The great Tom Ziller over at SB Nation main put together his list of the Top 50 free agents for the 2013 season. No surprise as who the top two players are, with Chris Paul and Dwight Howard leading the way, but a little further down it starts to get interesting.
In fact, our very own Tony Allen makes the list at No. 18, which seems reasonable. I mean, if you were to make a list of the top free agents based on their current salary, Tony would be among the Top 5. But, yes, he's due for a pretty major increase in his annual rate, seeing as he's only locked up at $3.3 million this season.
Here's what Ziller wrote about Allen:
Allen, one of the NBA's most ... interesting characters and best wing defenders, will be up for grabs in 2013, barring an extension. Last season was actually the first time in his career that he averaged more than 25 minutes a game. He's been a credible enough scorer to get those minutes, thanks to the rest of Memphis' offensive prowess. (Word up to Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph.) But for whatever reason Lionel Hollins didn't keep him in late in playoff games. Allen, who has made two straight All-Defense teams, will be 31 when he becomes a free agent, and is making only $3.3 million this season. Expect him to get a nice raise.
Word up to Gay and Randolph, indeed.
I do agree with his assessment of Allen, but I would argue that he's probably more valuable than a few guys (or guy) ahead of him on this list: namely, Marvin Williams. I mean, guys like Williams are a dime a dozen, right? Unselfish, lock-down wing defenders like Allen are pretty rare in this league. Show the man some respect, Ziller!
But, to nitpick and say that Allen should be the 17th most valuable free agent in 2013 is pretty ridiculous. We know that he's going to be heavily sought after this summer, so it's probably in the team's best interest not to let it drag out and get him signed before the start of the season.
Also, left out of this discussion is what Allen means to the fans and the franchise as a person and personality. If the Grizzlies lost Allen to free agency, wow, look out! Memphis-folk might not care if the team moves or not. "You let Allen walk!? Whatever, move the team the Anaheim, see if I care!"
University of Leicester takes delivery of unique eye imaging equipmentPublic release date: 30-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Professor Irene Gottlob ig15@le.ac.uk 44-011-625-86291 University of Leicester
New technology will help scientists study eye disorders in infants, thanks to charitable donations
Generous donations from eye charities have allowed the University of Leicester to buy a unique piece of retinal imaging equipment - the only one of its kind in the UK. The handheld retinal scanner will allow new research into eye disorders such as nystagmus, a condition that causes involuntary twitching movements of the eyes.
The device is particularly useful for studying the eyes of young children, who often miss out on diagnoses because standard equipment is unsuitable for use with infants. Nystagmus in children is currently poorly understood, but research in the area is difficult because of the challenges involved in taking complex visual images of the eyes of babies and small children.
Nystagmus Network, the Ulverscoft Foundation and the Medical Research Council all contributed funds to allow the Ophthalmology Group at the University of Leicester to purchase a handheld UHR SD-OCT (ultrahigh-resolution spectral-domain optical coherence tomography) scanner, manufactured by US firm Bioptigen. The device can create highly detailed three dimensional maps of the inside of the eye, including the retina - the light-sensitive tissue that lines the inner eye and facilitates vision.
Because the new imager is handheld and portable, it is ideal for use on small children.
Dr Eric Buckland of Bioptigen, who developed the imager, delivered the equipment to Professor Irene Gottlob, Professor of Ophthalmology and head of the Ophthalmology Research Group at the University of Leicester. Professor Gottlob has conducted extensive research into eye disorders and has published over 130 academic papers on the subject.
Professor Gottlob said:
"Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) has revolutionised diagnosis and treatment for adult patients with eye diseases over the last decade. So far children have been deprived of this technology, so we are thrilled to have an OCT device which can be used in small children and infants.
"In Leicester we are using the instrument for clinical diagnosis and research. We are using it for many of our young patients and have been able to make several diagnoses which would have been much more difficult and involved many more tests without the OCT. I think that OCT will soon be widely used to help to diagnose and mange many eye problems in children.
"As the retina of infants is not fully developed we need first to establish how the normal retina develops. My research fellow Helena Lee and orthoptist in the department are working around the clock to press forward the research and clinical use. We are extremely grateful that the charities have made the purchase possible and appreciate the assistance of the University's Development and Alumni Relations Office in preparing our appeal to the Ulverscroft Foundation. Philanthropic funding is increasingly important in helping the University to achieve new research breakthroughs and translate new knowledge for the benefit of patients. The invaluable gift of 8,000 from the Ulverscroft Foundation helped to achieve our appeal goal for this important project."
Nystagmus is a condition of involuntary eye movements which can seriously impair vision. Sufferers often have difficulty focusing or reading, and may experience problems with balance or depth perception. Many cannot drive and face daily challenges associated with poor vision. Some types of nystagmus can be treated with medication or surgery.
Nystagmus occurs in children and adults, and can either be congenital (inherited) or the result of some form of neurological (brain) injury. In some cases, nystagmus can occur because the central part of the retina has not fully developed, as can happen with nystagmus associated with albinism. The OCT device can help researchers image this kind of condition and thereby improve medical understanding and treatment.
The University's new equipment will greatly improve research into congenital infant nystagmus, providing valuable new insights into the condition that could help sufferers of all ages. The new handheld, portable scanner is ideal for imaging the eyes of young children, and will allow scientists at the University of Leicester to study infant retinal development and its relation to nystagmus and other eye disorders.
###
Notes for editors:
Professor Gottlob can be contacted on email: ig15@le.ac.uk or via her secretary on Tel: 0116 258 6291.
For more information about Professor Gottlob and her work, please see her University biography here: http://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/cardiovascular-sciences/people/gottlob-i
Nystagmus Network was established in 1984 and is a registered charity. The network is run by individuals and families affected by nystagmus with the aim of supporting those with the condition and promoting further research . They also work with professionals such as ophthalmologists, carers and teachers to help them understand the problems caused by nystagmus. View their website here: http://www.nystagmusnet.org/Home.htm
The Ulverscoft Foundation was founded by Dr. Frederick A. Thorpe, O.B.E. and is a registered charity serving the needs of the visually impaired. The Ulverscoft Foundation offers funding to Ophthalmology Departments in order to facilitate greater research into eye diseases and vision problems. View their website here: http://www.foundation.ulverscroft.com/index.html
For almost 100 years the Medical Research Council has improved the health of people in the UK and around the world by supporting the highest quality science. The MRC invests in world-class scientists. It has produced 29 Nobel Prize winners and sustains a flourishing environment for internationally recognised research. The MRC focuses on making an impact and provides the financial muscle and scientific expertise behind medical breakthroughs, including one of the first antibiotics penicillin, the structure of DNA and the lethal link between smoking and cancer. Today MRC funded scientists tackle research into the major health challenges of the 21st century. www.mrc.ac.uk
Bioptigen is a specialist company working in the USA to develop advanced real-time, non-invasive optical imaging techniques. Read more about the company and founders on their website: http://www.bioptigen.com/about.html
Nystagmus is a condition of involuntary eye movements which can seriously impair vision. Sufferers often have difficulty focusing or reading, and may experience problems with balance or depth perception. Many cannot drive and face daily challenges associated with poor vision. Some types of nystagmus can be treated with medication or surgery.
