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Newly-IPO'd Facebook just made a bewildering mistake that's going to piss a lot of users off. Remember Facebook email? Of course you don't. In a stunning move, Facebook apparently just changed the contact info for every user from a user-assigned email address to @facebook. Here's how you switch it back.
Since 2010, all Facebook users were automatically assigned an "@facebook" email address. Even if you didn't use it, it was there as an option, which is fine.
In a move to boost usage of the email that nobody apparently wants, Facebook just went ahead and made the "@facebook" email the default on your profile. Say, what? Yeah, Facebook just changed your default email without notifying you.
It's unknown if this was a mistake, but we've confirmed with two of our editors that the change has indeed been made. Here's how to change it back:
- 1. Go to your Timeline profile page and click "About."
- 2. Under the "Contact Info" box, click "Edit."
- 3. For all the emails you want displayed, make sure the circle icon doesn't have a cross through it. (It should say "Shown on Timeline")
- 4. To not have your @facebook email shown on your profile, just click the crossed out circle ("Hidden from Timeline").
This was a really odd move on Facebook's part and will no doubt get everyone up in a huff. So unless you want people on Facebook to actually send you emails to your @facebook email, spread the word on how to reset Facebook's new change.
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
Without any official word from Facebook, this story is still developing. It all started with a Forbes report by Kashmir Hill, who found that her default Facebook email address (and that of many others), had switched from one she picked to a Facebook-assigned email address. She first spotted the issue here, as raised by programmer Gervase Markham.
Gervase Markham, via Forbes, via Gizmodo


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Browse Fleetwood RVs. View our entire inventory of New or Used Fleetwood RVs. RVTrader.com always has the largest selection of New or Used Fleetwood RVs for sale anywhere.
Southwind, Fleetwood RV: The 2017 Fleetwood Southwind RV is your residence-on-wheels. This Class A gas motorhome doesn't skimp on residential features by providing families with Lexington soft-touch furniture, solid-surface countertops throughout the coach, a carefree legless patio awning with LED lighting… and that's just the beginning. Built on Power Platform® construction and featuring full body premium paint, this motorhome was designed for long vacations while ensuring that Fleetwood owners maintain the look and feel of home.

subset: commoncrawl


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I have a Galaxy Nexus with Android 4.0.1
I tried to install Jelly Bean, and followed all instructions I found on a website (forgot which one). I installed cwh and twh first. Then I installed Jelly Bean. After the installation I rebooted my phone and it got stuck on a cross with the four colors for more than one hour. So I tried to remove all of this (Jelly Bean, twh). But now it's stuck on Google logo.
I tried everything. I don't know what to do to make my phone work. I flashed it but it's not working.
Can you help me? (A stressed student who cannot pay for the repairs)
Thank you , I really need an answer
By the way, I have a mac.


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Followers of Nostradamus credit him with predicting all kinds of events—from the rise of Napoleon to World War II. But if the medieval seer had been tasked with forecasting the near-term future of the aluminum industry, he might have been left scratching his head.
It's tough to make any kind of prediction in an economy as uncertain as ours. The last time I took a stab at predicting the future, back in 2007, I suggested that while everyone was desperate for exposure to aluminum in boom times, they would run back to downstream assets just as quickly when the market collapsed.
On the face of it, that wasn't a bad guess. As our feature story this month shows, companies like Kaiser Aluminum that have focused on downstream assets are doing well as they are somewhat protected from the volatility of aluminum prices.
But before making another attempt at fortune-telling, it's important to examine exactly what has transpired since the bottom fell out of the market. In doing so, it's clear that those predictions I made more than two years ago may not have been quite as prescient as they sounded.
I had suggested that when the market dropped, private equity companies would run away from their investments in aluminum as quickly as they arrived in the first place. That, of course, has proven to be the case. But I also said that they likely would sell them back to the multinational metals conglomerates that had been so keen to shed themselves of downstream assets in order to give their shareholders maximum exposure to the metal price. That, of course, has not happened, and I think it's fair to say it is unlikely to occur.
The truth is that while certain downstream companies, including Kaiser, have prospered—or at least not suffered as much as some of the upstream players—it does not necessarily prove that, in a downturn, downstream is the place to be. The evidence for that is pretty clear, because the pages of AMM have been littered with stories of bankruptcies of rollers and extruders. From Aleris to Indalex, it's clear that being shielded from direct exposure to primary aluminum prices did little to help many North American downstream players.
Previously, I also essentially stated that in good times it's best to be exposed to (rising) commodity prices, and in bad times it's best to be in the value-added business because conversion margins tend to get eroded to a lesser extent than benchmark metal prices.
I think it's fair to say that assessment significantly over-simplifies the situation. It's certainly true that when metal prices are high, companies like to be in the primary business because investment dollars help inflate prices and shareholders reap the benefits. But it's not true to say that in harder times downstream assets automatically offer some sort of sanctuary.
The most important factor in recessionary periods is the markets a company is exposed to. That has been the real secret to Kaiser's success—not that they're distanced from the primary aluminum business, but that by and large they are not in the business of supplying the automotive and construction sectors. Much of their operations are focused on serving the aerospace sector, which has held up far better than some other major aluminum-consuming industries.
When all is rosy with the world, broad exposure is the way to go. When times are tougher, this makes you vulnerable to an equally broad decline, but that's probably still preferable to a narrow exposure to the wrong markets—a lesson that certain extruders, such as those who focused on automotive and construction, have found to their cost.
Back to those predictions for the future. This time, I'm going to pass the buck and suggest you read this month's feature story by Tom Jennemann on page 32, which I think neatly identifies some of the "new norms" of the aluminum industry, as described by industry players themselves.
All comments are subject to editorial review.
All fields are compulsory.
Every month American Metal Market takes a statistical look inside the marketplace.
The Korean producers 'seem to think they have a good case, but personally I wouldn't get overly confident.'
--OCTG trader


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B2B companies are struggling with a loss of control over the customer experience (CX) today. As they grow their indirect channels, this issue will only get worse.
With their future growth prospects at stake, B2B executives must determine how to improve CX—while ceding more of the experience to their partners. The answer lies in adopting an ecosystem mindset, providing key partners the tools they need to grow their businesses, and orchestrating a trusting environment that encourages the right partners to deliver the right experiences that will drive connected growth.
It is becoming increasingly clear that the urgency to grow the indirect channel and monetize customer experiences is disconnected from today's operational reality.
of B2B leaders believe CX is crucial to their companies' strategic priorities…
but only 21% admit to having total control over their sales partners, who are charged with delivering CX.
of B2B leaders believe that channel partners will have more responsibility in driving CX in the next two years…
but 84% do not have clear visibility into their partners' opportunity pipelines
A new approach is required to bridge these gaps. It's an approach that ditches the benign neglect that characterizes traditional channel management in favor of an orchestrated approach. It's an approach that engenders trust and drives connected growth across an ecosystem of partners. It's an approach that turns discordant sounds into a harmonious arrangement.
To orchestrate indirect channel growth and CX improvement as movements of a single symphony, B2B leaders must:
Pivot from partner management to ecosystem orchestration.
The new focus is not on ensuring territory coverage or sales volume, but on co-creating value by delivering exceptional customer experiences.
Mind their partners' (and customers') business.
Providing partners something they value—such as leads, customer events and sales coaching—will encourage them to share customer insights.
Adopt a new currency for connected growth.
Better customer data management and insightful analytics have the potential to drives ecosystem growth in the future.
by Keith McInerney, Craig Simpson, and Monica Frigerio
The fate of B2B companies rests largely on their ability to work with their sales partners to deliver relevant and satisfying customer experiences. But presenting a unified face to consumers and sharing a commitment to connected growth will only take them so far. B2B companies also need to focus internally on how they manage their key channel partners. In the B2B arena, positive customer experiences begin with positive partner experiences. And positive partner experiences begin with an ecosystem operating model based on trust.


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Welcome to the Library Guide for Music, Theatre and Dance.
The main purpose of this guide is to help you locate conventional printed books, full-text electronic books, articles in electronic and printed journals, musical scores in both print and electronic formats, and other resource materials that you might need to be successful in your degree program.
If you need assistance, please use the Ask a Librarian chat form at left to request help, send an SMS Text message to 308-210-3865, or use our Reference e-mail form.
Please click on the tabs to the right of the HOME tab to view and access other resources.


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I am resting up from my three-day stint of going around at the BIFHSGO Conference, which held from Sept 18th to 20th at the Library and Archives Canada.
Saturday morning, I spent time visiting the different vendors, and can report that the Quebec Family History Society has cancelled its 2010 conference.
With Formula 1 auto racing returning to Montreal in June of 2010, and the tying up of all the hotels and conference rooms by the race teams and fans, it was decided to postpone the conference until 2011.
The second part of the marketplace was in Salons A & B on the main floor. When we were there, we saw lots of people buying such genealogical things asCDs and magazines.
What caught my eye was the huge "For Free" table, right in the middle of the room. It had tourist information (maps, books, pamphlets) on it from Scotland, Ireland, England, and Wales. It was a joy to pick up everything about Scotland - my ancestral home!
We visited with Ed Zapletal from Moorshead Magazines, and he reported very good sales, as did other vendors. Here he is with co-owner, Rick Cree (left).
The next day, I took a minute to visit the Canadian Council of Archives to see how everyone was, and they told me that have a conference coming up in November called the "Archives & You".
That should be fun to attend since it is just down the road from where we live, and on the second day, we will be visiting all sorts of archives in the cities of Ottawa and Gatineau (Quebec).
Their website is <www.archivesconference.ca>.


