Exxon Mobil posts record profits

I digress for a minute here- this should raise a few eyebrows in this tough economic time:

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Exxon Mobil made history on Friday by reporting the highest quarterly and annual profits ever for a U.S. company, boosted in large part by soaring crude prices.
Exxon, the world's largest publicly traded oil company, said fourth-quarter net income rose 14% to $11.66 billion, or $2.13 per share. The company earned $10.25 billion, or $1.76 per share, in the year-ago period.

Exxon also set an annual profit record by earning $40.61 billion last year - or nearly $1,300 per second in 2007. That exceeded its previous record of $39.5 billion in 2006.

Yankee Day One- CEREC AC

Had a full demo of the new CEREC AC with the CEREC Bluecam . I was able to scan a full arch in about 3 minutes the first time through- Probably could get it down to 2 minutes and a lot less if it were just a quadrant. A few notable features. It only has to be positioned from the occlusal unless there is a veneer. You move it across the teeth in steps, however instead of hitting a foot pedal or clicking anything, it does it automatically and you move it to the next spot. We were able to start a scan from upper right (#2) through #8, then stop and start at the other end of the arch, #15 and work around from the other side. As soon as we hit #8 the whole arch was "stitched together".
BIG NEWS. The computer keeps track of each click. You can remove any section ( click area) and redo it at any time. This is HUGE if you had done a scan, look a the prep and decide it needs any modification. Reprep, delete the click area, rescan just that area ( the prep for example) and you are back in business.
Sirona also has many purchase options- some based on a "pay per case" basis. You can get into the acquisition unit for export to an "IN-Lab Lab" for under $25,000, with the small milling unit for about $60,000 all the way up to an outright purchase with the XL milling center for about $120,000. Info is at http://www.cereconline.com

Yankee dental preview

A snowstorm is on its way Wednesday which might cause some attendees and exhibitors to arrive late. Should all be over by the evening. My friend Lorne Lavine is presenting the first of his 5 courses Wednesday afternoon. Might not be a full house...

Yankee Dental 2009

This week is Yankee dental in Boston. They are already predicting snow. It is in the new Convention center. Last year had many challenges, mostly having to do with transportation to and from the center. The reality is that there is heavy traffic in Boston and it is not easy to get across town. Also there were no real facilities near the center- only 1 hotel ( Westin) really in walking distance. Yankee has made sure that only attendees and no exhibitors can register in the Westin. I also believe that they are serving lunch in the exhibit hall ( free???). I will get in Wednesday night- lets see how they do this year.

Welcome 2009

I have tried setting up a blog before and seem to get easily sidetracked. New Year, new try. I hope to be as prolific as my mentors John Flucke and Marty Jablow who seem to be able to post any time any where. Also Lorne Lavine who has an endless supply of helpful hints that clog up my list of programs on my PC ;-) . In some cases I will get info from other blogs and rss feeds. I will always acknowledged these. Wish me luck.

Paul