text:
Detectives have charged a man following an alleged assault in Sandstone Point on March 12.
Police will allege a man assaulted another man following a verbal altercation at a licensed venue on Bribie Island Road just after midnight, pushing and punching him in the face.
A 24-year-old man was transported to Caboolture Hospital for treatment of fractures to his face.
A 19-year-old Banskia Beach man has been charged with grievous bodily harm.
He is due to appear in Caboolture Magistrates Court on April 11.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink on 131 444 or provide information using the online form 24hrs per day.
You can report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers, a registered charity and community volunteer organisation, by calling 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersqld.com.au 24hrs per day.


text:
What is JotForm?
JotForm is a free online form builder which helps you create online forms without writing a single line of code. No sign-up required.
At JotForm, we want to make sure that you're getting the online form builder help that you need. Our friendly customer support team is available 24/7.
We believe that if one user has a question, there could be more users who may have the same question. This is why many of our support forum threads are public and available to be searched and viewed. If you'd like help immediately, feel free to search for a similar question, or submit your question or concern.
How to let applicant print a copy for their submission?Asked by ChadReachability on August 14, 2013 at 09:43 AM
I wish to set-up my JotForm so that the applicant receives an e-mail and/or option to print their submission off after submitting their information. How would I do this?
JotForm Support
Hi Lindsay,
Good day! One option is to add the PDF Download link to your Auto Responder Email and allow them to download the PDF then Print.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Naperville, Illinoisis Recognized by Stephen as a Hometown Hero Town! Dr. Colbert recognized Naperville for their compassionate towing service for drunks. This article is a stub. You can get a Tip of the Hat* from Stephen by adding only truthiness to it.*Tip of the Hat not guaranteed. Retrieved from "http://wikiality.wikia.com/wiki/Naperville,_Illinois?oldid=125064" Ad blocker interference detected! Wikia is a free-to-use site that makes money from advertising. We have a modified experience for viewers using ad blockers Wikia is not accessible if you've made further modifications. Remove the custom ad blocker rule(s) and the page will load as expected. Categories: Hometown Hero Town Episode/94 Stubs Add category Cancel Save


text:
5-HTP plus formula: Serotonin, an important brain neurotransmitter, is key in the regulation of appetite, mood, and melatonin production. The presence of serotonin in the brain is associated with a balanced emotional state. This is achieved in part by decreasing the activity of certain excitatory hormones, including dopamine and noradrenaline. Serotonin also acts as a satiety signal in the brain, thereby naturally regulating food intake. Additionally, as a precursor of melatonin, serotonin is involved in regulating sleep patterns.
Medicinal Ingredients: Each capsule contains:
|75 mg
|7.5 mg
|Proprietary Blend of L-tyrosine and L-glutamine
|50 mg
Non-medicinal ingredients: Hypromellose, cellulose, and silica.
Adults: Take 1 capsule 1-3 times daily, or as directed by your healthcare practitioner. Take with food. To minimize risk of gastrointestinal side effects, start dosing at 1 capsule twice per day and slowly increase to 1 capsule thrice daily. Consult a healthcare practitioner for use beyond 1 year. Use for a minimum of 1 week to see beneficial effects.
Warnings: Consult a healthcare practitioner prior to use: if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, if you are on a low protein diet, if symptoms persist or worsen, or if you are taking carbidopa or drugs/supplements with serotonergic activity. These may include, but are not limited to, L-tryptophan, S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe), St. John's Wort, antidepressants, pain killers, over the counter cough and cold medication containing dextromethorphan, anti-nausea medication and anti-migraine medication. discontinue use and consult a health care practitioner if you show signs of weakness, oral ulcers, or abdominal pain accompanied by severe muscle pain, or if you experience skin changes. Do not use if you have scleroderma. some people may experience drowsiness. Exercise caution if operating heavy machinery, driving a motor vehicle or involved in activities requiring mental alertness. Some people may experience diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
Vegetarian friendly.
Adrenal SAP provides nutritive and botanical support for adrenal function to improve energy levels, mental and physical performance, memory, mood, immune function, and increase the...
Adreno-Mend by Douglas Laboratories can help restore normal adrenal gland functioning. It may be helpful in treating both short- and long-term stress. They also help...
AdrenoCo supports healthy adrenal gland function. Licorice is traditionally used in herbal medicine as an expectorant to help relieve chest complaints. Licorice is also regarded...


