Taipei Starts Countdown to 2010 Flora Expo
Wed ,25/11/2009Business Wire, Nov 25, 2009
TAIPEI,Taiwan — Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin announced on Nov. 6 the countdown of exactly
365 days to the opening of the 2010 Taipei International Gardening and
Horticulture Exposition and urged other cities and counties of Taiwan to
join Taipei City in putting Taiwan in the spotlight on the world stage
again.
Famous model Lin Chi-ling, who has been invited to be a public
information ambassador to help promote the grand event for the capital
city, said she hopes to spread Taipei Citys strength of beauty.
At the beginning of a press conference held in the newly constructed
Expo Hall, the Taipei Expo mascot Ya-by, the five flower fairies and 365
primary schoolchildren carrying flowers danced onto the stage, followed
by Mayor Hau and Ms. Lin, who then announced the opening of the Taipei
Expo in exactly one years time.
Mayor Hau said the Expo Hall is one of 14 exhibition pavilions of the
Taipei flora exposition and its chrysalis-like structure symbolizes that
Taiwan will develop from it into a beautiful butterfly, showing the
world the beauty of the island. He also invited other cities and
counties of Taiwan to join the gardening and horticulture Olympics,
making Taiwan shine in the international community again after the
successful hosting of the 2009 Deaflympics.
Ms. Lin, who rushed back from Lanzhou, China for the occasion, stunned
the audience when she appeared in a dress decorated with pink roses and
yellow orchids. And she agreed on the spot to serve as a public
information ambassador for the Taipei Expo when Mayor Hau extended the
invitation.
The top model said each flower speaks its own language and represents
different mood that has a healing effect, and she wants to spread to the
world community Taipei Citys strength of beauty and its goal of
preserving the Earth through sponsoring the flora exposition.
When asked by the press, Ms. Lin said the mayor is like sunflowers that
give off vigorous spirit and energy, while she represents a content
tulip in the Taipei Expo, which is the positive message she wants to
deliver to everyone.
Both the opening and closing ceremonies of the Taipei Expo will be held
at the 1,200-seat Expo Hall, also called the Butterfly Pavilion, located
in the Fine Arts Park
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Fox Insurance Announces Marketing Partnership with Ritter Insurance Marketing
Tue ,24/11/2009Business Wire, Nov 23, 2009
NEW YORK — Fox Insurance Company, a leading Medicare Part D sponsor, with offices
in New York, NY, announces today that Harrisburg, PA-based Ritter
Insurance Marketing has been named a marketing partner for the companys
two Medicare Part D plans for 2010.
We are very excited to be connected with Ritter Insurance Marketing to
inform potential beneficiaries about our two prescription drug plans for
Medicare beneficiaries. Ritter has long been seen as the agency that
represents the highest quality products, and its agents are known for
their customer service, said Jaydip Dattaray, Chief Operating Officer
of Fox Insurance Company. We believe that we share this commitment with
Ritter, as Fox Insurance Company has always been dedicated to and is
known for having the highest level of customer service, even being
recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for our
work in that area.
Fox chose to partner with Ritter based on its long-standing history with
marketing insurance products to the senior market, one of the main
targets for Foxs offerings. This is also beneficial for both companies
as the Ritter relationship will likely expand as Fox increases its
licensure to all 50 states in the United States. Furthermore, Fox has
worked closely with Ritter to ensure that both companies offer services
for its agents on each companys Web site. Fox has long maintained its
agent Web portal in order to provide easy processing for Ritter agents,
while Ritter provides full online support and information for its agents
who market Foxs products.
We are very proud to be associated with Fox Insurance Company, and to
offer our top-tier marketing services for its two Medicare Part D
prescription drug plans, said Craig J. Ritter, President and Owner of
Ritter Insurance Marketing. Ritter is known for the quality of the
products we market and the success of our marketing associates. We
believe that this partnership represents benefits for both parties, and
look forward to a long and successful relationship.
