EU urges global fight against bird flu

LUXEMBOURG - EU foreign ministers urged global cooperation on Tuesday
to tackle the threat of avian flu, as Greece investigated what could
prove the first appearance of the deadly strain in an EU member
country.

Swiss drugmaker Roche, under international pressure to raise output of
antiviral flu drug Tamiflu, said it might allow rival firms and
governments to produce it under licence for emergency pandemic use. A
Dutch company said it was working on a vaccine.

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, chairing an emergency meeting of
European Union foreign ministers in Luxembourg, said discovery of the
deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu in Turkey and Romania was no cause for
panic.

"So far there is no evidence of any transfer of the virus to human
beings. Let us hope that remains the situation," Straw told a news
conference after the meeting.

"But members of the public are bound to be concerned and their
concerns can be allayed if they are shown that every effort is being
made by the European Union and by member states effectively to
coordinate action."

Scientists fear if the H5N1 virus, which has killed more than 60
people in Asia since it first appeared there in 1997, passes from
birds to humans on a large scale it could mutate into a variety that
could spread easily between humans. In a virulent form, they say, this
could kill millions worldwide.

EU health commissioner Markos Kyprianou, coordinating the 25-nation
bloc's response to avian flu, said Brussels did not yet know whether
the virus detected in a bird on the Aegean island of Chios was the
deadly strain. Tests were proceeding.

Greece took precautionary measures, banning exports of living poultry,
meat and other poultry products from the island to EU member states
and third countries.

CHIEF THREAT IN ASIA

The foreign ministers said in a statement the EU could not act
effectively on its own in tackling a threat that could move so quickly
across countries and continents.

"The Council (of ministers) recognised that avian and pandemic
influenza are global threats and called for an international
coordinated response," the statement said.

The global nature of the threat was born out in moves in the
pharmaceutical industry towards covering a shortfall in anti-viral
agents that could help combat the virus.

Roche Holding AG said it would be willing to discuss giving a
production licence for Tamiflu to rival firms including Indian generic
drug maker Cipla. Executive David Reddy said however the firm had not
yet been approached by Cipla, which has said it could make a copy-cat
version to help governments build stocks.

Dutch company Akzo Bobel NV said it was working on a human vaccine and
would begin clinical trials next year.

But scientists say development is difficult before the exact
architecture of a mutated virus is known.

Kyprianou said after briefing EU foreign ministers more than a half of
EU states had placed orders for anti-viral flu drugs.

The World Health Organisation has expressed fears that alarm in Europe
could distract attention from what is the real seat of the danger in
southeast Asia. More than 60 people have died of the disease in Asia
where, by contrast to Europe, people often live close to poultry and
are exposed to a greater threat.

Romania said it had detected new cases of suspected bird flu in the
Danube delta, one of them close to the border with Ukraine. Tests were
being carried out to see whether it was the H5 virus, of which H5N1 is
a deadly sub-strain.

Turkish authorities are examining the remains of some 500 quails found
in a field in the west of the country, the state-run Anatolian news
agency said.

Greece, however, was the focus of attention on Tuesday.

People on the Greek island where the suspect bird was discovered found
themselves the centre of media attention. The farmer who alerted
authorities after seeing turkeys fall ill said he feared for his
island.

"Yes I am concerned, but not just for me but for all the people here,"
Dimitris Komninaris told reporters. "But everyone on the island is
keeping calm."

Besides the human danger, countries visited by bird flu in its various
forms can face grave economic losses. The milder H5N7 strain struck
the Netherlands in 2003, prompting slaughter of 30 million birds and
losses estimated at 500 million euros.

www.today.reuters.co.uk

New owners say tourist train idea viable

The idea of a passenger train between Rapid City and Deadwood remains
alive despite legal and financial problems that have plagued the
proposal for more than a decade, according to the president of a
company that plans to operate the service.

Black Hills Transportation recently acquired the assets of Dunrail
Inc., which had ties to actor Kevin Costner's abandoned Dunbar Resort
proposal. Costner, however, remains a major investor.

The company would operate the passenger train on behalf of the
Northern Hills Railroad Authority, which was created in 1994. The idea
of a passenger train was first proposed in 1992.

Ralph Justen, president of Black Hills Transportation, said plans for
a tourist train have not faded away.

He envisions a $22.5 million project that could offer a tourist train
and passenger service between several cities in the Black Hills.
According to the proposal, riders would be able to board a 1950s
streamliner in Rapid City, Piedmont, Sturgis or Whitewood and travel
Deadwood.

In addition, vintage steam- and diesel-powered trains will carry
tourists between Sturgis, Whitewood and Deadwood, he said.

"This thing has potential to be a real economic juggernaut for the
region," said Justen.

As many as nine round trips a day are planned, and Justen said as many
as 400,000 riders a year could be riding the train line, called the
Deadwood, Black Hills and Western Railroad.

To make the train service work, however, the company needs to lay new
track between Deadwood and Whitewood, a route that Chicago & North
Western Railway Co. operated until the early 1960s. And landowners
along the proposed route are already speaking out.

Charles Brown of rural Whitewood owns the property near a 600-foot
tunnel along the proposed route. He said he waited 11 years for
railroad developers or the railroad authority to make a serious
financial offer to acquire right of way. Finally, he filed suit
against the Northern Hills Rail Authority to force the issue, he said.

"This is a land grab," Brown told reporters after the meeting.

Justen said he and other company officials would meet soon with
landowners to resolve some of the disputes.

Discussion at the meeting also centered on Black Hills
Transportation's long-term plans for running trains on existing track
owned by Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad.

Justen said he has been talking to DM&E about running train-bus tour
packages to destinations such as Hot Springs, Wall and Belle Fourche.

To pay for it, Justen said state and federal funds could be tapped as
well as municipal bonds and private investment from Costner and
others.

www.jacksonholestartrib.com

Beta-Blockers Called Poor Choice for Hypertension

Beta-blockers are no better at preventing heart attacks in patients with hypertension than other agents, and are less effective at preventing strokes, investigators here reported.
A meta-analysis of 13 randomized controlled trials involving nearly 106,000 patients, published online today in The Lancet by Swedish investigators, found that the relative risk of stroke was 16% higher for beta-blockers compared with other drugs.

"In comparison with other antihypertensive drugs, the effect of beta-blockers is less than optimum, with a raised risk of stroke," wrote Lars Hjalmar Lindholm, M.D., and colleagues at Umea University Hospital and University Hospital in Goteborg, "Hence, we believe that beta-blockers should not remain first choice in the treatment of primary hypertension and should not be used as reference drugs in future randomized controlled trials of hypertension."

The findings confirmed results of the massive Anglo-Scandinavian Cardiac Outcomes Trial-Blood Pressure Lowering Arm (ASCOT-BPLA), which showed that the combination of Norvasc (amlodipine) and Aceon (perindopril) reduced major cardiovascular events by 16% (P<0.001), stroke by 23% (P=0.003), cardiovascular mortality by 24%, and total mortality by 11% (P=0.025) compared with the regimen of the beta-blocker atenolol with or without the diuretic bendroflumethiazide.

ASCOT-BPLA was halted prematurely in December 2004 when the data and safety monitoring board determined that there was a higher event rate in the atenolol arm.

In the current study, Dr. Lindholm and colleagues conducted a meta-analysis of 13 randomized trials comparing treatment of primary hypertension with beta-blockers versus other antihypertensives. The trials involved a total of 105,951 patients. An additional seven studies comparing beta-blockers with placebo or no treatment were also included in the analysis.

The authors determined that the relative risk of stroke was 16% higher for beta-blockers (95% confidence interval, 4%-30%) than for other drugs, and there were no differences for myocardial infarction.

In addition, when the effect of beta-blockers was compared with that of placebo or no treatment, the relative risk of stroke was only about half that seen in previous hypertension trials. It was 19% for all beta-blockers (7% to 29%) in the analysis, versus 45% (15% to 65%) in the STOP Hypertension trial, for example, or 38% in a meta-analysis of beta-blocker trials published by Collins et al in Lancet in 1990, the authors reported.

Beta-blockers also had no effect on myocardial infarction or death compared with placebo or no treatment, they noted.

"More than a quarter of the world's adult population, totaling nearly one billion people, have hypertension, and far too many… are still treated with beta-blockers (mainly for hypertension) even though better and affordable drugs are available," Dr. Lindholm and colleagues wrote.

Because various antihypertensive agents in use today, including thiazide diuretics, ACE inhibitors, calcium antagonists, angiotensin-receptor blockers, and beta-blockers appear to be equally effective at lowering brachial blood pressure, the least expensive alternative may be appropriate for treatment of patients with primary hypertension, they wrote.

In an accompanying editorial, D. Gareth Beevers, M.D., professor of medicine at the University of Birmingham in England, cautioned that abrupt withdrawal of beta-blockers could be harmful to some patients.

"It will be interesting to see how the many guidelines committees respond to the latest information," he wrote. "Their current endorsement of beta-blockers must surely be changed. But in the process they may be in danger of 'throwing out the baby with the bath water.

" Some patients genuinely do need beta-blockers as their first line therapy, and there are also distinct theoretical hazards from their rapid discontinuation, particularly in patients who might be judged to be 'coronary prone.'"

