Thursday, May 31, 2012

Jeremy Hunt At Leveson Inquiry: Minister Fights For His Career, Defends Ties To Murdoch

  • Rupert Murdoch

    In this image from video, News Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch appears at Lord Justice Brian Leveson's inquiry in London, Wednesday April 25, 2012 to answer questions under oath about how much he knew about phone hacking at the News of the World tabloid. Murdoch is being grilled on his relationship with British politicians at the country's media ethics inquiry, while a government minister is battling accusations he gave News Corp. privileged access in its bid to take over a major broadcaster. (AP Photo/Pool)

  • Rupert Murdoch, Wendi Deng

    News Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch and his wife Wendi Deng leave the High Court in London after giving evidence to the Leveson inquiry, Thursday, April 26, 2012. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)

  • James Murdoch

    In this image from video, former News International chairman James Murdoch appears at Lord Justice Brian Leveson's inquiry in London Tuesday April 24 2012 to answer questions under oath about how much he knew about phone hacking at the News of the World tabloid. Revelations that reporters had hacked into the phone of a teenage murder victim led James Murdoch's father Rupert to close the 168-year-old newspaper and triggered three police investigations as well as the judge-led inquiry into media practices. Rupert Murdoch, who is still chairman and chief executive of News International's parent company News Corp., will appear before the inquiry Wednesday. (AP Photo/Pool)

  • Piers Morgan

  • Andy Coulson

    Andy Coulson, the former editor of the News of the World newspaper and former director of communications for Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron, leaves after appearing at the Leveson Inquiry at the High Court in central London, Thursday, May 10, 2012. Britain's phone hacking scandal came knocking on the door of Downing Street Thursday, as Cameron's former communications chief faced a grilling by a media ethics inquiry about his time as editor of a tabloid newspaper that practiced large-scale illegal eavesdropping. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

  • Rebekah Brooks, Charlie Brooks

    FILE This Friday, May 11, 2012 file photo shows Rebekah Brooks, former chief executive of News International leaves the High Court in London after giving evidence to the Leveson Inquiry. Brooks said Tuesday May 15, 2012 she and her husband will face charges over Britain's tabloid phone hacking scandal. Brooks, 43, said Tuesday in a statement that she will be prosecuted over allegations of obstruction of justice.(AP Photo/Sang Tan)

  • Tony Blair

    Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair leaves the High Court in London Monday, May 28, 2012 after he gave evidence to the Leveson media inquiry. Blair testified Monday that he never challenged the influential British press because doing so would have plunged his administration in a drawn-out and politically damaging fight. The Leveson inquiry is Britain's media ethics probe that was set up in the wake of the scandal over phone hacking at Rupert Murdoch's News of the World, which was shut in July 2011,after it became clear that the tabloid had systematically broken the law. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

  • Tony Blair

    In this image from video, Britain's former Prime Minister Tony Blair, left, watches as a protester is restrained by officials after he burst in through a secure corridor behind inquiry leader Lord Justice Brian Leveson, right, during the inquiry into media ethics in London Monday, May 28, 2012. The intruder shouted, "This man should be arrested for war crimes!" before being removed by security. Blair testified to the Leveson inquiry into media ethics Monday he never challenged the influential British press because doing so would have plunged his administration in a drawn-out and politically damaging fight. (AP Photo/Pool)

  • British police officers escort an man to a waiting police van after he heckled former British Prime Minister Tony Blair as he was giving evidence at the Leveson at the Royal Courts of Justice in central London, Monday, May 28, 2012. Blair testified Monday that he never challenged the influential British press because doing so would have plunged his administration in a drawn-out and politically damaging fight. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

  • Police officers handcuff a man who threw an egg at the vehicle of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair as he was being driven away after appearing at the Leveson inquiry at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Monday, May 28, 2012. Blair testified Monday that he never challenged the influential British press because doing so would have plunged his administration in a drawn-out and politically damaging fight. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

  • Adam Smith, Frederic Michel And Lord Brooke Give Evidence To The Leveson Inquiry

    LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 25: Department for Culture, Media and Sport Permanent Secretary Jonathan Stephens leaves The Royal Courts of Justice after giving evidence to The Leveson Inquiry on May 25, 2012 in London, England. This phase of the inquiry into the culture, practice and ethics of the press in the United Kingdom is looking at the relationship between the press and politicians. The inquiry, which may take a year or more to complete, comes in the wake of the phone hacking scandal that saw the closure of The News of The World newspaper in 2011. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

  • Tom Watson, Alan Johnson And Lord Smith Give Evidence At The Leveson Inquiry

    LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 22: Former Home Sectretary Alan Johnson leaves The Royal Courts of Justice after giving evidence to The Leveson Inquiry on May 22, 2012 in London, England. This phase of the inquiry into the culture, practice and ethics of the press in the United Kingdom is looking at the relationship between the press and politicians. The inquiry, which may take a year or more to complete, comes in the wake of the phone hacking scandal that saw the closure of The News of The World newspaper in 2011. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

  • Former Deputy PM Lord Prescott And Ex-Scotland Yard Officer Brian Paddick Appear Before The Leveson Inquiry

    LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 27: Former police commander Brian Paddick leaves after giving evidence at the Leveson inquiry on February 27, 2012 in London, England. The inquiry, which will take evidence from interested parties and may take a year or more to complete, comes in the wake of the phone hacking scandal that saw the closure of The News of The World newspaper. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

  • Former Deputy PM Lord Prescott And Ex-Scotland Yard Officer Brian Paddick Appear Before The Leveson Inquiry

    LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 27: Former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott arrives to give evidence at the Leveson inquiry on February 27, 2012 in London, England. The inquiry, which will take evidence from interested parties and may take a year or more to complete, comes in the wake of the phone hacking scandal that saw the closure of The News of The World newspaper. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

  • Jim (L) and Margaret Watson (R)

    Jim (L) and Margaret Watson (R) arrive at the Leveson inquiry at the the Royal Courts of Justice in London, on November 22, 2011. The phone hacking inquiry was set up by Prime Minister David Cameron in July amid public anger over the scandal when it emerged that the News of the World had accessed the voicemails of Milly Dowler, a murdered schoolgirl. AFP PHOTO / FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA (Photo credit should read FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA/AFP/Getty Images)

  • Steve Coogan

    British television personality Steve Coogan (Top L) and Mary-Ellen Field (Below R) arrive at the Leveson inquiry at the the Royal Courts of Justice in London, on November 22, 2011. Mary Ellen-Field, a former aide to Australian supermodel Elle Macpherson, told an inquiry Tuesday she was fired after being falsely accused of leaking stories that were in fact obtained by British tabloid phone-hacking. AFP PHOTO / FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA (Photo credit should read FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA/AFP/Getty Images)

  • Leveson Inquiry

    Britain's Home Secretary Theresa May arrives at the Leveson Inquiry into media standards at the High Court in London, Tuesday May 29 2012. The Leveson inquiry is Britain's media ethics probe that was set up in the wake of the scandal over phone hacking at Rupert Murdoch's News of the World newspaper, which was shut in July 2011, after it became clear that the tabloid had systematically broken the law. (AP Photo / Stefan Rousseau, PA) UNITED KINGDOM OUT - NO SALES - NO ARCHIVES

  • Fred Michel

    Fred Michel, a News Corporation lobbyist leaves after giving evidence to the Leveson inquiry, in central London, Thursday, May 24, 2012. A lobbyist for Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. says he had the impression that a government minister was aware of information being given by an aide about the company's bid to take over British Sky Broadcasting. Lobbyist Fred Michel told the Leveson Inquiry on Thursday that he knew he was not supposed to have direct discussions with Jeremy Hunt, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, who was to decide whether the bid could proceed. (AP Photo)

  • Adam Smith

    Adam Smith, former special adviser to Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt arrives at the Leveson inquiry, in central London, Thursday, May 24, 2012. Smith, who resigned last month after saying he went too far over his e-mail contacts relating to News Corporation's bid to take over BSkyB, was due to give evidence to the Leveson Inquiry into media standards. Hunt has rejected Labour party calls to quit over claims his relationship with Rupert Murdoch's company was too close. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

