Thursday, August 16, 2012

Medicare costs too much, but how to rein it in?

President Barack Obama addresses the crowd during a campaign stop Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012, in Davenport, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

President Barack Obama addresses the crowd during a campaign stop Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012, in Davenport, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney leaves after a news conference at Spartanburg International Airport, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012, in Greer, S.C . (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? President Barack Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney agree there has to be a limit to how much seniors pay for Medicare, but they're worlds apart on how to make that happen.

You wouldn't know it from the accusations they hurl on the campaign trail, but that is the real heart of the argument between the two leaders and their political parties.

There will be consequences for seniors and the nation's health care industry no matter which way the debate is decided, because both sides agree Medicare spending must be controlled.

Obama relies heavily on cutting payments, the amount hospitals might get for a heart bypass or how much a radiologist is reimbursed for reading an MRI.

Romney would give future retirees a fixed amount of money to pick their health insurance from competing private plans or a government program, thereby limiting taxpayers' financial exposure.

Some questions and answers about both approaches, and their pros and cons:

Q: Obama cuts Medicare by $716 billion, so how much does Romney cut?

A: There's no precise dollar-for-dollar comparison.

Obama's cuts to hospitals, drug companies and other providers are phasing in now as part of his health care law.

Romney has largely embraced his running mate Paul Ryan's Medicare overhaul plan. If implemented, Romney-Ryan wouldn't go into full swing until 2023, and key details have not been spelled out.

Nonetheless, the Congressional Budget Office did some long-range calculations on the Wisconsin congressman's latest plan.

The nonpartisan analysis found that Medicare spending would rise under both current policies that reflect Obama's approach and under Ryan's plan. But Ryan's way would grow Medicare far less.

In 2040, Medicare spending for a 67-year-old would average $14,300 under current policies, which include Obama's health care law, and $9,500 under the Republican plan. (It's about $6,000 now.)

The differences would grow noticeably bigger with time. In 2050, Medicare spending for a similar retiree would be $19,100 under current policies, and $11,100 under Ryan's plan.

That amounts to a "substantial cut in spending" compared with other policy scenarios, the budget office said.

Q: So, Ryan's plan ? the one Romney agrees with ? would cut Medicare more?

A: That's what Democrats claim. They're calling the plan a massive cost shift to retirees. (Under Romney's plan, those now 55 and older could stay in traditional Medicare, while those 54 and younger would go into the new program.)

Republicans say their plan is not about shifting costs.

They point out that other major industrialized countries are getting the same or better quality medical care for less money. Because Ryan's fixed insurance payment to retirees would limit the amount of taxpayer financing going into Medicare, it would finally force everyone, from the medical center CEO to the individual retiree, to be more cost-conscious about health care decisions.

Backers of the Romney-Ryan approach say its competitive design would help bring down costs for everyone. Romney says his goal is to preserve Medicare.

The budget office says the implications of the plan are unclear, because they would depend on specifics not yet fully spelled out as well as the reaction of hospitals, insurers, drug companies and other industry players.

Q: What are the risks of what Romney and Ryan are proposing?

A: The main risk is that the government payment for health insurance won't keep pace with health care inflation, shifting an ever-growing share of costs to people on fixed incomes, or forcing them to settle for lower quality service.

Think of it as being similar to the difference between a traditional pension plan that provides a defined benefit, and a 401(k) plan where individual circumstances and choices come into play.

Leaning against such risks, Ryan adjusts the government insurance payment so that it would grow a little faster than the overall economy. His plan also envisions added help for seniors in poor health.

That still may not be enough.

Ryan has done two versions of his plan with prominent Democrats, and both involved a more generous formula for adjusting insurance payments than what he steered through the Republican-led House.

Q: What are the risks of Obama's approach?

A: If the government just keeps cutting payments, Medicare will start looking more and more like Medicaid, the much leaner program for low-income people.

Doctors will stop taking new Medicare patients. Many hospitals and nursing homes would start losing money, and some may have to shut down. Innovation would slow, as drug makers and medical device manufacturers think twice about bringing new products to market. Seniors would have problems getting appointments or face waiting times for elective surgery. Quality would decline.

That's why the administration has launched dozens of experiments to deliver quality care for lower cost. But it could take years to see results.

Q: So where do Romney and Obama actually agree on anything about Medicare?

A: There are four big points to keep in mind.

Both agree there has to be an overall limit on the growth of Medicare spending. (Obama would use a powerful new board created by the health care law to ratchet down payments. He has yet to name the panel; Republicans are calling it a "rationing board.")

Both agree that wealthy beneficiaries should pay more for their Medicare.

Romney and Ryan want to gradually increase the eligibility age to 67, instead of the current 65. In closed-door budget negotiations with Congress last year, Obama hinted he might be willing to do the same as part of an overall debt reduction package.

Both would shift additional costs to beneficiaries. Obama has proposed higher deductibles for outpatient care, new copayments for home health, and policies to discourage the use of "Medigap" policies that can lower out-of-pocket costs ? particularly for newly joining baby boomers.

