the shutdown is causing to families all across the country. It's outrageous that Republican leaders are keeping the government closed because of their obsession with repealing the Affordable Care Act, and now veterans are paying the price. The VA has made it clear that if the shutdown goes into late October there could be a delay in disability payments," Pingree said. "That would be a real hardship for veterans and their families. Not only is this a hardship for veterans, but also for the men and women at the VA who work every day to process claims for our veterans."
A new study in today's Bangor Daily News shows that the effects of the shutdown are hitting Maine especially hard, due to our large number of veterans and elderly population:
The study, put out by the website WalletHub, says Virginia is the state most affected by the shutdown. Makes sense. Washington, D.C., ranks fourth on the list. Makes sense, too. But that's just one spot ahead of Maine. Maryland — home to numerous federal offices and federal workers — is sixth, one slot behind Maine.
So why does a shutdown hit Maine harder than it hits Maryland? It's not because Maine is home to a disproportionately high number of furloughed federal employees — though the state has its share. Rather, it's the state's high concentration of seniors and veterans, its businesses' dependence on loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, and the role real estate plays in the state economy.
We now enter Week #2 of the shutdown, with no end in sight.Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 1 so far )
It's Official! Shenna Bellows Running for U.S. Senate
Earlier today, former ACLU of Maine Executive Director Shenna Bellows ended speculation that she would be challenging incumbent Senator Susan Collins by confirming on Twitter that she had sent her initial paperwork to the Federal Elections Commission.
Papers filed for US Senate at the Post Office, Muskie Building in Augusta. Official launch October 23! #mepolitics pic.twitter.com/yVtOetOzVA
— Shenna Bellows (@shennabellows) October 8, 2013
Bellows, a Hancock native, has yet to hold public office but considered briefly a run for Congress last year.
From her "About Shenna" page:
Prior to her work at the ACLU of Maine, Shenna was the national field organizer at the ACLU in Washington, DC, organizing nationwide civil liberties campaigns including opposition to the Patriot Act, where she built broad coalitions that included librarians and gun owners alike.
Shenna's early career was devoted to economics. She worked as a research associate at Economists Incorporated from 1997 to 1999 before serving in the Peace Corps in Panama as a small-business development volunteer. In Panama, she launched a micro-lending program for artisans, started a Junior Achievement entrepreneurship program at a local high school, and was President of Women In Development/Gender and Development, dedicated to advancing economic and educational opportunity for women and girls. She continued her work in economic development as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer in Nashville, Tennessee. There she assisted a startup non-profit in developing an asset building program to promote educational and economic empowerment for young people in Nashville's largest public housing project.
Shenna is passionate about the environment and science. She worked as a research assistant for several summers during high school and college at the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory. She worked for the campus recycling program at Middlebury College, and today she serves on the Manchester Conservation Commission.
Shenna is a leader in women's rights and reproductive freedom. She has been recognized for her work to advance women's health and reproductive choice by awards from the University of Maine Women's Studies Department, Mabel Wadsworth Women's Health Center, the American Association of University Women, the Frances Perkins Center and the Maine Democratic Party.
Bellows recently announced her resignation from ACLU of Maine after a eight year tenure, via Facebook , saying in part:
"I feel a deep sense of gratitude for the opportunities I have had at the ACLU for over a decade, both in my two years at the Washington Legislative Office and especially in my last eight years home in Maine with all of you.
Together, we were the first state in the country to reject REAL ID. Together, we stood up against warrantless surveillance of our telephone and email communications in 2007, before most people were even thinking about it. This year, we were one of only two states in the country to pass warrant requirements for surveillance of our cellphone communications. Our work to reduce solitary confinement in Maine's prisons served as a model for other states, and we submitted testimony to Congress and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights about it. We co-chaired the successful statewide campaign to restore same-day voter registration. We stopped literally hundreds of bad ideas from ever becoming law. And of course, we won marriage for all loving, committed couples in Maine.
We have accomplished great things together. We have advanced constitutional freedoms in Maine, and we have served as a model for action for other states time and time again. I have learned so much from my colleagues on staff, from our dedicated board of directors, and from all of you. Thank you."
Shenna recently married longtime beau Brandon Baldwin, Director of the Maine Attorney General's Civil Rights Team Project. They reside in Manchester.
Her campaign website is already up and running, with links to Facebook and Twitter .
She plans to launch her campaign officially on Oct. 23 at events in Ellsworth and Portland.Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )
Governor LePage's OPM Director Lays Out Nearly $34 Million Cuts To Balance State BudgetAs part of the biennial FY '14-15 budget bill enacted in June that called for the Governor's newly formed Office of Policy and Management department with finding $33,750,000 in cuts, OPM Director Richard Rosen presented a 115 page report before Appropriations and Financial Affairs (AFA) last week. This is the first report by Rosen to the committee.
Among the cuts listed:
-$1.1 million by reducing overtime.
-$800k by cutting the Prisoner Boarding Account.
