Saturday, June 28, 2008

Web Site Protects Home Renters When Foreclosure Crisis Threatens

Foreclosure Crisis Threatens Potential Home Renters But One New Web Site Offers Protection

Many looking for rental homes risk costly problems and future evictions without realizing it, but CheckForForeclosure.com has an easy solution.

Los Angeles, CA - June 28, 2008 -- Alarming numbers of would-be home renters sign expensive leases and rental agreements not knowing that the homes they are about to rent are already in foreclosure. Fortunately, people who are searching the classifieds for a rental home can take advantage of a new service and Web site - CheckForForeclosure.com, Giving Renters the Notice they Need (
http://www.CheckForForeclosure.com) - that provides access to inside information about potential landlords and lets would-be renters know if they are about to walk into a trap.

The newest tragic twist in the nationwide mortgage and housing crisis is creating havoc and distress for many unwary consumers. Very few people who shop for a rental home are even aware of the growing problem, and fewer still know how to protect themselves from signing up for a disaster when they go out to look for a rented or leased home, condo, or apartment. In some cases those who sign new leases are evicted within days of moving into a home or apartment - without refunds of payments or deposits.

CheckForForeclosure.com was created by knowledgeable real estate industry professionals to specifically address the needs of consumers who might otherwise become ensnared in the renters in foreclosure crisis. Some classified ad pages in foreclosure-prone cities are riddled with listings for rentals that are - although innocent consumers do not realize it - about to be repossessed by banks and mortgage companies. Unless someone shopping for an apartment or home rental has the ability to look beyond the advertising hype and spin and find out which rentals are dangerous, there is no way to pick the winners from the losers. Looking for a rental becomes a game of Russian roulette unless consumers take steps to get the information they need to make safe and informed choices.

Bankers and landlords are not required by law to disclose an imminent foreclosure to a renter, and real estate laws generally protect landlords and lenders while offering little help for victimized renters. That leaves renters to fend for themselves, so taking the time and making the effort to investigate the foreclosure filing status (
http://www.CheckForForeclosure.com) of a potential rental property is a wise investment and a good insurance policy against foreclosure rental headaches and heartaches. In today's treacherous housing environment, it pays to take full advantage of services like those offered by CheckForForeclosure.com to ensure peace of mind for one's family.

Contact Information
Steve Gold
SG1 Investments, Inc.
http://www.CheckForForeclosure.com
702-987-4846

New Patient Safety Solution Supported By Pharmacy Technician Certification Board

Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) Supports Florida's New Patient Safety Solution

The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), the leading national program that has certified more than 300,000 pharmacy technicians, supports and congratulates the Florida House of Representatives and Governor Charlie Crist for passing legislation requiring new standards for pharmacy technicians. The new Florida legislation takes a progressive step toward increasing patient safety for consumers. The legislation will ensure pharmacy technicians meet key requirements for training, certification and registration.

Washington, D.C. - June 27, 2008 -- The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) (
http://www.ptcb.org/), the leading national program that has certified more than 300,000 pharmacy technicians, is pleased to support and congratulate the Florida Legislature for passing SB 1360 and Governor Charlie Crist for signing it into law, requiring new standards for pharmacy technicians. Tireless advocacy efforts for the passage of this critical patient safety legislation and its final approval by Governor Crist were spearheaded by the Florida Society of Health-System Pharmacists (FSHP) and the Florida Pharmacy Association (FPA).

The new Florida legislation takes a progressive step toward increasing patient safety for consumers. By passing this legislation without amendment, and signing it into law, the Florida state legislature and governor will ensure pharmacy technicians meet key requirements for training, certification and registration. PTCB is proud to have certified 15,000 pharmacy technicians in Florida to date and looks forward to working with more pharmacy technicians and their employers.

"Florida's new pharmacy technician standards are an important patient safety solution for consumers in the Sunshine State and Governor Crist and the state's legislators should be applauded," said PTCB Executive Director and CEO Melissa Murer Corrigan. "To meet these new state standards, PTCB is looking forward to continued work with pharmacy technicians and significant employers of Florida's pharmacy technicians such as Walgreen's, CVS, Publix, Target, the U.S. military, multiple health-systems and independent pharmacists in communities across the state. Several of these employers presently support and endorse PTCB across the United States."

