среда, 29 февраля 2012 г.

QLD:Councils won't do better: Allconnex


AAP General News (Australia)
08-09-2011
QLD:Councils won't do better: Allconnex

By Petrina Berry

BRISBANE, Aug 9 AAP - Spurned water retailer Allconnex says southeast Queensland councils
won't be able to provide cheaper water.

Redland City Council became the second local government to pull out of Allconnex on
Monday, following a backlash over rising water prices.

The Gold Coast City Council dumped the retailer last month and a third council, Logan,
is re-examining its decision to stay with Allconnex.

Allconnex said it was disappointed by the outcome, but it believed councils wouldn't
be able to deliver cheaper water services.

"Individual councils have no way of being able to provide water and wastewater services
at a cheaper price than Allconnex Water," Allconnex said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Ratepayers across the three councils will not be able to benefit from the economies
of scale that Allconnex would deliver."

The Redland council expects a bill of $3.25 million this financial year for quitting
Allconnex and re-establishing Redland Water, its former water business.

Allconnex says the Redland council was forced into Monday's decision because of the
Gold Coast council's vote to take two-thirds of the water business back to the Gold Coast.

Redland mayor Melva Hobson said her smaller council would pursue the Gold Coast council
for costs, on state government advice.

Mr Clarke on Tuesday maintained the costs associated with dumping Allconnex would be minimal.

"To me the costs are nowhere near what everyone's claiming," he told AAP.

"I still believe the best way is to just change the name of Allconnex and take over
the company structure because of all the contracts they've got under their name.

"So far the costings have been done on the basis of breaking those contracts and paying
them out, then renewing them, which means you're virtually giving a bonus to whoever the
contractor was.

"That doesn't even make sense to me, but we'll be getting in some management consultants
to supervise the move forward and save us lots of money."

An independent arbitrator will be appointed jointly by Redland, Gold Coast and Logan
councils to determine the costs to be borne by Gold Coast City Council.

Premier Anna Bligh said her government would work with all three councils to make sure
the transition away from Allconnex was done smoothly and in the best interests of ratepayers.

But the state government had no intention of handing over responsibility for bulk water
charges - the component that most people blame for rising water bills - to the councils.

"It's not that long ago that in the southeast of our state we were in a desperate situation
and very high risk of running out of water," she told reporters.

"Leaving bulk water supply to numerous councils across a growing region like southeast
Queensland left us in a position where we nearly ran out of water.

"We're not going to be in that position ever again.

"We will now plan for the region ... and that planning and that bulk water supply will
remain with the state government."

AAP peb/jl

KEYWORD: WATER QLD WRAP

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

Vic: Kroger to quit as Vic Libs president


AAP General News (Australia)
02-02-2006
Vic: Kroger to quit as Vic Libs president

MELBOURNE, Feb 2 AAP - The Victorian Liberals state president Helen Kroger is stepping
down after three years, a senior Liberal MP confirmed today.

Speculation has been mounting that Ms Kroger will do so to pursue a parliamentary career,
possibly to replace Senator Kay Patterson who is retiring at the next election.

The state opposition's treasury spokesman Robert Clark put a partial end to the rumours
today, confirming Ms Kroger is resigning.

"She's served a number of years as president and now she's moving on to other things
and someone else will be elected at our state council in March," Mr Clark told reporters
today.

Mr Clark gave no indication of who was likely to replace Ms Kroger or what course she
would take after her presidency.

Ms Kroger is close to federal Treasurer Peter Costello and her resignation comes as
the party prepares to fight out a tough state election campaign led by Robert Doyle ahead
of the November poll this year.

But Mr Clark said there was "no particular suggestion that Helen's stepping down prematurely".

"Helen will have served three years as party president.

"That's the conventional period of time for which party presidents serve.

"It's nothing unexpected that Helen is following that course.

"That has been pattern over many years that party presidents serve a number of years
they then move on and a new person takes up that position."

Ms Kroger has not been returning media calls this week.

AAP nl/gfr/cjh/de

KEYWORD: KROGER

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

WA:Rower's solo journey from Freo to Mumbai


AAP General News (Australia)
04-13-2011
WA:Rower's solo journey from Freo to Mumbai

PERTH, April 13 AAP - Pirates are a danger but they won't stop rower Roz Savage attempting
a solo journey from Fremantle to Mumbai to raise conservation awareness.

The British rower, author, motivational speaker and environmental campaigner is embarking
on her third solo rowing expedition.

Having rowed solo across the Atlantic Ocean, the 42-year-old is now attempting to become
the first woman to row solo across the Pacific Ocean.

Her departure has been delayed twice due to bad weather, but Savage finally left Fremantle
at sunrise on Wednesday.

She told AAP there were concerns about large waves and pirates during her 6500km journey,
but they were to be expected in the ocean.

"As if the ocean itself isn't challenging enough, we have to deal with pirates," she said.

"Piracy has been accelerating in recent months and we were looking at changing the route.

"We have actually changed my route three times already."

Savage said she would take precautions to protect herself from pirates by not posting
her whereabouts online, but said she did not think she was putting herself in danger.

"I just don't see it that way ... I just feel that this is the right thing for me be
to doing right now," she said.

Savage said it was important to her to raise awareness about environmental issues and
encourage people to act on the issues.

"What we need is more consciousness. We've got some big (environmental) challenges
ahead," she said.

"A lot of people feel like they can't do a lot, but we all have to do out best.

"It's not just about raising awareness, but to take some action too."

Savage said people should not wait for governments to save the environment but do little
things in their local communities to make a difference.

"We've got to start taking better care of the planet, not for the planet's sake but
for people," she said.

The journey is expected to take up to six months to complete.

To keep track of Savage's journey, visit her website at www.rozsavage.com or follow
her on Twitter and Facebook.

AAP anr/pc

KEYWORD: ROWER

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

WA:Murder-accused barrister Rayney gets bail


AAP General News (Australia)
12-23-2010
WA:Murder-accused barrister Rayney gets bail

By Angie Raphael

PERTH, Dec 23 AAP - Prominent Perth barrister Lloyd Rayney, accused of the wilful murder
of his wife, has been granted bail until his trial next year so he can spend Christmas
with his two daughters.

The August 2007 death of Supreme Court registrar Corryn Rayney became one of WA's most
notorious unsolved murder cases.

Rayney was arrested on December 8 and charged with her murder after several hours of questioning.

Rayney's bail application was due to be heard in the Supreme Court last Friday morning
but was delayed when the prosecutor handed the defence a 68-page document laying out the
crown case shortly before the hearing.

Members of the Rayney family, including Rayney's daughters Caitlyn and Sarah, were
in court for last Friday's hearing and Thursday's hearing.

Seeking bail in the Supreme Court on Thursday, Rayney's lawyer David Edwardson QC,
said there was "unprecedented media attention" on the trial with a lot of speculation
about Rayney circulating among the public.

"This is, in one sense, red hot," he said.

"This case is unique, if not unprecedented, in this state."

Mr Edwardson said the charges laid against his client were "utterly" unfounded and
he had the support of his daughters.

"They are utterly supportive of their father," he said.

"They are desperate to be with their father."

Mr Edwardson said Rayney was anxious to prove his innocence.

"He and his children want the real perpetrator brought to justice," he said.

Ms Rayney, a 44-year-old mother of two, disappeared at about 9.30pm (WST) on August
7, 2007, after leaving friends at her weekly class at Urban Cowboys Line Dancing School
in Bentley.

Her silver Ford sedan was found seven days later, and her body was discovered in a
bushland grave in Kings Park on August 16, 2007.

At the time, police said Rayney was their prime and only suspect.

The barrister denied the accusation and began defamation proceedings, which have now
been placed on hold.

He has maintained his innocence since his arrest two weeks ago.

On Thursday, Mr Edwardson made the submission that his client, who he says is the most
recognisable person in the state, was not a flight risk.

