The IHC Group Acquires PetPlace.com, Premier Destination for Pet Parents

October 12, 2016, 12:09 am

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Expanding its footprint and commitment in the pet health market, The IHC Group (IHC) today announced it has acquired the assets of http://www.petplace.com (PetPlace), including subscribers and its social media outlets in a transaction effective October 1, 2016.

New York, NY (PRWEB) October 12, 2016

Expanding its footprint and commitment in the pet health market, The IHC Group (IHC) today announced it has acquired the assets of http://www.petplace.com (PetPlace), including subscribers and its social media outlets in a transaction effective October 1, 2016.

PetPlace attracts over 1,000,000 visitors each month as the popular web destination for pet parents concerned with their pet’s health and well-being. PetPlace’s content includes more than 10,000 veterinarian approved articles covering topics such as pet health conditions, breed information, behavior and training, medications and general wellness and care. Since its launch in 1999, thousands of pet parents have subscribed to PetPlace to receive news and information important to them via email as well as through social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

“We are extremely excited to bring PetPlace into The IHC Group. The domain helps us expand a unique brand in the pet health market that not only includes the rich content that consumers desire, but also acts as an outlet for pet health insurance options to meet their needs in caring for their beloved dog or cat,” said Rick Faucher, President for the pet health division of The IHC Group. “IHC will continue to deliver timely information with key experts and entertaining content to PetPlace audience.”

IHC entered the pet health market in 2011 underwriting pet health policies with Independence American Insurance Company (IAIC). In just 5 years, IAIC is now one of the top 6 pet insurance carriers based on gross written premiums of over $40 million.

“IHC has been looking to further its commitment to the pet insurance space and we believe PetPlace is a perfect complement to that effort as we ramp up our distribution in 2017,” said David Kettig, Chief Operating Officer of The IHC Group and President of Independence American Insurance Company.

For more information on PetPlace or pet health insurance, please contact Rick Faucher at 602-395-7083 or Rick.Faucher@IHCGroup.com.

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About The IHC Group
Independence Holding Company (NYSE: IHC) is a holding company that is principally engaged in underwriting, administering and/or distributing group and individual disability, specialty and supplemental health, pet, and life insurance through its subsidiaries since 1980. The IHC Group owns three insurance companies (Standard Security Life Insurance Company of New York, Madison National Life Insurance Company, Inc. and Independence American Insurance Company) and IHC Specialty Benefits, Inc., which is a technology-driven insurance sales and marketing company that creates value for insurance producers, carriers and consumers (both individuals and small businesses) through a suite of proprietary tools and products (including ACA plans and small group medical stop-loss). All products are placed with highly rated carriers.

“IHC” and “The IHC Group” are the brand names for plans, products and services provided by one or more of the subsidiaries and affiliate member companies of The IHC Group (“IHC Entities”). Plans, products and services are solely and only provided by one or more IHC Entities specified on the plan, product or service contract, not The IHC Group. Not all plans, products and services are available in each state.

About Independence American Insurance Company
Independence American Insurance Company is domiciled in Delaware and licensed to write property and/or casualty insurance in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Its products include short-term medical, hospital indemnity, fixed indemnity limited benefit, group and individual dental, pet insurance, and non-subscriber occupational accident insurance in Texas. Independence American is rated A- (Excellent) for financial strength by A.M. Best Company, a widely recognized rating agency that rates insurance companies on their relative financial strength and ability to meet policyholder obligations (an A++ rating from A.M. Best is its highest rating). Reported by PRWeb 59 minutes ago.

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Villabound Launches Houston Luxury Rentals Program As Demand for Luxury Villas Surge for Super Bowl 2017

October 12, 2016, 12:09 am

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Super Bowl 2017 in Houston, Texas, has created a huge surge in demand for elite super luxury private rentals for the week of February 5th, 2017. To address this massive uptick for these properties, global private home rental agency Villabound, specialists in luxury private home travel, has launched its Houston Luxury Rentals Program.

(PRWEB) October 12, 2016

With the 2017 Super Bowl heading to the Lone Star State at NRG Stadium, the search for supremely luxurious private home accommodation in Houston, Texas, has begun. With the average ticket last year ranging between $2,500 and $10,000 and Corporate Suites ranging from $150,000 to $400,000 and as high as $750,000, the action is as much on the field as the experience off-the field.The pursuit of this luxury accommodation for this mega-event is generating significant demand for luxury private homes with budgets as high as $250,000 for a week’s residence in these properties of a unique and distinguished calibre.

Launch of Houston Luxury Rentals Program

Villabound, a global private home rental agency specializing in super luxury properties for ultra-high and high-net-worth Individuals is launching a new Houston Luxury Program to meet the surging demand for the Super Bowl including bringing off-market properties for this exclusive group of discerning clients.

“The Super Bowl is an immense drawing card for a super-star line up of A-list celebrities, wealthy executives and other high net worth individuals and we’re already seeing incredible demand for super luxury properties for Super Bowl 2017,” says the CEO of Villabound Lily Dash. “Our High-Networth clients are seeking a level of luxury, customization and privacy for the Super Bowl which can only be met by the finest private residences in Houston.”

