Allianz Life Promotes Dwan Norwood to Director in IT

Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life®) promoted Dwan Norwood to director of Midrange Operations within the Information Technology group. He will be responsible for IT infrastructure service delivery functions along with technology solutions to support business plans for the company. He will drive projects, solutions, and technology portfolios to ensure stability of IT systems while managing vendor relationships. Norwood reports to the Vice President of IT Infrastructure, Tom Mundt.

“Dwan consistently delivers high quality results and has established himself as a trusted leader within our organization,” states Mundt. “During his time with Allianz Life, he has made significant contributions to ensure more effective operations and strategic planning. I am confident that Dwan will have continued success in his new role.”

Norwood has more than 15 years of experience in Information Technology. He originally joined Allianz Life in 2010 as a senior manager in Midrange Infrastructure where he was responsible for implementation and operations of Midrange Infrastructure including servers and network storage. Prior to that, Norwood was a senior manager of Information Protection with Target Corporation in Minneapolis where he led the Incident Management and Investigations team responsible for information security incident response and network investigations. Norwood also held roles as a senior manager for Boston Scientific in Arden Hills, Minn. for five years. Prior to that, he also worked for multiple organizations holding various technical and engineering roles.

Norwood holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration/information systems from the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs, Colo. He also earned a Masters of Business Administration degree from the Carlson School of Business at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

AIDS drug roll-out boosts South African life expectancy

South Africa has achieved a "stunning" increase in life expectancy in the last three years due to a government push to roll out antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) to people with HIV/AIDS, researchers said on Thursday.

The average South African is now likely to live to the age of 60, a study in the Lancet medical journal said, compared with just 56.5 in 2009 when President Jacob Zuma came to power with promises of a new approach to the country's HIV/AIDS burden.

Africa's biggest economy is home to 6 million HIV/AIDS sufferers but under Zuma's predecessor, Thabo Mbeki, the government was reluctant to provide the life-prolonging drugs, the study said.

Nearly 2 million people are now taking ARVs daily in what is the world's largest ARV programme. That total compares with 912,000 in 2009 and just 235,000 three years before that.

Although overall infection rates have stayed constant at around 10 percent since 2006, the study's authors said such a dramatic increase in life expectancy was unheard-of.

"There are many factors that contribute to life expectancy but the single most important one was the expansion of the ARV treatment programme," said Professor Salim Abdool Karim, director of the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa and a member of the Lancet South Africa team.
"That increase in life expectancy is nothing short of stunning. You don't see those kinds of increases in the real world."

Lead researcher Bongani Mayosi from the University of Cape Town singled out Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi for praise in reversing the policies of Mbeki, whose health minister outraged activists by questioning the effectiveness of ARVs and championing the benefits of garlic and beetroot instead.
"We have no doubt that the new administration that came in 2009 was eager to make an improvement on the disastrous record of the first 15 years of the ANC government," Mayosi said.

South Africa still faced formidable challenges however, particularly in reducing huge racial disparities in housing, employment and access to health services, Mayosi said.

Just 10.3 percent of black South Africans, who make up 80 percent of the population, have medical insurance, compared with 70.9 percent for whites, who make up just 10 percent of the overall 52 million population, the study showed.

Guardian Life Brings Together Top Female Performers to Enhance Recruitment Efforts

Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian) today announced the successful conclusion of its annual Women Producers’ Summit in New York City, held last month. The conference brought together Guardian’s female Financial Representatives to celebrate the outstanding service they have given clients over the past year, and to discuss ways to recruit more women Financial Representatives in 2013 and beyond.

“The role of a Financial Representative is a tremendous career opportunity for women,” said Emily Viner, Vice President, Agency Management and Leadership Development for Guardian Life. “This year’s conference gave us the opportunity to learn from our most successful women Financial Representatives, what the profession means to them and why they would recommend becoming a Financial Representative to other women looking to start or switch careers.”

Conference attendees noted that the best part about being a Financial Representative is the ability to structure one’s own practice. The flexible schedule and unlimited, results-based pay scale often provide the work-life balance many women strive to achieve throughout their careers.

Other Financial Representatives added that, as natural caretakers, women find the career fulfilling, because they have a direct impact on clients’ lives by helping build a financial future that fits each of their specific needs.

“Our profession is centered around the ability to develop and maintain significant and close relationships with our clients, which is a skill that comes naturally to most women,” said Karen Jessey, Financial Representative, Wealth Strategies Group. “It takes a lot of hard work, and isn’t for everyone; but this is a rewarding profession that many women have developed into a very lucrative career.”

“It is a demanding career and one that requires a great deal of discipline, but being a Financial Representative has given me the ability to build my own business with a work schedule that best fits with my life,” said Marguerite Rangel, Financial Representative, Pacific Advisors. “Over the years, I’ve figured out how to get the best of both worlds - I can have a challenging and rewarding career where I can give each of my clients the individual attention they need, and can still make sure that my family time is a priority – all thanks to my decision to change careers and become a Financial Representative.”

In conjunction with this year’s annual conference, Guardian announced its goal to have women make up at least 28% of the Financial Representatives recruited in 2013. Guardian Life is on pace to hiring more than 840 Financial Representatives across the country, which would be the most in any single-year period in the company’s 152 year history. Since 2009, the number of female Financial Representatives at Guardian has grown to more than 630, and the company has hired more than 150 in 2012 alone.

“We have been increasing recruitment efforts over the last few years to provide Americans with access to quality financial planning strategies, which is essential in today’s unstable economy,” continued Viner. “Our Financial Representatives, new and old, have come from very different previous careers and backgrounds. Through our training services and with the right attitude and personality, anyone can succeed. As we’ve seen from this year’s conference, being a Financial Representative not only comes with financial benefits, but also a better quality of life.”

With the success of this year’s conference, Guardian Life plans to grow this annual meeting so more women have the opportunity to meet with their peers and learn from each other’s experiences to grow their practices.

VG Life Sciences Issues Fall 2012 Shareholder Update

Driven by the broadening scope of our efforts we have changed our name to VG Life Sciences Inc. Our Board of Directors and I believe this better captures our reach into not only pharmaceutical development but bio-fuels, agricultural applications and the other high growth target markets we are now focused on.
We have also announced several major changes to our capital structure including a reverse stock split and the restructuring of elements of our debt obligations. We believe this results in a capital structure that enhances our credibility and better positions us with potential strategic partners, institutional funding sources and the new executive management talent that we are seeking to hire as we now go forward on this stronger foundation.

Operationally, we just reached an important milestone in our Phase 1 physician-initiated clinical trial for ovarian cancer, and we have also introduced yet another drug candidate (Lyme) to the FDA in a pre-IND submission, while our VG Energy subsidiary launched a research-grade version of its first product, LipidMax™.

