Vic: Seven years jail for restaurateur over slow service death

AAP General News (Australia)
02-27-2008
Vic: Seven years jail for restaurateur over slow service death

By Shelley Markham

MELBOURNE, Feb 27 AAP - A Melbourne restaurant owner who stabbed and killed a patron
who complained about slow service has been sentenced to seven years in prison.

But the Victorian Supreme Court heard today that Khanh Vo could be eligible for release
from jail by 2010.

Vo, 35, of Ivanhoe, grabbed a paring knife from the kitchen of his restaurant in the
Melbourne suburb of Abbotsford and stabbed Anh Dung Nguyen during the fight on April 16,
2006.

He pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Mr Nguyen, …

-US Activision books larger-than-expected sales in Q1 2011

Internet Business News
05-10-2011
-US Activision books larger-than-expected sales in Q1 2011

INTERNET BUSINESS NEWS-(C)1995-2011 M2 COMMUNICATIONS

10 May 2011 -- The sales of US video games developer Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ:ATVI) in the first quarter of the year exceeded consensus forecast due to the sharp increase in online sales by its Call of Duty franchise, the Financial Times reported.
The group generated USD755m (EUR528m) in sales over the period, 58% of which were registered by Activision's digital online service. Sales of traditional disc-based products totalled USD240m.

Analysts have forecast sales of USD667m which would have meant a profit of USD0.08 per share, while the actual profit per share stood at USD0.13.

The success was partly attributed to the release of additional content for its best-selling Call of Duty.

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

(Copyright M2 Communications, 2011)

QLD:Bosses in court over Qld insulation death

AAP General News (Australia)
08-29-2011
QLD:Bosses in court over Qld insulation death

By Christine Flatley

BRISBANE, Aug 29 AAP - A man who was electrocuted in 2010 while installing foil insulation
may have ignored his employer's advice to stop using metal staples, a court has heard.

Mitchell Sweeney, 22, died in February last year while working in the ceiling of a
home at Millaa Millaa, south of Cairns.

He was electrocuted when he stapled a metal fastener through the foil and into a live wire.

Mr Sweeney was working on behalf of Gold Coast company Titan Insulations, which was
making claims under the federal government's subsidised home insulation program.

Following Mr Sweeney's death, Titan Insulations was charged with failing to conduct
its business in a way that was electrically safe.

Company directors Nicholas William Lindsay and Frederick Ramon Palomar were also each
charged with failing to ensure the company complied with its obligations under the Electrical
Safety Act.

They pleaded not guilty on Monday, the first day of their trial in the Brisbane Magistrates
Court.

In his opening, prosecutor Andrew Herbert, who is representing Queensland Workplace
Health and Safety, alleged Titan put its employees in danger in a number of ways.

He said the company provided insufficient training, failed to conduct a proper onsite
assessment of the house and did not provide adequate supervision.

Mr Herbert said Titan also failed to ensure workers used plastic fasteners instead
of metal staples.

"The use of sharp metal staples in the ceiling of the house had been the subject of
a specific ministerial direction that such a thing should not occur," Mr Herbert said.

He added that the mains power in the house was not switched off before Mr Sweeney and
his two colleagues started work.

"There was a very real and present danger," Mr Herbert said.

The court heard Titan gave a verbal directive to workers in late 2009 about using plastic
staples.

However, the court heard another worker would give evidence that he and Mr Sweeney
ignored those instructions because it was faster to work with metal ones.

"Titan supplies us with the plastic staples and we go and buy our own metal staples,"

Andre Palomar, brother of Frederick Ramon Palomar, said in a statement.

He is expected to give evidence during the hearing, which is set down for five days.

AAP cf/jl/hn

KEYWORD: SWEENEY

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

Vantage Data Centers Completes 3 Buildings at Santa Clara Campus

Wireless News
02-18-2011
Vantage Data Centers Completes 3 Buildings at Santa Clara Campus
Type: News

Vantage Data Centers, a wholesale data-center operator, announced that it has completed construction of the first of three buildings located at its campus in Santa Clara, Calif.

According to a release, the company has leased wholesale operating data center capacity to Internet and semiconductor companies based in the Silicon Valley.
The three-building campus has 37 megawatts of effective IT power capacity and sets the bar for a new generation of enterprise data centers by delivering the industry's best Power Utilization Efficiency at 1.20. This initial project was backed by a $300 million investment.

"The Santa Clara project is a showcase for the industry on how data centers can be more aligned with businesses interests and environmental stewardship," said Jim Trout, Vantage Data Center's CEO. "Vantage's long-term goal is to deliver new levels of efficiency and scalability at every completed campus. Our ability to deliver the lowest energy rates, combined with our scale and flexibility, will translate into significant potential cost savings for our customers."

Vantage Data Centers is focused on the ownership, development, and operation of highly efficient and scalable wholesale data centers.

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

Copyright 2011 Close-Up Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
n/a

NSW:New porn allegations rock NSW parliament

AAP General News (Australia)
12-02-2010
NSW:New porn allegations rock NSW parliament

In the latest porn scandal to rock Macquarie Street .. an investigation has found New
South Wales MPs or staff used parliamentary computers to access sites containing explicit
images of young people.

The IT audit by Ernst & Young has been made public today .. and suggested children
may have been depicted on the nine adult websites accessed from November last year.

The investigation was commissioned in the wake of the internet porn revelations which
led to the resignation of ports minister PAUL MCLEAY in September.

Speaker RICHARD TORBAY's tabled the report .. and says legal advice is being sought
into the damaging findings.

No MPs or staff have been named in the report.

AAP RTV ab/klm/tm

KEYWORD: PORN NSW (SYDNEY)

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

Fed: Oppn, Greens turn up the heat on broadband

AAP General News (Australia)
04-27-2010
Fed: Oppn, Greens turn up the heat on broadband

The opposition and minor parties are turning up the heat on the federal government
over its proposed 43 billion dollar National Broadband Network.

Debate on the NBN legislation is expected to resume in the Senate in a fortnight ..

and the government's promised to release a report into the network's viability before
the May budget.

Greens senator SCOTT LUDLAM has told ABC radio his party can't vote on the laws without
the report .. and some idea of what kind of business it's going to be .. and what it'll
cost.

The opposition's communications spokesman TONY SMITH says everyone wants a better broadband
.. but Labor's expensive .. interventionist and irresponsible road isn't the only way
to go.

AAP RTV bsb/jmt

KEYWORD: BROADBAND (CANBERRA)

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

NT: Darwin drenched by Cyclone Laurence

AAP General News (Australia)
12-13-2009
NT: Darwin drenched by Cyclone Laurence

BRISBANE, Dec 13 AAP - Darwin is mopping up, with the nation's first cyclone for the
season dumping a month's worth of rain on the city.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said 250 millimetres fell in the 24 hours to 9am (CST),
three millimetres more than the average for December.

The rain and a king tide flooded the city, with half a metre of water over western
suburbs including Ludmilla, Coconut Grove, The Gardens and The Wharf Precinct.

The storm also brought down trees and power lines.

Electricity was cut for about three hours across most of the city, from 2pm to 5pm.

Police Superintendent Bruce Porter told AAP Stuart Park, Parap, Larrakeyah, Marrara,
Humpty Doo and Herbert were without power.

The tropical low has been upgraded to a category one cyclone and is heading west.

Cyclone Laurence is sitting 200 kilometres southwest of Darwin.

BoM issued a cyclone warning for coastal areas from Mitchell Plateau to Wyndham, in
Western Australia.

Winds up to 100km/h are expected to hit the coast on Sunday afternoon or Monday morning.

