FED:Govt braces for more cattle footage=2

AAP General News (Australia)
08-09-2011
FED:Govt braces for more cattle footage=2

Animals Australia later confirmed that it would present the footage and a briefing
to the minister's office on Wednesday.

The footage shows animals being slaughtered in Turkey, which receives about eight per
cent of Australia's live cattle exports.

It will also be delivered to the senate committee investigating the issue and the federal
government's formal review.

The animal rights activist group didn't say if the footage would be released publicly.

It wasn't able to confirm that the animals depicted in the videos were Australian,
but said it was shot at facilities where Australian animals are processed.

AAP cj/mp

KEYWORD: CATTLE FOOTAGE 2 CANBERRA (REOPENS)

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

Fed: Fatal police chase report remains under wraps

AAP General News (Australia)
02-02-2006
Fed: Fatal police chase report remains under wraps

CANBERRA, Feb 2 AAP - ACT Police have defended continuing delays in the release of
a report into their involvement in the death of a university student during a police pursuit.

Clea Rose, 21, was killed on August 20 last year when she was hit by a stolen car,
under pursuit by police, near a busy bus interchange in Canberra's civic centre.

A 15-year-old boy pleaded guilty to culpable driving causing her death on Tuesday and
has been sentenced to three years detention.

Witnesses claim police were pursuing the car at high speeds which has led to an internal
investigation, the results of which have not been released despite impassioned pleas from
Clea's father.

ACT Police Minister John Hargreaves today said he was unsettled with the delays in
releasing the report and finalising the issue.

But ACT deputy chief police officer, Commander Steve Lancaster, said today the report
remained under review by the ombudsman and its recommendations would be implemented.

"In incidents like this there is a process that has to be gone through and being of
such a magnitude I think there's an extraordinary and thorough investigation that must
take place and there's also a review process which involves the ombudsman," he told ABC
radio.

"We really must be mindful that we want to come to the right outcome, whether criminals
were responsible or police had some element to play or not.

"We've just got to make sure that the report can withstand the rigours after it gets
let out to the minister, the public and the family."

An interim report has been sent to the ombudsman but there were concerns to be addressed
which have added to the delay of its release, he said.

But Commander Lancaster said police were as keen as Clea's family and the community
at large to find out what happened.

"This also impacts on police. We were there and we had two members involved in this
process as well," he said.

"So we are just as keen as the minister and all parties to get this report out and
in the public eye."

AAP jcg/pjo/jt/de

KEYWORD: ROSE

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

NSW:Waterlow's family 'have safety fears'

AAP General News (Australia)
04-13-2011
NSW:Waterlow's family 'have safety fears'

By Margaret Scheikowski

SYDNEY, April 13 AAP - Anthony Waterlow's relatives are very concerned about their
own safety despite his apology for killing his sister and father, a Sydney judge had been
told.

Crown prosecutor Mark Tedeschi, QC, said that despite the insight Waterlow had now
gained into his mental illness, this might be lost in future if he does not take his medication.

"His family are concerned for their own safety and nothing the offender said yesterday
has allayed those fears at all," he told the NSW Supreme Court on Wednesday.

Waterlow, 43, of Stanmore, has pleaded not guilty to the stabbing murders of his art
curator father, Nick Waterlow, 68, and his sister, Chloe Heuston, 36, at her Randwick
home in Sydney on November 9, 2009.

He also denied recklessly causing grievous bodily harm to a young girl, who cannot
be named for legal reasons.

The issue for Justice Peter Hidden, who is hearing the trial without a jury, is Waterlow's
mental state at the time.

Both Mr Tedeschi and defence barrister Peter Hamill, SC, submitted that the evidence
overwhelmingly supported a special verdict of not guilty on the grounds of mental illness.

On Tuesday, Waterlow told the court he was "totally shattered" by what he had done
and if he could give his life to bring them back, he would.

Since being treated with the right medication while in custody, symptoms of his schizophrenia
had slowly gone away, he said.

"I am so, so sorry and I will be for the rest of my life," he said.

Mr Tedeschi said the evidence showed that for many years Waterlow had no insight into
his condition, despite numerous people, including psychiatrists, telling him he was ill.

Because of his illness, he had no insight into it and did not take recommended medication.

"Out of that lack of insight came the terrible tragedies of these three offences," he said.

Mr Tedeschi said that if Waterlow were ever to be considered for release, the Mental
Health Review Tribunal should consider that if he were ever to go off his medication,
he would lose the insight that he had now.

He referred to the family's concerns about their safety and about the fact that in
Waterlow's court address he had not even mentioned the girl he injured.

Mr Hamill has asked the judge that if he finds Waterlow not guilty, he specify a forensic
hospital where he should be detained.

But Mr Tedeschi said this should be a matter for the Mental Health Review Tribunal,
which had the resources to fully consider the issue.

The judge will deliver his verdicts on Tuesday.

AAP mss/wjf/dep/de

KEYWORD: WATERLOW

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

NSW:Seven new natural disaster zones declared

AAP General News (Australia)
12-24-2010
NSW:Seven new natural disaster zones declared

SYDNEY, Dec 24 AAP - Seven more natural disaster areas have been declared in NSW as
the worst flooding in years shows no signs of letting up over Christmas.

Heavy rain that caused the flooding has cleared from most parts of the state, but the
lower reaches of many inland rivers continue to rise, swamping roads and isolating communities.

The seven areas declared disaster areas on Friday were Wentworth, Wakool, Snowy River,
Tumbarumba, Balranald and Narrandera shire council regions in the state's southwest and
Blayney, in the central west.

It means there are now 49 natural disaster areas, each qualifying for commonwealth
and state cash.

The State Emergency Service (SES), which has carried out 150 rescues since the flooding
began in late November, said it is well placed to continue helping communities over Christmas.

"Many SES volunteers and staff are already active helping rural properties and small
communities isolated by floodwaters," SES commissioner Murray Kear said in a statement.

"This will continue over the holiday period with the SES ready to assist should further
heavy rain or storms occur."

AAP mdg/jfm/was

KEYWORD: FLOODS NSW

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

FED:Gillard opens speech with thanks to Rudd

AAP General News (Australia)
08-16-2010
FED:Gillard opens speech with thanks to Rudd

Prime Minister JULIA GILLARD has opened her speech at Labor's federal election campaign
launch in Brisbane .. by paying tribute to her predecessor KEVIN RUDD.

Ms GILLARD first thanked former prime minister BOB HAWKE .. who introduced her .. then
turned to Mr RUDD and praised him as a man of great achievements.

MORE RTV gd/jmt

KEYWORD: POLL10 GILLARD (CANBERRA)

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

Fed: Aussie trading partners will grow strongly: World Bank

AAP General News (Australia)
04-07-2010
Fed: Aussie trading partners will grow strongly: World Bank

By Stephen Johnson

CANBERRA, April 7 AAP - One of Australia's biggest trading partners will help the economies
of East Asia grow more rapidly than previously expected in 2010, the World Bank says.

The healthy forecast comes as Treasurer Wayne Swan prepares to fly to Washington in
two weeks for the next Group of 20 meeting of finance ministers.

The World Bank says the economies of East Asia, led by China, will grow by 8.7 per
cent in 2010 - almost one percentage point higher than its prediction of six months ago.

"The developing countries of East Asia, led by China, are recovering well from the
global economic crisis," it says.

"But how the region's leaders handle the next round of important economic decisions
will determine the strength and speed of future growth."

China, a key buyer of Australian resources and the nation's second biggest trading
partner, is a member of the G20.

Mr Swan said the next G20 meeting, scheduled to be held in Washington on April 22 and
23, would focus on sustainable global growth in the aftermath of the global financial
malaise.

"Finance ministers will also continue work on financial regulation and international
financial institution reform, along with a number of other issues," he said in a statement.

This will be Mr Swan's first attendance at a G20 summit since November, when his counterparts
met in Scotland.