San Marino, California-based VG Life Sciences, Inc. discovers and develops drug therapies from two exclusively-licensed platform technologies based on over 60 patents: Metabolic Disruption (MDT) and Targeted Peptides (TPT). A physician-initiated Phase I clinical trial of an MDT compound in combination with Nexavar™ on Stage III and IV ovarian cancer patients is ongoing at the Cancer Therapy and Research Center of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. A majority-owned subsidiary, VG Energy (www.vgenergy.net) is dedicated to exploring biofuel and agricultural applications for the MDT platform. Founded in 1994, the biotech company is researching treatments for drug resistant cancer, Lyme disease, Strep, Staph and Sepsis, and HIV/AIDS.

VG Energy Inc. is an alternative energy and agricultural biotech company that is a majority-owned subsidiary of VG Life Sciences, Inc. VG Energy holds the exclusive worldwide license to the Metabolic Disruption Technology (MDT) patent rights for use in the increase of production of various oils from algae, plants and seeds. VG Energy’s pivotal discoveries could allow the biofuel industry to overcome its major obstacle in the area of production efficiency: namely, an increase in production yields leading to feasible economic returns on investment, allowing renewable biodiesel to be competitive with fossil fuels.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties associated with financial projections, budgets, milestone timelines, clinical development, regulatory approvals, and other risks described by VG Life Sciences Inc. from time to time in its periodic reports, including statements about its VG Energy, Inc. subsidiary. None of VG Life Sciences’ drug compounds are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration or by any comparable regulatory agencies elsewhere in the world, nor are any non-pharmaceutical products of VG Energy, Inc. commercialized. While VG Life Sciences believes that the forward-looking statements and underlying assumptions are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, including, but not limited to, the ability of VG Life Sciences to establish the efficacy of any of its drug therapies in the treatment of any disease or health condition, the development of studies and strategies leading to commercialization of those drug compounds in the United States, the obtaining of funding required to carry out the development plan, the completion of studies and tests on time or at all, the successful outcome of such studies or tests, or the successful commercialization of VG Energy, Inc.’s non-pharmaceutical products.

Therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this release will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by VG Life Sciences or any other person that the objectives and plans of VG Life Sciences will be achieved. VG Life Sciences Inc. disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

LIFE Beefs Up Diagnostic Portfolio

Recently, Life Technologies Corporation (LIFE) announced the launch of its Applied Biosystems QuantStudio Dx Real-Time PCR Instrument. The QuantStudio Dx is an in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) medical device which has the European CE Mark Approval. The company plans to submit the QuantStudio Dx to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (:FDA) for 510(k) clearance in December 2012.

The QuantStudio Dx is being marketed with the CE marked Quidel Molecular Assay for C. difficile, used for the detection of hospital-acquired infections. Life Technologies currently distributes the Quidel Molecular Assay.

The unique features of the QuantStudio Dx will improve the standard of care by increasing the accuracy of various diagnostic functions such as pathogen detection, gene expression analysis, SNP genotyping, copy number analysis, mutation detection, micro-RNA and other non-coding RNA analysis, and high-resolution melt analysis.

According to DeciBio, the market size for IVD in Europe is currently $14 billion and $52 billion globally. By 2015, it is projected to increase to $17 billion in Europe and $70 billion worldwide. Also worth mentioning in this context is that the European market contributes 30% to company-wide revenues. Thus, the launch of QuantStudio Dx presents a significant opportunity for Life Technologies to garner incremental revenues in the European market.

Moreover, the market for molecular tests is the fastest growing segment of the diagnostic market. As a result, the launch will enable the company to expand its foothold in the high-growth avenue. Life Technologies already markets the CE-IVD marked Applied Biosystems 3500 Dx Genetic Analyzer as well as the AcroMetrix line of quality controls for molecular diagnostic assays.

Our Take

Life Technologies enjoys a strong position in the life sciences market. We are optimistic about the company’s focus on its diagnostics franchise, which holds potential. We also note Life Technologies’ efforts to expand its footprint in high-growth markets through partnerships, acquisitions and product innovation.

Life Technologies has been working on enhancing its diagnostic franchise over the recent past, both organically and inorganically. The company expects compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15% for its molecular diagnostic franchise through 2016.

However, the competitive landscape is tough with the presence of players such as Illumina (ILMN), and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) among others. Economic uncertainties lowering discretionary spending and currency are the major headwinds for Life Technologies, as reflected in the company’s third quarter 2012 results.

Press Box: Camacho taken off life support, dies

Former Boxing great Hector Camacho was taken off life support Saturday morning and died a few minutes later, according to the New York Times. He was 50.
Camacho, who was shot in the face on Tuesday night, had been on life support at Centro Medico trauma center in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He had a heart attack and died shortly after being taken off life support.

Dr. Ernesto Torres, the director of the trauma center, reported the death.

Camacho, known for his quickness and flamboyance, was a world champion in three different weight classes.
Maria Matias, Camacho's mother, told reporters Friday that she planned to remove her son from life support. She wanted to wait until Saturday so his three sons could say goodbye to him.

Doctors said Camacho was clinically brain dead from the shooting in his hometown of Bayamon.
Camacho won super lightweight, lightweight and junior welterweight world titles in the 1980s. He had a career record of 79-6-3.

NBA
--Los Angeles Lakers point guard Steve Nash said Friday that he doubts he will be ready to play by Tuesday, according to ESPN Los Angeles.
Nash still cannot jog or participate in any on-court drills without pain. The veteran fractured his left leg in the Lakers' season-opener on Oct. 31. He sustained the injury when he bumped knees with Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard.
Nash has already been ruled out of Saturday's game at the Dallas Mavericks. The Lakers return home Tuesday to play the Indiana Pacers.

NHL
--Chicago Blackhawks center Dave Bolland admitted that he used bad judgment when he retweeted a post Friday from a fan who called for commissioner Gary Bettman's death.
The retweet was later deleted. It read: "can I get a RT for wanting Bettman dead?"
"It was a mistake, I never meant to retweet that out," Bolland told ESPN.com Saturday. "I like to retweet for a lot of my fans, and I just retweeted the wrong thing. I feel bad about it."

--Arkansas coach John L. Smith will no longer lead the team, the school announced in a statement Saturday.
Athletic director Jeff Long told Smith he would not be brought back to lead the Razorbacks next season and that the school plans to name a new coach within 10 days.
Arkansas finished the season 4-8 after losing to LSU 20-13 on Friday.
Smith was hired on a 10-month contract in April after the firing of
Bobby Petrino.

-- DeMarlo Hale, who was Baltimore's third-base coach this past season, has been hired to be the Toronto Blue Jays bench coach, MLB.com reported.
-- Free-agent catcher Mike Napoli is scheduled to meet with the Red Sox in Boston this weekend, CBSSports.com reported.
The Mariners and his 2012 team, the Texas Rangers, are the other teams believed to be interested in Napoli.

MEN v FASHION: Comedian Jon Richardson on the season's trends

Stand up comedian Jon Richardson has kindly let us pick his brain about the latest celebrity style crazes, and of course, Fashion Week catwalk looks.