text:
You Can't Handle the Truth! … in Consumer Contract, Warranty and Notice Act
As Halloween has people thinking of ghosts and ghouls, creative plaintiffs' attorneys have turned an arcane New Jersey law into a true source of fright for virtually anybody who offers services that are even potentially available within the Garden State.
The law at issue is the New Jersey Truth in Consumer Contract, Warranty, and Notice Act ("TCCWNA"), which was enacted in 1981 with good intentions: to prevent businesses from advertising terms that violate state law in order to cow consumers into doing business under those terms even though they were unenforceable. For example, a storage space rental company might violate the law by requiring a consumer to release it from liability for personal injuries on company property, even though such a waiver is unenforceable under New Jersey Law. The statute provides seemingly modest damages of $100 per violation.
But the TCCWNA does not require a consumer to actually have been hurt by any illegal term or provision and, in fact, it allows for a cause of action to be brought even by a mere "prospective consumer." In 1981, this likely made little difference to brick-and-mortar businesses, for whom the only individuals who may have seen a violative contract or term would be those who sought it out. But in the age of the Internet, everybody is a potential consumer, and one may shop for dozens of products from the comfort of one's own desk in a single afternoon. Each time that one of these individuals views the website and, even theoretically, considers purchasing a product or service, that individual becomes a potential plaintiff under the TCCWNA.
This has opened the door to suits against virtually any retailer that has a website that can be accessed in New Jersey—unless the terms offered by such retailers are fully compliant with New Jersey law or clearly indicate what provisions would be invalid in New Jersey, there is a chance that those retailers could be found to violate the TCCWNA. And although statutory damages of $100 may not seem scary, those damages are awarded on a per-violation—that is, per-consumer—basis. And plaintiffs' attorneys have begun to bring class actions alleging that every single New Jerseyan who has accessed a given website is a "potential consumer" under the statute, opening the door to potentially massive liability.
The news is not all bleak: a federal judge in New Jersey recently dismissed a TCCWNA case against the car rental company Hertz relying on a recent Supreme Court case that bars lawsuits by plaintiffs who have suffered no more than a "bare procedural harm" without any real injury. But it is not yet clear if other judges will follow suit, and even if they do, that ruling will not help defendants who may find themselves stuck in state court. Until the courts or the New Jersey legislature provide clearer and more meaningful protection, businesses may find themselves being forced to comply with New Jersey law no matter where they may be located.
Deceptive Advertising, Uncategorized
David Yellin, halloween, New Jersey, Supreme Court, TCCWNA
The Blacklisting Rules Are Coming: What Federal Contractors Need to Know
The Federal Acquisition Regulation final rule implementing the "Fair Play and Safe Workplaces" Executive Order 13673 was issued on August 25, 2016, and the rule goes into effect on October 25, 2016. This new regulation presents a significant change – and potential challenge – for major government contractors.
President Obama signed Executive Order 13673, often referred to as the "Blacklisting" order, on July 31, 2014. The stated goal of the order is to "increase efficiency and cost savings in the work performed by parties who contract with the Federal Government by ensuring that they understand and comply with labor laws." On their face, the Order and regulations provide new instructions for Federal contracting officers to consider a contractor's compliance with certain Federal and State labor laws as a part of the determination of contractor "responsibility" that contracting officers must undertake before awarding a Federal contract. But what do the Blacklisting Order and the final rule really do?
Mandatory Reporting of Labor Law Violations
The new rule imposes significant reporting obligations on federal contractors during the procurement process. Ultimately, contractors and subcontractors will need to report three years of labor law violations once the rule is fully in effect. Labor law violations encompass violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and ten other federal laws and orders. According to the final rule, there are three types of actions that constitute reportable violations: "administrative merits determinations," arbitral awards or decisions, and civil judgments. Contractors must supply basic information about the violation, including the nature of the violation and identifying information, and also have the option of submitting evidence of mitigating factors and remedial measures. This information will be stored on a publicly available, searchable website.
Acknowledging this reporting is a significant burden, there is a phase-in period to allow companies to get up to speed. When the rule becomes effective on October 25, 2016, the reporting requirements will only be effective for procurements of $50 million or more and only for prime contractors. But after six months, on April 25, 2017, contractors bidding on prime contracts of $500,000 or more will need to make the relevant disclosures. On October 25, 2017, subcontractors become subject to the rule as well. Additionally, while the reporting time frame is ultimately the three preceding years, for the first year the rule is in effect, reporting will only reach back for one year. The reporting window will be expanded by a year each year thereafter, until the three-year reporting period is completely phased in on October 25, 2018.
New Paycheck Transparency Requirements
The Blacklisting Order and final rule also institutes requirements for contractors in how they communicate wage information to workers. As of January 1, 2017, contractors and subcontractors must provide a detailed wage statement, including hours worked, overtime hours, rate of pay, and any additions made or deductions taken, to every worker performing under a federal contract. Additionally, prior to beginning work, the contractor must indicate to the worker whether they will be considered an employee or an independent contractor, and if an employee, whether they are exempt or non-exempt. These notifications must be provided to workers in English and any other language used by a "significant portion" of the workforce.
Restrictions on Pre-dispute Arbitration
On the same date the reporting requirements begin the phase-in process – October 25, 2016, the requirements surrounding arbitration agreements will go into full effect. Companies with federal contracts or subcontracts of $1 million or more may not require workers to enter into pre-dispute arbitration agreements for disputes based on Title VII claims or torts related to sexual assault or harassment. The only exception will be for employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement that has negotiated the contract with an agreement to arbitrate prior to the contractor bidding on the covered contract.
The Government's Obligations Under the New Rule
Under the new rules, the Government has obligations as well. Each agency must designate an Agency Labor Compliance Advisor ("ALCA") to implement the reporting program. The ALCA will be the central point of contact for the agency and all matters related to Blacklisting reporting. This includes helping contractors achieve compliance with the rules and recommending labor compliance agreements. On the date the rule goes into effect, the Department of Labor will release a list of the ALCAs and their contact information.
Not the First Attempt at Blacklisting
President Bill Clinton has tried this once before. On December 20, 2000, just weeks before the end of his final term, he issued similar blacklisting rules. These rules would have required federal contractors to certify whether they violated any federal, state, or foreign labor, employment, tax, environmental, antitrust, or consumer protection law in the prior three years. A violation was defined as any incident running afoul of the various laws supported by "pervasive evidence." That is, no formal ruling or determination of liability had to have been made to create a reportable violation. Further, contracting officers would have had complete authority to determine if the violations disqualified the contractor from reporting and were not obligated to allow bidding contractors an opportunity to respond to potentially disqualifying violations.
While the temporal element is the same as the current rule, the list of reportable violations far exceeded the list of labor law violations as contemplated now. Contractors and various industry groups aggressively opposed the 2000 proposed rule, and several lawsuits were filed in an attempt to block implementation. Nonetheless, the rule went into effect on January 19, 2001 – the day before President Clinton left office. However, in March 2001, President George W. Bush ordered suspension of the rule and began the process for overturning it. By the end of 2001, the Bush Administration had successfully revoked this rule.
Next Steps for Contractors
Contractors shouldn't expect the 2016 rule to meet the same fate as the 2000 version. While both rules bear some similarities, the current rule is much narrower and better defines what constitutes a reportable violation. Some industry groups have publicly contemplated lawsuits against the 2016 rule, none have been filed yet. With the looming deadline, contractors should start making plans to establish a compliance regime.
While compliance with labor laws is a worthy goal, the new regulation also will have significant costs. It reduces an employers' ability to require arbitration, which likely will result in increased, costly litigation and possibly class action litigation if future labor disputes arise. Similarly, for existing disputes decided in arbitration, it eliminates the benefit of confidentiality by requiring public disclosure concerning any adverse award.
The new regulation does provide some additional compliance options for contractors in advance of official implementation. Companies may undergo a voluntary preassessment by the Department of Labor. Beyond helping companies become acquainted with the rules, participation in this program will be considered a mitigating factor in future acquisitions. The preassessment, however, the DOL may require companies to enter into labor compliance agreements.
Federal contractors should start taking internal steps to ensure compliance in advance of the effective dates. Companies should work with their internal teams, including legal, human resources, and IT support, to ensure that the necessary records are being kept and to design a reporting and monitoring program for the future. Companies should also review their new hire policies, to ensure that proper notifications are made to all workers in the required languages.
While this is a final rule and set to go into effect in the coming weeks, the matter is far from settled. Legal challenges to the rule once implemented may arise in the courts. And, as with any new rule, the devil is always in the details, so companies will likely not know the full impact of the rule until attempting compliance during the procurement process.
What the Payday Proposal Would Do
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has proposed a new rule to regulate payday lending and auto-title loan companies. Right now, it is merely a proposal, meant to undergo the notice and comment period until September 14, 2016. But if the rule goes into effect, it would be a significant imposition on the lending business.
The CFPB has been studying the effects of payday lending on consumers for years and found that many consumers struggle. They cannot repay their loans, so they take out new ones and incur significant penalties and fees. Or, they default on repayment altogether. The new rule tries to reduce this by regulating the people who issue those loans.
In theory, the rule would affect two types of loans: those with a term of 45 days or less, and those with a term of more than 45 days but with certain specifications, like an all-in annual percentage rate above 36% and a consumer's bank account or vehicle for collateral. Before issuing either loan, a lender would have to determine if the borrower can repay it without re-borrowing in the following 30 days. To determine this, a lender would assess the borrower's income, debt obligations, and housing costs; project them over the life of the loan; and forecast non-housing living costs.
The rule would also restrict how lenders can collect repayment. Today, lenders are allowed unlimited tries to withdraw from an indebted borrower's bank account, but the new rule would stop them after the second attempt that fails due to insufficient funds.
Because the rule has not been approved yet, affected borrowers and lenders can speak out against or in favor of it. Richard Cordray, the director of the CFPB, has promised that the Bureau "will continue to listen and learn" as comments come in. Sourcing from the industry is the best way to create a rule that protects consumers and helps lenders continue to provide so vital a lifeline.
CFPB, consumer, new proposal, payday loans, repayment
CFPB Scare Tactics: The New Arbitration Rules
Recently, I wrote about the CFPB's plans to issue new regulations restricting arbitration clauses in certain consumer contracts. Today, the agency announced those new rules and CFPB Director Richard Cordray is expected to discuss them at the agency's field hearing in Albuquerque, New Mexico. As expected, the new rules eliminate the use of class action waivers and otherwise restrict the availability of arbitration in consumer contracts, including those involving credit transactions, automobile leases, debt relief services, consumer depository accounts, check cashing, credit monitoring/reporting, and debt collection. The CFPB admits that it intends to "incentivize" greater legal compliance through the "in terrorem" deterrent impact of the new rules. In other words, the CFPB wants the prospect of increased class action litigation to scare companies into treating consumers better.
The new proposed rules are available at the CFPB's website along with over 350 pages of supplementary information explaining the proposed rulemaking. The CFPB proposal prohibits "companies from putting mandatory arbitration clauses in new contracts that prevent class action lawsuits." See Proposed § 1040.4(a). Companies would still be able to include arbitration clauses in their contracts, but could not restrict access to class litigation and the arbitration provisions must include specific language provided by the CFPB.
In addition, in practical terms, the CFPB has just designated itself as the overseer of U.S. arbitral bodies in direct contrast to existing laws and rules that provide very limited court oversight and review of arbitration decisions.[1] The proposed rules would require covered companies to submit detailed information about any of their consumer arbitrations to the CFPB. See Proposed § 1040.4(b). The CFPB states that it will gather, and may publish, this data so that it may gain "insight into whether companies are abusing arbitration or whether the process itself is fair." Although the rule provides for redaction of personal information, this new practice threatens to undermine the confidential nature of arbitrations and thereby limit one of arbitration's principle benefits. It is not yet clear how the CFPB might conclude that consumer arbitrations are "unfair" or what they might do in response to such a determination.
Regardless of whether the proposed regulations will succeed in scaring companies into greater legal compliance, if the rules become effective, companies should expect a marked increase in consumer class action litigation. The newly announced regulations are not final, however, and interested parties will have an opportunity to comment before the rules become effective. Interested parties have 90 days from the publication of the proposed rule in the Federal Register to comment and we expect multiple objections from the financial industry this summer. The comments likely will include practical examples of the benefits of consumer arbitration provisions, critiques of the agency's study of consumer arbitration that formed the basis of the proposed regulations, and proof of the detrimental impact that an increase in class actions will have on the business community, especially on smaller businesses. Any potentially covered company should consider commenting on the CFPB proposed regulations, either directly or through trade associations.
Once the rules are final, companies will only need to comply with the new regulations prospectively; the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act authorizing the CFPB to regulate arbitration provide that any new rules will be binding 180 days after their effective date. So any arbitration agreement entered into prior to, or within six months of, the new rule's effective date is not subject to the new restrictions. This gives potentially covered companies some breathing space to review and, if necessary, modify their existing contracts.
Although many in Congress do not support the newly proposed rules, given current political realities, there are unlikely to be any legislative changes to the proposed rules or the CFPB's authority. As a result, we expect that something close to the proposed rule will become effective later this year. Following that, there likely will be multiple court challenges to the new rules and the CFPB's authority to issue them. In the meantime, all potentially affected companies should:
- Review their existing contracts and arbitration programs to determine whether their existing contract forms would violate the proposed regulations;
- Prepare alternative contract language if existing forms will no longer be permitted; and
- Consider whether their existing pricing structure and litigation positions make sense in the coming world.[2]
Whatever the goal, companies are unlikely to be scared into greater legal compliance; most companies already strive to comply with the law. We anticipate that the CFPB's proposed rules will have many unintended consequences. In the short term, the increase in class action litigation will be a boon for many lawyers. Consumers with legitimate claims, however, may find that the class action process results in smaller payouts over which they have less control. And as companies adjust to this new environment, they will pass on the increased costs of increased class litigation to customers and likely will further tighten credit standards and product availability to reduce potential claims.
* * *
[1] Under Section 9 of the Federal Arbitration Act, a court must confirm an arbitration award unless it is vacated, modified, or corrected in accordance with Sections 10 and 11.5 of the FAA, i.e. where the award was procured by corruption, fraud, or undue means or there was an evident material miscalculation or mistake in the award.
[2] For example, companies may wish to withdraw from the American Arbitration Association's Consumer Clause Registry. For that matter, the AAA and similar arbitral organizations are sure to lose significant business as the consumer arbitration market is sure to shrink significantly if the new rules become effective.
Uncategorized, White-collar Crime
Arbitration Under Fire: Brace Your Company for Less Contract Freedom and More Class Actions
Since the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) of 1925, the United States has had a policy preference for arbitration, even when an arbitration provision includes language barring class action litigation. We saw this most recently in December 2015 when the Supreme Court reversed a decision by a California Court of Appeal to invalidate a class-arbitration waiver within a service agreement between DirecTV and its customers.[1] But not everyone thinks arbitration is so great a thing. Encouraged by consumer groups and trial lawyers, federal regulators are pushing for limits on arbitration provisions in consumer contracts.
At its core, the debate is about whether companies may compel consumers to arbitrate rather than litigate disputes and – perhaps more significantly – bar consumers from class action remedies as part of the arbitration requirement. Critics of mandatory arbitration say that it restricts consumer redress and is tantamount to a deceptive trade practice because the arbitration provisions are usually contained in the "fine print" of a contract. The new rules being proposed reportedly are designed to eliminate mandatory arbitration provisions and facilitate class action litigation.
Despite the criticisms of consumer groups, arbitration often is cheaper and more effective for both individual consumers and companies. By interfering with Americans' freedom of contract to prevent the use of mandatory arbitration, the government could severely damage U.S. business interests by exposing them to a marked increase in expensive class action litigation. In turn, that would result in more limited choices and increased costs for consumers.
The government's efforts to eliminate mandatory arbitration provisions in consumer-related contracts have been highlighted in several recent agency actions. In its list of near-term goals, the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protections (CFPB) said that new rules to govern arbitration in consumer contracts would be a priority in 2016. The Department of Education announced that it, too, was reviewing mandatory arbitration provisions in college enrollment contracts. And despite multiple appellate decisions to the contrary, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) again concluded that class action waivers in arbitration agreements infringe on an individual's rights under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act.
All of this has happened in the space of three months, indicating a clear effort by the government to diminish businesses' ability to require arbitration that shields them from often frivolous and costly class action litigation. The acts of some Congressmen have made this agenda even more transparent. In February 2016, Senator Patrick Leahy introduced a bill that would modify the scope of the FAA and curtail the use of mandatory arbitration. The bill is unlikely to pass in the current Republican Congress, but Congress previously empowered federal agencies to curtail the use of mandatory arbitration provisions on a significant, but more limited, basis.
The CFPB's current actions were authorized by the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act[2], which barred the use of arbitration clauses in certain mortgage contacts[3] and gave the SEC power to ban or restrict the use of arbitration in other disputes. Deepak Gupta, then the CFPB's senior counsel for enforcement strategy, stated that prohibiting or restricting mandatory arbitration would be "the single most transformative thing the bureau can do" for consumers.[4] In March 2015, the CFPB released a 728-page study of arbitration in consumer contracts, which was criticized by some academics and trade groups for misstating the impact of mandatory arbitration provisions on consumers. Since then, members of Congress have engaged in deeply partisan squabbling over the need for additional rulemaking on consumer arbitration or to limit class action litigation in other ways.
Despite the criticism and opposition, CFPB director Richard Cordray reiterated the agency's plans to release new rules aimed at banks and other financial firms. Earlier comments by the agency confirm that the new rules will be designed to prevent arbitration clauses from restricting class action remedies. We think such changes would quickly spread to encompass telephone, Internet, and other commonplace consumer agreements.