The boomers would do well to pay attention: Medicare will change no matter who wins the White House. Unless lawmakers cut spending or raise taxes, the program's giant trust fund for inpatient care will go broke in 2024.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-08-16-Medicare%20Debate-QandA/id-8014f04606f14df1932ba97230e329be

caucus results exton ricky williams kurt warner kurt warner missouri primary minnesota caucus

Amid pressures of daily life, more Koreans revive interest in shamanism

Shamanism, also known as Muism, hasn't always been accepted in Korea, and some still view practitioners skeptically. Still, many modern Koreans are turning to the indigenous practice for guidance.?

By Jason Strother,?Contributor / August 16, 2012

South Korean shaman Lee Soon-ae performs prayers during a shipboard ceremony intended to exorcise the demons that threaten fishermen and bring good luck to everybody on board, off Incheon, west of Seoul, on June 24. Though an ancient practice, Korean shamanism - in which singing and dancing are used in trance rituals addressed to specific gods, often to get an answer to specific questions - had long been suppressed in Asia's second most Christian nation.

Choi Dae-woong/Reuters/File

Enlarge

The banging of drums, crashing of cymbals and blaring of a horn echo down the slope of Samgak Mountain. They?re coming from a shaman?s temple, where a goot, a spiritual rite, is underway.
?
The predominant religions in South Korea are the traditional Buddhist faith and a large Christian population, though a large segment of the population is not religious. Still, many are believers in an animistic spirituality that goes back thousands of years.

Skip to next paragraph

Recent posts

' + google_ads[0].line2 + '
' + google_ads[0].line3 + '

'; } else if (google_ads.length > 1) { ad_unit += ''; } } document.getElementById("ad_unit").innerHTML += ad_unit; google_adnum += google_ads.length; return; } var google_adnum = 0; google_ad_client = "pub-6743622525202572"; google_ad_output = 'js'; google_max_num_ads = '1'; google_feedback = "on"; google_ad_type = "text"; google_adtest = "on"; google_image_size = '230x105'; google_skip = '0'; // -->

Shamanism is the indigenous faith of the Korean people, and although it has been diminished by centuries of influence from other religions and some repression, it is still intertwined with daily life among religious and nonreligious populations alike. And due to the pressures caused by the nation?s rapid development, many Koreans are turning to shamanism for guidance from the spirit world. ?

At the center of one of the temple?s rooms is a man wearing a tall hat and draped in a multi-layered red, blue, and white robe. He spins in circles, waving silk flags in one hand, a sword in another.
?
He is a mudang, a shaman priest. He carries on a tradition that is one of the most essential aspects of Korean culture.
?
?I help make people?s dreams come true,? says Tae Eul, the mudang who leads the ceremony. ?I try to figure out how the energy of the universe flows through then, the gods show the way. If god commands that their problem can be solved through a goot, I will perform a goot for them.?
?
Tae Eul is helping a woman who has fallen on some tough financial times. He has her light candles and bow in front of an altar. He summons the gods of the mountain and sky and calls out to her ancestors. At one point during the ritual, Tae Eul stands barefoot on knife blades, which somehow do not puncture his skin.
?
Some observers say an intrinsic search for spiritually divined good luck is what keeps South Korea?s 50 thousand mudangs in business. That?s according to David Mason, author of Sacred Mountains, a book on Korean shamanism.?
?
?It seems to me that many Koreans are still shamanic believers at their core, underneath. Many scholars have used this analogy, like an onion, with shamanism at the core of their psychology and then layers of Buddhism or Confucianism, then Christianity and modern scientific thinking as the outer layers,? Mr. Mason says.
?
Shamans haven?t always had a good reputation.? During the 1970s the country's government tried to get rid of shamanism, and some Koreans view practitioners skeptically and write them off as con artists. But, Tae Eul says he sees a brighter future for mudangs like himself.
?
??Our lives will become increasingly fast paced in the future,? he says.? ?I think shamans will once again be treated with respect. We can predict the future and because of that people will appreciate us more.?

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/csmonitor/globalnews/~3/LivkltcUdBc/Amid-pressures-of-daily-life-more-Koreans-revive-interest-in-shamanism

nhl realignment new earth light year light year michelle rounds michelle rounds dan quayle

What To Look For In Your New Cheap Mountain Bike | Content for ...

Author: Simon James | Total views: 37 Comments: 0
Word Count: 971 Date:

When you are looking at getting a New Mtb, particularly if wish to save some pennies and obtain yourself a cheap mtb, then you will need to find out a few things to ensure that you do not buy a lemon.

When you start looking to get your first Mountain bike, you may invariably become a little overwhelmed with the sheer number of cheap mountain bikes available. Which means you need to first set yourself a budget and try your very best to adhere to it, when you narrow down your search it gets easier to pick the right bike for you.

There are numerous things you need to take into consideration and in this short article I will have a look at some of the most important matters to evaluate.

Braking Systems

Brakes on a mountain bike are very very important! You want to know you can rely on them. On bikes which are cheaper you are going to often get calliper braking systems that pull on the wheel rim to stop you, many people are going to be acquainted with these, they are an excellent option for stopping you, however they could be impacted by wet weather conditions and mud.

Disc braking systems have become the new norm with a lot more costly bicycles and they come in a few different types, mechanical and hydraulic. I personally would suggest you avoid Hydraulic if you're buying a really cheap bike. From personal experience they can be hard to maintain by yourself so a mechanical system could possibly be much better.

Steer clear of bikes that are really cheap that have cut price disk brakes though, these are fairly expensive parts and if these are on a cheap bike chances are they may not be the highest quality, so just be wary and use your judgment.

