Louisville Slugger®, America’s Iconic Brand, Swings into a New Look

April 1, 2013, 7:49 am

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LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Starting Opening Night, March 31, 2013, Louisville Slugger®, the Official Bat of Major League Baseball®, introduced a new look on the diamond. The 129-year-old, fifth-generation and family-owned company has evolved its logo for the first time in 33 years. “We chose to update the logo now to reflect the reality that our company, products and culture are evolving with the times,” said John Hillerich, fifth-generation CEO of Hillerich & Bradsby Co. “We have exc Reported by Business Wire 7 hours ago.

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Christine Pelosi: Play Ball! 6 Lessons From Baseball for Politics

April 1, 2013, 7:58 am

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It's MLB Opening Day for San Francisco at Los Angeles -- a new chapter in a storied Giants-Dodgers baseball rivalry and a perfect time for renewal, hope, and plans for victory next fall.

I've had the great opportunity to travel around the country following my two passions: baseball and politics. In 1993 I toured baseball parks while awaiting the results of the California bar exam, traveling to over 20 ballyards and following my beloved San Francisco Giants to four of them along the way. From 2005 through 2012, I visited over 30 states conducting campaign boot camps. Both tours allowed me a community-based introduction to the American people and the opportunity to see how baseball and politics are experienced at the field level.

Every Opening Day I reflect on all the hope that lies ahead for my team, and the zen of the ballyard that makes life worth living. So today, as my world-champion San Francisco Giants kick off Opening Day, here are six lessons from America's pastime for American democracy:

*1. Focus On Fundamentals: No Shortcuts to Success*

In baseball, the fundamentals are pitching, hitting, fielding and throwing. In politics, they are message, management, money and mobilization. As House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi says, whoever owns the ground wins the election. No shortcuts to success, just solid focus on leather and lumber; defense and offense. Team players are folks there to DO something, not just BE something; folks who are work horses, not show horses. Prima donnas may carry you to a certain place but raw talent without discipline will not win in the end.

You've got the talent -- bring it. Put one good game -- one good day -- in front of the next. No holding back; no regrets.

*2. Character Counts*

Sitting at a candidate rally is similar to sitting in a ballyard. Both give you the opportunity to assess the technical metrics and reflect on the intangibles -- what baseball calls "make up" and politics calls "character" -- the leadership, talent and maturity to add value to a venture.

Character transcends team and party -- it's the intangible you look for in your heroes and admire even in your opponents. In baseball, most of us love to hate a certain rival -- but we can still admire the competition. As a San Francisco Giants fan, I find little to love about the aforementioned Los Angeles Dodgers, but I've always admired Tommy Lasorda's charismatic managing style and love the fervor of my Jewish mother Roz Wyman who helped bring the team to LA (and she never fails to remind me -- without the LA Dodgers there would be no SF Giants).

In politics, all candidates and volunteers are ambassadors to voters who expect better than parroting the politics of personal destruction. Being able to find common ground at the higher ground is what separates the stateswoman from the stuntwoman. People want that pride and passion of having something larger than ourselves to cheer for. When it gets down to the wire, character shows in people in baseball and politics who trust themselves and their teammates.

*3. Don't Boo the Home Team!*

Baseball fans are collectively the "10th man" and needed most when team performance is shaky. When mistakes are made, there's no need to heckle your team -- that's what the other side is for! People have to find a way to point out criticisms and build support without booing the favorites off the field. Radio announcers usually do a great job of urging on the home team while pointing out the flaws along the way in a manner that gives you the full story -- and of course none are better than our own Jon Miller, Kruk and Kuip (Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper) and Dave Flemming who faithfully chronicle the triumphs and tragedies of our SF Giants.

Republicans are often advised to heed President Ronald Reagan's 11th Commandment "Thou shalt not speak ill of another Republican." As Montana Democrats told each other when they regrouped a decade ago: "Don't make other people pay the price of our divisions." Every time a poor child goes hungry or a worker gets laid off because we couldn't unite to find solutions, other people pay the price of our divisions. Competitive Intra-murals, yes; purist-driven self-immolation, no. Eyes on the prize: unity for victory.

*4. Expect The Unexpected*

Baseball calls it a curve ball for a reason: you just don't know where some pitches will land. Your ace could get injured. Your golden glover could err. Your team could sit through a rain delay. Your manager could get ejected. Your bench must be broad and deep enough to overcome.

Politics requires the same versatility: as we tell our candidates at AFSCME Boot Camp: nimble, creative, and opportunistic campaigns win the day. No matter how well thought-out your plan, political considerations will require you to shift gears quickly. A big donor pulls her funding; you must find the money someplace else. A newspaper editorial slams your ballot initiative; you can increase media buys to counter the effect. Someone jumps into your race, and you must keep your supporters on your team. Someone drops out, and you must chase their supporters. Your plan should be flexible enough to turn fast when needed. President Bill Clinton always cautioned us, "Assume that the other side is working just as hard as you are," to think fast, react forcefully, and seize opportunities.

*5. Plan For Extra Innings*

Baseball champs have the physical conditioning and mental toughness to overcome a long season of injuries. Postseason endurance goes to the healthy and their managers who plan substitutions with the long game in mind.

Political overtime requires up front election protection. Covering hot spots, overcoming obstacles for military and overseas voters and getting all ballots counted may extend the election into extra innings. We know as we sit here today that voter ID laws, voter depression efforts, and the Supreme Court ruling on the Voting Rights Act may threaten our ability to bring home the vote in November -- time to plan ahead to protect the vote.

*6. America's pastime belongs to all throughout the Americas*

My daughter Bella and I spent a Spring Training weekend volunteering with the Giants Community Fund to help http://www.jrgiants.org kids play baseball. Fans went wild for the stars -- many of whom are Latino players, including World Series MVP Pablo Sandoval, Marco Scutaro, Angel Pagan, Andres Torres, and of course Sergio "I just look illegal" Romo. Their excellence proves that America's pastime belongs to all throughout the Americas, well beyond the 50 United States.

Sound familiar, politicians? It should: just as the new generation of Latino baseball heroes are electrifying the game and changing the fan base, the new generation of Latino political all-stars are changing the voter base and electoral prospects of candidates on gun violence prevention health care and immigration. President Barack Obama cultivated Latino grassroots to policy and political success, while his opponents hope Senator Marco Rubio can help them catch up while their old bulls trip them up with racist "wetbacks" setbacks.

America's pastime and American democracy's share fundamentals, character, support, versatility, endurance and diversity strengthen and enrich us all. PLAY BALL! Reported by Huffington Post 7 hours ago.

EA: Demise of console gaming 'very premature'

April 1, 2013, 12:29 pm

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COO Peter Moore says even though mobile is growing, gamers continue to show enthusiasm for core titles.

 

The demise of traditional console gaming is not a reality the industry faces, according to Electronic Arts chief operating officer Peter Moore. Speaking with Bloomberg TV, Moore said even though the mobile space has grown, gamers still want core titles they can play on a big screen.

"The console business is still a core part of our business; it's the majority of our business. The demise of console gaming is very premature as far as we're concerned," Moore said.

"We still have thousands of people focused on developing current-generation Xbox 360 and PS3 games, as well as people focused now on the next generation when that finally arrives," he added. "And so, people still want core games. People want to sit back in their living rooms, take advantage of their HD TVs, and and play fully immersive games like [Battlefield 4]."

Also during the interview, Moore said he expects EA's digital sales--which includes mobile, downloadable content, and subscriptions--to possibly overtake its traditional packaged goods business by 2015.

"In two years we could be looking at the tipping point where digital becomes bigger than the traditional core,’ Moore said.

Moore is believed to be a leading candidate to take over as the next EA CEO. He would not comment on this conjecture, but praised John Riccitiello for leaving the company in "tremendous shape." Moore said one thing the new EA CEO needs to do is execute.

"We did not executive to the level that we needed to in [fiscal year 2013] and [John Riccitiello] took accountability for that. And I think the future CEO will focus on pure execution because all the ingredients are there; we have the world's best developers, we have a tremendous publishing pipeline, and we've made the hard decisions about our platform.

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Greece's neo-Nazi Golden Dawn goes global with political ambitions

April 1, 2013, 10:13 am

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Buoyed by its meteoric domestic success, the far right party is planning to expand 'wherever there are Greeks'

Emboldened by its meteoric rise in Greece, the far-right Golden Dawn party is spreading its tentacles abroad, amid fears it is acting on its pledge to "create cells in every corner of the world". The extremist group, which forged links with British neo-Nazis when it was founded in the 1980s, has begun opening offices in Germany, Australia, Canada and the US.

The international push follows successive polls that show Golden Dawn entrenching its position as Greece's third, and fastest growing, political force. First catapulted into parliament with 18 MPs last year, the ultra-nationalists captured 11.5% support in a recent survey conducted by polling company Public Issue.

The group – whose logo resembles the swastika and whose members are prone to give Nazi salutes – has gone from strength to strength, promoting itself as the only force willing to take on the "rotten establishment". Amid rumours of backing from wealthy shipowners, it has succeeded in opening party offices across Greece.

