Author: Serkadis

With the Internet becoming more affordable and more available all around the world, it is proving a disruptive force in countless ways. Unfortunately, some regimes, specifically the ones used to controlling public opinion and media, don’t take too kindly to this type of disruption and try to do what they do best, censor and b… (read more)

MEMPHIS, Tenn., April 20 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ — Harvey L. Karp, Chairman of Mueller Industries, Inc. (NYSE: MLI), announced today that Mueller’s net income was $34.0 million, or 90 cents per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2010.  This compares with a net loss of $2.5 million, or 7 cents per diluted share, for the same period of 2009.  First quarter net sales for 2010 were $485.3 million compared with $326.6 million in 2009.

During the first quarter of 2010, the Company recognized a gain of $22.5 million (or 62 cents per diluted share after tax) on the settlement of an insurance claim pertaining to the 2008 fire at its U.K. copper tube operation.  Further, the realization of this gain resulted in a tax benefit primarily from the utilization of U.K. net operating losses that were previously reserved.

Financial and Operating Highlights

Regarding the first quarter of 2010, Mr. Karp said:

• “Net sales increased to $485.3 million primarily due to higher selling prices that reflect increased raw material costs.  The Comex average price of copper was $3.28 per pound in the first quarter of 2010, which compares with $1.57 in the first quarter of 2009.  Gross profit was $72.2 million in the first quarter which is the best of the last six consecutive quarters.
• “Our Plumbing & Refrigeration segment posted operating earnings of $40.5 million that includes a $22.5 million gain on the settlement of an insurance claim as discussed above.  Net sales for the first quarter of 2010 were $256.7 million.  In the same period a year ago, segment earnings were $10.3 million on net sales of $190.4 million.  Volumes were mixed; tube volumes were lower, while fittings volume improved slightly.
• “Our OEM segment posted operating earnings of $16.1 million during the first quarter of 2010 on net sales of $232.2 million, which compares with an operating loss of $6.3 million on net sales of $138.4 million for the same period in 2009.  The increase in earnings was primarily due to higher volume and better spreads as demand improved.    
• “Stockholders’ equity was $740.8 million which equates to a book value per share of $19.66 of which $10.54 per share was cash.
• “Our current ratio remained solid at 4.0 to 1.  We ended the quarter with $397.2 million in cash and $657.3 million in working capital.
• “As of quarter end, our financial leverage was modest with a debt to total capitalization ratio of 19.5 percent.”

Business Outlook for 2010

Regarding the outlook for 2010, Mr. Karp said, “Business conditions have shown signs of improvement as the economic recovery in the United States takes hold. Although the commercial construction sector remains sluggish, residential construction has improved somewhat from the trough.  We expect that residential construction gains will be modest for the remainder of the year, while meaningful improvement in commercial construction is unlikely to occur before 2011.”

Mueller Industries, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of copper tube and fittings; brass and copper alloy rod, bar and shapes; aluminum and brass forgings; aluminum and copper impact extrusions; plastic fittings and valves; refrigeration valves and fittings; and fabricated tubular products.  Mueller’s operations are located throughout the United States and in Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, and China. Mueller’s business is importantly linked to:  (1) the construction of new homes; (2) the improvement and reconditioning of existing homes and structures; and (3) the commercial construction market which includes office buildings, factories, hotels, hospitals, etc.

                                  *************

Statements in this release that are not strictly historical may be “forward-looking” statements, which involve risks and uncertainties.  These include economic and currency conditions, continued availability of raw materials and energy, market demand, pricing, competitive and technological factors, and the availability of financing, among others, as set forth in the Company’s SEC filings.  The words “outlook,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “expect,” “believe,” “target,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.  The reader should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report.  The Company has no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this report.

SOURCE Mueller Industries, Inc.

Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services

Toyota may keep its current U.S. incentives for months to draw buyers to its showrooms as it faces the biggest recall crisis in the company’s history. According to analysts Toyota may continue its incentives well through the summer to recover from the damage that has been taken to its reputation for quality.

“With what we can gather today, they’re going to have to continue this level of spending until 2011 models start to come in a meaningful way,” said Jesse Toprak, vice president of industry trends at forecaster TrueCar.com. “That could mean until about August.”

Toyota began offering zero percent interest loans and discount leases on most Toyota models in early March and extended them this month. According to Edmunds.com the incentives were worth $2,568 per vehicle last month. They helped fuel a 41 percent boost in the company’s U.S. sales gain for last month, after it recalled more than 8 million vehicles globally.

– By: Stephen Calogera

Source: BusinessWeek

Dr. Lippman brings more than two decades of video and audio innovation to Fuze Box.

SAN FRANCISCO, April 20 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ — Fuze Box today announced that streaming media veteran Dr. Alan Lippman has been named Executive Vice President, Media Technology at Fuze Box. Dr. Lippman assumes his role immediately.

