text:
TORONTO – The sci-fi cop drama "Continuum" features wild futuristic fantasies including time travel, invisibility suits and wearable micro-computers but its most provocative ideas are rooted in the here-and-now, says star Rachel Nichols.
The Vancouver-set series centres on a cop from the year 2077 who is transported to the year 2012 to stop a terrorist attack on the world's biggest corporations.
The would-be insurgents are convicted criminals who have also time-jumped from the year 2077, when all-powerful businesses have replaced governments as law-maker and many individual rights have evaporated.
It's easy to draw parallels between the show's anti-corporate revolutionaries and the current "occupy" movement meant to highlight social and economic inequities, but Nichols says that's where the commentary ends.
"We're certainly not being political, it's just thought-provoking," says Nichols, a model-turned actress whose past roles include turns in "Sex & the City," "Alias," "Criminal Minds," and "Star Trek."
"There's a social commentary to it which is really important… Where are we headed? What is our future? Where are we going? Are we going to what we've portrayed as 2077, is that where we're headed? Where the government doesn't regulate the corporations, the corporations own the government?"
Nichols stars as Keira Cameron, a dedicated cop from the year 2077 who is inadvertently transported to present-day Vancouver when a group of time-travelling fugitives blast themselves back in time.
Their plan is to stop corporate powers from ever achieving the level of authority they do in 2077. Tracking them down requires Keira to assume the identity of an average police officer, albeit one with some high-tech gadgets and eerie insight into the world around her.
"It's kind of the best of both worlds when it comes to the mash-up of the science fiction and the police drama," says Nichols, who has had formal martial arts training and performs her own stunts in the show.
"We've put those (genres) together but we've also paired it with a show that's very character-driven, which you don't always necessarily see in a cop show or something that's sci-fi. It's very character-driven … and that's what makes it really great because I think (audiences) come back to shows because they really relate to, or love, or are drawn to the characters."
Of course, the tech toys add a layer of fun for any amateur futurist wondering what gizmos could arrive in five decades' time. Nichols admits they're handy storytelling devices, too.
"When I find myself trapped in 2012 the only lifelines I have are the suit that I'm wearing and this multitool that I have and this gun that I have that were part of my equipment in the future. And that's how I get around and that's how I sort of slowly start to learn things," says Nichols, admitting her character is very much like the Terminator in her reliance on computer data to determine her next move.
"I'm kind of a robot, in the future you depend on your tech… It's almost as though humans in the future aren't like the humans today. It's very different. But my suit and my multitool and my gun are great for storytelling because I can go invisible and I can break into cars really easily or I have a truth serum that I can stab people with or I have an energizer… they kind of do anything we need them to do, which is really handy."
Pulling off a skin-tight jumpsuit with some authority had its challenges, Nichols adds. The sexy get-up was a little light for Vancouver's wet and crisp climate in January, when shooting took place.
"It was chilly. It was brisk. But it was all worth it," Nichols chuckles gamely.
Originally from Maine, the 32-year-old Los Angeles resident said she enjoyed her stint in Hollywood North.
"When I got there in January everybody said, 'Oh, the rain,'" she said of warnings that she may not like the weather.
"And I went, 'I live in L.A. It's sunny all the time, I like the rain.' Four months of rain was a bit aggressive. But the few nice days that we had I thought, 'Oh, this is why people love Vancouver.'
"But aside from it being a bit wet it was lovely and clean, people were great, the restaurants were fantastic and it's a very manageable city. I really liked it and I think it's cool that the show is set there. We're not pretending it's another city, it is Vancouver."
"Continuum" debuts Sunday on Showcase.


text:
Survivalists stock up for End of Days
Edited: 16 January, 2010, 14:12
They are ready for a catastrophe of a global scale every minute of their lives and are prepared to meet the challenge wherever they are – at home, in the office, or just walking about.
The people who lay salt and canned food in stores all year around do not surprise experts anymore.
In St. Petersburg alone, there are more than 10,000 getting ready for the End of Days right now, informs Petersburg Business.
Russian survivalists call this speculative catastrophe the SHTF-day. Leaving aside atomic bomb shelters that were built everywhere in the USSR some twenty years ago, 'survivance' as a trend became popular in Russia in the early 2000s, when Russian scientist Valentin Ponomarenko published his 'Problem 2033.'
Continued: http://rt.com/news/survivalists-stock-up-for-end-of-days/
Black Blade: Some Russians are also prepping for SHTF scenarios.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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Register now for free, or sign in with any of these services:
well said
ultra 94 How about fraud , war crimes ect.......
I live in lakewood and we are starting to get that same element her too . I feel sorry for you keep up the good fight.
wow kasickhead has save us money this year, at lease thats what he wants you to believe.
I hate republicans cant wait untill 2012 to get rid of them!!!!
who,s going to pay for these drugs test? damm the republicans can't can't cant even pay for the two wars they started.
w. aka war criminal bush is the worst thing to happen to this country ,ever !!
who owns wall street and fox news? is it a surprise about those poll numbers.
Your right bluhog , anyone who votes for the Grand Oppression Party should have a fork stuck in them.
Why do you think that is?
The Grand Oppression Party , I wish they would spend more time on how to pay for two unfunded wars they started. Its to bad the DEMS could not have purchase A GPS system for the war criminal that way he could have made a left turn instead of the wrong turn that almost pushed our economy of the cliff.
Good luck ,I feel for you
Thats why i dont live in cleveland ,I dont wont my daughter going to cleveland schools.
So thats his mel - function
Moose head did you read the same story I did? Your wrong on taxes hikes
Republicons miss leading American's agian.
or the crouch brothers
you mean maple , bedford and warrensville hgts.
I wish republicants were more concern about paying for wars they started then a womans utterus
Melly mel love it, crouch brothers in charge - what they are in charge


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We have eagerly anticipated No Doubt's return, first taking comfort in the fact that even if they couldn't match their Tragic Kingdom game, we would at least have Gwen Stefani back on the scene again. But then we heard "Settle Down," and were reassured that they still had it. However, it turns out that "Settle Down" was basically just a warm-up for this frenzied and infectious next single.
This morning Ryan Seacrest let loose a second Push and Shove cut, the album's whiling and genre-shifting Diplo produced title track, featuring Major Lazer and dancehall hero Busy Signal. The song — which we heard snippets of in that early webisode — goes all in, moving between their signature ska-pop and party banger and a soaring chorus and back at a clip so quick it makes the upbeat "Settle Down" sound like a lazy jam by comparison. And though they try on a whole bunch of new sounds and styles in these four minutes, the song manages to avoid cacophony and all the while sounds distinctively like No Doubt. Like Stefani rap-sings, "just when you think it's over, we be back on another level like we're doing yoga." September 25th can't come soon enough.
WORLD PREMIERE: Listen to No Doubt's 'Push and Shove' [RS]