Nystagmus occurs in children and adults, and can either be congenital (inherited) or the result of some form of neurological (brain) injury. In some cases, nystagmus can occur because the central part of the retina has not fully developed, as can happen with nystagmus associated with albinism. The OCT device can help researchers image this kind of condition and thereby improve medical understanding and treatment.
The University's new equipment will greatly improve research into congenital infant nystagmus, providing valuable new insights into the condition that could help sufferers of all ages. The new handheld, portable scanner is ideal for imaging the eyes of young children, and will allow scientists at the University of Leicester to study infant retinal development and its relation to nystagmus and other eye disorders.
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
University of Leicester takes delivery of unique eye imaging equipmentPublic release date: 30-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Professor Irene Gottlob ig15@le.ac.uk 44-011-625-86291 University of Leicester
New technology will help scientists study eye disorders in infants, thanks to charitable donations
Generous donations from eye charities have allowed the University of Leicester to buy a unique piece of retinal imaging equipment - the only one of its kind in the UK. The handheld retinal scanner will allow new research into eye disorders such as nystagmus, a condition that causes involuntary twitching movements of the eyes.
The device is particularly useful for studying the eyes of young children, who often miss out on diagnoses because standard equipment is unsuitable for use with infants. Nystagmus in children is currently poorly understood, but research in the area is difficult because of the challenges involved in taking complex visual images of the eyes of babies and small children.
Nystagmus Network, the Ulverscoft Foundation and the Medical Research Council all contributed funds to allow the Ophthalmology Group at the University of Leicester to purchase a handheld UHR SD-OCT (ultrahigh-resolution spectral-domain optical coherence tomography) scanner, manufactured by US firm Bioptigen. The device can create highly detailed three dimensional maps of the inside of the eye, including the retina - the light-sensitive tissue that lines the inner eye and facilitates vision.
Because the new imager is handheld and portable, it is ideal for use on small children.
Dr Eric Buckland of Bioptigen, who developed the imager, delivered the equipment to Professor Irene Gottlob, Professor of Ophthalmology and head of the Ophthalmology Research Group at the University of Leicester. Professor Gottlob has conducted extensive research into eye disorders and has published over 130 academic papers on the subject.
Professor Gottlob said:
"Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) has revolutionised diagnosis and treatment for adult patients with eye diseases over the last decade. So far children have been deprived of this technology, so we are thrilled to have an OCT device which can be used in small children and infants.
"In Leicester we are using the instrument for clinical diagnosis and research. We are using it for many of our young patients and have been able to make several diagnoses which would have been much more difficult and involved many more tests without the OCT. I think that OCT will soon be widely used to help to diagnose and mange many eye problems in children.
"As the retina of infants is not fully developed we need first to establish how the normal retina develops. My research fellow Helena Lee and orthoptist in the department are working around the clock to press forward the research and clinical use. We are extremely grateful that the charities have made the purchase possible and appreciate the assistance of the University's Development and Alumni Relations Office in preparing our appeal to the Ulverscroft Foundation. Philanthropic funding is increasingly important in helping the University to achieve new research breakthroughs and translate new knowledge for the benefit of patients. The invaluable gift of 8,000 from the Ulverscroft Foundation helped to achieve our appeal goal for this important project."
Nystagmus is a condition of involuntary eye movements which can seriously impair vision. Sufferers often have difficulty focusing or reading, and may experience problems with balance or depth perception. Many cannot drive and face daily challenges associated with poor vision. Some types of nystagmus can be treated with medication or surgery.
Nystagmus occurs in children and adults, and can either be congenital (inherited) or the result of some form of neurological (brain) injury. In some cases, nystagmus can occur because the central part of the retina has not fully developed, as can happen with nystagmus associated with albinism. The OCT device can help researchers image this kind of condition and thereby improve medical understanding and treatment.
The University's new equipment will greatly improve research into congenital infant nystagmus, providing valuable new insights into the condition that could help sufferers of all ages. The new handheld, portable scanner is ideal for imaging the eyes of young children, and will allow scientists at the University of Leicester to study infant retinal development and its relation to nystagmus and other eye disorders.
###
Notes for editors:
Professor Gottlob can be contacted on email: ig15@le.ac.uk or via her secretary on Tel: 0116 258 6291.
For more information about Professor Gottlob and her work, please see her University biography here: http://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/cardiovascular-sciences/people/gottlob-i
Nystagmus Network was established in 1984 and is a registered charity. The network is run by individuals and families affected by nystagmus with the aim of supporting those with the condition and promoting further research . They also work with professionals such as ophthalmologists, carers and teachers to help them understand the problems caused by nystagmus. View their website here: http://www.nystagmusnet.org/Home.htm
The Ulverscoft Foundation was founded by Dr. Frederick A. Thorpe, O.B.E. and is a registered charity serving the needs of the visually impaired. The Ulverscoft Foundation offers funding to Ophthalmology Departments in order to facilitate greater research into eye diseases and vision problems. View their website here: http://www.foundation.ulverscroft.com/index.html
For almost 100 years the Medical Research Council has improved the health of people in the UK and around the world by supporting the highest quality science. The MRC invests in world-class scientists. It has produced 29 Nobel Prize winners and sustains a flourishing environment for internationally recognised research. The MRC focuses on making an impact and provides the financial muscle and scientific expertise behind medical breakthroughs, including one of the first antibiotics penicillin, the structure of DNA and the lethal link between smoking and cancer. Today MRC funded scientists tackle research into the major health challenges of the 21st century. www.mrc.ac.uk
Bioptigen is a specialist company working in the USA to develop advanced real-time, non-invasive optical imaging techniques. Read more about the company and founders on their website: http://www.bioptigen.com/about.html
Nystagmus is a condition of involuntary eye movements which can seriously impair vision. Sufferers often have difficulty focusing or reading, and may experience problems with balance or depth perception. Many cannot drive and face daily challenges associated with poor vision. Some types of nystagmus can be treated with medication or surgery.
Nystagmus occurs in children and adults, and can either be congenital (inherited) or the result of some form of neurological (brain) injury. In some cases, nystagmus can occur because the central part of the retina has not fully developed, as can happen with nystagmus associated with albinism. The OCT device can help researchers image this kind of condition and thereby improve medical understanding and treatment.
The University's new equipment will greatly improve research into congenital infant nystagmus, providing valuable new insights into the condition that could help sufferers of all ages. The new handheld, portable scanner is ideal for imaging the eyes of young children, and will allow scientists at the University of Leicester to study infant retinal development and its relation to nystagmus and other eye disorders.
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?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
ROME (AP) ? Police say a vial containing the blood of the late Pope John Paul II has been stolen from a priest in Italy but recovered by authorities several hours later.