In explaining the launch of the Houston Luxury Rental Program Dash notes, “The Super Bowl is a great and rare opportunity for luxury home owners to capitalize on their assets in this Super Bowl season; but piquing the interest of these elite clients requires more than simply a palatial home; it requires expertise in making these home ready for prime-time- which is the purpose of the Houston Luxury Rental Program.”

The Houston Luxury Rentals Program pairs Villabound’s expertise in property marketing and management, its prowess in securing elite off-market properties and its network of HNI who are desirous of rental of properties of this standard. The program ensures properties are gloriously furnished and or staged by a professional interior designer with contemporary furniture and finishes and professionally photographed to garner the interest of these discerning clients.

The criteria for these super luxury homes include: location (ideally within a 30 minute drive Maximum of the NRG Stadium, preferably within a 15 -20 minute drive) a minimum of 4 bedrooms (but 5+ bedrooms are preferred) and a back yard with a BBQ area and a beautiful heated swimming pool. These properties will be situated within the most prestigious neighborhoods such as River Oaks with market values ranging between $8-20 Million and ought to be staffed with both daily housekeeping and chef services to ensure a hassle-free and luxurious Super Bowl experience. CEO Dash continues, “We are excited to work with owners of luxurious private residences in the Houston area in optimizing their properties to meet this exceptional opportunity in demand for the Super Bowl for our elite High-Networth Clientele.”

About Villabound

Villabound is a global private home rental agency and vacation rental marketing company based in the Caribbean Island of Barbados, specializing in luxury private home travel.

For more information luxury home owners and luxury realtors in Houston with suitable properties contact us at: Email: 1 (246) 424- 5075 or Email: bookings(at)villabound(dot)com or follow us Villabound on Facebook and Twitter. Reported by PRWeb 1 hour ago.

Pariveda Solutions Announces the Promotion of Margaret Scovern to Office Managing Vice President of the Seattle Office

October 12, 2016, 12:08 am

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Margaret brings a great energy to our Seattle office and embodies our mission of growing the individual to their fullest potential

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) October 12, 2016

Pariveda Solutions, a leading management consulting firm specializing in improving clients’ performance, is pleased to announce that Margaret Scovern has been promoted to the role of Office Managing Vice President in our Seattle office. In this role she will be responsible for leading the Seattle market operations, expanding the Pariveda brand and continuing to focus on growing the individual (employee, client, and community) to their fullest potential by advancing our employees careers and bringing the latest technology solutions to current and prospective clients.

Margaret Scovern joined the Pariveda family in April 2010. For more than 20 years, her commitment to a value realization approach with her clients has solidified unwavering, trusted relationships in the retail, manufacturing and distribution industries. Margaret’s innovative approach to technology challenges has led her clients down a straightforward path toward high-value solutions. She has held several leadership roles in advanced technology. Her experience in hardware and application software throughout the value chain has led to her broad technical perspective.

“Since joining us in 2010 Margaret has been a key contributor to our firm across several dimensions,” said Kerry Stover, COO of Pariveda. “Margaret is a senior advisor leading value-creating change at a number of Seattle clients, played a key role in the development and rollout across our firm of Deliberate Reflective Ongoing Practice and currently leads our market-facing activities in Seattle. It is exciting to have someone with Margaret’s drive, commitment and experience step into leading our Seattle office.”

“We are confident in Margaret’s ability to take the Seattle office to the next level as we continue to grow our company,” said Bruce Ballengee, CEO of Pariveda. “Margaret brings a great energy to our Seattle office and embodies our mission of growing the individual to their fullest potential. She has been an integral part of Pariveda’s culture and the continued success of our Seattle office and shows characteristics of leadership, expertise, and credibility on a daily basis.”

About Pariveda Solutions

Pariveda Solutions, Inc. is a leading management consulting firm specializing in improving our clients’ performance. We are complex problem solvers who provide strategic consulting services and custom application development solutions for mobility, cloud computing, data, portals and collaboration, CRM, custom software, enterprise integration and user experience needs of our clients.

Pariveda Solutions and The Business of IT are trademarks of Pariveda Solutions, Inc., Dallas, Texas, USA. Reported by PRWeb 1 hour ago.

San Antonio officers in trouble after sporting trump gear

October 12, 2016, 3:57 pm

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Several San Antonio, Texas, police officers face discipline for wearing Trump hats while on duty. Video provided by Newsy

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Reported by USATODAY.com 9 hours ago.

Estrada to start ALCS opener against Cleveland

October 12, 2016, 4:10 pm

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TORONTO — After wrapping up their Division Series sweep of the Texas Rangers on Sunday night, the Toronto Blue Jays were able to kick back Monday, celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving and watch the Clevela Reported by Harrison Daily 9 hours ago.

Texas Auto Writers name new Ford Super Duty as the Truck of Texas

October 12, 2016, 3:55 pm

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Reported by DallasNews 10 hours ago.

