Monthly Archives: January 2011

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ICS Compliance Expands in Response to Dramatic Regulatory Reform

New York, NY – January 25, 2011 – ICS Compliance today announces significant growth to its leadership and personnel in response to overwhelming demand from the hedge fund, fund of fund, and private equity community. They are pleased to announce the appointment of Gary Swiman, a 25-year industry veteran who has previously served as Director of Regulatory Affairs for Merrill Lynch, and Chief Compliance Officer at both Evercore Partners and Aberdeen Asset Management, as the new President of the ICS Compliance – Asset Management Consulting practice. Mr. Swiman will be responsible for leading the practice and expanding its reach throughout the North American and European asset manager markets. In conjunction with the appointment of Mr. Swiman, the firm has hired and assigned 20 new internal compliance professionals to support its asset management clients.

With this expansion, ICS Compliance is demonstrating its continued commitment to helping the industry meet all the newly enacted Dodd-Frank requirements, and in particular, the now required 40 Act Registration that is being imposed upon the alternative investment community.

ICS Compliance CEO John White stated, “The addition of Gary and all our new staff members represents a major leap forward for our Asset Management practice. For the past 15 years we have been the clear leader in banking and broker-dealer compliance expertise, and this expansion will clearly differentiate ICS Compliance within the Asset Management space.”

Mr. Swiman added, “This is a real opportunity and a real challenge. Having already developed programs for multi-hundred billion dollar global platforms, I’m excited to bring those standards to the small and medium size asset management firms that dominate the landscape so that they can withstand the increased inspection and scrutiny being enforced by a variety of overseers and governments which will enable them to focus on what they do best.”

With less than six months to go to the deadline for registration, ICS Compliance anticipates the continued expansion of this group over the next several months, with the goal of providing long-lasting outsourced services in support of compliance program development for its clients as well as the routine ongoing monitoring, reporting, and testing of compliance programs throughout the industry.

For additional information, please visit the ICS Compliance Asset Management website at: http://www.ICScompliance.com/AssetManagement.aspx

About Gary Swiman, JD, CPA, CFE, CFF, CAMS
Mr. Swiman is an industry veteran with 25 years of experience within the financial services industry, having previously served as Global Chief Compliance Officer for Evercore Partners ($15B in assets under management) and Aberdeen Asset Management ($281B in assets under management), as well as Director of Regulatory Affairs for Merrill Lynch and Global Head of Internal Audit at Nomura Securities. Mr. Swiman has overseen the development of compliance and audit programs for multiple investment products including hedge funds, fund of funds, private equity, mutual funds, separate accounts, and structured products. Mr. Swiman holds a Juris Doctorate from Fordham Law School, is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) is certified in Financial Forensics (CFF), and a member of the New York State Bar.

About ICS Compliance
ICS Compliance is the leading financial services compliance consultancy in the United States. With our 150 professionals operating in 16 states, we have proudly advised over 900 financial institutions during our 14-year history. ICS Compliance serves Registered Investment Advisors, Broker-Dealers, Hedge Funds, Alternative Asset Managers, Community Banks, International Banks, Credit Unions, Bank Holding Companies, and De Novo Banks with a broad range of services including: compliance risk assessment, SEC/FINRA/FDIC/BHC compliance program development and administration, Anti-money laundering / BSA compliance, fair lending, CRA compliance, technology compliance, and mortgage quality control.

Contact:

Michael White
Marketing Manager
ICS Compliance
1350 Broadway, Suite 602
New York, NY 10018
Phone: 212.714.2600 x312
Cell: 646.457.9424
Fax: 212.714.2601
mwhite@ICScompliance.com
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Cat not urinating? Online vet talks about blocked cats and what to do

Cat not urinating? Online vet talks about blocked cats and what to do

Urethral obstruction is a condition in which the urethra, the tube that transports urine from the bladder to the outside of the body, becomes blocked. This condition is one I see regularly in the hospital, and will be fatal if not treated.

“Blocked cats” as they are commonly referred to, happens more often in male cats than females because the male urethra is much more long and narrow than the females. Obese cats are more likely to be affected.

Many conditions can cause a cat to block. Sometimes it is a physical obstruction, such as a urinary stone, urinary crystals, or “sludge.” Other times, physical spasms of the urethra prevent the passage of urine.

