humbler shetland: June 2012

Saturday, June 30, 2012

jetscott: RT @KentGerman: 5 years ago at this exact moment @donald and I braved a huge crowd at SF's Apple Store to pick up CNET's 1st iPhone. By ...

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Source: http://twitter.com/jetscott/statuses/218887939814461440

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Color Your Business: Best Colors For Your Office, Products And Packaging

Profits in the red? Maybe you should paint your storefront or office walls blue.

Mike Kapnick, 41, wasn't worried about his company's profits when he painted the inside of his family business a few months ago, but he did give a lot of thought to what he wanted the interior environment to look like.

"While we wanted to maintain a business feel, we also wanted our employees to feel comfortable in the office," said Kapnick, president of Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Kapnick Insurance Group.

Kapnick wound up choosing slate blue, tan, a khaki and olive green mix and cream, and says of the look: "There is also an abundance of natural light in the building, so we felt the soothing outdoor colors would be a good fit. This combination has helped foster a team environment throughout the office, which is what we were looking for."

The idea that colors affect how customers shop, workers work and the general public behaves has been around for a while. Take a look at our color chart to get a sense of whether you're happy with your business's color palette.

Blue and Green

What it's good for: A busy office environment. Studies show that people are more productive and confident in offices that are painted blue or have blue furniture -- any type of blue cues. For instance, a comprehensive, landmark study conducted by the University of British Columbia showed that a blue environment can help with productivity. What's more, blue has a calming effect on the public.

"Blue is calming, tranquil and soothing, like the ocean, which recedes away," said Chris Ring, vice president of operations and training for national franchise ProTect Painters (http://www.protectpainters.com/). "Because of that mentality, when we paint an accent wall, for instance, it feels calming and serene."

Green also is "a prevalent color in our natural environment," Ring said. "Think trees, grass -- those are the elements we've historically seen and been part of, and the color green is perceived in the same way, as a natural, calming color."

Red

What it's good for: An office environment that requires a lot of attention to detail. The University of British Columbia study showed that the color red boosts performance when workers have detail-oriented tasks like proofreading or anything that requires memory retrieval. Red is also often used as an attention getter on packaging.

But red might not work for restaurants. A study conducted by University of Basel in Basel, Switzerland found that the color red acts like a subconscious stop sign, helping people limit their food intake.

Black (and White)

What it's good for: Luxury businesses and high fashion companies. It's elegant and distinctive, perfect for luxury businesses (think jewelry) and some logos and branding, said Jack Taylor, professor of retail at Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, Ala.

Karen Mishra, assistant professor of business at Meredith College in Raleigh, NC, said the brand Two Men and a Truck Intl. is one company that nicely uses black and white in their logo. "They enforce the use of their black and white brand logo on their trucks and other packaging with their franchisees because it is very distinctive and they want to maintain a consistent image around the country from franchise to franchise," Mishra said.

Yellow and Orange

What it's good for: Office break rooms, restaurants and public bathrooms. "It's a cheery, energetic color," said Ring, who cautions not to go wild with yellow, especially if there's a lot of natural light that could make your yellow obnoxiously yellow. "It can cause some anxiety. For instance, if you go with a light yellow and then an accent wall that's purple, that can give an energetic feel to the room."

Ring offers a similar sentiment for orange. "Light shades of orange," he said, "can make people feel stimulated and happy. It's a playful color with a lot of warmth."

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/30/best-colors-for-your-office-products-and-packaging_n_1640420.html

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Friday, June 29, 2012

Cost of baseball in Wilmington: $42M

Welcome to your Personalized User Bar. Here, you can manage your account, sign up for newsletters, navigate to site sections, and share interesting content on social networks. You also can receive alerts on upcoming events, new products, or subscription/account activities.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/vertical_26/~3/gvxXHYViJvI/cost-of-baseball-in-wilmington-42m.html

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Deal of the Day ? Logitech Z623 2.1 THX-Certified Speaker System

Friday’s LogicBUY Deal is the Logitech Z623 2.1 THX-Certified Speaker System for $99.99.? Features: ?200 watts (RMS) of power, integrated controls and includes subwoofer. $145.99 – $46 instant = $99.99 with free shipping. This deal expires July 5, 2012 or sooner. Check the above link for more details on this deal, and check the LogicBUY [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2012/06/29/deal-of-the-day-logitech-z623-2-1-thx-certified-speaker-system-2/

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Cybercrime disclosures rare despite new SEC rule

FILE -- In a July 13, 2011 file photo Senate Commerce Chairman Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., presides over a hearing of the committee on Capitol Hill in Washington. Rockefeller is adding a provision to cybersecurity legislation that would strengthen the requirement to report cybercrimes. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, file)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Hackers broke into computers at hotel giant Wyndham Worldwide Corp. three times in two years and stole credit card information belonging to hundreds of thousands of customers. Wyndham didn't report the break-in in corporate filings even though the Securities and Exchange Commission wants companies to inform investors of cybercrimes.

Amid whispers of sensational online break-ins resulting in millions of dollars in losses, it remains remarkably difficult to identify corporate victims of cybercrimes. Companies are afraid that going public would damage their reputations, sink stock prices or spark lawsuits.

The chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., is adding a provision to cybersecurity legislation that would strengthen the reporting requirement. The SEC's guidance issued in October is not mandatory. It was intended to update for the digital age a requirement that companies report "material risks" that investors want to know.

Rockefeller's measure would direct the SEC's five commissioners to make clear when companies must disclose cyber breaches and spell out steps they are taking to protect their computer networks from electronic intrusions.

The SEC recently challenged Internet retailer Amazon's decision to omit from its 2011 annual report references to the online theft of customer data held by Zappos, an online shoe company owned by Amazon. Amazon eventually agreed to modify the statement slightly, according to correspondence between the company and the SEC. But the company still argued that the Zappos attack was not covered by the commission's cybersecurity guidance because it had no material impact on Amazon's business.

Cybercrime is rampant and not confined to the United States. The head of Britain's domestic spy agency said this week that cybersecurity ranks alongside terrorism as one of the United Kingdom's most pressing security challenges. In one recent case, an unspecified, London-listed company hit by a cyberattack incurred revenue losses of $1.2 billion, MI5 Director General Jonathan Evans said in rare public remarks in London. He did not identify the company or say which country was behind the attack. The U.S. has said China and Russia are the governments most frequently engaged in such hacking.

"What is at stake is not just our government secrets but also the safety and security of our infrastructure, the intellectual property that underpins our future prosperity, and the commercially sensitive information that is the lifeblood of our companies and corporations," Evans said.

Research by a cybersecurity expert shows dozens of Fortune 500 companies have lost a wide range of valuable information to cybercrimes, including intellectual property, bank account credentials, restricted data about patients of pharmaceutical companies and internal legal records.

Rodney Joffe of Neustar, an Internet infrastructure management company in Virginia, monitors networks used by online criminal groups and traces the origin of stolen information. He found evidence that 162 out 168 companies in the manufacturing, chemical and transportation sectors had been compromised. The names of the companies are being kept confidential for proprietary reasons, he said.

