Back in May I was contacted by a representative from Enjoy Prepaid (dot com), an online phone card / PC-to-phone company that is part of Nobel telecom. They asked if I was interested in trying out their calling card and other website features and since I’m always up for testing new products, especially those that help expats get by a little easier, I agreed.

All-purpose solution: the all-purpose aquatics facility uses the latest technology to create multigenerational appeal and programmability.(All-Purpose Facility)

Aquatics International July 1, 2004 | Quay, Bruce; Dunn, Jim Today’s aquatics facility, is no longer just about a single body of water. It’s about a community–and meeting all the needs of that community, from water aerobics to water slides. Building a facility that meets those needs takes careful planning and an even more careful understanding of what your community wants. But regardless of the budget or the community, every facility must be built with enough flexibility to literally be all things to all people. here planets for kids

The good news is that technology now exists to make this dream facility a reality. The bad news is that many communities still aren’t taking advantage of what’s available. That’s unfortunate because when you build an all-purpose facility, you not only create more public excitement about the project before construction, but you also ensure that it will be sustainable for the long term. It’s all about providing multigenerational activities and generating enough programming revenue to keep the facility sustainable.

By keeping those two goals in mind–multigenerational appeal and programmability–we designed what truly can be called the ultimate facility. From movable floors, to lazy rivers to a warm spa, every aspect of this facility was designed with flexibility and sustainability in mind.

Here’s a look at how all the components knit together to create long-term interest and promote healthy lifestyles.

We start with a roofing system that creates all-season usability through natural lighting. Made of an engineered transparent material, it is light enough for architectural flexibility, but durable enough to handle winter climates while retaining heat. It also has the ability to let in up to 85 percent of the sun’s UV light characteristics. These rays are what allow trees to grow and people to tan. What’s more, the material is acoustically transparent, meaning it will alleviate the echo-chamber effect found in many indoor facilities.

Next we take a fresh approach to the traditional competitive pool. At first glance, this six-lane pool looks like any other. But look closer at the design and you’ll notice three key differences: a movable floor, movable bulkhead and a wave-generation system. These three features transform the simple competition pool into an all-purpose swimming/water aerobics venue.

The movable floor goes from 10 feet deep to zero-depth with infinite positions in between. The bulkhead can move the length of the pool–and the possibilities are endless. For instance, with the movable floor, one hour you can have a competitive swimming event, and the next you can move the floor up and have a water aerobics class for seniors.

The movable bulkhead (with enough room for guards) provides the same flexibility, allowing you to divide the pool up into different sections, including both 25-yard and 25-meter competitive lengths.

This kind of flexibility also allows your facility to change with the times so that when the next water exercise craze hits, you’ll be ready.

Another aspect of this untraditional traditional pool is the wave generator. Again, the idea is the flexibility and programmability that turn flat water into fun water. The wave generator builds in more of that. Rather than just offering lifeguard training, you can now offer rough-water swim training or kayaking lessons, or any other rough-water activity you can think of. And it’s a sure-fire way to amp up your birthday party concessions. one pool that was recently renovated to include a wave system increased its per-child rate by 40 percent.

If a little wave is that popular, imagine what a real surfing/body boarding experience will offer. That’s where the flow boarding system comes in. This feature is key to attracting the biggest demographic challenge: teens. Playing off the popularity of snowboarding and skateboarding–the fastest growing sport on the planet for kids 14 to 18–the surf generator allows body boarding and stand-up riding that’s affordable in the overall context of a facility. It also ties in with the concept of life sports: sports that kids take up as youths and continue throughout their adult lives. go to web site planets for kids

From teens, let’s move on to children and the wet deck area of our dream facility. Again the deck is carefully designed with multigenerational appeal in mind. Divided into zones, the deck features the lighter sprays closer to the zero-depth entry for toddlers, with heavier gushers closer to the multilevel play structure for older kids. With its tree-house appeal, the play structure itself is a great way to build in interest for kids of all ages. And with the nearby lounge area, parents and grandparents can easily keep an eye on the kids while enjoying the sun and fun.

The adjacent lazy river also is designed for multigenerational appeal, with a current you can float along or swim against. We’ve designed this one with some additional fountains and geysers along the way that make it more fun. Those looking for more of a thrill can always zoom down the adjacent body slide–a staple of any aquatics facility these days.

When it’s time for good old-fashioned fun, there’s a nonstructured multipurpose play area. This is a great place for kids to play together or individually, and for activities such as water basketball, underwater hockey and the like. Whatever the open-water activity, it’s an important component of the facility that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Taken together, all these elements create a facility that appeals to the young, old, active and nonactive users.

While budgets must be considered, don’t forget that your customers’ willingness to provide upfront Capital has everything to do with what you design in and sell to them. Imagine trying to raise capital with just a traditional pool. Then imagine going to that same group with this plan.

Providing the right mix of features and activities at the outset is a lot more cost-effective than having to add them three or four years down the road because of customer demand or competitive pressures.

The Dream Works FACILITY (A) Indoor, all-purpose center–30,000 square ft., with engineered transparent roofing system [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (B) Flow boarding system with observation deck [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] COMPETITION/PROGRAM POOL [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (D) Movable floor and bulkhead for multiprogrammable pool [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (E) Wave generator [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WET DECK AREA (F) Wet deck–1,750 sq. ft.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (G) Warm spa with hydrotherapy jets–250 sq. ft.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (H) Multilevel play structure with interactive waterplay elements, slide jets and tipping buckets–215 sq. ft. with 1,800 sq. ft. of play pool water [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (I) Lounge area [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] RIDES AND ATTRACTIONS (J) Lazy river with interactive waterfeatures–200 ft. long [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (K) Multipurpose play area–30-by-50 ft.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (L) Body slide with tower–150 ft. long [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ADDITIONAL FEATURES * Water jets * Gurgling springs * Fountains * Floor bubblers * Spray hoops * Dancing waters The Dream Designers BRUCE QUAY Principal Aquatic Development Group, Cohoes, N.Y.

