Fed: New welfare trial for troubled WA indigenous communities=2

AAP General News (Australia)
02-27-2008
Fed: New welfare trial for troubled WA indigenous communities=2

Ms Macklin said the problems facing indigenous communities stemmed from decades of
"entrenched preconceptions and vested interests" but the government was determined to
turn that around.

"We have to find new ways of doing things because the old ways have so comprehensively
failed and in doing so we must work with indigenous Australians in a partnership built
on respect and mutual responsibility," she said.

The state of indigenous Australia was like another country within Australia characterised
by neglect, disadvantage and …

FED:Health groups call for junk food ad ban

AAP General News (Australia)
05-09-2011
FED:Health groups call for junk food ad ban

EDS: Embargoed until 0001 AEST Monday, May 9



CANBERRA, May 9 AAP - A coalition of health groups is calling on governments to introduce
tough new laws to crack down on junk food advertising targeted at children.

The Obesity Policy Coalition (OPC) has presented a legislative blueprint to both state
and federal governments which would restrict television, internet and print advertising
as well as company sponsorship of sporting events.

"The OPC would like to see the federal government tackle this as a national issue,
however, legislation could be implemented at a state level if the federal government fails
to act," coalition policy adviser Jane Martin said in a statement.

"Implementation of this proposal... would be a hugely important step towards decreasing
children's exposure to junk food marketing and reducing the burden of obesity in this
country."

The federal government last year rejected calls from its own preventative health taskforce
to ban junk food advertising on TV at certain times.

But Ms Martin said industry self-regulation had proven to be utterly ineffective in
protecting children because there were too many exceptions.

For instance, shows such as Junior MasterChef aren't covered by the food industry's
codes, meaning unhealthy products can be promoted to kids.

The OPC argues self-regulation also fails to adequately control food company websites,
outdoor billboards, emails or text message marketing and the use of toys in promotional
campaigns.

Further, it doesn't cover junk food advertising of children's sport.

The coalition's legislative blueprint suggests:

* banning junk food advertising on television between 6-9am and 4-9pm on weekdays,
and 6am-12pm and 4-9pm on weekends

* banning unhealthy food ads on dedicated children's TV channels

* preventing direct marketing to children through emails, the internet, SMS and magazines

* restricting junk food ads screened before G or PG-rated movies, at schools, on public
transport and other public places as well as at sporting events.

The OPC on Monday released new research suggesting 84 per cent of consumers believe
children should be protected from unhealthy food advertising.

The survey of 1500 grocery buyers was conducted in 2010.

It found 83 per cent of respondents supported banning junk food ads at times when children
were watching TV.

Of those in favour of a ban, 95 per cent wanted the ads off air between 4pm and 9.30pm.

The coalition includes Cancer Council Victoria and that state's branch of Diabetes Australia.

The blueprint is backed by the Australian Medical Association, the Australian Dental
Association and Cancer Council Australia.

AAP jcd/cj/jcs/de

KEYWORD: OBESITY (EMBARGOED)

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

HIGHWAY QLD (BRISBANE)

AAP General News (Australia)
08-29-2011
HIGHWAY QLD (BRISBANE)

LNP leader CAMPBELL NEWMAN says the government's failed to stand up for Queensland
and get the amount of federal funding the dangerous highway needs.

Along with the crisis group, Mr NEWMAN says an LNP government will have a crisis action
plan within six months of winning the poll, due by March next year.

AAP RTV gd/crh

KEYWORD: Federal, state and local governments will join a Bruce Highway crisis management group if the Liberal National Party wins the state election.

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

QLD:Qld premier has faith in staff checks

AAP General News (Australia)
02-16-2011
QLD:Qld premier has faith in staff checks

By Jessica Marszalek

BRISBANE, Feb 16 AAP - Premier Anna Bligh says she hopes, but can't guarantee, current
staff checks would prevent Queensland Health hiring fugitives like convicted murderer
Luke Andrew Hunter.

Hunter was recaptured at Herberton, west of Cairns, on Sunday after 15 years on the run.

It has been revealed the 42-year-old had been working as a groundskeeper at Herberton
Hospital under the false name of Ashban Kadmiel since 1997.

He was employed the year after he escaped from Borallon Correctional Centre, near Ipswich,
where he'd been serving a 21-year sentence for murder.

Ms Bligh said Hunter was employed under a Liberal National coalition government, when
employee checks were less stringent than they are now.

"This person was employed by another government a long time ago, before the criminal
history checking that our government put in place became part of normal employment practice,"

she told reporters on Wednesday.

Hunter was not required to prove his identity at the time he was hired, Ms Bligh said.

She said she hoped, but could not guarantee, that current checks would have caught him out.

"My understanding is that he would have had to have provided proof of identity in relation
to the criminal history checking, and it's my view that would have likely turned up that
he was using a false identity," she said.

"But I can't guarantee that.

"... When people are absolutely determined to be criminals and do the wrong thing,
they will find ways sometimes that no government can close off."

However, Queensland now had "the tightest employment checking" in Australia and that
would have made a very big difference, she said.

Opposition health spokesman Mark McArdle has compared the blunder with Queensland Health's
hiring of Dr Jayant Patel, despite his side of politics being in power at the time.

"If you're going to have people working for Queensland Health and you have a history
of this, you need to put in place a check and balance to make certain people who are employed
are qualified to do so, and are who they say they are," he told ABC Radio.

Asked if he acknowledged that the first mistake was made back in 1997, he said: "No,
I make it quite clear that this issue became crystal clear and critical in 2006 with Patel."

Health Minister Paul Lucas accused Mr McArdle of hypocrisy.

"The health minister at the time, Mike Horan, who is still in the parliament as an
LNP member, would not have been in a position to identify someone who had adopted a false
name who wanted to work as a gardener," he told the broadcaster.

He said QH could not go back to all its staff and recheck their references or fingerprint them.

Meanwhile, Hunter's friend Steve Perks, whom he met at Herberton, has described him
as a "nice guy" who raised funds for children with disabilities, sponsored children in
Third World countries, and dressed as Santa at Christmas.

"I want everyone to know this guy is totally rehabilitated," Mr Perks told The Cairns Post.

"... (He is a) nice fella, you would never think the worst of him.

Hunter, who was part of the secretive North Queensland Jesus Group, is being housed
at the Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre while he awaits a hearing on a charge of escaping
custody.

AAP jmm/crh/dep/de

KEYWORD: HUNTER WRAP

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

QLD:Teachers' sex victims settle with church

AAP General News (Australia)
12-02-2010
QLD:Teachers' sex victims settle with church

By Kym Agius

BRISBANE, Dec 2 AAP - Catholic education officials have defended a decision to re-employ
a primary school principal who failed to deal properly with child sex abuse claims against
a teacher.

Five families whose daughters were sexually abused by teacher Gerard Vincent Byrnes
at a primary school at Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, have settled out of court with the
Catholic church.

But the families are angry that the principal who was in charge of Byrnes at the time
of the abuse has been given a new teaching job.

Toowoomba Bishop William Morris last year decided to sack the principal, and two other
senior education officers he spoke to about the claims, for serious errors of judgment.

A court ultimately found the principal, who cannot be named, not guilty of failing
to report the abuse claims to police.

Damian Scattini, a lawyer for the five families who reached settlements this week,
said they were angry the former principal had been given a relief teaching job in the
Brisbane diocese.

"They're very disappointed that he's back within the Catholic education system," Mr
Scattini said.

"This is what happens around the world. They end up somewhere else, being someone else's
problem."

Brisbane Catholic Education spokesman John Phelan defended the decision.

"Our attitude is that whilst we wouldn't employ him in the same sort of managerial
role that he had in Toowoomba, because he was found wanting in that regard, this role
as a classroom teacher is an entirely different role," he told AAP.

"We don't see that there is a problem.

"He has always remained a registered teacher."

In October this year, Byrnes, 61, was jailed for 10 years for his crimes against 13
young girls. He pleaded guilty to dozens of charges, including 10 counts of rape.

The abuse happened while Byrnes was the child protection officer at a Toowoomba school
from January 2007 to November 2008.

The Queensland government had lodged an appeal against the sentence, arguing it failed
to reflect the gravity of the offences and was not a sufficient deterrent.

Mr Scattini said the families were relieved their cases had been settled without the
added trauma of court proceedings. The compensation amounts will remain confidential.