While the government plans to wind back its stimulus in 2010, the treasurer pointed
to an OECD report released on Wednesday urging policy makers to be cautious.

"Despite some encouraging signs on activity, the fragility of the recovery, a frail
labour market and possible headwinds coming from financial markets underscore the need
for caution in the removal of policy support," the OECD's interim assessment said.

In Australia stimulus is being withdrawn faster than most other first-world economies,
and ahead of the timetable set by the OECD for developed nations, Mr Swan said.

Treasury estimates the withdrawal of stimulus measures would detract about one percentage
point from Australian economic growth in 2010.

AAP saj/apm

KEYWORD: ECONOMY SWAN

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

Main stories in today's 1300 2GB news

AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-2009
Main stories in today's 1300 2GB news

SYDNEY, Aug 25 AAP - Main stories in today's 1300 2GB news:

- Former opposition leader Brendan Nelson is reportedly about to announce he is quitting
politics.

- Independent hardware retailers are being assured that they won't be pushed out following
Woolworths' decision to enter the market.

- The NSW government is claiming Sydney commuters will get their money's worth despite
a report which says they pay the second highest fares in the world.

- Former NSW Labor MP Milton Orkopoulos has had his sentence for child sex and drugs
offences reduced by three months.

- The strong winds lashing Sydney are expected to ease at 8am on Wednesday morning.

- Wests Tigers Bryce Gibbs will contest the grading of a dangerous contact charge at
the NRL judiciary.

AAP bm

KEYWORD: MONITOR 1300 2GB SYDNEY

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

Fed:Consumers turn to credits cards again as stimulus fades

AAP General News (Australia)
04-16-2009
Fed:Consumers turn to credits cards again as stimulus fades

By Colin Brinsden

CANBERRA, April 16 AAP - Consumers are racking up debt on the plastic again as the
impact of the federal government's December stimulus package fades, lifting the total
outstanding balances on credit cards to a record $45.4 billion.

Data released by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) on Thursday showed that credit
cardholders repaid just $16.8 billion of their outstanding debts in February, the lowest
level in a year.

Spending with credit cards was $17.1 billion in the month.

In January, cardholders repaid $18.1 billion while spending $16.6 billion, while in
December they repaid a record $21.5 billion, albeit spending a $21 billion at the same
time, also a record.

The government's $10.4 billion economic stimulus package announced last year included
cash handouts to millions of pensioners, carers and low-income families in December.

While the government's intention was for the money to be spent to lift economic activity,
some consumers proved more cautious given the tough economic climate and preferred to
save the money or paydown debt.

The government's second stimulus package started rolling out in March with one-off
welfare payments of up to $950 from Centrelink, while the Tax Office is in the process
of delivering a tax bonus of up to $900 to taxpayers.

A survey by St George Bank released earlier this week found that 35 per cent of respondents
planned to pay down their credit cards and personal debt with this latest stimulus, while
nine per cent would put the money towards mortgage payments.

AAP cb/kms/jfm

KEYWORD: RBA CREDITCARDS

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

NSW: Sydney Ferries could go private within a year

AAP General News (Australia)
12-11-2008
NSW: Sydney Ferries could go private within a year

The New South Wales government is promising to look for the best proposal for running
Sydney Harbour ferries .. but not necessarily the cheapest.

Transport Minister DAVID CAMPBELL called for expressions of interest yesterday from
the private sector to run the service .. and says they could be privatised within a year.

He says Sydney Ferries .. who run the service now .. won't need to submit its own expression
of interest to retain the service .. but private sector applications will be benchmarked
against Sydney Ferries operations.

AAP RTV bsb/wjf/de/wz/FDF

KEYWORD: FERRIES (SYDNEY)

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

Vic: Man in induced coma after being found unconscious

AAP General News (Australia)
08-07-2008
Vic: Man in induced coma after being found unconscious

MELBOURNE, Aug 7 AAP - A badly injured man found unconscious in a Melbourne bayside
laneway has been put in an induced coma.

Victorian police are appealing for help in tracking the movements of 43-year-old Fuad
Hasic who was found by a passer-by in a Hampton laneway around 9am (AEST) on Monday.

He was taken to The Alfred hospital with a serious head injury and after surgery was
placed in an induced coma.

Police initially believed the Mr Hasic's extensive injuries may have been the result
of a fall, but doctors say this is unlikely.

Mr Hasic is described as being of European appearance, 175cm tall, of medium build,
with short brown receding hair and an olive complexion.

AAP jxt/gfr/it/cdh

KEYWORD: HASIC (PIX AVAILABLE)

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

Qld: Seven new schools to be built in public-private partnership

AAP General News (Australia)
02-13-2008
Qld: Seven new schools to be built in public-private partnership

Seven new schools will be built in south-east Queensland .. under a Public-Private
Partnership model.

The schools will be built at the northern and southern ends of the Sunshine Coast ..

the Redlands area and the western corridor of Brisbane .. based on population growth forecasts.

Premier ANNA BLIGH says construction will begin early next year .. with the first four
schools to open in 2010.

AAP RTV gd/pjo/wf/bart

KEYWORD: SCHOOLS (BRISBANE)

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

Vic: Man charged over armed robbery

AAP General News (Australia)
08-26-2007
Vic: Man charged over armed robbery

MELBOURNE, Aug 26 AAP - A man will appear in court tomorrow charged over a hold-up
at a McDonald's restaurant south-east of Melbourne.

Police said a man entered the restaurant on the South Gippsland Highway at Hampton
Park about 7.15am (AEST) yesterday and threatened a McDonald's employee with a knife before
demanding money.

The robber then fled but a short time later allegedly threatened a woman at a service
station in McDowall Road, Hampton Park, before slashing her husband's face and fleeing.

A 26-year-old man was later arrested and was today charged with one count of armed
robbery, two counts of attempted armed robbery and a number of threats to kill, serious
assaults and burglaries.

He was remanded in custody to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates' Court tomorrow,
police said.

AAP sjm/apm/bwl

KEYWORD: ROBBERY

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

AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Breakfast, April 12

AAP General News (Australia)
04-12-2007
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Breakfast, April 12
Breakfast Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 0430


Indon Plane (JAKARTA)

Indonesian authorities say the airliner that crashed at Yogyakarta airport last month
.. came down too fast and at a sharp angle.

Preliminary results from an investigation into the crash that killed 21 people .. including
five Australians .. show the plane bounced and skidded off the runway .. before bursting
into flames.

The chief of the country's Transport Safety Commission says the Garuda Indonesia plane
looked too high over the runway .. coming down at quite a high speed.

The final report will take more than two months more to complete.



Trindall Charge (SYDNEY)

Rugby league player CRAIG TRINDALL has been charged with the assault of a 25-year-old woman.

Without naming TRINDALL .. police say a 27-year-old Wilmot man has been charged with
assaulting the woman outside a house at Lethbridge Park in Sydney's west .. early on Easter
Sunday morning.

TRINDALL's been charged at Mount Druitt police station last night .. with maliciously
inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent to do so .. and maliciously inflicting grievous
bodily harm.

He's been granted conditional bail and is due to appear at Mount Druitt Local Court on May 8.

Penrith spokesman ROB WEAVER says the club won't act until the outcome of TRINDALL'S
court hearing is known.



Teachers Bishop (CANBERRA)

Federal Education Minister JULIE BISHOP says she'll ask her state counterparts to trial
performance pay for teachers .. over the coming year.

Ms BISHOP's meeting state and territory ministers in Darwin today .. where she'll push
the federal government's plan to pay public school teachers on merit from 2009.

She's told ABC television .. she wants the states to agree to pilot a number of performance
pay models over the next 12 months.



Schools NSW (SYDNEY)

Meanwhile the New South Wales Education Minister says he will be seeking an overhaul
of the nation's school maintenance and capital works grants scheme .. when he meets his
federal counterpart today.

JOHN DELLA BOSCA says there's growing evidence .. the federal Investing in Our Schools
Program .. is being administered for political gain.