Ducks begin season against Stars with new coach

October 12, 2016, 3:54 pm

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FRISCO, Texas -- Former division rivals Anaheim and Dallas are both ready to start the 2016-17 season on Thursday night at American Airlines Center and look forward to doing so for similar reasons. Reported by FOX Sports 10 hours ago.

Maternal deaths in Texas, Hurricane Matthew, CPS caseworkers, Hillary Clinton, Paul Ryan

October 12, 2016, 4:04 pm

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Reported by DallasNews 9 hours ago.

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On-Duty Texas Police Officers Wore Pro-Trump Hats. That's A Problem.

October 12, 2016, 4:33 pm

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A group of San Antonio police officers violated city policies when they donned “Make America Great Again” hats and posed for photos with Donald Trump on Tuesday.  

The Republican presidential nominee recently tweeted a video of the officers in hats bearing his campaign slogan. The footage shows Trump thanking them and some officers responding with a thumbs-up. Text at the bottom of the video reads, “We will make America safe and great again, together.”


Thank you Texas! If you haven't registered to VOTE- today is your last day. Go to: https://t.co/HfihPEA3Sp & get out on 11/8/16 to #MAGA! pic.twitter.com/KlRx4GoO64

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 11, 2016

San Antonio city employees are prohibited from participating in political activity while on the job. Tess House, a civil rights lawyer in San Antonio, said the display was inappropriate.

“They were acting within the scope of their employment. We’re talking about taxpayer money. They are on duty and abusing their position in order to take a stance and support a political candidate,” House told The Huffington Post.  

House is requesting a Justice Department investigation into the law enforcement agencies operating within the city ― specifically, the San Antonio Police Department and the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office.

The officers’ display of support for Trump also worries Maria Garcia, a former deputy in the Bexar County Sheriff’s Department, since her grandchildren are black.

“My granddaughter’s going to be driving because she’s 16 and it makes me afraid for her,” Garcia said.

Trump, the self-proclaimed “law and order candidate,” has built up his campaign by peddling destructive racial stereotypes: He has claimed that Mexicans are “rapists,” that black people are murderers and living in extreme poverty, and that Muslims are terrorists who should be banned from entering the United States.  

Garcia was on the force for five years before leaving to become a school counselor, and she says it worries her to think the officers support Trump’s policies and uphold his beliefs.

“It’s showing that they’re not gonna give [my grandchildren] a fair chance because anyone that follows him ― the stuff that comes out of his mouth ― it’s just upsetting,” she said. “As a police officer, you should be a role model. That’s not being a role model.”  


The stuff that comes out of [Trump's] mouth ― it’s just upsetting. As a police officer, you should be a role model. That’s not being a role model.
Maria Garcia, former Bexar County Sheriff’s Department deputy
Community relations with police officers were already strained in San Antonio before the Trump hat incident. Sixty-three percent of the city’s population is Latino and 6 percent is black. Of the seven people killed by police in San Antonio so far this year, three were Latino or Hispanic, one was black, one was white, and the other person’s race and ethnicity is unknown.

The San Antonio police union recently fought a new contract that would have given the police chief more power to punish officers for repeated misconduct. Union leaders wanted additional compensation for agreeing to new standards.

In the end, officers got a raise but the contract passed without reforms ― meaning that all misconduct marks over two years old still cannot be used to justify discipline for new incidents, and that short suspensions still get reduced to simple reprimands after two years if officers do not appeal them.  

Black Lives Matter protesters rallied against the reform-free contract that ended up passing, prompting San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor to create the Council on Police-Community Relations.

“These officers exercised poor judgment at a time when we’re trying to build bridges between community and police. These officers decided it was a good idea to pull a stunt,” said Rey Saldaña, a San Antonio city councilman who has worked to reform policing in the city.  

The Trump hat incident will only make resentment over the lack of police reform worse, Saldaña added. “That message, on top of this stunt, gives the community the sense that there is a loss of ... the ability of the city, or the ability of the community, to hold a police department accountable,” he said.


Only appropriate discipline is termination. No cop w/a Trump hat is fit to have legal and lethal power over people of color. https://t.co/8QdXnwSLp9

— ChuckModi (@ChuckModi1) October 12, 2016

Indeed, some community members were outraged that uniformed police officers would wear pro-Trump hats.

“The actions of the SAPD officers while in uniform show the audacity to which they believe they can behave without repercussions,” said Mike Lowe, a San Antonio-based activist. “As easy as it was to don a hat representing a presidential candidate who has proven himself to be everything but presidential speaks to the heart of how police continue to carry out systemic oppression with impunity.”

Police Chief William McManus said the officers who were involved in the photo will be disciplined.

“I expect them to know better than to give the appearance of endorsing a candidate while on duty and in uniform, regardless of the political campaign or the candidate,” he said in a statement.    

Saldaña said officers should be “politics-blind to the people that they serve.”

“It doesn’t matter if these folks were wearing a Hillary T-shirt or a Bernie Sanders hat. The fact that it was a Donald Trump hat does not change city policy,” he said. “You cannot take that position while in uniform.”

Editor’s note: Donald Trump regularly incites political violence and is a serial liar, rampant xenophobe, racist, misogynist and birther who has repeatedly pledged to ban all Muslims — 1.6 billion members of an entire religion — from entering the U.S.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 9 hours ago.

