SA:Man charged over drug crop

AAP General News (Australia)
08-12-2011
SA:Man charged over drug crop

A 51-year-old man's been charged with producing drugs after 250 cannabis plans were
found at his home in Adelaide's north.

Police say officers found the plants at the Angle Vale property yesterday, along with
a substantial amount of drug-related equipment.

The plants were growing in the open and in sheds using hydroponic equipment.

AAP RTV tjd/af

KEYWORD: CANNABIS (ADELAIDE)

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

NSW: Third elderly found dead months after death

AAP General News (Australia)
02-21-2006
NSW: Third elderly found dead months after death

SYDNEY, Feb 21 AAP - The body of an elderly man has been found dead in a Sydney unit
months after his death - the third such discovery in just over a week in NSW.

The remains of the man were found last night in a unit in George Street in the inner-city
suburb of Redfern and may have been there more than six months, police said.

Officers went to the address at 7.45pm (AEDT) after receiving information from people
concerned for the man's safety.

"Upon arrival they found the body of a deceased person in the unit," a police spokeswoman …

NSW:Missing Sydney man found

AAP General News (Australia)
04-16-2011
NSW:Missing Sydney man found

SYDNEY, April 16 AAP - A man reported missing from his home in western Sydney has been found.

Police said Craig White, 38, left his Mulgoa home early on Friday evening, and was
last seen heading towards bushland.

Police issued an alert calling on the public to assist in locating him at lunchtime on Saturday.

By mid Saturday afternoon he had been found.

"About 2.30pm, the man was located safe and well at his address," a police spokesman
said in a statement.

AAP bc/ht

KEYWORD: WHITE

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

WA:WA's Kimberley region on flood alert

AAP General News (Australia)
12-30-2010
WA:WA's Kimberley region on flood alert

PERTH, Dec 30 AAP - A flood alert has been issued for the north and west Kimberley
region as a tropical low moves in from the east.

Western Australia's Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) says that while there
is no immediate danger, residents and holidaymakers in the affected region should prepare
for flooding.

WA's Bureau of Meteorology says the developing low northeast of Kununurra may bring
heavy rainfall between 100 and 150mm over the next two days as the system moves west.

FESA urged people to watch for changes in water levels and to be ready to relocate
and move equipment and livestock early so they were not caught in floodwaters.

It also advised people to prepare emergency kits with enough canned food and water
to last four days and to avoid driving or walking into floodwaters of unknown depth and
current.

The Bureau of Meteorology said the low was expected to develop into a tropical cyclone
off WA's northwest coast on New Year's Day and it has declared a cyclone watch for coastal
areas from Exmouth to Wallal.

Severe weather meteorologist Brad Santos said the low was likely to move offshore from
the Kimberley and develop into a cyclone on Friday or New Year's Day off the Pilbara coast
after moving quickly west-southwest.

"We're not anticipating at this stage a severe tropical cyclone," Mr Santos said.

"But people need to be aware, particularly over the holiday time."

Gales may develop along the Pilbara coast on Saturday as the system moved along the
coast, a bureau advisory said.

AAP ldj/apm

KEYWORD: CYCLONE WA 2ND UPDATE

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

POLL10 SENATE NSW

AAP General News (Australia)
08-19-2010
POLL10 SENATE NSW

VOTES % SWING QUOTAS

----------------------------------
SAL 0 0.00 0.00 0.0000
BAP 0 0.00 0.00 0.0000
SOL 0 0.00 0.00 0.0000
COM 0 0.00 0.00 0.0000
CEC 0 0.00 0.00 0.0000
DEM 0 0.00 0.00 0.0000
TCS 0 0.00 0.00 0.0000
SPA 0 0.00 0.00 0.0000
SFP 0 0.00 0.00 0.0000
DLP 0 0.00 0.00 0.0000
SXP 0 0.00 0.00 0.0000
SEP 0 0.00 0.00 0.0000
NCP 0 0.00 0.00 0.0000
FFP 0 0.00 0.00 0.0000
ALP 0 0.00 0.00 0.0000
CA 0 0.00 0.00 0.0000
CDP 0 0.00 0.00 0.0000
LNP 0 0.00 0.00 0.0000
ON 0 0.00 0.00 0.0000
GRN 0 0.00 0.00 0.0000
LDP 0 0.00 0.00 0.0000
OTH 0 0.00 0.00 0.0000

FORMAL 0 0.00
INFORMAL 0 0.00
TOTAL 0 0.00

PROGRESSIVE QUOTA ( 0 )

KEYWORD: Senate State Summary - NSW. 4,611,228 enrolled. 0% counted.

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

Vic:Thousands wait longer than 24 hrs in emergency depts

AAP General News (Australia)
04-11-2010
Vic:Thousands wait longer than 24 hrs in emergency depts

By Melissa Jenkins

MELBOURNE, April 11 AAP - More than 2500 people spent longer than 24 hours waiting
in Victorian emergency departments for a hospital bed in the last financial year.

As Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Sunday offered $500 million to slash emergency department
waiting times to four hours, the Victorian opposition released figures showing that 2566
people waited more than a day for a bed.

The situation was worst at The Alfred in Melbourne's inner southeast, with 728 people
waiting in its emergency department for longer than 24 hours.

About 629 people waited longer than 24 hours in Western Health's Sunshine and Williamstown
hospitals, while 566 waited at Eastern Health's Maroondah, Angliss and Box Hill hospitals.

A total of 1,355,431 people attended Victorian emergency departments in the 12 months
to June 2009, according the most recent Your Hospitals report released by the state health
department.

Australian Medical Association Victoria president Harry Hemley said many people had
to wait extraordinary lengths of time to get a bed because hospitals were operating at
95 per cent capacity, instead of the recommended 85 per cent.

"In most cases, it will be to get a bed in the hospital. Sometimes it will be waiting
for emergency surgery and then from emergency surgery they have to go into a bed after
that," he said.

Dr Hemley said the $500 million offered would not solve bed block problems or reduce
24-hour waits.

"All it will do is, perhaps, increase the number of personnel and staff dealing with
patients. But if you can't get them out of emergency and into a hospital bed - that's
why they're waiting there 24 hours," he said.

Dr Hemley said the hospital beds shortage was due to decades of Commonwealth under-funding.

A state government spokeswoman said: "Last year, we provided $237.1 million over four
years to meet growth in emergency department demand and critical care services, and to
treat an additional 30,000 patients each year in emergency departments.

"More than half of all (emergency department) patients were seen by a doctor or nurse
in a Victorian hospital within 23 minutes of arrival compared to the national average
of 24 minutes.

"But we know that there is room for improvement. That's why Victoria has put forward
a plan to the Commonwealth to improve hospital care for patients."

State opposition health spokesman David Davis said the figures showed what he termed
Premier John Brumby's comprehensive failure to manage emergency departments in Victoria.

"He promised in 1999 to fix the Victorian hospital system and this is further evidence
that he has failed," Mr Davis told AAP.

"The long waits in emergency directly affect patient health outcomes."

The additional $500 million from the federal government hinges on the states and territories
signing up to the prime minister's $50 billion health reform plan at the April 19 Council
of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting.

While the states will welcome the cash, it is well short of what premiers have been demanding.

Mr Brumby wants an additional $1.2 billion a year for Victoria's hospitals and strongly
opposes Mr Rudd's proposal to strip 30 per cent of GST revenues from the states to directly
fund local hospital networks.

"It's a bit rich of John Brumby to lecture the federal government or indeed anyone
else given his patent failure to manage emergency departments," Mr Davis said.