The landmark piece of Florida legislation (SB 1360) contributes to raising the bar for states across the country by providing an example of the high standards needed for pharmacy technicians. The more than 40,000 pharmacy technicians currently working in Florida will be required to register with the Florida Board of Pharmacy by 2010. In 2011, they will need to either complete a board-approved training program with 1,500 hours of work as a technician under a Florida licensed pharmacist, or be certified (
https://www.ptcb.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Guidebook_to_Certification&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=2952) by a program accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). PTCB is the pioneer in certifying pharmacy technicians (https://www.ptcb.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Learn&Template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=1384) and is accredited by the NCCA. PTCB's certification program has been included in regulations by more than 30 state boards of pharmacy. Through its strategic partnership with Pearson VUE, PTCB is able to offer highly scalable computer-based testing through the world's largest network of testing centers.

Studies show without a doubt that Americans support a standard of excellence for pharmacy technicians. A recent poll commissioned by PTCB confirms that 91% of American consumers support strong regulations across the country to protect patient safety by requiring that pharmacy technicians are trained and certified. While states like Florida reflect this growing need for action, almost twenty other states still have no requirement for certification. Clearly, consumers are relying on state boards of pharmacy to protect them and enact strong requirements such as Florida's for pharmacy technicians.

About the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) (
http://www.ptcb.org/)

PTCB was established in January 1995 and is governed by five pharmacy organizations - the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), the Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists (ICHP), the Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA) and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). Since PTCB's inception, PTCB has certified over 300,000 pharmacy technicians through the examination and transfer process. PTCB's certification program is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). The goal of the PTCB national certification program is to enable pharmacy technicians to work more effectively with pharmacists to offer safe and effective patient care and service. PTCB contracts with Pearson VUE, the industry's technology leader, as its computer-based testing vendor. PTCB draws upon the experience and expertise of its 13-year partner, Professional Examination Service (PES) for test development.

Contact Information
Mark Franco
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board
http://www.ptcb.org
202-429-7508
202-828-9767

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

YouTube Wins, Canadian Television and American Girl Lose Domain Name Decisions

Recent National Arbitration Forum Domain Name Decisions Involve YouTube, Canadian Television and American Girl

MINNEAPOLIS-- June 24, 2008 --The National Arbitration Forum issued decisions on the rights to YouTube.net, CTV.com, and AmericanGirl.net. Conflicts over domain names are on the rise. The dispute resolution provider handled 1,658 domain disputes in 2006, a 21 percent increase from the prior year, and 1,805 disputes in 2007.

The following decisions were made in accordance with the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) by independent and neutral arbitrators on the National Arbitration Forum Panel.

YouTube.net

Complainant Google Inc., owner of the popular video sharing site YouTube.com, filed a complaint on March 11, 2008 against YiWuShi Shuangfeng Jixie Youxian Gongsi of China, the registered owner of YouTube.net.

The National Arbitration Forum Panelist followed traditional UDRP principles in disregarding the functional ".net" generic top-level domain (gTLD) when determining the "YouTube" domain name was identical to Complainant's YOUTUBE trademark. The arbitrator also found that the website at the domain name advertises and displays adult-oriented content. The owner of YouTube.net registered and used the domain name in bad faith based on the fact that it was using Complainant's well-known mark to provide such content. For these reasons, the National Arbitration Forum granted transfer of YouTube.net to Google Inc. on May 5, 2008.

CTV.com

Complainant CTV Inc., a Canadian English language television network, brought a complaint against CTV.com owner Murat Yikilmaz of Turkey, on April 11, 2008.

Complainant has used the CTV mark since 1961 to identify its goods and services, and registered the CTV mark in 1974 with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. A three member Panel found that the domain name was identical to the CTV trademark. The Panel determined that the three letters which constitute the essence of the disputed domain name are generic initials used by many parties to identify many goods and services. The Panel found Respondent to be in the domain name warehousing business, specializing in three character domains. Respondent's use of CTV.com to attract Internet traffic is a legitimate business interest, especially in this case where none of the advertisements are related to Complainant's television operations. Additionally the Panel found CTV Inc. had not proven the domain name was registered or used in bad faith. The majority of the Panel denied Complainant's requested relief on June 10, 2008. Panelist Kerans dissented in the decision, inferring that Respondent likely was aware of CTV Inc.'s business and mark in Canada and the U.S.

AmericanGirl.net

American Girl, LLC, a subsidiary of Mattel that manufactures dolls and books for young girls, submitted a complaint against The Tidewinds Group, Inc on February 25, 2008 seeking transfer of AmericanGirl.net.