Heavy rain is expected in the far north Kimberley region this afternoon and may cause
localised flooding.

AAP ka/jfm

KEYWORD: LAURENCE

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

HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 14:30, Aug 4 =3

AAP General News (Australia)
08-04-2009
HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 14:30, Aug 4 =3

LOS ANGELES - A US-based animal rights group has stepped up its fight against defiant
Australian farmers, recruiting British clothing giant Next Retail Ltd to join a boycott
of Australian wool from mulesed sheep. (US Mulesing)



AUCKLAND - Forget travelling the world. A Kiwi lottery winner has revealed his big
plan now he's rich is to get a job at McDonald's. (NZ Lotto)



LONDON - Would-be citizens will have to earn a British passport under UK government
plans to extend their Australian-style points-based system for immigrants. (UK Immigrants)



AUCKLAND - Forget bungy jumping and black river rafting: New Zealand's tourists will
soon be able to whiz around in a strap-on mini helicopter to get their thrills. (NZ Jetpack,
with pix)



BRISBANE - New Zealand Prime Minister John Key says he expects his country's trade
with China to grow. (China NZ)



AUCKLAND - A soft porn-style advertisement which shows a young girl suggestively licking
drops of milk off her lips has landed Kiwi dairy chiefs in hot water with Bangladeshis.

(NZ Milk)



SYDNEY - Aussie actor Sam Worthington's star continues to rise in Hollywood, where
he has reportedly replaced Tom Cruise in the upcoming thriller The Tourist. (Worthington)



SYDNEY - Cult US director Quentin Tarantino says he wants to write fiction - pulp,
or otherwise - when he retires from filmmaking. (Tarantino)



SYDNEY - Supermodel Miranda Kerr dazzled in red as Australian designers showed off
flowing designs and bright colours for the David Jones spring summer season launch. (Jones
on file, with pix)



SYDNEY - Survival rates from brain cancer has not improved in a decade, says the Cancer
Council as it launches a new initiative. (Brain to come. Embargoed to 0001 AEST Wednesday,
August 5)



CANBERRA - Feral pig populations could become a breeding reservoir for swine flu making
the disease impossible to eradicate, the federal opposition says. (Flu Piggery Cobb)

BRISBANE - The Royal Queensland Show has banned pigs from the grounds to protect the
animals from catching human swine flu. (Flu Ekka Update)



SYDNEY - Exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer has arrived in Sydney to speak with Australian
members of her community about the recent riots in western China. (Kadeer)



MELBOURNE - Former PM John Howard to give public lecture at Melbourne University tonight.

(to come)



CANBERRA - It's time to start grooming the next generation of federal Liberal Party
leaders, former treasurer Peter Costello says. (Liberals Costello)



CANBERRA - Australian scientists who have predicted Earth's future rainfall have provided
a "crystal ball" of sorts for drought-weary farmers. (Atlas)



CANBERRA - Australia's urban water system needs to be reformed if tap supplies are
to remain affordable and plentiful well into the future. (Water to come)



SYDNEY - A woman has told a Sydney court she didn't recognise her son or his voice
when he attacked her and fatally stabbed her husband in their home. (Satanism) Wrap to
come



SYDNEY - Confidential material about a Sydney cabbie who raped three female passengers
is to remain secret to give him the opportunity to go to the High Court. (Nagi)



SYDNEY - Inadequate training and procedures led to two police officers suffering serious
injuries during a drug audit in Sydney, the police union says. (Police NSW)



SYDNEY - A Sydney man has been charged after a four-month police sting operation nabbed
him allegedly using the internet to groom a 13-year-old girl for sex. (Grooming)



SYDNEY - NSW prison officers plan to walk off the job for 24 hours on Thursday in a
move which will force the state's prisons into lockdown and delay court cases. (Prison)
Wrap to come



SYDNEY - An elderly woman who died when hit by a car and dragged 20 metres along a
Sydney street crossed the road on a green pedestrian light, police believe. (Toll NSW
Update)

SYDNEY - A man assaulted his girlfriend just before fatally crashing the stolen car
he was driving near Lismore, police say. (Toll NSW Lismore)



BRISBANE - Queensland opposition MP Ros Bates says her efforts to lobby for children
with fatal illnesses do not compare to the lobbying work by former Labor identities. (Lobbyists
Update) Wrap to come



BRISBANE - An email that advises Queensland Opposition Leader John-Paul Langbroek he
can seek taxpayer funds for a series of promotional billboards was "annotated", he says.

(Billboard) Wrap to come



BRISBANE - Two Aboriginal councils say a law that stripped them of their liquor licences
is racist. (Aurukun)



BRISBANE - A drug-addled mother who allowed her young children to sit and eat fast
food in the middle of a busy road has been given immediate parole. (Valium)



BRISBANE - The Queensland government says it will improve safety for road workers following
the death of a man in a smash north of Brisbane. (Toll Qld Update)



BRISBANE - A long-serving former police minister in the Joh Bjelke-Petersen National
Party government in Queensland has died in Brisbane. (Hodges)



GOLD COAST - Muffy the dog to be reunited with its Gold Coast owners. (Dog to come, with pix)



BRISBANE - Some Aussie kids won't be learning to speak French in a hurry. (Charity)



MELBOURNE - Police have smashed an alleged multi-million dollar drug ring in Melbourne. (Drugs)



MELBOURNE - Vic Minister for Industry, Trade, and Industrial Relations Martin Pakula
to welcome new Holden engine to be built in Melbourne (to come)



MELBOURNE - Closing addresses to begin in the trial of a stripper charged with raping
the best man at a buck's night, County Court. (Naggs to come)



HOBART - Police are searching for a killer in the Tasmanian highway hamlet of Campbell
Town. (Hamlet Update) Wrap to come



HOBART - A babysitter charged with murdering a four-year-old boy during a sleepover
in Hobart has appeared in court. (Garth to come)



PERTH - A 17-year-old girl has died after allegedly being assaulted by a man who jumped
off a second-floor balcony following the attack, West Australian police say. (Balcony)



PERTH - A 17-year-old youth has been charged with grievous bodily harm over an attack
that could cost a bus driver the sight in one eye. (Buses)



ADELAIDE - A former Adelaide private school teacher has been found not guilty of buggery
and indecent assault charges. (Wise)



ADELAIDE - State wage case begins in Industrial Relations Commission; SA Unions seeking
3.9 per cent rise for lowest paid workers. (Wages SA)



AAP mn

KEYWORD: HIGHLIGHTS NATIONAL 3 SYDNEY

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

Qld: Local talent good enough to run Telstra: Trujillo

AAP General News (Australia)
02-10-2009
Qld: Local talent good enough to run Telstra: Trujillo

By Angela Harper

BRISBANE, Feb 10 AAP - Telstra boss Sol Trujillo says he hopes his successor can be
found within the telco, but has ducked questions about his imminent departure.

Mr Trujillo, who was paid $13.7 million last year, said there was a wealth of talent
within the Telstra leadership team that had been built up over his time as CEO.

While not denying the departure rumours, he told the QUT Business Leaders' Forum on
Tuesday he's been planning his departure since the day he arrived in July 2005.

"The day that I took the job is the day I started the conversation with the board about
my succession," he said.

"Because things happen, sometimes you can get hit by a truck or you can fall out of
the air in an airplane.

"Hopefully there's that look at people who you've developed internally, because they
know the business.

"This (Telstra) is a very, very complex business ... boards have to make their choice
based on their view of where you go next."

Telstra has not formally confirmed whether the company will soon seek a new chief executive.

Mr Trujillo's contract is understood to not contain any details on the length of his tenure.