Recognized as one of the fathers of streaming audio/video and digital media hub technologies, Dr. Lippman will usher Fuze Box into the next generation of video technology. “We are uniquely positioned to welcome a thought leader in the video technology field, such as Alan, who will elevate Fuze Box to the next level in video collaboration,” said Jeff Cavins, CEO of Fuze Box. “We are excited that the timely appointment of Dr. Lippman will further solidify the company’s presence in the online collaboration space as Fuze Box approaches the cusp of unprecedented advances in video-based experiences.”

Dr. Lippman holds a BSM in Mathematics from the University of Washington, which he received at the age of 14 and graduated four years later with a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from Brown University. Dr. Lippman has since augmented his career through pointed and specialized media partnerships. As the Chief Engineer at RealNetworks, he was a key architect of RealAudio® and RealVideo® software that today is still downloaded millions of times per week. Upon founding Trusted Media Networks in 2001, Dr. Lippman established international standards for network management currently in use by Sprint, Verizon and AT&T. Dr. Lippman moved to Redback Networks in 2006 as the Chief Video Architect focusing on video traffic optimization.

In joining Fuze Box, Dr. Lippman heads a team that will focus on perfecting video capabilities across fixed web and mobile devices. He and his team will also work to optimize high definition video management and delivery. “I am pleased to join Fuze Box as the company extends its visual collaboration platform to global users.” Lippman continues, “There are many differentiated advantages that the Fuze Box platform provides for media capabilities and these uniquely match many of the product sciences I have been working on over the last five years.”

With the addition of Dr. Lippman, Fuze Box also announces the opening of new offices in Seattle.  Dr. Lippman and a team of experienced developers in the field of video and audio technologies will be the first employees working out of Fuze Box’s new Seattle, WA location.

About Fuze Box:

Fuze Box is a leading platform provider of visual collaboration applications for consumers and businesses. Its applications – Fuze Meeting, Fuze Messenger, Fuze Movie and Tweetshare – allow people to communicate, collaborate and share content from any device, anywhere in the world. Fuze Meeting is a mobile and web-based collaboration service that features integrated audio conferencing as well as high- definition, synchronized video and image sharing. The company’s technology is based on a real-time visual communications platform that converges telephony, high-definition, synchronized video and image sharing across the enterprise, the web and mobile networks. For more information, please visit http://www.fuzebox.com.

CONTACT: Kristen Isaacs of Fuze Box, +1-415-367-4558 (office),+1-818-621-2823 (cell), [email protected]

SOURCE Fuze Box

http://www.fuzebox.com

Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services

CHICAGO (CBS/CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM) ― A Chicago Police officer is hospitalized serious condition after a car struck the officer and a person he was interviewing in the Rush-Division nightlife district — prompting police to fire shots at the suspect.
 
The suspect fled, but was apprehended early Tuesday in the incident.

The incident began about 3:10 a.m. when a Mercedes was driving past 10 W. Elm St., where a police officer was conducting a traffic stop and either searching or interviewing a citizen outside, according to a police.

The Mercedes then struck the officer — and the person the officer was searching — and is believed to have dragged one of the two for a short distance. This prompted the officer’s partner to fire shots at the car, according to police.

The injured officer was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in serious condition, according to police News Affairs Officer Ron Gaines.

No one was hit by the police gunfire, Gaines said.

The Mercedes fled the scene northbound but the suspect who was driving it — and who police were shooting at — was eventually apprehended at Division and Dearborn streets.

Fire Media Affairs Chief Kevin MacGregor said crews responded, and one person has been transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

MacGregor could not say what condition the person was in and he did not know if the injured person was a police officer.

MacGregor said there was another ambulance called to an address nearby but they did not transport a second person anyone.

Two pre-war luxury apartment high-rises are located on the block of Elm Street where the original incident happened. On the ground floors of the high-rises — Elm Street Liquors at 10 W. Elm St. and the Hangge-Uppe at 14 W. Elm St. The Hangge-Uppe is open until 4 a.m.

A person who answered the phone at the Hangge-Uppe said the staff at the nightclub “can’t talk about it” about 3:30 a.m.

As of about 4:15 a.m., police had set up a crime scene and blocked off Division Street from Clark Street east to State Street. Crime scene tape also blocked off Elm Street, from near the front door of the Hangge-Uppe east to the intersection with State Street.

There was also a crime scene set up at Clark Street and LaSalle Drive about half a mile north, but it is not known whether this was related to the incident or for something else altogether.

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.)

Read the original article from WBBM News Radio.

Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services

The new Ford Fiesta has become Europe’s best-selling car in March and for the first-quarter of 2010, according to latest figures from the world’s leading provider of automotive data and intelligence, JATO Dynamics.