The National Arbitration Forum arbitrator found that the domain name was identical to the AMERICAN GIRL trademark, which Complainant had submitted into the record. Further, Respondent used the site to display links to commercial websites, proving no legitimate interest in the disputed domain name. Finally, the Panelist looked at the registration and use of the disputed domain name. It was found that Respondent registered the domain name in 2002, three years before the application filing date for the AMERICAN GIRL mark that Complainant provided. While noting that Complainant provided no evidence that it possessed common law rights or any other trademarks previous to 2005, the National Arbitration Forum Panelist found no bad faith registration or use and denied transfer of AmericanGirl.net to American Girl, LLC on April 16, 2008.

To file a claim see www.domains.adrforum.com. Contact domaindispute[at]adrforum.com with questions. Media please contact Christina Doucet at 952-516-6486 or media[at]adrforum.com.

About the National Arbitration Forum

Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, the National Arbitration Forum is an international leader in arbitration and mediation services. An innovator in the industry, the National Arbitration Forum was appointed an approved provider of the Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) by the Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) in 1999. Since then, over 10,000 domain name disputes worldwide have been filed through the National Arbitration Forum's state-of-the-art case management system, now optimized by Forthright. For more information, visit www.domains.adrforum.com.
Contacts

National Arbitration Forum
Media:
Christina Doucet, 952-516-6486
media[at]adrforum.com

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Call for Better Sanitation Prompted By Lettuce E. coli Outbreak

E. coli Outbreak Associated with Lettuce Prompts Call for Better Sanitation

MINNEAPOLIS-- June 09, 2008 --According to Pritzker | Ruohonen & Associates, P.A., ten cases of E. coli O157:H7 in the state of Washington have been associated with the consumption of lettuce. Based on interviews of those sickened, health officials believe the source of the outbreak is bagged, commercial romaine lettuce.

Six of the people sickened were Pierce County residents. Five of them had laboratory-confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7. The sixth person had symptoms identical with those of the other five, but a lab test was not done to confirm E. coli O157:H7. The cases may be associated with a restaurant and an educational institution. Because the outbreak is deemed over, health officials are not releasing the names of either, but Internet accounts of the outbreak indicate that some of those sickened may have eaten salads at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma.

Four of the people sickened were Thurston County residents. All four had laboratory-confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7. Three of them attend Capital High School in Olympia and ate salads in the school cafeteria. The fourth person attends Thurgood Marshall Middle School in Olympia and ate a salad there.

"This is yet another example of contaminated lettuce causing illness," stated Pritzker. "At the bottom of every E. coli outbreak is bad sanitation. It is up to the lettuce industry to clean up its act and use good sanitation practices on every farm, every day."

Cattle are the principal source of E. coli O157:H7 infections. Cattle manure containing E. coli O157:H7 can contaminate water that flows through lettuce fields and that is used for irrigation, pesticide application, and/or washing lettuce. Therefore, it is imperative that lettuce not be planted near cattle operations.

In addition, Pritzker and other food safety advocates have been pushing for regulations requiring the lettuce industry to do the following: 1) frequently test irrigation water; 2) frequently test bags of lettuce and salad before they reach the consumer; 3) educate workers throughout the industry about the importance of hand washing and not coming to work if they are sick; 4) and prevent animals, both domestic and wild, from wandering on to lettuce fields.

Because a number of E. coli outbreaks have been linked to bagged lettuce and spinach, federal and state regulators should frequently inspect processing plants.

"The lettuce industry and state and federal governments have to work together to ensure the safety of lettuce. A mother should not have to worry if the salad she is serving her children will make them sick," stated Pritzker.

Pritzker | Ruohonen & Associates, P.A. is one of the few law firms in the United States that practices extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation. The firm has collected millions of dollars on behalf of victims of E. coli outbreaks. For more information, visit
http://www.pritzkerlaw.com or contact Fred Pritzker at (612) 338-0202. Pritzker | Ruohonen has offices are located at Plaza VII, Suite 2950, 45 South Seventh Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402

Contacts

Pritzker | Ruohonen & Associates, P.A.
Fred Pritzker, 612-338-0202

Sunday, June 08, 2008

Victims of Asbestos Exposure Should Call the Mesothelioma Victims Center

Mesothelioma Victims And All Victims of Asbestos Exposure Should Call the Mesothelioma Victims Center First For Free Honest Advise & Help

Why should victims of mesothelioma or their families call the Mesothelioma Victims Center First? According to Americas Watchdog, "its pretty simple, we will tell them the truth about treatment options, lawyers, Social Security, and everything else they need to know and our service is free". The Mesothelioma Victims Center was created to assist all US victims of Mesothelioma. Americas Watchdog has initiated this very complete free service because there is literally nothing close to this type of service in the United States, and because this type of service is sorely needed by Mesothelioma victims and their families. The Mesothelioma Victims Center was created to assist victims & their families in every way possible. Victims who served in the US Navy are especially encouraged to contact the group at 866-714-6466.