Though we were supposed to be talking all aout his new DVD (Funny Magnet, see below) and tour - which are both very awesome - we couldn't resist getting a man's view on everything from Kim Kardashian's teeny tiny crop tops, to Kristen Stewart's androgyny and Anne Hathaway's bohemian glamour.

So here it is, Jon's thoughts on all things fashion from sheer skirts to monochrome prints, via florals, bondage, fuchsia pink and Cheryl Cole...

Jon's debut DVD Funny Magnet - hilarious! - has just hit the shelves seeing him discuss, in his own loveably grumpy way, the everyday occurrences which have a profound effect on his misanthropic outlook on life.

Expect to laugh and snort your way through it, before hitting JonRichardsonComedy.com to check for tickets to watch him live. Be quick!

What do you make of that? Will you be taking Jon's style advice?

Exhibit peeks inside fashion icon Kahlo's wardrobe

Frida Kahlo proudly wore long skirts embroidered with colorful flowers, showing off her Mexican indigenous heritage but also hiding a body contorted by childhood polio and a horrific bus crash.

The late surrealist painter with the uni-brow, known for her haunting self-portraits, has long since become a fashion icon, inspiring top designers such as France's Jean Paul Gaultier.

Now, in memory of that, 300 items -- from skirts to shoes, jewelry and perfumes -- have been taken out of her wardrobes, trunks and bathroom closets and put on display in Casa Azul, her home-turned-museum in Mexico City.

The exhibit, entitled "Appearances Can Be Deceiving," was launched on Wednesday in the blue house that Kahlo shared with her husband, the Mexican muralist Diego Rivera, in the capital's colonial Coyoacan district.

One room displays nine tehuana outfits that are typical from Tehuantepec, a southern city where Kahlo's mother was from. Kahlo often painted herself wearing the long skirts and short-sleeve blouses with bright patterns.

With the traditional skirts and her hair braided with flamboyant flower headbands, Kahlo brought attention to her facial features and her slim waist, distracting people from her legs, said exhibit curator Circe Henestrosa.

"Her way of dressing was the result of her strong sense of identity, an identity built from physical pain," she said.

A red boot with the prosthetic leg Kahlo had to wear after her limb was amputated showed that she kept a sense of style despite the unbearable pain she suffered.

Kahlo contracted polio when she was a young child, a disease that stunted the growth of her right leg. When she was 18, a metal tube pierced through her abdomen during a bus crash, subjecting her to painful operations and long periods of bed rest throughout her life.

In one drawing, Kahlo depicts herself naked under a see-through dress, wearing a corset with butterflies on one leg. She wrote on the piece: "Appearances Can Be Deceiving."

The exhibit includes three artistic corsets, one made of leather and designed by Gaultier for Comme des Garcons in memory of the painter, who died in 1954 at the age of 47. She wore corsets because of severe back pain.

Three flowery outfits made of lace and cotton by Italian designer Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy are also displayed, inspired by the artist's life and image.

It took Casa Azul eight years to restore Kahlo's clothes to be suitable for public view in an initiative that the fashion magazine Vogue participated.

"Frida had an eclectic style. She liked to combine colors, textures and the origin of garments according to her mood," said museum director Hilda Trujillo.

Some experts say that Kahlo wore tehuana outfits to please Rivera, but Henestrosa said a photo found in Casa Azul showed all the women in the Kahlo family wearing the traditional dresses.

The lavish skirts from Tehuantepec "symbolize a strong woman," Henestrosa said, adding that Kahlo decided to wear these clothes because it allowed her to project the communist artist's political beliefs and her Mexican identity.

Regional Tehuana dresses, including a blouse called huipil and a skirt, used by Mexican painter Frida Khalo. Kahlo's unique style has long-inspired designers, now 300 items from her wardrobe will make up a new exhibition in Mexico City.

A visitor looks at a painting by Mexican artist Frida Kahlo titled "Self-Portrait with monkeys" during the opening of a show of her works in Vienna. Kahlo's unique style has long-inspired designers, now 300 items from her wardrobe will make up a new exhibition in Mexico City.

An artificial limb with a boot used by Mexican painter Frida Khalo. Kahlo's unique style has long-inspired designers, now 300 items from her wardrobe will make up a new exhibition in Mexico City.

Regional Tehuana dresses used by Mexican painter Frida Khalo are exhibited at her museum in Mexico City. Kahlo's unique style has long-inspired designers, now 300 items from her wardrobe will make up a new exhibition.

Alien Life Unlikely Around Dying Stars

Life is unlikely to survive on exoplanets that orbit cooling stars such as white dwarfs, a new study suggests.

These stars' shifting habitable zones — the range of distances where liquid water, and perhaps life as we know it, could exist — would make it difficult for any life-forms to stick around for the long haul, researchers said.

"These planets, if we find them today in a current habitable zone, previously had to have gone through a phase which sterilized them forever," study lead author Rory Barnes, of the University of Washington, said in a statement.

"So, even if they are located in the habitable zone today, they are dead," added co-author René Heller, of the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam in Germany.

The study's findings apply principally to planets circling two types of celestial bodies — white dwarfs and brown dwarfs. White dwarfs are the tiny, super-dense cores of stars that have ceased undergoing nuclear fusion reactions. Brown dwarfs are "failed stars," objects bigger than planets but not massive enough to initiate stellar fusion reactions in the first place.

In theory, both white and brown dwarfs can emit enough radiation to create habitable zones around themselves. But both types of objects are cooling down, meaning their habitable zones move closer and closer in over time.

As a result, a planet that sits in a white dwarf's habitable zone today was likely within its inner edge previously. Any water the world may have possessed would probably thus have boiled off into space long ago, researchers said.

This is not to say that a star has to be sunlike to potentially host life. Astronomers have already discovered several planets in the habitable zones of red dwarfs, stars that are smaller and dimmer than the sun.

Red dwarfs are the most common type of star in the Milky Way, making up perhaps 80 percent of the galaxy's stellar population. A recent study estimated that about 40 percent of red dwarfs host habitable-zone planets, suggesting that tens of billions of worlds in the Milky Way may be capable of harboring liquid water.

Life Of Pi -- MovieMantz Review

For a filmmaker whose name isn't exactly synonymous with the words "groundbreaking visual effects," Ang Lee might seem like a rather unlikely choice to direct "Life of Pi," the $120 million adaptation of Yann Martel's best-selling novel of the same name. And the fact that "Pi" also represents Lee's first foray into the tricky world of 3D turns the film into something of a risk for its distributor 20th Century Fox.

But given the amazing results of some of Lee's other odd fits - specifically, his martial arts masterpiece "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" (2000) and the phenomenal cowboy love story "Brokeback Mountain" (2005), the latter of which earned him an Oscar for Best Director - it may very well be that Lee is at the top of his game when he's working outside of his comfort zone (whatever that is, which is why he gets a free pass for his ambitious and under-appreciated take on 2003's "Hulk").

