Qld: Minister Pitt to quit politics at the next election

AAP General News (Australia)
02-17-2009
Qld: Minister Pitt to quit politics at the next election

BRISBANE, Feb 17 AAP - Queensland Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt has announced he
will not contest the next state election, which pundits say is imminent.

The Mulgrave MP said there was a combination of personal and professional reasons for
his decision.

He was diagnosed in April 2005 with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which affects cells of
the lymphatic system.

"As many people are aware, I have successfully fought a battle against serious illness
over the last several years," Mr Pitt said in a statement.

"I am now in full remission, something for which I believe I owe much to the unending
support of my family and friends.

"I have come to the decision that it is now an appropriate time for me to return some
of that support to my family by withdrawing from politics to spend more time with my loved
ones."

Mr Pitt said he also believed it was time for renewal within the government.

"The Bligh Labor government is a good government, with talented ministers, which has
achieved much over the last 18 months," he said.

"However, I also firmly believe that the government has a pool of very talented backbenchers
who are now ready to step up and make significant contributions at the ministerial level."

The retirement is the third announced this week, after Townsville MP Mike Reynolds
and Greenslopes MP Gary Fenlon on Sunday.

It brings the number of Labor MPs who have decided not to contest to eight.

Police Minister Judy Spence, Housing Minister Robert Schwarten and Murrumba MP Dean
Wells are now Labor's last remaining MPs elected in 1989.

Ms Spence on Tuesday told reporters she had no thoughts of retiring.

"I'm contesting the next election, I'll be out there, be doing street stalls in my
electorate all weekend," she said.

The election is not due until September, but is tipped for March 28.

AAP gd/pjo/apm

KEYWORD: POLL QLD PITT

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

Eating local just keeps getting easier ; Fresh Maine meats and produce - and even meals made from them - are now just a mouse click away.

Meredith Goad staff writer
Portland Press Herald (Maine)
07-06-2011
Eating local just keeps getting easier ; Fresh Maine meats and produce - and even meals made from them - are now just a mouse click away.
Byline: Meredith Goad staff writer
Edition: FINAL
Section: Food & Dining
Column: Soup to Nuts
Type: News

Stephanie Hedlund scoured the Portland Farmers Market in Monument Square Wednesday, looking for just the right vegetables to put in a tamale casserole she was thinking about making for her clients.

No doubt some of the local vegetables she found will also go into her bestselling vegetable lasagna. On another day, Hedlund might pick up some steaks from grass-fed cows raised at Harvest Hill Farm in Mechanic Falls, or stop by Green Spark Farm in Cape Elizabeth.
"I've been obsessed with this vegetable they grow called tat soi," Hedlund said. "It's a green sort of similar to spinach, but it has a little bit more of a bitter taste. I'm using it in everything I can think of. I made a quiche out of it. You can put it into any kind of Asian dish."

Hedlund's new business is called Clara Burke Kitchen, and it is literally farm-to-table. Hedlund prepares meals made with local, seasonal products from Maine farms and delivers

them right to her clients' doorsteps.

The concept of eating local foods is already wildly popular here in Maine, but for some people it can still be a challenge. It's hard to make it to a farmers market on Saturday morning if your kids have a soccer game on the same day. Other people like the idea of eating locally, but they aren't sure what to do with the food that comes in a CSA share.

Now a couple of local businesses are trying to remove any remaining barriers by making local, seasonal foods even more accessible to the public.

Hedlund cooks and delivers entire meals of farm-fresh food to her clients. And two Cape Elizabeth farms are expanding their new online ordering system, where customers can choose the local foods they want with a click of the mouse.

The Cape Farms' Market online business, begun by Jordan's Farm and Alewives Brook Farm as an experiment over the winter, drew an average of 150 orders a week. Now home delivery within a 7-mile radius of Cape Elizabeth is being added to the mix, and the farms are signing up businesses who want to give their employees access to local foods.

"We know there are people out there who really want to participate in the local movement, and who really want to become closer to the farms, and who really want to know their farmer, but they really don't have the time," said Penny Jordan of Jordan's Farm in Cape Elizabeth. "I know that sounds like a minimal thing, but if I was a parent who had four kids and I worked full-time, there's a lot of stuff going on in your life."

REACHING FARMS STATEWIDE

The Cape Farms' Market sources products from farms all over the state. The service provides a new outlet for farms that ordinarily don't market their products in southern Maine, and it gives the Cape Elizabeth farms access to products they don't ordinarily sell at their own farm stands - products such as lamb from Meadowsweet Farm in the Lakes Region, goat cheeses from Creeping Thyme Farm in Buxton and maple syrup from Cooper Maple Products in Windham.

"We also source products that we might grow ourselves, but we might not have enough to also put on the market," Jordan said.

"For example, we do grow kale. Our kale isn't ready, so we will purchase kale from another producer if we know they have kale. We grow strawberries, but I may purchase from another producer because I don't have enough strawberries for my farm stand as well as the online market."

Here's how it works. At 7 p.m. Thursdays, the online market at capemarket.internet-farmer. com opens. Customers go online and put what they'd like to buy into their online shopping cart.

After the market closes at 8 a.m. Monday, the farms get busy gathering their orders. The food is ready to be picked up between 3 and 6 p.m. Thursday at the two farms or at the American Legion in South Portland.

Payment is made at pick-up, not when ordering.

When home delivery starts, it will be within a 7-mile radius of the farms, which Jordan estimates will take them as far as Scarborough and the Portland peninsula.

There is a 7 percent packing and processing fee added to the bill, and there may be a nominal charge for home delivery, depending on where the food is going. Jordan said deliveries to Cape Elizabeth homes will probably be free.

AT-WORK DELIVERIES

This week the farms are adding another twist to the market by starting delivery to local businesses.

The first one will be New England Rehabilitation Hospital, Jordan said. Its employees will be able to order food online beginning Thursday and have it delivered to them the next week at work.

At-work deliveries allow busy professionals to participate in the system without worrying about taking time off from work to pick up their food, or missing a pick-up time because of a meeting that went too long.

For people who find themselves too busy to cook, but still want to eat healthy, Clara Burke Kitchens will do all the work for you.

The business is named after Hedlund's two grandmothers, who grew up on farms in Iowa and Texas and were always cooking for large numbers of people.

Hedlund sources all her ingredients from Maine farms and prepares the meals in a shared kitchen arrangement with Taco Trio in South Portland.

"In the last several years, I moved out to Poland and got to know the farmers around there, and was just amazed at how much better their meat was and their produce was," Hedlund said. "At the same time, this whole trend or movement of eating local was coming about. I was doing CSAs and kind of found all my friends asking me, 'What do you do with the 20 pounds of beets they just gave us?' And I loved figuring out what to do with 20 pounds of beets.

"I saw that as kind of a hole," she said. "You know, you go to the farmers market and there's amazing things there, and it's just hard to know what to do with it every day."

Hedlund, 36, comes from a business background and also empathized with other busy professionals who have no time to cook. Her biggest customers, as it turns out, are empty nesters and baby boomers. She also does catering, mostly for the same crowd.

"They're in their early 60s and they really care about what they're eating," Hedlund said. "They just don't necessarily feel like cooking every night any more. That's about half my business."

Other clients are just "really busy people," Hedlund said, who don't want to rely too much on restaurants - especially if they have kids and need some family time.

"If you're out of your house all day working, it's nice to come home and enjoy your house," she said. "There's a million great restaurants in Portland, (but) enjoy dinner. Bring back dinner. Bring back sitting down with the family and enjoying it. I think that's what a lot of my clients like about it."

Hedlund makes everything, including stocks and sauces, from scratch. She cooks two or three nights a week at Taco Trio, and then freezes the food, although she is starting to do more fresh meals as weekly specials for her clients who want to order vegetarian.

Hedlund's menu includes chicken and biscuits made with Harvest Hills Farm free-range chicken, maple chipotle beef brisket, and oxtail posole. Every order comes with cookies because - well, just because Hedlund loves to bake cookies.

Hedlund's website is claraburkekitchen.com.