About Fox Insurance Company
Fox is a stand-alone Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan Sponsor
(PDP) that has been operational since 2006 under a federal contract with
the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Since that time, Fox has
expanded exponentially and is currently serving approximately 80,000
Medicare eligible beneficiaries
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International Battery Chosen to Provide EV Battery Packs for Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE Contestant BDCOTSRUS
Tue ,24/11/2009Business Wire, Nov 23, 2009
Team BDCOTSRUS Will Utilize International Batterys Energy Cells in
their Saturn SL2 to Reach a Minimum of 100MPGe
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — International Battery (www.internationalbattery.com),
a U.S. manufacturer and developer of large-format lithium-ion
rechargeable batteries, today announced that it will supply the battery
plant for the super fuel-efficient car that team BDCOTSRUS has built for
the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE.
The goal of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE is to inspire a
new generation of viable, super fuel-efficient vehicles that offer more
consumer choices. Ten million dollars in prizes will be awarded to the
teams that win a stage competition for lean, production-capable vehicles
that exceed 100 MPGe (miles per gallon or its energy equivalent).
BDCOTSRUS has chosen International Battery to supply the battery pack
for its modified 1995 Saturn SL2 in order to reach a minimum of 100MPGe.
The battery design incorporates Lithium-Iron-Phosphate chemistry and
consists of eight individual modules, with nine 160Ah large format
prismatic cells in each module. A modular design conveniently
distributed in the car allows a nominal operating voltage of 230 volts.
The vehicle will be propelled by an electric traction motor, which gets
its power thru an AC/DC inverter, motor controller and batteries. A
small onboard generator will provide power to the batteries on an
as-needed basis. The batteries provide the energy storage to the
system allowing normal driving conditions for the car. In addition, the
driver can recharge from shore power if required, providing a plug-in
hybrid.
We are delighted to partner with BDCOTSRUS in this very important
competition, stated Dr. Ake Almgren, International Battery President
and CEO. We believe this is a great fit for our technology and
demonstrates our value for applications when energy really matters.
A key competitive advantage to using large format energy storage systems
from International Battery is the companys unique Battery Management
System (BMS). The BMS monitors the temperature and voltage of each cell
and provides continuous active balancing of the system maintaining all
cells within a narrow voltage range. Providing an accurate assessment of
each individual cell makes the battery pack inherently more reliable and
efficient than traditional battery designs using wound cylindrical cells
without individual cell monitoring. Large format prismatic cells result
in a less complex system with a more efficient electrical bus and low
thermal management requirements allowing compact packaging and good
system energy density.
We are pleased to have International Battery on the team, stated
Robert McNeill from BDCOTSRUS. We partnered with International Battery
because of the companys reputation for producing a powerful, safe,
reliable and compact Lithium-Ion based battery pack. Another major
advantage is their existing domestic production here in the United
States.
BDCOTSRUS is a group of engineers, consultants, and friends dedicated to
increasing the efficiency of existing car designs. Out of the original
97 teams accepted into the competition, BDCOTSRUS is one of only 43
qualified to continue on in the competition. BDCOTSRUS, along with its
opponents, will now be preparing the final adjustments to their
vehicles. BDCOTSRUSs fuel-efficient vehicle will make its appearance,
including the batteries, in the upcoming rounds of competition starting
in Spring 2010, and concluding in Fall 2010.
For more details on team BDCOTSRUS visit: www.bdcotsrus.com.
For more information about International Battery, please visit: www.internationalbattery.com.
About International Battery
Headquartered in Allentown, Pa., International Battery is a U.S.
manufacturer, designer, and developer of large-format lithium-ion
rechargeable cells and batteries for use in a wide range of
transportation, industrial, electric utility, smart grid and military
applications, employing a uniquely environmentally friendly
manufacturing process.
About the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE
The goal of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE is to inspire a
new generation of viable, super fuel-efficient vehicles that offer more
consumer choices. Ten million dollars in prizes will be awarded to the
teams that win a stage competition for clean, production-capable
vehicles that exceed 100 Miles per gallon or energy equivalent (MPGe).
The Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE will place a major focus on
efficiency, safety, affordability, and the environment. It is about
developing real, production-capable cars that consumers will want to
buy, not science projects or concept cars
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Boeing Adds Best Doctors to Healthcare Portfolio
Tue ,24/11/20090 Comments | Wireless News, Nov 24, 2009
Best Doctors, Inc., a provider of employer-based health benefits that help members get the right care, announced that The Boeing Company has selected Best Doctors’ benefit to include among its portfolio of Well Being resources.
