HighLights of the AAP National Wire =2

AAP General News (Australia)
08-03-2011
HighLights of the AAP National Wire =2

MELBOURNE - Prime Minister Julia Gillard has refused to reveal what she discussed in
a meeting with News Ltd editors, despite previously saying the company had a responsibility
to answer "hard questions". (News Ltd Gillard Update)

MELBOURNE - Former Victorian police chief commissioner Christine Nixon says she hopes
people will move on from focusing on her dinner on Black Saturday. (Nixon) WRAP to come

MELBOURNE - Letters to My Daughter - private letters of Sir Robert Menzies launch -
Malcolm Fraser, Peter Costello, et al, to be there. (MENZIES to come)

MELBOURNE - Tour de France winner Cadel Evans will parade through Melbourne next week
in a triumphant return to the city. (Evans) WRAP to come

MELBOURNE - An Indian man who falsely threatened to have a woman deported unless she
paid him money is seeking leniency because he fears deportation himself, a Melbourne court
has heard. (Singh)

BALLARAT - Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu says he is confident Liberal MP Lorraine
Wreford will be in parliament when it next sits following her overseas trip after her
home was sprayed with bullets. (Wreford 2nd Update) WRAP to come.

CANBERRA - Kevin Rudd is doing victory "scamper" laps of a Brisbane hospital ward two
days after his heart surgery. (Rudd)

CANBERRA - While Kevin Rudd is recovering from heart surgery his wife is madly trying
to resuscitate his Blackberry mobile phone. (Rudd Phone)

CANBERRA - Farmers have welcomed a delay in releasing a plan to save the Murray-Darling
Basin, which won't be released until at least mid-October with talks between the states
and the federal government yet to be resolved. (Murray Update)

CANBERRA - The international community must condemn the Syrian regime's attacks on
its own people, opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Julie Bishop says. (Syria Bishop)

CANBERRA - Carers of children with Type 1 diabetes will now keep their allowance until
their kids turn 16. (Diabetes, WRAP to come)

CANBERRA - Malcolm Turnbull has laughed off a new poll showing he has almost equal
support to lead the Labor party as prime minister Julia Gillard. (Poll Labor Update)

SYDNEY - NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell has defended plans to give registered clubs a
$300 million tax cut. (Clubs) WRAP to come

SYDNEY - Relatives and associates of a man charged with possessing enough chemicals
to make 50kg of the drug ice are likely to be interviewed by police. (Ice Update) WRAP
to come

SYDNEY - Gillian Sneddon, the whistleblower in the Milton Orkopoulos child sex case,
could lose more than a third of her damages payout after being ordered to pay legal costs
for the state of NSW. (Sneddon) WRAP to come

SYDNEY - Outgoing director Edmund Capon has been hailed for making the Art Gallery
of NSW one of Australia's most treasured institutions. (Capon 2nd Update (pix available),
WRAP to come)

SYDNEY - A rare collection of books and maps detailing the discovery of the "southern
continent" long before it was named Australia is being offered for sale. (Collection)

SYDNEY - Australians aren't spending enough time in the land of nod, raising fears
that many people think sleeping has become a waste of time. (Sleep)

BRISBANE - Ipswich flood victims will receive "a pittance" from RACQ Insurance and
far less than they are morally entitled to, councillor Paul Tully says. (Floods RACQ)
FLOODS WRAP EXPECTED

BRISBANE - A man accused robbing a Brisbane store, trying to hold up a bank and stealing
a taxi has told a court he was seeing and hearing things at the time. (Southee)

BRISBANE - A bushfire that had threatened properties on Gladstone's southern outskirts
has been brought under control. (Bushfire Qld Wrap)

BRISBANE - Six months on from Cyclone Yasi Cardwell couple Molly and Archie Dunn are
still living surrounded by tarpaulins in their downstairs garage. (Yasi Couple)

BRISBANE - Supervised injection clinics for drug addicts will help reduce crime in
Brisbane and on the Gold Coast, civil libertarians say. (Inject)



GOLD COAST - The woman charged with murdering Gold Coast detective Damian Leeding during
a hold-up has faced court over another armed robbery about a month earlier. (McAvoy)

GOLD COAST - Former Olympic boxer Fred Casey has been hit with a hammer while fighting
off armed robbers on the Gold Coast. (Rob Wrap)

GOLD COAST - Gold Coast residents who've been using air horns to scare away bats could
expose themselves to law suits for compounding the Hendra risk. (Bats)

ADELAIDE - South Australia's Liberals are urging the state's premier-in-waiting Jay
Weatherill to "finish off" Labor's politically wounded leader, Mike Rann. (Rann, RANN
WRAP to come)

ADELAIDE - South Australians deserve better than the political farce that is being
played out over the replacement of Premier Mike Rann, a Liberal senator says. (Rann Edwards)

ADELAIDE - An Adelaide woman murdered a pensioner, cut up her body and dumped it in
a creek so she could sell her house and steal her belongings, a court has been told. (Gavare)

ADELAIDE - Former footballer Fabian Francis goes on trial accused of multiple charges
of violence against his corrupt cop ex-wife. (FRANCIS to come)

ADELAIDE - Community backing has been strong for South Australia's plan to ban urban
development across large areas of the state's key wine and tourism districts, Urban Development
Minister John Rau says. (Willunga )