Suspension

Another modern feature of Cheap Mountain Bikes are suspension forks. These are definitely fairly standard on many mountain bikes nowadays and most of the cheaper ones are purposeful and won't disappoint you. If you seek out known brands like RockShox, you should not have any problems.

With regards to full suspension though I'd strongly suggest you, erm, don't bother. Full suspension bicycles look wonderful I will agree, even so the mountain bikes in the cheaper cost bracket aren't going to be made with the best components, if something were to go wrong it could be a significant expense to fix rear suspension.

Proper Full Suspension Bikes, the ones you see the pro's using, cost a lot of money and a lot people just do not require full suspension bikes, they think they look cool, and then just ride them around the roads and never places they were intended! In my honest opinion you will be better off with a hard tail Mtb as you will get a stronger bike.

Tyres

Most mountain bikes will include big knobbly tyres, perfect for churning up the mud and getting you along those wood land trails, they may be though, not much fun for riding on the roads!

If you plan to ride on the highway and pavements lots then you definitely might want to look at replacing your tyres to a style that is flat in the middle of the tyre and knobbly around the edges, these provides you with the very best of both worlds and these are the ones I have on my cheap mountain bike.

Gears

When I was a young lad it was a badge of honour should you have lots of gears, these days it's not much of an issue as a general rule cheap bikes feature a fairly standard set of gears, you will get three rings to the front up to about a 48 teeth cog as the biggest. On your back wheel you will get 7-10 cogs with larger ones nearer to the wheel which are perfect for going up those steep hills if you're riding though forests!

You will never get it wrong with Shimano derailleur on the front and rear, these are pretty efficient and feature on many cheaper Mountain Bikes. If they aren't a know brand, don't panic, I'm certain they will be fit for purpose, however if they look really cheap you might struggle with things such as adjustment of your gears.

Sizing

Its very important you get a bike that fits you now rather than one you expect to grow into particularly if you are getting a cheap mtb for a kid. The amount of times I see children struggling to ride bikes too large for them, its dangerous and might put a child off cycling for life, if their bike is just too uncomfortable to ride.

The best way to check which size of frame you need is to go to a local bike shop and check out a few out, you might even find your perfect bike too! You can search the web and discover some good information and as a guideline this really is great, but try to actually try a few out prior to buying one.

I hope I've assisted you to think about a number of the important matters to think about if you are wanting to purchase a Cheap Mountain Bike. There are loads of great bikes available so you don't really have to hurt your wallet. Bikes are getting cheaper and cheaper every year and many of the Pro features you used to see only on higher priced bikes are now very regular making their way down to cheaper Mountain Bikes.

Happy Biking!

Simon James loves cycling, ever since working with the owner of Banana Falcon years ago he has loved the smell of bikes. Now he has grown up he makes websites about bikes. If you looking to get Cheap Mountain Bikes in the UK then check out loads of brands like Cheap Adventure Mountain Bikes.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button -- HTML code --

1: How Seiko Kinetic Watches Compare With Citizen Eco-Drive For Divers

Both these companies make great products, but they do so utilizing completely different technologies So which is best, and further more which is the better choice when considering purchasing a dive watch

2: The Role of Agility Training for Tennis Players

Agility is such an important component when it comes to an athlete being fast. Tennis requires the athlete to be fast over short distances, in multiple directions and have the ability to develop explo

3: What 2008 Snowboard Binding is Right for You?

It is recommended that you buy boots before purchasing a pair of snowboard bindings. Finding the best-fitted boots makes it easier for you, since you can fit your snowboard bindings snugly without worrying about the shoes being too big or too small.

4: Which Tennis Strings Will Take Your Tennis Game to the Next Level

Strings have been one of the hottest topics of discussion on the pro tour in recent years. Most specifically how the Luxilon strings have become such powerful method of improving player performance.

5: List of Famous Horse Races of All Time

There are many horse races, but there are also horse races that are famous. With the growth of this sport, a lot of horse races will push through. But for now, is the famous horse races.

Source: http://www.content4reprint.com/recreation-and-leisure/sports/what-to-look-for-in-your-new-cheap-mountain-bike.htm

2013 srt viper scott walker recall fisker atlantic social darwinism jamie lynn spears wisconsin recall election april 4

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Is This the iPad Mini's Tiny New Screen? [Ipad Mini]

A tipster with strong business ties to China just sent us this image—allegedly the display of the (rumored) iPad Mini. If it's real, this is the very face of Apple's newest mystery gadget. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/Jl7kSvvga40/is-this-the-ipad-minis-tiny-new-screen

49ers news saint louis university leprechaun night at the museum pope shenouda bolton muamba sxsw

Are You Trying To Get Him Back ? The Best Break Up Advice

Are You Trying to Get Him Back ? the Best Break Up Advice

Getting back together with your ex-boyfriend can be easier than you are thinking, but whether he will be interested may depend on how you go about getting him back. Whether you chose to end the relationship or he did, you can still get him back.

However, if you are serious about getting back together, you will avoid contacting him for several weeks after the break up. This may not sound like the right thing to do, but you must allow him time to start missing you, and he will not do this if you are phoning him regularly.