-Allowing prisoners with 18 months left on their sentences, as opposed to current 12 months, to participate in work-release programs, creating an additional $85k in revenue.
-Privatizing DOC's kitchen staff, saving $374k.
Here are some quick videos of Mr. Rosen addressing the committee, the first as he starts to lay out the cuts to the committee and the second including questions by AFA committee members:
Democrats were critical of the cuts:
"There are strong concerns that the administration's proposed cuts will harm our state's economy and Maine families," said Senator Dawn Hill of York who also serves as the Senate chair of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs committee. "We are prepared to make hard decisions and know that we must work together on solutions. But these solutions must be strategic and smart, not harmful and regressive for our working families and our towns."
"This proposal is a 'greatest hits' list of rehashed ideas that have been rejected by both parties, It's hard to believe this is a serious proposal."said Rep. Peggy Rotundo, D-Lewiston, the House chair of the Appropriations committee. "Now it is our job to find proposals that work."
As required by the budget, $11 million of the proposed cuts would occur in fiscal year 2014 and do not require the approval of the Legislature. The remainder of the proposed cuts would occur in 2015 and would need to be approved by lawmakers when the Legislature reconvenes in January.Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )
Governor LePage Declares October As Domestic Violence Awareness Month
A special ceremony was hosted by Governor Paul LePage last week in his Cabinet Room at the State House, highlighting domestic violence awareness, supporting victims and honoring advocates who dedicate themselves to eradicating the violence. The event marked the beginning of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and was attended by a number of state and local officials, law enforcement representatives, business and community leaders and victims' advocacy groups, including Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence (MCEDV) and Maine Chapter of Parents of Murdered Children.
"Domestic violence takes the lives of too many every year here in Maine. The physical violence alone is heart-wrenching. However, the emotional scars from domestic violence are lasting as well.
Together, we remember those who are no longer with us. We honor their memories by raising awareness and carrying hope that one day we can end the violence."
The Governor took the opportunity to announce that he has directed $10,000 from his contingency fund to help pay for the completion of the Maine Murder Victims' Memorial. Ground was broken in late September for the monument at Catholic Holy Family Cemetery in Augusta. The Memorial, an effort of the Maine Chapter of Parents of Murdered Children, will have the names of 400 to 500 Maine murder victims inscribed in black granite tablets. In July, LePage directed $100,000 to MCEDV from his contingency fund in the wake of cuts in federal program cuts.Arthur Jette, director of the Maine Chapter of Parents of Murdered Children, said the funds are a blessing and a tribute to every Maine family who has encountered the devastation that domestic violence brings with it.
"Whenever the life of a loved one is taken, there is an unbelievable grief, like no other. We are gracious for the Governor's support and faith in a cause that will bring comfort to families, survivors and victims, as well as a place to remember those lost at the hands of violence."
To locate your local Domestic Violence Resource Center, call the Statewide Helpline at 1-866-834-HELP (4357) or visit www.mcedv.org.Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )
Introducing New & Improved Maine State Senate Site!
Long overdue and looks terrific- well done and kudos to the many talented people who took on this task. Direct link to site here; the page is also added to our "Gov't/Politics" tab above.Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )
Kentucky Senators McConnell and Paul on Hot Mic Discuss Gov't Shutdown Messaging Strategy
Interesting hot mic moment between Kentucky's Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and junior Senator Rand Paul caught yesterday:
Paul: Do you have a second?
McConnell: I'm all wired up here. Um.
Paul: I just did CNN. I just go over and over again, "We're willing to compromise; we're willing to negotiate- I think- I don't think they poll tested 'we won't negotiate'. I think it's awful for them to say that, over and over again.
McConnell: Yeah, I do, too. And I just came back from the two hour meeting, myself, and that was basically the same view privately as it was earlier-
Paul: I think if we keep saying 'we wanted to defund it; we fought for that and now we're willing to compromise on this'… I think they can't- I mean we're gonna- I think- well, I know we don't want to be here, but we're gonna win this, I think.


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Editor's note: This is part of an everyday series looking at line items in state and local budgets.
NEWPORT NEWS — Among the newer initiatives that Newport News officials have rolled out to combat homelessness is a small division that acts as a liaison of sorts between homeless families and landlords.
The Housing Broker Team was established in 2009. In the current budget year the city allocated $295,447 for the team.
That sum covers the salaries and benefits of two employees as well as materials and supplies. Materials and supplies account for about two-thirds of the division's costs.
The team is part of the city's Department of Human Services, and in addition to placing homeless families in homes, officials with the team make sure families receiving services "work toward self-sufficiency in order to receive ongoing rental assistance," according to a city description.
A proposed budget City Manager Jim Bourey presented last week would cut the overall number of positions in the city's Department of Human Services to 377 from 387.
Nevertheless, Bourey recommended doubling the size of the Housing Broker Team from two to four.
With the change the line item for the team would grow to $421,691, with almost all of that increase covering the salaries and benefits of the additional two employees.