Staff Writer Meredith Goad can be contacted at 791-6332 or at:

mgoad@pressherald.com

Illustrations/Photos:
Caption: Photos by Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer Through her
new business, Clara Burke Kitchen, Stephanie Hedlund prepares meals
with local seasonal products from Maine farms and delivers them to
her clients' doors. Above, she shops for tomatoes at the Olivia's
Garden table at the Portland Farmers Market in Monument Square. At
left, Hedlund buys greens and edible flowers from Mary Ellen Chad of
Green Spark Farm in Cape Elizabeth. Photos by Gordon Chibroski/
Staff Photographer Hedlund checks out the produce from Fishbowl Farm
in Bowdoinham at the Portland Farmers Market. Below, she visits with
Samantha Williams of Aurora Mills & Farm in Linneus.

Copyright 2009 Blethen Maine Newspapers

NSW:Macdonald faces possible ALP suspension

AAP General News (Australia)
12-07-2011
NSW:Macdonald faces possible ALP suspension

Eds: Reissuing to correct Macdonald spelling throughout



SYDNEY, Dec 7 AAP - The NSW opposition leader has reportedly requested the suspension
of disgraced former Labor minister Ian Macdonald from the party.

John Robertson wrote to the NSW Labor general secretary Sam Dastyari on Tuesday, asking
that Mr Macdonald, who is being investigated by the Independent Commission Against Corruption
(ICAC), be suspended from the party in "light of the alleged actions", Fairfax reported
on Wednesday.

Mr Macdonald, a former energy minister, faced allegations before ICAC earlier this
month involving property tycoon Ron Medich and a prostitute named Tiffanie.

The corruption watchdog heard Mr Medich arranged for Mr Macdonald to spend time with
the prostitute on July 15, 2009 as a thank you for arranging meetings with energy executives.

Mr Macdonald admitted to receiving a massage from the woman at a Sydney hotel but denied
having sexual relations with her.

Mr Macdonald's 2008 granting of the mining company NuCoal's exploration licence in
the Hunter Valley has also been referred to ICAC by the parliament, after a report raised
questions about the tender process.

Mr Macdonald announced the approval of the Doyles Creek licence in December 2008, after
inviting only the former national secretary of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and
Energy Union, John Maitland, to tender.

NuCoal bought Doyles Creek Mining Pty Ltd in February last year.

Mr Robertson has previously denied being a part of a culture in NSW Labor that led
to the allegations that forced Mr Macdonald to front up before ICAC this month.

"I have not been involved in these sorts of things and I will not tolerate this behaviour
if it's going on," he told ABC Television.

AAP lcf/jfm/jmt

KEYWORD: MACDONALD (REISSUING)

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

FED:Brown's claim conflicts with evidence

AAP General News (Australia)
04-02-2011
FED:Brown's claim conflicts with evidence

CANBERRA, April 2 AAP - Australian Greens leader Bob Brown says the minor party won
its first lower house seat in NSW without preferences, but the evidence says otherwise.

Leichhardt mayor Jamie Parker has claimed victory in the inner-western Sydney seat of Balmain.

Shortly before former education minister Verity Firth conceded defeat to the Greens
candidate, Senator Brown held a media conference in Hobart praising Mr Parker.

"Jamie's win is historic. It's a big breakthrough into the single-member house of government
in NSW," he said.

"He's done it without getting preferences from anyone, or having preferences directed
from anyone."

Evidence from the NSW Electoral Commission, however, says otherwise.

Liberal candidate James Falk won 14,857 primary votes, compared with Mr Parker's tally
of 14,019, updated figures say.

Labor came third with 13,769 first-preference votes.

With no candidate getting more than 50 per cent of the vote, preferences were allocated,
making Mr Parker the next MP for Balmain.

In NSW, preferential voting is optional meaning that voters don't have to number every square.

But in cases where voters opt to nominate preferences, their decisions can prove pivotal
in a tight race.

AAP saj/nb

KEYWORD: POLLNSW BALMAIN BROWN

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

FED:AAP 4-week diary from Dec 13 to Jan 9

AAP General News (Australia)
12-12-2010
FED:AAP 4-week diary from Dec 13 to Jan 9

AAP 4-WEEK DIARY FROM DECEMBER 13 TO JANUARY 9



MONDAY DECEMBER 13



ADELAIDE:

LIGHTS OF LOBETHAL

December 12-31, 2010

Adelaide Hills

Website: http://www.lightsoflobethal.com.au/



BRISBANE:



CANBERRA:



DARWIN:



HOBART:



MELBOURNE:



SYDNEY:



PERTH:



FINANCE:

Avanco Resources-General Meeting

33 Richardson Street West Perth WA-9.30am

Everest Financial-General Meeting

Intercontinental Hotel Sydney NSW-10am

ING Real Estate HF-Meeting of Members

117 Macquarie Street Sydney NSW-3.30pm

Resource Generation-General Meeting

Radisson Plaza Hotel Sydney NSW-10am

Select Vaccines Ltd-General Meting

945 Wellington Street West Perth WA-11am

The MAC Services Group-Scheme Meeting

61 Macquarie Street Sydney NSW-10am

Note: Date, Location and Time are subject to change.

All times listed are AEDT



SPORT:

CRICKET - Sheffield Shield - to March 21

QLD v WA, Gabba - to December 13

HANDBALL (Women's) - European C'ships - to December 19

Denmark

BASKETBALL - NBA - to April 13

USA

GRIDIRON FOOTBALL - NFL - to January 2

USA

ICE HOCKEY - NHL - to April 10

USA

SURFING (Men's) - ASP World Tour

Billabong Pipe Masters, Oahu-Hawaii - to December 20

SURFING (Women's) - ASP World Tour

Billabong Pro Mauii, Maui-Hawaii (tentative) - to December 20

BOBSLEIGH/SKELETON - World Cup - to December 19

Lake Placid, New York, USA



GALLOPS

Port Macquarie

Warrnambool

Narromine

Sth Africa



TROTS

Bankstown

Maryborough

Albion Park

Globe Derby

Canberra

Gloucester Park



GREYHOUNDS

Bulli

Shepparton

Albion Park

Angle Park

Bendigo

Cranbourne

Bathurst

Launceston

New Zealand



TUESDAY DECEMBER 14



ADELAIDE:

LIGHTS OF LOBETHAL

December 12-31, 2010

Adelaide Hills

Website: http://www.lightsoflobethal.com.au/



BRISBANE:



CANBERRA:



DARWIN:



HOBART:



MELBOURNE:



SYDNEY:

WORLD-RENOWNED ARCHITECT THOM MAYNE TO ADDRESS AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS'
INTERNATIONAL SPEAKERS SERIES.

UTS University Hall.

Contact: Trish Croaker 0408 756 163.



PERTH:



FINANCE:

Australian Gold Invest-General Meeting

50 Bridge Street Sydney NSW-11.30am

Bass Strait Oil Company-General Meeting

600 Bourke Street Melbourne VIC-11am

ING Industrial Fund-Meeting of Members

117 Macquarie Street Sydney NSW-10am

ING Office Fund-Meeting of Members

117 Macquarie Street Sydney NSW-2.30pm

Innamincka Petroleum-Scheme Meeting

L18/225 George Street Sydney NSW-10am

Maximus Resources Ltd-General Meeting

136 Greenhill Road Unley SA-10am

Sino Gas & Energy Holding-General Meeting

The Celtic Club West Perth WA-11am

Note: Date, Location and Time are subject to change.

All times listed are AEDT



SPORT:

ATHLETICS

AA-PPP World C'ships Preparation Meet

Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush

GOLF - Jack Newton Celebrity Classic - and December 15

Cypress Lakes Resort, Hunter Valley

HANDBALL (Women's) - European C'ships - to December 19

Denmark

BASKETBALL - NBA - to April 13

USA

GRIDIRON FOOTBALL - NFL - to January 2

USA

ICE HOCKEY - NHL - to April 10

USA

SURFING (Men's) - ASP World Tour

Billabong Pipe Masters, Oahu-Hawaii - to December 20

SURFING (Women's) - ASP World Tour

Billabong Pro Mauii, Maui-Hawaii (tentative) - to December 20

BOBSLEIGH/SKELETON - World Cup - to December 19

Lake Placid, New York, USA



GALLOPS

Wagga

Wangaratta

Townsville

Sth Africa

France



TROTS

Menangle

Shepparton

Northam

New Zealand

France



GREYHOUNDS

Warragul

Gosford

Townsville

Gawler

Devonport

Horsham

Ipswich

Mandurah

Lismore

New Zealand



WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 15



ADELAIDE:

LIGHTS OF LOBETHAL

December 12-31, 2010

Adelaide Hills

Website: http://www.lightsoflobethal.com.au/



BRISBANE:



CANBERRA:



DARWIN:



HOBART:



MELBOURNE:

MELBOURNE ANTI-INTERVENTION COLLECTIVE (MAIC) PROTEST TO DEFEND ABORIGINAL BALLERT
MOOROOP COLLEGE

Bourke Street Mall.