Drugs (CANBERRA)

Methamphetamine use is rife amongst Australians aged in their twenties .. with new
figures showing more than one in five have tried the dangerous stimulants.

The figures have come from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare .. which
says 100-thousand Australians of all ages used methamphetamines .. including speed ..

ice or crystal meth in the past week.

It says more than 500 thousand have used the drugs in the past year.



Nelson Canada (CANBERRA)

Defence Minister BRENDAN NELSON is to attend a meeting in Canada later today .. involving
nations with troops in southern Afghanistan.

The talks come after the government's recent announcement of an increased commitment
of Australian troops.

The minister says he'll travel to the Regional Command South Ministers' Meeting in
Quebec .. Canada.

Australia is to deploy a Special Operations Task Group of about 300 personnel to Oruzgan
province .. for at least two years.


Workplace Councils (SYDNEY)

Local councils have launched a concerted bid to bring their employees under federal
workplace laws .. in a switch from state legislation.

The Australian newspaper reports the councils have declared Work Choices gives them
greater flexibility .. and removes the burden of unfair dismissal laws.

Australian Workers Union secretary BILL SHORTEN .. a federal Labor candidate .. has
accused councils of attempting a realignment of the constitution through the back door.

The AWU has started legal action against the move in Queensland.



HIV (MELBOURNE)

Health Minister TONY ABBOTT says he'll ask the states' chief health officers to consider
adopting national guidelines .. for risky HIV-positive patients.

It follows last week's detention of an HIV-positive man in South Australia by health
authorities .. amid fears he was spreading the virus.

There's also been a storm over the Victorian government's failure to stop Melbourne
man MICHAEL JOHN NEAL .. from allegedly trying to infect several men with HIV.



Iraq (BAGHDAD)

The US military has displayed more weapons it's captured in Iraq .. that it says were
made in Iran.

It's also alleged militants are being taught in Iran .. how to use roadside bombs that
have killed scores of American soldiers.

US military spokesman Major-General WILLIAM CALDWELL has displayed the weapons .. including
mortar rounds and rocket-propelled grenades.

He says they were found at a house and in a car in Baghdad this week.



Briefly in other news ..



Fire authorities say 35 people have been evacuated from a burning unit block in south-eastern
Sydney overnight .. with one man taken to hospital suffering smoke inhalation.



Two British children have been plucked to safety .. in a dramatic rescue more than half
a kilometre off the Scottish coast .. after they were swept out to sea in a toy dinghy.



A retired couple from New York have hired a taxi to take themselves and their two cats
four thousand kilometres .. to their new home in Arizona.



ANGELINA JOLIE and BRAD PITT are treating themselves to an Italian luxury yacht worth
325 million dollars .. fitted with a swimming pool .. a heliport and a submarine.



in Sport ..



Soccer Asian AdUtd (ADELAIDE)

Adelaide United have settled for a 2-2 draw against crack Korean side Seongnam Ilhwa
.. in their Asian Champions League clash at Hindmarsh Stadium.

United looked on track for their second win in a row after taking a 2-0 in the first
10 minutes of the second half .. but the leading Korean side hit back for a pulsating
draw.



League Cowboys (TOWNSVILLE)

North Queensland second rower LUKE O'DONNELL may have played his last game for the
Cowboys .. with the Test forward to undergo season-ending surgery today.

MRI scans show the 26-year-old's left hamstring had detached itself from the pelvis
.. following a gang tackle gone wrong against Wests Tigers on Saturday.



WC07 Aust (BRIDGETOWN, Barbados)

The Australian cricket team emerge today from a two-day break to train in Barbados
.. in preparation for Friday's Super Eights match against Ireland.

Undefeated in six games in their World Cup campaign .. RICKY PONTING'S defending champions
have warned Ireland .. captained by Australian TRENT JOHNSTON .. that they'll be in their
normal ruthless mode.

All-rounder ANDREW SYMONDS says Australia will be keen to crush Ireland's hopes of
winning as quickly as possible in the match.



Surfing World (TORQUAY, Vic)

The 35th edition of the Rip Curl world men's surfing event is likely to finish at Bells
Beach today.

Former champions KELLY SLATER, ANDY IRONS, JOEL PARKINSON and MICK FANNING remain in
the hunt to ring the famous Bells trophy.

Organisers are hoping to start fourth round heats at seven o'clock (AEST) this morning.



ENDS BREAKFAST ROUND-UP

Broadcast Desk inquiries 24 hours: 02 9322 8714

AAP RTV tm

KEYWORD: BREAKFAST ROUND-UP

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

NSW: Main Stories in today's Sydney newspapers=3

AAP General News (Australia)
12-11-2006
NSW: Main Stories in today's Sydney newspapers=3

THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

Page 1: NSW Opposition will sell off NSW Lotteries to help pay for its $1-billion water
strategy if it gains power; NSW government facing demands for independent review into
Blue Mountains bushfire amid claims it was made worse by control burning; Kevin Rudd unveils
his new frontbench, which does not alienate key supporters of Kim Beazley.

Page 2: Two homes lost amid soaring temperatures and strong winds creating nightmare
bushfire conditions for crews in Victoria.

Page 3: Desalination plant to sustain Sydney's water supply inevitable with water levels
to drop to 30 per cent within months.

World: Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas plans to call early presidential
and parliamentary elections.

Finance: Mining magnate Ric Stow asks for extension of time to pay his $173-million
tax bill on hardship grounds.

Sport: Michael Clarke does not believe he will be restored to the number four batting
position following the retirement of Damien Martyn.

MORE nr/rs

KEYWORD: MONITOR FRONTERS NSW 3 SYDNEY

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

NSW: More than 3,000 police needed: union

AAP General News (Australia)
08-03-2006
NSW: More than 3,000 police needed: union

SYDNEY, Aug 3 AAP - NSW Police resources needed to fight crime are instead being stretched
by major sporting events, VIP visits and protest rallies, the police union says.

The NSW Police Association (PA) today launched its "Resource the Force" campaign, which
renews its call for 3,000 extra frontline officers.

PA president Sergeant Bob Pritchard said changes to the nature of policing, the threat
of terrorism, and the increased burden of paperwork also supported the need for more officers.

" ... Riots in Cronulla, Macquarie Fields, and Redfern also take police away from the
central Sydney areas, but it is the ongoing nature of major events that take the greatest
toll on resources necessary to fight crime," Sgt Pritchard said.

The latest figures show the force has 14,634 officers.

NSW Premier Morris Iemma has already committed to an additional 750 officers, while
Opposition Leader Peter Debnam has said he is open to discussion on police numbers.

Sgt Pritchard said more police meant lower rates of crime.

"The government's commitment to an additional 750 police officers is a good first step,
but we're calling on both sides of politics to come up with a plan to properly resource
NSW Police for the term of the next government to solve the problem," he said.

AAP kjd/klw/it/sp

KEYWORD: OFFICERS

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

Qld: Health crisis set to dominate new parliamentary sitting

AAP General News (Australia)
02-13-2006
Qld: Health crisis set to dominate new parliamentary sitting

By Nikki Todd, State Political Correspondent

BRISBANE, Feb 13 AAP - The new parliamentary year in Queensland will start tomorrow
much as it ended last December, with health set to dominate.

The health crisis has continued to grab headlines over the summer break, with a severe
doctor shortage threatening the viability of several hospital emergency wards.

The crisis followed the ongoing Dr Death saga that dogged the Beattie government for
much of 2005, resulting in a cabinet reshuffle and plummeting approval ratings.

The ratings plunge prompted a threat by Premier Peter Beattie to quit as leader if
he does not turn the corner in health by the end of the year, placing the spotlight on
his anointed successor deputy premier Anna Bligh.

Opposition leader Lawrence Springborg said his team would use every opportunity in
parliament to push the government over its handling of Queensland Health.

"We have a problem right across Queensland in our health system," Mr Springborg said.