Comment was being sought from the government.

In 2008-09, there were 409,094 more people treated in public hospital emergency departments
in Victorian than in 1999-2000 - a 43 per cent increase.

Under national benchmarks, category one patients (unconscious, barely breathing) must
be treated immediately, category two patients (severe pain, breathing difficulties, fractures)
must be seen within 10 minutes and category three patients (blood loss, persistent vomiting,
dehydration) must be treated seen within 30 minutes.

Category four patients (mild bleeding, abdominal pain) should be treated within one
hour and category five patients (minor illnesses) should be treated within two hours.

AAP mj/jhp/cdh

KEYWORD: HOSPITALS VIC (WITH FACTBOX)

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

FED: Abbott dubs Anaya an 'armchair critic'

AAP General News (Australia)
08-28-2009
FED: Abbott dubs Anaya an 'armchair critic'

CANBERRA, Aug 28 AAP - A United Nations expert who described intervention into remote
Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory as discriminatory is an "armchair critic",
opposition indigenous affairs spokesman Tony Abbott says.

The UN's special rapporteur on indigenous rights, James Anaya, on Thursday said the
NT intervention measures, including compulsory income management and blanket bans on alcohol,
are "overtly discriminatory" and further stigmatise already stigmatised communities.

"I think this is the kind of nonsense we are used to from these armchair critics,"

Mr Abbott told ABC Television on Friday.

"Sure things aren't perfect there now but they are a lot better than they were.

"The intervention is something which really has been good for our country and been
good for the Aboriginal communities."

He defended the quarantining of indigenous welfare payments to ensure they are spent
on necessities.

"If there are any concerns about the impact of this measure ... why don't we extend
it more broadly?" Mr Abbott said.

"I think that would be the way to solve the problem, not to drop the measure."

Prof Anaya has called on Labor to "swiftly" reinstate the Racial Discrimination Act,
which was suspended by the former Howard government so the intervention's more extreme
measures could be rolled out.

But Mr Abbott warned this could trigger an "army of publicly-funded human rights lawyers"

to start challenging different aspects of the intervention in court.

Prof Anaya's comments came hours after a proposed new indigenous representative body
was unveiled by Australia's Aboriginal social justice commissioner Tom Calma.

The body will be independent from government and operate as a registered company, comprising
an eight-member national executive, a 128-seat national congress and an ethics council.

Mr Abbott said Mr Calma's proposal lacked teeth and combined the worst features of
its predecessors, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission and the National
Indigenous Council.

"If you are going to elect a body, you've got to give it something worthwhile to do," he said.

"If it's only going to be a policy advisory body, why go to the time and trouble of electing it?"

AAP bsb/cjb/apm

KEYWORD: INDIGENOUS ABBOTT

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

WA: Main stories in Perth's daily newspaper

AAP General News (Australia)
04-20-2009
WA: Main stories in Perth's daily newspaper

PERTH, April 20 AAP - Main stories in The West Australian newspaper on Monday:

Page 1: Dramatic images of the deadly boat explosion off the WA coast that killed five
Afghan asylum seekers and injured at least 31 others were released by the Department of
Defence last night as allegations emerged of an official cover-up of the tragedy.

Page 3: Statistics reveal 19 billion litres of water were wasted due to an increase
in leaks from Perth's drinking supplies last financial year.

Page 5: Calls for automatic jail terms after more than 1800 violence restraining orders
were breached in cases heard by the State's magistrates courts last year.

World: US missiles aimed at Taliban and al-Qaida rebels were believed to be responsible
for the deaths of three suspected militants killed yesterday in Pakistan's tribal area
(Islamabad).

Business: A rejuvenated Westfarmers will host tomorrow's key investor briefing with
its shares trading near five-month highs and amid expectations that the WA conglomerate's
turnaround of the Coles supermarket business is gathering momentum.

Sport: John Worsfold had predicted a six-day break won't stop West Coast reproducing
the effort that yesterday inflicted the Western Bulldogs' first defeat of the season,
when they hit the road for an ANZAC Day assignment against Hawthorne.

AAP ap

KEYWORD: MONITOR FRONTERS WA

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

What Australian newspapers say on Monday, December 15, 2008=2

AAP General News (Australia)
12-15-2008
What Australian newspapers say on Monday, December 15, 2008=2

Thousands of Victorian VCE students will find out how their studies have paid off this
week, the main editorial in the Herald Sun newspaper said.

VCE results will be released today electronically, while snail mail results will not
be delivered until Tuesday.

"It is worth remembering at this stressful time that - good or bad - VCE results do
not determine success in life.

"Many of the world's most brilliant men and women were not very good at school."

Of more than 50,000 students, 49,030 or 96.9 per cent were awarded a Victorian Certificate
of Education, similar to last year's result, while 21 boys and 10 girls got the highest
possible mark of 99.95.

AAP maur

KEYWORD: EDITORIALS 2 SYDNEY (REOPENS)

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

Bvo: Men's beach volleyball results = 2

AAP General News (Australia)
08-10-2008
Bvo: Men's beach volleyball results = 2

BEIJING, Aug 9 AFP - Men's beach volleyball results today:



Group C

Ricardo/Emanuel (BRA) 2 - Fernandes/Morais (ANG) 0

Schacht/Slack (AUS) 2 - Geor/Gia (GEO) 0



Standings (Matches played, won, lost, points for, against, pts)

Brazil 1 1 0 2 0 2

Australia 1 1 0 2 0 2

Georgia 1 0 1 0 2 1

Angola 1 0 1 0 2 1



Group B

Samoilovs/Plavins (LAT) 2 - Rogers/Dalhausser (USA) 0

Heyer/Heuscher (SUI) 2 - Conde/Baracetti (ARG) 0



Standings

Switzerland 1 1 0 2 0 2

Latvia 1 1 0 2 0 2

United States 1 0 1 0 2 1

Argentina 1 0 1 0 2 1



Group E

Nummerdor/Schuil (NED) 2 - Laciga/M. Schinder (SUI) 0

Klemperer/Koreng (GER) 2 - Kjemperud/Skarlund (NOR) 1



Standings

Netherlands 1 1 0 2 0 2

Germany 1 1 0 2 1 2

Norway 1 0 1 1 2 1

Switzerland 1 0 1 0 2 1

AFP dd

KEYWORD: OLYR08 BVO MEN RESULTS 2 BEIJING

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

FED: Rudd's Burke links to dominate parliament

AAP General News (Australia)
02-17-2008
FED: Rudd's Burke links to dominate parliament

CANBERRA, Feb 17 AAP - Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's links with disgraced Labor powerbroker
Brian Burke and new sitting hours will dominate parliamentary question time tomorrow.

Parliamentarians have begun arriving in Canberra ahead of the first five-day sitting
week for the lower house.

The extended hours have outraged opposition backbenchers, who prefer to spend Fridays
in their electorates.

But the main target will be Mr Rudd, with Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson vowing to
pursue Mr Rudd over his relationship with the former West Australian premier in late 2005.

Mr Rudd met Mr Burke, now a political lobbyist banned from any contact with state and
federal Labor MPs, three times in 2005.

The prime minister has denied courting Mr Burke to win support for his leadership challenge
a year later against Kim Beazley.

Emails released today cast doubt on Mr Rudd's reasons for pulling out of a planned
dinner in December 2005.

Last March, Mr Rudd said he realised it was inappropriate and "a step too far" to have
Mr Burke organise the dinner with 10 senior WA journalists.

But in an email to Mr Burke, Mr Rudd blamed DFAT officials for not finalising an overseas
trip and suggested holding the dinner sometime in the new year.

