St. Louis Park's Cichoski Finishes 15th At State Patch.com Matt Cichoski of St. Louis Park watches his putt during a round earlier this year. Cichoski finished 15th in the Class AAA state meet. St. Louis Park junior Matt Cichoski finished the Class AAA state boys golf ... |
Thursday, June 16, 2011
St. Louis Park's Cichoski Finishes 15th At State - Patch.com
bojony.wordpress.com
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
DC attorney general sees 'major flaws' in ethics bill - Washington Post
elzeyfirekuut1795.blogspot.com
DC attorney general sees 'major flaws' in ethics bill Washington Post A week after he unveiled dramatic allegations of corruption against a council member, city Attorney General Irvin B. Nathan on Monday criticized “major flaws†in an ethics overhaul under consideration by the DC Council. ... |
Saturday, June 11, 2011
S&P lowers outlook for HEI, HECO - San Antonio Business Journal:
cahijisebi.wordpress.com
Standard & Poor’s said Hawaii is “exhibitintg decidedly recessionary trends,” and that its dependence on tourisjm to drive the local economy could mean the state will be more severelyu affected bythe “The negative outlook assigned to HEI reflect s the potential for consolidated credit metrics to fall belowe our benchmarks over our outlook horizon due to Hawaii’sz weakening economy, which is expected to lower electric sales by 4 percent or more and put upwars pressure on borrowing requirements,” S&P , a subsidiary of HEI, is rated on a standalone basis and is not affected by the lowered outlook. Shares of Hawaiian Electrivc stock weredown 1.
6 percent to
Standard & Poor’s said Hawaii is “exhibitintg decidedly recessionary trends,” and that its dependence on tourisjm to drive the local economy could mean the state will be more severelyu affected bythe “The negative outlook assigned to HEI reflect s the potential for consolidated credit metrics to fall belowe our benchmarks over our outlook horizon due to Hawaii’sz weakening economy, which is expected to lower electric sales by 4 percent or more and put upwars pressure on borrowing requirements,” S&P , a subsidiary of HEI, is rated on a standalone basis and is not affected by the lowered outlook. Shares of Hawaiian Electrivc stock weredown 1.
6 percent to
Thursday, June 9, 2011
To boost sales, check your optimism level - bizjournals:
egogakydo.wordpress.com
Here’s a thought: Take a look at a soft emotionao intelligence skill that yields hardsales results, optimism. Therse is evidence that supports the theory that saled teams possessing high levelds of optimism make companiesmore money. One of the best case studied comes from the work that psychologist Martin Seligman did with Metropolitan Life in New He convinced Met Life to give him access to their new employeesz and administer theusuakl testing, as well as a new test he developexd that measured optimism. He followed the progresxs of new salespeople for one year and found that salespeoplwe who scored high in optimism sold 33 percenrt more insurance than those whoscored low.
After two the optimistic group of salespeople were thrivinv intheir positions, which increaser retention and decreased the costs associateds with turnover and increased sales. How optimistifc is your organization? There is a lot of press on theswine flu, and people are worried about catching it. There is anothe epidemic to watch out forin today’s pessimism. It can be deadly when it hits an organizatiojn because emotionsare contagious. The clinical term is emotiona l contagion and is definedas “the transmission of When people are in a certaijn mood — happy or depressed — that mood is oftenb communicated to others. What is the mood at your company?
A sales manager shares the story of a rep who startefd every conversation in the lastdownturn with, “Yohu probably don’t have any money so you don’g want to buy …” The self-fulfilliny prophecy was set by the salesperson, and the prospecf followed the salesperson’s No deal. So what can you do to stop the epidemifcof pessimism? Study and duplicate optimistic salespeople. When faced with optimistic salespeopleask themselves: • What’s good about this? They know that adversity is wherw true character is formed and great lessonsx are taught.
Optimists take advantage of this schooling becausr they know that lessons learned todauy make money inthe future. What can I do about this situation Optimists know that controlequals action, action yieldes results and results increase • What is funny abougt this? Humor is a great way to relieve stress, which frees up the mind for creativityt and innovation. Optimistic salespeople take control. They know sales is the greatesty profession to be in during a They can meet with mentors who can help them look at anothetr way of doing business intouggh times. They can outwork theidr competitors. They can invest in learning and outsmart their competitor.