Verizon to cut 1,000 local jobs, send employees to Texas, the South

October 12, 2016, 4:44 pm

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Verizon Wireless told employees Wednesday it is closing its 1,000-employee Rancho Cordova customer service and telephone sales call center at the end of January. The employees will be offered jobs in Florida, Texas or South Carolina. Employees who don’t move will be given severance packages. “This was a very difficult but necessary business decision. We value our customer service and telesales employees. They are highly trained, highly skilled and experienced and they will be encouraged to… Reported by bizjournals 9 hours ago.

AmazonFresh grocery delivery service expands to North Texas

October 12, 2016, 4:39 pm

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Reported by DallasNews 9 hours ago.

Coast Guard responds to diesel spill on Intracoastal Waterway, Texas

October 12, 2016, 4:44 pm

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(Reuters) - The U.S. Coast Guard said on Wednesday about 5,000 gallons of low sulfur diesel fuel spilled into the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) near Port Isabel, Texas, on Tuesday. Reported by Reuters 9 hours ago.

The Beer Goggles Stock Market

October 12, 2016, 5:10 pm

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Authored by Danielle DiMartino Booth,

*If you’re ever headed down Topperwein Road in Live Oak, Texas with a need to unwind and bend an elbow, pull on in at the town’s local watering hole, the Beer Goggles Bar, and order up a cold one. The bartenders are reported to always be on their ‘A’ game and the music next to none.*

It is of course only fitting that a bar in Texas named for the propensity of alcohol to render members of the opposite sex more attractive not be given a soft flowery name. Can’t picture a parking lot full of mud-caked pickup trucks bellied-up to the Rose Colored Glasses Lounge.

Though the two idioms reference a similar phenomenon, it’s only the origin of rose-colored that’s a matter of dispute. Going back to the 17^th century, it might have been the popularity of romantic imagery in art work which inspired viewers to associate optimism with the colors of painted rose gardens. Victorians also liked the idea of a “rosy glow” or painting a rosy picture by adding extraneous roses to liven up their art. A less romantic origin could have come from the use of rose petals by early map makers to clean the lenses of their eyeglasses to the extent that the oils left their spectacles literally rosy.

Some say it was in merry old England that the phrase rose-tinted spectacles was first turned? Or, it might have been the romantic French who coined it? Literary history gave us this in 1841: “L’optimiste souriant qui regarde la vie a travers des lunettes roses.”* In the event your language of love is a rusty, that translates to, “The smiling optimist who looks at life through rose-colored glasses.”*

*A Wall Street Journal story that ran last week categorically dispensed with the notion that investors were looking at stock market valuation too optimistically.* The bears simply have a measurement issue. The road to happiness for these growling party poopers? A refresher in accounting. Many of us are familiar with Robert Shiller who among other economic feats made famous his cyclically-adjusted price-earnings ratio, or CAPE. The method is simple and elegant — smooth out the ups and downs that rattle earnings trends by valuing shares based not on one, but rather 10 years of earnings.

The CAPE’s efficacy gained in stature as the years passed for its ability to predict the future direction of the stock market. And what’s not to like about that? But then along came some accounting changes that effectively pressured earnings downwards, which in turn made the CAPE ratio flash overvaluation where it once would not have, as it is today at 27 suggesting stocks are more overvalued than at any time but the peak of the tech bubble and 1929.

The article goes on to highlight an alternative to the CAPE which gauges valuation based on those same 10 years, but uses Commerce Department quarterly data, which has the benefit of consistency over time. With that, the voila moment arrives:* The scrubbed clean P/E ratio comes in at 19, a smidge over its 50-year average of 17, but nowhere near the 39 sported during the dotcom bubble or even the 24 level that marked stocks’ 2007 peak.*

*So come on in! The water’s just right! Suffice it to say, the neatness of the article’s conclusion did not sit right with yours truly.*

In the giving credit where credit is due department, The Lindsey Group’s Peter Boockvar first coined “beer goggles” to describe investors’ forgiving attitude towards risky assets and stocks especially. The source of the insouciance, you ask? The soothing flows of quantitative easing that clouded investors’ collective judgement.

*“From their trough in 2009, corporate earnings have been gussied up by extremely low interest expense, lower tax rates, a reduced share of profits going to labor (fell to the lowest in the post WWII period), reduced depreciation expense due to a slower rate of capital spending and massive stock buybacks,” explained Boockvar in a recent chat. “Thus, the earnings recovery should be considered low quality.”*

On that last count, the math is lacking on the aggregate effect of share repurchases on stock valuations. But there are some data that shed light on the power of buybacks to bolster stock prices.

Goldman Sachs figures that *companies in the Standard & Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) index directed nearly a third of their cash to buybacks last year. *S&P looked instead through the prism of reported earnings and determined that dividends and buybacks have represented an average of 85 percent of earnings since 1998 with the two exceptions of recession years 2001 and 2008.