According to the figures by JATO, Ford sold 68,630 Fiestas in March, a 25.8 percent increase from March 2009, and almost 11,800 units ahead of its nearest rival, the Volkswagen Golf. In the first quarter of 2010, JATO says that Ford sold 140,496 Fiestasd – over 5,400 units ahead of the Golf.

Click here to get prices on the 2011 Ford Fiesta.

“Fiesta simply outpaced VW Golf, with its move to pole position particularly due to its strong March sales in the UK (+14.7%) and Italy (+87%) where 57% of all Fiestas sold (11,251) were LPG-powered,” said JATO Dynamics.

“We’re very proud of the latest-generation Ford Fiesta, and our customers love it,” said ngvar Sviggum, Ford of Europe’s Vice President for Marketing, Sales and Service. “Since it first went on sale 18 months ago, over 750,000 have been sold to customers around the world – this would be an outstanding achievement any time, but even more so given the unprecedented economic situation. And with the launch now underway in North America, I believe the Fiesta will continue to go from strength-to-strength.”

Click here for more news on the Ford Fiesta.

Refresher: The 2011 Ford Fiesta is powered by a 1.6L DOHC 4-cylinder engine making 119-hp with a peak torque of 109 lb-ft. It is estimated to deliver best-in-class highway fuel economy of 40 mpg. Pricing for the 2011 Ford Fiesta starts at $13,320.

2011 Ford Fiesta:

– By: Omar Rana

	U.S. demand for gasoline sets all-time record for March, trend expected to continue throughout summer Up we go.		Beyond 2016, automakers push for even stronger CAFE regulations, maybe a gas tax too What will it finally take?
	Volkswagen unveils electric Milano Taxi concept It’s got a 186-mile range and will probably be here sooner rather than later.	Other news: Renault signs with Electronic Arts for its Twizy Z.E. to appear in Sims 3 Of vending machines and cell phone towers: Automakers now planning for “dead” electric vehicle batteries B-cycle gives Denver the “first citywide bike sharing program” in U.S.

AutoblogGreen for 04.20.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 06:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Taryn Owens Joins Entertainment Fusion Group as Director of New Business Development

LOS ANGELES, April 20 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ — Entertainment Fusion Group (EFG) announced today that Taryn Owens, formerly of Development-Los Angeles PR, has joined the rapidly expanding firm as Director of Business Development.  In addition, EFG will also absorb her staff and current clients.  Owens, who has had 8 years experience in Public Relations, will also be bringing her roster of high end fashion and accessories clients such as Salsa Jeans, Shameless Jewelry, Liv Grn, Jordann Jewelry, Shumaq, and Degaine.  

“The addition of Taryn to our LA Headquarters is quite timely.  With the huge expansion of our New York office recently, Owens’ expertise will undoubtedly help us expand our LA client base as well,” says Peter Philipp Wingsoe, Managing Director of EFG US Operations.  ”I am confident that Taryn will be a huge asset to our agency, and we welcome her and her staff to the EFG family.”

“Although, it has been an honor to lead Development-Los Angeles for these past six years, I excitedly look forward to working with the entire EFG team on both coasts as the company’s director of business development,” adds Owens.  ”The EFG agency proves excellence in public relations, social media, mobile marketing, celebrity relations and events. With these services I am confident that we can successfully handle any range of business and am thrilled by the growth potential my new position brings.”

EFG, a full service communications and marketing agency with headquarters in Los Angeles and New York City, has the proven ability to craft and deliver successful campaigns to build brands in the lifestyle, fashion, beauty, hospitality, film, television, music and overall entertainment industries, as well as core competencies in special events and celebrity relations.  For further information please visit www.efgpr.com

SOURCE Entertainment Fusion Group

http://www.efgpr.com

Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services

Environmental Protection Activities Kick Off UMC’s 30th Anniversary

HSINCHU, Taiwan, April 20 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ — United Microelectronics
Corporation (NYSE: UMC; TAIEX: 2303; UMC), a leading global semiconductor
foundry, will announce its new climate change policy and carbon emission
reduction plans on April 22nd, Earth Day, in its drive to promote low-carbon
living concepts and fulfill the company’s commitment to corporate social
responsibility. This Earth Day announcement will also kick off a one-month
series of related environmental protection activities building up to UMC’s
30th anniversary celebration on May 20th.

UMC’s green efforts include establishing a New Business Development Center
to promote the growth of a low carbon economy by investing across the entire
supply chain of the green technology industry, including renewable energy,
solar energy, and new generation light-emitting diode (LED). The first several
investments focused on the LED and solar energy industries, in companies such
as LED lighting company Power Light Co. and photovoltaic engineering design
company EverRich Energy Corporation. UMC hopes to contribute to energy saving
and carbon reduction through revolutionary breakthroughs in green technologies
and applications, establishing itself as a leader in the green technology
industry while injecting fresh enthusiasm for sustainable development within
the company.