"No one is safe. Everyone is compromised," said Joffe, Neustar's senior technologist. "When people tell you, 'We are protected as a company,' they are really fooling themselves."

The SEC isn't tracking how many companies comply with its cybersecurity guidance. But publicly traded companies historically have resisted supplying information about cyber incidents because it highlights their weak spots, said Peter Toren, a former federal prosecutor with the Justice Department's computer crime division.

"It just doesn't look good," Toren said.

The breach of Wyndham's computers was described in a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit filed this week against the company and three subsidiaries for alleged security failures that led to the three data breaches between April 2008 and January 2010. The failures caused "the export of hundreds of thousands of consumers' payment card account information to an Internet domain address registered in Russia" and millions of dollars in fraudulent charges on consumers' accounts, the FTC said.

Wyndham didn't mention the break-ins in its 2011 annual report or prior securities filings, according to an Associated Press review of the records.

Wyndham's 2011 annual report said the "hospitality industry is under increasing attack by cyber-criminals in the U.S. and other jurisdictions in which we operate" and noted that it was involved in "claims relating to information security and data privacy." Wyndham spent $13 million more on security improvements and expects to spend as much as $100 million in 2012 to guard against "the increasingly aggressive global threat from cyber-criminals," according to the report.

Wyndham said in an emailed statement to The Associated Press that it "fully complied with SEC regulations in regards to the disclosure of material events." In the statement, Wyndham said the incidents were "previously reported," an apparent reference to notices to consumers that were published on the company's website. The company also said the FTC's claims were without merit.

Network infrastructure company Verisign reported in late October, just a few weeks after the SEC issued the guidance, that there had been several successful cyberattacks against its corporate networks in 2010. In the filing, Verisign said the company's management had not been informed of the attacks until September 2011.

LinkedIn, the online networking service, publicly announced on June 12 the online theft of 6.5 million user passwords. It said the announcement complies with its obligations to the SEC, but it has yet to file a report about the incident with the commission.

The new SEC guidance puts pressure on companies to decide whether to disclose a breach or keep it secret, said Jody Westby of Global Cyber Risk, a consulting firm. But she said the demand for information amounts to locking the door after the house has been robbed.

"The SEC would have done better to require all public companies to say whether they've taken actions to implement a security program," Westby said.

Associated Press researcher Julie Reed contributed to this report.

Online:

SEC disclosure guidance: http://www.sec.gov/divisions/corpfin/guidance/cfguidance-topic2.htm

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/495d344a0d10421e9baa8ee77029cfbd/Article_2012-06-29-Reporting%20Cybercrime/id-8a6af6bec8744ab79c741b3a44498fc9

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Thursday, June 28, 2012

Airbnb Redesigns And Introduces Wish Lists To Make Curating And Discovering New Destinations A Breeze

As the premier spot online for listing and booking short-term housing accommodations, Airbnb has already seen huge growth since being founded in 2008. It announced just last week that it had hit 10 million guest nights booked in total, with 200,000 active property listings on the site. But now that Airbnb has kind of reached critical mass, it wants to make discovering new spaces a little easier, a little more social, and a little more joyful for its users. To do that, it's rolling out a brand new site design and a new iPhone app, both of which are designed to let users navigate lists of popular destinations, editorially curated content, and spaces that their friends like. It's also introducing Wish Lists, enabling its visitors to create Pinterest-like collections of spaces to stay in.

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i am a 50/50 partner in a new LLC. Can I dissolve the ... - Is It Legal To

I filed the LLC docs a few months ago and have just gotten them in the mail.

Nothing on them has been signed by anyone.

I do not wish to continue working with my partner.

We are 50/50 partners.

I have no interest in the company assets (all digital).

May I dissolve the company and walk away?

Many thanks for the advice.

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Google Nexus Q streaming player unveiled

1 hr.

Suzanne Choney

Google Wednesday introduced what it describes as the "first social streaming device of its kind" with the Nexus Q, which streams your music and entertainment from the cloud to your home, or even to your friends who also have Android phones or tablets.

"It's the first device that lets you create social playlists with your friends," the company said in a video shown on YouTube (shared?below).

The spherical, glowing?Q has the guts of an Android phone and near-field communication to sync with phones nearby. It also has a Micro-USB port. It can?connect to your TV and your stereo system, or run its own speakers with a built-in?amplifier.

It's estimated the player will cost $299. Google will also sell a pair of Triad bookshelf speakers for $399.99 that will work with the Nexus Q.?

The Nexus Q will work in concert with Google's app store, now called Google Play, "play it all on the biggest speakers and screen in the house. There are no downloads, no syncing, no running out of space," the company says.

Check out Technolog, Gadgetbox, Digital Life and In-Game on?Facebook,?and on?Twitter, follow Suzanne Choney.

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Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Dying trees in Southwest set stage for erosion, water loss in Colorado River

ScienceDaily (June 27, 2012) ? New research concludes that a one-two punch of drought and mountain pine beetle attacks are the primary forces that have killed more than 2.5 million acres of pinyon pine and juniper trees in the American Southwest during the past 15 years, setting the stage for further ecological disruption.

The widespread dieback of these tree species is a special concern, scientists say, because they are some of the last trees that can hold together a fragile ecosystem, nourish other plant and animal species, and prevent serious soil erosion.

The major form of soil erosion in this region is wind erosion. Dust blowing from eroded hills can cover snowpacks, cause them to absorb heat from the sun and melt more quickly, and further reduce critically-short water supplies in the Colorado River basin.

The findings were published in the journal Ecohydrology by scientists from the College of Forestry at Oregon State University and the Conservation Biology Institute in Oregon. NASA supported the work.

"Pinyon pine and juniper are naturally drought-resistant, so when these tree species die from lack of water, it means something pretty serious is happening," said Wendy Peterman, an OSU doctoral student and soil scientist with the Conservation Biology Institute. "They are the last bastion, the last trees standing and in some cases the only thing still holding soils in place."

"These areas could ultimately turn from forests to grasslands, and in the meantime people are getting pretty desperate about these soil erosion issues," she said. "And anything that further reduces flows in the Colorado River is also a significant concern."

It's not certain whether or not the recent tree die-offs are related to global warming, Peterman said. However, the 2007 report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projected that while most of the United States was getting warmer and wetter, the Southwest will get warmer and drier. Major droughts have in fact occurred there, and the loss of pinyon pine and juniper trees would be consistent with the climate change projections, Peterman said.

Pinyon pine and juniper are the dominant trees species in much of the Southwest, routinely able to withstand a year or two of drought, and able to grow in many mountainous areas at moderate elevation. The trees are common in Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona, and may have expanded their range in the past century during conditions that were somewhat wetter than normal.

In some places up to 90 percent of these trees have now died, many of them during a major drought in 2003 and 2004. The new research concluded that most of the mortality occurred in shallow soils having less than four inches of available water in about the top five feet of the soil column.

Most of the tree mortality, the scientists said, was caused by trees being sufficiently weakened by drought that opportunistic bark beetle epidemics were able to kill the pinyon pine, and the vascular system of the juniper ceased to function.

Traditionally, pinyon pine and juniper were not considered trees of significant value. They were occasionally used for firewood, but otherwise small and not particularly impressive.