Outside question time, more new MPs will make their maiden speeches on Monday and Tuesday,
while workplace relations, tax cuts, indigenous education measures and the high-speed
broadband rollout will take up most of Wednesday and Thursday.

The Senate does not sit this week.

Instead, senators will spend four days grilling public servants and departmental heads
on everything from broadband, the prime minister's office, immigration and AWB in budget
estimates hearings.

AAP mfh/cdh

KEYWORD: PARLY PREVIEW

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

Main stories in today's 1300 2GB news

AAP General News (Australia)
08-29-2007
Main stories in today's 1300 2GB news

SYDNEY, Aug 29 AAP - Main stories in today's 1300 2GB news:

- Three Sydney men accused of planning to rob ATMs by blowing them up have been refused bail.

- A container truck has rolled on the Princes Highway in Sydney's south bringing down
power lines.

- A Sydney school teacher accused of filming up the skirt of a teenage girl is facing
new charges.

- There are warnings about how easy it can be for thieves to steal identities.

- The level of taxpayer-funded state government advertising has come under fire.

- Andy Roddick has beaten fellow American Justin Gimelstob in straight sets in their
first round clash at the US Open in New York.

AAP sg/was

KEYWORD: MONITOR 1300 2GB

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

WA: Sealion attack teenager in stable condition

AAP General News (Australia)
04-15-2007
WA: Sealion attack teenager in stable condition

A 13-year-old Perth girl is in a stable condition after being attacked by a sea lion
at a coastal holiday town on Friday.

ELLA MURPHY lost three teeth and had her jaw broken in the attack while scurfing on
a surfboard being towed by a boat in the seaside town of Lancelin.

The teenager had surgery yesterday.

AAP RTV ah/crh

KEYWORD: SEALION CONDITION (PERTH)

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

Fed: Sacking a volunteer fire fighter illegal - Andrews

AAP General News (Australia)
12-13-2006
Fed: Sacking a volunteer fire fighter illegal - Andrews

Workplace Relations Minister KEVIN ANDREWS says it's illegal for a boss to sack an
employee involved in voluntary firefighting.

Mr ANDREWS says employees and employers should band together .. and it would be totally
inappropriate for any employer to sack someone because they're out fighting a fire.

Mr ANDREWS has told Sky News the law's enforceable by a fine of up to 10 thousand dollars.

AAP RTV dep/sb/wf/bart

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES ANDREWS (CANBERRA)

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

Vic: Prisoners have toll free line to Ombudsman

AAP General News (Australia)
08-07-2006
Vic: Prisoners have toll free line to Ombudsman

Inmates in Victoria's prisons now have a toll free direct phone line to the state Ombudsman
so they can report corrupt police.

A Corrections Victoria spokesman says the 1800 hotline .. direct to the Office of Police
Integrity which is attached to the state ombudsman's office .. is now available in prisons.

The spokesman told The Herald Sun newspaper the number gives inmates the same access
to the independent watchdog as everyone else .. similar to prisons in other jurisdictions.

The OPI handles complaints against police .. as well as conducting investigations into
a range of systemic issues and police corruption.

AAP RTV sam/psm/

KEYWORD: DOB (MELBOURNE)

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

AP Top News at 2:50 p.m. EST

AP Online
02-16-2006

U.N. Report Equates Gitmo to Torture

In this image reviewed by the U.S. Military, an unidentified detainee is escorted by two military guards at Camp Delta, in this June 25, 2005 file photo, at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, in Cuba. The United States should shut down the prison for terror suspects at Guantanamo Bay and either release all detainees being held there or bring them to trial, the United Nations said in a report released Thursday, Feb. 16, 2006. (AP Photo/Haraz Ghanbari, File)

GENEVA (AP) _ The United States should shut down the prison for terror suspects at Guantanamo Bay and either release the detainees or put them on trial, the United Nations said in a report released Thursday. The world body also called on the United States to refrain from practices that "amount to torture."

Patriot Act Moves Closer to Renewal

WASHINGTON (AP) _ The Senate pushed the Patriot Act a step closer to renewal Thursday, overwhelmingly rejecting an effort to block it. Passage is expected next month for extending the law that was passed weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks as a weapon to help the government track terror suspects.

Russian Biathlete Expelled, Loses Medal

Russia's Olga Pyleva races to win the bronze medal during the women's mass start competition at the biathlon World Championships in Hochfilzen, Austria, in this Sunday, March 13, 2005 file photo. Pyleva was suspended Thursday Feb. 16, 2006 for failing a doping test, becoming the first athlete to test positive at the Turin 2006 Winter Olympic Games.(AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson)

CESANA, Italy (AP) _ Russian biathlon star Olga Pyleva was thrown out of the Turin Games and stripped of her silver medal Thursday for doping, the first athlete caught in the tightest drug net in Winter Olympics history. Pyleva was favored heading into Thursday's 7.5km sprint to win her second medal of the games. As athletes were walking up to the starting line, an announcer told the crowd that Pyleva was scratched because she had fallen ill.

President Satisfied With Cheney's Account

Vice President Dick Cheney, center, arrives at the White House, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2006, for early morning security briefings with President Bush. Cheney rejected Wednesday any notion that his victim bears any responsibility for the shooting accident that turned a weekend hunting trip into trauma. "I'm the guy who pulled the trigger and shot my friend," he said. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

WASHINGTON (AP) _ President Bush was satisfied with Vice President Dick Cheney's account of his Texas hunting accident, but Bush's spokesman declined to say Thursday whether the president felt it should have been revealed earlier. "I think that the vice president clearly explained the rationale behind that," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said, avoiding a direct response to questions about whether Bush felt the shooting accident was publicly disclosed in a timely manner.

China Defends Right to Police Internet

Chinese youths work at their computer stations in an Internet cafe in Beijing, China, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2006. Four U.S. technology giants are defending themselves against charges they collaborated with China to crush dissents in return for access to a booming Internet market. Representatives from Microsoft Corp., Yahoo Inc., Cisco Systems Inc. and Google Inc. faced harsh questioning from lawmakers from both parties at a hearing of a House of Representatives International Relations subcommittee. China says its aims are benign - to protect its citizens, and especially children, from "the immoral and harmful content" of the Internet. Critics say the limits China imposes go further and are aided by U.S. companies. (AP Photo/Elizabeth Dalziel)

BEIJING (AP) _ China on Thursday defended its right to police the Internet, one day after four American technology giants appeared before Congress on charges they collaborated with Beijing to crush free speech online in return for market access. "It is normal for countries to manage the Internet in accordance with law and to guide its development in a healthy and orderly fashion," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said. "China has also borrowed and learned from the United States and other countries in the world."

XM Radio Reports Loss, Key Director Quits

NEW YORK (AP) _ XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. posted a much wider loss in the fourth quarter on higher costs for marketing and acquiring subscribers. At the same time, a key director quit over disagreements about the company's direction, warning of a looming "crisis." Its shares sank $2.16, or 8.6 percent, to $23.09 in morning trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market, after briefly trading as low as $22.94. Their previous 52-week low was $23.01.

Some Smokers Pay More for Health Benefits

CINCINNATI (AP) _ Smokers squeezed by soaring cigarette costs and workplace smoking bans are increasingly being hit with another cost increase _ this time for health insurance. A growing number of private and public employers are requiring employees who use tobacco to pay higher premiums, hoping that will motivate more of them to stop smoking and lower health care costs for the companies and their workers.