Dr. Shih-Wei Sun, CEO and chairman of UMC’s CSR Committee, will announce
UMC’s climate change policy and carbon emission reduction plans on April 22nd.
The new plans include reduction targets of 33% for normalized perfluorinated
compounds (PFC) emission and 3% for electricity usage by 2012*. It is
estimated that once the plan is completed, CO2 emission will be reduced by
another 170,000 tons each year, bringing the total CO2 emission reduction
achieved through UMC’s carbon reduction measures to 43%, or approximately 1.1
million tons per year. PFC emissions will be reduced by as much as 75% with
the new plan when combined with existing efforts.

Dr. Sun commented, “UMC established a PFC emission reduction team in 1999
in response to global warming. Since then, we have made significant progress
in reaching voluntary reduction goals earlier than the 2010 targets set by the
Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association (TSIA). As UMC celebrates its 30th
anniversary, this climate change policy announcement illustrates our company’s
expansive vision and targets for carbon reduction during this post-Kyoto
Protocol period. UMC’s climate change policy includes 1) achieving carbon
neutral status via carbon management, 2) becoming a comprehensive low-carbon
solution provider, and 3) leveraging corporate resources to cultivate a low-
carbon economy. These guidelines will enable UMC to respond to climate change
issues and help UMC live up to its vision of being a sustainable green
foundry. UMC will be the advocator of low-carbon innovation, the provider of
low-carbon solutions, and furthermore, the practitioner of low-carbon
activities.”

Achieving carbon neutral status will be the ultimate goal for UMC’s carbon
management program. This goal will be achieved through program measures
including energy saving, emission reduction, supply chain management and low-
carbon products production. In 2007 UMC led the foundry industry in completing
the replacement of C2F6 with C3F8 in all of its fabs, reducing CO2 emissions
by 450,000 tons per year. Furthermore, the more carbon efficient C4F8 was
introduced in 2008. Combined with other energy saving measures and a policy of
furbishing new fabs with highly efficient abatement systems, emission
reduction efficiency has been highly improved.

The month-long series of environmental protection activities will begin on
April 22 with a showing of the environmental documentary “+/-2 degrees
Celsius”. Through these series of activities, UMC hopes to instill energy
saving and carbon reduction values and knowledge to cultivate green habits in
its employees, to further inspire the formation of a low-carbon society, and
to enhance the company’s long-term sustainable competitiveness.

*Note: The base year is 2009.

About UMC

UMC ( UMC, TSE: 2303) is a leading global semiconductor foundry that
provides advanced technology and manufacturing services for applications
spanning every major sector of the IC industry. UMC’s customer-driven foundry
solutions allow chip designers to leverage the strength of the company’s
leading-edge processes, which include production proven 65nm, 45/40nm, mixed
signal/RFCMOS, and a wide range of specialty technologies. Production is
supported through 10 wafer manufacturing facilities that include two advanced
300mm fabs; Fab12A in Taiwan and Singapore-based Fab12i are both in volume
production for a variety of customer products. The company employs
approximately 12,000 people worldwide and has offices in Taiwan, Japan,
Singapore, Europe, and the United States. UMC can be found on the web at
http://www.umc.com.

    Editorial Contacts:

    In the USA:
     Charlene Loveless
     Tel:   +1-408-523-7850
     Email: [email protected]

    In Taiwan:
     Richard Yu
     Tel:   +886-2-2700-6999 ext. 6951
     Email: [email protected]

SOURCE United Microelectronics Corporation

http://www.umc.com

Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services

A new aerodynamic vehicle about to be introduced into the marketplace could change the face of cars as we know them. The new Aptera Typ-1 is an advanced vehicle that owes more than a little to aeronautic technology. The vehicle is designed to marry advanced aerodynamics with lightweight composite technology, creating a powerful, yet extremely safe, vehicle that is a joy to drive even for the most performance-minded individuals.

The Aptera Typ-1 will be available in all-electric and hybrid gasoline-electric models for less than $30,000. The electric version slated for delivery in 2011 with the hybrid model to follow. The all-electric model is said to have a range of 120 miles. In testing by the company, the plug-in series hybrid has achieved more than 300 miles per gallon, which translates to a range of more than 600 miles. Despite their lightweight appearance, both models are loaded with safety features.

“Unveiling the Aptera Typ-1 represents a pivotal point in automotive history as we mark the transition from research and development to manufacturing the most energy-efficient vehicle with a price tag to fit almost any budget,” said co-founder and CEO Steve Fambro.

Perhaps we can excuse Fambro’s hyperbole. It might not be a landmark in automotive history, but it certainly is a different approach to the automobile. Through extensive fluid dynamics modeling and materials engineering, the Aptera team has created what it says is the most efficient, lowest-drag shape that can surround two occupants side-by-side. And at the same time it has made safety a priority in the design. Additionally, the car features three wheels, making it technically a motorcycle and eligible for most carpool lanes, even with just the driver aboard.