ADELAIDE - Holden's car sales in Australia are being driven by locally produced models,
latest sales show. (Holden )

PERTH - Western Australia's Mines Department will investigate allegations that safety
is being compromised at the Frog's Leg gold mine near Kalgoorlie. (Mine)

PERTH - A Perth father has been convicted of assault after headbutting another parent
who reprimanded him for swearing at children during a junior football match. (Wilkes)

PERTH - A man charged with the stabbing murder of a 17-year-old boy during a street
disturbance in Perth has applied for bail in the Supreme Court. (SIEVERS to come)

HOBART - Labor MP Dick Adams has criticised his Tasmanian colleagues, saying he was
"devastated" by the decisions of former premier David Bartlett. (Labor Tas)

HOBART - Police have arrested 12 past and present members of a Launceston bike gang
over a suspected drug trafficking ring. (Seizure)

PORT MORESBY - The surprise election of Peter O'Neill as Papuan New Guinea's seventh
prime minister on Tuesday could open the country up to a constitutional crisis, local
media reports. (PNG Politics)

AUCKLAND - Fijians are having to go without fried chicken with the nation's three KFC
outlets forced to close after running out of their signature breadcrumb mix. (Fiji KFC)

AUCKLAND - The chance of being killed in a natural disaster in the Pacific has dropped
by a third in the past 20 years, but the economic cost of such events is skyrocketing,
a new report has found. (Pacific Disasters)

AAP mo

KEYWORD: HIGHLIGHTS NATIONAL 2 SYDNEY

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Visas get revamp.

Provided by 7DAYS.ae

People will no longer be able to go to neighbouring countries to renew their visas from July 29.

A top official from the Dubai Immigration Department yesterday said that people wishing to do this must now return to their nations of origin."Such a process is closed now and the applications of those people who go to neighbouring countries for visa changes will be rejected," said Mohamed Ahmad Al Hammadi, Director of the Department of Entry Permit at Dubai Immigration.The new rule is likely to affect the number of people who travel to Kish Island - a popular stop-off for visa renewals.Officials also announced that people from more than 200 countries will now be allowed to enter the UAE on tourist visas. Earlier this was restricted to only 79 countries. Officials also said that any expatriate can sponsor relatives providing they can prove their relationship.

"People have to deposit dhs1,000 to sponsoring an immediate family member and dhs2,000 for relatives and friends," Hammadi said.Officials said that to sponsor a brother or sister, expats must earn a minimum salary of dhs5,000; to sponsor wife and children dhs4,000; and to sponsor other relatives and friends dhs6,000.Immigration will now issue two sorts of visa: short term, which costs dhs500 and is valid for 30 days, and long term, which costs dhs1,000 and lasts for 90 days.The department will also issue multiple entry visas for dhs2,000, education visas for dhs1,000 medical visas for dhs1,000, conference and expos visas for dhs100, and tourism visas for dhs100.fareed.rahman@7days.ae

A[umlaut] 2007 Al Sidra Media LLC

Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company

QLD:Police hunt net predator who drugged women

AAP General News (Australia)
04-07-2011
QLD:Police hunt net predator who drugged women

BRISBANE, April 7 AAP - Queensland police are urging other possible victims of a sexual
predator to come forward after receiving three complaints from female students who say
they were assaulted.

Police are questioning a man over the attacks which happened over three nights - April
2, 3 and 5 - in the Brisbane suburb of Mount Coo-tha.

They allege the 37-year-old Murrarie man lured the women by posting a message on a
social networking website then, after meeting them in Brisbane city, he drove them to
Mount Coo-tha where he drugged and assaulted them.

"We're interested in anyone out there who may be the victim of a similar type of assault
or has information that may be able to assist us with our investigations," Detective Inspector
Bob Hytch told reporters in Brisbane.

"We believe from the nature of our inquiries to date that there is most likely other
people out there who may not have come forward and we ask that they do come forward because
we greatly need their assistance."

He said the victims were all Asian students who are mainly in Australia to study English.

Det Hytch said the victims were all young adults who had complained separately about
the assaults and it was from there that the police could find links between all them.

AAP tnf/crh/cdh

KEYWORD: ASSAULTS UPDATE

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

FED:Remains treatment defended: Minister

AAP General News (Australia)
12-17-2010
FED:Remains treatment defended: Minister

Veterans' Affairs Minister WARREN SNOWDON has defended the treatment of a Spitfire
pilot's remains .. which have been identified more than 66 years after he was shot down
in France.

The Australian pilot has been officially identified as RAAF Flight Lieutenant HENRY `LACY' SMITH.

The RAAF began an identification process last month after a French couple spotted part
of a Spitfire aircraft poking above an estuary in Normandy at low tide.

The bones of Lieutenant SMITH were put in an improvised coffin by a local museum.

Mr SNOWDON says he isn't concerned that bones of the Australian war dead are being
examined by members of the public without following military protocols.

He says the fact that we're now able to identify and give this person the honour he
deserves is the important thing.

AAP RTV ees/mn/af

KEYWORD: SPITFIRE (MELBOURNE)

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

FED:Labor fails on foreign policy: Abbott

AAP General News (Australia)
08-10-2010
FED:Labor fails on foreign policy: Abbott

CANBERRA, Aug 10 AAP - Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has dumped on the government for
mishandling key relationships with Japan, Indonesia and India.

A coalition government would return Australia's standing internationally, he said.