text:
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text:
Embodiments of the invention provide a method and apparatus for a wireless health monitoring system for interactively monitoring a disease or health condition of a patient by connecting a mobile phone to or with a digital camera and/or a medical monitoring device. The health related data or visual information from the camera is transmitted to a server using standard internet protocols and may be integrated with various operating systems for handheld or wireless devices, especially those with enhanced capabilities for handing images and visual data.
1. A computer program, residing on a computer-readable medium, containing instructions for causing a server in signal communication with the internet to:
provide a device application and user interface to an mobile phone, wherein the user interface or device application contains instructions for causing the mobile phone to receive data from a generic input/output port and from a camera;
receive a signal corresponding to a health parameter or a visual image from the mobile phone, the health parameter or visual image corresponding to a disease state or condition of a patient;
calculate a response based at least in part on the received signal;
communicate the response to the mobile phone; and
display features according to the response.
2. A device for monitoring health, comprising:
a mobile phone in signal communication with a digital camera, the mobile phone running an application, the application functioning to accept inputs from the digital camera and from a communications port, the communications port including a wireless link to a network; and
a server application connected to the network and in communication with the mobile phone, the server application accessible by a caregiver for monitoring health as indicated by the mobile phone.
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a mobile phone in signal communication with a digital camera, the mobile phone running an application, the application functioning to accept inputs from the digital camera and from a communications port, the communications port including a wireless link to a network, the mobile phone further having a port for connection to a medical device; and
a server application connected to the network and in communication with the mobile phone, the server application accessible by a caregiver for monitoring health as indicated by the mobile phone via the camera and a signal from the medical device.
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28. A method of wirelessly monitoring the disease state or condition of a patient, comprising:
providing a user interface and application to an mobile phone;
entering a health parameter to the mobile phone via a generic input/output port or entering a visual image to the mobile phone via a digital camera, the health parameter or visual image corresponding to a disease state or condition of a patient;
wirelessly transmitting the health parameter or visual image to a server;
receiving the determined health parameter at the server;
calculating a response based on the determined health parameter; and
delivering the response to the mobile phone.
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This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/773,501, filed Feb. 6, 2004, now U.S. Patent No. 6,976,958, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/418,845, filed Apr. 18, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,936,007, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/738,270, filed Dec. 15, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,602,191, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/172,486 filed Dec. 17, 1999, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Health and Disease Management Combining Patient Data Monitoring with Wireless Internet Connectivity", the entirety of each being incorporated by reference herein.
The present invention relates to monitoring of living subjects, and more particularly to health-monitoring of persons where measured or input health data, including photographic, video or voice information, is communicated by a mobile communications device to and from a software application running on an internet-connected server and where the same may be studied and processed by the software application, a health professional, a caregiver, or the subject.
Several attempts have been made in the past to achieve efficient interactive communication of medical or health information between a subject or patient and a reviewer or provider of that information. However, in general, previous systems have limited the user to the general location in which the device was located. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,441,047, images and data were transmitted by standard telephone lines or wireless telemetry systems.
Even where devices are portable, as in the case of a laptop computer with a modem, an ordinary POTS phone line must be found and used. Where the user's computer employs a broadband connection, such as DSL or satellite, the choices of location are even more limited.
Attempts have been made to remedy this deficiency. As noted above, some telemetry systems allow a "wireless" distance to be placed between a health measuring unit and a remote monitoring system. However, such systems are limited in their range.
Other systems have used cellular telephone technology to increase the wireless health monitoring range. However, these systems have several deficiencies, such as requiring significant modification of the mobile phone. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,586, issued Jun. 30, 1998 to Heinonon et al., discloses a method for monitoring the health of a patient. This system uses a specialized connection between the patient health measuring unit and the cellular phone, however. The patient health measuring unit is located in the battery space of the mobile phone and is connected to a communication bus of the mobile phone. Other systems have been proposed, but these suffer from similar deficiencies in that they require specially modified cellular phones to be employed.
The deployment of the above systems also currently lacks employment of full back-end server functionality with which to provide a wide range of interactive communication with the patient. Instead, such systems, if internet-enabled, are often limited to mere one-way non-interactive data transfer via a modem.
Embodiments of the present invention overcome one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a full-feature health-monitoring system that may wirelessly connect to a back-end server application via the internet. The invention allows wireless access to and from a wide variety of present medical or health-related instruments and devices, while maintaining the capability of connecting to future such devices.
The advent of multimedia mobile phones and other personal communications devices that include a digital camera, or are able to connect with one, allows the capture and transmission of medical information, including images. Existing multimedia mobile phones have the capability of transmitting voice, images and data from a medical monitoring device. In addition to the uploading of images, the display screen of a WWD allows the display of images such as illustrations, diagrams or video clips which may be downloaded from a server as part of an interactive user interface (e.g., for the purpose of describing to a caregiver how to set up a medical device). The ability to include images in a system that is based on a WWD connected to a medical device helps facilitate the remote diagnosis and management of a medical condition.
The "reviewer or provider of medical or health information" is understood to include not only a physician or paramedic but also a software application or algorithm that may analyze the information. The medical information can include data from a variety of monitoring devices and images relating to the condition of the patient. The images could include photographs or videos of the patient's specific malady or general condition that aid diagnosis and treatment.
In particular, the invention may be embodied in several systems. Two complementary such systems are described herein, although extensions to other such systems can be envisioned. First, an embodiment of the invention may be employed to manage the disease state or condition of a patient. In this embodiment, the patient, or a caregiver, may employ a health monitoring device ("HMD"), in particular a medical device, and a wireless connection to provide data from the medical device for processing via the internet, including a review by a physician or other health care professional if required.
In the second embodiment, a health or lifestyle management plan may be implemented. Various health parameters, such as those relating to nutrition or exercise, may be entered into a health monitoring device, in this instance termed an "exercise machine", and the same may be wirelessly communicated to a server. An application may process and store the health parameters, and a health specialist may optionally review the same.
In other embodiments, the condition of patients may be evaluated by collecting medical data and providing information in response to those data by means of a WWD designed to display interactive information through a connection to the Internet. The present invention may be connected to various HMDs, and may communicate information via a wireless connection such as a wireless Internet connection. The user of the present invention may be the patient or a caregiver, such as medical or paramedic personnel.
Wireless internet connectivity has many advantages. For example, in the first embodiment, a diabetic could connect a blood glucose meter to an internet-enabled wireless web device ("WWD") away from home and download data to a Diabetes Management Company's server and, in response, receive guidance displayed on the screen (or by voice) about choices for the next meal.
Alternatively, in the second embodiment, a person interested in tracking an exercise program may take the WWD to the local health club and attach the same to an exercise machine, send data output from various exercise machines over the Internet, and receive a personalized response from the server of a company specializing in Health & Lifestyle Management. The individual may input caloric content of foods eaten, and may further input caloric content of exercise performed. In this way, e.g., a person in a weight-loss program may see in great detail whether they are expending more calories in the form of exercise than the same individual is consuming in the form of food.
In general, in the health management embodiment, the system may be employed to monitor the physiologic status of a healthy subject while eating, exercising, or performing other activities. For clarity, such devices are termed herein "exercise machines". These may include an electronic body weight scale, a body fat gauge, biofeedback devices, physiotherapy or chiropractic equipment, blood pressure recorders, or the like, or any type of exercise machine or monitor, including a heart rate monitor, treadmill, rowing machine, stepper, or the like.
In more detail, the present invention provides a method and system for assisting patients to manage a medical condition or disease or maintain healthy lifestyle by collecting health-related data and providing information in response to those data by means of a WWD designed to display interactive information through a connection to the Internet. The present invention may be connected to various HMDs, both medical and exercise-related in nature, and may communicate information via a wireless connection such as a wireless Internet connection.
A major advantage of embodiments of the invention is that the same frees the patient from the constraints of wired systems. The same allows users with consumer "off-the-shelf" wireless devices to significantly extend the range of connectivity over that of wired computer, or even wireless telemetry systems.
In a first embodiment of the present invention, the WWD is a web-enabled mobile phone. Here it is noted that the term "web" or "internet" are used interchangeably to refer to the internet in general. In a second embodiment, the WWD is a palm, handheld, or laptop computer, or a PDA equipped with a wireless modem. In a third embodiment, the WWD may be a hybrid device that combines the functions of a computer, PDA and telephone in some fashion. In a fourth embodiment, the WWD is a web-enabled mobile phone or hybrid device using a satellite communications network.
In a separate embodiment, an adaptor is used if necessary to convert the output signal of the medical monitoring device to a suitable input signal for the, e.g., WWD. The adaptor allows connection of the WWD to a medical device, exercise machine or other variety of health care equipment, and the connection may be made via several techniques.
As for wired techniques, a standard parallel bus, universal serial bus (USB), Firewire, serial cable, or similar industry-standard connection may be used if the input/output ports between the HMD and the WWD are appropriate. Otherwise, a suitable separate adaptor may be employed. For example, a serial-to-USB adapter cable may be utilized to connect the serial data port, e.g., RS232, of a medical device to the USB input port of a WWD.
The connection may also be an input such as a memory device reader, a disk drive or other media input for input of data, a USB port or phone jack or other such wired input, again employing an adaptor if required.
As for wireless techniques, infrared (IR), microwaves, radio frequency (RF), Bluetooth� (802.15 protocols), Wifi, WifiMax (802.11 protocols), Ultrawideband (UWB) and Wireless USB (W-USB) or other wireless protocols, optical techniques including lasers, and other such techniques may be used. As above, an adapter is used if necessary to convert the output of a medical device to a suitable wireless signal for the WWD, for example, a Bluetooth� virtual serial cable.
The user, e.g. the patient or a caregiver, may also input data manually, such as by a stylus, keypad, synchronization from a PC, or by various other techniques discussed below.
A major advantage of the invention is that by use of an optional adaptor, the system is compatible with current and prior HMDs as well as maintaining a capability of adapting to future such systems.
A digital camera may be integral to the WWD to provide photographic or video images to supplement the data from the HMD. Alternatively, the WWD may be connected to a camera either through a wired or wireless connection. The HMD may also provide image data (e.g., ECG on-screen signals could be transmitted visually if an output connection is not available).
The interaction between a WWD and a back-end server may provide a major additional advantage in certain embodiments of the invention. In particular, the relatively small amount of memory currently provided on a WWD as compared to a back-end server severely limits the functionality of applications running on the WWD, especially in terms of computing capacity, processing power, and user interface. By providing significant application functionality on the back-end, less memory and processing capabilities become necessary on the WWD (i.e., on the "front-end"). Thus, memory may be used in the WWD for an enhanced user interface or for other purposes, according to the user requirements. The invention is protocol-independent.
In a method according to an embodiment of the invention, the user connects to a specific Internet site and a software program, resident on a remote server located on the Internet, downloads an interactive user interface for that patient and an application for the measurement of the medical information. Alternatively, the software may have been previously installed on the WWD by a supplier or a from a memory device, or downloaded to the WWD from a personal computer via a synchronization operation in known fashion.
The software provides a personalized display for the user and configures the WWD to control and monitor devices connected via a generic input/output port to the WWD. The software may be designed to suit the constraints of the small display screens of WWDs. The software, as well as inputs from the patient or other inputs, can control the manner, content, and display of information presented to the patient, and measured or input data can be stored for review by a health care professional or be processed further by a software algorithm or application. The algorithm may be of varying complexity, from a simple program that merely acknowledges receipt of information to an artificial intelligence algorithm, such as an expert system, collaborative filtering system, rules-based system, case-based reasoning system, or other such artificial intelligence application.
Further information may be provided to or from the user, including information entered manually. The user may input this information via a personal computer, which then may download the input information to the WWD via a synchronization operation using standard protocols, such as those for Palm PDA devices.