"It is not isolated to Caboolture, it is not isolated to Maryborough, it is not isolated
to Bundaberg."

Mr Springborg said the coalition would ask ministers "what they knew, when they knew
about it (and) why action wasn't taken earlier".

He will also test the government on how it planned to fix the health system while grilling
new Health Minister Stephen Robertson over his "incapacity to come to grips with the job".

The leadership question involving Ms Bligh and Mr Beattie will dominate coalition questioning
as well as the minds of Labor backbenchers, many of whom are uneasy over Labor's handling
of health.

In a further sign of nerves, Mr Beattie has reduced his media appearances in recent
weeks, failing to front his traditional post-cabinet press conference today.

Last week, he exited the conference early, leaving Mr Robertson to deliver bad news
on hospital waiting lists.

Today's no-show follows criticism of his language over the weekend, when he was caught
out swearing in a conversation with his NSW counterpart Morris Iemma.

Legislation to be introduced in parliament this week includes enhanced consumer rights
for elderly people living in retirement villages.

AAP nt/ch/it/sd

KEYWORD: PARLY QLD

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

Cal.

Cal., cal. thermodynamics, nutrition See calorie.

Cyrus Realtors homepage in class by itself.(Real Estate)

With ties to the community that go back more than 70 years, Cyrus Realtors has launched an Internet homepage on the World Wide Web that sets itself apart.

This full-service homepage, which features Cyrus' residential listings with photos, also offers a Community Events page that will allow organizations to promote their non-profit community activities, to a wide network of computer users.

Anyone with a computer who has access to the World Wide Web can find the Cyrus homepage at this address: http://cyrus- realtors.com.

According to CEO George Cyrus, being active and giving back to the community is a priority at Cyrus Realtors, as attested to by his own involvement in countless boards and organizations.

"Cyrus is in the vanguard of new marketing techniques, selling homes in creative and effective new ways," our Internet homepage confirms that.

By offering access to our homepage to community organizations so that they may promote their activities to a wider audience, we are reinforcing our ties to the community and in new ways giving back to those who have supported us over the years," says Cyrus.

Cyrus noted that the Cyrus homepage features information about the communities it serves and about specific activities in the Chicago area and on the North.Shore.

One of the advantages of living on Chicago's North Shore is that, in addition to local activities, residents are close enough to Chicago to take advantage of the many opportunities the city offers.,

For that reasons the Cyrus homepage offers information on museums and galleries, restaurant reviews, shopping, transportation and sports.

It is the complete neighborhood resource, said Cyrus.

Cyrus Realtors' World Wide Web site also includes information on properties currently on the market with Cyrus Realtors, new listings for sale by community, price, and type as well as the option to request additional information on properties or other real estate services available through Cyrus.

Feedback via E-Mail is welcome, whether it's queries about listings or ideas for improving the homepage, Cyrus noted that the homepage will continue to evolve and grow as agents make suggestions for new ways to service clients.

For more information about listings, call the Evanston office at (847) 866-8200 or the Wilmette office, at (847) 256-7400 or contact Cyrus via the Internet at http://cyrus-realtbrs.com.

An activity to demonstrate the genetic code, gene duplication, and divergence.(FAVORITE DEMONSTRATION)

Gene expression is a central tenant that is taught in introductory biology courses. Many students seem to confuse the connection between transcription and translation and are unaware of the wobble and redundancy of the genetic code. Furthermore, evolution is elegantly demonstrated by gene duplication and divergence. This activity provides a way for students to practice using the genetic code and, as a result, to realize the redundancy of the genetic code by practicing "reverse translation" and understand why it's physiologically impossible. Evolution by gene duplication and divergence is demonstrated with very short peptide sequences that have a great deal of homology, yet have diverged in their function.

The role of an educator is changing from one who is the purveyor of knowledge and information to one who is a facilitator of students gaining and interpreting knowledge while awash in a sea of information. Online resources have changed the way that we obtain information and learn about our world. I encourage students to learn how to use the internet to acquire biological information and better understand the process of science by looking for competing and corroborating information. In this activity, students are encouraged to use the internet to find information, and Wikipedia is often the first return on a search of the terms. Although the use of Wikipedia is not recommended as the sole source of information, it is relatively reliable as an encyclopedia for basic scientific information (Giles 2005) and is a readily accessible resource.

Questions this activity helps students to answer

* How does the genetic code provide instructions for a protein?

* What is redundant about the genetic code?

* What does the "wobble" in the genetic code refer to?

* What does gene duplication mean?

* What does gene divergence mean?

* What are some examples of gene duplication and divergence in humans?

* What are the differences in function brought about by slight changes in the primary structure of proteins?

Preparation

The instructor may want to introduce or reinforce this active-learning strategy with concepts presented through lecture before or after this activity; be familiar with the genetic code, including the redundancy and wobble aspects; and do some background reading on pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC; see Figure 1), a precursor polypeptide with 241 amino acid residues, and its derivatives that include alpha-, beta-, and gamma-melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH). The melanocyte stimulating hormones play roles in appetite and immunity.

Gene duplication is believed to play an important role in evolution. The duplicated gene does not have the same selective pressures to maintain its structure and can diverge (mutate) from its original structure and function. This divergence may provide a selective advantage to an organism. This is elegantly visible by examining the POMC genes and gene products. POMC is located on chromosome 2 in humans. The preprotein POMC is differentially cleaved in a variety of tissues, including the pituitary, hypothalamus, placenta, and epithelium. There are up to 10 different biologically active peptides produced. The polypeptides play roles in pain, immunity, and appetite. In some organisms, the entire POMC gene has been duplicated and a variety of divergent proteins and expression have resulted.

Alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone ([alpha]-MSH) stimulates synthesis and distribution of melanin (a pigment that darkens skin) in melanocytes. It also has anti-inflammatory effects in all animal models tested, with specific receptors on neutrophils (Catania et al. 1996).

Beta-MSH ([beta]-MSH) is present in hypothalamic nuclei that regulate feeding, and its concentrations alter with nutritional state. Harrold, Widdowson, and Williams (2003) suggested that "[beta]-MSH rather than [alpha]-MSH is the key ligand that regulates feeding, and that inhibition of tonic release of P-MSH is one mechanism contributing to hunger in underfeeding" (p. 397). It is an 18-aminoacid polypeptide that has also been shown to regulate skin pigmentation and steroid production. Gamma-MSH ([gamma]-MSH) stimulates adrenal steroidogenesis and has a regulatory role in the cardiovascular and the renal systems (National Library of Medicine 2009).

[FIGURE 1 OMITTED]

Materials

Students

Each student or team of students will need the following materials:

* pencil or pen

* textbook containing the genetic code

* access to the internet Instructors

Instructors should prepare worksheets for each of three small poly peptides ([alpha]-MSH, [beta]-MSH, and [gamma]-MSH). A model for one worksheet is provided in Figure 2. Each worksheet will contain one of the following sequences:

* [alpha]-melanocyte stimulating hormone (ser-tyr-ser-met-glu-hisphe-arg-trp-gly-lys-pro-val)

* [beta]-melanocyte stimulating hormone (asp-glu-gly-pro-tyr-lysmet-glu-his-phe-arg-trp-gly-ser-pro-pro-lys-asp)

* gamma-melanocyte stimulating hormone (tyr-val-met-gly-hisphe-arg-trp-asp-arg-phe)

Class discussion and debriefing

When each student or group of students has sufficiently worked through the worksheet (this activity will probably take 15-45 minutes to complete successfully), debrief the entire class on the activity and highlight the important concepts that were demonstrated. First, discuss how the genetic code is redundant (i.e., there is more than one codon that codes for most amino acids). The wobble in the third base of the codon is clearly shown as students compare their different potential mRNA sequences with each other. You should next align the amino acid sequences of the melanocyte-stimulating hormones together to show how they are similar in the majority of their primary protein structure. Then have students provide the information they learned about POMC as a preprotein and discuss the varying roles of these polypeptides. Help them develop the concepts of gene duplication and divergence and their role in evolution.