JIM DUNN Director, Architecture and Engineering Quay has 25 years of manufacturing management experience, with more than 20 years dedicated to various director roles within the aquatics industry. Prior to joining ADG, he was president and CEO of Cookson Plastic Molding, with divisions that included Pacific Industries.

Dunn, with 17 years of waterpark development/construction experience, has helped pioneer some of the most progressive water filtration systems. Blizzard Beach (orlando, Fla.), Wet’n Wild (orlando, Fla., and Brazil) are just a few of the waterparks for which he has managed the design, filtration, and/or construction.

Quay, Bruce; Dunn, Jim

If there is one thing expats in southern Italy can agree on, it’s that we have the. best. food. in the country. Ok, ok, expats in other parts of Italy … back off! Your food rocks, too. But I have that whole southern pride thing going on and nothing makes me prouder than reviewing a cookbook that epitomizes southern Italian cooking-and Mamma Agata: Simple and Genuine does just that.

There is no denying English-speakers are falling in love with southern Italian cooking. Those seasonal ingredients, creative seafood dishes, spicy peppers, fresh lemons and world-class olive oil leave a lasting impression on travelers who are often anxious to recreate these plates back home. Today, Laura Thayer of Ciao Amalfi! is offering her review of a southern Italian cookbook that focuses on the unforgettable cuisine of her newly adopted home-The Amalfi Coast.

Scottrade Opens New Office in Bonita Springs

Wireless News October 16, 2010 go to web site bonita springs fllorida

Wireless News 10-16-2010 Scottrade Opens New Office in Bonita Springs Type: News

Scottrade has announced the newest online investing branch office, opening Oct. 25, in Bonita Springs, Florida.

Stock brokers will be available at the branch office to answer questions and give tutorials on Scottrade’s online trading services, the firm reported. Investors can learn about:

-Stocks, ETFs and options

-Selecting from more than 14,500 mutual funds

-Using research to create real-time watch lists

“I show investors how to build their own trading environment with Scottrade’s trading tools,” said Branch Manager Scott Rosati. “Investors can make their own decisions by choosing from real-time stock quotes, top 10 lists, live updates and more. With these tools we can teach investors how to trade with more confidence.”

In a release on Oct. 12, Scottrade noted details of the new office:

Location: 895 Wiggins Pass Rd., in the Gateway Shops at North Bay

Phone Number: 239-596-1980

Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday

After-hours Support: 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. ET Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET on Saturday

Scottrade is the online investing firm with the largest branch network in the country. The firm said it offers a full line of products and market research tools to help self-directed investors make their own financial decisions. Though the firm does not provide advice, investment education is available at branch seminars, live webinars, user summits and an online Knowledge Center. this web site bonita springs fllorida

“Since Scottrade was founded 30 years ago, our commitment to provide local customer service to do-it-yourself investors has set us apart,” said Scottrade Founder and CEO Rodger Riney. “While most of our customers trade online, our branch network of more than 475 local branch offices enables investors to receive personal support to take control of their financial future.”

More Information:

www.scottrade.com

((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com))

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It’s eerily intimate to read about the history, stories and legends of your home, to see in print the cities and towns that are in your backyard and to understand the culture that is unfolding before you in black and white. No, I’m not Calabrese, or even Italian, by heritage, but I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of hometown pride as I read through the pages of My Calabria. Yes, it is a cookbook, but for those of us in love with Calabria, it is so, so much more.

All this month we are featuring real Italian recipes and Mamma Mia have we had some goodies. We’ve gone from classic Pasta Aglio Olio Peperoncino to Sicilian modica and today, my sweet-toothed friends, we are in Naples, enjoying sfogliatella, straight from the Amalfi Coast’s own, Laura Thayer of Ciao Amalfi!

READERS SHARE WORTHWHILE SITES.(Living)(Site-seeing)

The Cincinnati Post (Cincinnati, OH) June 8, 2005 Byline: Jan Perry Next, I want to pass along a hello from David Jenkins at www.hub-uk.com, an incredible site that elevates the art of food preparation, fine dining and gourmet eating. His site was included in this column last year, but it has gotten bigger and better. David wrote to say thank you for the mention and to let us know the site just celebrated five-years on the Web. go to web site how to report a scam

Several more I’d like to suggest are:

* www.cns.ufl.edu/spam — You’ll find wonderful explanations and free fixes. I know there’s a lot here, but if you want to be safe without being annoyed by all the unsolicited stuff, this is a truly remarkable site to help you.

* www.cio.com/online/techtact_071403.html — Just click on the Consumer Reports link near the bottom to call up good advice from folks who are known and trusted.

Dee Adams created this clever site — www.minniepauz.com — to help women cope with menopause (and men cope with women coping with menopause) more than eight years ago. She, wrote to invite column readers to take a look at the lighter side of the situation following the May 25 column on this usually serious topic.

Robb Perry, information manager for the American Theatre Wing, wrote to let me know that when the URL for the Tony site was moved to the electronic version of The Post, an ill-placed hyphen rendered the address unusable. (The address broke over two lines in the printed Post, thus the errant hyphen.) The correct address is www.TonyAwards.com — and if you missed the show, don’t miss the site. go to web site how to report a scam

Finally, there was this, which came in reference to the grilling column that ran on Monday. “Puny Human Jan, Hulk find out you like his Hulk Drop Martini. Hulk says good, but Puny Humans should consume in moderation.

Hulk suggests maybe write article about Celiac Disease. Hulk’s two little buddies have this — see: www.komar.org/faq/celiac_disease — Hulk thinks good to raise awareness of this.

Happy SMASHING, Hulkster.” Jan Perry is a Kentucky-based freelance writer for The Post. She welcomes your comments and suggestions and invites you to become a contributor for a future “reader wrap up” column by sending your topic or site ideas to SiteSeer2K(AT_SIGN)aol.com.