The theft occurred Tuesday aboard a train where the priest was carrying the vial from Rome to a suburb where the relic was to be put on display for admirers of the pontiff, who died in 2005.
Railway police said they would give details later about how they recovered the vial.
John Paul's relics have gone on display in several parts of the world.
The Vatican has put the Polish-born pontiff on the road to possible sainthood.
When we hear the terms health and fitness, most of us immediately think about flattening stomachs and running for miles. While this is certainly one aspect of good health and fitness, it is not the entire picture. Physical health and mental health go hand in hand in a lot of ways, but many people underestimate the importance of mental health exercises. Sometimes the best medicine for a busy, anxious, and stressed mind is a break. Vacations can be some of the best health practices we can try out?just as important as healthy meals and exercise. Mental health can especially be a worry for individuals unable to exercise the way they would like. Disabilities can plague a healthy mind and make vacationing more of a stress than a relief. There are many challenges faced by individuals and families living with a disability. Even everyday things like getting around the house or planning your next family vacation can become a struggle. While things can become more challenging when faced with a disability, a comfortable and ?normal? life is entirely possible. Families living with a disabled loved one have to realize that anything is possible with only a little extra forethought.
My mother became restricted to a wheelchair when I was still very young. As a child, I remember family vacations becoming a stressor as we adjusted to living as a family with a handicapable mother. Soon we, as a family and unit, learned new ways to travel, new destinations to explore, and new ways to get around. Looking back now, working as a family to find vacations we could all take and participate in fully brought us closer together and made each of us healthier in mind and body. Here are three classic family vacations made entirely handicap accessible?and fun!
The Beach Going to the beach with a disabled family member is likely one of the last summer destinations that comes to mind. When we think beach vacation, we picture choppy waves, sand in every crevice, and long hours in the sun?not necessarily the most handicap-inviting setting. However, today there are many beaches that have made their crystal waters and sandy lounging accessible to all. Hanauma Bay in Honolulu offers beach wheelchairs free of charge to any visitors that need them. The wheelchairs are available year round and offer access directly into the water. The Bay is also designed to be extremely wheelchair and mobility challenged friendly with various ramps and facilities. The tram to and from the beach can also accommodate wheelchairs. While Hanauma Bay is a prime example of a handicap accessible beach, there are numerous others around the world as well.
The Theme Park Morgan?s Wonderland in San Antonio, Texas boasts the title of the world?s first Ultra Accessible Family Fun Park?. Every ride and activity in the park is 100 percent handicap accessible. There are over 30 different traditional, adaptive, and wheelchair swings at the park along with several other rides and activities. Nothing says summertime and summer vacation better than going to a theme park, riding an amusement ride, and eating carnival food. At times, the thought of manning a wheelchair in a busy and crowded theme park can seem stressful and overwhelming. But, many theme parks offer excellent accommodations for disabled patrons.
The Campout As a kid, my absolute favorite family summer vacation was camping out and spending time with nature. As a family, we would pack up our minivan every year and head out to the nearest national park. Camping and heading out into the wilderness is another activity many people don?t traditionally think of doing with a disabled family member. While it does take a little more planning and forethought, camping out can be a great summer trip for any family, including those with disabled members. Rocky Mountain National Park is a wonderful summer destination full of mountains, rivers, lakes, wildlife, and so much more. Moreover, the park offers several different ways for disabled visitors to see everything nature has to offer. Check this site for the trail and camping accessibility for disabled visitors. The park offers tons of fully accessible trails, camping spots, lookouts, bathrooms, and much more.
Having her fair share of construction management jobs, Kristie Lewis considers herself an expert on the subject and regularly writes about it on http://constructionmanagementdegree.org. She is particularly interested in how construction knowledge can help those with disabilities and the ?green? movement. Send your questions and feedback to Kristie at Kristie.lewis81@gmail.com.
Health, nutrition and fitness are the three related areas that decide an individual?s sense of joy and well being.
Wellness involves the physical, mind and spiritual amount individual. A physically healthy person is one who can hold out normal day-to-day physical activities and respond to emergencies with out unnecessary fatigue or pain. The health part of wellbeing, nutrition and fitness can be achieved through a well balanced program of good nutrition, healthy physical activity, continuous education and mental pursuits, and social as well as spiritual activities. Your choices of the food you eat and your physical exercises affect both your short term and long lasting health (how you feel today and in the future). You could be getting plenty to nibble on, but if it is not an appropriate balance of choices from all five with the basic food groups you could be adding fat for a body without generating the energy to burn your calories and energy towards the cells to carry out his or her functions. Healthy physical activity helps burn off any excessive calories you consume, along with keeps muscles and joints accommodating and strong.
Zija
Your efforts regarding continued education (reading, attending seminars, in addition to attending formal training classes), and religious activities (social actions, attending devotional services, meditation, etc) provides you with a sense of accomplishment and well being.
An important part of good well being is being physically fit and proper body weight. Maintaining a sound body requires following a dietary diet, and working out to build and maintain muscle tissue, and to burn of any excess calories.
Nutrition
The particular nutritional health part of health, nutrition and conditioning deals with the food we all consume to maintain our health and provide energy to continue our daily lives. Nutrition is the procedure of nurturing or being nourished; the total of all of the processes that a place or animal employs to take in and process food substances to keep a healthy life.
A healthy nutrition life style requires a healthy diet of meals selected from the a few basic food groups, many fruits, vegetables, naturally calcium supplement rich dairy products or calcium enriched items, whole grains, and protein (lean meat fish, peas and beans). Other health factors should also be considered. Most fruits and vegetables are much better if they are consumed uncooked because heating ruins some of the healthy vitamins and minerals. Steaming and broiling food is better than boiling or even frying foods. Preparing fruit and vegetables surpasses processed or well prepared foods. The prepared food generally contain more salt (sodium) as compared to necessary and other flavoring enhancing substances. Some of the additives do not create any nutritional value towards the food and may even be harmful to your health.
Far more nutritional factors to consider include the variety of the vegetables and fruit in our diet. Nutritional files shows that dark green fruit and vegetables (romaine lettuce, kale, broccoli, etc.), and orange fruit and vegetables (carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin as well as summer squash) gives more nutritional value as compared to some of the less colourful vegetables.
Here are a lot more nutrition facts. Some foods contribute to burning fat. Green tea plays a role in fat burning by enhancing the body?s metabolism and increasing energy level. Foods high in proteins are more difficult to absorb so they require a lot more calories in the intestinal process.
Good nutrition procedures may not be sufficient for a lot of they may require unique supplements such as CoEnzimeQ10 varieties.
Physical Fitness
Physical fitness part of fitness, health and nutrition could be the ability to carry out activities, enjoy leisure routines and have a healthy body?s defence mechanism to resist disease and also infection. Developing and maintaining excellent physical fitness requires an equilibrium of good nutrition and various physical exercise.