Patients should be gradually weaned off of beta-blockers while other antihypertensive agents are substituted, he wrote.


www.medpagetoday.com

Is 'Wi-Fi on steroids' really the next big thing?

Computer users in many urban and university areas have come to expect connectivity 24/7. There's a cable modem or DSL at home, a high-speed connection in the office and Wi-Fi for the places in between, from the commute to the coffeehouse.

But many long-frustrated suburban and rural dwellers have no choice but to listen to the sound of a dial-up modem handshake, with accompanying slow connections and downloads. Their homes or businesses are in areas that are too costly for telephone and cable companies to wire.
WiMAX, a wireless broadband technology sometimes known as "Wi-Fi on steroids," could provide relief soon, some experts say, although others see many years ahead before the long-touted technology gains widespread use.

"WiMAX is an interesting kind of compromise between cellular and Wi-Fi coverage," said Scott Shamp, director of the University of Georgia's New Media Institute.

"It gives you high data speeds like Wi-Fi but covers a much bigger geographic area like cellular coverage," said Shamp, who helped create one of the earliest Wi-Fi hot spots, covering parts of the University of Georgia campus and the city of Athens, Georgia.

WiMAX, shorthand for World Interoperability for Microwave Access, is a standard for the technology that can deliver wireless broadband services. Its aim is to combine the speed and security of a broadband connection but with the lower cost and convenience of having no wired infrastructure that's needed for cable modems or DSL connections.

WiMAX technology may make a huge difference in less developed areas of the world -- providing a cheaper alternative to costly and bulky infrastructure for hard-to-reach places.
"Certainly in markets like Indonesia, India, Africa and some parts of Latin America, where wired infrastructure is poor, WiMAX provides a huge opportunity. There already is demand," said Charles Golvin, principal analyst with Forrester Research Inc.

Europe has jumped into the world of wireless broadband with HiperMAN, while South Korea has developed WiBro. Both are designed to be compatible with WiMAX technology.

Standardization is critical so that the many products and applications being developed for WiMAX will work together. The first type of WiMAX system -- for fixed applications such as connecting from a business or home -- was approved last year by the IEEE, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. The IEEE soon is expected to approve the next version of the standard, for mobile services.

A WiMAX system -- which can be fixed for homes and businesses or mobile for devices -- has two parts: a tower similar to a cell phone tower and a receiver. The receiver could be in the form of a small box, about the size of a modem, or, as is already being developed, a card that can be built into a laptop the same way a Wi-Fi card is in most computers today.
The consumer possibilities of devices using WiMAX could bring a gleam to any gadget guru's eye: streaming video, even high-definition television on cell phones, or in cars; multiplayer gaming on a handheld device; and of course, other information and entertainment yet to be invented.

The WiMAX timetable
Golvin said that while WiMAX will have a big global impact on consumers, vendors and telecom operators by making high-speed wireless more available, it won't happen until 2010 or later in places that have long had access to broadband connections.

"In developed economies, where cable and DSL infrastructure is reliable, where there are lots of subscribers and it is widely deployed, WiMAX does not have a great advantage," Golvin said.
But some WiMAX developers see other business possibilities occurring sooner, such as setting up wireless broadband for entire communities.

Intel is one of the companies pushing WiMAX technology and has invested heavily in its development.

"What if you want to wire an entire city? Even in a mountainous terrain like Mexico City, you could put up a tower that could reach 50 to 70 miles," said Eliot Weinman, conference chair of WiMAX World Conference & Expo.

Connectivity that covers a whole metropolitan area could help cities woo both residents and businesses, with the promise of being "always connected."

Weinman said there are already nearly 400 companies backing the WiMAX technology, for everything from improved communication for police, fire and other rescue vehicles to improved entertainment and information for mobile devices.

Computer chip maker Intel is playing a big part in pushing WiMAX as the next thing in connectivity, just as it did in driving the Wi-Fi standard. Intel's Centrino laptop processors are expected to be WiMAX-enabled in the next two years.

Amid this activity, that cutting-edge group of tech enthusiasts known as "early adopters" has begun to see portable devices as more than just mobile phones -- in reality small computers.
"More people are getting used to getting their news, sports, weather, music and video on that device, and with that will be more demand for faster networks," Golvin said.


www.edition.cnn.com

Hurricanes and Term Life Insurance - Tips for Being Prepared

Filing a term life insurance claim can be one of the most difficult things a person has to do – Proper preparation before and after a catastrophe can save you and your loved ones a lot of stress.

(PRWEB) October 6, 2005 -- Survivors of major hurricanes and other catastrophic events like 9/11 know that the process of putting your life back together after a life-changing catastrophe is a long and complicated process. But according to life insurance experts, the process of filing a life insurance claim after the death of a loved one can be eased by simply being prepared.

We spoke with Guy Cardinale, CEO and spokesman of Complete Life Quote, Inc., an online life insurance company representing some of the best companies in the life insurance industry (www.completelifequote.com). He had this to say when asked how to ease the life insurance claim process:

"First of all, proper preparedness begins when you purchase your policy. A common mistake that is often made at the beginning of the process is not buying an adequate amount of insurance. Not providing the proper amount of support to dependents is common, so it's imperative to carefully consider the total amount of financial support your family will need (after burial expenses are paid) at the time you purchase your life insurance policy. Chances are that you won't go back and adjust the policy after you purchase it, even though your standard of living may increase substantially throughout the years."

In addition to making sure you have an adequate amount of coverage, it's a good idea to ensure that your policy is "titled" correctly and that the named beneficiaries are accurate and up-to-date with current address information. Verify that the dates of birth and social security numbers on file with the insurance company are correct, as errors can cause the benefits to pass through probate and delay the transfer of funds to your loved ones.

Additionally, the following preparation tips can help make the claim process less stressful:


- Keep your life insurance policy in a safe place, such as a safe deposit box or fire-proof safe. If your home is destroyed in a fire, hurricane, flood, or other disaster, your policy will be intact and easily accessible.

- Let your loved ones know where to locate the policy, and make sure they have access to it. If you keep it in a safe or safe deposit box, make sure they know how to get it out.

- If you have a Living Trust or Will, include a copy of your life insurance policy with it, or provide a copy to your family attorney.

- Make sure that your family has the name and phone number of your life insurance company or insurance agent. It will save them a lot of time if they cannot locate the policy.

- If the policy can not be located after the insured's death, don't panic. If you know the name of the insurance company, most can verify the policy as long as the claimant(s) can provide them with information on the policy holder.

- Obtain multiple copies of the death certificate as soon as possible. In extraordinary circumstances like Hurricane Katrina, if you are unable to obtain a death certificate, some companies will accept, in lieu of an official death certificate, an affidavit from a funeral home director or surviving family member, hospital records, and in some cases, a statement from a physician.

- Pay your life insurance premiums. The law requires a 30-day grace period in every life insurance policy sold, allowing the insured to pay the policy premium any time during the 30 days following the due date of the premium without incurring a policy lapse. If you let your premium lapse for over 30 days, your coverage may lapse and you may be required to provide proof of good health before reinstating the policy. If you lose a loved one, it's a good idea to call the insurance company right away to make sure all premiums have been paid.

According to Mark Simmons of Trust Term Life Insurance www.trusttermlifeinsurance.com, "These simple steps can help ensure that life insurance proceeds will reach their intended beneficiaries. By following them, those who have lost loved ones can slowly begin the process of putting their lives back together."

Unfortunately, the tips above are worthless to the millions of Americans with no insurance to protect their loved ones. This is often the case in low-income regions, and seems to be the scenario for the majority of Hurricane Katrina's victims. Two major life insurance companies with high exposure in the regions affected by Katrina recently reported that they have only received a handful of life insurance claims in Katrina's wake, yet according to a recent report by CNN, the death toll from this hurricane currently stands at 1034.

Preparing for the unexpected can lessen the stress of a tragedy, and if you are one of the millions of Americans without life insurance, several on-line resources are available to help. Sites like www.completelifequote.com, www.trusttermlifeinsurance.com, and countless others contain information on the different types of life insurance available. They offer fast quotes, easy to complete applications, and most have toll-free phone numbers for personal assistance and answering applicants' questions.

Wireless technology changing work and play

Geoffrey Bowker, executive director of a research institute at Santa Clara University, remembers a time when going to academic conferences meant leaving office concerns behind, hearing provocative lectures and getting to experience a new city. He especially liked visiting art galleries.

Now, wherever Bowker goes, his office goes with him. E-mails, phone calls and office documents float into his hands, demanding his attention at all hours of the day. Through a cell phone and his laptop computer, Bowker is as connected to his office at conferences as when he is there in person. It's made him more productive, but he's not entirely satisfied.

"A huge difference for many is that we find it much more difficult to maintain barriers between work and play," said Bowker, executive director of Santa Clara University's Center for Science, Technology and Society, which studies technology's impact on culture.

The eroding distinction between work and play is one of the many paradoxes at the heart of our increasingly wireless world.
"This is always the case with new technology. Often the effects are paradoxical," Bowker said. "The overall upside is that we can maintain a rich social and cultural life while dashing from pillar to post. The overall downside is that our spiritual development -- which requires empty time, contemplation -- is suffering enormously."