Perhaps motivated by the desire to prove himself after his last movie - the lightweight "Taking Woodstock" (2009) - turned out to be such a bummer, Lee scales new heights with "Life of Pi," a profound, awe-inspiring and spellbinding coming-of-age adventure that will leave you breathless.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Holiday Movie Preview 2012

But Lee is first and foremost a storyteller, which is why his intimate character-driven dramas like "The Ice Storm" and the aforementioned "Brokeback Mountain" are seen as classics of modern cinema. "Life of Pi" instantly joins that fold, thanks not only to Lee's seamless ability to deftly balance moments of poignancy, danger and sheer beauty, but also to the spiritual screenplay written by David Magee ("Neverland") and the fantastic performances of Irrfan Khan ("The Namesake") and newcomer Suraj Sharma.

Khan plays the older version of Piscine Militor Patel - otherwise known as Pi - who tells his incredible story of survival to a writer looking for inspiration. When he was 17-years-old, his family decided to sell their zoo and relocate from India to Canada. But during their journey, their ship sinks during a massive storm, killing everyone aboard - that is, all except Pi and a fearsome Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. As if being cast away at sea for 227 days wasn't bad enough, Pi must also fend for himself against his hungry lifeboat passenger - and that boat is getting smaller by the moment.

In addition to 2009's "Avatar" and last year's "Hugo," "Life of Pi" features incredible 3D effects that sustain their effectiveness throughout the duration of its 2 hour and 5 minute running time. Even jaded moviegoers weaned on big budget spectacles will be blown away by the powerful impact of the technology on display here, especially when it comes to the impression made by a computer-generated tiger that looks all-too-real.

But Pi's adventure would not be worth taking without the fully-committed performance of Suraj Sharma. Talk about an impressive acting debut, Sharma spends most of his time performing alongside a character that wasn't even present during principal photography, and he pulls it off like a pro with decades of experience. As a result, his soulful turn fully enlivens the resulting impact of Richard Parker in much the same way Mark Hamill gave "life" to a puppet named Yoda in "The Empire Strikes Back."

In an era where people are spending more time watching movies on DVD, on Demand, on their tablets or even (shudder!) on their iPhones, "Life of Pi" is a perfect example of a film that absolutely has to be seen on the big screen. And that it should come not from the innovating likes of Steven Spielberg, George Lucas or James Cameron, but from Ang Lee? Well, here's hoping that he keeps making movies that are outside of his comfort zone (again, whatever that is).

Review: Lee's 'Life of Pi' is inspiring 3-D art

Review: Lee's 'Life of Pi' is inspiring 3-D art

"Life of Pi" is one of those lyrical, internalized novels that should have no business working on the screen. Quite possibly, it wouldn't have worked if anyone but Ang Lee had adapted it.

The filmmaker who turned martial arts into a poetic blockbuster for Western audiences with "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and made gay cowboys mainstream fare with "Brokeback Mountain" has crafted one of the finest entries in his eclectic resume in "Life of Pi," a gorgeous, ruminative film that is soulfully, provocatively entertaining.

Lee combines a lifetime of storytelling finesse with arguably the most artful use of digital 3-D technology yet seen to bring to life Yann Martel's saga of an Indian youth lost at sea with a ravenous Bengal tiger aboard his small lifeboat. It's a delicate narrative with visceral impact, told with an innovative style that's beguiling to watch and a philosophical voice that compassionately explores how and why we tell stories.

Our playful, not-always-reliable narrator here is Pi Patel, played by newcomer Suraj Sharma as a teen and as a grown man reflecting back on his adventure by Irrfan Khan. As a youth, Pi, his parents and brother set out from India, where the family runs a zoo in a botanical garden, to Canada. Pi's father brings along some of his menagerie on their voyage, including a tiger named Richard Parker with which Pi had a terrifying encounter as a boy.

Their ship sinks in a storm, with Pi the only human survivor aboard a lifeboat with an orangutan, a hyena, a zebra with a broken leg and Richard Parker. Survival of the fittest thins their numbers into a life-and-death duel, and eventually an uneasy truce of companionship, between Richard Parker and Pi.

This could be a one-note story — please Mister Tiger, don't eat me. Yet Lee and screenwriter David Magee find rich and clever ways to translate even Pi's stillest moments, the film unfolding through intricate flashbacks, whimsical voice-overs, harrowing sea hazards and exquisite flashes of fantasy and hallucination.

Lee used real tigers for a handful of scenes, but Richard Parker mostly is a digital creation, a remarkably realistic piece of computer animation seamlessly blended into the live action. The digital detail may be responsible for most of Richard Parker's fearful presence, though no small part of the tiger's impact is due to the nimble engagement of Sharma with a predator that wasn't actually there during production, a task hard enough for experienced performers, let alone a youth with no acting experience.
Digital 3-D usually is an unnecessary distraction not worth the extra admission price. In "Life of Pi," like Martin Scorsese's "Hugo," the 3-D images are tantalizing and immersive, pulling viewers deeper into Pi's world so that the illusion of depth becomes essential to the story.

Not all of the images live up to Lee's digital tiger or 3-D wizardry. Water is notoriously hard to simulate through computer animation, and the waves crashing down around the sinking ship or tossing Pi's lifeboat about have an unfinished, cartoony look. Still, Lee more than compensates with a world of visual wonders, from the simple image of a swimmer framed from below as though he's stroking his way across the sky to a mysterious island populated by a seemingly infinite number of meerkats.

The rest of the cast is mostly inconsequential, including Gerard Depardieu in a fleeting role as a cruel ship's cook. The other people in Pi's life are filtered through this unusual youth's eyes, each of them catalysts in the development of his deep spirituality, which blends Hinduism, Christianity, Islam and other contradictory influences into a weirdly cohesive form of humanism.

Like Martel's novel, the film disdains our inclination to anthropomorphize wild animals by ascribing human traits to them, and then turns around and subtly does just that. Friendship cannot possibly exist between a hungry tiger and a scrawny kid alone on the open water, yet for that boy, if not the cat, the need for togetherness, some commune of spirits, is almost as strong as the need for food and water. The ways in which Lee examines the strange bond between Pi and Richard Parker are wondrous, hilarious, unnerving, sometimes joyous, often melancholy.

Pi's story may not, as one character states, make you believe in God. But you may leave the theater more open to the possibilities of higher things in the life of Pi, and in your own.

"Life of Pi," a 20th Century Fox release, is rated PG for emotional thematic content throughout, and some scary action sequences and peril. Running time: 126 minutes. Three and a half stars out of four.

So How Much Life Insurance Do You Really Need?