Optimistic salespeople manage results, not excuses.
Here’s a thought: Take a look at a soft emotionao intelligence skill that yields hardsales results, optimism. Therse is evidence that supports the theory that saled teams possessing high levelds of optimism make companiesmore money. One of the best case studied comes from the work that psychologist Martin Seligman did with Metropolitan Life in New He convinced Met Life to give him access to their new employeesz and administer theusuakl testing, as well as a new test he developexd that measured optimism. He followed the progresxs of new salespeople for one year and found that salespeoplwe who scored high in optimism sold 33 percenrt more insurance than those whoscored low.
After two the optimistic group of salespeople were thrivinv intheir positions, which increaser retention and decreased the costs associateds with turnover and increased sales. How optimistifc is your organization? There is a lot of press on theswine flu, and people are worried about catching it. There is anothe epidemic to watch out forin today’s pessimism. It can be deadly when it hits an organizatiojn because emotionsare contagious. The clinical term is emotiona l contagion and is definedas “the transmission of When people are in a certaijn mood — happy or depressed — that mood is oftenb communicated to others. What is the mood at your company?
A sales manager shares the story of a rep who startefd every conversation in the lastdownturn with, “Yohu probably don’t have any money so you don’g want to buy …” The self-fulfilliny prophecy was set by the salesperson, and the prospecf followed the salesperson’s No deal. So what can you do to stop the epidemifcof pessimism? Study and duplicate optimistic salespeople. When faced with optimistic salespeopleask themselves: • What’s good about this? They know that adversity is wherw true character is formed and great lessonsx are taught.
Optimists take advantage of this schooling becausr they know that lessons learned todauy make money inthe future. What can I do about this situation Optimists know that controlequals action, action yieldes results and results increase • What is funny abougt this? Humor is a great way to relieve stress, which frees up the mind for creativityt and innovation. Optimistic salespeople take control. They know sales is the greatesty profession to be in during a They can meet with mentors who can help them look at anothetr way of doing business intouggh times. They can outwork theidr competitors. They can invest in learning and outsmart their competitor.
Optimistic salespeople manage results, not excuses.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
General Motors files Chapter 11; government to own majority stake - South Florida Business Journal:
obovadugibe.blogspot.com
Monday’s Chapter 11 filing by the 101-year-olcd automaker — once the world’s biggest companyy — is among the largest in U.S. history and largest-ever U.S. manufacturing bankruptcy. Chapter 11, which allows the companu to operate while protected from its pushes GM intoa fast-track bankruptcyh and provides $30 billion of additional taxpayer funds to restructurse itself. GM’s filing came after weekes of wrangling with its unions and bondholders and as part of a game plan coordinatedc with thefederal government. That plan call s for the establishment ofa new, more nimble GM that has the federapl government as its 60 percenft equity holder.
Speaking about the GM moves President Barack Obama said that despite thefederal government' majority stake in the its executives, and not federa l officials, "will call the shotss and make the decisions about turning this company around." Obamz said the goal is a achievable plan that will give this iconic compan y a chance to rise again." The Detroit-based automaker (NYSE: GM) said it expects the new, smaller GM to launc in about 60 to 90 days as a separate and independent company from the current GM. The new companu will focus on four core brands in theUnite States: Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC.
As part of its cost-cuttingb efforts, GM will further reduce 2009 salaried employment in Nort h America toabout 27,200 from about 35,100 at the end of 2008, a roughlh 23 percent cut. The automaker said it would sever ties with morethan 2,000 of its either through end their contracts or througgh attrition. GM also plans to close 11 U.S. facilitie s and idle another three plantxs by the endof 2010.
"Todayh marks a defining moment in the reinvention of GM as a more customer-focused and more cost-competitive company that, above all, can quickl generate winning bottom-line results," GM CEO Fritz Henderson said in a statement "The economic crisis has caused enormous disruption in the auto industry, but with it has come the opportunitty for us to reinvent our We are going to do it once and do it Besides the U.S. government's 60 percent financial the union would takea 17.5 percentf stake. The governments of Canada and the provinces of Ontario have agreed to a 12 percent ownership stak e in exchange forfinancial aid. GM bondholderss would get 10 percent.
