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Market Wire, October, 2009
Seniors aged 65 and older (also referred to
as “Matures”) have made the Internet an integral part of their everyday
lives. In a recent study, 77 percent report that they shop online. In fact,
Matures lead all other generational groups when it comes to this online
activity. They regularly use email (94 percent), go to the Internet to look
up health and medical information (71 percent), read news (70 percent), and
manage their finances and banking (59 percent). Matures also turn to the
Internet for gaming; approximately half (47 percent) of online Matures
regularly play free online games.
Boomers (ages 45 – 64) are heavy online users as well, with 93 percent
using email and 71 percent shopping online. Other regular online activities
of Boomers are going to the Internet to read news (73 percent), gather
information (67 percent) and pay bills (66 percent). Three out of ten (30
percent) regularly watch videos online, and 39 percent regularly go to
networking Web sites, forums, message boards and chat rooms.
These findings come from the CTAM Pulse report that includes data from the
“Life Stages & Life Styles: Turning General Differences Into Media
Opportunities,” and analyzes four signs of rheumatoid arthritis generational groups.
“The technology adoption behaviors of the younger generations is studied
frequently and their impact on advertising and marketing is widely known,”
said CTAM President and CEO Char Beales
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Business Wire, Sept 18, 2009
GREENWICH, Conn. — W. R. Berkley Corporation (NYSE: WRB) today announced the
formation of Berkley Oil & Gas Specialty Services, LLC. Berkley Oil &
Gas, based in Houston, Texas, will provide a multi-line insurance
product offering, including general liability, auto liability, workers
compensation, umbrella, control of well, inland marine, property and
risk control services in the domestic energy sector. Berkley Oil & Gas
will underwrite on behalf of W. R. Berkley Corporation member insurance
companies rated A (Superior) by A.M. Best Company, Inc., Financial Size
Category XV. Its distribution channels will include retail agents and
brokers.
Carol Randall has colorado auto insurance quotes been named president of Berkley Oil & Gas. Ms. Randall
has more than 20 years of experience in the commercial insurance
industry, with a primary focus on oil and gas risks. She most recently
served as chief underwriting officer for oil and gas with a major
insurer. Ms. Randall earned a Bachelor of Science in Management from
Louisiana State University and holds the Chartered Property and Casualty
Underwriter (CPCU) designation.
William R. Berkley, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of
W. R. Berkley Corporation, said: We are delighted to have Carol join us
as the leader of this new operating unit to leverage our existing
presence in the oil and gas marketplace
10.31
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10.31
0 Comments | Daily Mail (London, England), The, Oct 22, 2009
QUITE a few years ago, when I was a teenager, my mate Dick and I were entrusted with a rather large wooden fishing boat by its owner, a local fish wholesaler. Dick was to be skipper because he knew more than I did. I knew virtually nothing about the sea or fishing, but was willing to learn a proper man’s job as First Mate. The boat, a whitebaiter, had just had its re-fit and Dick suggested we take her on ‘sea trials’ to familiarise ourselves with her. I remember it was a Thursday evening as we chugged down the Thames and anchored off Herne Bay in Kent. Dick said it would be good to sail to Dover, as stormy weather was expected and it would be good experience learning how to avoid such annoyances as the Goodwin Sands and wrecks. We made it to Ramsgate and the day was spent pleasantly enough exploring the town in a downpour. Saturday, and off once again in a force-eight and, ooh, look over there, the Goodwins, and what do those buoys ahead mean, Dick? Anyway, we were young and we had a depth finder and could get Radio Caroline and, soon, through the troughs and crests, we could make out Dover harbour. As lookout, I noticed a flashing light directed at us from the harbour entrance and inquired of the skipper what it meant. ‘Dunno,’ he shouted through the spray. ‘Could be Morse Code or summit … see what happens.’ As we circled in the worryingly large side-on waves, that flashing lamp kept tormenting us as we drew nearer. Suddenly, a little man came running out, waving his arms. At the same time, a long blast from a ship’s horn and out of the entrance in front of us slid the biggest cross-Channel ferry I’d ever seen! ‘What’s the matter with you idiots, can’t you read Morse Code?’ said the nice little man. Undaunted, we anchored up somewhere we probably shouldn’t have, jumped into our skiff and headed for the beach where we immediately managed to sink and nearly drown. Nobody had told us it was a steep beach and as the front of the boat hit the shingle, the sea flooded into the back and sucked us out again!
WE MANAGED to tie our half-submerged skiff on to a pier and went for fish and chips. Later on, and several failed attempts to bail out the dingy with a bucket, we had the idea we may not have the skills required for life at sea.
Suddenly, crunching down the beach, came a posse of suited and booted blokes asking if we needed help. Turns out they were on their way to the local Saturday night yacht club hop. But into the surf they went, dragging the skiff up the beach, turning it over and getting us on our way with a cheery wave. Wasn’t that nice? Our return trip was uneventful apart from getting entangled in some angry anglers’ lines, but that’s another story.