They perform key ecosystem functions, however, not the least of which is stabilizing soils and preventing erosion. They also provide some food in the form of pine nuts and juniper berries, and store carbon in their biomass, and in the soils beneath their canopies.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Oregon State University.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

Journal Reference:

Wendy Peterman, Richard H. Waring, Trent Seager, William L. Pollock. Soil properties affect pinyon pine - juniper response to drought. Ecohydrology, 2012; DOI: 10.1002/eco.1284

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

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98% The Island President

In the simultaneously inspiring and harrowing documentary "The Island President," Mohamed Nasheed was elected to the presidency of the Maldives, a 2000 island archipelago nation in the Indian Ocean, bringing an end to a thirty-year repressive dictatorship in 2008. But a new struggle presents itself in global warming. Currently, the effects there can be seen in erosion and the groundwater. All of which could lead to a unique culture and nation being literally wiped from the map, and its country's population turned into 'environmental refugees.' So, instead of spending valuable resources on health care and education, he has to go with sea walls and other protective measures. So, through this example, we get a disturbing look at what all of our futures may be like if we do not change our ways very soon.(With the use of some great shots, the Maldvies do seem like something out of speculative fiction.) If our behavior affects all others across the globe, then why can't the butterfly flap its wings in the opposite direction, which is where Nasheed comes in, not only in speaking across the world(I'm not recommending invoking World War II usually in speehces, but if you have to, mention Czechoslovakia), but also in proposing to make his country entirely carbon neutral in 10 years by relying on renewable energy sources like solar and wind, making the Maldives an example for the rest of the world. This is harder than it sounds with the economic interests of countries like China and India making things especially difficult with a memorable climax at the climate conference at Copenhagen in 2009. But sadly, Nasheed did not have that much time as he was ousted in a threatened coup in February of this year.

April 1, 2012

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Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Queen begins N.Ireland trip, to meet ex-IRA chief

ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland (AP) ? Queen Elizabeth II is beginning a two-day visit to Northern Ireland celebrating the British territory's hard-won peace in a town that suffered one of the IRA's worst massacres.

The British monarch's planned meeting Wednesday with former Irish Republican Army commander Martin McGuinness comes the day after her visit to Enniskillen, where a no-warning IRA bomb in 1987 killed 11 Protestant civilians and wounded 63 others as they commemorated British dead from the two world wars.

The queen is expected to meet survivors and relatives of the dead alongside religious services in Enniskillen's neighboring Protestant and Catholic cathedrals.

Worldwide revulsion at the Enniskillen massacre spurred McGuinness and other IRA chiefs to begin sounding out peace terms with the British. That quarter-century journey is to end with a Belfast handshake.

Associated Press

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Appeal Special Report: Nevada Flush with Online Gaming Opportunity

The stakes just got higher. Nevada officials last week approved the nation?s first two interactive gambling licenses ? a step that clears the way for online poker within state lines, even while a federal interstate gambling ban remains in place. Members of the Nevada Gaming Commission signed off on licenses Thursday for rival slot machine manufacturers International Game Technology and Bally Technologies Inc., the first two companies to get the certification since officials approved online gambling regulations in January.

Nevada, which is reviewing almost 30 applicants for gambling licenses, is the first state to adopt a statute allowing interactive gaming and the first state to adopt regulations for online gaming of any kind.

?I?m determined that Nevada maintain its position as leader of gaming in the world,? Gov. Brian Sandoval said.

With approval in hand, Bally and IGT now must wait for individual casino operators to be licensed for such wagering. Nevada regulations specify that the interactive gambling systems must be able to weed out underage and out-of-state players. The companies have said that their Internet games would be available to people outside Nevada boundaries but that those players wouldn?t be able to exchange money.

Bally CEO Richard Haddrill said his company has contracted with the Golden Nugget casino to provide an Internet poker product. He said that he expects it to be ready for the public by the end of this year or early 2013 after routine testing and inspections from state regulators. Bally is offering its iGaming platform technology and content to casino operators. The platform features open architecture, which enables operators to choose from best-of-breed content from a multitude of providers. The iGaming platform is also designed for mobile integration and is ready to accommodate, when authorized, online wagering beyond poker, such as casino table games, video slots, bingo, social, and sports wagering.

IGT executive Robert Melendres said IGT is also on track to provide the new systems to customers.

The company has said it expects ultimately to create some 400 jobs, though not all in Nevada.

Jobs are part of the pot

Revenues from Nevada?s card rooms have sagged more than 20 percent since their 2007 peak as an early 21st-century poker boom cooled, suggesting that approving online poker is just a first step in spurring economic growth. And because Nevada is first with online gambling, it gets some benefits, with promises of more to come: 888 Holdings, operator of the 888poker website, has a software relationship with Caesars Entertainment and is looking for offices in Nevada. It expects to hire 40 to 50 workers, according to 888 Chief Executive Officer Brian Mattingley.

Any job creation is a positive step forward economically, and Nevada?s two U.S. senators, Majority Leader Harry Reid and Republican Dean Heller, remain all-in regarding online poker?s legalization.

?Senator Reid believes legalizing online poker remains important for Nevada, and he will continue to work on this issue,? said Reid spokesman Kristen Orthman.

Echoed Stewart Bybee, communications director for Heller:

?Senator Heller continues to support legalizing Internet poker and has been working closely with both Senator Reid and Senator (Jon) Kyl on legislation to achieve this goal.?

Nevada Republican Rep. Mark Amodei is on board, as well, but he believes that the onus is on the states themselves to come up with consistent, collective legislation in order for the movement to have a chance.

Silver State is gold standard

But despite the poker decline and the legislative uncertainty, Nevada remains the focus, as European online gambling companies scramble to stake claims in the Silver State by forming joint ventures with casino companies. For instance, Bwin.party digital entertainment, the product of a merger between U.K.- and Austria-based online gambling companies, is allied with MGM Resorts International and Boyd Gaming.

Being licensed in Nevada is sure to bring prestige that might impress regulators elsewhere. However, online action within Nevada alone is unlikely to be very profitable for the European gambling companies. There?s just too much competition and not enough people here. With a population of just 2.7 million, Nevada is smaller than Lithuania, the European Union?s 21st-biggest country.

?We are never going to get rich on that,? 888?s Mattingley said.

Significant growth won?t come until other states start approving online gambling, according to David Schwartz, director of the Center for Gaming Research at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

The key to online poker is ?liquidity,? or the size of the pool of players. Strong liquidity means players can get games when they want them, at stakes they prefer. It also means bigger prize pots for tournaments. To appeal to poker players, Nevada must find find a way to pool its players with those in states such as California, with its population of nearly 38 million.

Giving Nevada a poker run

Other states?? New Jersey and Delaware, most prominently ? see the potential, too, and could rival Nevada for jobs in the online poker industry.

Delaware?s House passed a bill June 12 for online casino, poker and slots, and if it passes the state?s Senate and is signed into law, it would become the second U.S. state with online gambling.

In New Jersey, the state Assembly recently passed an online gambling bill that would allow interstate Internet gambling compacts. New Jersey is looking for ways to revive its sagging Atlantic City casinos.