The car has “two-plus-one” seating, offering ample room for driver and passenger while an infant seat (for newborns to children up to age three) can be located in the middle behind them. Despite the vehicle’s compact dimensions, storage room is generous with enough space to fit 15 bags of groceries, two full-size golf club bags or even a couple of seven-foot surfboards as long as the infant seat is removed. (We’re not sure what to do if your infant wants to surf.) The vehicle is loaded with safety features. Among them are a front crumple zone, a front end that re-directs crash energy in a frontal impact, steel and composite side and rollover protection as well as driver and passenger side airbags.

The Aptera Typ-1 is available in two models. The all-electric model is powered exclusively with batteries and will get its driver around town for approximately 120 miles depending on driving conditions, load and speed. At night, you can simply plug the Aptera into any standard 110-volt outlet, and in just a few hours the vehicle will be fully charged and ready for another 120 miles.

The plug-in hybrid version of the vehicle might be the more practical of the two. It is powered by an electric drivetrain, but is also assisted by a fuel-efficient gasoline-powered generator, which stretches the range considerably. In typical driving, the hybrid Aptera may achieve over 300 miles per gallon, a range far beyond any other passenger vehicle available today. This drive system is similar to the electrically driven system proposed for the new Chevrolet Volt, which is now being shown in concept car form.

The most interesting thing about the Aptera Typ-1 is that it offers features that typically are not found on any vehicle, not even an advanced hybrid or all-electric model. Solar cells embedded under the roof operate an always-on climate control system, ensuring the interior never gets too hot or too cold. The dashboard display and infotainment system is controlled by an in-vehicle computer, which also controls the “Eyes Forward” vision system. By replacing the side mirrors with embedded cameras that display a 180-degree rear view in the front of the instrument panel, the system gives the driver complete situational awareness without taking his or her eyes off of the road.

Other standard features include driver and passenger side airbags, energy-absorbing and impact-deflecting passenger safety cell, and advanced drive computer with GPS navigation, CD/MP3/DVD player and XM satellite radio. Among other features is a large rear-view camera and complete vehicle diagnostic system, LED interior and exterior lighting for maximum energy efficiency and an RFID (Radio Frequency ID) — an automatic identification method so a driver never has to pull out their keys to enter or start their Aptera. The final bit of technical trickery is a USB port for powering a laptop or charging an MP3 player and other mobile devices.

For those who are intrigued by this new automotive device, fully refundable reservation deposits of $500 for the purchase of the vehicle are now being accepted from California residents on the Aptera Web site, aptera.com. The company says it will initially deliver vehicles in Southern California, then in Northern California and finally to other regions nationwide.

Cleveland-based automotive journalist Luigi Fraschini writes frequently about new technology and automotive safety.

Related posts:

1. Jaguar to Build Sweet Looking Electric Car
2. The Most Efficient Cars on the Road Today
3. The 5 Coolest Concept Cars from the L.A. Auto Show

During fall of 2009, Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn was pondering requests to team up with two separate brands – Daimler’s Smart and General Motors’ Saturn. While, we already know who Ghosn picked to team up with, he says that it was never an “either/or” situation.

He said that working with Smart made sense and “Saturn was rejected because of very bad economics.”

Ghosn said that both plans were in front him at the same time and at the end, he rejected the idea of developing a new product line for Saturn after the brands departure from GM.

“There was no interference between the two projects,” he said. “It didn’t make sense for Renault. When you took a look at the bottom line on this project, it was mediocre.”

Daimler and Renault-Nissan announced their partnership earlier this month where they will both work effectively to develop new Smarts, electric-cars and share powertrains across their lineup. Renault-Nissan Alliance will get a 3.1% stake in Daimler and Daimler will get a 3.1% stake in Renault and a 3.1% stake in Nissan.

– By: Stephen Calogera

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

AUSTIN, Texas, April 20 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ — Whole Foods Market (Nasdaq: WFMI) announced it is strengthening efforts to reduce energy consumption company-wide by 25 percent per square foot by 2015. The Company has also committed to wind energy, more on-site renewable energy, and aggressive green building, advanced refrigeration and transportation practices, which will result in significant emissions reductions.

“With this combination of strategies, we intend to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent per square foot by 2015,” said Kathy Loftus, Whole Foods Market global leader, sustainable engineering. “Saving energy costs less than buying it, so we are reducing our energy appetite from both traditional and renewable sources.”

The Company has designed new stores to be more energy efficient. Several have been awarded the Environmental Protection Agency’s GreenChill certification, which recognizes eco-friendly commercial refrigeration systems. One early example of reduced energy is California’s Santa Barbara store, which uses 45 percent less energy than a nearby store of comparable size.

As part of a Department of Energy partnership, the Company was awarded resources to design new stores and retrofit older ones. The program pairs Whole Foods Market with National Renewable Energy Labs to create, test and validate design concepts that will move toward net-zero energy commercial buildings.