The user may also input supplemental information via a PC connected independently to the server via the internet. Alternatively, the user may input this information via connection with a another device using standard protocols, wired or wireless connections including Bluetooth�, 802.11 wireless, or infrared wireless connections. For example, a GPS device can be used to provide data about the location of the patient.
The use of WWD equipped with a "hands-free" earpiece and microphone allows the user to interact with the health care professional while recording medical data. The use of a camera-equipped mobile phone further allows the health care professional to instruct the user to send photographs or video of the patient to assist in the remote diagnosis and treatment of the patient's condition. The deployment of voice processing technology may be used to allow an even more convenient user interface.
In all of these respects, the portable aspect of the WWD is important: to wit, the user may conveniently carry the WWD on their person wherever they go, allowing data entry at the time needed.
A health care worker reviewing the data may also input supplemental information via a PC connected independently to the server via the internet to supplement the data input to the WWD. Such supplemental information may include data that is not otherwise available to the user with the patient.
Other aspects, features, and advantages will be apparent from the summary above, as well as from the description that follows, including the figures and the claims.
Various acronyms are used for clarity herein. Definitions are given below.
The term "HMD" may encompass not only devices with physiologic sensors but also devices with a keypad, keyboard, mouse, pointer, pressure sensor, or other such inputs that the patient or user may employ to perform data entry of the desired parameters. In general, HMDs include some means for determining a health parameter.
In a disease management embodiment, an HMD may be a blood glucose monitor, a blood pressure monitor, an ambulatory ECG recorder, a respiratory monitor, a temperature monitor and so on.
In a healthy lifestyle management embodiment, an HMD may be an exercise machine, including treadmills, rowers, steppers, exercise cycles, or other aerobic or anaerobic exercisers, or a monitor, include monitors for temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, amount of work or rate of work performed, etc.
The term "subject" as used herein primarily indicates a human subject. The same may be a medical patient under a physician's care or the care of a paramedic or other healthcare professional, a person interested in maintaining health via accurate recording of nutrition and exercise, and so on. The term "user" is generally used to refer to the user of the device, which may be synonymous with the subject or may alternatively be a medically or non-medically trained caregiver of the subject, etc. The term "patient" is used, in addition to a person under the care of a physician, to also refer to a "normal" or healthy individual who is interested in maintaining a healthy physiologic balance.
The term "signal communication" is used to mean any type of connection between components where the connection is, e.g., electromagnetic, and where the connection allows information to be passed from one component to another. This term may be used in a similar fashion as "coupled", "connected", "information communication", "data communication", etc. The following are examples of signal communication schemes. As for wired techniques, a standard USB or serial cable may be used if the input/output ports are compatible and an optional adaptor may be employed if they are not. As for wireless techniques, IR, microwaves, RF, e.g., Bluetooth� or 802.11 protocols, optical techniques including lasers, and other such techniques may be used. The user may even input data manually, such as by a stylus or keypad or by various other techniques discussed above and below.
The term "generic input/output port" is used to mean any type of convention, standard, universal, stock, consumer, or "off-the-shelf" type of port for data input and output. These may include both wired and wireless ports. A further description is given below.
Various embodiments of the invention are now described in more detail.
Referring to
It should be noted that the base station embodiment shown in
Referring to
As noted above, HMD 11 may include a physiologic sensor 24 or may include a manual system 36 for input of physiologic data via a connection 44. Manual system 36 may also be used to input data directly into WWD 12 via a connection 32. Manual system 36 may include, e.g., a keyboard 30, a mouse 26, a pen-type device 28, and may also employ a separate monitor (not shown). Of course, the user may also view information on monitor 40 or on a screen 41 of WWD 12. In many embodiments, the stylus-based system employed by many current PDA's, such as the Palm�, may be preferred for such manual data input.
Data may also be input via entry on a computer 37. This data may then be synchronized to WWD 12 in known fashion. Alternatively, computer 37, or another computer may be used to connect to a server using the wired internet. This use may be particularly advantageous when entering a large amount of data, such as a patient's medical history. As noted above, in this way the patient may be afforded a more convenient environment in which to manipulate data to supplement the data input to the WWD.
It will be clear to one of skill in the art given this teaching that cable 32, as well as cables 34 and 44, may be replaced with wireless circuitry to communicate signals wirelessly. Alternatively, cables 34 or 44 may be replaced by a direct plug and socket connection. In this connection, adaptor 42 may be a direct plug and socket connection.
For medical devices and applications, physiologic sensor 24 may include, e.g., a sensor appropriate for measuring blood glucose levels, blood oxygen levels, blood pressure, electrocardiograms (ECG), heart rate, respiration, or any other desired parameter as required by the physician. Sensor 24 may connect via an optional cable 44 to subject 38. Alternatively, sensor 24 may be distal of HMD 11, i.e., at or within subject 38. In other words, if cable 44 is employed, sensor 24 may be proximal or distal of cable 44. In some applications, such as cardiac monitoring, sensor 24 is implanted within the patient. Alternatively, other health monitors may also be employed so long as the measured data may either be transferred to WWD 12, e.g., via optional adaptor 42, described in further detail below, or by being read by a user, e.g., from a display, and manually input to the WWD.
If a wireless communications capability is added, sensor 24 need not physically connect with HMD 11 or WWD 12 at all. That is, the same may measure a health parameter and may communicate the same to wireless health-monitoring apparatus 10 wirelessly. The short range wireless communications schemes which may be employed include infrared, radio frequency including Bluetooth or 802.11, or other such schemes.
As examples of sensor types, to measure blood glucose levels, sensor 24 may be a sensor that accepts a drop of blood, e.g., via a finger-prick. To measure heart rate, sensor 24 may be placed via an adhesive sensor disposed on the chest. Other health monitors may also be employed so long as the measured data may either be transferred to WWD 12, e.g., via optional adaptor 42, described in further detail below, or by being read by a user, e.g., from a display, and manually input to WWD 12. Alternatively, the measured data may be transferred to WWD 12 via wireless communication schemes, such as RF including Bluetooth� or 802.11, infrared, optical, microwaves, etc., directly from sensor 24 or from HMD 11 as described in greater detail below. For some patients, the measured data may be obtained by an implantable device, such as a cardiac monitor, for which a wireless communication scheme would be particularly appropriate.
The user, who may or may not be the same person as subject 38, may input data to WWD 12 to supplement the measured data. For example, in a health or exercise device, if subject 38 consumes a known number of calories, this information may be entered via manual system 36 directly into WWD 12 or into HMD 11. Further, the user, the subject, and the sensor are not necessarily the sole sources of information. Data stored on the server, or on a separate server operated for health management may also be employed to result in a health benefit to subject 38.
The data used to benefit the subject 38 may be from a camera as well as from an HMD. Referring to
Particularly important types of data about a patient that presents with a malady that may be wirelessly transmitted from the WWD are those corresponding to photographic pictures, both still and video, and graphical or visual data output images from an HMD, e.g., an ECG output. In either case, medical personnel may arrive on an emergent scene and engage the WWD. Some action may be taken immediately if warranted.
To obtain the first type of data noted above, photographic data, a camera may be employed, which is either resident on the WWD or is otherwise available by way of a wired or wireless link. The WWD may store photographic data, either still or video, and transmit the same wirelessly to a point of collection, e.g., a server application, or may save the photographic data on the memory device for contemporaneous or later transmission, again either via a streamed, non-streamed, or other transmission method.
There are various ways in which visual data may be communicated to an off-site caregiver. A simple method is to send the visual data via an email message. In more advanced methods, the visual data may be integrated with a data stream of other medical information. Current systems may be used in combination with the present invention to facilitate the handling and transmission of visual data by a WWD. In all cases, the visual data may be stored, e.g., as a separate file or may be included as an embedded object in a data file on the memory device or in an email.
In more detail, a data port from a HMD that is coupled to a patient may be employed to send visual information from the same to an input port on the WWD. This transmission may be accomplished via the techniques described above. Such data may be in either a raw form or in a preformatted-for-video form, and may be stored in the WWD or on the memory device. In either case, it may be required to format the data in a way suitable for the display screen of the WWD. In some cases, viewing on the WWD is not necessary, and the data may be sent in its original form, optionally undergoing some intermediate processing, directly on to the off-site caregiver's system for viewing or analysis. Examples of this type of data may be ECG data or other sources of data.
Alternatively, a subset of the data may be sent, such as a compressed version, while the remainder, i.e., the complete version of the patient data, may be maintained on the WWD and/or memory device for purposes of maintaining a complete patient record.
The memory device 246 may be a smartcard, a smartmedia card, a memory card, memory stick, compact flash card, memory cubes, micro-drives, disk-on-keys, flash memory-keys, micro-laser disks, nano-storage devices, bio-memories, battery/memory combination device, USB flash drives, and so on, or indeed any other type of removable media that may be connected to a WWD to store information. Typically, these memory devices are capable of storing substantial amounts of data. The same may also include a memory and power source or combination device. In another embodiment, the memory device 246 may be inserted (not shown) in a memory device reader, which is in turn connected to a WWD via link.
Of course, in some devices, including some current mobile phones and PDAs, there is no need for a separate memory device 246 as the internal storage capacity, e.g in the form of solid state memory, microdrive or other memory storage devices, is sufficient to store all applications and data. Whether via a memory device 246 or internal storage, enhanced functionality and storage are provided for the WWDs 244 or 250. This may be particularly important for medical data, as certain health monitoring apparatuses produce copious amounts of data, e.g., cardiac monitoring equipment, and thus require substantial storage capabilities. This is particularly true for memory-intensive video and multimedia content.
Another reason such memory devices are particularly pertinent in medical device monitoring is that they store data which can then be wirelessly transmitted in a streamed or non-streamed fashion. In the event of drop-outs, interruptions, or unavailability of the wireless network, no loss of data occurs, as the data has been stored on the memory device and may be wirelessly transmitted at a later time when cellular or mobile service is again available. The memory device thus serves as a back-up storage media. In the event of an extended period of unavailability of a wireless network, the memory device may be replaced or overwritten to provide practically unlimited storage until such time as the network is available and the data can be uploaded. In more detail, in the case of a dropout or other disruption of wireless service, the data may be stored on the memory device or in the WWD if it has not already been, as may be the case for streamed data. The WWD may periodically test for the availability of the wireless network, and may wait until the network is available. Once the system is again available, the advice from the caregiver may be sent to the WWD and the on-site personnel may again take action.
Of course, even if the wireless network is available, the memory device or on-board WWD memory may store the data for various purposes. This real-time capability and robustness is often very important in ensuring patient safety and ensuring that a high level of care is being delivered to the patient by the caregiver, particularly in field or emergent situations where the wireless connection may be the only source of communications with a physician.
A related reason why memory devices are particularly pertinent in medical device monitoring is that they allow a greater level of buffering for real-time data monitoring, thus allowing more pre-analysis and filtering of data.
A further benefit of the use of memory devices is that they provide for easy application downloading onto a WWD. For example, a memory device may be inserted into a WWD and a large application program may be easily downloaded onto a WWD from the memory device rather than through a wired or wireless synchronization or downloading process via a PC or the internet or both. Downloading in this fashion may be particularly rapid and complete. The downloaded data may include visual data, such as still or video photographic images, that instruct a user on the operation of a device. In an alternative embodiment, the data need not be downloaded but may rather be streamed, either from a stored video on a server or in real-time via a user with a webcam. In downloaded or streamed by generally not live systems, the user interface may be interactive, allowing the user to access a knowledge database resident on the server or memory device or previously downloaded onto the main memory of the WWD.
Referring to
As noted, the protocols for data communication are known. They include cellular networks, wireless networks (such as those using 802.11 protocols) or Broadband and UltraWideband (UWB) protocols and may include a satellite instead of ground-based communication systems. However, they currently vary amongst known techniques. The present invention is not limited to any particular protocols, and may be implemented in any languages supported by the WWD and server. In particular, the wireless communications schemes envisioned by the present invention include cellular, mobile, satellite, and other such wireless techniques. In such wireless communication systems, an additional security layer may be employed, including industry-standard encryption and decryption of the transmitted data, especially as patient health information is highly sensitive and private data
Of course, as computing capabilities continue to increase, it is expected that the capabilities of WHMA 10, servers 18 and 22, as well as application 62 and client 44, and other components, will correspondingly increase.
Application 62 running on server 22 may interact with WHMA 10 in a number of ways. Referring to
Server 22 has a base server application 62 with which the same calculates or provides a response based at least in part on data from WHMA 10. Application 62 may include an algorithm 63 for analyzing data from the HMD, and either application 62 or algorithm 63 may optionally access data from an external data source 74 and may further consult an artificial intelligence system 76.