"They are also grateful the church has this week made serious and genuine efforts to
do the right thing after the Catholic education system failed to heed the initial warnings
about this teacher," he said.

Bishop Morris again offered his apologies to the victims.

"I am committed to ensuring that our apology is supported by action," he said in the
statement on Thursday.

"The diocese sought to make the compensation process as uncomplicated as possible for
the victims' families."

Mr Scattini said his law firm expected to deal with another three of the cases in the new year.

AAP ka/tnf/crh/jl/apm

KEYWORD: ABUSE WRAP

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Melbourne set to overtake Sydney as largest city

AAP General News (Australia)
04-27-2010
NSW: Melbourne set to overtake Sydney as largest city

Eds: Embargoed until 0001 AEST Tuesday, April 27



SYDNEY, April 27 AAP - It's good news for Sydneysiders who don't want to travel to
work with any more people than they do already - but bad news for property developers.

In mid-2009 there were 500,000 more people living in Sydney than there were in Melbourne,
the Urban Taskforce says.

Eight years earlier, however, there were 600,000 more people in the harbourside city
than in Melbourne.

The 20 per cent decline is making property developers nervous.

"Melbourne with its long-term population growth of 1.3 per cent a year, will displace
Sydney as Australia's largest city in 2037," Urban Taskforce spokesman Aaron Gadiel said
in a statement on Tuesday.

Mr Gadiel attributes the gradual decline in Sydney's population growth to a lack of
new houses being constructed.

The "planning system and development levies are ruining NSW", he says.

"If we see a business-as-usual approach by government, Sydney will fail to meet the
Metropolitan Strategy housing targets.

"New housing construction will limp along at the 2000s average.

"This means Sydney's annual rate of population growth will fall from a projected 1.1
per cent to just 0.9 per cent a year."

Mr Gadiel is advocating a 12-point plan for the the reform of NSW's planning system.

It includes a recommendation for NSW to introduce stamp duty concessions for off-the-plan
home purchases.

The Urban Taskforce is a property development industry group which represents Australia's
most prominent property developers and equity financiers.

AAP bc/apm

KEYWORD: HOUSING (EMBARGOED)

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Samson & Delilah wins best film at AFI Awards

AAP General News (Australia)
12-13-2009
Fed: Samson & Delilah wins best film at AFI Awards

SAMSON and DELILAH triumphed at the AFI Awards last night .. taking out top honours
including best film .. best direction and best original screenplay.

Director WARWICK THORNTON accepted the best film trophy from Australia star BRANDON
WALTERS .. getting down on his knees to hug the young actor.

The film's two stars .. MARISSA GIBSON and ROWAN MCNAMARA were joint winners of the
AFI young actor award .. with GIBSON accepting for both of them.

Meanwhile .. Balibo's taken out the award for best adapted screenplay .. with director
ROBERT CONNOLLY accepting the trophy.

AAP RTV acb/wz

KEYWORD: AFI FILM (PIX AVAILABLE)

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Abbott defends Turnbull saying he acted honourably

AAP General News (Australia)
08-04-2009
Fed: Abbott defends Turnbull saying he acted honourably

CANBERRA, Aug 4 AAP - Senior Liberal Tony Abbott had defended his boss, Malcolm Turnbull,
saying the opposition leader has handled himself "honourably and correctly " over the
OzCar fake email affair.

Mr Turnbull is due to hold a news conference on Tuesday afternoon after the public
servant at the heart of the affair admitted he faked the email the opposition used to
call on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Treasurer Wayne Swan to quit.

Mr Abbott says Mr Turnbull could not have ignored the evidence presented to him by
the public servant, Godwin Grech.

"I don't think any credible opposition would have failed to go hard on that material
and that's exactly what Malcolm Turnbull did," he told ABC Television on Tuesday.

"I don't think Malcolm did anything untoward. The idea that a senior, credible Treasury
official would fake an email is so implausible.

"If it was in fiction no one would believe it."

Mr Abbott tried to deflect attention from the issue, saying the government was hurting
in the wake of accusations of "crony capitalism" in relation to the controversy over political
donations in Queensland.

"They (the accusations) do have legs and they are starting to hurt the government and
that's why Mr Rudd and Mr Swan are running so hard on this issue," he said.

AAP keh/rl/it/cdh

KEYWORD: DEALERS ABBOTT

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: 12 charged over $10 million tax evasion scheme

AAP General News (Australia)
02-10-2009
Fed: 12 charged over $10 million tax evasion scheme

Twelve people have been charged over a 10 million dollar offshore tax evasion and money
laundering scheme.

A total of 153 charges have been laid against a Sydney accountant .. her husband and
10 of her clients as part of the Australian Tax Office's Project Wickenby.

The charges follow federal police raids on business and residential premises in Sydney
in 2007 .. and a Vanuatu police raid on an associated business in Port Vila last April.

The 62-year-old Warriewood woman allegedly behind the scheme faces up to 20 years in
jail if convicted of charges including conspiring to defraud the commonwealth.

The other 11 people are accused of money laundering and other offences.

They're all due to appear in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court today.

AAP RTV krc/wjf/jmt

KEYWORD: WICKENBY (SYDNEY)

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Ath: Clay captures decathlon gold

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-2008
Ath: Clay captures decathlon gold

American BRIAN CLAY has won the Olympic decathlon, capturing gold in the two-day, 10-discipline
event with 8,791 points to add to the silver he won in Athens in 2004.

ANDREY KRAUCHANKA of Belarus, this year's world indoor runner-up, finished second with
8,551 points with Cuba's LEONEL SUAREZ third on 8,527 and Russia's ALEXANDER POGORELOV
fourth on 8,328.

Injury-hampered reigning world and 2004 Olympic champion ROMAN SEBRLE of the Czech
Republic finished sixth on 8,241 points, weeping and pounding his fist on the track after
the concluding 1,500m race.

AAP RTV nh

KEYWORD: OLY08 ATH DEC (BEIJING)

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

FED: Australia's YouTube stars set to reap rewards

AAP General News (Australia)
04-17-2008
FED: Australia's YouTube stars set to reap rewards

Eds: Embargoed 0400 (AEST) Thursday, April 17



By Darren Osborne, Technology Writer

SYDNEY, April 17 AAP - Australian YouTube film-makers are set to make money with the
expansion of the website's advertising program.

The YouTube Partner Program provides money to YouTube content creators in exchange
for displaying banner ads on their videos, has been launched in Australia today.

The program has been operating in the United States and United Kingdom for several
months, with some participants earning thousands of dollars per month.

"It has certainly been an incentive for people to create more content," a YouTube Australia
spokesman said.

"There are people overseas who have millions of video views and are earning thousands
of dollars."

The program is open to content creators, big or small, who have a significant audience.

"It's open to all sorts of people with popular, widely-viewed videos," the spokesman said.

"We're hoping there will be lots of Australian video producers who will benefit from
this program."

A select group of Australian YouTube producers have already signed up to the program,
including AngryAussie and babyporridge.

"It's definitely a bonus," babyporridge said.

"It's a bit like your grandparents giving you a little something to go out with and
get something nice."

Babyporridge, who has been contributing to YouTube since June 2007 and has more than
3,700 subscribers, says the key to success is interacting with your audience.

"I went into it because I wanted to interact with the community," she said.

"I write a lot of original songs, and sometimes I do some comedy skits. It really depends
on what I'm feeling at the moment."

YouTube users who want to become part of the program should visit au.youtube.com/partners

AAP dpo/jnb/bwl

KEYWORD: YOUTUBE (EMBARGOED)

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Vic: Irrigation channel, tip, searched for murder clues

AAP General News (Australia)
12-12-2007
Vic: Irrigation channel, tip, searched for murder clues

Police are searching an irrigation channel and a tip for body parts .. after the discovery
of a man's torso in northern Victoria yesterday.

The partial remains of 26-year-old Shepparton man WILLIAM WOODS were found about 6pm
(AEDT) yesterday beside a road at Cosgrove .. east of Shepparton.

Police believe he was killed with a samurai sword .. and have confirmed only his torso was found.

Search and rescue officers were trawling an irrigation channel .. and a tip for body parts.

Four people were to appear in court at Shepparton today on murder related charges.





26 year old CHRISTOPHER JOHN MADDOX of Ford Road at Lemnos near Shepparton has been
charged with murder .. and was remanded at an out of sessions court to appear at Shepparton
Magistrates' Court today.