Elton John Accepts Libel Settlement

Sir Elton John poses during a stage photocall in London on June 22, 2004. John accepted an undisclosed financial settlement Thursday, Feb. 16, 2006, of a libel lawsuit against London's Sunday Times. His lawyer said in court that the newspaper had repeated a false rumor that the rocker acted in a self-important, arrogant and rude manner by telling guests at a fundraising ball not to address him unless spoken to.(AP Photo/Max Nash)

LONDON (AP) _ Elton John accepted an undisclosed financial settlement Thursday of a libel lawsuit against the Sunday Times. His lawyer, Hanna Basha, said in court that the newspaper had repeated a false rumor that the rocker acted in a self-important, arrogant and rude manner by telling guests at a fundraising ball not to address him unless spoken to.

Powerball Jackpot Hits New Record

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) _ Another record lottery jackpot is up for grabs. With no winner Wednesday, the multistate Powerball jackpot jumped to $365 million for Saturday's drawing, the largest jackpot in U.S. lottery history.

Pedersen Blows by Rivals for Skeleton Gold

Gold medallist Maya Pedersen of Switzerland celebrates as she slides in following her final run in skeleton competition at the Olympic Games in Cesana Pariol, Italy on Thursday February 16, 2006. (AP Photo/Frank Gunn, CP)

CESANA, Italy (AP) _ Mama Maya, she's fast! Switzerland's Maya Pedersen, who parked her sled to become a mother two years ago, is now an Olympic champion after winning her country's first gold medal of the Turin Games in women's skeleton on Thursday. Showing zero fear in a headfirst, freezing freefall down one of the world's fastest sliding tracks, Pedersen completed her two runs in 1 minute, 59.83 seconds, an astonishing 1.23 seconds ahead of Shelley Rudman of Britain _ the first medal of these games for the Brits.

Copyright 2006, AP News All Rights Reserved

Could Google's Android Be the Cell Phone Savior?; Opinion: Critics have been hard on Google's smart phone consortium. What they don't see is the sorry state of the cell phone market.

For years, American technology leaders have gotten used to seeing the United States no longer globally technologically dominant. But nowhere is that lack-of-dominance more pronounced than with cell phone technology.
Whether it's interacting with digital signage, communicating with stores about inventory or paying for products directly with phones embedded with RFID (radio-frequency identification) chips, cell phones are proving to be clever and adept communication tools in key parts of Europe and Asia but not here.
With mobile payment, for example, the blame is placed on the U.S. mobile market's structure, with banks much more dominant overseas. Here, it's the cell phone carriers that own the landscape and call the shots.
That's why I saw this week's Google Android news as something that was exciting in its potential to shake up the industry. Trust me, this is one sector that truly needs a lot of shaking up.
The key question, though, is whether Google and the initial 34 members of the Open Handset Alliance will be able to do that shaking. (By the way, can you please tell me how Google could simultaneously use such a cute sci-fi OS name as Android and on the same day also roll out such a dorky and named-by-committee moniker as the Open Handset Alliance? Was this designed to establish some sort of equilibrium on the cool/uncool naming scale?)
Yes, the alliance doesn't have all the key telecom names that would be ideal, but that's to be expected. Some companies, such as AT&T and Apple, are notoriously nightmarish in these matters. The more important thing is whether the companies they did get have market clout. With T-Mobile, Qualcomm and Motorola on the domestic list--and Telecom Italia, China Mobile and NTT DoCoMo on the non-U.S. one--they have some serious chops in the cell phone space.
But let's state the obvious: The superstar on the list is Google. Does Google itself have the market clout to drive this effort? With control of so much of the world's data--and the world's advertising--there's little I would put beyond its potential.
Analysts say Android faces an uphill adoption battle. Click here to read more.
The U.S. mobile market today gives companies two less-than-ideal alternatives when trying to create mobile functionality. It can either go the app approach or the browser approach.
The app approach forces the consumer to download--or to have pre-installed--a small applet onto the phone. The chief pro: The final result should look exactly as the designers intended. The chief con: It limits the audience size to those whose OS and platform are compatible with the applet.
The browser approach is almost the opposite. Its potential audience size is all-but-infinite, but it requires a company to create another version of its Web site that would work well in the very screen-, RAM-, hard-disk- and connection-limited mobile world. The practical reality is to program to the lowest common denominator for all mobile OS and platform options.
Neither is an especially attractive option, but it's all that exists for today's company that wants to do mobile programming. This is where Android starts to look good. The group is creating a software development kit--to be released the week of Nov. 12--that would support open-source programming that would sit atop the platform. Truth be told, few companies today want to be in the mobile OS business. That's not where the money is. Will the Palm OS even exist in two years? Seen a lot of cutting-edge work being done on Microsoft CE? RIM's BlackBerry has some staying power, but the OS is also not its passion. Apple's iPhone OS? I've given up trying to predict Apple.
To be fair, Google doesn't exactly want to be in the mobile OS business either, but it has its eyes on a huge mobile advertising market. That's a market that nobody can touch until the U.S. mobile market gets cleaned up.
Am I suggesting that Android will work and will somehow deliver great things by the end of next year, as promised? Not necessarily. But I still hold out a lot of hope, given how much this industry needs it. I'm not so sure that necessity is the mother of invention--I've always felt that unrestrained avarice always did that job so much better.
Retail Center Editor Evan Schuman has tracked high-tech issues since 1987, has been opinionated long before that and doesn't plan to stop any time soon. He can be reached at Evan.Schuman@ziffdavisenterprise.com.
To read earlier retail technology opinion columns from Evan Schuman, please click here.
Check out eWEEK.com's Retail Center for the latest news, views and analysis on technology's impact on retail.

Bloch's theorem

Bloch's theorem A theorem relating to the quantum mechanics of crystals stating that the wave function ψ for an electron in a periodic potential has the form ψ(r) = exp(ik·r)U(r), where k is the wave vector, r is a position vector, and U(r) is a periodic function that satisfies U(r + R) = U(r), for all vectors R of the Bravais lattice of the crystal. Block's theorem is interpreted to mean that the wave function for an electron in a periodic potential is a plane wave modulated by a periodic function. This explains why a free-electron model has some success in describing the properties, such as electrical and thermal conductivity, of certain metals and why the free-electron model is inadequate to give a quantitative description of the properties of most metals. Block's theorem was formulated by the German-born US physicist Felix Bloch (1905–83) in 1928. See also energy band.

ACIS

ACIS Abbreviation for Associate of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators.

SEARCH PARTY; A NEW WEB SITE AIMS TO BECOME A ONE-STOP FASHION DESTINATION.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)

Via its network of featured Web sites, the portal Stylerevolution.com provides shoppers with the right link for uber-hip apparel, beauty products, home furnishings, bridal products and vacation hot spots. And shoes.

The Fort Lauderdale, Fla.,-based site features a wide array of shoes within its "Perfect Pair" section. "I love shoes," said Tracy Hollander, 32, cofounder.

"There's so much great stuff out there that a lot of people just don't know about, sites like Flipfloptrunkshow.com," she continued. " There are also designers like Donald Pliner and boutiques like Diabolina in L.A. The goal of Stylerevolution is to get people to discover these companies and to drive traffic to those sites."

The Web sites are sifted through, pored over and hand-picked by Hollander and co-founder Whitney Smith.

According to the partners, mega search engines, such as Yahoo.com have insufficiently addressed style, often producing irrelevant links.

"We were frustrated with how difficult it was to find anything about style on the Web," said Smith, 32.

With that in mind, we created Stylerevolution.com to revolutionize the [online] search for style...and make it accessible to the world," she continued.