External data source 74 may be a memory or disk or other such storage that stores health data, such as healthy and unhealthy weight/height ranges, healthy and unhealthy cholesterol counts, the patient's or subject's prior medical or health history, healthy and unhealthy blood pressure values, information corresponding to the caloric and other nutritional content of foods, information corresponding to the caloric expenditure values of various exercises, algorithms for calculating various health parameters, etc. In general, any data that may benefit the health of a subject or patient may be stored in external data source 74. External data source 74 may a memory device or other such storage that stores supplemental data such as treatment protocols. In general, any data that may benefit or otherwise affects the medical condition of a patient may be stored in external data source 74. External data source 74 may also include online access of medical information from external databases or other sources.
As noted, application 62 or algorithm 63 may also consult AI system 76 for suggestions as to health benefits. AI system 76 may even interact with external data source 74 to extract useful information from the same. AI system 76 may employ, e.g., case-based reasoning, rules-based systems, collaborative filtering, neural networks, expert systems, or other such systems as are known.
It should also be noted that each of application 62, algorithm 63, external data source 74, or AI system 76, may physically reside on more than one server, e.g., on an array of servers for, e.g., storage or multiple processing purposes. Each of application 62, algorithm 63, external data source 74, or AI system 76, or combinations of each, may also respectively reside on different servers.
The extent to which server application 62 interacts with wireless application 70 depends on the use to which the system is put. For example, in a less interactive embodiment, device application 70 may act to measure a diabetic patient's blood glucose level and report the same to server application 62. In this case, a physician may simply review the measured value and send the patient an email reporting that the value is acceptable or not. In a highly interactive embodiment, a patient may have numerous HMDs 11 connected via optional adaptors to a WWD 12, and wireless application 70 may correspondingly send a large amount of health data to server application 62. The physician, accessing server application 62, may in turn send detailed care plans to a caregiver via connection 72. The received data may be analyzed using algorithm 63, external data source 74, and AI system 76. In this sense, the two applications may be highly interactive.
It is noted that an Application Service Provider (ASP) may operate application 62. That is, application 62 may be leased by an ASP to the health care provider, and the ASP may perform all necessary upgrades and maintenance to application 62 and its associated components.
To initialize the system, the program starts and a wireless application is loaded into the WWD. The loading of the wireless application may occur via synchronization from a desktop or via downloading from a server over the internet. The server application may be loaded into an appropriate internet-connected server. Subject data may be loaded into the WWD or into the server. In the latter case, the subject information may later be transferred to the WWD or transferred to the server from the WWD, as called for by the application. The initialization scheme then ends.
The wireless application may access the server and server application, or vice-versa, as determined by the respective program instructions.
Referring to
To obtain the first type of data noted above, photographic data, a camera may be employed, which is either resident on the WWD (camera 224 of
To devise the second type of data mentioned above, a data port from a HMD that is coupled to a patient (step 210 of
The WWD may store the HMD data, and transmit the same wirelessly to a point of collection or may save the data on the memory device for contemporaneous or later transmission, again either via a streamed or other transmission method. The memory device may be a smartcard, a smartmedia card, a memory card, memory stick, compact flash card, memory cubes, micro-drives, disk-on-keys, flash memory-keys, micro-laser disks, nano-storage devices, bio-memories, battery/memory combination device, USB flash drives, and so on, or indeed any other type of removable media that may be connected to a WWD to store information.
In the case of a dropout or other disruption of wireless service (step 218 of FIG. 6), the data may be stored on the memory device or in the WWD if it has not already been, as may be the case for streamed data (step 216 of
Using such data, an off-site health care professional may give an on-site caregiver valuable diagnosis and treatment advice. Moreover, no wired or dedicated connection is necessary.
More particularly, for visual data, there are various ways in which such data may be communicated to an off-site caregiver. A simple method is to send the visual data via an email message. In more advanced methods, the visual data may be integrated with a data stream of other medical information. Current systems may be used in combination with the present invention to facilitate the handling and transmission of visual data by a WWD. In all cases, the visual data may be stored, e.g., as a separate file or may be included as an embedded object in a data file on the memory device or in an email.
Examples are now given for (1) a system of disease and patient management and (2) a system for health management employing an exercise machine.
Referring to
The program is started (step 142) and a sensor measures a health parameter (step 116). The sensor may send the parameter to a medical device (step 118). The medical device then sends the parameter to the WWD (step 120). The WWD then wirelessly communicates the parameter to the application server (step 122), e.g., via the wireless web. The application server processes the parameter (step 124), and calculates or provides a response (step 126) based at least in part on the parameter. The application server may optionally employ algorithm 63 (step 125), external data (step 132) or an AI system (step 134) in the calculation. The application server then sends the response to the WWD (step 128), where the response is displayed (step 130).
It should be noted that the term "response" here is used generally may simply be an acknowledgement that the parameter was received by the application server. The term "calculate" is also used generally, and may entail a simple calculation as well as a complex one. A result may, e.g., be the result of a calculation.
As noted above, the sensor may connect to any type of medical device or other such device in which information pertaining to a patient's disease or condition may be ascertained. The parameter may be any value corresponding to such information.
The method may also use a manual input as shown. In this case, after the start (step 142) of the application, the user may interact with the WWD (step 140). The interact may be a data input, a command to read data from a medical device, a response to a physician question or statement, an acknowledgement of physician notification, etc. Calculations by the application server may further take into account supplemental data sent by the user to the server, e.g., in a wired fashion directly over the internet (step 141).
In one implementation, a diabetic may keep a database on a server of a dietary history and a blood glucose history. With this data at-hand wirelessly, the diabetic may choose whether to eat a particular food by entering nutritional information about the food into a WWD, transmitting the same wirelessly to the server, and receiving a recommendation from the server. The recommendation may be based on the food and also on data or information that had previously been transmitted wirelessly, including data from a blood glucose monitor, data input manually, if any, as well as data from algorithm 63, external data source 74, and AI system 76.
Referring to
The program is started (step 242) and a sensor measures a health parameter (step 216), where the health parameter corresponds to health, fitness, nutrition, exercise, etc.
The sensor may send the parameter to the exercise machine (step 218). It is understood here that the "sensor" may be, e.g., a blood pressure monitor, but may also be a simple device connected to an aerobic exerciser that tracks miles ran, work performed, etc.
The exercise machine then sends the parameter to the WWD (step 220). The WWD wirelessly communicates the parameter to the application server (step 222), e.g., via the wireless web.
An alternative and complementary way of entering the parameter is by user input (step 248). For example, the user may enter the parameter into the exercise machine or into the WWD. This parameter may correspond to an amount of exercise performed, an amount of food consumed, etc.
Calculations by the application server may also take into account supplemental data sent by the user to the server, e.g., in a wired fashion directly over the internet (step 241).
The application server processes the parameter (step 224 and optionally step 225), and calculates a response (step 226) based at least in part on the parameter. The application server may optionally employ external data (step 232) or an AI system (step 234) in the calculation. The application server then sends the response to the WWD (step 228), where the response is displayed.
The same definitional statements regarding the terms "response", "calculate", "sensor", etc., as given before, apply in this embodiment as well.
As an optional step, a health specialist may notify the patient or subject of the response (step 238) after having the same displayed on their client computer (step 236). The health specialist may be replaced in this example by an application that may also include an algorithm.
Adaptor Hardware
A description is given below of a particular type of adaptor hardware. As noted above, the adaptor may optionally be used to connect a HMD to a WWD.
In general, a connection is necessary between a HMD 11 and a WWD. The nature of this connection may vary. For example, the connection may be wired or wireless. For wired systems, the connection may be direct or an adaptor may be employed, either on one or both ends of the direct wired connection, to adapt the signal appropriately. In the same way, for wireless systems, the connection may be direct, if both HMD and WWD employ the same wireless protocol, or an adaptor may be involved to modify the signal of one or both devices. These connections, all of which are encompassed by the present invention, are discussed in more detail below.
Referring to
Of course, the use and structure of adaptor 168, between HMD 160 and WWD 162, depends on factors such as the prevalence of an industry standard for such communications. In other words, if the output of HMD 160 is readily acceptable to WWD 162, then the same may be directly connected or may be connected via a simple cable, the same basically extending from pin-to-pin. For example, a standard Universal Serial Bus (USB) or serial cable (RS232) may be used if the input/output ports between the HMD and the WWD are compatible. Otherwise, a suitable adaptor circuit that provides for appropriate signal and pin conversion may be employed. For example, a standard USB-to-serial (RS232) cable or the like may be used as required. The connection may also be an input for data, e.g a USB port or phone jack or other such wired input, or a media storage device, again employing an adaptor circuit if required.
Port 164 can be used to communicate with HMD 160 and connector 164 via a number of types of wired connections, including USB, or Firewire. In some cases, optional adaptor 168 may also be employed.
In other embodiments, such as for devices connected to proprietary connectors, a less standard and perhaps proprietary pin-out may be required.
Referring to
While the device shown in
It should be understood that the above is merely exemplary, and that the form of the adaptor may vary widely between HMDs and WWDs.
The above description of a remote health monitoring system, termed occasionally a "mobile health-monitoring" system, clearly provides a valuable tool for the remote diagnosis and management of patients.
Besides the patient data transmission from HMDs, other sorts of transmissions may also occur. For example, visual data, such as photographs or videos, may be transferred as an indication of the patient's condition and to aid remote diagnosis. Alternatively, other visual indications of a patient's status, such as graphical or other outputs of HMDs, may provide information useful for a diagnosing/treating physician.
In certain embodiments, a set of visual data from a camera or from an HMD and voice communication may be transmitted via the telecommunications infrastructure from the WWD. The visual data may thus be sent via an appropriate protocol to a server for retrieval and analysis by a user such as a treating 'off-site' physician.
The advent of multimedia mobile phones and other WWDs that include a digital camera (or are equipped with a link to one) allow the capture and transmission of photographic images using low-cost consumer devices. Embodiments of the invention may employ these in combination with HMDs.
It will be understood that the above description of a "Method and Apparatus for Health and Disease Management Combining Patient Data Monitoring with Wireless Internet Connectivity" has been with respect to particular embodiments of the invention. While this description is fully capable of attaining the objects of the invention, it is understood that the same is merely representative of the broad scope of the invention envisioned, and that numerous variations of the above embodiments may be known or may become known or are obvious or may become obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, and these variations are fully within the broad scope of the invention. For example, while certain wireless technologies have been described herein, other such wireless technologies may also be employed. Furthermore, while various types of medical devices have been mentioned, numerous other types may also be used in the embodiments of the invention, including pulse oximeters, implanted monitors, syringe drivers, infusion pumps, spirometers, ventilators, anesthesia monitors, blood glucose meters, automated defrillators, cardiac monitors, vital signs monitors and so on. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the claims appended hereto, and equivalents thereof. In these claims, a reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean "one and only one" unless explicitly stated. Rather, the same is intended to mean "one or more". All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred embodiment that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims. Moreover, it is not necessary for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to be solved by the present invention, for it to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present invention is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. ��112, �6, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase "means for".
Patent Citations
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Anthony Gregory Fowler, from Stockton, had been investigated by the police in September 2010 for dealing cannabis. But during his interviews with the police, it also became evident that the greyhound trainer had not only been supplying drugs to people but also to his dogs.
Mr Fowler had been drugging his greyhound Jake, amongst other dogs, with cannabis in order to make them run slowly so they would lose at the unlicensed dog race meetings he attended.
Once the dogs had lost and their odds got longer, Mr Fowler would place bets on his dogs and then feed them Viagra, which he said made them "run their heads off".
The RSCPA quickly become involved with the case, but by the time their inspectors interviewed Mr Fowler, Jake the dog was already dead after injuring his shoulder during a race. Despite this, the RSCPA gathered enough evidence to prosecute Mr Fowler.
Their prosecutor, John Ellwood, said: "When he wanted the dog to win the race he injected it with a drug which turns out to be nandrolone, which is a testosterone derivative.
"He explained that the nandrolone and travel sickness pills which he had would affect the way the dogs would run and in particular he showed the officer Viagra tablets which according to him make them "run their heads off".
Cannabis causes dogs to convulse and hallucinate and Viagra causes inflammation of their blood vessels.
Initially, Mr Fowler denied any wrongdoing, but he later changed his plea to guilty of two counts of administering drugs to a dog, knowing it would be poisonous, and two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog.
He will be sentenced next Tuesday (19 July).
Related links:
Read more on this story (Darlington and Stockton Times)
Read about drugs and crime (FindLaw)
Find local criminal solicitors throughout the UK (FindLaw)


