Save energy this summer

With the Midwest in the grip of a summer heat wave for the next several days, FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) is offering tips to help customers save energy and money while keeping their cool.

• Close air conditioning registers in unused rooms and keep the doors to those rooms closed.  This will reduce the amount of energy your air conditioner will use to maintain your home's temperature.
• Don't position heat-producing appliances near wall-mounted thermostats.  Doing so will make your air conditioner run longer than necessary to maintain your preferred temperature.
• Consider setting air conditioners a few degrees warmer on hot days.  Every degree you add to your interior temperature in the summer can reduce your energy usage by up to 3 percent.
• Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).  CFLs use up to 75 percent less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and they produce less heat.  
• Now is a great time for an HVAC tune-up.  Your FirstEnergy utility may offer rebates on HVAC tune-ups or discounts on the purchase of new, energy efficient HVAC units.  To see if you qualify, visit www.energysaveOhio.com or www.energysavePA.com.  
• Close drapes or blinds on windows that receive direct sunlight.  Blocking the sun's rays reduces the temperature in your home, which means your air conditioner has less work to do.
• Consider joining the Easy Cool Rewards Program to manage your air conditioning when you're not home.  You'll receive $60 and a Honeywell programmable thermostat (a $250 value).  For details, please visit www.energysaveOhio.com or www.energysavePA.com.  
• If your home has an attached garage, keep your garage door closed during the hottest hours of the day.  This can reduce the amount of cool air that might escape, resulting in less work for your air conditioner.
• Locate window air conditioning units where they will be in the shade during the hottest hours of the day.  Keeping the sun off your window air conditioner will reduce its workload and increase your energy efficiency.
• Cook with the microwave instead of the oven.  Traditional ovens require far more energy than microwaves, and they produce substantial heat inside your home, making your air conditioner run longer.
• Run kitchen and bath exhaust fans only as long as necessary to remove odors or steam from the room.  Leaving a fan running will pull cool air from your home, increasing its temperature.
• If you have a second refrigerator or a freezer that's running but not being used, consider having it recycled.  You'll get a cash rebate of $35 to $50 and save up to $150 every year in energy costs.  

To learn more about energy efficiency and to read about rebate programs you may be eligible for, please visit www.energysaveOhio.com or www.energysavePA.com.

FirstEnergy is a diversified energy company dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its ten electric distribution companies comprise the nation's largest investor-owned electric system.  Its diverse generating fleet features non-emitting nuclear, scrubbed baseload coal, natural gas, and pumped-storage hydro and other renewables, and has a total generating capacity of approximately 24,000 megawatts.

American Greetings announces "Opening Acts"

 One of the most time-honored birthday traditions is tearing into an envelope and reading the heartfelt birthday wishes inside the card. Then the addition of sound and other technological enhancements added a new twist that excited shoppers and recipients alike. Now American Greetings Corporation (NYSE: AM) has introduced Opening Acts™, an innovative new line of greeting cards that offer a unique remix to sound cards that are sure to bring a round of appreciative applause.

This new line pairs an audio envelope with a playful 360 degree die-cut card, offering a fun remix on the expected sound card. Upon opening the bright and colorful envelopes play music or a sound, offering up big smiles and then the cute card takes over to deliver even more happy birthday wishes. Themes range from birthday sweet treats and favorite cocktails to cute animals, a hula girl, and even Mission: Impossible.

"Usually the envelope gets almost completely ignored, but with Opening Acts the envelope is part of the whole experience. It really extends the process," said Carol Miller executive director of new product concepts at American Greetings. "We love the reaction our audio envelopes receive and know consumers will love to surprise and delight their friends and family with Opening Acts."

As the industry leader in innovative new greeting card formats, American Greetings has introduced more fresh and exciting ways to celebrate birthdays and other big occasions than any other greeting card manufacturer over the past year. Incorporating fresh twists on paper technology with carefully written copy and festive artwork, the combined effect is the perfect selection of greeting cards that are sure to surprise and delight any recipient.