With my Auntie Adventures a not-so fading memory, I now have time to go through my “draft” folder here at My Bella Vita and pull out some posts that are a long time coming. Reviewing a recent customer service experience I had with Continental Airlines is one of those posts.

Home Depot’s building plans await city’s input: neighbors aren’t sure they want another big box moving next door.

Wenatchee Business Journal October 1, 2002 | Schneider, Darlene Walmart is about to get a new neighbor, if Home Depot has its way. But not all the neighbors are happy about the plan to bring another big box store to the north end of town.

Traffic, noise, and lighting top the list of concerns expressed by the people living near the 12-acre parcel of land Home Depot wants to buy between Maiden Lane and Walnut Street.

Some of those concerns also have been echoed by the city planners, who have asked the company to re-examine issues concerning their traffic study.

But Home Depot believes it can be a good neighbor by adding a stoplight, building fences, planting trees and constructing the 113,689-square-foot home improvement and garden center on a slope.

According to Michael Okuma, site development coordinator, Home Depot believes community comes first and with the help of their research they’ll be able to do the best for the area.

Residents aren’t so sure.

“I’m sorry but Walmart said the same things and then they didn’t come through. It’s just hard to believe Home Depot won’t let us down,” Marlys Barrett, who lives on Tanda Lane, said at a meeting organized by a group of neighbors.

Linda Shales, who lives on Maiden Lane, thinks the road will not be able to hold the traffic.

With the addition of Home Depot, parking would no longer be allowed on Maiden Lane, and a double left hand turn lane from Maiden Lane to Wenatchee Avenue would be constructed.

According to Matt Hughart, planning associate of Kennelston and Associates hired by Home Depot, the road will be able to handle more traffic. Hughart helped conduct a traffic study in April that has been used to predict what will happen with the addition of the retail store. homedepotpromotioncodenow.com home depot promotion code

Shales also was concerned about the added traffic and noise with delivery trucks.

Okuma assured her that Home Depot would not have trucks deliver during peak hours and with walls located all around the perimeter of the store most noise would be blocked.

Rogers Street, which runs on the land, will be made straighter to run adjacent to the Home Depot. It will also be privately owned by the store.

“The public is still allowed to drive on it but the upkeep will be the responsibility of Home Depot,” Okuma said.

The entrance to the Walmart parking lot off of Maiden Lane will be moved up to align with the Home Depot entrance. A stoplight will be added to form a four-way stop.

Some neighbors were concerto about glare from lights in the parking lot using Walmart’s lights as an example.

“There will be enough lighting to be able to get into your car, but not to buy the car,” Okuma said. “There might be some glare on Wenatchee Avenue, but that is commercial.” The lights will be turned down and the walls will block most glare, he added.

Bob Rogers, who owns most of the property, a third is owned by Avis Cockrum, said if it’s not Home Depot it will be another store.

“I can’t afford to pay taxes on commercial property with a 10-acre orchard. It’ll break the bank even though I know we all would rather look at the apple orchard, it’s just not feasible,” he added.

In September, five neighboring community members voted to annex the 2.5 acres on the property still classified residential. The area east of Rogers Road to the canal behind EZ’s Burger Deluxe and D&L’s RV Center had previously been annexed. With the annexation, commercial use of the property now has to go through a public hearing process and be approved by the Wenatchee Planning Commission and the Wenatchee City Council. go to site home depot promotion code

Home Depot, the second largest retailer in the United States, next to Walmart, wants to have a store opened in Wenatchee by fall 2003. In order to do so, the application must be accepted by the planning commission in October after a public hearing and the city council in November.

Two other sites were considered by Home Depot officials. One was the Valley North Center, but last year the negotiations stopped after several months of planning. According to new releases in July 2001, the real estate director for Home Depot working on the project retired and his replacement didn’t want to pursue the area because it was too small.

Of course, something could happen again.

“Nothing is set,” Okuma said. “But we want our application to he accepted, Home Depot wants a store in Wenatchee.” The Home Depot plan * Purchase 12 acres of land between Maiden Lane and Walnut Street, just south of Walmart.

* Build a 113,689-square-foot home improvement and garden center.

* Entrance to the store would be off Maiden Lane, opposite a relocated Walmart entrance, controlled with a traffic light.

* Goal is to have the building ready for occupancy by next fall.

Schneider, Darlene

There are many places you can go when you are traveling in Calabria near Catanzaro … you could see Le Castella, visit the ruins in Roccelletta or spend a morning driving through Sila Piccola in La Sila National Park.

At a moss: Watch your steps

Lancaster New Era (Lancaster, PA) October 7, 2004 | Robert Stiffler Q Our walkway is paved with bricks and is slowly being covered with moss. Needless to say, they have become charming yet slippery. Short of regularly pouring bleach on the bricks, is there something better we could use to keep the moss under control? Someone suggested pool chemicals, but I am not familiar with those materials. – COLLEEN IN CONESTOGA A. The sure way to get rid of moss is to reduce the shade and improve air circulation in the area by pruning. Improving soil drainage, although that may not be possible in your situation, will help. site how to get rid of pimples overnight

Moss thrives in damp, shady situations. Anything you can do to improve that will help eliminate the moss. The product used most often to control moss is Roundup. However, the moss will come back if favorable growing conditions exist. I’d use Roundup now to get rid of it but then do some pruning and make other changes to get more sun and less moisture in the area.

A. Last week’s column gave detailed instructions on what you should do to your lawn this fall. Be aware that three weeks without rain in late August-early September made many lawns brown. It sounds like you may have grubs, and that requires a special treatment. A sure sign of grubs is if you can pick up the grass like a carpet. That often means grubs have eaten off the roots. Another sign is if you see a lot of birds pecking away in the grass. That means they’re finding and eating grubs.

