H2M Completed Long Island’s First Smart Car Dealership
March 17, 2008
(Melville, N.Y.) H2M, a multi-disciplined Engineering & Architectural service firm has recently completed work on the development, design and renovation of the Mercedes-Benz of Smithtown and smart Center, Smithtown, NY both dealerships are members of the 6-member Competition Automotive Group, founded in 1962. The H2M team renovated an existing facility for Long Island’s first smart car location.
Popular in Europe, Mercedes-Benz and DaimlerChrysler took on the challenging US market by bringing in one of their most innovative cars ever in an effort to help protect the environment through reduced energy consumption, thereby conserving our natural resources. Since its introduction in October 1998, nearly 800,000 people in 36 countries have made the smart car the “in” car for fuel-efficient urban transportation. The new smart car was released in Europe in April 2007 and is now available on Long Island with the help of H2M, the architects for the dealership. Robert Scheiner, AIA, Sr. Vice President of H2M said, “Smart car gave H2M a very tight design schedule. It is especially rewarding to bring smart car to Long Island and deliver such an innovative car to the market on time.”
H2M is experienced in dealing with corporate representatives from other manufacturers’ dealerships both foreign and domestic, some of their clients include: Huntington Jaguar, Southampton Jaguar, Saturn of Medford, Meyer Chevrolet, Mercedes Benz Smithtown and Competition Infiniti.
In addition, H2M is sensitive to the configurations required along with the level of quality of finished materials. Michael J. Bonacasa, AIA, Studio Director & Senior Architect a resident of Merrick, NY, Robert E. Ikes, III, R.A., Studio Manager & Project Architect a resident of Baldwin and Mina Mirzaei, Project Coordinator a resident of Huntington, all worked on the dealership design. For further information about H2M please call 631-756-8000 or visit the website at www.h2m.com.
Founded in 1933, H2M has grown to be one of the most respected professional consulting firms in the Northeast, providing full-service engineering, architecture, environmental services, and laboratory analysis. H2M consists of Holzmacher, McLendon & Murrell, P.C., H2M Labs, Inc., H2M Associates, Inc., H2M Architects & Engineers, Inc.; and has offices in Melville, New York and Totowa, New Jersey.
Online Scams Target Consumers This Tax Season
March 17, 2008
(New York, N.Y.) The International Trademark Association (INTA) today alerted consumers to several electronic scams targeting taxpayers and offered tips for protecting personal information online during the 2007 tax filing season.
Currently, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is reporting several electronic scams that are targeting people as they prepare to file their taxes online. These scams include fraudulent emails that read “Audit Alert,” “Changes to Tax Law” and “Refund.” The success of these schemes relies on the goodwill and recognition that the public associates with a trademark, and criminals use this to lure consumers to their Web sites.
This tax season, consumers should:
1. Use a search engine when looking for government and commercial Web sites.
2. Avoid typing Web destinations directly into their Internet browser’s address bar.
3. Purchase genuine tax prep software from an authorized retailer if planning to self-prepare.
4. Carefully read any emails that solicit personal and financial information.
5. Report any suspicious emails or phone calls to phishing@irs.gov.
6. Educate themselves against potential risks by visiting “How to Protect Yourself from Suspicious E-Mails or Phishing Schemes.”
7. Verify the ownership of a Web site using the Whois database. Start at www.internic.com.
“As more consumers turn to tax prep software and e-filing for their taxes, we want people to understand that there is a real potential for fraudulent attacks when bringing personal information to the Internet. We recommend using a trusted brand of tax software, and knowing the warning signs of potentially harmful Web sites and emails looking to take advantage of consumers during this time of the year,” said INTA Executive Director, Alan Drewsen.
Quick facts noted by the IRS about the increasing online tax filing trend:
140 million people visited the Web site www.irs.gov last year.
22 million people prepared their own tax returns and filed electronically in 2007.
96 million refunds averaging $2,255 were issued by the IRS last year
To learn more about the importance of trademarks, please visit http://www.inta.org/media/center
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About INTA
The International Trademark Association (INTA) is a worldwide association of member companies and firms that support and advance trademarks and intellectual property as elements of fair and effective global commerce.
Yahoo Execs Meet With Microsoft Counterparts
March 17, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) Rivaling companies Yahoo Inc and Microsoft sent company representatives to meet near Yahoo’s Sunnyvale head office in California to discuss possible amendments to Microsoft’s takeover bid which could lead to a breakthrough for merger plans.
A month ago, Microsoft sent an unsolicited $44.6 Billion or roughly $31 per shares of stocks offer to Yahoo Inc. to takeover their operations for the company but was summarily denied by Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang and its board of trustees noting that Yahoo Inc. is worth much more than the initial offer.