If approved by council, that would be a 43 percent increase.
Line by line
Each day for the next several weeks, the Daily Press will publish "It's in the budget" — a glimpse into government budgets meant to give readers an idea of how their tax money is being spent.


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Jon Bon Jovi Victim Of Death Hoax
Rest assured, Jon Bon Jovi is alive! He was the victim of an online hoax that spread like wildfire yesterday afternoon saying that he had died in Asbury Park. The rumor went viral right after the website dailynewsbloginternational "reported" his death from a cardiac arrest and was found unresponsive in a hotel room in the Empress Hotel in Asbury Park, according to eolnine.com.
With that announcement, it spread like wildfire across Facebook, Twitter and other news outlets. It was also being reported that hundreds of reporters were at the hospital waiting on official word of his condition.
When Jon received word of his death he wanted his fans to know that he was alive so he posted a pic on his Facebook page showing him in front of a Christmas tree holding a sign that read,
Heaven looks a lot like New Jersey, December 19, 2011, 6:00"
He posted the pic and comment for all of his nearly 15-million likes to see!
So it looks like Bon Jovi is still on schedule to appear at the Bamboozle Festival in Asbury Park in May.


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In response to The Daily Post's writing prompt: "No Cliffhangers."
Living in the digital age is a double-edged sword. While we instantly have access to vast amounts of information, news, opinions and real-time world updates, we are also instantly contactable and have the potential to work remotely, anywhere, at virtually any time. It can be hard to stop working, to refrain from checking and responding to emails, to find a way to switch-off from our business life and switch-into our personal life. This is especially true if – like me – you find it difficult to say "no", tend to over-think and over-analyse things, or are afraid to let people down.
The problem is, working after hours will likely damage your productivity, according to health experts. Imagine it this way – if you are training for a marathon, you run, rest well, take frequent breaks, eat healthy, and keep up a daily routine. If you were to just run constantly, you would quickly grow fatigued, damage your muscles, run down your energy and wear out your body. This is exactly what you are doing to your mind when you force it to work overtime, pushing it until weariness takes over, working it into a state of anxiety when you can't switch off from the myriad of tasks that start to churn through your brain.
On top of this, working overtime at home or on the move is more likely to make you tense and irritable, which will inevitably take its toll on your personal life and relationships. You are more likely to consume sugary and fatty foods and may become emotionally withdrawn and/or take out your stress on loved ones.
But its not all bad. You can take a few simple steps to improve your work-life balance and ensure that you're your personal time is quality time:
- Switch-off: I love being online and find reading, blogging and visiting forums to be a creative process, so switching-off doesn't necessarily mean getting off the grid entirely. It means shutting off your work phone and turning off your work emails. It can be tempting to check these but I have a rule that I DO NOT look at or respond to work messages once I leave the office when I shut down for the day. There may be times I bend this rule, such as before big deadlines or when we have events on, but for the most part this has worked really well for me. On the flip side, I do not message my colleagues out-of-hours; any questions I have for them can wait until the next morning.
- Do not ruminate: Did something go wrong at work today? It definitely helps to talk to others or go over what happened, but obsessing over what you should have done or agonising over decisions you made will only cause unnecessary stress and anxiety. It's easier said than done, but try to take a positive learning from the experience and move on. Own your mistakes and learn from them. Follow tip#3 to help you unwind.
- Do something creative and relaxing after work: I always wanted to try yoga, and when I finally got round to going to a class after leaving the office for the day, I found that it really helped me get into "personal life" mode. It took a lot of concentration to do the positions and with the soothing music and attentive teacher, I completely forgot about my work to-do list. Have some ideas or hobbies you always wanted to try? Why not use your week night evenings? Paint, write, cook, bake cakes, go running or play music – you might be surprised how quickly your focus shifts away from work.
- Plan holidays: Work can be really overwhelming at times but a great way to keep motivated and switch-off after work is to plan your next holiday. Read about different destinations, research the food and culture, plan your itinerary. Even if you are staying close to home, I bet there is a lot to discover in your own backyard – are there local markets? Monuments you always pass but never visit? Art galleries and museums? If you aren't going far afield, take the opportunity to re-discover your local area.
- Keep healthy and active: It can be tempting after a long day at the office to throw a ready-meal in the oven or order a takeaway. Try to resist the urge to do this and cook your meal from scratch instead, even if it's a simple stir fry or a hearty salad (here are some quick and easy meal ideas). Cooking takes focus and will force you to concentrate on something other than work, while eating sugary, high in fat foods is more likely to increase stress and anxiety. Additionally, exercise is the perfect way to clear your mind and keep your body fit and healthy, so try to go for a run, walk home from work, dance or hit the gym a few times a week.
Take care, be kind to yourself and appreciate life. There was a time when work stress used to invade my time off and stick to me like a shadow. I started doing the above and being kinder to myself. Gradually, things got better…and all was well with the world.