American companies should be concerned with how executive agencies, e.g., the CFPB, the Department of Education, and the NLRB, will carry out their plans to introduce regulations that restrict the use of arbitration clauses in a broad range of consumer contracts. We will not be surprised to see some companies restrict their consumer offerings or increase prices to account for these new rules. If you work in American business, we urge you to take notice of these changes and review how to protect your company from undue litigation in future contracts. Among other options, you should analyze the inclusion of non-mandatory arbitration provisions, the separation of class-action waivers from arbitration provisions, and the option of raising prices to contend with increased litigation.
[1] DIRECTV, Inc. v. Imburgia, 136 S.Ct. 463 (2015).
[2] Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Pub. L. No. 111-203, 124 Stat. 1376 (2010). The Dodd-Frank Act was passed without a single Republican vote in the Senate.
[3] Id. § 1414.
[4] Carter Dougherty, CFPB Finds Arbitration Harms Consumers, Presaging New Rules, BLOOMBERG BUS., March 10, 2015, available at http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-10/cfpb-finds-arbitration-harms-consumers-in-study-presaging-rules.
To Refer, Or Not To Refer? OIG's Outdated Health Care Referral Restrictions
The Office of the Inspector General, which enforces Health and Human Services, has long been averse to referral services that don't meet certain criteria. To get protection against a possible enforcement action, the referral service can't exclude anyone from participating in the service, and payments for referrals have to be reasonable and cannot be tied to the volume or value of the referrals that are made. All this complexity doesn't simply keep referral services from earning a legitimate living; it denies patients access to superior healthcare options.
In a time when patients gravitate toward online resources, the OIG's restrictions on medical referrals appear horribly out of date. Generally, when people want to find a pharmacy, lab, or doctor, they ask a friend or family member. In many circumstances, though—such as moving to a new city and not knowing anyone—people are likely to go online. Here they will find numerous referral services that can steer them to many reputable providers, who are often happy to pay for the hookup. This type of commercialized referral happens all the time in privatized industries—but because the government pays for healthcare (in the case of Medicare and Medicaid), it gets to set the rules for that space. Many of these rules are legitimately designed to protect against fraud and misuse of public funds, but that shouldn't make them impervious to revision.
Thankfully, this has not escaped the notice of referral services and even the OIG, which has issued some enlightened opinions on the matter; case in point, No. 11-18. In 2011, a web-based provider of billing, electronic record, and patient messaging services asked if it could offer a coordination service whereby physicians could pay a transmission fee for connecting to other providers in order to share patient information, provider numbers, and clinical data. In response, the OIG determined that this service would not be afforded protection under the safe harbor, but it would not necessitate enforcement action either. In this instance, and many others in today's marketplace, the referral service isn't a health care provider that bills the government, but a third party provider of software and services. What would be the harm of facilitating the transmission of information between referring providers so that a patient can receive care? Here the OIG acknowledged that the fee structure was fair market value, that it would be assessed whether or not a patient followed through, and that it was unlikely to influence a provider's decision to refer to any particular person or entity.
When the referral services safe harbor was drafted it made some sense for the OIG to suspect that an online referral service could charge a fee to steer patients to a particular provider, thereby exploiting federally reimbursed services and products. However, in most cases, online referral services are there simply to expand access to care, allow patients to have more choices, and help them find options that best suit their needs. In any other industry it makes perfect business sense for a referral service to charge its users a fee in order to recoup the cost of implementation (if any) and achieve a profit. It's high time the OIG gives medical referral services the air they need to do the same. Modifying the safe harbor could take a lot of time and effort, but the OIG can take it upon itself to revise its interpretation of the safe harbor's requirements without having to turn a blind eye to the law.
Internet Law, Uncategorized
Good Lord, & Taylor! Of Course You Need to Disclose Native Ads
On March 15, 2016, national retailer Lord & Taylor agreed to settle FTC charges that it "deceived consumers by paying for native advertisements." The settlement is the first of its kind following the December 2015 guidance memorandum, Native Advertising: A Guide for Businesses, issued by the FTC. Under the terms of the settlement, Lord & Taylor is prohibited from "misrepresenting that paid ads are from an independent source, and is required to ensure that its influencers clearly disclose when they have been compensated in exchange for their endorsements".
On the day the settlement was announced, the FTC also published a copy of the underlying complaint. The complaint alleges that Lord & Taylor developed plans to promote a clothing line for women which included a comprehensive social media campaign of blog posts, photos, native-advertising editorials in online fashion magazines, and a team of "influencers" recruited for their fashion sense and audience on social media. The FTC alleged that Lord & Taylor edited, pre-approved, and paid for a favorable Instagram post that was uploaded to the account of a fashion magazine called Nylon. The regulatory agency further alleged that Lord & Taylor reviewed, pre-approved, and paid for a favorable article in Nylon. In both cases, however, Lord & Taylor failed to disclose its commercial arrangement with Nylon. Similarly, the FTC alleged that Lord & Taylor gifted a dress from the clothing line to fifty "influencers" who were paid between $1,000 and $4,000 to post favorable photos and comments about the dress on social media. Again, Lord & Taylor did not disclose or require influencers to disclose that they had been paid for their posts. Based on Lord & Taylor's alleged misrepresentations and failure to disclose, the FTC accused Lord & Taylor of engaging in unfair or deceptive acts or practices in violation of the Federal Trade Commission Act.
What is Native Advertising?
Native advertising, also known as sponsored content, is designed to fit in with original online content in a seamless, non-intrusive manner. It allows advertisers to directly reach online consumers, without severely interrupting the original content on the publishing website, video game, or mobile app. In the past few years, this advertising has reached all corners of the internet.
FTC Concerns With Native Advertising
As native advertising has grown, so have the FTC's concerns about the possibility of deceiving consumers. Therefore, at the close of 2015, the FTC released the guidance memorandum, Native Advertising: A Guide for Businesses, which provides details and illustrative examples for businesses that use native advertising as part of their online marketing campaigns.
Native advertising creates a particular challenge for advertisers. Advertisers want to design an advertisement that appears native to the original content, but must do so without potentially confusing the consumer, who may mistake the advertisement for non-advertising content.
To assist advertisers in complying with these rules, the FTC issued its December 2015 guidance memorandum with examples and tips to ensure advertisers remain compliant. Most of the memorandum focuses on seventeen examples of advertising, including on news sites, in videos, through content recommendation widgets, and in video games. These examples illustrate how and why consumers might be confused by certain native advertising tactics. Most of the examples show how a native advertisement might bear too much similarity to the original content, which means the consumer might not understand that what they are viewing is, in fact paid-for, sponsored content.
Complying With FTC Native Advertising Requirements
The take-away from the Lord & Taylor settlement is that advertisers should avoid placing paid ads that appear to be independent editorial content. Put simply, advertisers must choose between control and disclosure. In other words, advertisers who want to make use of native advertising and "influencers" on social media must either relinquish influence or control over the advertising content or disclose the nature of the marketing arrangement. Bottom Line: Paid advertising must be identifiable as advertising.
The FTC's December 2015 memorandum provides a variety of tips on how to appropriately disclose native advertising. The disclosures should be three things: (1) placed near the advertising; (2) prominent; and (3) clear. By ensuring that native advertising follows these disclosure guidelines, companies will avoid misleading consumers into thinking their native advertisement is non-sponsored, publisher content.
Finally, the memorandum specifically notes who is affected by these disclosure rules. The enforcement is not limited to just the sponsoring advertiser. Advertising agencies and operators of affiliate advertising networks are also obligated to adhere to the FTC's disclosure requirements.
Put simply, if a reasonable consumer might see your native advertising and believe it to be non-advertising content, the FTC will likely take issue with your native advertising tactics. This is exactly what we saw in the Lord & Taylor settlement.
Deceptive Advertising, Internet Law, Uncategorized
Latest German Sausage? Privacy-Wurst by Facebook
Despite not being explicitly mentioned in the Constitution, the Supreme Court has firmly held that a right to privacy for all Americans is found in several amendments to the Constitution, with almost 100 years of case law providing precedent for many personal privacy rights that have become a cornerstone of American culture. However, in this new digital age of rapid technology change, with real-time access to information and the global exchange of information at the push of a button, new privacy protection questions arise almost daily. The extent to which an individual's private information shared online is subject to privacy protection varies depending on which side of the pond you stand.
European nations generally take a more restrictive approach than the U.S. as to how companies can use personal data. EU nations often go head-to-head with U.S. digital companies over differing interpretations of privacy rights. Both Google and Microsoft have faced multiple investigations outside the United States.
Facebook seems to be a particularly popular target. As the world's largest social network with 1.6 billion monthly users, Facebook earns its revenues from advertising aimed at users, after gathering information from the users' social connections and activities in their posts. Late last month, a German court fined Facebook 100,000 Euros for failing to follow an order issued by a German court four years ago that required the social media site to revise a clause in its terms regarding any intellectual property content posted by users on or in connection with Facebook. The German court had found that the clause in the terms violated consumer rights. While Facebook modified the wording slightly for German users, the German court found that the revised wording still maintains the same underlying message as the original wording. Europe's highest court also recently successfully challenged Facebook as to the way that data was transferred between the European Union and the United States. And just yesterday, a German court ruled that domestic websites could not transfer user data to Facebook via its "like" button without the specific consent of the user.
In a novel link between privacy protection and antitrust, the German competition authority known as the Federal Cartel Office (BKA) opened an investigation on March 2 into whether Facebook abused its dominant position in social networking in order to collect its users' digital information, including placing unfair constraints on the users, who were forced to sign complicated terms and conditions in order to use the network. The investigation seeks to discover whether Facebook users were properly informed about how their personal data would be obtained through the site, including the type of data collected, as well as the extent of the data collected.
One might ask why the BKA would get involved with this novel approach to linking privacy protection to antitrust law. First, under antitrust law, the maximum fines are much greater than those under privacy law. For a company tech giant like Facebook, the fines imposed by data protection authorities can seem negligible, even for the most egregious cases, while antitrust fines pose a much more significant deterrent. Second, Facebook has claimed that it falls only within the jurisdiction of the data protection authority in Ireland, where its international headquarters are situated. By bringing the investigation under the auspice of the antitrust authority, this argument is avoided. The President of the BKA, Andreas Mundt, remarked that, "[d]ominant companies are subject to special obligations," and he went on to say that such obligations include adequate terms of service, as far as they are relevant to the market. He also noted the importance of user data where Internet services are financed by advertising. The BKA noted, ". . . if there is a connection between infringement and market dominance, it could constitute an abusive practice under competition law."
While some question the BKA's position as ambitious and vague, others fear that this case could open the door to other investigations and cases using data protection violations to claim antitrust violations. Whether the BKA is successful or not, this should be a forewarning to other big U.S. technology companies: it is probably not enough to rely on U.S. privacy rules when playing in a global arena.
Internet Law, Privacy, Uncategorized
CFPB No-Action Letters Are No Help
In the age of handheld banking apps, private funds transfer systems, and digital currencies, ensuring that new products are fair to consumers and compliant with existing – and sometime archaic – regulations are difficult tasks. The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection ("CFPB") recently finalized a new policy for providing "no-action letters" ("NALs") to companies seeking to introduce new consumer finance products and technologies. Although the CFPB's stated goal was to ensure transparent and efficient markets that "facilitate access and innovation," it has failed to hit that target. The CFPB's new policy is a step in the right direction, but the benefits of the new policy are limited and applicants will run commercial and legal risks in seeking the limited shelter offered by the agency.
Not only will NALs offer limited protection, they will be available only in exceptional circumstances where there is both regulatory confusion and a new product. The CFPB said that it is devoting only limited resources to this program and expects to issue only two or three NALs per year. The restrictive nature of this policy will minimize the value of the agency's much-needed guidance. The limited scope of the new policy stands in contrast to the SEC's no-action policy, where NALs are important tools for market participants and their counsel in conducting business. Although NALs are rare in the bank regulatory context, the SEC has recognized that many issuers and securities law practitioners closely monitor such letters, and often view them as "the most comprehensive secondary source on the application of [the federal securities] laws." (1)
There is considerably less guidance as to CFPB regulations and a more robust no-action policy would provide much needed clarity for market participants and innovators. Under the new policy, market participants considering bringing a new product to market may request a "no action letter" ("NAL") from the agency. The request for a NAL must contain 15 categories of information, including: a description of the new product (including how it functions); the product's timetable, an explanation of its substantial benefit to consumers; a "candid explanation" of the potential consumer risks posed by the product; an explanation of the source(s) of the regulatory uncertainty to be addressed by the NAL; and a promise to share data about the product's impact on consumers. Examples of products that might qualify for a NAL include the early intervention credit counseling program proposed by Barclays PLC and Clarifi (a consumer credit counseling service), which was an early CFPB Project Catalyst research pilot.
The benefit from any NAL issued by the CFPB will be limited. The proposed relief offered is a statement that the CFPB "staff has no present intention to recommend initiation of an enforcement or supervisory action against the requester in respect to the particular aspects of its product…" This amounts to "we won't take action – unless we do." While the CFPB is unlikely to take enforcement action with respect to a new product shortly after issuing a no-action letter, the proposed letters are in no way binding and offer little more protection than the existing process of informal consultation. This weakness may be ameliorated over time as courts have an opportunity to weigh in on the impact of CFPB no-action letters and the agency develops a track record for its handling of these issues.
Submitting a request for a NAL could create commercial or regulatory risk for an applicant. From a cost standpoint, preparation of such an application will be a significant undertaking, especially for smaller companies. Because the process is only available for products that are close to market ready, potential applicants will have invested significant sums to prepare their new product. A company in this position may not want to run the risk that the CFPB denies the NAL request, which might delay or prevent it from bringing the new product to market altogether. The publication of the NAL might also give competitors a chance to duplicate or improve on the innovation before or shortly after it reaches the market.
The process also entails legal risks. The NAL application process requires the company's lawyers to explain why they think the legality of the proposal is "substantially uncertain" but nonetheless should be resolved in the company's favor. If the CFPB determined that the product is not in compliance with any pertinent law or regulation, the application effectively will be converted to an admission of wrongdoing that would bar the product from the market. (2)
Because the CFPB will publish each NAL that it issues, the non-binding letters also may highlight potential compliance issues to other regulators (and potential consumer litigants), none of which will be bound by the NAL.
By creating such a restrictive process, the CFPB has offered innovators little opportunity to save costs if their product is deemed non-compliant, and no real protection if it is. In many instances, it is questionable that the new no-action policy offers substantially more comfort to a market participant than they could already obtain through informal discussions with the agency. But because there is little existing guidance on CFPB regulations, the new process is welcome, even if limited. The new policy will be particularly useful for companies introducing products at the edge of current law. Deciding whether to seek a NAL will require careful consultation with a company's lawyers to navigate the potential legal and business risks.
(1) Expedited Publication of Interpretative, No-Action and Certain Exemption Letters, Securities Act Release No. 6764, [1987-1988 Transfer Binder] Fed. Sec. L. Rep. (CCH) 84,228, at 89,053, 89,054 (Apr. 7, 1988). 10 Thomas P. Lemke, The SEC No-Action
(2) The CFPB limited its new policy to new services and technologies. It would make little sense to seek guidance for existing products where the application itself could be seen to be an admission of wrongdoing.
Barclays, CFPB, Clarifi, George Calhoun, No action letter, regulators, SEC
Halting Business And Seizing A Domain Without A Moment's Notice
Photo credit: Wikipedia Commons- Uploaded by NativeForeigner
Every year, the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas proves to be one of the more interesting conventions to attend. 2016 did not disappoint: companies showed off cool innovations in displays, robotics, and integrated smart technology across the consumer products platform.
Adding to the excitement at this year's CES was the dramatic appearance of uniformed officers. We don't mean the sultry high-heeled look-alikes you'd more likely expect at a Vegas show. These were U.S. Marshals and they were the real McCoys (although we are unsure of their actual names or heritage). The marshals were there to execute a court order and seize product from one of the convention's participants, Changzhou First International Trade Company.
The China-based company had a booth at CES to promote its Surfing Electric Scooter, a one-wheeled hoverboard. The scooter might be considered a dream machine for many an adolescent skater. The only problem is that it is remarkably similar to Future Motion Inc.'s patented Onewheel (at only about a third the price).
Future Motion was granted a patent on Onewheel's self-stabilizing technology only recently (within the last month), but it did not waste any time to defend its rights in U.S. District Court. Future Motion requested the federal court grant it a temporary restraining order to, among other things, seize Changzhou First International's scooter from CES.
Two of the more interesting aspects of the district court's actions in this matter are (1) the speed at which the judge granted the requested relief and (2) the extent of the relief that the judge granted. The court issued a TRO on the same day that Future Motion filed the request. The following day, the marshals were in the Vegas convention hall seizing scooters and generating a lot of attention.
But the court didn't limit its TRO to seizing product locally. It granted Future Motion's request to halt manufacture and sales. The court also ordered web hosts and domain name registrars to "take any and all action necessary to remove the infringing products from websites having content controlled by Defendant, or alternatively to disable access to the website." Halting sales and manufacture and seizing the company domain name is a pretty impressive order to execute on an expedited basis, and based exclusively on arguments presented by plaintiffs. It's further impressive considering that the scooter is Changzhou First International's only advertised product on its website. Closing down this channel is effectively closing down the company's operations. Is Future Motion's patented technology really the heart of Changzhou First International's scooter? A cursory review might suggest yes, but it's a complex question that should be decided after a proper hearing. Granting a TRO to make a point at the CES convention is one thing, shuttering a business is another.
It doesn't appear that the part of the order requiring domain name seizure has been executed yet. As of January 14, 2016, Changzhou First International's website is still active, full of images of its Surfing Electric Scooter. Moreover, the product appears to continue to be sold on Alibaba. This may be because parties have ten days from notice to comply, which isn't yet up. It may also be based upon some subsequent stipulation by the parties: it is possible that Future Motion does not want to be on the hook financially should the court ultimately find against it (as the order in the case acknowledges, Future Motion would be responsible for damages, i.e. economic loss, for any wrongful seizure).
We shall see in the coming weeks what's to become of the Surfing Electric Scooter. The next hearing (for preliminary injunction) is scheduled for mid-February. At that hearing, Changzhou First International will have the opportunity to present its arguments demonstrating why its scooter does not infringe on Future Motion's patents. Although, who would be surprised if a U.S. district court found that a Chinese product infringed on someone else's intellectual property?
Uncategorized, White-collar Crime


