Archive for February, 2011

Gunn Automotive Group Turns to Live Event Stream to Enhance Online Shoppers …

Gunn Automotive Group Turns to Live Event Stream to Enhance Online Shoppers Experience with Video

By using Live Event Streams Video Inventory program to create full motion 360-degree videos, Gunn Automotive, based in San Antonio, Texas, is positioned to meet the demand of todays video-hungry online customer.

San Antonio, TX (PRWEB) February 11, 2011

Live Event Stream today announced that Gunn Automotive, a Top 100 Dealer Group as ranked by Wards Automotive and an innovator in creating a customer-centric environment for car buyers, is once again leading the automotive industry by placing their inventory online for internet shoppers in full motion video. By using Live Event Streams Video Inventory program to create full motion 360-degree videos, Gunn Automotive, based in San Antonio, Texas, is positioned to meet the demand of todays video-hungry online customer.

“We are very excited to be working with Gunn to expand and enhance their online shopping experience,” said Phil Ly, President of Live Event Stream. “Gunn has proven over the years to be a leader in adopting forward-thinking strategies to increase customer satisfaction as well as drive sales, and we look forward to integrating Live Event Stream into their existing model for online content production, distribution and delivery. By using Live Event Stream instead of simple photos, Gunn can provide customers with a richer viewing experience – leading to higher store visits and purchase inquiries.”

Live Event Streams Video Inventory and Live-Walk-Around(TM) Programs are the first of their kind for the automobile dealer industry. With full inventory integration, a simple hardware platform, native Flash® encoding and a batch video distribution process, dealers are able to easily and cost-effectively showcase their offerings in high quality, full motion video and engaging audio. The lack of such a solution in the past has forced dealers to rely on pictures or slide shows to present products online.

“In the automotive industry, we say we have video, but its not a true video production and I think consumers know the difference,” said Tony Rhoades, Director of Ecommerce for Gunn Automotive. “We are interested in being ahead of the game, giving our customers the kind of experience that they expect while online – something that is easy to use and provides them with greater detail and transparency.”

The Gunn Auto Group will use Live Event Stream to provide the full circle content creation and distribution of the video for Gunns seven franchise locations. Live-Event-Stream offers a DIY solution for dealers and an outsourced service solution through select partners. With dealers looking for options, having both models allows Live Event Stream to serve a broader client base while giving the savvy internet shopper access to videos on a variety of computer and mobile platforms.

About Live Event Stream

Live Event Stream provides video broadcast solutions to organizations, individuals, and public institutions for a variety of business and social applications. Committed to quality production and delivery of exceptional video quality while advancing portability and simplified interface and hardware functionality, Live Event Stream is the leader in delivering video where needed. For more information, visit http://www.liveeventstream.com.

About Gunn Automotive

The Gunn Automotive Group was founded by CC Pop Gunn and started with one Oldsmobile dealership in 1955. Incorporated as Curtis C. Gunn, Inc. in 1957, it is known today as Gunn GP, LLC and is one of the Top 100 automotive dealer groups in the United States. Identified annually for the last five years as one of the fastest growing companies in San Antonio, Gunn also has the distinction of being one of the citys largest privately-held companies. For more information, visit http://www.gunnauto.com.

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For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2011/02/prweb5057584.htm

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Tuesday, February 15th, 2011 Automotive Comments Off

Sinclair Automotive Group Sports Hub – Thursday, February 10th

Dan ONeill of the STL Post Disaptch

Dan McLaughlin and Mike Claiborne talk with Dan about the meager state of the Blues.  They touch on Tiger Woods supposed comeback, and his effect on the game of golf right now.  Plus, Dan discusses an upcoming event supporting the Usher Syndrome Foundation.  Go to their website for more details.

Jim Duquette

Former New York Mets General Manager and Baltimore Orioles VP of Baseball Operations Jim Duquette gives his take on the Albert Pujols situation.  How does a former GM look at this?

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Tuesday, February 15th, 2011 Automotive Comments Off

Jerry Brown’s Bargain-Basement Travel Style

A giggly San Francisco Chronicle reporter caught up with Governor Brown at the Sacramento airport as he boarded his Southwest flight solo. Her shaky camera style video (by the Chronicles aptly-named Shaky Hand Productions) shows the Governor answering in all seriousness when the reporter laughs, are you really going to fly Southwest by yourself?

Brown explains that he doesnt have a private jet (unlike his predecessor) and as for his lack of entourage, he replies, I feel that the people of California are good seatmates. Were guessing Brown wasnt exactly sure why it was so funny, and were apt to agree with the LA Times nod to his strategic frugality: his populist flare could also be an important weapon for Brown as he tries to persuade voters to support billions of dollars in extended taxes. As he begins taking his message to voters around the state, he may be doing it one Southwest flight at a time.