Consumers can find Opening Acts in addition to a selection of other great new innovations from American Greetings at participating drug chains, grocery stores and mass retailers nationwide, as well as in American Greetings and Carlton Cards retail stores. For more information on American Greetings, please visit www.corporate.americangreetings.com. You can also follow them on Twitter at www.twitter.com/amgreetings and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AmericanGreetings.

Researchers Improve Method For Finding Genetic Mistakes That Fuel Cancer

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital – Washington University Pediatric Cancer Genome Project scientists pioneer way to find more chromosomal aberrations in tumors; results likely to advance understanding of cancer

MEMPHIS, Tenn., June 12, 2011 -- A dramatically better computer tool for finding the genetic missteps that fuel cancer has been developed by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital – Washington University Pediatric Cancer Genome Project investigators. Researchers are using the new algorithm to help identify the chromosomal rearrangements and DNA insertions or deletions unique to cancer.

The new computational method is known as CREST, short for Clipping Reveals Structure. Using CREST, researchers identified 89 new structural differences in the cancer genomes of five St. Jude patients with a subtype of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) known as T-lineage ALL. CREST revealed complex chromosomal rearrangements, including one that involved four chromosomes. Investigators also used the tool to find 50 new variations in melanoma cells. Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. The study appears in the June 12 advance online edition of the scientific journal Nature Methods.

FDA: Do Not Feed SimplyThick to Premature Infants

The FDA is advising parents, caregivers and health care providers not to feed SimplyThick, a thickening product, to premature infants. The product may cause necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a life-threatening condition.

FDA first learned of adverse events possibly linked to the product on May 13, 2011. To date, the agency is aware of 15 cases of NEC, including two deaths, involving premature infants who were fed SimplyThick for varying amounts of time. The product was mixed with mothers' breast milk or infant formula products.

Illnesses have been reported from at least four different medical centers around the country. The illnesses of which FDA is aware involve premature infants who became sick over the past six months. SimplyThick was added to the feeding regimen of those infants, who later developed NEC, to help with swallowing difficulties stemming from complications of premature birth.  

The current situation is unusual because NEC most often occurs in babies within the hospital early in their premature course. But among the ill babies of which FDA is aware, some had been discharged from the hospital to home on a feeding regimen that included SimplyThick and then fell ill at home.

TV history tidbits

Profile America -- Sunday, May 22nd.  This was a big day in the careers of two of the nation's most beloved television stars who practiced their craft in two widely different settings.  It was on this date in 1967 that "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" was first seen.  Host Fred Rogers entertained and educated youngsters for 34 years.  And it was also on this date in 1992 that Johnny Carson last

appeared on the "Tonight Show," after almost 30 years of dominating late night television with sophisticated comedy and interviews.  In the '60s, when both Rogers and Carson began, there were about 53 million homes with television sets.  Today, that number is more than twice as large.  You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at www.census.gov.

Cambridge team wins Hult Global Case Challenge

 Hult International Business School today announced that the University of Cambridge team from the United Kingdom has been selected as the Global Final Winner of its 2nd Annual Hult Global Case Challenge.  The competition, held yesterday at a W Hotel in New York, focused on developing solutions to accelerate clean water access and sanitation around the world. The Hult Global Case Challenge is a Clinton Global Initiative Commitment to Action. President Clinton delivered the closing keynote address and presented awards to the winning team.  Hult provided the Global Winner with a $1 million prize, which will be made available to Water.org, an organization co-founded by Gary White and actor Matt Damon, along with the winning idea.  

Home Prices Edge Closer to 2009 Lows

Data through February 2011, released today by S&P Indices for its S&P/Case-Shiller(1) Home Price Indices, the leading measure of U.S. home prices, show prices for the 10- and 20-city composites are lower than a year ago but still slightly above their April 2009 bottom. The 10-City Composite fell 2.6% and the 20-City Composite was down 3.3% from February 2010 levels.Washington D.C. was the only market to post a year-over-year gain with an annual growth rate of +2.7%. Ten of the 11 cities that made new lows in January 2011 saw new lows again in February 2011. Detroitavoided another new low, managing a +1.0% increase in February over January, the only city with a positive monthly change. With an index level of 139.27, the 20-City Composite is virtually back to its April 2009 trough value (139.26); the 10-City Composite is 1.5% above its low.