24 year old DONNA MCKINLEY and 59 year old DONALD MCKINLEY both also of Ford Road at
Lemnos .. and 29 year old BRIAN LAWRENCE of Malcolm Crescent at Shepparton .. are all
charged with being accessaries after the fact to murder.

All three were bailed to appear at Shepparton Magistrates' Court today.

AAP RTV md/pmu/bart

KEYWORD: ARRESTS (MELBOURNE)

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Vic: Budget should boost public housing, drought aid: VCOSS

AAP General News (Australia)
04-30-2007
Vic: Budget should boost public housing, drought aid: VCOSS

A leading Victorian welfare advocate is calling on the Victorian government to boost
public housing and improve its drought response .. in a wish list ahead of today's state
budget.

CATH SMITH .. from the Victorian Council of Social Services .. says the government
must address drought impacts and disadvantage in the budget.

She says Victoria has a strong economy .. but households are struggling under the burden
of rapid rises in house prices and rent.

The welfare group's top five wishlist for the budget includes an extra 530 million
dollars a year for public and community housing .. a co-ordinated drought response ..

better funding to help vulnerable children .. new Aboriginal health programs .. and spending
to cut disability support and accommodation waiting lists.

AAP RTV jrd/af/psm/

KEYWORD: BUDGET VIC (MELBOURNE)

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Qld: Man allegedly takes dip in Brisbane River to avoid police

AAP General News (Australia)
12-30-2006
Qld: Man allegedly takes dip in Brisbane River to avoid police

A man has jumped into the Brisbane River while attempting to avoid a random police breath test.

The 26-year-old motorcyclist from Gordon Park tried to make a watery escape after being
stopped on Kingsford Smith Drive in Brisbane's inner city suburb of Hamilton .. just before
5 o'clock this morning.

Police say the man attempted to flee police on his bike .. but when officers detained
him .. he broke free and jumped into the Brisbane River .. swimming to the other side.

He was later found in the suburb of Bulimba.

He'll appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday on 11 charges .. including
stealing and breach of bail.

AAP RTV rl/els/

KEYWORD: RIVER (BRISBANE)

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Moylan survives preselection challenge

AAP General News (Australia)
08-22-2006
Fed: Moylan survives preselection challenge

Liberal moderate JUDI MOYLAN has survived a preselection challenge for her safe West
Australian rural seat of Pearce.

Mrs MOYLAN was one of three Liberal backbenchers who defied the Prime Minister to vote
against tough new migration laws earlier this month.

She defeated party colleague and former One Nation candidate JAMIE FALLS in a ballot
at the WA Liberal Party's Perth office last night.

Mrs MOYLAN was tipped to face a strong preselection challenge from sections of the
party angered by her stance on the migration laws.

She's told the ABC she's relieved at the result because you can never take pre-selections
for granted.

Results of the preselection ballot now go to the WA Liberal Party state council for endorsement.

AAP RTV mb/bart

KEYWORD: MOYLAN (CANBERRA)

) 2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Alleged WA hit-run takes Easter road toll to six

AAP General News (Australia)
04-14-2006
NSW: Alleged WA hit-run takes Easter road toll to six

SYDNEY, April 14 AAP - The death of a 64-year-old man in Western Australia has taken
the national Easter holiday road toll to six.

An unlicensed driver was charged over the alleged hit-run accident at Medina, south of Perth.

The man was hit on Westcott Road about 11.45am (WST) today, police said.

A 34-year-old woman was later charged with failing to stop, failing to report the matter
and failing to render assistance.

The woman, of nearby Orelia, had no driver's licence, police said.

A white Holden Commodore station wagon was believed to be involved, and police are
seeking witnesses to the accident.

It was the first road death in Western Australia during the Easter holiday period.

Two people died earlier today on Australia's roads.

One fatality, in South Australia, involved another hit-and-run accident.

Police believe the 37-year-old victim may have been lying on the road when hit by a
car about 5.20am (CST) today in Adelaide's north.

The man's body was found lying on Main North Road at Elizabeth East.

The death was the second on South Australian roads since the beginning of the Easter
holiday period.

A 17-year-old from Alstonville, in northern NSW, also died today when the car he was
driving was involved in a collision with another car north of Tyndale, near Grafton, about
9am (AEST) today.

He died at the scene, while the 27-year-old male driver of the other vehicle was taken
to Grafton Hospital in a serious condition.

The Pacific Highway remained closed for several hours due to the crash.

The toll in NSW since yesterday morning is now at two, and there was one fatality in Queensland.

Victoria, Tasmania, the ACT and Northern Territory remain fatality-free on the roads
so far during the holiday period.

(EDS: AAP's Easter road toll figures are for the period 0001 April 13 to 2359 April
17. Some states and territories may have different periods.)

AAP wz/evt/nf

KEYWORD: TOLL NATIONAL NIGHTLEAD

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: DOCS needs to communicate better - NSW oppn

AAP General News (Australia)
12-10-2004
NSW: DOCS needs to communicate better - NSW oppn

The New South Wales opposition says the state's child protection agency needs to communicate
better with schools, police and other government departments to improve its record.

State Ombudsman BRUCE BARBOUR released a report yesterday looking at the deaths of
161 children and young people between 2002 and 2003.

In 103 cases, the childrens' risk of harm had been reported to the Department of Community
Services in the three years before their deaths.

Opposition community services spokesman JOHN RYAN has told ABC radio that better communication
will lead to better intervention.

AAP RTV mk/jel/jjs/rt

KEYWORD: DEATHS RYAN (SYDNEY)

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

APR

APR Abbreviation for annual percentage rate.

A Letter From Paul Lo, New President of the Avant! Corporation.

FREMONT, Calif., July 30 /PRNewswire/ --

Avant! Corporation (Nasdaq: AVNT) today released the following letter:

The Avant! Corporation apologizes to the EDA industry and especially to Cadence Design Systems for the events that led to the long-running dispute that resulted in a July 25, 2001, decision in Santa Clara County Superior Court. We regret the burdens that this highly public controversy has placed on customers, shareholders, employees, and the entire industry.

In short, the Avant! Corporation is sorry for the events of the past. Our company now has new leadership, and our entire team of new leaders recognizes a special responsibility to undertake great efforts to maintain and improve the relationships that have been adversely affected by this controversy. We pledge to work hard to deserve the trust and support of our industry.

We intend to honor this pledge by working with the 1,500 people of Avant! to continue developing and providing the over 40 Avant! products now used by semiconductor companies worldwide.

Sincerely,

Paul Lo,

President,

Avant! Corporation

The statements contained in this release that are not purely historical are forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, including statements regarding the Company's expectations, beliefs, hopes, intentions or strategies regarding the future. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding future sales, market growth and competition. All forward-looking statements included in this document are based upon information available to the Company as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward- looking statement. Actual results could differ materially from the Company's current expectations. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences, several of which are outside the control of Avant!, include but are not limited to: several criminal and civil litigation matters in which the company is involved; the ability to successfully integrate Avant!'s operations with those of the companies it has acquired; the ability to successfully manage the company's expanding operations; the ability to attract and retain the key management and technical personnel needed to operate the company successfully; the ability to compete successfully in the integrated circuit design automation software market; and the difficulty of predicting quarterly operating results. Further discussion of these and other potential risk factors may be found in the Company's annual Form 10-K filings and quarterly Form 10-Q filings. These forms are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Avant!

Avant! Corporation develops, markets, and supports integrated circuit (IC) design automation software solutions (from system definition to mask synthesis) for the rapid design of multimillion gate products including system on chip (SoC). These ICs power the consumer electronics, Internet infrastructure, wireless, telecommunications, and automotive products. The Company is the leading provider of physical foundation IP libraries for IC design and provides a full suite of software for integrated circuit design, process simulation, device modeling, and mask synthesis.

Avant! is a global company with over 65 offices in 18 countries. Telephone: 510-413-8000. Fax: 510-413-8080. Worldwide web: http://www.avanticorp.com.

NOTE: Avant! is a trademark of Avant! Corporation. All other company and product names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners and should be treated as such.

MAKE YOUR OPINION COUNT - Click Here

http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X32387370

More Guam TV homes switching to digital television.(SERVICES)

GTA TeleGuam has attracted more than 7,000 home and business customers to its advanced digital television service in less than three years since launching GUdTV, short for Guam Digital Television. This number represents more than 20 percent of the 32,000 households with televisions in Guam.

