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warc | 201704 | The Associated Press is reporting that in response to consumer concerns, California may be the first to implement statewide restrictions on <"http://www.yourlawyer.com/practice_areas/toxic_substances">Bisphenol A—BPA—an estrogen mimicking chemical that has been hotly debated in recent months over its presence in plastic baby bottles and infant formula cans. At least 11 other states, including New York, have considered bills to restrict BPA.
Although BPA is found in a wide variety of consumer products, the proposed bill only discusses its impact on children three years of age and younger and would require all products or food containers designed for such children to contain trace amounts of BPA.
BPA is a ubiquitous chemical compound that mimics estrogen and is found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resin. Studies confirm BPA is chemically similar to diethylstilbestrol, a synthetic estrogen linked to the development of vaginal cancer in the daughters of women who took the drug in the 1950s-1960s to prevent miscarriage. BPA has been in commercial use since the 1950s and is found in a wide variety of everyday items including water bottles, food and drink packaging, food can linings, dental sealants, CDs and DVDs, eyeglasses, and automobiles. And while most experts agree that BPA is disruptive to the body’s hormonal system, scientists disagree over what dosage in food and beverage containers can be harmful.
The National Toxicology Program (NTP), an arm of the National Institutes of Health and a partnership of federal health agencies, published a draft brief that said there is “some concern” with BPA over “neural and behavioral effects in fetuses, infants, and children at current human exposures†and also had “some concern” for exposure in these populations “based on effects in the prostate gland, mammary gland, and an earlier age for puberty in females.â€
The FDA has long maintained—even in the face of tremendous opposition—BPA’s, safety, but is now claiming it has been reviewing emerging literature on BPA on a continuous basis for years and its Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition initiated a formal reexamination of the safety of BPA in early 2007. The FDA recently agreed with the chemical industry in defending BPA’s safety, announcing it saw no reason to advise consumers to stop using products made with the controversial chemical. In testimony before a Senate subcommittee, Norris Alderson, the FDA’s associate commissioner for science, defended the FDA’s reliance on two industry-funded studies in making this determination. Critics have accused the FDA of failing to act on BPA concerns and have accused them of acquiescing to industry.
The California bill’s author, Democratic state Senator Carole Migden from San Francisco, said California was following the example of a number of retailers that are voluntarily pulling BPA-laced products from their shelves. “I think manufacturers who make money should do all they can to make their products safe,” said Migden. “This is just one step. It ought to be banned for everything,” she added. In April, Health Canada issued a draft risk assessment indicating it planned to add BPA to the country’s list of toxic substances. Most recently, Senate Democrats introduced a bill to ban BPA in plastics from all products made for infants and young. The bill would direct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to study BPA risks. | 3,750 | 1,860 | 0.000582 |
warc | 201704 | The following testimony by Ryan Haygood was submitted to the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee in support of A2182:
Chair Benson, Vice Chair Danielsen, and Distinguished Members of the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee:
Thank you for the opportunity to submit this testimony to the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee. I am Ryan P. Haygood, President and CEO of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice (the “Institute”), a Newark-based urban research and advocacy organization. Established nearly twenty years ago by Alan V. and Amy Lowenstein, the Institute’s mission is to empower urban residents to realize and achieve their full potential. Our advocacy is aimed at toppling the load-bearing walls of structural inequality to create just, vibrant, and healthy urban communities. To achieve this goal, we employ a broad range of advocacy tools, including research and writing, public education, communications, grassroots organizing, developing pilot programs, policy initiatives, legislative advocacy, and litigation. The Institute’s work rests upon three interconnected pillars: (1) economic mobility; (2) criminal justice reform; and (3) civic engagement.
Through our criminal justice reform work, the Institute is working to create a rational and effective criminal justice system that (1) strengthens communities by treating people, particularly the most vulnerable among us, fairly and equally; (2) provides alternatives to incarceration; (3) protects constitutional rights; (4) ensures racial equality; and (5) increases law enforcement responsiveness, accountability, and transparency.
As part of our work to promote alternatives to incarceration and to reduce this state’s prison population, I urge you to
vote yes on Assembly Bill 2182,which would allow for the release of certain nonviolent offenders after they have completed their basic sentence, provided that they have not committed any serious disciplinary infractions while incarcerated and have complied with rehabilitation recommendations.
Incarcerating an individual after they complete their sentence is a poor use of taxpayers’ money and prevents them from reentering and reintegrating into the community. The overuse of incarceration does not just impact the individual imprisoned; it places an enormous strain on immediate and extended families, disproportionately impacting New Jersey’s most vulnerable communities—which are primarily communities of color. Racial disparities in New Jersey prisons are the highest in the nation. Indeed, while Black and Latino people make up less than 30 percent of the state’s overall population, they account for an incredible 80 percent of those who are incarcerated.
In addition to the huge financial cost of imprisonment to the taxpayers, research shows that long prison sentences do not make us safer and do not effectively decrease recidivism. Instead, they simply prolong the isolation of incarcerated people from their families and communities, further compounding the challenges they will face in their inevitable reintegration.
Under present circumstances, administrative delays often result in individuals remaining in prison long after they become eligible for parole. Not only is this unfair and a poor use of resources, but it also undermines public safety. Assembly Bill 2182 would provide long-overdue reform, at a significant savings to taxpayers, and without any increased risk to public safety.
Thank you for your consideration of the Institute’s testimony, and please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions about this or our criminal justice reform work.
Sincerely,
Ryan P. Haygood
President and CEO
New Jersey Institute for Social Justice
Do you like this post? | 3,792 | 1,807 | 0.000563 |
warc | 201704 | Civil and environmental engineering professor Philip Larese-Casanova has had a life-long love affair with metals. In his work in aquatic environmental chemistry, he looks at how metallic pollutants transform and behave in freshwater systems.
“I just had an interest in the metals,” he told me in an interview last month. “Maybe it’s because I see so many different personalities in them when I look at the periodic table.” I almost fainted like a Jane Austen character when he said that.
Larese-Casanova’s passion for chemistry transcends the calm patience with which he discusses the complex subject. But when I asked what exactly he meant by a metal’s “personality,” Larese-Casanova said: “It’s kind of like asking me, how did I fall in love with my wife ? It’s hard to verbalize a multifaceted passion concisely.”
He pulled out a picture of the periodic table to try and explain it:
“We can tolerate, for example, sulfate at low concentrations. But drop one period down and we get to selenium. Selenate is generally toxic,” he said. “So you make one small change, move down or across the periodic table and you can get to an element with completely different reactivities, toxicities, and chemical behaviors.”
Just like two notes on a piano separated by a single octave, these two elements will share similar qualities. Whereas a low C will sound a little deeper than middle C, arsenic share some of the chemical “qualities” of phosphorous. They’re personalities are shadows of each other, like sisters separated by a dozen years in age.
But despite these similarities, phosphorous is a key element in the DNA of all living organisms, whereas arsenic is toxic to nearly all animals (it used to be an ingredient in rat poison!).
This is the beauty of the periodic table, and it helps organize the beauty that Larese-Casanova sees in the metals. While organic compounds are all variations on a theme (they all contain carbon), metallic pollutants are varied and nuanced, predictable and surprising, all at once. | 2,121 | 1,076 | 0.00098 |
warc | 201704 | I RECENTLY visited some of the fantastic community organisations we have across the island.
I was joined by Derek Vaughan MEP as we visited groups such as Mentor Môn to take stock of the delivery of projects through public, private and social enterprises.
In Westminster, I raised food labelling and country of origin of produce during Welsh Questions.
It is vital that our labelling systems improve so we can see that the food we buy is local, Welsh produce and so that we can make informed choices about what we eat.
I also met with companies and industry representatives to discuss the potential of Anglesey and north Wales.
As Wales, the UK and others come out of the global crisis we must maximise the potential of our island in a sustainable way whilst creating jobs and prosperity. I will continue to promote Anglesey as a premier destination for businesses.
The lack of Government business means that Parliament has prorogued in anticipation of the Queen’s Speech.
It is disappointing that internal strife within the Coalition Government is not producing policies and the ones that do come out of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat pact are impracticable and hurt vulnerable families such as the Bedroom Tax.
Labour will reverse this spiteful policy if returned to Government.
Back in the constituency, I held advice surgeries in Llangefni, met National Grid on transmission issues, visited local community groups and businesses, attended the Anglesey Eisteddfod and did a few miles on the coastal path. | 1,531 | 847 | 0.001197 |
warc | 201704 | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 297-08
August 3, 2008
MAYOR BLOOMBERG DISCUSSES NEW WAYS CITY GOVERNMENT IS MAKING EACH DOLLAR COUNT IN WEEKLY RADIO ADDRESS
The following is the text of Mayor Bloomberg’s weekly radio address as prepared for delivery on 1010 WINS News Radio for Sunday, August 3, 2008
“Good Morning. This is Mayor Mike Bloomberg.
“With the economy stalling and tax revenues falling, state leaders from California to Maryland to our own capital of Albany recognize that they need to do more with less. Here at City Hall, we preach that wisdom – and practice it, too. Last year, at the first hint of the national economic slowdown, we ordered agencies to start reducing City-funded spending. And the budget we approved in June decreases planned City spending by more than 5.5 percent.
“Those measures, and others, will help the City ride out the current economic storms. But we’re not stopping there. There’s never been a better time than now to make sure that you, the City taxpayers, get the most for your money. Let me give you two good examples of how we’re doing just that.
“First, we’ve taken steps to get more ‘bang for the buck’ in the City’s construction budget, which will total $60 billion over the next five years. Unfortunately, because of government red tape and delays, construction companies frequently haven’t wanted to bid on City jobs. That reduces competition and drives up costs. So last week – after close consultation with construction industry experts – we announced contracting reforms that we’re confident will save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars every year.
“For instance, often enough, a contractor runs into unexpected problems that require changes in a construction project. In the past, getting approval for such a ‘change order’ could drag on for up to 300 days. That’s just completely unreasonable. So effective immediately, we’ve ordered that the time to process change orders be cut at least in half. In construction, time is money. So fewer delays will mean faster, better, and less costly construction of essential infrastructure projects.
“Energy costs are another big item in the City’s budget; we pay roughly $1 billion a year just to heat, cool, and light City buildings. And even though fuel prices have come down a bit lately, they’re still at near-record high levels. So we’re also moving ahead aggressively on plans to cut by 30 percent by the year 2017 the amount of energy that City agencies use. That’s going to involve a wide range of actions, including upgrading lighting, heating, air conditioning, and ventilation systems, and installing more energy-efficient windows and doors in City buildings, and also increasing the fuel-efficiency of our vehicle fleet, such as expanding our use of hybrid-powered vehicles.
“Combined, such initiatives will reduce our impact on global warming, take pressure off New York’s electric power grid, and also produce long-range savings for taxpayers. In fact, we estimate that by the year 2013, we’ll be breaking even on our energy-efficiency investments. After that, they’ll substantially lower what City government pays for fuel, and save taxpayers money.
“It’s never easy to make budget decisions in a troubled economy. But the right decisions – keeping a lid on spending, increasing government efficiency, and making investments that produce long-term savings – can put a silver lining on even the darkest financial clouds.
“This is Mayor Mike Bloomberg. Thanks for listening.”
MEDIA CONTACT:
Stu Loeser (212) 788-2958 | 3,728 | 1,919 | 0.000551 |
warc | 201704 | Some Thoughts About Unexpected Results JurisprudenceMar 2004 – 86 J. Pat. & Trademark Off. Soc'y 169 (2004).
By Harris A. Pitlick[1]
I. An Overview
Evidence of unexpected results is no doubt the most prevalent form of evidence of nonobviousness relied on by patent applicants during patent examination.Indeed, there are hundreds of published cases wherein the sufficiency of such evidence to rebut a case of prima facie obviousness was in issue.
Whether such rebuttal evidence is sufficient is a finding of fact.[2]Therefore, it is difficult to fashion an objective standard by which a patent applicant can determine beforehand (short of an agreement with the patent examiner) whether its evidence will be sufficient.
Some elements of a standard are well-settled. The evidence asserted as unexpected must actually have been obtained.[3]The evidence must include a comparison with the closest prior art,[4] which prior art must actually exist,[5] although in some cases, an "indirect" comparison may suffice.[6]The evidence (as well as evidence of non-obviousness generally) must be commensurate in scope with the claims to which it pertains,[7] although as I have previously argued, such evidence must be commensurate in scope with only so much of the claimed subject matter (in terms of scope) that is prima facie obvious.[8] Attorney argument, unsupported by factual evidence, is insufficient.[9]Superiority of, or difference in, results, if not shown to be unexpected, is insufficient.[10]The difference in results should indicate some practical advantage.[11]Evidence of unexpected results need not be described in the specification,[12] nor must an advantage shown to be unexpected be described in the specification if it would inherently flow from a use that was described.[13]
Evidence of unexpected results has been dismissed as not statistically significant by a number of decisions of the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences (board),[14] although the Court of Customs and Patent Appeals (CCPA) has indicated that where the patent applicant has not asserted statistical validity, the board may not dismiss the evidence simply because statistical validity has not been shown.[15]
II. A Tale of Two Cases
Two fairly recent cases decided by the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (Federal Circuit) --
In re Soni [16] and In re Geisler-- demonstrate that unexpected results jurisprudence is still in a state of flux.In [17] Soni, the evidence of unexpected results was found to be sufficient; in Geisler, it was not.
In
Soni, the claimed invention was drawn to particular compositions comprising a particular type of polymer having a molecular weight greater than 150,000. The court succinctly set forth Soni's position as follows:
Soni's patent specification states that the claimed compositions have significantly improved physical and electrical properties compared to compositions using polymers having a molecular weight below 150,000. To illustrate this point, the specification describes a number of tests comparing the properties of a composition of the invention composed of polyethylene having a molecular weight of 203,000 with a comparative composition composed of polyethylene having a molecular weight of 148,000. The data show at least a fifty-fold increase in tensile strength for the higher molecular weight composition compared to the lower molecular weight composition. The data also show at least a five-fold increase in peel strength as well as improved resistivity and recovery behavior properties. From these data, the specification concludes that "[t]he tensile, peel, resistivity behavior and recovery tests show significantly improved properties for a polymer having a molecular [weight] of 203,000 compared to one having a molecular weight of 148,000,
which are much greater than would have been predicted given the difference in their molecular weights."[18]
The issue before the court was whether Soni had shown unexpected results sufficient to rebut a prima facie case of obviousness, to which Soni admitted.[19]
The board had found that the record was devoid of any factual data to support the above- emphasized statement. The board concluded that while the data was some evidence of nonobviousness, it was insufficient to outweigh the evidence of obviousness.[20]
The court, in a 2-1 decision, reversed. Citing various precedent that conclusory statements in the specification regarding unexpected results, unsupported by objective evidence, are not sufficient, and that mere improvement in properties does not always suffice to show unexpected results, the court nevertheless found that Soni's specification was not limited to such statements; it contained specific data indicating improved properties, and that the improvement was substantial.[21]The court held:
[W]hen an applicant demonstrates
substantially improved results, as Soni did here, and states that the results were unexpected, this should suffice to establish unexpected results in the absence of evidence to the contrary.[22]
The court found that the PTO had not provided any persuasive basis to question Soni's comparative data and assertion that the demonstrated results were unexpected.[23]
Particularly, the dissent argued that "the majority overturns a well-settled facet of the law of rejections for obviousness by eliminating altogether one of the two requirements of a successful rebuttal case of unexpectedly improved results-namely,
objective proof that the observed improvement was indeed unexpected."[26]The dissent found that
[n]either the specification nor any post-rejection submission contains objective evidence tending to establish either (1) a baseline of expected improvements against which to measure the observed improvements, or (2) the lack of any such baseline expectation in the relevant prior art, as a result of which all degrees of improvement would be unexpected. Without establishing a baseline or the unavailability of one, however, unexpectedness cannot be proved.[27]
The dissent agreed with the board's finding that there was insufficient factual evidence to support Soni's assertion of unexpected results, and that this finding was consistent with the court's precedent on what must be shown to demonstrate that improved results are actually unexpected.[28]The dissent accused the majority of excusing Soni from the requirement that an improvement's unexpectedness be demonstrated objectively.[29]
The dissent further criticized the majority for providing no guidance on how to decide in future cases whether unexpected results are substantial enough to rebut a prima facie case of obviousness.[30]The "substantiality" requirement, according to the dissent, will breed more litigation to the Federal Circuit when unexpected results are in issue.[31]
Finally, the dissent found the "in the absence of evidence to the contrary" element of the court's "substantially improved results" formulation perplexing, since it "eliminates the
applicant's obligation to come forward with evidence, the obligation that was the heart of the established rule [and] it assumes that an unfair burden has been placed on the applicant."[32]
The dissent's conclusion is set forth in full below:
I question the desirability of the majority's new rule for assessing an applicant's rebuttal evidence of unexpectedness, according to which there need not be
any objective evidence of unexpectedness other than the inventor's unsupported assertion that an artisan would not have expected so great an improvement in light of the changes made. Even if desirable, such a rule is certainly not the one our cases have established. Nor does the majority merely create an exception to the settled rule; it altogether abolishes the rule in favor of a "substantially improved results" standard that will often be met. Many cases will be decided differently in the future as a consequence.
Because of dramatic improvements here, the majority sets off on a dramatic departure from the law as it stood before this case, a departure I do not think it either explains or justifies. Nor will the new rule be easy to apply or predictable in its application. If the old rule is too harsh here, then at most a narrowly defined exception could perhaps be crafted. Instead, the majority upends settled law for all cases in all arts. Like the Board, I would follow the rule of cases such as
Merck [33]and Lindnerand would thus affirm the Board's rejection of Soni's application.[35] [34]
It is difficult to quibble with the dissent's analysis.Nothing in the precedent cited by the dissent or any other precedent on the issue that I could find appears to support the new standard annunciated by the majority.[36]To put it in other words, the majority's standard seems to work a balancing test--the greater the magnitude of the difference in results, the smaller is the burden to show that the difference is unexpected.
In
Geisler, an issue was whether a recited thickness of 50-100 Angstroms in a protective layer of a claimed multi-layer reflective article rendered the article non-obvious over an analogous prior art article. The prior art protective layer thickness was disclosed as sufficient to provide the protection desired and still be colorless, for example, 100 to 600 Angstroms, and preferably 200 to 300 Angstroms, and in general, should not be less than about 100 Angstroms for suitable protection.
The specification included results of two tests for testing coated surfaces for wear resistance. Geisler tested protective layers of different thicknesses ranging from 900 Angstroms to 50 Angstroms. The court summed up the data as follows:
The first test was conducted shortly after the coating process was completed, and the second test was conducted "a few days later." The first test showed that, in general, the thinner protective layers exhibited better wear resistance. The second test showed the same trend, but in that test the thinner protective layers exhibited a somewhat greater and more consistent increase in wear resistance. For example, in the first test the 50 Angstrom layer exhibited about 20 percent better wear resistance than the 300 Angstrom layer, while in the second test the 50 Angstrom layer exhibited about twice as much wear resistance as the 300 Angstrom layer. After setting forth the two sets of test results, the application concluded that a protective layer of 50 Angstroms "provides a very good protection and, moreover, is very inexpensive in its production."[37]
The examiner held the claimed invention to have been obvious, based on the overlap of the respective ranges of the invention and prior art at 100 Angstroms.The examiner relied on precedent holding that overlapping ranges are prima facie obvious. The court's opinion does not indicate what the examiner's specific findings, if any, were on the test results.
The board affirmed. The court characterized the board's decision as follows:
The Board's decision that Geisler failed to rebut the prima facie case of obviousness is based on two findings: (1) that Geisler did not satisfy his burden of proving that the claimed protective layer produced unexpected results in the claimed thickness range of 50 to 100 Angstroms; and (2) that Geisler failed to show that the prior art of record . . . taught away from the claimed invention.[38]
The court affirmed.
According to the court, Geisler conceded that the examiner was correct in finding that the claims were prima facie obvious, because the claimed thickness range of 50 to 100 Angstroms for the protective layer overlapped at its end point with the thickness range of 100 to 600 Angstroms disclosed by the prior art.[39]
The test results in Geisler's specification were not accompanied with any description that they were unexpected, nor was an affidavit or declaration subsequently submitted during prosecution on the issue.Geisler instead asserted common sense, i.e., the thicker the protective coating, the greater the expected protection.The court dismissed this assertion as "just attorney argument."[40]
In response to Geisler's argument that their test results were contrary to assumptions in the prior art that a thickness less than 100 Angstroms would not be sufficient, the court found that "[s]uch an assumption is contrary to Geisler's evidence that a coating of 50 Angstoms thick offers better wear resistance than a coating 100 Angstoms thick[.]"[41]
Noting the age of the applied prior art, the court continued:
But the fact that one group of inventors 15 years earlier may have made an assumption that was contrary to Geisler's test results does not prove that Geisler's results would be regarded as unexpected by one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of Geisler's application.[42]
The court then distinguished
Soni.While the court acknowledged Geisler's 26% greater wear resistance from 100 Angstrom thickness to 50 Angstrom thickness, it found that this did not compare with the "substantially improved results" of a 50-fold improvement in tensile strength shown in Soni.[43]The court further distinguished Soni by noting the lack of any statement by Geisler about unexpected results, either in the specification or through other evidentiary submissions, other than the above-discussed attorney argument about common sense.[44]The court found that Geisler did not satisfy either of the Soni prerequisites, which are:
[W]hen an applicant demonstrates
substantially improved results, as Soni did here, and states that the results were unexpected, this should suffice to establish unexpected results in the absence of evidence to the contrary.[45]
In rejecting Geisler's argument that the prior art taught against their 50-100 Angstrom range, the court focused on the prior art disclosure of "about" 100 Angstroms as providing "suitable protection," and found that the prior art both "suggests" benefits to be derived from keeping the layer as thin as possible, and provides motivation to "explore thickness levels below that range" [i.e., "about 100 Angstroms."][46]
Geisler is troubling on a number of levels, as now discussed.
Since the finding of prima facie obviousness was based on the overlap of a single point, i.e., 100 Angstroms, it is only at that thickness (and perhaps some thickness a little less than 100 Angstroms, given the court's finding of "about" 100 Angstroms[47]) that Geisler should have had the burden of showing unexpected results.[48]But since the court found that Geisler did not show unexpected results for the entire claimed thickness range of 50 to 100 Angstroms, it must be assumed that the court thought Geisler had the burden for this entire range.
The court's dismissal of Geisler's "common sense" argument as "just attorney argument" seems rather harsh. Geisler's argument seems to make good sense, and would seem to merit at least some substantive rejoinder as to why Geisler's results were not necessarily unexpected. Would the Federal Circuit dismiss as "just attorney argument" one that asserts that an invention that make the sun rise in the west and set in the east is an unexpected result? Indeed, Geisler's "common sense" argument would appear to have greater probative value than Soni's unsupported assertion that their improvement was much greater than would have been predicted. Instead of dogmatically in every case dismissing statements of counsel as not probative, one would hope that examiners and the PTO reviewing tribunals would be able to distinguish mere puffery which, I believe, is the type of attorney argument meant to be ignored, from observations that anyone would understand are truly unexpected.
Even more troubling is the court's finding, in response to Geisler's argument that their test results were contrary to assumptions in the prior art that a thickness less than 100 Angstroms would not be sufficient, that "[s]uch an assumption is contrary to Geisler's evidence that a coating of 50 Angstoms thick offers better wear resistance than a coating 100 Angstoms thick[.]"[49]The court thus improperly used Geisler's evidence against them, treating the evidence as if it were in the prior art.[50]
By commenting on the 15-year age of the applied prior art, the court raised a potential problem for all future proponents of unexpected results evidence.The law is clear that the pertinent time frame for determining whether unexpected results has been shown is the time the claimed invention was made. But the practical result of the court's comment is that the older the prior art, the more likely a showing of at least superior results will be rejected.How does one show what was expected at the time the invention was made when evidence relied on as the closest prior art is not close in time to the claimed invention?[51]While the court noted what Geisler lacked in terms of evidence of unexpected results, a supporting opinion affidavit or declaration by one of ordinary skill in the art would appear to be a minimum requirement.
The court's comparison of the
amount of improvement in Geisler compared to that in Soni is further troubling, and substantiates the prophetic nature of the Soni dissent. Soni raised the bar so high on what would be regarded as substantial improvement that the court felt compelled to find Geisler's 26% improvement, although not in so many words, insubstantial.How many practitioners out there have seen a 50-fold improvement over the closest prior art?
Finally, the court's comment about motivation to "explore" thicknesses below 100 Angstroms, even if there were no disclosure that the thickness should not be less than about 100 Angstroms, sounds a lot like "obvious to try," which, as the court has stated on numerous occasions, is insufficient to make out a case of legal obviousness.[52]
What is one to do? Surely, a legitimate explanation by a person of ordinary skill in the art, such as the inventor, of why results are unexpected, either as part of the specification as filed or during patent prosecution, should suffice to overcome the negative dicta, if not the holding, in
Geisler, even if the substantiality of the difference in results is questionable.
III.Some Suggestions
The remainder of this article focuses on one of the above-discussed well-settled elements
--that relating to the closest prior art as the necessary object of comparison.A sports analogy may be apt.
Closest prior art may be viewed as the admission ticket that must be presented before one can even get in the game. If comparison is not made to the closest prior art, any unexpected results evidence will be ineffective.
To continue the analogy, it is also generally assumed in many sports that the home team has an advantage over the visiting team. Thus, a patent applicant would want the game played on its turf,
viz., the closest prior art is what the patent applicant decides, not what the examiner decides.
In many cases, the closest prior art, in terms of real world experience of persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art, is the prior art whose problems are being addressed by the invention. That prior art may be embodied in a patent or printed publication, or it may be otherwise publicly known. The application on such an invention may even have comparative data in the specification between the claimed invention and this prior art, showing results for the former to be better, if not unexpected, compared to results for the latter. If the inventor, or his patent attorney, has followed the case precedent, the specification would also explain why the results are unexpected, if so. Alternatively, if not part of the original disclosure, the evidence may subsequently be submitted in an affidavit or declaration.But this may be an exercise in futility if the examiner decides that other prior art is closer.
How is the closest prior art determined? As stated in
In re Merchant:
Given the enormous variety of technologies and claimed subject matter, no all-encompassing principle or test can be delineated for determining the closest prior art. However, an almost self-evident guideline would appear effective in most cases. A comparison of the claimed invention with the disclosure of each cited reference to determine the number of claim limitations in common with each reference, bearing in mind the relative importance of particular limitations, will usually yield the closest single prior art reference.[53]
I think the more significant aspect of the
Merchant test is its qualification about the inability to delineate an all-encompassing principle or test, as opposed to its "almost self-evident guideline" in "most" cases. Indeed, a guideline is simply that.An imaginative approach is thus not foreclosed.
Suggestion 1: Consider challenging the examiner's finding of closest prior art.
It is already well-settled that the prior art from which the closest prior art is chosen is not necessarily limited to prior art relied on by the examiner.As stated in
In re Holladay:
While in most cases the closest prior art will be the art relied on by the examiner, this is not necessarily so. It is conceivable that two or more pieces of prior art could be equally close to the invention, and yet only one of them applied against the claims by the examiner.
Where two pieces of prior art are in fact equally close to the claimed invention, there is no logical reason for requiring an applicant to make a comparison with one instead of the other. On the other hand, practical considerations favor allowing the applicant to choose between them. Prior art devices are sometimes unavailable for testing. They may be disclosed in "paper patents" on inventions which have never been reduced to practice. Where the applicant uncovers a piece of prior art actually used in the real world and
establishes that its teachings are equal to the relevant disclosure in a "paper patent" relied upon in the examiner's rejection, it would be unfair not to permit the applicant to make his comparison with the commercially used piece of prior art.[54]
The force of
Holladay is somewhat limited, because the prior art in question relied on by the applicant was found to be equal in closeness to that relied on by the examiner. Indeed, highlighting the above-emphasized term from Holladay, the CCPA in In re Johnson [55] subsequently explained that Holladaydid not give an applicant license to choose between equally close pieces of prior art where the teachings were not equal. "Thus Holladayis premised on the notion that the teachingsof the closest prior art references are sufficiently similar so that the testing of one compound showing unexpected results would provide the same information as to the relevant teachings of the other equally close references."[56]
Despite its limiting facts,
Holladay nevertheless stands for the proposition that the examiner is not the sole arbiter of what is the closest prior art.
Suggestion 2: Consider presenting evidence on the issue of closest prior art.
Whether the issue of what is the closest prior art is a question of fact or a question of law is one that has not yet been decided by the Federal Circuit, although the Federal Circuit has stated the proposition in a number of non-precedential decisions that a finding by the board that an applicant did not compare to the closest prior art is a question of fact.[57]There does not appear to be any reason why the issue would not be a question of fact. If a question of fact, then an affidavit or a declaration asserting that particular prior art is the closest prior art, with suitable explanatory support, should be given some weight.[58]Thus, faced with a disagreement with an examiner of what the closest prior art is, such a declaration or affidavit may sway the examiner in your favor.
Such a declaration can be a vehicle by which facts can be introduced to avoid a finding of closest prior art that relies on a simple tally of most limitations or elements in common. These facts can include a comparison of the problems addressed by the invention and problems addressed by the prior art. Prior art addressing the same problems as the invention can in many, if not most, cases be considered to be closer prior art than prior art that may coincidentally have more elements in common with the invention but which is addressing a different problem.[59]
The statement "bearing in mind the relative importance of particular limitations" in the
Merchant test would have greater meaning if the problem being addressed by the invention can be considered an implicit, and relatively important, limitation for this limited purpose. Indeed, as part of the consideration of the invention as a whole, required by 35 USC 103, the problem addressed must be considered.Simply counting and comparing explicit claim limitations, without more, would appear to fall short of the statutory mandate.
Suggestion 3: Consider the question of nonanalogous art.
In furtherance of the notion that the problem addressed by the invention must be considered in determining the closest prior art, the possibility that prior art relied on by the examiner as closest, say by virtue of number of claim limitations in common only, is nonanalogous prior art, should not be dismissed.The test for analogous art has been stated in
In re Wood, as follows:
In resolving the question of obviousness under 35 USC 103, we presume full knowledge by the inventor of all the prior art in the field of his endeavor. However, with regard to prior art outside the field of his endeavor, we only presume knowledge from those arts reasonably pertinent to the particular problem with which the inventor was involved. . . . The rationale behind this rule precluding rejections based on combination of teachings of references from nonanalogous arts is the realization that an inventor could not possibly be aware of every teaching in every art. Thus, we attempt to more closely approximate the reality of the circumstances surrounding the making of an invention by only presuming knowledge by the inventor of prior art in the field of his endeavor and in analogous arts.
The determination that a reference is from a nonanalogous art is therefore twofold. First, we decide if the reference is within the field of the inventor's endeavor. If it is not, we proceed to determine whether the reference is reasonably pertinent to the particular problem with which the inventor was involved.[60]
Where the prior art asserted as closest is not reasonably pertinent to the particular problem with which the inventor was involved, focus should be on whether it is from the field of the inventor's endeavor. Whether prior art is nonanalogous is a question of fact.[61]Thus, an affidavit or a declaration explaining why one of ordinary skill in the art should not be presumed to have any knowledge of the prior art asserted as closest should be given weight.To that end, it is obviously in the applicant's interest to give the "field of endeavor" element a relatively narrow breadth or at least narrow enough to be outside the field of endeavor of the asserted closest prior art.[62]The examiner, having (presumably) found this prior art during a search and examination of the invention and perhaps feeling some "pride of ownership," will likely require some amount of persuasion. Such persuasion should include the fact that, unlike the examiner, the person of ordinary skill in the art would not have had the applicant's invention in front of him.
Suggestion 4: Consider indirect comparisons.
As stated above, the courts have sanctioned indirect comparisons with the closest prior art where an inference can be made from the results that they are unexpected over the closest prior art.[63]In some cases, comparative examples in a specification, even if not technically prior art, may qualify where these examples are closer to the invention than the closest prior art.In
Ex parte Humber,[64] comparative data showing the claimed chlorine-containing compounds to be unexpected over various (non-prior art) chlorine-containing isomers was accepted as more probative over prior art, drawn to non-chlorine containing analogs of the claimed compounds, asserted to be closest.
IV.Conclusion
Never have so much confidence in your evidence of unexpected results that you concede a case of prima facie obviousness that at least arguably does not apply.But where such a case does at least arguably apply, the suggestions made above might prove useful.
Published in 86
J. Pat. & Trademark Off. Soc'y 169 (2004).
[1] Oblon, Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt.The views expressed here are personal and do not necessarily reflect the views of the firm or any of its clients.Any comments should be directed to the editor or by e-mail to me at [email protected].
[2]
E.g., In re Mayne, 104 F.3d 1339, 1343, 41 USPQ2d 1451, 1455 (Fed. Cir. 1997).
[3]
E.g., In re Klosak, 455 F.2d 1077, 1080, 173 USPQ 14, 16 (CCPA 1973).
[4]
E.g., In re Merchant, 575 F.2d 865, 869, 197 USPQ 785, 788 (CCPA 1978).
[5]
E.g., In re Geiger, 815 F.2d 686, 689, 2 USPQ2d 1276, 1279 (Fed. Cir, 1987) (Newman, J., concurring) ("The applicant is not required to create prior art, nor to prove that his invention would have been obvious if the prior art were different than it actually was."); In re Chapman, 357 F.2d 418, 422, 148 USPQ 711, 714 (CCPA 1966) (Requiring applicant to compare claimed invention with polymer suggested by the combination of references relied upon in the rejection of the claimed invention under 35 USC 103 "would be requiring comparison of the results of the invention with the results of the invention.")
[6]
E.g., In re Blondel, 499 F.2d 1311, 1317, 182 USPQ 294, 298 (CCPA 1974), In re Fouche, 439 F.2d 1237, 1241-42, 169 USPQ 429, 433 (CCPA 1971); In re Wilder, 429 F.2d 447, 452, 166 USPQ 545, 549 (CCPA 1970).An acceptable indirect comparison, in effect, is one that compares the invention to other than the closest prior art, the results from which, it can be inferred, are relevant to the issue of unexpected results over the closest prior art.
[7]
E.g., In re Dill, 604 F.2d 1356, 1361, 202 USPQ 805, 808 (CCPA 1979).
[8] Harris A. Pitlick, What Does
Evidence Presented to Rebut a Prima Facie Case ofObviousness Must Be Commensurate in Scope With The Claims to Which it Pertains Mean[,] 85 J. Pat. & Trademark Off. Soc'y 257, 369 (2003). Compare In re Stempel, 241 F.2d 755, 759, 113 USPQ 77, 81 (CCPA 1957) (In swearing behind a prior art reference under 37 CFR 1.131, "all the applicant can be required to show is priority with respect to so much of the claimed invention as the reference happens to show.")
[9]
E.g., In re Lindner, 457 F.2d 506, 508, 173 USPQ 356, 358 (CCPA 1972).
[10]
E.g., In re D'Ancicco, 439 F.2d 1244, 1248, 169 USPQ 303, 306 (1971).
[11]
Id.In D'Ancicco, it was shown that a polyurethane foam made from the claimed invention charred at elevated temperatures while the prior art polyurethane foam melted, but the court found that a practical advantage from this difference had not been shown. In most cases where superior results have been shown, the practical advantage would be self-evident.
[12]
E.g., In re Chu, 66 F.3d 292, 298-99, 36 USPQ2d 1089, 1095 (Fed. Cir. 1995 ) ("We have found no cases supporting the position that a patent applicant's evidence and/or arguments traversing a Section 103 rejection must be contained within the specification. There is no logical support for such a proposition as well, given that obviousness is determined by the totality of the record including, in some instances most significantly, the evidence and argumentsproffered during the give-and-take of ex parte patent prosecution.")
[13]
E.g., In re Zenitz, 333 F.2d 924, 928, 142 USPQ 158, 161 (CCPA 1964).
[14]
Ex parte The NutraSweet Co., 19 USPQ2d 1586 (Bd. Pat. App. & Inter. 1991), Ex parte Gelles,22 USPQ2d 1318 (Bd. Pat. App. & Inter. 1992); and Ex parte Quadranti, 25?USPQ2d 1071 (Bd. Pat. App. & Inter. 1992). Not coincidentally, these opinions were each authored by the same examiner-in-chief.
[15]
In re Kollman, 595 F.2d 48, 56 n.8, 201 USPQ 193, 199 n.8 (CCPA 1979) ("The board also questioned the statistical significance of the proof. Admittedly the number of plants used in the tests is not disclosed.Nevertheless, we see no reason to question the data on this basis without some indication either from the data or from the prior art that these types of tests give unreliable results." (Emphasis added.)) Kollman is consistent with the notion that most proponents of evidence of unexpected results are presumably not statisticians. The evidence that they proffer is directed to a person of ordinary skill in the art in question. In re Soni, 54 F.3d 746, 750, 34 USPQ2d 1684, 1687 (Fed. Cir. 1995). If that person would have accepted the evidence as showing unexpected results even though it might not satisfy a statistician, that should be enough.
[16] 54 F.3d 746, 34 USPQ2d 1684 (Fed. Cir. 1995).
[17] 116 F.3d 1465, 43 USPQ2d 1362 (Fed. Cir. 1997).
[18] 54 F.3d at 747-48, 34 USPQ2d at 1685 (emphasis added).
[19]
Id. at 749, 34 USPQ2d at 1686.
[20]
Id. at 748, 34 USPQ2d at 1686.
[21]
Id. at 750-51, 34 USPQ2d at 1687-88.
[22]
Id. at 751, 34 USPQ2d at 1688 (emphasis in the original).
[23]
Id.The court also refused to decide an issue of whether the showing was commensurate in scope with the claims, on the ground that it was raised for the first time on appeal in court.
[24]
Id. at 751 and 755, 34 USPQ2d at 1688-89 and 1691-92.
[25]
Id. at 755, 34 USPQ2d at 1692.
[26]
Id. at 751-52, 34 USPQ2d at 1688-89 (emphasis in the original).
[27]
Id. at 754, 34 USPQ2d at 1691 (footnote omitted).
[28]
Id. at 754, 34 USPQ2d at 1690.
[29]
Id.
[30]
Id. at 755, 34 USPQ2d at 1692.
[31]
Id.
[32]
Id. at 756, 34 USPQ2d at 1692 (emphasis in the original).
[33] 800 F.2d 1091, 231 USPQ 375 (Fed. Cir. 1986).
[34] 457 F.2d 506, 173 USPQ 356 (CCPA 1972).
[35] 54 F.3d at 756, 34 USPQ2d at 1692.
[36] In the interest of full disclosure, I drafted in part the Commissioner's Brief in
Soni while employed as Associate Solicitor, Office of the Solicitor, PTO.
[37] 116 F.3d at 1467, 43 USPQ2d at 1363.
[38]
Id. at 1468-69, 43 USPQ2d at 1364.
[39]
Id. at 1469, 43 USPQ2d at 1365.
[40]
Id. at 1470, 43 USPQ2d at 1365.
[41]
Id., at 43 USPQ2d at 1365-66.
[42]
Id., 43 USPQ2d at 1366.
[43]
Id.
[44]
Id. at 1471, 43 USPQ2d at 1366.
[45]
Id.(emphasis in the original).
[46]
Id.
[47] See
In re Peterson, 315 F.3d 1325, 1329, 65 USPQ2d 1379, 1382 (Fed. Cir. 2003), citing Titanium Metals Corp. v. Banner, 778 F.2d 775, 783, 227 USPQ 773, 779 (Fed. Cir. 1985) ("We have also held that a prima facie case of obviousness exists when the claimed range and the prior art range do not overlap but are close enough such that one skilled in the art would have expected them to have the same properties.")
[48] See note 8 and the accompanying text.
[49] See note 41,
supra.
[50] Compare
In re Ruff, 256 F.2d 590, 598, 118 USPQ 340, 347 (CCPA 1958) ("To rely on an equivalence known only to the applicant to establish obviousness is to assume that his disclosure is a part of the prior art. The mere statement of this proposition reveals its fallaciousness.")
[51] It has generally been held that the mere age of a reference is not persuasive of unobviousness absent evidence that the art tried and failed to solve the problem notwithstanding knowledge of the reference. See
In re Wright, 569 F.2d 1124, 193 USPQ 332 (CCPA 1977); In re McGuire, 416 F.2d 1322, 163 USPQ 417 (CCPA 1969), cert. denied, 397 U.S. 989, 165 USPQ 33 (1970). Nevertheless, one may still have reason to question whether 15-year old prior art in an active art is, in fact, the closest prior art.See Part III, Infra.
[52]
E.g., In re O'Farrell, 853 F.2d 894, 903, 7 USPQ2d 1673, 1680-81 (Fed. Cir. 1988).
[53] 575 F.2d 865, 868, 197 USPQ 785, 787 (CCPA 1978) (citation omitted). The court cautioned, however, even though it did not apply there, "[t]hough particular results appear unexpected in a comparison with the closest single prior art reference, the teaching of another reference may establish that those results would have been expected by those skilled in the art."
Id., 197 USPQ at 788.
[54] 584 F.2d 384, 386, 199 USPQ 516, 518 (CCPA 1978) (emphasis added).
[55] 747 F.2d 1456, 223 USPQ 1260 (Fed. Cir. 1984).
[56]
Id. at 1461, 223 USPQ at 1263-64 (emphasis in the original).
[57]
See In re Romenesko, 98-1211, 1999 U.S. App. Lexis 20827, at *5 (Fed. Cir. February 9, 1999) and In re Case, 98-1531, 1999 U.S. App. Lexis 2107, at *5 (Fed. Cir. August 31, 1999). Each case cites In re Johnson, 747 F.2d 1456, 1460, 223 USPQ 1260, 1263 (Fed. Cir. 1984) for the proposition, although it is arguable that Johnsonsupports it.
[58]
Compare In re Alton, 76 F.3d 1168, 37 USPQ2d 1578 (Fed. Cir. 1996) (Declaration evidence must be considered on the issue of whether the description requirement of 35 USC 112
--a question of fact--has been complied with.)
[59]
But cf. In re Dillon, 919 F.2d 688, 692, 16 USPQ2d 1897, 1901 (Fed. Cir. 1990) (en banc) (Invention may be legally obvious even if it would have been obvious for a different reason from that of the inventor.)
[60] 599 F.2d 1032, 1036, 202 USPQ 171, 174 (CCPA 1979) (citation omitted).
[61]
Panduit Corp. v. Dennison Mfg., 810 F.2d 1561, 1568 n.9, 1 USPQ2d 1593, 1597 n.9 (Fed. Cir.), cert. denied, 481 U.S. 1052 (1987).