In February 2011, the 10-City and 20-City Composites recorded annual returns of -2.6% and -3.3%, respectively. On a month-over-month basis, the 10- and 20-City Composites were both down 1.1% in February versus January. San Diego, which had posted 15 consecutive months of positive annual rates ended its run with a -1.8% annual rate of change in February 2011. Washington D.C. has assumed that status, with 15 consecutive months of positive annual growth rates beginning in December 2009 throughFebruary 2011. Twelve of the 20 MSAs and both Composites fared worse in terms of annual growth rates in February compared to January. Atlanta, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Phoenix, Portland (OR) andWashington D.C. saw improvements in their annual rates of return in February versus January; New Yorkwas unchanged.

Traffic fatalities continues to drop

Despite Americans driving nearly 21 billion more miles last year, U.S. highway traffic fatalities dropped 3 percent from 2009 to the lowest levels in recorded history.  The fatality rate also dropped, to 1.09 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT).

"The hard numbers show that auto travel today is safer than ever before – not because of an economic slump, but because automakers have worked with other stakeholders to bring innovation to autos," said Alliance Interim President and CEO John Whatley.  "Still, we have to remember that these aren't just numbers, these are lives, so automakers are continuing to advance technologies that will make the biggest impact on the traveling public."

Alliance members have enhanced safety — and led regulations — through the introduction of many safety technologies, including anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, side airbags for head and chest protection, side curtain airbags, radar use for collision avoidance, and more.  These technologies, combined with a comprehensive approach that includes promoting strong traffic safety laws coupled with high-visibility enforcement and consumer education were fundamental factors in bringing safety statistics to their historic levels.

Weight loss can ease knee pain

Knee pain related to osteoarthritis (OA) is a common complaint among obese individuals and retired professional athletes, especially former NFL players, but researchers presenting their work at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's Specialty Day program (February 19th) say they have a simple solution: lose weight.

"Our research on patients who were obese with early-onset knee osteoarthritis showed that those individuals who underwent isolated weight loss via bariatric surgery and lost an average of 57 pounds within the first six months significantly improved their knee pain, stiffness and physical function. Quality of life, activities of daily living and sports activity also improved; all of this without other arthritic treatments," said lead researcher Christopher Edwards of the Penn State College of Medicine.

Job tips from Ron Karr

Unemployed Americans can begin their job searchand find the job of their dreams if they think more like sales professionals.

"Who says you can only apply for a job when a company is looking?" said Ron Karr, author of the CEO bestselling book Lead, Sell, or Get Out of the Way. "You shouldn't wait for a job opening to apply for a position. You may find better luck in applying for a position before it opens."

"Think about it. The moment a job opportunity is posted, you and hundreds if not thousands of people are pouncing on this opportunity. With this kind of stiff competition, how do you separate yourself from the competition?" said Karr, who helps companies create high performance sales cultures.

The trick, according to Karr, is to use the same principle he urges sales professionals to use when selling their products and services. He tells salespeople the best time to sell something is when the customer says there is no need.

"Just because there is no need doesn't mean there is no opportunity. Successful salespeople don't concentrate on selling 'me too' type products. They find out what needs are not being met and then create a compelling reason for the customer to act," said Karr, who is a highly sought after speaker for CEO groups and other sales related meetings. He also facilitates strategic sales sessions on behalf of boards of directors and C-Level executives who want to increase market share and eliminate competition. Unlike other consultants and experts, Ron goes beyond theory. He leverages his 30+ years of experience and helps his clients execute the ideas and generate significant results.