"Australia well and truly punched above its weight right around the world under the
former (coalition) government," he told reporters in Sydney on Tuesday.

"Now I'm not saying it's been absolutely all doom and gloom since then but certainly
some important relationships have been mishandled."

Mr Abbott cited the Oceanic Viking standoff in 2009 as a particularly low point in
bilateral relations with Indonesia.

The government also had neglected Japan, which remained a "critically important trade
and security partner".

The relationship with India had been mishandled, but Mr Abbott believes a coalition
government could easily broker a more friendly discourse by allowing uranium exports.

"If it is good enough for the Americans to sell them uranium it should be good enough
for us," he said.

AAP cj/rl/mm

KEYWORD: POLL10 FOREIGN

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Baldwin Unveils Home Connect at CES

Wireless News
01-11-2010
Baldwin Unveils Home Connect at CES
Type: News

Baldwin Hardware, a manufacturer of architectural door and decorative hardware, announced it showcased its latest security advancement, a keyless access control product offering with Home Connect.

Home Connect technology enables these keyless electronic locks to communicate wirelessly with other devices in the home by remote access, mobile phone, touch panel or secure Internet connection at the CES event in Las Vegas.
According to a release, Home Connect allows door locks to wirelessly speak to other systems within a house, such as security, lighting and entertainment systems. Homeowners may create a series of living environments, so that upon entrance, they are greeted by their own ideal specifications. In addition, locks with this technology allow homeowners to check door lock status and arm/ disarm security systems from virtually anywhere, the company noted.

Baldwin said it plans to initially offer two entry styles with Home Connect in spring 2010. Also, in supporting both ZigBee and Z- Wave wireless protocols homeowners are offered the most complete wireless solution.

"As a leader in both style and innovation, we aim to balance technology with Baldwin's tradition of excellence and craftsmanship," said Rob Empfield, Brand Manager for Baldwin Hardware. "The company rose from modest beginnings to capture the imagination of those who design homes for Presidents, style icons and lovers of historic architecture. In turn, the Baldwin enthusiast expects the finest, with a portfolio designed to meet a variety of stylistic choices. Our latest additions live up to that expectation, while continuing to respond to the evolving needs of homeowners today."

More Information:

www.baldwinhardware.com

((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com))

Copyright 2010 Close-Up Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Vic: Inspectors seize illegal pokies

AAP General News (Australia)
08-19-2009
Vic: Inspectors seize illegal pokies

MELBOURNE, Aug 19 AAP - Gaming inspectors have seized 42 illegal poker machines in
what is the biggest ever seizure in Victoria.

Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation (VCGR) inspectors raided two properties
in Melbourne's northern suburbs on Tuesday night.

They also seized 49 restricted poker machine components.

Some machines were for sale, while others were being converted to be offered on the
black market, a VCGR spokesman said.

A man is expected to be charged under summons under the Gambling Regulation Act with
being in illegal possession of gaming machines.

The offence carries a maximum penalty of six years' jail.

AAP gr/gfr/maur

KEYWORD: POKIES

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Qld: Pedestrian safety the driver for lower speed limit

AAP General News (Australia)
04-09-2009
Qld: Pedestrian safety the driver for lower speed limit

Motorists returning to Brisbane's central business District after the Easter break
will find the city moving more slowly than before.

The 50 kilometre speed limit will be lowered by 10 kays as Brisbane City Council moves
to make the city safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

Brisbane will join Melbourne and Adelaide in having a 40 kilometre speed limit in its CBD.

The limit in Perth has been lowered to 50 kilometres in parts .. while Hobart retains
its 60 kilometres limit.

The default speed limit in Sydney is 50 kilometres .. but some zones are 40 kilometres
and even 30 kilometres.

AAP RTV stg/pjo/wz/af

KEYWORD: SPEED (BRISBANE)

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Qld: Policy costings charter a "stunt": Springborg

AAP General News (Australia)
12-04-2008
Qld: Policy costings charter a "stunt": Springborg

By Gabrielle Dunlevy

BRISBANE, Dec 4 AAP - The Queensland opposition is opposing a charter to make the cost
of election promises transparent despite a previous call for similar laws.

The proposed charter of budget honesty laws would give taxpayers a better idea of the
spending, Premier Anna Bligh told parliament on Thursday.

Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg argued it was the government's way of interfering
in opposition business.

He condemned the laws, which would allow both the government and opposition to get
a treasury costing on their policies, as a "stunt".

Ms Bligh acknowledged the opposition had introduced a similar bill in 2003 - but then
took a swipe at their policy costings so far.

"The figure keeps climbing, but earlier this month they had already clocked up $64.5
billion ... across the forward estimates, that would cost each and every Queenslander
an extra $15,000 in tax," she said.

"This week they added another $1 billion to the tally ... they've promised everything
from boot camps to the undergrounding of power lines.

"If they believe in transparency and honesty, if they have nothing to hide ... I expect
the support of the opposition in the passage of this bill."

Mr Springborg said the government could not be trusted to cost its own policies, naming
a series of blowouts.

His 2003 private member's bill had called for the state's balance sheet to be disclosed
to the opposition during an election campaign.

The new charter would see the treasury go where it was not wanted.

"This is about political interference in the opposition's business, quite frankly,"

Mr Springborg told reporters.

The opposition would have its policies costed by an independent accountant, he said.

