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From workouts to wheelchair, Jane Fonda at 71

0 Comments | Daily Mail (London, England), The, Nov 23, 2009

Byline: Richard Simpson Showbusiness News Editor

NEARLY 30 years ago she morphed from screen siren to fitness guru with a series of exercise videos.

But it seems all that hard work has taken its toll as Jane Fonda approaches her 72nd birthday next month.

The actress, whose 1982 Jane Fonda’s Workout is one of the biggest selling fitness videos of all time, was pictured being escorted through New York’s JFK Airport in a wheelchair this weekend.

She revealed earlier this month that she is rebuilding her body from the inside out with a series of operations on her back, an artificial knee and a titanium hip implant.

Fonda said: ‘I’m slowly falling apart and feel like a walking spare parts depot. I had to have it all repaired because I want to climb the Himalayas. And at 8,000ft, my body has to run smoothly.’ She also raised eyebrows by attributing her slim body to ‘good sex’. Fonda, who became a Hollywood star after her appearance in Barbarella in 1968, said: ‘I owe 30 per cent [of my good looks] to genes, 30 per cent to good sex, 30 per cent because of sports and healthy lifestyle and for the remaining 10 percent, I have to thank my plastic surgeon. I’m 71, but I’m happier, the sex is better and I understand life better
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Deck Chairs on the Titanic

Canadian Underwriter, Apr 2009 by Gambrill, David

Underwriting auto insurance accident benefits in Ontario is now officially a money-losing venture, according to almost all relevant sources, including the insurers’ trade organization, the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), MSA Research and the federal solvency regulator, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI).

This is a major concern for the property and casualty industry, because no less than a quarter of all of the premium in the country comes from underwriting Ontario auto insurance.

Many insurers had high hopes that Ontario’s provincial regulator, the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO), would “fix” the Ontario auto product during the most recent round of its mandatory five-year review.

The review took a little less than a year to complete. In the meantime, insurers’ loss ratios in auto insurance – particularly on the accident benefits side took a beating. An insurers’ loss ratio is calculated using a simple formula: what insurers pay out in claims costs divided by the premium they collect. Figures more than 100% mean insurers are paying more in claims than they are collecting in premium (i.e. they are taking a loss).

So how bad was 2007-08? On the accident benefits side (leaving out auto liability claims), between the last quarter of 2007 and the last quarter of 2008, auto insurers reported loss ratios of anywhere between 103% and 179%. Imagine your business paying out almost twice as much as it makes: it would quickly be seeking a federal bailout.

So what kind of bone did FSCO toss to insurers in its final recommendations to the province’s Minister of Finance? Well, it’s clear the regulator took a “balanced” approach to change, addressing many of the system’s key irritants to insurers, trial lawyers, health care professionals and consumers alike.

The problem is, the system itself is flawed, and so re-calibrating it at this point is somewhat like re-shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic.

At first glance, FSCO addressed many of the changes insurers sought on the accident benefits side of the equation. For example, the recommendations would:

* cap out-of-control medical assessment costs (a $200 cap for filling out medical assessment forms, and a $2,000 cap on all other assessment costs);

* limit the number of healthcare professionals in charge of a claimant’s treatment;

* limit the availability of in-home assessment to seriously injured claimants only; and

* convert mandatory benefits such as housekeeping, home maintenance and caregiving expenses to optional benefits.

But what FSCO gave to insurers on the accident benefits side, they took away from insurers on the tort/auto liability side.

Ontario has two regulating mechanisms designed to limit insurers’ tort – read: court costs. They are deductibles on court awards and the verbal threshold. The deductibles in Ontario are currently $15,000 and $30,000; they apply to all claims awards in court up to $100,000. For example, if a court awards $80,000 to a consumer in a claim against an insurer, a deductible would automatically be subtracted from the award. If the $30,000 deductible applied in the example above, the consumer’s award would be reduced to $50,000.