Contact: Jasmine Ali 0405 317 787, Dotty Bamblett 0433 090 933 or Share Firebrace 0401 414 967.

Website: www.maicollective.blogspot.com



SYDNEY:



PERTH:



FINANCE:

Aspire Mining Ltd-General Meeting

University Club Of WA Crawley WA-10am

Coonawarra Australia-General Meeting

Rydges South Park Adelaide SA-11.30am

Coonawarra Premium-General Meeting

Rydges South Park Adelaide SA-10.30am

Hot Rock Ltd-Extraordinary General Meeting

L5/60 Edward Street Brisbane QLD-10am

Kairiki Energy Ltd-General Meeting

Medina Grand Hotel Perth WA-10am

ORH Ltd-Annual General Meeting

L5/56 Pitt Street Sydney NSW-11am

Suncorp Group Ltd-General/Scheme Meeting

TBA-2.30pm

Westpac Banking Corp-Annual General Meeting

488 George Street Sydney NSW-10.30am

Note: Date, Location and Time are subject to change.

All times listed are AEDT



SPORT:

CRICKET - One-Day Cup - to February 27

SA v VIC, Adelaide Oval

SOCCER - A-League - to February 13

Week 18 - to December 15

1900 - Newcastle Jets v Gold Coast United

Energy Aust. Std

2100 (AEDT) - Nth Qld Fury v Sydney FC

Dairy Farmers Std

GOLF - Jack Newton Celebrity Classic - and December 15

Cypress Lakes Resort, Hunter Valley

HANDBALL (Women's) - European C'ships - to December 19

Denmark

BASKETBALL - NBA - to April 13

USA

GRIDIRON FOOTBALL - NFL - to January 2

USA

ICE HOCKEY - NHL - to April 10

USA

SWIMMING - FINA World Short Course C'ships - to December 19

Dubai, UAE

SURFING (Men's) - ASP World Tour

Billabong Pipe Masters, Oahu-Hawaii - to December 20

SURFING (Women's) - ASP World Tour

Billabong Pro Mauii, Maui-Hawaii (tentative) - to December 20

FREESTYLE SKIING - World Cup

Meribel, France

SNOWBOARD - World Cup - to December 17

Telluride, Colorado, USA

BOBSLEIGH/SKELETON - World Cup - to December 19

Lake Placid, New York, USA



GALLOPS

Warwick Farm

Caulfield

Eagle Farm

Strathalbyn

Ascot

Hong Kong

New Zealand

Sth Africa



TROTS

Bathurst

Terang

Redcliffe

Mildura



GREYHOUNDS

Dapto

The Meadows

Ipswich

Angle Park

Albion Park

Shepparton

Richmond

Cannington

Ballarat

New Zealand



THURSDAY DECEMBER 16



ADELAIDE:

LIGHTS OF LOBETHAL

December 12-31, 2010

Adelaide Hills

Website: http://www.lightsoflobethal.com.au/



BRISBANE:



CANBERRA:



DARWIN:



HOBART:



MELBOURNE:



SYDNEY:



PERTH:



FINANCE:

Australian American Mining-General Meeting

572 Hay Street Perth WA-10am

Australian Zircon NL-General Meeting

52 Ord Street West Perth WA-8am

Elders Ltd-Annual General Meeting

Adelaide Convention Centre Adelaide SA-10am

ING Real Estate Community LG-Meetingn of Members

117 Macquarie St Sydney NSW-4pm

Jackgreen Ltd- Extraordinary General Meeting

L24/2 Chifley Square Sydney NSW-10am

National Australia Bank-Annual General Meeting

Conv & Exhib Ctr Sydney NSW-9.30am

Orica Ltd-Annual General Meeting

Melbourne Museum Carlton VIC-10.30am

Ross Human Directions Ltd-Scheme Meeting

Wesley Conf Ctr Sydney NSW-2.30pm

Note: Date, Location and Time are subject to change.

All times listed are AEDT



SPORT:

CRICKET - Ashes test series - to January 7

3rd test - Day 1

1330 (AEDT) - Australia v England, WACA

GOLF - Asian Tour

Black Mountain Golf Club, Hua Hin, Thailand - to December 19

HANDBALL (Women's) - European C'ships - to December 19

Denmark

TABLE TENNIS - to December 19

ITTF Pro Tour Grand Finals, Korea

SWIMMING - FINA World Short Course C'ships - to December 19

Dubai, UAE

BASKETBALL - NBA - to April 13

USA

GRIDIRON FOOTBALL - NFL - to January 2

USA

ICE HOCKEY - NHL - to April 10

USA

SURFING (Men's) - ASP World Tour

Billabong Pipe Masters, Oahu-Hawaii - to December 20

SURFING (Women's) - ASP World Tour

Billabong Pro Mauii, Maui-Hawaii (tentative) - to December 20

SNOWBOARD - World Cup - to December 17

Telluride, Colorado, USA

BIATHLON - World Cup - to December 19

Pokljuka, Slovenia

BOBSLEIGH/SKELETON - World Cup - to December 19

Lake Placid, New York, USA

CYCLING - UCI Track World Cup

Rnd 2 - to December 18

Cali, Colombia



GALLOPS

Queanbeyan

Kyneton

Rockhampton

Albany

New Zealand

Sth Africa

France



TROTS

Penrith

Geelong

Gold Coast

Wagga

Harvey

Bendigo

New Zealand

France



GREYHOUNDS

Dapto

Sandown

Albion Park

Angle Park

Warragul

Grafton

Bendigo

Maitland

Mandurah

Hobart

New Zealand



FRIDAY DECEMBER 17



ADELAIDE:

LIGHTS OF LOBETHAL

December 12-31, 2010

Adelaide Hills

Website: http://www.lightsoflobethal.com.au/



BRISBANE:



CANBERRA:



DARWIN:



HOBART:



MELBOURNE:



SYDNEY:



PERTH:



FINANCE:

ANZ Banking Group Ltd-Annual General Meeting

Adelaide Conv Ctr Adelaide SA-10am

BC Iron Ltd-Extraordinary General Meeting

The Celtic Club West Perth WA-10.30am

Carpathian Resources-Annual General Meeting

L20/821 Pacific Hwy Chatswood NSW-10am

Coventry Resources-General Meeting

L2/675 Murray Street West Perth WA-11am

Diatreme Resources-General Meeting

87 Wickham Terrace Spring Hill QLD-11am

Enerji Ltd-General Meeting

University Club Of WA Crawley WA-1pm

Funtastic Ltd-Annual General Meeting

L2/1341 Dandenong Road Chadstone VIC-10am

Humanis Group Ltd-Annual General Meeting

179 York Street Subiaco WA-10am

Monteray Group Ltd-Extraordinary General Meeting

L2/10 Shelley Street Sydney NSW-2pm

NKWE Platinum Ltd-Annual General Meeting

2 Church Street Hamilton BERMUDA-10am

Sirius Resources NL-General Meeting

8 Victoria Avenue Perth WA-11.30am

Note: Date, Location and Time are subject to change.