The duo is betting the site will strike a chord with style-conscious women who do not have the time to scour the shops and Internet for the pieces they seek.

A sampling of shoe sites featured on Stylerevolution.com include niche retailers like Citysoles.com and Sayan.com, as well as trendy "majors" like Stuartweitzman.com and Charlesdavid.com.

Each link comes with running commentary from Smith and Hollander, and the focus is on "boutique-y [moderately priced], but stylish" products. "We're not trying to replicate Vogue," said Hollander.

"We tell you exactly where you can buy these products [online]," she added.

Stylerevolution.com went live last December and, according to Hollander, it is averaging 500 hits a day, purely through word-of- mouth and from other Web-based search engines like NBCi.com and Fashionangel.com.

Shoe retailers at Stylerevolution receive about 15 percent of the site's total page hits, Hollander said.

According,to Hollander, the co-presidents want growth to come naturally. "We want to follow the Yahoo model and build up over time," said Hollander.

"When you start with $30 million in debt (characteristic of Internet start-ups) how do you ever catch up with that? We want to [proceed] wisely and not stretch our financial resources."

The Rabbi vs. Larry Flynt.(Internet/Web/Online Service Information)(Brief Article)

Some debates are born to greatness, while others have it thrust upon them through the Internet. Anyway, we can hardly wait for Wednesday's live Webcast mouth match between Beliefnet.com columnist Rabbi Shmuley Boteach and the king of porn himself, Larry Flynt. The subject: Is the proliferation of porn on the Web destroying relationships between men and women, or is it just harmless fantasy cyber fun?

Pass the Kosher popcorn and a copy of Hustler.

Yep, it's gonna be a doozy. In one corner we have Rabbi Boteach, founder of the L'chaim Society at Oxford University and author of books including Kosher Sex and Dating Secrets of the Ten Commandments.

In the other corner we have Flynt, who is well, Flynt -- unabashed peddler of all things sleazy and dubious champion of the First Amendment.

Bring out the dancing centerfolds.

Androids are back

New Delhi, Dec. 10 -- Science fiction lends itself to graphic novels. Several popular sci-fi works have been successfully translated into the medium, including stories by Ray Bradbury and Michael Moorcock. The most pop, and also (sometimes) the most abstruse of sci-fi writers is the late Philip K. Dick. Pop, because everyone claims to have read his work. Pop, also because the likes of John Woo (Paycheck) and Paul Verhoeven (Total Recall) have made movies based on adaptations of Dick's works (because the originals are near-unfilmable and near un-watchable except by diehard Dick fans like this writer as exemplified by A Scanner Darkly).
Woo and Verhoeven also had to have the source material rewritten and expanded; as pointed out by Wired magazine some years ago, most of Dick's stories are missing a third (and final) act. If most of Dick's works are dystopian, many of the titles of his books are almost poetry. Everyone must have heard of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, the book that inspired Blade Runner, the Ridley Scott movie starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer and some futuristic billboards, but there are also, in no particular order: Flow my Tears the Policeman Said; The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch; and The Transmigration of Timothy Archer.
Boom! Studios, a comics book publisher of some repute (the editor is the venerable Mark Waid of Kingdom Come fame) has released a comic book version of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? The story and the text are Dick's.
Do Androids... isn't one of Dick's works from his abstruse phase. It is a straightforward enough (for Dick) story of rogue androids being pursued by investigator Rick Decard. Dick uses the pursuit to explore the concept of humanity (as in, what makes a human?) one reason for the book's enduring appeal 42 years after it was first published. Illustrated by Tony Parker and coloured by Blond, a man rapidly making a name among comic book fans, the comic is everything the book was, and more-like only a comic can be.
At one level, it made even minor characters stand out. But at another level, it was also lazy reading, bereft of the challenges a book by Dick usually holds for readers. Still, this will likely make the book more accessible to many people put off by Dick's sparse writing. As for me, I devoured the books (the comic version comes in two nice hard-bound volumes) and, thus revitalized, set down to re-read all the Dicks in my library starting with We Can Build You.
Published by HT Syndication with permission from MINT.
For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com

Introducing Generation Z, A Groundbreaking New Loyalty Program Designed To Reward Kids.

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 8, 1998--Building on the success of its flagship loyalty program, Club Z, established 12 years ago and now numbering over 10 million members, Zellers today announced the launch of a groundbreaking enhancement on the concept, Generation Z, the first retail loyalty program designed especially to reward young customers.

"Zellers wrote the book on the creation of loyalty programs and now, with Generation Z, we've written an innovative and exciting new chapter for a second generation of customers," said George Heller, Zellers' President and CEO. "Most important though, Generation Z confirms Zellers' commitment to Canadian families. It represents an opportunity for Zellers to differentiate itself meaningfully in the marketplace. For Zellers, loyalty programs are a strategic advantage."

Generation Z, whose target demographic is ages 6 to 14, is, in fact, a program for families designed to extend opportunities for rewards, shopping, saving and trading to kids whose parents are Club Z members [eight out of ten Zellers shoppers collect points]. By empowering kids to make informed independent buying/redeeming decisions under the supervision of an adult, Zellers effectively connects with a second generation of potentially loyal customers - members of the Zellers family.

To join, potential young members must sign up in Zellers stores across Canada starting on October 14, 1998, accompanied by a consenting parent or guardian holding a Club Z membership. Club Z and Generation Z cards are then electronically linked in the Zellers database. For every dollar spent by an adult, 100 Club Z points are awarded the adult, and another 100 points awarded the child Generation Z member. Generation Z points can only be redeemed by the child holding the card [with authorization from parent or guardian]; however, families can pool points accrued on both Club Z and Generation Z cards and redeem them accordingly.

"Generation Z is all about freedom of choice - which is what kids dream of," said Doug Ajram, General Manager of Club Z. "We're convinced that this program will successfully bring a whole new generation of loyal shoppers on stream at Zellers." Zellers' Club Z is recognized worldwide as an industry leader in loyalty program management. Having created, launched and successfully implemented Club Z 12 years ago, Zellers has developed critical infrastructure and management competencies that have, in turn, proved to be valuable as a stand-alone service. To date, Club Z management has consulted on the creation of loyalty programs for a diverse range of clients including Citibank, American Express and the Royal Bank of Canada. These initiatives establish value with customers because they offset the costs of the program, thereby providing enhanced reward structures. With the advent of Generation Z, Zellers again takes the industry lead.

In addition to the launch of Generation Z, Zellers has also introduced key improvements to its core customer loyalty program, Club Z, including the publication of a 400-page toy catalogue; the establishment of a toll-free number for redeeming points/ placing catalogue orders; a separate catalogue section designated exclusively for mothers and Internet access to the catalogue at www.zellers.com

Supported by a new television advertising campaign featuring the tag line "Join the Free World," the Generation Z loyalty program aims to create for young customers a new vision of Zellers. The Generation Z rewards catalogue will focus on providing products and services that will excite young customers. For instance, points may be redeemed in exchange for participation in events including a MuchMusic video dance party, invitations to movie premieres, the chance to fly a jumbo jet simulator, as well as products such as inline skates, boom boxes and so forth.

A key element of the communications campaign is the Generation Z web site, located at www.gen-z.com. Upon its debut, the web site will contain information on the program itself, a prize catalogue and a point tracking feature for individual members. Through a feedback function, young customers will be invited to provide input on additional site features, such as games, contests or on-line chats. While visitors to the site cannot join the Generation Z program or redeem points for rewards merchandise, the web site is a key tool in building and strengthening the newly-established relationship between Zellers and its young customers.