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Please select a rent timeAdd To Cart +
Profoto 2' x 3' Softbox
7 Days
Retail: $388.00From $19.00
- Product Details
Notes: This softbox is rod-based and requires a speedring to hold its shape and mount to a strobe, which is NOT included.Rental includes:
The Profoto 2' x 3' Softbox connects to a speedring (not included) via included rods and the pair are then connected to a flash/strobe for light shaping. The 2x3' rectangular softbox is a very common light modifier suitable for most applications. It is ideal for not more than a few people at a time. It is rugged enough to be used outdoors.


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Efteling – Family park28 Jun 2012, Posted by Cases, Gamification, Museum & Event apps in
Dutch icon family park the Efteling has been looking into what apps can add to the magical experience of the park. In the Efteling everything has a special story to it, even the ATM machines that are provided by Rabobank Netherlands are transformed into an attraction. In 2011 a 12 year old boy wrote a fairytale about Feetje & de kluis (Fairy and the vault). In the spirit of his story the Efteling and Rabobank turned the ATM machine into a golden vault and displayed the fairytale in a brass book in front of the vault for everyone to read.
TAB Worldmedia was asked to develop a mobile second screen approach to bring the story to life. Sure there are several apps that the park is already exploiting through the app store but they are mainly for use at home but there wasn't any mobile approach that added real value to the experience in the park. We created an augmented animated fairytale from this story that allowed children to see the fairies flying round in the park while listening to the storyteller on their phones.
As an additional element we also created an augmented game where kids have to catch and collect the fairies who are flying in AR at the location. They do have to be careful for the witch though!
The Efteling augmented fairytale case was nominated at the Mobile Marketing & Media Awards in the category: "Best Mobile Advertising Campaign".
The description is in Dutch but here's the official link.