All times listed are AEDT



SPORT:

CRICKET - Ashes test series - to January 7

3rd test - Day 2

1330 (AEDT) - Australia v England, WACA

CRICKET - Sheffield Shield - to March 21

TAS v WA, Bellerive Oval - to December 20

SA v VIC, Adelaide Oval - to December 20

SOCCER - A-League - to February 13

Week 19 - to December 22

2000 (AEDT) - Adelaide United v Melbourne Heart

Hindmarsh Std

BASKETBALL - NBL

Rnd 10 - to December 19

2000 (AEDT) - Gold Coast v Townsville

Gold Coast Convention Cnt

1930 - Wollongong v New Zealand, WIN Entertainment Cnt

2000 (AEDT) - Adelaide v Sydney, The Dome

BASKETBALL - WNBL

Rnd 11 - to December 19

1930 - Bendigo v Townsville, Bendigo Std, Vic

2230 (AEDT) - West Coast v Logan, State Basketball Cnt, WA

GOLF - Asian Tour

Black Mountain Golf Club, Hua Hin, Thailand - to December 19

HANDBALL (Women's) - European C'ships - to December 19

Denmark

TABLE TENNIS - to December 19

ITTF Pro Tour Grand Finals, Korea

SWIMMING - FINA World Short Course C'ships - to December 19

Dubai, UAE

BASKETBALL - NBA - to April 13

USA

GRIDIRON FOOTBALL - NFL - to January 2

USA

ICE HOCKEY - NHL - to April 10

USA

SURFING (Men's) - ASP World Tour

Billabong Pipe Masters, Oahu-Hawaii - to December 20

SURFING (Women's) - ASP World Tour

Billabong Pro Mauii, Maui-Hawaii (tentative) - to December 20

SNOWBOARD - World Cup - to December 17

Telluride, Colorado, USA

BIATHLON - World Cup - to December 19

Pokljuka, Slovenia

ALPINE SKIING (Men's) - World Cup - to December 18

Val Gardena, Italy

FREESTYLE SKIING - World Cup - to December 20

Jili, China

BOBSLEIGH/SKELETON - World Cup - to December 19

Lake Placid, New York, USA

LUGE - World Cup - to December 18

Park City, Utah, USA

CYCLING - UCI Track World Cup

Rnd 2 - to December 18

Cali, Colombia



GALLOPS

Canterbury

Moonee Valley

Ipswich

Morphettville

Yarra Valley

Moe

Cessnock

Lismore

Geraldton

Devonport

Sunshine Coast

New Zealand

Singapore

USA



TROTS

Harold Park

Melton

Gold Coast

Port Pirie

Warragul

Tamworth

Gloucester Park

New Zealand



GREYHOUNDS

Wentworth Park

Ballarat

Albion Park

Casino

Traralgon

The Gardens

Mandurah

New Zealand



SATURDAY DECEMBER 18



ADELAIDE:

LIGHTS OF LOBETHAL

December 12-31, 2010

Adelaide Hills

Website: http://www.lightsoflobethal.com.au/



BRISBANE:



CANBERRA:



DARWIN:



HOBART:



MELBOURNE:

ABLE DAY ON THE BAY

Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron, Pier Road, St Kilda

Bringing together bayside residents, community groups, volunteers and support staff
to provide a day of beach activities for people living with multiple disabilities.

Contact: Matthew McKeone 03 9861 6204

Website: www.ableausralia.org.au



SYDNEY:



PERTH:



SPORT:

CRICKET - Ashes test series - to January 7

3rd test - Day 3

1330 (AEDT) - Australia v England, WACA

CRICKET - Sheffield Shield - to March 21

TAS v WA, Bellerive Oval - to December 20

SA v VIC, Adelaide Oval - to December 20

NSW v QLD, Blacktown - to December 21

SOCCER - A-League - to February 13

Week 19 - to December 22

1700 (AEDT) - Wellington Phoenix v Newcastle Jets

AMI Std

1900 - Melbourne Victory v Perth Glory, AAMI Park

2115 (AEDT) - Nth Qld Fury v Brisbane Roar

Dairy Farmers Std

SOCCER - W-League - to January 29

Week 7

1500 (AEDT) - Adelaide United v Sydney FC, Hindmarsh Std

1700 (AEDT) - Brisbane Roar v Canberra United, Perry Park

1615 - Melbourne Victory v Perth Glory, AAMI Park

BASKETBALL - NBL

Rnd 10 - to December 19

1930 - Melbourne v New Zealand, State Netball Hockey Cnt

2030 (AEDT) - Cairns v Townsville, Cairns Convention Cnt

BASKETBALL - WNBL

Rnd 11 - to December 19

1300 - Sydney v Dandenong, SUSAC, Sydney

1930 - Bulleen v AIS, The Veneto Club, Vic

GOLF - Asian Tour

Black Mountain Golf Club, Hua Hin, Thailand - to December 19

HANDBALL (Women's) - European C'ships - to December 19

Denmark

TABLE TENNIS - to December 19

ITTF Pro Tour Grand Finals, Korea

SWIMMING - FINA World Short Course C'ships - to December 19

Dubai, UAE

BASKETBALL - NBA - to April 13

USA

GRIDIRON FOOTBALL - NFL - to January 2

USA

ICE HOCKEY - NHL - to April 10

USA

SURFING (Men's) - ASP World Tour

Billabong Pipe Masters, Oahu-Hawaii - to December 20

SURFING (Women's) - ASP World Tour

Billabong Pro Mauii, Maui-Hawaii (tentative) - to December 20

ALPINE SKIING (Men's) - World Cup - to December 18

Val Gardena, Italy

ALPINE SKIING (Women's) - World Cup - to December 19

Val d'Isere, France

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING - World Cup - to December 19

La Clusaz, France

FREESTYLE SKIING - World Cup - to December 20

Jili, China

FREESTYLE SKIING - World Cup - to December 19

San Candido, Italy

SKI JUMPING - World Cup - to December 19

Engelberg, Switzerland

BIATHLON - World Cup - to December 19

Pokljuka, Slovenia

BOBSLEIGH - World Cup - to December 19

Lake Placid, New York, USA

LUGE - World Cup - to December 18

Park City, Utah, USA

CYCLING - UCI Track World Cup

Rnd 2 - to December 18

Cali, Colombia



GALLOPS

Randwick

Flemington

Doomben

Morphettville

Kembla Grange

Gold Coast

Colac

Bathurst

Townsville

Ascot

Darwin

Toowoomba

Narrogin

New Zealand

Sth Africa



TROTS

Newcastle

Melton

Globe Derby

Albion Park

Gloucester Park

New Zealand



GREYHOUNDS

Wentworth Park

The Meadows

Warrnambool

The Gardens

Cannington

Richmond



SUNDAY DECEMBER 19



ADELAIDE:

LIGHTS OF LOBETHAL

December 12-31, 2010

Adelaide Hills

Website: http://www.lightsoflobethal.com.au/



BRISBANE:

2010-2011 KELLOGG'S NUTRI-GRAIN IRONMAN, IRONWOMAN & LEGENDS SERIES

Round 3

Coolum, Sunshine Coast

The Enduro

Website: surfironmanseries.com/



CANBERRA:



DARWIN:



HOBART:



MELBOURNE:



SYDNEY:



PERTH:

IGA CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT

Supreme Court Gardens



MORE szp

KEYWORD: DIARY 4WEEK DEC 13-JAN 9

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

FED:Swan tells Abbott to stop tobacco ads

AAP General News (Australia)
08-04-2010
FED:Swan tells Abbott to stop tobacco ads

Treasurer WAYNE SWAN says Opposition Leader TONY ABBOTT should tell the big cigarette
companies to drop their five million dollar anti-Labor advertising blitz.

Mr SWAN says Mr ABBOTT should make clear to what extent he .. or senior Liberal strategists
.. are involved in the campaign.

He says if Mr ABBOTT hasn't made any commitments .. then he should call on big tobacco
to cease the campaign.

The Alliance of Australian Retailers .. funded mainly by British American Tobacco and
Philip Morris .. wants to halt proposed laws for plain packaging of tobacco.

AAP RTV jxt/gfr/af

KEYWORD: POLL10 TOBACCO SWAN (MELBOURNE)

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

Qld: Health workers overpaid in payroll confusion

AAP General News (Australia)
12-22-2009
Qld: Health workers overpaid in payroll confusion

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has admitted a number of nurses and doctors have been
overpaid in a payroll bungle.

The Courier-Mail says Queensland Health has asked doctors and nurses across the state
to hand back 27 million dollars in overpayment for work in the past five years.

Ms BLIGH says that Queensland Health employs more than 72-thousand people .. some in
very remote places and many on changing shifts.

She says 90 per cent of the overpaid money has already been paid back.