The launch of Generation Z is the latest announcement in a series of bold, new initiatives undertaken by Zellers during the past six months in which the company has aggressively accelerated its focus on the customer, from massive store renovations to revamped brand strategies.

Recent major brand launches aimed at significantly enhancing Zellers' performance in the marketplace include the introduction of Martha Stewart Everyday Home [available in Canada exclusively at Zellers], and the launch of Cherokee, a major new signature brand of affordable family apparel and accessories. A casual, comfortable clothing line of classic yet stylish fashions, Cherokee is designed to offer value-conscious shoppers standards of quality normally associated with recognizable sportswear brands found in specialty and department stores. Available now for the first time in Canada, Cherokee is a leading U.S. brand and one of the top ten most respected and recognized names in American sportswear.

Zellers is Canada's leading chain of mass merchandise department stores, with over 350 locations in communities from coast to coast. Established in 1931, Zellers Inc. is a division of Hudson's Bay Company.

The Generation Z program can be accessed on-line at: http://www.gen-z.com. This site will be ready to accept visitors on October 14, 1998.

Netflix to Announce Second-Quarter 2011 Financial Results.(Financial report)

LOS GATOS, Calif., July 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) today announced it will post its second-quarter 2011 financial results and business outlook on its investor relations website at http://ir.netflix.com on Monday, July 25, 2011, at approximately 1:05 p.m. Pacific Time. At that time the company will issue a brief advisory release via newswire containing a link to the second-quarter 2011 financial results and letter to shareholders on its website.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101014/SF81638LOGO)

Netflix management will host a live Q&A session at 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time to discuss the Company's financial results and business outlook, with questions submitted via email. Please email your questions to ir@netflix.com. The company will read the questions aloud on the call and respond to as many questions as possible.

A live webcast and the replay of the earnings Q&A session can be accessed on the investor relations section of the Netflix website at http://ir.netflix.com. For those without access to the Internet, a replay of the call will be available from 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time on July 25, 2011 through midnight on July 29, 2011. To listen to the replay, call (706) 645-9291, conference ID 81238278.

About Netflix, Inc.

With more than 23 million members in the United States and Canada, Netflix, Inc. [Nasdaq: NFLX] is the world's leading Internet subscription service for enjoying movies and TV shows. For $7.99 a month in the U.S and Canada, Netflix members can instantly watch unlimited movies and TV episodes streamed over the Internet to PCs, Macs and TVs. Among the large and expanding base of devices streaming from Netflix are Microsoft's Xbox 360, Nintendo's Wii and Sony's PS3 consoles; an array of Blu-ray disc players, Internet-connected TVs, home theater systems, digital video recorders and Internet video players; Apple's iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, as well as Apple TV and Google TV. In all, more than 200 devices that stream from Netflix are available in the U.S. and a growing number are available in Canada. For more information, visit www.netflix.com.

SOURCE Netflix, Inc.

SnagFilms launches on Roku with Acclaimed Non-Fiction Films.

SnagFilms announced that a collection of SnagFilms' award-winning documentaries are now available for film fans to access on their Roku streaming players. The leading Internet TV platform, Roku allows viewers to instantly stream 150 of SnagFilm's acclaimed films, for free, on their televisions.

"Our partnership with Roku means that users of its innovative, easy-to-use streaming player can now access top-quality films, on demand, from SnagFilms," said Rick Allen, CEO of SnagFilms. "With our launch on the Roku platform, SnagFilms continues to fulfill its mission of creating virtual movie theaters wherever film fans have high-speed connections, and making the best independent films available to the widest possible audience."

"SnagFilms has done a great job of curating some of the world's most compelling documentaries from a diverse list of filmmakers," said Jim Funk, vice president of business development at Roku. "We are excited to now offer these films to a home audience that might otherwise never be able to get to the film festivals and theaters where such movies are shown."

Since its launch in July 2008, SnagFilms has distinguished itself as the premiere distributor of non-fiction films online. SnagFilms has streamed more than 400 million minutes of film through its website and popular iPad app, as well as over 110,000 affiliated websites including partner pages like AOL, Comcast, Hulu and the Starbucks Digital Network. The company will begin distributing fictional indie films later this year.

Keywords: Digital Network, Networks, SnagFilms.

This article was prepared by Network Weekly News editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2011, Network Weekly News via VerticalNews.com.

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.

To represent the diversity of size and skills in West Michigan, this list of knowledge-economy entities represents everything from a one-person startup to the Defense Logistics Agency Information Service, which employs more than 1,000:

-- Access Programming Group Inc., Grand Rapids, apginc.net; iPhone applications, web applications, accounting system integration.

-- Arivium Inc., Grand Rapids, arivium.com; system assessments, project management, software integration.

-- Atomic Object, Grand Rapids, atomic object.com; software development and testing.

-- Apptopus Inc., Grand Rapids, apptopusinc.com; creator of CollabraCam multicamera video production for iPhone app.

-- BizStream LLC, Allendale, bizstream.com; Web design and development, legacy migrations, content management systems.

-- Bloomfire, Kalamazoo, bloomfire.com; hub of online learning communities.

-- Blue Granite, Kalamazoo, blue-granite.com; business intelligence, data analysis, business activity monitoring.

-- Blue Medora, Grand Rapids, bluemedora.com; enhancements for IBM Tivoli Monitoring and IBM Tivoli Composite Application Manager.

-- Blue Sphere Solutions Inc., Ada, bluesphere inc.com; SharePoint consulting.

-- Carnavale, Grand Rapids, carnevaleinter active.com; websites, software products, interactive objects.

-- C/D/H, Grand Rapids cdh.com; server-based services, networking technologies, storage management, data center management.

-- Collective Idea, Holland, collectiveidea.com; software and iPhone app development.

-- Compliance Systems Inc., Grand Rapids, compliancesystems.com; products to document transactions between financial institutions and customers.

-- Configura Inc., Grand Rapids, configura.com; software that plans space for configurable, complex products.

-- CQL Inc., Grands Rapids, cqlcorp.com; enterprise application integration, Internet business, e-commerce.

-- Cruxtone Product Development, Grand Rapids, cruxtone.com; product development, reverse engineering, CAD support.

-- Data Strategy, Grand Rapids, datastrategy.com; virtualization provider, cloud computing consultant.

-- D.C. Estrada, Grand Rapids, dcestrada.com; e-discovery consulting firm serving litigators and corporations.

-- Defense Logistics Agency Information Service, Battle Creek, dlis.dla.mil; logistics information for U.S. Department of Defense.

-- DornerWorks Ltd., Grand Rapids, dorner works.com; electronic engineering services for aerospace, medical, automotive and industrial markets.

-- Downstream, Zeeland, downstreamapp.com; software that backs up data in Twitter accounts.

-- Foxbright, Grand Rapids, foxbright.com; web communication software and services for K-12 schools, districts and educational organizations.

-- Fusion IT LLC, Grand Rapids, fusion-it.net; network design, security and migration services.

-- GetService LLC, Grand Rapids, getservice.com; backup, small-business server and data storage services.

-- gNetworks, Grands Rapids, gnetworks.com; Web design and development, content management, search engine optimization.

-- GRSoftware, Grands Rapids, grsoftware.com; wholesale distribution software, integration.

-- Ideomed, Grand Rapids, abriiz.com; digital asthma management system.

-- The Imagination Factory, Grand Rapids, what-if.com; Web, graphic and interactive design and development; database programming; e-commerce.

-- Kidtelligent, Grand Rapids, kidtelligent.com; website to measure and improve children's successes.