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Park Ridge, Ill. (February 17, 2009) A research review published recently in Nutrition Today(1) affirms that the high-quality protein in eggs makes a valuable contribution to muscle strength, provides a source of sustained energy and promotes satiety. High-quality protein is an important nutrient for active individuals at all life stages, and while most Americans consume the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for protein, additional research suggests that some Americans are not consuming enough high-quality protein to achieve and maintain optimal health.(2,3,4)
Study Findings
The Nutrition Today review analyzes more than 25 protein studies and concludes that the all-natural, high-quality protein in eggs contributes to strength, power and energy in the following ways:
|Contact: Egg Media Hotline
Edelman Public Relations


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The feasibility study for a Rp 125 trillion ($13.9 billion) bridge to span the Sunda Strait will start this year and take two years to complete, the government said on Tuesday.
Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto said the government would team up with private company Bangungraha Sejahtera Mulia to form the Banten-Lampung consortium and work on the project.
"In line with a presidential regulation on the Sunda Strait … the initiators will complete a feasibility study within 24 months," Djoko said after a coordination meeting on the project.
He said the government and the Banten-Lampung consortium would sign an agreement on the feasibility study next week. The basic design and estimated budget are also expected at the end of the two years.
Bangungraha Sejahtera Mulia is a subsidiary of Artha Graha Networks, a business conglomerate that is owned by tycoon Tommy Winata.
The government said that one of three state-run construction companies — Wijaya Karya, Adhi Karya and Waskita Karya — would participate in the project but did not say which.
Djoko said construction of the bridge was expected to start in 2014.
The minister added that the Banten-Lampung consortium would receive special treatment in the tender process because it was the initiator of the project.
Possible special entitlements include the right to match the lowest bid and a 10 percent tender preference, meaning that if the government conducts a tender for the project, it will have a 10 percent advantage over other competitors.
Djoko estimated the bridge would cost Rp 125 trillion.
"We have met with experts from Japan and [South] Korea 11 or 12 times and held discussions and seminars on this, and we concluded that it is technically very possible to build the bridge," he said.
If it is completed, the 30-kilometer bridge would connect the islands of Java and Sumatra, which between them are home to 80 percent of Indonesians.
It is hoped that the bridge will be operational by 2020, although the government will first have to find enormous amounts of capital for the project if it is to ever be realized. The government has said that the bridge project is likely to be financed under a partnership between the government and private sectors with both domestic and foreign investors providing capital, but so far it has yet to reveal the identity of any possible individual participants.
About 20 million ferry passengers and 1.7 million tons of cargo crossed the Sunda Strait in 2006, and the figure is predicted to at least double by 2020.
According to an earlier study, the bridge is expected to boost Banten's economic growth by 2 to 8 percent, and Lampung's by 4 to 11 percent.


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The Delta Police Department has issued a warrant for the arrest of Roberto Nieto in connection with the drive-by shooting that took place Sunday, June 22.
Initially it was thought more suspects were involved.
After investigation, the DPD focused solely on Nieto, 30, of Delta and Montrose. Nieto is 5'11" tall, weighs 200 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes. He wears glasses and has multiple tattoos on his arms, chest and throat. Nieto is wanted for alleged felony menacing, possession of a weapon by a previous offender and reckless endangerment in connection with the incident. Nieto is believed to be armed and dangerous and extreme caution should be used.
Anyone with information on the location of Roberto Nieto is encouraged to contact the Delta Police Department at 874-7676, Delta County Dispatch Center at 874-2015, or CrimeStoppers at 874-8810.
No one was injured in the shooting, which took place early the morning of June 22. According to a DPD press release, two people reported they were shot at while walking in the 600 block of Grand Avenue. That information was later amended. Just one person was fired upon.
There's still no word on what motivated Nieto to shoot at the victim, who was reportedly an acquaintance.


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Teen Mom
Jenelle Evans's Baby Daddy Andrew Lewis: Then and Now! (PHOTO)
Long before Courty B, Kieffah, or Gary Head entered Teen Mom 2 star Jenelle Evans's world, there was a man named Andrew Lewis.
He was a boy, she was a girl, can we make it any more obvious?
The now-28-year-old wannabe model made an appearance on this week's finale of Teen Mom 2 Season 3, when Jenelley questioned his paternity.
We hadn't seen this absent father since Little J's season of 16 and Pregnant, so we had to look back at Jace's father from 2010 when he first appeared on the show.
Despite Jenelle's comments to the contrary, we think Andrew's look has improved. We are, however, powerless for men in fedoras.
What do you think? Has Andrew, like Clooney, only gotten better with age? Tell us your thoughts below!