Alan Moore is one of the brightest of the crop of young financial advisors out there. The founder of Serenity Financial Consulting in Milwaukee, he has a wide-ranging expertise in personal finance, from 401(k) strategies to starting a small business. His thoughts on the vital question of how much life insurance you need:

How much life insurance do you actually need? Statistics drive insurance, such as how long a person is likely to live. Much simpler math helps you figure out how much coverage you need.

If someone depends on you financially, you need to have life insurance. Life insurance policies come in many shapes and sizes.

A good conservative estimate for the yearly income that a lump sum generates is 4%. For instance, if you leave your partner $1 million of life insurance, that produces about $40,000 of annual income for the rest of your loved one’s life. This assumes the income grows with inflation each year and your partner has a low chance of ever running out of money.

Determine how much income your partner needs to maintain his or her standard of living if you die tomorrow. Now multiple that number by 25. That’s how much total money you need to leave your partner to provide for the person financially. Included in this total are your investment accounts, savings and retirement plans. Don’t include your home, since it is hard to get income out of the value of real estate.

Let’s say your partner needs $100,000 of annual income. The required annual income multiplied by 25 equals $2.5 million. Subtract the $1 million in savings you have. So you need $1.5 million in life insurance to ensure that your partner has enough.

A life insurance plan of $1.5 million seems like a lot, but remember that it will only produce around $60,000 of yearly income. Your $1 million in savings will produce the other $40,000. Does that mean you should run out and buy a $1.5 million policy? Not quite. There are a couple of other things to consider.

1. Can your partner earn money? If your partner has the ability to earn $50,000 of annual income, then you don’t need to leave him or her enough to produce $100,000. The partner’s ability to earn an income reduces the amount of insurance you need.
2. How long do you need to provide for? The 4% rule is a general guideline for providing your beneficiary with enough money to live almost indefinitely off of the income that it produces. You won’t necessarily have to leave this much. When deciding on life insurance policies, ask yourself whether you need to provide income for your partner’s entire life, or just long enough to hit the reset button after you are gone. Your spouse might start a career or remarry to someone who can lend support.

At the very least, you want to leave enough money so that your partner isn’t worried about how to pay the bills after your death. The more money you leave helps protect the spouse for a longer time. This has to be balanced with the cost of the life insurance today.

"Life of Pi" movie lifeboat for sale at $40,000

"Life of Pi" is yet to hit movie theaters, but fans can already buy the film's trusty lifeboat that becomes home to a young Indian boy shipwrecked with a tiger.

U.S. online retailer Gilt Groupe said on Friday that the lifeboat, replicated from real rafts used between the 1920s and 1950s, is among props from the movie up for sale next week.

The lifeboat is priced at $40,000 in the sale starting on November 19. Proceeds will go towards the Orangutan Foundation International, in recognition of one of the other animals who initially survives with title character Pi in the film.

"Life of Pi" is based on the best-selling novel by Yann Martel, directed by Ang Lee and stars newcomer Suraj Sharma. It opens in U.S. movie theaters on November 21.

Other items up for sale include movie posters signed by Lee, a collection of vibrant saris, and other props valued between $140 and more than $6,000.

Life Time Announces the 2013 Life Time Tri Schedule

Life Time (NYSE: LTM), the Healthy Way of Life Company, today unveiled the 2013 Life Time Tri schedule. In 2013, Life Time Tri will feature 11 events, which are made up of several of the most prominent triathlons in the United States, including:
Nautica South Beach Triathlon (Miami) – April 7
Life Time Tri Marquee (Tempe, Ariz.) – April 14
Life Time Tri CapTex (Austin, Texas) – May 27
Life Time Tri Trinona (Winona, Minn.) – June 9
Life Time Tri Minneapolis – July 13
Life Time Tri Maple Grove (Maple Grove, Minn.) – August 24
Life Time Tri Chicago – August 25
Life Time Tri Tempe (Tempe, Ariz.) – September 22
Life Time Tri Urban Dirt (Soma, Ariz.) – October 6
Life Time Tri Dallas (Dallas) – October 6
Life Time Tri Soma (Soma, Ariz.) – October 20

Along with professional athletes from around the world, Life Time Tri events attract more than 25,000 elite and age group athletes each season. Professional and elite triathletes will compete in international-distance and relay team competitions on courses featuring a 1.5-kilometer swim, 40-kilometer bike, and 10-kilometer run. To keep Life Time Tri races accessible to athletes with a concentration on short course format, as well as beginner athletes, each event also will feature a shorter sprint distance race in addition to kid’s events in select markets.

To register for any of the Life Time Tri events, visit lifetimetri.com, the official website of Life Time Tri. You also can stay updated with the latest information from Life Time Tri on Twitter by following @LifeTimeTri and by liking the Life Time Tri Facebook page.

Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life contribute $100,000 to Toujours ensemble to strengthen Pathways to Education program in Quebec

Pathways to Education Canada (Pathways) and Toujours ensemble today announced a $100,000 contribution from Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life to further their proven model for reducing high school dropout rates in low-income communities in Quebec.

The contribution funds construction and operating expenses of a new building in Verdun, Quebec for Toujours ensemble, Pathways' partner organization in the region. The new space, which opened this fall, serves the growing number of students enrolled in the Pathways program in Verdun.

"In Quebec, one in four students leaves high school without a diploma. In Verdun, where poverty levels are particularly high, this rate is closer to one in two students," said Marc Edwards, Chairman of the Board, Toujours ensemble. "This support means we can continue to help Verdun's youth overcome the barriers to education and keep them on track for graduation."

This new support adds to the commitment of Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life as Pathways' National Development Sponsor. In 2012 the companies made a multi-year $500,000 pledge through their national corporate citizenship program for the development of Pathways 'U,' a learning model that fosters excellence and innovation in program delivery.

"Pathways 'U' is an important component of our commitment to expanding and sharing knowledge in order to serve the needs of more youth across the country," said David Hughes, President and CEO of Pathways to Education Canada. "With the support of Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life, we can continue to invest in, deliver and share the excellence and innovation for which the organization has become known."
Pathways 'U' consists of three core components - communities of practice, mentorship/coaching and formal course work for program leaders - with an aim to enrich the knowledge of front-line staff, as well as to transfer knowledge across the organization and externally.

"First in Toronto and now in more Canadian centres, the Pathways learning model is getting results," said Jan Belanger, Assistant Vice-President, Community Affairs, Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life. "As the program expands, success depends on Pathways having essential tools and a strong infrastructure. We are pleased to support their operational development across Canada, and their progress in Quebec. Supporting the combined efforts of Pathways and Toujours ensemble demonstrates our commitment to building stronger communities where we live and work."

Pathways to Education Canada and Toujours ensemble have long been dedicated to increasing student retention and high school graduation rates. With the help of generous donations, Pathways and Toujours ensemble can continue to transform the lives of youth and build stronger communities.

How to buy a life insurance policy

About 35 million U.S. households have no life insurance coverage, according to a study by LIMRA, an industry research group. And more than half of American households say they need more life insurance. But, like many financial products, life insurance policies can be complicated by various terms, riders and stipulations which make the purchase of even a straightforward policy tough. In fact, consumers are so confused about buying life insurance that many postpone a purchase or never buy at all.

