Meade Instruments Reports Q1 Fiscal 2009 Net Income of $1.8 Million

And, although we believe the turnaround remains on track, we will continue to implement headcount reductions, facility consolidation and reductions in corporate overhead and manufacturing costs to ensure that the turnaround maintains its pace, and to reduce the corporate structure in line with our new revenue model. At the same time, we are focusing on revenue growth through select new product introductions."

Mr. Muellner continued, "Liquidity continues to be strong thanks to the sale of the sports optics brands and related inventory during the first and second quarters of fiscal 2009. With the much-improved liquidity, reduced level of business complexity and plans for further reductions in overhead costs, we believe that we will have sufficient cash flow to support current operations through fiscal 2009, and provide us with additional flexibility in fiscal 2010.



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Solomons Broadcaster Warned of Disconnection Over Power Debt

In a statement, Minister Huni'ehu said the debt crisis reached this point because SIEA's fuel suppliers are paid on a hand to mouth basis. He also said that the board and management of the statutory body have failed to effectively manage SIEA. He said from now on SIEA management will be accountable to the SIEA board, while the board is accountable to the mines and energy minister.

Amongst other management control measures, the minister said the SIEA management must collect outstanding debts owing to the authority and to take action against those who fail to pay up.

In a bid to collect bills, the authority have sent disconnection warning letters to clients, including national broadcaster SIBC. SIBC owes SIEA more than 325,000 dollars [assuming Solomons dollars, approx 46,000 US] in electricity bills since January this year.



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Hines Building first to open in 'city center'

Rents usually spent on offices will go to retire the mortgage debt eventually allowing those financial resources to be put into chamber programs when the mortgage is retired, Larsen said.

Work continues on the Hines Building even as offices are becoming occupied. The chamber still is developing the entryway "welcome center" being funded by Alcoa Howmet Castings through the Alcoa Foundation.

Northwestern Mutual -- a financial services company that provides insurance and investment products -- has been in Muskegon for more than 100 years, according to managing director Michael Youngdahl, who has worked for the company here for 38 years. Northwestern has come full circle with its move back downtown from offices in Norton Shores.

For years, the company had offices in a building that was removed to build the Holiday Inn Muskegon Harbor and then it moved into the Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts before moving to Norton Shores several years ago.



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Debt management

Is John Edwards Still Lying? - ABC News
A one-time close friend of John Edwards' ex-mistress says the former Senator is still not telling the whole truth about how his affair with Rielle Hunter began. Former senator repeatedly denied affair before finally admitting it. Edwards told ABC News' Bob Woodruff last week ( STORY | VIDEO ) that

Miss. bus crash kills 3, survivors to head home - Seattle Times
More than 30 vacationers on board a casino bus that overturned in Mississippi, killing three people, were expected to fly back to South Carolina on Monday, a spokeswoman for Harrah's Entertainment said. Mississippi Highway Patrol Sgt. Leslie White identified the dead as Charlotte Carros, of

Source: American woman hurt in Beijing knife attack now stable - CNN Sports Illustrated
Bachman's husband, Todd, was killed by the same attacker on Saturday The Chinese assailant committed suicide shortly after the knife attacks BEIJING (AP) -- The condition of the American mother of a former Olympian who was stabbed on the opening day of Olympics competition was improving Monday, a

Scientists closer to developing invisibility cloak - San Francisco Gate
Scientists say they are a step closer to developing materials that could render people and objects invisible. Researchers have demonstrated for the first time they were able to cloak three-dimensional objects using artificially engineered materials that redirect light around the objects. Previously

Harrington shines on gloomy course - Baltimore Sun
BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. - Padraig Harrington rallied from three shots behind yesterday to win the PGA Championship , closing with a 4-under-par 66 at Oakland Hills to become only the fourth player to win the British Open and PGA in the same year. If the winner was familiar, so was the finish

Verizon Contract Provides New Union Jobs, Health Care For Active, Retired Workers - All Headline News
WASHINGTON (AHN) -- A new tentative three-year contract settlement has been signed between Verizon and the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). According to an IBEW spokesman, the settlement achieves union employees' major goals of

Isaac Hayes of 'Shaft' fame collapses and dies at home - Herald Tribune
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Isaac Hayes, the baritone-voiced soul crooner who laid the groundwork for disco and whose "Theme From Shaft" won both Academy and Grammy awards, died Sunday afternoon after he collapsed near a treadmill, authorities said. Isaac Hayes and his wife, Adjowa, pose for the first family

Making Peace With Your Plastic

I am someone who at times has racked up credit-card debt. I always intend to pay off my balance in full every month, but there have been months when my debt has accrued. (Having good credit and very low interest rates has made this a less expensive proposition for me than for many others.)

When my debt has built up, I've tended to blame external factors. (Being a single parent isn't easy on the finances!) But in truth, of course, it's always been my fault.

While I'm disciplined about putting money aside for retirement and savings -- thanks to automated-payment technology, it's easy to make sure my money goes where it should before I get my hands on it -- I've never been good at keeping a daily record of what I'm spending. At times, that has led to charging more than I could afford to pay off at the end of the month.



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AHFC awards $625000 to increase home ownership

The AHFC has included a requirement that all sponsors' borrowers also receive weatherization counseling as a condition of their loan approval.

Ultimately, the program will provide financing to low-income individuals or people who wouldn't otherwise qualify for financing because of income limitations, down payment requirements and other considerations.

Recipient eligibility is based on 80 percent of the median income for the area, adjusted family size and property location, as well as lending criteria established by the sponsors' guidelines.

There are currently eight sponsors consisting of five nonprofits and three regional housing authorities.

Combined, they will administer about $16.5 million in loans to 550 borrowers.

Each sponsor is limited to an annual application amount of $625,000.



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KBC receives final approval and closes acquisition of Istrobanka

KBC was already present in Slovakia through its subsidiary SOB Bank, and the consolidation of ISTROBANKA and SOB Bank will create the fourth largest banking operation in Slovakia, with a market share of approximately 10%. In the coming months, both ISTROBANKA and SOB Bank will fully concentrate on preparations for the introduction of the euro and on the merger of both banks (second half of 2009). Commenting on the deal, André Bergen, KBC Group CEO, had this to say: 'Together, SOB and ISTROBANKA will form the fourth largest banking operation in the country. KBC has now strengthened its position in the attractive and increasingly consolidating Slovakian market, one which offers enormous potential for the further penetration of banking and insurance products. The future merger of both banks will offer considerable cross-selling potential in both retail and corporate banking and lead to economies of scale, thus creating significant value and benefits for shareholders, employees and customers." Daniel Kollar, CEO of SOB Bank and Country Manager of SOB Group in Slovakia added:'ISTROBANKA is a quality bank, with a professional management team, highly experienced and dedicated staff, and a clear commercial strategy and business plan that focuses on organic growth.



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