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Kill Background Data
Apps such as Gmail and Twitter receive data updates in the background constantly, which sucks up juice. Turn off background data updates to keep your device going. Settings > Accounts & Sync > deselect Background data and/or Auto-sync.
Turn Off Radios You Don't Need
Unless you're perpetually lost, GPS doesn't need to be active 24/7. The same goes for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Turn off these resource-hungry radios unless they're necessary. Settings > Location > GPS Satellites to change GPS. To change wireless presets, go to Settings > Wireless & network settings > Wi-Fi settings. For Bluetooth, click Settings > Wireless & network settings > Bluetooth.
Monitor Resources
Take charge of your smart phone's CPU by controlling what apps use up its resources. Go to Settings > Applications > Battery Manager. Then tap the battery image to see what apps and device settings are draining too much power.
Disable Haptic Feedback
Vibrations when typing or making menu selections can be reassuring, but cutting off haptic feedback adds more stamina to your battery. It can also speed up text entry. Settings > Sound & Display > deselect haptic feedback.
Adjust Screen Timeout
The sooner your display goes black when you're not using your Android phone, the longer your battery lasts. Settings > Sound & Display > Screen timeout.
Adjust Auto-sync Frequency
Some apps auto-sync based on a time interval you determine. To maximize battery power, set to sync less often. Try looking in the settings options for apps such as Facebook, Gmail, Google Reader, HootSuite, and Tweetdeck.
Turn Off Animations
The movement you find on home screen wallpapers and inside some apps is cute, but it can prevent a solid day of use. Get serious, and turn them off. Settings > Sound & Display > Animation > select No Animations.
In WinXP, one can type in multiple home pages (separate line for each in box). First line entry is page initially shown. Other home page sites are shown in order as selectable tabs. Is this capability in Android?


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Daemen College : Academics & Research : Division of Health & Human Services : Social Work : Humanitarian Fund
Students, at times, face crises that threaten their ability to continue in the Social Work program. The Sister Judith Fenyvesi Social Work Humanitarian Fund was established in 1996 to promote the well-being of students by providing one-time financial assistance to students with identified emergency needs. The fund is governed by a faculty committee using dollars raised at our annual spring dinner. Dispersed funds must be repaid by the student - thereby allowing other students to benefit from this fund.
The fund is named for Sister Judith Fenyvesi, a Sisters of Social Service nun who immigrated from Romania with limited English proficiency after serving a ten-year prison sentence for practicing her faith. She would go on to found the Daemen College Social Work program in 1975, to see the program through its initial accreditation, and to serve as its first Program Director. Throughout her career, she attempted to answer the question, "How can we live out our lives more consciously and deeply, responding to the realities in which we live?"
For more information about this fund, please contact Dr. Diane Bessel (716-566-7876; email@example.com).
Health Care Studies Professor Justine Tutuska, accompanied by her students, traveled to the Dominican Republic to work on Public Health Issues and school building.
©2014 Daemen College : 4380 Main Street, Amherst, NY 14226 : 800.462.7652


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CT Politics
Connecticut Politics
Yearly Archive for 2011
Pleasure Beach earmark topic of Missouri senate race ad
An attack ad by the campaign of Republican John Brunner, a candidate for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Democrat Claire McCaskill, focuses on an earmark that provided funds for Bridgeport's Pleasure Beach. The ad points out McCaskill voted for the earmark, which set aside $1.9 million to develop a water taxi service to […] [Read More]
Gov. Malloy issues Thanksgiving message
Press release On the eve of Thanksgiving, Governor Dannel P. Malloy today shared the following message with Connecticut residents. "As people across Connecticut gather around their Thanksgiving tables this year to celebrate with family and friends, it seems an appropriate time to reflect on where we are and where we aspire to be in our […] [Read More]
Wrapping it up on election night
It's been a long day — one filled with scenes that ranged from sentimental (Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton dedicating his re-election victory to his late father) to jubilant (Stamford Democrats serenading defeated GOP Board of Finance candidate Joe Tarzia) to hilariously unscripted (Fairfield first-selectman-elect Michael Tetreau interrupting his victory speech to take a phone call […] [Read More]
Herbst wins Trumbull
Tim Herbst looks at a screen displaying the breakdown of the votes in Trumbull after giving his acceptance speech at Marisa's Ristorante. [View the story "Trumbull election results" on Storify] [Read More]
Former Conn. Post staffer on way to Middletown mayoral victory
The Associated Press is reporting former Connecticut Post staff writer Daniel Drew, a Democrat, has defeat Republican incumbent Sebastian Giuliano in the Middletown mayor's race. Drew covered the town of Stratford for the Post from 2004 to 2006, and is currently a grants writer at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield. He won by more than […] [Read More]
Easton First Selectman: 'Satisfied' with direction of town
Easton First Selectman Thomas Herrmann defeated two right-in candidates to earn re-election. Herrmann, a Republican and managing director at Wilton-based private equity group Stanwich Partners, called the victory proof that Easton's residents are largely pleased with his leadership. Read what else Herrmann had to say here, as well as full results from the town. [Read More]
Low voter turnout in Stratford
About 20 percent of registered voters in Stratford cast a ballot as of 7 p.m. The turnout is lower than it was during the 2007 election, when 27 percent of voters cast a ballot. [Read More]
Stratford sixth graders cash in on Election Day
A group of sixth grade students from Wilcoxson Elementary School set up a bake sale outside the polls at their school on Tuesday. Some of the students pictured here arrived at their school at 5:30 a.m. and planned on staying until the polls close at 8 p.m. The students are raising money for the Wilcoxson Sixth Grade […] [Read More]
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8:05 am
Tue January 13, 2009
Dona Ana County Loses $253,000 in Investments
By Evan Woodward
Las Cruces, NM – Dona Ana County suffered a $253,000 investment loss as a result of the Lehman Brothers collapse last September. The money had been invested in the New Mexico Local Government Investment Pool. As KRWG's Evan Woodward reports, County Treasurer David Guiterrez is recommending that the county move a portion of their investments out of the state pool and into local banks.


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Updated at: 07/22/2013 2:35 PM
(AP) NEW YORK - Lady Antebellum's leading lady has given birth to a little lady.
Hillary Scott's representative says the country singer gave birth to Eisele (Eyes-lee) Kaye Tyrrell on Monday in Nashville, Tenn. Scott is married to Nashville-based drummer Chris Tyrrell. Eisele is the couple's first child.
People magazine first reported the birth. The report said the baby girl weighed 7 pounds, 13 ounces.
Scott, 27, is one-third of the Grammy-winning country act Lady Antebellum. The group also includes Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood. They released their fourth album, "Golden," in May.
The couple were married last year.
Scott tweeted her excitement Monday: "She's here, and we are in HEAVEN!!! Eisele Kaye, our beautiful angel, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!"
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)


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Summer Fruit, creatively
I've been enjoying fresh blueberry and strawberry shakes this summer, and I'm wondering about all the other delicious food that people make with their favorite fruits. Which fruits do you eat most eagerly, and how do you like to prepare them in the summertime?
Talk is closed, but that doesn't mean the conversations have to stop!
Check out this post for a more thorough explanation, and jump onto our Facebook page or our Twitter feed to keep the conversations going!


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Has our remodeling project motivated you to start one at home?
Beautiful weather is here, which means it's time for some home improvements.
Here's a list of great books to help you remodel your kitchen, yard, bathrooms, and more: http://ow.ly/l8J26
If you need more materials, please see a Librarian on the top floor of the Niles Public Library.
About Sasha V.
Don't let the snake in my profile picture fool you, I'm not always that brave! Hi, my name is Sasha and I'm the Digital Marketing Coordinator at the Niles Public Library. I spend my day managing our social media accounts, updating our website, public relations, and much more. My interests include movies, music, travel, food, and technology. Oh, and I make an amazing Turkey Chili.