He said in the past his client had informed police when he went overseas twice and
was not likely to flee the country.

However, prosecutor John Agius argued Rayney had dual citizenship and could still flee
the country.

He said Rayney was an intelligent man who knew how the police system worked and could
use it to his advantage if he was released on bail.

Justice Robert Anderson said it was too late in the day to provide his reasons why
Rayney should be released on bail but said he would give his reasons to the lawyers at
an appropriate time.

Justice Anderson came out of retirement to hear the bail application.

He was sworn as an auxiliary justice to avoid any conflict with current Supreme Court
justices due to Rayney's strong links with the WA legal community.

NSW director of public prosecutions Nicholas Cowdery will lead the prosecution assisted
by Mr Agius, who worked on the Wood Royal Commission into NSW police corruption.

Rayney will be released on bail providing he can pay $100,000 to the court as well
as provide a surety of $100,000.

He must also report every day to the officer in charge at the Cannington Police Station
and surrender his passport.

If Rayney does not appear at his trial he will have to pay $250,000.

AAP anr/jl/nb

KEYWORD: RAYNEY WRAP

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

NSW:MP's office broken into


AAP General News (Australia)
08-16-2010
NSW:MP's office broken into

The office of a New South Wales Labor MP has been broken into .. in Sydney's southwest.

Police say a man forced his way into the office of ANDREW McDONALD .. the member for
Macquarie Fields .. at Carnes Hill Market Place at about seven o'clock Friday morning.

However nothing was stolen during the opportunistic break-in.

Detective Inspector DANIEL DOHERTY says whoever broke in was looking for money or other
items that could be quickly turned into cash.

Police have today released CCTV footage of the man who's described as being Caucasian,
aged between 18 and 30 .. he was wearing a check hooded top, black jacket with white horizontal
stripes on the front, brown pants, black gloves and white runners.

He left the scene in a white sedan driven by another man.

A number of people who were in the carpark at the time have been urged to contact police.

AAP RTV ih/klm/sw/

KEYWORD: OFFICE (SYDNEY)

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

Fed: Hopes low as UN climate talks restart Friday


AAP General News (Australia)
04-07-2010
Fed: Hopes low as UN climate talks restart Friday

By Cathy Alexander

CANBERRA, April 7 AAP - A fresh attempt to clinch a world climate deal will begin on
Friday - but don't expect a result any time soon.

Nations will gather in Germany on Friday for the first UN climate talks since December's
disastrous Copenhagen summit.

Federal Climate Minister Penny Wong won't be going to Bonn as the talks are aimed mainly
at planning out how negotiations will proceed for the next few years. Australia will send
a delegation under senior climate bureaucrat Louise Hand.

Hopes that the Copenhagen summit would seal a deal to tackle global warming were dashed
due to a bitter split between rich and poor countries, widespread acrimony, and time-wasting
on procedural matters.

Now the optimists are hoping the next major UN climate summit in Mexico in late November
can yield an agreement.

But senior UN figures do not think a legally-binding treaty will be ready by then,
and some believe a deal won't be ready until next year or 2012.

Tony Mohr, climate campaigner with the Australian Conservation Foundation, said the
three-day talks in Bonn would map out when major meetings would take place.

"I wouldn't be expecting breakthroughs at this meeting," he told AAP.

But he said the UN could use the meeting to set a deadline for a deal. The meeting
could also allow countries and blocs of countries to devise fresh strategies after Copenhagen.

Mr Mohr said progress on climate could be made through non-UN forums like the Major
Economies Forum, the G20 and APEC.

The push towards a new deal on climate has been hamstrung because poor countries think
rich ones - particularly the US - are not doing enough to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

But US President Barack Obama is himself hamstrung, with climate laws stalled in the Senate.

Australia is also without a major climate plan because the emissions trading scheme
has been blocked by the Senate. The federal government is sticking with its promise to
cut emissions by between 5 and 25 per cent by 2020, depending on what other countries
do.

The lack of progress internationally has taken the pressure off Australia to come up
with a scheme to achieve deep cuts to emissions.

AAP ca/sb/tr

KEYWORD: CLIMATE UN AUST

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

Qld: Water bombing helicopters called in to tame bush fire


AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-2009
Qld: Water bombing helicopters called in to tame bush fire

Two water bombing helicopters and four rural fire crews are fighting a large blaze
west of Brisbane.

About 20 hectares of bush is on fire at Fernvale.

An emergency services spokeswoman says the terrain's largely inaccessible to vehicles
.. but the fire's not threatening homes at this stage.

A total fire ban remains in place in southern Queensland because of extreme fire conditions.

AAP RTV peb/ahe/jmt

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES QLD (BRISBANE)

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

Fed: Reports three people killed in asylum boat explosion


AAP General News (Australia)
04-16-2009
Fed: Reports three people killed in asylum boat explosion

CANBERRA, April 16 AAP - Three people have reportedly been killed and two more are
missing following an explosion on a boat carrying asylum seekers to Christmas Island.

A further 46 people aboard the boat, intercepted off the West Australian coastline
late on Wednesday, have been injured.

It is believed the people on board were from Afghanistan.

A spokeswoman from the Royal Darwin Hospital said that three people have been killed
and two are missing following an explosion aboard the boat, ABC reported on Thursday.

The prime minister's office has confirmed that there has been a "serious incident"

aboard the boat, it was reported.

MORE sd/kms/jlw

KEYWORD: BOAT

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

NT: Baker from territory to take on Italy


AAP General News (Australia)
12-10-2008
NT: Baker from territory to take on Italy

DARWIN, Dec 10 AAP - Soggy burgers spring to mind when most people think of a Territorian's
lunch.

But a Darwin baker hopes to turn the beer-guzzling, thong-wearing stereotype on its
head when he takes on a world-class team of chefs in Italy next year.

"Once people taste my food, they'll know what I'm talking about," said Charles Darwin
University bakery lecturer David Barker.

The talented baker will join two other Aussies in the battle of the breads after being
selected for the 2009 SIGEP Bread Cup.

There he will engage in live bake-offs in front of a 10,000-strong audience, with ten
countries competing over four days during January.

The event includes traditional baking, cakes and pastries - all made within strict
time limits and with defined ingredients - and is the world's largest professional trade
fair dedicated to bakery, confectionary and gelato products.

"The skills I'll be exposed to over there should be brilliant and I can't wait to enrich
the classroom," said Mr Barker.

Two years ago, Mr Barker wowed the Melbourne Food Expo and won over the judges with
his Rosella Sour Dough bread, nabbing second place at the Australian Artisan Baking Cup
La Coupe Down Under.

Based in the Top End satellite city of Palmerston, Mr Barker said he was prepared to
do battle in a country where "food is everything".

AAP tr/jfm/de

KEYWORD: BREAD

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

Fed: Rudd says he's proud of Australian Olympic athletes


AAP General News (Australia)
08-07-2008
Fed: Rudd says he's proud of Australian Olympic athletes

Prime Minister KEVIN RUDD has voiced support for Australia's Olympic athletes as he
prepares to travel to Beijing ahead of tomorrow's opening ceremony.

Mr RUDD .. who leaves today for a four-day visit to Beijing before heading to South
Korea and Singapore .. says he's proud of the Australians who'll be competing in Beijing.

He's told the Nine network the reason for his trip is to cheer on the Australian team
.. but he says we need to understand how much pressure they're under as well.

AAP RTV kms/rl/bart

KEYWORD: OLY08 RUDD (CANBERRA)

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

Fed:The Great Hall crowd turns its back and boos Nelson en masse


AAP General News (Australia)
02-13-2008
Fed:The Great Hall crowd turns its back and boos Nelson en masse

By Melissa Jenkins

CANBERRA, Feb 13 AAP - Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson was booed by a crowd of about
1,000 people in the Great Hall of Parliament House as he delivered a speech today in support
of an apology to indigenous Australians.