Lancaster County extension agent Tim Elkner says to treat your lawn with a product specifically for grubs and carefully follow the directions. You can find these products in any garden center. I would treat the lawn for grubs at once and then follow the suggestions in last week’s column (to purchase a copy of the Sept. 30 Magazine section, call 291-8610) for the remainder of your lawn rejuvenation this fall.

Q. I want to find Preen but am unable to do so. I live in Lititz. – LITITZ LAWN-OWNER A. At www.lebsea.com, the manufacturers of Preen list these outlets near you: Bomberger’s Store, Route 501, Lititz; Esbenshades, Route 322, Lititz; Paul B. Zimmerman, 50 Woodcorner Road, Lititz; Stauffers of Kissel Hill, 1050 Lititz Pike, Lititz.

Q. I have so many thistles. I’d like to know how to get rid of them. I pull them up, but they come back again. Thanks. – ETHEL DEEMER, LITITZ A. In a garden or a flower bed of any kind, Roundup is the best control for thistles. They must be up and growing, and the air temperature should be above 65 degrees for Roundup to work. More than one spraying may be required. Never spray on a windy day, or other plants could be damaged.

In lawns, 2,4-D is the recommended product. I would try to find a product with the Trimec formula. It contains two other weed killers in addition to 2,4-D. More than one spray may be required. Be very careful with such formulations over the roots of trees or shrubs, for the product could damage them. see here how to get rid of pimples overnight

Q. What is the best spray to get rid of bagworms on pine trees? When is the best time to use the spray? – FRAN STOKES, MILLERSVILLE A. Best control for bagworms is picking them off and burning them or putting them in a sealed plastic bag in the garbage. Do this regularly. I know that is not always possible, but spraying sometimes does not eliminate them, because they hide inside the bag and sprays may not penetrate it. Do not toss the bags onto the ground, for eggs inside the bag will hatch and cause further problems.

Products to spray with include Orthene and Sevin. If you prefer an organic, use Bt, Bacillus thuringiensis. All of these are available in garden centers. The time to spray is mid-to-late June.

Garden cuttings Most herbs lose much of their flavor when dried. If you want fresh herbs for winter, pick their foliage before a frost, toss in a freezer bag and store in your freezer until needed. Some cooks freeze them in a cube of water.

Be sure to bring plants that have been outdoors for summer inside before a heavy frost. Some, such as Christmas cactus, should be left outdoors until a freeze is predicted, for that will help them set buds. Before bringing in any houseplant, examine it carefully for insects or their eggs. Either can create problems in a warm room. Wash in soapy water or use an insecticide outdoors, if necessary. If roots are extending outside the pot, the plant probably needs repotting.

Longwood Gardens is offering a series of environmentally friendly composting courses this fall. All are on Saturdays, starting Oct. 16. Topics include home composting, compost tea and worm composting in the house. Courses vary in cost from $39 to $59. For information, call 610-388-1000 ext. 516.

You can keep geraniums for years by bringing them indoors before a hard frost and putting them in a sunny southern window. Water a couple of times during the winter. In early May, clear out the old leaves, snip off long shoots, fertilize them with Osmocote, water and put them back outdoors to enjoy all summer. The long shoots should be allowed to lie in a warm, dry spot for a day or more so the cut ends can sear over and seal. Otherwise, the soft ends will rot if planted immediately after cutting. Don’t worry if they are allowed to sear even a week or so. Use the cuttings to fill in blank spots in the pots or plant in the garden to root and provide summer bloom. I took mine out of their pots and put them in a window box filled with sand in a sunny window in a garage that did not freeze. The secret is you must have a sunny window for wintering over.

Bob Stiffler is a freelance columnist.

Robert Stiffler

Some of you might remember a few months ago when the Blogosphere was abuzz with the Three Best Kept Travel Secrets meme. Yours truly contributed to the meme, writing about three lesser-known places in Calabria, particularly Paola, Pietragrande, Caminia and Amantea.

Mobily to launch iPhone 4S in Saudi on Friday.

TradeArabia (Manama, Bahrain) December 14, 2011 (Date: Wednesday, December 14, 2011 ) Mobily, a leading telecom company in Saudi Arabia, has announced it will offer iPhone 4S to customers in the kingdom beginning this Friday (December 16).

iPhone 4S features Apple’s dual-core A5 chip for fast performance; an all new camera with advanced optics and full 1080p HD resolution video recording. It comes with iOS 5, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system with over 200 new features; and iCloud, a breakthrough set of free cloud services. site iphone 4s features

“We are very proud to offer iPhone 4S to our customers in Saudi Arabia. iPhone 4S enables Mobily to further develop the telecommunication sector within the Kingdom by providing the most advanced technology to our customers,” said Mobily’s CEO Khalid Al Kaf. go to website iphone 4s features

“We believe the new features of iPhone 4S will enrich our customers’ lives.” Mobily customers can pre-order and register interest for iPhone 4S at mobily.com.sa, a statement said. — TradeArabia News Service Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company

It’s been a busy week here at My Bella Vita. In addition to the four great giveaways going on, I was also contacted by CSN Stores and asked to review one of their products. They have more than 200 online stores where you can find almost anything, be it a sofa, a suitcase, shoes or kitchen supplies … so I’m pretty excited about the review.

Amtrak Backs Off Cutback Threat

AP Online April 5, 2002 | LAURENCE ARNOLD, Associated Press Writer 00-00-0000 WASHINGTON (AP) _ Amtrak, citing signs of help from Congress, backed away Friday from its threat to issue notices that would allow it to cut its long-distance train network as early as this fall.

Instead, the railroad sent an update letter about its continuing quest to win $1.2 billion in federal funds for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. The letters went to governors of the 46 states Amtrak serves.

Amtrak President George Warrington wrote that he is encouraged by the response of lawmakers. However, he added, “uncertainties associated with the legislative process” mean Amtrak must prepare for the possibility that it will not receive enough money to maintain current service.