New Jersey state Sen. Raymond Lesniak has said he wants to make his state the Silicon Valley of online gambling.

It?s a tougher fight in other states. In California, for instance, poker legislation may be stalled. The likely parties ? Indian tribes, card rooms and horse-racing associations ? can?t agree on how to proceed.

A California Senate bill was pulled from committee June 12 after facing nearly unanimous opposition from Indian tribes, which were unhappy with the involvement of the state?s pari-mutuel industry. Tribes in the state also object to online competition, fearing it will cut into their casino revenue.

IGT?s Melendres says he?s sensitive to that.

?I want to make it abundantly clear: IGT has absolutely no intention to compete with our casino partners,? he told the Nevada commission, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Beyond state borders

Consistent legislation is seen as the key to expanding online poker beyond individual state borders.

Amodei, speaking in April at the Global iGaming Summit Expo in San Francisco, said that a state-by-state approach could lead to a patchwork of legislation that doesn?t serve the industry and that the industry as a whole should push for federal regulation in the U.S.

He noted that the industry has a good reputation for regulation but that by not uniting and moving forward, it plays into the hands of opponents.

?The only challenge is to resolve the issue amongst yourselves,? Amodei said at the gaming expo. ?The bill that will pass is what you folks can come together on.?

But approval of online gambling in the U.S. is happening more slowly than advocates had hoped, given that state legislatures are hard-pressed to generate tax revenue to replace that lost since the 2008 banking and real-estate crash. Federal laws that would legalize and regulate interstate online gambling are hung up in Congress and face opposition from state lotteries and the Indian casinos. It?s unclear when the matter will come up for a vote.

The U.S. Department of Justice has ruled that Internet gambling across state lines is illegal, but some interpret the rules as allowing online play within state borders.

The lack of urgency is even more surprising in light of a U.S. Justice Department ruling in December that the 1961 Wire Act forbids only sports betting, not other forms of Internet gambling such as poker. In March, Minnesota, Nebraska and Hawaii rejected gambling-expansion bills, with Hawaii?s legislature snubbing measures that would have legalized online casinos, poker and a lottery. Utah passed a law in March providing for up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine for anyone gambling on the Internet. Hawaii and Utah remain the only states without any legal form of gambling, according to GamblingCompliance, an online information business. Washington, D.C., even repealed its Internet gambling bill, under pressure from members of Congress.

When states balk, the other option is a federal bill allowing online gambling. It was the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, passed under President George W. Bush, that barred online gambling transactions and pushed out publicly traded European companies that were offering Internet poker in the U.S.

Analyses by Wells Fargo and other financial firms indicate passage of federal legislation could lead to a $20 billion annual market online in the U.S. within five years.

Nevada supports federal legislation, in part becaus estate-by-state approval could be disjointed and slow, according to Mark Lipparelli, chairman of the state?s Gaming Control Board. No federal bills have made it out of congressional committee, and a key advocate of online gambling, U.S. Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts, is retiring from Congress.

Lipparelli, speaking at the Global iGaming Summit Expo, said the outlook is disconcerting for those Americans eager to log back in and start playing poker online.

?There will be governors or legislators that stake their name to certain requirements,? Lipparelli said, ?and to think that five, six, 10, 12 states will overcome all those objections, all those regulatory complexities ? I?m not someone who believes it will happen very fast.?

? David Altaner, an American journalist who works for GamingCompliance.com, reported from London. Contributing were Nevada Appeal Capitol correspondent Geoff Dornan, Appeal news editor John R. Kelly and The Associated Press.

Coming Tuesday: Can the U.S. duplicate Europe?s success with online gaming?

Article source: http://www.nevadaappeal.com/article/20120624/NEWS/120629917/1005&parentprofile=1058

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'Keeping Up With The Kardashians': After Girls Break Her Toe, Kris Jenner Stays Drunk On Vacation (VIDEO)

"The Bachelor"

"The Bachelor," ABC Status: Renewed Why: You really think we've seen the last rose handed out? Not in a million years. ABC has already tapped their next "Bachelorette," and we know they'll have their eyes peeled for a hot rejected man from that spinoff to be the next "Bachelor."

"The Bachelorette"

"The Bachelorette," ABC Status: Likely to be renewed Why: "Bachelor" Brad's also-ran Emily Maynard is getting her turn as the rose giver for the seventh season of "The Bachelorette" this summer. As long as there are people willing to look for love on reality TV, this show will keep on trucking.

"Body of Proof"

"Body of Proof," ABC Status: Renewed Why: "Body of Proof" has been falling below its timeslot competitor, CBS's "Unforgettable," but it still draws a decent audience and its fans are very vocal. ABC has decided it deserves a third season.

"Castle"

"Castle," ABC Status: Renewed Why: This show's ratings have definitely suffered without "Dancing With the Stars" airing beforehand, but it is a consistent performer. And now that Castle and Beckett's relationship is evolving, a fifth season of "oh yes they will" is a no-brainer.

"Charlie's Angels"

"Charlie's Angels," ABC Status: Canceled Why: Not really a shock for anybody, but "Charlie's Angels" is cooked. Flimsy story, bad remake, questionable casting.

"Cougar Town"

"Cougar Town," ABC Status: Renewed -- for TBS! Why: The Season 3 ratings weren't boosted much by holding this show until midseason, but ABC's wonky air schedule also didn't help ... which is why the news that TBS has picked up the show for a fourth season is huge. Cheers with your Big Carl!

"Dancing With the Stars"

"Dancing With the Stars," ABC Status: Renewed Why: "DWTS" may have lost its luster in the ratings, but if the viewers are still coming.

"Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23"

"Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23," ABC Status: Renewed Why: ABC's new bleep-worthy comedy starring Krysten Ritter, Dreama Walker and James Van Der Beek is a funny one, and definitely embraces the quirk (Beek Jeans!), so we're excited to see what they do with a second season.

"Desperate Housewives"

"Desperate Housewives," ABC Status: Canceled Why: After countless deaths, murders, betrayals and natural disasters on Wisteria Lane over the show's eight seasons, the ladies of "Desperate Housewives" will say goodbye forever this May.

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," ABC Status: Canceled Why: After a whopping nine seasons, the do-gooding show came to an end in January. But worry not, it will continue to have a few specials to make viewers cry tears of joy.

"GCB"

"GCB," ABC Status: Canceled Why: This "Desperate Housewives"-esque dramedy premiered to less than 8 million viewers, and the phenomenal cast (Kristin Chenoweth, Annie Potts, Leslie Bibb) couldn't bring in a Texas-sized audience, so ABC canceled it.

"Grey's Anatomy"

"Grey's Anatomy," ABC Status: Renewed Why: Shonda Rhimes' medical drama is a ratings juggernaut, even in its eighth season, and with most of her <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/10/greys-anatomy-ellen-pompeo_n_1506113.html?ref=tv" target="_hplink">big stars signed on for more</a>, ABC gave the go-ahead for a ninth season.

"Happy Endings"

"Happy Endings," ABC Status: Renewed Why: This show is way too "ca-yute" to bubble it, and obviously someone high up at ABC agrees. After its first season was moved around and aired all out of order, the network still gave it another chance to find its audience in Season 2 ... and it has, and hopefully will continue to in Season 3.