It is also concentrating on spreading internationally, with news last month that it had opened an office in Germany and planned to set up branches in Australia. The party's spokesman, Ilias Kasidiaris, said it had decided to establish cells "wherever there are Greeks".

"People have understood that Chrysi Avgi [Golden Dawn] tells the truth," he told a Greek-language paper in Melbourne. "In our immediate sights and aims is the creation of an office and local organisation in Melbourne. In fact, very soon a visit of MPs to Australia is planned."

But the campaign has met with disgust and derision by many prominent members of the Greek diaspora who represent communities in both the northern and southern hemispheres.

"We don't see any gold in Golden Dawn," said Father Alex Karloutsos, one of America's leading Greek community figures, in Southampton, New York. "Nationalism, fascism, xenophobia are not part of our spiritual or cultural heritage."

But Golden Dawn is hoping to tap into the deep well of disappointment and fury felt by Greeks living abroad, in the three years since the debt-stricken nation was plunged into crisis.

"Golden Dawn is not like other parties in Greece. From its beginnings, in the early 80s, it always had one eye abroad," said Dimitris Psarras, whose book, Golden Dawn's Black Bible, chronicles the organisation since its creation by Nikos Michaloliakos, an overt supporter of the colonels who oversaw seven years of brutal anti-leftist dictatorship until the collapse of military rule in 1974.

"Like-minded groups in Europe and Russia have given the party ideological, and sometimes financial, support to print books and magazines. After years of importing nazism, it now wants to export nazism," added Psarras. By infiltrating communities abroad, the far-rightists were attempting not only to shore up their credibility but also to find extra funding and perhaps even potential votes if Greeks abroad ever won the right to cast ballots in elections.

"[Golden Dawn] not only wants to become the central pole of a pan-European alliance of neo-Nazis, even if in public it will hotly deny that," claimed Psarras, who said party members regularly met with neo-Nazis from Germany, Italy and Romania. "It wants to spread its influence worldwide."

With its 300,000-strong community, Melbourne has pride of place in the constellation of Greek-populated metropolises that dot a diaspora officially estimated at around 7 million.

As part of its international push, Golden Dawn has also focused on the US, a magnet for migrants for generations, and Canada, which attracted tens of thousands of Greeks after Greece's devastating 1946-49 civil war.

"It's a well-studied campaign," said Anastasios Tamis, Australia's pre-eminent ethnic Greek historian. "There is a large stock of very conservative people here – former royalists, former loyalists to the junta, that sort of thing – who are very disappointed at what has been happening in Greece and are trying to find a means to express it. They are nationalists who feel betrayed by Greece over issues like Macedonia, Cyprus and [the Greek minority] in Voreio Epirus [southern Albania], who cannot see the fascistic part of this party. Golden Dawn is trying to exploit them."

The younger generation — children of agrarian and unskilled immigrants – were also being targeted, he said. "They're the generation who were born here and grew up here and know next to nothing about Greece, its history and social and economic background. They're easy prey and Golden Dawn will capitalise on their ignorance."

Tamis, who admits that some of his students support the organisation, does not think the group will gain traction even if Australia's far-right party has been quick to embrace it. But the prospect of Golden Dawn descending on the country has clearly sent tremors through the Greek community.

"This is a multicultural society. They are not wanted or welcome here," said one prominent member, requesting anonymity when talk turned to the group.

Greek Australian leftists have begun collecting protest signatures to bring pressure on the Australia immigration minister, Brendan O'Connor, to prohibit Golden Dawn MPs from entering the country. In a statement urging the government not to give the deputies visas, they said the extremists had to be stopped "from spreading their influence within the Greek community and threatening the multicultural society that Greek Australians and other migrants have fought to defend".

The neo-Nazis have been given a similar reception in Canada, where the party opened a chapter last October. Despite getting the father of champion sprinter Nicolas Macrozonaris to front it, the group was quickly denounced by Greek Canadians as "a black mark".

The culture of intolerance that has allowed racially motivated violence to flourish in Greece – with black-clad Golden Dawn members being blamed for a big rise in attacks on immigrants – had, they said, no place in a country that prides itself on liberal values.

"Their philosophy and ideology does not appeal to Greeks living here," insisted Father Lambros Kamperidis, a Greek Orthodox priest in Montreal. "We all got scared when we saw they were giving a press conference. But it was a deplorable event and as soon as we heard their deplorable views they were condemned by community leaders and the church."

"We are all immigrants in Canada," added Kamperidis, referring to Golden Dawn's tactic of tapping into anti-immigrant resentment. "The conditions that apply in Greece do not apply here, so there is no justification for the party to flourish. The really bad thing is that in opening here it gives the impression, to people who don't know the situation, that it is supported by a lot of Greeks, which is not the case. It has hurt Greece, the Greek cause, and Greeks' reputation more than anything else."

Despite the resistance, the far-rightists have made concerted efforts to move elsewhere, with Golden Dawn supporters saying Toronto is next. But the biggest push by far to date has been in the US. As home to close to 3 million citizens of Greek heritage, America has the diaspora's largest community. At first, cadres worked undercover, organising clothes sales and other charitable events without stating their true affiliation. Stickers and posters then began to appear around the New York suburb of Astoria before the organisation opened a branch there.

But while Greek Americans have some of the strongest ties of any community to their homeland, senior figures have vehemently denounced the organisation for not only being incongruous with Greece's struggle against fascism, during one of Europe's most brutal Nazi occupations, but utterly alien to their own experience as immigrants.

"These people and their principles will never be accepted in our community. Their beliefs are alien to our beliefs and way of life," said Nikos Mouyiaris, co-founder of the Chicago-based Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC), whose mission is to promote human rights and democratic values.

The victims of often violent persecution at the hands of the Ku Klux Klan as well as wider discrimination (in Florida in the 1920s restaurant noticeboards declared "no dogs or Greeks allowed") Greek Americans proudly recount how, almost alone among ethnic minorities, they actively participated in the civil rights movement, their spiritual leader Archbishop Iakovos daring to march alongside Martin Luther King. "Our history as a diaspora in the US has been marked by our fight against racism," said Mouyiaris.

Many in the diaspora believe, like Endy Zemenides who heads HALC, that Golden Dawn has deluded itself into believing it is a permanent force because of its soaring popularity on the back of the economic crisis. "The reality is that it is a fleeting by-product of failed austerity measures and the social disruption this austerity has caused," he said.

In Greece, where Golden Dawn has begun to recruit in schools, there are fears of complacency. Drawing parallels with the 1930s Weimar period and the rise of Hitler's National Socialist German Workers' party, the historian Mark Mazower recently warned against underestimating the threat posed by a party whose use of violence was so disturbing. "Unfortunately, the Greek state does not seem to realise the urgency of the situation," he told an audience in Athens.

After spending almost 30 years following Golden Dawn, Psarras agrees. Only weeks ago, he claimed, Michaloliakos held talks in the Greek parliament with two German neo-Nazis posing as journalists. Golden Dawn rejected the claim as "old mud".

"It is an extremely dangerous phenomenon and do I think it will get worse? Yes I do," Psarras said, lamenting that, with living standards plummeting, the organisation was opening offices in traditional middle-class neighbourhoods. There remained a simple fact too big to ignore: in 2009 the party was a political pariah, gaining a mere 0.29 % of the vote; today it had global ambitions.

"Ten years ago, if you had said Golden Dawn would become the third biggest force in Greece, you'd be called crazy," said Psarras. "Now look where it is." Reported by guardian.co.uk 5 hours ago.

Gardener, 104, takes to Twitter to share horticultural tips

April 1, 2013, 10:49 am

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Ralph Hoare, said to be Britain's oldest gardener, has decided to share almost a century of experience with the Twitter generation

A green-fingered centenarian said to be Britain's oldest gardener is taking to Twitter to share his horticultural tips. Ralph Hoare from Gloucestershire still enjoys his passion for growing vegetables and cultivating flowers at the age of 104.

The keeper of around 200 rose bushes said he compensates for his weak knees by using a hoe for weeding and a grabbing tool for picking up items from the ground. He also has the help of his great-grandchildren, aged six and four, who he says are already proficient in deadheading his roses.

Hoare took up gardening in 1914 when he himself was six and has now decided to share almost a century of experience with the Twitter generation. The former bank worker and RAF veteran, who cites gardening as the key to his long life, will answer questions posted with the hashtag #askralph over the coming months, in between tending to his garden and planning for his 105th birthday party in July.

Hoare said: "I have just sent off my order for my annuals.

"The seed potatoes are sprouting in the spare bedroom and I am waiting for some dry weather for the onion sets.

"The thought of my garden in bloom gives me the willpower to continue through the winter.

"Gardening keeps me on the move and my mind active." Reported by guardian.co.uk 4 hours ago.

Puget Sound Energy Unveils 2013 Draft Integrated Resource Plan

April 1, 2013, 10:53 am

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Filed under: Investing

*Puget Sound Energy Unveils 2013 Draft Integrated Resource Plan*

*Energy efficiency, 'peaking' resources and renewables remain draft plan's focus*

BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The best strategy for meeting Puget Sound Energy customers' long-range electricity demand is for the utility to continue promoting energy efficiency, acquiring additional power supply for periods of peak customer usage, and securing enough renewable-power resources, over time, to stay in compliance with state law, according to the utility's draft 2013 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP).