FIGURE 2Worksheet provided to students.Genetic code, gene expression, duplication, and divergenceFor this exercise, each of you will be given one of three differentworksheets containing an amino acid sequence of a very shortprotein. Answer each question to the best of your ability.QuestionsBelow is the amino acid sequence for [beta]-melanocyte stimulatinghormone:Asp-glu-gly-pro-tyr-lys-met-glu-his-phe-arg-trp-gly-ser-pro-pro-lys-asp1. Use this sequence to determine a potential mRNA sequence that itcould have been translated from.2. Now, check the mRNA sequence that you proposed with that ofsomeone who has the same protein. Are they identical (redundancy)?In what location (which base of the codon) is there most often adifference (wobble)?3. Use your mRNA sequence to show the DNA sequence that it wastranscribed from. What is the term for this (reversetranscription)?4. Look online to find out about this peptide--its function andother related proteins. It has roles in appetite and immunity.5. Compare your protein's primary sequence to that of[alpha]-melanocyte stimulating hormone and [gamma]-melanocytestimulating hormone.6. Structurally, how similar are the sequences to each other?Functionally, what are the similarities and differences betweenthese polypeptides?7. Use this information to explain what is meant by geneduplication and divergence.

Method of evaluation

Students could provide the worksheet they complete during the activity in their portfolio or as a home work assignment that can be turned in for grading. Alternatively, this activity can simply be integrated into a lecture on gene expression, and assessment would consist of testing for comprehension and ability to use the genetic code and ability to articulate what is meant by gene duplication and divergence.

References

Catania, A., N. Rajora, F. Capsoni, F. Minonzio, R.A. Star, and J.M. Lipton. 1996. The neuropeptide alpha-MSH has specific receptors on neutrophils and reduces chemotaxis in vitro. Peptides 17 (4): 674-679.

Giles, J. 2005. Internet encyclopaedias go head to head. Nature 438: 900-901.

Harrold J.A., P.S. Widdowson, and G. Williams. 2003. P-MSH: A functional ligand that regulated energy homeostasis via hypothalamic MC4-R? Peptides 24 (3): 397-405.

National Library of Medicine. 2009. MeSH descriptor data. www.nlm.nih.gov/cgi/mesh/2009/ MB_cgi?mode=&term=gamma-MSH&field=entry

Nussey, S., and S. Whitehead. 2001. Endocrinology: An integrated approach. Oxford, England: BIOS Scientific Publishers. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK22/

Nora Egan Demers (ndemers@fgcu.edu) is an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Florida Gulf Coast University in Ft. Myers, Florida.

Deans gets tough with his Wallabies.

Provided by 7DAYS.ae

THE honeymoon period is clearly over already as new Australia coach Robbie Deans warned his players to raise their game or face the consequences when they tackle France this weekend. The New Zealander was in charge for the first time in the 18-12 win over Ireland earlier this month.Aa He was not impressed with that patchy effort and, although he has named the same XV for the France match, he has warned he will ring the changes if they do not improve.

Deans said: "You're always on notice. Nothing's forever. You get a very brief moment in this jersey - the opportunity to play at this level, to represent your country.Aa What we would like is for these blokes to look back and say 'yeah, in my time I maximised the opportunity'. We're still in the early stages. They made a good start, but not a great start. We'll need to be better against this French side, they'll sting us. If we present a chase line as flawed as it was in Melbourne, they'll bite us.

"I'm expecting improvement. I'm very conscious of the fact that without improvement we won't get home where we were lucky enough to get home in the first instance."

The French had a poor Six Nations under new coach Marc Lievremont but Deans is under no illusions as to how tough it will be. "You could drag someone off the street and put them in a French jersey and they'll play out of their skin. That's just a reality," he said. "And, if you're not sure on that, check the history. But these blokes aren't dragged off the street. These blokes are picked for what they've got. If you want my opinion, I believe this is a stronger side than the one in the Six Nations and they've got some capabilities in areas we are potentially a bit vulnerable, certainly based on our first outing."

A[umlaut] 2007 Al Sidra Media LLC

Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company

CollegeNET Introduces First College and University Ranking System for International Students.

The Outcome and Experience Ranking of U.S. Universities by International Students Enriches the Interchange of Information between Chinese Students and U.S. Institutions

BEIJING & PORTLAND, Ore. -- CollegeNET, Inc., a leading provider of Web-based on-demand technologies for higher education, today announced that it will establish the Outcome and Experience Ranking of U.S. Universities by International Students, the first ranking system of U.S. colleges and universities based on evaluations by international students studying in the U.S. The online service was established to provide information specifically relevant to Chinese students considering studying abroad, in accordance with an agreement between CollegeNET and the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE), an organization affiliated with the Ministry of Education (MOE), People's Republic of China.

Deployed with CollegeNET's Web-based evaluation system, which is currently operating at several major universities in the U.S., the Outcome and Experience Ranking is the first service focused on providing comprehensive information related to experiences and outcomes for international students attending colleges and universities in the United States. It will assist in compiling qualitative and quantitative evaluations of campus safety, quality of education, cultural training and overall support for Chinese students -- effectively shifting the focus of college ranking to learning outcomes, and away from more conventional criteria based on campus features, wealth and "prestige." The ranking is scheduled for release during the first half of 2012.

"Very few of the 150,000 Chinese students who opt to study in the United States each year have a clear idea of the experience in store for them at the college or university they plan to attend. That is because there is so little information relevant to determining which institutions do the best job helping them adjust to U.S. social and academic culture," said Jim Wolfston, founder and CEO at CollegeNET, Inc. "What counts from the university experience is the educational result, not campus features or institutional history. By virtue of this new ranking system, CollegeNET will help Chinese students and their families to make more informed choices while helping U.S. institutions understand how to serve them better."

The CSCSE offers a full range of services for international scholarly exchanges between Chinese students traveling abroad and international students coming to study in China. The Outcome and Experience Ranking of U.S. Universities by International Students is a natural extension of these services because it will not only provide valuable information to Chinese students, but it will also help institutions in the United States to obtain a better sense of their strengths and weaknesses from international students' perspectives.

Related Services from CollegeNET

In March 2011, CollegeNET unveiled USAcademy, the first subscription-based information and orientation service for Chinese students seeking to better understand the nuances and context of U.S. culture, and USCAT, the first standardized test to assess preparedness in cultural literacy.

About CollegeNET, Inc.

CollegeNET, Inc. builds Web-based, on-demand technologies that help institutions improve operational efficiency, enhance communication with constituents and save money. The company's systems are used by more than 1,300 institutions worldwide for event and academic scheduling, prospect and admissions management, Web-based tuition processing and alumni development. Additionally, CollegeNET operates a fast-growing social network through which students create topics, write about them, and vote to determine who will win scholarships. Today, this site -- www.Collegenet.com -- is one of the Internet's most popular destinations for scholarship seeking students. The company is headquartered in Portland, Oregon.

DED unveils two new eServices to enhance ease of transactions for business owners and investors.