If several weeks have gone by and he hasn't yet got in touch with you, then you may want to think about arranging an "accidental" meeting. You will know some of the places he likes to visit, so perhaps you and a friend could go to one of these venues. Make sure that you look good, so you can show him exactly what he is missing. Don't worry about starting up a conversation at this stage, just make sure he notices you.

Don't stay at home all of the time. Make sure you go out, and let him now that you are getting on with your life. If he thinks you are moving on, then he is more likely to decide he wants you back in his life, and you may find that he contacts you to see what you think of the possibility. If he sees that you are attracting attention from other men, even if you are not remotely interested in anybody else, then this is likely to make him feel jealous, and want to try again at making a relationship with you work.

Make sure you spend time looking after yourself as well. Treat yourself to a new haircut, some new clothes, or do whatever else you want to make you look and feel great. If you really want to get him back, then you will need to show him what he is missing, and looking fantastic is an important part of this, despite it sounding extremely shallow.

Most importantly of all, if he is really the man for you, don't give up. You can get him back if you work at it and you really want it to happen, so keep trying. A break up does not have to mean that you will not be able to make it work in the future, so if you want this, go for it.

Source: http://www.streetarticles.com/reconnecting/are-you-trying-to-get-him-back-the-best-break-up-advice

craig smith eat to live eat to live ron paul money bomb ron paul money bomb bon vivant zynga ipo

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Why Should Your Office Install HP LTO3 Tape Storage System?

Here at Odsi we're more than a competitive online reseller of brand name tape media. We focus on all of the things that are of interest to our customers, not only in saving you money but also in saving you time.

View all articles by Mark Paul The need for backing up data is present for most of the businesses of this modern age. Some businesses require mediums of backup technology that can support high amounts of data whereas some require mediums to cater to small amounts of information. The difficult arises for businesses that process moderate amounts of information and desire a tape for backup with moderate data storage needs. Finding a tape with moderate storage capacity is one of the most difficult things to do.

Most brands try to target large scale organizations for their products, because that is more profitable. However, Hewlett-Packard is one brand that thinks a little differently. The brand has its core the objective to bring innovative technology to all those who desire it and this even include medium sized businesses. HP LTO 3 backup tape is the perfect example of such policy.
?
Hewlett-Packard has a large customer base not only in United States of America but all over the world. Consumer of HP?s products are all types of businesses, financial institutions, public organizations as well as individuals; all these categories of consumers have voted for HP as the most innovative and reliable brand for technical equipment.

Not to forget, price is also the dominant reason behind HP?s brand loyalty. HP LTO3 tape provides a raw data storage capacity of 400 GB. Like most mediums of backup technology the tape allows for compression which in turn enhances the storage capacity to 800 GB. The processing speed of the tape varies for native and compressed data. For compressed data the speed is 160 Megabytes? per second whereas for native data it is 80 Megabytes? per second.

This LTO3 ultrium tape possesses all the characteristics of the latest ultrium technology as well as features that are exclusive to HP products. An example of such exclusive features includes an active in-house head cleaning. This cleaning feature ensures that the maintenance cost of the tape is reduced. When the tape is cleaned on its own there is little to no need to spend extra money on the maintenance of the tape. Other than the self cleaning method also ensures that the tape functions successfully for its useful life. The Long life and superior maintenance capacities of the tape enhance its reliability.

HP LTO 3 tape system also comes with backwards technology, which means, if your business has installed an earlier version of Linear Tape Open technology such as LTO1 or LTO 2 then you can easily upgrade it to LTO 3. The tape can also read and write data from the older generations of Linear Tape Open Technology.? Having said much about the primary benefits of the tape it is important to discuss the secondary benefits as well. The size of the tape is very compact which means it generates more shelf and office space. We all know that space is of crucial importance in offices. Lastly the lower price of the tape does not infringe any extra burden on the limited budget of the office.

Business enterprises trust Odsi.co.uk that is well-renowned for the exquisite range of tape media products. So all of your storage needs can be cost efficiently fulfilled with our high quality backup products. Mark Paul Online Digital Solutions LLC, 39 Southend Road, East Ham London E62AL Tel: 0203 005 9500 Email: sales@odsi.co.uk

?

.

Source: http://www.articlesbd.com/articles/226267/1/Why-Should-Your-Office-Install-HP-LTO3-Tape-Storage-System/Page1.html

kid cudi ben breedlove matt barnes hcm loretta lynn gene kelly zoe saldana zooey deschanel and joseph gordon levitt

Improve Organizational Capabilities with Efficient Infrastructure ...


Internet and Technology | Computers and Technology | * Written by Martin | Monday, 13 August 2012 00:42 | Word Count: 454

IT infrastructure management plays a significant role in the success of any business. With the technologies and solutions used in the IT infrastructure changing, it is imperative to have a dynamic infrastructure to support the growing intelligence of the business and IT infrastructure assets. Efficient hclisd.com/">infrastructure management helps an enterprise in a number of ways and that includes a reduction in the operating costs, savings in time & resources, effective planning for the core business process, availability of skilled staff.

Managing an IT infrastructure is all about the interconnection of network, applications and hardware. Although infrastructure optimization is not a complicated process, infrastructure needs to be managed efficiently as once a product is developed it needs to be looked after and adequately maintained in order to survive. Most management tools usually focus on one area, and therefore it is not always easy to know the amount of time that is being spent on each task.

