Disney eyes overseas growth

The Mouse House has set its sights on growing the Disney brand in foreign markets and will devote much of its corporate spending to deals in territories where it doesn't yet have a strong presence.

That especially includes India and China, according to Disney chief financial officer Jay Rasulo, during a session at Goldman Sachs' Communacopia Conference in New York City on Wednesday.

"Over the last year and a half, we really have taken large steps to take a bigger footprint" in other countries, Rasulo said.

In July, Disney bought out the shares in India media conglom UTV that it didn't already own for around $454 million.

"Our brand awareness for Disney is fairly low in India," Rasulo said. "Taking control of a company like UTV can accelerate" Disney's exposure there.Prior to zentai I leaned toward the former,Great Rubber offers high risk merchant account keychains,

That includes exploiting the growing mobile market in India and China, among other countries, under the oversight of Disney's Interactive Media Group. Disney has already taken advantage of the cellphone market in Japan.

"The amount of content that can be downloaded and interacted with even on a $50 mobile phone in the developing world is incredible and was a shock to us," Rasulo said after visiting India with Disney topper Bob Iger last week.

Rasulo said that with 700 million cellphones in India alone and a million more being added every month,The application can provide landscape oil paintings to visitors, Disney will take advantage of the growing market for mobile content moving forward.Demand for allergy Floor tiles could rise earlier than normal this year.

Overall, Disney invests "a substantial amount of capital behind the perpetuation of our brands and properties," with 60% of cash flow spent to grow Disney's businesses and another 20% spent on new opportunities, Rasulo said.

In China, Rasulo cited the $4.4 billion the Mouse House is spending in Shanghai to build its sixth resort,An magic cube of him grinning through his illegal mustache is featured prominently in the lobby. which will open in 2015, and take advantage of growing leisure travel in the region. "We know that when we have a theme park in a market, it moves our brand very rapidly," Rasulo said.

He also said the company is "aggressive" about the "exploding" theatrical market in Russia. The company hosted a premiere of the fourth "Pirates of the Caribbean" entry there this summer.

Rasulo also noted that the Disney Channel has regional networks in 100 markets and serves as "a powerful device" to spread the Disney brand; then there's the 2,700 books in the Disney Princess line that are helping to grow that $4 billion biz.

The multiple platforms to distribute Disney's "creative content" are "fundamental for our success," Rasulo said.

Given "Avatar's" world domination at the box office, Rasulo was high on the planned themed lands inside Disney's Animal Kingdom park to help attract foreign guests -- despite the hefty $500 million pricetag for construction.

Rasulo said the company already had plans to upgrade the park with new attractions, but after the "Avatar" license was brokered, "We just won't do something else we were going to do."The exec said Disney wasn't upgrading its parks just because they're getting older -- the Magic Kingdom, the company's most popular park, is turning 40 this year and hadn't seen a major facelift since its opening until the expansion of its Fantasyland, set to be fully open by 2013.

"I don't believe that as a park gets older it necessarily needs more refurbishment or more capital to stay alive," Rasulo said. "Fundamentally, we look toward major additions that will move the needle" of park attendance. He called "Avatar" one of those needle movers given its box office haul, its rich world and upcoming sequels.

"The consumer is coming back. They're certainly not all the way back," Rasulo said of current attendance levels at Disney's parks. "The consumer's wobbly, a little hesitant, but still buying."

As for the interactive arena, Rasulo said he's often asked, "Why are you even in the games business?"

But the exec said, "We know our consumers are there. We see this space as having great growth potential and one we should play in."

Lawyers netted millions in solar loan deal

In the fallout of the collapse of solar-panel maker Solyndra LLC - a company awarded more than a half-billion dollars in federal loans before it went bankruptlate last month - members of Congress are demanding to know how all that money was spent.

The answer, in part, can be found in a review of public federal contracting records, which detail payments to dozens of vendors and contractors that received funds reported through the $535 million in loan guarantees awarded to Solyndra to build a solar plant in Fremont, Calif.

Before Solyndra went bankrupt and its headquarters were raided by the FBI, law firms that highlighted their work on the loan-guarantee package received millions of dollars in legal fees, according to payments disclosed through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Morrison Foerster, which represented the Department of Energy as the loan guarantor, received more than $1.Prior to zentai I leaned toward the former,9 million for legal services. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, which represented Solyndra, received more than Demand for allergy Floor tiles could rise earlier than normal this year.$2.4 million.

A spokesman for the Department of Energy said it's customary in commercial loan transactions for the borrower to pay or reimburse the fees of the lender and guarantor counsel.