For more information about Zija please visit the website.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. federal court ruled on Tuesday that controversial Texas redistricting maps discriminate against black and Hispanic voters, effectively killing the new districts before they could take effect for the November 6 presidential election.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued the ruling. The state maps, passed by the Republican-dominated Texas legislature, redrew districts in a way that reduced the influence of minority voters, the court ruled.
November's election will likely use interim maps drawn by a federal court in San Antonio instead.
The Obama administration in 2011 blocked the maps, arguing they violated the 1965 Voting Rights Act, a law designed to protect the voting rights of minorities, primarily blacks in Southern states.
In rejecting the maps, the court could have stopped at ruling that they had a discriminatory effect, but it took the further step of ruling that the Texas legislature had a discriminatory intent in its drawing of the maps.
Under the Voting Rights Act, Texas had the burden to prove that its maps did not discriminate, nor that they intended to.
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said in a statement that he would appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. He called the ruling an extension of the Voting Rights Act beyond what Congress had intended.
The three-judge panel consisted of Judge Thomas Griffith and Judge Rosemary M. Collyer, who were both appointed by President George W. Bush ? formerly the governor of Texas - and Judge Beryl A. Howell, appointed by President Barack Obama.
PLAINTIFFS HAIL VICTORY
"The fact that a three-judge panel, including two Republican-appointed judges, has found that Texas has intentionally discriminated against minority communities is incredible," said Luis Vera, attorney for the co-plaintiff United Latin American Citizens. "This is the biggest victory for the Voting Rights Act since it was approved by Congress."
Vera said that a three-judge panel in San Antonio, which has been sitting since the case was filed in May, will likely be asked to make a decision on whether to use its interim maps or another alternative.
"I anticipate being back in court in a day or two," he said.
The Obama administration has used the Voting Rights Act to counter the new wave of Republican measures that include voter ID requirements, redistricting maps and new ballot formats. Since the 2010 election, there have been more lawsuits under the Voting Rights Act than in the previous 45 years combined.
Texas is also awaiting a decision from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on a separate Voting Rights Act challenge to its voter identification law, which requires voters to present one of six forms of photo identification at the polls. A decision on that requirement, which was also blocked by the Obama administration, may come this week.
The series of challenges are building toward a possible U.S. Supreme Court review of the Voting Rights Act. The first two challenges reached the Supreme Court on July 20. If the court agrees to hear the cases during the term starting in October, it will weigh whether the civil rights-era law is still necessary.
Texas is one of 16 states, mostly in the South, that must receive approval from the U.S. federal government whenever it changes voting procedures. This requirement, called pre-clearance, was created by the Voting Rights Act to apply only to states with particularly harsh histories of racial discrimination.
The U.S. Supreme Court could view Tuesday's ruling as evidence that the Voting Rights Act is still necessary.
The case is Texas v. United States, No. 11-1303.
(Reporting by Drew Singer; Additional reporting by Karen Brooks in Austin, Texas, and Jim Forsyth in San Antonio, Texas; Editing By Howard Goller and M.D. Golan)
One of the most vital characteristics of financial success is a quality education integrated with a promising career. Job assessment, personality profiles, and career counseling may seem to add confusion when searching for a promising field. Many of these assessments lack in-depth research about job outlook and education training requirements. The greatest option for a person to consider is one that will build a foundation that can be used to create the ideal job that will also match personal preferences. It?s important to choose a field that will not limit your options, but will offer a way to branch into a plethora of other business ventures.
A bachelor?s degree in finance is one of the best choices for those who seek a promising career. It equips a person with enough knowledge to counsel organizations or individuals on ways to increase and manage revenue. Financial management tools become familiar to those who decide to pursue this field. An increased knowledge of the economy, international trade, profitable investments, taxes, and business law presents the opportunity to work in an unlimited amount of settings. Without financial guidance, a company cannot be successful.
Those with a bachelor?s degree in finance make an average earning $64,750. Job growths in financial fields have increased dramatically compared to other job markets. When economy fails, corporations seek advanced guidance to help increase profits and make smart investments. When there is a boost in the economy, finance experts provide the advice to continue increasing profitability for their clients. There are not many factors that can lessen the need for financial advice. A bachelor?s degree in finance can lead to a plethora of job choices because of the increasing demand for financial advice.
The average educational institution that offers the opportunity to get a bachelor?s degree in finance require between 120-128 credit hours to be completed. Students will take a variety of courses that relate to finance such as personal finance, corporate finance, economics, and portfolio management. Financial aid information is available through federal grants, funding from the school, or scholarships. The educational guidance counselor can offer all the options available for paying for school.
A bachelor?s degree in finance qualifies the graduate for some exciting job opportunities. Career prospects may include accounting, personal financial advisor, financial planner, financial manager, real estate broker, and insurance agent. Having advance financial knowledge can also lead to a promising position in the treasury department of a business.
1) Personal financial advisors help each client meet their short and long-term financial goals by offering investment advice, tax tips, and budgeting options.
2) Financial planners prepare companies or individuals for the financial goals by offering advice to aid them in successfully reaching financial goals. Advance knowledge in investments may be required.
3) Financial managers oversee financial spending and look for strategies to increase profitability.
4) Real estate brokers tend to own their own real estate businesses. By closely monitoring the real estate market, they can guide their client to make smart investments.
Insurance agents offer services to cover damages in case of an unforeseeable event. By assessing financial risk, the insurance agent is able to suggest the most practical policy. This trillion-dollar industry offers finance graduates a great opportunity to earn money.
A bachelor?s degree in finance can lead to a very promising career by offering job security, outstanding outcome, and a variety of job choices.
A lot of new online marketers and business owners be dependent solely on content and paid out adverts as a way to increase their awareness on the web. This might work with some companies, however it is an unfinished strategy that will enable other companies to rob your thunder. Use these tips to enhance the search positions of your web site. The preferred search engine marketing software package is actually this Senuke XCR and you need to acquire it right away.
Be patient when you?re attempting to boost your site?s SEO. You will not see any big modifications or even an influx in traffic over night. If your website is rather new, it will require some time for you to see any effects. It requires time for an internet business to build a name, the same as conventional companies. People have to have a lot of backlinks pointing to your website or blog to enhance serps.
If you want a substantial standing, help the internet crawlers be successful in their quest. You will always find spiders going through your articles, looking for various keywords, and they need to learn how to be able to each of the webpages in your web site. Help them to out by having a site road map. This shows what is important in your website, and it affords the spiders a solid idea of how you will site functions.
Your web server needs to be configured that it is scenario delicate in regards to URLs. Malfunction to achieve this could see your site becoming respidered with all reduce situation words that can damage the effectiveness of your back links.
Publish your content close to a number of search phrases to assist with search engine optimisation. Employing keywords and phrases that happen to be highly relevant to the niche inside the published creating will permit online crawlers to directory it easily. It will likewise make it simpler for your personal readers to discover your articles through search engines like google. The search term you wish to center on should appear several times inside your article?s text message, along with its name and summing up.
