blog56: March 2012

Thursday, 15 March 2012

Gold up

Gold for current delivery closed at $967.00 per troy ounce Tuesday on the New York Mercantile Exchange, …

Caroline of Monaco, Swedish king, queen give U.S. royal look

Princess Caroline of Monaco on Wednesday doused speculation sheis again pregnant.

The princess held court with the news media in Miami in thetwo-story presidential suite atop the Hotel Inter-Continental. Sheis in Miami for a fund-raising gala supporting ballet companies thereand in Monaco.

When a reporter asked whether she was pregnant again, she said:"Not that I know of." She and her second husband, businessmanStefano Casiraghi, have three children.

"I just had the last one seven months ago, …

Judge declares mistrial in case of teen who gunned down gay student in Southern Calif. class

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Judge declares mistrial in case of …

Wednesday, 14 March 2012

Hosp crashes, out for season with knee injury

Former overall World Cup winner Nicole Hosp will miss the rest of the season after crashing and injuring her right knee in the opening race.

The Austrian team says Hosp was airlifted by helicopter Saturday off the Rettenbach glacier to a hospital in nearby Innsbruck, where she had ligament surgery on her right knee.

Hosp lost control on the upper section of the giant slalom course and slid downhill headfirst for about 50 yards before coming to a stop.

In January, the 2007 overall winner broke the upper part of her shinbone and tore ligaments in her left knee in a crash in Zagreb, Croatia.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS …

Twins whip Tigers,

Luke Hughes hit two home runs and Jason Kubel added a third, and the Minnesota Twins broke out of their weeklong hitting funk with an 11-4 victory Sunday against the visiting Detroit Tigers.

Hughes drove in five runs for the first time in his career to help the Twins end a seven-game losing streak. They had scored only nine runs in their previous seven games before breaking out.

Brad Penny was roughed up for seven runs, eight hits and two walks in five innings as the American League Central-leading Tigers fell to 52-52 when 20-game winner Justin Verlander doesn't start. They are 21-8 when he does.

Chen, Royals top Indians

Bruce Chen yielded one run and five …

Failed Banks

52-53 - Ameris Bank, Moultrie, Ga, has acquired the banking operations, including all the deposits, of High Trust Bank, Stockbridge, Ga., and One Georgia Bank, Atlanta. The two banks were closed July 15 by state regulators. The FDIC and Ameris Bank entered into loss-share transactions on the failed banks' assets. The loss-share transaction for High Trust Bank was $164.8 million, and the loss-share transaction for One Georgia Bank was $146.3 million. The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund for High Trust Bank will be $66 million and for One Georgia Bank, $44.4 million.

54 - First Peoples Bank, Port Saint Lucie, FIa., was closed by the Florida Office of …

Desperate Housewives star dishes up Frostys, fries

Eva Longoria Parker took time to dish out Frostys and french fries at a Wendy's on Tuesday. The "Desperate Housewives" star worked the drive-thru at the restaurant to help kick off the Father's Day Frosty Weekend, an event that donates 50 cents for every Frosty sold to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and its signature program …

Fly-over and out!

Transport bosses have called for one and the public are cryingout for one.

But today council chiefs said there was no way they wouldconsider a flyover at the Haudagain roundabout.

The move came after the Evening Express revealed that transportgroup Nestrans wanted a flyover or a third bridge over the Don tocut congestion.

But today deputy council leader Kevin Stewart said building aflyover would involve even greater delays.

He said: "The alternative of taking the entire project back tosquare one, reviewing our objectives and going through theassessment processes, is not one that appeals.

"That would add years to the process of identifying a …

Jackson pushes for voter registration

So, what is Jesse Jackson up to these days?

Name a progressive cause, and Jackson likely supports it. While his days of running for president are Iong gone, Jackson remains an influential political voice, and he plans to direct his energies toward turning out the vote in communities of color for the coming presidential election.

During an address before a packed house of over 250 at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government last week, Jackson, whose Rainbow/PUSH Coalition helped register millions of voters of color during his failed runs for president in 1984 and 1988, emphasized the need for more African Americans to participate in the political …

Fitch lowers credit outlook on emerging economies

Fitch Ratings on Monday lowered the sovereign credit rating outlooks for six emerging market economies to reflect higher risks to creditworthiness stemming from the global financial crisis and economic slowdown.

The outlooks on the long-term foreign currency ratings for South Korea, Mexico, Russia and South Africa, were revised down to "negative" from "stable," Fitch, one of the three major international credit ratings agencies, said in a release. A negative outlook means there is a greater chance of the actual credit rating being downgraded.

Outlooks on Chile and Malaysia, meanwhile, were lowered to "stable" from …

A vintage take on Christmas

VINTAGE decadence and festive merriment will come together at theChristmas Hooga Boutique on December 17, 2-7pm at 16 Victoria Road -a must-visit for lovers of all things seasonal and retro.

From mulled wine and baked goods to burlesque performances andart installations, it promises to be fun-filled afternoon foreveryone. And all for the small donation price of Pounds 1. Like thesound of it? Read on... The combined resources of Hooga, Truly MadlyVintage and Hetty Rose Hand Made Shoes generate a wonderfullyeclectic collection, whether it's bespoke heels, tasty chutneys or atweed dinner suit you're after - a fantastic opportunity to pick upsome unique Christmas …

Donny and Marie Osmond to bring songs to Broadway

NEW YORK (AP) — He's a little bit rock 'n' roll, she's a little bit country. Together, they're going to be a whole lot of Broadway.

Donny and Marie Osmond will be appearing in a Christmas show at the Marriott Marquis Theatre starting Dec. 9. The 12-performance run ends Dec. 19.