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Chicago Aikikai
- Categories →
- Design
- Photography
Founded in 1979 by Bill & Gail Friesema, Katie has been traveling the globe as Avantpop Inc. since 2008 and as herself since way before then. A professional dabbler by trade, she is known to tour with bands, setup internet for music festivals, lug around big cameras, wheel-throw pottery and sometimes throw people too. Usually not at the same time.
More questions? Ask away.


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Dental4U brauchte ein neues Anderes Design und hat einen Wettbewerb auf 99designs gestartet.
Aus 111 Designs von 28 Designern wurde eine Gewinner gewählt.
We are a dental surgery based in Melbourne, Australia.
Here is what we offer out patients:
Dental4U means just that — it is for you, for your family, your friends, your neighbours… sorry, no pets!
Whether you are young or young at heart, whether you are used to regular dental check ups or haven't seen a dentist for a decade, whether you have a full set of teeth or no teeth at all, we can help you feel and look your best.
We believe that everybody deserves good quality dental care through which you can achieve a greater satisfaction with your health and appearance without breaking the bank.
We do not standardise our treatments — we tailor them according to your individual needs.
There are hundreds of new technologies and techniques in our hands which we can use to offer you a whole range of solutions to any one problem. You will discover that coming to us will be like your little getaway from your everyday routine because we make your experience comfortable and even pleasant.
We require a sign that will be at the front of our surgery (on the street). Thus, the target audience is EVERYONE.
1) The sign needs to stand out so that people walking past will SEE IT
(It will be printed on a shiny, white vinyl)
2) The sign needs to contain the company's brand colours (blue, green) as well as the company's assets (logo).
3) The sign needs to be contemporary and classic (we are a dental surgery after all!)
4) The sign needs to convey all necessary information (see an example attached) - i.e. ph number, business name, website etc
5) The sign will be: 1700 x 900mm (1300 x 900mm with *200mm Returns*). This means that it needs to have "flaps" on the side (see existing design) that will then be made at 45degrees to the front panel, so that people can see "DENTIST" fron the side as well as from the front.
** Please note the current design for the look and feel and use the attached logo (available in ESP as well).
Feel free to have a look at our website for inspiration:
All the very best and looking forward to this!


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The White Marsh man fatally shot by Baltimore County police Wednesday night was known to work on neighbors' cars and bring them big pots of "s'getti."
"I was kind of shocked when all of this went down. He wasn't very big," said Curtis Gardner, a lifelong friend of Arnett Myers. However, Gardner added, "he had this history" with police.
Myers, 57, who police said reached for one officer's gun before a second shot him, was found guilty in 2006 of assault and resisting arrest. He was sentenced to eight months' incarceration and two years' probation, online court records show.
Gardner said Myers lived alone but had family nearby; a sister declined to comment. Myers was a mechanic and enjoyed working on cars.
Gardner went to his friend's apartment Thursday morning to clear out Myers' belongings. The only remaining sign of the shooting the night before was a rubber glove left in the parking lot. Myers' motor scooter remained parked outside the door.
Police were originally called to the nearby Colony Motel, where a manager, Lora Wolf, complained that Myers was riding his scooter around the motel after she had asked him repeatedly to leave.
"I almost feel inside it's my fault," she said Thursday morning. "I just wanted the police to tell him not to ride in my lot. I really felt bad today. I didn't want this to happen."
She added, "I feel sorry for him, that he died, and for the police officer. He was just doing his job."
Wolf said Myers had shown up in the parking lot of the motel several times, causing a disturbance. On Wednesday night, she said, he had driven the scooter in circles around her and her grandson after she asked him to leave.
At one point, Wolf said, Myers pulled away and reached for what she believed was a gun, which turned out to be his cellphone. She eventually got another manager to ask him to leave.
She said she called police after he left, fearing he would return.
After speaking with Wolf at the Colony Motel, the officers drove to Myers' apartment, a few hundred feet away in an old motel building.
They learned he had an open failure-to-appear warrant for child support noncompliance and attempted to arrest him. Police said he resisted and reached for one officer's service weapon, attempting to pull the gun out of the holster.
Fearing for their safety, policer said, another officer fired his service weapon several times, fatally wounding Myers in the chest. The officer, who has not been identified, was placed on routine administrative leave.
Neighbor Linda Ward said she heard the confrontation outside her apartment. She saw Myers lying on the sidewalk and officers with their guns drawn.
She said police performed CPR and assured him help was on the way, but Myers died outside his apartment. She said his body remained underneath a white sheet for hours as police collected evidence and took photographs of the scene.
Ward said Myers, who was known as "Charlie," would work on her car and sometimes brought her food. She found it hard to believe that he would be in an altercation with police, she said, because he "wouldn't hurt a flea."
This was he second police-involved shooting in Baltimore County this year. An officer wounded a 40-year-old woman in Pikesville on May 11.
In September, two officers got into a scuffle with a man police believed to be breaking into cars in Dundalk. In that incident, police said the suspect also fought with officers and attempted to grab one officer's gun, and the other officer fatally shot him. Both officers were cleared of any wrongdoing in the shooting.


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GFOA is always on the lookout for news items that will be useful for finance professionals, research that might help you do your job better, and legal and regulatory updates you need to know about. Check the GFOA news page for the updates and any relevant GFOA announcements, and see the GFOA Newsletter archive for back issues of our weekly electronic newsletter.
GFOA Files Supreme Court Amicus Brief in Railroad Tax Preemption Case
The GFOA joined its partner national associations on an amicus, or friend of the court, brief filed by the State and Local Legal Center before the Supreme Court in the case of Alabama Department of Revenue v. CSX Transportation. In this case, the Court is asked to decide whether Alabamas requirement that railroads pay a 4% sales tax on diesel fuel, while trucks pay a 19% per gallon excise tax, and water carriers pay no tax, violates the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act (the 4-R Act), which prohibits states from taxing railroads in a discriminatory manner.
Federal Funding and Ban on Internet Access Taxes Extended; GFOA Urges Outreach to Congress
President Obama signed a short-term $1.012 trillion fiscal measure to keep the federal government running through December 11, 2014. The measure also includes an extension of the Internet Tax Freedom Act (ITFA) until that time. ITFA the current law that prohibits state and local taxation of Internet access would expire on November 1 without the language included in budget measure.
GFOA Executive Board Approves Four Best Practices
The GFOAs Executive Board approved three new best practices and one revised best practice on September 22, 2014. These documents provide recommendations to government finance officers in the areas of accounting, retirement benefits administration, and debt issuance.
National Associations File Comments with FCC Supporting the Preemption of State Restrictions on Municipal Broadband
Several associations that represent the interests of local governments, including the National League of Cities, the National Association of Counties, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors, filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in support of municipal broadband networks and voiced concerns with state laws that prohibit or limit their deployment.
Federal Regulators Pledge to Modify New Liquidity Rules to Include Municipal Securities
This week, the Federal Reserve and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) voted to approve new liquidity standards on banks.
New Federal Banking Rules Could Increase Borrowing Costs for State and Local Governments
Federal regulators are set to approve new liquidity standards on banks that could increase borrowing costs for state and local governments, according to reports from Bloomberg and other news outlets. The Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and Office of the Comptroller of Currency are scheduled to vote on September 3, 2014, on the new rules, which would require banks with at least $250 billion in assets to meet new liquidity requirements.
Most Recent Results for GFOA's Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards Program Now Available
The GFOA has posted a complete list of governments that received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for budget years beginning January 1 December 1, 2013 is now available on GFOAs Budget Awards home page.
Public Pension Investment Returns Increase by 16.9% for Year
In the year ended June 30, 2014, U.S. state and local-government pension investments earned the highest returns seen in three years, according to a report from Wilshire Associates, as reported by Bloomberg. Public pension returns increased by 16.9%, the best performance since fiscal 2011, when returns increased by 21.2%. Funds with more than $1 billion in assets performed best, with a median increase of 17.4%, attributed to larger alternative asset allocations.
GFOA Files Supreme Court Amicus Brief in Maryland Income Tax Case
The GFOA joined its partner national associations on an amicus, or friend of the court, brief filed by the State and Local Legal Center before the Supreme Court in the case of Comptroller v. Wynne. In this case, the Supreme Court will determine whether the U.S. Constitution requires states to give a credit for taxes paid on income earned out-of-state.
SEC Enforcement Division Provides Extension to Governments under MCDC Initiative
On August 1, 2014, the SECs Enforcement Division announced that it will extend the deadline for state and local government issuers to participate in the commissions Municipalities Continuing Disclosure Cooperation (MCDC) Initiative from September 10, 2014 to December 1, 2014.
GFOA Members Urged to Advocate for Marketplace and Internet Tax Fairness Act during August Recess
On July 15, 2014, a group of bipartisan senators introduced the Marketplace and Internet Tax Fairness Act (MITFA, S. 2609), legislation that would combine the Marketplace Fairness Act that passed the Senate last year with a 10-year extension of the moratorium on Internet access taxes that is set to expire November 1, 2014.
Municipalities Ask the FCC to Consider Preemption of State Restrictions on Municipal Broadband
On July 24, 2014, the Electric Power Board of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and the City of Wilson, North Carolina, filed separate petitions asking the FCC to consider whether their states laws prohibit the deployment of high-speed broadband services in a reasonable and timely manner. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has spoken repeatedly about his desire to address state laws that prohibit or restrict municipal broadband networks. These petitions provide the chairman the opportunity to take action.
AICPA Whitepapers
The AICPA Governmental Audit Quality Center (GAQC) helps its members meet the challenges of performing quality audits. One significant industry the GAQC focuses resources on is audits of state and local entities. The AICPAs State and Local Governments Expert Panel (SLGEP) serves the needs of AICPA members on financial and business reporting and audit and attest matters. The Expert Panel protects the public interest by bringing together knowledgeable parties in the state and local government industry to deliberate and come to agreement on key state and local government issues.
GFOA Joins Letter to Senate in Support of Marketplace and Internet Tax Fairness Act
The GFOA joined other national associations representing local governments on a letter (see below) to the Senate urging support for the Marketplace and Internet Tax Fairness Act (MITFA, S. 2609). This legislation, introduced by a group of bipartisan senators on July 15, 2014, would combine the Marketplace Fairness Act that passed the Senate last year with a 10-year extension of the moratorium on Internet access taxes that is set to expire November 1, 2014.
GFOA Secures Introduction of Legislation to Expand Availability of Bank-Qualified Bonds
Last week, a bipartisan group of House lawmakers introduced legislation (H.R. 5199) that would permanently raise the issuer limit on bank-qualified bonds from $10 million to $30 million. The legislation, which breathes new life into the effort to restore the annual issuer limit to $30 million, is the culmination of several months of work by GFOAs Federal Liaison Center with the offices of congressmen Tom Reed (R-NY), Randy Hultgren (R-IL), John Larson (D-CT) and Richard Neal (D-MA).
SEC Approves Final Rule on Money Market Mutual Fund Reform
On July 23, 2014, the SEC voted 3-2 to approve a final rule on its 2013 proposal to institute reforms to money market mutual funds. The commissions final rule contains a number of components that were included in its 2013 proposal which the GFOA opposed and commented on in an independent letter and as part of a state and local association coalition last fall. (See both letters below.) Such provisions require institutional prime, retail, and municipal (tax-exempt) funds to maintain a floating net asset value instead of a stable NAV, which had existed previously.
New CPFOs - July 2014
Congratuations to the following indivduals who have earned ther Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO) designation.
Study Points to Advantages of Walkability over Sprawl
Metros found to have high walkable urbanism are models for the future development patterns of many of the largest 30 U.S. metros, according to Foot Traffic Ahead, a recent study from the Center for Real Estate and Urban Analysis at the George Washington University School of Business.
Innovation Districts Represent New Urban Model
Geographic areas where leading-edge anchor institutions and companies cluster and connect with start-ups, business incubators, and accelerators innovation districts are part of a new urban model, according to The Rise of Innovation Districts: A New Geography of Innovation in America, a new paper from the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program.
U.S. House of Representatives Passes GFOA-Opposed Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act; GFOA-Supported Marketplace and Internet Tax Fairness Act Introduced in Senate
On July 15, 2014, the House of Representatives passed the GFOA-opposed Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act (HR 3086). The bill would permanently preempt state and local governments authority to assess taxes on Internet access and would specifically remove that authority from ten states that are currently permitted to do so under current law Hawaii, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin.
GFOA Publishes Alert on SEC Municipalities Continuing Disclosure Cooperation Initiative
This week, the GFOA published an alert for members on the SECs MCDC initiative, which was announced by SECs Enforcement Division on March 10, 2014. The initiative provides issuers and underwriters the opportunity to self-report instances of material misstatements in bond offering documents regarding the issuers prior compliance with its continuing disclosure obligations.
Counties Offer Extensive Employee Health Coverage, Uncertain about Impact of ACA
Americas counties spend an estimated $20 billion-$24 billion on health insurance premiums each year, covering approximately 2.5 million county employees and nearly 2.4 million dependents, according to a new study by the National Association of Counties.
Issue Brief Looks at Pension Obligation Bonds
A new issue brief from the Center for State and Local Government Excellence examines the rationale for issuing Pension Obligation Bonds and how they have performed since the financial crisis. An Update on Pension Obligation Bonds finds that governments are more likely to issue POBs if their debt levels are high, they are short of cash, and the pension plan represents a substantial obligation to government.
GASB Proposes Additional Guidance on Postemployment Benefits
The Governmental Accounting Standards Board recently released two new exposure drafts on other postemployment benefits: one directed at employers (Accounting and Financial Reporting for Postemployment Benefits Other Than Pensions) and the other targeted at OPEB plans (Financial Reporting for Postemployment Benefit Plans Other Than Pension Plans). Both EDs propose to bring accounting and financial reporting for OPEB into line with GASBs new guidance on pensions.
NASBO Report Looks at Performance Management
Today, the released a new report, Investing in Results: Using Performance Data to Inform State Budgeting, a new report from the National Association of State Budget Officers, highlights some key themes and lessons learned for using performance information in state budgeting, planning, and program management, based on state budget officer discussions on this subject as well as several state-specific case studies.


