Core Quotations | Page 5

Other than rhythmic gymnastics, it's really the only sport that crosses over into art. The truly artistic skaters offer so much more than a skater who's just an athlete. I think it has a great deal of appeal to women, which is our core audience. It's always been popular and I think this year will be no exception.

Over the last 10 years, we've seen a fairly significant core of the population spending more than half the value of their home on improvements. Some of that is because buyers increasingly are moving into older suburbs convenient to their jobs in the city, and they're renovating smaller Cape Cod and ranch-style homes.

Over the last several years, we focused on our automotive business and started to streamline the core processes in our divisions. But to safeguard our future in this competitive global industry, we need to apply that same equation across all general and administrative (G&A) functions ... with the added dimension of adapting to the needs of our business.

Overall, we currently believe conditions in our core markets will be more favorable in 2006 than they were last year.

Over his presidency, President Bush has made great strides to increase foreign aid, so today's announcement of cuts to core development funding is a big disappointment. Although the US is the largest donor in the world, and US assistance had been on the increase, the US still lags behind other developed countries in that our contributions are small compared to the size of our federal budget and economy.

Our preference is to go alone, but we're keeping doors open on other options, including a partnership. We understand the Koreans have a lot of pride in their industry, and there's a lot of concern about foreign ownership of a core industry.

Our primary objective is to right-size the company so we can focus management and move forward with a solid core of performing locations with an appropriate capital structure.

Over the past several months, it became increasingly clear that it would be best for our company to focus on our core global hotel business,

Over the past six months, the core PPI is up at about a 0.5 per cent annual rate. There is no indication that higher energy prices have led to broad inflationary pressures.

Over the past year, core intermediate goods inflation has been nearly 5 percentage points higher than core finished goods inflation. This is one of the largest gaps ever, and reinforces our expectation that a part of this early-stage inflation should feed through into finished goods prices in the coming months.

Over the six years I've been here, we had a new coach, new system, everything. You can't build a foundation with guys coming and going. They're going in the right direction, getting core guys and a nice foundation. I wanted to be a part of it.

Over the years, our investments in the Caribbean and Latin America have been a source of solid financial performance, but they represent a small part of our revenue base that is less aligned with our core business focus and future growth.

Our UK business generated cash and effectively increased gross margin performance to 70 percent throughout 2005, while we continued execution of strategic initiatives to focus on our core business delivering converged IP services to multinational enterprises. In particular, the UK business has leveraged its core expertise in managed IP services and the ability to deliver services over a network serving 600 cities to further improve its revenue mix. Enterprise customers now account for 92 percent of revenues.

Our valuation work for the S&P 500 has long assumed moderation of profit growth to about 8 percent from 20 percent and a rise in core inflation.

Over 10 years of studies, we found how integral Americans count travel as a core part of their lifestyle. It changes from year to year, but what's been basic is the feeling that travel is an important personal goal.

Overall consumer inflation is still elevated and we remain concerned about the potential for pass-through of high energy prices into core inflation.

Overall I am pleased with the quarter. All of our core businesses performed well, our key development projects are on track and our marketing group enjoyed another great quarter.

Our strategy to target the mass-market consumer this holiday and launch our core gamer titles for the next-generation platforms next year as the installed base ramps is working.

Our results for the quarter and, by and large, for the entire year, tell two concurrent stories. The first is one of relatively soft overall operating results. The second story is the solid performance from a number of our core assets, reflecting the continued strength of our brands.

Our clients are under a lot of pressure to get new products faster into the market. Their core employment isn't adequate for it, so they're looking for partners who can do it for them.

Our business review was thorough, candid and self-critical, ... In order to return our focus to our core business customers, foster a winning culture among our employees and restore credibility with the capital markets, we have had to make significant and sometimes difficult decision -- difficult primarily because they involve people.

Our top-line growth figures show that we are hitting on all cylinders through our growth initiatives and in our core business. And much of that top-line success is flowing to the bottom line, despite incurring higher-than-anticipated dilution from our growth initiatives. In short, as we near the finish line in our Qwest merger, we're continuing the transformation of U S West into a growth-oriented vehicle.