"GTA TeleGuam grew from zero to more than 7,000 GUdTV customers in Guam because advanced 100 percent digital television offers superior broadcast quality, more programming and a viewing experience that is not available on traditional cable television service," said Andrew Gayle, executive vice president of product development and management for GTA TeleGuam.

"Clearly, consumers have wanted a competitive choice for pay television for years, just as there has been competition for long-distance and wireless phones," Gayle said. "At privatization, GTA TeleGuam promised a competitive TV offering for Guam.

"We have now hit a tipping point on GUdTV sales growth. Word on the street is good. Newcomers to Guam are used to IPTV and want it. GTA TeleGuam is continually adding new channels and value to its Essential and Choice Digital packages at no additional monthly cost," Gayle added.

Recently, GTA TeleGuam added five new channels to its 100 percent digital GUdTV program lineup, which now includes 275 video and music channels. The newest channel additions are Women's Entertainment (WE), American Movie Classics (AMC), G4, GEM TV, and Net 25.

Earlier this year, GTA TeleGuam was first to introduce premium subscription video-on-demand television in Guam. SVOD allows GUdTV customers to choose from hundreds of titles, series, or movies from HBO, Showtime, Disney, and others; start their selections at any time convenient to them; and pause, rewind, or fast forward with just a remote control and set-top box.

GUdTV also features the most premium, high-definition, and international channels and pay-for-view events, and a large video-on-demand library accessible at the push of a button on the remote controller. TV programs are grouped by genre to make channel surfing quick and easy.

"The key for GUdTV's continued growth and success is compelling content, excellent service and continual new offerings that add value to the customer experience," said Gayle, noting GTA TeleGuam plans to expand it GUdTV reach into several new neighborhoods this year. "We have some great new things in store for GUdTV customers over the next year," Gayle said. "100 percent digital makes exciting things possible for our customers."

Basic GUdTV packages start at $29.95 a month. Customers can bundle GUdTV service with other GTA TeleGuam communications offerings such as high speed Internet access, wireless, and landline services to maximize monthly savings and convenience.

GTA TeleGuam delivers 100 percent digital television service through its typhoon-ready communications network using Internet Protocol, or IP, digital technology for improved video and voice quality. Traditional cable television uses analog technology and primarily aerial infrastructure that is vulnerable to outages during severe storms.

Praying for recovery.

But analysts expect the financial nightmare to continue for at least the first half of the new year Investors said good riddance yesterday to one of the worst years on record and prayed that massive government rescue plans will pull the global economy out of its fierce tailspin later this year. But more pain is expected in the near term as bleak economic reports roll in, signalling more bankruptcies, bad debts and layoffs through at least early 2009, and more sleepless nights for everyone from central bankers to consumers struggling to pay off mortgages and credit card bills. "It has been a shocking year, hardly anything was spared in the market carnage," said Michael Heffernan, senior client adviser and strategist at Austock Group. The worst financial crisis in over 80 years, sparked by the meltdown of the risky US sub-prime mortgage market, made 2008 one of the worst ever for investors, wiping around $10 trillion off major stock markets. It also radically changed the landscape of global finance, bringing down big US investment banks Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers and crippling the credit system that keeps the world economy humming. The US S&P 500 benchmark lost about 40 per cent. Its biggest yearly drop was in 1931 during the Great Depression, when it fell 47.1 per cent. Not a single sector was spared from global banks to automobiles to resources, and even corner shops. Victims of the crisis are still piling up, with announcements almost daily of fresh company losses, more layoffs, and slumping prices for assets from cars to homes. Tuesday brought more dismal economic news in the US, with single-family home prices down 18 per cent in October from a year earlier and consumer confidence plunging to a record low due to severe job cuts. "We are not going to be seeing anything fundamentally positive from the US for the time being," said Michael Woolfolk, senior currency strategist at Bank of New York Mellon. But with central banks cutting interest rates to spur growth, declining oil prices and governments pumping money into the system, Heffernan said there were some positive signs for this year. "The blood has been drained and we are now getting a transfusion," he said. World governments have pumped more than one trillion dollars into their economies to keep businesses afloat and save jobs, and more aid is expected this year in the form of fresh bail-outs, rate cuts and other measures to stave off an even deeper recession. Global credit markets are also showing some signs of improvement, but banks remain reluctant to lend to businesses and consumers, fearing a rash of bad loans as economies worsen. Mounting job losses are raising fears of social unrest in some countries, and piling pressure on governments to act quickly, even if it means huge deficits and debts that will have to be paid off somehow in the future. But government stimulus plans, corporate bail-outs and rate cuts also take time to be felt, and their full benefits are still being hotly debated by analysts and economists. Global growth, if any, could be very weak in 2009 as a whole, even if consumers are coaxed to start spending again. Investors are now looking to the arrival of a new US administration when Barack Obama is sworn in as president on January 20. He is expected to unveil a new government spending programme which sources say could range from $675- 775 billion over two years. This year will also see attempts by policymakers to overhaul outdated regulatory systems to head off future crises and give them more power to oversee increasingly complex financial products such as derivatives, which have complicated efforts to fix the latest financial mess. Outgoing US Treasury secretary Hank Paulson said the US government had to battle the financial crisis without the tools needed to do the job effectively, the Financial Times newspaper reported. In one of his last interviews before leaving office, Paulson said: "We've done all this without all of the authorities that a major nation like the US needs." He said even after Congress in October approved the $700 billion troubled asset relief programme, Washington still lacked key tools such as an adequate special bankruptcy regime for non-bank financial firms. "We're dealing with something that is really historic and we haven't had a playbook," Paulson told the FT.

[c] 2007 Al Sidra Media LLC

Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company

Reports on Geriatrics and Gerontology Findings from F.J. Morenomartinez and Co-Researchers Provide New Insights.

According to the authors of recent research from Madrid, Spain, "This paper presents a new corpus of 140 high quality colour images belonging to 14 subcategories and covering a range of naming difficulty. One hundred and six Spanish speakers named the items and provided data for several psycholinguistic variables: age of acquisition, familiarity, manipulability, name agreement, typicality and visual complexity."

"Furthermore, we also present lexical frequency data derived internet search hits. Apart from the large number of variables evaluated, these stimuli present an important advantage with respect to other comparable image corpora in so far as naming performance in healthy individuals is less prone to ceiling effect problems. Reliability and validity indexes showed that our items display similar psycholinguistic characteristics to those of other corpora," wrote F.J. Morenomartinez and colleagues (see also Geriatrics and Gerontology).

The researchers concluded: "In sum, this set of ecologically valid stimuli provides a useful tool for scientists engaged in cognitive and neuroscience-based research."

Morenomartinez and colleagues published their study in Aging Neuropsychology and Cognition (A set of high quality colour images with Spanish norms for seven relevant psycholinguistic variables: The Nombela naming test. Aging Neuropsychology and Cognition, 2011;18(3):293-327).

For additional information, contact F.J. Morenomartinez, UNED, Dept. of Psicol Basica 1, C Juan del Rosal 10, Madrid 28040, SPAIN.

Publisher contact information for the journal Aging Neuropsychology and Cognition is: Psychology Press, 27 Church Rd., Hove BN3 2FA, East Sussex, England.

Keywords: City:Madrid, Country:Spain, Region:Europe, Environment, Conservation, Geriatrics and Gerontology

This article was prepared by Health & Medicine Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2011, Health & Medicine Week via NewsRx.com.

Juror facing jail over online chats.(News)

Byline: Chris Greenwood Crime Reporter

A WOMAN juror sobbed yesterday as she was told she will be jailed for using Facebook to contact a defendant in a mul t i -million pound drugs trial.

Joanne Fraill, 40, revealed sensitive details about jury discussions when she swapped messages with Jamie Sewart, 34, who had been acquitted.

The jury was still considering charges against other defendants and her actions led the case - a second retrial - to collapse, contributing to a [pounds sterling]6million legal bill. The High Court in London heard the two women were the first people to be prosecuted for contempt of court involving the internet.

Three senior judges, led by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, warned Fraill she could be jailed for up to two years. They found Sewart also in contempt of court but said she would not be jailed as she has a child aged three. The case came just months after Lord Judge warned that misuse of the internet was a major threat to the future of the jury system.

The case was brought by Attorney General Dominic Grieve, QC, after the collapse of the tenweek trial at Manchester Crown Court last August.