The show, titled "Donny & Marie — A Broadway Christmas," marks the first time the …

Window Cleaner

Education and Training: None

Salary: Median—$18,790 per year

Employment Outlook: Good

Definition and Nature of the Work

Window cleaners wash and dry glass surfaces on the insides and outsides of buildings. They usually work for window cleaning companies or for building maintenance firms that do many different kinds of cleaning. Large business and industrial firms often hire window cleaners as permanent employees. Some window cleaners have their own businesses.

Window cleaners wash glass surfaces in private homes, offices, and many other kinds of buildings. In addition to windows, they often wash glass partitions, mirrors, and other glass surfaces. Window cleaners use brushes, sponges, or wet cloths to apply soapy water or other cleaning solutions to the surfaces. They dry the wet glass with a cloth, chamois skin, or squeegee. When they work on windows above the ground floor, window cleaners use scaffolding, ladders, or special swinging seats. They sometimes crawl through windows from the inside and support themselves with safety belts hooked to brackets.

Education and Training Requirements

There are no specific educational requirements for window cleaners. Prospective window cleaners must be at least eighteen years old. Interested individuals can learn window cleaning on the job. Some employers give new workers a short demonstration of how to clean windows. Others offer supervised training for several weeks. Unions usually require an apprenticeship lasting six months or more. Training programs teach prospective workers about the different cleaning solutions, how to set up scaffolding, how to use belts and ladders safely, and how to use cleaning equipment properly.

Getting the Job

Interested candidates can get a job as a window cleaner by applying directly to window cleaning companies, building maintenance companies, or large business or industrial firms that hire window cleaners as permanent employees. Some job openings can be found in newspaper classifieds. State and private employment agencies may also be helpful in finding a job.

Advancement Possibilities and Employment Outlook

Experienced workers can become supervisors in large window cleaning companies. Some window cleaners go into business for themselves. Starting a window cleaning business requires a small investment in tools and equipment. There will continue to be a demand for building construction, so the employment outlook is expected to be good through the year 2014. There will also be job openings to replace workers who leave the field.

Working Conditions

Window cleaners work indoors and outdoors, sometimes in bad weather. Their work requires them to stoop, kneel, climb, and reach. Window cleaners do repetitive work. They must have good balance and not be afraid of heights. There is some risk of injury from slipping on wet surfaces and falling from ladders, scaffolding, and window ledges. However, such accidents are not common. Window cleaners must also lift heavy equipment. They may work alone or in teams. They usually work thirty-five to forty hours a week. Many window cleaners belong to unions.

Where to Go for More Information

Building Service Contractors Association International
10201 Lee Hwy., Ste. 225
Fairfax, VA 22030
(800) 368-3414
http://www.bscai.org

Cleaning Management Institute
13 Century Hill Dr.
Latham, NY 12110
(518) 783-1281
http://www.cminstitute.net

Service Employees International Union
1313 L St. NW
Washington, DC 20005
(800) 424-8592
http://www.seiu.org

Earnings and Benefits

Beginning window cleaners in some cities earn the minimum wage. Experienced window cleaners earn a median salary of $18,790 per year. Window cleaners who work at great heights and those who use scaffolding, ladders, and safety belts usually receive higher wages because of the greater risk of injury. Benefits that are provided by employers usually include paid vacations and holidays, health insurance, and pension plans.

Tuesday, 13 March 2012

Orphans, widows rally in Baghdad for govt help

BAGHDAD (AP) — Hundreds of orphans and widows marched in downtown Baghdad on Saturday, calling on the Iraqi government to take care of them. In the Kurdish north, students demanded an apology over a deadly shooting at a protest earlier this week.

The uprisings sweeping the Middle East have galvanized many in Iraq, one of the rare democracies in the region, to demand better services from their leaders. The demonstrations in the capital and the northern city of Sulaimaniyah were peaceful but five protesters were killed in protests earlier this week.

About 1,500 people rallied in Baghdad in a demonstration organized by non-governmental organizations looking to highlight the plight of some of Iraq's most vulnerable citizens.

The hundreds of thousands of women who lost their husbands in wars over the decades or children who have lost parents are particularly vulnerable.

One of those in attendance was 9-year-old Ahmed Nasir, who lost his father in 2006 in a roadside bombing in western Baghdad.

"We have seven children at home," he said. "My mother takes care of us by sewing clothes, and we have no salary."

In a statement, the organizations behind the demonstration said they want the government to give each orphan a monthly stipend.

At the University of Sulaimaniyah, in the city of the same name, university students rallied to demand that the president of the Kurdish region, Massoud Barzani, apologize for a deadly protest earlier this week in which two people were killed and dozens injured.

On Thursday, hundreds of protesters had demonstrated in front of the offices of Barzani's Kurdistan Democratic Party in Sulaimaniyah, 160 miles (260 kilometers) northeast of Baghdad. They pelted the building with stones, and Kurdish guards on top of the building opened fire.

Officials from the KDP say their guards were forced to defend themselves from the crowd, and Barzani has appealed for calm.

The demonstrators were angry with the tight grip with which the two main ruling parties in the Kurdish north dominate the region and its economy.

Associated Press writer Yahya Barzanji contributed to this report from Sulaimaniyah.

Business Brief

U.S. JOBLESS CLAIMS HIT 6-YEAR HIGH

The nation's jobs market sent a fresh cry of distress as the number of newly laid off people unexpectedly hit the highest level in more than six years, a Labor Department report showed Thursday. New applications filed for unemployment benefits rose last week by a seasonally adjusted 7,000 to 455,000, the department said in its weekly report. That was the most since late March 2002, when the job market was struggling mightily to get back on its feet after the 2001 recession.

RETAIL SALES TAKE A BEATING

The outlook for the back-to-school shopping season seemed grim Thursday, as retailers' July sales reports showed an increasing shift toward buying necessities like food and household supplies at discounters and away from discretionary spending on clothing. With the benefits of the government stimulus checks fading and jobless claims at a 6-year high, the big worry is how much shoppers -- squeezed by high gas and food prices -- will retrench in the critical months ahead.