Wireless use skyrockets
Ten years ago, the level of connectedness of today's world was just a prophecy. Cell phones were big and clunky and owned by few people. BlackBerries were a kind of fruit, not all-purpose remote office devices. And Bluetooth was what kids got after eating blueberry Slurpees, not the latest and greatest standard for short-range wireless technology.

Today, the use of wireless devices is widespread in the United States, and growing.
About 71 percent of America's 108 million households own at least one cell phone, according to Forrester Research Inc. More than 25 million households now own laptop computers, according to Forrester. And 5.3 million households have wireless Internet access.
"That doesn't sound like a big number, but it is up from zero a couple of years ago. That is rapid growth," said Charles Golvin, a principal analyst at Forrester.

More and more everyday devices -- including game consoles, music players, cameras and even cars -- are being designed with wireless connectivity in mind. (Gadgets on the horizon)
"The future of devices that don't have some kind of connectivity built into them is pretty bleak. It's going to be the case that almost anything you can think of is going to connect to other things, most often wirelessly," Golvin said.

As various kinds of wireless devices become more common, the flow of content will increase as well. Movies will be downloaded in a flash and transported to any one of a number of viewers. Music will flow to cell phones. Music videos and news clips will be downloadable anywhere, anytime. These developments create new challenges for the creators and owners of this content.
"What are they going to do from a rights perspective?" Golvin asks. "Are they going to be more and more restrictive? Or are they going to embrace new business models, new ways to use content that is going to allow this stuff to flow?"

Stretching etiquette
The prevalence of wireless gadgets and networks is changing how people interact with one another. Social plans are made later in the day; conversations happen more frequently but with more brevity, and expectations evolve.

As wireless speeds increase, activities such as watching video on you phone will, too.
"Think of the early years of the answering machine on the telephone," said James Hughes, executive director of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies and a professor at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. "You'd call someone, and at first you'd be annoyed that they'd have that annoying box answer the phone. Now, if a phone rings and rings and doesn't go to a message system, you think it is impolite."

Because this technology is designed to follow people wherever they go, it is difficult to come up with one-size-fits-all rules for wireless communication. What is OK at home may not be OK in the office. What is OK on the street may not be OK in church. (Where are your wireless manners?)

"To me the technology is ahead of our culture. The common thing we hear about these days is etiquette. Should we be allowed to talk on airplanes is a current question? The behavioral aspects haven't transformed along with the technology," said Dave Mock, author of "The Qualcomm Equation."

Challenging security
Beyond etiquette and the need for personal space, security issues also loom large in a wireless world. From proprietary financial data to personal photographs, more and more information than ever before is floating through the air, accessible to thieves and vandals.
"It does make people more vulnerable. The wires aren't there to be seen. ... Wireless networks are much less secure," said Sarah Hicks, a vice president at Symantec Corp., a digital security company.

Hicks advises consumers to create passwords for all their devices and networks, install software that can protect against outside attacks and viruses, and open e-mails only from known sources. (Protecting your network)

She said some wireless devices can be particularly dangerous because they constantly scan the area in search of available wireless networks. She recommends changing the settings so they don't mistakenly come across a harmful network.

"Wireless networks are great," Hicks said. "They enable a lot of freedom, but they also come with risks. Consumers need to protect themselves."


www.edition.cnn.com

Japan aide calls for business as usual with Korea

TOKYO.- A day after a visit to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine by Japan's prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi, his foreign minister tried to assuage Seoul's anger over the visit. Nobutaka Machimura told the JoongAng Daily and other Korean reporters yesterday that he hoped scheduled visits to Tokyo by President Roh Moo-hyun in December and Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon in November would not be canceled.

"Exchanges between the two governments should not be stopped because of one issue," the minister said. "When there are problems it's important to have in-depth discussions." The Blue House said yesterday it might cancel Mr. Roh's trip to Tokyo and that plans for a meeting of the two leaders in Busan next month at the APEC summit were also on hold.Mr.

Koizumi's fifth visit to the shrine, where executed World War II war criminals are among those honored, triggered still another outburst of anger from Seoul and Beijing and complaints from some southeast Asian nations. Relations between Korea and its former colonial master have never been better than an uneasy peace despite the huge volume of trade and investment between the neighbors.

Other irritants include a territorial dispute over islets in the East Sea (Sea of Japan) and Japanese textbooks that seem to Koreans to glorify its imperial past and play down atrocities committed against Koreans.

Mr. Machimura said that efforts to restart talks with North Korea on the establishment of diplomatic relations are making no progress because of a demand by Pyongyang that he refused to discuss. Other reports from here yesterday said a dispute over the location of the next round of talks had stalled them, but that both had now agreed to meet in Beijing at the end of this month.


www.joongangdaily.joins.com

Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, CHP and 21st Century Insurance Host Car Seat Safety Program

Mighty Ducks Goalies and Actor Erik Estrada Will be in Attendance to Help Spread the Word on the Importance of Child Safety Seats Through Special Charity Drive and Event at Arrowhead Pond.

ANAHEIM, Calif.--(HISPANIC PR WIRE - BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 8, 2004--On Saturday, Jan. 10, 2004, the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in partnership with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and 21st Century Insurance will host a safety fair at the Arrowhead Pond, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., where local residents will receive a free child safety seat inspection and installation. In support of the safety program, Mighty Ducks' goalies J.S. Giguere and Martin Gerber will both be on hand at the event.

At the fair, parents can have specially trained CHP officers inspect and, if necessary, replace and install a new car seat donated by 21st Century and the Mighty Ducks. In this unique, life-saving program, 21st Century will donate $10 toward the purchase of new car seats for every save made by the Ducks' goalies this year. "This is a terrific program that allows us to directly contribute to our local community and most importantly, help save the lives of children," said Mighty Ducks goalie J.S. Giguere.

The hundreds of saves by Ducks' goalies Giguere and Gerber thus far have helped 21st Century purchase and donate car seats for the annual statewide campaign. The insurance company will continue to donate several hundred more safety seats to underserved families at upcoming events during the year.

Actor Erik Estrada will also join fair participants to spread the word on child seat safety. Estrada, best known for his role as CHP Officer Frank Poncherello, stated, "It is a documented fact that child safety seats save lives. As a concerned parent of a young child, I urge every parent to get the right car seats for their children! As well, always make sure child safety seats are installed safely and correctly."

Children must accompany their parent or guardian at the safety fair and inspections are done on a first-come, first-served basis.

ABOUT THE MIGHTY DUCKS
The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim are the reigning Western Conference Champions in the National Hockey League. The team is coming off the best season in franchise history and returns a core group of players for the 2003-04 campaign. For more information about the Mighty Ducks, visit the team's Web site at http://www.mightyducks.com 21st Century Insurance Founded in 1958, 21st Century Insurance is a pioneer of the direct-to-consumer marketing of personal automobile insurance, serving customers in California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

The company provides full service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at 1-800-211-SAVE and its company Web site, http://www.21st.com. 21st Century Insurance insures more than 1.2 million vehicles in California, holds an A+ (Superior) financial rating from A.M. Best, the world's oldest independent insurance rating and information service, and an A+ from Standard and Poors. --30--ST/np* CONTACT: Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Jesse Tyler, 714-940-2962

Securing a home equity credit line has pros, cons

By JEFF BROWN.- After watching an unemployed friend pay bills by drawing on a home equity line of credit, a reader asks if it's wise to set up a credit line for an emergency fund.
It's not a bad idea, so long as you note the hazards.

A home equity line of credit, or HELOC, is basically a second mortgage on your home, with a floating interest rate that can go up or down each month. If your home were currently worth $300,000 and you owed $200,000 on your first mortgage, you'd have $100,000 in equity that could serve as collateral on a home equity loan.

Of course, this means that if you stop making payments, the lender can foreclose and sell your home to cover the debt, as with a regular mortgage.

To qualify for an equity loan, you generally must prove that you earn enough to make the payments. So if you're thinking about an emergency fund, you'd be wise to get such a loan while you have a job.

Because equity loans are secured by a property, the lender takes less risk than with unsecured loans such as credit cards. That's why HELOCs usually have fairly low interest rates - currently 6 percent to 7.5 percent, depending on the borrower's credit rating.

With a line of credit, you are authorized a maximum amount to borrow, and you can take any amount up to that limit any time you want. HELOCs typically provide borrowers with checkbooks and debit cards. Your monthly statement will show the current debt and minimum payment required, just as a credit card statement would.

A second type of home equity loan, the installment loan, gives the borrower a lump sum when the loan is approved, and the borrower begins making payments right away.
The interest rate is fixed for the life of the loan, as with a traditional mortgage. Although that's an advantage, installment loans are not as suitable for an emergency fund, because you must begin payments even if you have no immediate use for the money.

With both types of equity loans, interest payments on debts of up to $100,000 are generally deductible on the federal income tax return, which is not the case for credit-card loans. That means the real, after-tax rate on a 7 percent equity loan would be 5.25 percent, assuming a 25 percent tax bracket.

To shop for a HELOC, you can go online - but first, some warnings:
Many HELOCs have low introductory "teaser" rates. Focus instead on the annual percentage rate, or APR, which accounts for fees and the true interest rate after any teaser period ends.
Look for the index that will be used to adjust the interest rate every month after the teaser period.