  • Alastair Campbell

    Former Director of Communications and Strategy for former Prime Minister Tony Blair, Alastair Campbell leaves after giving evidence to the Leveson Inquiry, at the Royal Courts of Justice, London, Monday May 14, 2012. (AP Photo/Tim Hales)

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    Wednesday, May 30, 2012

    On SSON: Vested-A Business Model for the 21st Century

    From my latest article on the Shared Services & Outsourcing Network:

    In my last article I talked about the ailments and perverse incentives that can disrupt or destroy an outsourcing deal. I also briefly introduced our research at the University of Tennessee developed into a concept we have coined ?Vested Outsourcing.? This article focuses on defining the Vested Outsourcing model.

    Just what is Vested Outsourcing? ?Vested Outsourcing is first and foremost a mind-set change in which participants approach outsourcing differently in order to craft relationships that move beyond ?butts in seats? transaction-based approaches to an environment where the provider has ?skin in the game? and is responsible for driving results and real value for the buying company?

    Click the first link above (or here) for the entire article.

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    On the web Internet marketing Company For Newbies

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    Tuesday, May 29, 2012

    On the internet Internet marketing Business For Newbies ...

    At this time, numerous people today from all over the world are now thinking about starting an online business. Regardless of whether you might be a large school graduate or possibly an experienced, everyone can start various sorts of corporations on the net.

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    Memorial Day Armed Forces event at Texas State Railroad

    Released by the Palestine Area Chamber of Commerce:

    15th Annual Event Offers Visitors a Chance to Step Back in Military History to Celebrate Our Armed Force. Rusk, Texas ? The 15th Annual?Memorial Day Armed Forces Event will be held at the Texas State Railroad on May 25, 26 and 27, 2012. The event offers visitors a chance to see military history come to life with a U.S.O. show and dinner, mock battle train rides, and other activities throughout the weekend.?


    On Friday, May 25th, the event begins with a historic military transport one-way train ride from the Rusk Depot with a special consist that includes freight cars with vintage military tanks and vehicles. On Saturday, May 26th, at the Palestine Depot, activities include two mock battle train rides to the ?German Village of Rheinhausen?, a U.S.O. Show and Dinner with live musical entertainment from a 1940?s Swing Band, and living history exhibits, reenactments, veterans memorial ceremony, and Huey helicopter rides. On Sunday, May 27th, the weekend concludes with a mock battle train ride and the return of the military transport train to Rusk.


    ??This is a special event that we are proud to be a part of each year,? said Dave Schranck, General Manager. ?We are especially excited about the 1940?s USO Show and Dinner that will be held on Saturday evening at the Copeland Center, at the Lakeview Methodist Conference Center which includes a delicious dinner, a great swing band, and dancing.?


    Ticket prices for each activity or train ride range from $5.00 to $35.00. A special Patton Package option is available for $60.00 per person (ages 2 and over), which includes a ticket to the USO Show Dinner and one of the mock battle train rides. All train rides during the weekend include seating in the premium Lone Star Class. The one-way historic military transport train ride on Friday and Sunday are free to veterans and active military families, based on availability. Advanced?reservations are recommended. For reservations, visit www.TexasStateRR.com or call 1-888-987-2461.


    The Texas State Railroad is the Official Railroad of Texas and is truly ?A Texas Treasure!? This historic tourist railroad offers steam train excursions through the scenic piney woods of East Texas and departs from Rusk, Texas. Special events and dinner trains are held throughout the year. For more information and reservations, visit www.TexasStateRR.com or call 1-888-987-2461.The Texas State Railroad is proud to support the Memorial Military Weekend event because even though Decoration Day commemorated Union soldiers who died in the Civil War, it was extended after World War I and helped to heal the division between the Union and former Confederacy to honor all Americans who have died in all wars. For many people, Memorial Day marks the start of the summer vacation season, but to many of Texas State Railroad employees and its management, Memorial Day is a time to honor those who defended our nation?s freedom.

