Today's Business News in the Lehigh Valley, 12/18/12

Good morning Lehigh Valley! On this day in 1958, The world's first communications satellite was launched by the United States aboard an Atlas rocket.

In recent news, Lehigh County was named among the Top 10 counties in the United States to attract future growth and investment, ranking 7th in the "large sized counties" segment with populations between 150,000 and 499,999 people. A key factor was the regional cooperation regarding community and economic development.

The city of Allentown recently broke ground on the American Parkway Bridge over the Lehigh River, a $46 million project that will  provide drivers with immediate access to Airport Road and Route 22 and Downtown Allentown. Construction of the bridge will begin very soon, but could take up to two years to complete.

The mobile advertising market in the U.S. is growing at a rapid pace, much more quickly than originally anticipated, expected to reach around $4 billion. It will nearly triple in the upcoming year, with companies like Facebook, Google and Twitter expanding their mobile advertising markets.

After the horrific shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Friday, gun control is a topic that is getting discussed in great length. According to CNN, "Over the past few days, several lawmakers have promised to introduce or reintroduce gun control legislation, ranging from a reinstatement of a federal ban on assault weapons to banning the sale of high-capacity magazines."
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What to Expect with the iPhone 5

In yesterday's press event in San Francisco, Apple announced the latest version to the iPhone family; the iPhone 5. The newest smartphone will be thinner, taller, and lighter, with faster processing speeds and a larger screen.

Some other features that you can expect to see include:

• The iPhone 5 will have a larger 4-inch screen with room for an extra row of apps (all previous versions of the iPhone boast a 3.5-inch screen)
• Apple jumped on board with their competitors and finally offer LTE connectivity, which will be available on AT&T, Spring & Verizon.
• Apple replaced the 30 pin charging connector with a new Lightning connector, and get this; it's reversible! No more fumbling around trying to find out which side is the top or bottom
• iPhone 5 has a thinner design -  7.6 mm wide and 112 grams compared to previous 9.3 mm and 140 grams
• New and improved processor - A6 chip
• Improved earphones called EarPods that allow for deeper bass
• 8 MP camera with built-in panorama mode that is also 40% faster and better in low light
• Enhanced Siri assistant
• iOS 6 operating system

The phone will debut in 9 countries on September 21, followed by 22 more on September 28.

The real question is: Will you be waiting in line to purchase Apple's most recent product? I might wait until it's out for a few weeks, but I already know I'll be upgrading to the iPhone 5.
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The LAFD talks about ICE

Chances are that your e-mail inbox has filled with messages like this:

Make the Paramedics job easier with ICE. ICE stands for "In Case of Emergency". If you add an entry to the contacts list of your cell phone under the name "ICE", Paramedics will call that number if they find you unconscious or...

The Los Angeles Fire Department has received thousands of e-mail inquiries, all seeking to know "Is this true"?

The quick answer?

The original "ICE" concept for listing your personal emergency contact on a mobile phone is well known to LAFD responders. It is obviously an idea that gives people peace of mind - yet should not be relied upon as a sole source for personal identification or emergency contact.

It is important to note that the original ICE concept is both free and simple: you choose an appropriate person to be contacted in case of an emergency and label their phone number as "ICE".

As one might anticipate, some businesses have sought to offer "fee-based" services and smart-phone applications related to ICE. Contrary to what some may infer, it is not necessary to register or pay money to make an ICE entry on your personal wireless phone.

Our friends at Snopes.com offer information about the history of ICE - and some regretful hoaxes that have followed. The Los Angeles Fire Department supports the original ICE concept as a free and potentially helpful tool in the minutes and hours that follow an emergency.

However...

Contrary to e-mail warnings, ICE is not something that Paramedics rush to look for the instant they arrive at an emergency, and is certainly not required for LAFD Paramedics to provide quick, focused and compassionate emergency care.

We tell people: Add ICE contact information in your cell phone only after you've affixed similar information to (or near) the official photo identification you routinely carry in your wallet.