Know the maximum the loan can charge. I saw one that started with a 3.99 percent teaser but could go as high as 24 percent.

Beware of balloon payments. Some HELOCs offer dirt-cheap minimum payments that cover interest only, so that the whole debt remains due some years down the road.
Understand that even if you don't use it, a big line of credit can hurt your ability to get other loans. Lenders worry that you could go on a spending spree and rack up more debt than you can handle.

Jeff Brown is a syndicated columnist for Knight Ridder News. His column appears every Tuesday in The Record.

SAS is offering special Christmas presents this festive season

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has special Christmas presents for those travelling to Europe this December – and all Travel Agents have the chance to receive a special giveaway too…

SAS offers passengers flying Business Class, Business Combination or Economy Extra Combination a free stopover night at the new Adina Apartment Hotel Copenhagen and a free entrance ticket to the famous Tivoli Gardens Christmas Market. Economy Class passengers will each receive a free ticket to the Tivoli Gardens Christmas Market. These special offers are valid for passengers travelling with SAS this December and must be booked by 1 November.

(Conditions apply)
Travel Agents booking a SAS Special Christmas Stopover offer have the chance to win a special Christmas present – a weekend getaway for two at a Medina Apartment Hotel in Australia ! Each ticket booked automatically enters you into the lucky draw.

Adina Apartment Hotel Copenhagen
The new Adina Apartment Hotel Copenhagen opens on 12 December next to Copenhagen 's new ferry terminal, approximately five minutes walk to the Little Mermaid and 15-20 minutes walk to the central shopping streets and other major sights. The upmarket apartment hotel is owned by Australia 's Toga Hospitality Group, which operates the Medina brand. Adina Copenhagen offers 126 spacious apartments, as well as a restaurant, pool, gym, meeting rooms and parking. The room included with the SAS Offer is a 1-bedroom apartment.

Christmas in Copenhagen
A Christmas stopover in Copenhagen promises something special. Thousands of lights illuminate the cobbled streets and old buildings, each square has its own Christmas tree and every shop window is decorated. There's fantastic Christmas shopping in major international retail stores along the major pedestrian street 'Strøget' or in small and individual neighbourhood shops.
Christmas markets are a city tradition and the most famous is in Tivoli with its beautiful lamp-lit gardens, skating lake, miniature villages cloaked in snow, and small shops full of unique gifts and goodies. The market is open daily from 12-8pm until 31 December 2005.

SAS Special Christmas Fares
The SAS Special Christmas Fares are on sale now and start from: Economy Class: $1999, Economy Extra*: $2450, Business Combination: $3199 and Business all the way: $5150. Fares are Nett to travel agents. Taxes are additional from $250.

*Economy Extra gives you a lot more for a little extra: Fly Economy Class from Australia to Asia, then continue to your final destination in Europe with SAS in Economy Extra – the class in between Business and Economy - which includes a separate cabin of 24 seats, almost a metre of leg room, wider seats with adjustable head, neck and foot rests, personal TV screen, speed lane check-in and upgraded personal in-flight service.

For more information please call SAS on 1300 727 707 or visit www.flysas.com.

Business looking up at IBM despite profit dip

COMPUTER giant IBM has topped Wall Street expectations with its latest figures, on the back of a recovery in its consulting and services business, despite overall profits cooling.
Earlier this year, the firm, dubbed Big Blue, suffered a slowdown in services, which accounts for about 50 per cent of its revenues. But business has picked up after landing a series of lucrative deals.

In May, IBM said it was to cut 13,000 jobs, or about four per cent of its workforce, with lay-offs hitting hardest in Europe, and taking its global workforce down to around 310,000.
Third-quarter net profits at the world's largest computer company dipped to £866 million from some £887m a year earlier.

Sales fell 7.8 per cent to £12.3 billion, reflecting the disposal of IBM's personal-computer division which was sold to China's Lenovo Group.
Lenovo, now the third-biggest PC maker in the world, bought Big Blue's loss-making unit in May in a deal worth around £700m.

Chief executive Sam Palmisano said: "IBM had a good quarter. It showed the strength of our business model across hardware, software and services, and we continued to see the benefit of the strategic transitions that we've implemented in past quarters."
Mr Palmisano added that restructuring actions and streamlined management in Europe were starting to yield results.

"Many of the businesses that are central to our strategy - including middleware, midrange servers, and business performance transformation services, especially in our engineering and technology services - performed well, especially in emerging markets."
And he pointed out that IBM was well positioned in its microelectronics business as the game console industry moves to its next generation of products. "Our clients are leveraging IBM's unique ability to apply innovative, high-value skills and solutions to transform their businesses and industries," he explained.
Analsyst Ed Crotty said: "Overall I think it was a solid quarter. The bookings came through as we expected."

The fall in net profits can be partially blamed on a £300m tax charge that the computer firm had to make as it repatriated £5.14bn in profits earned overseas.
Meanwhile, IBM warned currency translation effects from its global business were likely to cut fourth-quarter revenue by around three per cent at current rates.

Earlier this year, IBM leapt ahead in the market for supercomputers used to solve the world's toughest research problems, according to a survey.

The firm now claims to have just over half of the world's top 500 supercomputers - 259 machines - up 8.8 per cent on November 2004, giving it a 51.8 per cent share of the global market.

IBM shares have slumped 16 per cent this year compared with the 2.5 per cent gain of the American Stock Exchange Computer Hardware Index.


business.scotsman.com

Sometimes the Best Christmas Presents Are the Smallest Ones

BookSurge proudly announces the publication of So, This is Christmas!

UNITED KINGDOM (PRWEB) October 12, 2005 -- Booksurge announces the publication of So, This is Christmas!Each year as the holiday season approaches, and everyone is rushing around shopping for the latest toys, it seems that many have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas.

Fredericks has written So, This is Christmas! to remind us of why we are celebrating in the first place. His cleverly narrated stories about three children in very different situations around the world remind us to be thankful for: the kindness of strangers, the importance of having love rather than gifts, and that Christ is always by our side.Fredericks has often found himself noticing how people were “so predominantly focused on the modern commercial trappings” of Christmas.

Sadly, amid all the frantic shopping for the latest trends, there weren’t many things that even referred to Christ. This got him thinking about those youngsters throughout the world who have never even had the chance to participate in this “commercial experience” of the Christmas season. Fredericks says it was interesting to imagine what would prompt those who are less fortunate financially to still have “a true appreciation of Christmas.”

Through his short stories about Manuela (a young girl living in a refugee camp), Simon (a well-to-do boy), James (an orphan), and finally, Santa Claus, Fredericks wants to impart to his readers that sometimes the most “ordinary” of experiences can provide just the right spiritual uplift for someone to truly appreciate the joy and hope that Christ and his birthday should bring to people all over the world.About the Author:Fredericks has lived and worked on three different continents (Europe, Africa and North America) and is a British citizen, although he acquired his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Business Administration degrees in the U.S.

As a youth, he was the first and only black boy in an exclusive boarding school in England in the ‘60s, yet states that he never felt out of place and remembers it as a “rugged adventure.” Blessed with a sense of humor, a keen ability to interact with strangers, and adapt to his environment, neither language nor culture has hindered his ability to communicate with others. Frederick affirmed his talent for storytelling while visiting friends in Alsace (the French Alps).

Since there was no electricity (and thus no television!), he spent his evenings entertaining the children with his gripping stories. The interesting part is that the children only spoke French! Yet, each day/night the demand for more stories grew…Fredericks now has four children of his own; he loves to travel and has an insatiable appetite for new experiences.

He hopes that people of all ages, races, cultures and religions will enjoy So, This is Christmas! and receive from it the universal notions of goodwill, love and kindness.For more information, please contact the author at e-mail protected from spam bots or check out his website at www.frederickstheauthor.com. Books are available to order at BookSurge.com, Amazon.com, Alibris.com, and Abebooks.com

Settlement in Marketing of a Drug for AIDS

By ERIC LICHTBLAU
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 - A Swiss biotechnology company agreed on Monday to pay more than $700 million to settle federal charges that it illegally marketed an AIDS drug by concocting a dubious medical test for those with the disease and offering doctors an all-expenses-paid trip to France to prescribe the drug.

The agreement between the Justice Department and the company, Serono, is the third-largest settlement recovered by the federal government in a health care fraud case, officials said.
Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales said the company "put its desire to sell more drugs above the interest of patients."

Serono Labs, the company's Massachusetts-based American arm, received a patent in 1996 to market a drug called Serostim, aimed at reversing the effects of AIDS wasting, or profound weight loss. But that same year, federal officials said, the rapid development of AIDS cocktails caused a sharp decline in AIDS wasting - and in the demand for Serostim - which prompted the company to develop a much more aggressive marketing strategy for its product.

As a result, prosecutors said in a criminal filing as part of the settlement, Serono sought to "redefine AIDS wasting" beginning in the late 1990's and developed a computerized medical test that ostensibly would determine "body cell mass."

The test results signaled that patients had lost body cell mass and "were wasting, even if they had lost no weight or had actually gained weight," prosecutors said in the filing. With the test results in hand, doctors would then prescribe Serostim to treat the supposed problem - at a cost of more than $21,000 a treatment.