[62] Some cases where the claimed invention and prior art were found not to be in the same field of endeavor include
In re Clay, 966 F.2d 656, 23 USPQ2d 1058 (Fed. Cir. 1992) (both claimed invention and prior art related to the petroleum industry) and Wang Laboratories Inc. v. Toshiba Corp., 993 F.2d 858, 26 USPQ2d 1767 (Fed. Cir. 1993) (both claimed invention and prior art related to computer memories.)
[63] See note 6, and the accompanying text.
[64] 217 USPQ 265 (Bd. Pat. App. & Inter. 1981). | 38,179 | 13,891 | 0.000073 |
warc | 201704 | It’s just one more reason not to drink and get behind the wheel.
In a case out of Orange County, the California Supreme Court on Monday ruled that the Department of Motor Vehicles can consider circumstantial evidence, like swerving or failing a field sobriety test, to prove a driver’s blood-alcohol content was above the legal limit. Defense attorneys said more drivers could now see their licenses suspended in DMV administrative hearings when the results for blood-alcohol levels are close to the legal limit or inconclusive. “It will be harder for people who have borderline breath or blood-alcohol levels to demonstrate that they were not impaired, at or above the 0.08 (percent limit) at the time of driving,” said Laguna Beach DUI lawyer Barry T. Simmons. “Now, if it’s close to the legal limit, (the DMV) could look at circumstantial evidence to make a case.” Despite the court’s cautionary note about abusing the ruling, the defense attorney in the case said it could still create a ripple effect. The Supreme Court case started in Orange County when Ashley Jourdan Coffey was arrested for drunken driving after an officer spotted her swerving on the 55 freeway in November 2011. Officers said her eyes were red and a “strong odor of alcohol emanated from her car.” Coffey told officers that she had just turned 21 and had been at a bar but did not drink alcohol. She was arrested after she failed field sobriety tests, according to the court ruling. Her blood-alcohol level was tested about an hour after she was pulled over. A breath test for blood-alcohol level measured 0.08 percent, while another test three minutes later measured 0.09. A blood test later measured 0.095. Coffey pleaded guilty to a charge of misdemeanor “wet reckless,” but argued against having her license suspended in a DMV administrative hearing. All drivers arrested for drunken driving have the right to request a DMV administrative hearing for a suspended license. In the hearing, an expert toxicologist testified that Coffey’s blood-alcohol level was rising at the time of the tests and was below 0.08 percent when she was pulled over. A DMV hearing officer rejected the blood-alcohol testimony as “insufficient” and decided to suspend Coffey’s license based on police accounts. A trial court and appellate court ruled in favor of the DMV. The high court unanimously ruled that the circumstantial evidence was relevant in the Coffey case, but it cautioned against widely using the evidence to discredit expert testimony, said DUI attorney Chad Maddox, who represented Coffey. “This is basically the first case to say, ‘Yes, hearing officer, you can consider this evidence, but be careful not to go too far.’ It has to be reasonable, you can’t just exclude expert testimony,” Maddox said. “They said it should be looked at on a case-by-case basis.” Other defense attorneys are concerned that DMV hearings officers will use the evidence to widely penalize drivers. “This case is dangerous in that it allows wide latitude for DMV hearing officers to punish drivers who are legally below the .08 percent limit,” said Orange County DUI attorney Todd A. Landgren. While the evidence could be used against drivers, it could also be used to help someone’s case, Maddox added. “A driver who tested above the legal limit could use evidence that he was driving straight or he passed a field sobriety test to help his case,” he said. City News Service contributed to this report. Contact the writer: kpuente@ocregister.com, 714-834-3773 Related Links | 3,670 | 1,668 | 0.000624 |
warc | 201704 | This publication summarises key research findings which can be used to redesign initial and continuing teacher education to help practitioners effectively teach diverse students. It looks at challenges teachers face in OECD countries and presents a range of policies and practices used in various contexts, from countries with long histories of diversity to those with more recent experiences. The key role of evaluation – of teachers, schools and systems – is emphasised.
Educating Teachers for Diversity: Meeting the Challengeasks how these insights can inspire continuing educational reform for our changing classrooms, with a special focus on key questions for research, policy and practice. Click to Access: READ
http://oecd.metastore.ingenta.com/content/9610051e.pdf
http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/education/educating-teachers-for-diversity_9789264079731-en
25 Feb 2010 DOI: 10.1787/9789264079731-en Classroom practices for teaching diversity an example from Washington State (United States)
English
Click to Access: READ
http://oecd.metastore.ingenta.com/content/9610051ec015.pdf
http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/education/educating-teachers-for-diversity/classroom-practices-for-teaching-diversity_9789264079731-15-en
Author(s): Geneva Gay Pages: 257–279 DOI: 10.1787/9789264079731-15-en
It is difficult to identify classroom practices for teaching cultural diversity that could be applicable across national and cultural contexts. So much weight in research on ethnic and cultural diversity is given to the environmental, sociological and historical influences which mitigate learning that "universal" strategies are almost unthinkable. The author proposes that teacher education programmes focus on principles to guide classroom practices rather than specific practices themselves. Prospective teachers can be taught how to translate these principles into effective strategies for their particular classroom settings. Four principles are discussed: (i) how beliefs about diversity shape instructional behaviours; (ii) using multiple perspectives in learning about diversity; (iii) multiple techniques to achieve common learning outcomes; and (iv) developing skills to cross borders between different cultural systems. Specific examples are provided to illustrate what these principles look like in actual instructional practice, but the emphasis is on encouraging teachers to develop their own. | 2,475 | 1,184 | 0.000855 |
warc | 201704 | This Symposium addressed cutting-edge issues to further integrate financial education and financial consumer protection policies with a view to enhancing financial well-being and to address the challenges and identify solutions in delivering effective financial education. The forward-looking programme was organised as follows:
High-level participants from around the world included officials and experts from the OECD/International Network on Financial Education (INFE), ministries of finance and education, central banks, regulatory and supervisory authorities, governmental officials, as well as international organisations, the academic community, the private sector and NGOs.
This event was co-organised by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and the OECD* International Network for Financial Education (OECD/INFE).
Opening address (BNM Governor)
Opening address (OECD Deputy Secretary-General)
Closing remarks (BNM Deputy Governor)
Presentations from Day 1
Presentations from Day 2
Related Documents | 1,007 | 556 | 0.001817 |
warc | 201704 | Hamlet Gutierrez presented the 2011 Latin American Economic Outlook in the VII Meeting of the Budgeting for Results Network, that took place in Kingston, Jamaica between 4-6 April 2011. Before an audience of Senior Budget Officials, the presentation focused on the results of the latest edition of LEO while detailing the undergoing work on fiscal issues in the Development Centre, ranging from tax-benefit analysis to fiscal legitimacy, pension reform and infrastructure.
Budget officials discussed the aftermath of the financial crisis, and how it impacted countries in the region in terms of budget management. The post-crisis experience underscored the next phase of reform in Latin America, specifically how to preserve hard-earned sound fiscal and budgetary practices while improving fiscal instruments to attach sufficient flexibility and preserving fiscal discipline.
The meeting allowed for the discussion of ongoing work with the Inter-American Development Bank and the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and Caribbean (ECLAC), which will be reflected in the 2012 Outlook, written jointly with ECLAC.
Download the presentation
Related Documents | 1,166 | 659 | 0.001525 |
warc | 201704 | Image by Subconsci Productions via Flickr
Here are some of the ways the health care system treats me less than ladylike:
Getting to Know You
I get it that the best doctors are booked up and busy. So I go with the flow when I have to be on a waiting list or fill out gobs of paperwork just to get in to see the doctor. But lately I've encountered more doctors in Los Angeles who ask for payment up front or ask patients to pay a yearly retainer fee because they have converted their practices to something called "concierge medicine."
Really?
Look, if you don't have time to see me, how about just referring me to a colleague. Better yet, how about adding an associate to your practice to handle the excess patient load. While I agree with you that the health insurance system leaves a lot to be desired, asking me to pay up front feels like being asked on a dinner date and then being told you "left your wallet at home." Concierge medicine makes it look like the only thing you care about is money, in which case I'm not really sure I want to see you, even if you are all that and a bag of gold coins.
Seeing Each Other
I saw one doctor for over a year and a half, and I honestly can't tell you what he did for me during that time. I, on the other hand, can tell you that each time I came in, I noticed he had more hair on his head. I met some of his other patients through a community fibromyalgia support group and they shared the same opinion: seeing this doctor was a waste of time and seemed to only serve the purpose of paying for his membership to the Hair Club for Men. After that conversation, I decided to stop seeing him.
This same doctor's staff hassled me every time I came into the office about my co-pay. I explained, over and over, that if they billed both my husband's employer sponsored health insurance and Medicare, Medicare would pay my co-pay. I advised them of this in person. I apprised them of this over the phone. I guess they would rather spend money sending me a bill, month after month, that I refuse to pay instead of just sending a claim to Medicare so that they can get paid.
I guess those hair plugs must really be expensive.
Sharing and Caring
For years, ever since the 1990s, I explained to my primary care doctor that I was having these episodes of dizziness, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, trembling and sweating. The attacks came on suddenly in places like the grocery store or woke me up in the middle of the night. When he asked if I was having panic attacks I said, No, they don't feel like panic attacks. After I got diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 1999, I thought my symptoms seemed to fit hypoglycemia, although when I tested my blood sugar during these episodes it wasn't really low. As the symptoms became more frequent and disruptive, my doctor talked about vagus nerve problems and sending me for a tilt table test, but ultimately kept coming back to anxiety and panic attacks despite my reports to the contrary.
Then I tripped and fell and subsequently developed fibromyalgia. Did he refer me to a rheumatologist or pain specialist? No, my doctor said I wouldn't get better if I didn't take an antidepressant. At that point, I decided it was time to see someone else.
I finally got my answer in 2007, a diagnosis that truly fit my symptoms: dysautonomia secondary to the chemotherapy I received to treat leukemia in 1988. Turns out, taking a beta blocker each day really helps to manage the symptoms. As for getting better, under the care of fibromyalgia specialist I have tried just about every medication used to treat fibromyalgia, both FDA approved and off-label, and none have made a difference. That includes antidepressants, just in case you were wondering.
Getting My Clothes Off
It feels almost cliche to mention how ill-fitting hospital gowns are. Sure, there is the lovely posterior exposure, but being well-endowed in the bosom, I struggle to find a gown big enough to cover the girls and my behind. So when I am instructed to take my clothes off and put on a gown, I always try to grab two to cover the front and back. This strategy works everywhere but my gynecologist's office, where the hopelessly small paper top and bottom drape make me think that the better choice is to just sit on the exam table naked waiting for the doctor to come in.
My most embarrassing moment happened during my cancer treatment in 1988. I developed an anal fissure that became infected while I was hospitalized. Every day, a parade of doctors came into my room to inspect the fissure, asking me to get on my hands and knees on my hospital bed and present my tush for inspection. It is only in retrospect that I realized that I willingly flashed a view of my female anatomy to a co-ed group of doctors on a daily basis for several weeks.
Maybe I should have worn underwear with Porn Star written across my butt.
Breaking Up
It's sad, but true--not all the relationships with my doctors work out. It's easier when I decide to move on because I can plan the transition of my care to someone else, interviewing other doctors to take their place. It's much harder when the doctor dumps me. I admit it's hard to feel good about myself when an award winning specialist recognized for outstanding patient care tells me there is nothing more he can do for me and would rather not see me again.
It's probably too much to ask for you to be honest about why you are dumping me. It took some time, but I figured out it has less to do with me and more to do with your frustration when prescribed treatments don't work or your exasperation when it seems like there are no more options to try. I get it; you are only human. But if you have to dump me, could you at least give me some referrals to colleagues and transfer my medical records to someone who can pick up where you left off?
So you see, there are many ways in which the health care system doesn't really treat me like a lady. But I'm not waiting around or holding my breath for the system to change. When I was dating, I learned that you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find your prince. In the health care system, I've learned you need to give each new doctor and treatment modality a trial run and be willing to stop and move on when things don't work out. | 6,284 | 3,036 | 0.000331 |
warc | 201704 | Accessories to maximize access and storage Sections of this story:
Acknowledgment of the human aging process and increasing appreciation for the diversityof physical characteristics in household members have changed the approach to access andstorage in both the kitchen and the bathroom. In general, rehab work should take intoaccount that access and storage can be improved by following basic universal designprinciples and practices.
These guidelines establish flexibility and improve access and support to make the spaceuseable by more types of people most of the time. Critical to access is creating storageand work centers within the comfort zone of most people.
Storage should be concentrated in the universal reach range of 15" to 48"above finished floor height, and near its point of use. Work surface heights should varyto accommodate standing or seated people of varying heights.
While the kitchen or bath cannot be totally redesigned when keeping existing cabinetryin rehab work, much can be done to enhance the storage and other functional aspects of thespace.
TECHNIQUES, MATERIALS, TOOLS
The following are examples of accessories available in a range of costs with a varietyof benefits to improve existing cabinetry:
1. INSTALL A STEP STOOL.
Step stools can easily be installed on the inside of a base or tall cabinet door foruse in a single location, or they may be stored in either of these spaces or in thetoekick of a cabinet, to be removed and used where desired (Fig. 10).
Figure 10
Typical units store in 4" of space and unfold to a height of 15" assingle-step units or higher in the two-step version. Both Hafele and Rev-A-Shelf offerstep stool accessories.
ADVANTAGES: Provides safer access to storage above the universal reach range. Built-in units provide storage at the point of use. Easy to accomplish in a rehab project. DISADVANTAGES: Deeper units may absorb some base cabinet storage. Built-in units can only be used where installed.
2. IMPROVE CORNER STORAGE.
A corner revolving shelf or corner swing-out shelf will improve access to previouslyblind corners (Fig. 11).
Figure 11
Recent needs for recycling have brought responsive design in the form of rotatingmultiple bins that make good use of the otherwise poor storage in the corners.
ADVANTAGES: Improves access. DISADVANTAGES: To fit within the cabinet, the movable storage is often smaller than the overall space available. Successful installation in rehab requires precise dimensioning of available interior space and the opening.
3. REPLACE FIXED SHELVES WITH ADJUSTABLE/ROLL-OUTSHELVES.
In wall, tall, or base cabinets, converting to adjustable shelves allows the homeownerto maximize storage (Fig. 12).
Figure 12
In base or tall cabinets with a typical depth of +24" roll-out shelves andaccessories further increase access to storage. Note that when cabinet depth is less than18" roll-outs are usually not necessary.
ADVANTAGES: Items can be easily stored and used without reaching into cabinets. DISADVANTAGES: Weight of items to be stored must be considered for proper function of the roll-out shelf (hardware/ shelf ratings for maximum load are usually available).
4. INSTALL SPECIFIC PURPOSE ACCESSORIES.
Accessories are available to support recycling, tray storage, spice storage, appliancestorage, and more (Fig. 13, 14, and 15). Typically, these accessories are designed to beremovable to allow for flexibility in storage.
Figure 15 ADVANTAGES: Improves organization and efficiency. DISADVANTAGES: Permanently installed items eliminate flexibility. After-market accessories often use less than the full cabinet interior.
5. INSTALL BACKSPLASH STORAGE ACCESSORIES.
Easy to install "appliance garages" and railing systems supporting a varietyof storage options can be added to an existing backsplash area to increase and improveflexible and accessible storage. Railing systems, manufactured by Hafele and Rev-A-Shelf,are growing in popularity.
Storage provisions include knives and utensils, wraps, cutting boards, condiments andspices, paper towels, cookbooks, dish draining racks, and more (Fig. 16).
Figure 16
Tambour, sliding, or (occasionally) hinged doors are installed in the backsplash belowthe wall cabinets, to conceal stored appliances. Including outlets provides true storageat the point of use.
ADVANTAGES :Increases and improves storage with easy installation in rehab situation. DISADVANTAGES :Can be costly, can interfere with counter top use. In the case of appliance garages, appliances to be stored must be measured for a good fit.
6. INSTALL HEIGHT-ADJUSTABLE STORAGE.
In existing cabinetry and design, wall cabinet storage can be made height-adjustablevia an Accessible Design Adjustable Systems motorized unit or Hafele mechanical system(Fig. 17).
Figure 17 ADVANTAGES :Brings wall cabinet storage within the reach of most people. Growing use has brought the cost down. DISADVANTAGES :Difficult to install in existing location and requires approximately 3" in depth, either in addition to cabinet depth or absorbed from cabinet depth. When used, cabinet in lowered position can interfere with counter.
"1999 Buyer's Guide," Kitchen and Bath Business, Feb. 1999. "Annual Directory and Buyer's Guide," Kitchen and Bath Design News, Feb. 1999. Kitchen Industry Technical Manual; Volume #4, Kitchen Planning Standards and Safety Criteria, Ellen Cheever, CKD, CBD, ASID, National Kitchen and Bath Association, 1996. Universal Kitchen and Bath Planning, Mary Jo Peterson, CKD, CBD, CHE, McGraw-Hill, 1998. Accessible Designs Adjustable Systems, ADAS, 94 North Columbus Road, Athens, OH 45701; 740-593-5240; 740-593-7155 (fax). Feeny Mfg., PO Box 191, 6625 Old State Rd. 3 North, Muncie, IN 47303; 765-288-8730; 765-288-0851(fax); www.kv.com. Hafele, PO Box 4000, 3901 Cheyenne Drive, Archdale, NC 20263; 919-889-2322; 800-423-3531; 910-431-3831 (fax); www.hafeleus.com. Hinge-It Corp., 3999 Millersville Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46205; 800-599-6328; 317-542-9514; 317-542-9524 (fax); www.hingeit.com. Rev-a-Shelf, PO Box 99585, 2409 Plantside Dr., Jeffersontown, KY 40299; 800-626-1126; 505-499-5835; 502-491-2215 (fax); www.rev-a-shelf.com. This story is excerpted from The Rehab Guide:Kitchens & Baths , one in a series of guidebooks produced by the U.S. Departmentof Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to keep the design and construction industryabreast of innovations and state-of-the-art materials and practices in homerehabilitation. About the Author The Old House Web | 6,534 | 3,177 | 0.000317 |
warc | 201704 | Washington, Feb 15 (ANI): A new study has suggested that the fact that human mothers have support from family while they're breast-feeding may be a key strategy that enables humans to reproduce more rapidly than other primates.
According to the study, social support helps mothers conserve energy in a way that allows their bodies to prepare for their next pregnancy.
"Humans out-produce other primates. So we are examining to what degree this is related to our cultural flexibility," said Barbara Piperata, assistant professor of anthropology at Ohio State University and principal investigator of the research.
Breast milk production places huge energy demands on women's bodies - an estimated 30 percent increase.
But humans have multiple ways to offset those demands that involve more than just eating more or doing less.
Some studies have suggested the human body becomes more metabolically efficient during lactation, requiring less energy or less oxygen to complete physical tasks.
And new human mothers also tend to have other humans around to share the work burden.
However, nonhuman primates that have similar energy demands while breast-feeding single, slow-growing offspring, don't have that same flexibility.
As a result, their reproductive rates are relatively low, averaging a new birth every four to seven years.
"We know that negative energy balance on the body lowers a female's ability to get pregnant. If humans mediate that, have social support, and are able to maintain or even achieve a positive energy balance, they can get pregnant faster. From an evolutionary perspective and fitness, that's important," Piperata said.
The study was described during the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Chicago. (ANI) | 1,787 | 962 | 0.001049 |
warc | 201704 | Alternatively it was claimed 'women would leave to have children', even though many had worked for years collecting fares on buses and trams, with dedication through long hours, shift work, and few days off.
As for pilots, in her interview Deborah Wardley answered the question (unlawfully put to her) by pointing out that she was not about to cut her longed-for piloting career short by taking up instant childbearing – she married only during the period of her application and the case coming before the courts – and her newly-wed husband was a restaurateur who would fulfil any necessary role of child carer in the future, whilst she remained in the skies.
In any event, the evidence showed that the expense of training male commercial pilots was often lost when they took jobs elsewhere, went off on long periods of leave – whether it was trekking through the Andes, trout fishing in foreign streams, changing airlines – or suffering heart attacks or other ailments which were far more statistically likely to hit male pilots.
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The great driving question goes further than the roadways and the skies, however, extending into the field of construction and the factory. When women came to explore the paucity of women in supervisory roles in a variety of industries, the problem of the woman driver – or the woman not permitted to drive – is to the fore.
In construction work, those holding crane-driver licences, tip truck licences, front-end loader and excavation equipment licences trod an exclusive path to promotion: supervisory and foreman jobs were predicated upon holding these licences and having worked in driver-jobs, whatever the skills required for promotion. Practice kept women out of these driving jobs, so preventing them from ascending the promotions ladder. In the factory, women denied access to forklift training could not gain forklift driver licences, so were precluded from working in the highest paid factory posts, with promotional possibilities denied them.
Is this relevant to women in the West today, and the struggle by women in the Middle-East for women's rights in education, training, employment and – in Saudi Arabia – to drive cars? Undoubtedly, 'yes'. Change.org reports that the ban on Saudi women drivers 'is a huge impediment for women who are forbidden to drive to work, stores, or even a hospital', whilst 'many women cannot afford male drivers, and those who can are often harassed by them'. Laws and practices standing in the way of women becoming drivers in whatever field are founded both in psychology and pragmatism. The denial of freedom to drive or the right to hold driving licences, whatever the vehicle, privileges male independence and income-earning capacity whilst promoting dependence as 'right' for women.
Freedom – personal and economic – is at the base of women's demands, whether in the West or the East. In the West, many women say they gain a strong sense of independence when they hold their driver's licence for the first time. That sense of independence translates into practical gains, just as the holding of a crane driver's licence, or that of a forklift driver or commercial pilot, has practical consequences in terms of jobs and income. Women drivers are not constrained by the need to ask for a lift, or call for a taxi – to be dependent upon male drivers for transport and long,or even short, distance movement. Women bus-drivers, tram-drivers and pilots earn more than ever they did as conductors or flight attendants.
Bus companies say that women drivers are 'better' than men drivers, and seek exemption from equal opportunity and anti-discrimination legislation in order to advertise exclusively for women trainees. Women are reported to be 'gentler' on the buses, and rather than simply driving on when mechanical failure presents, call in the problem to the depot. This prevents the escalation of damage with consequently higher cost of repair. As for public relations,
according to bus companies, women also 'relate better' to passengers.
The Saudi women's campaign to have Subaru withdraw from Saudi Arabian markets is founded upon the principle that Subaru should honour its claim as a 'progressive' brand. Perhaps women in countries where women are not denied the right to drive and where women's freedom of movement is not constrained by the denial to hold a driver's licence should begin a campaign mirroring that of our Saudi sisters. Is it time for women of the West to boycott Subaru?
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She is also Visiting Fellow, Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge. | 4,747 | 2,258 | 0.00045 |
warc | 201704 | Fri 8 May 2015
My only child is a perfectionist. Now that I have identified the reason for Joshua’s stress at school, it is time to learn about it and help him deal with it. I know I am not the only one who has experienced this and I also know this will apply to a lot of first born children too. I know because I am a first born child. I learned to moderate my perfectionist tendencies when I was in my twenties long before I had Joshua, but alas, it is in his genes.
Today was the orientation for middle school. He will be in 5th grade next year and was initially all excited because of the new things they will experience (iced tea at lunch and study hall before going home every day). Now that he has experienced a day-in-the-life, he is worried about the stress of it all. I anticipated his concern and stopped the head of the middle school after his presentation to ask for some pointers so I would know how to begin to prepare Joshua and also so I would know how to pray for him. He acknowledged the school tends to turn out overachievers because it is run by overachievers. LOL At any rate, he understands my dilemma and I think he will be a good resource for the future. He had 2 thoughts to get me started.
First, is to point out the differentiation between perfectionism and excellence. So what is the difference? Perfectionism is to be without fault or error. The only perfect person is God, so to try to be perfect is to set yourself up for failure…and nobody likes to fail (ESPECIALLY not a perfectionist!). Excellence means outstanding or extremely good. Excellence is something to strive for…it is continuous improvement. Doing your best and then raising the bar a little to be better next time.
Second, he used the analogy of someone hanging from a bar. A perfectionist is constantly holding on with both hands in a death grip. Afraid to let go…”I mean, what will happen if I let go?” He said it is ok to let go with one hand every once in a while. You will still be able to hang while holding on with one hand. You won’t drop to your death. And then if you decide you want to grab the bar with both hands at a later date, you can do that. After all, your other hand is right there.
These are definitely some good thoughts. I am sure I will have many conversations with him (and the school counselor) as we navigate middle school for the first time next year. On a side note, I am so thankful that Joshua has a great group of friends who know how to have fun and are supportive of each other. I know that is one of the struggles middle school children experience. I will continue to pray for his friends for this reason…they are an important part of his life. | 2,723 | 1,336 | 0.000762 |
warc | 201704 | Don't sweat the small stuff. Relax your mind and body with these strategies.
Paige GreenfieldMay 25, 2013
We went straight to our sleep expert to answer an Oxygen reader's rest-related fitness question.
Paige GreenfieldMay 19, 2013
Try these two great tips to fight fat and add some serenity to your life.
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Three ways to progress in your workouts without hurting your results... or your health.
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Three ways to keep your mental muscle sharp.
A killer abs workout. A big presentation at work. A bicycle ride with your kids. No matter what you've got planned for the day ahead, start it off right with these five strategies for a fitter, better day.
Kasia KurekMay 16, 2013
Five ways to boost your fitness and your health.
Get a better workout, a fitter body and a healthier life by watching your language.
Use visualization techniques to beat stress, improve your mood and feel your best.
Judi KettelerMay 16, 2013
Better health and fitness is as easy as taking a breath
Add the antioxidant Quercetin to your diet to improve your workouts!
Linda Melone, CSCSMay 16, 2013
When it comes to keeping a fit and healthy heart, there's one number that counts just as much as your sets and reps in the gym: your blood pressure level.
Sarah TuffMay 16, 2013
Keep your bones and joints as strong as your muscles (at every age!) with these expert-backed strategies.
New research shows that even women who appear slim can face health risks similar to overweight and obese women.
Your workouts don't just strengthen your body—they also power your brain.
The Oxygen TeamMay 16, 2013
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warc | 201704 | Have you ever thought about how you tell your organization’s story?
I’m a big believer in constant story collection – from your clients, your donors, your founder, your staff (see my article 6 Tips for Collecting Great Nonprofit Stories for more information) – but just as importantly as the stories you tell, is the method you use to tell them.
Just as you wouldn’t limit your organization’s story to one story, neither should you limit the channels of expressing those stories.
By the time my daughter, Samantha, was six years old I had already had her hearing tested twice by auditory specialists.
While she had been an early reader, I often found her daydreaming and various teachers had found her unresponsive in class. Yet her hearing tested fine.
When I brought my concerns about Sam’s hearing to my daughter’s second grade teacher, Sister Barbara, Sister responded “Mrs. B, Samantha hears exactly what she wants to hear.”
After I stopped laughing I realized the truth in her words. Samantha was a strong visual learner. Knowing that made me approach my relationship with my daughter differently. I often wrote her notes rather than telling her something. Believe me when I tell you that it cut down on a lot of frustration on both sides.
Later on, with my second child, I recognized early on that Abigail was an auditory learner. Never a reader, Abbey could sit listening intently for hours to books on tape.
I believe a strong tool in your organization’s marketing arsenal is visual storytelling. That’s why I asked documentary filmmaker Chris Davenport to pen a guest post on how – and why – the small nonprofit should use video to transport their donors to the heart of their cause.
Donors are inspired to give when they feel engaged and connected to your cause.
What’s the best way to do this?
The best way is for them to experience your mission first hand. Most of the time, it’s too expensive or time consuming to give your donors that experience. So how can you give your donors that necessary experience without the expense and time commitment?
A video transports your donor to the heart of your cause.
Through visual storytelling, you can connect with your donor’s values and touch their heart. How much money do you think would have been raised for Haiti had the news NOT shown the devastation and how the earthquake had affected lives?
Because of visual storytelling, over $150 Million dollars in donations was raised within the first four days of the earthquake! All this money was donated in a time when our economy was in the tank and unemployment was at 10%. Providing a way to immerse your donors in your cause and have them feel connected is priceless.
Equipped with a powerful video, your board members and volunteers will have an easier time connecting on a deeper level with donors…in a way that’s quick and consistent every time.
There are powerful videos and weak videos. So, how can you make sure your video is powerful and truly engages your donors?
Here are three rules you can’t afford to violate when crafting your own video.
Rule #1 Don’t point your camera inward. What I mean by that is to focus and place the emphasis on your cause not your organization. Many times I’ll watch a “fundraising” video that falls short of the fundraising goals. This is because the organization has decided to make a video about their organization and all the services they offer. I call this type of video a “video brochure”, not a fundraising video. Save the descriptions of all your services for your website or brochure. Concentrate on the effect you’re having in the community instead of your organization. Rule #2 Avoid filming your Executive Director and Staff. Does this mean never film them? No, but what you want to avoid is having them say something that could be more powerfully said by one of your clients or an industry expert outside your organization.
It’s always best to have a voice from outside your organization glorifying the effect you’re having in the community. This builds credibility and makes for a much more authentic and powerful video.
Rule #3 Have a clear purpose for your video. It seems obvious, but this rule is overlooked so many times. Not having a clear purpose can be the difference between not raising a single dollar and raising more than you had hoped for.
When you’re thinking about your purpose, here are a couple of things to consider:
1- Who will be watching the video? Knowing who you’re audience will be is crucial and can completely change how you tell the story.
2- What do you want your audience to think, feel, or do once they’ve finished watching the video? Knowing this will help steer your story so that you elicit the desire response. E.g. Do you want them to write a check? …Volunteer? …Join your board?
Whether you’re making your video yourself, with a volunteer, or an outside company, keep these three rules in mind. If you do, you’ll end up with a video that will help you and your board members fundraise more effectively and with greater ease.
If you’d like to see how an Executive Director, an Event Planner, and a Chief Development Officer used video to engage more donors, inspire board members, build a fundraising army, and raise more money, check out Chris’ work.
About Christopher Davenport:
Drawing on over 20 years of experience producing documentaries, commercials and films for private investors and corporations, Christopher uses his storytelling skills to help non-profits find and tell their most compelling stories for maximum donations. He is the owner of 501 Videos, LLC and produces a free weekly video series titled “Movie Mondays for Fundraising Professionals”. The free video series is for anyone in the nonprofit community who’d like to watch how other nonprofit professionals handle and overcome the many challenges to fundraising. For more information on Movie Mondays and to see a sample movie, go here.
Would you like to be featured on Pamela’s Grantwriting Blog? Email me for blog submission guidelines. | 6,250 | 2,863 | 0.000363 |
warc | 201704 | Putting the fun back into Parking
The Parking Prankster
A letter before action (sometimes called letter before county court claim) is the last stage before filing a court claim, so if you get one of these it is likely the parking company intend taking you to court. At this staqe the parking company are hoping you will panic at the arrival of a claim form, and will immediately pay up. If you defend the claim, then it will cost the parking company far more than the parking charge even if they win. However, it will also be many hours of work for you, so in one sense it will be a pyrrhic victory for whoever comes out the eventual winner. Your task at this stage is therefore to convince the parking company you will not be a pushover in the hope they will see sense and desist.
Before taking court action the parking company should have sent you a letter explaining that their dispute resolution has ended. If they don't they are breaking the law and can be reported to their trade association (BPA or IPC) and Trading Standards. Details on the legislation are here. The Act came into force on 9th July. The relevant section is 19(2)
19(2) Where a trader has exhausted its internal complaint handling procedure when considering a complaint from a consumer relating to a sales contract or a service contract, the trader must inform the consumer, on a durable medium— (a) that the trader cannot settle the complaint with the consumer; (b) of the name and website address of an ADR entity which would be competent to deal with the complaint, should the consumer wish to use alternative dispute resolution; and (c) whether the trader is obliged, or prepared, to submit to an alternative dispute resolution procedure operated by that ADR entity.
You should also engage the parking company using the Practice Direction for Pre-action conduct. These changed in April 2015 but many parking companies and solicitors are unaware of the change and are still following the old directions.
You should therefore write a series of letters exchanging information with the parking company until such time as you both have all the information you need, and the parking company either decide to drop the case or to carry on.
You should also propose using dispute resolution in the form of POPLA or the IAS to settle the case. This will be much cheaper than the courts and if the parking company refuse you can ask that costs be pegged at the level of POPLA/IAS, namely £27/£15. You might even be awarded your own costs.
One resource to help with pre-court protocol and replies to letters before action is this thread on the MoneySavingExpert site, although this may still be referring to the 'old rules'.
You cannot go on a 'fishing trip' or be overly obstructive, but in general the things every motorist has a right to know because this will affect the case are:
What are the terms of the contract (eg a copy of the sign)
What exactly was the charge for (just 'breaking the terms of the contract' or 'underpaying' is not enough)
How was the contract offered and accepted (eg a signage map)
Is the charge for (a) trespass, (b) breach or a (c) contractual charge.
If (a) or (b) a breakdown is needed. If (c) a VAT invoice
Is keeper liability under the Protection Of Freedoms Act 2012, sch 4 being invoke or are they pursuing you as the driver?
Are they pursuing you as (a) agent of the landowner, or as (b) principal?
If (a) then authority from the landowner,(such as a redacted contract) is needed
There may be other things specific to your case, but in general this would be the minimum needed.
Some companies, such as DEAL or MIL are buying debts off parking companies and in those cases as well as the above you would need documentary evidence that the debt really has been sold. In many cases, these claims appear to be bogus. DEAL has only acquired 87.5% of the debt. MIL appeal to have bought the debt from the wrong company. | 3,953 | 1,895 | 0.000533 |
warc | 201704 | Today, following the vacation and remand of its earlier decision by the Supreme Court post-Bilski, the Federal Circuit again reaffirmed its reversal of the District Court (copy at the end of this post) and held:
“The asserted method claims satisfy the preemption test as well as the transformation prong of the machine-or-transformation test [for patentable subject matter]…..In other words, when asked the critical question, ‘What did the applicant invent?’ Grams, 88 F.2d at 839, the answer is a series of transformative steps that optimize efficacy and reduces toxicity of a method of treatment for particular diseases using particular drugs.”
The Federal Circuit held that either one of the recited steps of “administering” a drug that provides 6-TG to a subject or “determining” the levels of the drug’s metabolites in a subject were sufficiently transformative to meet the M or T test:
“The transformation is of the human body and of its components following the administration of a specific class of drugs and the various chemical and physical changes of the drugs’ metabolites that enable their concentrations to be determined.”
This led the Court to find that claim 46 of the ‘623 patent, which only recites a determining step, also meets the M or T test (and does not bode well for the plaintiffs in Myriad). The Court also reaffirmed that the administering and determining steps were not merely data gathering steps, but were central to the claimed method of optimized therapeutic efficacy. The Court pointedly, in fn. 2, declined to give weight to the “Metabolite Labs. dissent,” (548 U.S.124), in which Justices Breyer, Souter and Stevens would have found claims to an assay for cobalamin deficiency comprising determining the level of a marker in a fluid of a subject, and comparing it to a benchmark normal, patent-ineligible as involving “natural correlations and data-gathering steps.”
While the Court agreed that the steps involving comparing the determined level to a benchmark level and concluding that that a need existed to increase or decrease the amount of drug administered (the “warning steps”) were mental steps, and not per se patentable, the Court warned against partitioning a claim into patent-eligible and non-patent eligible steps, and using the presence of patent ineligible steps to exclude the entire claim from further evaluation: “Although the wherein clauses describe the mental processes used to determine the need to change the dosage levels of the drugs, each asserted claims as a whole is drawn to patentable subject matter”.
The Court also found that the claims are not simply directed to a natural phenomenon and specifically held that they do not wholly pre-empt the use of natural phenomena, but rather are drawn to a particular application of naturally occurring correlations. The Court specifically noted that the claims are not an attempt to patent an algorithm, as were the claims in Grams. The Court cited its opinion in Bilski (545 F.3d at 958): “After all, even though a fundamental principle is not patent eligible, processes incorporating a fundamental principle may be patent –eligible. Thus, it is irrelevant that any individual step or limitation of such processes by itself would be unpatentable under s. 101.”
While this decision will probably get on the express train to the Supreme Court, let’s go ahead and “fix” Classen in the meantime.
PrometheusDec18email | 3,572 | 1,660 | 0.000629 |
warc | 201704 | Last month, I read a helpful post from pastor Kevin DeYoung on the state of Christian publishing. The post itself was great, and I, like DeYoung, am thankful for the improved quality of (most) cover art and the astounding amount of resources available. But two of DeYoung’s unfortunately true observations seem to point to a bigger problem in contemporary Christendom: tribalism. DeYoung notes:
4. Too many books are derivative in nature. They quote the same books, cover the same ground, and say the same stuff. This is probably a problem in all of publishing. All I can speak to is the Christian world. Although we have more good books than ever before, I still see a lot of books (again, maybe my own?) that strike me as a poor man’s version of something Packer or Piper already said.
6. Some topics continue to get a lot of attention (e.g., gospel, marriage, prayer, pastoral ministry, cultural engagement). But there is more important ground to cover…
This seems to denote something that I have often noticed in my “tribe’s” (Reformed, hipstery, pseudo-baptists) blogs, books, and overall patterns of communications: We quote the same people over and over. It is, like in any culture with technical jargon and ideological standards, an easy rut to get stuck in. And it is certainly not to say that we are shipwrecked, but it would serve evangelicals well to intentionally step outside of this theological comfort zone to explore the riches of God as found in other theological tribes, cultures and traditions. To not do so could be sinful.
The sin of tribalism is three fold: rooted in judgment, cult of personality, and exclusivism (as in, more exclusive than Jesus). All of these are common to the American individualist culture, but as Christians who desire the restoration of the whole world, these must be seen as what they are—unchristian values.
Judgment of materials, speakers, and books that come from a different theological perspective can be helpful if it is rooted in graciousness and discernment, but when it comes from a place of arrogance and assumed rightness it is poisonous. Jesus did not come and give His Holy Spirit to the Church for complete mistrust and disunity, but for the unity of the Body. Sure, we will disagree at times, but there is so much to learn from those whom arrogant people (like me) so quickly want to judge. Right now, my soul is being fed by two books way outside of my tradition: one written by a Catholic Priest and the other by a surly Russian Orthodox novelist. Sure, I probably wouldn’t agree with their views of eschatology, but these books are teaching me that the gospel is much bigger than I thought it was.
The cult of personality in evangelicalism does not need much unpacking. The select quoting of 5–15 individuals whom we (I) somehow believe “get” the gospel better than anyone else in the world are the only people we listen to sometimes. But as I have learned from reading people outside of my “tribe” (and even by reading thoroughly some who are inside it), I am convicted that, just like DeYoung said, we are recycling content for the sake of personality-driven conformity. Christians were saved not to “follow Apollos” or to “follow Paul,” but to follow Christ. Getting outside of the words that we are comfortable with help us see beyond cultural rhetoric and savor the words of good theologians even more.
The exclusivism is bothersome from a sociological perspective. Have you ever read a wonderful quote that you want to post on your twitter/facebook/blog/whatever but you feel like it may come off as “not Christian enough” or just a little theologically lacking? This happened to me this past week while reading
The Brothers Karamazov and the great Russian monk Zossima said: “All of life is paradise, if only men would believe in it.” This spoke to me, to my knowledge that the world was created “good” by a good God. But I was nervous that if I posted that to social media, it would be seen as if I were denying total depravity, salvation, or something. Zossima’s words were not perfect representations of the gospel narrative, but they did speak of an aspect of the gospel truth. And the fact that I worried about this worried me even more. It worried me that I was so afraid of saying something outside of my tribe’s theological assumptions. And I remembered that “the world is the LORD’S and the fullness thereof.” This means that I don’t need to exclude things that don’t line up 100%, or which don’t give the whole picture, but instead discern the Imago Dei in them.
The is no magic bullet, but there is hope for the growth of the Church by looking outside of subcultural norms and repenting of unchristian rhetorical ruts. This can be a helpful tool for dialogue, conversation, and mission. I am still learning how to do this unnatural repentance, and I am thankful for the joy that I have found in it. | 5,049 | 2,450 | 0.000422 |
warc | 201704 | Yesterday was Fathers Day, and I hope that all fathers, daughters, and sons were able to express their love and appreciation for each other. The feelings that fathers have for their children can be very complex and difficult for them to understand and to express clearly.
This letter illustrates this, and shows how important and worthwhile it is for us to work together with our fathers to keep fear, anger, and confusion from blocking the love that should and can flow freely between us.
Note: Letter writers’ names are changed to protect their privacy.
Dear Richard,
Recently, I “came out” to my father as a non-believer. Although I see myself more as an apatheist, since I just don’t care about religion in the first place, I also consider myself an atheist, as I also don’t believe in any religion to be true either. When I did tell my father, I told him I was an “atheist,” since it seemed like the simplest explanation. As a non-denominational, non-churchgoing Christian, I thought my father would take it well, and we’d maybe talk about our differences.
However, when I finally did tell him about my lack of love for anything religious, he started a rant that basically said, “I don’t want you calling yourself that, ‘atheist’ has a bad connotation to it, and I don’t want my daughter to be shunned by people for not believing.” I mean, that’s way better than some stories I’ve heard about parents disowning their children, but it still hurt. When he said that there was a “bad connotation” to the label atheist, he also said that he didn’t want people to assume that I was an uneducated person, who joined hands with people causing trouble for Christians. When he mentioned that, I just wanted to shout back, “Atheists aren’t uneducated, and hey, I don’t label all Christians by the Westboro Baptist Church, now do I?” However, I kept my mouth closed, and let him rant. I do wish I had had the courage to speak up more, though.
The conversation continued down this path, especially when I told him that I hadn’t said the Pledge of Allegiance since the 3rd grade, since I didn’t believe that “under God” should be in it, nor had I stood for it in any of the years afterwards. He just looked at me in disbelief, wondering to himself, “Where did I go wrong with teaching you?” I don’t think he went wrong anywhere, I just realized that I had to walk my own road. For example, 15 years ago, (when I was 7), I used to go to church with my father. It wasn’t until I was kicked out of Sunday School for telling the teacher there that she was wrong, that I realized how idiotic religion was to me. I understand it when I have friends who believe. They understand it when I tell them that I don’t. We are all able to keep our religions separate from our friendship. But it kills me that my own father thinks that I’ll be seen differently by people in the adult world, simply because I don’t believe in any religious mumbo-jumbo. We haven’t talked about it since this last talk, and our relationship slightly soured, as we don’t interact as much anymore, unless my whole immediate family is gathered. I kind of want to bring it up with him, to let him know that atheism isn’t bad, but I’m not sure exactly how to do so without upsetting him further. Think I could have any words of wisdom?