May 27, 2008 -- The Mesothelioma Victims Center is a free service designed to assist all victims of Mesothelioma, or to assist the families of victims who have this disease. What makes this service unique? According to Americas Watchdog,"our service to victims or their families is free. Mesothelioma is a rare, and lethal form of cancer related to asbestos exposure. Americas Watchdog never realized that there was no safety net for victims, to get help from the government or VA. They did not know how difficult it might be to get veterans benefits or social security benefits. Americas Watchdog also discovered that it is critical for victims of this lethal disease to get proper legal representation. They have designed the Mesothelioma Victims Center to be the national advocacy center for the victims and family members of Mesothelioma.Their service is free. The web site is located at
http://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.com.

Very Important note: According to the Mesothelioma Victims Center, "You do not want a personal injury attorney with little, to no Mesothelioma experience taking on a case, unless they have lots of experience with mesothelioma. This is especially true of US Navy veterans, who were exposed in a US naval vessel engine room. If you, or a loved one has been diagnosed with Mesothelioma, there are thousands of law firms that say they can take the case. The problem; there are only a handful of law firms in the US that can do a superior job."

According to Americas Watchdog, "Individuals who have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma, or their family members should call the Mesothelioma Victims Center first, for honest and straight forward advice at 866-714-6466". The Mesothelioma Center is all about honest, and helpful advice for all Mesothelioma victims. The Mesothelioma Victims Center web site is located at
Http://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.com.

The Mesothelioma Victims Center's services include:

* Assisting the victims of Mesothelioma in obtaining Social Security permanent disability payments

* If the victim is a veteran and was exposed to asbestos during military duty, we will work with the victim and his/her family in obtaining veterans disability and health care benefits.

* We will assist the family in getting the best possible health care options

* We will assist the victim in getting legal representation.

* We will assist the victim and their family in getting counseling on a wide variety of topics that arise from this disease.

A victim of Mesothelioma or their family can call the group any time for help, assistance and advice anytime at 866-714-6466.

Who Can Get Mesothelioma? Individuals exposed to asbestos. As Follows

* Individuals who served in the US Navy. Especially Navy personnel who served in or around naval ship engine rooms.

* Members of the US Army, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard.

* Naval ship yard workers

* Oil refinery workers

* Ship yard workers

* Automotive repair specialists

* Construction workers

* Plumbers

* Demolition contractors

Important note to doctors and medical staff: Please tell your patients about the Mesothelioma Victims Center.

Because no other group is providing this full range of services, and because victims and their families need assistance in these areas, Americas Watchdog is doing all of this at no charge, because its the right thing to do. Americas Watchdog's Mesothelioma Victims Center web site is located at
http://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.com. Anyone wishing more information can call the Mesothelioma Victims Center anytime at 866-714-6466. Health care workers or physicians are encouraged to tell your patients about the Mesothelioma Victims Center.

Americas Watchdog and its Mesothelioma Victims Center are all about taking care of precious souls in need, and corporate responsibility.

Contact Information
THOMAS MARTIN
Americas Watchdog
Http://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.Com
866-714-6466

Saturday, June 07, 2008

Beginner's Guide To Divorce Released

Announcing The Beginner's Guide To California Divorce

Veteran divorce attorney Robert Busch has just released, "How To Win Your California Divorce, The Beginner's Guide", a 73 page book written for California residents who are considering divorce and know little, if anything, about California divorce law.

Sacramento, California  -  April 3, 2008 — Veteran divorce attorney Robert Busch has just released, "www.californiadivorcetips.com [How To Win Your California Divorce, The Beginner's Guide", a 73 page book written for California residents who are considering divorce and know little, if anything, about California divorce law.