But Michael J. Sullivan, the United States attorney in Boston whose office handled the investigation, said on Monday that 85 percent of the prescriptions were unnecessary. He told reporters that the medical testing procedure was "almost voodoolike" and that he suspected some patients may have also suffered unnecessary side effects as a result of taking the AIDS drug.

Thomas Gunning, general counsel for the company's American division, disputed that assertion in an interview. "We have no reason to think anyone was harmed," he said. "This product is human growth hormone, and it's a product with a very good safety profile."
Serono agreed to plead guilty to two criminal counts, admitting that it had violated federal law by conspiring to provide fraudulent medical devices without proper approval from the Food and Drug Administration.

"We acknowledge that this device was not approved for the purposes of diagnosing AIDS wasting," Mr. Gunning said, "but it's important to understand that we stopped distributing those testing machines more than three years ago."

The company also admitted that it provided what amounted to illegal remuneration to a group of AIDS doctors by paying for them to attend a medical "conference" in Cannes, France, in 1999 in exchange for the doctors' writing more prescriptions for Serostim.

The conference grew out of a plan, conceived by Serono executives in Massachusetts in 1999 and called the "$6m-6 Day Plan," to increase lagging sales by $6 million in six days.
Prosecutors said select physicians who treated AIDS patients, including several unnamed doctors in New York City, were given all-expenses-paid trips to France, "in return for the physicians' writing additional prescriptions of Serostim for patients." Mr. Sullivan refused to say whether any physicians who attended the conference were targets of the federal inquiry.
Two people who worked on the sales and manufacturing of the company's products have already pleaded guilty to criminal charges in connection with the scheme, and four other former executives at Serono have also been indicted.

As part of its settlement with the Justice Department, Serono agreed to pay $704 million in penalties, including $136.9 million in criminal fines and $567 million in civil penalties.
State Medicaid agencies that paid for Serostim from 1996 to 2004 will be reimbursed under the terms of the settlement, and the company's lab will also be banned from taking part in federal health care programs for five years, officials said.

But the company stressed that the ban would not prevent patients who currently take Serostim or the company's other drugs from being reimbursed under Medicaid and Medicare programs, and it said all its products would remain available to the public.

The federal investigation, lasting four years, began after a company lab employee in Massachusetts came forward in 2000 to accuse the company of filing false claims. Four other company whistle-blowers in Maryland and Connecticut later brought similar claims; all five now stand to divide $51 million from the settlement under federal whistle-blower or qui tam law.
AIDS treatment advocates applauded the settlement.

"We are extremely pleased by the news that Serono is being held accountable for its conduct and that state and federal governments are being reimbursed for their payments for what has been shown to be an almost completely unnecessary drug," said Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which brought one whistle-blower suit against Serono last year.

Serono said it could not provide an exact tally on how many people with AIDS had taken Serostim, but it said the number was "in the thousands" since the drug was introduced.

Les Brown to Keynote Millionaire Marketing Wealth Seminar on

Les Brown, world renowned, motivational speaker and leading expert on personal and professional development, along with a world-class team of marketing experts will share the stage October 20 as they present the Millionaire Marketing Wealth Seminar.

San Ramon, CA (PRWEB) October 18, 2005 -- An evening filled with inspiration, education and implementation is planned at the San Ramon, CA Marriott Hotel for Thursday, October 20. Les Brown, world renowned, motivational speaker and leading expert on personal and professional development, along with a world-class team of marketing experts will share the stage as they present the Millionaire Marketing Wealth Seminar. The event is part of a series of Millionaire Marketing Wealth Seminars which continues to receive favorable reviews from past attendees.

It is designed to capture the entrepreneurial spirit that gives individuals in the marketing and sales disciplines a distinction of their own. "I used to dream of my future, but I wasn't really sure what the next step was," stated Thelma Tilman, an entrepreneur from Chicago, Illinois. "The last time Millionaire Marketing Seminar came to town, I learned proven steps to overcome my personal obstacles. I actually started to making my dreams happen... I thank the incredible and awesome motivational speakers for giving me that jump start I needed," she concluded.

Attendees can expect "door prizes," free gifts and other giveaways. Topics will address dynamic strategies for achieving business and marketing success and include:

"Information Products and Instant Income," and "Profiting With Direct Mail and Trade Shows." The event -- which is expected to be sold out, early -- is scheduled for Thursday, October 20, 2005.

Registration begins promptly at 5:30 P.M.A percentage of the proceeds will go towards the American red Cross Fund for Hurricane Relief and Dynamic Development Consortium for Youth at Risk. Featured Speakers:Kevin Bracey - CEO of LifeChangers International Mitch Carson - Direct Mail Strategist. Impact Products, LLCLakita Long-White - New Beginnings Enterprises, Inc. (NBE) Founder and PresidentJanet Switzer -Professional Speaker, Co-author with Jack Canfield of the Best-Seller, "The Success Principles:

How to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be"Date: Thursday, October 20, 2005

Time: 6:15 PM -10:00 PM
Location: San Ramon Marriott Hotel 2600 Bishop DriveSan Ramon, CA USA 94583
Phone: 925.867.9200
Parking: Free
General Admission: $32.50
Space is Limited.

For additional information and accommodations for media representatives who plan to attend, contact Kevin Lynch.Mobile: 1.510.682.4104e-mail: e-mail protected from spam bots web: http://www.prolificseminars.com Host: Prolific Concepts, LLCSource: eMediaCampaigns!http://www.franbriggs.com/emc.html This news release contains forward-looking statements and projections concerning the organizer's plans, strategies, expectations, predictions, operations and future events or conditions. They are "forward-looking statements" as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "may," "will" "plan," "intend," "estimate," "could," and other similar expressions, are intended to identify these forward-looking statements.

Construction Industry: Success And Challenges

New Era (Windhoek).- THE role-players in the construction industry in Namibia are the suppliers, the contractors, the consultants and the financiers. The government being the biggest employer in the industry is mainly responsible for creating jobs through public works, for example, buildings, railways and roads.
The suppliers are mainly importing building materials from the Republic of South Africa (RSA) with very limited local manufacturing, for example, cement bricks, paint and precast concrete products.

It is worth mentioning that there are only few suppliers of building material in Namibia. This has led to high prices of goods since there is no competition in many towns and villages. The long established suppliers tend to cede contracts of SMEs while they only give them small credit on material, thus controlling their growth. There are even very few black suppliers of building material.

The contractors are the "pistons" in the "engine" of the construction industry. They get things done. The traditional body representing the contractors in Namibia is known as the Construction Industries Federation (CIF).

This body has been representing the well-established contractors with very low, if any, membership from the historically disadvantaged community. After independence, the government facilitated small historically disadvantaged contractors to participate in the government construction tenders. This was through unbundling of large tenders and by standardizing documentation of a classroom program initiated by the Ministry of Education to address a huge backlog left by the colonial administration. These contractors formed their own association in order to be counted. As an example, the Namibia National Constructors Association (NANCA) was formed with members in the Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Ohangwena, Kavango, Caprivi and Khomas regions. Small contractors were also trained in labour-based works in the construction of rural gravel roads.

The government saw it necessary to have one body representing all the stakeholders in the construction industry. The first meeting was therefore convened in Windhoek in 1993. Apart from the Construction Industries Federation (CIF), the majority of such contractors were from the historically advantaged backgrounds. A national committee was elected and it sent a delegation to several SADC initiative meetings on the construction industry.

Also, after independence, our government introduced an open market economy which brought international construction firms to Namibia. This brought tough competition in the construction industry. The introduction of black firms and international companies helped to stabilize the escalation of the capital costs for the past ten years - the profit margin was reduced to 10%-15%. Thus, our government was able to buy more with less. This was achieved by empowering the historically disadvantaged Namibians while promoting free trade at the same time.

The consultants in the construction industry are mainly architects, engineers, quantity surveyors and project managers. Most of them are white male and females with an exception of five black Namibian registered professionals who are running their own consulting firms. Two architects and three engineers. This skewed image has resulted in many communication problems between the white consultants and the black contractors with heavy racial overtones. Most of the project specifications are written in a way which exclude most black contractors. The few who qualify to be evaluated are out-motivated for the reason that they are not known to consultants. This is against the government policy and regulations. There is therefore a need to train government officials in scrutinizing the project specifications not only to be inclusive but also to be user-friendly. There is also a need to have a clear policy which encourages designers to specify local building materials. I strongly believe that the ultimate solution in empowering our small builders is in training our own young people here in Namibia to become professional staff and consultants. They will be responsible for our building environment. This will help to fulfill the goals of our Vision 2030.

The financiers have an important role to play in the industry. They are expected to issue letters of intent as well as bank ratings to their clients who are tendering on construction jobs. The historically disadvantaged individuals in the high-risk industry like construction find it difficult to be creditworthy at their banks. The small black companies are still struggling to get performance guarantees from their banks to start and finish small government building projects within a stipulated time frame of four months. Staying longer on site means losing their profits.
In order to redress the historical imbalance, our government introduced some legal "tools" and "vehicles" which include:

-The Policy on Equity
- The Tender Board Act of 1996
- The Affirmative Action Policy
-The Nation Wide Improvement of Physical Facilities Programme
-The White Paper on Labour Based Works
-The Recruitment of Ex-Combatants
-The Social Security Commission
-The Employment Equity Commission, and
- The Rural Electrification Programme.