He reiterated that the 18 trains in its long-distance network are “at high risk” and said other routes could also be cut if Amtrak’s appropriation is too low.

The 18 trains serve Amtrak’s longest routes and are among its biggest money-losers. Without them, travelers no longer could get on a train in the Northeast and connect all the way to California, or board in Florida and reach the Pacific Northwest.

Amtrak spokesman Bill Schulz said the intent of Warrington’s letter was to warn the governors about Amtrak’s uncertain future _ and the possibility of service cuts _ without creating confusion among prospective travelers that could result from elimination notices. amtrakpromotioncodenow.com amtrak promotion code

Warrington announced Feb. 1 that Amtrak would issue formal notices by March 29, reserving the authority to cut routes when the new fiscal year begins. Amtrak is generally required by law to give 180 days’ notice before it discontinues train service.

But in his letter to the governors, Warrington said such formal notice is not necessary “in circumstances like this, where train service rests on the availability of federal appropriations.” Transportation Department Inspector General Kenneth Mead reported in January that Amtrak lost $1.1 billion in 2001, the most in its 30-year history, and had made no progress toward meeting Congress’ 1997 order to wean itself from annual government operating subsidies by this December.

Since Warrington’s February announcement, Amtrak has made headway in convincing federal officials that the nation’s passenger rail system needs more money.

“My sense is that there’s now a sense of urgency in Congress that wasn’t there before,” said Amtrak Vice Chairman Michael Dukakis, the former governor of Massachusetts.

The Bush administration has proposed $521 million for Amtrak in fiscal year 2003, but Amtrak has received some key backing in its pleas for more money. web site amtrak promotion code

Mead said the railroad cannot maintain current operations with the funding proposed by Bush, the same amount Amtrak received this year. Deputy Transportation Secretary Michael Jackson told Congress it will take $2.5 billion to $3 billion in annual funding for rail “just to keep what we have.” And 28 senators have signed on to a bill by Sen. Ernest Hollings, D-S.C., that would devote $4.6 billion a year for the next five years to Amtrak operations, renovations to Amtrak-owned tracks in the Northeast and development of new high-speed corridors around the country.

A new proposal in the works by House Transportation Committee leaders would authorize $1 billion for Amtrak’s capital and operating expenses next year. Congress also would cover Amtrak’s annual obligation _ about $160 million _ to pay benefits for rail industry retirees.

In exchange, Amtrak would have to begin submitting an annual business plan to the Department of Transportation listing ridership, revenue and expense targets for individual business units and long-distance trains.

A spokesman for House Railroad subcommittee chairman Jack Quinn, R- N.Y., said the bill would buy Congress one more year to come up with a long-term plan for Amtrak and passenger rail.

___ On the Net:

LAURENCE ARNOLD, Associated Press Writer

BIDERMANN FILES FOR CHAPTER 11

The Record (Bergen County, NJ) July 18, 1995 | ADAM GELLER, Staff Writer ADAM GELLER, Staff Writer The Record (Bergen County, NJ) 07-18-1995 BIDERMANN FILES FOR CHAPTER 11 By ADAM GELLER, Staff Writer Date: 07-18-1995, Tuesday Section: BUSINESS Edition: All Editions — 3 Star, 2 Star P, 2 Star B, 1 Star Late, 1 Star Early site gold toe socks

Bidermann Industries — the company behind Ralph Lauren women’s clothing, Arrow shirts, and Gold Toe socks — filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Monday and announced plans to close its Secaucus offices.

The facility, which has about 100 workers, will be phased out during the next six months to cut costs, the company said.

Some workers in the Secaucus facility, which provides back-office operations for Bidermann’s New York headquarters, will be offered positions at company plants, mostly in the South. Those losing their jobs will be offered severance packages, the company said.

The closing is part of an overall move to decentralize management at Bidermann, which employs 5,000 people nationwide. The company also plans to consolidate operations at some of its plants but does not expect large-scale layoffs.

Bidermann’s bankruptcy filing is largely the result of its purchase five years ago of apparel maker Cluett Peabody & Co., which saddled the company with heavy debt, said spokesman Robert Mead. website gold toe socks

“We basically paid too much for that acquisition and put too much burden on the company to finance it,” Mead said Monday.

The bankruptcy filing should not affect the brand names controlled by Bidermann, the U.S. subsidiary of a French apparel manufacturer.

“Our primary objectives are to maximize operating performance across our organization and put in place a more appropriate capital structure at the corporate level so that our strong brands can meet their full potential in the marketplace,” said Bryan P. Marsal, Bidermann’s chairman and chief executive.

Bidermann has secured $75 million in debtor-in-possession financing from a lending group that will allow the company to continue normal operations during bankruptcy proceedings.

County Adopts Policy to Keep Deputies on the Job

The Washington Post April 22, 1999 | Maria Glod The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors yesterday approved a policy requiring recruits who leave the Sheriff’s Department within a year of graduating from the law enforcement academy to repay part of their training costs.

The policy is aimed at keeping newly trained deputies from leaving the department for higher-paying law enforcement jobs in nearby counties. Sheriff’s officials have long complained that it is difficult to retain new officers because Loudoun’s starting salary — even with a recent increase — lags behind that of deputies in Alexandria and Arlington and Fairfax counties. As a result, county officials said, Loudoun too often pays to train employees who take their expensive skills elsewhere within a few months.