By contrast, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's speech received spontaneous outbursts of applause
with the crowd rising as one to deliver a rapturous, standing ovation when he finished
speaking.

Indigenous and non-indigenous people of all ages crammed into the hall. Some held each
other, crying, throughout Mr Rudd's speech.

Dr Nelson was applauded when he began, but the crowd started to boo when he said there
should be no compensation fund for the stolen generations.

His remarks - that many Aboriginal people currently live lives of "existential aimlessness"

and depend on "welfare without responsibility" - were met with shouts of "shame".

As Dr Nelson continued to argue that present generations should not feel guilty about
what was done in the past, in many cases "with the best of intentions", the crowd turned
its back.

"Oh, come on!" one man yelled out.

"No more, no more, shut up!" another yelled.

AAP mj/rl/jm/bwl

KEYWORD: SORRY GREAT HALL

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

Vic: Tourist horse carriages continue business


AAP General News (Australia)
08-26-2007
Vic: Tourist horse carriages continue business

By Simon Mossman

MELBOURNE, Aug 26 AAP - Horse-drawn carriages continued to take tourists around Melbourne's
city centre today, despite a ban on the movement of all horses across Australia in the
wake of the equine flu crisis.

Victoria's chief veterinary officer Hugh Millar said the state was now a declared control
area and warned heavy penalties of up to $24,000 fine and/or two years' jail could apply
for any breaches of the movement restrictions without a permit.

The ban extends to all horses, including non-race horses, as well as ponies and donkeys.

But tour operators plying their trade along Swanston Street said today the first they'd
heard about the influenza outbreak was in the morning newspapers.

"I've not been contacted by the authorities or anything - nothing," Judy Black, owner-operator
of Antique Victorian Carriages, told AAP.

"All I've read is what's in the paper but it's been spoken about in the last short while today."

MORE sjm/apm/cdh

KEYWORD: STALLIONS TOURISM (PIX AVAILABLE)

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

Fed: Jones accuses broadcast watchdog of bias


AAP General News (Australia)
04-11-2007
Fed: Jones accuses broadcast watchdog of bias

By Belinda Tasker, Peter Veness and Vincent Morello

SYDNEY, April 11 AAP - Radio broadcaster Alan Jones has lashed out at the communications
watchdog, accusing it of bias for ruling he encouraged violence and vilified people before
the notorious Cronulla race riot.

Some of Jones' most prominent supporters, including his boss John Singleton and Prime
Minister John Howard, rushed to his defence today amid controversy over the Australian
Communication and Media Authority's (ACMA) finding.

Jones went on the offensive during his breakfast show on Sydney's Radio 2GB this morning,
saying ACMA's findings were biased and based on the complaints of people who had not heard
his broadcasts.

In its findings released yesterday, ACMA said 2GB's licence holder, Harbour Broadcasting,
twice breached the broadcast code by airing certain comments by Jones in the days before
the December 2005 Cronulla riot.

Jones' comments contravened the code because they were likely to "encourage violence
or brutality" and "vilify people of Lebanese background and of Middle Eastern background".

But Jones slammed ACMA, saying it had "little radio experience or knowledge of talkback
radio" and that he had never incited violence on his program.

"On countless occasions ... I had as I have regularly on this program opposed violence
and brutality and urged people to allow the law to take its course," he told his listeners.

Jones said people who had complained about his comments before the Cronulla riot had
only heard excerpts broadcast on ABC radio.

"If people don't listen to the program all the time, why then are 26 seconds of comment
that I might have made, chosen to hang me?

"This outfit which regulate radio ... if that doesn't constitute bias I don't know what does."

In the days before the riot, Jones read out comments from a listener, calling on bikie
gangs to confront "Lebanese thugs" at the Cronulla railway station.

But today he played another excerpt from around the same time of him telling a listener
not to promote the riot, which eventually ensued on December 11.

The prime minister defended Jones, describing him as an "outstanding broadcaster".

"I don't think he's a person who encourages prejudice in the Australian community,
not for one moment, but he is a person who articulates what a lot of people think," Mr
Howard told reporters.

Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd said he would continue to be interviewed on air by Jones,
despite ACMA's ruling.

"In terms of the future appearances (on) Alan Jones' program, there's nothing I've
read at this stage that would cause me not to go on," he told ABC radio.

2GB's majority owner, advertising guru John Singleton, said while he did not always
agree with his star radio presenter's comments, ACMA's ruling was wrong.

"The findings are based on nothing," he told ABC radio.

"(The ACMA inquiry's) taken 18 months, it's cost us hundreds of thousands of dollars,
probably the taxpayer millions of dollars and is a finding that's totally inappropriate,
totally wrong, with no penalty."

Penalties being considered by ACMA include a possible suspension or cancellation of
2GB's licence, fines and training programs for the radio station's staff.

Communications Minister Helen Coonan has ordered ACMA and commercial radio operators
to immediately review the industry's code of practice in the wake of the Jones case.

A review had been scheduled to begin in September, but Senator Coonan said given recent
complaints about talkback radio programs it should be brought forward.

AAP bt/hn/sp

KEYWORD: JONES NIGHTLEAD

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

NSW: Police raid rural property used to make ecstasy


AAP General News (Australia)
12-10-2006
NSW: Police raid rural property used to make ecstasy

SYDNEY, Dec 10 AAP - Police have raided a rural property in northern NSW which they
believe is used to supply large quantities of ecstasy to two states.

Detectives from the State Crime Command's Drug Squad and other officers carried out
a three-day search of the rural property, west of Casino, after an initial raid on Thursday.

They found MDMA powder with the potential to make 60,000 ecstasy tablets with a street
value of more than $2.5 million, as well as a pill press and other drug manufacturing
equipment.

They also found eight semi-automatic firearms.

"It is clear this home was set up for the large-scale production of MDMA and has been
shut down as a result of inquiries carried out by investigators," Drug Squad Commander
Detective Superintendent Greig Newbery said.

"Due to the property's proximity to the NSW-Queensland border, this seizure has the
potential to significantly impact the supply of MDMA in both states."

The home was unoccupied at the time of the search and no arrests have been made at
this stage but inquiries are continuing.

Anyone with information is being urged to contact authorities.

AAP nr/jm/cdh

KEYWORD: RAID

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

Qld: Beattie launches attack on local mayors and PM


AAP General News (Australia)
08-03-2006
Qld: Beattie launches attack on local mayors and PM

Queensland Premier PETER BEATTIE has launched a scathing attack on local mayors ..

calling on them to relinquish their control of water to the state government.

Mr BEATTIE says Liberal and National councils have their own agenda for criticising
his government on the issue .. because councils have long used water as a milking cow.

He says if councils are worried about water .. they should hand over control to the
state government.

And Mr BEATTIE'S also hit back at the prime minister's criticism of him over water
.. saying JOHN HOWARD was nowhere to be found on the issue before last weekend's referendum
on recycled sewerage water in Toowoomba.

AAP RTV djp/sc/wf/bart

KEYWORD: WATER QLD (GOLD COAST)

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

NSW: Funeral for victims of south coast murder victims


AAP General News (Australia)
02-13-2006
NSW: Funeral for victims of south coast murder victims

NOWRA, Feb 13 AAP - Friends and relatives have gathered to mourn the death of a Nowra
couple whose bodies were found dumped in smouldering drums on the NSW south coast.

Kathryn McKay, 44, and Gregory Hosa, 56, were dedicated congregation members of Nowra's
Baptist Church, where their funeral is scheduled to start at 4pm (AEDT) today.

The couple are pictured wearing Akubra hats and smiling on the cover of the order of
service, which is headed "a celebration of life".

Tributes have flowed from various community groups since the bodies of Mr Hosa and
Ms McKay were found in bushland near Tomerong, about 15km south of Nowra, on January 29.

