FOSTER CITY, Calif., Feb. 21, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- QuinStreet, Inc. (Nasdaq:QNST - News), the leader in vertical marketing and media online, announced the addition of direct-to-school placements for education clients, available with the latest release of the QuinStreet Media Platform, QMP. The new product allows online and campus-based schools, colleges and universities to purchase traffic directly to their websites from relevant pages of QuinStreet's industry-leading education media network. Payment for placements is either per click or per inquiry generated from the traffic.

The hub of the direct-to-school placement product is the QMP optimization engine that ensures clients appear on website pages aligned with relevant topics, programs, qualifications and geographies. Further, the optimization engine uses proprietary performance data and algorithms to continuously improve the predictability of inquiry volumes and conversions for every placement. This allows clients to spend their marketing dollars more effectively and with greater confidence.

The addition of the direct-to-school placements also dramatically improves the experiences of visitors to QuinStreet media properties. Individuals researching education possibilities are able to more quickly find schools and programs that meet their needs, and now have the option of connecting directly with the schools they select.

"We are delighted with the launch of the direct-to-school placement product," said Pete Brooks, QuinStreet vice president and manager of the company's education client vertical. "This product broadens and improves client access to the tens of millions of student prospects who research education opportunities on our network each month. It also gives website visitors a better experience and new path for connecting with schools and programs matching their requirements."

About QuinStreet

QuinStreet, Inc. (Nasdaq:QNST - News) is one of the largest Internet marketing and media companies in the world. QuinStreet is committed to providing consumers and businesses with the information they need to research, find and select the products, services and brands that meet their needs. The company is a leader in visitor-friendly marketing practices. For more information, please visit QuinStreet.com.

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QuinStreet Announces the Launch of Direct-to-School Placements for Education Clients

Two school districts in the state of Iowa are working to get their new curricula approved by state legislators, marking a turning point in their teaching style.

In contrast to the traditional style of teaching — where learning is face to face and the teacher is physically present — CAM Community School District and Clayton Ridge Community School District are set to become Internet-based with classes taught primarily online starting this fall.

State legislators are questioning the legality of this move because the schools would be sponsored by the school districts but operated by private companies. The CAM school district serves Iowa students in Cumberland, Anita and Massena, while Clayton Ridge is based in the northeast Iowa towns of Garnavillo and Guttenberg.

Staci Hupp, communications director for the Iowa Department of Education, said these schools have been approved by the state.

"Iowa Code gives school districts in Iowa the authority to deliver education online as long as the education is not delivered exclusively online," Hupp said. "The CAM and Clayton Ridge districts have demonstrated in good faith that they intend to meet all legal requirements by combining online with traditional materials and instruction. We will closely monitor how the districts implement their online programs."

Jeffrey Brooks, associate professor of educational leadership and policy studies, said online schools should be allowed in Iowa.

"Online schools are increasingly common around the country," Brooks said. "They should definitely be allowed in Iowa, especially because underfunded rural schools may be able to offer their students courses they would not otherwise be allowed to deliver. Moreover, high-quality online teaching can offer students other opportunities to make up missed credits or to engage the materials and instructors via formats that may be more conducive to their learning."

Hupp said that state law gives school districts the authority to start online schools without approval from the Iowa Department of Education and that there is no state process for approval or denial.

"The department's concern is that quality education is delivered within the confines of the law" she said. "That can happen in an online format, and, in some cases, it's the right choice for students."

Online schools are an increasingly popular trend in Iowa as well as across the nation.

"Online schools are a growing trend that cannot be ignored," said Lily Compton, lecturer of educational leadership and policy studies. "They can offer students access to more opportunities and learning options. There are organizations that offer supplemental courses to students enrolled in traditional schools."

Compton used Iowa Learning Online as an example of such an organization, which offers Advanced Placement classes, postsecondary enrollment options and additional courses not offered by school districts.

Brooks said the education program at Iowa State should be getting ahead of the curve with online learning and teaching.

"Educator preparation programs at universities like Iowa State University shouldn't be reacting to the coming of online teaching, they should be leaders of innovation," Brooks said. "We have all the capacity and know-how to do amazing things, but are stuck in many outmoded ways of thinking about teaching and learning

"ISU has always been a leader in distance education, outreach and extension — it's time for us to also lead in terms of online instruction."