Explore how much expertise they may have. In order to make a thoroughly explored and well informed selection, you need to be aware of the possible risks involved with your option.
Search engines like yahoo are known to be enticed with a internet site road map. Creating a web site road map could help Search engine optimisation, plus assist site visitors find their way about your web site once they arrive. A web site road map will hyperlink your pages to one another. Visitors can use the web page chart to browse through your internet site. The more navigable your website is, the greater number of traffic you will get.
Do your very best to take benefit of all of the professional expertise that already exists on Search engine optimization (search engine optimisation). Search engine optimization involves optimizing your web site in order that it will show up increased in the search engine rankings. There are several businesses that give this specific service in a very inexpensive price.
Composing a blog or leaving comments on one more person?s blog site is a good SEO strategy. Considering that search engines like extremely-organised websites and new articles, blog sites frequently rank highly to them. The greater number of back-links you need to your web site, the bigger you?ll rank on the major search engines final results page.
You might in fact be capable of getting some visitors to your site although your website is positioned on the rear internet pages, however, your traffic would dramatically raise the instant you begun to put into practice the right Search engine marketing tactics. By utilizing the tips you?ve just read in the following paragraphs, you can begin to improve the information of your
Rhys Millen is Victorious at Formula DRIFT Round 6: After Dark; Championship Will Come Down to Final Event of the Season
Long Beach, Calif. ? August 26, 2012 ? Formula DRIFT returned to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway for Round 6: After Dark. Rhys Millen in the RMR / Hankook Hyundai Genesis Coupe takes the victory and moves up to third place in the overall points standings leading into the final event of the season.
Round 6: After Dark brought drifting back to Sin City and treated fans to a night spectacle that included the Vegas ProAm championship, Slammed Society car show, Targa Trophy display of vehicles and more. The Driftstream saw an estimated 150,000 viewers in a 24-hour period.
?The Las Vegas round of competition is always one of the most action-packed, but with a completely new course it challenged the drivers and excited the fans,? said Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. ?Each year we have seen an increase in attendance and have accommodated with the addition of extra grand stands. This was a very exciting event to lead into the championship round in October. This was another tight championship chase with three former champions in the top five.?
A new track configuration was added to the event at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway giving an extra challenge for the drivers to adjust to the new course along with the weather conditions of the desert. Robbie Nishida in the Bridges Racing / Achilles Tires Lexus SC300 faced points leader Vaughn Gittin, Jr. in the Monster Energy / Falken Ford Mustang in a battle for third place. Gittin took the win and secures his point lead in the chase for the championship. The final battle pitted second place qualifier, Rhys Millen, fresh off his record setting victory at Pikes Peak in the same Hyundai Genesis Coupe that he competed in at this event, against the number one qualifier, Frederic Aasbo in the Need for Speed / Hankook Scion tC. On his lead run, Aasbo met the wall to give the advantage to Millen. On the second run Millen kept a consistent line to take the victory moving him to third place overall and within striking distance of the point leaders.
?It was an incredible victory for our entire crew at RMR, for Hyundai, Pulse and Hankook. To come here from Pikes Peak in the exact same car in a different configuration and in a different driving style and to do it back to back,? said Rhys Millen, winner of Round 6: After Dark. ?This is a true drivers course and suits the car well and we were flawless all day long. Unfortunately, some of our competitors gifted us a couple wins, but at the end of the day we put the pressure on them to run deep and fast.?
The chase for the championship is as tight as it has ever been and will be decided at the final event of the season. The Formula DRIFT Pro Championship Round 7: Title Fight on October 12-13 at Irwindale Speedway. Tickets are on-sale now and can be purchased on the Formula DRIFT website.
It is no coincidence Republican presidential challenger Mitt Romney chose to hold his nominating convention in Florida, for the state could well decide the result of the November 6 election.
Home to 11 million registered voters, Florida is a key swing state and proved decisive in 2000 when Republican George W. Bush trumped Democrat Al Gore after a recount contested all the way to the US Supreme Court.
"Florida is the key state for the election. It's the largest swing state with 29 electoral votes," said Carol Weissert, a political scientist at Florida State University.
With a little over 10 weeks to go until election day, polls are split over whether President Barack Obama or Romney, a multi-millionaire businessman and former Massachusetts governor, holds the edge in the Sunshine State.
An August 15-21 Quinnipiac University/New York Times/CBS survey put Obama ahead by three percentage points, but a Rasmussen Reports poll on August 15 had Romney up by two. Both were within the margin of error.
Florida has a diverse mix of voters, making the state a complex election battleground.
Nearly 18 percent of the state's 19 million residents are above the age of 65, according to 2010 census figures. Senior citizens are usually reliable voters and have tended to tilt Republican.
More than three-quarters of Florida residents regard themselves as white, according to the census, although the state does have significant Hispanic and African American minorities.
For decades Florida Hispanics were typically Cuban Americans that overwhelmingly voted Republican.
But the latest generation has a more mixed voting record and a growing proportion of Florida's Hispanics are from Puerto Rico or of South American origin and more inclined to vote Democrat.
Obama won Florida by a slim majority in 2008 when the turnout of young people and Democrats was huge. "Obama needs to do it again to win in 2012," said Weissert.
And while experts say the president has a reasonable chance of being re-elected even if he loses Florida, the state is seen as make-or-break for his Republican challenger.
"It is very difficult to see how Romney can win without carrying Florida," said Larry Sabato, a political science professor who is the director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics.
Florida "is very critical for both parties. For Republicans, they cannot win without winning Florida," agreed Susan McManus, a professor in the University of South Florida's political science department in Tampa.
No surprise then that Romney has chosen to be anointed next week in the Florida gulf coast city of Tampa.
At the August 27-30 event, plenty of time has been allotted for Florida personalities, including popular former governor Jeb Bush, present Governor Rick Scott and telegenic state Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Florida Senator Marco Rubio, a youthful Cuban American and a rising star in the Republican party, has been given the exalted role of introducing Romney on the final night of the convention.
American presidential elections are decided not by the overall popular vote but by adding up so-called electoral college votes, which are awarded on a state-by-state basis.
With 29, Florida is the swing state that has the largest number of electoral college votes up for grabs. California (55) and Texas (38) have more but the first is solidly Democrat and the second firmly Republican.
McManus said that with polls narrowing for Obama in other swing states such as North Carolina and Indiana, Florida was now becoming a must-win for both parties.
Sabato, however, disagreed.
"More likely Ohio or Virginia will be the key state, but you can play this game endlessly in August," he said. "No one knows."
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) ? Denali National Park officials say a hiker photographed an Alaska grizzly for at least eight minutes before the bear mauled and killed him.
Denali Park Superintendent Paul Anderson said Saturday it's the first fatal attack in the park's history. Investigators have recovered the camera and looked at the photographs, which show the bear grazing and not acting aggressively before the attack Friday afternoon.
The photos show the hiker walked within 50 feet of the bear, far less than the quarter-mile buffer required by park rules. Investigators confirmed that the hiker had received safety training and would have known the rule.