Common signs:

The clinical signs seen with blocked cats are classic. Frequent trips to the litter box, crying while urinating, straining to urinate, blood in the urine, and as the process progresses, cats will frequently lay down and just meow as if in pain. They may be abnormally aggressive when picked up because of the pain and pressure their bladder is placing on their abdomen.

Further into the disease process, kidney failure may develop, causing lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, inappetance, hypothermia, and death if the obstruction is not relieved in time.

What to do:

If your cat is experiencing any of these symptoms, you should ask a vet immediately. It does not take expensive diagnostics for a vet to know what is going on; a simple abdomen palpation will reveal a large distended bladder. The penis may be protruded, bleeding, or purple.

Treatment:

Treatment is different for each cat. Radiographs, ultrasound, or both may be recommended, along with bloodwork. Relieving the obstruction under sedation, and ensuring the patient’s electrolytes and kidney function are stable is of utmost importance. Hospitalization for at least one night, and usually more is almost always needed.

Prognosis and Follow-up:

“If they block once, be prepared for them to block again.” Cats that have a urinary blockage are more likely to re-block. A simple change in diet may prevent a re-blockage, however, cats with frequent recurrence of blockage may be treated with a surgical procedure called perineal urethostomy (PU). This procedure removes the penis (yes, you read correctly) and in so, the narrowest part of the urethra which most often becomes blocked. Feeding wet or moist food also may be indicated as it keeps the urine less concentrated, decreasing the risk of recurrence.

With timely treatment, most cats with survive. The next time your male cat is meowing abnormally , has decreased energy, or trouble urinating, ask a vet right away.

Laci Schaible, DVM is a veterinarian and writer for numerous pet publications. She works in Pennsylvania with her husband Jed, also a veterinarian.

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Empire Beauty School Donates

Media Contact:
Angela Watson
awatson@empire.edu
570-573-4546

January 6, 2011

Cosmetology Students Collect More Than $450,000 in Donations for Local Women’s Shelters

Annual fundraising contest supports anti-domestic violence programs in more than 20 states.

Pottsville, PA – Empire Education Group’s annual ‘Empire Gives Back’ fundraising competition brought in $457,336.09 in donations, supplies and free services for women’s shelters across the country.

During the 5 month competition, students competed to see which school could raise the most donations per student.

From August 1st through December 31st, 2010 students collected as many cash donations, and in-kind donations, such as clothing and food, as possible.

Students from Empire’s Portage, MI, school are proud to give back through fundraisers and donations collected for their shelter.

The competition also included sales from Empire’s Annual National Day of Beauty, a one day event, in which 100% of proceeds from each student salon are donated to local shelters.

Each of Empire’s 102 schools in 21 states has ‘adopted’ a local women’s shelter to support. In addition to the annual fundraising competition, schools raise money and donations throughout the year, as well as offer free beauty services to women and children who are residents at the shelter.
In addition to this support, Empire Education Group has incorporated the ‘Cut It Out’ curriculum into all of its schools. “Cut It Out” is a nation-wide program for cosmetology professionals, training stylists on the signs of domestic violence and how to respond to clients who may shows signs of abuse.

“I am extremely proud of the effort and level of commitment our students and staffs have shown to their local shelters.” said Franklin K. Schoeneman, Chairman and CEO of Empire Education Group. “1 in 4 women in this country will report experiencing domestic violence in her lifetime. For me, that number is way too high for an industry like ours to ignore. Empire is committed to doing what it can to support those fighting against this crime, particularly in the communities in which our students and staff live.”

Each school will present their donation to their adopted shelter at a series of local open houses this year.

Schools which raised $100 worth of donations per student will receive 10 free seats to Empire’s Future Professional Expo, the nation’s largest cosmetology student competition and hair show in the country.

Empire’s home office, located in Pottsville, Pennsylvania also raises funds for a local women’s shelter in its community. Empire is currently adding a 30,000 square foot addition to its home office, built by Heim Construction that will bring more jobs to the area, making Empire’s donor base, that much stronger.

For more information on Empire visit, www.empire.edu or www.empiregivesback.com

Empire Education Group
Empire Education Group has provided quality in cosmetology education, offering students the finest training tools and facilities. For the past 80 years, Empire has grown to become one of the largest providers of beauty and cosmetology education in North America. More than 20,000 students are enrolled annually, with more than 100 accredited cosmetology schools in 21 states. Empire cares about the communities in which its schools operate and its Empire Gives Back initiative annually supports anti-domestic violence shelters across the country, in hopes of empowering women affected by illegal abuse. All locations use exclusive Certified Learning in Cosmetology (CLiC) education curriculum; the company prepares students for successful careers in cosmetology (hair care, skin care, nail care and massage.)