Sheriff’s officials estimate that in a deputy’s first six months on the job, more than $10,000 is spent on uniforms, equipment and tuition at the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy in Ashburn. “We can’t afford to keep on paying to put deputies through training and have them go somewhere else to work,” Supervisor David G. McWatters (R-Broad Run) said of the new policy. “It’s a way of protecting the taxpayers’ money. It’s a very common-sense way to do it.” Sheriff’s officials said they have not tracked the number of deputies who leave the department within a year of graduation. In a March 23 letter to board Chairman Dale Polen Myers (R-At Large), Sheriff Stephen O. Simpson said two deputies who work in the jail recently left for other law enforcement jobs. Although the recently approved budget includes a 9.5 percent pay raise for sworn deputies, sheriff’s officials worry that this year’s newcomers will be even more likely to pursue jobs in neighboring counties because, for the first time, recruits are being certified initially in both patrol and corrections rather than one or the other. “Our guys come out of {the academy} in six months, and they are certified in both corrections and patrol,” Maj. John Patton said. “It makes them more attrac tive as candidates in other jurisdictions because they are already trained.” Patton also noted that there is no shortage of jobs in area law enforcement agencies. “We’re still trying to hire positions that were approved a year ago,” Patton said. “Everybody is having troubles trying to recruit people. We’re trying to hire for a lot of positions in the jail, and sometimes a guy or a girl comes in and says, `I can go to Fairfax and work on the streets for more money.’ ” Under the new policy, a deputy who leaves within six months of graduation will have to reimburse the county $5,000. A deputy who leaves between six and 12 months after graduation will have to pay back $2,500. Those who voluntarily leave the academy during training will be required to pay $1,250. Money collected under the policy will be added to the county’s general fund. County staff said they do not have an estimate on how much money the policy might generate. Other area departments have similar policies. “We have been doing it for years,” said Alexandria sheriff’s spokesman Capt. Dave Rocco. “We invest a lot of time, energy and money to hire as well as to train, and it takes up to six months to train. If they leave voluntarily, we feel we should recoup some of the money.” Rocco said the policy has been used on three recruits. He said he did not know whether the reimbursements were made by the recruits or the agencies that hired them. But he said the Alexandria department does not offer to reimburse new employees’ previous departments. The policy has caught the attention of some Loudoun towns. Purcellville Town Manager Robert W. Lohr Jr. said the Town Council has “talked seriously” about implementing a similar policy. “I definitely foresee the town moving in that direction,” Lohr said. “Training . . . has a very big impact on a small community.” Leesburg Police Chief Keith A. Stiles said he has delivered a copy of the county policy to town officials. “I would encourage the town of Leesburg to look at this,” Stiles said. lawenforcementjobsnow.net law enforcement jobs site law enforcement jobs

Maria Glod

Immigration and Naturalization Service v. Chadha 462 U.S. 919 (1983)

Encyclopedia of the American Constitution January 1, 2000 IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE v. CHADHA 462 U.S. 919 (1983) Immigration and Naturalization Service v. Chadha cast serious doubt on the use of the legislative veto, a device by which Congress seeks to retain control over the use of delegated powers. Chadha involved a provision in the immigration and nationality act that permitted either house of Congress, by resolution, to overturn orders of the attorney general suspending deportation of aliens. website immigration and naturalization

The Supreme Court held, 7???2, that congressional review of such cases was legislative in character, and was therefore subject to the provisions of Article I requiring the concurrence of both houses and an opportunity for the President to exercise his veto power before the resolution can have the force of law. The majority opinion, by Chief Justice warren e. burger, declared that the one-house legislative veto violated the constitutional principles of separation of powers and bicameralism. in our site immigration and naturalization

Justice byron r. white, dissenting, ascribed to the decision much greater scope than did the majority. White asserted that the Chadha decision effectively invalidated every legislative veto provision in federal law. A majority in future cases, however, may choose not to apply the Chadha rationale to two-house legislative vetoes or to legislative vetoes of agency actions that are clearly legislative rather than executive or quasi-judicial. It would be curious indeed if administrative agencies promulgating regulations with the force of law were freed from congressional oversight by a Court intent on preserving the separation of powers and bicameralism.

Dennis J. Mahoney (1986)

The Orchard Celebrates the Release of Mojo Nixon’s Latest Album.

Health & Beauty Close-Up November 1, 2009 In support and celebration of the release of Mojo Nixon’s latest album “Whiskey Rebellion,” The Orchard, a full service media company specializing in the distribution of music and video entertainment, on October 6 announced that Mojo’s entire catalog would be available to download at no cost, exclusively from Amazon MP3. amazon promotional code

Since this announcement, The Orchard reported that the promotion has led to more than one million downloads of Mojo’s music. The downloads were available at amazon.com/mojo until October 28th.

“The successful execution of this promotion has generated tremendous awareness for Mojo,” said Brad Navin, EVP and General Manager of The Orchard. “This is a showcase of how The Orchard, as a nimble and forward-thinking company, has the ability to orchestrate trendsetting promotions for our clients. The success of this promotion will be measured by its long-term benefits, not the short-term risks, and our expectation is that it will generate sales momentum.” Mojo Nixon’s current catalog includes 11 albums and 144 tracks. The downloads for this music during the two weeks of the Amazon promotional period amounted to a 23,000 percent increase from paid downloads across all digital retail networks in the United States during the first half of 2009. this web site amazon promotional code

Mojo Nixon is currently a full-time on-air personality on Sirius XM Satellite radio hosting a daily music show on the Outlaw Country channel, a weekly political talk show on the Raw Dog Comedy Channel and a weekly racing show on the NASCAR channel.

((Comments on this story may be sent to health@closeupmedia.com))

Thomson’s trims: Terminus? Chain clustering continues

NewsInc November 25, 1996 An agreement in principle for a three-way swap between Thomson, Hollinger and Cox for nine papers on Nov. 1 largely continued the current vogue of clustering among chains. web site greenville daily news

Hollinger left the deal with the lion’s share of readers, picking up Thomson’s Mt. Vernon, IL, Register-News, the Enid, OK, News & Eagle, and the St. Joseph, MI, Herald-Palladium. The papers’ total circulation is about 67,000.