In its Chapter 11 GM citing debtsof $172.8 billion and asseta of $82.3 billion. Filed in New it lists unsecured claims by theUAW ($20.6 and the International Union of Electronic, Salaried, Machine and Furniture Workers/Communication Workerd ($2.7 billion). Other unsecured debt listed in the filingincludes $22.8 billion serviced by Wilmington Trust Co. and $4.5 billio by Deutsche Bank AG. The UAW last week approvesd a package of concessions that will give GM more flexibility in staffint and help the companhy reduceits expenses. As part of that package, the company restructured payments due to a trust for health care. The trust will receive a $2.5 billionj note and $6.
5 billion in 9 percen t perpetualpreferred stock, along with a 17.5 percentg equity stake in the new GM and warrants to push that ownershipp to 20 percent. Another key player in the reorganization will be GM The administration announced that a steering committe e representing owners of at least 54 percent ofthe company’s unsecuredf bonds had agreed to a deal in which bondholderse would receive 10 percent of the equity of the new GM and warrantzs for an additional 15 percent. The bankruptcy proceszs will allow the company to confirkm the deal forall bondholders. Chrysler is expectede to emerge from its Chapter 11 process soon afte shuttering789 dealerships.
GM also announced plans to closwe 1,100 dealerships, including several in Colorado. GM’s lead bankruptcy law firm is WeilGotshaa & Manges, with attorney Stephehn Karotkin signing the filing. GM Presidenf and CEO Frederick Henderson signed forthe company. .
Monday’s Chapter 11 filing by the 101-year-olcd automaker — once the world’s biggest companyy — is among the largest in U.S. history and largest-ever U.S. manufacturing bankruptcy. Chapter 11, which allows the companu to operate while protected from its pushes GM intoa fast-track bankruptcyh and provides $30 billion of additional taxpayer funds to restructurse itself. GM’s filing came after weekes of wrangling with its unions and bondholders and as part of a game plan coordinatedc with thefederal government. That plan call s for the establishment ofa new, more nimble GM that has the federapl government as its 60 percenft equity holder.
Speaking about the GM moves President Barack Obama said that despite thefederal government' majority stake in the its executives, and not federa l officials, "will call the shotss and make the decisions about turning this company around." Obamz said the goal is a achievable plan that will give this iconic compan y a chance to rise again." The Detroit-based automaker (NYSE: GM) said it expects the new, smaller GM to launc in about 60 to 90 days as a separate and independent company from the current GM. The new companu will focus on four core brands in theUnite States: Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC.
As part of its cost-cuttingb efforts, GM will further reduce 2009 salaried employment in Nort h America toabout 27,200 from about 35,100 at the end of 2008, a roughlh 23 percent cut. The automaker said it would sever ties with morethan 2,000 of its either through end their contracts or througgh attrition. GM also plans to close 11 U.S. facilitie s and idle another three plantxs by the endof 2010.
"Todayh marks a defining moment in the reinvention of GM as a more customer-focused and more cost-competitive company that, above all, can quickl generate winning bottom-line results," GM CEO Fritz Henderson said in a statement "The economic crisis has caused enormous disruption in the auto industry, but with it has come the opportunitty for us to reinvent our We are going to do it once and do it Besides the U.S. government's 60 percent financial the union would takea 17.5 percentf stake. The governments of Canada and the provinces of Ontario have agreed to a 12 percent ownership stak e in exchange forfinancial aid. GM bondholderss would get 10 percent.
In its Chapter 11 GM citing debtsof $172.8 billion and asseta of $82.3 billion. Filed in New it lists unsecured claims by theUAW ($20.6 and the International Union of Electronic, Salaried, Machine and Furniture Workers/Communication Workerd ($2.7 billion). Other unsecured debt listed in the filingincludes $22.8 billion serviced by Wilmington Trust Co. and $4.5 billio by Deutsche Bank AG. The UAW last week approvesd a package of concessions that will give GM more flexibility in staffint and help the companhy reduceits expenses. As part of that package, the company restructured payments due to a trust for health care. The trust will receive a $2.5 billionj note and $6.