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For many retirees, Social Security retirement benefits are their only source of fixed income once they stop working. As retirement approaches, people start thinking about when they should apply for these benefits. Full retirement benefits are available at full retirement age, anywhere from age 65 to 67, depending on when the applicant was born. According to information from the Social Security Administration (SSA), a person can apply as early as age 62 and receive about 25% less than the full retirement benefit, or he or she can delay receiving benefits until age 70 and get an amount greater than the full retirement benefit. If you're approaching the age where you'd like to start receiving your benefits, read on to learn how to make those dollars grow.
What's Available?
Social Security retirement benefits are available to retired workers, their spouses as spousal benefits, and to spouses and children in the form of survivor benefits. These benefits are based on a retiree's Social Security earnings record and age at the time the benefit amount is established. (To learn more, see How Much Social Security Will You Get?)
If you're looking to tap into your Social Security benefits, there are some little-known strategies available that may help you decide when you or your spouse should apply. There are pros and cons to each opportunity and what may work for you may not work for your neighbor. However, one of these options may enhance the Social Security retirement benefits for you and your family. (For the basics on Social Security, read Introduction To Social Security and Ten Common Questions About Social Security.)
1. Claim Now and Claim Later
Under certain circumstances, retirees can receive early retirement benefits at age 62, repay the amount received at a later date and then reapply for a larger monthly benefit. This strategy amounts to receiving a zero-interest loan from the government. According to the SSA, a benefit recipient can rescind his or her claim, pay back all benefits received (without interest), and then reapply for benefits based on the current age of the recipient.
With this strategy, not only can a person use the benefit payments, but upon repayment, he or she can either claim a tax refund or credit for any taxes paid on the benefits received. This approach requires the repayment of what may be a substantial sum of money, but the advantages to this strategy include the opportunity to invest the benefit payments and retain or use the earnings, as well as the receipt of increased monthly benefits upon reapplication. (To learn more about tax returns and credits, see The Saver's Tax Credit: An Added Incentive to Fund Your Plan and our Income Tax special feature.)
|Example - Claim Now and Claim Later
Let's say George retires and applies for early benefits at age 62 and gets a monthly benefit payment of $1,500. By the time he reaches the full retirement age of 66, his benefit would be about $2,185. At age 70, his monthly check would be $2,970 after factoring in delayed retirement credits (about 8% added to his full retirement benefit each year between full retirement age and age 70). At age 70, George could repay about $156,000 in benefits received (including projected cost of living increases), and then reapply and receive essentially an annuity payment ($2,970) for the rest of his life or for the joint lives of George and his spouse - a monthly benefit amount that's almost twice what he was getting at age 62.
The downside to this strategy is that the retiree and/or his spouse may not live long enough to recoup the lump sum pay-back to Social Security. In the example above, George would have to receive benefits after age 70 for about 4.5 years, assuming a 2% cost of living adjustment (COLA) each year. Also, when he rescinds his benefits, he'd have to pay for Medicare Part B out of pocket as Social Security will not make payments for him until he begins to receive benefits again. Finally, it may take a while for the SSA to begin making payments to George again after he reapplies, so he may have to go a few months without a benefit check. However, if George an average or above-average lifespan, the total benefits he will receive will be significantly greater using this strategy. (For more on Medicare, see What Does Medicare Cover? and Getting Through The Medicare Part D Maze.)
2. The Two-Claim Approach
A strategy that may benefit two working spouses involves one spouse claiming spousal benefits at full retirement age while continuing to work and accumulating higher retirement benefit credits for his or her own account. Often, one spouse may decide to retire at full retirement age while the other spouse continues working past full retirement age. In this case, it may make sense for the retired spouse to claim full retirement benefits, while the working spouse files for spousal benefits but continues to work. The advantage of this plan is that the working spouse gets spousal benefits equal to one-half of the retired spouse's full retirement benefit (provided the working spouse is at full retirement age) while the working spouse's future benefit continues to increase until age 70. (Keep reading about the benefits of marriage in The Tax Benefits Of Having A Spouse.)
For recipients born between 1943 and 1954, delaying benefits past age 66 (full retirement age) adds 8% per year. In four years, at age 70, the benefit is about 132% of the full retirement benefit. For this strategy to work, each spouse must have reached his or her respective full retirement age before claiming benefits. When the working spouse reaches age 70, he or she can claim increased benefits in lieu of spousal benefits.
|Example - Two-Claim Approach
For example, let's say that a husband and wife are about the same age, both born in 1943. The husband retires at full retirement age (66) and files for Social Security monthly retirement benefits of about $2,196. The wife then files for spousal benefits and receives almost $1,100 per month (almost $3,300 per month combined). She continues to work until age 70, and then claims monthly benefits of about $2,898 (increased by delayed retirement credits). By comparison, the wife could have claimed her full retirement benefits at age 66 ($2,196). However, by claiming only her spousal benefits ($1,100), she is able to claim a larger benefit ($2,898) at age 70.
Does this strategy make financial sense? It may if you plan on living at least to your full life expectancy. Based on the hypothetical numbers from the example, both spouses would have to live about 81 years for the total accumulated benefits received using the spousal option to exceed the accumulated benefits of both claiming benefits at full retirement age.
3. Claim Early - Claim Late
Another strategy can be applied if one spouse wants to retire early and collect permanently reduced benefits while the other spouse continues working. What if the retired spouse is older than the working spouse? Here's where the working spouse can take advantage of the age difference and earn delayed retirement credits on his or her own full retirement benefit.
|Example - Claim Early - Claim Late Strategy
Let's say, Denny, who is four years older than his wife, Clara, retires at age 62 and makes a claim for reduced benefits, while Clara continues to work. At her full retirement age, Clara will make a spousal claim for benefits, which will equal 50% of the retirement benefit that her husband would have received based on his age at the time she made her claim, or in this case, his full retirement benefit. In this way, even though Denny's collecting a reduced benefit, Clara can get half of her husband's full retirement benefit. At age 70 she can forgo the spousal benefit and receive her full retirement benefit, enhanced by delayed retirement credits. This strategy gives the Clara the chance to collect Social Security retirement spousal benefits while she continues to work and increases the size of her own benefit.
Of course, the wife in this scenario could choose to collect her full retirement benefit instead of the spousal benefit. Again, similar to the two claim approach, the risk she runs in taking spousal benefits instead of full retirement benefits is that she may not live long enough to recoup the difference between the benefit amounts. However, if Clara expects to live well past average retirement, the increased benefits she'll receive after age 70 can significantly add to her retirement income.
4. Suspend Claim for Spousal Benefit
Similar to the claim early - claim late approach, one spouse may want to work past full retirement age, and allow his or her retirement benefit to grow with delayed retirement credits. If the non-working spouse has little or no retirement benefits available, he or she can still apply for spousal benefits.
To be eligible for maximum spousal benefits (50% of the working spouse's benefit) both spouses must be at full retirement age, and the working spouse also must have filed a claim for benefits. After both spouses file their respective claims for benefits, the working spouse can suspend his or her claim. In this way, the non-working spouse receives full spousal benefits while the working spouse defers his or her own benefits, increasing their future value. Again, anytime a retiree defers full retirement benefits for enhanced benefits based on delayed retirement credits, he or she must live long enough to recoup the difference.
Social Security retirement benefits can be an important part of any retirement income plan. Knowing the different options available can provide you with a greater chance of maximizing your benefits. Deciding which choices work best for you requires careful consideration. Weigh the benefits against the potential disadvantages in light of your particular circumstances.


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Google office
Today, Google employs 20,223 people around the world, receiving a resume every 25 seconds from eager job-seekers, hiring an average of nine new employees a day. Its headquarters, often referred to as the Googleplex, is located in Mountain View, California. It runs thousands of servers across the world, processing millions of search requests each day and about one petabyte of user-generated data each hour.
Google has its own state-of-the-art gym . . . offering weight-training and a host of exercise machines, rowing machines, lockers and shower rooms, and two swim-in-place wave pools.
Other perks include free haircuts, dry cleaning and laundry, child care, car services, chiropractors and five on site doctors available for employee check-ups; all free of charge.
Perhaps the most unusual bonus of all… employees can bring their dogs to work with them and keep the four-legged canine in their offices.
Stress capsule
We already know that working for Google has certain advantages, but, believe me, this giant of a search engine takes the welfare of its employees seriously as shown by this decompression (stress) capsule that is impermeable to sound and light….
Moving around the complex:
A slide allows quick access from different floors…
There are also poles available….they are similar to the ones used in fire stations.
Employees can eat all they want for free from a vast choice of food and drink, whipped up by in-house chefs.
Typical Google Lunch
Cookie set-up
Large boards are available just about everywhere because 'ideas don't always come when seated in the office'says one of Google's managers.
Pool tables, video games, etc. are available in many areas.
On each floor, there are private cabin areas where employees attend to personal affairs.
Tech Stop
Having trouble with your computer? No problem…
Bring it to this area where drinks are available while it is being fixed…
Professional massage therapists are available.
View relaxing aquariums on massage chairs that you control ….
There are many books in this library…even some about programming!


text: Meanwhile, the dispute between Longshoremen in Longview and EGT is going global. The International Transport Workers Federation is announcing the launch of a campaign page in support of the efforts of Local 21, also linking to statements of solidarity and actions that are being taken in support of dock workers here in Longview. The ITF is an international trade union federation, claiming membership of 779 unions with nearly 4.7 million workers in 155 countries around the world. Yesterday in Holland, Dutch dock workers staged a protest in support of ILWU Local 21, with about a dozen workers picketing an STX Pan Ocean ship at a port in Holland. STX Pan Ocean of South Korea is a part-owner of the EGT terminal, along with Itochu of Japan and Bunge of the USA. Links to photos of the protest are now posted on the ILWU website.