text:
Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II may have heard "too many notes" but Mozart's The Abduction from the Seraglio has just the right amount of glamour and intrigue for Melbourne Opera.
"The story has always reminded me of a James Bond scenario or perhaps an episode of The Persuaders," says Suzanne Chaundy, who will direct a 1970s-styled production of the 1870s tale of crime and rescue at the Athenaeum on February 3, 5 and 9.
Musically the work is "a clear predecessor to The Magic Flute," she says, and although yes, there are rather a lot of notes, "God they're sublime."
Their first 2016 program finds the MO emboldened by a "triumphant" debut tour of China.


text: Carina Baby Lace Dress by MeMini You are here: Home » Shop » Shop by Category » Dresses - Carina Baby Lace Dress This gorgeous cotton lace dress is dreamy and light, a perfect outfit for your little girl this season. She will love wearing it and the Carina dress makes any occasion special. How to love & care: 100% cotton lace Machine washable Size: 6 months 9 months 12 months 18 months 24 months Colour: Egret White Quantity: Our Price: £38.50 Click to view/hide stock table Available Combinations Stock Status Size: 6 months Colour: Egret White Out of Stock Size: 9 months Colour: Egret White Out of Stock Size: 12 months Colour: Egret White In Stock Size: 18 months Colour: Egret White In Stock Size: 24 months Colour: Egret White Out of Stock Order before 2pm and receive tomorrow! Add to Favourites Customer Reviews You may also be interested in ... Vilda Cardigan£36.00 Annelie Baby Beach Suit£15.00 Madison Cardigan£32.00 Tia Dress£32.50 Carina Lace Dress £38.50 People who purchased this also purchased ... Annica Body £15.00 Alise Baby Summer Suit£30.50 Circus Baby Bottoms Elephant Print£26.00 Circus Cardigan elephant print£30.00 Deer Dress in faded pink£29.50 Dinne Tights£8.00 Elrikka Pant£22.00 Emilia Cardigan£30.00 Fluca Baby Body£20.00 Jonas Bamboo Sleeping Bag "Aftensang"£38.00