Their 11-year-old son is being cared for by relatives.

A man and a woman, also from Nowra, have been charged with their murders.

AAP str/dmc/was/hn/de

KEYWORD: BARRELS

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

понедельник, 27 февраля 2012 г.

Analysis: ACLU seeks details of library records request

ROBERT SIEGEL
All Things Considered (NPR)
08-31-2005
Analysis: ACLU seeks details of library records request

Host: ROBERT SIEGEL
Time: 8:00-9:00 PM

ROBERT SIEGEL, host:

The American Civil Liberties Union today went to court to challenge an FBI order for records from a Connecticut library. The ACLU says such orders are unconstitutional because they don't give the recipient a way to fight back. NPR's Larry Abramson reports.

LARRY ABRAMSON reporting:

A library in Connecticut has apparently received an order called a national security letter, or NSL. The order is apparently aimed at someone who used a library Internet terminal. But that's all we know about this case because the law forbids the person who received the order from talking about it. ACLU attorney Anne Beeson says that gag order is violating the First Amendment rights of her client.

Ms. ANNE BEESON (Attorney, ACLU): Our client says that he did not know that the national security letter provision could be used to obtain library records until the organization received one. And he wants to personally help to educate the public and Congress and other librarians about the danger of this provision.

ABRAMSON: While much attention has been focused on the so-called `library provision' of the USA Patriot Act, the ACLU says this case shows that these national security letters are far more dangerous. A federal judge reviews orders under the Patriot Act, but there's no judicial oversight when the FBI issues an NSL. The ACLU says that without a clear way to challenge such orders, the FBI has untrammeled power to root through personal information. But Viet Dinh, a former Justice Department official, says you can't conduct terror investigations in the open.

Mr. VIET DINH (Former Justice Department Official): The tradition in the law has been to keep these confidential, much like the reasons why we keep national security information classified.

ABRAMSON: The Justice Department argued in court today that an end to the gag order would tip off the target of their investigation. The department also says that citizens who go to a library only have a limited right of privacy. Viet Dinh says library records are like financial information or telephone bills or any other record stored with a third party.

Mr. DINH: Once you rendered that information, your expectation of privacy over such information is greatly diminished under Supreme Court law because you've already made it public to the third party.

ABRAMSON: The ACLU won a preliminary challenge to the national security letter last year. A federal judge in New York agreed that Internet users have a right to the anonymity they enjoy online; that ruling is on appeal.

National security letters are supposed to be limited to what's known as `transactional information,' who's been e-mailing whom, not what they said to each other. But the ACLU's Anne Beeson says such distinctions are difficult to preserve online.

Ms. BEESON: The NSL power would allow the government to obtain the identity of an anonymous user of the Internet or the name of a person who had borrowed particular books from a public library.

ABRAMSON: The ACLU has been worried about national security letters ever since the USA Patriot Act expanded this power. When the House passed its Patriot reauthorization earlier this year, the legislation clarified just how people could fight national security letters. But the ACLU says that language doesn't go far enough and wants the power declared unconstitutional. Larry Abramson, NPR News.

SIEGEL: This is NPR, National Public Radio.

Content and Programming copyright 2005 National Public Radio, Inc. All rights reserved.

solution

solution A homogeneous mixture of a liquid (the solvent) with a gas or solid (the solute). In a solution, the molecules of the solute are discrete and mixed with the molecules of solvent. There is usually some interaction between the solvent and solute molecules (see solvation). Two liquids that can mix on the molecular level are said to be miscible. In this case, the solvent is the major component and the solute the minor component. See also solid solution.

bn.

bn. See billion.

Plan to stop web domain poaching.

Mar 22, 2002 (The Australian Financial Review

ABIX via COMTEX) -- Australian domain name resellers will be prevented from poaching by new rules. Internet domain name regulator, auDA, has announced that it will adopt a new policy requiring domain name registrars to abide by a code of conduct. The code will ban misleading renewal letters. The move is in response to claims that Internet Registrations Australia (IRA) and Internet Name Group sent unsolicited renewal notices to domain name holders. Melbourne IT recently warned domain name holders to use their registry key to verify a change in their reseller. While IRA is not provisionally accredited and will not be affected, the code will apply to Internet Name Group.

.AU DOMAIN ADMINISTRATION LIMITED: INTERNET REGISTRATIONS AUSTRALIA: INTERNET NAME GROUP: MELBOURNE IT LIMITED - ASX MLB

By Nicole Lindsay

All copyright subsisting under the Copyright Act 1968 (Commonwealth) resides in us. No part of the

copyright materials may be reproduced, re-used, re-transmitted, adapted, published, broadcast or

distributed for any commercial purposes whatsoever without our prior written permission.

  INDUSTRY KEYWORD: Communication Services                   Business Services  SUBJECT CODE:     INTERNET DOMAIN NAMES                    INTERNET INDUSTRY - AUSTRALIA 

News Provided by COMTEX (http://www.comtexnews.com)

Boeing forms alliance to offer passengers live TV and Internet access.

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2000 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Boeing Co. has formed an alliance with Loral Space & Communications Ltd (LSC), Finmeccanica SpA and Mitsubishi to create an inflight-communications system to provide airline passengers with live television and Internet access.

The group plans to provide passengers with the Internet and e-mail at lower prices than what they currently pay for existing telephones installed in aircraft cabins.

A person 'familiar' with the project told The Wall Street Journal that the new alliance is also expected to include CNN and CNBC in some way. A Boeing spokeswoman, LSC officials and CNN and CNBC all declined to comment.

((Comments on this story may be sent to aii.feedback@m2.com))

воскресенье, 26 февраля 2012 г.

Amazon Offers Jobs for Tax Breaks, and Lawmakers Balk.

To read more, click here: http://www.texastribune.org/texas-legislature/82nd-legislative-session/amazon-offers-texas-jobs-tax-breaks-no-avail/?utm_source=texastribune.org&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=Tribune%20Feed:%20Main%20Feed

By Ross Ramsey

Amazon, in the middle of a fight with Texas tax collectors over book sales in the state, offered Thursday to invest $300 million in five or six warehouse and distribution centers in the state, employing 6,000 people, if lawmakers would let the company operate for four-and-a-half years without collecting sales taxes.

Lawmakers aren't buying it.

Texas has granted sales tax rebates to companies on goods and services they buy, but has apparently never allowed one to stop collecting taxes from its own customers. The Texas Retailers Association blasted the proposed deal as a carve-out that would leave the state's brick-and-mortar stores at a disadvantage to the giant Internet retailer.

Gov. Rick Perry wants the deal and has contacted lawmakers to promote it, according to a spokesman. And the statutory change that it would require is in the hands of House and Senate negotiators who are putting the last touches on a piece of legislation critical to balancing the state budget. Lawmakers have balked, and what might have been a team effort between the governor and the state's top tax collector, Comptroller Susan Combs, is complicated by an earlier skirmish over Amazon and the governor's veto of legislation that would have moved technology procurements into Ms. Combs' shop.

Last year, Ms. Combs hit Amazon with a $269 million tax bill, saying the company's distribution center in Irving establishes a legal footprint that requires it to collect sales taxes from Texas customers. The company disagrees and Mr. Perry, asked about the case earlier this year, took Amazon's side and said he wouldn't have billed the company.

Online, mail order and other direct sellers without physical operations in the state, or "nexus," don't have to collect sales taxes from their Texas customers. During the regular legislative session, lawmakers approved a change to the sales tax laws that would have established nexus for any company that owns more than 50 percent of an affiliate or subsidiary in the state. It wouldn't even have to be related to the company's main business. An out-of-state mail order company with nothing in Texas but a bait shop on the coast would find itself on the hook for collecting sales taxes.

Mr. Perry vetoed the bill, saying the state should wait until there's been more talk "about interstate commerce and the structure of state sales taxes in the 21st century" before changing the law.