“We viewed the papers separately and apart from synergies” with other Hollinger operations, said Ken Serota, Hollinger’s vice president of law and finance. That said, he added, the Mt. Vernon daily is close to Hollinger operations in southern Illinois, and the Enid daily fits neatly into the company’s belt of papers there.

Thomson, in turn, scored two of Hollinger’s Indiana dailies, the Greensburg Daily News and the Hartford City News-Times, as well a nearby twice-weekly, the Batesville Herald Tribune. In a press release, Thomson said those papers, with a combined circulation of about 12,000, will join the chain’s Indiana strategic marketing group of dailies located in Logansport, Kokomo, and Anderson.

Cox acquired Hollinger’s Tarboro, NC, Daily Southerner and Thomson’s Marshall, TX, News Messenger, with combined circulation of about 15,000. The latter fits in with Cox operations in Longview and Nacogdoches, and the former will fit in with the North Carolina group Cox began with its Greenville Daily Reflector acquisition (NewsInc., Jan. and continued when it swapped six Arizona papers for two of Thomson’s in North Carolina on Aug. 20 (NewsInc., Sept. 2).

The three-way deal also involved an undisclosed amount of cash.

“We’re trying to knit together clusters of papers that we think can serve good growth markets,” said Cox Newspapers president Jay Smith, in outlining the clustering strategy. Circulation of the papers in question “may on their own be 10,000 or 15,000, but if you can put enough together, that gives you the opportunity to sell ads to a much larger market and, potentially, to operate them a lot more efficiently.” The news followed on the heels of the Oct. 29 announcement that Thomson had reached an agreement in principle to sell three papers–the Petersburg, VA, Progress-Index, the Shamokin, PA, News-Item, and the Valley View, PA, Citizen-Standard–to the Lynett family that owns the Scranton, PA, Times. go to website greenville daily news

With these deals, and with 11 papers it sold to MediaNews and Ogden Newspapers earlier this fall, Thomson has dealt with 16 of the 29 non-strategic dailies it put up for sale or trade on Sept. 20 (NewsInc., Oct. 14).

According to Thomson president Dick Harrington, another announcement will follow shortly after you read this, probably around Nov. 30, when the company will make public further transactions from its sale list.

Following that forthcoming announcement, Harrington said, “all are accounted for except for nine, in the sense we’ve got agreed-upon prices and, most likely, letters of intent” to purchase the other remaining newspapers.

The other nine, Harrington added, “are in negotiations, but we haven’t finalized price or letters of intent.” Unrelated off-the-record talks with sources at other newspaper groups confirmed that at least two major chains are in negotiations with Thomson.

Though August’s Thomson-Cox swap featured unspecified other considerations as part of its terms, Smith said that, save for the cash Cox netted in that deal, there’s no connection between the two transactions. Those considerations, he said, may be made public by mid-December.

INDUSTRY 212: IN THE PARK.

WWD January 15, 2004 | Greenberg, Julee NEW YORK — Industry 212, held here at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center from Sunday to Tuesday, showcased an array of brands and a mix of markets.

Whether it was the newest bracelet from Rebel Designs or a trendy new T-shirt from Plain Jane, Industry 212 had a lot to offer buyers looking to fill their stores for summer. But it wasn’t just retailers walking the floor, as high schoolers on assignment browsed the aisles to learn about the business (and do some shopping when the teacher wasn’t looking). website oasis day spa

For many of the teens at the show, the first stop was a new resource out of Albany, N.Y., called House of Bimbo, a line of kitschy T-shirts and tank tops carrying sayings like “Boy Beater,” “I Am NY” and “Local Talent.” Owner Diva de Loayza allowed the teens to buy samples.

“It’s less to carry back home and they love to shop, so it’s great,” she said as she sold one brown baseball shirt with “Ghetto” plastered across the front.

“Only $15? OK,” said the teen shopper reaching for her wallet.

As de Loayza closed the sale, she explained that she started the company almost two years ago when she was attending Parsons School of Design here. She moved to her hometown of Albany to start House of Bimbo, which wholesales for $11 to $25. At this show, she said she was booking a lot of tanks and Ts in pink, and preppy polos in blue and pink. site oasis day spa

“There’s a lot of pink this season,” she said. “Everyone wants pink.” At young contemporary firm Blue Plate, long patchwork skirts were booking, as were short bandanna print skirts in pink and blue. Also booking were printed halters with beading detail and crochet dresses with drawstring waists. The Blue Plate collection wholesales for $20 to $30.

As for accessories, Seychelles was offering an array of styles, from black pointed flats to pink high heels and flip-flops.

“People are picking up a lot of pink this season,” said Kevin Morris, sales representative for the brand. “From open toe heels to ballerina flats, pink is the color.” Morris said retailers are looking to pick up shoes that go well with jeans, since they are selling so many.

“That’s what the girls are wearing, so we make the heels to wear with them,” he said.

Nearby, Rebel Designs was selling leather cuffs accented with crystals and antique brass. Wholesaling between $24 and $36.50, designer Gina Riley customizes each piece to the store, allowing for a choice among about 12 different crystals and leather colors.

But it wasn’t only the products buyers were looking to pick up. They took mini-breaks between appointments for a massage from the Oasis day spa, makeup reapplication from the Macy’s Herald Square Chanel counter and a smoothie from the smoothie bar. For those looking for some business advice, seminars were held throughout the three days, such as “Developing a Celebrity Following and Leveraging Its Benefits to Fuel Your Bottom Line” and “Color Therapy: Defining Your Retail Space Through Color.” Featuring more than 500 apparel and accessories exhibitors, Industry 212 showcased some of the fastest-growing segments of the marketplace. The show attracted more than 8,000 buyers from specialty and department stores, national chains, mass merchants and mail order and Internet sites, as well as buying offices.

Industry 212 is an affiliate of MAGIC International, a subsidiary of Advanstar Communications.

Greenberg, Julee

Weighty issue; Two new info packets address childhood obesity

Intelligencer Journal Lancaster, PA October 21, 2004 | Susan Lindt It’s just a couple pounds of baby fat. What can it hurt?