If something like this has been asked before, please let me know! I recently found this blog, and this is actually the first time I’ve ever written my story anywhere, and I’d love to read the advice given to other people with similar stories. I haven’t had much time to go through all the posts, sorry.
Cheers,
Julie
Dear Julie,
What your father said is correct.
He’s correct to say there’s a bad connotation to the word “atheist.” “Connotation” does not mean “definition.” Connotation is assumptions added on to a word by some people, often who are ignorant about the subject. He’s correct to say that there are people who will shun you for not believing. He’s correct to say that some people assume atheists to be uneducated, to be “fools” as they are fond of repeating, and some people think that atheists want only to “cause trouble for Christians.” He’s correct to say that some people will see you differently just because you don’t believe religious mumbo-jumbo.
BUT everything you quoted him saying was about somebody else, not
him. I did not find anything in your letter indicating that he agrees with or approves of those attitudes toward atheists. He probably disagrees with you intellectually about issues like deities, religion, and faith, but he is on your side on a much more primal level: He wants what all good fathers want, for you to be safe, healthy, and happy. Sometimes fathers get fierce about that, and their children can misinterpret their fathers’ feelings and motives. What I see in the things you quoted is a father’s fear that bigoted people will mistreat his daughter.
In the United States, his fear is well-founded. You said that you and your friends are able to be understanding of each others’ differences in beliefs, and that you and they are able to keep those separate from your friendship. That’s great, but when you move beyond that circle of friends, it is likely you will encounter everything your father described, and worse. You got a small taste of it at age 7 when you were kicked out of Sunday school. In some parts of America, revealing that you’re an atheist can get you socially ostracized, turned down for employment, passed up for promotion, fired for bogus reasons, openly despised, slandered, threatened, and harassed. In even the most progressive, liberal parts of this country you can experience that kind of abuse, just not quite as frequently as in other parts.
The things that you wanted to say are good responses, but they should be addressed to those ignorant and bigoted people your father is describing. You seem to be conflating him with them. He is not them. Don’t punish the messenger who is only telling you of the hazards outside.
Take it from the father of a young woman of 27 years: In the person of my daughter, my heart will be running around outside of my body for the rest of my life. I know that she is vulnerable to mistreatment or harm just like anybody else, and I know that there is little I can do to protect her. That can sometimes make me a bit reactionary when she tells me that she intends to do something that has risks involved. My fierceness bubbles up. But I also know that most worthwhile endeavors carry risks. It can take all of my effort to keep my anxiety from coming out sounding like anger, so I take deep, slow breaths, and I only gently remind her to be careful.
If talking to your father is too tense at first, think out what you want to say to
him, not to those bigots he’s warning you about, and write it all down in a letter. I suggest that you thank him for his concern for you, and rather than dismiss all of his worries, acknowledge that you realize that some of his worry is justified. Then begin to assure him that you are prepared for the possible difficulties and challenges you might encounter, but that you must, as you say, “walk your own road,” and you accept those difficulties as part of your journey.
Thank him also for some specific skills, values, and attitudes that he has taught you that will help you to meet and surmount those challenges. Giving him partial credit for why you will be okay will help to alleviate his anxiety. It can mean a lot to a father to know that parts of him will be coming along with his daughter to help protect her and help her overcome adversity.
Briefly list and refute the common myths about atheists, including those that he mentioned, keeping in mind that he was merely describing others’ views. He
might harbor some of those misconceptions himself, but there’s no need for you to take that as personally hurtful. Remember that he has grown up surrounded by all this misinformation, and it’s very difficult to not be influenced by at least some of it. Keep your tone informative rather than accusatory or defensive.
Make the effort to reach out to him and improve your relationship. It’s worth it. Don’t hesitate because of the slight risk you’ll upset him further. If that happens, consider it part of the process, and keep going. Don’t let upsets in either you or him deter or distract you from your goal. You can restore love and respectful treatment without having to change your position on your disbelief. The longer there is an emotional and relational distance between you, the more it will become a habit. Don’t get used to it. Fix it. You can. You’re both smart, and you both care about each other. You both have more than enough to make it better.
Please feel free to write again to tell us how things have developed.
Richard | 9,177 | 4,097 | 0.000255 |
warc | 201704 | In order to help ratchet back the animosity that so often characterizes our conversations about abortion, I propose that whenever people gather to discuss the issue, before beginning everyone present resolves to agree upon the following five points, which anyone should be able to:
1. We all love and adore babies.
2. We can all empathize with any pregnant woman who, for whatever reason, feels that she must terminate her pregnancy.
3. No pregnant woman in America (or anywhere else in the world) should have unavailable to her good prenatal and postnatal care.
4. While some of us may disagree with the assertion that life begins at conception, all of us can acknowledge the spiritual validity of the conviction that human life is sacrosanct.
5. When discussing any topic as important and consequential as abortion, we must never allow manners and civility to be defeated by rancor and hostility.
How cool would it be if everyone who hadn’t first read and agreed to these five points was told they had to stay out of whatever conversation was happening about abortion?
Civil discourse instead of constant screaming?
Acting like adults instead of children?
Dare we dream it?
Also worth mentioning on this issue is this piece:
To Pro-Lifers Who Believe Adoption is Always the Answer. | 1,301 | 738 | 0.001374 |
warc | 201704 | Moving its top execs around the globe is key to talent management at technology giant Hewlett-Packard, according to the company’s new people director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Jane Keith.
And a recent BBC survey found that expatriates tend to feel healthier and happier about life. Nine in 10 of expats surveyed said they had a better quality of life and six out of 10 did not plan to return.
But managing executives on global assignments is not without its problems. A 2006 study of around 3,500 international assignees by Cranfield School of Management found that, on average, 15% of them resign within 12 months of completing their posting.
While the practical and cultural concerns involved in supporting and motivating staff living thousands of miles away can be intense, the benefits for firms that keep a ‘weather eye’ on assignees rather than adopting an out of sight, out of mind approach can be immense, says Paul Hicks, UK global mobility team leader at business services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
Culture of mobility
“We foster a culture of mobility here because it’s beneficial to individual careers, and we believe that the broader skills that emerge allow us to offer a more robust service to our clients,” says Hicks, who estimates that around 5% of PwC staff are on international assignment at any one time.
While it is fairly easy for someone to work on an overseas assignment in New York, PwC also encourages staff to choose less well-trodden paths in emerging markets, such as Moscow or Beijing. This involves giving people as much information as possible about the customs of the host country before they go, according to Hicks.
To aid this process, PwC has recently launched a new web-based tool, ‘Virtual Assignment Experience’, which features videos of recent assignees talking candidly about their experiences.
“The attitude of partners and families is crucial in making an overseas assignment work and we give as much help as we can in finding schools for children and work for so-called ‘trailing spouses’, who nowadays are more likely to be male,” says Hicks. “We also encourage people to de-select themselves if they feel they can’t cope with the upheaval.”
For HR departments keen to avoid losing talent, it is vital to know where to go for information about the host country and to spend time ironing out procedures for when the assignment finishes, says Juliet Carp, a solicitor and employment law specialist with Speechly Bircham and formerly part of the expatriate tax team at consulting firm Ernst & Young.
“It’s a mistake for HR to try to learn all the answers about every country because each will have its own peculiarities. You may discover that in Italy, lawyers can get involved in terminations and that you could need permission to dismiss people in France and Spain, but it’s knowing where to go for reliable answers that counts,” she says.
Nitty-gritty details
Carp believes that in contrast to many UK-based employees, expats “like the security of lots of paperwork relating to their contract” and if it is a first posting, they will also require “some nitty-gritty details”, such as how many boxes can they carry and whether they can take pets.
She believes that aside from sorting out local tax, social security, immigration and healthcare, a good HR professional will talk about potential departure – and be aware of termination costs – before an assignee is sent away.
“While, on the whole, expats are less litigious, they do want to know what’s going to happen at the end of the assignment if there is no suitable job for them to come back to,” Carp says.
“Here again, good paperwork and discussions before the contract is finalised are vital if the relationship between employer and employee is going to last.”
Statistics from the specialist website Expatica suggest that as many as 30% of overseas assignments fail. And while selection and training issues are part of the problem, according to business psychologist Carla Shepherd, so is executive burnout.
“The obvious problems for single expats are loneliness, stress and even boredom while for families, the demands of spouses and children unhappy with life overseas can often be overwhelming,” she says.
“Far less obvious is the fact that many assignees are career-obsessed people who work long hours and take few holidays to keep up with perceived demands from the UK. For those people, emotional backing is just as important as professional support.”
Every PwC employee sent overseas is allocated their own ‘assignment-owner’ or business coach, says Hicks – to avoid the problem of being out of touch and isolated in a far-flung post.
“Between them, the assignment-owner and the HR department ensure that regular contact with all expats is maintained and that important issues such as repatriation planning don’t fall through the net.”
And just as many Western multinationals are getting to grips with emerging markets such as China and India, ambitious Asian companies are looking to build a presence in the UK, and the problems are no less intense.
Relaxed attitudes
To Arun Rao, global HR director of the Hydrobad-based Applabs – a quality assurance and testing company with offices in the UK and US – cultural awareness is essential.
“The Indian business model tends to be based on the US experience, but for an Indian travelling to the UK, the English sense of humour and the formalities surrounding a business dinner can be overwhelming.”
“Although we have a shared past with the UK, staff being sent to the UK also need to understand your relaxed attitudes to working hours and holidays to be able to fit in,” says Rao.
The lesson here? Whoever your staff are, familiarise them with the culture and prepare them for the challenges ahead.
Key points To combat ‘workaholism’, ensure that assignees take holidays and consider including health club membership as part of the package. Pressure to perform from the people back home can be intense; companies with reasonable expectations put their expats under less stress than those who adopt a macho, sink-or-swim attitude. Female ‘trailing spouses’ will not be allowed to work in many Middle Eastern countries, but cultural adaptation for the growing number of male spouses without a clearly defined role may be even more problematic. Nobody likes to feel their employer is breathing down their neck, but for expats far from home, regular contact with an HR rep or manager back home is essential. The dark side of international assignments may be marital discord, depression and substance/alcohol abuse, but the problem may be difficult to spot until performance is seriously affected. Case study: Sarah Randhawa
Sarah Randhawa, an assurance manager at consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, has recently finished a two-year secondment to Los Angeles.
“In the UK, we didn’t work in specialist sectors, but in LA I have been able to build up my expertise in selected areas such as entertainment and media. I’ve also learned a lot about best management practices and my confidence has been boosted.
“I travelled back to the UK a couple of times a year to meet up with UK partners and colleagues, and regular e-mail and phone calls also helped me keep in touch.
“I was given the opportunity to experience a different client base and culture and there was even a committee that organised social events for the expats, so making friends was not an issue.” | 7,748 | 3,641 | 0.000286 |
warc | 201704 | London
Underground has overhauled its harassment policies and practices in a bid to rid the company of its bullying culture by 2005.
The
organisation has trained around 45 staff members as advisors to give fellow employees confidential advice on how to handle harassment.
Line
managers have also been extensively trained to investigate and rule on complaints.
The
organisation has set itself short, medium and long-term targets to stamp out harassment after a five-year study found a culture that accepted sexual and racial harassment because managers did not have the skills to tackle the problem.
London
Underground has already achieved its short-term objective to increase the number of reported cases and staff disciplined for their behaviour.
Since
the scheme was launched in 2000, 86 formal complaints have been made compared to ‘no more than a handful’ prior to the scheme’s introduction. It has led to 18 staff members being disciplined, including eight dismissals.
In
the medium-term, the company aims to shift to dealing with complaints informally, while the long-term target is to reduce the number of complaints and staff disciplined.
Terry
Day, equality champion at London Underground, believes the firm is on its way to changing the company culture. "Our staff were scared of being seen as trouble makers as the culture at the company was very vicious.
"It
was very difficult for staff as their complaints were met with disbelief and seen as a nuisance. Managers did not have the required skills or experience to deal with matters," he said.
Day
said the scheme is proving successful due to the company-wide communications programme that includes using notice boards, briefings, newsletters, training modules, management and staff guides. It also includes a video sent to all staff emphasising the new zero tolerance approach to harassment.
By
Paul Nelson | 1,910 | 971 | 0.001052 |
warc | 201704 | ’╗┐
Phuket Gazette - November 22, 2010 | 11:48 AM
PHUKET: Results of a recent Phuket Gazette readers' poll provide an interesting glimpse into how Phuket’s expatriate community feels about private healthcare services on the island. (See statistics in this week's issue of the newspaper. Digital subscribers click here.)
The poll question asked readers to rate the overall the quality of treatment offered at private hospitals and clinics in Phuket. In almost every other Gazette poll taken over the past year, the group of people who identified themselves as “local foreign residents” tended to hold views that could be considered “more cynical” than those of the other two demographics: Thais and foreign visitors to Phuket. In our health poll, however, expats held the most favorable view, with 64% saying the private medical services on the island were positive (“excellent” or “good”) compared with just 11% who said they were “poor” or “terrible”. The group appeared to be in a good position to judge, as only 5% of them said they had never used such services. That such a favorable view is held by the resident expat community speaks well of the prospects for health tourism here, an industry which the Ministry of Public Health expects to play a key role in its ambitious national plan to generate over four billion baht in revenue for Thailand over the next five years. One of the reasons for the success of medical tourism thus far in Phuket is the wide range of services on offer, with options for people of just about every income level. Apart from the two international hospitals, treatment is also available at Mission Hospital as well as at many clinics, which are typically run by doctors attached to the island’s government-run hospitals: Vachira Phuket, Patong and Thalang. These three facilities also play an important but largely overlooked role in Phuket’s medical tourism. But there is still much room for improvement. Reliable, independent information sources for tourists interested in treatments on the island are lacking, with much of the sales and marketing done by word-of-mouth or by inbound tour operators and other agencies seeking to turn profits. Also left out of the picture almost completely are the medical needs of low-wage migrant laborers from Burma, the number of which could be as high as 200,000. Already that segment of the population is putting far too much strain on the state-run medical system. We can only hope that when the new provincial government hospital opens on the east side of Phuket Town, where many Burmese live and work, special services will be set up to accommodate their needs. If not, we are all candidates to suffer from the kinds of disease that are far more likely to arise in, and spread quickly from, the least fortunate members of the population here.
Which new initiative will have the greatest short-term impact on public transportation in Phuket?
Poll Results : Total votes: Which new initiative will have the greatest short-term impact on public transportation in Phuket?
Total Vote Result
Total votes : More detail below
Thai Nationals
Total votes :
Local Foreign Residents
Total votes :
Tourists / Visitors to Phuket
Total votes : The Phuket Gazette Co Ltd 79/94 Moo 4, Thepkrasattri Rd, T. Koh Keaw, A. Muang Phuket 83000, Thailand Tel: 076-615244 Fax: 076-615240 [email protected] Copyright © 2013 The Phuket Gazette Co Ltd. All rights reserved. | 3,532 | 1,759 | 0.000587 |
warc | 201704 | TUESDAY, June 28, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Experimental studies support the effectiveness of two vaccine candidates against the Zika virus, according to research published online June 28 in Nature.
This “critical first step” is leading to trials in monkeys and humans, “and gives us early confidence that development of a protective Zika virus vaccine for humans is feasible,” said researcher Col. Nelson Michael, M.D., Ph.D., of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) in Silver Spring, Md., and one member of a team involved in the search for a vaccine against the virus.
One of the new vaccines was developed at Harvard Medical School in Boston and is partly based on a Zika strain isolated in Brazil. The other vaccine, using a strain isolated in Puerto Rico, has been developed by Michael’s team at WRAIR. Both vaccines shielded mice against Zika infection with just a single dose required, the researchers said. The two vaccines are similar to others already in use against flaviviruses, which include dengue fever, West Nile, and others. Clinical trials in humans are scheduled to begin later in 2016.
“We showed that vaccine-induced antibodies provided protection, similar to existing vaccines for other flaviviruses,” senior author Dan Barouch, M.D., Ph.D., of the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, said in a center news release. “The effectiveness of these vaccines, the clarity of the antibody protection, and the similarity to successful vaccines that have been developed for other flaviviruses provide substantial optimism for a clear path forward for the development of a safe and effective Zika virus vaccine for humans.”
Copyright © 2016 HealthDay. All rights reserved. | 1,814 | 925 | 0.001119 |
warc | 201704 | Proceedings of The Physiological Society
University of Oxford (2011)
Proc Physiol Soc 23, PC263
Poster Communications
Mice expressing a human KATP channel mutation have altered channel ATP sensitivity, but no cardiac abnormalities
R. Mannikko1, R. Clark1, D. Stuckey1, M. Iberl1, K. Clarke1, F. M. Ashcroft1
1. Department of Physiology Anatomy & Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Patients with severe gain-of-function mutations in Kir6.2 (KCNJ11), the pore-forming subunit of the ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channel, have neonatal diabetes, muscle flaccidity, and mental and motor developmental delay; a condition known as iDEND syndrome. Despite the fact that Kir6.2 forms the pore of the cardiac KATP channel and is abundantly expressed in the heart, the patients show no obvious cardiac symptoms. We used a mouse model of iDEND syndrome to determine if the lack of cardiac symptoms is because iDEND mutations do not alter ATP inhibition of the cardiac channel. We studied mice in which the most common iDEND mutation (Kir6.2-V59M) was targeted to cardiac muscle using Cre-lox technology (m-V59M mice). Quantitative rtPCR revealed that wild-type and mutant mRNAs were expressed at about the same level in the heart of m-V59M mice, indicating that m-V59M mice simulate the heterozygous state of the patients. Patch-clamp studies of isolated cardiac myocytes revealed a marked reduction in the sensitivity of the KATP channel in m-V59M mice to MgATP inhibition (IC50 = 62 µM compared to 13 µM for littermate controls). In vivo cine MRI of mice anesthetized with 1.5% isoflurane in O2 identified no gross morphological differences and no differences in heart rate, end diastolic volume, end systolic volume, stroke volume, ejection fraction, cardiac output or wall thickening between m-V59M and control hearts, either under resting conditions or under dobutamine stress. In summary, the common iDEND mutation Kir6.2-V59M decreases ATP block of cardiac KATP channels but is without effect on heart function. This suggests that metabolic changes fail to open the mutated channel to an extent that affects function. In contrast, when the Kir6.2-V59M mutation is expressed in pancreatic beta-cells, mice fail to secrete insulin. It is likely these different effects on cell function result from differences in the SUR subunit of the channel (SUR1 in beta-cells; SUR2A in heart).
Where applicable, experiments conform with Society ethical requirements | 2,490 | 1,280 | 0.000788 |
warc | 201704 | Whitetail hunters have two huge strikes against them for the next 1-1/2 weeks, and here’s why:
• All the hunting pressure during opening week pushes deer into more nocturnal patterns by this second week coming up, when these wily creatures hunker in thickets in daylight and wait until night to move. • This surreptitious behavior increases until mid-month when breeding hits full blast from Nov. 13-15 through Nov. 23-25. In short, the vast majority of does start procreating at the middle or end of next week, and this heavy activity lasts 10 days. It moves deer around plenty in daylight, so hunters are more apt to see them.
Folks often call this 10-day period “the rut,” a misleading term. Bucks are in rut much longer and can breed from October through early December and, indeed, they do just that. Older does may breed in October and young females in early December, but it’s a minority of does for sure. Most mating occurs in the month’s third week.
This coming week, weather will play a role in the harvest. If temperatures drop well below normal and west winds prevail, deer will be moving but it’ll be nothing like next week. However, swirling winds and unseasonably warm weather will devastate the success ratio this week.
What can deer hunters do to increase their success odds right now?
First, serious hunters pay attention to detail and take precautions to eliminate human odor by dressing in clean clothes washed with unscented soap and also applying lures or scent-killers on clothes and body. These steps enable hunters to get closer for a shot, because they have fooled deer into thinking the interloper may be farther away — say 100 yards instead of 50 yards. Whitetails may loiter a tad longer before fleeing the danger.
In addition to washing and using unscented soap, hunters can use a liberal sprinkling of baking soda on the underarms, crotch and feet to lessen malodor.
Also, when hunting around apple orchards, frugal hunters put fresh, sweet cider in a small spray bottle and squirt it onto the bottom of boots and on a hat. (I use a bottle originally designed for sample hairspray.) If corn ranks as the forage of the day, rub a husked ear of corn on the boots and hat.
This cider-corn topic brings up a quick digression. Fifteen years ago, I often freelanced for a national deer magazine and mentioned these tips about scents in an article. This earned me a quick, curt phone call from the editor, who said, “Allen, we’re trying to sell our advertisers’ products here.”
Two common deer-hunting questions really pop up this week.
• Do we forget taking a stand when deer seldom move in daylight? • Should we carefully still-hunt through bedding areas — those lowland black-growth or side-hill thickets where deer lie through the day?
My advice sounds like a politician’s answer: Do both. In weather conditions that encourage deer to move, I still-hunt in known bedding areas, taking two steps and waiting one to five minutes before taking two more. With the two-step routine without sitting down once, it may take a half-day to go the length of two or three football fields. It’s important with this tactic to see lots of tracks and droppings to keep the concentration level high.
That’s when doing both still-hunting and taking a stand helps. It truly is tiring to walk ultra slowly, placing the foot down without making a sound. It’s so fatiguing that when attention lags and leg muscles tire, hunters should occasionally take a stand in a comfortable spot and rest a while before taking up the slow walk again.
Here’s a quick point, too. Sometimes, dry leaves cover the ground, so each step sounds like walking in Corn Flakes on a hardwood floor. When that happens, remember that deer also sound loud in such conditions. So, continue the two-step stroll, trying not to break ground twigs and branches. In short, an experienced hunter sounds like a walking deer.
And never forget another point. Other hunters may be poking around the area, and they’ll kick up a deer that might run by. In dry weather a careful hunter will hear it coming and be ready. It has happened to all of us.
I’ve shot plenty of deer on days with bad hunting conditions, after someone else has inadvertently bumped a deer by me. Twice, it has really angered them, but most of them appeared to be happy for me. Often I hadn’t seen them in years, so it was a reunion with an old friend or acquaintance.
Lady luck helps for sure, and that’s what we’ll rely on this week. We’ll pay attention to hunting details and spend as much time as possible in the woods, knowing that skill and perseverance often generate luck. (And we also know the last quarter on Nov. 6 isn’t a bad moon phase for hunters, either.)
That’s what this second week is all about in Maine, trying to do everything right and praying for luck.
Ken Allen of Belgrade Lakes is a writer, editor and photographer. He can be contacted at: | 5,066 | 2,506 | 0.000412 |
warc | 201704 | 12 things Lotto winners should not do!
discounted amount in order to do so. Other lottery winners choose to receive the annual annuity payments. Getting tens of millions of dollars at once probably sounds better than getting a paycheck for the next 30 years or so. Now consider that close to 70% of lottery winners end up broke, many within a couple or few years. Let’s say that you can choose to get $172 mln up front, or you can choose to receive a payout of $300 mln slowly over the course of a lifetime. Most people choose the lump sum rather than the annuity payment, as it is instant empire-making money. Go see a reputable and visible tax professional and a reputable investment advisor at a top money management firm with a widely recognised company name and a long corporate history. This theme of “reputable and visible” will echo throughout. Do this before you make the decision about a lump-sum or annuity option. | 943 | 537 | 0.001898 |
warc | 201704 | Types of oats
What’s the difference between rolled oats and quick-cooking oats?
Traditional rolled oats are hulled oat grains that are cleaned, steamed, then rolled to flatten.
Quick-cooking oats are created by steaming the hulled oat grains for longer and rolling them thinner. They are broken into small pieces, so they cook faster.
Rolled and quick oats can both be used to make porridge. Check before using oats in baking, such as muesli bars, biscuits, crumbles and cakes. Most recipes call for the traditional rolled oats, unless otherwise specified.
Rolled oats and quick-cooking oats have the same nutritional benefits.
Storage
Keep oats in a cool dry place in an airtight container. They can be kept in the fridge or freezer if your pantry is prone to moths or weevils. | 792 | 450 | 0.002262 |
warc | 201704 | Real hunger is physical. You can feel it. You get a little groggy and lose your ability to focus. These are messages from your body telling you that the tank is running low or it's already on empty. You need to re-fuel.
These messages are from your brain telling your stomach and intestines to release digestive fluids. This may even cause your tummy to let out a bit of a growl. It's saying, "feed me."
Cravings on the other hand are different animals. You could have just finished the largest meal of your life and still have an intense craving for a piece of chocolate cake. What gives?!?
Understanding Food and Sugar Cravings
When you're hungry your body wants food. It may not care what type of food you eat, it just wants you to eat. Understanding that your body gets hungry does little to help you understand your cravings. You could be completely full and still have cravings for something sweet.
You shouldn't feel guilty for having sugar cravings. In fact, it's normal and biological. There are 5 main tastes that we all crave. They are sweet, bitter, sour, salty and umami (savory). Surveys have shown that 100% of young women and 70% of young men have experienced cravings in the past year. I think that covers everyone.
What causes you to have cravings is complex. Three regions of the brain come into play during cravings - the hippocampus, insula and caudate. These three regions of the brain are responsible for memory and associating specific foods with reward.
Research by Marcia Levin Plechat, PhD, a Monell Center sensory psychologist stated:
"During a craving we have a sensory memory or template for the food that will satisfy the craving. The food we eat has to match that template for the craving to be satisfied. It's as if our brain is saying, 'It has to be chocolate ice cream, lemon pie just won't do.'" She continues, "Cravings are also like habits. We often reach for a craved food without thinking of it."
There are processes at work during food cravings that are out of your control. This doesn't mean you can't control your response to cravings or how you deal with your sugar cravings. In fact, you can take steps to minimize the frequency and intensity of your sugar cravings.
What Causes Sugar Cravings?
There are many things that can lead to craving certain foods but it seems that stress is the leading cause for sugar cravings. Stress can be biological or emotional.
For example, not getting enough sleep, being dehydrated or being hungry are all biological stresses. Emotional feelings like sadness, guilt or being upset can lead to feeling stressed and also lead to sugar cravings.
There are also environmental triggers that we have to be aware of. These are usually external but they are still powerful. A great example of environmental triggers is going to a movie.
When you walk into a movie theater usually the first thing you notice is the overwhelming smell of buttered popcorn. Then you turn towards the concession counter and see the brightly colored boxes of every kind of candy imaginable. You see the overstuffed boxes of popcorn and you can hear more corn being popped by the second.
Are you craving popcorn yet?
This is where all that memory stuff kicks in. You're familiar with this scene. Maybe you've experienced a movie with a big box of milk duds at your side. I know I have. Your mind connects that buttery popcorn and those sweet milk duds with the pleasure centers in your brain. You have pleasurable memories of eating those foods and satisfying your cravings. So it's natural for those cravings to show up when you're in this type of environment.
Hopefully you understand that environment is key. It's hard to reduce sugar cravings if you're surrounded by sugar and environmental triggers that cause you to crave sugar. These triggers can become more powerful the more you give into them.
This is part of the reason why you might experience intense sugar cravings or processed carbohydrate cravings 10 days into your paleo challenge. Your body is so used to eating high sugar foods and highly processed carbohydrates that your brain has strong memories associated with those types of foods.
How to Stop Sugar Cravings
The first thing to do is to gain control over your environment. Don't keep sugary, high-processed foods in the house. If someone in the house insists on having these foods around ask them to hide them and not eat them in front of you.
Next, change the meaning of those foods in your mind. When you understand how blood sugar works and how elevated insulin levels can lead to obesity and a plethora of other health problems you might look at the cookie jar in a new light.
Consuming sugar is a lot like consuming alcohol. It's not necessarily the worst thing in the world if you consume it in moderation but you need to understand what it does to your body. Once you understand the effects you can make a reasonably educated decision about consuming these types of substances.
Your friends and social gatherings can also trigger sugar cravings. Understand that it's 'OK' to say 'no thanks'. If you've decided that consuming that piece of cake is not something you want to do, then don't do it.
What to Do When Sugar Cravings are Overpowering
There are a few tricks I use when I'm having a really intense sugar craving.
1. The first one is to drink some water. You can even add lemon to it if you like. As mentioned above, dehydration can cause you to have sugar cravings. If you're craving sweets you may want to down 12 ounces of water. 2. You can also try drinking green tea. Green tea naturally increases the amount of the hormone CCK released in the intestines. The release of CCK reduces appetite. Consuming green tea could be a powerful tool in helping you curb sugar cravings. 3. Take a nap. Try for 10 to 15 minutes of shut-eye and you may find that your sugar cravings go away. Poor sleep or sleep deprivation can lead to sugar cravings. Along with naps make sure that you're getting enough sleep in general. Sleep is crucial to living a healthy lifestyle. It's an area I'm working on right now and I plan on writing more about this in the future. 4. You could also go for a quick walk outside. This will help increase your feel good hormones and give you a little bit of vitamin D. The mix of vitamin D, fresh air and exercise has an amazing impact on regulating hunger and sugar cravings. 5. If all else fails and you just have to eat something sweet opt for some berries or other in-season fruit. In fact, my favorite ninja paleo snack for fighting sugar cravings is an organic Honeycrisp apple sprinkled with Saigon cinnamon and dipped into almond butter. Not only is the snack filling but it's good for you.
Sugar from whole food sources will always be a better choice then eating foods full of processed sugar.
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The main trick for you to break sugar addiction is to start living a healthier lifestyle and taking control of your environment. Plan ahead as much as possible and make good choices at the grocery store. Pack healthy snacks like apples, nuts and berries to take with you to work. Keep some of these foods in your desk drawer so you're always prepared. Most of all, know thyself. Know what triggers your sugar cravings and be prepared for them.
We're on
Image credit D Sharon Pruitt | 7,340 | 3,321 | 0.000303 |
warc | 201704 | Mike Barrett
Activist Post Friday, December 23, 2011
To those of you who have been eager to hear the latest news concerning the potential release of genetically modified mosquitoes – here it is.
It turns out that the genetically modified mosquitoes could be
released into the U.S. environment as early as January of 2012.
A private firm plans to initiate the release of the GE mosquitoes in the
. Florida will be the first beta testing grounds to determine whether or not the mosquitoes lead to detrimental environmental and genetic impact. Residents in this area will also be subjected — without choice — to these genetically manipulated insects, unless the private firm decides to seek permission. Florida Keys The first mosquito release took place in the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean in 2009. On Sunday, October 27, the release was discussed in a scientific paper by the journal of Nature Biotechnology with the report concluding the release’s success.
A second trial occurred in 2010, where 6,000 mosquitoes were released in Malaysia for further experiments. The mosquitoes are genetically modified with a gene designed to kill them unless given an antibiotic known as tetracycline. Offspring of the GM mosquitoes will receive this same lethal gene which will kill the offspring before it can ever reach adulthood. As more genetically modified mosquitoes mate with wild mosquitoes, the idea is that more and more offspring will be produced with the lethal gene, thereby reducing the mosquito population.
Of course the risks these mosquitoes pose both on the environment, as well as the health of all living creatures are highly unknown, leaving everyone with many more questions than answers. We have already seen how terribly genetic modification can
threaten the environment and human health, yet people are still moving toward a genetically modified world.
With the release of genetically modified insects could come the downfall of both local and global ecosystems as well as negative consequences concerning the food chain. There is simply no way of knowing what could happen by
replacing the naturally born life forms on planet earth with genetically modified creations.
Some questions that still remain unanswered:
If Florida and the US approves Oxitec’s planned release of these genetically modified mosquitoes, we will become that much closer to future genetic modification of living creatures as well as the potential collapse of environmental and human health.
Luckily, judging by the widespread
opposition of genetically modified foods, it is likely that this experiment won’t turn into a reality without a fight.
This article was posted: Friday, December 23, 2011 at 9:04 am | 2,742 | 1,320 | 0.000771 |
warc | 201704 | PITTSBURGH, Jan. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
Liberty Tire Recycling, the premier provider of tire recycling services in North America, is partnering with the University of Tennessee's Center for Athletic Field Safety on a series of studies to test the potential benefits and role that crumb rubber plays in maintaining a natural grass athletic surface. The company is funding a series of studies over a two-year period to quantify the value proposition that crumb rubber infill offers as an enhancement to natural grass, and how it can potentially improve the quality of the surface and safety for the athletes using it.
"Crumb rubber infill used on athletic surfaces provides a host of benefits. For the athlete, it offers a safer, higher-performing surface. It also lengthens play on the surface, particularly in high-traffic areas of the field," said Mike Wezel, vice president of sales and marketing for Liberty Tire Recycling. "The University of Tennessee's Center for Athletic Field Safety is a one-of-a-kind facility, and we are proud to work with the Center, under the direction of Dr. John Sorochan, to help demonstrate the cost savings, improved maintenance and overall performance crumb rubber offers."
Initial studies conducted include a simulated foot traffic test to determine the optimal crumb rubber particle size and depth for optimizing field performance, a moisture and temperature test, and an assessment of how long the turf season can potentially be extended through the use of crumb rubber.
The use of crumb rubber infill in natural grass surfaces has been proven to maximize shock absorption by creating a softer and safer playing surface for athletes. Less water is required to maintain the surface, allowing the grass plant to become more tolerant of stresses such as heat and high-trafficking. Synthetic turf also positively impacts the environment by conserving more than three billion gallons of water; eliminating the use of almost a billion pounds of pesticides and fertilizers; lowering consumption of energy, raw materials and solid waste generation; and keeping more than 140 million used tires out of landfills.
Liberty Tire Recycling recently became the first and only company to achieve GREENGUARD Synthetic Turf Components Certification from the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute for indoor air quality for the company's synthetic turf infill product, which is an eco-friendly solution for athletic fields and other playing surfaces.
To learn more about Liberty Tire Recycling, visit www.libertytire.com.
About Liberty Tire Recycling Liberty Tire Recycling is the premier provider of tire recycling services in North America. By recycling more than 140 million tires annually, Liberty Tire reclaims about 1.5 billion pounds of rubber for innovative, eco-friendly products. The recycled rubber produced by Liberty Tire is used as crumb rubber and industrial feedstock for molded products; as tire-derived fuel for industrial kilns, mills and power plants; and as rubber mulch for landscaping and playgrounds. The company maintains a nationwide network of processing plants, and comprehensive door-to-door collection services. Liberty Tire Recycling is headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA. For more information, please visit www.libertytire.com. Contact: Jeff Donaldson for Liberty Tire Recycling
412-642-7700
jeff.donaldson@elias-savion.com
SOURCE Liberty Tire Recycling
RELATED LINKS | 3,431 | 1,599 | 0.000629 |
warc | 201704 | CHICAGO, Feb. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Zacks Equity Research discusses the U.S. Metals & Mining, including
ArcelorMittal (NYSE: MT), United States Steel (NYSE: X), Nucor (NYSE: NUE), AK Steel (NYSE: AKS) and Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation (OTC: NSSMY).
A synopsis of today's Industry Outlook is presented below. The full article can be read at
The automotive and construction markets have historically been the largest consumers of steel. The automotive sector has been promising in recent times. Auto sales in the U.S. surged 13% to 14.5 million vehicles in Dec 2012, the highest volume attained in the last five years. The seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) in December was 15.4 million vehicles, the second straight month of above 15 million SAAR in 2012. This performance will likely generate solid momentum going into 2013.
The robust growth rate in the sector has been fueled by strong pent-up demand, cheap financing, launch of several redesigned and fuel-efficient vehicles and rebound in consumer confidence thanks to a growing belief that the housing market is recovering. Another major market, the construction sector, has so far been a drag on the steel companies' earnings. However, in 2012, the sector finally started picking up began signaling a recovery evidenced by solid growth in the major indicators. The architecture billing index (ABI), an economic indicator that provides an approximate nine- to twelve-month glimpse into the future of non-residential construction spending activity, climbed back into the positive territory with a score of 50.2 in August after languishing in the negative territory for five consecutive months. Any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings and the score has remained stable till December. The ABI readings in the fourth quarter of 2012, in fact, exhibited the strongest growth since the downturn in early 2008. This momentum is expected to persist and conditions are expected improve, albeit at a slow and steady rate. The American Institute of Architects projects a 5% increase in spending in 2013 for non-residential construction projects, on the back of higher construction of commercial facilities, particularly for hotels followed by industrial construction spending. The spending is expected to shore up to 7.2% in 2014. Meanwhile, the residential housing sector is also showing signs of positive growth with figures at highest levels in more than four years. In 2012, housing starts totaled 780,000, surging 28% from 2011 and housing permits (an indicator of future demand) escalated 30% to 813,000. Both attained their respective highest level since 2008. Housing completions rose 11% to 651,000 in 2012, the highest level since 2010. According to the most recent most issued data, in December housing starts spiked 37% year over year to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 954,000. Building permits were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 903,000, 29% higher than the year-ago figure. In a nutshell, record-low mortgage rates, rising rents and reduced prices of properties are luring buyers. These figures reinforce the belief that U.S. residential construction is finally stabilizing and is on the road to a much awaited recovery. Analyzing the fourth quarter results of the major steel companies in our coverage -- ArcelorMittal (NYSE: MT), United States Steel (NYSE: X), Nucor (NYSE: NUE) and AK Steel (NYSE: AKS) -- we see revenues were marred by the drop in average steel prices. This does not come as a surprise as oversupply in the U.S. steel industry and increased steel imports in the domestic market affected steel prices, which in turn hurt margins and profits of the steel players. Furthermore, the gloomy macroeconomic condition in Europe is another area of concern as it is the largest market for total U.S. exports. Given the scenario in Europe, ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steelmaker in terms of volume and Europe's largest steelmaker, recently announced its plans to permanently close its plant in Liege, Belgium owing to the slack demand and weakening European economy. The company also announced the idling of its liquid phase in Oct 2011 due to structural over-capacity in Northern Europe. The production halt at the Liege plant was done to better focus on the company's downstream activities, operating five core lines and seven flexible lines. However, economic conditions worsened since then and demand for steel in Europe declined another 8%-9% in 2012 and is currently 29% below the pre-crisis levels. The Leige business is heavily dependent on the automotive sector, which faced a major downturn in 2012. Consequently, tepid demand also had a hand in idling of the facility and ArcelorMittal further stated that it will close six production lines at Liege that manufacture finished steel products for the auto industry. It is also closing a coke plant, which produces fuel for blast furnaces. Going into 2013, steelmakers expect profits to be affected by continued increase in steel imports, volatility in steel pricing along with macroeconomic uncertainty stemming from the recessionary conditions in Europe and sluggish growth in the emerging markets. However, the sector will benefit from the strong momentum in the automotive markets. The outlook for other key markets -- transportation, energy, industrial and agricultural sectors also remains favorable. The turnaround in the so-far faltering construction sector will definitely provide a much-needed impetus to the sector. Steelmakers are increasing their consolidation efforts, particularly in China and India, to derive economies of scale and other synergies to remain competitive. A major development in this sector was the recent merger of Japan's largest and the world's sixth-largest steel maker Nippon Steel Corporation with Sumitomo Metal Industries to form the world's second biggest steel firm -- Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation (OTC: NSSMY). With a combined capacity of 46.1 million tons, it has replaced China's Hebei Group in the second position, with production of 44.4 million tons. The merger is targeted to generate savings in the face of increasingly intense global competition. China's recent attempt to bolster its economy by approving 60 infrastructure projects worth more than $150 billion will help bolster the steel sector. Prices could potentially stabilize on the back of a rebound in construction activity in the developing countries, in particular China, India and South Korea. Furthermore, the sector will reap the benefits of the Federal Reserve's move to boost the U.S economy. However, the European debt crisis and its potential global impact remain headwinds for the industry. About Zacks
Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978 by Leonard Zacks. As a PhD from MIT Len knew he could find patterns in stock market data that would lead to superior investment results. Amongst his many accomplishments was the formation of his proprietary stock picking system; the Zacks Rank, which continues to outperform the market by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. The best way to unlock the profitable stock recommendations and market insights of Zacks Investment
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Disclaimer: Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investors should always research companies and securities before making any investments. Nothing herein should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security.
SOURCE Zacks Investment Research, Inc.
RELATED LINKS | 8,029 | 3,705 | 0.00027 |
warc | 201704 | It’s helped me through some tough days.
Sarasota, FL (PRWEB) October 24, 2013
The Caregivers’ Comfort ® 2014 monthly calendars include eight unique features intended to simplify, ease, or brighten up the many responsibilities of adults who are caring at home for the elderly, disabled or chronically ailing of all ages.
"This is more than just a calendar," says Julie Cook Downing, who created the Caregivers’ Comfort® Calendar based on her own experience caring for a mother with Alzheimer’s and a father with dementia. "It’s a tool that provides solutions."
The calendar, also available as a Veterans’ Caregiver version, includes several standout features to address caregivers’ unique needs, such as pages for resources and patient observations. The calendar is also filled with inspirational sayings and suggestions for how to reduce stress.
Studies show informal caregivers suffer from higher incidences of depression and anxiety, get less sleep than non-caregivers, and face greater financial pressures, according to the American Psychological Association. Informal caregivers also suffer more often than non-caregivers from headaches, backaches and other physical ailments.
Downing says she aims to lessen the burden on caregivers through the Caregivers’ Comfort® Calendar. "Caregivers need inspiration, appreciation, recognition and organization," she says. "The Caregivers’ Comfort ® Calendar provides all of those things."
The calendar has already attracted fans, including people in Florida and Illinois who have already found it useful. Willis "Skip" Bergoine says the inspirational sayings have provided him comfort and support since his wife died in April after a stroke.
"It’s helped me through some tough days," he says.
To order the Made in America calendar directly, go to http://caregiverscomfort.com/2014-monthly-calendar/.
Downing also offers a creative fundraising option to nonprofit organizations, which can raise money for both their own organization and Downing’s by purchasing calendars in bulk from Downing.
In addition to being an experienced informal caregiver herself, Downing is a support group facilitator and frequent guest speaker on the topic of caregiving. She can be reached at caregivercomfort(at)aol(dot)com or 941-360-3580. | 2,364 | 1,166 | 0.000896 |
warc | 201704 | The underuse of the medical summary derived from the outpatient electronic medical record (EMR) and the minimal communication between referring primary care physicians (PCP) and hospital providers have led to serious quality and safety implications for patients.
Smart pump–EMR interoperability is the new standard of care for intravenous (IV) infusion therapy. The IV route of administration for medications often results in the most serious outcomes of medication errors.
Medication reconciliation continues to be a problem for hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Medication errors can occur during the transition of patient care because of miscommunication of drug information.
The challenges we face in improving patient safety and decreasing healthcare-related harm and death remain urgent, compelling, and undeniable. Despite our considerable efforts over the past 15 years, and some very notable advances, mostly resulting from increased standardization of processes and the use of checklists, the overall magnitude of the problem remains enormous.
Healthcare organizations seek new engagement solutions for populations challenged to make improvements in their care.