The verbal threshold determines whether a case meets the definition of a serious and permanent impairment. Claims meeting this definition are not subject to the deductibles noted above
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Indico Closes Financing

Market Wire, November, 2009

Indico Resources Ltd. (the “Company”) (TSX VENTURE: IDI) wishes to announce that on November 12, 2009 the Company issued 3,000,000 units at a price of $0.15 for gross proceeds of $450,000.00. Each unit consisted of one common share and one-half share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant is transferable and is exercisable to acquire one additional common share until November 12, 2011 at an exercise price of $0.25.

All securities issued in connection with the private placement and any shares issued upon the exercise of the warrants will have a hold period in Canada until March 13, 2010.

The net proceeds from the Offering are intended to be used for mineral property investigations and potential acquisitions, and for general working capital.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to sell, any of the foregoing securities in the United States. None of the foregoing securities have been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S
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HELP! You ask me

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Aug 16, 2009 | by Quentin Willson

QI HAVE the cherished plate 123 DEB, which I paid a lot of money for some years ago. What’s it worth now? Is this a good time to sell? – Mike O’Brien, by email

ASADLY, the market for cherished numbers has softened recently, so it’s not a good time to sell, but 123 DEB is a great plate. If you can find the right buyer, you could expect pounds 5k-pounds 7k. Try advertising in the Sunday Times at pounds 6,995.

QMY granddaughter was recently hit up the back whilst stationary at a roundabout. She exchanged details, but the other driver pointed out there were only a few scratches on her bumper. When her car was checked at a garage, they found the boot floor pan was crumpled. Her insurance company doesn’t appear to be interested and says that if she claims, she will have to pay pounds 500 excess. She doesn’t know what to do and I’m worried sick. – T. Kirkby, by email

ALEGALLY it’s the other driver’s fault, as he rear-ended her. She still has his address and (presumably) didn’t admit liability, so his insurers should pay. She doesn’t have to pay any excess, as she doesn’t need to claim on her policy
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Trio-Tech Fiscal 2010 First Quarter Revenue Increased 14%

Business Wire, Nov 20, 2009

VAN NUYS, Calif. — Trio-Tech International (AMEX:TRT) announced today that revenue
for the first quarter of fiscal 2010 ended September 30, 2009 increased
14% to $7,105,000 compared to $6,244,000 for the first quarter of fiscal
2009, and increased sequentially by 67% compared to revenue of
$4,264,000 for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009. The net loss for this
year’s first quarter narrowed to $551,000, or $0.17 per share, compared
to a net loss of $719,000, or $0.22 per share, for the first quarter of
fiscal 2009, and a net loss of $658,000, or $0.20 per share, for the
fourth quarter of 2009.

“A 23% increase in revenue from product sales, in combination with
initial revenue from PT SHI Indonesia, our Batam-based manufacturer,
equipment fabricator and provider of project management services for the
oil and gas industries, more than offset lower testing service revenue
to deliver a solid increase in total revenue for the first quarter of
fiscal 2010, the first year-over-year increase in quarterly revenue in
seven quarters. Sales in the United States declined, but International
sales (excluding the United States) increased 64% to $6,409,000 for this
year’s first quarter compared to $3,912,000 for the same quarter last
year, primarily due to an increase in manufacturing segment sales from
our Singapore operations,” said Chief Executive Officer S. W. Yong.

First Quarter Results

For the three months ended September 30, 2009, total revenue increased
to $7,105,000 compared to $6,244,000 for the first quarter of fiscal
2009. The net loss for the first quarter of fiscal 2010 was $551,000, or
$0.17 per share. This compares to a net loss for the first quarter of
fiscal 2009 of $719,000, or $0.22 per share.

Product sales, which include manufacturing and distribution, increased
23% in the first quarter to $3,862,000 from $3,132,000 in the same
quarter last year, primarily due to higher demand from a major customer
in Singapore. Product sales gross margin was approximately the same for
both periods.

Testing segment sales declined 14% to $2,671,000 from $3,098,000 in the
same quarter last year, primarily due to reduced orders from a major
Malaysian customer. Testing segment gross margin was 22% compared to 27%
for the same quarter last year, reflecting reduced volume.