Through Best Doctors, Boeing employees and their dependents now have access to some of the nation’s most advanced medical expertise when they are uncertain about their diagnosis or treatment options, the Company noted in a release.
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Best Doctors said that it helps companies and organizations provide employees and their treating physicians with information that will get them on the right clinical path without spending time, energy and money pursuing inappropriate treatment. Best Doctors serves as a trusted resource for some of the toughest medical situations, such as: unclear diagnoses; choosing a course of treatment; or, what questions patients should ask of their physicians.
The Best Doctors benefit allows Boeing employees to have their medical cases evaluated by nationally-recognized physicians who will conduct a thorough analysis based on medical records, history and tests. After the review, members receive an easy-to-understand report summarizing the expert’s findings that can be then used by their treating physicians.
“If you’re sick, you’re entitled to be sure you are getting the right care,” said Evan Falchuk, president of Best Doctors. “Best Doctors is here to help Boeing employees and their families be sure they have the right diagnosis and treatment, that they understand their condition and have the best chance to get well.”
((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com))
Kender Energy Signs Hawaiian Distributor for Its Solar Technology
Tue ,24/11/2009Market Wire, November, 2009
Kender Energy Inc. (PINKSHEETS: KNDR) today
announced that it has signed a Distribution Agreement with Kahalehoe Solar
Inc. in Waianae, Hawaii.
In Hawaii, 1 in 3 homes have solar water heating systems and the state
offers one of the most generous incentive packages to convert to Solar
Energy with incentives of over $20,000 per conversion in State Tax
incentives and direct rebates to the home owner.
“With an abundance of sunlight and no other natural energy resources, the
introduction of the Kender Energy technology into the Hawaiian market is a
natural fit. We are very excited to have Kahalehoe Solar Inc. as our
distributor into this important market,” expressed Sean Kelly, President
and CEO of Kender Energy Inc.
About Kender Energy Inc.:
Kender Energy Inc. is a development phase company active in the field of
solar energy. Its present prototypes of solar panels are being developed
into a full-scale solar energy production system. The particularity of the
Kender solar panel system and technology is to allow, via a closed circuit
of gas (usually helium), to create a heat exchange with the sunlight and
the air from the environment. The exchange generates the spinning of the
helium gas in the closed circuit, propelling a turbine, which produces
electricity in a 100% clean and renewable process. The system’s main
advantages are that it is efficient, cheap in production, and modular. The
company is based near Geneva, Switzerland. Its Website is
www.kendersolar.com .
Safe Harbor Statement:
All statements in this news release that are other than statements of
historical facts are forward-looking statements, which contain our current
expectations about our future results. Forward-looking statements involve
numerous risks and uncertainties. We have attempted to identify any
forward-looking statements by using words such as “anticipates,”
“believes,” “could,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “should” and other
similar expressions. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in
all of our forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no
assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. A number of
factors may affect our future results and may cause those results to differ
materially from those indicated in any forward-looking statements made by
us or on our behalf. Such factors include our limited operating history;
our need for significant capital to finance internal growth as well as
strategic acquisitions; our ability to attract and retain key employees and
strategic partners; our ability to achieve and maintain profitability;
fluctuations in the trading price and volume of our stock; competition from
other providers of similar products and services; and other unanticipated
future events and conditions.
For more info. contact:
Annex Investor Relations Services
KNDR@Annex-IR.com
1 (647) 351-7477
Kender Energy Inc
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Centerstance Joins Google Apps Authorized Reseller Program
Tue ,24/11/2009Market Wire, November, 2009
Centerstance today announced it has become an
authorized reseller of the Google Apps(TM) suite of communication and
collaboration tools.
Google Apps brings simple, powerful communication and collaboration tools
to all sizes of organizations. With Google Apps, users have access to
applications such as Gmail(TM) webmail service, Google Talk(TM) instant
messaging service, Google Calendar(TM) calendaring service, Google Docs(TM)
program, Google Sites(TM) web application, and Google Video(TM) for
business with their own domain to work together more effectively. Best of
all, everything is hosted by Google, so there’s no hardware or software to
download, install or maintain.