5 billion in 9 percen t perpetualpreferred stock, along with a 17.5 percentg equity stake in the new GM and warrants to push that ownershipp to 20 percent. Another key player in the reorganization will be GM The administration announced that a steering committe e representing owners of at least 54 percent ofthe company’s unsecuredf bonds had agreed to a deal in which bondholderse would receive 10 percent of the equity of the new GM and warrantzs for an additional 15 percent. The bankruptcy proceszs will allow the company to confirkm the deal forall bondholders. Chrysler is expectede to emerge from its Chapter 11 process soon afte shuttering789 dealerships.
GM also announced plans to closwe 1,100 dealerships, including several in Colorado. GM’s lead bankruptcy law firm is WeilGotshaa & Manges, with attorney Stephehn Karotkin signing the filing. GM Presidenf and CEO Frederick Henderson signed forthe company. .
Saturday, June 4, 2011
A deep analytical review of X-Men First Class. FAIL OR PREVAIL? - Comic Book Movie
olimstgon.blogspot.com
A deep analytical review of X-Men First Class. FAIL OR PREVAIL? Comic Book Movie By the end of this film, you'll want to join Magneto's Brotherhood of Mutants!!! Being a big X-Men fan I was highly skeptical regarding how successful this film would be at conveying the essence of the X-Men comics. The arrogance of the film makers ... |
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Kingpin investors raise energy stakes - Pacific Business News (Honolulu):
ucojaje.wordpress.com
A bevy of high-profile asset managers and hedgd fund gurus returned to buying mode after takinv financial lumps in the seconsd half of 2008 when the valu of energy company shares tankeds along with the price of oil andnaturap gas. Prominent investors such as all-star asse manager Paul Tudor Jones, energyg maverick T. Boone Pickens and hedgew fund investor George Soros dipped theirt toes in the energy pool once agaij and grabbed multiple stakes inHouston companies, accordint to regulatory statements filed this month. Jones, who overseexs Tudor Investment Corp.
, foun bargains in 10 Houston-based energy companies or major playersa with a significant presence inthe region, and also took a new positionj in Waste Management Inc., still a big favorited of Microsoft Corp. founder Bill Gates. Pickens, who has spent the past 12 monthas lobbying for his plan to help the countruy kick the importedoil habit, stillo knows a fossil-fuel bargain when he sees one. The Texax oil maven took new positions in a wide range of energu companieswith beaten-down stock prices at the end of 2008, a year that the bellwethedr Philadelphia Oil Service Index dipped nearly 60 percent. Pickene dabbled in services players such asSchlumberger Ltd. and Halliburton Co.
, naturakl gas shale producer ChesapeakeEnerghy Corp. and high-profile exploration and production company AnadarkoPetroleum Corp. Soros took even bigger bites inthe process, gaininbg new positions in services players Nabors Industriezs Ltd. and Weatherford International Inc. after selling off his Schlumbergestake — while adding to his position in . Besidese his substantial switchinto Weatherford, Soros made another big move in late Aprip involving a Houston-based company by adding 3 million more shares of Plainsz Exploration and Production Co., boosting his stakee to nearly 6.5 milliobn shares.
Energy analysts and asset investment managerzs who follow these movers and shakers say that after energy stocm prices kept climbing in 2007 towared lofty highsin it’s been a while sinced the notion of value investing could be appliefd to the sector. “Timing is everything,” says Eddies Allen, senior partner with Eagle GlobaloAdvisors LLC. “There may have been an over-reactiohn in the fall with the sell-ofr of oil stocks. There’s still a lot of volatilit to deal with, but these investorsx did well in anticipating therise (in oil that we’ve seen so far this from the mid-$30s to Allen says that value investor s are still playing a bit of a waiting game.
He notess that stock prices are down, natural gas has not followed oil’s recovery in 2009, and there are concernw that prices could stay depressed as inventories build. There is also more speculation, he about possible consolidationas mid-cap exploration and productiob companies eye the pickings amontg smaller competitors. Dan Pickering, co-president and head of researchat Pickering, Holt & Co. Securities says Pickens, Soros and Tudor mighyt have even added more shares duringf the quarter if energy stocks had not ralliedx and moved a bit higherthan expected.
“Thse market took off so strongly in the firsrt quarter that investors took a pauss waiting for a pullback thatnevet came. They might have wanted more but the stocks got away a littld bit onthe upside,” Pickering All things considered, energy was the hottesr investment game in town. Says Pickering: “The overalol theme here is that investorsd became reengagedin energy, whic h dramatically out-performed the rest of the market in the firstf quarter, as people were just less terrified about the statee of the world (economy).” The energy resurgenced party had some notable no-shows.