Why?

With so many types of wireless phones, it can take precious minutes to learn how to access a phone's directory. Many wireless devices are also found to be locked, damaged or have discharged batteries following an incident, rendering ICE unusable.

Please encourage your interested friends and colleagues to make a free ICE entry in their cell phone, especially if it will give them peace of mind - but never at the expense of written emergency contact and medical information.

The free original ICE concept works best when it is part of a comprehensive family or business plan for dealing with emergencies and disasters.

Whenever you have a question about the policies and procedures that Firefighter/Paramedics use in handling emergencies, do not hesitate to visit your Neighborhood Fire Station.


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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LAFD's 9-1-1 Dispatch Center Made Historical Move

 Los Angeles Fire Department's (LAFD) dispatch center, known for it's motto, "It all starts here", made a historic move today. During the early morning hours of February 28, 2012, 9-1-1 call taking and resource dispatching moved locations from the Operations Control Division (OCD) at City Hall East to the new Metropolitan Fire Communications (MFC) facility at 500 E. Temple Street.

Now that the the transition to MFC is complete, OCD has become the Department’s back-up dispatching facility and the radio call sign "OCD" is no longer operative. At one in the morning, the strategically planned five hour radio transfer was made. Now, all inbound and outbound radio transmissions will use the call sign, “Metro.” No other changes to radio terminology, resource dispatch algorithms, or operations will occur.

In addition, LAFD's Public Service Office (PSO) made the same geographical migration. Matt Spence, Brian Humphrey, and Erik Scott sincerely appreciate the patience of all during this exciting and elaborate transition, as they have had decreased availability at times. As for members of the media, the phone number for the PSO EPI-Center will remain the same, for the time being. We and look forward to better serving you from our new location.

Construction of the Metro Fire Communications facility which includes Fire Station 4 and the City’s Emergency Operations Center, began on January 19, 2006 as part of Prop “F” funding. Although the 120,000 square foot facility has been up and running for the past couple of years, the Metro Fire Communications sophisticated 9-1-1 telephone and dispatch equipment installation was just recently completed.


The move to the new Metro Fire Communications facility involves many City agencies, Vendors, and private contractors. Planning for the actual transition from City Hall East to the MFC has been in the works for the last several months, which includes the training of dispatchers and staff for familiarization of new state of the art equipment. As of February 29, 2012, the Coldwater back-up dispatch center will no longer be operational. The Department appreciates your interest and cooperation in this historic move.

Some have recently said, the previous commonly used ending radio transmission, "OCD Clear", now takes on a new meaning.

Submitted by Administration & Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Follow @LAFD and @LAFDtalk on Twitter and find us on Facebook

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65 Years Ago: Deadly Los Angeles Blast a Proving Ground for Live TV

With rapid change taking place in old and new media alike, it seems fitting that we take a look back at how a brilliant scientist named Landsberg, a legendary broadcaster named Lane and gallant members of your Los Angeles Fire Department made history in our City, 65 years ago...

L.A. Scene
The City Then and Now
By Cecilia Rasmussen

Deadly Blast a Proving Ground for Live TV

Since the film industry moved west shortly after the turn of the century, Los Angeles has been on the cutting edge of what has come to be called the information age. And, though it is seldom recalled, the first convergence of live television and disaster -- a staple of today's TV news -- occurred in response to the city's most deadly industrial accident.

Television made its American debut at the 1939 World's Fair in New York. Within a year, Paramount had dispatched the brilliant Klaus Landsberg to build an experimental TV station -- W6XYZ -- in Los Angeles. Landsberg, who had invented a widely used FM radio receiver while in his teens, fled his native Germany shortly after the Third Reich classified his pioneering work on radar and sonar as a national secret. In 1936, however, Landsberg had participated in experimental television broadcasts of the Berlin Olympics.

He arrived in Los Angeles with an unequaled technical background and an abiding belief -- gleaned from his Berlin experiment -- that live television had the power to fundamentally alter people's understanding of the world around them.