Updated every two years, the draft plan released today forecasts PSE customers' energy requirements 20 years into the future and suggests the resource options most likely to meet customer energy needs at the lowest cost and risk.

The draft IRP notes that development of vast North American shale-bed deposits of natural gas has steeply driven down the commodity's market price, which in turn has softened electricity prices. The draft plan adds, however, that "... it is not realistic to expect natural gas prices to remain this low over the long term. The very affordability of this fuel means that usage is also increasing, especially in the transportation and utility [power-generation] sectors, and this will create upward pressure on prices over time."

The market price for natural gas, which topped $13 per dekatherm (MMBtu) in 2008, is currently trading in the $3.50 to $4 range. The draft IRP sees today's wholesale gas prices rising to the $6 to $7 range by 2020. Meanwhile, the cumulative, 20-year cost of securing PSE customers' electric supply is projected to be $13.8 billion. While that figure is slightly above the 2011 IRP's forecast, it is far below the 20-year, $20 billion PSE power cost predicted four years ago.

"The surge in domestic production of natural gas over the past few years has been a game-changer that's benefiting our customers and our economy," said Booga Gilbertson, PSE vice president of Operations. "What hasn't changed, though, is PSE's fundamental game plan for giving our customers safe, dependable, efficient energy service."

The draft IRP predicts that, 20 years from now, PSE will need about 40 percent more natural gas supply - about 380,000 dekatherms more per day - to serve its customers' peak, wintertime demand for gas. Current peak-day demand is approximately 930,000 dekatherms.

An additional 156,000 dekatherms per day will be needed by 2033 to fuel PSE's simple-cycle gas-fired power plants. This added supply capacity represents a 90 percent increase in the natural gas used by PSE's fleet of "peaker" plants. These power plants typically operate only during high spikes in power demand - primarily winter cold snaps or summertime heat waves - or when the plants are needed to offset the loss of base-load power-generating resources caused by drought, equipment failure, or other unforeseen circumstances.

Expanded use of natural gas across the region could strain its gas infrastructure, the draft IRP says. Ensuring sufficient gas supply regionally may require expansion of the Northwest's gas-transmission pipeline system and more underground gas-storage capacity. Another option could involve PSE development of a liquefied natural gas facility that not only would help the utility meet customers' peak-demand periods but also could serve marine and road transportation powered by clean-burning natural gas.

By 2033, PSE will need to secure nearly 5,400 megawatts (MW) of additional power resources to meet customers' peak electricity demand, according to the draft IRP. The utility can shave off almost 1,000 MW of that need by helping customers save energy, the draft plan says. Much of the remaining supply can be obtained, particularly in the near term, through cost-effective market-power purchases. But longer term, as regional power demand begins to exceed existing generation capacity, less reliance on market power may be warranted, the draft IRP states.

In addition, PSE will need to acquire another 300 MW of renewable energy by 2022 - and 600 MW by 2033 - to maintain compliance with the Washington Energy Independence Act (I-937). The voter-approved law requires utilities to provide 15 percent of their customers' electricity from renewable sources by 2020. PSE today is the top utility producer of renewable energy in the Northwest, with 773 MWs of generating capacity from its three large wind farms in Washington.

Other highlights of the draft 2013 IRP:

· The draft plan found that continued operation of the coal-fired Colstrip Generating Station in Eastern Montana as part of PSE's diversified energy portfolio remains economical for PSE customers under most of the likely future scenarios examined. The draft plan, however, did identify some future market conditions or potential regulations which could impact that finding. PSE owns about one-third of the 2,094-MW plant's output. Colstrip provided 16.7 percent of PSE customers' total power supply in 2012. The draft IRP's base-case analysis suggests that continued Colstrip operations would save PSE customers about $150 million per year in power costs. Replacing Colstrip power with a combination of gas-fired resources and market power, the draft IRP states, would require a 7 percent increase in PSE electric rates and increase the volatility of customers' bills.
· A decade-long surplus of power-generating capacity in the Northwest will soon be gone. Once coal-fired power plants in Boardman, Ore., and Centralia, Wash., are retired starting in 2020, reliability of the region's electric grid will "erode" unless replacement power plants are built. The draft IRP notes that PSE will devote additional study to this issue through an update to the plan later this year.

The draft 2013 IRP can be viewed at PSE.com. The final IRP will be filed with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission by May 30.

*About Puget Sound Energy*

Washington state's oldest local energy utility, Puget Sound Energy serves 1.1 million electric customers and more than 760,000 natural gas customers in 10 counties. PSE meets the energy needs of its customers, in part, through cost-effective energy efficiency, procurement of sustainable energy resources, and far-sighted investment in energy-delivery infrastructure. PSE employees are dedicated to providing great customer service that is safe, dependable and efficient. For more information, visit www.PSE.com.





Puget Sound Energy
Roger Thompson, 1-888-831-7250

*KEYWORDS:*   United States  North America  Washington

*INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:*

The article Puget Sound Energy Unveils 2013 Draft Integrated Resource Plan Reported by DailyFinance 4 hours ago.

Why Don Draper Does What He Does

April 1, 2013, 11:23 am

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"Mad Men" Season 6 premieres on April 7 (9 p.m. ET on AMC) and though star Jon Hamm is firmly on board with creator Matthew Weiner's anti-spoiler policy, the star was still happy to sit down with press for a group interview ahead of the show's impending debut to discuss his hopes for flawed hero Don Draper, the clues that can be gleaned from the show's promotional artwork and how the losses of Peggy professionally and Lane literally will affect his character.

The actor also teased that viewers have a lot to learn about TV's favorite antihero. "We find out more in Season 6 about why Don is how he is and why Don does what he does," he said.

Read on for much more!

Note: Questions were asked in a roundtable format by multiple outlets and portions of the below interview have been edited or condensed for clarity.

*We can't talk much about this season, but the poster this year is very interesting. Are there any clues in there that we’re supposed to be picking up on?*
Well, I think the central motif of it, obviously, is two versions of this one man crossing. Which one is supposed to be the most central? Which one are we supposed to be following, honestly? One of them is with somebody, one of them is not and I think it shouldn’t be lost on people. One of them has a briefcase in his hand, one of them doesn’t. It’s a very rich image. One way is the stop sign. There’s a lot of things. Those aren’t mistakes. If you guys have talked to Matthew, you realize that he doesn’t say, "Oh, let’s put 12 tape recorders out here because 12 is a fun number.” It’s like, “No, let’s put seven.” He thinks about these things and he’s very involved in that. He’s very involved in the choosing of this particular image and finding the artist he wanted. He wanted a specific style of art. I think somebody said, “You know that guy’s still alive, want to just have him do it?” He said yeah. It’s amazing and also that’s an amazing opportunity to have that person come and contribute his vision to the show. When I saw it, I was like -- because it’s so different from our normal stylistic cues which are very graphic and very sparse -- this is chaotic and different and in many ways, kind of suggests the world we’re moving into. Great colors and crazy tones and a lot going on.

*There was a big disparity between where Peggy (Elisabeth Moss) was headed and where Don was headed in the last season, as far as her becoming more in the know. It looked like Don and Pete (Vincent Kartheiser) were challenged by this new political, beatnik sort of mentality. Does that disparity of attitude continue?*
I think part of what we’re continually exploring is that time doesn’t stand still for any of us, unfortunately, and the longer you survive in any industry, the more you run the risk of facing irrelevance. And as you grow older and the next generation comes up, you find yourself out of step with music or popular culture or movies and TV or cinema or whatever, because you’re old and you have shit to do. You have a life. Teenagers are built to consume popular culture. That’s all they have time for because that’s all they care about, and this was the time at which that market segment just became the only market segment that was being appealed to.

We’re still at it: The majority of feature films these days are pitched to 14-year olds. Whether it’s “Twilight” or “Transformers” or really just these huge, huge franchises, millions and millions of dollars, because they’re the ones that see it and they buy the toys and the books and the magazines and the posters and the ancillary stuff and that’s not new. So Don, when he has people like Ginsberg [Ben Feldman] and Peggy and Stan [Jay R. Ferguson], that sort of younger generation surrounding him, he realizes that that’s an asset. That’s a big part of why losing Peggy was a particularly difficult goodbye. But, obviously, Peggy needed that, so I think that is a difficult challenge -- for Don to find that relevance again and that place, or to accept the older, patriarchal executive place in that world. [Even if] you’re Tom Brady ... there’s always somebody younger and hungrier that’s gunning for your job. They may not have the skill set that you have or the experience that you have, but there’s always somebody else.