Lawmakers were already in special session when he announced his veto. Representative John Otto, Republican of Dayton, responded by adding the provision to a critical fiscal bill needed to balance the 2012-13 state budget. That raises the question of whether Mr. Perry will veto the fiscal bill and kill the provision.

In the meantime, Amazon made its tax proposition. Mr. Perry likes it because it would, in the words of Mark Miner, his spokesman, "create more jobs than the Caterpillar deal or Toyota" - two earlier headline-grabbing economic deals in Texas.

Amazon made a similar deal, under similar circumstances, with South Carolina last month. In the latest iteration of the Texas proposal, the company agreed to create 6,000 full-time jobs with full health care benefits over the next three years and to invest $300 million in new warehouse and distribution centers over that same period.

In return, the state would agree to let the company go four-and-a-half years without collecting sales taxes from its customers in Texas. The customers still owe the money whether Amazon collects it or not - under state law, sales taxes are collected by sellers and turned over to the state, but the customers are the taxpayers. The company agreed to print the amount of taxes due on customer invoices and e-mail confirmations. But it would be up to the customers to then, of their own volition, pay the state any taxes owed. The deal, as the company proposed it, would expire at the beginning of 2016.

Curiously, Ms. Combs said the Amazon deal would cost the state nothing. On the one hand, she's got a pending tax case against the company that says its failure to remit sales taxes costs the state about $70 million annually. And Mr. Otto's bill would have brought in $16 million over the next two years, by Ms. Combs' official estimate. But giving the company a break for the next two years is a freebie, apparently.

"Our current revenue estimate does not assume that Amazon will either voluntarily or be compelled to collect taxes during the 2012-13 biennium, so there is no loss to the estimate from the agreement," a spokesman said via e-mail.

They left out whether the deal would make it harder to collect the $269 million in back taxes.

Extendedcare.com Names Surges President, COO.

NORTHBROOK, Ill., Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Extendedcare.com, the leading provider of Internet-based solutions and resources for the healthcare industry and consumers, has named Jeff Surges as president and chief operating officer. Jeff comes to extendedcare.com from McKessonHBOC, Inc., a pharmaceutical supply management and information technologies company.

Surges will oversee extendedcare.com's sales, marketing, operations, and finance departments. His initial efforts will focus on structuring and executing an aggressive national rollout of the company's products and services.

"We are thrilled that such an accomplished sales and healthcare management executive is joining the extendedcare.com team," said Bob A. Ebersole, extendecare.com's chief executive officer and chairman. "His experience and enthusiasm are a perfect addition to the company as we position ourselves for tremendous growth in 2000."

Surges, who has a strong track record in successfully managing high-growth companies, was president and general manager for a $100 million, 450-person strategic business unit of McKessonHBOC, Inc. In this position, he oversaw sales and marketing, product development and support, client services, human resources and accounting. In addition to these responsibilities, Surges drove the companies' initiatives focusing on delivering cost containment, reduction software and service solutions to more than 1,200 clients nationwide.

Surges also served as vice president of sales and service operations for HBOC Wheeling, Ill., a healthcare information technologies company that merged with McKesson. Prior to this position, he was vice president of sales for Enterprise Systems Inc., Wheeling, Ill., a medical/surgical distribution company that was acquired by HBOC. He also was a national account manager for CCC Information Services Inc., in Chicago.

Extendedcare.com is a leading provider of Internet-based solutions and resources which assist healthcare companies and consumers in the research and selection of extended care options, including nursing homes, retirement communities, assisted living facilities, independent living, home health services and more. Founded in 1995, extendedcare.com, is headquartered in Northbrook, Ill., and is led by a team of physicians, nursing professionals and executives with extensive experience in the health care services industry.

At Last, One Product That Helps You Fall Asleep Faster, Sleep All Night and Stops Snoring. NOXO Sleep Easy NS[TM].

Wynnewood, PA (PRWEB) June 15, 2011

Behavioral Science, Inc., a subsidiary Olfactory Biosciences Corp. (OTC Markets: OLFC) announced today that it has launched the first sleep aid and no snoring product, NOXO Sleep Easy NS[TM]. The company also announced the new web site at http://www.sleepnosnore.com.

"NOXO Sleep Easy NS[TM] provides me with the quality sleep I need to be refreshed and energized in the morning" said Greg VanAlfen, Director of Marketing.

The new all natural, non-drug product utilizes a unique nasal delivery device from Incredible Scents, Inc. ( ISI ), which also stops snoring by applying slight pressure on the trigeminal nerve in the nose.

Behavioral Science manufactures and distributes a new advanced line of NOXO Wellness products in combination with ISI's popular enhanced nasal delivery system. The company has the only product line of its type and will be the leading producer of non-invasive behavioral modification and wellness products that provide relief to common health problems such as smoking cessation or weight control, and memory enhancement, as examples.

Behavioral Science, Inc. uses NOBEL Prize Winning science related to discoveries of odorant receptors in the nose and the organization of the olfactory system, and has developed unique NOXO Health and Wellness Products that are drug free, affordable and made from all natural ingredients.

NOXO Sleep Easy NS[TM] is a proprietary formulation of Phytonutrients and Phytochemicals that are combined in ISI's new and advanced nasal device. The new Behavioral Science Brand product line is well proven and will be successfully marketed to distributors starting July.

ABOUT OLFACTORY BIOSCIENCES CORP

Olfactory Biosciences Corp.'s NOXO division is focused to develop a variety of products targeting Olfactory Receptors for the desired effect. These alternative medicine wellness products may modify behavior or provide relief to common health problems such as smoking cessation or weight control, as examples. The company has taken NOBEL Prize science related to discoveries of odorant receptors in the nose and the organization of the olfactory system, and has developed unique wellness products that are affordable and made from natural ingredients. Olfactory Biosciences Corp. offers the most advanced and innovative wellness products with the potential to change the way we approach wellness issues today. Olfactory Biosciences Corp's unique advantages will make the new Behavioral Science products the most sought-after wellness products in the alternative medicine market, creating a growth rate ten times higher than most in the this growing category.

Consumers concerned about their health are looking for alternatives to replace conventional, over-the-counter consumer medical products. Behavioral Science will provide natural wellness products that are both effective and affordable. http://www.noxoinfo.com

ABOUT INCREDIBLE SCENTS, INC.

Incredible Scents, Inc. has over a decade of experience in marketing its existing product line and will continue with the new unique line through Behavioral Science. With positive feedback already received from retail buyers as well as several hundred thousand customers, the new product line launch is directed through U.S. retail chain stores. Wholesale Representatives will soon implement an aggressive direct marketing program to Internet and Retail consumers.

Incredible Scents product line is presently available in most Major Drug Chains and Independent Drug Stores nation wide including all CVS, Rite Aid, Duane Reade, Wakefern (Shoprite supermarkets), Cardinal Health, The Vitamin Shoppe, McKesson, Shoppers Drug Mart (largest drug chain in Canada) and many smaller nationwide drug chains. http://www.incrediblescents.com

Investor & Media Relations:

Tel: 951-657-8840

email: ir(at)wsmg(dot)biz

Safe Harbor for Public Companies

Statements contained in this release that are not strictly historical are "forward-looking statements." Such forward-looking statements are sometimes identified by words such as "intends," "anticipates," "believes," "expects," and "hopes." The forward-looking statements are made based on information available as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements. Editors and investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those in these forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, demand for the Company's products and services, our ability to continue to develop markets, general economic conditions, our ability to secure additional financing for the Company and other factors that may be more fully described in reports to shareholders. Olfactory Biosciences Corp., "The Company" currently does not file periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission but will publish financials on the Olfactory Biosciences Corp. website as they become available.

Richard Stevenson

Olfactory Biosciences Corp., Inc.