AAP RTV peb/jmm/wz

KEYWORD: DOCTORS (BRISBANE)

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

Fed: Greens could win lower seats and be part of government

AAP General News (Australia)
08-13-2009
Fed: Greens could win lower seats and be part of government

CANBERRA, Aug 13 AAP - Australian Greens leader Bob Brown has raised the prospect of
his party being part of a government after the next federal election.

The Greens are the fastest-growing political party in Australia, he says.

"It may be that the Greens will pick up a couple of lower house seats and will part
of a future government," Senator Brown told ABC Television on Thursday.

The Greens and other non-government senators will take the first step on the path to
a possible double-dissolution election on Thursday when they vote down Labor legislation
setting up emissions trading.

A second rejection will provide the government with the trigger it needs to dissolve
both houses of parliament and call an early election.

Senator Brown says Labor should amend its "half-hearted prescription" and take less
notice of big polluters.

"What we do say is this government should go the full term," he said.

AAP rl/dep/

KEYWORD: CLIMATE BROWN

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

Qld: Captain of oil spill ship to appear in court today

AAP General News (Australia)
04-03-2009
Qld: Captain of oil spill ship to appear in court today

The captain of the ship that caused Queensland's biggest environmental disaster is
due to appear in court in Brisbane today.

The skipper of the Pacific Adventurer is facing a fine of up to 350-thousand dollars
if he's found responsible for the pollution.

Maritime Safety Queensland officers served the 47-year-old Philippines national with
a summons on Wednesday.

He's already surrendered his passport and has been confined to his vessel.

The Pacific Adventurer is still tied up at Brisbane's Hamilton wharf .. following the
huge oil spill which happened after the ship steamed into rough seas whipped up by Cyclone
Hamish on March 11.

AAP RTV bart/crh/psm/

KEYWORD: SPILL SUMMONS (BRISBANE)

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

NSW: Young man in coma and on ventilator after fall: Hospital

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2008
NSW: Young man in coma and on ventilator after fall: Hospital

SYDNEY, Aug 31 AAP - A 19-year-old man is fighting for his life in hospital after falling
from the pedestrian bridge at Sydney's Darling Harbour.

A spokesman for St Vincent's Hospital said today the young man had been placed in an
induced coma and remained on a ventilator after last night's accident.

He suffered serious head wounds around 11pm (AEST) after falling from the bridge railing
he was sitting on.

"He is in critical condition and has been placed on a ventilator," the hospital spokesman
told AAP.

Police said the man was on the Cockle Bay side of the bridge when he lost his balance
and plunged more than 10m to the concrete.

Police do not believe foul play was involved but are looking into whether alcohol was a factor.

AAP vpm/ldj

KEYWORD: FALL LEAD

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

Fed:Rudd takes salute at national Anzac service at war memorial=3

AAP General News (Australia)
04-25-2008
Fed:Rudd takes salute at national Anzac service at war memorial=3

Mr Rudd mused on what the 100,000 men and women who have died in war would say to us
today, if they could.

"What is it about their stories that wrenches us still, fully 90 years after the armistice
that ended the war to end all wars?

"I think it is this.

"That whatever the comforts of our modern age, whatever its distractions, and whatever
its disillusionments, there is something unique about this land Australia and the ideals
for which we Australians stand.

"That this is a place of unparalleled beauty, that we are a good people who want for
the good of others, that we stand for a deep sense of liberty for which our forebears
fought and which should never be surrendered, whatever the cost.

"That we are a people who by instinct cannot stand idly by and be indifferent to the
sufferings of others.

"A people with a sense of the fair go for all carved deep into our national soul.

"A people also alert to the needs of our friends and out allies."

These were the values that summoned forth the sons and daughters of Anzac during the
last century, he said.

"It is this, I believe, that touches us afresh each new Anzac morning."

MORE ag/jfm/jlw

KEYWORD: ANZAC RUDD 3 CANBERRA

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

Fed: $17 million spent advertising Work Choices = 3

AAP General News (Australia)
12-21-2007
Fed: $17 million spent advertising Work Choices = 3

Dewey and Horton was paid $44,404.25 to take photos for Work Choices advertising while
advertising agency Whybin/TBWA received $1.4 million for "creative services" that were
part of the Work Choices campaign.

Mr Hockey repeatedly refused to say how much had been spent advertising the virtues
of Work Choices - a legislative package that will be dismantled in February by the new
Labor government.

AAP pv/rl/ht/de

KEYWORD: WORKPLACE ADVERTISING 3 CANBERRA

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

Qld: Pauline Hanson says her policies have not changed

AAP General News (Australia)
08-15-2007
Qld: Pauline Hanson says her policies have not changed

Right-wing firebrand PAULINE HANSON says she'll run on similar policies to those that
won her notoriety .. when she runs for a Queensland Senate seat at the upcoming election.

The 53-year-old says her policies haven't changed since her days as the MP for Queensland
seat of Oxley.

She says immigration levels need to be looked at .. and she'd like to put a moratorium
on any more Muslims coming into Australia.

Ms HANSON says Australia shouldn't be forced into accepting refugees who bring in diseases
.. and are incompatible with our lifestyle.







Ms HANSON .. the former One Nation leader .. has applied to the Australian Electoral
Commission to register Pauline's United Australia Party.

If successful .. the party's abbreviated name .. PAULINE .. will appear above the line
on the Senate ballot paper .. making it easier for people to vote for Ms HANSON.

AAP RTV dmc/af/bart

KEYWORD: HANSON (BRISBANE)

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

Vic: Man pleads guilty over crash that injured seven students

AAP General News (Australia)
02-16-2007
Vic: Man pleads guilty over crash that injured seven students

A young man's pleaded guilty to dangerous driving .. after his car ploughed into a
Melbourne bus shelter.

20-year-old KHANG DINH .. from suburban Westmeadows .. lost control of his car and
drove into a bus shelter .. hitting seven school students .. at Broadmeadows in 2005.

The students suffered a range of injuries .. including a broken leg .. a fractured
hip .. and a punctured lung.

The County Court has extended DINH's bail for a pre-sentence hearing on August 2.

AAP RTV mok/dk/ibw/rt

KEYWORD: DINH (MELBOURNE)

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

Qld: Abbott can't believe Beattie could win again

AAP General News (Australia)
08-30-2006
Qld: Abbott can't believe Beattie could win again

Federal Health Minister TONY ABBOTT has warned Queenslanders they'll be rewarding sustained
ineptitude .. if Labor's re-elected next month.

Mr ABBOTT is in Townsville to launch Liberal candidate MICK REILLY's campaign.

The latest Newspoll gives Labor 52 per cent of the primary vote .. a result that would
give the party a comfortable win.

AAP RTV dd/kj/sc/meh/bart

KEYWORD: POLL QLD ABBOTT (TOWNSVILLE)

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

Trent University offers online preparation course for new students

Internet Business News
04-24-2006
Students entering Canada's Trent University this autumn, are being encouraged to register for a five week online summer preparation course due to run from 17 July to 18 August 2006.

The university's Academic Skills Centre is encouraging participation in the University Prep 101 non-credit course to help students learn the skills required to succeed at the post-secondary level of education. The university said the move to university education can be difficult and claimed the course will provide the opportunity for students to gain first-hand knowledge of university expectations.

The course uses readings from a range of disciplines, provides an introduction to the range of assignments typical of a first year university programme and requires an average ten to 15 hours of work each week. A personal university tutor will be available, helping students to improve and develop their writing, reading, critical thinking and time management skills.

The course which costs CAD425 is open to all recent high school graduates, college transfer students and mature students with Internet access, even if they are planning to attend another university. More information is available at www.trentu.ca/academicskills/uprep.

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



Copyright 2006 M2 Communications, Ltd., All Rights Reserved.

Qld: State Government descriminated against deaf boy

AAP General News (Australia)
04-15-2005
Qld: State Government descriminated against deaf boy

A court's found the Queensland government discriminated against a deaf boy by not giving
him a sign language interpreter at school.

Federal court Justice BRUCE LANDER has awarded the boy $64,000 in compensation for
future economic loss, and pain and suffering arising from the discrimination.

Deaf Children Australia says the 12-year-old boy, who attended a Sunshine Coast state
school, has the academic skills of a six-year-old.

A group representative says it's now clear that all deaf children who need a sign language
interpreter should have one.