“It’s a natural partnership,” stated John Marshall, Director of Technology
Services at Centerstance. “Centerstance is the Northwest’s premier Cloud
Computing consulting company and Google is a major player in both Software
as a Service (SaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS).”
“We are pleased to have been selected as a Google Apps Reseller — we’ve
used Google Apps for productivity and collaboration services for some time
now and we’re confident that our clients will achieve the same level of
increased efficiency and cost effectiveness,” said Arne Kainu, Centerstance
President and CEO. “Clients can leverage our deployment, configuration and
adoption methodology — honed by our experience implementing the apps for
other firms — with more than 2 million businesses running Google Apps; we
believe this migration is just getting started.”
“We believe that Google App Engine is a premier Platform as a Service
offering, and by leveraging this platform as a standardized development and
deployment environment, our clients can realize tremendous savings in
environment monitoring, management and maintenance costs compared to the
more traditional application development and deployment approaches,” said
Marshall.
The Google Apps Reseller program includes resellers, consultants and
independent software vendors that sell, service and customize Google Apps
Premier Edition for their customers. Centerstance received training and
support services from Google, as well as access to APIs for integrating
Google Apps into its customers’ business operations.
About Centerstance
Centerstance is a premier provider of consultation, business technology
strategies and project management to businesses confronting business
transformation and solution development issues. Its extensive experience
with business process definition and ability to solve technology issues has
made them an industry leader since its inception in 2003.
Centerstance has served over 300 clients in the west from its offices in
Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington
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Food Industry Giants Launch Competing Coffee Machine Initiatives.
Tue ,24/11/2009Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News, February, 2004
By Delroy Alexander, Chicago Tribune Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News
Feb. 19–Local food giants Sara Lee Corp. and Kraft Foods Inc. battled with consumer products behemoth Procter & Gamble Co
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Customer Satisfaction Drops: Results for Banks, Mortgage Lenders, Credit Cards and Insurance
Tue ,24/11/2009Business Wire, Nov 24, 2009
Abbey Mortgages, Aviva InsuranceStrengthen Customer
Relationships amid Overall Decline in the Financial Services Sector
RBS Group Drops Across Banking, Mortgage and Credit Card
Services; Nationwide Also Struggles
LONDON — The National Customer Satisfaction Index (NCSI-UK) drops slightly
for a second straight quarter, now 72.8 on a 100-point scale. The
decline is a result of an overall loss of customer satisfaction in the
financial services sector.
Retail banking, mortgage lending and credit card services all show
declining customer satisfaction in Q3; only home and motor insurance
remains steady. Among individual companies, decliners
outnumber gainers: 32% have improved NCSI scores this year, 50% decline
and another 18% are unchanged.
Retail Banks:
Customer satisfaction with the retail banking
industry falls 1.4% to a score of 70.
HSBC is still #1 among big retail banks, but
customers are more satisfied with smaller banks despite less value for
the money.
RBS Group shows the biggest loss of customer
satisfaction, down 3% to a score of 69, but still above HBOS and Abbey.
Mortgage Lenders:
Consumer satisfaction is lower for mortgage lending
than for any other financial service. The industry falls 1.4% to a score
of 69.
Abbey is the only mortgage lender to improve
customer satisfaction, rising 8% to a score of 70.
Nationwide remains the leader, despite dropping 4%
to a score of 74.
Credit Card Providers:
The credit card industry slips 1% to a score of 72,
driven by growing displeasure with RSB and Lloyds TSB.
Smaller credit card issuers have maintained high
customer satisfaction levels despite being hit by less value just like
their larger competitors.
HSBC leads by a substantial margin with a score of
73, but Barclays is the only credit card provider to improve customer
satisfaction (up 1% to 69).
Home and Motor Insurance:
Customer satisfaction with home and motor insurance
is unchanged (NCSI score of 77), far better than other financial
services.
Churchill, a bright star for RBS Group, now takes
the lead (up 1% to 79), followed closely by Zurich (down 1% to 78).