The court heard Fraill, of Blackley, Manchester, tracked Sewart down on Facebook the day after she had been cleared of conspiracy to supply heroin and amphetamines. She sent her a message under the pseudonym 'Jo Smilie' saying: 'You should know me - I've cried with you enough.' The pair exchanged 50 messages in a 36-minute chat peppered with internet slang about the trial, co-defendants and the latest position of the jury.

At one point Sewart said: 'Whats happenin with the other charge?' She then refers to 'class B', which is believed to relate to charges faced by other defendants.

Fraill replied that the jury were at loggerheads, but that the remaining defendants were likely to be acquitted as there is 'no way it can stay hung'. Asked to keep quiet about their chat, Sewart said: 'I know. I have deleted all the messages. Don't worry.' Later, Fraill was told she could receive a 'nice pressie' if Sewart won compensation after being held on remand for 14 months and they agreed to become Facebook friends. The next morning, Sewart, of Bolton, confessed to her solicitor that she had been contacted by Fraill and the judge stopped the case.

Fraill, a mother of three who also has three stepchildren, later confessed to conducting internet research about a shooting involving Sewart's boyfriend and co-accused Gary Knox, who was cleared of the 'conspiracy to supply' charges.

The women will be sentenced tomorrow.

CAPTION(S):

Joanne Fraill: Revealed details

Jamie Sewart: Promised 'nice pressie'

GRANITE CITY MAN CHARGED WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES.

Fairview Heights, Ill. -- The following information was released by the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Illinois:

A Granite City man was arraigned in federal court on May 25, 2011, on a five-count Indictment charging him with Enticement of a Minor, Distribution of Child Pornography, Transfer of Obscene Matter to a Minor, Receipt of Child Pornography, and Possession of Child Pornography, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today.

If convicted on Count 1, Christopher H. McCoy, 48, of Granite City, Ill.-, faces a term of imprisonment of not less than ten (10) years up to life, and a fine up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of five (5) years to life. If convicted on Count 2, McCoy faces a term of imprisonment of not less than five (5) years but not more than twenty (20) years, and a fine up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of five (5) years to life. If convicted on Count 3, McCoy faces a term of imprisonment of not more than ten (10) years, a fine up to $250,000, or both, and a term of supervised release of not more than three (3) years. If convicted on Count 4, McCoy faces a term of imprisonment of not less than five (5) years but not more than twenty (20) years, and a fine up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of five (5) years to life. If convicted on Count 5, McCoy faces a term of imprisonment of not more than ten (10) years, and a fine up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of five (5) years to life. McCoy's trial is scheduled for July 18, 2011, in Federal Court in East St. Louis. McCoy was ordered held without bond pending trial.

The violations charged in Counts 1 through 3 occurred between on or about February 20 and February 27, 2010, when McCoy chatted with an undercover officer (UC) in New Hampshire that McCoy believed to be a 14 year old boy. During the chats, McCoy asked the person he believed to be a 14 year old boy to send nude pictures of himself masturbating, fingering his anus, and peeing. McCoy eventually sent the boy a digital camera and cell phone so that the boy could take the pictures and send them to McCoy. Also during the chats, McCoy sent videos of child pornography to the UC posing as the 14 year old boy. Finally, during one chat, McCoy sent the person he believed to be a 14 year old boy a close-up picture of McCoy's nude penis.

After the New Hampshire police contacted the Granite City Police Department, officers contacted the defendant at his residence. McCoy consented to a search of his residence, as well the seizure of a laptop, various DVDs, and a thumb drive. A forensic analysis of these devices revealed images of child pornography on the laptop, the thumb drive, and some of the DVDs. Many of the images involved infants and toddlers engaged in sexually explicit behavior, as well as images of bestiality. Several of the images were downloaded and transferred to the thumb drive on November 9, 2006, to include the image charged in Count 4 of the Indictment. The thumb drive alone contained approximately 1,500 images and 2 videos of child pornography. In addition, one of the seized DVDs, which the defendant had in his possession in his home on May 5, 2011, contained approximately 233 videos of child pornography. This DVD is the subject of Count 5 of the Indictment.

An indictment is merely the method by which federal charges are lodged. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The case was investigated by the Keene, New Hampshire, Police Department, the Granite City Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Metro East Cyber Crimes and Analysis Task Force. The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Angela Scott.

The Royal Wedding Captivates Ike in an All-New "South Park" on Wednesday, May 11 at 10:00 p.m. on COMEDY CENTRAL.

All-New Season 15 Episodes Available In HD Exclusively On Xbox LIVE, iTunes, Sony PlayStation Network, Amazon Video On Demand

New Episodes Also Available On SouthParkStudios.com

NEW YORK, May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Prince of Canada is about to take a Princess in an all-new episode of "South Park" titled "Royal Pudding," premiering on Wednesday, May 11 at 10:00 p.m. on COMEDY CENTRAL.

It is a joyous time for all Canadians as the royal wedding commences. But, just as the Prince and Princess are about to be joined for all eternity, the Princess is abducted! All Canadians are called upon to help save the Princess. Ike answers the call to arms.

Launched in 1997, "South Park," now in its 15th season, remains the highest-rated series on COMEDY CENTRAL. "South Park" repeats Wednesdays at 12:00 a.m.

Co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone are executive producers, along with Anne Garefino, of the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning "South Park." Frank C. Agnone II is the supervising producer. Eric Stough, Adrien Beard, Bruce Howell, Vernon Chatman and Erica Rivinoja are producers. "South Park's" Web site is www.southparkstudios.com.

COMEDY CENTRAL, the only all-comedy network, currently is seen in more than 98 million homes nationwide. COMEDY CENTRAL is owned by, and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of Viacom Inc.'s (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B) MTV Networks. COMEDY CENTRAL's Internet address is www.comedycentral.com. For up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs visit Press Central, COMEDY CENTRAL's press Web site at www.comedycentral.com/press.

SOURCE COMEDY CENTRAL Corporate Communications

SAUDI ARABIA: 39% INTERNET PENETRATION.

According to Al-Yaum newspaper (July 3, 2010), an official report issued by the Communications and Information Technology Commission, CITC, estimated the average Internet penetration rate in Saudi Arabia at 39% of the overall population by the end of the first quarter of 2010.

Orange County Surgeon/Dermatologist Lenore Sikorski Draws Crowds at "No Hype" Educational Seminars.

Orange County, CA, Jul 10, 2009 (PRWeb.com via COMTEX) -- Orange County Cosmetic Surgeon and Dermatologist Lenore Sikorski offered a public seminar featuring truth and hype behind cosmetic advertising and literally ran out of space. An overflow crowd paid rapt attention as the popular Orange County cosmetic surgeon (http://drsikorski.com/cosmetic-surgery/default.aspx) explained and showed just what people can honestly expect from the likes of Juvederm, Restylane, the new Fractional CO2 Laser Resurfacing like MiXto (http://drsikorski.com/cosmetic-dermatology/acne-scar/mixto-laser.aspx), Fraxel and her trademarked fast recovery ActiveLift. "There are tons of great choices out there," she told attendees. "And there are tons of hollow promises, too. It's really buyer beware and it's up to you, as a consumer, to educate yourself."

Discounting some of the current marketing as "hype" with some very direct words, Dr. Sikorski urged that anyone who thought they could get a facelift from a nonsurgical procedure would likely be sorely disappointed. "The only way to truly make the kind of changes a face lift does is with a face lift! There's no laser, no heat treatment nor any magic wand that can reposition skin and muscle and get rid of excess sagging skin," she explained. "That takes a scalpel and a surgeon. I wish I could run a machine over skin and get the same results, but it's impossible."

Questions came up across the room. What about Thermage? What about Titan...or Accent or Refirme? Dr. Sikorski responded, "All the skin tightening technologies use heat to create the benefits. Thermage was one of the first and uses radiofrequency-induced heat that helps recoil loose collagen. Some use infrared heat. Who's to know which one is the best? They all have the potential to tighten."

"We lose elasticity in our skin as we age and a heat source will have an impact on how 'firm' the skin tissue feels and looks. But firming is not a facelift. Occasionally a patient will get some outstanding results - and those are the photos you see on the internet - but there's no guarantee you'll get similar results. We use Thermage here, but I make sure my patients understand the limitations. If someone is totally freaked out at the thought of surgery, a combination of Thermage and other procedures and/or fillers can sometimes be enough... but I never say anything is going to take the place of surgery."