Dubai, June 15th, 2011 (WAM) -- The Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED) has unveiled two new eServices for online issuance of initial approvals and for renewing business licences. The services will be a great value addition for business owners and investors enabling them to complete their business registration swiftly and at their convenience on-line at www.dubaided.gov.ae . Mohammed Shael Al Saadi, CEO, Business Registration and Licensing Division, DED, said: "The strong demand for the use of eServices highlights our success in achieving DED's goal of promoting eGovernment initiatives in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President '&' Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to drive the evolution of a knowledge-based economy. DED has been utilising on-line platforms to offer an advanced, flexible, convenient and diverse suite of services to customers, reinforcing Dubai's reputation as one of the best and competitive business destinations." He said that to issue, renew or transfer the location of business licences, owners must present a sealed lease contract authenticated by Dubai Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA). This is to ensure the validity of commercial contracts, as well as strengthen the relationship between investors and tenants. "DED believes in continuous improvement and is implementing the eStrategy to enhance and expand its online services according to world best practices and customer feedback. This complements our strategic objective of creating an investor-friendly environment and encouraging investors to regard Dubai as their investment destination of choice." Shael said that the Business Registration and Licensing Division will continue to provide more tech-driven and value-added services to cope with the growth of businesses, and to position DED as the best government department offering services leveraging the latest technologies. The Business Registration and Licensing Division has accredited three centers and law firms to provide business registration and licensing services during non-working hours. These include On Time Centre, Tas'heel Center, Emirates Secretarial Services, in addition to Al Tamimi '&' Company. The range of eServices offered by DED include reserving and renewal of trade name, renewal of licenses, initial approval of licenses permits for most activities, and updating trade license data. The eServices also include Transaction Status whereby customers can check the status of the transaction by using a transaction number, license number or initial approval number. Search Trade Names enables users to reserve trade names or find out if the desired name is already taken. Company Lookup helps to search for existing companies operating in Dubai and gain information on their contact details and business activities. Number of Licenses per Person Report is also available whereby the number of licenses registered under one person's name can be known. Through Business Set up Simulator, potential investors can get a rough estimate on setting up a new business in Dubai. License Renewal Cost Estimator allows existing companies to find out the cost of renewing their licenses. Activity Search procedure helps users to understand more about the activities that are classified by DED. Informative and easy-to-use, the web services feature descriptive help text, Arabic/English support and a friendly layout and design. Internet users can instantly access the information without having to go through any registration process. Shael said that the Business Registration and Licensing Division in Business Village features an innovative Welcome Hub concept and e-kiosks where trained customer service representatives offer friendly counsel and cutting edge technology makes processes faster and more reliable. It is a marked improvement over traditional office cubicles. Customers can choose from a range of online, self-service and value-added options, thereby saving time and effort. He added: "Investors dealing with Business Registration and Licensing can experience upgraded and expanded services to ensure faster and more efficient service delivery. It enables our customers to focus more on their business while we enhance efficiencies through automated and user-friendly services." Business Registration and Licensing is a key function within DED and a strategic contributor to private sector participation in Dubai's economic development. It is also the most important point of contact with the local government for investors and entrepreneurs.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)

Etisalat commences region's first and widest LTE network rollout, signs deal with Alcatel-Lucent.(UNITED ARAB EMIRATES)

Delivering its commitment to offer the most advanced Internet services to its customers, Etisalat inked an agreement with Alcatel-Lucent for a planned deployment of the Middle East's first and widest Long Term Evolution (LTE) network in the UAE. Using Alcatel-Lucent's end-to-end solution, Etisalat will deploy the first commercial LTE network in the Middle East within the first quarter of 2011.

On the occasion, Mr. Mohammad Omran, chairman of Etisalat, commented, "As the region's leading-edge telecom service provider, this is a significant milestone for our corporation and we are proud to be the Middle East's first and widest LTE network, thereby fulfilling our promise to continuously deliver superlative communication experiences to our customers every step of the way."

"Over the last year we've witnessed a 200 percent growth in data roaming traffic. Due to the smartphone boom in the UAE, as is globally, our customers continue to crave for higher speeds and better connectivity.

There is an exploding demand for new technologies and large bandwidth to support and enable the surging data traffic," said Marwan Zawaydeh, Etisalat.

"We are confident that this advanced next-generation network from Alcatel-Lucent will meet our customers' needs for innovative mobile broadband services."

DeclareMedia Helps Moving Companies get more Business.

Salt Lake City, UT (PRWEB) April 25, 2011

DeclareMedia has created a new online directory for moving companies to post their business and help more elderly. DeclareMedia is now able to help moving companies with a listing in the directory for free. If they want their business shown on the homepage for only $20.00 per month space is limited so they need to hurry and get their placement before it gets taken by competitors.

Moving companies are probably trying to figure out how to maximize marketing dollars and get ahead of competition by using the internet. DeclareMedia wants to make it easy for moving companies with online multiple directories so they can find more business. If anyone goes on search engines such as Yahoo or Google for Maryland Moving Company, DeclareMedia's got a directory for that. If someone wants to locate Pennsylvania Moving Company, they've got a directory for that.

DeclareMedia has over 100 directories to help moving companies get more clients on the web.

Moving can be quite the hassle whether it's for business or for personal reasons. Moving companies provide services to individuals and businesses to help with the process. Some of their services are supplying people who can pack and move the unit from one place to the other. Also they provide moving equipment like trucks and trailers. If a company or a person would like to do it themselves, moving companies will let the customer rent trucks, trailers or equipment to relocate them.

"DeclareMedia's solution is unique in a way that it is easy to use, and works well when it comes to search engine optimization (SEO)," said Ben Martin, VP Product Development, DeclareMedia. A free listing only takes a couple minutes to create. A featured placement listing takes just a minute longer, and companies gain more traffic and lead flow for their moving company due to the prominent placement on the homepage of the directory. All of that is only $20 per month. DeclareMedia has figured out how to get good rankings for the online directories on search engines, which ends up helping customers with their SEO efforts.

DeclareMedia is planning to launch more moving company directories in the next few weeks.

About DeclareMedia: DeclareMedia plans to manage over thousands of online, multiple directories covering hundreds of business categories. There is an easier way for both businesses and customers to get what they both need. It is easier and better for businesses to list their website and more convenient for customers to find what they are searching for. Since the directories rank well in search engines, they help local businesses take advantage of the web to reach customers in their local area. DeclareMedia is located in Salt Lake City, Utah.

# # #

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/4/prweb8336609.htm

Service Corporation International Announces Schedule For Its Second Quarter 2010 Earnings Release and Conference Call.

HOUSTON, July 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Service Corporation International (NYSE: SCI) announced it expects to issue a press release with financial results for the second quarter 2010 on Wednesday, July 28, 2010, after the market closes. A conference call will be hosted by SCI Management on Thursday, July 29, 2010. Details of the conference call are as follows:

What: Service Corporation International Second Quarter 2010 Earnings Conference Call

When: Thursday, July 29, 2010, at 9:00 a.m. Central Time

How: Dial-in Number - (617) 786-2905 / Code 91118618 or listen live via the internet through our website at www.sci-corp.com in the Investors section under "Webcasts & Presentations"

Replay: (617) 801-6888 / Code 70013657 - Available through August 5, 2010 or for at least 90 days through our website at www.sci-corp.com in the Investors section under "Webcasts & Presentations"

Contact: Sandy Bobo at (713) 525-5395

About Service Corporation International

Service Corporation International (NYSE: SCI), headquartered in Houston, Texas, is North America's leading provider of deathcare products and services. At March 31, 2010, we owned and operated 1,441 funeral homes and 387 cemeteries (of which 221 are combination locations) in 44 states, eight Canadian provinces, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Through our businesses, we market the Dignity Memorial brand which offers assurance of quality, value, caring service, and exceptional customer satisfaction. For more information about Service Corporation International, please visit our website at www.sci-corp.com. For more information about Dignity Memorial, please visit www.dignitymemorial.com.

SOURCE Service Corporation International

Envelope Manager Software Announces New DAZzle Express

Breakthrough Mailing Software Builds on Technology from Microsoft Partnership

PALO ALTO, Calif., March 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Envelope Manager Software(R) announced the release of DAZzle Express(TM), the next generation in easy-to- use postal mailing software. DAZzle Express builds on the technology used in Direct Mail Manager, a product created in partnership with Microsoft(R) Corporation for small businesses.

DAZzle Express breaks new ground for mailing software by providing a wizard-like interface to guide the user step-by-step through the confusing process of producing a bulk (discount) mailing. This new program is designed to offer the small office/home office (SOHO) market direct marketing capabilities that previously were only available to large corporations or professional mailers. The key reason DAZzle Express is able to provide powerful mailing capabilities in an affordable package is it's use of the latest Internet technology. DAZzle Express uses Envelope Manager Software's patented Dial-A-ZIP(R) technology and the Internet to provide real-time address verification and correction. Additionally, an auto-update feature uses the Internet to automatically detect and upgrade to new versions of the software.