Reuters expanded the pool to peer into the behavior of the 3,297 publicly traded non-financials and found that* almost 60 percent of the companies have bought back their shares since 2010*. Until recently, the trend was in full blown acceleration mode. 2014 clocked in as the first in which spending on dividends and buybacks exceeded companies’ combined net income. Firms’ excessive enthusiasm carried well into 2015.

As for what we the people have to show for what’s been returned to shareholders, it can be best summed up as something south of a goose egg. Among the 1,900 companies giving it all back and then some, their largess tallied to 113 percent of capital spending, up from 60 percent in 2000 and 38 percent in 1990. And they say we have a productivity conundrum in this country? Do you see any gray area given companies aren’t even deploying capital to then return to shareholders?

As UBS’ legendary Arthur Cashin once quipped, *“Such environments raise the not-so-fine art of financial engineering to a ‘botox state.’”*

Yet another Wall Street legend, Warren Buffett, has been known to sound the warning of the perils of rich buybacks. In his 2012 letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders, Buffett reminded his readers that the most important factor that feeds a buyback decision should be price:* “Value is destroyed when purchases are made above intrinsic value.” *(Maybe IBM’s copy of the report got lost in the mail that year.)

*So companies have thrown over $7 trillion into buybacks since 2004*, aggressively reducing share count in the process, and we’re supposed to disregard the effect of this massive booster shot on reported earnings per share?* Does that sit right with you?*

In the event buybacks have yet to get under your skin, in August J.P. Morgan reported that *39 percent of buybacks thus far this year were funded by issuing new debt, nearly double the 22 percent in the same period in 2015. *There’s no denying stocks are near record highs. The question then becomes one of the value shareholders think they’re getting vs. what is actually being “destroyed,” to borrow Buffett’s word.

With fresh corporate debt flooding at a record pace, you can bet your bottom dollar there’s more to come despite buybacks ebbing a bit. The question is, how distorted are earnings due to the unprecedented buyback binge, to say nothing of the other factors Boockvar mentioned? It should strike you as a bit presumptuous to debate which P/E ratio is best to use when it’s impossible to quantify the aggregate flatter factor care not only of buybacks, but also appreciably lower taxes and interest expenses that barely register in positive territory. The working assumption that rational interest rates are a myth is thus dangerous bordering on reckless.

Boockvar suggests that investors who prefer to sleep at night gauge valuation through a clearer prism:* “Instead of pricing equities off this fragile state of earnings, look at valuations compared to revenue, which cannot be manipulated. This should give a better metric of how overvalued the equity market currently is.”*

What’s not to like about dividing a company’s market capitalization by its sales over the last twelve months? Hard to manipulate that. *Sequestering the stocks in the S&P 500 reveals that at a median of 2.3-times sales, companies are more overvalued than ever.* In the event you’d like a bit of historic context, *the two-level was never breached in 1999 or 2007*.

With that, it would seem to be high time to don your rose-colored glasses. *Reality, it would seem, is too expensive to see with naked eyes*. If you prefer, you can Redneck the exercise and pop on a pair of beer goggles. You might even want to mosey on down to Live Oak for a frothy brew to celebrate how reasonably stocks are valued. If you do, be sure to ask for the bartender Danielle by name. The reviews say she’s the best of the best. But no, in case you’re curious, no relation at all. Reported by Zero Hedge 8 hours ago.

Week 6 College Football Fantasy Recap

October 12, 2016, 5:25 pm

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A few of my fantasy picks performed well in week 6.Week 6 of the college football included another crazy week that lived up to the expectations. Tennessee couldn't pull off the late comeback win like they have all season, Notre Dame and Texas lost again, and the Buckeyes fended off a resilien... Reported by FOX Sports 8 hours ago.

Texas Man's Love of Fried Foods Runs Deep

October 12, 2016, 7:42 pm

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Deep fried Pop-Tarts and cookie fries are just a few of the specialties that have won Isaac Rousso accolades at the Texas State Fair. Now he's taking his love of fried foods one step further - opening a restaurant serving state fair treats. (Oct. 13)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Reported by USATODAY.com 6 hours ago.

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Alzheimer’s Manifests Differently In Hispanics

October 12, 2016, 9:46 pm

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Certain symptoms associated with the development of Alzheimer’s disease, including agitation and depression, affect Hispanics more frequently and severely than other ethnicities. The findings, published in the Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience (JNCN), suggest that Alzheimer’s disease manifests itself differently in Hispanic populations.

“Our study shows that the severity and proportion of neuropsychiatric symptoms is significantly higher in a Hispanic group compared to non-Hispanic whites,” said lead researcher Ricardo Salazar, M.D., a geriatric psychiatrist at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso (TTUHSC El Paso). “This could have a significant impact on the treatment and understanding of how Alzheimer’s disease progresses in Hispanics.”

Both cognitive and behavioral decline can occur with Alzheimer’s disease. Cognitive signs of the disease include memory loss and problems with orientation and physical functioning. Behavioral, or neuropsychiatric symptoms, include depression, elation, anxiety, hallucinations, delusions and apathy. These neuropsychiatric symptoms have been associated with higher rates of institutionalization and more rapid progression of the disease.