“We have great respect for Yahoo, and together, we can offer an increasingly exciting set of solutions for consumers, publishers, and advertisers while becoming better positioned to compete in the online-services market, Today, the market is increasingly dominated by one player, who is consolidating its dominance through acquisition, together Microsoft and Yahoo can offer a credible alternative ” Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said in a statement.
According to sources close to the negotiations and speaking on terms of anonymity, the meeting occurred last Monday near Yahoo’s headquarters and both companies sent top executives to discuss a possible solution to their current stand-off. Microsoft re-iterated that it would not increase its offer to accommodate Yahoo’s wishes but industry experts surmise that it is a necessity for Microsoft to do so if it pursues its intentions of buying the troubled search-engine company.
Yahoo Inc. generated dismal sales report from the last three months of last year up to the early parts of this year in its quarterly reports which prompted the company to incorporate cost cutting measures such as the closures of multiple company owned retail outlets nationwide and the reduction of its total manpower by 10 percent on January. An estimated 800 employees of Yahoo lost their jobs when the company announced that it would implement these economic maneuvers in an effort to save the company.
After rejecting Microsoft’s bid a month ago, Yahoo Inc. through its CEO Jerry Yang explored multiple avenues to increase company outputs such as possible allegiance to giant Google Inc., AOL Time Warner and News Corp. “Yahoo is better off inside a larger company with (a) strong balance sheet and technology, a combination of Yahoo’s relationships (with DSL providers), and Microsoft’s applications and devices, could create a very well positioned potential competitor,” Imran Khan of JP Morgan wrote.
The online advertising market is expected to increase from over $40 billion in 2007 to nearly $80 billion by 2010.
Parkinson’s Disease Drug “Dopamine” Might Treat Cancer As Well
March 17, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) In a research study performed on Laboratory rats, scientists at Mayo Clinic where able to determine that the drug “Dopamine” which is primarily used as a treatment against Parkinson’s disease can help diminish the development of new blood vessels which could aide cancer patients in the future as it stops advancement of the cancer.
“Researchers can now test this concept in solid tumors where angiogenesis which is a formation of new blood vessels plays a critical role in the growth and progression of these cancers,” He also added that, “sometimes new drugs may not be the answer. We looked instead at a novel use for an established product, and have found very promising results, this is the very first time it has been shown that an important neurotransmitter like dopamine is regulating the mobilization of these progenitor cells from the bone marrow. This is very important, and represents why these findings are so unique,” Dr. Sujit Basu, a Mayo Clinic Oncologist, said in a prepared statement.
Dr. Basu and his colleagues at the Mayo Clinic published its findings last Monday at the Journal Of Clinical Investigation Online Edition. In their publication, researchers summarized that the drug Dopamine can prevent endothelial progenitor, which are cells that helps in forming new blood vessels in our body, from escalating further to the bone marrow and the circulatory system in effect controlling the growth of cancerous cells to other parts of the body not initially infected.
In general, the drug Dopamine has been marketed in the US and approved by the Bureau of Food and Drug Administration as a form of medication that helps in treatment for diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, pituitary tumors and heart attack. Parkinson’s disease is described as a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system which diminishes the person’s ability to speak and to move freely. Currently, it is one of the most devastating forms of disease that affects thousands of Americans.
Clinton, Obama Strategist Lobbied Accusations; Obama Extends Lead
March 17, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) Illinois Senator Barrack Obama’s campaign strategist team hurled accusations against rival candidate NY Sen. Hilary Clinton’s campaign over the latter’s ethical standing and governance accountability.
Robert Gibbs who serves as Obama’s campaign communications director asked Clinton’s camp to release all of her post-White house tax returns after she served as First Lady during former president and husband Bill Clinton’s tenure. Gibbs also noted that documents such as Clinton’s pet projects on spending bills and financial imprints of her Clinton foundation and Clinton Libraries should also be disclosed publicly to avoid scrutiny.
“What is lurking in those documents?” Gibbs asked as the two campaigns had dueling phone conference calls with reporters. “There are gaps that need to be filled,” said senior Obama strategist David Axelrod.
Hilary Clinton’s chief strategists Mark Penn responded in saying, “This is a tried and true technique of the Obama campaign that has repeatedly shifted negative when they find the momentum working against them, they are just trying to deflect public opinion from their losses in Ohio and Texas and faced with Clinton strength in Pennsylvania.”