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SLIM, SLEEK and POWERFUL
The red trims, laser film cover, and its sleek body kit makes the GE60 one of the most portable gaming laptops. Inspired by sports line race cars, its design emphasizes on the extreme and adrenaline rushing spirit of gamers. CHARGE AHEAD WITH NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 660M GRAPHICS
Powered with the latest generation of NVIDIA graphics cards for a visually stunning gaming experience, the GTX 660M is the best solution for gaming on the go. Not only does it achieve a 3DMark Vantage score of 12000, it also achieves in creating a better user experience by intelligently saving power with the NVIDIA Optimus Technology. Automatically switching between the NVIDIA discreet graphics card and the on-board video, this feature increases the battery life for a more enjoyable experience.
Take out the competition with accuracy and reliability with the built-in Killer E2200 networking solution. The Killer E2200 automatically classifies and prioritizes latency-sensitive application traffic for online games, live video and high-quality online audio for better control and fewer interruptions in your applications.
Blaze through your games and multimedia with the 3rd Generation Intel Core Processor. Able to perform multiple tasks with ease, the new Core processor increases processing speeds of up to 200% while creating, writing, and editing any multi-media. Need higher resolution viewing power? The new processor outputs 1080p resolutions and its multi-core processing power kicks up the overall GPU performance by 30-60%. STEELSERIES GAMING KEYBOARD
Designed with the player in mind, the keyboard is specially made to increase the performance of the player. Accurately detecting up to 10 simultaneous keystroke actions for precise multi-tasking and micro-managing, you??ll be prepared for any situation.
For crystal clear and high fidelity sound, the audio jacks have been coated in golf for maximum audio transer. Working in sync with an audio amplifier, always have the upper hand as you can expect to hear every step and sound from your headset.
MSI Gaming Series screens are designed to cut down on the amount of light that reflects off the display, reducing eyestrain and sharpening the picture to provide a more enjoyable viewing experience.
CPUType: Intel Core i7-3630QM ProcessorSpeed: 2.4 - 3.4GHzCache: 6MBOPERATING SYSTEMOperating System: Windows 8COLORColor: Black / RedLCDSize: 15.6" Full HD Anti-ReflectiveResolution: 1920 x 1080 (16:9)CHIPSETChipset: Intel HM76GRAPHICSGPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660MVideo Memory: 2GB GDDR5 VRAMAUDIOAudio: THX TruStudio PROSpeaker: 4 X 2WSYSTEM MEMORYSpec: 8GB DDR3 1600MHzSTORAGEHDD Capacity: 750GB Hard Drive (7200RPM)HDD Interface: SATAOPTICAL DRIVEOptical Drive Type: DVD Super MultiCOMMUNICATIONLAN: Killer Game NetworkingWLAN: Built-in 802.11b/g/n WLAN CardBluetooth: YesSUPPLEMENTAL DRIVECard Reader: 7-in-1 Card Reader(SD/SDHC/SDXC/XD/MSPRO/MS/MMC)WEBCAM RESOLUTIONWebcam: 720P HD WebcamI/O PORTUSB: USB 3.0 x 2, USB 2.0 x 2ESATA: NoVideo Port: VGA (15-pin, D-Sub) X 1, HDMI 1.4 X 1Audio Port: Mic-in X 1, Headphone-out X 1AC ADAPTORAC Power Adaptor: Output: 19V DC, 120WInput: 100~240V AC, 50/60Hz universalBATTERYBattery Pack: 6 CellsPHYSICAL SPECDimension: 15.09? (L) x 9.83? (W) x 1.46? (H)Weight: 5.28 lbsWARRANTYManufacturer Warranty: 2 Years Limited Warranty (Includes 1 Year Global Warranty)


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Erma Bombeck, the late author and newspaper columnist, once said, "When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and I could say, 'I used everything you gave me.'" I remember reading that quote many years ago. The quote struck me then, and it stays with me today, as it exemplifies the way I wish to live my life.
Bombeck's basic philosophy was simple: Give it your all. And isn't that the foundation of the fitness industry? Every day, we give all of our energy to our members, seeking the resources to help empower them to live life to the fullest so that they can enjoy the quality of life they desire and deserve.
There are many ways we can make a difference. We can focus on gaining the tools needed to give older members opportunities to improve their health and enjoy life to the fullest. Or we can help younger people or staff members find greater purpose in their work and inspire them to accomplish more in their lives.
The key is to remember that we have the power to change the way people around us see the world and themselves. One of the ways to do this is through positive psychology. This emerging field involves the study of positive emotion, positive character and positive institutions. Some researchers believe that positive psychology can create lasting change, helping people overcome negative emotions to be happier, more engaged individuals. If so, the benefits may go even further.
Several years ago, a Yale University study found that those who had a positive outlook on life could possibly live 7.6 years longer than those who did not. By including positive psychology principles and programming in your settings, you can help your older clients achieve a more positive mindset.
The need for this form of programming will continue to rise because, according to the World Health Organization, depression will be the second-leading cause of premature death by the year 2020. By helping influence the outlook of others, not only will you be adding years to their lives, but you'll also be adding life to their years. In turn, this added vitality might encourage these mature adults to give their all every day.
So, what can you do to help your older clients keep a positive outlook on life? Mark Victor Hansen, co-author of the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series, sums it up by stating that negative situations are a reality, but it is your attitude that makes a situation positive or negative.
"It's time for you to realize that you are in control of how you think and feel," Hansen says. "No one else on earth has this power unless you give it away."
By helping your older clients create a positive state of mind, you help them achieve results that will keep them coming back for more.
But let's not limit this type of support to our older clients. What about kids and ourselves? By being more involved in the lives of our children and grandchildren, we can also have an impact on their well-being.
Let's not stop with clients and family, either. What about the health and well-being of our staff? Should this be a primary concern to all of us? We can help staff members improve their lives by nurturing an environment that supports healthy choices and promotes quality of life and longevity.
No matter how we look at things, life has only two certainties: birth and death. How we live is everything that happens in between. We have the power to touch the lives of people around us and to change the way they see the world. How? By using every single bit of talent we have and by giving it our all every day.
Colin Milner is chief executive officer of the International Council on Active Aging™. An award-winning writer, Milner has authored more than 100 articles on aging-related issues. He can be reached at [email protected].