333 E. Lancaster Ave.

Suite 317

Wynnewood, PA 19096

USA

Phone: 484-278-1626

###

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/6/prweb8574373.htm

McDermott to Present at Credit Suisse Engineering & Construction Conference.(Conference news)

HOUSTON -- McDermott International, Inc. (NYSE: MDR) ("McDermott" or the "Company") announced today that Stephen M. Johnson, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of McDermott, will present at the Credit Suisse 2011 Engineering & Construction Conference in New York on Thursday, June 2, 2011 at 4:05 p.m. Eastern Time.

McDermott invites shareholders and other interested parties to listen to the presentation live or to the replay, available over the internet at www.mcdermott.com in the investor relations section.

About the Company

McDermott is a leading engineering, procurement, construction and installation ("EPCI") company focused on executing complex offshore oil and gas projects worldwide. Providing fully integrated EPCI services for upstream field developments, the Company delivers fixed and floating production facilities, pipelines and subsea systems from concept to commissioning. McDermott's customers include national and major energy companies. Operating in approximately 20 countries across the Atlantic, Middle East and Asia Pacific, the Company's integrated resources include more than 15,000 employees and a diversified fleet of marine vessels, fabrication facilities and engineering offices. McDermott has served the energy industry since 1923. To learn more, please visit McDermott's website on the internet at www.mcdermott.com.

LinkedIn to sell shares.(Reprint)

This news was brought to you by www.7days.ae

Professional networking website LinkedIn plans to sell shares to investors for between $32 and $35 each in an initial public offering (IPO).

The Californian-based company says the offering could raise up to $274.4 million. LinkedIn estimates that its net proceeds, based on an IPO price of $33.50 per share, would be about $146.6 million after expenses.

LinkedIn, with 100 million members, is one of the first major social networking websites to gear up for an IPO. Its debut could pave the way for facebook, Groupon and other major internet companies to follow.

LinkedIn will offer 4.8 million shares. The company's stockholders, including founder Reid Hoffman, Bain Capital, Goldman Sachs and publishing company McGraw-Hill, plan to sell three million shares.

This article was originally published by www.7days.ae.

2011 Al Sidra Media LLC

Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company

суббота, 25 февраля 2012 г.

AVG Technologies Launches 'AVG Community Powered Threat Report - Q1 2011'.(Report)

AVG Technologies, a provider of internet and mobile security, launched its "AVG Community Powered Threat Report - Q1 2011," providing insight and background on the trends and developments in the world of online threats.

The Company said the trend in Q1-2011 is revealed to be an explosive increase in the overall number of global attacks. Within this, the most notable developments were a major increase in malicious campaigns which exploited the viral nature of Facebook users, which have increased threefold in the last 12 months.

A further area of significant concern is an explosion in Blackhole Exploit Kits, used by criminals to coordinate attacks. During one week in February 2011, Blackhole attacks jumped from a few hundred per day to an overwhelming 800,000 in a day. This activity, combined with soaring levels of Android malware, is marking an increased professionalism in the structure and operations of the organized criminals behind them.

According to a release, the United States is still the dominant source of spam with English as the main language used in spam messages. However, with a Brazilian ISP as the most used internet provider and Portuguese as the second language, Brazil is a clear runner up.

With smartphones becoming more like computers, the first quarter saw a notable increase in risk for smartphone users and the Android platform in particular; AVG blocked an average of 100,000 spam and phishing text messages per day.

The Company noted that the open source nature of the OS as well as the open-garden approach in allowing users to install software on the mobile device opens the door for hackers to write malicious code. This is why Android users should install additional security solutions such as AVG Mobilation for Android which is helping prevent users from downloading over 10,000 infected applications a day.

"The increasing professionalism behind some of the threats clearly demonstrates the profit that can be made," said Yuval Ben-Itzhak, Chief Technology Officer, AVG Technologies. "These campaigns are well planned and well funded; therefore, they demand not only for very effective counter technical measures but also for the need to raise awareness among the average user.

"A Latvian gang was able to bring 600 attack servers online for just a couple of weeks in a highly targeted Blackhole attack. This resulted in over 800,000 detections per day by our servers," added Ben-Itzhak. "If this amount of investment apparently pays off for these gangs, others will probably follow soon."

"The fact that the battlefield is extending to mobile, particularly Android, means that people need security that is fitted to the mobile environment," said Karel Obluk, Chief Scientist, AVG Technologies. "Users need cloud-based protection to offload the process from the mobile device to stay safe while not draining resources on the device. Sophisticated technology, such as AVG Mobilation for Android, provides high-tech solutions to protect users and their valuable data on-the-go."

The report is based on the Community Protection Network traffic and data followed by research and analysis performed by AVG over the three-month period. It provides an overview of web, mobile devices, spam risks and threats. The statistics referenced are obtained from the AVG Community Protection Network.

AVG Community Protection Network is an online neighborhood watch, helping everyone in the community to protect each other.

More information:

www.avg.com

((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com))

Taiwan to boost digital convergence sector by easing industry restrictions.(Brief article)

Taipei, July 13, 2010 (CENS) -- The Executive Yuan, Taiwan's Cabinet, recently approved a project to allow the island's telecom, broadcasting and Internet providers to cross industry boundaries into one another's turfs as its first step to facilitate the development of the island's digital-convergence industry.

The Yuan has worked out a two-step formula for setting up the industry by 2015. In the first step, spanning from 2010 to 2012, the Yuan will draft amendments to Cable Radio and Television Act, Radio and Television Act, Satellite Broadcasting Act, and Telecommunications Act for approvals by the Legislative Yuan.

The second step, running from 2012 to 2014, calls for the legislation of regulations for an integrated or a divided digital-convergence structure. In the meantime, the Cabinet will help launch six key measures to promote the development of the industry: readying high-speed broadband network, promoting telecommunications convergence service, accelerating TV digitization, initiating new video services, facilitating upgrades of telecommunications and communications industries and setting up surroundings for digital convergence industry.

Premier Wu Den-yih urged all government organizations associated with digital convergence development to push for the legislations so that Taiwan can catch up with South Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong and lead mainland China in the competition.

The premier said the Cabinet has projected to offer 80% of families around the island access to 100Mbps-grade broadband cable networks while boosting new video services to reach 50% of the island's households in the meantime.

Riverbed Technology Reports Second Quarter 2009 Financial Results.(Financial report)

* Revenue increases 12% over prior year

* Cumulative customer count exceeds 6,500

* $269 million in cash and marketable securities and no debt

SAN FRANCISCO -- Riverbed Technology (NASDAQ:RVBD), the IT infrastructure performance company for networks, applications and storage, today reported financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2009 (Q2'09).

Total GAAP revenue for Q2'09 was $91.0 million, an increase of 12% from $81.6 million of GAAP revenue reported in the second quarter of fiscal year 2008 (Q2'08). The GAAP net loss for Q2'09 was $290,000, or $0.00 per diluted share. This compares to a GAAP net loss of $869,000, or $0.01 per diluted share, in Q2'08.

Non-GAAP revenue for Q2'09 was $91.6 million, an increase of 12% from $81.6 million of revenue reported in Q2'08. Non-GAAP net income for Q2'09 was $10.3 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, as compared to non-GAAP net income for Q2'08 of $9.9 million, or $0.13 per diluted share.

"Riverbed has continued to deliver revenue growth in a persistently challenging global economic environment, and the second quarter marks our 14th consecutive quarter of year-over-year top line expansion," said Jerry M. Kennelly, Riverbed[R] president and CEO. "We experienced another strong quarter of new customer additions, ending the second quarter with more than 6,500 customers. As we look forward, we believe that Riverbed is well positioned to capture the full opportunity of the WAN optimization market. Our competitive position remains strong, our pipeline is healthy, and we are targeting revenue and profit growth in the third quarter."