The Nation Wide Improvement of Physical Facilities Programme was introduced 14 years ago by the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication to tackle the backlog of school buildings especially in the rural areas that were affected by the war. The programme was based on the concept of unbundling to allow small contractors to tender even for one school, which meant even one small building, according to their financial, managerial and technical capacity. The performance guarantee was reduced from 10% to 5%. At the moment more than 150 small contractors are participating in this programme countrywide.
The Labour Based Roads Construction Programme was also started by the Department of Transport 12 years ago with pilot projects. More than 10 small black contractors were trained. This training programme needs to be continued. The Ministry of Mines and Energy have also started engaging small contractors in rural electrification projects by unbundling large tenders. Many more programmes could be implemented to ensure job access for SMEs throughout the year.

The Success Story
The empowerment success story should be measured by the maximum participation of the target groups in empowerment schemes and having tangible results on the ground.
At least 90% of the budget of the National Wide Improvement of Physical Facilities Programme is directly spent by the black businesses in the construction industry. This includes women owned businesses. The rest of the government construction tenders are also partly benefiting the historically disadvantaged target group through joint ventures and sub-contracting.
It is also important to mention that small contractors are joining hands by meeting at marketing level in order to gain strength and recognition. This free association has guaranteed the government that:

- When one member contractor fails to deliver, other members will complete the project within budget, time and of good quality while they discipline the other member.
- Member contractors are sharing skills and knowledge.
- Material suppliers will be encouraged to do business with a large group.
- Workers employed by the contractors of the same associations will earn uniform wages which promote health labour negotiations.
- Training is easy to do through one office which represents its members.
- Follow-up on latent defects is possible through the association's office.

The government manages to spend the budget while empowering the SMEs. More people, including ex-combatants, are employed in the construction industry and the risk of losing their jobs is spread thin by the number of SMEs.

Challenges
- There are challenges which need to be addressed in order to speed up the empowerment process and widen the scope thereof.

- As there is no uniformity in the way different levels of government procure, the policy on policy works which will eventually lead to the Public Works Act is needed to bring harmony the way we procure with public funds.

- There is a limited scope in empowerment programmes and projects. The few which are running are only seasonal. It is therefore essential to widen the scope to include other sectors and stagger them throughout the financial year. This will ensure job availability to our SMEs at all times.

- Target groups do not have a guarantee to remain in business due to the unfair competition from bigger businesses and international companies. It is therefore necessary to categorize construction tenders and professional appointments. It is also better to guarantee SMEs an incubation period of at least three years.

- The banks are still reluctant to issue performance guarantees to SMEs which win government tenders. It will be good to create a package which will automatically guarantee SMEs all necessary support especially in financial and management issues.

The manufacturing of local building material like granite, marble, flat stones and lime needs to be promoted. This will help to develop our buildings and infrastructure with local content. It will create jobs to more Namibians. The continuous research and documentation of our building material is long overdue.

The education and training in Namibia does not adequately address the needs of the construction industry. This is why we still have more than 75% of the professionals (engineers, architects, quantity surveyors and project managers) above the age of 50 years. This is also why more than 90% of the SME contractors cannot fill out traditional tender documents. A sustainable training budget is therefore needed. We need to legislate a Training Levy concept to address this problem.

The construction industry gives direct benefit to the economy through capital projects and maintenance contracts. The impact is normally felt instantly on the ground as the buying power is brought to the people in all corners of Namibia. It is therefore important that empowerment tools and vehicles be redefined and streamlined in order to benefit the target groups. Most of all there is a need for a collaborative effort by all players - especially the political commitment cannot be substituted by any other effort. The number of employees in the construction industry could be tripled if co-ordination is done with dedication and these proposals are implemented without delay.

Jazz For Herbie - a benefit for Toronto's Sick Kids Hospital

“Jazz For Herbie 2005” musical benefit for The Herbie Fund will take place from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the original “Jazz For Herbie” home…the fabulous and funky “Rex Hotel & Jazz Bar”. Doors open at 12:00 noon with the young sound of the Matt Fruchtman Quartet.

The event will be a great time for all ages—perfect for the whole family! “Jazz For Herbie” is being presented by Canada’s only 24-hour jazz station, JAZZ.FM91 and The Herbie Fund. Larry Green, on-air personality from JAZZ.FM91 will be handling the hosting duties, and there will be a number of “Giveaways” sponsored by Eagle Rock Entertainment, Justin Time Records, Universal/Verve Music and JAZZ.FM91.

Producing this glorious event once again, are jazz pianist, composer and arranger, Ron Davis and jazz vocalist and composer, Leah State. As always, the “Jazz for Herbie” event directly supports The Herbie Fund. Since its inception in 1979, The Herbie Fund has provided over 400 children from around the world with lifesaving surgery at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children.

Earlier this year, people across the world followed the story of the Zimbabwean conjoined twins, who, with the assistance of The Herbie Fund, successfully underwent separation surgery at The Sick Kids’ Hospital. Putting out the call for performers for the fourth year in a row “Jazz for Herbie” producers, Leah State and Ron Davis continue to marvel at the huge and enthusiastic response they receive from Toronto’s jazz community.

“Once again, Toronto’s jazz community, has shown that it has a world-class heart to match its world-class talent, ” says State. “Over 40 players have agreed to come down and donate their time and music to this fantastic cause….that’s in addition to the 150 musicians who have performed at previous Jazz for Herbie benefits. Amazing.

” Every “Jazz For Herbie” fundraising concert features a new group of talented and generous artists—this way, the event stays fresh, entertaining, and gives many artists a chance to give of themselves to this incredibly worthy cause. “Jazz For Herbie - 05” is committed to including the entire jazz community, and most especially…the new, young, emerging jazz artists.

“Jazz For Herbie 2005” benefit will feature performances from Daniel Barnes, Tara Davidson, Artie Roth, Pat LaBarbera, Rosanne Agasee, Chris Plock, Beverly Taft, Ed Vokurka, Chris Hunt, Serafin, Mike Downes, Scott Morin (Universal Music Jazz Label Manager!), Kiki Misumi, Fern Lindzon, Billy Newton-Davis, Ted Quinlan, Bobby Hsu, Greg de Denus, Thyron Lee Whyte, Ted Warren, Richard Whitehouse, Mirobolus, Gordon Sheard, Corry Sobol, David Occhipinti, Hilario Duran, Angela Scappatura, Larra Skye, Jason Hunter, Leah State and Ron Davis …as well as some very special guests! The rotating A-List “House Band” will include Daniel Barnes, Terry Clarke, Brian Dickinson, Aubrey Dayle, Mike Downes, Hilario Duran, David Occhipinti, Ted Quinlan, Artie Roth, Gordon Sheard, Steve Wallace, Ted Warren and Richard Whitehouse.

According to Co-Producer, Ron Davis, “Where does all this talent come from? Toronto is blessed with terrific musicians. And just as our local jazz people have international stature, the equally blessed Sick Kids’ Hospital and The Herbie Fund, are local institutions saving the lives of children from all over the world.”

The artistic theme this year is “My First Song”, which is bound to result in some delightful and surprising performances that will no doubt be a whole lot of fun as well as highly entertaining—for adults and children alike. Throughout the event children’s activities (for all ages) will be sponsored and supervised by “The Sandbox Club”, under the direction of Lily Champniss.

www.home.nestor.minsk.by

Governor's office, business leaders to discuss health care

Officials from the governor's office will meet with the top level business leaders on Tuesday to discuss health care issues, including the increasing problem of the uninsured working poor.

Gov. Janet Napolitano wants to help increase health coverage for the working poor, as well as for employees of small businesses and retailers who do not offer insurance.
The Democratic governor plans on making health care a top issue next year.

Rising health care insurance and prescription drug costs make it difficult for some small businesses to offer coverage to their employees. A number of retailers and service companies also do not offer health benefits to part-time workers.

Possible solutions being discussed by state officials and the private sector include tax credits for small businesses to help them provide health insurance, expanding a state program aimed at the working poor and finding ways to decrease private sector health costs.
Labor unions are particularly critical of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) -- the state's largest employer -- because a number of the retailer's employees are on the state's version of Medicaid.

Republican legislative leaders are also meeting with top business lobbyists and executives this week to talk about next year's session at the state Capitol. Those discussions include possible tax cuts and regulatory relief.
Relations between the governor and state Assembly Republicans are poor and both sides are expected to push competing tax programs next year, which is also an election year.

www.phoenix.bizjournals.com

GM, UAW reach tentative health plan

General Motors has reached a tentative deal with the United Auto Workers to cut health care costs.
GM Chairman Rick Wagoner says the company will save millions of dollars because of the new deal, which still has to be ratified by the rank and file.

Those specific details aren't being released by Wagoner. But we can tell you GM's UAW workers and retirees will be certainly be paying more for health care.

The tentative agreement covers more than 750,000 hourly workers and dependents, retirees and surviving spouses in the United States.

Wagoner also indicated some manufacturing plants will be closed by the end of the year. He wouldn't indicate how many or which ones.

The company also is considering selling a portion of its profitable GMAC subsidiary.
All of this is done to save the company money at a time when it's reported a quarterly loss of $1.6 billion.