*Do you think that part of Don's attraction to Megan (Jessica Paré) was because she was part of this younger generation and he could learn from her?*
Yeah. I think, honestly, part of Season 5's pick up was that Don and Megan were this dynamic duo at the office and then he realized that she didn’t want it. “But you’re so good at it, why wouldn’t you? It’s the greatest job ever.” “Not for me, for you,” and that’s a hiccup for him when she says, “I want to go do that."“Why on earth would you want to give all this up?” Because it’s not her dream. It’s Don’s dream and I think navigating that was a tricky thing. He says to her at one point, “You want to be somebody’s discovery, you want to be somebody’s favor” and I think that’s a big realization and I think a big thing for Don to do of letting her go.

*If you could give Don any advice, what would you say?*
I think it’s more like, what do I wish for Don? I think that there’s a resolution to his issues where I wish for him to find peace and more balance and/or happiness. Don’s life has been one out of balance for quite some time and not to get too “Life of Pi” on anyone ... we find out more in Season 6 about why Don is how he is and why Don does what he does. And his house is built on a weak foundation. He’s a fundamentally damaged and broken guy. I guess I would wish for him to buy something to fix that foundation and then work on the house. Don’t work on the house first. Work on the foundation first. I hope that was cryptic. [Laughs.]

*Lane’s (Jared Harris) death last season seemed to really hit Don hard and he had a lot of guilt around it. Do we see that lingering with him as we go on?*
I think with a couple of the big events in Don’s life that had ended badly or obviously not the way he wanted them to end -- I’m thinking specifically of his brother’s suicide, Lane’s suicide and Joan’s [Christina Hendricks] decision last season -- Don had the capacity to change those things and tried. He gave his brother money. He said, “Take this money. Get away from all of that and all of this. This will help. Go live your life. I can’t be a part of it, but do that.” And the brother went left, and went the other way and ended his life. That sat very heavily on Don.

With Joan’s situation: “Joan, you don’t have to do this. I will win this account. Please don’t do this. I told everybody that I’m not OK with this.” Unbeknownst to him, it had already happened, but he had the best intentions and he finds out later that it didn’t matter. That sat very heavily. And then with Lane, he finds that Lane is doing this. He initially covers for him with Cooper [Robert Morse] and says, "No, no, no. That was me. I fucked something up. Don’t worry about it. It’s OK.” He confronts Lane and says, "Here’s your way out. You can’t be here, but there’s a way out of this. Trust me. It’s easy to start over. I’ve done it a million times. You will be fine.” And Lane doesn’t take his advice so I think it does resonate in his life that he, in a lot of situations, is very good at convincing people to do what he wants and these three particular situations, life-altering situations, he couldn’t. And that’s an interesting observation.

*You directed another episode this season. Talk a little bit about directing this season and the challenges of directing and acting and the schedule.*
Yeah, directing was brought to me at the end of Season 3 and I said, “No, thank you.” And then during the time between then and now, I saw John Slattery do it very capably. I saw Jennifer Westfeldt do it also very capably -- I’m talking about acting and directing at the same time. So I thought, "OK, I’ve now seen a couple of examples of this in action and I think I might be a little bit more prepared for the responsibilities of this." I did it last season and I did it again this season and it was as interesting to me this season. I had a lot more to do in my episode in this season as an actor, so it was a degree of difficulty more challenging in that respect, because you are completely of two minds on set.

It’s a very, very difficult mindset to stay in, of watching one thing as a director and, especially if you’re in the scene, watching one thing as an actor. I remember doing something with Ben [Affleck] on “The Town” where I would be like, “Wow, you are totally watching me as a director right now, not as an actor.” It’s a very interesting switch to be able to flip and he’s very good at it and justifiably lauded for his talent. But I found it completely invigorating and a really, really interesting perspective shift on a group of people on a set, in a situation that I thought I knew intimately. and then you take your perspective from here and you turn it 180 degrees and you go, "Oh my God, I didn’t see that whole side of it. That’s crazy. There’s a whole thing that’s happening behind me too. That’s nuts.” And it’s just that as an actor, your focus is constantly in front you and as a director, your focus is 360 degrees and that was, once again, fascinating. And I hope I did a good job.

"Mad Men" Season 6 premieres on Sunday, April 7 at 9 p.m. ET on AMC with a two-hour episode. On April 14, the show moves to its regular 10 p.m. timeslot. Reported by Huffington Post 4 hours ago.

Community Meetings Planned To Talk Clark's Beach Green Energy Park

April 1, 2013, 11:45 am

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Patch North Fork, NY --

The Greenport Village Board is looking for input from the public about a proposed green energy park for Clark's Beach.

To that end, the board plans to schedule community outreach meetings, to present the concept to residents and to engage in dialogue before applying for grants to more formalize the overall plan.

The first of the community meetings will be held at the Floyd Memorial Library on April 17 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Last Monday, plans for the proposed green energy park for Clark's Beach were pitched to the public during a presentation at the Greenport Village board meeting.

The presentation detailing the "Greenport Eco Energy Park," prepared by studio a/b architects and Lillian Ball, gave specifics on the proposal, which was discussed by Greenport Village Mayor David Nyce at earlier village meetings.

If approved, the Greenport Eco Energy Park would consist of a two to four megawatt, self-generated electric facility using renewal energy at the 8.7 acre parcel at Clark's Beach owned by the village. 

The parcel would also be developed as a public park, educational facility, conference center, and demonstration site for a range of sustainable and green infrastructure practices, with an eye toward becoming an important eco-tourism attraction for the entire East End, according to plan details.

The site currently contains the village outfall pipe from its sewage treatment plan.

Renewable energy generation from both solar and wind installations would be designed to supplement the five-megawatt, hydroelectric power purchases already serving the village's basic needs, according to the plan.

The goal is to build a two-to-four megawatt, self-generated system to replace costly, open-market purchases of additional electrical power made when demand exceeds the limits of the hydro-generation contract, Nyce has said.

According to the presentation prepared for the village, currently, during peak months the overage represents a high percentage of the monthly costs, compared to a lower percentage of consumption.

For example, in July, 2012, overage represented 27.8 percent of the power used but 78.9 percent of the costs, the presentation stated.

Trails would be created to link the facility to other public lands, including a bay-to-Sound trail system.

In addition, a new entry and spaces to accommodate 40 spaces would be designed; a solar charging station for electric vehicles would be provided; permeable pavement installed; electric car parking would be available, and a bike rack offered.

A stabilized route to support fire and maintenance truck access to the site and existing sewer outfall system would be created.

Other overall site improvements would include removal of debris, including abandoned cars and concrete rubble, identification of native and invasive species at the site, and removal of invasive species, restoration of wetlands and roadside grasses, stairs, a path, bluff protection enhancement at the base of the cliff face, and collection of building, solar panel and path stormwater run-off for reuse, irrigation, and rain gardens.

A community garden and composting area has also been proposed, as well as signage for entry, identification of natural species, explanation of systems, sustainable practices and other educational purposes.

Natural and artistic components underlying the park's theme, such as living bridges and fences, a boardwalk, a micro-wind sculpture, and "dark sky" lighting and reflective installations would be implemented.

The education and conference center, under solar panels, would feature a meeting and conference center, exhibition space and data monitoring presentation, a kitchen, public bathrooms using composting, urine collection, gray water systems and other sustainable wastewater treatment options, bathrooms and shower facilities for overnight stays  -- those could be a separate structure and part of the project's second phase -- a utility room, office space and storage, as well as caretaker accommodations.

Finally, camping facilities would be created, with up to 20 cabins or camp sites for overnight stays. 

What do you think of the proposed plans for a green energy park at Clark's Beach? Tell us in the comments section.


* * Reported by Patch 3 hours ago.

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Caroline Dowd-Higgins: How to Play Together in the Multi-Generational Sandbox at Work

April 1, 2013, 11:44 am

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Work environments today have multi-generational employees and the frustration amongst the age groups is heard loud and clearly in many industries. Millennials are asking for balance and flexibility during the job interview. Baby Boomers are vexed by Generation Y and their tether to technology. Generation X is eager for feedback about their work and also quick to provide criticism of others.

So how does a modern day professional cope with this generational diversity and play well together in the company sandbox? Here is a primer on the generations and their characteristics plus some practical advice for workplace harmony.

*Millennials (or Generation Y) born since 1981* - is the most educated and culturally diverse generation in the workforce today. They tend to be zig zaggers, hopping from job to job and distrusting bureaucracy. Millennials crave work opportunities with meaning where they can feel part of the organizational mission and often value helping those in need more than a fat paycheck. They were educated with a focus on community and service learning and value that in their workplace.

Extremely tech savvy, the Millennials identify the concept of work/life balance as their top professional value. Research shows they will sacrifice pay for more vacation time or a flexible schedule and they crave recognition. In 2014 the Millennials will comprise 36 percent of the workforce and by 2020 they will represent nearly half of those working.