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Iowa schools begin to adopt online-education practices

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02-09-2011 23:02 THIS WAS AN UP CLOSE, AND PERSONAL PERFORMANCE AT THE CITY WINERY IN NEW YORK CITY ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2011 (EARLY SHOW)

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DICKEY BETTS - "JESSICA" (8/30/11) - Video

Beverley Head
Tuesday, 21 February 2012 09:50

Business IT - Technology

A registration backlog is still choking the performance of the $33 million Personal Property Security Register, with the Government admitting that it had not made as much progress as had been hoped over the weekend and delays were still occurring.

The PPSR was built by Fujitsu for the Attorney General’s department and was launched at the end of January. Data from 23 Commonwealth, State and Territory registers was transferred before the national PPSR started operations on 30 January.

After a fraught first fortnight the system’s operation has improved, but users are still plagued by sluggish performance and workarounds.

An update posted late yesterday on the PPSR website indicated there were still delays as a result of the backlogs, which would take a few more days at least to clear.

Users have also been hampered by the transition of the ASIC property registers across to the PPSR. The PPSR was designed to use a single identifier – the Australian Company Number – for search purposes.

ASIC’s data however used Australian Business Numbers as well as ACNs which has led to confusion, and required people to search by company name as well as ABN and ACN. Each separate search costs $3.70.

Despite this impost the Attorney General’s department, noted that; “Searches need only be conducted on the one register, rather than multiple registers in multiple jurisdictions levying different fees.”

According to the statement published on the PPSR website yesterday; “The Registrar proposes to publish a verification statement under section 158 of the PPS Act in respect of the registration events which occur as a result of the aforementioned process to register the grantor identified by ACN and remove the grantor identified by ABN.”

In terms of the overall performance of the 6.5 terabyte (and growing) PPSR database a spokesperson from the Attorney General’s department said: “As we foreshadowed, there was very strong initial demand for the PPSR in the opening weeks, which did impact its overall performance.  While there is still room for improvement specifically in relation to bulk-uploads to the Register, users are now consistently reporting very good response times.”

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Registration backlog chokes PPSR

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Villanova University has canceled a workshop on personal narrative by a gay performance artist, saying his shows aren't in keeping with its Catholic values.

Artist Tim Miller, once dubbed the "patron saint of the gay performance world" by the Los Angeles Times, said he was scheduled to lead the five-day workshop for students in April but the university abruptly scrapped it on Sunday. He said his workshops focus on personal narrative and the students guide the direction they take but topics often include issues such as faith, sexuality, self and truth.

Miller said he thinks his being gay played into Villanova's decision to cancel.

"The thing that they worry about, I think, is that I am a gay person," he said. "Being a gay person with political opinions."

Miller said on Tuesday he has done similar workshops at Chicago's DePaul University, the nation's largest Catholic university, and other schools. He said Villanova, a Catholic private university with about 10,000 students just outside Philadelphia, did not tell him why it was canceling his workshop.

"This is not my first time at the dance," Miller said, noting the cancellation came after blog postings that were critical about him. "It's clearly homophobia and panic."

In a statement, Villanova said it had concerns that Miller's workshops "were not in keeping with our Catholic and Augustinian values and mission."

"Therefore, Villanova has decided not to host Mr. Miller on our campus," the statement said. "Villanova University is an open and inclusive community and in no way does this singular decision change that."

A spokesman said the university would not answer questions beyond the statement on Tuesday.

Miller gained notoriety in 1990 when he and three others had grants vetoed by the National Endowment for the Arts. His work is frequently provocative, and he has been arrested in the past for demonstrating for AIDS research funding. He said some of his performances have featured nudity but there has been no nudity for about a decade.

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Villanova University cancels gay artist's workshop

February 21, 2012, 6:28 PM EST

By Aaron Ricadela

(Updates with comments by CFO Gladden in 10th paragraph.)

Feb. 21 (Bloomberg) -- Dell Inc. forecast fiscal first- quarter revenue that missed analysts’ estimates as lackluster demand from consumers and governments eroded growth at the world’s third-largest maker of personal computers.

Revenue for the period ending in April will decrease 7 percent to $14.9 billion, Round Rock, Texas-based Dell said in a statement today. That missed the average $15.1 billion estimate of analysts, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The shares fell in late trading after the report was released.