Our cooperative has played a significant role in meeting members' expectations in this part of Missouri for 67 years and we will continue to do that in the future. I know that because of the dedication and stewardship of the directors and employees and the servant attitude they bring to the workplace and their willingness to be guided by our core values of integrity, accountability, innovation and commitment to community.

Our core audience is into the Web, so we felt it was natural for us to reach youth culture online.

Our core beverages, coupled with a strong holiday promotion, drove results in our retail stores, while solid growth in licensed locations led to the increase in our specialty business revenues.

Our core business continues to expand at double-digit rates as equity options and other derivative products are increasingly embraced by investors as integral components of their investment and risk management strategies.

Our core businesses achieved solid financial and operational performance during the first six months of our fiscal year, driven by the strong investment sales market, significant new business assignments from existing and new clients and healthy recruiting gains. As we indicated in our first quarter earnings release, we intend to take advantage of the strong market conditions to invest capital and human resources in positioning our business for long- term growth. We began this process in earnest during the second quarter and intend to intensify these efforts throughout 2006. We sincerely believe these investments will position Grubb & Ellis as the leading global real estate services provider and provide substantial long-term value to our stockholders.

Our core business has been really strong. That's to say, just our retail stores grew at 6 percent year over year. And again, this was a depressed quarter. We've actually been 7 percent or more in most quarters and we expect it to be that way during the fall period. That's one of the strongest performances in all of retailing. So our core retailing business remains exceptionally strong.

Our core business in athletics is about teaching and coaching.

Our core business is healthy and continues to grow, as evidenced by our top line,

Our core business strategy is to create new opportunities for the consumer, ... what we¹re doing has never been done before. As studios and exhibitors search for ways to retain audiences frustrated with the theatre experience, we believe the competitive solution lies in increasing value for customers.

Our core competence is making beautiful and creative space that makes people feel special. So they took that care and put it in a medical setting. Everybody was motivated by a personal experience. We tried our best to put ourselves in the shoes of the patients and families and how they might feel.

Our core concern wasn't really answered, which is that the golf course becomes a substitute for the governor's office,

Our core markets continue to be Texas and California.

Our core markets in the Greater Washington, DC region are strong, as evidenced by the 9% and 10% same store NOI growth for the last two quarters, respectively, as well as our 2.1 million square feet of leasing activity for 2005. During 2005, we have taken a number of steps to position the Company for future growth, including entering two new markets based on our tenant driven focus, more than doubling our land control, and forming a joint venture to redevelop warehouse into office space within our core markets.

Our core mission at Astral is to develop the careers of young artists with guidance and advice, as well as performance opportunities. In addition to our concert series, we sponsor as many as 200 presentations in Philadelphia schools and senior centers.

Our core skill is printing variable data onto products at high speed in the manufacturing environment.

Our core strength as a company has always been a culture based on listening to our clients. We think of ourselves as a partner rather than a vendor. For example, we continuously look to our clients for feedback on our strategic development initiatives. The end result is a product suite that evolves with our clients' businesses.

Our Core Values Program doesn't sit on a shelf. We feel the opportunity should be seized every day, in every class and infused into the curriculum.

Our financial results continued to reflect our core business ability to generate strong positive free cash flow and revenue,

Our financial results continue to be seriously impacted by the adverse effects of the strong dollar, reduced earnings in our core business driven by an intensifying competitive environment, and losses in digital. We are making significant changes in the company's operations to compete effectively in this environment.

Our first priority is officer safety. The core principle behind a force decision is to use it in instances where officers lives or the lives of people around the scene are in danger. Certainly assault with a vehicle constitutes deadly harm.

Our first store, in 1990, was in the shopping center where the movie theater is now. We bought selected books from a bookseller in DeLand and we had already developed a good business core in the selling and trading side of the business.

Our goal has been to make sure we could have a team we could build around, to be around these coaches and learn Day 1 from them. That's been the objective. And I think we have the same amount of second-year players on this team as we do first-year players. The process will continue and the nice part of it is there's still the core of those champions here that these young guys can play with.

Our goal is to do the right thing, to set the bar in how organizations should respond to situations such as this. We also recognize the public nature of this story, the need to continue to support our patients and provide updated information and our intent to remain consistent with our core values.