Manpower says, "there's an app for that"

Manpower Inc. (NYSE: MAN), world leader in innovative workforce solutions and a strategic partner of the World Economic Forum (WEF), announced today it has launched the "World of Work Insight" application on Apple's popular iPad. The purpose of the Manpower iPad app is to provide dynamic access to the company's insight and substantial research on the most critical trends and issues affecting today's global economy.

Manpower's World of Work Insight iPad app will feature the company's recent research and platform for future research, including Manpower's quarterly Employment Outlook Survey and Annual Talent Shortage Survey. This thought leadership app will explore the challenges faced by employers navigating the changing world of work and provide in-depth commentary, analysis, insight and advice on strategies for success.

Program aims to hire 500 vets in 2011

lorica Inc. (www.alorica.com), one of the premier providers of outsourced customer contact management services, today announced it has exceeded hiring projections ahead of schedule for its new veterans support initiative, AloriCares. With the success thus far of the pilot, the goal is to employ 500 disabled veterans by year's end, and to engage additional Fortune 500 companies in the initiative to provide work opportunities.

"The AloriCares initiative serves as a creative solution to assist disabled veterans with access and re-entry into the workforce, and reinforces the increased national focus on support of military families being spearheaded by First Lady Michelle Obama," said George Atchison, AloriCares Executive Director.

The First Lady appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show yesterday where she discussed her plans to launch a comprehensive national campaign to recognize, honor and provide ways for everyone to step up and answer the call to support military families.

Opera and Internet safety

Despite lingering concerns about the U.S. economic recovery, Americans worry more about having their online privacy violated (25%) than declaring bankruptcy (23%) or losing their job (22%). Coinciding with Data Privacy Day today, new survey research by Opera Software in the United States, Japan and Russia examines what people worry about online.

Internet fraud as a result of online privacy violations was among the top four concerns in all three countries, recorded between 22 and 29 percent of respondents. Distress over being hurt in a traffic accident topped the lists in Japan (35%) and United States (27%), while relationship problems kept 40% of Russian respondents awake at night. Relationship drama and pandemics like swine flu tied for second place in Japan's worries (34%).

The online survey, administered by market research company YouGov, aimed to uncover what concerns people have for their online safety and privacy. A thousand or more people in each of the United States,Japan and Russia completed the survey between January 19 and January 24. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all adults aged 18 or more in the three countries.

Trash the tanning tax

At a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on Wednesday, White House chief economic advisor Austan Goolsbee was asked about the 10% tax on tanning services whether or not it was in fact a tax. Mr. Goolsbee said sun tanning was a choice and not a tax and belittled the livelihood of tens of thousands of hardworking Americans employed in this industry.

"Rather than scoffing at small business owners and employees in the indoor tanning industry," ITA President Dan Humiston said, "we encourage policy makers in Washington to support the men and women in our industry who are looking to create jobs and expand economic opportunity. Repealing the 10% tan tax -- which the Administration seems to think is not a tax -- would be an important place to start."

Click here to view the exchange between Rep. Pat Tiberi and Mr. Goolsbee at the Ways and Means Committee hearing.

Green is the new red

Consumers can now show their love for their partner and the Earth by celebrating Valentine's Day with an environmentally-friendly gift, like the GREEN Super Gift Card available at icardgiftcard.com.

"Showing Earth sensitivity on Valentine's Day demonstrates a bigger dimension of your heart, I think," said Jeff Ehney, Principal at iCARD Systems. "Green gifting has been growing in popularity the last few years, as a non-preachy way for people to share their love for Mother Earth with others."

iCARD's GREEN Super Gift Card is purchased and personalized online with text and an optional uploaded photo. Delivery of the finished sentiment is then emailed instantly or scheduled. The recipient can then redeem the gift online for any of more than 50 electronic gift cards which are then emailed to the recipient. The gift cards are available from merchants like Gap Maternity, Banana Republic, Papa John's Pizza, Sephora, Fairway Rewards, and Timberland.