"Last Man Standing"

"Last Man Standing," ABC Status: Renewed Why: Ratings for Tim Allen's return to sitcoms have been very strong, making it Tuesday's most-watched comedy. If you can beat "Glee" and "The Biggest Loser," a second season is a given.

"Man Up!"

"Man Up!," ABC Status: Canceled Why: ABC pulled the show after eight episodes.

"The Middle"

"The Middle," ABC Status: Renewed Why: Now in its third season, "The Middle" is still holding onto its middle position in the ratings on Wednesday nights, and that seems just about right. It doesn't do "American Idol" or "Survivor" numbers, of course, but with over 7 million viewers, it's a strong comedy for the network that easily beats anything NBC is offering.

"Missing"

"Missing," ABC Status: Canceled Why: Ashley Judd lead this drama about a former CIA agent whose son goes missing, kicking her back into action to find him. The series was only set to air 10 episodes, miniseries-style, with the potential for more, but a cancellation means that's all they're getting.

"Modern Family"

"Modern Family," ABC Status: Renewed Why: "Modern Family" remains ABC's biggest sitcom success story of the last decade, both in ratings and awards love. This critical darling is getting a fourth season of hijinks with the hilarious Pritchett-Dunphy clan.

"Once Upon A Time"

"Once Upon A Time," ABC Status: Renewed Why: "Once Upon a Time" has gotten praise for being one of the more family-friendly dramas on TV, and it's been pulling in close to 10 million viewers each week because of it. We're excited by the almost endless possibilities for new fairy tale-inspired stories to tackle in Season 2.

"Pan Am"

"Pan Am," ABC Status: Canceled Why: Poor "Pan Am" just never quite took off. The series' vintage look actually worked against it, much like NBC's swiftly canceled "Playboy Club" -- guess when you're being compared to award-winning shows like "Mad Men," it makes it more than a little tough to live up to the hype.

"Private Practice"

"Private Practice," ABC Status: Renewed Why: "Private Practice" has never gotten "Grey's Anatomy"-level ratings, and things got shakier when ABC bumped it to Tuesday nights to make room for creator Shonda Rhimes' other new show, "Scandal," but they've given the show a sixth season order.

"Revenge"

"Revenge," ABC Status: Renewed Why: With a clever mix of drama, mystery and serious revenge-ing, this is hands down one of the most addictive new shows on TV, and we can't wait to see where they take things in Season 2.

"The River"

"The River," ABC Status: Canceled Why: The promise of "Paranormal Activity"-like scares each week quickly fizzled after this show premiered, along with the ratings. The first season's eight episodes came and went, and ABC has nixed any plans for more.

"Scandal"

"Scandal," ABC Status: Renewed Why: Shonda Rhimes' latest show isn't about doctors at all -- and that's why we're glad it's sticking around. Kerry Washington is amazing as Olivia Pope, a Washington, D.C. fixer with a crack team of specialists helping make bad headlines vanish before they're ever written. Here's hoping for more than seven episodes in its second season.

"Shark Tank"

"Shark Tank," ABC Status: Renewed Why: Now in its third season, this reality competition show is unlike any other on network TV and ABC is keeping it around for more for that very reason.

"Suburgatory"

"Suburgatory," ABC Status: Renewed Why: It's smart, quick and not too cute -- "Suburgatory" is consistently named the sitcom you should be watching, but probably aren't. The great cast makes this one a no-brainer, and the ratings have stayed pretty consistent, too. We're thrilled it's getting a second season to shine!

"Work It"

"Work It," ABC Status: Canceled Why: Let us count the ways ...

"2 Broke Girls"

"2 Broke Girls," CBS Status: Renewed Why: At first, people balked at the racist supporting characters, but now it seems that audiences are all over "2 Broke Girls" -- it's ratings have seen a steady increase, and it won the People's Choice Award for Favorite New Comedy.

"A Gifted Man"

"A Gifted Man," CBS Status: Canceled Why: "A Gifted Man's" total viewer numbers were OK for a Friday night, but a 1.3 rating in the 18-49 demographic is especially bad for CBS. Another bad sign: star Patrick Wilson tweeted about the end: "I had a great time. Thanks to my fans. So happy it's done." And done it is.

"The Amazing Race"

"The Amazing Race," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Voted the best reality show on TV several times (albeit years ago), "The Amazing Race" isn't going anywhere. Ratings have dropped a bit, but are still solid.

"The Big Bang Theory"

"The Big Bang Theory," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Nothing seems to be able to make a dent in this show. With fantastic ratings (it beat "Idol"!) and a rabid following, we'll be seeing plenty more "Big Bang" before its run is over.

"Blue Bloods"

"Blue Bloods," CBS Status: Renewed Why: The anchor of Friday nights on CBS, "Blue Bloods" has performed well, pulling in around 11 million viewers an episode. The show might not have the youngest audience, but it's still enough for CBS to keep it on the schedule.

"Criminal Minds"

"Criminal Minds," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Paget Brewster might be checking out, but "Criminal Minds" is here to stay. In Season 7, the procedural is still a consistently strong ratings performer for CBS.

"CSI"

"CSI," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Whenever the time comes, the "CSI" mothership will end with a lot of fanfare, but not this year. With new faces Ted Danson and Elisabeth Shue around, there is going to be at least one more season.

"CSI: Miami"

"CSI: Miami," CBS Status: Canceled Why: Out of the three (!) "CSI" programs on the air, "CSI: Miami" is the one to say goodbye first. The one-time ratings giant has been affected by football overruns (just as "The Good Wife" has) and "CSI: NY" has the edge in terms of total viewers, meaning a "Miami" sunset was inevitable.

"CSI: NY"

"CSI: NY," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Of the two "CSI" spinoffs, "CSI: NY" is the stronger -- pulling in more than 10 million viewers on a Friday night is no easy task -- and with "CSI: Miami" canceled, "CSI: NY's" renewal was a no-brainer.

"The Good Wife"

"The Good Wife," CBS Status: Renewed Why: This critical darling suffered after its move from Tuesdays to Sundays thanks to sports overruns. The viewers are frustrated, but given its strong cast and Emmy love, the show is still coming back for more.

"Hawaii Five-0"

"Hawaii Five-0," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Despite the scheduling setback as Alex O'Loughlin seeks treatment, Season 2 is still doing well for CBS in a very competitive timeslot.

"How To Be a Gentleman"

"How To Be A Gentleman," CBS Status: Canceled Why: Not even having "The Big Bang Theory" as a lead-in could save this David Hornsby project, which only lasted three episodes.

"How I Met Your Mother"

"How I Met Your Mother," CBS Status: Renewed Why: CBS renewed "How I Met Your Mother" for two more seasons in March 2011, so fans can look forward to being strung along about the titular mother's identity for a bit longer.

"The Mentalist"

"The Mentalist," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Although the show hit a season ratings low in the middle of February, its fanbase and overall ratings were enough to have it return for another season.

"Mike & Molly"

"Mike & Molly," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Thanks to an Emmy win and Oscar nomination, Melissa McCarthy is a Hollywood power player and CBS is keen to keep her around. Just look at the multiple pilots she has in the works as a behind the scenes player! "Mike & Molly" will be back for a third season.