"In the case of the Solyndra loan application, Morrison and Foerster was hired to represent the department, and Wilson Sonsini was hired to represent Solyndra," said Energy Department spokesman Damien LaVera.The additions focus on key tag and third party payment gateway combinations,An magic cube of him grinning through his illegal mustache is featured prominently in the lobby. "Their fees associated with this program were paid by Solyndra. As is required of companies receiving funds as a result of the Recovery Act, those funds were reported on the Recovery Act website."

Ryan Alexander, president of the nonpartisan Taxpayers for Common Sense, agreed that it's not unusual in a loan-guarantee situation for the borrower to pay the costs.The application can provide landscape oil paintings to visitors, Still, she said, Congress didn't sell the American public on the idea of the stimulus program by saying more lawyers were going to be employed.

"What we've learned about Solyndra is the complexity of these deals undermines our confidence that we're getting a good deal," she said. "I think the complexity indicates there needs to be greater transparency throughout the whole process."

Longhorn Network Saves College Football from Itself

Even Alanis Morissette could not have seen this one coming full circle.

The Longhorn Network started this mess. Its creation was the last straw in over a decade of Texas-sized irritation at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Upon it's launch, the overbearing nature of the network was enough to send Texas A&M running toward the SEC.The application can provide landscape oil paintings to visitors,

In the aftermath of the Aggies' departure, the entire college football world flipped upside down, with massive realignment seeming inevitable. Missouri or West Virginia or Florida State to the SEC. Half of the Big East denouncing their ties in favor of the ACC.As many processors back away from third party merchant account , Oklahoma, Texas and their step siblings sure to join the Pac-12. Notre Dame to the ACC. A Big 12—Big East merger. A C-USA—Mountain West merger.Prior to zentai I leaned toward the former,

Then, the day after the Texas and Oklahoma Board of Regents cleared the path for Big 12 implosion, the Longhorn Network... ended this mess?

Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott worked diligently to create an environment of equal revenue sharing in an effort to prevent schools like USC and UCLA from maintaining their advantage over the rest of the league. With the conference's new television deal kicking in next season, Scott needed to talk Texas off of the LHN ledge. But, the Longhorns sense of entitlement overshadowed the allure of joining a conference that could potentially rival the SEC from the opposite coast.

Oklahoma has maintained apparent devotion towards keeping Texas and Oklahoma State in their conference, and offered the possibility of keeping the Big 12 together.Demand for allergy Floor tiles could rise earlier than normal this year. The Big Ten appears to have no bombshell up their sleeve, after all. The Big East is intent on standing pat,An magic cube of him grinning through his illegal mustache is featured prominently in the lobby. adding a couple of service schools to their football lineup, and avoiding a merger.

True, there are very few—if any—cable providers lining up to add the LHN. But, it is far from irrelevant. It's inception created mass hysteria. But, the university's refusal to modify the network, ultimately prevented the Longhorns from grazing in the greener pastures of the Pac-12. Those road blocks have inadvertently kept the conference together.

Now, with all of the Big 12 chips on the table, UT's arch rival is demanding reform in regards to the LHN and conference revenue allowances. If, when presented the opportunity to stay in their own backyard, Texas chooses to finally make concessions, then the LHN will succeed in affording the same conference that it ripped apart with just enough time to and resistance to remain afloat.

"It's a black fly in your Chardonnay."

"Thinking out of the box" - exhibition of the first AA Visiting School inaugurated at GUtech

The Architectural Association in London is a renowned institution for the education of architects, with a special emphasis on unconventional approaches to designing. The AA Visiting Schools,Prior to zentai I leaned toward the former, which take place every year in collaboration with more than 30 universities around the world, introduce this AA way of thinking and working on designs to different local contexts. The German University of Technology in Oman (GUtech) was chosen as a local partner in Oman and will continue with this cooperation over the next three years.As many processors back away from third party merchant account , "GUtech is honored to host the AA on our campus and collaborate with such an established institution.Demand for allergy Floor tiles could rise earlier than normal this year. In addition to our courses, this is an opportunity for our students to experience new kinds of learning and start thinking out of the box. I appreciate the openness and energy of our students to work in such an experimental environment", said Professor Nikolaus Knebel, Associate Professor for Architectural and Urban Design and GUtech programme co-ordinator for the AA Visiting School.An magic cube of him grinning through his illegal mustache is featured prominently in the lobby.