After consulting with thousands of men and women, the author became frustrated with the lack of easy-to-understand basic information on the divorce process in California. Many of the books on divorce are outdated, many are written by attorneys who have never practiced law in California, and some are crammed full of information the typical reader doesn't need.    

Divorce law is neither simple or easy. Whether or not lawyers are involved, there is critical information people must know if they have any hope of getting a fair settlement or favorable court ruling, should the matter go to court. Relying solely on attorneys is usually a big mistake.

Anyone hoping to win their divorce must be prepared. How To Win Your California Divorce, The Beginner's Guide, provides the reader with almost 17 years of lessons, strategies, tactics and checklists to help the reader get everything she is entitled to under California law.

How To Win Your California Divorce, The Beginner's Guide, also provides important information about preparing and filing the initial paperwork. Doing this wrong can result in the loss of significant property and/or support rights.

Three easy-to-use checklists included in How To Win Your California Divorce, The Beginner's Guide, are designed to help the reader remember the important information needed to get the best results in their divorce.

For additional information on How To Win Your California Divorce, The Beginner's Guide, contact Robert Busch or visit
www.californiadivorcetips.com.         

About Robert Busch: A practicing attorney since 1986, Robert Busch earned his B.A. from the University of California, Davis, and his law degree from McGeorge School of Law, University of Pacific.

Contact:
Robert Busch
Law Office of R. Jeff Busch
Telephone: (916)859-0370
E-mail: BuschLawOffice(at)gmail.com
Website:
www.CaliforniaDivorceTips.com

Monday, June 02, 2008

New Product Features Include Federal Analysis and Commentary; Pending Legislation

AllRegs Releases New Product Features: Federal Analysis and Commentary; Pending Legislation

EAGAN, Minn.-- June 02, 2008 --AllRegs, the leading publisher of guidelines for the mortgage industry, announces the release of online product enhancements allowing subscribers to access analysis and commentary on federal legislation or view pending state or federal legislation.

In addition to searching the comprehensive online database consisting of thousands of pages of government and conventional single family lending guidelines and forms, subscribers of the flagship Single-Family Lending Package can now access the following:

    * Plain-language analyses and interpretive summaries for major federal legislation dealing with the residential mortgage lending industry, with links directly to supporting statutes and regulations
    * Continuous updates with e-mail notification
    * Federal disclosures and other forms

This Federal Analysis and Commentary covers the following major federal legislation:

    * Alternative Mortgage Parity Transaction Act
    * Depository Institutions Deregulations and Monetary Control Act
    * Equal Credit Opportunity
    * Fair Housing Act
    * Fair Credit Reporting Act
    * Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
    * Garn-St. Germaine
    * Home Mortgage Disclosure Act
    * Home Ownership Protection Act
    * National Flood Insurance Act
    * Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act
    * Truth In Lending Act

A new feature within the State Compliance Package, Pending Legislation features all pending state and federal bills, from pre-file to enacted status. The notification feature of Pending Legislation can be considered an early warning system for future changes in processes and procedures. By keeping up with the progress of the legislation, users can revise processes in advance to accommodate the new law and regulation.

Bills are categorized and searchable by subjects, such as licensing, fraud, fees and more. Users will learn all of the details regarding the pending bill, including the bill number, category, title, date, status and summary. The status information will change as the bill changes, but the bill summary will remain the same. From each matrix, users can link out to the State Legislature's web site and view the bill's full text.

Should you have any questions regarding this product enhancement or if you'd like to see a demo, please contact AllRegs Customer Service at (800) 848-4904 Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. CT and 6:00 p.m. CT. or email help@allregs.com.

About AllRegs:

First introduced in 1989, AllRegs is used by virtually all of the top 100 lenders as well as throughout numerous governmental agencies, including Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the FHLBs, FHA, VA, RHS, Ginnie Mae, and more. AllRegs is the exclusive electronic publisher of the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Single and Multi-Family Seller/Servicer Guides, The Federal Home Loan Banks' MPF Program Guidelines, and CalPERS' Member Home Loan Program Guidelines. Products include single and multifamily underwriting & insuring guidelines as well as federal compliance laws and regulations, state compliance laws and regulations with plain-language analyses, contract publishing services for retail and wholesale lenders and a library of historical guidelines. The educational division, AllRegs Academy, offers distance learning, classroom training, and a series of online Practical Guides. For more information call (800) 848-4904 or go to www.allregs.com.

Contacts

For AllRegs
Meredith Boyd, 678-781-7219

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