The legislation will be introduced to parliament when it resumes on February 7, and
would likely be passed in March.

Ms Bligh said she wanted to campaign with the charter in place, suggesting the election
that is due in September could be called after March.

The practice of independently costing policies is already done at federal level and
in all other states and territories except South Australia and the Northern Territory.

AAP gd/ahe/jfm/de

KEYWORD: CHARTER WRAP

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Vic: Jack Thomas appeal application to be heard on today

AAP General News (Australia)
08-01-2008
Vic: Jack Thomas appeal application to be heard on today

A High Court application .. to prevent Melbourne man JACK THOMAS being re-tried on
terrorism charges .. will be heard today.

35-year-old THOMAS was cleared of terrorism charges in 2006.

But the Victorian Court of Appeal last month directed he be re-tried .. following statements
he made in an interview on ABC TV's Four Corners program.

THOMAS wasn't present at Monday's Supreme Court mention hearing .. which was scheduled
to determine the progress of the High Court application.

Justice ELIZABETH CURTAIN told the court a date for the new trial will be set once
the result of the application is known.

AAP RTV df/gfr/ibw/wz/psm/

KEYWORD: THOMAS (MELBOURNE)

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

WA: Rottweiler attacks owner

AAP General News (Australia)
12-29-2007
WA: Rottweiler attacks owner

PERTH, Dec 29 AAP - A man has been attacked by a rottweiler in the backyard of his Perth home.

The man suffered injuries to an artery in his arm while trying to break up a fight
between two dogs last night in the back yard of his Sloan St home in Rockingham, south
of Perth.

Ambulance officer Austin Whiteside said the man, aged in his 40s, was taken to Rockingham
Hospital but the injuries were not life-threatening.

The incident happened at about 9pm (WDT) yesterday and the man was expected to undergo surgery.

AAP gr/jfm/mn

KEYWORD: BITE

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Interest rate rise unlikely by year's end: Westpac boss

AAP General News (Australia)
08-21-2007
Fed: Interest rate rise unlikely by year's end: Westpac boss

Westpac boss GAIL KELLY says another interest rate rise before the end of the year is unlikely.

She says mortgage customers can expect rates to hold firm.

Ms KELLY says the major Australian banks have a strong and diverse source of funding
.. and are not involved in sub-prime lending.

AAP RTV cmb/gfr/ibw

KEYWORD: RATES KELLY (MELBOURNE)

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Two teens refused bail on video rape charges

AAP General News (Australia)
04-05-2007
NSW: Two teens refused bail on video rape charges

Two teenage boys allegedly involved in a gang rape on a 17-year-old girl .. have been
refused bail in a Sydney court.

Five males were arrested yesterday .. and charged with the aggravated sexual assault
of the girl at a Sydney home on January 9 this year.

Police allege a sex attack was recorded on a mobile phone video camera .. and circulated
among school students.

Two of the teenagers .. aged 17 and 18 .. have appeared in Parramatta children's court
.. where they've been refused bail.

Three other boys .. all aged 17 .. were remanded in custody when they faced Parramatta
and Campbelltown courts yesterday.

All five are due back in court on May 31.

AAP RTV acb/sg/wjf/rt/bart

KEYWORD: RAPE COURT (SYDNEY)

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Medibank sale set to pass parliament today

AAP General News (Australia)
12-05-2006
Fed: Medibank sale set to pass parliament today

The sale of Australia's largest health insurer .. Medibank Private .. is set to be
approved in parliament today .. ensuring the health fund's privatisation will feature
heavily in the next election campaign.

Finance Minister NICK MINCHIN says there's no longer any case for the government owning
one of 38 private health insurance businesses in the country .. and taxpayers shouldn't
have their funds tied up in a business of this kind.

If the coalition wins next year .. and the public float proceeds in 2008 .. it'll be
the first time a health fund's been listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.

The sale's expected to reap up to two billion dollars for the government.

Labor opposes the privatisation .. and has promised to unwind the sale if elected ..

ensuring Medibank remains in public hands.

AAP RTV dcr/rp/cp/psm/

KEYWORD: MEDIBANK (CANBERRA)

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Vic: Prayer room to be set up in court for accused terrorists

AAP General News (Australia)
04-28-2006
Vic: Prayer room to be set up in court for accused terrorists

MELBOURNE, April 28 AAP - A group of accused terrorists will be able to pray in a special
room during their court hearing in Melbourne.

Thirteen Victorian men have been charged with various terrorism related offences as
part of the two-year counter-terrorism investigation Operation Pendennis.

Magistrate Paul Smith today said he was sensitive to the fact that Muslim prayer times
would fall during the committal hearing, scheduled for June.

"I am mindful that at least one of the prayer times will fall during the court sitting
hours," he said.

"I think that we have got to look at providing a room, that if the defendants wish
to pray they can."

This is not the first time defendants have been allowed to pray during court proceedings.

Defence counsel Gerard Mullaly said orthodox Jews appearing in the County Court had
been allowed to pray during proceedings.

"I accept that the community understands that this is nothing special being provided
to these men (the accused terrorists)."

One of the accused, Bassam Raad, 24, of Brunswick, is charged with being a member of
and providing funds and support to a terrorist organisation between July 2004 and November
2005.

Today, his lawyer Peta Murphy said her client would apply for bail at a later date.