Fabrication services, in its first year of operations, reported revenue
of $504,000 for the first quarter, accounting for 7% of total sales in
the first quarter. This segment’s gross margins were 2% and Trio-Tech
management is exploring opportunities to raise margins by optimizing the
capacity utilization of this facility.

General and administrative expenses were down 21% and declined, as a
percent of revenue, to 22%, compared to 32% of revenue in the same
quarter last year. Total operating expenses dropped 13% and also
declined, as a percent of revenue, to 24%, compared to 32% of revenue in
the same quarter last year. The decline is attributable to lower payroll
expenses, lower officer and executive compensation expenses and the
implementation of a four day work week at the Singapore facility.

Balance Sheet Highlights

At September 30, 2009, Trio-Tech reported cash and cash equivalents,
restricted term deposits and short-term deposits of $9,852,000 ($3.05
per outstanding share), working capital of $7,988,000, and shareholders’
equity of $19,556,000 ($6.06 per outstanding share). At June 30, 2009,
cash and cash equivalents, restricted term deposits and short-term
deposits were $11,468,000 ($3.55 per outstanding share), working capital
was $9,302,000, and shareholders’ equity was $19,864,000 ($6.16 per
outstanding share).

About Trio-Tech

Founded in 1958, Trio-Tech International provides third-party
semiconductor testing and burn-in services primarily through its
laboratories in Southeast Asia, manufactures, markets and distributes
equipment and systems used in the testing, production and processing of
semiconductor products. The Company’s subsidiaries also provide a wide
range of FAA-approved and competitively priced products to the aviation
and aerospace industries, solar energy products and solutions, equipment
fabricating services for the oil and gas industries and real estate
management services. Headquartered in Van Nuys, California, you can
obtain further information for Trio-Tech’s semiconductor products and
services from the Company’s Web site at www.triotech.com,
www.universalfareast.com,
www.shi-international.com
and www.ttsolar.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that are forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995
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Medical Properties Trust, Inc. in Settlement of Litigation

Business Wire, Nov 20, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (MPT) (NYSE: MPW) today announced that
it has reached agreement to settle all of the claims asserted by
Stealth, L.P. in previously disclosed litigation concerning the
termination of leases of the Houston Town and Country Hospital and
medical office building in October 2006, with the exception of a single
contract claim for which Memorial Hermann Healthcare System has agreed
to provide indemnification. Claims separately asserted against MPT by
six of Stealth L.P.s limited partners are not affected by the
settlement.

Stealth, L.P. was seeking approximately $330 million for tort claims
that we have now settled for a single payment of $1.7 million, said
Edward K. Aldag, Jr., MPTs Chairman, President and Chief Executive
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AIG in Agreement to Sell 21st Century Insurance to Zurich Financial Services Group Unit

Business Wire, April 16, 2009

NEW YORK — American International Group, Inc. (AIG) and Zurich Financial Services
Group (Zurich) announced today an agreement to sell 21st Century
Insurance Group, the wholly owned subsidiaries comprising AIGs U.S.
personal auto insurance business, to Farmers Group, Inc. (FGI), a
subsidiary of Zurich. Under the terms of the transaction, FGI will pay
AIG $1.9 billion, consisting of $1.5 billion in cash and $400 million in
face amount of subordinated, euro-denominated capital notes backed by
Zurich Insurance Company, Zurichs principal operating unit
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Palisades Announces New Jersey Holiday Fun Photo Contest

PR Newswire, Nov 18, 2009

The Nice New Jersey Car Insurance Company Asks ‘What Drives Your Holiday Smile?’ – Calls for Fun NJ Holiday Photos for a Chance to Receive a New Car* and $1,000 Holiday Shopping Sprees

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, N.J., Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ — Palisades, the nice New Jersey car insurance company, officially announced today the launch of its “What Drives Your Holiday Smile?” photo contest. This new statewide photo contest is calling for residents to submit fun and festive photos to spread more smiles throughout the Garden State this holiday season.