The governor flew to Los Angeles today to give the keynote speech at the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce Inaugural Dinner. He will address the California budget crisis, explaining the need to cut and streamline the budget while raising taxes to make up the shortfall. LAist reports that the $500-per-plate fundraiser for the Chamber of Commerce is recognized as the premier business and civic leadership event in Los Angeles.

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Monday, February 14th, 2011 Travel Comments Off

Top 7: Largest Pittsburgh-area travel agencies

The Pittsburgh Business Times ranked the largest Pittsburgh-area travel agencies by 2010 local retail sales.

Coming in at No. 7 on the list was Worldview Travel LLC, with $19,000,000 in 2010 local retail sales.

For a sneak peek at the rest of the Top 7, click here.

The complete list of the largest Pittsburgh-area travel agencies is available to subscribers via the digital edition or on Page 17 of this weeks print edition of the Business Times. Want more research like this? Check out the 2011 Book of Lists in print or digital format, or get access to our interactive Book of Lists database.

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Monday, February 14th, 2011 Travel Comments Off

Boehner likes tobacco — and its money

Big news: President Barack Obama has finally quit smoking. It?s about time. What a terrible image from our country?s role-model­in-chief.

But now we have a new smoker-in­chief ? it?s the new Speaker of the House, John Boehner. He?s known for spending time in ?Smoker?s Alley? outside the lobby of the Speaker of the House. And he?s un­apologetic about the image he proj­ects to our nation?s youth. He?s fine with smoking. And why not? He?s an old hand at corrupting government with tobacco money.

The media wastes its focus these days on tawdry priorities like Boehn­er?s orange tan and penchant for tears. It forgets the more important stuff ? like the time the man ran around the floor of the House of Rep­resentatives just minutes before a crucial vote on tobacco legislation. The House was about to vote to end federal tobacco subsidies. Why was he running around? ? to pass out a fistful of tobacco lobby checks to con­gressmen whose vote big tobacco needed.

Today, this man is in the driver?s seat. His rise to power is an example of corporate money well spent. For the next several years, don?t expect much to come from the House of Rep­resentatives to relax the stranglehold big business has on our nation?s gov­ernment.

Teddy Roosevelt ? where are you when we need you?

Michael G. Busche

SPARTA

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Monday, February 14th, 2011 Money Comments Off

K. Gopal Duleep Honored With the SAE International Barry D. McNutt Award for …

WARRENDALE, Pa., Feb. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — K. Gopal Duleep, president, HD Systems, was honored with the SAE International Barry D. McNutt Award for Excellence in Automotive Policy Analysis during the SAE International 2011 Government/Industry Meeting, held earlier this year in Washington, DC

Established in 2004, this award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the development of improved federal automotive policy. Government policy is an increasingly important and complex influence on the ability of the mobility community to serve humanity. Through this award, SAE International recognizes the importance of sound policy analysis and inspires members of the mobility community in government, industry and elsewhere to strive for excellence.

Mr. Duleep has been involved with automotive fuel economy issues for 30 years; he has extensive experience with issues surrounding vehicle technology performance and cost analysis and is an internationally known expert on automobile fuel economy technology. He was fortunate to have his very first project as a consultant overseen by Mr. Barry McNutt in 1980. Since then, his work on fuel economy and GHG reduction technology for light-duty vehicles has been cited extensively around the world, and he has been retained by the International Energy Agency and the European Council of Ministers for Transport to develop strategies for improving the fuel economy of on-road vehicles in the EC.

Mr. Duleep has testified on transportation technology issues for the US Congress during debates on the Clean Air Act and CAFE (fuel economy) standards, and was the expert witness for the State of California in their defense of the technical feasibility of attaining the 2016 automotive GHG standards.

A member of SAE International since 1977, Mr. Duleep has published many SAE International papers on vehicle emissions controls and fuel economy technology, and has been a presenter/speaker at numerous meetings including the SAE Government/Industry Meeting, SAE Fuels and Lubricants Meeting, and SAE World Congress. He has participated in SAE International standards setting committees for establishing smoke testing procedures for heavy duty diesel vehicles and participated in an experimental SAE International program to evaluate the smoke testing procedures.

Mr. Duleep has several advanced degrees in engineering and also has an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School.

SAE International is a global association of more than 128,000 engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial-vehicle industries. SAE Internationals core competencies are life-long learning and voluntary consensus standards development. SAE Internationals charitable arm is the SAE Foundation, which supports many programs, including A World In Motion and the Collegiate Design Series.