There are understood to about four to six serious candidates to fill Mr Trujillo's
shoes at Telstra.

They include the telco's long-standing finance chief John Stanhope and its group enterprise
and government head David Thodey, as well as Foxtel chief executive Kim Williams.

News Ltd has reported that global executive placement firm Egon Zehnder is to conduct
an international search to find a replacement for US-born Mr Trujillo.

AAP ahe/pjo/apm

KEYWORD: TELSTRA TRUJILLO

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

Fed: Calls for action on obesity levels

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-2008
Fed: Calls for action on obesity levels

There are renewed calls for action to tackle obesity after a new report showing it
costs the economy 58 billion dollars a year.

An Access Economics report .. commissioned by Diabetes Australia .. shows a near three-fold
increase in the economic cost since 2006.

The report attributes the massive jump in cost to new figures showing 25 per cent of
adults are now considered obese.

Australian Greens leader BOB BROWN says the cost to the community is unacceptable ..

and the Greens plan to resurrect a failed Australian Democrats bill from 2006 .. to ban
the advertising of junk food during childrens' TV programs.

AAP RTV sjc/so/wz/fdf

KEYWORD: OBESITY (CANBERRA)

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

NSW: Two charged after police pursuit on Hume Highway

AAP General News (Australia)
04-17-2008
NSW: Two charged after police pursuit on Hume Highway

SYDNEY, April 17 AAP - Police pursued two men and a teenaged boy and girl in an allegedly
stolen ute before the vehicle crashed in southern NSW overnight.

Police received a complaint from a member of the public about the speed and driving
of a Victorian-registered ute on the Hume Highway near Campbelltown, south of Sydney,
shortly before 10pm (AEST) yesterday.

Officers from Bowral saw the ute about an hour later near Sutton Forest and pursued
it for a short while.

Police from Goulburn then began a pursuit near Marulan, and other officers used a tyre
deflation device to puncture a front tyre of the ute.

Police gave up the chase, but the ute was found later in bushland near Governors Hill,
where it had left the road, hit several trees and stopped on a fence-line.

The four occupants of the vehicle were arrested at the scene, with the two men taken
to Goulburn police station and the teenagers to Goulburn Hospital.

A 20-year-old man has been charged with possessing property stolen outside NSW, dangerous
driving, driving whilst disqualified, low-range drink-driving, driving a conveyance without
consent and speeding.

An 18-year-old man has been charged with riding in a conveyance without the owner's consent.

Both men were refused bail and are due to appear at Goulburn Local Court today.

A 14-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy were given a police warning about being carried
illegally in a conveyance. The Department of Community Services has been informed.

AAP wjf/jl/mn

KEYWORD: PURSUIT

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

SCI: Scientists show Milky Way likes it both ways

AAP General News (Australia)
12-13-2007
SCI: Scientists show Milky Way likes it both ways

Eds: Embargoed until 0500 AEDT Thursday, December 13



By Samuel Cardwell

CANBERRA, Dec 13 AAP - Two scientists studying at the Australian National University
are part of an international team that has discovered the Milky Way galaxy actually spins
in different directions.

In their paper to be published in the journal Nature, the scientists describe how the
outer edge of the Milky Way, the halo, is made up of two components that rotate in opposite
directions.

The findings prove that the Milky Way halo was not assembled all at once but rather
over time, something scientists have suspected for around 30 years.

The lead author of the report, Daniela Carollo, a researcher at Italy's Torino observatory
now undertaking her Phd in Canberra, said that they made the discovery by studying the
motions and chemical makeup of the halo.

"By examining the motions and chemical makeup of the stars, we can see that the inner
and outer halos are quite different beasts and they probably formed in different ways
at different times," Ms Carollo said.

The discovery also shows that the different parts of the halo have different chemical
makeups with the inner stars containing three times more heavy elements than outer halo
stars.

Ms Carollo said that these differences gave a much clearer picture of the formation
of the early universe.

"Although it was once considered a single structure, an analysis of the stars shows
that the halo is clearly divisible into two, broadly overlapping components. The discovery
gives us a much clearer picture of the formation of the first objects in our galaxy and
in the entire universe," she said.

This discovery may help to find some of the most primitive stars in the galaxy a quest
that another team member ANU Professor John Norris has spent more than two decades on.

"These fossils of the early universe are extremely rare so finding them remains a classic
needle in a haystack problem and the discovery of a chemically distinct outer halo, gives
us a much better way to search the haystack," he said.

AAP sjc/sb/it/de

KEYWORD: MILKY (EMBARGOED)

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

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

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

The Victorian Council of Social Service is calling on the state government to boost
public housing and improve its drought response in tomorrow's budget.

The council's chief executive CATH SMITH says households are struggling under the burden
of rising house prices and rent.

The welfare body wants an extra 530 million dollars a year for public and community
housing .. a coordinated drought response .. more funding to step up early intervention
for vulnerable children .. new Aboriginal health programs .. and spending to cut disability
support and accommodation waiting lists.

State Opposition Leader TED BAILLIEU says the budget should deliver on services and
reformed taxes .. without increasing state debt.

AAP RTV jrd/cjh/mn/jmt

KEYWORD: BUDGET VIC (MELBOURNE)

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

Tas: Sparks from power grinder blamed for bodyworks blaze

AAP General News (Australia)
12-30-2006
Tas: Sparks from power grinder blamed for bodyworks blaze

HOBART, Dec 30 AAP - Two fire fighters and a third person were treated for burns after
sparks from a grinder started a fire in Tasmania's north today.

Crews from the Devonport Fire Brigade were called to a blaze at a Pardoe Street shed
in East Devonport about 12.45pm (AEDT).

Fire fighters said sparks from the power tool ignited a grass fire, which spread to
an adjoining bodyworks and motorcycle storage shed.

Two fire fighters and one occupant from the panel beating business were treated at
the scene for minor burns.

Fire investigator Mark Brownrigg said the fire, which caused an estimated $290,000
damage, was accidentally lit.

The Tasmania Fire Service warned anyone using power tools that generate sparks to ensure
they had adequate fire fighting equipment on hand.

AAP jmw/srp/de

KEYWORD: FIRE

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

Qld: Boy saves Beattie's hat

AAP General News (Australia)
08-22-2006
Qld: Boy saves Beattie's hat

PETER BEATTIE has told a Victorian boy he's a legend for saving his hat.

The Queensland premier was conducting a photo shoot on the roof of a Cairns hotel when
the hat fell to the ground .. where it was retrieved by 11-year-old DYLAN BOGDAN.

Mr BEATTIE rewarded DYLAN with 10 dollars.

AAP RTV pjo/ac/sc/ibw/bart

KEYWORD: POLL QLD HAT (CAIRNS)

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

Vic: No petrol price hike for long weekend, but more expected

AAP General News (Australia)
04-15-2006
Vic: No petrol price hike for long weekend, but more expected

Easter holidaymakers were spared an expected petrol price hike yesterday .. with prices
remaining steady across Melbourne.

But the RACV says oil companies will soon pass on a one-cent-a-litre wholesale price
increase .. and motorists will be shocked when it happens.

RACV spokesman DAVID CUMMING says prices steadied between 124.9 cents and 125.9 a litre
yesterday.

Earlier this week .. analysts predicted petrol could hit a record high of 140 cents
a litre .. but Mr CUMMING says the oil companies may have been too scared to lift prices
amid the strong publicity.

AAP RTV ce/rt/wf

KEYWORD: PETROL VIC (MELBOURNE)

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

Vic: Terror accused refused bail = 2

AAP General News (Australia)
12-16-2005
Vic: Terror accused refused bail = 2

Merhi and Taha are among 10 men charged last month with being members of a terrorist
organisation.