In the event of a person’s death, a life insurance policy provides their spouse, family or named beneficiaries immediate money for funeral costs and other everyday living expenses. Life insurance is designed to replace the income generated by a wage-earner and to help cover things like mortgage payments, children’s college education and other major expenses over a lifetime. Here’s how to get started:

Determine how much coverage you need

Do the math. Figure out what your spouse and family would need financially if you weren’t around. Take into account your lost income and outstanding debts such as a mortgage and big bills like college tuition or medical expenses. There are numerous online calculators and worksheets to assist with the number-crunching. Plug in your financial numbers at insure.com or smartmoney.com.

Buy at the office. Take advantage of group life insurance offered at minimal or no cost through your employer. Many companies, however, will only match an employee’s salary. For more coverage, you can scan the supplemental coverage at work but make sure to shop around too.

It’s not that much money. Don’t be surprised if you need as much as $1 million in coverage. As a general rule, younger couples should look for a policy worth five to 10 times their annual income. A 35-year-old healthy, nonsmoking male can purchase a $1 million, 30-year term life policy for about $700 a year, according to insure.com. Also check selectquote.com or a local insurance agent or direct seller.

Term vs. Perm.

Term life provides coverage over a set period, say 15 to 30 years, and then expires. Permanent life insurance, which comes in many varieties, lasts until your death.

Start with term. Most consumer advocates and financial planners recommend starting out with term life insurance, which is the most affordable option and easiest to understand. It makes sense if you’re trying to ensure there’s money for the kids’ college or paying off the mortgage and other debts over 20 years. The beneficiary can receive a lump sum payout. The premiums are the same for the duration of the contract.

What about perm? Permanent, or whole life, insurance won’t expire after so many years. It’s significantly more expensive but these policies also build up a savings account that grows tax-deferred. Another option are return-on-premium policies that give back your money after the term ends. In both cases, many insurance experts recommend taking the savings from buying term life and investing them on your own.

A hybrid option. Check whether a term life policy allows you to convert it into whole life coverage later on. These “convertible” policies can be useful if you develop a chronic health condition that makes it difficult to qualify for new coverage after your term expires. Conversions, however, can come at a steep cost. Answer some questions at these sites to see what product makes sense for you, such as Life Happens or Bankrate.

Check rates, returns and ratings.

Opportunities to save. Rates are very competitive on term life policies and numerous quotes are available online at Insure.com, SelectQuote and other sites. Consider paying your premium annually to avoid extra fees for monthly payments.

Be a skeptic. For whole life, be skeptical about the rate of return companies promise in their illustrations showing dividends paid out over the policy. Also, whole life policies can have high fees and administrative costs that drag down the yield. The Consumer Federation of America will analyze illustrations for consumers for an initial fee of $85; then $65 for each additional one.

More than premiums. Don’t fall for the lowest premium without checking the insurance company’s rating for financial soundness. You want to make sure the company is around in case you aren’t. Many websites offer reports from the major insurance-rating agencies such as Standard & Poor’s and A.M. Best.

What not to do when buying a life insurance policy:

Don’t wait. Postponing your purchase until you’re older and sicker will make your policy more costly, if you get one at all. It’s best to lock in low rates when you have a clean bill of health and can sail through an insurer’s medical exam. If you do smoke or have a medical condition, be sure to fess up.

Don’t overlook a spouse. When one spouse (you) dies, the lifestyle of the surviving spouse can change drastically. Even if a parent doesn’t work outside the home, it would cost money to replace their childcare and other household duties.

Don’t let go. Letting a policy lapse after a few years. It’s tempting when the household budget gets squeezed, but the surrender or cash value on a whole life policy won’t equal the premiums paid until 12 or 15 years have passed. Term life doesn’t build up cash value.

Court rulings leave uncertainty about life-without-parole sentences for juvenile killers

Life without the possibility of parole was a prison sentence that offered some closure for Mike Kaliszeski, the brother of a Palm Bay murder victim.

His sister, Patricia, was stabbed and nearly decapitated by Alan Tanguay, who was 16 at the time. Kaliszeski was relieved that his sister's killer would never know freedom.

But recent court rulings have cast some doubt on sentences given to teens who kill. Earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court found that mandatory life-without-parole sentences were unconstitutional for juveniles.The ruling raised the possibility that sentences given to juvenile killers might be reviewed. But then, state appellate courts in Miami and Tallahassee found that the Supreme Court decision didn't apply to older cases. Those state rulings are now being challenged and are likely to wind up in the Florida Supreme Court.

"You've already been through a difficult trial," Kaliszeski said. "You thought there was closure. Now, you face the realization years later that the murderer may have a chance for parole."

Tanguay is among 200 Florida inmates serving life sentences for murders committed as juveniles. Among them is Rod Ferrell, notorious ringleader of the "vampire cult" that killed a Eustis couple.

The nation's highest court determined that juveniles, who are immature and can't always understand consequences, cannot automatically receive the harshest prison sentences but that judges should have leeway in sentencing juvenile killers.

The Supreme Court recognizes that juveniles should be treated differently in the court system, said Paolo Annino, a professor at the Florida State University College of Law who tracks such juvenile cases.

"No one is denying that children commit terrible acts, but that person is still not an adult," he said. "Mandating judges to pretend that children are adults and force life without parole without considering the child's age violates that basic principle."

The ruling has already been applied to newer cases. Ryan Ray, a Leesburg teenager convicted of killing a 39-year-old Kentucky man, was recently sentenced to life without parole. Although the Supreme Court ruling doesn't ban a life sentence in such cases, the judge was required to weigh whether that was an appropriate sentence.

If courts ultimately decide that older life-without-parole sentences can be reviewed, about 45 people from Central Florida could qualify, records show. The group includes Mark Berrios, convicted of killing a Daytona Beach Boardwalk pedophile; and Jeff Farina, convicted of the execution-style killing of a Daytona Beach Taco Bell employee.

Ferrell, ringleader of the "vampire cult" killings, is among a few inmates who asked for a new sentencing hearing because of the Supreme Court opinion. A judge denied that request.

If he were resentenced, Ferrell could still end up with life, said 5th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Brad King, who prosecuted Ferrell.

"A judge would have to weigh the circumstances," King said. But he noted that a jury and judge already considered Ferrell's case and found that he deserved death — a sentence later reduced to life in prison when the Supreme Court found that capital punishment for juveniles was unconstitutional.