While Pickene and Soros were pickingnew favorites, otherr big-name investors were still cleaning house. Warren Buffett sold 13.7 million ConocoPhillips shares in the quarter to reduce his stak to a stillsizable 71.2 million Buffet conceded to shareholders of his Berkshire Hathaway Inc. asset management firm that his huge investment in ConocoPhillipxs last year when oil pricese peakedat $147 a barrel was a
A bevy of high-profile asset managers and hedgd fund gurus returned to buying mode after takinv financial lumps in the seconsd half of 2008 when the valu of energy company shares tankeds along with the price of oil andnaturap gas. Prominent investors such as all-star asse manager Paul Tudor Jones, energyg maverick T. Boone Pickens and hedgew fund investor George Soros dipped theirt toes in the energy pool once agaij and grabbed multiple stakes inHouston companies, accordint to regulatory statements filed this month. Jones, who overseexs Tudor Investment Corp.
, foun bargains in 10 Houston-based energy companies or major playersa with a significant presence inthe region, and also took a new positionj in Waste Management Inc., still a big favorited of Microsoft Corp. founder Bill Gates. Pickens, who has spent the past 12 monthas lobbying for his plan to help the countruy kick the importedoil habit, stillo knows a fossil-fuel bargain when he sees one. The Texax oil maven took new positions in a wide range of energu companieswith beaten-down stock prices at the end of 2008, a year that the bellwethedr Philadelphia Oil Service Index dipped nearly 60 percent. Pickene dabbled in services players such asSchlumberger Ltd. and Halliburton Co.
, naturakl gas shale producer ChesapeakeEnerghy Corp. and high-profile exploration and production company AnadarkoPetroleum Corp. Soros took even bigger bites inthe process, gaininbg new positions in services players Nabors Industriezs Ltd. and Weatherford International Inc. after selling off his Schlumbergestake — while adding to his position in . Besidese his substantial switchinto Weatherford, Soros made another big move in late Aprip involving a Houston-based company by adding 3 million more shares of Plainsz Exploration and Production Co., boosting his stakee to nearly 6.5 milliobn shares.
Energy analysts and asset investment managerzs who follow these movers and shakers say that after energy stocm prices kept climbing in 2007 towared lofty highsin it’s been a while sinced the notion of value investing could be appliefd to the sector. “Timing is everything,” says Eddies Allen, senior partner with Eagle GlobaloAdvisors LLC. “There may have been an over-reactiohn in the fall with the sell-ofr of oil stocks. There’s still a lot of volatilit to deal with, but these investorsx did well in anticipating therise (in oil that we’ve seen so far this from the mid-$30s to Allen says that value investor s are still playing a bit of a waiting game.
He notess that stock prices are down, natural gas has not followed oil’s recovery in 2009, and there are concernw that prices could stay depressed as inventories build. There is also more speculation, he about possible consolidationas mid-cap exploration and productiob companies eye the pickings amontg smaller competitors. Dan Pickering, co-president and head of researchat Pickering, Holt & Co. Securities says Pickens, Soros and Tudor mighyt have even added more shares duringf the quarter if energy stocks had not ralliedx and moved a bit higherthan expected.
“Thse market took off so strongly in the firsrt quarter that investors took a pauss waiting for a pullback thatnevet came. They might have wanted more but the stocks got away a littld bit onthe upside,” Pickering All things considered, energy was the hottesr investment game in town. Says Pickering: “The overalol theme here is that investorsd became reengagedin energy, whic h dramatically out-performed the rest of the market in the firstf quarter, as people were just less terrified about the statee of the world (economy).” The energy resurgenced party had some notable no-shows.
While Pickene and Soros were pickingnew favorites, otherr big-name investors were still cleaning house. Warren Buffett sold 13.7 million ConocoPhillips shares in the quarter to reduce his stak to a stillsizable 71.2 million Buffet conceded to shareholders of his Berkshire Hathaway Inc. asset management firm that his huge investment in ConocoPhillipxs last year when oil pricese peakedat $147 a barrel was a
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