DOW LOSES 225 POINTS

Wall Street tumbled Thursday as further troubles in the financial sector, higher unemployment and lackluster retail sales touched off fresh concerns about the economy. The Dow Jones industrials skidded nearly 225 points, while bond prices shot higher as investors once again sought the safety of government debt. The stock market's pullback erased most of the 370-point gain the Dow logged the prior two sessions and shows the lack of solid conviction behind many of investors' recent bets. The Dow fell to 11,431.43.

OIL BACK OVER $120 A BARREL

Oil prices jumped back above $120 a barrel Thursday, halting a steep three-day slide after Kurdish rebels claimed responsibility for a fire at key Turkish pipeline that supplies Western countries.

Light, sweet crude for September delivery rose $1.44 to settle at $120.02 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, after prices alternated between positive and negative territory.

BLOCKBUSTER LOSES $44.7M

Blockbuster Inc. suffered another loss in the second quarter ($44.7 million, or 23 cents per share) but the movie-rental chain showed signs of progress by wringing more revenue from its stores while lowering its costs. Heartened by its rising sales, Blockbuster modestly raised its outlook and predicted it would produce a profit of $21 million to $36 million for the entire year. Blockbuster shares shed 31 cents, or nearly 10 percent, to finish Thursday at $2.88.

Photo: Paul Sakuma, AP / A couple walks into a Blockbuster in Palo Alto, Calif., Thursday. The chain is optimistic despite its heavy second-quarter loss. ;

Police: 2nd Sheen car taken, rolled off LA cliff

For the second time in five months, a Mercedes-Benz owned by Charlie Sheen was stolen and sent off Mulholland Drive near his Santa Monica Mountains home, authorities said Tuesday.

Firefighters responding to a report of a traffic accident found the silver, 2010 Mercedes S600 about 100 feet (30 meters) down a brushy ravine about 3 a.m., Fire Department spokesman Eric Scott said.

The car was running and its lights were on. Nobody was inside, and it showed no signs of forced entry, authorities said.

Sheen's publicist Stan Rosenfield said he believed the keys were in the ignition, but police would not confirm that information. Rosenfield declined to comment further, citing the ongoing police investigation.

Someone apparently took the luxury car from Sheen's driveway, where it was parked Monday, and the star of TV's "Two and a Half Men" didn't know it was missing, police Officer Norma Eisenman said.

Officers impounded the vehicle to fingerprint it, she said.

The car was found in the same area off Mulholland Drive where another Mercedes owned by Sheen was found on Feb. 5.

The black, four-door car apparently was stolen from Sheen's garage and pushed or driven over the cliff, where it came to rest upside down. Sheen had left the keys inside.

A Bentley was later found off the same road. Police said they received reports of three other car break-ins in the area.

No arrests have been made.

Famed Mulholland Drive winds along the top of the Santa Monica Mountains through the tony ridge and canyon neighborhoods overlooking the city.

Archie Kapp, a neighbor of Sheen, told KTLA-TV he thinks both cars were taken by the same thieves.

"When they bring it here, they know the spot. They know exactly where they're going and they say 'Hasta la vista, baby,' and it's gone," Kapp said.

Claremont: An emerging city

City Hall: 58 Tremont Square 03743

603-542-7030

Population (2005 projection): 13,290

Tax Rate (2004): $36.71

Housing Costs (2004 median): $119,900

Largest Employers: Crown Point Cabinetry, Customized Structures, Valley Regional Hospital

Historic Fact: Home to NH's first Roman Catholic church. (St, Mary's was built in 1823.)

Transportation Infrastructure: Access to Interstate 91 in Vermont, Claremont Municipal Airport and an Amtrak station. The city is a stop for The Vermonter, which runs from St. Albans, Vt. to Washington D.C.

Amenities: The Arrowhead Ski Area offers downhill skiing, snowboarding, cross country trails. and tubing. The Claremont Opera House, a venerable institution in the city, offers a variety of cultural programs and entertainment throughout the year. The city also has several parks and both outdoor and indoor public swimming pools. The city received a $650,000 anonymous donation and will use the funds to build a new track and sports complex.

For 40 years, Claremont's once-thriving mill district lay dormant - the empty buildings a reminder of the city's bygone heyday. As the years went by, the city saw other major employers shut their doors, including Joy Manufacturing and Tambrands.

Claremont became better known as the center of the education funding battle than for its economy. However, with millions of development dollars now flowing into the city, that image is changing for the better.

"Claremont is an emerging city," says Nancy Merrill, business development coordinator for Claremont's Planning and Development Department, explaining that not only are new businesses opening, but existing ones are expanding as well. The bulk of those redevelopment dollars are pouring into the city's mill district. Three mill buildings will soon undergo radical changes as private developers plan to breathe new life into them.

The Return of the Mills

Last summer, the city sent out requests for developers' proposals for the mill buildings and by October, the city council approved three projects from among several submitted proposals.

The city inked a deal with John Illick, a developer from South Burlington, Vt., to develop the Peterson Building into 47 market-rate condominiums, which Merrill says will sell between $185,000 and $285,000 apiece. Illick plans to invest upwards of $8 million in rehabilitation of the building, which will be called Sugar River Mills.

The city also finalized a deal that will convert the Woven Label Building into the site of a new Common Man Restaurant. That redevelopment is being spearheaded by two of the state's hospitality giants - Alex Ray and Rusty McLear. The Wainshal Building will be converted into office and mixed-used space. That deal was still under negotiation as of late-April.

"This will put these buildings back on the tax rolls. They will generate significant revenues and create new jobs," Merrill says. Construction on all three projects is expected to begin in October. In total, 140,000 square feet of former commercial space will be redeveloped.