Aviva (formerly Norwich Union) improves the most
(up 6% to 73), but remains last among major home and motor insurers.
For full report and commentary, visit http://www.cfigroup.com.
For other industry scores, visit www.ncsiuk.com.
About the NCSI-UK
The
National Customer Satisfaction Index – UK is a national
economic indicator of customer evaluations of the quality of products
and services available to household consumers in the UK. It is updated
each quarter with new results for different sectors of the economy
replacing data from the prior year. Second quarter results are based on
econometric modelling of survey data from more than 4,000 respondents.
The overall NCSI score for a given quarter factors in scores from the
leading companies in 16 industries over the previous four quarters
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TEEN DREAM
Mon ,23/11/20090 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Nov 22, 2009 | by SUZIE
Cup Cake hanging toiletry bag, pounds 12, Debenhams (www.debenhams.com, 0844 561 6161)
Allsorts ceramic jars, pounds 10 each, M&S; (www.marksandspencer.com, 0845 302 1234)
Billy Jader limitededition Red bookcase, pounds 39, Ikea (www.ikea.co.uk, 0845 355 1141)
Camper van rug, pounds 85, Aspace (www.aspace.co.uk, 0845 872 2400)
Chocolate frame, pounds 15 for three, Vertbaudet (www.vertbaudet.co.uk, 0844 842 0000)
Odda wardrobe, pounds 199; Odda bed frame, pounds 159; Anja cushion, pounds 1.79; Ludde sheepskin, pounds 23.99; Fredrik workstation, pounds 75; Vippa hooks, pounds 2.49 for four; Komplement hanger, pounds 2.49, all IKEA (www.ikea.co.uk, 0845 355 1141)
Guitar cushions, pounds 30 each, Hunkydory Home (www.hunkydoryhome.co.uk, 0191 645 4004)
Lipstick mini library, pounds 10, Debenhams (www.debenhams.com, 0844 561 6161)
Pumpkin Candy Stripe Z-bed, pounds 50, B&Q; (www.diy.com, 0845 609 6688)
Rock ‘n’ Roll badge cushion, pounds 68.95, Pedlars (www.pedlars.co.uk, 01330 850400)
Babe table lamp, pounds 14.98, B&Q; (www.diy.com, 0845 609 6688)
Stiff Lower Back v. Stiff Upper Lip
Mon ,23/11/2009PR Newswire, Nov 18, 2009
LONDON, November 18 /PRNewswire/ — Think personal injury and think No Win No Fee. Think No Win No Fee and one’s mind ventures to images of people falling from ladders or slipping on a banana skin in an office lobby. A fundamental criticism of claims management companies is that they engage in scare-mongering marketing tactics to profit from a legitimate legal development, which was intended to encourage Access to Justice. No Win No Fee companies are seen, in some quarters, as pandering to an Americanised system of litigation – encouraging an increasingly litigious society which contravenes quintessential British values of suffering in silence and a stiff upper lip. Clearly this criticism can’t be ignored but it can be challenge.
Accidents Direct is among some fifteen hundred claims management companies engaged in providing personal injury referrals. Accidents Direct is a prominent claims management company which is concerned with a more complicated marketing strategy. The key is to strike a balance between providing prospective litigants with information regarding their ability to pursue legitimate legal action, combined with the endeavour to avoid encouraging a flagrant compensation culture.
Rebecca Young is the Director of Accidents Direct. Her opinion of the criticism attached to claims management companies is described as “fair in some circumstances but unfair in others.” She continues “Accidents Direct is an industry leading claims management company which is regulated by the Ministry of Justice [MOJ]. Everything we do is monitored by the MOJ so it’s important that we adhere to all regulations and codes of conduct.”
The problem is that a large number of companies are either unregulated or fall short of adhering to the rules. It is also true that the negative perception of the industry is a hangover from the failings of earlier claims management companies such as The Accident Group, which went into administration in 2003.
Rebecca Young comments, “Accidents Direct is a marketing company within the field of personal injury. Due to our substantial experience in the market we have developed a sophisticated marketing strategy which enables Accidents Direct to help provide access to legal advice
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