By Pat Parks, MD, PhD Healthcare leaders and care providers charged with the difficult task of preventing infections are no strangers to the incredibly unfortunate loss of life and staggering financial burden of healthcare-associated infections (HAI). Some of the deadliest HAIs are central line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) and catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI). According to the … Continued
By Susan Carr CRICO, the medical professional liability (MPL) insurance company for the Harvard medical institutions and affiliates, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. In addition to providing members with liability coverage and claims management, CRICO has made reducing the risk of harm and improving patient safety a priority for the benefit of patients … Continued
By John Palmer Train your workers how to use the tools that protect them. One of the first things that a student learns in medical school, one of the first thing a worker learned on the job, and perhaps the most important thing you, as a safety professional can be a pest about with your … Continued
The implementation of information technology in medication-use systems is widely accepted as a way to reduce adverse drug events by decreasing human error (Mahoney, Berrard-Collins, Coleman, Amaral, & Cotter, 2007). Technology examples include computerized order entry systems, clinical decision support systems, robotic dispensing, profiled automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs), smart infusion pumps, and barcode scanning of medications during compounding, dispensing, ADC restocking, and administration.
With healthcare complexity increasing daily, traditional models of delivering care fail to offer a framework capable of delivering high-quality care at a reasonable cost. The rapid expansion and evolution of medical knowledge makes it impossible for any single healthcare professional to assimilate and retain the up-to-date information necessary to properly treat patients. | 3,199 | 1,591 | 0.000636 |
warc | 201704 | Information Sheet #14
October 4, 1988
"Invention heuristics" and "prewriting strategies" are two jargonistic phrases that composition teachers use for identifying activities that loosen a writer's mind and pen. The goal is to encourage students to play with language and to see writing as fluid, as a process of knowing rather than an unalterable commitment to uncertain ideas.
Too often students perceive writing as an arcane skill to be summoned semiannually in creaky service to obligatory term papers and final exams. The purpose of using part of a class period for prewriting strategies is to familiarize students with the notion of writing as an everyday activity that helps them discover, learn, and record what they know. Because students are so seldom provided guidance in the use of writing as a mode of invention and thinking, many suffer from writer's block, believing they must know everything they're about to say before they can actually write one word. They perceive the act of writing as official and final.
Through class workshops, quick group activities, or occasional independent assignments, a college faculty can introduce students to many common, useful prewriting strategies:
Brainstorming and free writing require the writer to record as quickly as possible all associations of a topic, phrase, or idea. Once a text is created, the writer can then use a variety of grouping strategies to organize the information. Manipulating words and phrases, the writer looks for connections, commonalities, likenesses and oppositions. A student can simply list all the words or phrases that seem alike, and then free write on what the likenesses are. The process often creates new kinds of information, perhaps moving from concrete perceptions to abstract and unifying ideas.
Writers can also look over a piece of free writing, pick out key words, and use those words to initiate new short bursts of free writing (the "looping" strategy) or to create schematics (trees or flow charts) that show relationships between the words and ideas. Sometimes, writers can talk out their ideas with a friend or in a peer response group or with a consultant in the Writing Center. In a staff meeting last week, the Coe Writing Center consultants unanimously agreed that their most productive conferences often occur with students before they have done any writing on their papers. Through conversation, students can discover, very early, areas of strength or places where they are likely to be misunderstood. Talking out ideas aloud to peers also introduces student writers, some for the first time, to the importance of an audience.
Students need encouragement to experiment with many invention techniques for daily writing as well as for prewriting on a major assignment. They can learn to see writing as a way to stimulate the thinking process, rather than simply a record of its product. Prewriting strategies are a means of introducing students to the interrelatedness of writing and thinking.
[Information adapted from
This website created and maintained by the Coe Writing Center. Copyright 2001.
Email Dr. Bob Marrs with any questions, comments or suggestions. | 3,186 | 1,544 | 0.000651 |
warc | 201704 | Previous Section Index Home Page
Paul Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the possible (a) side effects, (b) benefits and (c) risks of prescribing the pneumococcal vaccine Prevenar to children who are not identified as at high risk of paediatric pneumococcal disease. [55821]
Ms Blears:
Prevenar was authorised by the European Commission in February 2001 for active immunisation of infants and children from two months of age to two years of age against invasive disease (including bacteraemia, sepsis, meningitis, bacteraemic pneumonia) caused by the streptococus pneumoniae serotypes contained in the vaccine. An assessment of the possible risks and benefits of the vaccine for this indication was considered by the Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products, the advisory body to the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA) prior to licensing. The at-risk groups were not distinguished. The current product information lists known side effects.
10 Jun 2002 : Column 1077W
Studies to document the full burden of morbidity attributable to pneumococcal disease in the United Kingdom's children and to evaluate the vaccine's suitability for use in the routine childhood immunisation programme are also in progress by the Department's vaccine evaluation consortium.
In January 2002, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which advises the Department on national immunisation policy, recommended that the small number of children under two years who are at particular risk from pneumococcal disease, who would be recommended to receive polysaccharide vaccine if they were over two years, should now receive the new pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (Prevenar).
Mr. Wray:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assistance his Department has been given to research into arthritis since 1997; what new treatments have become available for arthritis sufferers; and what payments are made to sufferers of arthritis to assist with medication costs. [56264]
Ms Blears:
The main Government agency for research into the cause and treatments of disease is the Medical Research Council (MRC) which receives its funding via the Department of Trade and Industry. The MRC spend is available from 1999 and is an estimated £12.9 million on research relevant to arthritis.
The Department funds research to support policy and the delivery of effective practice in the national health service. The departmental spend on directly commissioned research projects on arthritis since 1997 is an estimated £2.5 million. The Department has also funded projects relevant to arthritis but with wider relevance, and the expenditure on these has not been counted.
In addition to specific projects, the Department provides support for research commissioned by charities and the research councils that takes place in the NHS. Management of much of the research supported by NHS research and development funding is devolved and expenditure at project level is not held centrally by the Department. The total investment is considerably greater than the spend on directly commissioned projects.
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) was asked to appraise the use of infliximab (Remicade) and etanecerpt (Enbrel) in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. NICE issued its guidance on 22 March 2002. NICE has recommended the use of etanercept for the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and etanercept and infliximab for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
10 Jun 2002 : Column 1078W
16 (or under 19 if in full-time education); aged 60 or over; or holds an exemption certificate; or is entitled on the grounds of low income. Prescription prepayment certificates save money for anyone who needs more than a certain number of items over a particular period.
Ms Blears:
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) was asked to appraise the use of infliximab (Remicade) and etanecerpt (Enbrel) in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. NICE issued its guidance on 22 March 2002. NICE has recommended the use of etanercept for the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis and etanercept and infliximab for rheumatoid arthritis.
On 5 December 2001, the Government announced that they would meet their manifesto commitment to ensure that patients receive drugs and treatments recommended by NICE on the national health service if deemed appropriate by their clinicians. Directions have been issued obliging health authorities and primary care trusts to provide appropriate funding for recommended treatments.
Links have been built between the strategy and the work on crime reduction; A framework for certain key elements of the strategy has been put in place; including: A training course for general practitioners (GPs) and practice nurses is currently being piloted. This will enable GPs and nurses to identify patients who are drinking hazardously and to decide on whether to offer support and advice to these patients or whether to refer them to specialist treatment services. An increase in the resources available for substance misuse education in schoolsan additional £29.5 million has been put into substance misuse education over the last three years.
Dr. Evan Harris:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 8 May 2002, Official Report, column 269W, on value for money, if he will publish the information used to establish that the Department was on course to deliver the target on value for money changes in the 1998 public service agreement. [56608]
Ms Blears:
The published measure for this target was that the Department would achieve its business plan objectives within the running costs limits set by the Comprehensive Spending Review. Running cost plans
10 Jun 2002 : Column 1079W
and outturn against them (where available) have already been published in the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA) for the years 19992000 to 200203, copies of which are in the Library. The statistics demonstrate that the Department is on track to meet the target.
Dr. Evan Harris:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) number and (b) proportion of people (i) sleeping rough and (ii) living in temporary accommodation were looked after by local authorities when they were children. [56566]
Jacqui Smith:
As at December 2001 there were some 78,600 households accepted as statutorily homeless by local authorities living in temporary accommodation. A household is the unit used to collect this datait will include families with children and other vulnerable couples or single people who have a statutory right to assistance to meet their housing needs from local authorities. The rough sleepers unit estimates that as at November 2001 there were 532 people sleeping rough in England on any night. At present the Department does not keep statistics centrally about where young people are living after they leave care.
The Children (Leaving Care) Act commenced in October 2001. This imposes a new duty on local authorities to ensure that care leavers are provided with suitable accommodation, which will not include temporary accommodation. From 2004, local authorities will be required to submit information to the Department about the performance of their leaving care services, including statistics on the numbers of care leavers placed in suitable accommodation.
Mr. Brazier:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when will appointments to the reconfiguration panel be completed; and whether (a) Kent and Canterbury, (b) Royal Hospital Haslar, (c) Solihull hospital, (d) Kidderminster hospital and (e) West Cornwall hospital Penzance will be referred to the panel. [57093]
Ms Blears:
It is vital that the independent reconfiguration panel (IRP) has both the confidence of the general public and credibility within the national health service. We are therefore considering our options very carefully before making any decisions about the membership.
The IRP will offer advice to the Secretary of State for Health on any contested reconfiguration proposals that he asks the panel to consider. However, it will not be asked to consider any proposals that were referred to the Secretary of State for Health before the panel begins workingwhich we anticipate will be in the autumn.
Next Section Index Home Page | 8,382 | 3,534 | 0.000285 |
warc | 201704 | Previous Section Back to Table of Contents Lords Hansard Home Page
Lord Beloff: The word "statistics" was mentioned earlier in the debate on this amendment. What I believe people thought about at the time were economic statistics. However, as the eminent economists who normally grace the Labour Benches are none of them present today, I shall not embark upon something which would leave them disadvantaged in their absence.
I shall, therefore, talk about another kind of statistics which are much more immediately relevant; namely, the statistics of voting in yesterday's election in Saxony-Anhalt. It is important to notice that in a state in Germany--which still seems to have the untrammelled devotion of the noble Baroness, Lady Williams--over 12 per cent. voted for a Neo-Nazi party, while something like 40 per cent. voted for an ex-Communist party advocating the same policies as when the GDR was a Communist country. Commentators on those results have pointed out that the division there is one of age--the older people still hanker after the quasi-security of their former Communist regime but the younger people find that a little pathetic and go for Neo-Nazism. At whose expense have those votes been garnered? It is at the expense of the two governing parties in the coalition of the Federal Republic--Chancellor Kohl's Christian Democrats and their Free-Democratic partners, who did not even make the 5 per cent. necessary to be represented in the Land Parliament.
That has happened at a time when the German Government seem intent on bludgeoning Europe into a single currency. The fact is that in Germany a single currency, among other things, has not led to improvements in employment but to a kind of mass unemployment. That is the ultimate explanation of the electoral figures, as it was, in retrospect, probably the ultimate explanation of the rise of Hitlerism in the first place. It seems curious that this phenomenon is taken so little account of when we are considering a treaty which intends, in one way or another, to bind us more closely to an economy (and an outlook) that is proving to be such a massive failure. Even in prosperous western Germany the unemployment figures are still very high.
In each of those countries there is something different. As my noble friend Lord Moynihan pointed out, we have a different approach. I do not expect for a moment that it is ignorance of that approach which prevents the Germans, the French, the Spaniards or indeed the Italians from adopting the British model; it is just not relevant to their situation as they see it. Surely it is important for a British Government to retain under their own control the basic instruments of economic policy. To do less than that is to betray the electorate to whom, at least in this country, government are responsible.
Lord Stoddart of Swindon: I should like, first, to thank all those noble Lords who have sent their good wishes to my noble friend Lord Shore of Stepney. It is absolutely true that we are missing him very much today. We shall continue to do so tomorrow, but perhaps not on Report. I spoke to my noble friend's wife last night and it appears that he is quite ill in hospital. Nevertheless, he has taken a great deal of interest in what is going on. His wife hopes that he will be out of hospital on Wednesday, but it will be some little while before he can take part in our proceedings. I shall ensure that the good wishes of noble Lords are passed on to my noble friend.
My noble friend Lord Grenfell and the noble Baroness, Lady Williams, asked what this was all about. They said that it is only a bit of talk, the employment chapter is intergovernmental in its operation and, therefore, why not give them our ideas and why not listen to theirs? That is a seductive argument. However, the problem for me is that I have heard it all before and, after a little while, it becomes part of the ratchet effect towards a federal Europe.
We heard that foreign and security policy would be intergovernmental and that we were only going to have chats about such issues. Indeed, we were only going to discuss foreign policies. However, in this Amsterdam Treaty, the matter has been taken very much further than we thought it would be when we discussed Maastricht. It bears no relationship to the assurances that we were given about foreign and security policy during the debates on that matter.
I do not know how many noble Lords watched the programme on BBC2 on the way that EMU and a single currency were obtained. It was an interesting programme. It showed just how undemocratic the decision making process is and that ordinary people were never involved. When we talk about the people's Europe we are not talking about ordinary people; we are talking about the "top people" in Europe. It is the "top people's" Europe that appears to concern some people, not the real people's Europe.
Those who watched that programme would have seen exactly how two men stitched up EMU and a single currency over tea, like any potentate of bygone ages. It was not done through a democratic process. They had not even discussed the matter with their parliaments or assemblies. It was decided over a cup of tea. They made great decisions which affect people's lives, their employment or unemployment, without any reference to the people at all. That is why I am worried that although this new title may be intergovernmental, in the final analysis one or two people will make the decisions without reference to any democratic process. I am worried about the whole issue of EMU and a single currency because those people were not concerned about the economic aspects except in so far as they concerned France and its high unemployment rate. They were concerned about the political aspects. One could see how Germany and France between them were prepared to sideline and to "do down" this country.
If some of us are suspicious when matters such as Title VIa are drafted into a new treaty, please excuse us because we have been through all this before and it is a continuing process. Those are the reasons I believe we should be careful about this title and why I shall support, with alacrity, the amendment in the name of my noble friend Lord Shore whom we all wish a speedy and good recovery.
Lord Moynihan: I mentioned earlier that I thought it was critical to address the questions posed by the social chapter. I do so now with renewed vigour. I am always cautious when I listen to the noble Baroness, Lady Williams, because I think it is fair to say that we agree on many aspects of foreign affairs, but on this subject we disagree most vehemently. We take a polarised position in that disagreement, save possibly as regards the importance of compassion in politics. I hope she will accept that I believe equally in the importance
For it is governments who create the right legal, regulatory and fiscal framework to ensure maximum efficiency, creation of jobs and competitiveness. That is an important part of compassion. From these Benches our position has been unequivocal and constant. We were simply not prepared to accept the social chapter proposed at Maastricht because it opens the door to unwanted regulation which threatens to damage our competitiveness and destroy jobs.
The Government have given many reasons why they signed up to the social chapter. We have been told repeatedly that our opt-out was damaging and that it insulted British workers. The Foreign Secretary said,
How can he possibly claim that to be accurate when set against the relative success of our economy and the compassion in creating so many jobs through our productivity over the years? In my view those words of the Foreign Secretary are hollow indeed. We were told that it was essential that we signed up to the social chapter if British workers were to have the same rights as those in Europe.
I understand the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Grenfell, that the Minister in another place sought to embrace the same rights as those in other countries in Europe already have. I am in complete agreement with him on the importance of dialogue, but I do not believe for one moment that it could not take place in a constructive manner without signing up to the social chapter. We were also informed that our opt-out reduced our influence in Europe and that we needed a seat at the negotiating table. Of all the issues that we shall debate in Committee this is possibly the most important one. I recognise that this is a subject that appeared in the Government's manifesto. It is not my intention to seek to divide the Chamber on this issue at any stage because I recognise that this Chamber has accepted that we do not challenge manifesto commitments, particularly one that was expressed so strongly by the then Labour opposition.
However, during all the "door knocking" and canvassing that occurred during the previous general election, I did not come across a single voter who decided not to vote for the Conservative Party because of the Government's intent with regard to the social
The directives covered by QMV mean that the Government would be powerless to prevent some measures being imposed on the United Kingdom against its will. This threat has already become a reality before the social chapter has even been put in position; it does not become active until the Treaty of Amsterdam is signed.
Yet the reality has been shown, because Commissioner Flynn has proposals to extend the works council directive to companies with 50 workers and above which, if successful, would be introduced under the QMV sections of the social chapter, with no chance of a national veto.
How will the Foreign Secretary guarantee to ensure, as he has promised, that the Commission's proposal for all such legislation with which the Government disagree is amended? Will he give the same answer as the President of the Board of Trade, who told the BBC's "On the Record" programme that she did not support Commissioner Flynn's proposals for national works councils; but, when asked what action the Government would take to prevent the proposals for national works councils becoming law, she could only manage to stumble:
The noble Baroness, Lady Williams, was right to underpin the importance of social legislation, and I echo those sentiments. But we have a Parliament in which we can consider each possible measure that we deem necessary in this country to protect workers. I have a list, with which the Library have generously provided me, with hundreds of measures appropriately considered by Parliament and passed for this very purpose, and on which I have full agreement with the noble Baroness. But, under the social chapter, legislation in any of these areas--working conditions, the information and consultation of workers, equality between men and women in relation to both employment opportunities and treatment at work, the integration of people excluded from the labour market and health and safety at work--can be introduced under QMV and the Government would have no power to stop such legislation.
There will be noble Lords on both sides of the House who will say that these seem reasonable areas for proposals. But let us look at them. Proposals under working conditions, the first I cited, which could not be vetoed if they are adopted, include the requirement for firms to provide equal rights for permanent and temporary workers, which is already a European Community proposal; no more flexibility in employing temps or casual workers; the requirement for firms to provide full employment rights for all workers--no more probationary periods and full redundancy costs; and the requirement for firms to provide full pay for every day of sickness, as in Germany, which could lead to an increase in sickness absenteeism. All these are measures which have been considered in both Houses of Parliament and all are measures which we do not wish to see imposed upon us, even if they are right for other members of the European Community.
My second area relates to proposals under information and consultation of workers, which could not be vetoed if they are adopted. I mentioned works councils for all firms with more than 50 employees. There is the obligation to consult elected representatives--in other words, trade union officials--over every management decision--recruitment, redeployment, redundancy; the requirement for co-decision between a company's management and works councils, as in Austria--firms will have to gain the agreement of the works council before every dismissal decision; the requirement for all firms to reserve up to half the seats on their boards of directors for duly elected representatives of the workers; the requirement for firms to apply to the government for permission before making any dismissal or redundancy, as in the Netherlands.
These are not pie-in-the-sky ideas; I am quoting specific examples which occur elsewhere in Europe and which, no doubt, those countries would like to see universally applied throughout Europe. They deemed the measure satisfactory for them; why should they not propose it within the social chapter to be satisfactory for the whole of the community and push, through QMV, for it to be adopted?
We may say in this House that we do not feel it is right for the United Kingdom. We had the opportunity when we had the opt-out to consider the social legislation appropriate for this country. But that will not be the case in future on proposals as regards the equality of men and women in relation both to work opportunities and treatment at work, which could not be vetoed if they are adopted. On sex discrimination, the European Community proposal would require employers to prove their innocence instead of being innocent until proved guilty, overturning what we consider to be a basic principle of justice; there is requirement for positive discrimination in favour of women in the workplace, with quotas for both female directors and management; and, for example, the requirement for firms to provide all workers four weeks' holiday a year from 1999; the requirement to provide all workers six weeks' holiday a year, as in Spain, which is what Spain believes to be in its national interest and, if it persuades the majority in the Community, the measure could be extended throughout; the forbidding of any worker to work more than eight hours a night on a nightshift, as per the working time directive; and the forbidding of any worker from working more than 40 hours a week, as in France and Belgium, adding further costs and inflexibility to business limitations on overtime.
It is Jacques Santer's opinion that there should be more QMV in the social chapter. He wrote to the effect that he believes that it is essential to extend qualified majority voting to certain provisions of the social chapter which currently require a unanimous vote; namely, to the protection of workers whose employment contracts have been terminated, the social security and social protection of workers and the representation and collective defence of the interests of workers and employers.
The Government say that we are scaremongering. As has been pointed out this afternoon by the noble Baroness, Lady Williams, the two directives introduced under the social chapter to date--the European works council directive and the parental leave directive--have been modest, sensible and reasonable. But that fails to take into account the fact that the danger is not what has already been introduced under the social chapter, but the potential for more increasingly far-reaching social legislation. I have given many national examples in support of my argument on this vital issue. The fact that we had an opt-out acted as a brake on the development of the social chapter. How can the noble Lord, Lord Whitty, guarantee his words, echoed in another place, will remain true in the future? He said that,
Furthermore, surely our past experience suggests that European Union institutions, including the European Commission and the European Court of Justice, will seek to apply the widest possible interpretations in order to maximise the scope for adopting measures by qualified majority. Hence, the European Union's working time directive was imposed on Britain on the grounds that working time concerns health and safety rather than employment. The Department of Trade and Industry calculated that the working time directive could cost British employers £2 billion.
The noble Lord, Lord Beloff, focused on what is surely the most important issue. After all, what is wrong with a domestic agenda for social legislation? If the Government deem it essential that British workers have the same rights as their counterparts in Europe, why do the Government not introduce employment and social policy measures which they believe will boost employment in Britain through domestic legislation and avoid the risk of the imposition of unwanted and damaging legislation under the social chapter? From those--
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warc | 201704 | Why are computers used in the manufacturing industry?
As technology continues to develop and expand, computers are becoming an increasingly integral part of the manufacturing industry. These technological tools are useful in a variety of contexts for ... Read More »
http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/1967551 Manufacturing Industry Trends?
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http://www.ehow.com/list_6806052_manufacturing-industry-trends.html Definition of the Manufacturing Industry?
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http://www.ehow.com/info_8678665_average-pay-raise-manufacturing-industry.html | 1,658 | 780 | 0.001311 |
warc | 201704 | Do you have questions about what it takes to get a mortgage loan in 2016? If so, you should download our free e-book,
How to Qualify for a Home Loan in 2016. This 55-page guide was fully updated in September 2015 and includes the latest lending trends. How to Qualify for a Home Loan
This book provides an overview of mortgage lending trends and standards in 2015, and what we expect to see in 2016. It is based on our own lender surveys and questionnaires, government studies, industry reports, and many hours of research.
It is designed to give home buyers and mortgage shoppers a general sense of what it takes to qualify for a home loan in 2016.
What you’ll find inside the book:
QM rule:In 2014, the federal government enacted a new rule known as the Qualified Mortgage, or QM. Chapter 1 of the e-book explains how this new rule has impacted the lending industry, and how it could affect you as a borrower. ( Hint: It’s all about income verification these days!) Down payments:How much do borrowers have to put down to qualify for a home loan these days? We asked dozens of lenders this question, and they responded. Chapter 2 of How to Qualify for a Home Loanexplains down-payment trends and requirements in 2016. Credit scores:Chapter 3 of the e-book answers one of the most common questions among mortgage shoppers: “What credit score do I need to qualify for a loan these days?” Here’s the good news — lenders appear to be relaxing their standards in 2015, where credit scores are concerned. This means it might be easier to qualify for a home loan in 2016. Debt ratios:Debt-to-income (DTI) ratios have become one of the most important qualification criteria for borrowers. While lenders have always paid attention to debt burdens, they are giving them even morescrutiny today. You’ll learn why, and how it affects you as a borrower, in Chapter 4 of the book. Documents:In 2014, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) introduced its new “Ability-to-Repay” rule. We asked lenders how this new rule affects the way they qualify borrowers for financing. You might be surprised by what they had to tell us. It’s all included in Chapter 5. Employment:There’s a common misconception that borrowers need at least two years of steady employment to qualify for a home loan. But that’s not always true. Underwriters are mostly concerned with the “likelihood of job continuance.” Chapter 6 of How to Qualify for a Home Loan in 2016explains this concept in detail. Pre-approval, underwriting and final approval:Consumers are often confused about the differences between mortgage pre-approval, underwriting, and final approval. Chapter 7 explains what takes place during each of these stages, and what you can do to keep your loan on track through closing. Bonus:Shaving a few basis points off your interest rate could save you thousands over the life of your loan. How to Qualify for a Home Loan in 2016includes a 12-page bonus sectionthat explains what it takes to get the best interest rate in the current market. It also explains how borrowers can “buy down” their rates by using discount points. About the Author
Brandon Cornett is a full-time real estate researcher and publisher. His work has been cited by the
San Francisco Chronicle, Huffington Post, Forbes, Bloomberg, PBS and more.
He is the creator of the FHAhandbook.com, QualifiedMortgage.org and several other mortgage-related websites. Brandon has been writing about real estate topics for over a decade.
As a consumer advocate, Brandon has published hundreds of articles and tutorials for first-time home buyers and mortgage shoppers. He has a knack for explaining complex financial topics in plain English.
General Disclaimers About the Book
This book is not meant to take the place of professional mortgage advice. Every lending scenario is different, because every borrower is different. As a result, portions of this book may not apply to your unique situation.
We make every effort to keep this book current by incorporating changes made by housing agencies and mortgage lenders. Despite these efforts, there is still a chance that portions of this book may become outdated or inaccurate over time, due to the ever-changing nature of the mortgage industry.
This book is not an endorsement for any particular mortgage product or program. It is offered as a reference resource. The author is not offering legal, financial or real estate advice. Please do not make any financial decisions based solely on the information in this book.
Have questions about
How to Qualify for a Home Loan in 2016? Send us an email. | 4,684 | 2,157 | 0.000473 |
warc | 201704 | There are hundreds of schools across the United States that offer programs in geology. The colleges and universities that have degree programs in geology provide students with the option of both undergraduate and graduate degrees. A minimum of a bachelor’s degree is required to find employment in the geology field, but many students prefer to go further with their education and enter geology graduate programs.
1. University of Arizona – Department of Geosciences
Located in Tucson, Arizona, the University of Arizona has the #1 geology program in the country according to US News. The program prides itself on having top-notch research facilities and extensive resources for students. In addition, faculty are pivotal in assisting students in gaining knowledge and preparing for future careers.
The undergraduate program offers students the option of a BS in Geology. This degree consists of two-years of geoscience coursework. Students in the program can take classes in a wide variety of topics relating to geology.
There are also graduate degrees available at the University of Arizona. The geology master’s program at the school is an MS degree in Geosciences which is a two-year program with a thesis requirement. The Ph.D. in Geosciences is a four-year program and has a dissertation requirement. Both degrees consist of coursework as well as a research component.
1. University of Michigan–Ann Arbor – Department of Geological Sciences
Tied for first place with the University of Arizona as the best geology school is the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor. The school’s Department of Geological Sciences not only offers students an exceptional education on campus, the school also gives students the opportunity to take classes at Camp Davis in Wyoming. At Camp Davis, students can learn about geology in an outdoor setting surrounded by nature.
The university gives students three options for an undergraduate degree. The first is the BS in Earth and Environmental Sciences. This degree focuses on several areas of earth science. The second option is the BS in Earth Systems Science which emphasizes the relationships between environmental processes. There is also an honors component of either degree where students who have a 3.4 or better GPA can focus on specific areas of the subject. Students who choose the honors option will have to complete an honor’s thesis. Although the school does not offer a geology major, students can major in Earth and Environmental Sciences or Earth Systems Science and minor in Geology.
In addition to undergraduate programs, the school has a well-respected graduate program. Although there is an MS option, it is not necessary for those wanting to enter the Ph.D. program in Earth and Environmental Science to have a master’s degree. The Ph.D. program consists of at least 24 credits of coursework and a dissertation. The program accepts students with degrees from all science majors.
3. Pennsylvania State University–University Park – Department of Geosciences
Ranked #3 by US News is Penn State’s Department of Geosciences which is known for its research, top-notch facilities and its service to communities across the globe. In addition, the faculty at Penn State are some of the best in the world.
The school has a geoscience program for students looking to obtain a degree in geology. The BS in Geosciences has two different options. The first is the General Option which gives students the opportunity to focus on different areas in preparation for a graduate degree. The second option is the Hydrogeology Option. This degree prepares students for both graduate school and entry level positions in the field of hydrogeology.
The graduate program in geology dates back to 1913 and is highly respected. The MS and Ph.D. programs in Geosciences give students the opportunity to research and study among some of the best faculty in the field. Students are encouraged to choose one of many specializations offered in the department which will culminate in a required thesis. The school also has a unique BS/MS program which is available to undergraduate students who show exceptional abilities. They can complete the program in five years.
3. University of Texas–Austin – Department of Geological Sciences
The university’s geoscience program is one of the oldest in the world and is tied with Penn State for the third best geology program in the United States. Located in Austin, TX, the department is also one of the largest in the world and boasts an impressive alumni list. In addition, a large population of geologists work in Houston, which offers students many industry connections.
The university has numerous degree options for students looking to pursue a geology degree. The BS in Geological Sciences has four options: Option one is General Geology which provides a solid background in the subject and is designed for potential teachers, geologists or graduate students. Option two is Geophysics which contains math and physics components. Option three is Hydrogeology which is an attractive choice for students interested in protecting the environment. The fourth option is the teaching option which is suitable for those who wish to parlay their geology studies into a career as a teacher. The school also offers a BS in Geosystems Engineering and Hydrogeology. This degree is part of the College of Engineering as well as the Department of Geological Sciences and allows students to study the fluids of the earth. Another option for geology students is the BA in Geological Sciences. This degree gives students the opportunity to complete two majors. Students not only major in Geological Sciences, they can also major in another subject of interest.
In addition to the various undergraduate degrees, the university also has a well-respected graduate program in geoscience. Students can pursue an MA or an MS in Geosciences. The MA is generally for professionals who would like to gain more knowledge in the field. The MS is the preferred master’s degree and students must complete a thesis. The department also offers a Ph.D. in Geosciences.
5. Stanford University – School of Earth Sciences
Located in Stanford, CA, Stanford University’s geology program is ranked #5 by US News. The program gives students the opportunity to study and research at state of the art facilities and work in research groups dedicated to understanding the history and structure of the earth.
The undergraduate program at Stanford allows students to pursue a BS in Geological and Environmental Studies. This comprehensive degree program provides students with a sold understanding of all facets of geology. In addition, the program offers field trips, research opportunities as well as preparation to enter the workforce. The BS in Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology is another option for students interested in careers in engineering, environmental geology, geology, geotechnical engineering, and hydrogeology. The department also allows qualified students an honors option. Students must have at least 3.5 in their earth and environmental science courses and are required to complete a research project before graduation.
There are also extensive options for those wishing to pursue a graduate degree. The Coterminal BS/MS program in the department gives students the opportunity to earn their master’s degree at the same time as their bachelor’s degree. The MS and Ph.D. programs in the department are focused on coursework and research. The MS requires the completion of a thesis and Ph.D. candidates must complete a dissertation. The department also gives students the option of the Engineer Degree. This degree is designed for students with an MS, but do not want to complete a dissertation. This program requires 90 units of coursework and a thesis. | 7,923 | 2,918 | 0.000348 |
warc | 201704 | Few energy projects have inspired the level of vitriol surrounding the Keystone XL Pipeline, that would run 1,700 miles from Alberta, Canada through the United States to refineries on the Gulf of Mexico.
The oil sands of Alberta are estimated to hold 170 billion barrels of petroleum, the largest reservoir of black gold outside of Saudi Arabia. Because the pipeline crosses an international boundary, President Barack Obama has the final say over whether to give the project a green light. Here are three reasons to build the pipeline: 1. The oil isn't going to stay buried. American environmentalists oppose the pipeline partly because they oppose the burning of fossil fuels -- especially those extracted from relatively dirty "oil sands." But if America doesn't build the pipeline, that oil is still going to be processed and enter the environment. It'll just get bought by China and other countries looking for cheap and plentiful energy. And TransCanada, the company behind the pipeline, is already working on contingency plans to do just that. 2. The pipeline isn't a disaster waiting to happen. Opponents say that the proposed route dangerously strays over part of the Ogallala Aquifer in Nebraska, which supplies water for 20 million people. The governor of nebraska has urged president obama to start building. TransCanada has already agreed to redirect the pipeline to minimize hazards. It's also agreed to encase the pipeline in cement and post a $100 million bond to cover any possible cleanups. 3. It will help the economy. Estimates for jobs related to the pipepline run everywhere from 6,000 to a quarter of a million, with TransCanada saying it will hire 15,000 workers to build the thing. The exact figures are unknowable, but once it's up and running, Keystone XL will adds billions of dollars in ongoing economic activity and tax revenues. President Obama has the authority to stop the pipeline if he determines that it's not "in the national interest." Given the potential upsides of the project, the relative ease with which environmental concerns can be addressed, and the president's own commitment to what he calls "an all of the above energy strategy," it's hard to conjure up a strong case against building the Keystone XL pipeline. Go to http://reason.com/blog/2013/02/17/3-r... for links to the claims made above. Produced by Meredith Bragg. Written and hosted by Nick Gillespie. | 2,417 | 1,278 | 0.000785 |
warc | 201704 | Fat does displace more volume for its weight than muscle does. It's why overweight people actually are more buoyant in water than muscular, lean ones. It's the basis for determining body fat by immersion in a large water tank (and also why when my fat percentage was less than 10% I would sink like a rock in water).
But fat isn't all concentrated in a big slab, like that photo above. It can be marbled all throughout the muscle tissue, like a fine cut of steak. And that can lead to some false assumptions about the amount of fat we're carrying. When I taught college phy-ed I would do a body fat analysis on my students at the beginning of each semester, as well as a strength test. And I was astonished to discover that trim-looking young men, some with nice muscle definition and 6-packs, no love handles or anything, actually had fat percentages into the mid-20s, which is far from ideal for that age group. And their strength tested below-par, too. Their muscles, though still nicely shaped following their growth into adulthood, were in fact riddled with fat. Outward appearances can be deceptive regarding the fat we carry inside us, until it begins to concentrate in obvious places we can observe like the abdomen, which is why I encourage doing a fat analysis. I know the BMI methodology is heavily criticized, but I believe a basic fat analysis remains a useful tool for good health & fitness. | 1,408 | 781 | 0.001283 |
warc | 201704 | This month we're going to a place where men's darkest desires intertwine with our deepest insecurities. A place fraught with conflicting emotions, where we don't know whether to expose ourselves to the world or cover up our crushingly obvious personal failures. Of course, I'm talking about the public pool. Come, as we take a trip there in the mind of a man.He's thinking: Why did I eat so much bacon this winter?
He's thinking: Why did I eat so much bacon this winter?
In regular life, dudes have the uncanny ability to delude themselves about how they look. I convinced myself for years that my weight was "hovering" between 210 and 220 pounds. In reality, it was not "hovering" at all—it had "sunk" under the strain of holding up my 250 pounds. Stripping down in front of other people, I had to confront that hefty reality. Thanks to the pool, I was finally embarrassed into a healthier lifestyle.
Lots of men still in denial simply refuse to
go to the pool, but others have the bright idea to wear their T-shirts in the water. This does not disguise the gut—it just draws attention to it. The guy is trying to look all casual, but a waterlogged T-shirt that weighs 20 pounds and threatens to drag him under tells a different story. It shouts, "Please don't stare at my pale giant belly!" Prevent your husband from humiliating himself this way. He's thinking: Wow, my wife looks good.
The great contradiction of the pool is that as bad as we feel about our own bodies, we sure enjoy checking out yours, unencumbered by modern contrivances like pants. If you've ever noticed how your husband gravitates to the bedroom and finds dumb stuff to talk about (example: "I think we need a new picnic basket") when you're getting dressed, then you probably know how much he enjoys seeing you in your bra and underwear. A bathing suit is basically a bra and underwear, only waterproof.
Of course, you're not the only half-naked lady at the pool, and unless you slap a pair of horse blinders on me, I'm going to notice a few of them. But it's a detached appreciation. We're not at Club Risque to ogle—we're at the community center because the AC is on the fritz. Besides, any creepy middle-aged flirt will be put in his place. When he suggests to Jenna, the 21-year-old head lifeguard, that they work out together sometime, it just makes everyone within earshot uncomfortable (though, granted, it's a ballsy move considering he won't take his T-shirt off). His wife doesn't even have to get mad. The look Jenna is giving him is enough.
It's better just to appreciate the woman you have in front of you, soaking up the sun, rubbing on lotion, wearing so little… Sorry, where was I? Oh, yeah!
He's thinking: Let's make out in the pool!
It's a strong impulse, especially if you've managed to hit the pool without your kids. But just because you've pawned them off on their grandparents for a few hours doesn't give you and your spouse the right to get all handsy in the deep end. Yes, the weather is hot, and it's just the two of you for the first time in weeks. I know, I know, but the pool does not make you invisible. I don't care how chlorinated that water is—it's not sanitary, and you're freaking out the elderly woman doing water aerobics. Bottle up that sexual energy and save it for the parking lot behind the Wendy's on the way home, the way the Founding Fathers intended. | 3,418 | 1,772 | 0.000572 |
warc | 201704 | February 22, 2011 Famed Neurosurgeon’s Century-Old Notes Reveal ‘Modern’ Style Admission Of Medical Error Harvey Cushing's records show copious acknowledgement of medical errors that helped fuel advancements
The current focus on medical errors isn't quite as new as it seems. A Johns Hopkins review of groundbreaking neurosurgeon Harvey Cushing's notes, made at the turn of the last century, has turned up copious documentation of his own surgical mishaps as well as his suggestions for preventing those mistakes in the future.Authors of the article, published in the Feb. Archives of Surgery, suggest that such open documentation may have played an important role in spurring groundbreaking medical treatment advances in Cushing's era "” and could have the same effect today.
"Acknowledging medical errors is evidently something that doctors identified early on as critical to advancement a very long time ago," says principal author Katherine Latimer, B.S., a medical student at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Latimer and her colleagues scoured Johns Hopkins' archives to locate operative notes covering 878 of Cushing's patients. The notes, transferred decades ago to microfilm, covered the early years of Cushing's career, from 1896 to 1912, at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. After deciphering the notes"”a monumental task, the authors say, owing to Cushing's poor handwriting, abbreviations, and pages crowded with notes of other physicians, too"”the researchers selected 30 cases in which errors were clearly delineated.
The cases fell into categories of errors similar to those that plague doctors today, the authors said, classifying 11 of the cases as errors of judgment in which Cushing made the wrong choice during a surgery. One example: operating on the wrong side of a patient's brain. Seventeen cases were identified as "human error," mistakes in which Cushing revealed clumsy or careless behavior, such as dropping an instrument into a surgical wound. Three of the errors were considered equipment or tool oversights, such as the case in which a woman's heavy bleeding left Cushing and his colleagues without enough wax, a substance used at the time to seal blood vessels.
Latimer and her colleagues say they were surprised by Cushing's frank and copious documentation of his own shortcomings. His notes acknowledged mistakes that may have resulted in patients' deaths, as well as those that didn't seem to harm patients' outcomes. They said the documentation took place in an era in which malpractice litigation was becoming a growing concern for doctors. Though malpractice penalties were substantially smaller in Cushing's day, lawsuits presented a serious risk for physicians' reputations, the authors noted.
The authors also emphasized that Cushing practiced in a time of enormous surgical innovation. For example, patient mortality from surgical treatment of brain tumors fell from 50 percent to 13 percent during his career. While some of this jump ahead was due to improving technology, the authors propose that part of the reason was open documentation of errors, which helped Cushing and other surgeons develop fixes to avoid them.
"People are human and will make medical mistakes," says Latimer, "but being vigilant about your own shortcomings is critical to improving. To keep medical innovation flowing, we need to strive to maintain this same vigilance today."
Alfredo Quinones, M.D., associate professor of neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and senior author of the study, adds that today's medical errors continue to have a tremendous impact on patients and their families. "Recognizing errors and reporting them can help us greatly improve medicine," he says. "After all, we are all working towards the same goal: better patient care."
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On the Net: | 3,886 | 1,868 | 0.000543 |
warc | 201704 | The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica, which uses steel, aluminum, magnesium and composites in its body-in-white and closures, just became the first minivan to earn the IIHS’ highest safety…
The Ohio Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a state law stating that insurer interactions with customers weren’t transactions under the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act — even though another part of the law specifically relates to non-OEM parts on insurers’ estimates.
The 5-2 decision reversed earlier court decisions in favor of Jerry and Nancy Dillon against Farmers.
“My clients and I are very disappointed with this ruling … a consumer avenue to dispute the insurance companies’ actions has been cut off,” attorney James Skelton told the Columbus Dispatch in a Tuesday article.
The history
After the Dillons hit a deer, Farmers wrote an estimate using aftermarket parts and gave it to the Dillions Collision repairer, Mission Auto Connection.
After Mission Auto told the Dillons the estimate called for non-OEM parts. Jerry Dillon called Farmers and demanded only OEM components be used. Farmers pointed to the Dillons’ policy, which allowed alternative parts, and sent an estimate to the Dillons.
However, by the time it arrived a week later, Jerry Dillon had already told the shop to use OEM parts, agreeing to pay the approximately $1,500 difference out-of-pocket and seek to recoup it through litigation.
The Dillons were initially successful, winning a summary judgement on the technicality that they never signed the insurer estimate specifying aftermarket parts as required under Ohio law. The trial court awarded the duo $30,613.66 in damages, triple damages, and expenses.
Farmers petitioned the Ohio Fifth District appeals court, which found that while the damages should have only been $29,092.59, the Dillons still deserved to win the case.
Here’s where it gets complicated and why the Supreme Court took the case following another Farmers appeal.
The Fifth District appeals court struggled to resolve what it saw as an inherent contradiction of three parts of the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act:
Consumer transactions as defined in the law don’t include insurance interactions with customers. (R.C. 1345.01, for those of you following along at home.) “No supplier shall commit an unfair or deceptive act or practice in connection with a consumer transaction,” the law states. (R.C. 1345.02) The act also includes rules regarding how insurers must notify the customer about estimates with non-OEM parts. (R.C. 1345.81)
So if insurer actions aren’t meant to be addressed with the Consumer Sales Practices Act, why is the aftermarket clause included in the law? The appeals court decided to settle this seeming paradox by ruling the aftermarket clause won because it was more specific and was enacted after the insurance exemption.
Reversed
Farmers appealed, arguing that the exemption took priority and besides, any estimate prepared under the insurance policy’s terms and orally disclosed to the policyholder shouldn’t be considered an “unfair or deceptive act or practice.”
The court in the opinion by Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor agreed with Farmers on the exemption point, and reversed the case on those grounds alone. Because of this, it didn’t bother examining or ruling on the second part of Farmers’ argument; that legal question will have to wait for a future legislative session or lawsuit to be answered.