Q2'09 Financial Highlights

* Revenue increased 12% year-over-year

* Non-GAAP gross margins increased to 76.1%

* Non-GAAP operating profit increased 11% year over year

* Deferred revenue increased to $70 million

* Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities of $269 million and no debt

Q2'09 Business Highlights

* Identified as both the WAN optimization controller (WOC) Advanced Platform and WOC worldwide market share leader for Q1'09 based on revenue in the Gartner report, "Market Share: Application Acceleration Equipment, Worldwide, Q1'09"

* Positioned by Gartner in the leaders quadrant in the "Magic Quadrant for WAN Optimization Controllers 2009"

* Introduced Cascade 8.3, providing 'out-of-the-box' WAN optimization intelligence, with an enhanced level of automation, ease-of-use, and consolidated enterprise visibility

* Partnered with Check Point Software Technologies to offer Check Point Security Gateway R70[TM] on the Riverbed Services Platform, providing customers a comprehensive set of centrally managed security protections

* Partnered with Websense to deliver Websense Web Security on the Riverbed Services Platform, enabling organizations to consolidate WAN and Web security deployments, making their IT infrastructure faster, less expensive, and more secure

* Extended relationship with Microsoft and will support Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 and BranchCache on the Riverbed Services Platform

* Awarded the 2009 STAR Award for Best Practices in Emerging Company Support by the Service & Support Professionals Association

Conference Call

Riverbed will host a conference call today, July 23, 2009, at 2:30 p.m. Pacific Time (5:30 p.m. Eastern Time) to discuss its second quarter fiscal year 2009 results and outlook for the third quarter of 2009. The call will be broadcast live over the Internet at www.riverbed.com/investors. A replay of the conference call will also be available via webcast at www.riverbed.com/investors for 12 months.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements relating to revenue and profit growth in the third quarter, the expected demand for Riverbed's products and services and statements relating to Riverbed's ability to meet the needs of distributed organizations. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that, if they do not fully materialize or prove incorrect, could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties that could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include our ability to react to trends and challenges in our business and the markets in which we operate; our ability to anticipate market needs or develop new or enhanced products to meet those needs; the adoption rate of our products; our ability to establish and maintain successful relationships with our distribution partners; our ability to compete in our industry; fluctuations in demand, sales cycles and prices for our products and services; shortages or price fluctuations in our supply chain; our ability to protect our intellectual property rights; general political, economic and market conditions and events; and other risks and uncertainties described more fully in our documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. More information about these and other risks that may impact Riverbed's business are set forth in our Form 10-Q filed for the quarter ended March 31, 2009. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to us as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Any future product, feature or related specification that may be referenced in this release are for information purposes only and are not commitments to deliver any technology or enhancement. Riverbed reserves the right to modify future product plans at any time.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information

To supplement our financial results presented in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), this press release and the accompanying tables and the related earnings conference call contain certain non-GAAP financial measures that we believe are helpful in understanding our past financial performance and future results. For reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, please see the section of the accompanying tables titled, "GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliations." Our non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for comparable GAAP measures and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. Our management regularly uses our supplemental non-GAAP financial measures internally to understand and manage our business and forecast future periods. Our non-GAAP financial measures include adjustments based on the following items, as well as the related income tax effects and adjustments related to our tax valuation allowance:

Support deferred revenue: Business combination accounting rules require us to account for the fair value of support contracts assumed in connection with our acquisitions. The book value of our deferred support revenue was reduced by approximately $2.0 million in the adjustment to fair value. Because these are typically one-year contracts, our GAAP revenues for the one year period subsequent to the acquisition of a business do not reflect the full amount of service revenues on assumed support contracts that would have otherwise been recorded by the acquired entity. The non-GAAP adjustment is intended to reflect the full amount of such revenues. We believe this adjustment is useful to investors as a measure of the ongoing performance of our business because we have historically experienced high renewal rates on support contracts, although we cannot be certain that customers will renew these contracts.

Stock-based compensation expenses: We have excluded the effect of stock-based compensation and stock-based payroll expenses from our non-GAAP operating expenses and net income measures. Although stock-based compensation is a key incentive offered to our employees, we continue to evaluate our business performance excluding stock-based compensation expenses. Stock-based compensation expenses will recur in future periods.

Amortization of intangible assets: We have excluded the effect of amortization of intangible assets from our non-GAAP net income. Amortization of intangible assets is a non-cash expense, and it is not part of our core operations. Investors should note that the use of intangible assets contributed to revenues earned during the periods presented and will contribute to future period revenues as well.

Acquisition related and other expenses: We incurred significant expenses in connection with our acquisition of Mazu and also incurred certain other operating expenses, which we would not have otherwise incurred in the periods presented as a part of our continuing operations. Acquisition related and other expenses consist of transaction costs, costs for transitional employees, other acquired employee related costs, integration related professional services, and adjustments to the fair value of the acquisition related contingent consideration. We believe it is useful for investors to understand the effects of these items on our total operating expenses.

About Riverbed

Riverbed Technology is the IT infrastructure performance company. The Riverbed family of wide area network (WAN) optimization solutions liberates businesses from common IT constraints by increasing application performance, enabling consolidation, and providing enterprise-wide network and application visibility - all while eliminating the need to increase bandwidth, storage or servers. Thousands of companies with distributed operations use Riverbed to make their IT infrastructure faster, less expensive and more responsive. Additional information about Riverbed (NASDAQ: RVBD) is available at www.riverbed.com.

About the Magic Quadrant

The Magic Quadrant is copyrighted 2009 by Gartner, Inc. and is reused with permission. The Magic Quadrant is a graphical representation of a marketplace at and for a specific time period. It depicts Gartner's analysis of how certain vendors measure against criteria for that marketplace, as defined by Gartner. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in the Magic Quadrant, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors placed in the "Leaders" quadrant. The Magic Quadrant is intended solely as a research tool, and is not meant to be a specific guide to action. Gartner disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

Riverbed Technology, Riverbed, Steelhead, RiOS, Interceptor, Think Fast, the Riverbed logo, Mazu, Profiler and Cascade are trademarks or registered trademarks of Riverbed Technology, Inc. All other trademarks used or mentioned herein belong to their respective owners.

[TABLE OMITTED][TABLE OMITTED][TABLE OMITTED][TABLE OMITTED][TABLE OMITTED]

TranSwitch and Centillium to Jointly Participate in Broadband World Forum Europe 2008.

SHELTON, Conn. -- TranSwitch([R]) Corporation (NASDAQ: TXCC), and Centillium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: CTLM) will jointly present their latest carrier-class semiconductor solutions for the converging voice, data and video network at Broadband World Forum 2008 in Booth # 288, at the Brussels Expo Center, Brussels, Belgium, September 29 - October 2.

TranSwitch announced on July 9, 2008 that it is in the process of acquiring Centillium, thus creating a new global leader in communications ICs for next-generation converged wireline and wireless networks for voice, video and data services. The combined company will have a comprehensive product portfolio for Broadband Access (encompassing both GEPON and GPON), Carrier Ethernet, Voice-over-IP and Wireless Backhaul.

Experts from TranSwitch and Centillium will be available to discuss details of the companies' latest product offerings including the latest member of the Atlanta([R]) Communications Processor and the Diplomat([R])-ONT GPON solution based on TranSwitch's recently announced programmable Taurus[TM] platform. The TranSwitch / Centillium booth will also feature several live demonstrations of products from both companies, including the Diplomat([R])-IP Access processor and Packet-SID IEEE 1588v2 based sync-over-packet network device from TranSwitch as well as an end-to-end Voice-over-IP implementation combining Centillium's Entropia([R]) and Atlanta([R]) product families.