Simultaneous with Envelope Manager Software's release of DAZzle Express, Microsoft released Direct Mail Manager(TM), which was developed by Envelope Manager Software and is available as part of Office 97, Small Business Edition(R), version 2. The two applications share the same "look and feel" and nearly all of the same features. DAZzle Express adds support for more discount mailing options, larger mailing lists (no size limit) and comes bundled with the envelope and design utility, DAZzle Plus(R). A Direct Mail Manager user who wants to take advantage of the advanced features of DAZzle Express can upgrade for $195.

Because the United States Postal Service requires all bulk mailing software to perform address correction and verification, vendors have traditionally relied upon technologies that use a CD-ROM address database to meet this requirement. The CD-ROM based method is both expensive and inconvenient because it requires frequent distribution of updated CDs. To eliminate these problems, DAZzle Express provides the same address verification process using the Internet. This patented process, known as Dial-A-ZIP, connects with the U. S. Postal Service's national address database via the Internet to verify all of the addresses in the mailing list. Envelope Manager Software provides this service free of charge to all DAZzle Express customers.

DAZzle Express also takes advantage of the Internet with its "auto-update" feature. This lets the user know when a new version of the software is available, and gives the user the opportunity to immediately upgrade. For example, when the new U.S. postage rates are finalized this summer, DAZzle Express customers will be notified the first time they use the program following the rate change. Within minutes they can be using the updated software.

For DAZzle Express users interested in doing direct mailings, but who may not have the time or equipment to handle the manual production aspects, DAZzle Express offers the option of electronically forwarding their mailing list, and the document to be mailed, to NeopostExpress(TM) from Neopost(R). NeopostExpress will handle all of the printing, folding, inserting and mailing tasks.

DAZzle Express comes bundled with an award-winning envelope and label design tool, DAZzle Plus. DAZzle Plus supports the latest US Postal Service automation standards, such as POSTNET barcoding, provides the user with extensive design options including multiple fonts, color support, graphic images, "rubber stamp" messages, and supports all common envelope and label sizes. DAZzle Plus also integrates with information managers and organizers such as ACT!(TM) and Goldmine(TM), and popular word processors such as Microsoft Word(TM).

DAZzle Express Product Highlights

* Wizard-like interface

* Free Internet-based address verification using Dial-A-ZIP(R)

* Auto-update feature to automatically notify users and update the

software

* CASS and PAVE Certified by the United States Postal Service for discount

mailings

* Support of First-Class and Standard discount mailings, including

Nonprofit and "Enhanced Carrier Route" discounts

* Import and export of many common list formats (e.g. Microsoft Access,

Excel, dBase, text)

* Bundled with the award-winning envelope and label design tool, DAZzle

Plus

* Integrated mail merge with Microsoft Word 97 and Publisher 98

* Suggested retail price is $195.

DAZzle Express System Requirements

* Microsoft Windows '95 or NT 4.x or greater

* Internet connection

* Microsoft Office 97, Small Business Edition, version 2

Envelope Manager Software has been a leader in desktop mailing software for over 10 years. The company focuses on using the latest technology to create affordable mailing software for the "desktop mailer." Among its most notable achievements, Envelope Manager Software was the first to offer address verification via modem and the Internet, the first to offer change of address information over the Internet, and the first to propose a PC-based postage meter (both hardware and software based systems) to the US Postal Service. Envelope Manager Software products are used nationwide by organizations and businesses that range from the very largest (e.g., Envelope Manager is the corporate standard of US Postal Service) down to the smallest home-based businesses and non-profit groups.

See www.EnvelopeManager.com for more information.

SOURCE Envelope Manager Software

     -0-                             03/30/98 

/CONTACT: Scott Montgomery, 650-321-2640 x103, Scottm@EnvMgr.com, or Robert Hemeryck, 650-321-2640 x110, Robert@EnvMgr.com, both of Envelope Manager Software, www.EnvelopeManager.com/

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

CO: Envelope Manager Software ST: California IN: CPR MLM SU: PDT

DK-JJ -- LAM047 -- 5288 03/30/98 06:01 EST http://www.prnewswire.com

HitCom Corp. adds 11 new employees to IntelliPages staffs for St. Louis; Kansas City, Mo.; Denver; and Spokane, Wash.

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 9, 1996--HitCom Corp. (OTC:HITT), a St. Louis-based publishing, marketing and technology company with a primary focus on the Internet, Friday announced the addition of 11 new employees to IntelliPages staffs in St. Louis; Kansas City, Mo.; Denver; and Spokane, Wash., according to Brian Creath, president of HitCom.

HitCom appointed John Butler and Terry Zavadil area sales managers for IntelliPages Spokane and Denver, respectively. Ray Budo, Mike Durham, Heather Goss, Rick Hendricks, Frederico Reiter and Mike Uhlenbrock were named account executives for IntelliPages St. Louis. In addition, Dean Barrow, Jerry O'Dell and Anthony Wrisinger were appointed account executives for IntelliPages Kansas City.

HitCom's flagship product, IntelliPages (www.intellipages.com), is one of the most complete, city-specific news and information resources on the Internet. IntelliPages offers city-interest categories, such as entertainment, attractions, events and shopping; local headline news, weather, sports and traffic; as well as local white pages and yellow pages listings. HitCom plans to introduce IntelliPages in more than 200 markets by 1999.

IntelliPages currently has more than 1,400 paying advertisers, and the product receives more than 100,000 visits per month. Each IntelliPages market has the potential to generate $2.4 million in revenue the first year. IntelliPages is on-line for St. Louis and Kansas City, and will go on-line in Denver and Spokane with yellow and white pages listings next month.

HitCom (www.hitcom.com), with headquarters in St. Louis, produces IntelliPages (www.intellipages.com), a leading city-specific "real need" and practical information resource. The company also develops several other products and services for the Internet, ranging from proprietary technology tools to innovative marketing applications.

CONTACT: HitCom Corp., St. Louis

Valerie Kearney, 314/231-1000

vkearney@hitcom.com (e-mail)

or

Jupiter Communications Inc.

Randy Naft, 800/576-3431

jupiterco@aol.com (e-mail)

Play video as your Desktop.

Byline: Cliff Joseph

Play video as your Desktop

wallpaper

The priciest version of Windows Vista offers video wallpaper. Here's how to get it for nothing

Many computer users personalise their Windows Desktop by setting a favourite photo as the electronic wallpaper. The costliest version of the new Windows Vista operating system takes this idea one stage further with a feature called DreamScene, which displays moving video as wallpaper. Vista Ultimate costs several hundred pounds, but fortunately there's a cheaper way to create video wallpaper.

A free program called VLC plays video either in a window (like the normal Windows Media Player) or as full-screen wallpaper. Best of all, you don't need Vista to run VLC A- it will work just as well on Windows XP. Here's how to download and use it.