- www.sae.org -

Contact: Shawn Andreassi, SAE International, via pr@sae.org or 1-724-772-8522

SOURCE SAE International

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Monday, February 14th, 2011 Automotive Comments Off

RUGBY UNION NEWS

Warburton – pretty level playing field.



SIX NATIONS IS WIDE OPEN – WARBURTON

Grand Slam Winner 2011 Win Outright: England 9/4
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Wales flanker Sam Warburton has predicted a wide-open Six Nations Championship this season – with no team winning the Grand Slam.

England put themselves in pole position for a full-scale assault on their first championship clean sweep since 2003 with their 26-19 victory over Wales at the Millennium Stadium.

Englands next three games – against Italy, France and Scotland – are at Twickenham before they conclude the campaign by tackling Ireland in Dublin.

But Warburton said: I dont think any team is going to win the Grand Slam this year – its a pretty level playing field.

England are probably the (title) favourites, but it is wide open.

From our perspective, there are still four games left, and a lot can happen in that time. Weve still got to believe in ourselves.

While England have teed themselves up to target Six Nations silverware, Wales must reflect on an eighth successive Test match without a win.

They face Scotland at Murrayfield next weekend, before heading to Rome and finally Paris after hosting Ireland seven days previously, and the victory drought is leaving its mark.

Not since the final game of last seasons Six Nations – against Italy in Cardiff – have Wales tasted success.

The margins are so small, added Warburton.

One missed tackle, and its suddenly seven points conceded, which is a large gap in international rugby. You are chasing the game.

Its the same for us every time, always silly little errors.

It is impossible to go 80 minutes without making errors, but weve maybe got to be more clinical in attack and just build the scoreboard.

The errors we are making stand out like a sore thumb. You make one small error and you get punished at this level.

Credit to England, they committed numbers to the breakdown and kept the ball for phases, which really put our defence under pressure.

They played pretty well. They are probably (title) favourites now, whereas weve got three away games and its looking uphill.

The mood in the squad has been really good over the last couple of weeks, and we dont feel that far away, but weve said that so many times. Weve played pretty well again and we havent won.

We know the Six Nations is about results. but weve got to move on and focus on areas where we can exploit Scotland and do our best to get the win.

We didnt really take advantage when England had a player (lock Louis Deacon) sin-binned.

You should be looking at scoring seven to 10 points when an opposition player is sin-binned (Wales scored three), and we were suddenly chasing the game.

We always seem to be in that situation, and we couldnt quite haul it back.

But there is definitely no doubt in the squad that we can win games and still go for the championship.

The Wales camp reported only bumps and bruises at their training camp on Saturday, despite the punishing nature of Fridays encounter.

Number eight Andy Powell went off in the first half and had an ice pack immediately applied to his left shoulder, although there appears no major concern surrounding the Wasps forwards fitness for Edinburgh.

He could, however, find his place under pressure from former Wales captain Ryan Jones, who made a considerable impact in all areas after replacing Powell six minutes before the break.

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Monday, February 14th, 2011 News Comments Off

Fannie, Freddie bailout: $153 billion … and counting

Fannie, Freddie bailout: $153 billion … and counting
By Chris Isidore, senior writer

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — When the dust settles, the federal bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be the most expensive government rescue of the financial crisis — it already stands at $153 billion and counting.

Even as the Obama administration unveiled its plan for reforming the firms, experts agree taxpayer losses are going to continue to climb, no matter what Congress eventually decides to do with them.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency, the government body that oversees the two mortgage giants, has estimated that losses through 2013 will require Treasury to pour another $68 billion to $210 billion into the firms on top of the money already used to prop-up the firms and the housing market.

&"Regardless of what they do, even if they were to change their status tomorrow, none of that will change the losses that will be coming due on their existing book of business,&" said Guy Cecala, publisher of Inside Mortgage Finance, an industry trade publication.

The two firms have already made many improvements in underwriting standards over the last two years, making most new loans they finance and guarantee more profitable and less risky, Cecala said.

&"But that new business only goes so far, because it’s still dwarfed by the loans made five to 10 years ago,&" he said.

Cecala thinks the losses may end up coming in a bit below FHFA’s estimates, but other experts believe those estimates may be too conservative.

&"The losses depend very much on housing prices, and I don’t see the situation in the housing market getting very much better,&" said Peter Wallison, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank.