About TranSwitch Corporation

TranSwitch Corporation (NASDAQ: TXCC) designs, develops and markets innovative semiconductors that provide core functionality and complete solutions for voice, data and video communications network equipment. As a leading supplier to telecom, datacom, cable television and wireless markets, TranSwitch customers include the major OEMs that serve the worldwide public network, the Internet, and corporate Wide Area Networks (WANs). TranSwitch devices are inherently flexible, many incorporating embedded programmable microcontrollers to rapidly meet customers' new requirements or evolving network standards by modifying a function via software instruction. TranSwitch implements global communications standards in its VLSI solutions and is committed to providing high-quality products and services. TranSwitch, Shelton, CT, is an ISO 9001:2000 registered company. For more information, visit www.transwitch.com.

About Centillium Communications Inc.

Centillium Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: CTLM) delivers highly innovative communications processing technology for global systems vendors targeting service provider, enterprise and consumer markets. Centillium's high performance Systems-on-Chip (SoC) products power leading edge optical, Voice- over-Internet Protocol (VoIP), security and data systems requiring top quality, highly integrated, very low power processing solutions that help minimize the energy footprint of communications networks. With a long heritage of technology leadership and first-to-market product development, Centillium provides semiconductor solutions that keep customers and end users at the forefront of the communications evolution. Centillium is a global company with headquarters in Fremont, CA. Additional information is available at http://www.centillium.com.

Forward-looking statements in this release, including statements regarding management's expectations for future financial results, anticipated expense savings and synergies, the combined company's products, revenue opportunities and prospects, and the timing of the proposed merger, are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, including without limitation the potential inability to complete the proposed merger because conditions to the closing may not be satisfied; the risk that the two companies' businesses will not be integrated successfully and without delay; the risk that the transaction may involve unexpected costs or unexpected liabilities; uncertainties concerning the effect of the transaction on relationships with customers, employees and suppliers of either or both companies; and other risks associated with TranSwitch's and Centillium's businesses such as the risks associated with acquiring new businesses; the risk of downturns in economic conditions generally and in the telecommunications and data communications markets and the semiconductor industry specifically; risks in product development and market acceptance of and demand for TranSwitch's products and products developed by TranSwitch's customers; risks relating to TranSwitch's indebtedness; risks of failing to attract and retain key managerial and technical personnel; risks associated with foreign sales and high customer concentration; risks associated with competition and competitive pricing pressures; risks associated with investing in new businesses; risks of dependence on third-party VLSI fabrication facilities; risks related to intellectual property rights and litigation; risks in technology development and commercialization; and other risks detailed in TranSwitch's and Centillium's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission

TranSwitch expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statements to reflect any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Important Information for Investors and Stockholders

TranSwitch expects to file a SEC Registration Statement on Form S-4, and TranSwitch and Centillium will file a proxy statement/prospectus with the SEC, in connection with the proposed merger. TRANSWITCH AND CENTILLIUM URGE INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED BY EITHER PARTY WITH THE SEC BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and stockholders will be able to obtain the proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC free of charge at the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. In addition, documents filed with the SEC by TranSwitch will be available free of charge on the investor relations portion of the TranSwitch website at www.transwitch.com. Documents filed with the SEC by Centillium will be available free of charge on the investor relations portion of the Centillium website at www.centillium.com.

Participants in the Solicitation

This communication is not a solicitation of a proxy from any security holder of Centillium. However, Centillium, and certain of its directors and executive officers, may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Centillium in connection with the merger. The names of Centillium's directors and executive officers and a description of their interests in Centillium (including their ownership of Centillium stock) are set forth in the proxy statement for Centillium's 2008 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 29, 2008. Investors and stockholders can obtain more detailed information regarding the direct and indirect interests of Centillium's directors and executive officers in the merger by reading the definitive proxy statement/prospectus when it becomes available.

Dell Opens First Exclusive Retail Store Offering in Russia.

IT Market Expected to Double Within Four Years

MOSCOW -- Muscovites who want the leading computer products and services from Dell (NASDAQ:DELL) and advice on how to best use them at home or in their small businesses will soon have a place to go where Dell computers are sold exclusively.

The store is scheduled to open early next month on the second floor in the new Gorbuskin Dvor retail center in Moscow. It will feature notebooks, desktops, servers, printers and other products from Dell, and staffed by specialists trained specifically about Dell products and applications. In addition to selling Inspiron products for home use, the store will demonstrate Dell Vostro products and servers designed specifically to help simplify IT for small businesses. The store will be managed by Nexus, a Dell Partner.

Michael Dell, chairman and CEO, announced the opening of the new store in a media briefing in Moscow today.

"Russia's rapidly growing computer market is reflected by the 800 percent growth in the number of Internet users over the past seven years to approximately 28 million. Dell is making additional investments in its business in Russia - both products and services - to meet the growing needs of the country's IT market, which is expected to double over the next four years," Mr. Dell said.

Dell products will be demonstrated in the store, allowing customers to learn more about the products and what will be the best choice for their particular requirements. In addition to products, the store will also have a service outlet for handling warranty repairs on Dell products.

Dell products are sold at other retail locations in Moscow along with product from other computer companies. This store is the first in the city and only the second store in Europe to be dedicated to selling only Dell product.

The Moscow store is the latest in Dell's plans to reach more customers globally through partnerships with retailers. Other recent announcements have included offerings in Wal-Mart and Sam's Clubs in North and South America, Bic Camera Inc. of Japan and Carphone Warehouse in the United Kingdom.

About Dell

Dell Inc. (NASDAQ:DELL) listens to customers and delivers innovative technology and services they trust and value. Uniquely enabled by its direct business model, Dell is a leading global systems and services company and No. 34 on the Fortune 500. For more information, visit www.dell.com, or to communicate directly with Dell via a variety of online channels, go to www.dell.com/conversations. To get Dell news direct, visit www.dell.com/RSS.

пятница, 24 февраля 2012 г.

Mu Security to Present and Demonstrate IPv6 Robustneess, Scalability and Security Analysis at IPv6 Summit.

Mu-4000 Security Analyzer helps users proactively remediate issues that impact network availability, downtime in mixed mode IPv4 and IPv6 networks

RESTON, Va. -- Mu Security:

WHO: Sunnyvale, CA-based Mu Security, the leader in the new security analyzer market, this week will present, demonstrate and exhibit at the IPv6 Summit at the Hyatt Regency, located here. Mu Security Director of Technical Marketing Thomas Maufer and Jeffrey Dunn, Advanced Technology, IPv6 Manager for OSD/HA Military Health Services (MHS) will present a tutorial entitled, "Security Analyzers for Network Status Reports."

WHAT: IPv6 is a complex and wide-ranging upgrade to the existing 30-year-old basic Internet Protocol (IPv4) transport. This IPv6 migration is mandated by the US and other governments in the next year to take full advantage of advances in security, multimedia, mobility, and interoperability.

The Mu-4000 Security Analyzer is the industry's first adaptive transport IPv4 and IPv6 security analyzer, which scientifically probes products for both known and unknown vulnerabilities. It offers three immediate benefits to IPv6 systems and applications including: rapid identification and detailed auditing of IPv6 weaknesses prior to malicious exploits; identification of both IPv4 and IPv6 fragment attacks; and the ability to parse structurally valid addressing in proper context through either multicast or unicast transport. The market for security analyzers continues to grow as IPv6 becomes a requirement for government infrastructure and a core part of Microsoft's Vista operating system.

 WHERE and WHEN:       IPv6 Summit                       Hyatt Regency, Reston, VA                       March 26-29                       http://www.usipv6.com 

ABOUT MU SECURITY

Mu Security offers a new class of security analysis system, delivering a rigorous and streamlined methodology for verifying the robustness and security readiness of any IP-based product or application. Founded by the pioneers of intrusion detection and prevention technology, Mu Security is backed by preeminent venture capital firms that include Accel Partners, Benchmark Capital and DAG Ventures. The company is headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA. For more information, visit the company's website at http://www.musecurity.com