The Supreme Court’s rationale does work under a strict interpretation of the law and an understandable hesitancy to try and guess the intent of a past Legislature. But shops might wonder if they went far too “letter of the law” over “spirit of the law” here:
According to the Supreme Court:
Rules specifically related to insurers which are
located within the Consumer Sales Practices Act; and which conclude “Any violation of this section in connection with a consumer transaction as defined (earlier in the act) is an unfair and deceptive act or practice as defined by (another part of the act)”
can’t actually be enforced under that act.
You know who can be punished under the Consumer Sales Practices Act for the insurer’s handling of estimates with non-OEM parts?
Shops, according to the court’s interpretation of the law.
“A cause of action remains under R.C. 1345.81(E) for damages against repair facilities and installers, both of whom can be involved in consumer transactions as defined in R.C. 1345.01(A), and both of whom are also governed by R.C. 1345.81,” O’Connor’s majority opinion states.
(As if you didn’t have enough problems.)
However, the court note that insurers aren’t off the hook if they violate the law regarding estimates. Consumers still can go after those companies — they just have to do so under other grounds.
“And a policy holder is not without remedy against an insurer who violates R.C. 1345.81 simply because no remedy is provided by R.C. 1345.81(E),” O’Connor wrote. “A ‘consumer may seek a declaratory judgment, an injunction, or other appropriate relief against an act or practice that violates’ R.C. Chapter 1345. … The CSPA also permits consumers to bring a cause of action ‘under any other theory of law’ that would be applicable to the transaction.”
Dissent
Justices William O’Neill and Paul Pfeifer dissented, with O’Neill writing the dissent. (Read the entire dissent here.)
“While I agree with almost everything said in the majority opinion, I simply cannot agree that the Supreme Court of Ohio is in the business of encouraging insurance companies to intentionally disregard the Consumer Sales Practices Act to the detriment of their customers,” O’Neill wrote. “Therefore, I respectfully dissent. …
“I agree with the majority that the consumer transaction in this case is not the insurance-policy agreement between Farmers and Dillon. However, once an insurance company undertakes the role of adjuster in a collision repair, there is no justification to shield it from liability under the CSPA for its actions in connection with that consumer transaction merely because it is an insurer. Doing so is unfair to consumers and to the repair facilities and installers that follow the law, and it ignores the intent of the Ohio General Assembly when it enacted the CSPA.”
The Ohio Supreme Court is pictured. Back row from left: Justices Judith French, Judith Lanzinger, Sharon Kennedy and William O’Neill. Front row from left: Justice Paul Pfeifer, Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor and Justice Terrence O’Donnell. (Provided by Ohio Supreme Court) Ohio Supreme Court Justice William O’Neill . (Provided by Ohio Supreme Court) | 6,921 | 2,962 | 0.000355 |
warc | 201704 | Dennis Schaefer, owner of Creative Wood Products, a deck and sunroom company in Fenton, Mich., wants to make sure his customers never forget him. Since he has the name of every customer that his company has done business with, he can contact them for promotions and special events. He also sends them his company's quarterly newsletter, by mail or e-mail.
Newsletters are a popular way to keep a company visible. The newsletter sent out by Jancewicz & Son in Bellows Falls, Vt., goes to about 2,000 past customers and the point, says sales and marketing director John Dunbar, is “not to drum up new business but to keep our name out there and let them know we're here and growing.” The company will generate new business by asking customers on a satisfaction survey whether or not they're planning future home improvements. “So if we just finished a roof, and they're interested in windows at some point, we'll contact them,” Dunbar says.
Personal Touch Years ago, Metropolitan Windows in Pittsburgh used to send out a monthly newsletter to past customers. That became “prohibitive,” owner John Schmotzer says. Today Schmotzer is taking a different tack. At some point in the year, past customers will get a call from someone in the company's office with the purpose of finding out if they still like their windows, to remind them of the company's referral program, and to ask for new business.
He combines that with a direct mail piece, right after Christmas, offering “home improvement products at substantial savings” to past customers during January and February. Aside from fiberglass windows, the company offers entry doors, storm doors, and decorative door surrounds, plus siding, soffit, fascia, gutters, and downspouts.
Well-known sales and marketing expert Rick Grosso points out that home improvement contractors should “automatically” get permission from customers to call, since previous customers make up the most potent possible lead base. But even better, he says, is getting the customer's e-mail address. Getting customers to “opt-in” —that is, obtaining permission for you to e-mail them — sets the stage for building your e-mail newsletter subscriber list. (And don't forget, say experts, to include an unsubscribe option with that, especially since it's now required by law.)
And while newsletters — electronic or paper — are great, Grosso says, “in addition, do monthly or quarterly e-mail promotions. Sponsor contests and trips, so it's not always just about trying to sell them something.”
You' ve Got Mail For Schaefer, marketing efforts directed to past customers produce 65% of his leads and 70% of his sales. His past customer reach goes well beyond mailing or e-mailing the newsletter. Three times a year past customers are invited to special events at the company's store, a deck and deck accessories showroom. There's a Mardi Gras party in February to introduce new backyard products, a “Clean and Seal” seminar in April, and a Deck the Halls event, in December. The “Clean and Seal” seminar, where the company demonstrates power washing and offers advice about deck stains, consistently draws between 200 and 400 people and produces lots of leads, many of which become sales. Schaefer says he's found that the best turnouts result when his company e-mails its 2,800-person e-mail list the day before the event.
Everyone who's ever done business with the company may not show up, but the point of his efforts, Schaefer says, “is to keep Creative Wood on the tip of their tongues as a company they used, trusted, and enjoyed working with.”
Grosso says that there is “no comparison” between lead costs generated by investment in media, or shows and events versus those that develop out of past customer contact, whether it be referral, repeat, or self-generated by a salesperson. “The best lead is non-competitive,” Grosso says. “Because you already have the trust.” | 4,055 | 1,944 | 0.000536 |
warc | 201704 | The National Restaurant Association's Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) is a monthly composite index that tracks the health of and the outlook for the U.S. restaurant industry. Launched in 2002, the RPI is released on the last business day of each month.
Latest RPI (released December 30, 2016)
The RPI registered a modest gain in November, as restaurant operators grew more optimistic about business conditions in the months ahead. The RPI stood at 100.7, up 0.2 percent from a level of 100.5 in October.
The Current Situation Index stood at 99.7 in November – up 0.1 percent from a level of 99.5. Despite the increase, the business environment remains uneven, as the current situation indicators stood below 100 in four of the last six months.
The Expectations Index stood at 101.6 in November – up 0.2 percent from October. All four expectations indicators stood above 100 for the second consecutive month, which propelled the Expectations Index to its highest level in a year.
RPI Methodology
The RPI is measured in relation to a steady-state level of 100. Index values above 100 indicate that key industry indicators are in a period of expansion, while index values below 100 represent a period of contraction for key industry indicators. The Index consists of two components – the Current Situation Index, which measures current trends in four industry indicators (same-store sales, traffic, labor and capital expenditures), and the Expectations Index, which measures restaurant operators’ six-month outlook for four industry indicators (same-store sales, employees, capital expenditures and business conditions).
The RPI is based on the responses to the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Industry Tracking Survey, which is fielded monthly among more than 400 restaurant operators nationwide on a variety of indicators including sales, traffic, labor and capital expenditures. Restaurant operators interested in participating in the tracking survey, contact Bruce Grindy.
RPI Archive: for more detailed analysis and aggregated RPI and Industry Tracking Survey data, see Restaurant TrendMapper. | 2,146 | 956 | 0.001063 |
warc | 201704 | This Texas-based furniture store found a way to incorporate speed into its process without adding pressure to the customer. The most amazing part of the story behind Gallery Furniture isn’t just that the $100 million company was founded with only $5,000. It’s also not the fact that when the company’s main warehouse burnt down, its employees had the business up and running from a secondary location by morning. It’s that Jim McIngvale’s success is based on the fact that when he was younger, he was fired after college.
“We started in 1981 with $5,000, no borrowed money, and learned the business from the ground up,” said McIngvale, who is founder, CEO, and president. “It was myself, my wife, and one other employee, and from day one, my focus was to deliver the furniture the same day a customer buys it.”
Initially, Gallery Furniture saw tremendous success as families in the oil, auto, and steel industries migrated to Houston for jobs after the oil boom. After a while, though, as the boom turned to bust, sales began to decline. McIngvale, who is affectionately referred to as Mack, decided to take marketing matters into his own hands.
Having read about a man who, 50 years earlier, walked around with a tire around his waist to illustrate his passion for the tire industry, Mack took to calling himself Mattress Mack, bought some ad time on TV, and developed the company’s slogan: Save You Money. “The rest,” said Mack, “is marketing history.”
Strong presence
That’s not to say that the May 21st fire at Gallery Furniture’s warehouse wasn’t a significant event in the company’s history. The fire burned from 8:30 p.m. until midnight and caused approximately $30 million worth of damage.
“It was our main store, and we knew we had to go and open the other store the next day,” said Mack. “By one o’clock that same morning, we were on cell phones ordering furniture from my suppliers across the country.”
By seven o’clock that morning, Gallery Furniture was doing business at its second location. None of the 280 employees were laid off, and no processes were changed despite the emergency situation, including the company’s method of delivering the furniture the same day it’s purchased.
“Sales went down 60% because it was our major warehouse that burned down,” said Mack. “But, we managed to reopen the first of three showrooms in 44 days, the second and third showroom about a month later, and we’re still going strong.”
In the meantime, Mack is building up a team of e-commerce professionals to further develop Gallery Furniture’s website and online presence. The hope is to expand the company’s reach beyond the immediate Houston area, but it’s also to give customers a chance to browse the company’s selection before heading out to make a purchase.
“Most customers shop on a website before they go buy, so it’s important to have a virtual presence as well as a physical presence,” said Mack.
Make it easy
Mack admits the past few months have been difficult, but because of his dedicated employees and their ability to work together, the company is rebuilding without a hitch. He credits this ability, in part, to lessons he’s learned from the late W. Edwards Deming, an American statistician, professor, author, lecturer, and consultant who is credited with improving production in the US during the Cold War.
“He taught me that cooperation, everyone working together for the good of the customer, does something for the company’s profitability and is the best way to work,” said Mack.
“We have followed his philosophy since 1991, and it’s now ingrained into our work culture.”
Another life lesson, and one that he saw during the fire crisis in May, is that adversity does not build character—it reveals it. Mack said he saw a lot of character in his employees as they worked to get the second showroom stocked and even volunteered to clean up the incinerated warehouse.
“Everyone is hands on and out in the sun all day taking care of customers,” he said. “It was amazing the way they rose up in the midst of adversity.”
When rebuilding the new warehouse, Mack installed new walls, floors, vignettes, and types of furniture. After 27 years, starting over wasn’t what he wanted, but he said it was an exciting journey.
Gallery Furniture is currently in the midst of another redo to get the warehouse where it needs to be in terms of making it easier and more exciting for customers to shop while making it more profitable for the company. What won’t change, however, is the vignette layout Mack said has been so successful for his company over the years.
“We have vignettes that let customers see the furniture in context,” he said. “We want to be transparent with our customers so they feel safe and secure. Our concept is to make it easy for the customers to shop, easy for them to find someone to help them, and easy to get their new furniture home.”
Business litmus test
Mack believes the litmus test for any successful retail business is how much it matters to its customers. During the rebuild after the fire, Gallery Furniture received thousands of e-mails from customers telling the company to rebuild and to not give up. Clearly, Gallery Furniture passed the test.
“It was heartwarming to know our customers care about us,” said Mack. “It’s important to us to keep that feeling alive.”
The connection between Gallery Furniture and its clientele, in part, comes from the company’s ability to speed up the buying process without pressuring the customer, and it all boils down to same-day delivery.
First, Mack ensures any merchandise on the display floor is always in stock. Gallery Furniture also has an extensive computer program that projects what will sell, what’s available, and what’s needed.
Second, Gallery Furniture has a fleet of 60 delivery trucks with a dedicated staff of delivery workers ready to follow customers home after they’ve made their purchase. “It makes the process simple,” said Mack. “It’s costly, but we’re not concerned with what it costs. We’re concerned with how much it delights customers.”
The people at Gallery Furniture also differentiate the company from others in its industry. All salespeople are paid salary rather than commission, which means they’re more interested in helping the customer find the perfect piece of furniture rather than making a sale. Mack said in today’s low-trust environment, consumers need to know they won’t be pressured and that employees who know their stuff are there to help.
“If we can earn customers’ trust, be knowledgeable, employ professional salespeople and delivery people, and do what we say we’re going to, we’re way ahead,” he said. | 7,060 | 3,084 | 0.000345 |
warc | 201704 | Environmental Practice in Fish Farming for the Republic of Karelia and the Leningrad Oblast Aquaculture has been growing extremely fast and the sector has become an important source of livelihood in rural areas of North-West Russia. The production has increased eight times during last decade and rapid growth is expected to continue also in near future. Due to increased production, also environmental awareness has arisen.
Photo: Juha-Pekka Turkka
Goals
The main object of the "Preparation of Codes of Good Environmental Practice in Fish Farming" -project is to ensure sustainable growth of the sector also in the future by offering "tools" for aquaculture companies and authorities to support development of efficient and environmentally sound production.
Benefits
As an outcome of the project a manual of the best environmental practices will be produced. Due to diverse needs in the target groups, aquaculture companies and public sector, the manual have two main parts. The first and more practical part introduces the latest environmental practices and technologies and their pros and cons. The second part deals with regulations, operation guidance, licensing and follow-up of the activities. The latter part will describe current systems in both countries (Finland and Russia) to give wider perspective for further development of Russian practices.
Project leader
Tapio Kiuru
Other persons
Jouni Vielma, Juha-Pekka Turkka, Unto Eskelinen, Markus Kankainen
Antti Ylitalo (Regional State Administrative Agencies)
Jukka Hartikainen (Savo-Karjala Region's Water Protection Association)
Local coordinators:
Nikolai Popov (Agriculture Committee of Leningrad Region) Igor Pepelyaev (The Ministry of Agriculture, Fish and Hunting Industry of the Republic of Karelia)
Duration
2010-2012
Text version | 1,821 | 964 | 0.00105 |
warc | 201704 | Output from the Irish manufacturing sector is at a two year high, according to the latest Purchasing Managers’ Index from Investec.
The index shows that activity in the sector rose for the fifth month in a row during October, with the pace of growth also picking up during the month.
Around 35% of respondents to the survey signalled an increase in new orders, which the attributed to improving economic conditions as well as export growth.
Meanwhile 24% of panellists said they had taken on new staff in the past month, suggesting a marked increase in employment in the sector.
Just 7% of respondents said there was a fall in employment during October. | 664 | 407 | 0.002498 |
warc | 201704 | Home News Sports Business Entertainment Lifestyles Community Opinion Driveway World Impress
Place Classified Ad Browse Classifieds BC Jobs CrowdFunding Victoria News Oak Bay News Peninsula News Review Goldstream News Gazette Real Estate Victoria Vancouver Island Free Daily LETTER: Nisga'a parallel state poses tough questions
Re: Nisga’a prove critics wrong,
B.C. Views (Dec. 3)
Despite a perceived regretful tone in Tom Fletcher’s opinion piece, he seems to have had an epiphany that’s led to his urging acceptance of the Supreme Court of Canada ruling which enabled the creation by the Nisga’a First Nation of (Fletcher’s words) “a parallel state” in B.C. Not noted is that Supreme Court rulings can be, and not infrequently are, overturned.
Fletcher, unlike many of us, may never have learned “that two wrongs don’t make a right.”
The first long-standing wrong at issue is the sorry treatment of aboriginals in both B.C. and across Canada.
Despite significant improvements over recent years, more remains to be done.
The second wrong is that the Supreme Court of Canada ruling now enables a new layer of government in B.C.
What’s been created is a “landed gentry” of sorts who’ve in effect received Supreme Court authority to exercise sovereign powers, and they now plan to establish multiple export-enabling LNG terminals on the B.C. coast.
B.C. taxpayers will follow such developments with interest, particularly if there is no parallel commitment by the Nisga’a to assume increasing responsibility for both federal and provincial government services as their “parallel state” business plans prove profitable.
The old adage that “there’s only one taxpayer” could, with Nisga’a concurrence remain a truism.
It’s based on the realization that whether for services provided by local, provincial or federal governments, most voters and elected leaders have long recognized that it’s the voting taxpayer who, over time, determines both government funding levels and program priorities.
Unanswered questions include: Will this aboriginal “parallel state” acknowledge a responsibility to – within its anticipated capability – participate as a fully functional entity within our national federation?
Will it fund a portion of the many provincial and federal government services it now receives? Will it commit to creating and funding its self-determined unique government service programs?
Historical antipathy between First Nation, local, provincial and federal agencies indicates a need for strong but flexible leadership at all four governmental levels. In seeking a comprehensive governmental rebalancing, we’ll hopefully avoid historically based emotional rhetoric supporting retributive rationale if we’re to minimize (costly) long-term confrontational negotiations.
In B.C., our often-envied Canadian cultural mosaic is at risk of becoming a dysfunctional and tattered societal quilt.
Ron Johnson Saanich | 3,073 | 1,528 | 0.000691 |
warc | 201704 | Military contractors at risk for PTSD: study
Santa Monica, CA – Post-traumatic stress disorder and depression may be common among private military contractors, suggests a new study from RAND Corp., a nonprofit research institution.
The study is based on an anonymous online survey of 660 contract workers deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq or another conflict area between 2011 and 2013. One-quarter of respondents exhibited PTSD and 18 percent appeared to have depression, according to a RAND press release. Additionally, half of the contractors admitted misusing alcohol, and many reported traumatic brain injuries, respiratory issues, back pain and hearing problems.
Despite the mental health problems, fewer than 30 percent of respondents with symptoms of PTSD and 34 percent of those believed to have depression said they received treatment in the previous 12 months, highlighting what researchers called an “overlooked” group of people.
Researchers noted that 84 percent of contractors in the study also had served in the armed forces, so it is difficult to compare the rates to military members.
Differences were seen in contractors from different countries, with those from the United Kingdom reporting better preparation, less exposure to combat and higher-quality living conditions than their U.S. counterparts. | 1,338 | 742 | 0.00137 |
warc | 201704 | Some members of the journalist profession need to be explained things slowly and clearly. Scott Burgess undertakes that ungrateful task and tries to get the message through to Polly Toynbee.
… Welcome to the new media world, Polly.
Up until now, an information elite has been able to misrepresent and manufacture fact with virtual impunity – sometimes accidentally, sometimes as a deliberate means of pushing a chosen agenda.
For example, if a newspaper polemicist wanted to contend that “Scandinavian countries are best of all” at overcoming obesity, it was unlikely that many would notice and connect the fact that: “Norway has the highest percentage of overweight men in Europe, according to a new report by the World Health Organization (WHO).”
Those who did notice such “anomalies” had no easy means of communicating them to others interested in issues of journalistic integrity.
As you see, that’s changing now. What you (and many others) are in the process of learning is that, from now on, reportorial sloppiness and dishonesty will be noted, exposed, and punished – quickly and very, very publicly.
Journalists who are accurate and honest have little to fear – the facts will out. Their less capable (and less truthful) colleagues risk the humiliation of public ridicule.
Best of all, in this new media environment the once-wise maxim “never get in an argument with someone who buys ink by the barrel” no longer applies – we all have barrels now. Ardent proponents of equality would no doubt applaud this development, were they not the ones whose superior status was now under threat.
Very Truly Yours,
Scott Burgess
The Daily Ablution London
For more quality time with bloggers and Polly, follow the path that lead to the above document. | 1,830 | 1,026 | 0.001021 |
warc | 201704 | Student & Personnel Services Division
Breathing Martial Arts into the Curriculum
Over the past two and a half years, the Physical Education for Body, Mind and Spirit (PEMBS) program has become an integral part of life for many of the students who attend Santa Cruz County Office of Education Alternative Education schools. Currently, six different forms of martial arts, yoga and meditation plus a course that focuses on developing lifelong fitness and nutritional practices are offered at Watsonville Community School, San Lorenzo Valley Community School, STAR, Cesar Chavez School for Social Change, YES School and OASIS. Through these courses, students have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of disciplines and techniques that they otherwise might not have been aware of.
Why is this of interest?
Most high schools across the country offer only conventional sports for students to fulfill their PE requirements. The concept behind PEMBS was to create a program that includes broader choices for all students who attend the Alternative Education Program (AEP). Many of the classes offered through PEMBS do not have physical fitness as their only focus. The disciplines offered are steeped in traditions that focus on respect and discipline towards self and others. Physical education then becomes more about a student's own personal goals and challenging themselves, rather than competing with and being compared to other students in the class. Students are able to experience growth physically, mentally and spiritually. Teaching students martial arts has also been shown to reduce levels of aggression and substance abuse.
Below is a list of brief class descriptions offered through PEMBS.
Confluence Aikido Systems classes promote sound physical structure, positive discipline, practical self-defense and a full body, mind and spirit workout. Fast attacks are met with flowing, elegant turning and precise timing. Quick directional shifts and fluid movements absorb force and neutralize aggression. Attacks are redirected into open and dynamic throws. Students learn to roll gracefully, so practice is fun and safe. As a method of mind, sitting, walking, and moving meditations are a part of every class. Classes combine ages and abilities and students leave more invigorated and centered than when they arrived. Tai Chi, as it is practiced in the west today, can be described as a combination of yoga and meditation. Involved are a number of 'sets' which consist of a sequence of movements originally derived from the martial arts, although in Tai Chi they are performed slowly, softly and gracefully with smooth and even transitions. Learning to do the exercises correctly leads to better posture, alignment and movement, combining to ease tension and injury. The meditative nature of the exercises is calming and relaxing. Warrior Yoga was developed as a training tool, to be used in conjunction with martial arts training. A series of stories, oral traditions, and personal practices in the yoga system are founded on the importance of turning obstacles into opportunities, problems into solutions, challenge into growth, and conflict into harmony. Quantum Jujitsu is an integrative approach to martial arts and life defense which combines multiple forms of combat and conflict resolution to create a discipline whose whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Emphasizing grappling arts both on the ground and in takedowns/throws, Jujitsu offers a unique approach to martial arts that includes, but does not emphasize, striking for PEBMS students. Principles and concepts of body movement are used to teach effortless power and disclose greater detail of the "gentle art" (Jujitsu). Quantum Jujitsu suggests that the most difficult battles we fight are on the inside and that true conflict resolution starts with oneself. A great martial artist must be more than just a good technician; the martial artist must also work towards developing mastery in life. Quantum Jujitsu brings students into contact with their true source of strength and courage, and teaches power in the context of sensitivity. If one truly respects life, one will learn to preserve it. Martial Arts Fitness blends the philosophies, movements and practical aspects of the martial arts with the fundamental principles of fitness and physical health. Lessons focus on flexibility training, strengthening exercises, self-defense techniques and strategies for overall improvement in health and wellbeing. Come and Get It! Nutrition and Physical Fitness for Lifelong Health teaches nutrition and physical activity principles to students along with the skills to utilize the information beyond the walls of the classroom. Students are taught basic nutrition information and how it applies to food labels, the food pyramid, calorie intake and setting goals. Students learn the components of physical activity by participating in different exercise and meditation practices and design an individualized exercise prescription. Students are taught skills to identify positive and negative influences and how those influences play into their choices and decision making about their overall health. Mindfulness and the Art of Living teaches Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), a powerful tool to decrease stress, enhance academic performance, and promote emotional and social wellbeing. Mindfulness is gaining increased recognition as an essential support for students, teachers, school administrators, and parents. MBSR focuses on developing a person's capacity for attention and awareness, and creates the optimal underlying conditions for all learning and teaching.
Comments From AEP Teachers
"The teen parents were able to see themselves as role models and understand the importance of setting a good example for a healthy family lifestyle."
– Dorrie Stalling speaking about the Nutrition and Physical Fitness for Lifelong Health course at Watsonville Community School
"We cannot imagine not having Warrior Yoga as part of our curriculum, as it has been a positive force in the well being of our students."
– Larry Tousey talking about Warrior Yoga at San Lorenzo Valley Community School Visits from other School Programs
Due to the innovative nature of this program, interest has been expressed on local, state and national levels. In November of 2006, a group of teachers came from Orange County to observe the program. They had heard about PEMBS and wanted to implement a program similar to it at some of their Alternative Education sites. The teachers spent the day visiting and participating in a Warrior Yoga class at San Lorenzo Valley Community School and an Aikido class at STAR. They also had the chance to meet with a group of teachers, instructors and program assistants to ask questions and talk about the program. The Orange County teachers were very impressed with the Santa Cruz program and are currently in the process of starting a similar program in their own county.
Program Guide
This project is a true collaborative partnership between the Santa Cruz County Office of Education and ETR Associates
, a Scotts Valley based health and education non-profit organization. ETR Associates is developing a web-based program guide on how to develop a program like PEMBS. Teachers and school administrators nationwide will have access to the lessons learned in Santa Cruz County. This will enable them to build upon documented effective practices in order to establish this type of innovative PE program in their own settings. The guide should be available before the beginning of the 2007-2008 school year.
Aikido Video
At the end of the 2005-2006 school year, parents, teachers and peers gathered at STAR Community School to watch the Aikido class hold a demonstration performance to highlight many of the skills that they had acquired over the previous year. Many of the students who participated in the video had never heard of Aikido prior to learning the martial art. They have come a long way and we are all very proud of them. Star Aikido Movie
(27.6 MB, requires Quicktime Player)
Confluence Aikido instructor Jen Smith wrote the following article. In it she reflects on her experience as an instructor over the past two years at Star Community School. "Daily practice in Aikido will make your spirit shine." – Motomichi Anno Sensei
The day is beautiful. Plum blossoms are bursting from bare stems, strawberries are groaning their way through cold mulch, and bulbs are again beginning to provide the yearly promise that spring is around the corner. The oceans hush is so constant that no one seems to notice it anymore. Doka (students) are filing into the dojo (sacred place of the way) one by one. Today is a winter day. Today is another day of aikido practice at Star Dojo.
For almost two years I have been meeting with students four days a week at Star Community School, an alternative high school on Frederick Street in Santa Cruz, California. Together we practice Confluence Aikido (CA), a progressive form of traditional aikido. Aikido means 'essential joining with the universe' or 'path of harmonized energy'. Confluence means 'flowing together' and is literally a location in nature where two bodies of water merge. Aikido is translated often as 'The Art of Peace". Traditional aikido emerged from ancient Japanese and Chinese Budo (martial traditions). Together, Confluence and Aikido refer to a 'flowing philosophy' or 'moving Zen' because physically effective movement generates a place of deep knowing within and results in the realization of our own unique wholeness. From that inner wisdom students learn how to move effectively, freely and wisely in the face of life's turns. CA shares the joyous quality found in dance-embedded arts, like Capoeira, and is strictly a method to subvert violence through harmony. Just as the stream doesn't fight the river, competition is useless in the pursuit of harmony and is ultimately forbidden among practitioners of Confluence Aikido. Our daily practice begins with warm-ups, a bell meditation, and rolling exercises to prepare our bodies for receiving the immensely powerful throws and joint locks that are the signature of aikido form. One student raises her hand "Jen Sensei, I'm tired. I don't feel like practicing aikido today," she says to me. "I know how that feels," I say back to her. "Why don't you just do the warm-ups and then see how you feel afterwards? Sometimes my feelings change when my body gets more relaxed." I am intimately familiar with the levels of resistance that fly through the body in the space of growing. These students are growing both upwardly and inwardly. "OK," she say, "I'll try". Later in class I see her laughing and practicing with a friend. All her groans of resistance are long forgotten; the tension has left her body and she is enjoying herself and is practicing with great enthusiasm. The founder of Aikido (O'Sensei) wrote: "True victory is self-victory." I believe this is what he meant. Upon entering the dojo one student slows, bows, and says to me "Konichi wa, Sensei." "Konichi wa, kohei," I reply in earnest. The next student passes through the door nods in recognition of my presence, walks past silently, and looks around the room as she removes her shoes. In the room already are several students engaging in the daily ritual of assembling our training space. Tumbling mats are laid on the floor; clocks removed from the wall; clutter is tidied; flowers are arranged on a desk in the front of the room and a picture of O'Sensei (Morihei Ueshiba the celebrated founder of aikido) is hung respectfully on the shomen (front wall). After the mat assembly has been completed the students line up in a single file on the edge of the mat and sit in seiza (traditional Zen seating) as they wait for me to lead the class. Three bows symbolize respect to our ancestors, our parents, and to our practice. Four claps represent the harmony of all things, and then one final bow commits our learning in respect for one another. True harmony sees no disadvantaged students. Every person who enters any dojo comes with a mixed group of skills. Confluence is a method for gaining balance in all elements of our life and this is the martial beginning point. While some of these students have lacked in formal education, they are not without knowledge. They have had an education of 'the street', of multi-cultural richness, and of the emotional razors edge that life provided, for some, too early. Sometimes looked upon as burdens the aforementioned qualities are invaluable and even advanced in the context of martial arts. They are skills that you cannot buy. The young students of the Star Dojo will most likely tell you that Confluence is a way of life that doesn't involve fighting. "There is no wrong in Aikido!" one of them said to me "Correct," I smiled, "as long as you are practicing harmony principles, there is no wrong, only different." He nodded his head and returned to his technique. These students are quick detectives, rapt in curiosity when not habitually chatting with one another. Some students who have been practicing for the entire span of the program have become natural mentors (sempai) to newer students (kohai). These exceptional young people exercise instincts in appropriate ways toward younger/newer students by helping them absorb etiquette. The sempai provide modeling of correct technique; they offer a guiding hand to grab first; they exhibit sincerity that can only be developed through the sincere repetition of etiquette and fluent form. The older students offer a glimpse into the future of practice for the newer students—a future that is immediately calmer, confident, tolerant, dedicated, directed, and enjoyable, a future that is already beginning, a future that is theirs. Today we practice. One foot in front of the other, turning, entering, right, left, forward, backward, triangle, circle, square. This class is a balancing act. It is an exquisite dance of force and receptivity, a fight of no enemy, a win with no loser, a martial art of maximum benevolence. This is the ultimate paradox of non-dualism, the teacher guiding while learning from the student. The Japanese term for this state of eternal learning is shoshin, which means 'beginner's mind'. It is my privilege to train with the students and staff at Star Community School. Today let us all begin again. Onegaishimasu (I ask you a favor).
Download the printable Physical Education Body, Mind and Spirit brochure (requires Adobe Reader).
Thank you to Karen Lemon for providing the photos and video accompanying this article. | 14,718 | 6,564 | 0.000153 |
warc | 201704 | Testing with The PDS Insight Machines (photo: HVPD Ltd.)
HVPD Ltd., experts in on-line condition monitoring of high voltage networks, have announced the global release of a new solution for the detection of Partial Discharge (PD) in rotating machines, the PDS Insight™ Machines. This ground-breaking technology can be used to detect and trend PD, a common cause of electrical failures in these critical assets.
HVPD have been developing and distributing simple-to-use handheld PD testers since 2007, with over 400 customers in the utility, transport, and oil and gas sectors using this type of equipment for safety screening and to support condition based maintenance. In response to high customer demand, the PDS Insight™ Machines has been especially developed for testing rotating machines.
Dr Malcolm Seltzer-Grant, HVPD’s Technical Director, says, “The PDS Insight™ Machines unit will support our customers in testing motors and generators in a more cost-effective way. The unit connects to pre-installed coupling capacitor sensors, which ultimately eliminates the need for an outage during periodic testing.”
The PDS Insight™ Machines belongs to a new generation of On-line Partial Discharge (OLPD) technology and is equipped with cutting-edge features including a Smart Docking Station, internal storage, barcode scanner, Bluetooth© connectivity and a dedicated asset management tablet application - the OLPD Manager™ app. used for analysis, benchmarking and trending of results. The PDS Insight™ Machines unit measures PD levels, PD pulse count and cumulative PD activity across the 50/60 Hz power cycle, enabling the user to determine the severity of any PD activity.
Rachel Stratton, HVPD’s Commercial Director, says, “Solving problems for our customers plays an important role in our product development. The PDS Insight™ Machines unit creates a new standard for OLPD handheld technology which supports customer needs in the rotating machines market. By combining four types of PD sensors: HVCC, HFCT, TEV and AA it is the only handheld unit on the market with the functionality to take PD measurements on rotating machines in addition to cables, switchgear and transformers.” | 2,263 | 1,141 | 0.000907 |
warc | 201704 | Services on Demand Journal Article Indicators Related links Share Ciência & Saúde Coletiva Print version ISSN 1413-8123 On-line version ISSN 1678-4561 Abstract
BOCHNER, Rosany.
National Poisoning Information System - SINITOX and human intoxication by pesticides in Brazil. Ciênc. saúde coletiva [online]. 2007, vol.12, n.1, pp.73-89. ISSN 1413-8123. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1413-81232007000100012.
This study analyzes the profiles of pesticide intoxication, here distinguished by agricultural pesticides, household pesticides, veterinary products, and rodenticides, according to data obtained from the National Poisoning Information System (SINITOX) database, from 1999 to 2003. The findings indicate different profiles for poisonings caused by these four products. While poisoning by agricultural pesticides and veterinary products is more frequent among adults and males, poisoning by household pesticides and rodenticides is more frequent among children and females. The lethality for each kind also varies greatly, from 0.44% for household pesticides to 2.80% for agricultural pesticides. The integrated analyses of poisonings by pesticides, without distinguishing the type of pesticide may be an error, distorting the findings, even hiding risk factors. It is therefore necessary to disseminate information on each kind of poisoning.
Keywords : Agricultural pesticides; Household pesticides; Veterinary products; Rodenticides. | 1,460 | 748 | 0.001361 |
warc | 201704 | This paper has been added to your cart ($35.00)
Strategy of the synthesis of multifunctional materials is developed on the basis of physical properties of composites, composition of fillers, the type of polymer matrix and distribution of ingredients in composite. Each of these factors is displayed in material in different extent depending on technological parameters of processing, and also properties and interaction of fillers in particular conditions. In homogeneous and, in particular in heterogeneous systems, such as metals and alloys, ferro - and ferrimagnetics, ferroelectrics, ferroelectromagnetics, polymer and ceramic matrix composites, high-temperature superconducting ceramics, etc. It is always possible to outline various types of hierarchy. Investigation of the effect of hierarchical structures on physical properties and the nature of interaction of various internal fields in inhomogeneous materials is inseparably linked with the development of methods of synthesis of new smart and intelligent structures. | 1,031 | 541 | 0.001854 |
warc | 201704 | Californians spend a lot of time driving in their cars, but a lot of that time behind the wheel is also spent talking on the phone, texting, eating, reading magazines, and applying makeup, among other activities. Such distractions can lead to treacherous consequences for motorists.
Therefore, for a 24-hour period, from 6 a.m. this Friday until 6 a.m. Saturday in the Sacramento area, the California Highway Patrol is implementing a “zero tolerance” cell phone enforcement day to thwart dangerous driving habits.
Patrol officers will not only be on the lookout for cell phone use, but for all types of unsafe activities being committed by drivers. Fines for cell phone violations are $20 for the first offense and $50 for the second offense. With court costs and other fees, the total cost can add up to more than $100.
Moreover, under California’s vehicle code, a driver can be ticketed $145 to $1,000 for having “wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.” A similar distracted driving deterrent campaign, for 48 hours, was enforced by the CHP in Los Angeles County this past August. More than 85 percent of the recorded 494 citations handed out within the first 24-hour period of that crackdown involved people holding their phones while driving instead of using a hands-free device. Thirteen of the citations given during that first 24-hour period were due to other forms of distracted driving.
WEIGH IN
What will it take to stop people from texting or talking on cell phones while driving? What more should law enforcement officials do to hamper this problem?
Guests: CHP Officer Saul Gomez, California Highway Patrol public information officer in Los Angeles County Dave Rizzo, known as Dr. Roadmap; author of "Survive the Drive!" – in which he offers advice for daily commuters, business travelers, visitors and tourists as they Southern California's freeways, deal with road rage and help to plan commutes to save travel time | 1,987 | 1,057 | 0.000966 |
warc | 201704 | Details Polyco® Long John Gloves™ Ideal for working in deep water such as fish farming as well as chemical handling, and drainage work Velcro strap makes gloves easier to fit PVC coating makes glove oil resistant Actifresh treatment and cotton liner keeps gloves fresh and comfortable during extended use Conforms to EN374-2, EN374-3, and EN388 Available in 350mm and 600mm lengths Comes in Red/Black Sold per pair For smaller chemical resistant gloves, see Polyco® Chemprotect Chemical Resistant Work Gloves™ Specifications Select options above to see specifications. Documentation Product Guides & Training Tools Technical Information Good to know
Different jobs require different kinds of gloves for protection. Deep water and hazardous chemical work present a unique set of challenges that have to be accounted for when choosing and purchasing chemical resistant safety gloves.
One such challenge that chemical resistant work gloveshave to meet is the issue of seepage around the opening. Even if the liquid that enters is non-hazardous to humans, it can still cause a variety of issues such as discomfort and even various forms of dermatitis. Thus the need for gloves that ride higher than usual and cover more of the arm. The additional length of the glove may be uncomfortable for extended periods of wear so make sure to pick up gloves of good design. By good design, we mean that no effort has been spared in trying to make the gloves as comfortableas possible. After all, it would be counter-productive to provide gloves for your workforce that will rarely be used because they aren't comfortable and interfere with the tasks that need to be done on a regular basis. Customer Reviews 100% of customers liked this product Posted Comment6 months ago Service:Excellent service speedily executed Product:Excellent8 months ago Service:As always this was an excellent service. I've never had a bad service yet. Product:Excellent4 years ago Service:good Product:Excellent5 years ago Service:Although some of the items were dicontinued after I placed the order I was given the choice of alternatives. Product:Good Delivery charges* £7.95 on orders up to £74.99 FREEon orders of £75 or more
Other delivery options are available, please visit our Delivery Information page to find out more or call us on 0800 316 9700.
*Website orders to UK mainland locations only. Orders to non-mainland UK locations and non-stock items (such as bulky, heavy or hazardous goods) may incur additional delivery charge. | 2,542 | 1,296 | 0.000784 |
warc | 201704 | Assume rugby is all about scrums and rucks? Not quite. Rethink the beer and get involved...
Let us guess – you spent a lot of time in the gym this summer so you could look good on the beach. And now you’re getting ready for post-summer reality. Things aren’t as bleak as they seem. O2 Touch Fit sessions (developed in conjunction with England Rugby) are a series of workouts to aid not only touch rugby conditioning but also general fitness, and have the backing of England star Danny Care. And meeting new people and going out for drinks with them is a fundamental aspect of the programme.
We spoke to Richard Tidmarsh, owner of Reach Fitness (r4reach.com), to find out the key moves he had the O2 Touch Fit participants doing between pub sessions.
Mobility Shrimp Roll “Lying on your back, pull your knees into your chest creating a round shape and then roll from your shoulder blades to your sit bones. This opens up your lower back and is great preparation for rugby training.” Shoulder Bridge “Lying on your back with your feet flat on the floor so you can touch your heels with your fingertips, push your hips up towards the ceiling. This opens up your hips, which is key to improving the way you move.” Speed & strength Reptile Crawl “Create a small box-like shape with your hands and feet on the floor, with your knees low to the ground. Staying low and controlled, and with a flat back, create a crawling movement. This is a full-body strength exercise and gets your body used to being under tension.” Lateral Stepover “Dynamically step from one foot to the other as if you were crossing a small hurdle. This footwork drill increases speed and develops your ability to change direction on the field.” Conditioning Bodyweight Squat “With your feet just beyond hip width, squat down to 90 degrees or below, maintaining a flat back with weight driven back into your heels. It’s a simple movement pattern that increases leg strength to make you a more dynamic runner in both attack and defence.” Crocodile “From a press-up position, drive your knee up to the outside line of your body to the corresponding elbow while twisting through your mid-section. This is a full-body strength and core developer to help injury prevention.” Power Gorilla Run “From a crouched position, place your hands on the floor out in front of you and then fluidly drive your feet through to the outside of your hands, popping your chest up to sit back into a crouched position. This helps provide speed on the pitch.” Aeroplane Hold ”Lying flat on the floor, lift up your feet, with arms out like wings, so that your hips are the only area touching the floor. Back strength is key to power.” Nutrition Swap beer for spirits “When you drink beer it alters the chemical balance in your body, attacking your testosterone, which makes it harder to train. Switch to vodka and soda or just tequila. They have a much smaller effect on your body’s chemical make-up.” Prep your food “Make sure you have your Tupperware prepared the night before along with your gym kit and recovery shake. When you start thinking ahead you become a full package.” O2 Touch is a fun, sociable way to get fit with centres nationwide. To find your nearest session search ‘O2 Touch’ [Images: Tania Richards, Rex Features] | 3,413 | 1,686 | 0.000618 |
warc | 201704 | Stop! In the Name of Fish & Wildlife!
By Charles James 28 April 2014
A lot of people do not like being stopped at checkpoints regardless of the reason, especially when they have not done anything wrong. But according to California Fish and Wildlife, the courts have determined that, while not a public safety issue, they can use checkpoints to protect the common interests of the public to protect its resources.
With only 4 game wardens and a lieutenant covering 14,000 square miles, checkpoints are an effective way to enforce regulations and educate the public. Bringing in other game wardens from other areas, a checkpoint was established at the truck weigh station just south of Bishop on Highway 395 Monday morning. Game Warden Chad Elliott from Northern Mono County said that they haven’t done a checkpoint in awhile and that they try to respect the public by being as unobtrusive as possible.
“There has been a lot of research on checkpoints and they are an effective way to catch those that break the rules,” says Elliott. He went on to say that most of the actual inspections without a violation only take two-three minutes and screening usually takes only seconds.
Today it was Elliott’s job to tally and time the actual inspections. The idea is to make the checkpoint as painless as possible for the public by being as efficient as possible. Fortunately for Elliott and the other wardens working the checkpoint, it was a beautiful sunny day with mild temperatures and little wind.
Not everyone was so fortunate. At least eight or more citations were issued by mid-day to some unlucky fishermen for either not having fishing licenses, being in possession of trout over the limit, or the double-whammy of both. The only thing that might have made it an even worse day for these unlucky anglers would be if they also got a speeding ticket on the way home. And as any experienced fisherman knows, that speeding ticket is likely to be a lot less expensive than a Fish and Wildlife fine!
So just how clueless or abusive of fish and wildlife regulations can some fishermen be? Elliott related a story about stopping three fishermen a couple of years ago. They had 119 trout in their possession! It is not clear whether these fishermen just did not know how to read…or count. It could have been both.
One thing is for certain: If charged with a Fish and Wildlife violation, don’t worry so much about not knowing how to read− just expect to be able to count in hundreds. | 2,518 | 1,249 | 0.000815 |
warc | 201704 | Life changing motor vehicle accidents happen nearly every day. According to data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2009, 76,309 people were involved in some form of fatal motor vehicle accident, with 33,808 fatalities occurring. (1)
The effects of these life altering motor vehicle accidents can be among some of the most traumatic a person and their loved ones may ever experience. In just a fraction of a second, a life can be changed or lost forever.