Therefore automating management processes wherever possible is a good practice to adopt. Tools such as an active directory can categorize people and equipment into groups and apply standards and permissions to those groups rather than individuals. So whether it is configuration management or software upgrades, it becomes important to check and propagate changes automatically.

With management focusing on key problems in a systematic manner and incrementally improves the organization?s capabilities, the right infrastructure management services outsourcing partner can ensure that your mission critical infrastructure is managed easily.

These services bring in tremendous benefits for enterprises and can easily enhance returns for any enterprise. The first step towards aligning IT with business goals and achieve much more than a simple reduction of costs. IT operations can be streamlined using global standards such as ITIL that provides the flexibility to manage IT costs and operations tailored to your requirements when you partner with the best service provider.

Companies are growing day by day in size and processes and therefore they require such a managed solution that can proactively monitor the health of their IT systems. Find a suitable IT infrastructure management services provider who is able to provide outsourced technical services.

These services are provided remotely and ensure complete information security, and more importantly, the enterprise can easily focus on its core business functions without the worry of maintaining the IT department. Ensure that the infrastructure is managed by capable hands of experts. Advanced infrastructure management puts into place sound policies to control all hardware and other human related facilities in an enterprise so that it can run efficiently.

?

Related Links:?managed print services, identity and access management

?

Article Source: Article Directory - http://www.freearticleforyou.com

31
Additional Information on AuthorArticle Directory Author

Author of this article: Martin.

Martin joined FAFY - Free Article For You on Thursday, 11 August 2011.

Additional Articles
Re-Publish: Improve Organizational Capabilities with Efficient Infrastructure Management You have permission to re-publish this article electronically or in print, as long as you are able to follow the Publishers Guidelines.

Source: http://www.freearticleforyou.com/Internet-and-Technology/Computers-and-Technology/improve-organizational-capabilities-with-efficient-infrastructure-management.html

blagojevich new mexico state kevin rose sessions march madness scores doonesbury padma lakshmi

Monday, August 13, 2012

Video: Sununu on Medicare: ?Democrats and Obamaland' are 'making a huge mistake?

Surviving sepsis: Device IDs dangerous bacteria

Whitney Mitchell, 20, of Dallas, lost her limbs two years ago to a fast-moving bloodstream infection called sepsis. Experts say a new device approved by the Food and Drug Administration, the Verigene BC-GP test, can quickly identify certain bacteria that cause it.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/vp/48652611#48652611

newt gingrich wife callista rick perry travis barker get back on board rob lowe peyton manning what is sopa

Best World Travel Mags - Online World Travels

Conde Nast Traveler

All writers for Conde Nast have to travel anonymously and pay their own way. This guarantees the credibility of destination reports and prevents writers from simply choosing to promote a restaurant or hotel because of the freebies they?re offered. Despite being focused more on luxury destinations, this world travel magazine provides secrets of seasoned travelers, with guides to the world?s best places to drink, shop, stay as well as islands, cities and cruises. Definitely a magazine to buy for inspiration of where to take your next big trip.

Islands

Showcasing the world?s best islands, with reports on lifestyle, culture, history and nature, Islands magazine shows you luxury places you may only dreamed of going to. A perfect armchair adventure, it?s wonderful to flick through the pages and incredible photos and dream of one day visiting one of the featured islands. As the magazine masthead says, ?Destinations, adventures and dreams?? and with the expert tips provided you may just be able to afford to make your dreams become a reality.

Travel & Leisure

A world travel magazine that reveals the secrets of the best destinations across the globe. With tips on the most wonderful hotels, exclusive shops, delectable restaurants and cool hip bars, it?s also packed with the latest travel offers and tips on how to save money and have a stress free vacation.

The Ecologist

A magazine with a difference and perfect for any traveler with a conscience, The Ecologist suggests ways anyone can help tackle the environmental issues across the globe, from preparing food to traveling responsibly. An innovative magazine with great ideas on how to have adventures whilst making a positive impact on the people and places you visit along the way. The Ecologist challenges conventional thinking, is thought-provoking and entertaining and certainly empowers its readers into change.

Sherman?s Travel

Travel advice and features for anyone looking for the best luxury destinations the world has to offer. Focusing on both domestic and international locations, events, food and places to visit, Sherman?s Travel is the perfect choice for anyone looking for a top 4 or 5 star vacation. It?s also packed with tips on making the most of your trip and getting value for money. Luxury travelers may have the cash to splash on a top class trip, but this travel magazine will make sure you stretch your luxury travel dollar as far as it will go.

Source: http://onlineworldtravels.org/best-world-travel-mags/

puerto rico primary manning peyton florida state meghan mccain wilson chandler bristol motor speedway

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Judge in Apple vs. Samsung Case Gets Fed Up and Orders Attorneys To Shut Up and Get Things Done Already [Apple Vs. Samsung]

After endless back and forth between Apple and Samsung attorneys over what the jury should and shouldn't be told, U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh has gotten fed up and ordered them to meet face to face and start hashing things out. For real. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/w7syuyUg9M8/judge-in-apple-vs-samsung-case-gets-fed-up-and-orders-attorneys-to-shut-up-and-get-things-done-already

whitney houston last performance cpac straw poll breaking dawn part 2 breaking dawn part 2 whitney cummings msnbc i will always love you