*Advice to Millennials for Workplace Détente*
• Respect the older generations in your workplace and learn from them - their knowledge and experience is priceless. Be coachable, be gracious, and appreciative - excellent professional manners and emotional intelligence still matter and will take you far.
• Seek out mentors and sponsors to enhance your professional development.
• Know that discussing work/life balance during the job interview can send a red flag to the employer signaling that you might not have a strong work ethic. Perform your due diligence and seek out company culture and identify best fit before you hit the interview.
• Offer yourself as a reverse mentor and share your technology savvy with others less technology-able in your workplace.
• Eye contact is essential for in-person communication and showcases self-confidence. Seek out in-person conversations with your colleagues, and know that the art of face-to-face communication is valued by seasoned professionals. This skill will always serve you well regardless of technology.
• The older generations in your workplace want you to succeed for you are the succession plan. But know that they also want you to earn your way to advancement and recognition so be ready to showcase your professional strengths and work hard.

*Generation X born since 1965 -* was the first to experience a large percentage of divorce amongst their parents and working moms during their formative years. This created a generation of individuals who own their independence, resilience, and adaptability. They feel strongly that they don't need supervision or micro managing to get the job done.

The Generation Xers are multi culturally aware and comfortable in diverse work environments. They are practical and enjoy a work hard/play hard philosophy in their careers. Many of them faced first jobs in the 80's during an economic downturn and they witnessed their parents getting laid off or struggling with job insecurity. The traditional career ladder of upward mobility in one organization became unavailable to them so they created a workaround to be more fluid in their career trajectory. They reinvented the definition of loyalty and remain committed to their work, but since organizations did not extend loyalty to them, they take employability very seriously and climb the career lattice moving laterally based on the opportunity.

*Advice to Generation X for Workplace Détente *
• Utilize mentors and sponsors of all generations in your workplace (and beyond) to grow your career and get the solid feedback you crave.
• Although you dislike rigid work environments, know that the Baby Boomers before you are accustomed to this culture so be solution providers and creative innovators at work to showcase your value add.
• Manage Up consistently so your boss and his/her boss know what you are accomplishing on the job. Advancement isn't automatic - you must earn it and sometimes even ask for it.
• Be ready to throw the ladder down to the up and coming as the Millennials are entering the workforce at a rapid pace and they will be your colleagues sooner than later. Serve as a mentor/sponsor and pay-it-forward to the next generation as you move into leadership roles.
• Even though you have been trained to work autonomously, know the importance of team building and collaboration. The current work environment supports this model and you need to get onboard.
• Don't let the Baby Boomers retire before you have learned everything you can from them. This generational wisdom is leaving the workforce in droves and their expertise should be cherished.
• The Baby Boomers also have golden rolodexes with valuable relationships so be sure to steward these networking opportunities before it's too late.

*Baby Boomers born since 1943 -* are identified as the post World War II babies who are just now hitting retirement age. The first generation to be raised with television, they were considered technology advanced in their youth. Described as social and political rabble-rousers, the Boomers came of age during the civil rights movement, the anti war demonstration era of Vietnam and a sexual revolution that accompanied the popularity of Rock n' Roll.

Boomers are not all retiring in their 60's and many have experienced entrepreneurial success due to their connection and wealth. Boomer career success was demonstrated by trying new things and an ability to bob and weave during times of economic fluctuation.

Work centric, the Boomers are extremely hard working and motivated by rank, wealth, and prestige. They invented "keeping up with the Joneses" and defined their generation by professional accomplishments and long work hours. Commitment and loyalty to their company was demonstrated even if that required obligatory face time.

Goal oriented and competitive, Boomers are confident and ready to challenge well- established practices to make a better mousetrap. Since their companies did extend loyalty to employees they believe in the hierarchical ladder and earning opportunities for advancement within a single organization. The concept of job flexibility and working from home is foreign to them since they were raised to believe that work should be done at the workplace.

*Advice to Baby Boomers for Workplace Détente *
• While the whippersnapper Millennials may seem too green to be worth your time, they are ripe with opportunities for reverse mentorship. Not only are they part of the workplace succession plan, they can set up your new smart phone in minutes so you don't need to watch the online tutorial.
• You are a generation of consummate communicators and relationship builders. This technique does not have to die with the use of technology. Share your network cultivation and stewardship expertise with Gen X and Y and feel comforted that your cherished relationships can live on if you train others in this important skill.
• Since you need open lines of communication, ask for it beyond the calendared performance reviews. Even if you are in a leadership role, Managing Up is a technique you should utilize.
• Lack of employee engagement is the number one reason for dissatisfied workers today. Recognize that the younger generations thrive on feedback and create a culture where achievement is rewarded and recognized. Set clear expectations and accountability measures and consider mentor programs to pair younger employees with more seasoned pros to mold and guide the next generation to succeed.
• Even Boomers need to focus on continuing professional development so consider workshops, training, and individual coaching to keep you sharp, relevant, and able to do your best work.
• Recognize that the tech savvy generation grew up with the Internet and many have never seen a typewriter. Capitalize on their proficiency and encourage them to create systems and innovation for efficiency and productivity. Inspiring them with a challenge can lead to great things.

*Generation Z *represents the next frontier born from the early 2000s onwards. Their work styles have yet to be defined but here are some things to keep in mind if you have kids born into this generation:
• Gen Z will experience "Velcro Parenting" where the amount of time they spend with their kids will reach new heights.
• Gen Z will experience more significant parental unemployment.
• Gen Z kids will spend less time playing outside and more time indoors with structured activities.
• Gen Z will live by their iTunes apps and games.
• Gen Z won't have to argue with their parents to get a cell phone. All kids under twelve are predicted to have cell phones so they can communicate with family anywhere.

At the end of the day, we all have to co-exist in the organizational culture so understanding what drives each generation is the first step towards professional peace and productivity. It should not be an "us against them" generational mindset since we are all in this together. It is important to define expectations and hold all generations accountable. Clarity of mission is essential for building and retaining great talent. Take some time to consider how you can learn from each other and play well in the multi-generational sandbox.

*Caroline Dowd-Higgins* authored the book "This Is Not the Career I Ordered" and maintains the career reinvention blog of the same name www.carolinedowdhiggins.com She is the Director of Career & Professional Development and Adjunct Faculty at Indiana University Maurer School of Law and hosts the national CBS Radio Show Career Coach Caroline on Tuesdays at 5pm ET Caroline also contributes to AOL Jobs, CNN Money, and More Magazine online. Reported by Huffington Post 3 hours ago.

The Future Of China's Luxury Auto Market

April 1, 2013, 12:35 pm

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Within seven years, China will outstrip the United States to become the world's leading market for premium cars.  It already beat the U.S. for top auto market in general in 2009. The Organisation for Economic Development and Cooperation said last week that China would overtake the U.S. as the world's leading economy by 2016.  No doubt about it, when it comes to being big: China is fast becoming the new biggest. Niche auto markets are no different. On the luxury end, China drivers are going to be starting soon from the pole position. "In the U.S. auto market, the American version of luxury is a little different than the Chinese," says Hans Werner Kaas, a 22 year veteran of McKinsey & Company.  He leads their U.S. auto practice in Detroit.  "If you have a fully equipped Ford Explorer with all the bells and whistles, you've got a luxury vehicle." Around 14% of the cars sold in the U.S. are considered to be premium vehicles. In China last year it was around 9%. "The luxury segment in China is dominated by the traditional German high-end car makers. It's Mercedes Benz, BMW and Audi on the roads in Shanghai," says McKinsey partner Sha Sha in Shanghai. Where's this market heading? With under 10% penetration, it has at least 40% upside before it comes close to the U.S. today. By 2020, China will be selling around three million luxury cars while the U.S. will be selling around 2.3 million, according to a McKinsey report published last month. In the 16 page report, written by Sha Sha and two colleagues, their Asian automotive practice forecast China’s premium car market to grow at an annual rate of 12% over the next seven, compared with 8% for the overall passenger car market there. China's total luxury auto market will equal that of all of Western Europe by then. In fact, if all goes swimmingly well with China's 12th Five Year Plan -- no hard landings, no economic turmoil pulling the rug out from under China in Europe and U.S. -- then China could just as well overtake the United States as the largest premium car market in three years. Trading Up China's young professionals are earning more than their parents ever dreamed of. They grew up frugal, mainly out of necessity. But now they have extra money to spend.  The one child policy means Chinese families have more money to pass down to their young children. The roads they drive on may be crowded in cities like Beijing, and the roads full of potholes in second and third tier cities, but Chinese consumers are giving up their bikes for cars. As incomes rise, they are giving up their Buicks -- the most popular American vehicle sold in the country -- for Land Rovers, Jags and German luxury.  Premium cars accounted for just 24,000 units in 2000 and over a million in 2012. At a time when the luxury vehicle market is stalling in the U.S. and Europe, China is becoming an extraordinary life line for the majors from Tokyo to Detroit. Writing in "The $10 Trillion Prize", author and one of the founders of Boston Consulting Group's global consumer practice, Michael J. Silverstein, estimates that over 100 million Chinese will enter the premium markets in the next 10 years. "In their own way, they're going to take over where the U.S. and Europe have left off," Silverstein says. "They're going to upgrade and trade in their Camry's for BMWs." The older generation of premium car owners purchased vehicles mainly to reflect their social status, but the increasingly sophisticated new generation of buyers is expressing other reasons for buying premium autos. When asked by McKinsey what they thought about car shopping, over 60% of survey respondents told Sha Sha that “buying a car” as much a priority as “buying an apartment” and “paying for children’s education”.  The people that think that way are growing in population. Not too far into the future, there will be more people who think like this in China -- and act on it with their hard earned yuans -- than there are people in the U.K. According to McKinsey, around 80% of Chinese premium car owners have annual disposable household income of more than 200,000 yuan (around $33,300). However, the weighted average of annual household disposable income of all surveyed luxury vehicle loving families was 450,000 yuan ($75,000). McKinsey expects this affluent segment to grow at a compound annual rate of 16% between now and 2020, offering underlying support for the global premium car market. By 2020, they've forecast that there will be 23 million affluent urban households in China – 7% of the total population and roughly equal to the total number of households in the U.K. today. Imagine the U.K. all driving Beamers. The difference is, even if that perfectly affluent world view were to happen in a small country like the U.K., it would quickly reach market saturation. There are only so many people on that island. China has hundreds of millions of drivers.  Moreover, McKinsey says it expects that the new middle class among them will not only be living in Shanghai and Beijing. They estimate them to be in around 300 cities; that's 300 Chinese urban centers with consumers who have sufficient household income to buy premium vehicles by 2020. For car makers, dealership expansion should be high on their agendas says McKinsey if those companies want to maintain double digit growth. For leading premium car makers, this implies improving their consumer insight capabilities as well as ramping up dealerships to capture demand in the 300 tier three and four cities where consumers are expected to reach the threshold for household income that will enable them to buy premium vehicles.  Automakers that aspire to tap into the coming wave of new premium car buyers from smaller cities will need to innovate their dealer formats and sharpen their digital marketing skills, the report says. Reported by Forbes.com 3 hours ago.