Expansions and Redevelopment

The signs of Claremont's economic rebirth seem to be everywhere. The city's industrial section along River Road has experienced a flurry of activity. Crown Point Cabinetry, which creates custom cabinets, moved to a 100,000-square-foot facility on River Road in February - tripling in size from its former location, Merrill says. Customized Structures expanded from a 77,000-square-foot facility to 250,000 square feet, creating an additional 100 jobs.

The former Monadnock Forest Products facility that closed nearly two years ago was recently bought by Bradford Forest Products, which was expected to be in full production in May with 37 employees. Mikros Manufacturing moved to River Road from Lebanon two years ago and is expecting to expand this year, Merrill says.

The downtown area is also seeing businesses expand. Mans Subaru is building a $2 million, 14,000-square-foot building and Claremont Savings Bank is building a 40,000-square-foot facility on Broad Street. The Monadnock Economic Development Corporation is investing $2.5 million to develop the Brown Block, which sits in the heart of the city's downtown. The project will create retail space on the lower level and apartments in the upper level.

"Businesses are ready to expand," says Ruth Preston, executive director of the Greater Claremont Chamber of Commerce.

Attracting New Business

Less than five miles from downtown, the city has a thriving retail section with a mix of local, regional and national big box stores. A new, 185,000-square-foot Home Depot opened in April and Lowe's received approval to build a 200,000-squarefoot store. The city's growing retail sector is attracting shoppers from outside the region. "About 40 percent of our retail business comes from Vermont," Merrill says.

Claremont also has two industrial parks, including Syd Clarke a 120-acre industrial park with 13 lots. The city began construction in April to bring roads, power and sewer to the lots so they will be available for construction by September, Merrill says.

Chamber Initiatives

The Claremont Chamber is actively working to help its members overcome business obstacles, including organizing a meeting with local manufacturers to discuss the problem they are experiencing with trying to fill vacant positions. "We want to help pair them with schools and training programs," Preston says.

Cubs 8, Padres 5

7Cubs 8, Padres 5
SAN DIEGO @ CHICAGO @
ab r h bi @ab r h bi
Hirston cf 5 1 1 0 ASrano lf 5 1 2 3
Iguchi 2b 5 0 2 3 Theriot ss 4 1 2 0
Giles rf 4 0 0 0 DLee 1b 5 0 0 0
AdGzlz 1b 3 1 0 0 ArRmz 3b 5 1 2 1
Kzmnff 3b 4 0 1 0 Fkdme rf 5 2 3 0
Greene ss 3 0 0 1 Soto c 4 1 2 3
JHuber lf 3 1 1 0 Derosa 2b 4 1 2 0
Corey p 0 0 0 0 ReJnsn cf 3 1 1 1
Grmno p 0 0 0 0 Lilly p 2 0 0 0
TClark ph 1 1 1 0 Mrmol p 0 0 0 0
Bard c 4 1 2 0 KWood p 0 0 0 0
Peavy p 1 0 1 0
EGnzlz ph 1 0 0 0
Ldzma p 0 0 0 0
Gerut cf 1 0 0 0
Totals @ 35 5 9 4 Totals @37 8 14 8
San Diego 000 031 001_5
Chicago 121 021 10x_8
LOB_San Diego 7, Chicago 9. 2B_Kouzmanoff (7), Bard (7), ArRamirez (11), Fukudome (11), ReJohnson (6). HR_ASoriano (6), Soto (7). S_Lilly, Marmol. SF_Greene.
IP H R ER BB SO
San Diego @
Peavy L,4-3 4 7 4 4 2 8
Ledezma 1 2-3 5 3 3 0 1
Corey 1 1-3 2 1 1 0 0
Germano 1 0 0 0 0 0
Chicago @
Lilly W,4-4 6 6 4 4 1 11
Marmol 2 0 0 0 0 3
KWood 1 3 1 1 1 1
HBP_by Lilly (AdGonzalez). WP_Peavy, Corey, Lilly.
Umpires_Home, Hunter Wendelstedt	First, Brian Knight	Second, Marvin Hudson	Third, Tom Hallion.
T_2:51. A_39,650 (41,160).

Storm Rally From 22 Down to Cool Comets

SEATTLE - Opening night and the Seattle Storm has already set a lofty precedent on exhilarating comebacks. Down 22 points with 15 minutes to play, Seattle put together one of the most stirring rallies in franchise history to shock the Houston Comets 82-69 on Saturday night.

With team owner Clay Bennett watching from a luxury box, Seattle closed the game on a 44-9 run that left the Comets stunned and the Storm searching to describe the drastic reversal.

Iziane Castro Marques led Seattle with 25 points, and Betty Lennox scored 13 of her 15 points in the second half to key the win.

"I looked out there and we were going down 15, 17, 22 and we just looked shell shocked," Storm coach Anne Donovan said. "Then all of a sudden one basket here, one stop there and just kept building on it."

The turnaround was staggering and sudden, and ruined Karleen Thompson's debut as just the second coach in Houston's history.

Houston held Seattle without a field goal for the first five minutes of the third quarter, starting the second half on a 14-1 run that gave the Comets a 60-38 lead on rookie Ashley Shields' two free throws with 5:20 left in the quarter.

Thompson seemed well on her way to win No. 1, replacing coach Van Chancellor, who resigned in January and then took the head coaching job at LSU in April.

Suddenly, the shots stopped falling for Houston, and Seattle's sputtering offense kicked into gear.

"You can't give them the opportunity to make runs like that," Thompson said.

The shift started with Lauren Jackson's 4-foot turnaround at the 5-minute mark of the third quarter. Seattle continued to chip away and got the deficit into single digits at 62-54 on Lennox's driving layup to close the third quarter.

Lennox didn't stop there, scoring seven straight midway through the fourth, capping her run with a step-back 17-footer to trim the deficit to 66-65. On Seattle's next possession, Sue Bird, who made just 3-of-11 shots, sprinted down the lane and her left-handed layup with 3:56 left gave the Storm the lead for good.