Wagoner also announced GM will contribute to a new voluntary independent employee benefit plan. Similar plans are widely used by companies all over the U.S.
So if this is ratified, GM workers and retirees will be more in line with other companies when it comes to health care.

www.abclocal.go.com

Michelle Wie finds out it's not always easy being 16 and famous

Michelle Wie was surrounded all week by a protective cocoon that included her parents, her agents, her caddie and her Nike people for her eagerly awaited pro debut. All were in the California desert to make sure things went smoothly for the future star.

None of them, though, could help her as she sat alone in the press tent Sunday night, fighting back tears and trying to explain what went wrong.
She should have been $53,126 US richer, her first tournament cheque in her purse. She should have been eager to wing her way back to Hawaii and tell her friends at school about how they pay you to play a game you love.

Instead, she looked as if she had just been called into the principal's office for punishment.
If her name was Jeong Jang, Marisa Baena or any of the other anonymous players in the Samsung World Championship, she would have escaped without anyone saying a word. But this was Michelle Wie, who might as well replace the swoosh on her shirt and hat with big targets instead.

Her crime? You might stretch it and say she cheated, dropping her ball closer to the hole in Saturday's third round so she could salvage a par after hitting it into a bush.
Those more charitable would say she was simply a careless teenager who made a mistake.
Another group - which includes Wie and her entourage - would argue she did nothing wrong at all.

"I don't feel like I cheated," Wie said.

Don't ask Michael Bamberger which group he stands in. He said he was simply trying to protect the integrity of the game when he walked up to a rules official late Sunday afternoon to say he had concerns about how Wie handled the drop from a day before.

Bamberger is a writer for Sports Illustrated, a job that gives him up-close access to the play of field in golf. He and some other writers were following Wie around the course when she declared an unplayable lie in a Gold Lantana bush, then took a drop onto some nearby grass that to Bamberger seemed was closer to the hole - a no-no in golf.

The problem wasn't just that Bamberger made a case about it, though most journalists would argue that their job is to report the news, not make it. But he didn't have his fit of conscience until late the next day, which was way too late for Wie to make any remedy.

"I thought about it more and was just uncomfortable that I knew something," Bamberger said. "Integrity is at the heart of the game. I don't think she cheated. I think she was just hasty."
Being hasty, of course, is part of being a 16-year-old, which is part of the reason the LPGA Tour has a rule that you have to be 18 before you can become a full-time touring pro. Wie's caddie even warned her before she took the drop that she had to be careful not to drop the ball any closer to the hole.

www.canada.com

IBM, Rambus dominate late trading

Shares of International Business Machines dominated trade after the closing bell Monday, while shares of Rambus Inc. spiked after blowing past analyst expectations.

The Nasdaq-100 After Hours Indicator, which tracks the evening action of the technology-heavy index's leading shares, was down 0.68 point to 1549.20.

Shares of IBM (IBM) ticked modestly higher after the company reported a third-quarter profit of $1.5 billion, or 94 cents a share, compared to $1.6 billion, or 92 cents a share a year ago. Revenue came in at $21.5 billion, below Wall Street expectations and down from $23.4 billion. Analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call had forecast IBM to earn $1.13 a share on revenue of $21.7 billion.

Rambus Inc. (RMBS) shares rose over 6% to $12.31 at one point after the company reported third-quarter net earnings of $14.5 million, or 14 cents a share on revenue of $36 million. The chip technology company was expected to post earnings of 2 cents a share on revenue of $33 million.

Shares of Novellus Systems Inc. (NVLS) fell more than 1% at one point to $24.61 after the company said that its third-quarter profit fell to $23.4 million, or 17 cents a share, from $64.7 million, or 45 cents, a year ago. Revenue slid 18.5% to $338.9 million as chip manufacturers placed fewer orders for equipment.

The results missed Wall Street's per-share estimate of 21 cents but topped the revenue estimate of $321 million.

Copyright ©2005 MarketWatch, Inc. All rights reserved. Please see our Terms of Use. MarketWatch, the MarketWatch logo, and BigCharts are registered trademarks of MarketWatch, Inc."

Genting Group's Founder Wins "Travel Entrepreneur Of The Year"

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 (Bernama) -- Genting Group Founder and Honorary Life Chairman, Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong, won the prestigious Travel Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the TTG Travel Awards 2005.The special inaugural award pays tribute to an individual for his outstanding achievements and positive contributions to the region's tourism and travel industry, Genting said in a statement.

It was a double celebration for the group as Star Cruises, a member of the group won the Best Cruise Operator in the Asia-Pacific for the eighth time, a record-breaking feat and an exemplary record of its cruise products and service excellence.

The awards, hosted by TTG Asia, were presented to the Genting Group Thursday, in a grand ceremony in Pattaya, Thailand, attended by members of the travel trade including key industry figures, the media and other invited guests.

The TTG Travel awards presentation is an annual highlight in the travel industry calendar of events which recognises the most outstanding organisations in the travel industry within the Asia-Pacific.The Genting Group is a leading resort development specialist with international gaming expertise, having developed numerous major tourism projects in Asia, Australia and the US.

Dubai gets strong endorsement of German Travel Industry Convention

The 55th annual convention of the German Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (DRV) opened at the Dubai International Convention Centre (DICC) on Thursday night with over 1200 delegates who included the top-brass of Europe's leading tour operators like Thomas Cook and TUI and German government officials and envoys.

DRV is the world's third largest travel association with over 5,000 members, including the biggest European tour operators like TUI, Thomas Cook and Rewe Touristik. More than 80 % of Germans organize their holidays through the DRV member-companies. The Director General of Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), Mr. Khalid A bin Sulayem, in his welcome address at the opening ceremony of the four-day event, said: 'Both the Government and the private sector travel and tourism industry are delighted and honored that the DRV selected Dubai as the venue for this prestigious convention.' He said: 'In the first half of 2005, we recorded a 24% growth in German hotel guests in Dubai compared with the corresponding period last year. In 2004, more than 236,000 hotels guests came from Germany, an impressive increase of 51 per cent.

The growth level provides clear evidence that Dubai has what it takes to become even more popular with visitors in the years ahead.' He said German investment in Dubai continues to grow strongly and currently there are over 430 German companies based in Dubai and 145 in Jebel Ali Free Zone.

Mr. bin Sulayem said under the guidance and leadership of H H General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defense, Dubai's infrastructure was being innovatively and continuously developed to ensure that visitors experience the finest facilities available anywhere. He said: 'The DTCM has been actively working to support the German travel industry both through the marketing efforts and by constantly enhancing the facilities, attractions and services that Dubai offers visitors.

The DTCM Germany office has completed 15 years of its successful operation during which the number of German visitors to Dubai has seen consistent year-on-year growth.' In his opening address, Mr. Klaus Laepple, President of DRV, said: 'We are gathered here to confirm to Dubai the professional support of the German travel industry for the next years. Over many years and together with the DTCM, the German tour operators have established the brand Dubai in the German market. The brand Dubai stands for highest expectations when traveling.

Also in the future, Dubai has to position itself via its quality. He added: 'Dubai can continue to count on the strong support of the German travel agents and tour operators. Until 2008, Dubai is planning on doubling its hotel capacities. In order to be able to master this great challenge, the emirate needs professional tourism partners on the side of tour operators and sales.' The German ambassador to the UAE, Mr. Jurgen Stelzer, said: 'The UAE is a safe destination for the German visitors given the safety levels. The bulk of the German visitors come to Dubai to enjoy the many facilities the emirate offers.' Mr. Awadh Seghayer Al Ketbi, Director of Dubai Convention Bureau (DCB), said: 'It is a privilege to host this convention in Dubai - the seventh venue outside Europe in the DRV's history.

The convention is a milestone of our hard work in Germany over the last 15 years. We are keen on building long-lasting relationship with powerful institutions like the DRV.' A promotional film was screened to the high-impact gathering in addition a presentation by a group of Emirati school girls. For the first time, the German Travel Agencies Day was observed in Dubai by the DRV on October 13th. The convention is being sponsored by 20 hotels and 10 local tour operators. The convention is being attended by the DRV board members, government officials and envoys.

U.S. Puts Pressure on Europe to Open Its Farm Markets

By TOM WRIGHT International Herald Tribune

ZURICH, Oct. 10 - The European Union came under pressure today to make new concessions to open its agricultural markets after the United States offered to slash farm subsidies to restart global trade talks.

But it remained unclear whether the American offer would bring about concessions by the European Union and other members of the World Trade Organization, which are meeting here this week to work on an outline for negotiations on a global trade deal scheduled for December in Hong Kong.

The United States trade representative, Rob Portman, pledged to cut some farm subsidies by 60 percent over five years. He also called for an "ambitious" reduction of export tariffs on agriculture products - which is considered a key sticking point in global trade talks - of 55 percent to 90 percent. Such reductions would disproportionately hit European markets, which are protected by much larger tariffs than those imposed by the United States.

Mr. Portman said it was now up to "those that subsidize more than the U.S." - referring to Europe and Japan - to move now to open their protected farm markets to American agricultural products.

"We are offering real cuts to U.S. farmers in exchange for market access," Mr. Portman said. "And if we are not able to achieve the market access, they can not be supportive."