And a lawyer for the boy says the court decision means if any educational authority
does not provide a deaf child with an interpreter when they need one, they'll be in
breach of Commonwealth human rights legislation.

AAP RTV rl/ch/gjr/jo

KEYWORD: DEAF (BRISBANE)

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

The Top ISP Report; How is your dial-up ISP performing?(fromNetwork World and eTesting Labs' Internet BenchMark service)

Is your ISP measuring up? Find out with our Top ISP Report, a joint venture between Network World and eTesting Labs' Internet BenchMark service (www. etestinglabs.com).

The data on the right is for September 2001; each month you can go online at Network World Fusion for the latest data.

The chart on the right shows the top dial-up ISPs in the market and how they performed in eight metrics, as determined by eTesting Labs' Internet BenchMark data.

We analyzed 21 ISPs (check out www.nwfusion.com, DocFinder: 6726 for the list); if your ISP isn't listed among the top performers, ask why it's not performing as well as its competitors.

Top ISPs profile,

September 2001

Network World analysis

National retail

AT&T WorldNet ? The strong remain strong. Blows all other ISPs out of the water.

Regional retail

BellSouth ? Tops the charts in a dwindling field of regional ISPs.

Business-to-business

AT&T (GNS) ? Strong performance across all metrics.

How we did it

Our data comes from eTesting Labs and its Internet BenchMark division. Network World takes the data and applies statistical analysis to rate the relative performance of each ISPs compared with the other ISPs within the same market classification (national, regional or business-to-business ISP). Based on that analysis, we rank the top ISPs for the month listed. The chart on the right lists the top three ISPs that perform above the average for the metric listed within that classification.

Voice Request Corporation Establishes National Coverage With GTE Reseller Agreement; 300 GTE Sales People to Sell Pure Request!(TM) Speech Recognition System.

DALLAS, March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Voice Request Corporation has expanded its sales coverage by signing GTE Communications Corporation (GTECC) as its first national reseller. Voice Request Corporation, the new subsidiary of Voice Control Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: VCSI), manufactures and supports Pure ReQuest!, a revolutionary speech-enabled call routing system. Pure ReQuest! pleasantly automates the routing of a company's telephone calls by allowing callers to say the name of the party they wish to reach. The system then transfers the call to the appropriate extension quickly and conveniently.

The GTECC agreement complements other recent announcements made by Voice Request concerning the establishment of regional resellers around the United States. GTECC has already rolled out the Pure ReQuest! product line to its sales teams in Dallas, New York and parts of California. The nationwide roll out will continue through the first quarter of 1999 to approximately 300 representatives within GTECC's sales force.

William Meisel, president of TMA Associates (Tarzana, California), a leading speech technology consultant, sees the agreement between Voice Request and GTECC as the initial fulfillment of his prediction for the speech technology industry. "I predicted that half of all business telephones will be answered with a speech recognition system within the next five years," said Meisel. "Until now pioneers like Voice Request have struggled to create market awareness for this type of product. The agreement represents an endorsement of the product category that will help both the market's growth and Voice Request's position in that market."

Pure ReQuest! allows GTECC to bring the latest benefits of speech recognition technology to its customers. Pure ReQuest! was selected by GTECC because it is easy to use and install, and its natural speech capabilities complemented GTECC's existing line of PBX products. Pure ReQuest! is easily integrated with virtually all of GTECC's customer telephone systems and can route calls for companies with thousands of employees. It also supports corporate directory assistance, automatic paging and voice speed dialing.

"This is a key channel win for Voice Request," said Rene Thibault, the subsidiary's vice president of sales and marketing. "GTECC's name recognition, national coverage and huge customer base will become a primary component of our U.S. distribution strategy."

GTE Communication Corporation is a subsidiary of GTE Corporation (NYSE: GTE). With 1998 revenues of more than $25 billion, GTE Corporation is one of the world's largest telecommunications companies and a leading provider of integrated telecommunications services. In the United States, GTE provides local service in 28 states and wireless service in 17 states; nationwide long- distance service and internetworking services ranging from dial-up Internet access for residential and small business consumers to Web-based applications for Fortune 500 companies; as well as video service in selected markets.

Outside the United States, the company serves nearly 9 million telecommunications customers. In addition, GTE is also a leader in government and defense communications systems and equipment, directories and telecommunications-based information services, and aircraft-passenger telecommunications. Visit the company's website at www.gte.com.

Voice Request Corporation, an independent subsidiary of Voice Control Systems, Inc., is the leading supplier of speech driven call routing systems with over one hundred installations across the United States and Latin America. The company is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, with regional offices in Cambridge, Massachusetts and San Jose, California. For more information visit the company's web site at http://www.voicerequest.com.

Get your customers talking.(Insights from Purdue University)

Farmers talk to each other--and they're probably talking about your business. Results from Purdue University's 2008 Large Commercial Producer Survey showed that farmers rate other farmers as their second most important source of information. This means that your most productive farmers can be a very important marketing tool.

Your customers are already talking about your business. By making sure that what they're saying is positive, you can leverage these conversations to your advantage. In Word-of-Mouth Marketing: How Smart Companies Get People Talking, Andy Sernovitz presents "the five Ts," a framework for putting Word-of-Mouth Marketing into action. Let's take a look at the five Ts.

TALKERS

The "talkers" are your customers who are the most likely to talk about your business. In identifying the talkers, look for leaders of community groups as well as your most productive farmer customers. Focus on those leaders who are known as your customers. You want to get these "talkers" to participate in discussions about the business climate, like current economic conditions and what actions are appropriate for farmers as a result.

TOPICS

Once you have identified the talkers, you need to give them something to talk about. Topics can be short-term in nature, like a promotion, or they can represent a long-term marketing strategy, such as offering insightful advice or knowledge. Your topics can focus on market reports and analysis of economic conditions and their implications on farm operations.

Choose information that is relevant to your customers. The internet presents today's customers with a wealth of information, but the vast majority of it isn't relevant. If you can present relevant information, along with analysis and interpretation, like what it means to your customers and their farm operations, then your customers will begin to think of your business as a place where they can find solid and useful answers to questions they might have.

TOOLS

Word-of-Mouth Marketing is about getting your customers talking about your business and facilitating those conversations. Identify tools that will make it easier for your customers to talk. Some businesses effectively use blogs and online discussion groups. Select some market services that you find particularly helpful for your customers. Keep key links to these sources updated on your web site. The "tool" you are providing is a screening and conduit to effective market information and analysis.

TAKING PART

By taking part in these discussions, you'll find yourself in the middle of conversations (either in person or via blogs) with your customers. Be upfront with respect to your presence--your customers will appreciate that honesty. Before long, they'll be talking as openly and freely as if you were not there.

TRACKING

Any good marketing program requires constant monitoring. Develop a mechanism for keeping track of all activity related to your Word-of-Mouth Marketing initiative and monitor the information regularly. If you have a Facebook page, assign someone in your organization the job of monitoring the comments. Regularly monitor the number of "hits" to your web site, and keep track of how new customers come to you. Take time to ask the question "How did you hear about us?" This information is vital in understanding how your Word-of-Mouth Marketing program is working.

You don't have to be big to make effective use of Word-of-Mouth Marketing. Small organizations can have an advantage because management is closer to the customers. When it is effectively used, word-of-mouth marketing can help to level the playing field in this business environment of big-box retail stores, multi-national banking organizations, and larger and larger conglomerate corporations.

The important thing to keep in mind with respect to word-of-mouth marketing is that your customers will "tell it like it is." If your business is solid and you have a well-positioned product/service mix, Word-of-Mouth Marketing can be your most effective marketing tool.

Dr. Joan Fulton (fultonj@purdue.edu) is a professor in Purdue University's Department of Agricultural Economics.

Dr. John Foltz (jfoltz@uidaho.edu) is the associate dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Idaho.

Dr. Corinne Alexander (cealexan@purdue.edu) is an associate professor in Purdue University's Department of Agricultural Economics.