Curious to understand how neuropsychiatric symptoms manifest in Hispanics with dementia, Dr. Salazar and his team gathered data on more than 2,100 individuals in the Texas Alzheimer’s Research and Care Consortium (TARCC) database. Patients profiled in the database are predominantly non-Hispanic whites and Mexican-Americans who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or are otherwise healthy subjects. The team specifically focused on each individual’s Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q), an exam used to assess the extent of 12 neuropsychiatric symptoms.

A review of the data showed that during MCI — the intermediate state between healthy cognition and Alzheimer’s disease — all ethnicities were affected equally by neuropsychiatric symptoms. But once the condition had progressed to full-on Alzheimer’s disease, the severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms in Hispanics increased significantly.

Dr. Salazar believes these divergent symptoms may reflect a different disease process in Hispanics.

“When patients have neuropsychiatric symptoms, that signifies deterioration of different areas of the brain,” he explained. “I believe functional imaging studies of the brain may show differences in the locations of amyloid or plaque collection in the brains of Hispanics with Alzheimer’s disease.”

The JNCN study also showed that depression and anxiety were more frequent in healthy Hispanics age 50 years and older than in healthy, non-Hispanic whites of the same age. This corroborates past studies suggesting that depression may be one of the first signs of Alzheimer’s disease.

“Hispanics tend to get Alzheimer’s disease at an earlier age than other [ethnic groups], and our study shows that these neuropsychiatric symptoms of depression and anxiety manifest earlier in them, too,” Dr. Salazar said. “This suggests that depression and anxiety in older Hispanics could be an early warning for Alzheimer’s disease–and that treatment of these symptoms could even delay the disease.”

As a geriatric psychiatrist in an overwhelmingly Hispanic region, Dr. Salazar has witnessed this phenomenon firsthand.

“I am a strong believer that if you use antidepressants to treat MCI that appears with symptoms of depression, you can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s,” he said. “Maybe even avoid full-on progression to the disease.”

Dr. Salazar implores physicians to be aware that depression can mask dementia, particularly in the Hispanic population.

Dr. Salazar admitted the study has limitations. Ethnicity was self-reported by individuals, and there were also fewer Hispanic participants with Alzheimer’s disease than white participants with the disease.

While additional research is clearly needed, Dr. Salazar’s study could be a window to how to better treat — and even prevent — Alzheimer’s disease in this rapidly-growing demographic. Reported by Eurasia Review 4 hours ago.

INNATE PHARMA: Preliminary safety and clinical activity results for IPH4102 to be presented at the 3WCCL

October 12, 2016, 10:07 pm

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*PRELIMINARY SAFETY AND CLINICAL ACTIVITY RESULTS FOR IPH4102 TO BE PRESENTED AT THE THIRD WORLD CONGRESS OF CUTANEOUS LYMPHOMAS*

· * Preliminary results from the dose-escalation part of Phase I study in patients with relapsed/refractory cutaneous T-cell lymphomas *

*Marseille, France, October 13, 2016*

Innate Pharma SA (the "Company" - Euronext Paris: FR0010331421 - IPH), today announces that preliminary safety and clinical activity results for the Phase I study testing IPH4102 in patients with relapsed/refractory cutaneous T-cell lymphomas ("CTCL") will be presented by Professor Martine Bagot, Head of the Dermatology Department at the Saint-Louis Hospital, Paris, at the Third World Congress of Cutaneous Lymphomas "3WCCL" (October 26-28, 2016, in New-York, USA).

The presentation will be made available on the Company's website, in the Product Pipeline - IPH4102 section after the session.

*About the presentation:*

*Title:* " First-in-Human, open label, multicenter phase I study of IPH4102, first-in-class humanized anti-KIR3DL2 mAb, in relapsed/refractory CTCL: preliminary safety and clinical activity results "

*Scientific Session O. Therapeutics 3a:* Endpoints & Clinical Trials
*Date:* October 28, 2016
*Presentaton Time:* 13:30 - 14:45 EST
*Presenter:* Pr. Martine Bagot, Head of the Dermatology Department, Saint-Louis Hospital, Paris
*Location:* Roone Arledge Auditorium - Alfred Lerner Hall at Columbia University - New York

* About IPH4102 Phase I trial: *

The Phase I trial is an open label, multicenter study of IPH4102 in patients with relapsed/refractory CTCL which is performed in Europe (France, Netherlands, and United Kingdom) and in the US (NCT02593045). Participating institutions include several hospitals with internationally recognized expertise: the Saint-Louis Hospital (Paris, France), the Stanford University Medical Center (Stanford, CA), the Ohio State University (Columbus, OH), the MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, Texas), the Leiden University Medical Center (Netherlands), and the Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital (United Kingdom). Approximately 60 patients with KIR3DL2-positive CTCL having received at least two prior lines of systemic therapy are expected to be enrolled in two sequential study parts:

       -      A dose-escalation part including approximately 40 CTCL patients in 10 dose levels. Its objective is to identify the Maximum Tolerated Dose and/or the Recommended Phase 2 Dose (RP2D); the dose-escalation follows an accelerated 3+3 design;

       -      A cohort expansion part with 2 cohorts of 10 patients each in 2 CTCL subtypes (transformed mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome) receiving IPH4102 at the RP2D until progression. Cohort design (CTCL subtype, number of patients.) may be revisited based on the findings in the dose escalation part of the study.