We're going to use a program called VLC to create video wallpaper in Windows. Note that this software only works with Windows XP and Vista, but older computers might struggle to keep video clips running smoothly anyway. The latest version of VLC is available to download free of charge from our own website. Visit www.computeractive.co.uk/2144343 and click the Free download link. When prompted, opt to save the file to the Windows Desktop: the download process should take less than a minute with a broadband connection. Locate the downloaded file (called 'vlc-0.8.6b-win32.exe' or similar) and double-click it to start the installation. Follow the displayed prompts to complete the job. Note that if you don't wish to have VLC set as the default player for most media types, be sure to remove the ticks from the relevant checkboxes during setup. A

Once the installation process is complete, you'll see a shortcut icon for VLC on the Windows Desktop (it looks like a stripy traffic cone for some reason). Double click on it to launch the program, then use the Open command in the File menu to locate the video clip you want. We've dropped a video clip onto the Desktop for convenience. We're currently playing the new Rufus Wainright album to death, so we chose one of his music videos as an example. A

There's a quick way to turn this clip into a video wallpaper A- just go to the Video menu and select the Wallpaper command. While you're at it, take a look at some of the other options in this menu A- particularly the 'aspect ratio' sub-menu. This refers to the size and shape of the video image A- whether it's widescreen 16:9 ratio or the traditional 4:3 ratio of older computer monitors. You may need to experiment with this setting to make sure that the video clip fits properly onto your computer screen. A

Once the Wallpaper command has been selected, use the Minimise command to hide the VLC window so that you can see the entire Desktop, complete with icons for things such as Internet Explorer. Notice that VLC is listed in the Taskbar at the bottom of the screen, so you can open the original VLC window again whenever you want. The only problem is that this video clip only lasts for about four minutes, and you probably don't want to keep stopping every few minutes to select a new clip. A

Click on the VLC icon in the Taskbar to recall the program's main control window. Go to the View menu and select the Playlist option. The Playlist window shows the video clips we're currently playing A- just that single Rufus clip right now. In the menu bar immediately above the playlist (below the word 'Manage') are three small icons. These are the 'loop' controls: use them to loop a single video clip so that it plays over and over, giving a never-ending video wallpaper. A

We like old Rufus, but not to the point where we want to keep watching the same video the whole time we're working. A better idea is to create a kind of video jukebox by adding a few more clips to the playlist. This is easy, as you can just drag and drop video clips from any folder into the Playlist window. You can also use the loop controls once more to loop through the playlist, or set the controls to 'shuffle' randomly through it. A

We've now got VLC set up to play a series of video clips as a continuous video wallpaper. However, the Wallpaper command we chose from the Video menu (step three) isn't permanent. The next time VLC is launched, you'll have to select the Wallpaper command again to switch back into wallpaper mode. That's not necessarily a problem A- after all, continuous video wallpaper can be a bit distracting if you're trying to do some real work. However, it's also possible to put VLC into permanent wallpaper mode if you want. A

Go to the VLC settings menu and select Preferences. When the Preferences dialogue box appears, click on the Advanced Options box in the right-hand corner. Now double-click on the word Video in the list on the left-hand panel to display the various video controls. Double-click the Output Modules entry in the list, then click once on DirectX (this is the software within Windows that controls video playback). Click the option labelled 'Enable wallpaper mode', then Save. A

Activating wallpaper mode ensures that VLC will automatically play video clips as wallpaper whenever the program is launched. But before finishing here, there's one other option to investigate. Go to the list in the left-hand panel again and double-click on Interface. Next, double-click on the Main interfaces entry. Click just once on wxWidgets, then select the option marked 'Systray icon'. This puts a VLC icon into the Windows Notification Area (at the bottom of the right-hand side of the Taskbar), so that video playback can be controlled from here. A

Just right-click on the VLC icon in the Windows Notification Area to control playback of video clips, without having to return to the main VLC window. You can do other things with VLC, too. It can play DVDs, so we put on Hot Fuzz and turned that into video wallpaper. VLC can also play streaming video from the internet or capture the video signal from a webcam or camcorder.

The Peed Trojan Family Tops BitDefender's March Malware Chart.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- BitDefender[R], an award-winning provider of antivirus software and data security solutions, announced today the top ten malware threats in March. Trojan.Peed.Gen topped the list with 30.95 percent of total detections, making it this year's first true virus epidemic. The phenomenon is showing no signs of slowing down and BitDefender Labs expect Trojan.Peed.Gen to continue spreading in the upcoming months.

Aside from Iframe vulnerability exploits being used in a host of new malware in March, the most notable new entry to BitDefender's top ten malware list is Win32.Sality.M, a highly-dangerous polymorphic virus which has been actively seeded in the past weeks, most notably using another virus, the venerable Bagle mass mailer, as a vector. BitDefender will continue to monitor the Win32.Sality.M virus in April to determine the potential wide-spread damage.

 BitDefender's March top ten malware list includes:     1. Trojan.Peed.Gen     2. BehavesLike:Trojan.Downloader     3. Win32.Netsky.P@mm     4. Exploit.Iframe.Vulnerability.B     5. Exploit.Iframe.Vulnerability     6. Win32.Bagle.HM@mm     7. Win32.Nyxem.E@mm     8. Win32.Sality.M     9. Win32.NetSky.D@mm     10. Trojan.ASXLoad.A 

"The trend toward consolidation in virus varieties in the wild will continue. This month's top ten list covers a whopping 60 percent of all viruses seen in circulation. We may be seeing the Internet version of natural selection in action, with a few successful species displacing the less successful ones on a massive scale," declared Viorel Canja for BitDefender.

A synthetic report on the current malware situation can always be found at:

http://www.bitdefender.com/site/VirusInfo/realTimeReporting/

About BitDefender[R]

BitDefender is a leading global provider of security solutions that satisfy the protection requirements of today's computing environment. The company offers one of the industry's fastest and most effective lines of security software, setting new standards for threat prevention, timely detection and mitigation. BitDefender delivers products and services to over 41 million home and corporate users in more than 180 countries. BitDefender has offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain and Romania. Further information about BitDefender can be obtained by visiting: http://www.bitdefender.com.

Digital Universe Adds Leading Internet Expert Lawrence Lessig to Board of Advisors.

Prof. Lawrence Lessig Appointment Underscores Digital Universe Commitment to Bring Together Renowned Experts Across Disciplines

SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif., March 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The Digital Universe Foundation today announced that Stanford University Professor Lawrence Lessig, founder and chairman of the Creative Commons and a board member of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, has joined its Board of Advisors.

The Digital Universe Board of Advisors consists of scholars, experts and leaders in Internet technology. Its function is to advise the Board of Directors of the Digital Universe Foundation.

"Prof. Lessig is a key addition to the Digital Universe Advisory Board," said Dr. Bernard Haisch, president of the Digital Universe Foundation. "His expertise in the areas of Internet copyright and creative commons will be a powerful asset in fulfilling our goal of creating the world's most authentic, accurate and freely available source of information on the Internet."

Lessig is currently Professor of Law at Stanford Law School and founder of the university's Center for Internet and Society. Prior to joining the Stanford faculty, he was the Berkman Professor of Law at Harvard Law School and a Professor at the University of Chicago. He clerked for Judge Richard Posner on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals and Justice Antonin Scalia on the United States Supreme Court.

During Lessig's distinguished career, he has received numerous awards, including the Free Software Foundation's Freedom Award, and was named one of Scientific American's Top 50 Visionaries for arguing "against interpretations of copyright that could stifle innovation and discourse online." He is also the author of Free Culture (2004), The Future of Ideas (2001) and Code and Other Laws of Cyberspace (1999). He chairs the Creative Commons project and serves on the board of the Free Software Foundation, the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Public Library of Science and Public Knowledge.

About Digital Universe

The Digital Universe mission is to create the framework for the most reliable, comprehensive and free online information resource on the Internet. The Digital Universe is a participatory global project, involving researchers, scholars, educators and the public. The Digital Universe is 100% free of advertising revenue and influence from advertisers. The project was inspired by the "Encyclopedia Galactica" envisioned by Isaac Asimov and Carl Sagan. Digital Universe activities are the responsibility of the non-profit Digital Universe Foundation. For more information, visit http://www.digitaluniverse.net/.

NOTE: Digital Universe and Digital Universe Foundation are trademarks of ManyOne. All other registered or unregistered trademarks are the sole property of their respective owners.

    Press Contact:    Gary Byrd    FortyThree, Inc.    DigitalUniverse@fortythreepr.com    831-621-3773  

CONTACT: Gary Byrd of FortyThree, Inc., +1-831-621-3773, or DigitalUniverse@fortythreepr.com, for Digital Universe

Web site: http://www.digitaluniverse.net/