text:
What Makes a Winner?
Judges look for unique, innovative and successful marketing efforts. It can be a single campaign, or a series of promotional and advertising efforts over the course of a year or more.
Enter Floral Management's 24th Annual Marketer of the Year contest and you could win $5,000, sponsored by Design Master color tool, inc., and be on the cover of the September 2017 issue of Floral Management. Application >
Review the 2016 winning entry. Nielsen's Florist
Past Marketer of the Year Articles
2016 Sales Boosting? Slump-Shaking? Loyalty-Winning? There's an App for That


text:
Monsters of Cock Abagaile Johnson: Big dick for this Euro girl
Added: Tuesday, May 01, 2012
Loading Monsters of Cock Abagaile Johnson: Big dick for this Euro girl Video
Monsters of Cock Abagaile Johnson: Big dick for this Euro girl
I have this hottie, her name is Abigaile. She wanted to come to America to work in porn. Abigaile is fucking hot too! she is probably the Hottest European I've seen in a while. She wanted to have some black dick, So I hooked her up with Mandingo, he wanted to fuck that white ass. You got to see this girl she is perfect. A sweet ass that you just want to squish with your hands. Supple tits all you want to do is fit into your mouth and a fat pussy for licking and sticking. You got to see this movie. Its dope!
Monsters of Cock Video Galleries
More Video Galleries
That dick is so big for her tight pussyViews: 3,589
Tight brunette riding on my big penisViews: 3,955
9 Months After She Gave Birth to 6 KidsViews: 24,147
Her First Big Cock Kelly DivineViews: 6,908
Rhianna Ryan gobbles down Whitezillas big cockViews: 6,285
Horny Japanese doll fucked by 3 big cockViews: 4,895
Big Cock for Teen SlutViews: 5,410
Tight ass for big cockViews: 10,067
Girls sharing a big cockViews: 2,773
My Grandfather Doesnt Need a Walking StickViews: 10,128


text:
Style: 38645438 Color Code:
Gauzy cotton mini dress featuring tribal-inspired contrast crochet detailing with cutwork detailing and long sleeves with wide boho sleeves. Easy and effortless silhouette.
OneTeaspoon is sophisticated cool, emphasizing new denim washes while pushing the boundaries with styling and fits. The Ready-to-Wear collection has a sophisticated, effortless, and fun approach. You'll find a play on many eclectic textures, infusing neutral and earthy tones. Mix denim with contemporary pieces for stylish grunge and disheveled sophistication. OneTeaspoon promises stand-out outfits with real-world promise.