She said he was a paranoid schizophrenic and required ongoing medication.

At his last court appearance, Raad represented himself after sacking his lawyers.

He said he would not get a fair trial because he was Muslim and accused the Australian
Federal Police of framing him.

Today, Mr Smith adjourned the Operation Pendennis matter until May 4.

AAP mj/dk/cdh/bwl

KEYWORD: TERROR VIC

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Qld: Court appearance for mother of rescued children

AAP General News (Australia)
12-31-2005
Qld: Court appearance for mother of rescued children

BRISBANE, Dec 31 AAP - A woman will face court after four children, including a 14-week-old
baby, were found alone in a sweltering campsite west of Brisbane.

The children were taken to Ipswich General Hospital, where the baby was believed to
be on a saline drip after suffering heat stress.

Police say the children, the eldest aged 14 years, were discovered in the tent at a
camping ground at Savage Crossing, near Fernvale at 12.30pm (AEST) yesterday.

The children are currently in the care of the Department of Child Safety, police said.

A 31-year-old Durack woman was issued with a Notice to Appear in Ipswich Magistrates
Court on January 16 for endangerment of a child under seven years.

AAP rl/lma

KEYWORD: CHILDREN DAYLEAD

2005 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Vic: Man drowns in Frankston

AAP General News (Australia)
12-29-2005
Vic: Man drowns in Frankston

A man has drowned while swimming this afternoon at Frankston beach .. in Melbourne's south.

An ambulance spokesman says the man .. believed to be in his 40s .. was on his friend's
catamaran about 200 metres from the Frankston foreshore when he went for a swim.

His friend found him face down in the water .. dragged him onto the catamaran and gave him CPR.

Bystanders on the shore and ambulance officers also tried to revive the man .. without success.

AAP RTV mf/tm/rj

KEYWORD: DROWN (MELBOURNE)

2005 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Tinsel and puddings add touch of Xmas for Aust troops

AAP General News (Australia)
12-24-2004
Fed: Tinsel and puddings add touch of Xmas for Aust troops

It will be business as usual for the 900 Australian troops in Iraq this Christmas Day,
but there will be a touch of tinsel and some puddings to enjoy.

Middle East Task Force commander Air Commodore GREG EVANS says troops will celebrate
the occasion between their regular duties.

He's told the Nine Network that while troops will gather for Christmas lunch, it's
not the same as being home in Australia.

However, the great Australian tradition of spending a lazy Boxing Day watching the
cricket will be adhered to in Iraq.

But Christmas for the troops is also tinged with sadness following the death of about
22 people after a suicide bomb attack at a US base in the Iraqi city of Mosul.

AAP RTV bt/jo

KEYWORD: IRAQ AUST TROOPS (CANBERRA)

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Egghead.com Expands Operations in Vancouver, Washington.

Clark County Welcomes Egghead.com to Its New Location With Ribbon Cutting

Ceremony, Thursday, December 14th

VANCOUVER, Wash., Dec. 13 /PRNewswire/ --

Egghead.com(R), Inc. (Nasdaq: EGGS), a leading Internet direct marketer of technology and related products, announced today that it will open the doors to its new Vancouver, WA location with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, December 14th. Mayor Pro Tem, Dan Tonkovich, will kick off the ceremony at 9:30 a.m. The new location in Clark County will house Egghead.com's growing outbound telesales force, which focuses on outreach to the company's core Small- to Medium-sized Business (SMB) customers. Egghead.com currently has almost 200 Business Account Managers and will continue hiring through the first quarter of 2001 as the company builds this team to its projected goal of 300 members.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000530/EGGHEADLOGO )

As one of the fastest-growing up-and-coming industrial hubs in the Northwest, Clark County, WA has proven to be an excellent location for the expansion of Egghead.com's outbound telesales force. "We have been pleased with the quality of the work force that has recently joined the Egghead.com team and we're confident they will allow us to continue expansion of our business sales outreach efforts," stated Norman Hullinger, vice president of Sales and Operations for Egghead.com. Mr. Hullinger also stated that Egghead was delighted with the reception that they received from the Staff of the City of Vancouver during the development phase for this new location, and further, was particularly impressed with the Staff's energetic spirit of cooperation as well as their progressively minded operating philosophy.

With the addition of the Business to Business Initiatives and the recent relocation of several of Egghead.com's Technical and Accounting functions, approximately 75% of the company's 725 positions are now based in Vancouver, WA.

WHAT:

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the New Egghead.com Clark County Location

WHERE:

Egghead.com, Inc.

206 S. Grand Blvd Vancouver, WA 98661

WHEN:

Thursday, December 14th at 9:30 a.m.

About Egghead.com

Egghead.com is a leading Internet direct marketer of technology and related products. With an emphasis on Small- to Medium- sized Business (SMB) customers, Egghead.com offers a wide range of products from computer hardware and software, consumer electronics and office products, to sporting goods and vacation packages. Its Clearance, After Work and Auction formats offer bargains on excess and closeout goods and services. Egghead.com combines broad selection, low prices, and excellent service to provide an outstanding online shopping experience for businesses and consumers. Egghead.com is located on the Internet at www.egghead.com.