Eight of the men have also been charged with financing a terrorist organisation.

The alleged leader of the group, Muslim preacher Abdul Nacer Benbrika, 45, of Dallas,
has also been charged with directing a terrorist organisation.

Magistrate Marron said the prosecution's case against the Merhi and Taha was "not overwhelming".

However, he said conversations involving Merhi and Benbrika recorded by police and
read out in court today showed some "disturbingly strong and reasonably assertive positions".

During today's hearing, Crown prosecutor Nick Robinson told the court police intercepted
conversations between Benbrika and Merhi where they discussed Jihad.

Mr Robinson said that in the conversation Merhi said: "For example if John Howard kills
innocent Muslim families do we ... do we have to kill him and his family ... his people
like at the football?"

Benbrika allegedly replies "if they kill our kids we kill little kids."

Merhi then says "innocent ones" and Benbrika replies "innocent ones", according to
transcripts of the discussions read out in court.

In refusing bail, Mr Marron also expressed some concern at the conditions in which
the two men were being held at the maximum security Acacia Unit at Barwon Prison.

However, he said it was not a matter he could control.

Lawyers for Merhi and Taha had argued that the Crown prosecution case against their
clients was weak and delays in the court proceedings were expected.

AAP mf/ce/br

KEYWORD: TERROR VIC BAIL 2 MELBOURNE

2005 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Brooktrout Demos SnowShore IP Media Server on Continuous Computing AdvancedTCA Platform

Wireless News
04-06-2005
Brooktrout Demos SnowShore IP Media Server on Continuous Computing AdvancedTCA Platform

WIRELESS NEWS-April 6, 2005-Brooktrout Demos SnowShore IP Media Server on Continuous Computing AdvancedTCA Platform (C)2005 10Meters - http://www.10meters.com

Brooktrout Technology, a supplier of media processing and call- control products, announced a demonstration of its SnowShore IP Media Server, an open carrier-class IP media server, running on Continuous Computing's Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture (AdvancedTCA) platform.
Brooktrout said the support of the new architecture will allow network equipment vendors to incorporate the SnowShore IP Media Server into carrier-grade, AdvancedTCA systems for deployment in wireless, wireline and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) networks. Continuous Computing is a global provider of high availability platform solutions that enable telecom equipment manufacturers to rapidly deploy converged communications.

The SnowShore IP Media Server is an open, carrier-class IP media server that delivers advanced media processing for communications applications, from basic messaging and prepaid services to conferencing and video mail. With standard network and programming interfaces including SIP and VoiceXML, it provides interoperability with a broad range of third-party application servers in next- generation wireline, wireless and broadband networks.

AdvancedTCA is an open industry standard for carrier-grade, blade- based servers targeting the requirements for next-generation telecommunications network equipment.

"The open, software-based technology of the SnowShore IP Media Server, which runs on Intel processors and the Linux operating system, made it straightforward to implement on Continuous Computing's AdvancedTCA system," said Peter Vescuso, vice president of market development for Brooktrout Technology. "The SnowShore architecture enables Brooktrout to offer the IP Media Server on several different standard computing platforms such as AdvancedTCA and the IBM BladeCenter. As customers of Trillium protocol software, we already were aware of Continuous Computing's product quality and hands-on approach to customer service. Based on this existing relationship, we felt very comfortable working with Continuous Computing to take advantage of the inherent power and flexibility of their AdvancedTCA product family."

Prasad Kallur, Continuous Computing's vice president of product management and marketing, commented, "Empowering Brooktrout to run its media server on our AdvancedTCA platform demonstrates how Continuous Computing enables telecom equipment manufacturers to leverage the full range of hardware and software capabilities available with high availability system solutions. Demonstrating the SnowShore IP Media Server on our AdvancedTCA LINUXblade XE20 single board computer was simple, fast and effective -- a textbook case of how applications can be deployed quickly with a standards-based platform and expert customer support."

((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@10meters.com)) ((Distributed via M2 Communications Ltd - http://www.m2.com))

(Copyright M2 Communications Ltd. 6, 2005)

Australian Stock Exchange

Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) The stock exchange based in Sydney, which in 1987 superseded the exchanges in Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart, Melbourne, and Perth. It abolished fixed-rate commissions in 1984 and adopted fully automated trading in October 1990. ASX issues the All-Ordinaries share index as well as the subsidiary indices, the All-Industrials share index and All-Resources share index.

Mystic Color Lab expands digital film scanning capacity; Largest single location high speed, high-resolution film scanning capacity in the world.

M2 PRESSWIRE-4 September 2000-EASTMAN KODAK: Mystic Color Lab expands digital film scanning capacity; Largest single location high speed, high-resolution film scanning capacity in the world (C)1994-2000 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

RDATE:01092000

Mystic, CT -- Mystic Color Lab, a leading mail-order photo processor today announced that it has developed the largest, high speed, high resolution digital film scanning capacity at a single location in the world.

The company was an early adopter of large volume scanning when it installed PictureVision's PhotoNet digital System (PDS) CL model high speed film scanning equipment in February 1997. Mystic has now installed PictureVision, Inc.'s newest film scanner, the 4B-300, which scans up to 300 rolls of 35mm per hour at 4-Base (1536x1024) resolution. The 4B 300 also scans APS film. Combined, Mystic's scanners give it the capacity to scan over 170,000 high-res. images, daily more than any other digital scanning location.

"The demand for digitization of silver-halide film is growing each month," says Ed McCabe, Mystic's CEO. "Our goal is to offer same-day digitization of both 35mm and APS film, PictureVision's high speed scanners provide us with the fastest, most economical solution for achieving this goal." Using the digital scanners, Mystic is able to create PhotoNet CD's, floppy disk's, and upload photos to Kodak PhotoNet online, a leading online photography site. "PictureVision's mission has always been to enable photofinishers to increase their revenue and profit by leveraging the possibilities created by film digitization and the internet," says David MacWhorter, President, PictureVision, Inc. " Mystic has been very aggressive in promoting its digital capabilities to its customers and is now expanding its capacity to meet increased demand".

About Mystic Color Lab, Inc.

Based in the seaport town of Mystic, Connecticut, Mystic Color Lab is one of the nation's oldest and largest mail-order photoprocessors. Having grown continuously since its founding in 1970, it currently processes over 140 million images per year for more that a half-million customers. An early pioneer in the digitization of analog images, Mystic has processed many millions of digital images for its customers since it began its Mystic PC Photos service in the mid-1990s. In addition to analog photoprocessing and digitization of traditional images, Mystic also offers its customers the ability to upload digital images from their PCs for conversion to high quality photographic prints. More information available at www.mysticcolorlab.com, by e-mailing to information@mysticcolorlab.com or by calling (860) 536-4291.

About PictureVision, Inc.

Based in Herndon, VA, PictureVision, Inc., the pioneer in online photography since 1995, is an independently operated, wholly-owned subsidiary of Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE: EK). PictureVision provides the imaging industry with turn-key solutions and patented technologies for increasing sales by leveraging the consumer evolution to digital photography. PictureVision's patented core technology provides the foundation for online digital photography services such as Kodak PhotoNet online and AOL's "You've Got Pictures"sm. For more information, please visit www.picturevision.com and www.kodak.photonet.com 2000

((M2 Communications Ltd disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data prepared by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to info@m2.com)).

State of The Industry, 2011.

Byline: Mark Hawver

State of The Industry, 2011

As we await the repercussions of a credit downgrade, a debt ceiling/budget cuts agreement that is neither Holy nor Roman nor an Empire, during a recession that is already a piece of gum stuck to the bottom of our shoe, how will the army/navy market fare in these unsettling times?