What about Lifestyle Lift? "The marketing program for Lifestyle Lift is fantastic. But again, the photos you see generally are accompanied by fine print that notes the patients have had additional surgeries to get the effect you see in the picture. You could be misled if you aren't paying attention," she cautioned.

Dr. Sikorski advised patients leaning toward franchised surgery to take the time to read the social forums and know what the potential pitfalls are. "Realself.com," she noted, "is a great place to get real patient comparisons as well as other physician opinions. Not just for Lifestyle Lift, but for just about any cosmetic procedure on the market. Research the doctors you're considering. Insist on consulting with the specific doctor who will be doing the procedure. You have the right to ask as many questions as you need. And you should be asking questions. Lots of them."

Seminar attendees had ample supply of before and after patient photos to view while Dr. Sikorski explained what procedures they had had and how those procedures were performed. As a physician interested in educating, Dr. Sikorski periodically offers free public seminars. "Nothing beats face to face information," the doctor reiterated. "I've been offering free seminars and consultations for years. I feel it's one of my duties as a doctor and surgeon to help people understand the choices they have, whether they happen to be a patient of mine or not. With all the hype out there, somebody has to be willing to be pretty blunt. Thanks to my New York roots I don't have a problem telling it like it is."

Dr. Lenore Sikorski is a dual Board Certified Cosmetic Surgeon and Dermatologist. Her practice, Natural Image OC (http://drsikorski.com), is a full service medical Dermatology office offering both medical and cosmetic dermatological services, including skin cancer treatment and Mohs surgery, as well as cosmetic surgery and liposuction. Visit www.DrSikorski.com] for additional information, contact phone and email and to register for educational enews and seminars. Natural Image OC is located in Laguna Niguel and encompasses modern dermatology treatment rooms, a fully accredited surgical suite and private surgical patient entry. Consultation bookings may be made by calling (949) 448 0487

###

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/orangecounty/dermatologist/prweb2624394.htm.

PRWeb.com

PRWEB.COM Newswire

DynaMotive chosen first to trade on EASDAQ; company's environmental technologies expand in Europe.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 15, 1996-- DynaMotive Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:DYMTF) announced today that it has been approved as the first company to list its stock on EASDAQ, the new pan-European stock exchange equivalent of NASDAQ.

In a separate announcement, officials of the new European Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation system (EASDAQ) confirmed their approval of DynaMotive Technologies Corp.'s listing.

The EASDAQ system, funded by over 60 European financial institutions and intermediaries, is expected to commence its trading operations in September 1996. This exchange is based on European securities regulations and intended to operate in a similar spirit to that of NASDAQ, where smaller, high-growth companies can trade.

Presiding over operations of the new exchange as chairman will be Stanislas Yassukovich, the former chairman of Merrill Lynch Europe. At a meeting recently held between the European Association of Securities Dealers and EASDAQ, Philippe Maystadt, the Belgian Finance Minister, announced that the new exchange would have its headquarters in Brussels.

"We are honored and delighted to be the first company chosen to trade on Europe's newest capital market," said Reinhold Roth, DynaMotive's president and chief executive officer. "The news coincides with the opening of our European office in response to strong interest in our biomass-derived fuels and additives that make coal a clean-burning fuel -- without the need for expensive flue gas treatments."

Roth continued, "Europe is taking the lead in reducing harmful `greenhouse' emissions that are implicated in ozone destruction and global warming by taxing fossil fuels and promoting recycling of waste that otherwise would decompose and emit carbon dioxide and methane.

"Our Biomass Refinery converts organic waste into patented clean-burning fuel additives that lower operating costs and reduce SO2, NOx, CO2 stack emissions and flue gas particulate in coal-fired boilers. We have planned demonstrations of this process at UK and Scandinavian sites next year."

The company pursued a listing on EASDAQ as a means to expand its current European shareholder base and facilitate anticipated future capital required to meet demand for its environmental products worldwide. The new listing will make DynaMotive's stock available to institutions who only invest in companies listed on a European exchange.

DynaMotive is an advanced technology firm that helps solve environmental problems while improving industrial efficiency. In addition to the Biomass Refinery, other core technologies have been commercialized, including acid-free metal cleaning systems for steel manufacturing and motion-control systems for automotive assembly.

DynaMotive is headquartered in Vancouver, with U.S. offices in Waltham, Mass. DynaMotive's Internet home page is http://www.dynamotive.com/dmcc/.

CONTACT: DynaMotive Technologies

Bayne Boyes, 604/222-5590

or

Coffin-KCSA Investor Relations

Steven B. Johnson, 818/789-0100

Reducing rejections, revitalizing revenue: a Web-based RCM system enhances cash flow for a multispecialty group practice.(Claims and Coding)

A number of years ago, leadership at Core Physician Services, Exeter, N.H., a community-based multispecialty group practice with 91 providers, came to the realization that delivering exemplary care was not the only factor affecting the practice's success and stability. It must also ensure that the business side of the practice is as well cared for as its patients.

To achieve this objective, Core began investigating the latest generation of revenue cycle management (RCM) technologies in 2004. It explored solutions that would improve its ability to submit payable claims, increase and speed reimbursement, and streamline the entire revenue cycle from patient check-in to payment posting. Core, which provides primary care and specialty care services to communities along the greater New Hampshire Seacoast, ultimately adopted a Web-based RCM solution that has greatly reduced rejections and dramatically improved days in accounts receivable.

Problem

The advent of HIPAA and transition to EDI transactions more than 10 years ago prompted us to conduct critical assessments of our administrative functions. Leadership at all levels of the organization recognized that, in an environment of rising costs and diminishing reimbursement, it was vital that we institute measures to better manage our revenue cycle. In other words, we recognized that for the practice to succeed as a viable business, we had to ensure we had the financial stability to maintain our offices, pay our providers, and furnish the diagnostic and therapeutic services vital to the well-being of our community.

One area that demanded immediate attention was claims management. Our internal assessment revealed that days in accounts receivable (A/R) were about two times higher than the Medical Group Management Association national benchmark of 32 days. The largest contributing factor was lost claims and delays in claims processing.

Up until that point, we had relied upon a traditional clearinghouse. However, all too often we found that files were vanishing before they ever reached the payer. Additionally, the clearinghouse was unable to provide timely status reports that would allow us to verify that claims had indeed been submitted and were being processed. In other words, we were left with no mechanism to check if the "bills" we sent to insurers were received, if the insurer was able to process the information contained in the claims and, ultimately, if a check was in the mail.

Likewise, this "black hole" meant we had no access to information that would allow us to easily fix and resubmit claims that had been denied or rejected. Nor were we able to easily analyze denial or rejection patterns that would have enabled us to revamp internal processes and provide staff or provider training to prevent similar errors going forward.

Solution

Our frustration with the status quo prompted clinical, administrative and IT staff to compare notes with professional colleagues. We soon discovered that many practices were struggling with similar concerns. Wanting to move quickly, we took advantage of professional conferences and IT user group meetings to convene with our professional counterparts, discussing the pros and cons of the various technologies others had implemented. We followed up by contacting practices individually to discuss their systems, as well as the vendors providing their technology. Simultaneously, we appointed members of the Core staff to conduct Internet research to compare features and benefits of diverse applications and solutions.

Based on this data-gathering effort, we subsequently invited several vendors for demonstrations. During this exhaustive, albeit rapid, process, we quickly narrowed the search to a single vendor--Navicure. The feature that tipped the balance was the real-time, online access the company provided--billing staff would have fingertip access to claims status and could make online corrections for immediate resubmission. Leadership involved in the search found the RCM solution easy to use, while offering functionality that was more extensive than many of the other systems under consideration.

An additional deciding factor was the reputation for customer service that the vendor had earned. We received positive reviews from virtually all Navicure users we contacted.

Implementation

Because it is Web-based and highly intuitive, the RCM system proved simple to implement and the practice was able to "go live" within only a few months. We were not required to purchase new hardware or software, which minimized disruption to practice operations and shortened the learning curve dramatically.

To begin the conversion, we prepared a list of all payers to which we submitted claims. In addition, we assembled all provider numbers. Billing staff turned this information over to the vendor, which then built comprehensive online claims processing functionality; worked with our existing practice management system to ensure data flowed between the two systems efficiently; and, interacted with the previous clearinghouse to manage all conversion activities.