The primary objective of this trial is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of repeated administrations of single agent IPH4102 in this patient population. The secondary objectives include assessment of the drug's antitumor activity. A large set of exploratory analyses aims at identifying biomarkers of clinical activity. Clinical endpoints include overall objective response rate, response duration and progression-free survival.

* About IPH4102: *

IPH4102 is a first-in-class anti-KIR3DL2 humanized cytotoxicity-inducing antibody, designed to trigger killing of CTCL cancer cells, an orphan disease. This group of rare cutaneous lymphomas of T lymphocytes has a poor prognosis with few therapeutic options at advanced stages.

KIR3DL2 is an inhibitory receptor of the KIR family, specifically expressed on all subtypes of CTCL and has a restricted expression on normal tissues. Potent antitumor properties of IPH4102 were shown against human CTCL cells in vitro and in vivo in a mouse model of KIR3DL2+ tumors, in which IPH4102 reduced tumor growth and improved survival. The efficacy of IPH4102 was further evaluated in laboratory assays using the patients' own natural killer (NK) cells against their primary tumor samples in the presence of IPH4102. These studies were performed in patients with Sézary Syndrome; Sézary Syndrome is the leukemic form of CTCL and is known to have a very poor prognosis. In these experiments, IPH4102 selectively and efficiently induced killing of the patients' CTCL cells. These results were published in Cancer Research in 2014 ( http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25361998 ).

IPH4102 was granted orphan drug status in the European Union for the treatment of CTCL.

*About Innate Pharma:*

Innate Pharma S.A. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company with a focus on discovering and developing first-in-class therapeutic antibodies that harness the innate immune system to improve cancer treatment and clinical outcomes for patients.

Innate Pharma specializes in immuno-oncology, a new therapeutic field that is changing cancer treatment by mobilizing the power of the body's immune system to recognize and kill cancer cells.

The Company's aim is to become a commercial stage biopharmaceutical company in the area of immunotherapy and focused on serious unmet medical needs in cancer. Innate Pharma has pioneered the discovery and development of checkpoint inhibitors to activate the innate immune system. Innate Pharma's innovative approach has resulted in three first-in-class, clinical-stage antibodies targeting natural killer cell receptors that may address a broad range of solid and hematological cancer indications as well as additional preclinical product candidates and technologies. Targeting receptors involved in innate immunity also creates opportunities for the Company to develop therapies for inflammatory diseases.

The Company's expertise and understanding of natural killer cell biology have enabled it to enter into major alliances with leaders in the biopharmaceutical industry including AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Sanofi.

Based in Marseille, France, Innate Pharma has more than 130 employees and is listed on Euronext Paris.

Learn more about Innate Pharma at www.innate-pharma.com .

*Practical Information about Innate Pharma shares:*

*ISIN code*
*Ticker code* FR0010331421
IPH

*Disclaimer:*

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Although the company believes its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. For a discussion of risks and uncertainties which could cause the company's actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors ("Facteurs de Risque") section of the Document de Reference prospectus filed with the AMF, which is available on the AMF website ( http://www.amf-france.org ) or on Innate Pharma's website.

This press release and the information contained herein do not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe to shares in Innate Pharma in any country.

*For additional information, please contact:*

*Innate Pharma* *Press Contacts*
Laure-Hélène Mercier
Director, Investor Relations *ATCG Press (France)*
Marie Puvieux
Tel.: +33 (0)4 30 30 30 87 Mob: +33 (0)6 10 54 36 72
investors@innate-pharma.com presse@atcg-partners.com

* * *Consilium Strategic Communications (ROW)*
  Mary-Jane Elliott / Sue Stuart /
Jessica Hodgson / Hendrik Thys
  Tel.: +44 (0)20 3709 5700
  InnatePharma@consilium-comms.com

PR in English
--------------------This announcement is distributed by NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions on behalf of NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions clients.

The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.

Source: INNATE PHARMA via GlobeNewswire

HUG#2048660 Reported by GlobeNewswire 3 hours ago.

Planview recognized in Gartner’s First Critical Capabilities Report for IT Project and Portfolio Software Applications, Worldwide

October 12, 2016, 11:40 pm

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AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Planview® has been recognized in the September 2016 Gartner Critical Capabilities Report for IT Project and Portfolio Software Applications, Worldwide. Out of nine solutions evaluated, Planview Enterprise received the highest product score for every use case analyzed by the research firm. Gartner's Critical Capabilities report provides a comparative analysis that scores competing products or services against Gartner's set of critical differentiators. Gartner’s Cr Reported by Business Wire 2 hours ago.

Photography Industry Leaders Ban Together with a Clear Message to Peers and Consumers: PRINT

October 13, 2016, 12:10 am

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New Statistics From PPA Reveal Amateurs, Pros Taking 14 Trillion Photos Annually, But Not All Are Printing These Memories

(PRWEB) October 13, 2016

It is estimated that professional photographers take approximately 4,160 digital photos a month just for business. And thanks to the enhanced capabilities of cellphone cameras, industry experts predict amateur photographers will take another 3,650 photos per year per person by 2017. That means a global population of photographers taking 14 trillion pictures annually.

