CONSUMER GROUPS FEEL UNPROTECTED BUSINESS-MINDED ADVISERS ON TRANSITION TEAM WANT TO WIELD AX.(CAPITAL REGION)

Byline: RICK KARLIN Staff writer

ALBANY Telephone and electric rates. Real estate, insurance, and banking

regulations.

These and other consumer issues probably affect more New Yorkers than

hot-button campaign topics such as welfare reform or the death penalty.

Yet consumer advocates said they don't know how Gov. George Pataki will handle such issues. Consumer issues per se didn't come up during his campaign and he made no specific mention of them during Wednesday's State of the State address.

In light of this information void, consumer advocates could be described as cautiously pessimistic.

The caution …

Flake-Wilkerson Market Insights.(Marketing/Media)(Brief Article)

Farrell Wilson has joined Flake Wilkerson Market Insights in Little Rock as a corporate technology architect. Donna Kantak also has joined the staff at …

Farm Bill Bogs Down in Senate

Partisan differences over taxes, spending and other matters stopped Senate debate on a $286 billion farm bill just as it got underway Tuesday, signaling that progress on the measure will be protracted and difficult.

Republicans bristled when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., slapped limits on their ability to offer amendments. Reid said he had no choice because Republicans refused to restrict amendments to issues clearly related to the bill.

GOP leaders vowed to block further action until Reid relented. "We're not going to let him pick our amendments," said Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

Reid said he was willing to …

American dream trip ; In brief

SEPTEMBER 1971: A group of 11 pupils from Brentwood's HedleyWalter School returned from a threeweek trip to the US.

The schoolchildren stayed with families from the small towns ofMayfield, Broadalbin and Gloversville in the state of New York. Thetrip was organised by the Experiment of …

AM Best keeps Flagstone Reinsurance Africa's A- FSR.

(ADPnews) - Nov 19, 2009 - AM Best confirmed Thursday its A- (excellent) financial strength rating (FSR) and the "a-" issuer credit rating (ICR) on South African Flagstone Reinsurance Africa Ltd.

The ratings reflect the company's strong risk-adjusted capitalisation, as well as the explicit support provided by its parent, Flagstone Reassurance Suisse SA, the rater explained.

Offsetting factors include the execution risks associated with the company's business plan given the rapid growth, the competitive South …

FUNNY CIDE SETS PACE FOR THE SEASON.(CAPITAL REGION)

Byline: TIM WILKIN Staff writer

It's all about Funny Cide. That's what the buzz is as the 135th season of racing at Saratoga Race Course looms on the thoroughbred horizon.

Funny Cide, of course, has become a favorite son of Saratoga Springs. He was born there and some of his owners live there.

The New York-bred gelding put a jolt into the sport of kings earlier this year when he won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness before being denied the Triple Crown when he lost to Empire Maker in the Belmont Stakes, finishing third. Funny Cide is expected to run at the Spa, in the $1 million Travers on Aug. 23. It is expected that Empire Maker will be there too, …

IFC plans 'Greg the Bunny' DVDs.(FAST TRACK)(Independent Film Channel)(Brief Article)

The Independent Film Channel has a new appreciation for Greg the Bunny. In January, IFC will release a two-disc DVD set with characters from Greg the Bunny, the adult puppet show it picked up from New York public-access cable in 1999; Fox aired a Greg sitcom in 2002 but cancelled it after 11 episodes.

IFC picked it up again after Fox found a cult following for the show on DVDs, selling more than 100,000 units in its first few months on the market.

Now IFC will release a 198-minute DVD …