text: She'll be confirmed with votes to spare, but we won't know much about her for years. By Richard Sammon, Senior Associate Editor July 1, 2010 Here's your advance play-by-play of the Senate floor debate on Elena Kagan coming later in July: Republicans will warn the Senate is voting almost blindly on a lifetime Supreme Court appointment, and they'll argue that Kagan was deliberately short of forthcoming in her testimony about what kind of judge she'll be and that she has no prior experience as a judge. Democrats will say Kagan displayed deep knowledge and history of the law and the Courts and held her ground admirably in lengthy Judiciary Committee hearings and that her lack of judicial experience should not disqualify her.Both will be right. The former Harvard Law dean and the current solicitor general, Kagan nearly ran circles around committee members, citing case studies and precedents and sprinkling her answers with legal arcana. All the while, Kagan strategically deflected dozens of pointed questions, mostly from Republicans but from some Democrats, too, on her personal legal opinion and philosophy. Sponsored Content She steered largely clear of expressing personal views on sensitive topics such as abortion, guns, legislative intent, campaign finance, interstate commerce and such. The standard line used by Kagan, and most modern Court nominees for that matter, is that they don't want to publicly prejudge a legal subject or case that may come before them one day. Smart move from the nominee's perspective. It's a trump card that can get them out of a tough corner quickly in a nomination hearing. Kagan had the double advantage of being able to say in regard to cases she has argued before the Supreme Court that she was only advocating on behalf of the government as solicitor general, not herself. She was able to nearly fully avoid offering personal views on major issues, except to discuss the legal background of the issues. Advertisement From her point of view, it was probably smart. She can weather some criticism that she wasn't fully forthcoming, even though years ago she wrote articles urging Court nominees to be just that. She has enough general support at the outset to win confirmation. The Judiciary Committee, where Democrats have a 12-7 advantage, will easily confirm her, and Republicans won't be able to block the nomination on the floor. They won't even try, in fact, preferring to agree to several days of debate, allowing opponents to make speeches for the record. She'll end up being confirmed with 70 or more votes. It may take years, however, and a series of major Supreme Court decisions, especially split decisions, before we'll be able to accurately size up Kagan and her ultimate influence on the Court. She'll be on the Court for the fall session, but she'll be recusing herself from possibly dozens of cases the Court will decide that she litigated as solicitor general, including labor and interstate commerce cases. The conventional belief is that she will be a reliable liberal vote, much like retired Justice John Paul Stevens or the late Justice Thurgood Marshall, for whom she clerked. That may be true, but no one entirely knows, and she certainly didn't say. It may also be true that she is able to build bridges on the Court with conservatives such as Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Antonin Scalia and Samuel Alito and be pivotal in helping influence decisions and appealing to Justice Anthony Kennedy, who is emerging as the Court's swing vote. That sort of bridge building takes years to accomplish, though. Advertisement One thing is clear from the hearings: Figure on plenty of question marks about Kagan. She's figured out the right balance to get confirmed -- be forthcoming and open about legal philosophy and opinion, but only to a degree. Forthcoming enough to not be accused of stonewalling, but not so much as to unleash a torrent of debate on red-hot legal topics. It's the right path for the nominee, but the public and the Senate are lesser for it, left with more questions than answers from the careful dance that all nominees now perform before the Judiciary Committee. Republicans have a point that the Senate will be rolling the dice in confirming Kagan. Democrats should acknowledge as much. But they feel they did the same with Roberts and Alito. Many feel what little they thought they learned in their hearings -- including assurances to respect precedent -- turned out to be wrong. But that's the nature of the process. It will be the rare senator who can accurately say he or she is fully informed before voting on the Kagan roll call.


text:
JVC Everio GZ-E200 camcorder has low price, but many shortcomings
Today's Best Tech Deals
Picked by Macworld's Editors
Top Deals On Great Products
Picked by Techconnect's Editors
JVC Everio GZ-E200
JVC's Everio GZ-E200 camcorder makes a fine first impression with its low price, small size, and truly impressive 40x optical zoom. That's about the biggest optical zoom you can find on any HD camcorder anywhere, and it's on a unit that's petite for a barrel-style model.
This Everio measures just 4.7-by-2.2-by-2 inches and weighs 7.6 ounces (with the battery). It's similar to a pocket model, only twice as thick and heavy. Even so, you can very easily pop this camcorder into a coat pocket.
For the price ($279), this camcorder seemed almost too good to be true. Unfortunately, I found a few serious drawbacks, and for many, this little unit won't satisfy video shooting needs. Even some of the sub-$200 pocket camcorders have features that outclass those on the Everio GZ-E200, such as a larger sensor, higher still-shot resolution, and longer battery life.
Image quality and problems
This Everio stumbles where it matters most: video and still shots. For my full-light tests, I recorded the neighborhood around my home in late afternoon. I set the video resolution to JVC's XP setting (1080/60i at 17Mbps AVCHD), which most closely matches the Full HD setting on most camcorders. Even at this setting in full light, the results were unimpressive. The beige wall of my neighbor's house looked washed out in places, and subjects started to blur even when I panned at a moderate pace.
I've seen video from some standard definition camcorders that looked almost as good. On the other hand, for my lower-light shoot, this Everio held up relatively well. As you would expect, colors looked paler and I got more blurring when moving the camcorder, but I saw few artifacts and the autofocus only occasionally struggled.
As for still shots, this Everio shoots JPEGs that max out at a mere 2 megapixels. Even most pocket camcorders let you shoot 5-megapixel and greater photos. Macworld's Test Center results reflect my take on this camcorder's video, audio, and still-shot quality. In jury-based evaluations, the Everio GZ-E200 scored near the bottom compared with other high-definition camcorders we've tested.
Full HD doesn't look full
Many factors can degrade video and still-shot quality. A big suspect in this case is the tiny CMOS-BSI sensor, which measures only 1/5.8 inches and 1.5 megapixels. Each frame of Full HD video is 2 megapixels, so this camcorder has to perform some electronic legerdemain to inflate the pixel count from 1.5 to 2 megapixels. This is like digitally extending the zoom beyond the optical limit of a camcorder, and yielding fuzzy, indistinct video. Likewise, the Full HD video from this model looks distinctly grainier than most Full HD video I've seen elsewhere.
Super zoom
Here's a surprising upside to having a small sensor: It often allows a camcorder to greatly increase its optical zoom. This lets manufacturers produce low-cost camcorders with great telephoto range, even though the smaller sensor can result in reduced image quality. This Everio's 40x zoom is really impressive.
From my home in the East Bay hills, I zeroed in on San Francisco landmarks 10 miles away across the bay. I could actually see city folk bustling about, albeit as tiny fuzzy specks. JVC designed the zoom controls exceptionally well, letting you quickly set the desired zoom level. With a right hand finger, you can use the rocker switch on the camcorder's top panel for quick wide-angle/telephoto adjustment, and then use a left hand finger to tap the touchscreen control to fine-tune your setting.
I found that when shooting much above 30x zoom, I had to mount the camcorder on a tripod to stabilize it so my subject didn't keep zooming out of the frame. Problem was, when I screwed the tripod mounting plate onto the camcorder, it blocked access to the SD card slot (your only storage option—there's no internal memory). Each time I swapped cards, I had to unscrew the plate. If you plan to do a lot of tripod-mounted shooting, consider using a larger SD card. The camcorder's SDXC slot accepts cards up to 64GB.
Touchscreen menu controls
The Everio GZ-E200 has a few buttons, most of which are located in the usual, sensible places. You'll find the wide-angle/telephoto rocker switch and the still-shot button on the top panel, and the record push button on the back panel, all within easy reach of your trigger finger.
You access most commands, however, through the 3-inch touchscreen. The screen responded well to my taps, and it was easy enough to figure out how to get around. It just takes too long.
The camcorder has a habit of making you do things twice. For example, in record/shoot mode, when you tap the menu button, it takes you to another menu button. Only when you tap the second button does it take you to the submenus. The same thing happens when you tap the camcorder/still camera icon in the screen's upper left corner. You're taken to another screen that asks you to choose between the camcorder or still camera mode. Why not just let us toggle between the two with a single tap? Fortunately, there's a toggle button for that, on the left panel.
Commands shouldn't take so long to drill down to, and on the GZ-E200, they aren't prioritized well. For example, white-balance is a setting few casual users will ever bother with, yet JVC puts it prominently on the first submenu page. Meanwhile, you have to scroll down five submenu pages just to change the video resolution.
That may sound nitpicky—until you're in a rush to catch a fleeting shot. Imagine being on the coast and spotting a breaching humpback whale, or you're at a soccer match at your daughter's school, watching your budding Mia Hamm hammer in the winning goal. When every second matters, this menu doesn't cut it.
Battery life and Mac compatibility
One way JVC kept costs down was to bundle an almost absurdly small lithium-ion battery pack. This little 700mAh pack is one of the dinkiest I've seen on a traditional camcorder. Not surprising that the Everio GZ-E200 conked out after 58 minutes in our continuous record run-down test—less than half of the time I'd expect on a single charge. To bring battery life up to two hours, you need to shell out an extra $65 for the 1400mAh pack (BN-VG114US).
The camcorder comes with a basic file management utility, the Everio MediaBrowser 4 that runs only in Windows, but you should still be able to get your files onto your Mac. I used the USB cable to import video and still images into iPhoto and iMovie on my MacBook Pro, and it worked just fine.
Macworld's buying advice
If you're looking for a low-cost HD camcorder with awesome zoom, it's hard to beat JVC's $279 Everio GZ-E200. But disappointing image quality, short battery life, and cumbersome navigation all limit its appeal. You could bring battery life up to par with a higher-powered battery pack, but that brings your total cost to $343. At that price, you should take a hard look at Sony's $360 Handycam HDR-CX160, which is an all-around solid budget model that comes with Full HD 60p video (the Everio shoots only interlaced) as well as 3MP still shots, a larger and more pixel-rich CMOS sensor, and plenty of onboard memory.
[Bryan Hastings is a freelance writer based in the San Francisco Bay Area.]
JVC Everio GZ-E200