We may no longer be in a state of recovery from the Great Recession, and there are signs that we may backslide into recessionary times once again.

How army/navy retailers and suppliers may handle another dose of economic castor oil could seal the fate of businesses that are already under-capitalized and laden with debt. Those businesses that are financially viable and possess strong marketing skills will make it through.

Past no longer prologue?

Historically, army/navy stores have fared better than many small retail businesses during poor economic times. That was mostly due to the high dollar value, low cost nature of surplus items and a buying public that appreciated army/navy stores for their frugality, function and fashion.

It seems that during the most recent recession that army/navy stores were not able to take advantage of their stellar avalue for the bucka reputation to the same extent as in the past.

There are many reasons for that. For example, as John Ottaviano of Rothco noted, competition now abounds.

aArmy/navy stores during past recessions didnat have to compete with dollar stores and big box outlets that have become recognized for their low prices,a he said.

Furthermore, even military surplus goods are not as inexpensive as way back when, given the scarcer nature of the goods and the increase in distribution and acquisition costs since the end of the adirect from the DRMOa days and post 9/11.

In addition, the economic pressures on the typical army/navy store during the recent (current?) recession are different than what they were even ten years ago; real estate, energy, shipping, petroleum, insurance and other overhead factors are comparitively much higher now than in the past and consume a greater percentage of the cost of operating a business.

After a fashion?

The military look is still a fashion trendsetter, especially among a younger and more female demographic.

The attraction of the military/military style apparel to a segment of the population that spends more of its disposable income on apparel is absolutely an ongoing boon for the army/navy store; but only for retailers who invest in inventory, promotion and research that positions them to take advantage of it.

Army/navy retailers who were successful in drawing younger male and female customers into their stores by promoting military fashion found that the injection of young blood and an expansion of the female persuasion into their customer base helped build a strong foundation for future growth and viability. Many retailers have now learned how to monitor mass media, social media, magazines and the Internet to stay current on trends and products that they can use to expand their businesses. Perhaps just as importantly, these retailers are also learning that itas now a necessity to do so.

E-progress

The pace at which army/navy retailers are modernizing their marketing and promotion efforts is picking up considerably. Even five years ago, the industry as a whole was somewhat behind the times in terms of using email, the web, You Tube and social media to promote their businesses. For the most part, army/navy stores and suppliers have caught up with a vengeance.

The number of army/navy stores that actively promote using e-blasts, web sites (static or dynamic) has increased considerably, and most retailers are now cognizant of the fact that future success will be very much determined by how well they integrate their physical store business with a thriving Internet-based business.

The coordination between a physical store and an e-business is sometimes referred to as aclick & mortar.a We delve deeper into this subject on page 16 of this issue. And of course one can also read it on our web site, as we practice what we preach.

The search for surplus

In the aftermath of 9/11, the U.S. military decided to withdraw certain surplus items from commercial availability due to national security reasons. The government also outsourced the distribution of whatever goods were still deemed saleable to an Internet based auctioneer, Government Liquidation.com.

Ironically, the fact that the search for surplus became heavily Internet-based may have accelerated the pace at which the army/navy industry became tech-savvy.

As a result of these and other changes in the acquisition process, surplus became sur-minus; much harder to find quantitatively, qualitatively and in variety.

It seems like currently we have an industry of haves and have-nots, in terms of surplus inventory. Some suppliers and retailers have stockpiled surplus over the years and are living off of squirreled away surplus; others have connections to alternative sources of supply. But most stores report that they are hurting for product.

As Peter Leitner of P & A Surplus explained, aSelling surplus is easier than finding it.a

Less stores, more or less

While the number of retail stores that are still predominantly army/navy in focus continues to dwindle overall, there are still new stores that pop up here and there. But for every new store that opens, there are more that find that de-emphasizing the army/navy component of their business is necessary for their survival as a store.

New rules

The American armed forces have become very serious about enforcing their licensing programs. Suppliers must now pay a licensing fee, a per-product charge and must affix specific labels or tags to merchandise that depicts or highlights the name, typeface, logos or other symbols of a branch of military service.

This adds cost and complication to the manufacturing and marketing of products vital to the army/navy market.

The burden of added cost is also upon the industry in the form of still-high cotton prices, and many suppliers have been forced to raise their prices on apparel, in some cases substantially. The rising cost of gas and other energy products has also lead to increased prices that have impacted suppliers, retailers and consumers alike.

Tactical strategical

Most observers believe that the most reliable and complementary area of growth for army/navy stores is the law enforcement/tactical category. As Danny Fox of Fox Outdoors noted, aThe military business is not as viable as it once was, and tactical has for us and for most of our retailers been the best avenue of growth.a

The growing importance of the annual SHOT Show to army/navy retailers and suppliers is evidence of the light at the end of the tunnel that the law enforcement/tactical market can be for army/navy retailers and their suppliers.

2011 Cygnus Business Media

Research and Markets: Internet Retailing in Turkey - Get a detailed picture of the Internet Retailing market.

M2 PRESSWIRE-July 6, 2011-: Research and Markets: Internet Retailing in Turkey - Get a detailed picture of the Internet Retailing market(C)1994-2011 M2 COMMUNICATIONS

RDATE:06072011

Dublin - Research and Markets

(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/2cfc5a/internet_retailing) has announced the addition of the "Internet Retailing in Turkey" report to their offering.

In 2010, internet retailing saw good value growth, although this was slower in the context of review period growth. The category did not suffer much despite the economic crisis, as consumers generally preferred to stay at home during the crisis, which benefited internet sales, as they could find better deals over the internet. The main reason for good growth in 2010 was the increasing number of companies that offered internet services. For instance, one of the leading electrical and durable...

The Internet Retailing in Turkey report offers insight into key trends and developments driving the industry. The report examines all retail channels to provide sector insight. Channels include hypermarkets, supermarkets, discounters, convenience stores, mixed retailers, health and beauty retailers, clothing and footwear retailers, furniture and furnishing stores, DIY and hardware stores, durable goods retailers, leisure and personal goods retailers. There are profiles of leading retailers, with analysis of their performance and the challenges they face. There is also analysis of non-store retailing: vending; homeshopping; internet retailing; direct selling, as available.

Data coverage: market sizes (historic and forecasts), company shares, brand shares and distribution data.

Why buy this report?

- Get a detailed picture of the Internet Retailing market;

- Pinpoint growth sectors and identify factors driving change;

- Understand the competitive environment, the market's major players and leading brands;

- Use five-year forecasts to assess how the market is predicted to develop.

Key Topics Covered:

Internet Retailing in Turkey

Euromonitor International

April 2011

List of Contents and Tables

Headlines

Trends

Competitive Landscape

Prospects

Channel Data

Tables

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/2cfc5a/internet_retailing

Source: Euromonitor International

CONTACT:

Research and Markets,

Laura Wood,

Senior Manager.

press@researchandmarkets.com

Fax from USA: 646-607-1907

Fax from rest of the world: +353-1-481-1716

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SEOUL TO INSTALL 10,000 FREE WIRELESS INTERNET HOTSPOTS.

SEOUL, June 15 Asia Pulse - Seoul will install free wireless internet in more than 10,000 locations across the city, giving citizens better access to the Web from portable devices, the municipal government said Wednesday.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, some 10,430 outdoor public spaces will be fitted with wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi) networks by 2015, covering 13.5 per cent of the capital's total area.

The city government will work with the country's three telecom companies to install the networks in parks and major traffic points, such as crossroads and commercial streets. It will also focus on expanding the free service in tourist hubs, including the fashion district of Myeongdong and the foreign quarters of Itaewon.