    Our Military Event is able to exist only because of the many volunteers who share their time, energy, and collections to demonstrate the reality of our history and the fact that we only continue to exist as the greatest nation in the world due to the sacrifice of our citizens during times of war. We participate in the general expressions of memory for all deceased relatives at this time, and we believe it is especially important to remember our fallen defenders- we owe our freedom to their sacrifices. We hope that everyone will come out to the Texas State Railroad at Palestine and share the Memorial Day tradition, especially with their children who will be able to see first-hand the equipment and conditions that our forefathers lived with.

    ?

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    Odebolt News: The Chronicle, Vol. 120, No. 21, May 24, 2012


    We Salute Our Odebolt Medical Service Volunteers

    May is National EMS Month, and Odebolt and area businesses have sponsored a full-page ad to honor the Odebolt Medical Service Volunteers:

    Members
    Tonya Dupre, Paramedic
    Jackie Marron, EMT-B
    Kay Bloyer, EMT-I
    Kathy Stehr, EMT-I
    Vick Beckman, Paramedic
    Bill Stehr, Emt-I
    Bill Tysor, First Responder
    Joey Hoefling, Nurse Exception

    Drivers
    Dick Bloyer
    Dana Dupre
    Brodie Veit
    Scotty Hoefling
    Craig Marron
    Tammy Neuharth

    1st Responders on Fire Department
    Marsh Tysor
    Mike Hoefling
    James Pierce
    Mark Horsley
    Jill Horsley

    Thank You for Volunteering Your Time for Our Area Communities!

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    National Senior Health & Fitness Day???

    Wednesday, May 30th

    Odebolt Nursing and Rehab Center

    will be offering

    Free Blood pressure checks!

    8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

    Odebolt Nursing & Rehab Center

    "A Care Initiatives Facility"

    (712)668-4867

    801 S. Des Moines Street ? Odebolt, IA 51458

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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    Monday, May 28, 2012

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    AP IMPACT: Almost half of new vets seek disability

    AAA??May. 28, 2012?12:01 AM ET
    AP IMPACT: Almost half of new vets seek disability
    MARILYNN MARCHIONEMARILYNN MARCHIONE, AP Chief Medical Writer?THE ASSOCIATED PRESS STATEMENT OF NEWS VALUES AND PRINCIPLES?

    RETRANSMITS graphic that moved in advance on May 24; graphic shows U.S. veterans receiving disability

    RETRANSMITS graphic that moved in advance on May 24; graphic shows U.S. veterans receiving disability

    EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE ON MONDAY, MAY 28, 2012, AT 12:01 A.M. EDT - In this Tuesday, May 22, 2012 photo, Marine Cpl. Larry Bailey II, of Zion, Ill shows the tattoos on his arm at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. After tripping a rooftop bomb in Afghanistan in June 2011, the 26-year-old Marine remembers flying into the air, then fellow troops attending to him. Bailey, who ended up a triple amputee, expects to get a hand transplant this summer. A staggering 45 percent of the 1.6 million veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now seeking compensation for disabilities they say are service-related - more than double the 21 percent who filed such claims after some previous wars, according to top government officials. The new veterans have different types of injuries than previous veterans did, in part because improvised bombs have been the main weapon and because body armor and improved battlefield care allowed many of them to survive wounds that in past wars proved fatal. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

    EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE ON MONDAY, MAY 28, 2012, AT 12:01 A.M. EDT - In this Tuesday, May 22, 2012 photo, Larry Bailey, left, stands with his son, Marine Cpl. Larry Bailey II of Zion, Ill. at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. After tripping a rooftop bomb in Afghanistan in June 2011, the 26-year-old Marine remembers flying into the air, then fellow troops attending to him. Bailey, who ended up a triple amputee, expects to get a hand transplant this summer. A staggering 45 percent of the 1.6 million veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now seeking compensation for disabilities they say are service-related - more than double the 21 percent who filed such claims after some previous wars, according to top government officials. The new veterans have different types of injuries than previous veterans did, in part because improvised bombs have been the main weapon and because body armor and improved battlefield care allowed many of them to survive wounds that in past wars proved fatal. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

    EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE ON MONDAY, MAY 28, 2012, AT 12:01 A.M. EDT - This Tuesday, May 22, 2012 photo shows Marine Cpl. Larry Bailey II, of Zion, Ill. at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. After tripping a rooftop bomb in Afghanistan in June 2011, the 26-year-old Marine remembers flying into the air, then fellow troops attending to him. Bailey, who ended up a triple amputee, expects to get a hand transplant this summer. A staggering 45 percent of the 1.6 million veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now seeking compensation for disabilities they say are service-related - more than double the 21 percent who filed such claims after some previous wars, according to top government officials. The new veterans have different types of injuries than previous veterans did, in part because improvised bombs have been the main weapon and because body armor and improved battlefield care allowed many of them to survive wounds that in past wars proved fatal. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

    EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE ON MONDAY, MAY 28, 2012, AT 12:01 A.M. EDT - This Tuesday, May 22, 2012 photo shows Marine Cpl. Larry Bailey II, of Zion, Ill. at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. After tripping a rooftop bomb in Afghanistan in June 2011, the 26-year-old Marine remembers flying into the air, then fellow troops attending to him. Bailey, who ended up a triple amputee, expects to get a hand transplant this summer. A staggering 45 percent of the 1.6 million veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now seeking compensation for disabilities they say are service-related - more than double the 21 percent who filed such claims after some previous wars, according to top government officials. The new veterans have different types of injuries than previous veterans did, in part because improvised bombs have been the main weapon and because body armor and improved battlefield care allowed many of them to survive wounds that in past wars proved fatal. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

    America's newest veterans are filing for disability benefits at a historic rate. Government officials say that 45 percent of the 1.6 million veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now seeking compensation for injuries they say are service-related. Officials tell The Associated Press that's more than double the estimated 21 percent who filed such claims after the earlier Gulf War in the 1990s.

    These new veterans are claiming an average of eight to nine ailments such as bad backs, hearing loss or post-traumatic stress. By comparison, Vietnam veterans are receiving compensation for less than four ailments and veterans from World War II and Korea, about two.

    Experts say the weak economy in part may be leading to more claims. Also, many veterans have multiple injuries from bomb blasts.

    Associated Press

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    Sunday, May 27, 2012

    Report: ?Broad spectrum? of Iran leaders talk of destroying Israel in ?near term? | World Tribune

    ?What is striking is that these declarations calling for Israel?s destruction are being voiced by a broad spectrum of the Iranian leadership, including different senior officers in the Revolutionary Guard,? the report, titled ?What Iranian Leaders Really Say about Doing Away with Israel,? said.

    ?Moreover, these spokesmen are not talking about a long historical process regarding Israel?s elimination, but rather a development that is to take place in the near term.?

    Report: ?Broad spectrum? of Iran leaders talk of destroying Israel in ?near term? | World Tribune

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    Technological savvy part of senior's drive to help others

    ST. CHARLES ? Brian Ricketts had no trouble falling in love with robots.

    After all, as he tells it, robotics have become an essential part of his life.

    ?There aren?t many people that can say they have a microprocessor in their leg,? Ricketts said, with a sly grin.

    For as long as he can remember, Ricketts, a graduating senior at St. Charles North High School, has been fascinated by computers, the technological devices they power and the way they run.

    At the age of 7 or 9, he began programming computers.

    And those speaking with the young man or his mother, Julie Ricketts, of St. Charles, easily could be overwhelmed by the tales they might share of the tinkering Brian has done with household appliances and devices.

    His mother noted, for instance, that his favorite toy when he was 2 years old was a surge suppressor.

    Lately, those urges have turned to video games, which Brian creates himself, and gaming systems, which he might take apart and rewrite some code to make it do things it otherwise could not.

    He reprogrammed a Microsoft Xbox Kinect system to allow users to ?fly? a virtual aircraft by moving their hands or speaking commands.

    ?It?s how I like to spend my free time,? Ricketts said.

    So when the opportunity arose for Ricketts to join the competitive robotics team, PWNAGE Team 2949, sponsored by St. Charles manufacturer Genesis Automation, he did not think on the decision too long.

    ?I used to be in the Boy Scouts, and I tried piano lessons,? said Ricketts. ?But then I found robotics. And I thought, ?This is where I belong.??