text:
Views: 180
Pyramid in Alaska buried during the Ice Age?
"The TV news showed the whole world and they had it sliced out
where the pyramid was and how big it was in proportion. I mean
the thing was huge in the proportional graph they showed."
- Douglas A. Mutschler, Chief Warrant Officer, U. S. Army Counterintelligence
Mount McKinley is north of Anchorage. Nome is upper left red circle on Norton Sound
west of Mount McKinley. The region between Mount McKinley and Anchorage is where
the large pyramid structure was allegedly found during geophysical studies of the
May 22, 1992, Chinese underground detonation of a large nuclear bomb at Lon Por.
July 27, 2012 Fairborn, Ohio - After my Coast to Coast AM broadcast this morning, I received the following email from a retired Navy Captain and professional engineer who provides analysis of a large "square" he found in Google maps in which each side of the square measures exactly twice the length of each side of the Cheops Great Pyramid in Egypt.
Subject: Alaskan Pyramid Interview on Coast To Coast AM of 26 July
Date: July 27, 2012
To: firstname.lastname@example.com
Dear Ms. Howe:
I am a retired Navy Captain that served as a Navigator/Communication, Tactical Coordinator, Mission Commander in 3 active duty and Naval Air Reserve Patrol Squadrons over my 25-year career. I have been both an Executive Officer and Commanding Officer of two reserve units. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace Engineering from Ga Tech, a Master's Degree in Ocean Engineering from Fla Atlantic Univ, and am a Professional Engineer.
I found your interview on the Alaskan Pyramid quite interesting. Having spent two deployments in Adak with my Navy Patrol Squadron, I have always been interested in articles about Alaska. I don't have any specific knowledge of the Pyramid subject matter, however after listening to the interview and reading the information linked to it on C2CAM, I did the following:
1. Signed on to Google Earth
2. Drew a line between Mt. McKinley and Nome
3. Set my altitude above the ground to@ 15,000ft-20,000ft
4. Proceeded to transit the line from SE to NW towards Nome looking for any anomalies that caught my eye. Specifically looking for "non-natural" features like straight lines or "non-natural" geometric shapes.
Approximately 50 miles NE of Mt. McKinley just to the north of the line connecting it to Nome, I came across a square shape that was very distinct in the ground. The area is a flat plain approximately 1950 ft ASL. The coloration of the anomaly is a darkish green and there doesn't appear to be any type of surface structure. This is a very desolate area in the center of the state. However, the coloration is distinctly different than the immediate surrounding area. There are other areas nearby that have the same color, but are irregular in shape. The area that I noticed is a distinct "square". My assumption is that if there is something below the surface it could be impacting the flora at the surface which somehow mirror the shape (dimensions) of a structure below. Perhaps it is a thermal differential that promotes growth or some other chemical/physical effect. I have no way to know other than observing the square anomaly.
I am forwarding to you for your inspection two jpeg files that I made from the Google map. One of the jpegs shows a reference Lat/Long that is @ 0.37mi from the anomaly. This reference Lat/Long is 63°18'North 152°32' West. The red line just to the South of the reference position and the anomaly is the line connecting Mt. McKinley to Nome.
1) Google Map Image of "Square"
The second jpeg shows the anomaly outlined with the lines I created detailing the four
sides of the square, as well as the lines bisecting the four corner angles and the lines
bisecting the four sides. These lines all conform to a square with a base of 1510 Ft
on a side and as you can see they match up perfectly with the square green anomaly
in the first jpeg. You can duplicate what I have done by just going to Google
earth the reference Lat/Long where you will see the anomaly.
2) Google Map Image of "Square" Outlined
"The red line just to the South of the reference position and the anomaly is the line
connecting Mt. McKinley to Nome. The length each of the 4 side equals @ 1510 Ft.
The interesting thing about this dimension is that it is exactly twice the length of the
sides of the Great Pyramid at Gisa, which are 755 Ft on a side. The coincidence
is interesting to say the least. This would make this square anomaly on the surface
4x the area of the base of the Great Pyramid, which at least is consistent with
your witness (Doug Mutschler) who said the underground pyramid that
was supposedly identified during the May 22, 1992, Chinese underground
test was much larger than the Great Pyramid at Giza."
Earthfiles Editor's Note:
Compare above Google image to infrared satellite image below taken of 17 pyramids
hidden underground in Egypt and reported by U. K.'s BBC on May 26, 2011.
Infrared satellite images have discovered 17 underground hidden pyramids
and 3,000 ancient settlements in Egypt. NASA-funded archaeologist Sarah Parcak
told the BBC: "I couldn't believe we could locate so many sites. To excavate
a pyramid is the dream of every archaeologist." 2011 infrared satellite image of
underground pyramid at center of image by NASA.
Retired U. S. Navy Captain: "This location is near the western boundary of the Danali National Park; @ 150mi west of Talkeetna, the nearest large settlement; and some 230 mi from both Anchorage and Fairbanks. Therefore it is not logical to assume that there would be any type of agriculture or timber operations in this area that would create any type of straight lines or rectangular shapes of fields or forests.
What is even a little more interesting is that I measured the dimensions of the square that is visible. The length each of the 4 side equals @ 1510 Ft. The interesting thing about this dimension is that it is exactly twice the length of the sides of the Great Pyramid at Gisa, which are 755 Ft on a side. The coincidence is interesting to say the least. This would make this square anomaly on the surface 4x the area of the base of the Great Pyramid which at least is consistent with your witness who said the underground pyramid that was supposedly identified during the May 22, 1992, Chinese underground test was much larger than the Great Pyramid at Giza.
I have tried to measure the orientation of the anomaly and it appears as if the NE side is oriented to 330°/150° to true North. I don't know if there is any relevance to this number. However, in checking out the Magnetic Declination for the area 63°N 152W° the current declination is some 18°East which means the magnetic compass direction today of this line would be close to 312°. Looking at the historic records that go back to 1900, magnetic declination was closer to 29°E which is significantly higher. This range in declination is due to the relatively close proximity of this location to the magnetic north pole whose position relative to true north varies greatly. It is not inconceivable that in the distant past the magnetic declination was a very high westerly reading which means that the magnetic compass heading could have approached 360°N, indicating that whatever might be causing the square anomaly could have been built pointing to the magnetic north pole at the time it was created. More likely however is that if there is a structure below the surface it was probably oriented to some astronomical feature such as a specific star.
One additional feature that I found interesting was looking at the elevation of the anomaly moving along the various sides. If you go to Google and place lines outlining the four sides of the anomaly, and right click the line and select the elevation feature, you will see an elevation plot of the line. When you move the line in the elevation drawing an arrow will detail your transit down the selected line. If you do this with the NE-NW boundary, the SE-NE boundary and the NE to SW diagonal, you will see a very distinct vertical sheer that exists in the NE corner of the square. The vertical sheer is from 6ft to 9ft located some 300ft from the NE corner down both sides and 400 feet down the NE-SW diagonal. The sheer face appears to create a vertical wall perpendicular to both the SE-NE side and the NE-NW side of the anomaly. I don't know if there is any significance to these sheer walls, but they don't exist at any other point on the anomaly which is relatively flat across its full dimension.
I hope this information is of interest to you. I would be curious to see if anyone else has identified this anomaly or if you believe it bears further investigation.
Best regards,
MW, Professional Engineer
CAPT USNR-Ret.
p.s. – for what it is worth - In August of 1986 while out on a morning jog at about 5:30 am or so in St. Petersburg, Florida with my girlfriend, we witnessed a large (747 size or larger) triangular shaped UFO (with 5 white globe type lights on the leading edge forming a V-shape) fly over the area about 2-4 miles away from us moving from North to South at about 2500 Ft and absolutely silent. Two weeks after the sighting I went to a UFO seminar being held in St. Petersburg and heard several other people discussing what they had seen and it was the same object that we had seen. Having an aerospace engineering degree, having held a Top Secret clearance my entire 25 year career in the Navy and Naval Air Reserve I know for a fact that what we saw was a physical object, it was being intelligently controlled, it was of a design that I know far exceeded the capabilities of any heavier than air object existing at the time and being operated by the U.S. Military. I am a believer and I appreciate the work that you and others are doing to break through this fog of secrecy. Keep up the good work."
Continuation of interview with Douglas Alan Mutschler, retired U. S. Army Commissioned Warrant Officer in Counterintelligence (CW2), Fairborn, Ohio, followed by Paul Vincent, Ph.D., Geophysicist, College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon.
Credulity run amok.