Investigators have identified the man but won't release his name until they've notified his next of kin. Officials said he's a U.S. citizen but declined to release any other information about him.
The Philadelphia asbestos lawyers at the Shein Law Center recently learned that the United States has increased the amount of asbestos that is imported into this country despite the well known fact that asbestos is considered a human carcinogen and directly linked to mesothelioma, a deadly disease.? Our asbestos exposure attorneys were surprised to learn of this recent finding and now more than ever are concerned about the health and safety of the American public. The relationship between the incidence of respiratory diseases and exposure to asbestos has been extensively studied and it is widely accepted that asbestos exposure is directly linked to several deadly diseases including lung cancer, mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other asbestos-related illnesses.
Statistics on Asbestos Consumption Reported in the United States Geological Survey
The most recent data regarding asbestos consumption was published in the 2011 United States Geological Survey?s (USGS) Mineral Yearbook.? The United States consumed 1,180 metric tons of asbestos in 2011 compared with 1,040 metric tons in 2010.? This difference equates to a 13 percent increase in consumption and it was noted in the survey that most of this additional asbestos may have been put into stocks for later use.? The asbestos consumption was associated mostly with roofing products and the Chlor Alkali industry.? The imported asbestos came mostly from Canada followed by Brazil and South Africa.
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) is an independent organization that was started by individuals who have been the victim of an asbestos exposure and their families as well as other concerned citizens.? Their goals are to educate the public about the dangers and risks associated with an exposure to asbestos and aid in the prevention of asbestos-related cancers and diseases such as mesothelioma.? ADAO has asked Congress to ban raw asbestos and any asbestos-containing materials from entering this country.
Philadelphia Asbestos Lawyers at the Shein Law Center Support the Work of the ADAO to Ban Asbestos
The asbestos attorneys at the Shein Law Center in Philadelphia are discouraged by the most recent statistics showing that the consumption of asbestos has continued to rise in this country.? Representing hundreds of individuals and families impacted by mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases, we have seen firsthand how the deadly effects of asbestos exposure clearly outweigh any arguments offered by asbestos advocates. We support the work of ADAO in its work to ban the importation and use of asbestos in this country, and worldwide.
If you or someone you love has been exposed to asbestos and has developed an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma, we encourage you to contact the Shein Law Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to speak with one of our experienced asbestos lawyers.? Our attorneys are dedicated to helping victims suffering from any asbestos-related illness as well as their families. ?Our goal is to provide exceptional legal representation, to seek justice and to secure the maximum financial compensation to which you are entitled to under the law. We serve clients in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.? For a thorough review of your case, call our office today at 1-877-SHEINLAW (1-877-743-4652) or contact us online.
After a bailiff cries ?all rise? and Judge David S. Doty strolls, marches, and/or glides into his Minneapolis courtroom the morning after the Giants host the Cowboys in the first game of the regular season, the NFL and NFLPA will get their first glimpse into the predispositions of the jurist who?ll decide whether or not the union?s surprising claim of a ?secret salary cap? in 2010 may proceed.
It was a surprise because the claim came well after 2010 ended, and after the new CBA presumably wiped the slate clean between the league and the players, erasing all pending legal issues including any collusion claims that could have been made based on actual or perceived restraints on spending in a year that was supposed to have none.? (Technically, the labor deal imposed a handful of limits in 2010, such as restrictions on the free-agent signings by the teams finishing in the final eight from 2009.)
It was a surprise also because the NFLPA had signed off on cap penalties imposed on the Cowboys and Redskins, penalties which revealed that the two teams were being punished because they didn?t comply with the ?spirit? of a salary cap that didn?t exist.? The union agreed with the penalties because the union desperately needed the NFL likewise to agree to a number-fudging that would allow the NFLPA to avoid the kind of reduction in the salary cap from 2011 to 2012 that would have been awkward, to say the least, as executive director DeMaurice Smith?s re-election approached.
Now that the billable hours have hit the fan, Judge Doty will have to decide whether he?s more persuaded by technicality, or by equity.
As framed by the NFLPA in its final written submission, a copy of which PFT has obtained, the players claim that the NFL didn?t do enough to engineer a release and waiver of claims for past collusion when the new CBA was finalized and all pending litigation was concluded in 2011.? Apart from whether the documents drafted by the parties contained the right magic words to make the claims for collusion in 2010 disappear, the NFLPA has advanced an intriguing argument based on the nature of class actions.? (Try to stay awake on this, please.? If it helps, the link on ?magic words? goes to a Bugs Bunny cartoon.)
The union smartly argues that claims made on behalf of a class of litigants can be extinguished by court order only.? And so the union claims that, by not ensuring that Judge Doty would officially wipe out the collusion claims, the collusion claims weren?t wiped out.
If Judge Doty agrees, it will mean that the league?s lawyers screwed up.
Balanced against that technical application of the rules is fairness and common sense.? Regardless of the specific words or procedures used by the parties, the idea was to hit the reset button on all legal issues between the parties.? The league made concessions and the players made concessions and now the players are trying to avoid one of the concessions they made.? Some judges would decide, quickly, that such an outcome simply isn?t fair.
Compounding the potential for a finding that the NFLPA is pushing for a fundamentally unfair outcome is the fact that the players gladly signed off on cap penalties that necessarily exposed the existence of collusion in 2010 in order to get something the NFLPA needed ? a higher salary cap in 2012.? It?s unseemly, to say the least, for the NFLPA to now try to use that which it gave up to get a high cap number as the basis for seeking billions in collusion damages for allegedly depressed spending in 2010, especially since it should have been obvious to anyone paying attention that something fishy was going on.
Did the NFL engage in collusion in 2010?? Yes, in our opinion.? Should the NFLPA has done something about it in 2010?? Yes, in our opinion.? Is there something that doesn?t feel right about the NFLPA agreeing to the cap penalties that made the collusion crystal clear and then suing for collusion?? Absolutely.
But what we/I/anyone else thinks doesn?t matter.? Judge Doty will provide the first official word on the issue.? And if Doty agrees that the collusion case may proceed, look for the NFL try to appeal that decision immdiately, arguing that if the next level in the federal court system sees it the NFL?s way, there?s no reason to spend the time and money associated with developing the evidence that would prove collusion.
Even though that evidence should be fairly easy to find.
By KRIS HILL
Covington Reporter Assisitant Editor August 22, 2012 ? Updated 10:00 AM?
Reese McGuire didn?t have much time to enjoy Kentwood?s 4A state baseball title in the spring.
McGuire, who is a catcher and left-handed batter, had to make sure he got all his school work done as well as his final exams because he had to leave school a week early to play more ball.
?I had to cram all my homework and finals in so I could head out to the showcase,? McGuire said. ?I haven?t really gotten that much time to spend as a high school kid in the summer going out and doing things.?
Days away is the start of his senior year at Kentwood High but McGuire will miss the first week of his last year as a Conqueror because he was picked for the 20-man roster of the United States 18U national team.