"NCIS"

"NCIS," CBS Status: Renewed Why: The long-running procedural has become a ratings juggernaut at a time when most shows start shedding viewers. Season 10 is now happening.

"NCIS: Los Angeles"

"NCIS: Los Angeles," CBS Status:Renewed Why: This show has gone up in the ratings over the last couple of years, and people can't get enough of L.L. Cool J and Chris O'Donnell.

"NYC 22"

"NYC 22," CBS Status: Canceled Why: This "Rookie Blue" clone from executive producer Robert DeNiro didn't really move the needle when it premiered midseason; CBS officially axed it with three episodes left to air.

"Person of Interest"

"Person of Interest," CBS Status: Renewed Why: With ratings matching juggernauts like "Grey's Anatomy" and fans popping up everywhere, we'll be seeing another season of "Person of Interest."

"Rob"

"Rob," CBS Status: Canceled Why: "Rob's" spot after ratings juggernaut "The Big Bang Theory" probably went a long way in helping it survive to see the end of its first season, but that's as far as it'll get.

"Rules of Engagement"

"Rules of Engagement," CBS Status: Renewed Why: This show has moved around so much it's hard to remember when it's on, and with six seasons under its belt it's had quite a nice run. Despite slipping ratings and the aforementioned constant switcheroos, there's still a future for "Rules of Engagement."

"Survivor"

"Survivor," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Of course we have "Survivor" coming back for another season. Where else are we going to see petty squabbles and insane behavior on some of the most beautiful beaches in the world?

"Two and a Half Men"

"Two and a Half Men," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Despite a less-than-favorable critical response, the revamped "Two and a Half Men" keeps pulling in respectable numbers every week. Ashton Kutcher, Jon Cryer and Angus T. Jones will all return for a Season 10.

"Undercover Boss"

"Undercover Boss," CBS Status: Renewed Why: The inherent addictiveness of this show has gone a long way in securing loyal viewers -- it has been on top of the ratings several times this season alone.

"Unforgettable"

"Unforgettable," CBS Status: Likely to be renewed Why: In its timeslot, "Unforgettable" keeps emerging on top, beating out "Parenthood" and "Body of Proof." Leading lady Poppy Montgomery has been called "the female version of 'The Mentalist,'" another top-rated show, so things are looking positive.

"90210"

"90210," The CW Status: Renewed Why: While its ratings have plummeted since last season, the Beverly Hills crew is still doing better than "Supernatural," "Hart of Dixie," "Nikita," and "Gossip Girl" on average.

"America's Next Top Model"

"America's Next Top Model," The CW Status: Renewed Why: Tyra Banks' reality show is in the early stages of its 18th cycle with a Brit vs. U.S. installment. Cycle 19 will be the show's inaugural "college edition."

"Gossip Girl"

"Gossip Girl," The CW Status: Renewed Why: Fans will get to say goodbye to the Upper East-Siders in a sixth and reportedly shortened final season.

"H8R"

"H8R," The CW Status: Canceled Why: Apparently, the opposite of MTV's former series "Fanatic" proved people don't love to hate Kim Kardashian and Snooki as much as we thought. It lasted four episodes.

"Hart of Dixie"

"Hart of Dixie," The CW Status: Renewed Why: Josh Schwartz and Rachel Bilson return for a sophomore season of "Hart of Dixie," hopefully so they can make more viral videos.

"Nikita"

"Nikita," The CW Status: Renewed Why: We're shocked the show is coming back for another season, but its hard-core fans will certainly be happy.

"One Tree Hill"

"One Tree Hill," The CW Status: Canceled Why: After nine seasons, it's time to say goodbye to "One Tree Hill." After subpar ratings, the network decided to pull the plug on its long-standing teen soap. Thankfully, the CW gave "One Tree Hill" a final 13 episodes to wrap up all of the drama.

"Remodeled"

"Remodeled," The CW Status: As good as dead Why: Not only has "Remodeled" already been replaced on the CW schedule, but it debuted with one of the CW's lowest-rated premiere ever, scoring a terrible 0.3 in the coveted 18-49 demo.

"Ringer"

"Ringer," The CW Status: Canceled Why: Sarah Michelle Gellar's double-life proved too complicated and poorly-produced for viewers to care much about.

"The Secret Circle"

"The Secret Circle," The CW Status: Canceled Why: Somewhat of a surprising development given its decent ratings, but it never quite lived up to its lead-in, "The Vampire Diaries."

"Supernatural"

"Supernatural," The CW Status: Renewed Why: This fan favorite will return, but time will tell if the cast wants a Season 8.

"The Vampire Diaries"

"The Vampire Diaries," The CW Status: Renewed Why: "Vampire Diaries" is The CW's golden child ... the vampires and witches and werewolves of Mystic Falls aren't going anywhere.

"Alcatraz"

"Alcatraz," Fox Status: Canceled Why: "Alcatraz" -- and almost every other recent J.J. Abrams TV project -- proves that slapping "from J.J. Abrams" on a show does not equal ratings success. The series debuted strong, but fizzled in the ratings, leading Fox to pull the plug.

"Allen Gregory"

"Allen Gregory," Fox Status: Canceled Why: Jonah Hill's animated series only lasted seven episodes. The Oscar nominee should probably just stick to movies for a while ...

"American Dad"

"American Dad," Fox Status: Renewed Why: Fox gave out early renewals to "American Dad" and "The Cleveland Show," keeping its Sunday night animation block intact.

"American Idol"

"American Idol," Fox Status: Likely to be renewed Why: The show's declining ratings have been widely reported this season, but it's hard to imagine TV life without "Idol."

"Bob's Burgers"

"Bob's Burgers," Fox Status: Too soon to tell Why: The sophomore season of this quirky animated comedy kicks off this month (Sun., Mar. 11), so don't expect to hear about a Season 3 just yet.

"Bones"

"Bones," Fox Status: Renewed Why: The show got a ratings boost thanks to its lead-in "The X Factor." With the floundering state of Fox's dramas (see ya, "House"), Fox is holding on to this one.

"Breaking In"

"Breaking In," Fox Status: Canceled Why: After a last minute revival, "Breaking In" returned for a second season with Megan Mullally in tow, but it wasn't enough to revive this D.O.A. comedy.

"The Cleveland Show"

"The Cleveland Show," Fox Status: Renewed Why: Fox gave "The Cleveland Show" and "American Dad" early renewals and this spinoff will be back for a Season 4, but no word on a fifth season.

"Family Guy"

"Family Guy," Fox Status: Renewed Why: Fox handed out early renewals to the Seth MacFarlane animated comedies.

"The Finder"

"The Finder," Fox Status: Canceled Why: "The Finder" hit the benches for a bit before moving to Fridays, and the numbers never improved. Averaging less than 6 million viewers an episode (not so hot for a Fox drama), it was only a matter of time ...

"Fringe"

"Fringe," Fox Status: Renewed Why: This fan favorite has struggled in the ratings, but Fox has agreed to give it a 13-episode order for a fifth and final season to wrap up all the mysteries of both universes.