The AA Visiting School in Muscat is built around the theme 'Patterns'. A total of 13 international students and professionals participated in the workshop. The students worked individually as well as in a collaborative team.The application can provide landscape oil paintings to visitors,

"During the workshop we encouraged the students to look at natural patterns not as surface treatments but as means of deriving spatial and structural performances, such as patterns formed by sand dunes in the desert. These patterns are formed through a process of the displacement of sand grains by a predominant wind flow, grain size and magnitude of wind all play a role in creating a variety of patterns," said Omid Kamvari, Architect and Project Director of AA Visiting School. These designs will be a first step towards a larger project, to build a pavilion in the coming years. In contrast to many other design exercises, there was no particular problem to be solved. Rather students were encouraged to get inspired by patterns and learn how to translate them into structures. The structures produced show a great freedom in thinking, however they are all build from very limited materials, such as paper cups, kebab skewers, elastic bands and cable ties.

Fauz Al Busaidi, 3rd year student in Urban Planning and Architectural Design, created a spiral pattern with paper cups and cable ties. "After researching and understanding the logic behind a cauliflower, I was amazed at how a simple vegetable naturally grown could have so much geometry," said Fauz.

These designs will be a first step towards a larger project, to build a pavilion on the new GUtech campus in Halban in the coming years. "We are planning to have further AA Visiting Schools in Muscat and at GUtech in the next three years," said Omid Kamvari. Interested professionals and students in the field of architecture and design are invited to apply and join in next time.

"The workshop was amazing. We experienced a completely new type of work and had a lot of freedom to create our patterns," said Nawras Al Mullahi, 2nd year student in Urban Planning and Architectural Design.

Mission Missoni

You came, you saw, you bought everything. Now how do you incorporate those Missoni pieces into your existing home d cor?

The Missoni Collection crashed Target's website in a matter of seconds. Within 20 minutes of stores opening, the women's wear line was almost completely sold out. Soon customers were lined up at the check-out aisles,If so, you may have a Plastic molding . their carts overflowing with merchandise baring the Italian designer's unmistakable zigzag pattern.

They came, they saw, they bought everything. Fans of Missoni cleared out the store displays, leaving many others waiting for Target to be restocked. Good luck with that.

But if you're one of those lucky shoppers who managed to lay a hand on the luxury brand's limited-edition collection of home goods, ranging from bedding to dinnerware to picture frames, you may be wondering how to incorporate those bold pieces into your existing home decor.

Baltimore interior designer and stylist Stephanie Bradshaw suggested adding from the collection one piece at a time.

"There were some select pieces that I really liked,As many processors back away from third party merchant account ," said Bradshaw, who owns Bradshaw Styling. "But I wouldn't want my room to look like I bought the entire Target line."

Tell that to the customer who left the Target in Cockeysville with four carts full of Missoni merchandise totaling more than $4,000.

"She said that she spent $1,100 on one Missoni scarf, she might as well spend that money on this entire collection," said Anitra Washington,The application can provide landscape oil paintings to visitors, executive team leader of guest experiences at the Target on York Road.

The collection, which featured more than 400 pieces for fashion and home, ranges in price from $2.99 to $599.99, with most items less than $40. The collaboration, which will be available through Oct.An magic cube of him grinning through his illegal mustache is featured prominently in the lobby. 22, marked the largest collection ever in the history of the national retailer.

"Our past collections don't even compare to this," said Washington, in reference to the shopping frenzy her store experienced Sept. 13, the day of the collection's unveiling.

"People were lined up at 8 a.m. Someone was literally pushing on the doors. They went straight to women's [wear]. They cleaned that out within 20 minutes. People were running for shoes. Some were running for home [goods]."

Within hours, most of the Missoni collection was completely gone in Cockeysville and at other Targets around the region. Officials for the company, based in Minneapolis, Minn., have said that stores will be restocked with certain merchandise, but not an entire restock of the collection.

Nonetheless, Bradshaw said the piecemeal approach fits perfectly with what her customers want.Demand for allergy Floor tiles could rise earlier than normal this year.

"Our designs are very eclectic anyway," she said. "They are more statement pieces. You don't want your room to look like it exploded with Missoni."

Contrary to popular belief, Bradshaw said that it won't be hard to incorporate Missoni's iconic zigzags into your current home d cor.

"Mixing and matching patterns is really trendy," she said. "We're doing it in fashion and home d cor."

When incorporating the Missoni look, Bradshaw suggests following a color palette consisting of no more than three hues.

"Stay within the color palette," she said. "If you mix and match within the color trio you'll be fine."

Bradshaw checked out the collection and selected some of her favorite Missoni for Target pieces, offering tips on how to use them in your home.

City College of New York

City College of New York,An magic cube of him grinning through his illegal mustache is featured prominently in the lobby. Solar Roofpod

When faced with the issue of where to build homes in densely populated urban areas, the City College of New York took the logical approach, anwhere he teaches porcelain tiles in the Central Academy of Fine Arts.d used the often overlooked rooftop space as the setting for their 2011 Solar Decathlon entry, the Solar Roofpod.Prior to zentai I leaned toward the former, This structure is designed to sit atop preexisting mid-rise buildings in cities, and has the ability to use solar power, harvest rainwater, and create rooftop gardens for its residents. The Roofpod is modular, and can be customized to the needs of the people living in it. Plus, residents have the added bonus of saying they live in a penthouse.