There were 350 home television sets in Los Angeles on Feb. 20, 1947, when Landsberg's system was put to its first great test... (read more...)

Historical Reference:

• 1947 Project: A Terrible Blast
• 1947 Project: 926 Pico Then and Now
• Architecture Database News Archive
• GenDisasters: Events That Touched Our Ancestors Lives
• LAFire.com: The O'Connor Electro-Plating Explosion
• Time Magazine: The Amazing Brew

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Follow @LAFD and @LAFDtalk on Twitter and find us on Facebook

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Have You Heard of NOAA 'All Hazards' Radio?

National 'All Hazards' Weather Radio (NWR) is a nationwide network of NOAA radio stations broadcasting continuous information directly from the nearest National Weather Service office.

NWR broadcasts official Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Working with the Federal Communication Commission's Emergency Alert System, NWR is an all hazards radio network, making it an important source of local weather and emergency information.

In conjunction with public officials, NWR also broadcasts warning and post-event information for all types of hazards – including natural (such as earthquakes or avalanches), environmental (such as chemical releases or oil spills) and public safety (such as AMBER Alerts or 9-1-1 Telephone outages).

Known as "The Voice of NOAA's National Weather Service", NWR is provided as a public service by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), part of the Department of Commerce, and covers all 50 states, adjacent coastal waters, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the U.S. Pacific Territories.

NWR requires a special yet inexpensive radio receiver that can be purchased at an electronics retailer near you. You can also listen via scanner radio on one of seven frequencies (MHz):

• 162.400
• 162.425
• 162.450
• 162.475
• 162.500
• 162.525
• 162.550 

For additional information, visit:

weather.gov/nwr

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Follow @LAFD and @LAFDtalk on Twitter and find us on Facebook

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Fire and Hazardous Materials Clear Industrial Area in Sylmar

SYLMAR- A small fire at a manufacturing plant, just before daybreak on Wednesday morning, resulted in a protracted Hazardous Materials Incident, requiring the evacuation of 220 people.

At 6:16 am, on October 19, 2011, the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a reported "Structure Fire" at 12500 North Gladstone Avenue, in a mostly industrial section of Sylmar in the north San Fernando Valley. Having prior knowledge of the type of business, the facility's size (nearly 350,000 total square feet) and its contents, additional resources were requested, based on the "potential" the incident presented.

The fire erupted during a routine cleaning at "Spectrolab", a solar-cell, manufacturing plant for spacecraft power systems. Thanks to the quick thinking of the on-site, specialized cleaning personnel, the fire was swiftly extinguished and confined to one room of the facility. Despite that, there were extended operations by two LAFD Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Squads, as they worked to stabilize the extremely hazardous chemicals involved and ensure there was no danger to the building's occupants or the surrounding area.

The on-scene hazards triggered a significant response, with 122 Firefighters converging to the scene, as well as the LAPD and the Los Angeles County Health Hazardous Materials Division (LACo HHMD).

The Spectrolab workers that were present at the fire's point of origin, escaped without incident, as 15 other company employees were evacuated for precaution. All citizens in the surrounding industrial area were also evacuated. A total of 220 people were escorted to an offsite location for safety, while LAFD personnel prepared for entry.

Both HazMat Squads made entry, exercising every precaution. Special attention was given to the product containers, making certain they had not been compromised and that there was no danger of a product release. Additionally, all readings taken by the Squads came back negative and were determined to be within normal limits. The incident was then declared "static" and turned over to the building owner and the LACo HHMD.

There were no reported injuries or illnesses; however, one company employee was transported to a local hospital for precaution, in "good" condition.

The dollar loss has not yet been determined and the incident remains under active investigation.