"Glee"

"Glee," Fox Status: Renewed Why: The hit teen series is breaking records in music sales, but its overall viewership has slipped. After a bit of a PR debacle about graduating characters that ended with spinoff plans being squashed, "Glee" will get another season.

"Hell's Kitchen"

"Hell's Kitchen," Fox Status: Renewed Why: Last year at this time, Fox renewed the Gordon Ramsay series for two more seasons, so it's all set.

"House"

"House," Fox Status: Canceled Why: After eight seasons and countless unsolvable medical cases solved, this Fox medical drama is coming to an end.

"I Hate My Teenage Daughter"

"I Hate My Teenage Daughter," Fox Status: Canceled Why: As if getting panned by critics wasn't enough, "I Hate My Teenage Daughter's" shrinking ratings had the show marked for death, then Fox benched the sitcom for three months after only four episodes and then ... yep, buh-bye forever. No shock there.

"Kitchen Nightmares"

"Kitchen Nightmares," Fox Status: Renewed? Why: In early February, Fox signed on for a?16-episode fifth season of this other Gordon Ramsay series. They're in the Gordon Ramsay business, and they're not going anywhere.

"MasterChef"

"MasterChef," Fox Status: Likely to be renewed Why: No official announcement has been made regarding a third season, but there was a casting call issued during episodes throughout Season 2. And if Gordon Ramsay's track record with Fox is any indication, it's as good as renewed.

"Mobbed"

"Mobbed," Fox Status: On the bubble Why: It started with a ratings bang, but things have only gone down from there for Fox's flash mob reality show with Howie Mandel at the helm. It's not on the schedule in any regular timeslot though, so it's possible they'll continue producing a few episodes a year.

"Napoleon Dynamite"

"Napoleon Dynamite," Fox Status: On the bubble Why: After a decent debut, "Napoleon Dynamite" dropped about half of its audience to about 4 million viewers per episode. It could go either way.

"New Girl"

"New Girl," Fox Status: Renewed Why: "New Girl" was the first new Fox show to get a full Season 1 order and the show has continued to perform well in the ratings and in the 18-49 demographic. America loves that adorkable charm.

"Q'Viva: The Chosen"

"Q'Viva: The Chosen," Fox Status: Too soon to tell/Not their call Why: Shortly after the Latin American-based show -- starring J. Lo and her ex-husband Marc Anthony -- debuted on Univision, Fox picked up an English-language version that debuted in early March. Though the reality series underperformed in its Saturday night timeslot, it's not Fox's decision whether or not we'll see more "Q'Viva."

"Raising Hope"

"Raising Hope," Fox Status: Renewed Why: Thanks (or no thanks) in part to the success of "New Girl," the sophomore season of "Raising Hope" has moved around timeslots, but it has retained about a 2.1 score in the adults 18-49 demo.

"The Simpsons"

"The Simpsons," Fox Status: Renewed Why: After a very tense contract standoff, the voice actors of "The Simpsons" and the studio agreed to new terms and the show was renewed through Season 25.

"So You Think You Can Dance"

"So You Think You Can Dance," Fox Status: Too soon to tell Why: Season 9 of "So You Think You Can Dance" won't debut until this summer and when it does, there will be changes: Fox has nixed the results show entirely. If the fanbase is still there, the cheaper production could save the show for another few seasons.

"Terra Nova"

"Terra Nova," Fox Status: Canceled Why: Fox pulled the plug on this very expensive dinosaur drama, but reports indicate producers are looking to keep the show alive on a different network.

"Touch"

"Touch," Fox Status: Renewed Why: The Kiefer Sutherland drama had a sizable audience (about 12 million viewers) for its preview and has remained somewhat steady since its premiere. Fox showed faith in the series, giving it the post-"American Idol" slot, and it paid off.

"The X Factor"

"The X Factor," Fox Status: Renewed Why: Fox has already renewed the singing competition for a second season and boy will there be changes: two new hosts and two new judges will join Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid at the table.

"30 Rock"

"30 Rock," NBC Status: Renewed Why:"30 Rock" is showing its age, but the star power of Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin can't be denied -- NBC has renewed the show for a seventh and final season of 13 episodes.

"America's Got Talent"

"America's Got Talent," NBC Status: Likely to be renewed Why: NBC's top-rated summer show is moving to New York for this upcoming season, but it's most likely not going anywhere. Unless, of course, the new judge -- shock jock Howard Stern -- really messes things up somehow.

"Are You There, Chelsea?"

"Are You There, Chelsea?," NBC Status: Canceled Why: With just over 3 million viewers an episode, it wasn't not exactly a strong performer, even by NBC's standards. Even Chelsea Handler and NBC's fondness for funny ladies couldn't save this show.

"Awake"

"Awake," NBC Status: Canceled Why: "Awake" had gotten some great promotion, but its numbers were pretty middle of the road and only went down further -- genre shows with heavy serialized elements are always tricky.

"Bent"

"Bent," NBC Status: Canceled Why: The Amanda Peet comedy premiered in late March and had six episodes to prove itself, but NBC didn't give it much of a chance, airing them back-to-back.

"Best Friends Forever"

"Best Friends Forever," NBC Status:Canceled Why: The female buddy sitcom starring and co-created by Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parham was yanked from the schedule and then axed for good.

"Betty White's Off Their Rockers"

"Betty White's Off Their Rockers," NBC Status: Too soon to tell Why: Even though Betty White isn't doing the pranking, "Off Their Rockers" could still make a comeback.

"The Biggest Loser"

"The Biggest Loser," NBC Status: Likely to be renewed Why: NBC's weight loss competition show has been around for years, and despite sagging overall ratings, its 18-49 rating (a recent episode got a 2.0) is still one of NBC's highest.

"Celebrity Apprentice"

"Celebrity Apprentice," NBC Status: Likely to be renewed Why: Series low ratings probably won't kill this franchise. But are there any D-listers left who haven't competed for Donald Trump's approval?

"Chuck"

"Chuck," NBC Status: Canceled Why: The Josh Schwartz spy dramedy ended its five-season run in January.

"Community"

"Community," NBC Status: Renewed Why: Beloved by (a very vocal) few, ignored by many -- that's "Community" in a nutshell. After getting benched in January, "Community" returned to NBC's schedule with a vengeance, getting it a fourth season pick-up for 13 episodes to air on Fridays. Cool, cool, cool -- you can pop, pop! that champagne now.

"Fashion Star"

"Fashion Star," NBC Status: Renewed Why: The high-style reality series with Nicole Richie, Jessica Simpson, Elle Macpherson and John Varvatos has certainly been confusing, but it's still a smart business model: The winning designs each week are for sale in stores the next day, and those stores just happen to be covering a large portion of production and advertising costs.

"Fear Factor"

"Fear Factor," NBC Status: Likely to be renewed Why: Despite the donkey semen scandal that cut this season of "Fear Factor" a bit short, <a href="http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/13/fear-factor-returns-and-makes-a-ratings-splash/" target="_hplink">"Fear Factor" boosts NBC's ratings</a> ... and can a scandal really compete with that?