text:
Manager - External Audit & Assurance
See job description for details
- Enjoy a supportive, flexible and innovative culture, where we encourage our people to be extraordinary
- Join a team that is passionate about community support and engagement
- Extensive career opportunities including national and global secondments
Our Audit practice in Perth is a market leader in the provision of Audit and Assurance services to clients in WA. We are passionate about innovation and use contemporary methodologies and data and analytics to guide our strategy and evolve our service offering to best support our clients. As we continue to grow, we are now recruiting an Audit Manager to join our Perth team.
Your new role:
- Manage a portfolio of Audit clients across WA, in a wide range of industries, including listed companies
- Train, coach and develop your team and encourage their continued professional growth
- Manage commercial activities on engagements including fee proposals, scope changes, WIP, debtors, resource management and working to budgets
- Provide Assurance services over both financial and non-financial information
- Maintain an ongoing awareness of market, industry and competitor trends and grow your portfolio through continuous improvement initiatives
- Assist with business development activities including drafting proposals and conducting client meetings, both for audit services and for other opportunities
- Extensive external audit experience in professional services
- A lead by example management style with experience in coaching for improved performance
- Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills and experience presenting to clients
- Business acumen and commerciality with a curious mind and passion for learning and innovation
- Relevant tertiary qualifications, including CA or CPA
We offer rewarding careers for outstanding professionals, ongoing learning and development opportunities, a collaborative and inclusive culture, and flexible and agile work practices that focus on our people's wellbeing to drive innovation and entrepreneurship. We also believe that our business plays a distinct and vital role in helping solve important social and environmental issues; and use our unique skills and expertise to help create positive and lasting impacts for our communities.
We believe diversity of thought, background and experience strengthens relationships and delivers meaningful benefits to our people, our clients and communities. We are consistently recognised as an employer of choice for women, and our inclusive culture promotes the development of our people irrespective of gender, ethnicity, generation, flexible work status, family circumstances, sexual orientation or disability.
Please apply for this position by submitting your confidential application online including your resume and cover letter. For further information, please contact Jessica on 02 9455 9871.
Advertised: 14 Aug 2017 W. Australia Standard Time
Applications close: 14 Sep 2017 W. Australia Standard Time


text:
Cleveland -- The 17th annual Kym Sellers Foundation benefit gala for Multiple Sclerosis was a success.
It was an evening of elegance and fun Sept. 10 as the foundation celebrated its 17th year by hosting more than 250 guests at the InterContinental Hotel & Conference Center in Cleveland.
"We are thankful to everyone who helped to make this year's gala a success," said Aurora resident Kym Sellers, president of the foundation. "We will continue to host events that bring awareness to this debilitating disease."
PNC Bank was the presenting sponsor and Michael Taylor, senior vice President of PNC, stressed the importance of community wellness and involvement.
"PNC Bank has been a strong supporter of the foundation", said Dr. Robert F. Richardson, president of the medical staff at St. Vincent Charity Hospital. "We are thankful to all of our sponsors."
Guests were greeted by Sellers at a reception while enjoying music by flautist Herbert Wilborn Jr. Guests also had the opportunity to bid on more than 35 live and silent auction items, enter a raffle, take commemorative photos, get a caricature drawing and enjoy an array of hors d'oeuvres.
As guests enjoyed the buffet stations, remarks were made by Raymond Attwell, KSF board chairman and Stephanie Turner.
Sellers gave the audience, including three tables of Walden residents, a heart wrenching testimony about living with Multiple Sclerosis, which was then followed by a video where others gave insight into their lives and being overcomers.
Master of ceremonies was Ahmaad Crump, public address announcer for the Cleveland Cavaliers and air personality for WZAK, and Grammy and Tony Awards winner Jennifer Holliday shared her own personal battle with MS.
After being diagnosed with MS in 1992, Sellers has been a source of strength and support for individuals diagnosed with MS in the Greater Cleveland/Akron area.
It is estimated that more than 400,000 people in the United States and about 2.5 million people around the world have MS.
"I will remain optimistic and keep fighting until a cure for MS has been found," said Sellers.


text: Born in Pittsburgh in 1933, the son of hardworking Croatian Catholics, Frances and Frank, Sr. While working as a teenager at the Sheridan Square Theatre, memorized mannerisms of the screen stars and created an impressionist act. That act blossomed into a career that had him star in movies, television, nightclubs and theater stages. Best remembered for his role as The Riddler on the original 1960s TV series, Batman. His impressions of stars like Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas and Marlon Brando were some of his best and he performed them throughout his career. Died in 2005 of lung cancer, as he was a heavy smoker, and is buried in Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Hazelwood, PA.


text:
Obamacare > How Much Does Obamacare Cost? > Nevada
How Much Does Obamacare Cost in Nevada?
This article explains the costs of health care plans offered under Obamacare (the Affordable Care Act of 2014) for individuals or families who are currently uninsured or not covered by a job-based health plan.
What you'll pay for an Obamacare plan depends on five things:
- The level of coverage you choose
- Whether you qualify for a subsidy
- Where you live in Nevada
- Your age
- Whether you smoke
Read on to learn more about each of these factors.
1. The Level of Coverage You Choose
Obamacare insurance plans offer four levels of coverage:
Platinum -- covers approximately 90% of health care costs
Gold -- covers approximately 80% of health care costs
Silver -- covers approximately 70% of health care costs
Bronze –- covers approximately 60% of health care costs
Bronze plans carry the lowest monthly premiums, but you will pay the highest out-of-pocket costs for health care services. Platinum premiums are highest, but additional expenses will be lower than with other plans.
All four categories offer the same essential benefits, including hospitalizations, prescription drugs, maternity care, and more. The categories don't affect the amount or quality of care you will receive.
In addition to the categories above, if you are under the age of 30, you can purchase a "catastrophic" insurance plan at a lower cost than a bronze plan. These plans don't qualify for the premium discounts discussed below. Under a catastrophic plan, you will probably have to pay all of your medical costs up to a certain amount, perhaps several thousand dollars. After that, the costs of essential health care benefits are paid by insurance.
2. Whether You Qualify for a Subsidy
Depending on your income and the size of your family, you may be able to reduce the costs of Obamacare insurance in one of the following ways:
Lower monthly premiums. You can lower the cost of your monthly premiums if you qualify for a tax credit. The credits are applied directly to your monthly premiums, so you save money right away.
Reduce out-of-pocket costs. If you meet the eligibility requirements, the total amount of your annual out-of-pocket costs will be reduced.
Obtain coverage under Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Low-income individuals and families may qualify for free or low-cost health care coverage through one of these programs, instead of Obamacare. Many states will be expanding Medicaid eligibility in 2014, so your chances of qualifying may increase.
For details about these subsidies and to learn more about whether you qualify, see How to Save Money on Obamacare Plans.
3. Where You Live in Nevada
In most states, premiums vary depending on where you live. To learn more about costs in your region of Nevada, see the links at the end of this article.
4. Your Age
Under Obamacare, health plans must allow you to enroll regardless of your age, but the costs of your plan will most likely depend, in part, on how old you are. For specifics in Nevada, use the links at the end of this article.
5. Whether You Smoke
The Affordable Care Act allows insurance companies to charge people who use tobacco up to 50% more in monthly premiums than those who do not. (The average additional cost is about 20%.) In addition, subsidies can't be used to cover any portion of the tobacco surcharge added to the monthly premium.
Learn More
You can learn the final costs for specific plans, including whether you qualify for subsidies or low-cost care programs, by applying for insurance online at HealthCare.gov.
Click here for an overview of rate information in Nevada.
Useful Resource: Kaiser Family Foundation Subsidy Calculator
The Kaiser Family Foundation Subsidy Calculator is a quick way to get a rough idea of what kinds of costs and subsidies you're likely to face. It is embedded here for your convenience.
In Nevada, There are four geographic locations:
- Southern NV: Clark & Nye Counties
- Northern NV1: Washoe County Northern
- NV2: Carson City, Douglas, Lyon and Storey Counties
- Rural NV: All other counties
Sample Rates for plans submitted in the individual market are available to view on the Nevada Division of Insurance Website. Carriers participating in Nevada Health Link include the following plans. Qualified Health Plans offered through Nevada Health Link are marked with "SSHIX".
Proposed 2014 Individual Market Rates
NOTE: Premiums shown are for the lowest priced plan and do not reflect potential surcharges for tobacco use.
The premiums shown are for ACA compliant plans in which premiums may only be based on age, geographic location, family composition, and tobacco use. Other rating factors including, but not limited to, sex/gender, health history, current health status, and history of being insured are prohibited in ACA compliant plans. All ACA compliant plans must cover the Essential Health Benefits with no annual or lifetime limits. As a result, it is difficult to accurately compare the premiums shown to non-ACA compliant plans including those readily available in the Nevada market prior to January 1, 2014.
Four representative ages are shown in the silver and gold metal tiers, when available. The silver tier represents 30 percent cost sharing, and the gold tier represents 20 percent cost sharing. Some carriers only offer bronze metal tier plans; for this tier cost sharing is 40 percent. Some carriers also offer catastrophic plans which are typically limited to only those who are under the age of 30. These catastrophic plans offer only preventive care until the annual out of pocket maximum is reached, at which time eligible expenses are paid at 100 percent.
There are four possible geographic locations:
1. Southern NV: Clark & Nye Counties
2. Northern NV1: Washoe County
3. Northern NV2: Carson City, Douglas, Lyon and Storey Counties
4. Rural NV: All other counties
DISCLAIMER: Rates shown are proposed rates only and are not necessarily indicative of the rates that will be final and approved. The Division of Insurance reviews all rate filings to ensure they are adequate, not excessive and not unfairly discriminatory. Final approved rates may be higher or lower than the proposed rates shown.
- Aetna Life
- Altius
- Anthem
- Celtic
- Coventry
- Hometown Health
- Health Plan of Nevada
- Humana
- Nevada Health CO-OP
- Saint Mary's
- Sierra
- Time
You may also be interested in:
Do I Have to Get Obamacare in Nevada?
Learn which Nevada residents must have health coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare) and find out about the penalty you'll pay if you don't have a qualifying health plan.
How Do I Sign Up for Obamacare in Nevada?
Learn where Nevada residents should go to get health plans under the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and how to get help with the application process.
What Nevada Residents Need to Know About Obamacare
Five things Nevada residents need to know about the Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare), including whether you must get health insurance, how much it will cost, and how you can save money.