NOTE: Egghead.com is a registered trademark of Egghead.com, Inc. All other companies and their brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to statements relating to: the company's financial outlook for future periods; and the company's success in the small- to medium-sized business market. These forward-looking statements are based on information available to the company at the time of this release and the company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. The statements in this release are not guarantees of future performance and actual results could differ materially from current expectations as a result of numerous factors. For example: the company's focus on sales to business customers may be more costly or difficult than anticipated; the company may not be successful in fully staffing its business account management team; and continued strong competition may make it difficult to increase or maintain revenues or gross margins. These and other risks and uncertainties associated with the business are detailed in Egghead.com's most recent Forms 10-K and 10-Q which are on file with the SEC and available through www.sec.gov.

FROM Direct Marketer to E-Commerce Business.

Lab Safety Supply, Inc. uses E-commerce as an extension of direct marketing efforts

HOW DO YOU GO FROM BEING A DIRECT MARketer for the past 10 years to an e-commerce business without compromising the service that has made you successful over the years? Even still, how do you incorporate seven separate catalogs with safety and industrial supplies into one easy to navigate Web site? The answers can be found at www.labsafety.com, where more than 65,500 products can be easily searched, industry information is quickly obtainable, and technical and customer service support is just a click away.

"One of the things we've been trying to do with the Internet craze that's going on now, is to design a Web site that reflects our overall value and brand that we have been building through our catalogs for a long time. We wanted to give our customers an alternative mechanism to order. So what we tried to do is really reflect the same look and feel of our company when we went online," explains Brad Herrick, manager of circulation and database analysis at Lab Safety Supply Inc., Janesville, Wisc. "Our goal is to have the most user friendly site that's the easiest to set up in terms of an account and the easiest to transact an order."

Actually it is their direct marketing experience that has helped them achieve a site that is customer-focused and service-oriented. "Since we have been a direct marketer since the early 1990s, we have had a focus on who our customers are and we understand what kind of products they buy and what their interests are. So that direct marketing expertise gave us leverage and efficiency on the Web compared to somebody just getting into e-commerce that doesn't necessarily understand direct marketing," observes Herrick.

The Lab Safety Supply site debuted in early 1998 as a complete e-commerce site with ordering transaction capabilities. The focal point is the seven catalogs: Maintenance Direct, Material Handling, Safety Essentials, Spill Cleanup, Signs & Labels, Labware, and First Aid Health & Wellness. Complementing the products are free e-mail newsletters that encompass safety and industry information, a technical support area, complete with an e-mail link to contact the company's technical staff, service frequently asked questions, and a customer feedback link. Their direct marketing flair is evident in the home page's "Save Big Products" banner that brings customers to a page of everyday personal protective wear at discounted prices.

"E-commerce for us is really just an extension of our continuing effort to be a direct marketer. There are still challenges we face going forward in terms of segmenting our customers. Right now, as a direct marketer, we've always had the opportunity to target who we really wanted to acquire. Now, we're still doing that, but the floodgates are somewhat open in terms of who wants to find us," Herrick explains of the worldwide outreach the Internet brings to the company. "We're watching very closely e-commerce and business to business to make sure we're leveraging e-commerce in a way that enhances our existing business model rather than distract from it, but at the same time addresses those new competitive issues that we're faced with."

In time, Herrick expects the site to influence Lab Safety's customer base. Since launching www.labsafety.com, the company has experienced almost instant savings by being able to remove customers who prefer to use online catalog shopping from its traditional mailing list and replace them with new prospects. "Lot of our customers are converting to online ordering so it's an issue of our meeting expenses and looking where we could serve our customers better and reduce expenses," he explains. "Our site right now in its evolution is more relevant to our existing customers and we're getting more bang for the buck by converting some of our customers to this method, or at least opening up this method as another opportunity for them to communicate with us. So that's where we're seeing the most success. From a prospecting standpoint, we are seeing some success, but it's been limited because the online mailing lists out there are not at the quality of direct mail lists."

Profiling accurately

That focus has forced the company to use the new technology available to them to do a more efficient job profiling its customer base. They had to make a distinction as to which customers preferred doing business online, which wanted to stay direct mail, and which preferred telephone sales. "We conducted a customer segmentation study in early 1999 in which we found that we have four different customer groups based on technology preferences. So we used some of the information to build questions into our system that would profile our customers up front. This will enable us to segment our customers so we're not mailing a catalog to someone who prefers to communicate with us only through electronic means," explains Herrick. "In just one year, we're already seeing a very subtle shift in our customer base and in our makeup. So what we're doing is making sure we segment those e-commerce customers as they come on so we don't integrate them within our traditional business at times when it may not be relevant."

When the site first premiered, Lab Safety had a separate department dedicated to the Web site. Because the company is finding the site is affecting their business strategy, a cross-functional department was created. The team is responsible for enhancing the company's online presence by focusing on both design and operational technical issues. "We made a conscious choice last year to make sure the technology and marketing direction are closely interrelated," says Herrick. The cross functional team is the core basis of implementation for our e-commerce strategy and is the leading directional force that drives the strategy."

On the one-year anniversary of www.labsafety.com, the company made its first major set of revisions. The changes, explains Herrick, were a mix of customer feedback and a representation of the company's business strategy direction for the Web. "Some of the things we've done is really try to improve the usability and searchability of our site," says Herrick. "And that's an ongoing challenge. Because of how data is fed from different manufacturers, we always have to make sure we have relevant descriptions and the search criteria that's most relevant to the customers we are serving."