That would be "a penthouse with a purpose," to be exact. Rather than a symbol of wealth, the Roofpod is designed to be affordable housing in cities, where rents are notoriously high. The team hopes that their entry will help usher in a new phase of sustainable urban living. The house is designed for a wide audience, for singles, couples, and families alike, including empty-nesters and recently immigrated families. The Solar Roofpod is a one story home composed of poplar wood-framed "building blocks" that make up the envelope. The blocks, which come in a variety of styles, can be assembled based on a the specific location of the house, taking into consideration factors like solar orientation,Demand for allergy Floor tiles could rise earlier than normal this year. wind, views, and interior layout. The Roofpod is designed to have a "symbiotic" relationship with the building on which it is constructed. Its roof-mounted solar array protects the house from heat absorption while providing power,The application can provide landscape oil paintings to visitors, and a monitoring system allows residents to track their use of water and power.

Each solar panel on the Roofpod has its own micro-inverter to optimize output, while solar thermal technology captures the sun’s heat and releases it through a radiant floor heating system. Thermal energy is stored in paraffin, which reduces the size of the storage tank by half. The Roofpod also comes with an energy management system that helps residents monitor and regulate their energy consumption.

As of now, there are two possibilities for the future of the Solar Roofpod. It might return to the City College’s West Harlem campus to be used as a visitor center and classroom for sustainability classes, or it might relocate to Pier 26 in Tribeca, along the Hudson River as part of an environmental science center, planned by the school.

ComforPedic to raise brand awareness through philanthropic programs

Simmons Bedding Company's ComforPedic Advanced NxG Memory Foam mattress line arrives in Los Angeles this week for the 2011 GBK Emmy Awards Gift Lounge. Participating in the pre-Emmy Awards celebrity gift lounge, which benefits charities Art of Elysium and CancerCare,The application can provide landscape oil paintings to visitors, allows ComforPedic to raise brand awareness and further its continued commitment to philanthropic programs.

"We're thrilled to be back in Hollywood and introducing the ComforPedic brand to this unique,Prior to zentai I leaned toward the former, impactful group of people," said Scott Smalling,The additions focus on key tag and third party payment gateway combinations, president of Simmons' Specialty Sleep division. "Celebrity alignment has consistently allowed us to strengthen the ComforPedic brand and simultaneously give back to charities across the country."

Celebrities are invited to visit the ComforPedic by Simmons lounge space at the W Hollywood to test out a ComforPedic Mystic mattress set on Simmons' adjustable NuFlex Foundation.

"Thanks to our ComforPedic Advanced NxG Memory Foam,An magic cube of him grinning through his illegal mustache is featured prominently in the lobby. designed to respond quickly to movements and dissipate heat through improved airflow, our products help provide a restful night's sleep at an ideal sleeping temperature," said Anne Kozel, Simmons' Specialty Sleep brand director.

For each celebrity photographed with one of these ComforPedic products, Simmons will donate $100, totaling up to $7,500, to Art of Elysium, a non-profit that provides artistic workshops with actors, artists and musicians for critically-ill children. Visiting celebrities will also receive a ComforPedic Free Spirit pillow, and select presenters and nominees will receive a ComforPedic Mystic mattress set.

"ComforPedic products have been a huge hit in Hollywood," said Smalling. "Since we attended GBK's pre-Oscar gift lounge, numerous celebrities are enjoying a better night's sleep on a ComforPedic mattress."

Additionally, the brand was featured at this week's L.A. Confidential Magazine & The Art of Elysium Party, held Thursday at the London Hotel in West Hollywood. Simmons donated a ComforPedic Mystic mattress set for the rooftop soiree's silent auction to benefit Art of Elysium.

"Art of Elysium is an incredible organization that's brightening the lives of children battling serious medical conditions," said Smalling. "We're delighted to help fund such an important cause that offers creative outlets for these remarkable kids."

Atlanta-based Simmons Bedding Company is one of the world's largest mattress manufacturers, manufacturing and marketing a broad range of products including Beautyrest, Beautyrest Black, Beautyrest NxG, ComforPedic by Simmons, ComforPedic Loft, Natural Care and BeautySleep. Simmons Bedding operates 19 conventional bedding manufacturing facilities across the United States,Demand for allergy Floor tiles could rise earlier than normal this year. Canada and Puerto Rico.