You May Have To Choose Between A Happy Life And A Meaningful Life

As psychologists zero in on the key to a good life, it's becoming clear that there are two distinct paths.
A forthcoming paper by Roy Baumeister, Kathleen Vohs, Jennifer Aaker, and Emily Garbinsky in the Journal of Positive Psychology looks at the difference between a happy life and a meaningful life. Here's the abstract:

Being happy and finding life meaningful overlap, but there are important differences. A large survey revealed multiple differing predictors of happiness (controlling for meaning) and meaningfulness (controlling for happiness). Satisfying one’s needs and wants increased happiness but was largely irrelevant to meaningfulness. Happiness was largely present-oriented, whereas meaningfulness involves integrating past, present, and future. For example, thinking about future and past was associated with high meaningfulness but low happiness. Happiness was linked to being a taker rather than a giver, whereas meaningfulness went with being a giver rather than a taker. Higher levels of worry, stress, and anxiety were linked to higher meaningfulness but lower happiness. Concerns with personal identity and expressing the self contributed to meaning but not happiness.

In short, a meaningful life involves suffering for a greater cause.

The study, based on multiple surveys of 397 adults plus past research, found that people can feel both happy and meaningful — indeed the two feelings reinforce each other — but at some points you may have to choose.

The authors hope you'll choose meaningfulness:
Our data enable us to construct a statistical portrait of a life that is highly meaningful but relatively low in happiness, which illuminates the differences between happiness and meaningfulness. This sort of life has received relatively little attention and even less respect. But people who sacrifice their personal pleasures in order to participate constructively in society may make substantial contributions. Cultivating and encouraging such people despite their unhappiness could be a goal worthy of positive psychology.

The paper concludes: "[H]umans may resemble many other creatures in their striving for happiness, but the quest for meaning is a key part of what makes us human, and uniquely so."

We've previously discussed another article by Professor Aaker of Stanford Graduate School of Business on the psychological benefits of awe.

How Zara Grew Into the World’s Largest Fashion Retailer

Galicia, on the Atlantic coast of northern Spain, is the homeland of Generalissimo Francisco Franco, but is otherwise famous for being a place people try to leave. For much of the 20th century, hundreds of thousands of gallegos, as they are called, emigrated to countries as far away as Argentina to escape Galicia’s rural poverty. Today, however, even as Spain teeters on the edge of economic catastrophe, the Galician city La Coruña has attracted notice as the hometown of Amancio Ortega Gaona, the world’s third-richest man — he displaced Warren Buffett this year on the Bloomberg billionaire index — and the founder of a wildly successful fashion company, Inditex, more commonly known by its oldest and biggest brand, Zara.

 Ortega has never given an interview, according to his communications department, nor does he attend award ceremonies or parties. He rarely allows his picture to be taken. Pablo Isla, who took over the company when the 76-year-old Ortega stepped down as chairman last year, rarely gives interviews or waves to the camera, either. In fact, the public face of Inditex is its soft-spoken communications director, Jesus Echevarría, who, as I discovered during a recent visit to the Inditex complex, is perhaps the only communications director on the planet who all but apologizes whenever he must answer questions about Inditex’s runaway success.

The company’s outward modesty reflects its surroundings. La Coruña is a quiet place, typically European in its humdrum perfection: tidy highways and compact cars, clean taxis, no need to worry about tipping. The week I visited in late July, the conservative national government was threatening to implement a new austerity plan, and unemployment among people under 30 in Spain hit 50 percent, but the city seemed calm. Restaurants were busy, beaches packed. People dozed on La Coruña’s seaside boulders, while their dogs leapt in the water. The city is a little more than 300 miles from Madrid and 555 miles from Barcelona. It’s an odd location for an aggressive, global company like Inditex.

The campus (located in the industrial area of Arteixo, next door to La Coruña) consists of corporate headquarters for the entire company, as well as headquarters for Zara and Zara Home, two of Inditex’s eight brands. There are also factories and a distribution center where clothes are loaded onto trucks to be sent around the world. The factories are directly across from the corporate offices. The main building, where I waited for my hosts, somewhat resembled a hospital waiting room, with rows of plain boxy black chairs and little else. Apart from a single poster of a fashion model, nothing adorned its white walls. No flowers, no words, no ads, no fashion magazines, no style. The setting felt appropriate for the age of austerity, even if Inditex is one company in Spain that is actually thriving.

Inditex is a pioneer among “fast fashion” companies, which essentially imitate the latest fashions and speed their cheaper versions into stores. Every one of Inditex’s brands — Zara, Zara Home, Bershka, Massimo Dutti, Oysho, Stradivarius, Pull & Bear and Uterqüe — follow the Zara template: trendy and decently made but inexpensive products sold in beautiful, high-end-looking stores. Zara’s prices are similar to those of the Gap: coats for $200, sweaters for $70, T-shirts for $30.

Inditex now makes 840 million garments a year and has around 5,900 stores in 85 countries, though that number is always changing because Inditex has in recent years opened more than a store a day, or about 500 stores a year. Right now there are around 4,400 stores in Europe, and almost 2,000 in Spain alone. Inditex’s main rivals are way behind. Arcadia Group, which owns Topshop, among others, has about 3,000 stores worldwide; H&M, based in Sweden, has 2,500 (when you include its smaller lines of stores); and Mango, based in Spain, 2,400.

In an Inditex conference room, Echevarría gave me a multimedia presentation about the company. The number of stores in different countries popped up on the screen — including 289 in China and 45 in the United States. Since the time of our meeting, in late July, Inditex has reached 350 stores in China and opened another in the United States. The company’s march appears to be as inexorable as the passage of the seasons. But can Inditex survive its own expansion?

“When we open a market, everyone asks, ‘How many stores will you open?’ ” he said. “Honestly, I didn’t know. It depends on the customer and how big the demand is. We must have the dialogue with the customers and learn from them. It’s not us saying you must have this. It’s you saying it.”

Victoria's Secret Fashion Show: Rihanna, Bieber and a $2.5M bra

Who says Justin Bieber isn't the luckiest 18-year-old in the world? He's coming down from performing at the annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on Wednesday, where his set was merely part of an event heavily laden with gorgeous "angels" parading around in winged lingerie ensembles.

"that was a great rehearsal. #VSFashionShow :)," he tweeted Tuesday, adding the hashtag, "#notcomplaining."

Not surprisingly, he said on the red carpet that the show was like a good dream come true.

Also in the lineup, in addition to Bruno Mars, was Rihanna, who on the red carpet shared her plans to "torque an extra hip," suck in her "extra stomach" — really? — and arch her back a little more to compete with the models who'd be with her as she performed.

PHOTOS: Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

Riri even shared a backstage photo or two, giving an idea of the size of some of these runway glamazons.

But the real star of the evening? It wasn't exactly Alessandra Ambrosio, the supermodel you see near the end of the video above with the orchid-petal wings. Rather, it was her bra.

Ambrosio was the one tapped to wear 2012 VS' fantasy bra, a little undergarment worth $2.5 million. Made by London Jewelers and encrusted with more than 5,000 sapphires, rubies, diamonds and other stones, it features a 20-carat diamond as a centerpiece.