Continual clarification

The first site revision also featured a revamping of the home page to further define products. "What we found from customer feedback is even though we had a very clear distinction on some of the products identified by catalogs, it was somewhat confusing to the customer," notes Herrick. "From an appearance standpoint, it looked very good with the individual catalogs, but the descriptions in terms of what safety products are, for instance, weren't as apparent to the customer who was looking at the site. They might be looking under the safety area for a product, but it might have been under material handling. Yet in their minds they're looking for a safety product."

The solution was an enhancement that included a search mechanism that identifies product by keyword regardless of the category. So now that customer who knows exactly what they want when they go to the Lab Safety Supply site can search for the product among the full family of catalogs.

Moving into 2000, the company plans to shift more aggressively into one-to-one marketing. "With the redesign of the site, we launched a Microsoft Site Server that will give us more added functionality to really personalize the content of our Web site," says Herrick. Also in the works is the creation of a customer panel on the Internet. "This user group would give us feedback on how we're doing and let us know, for instance, if the site is usable, if we have the information they want, and if our prices are competitive," he adds. "So we would have an ongoing live feed into our strategic process that includes the customer and by doing that I think we can adapt quicker and change our site to reflect customers' needs faster."

The Web site also is playing a major role as the company redefines its business strategy for the upcoming years. "Since we launched the site, it's taken on a purpose of its own and we're redefining our strategy as we look at the customers who are coming to our site, what they're saying and what they're doing. So what our original intent was when we launched the site is going to be very different from our strategy in 2000-2001 in really where we want to go from an e-commerce standpoint," Herrick explains. "Since we implemented the Web site, it's been a work in progress."

Coca-Cola Company Analyst to Interview On RadioWallStreet Internet Broadcast.

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 2, 1999--

Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) will be discussed by Brown Brothers Harriman Analyst Roy Burry on RadioWallStreet Friday, July 2, 1999 at 12:00 PM EDT, Investor Broadcast Network f/k/a Vcall Corporation announced.

To listen to the interview, investors should go to the RadioWallStreet website located at http://www.vcall.com and click on the RadioWallStreet event.

RadioWallStreet is an Investor Broadcast Network service that broadcasts senior executive interviews, analyst roundtable discussions, seminars and other events of interest to the investment community. RadioWallStreet events are open to the investing public and may be heard over the Internet.

Questions for this RadioWallStreet event may be submitted in advance by e-mailing greg@vcall.com.

The benchmark 50: revenue per employee, 2007.(Metrics & Benchmarks: Benchmarks)(Statistical table)