-- Knoware, Grand Rapids, solve-et-coagula. com/KWSite; interface design for product development.

-- Learning Interfaces, learninginterfaces.com; integrating social media technologies with learning-rich content.

-- Manatron Inc., Portage, manatron.com; integrated property-tax and land administration software for governments worldwide.

-- Maximize Technologies LLC, Allendale, maximizetech.com; virtualization services, firewall, backup and recovery.

-- MicroVisions Inc., Grand Rapids, microvisions inc.com; IT management, network design and database administration.

-- Mighty Co., Grand Rapids, mightyinthemid west.com; software development, web design.

-- Mindutopia, Grand Rapids, mindutopia.com; website design, interactive marketing.

-- Mutually Human Software, Grand Rapids, mutual lyhuman.com/services; tool for churches and nonprofits to manage contacts and donations.

-- NETech Corp., Grand Rapids, netechcorp.com; network system and data center design and installation.

-- NET(net) Inc., Holland, netnetweb.com; IT investment optimization services.

-- NetOptions LLC, Grand Rapids, netoptions. biz/index.asp; web design and management.

-- Newmind Group, Kalamazoo, newmindgroup.com: Google Apps authorized reseller, cloud storage.

-- N-Vint, Caledonia, n-vint.com; data-center services, application and performance testing, co-location.

-- Open System Technologies, Grand Rapids, ostusa.com; data management for health care, manufacturing, distribution, financial and insurance industries.

-- RCM Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: RCMT), Grand Rapids, rcmt.com; software applications, project portfolio and consulting.

-- Service Express Inc., Grand Rapids, seiser vice.com; customized on-site data- center maintenance for IBM, HP, Sun, Dell, EMC.

-- SpinDance Inc., Holland, spindance.com; software development.

-- Springthrough, Grand Rapids, spring through.com; consultant in Microsoft Dynamics GP, Dynamics CRM,.NET development.

-- ThinkWise, Grand Rapids, thinkwiseinc.com; automated performance reviews, behavioral-based candidate assessments, interview guides.

-- Trivalent Group Inc., Grandville, trivalent group.com; Internet hosting, help-desk support, disaster recovery, communication services.

-- U.S. Signal, Grand Rapids, ussignalcom.com; fiber-optic network, private managed data center.

-- Universal Mind, Grand Rapids, universal mind.com; mobile and tablet apps, digital publishing.

-- Worksighted Inc., Holland, worksighted.com; IT management and support services.

Copyright 2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Nuvel Launches Android Version of vSOS Personal Emergency Response Service for Smartphones.

Nuvel announced that it has released the Google Android™ version of vSOS™, its personal emergency response application for smartphones. Designed with advanced, patent-pending technology, vSOS provides people of all ages with 24/7/365 response to any emergency--health, accident, assault--at home or on-the-go--with one touch on their smartphone. Available now, vSOS can be downloaded from the Android Market and the Nuvel website. The vSOS subscription fee of $12.99 per month includes both the application and the personal emergency response services (see also Nuvel, Inc.).
People who can benefit from vSOS range from children with allergies, asthma or diabetes to college students who worry about their safety when on campus at night, people who hike or jog alone, and people who want help fast if they have a heart attack, stroke or accident.
With Nuvel's partnership with GEOS Alliance, vSOS provides emergency response services in North America, South America and Europe, so even travelers who don't speak the local language can be confident knowing they have a team of dedicated people ready to respond to any emergency.
Nuvel's new vSOS for Android users leverages the success of the vSOS for the Apple[R] iPhone™, which was released in April. By including HIPPA compliance and the ability to input personal medical information such as allergies, health conditions, medications, etc., both versions have set themselves apart from the competition. There is nothing extra to buy, nothing extra to carry, nothing technical to learn.
"The emergency response features, mobility and simplicity that vSOS delivers make the market for this application virtually unlimited," said Randy Hagin, Nuvel Senior Vice President of Sales. "According to a recent IDC report, the market for smartphones is growing exponentially."
IDC estimates that vendors will ship a total of 472 million smartphones in 2011 compared to about 305 million units shipped in 2010, and that the Android, the leading operating system worldwide in Q4 2010, will grow to more than 40 percent of the market in the second half of 2011.
When an Android smartphone is enhanced with vSOS, users send a distress alert simply by pressing down on the red vSOS emergency alert icon for three seconds. This triggers the vSOS HIPPA-compliant server to automatically send a distress alert to the GEOS IERCC. Mission Coordinators at IERCC can then contact the user to verify the emergency.
If a user does not answer the call from GEOS, certified emergency response professionals will contact the closest 9-1-1, or similar dispatch center when outside the US. Leveraging GPS technology, vSOS provides the user's physical location to the responders to guide emergency personnel. Access to the user's personalized health information and the user's name, mobile phone number and address is also included with the alert. In addition, vSOS will send a text or email message to alert up to five contacts (physician, family, friends) listed in the user profile.
For added value, the GEOS Search and Rescue (SAR) feature is included at no additional cost. With the SAR feature, if the official emergency services need to be supplemented to ensure the user's safety, the GEOS IERCC will authorize additional personnel and equipment (including private aircraft/helicopter charter, private search teams, etc.).
Keywords: Nuvel Inc.. 

Fujitsu selects Sierra Wireless for 3G notebook connectivity.

Sierra Wireless (NASDAQ: SWIR) (TSX: SW) announced that Fujitsu has selected Sierra Wireless to provide 3G mobile broadband for several new models in its LIFEBOOK series of notebooks and tablets. Fujitsu LIFEBOOK customers with integrated Sierra Wireless embedded modules can access the Internet from wherever they are to connect with colleagues and clients, by simply subscribing to a wireless data service plan. With embedded mobile broadband capability, they no longer need to spend valuable time searching for and accessing WiFi hotspots.

The Fujitsu LIFEBOOK platforms utilize the new Sierra Wireless AirPrime MC8305 and MC8355 embedded wireless modules. The AirPrime™ MC8305 and the AirPrime MC8355 are based on the Gobi3000™ reference design by Qualcomm. The AirPrime MC8305 is a single-mode HSPA module, and the AirPrime MC8355 is a dual-mode version, offering support for both HSPA and CDMA networks. Both modules offer download speeds of up to 14.4 Mbps and uploads of up to 5.76 Mbps. Ideal for integration into laptops or tablets, both modules allow device manufacturers to take advantage of high speed mobile networks, embedded GPS capabilities and a Gobi application programming interface (API).

In addition to the modules, Sierra Wireless provided professional services to Fujitsu, including integration, testing and certification support. Fujitsu LIFEBOOK models with the integrated AirPrime modules also come with Sierra Wireless Watcher™ software pre-installed, providing an intuitive user interface to manage the wireless connection and leverage features like the GPS connection for location-based information.

"We have been collaborating with Sierra Wireless for several years now, and we have built the industry's broadest portfolio of mobile computers with integrated 3G connectivity," said Dieter Heiss, Senior Director Workplace Systems at Fujitsu Technology Solutions. "Integrated mobile broadband offers a lot of value to our customers by simplifying their daily lives and freeing valuable time from their busy schedules. Working with Sierra Wireless offers us similar value, by simplifying the wireless integration process for each new generation of products and helping us meet our launch schedules."

"Fujitsu's commitment to providing integrated mobile broadband in such a wide variety of devices is indicative of how necessary and useful we all find our online connections," said Dan Schieler, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Mobile Computing for Sierra Wireless. "We are excited to extend our work with Fujitsu into the next generation of the LIFEBOOK series, providing high-quality, reliable connectivity for their customers."