text: Thursday, April 05, 2012 APTA Launches Low Back Pain Campaign This week, APTA launched a public awareness campaign to educate consumers about how to prevent and treat low back pain with the help of a physical therapist. The goal of the campaign is to drive people to www.moveforwardpt.com to learn more about low back pain, the ways in which a physical therapist can help, and to find a PT. The initial phase of the campaign will target top-tier national print, broadcast and online media. The effort is supported by the results of APTA's "Move Forward" Low Back Pain Survey of more than 2,600 people aged 18 and older who disclosed their experiences and habits regarding low back pain. View APTA's press release for some of the key findings. Working with member volunteers, APTA also developed Low Back Pain: Prevention and Management, an e-book that broadly examines the types, causes, and symptoms of low back pain and when to seek medical advice. Social media also will play a large role throughout the promotion of the campaign. An infographic titled Low Back Pain by the Numbers, which graphically illustrates the results of the survey, is being shared across Move Forward's Twitter and Facebook pages, in addition to Move Forward's new Pinterest page. APTA will encourage fans, followers, and friends to "Pin-Away Low Back Pain," for a chance to win prizes. Move Forward will host its first BlogTalkRadio show on April 23, 7 pm ET, to discuss the results of the survey. Guests will include APTA spokesperson Mary Ann Wilmarth, PT, DPT, who will discuss strategies for relieving low back pain. Mike Ryan, PT, ATC, PES, athletic trainer for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and CoLette Morgan, MD, with Emory University and AARP's Georgia chapter, will join the show to discuss back pain as it relates to athletes and aging, respectively. The show will also cover prevention strategies and proper techniques for everyday activities.


text:
Carrie Underwood Is Pregnant! [PHOTO]by Thomas Chau | PopCrush
Congratulations to Carrie Underwood, who has announced today, Sept. 1, that she is officially pregnant!
Underwood announced via an Instagram post that she is expecting her first child with husband, NHL player Mike Fisher.
"In honor of 'Labor' Day, Ace & Penny would like to make an announcement," she wrote in the caption of the photo of her two dogs. "Their parents couldn't be happier…"
The photo features both Ace and Penny wearing "I'm going to be a big brother" and "I'm going to be a big sister" shirts.
Rumors of Underwood's pregnancy began around the middle of the summer, but the 31-year-old country star and former 'American Idol' winner kept quiet about her upcoming bundle of joy until now.
Underwood and Fisher began dating in 2008 and later became engaged in 2009. The two were then married on July 10, 2010 in Georgia.
Congratulations to Carrie and Mike! We can't wait to see photos of the little boy or girl!


text:
Tate Honaker
|Middle Distance
|Mason, Ohio (Mason HS)
2014 Track and Field: Ran a season-best 1500 meters with a time of 4:15.22 at the Vanderbilt Black and Gold… Ran a season best in the 800 meters at the EIU Big Blue Classic with a time of 2:03.40… Placed 10th with the 4x800-meter relay team at the Shamrock Invitational (8:11.94).
2013 Track and Field: Placed ninth in the distance medley relay at the ETSU Niswonger Invitational with a final time of 10:57.12s... Captured second place in the distance medley relay at the TSU Invite ending the race in 10:52.97s... Competed in the 800m at the Atlantic Sun Indoor Track and Field Championships finishing 12th in 2:01.68s... Broke his personal best in the 800m and 1500m at the Vanderbilt Invitational with new times of 1:58.44s (800m) and 4:01.93s (1500m)... Placed sixth in the 1500m after posting a time of 4:07.78s at the 2013 Billy Hayes Invitational... Took home eighth in the 1500m at the A-Sun finishing the race in 4:08.29s.
2012 Cross Country: Competed in four events… Placed 12th at season opening FGCU Invite in 27:30.00… Placed 11th at Tennessee Tech Invite in 28:08.53… Placed 59th at the A-Sun Championships in 27:49.70.
2012 Track and Field: Finshed first in the distance medley relay at the Tennessee State Invitational with a time of 10:31.93s... At the same meet also finished eighth in the 800m after crossing the line in 2:05.16s... During the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship, competed in the distance medley relay finishing in 10:54.56s placing sixth and the mile run finishing 11th with a time of 4:32.33, his personal best in the event... Competed in the BSC 'Southern Invitational in the 1500m where he earned a third-place finish with his time of 4:07.54s... Finished 15th at the Rhodes Open in the 5000m with a time of 15:54.17, recording the time as his personal best.
2011 Cross Country: Competed in a team-high eight meets as a freshman… Opened his Lipscomb career with a 17:13.14s run at the Belmont Opener, where he finished 68th… Personal-best 16:55s 5K run came at the Powerade Invite, where he finished 33rd… Runner-up at the Chattanooga Cross Country Festival with a 28:34.74s mark… Peaked at the proper time, turning in a season-best 27:00.36s 8K run at the A-Sun Championships; he finished 42nd overall and sixth among A-Sun freshmen.
Prep: Ran for Tom Rapp at William Mason High School... 1:56.64s mark in the 800m run broke the school record... 2008 Ohio cross country champions... Member of fifth-place relay team in the 4x800m relay at the 2010 state championships... 2010 regional championship team in track.
Personal: Son of Joe and Theresa Honaker... Has one sister, Sara... Plans to major in mechanical engineering.


text:
June 4, 1966 -
Svenlana Jitomirskaya was born on June 4, 1966, and raised in Kharkov, Ukraine, in a family of two accomplished mathematicians (later three, counting her older brother). [Her mother was Valentina Mikhailovna Borok.] She received her undergraduate degree (1987) and Ph.D. (1991) from Moscow State University. Since 1990 she has held a research position at the Institute for Earthquake Prediction Theory in Moscow. In 1991 she came with her family to southern California. She was employed by the University of California, Irvine, as a part-time lecturer (1991-92) and rose through the ranks to become a visiting assistant professor (1992-94) and then a regular faculty member (since 1994). She took a leave from UCI to spend nine months at Caltech (1996). She was a Sloan Fellow (1996-2000) and a speaker at the International Congress of Mathematicians in 2002. She is married and has three children ranging in age from one to seventeen.
Jitomirskaya was awarded the 2005 Satter Prize from the American Mathematical Society. This prize is awarded every two years to recognize an outstanding contribution to mathematics research by a woman in the previous five years. Following is the selection committee's citation:
The Ruth Lyttle Satter Prize in Mathematics is awarded to Svetlana Jitomirskaya for her pioneering work on non-perturbative quasiperiodic localization, in particular for results in her papers (1) "Metal-insulator transition for the almost Mathieu operator", Ann. of Math. (2) 150 (1999), no. 3, 1159-1175, and (2) with J. Bourgain, "Absolutely continuous spectrum for 1D quasiperiodic operators", Invent. Math. 148 (2002), no. 3, 453-463. In her Annals paper, she developed a non-perturbative approach to quasiperiodic localization and solved the long-standing Aubry-Andre conjecture on the almost Mathieu operator. Her paper with Bourgain contains the first general non-perturbative result on the absolutely continuous spectrum.


text:
Social Media has become important for all kinds of relationships online and there are many social dashboards available for social management. However there are not many tools to build and maintain relationships whilst also analysing the importance of the 'influencers' in detail.
Commun.it – based in Tel Aviv in Israel may be about to change the game with a new new customer relationship management platform (CRM) allowing you to answer important social business questions at the click of a button making it easy to focus on high value members /influencers, and nurture top supporters to help spread your word and manage your community to effectively drive business.
Commun.it is smart, simple to use and as from this week also integrates with Buffer for intelligent social sharing.
What is Commun.it?
Commun.it is a relationship management platform allowing you to track back into a user profile to see how many engagements you have had, the history of the relationship, alongside many other important pieces of information that you may miss using a conventional Twitter Dashboard. Engagement is measured across mentions, retweets, shares, favourites.
Twitter is inherently message-oriented and real-time, always bringing focus to the latest tweet or mention, this is part of it's magic. But the problem is that on Twitter all statuses are treated as equals – meaning that engagement from influencer has the same visibility for you as a random mention, and this maks it difficult to prioritize your efforts. In addition, tweets lack relationship context … Commun.it solves these painpoints by bringing priority and context, that are inherent to real-world relationships, to Twitter
How does Commun.it work?
On start up, the system links to your twitter account (we used the free trial which is limited to one twitter profile). Followers and relationships are then brought in to the system for more detailed analysis under main headings; relationships, followers, engagement, new leads, groups and more.
Manage Relationships
This section shows details for relationships you have with top influencers, supporters and engaged members and giving actionable insights into the value of each member. Communi.it makes it very easy to pick up a conversation from where you left off, find out how much you have actually engaged with followers and how many times you have been mentioned.
- Influencers – The top influencers of your community, as judged by followers/following ratio and your engagement history.
- Supporters – Supporters help you 'spread the word' by retweeting your statuses and sharing links to your content.
- Engaged Members – These members engage with you more often than others. Engagement is measured across all activities, including mentions, retweets, DMs and favorites.
Manage Followers
There are a number of options for follows and unfollows, I found out that I was not following many of my top supporters by using this area, some were deleted by accident and some I just thought I was following so a good tool to have.
- Consider to follow – Consider to follow these members. Their engagement level, influence level and relevance to you make them good prospects for follow
- Consider to unfollow – These members make good candidates for unfollow. Members with low engagement level with you, and low influence level appear higher on the list
- New Followers – These people started following you recently.
- New Unfollows – These people stopped following recently
A Great feature with all of the engagement and follower menus is the ability to multi thank people that have started following you or mentioned you.
Monitor Engagement
Add keywords, URL's, hashtags, anything that you might search for to keep track of your brand or your market area. This also helps you keep on top of any re-tweets that may lose your name or reference.
Discover New Leads
If you're looking for specific or targeted Twitter following you can do that with the keyword following function. Discover and connect with relevant people, based on their profile, interests and conversations.
Groups, much like Twitter lists is a handy way to manage people by segmenting your community (i.e. Potential clients, People to Follow-up, Top Bloggers, etc).
There are two reports:
- Activity Report – Showing reports of mentions, re-tweets, DMs, mentions and total reach
- Engagement Report – at-a-glance look at top influencers, supporters rated by followers and engagement
Engagement Report
Meet The Team behind Commun.it
The team behind Commun.it are – Sharel Omer, Mike Polischuk and Ran Margaliot, clearly passionate about relationships and business, Mike had this to say:
Commun.it is a new and unique service that analyzes relationships and helps marketers to focus, cultivate and grow those that matter most (your influencers, supporters, potential clients)… our early crowd of marketers are WOWed by the value they get…we worked closely with the Buffer team and they were super helpful and excited to help us make this happen – Mike Polischuk – Commun.it
For more details sign up for free at Commun.it – prices start from $0 for a limited profile, $9.99 per month for 4 profiles, all the way up to $199 a month for an unlimited account.
For a more detailed walkthrough – watch this useful walkthrough video from John Aguiar