Yes, there's a matching belt. No, the bra's not comfortable, Alessandro told ABC News.

New York Life Donates $1 Million to Hurricane Sandy Relief Effort

New York Life announced today it will donate $1,000,000 to aid Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, allocating $500,000 to the American Red Cross, $250,000 to the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City and $250,000 for local recovery efforts in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

In addition, New York Life will match contributions by its employees, agents and retirees to the American Red Cross or Feeding America, a network of food pantry organizations, with no limitation.

Ted Mathas, chairman and CEO of New York Life, said, “As communities throughout the region begin to rebuild following the devastation left by Hurricane Sandy, New York Life is committed to easing the suffering of storm victims. Our employees and agents, many of whom were directly affected by the storm, have already begun to donate to the relief efforts. Our thoughts are with all those affected by Hurricane Sandy and everyone working hard to support the recovery effort.”

New York Life customers are eligible for crisis relief. For those who are in immediate financial need, New York Life can quickly provide emergency loans against the cash value of a current policy to help in recovery and rebuilding. New York Life also can assist if a policyholder needs a payment extension for a short time, and if a policy has been lost or destroyed. Policyholders should visit New York Life’s Web site at www.newyorklife.com or call the toll-free line, 800-695-4331, for assistance.

New York Life Insurance Company, a Fortune 100 company founded in 1845, is the largest mutual life insurance company in the United States* and one of the largest life insurers in the world. New York Life has the highest possible financial strength ratings currently awarded to any life insurer from all four of the major credit rating agencies: A.M. Best (A++), Fitch (AAA), Moody’s Investors Service (Aaa), Standard & Poor’s (AA+).** Headquartered in New York City, New York Life's family of companies offers life insurance, retirement income, investments and long-term care insurance. New York Life Investments*** provides institutional asset management and retirement plan services. Other New York Life affiliates provide an array of securities products and services, as well as retail mutual funds. Please visit New York Life’s Web site at www.newyorklife.com for more information.

Sun Life Financial Reports Third Quarter 2012 Results

The information contained in this document concerning the third quarter of 2012 is based on our unaudited interim financial results for the period ended September 30, 2012. All amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.

Third Quarter 2012 Financial Highlights
Operating net income(1) of $401 million, compared to an operating loss of $572 million in the third quarter of 2011. Reported net income of $383 million, compared to a reported loss of $621 million in the same period last year. Results reflect the positive impact of management actions, which contributed $46 million to net income, partially offset by assumption changes of $(41) million. Market factors had no material impact in the quarter

Operating earnings per share(1) ("EPS") of $0.68, compared to an operating loss per share of $0.99 in the third quarter of 2011. Reported EPS of $0.64, compared to a reported loss per share of $1.07 in the same period last year.

Operating return on equity(1) ("ROE") of 11.6%, compared to negative 16.0% in the same period last year. Reported ROE of 11.1%, compared to negative 17.4% in the third quarter of 2011.

TORONTO, Nov. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - Sun Life Financial Inc.(3) (SLF.TO) (SLF) had operating net income of $401 million in the third quarter of 2012, compared to an operating loss of $572 million in the third quarter of 2011. Our operating EPS was $0.68 in the third quarter of 2012, compared to an operating loss per share of $0.99 in the third quarter of 2011. Reported net income was $383 million or $0.64 per share in the third quarter of 2012, compared to a reported loss of $621 million or a reported loss per share of $1.07 in the same period last year.

Our financial results in the third quarter reflect continued execution against our growth strategy, aided by management actions to improve the underlying profitability of our businesses. Market factors had no material impact in the quarter, as the positive impact of improved equity markets was largely offset by declines in the fixed income reinvestment rates in our insurance contract liabilities, which were driven by the continued low interest rate environment, and unfavourable impact from credit spread movements. Operating net income excluding the net impact of market factors(1) was $405 million. The following table sets out our operating net income measures for the third quarter of 2012.

Life Technologies buys Advanced Microscopy Group

Life Technologies Corp. said Monday it bought Advanced Microscopy Group, which makes microscopes, digital imaging equipment, and software.

Life Technology did not disclose terms of the deal, but said it will add to its net income in 2013. It said the purchase will add to its array of cell-imaging instruments. AMG developed the FLoid Cell Imaging Station, a product that is marketed by Life Technologies. AMG's EVOS fl fluorescence microscope is distributed by Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

Shares of Life Technologies rose 9 cents to $48.72 on Monday. The stock lost 10 cents to $48.62 in aftermarket trading.

Life Fitness and FitPro Name the World's Top Personal Trainer to Watch

Life Fitness, the global leader in commercial fitness equipment manufacturing and FitPro North America, a premier provider of high-quality educational resources for fitness professionals, have named Joanne Blackerby as the world's top Personal Trainer to Watch. Blackerby was selected from a pool of nearly 1,000 nominees in the contest's second year, along with 10 other finalists from around the world. A nationally certified fitness trainer with more than 20 years experience in the industry, Blackerby specializes in full-body workouts and is known to be one of the toughest, yet most down-to-earth trainers in Texas, U.S.A.


"We are proud to recognize personal trainers who have demonstrated their commitment to the fitness industry and are continually recognized by their peers for their innovation and motivation," said Chris Clawson, president of Life Fitness. "The trainers we are honoring embody the same mission Life Fitness stands for -- helping people live healthier lives -- and we're pleased to help them further that mission in their individual communities."

The Personal Trainers to Watch program, which launched in April with a global call for entries, is designed to recognize and reward personal trainers who have demonstrated a commitment to fitness and helping their clients achieve a healthy lifestyle. Nominees were judged by a panel of five industry experts who evaluated each candidate on client motivation and retention techniques, community service and fitness accomplishments.

Blackerby impressed the judges with her entrepreneurial spirit, creative motivational techniques and dedication to improving her community through health and fitness initiatives.

"I started in the fitness industry because I believed that health and fitness could not only change bodies, but it could nurture communities," said Blackerby. "By providing education and guidance, I've been lucky enough to help people transform their lives. This award validates what I've worked so hard to achieve, and I couldn't appreciate it more."

As a wife and mother of three, Blackerby loves trail running, teaching children's exercise classes and volunteering in the school lunch room when she's not training in her gym, Spirit Fitness Training. With a range in certifications including ACE, YogaFit, ViPR and TRX, Blackerby spends more than 40 hours per week with clients.

In addition to international recognition as the 2012 Personal Trainer to Watch, Blackerby won $5,000 USD toward her personal training business, a select piece of Life Fitness equipment, a personalized award plaque and a one-year membership and continuing education course package from world-renowned educational resource PTontheNet.

Hollander was also named the Fan Favorite, based on public votes through the Life Fitness Facebook page in October.

"Personal trainers can sometimes be the most positive influence in a person's life to make a change for the better," said Andy Jackson, FitPro global commercial director. "That change can range from their personal health, their confidence level and overall appreciation for life. We thank and congratulate all of our winners."