text:
Posted: Wednesday, June 7, 2017 4:52 PM
If you are a real person willing to start blind trust with me then continue reading. If you plan on trying to trick me & have endless pointless conversations then stop reading now. I have posted before only to have a ridiculous amount of back and forth emails that have gotten me nowhere but further behind. I know there has to be one person out there willing to take a small gamble with me. I am a real person, a genuine, honest, hard working, mother, daughter, friend. I have no issues with verifying my identity AND my situation. I am not a drug addict or a prostitute, I just need a little help to get me back to work. A few months ago I finally ended a long, abusive relationship (not asking for any sympathy). Even though he left with almost everything, I was able to get back my sanity & peace. Everything was ok for a little while but at the end of april i lost my job. Everything has been falling apart since then. Lost my home of 7 years, had to get a storage unit & move in with a friend (cheap rent), 3 weeks ago I had to replace my two front tires only for my car to completely break down a week later. My car was my money maker. I am a house keeper & personal assistant during the day & work for temp agency doing factory work at night. I also detail cars, do move ins & move outs for rentals, organizing for home & business owners. I am an artist, from wall murals to paint parties, banners that have been featured on the news to face painting for parties & county events, from portraits to one of a kind tattoos. (One day I will make a living doing what I love). I have amazing references that are available upon request. I have depleted my savings & I literally do not have one dollar to my name at the moment. Whatever I do make I have to drop on my storage, pay my weekly rent, feed three growing boys & buy my inflammation medication for a few days for a cartilidge condition that I have in my chest. My youngest son has bad asthma, we have health insurance but no prescription coverage. I don't really have any friends due to my last relationship & the few family members I have aren't in any positions to help me right now. Both my grandmother & father just had life saving surgeries & I wish so badly that I could be there for them but I'm drowning in my issues. Right now I can continue working for the temp agency but I have to take the bus, which I don't mind but I honestly & truthfully do not have the money for bus fare. It takes 58 minutes to walk from my house to the bus stop or I could give my friend that I live with a couple dollars in gas to take me to the bus stop because I hate how it takes time away from my kids & life in general, then it takes about 45 minutes to walk from the bus stop to the factory & I could also catch a ride from that stop to work if I had the couple extra bucks. Everything revolves around money & I hate it. I have filed for assistance but I need to get to social services to finish everything but once again the bus money & gas money thing is the factor. On average it takes $12- $17 to get back & forth to work. The friend I live with isn't much help either being that I'm practically raising her daughters as well as taking care of her sick parents. I honestly just need a break, a small break to catch even so I can get ahead. I'd love to cook a real dinner for once, take the shifts they are offering me. I really hope someone will read this & feel my honesty & sincerity because I am drained. All of the stress is becoming too much & I feel the depression starting to hit me. Is their anyone out there willing to help me today??? Please...as I stated already I have no problems verifying my identity & situation. I can pay you back in payments after I begin receiving my weekly checks through the temp agency. I just want to start working again. Someone PLEASE help me. This is breaking my heart having to do this. I could begin working as soon as tomorrow night. I will provide bus receipts, pay stubs, we can get something notarized. Anything to prove what the money is going towards. Please dont waste our time.
• Location: Cumberland County, South Jersey
• Post ID: 37177758 newjersey
Play it safe. Avoid Scammers.
Most of the time, transactions outside of your local area involving money orders, cashier checks, wire transfers or shipping (especially overseas shipping) are scams or frauds.
Report all scam attempts to email@example.com.


text:
K-State Surrenders Double-Digit Runs, Hits in Loss
K-State Surrenders Double-Digit Runs, Hits in Loss
LINCOLN, Neb. -- The K-State baseball team surrendered seven extra-base hits among the 12 total safeties by Nebraska on Tuesday as the Wildcats fell for the third-straight game with a 10-4 loss at Hawks Field.
The Wildcats (18-21) trailed early, allowing seven runs between the second and fourth innings, and were not able to plate their first run off the Huskers (30-13) until the sixth. The loss gives the season series to Nebraska, which has beaten K-State three games in a row dating back to April 15, 2014.
The first three pitchers used by K-State surrendered the bulk of the 10 runs, with starter Levi MaVorhis taking the loss after allowing three runs on one hit and three walks in 1 1/3 innings. Mark Biesma, who allowed two of MaVorhis' runners to score when he entered with the bases loaded in the second, surrendered two runs in one inning pitched while Jackson Douglas was responsible for two runs on three hits in two innings.
Nebraska, which had six extra-base hits among its first seven hits in the game, had a pair of run-producing doubles in the second, two solo home runs in the third and two more RBI doubles in the fourth.
"The walks by MaVorhis hurt us, and unfortunately, we just left some pitches up for [Nebraska]," said K-State head coach Brad Hill. "Both Jackson [Douglas] and Mark Biesma left pitches up, and they got them. It hurt us."
The K-State offense stranded nine, including two in the fourth when the Wildcats put the first two batters on with no outs after a walk by Shane Conlon and a single by Max Brown. The next three batters, though, went down in order as the Wildcats, who trailed 5-0 in the top of the fourth, had four of their nine left on stranded in scoring position.
"We had first and second and no outs [in the fourth] and then we had two bad at-bats in a row," said Hill. "Maybe, we had some momentum to at least put ourselves back in position. It took us right of it."
Steve Serratore had two of K-State's eight hits in the game, including an RBI single in the sixth to score the Wildcats' first run. The redshirt sophomore drove in Tyler Wolfe, who led off the frame with his first career triple, to make it 7-1 Nebraska, and then later added a single in K-State's three-run eighth. The multi-hit effort was Serratore's third in his last four games with an at-bat and seventh total of the season.
K-State was forced to answer with three runs in the eighth after Nebraska added three runs in the seventh, with the help of four hits, off Mitch Plassmeyer. The Wildcats were able to quickly answer, though, by loading the bases three times to score the three runs. Taylor Anderson drove in the inning's first run with a sacrifice fly that scored Wolfe while Sam Chadick came through with his first career RBIs on a two-out single that drove in Conlon and Serratore to make it 10-4 Nebraska.
Conlon reached base four times by going 1-for-2 and drawing all three of K-State's walks.
In addition to Serratore, Alex Bee notched a multi-hit game, his first since February 20, by going 2-for-4.
Nebraska starting pitcher Garett King threw four shutout innings in a scheduled short start to earn his fourth win of the season.
K-State continues its stint on the road with a three-game series at Baylor this weekend. First pitch of game one on Friday is set for 6:30 p.m.
Max Brown's single in the fourth inning extended his on-base streak to a season-high 13 games. It is the third-longest on-base streak by a Wildcat this season.
Lucas Benenati retired all five batters he faced over the sixth and seventh innings. The redshirt junior has not allowed a run in his last 9 2/3 innings, the longest scoreless inning streak by a Wildcat this season.
The season series loss to Nebraska is K-State's first since 2012.


text:
Be the first to like this
Published on
The Internet has given today's buyers unprecedented access to information, putting them firmly in the driver's seat. But the same web technology that put power in the hands of the buyer can also be used to capture in-depth information about your website visitors and sales leads.
This presentation covers:
What information can be captured by smart internet marketing software
How to turn that information into secret weapon for your sales team
How marketing can use visitor and lead information to get smart about targeting


text:
Team this navy blue polo T-shirt with a pair of printed shorts and casual shoes. You can also wear it with a pair of heavily washed denims and sneakers for a relaxed appeal. Add on a pair of aviators to complete the look.
Enter your PIN code to check the delivery time and special services