The European Union's trade commissioner, Peter Mandelson, called the American move a "constructive step" and said Brussels would be willing to cut agricultural subsidies by 70 percent, exceeding its previous offer to reduce them by 65 percent.

But the European Union did not signal that it would agree to cut contentious farm tariffs on agriculture exports to the levels that Washington wants to see. Mr. Portman is seeking a reduction in export tariffs of 55 percent to 90 percent over five years as a condition of cutting its farm subsidies.

Japan also said it would not accept the American proposal as a basis for further discussions. "The reductions demanded of the E.U. and Japan are out of balance" of those the United States is making, the Japanese agriculture minister, Mineichi Iwanaga, said.

Many trade experts questioned whether the E.U.'s executive arm - which has already angered some European government for a promise last year to completely phase out farm export subsidies - will be able to secure further commitments from its 25 member nations.

Brussels also faces resistance within its own ranks. A letter, signed by 13 European trade ministers, including France, Italy and Ireland, was sent last week to the European Union's agriculture commissioner, Mariann Fischer Boel, in which the ministers raised concerns that concessions by Brussels have not been matched by the American offer.

By moving now, the United States has "upped the ante," said Jean-Pierre Lehmann, a professor of international economics at the Swiss business school IMD. "But Mandelson is not in a position to match that ante."

Mr. Mandelson acknowledged some European governments are "concerned about imbalances," but he said the United States' new proposals could help assuage those fears by showing that Washington is also making concessions.

The United States had been under pressure for months to provide detail's the Bush administration's commitment to cut farm subsidies. Mr. Portman's proposal comes after weeks of closed-door meeting with members of Congress who were opposed to any deal unless American farmers, led by the politically strong corn and beef industries, get better market access to Europe's 500 million consumers.

Europe has agreed to end export subsidies, which dampen world prices and hurt developing nations, but it still has high tariffs on farm imports and domestic subsidies worth about $60 billion each year. The United States has relatively low tariffs and officially spends about $19 billion on subsidies, although trade experts say the real number could be much higher.
Trade talks begun in Doha, Qatar, in 2001 under the World Trade Organization were termed a "development round" meant to help lift the world's poor nations out of poverty by giving their farmers better access to developed world markets. But rich countries have not met these promises, advocacy groups like Oxfam International say.

Developing countries said the American proposal could give some momentum to the talks, which have been stalled for more than a year. "It's a positive step," Egypt's trade minister, Rachid Mohamed, said. "There's a willingness from the U.S. to get things moving."
Trade officials, including those from the U.S. and the European Union, will meet again on Tuesday and Wednesday at the World Trade Organization's headquarters in Geneva for further talks. Other than agriculture, discussions are likely to center on American and European demands for large developing countries like Brazil, China and India to open their markets to Western industrial goods and services.

Meanwhile, the United States and Europe said they would discuss in Geneva ways to solve a growing trade dispute over state support for Boeing and Airbus.

Mr. Portman reiterated today Washington's concern that a European pledge this month to postpone aid for the development of Airbus's A350 aircraft was not a meaningful concession. The United States, which is demanding that Europe eliminate the subsidies, does not want to get involved in a negotiation that is "unlikely to result in any meaningful success," Mr. Portman said.

For its part, Europe wants the United States to make a commitment to reduce indirect support that it contends that Boeing receives in the form of research contracts.

Delphi CEO says collapse would harm world auto industry - FT

LONDON (Reuters) - The collapse of auto car parts supplier Delphi Corp. (DPH.N: Quote, Profile, Research) would damage most of the world's auto makers, the company's chief executive officer, Steve Miller, said in an interview published on Tuesday.
Speaking to the Financial Times, Miller said that could be avoided if the company makes enough cuts to ensure its survival.

Michigan-based Delphi filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Saturday, piling pressure on General Motors Corp. (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research), its biggest customer and former owner.
"If we do this right, Delphi will remain one of the world's leading global automotive suppliers," Miller said. "If we do it badly, Delphi may be broken up into small pieces, and America will have lost some of its precious industrial treasures.

"The impact of a collapse could potentially injure most of the world's automakers, and perhaps fatally wound General Motors. I am absolutely determined not to let that happen."
GM is closely tied to the unit it spun off in 1999 through complicated supply and labour agreements.

Miller said no decision had been made on Delphi's pension plans.
"We have about a $5 billion (2.85 billion pounds) shortfall in our plan assets to our plan liabilities," he told the FT. "Some have suggested that Chapter 11 (bankruptcy) means termination of the plans. That is simply not true, at least at this point in time.
"At Delphi, we have made no decision to terminate our pension plans."
He said unions would have to accept cuts to wages and benefits at Delphi to repay the pension plan shortfall.

"This will put the unions in the difficult position of perhaps having to make trade-offs between maximising the pay and benefits for active workers versus maximising the chances for saving the pension plans," he said.

Miller said Delphi's case was a "flash point, a test case" for a wider global conflict between the interests of current workers and retired employees.

"I fear something like inter-generational warfare, as young people increasingly resent having their wages reduced and taxed away to support social programs for their grandparents' income and health care concerns," he said.

Study: Cribs cut SIDS riskChance of newborns succumbing to sudden death fall when babies sleep alone with a a pacifier, report says

BY SYLVIA ADCOCKSTAFF WRITER
Babies should be put to sleep with pacifiers in their own cribs -- not in their parents' beds -- to minimize the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, according to new recommendations issued yesterday from the nation's largest organization of pediatricians.The first new guidance in five years on preventing SIDS deaths from the American Academy of Pediatrics is likely to be controversial, particularly among breast-feeding moms who sleep with their babies in their beds.

"We appreciate that the American Academy of Pediatrics is trying to protect the lives of newborns," said Lisa Parker, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee-based Attachment Parenting International, a support group that advocates the so-called "family bed" approach. "But we have concerns about these blanket recommendations. ... If there are working parents ... nighttime is the only time they can be with their babies."The new policy, which updates the academy's 2000 SIDS guidelines, also says that the only appropriate sleep position for infants is on their backs. Doctors have recommended that for years, but have also told mothers it is OK to let babies sleep on their sides. That is now considered too risky to even be considered an option, because infants could roll over onto their stomachs.Andrew Adesman, chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Schneider Children's Hospital, said he recognized that some of the guidelines would be controversial. "I think that the academy is taking a view focusing on safety first," he said. Adesman says he tells his own kids that as a parent, his three main jobs are keeping them safe, healthy and happy, in that order. "More than 2,000 babies die each year from SIDS," he said.Melissa Mitchell of Sag Harbor is the mother of a 9-month-old and she recently returned to work as a teacher. She said the co-sleeping arrangement works well in her household. "I was sleeping with him at the hospital," she said of her son, Tyler. "It just felt like it was the natural thing to do. ... I can sense him wake up before he even starts to wake up." It would be exhausting, she said, to get out of bed every time the baby needed to be fed instead of being able to fall back asleep with him at her side."The huge upside is the connection with the baby," said Nadgia James, of East Hampton, who shares her bed with 11-month-old Nia. "The physical connection with the baby is crucial."The death rate from SIDS has fallen sharply in recent years, now that parents are warned not to let their babies sleep on their stomachs or amid fluffy bedding or stuffed toys. But it remains the leading case of death in U.S. infants between ages 1 month and 1 year.The academy addressed concerns that have been raised about pacifiers in the past, Adesman said. The use of a pacifier until age 1 will not increase ear infections, which typically occur at older ages, and pacifiers used in infancy will not cause damage to permanent teeth, a longtime concern of parents.The academy recommends delaying pacifier use for breast-fed infants during the first month of life -- when SIDS risks are low -- "to ensure that breast-feeding is firmly established." And it says placing the crib near the parents' bed makes breast-feeding more convenient. Infants may be brought into the bed to nurse, but should be returned to their cribs afterward, the policy says.Laura Reno, spokeswoman for First Candle/SIDS Alliance, a national advocacy group, said her organization strongly supports the new recommendations. She lost a baby son to SIDS 21 years ago.The academy's recommendations are based on new research, including studies that have suggested that sucking pacifiers might help keep vulnerable infants from slumbering too deeply to rouse themselves.James, the mother of the 11-month-old, said there's only one thing for parents to do: "Read up as much you can and go with your good instincts."The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Vee-Dub's one top war machine

ROBOT-guided Volkswagen won a $2.5 million race across the Nevada desert yesterday, beating four other vehicles in a contest aimed at making warfare safer for humans.

The Pentagon-sponsored race displayed huge technological leaps since last year's inaugural race, when none of the self-driving vehicles crossed the finish line.
Stanley the Volkswagen, a VW Touareg designed by Stanford University, zipped through the 212km Mojave Desert course in six hours and 53 minutes. It used only its computer brain and sensors to navigate rough and twisting desert and mountain trails designed to imitate conditions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Stanford computer scientist Sebastian Thrun said he wanted to design automated systems to make next-generation cars safer for everyone, not just the military.
The vehicles were decked out with the latest sensors, lasers, cameras and radar that feed data to onboard computers, which helped them distinguish dangerous boulders from tumbleweeds and decide whether chasms were too deep to cross.

The course comprised winding dirt trails and dry lake beds filled with overhanging brush. – AP