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A former Indian Army major placed a call Saturday morning to police outside Fresno, Calif., to inform them that he had murdered four people. By the time police arrived at the nearby scene, Avtar Singh had killed not just his family but himself, too.
Nearly two months prior, Mr. Singh had called the same Selma Country police for the last time to complain against media who wouldn't leave him alone. I was that reporter.
I am a Kashmiri journalist studying at the University of California, Berkeley. Mr. Singh had been discovered last year to be living in Selma, where he ran his own trucking company. I wanted to interview this man, who was notorious back home after a judicial inquiry accused him of murdering a prominent human rights activist.
Like so much from the Kashmir conflict of the 1990s – of my childhood – the case remained unresolved, and the pain of victims left to fester.
After decades of mostly nonviolent resistance to Indian rule, Kashmiri separatists and Pakistani militants rose up with guns in 1989. India cracked down with a massive counterinsurgency that continues today, more than a decade after quashing the armed uprising. Government figures say at least 47,000 people have died in the conflict and thousands remain missing; other estimates are much higher.
Atrocities committed by Indian forces during the conflict have rarely if ever been punished. Singh's was the rare case that made it to court in Kashmir, but he then fled the country. The magistrate put out a warrant over Interpol, and in 2011, Selma police alerted India's Interpol bureau that they had their man.
But Singh was never extradited. In an age when the reach of international justice is growing, Singh's case highlights how much influence international relations and national politics can still warp the process.
"It shows the ongoing hurdles that have to be overcome," says Matt Eisenbrandt, legal director for the Canadian Centre for International Justice. He tried for a time to help locate Singh when he was missing. (Correction: The original article misstated Mr. Eisenbrandt's current affiliation.)
"Just because a perfectly innocent human rights lawyer is murdered doesn't mean that you always bring the bad guys to account. You still have to deal with politics, both domestically and internationally," he says.
Why I started writing about Singh
I first heard about Singh after I became a reporter in Kashmir in 2007. Like many reporters in the disputed region, I wrote about him and the struggle of the families of his victims for elusive justice.
Singh was wanted for the kidnapping and murder of human rights activist Jaleel Andrabi in 1996. Months before his death, Mr. Andrabi had addressed a UN session in Geneva about human rights violations by India in Kashmir.
On the evening of March 8, 1996, Andrabi was driving home with his wife when he was stopped and taken away by Army personnel who were apparently waiting for him.
Twenty days later, police asked Andrabi's younger brother to identify a body recovered from a jute sack in the Jhelum River. It was Andrabi: his hands tied behind his back, his eyes gouged out.
The Special Investigation Team formed to investigate the case – at the order of the high court in Kashmir – reported that everything pointed to Maj. Avtar Singh of the 35 Rashtriya Rifles unit as the person who had committed the murder. It also found that to eliminate the trail, Singh had murdered four Kashmiri counterinsurgents who had witnessed the killing.
Kashmiri police also claim to have found Singh's involvement in five other cases of murder, including that of a young man whom he suspected of having an affair with his sister-in-law and an old Sikh tailor whom his wife's family might have owed some money.
Soon after the death of Andrabi, Singh left Kashmir and the country, even though the court had placed restrictions against his flight abroad.
The victims' families allege that India's Home Ministry and External Affairs Ministry smuggled Singh out to save him from legal procedures where he might have given away the names of other officers involved in the case, and also to avoid setting a precedent for Indian soldiers accused of human right violations to appear before the law.
"If the extradition does go through, I will open my mouth," Singh said in an interview last year with the Indian magazine Open. "I will not keep quiet."
JP Singh, an official with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), said he could not comment on the case. Multiple efforts to reach the Home Ministry failed. Neither ministry appears to be talking to the media about the case since Saturday's killings.
Even before I started graduate school in Berkeley, I checked how far Selma was from campus. I wanted to speak with the man who has claimed that he was being blamed to save other culprits. I also wanted to see him, because his only two available pictures were so radically different that it was hard to believe it is the same man.
Heading to Selma
On March 26, I went to Selma.
There I met police chief Myron Dyck. In 2011, his officers arrested Singh in a domestic abuse case filed by his wife. Singh was now on a 36-month probation, Mr. Dyck said, but otherwise a free man.
I asked about why Singh was never extradited. Dyck said that Singh's home country never wanted him back.
"When we arrested him in 2011 and found that he was wanted on the Interpol list, we informed the Interpol Washington office and they asked us to hold him till they contacted their Indian counterparts," Dyck said.
Interpol's Washington office confirmed this. Interpol is a communications network, designed to pass messages between law enforcement agencies across international borders. Interpol Washington passed the message that Singh was in custody in Selma to the National Central Bureau of Interpol in India.
"Quite a few contacts were made, with little to no response," says LaTonya Miller, a spokesman at Interpol Washington. "The Indian government has to initiate whatever extradition process needs to happen."
But they did not.
Interpol in India confirmed they received the messages. "To avoid delay, we asked them to directly contact the MEA, who do the extradition," said an Interpol official in India who refused to be named.
"We don't get involved with governments. We deal with police-to-police only," says Ms. Miller in Washington.
Back in Selma, Dyck said he waited for two days for word on what to do with Singh, but when Interpol Washington couldn't get any response, "we had to release him," he says.
Why no deportation proceedings?
The US had another option: deportation. According to Lori Haley, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokeswoman, Singh was arrested by ICE in July 2007 for unlawful presence in the US and placed in removal proceedings.
"At the time of his death, Mr. Singh was pending removal while the ongoing investigation into his case continued," says Ms. Haley via email, referring to an investigation by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations unit.
Asked if it is usual for such cases to go on for five years, she responded: "Removal cases are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and timeframe."
In recent years, the US has been courting India after weak relations during the cold war. The US has been encouraging India to deepen its involvement in Afghanistan and with the navies on China's periphery. In 2011, the US ambassador to India visited Kashmir but did not meet with Kashmiri separatist leaders, a suggestion at least to some that the US was willing to stay quiet on Kashmir for the good of broader US-India relations.
The US government also remained quiet in 2011 when Singh was not extradited but remained on US soil. A call to the US State Department Monday was not returned.
A low-profile life in California
After talking with Dyck, I drove by Singh's house on Pine Street and also by his previous house on McCall Avenue. They were quiet neighborhoods, past endless vineyards and peach orchards.
Singh changed houses often enough that neither his neighbors nor the Sikh religious leaders knew much about the family. Harry Gill, president of the local Punjabi organization, knew only that the family kept a low profile.
"Not many people knew him. He didn't tell anybody who he is or where he came from," he told the Associated Press after the killings.
I was also asking around about Singh from journalists who had reported his domestic violence story in 2011, and had asked a Fresno-based journalist to arrange an interview for me with Singh, if possible. I was reluctant to meet Singh myself because I somehow knew he wouldn't talk to me after finding out that I was Kashmiri.
Word had reached Singh that a Kashmiri reporter was inquiring about him and had come seeking an interview. He called me that evening. It was a calm voice, speaking in steady English, and inquired if I was the Kashmiri who was looking for him. I said yes. He asked if I was in Fresno. I lied that I was coming tomorrow. And then he shouted, using expletives.
"You think this is your father's Kashmir. Do you have any idea where you are coming? You have such guts that you have come from Kashmir. Just set your foot in Selma and I will shoot you. I will kill you," he yelled, jumping between native Punjabi and Hindi as he got more upset.
I asked if he knew he was threatening with death a reporter who only wanted an interview. He continued making threats, and then hung up.
A restraining order
The next morning, the Selma police called me to say that Singh had filed a complaint and got a restraining order against me that prohibited me from going close to his house, his office, or him and his family.
When I read the news of killings in Selma two days ago, I was shocked. The first thing I remembered was the long email Singh's wife had sent to me in 2011 after I had written a story about Singh's past in Kashmir and the need for his extradition.
She had threatened to sue my magazine and me if we didn't apologize in the next issue. She also wrote that her husband was a soldier who had bled for his country, and had never, and would never, spill an innocent man's blood.
Had Singh been extradited and made to face the legal system, it would have been a lifesaver for the 10 families in Kashmir who accuse Singh of killing their loved ones. It also, most likely, would have been a lifesaver for Singh's wife and two of his children killed Saturday. A third child was badly injured but remains alive in a hospital.
"It is an unfortunate end. Not justice in any sense of the word," says Hafizullah Mir, Andrabi's lawyer. "Avtar Singh should have faced the court, and we should have heard his side of the story, too, and the side of the victims and then the court."
* Ben Arnoldy contributed to this report from Boston.