text:
In a couple of weeks I will be eligible for a new phone, and impulse buying in the store has had mixed results for me so I figured I would get some recommendations. It will have to be an AT&T phone in order to keep my reimbursement at work.
Currently I have a BlackBerry Torch, prior to that was an iPhone 3GS and before that a BlackBerry Pearl. I'm leaning towards an Android phone for the next one. My only real requirement besides being able to press ten numbers and have it call someone and receive email is a real keypad, I found that I am much more comfortable with a tactile keyboard compared to a touchscreen keypad.
Any phones I should definately look at or definately avoid?
Apr 23, 2012 at 1:12 UTC
I own an iPhone 4s and love it. The Samsung Galaxy S2 would be my second choice. But for as much as IT people hate apple, I love the battery life and the quality of the premium Apps on the Apple Store. More often than not, it seems like iPhone apps are ported to Android rather than vice versa, so the developers are building for that user base first.
You really can't go wrong with either. I'd say you could go wrong with a Blackberry, however. ;)
50 Replies
Apr 23, 2012 at 1:04 UTC
Sadly it is already a generation old, but I love my Droid 3. It is built to last, has an easy to read screen, full keyboard, and I don't feel like I will break it if I look at it wrong.
Battery life is good too, Under normal use, I can easily get 2 days.
Apr 23, 2012 at 1:06 UTC
I for one really like my windows phone 7. I find the interface to be much easier to use then the Iphone or the Android phones
Apr 23, 2012 at 1:09 UTC
That's getting to be a tough requirement to meet. I have a Dell Venue Pro that I'm carrying around alongside my iPhone 4S (just toying with Windows Phone), and I hate the keyboard on it - I'd rather use the screen. Of course the only hardware keyboard phones I've ever really liked were on my AT&T Tilt and the BlackBerry 9000 (they ruined it on the 9700, which was the same keyboard they used on the Torch). I'm also a bit picky when it comes to that kind of thing I guess...
Apr 23, 2012 at 1:12 UTC
I own an iPhone 4s and love it. The Samsung Galaxy S2 would be my second choice. But for as much as IT people hate apple, I love the battery life and the quality of the premium Apps on the Apple Store. More often than not, it seems like iPhone apps are ported to Android rather than vice versa, so the developers are building for that user base first.
You really can't go wrong with either. I'd say you could go wrong with a Blackberry, however. ;)
Apr 23, 2012 at 1:13 UTC
I'm going to offer non keyboard phones... why? Because I use to be you. My last keyboard phone was a Torch... I've been a long time keyboard only phone user and I was just so SURE that there was no way I'd be able to transition to a non keyboard phone.... and I did, I initially thought it would be a very painful transition... but it wasn't... so with that said if you are even somewhat interested in a none physical keyboard here are a few suggestions:
Big hands? Galaxy Note I know a few people that love the thing.
LTE phones: Existing- Skyrocket... Since I continue to have doubts that the Skyrocket HD is even going to be released by AT&T (I hope they don't), this one currently is the king of the hill currently IMO. (currently own a white one).
LTE phones: Upcoming - HTC One X hearing really good things about this ICS phone and I believe its due out in May.
I currently use Swype on my Skyrocket. I have no problem typing out long responses.. and if I feel like it I can go the voice to text route... which works surprisingly well.
Edit: Edited to add additional info.
Apr 23, 2012 at 1:13 UTC
The Torch was the first smartphone I've had that I could comfortably type on and had any speed to my replies. The Pearl and iPhone ended up being reading devices unless I had to type a reply immediately and couldn't get to a computer.
Apr 23, 2012 at 1:17 UTC
The Torch was the first smartphone I've had that I could comfortably type on and had any speed to my replies. The Pearl and iPhone ended up being reading devices unless I had to type a reply immediately and couldn't get to a computer.
There's always this:
Apr 23, 2012 at 1:27 UTC
I was in your boat - well, technically I still am but I'm not currently looking for a phone. I have the Samsung Galaxy S (NOT the S2) with Sprint and it's a slider. Both myself and my wife have this and we both like it a lot. No, it's not the latest greatest phone out there, but it is a solid piece of hardware that does what I need it to.
Apr 23, 2012 at 1:28 UTC
I would avoid the droid, not because it is a bad phone - but because the battery life on them is terrible!!!
Iphone 4 are great and the battery actually lasts when you use it.
Apr 23, 2012 at 1:30 UTC
The Torch was the first smartphone I've had that I could comfortably type on and had any speed to my replies. The Pearl and iPhone ended up being reading devices unless I had to type a reply immediately and couldn't get to a computer.
I thought that too, until I really started using the iPhone - I became much faster on there. Last time I tested it, I could do about 60wpm on the iPad in landscape, 40wpm on the iPhone in landscape, and 25wpm on the iPhone in portrait (with a lot more errors in the last one!).
Just tried a typing test on the Venue Pro hardware keyboard, I hit 21wpm :)
Apr 23, 2012 at 1:36 UTC
I'll be following this with interest.
I do not have a smart phone - no real need until now.
I'm trying to decide what to buy, and I at first thought I wanted a keypad. Still not convinced I don't want that.
However, the one I've been considering since before it was actually available for sale is the Samsung Note.
HOpe to look at one this week.
Apr 23, 2012 at 1:41 UTC
I just went through that dilemma with Verizon. I finally got the Droid Razr Maxx and it is a good phone. Shoots HD videos, pumps out 1080P HDMI with a little addapter cable, battery lasts a long time and it actually maes AND receives calls reliably.
Good Luck and have fun, dont know if AT&T has the Razr Maxx but if they do it's worth a look. Verizon offers a 14 day return period with a 35 buck restocking fee if you decide you just cant stand the phone.
Apr 23, 2012 at 1:45 UTC
I am envious! I will be stuck with blackberry's until they go out of business or stop making phones....
I do like a real keyboard though, and I would go with one of these...
I am also a big fan of windows phone 7, but would still go iphone for working.
Apr 23, 2012 at 1:47 UTC
There are plenty of Android options with real keyboards, pretty much every carrier has two or more. If you have a preferred carrier, that will narrow your choice.
There's the Captivate Glide, EVO Shift, the myTouch Slide, the Droid 3, and plenty more.
The EVO Shift and Epic 4G both have pretty positive reviews.
Apr 23, 2012 at 2:00 UTC
I said the same thing about keyboards. Honestly I'd go with the Samsung Galaxy II, (or III whenever the hell it comes out) and install Swype. I swear to god it makes typing without a physical keyboard so freagin easy!
Apr 23, 2012 at 2:08 UTC
I just picked up the HTC Vivid running Ice Cream Sandwich. HTC Sense is a very well rounded interface.
For starters, the 4.5" display is very hand-friendly and I would go so far as to say it is more comfortable to hold than my Inspire was, and the battery life seems significantly longer than the Inspire's.
After taking the phone off of the charger, or turning off the alarm, I am treated to some lovely graphic animations of clouds, followed by the weather report for that day.
Four icons, phone text, mail and camera are available on all screens, at the bottom. I believe they are customizable. You are no longer limited to 7 screens, and the screens now form a circle, rather than stopping at the last screen from either right or left.
One feature I have mixed feelings about is that text messages, along with a picture of the sender, are displayed on the lock screen, if the phone is locked. The picture is not so much an issue, but I have direct deposit bank alerts and such that I would prefer other people not ever being able to see.
The vivid is designed to sit in a dock, so it has the charger/USB port on the side. This is a little awkward when I use the suction mount I bought for my Inspire in the car.
The USB-HDMI adapter seems a little sketchy and seems to need a reboot to function correctly, and another reboot because the phone does not know the HDMI is no longer connected. It also seem to completely loose signal when the HDMI cable is connected. (I should note that this is an aftermarket adapter from Amazon.)
Overall, while I wish I had held out for the Galaxy Note (which I really wanted but cannot afford the extra $200) I am not disappointed with this phone.
ICS does support BT keyboards and voice dictation, plus the deal where you slide around the on-screen keyboard and it converts to a word.
Apr 23, 2012 at 2:19 UTC
I have the first Android Galaxy with the slideout keyboard and love it. I specifically picked this one because I did not want to play on the touchscreen. I do for quick one word replies, but have to say, the keyboard is a very nice feature.
Apr 23, 2012 at 3:26 UTC
Food for thought:
We're about to decommission our BB server (praise the Lord) and our die-hard BB fans were sad about losing a physical keyboard. However, after a week with their iphnoes, none of them mind not having it anymore.
Apr 23, 2012 at 4:22 UTC
Food for thought:
We're about to decommission our BB server (praise the Lord) and our die-hard BB fans were sad about losing a physical keyboard. However, after a week with their iphnoes, none of them mind not having it anymore.
That's true, I had the same complaints. The worst were the ladies that used their fingernails to type on the keyboards - I had 3 of them that took some time to get used to using flesh on the screen instead of nails. It was a bit humorous when I first gave them the iPhones!
Apr 24, 2012 at 2:45 UTC
Bluecube ICT is an IT service provider.
Galaxy S2!!!
Apr 24, 2012 at 6:28 UTC
Go into a store and take a relook at an Android touch screen phones. Android has a feature for their keyboards called Swype. This allows you to swype your finger across the screen, and Android types the word for you. Sometimes you need to make some editing, but beats trying to type each letter on the keyboard. It takes a minute to get used to, but once you are used to it, it works pretty good. The Iphones do not have this feature. I have a Motorola Atrix 2 through AT&T and I absolutely love it!! Best Android phone I have owned. I like my phone fast and business worthy and this phone is all that.
Apr 24, 2012 at 7:20 UTC
Started out with an HTC Droid Eris, which has a small screen, slow processor, and is very hard on which to accurately type. The slow processor and small keyboard were very frustrating, even when I did push the right key, I wouldn't know because of the delay for anything to register that it had been pressed, and by then I'd apready pressed it again. Even more frustrating when trying to dial a phone number. It even took 3-5 seconds just to load the keyboard sometimes.
Recently got a Droid X2 ($20 on Verizon after new-every-two discount... cheap!) to replace the Eris, and a lot of my gripes with a touch-screen-only keyboard have fallen by the wayside. More screen real estate means larger keys, and dual core processor means my phone doesn't freeze up every time I try to type anything or make a call. It's a lot better, and having Swype or another more advanced keyboard app makes them even quicker to use.
A tactile keyboard is great, but I wouldn't write off a phone that didn't have one without trying to type out a few words first. You might find that not having a keyboard isn't really a huge deal once you get used to the touch-screen typing.
Apr 24, 2012 at 8:12 UTC
I love everything about the Droid 4... except the battery life. I need to keep a charger in my bag because by noon or so, I need to charge it for a while. The call quality is way better than the Blackberries I've had over the years - much less garbling and static.
I'm also finding that I rarely use the keyboard (after having it a month - I just needed training wheels to get me used to Swype, apparently). I rarely use the keyboard now, and that was the main reason I got the Droid.
Apr 24, 2012 at 8:20 UTC
My work phone is a Droid Razr Maxx and my personal phone is an iPhone 4S, both work very well. I like the virtual keyboards just remember to turn you phone sideways to get a bigger keyboard.
This discussion has been inactive for over a year.
You may get a better answer to your question by starting a new discussion.