Trevor Murdin, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.
Picture that!
PECKING ORDER: Regarding the sign ‘Chickens keep dogs on leads’ (Peterborough), I was commissioned to paint this picture in semicartoon fashion by a local lady who found the same sign hilarious.
Joy London, Bridgwater, Somerset.
One-line philosophers
THE way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, but not by jumping down his throat.
Mrs Valerie Ashton, London N14.
OLD Mother Hubbard often found herself in trouble with the RSPCA.
Chas Downes, Goudhurst, Kent.
Out of the mouths of babes
WHILE on holiday in France, my twin five-year-old granddaughters noticed a lot of small lizards darting about.
My daughter told them that, when caught, lizards lose their tails and grow a new one. She watched as they tried to catch one. Suddenly, one of the twins made a snatch and exclaimed she nearly caught a lizard, to which her sister asked, excitedly: ‘Oh Edna, what did it nearly feel like?’ Edna Graham, Killinchy, Co Down.
Funny Old World
SEEN on a leaflet from The Lounge, Chislehurst: ‘Sunday, Summer Sessions, BBQ. Live residents from 7pm’. Were the rest killed off? Mrs M. J
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0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Sep 4, 2009 | by Angela Hill
Dr. Derric DesMarteau, longtime team dentist for the Golden State Warriors, the Oakland Raiders and other sports organizations as well as a highly regarded private dentist with a thriving practice in Piedmont, died Aug. 20 from complications from cancer. He was 58.
“He had such a love of dentistry, such an unbelievable passion for it,” said Rhonda Nelson, who worked with DesMarteau for 17 years as his office manager. “He could work magic with people. Patients came to him when other dentists said they’d given up on them, so he would often get unusual cases and restore their whole mouths.”
DesMarteau specialized in cosmetic and sports dentistry, and was the team dentist for the Warriors and Raiders for many years. He also provided dental services for members of the plano cosmetic dentist UC Berkeley men’s and women’s basketball programs, the U.S. rugby team and the Piedmont High School football team, and was the regional dentist for the U.S. men’s and women’s national soccer teams.
“You could always see him on the sidelines at the games,” Nelson said. “He traveled with the teams, and (handled) many emergencies taken care of in the locker room. And our office makes all the mouth guards for the players.”
“Dr. DesMarteau was a unique, intelligent and well-rounded individual who was committed to being the absolute best in both his personal and professional life,” said Robert Rowell, president of the Golden State Warriors. “He served our organization well for over a decade and had a special bond with many of our players over the years. He’ll be sorely missed by everyone, including those of us in the Warriors organization who benefited from his friendship, presence and expertise.”
A California native, DesMarteau received his undergraduate degree in biology from UCLA. He completed his dental education at the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry in 1980. After graduating dental school, he moved to the East Bay, where he began private practice, and practiced general dentistry in Piedmont since 1986.
DesMarteau also held a degree from the Las Vegas Institute of Cosmetic Dentistry and taught other dentists from all over the country the latest in cosmetic dental procedures. In 1998, he was selected as an instructor in an advanced, hands-on cosmetic dentistry course called PAC-Live, which specialized in porcelain veneer application and “smile design.” He was also the co-director of a graduate course in cosmetic dentistry at the UOP School of Dentistry called the “Aesthetic Revolution.”
DesMarteau lived in Danville with his wife, Susie, and two boys, Chad and Sean. The family enjoyed skiing, traveling together and participating in the boys’ sporting events.
In addition to his wife and sons, he is survived by his mother, Patty; brothers Rick, Scott and Jim; and sister Brynne. He was preceded in death by his father, George.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Sept
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Business Wire, Oct 30, 2009
DALLAS — Idearc Inc. (Idearc) today announced that it filed a motion with the
United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas in its
pending Chapter 11 proceedings requesting authority to enter into a
standby equity purchase arrangement with certain funds and accounts
managed by Paulson & Co. Inc. (Paulson). Under Paulsons proposed
standby purchase arrangement, each holder of Class 3 and Class 4 claims
under Idearcs proposed plan of reorganization will have the right to
elect, in its sole discretion, to receive cash in lieu of shares of new
Idearc common stock upon the effectiveness of the plan of reorganization.
The cash to fund the elections by claim holders will be provided by
Paulsons purchase from reorganized Idearc of the number of shares of
new common stock that otherwise would have been distributed to electing
claim holders. The amount of cash to be received would be an amount per
share implied by a $200 million valuation for all of the equity of
reorganized Idearc. Under the proposed standby purchase agreement, the
amount of new common stock that Paulson can acquire is limited so that
Paulson will not beneficially own more than 45 percent of the
outstanding new Idearc common stock as of the effective date of the
reorganization.