This is the fourth year that Whole Foods Market will offset 100 percent of its North American electricity use with wind energy credits. This year, the Company will purchase more than 810,000 mWh of renewable energy credits, adding clean energy to power grids.

The Company also has 15 locations supplementing traditional power with solar with more in development. The San Jose store recently announced it would host a fuel cell, making it the first supermarket in California that will generate enough electricity on site to meet 90 percent of its needs. This store joins the Glastonbury, Conn., and Dedham, Mass., stores, which already have on-site hydrogen fuel cells. More are on tap for future locations.

The Company has close to 30 stores that are either LEED or Green Globes certified, registered or in development. The latest store to announce LEED Gold is the Upper West Side store.

The Company is tracking energy and emissions from energy usage, refrigerant gas leakage, and fuel usage for the internal truck fleet using a baseline year of 2008.

Learn more at blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/category/green-action.

SOURCE Whole Foods Market

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com

Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services

The fantastic NPR podcast, Planet Money, interviewed OK Go frontman Damian Kulash, discussing the music industry, record labels and management secrets. In the interview, Kulash reminisces about the success that they had with their now-famous treadmill video — and then contrasts that experience with the ridiculous policy against embedding forced upon by them by their label, EMI. This battle, of course, ultimately resulted in the band parting ways with their label. Since distribution channels are no longer tightly controlled solely by the record labels, once an artist has established their fanbase, it is now much easier for them to go it alone. This story is becoming increasingly common. From Trent Reznor to Amanda Palmer, dropping a label has become the new reason to celebrate for the latest generation of musicians.

That said, OK Go left EMI amicably, and Kulash is quite appreciative of the music labels. He calls them “risk aggregators” and commends them for funding the initial monetary investment necessary to get his band off the ground. However, with the costs of music production plummeting in recent years, the days of needing huge advances just to cut an album are numbered. Couple this fact with innovative funding models, like what Jill Sobule and Ellis Paul have been doing, and then the opportunity for new bands to find success looks bright. Kulash recognizes this opportunity for new bands to find new paths to success:

There’s no known way from point A to point C or D or F anymore. … There’s all sorts of room for people to try new ideas and try innovative things. If people make cool stuff, and people are savvy in the way they deal with their cool stuff, I have no doubt that young bands will continue to rise to the top

The important takeaway here is that the new models of success may yet be discovered. Innovation by savvy people is still paramount. So, to succeed, the music industry needs to cultivate the entrepreneurial spirit and get out of the way of artists, instead of acting as a restrictive gatekeeper.

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SHANGHAI, April 20 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ — Ctrip.com International, Ltd.
(Nasdaq: CTRP), a leading travel service provider of hotel accommodations,
airline tickets and packaged tours in China, will announce its first quarter
2010 results on Tuesday, May 11, 2010, U.S. Eastern Time, after the market
closes.

Ctrip’s management team will host a conference call at 9:00PM U.S. Eastern
Time on May 11, 2010 (or 9:00AM on May 12, 2010 in the Shanghai/HK time zone)
following the announcement.

The conference call will be available on Webcast live and replay at:
http://ir.ctrip.com . The call will be archived for one month at this website.

The dial-in details for the live conference call: U.S. Toll Free Number
+1.888.713.4214, International dial-in number +1.617.213.4866, Passcode
14587692. For pre-registration, please click
https://www.theconferencingservice.com/prereg/key.process?key=PH9JVFGQ6 .

A telephone replay of the call will be available after the conclusion of
the conference call through May 19, 2010. The dial-in details for the replay:
U.S. Toll Free Number +1.888.286.8010, International dial-in number
+1.617.801.6888, Passcode 47897049.

About Ctrip.com International, Ltd.

Ctrip.com International, Ltd. is a leading travel service provider of
hotel accommodations, airline tickets, and packaged-tours in China. Ctrip
aggregates information on hotels and flights and enables customers to make
informed and cost-effective hotel and flight bookings. Ctrip also sells
packaged tours that include transportation and accommodations, as well as
guided tours in some instances. Ctrip targets primarily business and leisure
travellers in China. Since its inception in 1999, Ctrip has experienced
substantial growth and become one of the best-known travel brands in China.

    For further information, please contact:

    Lin Zhang
     Ctrip.com International, Ltd.
     Tel:   +86-21-3406-4880 x12920
     Email: [email protected]

    June Zhu
     Ctrip.com International, Ltd.
     Tel:   +86-21-3406-4880 x12258
     Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Ctrip.com International, Ltd.

http://ir.ctrip.com

Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services

Earnings conference call set for 10 a.m. ET May 11 to discuss complete results

* Same-store merchandise sales up 2.5%

* Average retail fuel volumes per store down 0.2%

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, April 20 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ — Susser Holdings Corporation (Nasdaq: SUSS) said today it expects to report same-store merchandise sales growth for the first quarter of 2010 of approximately 2.5 percent.  Retail average per-store fuel volumes are expected to decline by 0.2 percent year-over-year.