Today's Step-Parenting Links for August 11, 2012

  • Analysis: Romney's VP choices on education
  • Over-parenting's faulty logic The brief reprieve of summer is almost over, and parents everywhere are bracing themselves for the return to school. Back to the homework wars, the grade worries and the endless carpools to a dizzying array of extracurricular activities. Back to the ?
    See all stories on this topic ?
  • Olympic gold and adorable kids: Maybe moms can have it all ? of these athletes' profession: their bodies. ?So much for my excuse about the 'baby weight.' These women hit the track, field, pitch and road very quickly after giving birth.? Read the rest of Dvorak's column here. By On Parenting | 03:00 PM ET, 08 ?
    See all stories on this topic ?
  • Petition Demands That Fraudulent Gay Parenting Study Be Retracted Yesterday, thanks to Gay City News, we learned that Mark Regnerus is under professional review due to the fact that his recently published study about gay parenting did not go through enough peer review before being published. The study in question was ?
    See all stories on this topic ?
  • The Truth About Step Parents Revealed At The Olympics The Truth About Step Parents Revealed At The Olympics. Posted: 08/10/2012 5:11 pm. React. Amazing Inspiring Funny Scary Hot Crazy Important Weird. Read more. Danell Leyva , London Olympics 2012 , Danell Leyva Stepdad , Danell-Leyva-Gymnastics ?
    See all stories on this topic ?
  • The New Campaign Against Gay Parenting As has been widely reported, Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association asserted in a tweet Wednesday that "we need an Underground Railroad to deliver innocent children from same-sex households." Lest anyone imagine he was speaking merely in ?
    See all stories on this topic ?
  • One thing to do with your kids this weekend: County fairs ? while watching pigs race. This weekend, the fairs are on in Arlington, Montgomery, Howard and Prince William counties. Our Going Out Guide has information about all of these and other upcoming fairs here. By On Parenting | 01:00 PM ET, 08/10/2012 ?
    See all stories on this topic ?
  • Parenting not what it was As I was eating at one of Russellville's finer fast-food establishments this week, I bared witness to some of the more frustrating dregs to society: Wild children running loose, screaming at the top of their lungs, while their parents sat idly, while ?
    See all stories on this topic ?
  • Parenting Teenagers: Translating Teen Speak If you are a parent with teenagers, one of the first things you need is a translator. Parenting teenagers requires you to read between the lines of what your kids tell you to find out what is really going on. By definition, a parent is embarrassing to ?
    See all stories on this topic ?

Source: http://www.blending-families.com/blog/parenting/todays-step-parenting-links-for-august-11-2012/

hallmark grammy winners obama budget woolly mammoth belize resorts nikki minaj grammy performance shel silverstein

Just what Change Home finance loan? Very important Data ...

http://www.americareversemortgage.usA new reverse loan is known as a economic resource which offers older owners the opportunity to take advantage of their property value. What precisely most of these personal loans implement is definitely help retirees to get into a number of the value, that they can reimburse right after they offer for sale their property, discontinue vacationing in all of the family home or give up on. To find a bank loan, loan providers require of which applicants come in at a minimum 62 years of together with have their property straight up or have a very good tiny outstanding loan total amount. Quite simply, most of these personal loans are supposed to furnish retirees which has a route to reduce the loan responsibilities together with boost their retirement living earnings.

Exactly what Undo Mortgage? Knowing The possiblility to The elderly

www.americareversemortgage.usFor the people thinking exactly what is a reverse loan, most of these personal loans are not any 1-size-fits-all version of loan. Undo home loans fit into three or more most important communities: propriety personal loans, single-purpose personal loans together with housing A guarantee Sales Mortgage (HECMs). Propriety personal loans comprise a tiny P . c regarding reverse personal loans as they are frequently went after as a result of retirees who actually have high-value holds. Single-purpose personal loans are actually consumers, constantly delivered by charitable institutions together with state providers, that really must be utilized for a particular role.

HECMs are actually insured individual over the Supposed (Fha) comprising about 90% regarding reverse home loans. Fha right now safeguards three or more types of HECMs: all of the HECM Usual, HECM Short-cut together with HECM on sale. All the HECM on sale process offers retirees either acquiring a brand-new fundamental family home making use of persists for the HECM, because Usual also, the Short-cut help retirees to build a HECM by themselves current your home. The range of offered bank loan equipment can make it simple for retirees to select loaning that really complies with their requirements.

Exactly what Undo Mortgage? Knowing Mortgage loan Procedure

america reverse mortgageTogether with understanding the different alternatives, retirees thinking exactly what is a reverse loan may want to consider knowing the credit procedure. To find a bank loan, applicants will total three or more major steps: direction, request together with termination.

After you have in touch with a finance carrier, retirees will most likely be needs to look at one direction procedure creating a HUD-approved home healthcare professional. Around direction, retirees will converse about the different alternatives and see if the bank loan befits these folks. Advisors is going to do their to respond to exactly what is a reverse loan and offer retirees making use of data they should get a determination. When polishing off direction, retirees will be presented creating a direction official document, that these to try and get loaning. During the entire putting on procedure, retirees will most likely be very likely to develop a bank card applicatoin and have absolutely their property priced. After the house priced, the finance carrier ascertains what quantity of money the consumer is definitely capable to get.