It is important to note that motor vehicle accidents are not just limited to an accident in a car or truck. This category encompasses a wide range of vehicles, including, but not limited to: | 654 | 392 | 0.002567 |
warc | 201704 | September 30, 2011
If you’re unfamiliar with Elance, it’s probably best described as what I like to call the eBay of freelancing. It is a great place to outsource any number of tasks – one that offers increased security with features like Escrow payments, fairness for providers with a $50 minimum project amount and the opportunity for each party to leave feedback after a project’s completion.
Personally, I wouldn’t look for freelancers anywhere else – despite there being a myriad of options including Fiverr, Craigslist or forums such as Digital Point or Warrior Forum. Coming from a developed country I morally object to getting someone to perform any professional task for $5 (it’s called exploitation) – that and with all these options you never really know what you’ll get, or in worse case scenarios if you’ll get anything at all.
Though from what I’ve read some people can also have trouble getting the right results from providers at Elance – which is why I’ve put together this list of best practices.
1. Title Your Project Effectively
Your title is what appears in the search results when freelancers are browsing for jobs. For that reason it’s best you make it as detailed as possible. Rather than “I need 20 articles written” I would suggest “20x 400 Word Articles On Thailand Travel” (or whatever your topic is) because the provider can instantly see what the project requires.
2. Provide A Detailed Outline
For what your title doesn’t convey to potential applicants, you should include in the description you post with your project. This will save time going back and forth once the job is awarded and will ensure providers are able to give you the most relevant bid. Above all, include specific topics along with target keywords for the articles you want (assuming you’re hiring writing talent) and what information should be contained within them – this will ensure you get exactly the content you’re looking for, without the provider trying to guess what you want. As a former freelancer I can tell you the clients who are the most vague are the hardest to deal with, and you generally try to avoid them whenever possible.
3. Be Realistic With Your Budget
If you’re expecting to get 100 articles written for $50 then go somewhere else. Providers on Elance are generally professionals who perform their chosen craft for a living, and as such cannot afford to offer services at such a ridiculously low price. You will always pay more than anywhere else, but generally I find you do get what you pay for.
4. Get Your Listing Featured
I have never needed to pay the $25 fee to get my listing featured, but if you’re struggling to attract the right providers then you may need to. In Elance’s words it “shows providers you’re serious” but if you post an effective title and project outline then it usually works just the same. Keep in mind, providers usually get the latest jobs posted to them by email, so if your post catches their eye then there’s a good chance they’ll bid on it.
5. Be Wary Of Provider Location
In most cases it’s safest to go with someone from a native-English country if you’re hiring writing talent, but on others I’ve found people who live elsewhere can provide a result that’s just as good. Other problems can arise, however. The most common is communication difficulties with providers being located in a different part of the world, and in extreme cases it’s possible to not hear from someone for several weeks due to limited access to the Internet in a less-developed country.
6. Avoid The Lowest Price
While it may be tempting to go with someone who offers to work for next to nothing, it’s best to avoid them for a number of reasons. First, they usually have limited experience or skill and the result will be less than pretty. Second, they plan to copy and paste someone else’s work or spin a bunch of PLR articles that will do you no good. By offering a lower price a provider is always trying to compensate for something – just be mindful of that.
7. Individuals Over Companies
Quite commonly you’ll see companies post a bid on your job. Personally, I try to avoid them because I prefer to deal with someone personally. Companies will always hire third-party personnel to work for them, which means the price is always needlessly higher to allow themselves a profit margin. That and you never really know if you’re talking to the person who is supposed to be doing the work, which can lead to a breakdown in communication in several cases.
8. View Most Relevant Samples
A lot of the time you’ll post a job about a specific topic and you’ll get a bunch of proposals that include work samples that are loosely related, very closely related or not related at all. I give the most credence to samples that are the closest to the topic in question, unless another provider offers work that is generally of a higher quality.
9. What Experience They Have
Providers that have been around for a number of years are generally more reliable. They have the experience to meet deadlines and generally their work is of a higher quality. Newer providers can be a bit of a risk, and though they may be talented, some can quite easily choose to disappear on you. That and they have a very small amount of feedback or a limited portfolio to help you decide what quality of work you’ll get.
10. Feedback From Other Clients
At the end of every job clients will have the option to leave feedback for the provider. Usually, checking this is just extra peace of mind but sometimes it can reveal some worrying patterns. You might, for example, notice that several clients have said a provider is late in delivering work or they had to make extra edits on it themselves. If it’s obviously a problem with the provider, then you can choose to avoid them, but more often it’s one tricky client who is being extra critical or just had a bad experience.
11. Discard Automated Applications
If a provider can’t put effort into writing a job application then how much effort will they put into the job? I know as a former freelancer it’s not uncommon to send out dozens of applications daily and not expect to get every job (or any of them). But I would at least show the client I had read their outline and show why my experience was relevant to that particular job.
12. Does The Provider Want The Job
At the end of the day those who are most excited by the opportunity, who are most passionate about a topic and those who simply want the job more are those I pay the most attention to. You’ll get something of quality and the extra enthusiasm the provider brings means that will rub off on anyone who views the finished product. At least 90% of the time this is how I finally decide who to give the job to.
Article by Brent McCoy. Millionaire Studio is an online entrepreneurship blog that features articles on online business, blogging, marketing and social media: http://millionairestudio.com/ | 7,184 | 3,349 | 0.00031 |
warc | 201704 | Revenue, especially break even revenue, is never dilutive of your ownership. The right co-founders, while dilutive, substantially increase your chances of success: they give you a smaller piece of a much more valuable pie. Paying customers are real proof that there is demand for your product. Getting funded is proof that an investor thinks there will be demand for your product. A software startup in 2009 normally doesn’t need more than 10-25K to get started, if the founding team can provide the bulk of the labor to develop and market the first version of the product. If the founding team cannot provide the bulk of the labor to develop and market the first product, think about adding co-founders not seeking funding. If you need a salary from day one of your software startup don’t seek investment. Instead keep working at your day job, save your money, lower your burn rate, and work on your startup part time. This is hard. Your most important investors are your spouse, friends, and family who will provide you with emotional support on the entrepreneurial roller coaster. Professional investors don’t want control of your business, they want a return on their investment. Related Blog Posts
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warc | 201704 | Though total market penetration remains relatively low—at 28 percent, according to research firm Frost & Sullivan—contact centers continue to be the primary customers for speech analytics solutions. Most of those contact centers that have already installed speech analytics solutions did so to improve their operations. “Most were about improving efficiencies, like first call resolution, handling time, and moving calls to self-help, all of which were derived from the need to drive costs down,” says Barak Eilam, president of business applications at NICE Systems, a speech analytics systems vendor.
But because there is a limit to the costs that can be eliminated, the greatest benefit of a speech analytics deployment comes when company officials are allowed to apply solutions more broadly across the entire organization, not just toward improving call center operations.
“Although it has significant value to the contact center organization, limiting it to the contact center is not using it to its full extent,” Eilam says.
By leveraging speech analytics, companies can proactively identify sales opportunities and uncover customer satisfaction issues—both of which will greatly benefit the sales and marketing units. Other divisions, including product management, research and development, human resources, manufacturing, billing, compliance, collections, fraud prevention, risk management, and accounting, can also derive tremendous advantage from the value-generating business intelligence uncovered by an effective speech analytics solution.
Yet for all the information speech analytics can provide, very few organizations understand how to fully exploit the data, or the technology itself, as a strategic business tool.
Many organizations are further constrained by limited resources and siloed operations. Worse still, few have a firm grip on who should own—that is, be responsible for—the speech analytics application. Marketing? Sales? The contact center? Accounting? The IT staff? Corporate leadership?
Application ownership implies responsibility not only for the initial purchase and rollout, but also for all of the follow-up work that is involved long after a solution goes live. Many people live and work under the false assumption that speech analytics is a form of plug-and-play technology; in reality the applications require a significant amount of work and resources to make them function properly. Users constantly have to fine-tune applications, improve definitions, realign parameters, and then work and rework facets of the applications until they get them right for their specific operating environments. Once that is achieved, everyone has to understand that if they’re going to use speech analytics effectively, then they’re going to need to dedicate resources to it.
That’s why establishing overall ownership of an application is one of the hardest parts of any speech analytics deployment, according to Elizabeth Herrell, vice president and principal analyst at Forrester Research. “There are so many names, titles, and roles of people who can use speech analytics, but who wants to do [what’s necessary] is the key going forward,” she says.
“I’m not sure there is one clear answer, or one best answer,” Eilam admits. “It’s not one size fits all. It’s a lot about how an organization is structured internally.”
Daniel Ziv, vice president of customer interaction analytics at Verint Systems, agrees. “It depends what you plan to do strategically with an application,” he says, “and there’s a lot you can do with analytics today.”
Adding to the chaos is confusion within most organizations about who actually owns the customer, and that’s not something that can be clearly defined either, Herrell says.
Domain Dilemma
Often, the marketing department thinks the customer experience falls entirely within its domain, but it’s not that simple. “If you think of analytics as a sophisticated reporting tool for the customer experience, it could be any number of people or departments, depending on the type of organization it is and the service or product it offers,” Herrell states.
For that reason, she thinks it’s better to divide application ownership based on the types of calls received. “If it’s a marketing problem, it belongs to marketing. If it’s a sales issue, it belongs to sales. If it’s a billing issue, it belongs to accounting. It could also be a service delivery issue, and that goes to product management,” she says. “It’s all about where the problem resides, and that’s why we have IVRs—to get the caller to the right person or department to help with his problem or issue.”
But because speech analytics can touch so many areas within the corporate structure, is splitting responsibility for an application a wise idea? Not at all, suggests Donna Fluss, president of DMG Consulting. “Enterprises need to have one central repository,” she argues. “It doesn’t matter who oversees the centralized function, but it has to be centralized.”
At some companies, that responsibility falls to one person, but those instances are rare. “I get really impressed when I see a business card with a speech analytics manager/business analyst’s title,” Fluss says.
Such a title might exist at a handful of companies—probably less than 10 percent, according to Herrell. The more likely scenario, she says, is “many executives within a company who are responsible for disseminating the information to many other executives.”
The ideal scenario, many experts agree, is for the application to fall under the auspices of a business team with the political clout to share its findings across departmental lines on a timely basis and to help departments take action to realize identified opportunities. In a handful of companies, that body is a Six Sigma team—comprised of experts specially trained to evaluate existing business processes and determine ways to improve them, to remove defects and inefficiencies, or to design brand new processes. Six Sigma teams, however, are common only in the larger contact centers with thousands of agent positions. “Once you get to 100 to 200 seats, companies do not have the same overhead to put teams like this together,” Ziv says.
Call Center-Centric
Still, many others argue that speech analytics is, by and large, a call center technology, and responsibility for it should, therefore, reside in the call center. “It’s most effective use is in the contact center, and to that end, the contact center people should own it,” says Keith Dawson, principal analyst at Frost & Sullivan. “They’re the ones that will use it and operate it.”
Dawson further contends that the contact center is the one piece of the corporate puzzle that can put all of the information gleaned from a speech analytics solution into context. “The contact center has to be the funnel for delivering the information to the rest of the company,” he says. “To say that a customer was dissatisfied, the information is not actionable unless [all parties] know the context, like how long the customer waited in the queue, whether the agent response was appropriate, or if the IVR misdirected him. That’s why the contact center needs to have the application under its belt: so it can provide an organizationwide understanding of what’s going on with the customer.”
Fluss also thinks the contact center should have ultimate responsibility over the speech analytics solutions. After all, calls originate at the contact center, and the recordings are made at the contact center, she says.
The contact center is constantly hammered with calls from upset, less-than-satisfied consumers, and the contact center is the only place within the corporate structure “big enough and equipped to handle them all,” she adds.
Early on, contact centers were the central figure in speech analytics rollouts, and Dawson thinks that’s still a good idea for companies just starting out with the technology. “The call center has to be the first place where you take a stab at putting it in. You’re probably not going to get it into a company unless the call center is driving the application at first,” he states. “It has to be about boosting [agent] performance first and the customer second. The customer interaction is not the main driver yet, but it will be in about three to five years.”
That’s why the early deployments often saw the head of quality monitoring/training inside the call center taking ownership of the application and establishing the metrics.
Herrell, on the other hand, points out that the contact center no longer holds a monopoly on customer interactions. “We’re way beyond the stage where the contact center owns the customer,” she says. “It can’t be limited to the first point of contact any more.”
Instead, Herrell and several others see speech analytics reaching a point where the contact center manager does not have be directly involved. “Reports can be generated automatically, and you’ll need experts to detect the flags that require action,” she says.
“A growing trend we see now is for people from marketing exposed to these applications,” NICE’s Eilam adds. “Marketing is starting to take ownership. People there are more data-savvy and tech-savvy. And the business analysts are working for the marketing department and taking responsibility for all the data, not just marketing data, but billing data, sales data, etc.”
Not IT
But despite this lack of agreement over who should ultimately have control of a speech analytics application, the one universally accepted principle is that it should not rest solely in the hands of the IT department. “It’s not an IT tool but a business tool,” Ziv explains. “Nothing [about speech analytics] should be a pure IT decision.”
Eilam agrees. “IT’s role is shrinking,” he says. “We see in some cases where IT is trying to take it over, but [speech analytics] is not just about technical skills. More and more it’s about business skills.”
That’s not to say that the IT department should be excluded entirely. It should have a role in purchasing decisions, especially given the fact that it will be responsible for supporting and maintaining the system, Forrester’s Herrell points out. “It’s often a good idea to have someone within the IT department who is responsible for evaluating products and software helping to determine what they can and should get,” she says. “IT should be responsible for the technical aspects [of an application] rather than doing the deep dives into what affects customers.”
Dawson doesn’t mince words when it comes to IT’s role. “I would never want to say that IT shouldn’t be involved because they definitely should be,” he says, “but IT can also act as a barrier. Organizations need IT flexibility to make the cross-departmental aspects work, but IT continues to work with applications as siloes, and they need to stop that.”
And that’s not necessarily unique to the IT department. “If [the speech analytics application] is being driven just by IT, marketing, sales, etc., it’s going to be a siloed business tool. It needs to be driven by the contact center’s need to be more productive,” Dawson continues. “If it doesn’t start in the contact center, it will fall flat. It will not be as effective as it could be, and given how much applications cost, you definitely want to maximize their effectiveness.”
That’s a lot of pressure for any company, and for those that don’t want any part of speech analytics application ownership for that reason, a number of technology and equipment providers are now packaging their offerings via hosted, managed services models. Though adoption of hosted speech analytics has been slow thus far, these types of offerings are getting a boost from firms looking for more flexible payment models that limit capital expenditures while keeping them current with technology changes. They are also appealing to companies that want an objective, unbiased, and external source to provide customer insight, according to Verint’s Ziv.
But even more than that, they are appealing to companies of all sizes for very different reasons. For small to midsized businesses, a hosted service is a surefire way to get the benefits of a solution without having to carry the full financial burden of capital expenditure or maintenance costs or having to allocate personnel or other resources that are probably not available in the first place. “But we’re also seeing traction among very large enterprises because they do not want to coordinate the efforts between the many corporate divisions involved,” says Eilam, whose firm launched a fully managed, hosted version of its Interaction Analytics business solution in mid-June.
Telrex, another speech analytics vendor, launched CallRex Speech Analytics as a pay-as-you-go service that also includes a consulting service whereby consultants work with the business to determine what is driving customer behavior, to monitor calls for compliance, to identify missed sales opportunities, to improve customer satisfaction scores, and to leverage call recordings as a business asset.
“By offering speech analytics as a service, we are lowering the cost of entry and making speech analytics technology accessible to businesses of every size,” says Robert Kapela, president of Telrex.
An added benefit of any hosted solution is that it allows call center managers to monitor agents on the phone regardless of their geographic location.
Through the hosted model, a third-party firm, like Verint, NICE, or Telrex, can take and record the calls, process the data, and draft reports for the client as directed. The vendor can deliver the reports at predetermined intervals, such as daily, weekly, or monthly, or post the data to a secure, password-protected server or Web site that companies can access on their own.
Some companies prefer to maintain their own recordings and have someone else do the deep dives into their contents. Others prefer to have nothing in house, but that can be a dangerous proposition, Ziv says.
“You may not want to outsource your customers fully,” he states, noting that the last thing a company wants to do is become fully dependent on a third party to determine its customer strategy. “They should take some ownership of their customer experience,” he says.
That mode of thinking is one of the key factors in the low adoption rate thus far, according to Frost & Sullivan’s Dawson. “We’ve not detected a groundswell of interest [in hosted speech analytics] just yet, partly because of security concerns, partly because of bandwidth concerns, partly because of the complicated nature of the applications, and because they are tied into so many other things related to the business,” he says.
All of these concerns “are not particularly unsolvable, but the industry has not really looked at them yet,” Dawson adds.
The Big Package
Vendors have also been adding their speech analytics solutions as part of a much larger quality monitoring, quality assurance, workforce management, or business intelligence suite. In fact, several analysts have noted that very few companies are filing RFPs for workforce optimization solutions without having some form of speech analytics as one of the main requirements. Customers and prospects have expressed interest, but it has been limited to those that could afford to buy in.
In the past year, however, a number of smaller vendors have entered the market with solutions that are pared down, so they have less functionality, but they also come with a lower price tag. For many, at least this gives them a way to get into speech analytics for the first time without breaking the bank.
This sales model often involves “creating speech analytics solutions that are designed to be less expensive and less complicated,” Fluss explains. “It’s intended to get customers up and running with speech analytics relatively quickly.”
But the world itself is getting more technologically complicated, and one need not look too far beyond the contact center for proof. Few can argue that an increasing number of customer contacts are now taking place via fax, text messaging, email, Web chat, customer surveys, and other nonvoice interactions. This brings even more confusion to the question of who should own the analytics applications that pull them all together. After all, who owns the Web site? Where does the fax machine sit?
But many argue that it shouldn’t matter. It’s still all about the customer interaction, regardless of how it’s coming in, Verint’s Ziv says, “and it’s the same issues affecting the people who handle those interactions.”
“It still should all be perceived as a contact,” NICE’s Eilam adds.
As the world becomes more multimodal, analytics solutions will need to take on a more broad-based approach to integrate structured and unstructured data from many channels and sources. In tandem, end users are likely to expect their tools to focus more on the analysis and less on the speech. And that could be a mixed blessing for an already downtrodden speech analytics industry.
Taking SA Out of the Call Center
While most people identify speech analytics as a call center technology, modern-day solutions typically got their start decades ago in the military and government sector. The intelligence and law-enforcement communities first used speech analytics to record, monitor, search, mine, and analyze intercepted conversations, broadcasts, and other communications.
Today, speech analytics is finding uses in areas far outside of the government and contact center environments. One of the latest is in voice message management, which involves using speech analytics technologies to identify the content of a recorded voice message, categorize the message, assign it a priority, and determine to whom it should be delivered.
“Anywhere that you have lots of conversations that can be legally recorded, speech analytics has great potential and would be practical,” says Donna Fluss, president of DMG Consulting.
Speech analytics software is also an area of great interest to search engine companies like Google and Yahoo! So it’s no surprise that search, particularly voice search, “is another great potential application,” Fluss says.
Perhaps nowhere is that more relevant today than in the myriad of speech that is locked in video. Speech analytics can provide much-needed access to the audio information locked within the video itself.
“With more and more video and audio clips on the Internet, there’s a lot more data out there,” notes Daniel Ziv, vice president of customer interaction analytics at Verint Systems. By using speech analytics to sift through that content, “companies can get an idea of what people are talking about and what they really care about,” he adds.
The same applies to mining television and radio broadcast streams, for example. Elizabeth Herrell, vice president and principal analyst at Forrester Research, calls this one of the greatest growth opportunities for speech analytics. “You could look through newscasts to see how often a person or event is mentioned,” she says. “Really, it can be applied anywhere that there is a large repository of spoken words.”
Another of those areas is the legal arena, where speech analytics is now allowing litigators to quickly search hundreds, if not thousands, of audio recordings that in the past would have taken many hours to do. In addition, companies in financial services can closely monitor their businesses across a much larger sample of conversations for regulatory compliance.
Speech analytics should not be considered just a standalone application. It is also highly useful as a module that can bring value to users of CRM applications, e-learning applications, and business intelligence applications.
“There is a large, relatively untapped market for interaction recording systems in smaller call centers and beyond them, to related businesses like branches and back offices,” says Keith Dawson, principal analyst at Frost & Sullivan. “These organizations haven’t in the past been able to justify the costs of a full-fledged, compliance-grade recording system, especially since so few of them have on-site access to IT resources.”
Still, despite all of the potential ways in which speech analytics could be used, both in the present and the future, “they all have issues that will have to be worked out over time,” Fluss says. | 21,303 | 8,224 | 0.000127 |
warc | 201704 | Show guts and lower benefit costs Published 6:47 pm, Friday, March 15, 2013
To the editor:
The increasing structural pension and other post-employment benefit (OPEB) costs reported in Kate King's March 10 article are not new at all. This time bomb has been ticking for a long time. I am certain that Stamford's actuarial consultant has been reporting the growing dollar value to the mayor's office for at least 10 years. However, our local elected officials just chose to kick the can down the road, just like they have done up in Hartford.
The only way you can reduce the pension cost is to freeze the defined benefit pension plans for all employees and to replace them with the defined contribution plans being offered to new employees. Employees keep the pension benefit that they have accrued in the frozen plan. They just don't increase its value under the frozen plan. The employee who has worked 30 years for the city would still have his/her defined benefit pension based on 30 years. But the benefit for any years after that would go towards the defined contribution plan.
Regarding the retiree medical obligation, the only way for the city to reduce that cost is to not only increase the retirees' premiums but to also put an annual dollar maximum on the amount that the city will pay. Right now it appears that there is no limit.
If such rich benefits are not negotiated out of labor contracts, our taxes will increase year after year. It is time for our elected officials to show some political courage and to do the right thing for the great majority of citizens. Otherwise, layoffs and cuts in services are inevitable.
Stamford
Covering the city
To the editor:
Tuesday's paper was dissed this week in a You Said It headline as a "Yawn." They must have been joking (and obviously were). But bomb-making, teen shootings and the bat story (rabies risk in a school) are serious issues. We are lucky to have great local reporters at The Advocate bringing us stories that are important to our lives.
I am going to miss someone if I start naming names so I won't, but I want to thank the reporters, photographers and the editorial staff for writing about our schools and our kids, our taxes, the income of prominent city wage earners, our parks, our fire service, our mill rate, corruption and crime, the WPCA, BLT plans in the South End, our missing boatyard, our ... everything!
The reports from Hartford are important too. In a world of shrinking independent media coverage, we are fortunate to have The Advocate and its dedicated employees. Please keep it up!
Stamford
Different ages
To the editor:
In his letter appearing in Friday's edition, Martin Levine makes several valid points with respect to the competition -- or lack thereof -- in Board of Representatives elections. However, one point he makes, comparing the median age of the 2009 Board of Reps (59) to that of the signers of the Declaration of Independence (44), is completely invalid, as the average life expectancy in the United States hovered around 40 years old until the mid-1800s, decades after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, making the signers much older than the current crop of representatives.
Stamford
No more cruelty
To the editor:
I applaud your editorial "Wrong direction on animal cruelty" (March 14).
Rather than having the Connecticut state Legislature reintroduce the snare as an acceptable form of hunting defenseless animals, we need to find more humane ways to live with the animal population. This can be from something as simple as tighter lids on trash cans to implementing a spay and neutering program for wildlife.
There is no such thing as acceptable animal cruelty.
New Canaan
The writer is a member of the board of directors of The Humane Society of the United States. | 3,818 | 1,883 | 0.000535 |
warc | 201704 | Whether you're building a Web site or a traditional business, you must first open a merchant account before you can accept credit cards as payment.
How the process works
When you swipe a credit card through a point–of–sale terminal at the grocery store, you are not completing a transaction. The grocery store is verifying that your credit card is active and you are within your spending limit. The transaction is not completed until later (e.g. end–of–day) when the grocery store sends a collected batch of transactions to its merchant account provider for processing.
Credit card orders can be initiated in one of three ways: When a merchant swipes a customer's credit card through a point–of–sale terminal (card present) When a customer provides credit card identifiers over the phone or via the mail (card non–present) When a customer provides credit card identifiers over the Internet (card not–present) Real-time verification
Real–time verification reduces the potential for charge–back fees and prevents the hassle of card entry errors. Here's how real–time verification works: After a credit card order has been received by the merchant, the identifiers and sales price are sent to the secured server(s) of the merchant account provider, who then forwards that information to the customer's credit card company and bank. Once the customer's bank approves the transaction, that approval is sent back to the merchant, verifying the credit of the customer.
Customers are more likely to initiate purchases if they are able to buy on credit. And they are likely to spend more than if they paid with cash or by check.
It is possible to purchase a merchant account service without real–time verification. Though set–up costs may be less, if you expect to process more than 25 credit card (non–present) orders a month, most vendors will advise you to purchase a real–time service.
Note: Point–of–sale terminal transactions are always verified in real–time. Receiving funds
Once the merchant account provider receives the full amount of the transaction, they credit the merchant's account for the transaction. This process, from start to finish usually takes two to four business days (compared to 25–40+ days for invoice payment methods).
Online accounts
If you are building or expanding your e–commerce presence, setting up an online merchant account makes perfect sense. It enables you to expand your customer base, and it facilitates a fast and efficient purchasing process.
Security for online accounts
Make sure that the online merchant service provider uses SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or SET (Secure Electronic Transfer) technology (or proven equivalents). Also be sure that the merchant can provide for:
Data integrity: the customer's transaction data cannot be tampered with during transmission. Authentication: verifies to the customer that you are who you say you are so that transactions cannot be intercepted. In-house processing of online accounts
If you are interested in processing transactions in–house, then you need to also consider two additional security issues:
You must secure your server. This includes building a firewall so that hackers cannot easily break into your database and steal the credit card identifiers of your customers. You may also want to permanently store credit card numbers on a database that is not accessible from the Internet. You should strongly consider obtaining a digital certificate from a third–party certificate authority (e.g. Verisign, Valicert). A digital certificate acts as a business license, verifying the legitimacy of a registered business. Digital certificates also initiate SSL transactions. A lock displayed at the bottom of a browser window indicates a secured server and transaction. Many customers will not provide their credit card information unless transaction security is guaranteed. Offline accounts
There are two types of offline accounts:
Card–present point–of–sale terminal transactions (e.g. restaurants, retail stores) Card not–present over–the–phone and mail order transactions (e.g. magazines, clothing catalogues)
Point–of–sale terminal transactions involve the least amount of risk, which means the monthly fees will be lower.
Note:
Some providers only process offline transactions. If you need both online and offline services, you may want to find a provider that can facilitate both, rather than open two accounts.
Types of service/equipment Point–of–sale terminals Point–of–sale terminals allow a customer to slide their credit card through a terminal to verify transactions in real–time. Look for a terminal package specific to your industry. Not only will the point–of–sale terminal(s) be suited for your business, but the supporting package should be geared to suit your needs as well. Card present service (terminals) In most cases, the point–of–sale terminal is connected to the merchant account provider's network via a private dial or leased line. This allows real–time verification. In some cases, the point–of–sale terminals connect to a computer system. The provider will likely offer to install everything for a set–up fee. Card not–present service (mail/phone) For mail orders and low–volume phone orders, customer transactions are entered into a computer system (or in some cases, a point–of–sale terminal). Transactions can be integrated into your existing customer database. The provider will likely offer to install everything for a set–up fee. Card not–present Internet application service (phone) If you expect to process a high volume of phone transactions (several per hour plus), consider an Internet application service. This service allows quick real–time verification of each transaction, reducing the potential for charge–back fees and entry errors. Bottom line
The psychology of credit cards is fairly straightforward. Customers are more likely to initiate purchases if they are able to buy on credit. And they are likely to spend more than if they paid with cash or by check. As a merchant, you are also reimbursed within two to four business days. This may significantly reduce your payment lag, especially if customers you are currently invoicing pay by credit card. On the flip side, a merchant account does require you to pay initial setup costs, as well as fees for each customer transaction.
A few things to keep in mind when reaching your decision: Monthly fees: Strategize fees. It is important to understand the monthly fees associated with your merchant account. When looking for a provider, try to balance the discount rate and per–transaction fee with your needs. For example, if you expect to make a small number of large ticket sales, then look for a higher per–transaction fee and lower discount rate. If you expect a high volume of small ticket transactions, then look for a low per–transaction fee and a competitive discount rate. Also, keep your eye on additional charges that add up, notably charge–back fees and touch tone authorization fees. If your business is prone to returned items, and/or does a high volume of point–of–sale terminal sales, then these two fees can add up. Customer service: Ensure that your provider has solid customer service. If you are opening an e–commerce site or a restaurant that is open beyond normal business hours, then you probably need 24–hour customer service.
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warc | 201704 | what you need to know about health care mandates
If businesses get an extra year to meet a new health care mandate, why not everybody else? Republicans, seizing on the White House delay for employers, are demanding that the Obama administration give individual Americans an equal break. But the White House says that's just a thinly disguised gambit for dismantling the entire health care overhaul. What to believe?
The battle of the mandates is the latest clash in the long-running political fight over health care — a fight that's far from over. Here's are some questions and answers in the aftermath of the administration's delay of the employer mandate:
Q What are the law's mandates?
A One is for individuals and another for employers. The individual requirement takes effect in 2014; the employer mandate has been delayed until 2015. Under the health care law, virtually all Americans must carry medical insurance, either through an employer or a government program, or by buying their own policies. Most people are unaffected because they already have coverage.
Q If you don't have it, how do you get it?
A Middle-class individuals and families with no access to job-based health insurance will be able to buy subsidized private coverage through new markets that open Oct. 1. Low-income people will be steered to an expanded version of Medicaid in states that accept it. Those who remain uninsured will face fines that start small — as little as $95 in 2014 — but build up over time. There are exceptions for financial hardship and other circumstances.
Q What about businesses?
A The employer mandate applies to companies with 50 or more workers. They could face fines for not providing coverage, and also if their plan is deemed unaffordable under the law. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 95 percent of employers with 50 or more workers already offer health benefits. Nonetheless, it's a big issue for small businesses that are growing, and for companies that employ lots of low-wage workers not currently offered health insurance.
Q If the administration delays one mandate, why not the other?
A The two mandates are in the law for different reasons and purposes. Delaying the individual requirement, which has survived a Supreme Court challenge, would have a much bigger impact. It serves as a stiff nudge to get as many Americans as possible into the insurance pool. The premiums of healthy people are needed to offset the cost of covering people in poor health who currently can be excluded by insurers. "It's what's going to keep the insurance markets from collapsing once we open the door to people with pre-existing conditions," said Timothy Jost, a law professor at Washington and Lee University in Virginia who supports the health overhaul. Starting Jan. 1, insurers are barred from turning away people in poor health.
The employer mandate was designed as a guardrail, to deter employers from dropping coverage and shifting workers to taxpayer-subsidized programs. It's expected to play only a supporting role in the expansion of coverage to millions of uninsured people.
Q: Why are Republicans objecting to a delay in a law they've been trying to repeal?
A: Democrats say the answer is politics. Republicans say they are calling attention to problems with the law that run counter to the administration's reassuring message that everything is on track.
Associated Pres | 3,430 | 1,675 | 0.000603 |
warc | 201704 | This may not be an easy discussion, but it is a deeply, deeply necessary one. The subject I wish to broach today is one that is tremendously difficult for me personally, as it is for many people whom you will encounter in your professional and personal lives. The subject is language—specifically, language related to disability and the impact it can have upon folks when it is used casually or used as an analogy to express a point about the non-disabled experience, particularly when it is employed in the context of a sermon or other public teaching. It is often noted that language speaks volumes about a given society’s worldview, and one of the ways we can work to make this world just a bit better than we found it is by being intentional with our words and the ramifications they may have, ramifications which we may not even realize are present, because too many of us—and I place myself in this camp—are taught to be intentional with our words, but this has often not extended itself to being intentional with the words we use around disability. And indeed, for me at least, the fact that people often are utterly oblivious of the ramifications of their speech and the attitudes it conveys—subconscious and unintentional though they are–is what hurts me most profoundly.
I write this from the perspective of a blind Jewish woman and do not, and cannot claim to speak for all blind people, let alone all disabled people. There are as many perspectives as there are folks with disabilities, and my purpose in writing is to try to do my small part to make us the best spiritual teachers and leaders we can be, not to blame or shame or to insist that mine is the only perspective.
Over the past several decades, as societal views about those whom mainstream society has deemed “other”—the LGBT community, women, people with disabilities, racial and ethnic minorities, just to name a few—have undergone tremendous positive change, religious communities of all sorts have begun to recognize that we bring a wealth of life experience and perspective to the table and that our voices, previously marginalized, ought to be—indeed must be—part of the religious discussion. We have made concerted efforts to make our congregations welcoming and affirming, and I pray that these laudable efforts continue unabated for decades to come.
Nonetheless, religious communities, insofar as they try to be spiritually nourishing environments to which we may bring our whole selves are still the source of tremendous pain for many people. For many, particularly those on the margins, that pain stems in some part from the religious messages they hear about themselves from their clergy and others in positions of power and authority. It is too easy to use a casual metaphor or throw in a common expression without asking ourselves, “What did I mean to say here? If I embodied the physical state I am using metaphorically, how might I feel?” As clergy and future clergy, we need to own our part in that pain. We need to use our privileged position to spread a positive and affirming message of the worth of all people, and to spread that message from our pulpits.
Although our traditions do have positive things to say about disability, and those texts are omnipresent in disability-related sermons, religious theology about disability too often sees the disabled person as wholly other, apart from the able-bodied experience which is the dominant narrative. The disabled body is too frequently used as an analogy for the moral or spiritual failings of others. The disabled body is broken, other, and separate. The disabled body, with its physical markers distinguishing it from the whole, complete non-disabled body exists in this world, not because, as disability rights advocates argue, disability is a natural part of the human condition, but instead because God bestows God’s Divine favor upon it, and we can learn from God’s choice of an imperfect or defective Divine gift. I recognize I am being rather reductionist. Nonetheless, this sums up my experience and that of many others when hearing teachings which employ religious language about disability. What if we were to turn this understanding on its head? What would religious life look like if instead of speaking such messages from pulpits and other public venues we insisted upon the fact that the physical markers of disability do not mean that the personhood is broken, less than whole in some way, flawed? What would it mean for us if we spoke about the fact that everyone who engages with the sacred has ebbs and flows in their spiritual life without resorting to the use of disability metaphor when depicting our inner feelings of imperfection?
Society is rife with messages about the perfect body. We too often correlate bodily perfection with social value and personal worth. When such language comes from a religious setting, in which the teaching that we are all created in God’s image is supposed to be foundational, it can be incredibly painful. Instead of spiritually caring for all of those in our midst, we create pain, division, indeed exclusion. May we soon see the day when the perspectives of the disability community, and indeed all marginalized groups are fully brought to bear on religious discourse. May our communities spread the positive and affirming message—we are all whole, irreplaceable and unique. A disabled body does not mean that the person living in that body is broken. | 5,552 | 2,487 | 0.000409 |
warc | 201704 | Police stress is important to control and to deal with. Some officers have to seek help to control it. In the police business there is no telling what you run in to on a day by day schedule, there is not the same work day twice. One day you will by just giving people tickets to the next day dealing with someone being shot. Anyone can understand if you see someone being shot then it makes you a little stressed out. Stress plays a part in the lives of everyone. Some stress is not only inevitable, it can be good. For example, the physical stress of “working out” improves your cardiovascular system, and feeling pressure that causes you to study harder for an exam can improve your score. Police stress, however, refers to the negative pressures related to police work. Police officers are not super humans. According to Gail Goolkasian and others, research shows that they are affected by their daily exposure to human indecency and pain; that dealing with a suspicious and sometimes hostile public takes its toll on them; and that the shift changes, the long periods of boredom, and the ever-present danger that are part of police work do cause serious job stress. Every police department has many officers that are being affected by stress whether it’s negative or positive, some officers knows how to handle it and some needs some help like counseling. The stress can come in many forms, some can be internal or external pressure to succeed, it can cause problems with friends and family, some can be lack of self esteem, some lack of self confidence, some can be caused by things at work or even some at home, or even not getting enough sleep. One of the difficulties for police officers is the fact that they do shift work, they are assigned to a certain shifts that they must work regardless of holidays or any other special occasions such as aniversities or birthdays. This is really hard for police officers with family, as the family does not understand why their husband/wife or... | 2,012 | 999 | 0.00101 |
warc | 201704 | Relevant offers Opinion
In every turn of the page there is a new horror. But what is most shocking in the Royal Commission's findings is the stark assertion that the Pike River disaster was preventable.
OPINION: A catalogue of failures is laid out in the two volume report, made public today. And at the heart of all of them is a drive for cost-cutting.
Pike River Coal was not ready to safely produce coal. Adequate health and safety systems and infrastructure were not in place. Its ventilation and drainage could not cope. And yet it pressed ahead with hydro coal mining - an extraction method known to produce large amounts of deadly methane.
The drive to produce coal - to make money and stave off the debt the company was accruing - before the mine was ready "created the circumstance within which the tragedy occurred," the report concludes.
But the coal mining company were not the only organisation cutting corners. The effectiveness of the mining inspectorate had been declining for many years under the Department of Labour, the report notes.
It began with deregulation by National in the 1990s but continued, unchecked, under the Labour administration.
Pike, as a inexperienced new company, was able to obtain a permit to develop the mine with little scrutiny. They were allowed to construct a mine with just one exit - and a unsuitable ventilation shaft accessed only by a punishing climb up a vertical ladder.
By November 19 2010, there were just two mining inspectors, who were stretched thin. Departmental policy meant they did not audit health and safety procedures or analyse trends in data, but relied on physical inspections. Early in 2010 a mining steering group raised the alarm about the inspectorate ineffectiveness - but it was ignored. A request for a third inspector was not approved.
Other warnings were sounded, but went unheeded by the company. In the 48 days before the first explosion there were 21 reports of excess methane - which continued up until the morning of the disaster. In fact the investigation of incident reports was so haphazard that in the month before the tragedy, a backlog was written off. There were no worker check inspectors, which allowed the company to overlook safety concerns. In addition, the report notes that DOL's record in mine safety was so poor it had lost the confidence of the work force. And a lack of information and emergency response management lead to unforgivable delays and chaos in the wake of the explosion: emergency services were not called for 40 minutes. Incredibly there had been no planning for a coal mining emergency.
DOL's failings are so concerning that the Commission proposes a new single-purpose agency to regulate health and safety. Fundamental changes to mining regulations are also required. This includes the removal of the nonsensical provision that an employer must "take all practicable steps" to comply with regulations - until now a get out of jail free card for mining companies.
It comes as no surprise that the Commission recommends more worker participation in health and safety - but the union veto is likely to be an anathema to the industry and the government. Prime Minister John Key has already indicated the government has rejected one of the Commission's recommendations.
The commission is clear initiatives announced last year don't go far enough. But even with its drive to boost revenue from natural resources, National will have to swallow the fallout.
Even accepting the Commission's findings may not be enough for many of the Pike River families, who have demanded the creation of a corporate manslaughter offence.
They also want to see the recovery of remains - something which the report admits is "very uncertain".
New Zealand has suffered an underground coal mining disaster every generation or so - but learnt no lessons in the aftermath. It is years behind Australia and other developed countries in this area. The report suggests the loss of the 29 Pike River miners should be a watershed for changes to legislation, structure and attitude to avoid future tragedies.
- Stuff | 4,120 | 2,031 | 0.000495 |
warc | 201704 | Quote:
Originally Posted by
lance konami
No evidence. Period. I was as shocked as anyone when I found that out. Check out Brad Pilons book "How much protein?" He goes over tons of regularly cited research used by various supplement companies and basically shows that the only supplement that is actually scientifically proven to increase muscle mass is creatine and anabolic steroids. We need protein of course, but not nearly as much as you think.
Hmm...can you link me to any of these studies? Pretty interesting since everywhere I've read seems to confirm that protein is integral to muscle synthesis.
Here are some studies I found real quick:
Quote:
Orally Administered Leucine Stimulates Protein Synthesis in Skeletal Muscle of Postabsorptive Rats in Association with Increased eIF4F Formation
We investigated the protein synthetic response of skeletal muscle to an orally administered dose of leucine given alone or in combination with carbohydrate. Male rats were freely fed (F) or food deprived for 18 h; food-deprived rats were then administered saline (S), carbohydrate (CHO), leucine (L) or a combination of carbohydrate plus leucine (CL). CHO and CL meals were isocaloric and provided 15% of daily energy requirements. L and CL meals each delivered 270 mg leucine. Muscle protein synthesis in S was 65% of F (P < 0.01) 1 h after meal administration. Concomitant with lower rates of protein synthesis, phosphorylation of the translational repressor, eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF)4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1), was less in S, leading to greater association of 4E-BP1·eIF4E, and reduced formation of the active eIF4G·eIF4E complex compared with F (P < 0.01). Oral administration of leucine (L or CL), but not CHO, restored protein synthesis equal to that in F and resulted in 4E-BP1 phosphorylation that was threefold greater than that of S (P < 0.01). Consequently, formation of 4E-BP1·eIF4E was inhibited and eIF4G·eIF4E was not different from F. The amount of eIF4E in the phosphorylated form was greater in S and CHO (P < 0.01) than in all other groups. In contrast, no differences in the phosphorylation state of eIF2{alpha} or the activity of eIF2B were noted among treatment groups. Serum insulin was elevated 2.6- and 3.7-fold in CHO and CL, respectively, but was not different in L, compared with S (P < 0.05). These results suggest that leucine stimulates protein synthesis in skeletal muscle
by enhancing eIF4F formation independently of increases in serum insulin. | 2,547 | 1,271 | 0.000804 |
warc | 201704 | 15:15 17 October 2007
Breast Cancer Awareness month is an annual event which attempts to let women know the dangers of the disease. Here, we look through the facts and the myths that could help save your life.
Breast cancer deaths have fallen in Britain since the 1980s. However, the mortality rates remain among the highest in Europe, a new study has shown.
An international review of 30 countries led by French researchers revleaed that the UK rate dropped by roughly a third. This success was credited to better care and speedier diagnosis, although the government are still calling for earlier diagnosis. The number of UK deaths caused by breast cancer fell to 28.2 per 100,000 - equivalent to 12,000 deaths per year. Cancer Research UK's policy manager Hilary Tovey hailed the "great progress" being made, but feared that it could be a false reading: "The UK has seen greater decreases in the number of women dying from breast cancer than many other European countries over this period, though this is partly because death rates were relatively high in the 1980s."