First Quarter Earnings Conference Call

Susser will release its first quarter 2010 financial and operating results on Tuesday, May 11, before the market opens. In conjunction with the release, the Company has scheduled a conference call that will be broadcast live over the Internet the same day at 10 a.m. Eastern Time.

Participate live via phone by dialing 480-629-9720 or live over the Internet by logging onto the Company’s web site at www.susser.com on the “Events & Presentations” page of the Investor Relations section.  A telephonic replay will be available through May 18 by calling 303-590-3030 and using the access code 4285925#.  An archive of the webcast will be available for 60 days on Susser’s web site.

Corpus Christi, Texas-based Susser Holdings Corporation is a third-generation family led business that operates more than 525 convenience stores in Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma primarily under the Stripes and Town & Country banners. Restaurant service is available in more than 300 of its stores, primarily under the proprietary Laredo Taco Company and Country Cookin’ brands. The Company also supplies branded motor fuel to approximately 390 independent dealers through its wholesale fuel division.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” describing Susser’s objectives, targets, plans, strategies, costs, anticipated capital expenditures, expansion of our food service offerings, potential acquisitions and new store openings and dealer locations. These statements are based on current plans and expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to vary materially, including but not limited to: competition from other convenience stores, gasoline stations, dollar stores, drug stores, supermarkets, hypermarkets and other wholesale fuel distributors; changes in economic conditions; volatility in energy prices; political conditions in key crude oil producing regions; wholesale cost increases of tobacco products; adverse publicity concerning food quality, food safety or other health concerns related to our restaurant facilities; consumer or other litigation; consumer behavior, travel and tourism trends; devaluation of the Mexican peso or restrictions on access of Mexican citizens to the U.S.; unfavorable weather conditions; changes in state and federal regulations; dependence on one principal supplier for merchandise, two principal suppliers for gasoline and one principal provider for transportation of substantially all of our motor fuel; financial leverage and debt covenants; changes in debt ratings; inability to identify, acquire and integrate new stores; dependence on senior management; acts of war and terrorism; and other unforeseen factors. For a full discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, refer to the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 3, 2010. These forward-looking statements are based on and include our estimates as of the date hereof. Subsequent events and market developments could cause our estimates to change. While we may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, even if new information becomes available, except as may be required by applicable law.

SUSS-IR

SOURCE Susser Holdings Corporation

http://www.susser.com

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Trustees unanimously approved a $5.3 million operating budget Monday.

The board defeated, as expected, a second attempt to fund Harlem Community Center’s Neighborhood Playground, a $55,800 summer recreational program that was eliminated from this year’s budget.

Trustee Mark Sorrentino tried again to have $5,000 inserted to operate the program at one site, Marquette Elementary School. The motion was defeated 4-3, with village President Tom Strickland casting the tie-breaking vote.

Sorrentino, who asked trustees to vote with “compassion for the children,” previously said conflict between the administration and directors of the center was behind the cut.

Strickland denied that, reading a prepared statement after the vote to emphasize his reason for eliminating the program:

“There’s nothing any of us would like to do more than to provide a free summer program for parents and children, but it simply is not practical in today’s economy and the village’s budget. Given the rising cost of the program and the number of children being served, we felt it important to take a step back and evaluate the finances and effectiveness of the program.”

Strickland noted that he has coached, officiated and been an HCC board member.

Officials with the community center said they plan to keep the program alive at Marquette anyway and are in search of private donations to do so.

Reach staff writer Kevin Haas at [email protected] or 815-987-1354.

Read the original article from the Rockford Register Star.

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Downtown bar owner Chris Wachowiak wants the city to remove a piece of the red tape that stands between people who want to organize street festivals and City Hall so the city’s core can become a hot spot of outdoor events and nightlife.

The city’s Code and Regulation Committee took up the idea of amending its open seal liquor laws and creating standing festival zones Monday night, but postponed any action saying it wanted the Legal Department to do more research on whether the change is needed and how it could be paid sales taxes for events involving nonprofits.

The committee will revisit the subject next week.

The first two proposed festival zones are the City Market Zone — the area surrounding the parking garage at Water and East State streets — and the Main Street Zone — one block north and south of East State Street at Main Street, which was reopened as a street this year after decades of serving as a pedestrian mall.

Wachowiak’s bar, Krypto Music Lounge, is at the corner of West State and Main. He sees the street outside his business as an ideal spot for weekend music festivals featuring local, regional and national bands.

As for the City Market, no one in the zone has a permanent liquor license so the change would allow a vendor to come in and sell without having to apply for a permit each time.