"I knew at the end it would come for me," Lennox said. "Then it's my time to shine at the end, whether it's a rebound or getting a big defensive stop or scoring points."

Jackson finished with 23 points and nine rebounds, including a half-court shot to end the game. Castro Marques was Seattle's offense in the first half, scoring 18 points and making 6 of 8 shots before halftime.

"For the first game of the season and the way we played after that run in the third quarter, it was pretty amazing," Jackson said.

Shields led Houston with 19 points, but made just 1 of 9 shots in the second half. Michelle Snow added 16 and Sheryl Swoopes scored 15.

Houston nearly went scoreless the final six minutes. Hamchetou Maiga-Ba made an uncontested layup with 33 seconds left, the Comets' first points since Swoopes' basket at the 6-minute mark. Houston made just 3 of 16 shots in the fourth quarter and shot just 28 percent in the second half.

"We kind of relaxed in the second half and let them get back in the game," Shields said. "I guess we'll learn from our mistakes."

Going the Extra Mile For Cabdriver Safety

The latest wave of violence against Chicago cabdrivers isspurring long-overdue action, with the city ordering taxi companiesto take aggressive steps to improve driver safety.

Drivers also are demanding better protection, although they arenot unified on which steps would be most helpful.

The city wisely has taken the first step. Caroline O.Schoenberger, commissioner of consumer services, ordered cab firms toseriously consider measures to ensure better personal safety, or facemandatory regulations from the city.

It was a stronger warning than one she delivered last October,when she "encouraged" the cab industry to devise voluntary safetyprograms after three cabdrivers were shot in one weekend.

Now, with two cabdrivers having been killed in the last threeweeks, the commissioner is using tougher language. She should be,and Yellow and Checker bosses better be listening.

As a start, all parties should resolve long-running differenceson the effectiveness of bulletproof shields. Some drivers stronglydesire them, others (purportedly a majority) don't. The cabcompanies easily could install them in some of their leased cabs fordrivers who want them. Costs would not be prohibitive.

A state law once required the shields in all city cabs, but itwas ruled unconstitutional because it applied only to Chicago. Thereis no reason they cannot be installed voluntarily.

But bulletproof shields are only one of the options.Shoenberger is asking cab companies to look at other possibilities aswell, devices whose utility has been demonstrated in other bigcities.

Among them are "highjack lights" activated by drivers in trouble(a variation of "panic alarm" systems), cab locator systems,bulletproof side windows, and tray-like containers that are passedthrough partitions, like those at some bank teller windows, forexchanging money between drivers and passengers.

As the taxi industry says, there is no panacea to guaranteedriver protection. But there are numerous ways to improve theirpersonal safety. Let's find them. Let's adopt them.

Thousands in Mass. Town Voting on Casino

MIDDLEBOROUGH, Mass. - A crowd big enough to fill a pro sports arena is expected here Saturday for that quintessential rural New England event, the Town Meeting.

Generally no more than a few hundred people attend such meetings, even on hot issues, but officials are preparing for three-quarters of this town of 20,000 to show up. Residents will be marking paper ballots on whether to accept a deal with an Indian tribe to build a $1 billion casino.

"It's direct democracy, how could you beat it?" said Jessie Powell, an opponent of the plan. "It allows people to have a voice in how their town is governed."

There's no place to hold a crowd that big in this rural but growing community about 45 miles south of Boston, so the meeting will look more like a college commencement - held on athletic fields behind the high school.

There will be no parking allowed nearby. Buses will shuttle voters to and from various locations around town. People are being advised to bring binoculars, folding chairs, and snacks. The meeting opens at 11 a.m., but residents are being urged to arrive up to three hours early.

The issue is whether to sign a deal with the recently recognized Mashpee Wampanoag tribe to host a casino - should casino gaming become legal in Massachusetts.

"This will alter the town," Powell said during lunch at Nathan's Place on North Main Street. She has been going to her neighbors' houses to try to persuade them to vote no.

Town officials need Town Meeting approval of a contract with the tribe that would pay Middleborough $11 million per year, among other benefits, in exchange for hosting a resort casino and supporting the tribe's efforts to win state approval.

Gov. Deval Patrick has not said if he would support legalizing casino gaming in Massachusetts, and state Treasurer Tim Cahill has said Middleborough's vote is in some ways "a hypothetical exercise." He also said he didn't think the town would get a big enough cut under the current deal.

Tribe spokeswoman Amy Lambiaso said they are optimistic the residents will support the proposal.

"Middleborough is the ideal location because of the tribe's historical roots there," she said, declining to specify whether the tribe would give up on Middleborough if they lose the vote. "We'll continue talking to town leaders."

Even without state approval, the tribe by virtue of being federally recognized could operate bingo parlors in Middleborough because it's within 50 miles of its tribal home on Cape Cod.

So some supporters, like Nathan's Place manager Sue Glendye, will vote for the agreement, figuring the town should cash in while it can.

"They're going to build it whether the town wants it or not," Glendye said. "I think the Wampanoags are being very generous, actually. They're make a very good deal for the town. The town needs it."

Town Meetings date back to the creation of Massachusetts towns in the 1630s, said Peter Drummey, librarian at the Massachusetts Historical Society. The sessions typically were limited to a handful of male landowners who made decisions for the village.

Saturday's meeting is shaping up to be one for the history books.

Roger Brunelle, the town's information technology director, is handling logistics and is responsible for everything from portable toilets to sound checks on the field for the meeting. Total cost to the town: $100,000.

He likened security and logistics to a visit by a head of state.

"I've never had a presidential visit, but I've seen them on TV," he said. "They weld down manhole covers. We don't have manhole covers."

Monday, 12 March 2012

Big bang

Caption only.