Dispatched Units:
T98 E298 E98 RA898 RA98 E91 E275 T75 E24 EM15 BC12 BC15 E77 E77 E275 T75 E87 T87 E287 SQ87 E21 T21 E221 SQ21 BC10 BC15 E70 EM15 EM17 RA91 DC3 RA87 E289 T89 E91 DU98 T78 E278 HM75 RA75 RT83 CM3 HM17 E17 RA17 CM2 CP3 BC738 HS1 RA98 EM15


Submitted by Matt Spence, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Apple's New iPad - Can it Keep the Momentum?

Apple's about to announce the release of their new iPad tomorrow, March 2nd. As we know, the original iPad is one of the fastest selling consumer electronic device, the question is will the Apple and iPad 2 be able to live up to their customers' expectations?

We can get an interesting look at this with looking at Apple's stock fluctuations with the news release tomorrow morning.

Interested? You can follow the release of the iPad 2 at: http://live.gizmodo.com/

Reminder - We do have an event on Thursday, March 3rd. It is a wonderful Networking 101 event and it will be very useful for recruitment all year round. We look forward to seeing you there!Any source

Integrating Technology into Islamic Finance

The progression of Islamic finance has been extensive and of colossal impact. With its growth rate beyond expectations and confidence levels at an all-time high, the industry is doing well out of the current economic turmoil. However, does its technological capabilities meet the requirements of up-to-the-minute customers? RAHAYU MUSA KAMAL spoke to technology experts on what needs to be done to ensure smooth growth. With the ever-changing technological advancements in tandem with today's fast-paced and on-the-go lifestyle, it seems like every aspect of our lives now revolves around state-of-the-art creations that have made daily affairs easier to execute than before. Consumers are more open to the latest innovations, hence to live up to their expectations and to cater to demand, fledgling industries like Islamic finance have no choice but to be equipped with modern yet suitable capabilities for growth. There has long been a misconception about adopting technology into Islamic finance. The impression given is that it operates similar to its conventional partner. However, this has proven to be somewhat inaccurate as espousing the technology similar to that used by conventional banks can't be done. First of all, being an Islamic bank, a set of Shariah principles must be followed. According to Jamil Hassan of Oracle Financial Services Software, Islamic banks have to adhere to a set of Shariah principles that regulate them to organize their products (liabilities and assets) in an entirely different way from conventional banking. The principal consultant of Islamic banking gave an example that in Islamic banking, imposition of interest is prohibited on all financings and most contracts between Islamic banks and their borrowers are conducted under the framework of trading (i.e. buy and sell). As for the depositors, the deposits placed in the banks fall under the concept of Mudarabah, where all profits accrued (and losses incurred), after deducting the banks' fees, are passed back to the depositors. "In this context, the underlying technology for a bank's core banking system has to be re-engineered to fully address the requirements of Shariah in an integrated way. It should be capable of handling financing contracts and have a robust profit distribution engine. These attributes are mandatory for Islamic banks that want to be successful and are able to compete head on with their rivals, whether Islamic or conventional banks," Jamil said. He added that the core banking system must be flexible enough so that new products and services can be supported and released within a short time; and can be updated on a regular basis by its vendor so that all best practices and new developments elsewhere are made available to the Islamic banks. For David Hii, a few issues need to be addressed when it comes to technology and the Islamic finance industry. "The business measure of Islamic finance is changing very quickly. "As a result, there are different requirements and ways of doing business, and that is happening a lot faster than expected. "Islamic banks are constantly seeking ways to partner and also leverage on the existing banks they are a part of because several Islamic banks are part of a big group, so this is called technical integration," said the chief technology officer of Microlink Solutions. He said Islamic bankers have this perception that technology can help their business but contended technology can't solve everything as what is more important is the ability to offer good service along with the technological advancements. Hii pointed out that without good consultants, Islamic banking providers would not be able to maximize the benefits of technology as well. "Over the last five years, there have been changes in how we can build our software; this is where it can help the Islamic banking world. It's important to build what you need and continue to grow from there. It will involve compromise from both parties; the bankers will have to understand that there are limitations," said Hii, adding that this will require vast consulting experience between the software provider and the bankers. He said bankers must understand that one cannot change the game plan later on in the project without making compromises, and that communication is important. Outsourcing the most viable option For Islamic banking, it is imperative that the software used be suitable for all its transactions