Sales in the consumer division fell 2 percent last quarter, evidence that Apple Inc. is winning over buyers with its Mac and iPad devices. Revenue in the business that caters to governments slipped 1 percent amid “weakness” in purchasing by U.S. federal agencies and governments in Western Europe, Dell said.

“When do we see revenue growth for the company start to show up?” said Abhey Lamba, an analyst at Mizuho Securities USA Inc. in New York, who initiated coverage of Dell this month with a “buy” rating. “They’ve been able to grow earnings because of cost management and supply-chain improvements. But you can do that for only so long. At a certain point, revenue needs to start growing or else earnings will come down.”

Dell is suffering from competition with Apple at the high end of the market and Lenovo Group Inc. and Acer Inc. at the low end, Shaw Wu, an analyst at Sterne Agee & Leach Inc., wrote in a Feb. 15 research note.

Dell slumped 4.7 percent to $17.37 in extended trading after gaining less than 1 percent to $18.21 at the close.

Consumers’ Wallets Shut

Consumers are keeping their wallets closed amid a slow economic recovery or opting for iPads instead of traditional notebook computers. Global PC shipments last year declined 4.9 percent, the worst performance since 2001, according to research firm IDC. In addition, hard disk drive production was crimped after last year’s flooding in Thailand.

The supply disruption will continue into the period that ends in October, Gladden said on a conference call with media.

Microsoft Corp.’s Windows 8 operating system, due later this year, may provide a lift to consumer sales. Dell is also selling more of its own data storage and networking gear instead of relying on products made by such companies as EMC Corp.

Profit in the fourth quarter declined to $764 million, or 43 cents a share. Sales rose 2 percent to $16 billion, in line with analysts’ $16 billion estimate. Per-share earnings excluding certain items will exceed $2.13 in fiscal 2013, compared with analysts’ $2.06 estimate.

‘Strong’ Business Demand

Business computing demand is “pretty strong,” Dell Chief Financial Officer Brian Gladden said in an interview after the results. Sales to large corporations rose 5 percent, while the unit that sells to small- and midsized businesses got a 6 percent boost, the company said.

Dell’s stock has outperformed the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index this year, rising 24 percent, compared with an 8.3 percent rise in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.

Dell and rival Hewlett-Packard Co. are counting on sales of thin, lightweight laptops called “ultrabooks” to spur sales. Dell’s new ultrabook, called the XPS 13, starts at $999. It’s made of aluminum, carbon fiber and glass, sports a 13.3-inch screen, and will go on sale later this month.

The company is also diversifying beyond PCs. It bought computer networking company Force 10 Networks Inc. last August for an undisclosed price and storage maker Compellent Technologies a year ago for $856.1 million. On Feb. 2, it hired former CA Inc. CEO John Swainson to head a new software group.

Dell may be scouting for a software acquisition worth $1 billion to $3 billion, Peter Misek, an analyst at Jefferies & Co. said. Misek has a “hold” rating on Dell shares.

Computer and data-management software makers Quest Software Inc. and CommVault Systems Inc. are possible targets, he said. BMC Software Inc., which makes tools to manage servers, may be too large with is $6.4 billion market value.

Dell plans to hold a Feb. 27 event in San Francisco with CEO Michael Dell to discuss its data-center products.

--Editors: Tom Giles, Nick Turner

To contact the reporters on this story: Aaron Ricadela in San Francisco at aricadela@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Tom Giles at tgiles5@bloomberg.net

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Dell Misses Estimates Amid Sluggish Personal Computer Sales

A few weeks ago, a friend showed up for a run with a CamelBak — one of those humplike backpacks with a tube that allows you to sip liquid — and a belt containing food to eat along the way. Every 20 minutes or so as we ran, he stopped to eat and drink, sprinting afterward to catch up.

Now that is unusual, I thought. Does it really help to eat so often during a 16-mile run?

Certainly a lot of athletes believe they need constant nourishment. My friend and running partner Jen Davis, who has entered more races and run more than I ever have, once went on a 30-mile training run with a guy wearing a CamelBak and bearing snacks. He stopped every 20 minutes along the way and then, about halfway through the run, pulled out a turkey sandwich.

“I’m not sure if he ever actually ran an ultra race,” Jen said. “He may have gotten injured after carrying that heavy pack on those long runs.”

There is no end to the crazy foods people will eat at endurance events. At the J.F.K. 50-Mile in Maryland, boiled potatoes and chicken broth are provided at aid stations. At the Rocky Raccoon Endurance Trail Run in Texas, runners can choose rice and beans or pasta, along with snacks like pretzels, cookies and candy.