For more information about Sierra Wireless AirPrime embedded modules and professional integration services from Sierra Wireless, please visit http://www.sierrawireless.com/productsandservices/AirPrime.aspx. To contact the Sierra Wireless Sales Desk: call +1 (604) 232-1488 or email sales@sierrawireless.com.

Keywords: Electronics, Mobile Broadband, Networks, Programming Interface, Software, Technology.

This article was prepared by Computer Weekly News editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2011, Computer Weekly News via VerticalNews.com.

DocPatientNetwork's Doctations Receives ONC-ATCB 2011/2012 Certification.

ONE OF FIRST INTERNET-NATIVE CERTIFIED CLOUD EHRS BUILT TO CONNECT MULTIPLE PRACTICES SEAMLESSLY AND INEXPENSIVELY.

DOCTATIONS, THE NETWORK EMR, HELPS DOCTORS BUILD ACO'S AND WORK MORE CLOSELY WITH EACH OTHER AND THEIR PATIENTS TO OPTIMIZE CARE AND MANAGE RISK.

GARDEN CITY, N.Y., Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- DocPatientNetwork.com, Inc. announced today that Doctations, Version 2.0 is 2011/2012 compliant and is certified as a Complete EHR by the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT), an ONC-ATCB, in accordance with the applicable Eligible Provider certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The 2011/2012 criteria support the Stage 1 meaningful use measures required to qualify eligible providers and hospitals for funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

The ARRA allows for a series of bonus payments for providers and hospitals for "meaningful use" of certified EHR technology. Beginning in 2011, healthcare users of a meaningful use EMR system can receive a total of $44,000 under Medicare or $64,000 under Medicaid. These amounts more than cover the costs of the Doctations service multiple times over.

Hundreds of companies in the health IT industry have expressed strong interest in meaningful use certification. DocPatientNetwork.com spent several years developing and perfecting Doctations, its award winning EHR product that offers doctors an integrated system for efficiently managing their practice. The company is one of only 28 EHR providers in the country to have their technology certified as a Complete EHR by CCHIT, providing evidence that there are no market entry barriers for smaller companies to receive certification.

A recent Thomson Reuters report states the healthcare industry can realize $3.6 trillion in savings over the next 10 years through improved efficiencies and best practices. Doctations is designed to help practices realize substantial time and monetary gains through improved competitive pricing and technology efficiencies in EHR management. The product's pricing model is available online and completely transparent, and the basic pricing tier provides free scheduling, messaging, tasking, videoconferencing and other functions. Doctations' state of the art product is also available as a free version which creates an integrated network for doctors and patients. Use of Doctations enables an instant network between doctor, patient, and participating healthcare centers.

"We believe in CCHIT, and we believe in Meaningful Use because both promote better, more integrated healthcare," stated Dr. Louis Cornacchia III, Founder and CEO of DocPatientNetwork.com, Inc. "Since 2001, we have not wavered from our original mission of 'Better Health through Technology.' We built the DPN health network from the ground up to connect doctors, patients and any other healthcare entity FOR FREE while providing premium DPN services like the Doctations Cloud EMR and the iBillWell Cloud medical billing as premium services at a fraction of the cost of office-based EMR systems with twice the power. Our amazing rate of growth and adoption by the industry is a testament to the quality of our product and its ability to create a real network. We feel our bulletproof software, very affordable pricing, and transparency make us the best-in-class player in the EHR marketplace," said Dr. Cornacchia.

Doctors and patients each have their own iPhone/iPad apps to access the DPN Healthcare Cloud. Soon DPN will be accessible from Android, Windows7 and BlackBerry smartphones. The DPN cloud platform means everyone can connect, interoperate and exchange information securely JUST BY REGISTERING ONLINE and LOGGING IN. You pay only for premium services.

The ONC-ATCB 2011/2012 certification program tests and certifies that Complete EHRs meet all of the 2011/2012 criteria and EHR Modules meet one or more - but not all - of the criteria approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) for either eligible provider or hospital technology.

"We believe our product's certification is further proof that a company of our small size can thrive amongst larger, less nimble competitors. As a practicing neurosurgeon, I have personal perspective on using EHR services and I believe our product is fully integrated and much less expensive to use than competitive offerings. I strongly feel our company can singlehandedly change healthcare based on our efficient technology, allowing us to trim $1 trillion per year in national health care waste while preserving the dignity of the doctor-patient relationship and the medical profession," continued Dr. Cornacchia.

"CCHIT is pleased to be testing and certifying products so that companies are now able to offer these products to providers who wish to purchase and implement certified EHR technology and achieve meaningful use in time for the 2011-2012 incentives," said Karen M. Bell, M.D., M.S.S., Chair, CCHIT.

The Doctations 2.0 certification number is CC-1112-371480-1. ONC-ATCB 2011/2012 certification conferred by CCHIT does not represent an endorsement of the certified EHR technology by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services nor does it guarantee the receipt of incentive payments.

The clinical quality measures to which Doctations 2.0 has been certified include:

Body Mass Index (BMI) Screening and Follow-Up, Blood Pressure Measurement, Inquiry Regarding Tobacco Use, Influenza Immunization for Patients > 50 Years Old, Body Mass Index (BMI) 2 through 18 years of age, Childhood Immunization Status, Hemoglobin A1c Poor Control in Diabetes Mellitus, Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL-C) Control in Diabetes Mellitus, and High Blood Pressure Control in Diabetes Mellitus.

The additional software that Doctations 2.0 relied upon to demonstrate compliance includes iMedicalhome 2.0. imedicalHome is a complete patient health information system available for free to all patients simply by registering.

About DocPatientNetwork

DocPatientNetwork is an innovative, internet-enhanced means of transacting healthcare. Doctors simply login to www.doctations.com to register, and for about the price of a cell phone subscription, they are given all of the tools needed to run an efficient, state-of-the-art medical practice. We leverage the internet to make healthcare more accessible to patients and to substantially improve the processes of healthcare such as generating medical documentation, medical billing and denial management. DocPatientNetwork and its Doctations product bring physicians the benefit of the first true internet EMR and PMS without the burden or expense of difficult-to-use software. The company's technology is updated monthly to accommodate new users and new ideas from our member physicians, other healthcare providers and patients.

For more information, please visit www.doctations.com or call 1-877-Doc-Patient.

About CCHIT

The Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT) is an independent, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with the public mission of accelerating the adoption of robust, interoperable health information technology. The Commission has been certifying electronic health record technology since 2006 and is approved by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as an Authorized Testing and Certification Body (ONC-ATCB). More information on CCHIT, CCHIT Certified products and ONC-ATCB certified electronic health record technology is available at http://cchit.org.

About ONC-ATCB 2011/2012 certification

The ONC-ATCB 2011/2012 certification program tests and certifies that EHR technology is capable of meeting the 2011/2012 criteria approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). The certifications include Complete EHRs, which meet all of the 2011/2012 criteria for either eligible provider or hospital technology and EHR Modules, which meet one or more - but not all - of the criteria. ONC-ATCB certification aligns with Health Information Technology: Initial Set of Standards, Implementation Specifications, and Certification Criteria for Electronic Health Record Technology published in the Federal Register in July 2010 and strictly adheres to the test procedures published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) at the time of testing. ONC-ATCB 2011/2012 certification conferred by the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT) does not represent an endorsement of the certified EHR technology by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services nor does it guarantee the receipt of incentive payments.

"CCHIT" and "CCHIT Certified" are registered trademarks of the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology.

SOURCE Doctations