7 Skills Required for the "New Reality" of Corporate Leadership in 2011

 "As companies move from a 'survival' mentality to focus on growth and longer-term investment, many are finding that they need to revaluate their CEO," says Stephen A. Miles, Vice Chairman of Heidrick & Struggles and head of the firm's Leadership Advisory Services. "The new reality of post-crisis leadership – driven by a greater understanding of risk and the interconnectedness of the global economy – requires an evolving set of skills.

"Boards of directors are demanding that their CEO possess particular qualities to help lead their companies into the new era. Our experience coaching CEOs and advising boards around the globe shows that companies are willing to make a bold change at the top, even if that means having to go to the external market and search for a new chief executive. We anticipate this trend will continue through 2011 and into 2012, unless there is another catastrophic event to send companies back into survival mode."

"Shared Norms for the New Reality" is the theme of this year's World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, which begins next week in Davos, Switzerland.

7 CEO Skills Needed for the "New Reality"

"To arm themselves for growth, boards are looking for seven specific criteria in their potential CEOs," says Mr. Miles. Those criteria are:

Manpower exec to argue education industry is failing

Manpower Inc. (NYSE: MAN), world leader in innovative workforce solutions, will on Wednesday, 26 January, participate in the CNBC live debate at the 2011 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos titled "The West Isn't Working," where high-profile thought leaders will suggest actions to stem the tide of jobs losses in advanced economies in the face of a growing talent mismatch, global power shifts and the threat of a lost generation of workers.

Jeffrey A. Joerres, Manpower Inc. Chairman and CEO, will argue in favor of the motion "Education is Failing Industry," in part two of the debate and will be challenged by Amy Gutmann, President of the University of Pennsylvania. Joerres will warn that, despite continuing high unemployment, the disparity between the skills taught by education institutions and those needed by business means western countries will find it increasingly difficult to source the critical talent they need.

"The world is experiencing an era of volatile and rapid transformation. This is exacerbating the disconnect between learning and industry as education cannot keep up," said Joerres. "The entire system needs to be revaluated. Changes would be significant, but are necessary to ensure industry, governments and educators are to effectively align education and training with business needs."

The Global Nursing Shortage

Shawn Mathis releases "Republic of Nurses," focusing on solving the Global Nurse Shortage. The Nurse Company project All Things Nurses.com opens to empower nurses by providing online communication and focus to the global nurse shortage.

In the global struggle for educating, retaining, and empowering enough nurses to support heath care systems, there's a strong new force arriving with solid answers.

Shawn Mathis , founder and Chairman of the Board of Governors of The Nurse Company, has released Republic of Nurses, a book outlining the history and the present state of the global nurse shortage worldwide. In his book, the second on this topic, Mr. Mathis continues the conversation of the need for a new system of communication to deal with the global nurse shortage. His company, The Nurse Company, has taken the book from thoughtful concept to reality.

US recovery still in early stages

U.S. credit appears to be on the mend, but the recovery is still in its early stages. That is the key message of a report released today by TD Economics highlighting a number of positive developments in U.S. credit markets over recent months.

In October, responses to the Federal Reserve's Senior Loan Officer Survey showed that commercial banks' willingness to lend to consumers is hovering around its highest level in the last five years. The easing of credit standards has coincided with a drop in delinquency rates, signalling a general improvement in credit quality. Although delinquencies on real estate loans remain elevated, delinquencies on unsecured loans to consumers and businesses have seen a steady, downward trend since 2009.

Study suggests home care answer in cutting costs

A nationwide increase in the use of home health care can save the U.S. billions of dollars in hospital costs, according to the results of a new study conducted by Frank Lichtenberg, the Courtney C. Brown Professor of Business at the Columbia University Graduate School of Business and a Research Associate with the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Professor Lichtenberg estimates the nation may have saved as much as $25 billion in total hospital payroll costs in 2008 alone thanks to the growth of the home health care sector during the previous 10 years. He pointed out that "it is a reasonable calculation" that further savings will be realized in the years ahead if the use of home care continues to grow.

Funding for the study was provided by Home Instead, Inc., an American-based international franchisor with more than 60,000 trained CAREGivers(SM).