At a 100-mile bike ride my husband and I have done several times, pumpkin pie is offered about 25 miles from the finish line. (My husband tried it one year and felt ill the rest of the ride.)

For the athlete determined to munch on the go, there are shelves worth of prepackaged “energy gels” and bars, even jelly beans, promising to raise performance.

But most athletes are not running 30 or 50 or 100 miles, nor are they doing the equivalent amount of exercise in another sport, like cycling or swimming or skiing. So most of us really do not need to keep eating during a race to maintain energy and stamina, said Nancy Rodriguez, a sports nutritionist at the University of Connecticut.

Dr. Rodriguez reviewed published studies on nutrition and performance as part of a group of experts who wrote a position paper on the topic for the American College of Sports Medicine. Runners, for example, competing in a 5- or 10-kilometer race, she said, “don’t need the CamelBaks and don’t need to have that Hershey bar or Powerade or Clif shot.”

Even athletes who are fast and competitive may not always need to eat during a workout. There’s no set rule on what they should eat and drink before, during and after exercise, said Melinda M. Manore, a sports nutritionist at Oregon State University who was an author of the position paper.

“People have gotten the message that they have to eat something,” Dr. Manore said. They guzzle an energy drink or eat a sports bar, but that doesn’t help. And for the many who are trying to lose weight, the habit just adds extra calories.

What they need depends on what they ate before they started and how hard their workout is going to be, among other things, she explained. “If you can run six-minute miles or five-minute miles and you are going out for an hour, you do not need to be eating an energy bar during the workout,” Dr. Manore said.

Moderate athletes need to eat and drink after the workout, she said, but a healthy meal with plenty of fluids is sufficient. Indeed, for most of them, the most common error is to eat too much.

Dr. Manore follows her own advice. She hikes for an hour in the hills every morning, four to five miles. All she has before she goes out is a cup of tea with milk.

But anyone exercising for two hours or more does need to get carbohydrates, the muscles’ fuel, according to the position statement. That means eating before, and perhaps during, the workout.

Those who try to skimp can end up with a poorer performance, said Dan Benardot, a sports nutrition researcher at Georgia State University. A long workout, like a run that lasts more than two hours, is “an enormous drain on blood sugar,” he said.

If the body runs out of glucose for fuel, it will start breaking down muscle, which is counterproductive. Dr. Benardot’s research indicates that athletes do best when they never let themselves have more than a 400-calorie deficit during the day. That is, if you expend 1,500 calories on a two-hour run, you offset it with at least 1,100 calories in food that day.

That means it is a disadvantage to eat most of the day’s calories at one time — at night, for example. But athletes should make dietary changes gradually so their bodies can adapt to more frequent fueling, he said. Those who try sudden changes sometimes pay a price.

Dr. Benardot tells the story of a distance runner who was doing well and felt great the morning of a big marathon. Before the race began, she saw her chief competitor put packs of a sugary gel into her running bra to eat during the race.

The distance runner did the same, even though she had never before eaten during races or long runs. It was a disaster: She had diarrhea during the event.

The gels “were anything but a competitive advantage,” Dr. Benardot said.

“You have to let your body adapt,” he added. “And you have to find out what works for you.”

This post has been revised to reflect the following correction:

Correction: February 21, 2012

Earlier versions of this post misspelled the surname of a sports nutrition researcher at Georgia State University. He is Dan Benardot, not Bernadot or Benradot.

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Personal Best: Workouts May Not Be the Best Time for a Snack

VA performance dashboard failed to protect personal data, OIG says

The Veterans Affairs Department wrongly allowed more than 20 employees and contractors access to veterans’ sensitive personal and financial information in a recent information technology dashboard project, according to a new report from the Office of Inspector General.

The security violation occurred in the VA’s Systems to Drive Performance Dashboard while it was in development last year, Belinda Finn, assistant inspector general for audits and evaluations, wrote in the Feb. 13 report.

“We determined that more than 20 system users had inappropriate access to sensitive (dashboard) information,” Finn wrote.

The VA dashboard was being created to track cost accounting data. The agile development project was being managed by the VA’s assistant secretary for management, and the dashboard development group consisted of members of the management office, Office of Information & Technology and the contractor.