On Monday, Barrack Obama will head out to Pennsylvania to campaign in the state for its delegate-rich primary on April 22. Political experts agree that Clinton holds a sizeable lead over Obama in Penssylvania as the former first lady holds a strong following in the state. Obama strategist David Axelrod said in a statement, “‘We are going to contest vigorously in Pennsylvania, Obama would be there on Monday and Tuesday. She (Clinton) does have a lot of advantages there — and we understand that. We know we have an uphill fight there. … But in no way are we giving up on Pennsylvania.”
Meanwhile, Sen. Barrack Obama’s campaign received a few more delegates on Monday to further extend his total delegates lead over Clinton after he secured nine more delegates on the basis of caucus night projections of former candidate John Edwards in Iowa’s caucus held on January of this year which switched Saturday to Obama. Current Demorcratic Party delegate count has Obama leading with 1,617 delegates while Clinton securing 1,498.
Actor Billy Crystal Cut By Yankees
March 17, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) Emmy award-winning actor Billy Crystal who starred in certified blockbuster films such as City Slickers and When Harry Met Sally in the 80’s and 90’s was officially cut by the New York Yankees after striking out in his only at bat on a losing effort against the Pittsburgh Pirates last Friday.
The Yankees decided to give Billy Crystal, a long standing fan of the team, a minor league contract to honor his contributions to the team and the society as well. MLB Commissioner Bud Selig gave his approval for the actor’s signing with the Yankees to pave the way for his first and only at-bat in professional level baseball for the Yankees.
Crystal, who turned 60 years old on Friday, came into the game as the lead off batter and designated hitter for the Yankees. He faced Pittsburgh’s Paul Maholm at the plate and fouled off in his second swing. With the count 3-2, Crystal was struck out by the Pirates pitcher and was given a loud standing ovation from an appreciative crowd at Tampa Fl.
“It was unbelievable and the greatest moment of my life,” Crystal said. “I don’t really know how to describe it. It was intensely good.” After the game, the actor signed dozens of baseballs for his teammates with the message “Your teammate, Billy Crystal — 3/13/08.” encrypted and also invited his peers to a birthday bash with best pal Robin Williams.
New York lost the game 5-3 despite a heroic effort by starting pitcher Mike Mussina who kept the pirates from reaching a single base in the first five innings. Jose Bautista and Chris Gomez hit singles in the sixth inning off Mariano Riviera to break the perfect game attempt by the Yankees.
Crystal’s role on the team as the designated hitter and infielder for the Yankees spring training team was officially acknowledged after the game when team management recorded “March 14 Released INF Billy Crystal.” in their game notes under team transactions record.
20th Century Fox’s “Horton Hears A Who?” Top At Box Office
March 17, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) 20th Century Fox’s newest animation movie “Dr. Seuss’s Horton Hears A Who?” featuring the voice of Jim Carey topped last week’s box office in its debut week after it raked in over $45.1 million in ticket sales nationwide.
The movie stars Horton, an elephant voiced by Award winning actor Jim Carey and it tells the tale of his adventures in an effort to save the minute city of Whoville which is a small inhabitation of the Who’s. Whoville is located in a speck of dust at the jungle and its mayor voiced by actor Steve Carrel has the same idealisms as Horton has. Both of them believe that their own worlds are nearing doom. Horton heard the mayor’s cry for help one day and the two of them embarked on their mission to preserve Whoville and the world.
“It’s a ‘who-mongous’ opening, and it’s playing to all Who’s two to 92,” said 20th Century Fox distribution executive Chris Aronson. “If you can’t do an ode to Dr. Seuss with an opening like this, come on.”
“Dr. Seuss’s Horton Hears A Who?” $45.1 million earnings in its first week placed the movie in the record books as the fourth highest grossing movie of all-time for the month of March behind “Ice Age”, “Ice Age 2″ and Robots while toppling this years former number one opening week high grosser “Cloverfield” released last January which earned over $40.6 Million its opening week.
The previous week’s number one movie “10,000 B.C.” a prehistoric epic by Warner Brothers finished second with $16.4 Million upping its two week total sales to over $61.2 million. Summit Entertainment’s “Never Back Down” a movie about mixed martial arts debut at the third spot with a $8.6 million opening week. Rounding out the top five are Gunn Films movie “College Road trip” with $7.9 Million ranking in fourth while the original shot movie “Vantage Point” starring Dennis Quad and Forrest Whitaker finished fifth with $5.4 Million.
Wall Street Flounders
March 14, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) Wall Street experienced another downturn on early trading Friday as signs of how bad the credit industry has fallen off came evident after JP Morgan Chase & Co. and the New York Federal Reserve announced a plan to help troubling credit company Bear Stearns Cos.