Dr. Pei Xu (xup@morrisville.edu) is assistant professor, Morrisville State College, New York

Kristyn Kapetanovic (kkapetan@purdue.edu) is the marketing assistant at the Center for Food and Agricultural Business at Purdue University.

by Dr. Joan Fulton, Dr. John Foltz, Dr. Corinne Alexander, Dr. Pei Xu, and Kristyn kapetanovic

IAC Bolsters M&A Efforts.(News)

Byline: Ken MacFadyen

While IAC/InterActive downplayed potential M&A activity in its April earnings call, the company is showing signs in May of developing a renewed appetite for deals. On Monday, the company's Match.com affiliate launched a voluntary public tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of Meetic SA, valuing the company's stock at a[logical not]15 a share. The deal comes as IAC bolstered its in-house M&A team with the addition of Microsoft Corp. and Glam Media veteran Adam Roston, who just joined the company as a vice president of Mergers & Acquisitions.

The deal for Meetic represents a closer alignment between the target and IAC, which already holds a 27% stake in the company, the result of its sale of Match.com's European business to Meetic in 2009.

IAC, since its restructuring in 2008, has been opportunistic as it relates to M&A. The company had built up a huge internet conglomerate, but broke up the company with concurrent spinouts of Ticketmaster, Home Shopping Network, Lending Tree and Interval. Expedia, another former IAC asset, was also spun out in 2005, and last year, Evite and Gifts.com were sold to Liberty Media as part of an equity exchange

Today, IAC operates more than 50 brands, operating largely through its four primary segments, consisting of Match.com, search (through Ask.com), ServiceMagic and media, which includes assets such as The Daily Beast, Dictionar.com and others.

IAC CEO Greg Blatt and Tom McInerney, IAC's executive vice president and CFO, discussed the company's deal palate in the April conference call covering the company's first-quarter earnings. Blatt noted that while IAC had yet to complete a deal, the pursuit has been focused on "businesses [with] real growth potential," as opposed to "going after costs or synergies."

IAC, which as of March 31 had roughly $1.3 billion of cash and marketable securities on its balance sheet, has been fairly active so far this year. Its CityGrid Media business, earlier in May, acquired BuzzLabs, while other deals from the previous six months include Match.com's purchase of OkCupid, the Daily Beast merger with Newsweek, and the Electus-led acquisition of Engine Entertainment.

Roston, meanwhile, arrives from Glam Media, where he spent less than a year after arriving from Microsoft Corp.

An inquiry into IAC was not immediately returned by press time.

Ku6 Media to Report First Quarter 2011 Financial Results on Tuesday, May 24, 2011.

Ku6 Media's Conference Call will be held on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 7:30 a.m. EDT

BEIJING, May 17, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Ku6 Media Co., Ltd. (Nasdaq: KUTV), or Ku6 Media, a leading internet television company in China, will announce its unaudited financial results for the first quarter 2011 on Tuesday, May 24, 2011. The earning release will be available on Ku6's corporate website at: http://ir.ku6.com.

Ku6's management team will host a conference call on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 7:30 a.m. EDT, which is Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. in Beijing and Hong Kong, to present an overview of the company's financial performance and business operations.

Dial-in numbers:

U.S.A.:	+1- 866-700-5192
International:	+1- 617-213-8833
Password:	36465958

A replay will be available from May 24, 2011 for 7 days.

USA:	+1- 888-286-8010
International:	+1- 617-801-6888
Password:	99123448

A live and archived webcast of the conference call will also be available at http://phx.corporate-ir.net/playerlink.zhtml?c=187793&s=wm&e=4031444

Ku6 is in its quiet period until the results are released on May 24, 2011 in the U.S.A. During the quiet period, Ku6 will be unable to comment concerning the industry outlook, Ku6's business performance or financial results.

About Ku6 Media Co., Ltd.

Ku6 Media Co., Ltd. (Nasdaq: KUTV), is a leading internet television company in China. Through its two premier online brands and online video websites, www.ku6.com and www.juchang.com, Ku6 provides video information services and entertainment in China.

As a leading online video portal, www.ku6.com provides a video platform for sharing and watching user-generated content. It also provides online video news, reports, and other interactive entertainment programs for its users. Ku6's www.juchang.com offers a broad array of copyright compliant content, such as movies, television series, and other video programs sourced from Ku6's global content partners, with all content having high definition quality and fast speeds for seamless viewing. For more information about Ku6, please visit http://ir.ku6.com

Hurray! Holding Co., Ltd., changed its name to Ku6 Media Co., Ltd., on August 17, 2010.

Forward-looking Statements

This news release may contain statements of a forward-looking nature. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these forward-looking statements by terminology such as "believes," "could," "expects," "may," "might," "should," "will," or "would," and by similar statements. The accuracy of these statements may be affected by a number of business risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated, including risks related to: continued competitive pressures in China's internet video and audio portal market; changes in technology and consumer demand in this market; the risk that Ku6 Media may not be able to control its expenses in future periods; changes in the policies in China or the laws governing the operations and content of internet video and audio portal websites; the success of Ku6 Media's ability to sell brand advertising and other services on its websites; and other risks outlined in Ku6 Media's (and the former Hurray!'s) filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's (filed as Hurray!) annual report on Form 20-F. Ku6 Media does not undertake any obligation to update this forward-looking information, except as required under law.

For more information, please contact:

Mr. Matthew Zhao (English and Chinese)

Investor Relations Officer

Tel: +86-10-5758-6818 in Beijing

Email: ir@ku6.com

SOURCE Ku6 Media Co., Ltd.

Global Smartphones Market to Reach 1641.82 Million Units by 2017, According to New Report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc.(Industry overview)

San Jose, CA (PRWEB) May 02, 2011

Smartphones, the unison of mobile phones and other handheld devices, have become a hot topic in the global market based on its ability to play digital music, provide wireless Internet access, display color video, and provide basic mobile phone as well as typical handheld functions. A major portion of wireless users has migrated toward from voice-only handsets to feature-rich mobile devices such as smartphones that enable advanced messaging, email, browsing, data services (such as applications, media, location services), instant messaging, navigation, and MMS. The major catalysts for this trend are a confluence of various factors, such as mobilization of business, improved carrier focus on offering data services, faster 3G networks, third party mobile applications, and advanced handset technologies that offer compelling user experiences, in terms of display, battery, interface, form factor, and processor. Also, the price-performance ratio over the years had modulated to accommodate the rising communication, information, and entertainment needs of wireless users. Although the year 2009 was a difficult year for smartphones than previous years, the feature-rich devices ducked the negative growth trend in mobile device market. The growth of smartphones market is attributed to changes in consumer tastes, and manufacturers planned new solutions, such as the launch of new products with real added value.

Smartphones market is not impervious to the economic slowdown but remains resilient compared to general handset market. Smartphones is isolated from the wider economic cycle as pricing becomes more competitive, and underlying consumer perception that they will get better value for money by purchasing high-end devices. The year 2009 witnessed rapid and remarkable changes in smartphone sector, particularly in the area of operating systems. Exceptional third-party software ecosystems, such as Android OS, demonstrated its commercial viability and value. This year telecommunication service provider also made progress in 3G telecom networks arena thereby delivering value through competitive rate plans and diverse range of mobile digital services. All these factors encouraged increasing number of consumers to transition from traditional mobile phones devices to smartphones. While the 2009 sales figures for smartphones present a mixed picture, the year 2010 has seen a sort of mini boom. Smartphone market has staged a smart recovery in the year 2010, thus allaying fears over the possible continuation of the disruptive impact of the recession into the future.

Revived by latest generation of smartphones offering compelling new services to the consumer, and heavy promotions by key carrier partners delivered a source of data revenue in tough market conditions. Smartphone vendors are also catching-up in the App department, which has only turned out to be a key revenue generator for vendors and their wireless carrier partners but also a decisive factor in consumers' buying decisions. However, vendors cannot remain complacent, as the years 2011 & 2012 is expected to be highly competitive with vendors seeking the use of new technology, such as NFC, 3D displays, and dual-core processors, to differentiate their products and maintain price margin.

As stated by the new market research report, Europe and Asia-Pacific accounts for a major share of the global smartphones market. By Operating System, Android is garnering increasing market share, threatening the existence of Symbian. Android is expected to become the dominant mobile OS attracting nearly half a billion users by the year 2015. Competition in this market is fierce, and Nokia's recent alliance with Microsoft to power the next generation of smartphones with Windows Phone 7 OS is forecast to turn on the heat, especially for Google's Android OS, and Apple's iOS. Global market for Windows OS is expected to surge at a CAGR of 38.2% over the analysis period.