 The Benchmark 50: Revenue Per Employee, 2007  Revenues (000)               2005          2006          2007  Microsoft              $39,788,000   44,282,000    $51,122,000 Google                 $6,138,560    10,604,917    $16,593,986  Desktop Applications  Adobe                     1966321     2,575,300     $3,157,881 Corel                    $164,044      $177,191       $250,480 Intuit                 $2,037,703     2,342,303     $2,672,947 Smith Micro               $13,316        20,258        $73,377 Symantec               $2,582,849     4,143,392     $5,199,366 Bitstream                   11632        15,653    $23,618,000 Nuance Commo.            $232,388       388,510       $311,847   (Scansoft)  Vertical Market   Applications  Ansys                    $158,036       263,640       $385,340 Autodesk               $1,233,800     1,523,200     $1,839,800 Unica                     $63,548       $82,411       $102,243 Allscripts               $120,564      $227,969       $281,908 Advent                   $168,701       184,093       $215,303 Moldflow                  $64,418        65,558        $55,853  Enterprise Applications  Sapient                  $327,098      $421,643       $565,989 SPSS                     $236,063       261,532       $291,000 Manhattan Associates     $246,404       288,868       $337,401 Concur Technologies         71831        97,145       $115,996 Pegasystems               $96,461       102,007       $161,949 Lawson                   $150,584      $171,542       $399,320 Captaris                  $86,380       $91,986        $94,829  SaaS  Blackbaud                $165,949      $191,380       $257,038 Callidus                  $61,453        76,108       $101,657 Omniture                  $42,804       $79,949       $143,127 salesforce.com           $309,857       497,098       $680,581 RightNowTechnologies      $87,148       110,388       $112,077 Savvis                   $667,012       763,971       $793,833 Vocus                     $28,062       $40,328        $58,076  Network Tools  Novell                    1165917     1,197,696       $932,499 Citrix Systems           $741,157       908,722     $1,391,942 McAfee (Network   Associates)            $910,542       987,299     $1,308,220 iPass                    $166,319       169,273       $191,732 NetManage                 $47,666        43,434        $35,970 NetScout                  $85,214       $97,876       $102,472 Tumbleweed                $50,001        61,994        $57,455  Developer Tools  BEA Systems            $1,080,094     1,199,845     $1,402,349 Red Hat                  $196,446       278,330       $400,624 Sybase                   $818,695       876,163     $1,025,530 Progress Software          405376       447,063       $493,500 Pervasive Software        $48,352        45,580        $28,851 Tiger Logic Corp.         $21,483        20,294        $49,500 "Borland Software        $276,743       304,660       $268,781  Education  Apollo Group           $1,798,423     2,251,472     $2,723,793 Renaissance Learning     $116,283       111,528       $107,932 Scientific Learning       $40,139        40,998        $46,053 Skillsoft                $212,300      $215,567       $225,172 Saba Software             $42,210        71,147        $99,867 SumTotalSystems           $74,970       105,988        $61,281 Plato Learning             121804        90,719        $69,632 All companies            $164,997       187,737        262,910                                     Revenue Per Employee  Revenues (000)               2005          2006          2007  Microsoft                $652,262      $623,690      $647,114 Google                 $1,080,732      $993,528      $987,443  Desktop                  $291,100      $275,197      $315,013 Applications  Adobe                    $625,818      $449,128      $519,218 Corel                    $291,433      $225,658      $258,545 Intuit                   $291,100      $312,307      $325,969 Smith Micro              $146,330      $158,266      $326,120 Symantec                 $397,361      $258,962      $304,056 Bitstream                $211,491      $252,468      $352,507 Nuance Commo.            $594,343      $867,210       $79,961   (Scansoft)  Vertical Market   Applications           $229,213      $223,414      $227,593  Ansys                    $687,113      $665,758      $939,854 Autodesk                 $354,846      $316,476      $355,930 Unica                    $223,761      $208,635      $204,078 Allscripts               $312,342      $249,419      $244,076 Advent                   $229,213      $223,414      $227,593 Moldflow                 $202,572      $198,060      $209,187  Enterprise Applications             $209,090      $190,387      $206,232  Sapient                  $108,418       $85,146       $91,039 SPSS                     $209,090      $219,222      $233,547 Manhattan Associates     $154,003      $147,007      $150,558 Concur Technologies      $181,851      $194,290      $201,732 Pegasystems              $210,614      $186,484      $246,498 Lawson                         NA       $50,454      $105,084 Captaris                 $219,239      $230,541      $210,731  SaaS                     $204,843      $220,437      $233,428  Blackbaud                $163,658      $164,275      $155,310 Callidus                 $204,843      $214,389      $266,118 Omniture                       NA      $226,484      $200,739 salesforce.com           $403,986      $381,210      $328,783 RightNowTechnologies     $164,430      $167,763      $163,378 Savvis                   $314,036      $352,711      $355,501 Vocus                    $127,555      $127,218      $170,311  Network Tools            $235,547      $254,768      $291,401  Novell                   $230,145      $263,288      $227,439 Citrix Systems           $233,730      $242,844      $301,286 McAfee (Network   Associates)            $276,760      $266,838      $307,816 iPass                    $409,653      $294,388      $380,421 NetManage                $233,657      $202,019      $244,694 NetScout                 $237,365      $266,692      $281,516 Tumbleweed               $156,253      $171,254      $173,057  Developer Tools          $206,162      $256,933      $246,178  BEA Systems              $322,128      $309,398      $327,805 Red Hat                  $208,985      $253,027      $222,569 Sybase                   $229,455      $235,845      $252,159 Progress Software        $254,473      $269,153      $296,931 Pervasive Software       $192,637      $276,242      $162,084 Tiger Logic Corp.        $152,586      $202,940      $232,001 "Borland Software        $203,338      $260,839      $240,197  Education                $156,303      $153,636      $159,677  Apollo Group              $55,055       $61,826       $74,792 Renaissance Learning     $123,443      $116,661      $101,919 Scientific Learning      $225,500      $208,112      $214,200 Skillsoft                $186,228      $220,191      $225,397 Saba Software            $126,377      $137,882      $174,288 SumTotalSystems          $119,379      $139,275       $76,031 Plato Learning           $203,686      $167,998      $145,067 All companies            $215,365      $226,484      $233,428                               Avg.  Revenues (000)            '05-'07  Microsoft                $641,022 Google                 $1,020,568  Desktop                  $290,974 Applications  Adobe                    $531,388 Corel Intuit                   $309,792 Smith Micro              $210,238 Symantec                 $320,127 Bitstream                $272,155 Nuance Commo.            $513,838   (Scansoft)  Vertical Market   Applications           $226,740  Ansys                    $764,241 Autodesk                 $342,417 Unica                    $212,158 Allscripts               $268,612 Advent                   $226,740 Moldflow                 $203,273  Enterprise Applications           $203,578  Sapient                   $94,868 SPSS                     $220,620 Manhattan Associates     $150,522 Concur Technologies      $192,624 Pegasystems              $214,532 Lawson                    $77,769 Captaris                 $220,170  SaaS                     $221,031  Blackbaud                $161,081 Callidus                 $228,450 Omniture                 $213,612 salesforce.com           $371,326 RightNowTechnologies     $165,190 Savvis                   $340,749 Vocus                    $141,694  Network Tools            $260,572  Novell                   $240,291 Citrix Systems           $259,287 McAfee (Network   Associates)            $283,805 iPass                    $361,487 NetManage                $226,790 NetScout                 $261,858 Tumbleweed               $166,855  Developer Tools          $234,792  BEA Systems              $319,777 Red Hat                  $228,194 Sybase                   $239,153 Progress Software        $273,519 Pervasive Software       $210,321 Tiger Logic Corp.        $195,842 "Borland Software        $234,792  Education                $159,216  Apollo Group              $63,891 Renaissance Learning     $114,008 Scientific Learning      $215,937 Skillsoft                $210,605 Saba Software            $146,182 SumTotalSystems          $111,562 Plato Learning           $172,250 All companies            $226,740  Note: "Years" may not correspond to company fiscal years. Individual firms are averages; segments are medians.