and customers. Jamil explained that currently, Islamic banks are typically small (usually fewer than 50 branches, with an asset size of US$5 billion or less) and do not have extensive IT budgets and expertise to manage their technology platform to meet the future competitive landscape. In addition, as these banks are regulated by the same regulators as the conventional banks, similar processes and controls are being imposed, resulting in higher operational costs for Islamic banks. "Given the above, Islamic banks should choose technology platforms that can be leveraged for the longest possible timeframe (between five and seven years, at least), supported by strong and reputable organizations with a deep understanding of and strong commitment to Islamic banking," he said, adding that strong and reputable technology solution providers will ensure that their technology platforms are constantly updated with the latest functionalities, regulations and technologies required for the smooth operation of these banks. "The most viable way for Islamic banks is to outsource the task of upgrading technology to their technology solution providers. It is thus imperative that Islamic banks spend considerable time selecting the right technology providers that they want to partner with. "Choosing the right technology partner will allow Islamic banks to move rapidly and stay ahead of the competition while a wrong choice can set a bank back by months or even years. Hence, a strategic long-term partnership with the technology vendor that can support growth is an important consideration," Jamil said. Hii, on the other hand, explained the importance of knowing the services banks are providing so that it will be easier for the software engineers and the end result will be of high quality. "Both parties should know what is required and what needs to be done. It is only natural so that it will be a win-win situation for both. There will be a lot of integration that is required. Technology allows banks to integrate in a different environment, to expand the business," said Hii. On the different types of solution providers available now and how Islamic financial institutions select the product that suits them best, Jamil, an expert in this field, explained that at the functional level, most solutions from global technology providers have the required functionalities to support the existing operations of a bank. He said these solutions, however, differ in the following areas: At the same time, technology is also undergoing rapid changes, with applications such as Java, Web 2.0 and Service Oriented Architecture being among the latest trends. A committed player in Islamic finance will have to ensure that it continues to enhance its solution offerings by incorporating functionalities that are in demand while maintaining a practical approach in upgrading its underlying technology so as to align itself with the latest IT trends. "A bank should choose a solution from a solution provider that can demonstrate the above three important criteria. A solution that exhibits these three behaviors will ensure that a bank is able to use its system for as long as possible, thus maximizing its agility to compete in the marketplace and yet, maintain operational costs to the minimum," explained Jamil. Compatibility factor Meanwhile, Hii lamented the lack of expertise on the Islamic banking solution providers' side. "There are now a lot of different tools to cut short the learning cycle as many mediums can be used to communicate between the service provider and the clients. Normally, for an average software engineer, it will take three to six months to really master the skills of creating software for Islamic finance, but since there are so many tools now, more and more can be done," said Hii, adding that in many instances, the service provider need not learn everything about its clients as long as it knows the right questions to ask and gathers correct information. With Islamic finance being a young industry, issues like being on a par with its conventional counterpart, which has existed for years, and tried and tested mostly everything related to information technology, problems are bound to crop up. For Jamil, the most important criteria are the compatibility between the culture and aspirations of the bank and that of the solution provider. Many failures in software implementation occur during the implementation phase as a result of people-related issues, such as the wrong personnel being deployed for the project, lack of dedication by various team members and a lack of direction by top management. He stressed that a solution provider that has shown resiliency in managing all its previous projects, especially in a similar environment faced by the bank, is likely to be able to handle all issues expeditiously without upsetting too many parties within the project teams. "Selection of a solution provider is a strategic decision, hence objectivity and professionalism must be maintained throughout the decision process. As the partnership is to last a minimum of five years (with little option for 'breakup'), a solution provider must be one that understands the bank's culture, is respectful of the various forces within the bank and is flexible yet fully committed to assist the bank in its journey — all these are imperative if a bank intends to take full advantage of the system that it procures from the vendor," Jamil concluded.

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