In March 2011, the development team populated the dashboard with veterans’ personally-identifiable information, including birth date, age, sex, race, ethnicity, county of residence, zip code, and financial information.

For the next 35 days, “more than 20 system users had inappropriate access to the sensitive data hosted in the Systems to Drive Performance development environment,” Finn wrote.

The report did not indicate how many veterans’ personal data was vulnerable, or what actions had been taken to inform them, if any.

In mid-April, access was terminated for most dashboard users, she added.

In addition to allowing the inappropriate access, the VA did not handle the user access requests consistently, and did not report the unauthorized access as a security violation as required, Finn added.

The problems were attributed to lack of awareness, failure to implement existing policies and poor oversight, Finn wrote.

“Project managers were not fully aware of VA’s security requirements for system development and had not formalized user account management procedures,” the report said. “Inadequate Information Security Officer oversight contributed to weaknesses in user account management and failure to report excessive user privileges as security violations. As a result, VA lacked assurance of adequate control and protection of sensitive STDP data.”

Finn said the improper access qualified as a security “event” but there was no evidence of a breach.

“While we did not discover indications of actual information security breaches and recognize the system is not publicly accessible via the Internet, project management should have reported excessive user permissions as a security event in accordance with VA information security policy,” she wrote.

Finn recommended that the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology, and the Assistant Secretary for Management ensure that all project managers receive training on protecting sensitive information, along with two other recommendations.

VA officials agreed with the findings and recommendations.

About the Author

Alice Lipowicz is a staff writer covering government 2.0, homeland security and other IT policies for Federal Computer Week. Follow her on Twitter: @AliceLipowicz.

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VA performance dashboard failed to protect personal data, OIG says

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09-02-2012 15:21 bit.ly - Since 1992 "Jim's Jems" has been helping people create more health, wealth and happiness in their lives. Subscribe now and receive the special report, "Design Your Destiny" and be invited to subscriber only tele-seminars and special events in 2012, and more.

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By John Casteele - February 19, 2012 | Tickers: DPS, PEP, KO | Comments

John is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinions of our bloggers and are not formally edited.

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is generally a solid performer, so long as the company doesn't decide to drastically change the formula of its carbonated namesake. The beverage company has been making a strong showing as of late, beating analyst estimates and increasing sales volumes worldwide. As if that wasn't enough, Coca-Cola also increased its quarterly dividends for the 50th year in a row and announced a new plan intended to cut costs by $350 to $400 million by 2015 even as commodity and fuel costs continue to rise. In short, things are pretty refreshing with Coca-Cola right now.

It's no surprise, of course, that the company is already making plans to try and ensure continued growth and international exposure in the coming year. One key component to this plan is the 2012 Olympics in London; Coca-Cola has already started its Olympics-targeted "Move to the Beat" advertising campaign, launching the first ad last week. Some may find the ad familiar as the teens invited to the event it was filmed at were encouraged to share their photos and videos via Twitter and other social media sites; this isn't necessarily a bad thing, of course, as Coca-Cola has used familiarity with characters such as their famous polar bears to give its advertising a gentle nostalgia while drawing people in with curiosity about how the new commercials will be different than what they've already seen.

This isn't to say that other beverage companies such as PepsiCo Inc. (NYSE: PEP) and the Dr Pepper Snapple Group (NYSE: DPS) aren't looking for ways to increase profits in the new year, of course. The problem for these companies comes from the fact that Coca-Cola has a lower price-to-earnings ratio and is the dominant force in the beverage industry; while neither is a slouch when it comes to sales, Coca-Cola makes more profit from each sale and makes more sales than either company to boot. Competitors aren't likely to even compete with Coca-Cola when it comes to Olympics-focused exposure since the company has been associated with the Olympic Games for 84 years... longer than any other company when it comes to continuous sponsorship. Coca-Cola is almost as much a part of the Olympics as it is a part of the ideal vision of America.

Coca-Cola's plans for the future don't stop with the Olympics, of course. The cost-cutting measures announced recently are part of a plan extending to 2020, indicating that the company has its eyes clearly on the future of its product. While the company may experience its share of ups and downs during that time, it didn't earn the title of "world's most valuable brand" by folding under pressure. If its cost-cutting plan is successful and doesn't compromise the price or integrity of the 500 drink brands produced by the company then Coca-Cola may have a very bright future indeed.

Croaxleigh

John Casteele

John Casteele is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network.

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