SCE Submits Draft License Amendment for Nuclear Plant Unit 2 Restart

April 1, 2013, 12:37 pm

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*SCE Submits Draft License Amendment for Nuclear Plant Unit 2 Restart*

*Amendment Submitted to Meet Customer Electricity Demand During Hot Summer Months*

ROSEMEAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Southern California Edison (SCE) has voluntarily submitted a draft license amendment request to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for discussion. The draft is designed to support safely restarting Unit 2 of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station to address customer electricity demand and grid reliability concerns during the upcoming summer months. SCE is considering submitting a final amendment request after discussing it with the NRC staff at a public meeting Wednesday in Rockville, Maryland.




The draft license amendment request, if finalized and submitted for NRC approval, would support SCE's plan to operate Unit 2 at 70 percent power for five months. Operating at 70 percent power prevents conditions that caused the tube-to-tube wear in Unit 3 that resulted in the nuclear plant being shut down since January 2012. SCE and three independent companies with expertise in nuclear generation have confirmed it is safe to operate the Unit 2 steam generators. The NRC has been evaluating these analyses, which are based on exhaustive testing and inspections, since October 2012.

"Since last fall, SCE has provided the public and the NRC with detailed analyses from global experts that support safe restart of Unit 2," said Ron Litzinger, SCE president. "We are considering the proposed voluntary amendment as the best path to get Unit 2 safely up and running before the hottest months of the year hit our region."

SCE would be asking the NRC to act on the amendment before the end of May to facilitate timely restart of Unit 2 to meet peak summer electricity demand. Following the initial five-month operating period, SCE would shut down Unit 2 for steam generator tube inspections. Based on inspection data, Unit 2 would resume operation at 70 percent power for an appropriate operating period during the remainder of the 18-24 month fuel cycle while SCE updates its analysis to determine the appropriate long-term power level.

The San Onofre nuclear plant is the largest source of baseload generation and voltage support in the region and is a critical asset in meeting California's clean energy needs. According to testimony filed by SCE for its General Rate Case and as part of a report prepared in 2010 by IHS Global Insight, operating the nuclear plant directly generates economic activity worth on average $2.2 billion per year. The impact grows to $3.3 billion per year if secondary economic effects are considered, which include the supply chain purchases of businesses supported by the nuclear plant and spending by those employed by the plant.

Both units at the San Onofre nuclear plant are currently safely shut down. Unit 2 remains shut down since it was taken out of service Jan. 9, 2012, for a planned outage. Unit 3 was safely taken offline Jan. 31, 2012, after station operators detected a leak in a steam generator tube.

More information is available at www.edison.com/SONGSupdate and at www.SONGScommunity.com. San Onofre is jointly owned by SCE (78.21 percent), San Diego Gas & Electric (20 percent) and the city of Riverside (1.79 percent). Follow us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/SCE) and like us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/SCE).

*About Southern California Edison*

An Edison International (NYS: EIX) company, Southern California Edison is one of the nation's largest electric utilities, serving a population of nearly 14 million via 4.9 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within Central, Coastal and Southern California.





Southern California Edison
Media Contact:
Media Relations, (626) 302-2255
or
Investor Relations Contact:
Scott Cunningham, (626) 302-2540

*KEYWORDS:*   United States  North America  California

*INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:*

The article SCE Submits Draft License Amendment for Nuclear Plant Unit 2 Restart Reported by DailyFinance 3 hours ago.

NSTAR Sponsors Sixth Annual MIT Clean Energy Prize

April 1, 2013, 1:51 pm

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*NSTAR Sponsors Sixth Annual MIT Clean Energy Prize*

Competition has included over 400 teams; awarded more than $1.25 million in prizes

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- For the sixth straight year, NSTAR and the U.S. Department of Energy are co-sponsoring the MIT Clean Energy Prize, a university business-plan competition that has become a nationally recognized showcase of entrepreneurship.




Administered by MIT graduate students, the annual competition solicits business plans from teams aiming to develop clean energy solutions that diversify energy resources, increase energy efficiency and reduce environmental impacts from energy use.

"The development of economically competitive clean energy is a clear and present challenge locally, nationally and globally," said Tom May, President and CEO of Northeast Utilities, the parent company of NSTAR. "It's in the hands of the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs to meet this challenge by turning laboratory ideas into transformational solutions."

So far, the MIT Clean Energy Prize has helped launch dozens of new companies that have raised more than $130 million in venture capital and government funding to bring innovative clean energy technologies and services to the marketplace. "The competition is an example of what happens when ideas and innovation are fused with entrepreneurs and determination," added May.

The competition's success is the result of world-class mentoring that has become its hallmark. Combined with exposure to investors and industry networking, the competition has attracted participation from more than 400 teams representing over 60 universities since its inception.

This year's 18 semifinalists aspire to: advance solar, wind and fuel cell technologies; maximize energy efficiency in homes and businesses; enhance recycling processes; improve the design of energy storage systems; and reduce emissions from conventional fuels.

These teams will compete before a prestigious panel of experts for over $300,000 in prizes to be awarded on May 6^th in Boston.

*MIT Clean Energy Prize.* The MIT Energy Prize was founded by MIT, NSTAR and the U.S. Department of Energy in 2008 to catalyze a new generation of clean energy solutions through innovation and entrepreneurship. The competition, affiliated with MIT's $100K Entrepreneurship Competition, is run by MIT graduate students under the leadership of the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship. For more information, visit www.mitcep.org.





NSTAR Media Relations:
Caroline Pretyman, 617-424-2460
caroline.pretyman@nu.com
or
Michael Durand, 508-441-5831
michael.durand@nstar.com

*KEYWORDS:*   United States  North America  Massachusetts

*INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:*

The article NSTAR Sponsors Sixth Annual MIT Clean Energy Prize Reported by DailyFinance 1 hour ago.

Constellation Powers Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks Environmental Goals with Green Games as Earth Mont

April 1, 2013, 1:51 pm

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*Constellation Powers Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks Environmental Goals with Green Games as Earth Month Begins*

Video highlights "Go-Green" games at United Center; renewable energy certificates purchased by Constellation will avoid 115 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fans of the Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Bulls who will cheer the teams' annual and environmentally friendly "Go-Green" games tonight and Friday can make every day Earth Day by promoting energy efficiency.




Constellation, the official energy provider for United Center and sponsor of the teams' upcoming green games, invited fans to continue their support for the environment by submitting their own 'Go Green' tips via the Blackhawks Facebook page and the Bulls Twitter wall for chances to win tickets to the teams' respective "Go-Green" games.

"Like most winning organizations, the Bulls and Blackhawks and United Center have a comprehensive energy management strategy that incorporates efficiency and sustainability objectives," said Bruce Stewart, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Constellation. "The second key to victory is a fierce competitive spirit. Illinois' electricity supply market enjoys vibrant, robust competition and that means businesses and residential customers can save by shopping for power supply."

Residential customers can choose Constellation as their home energy supplier at home.constellation.com and many can also choose to receive 100 percent wind energy.

Constellation is in the second year of its existing five-year sponsorship designating it the official energy provider for United Center.

As part of the agreement and sponsorship of the Go-Green games, Constellation will purchase Green-e Energy Certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) to match the electricity use on each game day. RECs represent the environmental benefit of electricity generated by wind and therefore avoid emissions associated with fossil fueled generation. For more information regarding Green-e Energy certification go to www.green-e.org.