Once in place, the networks will also be used to expand emergency phone services and other public safety measures against emergencies and crime, the Seoul government said.

(Yonhap) ms 15-06 1110

Cookie Breathing Space.(Information Commissioner's Office)

Following on from our e-update on the new EU cookie Regulations, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has published further guidance on how businesses should implement the regulations, and it is giving website owners 12 months to comply with the new law.

The Information Commissioner, Christopher Graham, announced today that although the Regulations contain no formal transitional period for businesses and website owners to adhere to, the ICO are giving a one-year deadline, and those still failing to comply past the one-year mark may face action once the ICO introduce formal enforcement rules.

Under the revised Regulations, the ICO have been granted extended powers, and in particular, as of the 26 May when the Regulation comes into force, it will have the power to "impose financial penalties on telecoms and internet companies who fail to notify us about their data breaches."

Today's announcement serves as a reminder to website owners that in less than 24 hours the new law on cookies will be in force, and it is crucial that those to whom the Regulations apply take the necessary steps and precautions so as to avoid any legal consequences.

[c] MacRoberts 2011

Disclaimer

The material contained in this article is of the nature of general comment only and does not give advice on any particular matter. Recipients should not act on the basis of the information in this e-update without taking appropriate professional advice upon their own particular circumstances.

Mr David Flint

MacRoberts

30 Simple Street

Edinburgh

EH3 8BL

UNITED KINGDOM

E-mail: marketing@macroberts.com

URL: www.macroberts.com

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(c) Mondaq Ltd, 2011 - Tel. +44 (0)20 8544 8300 - http://www.mondaq.com

FirstEnergy Executive Vice President Gary R. Leidich to Speak at Deutsche Bank Alternative Energy, Utilities & Power Conference; Webcast Available.(Conference news)

AKRON, Ohio, May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) today announced that Executive Vice President Gary R. Leidich will conduct an investor presentation at the Deutsche Bank Alternative Energy, Utilities & Power Conference on Thursday, May 12, 2011. The presentation will begin at approximately 1:05 p.m. EDT.

A live Internet webcast of the presentation will be available via FirstEnergy's Investor Information website - www.firstenergycorp.com/ir - by clicking on the Deutsche Bank Alternative Energy, Utilities & Power Conference link.

For those who can't listen to the live webcast, an audio version will be archived on FirstEnergy's website.

FirstEnergy is a diversified energy company headquartered in Akron, Ohio. Its subsidiaries and affiliates are involved in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity, as well as energy management and other energy-related services.

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

Recent findings from A. Gupta and co-authors highlight research in palliative care.

New investigation results, 'Internet resources on managing chronic nonmalignant pain with opioids: the risks of addiction,' are detailed in a study published in Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy. According to a study from the United States, "Chronic nonmalignant pain affects approximately 20% of the population. Internet resources for management of chronic pain have expanded in response to this growing population of chronic nonmalignant pain patients."

"As providers, it is necessary that we also are aware of what resources are available, particularly for patients with opioid use and possible addiction. Physicians need to be aware of the factors associated with opioids and take steps to mitigate the risk of abuse by individual patients. Discontinuation of opioid therapy needs to be adequately and appropriately addressed in patients with aberrant behavior and treated," wrote A. Gupta and colleagues (see also Palliative Care).

The researchers concluded: "This includes proper screening and monitoring and the use of emerging agents that will effectively control pain and are associated with a lower risk of abuse."

Gupta and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy (Internet resources on managing chronic nonmalignant pain with opioids: the risks of addiction. Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy, 2010;24(1):71-5).

For more information, contact A. Gupta, Penn Pain Medicine, Dept. of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, 1840 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146 USA.

Keywords: City:Philadelphia, State:PA, Country:United States, Palliative Care, Patient Care.

This article was prepared by Health & Medicine Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2010, Health & Medicine Week via NewsRx.com.

Hi-Tech Pharmacal Co (NASDAQ:HITK) was the Highest Percentage Gainers Among NASDAQ Stocks; eBay Inc (NASDAQ:EBAY) And Cisco Systems, Inc (NASDAQ:CSCO) Round Out Top Three Percentage Gainers.

M2 PRESSWIRE-15 July 2009-LiquidTycoon.com: Hi-Tech Pharmacal Co (NASDAQ:HITK) was the Highest Percentage Gainers Among NASDAQ Stocks; eBay Inc (NASDAQ:EBAY) And Cisco Systems, Inc (NASDAQ:CSCO) Round Out Top Three Percentage Gainers(C)1994-2009 M2 COMMUNICATIONS

RDATE:14072009

New York, NY -- LiquidTycoon.com is pleased to alert investors of stocks on the move.

Hi-Tech Pharmacal Co (NASDAQ:HITK) surged up on high volumes. The stock gained 28.9% and closed at $12.75 with 1.08 million shares being traded for the day. Today's intra high and low was $13.79 and $9.89 respectively. Today (July 14, 2009), Hi-Tech Pharmacal Inc posted higher quarterly profit, helped by generic sales that almost doubled, sending its shares up as much as 31 percent. Hi-Tech Pharmacal Co, Inc is a specialty manufacturer and marketer of prescription, over-the-counter and nutritional products. The Company develops, manufactures and markets products in two categories, which include generics and over-the-counter (OTC) brands. It produces a range of products for various disease states, including asthma, bronchial disorders, dermatological disorders, allergies, pain, stomach, oral care, neurological disorders and other conditions.

eBay Inc (NASDAQ:EBAY) closed at $17.09 as one of the top percentage gainer. The stock increased over 1.9% on a high traded volume of 22.56 million shares. The stock hit intra day high of 17.13 and intra day low of $16.66. Today (July 14, 2009), EBay Inc is pulling the plug on its annual eBay Live! event, eschewing the large networking affair for a series of more intimate gatherings to connect sellers. eBay Inc provides online marketplaces for the sale of goods and services, as well as other online commerce, or ecommerce, platforms, online payments services and online communications offerings to a diverse community of individuals and businesses. The Company has three business segments: Marketplaces, Payments and Communications.

Cisco Systems, Inc (NASDAQ:CSCO) was one of the top percentage and volume gainer on NASDAQ. The stock gained over 0.8% to $18.73.Total traded volume was 46.66 million shares. Today (July 14, 2009), IBM Corporation and Cisco Systems, Inc announced that they are teaming on a pilot to help the Dutch utility Nuon and the city of Amsterdam make smarter use of energy by enabling consumers to make more informed decisions about their energy consumption. Cisco Systems, Inc designs, manufactures and sells Internet protocol (IP)-based networking and other products related to the communications and information technology (IT) industry, and provides services associated with these products and their use. The Company provides a line of products for transporting data, voice, and video within buildings, across campuses, and around the world.

Liquid Tycoon alerts its members on stocks that could generate higher than average returns. These include stocks with huge volume, penny stocks that are moving to the upside quickly, penny stocks with buy signals and companies with news. Our alerts are well known for producing incredible results in a short amount of time and our members have made outstanding profits of over 100%.

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LiquidTycoon.com is a leading stock web site that provides free alerts on stocks that are poised to make big gains. LiquidTycoon.com also tracks small cap penny stocks that could be on the brink of a massive breakout. To feature a company on our web site please contact us at info@ LiquidTycoon.com

Liquid Tycoon is an independent electronic publication that provides information on selected publicly traded companies. Liquid Tycoon is not a registered investment advisor or broker-dealer. Liquid Tycoon affiliates, officers, directors and employees may buy and sell additional shares in any company mentioned herein and may profit in the event those shares rise in value. Please do your own Due Diligence before investing in any of the stocks mentioned above.