‘Tis the season for merry parties and gatherings, decking the halls and thoughtful gift giving. Celebrating the winter holidays in the Garden State is always fun and full of great photo opportunities. This year, New Jersey residents who share their fun holiday moments with Palisades will have a chance to win special holiday prizes – from $1,000 shopping sprees to receiving a new car.

Starting November 18th, New Jersey residents are encouraged to submit their fun holiday photos to the Palisades Drive With a Smile site, found on Palisades.com. Whether it’s a snapshot of Fido in his holiday best, kids covered in gift wrap and bows, or a nicely sculpted Frosty with an old silk cap and a button nose, entrants should make New Jersey holiday moments their focus.

Submitted snapshots will be showcased in the “What Drives Your Holiday Smile?” online photo gallery, where site visitors can cast “smile” votes for their favorite submissions in three categories: Holiday Fun, Kid Photos and Pet Photos. Three category winners will be announced the week of December 14th. One Best in Show winner will be announced by January 2010. Best in Show receives a new car to start the new year and each category winner gets a $1,000 gift card. Voters also have a chance at winning a prize. Each day, from November 19th 12 noon to December 10th at 5 p.m. ET, voters can enter to win a $250 gift card after casting a “smile” vote.

“This summer, Palisades brought more smiles on the road with the Highway Art Gallery competition, which showcased and celebrated the state’s talented artists and beautiful landscapes on major highways,” said Ed Fernandez, president and CEO of Palisades. “Now, in the spirit of the season, we want to spread some holiday cheer and drive more smiles all around with our ‘What Drives Your Holiday Smile?’ online photo contest.”

The “What Drives Your Holiday Smile?” photo contest will run from November 18th until December 10th at 5 p.m. ET. Voting will begin on November 19th at 12 noon ET, so entrants are encouraged to submit early. Category winners will be announced during the week of December 14th and the grand prize winner will be announced in January 2010 on Palisades.com.

“What Drives Your Holiday Smile?” is part of the Palisades Drive With a Smile campaign, designed to drive more smiles in the Garden State. For more information about the Drive With a Smile campaign, the “What Drives Your Holiday Smile?” photo contest, or to learn how to enter the competition, visit Palisades.com. New Jersey residents can also follow the contest on the Palisades Facebook page or on Twitter @PalisadesNJ.

* You could win the right to the use of a new car that will be leased in your name.

For information about Palisades or any of its more than 300 independent agents across the state, visit Palisades.com.

About Palisades

Palisades is the Nice New Jersey Car Insurance CompanyA’ that gives you more. Drivers and agents get more reasons to smile with more value, friendly New Jersey expertise, and service done right. Palisades sells exclusively through over 300 independent agents and is a leader in the fast settlement of claims. Palisades Safety and Insurance Management Corporation is a Plymouth Rock managed company
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Snapshot the big picture.(Digital Photo)(Brief article)

Macworld, December, 2009 by Kelly, Heather

For this panoramic image of the Plaza de Binondo in the Philippines, photographer RC Rivera (www.rcrivera.com) manually set his Nikon D20o’s aperture to f/11 (for maximum depth of field) and his shutter speed to 1/250. (Keeping the exposure and focal distance the same for every shot simplifies the stitching process later.) He then switched to manual focus and shot ten images, sweeping quickly from left to right and overlapping 30 to 40 percent of each shot with the previous frame (so the software would have enough info to work with).

Since this location was in the middle of a busy city, RC took the images as fast as possible to minimize inconsistencies like disappearing cars. A tripod is ideal for keeping the camera at a…

FDA Does a Half-Reversal on the Oyster Half-Shell

Under President Barack Obama, the Food and Drug Administration has showed some backbone for the first time in years. But now its backtracking on the issue of raw oysters from the Gulf Coast, thrilling industry but disappointing health advocates.
The FDA had announced new rules, effective 2011, banning raw oysters that have not been pasteurized, frozen [...]