New communications management, internet call center and message-on-hold products

1998

C@LL CENTER

Solutions

Communications Management Platform From Syntellect

Keeping diverse communications functions working properly within a complex call center network can be a nightmare born of legacy back-end servers that are unable to communicate with one another. To address this problem, Syntellect has designed Vista, an open-standards-based interactive communications management (ICM) software platform designed for enterprise customer call centers. Vista's architecture adheres to open standards and integrates all call center technologies, including third-generation interactive voice response (IVR), interactive Web response (IWR), predictive dialing, computer-telephony integration (CTI), fax-ondemand, speech recognition and agent desktop productivity tools.

Vista's scalable client/server architecture places specific call center functions on dedicated servers to provide full utilization of computer-telephony functions. Companies with large or multiple call centers can configure the software to reside on multiple or networked servers and small companies can have all systems on one computer. Designed to run on Microsoft's Windows NT operating platform, Vista is also based on Microsoft's Web-based Enterprise Management (WEBM) architecture. Other open components of Vista include Java application development engine, Dialogic CT Media, Sybase database and Intel-based computer hardware.

The VistaGen graphical and objectoriented applications generator is based on easy-to-use wizards, allowing nonprogrammers to develop, manage and maintain applications for multiple call center technologies such as IVR, CTI, Web or Agent Desktops from a single tool. VistaGen's Java programming language allows the rapid development of robust feature sets for complex call center applications.

VistaView is a thin-client, browserbased systems management, configuration, administration and reporting tool. Using VistaView, companies can manage their call center implementations from a single location using an Internet Web browser regardless of whether the Vista servers are deployed at a single site or scattered in multiple graphic locations.

Syntellect's chairman and CEO Larry Bradner announced that Syntellect is seeking alliances with select niche vendors and distribution partners in key areas such as Internet banking, human resources and electronic commerce. Using Vista, the back-end application containing the business logic involved in obtaining, for example, account information or processing a merchandise order is the same whether the consumer uses the telephone or a Web browser to initiate the transaction. If changes are made to a host or database system, only the Vista back-end application needs to be changed, while the Internet and telephone front-end applications are unaffected.

For more information, contact Susan Harmon at 800-347-9907 or see www.syntellect.com.

Circle No. 500 on Reader Service Card

Web center 2.0 From Acuity

As more companies are providing their customers online possibilities for interacting with them, managing the increasing flood of Web commerce is becoming more difficult, but also opening up possibilities for corporations to provide customers with opportunities to use the Web for self-help, thus reducing customer service costs to the corporation. Acuity Corporation (formerly ichat) has released version 2 of WebCenter, designed to provide companies with a comprehensive Web call center solution that integrates with existing technologies.

WebCenter consists of three modules that can be run as a stand-alone solution or integrated with third-party customer service or e-commerce systems. The Web Response Unit (WRU) enables interactive self-service, including knowledge base searches and moderated FAQ (frequently asked questions) inquiries. If customers need further help only a live agent can provide, the WebCenter WebACD queues and routes help requests based on Internet-centric attributes such as the customer's identity, their DataWake (URL trail) and agents' knowledge levels or multitasking productivity patterns. The WebACD initiates connections to the WebCenter Communications Interface Unit (CIU), which manages multiple forms of live interaction, including live text conferencing, browser synchronization, IP telephony, circuit-switched integration with legacy phone systems, and email. WebCenter is built upon Acuity's Real-Time Enterprise (RTE) platform, which acts like an application-layer PBX, maintains tens of thousands simultaneous, real-time, TCP/IP connections.

WebCenter provides a variety of browsable and searchable self-help options through its WRU, helping to keep customer support agents free to handle more complicated inquiries, premium customers or sales opportunities. Dynamic FAQ and knowledge base searching capabilities make it easy for customers to find answers to product questions, order status or trouble ticket progress.

If customers cannot find the answers they are searching for themselves, WebCenter's automated e-mail routing and response capabilities provide a medium for timely response in conjunction with escalation to a live agent if the question is unrecognized.

WebCenter's WebACD will route a request for a live agent to the appropriate agent or group based on customizable business rules and attributes such as customer profile, agent availability and question urgency. The CIU gives the agent and the customer multiple options for live interactions, including text-based conferencing, synchronized browser screens, phone callback, and voice and videoconferencing.

After the live help session is complete, customer and session data can be automatically stored in a third-party customer management system, posted in the organization's knowledge base for future self-service sessions and, when requested, e-mailed to the customer. WebCenter also offers reporting and logging capabilities for both live and historical performance monitoring and analysis.

For more information, call Ashley Lemarie at 512-425-2246 or see www.acuity.com.

Circle No. 501 on Reader Service Card

Messageon-Hold PMd&cts from

MetaSound

Every time a caller is put on hold, a company is presented with an opportunity to not only inform the caller how long the expected hold will be, but to also inform the caller about the latest product or sale information. MetaSound Systems, Inc. has released two new message-on-hold products designed to fill the needs of small and large companies.

The PromoCast DXA is an entrylevel message-on-hold player that uses flash memory to store audio broadcasts for playback. Audio broadcasts, including promotional and informative messages and licensed music, are recorded onto a CD or cassette tape, then loaded into the DXA via an external audio input port. The user then pushes the record button, adjusts the sound and plays the broadcast into the DXA, where it is stored in digital memory. The DXA can be plugged into the music- or message-on-hold port of telephone key or PBX systems. It may also be used with a digital or analog 2- or 4line telephone equipped with an onhold switch. The DXA includes courtesy messages and licensed music stored in nonvolatile flash memory (in 5- or 10-minute production options), a CD offering a selection of various courtesy messages (in both English and Spanish).