“The reason we’re looking for the ordinance change is to make it easier to do events for anyone who wants to do these events,” Wachowiak said. He already has two events planned for this summer, but wants to plan many more — two a month, at least.

Aldermen, who would have to approve the change, expressed support for the idea, but as of Monday night, some still had concerns about how it would work and whether it’s in alignment with the goals of the newly formed Rockford Area Venues and Entertainment Authority.

RAVE Chairman Mike Dunn threw his support behind the concept and urged the city to do whatever it could to support the creation of more downtown events.

“We 100 percent believe in the importance of these kinds of events and support the people who are investing in properties and businesses in downtown,” Dunn said. “That’s the attitude RAVE has.”

Ald. Bill Robertson suggested a wait-and-see approach. He said groups wanting to plan more festivals and events could continue to request special-use permits for the temporary adjustment of open liquor laws, and the city could see how it goes.

Ald. Ann Thompson-Kelly suggested passing the amendment with a sunset clause so further adjustments could be made.

“No one is against festivals,” said Ald. Doug Mark. “We just want some parameters set.”

Staff writer Corina Curry can be reached at [email protected] or 815-987-1371.

Read the original article from the Rockford Register Star.

Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services

If your camper is stuck in a tight spot, do NOT listen to your drunk, beer-swilling buddies about how to get it out…

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It’s your typical Tuesday morning. You’ve rolled out of bed, taken a shower, made a cup of coffee, and are scrolling through your email – which includes your daily RSS feed from GovGab.

Excited to see what Joanne has to say for the day, you check it out. Sorry gang, but you’ll have to wait to hear from Joanne until tomorrow.

Today, Colleen takes over Tuesday. But have no fear, Joanne returns tomorrow.

Today lucky reader, you are reading the blog post of the 2005 Phoenixville Area High School Environmental Science Award winner. Yes, my high school academic claim to fame was winning an award for a class I took purely because I was willing to do anything to get out of taking physics.

Lucky for me, Environmental Science actually rocked, and sparked my interest in the environment that continues today.

That said, I am pleased to make you aware that Earth Day is this Thursday.

Earth Day was first observed 40 years ago to bring awareness to issues regarding the health and sustainability of our planet. It is intended to get people to make changes, however small, to live a more environmentally friendly lifestyle.

 What are some easy ways to be more "green"?

• Recycle
• Use reusable grocery bags instead of paper or plastic
• Walk to do errands when you can, and avoid driving
• Reduce printing when you can to save paper
• Carpool for your commute to work, or take public transportation

What ideas do you have for an environmentally friendly lifestyle?

EDINBURGH, Scotland, April 20, 2010 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ — Mobiqa, a leading
supplier of content optimised for mobile devices, celebrates Earth Day 2010
by helping its clients save over 7,000 miles of paper – 10 times the length
of Britain – with paperless ticketing technology.

Mobiqa specialises in the worldwide delivery of barcoded tickets to
mobile phones and also in building mobile websites. Mobiqa’s clients include;
the world’s biggest airlines, entertainment ticketing providers, and cinema
operators. Paper savings offered by the mobile channel are significant with
Mobiqa alone set to save over 270,000 miles of paper in the next five years –
the equivalent of 10 times the circumference of the earth.

Nick Rankin, CEO of Mobiqa, comments: “We are really proud to support the
green credentials of our clients. Consumer adoption of mobile ticketing has
helped many of our customers achieve considerable environmental savings.”

Transport and entertainment organisations have chosen Mobiqa’s paperless
technology to offer a greener alternative to paper tickets while enhancing
the consumer experience with a more convenient ticket delivery channel.
Consumers purchasing tickets for a flight or event can opt for mobile
delivery upon which, an SMS web-link or Email web-link is sent to their
mobile. By accessing their ticket through this link, they are able to bypass
check-in or box-office queues and head straight to their boarding gate or
event where the barcode on their phone is scanned and validated.

Mobiqa continue to lead the way in mobile ticket technology and are a key
enabler of mobile ticket delivery which is forecast by Juniper Research to
reach 15 billion tickets by 2014. Mobiqa has experienced a 620% increase in
mobile ticketing transactions over the past 12 months.

Note to Editors:

About Mobiqa

Mobiqa specialises in building high-end mobile internet sites and
delivering optimised barcoded tickets, boarding passes and coupons to mobiles
worldwide. With connections to over 600 mobile networks in over 150
countries, Mobiqa is able to push content to end users across the globe
regardless of their mobile device type or network operator. Mobiqa has been
granted the international patent over the process of Optimisation in Europe,
US, Canada, India, Australia and South Africa, and is pending in other key
regions. Mobiqa’s client list and more information are available on our
website: http://www.mobiqa.com.

    Press contact:
    Nicola Wee
    PR & Marketing Manager
    [email protected]
    T: +44-131-668-4256

SOURCE Mobiqa Ltd

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