The RECs for the Blackhawks game tonight are expected to avoid 63 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, roughly the equivalent of burning 146 barrels of oil. The use of RECs for the Bulls game on Friday is expected to avoid 52 metric tons of CO2, approximately the amount of emissions from 2,100 propane-fired home barbeques.

Constellation, an energy supplier since 1999 to Illinois businesses, schools and hospitals, sponsored similar efforts last year for the Chicago White Sox and Bears. In addition to powering United Center, Constellation also supplies electricity to U.S. Cellular Field and Halas Hall, the Bears' team offices and practice facilities.

These green games also provide an opportunity for fans to learn more about the growing trend to shop and save on home electricity, just as consumers shop for internet or phone service.

*About Constellation*

The Constellation family of retail electricity and natural gas suppliers (www.constellation.com), are subsidiaries of Exelon Corp., and are leading competitive retail suppliers of power, natural gas and energy products and services for homes and businesses across the continental United States. Constellation's retail businesses serve more than 100,000 business and public sector customers, including more than two-thirds of the Fortune 100, and nearly one million residential customers.

Exelon Corporation (NYS: EXC) is the nation's leading competitive energy provider, with 2012 revenues of approximately $23.5 billion. Headquartered in Chicago, Exelon has operations and business activities in 47 states, the District of Columbia and Canada. Exelon is one of the largest competitive U.S. power generators, with approximately 35,000 megawatts of owned capacity comprising one of the nation's cleanest and lowest-cost power generation fleets. The company's Constellation business unit provides energy products and services to approximately 100,000 business and public sector customers and approximately 1 million residential customers. Exelon's utilities deliver electricity and natural gas to more than 6.6 million customers in central Maryland (BGE), northern Illinois (ComEd) and southeastern Pennsylvania (PECO).





Constellation Communications
Lawrence McDonnell, 410-470-9700
lawrence.mcdonnell@constellation.com

*KEYWORDS:*   United States  North America  Illinois  Maryland  Pennsylvania

*INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:*

The article Constellation Powers Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks Environmental Goals with Green Games as Earth Month Begins Reported by DailyFinance 1 hour ago.

CVD Equipment Corporation Reports Fiscal 2012 Results

April 1, 2013, 2:27 pm

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Filed under: Investing

*CVD Equipment Corporation Reports Fiscal 2012 Results*

RONKONKOMA, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- CVD Equipment Corporation (NASDAQ: CVV) announced revenue and earnings for the year ending December 31, 2012.

On revenue of approximately $22,158,000 for the year ended December 31, 2012 the Company recorded net earnings of approximately $436,000 or $0.07 per basic and diluted share.




Early in 2011, having realized that the current facilities were inadequate to meet anticipated future production requirements, management set upon a plan of expansion. In May 2011 through the issuance of shares of common stock approximately $9,388,000 was raised. In March 2012, the Company closed on the purchase of a 120,000 square foot facility to which we subsequently added another 10,000 square feet to replace the 63,275 square feet that was then occupied in two buildings. Over the course of the remaining nine months of 2012, significant time and effort was spent renovating the facility to meet future goals and objectives. This time was also utilized to increase and train additional sales, engineering and production staff in order to maximize productivity once the move is complete. During this period CVD also increased its research from $955,000 in 2011 to $1,330,000 in 2012.

Additionally, order acceptance levels were purposely reduced to approximately $8,342,000 in order to maintain a more manageable backlog level during the transition into the new facility. Order backlog usually is a reasonable management tool to indicate future revenues and profits, however it does not provide an assurance of future achievement of revenues or profits as order cancellations or delays are possible. Backlog from quarter to quarter can vary based on the timing of order placements and shipments.

Net earnings of $436,000 were also negatively impacted by the sale of 979 Marconi Ave, Ronkonkoma, NY, the building which had housed CVD's Application Laboratory resulting in a capital loss of $694,000 and a reduction of $0.12 per share on our earnings. Our building located at 1860 Smithtown Ave., Ronkonkoma, NY is currently in contract, expected to generate a capital gain and is scheduled to close imminently.

The Company continues to maintain a strong cash position and a healthy working capital ratio despite the cash outlays for the new facility and the inherent inefficiencies of moving into new quarters.

Leonard Rosenbaum, President and Chief Executive Officer stated: "In 2011 we had major growth in equipment order levels and revenues. This growth stretched our Ronkonkoma manufacturing facility to its limit and restricted our ability to hire additional personnel to further increase our manufacturing capability. We expected this constraint would be eliminated starting in Q3, 2012 but it took us until mid March of 2013 to finally move into the new facility. This resulted in a very inefficient operation over the last six months due to the distractions and resource utilization associated with getting the new facility operational. Thankfully we are now at the end of this transition and we will now be able to turn our full attention back to operating the business.

"Our quotation level is very high and we anticipate 2013 will demonstrate that we have a very bright future. Our ability to work with customers to solve their process issues and to define, design and manufacture customized equipment needed to meet their production needs will continue to provide significant order levels. Our FirstNano^TM EasyTube® product family is keeping us in the forefront of technology and continues to expand by serving University, Industrial and Government Research Laboratories and Startup companies throughout the world in fields such as Nanotubes (Carbon and Boron Nitride), Graphene, Nanowires (Zinc Oxide, Gallium Nitride, Silicon,) Solar Cells, MEM's, Energy generation and storage, Semiconductors and Light Emitting Diodes. Our Application Laboratory together with our wholly owned subsidiary, CVD Materials Corporation are providing research and the further implementation of our business plan to offer our assistance in accelerating the commercialization of the next generation products on CVD production equipment platforms. The Company will further expand our technology, products and customer base in 2013."


 
CVD Equipment Corporation
Comparison of Consolidated Statements of Operations
For the Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2012 vs. December 31, 2011
 
      2012

    2011

Revenue $22,158,000 $30,994,000
Income before income taxes 400,000 4,788,000
Net income 436,000 3,779,000
Net earnings
- Per share basic

$ 0.07 $ 0.69
- Per share diluted

$ 0.07 $ 0.67
Stock Outstanding
- Basic

6,007,326 5,450,565
- Diluted

6,132,237 5,629,907
 

Earnings release should be read in conjunction with Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2012

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for forward-looking statements. Certain information included in this press release (as well as information included in oral statements or other written statements made or to be made by CVD Equipment Corporation) contains statements that are forward-looking. All statements other than statements of historical fact are hereby identified as "forward-looking statements, "as such term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward looking information involves a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed or anticipated by management. Potential risks and uncertainties include, among other factors, conditions, success of CVD Equipment Corporation's growth and sales strategies, the possibility of customer changes in delivery schedules, cancellation of orders, potential delays in product shipments, delays in obtaining inventory parts from suppliers and failure to satisfy customer acceptance requirements.





*CVD Equipment Corporation*
*Karen Hamberg, 631-981-7081*
*Fax: 631-981-7095*
investorrelations@CVDequipment.com
Sales@CVDequipment.com

*KEYWORDS:*   United States  North America  New York

*INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:*

The article CVD Equipment Corporation Reports Fiscal 2012 Results Reported by DailyFinance 46 minutes ago.

AMD roadmap shows Steamroller-based Opterons on track for 2013

April 1, 2013, 2:43 pm

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AMD gave us a tease of its next-generation Steamroller architecture in 2012, but things weren't looking good for pro users when the initial timeline had current-generation Piledriver technology as the focus for Opterons in 2013. Thanks to a newer investor presentation, there's a glimmer of hope for the workstation and server users among us. Its roadmap shows Steamroller-equipped Opteron variants arriving this year, with an Excavator follow-up coming at an undetermined point in the future. There's nothing about specific timelines and models, as you might imagine -- AMD isn't going to spoil its plans quite so readily -- but the presentation reminds us that Steamroller will put an emphasis on the parallelism that's oh so vital to high-end computing. We're mostly glad to hear that IT backrooms will have something genuinely new to play with while we're off enjoying its Kaveri counterpart at home.

Filed under: Desktops, AMD

*Comments*

*Via:* X-bit Labs, TechEye

*Source:* AMD (PDF) Reported by engadget 30 minutes ago.

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CopperSmith’s Unique Collection Wins with Consumers

April 1, 2013, 3:05 pm

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CopperSmith has been innovating the custom copper market by offering a more diverse online product line with a new oxidation protection process to eliminate patina and tarnish.

Minneapolis, MN (PRWEB) April 01, 2013

CopperSmith announces its new e-commerce site, CopperSmithCollection.com. The expanded store is offering a wide selection of custom copper range hoods, tiles, bathtubs, sinks and other unique décor.

The Minneapolis based company has been manufacturing and retailing custom copper products since 2009. Since its small beginning’s, CopperSmith has been aggressively expanding their product lines by building relationships with craftsmen worldwide. This has allowed them to assemble a unique collection of copper products.

After discovering first-hand the unique capabilities and styles from different regions, where it’s not uncommon to see these skills passed down from generation to generation. The company decided to take a new path and collaborate with diverse cultures. With an exploding customer base, it’s safe to say the company is on to something.