CONTACT: Liquid TycoonTel: +1 214 556 6798

((M2 Communications disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data prepared by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to info@m2.com)).

The race for bandwidth: phone and cable companies fight an uphill battle. (Technology Information)

As demand for data bandwidth rises, the information superhighway's infrastructure is struggling to keep up. In an Internet-mad world where 28.8-Kbps modems and even 128-Kbps ISDN lines no longer seem fast, both telephone and cable companies are racing to offer higher-speed data connections. But despite all the hype you've been hearing, don't expect to find a fast, cheap connection anytime soon.

Within the next couple of years, phone companies plan to offer several kinds of DSL (digital subscriber line) connections using the ordinary copper phone lines that already run into your home or office. You'll even be able to make a voice call and a DSL connection simultaneously on the same line. High-bit-rate DSL (HDSL) will run at 384 Kbps bidirectionally; asymmetric DSL (ADSL) will initially run at 1.544 Mbps downstream from the phone company to you, and 64 Kbps upstream from you to the phone company. Later versions of ADSL should run at up to 6 Mbps downstream and 640 Kbps upstream.

Phone versus Cable

DSL will compete with the much-ballyhooed cable modem the cable TV companies want to offer for Internet connections.

A cable modem works very differently from a phone line. Instead of using a dedicated connection, all the cable subscribers in a region will share an Internet feed, occupying the equivalent of one cable television channel. Each data packet will contain a user ID, and your cable modem will pick out only those packets addressed to you.

The system resembles a local area network, and many proposed cable modems use an Ethernet-like protocol. A major drawback is that today's cables can carry only downstream data; for upstream data, you'll have to tie up a phone line, or the companies will have to build a wireless radio network.

Bandwidth Not Enough

Although cable companies talk about 500-Kbps to 5-Mbps or even faster connections, each cable modem subscriber will get only a fraction of that bandwidth. When fewer users are logged on, more bandwidth may be available.

But a faster final link doesn't always mean faster performance. Data speeds--whether for DSL service or for cable modem--describe only the last downstream link to your computer. Actual data speed depends on many other factors, such as the servers and intermediate links.

DSL, like your phone service, lets you switch between different providers. But since cable modems--like cable television--work only with data fed by the local cable company, they can't offer that option. Cable companies can't provide true switched operation or upstream connection without replacing their present cables and electronics, a process that would take many years, if it is ever done.

US West, one of the regional Bell companies, says it will provide DSL service in some cities next year and that by 1998 DSL will be widely available, with rates starting at about $35 per month for metered service. But because it needs high-quality, relatively short wire runs, DSL won't be available in all areas; it cannot reach as far as ISDN.

DSL Has the Edge

Don't expect the cable TV companies to settle on a standard cable modem format in less than two years, because no one knows what will work with today's myriad cable systems. Therefore, many companies are likely to use interim formats that may quickly vanish once a standard finally emerges.

For now, the phone companies appear better situated, since they can offer limited DSL services without rebuilding their networks, though widespread use of DSL will require newer switching equipment. Cable companies face greater obstacles, because their systems aren't designed for two-way transfer, and data customers are much more demanding than TV viewers.

The 6-Mbps data rates later versions of ASDL promise should meet most users' needs for some years to come. Then we'll stop complaining about slow modems and find other bottlenecks to gripe about.

Craigslist used in BWI prostitution arrests: Arundel police conducted stings, arrested four women.

Byline: Gus G. Sentementes

Sep. 7--Anne Arundel County police said they used a popular Internet site to identify and arrest four women who are charged with engaging in prostitution at hotels around Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

County police said detectives found the women by reviewing postings on Craigslist.org, a free Web site used by people who are looking to buy or sell goods and services.

The detectives set up appointments and conducted prostitution stings with the women between Tuesday and yesterday, authorities said.

Sgt. Sara Schriver, an Anne Arundel County police spokeswoman, said the women were apparently operating independently.

The women were identified as Catherine J. Chrysler, 24, of Lisle, N.Y.; Kristina Lee Jenkins, 23, of Laurel; Bridgett Lee Robinson, 23, of Lothian; and Candace Laine Conn, 22, of Baltimore. All faced prostitution and related charges, according to police.

According to court records, Chrysler was released on $25,000 bond. Jenkins and Robinson were released on their own recognizance. Court information about Conn was not immediately available.

Someone posted word of the stings on Craigslist. On Wednesday, at 6:15 p.m., an unidentified writer posted in the "erotic services" section of the site: "BEWARE OF BWI OUTCALL!! I GOT BUSTED TODAY!!!"

"The date was going as usual dates go!! 18 [minutes] later 7 detectives busted in!! Set up!!! Red Roof Inn," the post reads.

Schriver said that a Red Roof Inn in Laurel was one of the locations where a woman was arrested. The names and locations of the other hotels were not immediately available.

A review of the page showed multiple listings of women appearing to offer sexual encounters through suggestive messages, and some even posted pictures of themselves.

One listing appeared to quote prices by the quarter-hour, half-hour and hour, and several had been posted as recently as today.

gus.sentementes@baltsun.com

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Pearson's slams get Garland to 200.

Byline: Ward Gossett

Mar. 17--Friday is a day Soddy-Daisy baseball coach Steve Garland and Trojans hitter Kenny Pearson will long remember. Garland picked up his 200th career coaching win and was in the third-base coach's box as Pearson hit two grand slams to lead the Trojans' 15-6 win over White County. The two milestones came in the opener of Hixson's Wildcat Outback Classic. The Trojans had been hammering the baseball in preseason scrimmages but were handcuffed in a season-opening loss to Baylor. The handcuffs were nowhere in sight Friday. "I don't know what to say," said Garland, who is rarely at a loss for words. "I have felt good about our offense, but we need to hit consistently." The Trojans, aided by consecutive errors on balls hit by their first three batters, erupted for 11 first-inning runs including Pearson's first grand slam. "it takes a lot of pressure off your young pitchers when you score like that," Garland said. "I don't know if we'll hit like that in every game, but we need to hit consistently." He can only hope Pearson will continue to hit like this. "He had a hit the other day at Baylor, but those two today were really the first hard-hit balls he has had," Garland said. "It would be a pretty hard day to match," Pearson said. "I've had some big games before, but nothing as big as this. I try not to think about stats too much. They just get in the way." Other schools may have transfers, but none likely have come from as far away as Pearson, who transferred to Soddy-Daisy in January 2006 from Ketchikan, Alaska. "I felt I had maxed out academically and athletically, and I started looking at schools," said Pearson, who has scored a 32 (of a possible 36) on the ACT. "My grandparents live in Sale Creek, and I found out a lot about Soddy-Daisy by looking on the Internet. I talked with Coach Garland by phone several times and decided to make the move." Pearson wasn't the only contributor Friday for Soddy-Daisy. Philip Conner had three hits and Dakota Price and Ryan Mullins each doubled and singled.

E-mail Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com

Copyright (c) 2007, Chattanooga Times/Free Press, Tenn.

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Hamilton Island Limited Selects PAR Technology's SMS/Host Hospitality Management System; PAR Springer Miller Systems Expands in Asia-Pacific Region with First Install in Australia.

NEW HARTFORD, N.Y. -- PAR Springer-Miller Systems Inc. (PSMS), a wholly owned subsidiary of PAR Technology Corporation (NYSE:PTC) --- and the leading provider of guest-centric hospitality management systems--- is pleased to announce that Hamilton Island Resort has chosen the SMS|Host Hospitality Management System as the technology of choice for the Australian Resort's hotels, apartments, villas, and marina.