But, that?s how his summer vacation will end.
It started a week early with trips to play in showcase games. McGuire, who is listed at 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds, went to Minnesota to play in the Perfect Game showcase for the top 40 players in the country.
?That was basically a try out,? McGuire said. ?Going into it, I think I was kind of pre-picked. I still went out there and played 100 percent, not taking anything for granted. It was definitely a really good opportunity for me to see the competition from around the country, size myself up, see what I could work on.?
From Minnesota he went to North Carolina to play for a spot on the 40-man roster of the national team from a pool of the top 160 players in the U.S.
?You play in front of a ton of scouts,? McGuire said. ?It?s basically a tournament. From that we all stayed and trained with the USA coaches and played some games against each other. We actually mixed in with the college guys. That was a cool experience because you were playing against the top college guys.?
McGuire, who has verbally committed to play at the University of San Diego, said it was an opportunity to learn about what playing college ball is like from athletes doing it now.
At the end of that experience, he made the 28-man roster, then got home in time for the Fourth of July.
Next up was the Area Code Games where he played on the Northwest team in early August in Long Beach, Calif. Before he left for that tournament, McGuire said he expected there to be hundreds of college and professional scouts there to see some of the best baseball players from around the country.
While the opportunity to play college ball, like his older brother Cash who will be at Seattle University this fall, is a great option McGuire and his family have been told by experts the Conqueror catcher has a shot to be selected in the first round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft right around the time he is slated to graduate from Kentwood.
That?s why traveling all over the country playing ball right now is important, to get whatever exposure he may need to land in the best spot possible in the 2013 draft.
?It?s every kid?s dream, everybody wants to be a professional baseball player,? McGuire said. ?I just want to go out and play the game. If there?s a possibility of getting drafted early and have a chance to go out and work my way up, then I would definitely choose that route. Being on the national team right now, the 28-man roster, and the All American game, the writing is on the wall that I?ve got this great opportunity and I?m one of the top catchers in the nation.?
Mark Zender, head baseball coach for Kentwood, who has coached for nearly 30 years and played at Seattle University, said McGuire is the kind of rare talent who brings more than just a big bat and exceptional skills behind the plate to a team.
?First of all, I think he?s just a tremendous talent,? Zender said. ?Most coaches and teams just don?t get talent like that. Reese is just at a different level. He certainly has the raw God-given skills to play at any level. He?s a catcher, that probably has a bigger affect on the game than if he were a pitcher. He affects the ability to score. When Reese is playing, it?s just difficult (for opponents to score). It?s a huge benefit for our team to have that.?
Off the field, Zender noted, McGuire is a nice kid who is quiet and is liked by his teammates because he works hard and doesn?t have a huge ego.
?He?s not a prima donna,? Zender said. ?Kids with that talent are told by a lot of people that they?re talented. He?s pretty grounded. A lot of people want to hitch their wagon to kids like that. So, he?s resisted all of that.?
Plus, McGuire?s talented older brother being just a year ahead of him in school has helped the middle boy ? there?s another McGuire son, Shane, also a left-handed hitting catcher who will be an eighth grader at Mattson Middle School this fall ? stay humble, Zender added.
Next spring, Zender said, he hopes to see McGuire step up now that Cash, Taylor Jones, Skyler Genger, to name a few, have graduated from a team that has won two state titles in three season.
As for his summer ball, Zender said whenever his players get the opportunities to play in showcases and compete against top talent it helps the high school team, but the coach also knows where this could lead for McGuire.
?He?s doing a lot of neat things,? Zender said. ?He?s playing in these different things with other kids that are gifted like he is and he?s getting higher competition and that?s only going to help his confidence. He?s getting some exposure to major league scouts. They talk to coaches, so, I know he?s already been discovered. They know who he is.?
Still, McGuire knows he has some things to work on, though he feels comfortable with his ability in the batter?s box as a catcher there?s always things he can do to get better behind the plate.
?I do a pretty good job framing pitches, but, it?s the certain way I turn my glove as the pitch is coming,? McGuire said. ?I have to turn my glove a little bit (so it?s in the right spot). With the pitchers throwing harder, it?s a little bit harder. I?m the type who likes to be involved in every play. I?m the only guy who faces the field, so, there?s a leadership role there. That?s really exciting, too, because when someone comes to the plate I?m thinking about how to set things up to get this guy out. It?s cool being a catcher.?
Zender said he plans to advise McGuire to take a break sometime before high school ball starts in the spring and just enjoy his last year at Kentwood.
McGuire said he does get a little bit of time off this summer, but, he had just a week before heading back to try and make the 20-man USA 18U roster this week.
It?s no surprise McGuire eats, sleeps and breathes baseball. His father played as do both his brothers. That?s what the family does together though he does like to just hang out with his friends or his family to relax or when the sun?s out, spend some time out at the lake.
?He really does love the game,? Zender said. ?He?s really a thinking player. He?s a very intellectual player. It isn?t just raw physical skills. Mentally he?s at a whole different level than what most high school kids are doing out there. He has a great future for sure.?
A future filled with baseball that could well take up the rest of his summer vacation and McGuire?s first week of his senior year at Kentwood.
He wouldn?t want it any other way.
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Contact Covington Reporter Assisitant Editor Kris Hill at khill@maplevalleyreporter.com or (425) 432-1209, ext. 5054.
VIENTIANE, Laos PDR ? Souphatta Chantavong used to say whatever came to her mind when she was angry, not thinking how her words might hurt her friends.
?Now I can make myself understood if I speak in a way that develops relationships,? said Chantavong, age 21. ?I think more about what I?m going to say and I know what I shouldn?t say to others and what I should.?
Chantavong, a social work and development major, is just one of the people who have grown in their understanding of relationships through training from Mittapab, an MCC-supported peacebuilding organization in Lao People?s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). Mittipab is an MCC Global Family education sponsorship program.
Started in 2006, Mittapab is the only group in Lao PDR directly teaching the idea of peacebuilding and conflict transformation. Mittapab means friendship in Lao, a concept that is easier for Lao people to relate to than peace, which they commonly define as absence of war.
Building on the universal interest in friendship, MCC workers in Lao PDR teach peacebuilding and conflict transformation skills to university students, who in turn train high school students on the weekends.
In 2010, Mittapab also started training teachers from two schools, so they could reinforce the conflict transformation skills in the classroom and help lead Mittapab activities at their schools.
?We have the opportunity to equip youth with the passion and skills to both prevent and transform conflicts in their everyday lives,? said Crystal Zook, MCC worker in Lao PDR from Willow Street, Pa. ?As youth are the future of nations, Mittapab seeks to help facilitate this teaching of interpersonal conflict skills in Lao schools.?
The youth who came to Xaysetha Secondary School on a Saturday morning in February were learning about body language and other ways of communicating. Mittapab trainers use games, songs and skits to entertain and make students think.