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Full Name: Kiki Amalia
Nick Name: Kiki
Nationality: Indonesia
Place / Date of birth:: Jakarta, November 26, 1981
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Achievements & awards: Winner of Femina face 2000
Kiki Amalia (born in Jakarta, 26 November 1981) is a model and soap opera and movie star in Indonesia. Kiki's career started in the world of model selection Aneka Cover Girl Magazine in 1995. Kiki had even posed for FHM magazine. Before entering into movies industry, the winner of Femina in 2000 was once starred in various television commercials. Some soap operas starring Kiki ever include Legenda Misteri, Wewe Gombel, Bule Betawi, Jodoh Apa Bodoh, Anak Ajaib, also Hidayah Islamic religious movies and Rahasia Ilahi. D3 graduate of the London School Business Management was also once starred in Rantai Bumi movies.
Kiki Amalia claimed Hengky deceitful operative with has paid the house electricity bill as big as 2 million per month since year 2005 during three year with Kiki Amalia atm. Hengky dispute that accusation, even he accuses this just his jealous machination relates to other woman.
Kiki Amalia want to finish this problem through law when does kinship road met deadlock.
" that is later of my family administer, " said Kiki Amalia. and Kiki Amalia said that Hengky has borrow her atm and unconsciously Kiki Amalia savings cut to pay electricity bill of hengky house at Jalan Buntu road, Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta come Until February this year.
Fully dressed woman is a lot of mystery, with much reluctance, and almost no fun. Fully clothed women are every day, where is the excitement and fun in that? Women in underwear is a tease. He can not see everything, only what he wants to see. This leads to the mystery. What is she hiding? What are the parts that I can not see. Finally, the enthusiasm, you do not see that every day and can not wait to see the rest.
The naked woman offers little excitement and fun, because it is convenient and he wants more. Although there is still much to give. Where is the mystery? It is completely exposed, so there is nothing to try his mind and spirit is the greatest sexual organ in the human body. The value of clothing is what helps to create, and the mission it performs. Just know that choosing the right underwear.
Ladies you know what are its best features. You know what you do not want to show. The woman has always been better in the model. Just keep this in mind when selecting the set of lingerie. The most difficult is choosing the right equipment for you. If you buy online or in a store, there is someone to help you make your choice.


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Born in Istanbul, Şahap Ayhan began his career in association with inker Ayhan Erer (1929-1998). They started out working for the children's weekly magazine Çocuk Haftasi (Children's Week) in 1946 with the historical epic comic 'G¸ltekin'. Under the joint pseudonym of S. Ayhan E. they also worked on other comics like 'Kralın Hilesi', 'Atilla Geliyor', Atilla'nın Ölümü', 'Arslan Yüreği', as well as Turkish stories with Lee Falk's 'Phantom' for the bi-weekly magazine 1001 Macera until they parted ways.
The Phantom, Turkish version
Ayhan completed his military service in the late 1940s, and subsequently continued his artist's career for publications slike Memleket, 101 Roman, Vatan, Yeni Sabah, Ceylan, Hür Anadolu, Sabah, Tercüman, Son Havadis, Tercüman Çocuk, Türkiye, Türkiye Çocuk and Çocuk Haftasi. In 1950, he drew comics like 'ZIU'nun Maceralari', 'Kara Kamçının Serüvenleri' and some of the first Turkish sci-fi comics. By 1953 he took on newspaper comic strips like 'Baltacı ve Katerina', 'Safiye Sultan', 'Kleopatra' and 'Çici'. In 1955 he was present in Ceylan with 'Karabulut', that was printed in color on the magazine's back page.
Don Juan
From the late 1950s throughout the 1960s, he produced a great many comics, including 'Kazanova', 'Don Juan', 'Denizaltı Korsanları', 'Arzın Merkezine Seyahat', 'Dede Korkut', 'Alpaslan', 'Şeyh Şamil', 'Rasputin', 'Kara Orkun', 'Kara Pelerin', 'Akbulut' and 'Tengiz'. His erotic rendition of 'Don Juan' was published in album in 1961. A film adaptation of 'G¸ltekin' was made in 1969 and one of 'Kara Orkun' in 1973. Ayhahn also drew covers and stories for 'Baytekin', the Turkish 'Flash Gordon' publication.


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The abrupt departure of leadership in California's High Speed Rail project has many asking if it will ever become reality.
Roelof van Ark, CEO of the California High-Speed Rail Authority since June 2010, along with Thomas Umberg, chairman of the project, announced they will step down in about two months.
"Both of us recognize this is a transitional time for the project. It's going to move to the Department of Transportation," Umberg said. "We're now on to a new phase of the project and, given it that its going to be in the Department of Transportation, it's better to transition now than six months from now."
The announcement came shortly after an independent review panel recommended that the state not issue $2.7 billion in bonds to help fund construction for the initial phase of the project in the Central Valley from Chowchilla to Bakersfield.
Although voters initially approved it, the budget has nearly tripled to nearly $100 billion and that has many wondering if the project is in jeopardy.
"There are a number of different elements that need to be coordinated to make this project successful," Umberg said. "Ultimately, political will is the key component—having the support of the state government, having the support of the federal government, and local governments are critical elements in this equation."
Dan Richard will take over for Umberg who said the project is headed in the right direction, citing state and federal support of the bullet train.
If funding is approved, construction could start by the end of 2012 and is scheduled for completion by 2033.
Let us know what you think. Comment below, send us your thoughts via Twitter @PropZero or add your comment to our Facebook page.


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HV Polo uses cookies to make your visit and shopping experience at www.hv-polo.com even easier and more personal. With these cookies we and third parties can follow and collect your internet behaviour in and outside of our webshop. We and third parties can use this data to adapt ads to your interests and allows you to share information via social media. By continuing to use our webshop, you agree to this. Read our cookie policy for more information.
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Liberty Media Holdings. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution
of any component of this site, in whole or in part, is a violation of applicable
federal copyright laws and international copyright treaties.
Corbin Fisher, Corbin Fisher's American College Men, American College Sex and Excelsior Productions are registered trademarks of Liberty Media Holdings LLC.


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It was a year of significant changes in how health care is delivered in Maryland. Here are some highlights:
Rocky rollout for Obamacare
Years of effort preparing for the Affordable Care Act culminated with the opening of state and federal health insurance exchanges, including the Maryland Health Connection, on Oct. 1. But that wasn't the end of the story.
Major technical problems marred the rollout, hampering enrollment as the state aimed for a goal of signing up 150,000 Marylanders for health insurance by the end of March. Community groups working for the state took to street corners, pharmacies, churches and fairs to get the word out on new coverage available through the exchange and broadened Medicaid eligibility, but the website handling public queries and sign-ups was slow or nonfunctioning.
Behind the scenes, technical issues and disputes among contractors working on the state exchange's website set back the recruitment efforts, according to emails obtained by The Baltimore Sun in a public information act request.
Amid the problems, the exchange's executive director, Rebecca Pearce, resigned, and Gov. Martin O'Malley and Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown were put in the spotlight to answer for the problems. Brown, who is running for governor, was tasked with overseeing health reform efforts in the state.
Although some troubles remained, by mid-December users reported seeing improvements.
Maryland's troubles mirror those seen in other states and in the federal government's exchange.
Changes ahead for hospitals
Hospital leaders and state health care regulators spent much of the year ironing out a plan to bring major changes to the way the facilities are paid for care.
Hospitals would be guaranteed a certain amount of revenue for providing care each year under the new model, replacing a longstanding system in which hospitals are paid for each service performed. Growth in that revenue level would be limited to keep pace with growth in the state's economy.
The plan seeks to help drive down the overall costs of health care, encouraging hospitals to treat patients more efficiently. It comes in response to a steady rise in the state's cost per hospital case, a statistic that threatens a unique system in Maryland in which regulators set the rates all insurers, including the federal Medicare and Medicaid programs, pay to hospitals.
After months of fine-tuning and input from hospitals and insurers, state regulators submitted the plan to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in October. The agency's decision was expected by the end of the year, making the new model effective Jan. 1.
Justice extended for Henrietta Lacks
Henrietta Lacks, the Turners Station woman whose cells were collected 62 years ago by Johns Hopkins doctors, unknowingly helped countless patients when her genome was used in groundbreaking medical research. Now her family will have a say in advances yet to come.
The National Institutes of Health and members of Lacks' family reached an agreement in August requiring researchers to get permission to use what are known as HeLa cells.
The cells were taken from the 31-year-old after she died of cervical cancer in 1951, and were kept alive in a glass tube. Lacks' story became well-known outside the medical community when Rebecca Skloot's book, "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks," was published in 2010.
A panel that includes two of Lacks' descendants who live in Baltimore now decides what research can use the cells.
Regulators crack down on cosmetic surgery, pharmacies, abortion clinics
Maryland health officials moved to more closely regulate cosmetic surgery centers and compounding pharmacies in response to tragedies. Meanwhile, new concerns arose over abortion clinics.
The state passed a law that forbids plastic surgeons from performing risky procedures like liposuction in facilities that aren't inspected by the government or accrediting bodies. The measure came in response to the death of a Lochearn woman who contracted an infection after undergoing liposuction.
In response to three deaths from meningitis in Maryland in 2012, regulators pressed for a state law that officials said could close a gap in the oversight of pharmacies responsible for mixing and preparing large batches of drugs. The law requires pharmacies that perform compounding to obtain a permit, and places stricter oversight on compounded drugs from outside the state. Congress also passed a law giving the Food and Drug Administration a broader role in regulating such specialty pharmacies. Across the country, 750 people were sickened and 64 people died after receiving injections of tainted steroids from a Massachusetts compounding pharmacy in 2012.
A chain of clinics that perform abortions faced crackdowns after a Baltimore patient died and state health regulators found problems. Four facilities of Associates in OB/GYN Care LLC were suspended in May, and three doctors' licenses were suspended in June. Two of the doctors' licenses were suspended as of Dec. 12, while the third was placed on probation, according to the state Board of Physicians. The licenses for the four facilities remained suspended as of mid-December.