During this process our billing staff trained on the new system, which was conducted through WebEx sessions and only took a couple of hours. This reduced implementation costs because we incurred no travel expenses for training--staff missed a minimal amount of time while learning how to navigate the RCM system. New staff members have subsequently been trained in the same manner.

Results

As pleased as we were with the ease of implementation, we were even happier when we began to see the benefits of converting to Web-based claims management. Our staff could track claims online and received almost instant notification if there was a problem. Claims scrubbing that encompassed both national policies and individual payer edits (activated before the claim was actually submitted to the insurer) flagged any problems that might sabotage timely payment. Our billers could intercept the problem claim, make corrections or gather additional information, and resubmit it online within a day or two. This meant we no longer had to wait weeks to receive rejection notices so that we could then rework the claims for subsequent resubmission.

As a result, our days in A/R dropped nearly 30 percent, from 60 days before implementation in early 2004 to 43.2 days by September 2004. They had fallen nearly another 33 percent to 28.9 by the end of the first quarter in 2007. The age of accounts receivables likewise improved. In 2004, about 27 percent of accounts receivables were 120 days or older. Currently, that figure has dropped to 10-12 percent. Throughout this same time frame, we were adding new providers at an unprecedented rate and increased revenue by nearly 80 percent.

We also have been able to achieve greater operational efficiency. For instance, electronic remittance advice has allowed us to streamline posting. Payments are posted automatically, eliminating the possibility of errors associated with manual processes and making revenue available more quickly. Because of these advances, we have been able to redeploy four FTEs from the posting department, and have assigned them to pursue other revenue enhancing activities like following up with patients on outstanding balances. We had, in fact, been poised to hire an additional person for posting at the time we implemented the Web-based RCM, but were able to avoid this expenditure for ongoing savings.

Benefits

One of the greatest benefits is the goldmine of information available through reporting and analysis functionality. In the past, we were unable to access vital data. Even when information was contained somewhere in the old system, we were forced to invest untold amounts of staff time to manually compile reports, which were outdated almost as soon as they were circulated.

Online access means we can generate daily, weekly or monthly reports to improve workflow and cash flow. For example, once a month we run reports on the five most common reasons claims are rejected. This enables our staff to make corrections in-house, allowing claims to get paid the first time and thereby enhancing cash flow by reducing days in A/R.

We use this type of information for ongoing staff training, as well. Analysis allows us to track repeated errors and pinpoint individuals who may be responsible for them. For instance, a member of the front-office staff may be reporting administrative information in the wrong field, or a physician may repeatedly forget to add the fourth or fifth digits on diagnosis codes where applicable. Once identified, the staff members can undergo additional training to correct problems that may be interfering with the revenue stream. This ongoing training is available via the Internet, and as during implementation, can be accomplished with a minimal investment of time and resources.

Leadership at Core Physician Services has been 100 percent satisfied with the financial and process improvements that have resulted through implementation of automated RCM technology. We have found that the practice submits claims more promptly (and more cleanly), identifies potential problems more readily, and, consequently, gets paid more quickly.

For more information on Navicure Web-based RCM solutions, www.rsleads.com/709-205

Thomas Devin is vice president of finance Core Physician Services, Exeter, N.H. him at TDevin@ehr.org.

Video: Reuters Sign in Times Square to Feature PR Newswire Photos.

PR campaigns now capable of reaching millions of consumers on World's largest digital display system on iconic Manhattan landmark

TED Conference uses new photo service to unveil 'wishes to change the world' from Bill Clinton, James Nachtwey, and E.O. Wilson

NEW YORK, March 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Through a first-of-its-kind agreement with TimesSquare2, http://www.timessquare2.com/, a division of Reuters and managers of the world's largest digital display system located in New York's Times Square, PR Newswire will now make its customers' photos and images viewable on The Reuters Sign. The sign, which soars 23 stories into the sky above Times Square, reaches more than 1.5 million people per day.

   (Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070312/NYM095-a            http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070312/NYM095-b            http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070312/NYM095-c )   (Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000306/PRNLOGO )  

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/prnewswire/27242/

Starting today, the 7,400 square foot digital billboard located in Times Square will feature a regular stream of PR Newswire customer photos throughout each day. The photos will be accompanied by a news release headline, and will be displayed in fifteen-second increments. Appropriate types of photos for this new medium include product images, executive headshots, special event images, brand logos, and Presidential campaign images from PR Newswire's recently acquired public service newswire, U.S. Newswire.

To kick off the new service, the TED (Technology Entertainment and Design) Conference unveiled its 2007 TED Prize winners' "wishes to change the world" via PR Newswire's new Times Square Photo Rendering service on March 8. President Bill Clinton, Photojournalist James Nachtwey and Biologist Dr. E.O. Wilson (http://www.ted.com/tedprize/winners2007.cfm) are this year's winners.

"Times Square is one of the most highly trafficked public places in the world, and the digital billboards are key attractions for the millions who pass through each day," said Dan Hennes, director of Photo Services, PR Newswire. "Advertisers understand the impact of placing ads on these billboards; now our customers have a unique opportunity to get their photos and images directly in front of this captive audience."

PR Newswire is making its Times Square Photo Rendering service available to customers in two ways:

   *  As part of a premium package that includes AP Photo Express --      The Associated Press' satellite photo distribution to approximately      1,000 U.S. print and broadcast media outlets -- as well as digital      delivery to news Web sites and archival services used by media globally      to download images, and distribution of a text news release over      PR Newswire's national newsline US1, linking readers to the photo.    *  Or through PR Newswire's new Internet Photo Distribution service which      renders photos on more than 175 Web sites, including the Los Angeles      Times, ABC Television affiliates, MarketWatch and Yahoo!.   

In addition to photo distribution and archival services, PR Newswire also offers an assignment photography service that locates photographers around the world for customer photo shoots. Photos taken by PR Newswire shooters may be approved quickly online and posted onto the Reuters Times Square digital sign and distributed globally.

About PR Newswire

PR Newswire Association LLC (http://www.prnewswire.com/) provides electronic distribution, targeting, measurement and broadcast services on behalf of tens of thousands of corporate, government, association, labor, non- profit, and other customers worldwide. Using PR Newswire, these organizations reach a variety of critical audiences including the news media, the investment community, government decision-makers, and the general public with their up- to-the-minute, full-text news developments.

Established in 1954, PR Newswire has offices in 11 countries and routinely sends its customers' news to outlets in 135 countries and in more than 40 languages. Utilizing the latest in communications technology, PR Newswire content is considered a mainstay among news reporters, investors and individuals who seek breaking news from the source. PR Newswire's leading services include ProfNet Experts(SM), eWatch(TM), MEDIAtlas(TM), Search Engine Optimization, MediaRoom, MediaSense(TM), MultiVu(TM) and U.S. Newswire, the preeminent policy newswire in the industry. PR Newswire is a subsidiary of United Business Media plc of London

CONTACT:

Rachel A. Meranus, Vice President, Public Relations, PR Newswire, 212-282-1929, rachel.meranus@prnewswire.com

CONTACT: Rachel A. Meranus, Vice President, Public Relations, PR Newswire, +1-212-282-1929, rachel.meranus@prnewswire.com

Web site: http://www.prnewswire.com/ http://www.timessquare2.com/ http://www.ted.com/tedprize/winners2007.cfm

HVAC--EffHVAC is an efficiency tool that can greatly reduce energy costs and extend equipment life.(Tools of the Trade)

HVAC--EffHVAC is an efficiency tool that can greatly reduce energy costs and extend equipment life. Applicable to chillers, boilers, and plate exchangers, this Internet-based service can diagnose systematic problems with sensors, gauges, data entry, or flow rate. Additionally, it can detect high or low refrigerant levels, fouling or scaling, non-condensable gasses, and plugged or restricted flow. Comprehensive reports and troubleshooting guidelines help users correct problems. EffHVAC by Efficiency Technologies Inc. Circle 237.

SunTrust to Announce Fourth Quarter/Full Year Earnings Results on Monday, January 12, 2004.

SunTrust Banks, Inc. announced today that it will release fourth quarter/full year results prior to the market opening on Monday, January 12, 2004.