The PromoCast DDI is a digital download (DDL) player. It offers the same internal flash memory (5 or 10 minutes), and supports the same electronic downloading of digital broadcasts as is offered by MetaSound Systems' PromoCast ProPlus (MS5000). The PromoCast DDL supports the electronic distribution of promotional messages and licensed music productions. Productions may be easily distributed to geographically dispersed sites by modem over ordinary telephone lines, be downloaded from a Web site or sent by attachment to an email. The DDL also accepts audio input of a broadcast via the audio input port.

For more information, call 800-2762322 or see www.metasound.com. Circle No. 502 on Reader Service Card

BC-BKN--NBA Standings, BKN

BC-BKN--NBA Standings,0318

US forces kill 9, detain 8 suspected insurgents in raid to disrupt al-Qaida in northern Iraq

U.S. and Iraqi forces killed nine suspected insurgents and detained eight others in a raid targeting al-Qaida in northern Iraq, the U.S. military said Thursday. Three Iraqi troops were killed in the operation.

The Tal Afar Special Weapons and Tactics team, made up of U.S. forces and Iraqi SWAT teams, on Sunday targeted a cell responsible for assassinations and bombing attacks in the Tal Afar area in Iraq's Ninevah province, the military said in a statement.

During the raid, several fighters opened a barrage of gunfire at the Iraqi and U.S. troops, killing the three Iraqi soldiers and wounding three others.

In the ensuing gunfight, the U.S.-Iraqi team killed nine suspected insurgents. Three Iraqi civilians were wounded and treated at the scene and eight suspected cell members were detained for questioning, including two who were wounded and evacuated to a military hospital for treatment, the military said.

During the operation, the team found bomb-making materials, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, rifles, grenades, a landmine and ammunition, according to the statement.

The Americans and their Iraqi allies are pushing to take control of the Ninevah region, where insurgent fighters are making a stand after their influence diminished in Baghdad and other areas last year. Tal Afar is located about 420 kilometers (260 miles) northwest of Baghdad.

Chinese, SKorean envoys meet for NKorea talks

Top nuclear negotiators for China and South Korea conferred Monday on how to carry out U.N. plans to punish North Korea for its nuclear test in May and how to resume stalled talks on the country's nuclear program, an official said.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, meanwhile, called for a get-tough approach on Pyongyang.

North Korea quit the six-nation nuclear negotiations in April in anger over a U.N. rebuke of its long-range rocket launch. The communist regime has since further ratcheted up tensions, conducting its second nuclear test and a series of banned missile launches.

The North is also suspected in a series of cyberattacks that caused Web outages in the U.S. and the South.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei, Beijing's nuclear envoy, has been visiting other participants in the nuclear talks to discuss how to break the deadlock. Wu arrived in Seoul on Sunday on the last leg of his trip that included stops in Russia, the U.S. and Japan.

"The important thing is that we, both sides, should exchange opinions in a candid and in-depth manner," the Chinese official said at the start of talks with Seoul's nuclear envoy, Wi Sung-lac.

Wu also met with Seoul's Vice Foreign Minister Kwon Jong-rak, but did not speak to reporters after the meetings.

Seoul's Foreign Ministry spokesman Moon Tae-young said the nuclear envoys discussed how to implement a U.N. resolution adopted last month to punish the North for its May 25 nuclear test, and how to reopen talks with Pyongyang. Moon offered no details.

They also discussed the possibility of convening talks with Russia, the U.S. and Japan _ but excluding North Korea _ and agreed to continue discussions on the matter, the ministry spokesman said without elaborating.

Since North Korea boycotted the talks, South Korea has pushed the idea of a five-nation meeting to discuss ways forward, but China and Russia _ the North's traditional friends _ have reportedly opposed it because such a gathering could be seen as pressuring Pyongyang.

The U.N. Security Council sanctions center on stamping out North Korea's alleged trading of banned arms and weapons-related material. Washington is trying to muster international support for stringent enforcement of the sanctions.

In Sweden, South Korea's conservative, pro-U.S. President Lee Myung-bak called for pressure on Pyongyang.

"The reason we are being tough like this is to get North Korea to give up its nuclear program and come to the negotiating table," Lee told South Korean reporters traveling with him on a trip to Europe, according to Yonhap news agency.

Lee and Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt issued a joint statement Monday urging the North to immediately stop acts that threaten peace on the Korean peninsula, Lee's presidential Blue House said in a release.

The two also "concurred that the international community should demonstrate unity and speak with one voice to achieve the denuclearization of North Korea," it said.

Sweden was the last stop on Lee's trip that already took him to Poland and Italy.

Unlike his two liberal predecessors, Lee has taken a hard line on Pyongyang, halting unconditional aid to Seoul's impoverished neighbor. That has angered the North, prompting it to suspend inter-Korean reconciliation talks and key joint projects.

Center for medical intelligence expanding

A military intelligence unit that had tracked medical threats to troops worldwide is expanding its mission to include civilians at home.

The National Center for Medical Intelligence at Fort Detrick had previously been known as the Armed Forces Medical Intelligence Center and focused on protecting military personnel. The center will now be the "premier producer and coordinator of all-source medical intelligence," the Defense Intelligence Agency announced.

Lt. Gen. Michael D. Maples, the director of the agency that provides intelligence to senior policy-makers and military commanders, called the center the "critical link" between force protection efforts of the Department of Defense and homeland health protection.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was scheduled Wednesday for the renamed center and the base plans to break ground in December on a 15,000 square-foot addition to the center's headquarters. The center's budget is not being released, but it will have less than 200 employees, DIA spokeswoman Paige Parham said.

The National Center for Medical Intelligence was originally established in 1982 to provide medical intelligence on possible threats to military personnel deployed overseas.

"That was our historic mission and it remains a very significant part of our mission, but we are also are evolving to look at threats to the homeland," Dr. Joy Miller, the center's chief scientist, said Tuesday.

The center will now also look at "what particular diseases and other health threats and issues might be imported or might cause illness or injury to U.S. citizen and forces here in the homeland."