&"As long as home prices continue to decline or even stay the same, the losses to Fannie and Freddie, and to the taxpayers, will continue to climb.&"

0:00
/5:20Filling Fannie and Freddie’s shoes

Congress essentially approved a blank check in July 2008 to back losses at the two firms, and in September of that year the government stepped in and took them over after finding that losses on the mortgages they bought during the the housing bubble had overwhelmed their net worth.

But while the government has kept the firms alive by pumping money into them since then, there has been no plan on reforming their operations going forward.

Friday the Obama administration unveiled its plan to slowly wind down Fannie and Freddie and have banks and the private sector provide the financing for home loans. But the administration plans call for some continued role for the government in promoting mortgage lending and home ownership.

Critics of the plan would like to see the government removed from the mortgage finance market altogether. But even advocates of that position say it will take a period of years to phase in that change.

And no one expects the legislative battle between the administration and Republicans in Congress over the future of the firms to be an easy one.

&"The politics suggests to me there will be a standoff until the issue is settled following the election of 2012,&" said Wallison.

And working through all the bad loans could take even longer.

&"You have to take your time and go through those loans and suffer the losses,&" said Cecala. He estimated that will take at least two or three years, maybe many more.

Ironically, many of the losses that Fannie and Freddie are expected to post in the next few years will go to pay Treasury a 10% dividend on the preferred stock it received in exchange for the bailouts.

Both firms are essentially borrowing money from Treasury to have the cash they need to repay Treasury. The dividend payments Treasury receives limits the losses to taxpayers.

FHFA estimates that between 40% to 90% of those additional bailout costs will simply be used to pay that dividend.

The National Association of Realtors is lobbying to end what it calls a &"punitive dividend&" and Jaret Seiberg, analyst at Concept Capital’s Washington Research Group, said that structure is unworkable.

&"The problem is it’s impossible for them to tackle their current problem if they can’t rebuild the capital base, and they can’t do that paying that dividend level,&" he said. 

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Monday, February 14th, 2011 Money Comments Off

Huffington Was Right to Take the Money

John Gappers column on the AOL/HuffPo incident
argues that Huffington and her partners have made out like bandits.
HuffPo occupies a media middle ground that is financially doomed, he
says. There are plenty of readers in the middle–HuffPo proves that
beyond a doubt–but there isnt much money.

HuffPo has no subscription revenues and there is a vast
gulf between the advertising yields from readers amassed through
swimsuit photos and search optimisation, and those who pay for their
information. The barriers to entry in aggregation are very low and the
web is flooded with cheap inventory…

Free news aggregators are being pushed downmarket in a race for page
views while specialist providers seek their refuge upmarket. The middle
ground, where the New York Times and the Washington Post lived
comfortably in the print era, is a digital chasm because the cost of
becoming a premium content company is so high.

Ms Huffingtons creation has been trying to straddle this gap
cheaply by combining essays on fiscal policy with more sensational
fare. Even for her, however, that is a stretch too far. She is
intelligent enough to know it. Which is why she and her investors took
AOLs cash.

Sounds right. Even if Gapper is wrong, 10 times 2010 revenues,
almost entirely in cash, was pretty good going. Warmest congratulations
to Mrs Huffington on that account–also for gathering hundreds, or is
it thousands, of unpaid bloggers, bundling them together (in a
liberal-leaning publication) and selling them for $315m.

No man but a blockhead ever wrote, except for money. Samuel
Johnson said that. Where theres blockheads, theres brass. I said
that.

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Sunday, February 13th, 2011 Money Comments Off

TI Automotive names aftermarket managing director

Auburn Hills-based TI Automotive LLC today announced it has hired a new managing director of its global aftermarket operations, Peter Venter.

TI Automotives aftermarket unit manufactures Walbro-brand fuel pumps and modules, fluid-carrying systems under the Bundy brand, engine push rods, quick connectors, electronics and level sensors.

Venter joins TI Automotive from Troy-based Acument Global Technologies Inc., where he was vice president and general manager of its North American operations.

Prior, he served as president of Columbus, Ohio-based RH Burton Co.; executive vice president of Cleveland-based Mr. Gasket Performance Group; vice president of aftermarket for Dallas-based Flowserve Corp.; and general manager of the European aftermarket for Bolton, Conn.-based The Bruedan Corp.

Venter began his career and spent 20 years with Branford, Conn.-based Echlin Inc. before it was acquired by Toledo-based Dana Corp. for $3.6 billion. .

The aftermarket sector is a key strategic business target for TI Automotive, Bill Kozyra, chairman and CEO, said in a statement. Peter brings extensive international experience in the automotive supply industry and has a proven record of success in the aftermarket.

Venter earned a bachelors from Williams College in Williamstown, Va.

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Sunday, February 13th, 2011 Automotive Comments Off