Plenty.

If you haven’t already gotten that message from the media blitz on childhood obesity, local health care providers are driving it home again on two fronts – at your doctor’s office and at your children’s school.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 64 percent of American adults are overweight, and 30 percent are obese. And along with that extra weight comes all the ailments obesity brings.

Nationally, 16 percent of children between ages 6 and 19 are overweight, an increase of more than 10 percent from just a decade ago.

When Highmark Blue Shield looked at the children it covers in central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley, the figures were more dire, with 32 percent overweight.

And for a health insurance company, the bottom line is the bottom line. If those children remain overweight into adulthood, it will cost considerably more to keep them healthy.

“(Obesity/overweight) is probably in the top five major problems we face as insurers,” said Dr. Brent O’Connell of Highmark Blue Shield. “Every system in the body is involved with obesity: cardiac, musculoskeletal, vascular. You’re dealing with people’s joints being replaced, cardiac disease, just about everything.” Despite the national trend, many doctors aren’t addressing the obesity problem with patients. In April, the CDC reported only 40 percent of physicians told obese patients to lose weight in 2000, a decrease from 1994, when 42.5 percent of doctors raised the issue with patients.

But it’s worth a doctor’s time to mention it. Patients who were advised to lose weight were nearly three times more likely to drop excess pounds than those who didn’t discuss weight with their doctor, according to the CDC report.

“(Doctors) should recognize that obesity, similar to hypertension and diabetes, is a chronic condition and, as such, requires continued follow-up,” CDC researcher Dr. Omer Abid said. “We need to investigate why advice from the health care profession is low.” In 1998, federal guidelines urged physicians to discuss weight with patients because obesity leads to major ailments, including diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, heart disease and some cancers. The CDC reported some physicians don’t feel they have the formal training to advise patients about weight loss and nutrition.

“I wish I could say with a straight face that they know all this stuff,” O’Connell said. “You would expect that. But with all the new technology and prescription drugs coming on the market, most of them are not up to date on nutrition and new treatments.” Highmark Blue Shield hopes to fill the gap in its participating physicians’ nutrition know-how and cut into childhood obesity figures with a packet it sent to more than 2,000 doctors in central Pennsylvania and Lehigh Valley.

“The way you take care of a problem like this is to educate the people who will be your customers down the road,” said O’Connell, who was a pediatrician for 20 years before joining Highmark. “If we can get kids to understand the importance of not being obese, it will pay off for us in the long run by having reduced numbers of obese patients with fewer complications down the road.” The physicians’ packet includes guidelines for treatment, prevention and self-help materials, a resource list, body mass index growth charts for boys and girls and a BMI calculator that uses height and weight measurements to determine if a child is proportionate, overweight or obese. here highmark blue shield

“(The packet) is a reminder to physicians of what they should be doing and how to do it,” O’Connell said.

The packets also include three versions of a poster physicians can hang showing a child at a healthy weight and the same child who appears slightly chubbier. Under each photo are the child’s statistics showing how a mere 6 pounds can dramatically change where he or she falls on the BMI scale and his or her risk for obesity- related illnesses.

Meanwhile, at Lancaster General, a similar packet is being developed for school nurses, who are mandated by the state Department of Health to record students’ BMI and send home results to their parents. While the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends all children’s BMI be measured yearly, some school and health officials worried how the information would be received by parents who may not understand BMI.

“At face value, I think (the packets) are a good thing, with obesity on the rise,” Conestoga Valley High School nurse Nancy Lopez said. “But just giving people information is not enough.” Lancaster General’s packet explains BMI, nutrition and lifestyle choices to parents and offers direction in curbing potential weight problems in their children.

“Our hope is that schools send our packet home to parents a week before the BMI results are sent home so parents have time to read the information,” said Alice Yoder, Lancaster General’s director of community health. “We’re also offering a free lecture series to schools about about BMI, the importance of physical activity, making healthy food choices and positive parenting. We’ll even offer parents a brief consultation after the program about what to do.” The Lancaster General packet uses principles from Shapedown, a weight-management program with a 20-plus-year track record for slimming down families by teaching nutrition, exercise and lifestyle modification.

Lancaster General started holding 10-week Shapedown classes more than a year ago, and the results have been so impressive, Highmark offered scholarships to help parents with the $350 cost. Lancaster General also successfully lobbied health insurance companies to reimburse families for the classes.

“The educational piece is so integral,” said registered nurse Rosemary Search of Lancaster General’s Education & Wellness Center. “That’s hard to measure sometimes, but you can see the results long term.” Getting back to basics could save lives and the nation’s health care system, which is suffering under the weight of obesity-related costs totaling $117 billion annually, according to Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson. go to web site highmark blue shield

“We need to find effective interventions to deal with this on multiple levels &tstr; the schools, at home, in the workplace – because clearly this is a major driver in terms of growth in health care spending,” said Kenneth Thorpe of Emory University, which conducted a 15-year study showing treatment of obese patients costs 37 percent more than treating those in normal weight ranges. The difference costs the health care system an extra $301 per person.

Insurers are beginning to step up prevention efforts, which prove less costly than treating obesity-related conditions.

In July, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which runs the health program for elderly and disabled Americans, changed policy and paved the way for millions of overweight Americans to make medical claims for obesity treatment. Many private health insurers are expected to follow suit, and North Carolina’s largest health insurance company already has.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina announced this week the most comprehensive package ever offered to prevent and treat overweight and obesity. The company already covers weight-loss surgery, but now it also pays for four annual doctor visits specifically to assess a patient’s weight and provide treatment, nutritional counseling sessions with dietitians and two prescription diet drugs for those who already are overweight.

For more information about Lancaster General’s ongoing Shapedown programs for children between 5 and 17, including scholarship applications, call 544-3145.

Susan Lindt