The center's role has expanded since it was established and it now works with the intelligence community, the Department of Homeland Security, the White House, the State Department, coalition and foreign partners and other domestic non-defense agencies. The DIA said such partnerships allow the center to focus on a broader range of foreign medical threats including diseases such as pandemic flu and avian flu.

An anthrax outbreak, for example, would be something that would attract the attention of analysts at the center, Miller said.

"If there were something unusual in the presentation of the cases, or in how many individuals were affected, that would be something that would raise our level of suspicion," Miller said. "And we would be working with other analysts within the intelligence community who have responsibility to follow state weapons programs and terrorist use of those weapons."

Wednesday, 7 March 2012

2 suicide bombers kill dozens at Iraq market

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A pair of suicide bombers detonated explosivesThursday among shoppers in a crowded outdoor market in a Shiite citysouth of Baghdad, killing at least 45 people and wounding 150,police said. Bombs and a mortar attack killed at least 17 others inboth Shiite and Sunni areas of Baghdad.

Overall, more than 100 people were killed or found dead acrossthe country, reflecting the ongoing wave of sectarian and insurgencybloodletting as the U.S. military gears up for a major securityoperation to stem the violence.

The biggest attack took place in the center of Hillah, a cityabout 60 miles south of Baghdad. Police and witnesses said the twobombers strolled into the Maktabat market about 6 p.m., when thearea was packed with shoppers buying food for the evening meal.

One of the bombers detonated his explosives when he wasapproached by police and the other blew himself up moments later,said police spokesman Capt. Muthanna Khaled, who gave the casualtyfigures. Baghdad television stations reported death figures as highas 57, but they could not be confirmed.

The blasts sent bodies hurling through the air and set fire towooden stalls where vendors sold fruits and vegetables, witnessessaid. Shoppers fled in panic, while others stopped to help rescuerscarry away the wounded.

Dr. Mohammed Diya of the Hillah General Hospital said some of thewounded were in critical condition, raising concern the death tollcould rise.

Qassim Abed Sadah, 33, a bookseller, said the first explosionblew him out of his chair. He raced to the door of his shop just asthe second blast occurred. "People were flying in the air," he said.

Pools of blood were scattered along the market streets, alongwith bits of fruits and vegetables.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack, the latest in along series in Hillah since the insurgency erupted in late 2003.

The Shiite city, located in a religiously mixed province, was thescene of one of Iraq's deadliest attacks -- a February 2005 suicidecar bombing that killed 125 people.

In Baghdad, sectarian violence flared in both Shiite and Sunniareas of the capital, where U.S. and Iraqi forces are preparing forthe third major security crackdown in a year.

Six people died and 12 were wounded when a car bomb exploded onRashid Street in the mostly Shiite heart of the city. A bomb on apublic bus killed another six people and wounded eight in theupscale Shiite commercial district of Karradah.

Several mortar rounds slammed into the Sunni district of Azamiyahfor a third straight day, killing five people and wounding 12,according to hospital and police officials.

"What have we done to be attacked like this almost every day?"asked Saad Abdul-Karim, 50, whose son was wounded when one of therounds struck their home.

Police found the bullet-riddled bodies of 33 men scattered acrossthe Iraqi capital, the Interior Ministry said. Most showed signs oftorture and were believed to be the victims of Shiite and Sunnideath squads.

Elsewhere, a U.S. soldier died Thursday of wounds suffered twodays ago in Anbar province, a Sunni insurgent stronghold west ofBaghdad, the military said. Three civilians were killed in separateshootings in the northern city of Mosul, and a policeman died in acar bombing in the city of Qaim on the Syrian border, police said.

In Baqouba, five gunmen broke into the athletic department of alocal university, seized the son of the department's director, tookhim into his father's office and shot both of them dead, policesaid. The city, located about 35 miles northeast of Baghdad, hasbeen riveted by sectarian violence for months.

U.S. officials have accused Iran of fomenting sectarian strife byarming and training Shiite militias. President Bush has authorizedU.S. forces to kill or capture any Iranian agents found in thiscountry. Defense officials are also looking into the possibilitythat Iranian agents may have been behind the Jan. 20 attack inKarbala in which five Americans were killed -- four of them afterbeing taken prisoner.

In an interview with NPR, Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burnssaid there was a "political and moral difference" between what theUnited States and the Iranians are doing in Iraq, reiteratingallegations that Tehran has been supporting Shiite militias thathave been blamed for much of the recent sectarian violence in Iraq.

However, the U.S.-backed Iraqi government includes Shiite andKurdish parties with longtime ties to Iran, and the rising U.S.-Iranian tensions adds new strains to an Iraqi leadership barely ableto cope with the worsening security crisis.

During a news conference Thursday, the chief government spokesmansaid Iraq would consider any attack against U.S. forces in Iraq asan assault against this country. But he added that Iraq also wantsgood relations with Iran.

"We have long borders with (the Iranians), we have localinterests with (them) and we would like to have our relation not inthe shadow of the others," spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shiite, said onCNN that Baghdad had told both the Iranians and the Americans "tosolve your problems outside of Iraq."

As a sign of the war's toll, a Health Ministry official said1,990 civilians had been killed in violence in January, a more thanthreefold increase from the 548 civilians the ministry reportedkilled in the same month last year. Casualty figures arecontroversial and widely disputed in Iraq, and counts kept by othergroups, including the United Nations, have listed far highernumbers.

The official, who declined to be identified because he was notauthorized to release the data, said 1,936 civilians also had beenwounded, according to the figures, which were compiled from dailyreports sent by morgues and hospitals nationwide.

Figures provided by the Defense and Interior ministries alsoshowed that 100 Iraqi security forces were killed in January, while593 insurgents were killed and 1,926 detained.

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Associated Press reporter Ali al-Fatlawi contributed to thisreport from Hillah.