Our goal is to drive growth and innovation in Europe by investing in the three core categories of Ketchup, condiments and sauces; infant nutrition; and meals and snacks.

Our focus is on increasing pre-tax margins and returns on capital in our core car and truck rental operations.

Our forecast was undone by two factors. The impact of the post-Katrina spike in oil prices is lingering; it will eventually fade. Second, trade in goods ex-oil and aircraft -- core -- deteriorated again.

Our study found that to truly respect consumers' privacy, companies need to incorporate privacy into every aspect of their business. From respecting consumers choices about how to market to them and using the most secure technology available, to the way that their customer service representatives manage private information and respond to questions about privacy, it must be a core component of every customer interaction. E-LOAN has understood this from the beginning, which is why it continues to be recognized and rewarded for its strong commitment to consumer privacy.

I think he's taken care of his core issues. A kid like him is so active, I don't think the break will hurt him.

I think if they do a deal for Hughes, the stock will go up. The implied value is there somewhere. But Hughes is a one-time issue. There's fundamental things wrong with the core automotive business.

I think if we get another 0.3 rise in the core CPI, I think the Fed will want to draw line in the sand, ... The Fed statement shows there are a lot of anxious parties at that meeting willing to be (more) aggressive.

I wonder, where are you? ... All of us are trying to get down to, what are your core values?

It fits in with the values of his core constituency. It offers an opportunity for those people who had been with him in the past to be with him now.

I think GE is going to go back to its core businesses and refocus on them. The company has been growing very strongly. We expect the growth to continue despite a very soft economy. I think at the end of the day they'll wash their hands and move on.

I think generally the store might have lost its way somewhat in the early days. I think what Chuck Conaway has tried to do is get at the core of what their consumer is all about. He's building relationships with the consumer, building a more personal experience in the store, which is something they really didn't ever have.

It doesn't make sense to have a third party providing something core to our experience,

Just limiting contributions leaves untouched one of the core problems, which is the pressure that candidates face when they can never stop fund raising.

I think the one thing people are missing is the one thing that is attracting Hilton: the hotel operations. They could be setting up a sale of core assets in the Sheraton brand,

I think the (PPI and core PPI) numbers will make the Fed a bit more comfortable that the status quo is fine, ... The core PPI is the one they really care about. It's really telling us that the inflation story is not running away from us. That doesn't mean the debate won't be heated. But this number does tilt the apple cart.

It is a good core of players coming back. The thing I like about them is they've all come in in really good physical condition and they played some volleyball over the summer. We're a little bit ahead of where we were at this time last year.

I think it's so fun when I get to work with women writers in particular because we really understand the core story or foundation as women. That's so important to me that the authenticity is there, you know, from the place that I speak from for my women. Having other females with me helps me dig deeper.

I think it's vitally important that we keep the core together. To let them go and then start over again doesn't make sense to me.

I think this says a lot to our town that this building is worth saving, and that this is a real project - that the university does intend to move its arts program here. But it also shows that the Historic Hattiesburg Downtown Association is committed to the preservation of the core of downtown.

It has always been Cramer's strategy to place inventory at the core of the OSS, as opposed to providing a passive database of record. The power of inventory at the core means that we can use the inventory to drive the systematic integration of wider OSS functionality within one, converged platform.

It has been a very good year for the group. The core group has performed strongly and we have made further progress in de-risking the US.

It gets down to core values, how you can live and keep things straight and maintain an even keel. It helps to listen to people who share how they've done it. It's an everlasting human story.

I think we played a bit sloppy tonight, I thought Harwood really hustled and I give them all the credit in the world for just keeping it going. But I think we also played well in spots, I have a lot of faith in this team and we have a great core of kids, I'm looking forward to the playoffs.

I think we have a core group of returning seniors who have grown with the program and are determined to make this season the best since it's their last.

I think we have a good core here and if we add a couple of pieces here and there, I think we'll be right back in it.

I think we've made a number of good signings and we've blended them with a very strong core group from last year.

I think we're returning a very good core that had a wonderful season.