Topics covered during the six monthly classes include friendship, when relationships have problems, empathy, listening, speaking assertively, conflict transformation problem solving and being a peacebuilder. The classes emphasize respect for people of different religions and incorporate conflict transformation skills that reflect the values and practices of Lao culture.
Lao proverbs, such as ?Fast words will say wrong things,? give students chances to reflect on what common sayings teach about friendship and conflict transformation.
Students choose to come to the classes for many reasons ? often curiosity or a friend?s invitation ? but they stay because they enjoy it and because they are learning practical information about their own relationships, several students said.
?Everything we do is important for them,? said Chantavong, who has been a Mittapab volunteer for four years. ?We are not just teaching them the lesson. We teach them to think about things, to give them examples and real life situations, to help them understand why it?s important to transform our conflicts.?
English teacher Syda Sengthipmany said she has become aware of her own negativity and critical spirit through the Mittapab training. As she began to see the value of understanding other people, she began to reach out to a coworker she disliked and ignored.
By talking to her more and thinking more positively about her, she came to understand that her coworker was the kind of person who simply needed someone to initiate a relationship.
Sengthipmany brings Mittapab teachings into the classroom. If students talk meanly to each other, she explains that they need to examine themselves first and to think about how they would feel to be treated that way.
Another Mittapab volunteer, Sengchan Keochandy, said what he has learned in Mittapab has helped his whole family. The engineering major said that when his brothers and sisters have conflicts over transportation or cleaning, he calls them together to discuss the problem.
He suspects the speaking and listening skills he gained through Mittapab will come in handy in his career as a civil engineer as well, as he engages in project planning with community leaders.
Between 2011 and 2014, Mittapab expects to have about 100 college students and 18 teachers participate in trainings to work with 855 students from four schools.
Zook said, ?Staff and volunteers want to continue learning more deeply about peacebuilding and conflict transformation and developing their training resources and abilities ? to spread positive peace in Laos.?
To sponsor students in this peacebuilding program, log onto https://donate.mcc.org/project/global-family-laos-peacebuilders
Mennonite Central Committee: Relief, development and peace in the name of Christ
PKF Hospitality Research, LLC (PKF-HR), the research affiliate of PKF Consulting USA, LLC (PKFC), announced today that, according to its newly released 2012 edition of Caribbean Trends in the Hotel Industry, the average Caribbean hotel that participated in the survey experienced a 10 percent increase in Net Operating Income (NOI) in 2011. This is the greatest annual increase in profits since 2008.
?2011 was the first year since the recession where the Caribbean?s hotel industry posted positive growth in all three major top-line performance indicators,? said Scott Smith, senior vice president of PKFC. In the report, PKF-HR noted a 1.0 percent increase in occupancy and a 5.6 percent increase in Average Daily Rate (ADR). This lead to a 6.7 percent increase in Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) for the hotels in the survey sample.
?The Caribbean?s economy relies heavily on their hotel industry. In 2008 when the global recession struck, the Caribbean, like many other regions, saw a large decline in tourist visitations. This forced hotel owners and operators to make necessary cuts in employment and services offered,? Smith said. ?The lack of employment opportunities for the locals had a large negative impact on their overall economy. Three years later, hotel occupancy is on the rise. This, in turn, has caused employment
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Video games at school sounds like the dream of many teenagers, but for many in the Issaquah School District designing and having them in the classroom became a reality last year.
Students work together to create a video game.
Through a partnership between the district and Microsoft, students taking Introduction to Computer Science last spring at Skyline, Issaquah and Liberty high schools, got to design, program and ultimately play video games all in the name of learning. And starting this year, the course will also be offered at Tiger Mountain Community High School. For Kevin Houghton, math and engineering teacher at Issaquah High, this was the first time video games made an appearance on his syllabi. ?A lot of these kids, good or bad, go home after school and plunk down in front of an Xbox,? he said, explaining that when Microsoft offered to buy the class a set of Xbox Kinects, he was excited. ?Kids need stimuli. They are not just going to sit there and listen to an hour-long lecture? pretty soon they were making video games and the kids were just pumped.? Classes took part during the first hour of the school day and got help from volunteer software professionals, who gave instruction under the supervision of the certified teacher. At Skyline, Colin Miller of Sammamish, who during the day is a product unit manager at Microsoft, walked students, step-by-step, through the process of programming their own versions of classic games like Mario, Pong and Galaga. With objectives like creating an annotated character that responds to keyboard clicks, the students used Scratch, a programming language that allows beginners to dive in without having to learn the rules like putting a semi colon at the end of every line, Miller explained. ?It also helps kids to not feel intimidated by these things,? said Miller. ?I got the comment that ?okay, now I realize that this isn?t impossible to learn.? It breaks down those barriers and gives those kids the exposure to computer science.? In Houghton?s classroom at Issaquah High, students were split into groups of four. While each team was given a different theme, the requirements were all the same. Each game had to have a menu and help screen; it had to be timed and built for two players. Using the Kinects it had to respond to body movements and there needed to be a point system; the list goes on. ?It was really just about tying all these concepts together: human-computer interaction, graphical parts, the logic itself,? said Michael Hawker of Microsoft, who volunteered at Issaquah High. ?A major issue in computer science is ?how do you break the problem down into these little bits so that they can be run at the same time??? it was pretty involved. It was huge project but a lot of fun.? In the end, students developed video games like one where players moved their arms around to steer a helicopter through approaching rings. In another game the goalie has to block incoming soccer balls that, over time, increase in numbers and speed. Other games themes included a bat cave, food fight, math and fishing. ?These kids were hit pretty hard with the fact that it?s cool but it?s pretty hard. You have to take care of a lot of details. You don?t just click the button and shoot a monster,? said Houghton. Many of his students, he added, learned a valuable lesson that most don?t figure out until college. ?I talked to a lot of them who finished the class and thought ?this is so great I am going to do this a profession? and some said ?wow, this is not what I thought it would be.? And that?s OK with Miller and Hawker, who volunteered in the classrooms through the TEALS (technology, education and literacy in schools) program, which was put in place by techies to help student?s develop an interest in computer science. ?It?s just a staggering number difference between the demand for the field and the people going into it,? said Hawker. ?Even if you not going in to computer science, it?s such an interesting skill set in terms of problem solving and reasoning and how you tackle these problems that it makes sense for these other fields.?
Written by Lillian Tucker ? Filed Under Community, Schools?
Copyright 2010 by Issaquah Press Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten or redistributed without permission. E-mail editor@isspress.com
Owed to middle-class community has become very painful and troublesome these days and the scenario is no way going to get better. At this point of your energy and energy, a normal middle-class individual has to even flourish for basic specifications one of which is finding a protection.
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The contractors, which are so called "commited" to provide magnificent and residential flats in Noida and Higher Noida or personal plots in Noida and Higher Noida just, create words flow out of their mouth but there is no significance to them. But, there is still wish as there are at least a few reliable contractors and professionals in the housing market which can assist you in the process and create your buying property in noida a much better process.
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Public release date: 30-Aug-2012
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