As part of the proposed standby equity purchase arrangement, Paulson and
Idearc would agree on corporate governance measures described in detail
in the motion filed with the Bankruptcy Court, including Paulson being
granted the right to nominate one director to serve on the Board of
Directors of Idearc, and Paulsons beneficial ownership of common stock
being limited to 45 percent of the issued and outstanding stock of help with debt problems
Idearc. The ability of Idearc to enter into the standby equity purchase
arrangement is subject to approval of the Bankruptcy Court. The
Bankruptcy Court is scheduled to consider the Paulson proposal on
November 18, 2009. The obligations of Paulson and Idearc would be
subject to additional conditions set forth in a proposed form of standby
purchase agreement that Idearc filed with its motion for Bankruptcy
Court approval.
A confirmation hearing on Idearcs proposed plan of reorganization is
scheduled for December 9, 2009, and Idearc anticipates that the
reorganized company will be able to emerge from its Chapter 11
proceedings in the near term.
More information about Idearc’s restructuring is available at www.idearc.com/restructuring.
The Bankruptcy Court has approved a disclosure statement in the
Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding of Idearc and its domestic subsidiaries.
The court approved disclosure statement is the exclusive means by
which Idearc may solicit the plan of reorganization
10.31
Business Today, November, 2009 by Anumeha Chaturvedi
Confession time. At some point in our working lives, we’ve all
suffered from classic cases of afternoon slumps and post-lunch dips.
What is it about these pangs that simply steers us landscape photography away from work?
Researchers have for long emphasised the benefits of a good sound
sleep and feel it is completely natural for humans to want to go
back to sleep about seven hours after they have awakened. It is
widely believed that the human mind can be wholly attentive for a
period of only 35-40 minutes at best, after which it starts to
wander and slacken.
Robert Stickgold, an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Beth
Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, in a write-up in Harvard
Business Review, even goes on to suggest that a few minutes of shut-
eye at work could be good to combat the…
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Flex, Dec, 2009 by Eric Velazquez
Brandon Curry will be a little more fatigued than usual when he begins preparation for his pro debut in 2010–not because he’ll be training that much harder, but because he’ll be training that much harder, but because he’ll be getting up four times a night to change diapers and sing lullabies.
Brandon and his wife, Brandy Leaver, the first-ever FLEX Bikini Model Search winner in 2007, are expecting their first child together on or around December 8. Leaver, who already has a four-year-old daughter, was a bit surprised when she found out.
Curry’s reaction was grow taller exercises characteristically subdued.
“As the belly gets bigger, I’ll probably get more excited,” he said. “Right now, I’m just thinking about all the things I’m gonna be a part of. What in the world is my kid gonna get into? If it’s anything like me, I don’t know!”
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Flex, Nov, 2009 by Jim Stoppani
OPENING ARGUMENTS
Defense A close-grip bench press is any grip that is shoulder-width or closer. Most bodybuilders use a very-close grip (about six inches apart). The closer you go, the better you hit your triceps.
Prosecution Going with a shoulder-width grip is as close as you need to go to blast the triceps with heavy weight and stimulate real growth.
EVIDENCE
* Research from the 2009 Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine reported that subjects using a grip with their hands spaced about six inches apart utilized no more triceps muscle fibers than when they used a shoulder-width grip for close-grip bench presses.
* Earlier research has also shown that using a grip closer than shoulder width did not increase triceps involvement, but did increase the stress placed on the wrists.
* Going closer than shoulder width on close-grip bench presses reduces the amount of weight you can use, which reduces the overload placed on the triceps and the potential for muscle growth.
VERDICT: SHOULDER WIDTH
When doing close-grip bench presses, a shoulder-width grip will maximize the amount of accredited online degree triceps muscle fibers involved and the amount of weight used, while minimizing stress on the wrists.
SENTENCING
Do close-grip bench presses using a shoulder-width grip at the start of your triceps workouts, when the triceps are strongest. This will allow you to train with maximal poundage and place the greatest overload on the triceps
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Tele-Service News, Nov 1, 2009
TeleBlend Williston, Vt., a nationwide broadband Internet phone service provider, has announced that it will be offering one year of unlimited local and long distance calling for only $99. The release of the unlimited $99 Annual Plan is the first in the VoIP industry and now one of the most affordable phone services available nationwide. Customers who switch to TeleBlend will save hundreds of dollars per year compared to traditional phone service providers. The $99 Annual Plan is available for a limited time only and includes unlimited US calling, a free device, 15 free calling features including caller ID, voicemail and simultaneous ring with no cancellation fees.
The unlimited $99 Annual plan will ease the burden phone service can put on many households nationwide. With one low payment, no phone bills, no long distance charges and full account accessibility, TeleBlend has made phone service easier to use and enjoy than ever. “TeleBlend has always medical answering services strived to provide the most affordable unlimited phone service in the industry. With the launch of our new $99 Annual Plan, we feel that we have accomplished that goal and not only made phone service more affordable to households around the nation but also more convenient.”
Visit http://www.teleblend.com/ to learn more about this exciting opportunity or to sign up for service