Hamilton Island (HIL), situated in the heart of Whitsunday Islands and close to the Great Barrier Reef, is the largest holiday resort in Australia with 830 rooms of hotel and apartment accommodation, a 205 berth marina, convention facilities, an airport, 10 restaurants and over 40 different activities available to guests. Hamilton Island Resort is one of the few holiday resort destinations which truly offers something for everyone. The facilities cater seamlessly for families, couples and conference groups from all over Australia as well as internationally.

Gavin Herholdt, COO of Hamilton Island Limited, commented, "After a thorough search of property management software systems, we decided on PAR's SMS|Host Hospitality Management solution because of their focus on the destination hotel/resort industry, its guest centric design and their ability to provide a single source solution that can address all of our property management needs."

"We are very excited about our partnership with Hamilton Island and we look forward to working very closely with them to ensure a smooth transition to the SMS|Host system," said John Springer-Miller, CEO of PAR Springer-Miller Systems. "This is another milestone achieved and serves to underscore our sales and marketing strategy focused on international expansion of our business. Utilizing our resources at the PAR Springer-Miller International office in Kuala Lumpur as well as the ParTech, Inc. Sydney division, we're focused on penetrating the Asia-Pacific markets with our guest centric applications."

In addition to the SMS|Host front office system, Hamilton Island will install many of PAR Springer-Miller's optional modules at their location including Multi-Property Management, Spa/Resort Scheduling, Gift Certificate Tracking, Activities Management, Owner Fulfillment, SMS|POS Retail, SMS|Tickets, Membership Management and SMS|World for Internet booking.

About PAR Springer-Miller Systems

PAR Springer-Miller Systems is a leading provider of hospitality management solutions that meet the technology needs of all types of hospitality enterprises including city-center hotels, destination spa and golf properties, timeshare properties, and casino resorts worldwide, setting the pace as a pioneer in the hospitality industry. SMS|Host Hospitality Management System is distinguished from other property management systems with its truly integrated design and unique approach to guest service. The SMS|Host product suite, including more than 2- seamlessly integrated, guest-centric application modules, provides hotel/resort staff with the tools they need to personalize service, exceed guest expectations, and increase revenue. For more information on PAR Springer-Miller Systems, visit our website at www.springermiller.com.

About PAR Technology Corporation

PAR Technology Corporation is a leading provider of professional services and enterprise business intelligence software and hardware to the hospitality industry. PAR develops, markets and supports hardware and software products that improve the ability of hospitality business professionals to make timely, fact-based business decisions. The Company is a premier provider of I/T management solutions to hotel and restaurant companies, with over 40,000 installations worldwide in 100 countries. PAR is a leader in providing computer-based system design and engineering services to the Department of Defense and Federal Government Agencies. PAR Technology Corporation's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol PTC. For more information, visit the Company's website at www.partech.com.

NOTE TO EDITORS: There is a pipe symbol in the company name after SMS. This symbol may not appear properly in some systems.

Michaels Stores October Sales Up 9%; - Same-Store Sales Up 4% -.

Michaels Stores, Inc. today reported that total sales for the month of October increased 9% to $256.5 million from $234.5 million for the same month last year while same-store sales increased 4%. Third quarter sales of $755.0 million for fiscal 2003 increased 7% from $704.6 million for the same period a year ago. Same-store sales for the quarter grew 2%. Year-to-date sales of $2.028 billion increased 8% from $1.884 billion for the same period last year while same-store sales were up 2% year-to-date.

For the month, customer traffic was up 1%, average ticket increased 2%, and custom frame deliveries increased 1%. For the quarter, customer traffic was flat and average ticket increased 2%. Year-to-date customer traffic increased 1% and average ticket was up 1%.

Michael Rouleau, Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Overall, we are pleased with our sales results for the most recent month and quarter. Our best performing departments were Seasonal, Apparel Crafts, Framing, and Art and our best performing zones were the Northeast, Southeast, and mid-Atlantic."

Commenting on the rollout of the Company's perpetual inventory (PI) and automated replenishment (AR) systems, Mr. Rouleau said, "The implementation continues on track. Right now, 80% of our stores are on perpetual inventory and 44% of our SKU's within those stores are on automated replenishment. We are beginning to see the initial benefits of PI and AR with improved store in- stocks and more efficient use of in-store labor. All of our stores will be on the perpetual inventory system by the end of January 2004 and the remaining eligible SKU's will be on automated replenishment by July 2004. The primary benefits of PI and AR -- better store in-stock positions, lower inventory levels, better store labor efficiency, and improved gross margins -- will favorably impact our results over the next two to three years as we gain experience with these systems."

Rouleau continued, "During the third quarter we took several strategic actions. To reduce our fourth quarter clearance levels, we accelerated our fall and Halloween seasonal merchandise clearance activities. Additionally, in contrast to last year, when we built up our basic and seasonal inventory early, we are flowing inventory to our stores more evenly to maintain better in-stocks throughout the Holiday season and into next year. These actions are expected to reduce our third quarter gross margins by approximately 200 basis points versus last year. However, we continue to expect third quarter diluted earnings per share to be in the $.46 to $.50 range, based on strong expense management and a lower effective tax rate of about 39% year-to-date."

Mr. Rouleau concluded, "We are looking forward to another successful Holiday season. Our inventories are in excellent condition, our stores are ready, our enhanced promotional programs are in place, and our associates have never been more prepared. For the fourth quarter, we anticipate same-store sales growth of 4% to 6% and gross margin expansion of approximately 150 basis points versus last year, and we continue to expect a 15% to 17% increase in full year diluted earnings per share, ranging from $2.40 to $2.45."

The Company plans to release its Third Quarter earnings results on Tuesday, November 25, 2003 and will host a conference call at 4:00 p.m. CT on that date to discuss them. Those who wish to participate in the call may do so by dialing 973-633-6740. Any interested party will also have the opportunity to access the call via the Internet at http://www.michaels.com/ . To listen to the live call, please go to the website at least fifteen minutes early to register and download any necessary audio software. For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available for 30 days after the date of the event. Replay may be accessed at http://www.michaels.com/ or by phone at 973-341-3080, PIN 4066300.

The Company plans to announce its November 2003 sales results on Thursday, December 4, 2003 at 6:30 a.m. CT. The press release may be viewed at http://www.michaels.com/ .

Michaels Stores, Inc. is the world's largest retailer of arts, crafts, framing, floral, wall decor, and seasonal merchandise for the hobbyist and do- it-yourself home decorator. The Company owns and operates 798 Michaels stores in 48 states and Canada, 11 Village Crafts stores across the U.S., 158 Aaron Brothers stores, located primarily on the West Coast, two ReCollections stores in Frisco and Dallas, Texas, and two wholesale operations in Dallas, Texas and Atlanta, Georgia.

Certain statements contained herein which are not historical facts are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, customer demand and trends in the arts and crafts industry, related inventory risks due to shifts in customer demand, the effect of economic conditions, the impact of competitors' locations or pricing, the availability of acceptable locations for new stores, difficulties with respect to new information system technologies, supply constraints or difficulties, the results of financing efforts, the effectiveness of advertising strategies and other risks detailed in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The Company intends these forward-looking statements to speak only as of the time of this release and does not undertake to update or revise them as more information becomes available.

This and all other Company press releases are available on the Michaels Stores, Inc. website (http://www.michaels.com/ ).

CONTACT: Jeffrey N. Boyer, Executive Vice President - Chief Financial Officer, +1-972-409-1581, or Christopher J. Holland, Vice President - Finance, +1-972-409-1667, both of Michaels Stores, Inc.

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

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/115769.html