Source: http://www.nwactc.net/just-what-change-home-finance-loan-very-important-data-regarding-retirees/

jenelle evans mlb 12 the show sabu google play franchise tag lesotho a wrinkle in time

Saturday, August 11, 2012

NASA's 'green' planetary test lander crashes

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Earlier this week NASA safely landed a robotic rover on Mars about 150 million miles away. But on Thursday here on Earth, a test model planetary lander crashed and burned at Kennedy Space Center in Florida just seconds after liftoff.

The spider-like spacecraft called Morpheus was on a test flight at Cape Canaveral when it tilted, crashed to the ground and erupted in flames. It got only a few feet up in the air, NASA said.

NASA spokeswoman Lisa Malone said it appears that the methane-and-liquid oxygen powered lander is a total loss. Nobody was hurt in the unmanned experiment and the flames were put out, she said.

NASA suspects a mechanical device that is part of its GPS navigation system, spokeswoman Brandi Dean said.

So far NASA has spent $7 million on the Morpheus program, but that includes parts for a still-to-be-built second lander.

Morpheus is a prototype for a cheap, environmentally friendly planetary lander. Thursday was the first time it had been tested untethered in a free flight. It had performed 19 flights at Johnson Space Center in Houston, where it was designed and made, and one more in Florida, but it was always tethered to a crane, Dean said.

The testing moved from Texas to Florida last week and Morpheus had a successful tether test on Friday. NASA had planned to run tests for three months. The plan was for flights over a specially created field designed to mimic the surface of the moon, with boulders, rocks, slopes and craters.

The lander was built mostly with low-cost, off-the-shelf materials. It was an attempt by NASA to use cheaper, more readily available and environmentally friendly rocket fuel. The space agency was considering it as a potential lander for places like the moon or an asteroid, figuring it would carry a human-like robot or small rover.

NASA promoted Morpheus as a "green" project because methane is more environmentally friendly than the toxic rocket fuels it uses. Methane, which is the main component of natural gas, is also cheaper and could even be made from ice on the moon or Mars, NASA figured.

Morpheus was early in the NASA experimental "test bed" process and the space agency hadn't committed to using the lander in any specific flight, NASA officials said.

NASA has parts and plans to build a second Morpheus lander, Dean said: "Hopefully, we'll be testing again before too long."

___

Online

Project Morpheus: http://morpheuslander.jsc.nasa.gov/

___

Seth Borenstein can be followed at http://twitter.com/borenbears

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/nasas-green-planetary-test-lander-crashes-201333551.html

iowa caucus lemonade diet steve jobs action figure chris jericho rose bowl johnny weir quadrantid meteor shower

"Leaked" iPhone 5 Battery Seems Really Small [Rumor]

9to5mac has reported images of the next iPhone's battery, and if they're to be believed, the battery's relatively small size could spell problems for battery life if the new iPhone has LTE. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/1TIPTChObfM/leaked-iphone-5-battery-seems-really-small

indy 500 angelina jolie leg daytona jeff gordon artie lange nascar daytona 2012 kasey kahne

Stocks pull back on China growth concerns

David Gill, CEO of Manchester United, talks about taking the team public and what he has planned for the future. He will not, however, guarantee a championship.

By NBC News wire reports

Updated at 10:25 a.m. ET: Stocks pulled back Friday after a far weaker-than-expected rate of growth in Chinese exports, but the S&P 500 was still on track to post its fifth straight week of gains.

Trade and new bank lending data in China suggested pro-growth policies have been slow to gain traction and more urgent action may be needed to stabilize the economy.

"The data was not bad, it was horrendous," said Paul Mendelsohn, chief investment strategist at Windham Financial Services in Charlotte, Vermont.

"This Chinese data is probably going to stall the market for a while and we may have a problem getting back above 1,400" on the S&P 500, he said.

The S&P 500 closed Thursday at its highest in more than three months and above 1,400 for a third day as investors continue to bet a soft global economy will trigger intervention from central banks including the Federal Reserve.

The recent rally was triggered by expectations the European Central Bank will soon act to lower yields in Spain and Italy as a way to stabilize the bloc's economy. The drop in Chinese export growth was in part due to slow demand from Europe.

"China's export problem is an external problem and it has to do with Europe," said Mendelsohn. "After these numbers investors may want to see (stimulus) activity fairly quickly, especially from the ECB."

The expectation of central bank action may give support to equities as investors think twice about shorting the market on the possibility of any action over the weekend.

J.C. Penney shares were lower after it reported a deeper-than-expected drop in quarterly sales at stores open at least a year.

Yahoo shares fell a day after the company said it may reconsider what it does with the cash it gets from a multibillion-dollar sale of half of its stake in Alibaba Group. Yahoo previously promised to return most of the cash to shareholders.

Research In Motion's U.S.-traded shares rose after Bloomberg reported IBM Corp has considered buying RIM's enterprise division.

Fusion-io Inc shares jumped after it projected late Thursday strong growth over the next year and handily beat fourth-quarter profit estimates.

Manchester United's initial public offering priced well below its expected range on Thursday, valuing the British soccer club at only $2.3 billion and shaving off as much as $100 million from the anticipated proceeds for the team and its owners. Shares start trading Friday on the New York Stock Exchange.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Source: http://marketday.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/10/13217509-stocks-pull-back-on-china-growth-concerns?lite

steve nash july 4th higgs boson Malware Monday First Row Sports American flag Happy 4th of July

Friday, August 10, 2012

Mexico's Candy Cartel

According to the Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Mexico consumes the most cola per capital of any nation in the world. They even have their own recipe for Coke, often referred to as Mexicoke. Instead of having a base of high-fructose corn syrup, Mexicoke is made from refined sugar cane. This love for sweet goes back hundreds, even thousands of years ago, as the Aztecs found their own love for hot drinking chocolate. Today that sweet tooth has spawned a rather delinquent form of activity: the Candy Cartel.