Investors shied away from trading actively at the stock market after the announcement came from the New York feds. According to a released statement, both JP Morgan chase and NY Feds will provide Bear Stearns secured funding for an initial period of 28 days. A move aimed in giving the struggling credit company a relief from lousy liquidity figures while installing confidence for long term gains.
“The Bear Stearns news reversed the early positive sentiment from the inflation data,” said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at Avalon Partners. “There had been nervousness about Bear Stearns for some time and now the market’s concerns about the company have been proven true.”
The Dow Jones Industrial lost 154.52 points by midmorning trading for a 1.27 percent decline to settle current point total at 11991.22 while Broader indexes Standard and Poor 500 and NASDAQ composites absorbed losses as well with S&P 500 giving up 20.15 points while NADAQ losing 30.61 points.
Initially, the stock market opened up on a high note today with a majority of the companies experiencing minimal gains after the Labor Department announced an unchanged consumer inflation figure for the month of February and a similar number of unemployed individuals in the US who claimed for unemployment benefits for the second straight week. All optimism where snuffed out of the market after the New York feds released their statement regarding Bear Stearns lifeline plan.
Also contributing for Wall Street’s woes was the US dollar’s decline against major currencies worldwide. The US dollar gave up a new record low at $1.5657 against the euros on Thursdays close. Chief foreign exchange strategist for CMC Markets in New York Ashraf Laidi said regarding World Central Banks plan of interference, “speculation that the world’s major central banks will mount coordinated intervention to stabilize the rout of the dollar. Considerable talk of possible coordinated intervention … is making the market somewhat jittery about putting on additional short dollar trades versus other major currencies”
Study Concludes: Dementia Patients Better Off Knowing Their Diagnosis
March 14, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) University of Washington medical researchers in St. Louis proved in a recently conducted study among patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of Dementia that the respondents with such fearing diseases in their body prefers to be knowledgeable of the situation rather than kept in the dark of their current condition.
The research shows that patients with this disease can do better and are more equipped mentally in coping and fighting their condition if they are aware to the full extent of their medical status rather than the anxiety and uncertainty the patient experiences without proper diagnosis by a qualified physician.
“It’s not good news. No one is pleased to find out they have dementia,” said Brian Carpenter who served as a co-investigator and associate professor of psychology at Washington University and was a big part of the research project. “But some people find comfort in getting resolution to their anxiety and concerns, and knowing that people can help them.”
The study involved measuring the depression status of a patient two days before and after the patient receives prognosis from a physician of their condition. The research was conducted due to the alarming rate which currently stands at 50 percent of doctors who fear to divulge full details of their findings to their patients.
“This study is interesting, because it shows a lot of the paternalistic fears are not supported by the data.” said Scott Roberts who is an Alzheimer’s disease researcher at the University of Michigan but was not involved in the research itself.
Dementia is a condition in which a patient suffers a progressive decline in cognitive function due to damage in the brain beyond what might be expected from normal aging. The disease can cross all age barriers upon adulthood and it affects the person’s memory, attention, language and their problem solving skills. There are several forms of dementia broken down into two main categories called cortical and subcortical dementia which includes Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, Vitamin B12 deficiency, Subdural hematoma, etc.,
Oil Finished At $110.04 A Barrel; US Dollar Weakens Further
March 14, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) Sweet and Crude oil deliveries for April this year settled at $110.04 a barrel on Thursday which is a 0.29 cents decline after setting a new all-time high the previous day at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Twelve of the last thirteen trading sessions yielded record high’s for oil futures deliveries.
On Wednesday, Oil prices surged to an all-time high of $110.33 a barrel on inflation adjusted rates but retreated yesterday after investors exposed initial fantasy on commodity trading rather than at the oil industry. Also factoring in for the decline was OPEC’s decision to throw off the US governments request for an increase in oil deliveries for next month.
“When there are no immediate supply side concerns that justify surging to new record everyday, some pullback is inevitable,” said Victor Shum, an energy analyst with Purvin & Gertz. “This is just part of the volatility of trading. In the near term, despite the fact that oil pricing is pulling farther from market fundamentals, this bull run could continue because of the expectation of further (Fed) interest rate cuts and continued weakening of the U.S. dollar,”
Experts surmise that the oil price ascent the last few months bear heavily on the declining amount of the US dollar against major currencies worldwide. As the dollar falls, Oil stocks which are bought and sold in US dollars become more attractive to international investors. On Friday, the US dollar hit another all-time low against the Euros as it fell at $1.5651 to a Euro.
“The dollar traders will be watching the release later today of the U.S. inflation number for February as an indicator of the Fed decision next Tuesday,” said Olivier Jakob, of Petromatrix in Switzerland. “What central banks decide next Tuesday should be more relevant to oil prices than any recent OPEC meetings.”