I think you find universal truth when you get really honest with yourself and you can reach people. If you go deep enough, you have that core feeling, and that feeling can transcend the details of your experience.

It came down to our freshman against their senior in that last match, and things just didn't go our way. I thought we needed this experience tonight in this type of venue, with this type of crowd because our core nucleus is made up of freshmen and sophomores, so we'll be back.

I think invariably when you are dealing with relationships, the films really center on that, and the plot is really born out of that. That's the most core part of a relationship: intimacy, I think, whether it's expressed or not.

I think it's a cheap stock, but it's cheap for a reason. The company's core market has changed and it's attempting to change with it in order to keep up. But it's a real uphill battle.

I think it's a good decision. They can't afford to cut any more features to make a 2006 date. The features that need the most testing, frankly, are enterprise features related to the core of the product, like user account control and how it will lock down services to make them less vulnerable to a worm. Things like that fundamentally change the way Windows works, and they couldn't really back out of them.

It combines flexibility, strength and endurance, cardiovascular and core all in one. If you swing it 10 to 15 times, your heart rate will elevate quicker than typical weight and cardiovascular training.

I thought the reason for core earnings was to present a picture of what earnings from ongoing operations really look like. But because of this one factor, and because it's going to introduce so much volatility, nobody is going to use it.

Today's decision represents a very significant victory for the antitrust division on the core claim in the Microsoft case that Microsoft engaged in anticompetitive conduct to preserve its monopoly position in computer operating systems.

Today's launch continues Velocity Micro's tradition of first to market leadership with new technologies. We're very excited to be the first in the world to offer this elite gaming PC to hard core gaming fans.

Treasuries are near the levels where investors think they offer value. Core inflation looks calm, so rising oil prices are primarily a threat to growth as they are like a tax hike for consumers.

Trips by our core customers went up during the quarter, ... negligible.

True investing is making a commitment to own a company, to participate in its business over the long term and not betting on short-term movements in its stock price. To change our core discipline would dilute our efforts and all that we believe in.

Today starts a new chapter of Agilent. We have made decisions today for us to be able to focus on our core that we have been a leader in for the last 65 years.

Typically cities have core competencies that include things like sweeping streets and keeping neighborhoods safe. But building, running and maintaining a wireless network is a whole different ball game. We think that municipalities that are looking at offering wireless service to their citizens underscore the value proposition that we have in the marketplace.

We were short-dollar as our core view is that the Fed ended its tightening cycle on Jan. 31.

We believe the new company should be a core portfolio holding for investors seeking participation in the proliferation of the mobile Internet.

We have the core of kids coming back. We can be more competitive this year.

We have the largest economy and the strongest military in the world. Our core values of freedom and opportunity are ascendant around the globe.

We have the opportunity to create Tampa as the core city in the U.S.A. for the largest sport in the world.

We have three coming back as the nucleus and core of the team.

When I said that, whenever it was, two years ago, that's how it was, having fun with some good friends. It's just a sign of the friendship. There's a core group of guys when I played here. There was something special about that team.

The problems in our core health business are substantial. They are not something we can fix in a quarter or two.

You have probably been hearing about how well they've done as far as integration goes, how steady and slow they've gone. The ... earnings here are really core earnings, not about ... stretching by security gains or one-time items. Their reserves are strong, the future looks strong for them.

Unfortunately, the Learning Co. performance masks an underlying vitality of core U.S. business.

Uninspiring results in the core operations, combined with unfavorable exposure to the U.S. dollar make the current fundamental outlook somewhat bleak.

To have achieved core profitability and steady growth within such a short window of time is a testament to the remarkable dedication of our staff and board, as well as the community's overwhelming support of a truly local institution.

I would advise the middle school reform committee to keep in mind what parents want and students need are engaging electives like those that are offered in our high schools. Increasing access to standard course of study beyond core subjects is a key ingredient to educational success.

The ANGEL approach has produced an LMS that's different. We've gained distinction for creating an appealing balance of simplicity and power. We've obsessed about how to improve both of these -- making the product even easier to use and yet more powerful. And we're especially pleased to have blended in features like our new Learning Object Repository and LIVE synchronous tools as core features to extend value unique in the industry.