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White iPhone 4 confirmed at Verizon!!

The white iPhone 4 is confirmed at Verizon.

Photo is from the Verizon website under “color options” !!

Evidently there is some mass confusion at Verizon, as the color options have been removed from the Verizon site (though we do have a screenshot of it being there) Some individuals are saying at Verizon that it’s being offered, others are saying that it’s pre-mature and it may or may not be available by launch.

The fact that Verizon itself is confused with this is causing such mass hysteria.

Enjoy the new reality.

We believe after speaking to several sources that Verizon DOES have the White iPhone 4 however not in sufficient quantities to offer it on a mass scale, hence why it was posted, then removed.

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Verizon to Announce White iPhone 4 tomorrow

Update to this story here

We broke the story in October / November that Verizon will be exclusive with the White iPhone 4.

Well tomorrow is the big day. We had a semi-confirmation back at the end of November as well. Our sources have stated that Verizon will be making the full White iPhone 4 announcement, and as we stated earlier, the White iPhone will only be on the Verizon network. Also as what we noted before, it will be going for $199 with a 2 year contract.

The story is developing. However watch for the announcement tomorrow and finally everyone will be able to buy a White iPhone 4, but remember, it’s only going to be on the Verizon network.

Don’t you just love Apple?

The issue many individuals have is that they endured AT&T’s terrible network only to be rewarded by Apple the lack of a White iPhone.

Verizon however did score big, as many women will be defecting to Verizon the moment they can, (market research points out that nearly 85% of the White iPhone’s are sold to Women as most men prefer the black model).

Enjoy the new reality.

For us stuck on the AT&T network, your White iPhone won’t be showing up tomorrow on AT&T.

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Roma Pizza Pottsville PA

Just wanted everyone to know that we’re going to be having a small party at Roma Pizza Pottsville, PA. It’s in celebration of a few events at the advertising agency that warrants a celebration at Yooter InterActive.

Why are we celebrating? That’s classified information, but the fact that we are celebrating does mean something to the effect of our party at the Pizza joint!

In the next few months everyone will find out the juicy details, but for now just be happy with the fact that you are somewhat in on the party!

Roma Pizza is located in Pottsville, PA about 45 minutes from Allentown and about an hour and a half from Philadelphia, PA.

Enjoy the new “leak” or whatever you wish to call it!

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Ever wanted to ask a vet how to tell if your cat is sick? Online Vet Reviews Sick Cat Symptoms

Ever wanted to ask a vet how to tell if your cat is sick? Online Vet Reviews Sick Cat Symptoms

Our feline friends are not as easy to read as dogs, and cats are much less likely to complain when they are ill. As a veterinarian, all too often my cat owning clients bring their pets to me when their cats are far more ill than they realized. Some studies have shown that cats will act perfectly normal when their people are around, but then show symptoms of illness, such as licking a wound or limping when they are alone.

What does this mean to you? As a responsible pet owner, you should educate yourself on how to do a basic pet owner physical exam on a weekly basis and be aware of the common indicators that your feline friend is under the weather.

After all, you know your cat better than anyone, and learning his or her “normals” could mean the matter in life or death.

Let’s review the basics of sick cat symptoms.

Nose:

Is your cat sneezing more or having nasal discharge? Is your cat pawing at his nose? Is there swelling at the nose or a red crusty scab? Use common sense; a sneeze or even four in a row is not reason to rush to the veterinarian. Perhaps you are cooking with a spicy ingredient or the dog has brought a new pollen in on their paws that is triggering your cat to sneeze. If it continues or is accompanied by green thick discharge, you should ask a vet.

Eyes:

Eyes should be clear, bright, and free of redness or discharge. When a cat starts squinting their eye, indicating pain, this is NOT something to wait around and keep an eye on. It may mean a scratch on their eye, called a corneal ulcer, which needs immediate medical attention.

Ears:

Ears should be clean, without copious wax or discharge, and not a major source of itching. If you cat has large amounts of black ear discharge and is scratching at their ears frequently, this is a sign of an ear infection which warrants a vet visit.