SunTrust management will host a conference call on January 12, 2004 at 8:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) to discuss the earnings results and business trends. Individuals are encouraged to call in beginning at 7:45 a.m. by dialing 1-888-822-9863 (Passcode 4Q03; Leader: Gary Peacock.). Individuals calling from outside the United States should dial 1-484-630-1854 (Passcode 4Q03; Leader: Gary Peacock). A replay of the call will be available beginning the afternoon of January 12 by dialing 1-800-945-0819 (domestic) or 1-402-220-3454 (international).

Alternatively, individuals may listen to the live webcast of the presentation by visiting the SunTrust Web site at http://www.suntrust.com/ . The webcast will be hosted under "Investor Relations" located under "About SunTrust" and may also be accessed directly from the SunTrust home page by clicking on the Earnings related link, "4th Qtr. Earnings Release", found at the lower right-hand corner of the page. Beginning the afternoon of January 12, 2004, listeners may access an archived version of the presentation on the "Investor Relations" page. A link to the Investor Relations page is also found in the footer of the SunTrust home page.

SunTrust Banks, Inc., headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is one of the nation's largest commercial banking organizations. As of September 30, 2003, SunTrust had total assets of $126.7 billion and total deposits of $80.5 billion. The company operates through an extensive distribution network primarily in Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Tennessee, Virginia and the District of Columbia and also serves customers in selected markets nationally. Its primary businesses include deposit, credit, trust and investment services. Through various subsidiaries the company provides credit cards, mortgage banking, insurance, brokerage and capital markets services. SunTrust's Internet address is http://www.suntrust.com/ .

CONTACT: Investors, Gary Peacock, +1-404-658-4879, Media, Mike McCoy, +1-404-588-7230, both of SunTrust Banks, Inc.

Web site: http://www.suntrust.com/

Sunflower Broadband Deploys Moxi(TM)-Powered Motorola Broadband Media Centers; Launch Represents Industry Milestone as Sunflower Becomes First Two-Way NAS Deployment of Innovative Entertainment Platform.

LAWRENCE, Kan. and KIRKLAND, Wash., Nov. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Sunflower Broadband, a leader among independent cable operators, and Digeo, Inc., the developer of the Emmy(R) award-winning Moxi(TM) Media Center software platform, today announced the commercial launch of the Motorola Broadband Media Center (BMC) with Moxi(TM) to all digital-capable subscribers in the Sunflower network. The Motorola BMC is an advanced digital set-top that integrates high-definition television (HDTV) with a dual-tuner digital video recorder (DVR), providing the ability to watch one channel while recording another.

In August 2004, Sunflower Broadband became the first NAS-based cable operator to purchase the Motorola BMC with Moxi for its subscribers. Sunflower is one of approximately 240 operators that utilize the NAS-based system, which currently serves well over one million subscribers across the US, offering a significant market potential for this solution.

With the NAS digital solution, operators can readily deploy two-way interactive services without having to invest in additional access control infrastructure upgrades or operating staff. With the combined Digeo and Motorola capabilities, small- to mid-size operators are now poised to offer new revenue-generating media center services, including DVR, HDTV, music, photos and games. This system also enables MSOs to leverage their existing interactive programming services (i.e. VOD, subscription VOD (SVOD), interactive advertising, e-commerce, and enhanced TV).

"We're pleased to launch one of the most advanced set of digital cable services available today," said Sunflower general manager Patrick Knorr. "The Moxi product is a powerful platform that outpaces the service offerings of satellite providers and it's a perfect fit for an operator of our size."

"We're excited to offer the Moxi platform to Sunflower and cable operators of all sizes who wish to deploy new digital services with cost-effectiveness, on a fast-track schedule," said Jim Billmaier, chief executive officer for Digeo. "The Motorola BMC NAS-controlled platform provides MSOs with an optimal solution for implementing advanced two-way services today. With Moxi, cable operators can satisfy their subscribers' home entertainment appetites by delivering a fun set of services that they can't live without."

With the Motorola BMC with Moxi, Sunflower subscribers will have access to features such as:

    *    Pause and instant replay live TV    *    Single program or series recordings by titles    *    Two weeks of guide data to help consumers plan viewings and set         recordings    *    Rapid and responsive menu browsing    *    Smart search using title or keywords    *    Option to record first-run episodes only and avoid repeats    *    Favorite Channels menu which provides consumers quick access to         their most-watched channels    *    Easy-to-browse categories for movies, sports, kids, news and music    *    An interactive Ticker that provides instant updates on weather,         sports and news regardless of what channel the consumer is watching    *    Fun, family-friendly games that can be played using the remote         control    *    Digital photography features allowing consumers to watch slideshows         on their TV    About Sunflower Broadband  

Sunflower Broadband (formerly known as Sunflower Cablevision) first entered the cable television business in 1970. Since that time, Sunflower has become a leader among independent cable operators in the telecommunications industry. Sunflower is locally owned and operated, and provides cable television and high-speed internet services to residential and business customers in Lawrence, Eudora, Tonganoxie, Basehor and parts of Leavenworth County. Telephone services are also available to customers in Lawrence. Sunflower is part of the World Company, a privately owned Lawrence-based media company that also operates eight area newspapers.

A converged news partnership between the Lawrence Journal-World, 6NEWS and World Online provides our community with an unparalleled local news and information resource for a community of this size. For more information on Sunflower Broadband, visit their Web site at http://www.sunflowerbroadband.com/.

About Motorola Broadband Communications Sector

The Motorola Broadband Communications Sector provides a scalable, integrated end-to-end system for the delivery of broadband services that keeps consumers informed, entertained and connected. Its technology enables network operators and retailers to create and execute on new business opportunities by providing innovative products and services to the home. Customer-responsive design and manufacturing expertise further contribute to the company's position as the world's leading supplier of digital cable set-tops and cable modems. For more information about the Motorola Broadband Communications Sector, visit http://www.motorola.com/broadband.

About Motorola

Motorola, Inc. is a global leader in wireless, broadband and automotive communications technologies that help make life smarter, safer, simpler, synchronized and fun. Sales in 2003 were U.S. $27.1 billion. Motorola creates innovative technological solutions that benefit people at home, at work and on the move. The company also is a progressive corporate citizen dedicated to operating ethically, protecting the environment and supporting the communities in which it does business. For more information: http://www.motorola.com/.

About Digeo, Inc.

Digeo, Inc., provides media center software and services that inspire consumer loyalty, generate new incremental revenue, and position cable as the leading source for home entertainment. The Moxi(TM) platform from Digeo powers a new generation of media centers through which cable operators can deliver high-revenue services and applications -- such as digital video recording (DVR), high-definition TV, and on-demand and pay-per-view content -- to the whole home at a competitive cost per TV. The multi-TV architecture and breakthrough Emmy(R) award-winning user interface of the Moxi platform provide all Moxi applications including DVR, DVD, information on demand, jukebox, photos, games, and more from any cable access point in the home using existing wiring. Digeo has also developed an innovative chipset that integrates essential media-center functionality and can substantially reduce future set- top box production costs.

Additionally, Digeo offers the Digeo(TM) iTV service to over one million subscribers, which is the most widely deployed cable iTV service in North America. With Digeo iTV, cable operators can increase the value of their existing digital set-tops by offering field-tested services that have demonstrated increased customer satisfaction and churn reduction, and effective cross-selling of video-on-demand (VOD) and pay-per-view (PPV) offerings.

Moxi Media Center customers include Comcast, Charter, Adelphia, and Sunflower Broadband. Digeo is primarily backed by Paul Allen's Vulcan Inc. The company has offices in Kirkland, Wash., Palo Alto, Calif. and Longmont, Colo. For more information, please visit http://www.digeo.com/.

NOTE: Digeo and Moxi are trademarks of Digeo, Inc. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners.

MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. (C) Motorola, Inc. 2004.

Use of the trademarks and service marks of the National Television Academy ("NTA"), including the mark EMMY(R), requires the prior express written permission of National Television Academy.

CONTACT: Gina Aumiller Bender, +1-650-838 6014, or gina.bender@digeo.com of Digeo, Inc.; or Diane Schreiber of Sparkpr, +1-415-321-1871, or diane@sparkpr.com, for Digeo; or Emily Mulligan of Sunflower Broadband, +1-785-312-6947, or emulligan@sunflowerbroadband.com; or Paul Alfieri of Motorola, +1-215-323-1804, or paul.alfieri@motorola.com

Web site: http://www.motorola.com/

Web site: http://www.sunflowerbroadband.com/

Web site: http://www.digeo.com/