There are countless rumours about what causes breast cancer - the bra you wear, alcohol, IVF. It's time to sort fact from fiction and to tell you how to reduce your overall risk.
There's a new scare story about the causes of breast cancer every week. No wonder we're confused.
It's no surprise women panic, with 45,500 new cases of the disease diagnosed each year, but we've come a long way in fighting it. 80% of women now live more than five years after a diagnosis.
The fact is, if you eat healthily, stay fit and reduce you alcohol intake you've already cut the risk dramatically. But what claims should you believe and which should be ignored?
1. Deodorant causes it - Verdict: Possible
Research suggests there might be a link between aluminium contained in under arm deodorant and breast cancer.
use aluminium free deodorants like Dr Hauschka Deo Floral ?8.What to do - 2. It is inherited - Verdict: Not true
Only a small percent of breast cancer is inherited. The genes that cause the disease are BrCa1 and BrCa2, those who carry them have an 80% chance of developing it in their lifetime. However, most of the 40,000 women diagnosed early don't carry this gene and the main risk factor is age. At least 80% of breast cancer occurs in post-menopausal women.
Ask your GP for a blood test to check for the gene.What to do - 3. The pill is a trigger - Verdict: Not true
This theory started because the pill contains small amount of oestrogen, which was thought to increase the cancer risk. But recent research found the opposite, in fact the pill may even reduce your chances of developing the disease.
Continue taking the pill, the study also found it helps protect you from ovarian, bowel and rectal cancer.What to do - 4. You must check your breasts every month - Verdict: Not true
Although 9 out of 10 breast cancers are discovered by women or their partners, studies have shown that checking regularly doesn't lead to early detection.
Use the 5 point breast awareness code. 1. Know what's normal for you. 2. Be aware of changes. 3. Make sure you know what changes to look for and feel for. 4. Report any changes to your GP. 5. Go for routine breast screenings when you're over 50.What to do - 5. Breast feeding protects you - Verdict: True
Women who breast feed for at least six months protect themselves from breast and ovarian cancer. The longer you feed the better.
Try to breast feed for as long as possible and do it with all of your children.What to do - 6. An under wire bra increases the risk - verdict: Not true
Dame Gill Oliver, from Cancer Relief told the Daily Mirror: "There is no evidence that wearing any type of bra causes or increases the risk of cancer."
Purely for comfort get measured properly as 70% of women wear the wrong sized bra.What to do - 7. Dairy products can cause it - Verdict: Possible
Jane Plant, doctor and cancer survivor claimed in her book 'Your Life in Your Hands' that cutting out dairy lowers the levels of the hormone and growth factor that feed cancer.
Eat fewer dairy products and increase the portions of fruity and veg you eat. Studies shoe that five a day reduced the risk by 4%.What to do - 8. IVF is a cause - Verdict: Unlikely
A study of over 54,000 women found that there was no increase in breast cancer risk after using fertility drugs
Don't worry, studies show that having baby whether through fertility treatment or naturally reduces your chances of developing breast cancer.What to do - 9. Alcohol - Verdict: True
Alcohol is thought to make breast tissue more susceptible to damage and increase the level of oestrogen in your blood.
Have no more than two alcoholic drinks a dayWhat to do - 10. A lump is the first sign - Verdict: Not true
Other signs include a change in breast size, shape, puckering or a rash, or discharge from the nipples. Most lumps are not cancerous, so if you find one don't panic.
Learn what's normal for you and keep a close eye on any changes.What to do - To find more contact Breast Cancer Care's free helpline on 0808 800 6000 or visit www.cancerhelp.org.uk
Disclaimer: Supanet is not responsible for, and disclaims any and all liability for the content of comments written by contributors to this website
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warc | 201704 | Romans 12:2 .
by Tom Caballes
This
article is based on a talk given at a Lamb
of God community men’s retreat
Have you ever wondered why it is not easy to be a Christian nowadays? Why is it that it is not easy to be holy? Why is it very hard to bring other people to God? Why is peer pressure so hard to resist?
One big reason is that we live in an unholy world. It is like coaching a rugby, basketball, or cricket team; you are playing against an opponent who has extra men on the field; even worse, some of your players are injured and some are working for the other team (throwing the game away)! It is the same with the daily battle for holiness: it is extremely difficult for us to win the battle because the odds are stacked against us. It is an uphill battle. “Everyone else is doing it – why can’t I?” Not only is the enemy everywhere, they are also inside us – our unredeemed human nature, the flesh.
But you are a Christian. And guess what? The odds are stacked heavily against you if you are resolved to follow God. And there is a very strong current that is sweeping across the face earth. A current of wickedness, immorality, blatant and not so blatant sin. Acceptance and practice of ungodly values and activities pervade the world we live in.
I really don’t know who is in a better place – the salmon swimming upstream to their spawning grounds or us Christians trying to live holy lives in an unholy world.
The battle for holiness rages in various areas of our lives. Our hearts, our minds, our wills – these are the battle fronts, where most of the battles are lost and won. The battle for holiness takes place in our desires, our emotions, and attitudes, our judgment and reasoning, our relationships, our speech patterns, our past and its memories, and our use of media.
1. Yield to God’s power – ask the Holy Spirit for power and strength. Therefore submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7).
2. Every day commit yourself to put the flesh to death. Likewise count yourselves also to be truly dead to sin, but alive to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lust (Romans 6:11-12).
3. Decide to be holy every day. Pray: “Today, I offer my day to you, Lord – I want to consecrate it to you, and I want to be holy, and I will be holy today. Today I will make a covenant with my own eyes before you Lord” (see Job 31:1).
4. Guard your hearts always, be aware when temptations come, where your weak points are – and flee. But you, O man of God, flee these things and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness (1 Timothy 6:11). If the salmon stops swimming, it will be carried back by the current – if you let your guard down, you will fall.
5. Be conscious of your thoughts: submit them to Christ. Do not sugar-coat or justify sin. Call sin a sin and do not make excuses for yourself. Count yourself dead to sin. [Say to yourself: “I do not do those things anymore – I am dead to those things.”] We take every thought captive so that it is obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).
6. Live a life with accountability now – live in the light! Make commitments and be accountable to one another for those commitments; we can help each other – not judge, but help. You yourselves used to be in the darkness, but since you have become the Lord's people, you are in the light. So you must live like people who belong to the light, for it is the light that brings a rich harvest of every kind of goodness, righteousness, and truth. Try to learn what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the worthless things that people do, things that belong to the darkness. Instead, bring them out to the light (Ephesians 5:8-11).
One day, everything that we do in darkness will be brought to light; God will expose all our hidden thoughts and actions. It is better to be accountable here now (where we can change) rather than when God judges us. There is nothing that can be hid from God; everything in all creation is exposed and lies open before his eyes. And it is to him that we must all give an account of ourselves (Hebrews 4:13).
7. Get rid of all our grudges, resentments and lack of forgiveness and live in freedom! All these are chains that bind us in prison and prevent us from growing in holiness.
8. Fill your mind with God’s word. As it says
in Philippians 4:8: Finally, my brothers, whatever things are true, whatever
things are honest, whatever things are right, whatever things are pure,
whatever things are lovely, and whatever things are of good report; if
there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think on these things.
10. Develop good holy habits – for new Christians, this will include habits of prayer, reading Scripture, and doing service. For older Christians, habits like simple living, generosity, dying to one’s self, simplicity, humility, and being Christ-like in all that you do are things for you to grow in.
11. Review your day before you sleep. How did the battle for holiness go today? Were there battles lost and is there anything you need to repent of?
12. For married people, decide to be a “one-woman man” or a “one-man woman.” We should not have any intimate or special relationship with anyone of the opposite sex aside from our spouse, including those in fantasies and daydreams. For all men, God desires us to treat “older women as mothers, the younger as sisters in all purity” (1 Timothy 5:2) and the same would go for women in their relationships with men. For single people, you need to offer your sexuality to God daily and decide to be chaste in all of your relationships. Unless you are in a courting relationship in preparation for marriage you should have no intimate or special relationship with anyone of the opposite sex, including those in fantasies and daydreams.
13. Avoid situations and circumstances that are not healthy for purity. “Wax melts before fire.” One pitfall many Christians face daily is the area of media, especially use of the internet. While there are many good things the internet provides us, there are also many bad things available out there – where the flesh and the world can cause havoc in our lives. You need to live a life with accountability in the way you use the internet.
14. Live in the present and not in the past –
do not re-live the “sins of our youth.” Consider yourself dead to sin,
including your past sins.
15. Be patient – never give up; it is a battle for a lifetime. Like the salmon, press on.
I have been in Christian community for so long that sometimes I take it for granted. One time, I thought of what my life would be like if I decided not to follow Christ in Christian community – and I can see the results all around me. Temporal and fleeting pleasures, breaking the law, depression, gloom, life without a purpose, broken family and relationships, all sorts of addictions, and sicknesses, among many other things. A life of short-term delights but long-term misery and despair, without any sense of direction, would have summarized my life now, if I did not insist on pursuing a life of holiness in Christian community.
.
(c) copyright 2009 The Sword of the Spirit
publishing address: Park Royal Business Centre, 9-17 Park Royal Road, Suite 108, London NW10 7LQ, United Kingdom
email: living.bulwark@yahoo.com
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warc | 201704 | The Tangletown Neighborhood Association Business Façade Improvement program will provide up to $1,000 in matching funds to individual Tangletown neighborhood businesses for improving the appearance of their building façades. These funds are in the form of a grant which, unlike a loan, does not need to be repaid.
We recognize that healthy neighborhood businesses play an important role in the vitality of the neighborhood community. The goal of this program is to help revitalize and sustain neighborhood businesses by providing incentives to improve the appearance of building façades and to stimulate private investment.
Please see the materials below for details of this program. Upon request, we will provide you with a brochure with ideas for façade improvements.
In addition, the City of Minneapolis provides low-interest loans to small businesses for improvements to the building interior and system improvements that are not eligible for façade matching grants. Southwest Business Association also offers business grants, which can be combined with Tangletown’s program.
Feel free to contact the TNA Board if you have any questions regarding the information contained in the links below at info@tangletown.org or 612-321-8621. Please note that the grants are available on a first-come, first-served basis. | 1,350 | 688 | 0.001493 |
warc | 201704 | Planning to move? Here’s a Timeline and a Plan!2:30 PM A MOVING TIMELINE 7-8 Weeks Before The Move Create a Moving File. Store important moving information such as quotes, brochures, receipts, lists in a file for easy access. Include an ‘essentials’ list, which is comprised of those daily items people need more right after the move. Remember to include changes of clothing, toothbrush, toothpaste, paper plates, cups, plastic utensils, soaps, drinks, medications, flashlight, pencils, and paper. Be sure to pack these things in the car with you. Find a Good Moving Company. There are four moving choices, depending on whether the move is local/in-state or interstate: a local moving company, whose cost is usually determined by hourly rates; an interstate (out-of-state) moving company, whose charges are mainly based on the weight of the items and distance moved; a self-move, which is the most cost-effective, but also the most time consuming; or a self-service moving company, which is a combination you pack/they moving company. When choosing a professional moving company, be sure to ask friends and family for recommendations, get references and find at least three businesses with five or more years of experience that are competitively priced and have a good reputation. Research the New Location. Visit the new city’s website, contact the Chamber of Commerce, review the new apartment/home floor plan to decide where to put things, purchase a city map and phone book and order a Sunday subscription to the local newspaper. Gather together Records. Pull together medical and dental records, including prescriptions and shot records, particularly for children. Don’t forget school records, vet records, and make sure to contact the insurance agent (apartment, health, life, auto) to see what changes are necessary as a result of the new move. Ask how to transfer or end contracts with providers with no service in the new area. 4-6 Weeks Before The Move Size Up All Belongings. Use this new move as an opportunity to get rid of junk and used items. Work through one room at a time and decide what to keep and what to throw away. Give away useful items to a charity and get a receipt for an income tax deduction. Ship items that are valuable, difficult to replace or sentimental via certified mail or transport them in the car. This could include documents, jewelry, stock certificates, insurance documents and other financial records. Get Ready To Pack. Make a list of everything to move and assign a replacement value for insurance purposes. Taking pictures can expedite this process. Purchase moving supplies (boxes, blankets, padding, bubble wrap, newspaper, shipping tape, scissors, knife, etc.) and begin to pack all non-essential items, starting first with items seldom used. Pack items of similar size and weight together and don’t make the boxes too heavy to lift. Label the contents on the outside of the each box, along with the room it should be delivered to. Contact the new property manager to guarantee compliance with the moving rules and to ask about the elevator reservation and payment. Insure Your Belongings. It is important to purchase renters’ insurance policy before you move. Most renters’ insurance policies cover your belongings prior to and during the move. If items get lost, stolen or damaged, your policy will already be in place and you will be covered.
Alternatively If you are moving into a home, you would require home owner’s insurance which is a requirement in most of the mortgages.
File a Change of Address. Check your postal services for the form. 1-3 Weeks Before The Move Arrange To Disconnect/Connect Services. Make a list of services to connect in the new apartment/home and disconnect in the old one. Make sure to include all utilities (cable/satellite, phone, long distance, internet, electric, gas, water), any periodicals (newspaper, magazine), plus all other services and memberships (cellular, health club, library books, dry cleaners, items in repair shops) that won’t be relocated. Be sure to disconnect all utilities the day after the move and connect the day before arrival. Request a refund for any deposits due. Attend To Personal Items. Don’t forget to transfer the auto registration, transfer or close any bank accounts, safety deposit boxes, etc. and get traveler’s checks for the road travel. Fill all necessary prescriptions. Plan meals for the last week in order to empty the refrigerator and avoid using cleaned appliances. Finish Packing. Finish packing and be sure to mark which boxes go on the truck first (least used items) and which go on last (most used items). Pack the suitcases and any items traveling in the car. MOVING DAY! Load the Truck in Order. Load the boxes and other items in the pre-designated order. The last load will be the immediate items necessary for the new dwelling, such as linen, bath towels, vacuum cleaner, broom. Make sure the movers have the correct address and driving directions. Check Twice Before Leaving. Check every room, bath, closet, desk, cabinet, drawer and storage area at least twice before leaving. Write down the utility meter readings. Arrive Before The Movers. Arrive at the new apartment/home before the movers to make sure everything goes according to the plan. Check to see if the utilities are connected. Have a cashier’s check or money order ready to pay the movers since most moving companies won’t accept a personal check or credit card without prior approval. Unpack With A Plan. Don’t plan to unpack in one day; it may take a week or more. Have a plan so things go smoothly and focus attention on one room at a time, considering the family’s basic needs. The kitchen is usually first, then bedroom followed my living room and guest room.
Enjoy Your New Home. Enjoy yourself. A new move is an exciting time that will begin a new chapter of your life. | 5,963 | 2,842 | 0.000357 |
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The European Free Trade Association Surveillance (EFTA Surv) Authority has approved a Norwegian state aid scheme which grants tax refunds to ship owners.
Under the scheme, qualifying ship owners receive refunds of income tax and social security contributions paid on behalf of crew employed on Norwegian-registered vessels. The scheme effectively subsidizes the relatively high wages of Norwegian crew in an industry which is able to employ foreign labor at a considerable discount.
The tax refund scheme was introduced by the Norwegian Government as a temporary measure in 1993 and made permanent in 1994. The scheme applies to certain categories of ships registered in the two Norwegian ship registers, the Norwegian Ordinary Ship Register and the Norwegian International Ship Register.
The maritime industry is one of the most important sectors of Norway's economy, employing 110,000 people and generating NOK175bn (USD21.5bn) annually, according to EFTA. This consists of ocean transport, ship equipment, shipbuilding, shipbroking, financing, insurance, research and development, classification, and maritime offshore oil-related services, among other activities. Norwegian shipping companies employ almost 50,000 people.
In its decision, EFTA Surv said that the aid in question was justified because the maritime transport industry in Norway - and in other European Economic Area member states - faces aggressive competition from vessels registered in third countries "which do not take much care to observe social and safety rules in force at international level."
EFTA Surv last conducted a review of the scheme in 2006, and the Authority's approval of the scheme expires on June 30, 2016. The latest decision extends this approval for an additional 10 years.
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warc | 201704 | Good news if you're planning a holiday in Europe this summer. The chances are that mobile roaming costs will be cheaper by then. EU negotiators have reached a preliminary deal to lower the price of using your mobile phone across EU states.
Representatives from the 27 EU member states, the European Parliament, and the European Commission finally agreed on a compromise. Tough negotiations were carried out into the evening yesterday.
Price cap
The deal states that a price cap in the first year will be set at 49 euro cents per minute for making mobile phone calls abroad. The following year, the price will fall to 46 euro cents, and again to 43 euro cents in the third year. These prices exclude VAT.
Receiving a call while abroad will cost 24 euro cents in the first year. It'll then fall to 22 euro cents in the second year, and to 19 euro cents in the third year.
European Parliament members had originally called for a cap at 40 euro cents per minute for outgoing calls, and 15 euro cents for incoming calls. The member states had suggested 60 and 30 euro cents per minute respectively.
"After difficult negotiations, we have come up with a viable compromise on the roaming regulation. It's a very consumer-friendly tariff," said Austrian MEP Paul Ruebig, co-author of the draft law.
He added that he knew that "not everybody will be happy with the solution that we have found".
Compromise
The compromise deal will come to an end after three years in effect, forcing the legislation to be reviewed, Ruebig explained.
Once in effect, operators have one month to offer customers the new pricing plan. Customers will have two months to choose whether they want to go with the new roaming charge plan or stick with their existing service contracts.
Some 150 million mobile phone customers in the EU use roaming to make calls outside their home nation. Mobile companies are making around 10 billion euros every year from this, according to EU figures.
The compromise deal could come into effect by mid July - just in time for the summer holidays. However it must first be approved by MEPs when they meet in Strasbourg next week, and then by the 27 EU telecoms ministers when they gather in Brussels on 7 June. | 2,229 | 1,101 | 0.000916 |
warc | 201704 | In a previous blog, Joe Rosberg discussed the "importance vs. urgency" matrix, as explained by Steven Covey.
Another useful tool for setting priorities is the "80-20" rule. I first learned about it years ago, from a book entitled
How to Get Control of Your Time and Your Life, by Alan Lakein. This rule is known more formally as the "Pareto principle," being developed and expounded by Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto. In simple terms, the 80-20 rule states that 80% of effects stem from 20% of possible causes. Put another way, 20% of your work is vital, while 80% is trivial. For example, 80% of a company's sales come from 20% of its customers 80% of software bugs come from 20% of the code 80% of help desk calls come from 20% of the end users 80% of help desk calls involve 20% of supported applications
I could go on, but you get the point. If you look at your own lives, you probably see how this rule applies to you in other ways as well.
"Work smart, not hard" is a quote I have often heard, and it makes sense. As Joe pointed out, time is valuable for all of us, and we hate to see it wasted. When deciding on which tasks to do first, therefore, consider this 80-20 rule. What 20% of your tasks, when you finish them, will benefit 80% of your customers, or would solve 80% of your troubles? Give priority to the "vital few," rather than the "trivial many."
I'm not saying the 80-20 rule is ironclad and should be followed blindly. However, it's an important factor to consider in planning your work and your time.
Full Bio
Calvin Sun is an attorney who writes about technology and legal issues for TechRepublic. | 1,644 | 915 | 0.001107 |
warc | 201704 | Domitek Inc. provides information-technology support to small- and medium-sized businesses. The 8-year-old company, at 100 Grove St. in Worcester, has grown by 80 percent over the past two years, according to Mr. Bueno. It has six employees. Mr. Bueno, 42, emigrated from the Dominican Republic as a teenager to Worcester, where he graduated from South High Community School and later attended New England Tech in Warwick, R.I. The name "Domitek" is inspired by Mr. Bueno's Dominican heritage, and the firm's message, which he says is: "We dominate technology."
You describe your company's philosophy as "investing in the future." How are you doing that?
"One of things we've been doing is investing in youth. Last year I came across some youths in the city who asked me how I got the vehicle I was driving. I told them I went to college, I have a computer science degree, I own a business. They were really intrigued about technology. I said, you can also own this vehicle, if you go to school and get an education. They said to me they didn't have the tools to be able to do that. I realized I could buy them a laptop and whatnot, but what I ended up doing was challenge them to write an essay on why they should get a laptop. It dawned on me that everyone is born with a hidden talent that just needs to be exposed."
Why does it make sense for today's small businesses to outsource their support services?
"It's beneficial to outsource because they can get it done right. They can concentrate on their core business and improve their bottom line and leave the IT to the IT pro. This is where Domitek can be a great asset to many companies. We help with planning, disaster recovery, security.
We provide day-to-day help-desk assistance, where we help them with their computer needs and servers and security. We also provide cloud solutions powered by Microsoft. We're a Microsoft Partner and Microsoft Small Business Specialist, which means that we specialize in Microsoft technology. We help our clients with their planning, their disaster recovery. We insure that their data is always secure and not compromised."
What is the worst crash you've been called on to fix?
"There have been quite a few. We had a client who had an employee leave the company and smashed the computer into the floor. We had to recover the data, and we helped them design not only a disaster recovery (system), but also an employee exit strategy:
What are the things you want to do before you let go an employee?
Make sure the equipment is out of their reach, make sure the data is backed up, and so forth.
Nowadays there are a lot of viruses out there. People download a lot of free software. My philosophy has always been, on the Internet anything that claims to be free always has a price attached to it — and that is your data and your security. People click on a link they think is legit, and it downloads a program that hijacks your computer and you have to pay ransom money to get your computer freed up. One of them is called the FBI virus. That's the No. 1 virus out there. You get a screen that says the FBI has been monitoring your computer, and at this point your computer has been locked down (and) you need to pay X amount of dollars. This is coming from overseas. The United States has been targeted quite a bit. The lack of education among people using their technology is leading to all the security issues we are facing nowadays."
Are there some tips you can offer readers to prevent computer disasters before they happen?
"One of the main things people can do is use common sense when using the computer. The analogy I use is, the computer is just like a knife: When you grab a knife in your hand, you have to be cautious how you use it, because you can cut your hand. Same thing with the computer: Using it the wrong way can lead to disaster, whether it's your data being stolen or some other problem. Try to be vigilant, keep your computer up to date, have a fully paid anti-virus subscription. If you own a business, make sure you have a fire wall in place. Make sure people aren't bringing in USB drives and plugging them into the computer. Have some sort of data policy. Be vigilant and use some common sense."
Compiled by correspondent Mark Sullivan | 4,287 | 2,091 | 0.000482 |
warc | 201704 | Seems like the boffins at the University of Michigan have decided that the more you Tweet, text, msg, post, etc. the more intelligent you become. They believe that the more you interact with other people the smarter you get.
In a recent study they tested a group of participants by dividing them up into random pairs. One group was told to find out as much as they could about the other person. The second group had to perform a series of brain-games designed to boost intelligence. The final group, the control, just sat there watching the walls.
After each group had performed their tasks they were give a series of cognitive tests to see if any of them actually got any smarter. Turns out the people who interacted with each other and the people who played the brain games both showed improvement (while the people who stared at the walls…uh…what was the question?) The researchers concluded that the active perspective-taking one does in conversation involves mental gymnastics as demanding as any brain-teaser.
Anyway, the folks at the U of M aren’t the only ones who have been tracking this phenomenon. Apparently the Newcastle Business School in the UK and the University of Lapland in Finland have both been studying open innovation projects (where organizations facing tricky problems invite outsiders to take a crack at solving them).
Like the University of Michigan study, they concluded that it was more about the interaction between people than solving the problems.
The Newcastle Business School looked at knowledge exchange between higher education institutions and industry (a typical exchange in open innovation challenges) and concluded that success depends upon the social processes that facilitate the collaboration.
The University of Lapland explored what executives who sponsor open innovation challenges value most about them, and found out that the broader benefits of the multidisciplinary social interaction outweigh the concrete results of getting specific solutions.
Finally, there is another study, published in Nature Neuroscience in 2011 that demonstrated a positive correlation between the size of the amygdala – the part of the human brain that performs a primary role in the processing of memory and emotional reactions – and the size and complexity of a person’s social network.
Andy Zynga commented in a Harvard Business Review blog, “In other words: Bigger brain, greater social interactions. It’s a correlation, and the first assumption people make is that the larger amygdala supports greater emotional intelligence and better memory, allowing the individual’s social network to expand. But perhaps the causality also goes the other way, and interacting widely with others – as companies do when they use open innovation – grows the capacity of brains.”
So the next time your mother tells you to stop texting during supper you can tell her you are exercising your amygdala and that is making you smarter. (Hell, simply using the word amygdala in a sentence kinda prove that.) | 3,085 | 1,497 | 0.000684 |
warc | 201704 | Heavier women have lower quality relationships - but not menJune 24th, 2009 - 1:13 pm ICT by IANS
Washington, June 24 (IANS) Heavier women are more likely to have a lower quality relationship, but the same is not true for men, according to a latest study.
Dr. Janet D. Latner, a professor of Psychology at the University of Hawaii and her colleagues examined body image, weight, romantic relationships and differences between men and women.
The study suggested that heavier women had lower quality relationships, which they predicted were more likely to end. They also partnered with less desirable men and believed that their partners would rate them as less warmrustworthy.
Furthermore, the partners of heavier women rated these women’s bodies less positively and judged them as poorer matches to their ideal partners for attractiveness.
In general, for heavier men, similar findings were not reported.
Dr. Latner said: “Prejudice and discrimination are commonly directed at overweight individuals. However, few previous studies have examined whether weight stigma occurs within established romantic relationships. Our results suggest it does.”
Related Stories Fat women have 'lower quality relationships' - Jun 24, 2009 'Obese women receive lower starting salaries' - May 02, 2012 Shaming obese people can backfire - May 04, 2011 Fat dads may lower chances of pregnancy - Oct 31, 2010 IVF babies from frozen embryos healthier - Jan 09, 2012 Stressed out men prefer larger women, study shows - Aug 09, 2012 Staying slim makes it easier for women to climb the success ladder - Oct 08, 2010 Here's how men's and women's weight can influence their pay cheques - Oct 08, 2010 How social influences affect weight status in young adults - Jan 12, 2011 Recession beats dieting, gym in slimming people - Mar 04, 2012 Obesity 'harms sexual health' - Jun 16, 2010 'Tough love' may prevent obese people from exercising! - Apr 22, 2011 Obese girls show greater poise when happy with their shape - Apr 30, 2012 Nearly 25pc of overweight women think they're normal size: Study - Nov 23, 2010 Sleep disorder linked to elderly men's blood pressure - Aug 31, 2011
Tags: attractiveness, body image, colleagues, desirable men, differences between men and women, image weight, june 24, men and women, overweight individuals, prejudice and discrimination, psychology, quality relationship, quality relationships, romantic relationships, stigma, study suggested that, university of hawaii | 2,493 | 1,232 | 0.00082 |
warc | 201704 | Smoking ban: Supreme Court says no to interim stay (Lead)September 29th, 2008 - 9:18 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) The Supreme Court Monday endorsed, at least till the next hearing in November, a country-wide ban on smoking in public places from Oct 2, dismissing arguments that it would mean ushering in “inspector raj” in India. Refusing to put the ban, that has provisions of Rs.200 fine, on hold, a bench of Justice B.N. Agrawal and Justice G.S. Singhvi also initiated steps for transfer of a bunch of 34 petitions, pending in various high courts, against the ban.
The apex court’s order came on a plea by the government, seeking transfer from the various high courts the lawsuits challenging the ban.
The bench issued the order after hearing counsel for various tobacco producers, including ITC and the federations of hoteliers. The court dismissed their fears that the ban, empowering various government officials to impose fines against offenders, would usher in an “inspector raj”, a regime in which a citizen would remain under watch by government inspectors.
Refusing to interfere with the government’s plan to ban smoking from Oct 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the bench ruled: “We have given our anxious consideration to the entire matter. We are of the view that it’s not a fit case to put any interim stay on implementation on ban on smoking.”
“Therefore, the plea for stay on prohibition of smoking in public places is rejected,” the bench said.
The government is to ban smoking in all public places, where the common citizens have the right to access, including cinema halls, restaurants, amusement centres from Oct 2 as per an anti-smoking law of 2003.
The open spaces, like roads, parks etc, however, have not been defined as public places.
The rule for enforcing the ban on smoking in public places was framed and notified in May, leading to filing of several lawsuits in various high courts by tobacco manufacturers and hoteliers against the proposed ban.
Appearing for the hoteliers, senior counsel Harish Salve, a non-smoker, said the rules framed by the government to impose the ban in public places far exceeded the mandate granted to it by the anti-smoking law, enacted by the parliament.
He pointed out that there was no provision in the act for appointment of any person to impose the fine on smokers, yet the rules empower a whole lot of government officials to impose the fine.
“This would lead to an ‘inspector raj’ in the country with any excise inspector walking in to any office and imposing a fine for smoking,” Salve contended.
He also objected to the provisions that held responsible the manager or in charge of any public place like restaurant to be liable to be fined for smoking by others in the premises.
He also pointed out that the rules framed earlier for ban on smoking provided for smoking areas in places like restaurants, but the new rule says the restaurant would not provide any service in the smoking area.
He pleaded direction to the government to take no punitive or coercive steps like imposing the fine, but the bench did not accede to his requests.
The bench, however, discarded his argument and fixed Nov 18 for further hearing on the matter after issuing notices to the petitioners in various high courts, seeking their response as to why their lawsuits should not be transferred to the apex court.
Related Stories | 3,488 | 1,597 | 0.000643 |
warc | 201704 | Readers of this blog are familiar with my propensity to link seemingly unrelated news items. This may be a symptom of personal pathology (some loose wirings in the brain?), but I find that comparison often discloses otherwise hidden realities. I will now proceed to look at two news stories, both dated July 6, 2014, greatly different both in content and source.I got the first story from
Law and Religion Headlines,the eminently useful online publication of the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory University. It appears daily, even as in this case on the Sunday of a three-day July 4 weekend (the outfit must have either a very smart computer program or a very devoted staff). This particular item was culled from the recent American subsidiary of Al Jazeera, the controversial but by now widely watched television network with headquarters in Qatar (the controversy comes from what many have seen as pro-Islamist reporting, something rather irrelevant in this instance).The story by Tara Isabella Burton is titled “The Rise of Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Caucasus”. The focus is on Armenia, though there is also mention of Georgia. The topic is intriguing even if you do not share my fascination with religious curiosities. Until recently this was a religiously homogeneous country: about 93% of its population of around three million belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church (one of several so-called Oriental churches, who come out of Eastern Christianity but are not in communion with Constantinople, because they do not recognize the decisions of the Council of Chalcedon, 451 CE, about the relation between the divine and human aspects of Jesus Christ—I will resist the temptation of going into the fascinating details of this history).If Armenians are rebuked for being stubbornly out of tune with most everyone else (Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Protestants and the great majority of Eastern Orthodox Christians), they are prone to point out (correctly) that their ancient kingdom was the first state to make Christianity the official religion, in 301 CE (Rome, Moscow and Canterbury can only look down with embarrassment). Not surprisingly, there has been a close identification of Armenian nationality and the Armenian church ever since, throughout the largely tragic centuries of Armenian history. A Catholic or Protestant Armenian is an identity as startling as that of a Jew adhering to any branch of Christianity. All the more amazing is the fast growth of religious diversity since restored Armenian sovereignty emerged from the collapse of the Soviet Union. Most of this was brought about through an invasion by American Evangelical missionaries, many of them Pentecostal. But two other American-originated faiths have also settled in the shade of Mount Ararat (the Armenian holy mountain, supposedly the landing place of Noah’s Ark). There are now an estimated 3,000 Mormons, outrun by an estimated 11,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses.Also on July 6, 2014, The New York Timescarried a story by Joseph Goldstein and Jeffrey Singer about a recent development in the Times Square area of Manhattan. Chinese men in Buddhist monastic garb, and a smaller number of similarly dressed Chinese women claiming to be Taoist nuns, have been engaging in aggressive solicitation for donations. The story suggests that the pretended religious identities are not genuine. The area is frequented by masses of tourists. Some of them are entertained by yet another colorful spectacle—and there are many such spectacles around, including that of topless women available to be photographed with tourists. Other pedestrians have been annoyed, as have Buddhist leaders who understandably feel that these happenings are giving Buddhism a bad name. When asked, the putative monks were unable to name any of the basic Buddhist precepts or to identify the temples for which the donations are allegedly intended. Except for a few charges for “aggressive panhandling”, the police have not interfered. Not only is any public exercise asserting to be religious protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, it is not illegal to walk around unusually dressed and to solicit contributions for dubious institutions. The New York City Police Department is obviously unable to make judgments as to what is authentic Buddhism (or Taoism) and what is not.What is the underlying reality disclosed by these two news stories? It is that of globalized religious pluralism. I have for quite a few years proposed that pluralism, and not secularization, is the major contemporary challenge to religious faith. [I will assert another constitutionally protected right here, that of “commercial speech”: My (hopefully persuasive) outline of a sociological theory of pluralism will be unveiled in my forthcoming book The Many Altars of Modernity,to be published by DeGruyter in September 2014.]For historically well-known reasons, American society has been exuberantly pluralist from its beginnings. The globalization of religious pluralism is not only or even primarily due to direct American influence, but rather to the fact that the pluralization of beliefs and values is an intrinsic consequence of modernity (it can be resisted, but only at great cost). However, there is direct American influence as well, some of it by religious movements that originated in the United States, and some by the general impact of American culture (even American progressive movements, such as feminism and gay rights, have been globalized). In terms of religious influences, the most important has been American Protestantism, especially in its Evangelical and Pentecostal versions. The Edinburgh conference on missions in 1910, mostly dominated by British and American Protestants, looked forward to a century of missionary achievements. Not even the most optimistic prognoses in 1910 could have foreseen the enormous success of the Protestant missionary enterprise. Since then Protestantism has grown explosively in eastern Asia (South Korea is the principal case, though China may follow, despite government efforts to clamp down), sub-Saharan Africa (for example, there is a thriving Lutheran church in Ethiopia), and Latin America (no longer an exclusively Catholic continent).Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses are distinctly American movements, both now with large international branches. The Latter-Day Saints, as Mormons like to call themselves, originated in two events–in 1823, when the angel Moroni first appeared to Joseph Smith in upstate New York (in the region called the Burnt-Over District, because it was the locale of one revival movement after another)–and 1847, when Brigham Young arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in what is now Utah after an epic trek and there established the New Zion. There are an estimated 12 million Mormons in the world today, only half of them in America.Jehovah’s Witnesses originated a little later, in the 1870s. Led consecutively by Charles Russell and Joseph Rutherford, they are an offshoot of American Adventists, a group consumed with avid expectation of the imminent return of Jesus. Based on arcane Biblical calculations, different dates were given for this much postponed event; most Adventists, including the Witnesses, now limit themselves to saying that it would occur “soon”. The holy city of the Witnesses is not Salt Lake City but Brooklyn, New York, where the large complex of the Watchtower Society (the central organization of their church) is located. The official claim for worldwide members is 8 million. (Brooklyn may seem an unlikely address for a holy city, until one recalls that the same part of New York City, notably in Boro Park and Williamsburg, also houses the international headquarters of several ultra-Orthodox Jewish groups.) Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses are not generally accepted by Protestant denominations, but they are perceived in many countries as being part of a general Protestant invasion. This is understandable. Their doctrines and forms of piety, however peculiar they may seem to outsiders, easily testify to their Protestant origins. If I may put it this way (no pejorative judgment is intended), they “smell Protestant”–incidentally, just as the Oriental churches, no matter their rejection of Chalcedonian Christology, “smell Orthodox”.Thus our first story belongs to the general phenomenon of the global reach of Protestantism, most of it first emanating from America. The second story (however grotesque its immediate topic) shows that Asia is returning the compliment. Religious ideas and practices rooted in India and East Asia have been penetrating American culture, far beyond the converts to Buddhism or Hinduism–reincarnation and karma, meditation and martial arts. It seems to me that believers and practitioners in all the major religious traditions should not bemoan this development: It impels them to reflect on what is the core of their faith and what is peripheral. | 9,089 | 4,327 | 0.000234 |
warc | 201704 | 1 of 1 Photos | View More Photos
ORRVILLE -- Two incumbent U.S. representatives, forced to run against each other through redistricting, sparred over familiar themes at the Candidates' Night event at University of Akron Wayne College Tuesday night.
With less than two weeks until the election, Rep. Jim Renacci, a Wadsworth Republican in his first term representing Ohio's 16th Congressional District, and Rep. Betty Sutton, a Copley Township Democrat in her third term representing the 13th District, laid out their plans for the next term, their experiences and their opponents' shortcomings. Both are seeking to represent voters in the redrawn 16th District, which loses much of Stark County and extends north through Medina County into Cuyahoga County.
Moderator Cindy Biggs opened by asking what would be the first thing each would work on when elected. She noted that there have been so many negative ads, that it can be hard to know what each candidate stands for.
For Renacci, a certified public accountant and businessman, he wants to reform the government in Washington, D.C., so it works for the people. Because the debt continues to grow, the goal has to be to get government to live within its means and live within a budget. The most important thing he hears in the district is jobs, jobs, jobs.
As he did in his first run for Congress, Renacci is still calling for the government to help add some certainty and predictability in the marketplace. As a CPA, if he were asked to help a business create a budget for the upcoming year, he couldn't do it because health care costs, tax rates and the regulatory environment is unclear.
While government does not create jobs, Renacci said it can create an environment that doesn't allow jobs to be created.
Sutton said her platform is simple: She will fight for policies that create jobs at home, fight against policies that ship jobs overseas, fight for a level playing field for manufacturers and workers and provide incentives to small businesses to treat customers fairly and their employees right, because they are part of the engine of growth.
Sutton said she has fought to revitalize the American automotive industry and will continue to pursue her American Jobs First bill, which would require American iron, steel and manufactured goods to be used for federal projects. This would create jobs in Ohio, she said.
Biggs' second question concerned balancing the federal budget. She wanted to know what spending they would cut and how they would increase revenue.
In order to deal with the long-term budget problem, something needs to be done about the job-deficit problem, Sutton said. She said the government has to make smart investments and smart cuts. The country cannot get rid of its jobs deficit without those jobs coming back, she said. Sutton supports closing loopholes that send jobs overseas and making those at the very top pay their fair share.
What Sutton would not do is to take money out of Medicare, she said, adding Renacci supported Congressman Paul Ryan's budget that cut more than $700 billion from Medicare to "turn it into a voucher program."
Renacci responded Sutton is the only one running in the race who has actually voted to cut Medicare, saying $718 billion was cut from the program to help pay for Obamacare. He said Medicare needed to be strengthened, and he opposed the 15-member Independent Payment Advisory Board making decisions on health care.
To reduce the deficit, it will come down to jobs, jobs, jobs, Renacci said.
Sutton challenged Renacci's assertion that she cut money from Medicare, saying the statement has been proven by PolitiFact to be a false statement. The money cut deals with waste, fraud, abuse and overpayments to insurance companies, and it is taken out and used to strengthen Medicare. She also said PolitiFact has rated the statement about the IPAB false.
"Slice it, dice it cut it, whatever you want to call it," but when $718 billion was taken out of Medicare it was a cut, Renacci said. Doctors and physicians will see those cuts. When service dollars are taken away, less services will be provided.
As for PolitiFact, a fact-checking effort by the Tampa Bay Times, when Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney said President Barack Obama's health care legislation cut $716 billion from Medicare for current retirees, it rated the statement as "half true."
The money is cut, but it is a reduction in growth from 2013-2022. PolitiFact rated Romney's statement as "half true" because the spending reductions will be primarily affect insurers and hospitals, not current recipients.
As for the IPAB, PolitiFact rated a statement "mostly false" by Romney that Obama has "put in place a board that can tell people ultimately what treatments they're going to receive." The board cannot ration health care, and it can only reduce the amount of Medicare spending, not make decisions about individuals' care.
Candidates' Night was sponsored by The League of Women Voters of Wayne County, AAUW's Wooster Branch and the University of Akron Wayne College.
The night featured three other races:
-- State Representative District 1, where incumbent Ron Amstutz, a Wooster Republican, is facing newcomer John Maglio, an Orrville Democrat;
-- Wayne County Juvenile and Probate Court Judge, where Judge Latecia Wiles is running against William Bailey, who served as the judge years ago; and
-- Wayne County Engineer, where incumbent Roger Terrill, a Republican, is being challenged by John "Andy" Long, an independent.
Stories about the other races will appear in upcoming editions of The Daily Record.
League of Women Voters President Alex Davis said the organizers did an excellent job with the event, the candidates were well prepared and the audience provided excellent questions.
"I think the voters are much more informed because of Candidates' Night," Davis said.
Reporter Bobby Warren can be reached at 330-287-1639 or bwarren@the-daily-record.com. He is @BobbyWarrenTDR on Twitter.
Samestory, You may be on to something. He was too lazy to extricate his drunken aasociate from the statehouse garage so he sent one of his pages to do it for him. The story was in the ABJ a while back. For some strange reason Bobby didn't report on this in the DR. Imagine that.
Ron Amstutz isn't working on anything except for a way to take more nap time at the expense of the taxpayers. If you could reference Webster's Dictionary under "Lazy" you would find him, but probably not a coherent pic, just one of his sleeping. Has this guy so much as lifted a finger since he's been in? Is that even Ron Amstutz at the meet night, or did he pay someone to step in as a look-a-like while he was at the zoo?
It's great to know Amstutz is working on a new funding system for education in Ohio. Hasn't he been working on that for decades? I guess it only seems like decades.
Was Renacci lip syncing to a taped recording or did it just sound like he was repeating the same republican platitudes over and over and over and over and............
Thank you, Bobby, for throwing in the Fact-Checking comments.
This story has it wrong.
Mr. Renacci's allegation about that the Affordable Care Act cut $716 billion from Medicare is simply not true.
PolitiFact Ohio found in August that Mr. Renacci's statement is "MOSTLY FALSE."
But that doesn't stop Mr. Renacci from repeating that bogus claim.
The Daily Record should let its readers know the facts, and the fact is that PolitiFact Ohio graded his statement as "MOSTLY FALSE."
Not half true, as the Daily Record reported, but "MOSTLY FALSE."
You can look it up: www.politifact.com/ohio/statements/2012/aug/24/jim-renacci/jim-renacci-says-betty-sutton-democrats-gutted-med/
airforce96 - Good nit picking LOL, but I'm sure the tea baggers missed the gaffe entirely.
Mr. Renacci: What is the difference between a doctor and a physician as in your comment "Doctors and physicians will see those cuts."? | 8,004 | 3,765 | 0.000268 |
warc | 201704 | The state’s chief utility regulator crafted a compromise that will save many solar installation companies from imminent bankruptcy. But the price he asked was to support his re-election and abandon any backing of his opponent.