"The Firm"

"The Firm," NBC Status: As good as dead Why: The show hasn't officially gotten the axe yet, but "The Firm" was moved to Saturdays after turning in an incredibly poor performance (less than a 1 rating in the 18-49 demo) on Thursday nights.

"Free Agents"

"Free Agents," NBC Status: Canceled Why: This show just didn't have much life in it. It was canceled after just four episodes, despite its awesome lead actors Hank Azaria and Kathryn Hahn.

"Grimm"

"Grimm," NBC Status: Renewed Why: The supernatural fairy tale drama has been doing well for NBC on Friday nights -- it hovers around the 5 million viewers mark, which is pretty solid by NBC standards and why the network gave the drama an early renewal.

"Harry's Law"

"Harry's Law," NBC Status:Cancelled Why: While earlier this year "Harry's Law" was one of NBC's top players, after a three-month break between January and March, the Kathy Bates drama saw mediocre ratings and failed to hold on to viewers.

"Law & Order: SVU"

"Law & Order: SVU," NBC Status: Renewed Why: The only "Law & Order" left, "SVU" has been an NBC power player for 13 years and will return for a 14th.

"The Office"

"The Office," NBC Status: Renewed Why: It's hard to imagine a long-running, fan-favorite show like "The Office" going away without a big promotional push. The numbers are still good (by NBC standards) and "The Office" will return for a Season 9.

"Parenthood"

"Parenthood," NBC Status: Renewed Why: The perpetual bubble show has done pretty consistent numbers for NBC this season, but three seasons in and no signs of growth is both a good and bad sign ... luckily for fans, NBC gave it a Season 4 all the same.

"Parks and Recreation"

"Parks and Recreation," NBC Status: Renewed Why: Just like the rest of NBC's Thursday comedy block, "Parks and Recreation" has serious ratings blues. Can critical acclaim keep "Parks" around for a Season 5? The answer is yes! "Parks" will return for Season 5.

"The Playboy Club"

"The Playboy Club," NBC Status: Canceled Why: Apparently fictional slutty bunnies and real-life homewrecker Eddie Cibrian do not a successful show make. It only lasted three episodes. "The Girls Next Door" did it better.

"Prime Suspect"

"Prime Suspect," NBC Status: Canceled Why: Maria Bello's gruff detective failed to capture the audience NBC hoped. At least we had all those hat jokes.

"Smash"

"Smash," NBC Status: Renewed Why: After a huge promo blitz, "Smash" debuted nicely, but started losing viewers quickly. A handful of episodes in, it stabilized, becoming NBC's #1 drama in the 18-49 demo, and NBC announced it was getting a second season.

"Up All Night"

"Up All Night," NBC Status: Renewed Why: The critical favorite of NBC's new comedy offerings, "Up All Night" debuted strongly to more than 10 million viewers, but has since dropped to less than 4 million viewers an episode. It will return for a Season 2.

"Whitney"

"Whitney," NBC Status: Renewed Why: The show is one of the better performing freshman offerings on the Peacock network -- and NBC chief Bob Greenblatt told members of the press at TCA that he is "hopeful Whitney will be a long-term player for us." Looks like Season 2 is a good start, with the show moving to Friday nights.

"The Voice"

"The Voice," NBC Status: Renewed Why: We may not even be at Season 2's live shows yet, but NBC is already up for more of "The Voice." Hopefully, Cee Lo's cat "Purrfect" will return for Season 3 as well.

"Who Do You Think You Are?"

"Who Do You Think You Are?," NBC Status: Likely to be renewed Why: The celebrity-centric family tree series has helped NBC on Friday nights and hit its ratings high in March.

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Monday, June 25, 2012

Philip Morris International: A Dividend Stock Best Avoided | The ...

June 25, 2012 ? Posted by: Charles Lewis Sizemore, CFA

Nothing is more detrimental to the long-term viability of an investment theme than its own success.? In the often circular logic that defines the market, profitable trades can only remain so as long as they are unpopular.? Once they are embraced by the investing public, prices have generally risen to a point that would make the trade unattractive to its original value-focused adherents.

It is thus with great sadness that I must recommend readers sell their shares of Philip Morris International (NYSE: $PM).? At current prices, this is a dividend stock best avoided.

When Altria (NYSE:$MO) spun off its international tobacco businesses and formed Philip Morris International in 2008, it was about as close as you could get to the perfect stock.? You had all of the standard bullish arguments for tobacco?recession-resistant demand, an addicted customer base, low marketing costs, high cash flows, etc.?but without the threat of crippling lawsuits from the U.S. tort system.

Philip Morris International was also uniquely positioned to take advantage of rising incomes in the developed world.? As consumers in key emerging markets such as China traded up from lower-quality domestic brands, the maker of Marlboro was uniquely positioned to benefit, and still is.

And finally?and perhaps most importantly?Philip Morris International was a dividend-producing powerhouse at a time when decent yields were hard to come by.?

It was the convergence of all of my favorite investment themes in one stock: a high-dividend sin stock with emerging market growth and brand cachet!

But no matter how great an investment looks, your long-term success is ultimately dependent on the price you pay. ?And the reason that tobacco stocks have been such great wealth-creation vehicles in recent decades is because they have been perpetually priced as high-dividend value stocks (see ?The Price of Sin?).

Let?s face it.? Tobacco is not a growth industry, not even in most emerging markets.? While smoking remains popular in many, market penetration hit the high-water mark a long time ago.? And as health awareness rises with incomes, the best the industry can hope for is gentle decline.

Knowing this, long-term investors tend to by tobacco stocks for one and only reason?the high dividends they offer.

Yet consider how Philip Morris International?s dividend stacks up with other consumer-oriented companies with large footprints in emerging markets.

Company	Ticker	Dividend Yield	Forward P/E
Johnson & Johnson	JNJ	3.7%	12.1
Philip Morris?International	PM	3.6%	14.8
Procter?& Gamble	PG	3.8%	15.1
Unilever	UL	3.9%	13.7

?At current prices, investors can get a higher dividend yield in Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:$JNJ), Procter & Gamble (NYSE:$PG) and Unilever (NYSE:$UL), and Philip Morris International trades at a higher P/E ratio than all but Procter & Gamble.? And while each of these three examples has had its share of problems in recent years, the longer-term prospects for all are vastly superior to those for Philip Morris International.

Let me put it to you like this: 50 years from now, I suspect that Philip Morris International will still be selling plenty of cigarettes.? But I?m betting that Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble, and Unilever are selling a lot more Band-Aids, razor blades, and shower gel, respectively.? I?m grossly oversimplifying the businesses of all three of these companies, but my point stands: Philip Morris International is only attractive if it is priced at a significant discount to mainstream consumer products companies like the ones mentioned in this article.

This condition does not hold today, which is why I must regrettably make Philip Morris International a ?sell.??

Investors looking for income these days still have plenty of decent options, even if reliable choices from years past are no longer as attractive as they might been. ?Many oil and gas master limited partnerships offer attractive yields, as do select specialty REITs.? Telecom and utilities stocks are also attractive.? But at current prices, investors might find Philip Morris International?s stock as dangerous as its products.

Disclosures: Sizemore Capital is long MO, PG, JNJ and UL

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