But according to Professional Photographers of America (PPA) and its partners in the PRINT Movement, like Canon and Kodak Alaris, there is a big problem: consumers (and some professionals) are not printing and saving their photos and therefore, their memories. In fact, PPA discovered that a staggering 53% of consumers have not printed a photo in more than 12 months, 70% do not have photos albums, and 42% no longer print photos at all.

To help highlight the importance of saving images in a non-digital form, PPA has partnered with industry leaders to launch the PRINT Movement, an awareness campaign for consumers to see the value in showcasing and preserving their lives or their families’ lives through high-quality prints, albums, and all types of photographic displays.

In addition to PPA, the movement is supported by American Color Imaging (ACI), Bay Photo, BWC Printmakers, Canon, Canson Infinity, ChromaLuxe, Collages, Finao, Fundy Designer, GW Moulding, H+H Colorlab, Hahnemühle, Kodak Alaris, Marathon, Meridian Professional Imaging, Miller’s, Simply Color Lab, Tyndell Photographic Packaging, and White House Custom Colour.

PPA and its partners are providing resources to photographers in a variety of ways. Their website, PRINTmovement.org, features customizable brochures, marketing materials and videos showcasing the value of print. There will also be several workshops and related learning opportunities at Imaging USA 2017, the largest photography convention and trade show in the U.S., held January 5-10, 2017 in San Antonio, Texas. These workshops will be taught by some of the most respected names in professional photography and will detail both printing skills and sales techniques and provide advice to boost the profitability of photography studios while spreading the word about the movement.

How One Photographer is Winning – Selling Only Prints
The simple fact is that technology is changing so fast that many photos taken five or six years ago are stored on devices no longer supported. It is a problem for both amateurs and pros alike. With this in mind, about a year and a half ago, Nashville photographer Krista Lee Newbill of Krista Lee Photography, made a business decision to stop selling digital files and only sell prints.

Not only has this bold move helped Newbill rediscover the art of print, it has boosted her bottom line. Her customer base has increased, her per-session sales average is up, and she is seeing increased foot traffic in her storefront with clients clamoring for her artisanal and “hand crafted” images. “It’s so easy to get busy and not have time for prints…we can be part of helping more people display their memories,” says Newbill, a PPA member since 2008.

Newbill and other photographers’ commitment to raise print awareness could not come at a better time. Data gathered by PPA indicates that without a worldwide change in photographic preservation habits, 42% of people (ages 30-44) will likely look back and wonder where photos of their childhood, holiday get-togethers, relatives and friends have gone decades from now because no print exists.

“Unless we change our ways, I think time will prove that we have gambled away our family histories – trusting too much in our ability to protect our memories on our phones, tablets and other devices,” said David Trust, PPA's CEO. “It is a failed notion that we will all pay for. On the other hand, this unfortunate reality is giving PPA an opportunity to make a difference by creating a program that will help the public understand the importance of purchasing and creating printed photographs.”

About PPA

Professional Photographers of America (PPA) is the largest international non-profit association created by professional photographers, for professional photographers. Almost as long-lived as photography itself, PPA’s roots date back to 1869. Nearly 30,000 photographers belong to PPA as it helps them be more successful through protection, education and resources. See how PPA backs photographers and helps them Be More at PPA.com/BeMore. Reported by PRWeb 1 hour ago.

Natural Body Brand My Real Earth uses Alternative Approach when Adding New Product Lines

October 13, 2016, 12:05 am

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As the company (My Real Earth) has expanded from the family kitchen to online market place, its unique approach to body care continues in the creation of new product lines.

Texas (PRWEB) October 13, 2016

My Real Earth introduced itself as a natural alternative to traditional body care over a year ago. The brand started with the inspiration of Founder/C.E.O. Kimberly Morlen and DIY recipes made in the family kitchen. As the company has expanded from the family kitchen to online market place, its unique approach to body care continues in the creation of new product lines.

September 2016- My Real Earth has chosen to expanded current body care line with new blend - Elevating Orange. After receiving positive reinforcement from offline markets, it is now planned to launch online October 25, 2016 and offered to consumers on the company website. It will be offered in the brands signature products – body butter, body lotion, sugar scrub, etc.

The new line will mimic the current body blends by continuing to follow My Real Earth’s natural approach. Elevating Orange is made with natural ingredients and then infused with orange essential oil so that, unlike its competitors, it is made with the highest quality ingredients and completely fragrance free.

Many are unaware of the effects of the toxins that are hidden in traditional body products. With My Real Earth’s natural approach it hopes to offer a solution to the needs of its customers in products that are significantly less damaging. Elevating Orange will be no different in carrying out the My Real Earth mission, and with the infusion of orange essential oil – said to help boost mood- it will be a welcome extension to encourage customers to #lovewhoyouare. Reported by PRWeb 1 hour ago.