By incorporating new technologies in controlling the oxidation process, the company has eliminated tarnish and patina. A high temperature baking is allowing them to create unique color combinations that are permanent. Endless options have been large drivers to sales. The company prides itself in providing a superior customer service experience that increases value.

Although Copper Products have become more popular among interior designers, architects and custom home builders in the last few years, they are by no means new to the home improvement scene. Consumers have long known the value of copper to provide fantastic curb appeal and unmatched corrosion resistance. Reported by PRWeb 8 minutes ago.

The Next-Generation Therapy to Treat Type 2 Diabetes Has Arrived

April 1, 2013, 3:11 pm

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Filed under: Investing

OK, so it's not nearly as dramatic as Captain Kirk beaming up from a planet's surface to The Enterprise, but the approval of *Johnson & Johnson*'s Invokana is a revolutionary breakthrough for those who suffer with Type 2 diabetes, or T2D.

*A new pathway to glycemic balance*
On Good Friday no less, the Food and Drug Administration approved J&J's Invokana, ushering in a completely new method by which T2D can be treated. You see, Invokana is an SGLT2 inhibitor and works by a completely different pathway than oral DPP-4 inhibitors, which are the current hot thing in T2D care. DPP-4 inhibitors like *Merck*'s Januvia work by reducing glucagon and blood glucose levels through hormones in the pancreas and liver. However, they've also been linked with potentially serious side effects like pancreatitis, kidney problems, and severe allergic reactions. But that hasn't stopped Januvia from racking up annual sales in excess of $4 billion.

J&J's Invokana -- which was developed by its subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals - is an oral drug that works in the kidneys by blocking the reabsorption of glucose and allowing the body to rid excess glucose through the urine. The end result is a more normalized glycemic balance, with the added benefit of weight loss even though Invokana isn't indicated for weight loss. This is a welcome change since the majority of previous T2D treatments actually induce weight gain in patients.




*Improvement seen one step at a time*
The approval of Invokana itself wasn't a guarantee even though the clinical trials suggested it would breeze through an FDA approval. Invokana effectively reduced A1C levels, lowered systolic blood pressure, and provided modest weight loss, all at the expense of the placebo, which, in this case, was Merck's Januvia.

However, a gray cloud overhung its PDUFA meeting in the form of a complete response letter for Forxiga, an SGLT2 inhibitor from *AstraZeneca* and *Bristol-Myers Squibb* that was denied approval in Jan. 2012. Although Forxiga has found success in Europe, where it was approved in November -- and became the first SGLT2-inhibiting drug approved in the world - it was denied a U.S. approval due to concerns about elevated breast and bladder cancer risks from taking the drug.

It's also not hard to understand why the FDA is more stringent when it comes to safety concerns in T2D treatments as *GlaxoSmithKline*'s T2D drug Avandia resulted in one of the largest recalls in U.S. history. All told, GlaxoSmithKline settled in 2012 for $3 billion and it's estimated that Avandia could have resulted in 50,000 to 100,000 deaths due to increased heart attack risks associated with the drug.

Invokana, despite the approval, won't get a free pass. It was shown to cause yeast infection and urinary tract infections (which is expected given the excess sugar being secreted by a patient), but will also need to follow up with five additional longer-term safety trials. Specifically, J&J will be tracking cases of heart problems, cancer, pancreatitis, and liver problems.

*A blockbuster in the making*
Those concerns aside, Invokana appears to be a vast improvement in T2D patient care, providing fewer and less severe side effects with great efficacy and the added bonus of weight loss. Peak sales estimate for Invokana vary depending on whom you ask, but commonly settle around $1 billion. This figure could prove to be far too low considering that it mopped the floor with Januvia, is priced competitively with existing T2D medications, and faces a big boost when Januvia's patents begin to expire in 2017. Also, as I noted in February, the next-generation of T2D treatment following SGLT2 inhibitors, such as glucokinase activators, are still a long way from gaining approval.

At the moment, I'd say the future of T2D treatments is J&J's market to lose.

*Is bigger really better?*
Involved in everything from baby powder to biotech, Johnson & Johnson's critics are convinced that the company is spread way too thin. If you want to know if J&J is nothing but a bloated corporate whale -- or a well-diversified giant that's perfect for your portfolio -- check out the Fool's new premium report outlining the Johnson & Johnson story in terms that any investor can understand. Claim your copy by clicking here now. 

The article The Next-Generation Therapy to Treat Type 2 Diabetes Has Arrived Reported by DailyFinance 2 minutes ago.

Cypriots Worry Over Younger Generation

March 31, 2013, 8:18 pm

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Rural areas trained a generation to work in services, and now that is withering, as did agriculture before it. Reported by Wall Street Journal 2 days ago.

The Next Generation of Renters: Savvy and Connected

April 1, 2013, 12:08 am

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Recent ForRent.com survey reveals what apartment seekers are looking for in their next home – and how they’re finding it.

Norfolk, VA (PRWEB) April 01, 2013

The next generation of renters is equipped with more access to information than ever before. Recent survey data published by ForRent.com, sister site of Homes.com, sheds light on what renters are looking for and the methods they’re using to find it. With more than 8,000 responses, the month-long survey revealed convenience and cost-efficiency are most important to apartment-dwellers.

“Today’s renters are well informed and looking for the best amenities,” said Brock MacLean, executive vice president of Homes.com. “They know what they want and how to find it. If one apartment community does not offer the right features, they will use online resources to find one that does.”

Online reviews and social networking make it simple to find information on prospective apartment properties and allow people to quickly ask online friends if they have positive or negative experiences with rental establishments.

Before signing on the dotted line, renters check out an apartment’s reputation to help make a final decision regarding a lease:


· Ratings are number one, with 75 percent of renters basing a decision on reviews.
· 48 percent of those on the apartment hunt also use “word of mouth” to help make a decision.
· Videos are important to renters, with 90 percent of renters saying they watch a video as part of the apartment search.

Visuals are a key component. While on the quest for their next apartment, renters want to easily view photos and take virtual tours, bringing the apartment search to life:


· 91 percent of renters use an Internet listing service, such as Homes.com and ForRent.com.
· Print is very relevant, as 25 percent of renters also use print sources such as apartment listing magazines.
· 28 percent of searchers look on mobile sites or apps.

When it comes to features and amenities in apartment units and communities, renters want quick and easy methods of communication and convenient amenities.


· Email is the preferred communication route in general for 62 percent of renters.
· Email is also the preferred method for follow up communications, says 82 percent of renters.
· Only 23 percent prefer mobile communications with their apartment management or property owner.

Convenience and cost efficiency trump other preferences by the next generation’s renters.


· All-inclusive utilities ranked number one in preferred amenities, followed preferences are in-unit laundry features, stainless steel appliances and walk-in closets.
· As renters look to the future, 54 percent would like a recycling center, 52 percent prefer a poolside kitchen and 38 percent are interested in a community with a theater room.
· 83 percent want wireless Internet, 73 percent want to pay rent online and 43 percent would partake in community-sponsored group exercise.

See the Homes.com and ForRent.com Next Generation of Renters infographic for additional highlights.

About Homes.com
As one of the nation’s top online real estate destinations, Homes.com inspires consumers to dream big. From affordable houses to luxurious estates, apartments, condos and more, Homes.com features more than four million property listings for sale and rent in a user-friendly format, making finding your next home easily accessible. Visitors to the Homes.com blog will find a collection of rich content and posts on DIY projects, decorating, organization and more, providing the ultimate resource for everything home related. From purchasing a first home, to upgrading, downsizing, renting and everything in between, Homes.com is an inspiring and engaging partner in every phase of the home buying and rental journey.

Homes.com apartment listings are powered through an exclusive partnership with ForRent.com.

About For Rent Media Solutions
Founded in 1982 as For Rent Magazine®, For Rent Media Solutions™ is headquartered in Norfolk, Va., and provides property managers and owners with diverse marketing and advertising products. These products are easy to use, easy to understand, and designed with the renters in mind. For apartment shoppers, For Rent Media Solutions provides robust community listings in a multitude of mediums, including: print, social, online, mobile, video and an extensive distribution network. For Rent Media Solutions publishes 85 magazines covering more than 80 markets nationwide, including After 55™ Housing & Resource Guide, ForRent.com Magazine and ParaRentar. For Rent Media Solutions operates five additional websites: ForRent.com®, SeniorOutlook.com®, CorporateHousing.com®, ParaRentar.com® and ForRentUniversity.com®. Visit ForRent.com for more information, or visit us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Homes.com is a division of Dominion Enterprises, a leading marketing services and publishing company headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia. For more information, visit http://www.dominionenterprises.com.

For more information, visit http://www.homes.com or blog.homes.com. Reported by PRWeb 2 days ago.

80% Greenwich Village: Music That Defined a Generation

April 1, 2013, 12:50 am

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GREENWICH VILLAGE: MUSIC THAT DEFINED A GENERATION is a feature-length documentary about the Greenwich Village music scene and how it sparked everlasting political, social and cultural changes. For the first time, the greatest singer-songwriters,... Reported by Rotten Tomatoes 2 days ago.