Described as either as “borderline illegal” or basic hardball politics, depending on the speaker, the proposal by Louisiana Public Service Commission Chairman Eric Skrmetta, which will be debated Wednesday, is something that even his election opponent Forest Bradley-Wright could support.
Bradley-Wright, a New Orleans consumer advocate, is backed by some of the companies seeking to ease the regulations that are crimping the sale of solar panels that make electricity for their owners. In particular, the solar industry wants to lift the restriction that gives traditional utilities license to suspend full credit for the incentives for new customers once a certain number of solar arrays was sold.
Skrmetta’s proposal eliminates the cap, but he also demanded they join his campaign efforts, according to an account of the meeting a Baton Rouge lobbyist emailed Saturday to members of the Gulf States Renewable Energy Industries Association, a New Orleans-based trade association.
“Though he understands that the solar industry cannot dictate to Forest that he run or not, he expects the solar industry to privately and publicly support his re-election. This means not supporting Forest’s candidacy!” wrote Andrew B. Ezell, a Baton Rouge lawyer representing the trade group. “I strongly recommend that the GSREIA board take heed of this caveat!”
“My concerns about an opponent are irrelevant,” Skrmetta said Monday when asked to respond to that sentence of the email. “Would I prefer not having an opponent? Well, of course. … I don’t need anything from anybody on that element. It’s more about three weeks ago when the first company came to me and told me that if they didn’t get this cap lifted, they probably would go into bankruptcy.”
He said he has worked on a compromise for the past several years.
“The cap is the No. 1 thing that restricts the expansion of solar energy,” Bradley-Wright said Monday. “The cap needs to be lifted. I only wish responsible policy didn’t have to come to the table as a poker chip.”
Bradley-Wright said he had been urged to run by many people, including executives with solar companies. But he hadn’t decided until hearing of the email from supporters. He said he definitely would run.
“I don’t know if you can make that kind of ultimatum stick,” said PSC Commissioner Clyde Holloway, of Forest Hill.
Holloway argues that the solar incentives allow a couple thousand wealthy customers who can afford the upfront expense to have systems subsidized by the couple million electricity buyers who can’t. He said he supports Skrmetta’s proposal because it addresses, at least for the time being, the key financial issues for the utility companies and the business operations issues for the solar sellers.
“It settles an issue that needs to be settled,” he said.
But it won’t be settled with the help of PSC Commissioner Foster Campbell, of Bossier Parish. He opposes the deal and says Skrmetta’s actions skirt so close to the edge of the law that they could be “borderline illegal.”
“You can’t promise a vote for support. These people have been against him and now he’s trying to do something for them in return for their support. That’s going way too far,” Campbell said. “It’s not the first time he’s tried to bully people.”
Campbell and Skrmetta have had a number of loud and angry public arguments over the years.
Electricity must be used immediately. Because solar only produces during sunshine hours — Entergy Corp. says its research indicates primarily between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., when most people are at work — the individual systems add power to the utility’s grid of electricity. At night, they draw power from the grid. Owners of solar panels are “paid” for the power moved onto the grid during the day and those credits reduce the amount they have to pay for the electricity used at night. The system is called “net metering.”
In addition to eliminating the cap, Skrmetta’s proposal would allow a solar customer to offset his bill from the utility company for all the electricity used in a given month. Anything above that amount would sell back to the utility company at a cheaper wholesale amount.
Lobbyist Ezell, who would not comment on his email, said the proposal removes the uncertainty for solar operators and allows them to transition more easily into a world without the tax incentives, which begins in 2015.
“I’m not trying to tee something up for an argument as much as I am trying to listen to the troubles that the companies are having,” Skrmetta said. “We’ll still have a discussion on it. If there is support for it, then the PSC will vote for it. If there is no support for it, they will not approve it.” | 5,197 | 2,391 | 0.000444 |
warc | 201704 | How is marriage like poetry? Ask Wendell Berry, who wrote a 1982 essay exploring the question. Fred Sanders explores that essay’s comparison of marriage to poetry, and explains why Berry’s vituperative denunciation of same-sex marriage opponents was so inconsistent with Berry’s past writing and thinking about marriage. Excerpt from Sanders, who is as puzzled as I am, but far more irenic and charitable about it:
“It may be,” wrote Berry near the end of the essay,
that form serves us best when it works as an obstruction to baffle us and deflect our intended course. It may be that when we no longer know what to do we have come to our real work and that when we no longer know which way to go we have begun our real journey. The mind that is not baffled is not employed. The impeded stream is the one that sings.
Artists love limits. As the great formophile William Wordsworth said, they “scorn not the sonnet” with its ancient, fixed rules, just as “nuns fret not” at the convent door. Likewise, when Auguste Rodin bloviated that “no truly great man has ever confined his love to only one woman,” lovers know that Rodin should have talked less and sculpted more, for he sculpted like a demigod but spake as a fool.
It is the keeping of the form, Berry wrote, that gives us our instruction. “We had been prepared to learn what we had the poor power to expect. But fidelity to the form has driven us beyond expectation. The world, the truth, is more abounding, more delightful, more demanding than we thought.”
Sanders quotes more from Berry’s 1982 essay, which read:
Marriage is the mutual promise of a man and a woman to live together, to love and help each other, in mutual fidelity, until death. It is understood that these definitions cannot be altered to suit convenience or circumstance, any more than we can call a rabbit a squirrel because we preferred to see a squirrel. Poetry of the traditionally formed sort, for instance, does not propose that its difficulties should be solved by skipping or forcing a rhyme or by mutilating syntax or by writing prose. Marriage does not invite one to solve one’s quarrel with one’s wife by marrying a more compliant woman. Certain limits, in short, are prescribed – imposed before the beginning.
Sanders wants Berry to explain how he reaches his current conclusion about same-sex marriage, in light of his past writing that marriage is intrinsically one thing, and not another. So many people who back Berry in this must not know a thing about his past writing. How is it that Berry, who, despite his advanced age, is still a prolific and opinionated writer on his standard themes, only got around to saying a single word about gay marriage in 2012, in his interview with
National Review, and, in his first lengthy public statement about his views, delivered a jeremiad spoken as if he were a rusticated Larry Kramer?
If Berry has changed his mind about the immutability of the essential nature of marriage, then how? Why? He owes his readers and admirers a lot more than his sneering and insults.
Many readers of this blog have defended Berry’s intemperate remarks by saying that he must only be responding to the meanness of the church towards gays in the past. Berry has certainly never been shy about condemning Christians for not living up to our beliefs, or living them out fully. That’s fine. Prophets are supposed to call us back to fidelity. If we have been cruel and unfeeling towards gays and lesbians — and we certainly have — then we must repent of that. No argument here.
But that is completely beside the point. Sins of commission and omission against gay folks are not a kind of alchemy that makes marriage something it is not. What so many same-sex marriage supporters don’t seem to understand is that many of us do not believe we are free to say that marriage can be anything we want it to be. We believe that marriage as exclusively between one man and one woman cannot be altered to suit convenience or circumstance.
Wendell Berry used to believe that too. Now he has apparently joined the chorus of worthies who, having not found their voice until this moment, speak as if it is as plain as day that gay marriage is just, and it always was perfectly obvious, and if it had been up to them and not those bigoted Jesus freaks, we would have had gay marriage a hundred years ago. | 4,473 | 2,166 | 0.000475 |
warc | 201704 | Does HBV have window period?
Apr 8, 2002
Dear Doc, does the HBV have a window period like HIV? Also how long after infection does it take to clear the virus COMPLETELY from the system?
Response from Dr. Fried
The window period or incubation period is approximately 6 weeks to 6 months after exposure. For most adults who may acquire HBV but then clear it, the virus is gone very rapidly within a few weeks (or less). For someone who develops chronic infection, HBV is always detectabke in the blood. Blood tests can show the exact stage of infection and demonstrate clearance/ the development of protective immunity.
PLEASE HELP THIS IS IMPORTANT
how
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warc | 201704 | While several hundred striking nurses picketed outside Nova Scotia’s legislature, the Liberal government was inside tabling a $9.6-billion budget that increases health-care spending by $194-million, including $10.6-million for more rural doctors.
The contrast wasn’t lost on the union representing the nurses. “Lots of money for physicians. Physicians don’t work alone. No they don’t. They need nurses,” Joan Jessome, president of the Nova Scotia Government Employees Union, told The Globe and Mail Thursday, as she tried to make her voice heard above the din of whistles and noisemakers.
Ms. Jessome represents the 2,300 nurses who are out on a legal strike, which began early Thursday morning. It is not about wages. Rather, registered nurses say they are concerned about patient safety and are demanding mandated nurse-to-patient ratios that would require at least 100 more nurses.
This was the first budget for the Liberals, who were elected last fall with a majority mandate. Finance Minister Diana Whalen forecast a $279-million deficit and a $13.6-million surplus by the end of their mandate in 2017 -2018.
“We are facing significant economic and fiscal challenges,” Ms. Whalen said in her speech. “Our population is shrinking and aging. And while there are some positive signs on the horizon in terms of economic prospects and growth, there remains a steep hill to climb.”
For the first time ever, she announced, health-care spending will “top $4-billion in 2014-2015.” This represents 41 per cent of total government spending of $9.9-billion, she said. Some of the money will be spent on recruiting, training and hiring doctors for rural and remote parts of the province, a tuition relief program for medical-school graduates and reducing waiting times for hip and knee replacements.
Also straining the government’s expenditure, she said, are public-service wages and salaries. Most unions are concluding three-year contracts this year. “… a sustainable future will depend on the willingness of all partners to understand the depth of the challenge facing our province,” she said., “a willingness to place our collective interests ahead of narrow agendas.”
About 65 nurses and their supporters were watching the proceedings from the upper gallery – they had been warned about making noise and were kicked out after they clapped when Progressive Conservative finance critic Tim Houston commented on the strike.
This has been a tense week between the nurses and their employer, Capital District Health Authority, which operates the Halifax hospitals where the nurses work. Nearly 340 surgeries were postponed this week in anticipation of the strike, including 91 surgeries Thursday. About 300 outpatient appointments were postponed, and by the end of Thursday, 227 of 740 beds will be closed, according to Capital Health statistics.
Critical care areas, such as cancer, dialysis and intensive care, were appropriately staffed.
There is no timeline for when talks between the two sides will resume. Mediation broke down on Monday night when Premier Stephen McNeil’s government introduced the Essential Health and Community Services Act, which nurses say takes away their right to strike. MLAs were sitting overnight to pass the legislation, which will effectively end the strike and force most nurses back to work.
“They’re squeezing us,” says Lynn Myra, a long-term care and geriatrics nurse with more than 30 years of experience. “We don’t want to be here. It’s not our choice. This was our last choice.”
Ms. Myra, who was picketing at the Halifax Infirmary, knows the strike won’t last long because of the back-to-work legislation. “We still figure we have to have a voice. We have to stand up to things.”Report Typo/Error
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warc | 201704 | On Friday, July 27, 2012, the Indianapolis Bar Association held its 5th Annual Diversity Job Fair. By all measures it was a success. And let me give you both tangible metrics and intangible ones. On the numbers, we were pleased that 27 employers participated, more than 60 students were interviewed, and 15 organizations contributed sponsorships of the event.
This was truly a national job fair in the sense that the students were from all over the country and from coast to coast. And the diversity among employers was impressive as well – representing boutique firms, large firms, and public interest and government employers. We’ll see later how many students were hired as a result of the fair, but we know that some students were offered jobs even on the day of the interviews.
I don’t have room in this column to recount the less tangible measures. But it starts with recognizing the hard work of the Diversity Job Fair Committee. Brita Horvath chaired the 11-member committee this year and they did an inspired job. IndyBar staff member Caren Chopp ably supported the committee as always. The result was a series of events that should make the IndyBar and the City proud. The welcome reception on the Thursday evening before the interview day was a great event. The students were greeted by federal and state judges, members of the bar and IndyBar leadership and staff. It was held at the Skyline Club, which we might take for granted, but whose views of the City make quite an impression on students unfamiliar with Indianapolis. I talked to one student from Oregon after seeing her gazing out the tall widows. Committee member Shelley Jackson summed it up in her remarks by speaking of the excitement we all felt about the possibilities engendered by the fair. At the Friday luncheon, we heard from Thea Kelly, Senior Counsel with Dow AgroSciences – a great business employing so many people and professionals in our community. Ms. Kelly spoke of her time in law practice in Indianapolis and of being the first African American female lawyer at Dow. Her remarks were inspiring, touching, funny and, above all, real. The IndyBar Diversity Job Fair won’t by itself create the kind of diverse and inclusive environment that so many of us want to see promoted in our legal community. But being part of it this year put me in mind of what we would lose without it. First, we would lose the student-employer connections. That would result in some students that would otherwise get jobs with the participating employers missing out on those opportunities. Second, perhaps less tangibly but just as important, those employers and the rest of us participating in the fair would not get to interact with an important part of the hiring market and would miss an opportunity to add to best practices in promoting diversity in hiring. And finally a reservoir of dynamic energy directed toward diversity in our legal community that is being filled up today by your participation would be empty. It is the last point that is so easily seen in the work of the Diversity Job Fair Committee and in the contributions to the events by Thea Kelly, the sponsors, employers and students. As a postscript to the fair, let me observe that we can’t put the issue of diversity on the shelf until next year. On the heels of the successes of the fair, IndyBar leadership attended the annual meeting of the American Bar Association and its affiliate groups the first week of August in Chicago. A good bit of the programming and few other special events were on the subject of diversity and inclusion in the legal profession and IndyBar representatives attended all of those sessions, coming away with more information, inspiration, and ideas. Our work continues.• | 3,781 | 1,790 | 0.000564 |
warc | 201704 | Years ago, some conservative friends signed me up for a TownHall.com account and the emails I’m sent provide sometimes a chilling view of the national plans Republicans have for fundamentally changing our society. The latest campaign, promoted by Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, seeks an “end around” the US Supreme Court to legally redfine when “personhood” begins.
Senator Paul is pushing the “Life at Conception Act” which would assign all the rights of children born as a means of making Row v. Wade irrelevent and bypassing the Supreme Court. Paul says this can be done without amending the Constitution.
This creates a complete quagmire on a number of fronts. Does the US government provide tax deductions for expecting couples with children born in the next year? What about citizenship? Is this a way to say that pregnant Mexican women are giving birth to Mexican nationals and denying US citizenship to babies born here? Considering a third to half of all pregnancies, depending on which study you believe, result in a miscarriage, does the government treat this as part of the nation’s infant mortality rate? And could you get a tax deduction for a “person” that was miscarried? If a woman has an abortion, should she and her doctor be charged with murder? And what about late term abortions, like the one Presidential candidate Rick Santorum’s wife had, to save the life of a mother? Quite a Sophie’s Choice for legislators isn’t it?
I’m posting the Senator’s pitch below and please feel free to chime in. But making abortions illegal won’t stop abortions — they simply move to the back alley where women will die. Our position is abortion should be safe, legal and rare.
Dear Friend,
For 39 years, nine unelected men and women on the Supreme Court have played God with innocent human life.
They have invented laws that condemned to painful deaths without trial more than 56 million babies for the crime of being “inconvenient.”
In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade ruling forced abortion-on-demand down our nation’s throat.
In the past, many in the pro-life movement have felt limited to protecting a life here and there — passing some limited law to slightly control abortion in the more outrageous cases.
But some pro-lifers always seem to tiptoe around the Supreme Court, hoping they won’t be offended.
Now the time to grovel before the Supreme Court is over.
Working from what the Supreme Court ruled in Roe v. Wade, pro-life lawmakers can pass a Life at Conception Act and end abortion using the Constitution instead of amending it.
That is why it’s so urgent you sign the petition to your Senators and Congressman that I will link to in a moment.
You see, while the national media has talked a lot about the impact of economic issues on this past election, the untold story is just how well pro-life candidates did.
So it is vital every Member of Congress be put on record.
And your petition will help do just that.
Signing the Life at Conception Act petition will help break through the opposition clinging to abortion-on-demand and get a vote on this life-saving bill to overturn Roe v. Wade.
A Life at Conception Act declares unborn children “persons” as defined by the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, entitled to legal protection.
This is the one thing the Supreme Court admitted in Roe v. Wade that would cause the case for legal abortion to “collapse.”
When the Supreme Court handed down its now-infamous Roe v. Wade decision, it did so based on a new, previously undefined “right of privacy” which it “discovered” in so-called “emanations” of “penumbrae” of the Constitution.
Of course, as constitutional law it was a disaster.
But never once did the Supreme Court declare abortion itself to be a constitutional right.
Instead the Supreme Court said:
“We need not resolve the difficult question of when life begins . . . the judiciary at this point in the development of man’s knowledge is not in a position to speculate as to the answer.”
Then the High Court made a key admission:
“If this suggestion of personhood is established, the appellant’s case [i.e., “Roe” who sought an abortion], of course, collapses, for the fetus’ right to life is then guaranteed specifically by the [14th] Amendment.”
The fact is, the 14th Amendment couldn’t be clearer:
“. . . nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty or property, without due process of law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the law.”
Furthermore, the 14th Amendment says:
“Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.”
That’s exactly what a Life at Conception Act would do.
But this simple, logical and obviously right legislation will not become law without a fight.
And that’s where your help is critical.
You see, it will be a tough fight, but I believe with your signed petition it is one we can win.
By turning up the heat through a massive, national, grass-roots campaign in this session of Congress, one of two things will happen.
If you and other pro-life activists pour on enough pressure, pro-lifers can force politicians from both parties who were elected on pro-life platforms to make good on their promises and ultimately win passage of this bill.
But even if a Life at Conception Act doesn’t pass immediately, the public attention will send another crew of radical abortionists down to defeat in the next election.
Either way, the unborn win . . . unless you do nothing.
That’s why the National Pro-Life Alliance is contacting hundreds of thousands of Americans just like you to mobilize a grass-roots army to pass a Life at Conception Act.
They are the key ingredient in the National Pro-Life Alliance’s plan to pass a Life at Conception Act. They’ll also organize:
… Extensive personal lobbying of key members of Congress by rank and file National Pro-Life Alliance members and staff.
… A series of newspaper columns to be distributed free to all 1,437 daily newspapers now published in the United States.
… An extensive email, direct mail and telephone campaign to generate at least one million petitions to Congress like the one linked to in this letter.
Of course, to do all this will take a lot of money.
Just to email and mail the letters necessary to produce one million petitions will cost at least $460,000.
Newspaper, TV and radio are even more expensive.
But I’m sure you’ll agree pro-lifers cannot just sit by watching the slaughter continue.
The National Pro-Life Alliance’s goal is to deliver one million petitions to the House and Senate in support of a Life at Conception Act.
When the bill comes up for a vote in Congress, it is crucial to have the full weight of an informed public backing the pro-life position.
I feel confident that the folks at National Pro-Life Alliance can gather those one million petitions.
But even though many Americans who receive this email will sign the petition, many won’t be able to contribute. That’s why it’s vital you give $10, $25, $50, $100, or even more if you can.
Without your help the National Pro-Life Alliance will be unable to gather the one million petitions and mount the full-scale national campaign necessary to pass a Life at Conception Act.
A sacrificial gift of $35 or even $100 or $500 now could spare literally millions of innocent babies in years to come. But if that’s too much, please consider chipping in with a donation of $10.
You should also know that a National Pro-Life Alliance supporter wants to make your decision to give easier by agreeing to match your donation, no matter the size, increasing its value by 50%!
And please help with a contribution of at least $25 or $35. Some people have already given as much as $500. Others have given $50 and $100.
But no matter how much you give, whether it’s chipping in with $10 or a larger contribution of $150, I guarantee your contribution is urgently needed and will be deeply appreciated.
That’s why I hope and pray that you will not delay a moment to make a contribution of $1000, $500, $100, $50, $25, or even $10 if you can.
Your contribution to the National Pro-Life Alliance and
Sincerely,
P.S. The Supreme Court itself admitted — if Congress declares unborn children “persons” under the law, the constitutional case for abortion-on-demand “collapses.”
That’s why it’s so critical to work to get a vote on the Life at Conception Act, legislation that would reverse Roe v. Wade.
Please help make that happen.
Your petition is the critical first step in fighting to end abortion.
Along with your signed petition, please consider making a sacrificial contribution of $100, $50, $25. If that’s too much, please consider chipping in with a donation of $10.
You should also know a generous donor has agreed to match all contributions, no matter the size, increasing your gift to the National Pro-Life Alliance by 50%! | 9,298 | 4,013 | 0.000262 |
warc | 201704 | Ever since I started school, my teachers taught me that our country was "rich" because we had many minerals, and we'd recite the list of minerals. By the time I finished secondary school, I not only knew my country was ‘rich,’ but that Africa itself was ‘rich’ because we had so many natural resources. Even though I didn't study Geology, I could almost tell you where all these precious minerals and other resources were found: oil, diamonds, platinum, gold, copper… in places like Congo, there were names of some things I couldn’t even pronounce. Yes, Africa is so rich!!!
As a young student, if I thought about what the global buyers of Africa’s natural resources then did with them, it was only ever a superficial thought. But I soon realized something didn't add up… Sometimes it almost seemed that the ‘richer’ a country, the poorer the people! But how could this be? "1+1=2"! My primary school teacher drummed it into my head, right? Then I got to secondary school and one day the teacher came in and said, "You know, there are situations when 1+1 does not always add up to 2?!” "I'm here to talk about mathematics,” the teacher said. “It's time to put away the arithmetic; this is senior school!" "Senior school!" I didn't end my study of mathematics in secondary school. I also studied it at university where I majored in engineering. What was it the Apostle Paul said about putting away childish things? Let me return to the wealth of our nations: I left university in the early 1980's. In those days, it was not China that was rising into an economic giant, it was Japan! It was rising and overtaking every European country, until Japan was second only to America… It was so spectacular! I first met a Japanese person when I was in my twenties and already working, yet I read every single book I could find about their prowess. "Tell me about the minerals of your country?" I asked my Japanese friend. "We have no minerals to talk of," he said emphatically and proudly. "What do you mean you have no minerals?" As we talked about the Japanese rise, I was reminded of my lessons in mathematics! And so I had discovered it was possible for a nation to be "rich" without minerals! "We buy your minerals as cheaply as we can, and then we turn them into high-value products." "You mean you exploit us?" "That's not the way we see it. After all, what would you do with them if we didn’t buy them? Do you know what we do with your platinum or your oil?"
Then he added:
# "Our wealth creation model as a nation is not based on raw materials and minerals."
"WEALTH CREATION MODEL?” What do you mean "WEALTH CREATION MODEL???" Deeply troubled (even insulted) initially, I knew there was something more to learn if I avoided becoming emotional. The conclusions I reached changed the way I look at wealth, and totally empowered me. It changed my mindset. The Tentmaker once said that our greatest battle is always in our minds… changing the way see things, particularly if we have held on to a certain perspective for a long time. I hope it will do the same for you. | 3,184 | 1,626 | 0.000639 |
warc | 201704 | You may be a safe, smart driver who doesn’t take unnecessary risks. What about the other drivers on the road? Although you can’t control the behavior of other drivers, you can use defensive driving techniques to stay safe regardless of what happens around you. Defensive driving means staying prepared, alert, and aware of the road conditions directly ahead of you as well as a few hundred feet down the road. When you drive defensively, you will take precautions based on the likelihood of an upcoming accident or other potential dangers. You will also be careful to avoid distracted driving behaviors that can endanger you and others around you. Here is an overview of the basic aspects of defensive driving.
Be Prepared
Preparedness begins before you even get into your car. Have an emergency kit in your trunk with medical supplies, a jack, basic snacks and water. In winter, you should also carry a blanket and extra clothes. Check the pressure of your tires and the oil, gas, and water levels in your vehicle to make sure that the car is in safe driving condition. When you enter the car, check the positions of the mirrors and make certain that the lights are working.
Once you are on the road, stay alert to what is happening around you. As you travel, make a note of safe areas where you can escape a potential accident if needed, such as a clear lane or a drivable area of the shoulder. If you spot dangerous behaviors in a driver near you, take action to remove yourself from that driver’s immediate vicinity. For drivers up ahead who seem likely to cause an accident, keep your distance by slowing down or changing lanes to avoid danger.
Stay Calm
Road rage is a serious danger to all drivers. Even if you are normally a calm and reasonable person, it can be tempting to allow yourself to indulge in road rage behaviors when subjected to another person’s bad driving. If other drivers are behaving badly, simply create space between yourself and that driver. Don’t give in to the temptation to react with anger or try to teach the person a lesson. Emotional reactions will negatively affect your driving, and the end result could be an accident or a traffic ticket.
3-Second Rule: Create Space
The simplest way to create a safe space when driving at high speeds is to use the 3-second rule. In other words, allow three full seconds to pass between the time that the car in front of you reaches a landmark and the time that your own car reaches it. In bad weather conditions such as rain or heavy wind, increase this time to 4 seconds. If the road is icy, 10 seconds is the best policy. Using the 3-second rule for most driving situations, and giving plenty of space to any driver with erratic behavior or existing car damage, is the best way to stay safe on the road. Never tailgate other drivers, which is likely to result in an accident and can get you into legal trouble as well.
Be Seen — Stay in Sight
Even respectful drivers may cause an accident if they cannot clearly see another car. When your car is highly visible, you will be safer on the road. According to some statistics, most drivers do not see 9 out of 10 other cars on the road around them. You can increase the likelihood of being seen by using your headlights appropriately, such as on rainy or overcast days. If you are driving at night with your brights on, make sure to dim them for oncoming cars in order to avoid blinding the other driver. Keeping plenty of space between you and other drivers is another good way to stay visible. If you are traveling in another driver’s blind spot, he or she may collide with your car while merging into another lane or making a turn. Keep in mind that large vehicles such as trucks, buses, and tractor-trailers have an extremely large blind spot, so avoid traveling behind or right next to these vehicles when possible.
Avoid Hazards: Accidents and Driving Impairments
It may seem obvious that alcohol or drug use will impair your ability to drive a car safely and may cause accidents. There are many other types of impairments and distractions that can also cause car accidents. Many people do not realize that over the counter medications or prescription drugs can cause drowsiness or reduced alertness, leading to dangerous driving. Distracted driving is also a serious problem. This can include any activity that takes your attention away from the road, including things like texting, eating, putting on makeup, or fiddling with a CD or mp3 player. If you have passengers in your car, do not allow them to create disturbances that make it difficult for you to pay attention to the road. If you pass an accident or stalled vehicle on the road, focus on the road ahead rather than craning to see the details of what has occurred.
Follow these links for more information about defensive driving and the hazards of distractions while driving.
Defensive Driving Safety Tips The Keys to Defensive Driving Ten Easy Tips for Defensive Driving Defensive Driving: What It Is and How It Can Help You Driver Safety Guide Defensive Driving Techniques for All Drivers Defensive Driving Skills Driving Skills for Life: Games Defensive Driving Distracted Driving Resources Motor Vehicle Safety: Distracted Driving Distracted Driving: Get the Facts Distracted Driving: What Research Shows The Facts About Distracted Driving The Dangers of Distracted Driving | 5,417 | 2,440 | 0.000414 |
warc | 201704 | Do not believe what OUR media and politicians are telling us about Afghanistan. Nearly all the information we get about the five-year-old war in Afghanistan comes from US and NATO public relations officers or “embedded” journalists who merely parrot military handouts. Ask yourself, when did you last read a report from a journalist covering Taliban and other Afghan resistance forces?
Now, the official rosy view is being flatly contradicted by impartial observers.
The respected European think-tank, Senlis Council, which focuses on Afghanistan, just reported the Taliban movement is “taking back Afghanistan” and now controls that nation’s southern half.
This is an amazing departure from claims by the US and its NATO allies that they are steadily winning the war in Afghanistan. Or, more precisely, winning it again, since the Bush Administration claimed to have won total victory in Afghanistan in 2001. At the time, this column predicted that victory was an illusion and the war would resume in force in 4–5 years.
According to the Senlis Council, southern Afghanistan is suffering “a humanitarian crisis of starvation and poverty…caused by “US-British military policies.”
Deflating optimistic western reports, Senlis investigators found, “US policies in Afghanistan have re-created the safe haven for terrorism that the 2001 invasion aimed to destroy.” This is a bombshell.
The US and NATO have been insisting any withdrawal of their forces from Afghanistan – or from Iraq – will leave a void certain to be filled by extremists. These claims are nonsense, given that half of Afghanistan and a third of Iraq are already largely controlled by anti-western resistance forces.
Were it not for omnipotent US airpower, American and NATO forces would be quickly driven from Afghanistan and Iraq. If Afghan and Iraqi resistance forces ever manage to obtain effective man-portable anti-aircraft weapons, such as the US Stinger or Russian SA-18, the US-led occupation of those nations may become untenable. The Soviet occupation of Afghanistan during the 1980’s was doomed once mujahidin forces obtained American Stinger anti-aircraft missiles.
Last week, Canadian and British commanders boasted they were about to annihilate Taliban forces “surrounded” around Panjwai and Zahri. They crowed an “estimated 500 Taliban,” had already been killed.
A storm of bombing and shelling did kill many Afghans, but most of the dead “suspected Taliban militants” turned out, as usual, to be civilians. NATO failed to show bodies of dead enemy fighters to back up its absurd claims.
When NATO forces entered Panjwai after weeks of air strikes and shelling, the supposedly “surrounded” Taliban had vanished. Embarrassed British and Canadian commanders admitted “we were surprised the enemy had fled.” Surprised?
Doesn’t anyone remember the Vietnam War’s fruitless search and destroy missions and inflated body counts? Don’t NATO commanders know their every move is telegraphed in advance to Taliban forces? Don’t they see what’s going on now in Iraq?
Did Canadian officers making such fanciful claims really believe Taliban’s veteran guerillas would be stupid enough to sit still and be destroyed by US air power?
Now, Canadian-led NATO forces are crowing about having finally occupied Panjwai. “Taliban has fled!” they proudly announced. Don’t they understand that guerilla forces don’t hang on to fixed positions? Occupying ground is meaningless in guerilla warfare.
Seemingly immune to history or common sense, Canada is sending a few hundred more troops and a handful of obsolete tanks to Afghanistan. Poland, which will send troops anywhere for the right price, is adding 1,000 more soldiers next year.
US, British and Canadian politicians say they are surprised by intensifying Taliban resistance. They have only their own ignorance to blame.
Attacking Pashtuns, renowned for xenophobia, warlike spirits, and love of independence is a fool’s mission. Pashtuns are Afghanistan’s ethnic majority. Taliban is an offshoot of the Pashtun people. Long-term national stability is impossible without their representation and cooperation.
What the west calls “Taliban” is actually a growing coalition of veteran Taliban fighters led by Mullah Dadullah, other clans of Pashtun tribal warriors, and nationalist resistance forces led by Jalalladin Hakkani and former prime minister, Gulbadin Hekmatyar, whom the CIA has repeatedly tried to assassinate.
Many are former mujahidin once hailed “freedom fighters” by the west, and branded “terrorists” by the Soviets. They represent national resistance to foreign occupation. In fact, what the US and its NATO allies are doing in Afghanistan today uncannily mirrors the brutal Soviet occupation during the 1980’s.
The UN’s anti-narcotic agency reports Afghanistan now supplies 92% of the world’s heroin. Production has surged 40% last year alone. Who is responsible? The US and NATO. They now own narco-state Afghanistan.
Dominating the main oil export route from Central Asia was a primary objective of the US invasion of Afghanistan. Ironically, instead of an anticipated oil bonanza, the US now finds itself mired deep in the Afghan drug trade.
Washington and NATO can’t keep pretending this is someone else’s problem. Drug money fuels the Afghan economy and keeps local warlords loyal to the US-installed Kabul regime.
Afghanistan’s north has become a sphere of influence of Russia and its local allies, the Uzbek-Tajik Northern Alliance led by notorious war criminals and leaders of the old Afghan Communist Party.
The US and its allies are not going to win the Afghan war. They will be lucky the way things are going not to lose it in the same humiliating manner the Soviets did in 1989.
In recent weeks, near panicky calls by British PM Tony Blair for more NATO troops to be sent to Afghanistan show that western occupation forces are on the defensive, fighting to hold their bases, and facing the specter of eventual defeat. Just, in fact, like every other invader that has ever occupied Afghanistan.
A final point. US and NATO forces are not fighting “terrorists,” as their governments claim. They are fighting the Afghan people. In the 1980’s, I saw mujahidin too poor to afford shoes strap 110 lbs of mortar shells on their backs, and climb 6–8 hours over mountains through snow to bombard a Communist base, then trudge home. These are the people we are fighting. Anyone who knows Afghans know they will not be defeated, even if they must resist for an entire generation.
http://www.ericmargolis.com/ | 6,828 | 3,241 | 0.000322 |
warc | 201704 | Multiple Sclerosis Newsletter - October IssueLong Term Data on Avonex, Copaxone
New results from studies that looked at long-term use of Avonex (interferon beta-1a) and Copaxone (glatiramer acetate) showed that on average both stabilized or reduced disability.
Both studies followed-up on people who had been involved in the Phase III clinical trials that led to the initial FDA approval for the drugs.
The Copaxone research looked at 100 people who had received ongoing treatment with the drug for an average of 13.6 years, finding that 80 percent of them were able to walk unassisted and that most had stable or improved disability rates as measured by Expanded Disability Scale Scores (EDSS). The Copaxone patients also had a 78 percent reduction in their annual rate of relapse.
The long-term study of Avonex followed 136 people who had been taking the drug for as long as 15 years, showing that Avonex lowered disability progression as measured by EDSS. It also found that people reported greater independence, both in their ability to care for themselves and in their living situation, and improved quality of life.
The information was presented at the World Congress on Treatment and Research in MS, held Sept. 17-20 in Montreal, Canada. For more information on studies reviewed at the World Congress, look for the fall issue of MSFocus in October. Betaseron Introduces Thinner Needle
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, maker of Betaseron, has announced plans for a 30 gauge needle, the thinnest offered for an injectable disease-modifying drug. A recent survey found that of 220 people in the U.S. and Canada polled, 33 percent said that the length of the needle used for MS injections made them nervous, and 31 percent were concerned by the needle’s thickness.
According to Bayer, the new Betaseron needle is comparable to those used for insulin and pediatric injections. The new needle will be introduced with an optional auto injector, called BETAJECT. ® For more information, visit www.betaseron.com/thinner Cannabis-based Drug Relieves MS Pain in UK Trial
A small study in the UK found that people taking Sativex, a cannabis-based medication, experienced less neuropathic pain related to MS than those not on the drug.
Forty-two people who had previously taken Sativex participated in the study, which was designed to see if the pain relief they experienced while taking the drug during an open label trial continued when some were given placebo and others continued with the real medication in a double-blind situation. Researchers found that those who continued taking Sativex did well, while those on placebo reported higher levels of pain.
Sativex, an oral spray, already is available in Canada and is in clinical trials in the U.S. for use as a pain reliever for cancer patients. It also is being tested in the UK to treat spasticity. FDA Watches Tysabri Melanoma Risk
The FDA has placed Tysabri (natalizumab) on a list of medications with potential safety issues due to reports of skin melanomas in some people taking the drug.
The list is the result of a new law that requires the FDA to inform the public about new safety information or signs of possible serious risks associated with a drug.
Medications on the list are under evaluation for specific issues due to a number of adverse reaction (side effect) reports from patients, their doctors and drug manufacturers.
Nineteen other drugs are listed, including Cymbalta (duloxetine) for the risk of urinary retention, Oxycontin (oxycodone) for risk of drug abuse and misuse and Nitrostat (nitroglycerin) for risk of overdose due to labeling confusion. There have been at least three cases of melanoma reported in people taking Tysabri, but a risk of skin cancer is not mentioned in the current package insert.
According to the FDA, a drug’s presence on the list does not mean that a definite link has been established between a risk or side effect and the drug, only that the connection is possible. A full list of the drugs on the FDA’s Quarterly Report of Potential Safety Issues can be seen at www.fda.gov Overactive Bladder Study Enrolling Now
People with MS who have overactive bladder and who use a wheelchair may qualify for the study of an experimental medication for bladder management.
The DignityToo study is enrolling now. Participants must have been diagnosed with an overactive bladder with some incontinence, weigh at least 110 pounds and be willing to record information about their bladder function into a diary.
For more information, visit www.DignityTooStudy.com
or call 1-888-61-STUDY October is National Disability Employment Month
Each year, Congress recognizes the contributions scores of disabled Americans are able to make in the workplace, partially due to legislation such as the Americans with Disabilities Act.
This fall, remember that you have the right to reasonable accommodation in the workplace. Specific information about accommodations for MS symptoms can be found at www.disabilityinfo.gov Web Site to Watch: Atlas of MS
The Multiple Sclerosis International Federation, together with the World Health Organization, has launched the Atlas of MS, a comprehensive study that focuses on the global prevalence of MS using research from 112 different countries.
The database is searchable not only for prevalence of MS, but also can be used to find treatment options, diagnosis process and support systems available in different countries. For more information, visit the Atlas at http://www.atlasofms.org | 5,552 | 2,614 | 0.000386 |
warc | 201704 | Create a strong research ecosystem that responds swiftly to the challenges of the 21st century.
Provide quality non-traditional education in
both the computer science and applicable mathematics and train
bright young minds to effectively apply knowledge to solve
real-world problems thus amplifying their potential for
high-quality careers and give them a competitive advantage in
the ever-changing and challenging global work environment of
the 21st century.
Conduct research to advance the state of the art in computer science and integrate research results and innovations into other scientific disciplines. Provide scientific expertise to the interested parties.
Offer high-quality training activities,
symposia and workshops for researchers and students;
Evaluate training offered elsewhere and where appropriate, partner with offering providers to make it available through the TMRF; Become a model and an influential voice in the national/international dialogue regarding professional standards and expectations in the applicable mathematics and computer science.
From its beginning, it has been intended
that the TMRF should be devoted to the Mathematical Sciences
in the broad sense, i.e. all areas of mathematics including
computer science. The range of sciences in which mathematics
plays a important role is huge. Therefore, selecting
appropriate topics, important principles are that no topic is
excluded
a priori and that scientific merit is to be
the deciding factor. As we always stress main objective
of the TMRF is to overcome the normal barriers presented by
departmental structures in universities around the world. Our
major criterion in judging the `scientific merit' of a
proposed programme for the TMRF is the extent to which it is
`interdisciplinary'. Naturally this will bring
together researchers with different backgrounds and expertise;
sometimes a single mathematical topic may attract a wide
associates from other fields. The Scientific Committee, which
consists of trustee members and well-known scientists,
therefore works within the following guidelines:
Obviously, our aim is to select programmes
which represent serious and important mathematical science and
which will attract the very best mathematicians and computer
scientists from all over the world. However, the TMRF is
interested also to proposals of an unorthodox nature if a
strong scientific case is made.
Although the TMRF operates on a worldwide basis and contributes thereby to the general advancement of mathematical science, it must also be considered in the context of Indian mathematical science. A natural expectation of all those concerned is that each program will be of benefit to the Indian mathematical community in a variety of ways. If India is strong in the field, Indian scientists will play a major part in the program; if India is comparatively weak in the field, the program should help to raise Indian standards and instructional courses, aimed primarily at younger researchers and research students, would play a vital role here. | 3,087 | 1,478 | 0.000685 |
warc | 201704 | A chimpanzee at the Ohio State University animal laboratory, looks out from his play room.
ASSOCIATED PRESS Enlarge
The National Institutes of Health has taken a big step toward more-humane treatment of animals: An NIH committee of scientists proposes ending the use of chimpanzees in federally funded research.
In 2011, the NIH’s Institute of Medicine declared that most biomedical research involving chimpanzees, which have close genetic proximity to humans, was unnecessary. The agency called for more study and curtailed new grants for work using chimpanzees.
Last week, the institute’s Council of Councils Working Group made its recommendations, which are likely to lead to a final decision by April. High-speed computer simulation and other technology, the council said, have made what many people consider a morally dubious practice irrelevant as well.
The council urged that all but 50 of the 451 chimps funded by the federal government be retired from laboratories and sent to an animal sanctuary. The remaining 50 would be kept in more-spacious enclosures for possible research — but only if experiments on them were the sole way to study a human health threat.
The recommendations are a victory for animal rights advocates and others who oppose what they call the barbaric treatment of chimpanzees in the name of science. The fact that some chimps still will be available for experiments makes it a less-than-complete triumph.
Tests on chimpanzees helped scientists develop the hepatitis A and B vaccines, understand the role played by salt in high blood pressure, and devise antibodies for treating cancer. Today, though, there are other ways of gaining such knowledge.
Let’s hope the NIH follows the advice of its council and accepts this reality.
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warc | 201704 | TOLEDO City Council has gotten its doghouse in order. That's more than can be said for the Lucas County commissioners. Much of the credit has to go to a group of volunteers who share a commitment to public service, a sense of justice, and an affection for man's best friend.
Previous rules governing local dog ownership did little more than target "pit bulls" for extinction. The law approved by council this week, while not perfect, is a significant improvement.
From now on, dogs in Toledo will be judged by what they do, not their breed. Taking the automatic "vicious" label off "pit bulls" actually broadens the definition of a vicious dog. That should make people safer. The two-tiered threat classification makes a needed differentiation between nuisance and dangerous animals.
The emphasis in the new law is on responsible ownership. Fines of as much as $1,000 for unprovoked dog bites will encourage owners to restrain their animals. Mandatory sterilization of dogs caught running loose more than once puts owners of breeding animals on notice and may influence nonbreeders to have their animals spayed or neutered.
The law also protects dogs from neglect by owners. People will no longer be able to chain their dog outside and leave it there for more than an hour - or at all if the owner is away from home. Nor will it be legal to leave a dog completely unattended for more than 24 hours.
As county Dog Warden Julie Lyle points out, these provisions could be difficult to enforce. But they will make it possible to punish the worst offenders. And they will make owners think twice about chaining a dog outside while they go shopping for the afternoon or on an overnight trip.
While City Council accomplished all this, Lucas County officials played games with the definition of "surplus," tried to disband the volunteer group responsible for the positive changes at the dog warden's office, and overruled Ms. Lyle when she tried to end mass dog killings.
It took months of dedication and hard work for the Lucas County Dog Warden Advisory Committee to craft Toledo's new dog ordinance. At the county level, much has been accomplished. Killings are down, adoptions are up, and the pound's union workers have agreed to allow volunteers to provide the dogs extra care.
But there is more work to do. First on the agenda should be a closer look at the county license fee, which, at $25, is the highest in Ohio.
Would lowering the cost mean more people would license their pets? Or is it better to keep the license fee high and use the surplus to improve facilities at the dog pound or increase the adoption rate?
The effort doesn't end here.
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