Major players in the global marketplace include Apple Inc, Fujitsu Limited, Hewlett-Packard Development Company, High Tech Computer Corporation (HTC), Motorola Mobility Inc, Nokia Corporation, Panasonic Corporation, Research In Motion Limited, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, Sharp Corporation, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB, Google Inc, Microsoft Corporation, Symbian Foundation, among others.

The research report titled "Smartphones: A Global Strategic Business Report" announced by Global Industry Analysts, Inc., provides a comprehensive review of market trends, issues, drivers, company profiles, mergers, acquisitions and other strategic industry activities. The report provides market estimates and projections (in units) for major geographic markets including the United States, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Rest of World. Operating segments analyzed include Symbian, Android, iOS, Blackberry, Windows, and Others.

For more details about this comprehensive market research report, please visit -- http://www.strategyr.com/Smart_Phones_Smartphones_Market_Report.asp

About Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (GIA) is a reputed publisher of off-the-shelf market research. Founded in 1987, the company is globally recognized as one of the world's largest market research publishers. The company employs over 800 people worldwide and publishes more than 1200 full-scale research reports each year. Additionally, the company also offers thousands of smaller research products including company reports, market trend reports, and industry reports encompassing all major industries worldwide.

Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Telephone: 408-528-9966

Fax: 408-528-9977

E-mail: press(at)StrategyR(dot)com

Web Site: http://www.StrategyR.com/

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Web nabs Cableco's future.(SHOW TIME)(Brief article)

Polish cable operator Multimedia Polska has begun rolling out a new service offering distributing its VOD content and its live TV channels over the Internet. Called "mmTV.pl," the service gives users access to more than 1,000 movies that are split into four categories: premium, recommended, popular and top 10.

The service also offers the TV channels that come in the cableco's basic digital package, though it has said premium channels will be added throughout the year.

Polska said it will eventually offer a variety of tiers with varying channels, movies and recording offerings.

Packages are expected to start at around PLN9.99 ($3.25). Polska is Poland's third-largest cableco and has roughly 400,000 Internet subscribers.

TELCO COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INC. EXPANDS COMMERCIAL DIVISION SERVICES WITH MAJOR SKYTEL MESSAGING, PAGING AGREEMENT.

CHANTILLY, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 1, 1997--Telco Communications Group, Inc. (Nasdaq/NM:TCGX) today announced a major agreement with Destineer Corporation under which Telco will provide SkyTel enhanced messaging and paging services to its "Prime Business" customers. This step will allow Telco to quickly enter the messaging and paging market, without any investment in a paging network.

Telco's Commercial Sales Division was formed in April 1996 and provides telecommunications products and services to both commercial and carrier customers. Under the 12-month agreement with Destineer, a subsidiary of Mobile Telecommunications Technologies (Nasdaq:MTEL), Telco will provide its subscribers with toll-free access to the SkyTel network covering the continental United States, Alaska and Hawaii. Customers of Telco's Commercial Division will have access to a full range of enhanced messaging services, including text and numeric paging, and SkyTel's 2-Way(TM) messaging system. Introduced in 1995, SkyTel 2-Way is the world's first two-way narrowband PCS wireless messaging service, which guarantees delivery of messages and enables subscribers to respond directly from their two-way messaging units.

Telco President and Chief Executive Officer Donald A. Burns said: "With this agreement, Telco takes another major step forward in bringing to the marketplace the full spectrum of services in the "Prime Business" line now being marketed by our Commercial Sales Division. Along with our competitive rates and the Internet access plans already announced, the SkyTel deal puts us in the major leagues of commercial plans and in a position to go head-to-head with any commercial competitor."

Telco plans to introduce its custom-branded paging services in three steps: the first phase includes basic alphanumeric service through local, regional and national plans; phase two is slated to get underway in late 1997 with the addition of one-way acknowledgment pager service and increased coverage options; and the third phase will feature two-way paging devices beginning in early 1998.

Burns commented: "Telco fully recognizes that, to be a competitor in today's commercial marketplace, a company must provide the full range of telecommunications services. The SkyTel contract underscores our firm commitment to do so and, as a result, emerge as one of the major players in commercial services."

Telco Communications Group, Inc. is one of the nation's 10 largest long-distance companies. Telco is a rapidly growing nationwide switch-based provider of a full spectrum of long distance telecommunications products and services targeting residential, commercial and carrier customers. Telco markets its residential products and services primarily through its Dial & Save and Long Distance Wholesale Club subsidiaries. Telco markets its commercial and carrier products through approximately 300 sales professionals in 26 regional offices in 14 states.

Based in Jackson, Mississippi, Mobile Telecommunications Corp. (Mtel) is a pioneer in wireless communications. Its SkyTel brand is a leader in U.S. and global wireless messaging. Through Mtel International, the SkyTel system has expanded to more than 19 countries in North America, Latin America, and the Asia-Pacific region, offering customers the most advanced technologies and services for messaging from a single source. In September 1995, Mtel introduced SkyTel 2-Way(TM).

As noted above, this press release contains forward-looking statements which express the current beliefs and expectations of Telco's management, but are subject to a number of known and unknown risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied in the forward-looking statements in this press release. Among the risks, factors, and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those referred to above are: Telco's ability to maintain its current pace in attracting and retaining customers, the development of price competition in the long distance industry, an increase in rates for access and transmission facilities and the costs associated with the continued expansion of the Company's Commercial Sales Division.

CONTACT: Telcom Communications Group Inc., Chantilly

Investors: Nicholas A. Merrick (703) 631-5632

or

Media: Scott Stapf (703) 276-1116

IP Multimedia Subsystems' $300 Billion Opportunity Forecasted by ABI Research.

NEW YORK -- IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is expected to provide mobile telephone operators with a forecasted $300 billion in extra revenue over the next five years, according to a new study from ABI Research. Major operators such as Sprint, Verizon and British Telecom (BT) will increasingly deploy IMS across their networks in a quickening tempo starting this year.

"Until recently IMS was mainly the province of fixed-line operators," says senior analyst Nadine Manjaro, "but now it is essential to the success of mobile and fixed operators who are losing revenue from traditional sources. IMS enables rapid development and deployment of new services."

Some firms - notably Verizon and BT - are facilitating this process by offering an open IMS interface allowing third-party developers easy access, as a way of ensuring a flow of new applications. This means faster testing and deployment of services, which will be critical to their success.

"Operators are forced to look at IMS and similar solutions because they need to start generating more revenue," notes Manjaro. "With recent moves by Sprint, Verizon and AT&T to offer less profitable flat rate services as a way to fight subscriber churn, that need becomes more acute."

One impediment to IMS's success in the past has been the difficulty of proving the business case for it. But Manjaro suggests that planners were incorrectly considering IMS as a service rather than a platform. In fact IMS supports multiple services, and it takes several of them to make a valid business case. To use the hackneyed phrase, there has been a paradigm shift in operators' strategic thinking.

The major remaining challenge for operators is to integrate IMS without seriously disrupting existing services. That need is being met by the major infrastructure vendors such as Ericsson, Alcatel, and Nokia-Siemens, which have been packaging IMS (at additional cost) with the network upgrades they provide to operators. Manjaro points out that, "It's easier to quantify the opportunity for operators because you can look at it in terms of potential revenue. It's more difficult with regard to vendors, because they've been bundling it with the air interface, the base station, the architecture upgrade."

IMS Core Networks: A Dynamic Service-Based Architecture (http://www.abiresearch.com/products/market_research/IMS) provides a comprehensive look at the IMS activities in wireline and wireless access networks. It offers insight into how operators are using IMS, and its role in future network migration.

It forms part of two ABI Research Services, Consumer Mobility (http://www.abiresearch.com/products/service/Mobile_Operators_ Research_Service) and Mobile Networks (http://www.abiresearch.com/products/service/Wireless_Infrastructure_ Research_Service).

ABI Research is a leading market research firm focused on the impact of emerging technologies on global consumer and business markets. Utilizing a unique blend of market intelligence, primary research, and expert assessment from its worldwide team of industry analysts, ABI Research assists hundreds of clients each year with their strategic growth initiatives. For information, visit www.abiresearch.com, or call +1.516.624.2500.

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