Mouth:

A cat’s mouth should be free of odor, red gum-lines, tartar and plaque build up. If your cat is drooling excessively, it very likely is the result of oral pain, such as an infected tooth with associated nerve pain. If your cat has blueish gums or abnormal swellings in their mouth, this is a cause for concern.

Respiratory:

If your cat is gasping for air or open-mouth breathing, please, don’t wait to see if it improves. Get to the vet ASAP. If your cat is just breathing a little harder after a long game of catch the laser, this is likely not of medical concern (except to spend more time enticing your cat to exercise). Does your cat have attacks of wheezing? Cats frequently get asthma, and this is nothing to blow off.

Skin and coat:

Your cat’s coat should be smooth and soft to the touch. Their skin should be free of sores, scabs, or lumps, masses, bald spots, and rashes. Does your normally well-groomed cat now have mats and spend less time grooming? This is likely an indication of a sick cat.

Body Condition (Weight):

You should be able to feel your cats ribs (subtly, not pronounced) when you rub your hands over your cat’s ribcage. Can’t find them? Over 50% of these cats are overweight or obese. It may be time to place Tigger on a diet. Sudden weight loss or gain is dangerous in cats and can indicate an underly disease such as diabetes, kidney failure, or hyperthyroidism.

Gastrointestinal system:

Ever wonder why cats vomit? Cats have hairballs, and depending on the cat, some are regular occasional vomiters. Nonetheless, if your cat’s vomiting increases, loose stools become a repeat visitor, or if your cat’s stool has blood in it, a trip to the vet is definitely in order.

Urinary habits:

Ahhh…my personal least favorite cat illness, and unfortunately a very frequent one, if not the most frequent. Has your cat started going outside the box? If it is accompanied by an increased amount of urine, blood in the urine, straining while urinating, a trip to the emergency vet is in order. Also, if your male cat has stopped urinating, is straining in unusual places and crying loudly, RUN RUN RUN to the vet. This can be a sign of urinary blockage which is life-threatening. If your cat urinates in unusual locations, you may be stuck with a more complex problem to deal with. If this problem is recurring, your vet can work with your to find out if this is a behavioral or medical problem.

Attitude/Appetite/Energy:

Changes in any of the above can signal an underlying disease. A formerly nice cat that has turned aggressive may be in pain, such as arthritis or even a tumor affecting their behavior. Has your cat’s energy and activity decreased? Is your cat eating less? These are all signs that something more serious may be dangerously lurking. Get to the veterinarian and provide as detailed of a history and symptoms as possible.

Is your cat just not acting right? Follow your instincts. You know your cat better than anyone, and oftentimes those subtle hunches picked up by you the owner can help us as the veterinarian arrive at an accurate and speedy diagnosis. Want to find out if your hunches warrant a vet visit? Ask a vet online 24/7 for a small fraction of the cost of inconvenience of an in-person vet visit.

It’s your cat’s health! Educate yourself, and protect your loved one

Laci Schaible, DVM is a veterinarian and writer for numerous pet publications. She works in Pennsylvania with her husband Jed, also a veterinarian.

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Tracking Mass Animal Deaths using Google Maps

Morbid topic, however Google maps could be used for anything, in this case it’s tracking all the mass animal deaths on the planet over the past few days. Of course the topic gaining much attention due to the fact that the vast majority of these are completely unexplained.

Another issue is the apparent randomness of these events. Regardless below is a comprehensive list / map of what is known to date regarding the huge bird, fish and crab kills (so far).

Honestly this is not our favourite topic (mass animal kills), but the fact is that again Google is the tool of choice to keep track of these events.



View Mass Animal Deaths in a larger map

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$4,000 for 1 ounce of Gold, Silver, Platinum and Palladium

4,000 dollars, that’s what Inflation and Ounce are reporting. It now takes $4,000 American dollars to purchase a whopping total of 4 ounces of metal. One ounce of Gold, Silver, Platinum and Palladium.

It’s worth noting that Silver only contributes $31 dollars or so to the figure.

The Ounce.Me Metric has been with us for generations, but watching it update in real time is somewhat scary as people are seeing inflation in real time.

In 2001, the total ounce.me total was only $899, now it’s over $4,000 … but of course inflation is nill right?

This single metric has proven without a doubt that inflation has hit record highs, but yet it’s not published to any extent.

Enjoy the new reality.

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