According to Wikipedia, a cartel is a "formal agreement among competing firms" in which they very often agree upon "price fixing, total industry output, market shares, allocation of customers, allocation of territories" and so on. In Mexico, this sort of arrangement exists at a very low level and without much organisation - at least in comparison to other more sinister cartels.

There are two things to keep in mind about Mexicans. Firstly, as discussed, they love their sweets. Second, the Mexican people are very patriotic, fiercely protective of their culture, and completely in love with foreign chocolate. All right, that is really three things, but the point has been made.

So, according to American expats living in the Yucatan, the Mexican candy companies have formed a cartel to help keep out American candy companies such as Nestle and Mars Corp. Five years ago, once would not have been able to see a single English word on any candy package at any candy bar in Mexico (and there are many). Alas, as always money talks, as it has appeared lately that Mars Corp has made peace with the Cartel and there are a few representations of their candy bar line in the corner stores. Just a few, so don't get too excited.

Another interesting side effect of the Mexico Candy Cartel is the knock-off. Members of the Candy Cartel may not allow American candy too far past its borders, but that doesn't mean they don't try to copy the best bars. For example, try out a bar called Bocadin. Take the wrapper off, and then eat it with eyes closed. It will taste, feel, crunch and smell just like a Kit-Kat - guaranteed. Do the same with a Panditas. You will find yourself thinking those are our beloved Gummy Bears rolling around your mouth.

If you happen to make a few friend while on vacation in Cancun, and even correspond with them when you get back home, we have an important bit of information. It is illegal to ship candy into Mexico. Even if you defy the law and send a very lovely box of Lindt chocolates to your friend, wrapped up and concealed as much as possible, they will never arrive.

At BookIt.com you will find great travel specials and vacation deals for destinations worldwide. Our helpful guides and travel tips will give you the information you need to make your travel plans a breeze. May we suggest The Reef Playacar as your next vacation destination?

Source: http://articles.submityourarticle.com/mexico-s-candy-cartel-287226

navy jet crash virginia beach isiah thomas passover easter recipes live free or die hard carlos pena amanda bynes arrested

NASA Curiosity Mars rover installing smarts for driving

ScienceDaily (Aug. 10, 2012) ? NASA's Mars rover Curiosity will spend its first weekend on Mars transitioning to software better suited for tasks ahead, such as driving and using its strong robotic arm.

The rover's "brain transplant," which will occur during a series of steps Aug. 10 through Aug. 13, will install a new version of software on both of the rover's redundant main computers. This software for Mars surface operations was uploaded to the rover's memory during the Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft's flight from Earth.

"We designed the mission from the start to be able to upgrade the software as needed for different phases of the mission," said Ben Cichy of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., chief software engineer for the Mars Science Laboratory mission. "The flight software version Curiosity currently is using was really focused on landing the vehicle. It includes many capabilities we just don't need any more. It gives us basic capabilities for operating the rover on the surface, but we have planned all along to switch over after landing to a version of flight software that is really optimized for surface operations."

A key capability in the new version is image processing to check for obstacles. This allows for longer drives by giving the rover more autonomy to identify and avoid potential hazards and drive along a safe path the rover identifies for itself. Other new capabilities facilitate use of the tools at the end of the rover's robotic arm.

While Curiosity is completing the software transition, the mission's science team is continuing to analyze images that the rover has taken of its surroundings inside Gale Crater. Researchers are discussing which features in the scene to investigate after a few weeks of initial checkouts and observations to assess equipment on the rover and characteristics of the landing site.

The Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft delivered Curiosity to its target area on Mars at 10:31:45 p.m. PDT on Aug. 5 (1:31:45 a.m. EDT on Aug. 6), which includes the 13.8 minutes needed for confirmation of the touchdown to be radioed to Earth at the speed of light.

Curiosity carries 10 science instruments with a total mass 15 times as large as the science payloads on NASA's Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity. Some of the tools, such as a laser-firing instrument for checking rocks' elemental composition from a distance, are the first of their kind on Mars. Curiosity will use a drill and scoop, which are located at the end of its robotic arm, to gather soil and powdered samples of rock interiors, then sieve and parcel out these samples into the rover's analytical laboratory instruments.

To handle this science toolkit, Curiosity is twice as long and five times as heavy as Spirit or Opportunity. The Gale Crater landing site at 4.59 degrees south, 137.44 degrees east, places the rover within driving distance of layers of the crater's interior mountain. Observations from orbit have identified clay and sulfate minerals in the lower layers, indicating a wet history.

For more about NASA's Curiosity mission, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/mars and http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl

Follow the mission on Facebook and Twitter at: http://www.facebook.com/marscuriosity and http://www.twitter.com/marscuriosity

Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:

Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:


Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by NASA.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.


Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/icBhW5ZOpto/120810172058.htm

best new artist 2012 grammys foo fighters nikki minaj grammys album of the year nicki minaj