    Ricketts joined the team in his senior year, becoming one of the later members of a group that is interested and skilled in engineering, computer programming and other disciplines related to robotics.

    The team takes its robots to regional competitions against those designed by other high school teams in task-based contests.

    Teams were judged this year on their robots? abilities to move about a playing court, pick up foam basketballs and throw them through small basketball hoops.

    Ricketts helped program the robot and said he loved every minute of the work and the competition.

    Marsha Brown, technology and engineering instructor at St. Charles North, said Ricketts? infatuation with robotics should not be a surprise to anyone.

    ?There are things I?m learning from him,? Brown said. ?With the programming, and the things he?s able to do, it?s just nuts sometimes.?

    In a class project earlier this year, students were asked to create a machine that could accurately launch ping-pong balls.

    Ricketts? team created an accurate launcher. But then they went further, making their machine mobile.

    ?It did shock me when it moved around the room, because no one had told me,? Brown said.

    Ricketts still laughs about that project.

    ?You should have seen the look on her face,? he said, chuckling.

    Brown said Ricketts? penchant for exceeding expectations, along with his knowledge and ability, is what sets him apart.

    ?He is just so knowledgable about these things,? Brown said. ?So passionate and so driven.?

    Ricketts, however, demonstrated his drive in more than just robotics projects or at-home tinkering.

    At age 6, he was diagnosed with cancer in his left leg. Despite treatment, the cancer spread to his knee. Ultimately, doctors amputated his leg at the thigh.

    Not until about two years ago, after a fight that lasted almost a decade, did doctors declare the cancer in remission.

    In the years since the amputation, Ricketts learned to walk with a prosthesis, including a recent model that includes technology to help prevent him from falling.

    ?So I guess you can say I have experience with a robot on my knee,? he said with a grin.

    Ricketts enrolled at DePaul University and will attend classes in the fall. He will major in computer science.

    He said he has not decided yet how he wants to use his technological abilities, although he did mention a fascination with virtual reality and autonomous automobiles. And he wasn?t averse to defense applications, he said.

    ?That would be kind of cool, maybe working with drones,? Ricketts said.

    No matter what he does, Ricketts said he wants his work to focus on one thing:

    ?I want to make technologies to make people?s lives easier. It?s so important to me.?

    There are 15 hours, 4 minutes remaining to comment on this story.

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    Saturday, May 26, 2012

    ?The global financial vision? of Chinese food industry :insurance news

    Yesterday, China Radio International, ?global financial vision? invite PKU management consulting group senior partner history Jun, unscramble by documentary ?the tongue? China triggered by China?s catering industry prospect thinking.Speaking recently by the documentary ?the tongue? by Chinese specialty snacks ?surges?, history Jun said, this reflects the culture and brand, or the combination of products, can bring about a more broad market. He says, Chinese food and catering to the development of the market, is still at the primary stage. Shi Jun thinks, Chinese catering enterprises are in the range of the world, there is no mature brands, the main reason is a lot of enterprises financial is not transparent, profit is not stable enough, as well as inIndustryChain expansion problems.?The global financial world? is China Radio International Joint ?Securities Times?, ?new wealth? jointly launched a radio program, this program related information also will be the first time by sina.com.cn officialMicro-blog?The global financial world? released. (Ryan charming)

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    Matthew McConaughey pulls of Cannes double header

    CANNES, France (AP) ? To have one film competing at the Cannes Film Festival is a privilege. To have two, Matthew McConaughey says, is wonderful good fortune ? and the reward for a spell of hard labor in the trenches of independent cinema.

    In Lee Daniels' steamy Southern noir "The Paperboy," McConaughey plays a journalist who returns to his Florida hometown to investigate a murder.

    In Jeff Nichols' "Mud," which screened Saturday as the festival's final competition entry, he is a story-spinning fugitive holed up on an island in the Mississippi who is befriended by two local boys.

    McConaughey laughs when asked if having two movies competing for the Palme d'Or gives him divided loyalties.

    "That would be a high-class problem," he said. "I'm really, really endeared to both of them for different reasons ? and they're very, very different from each other.

    "I'm very honored. I've got two films that I'm proud of, two experiences that I really loved, and I've got two characters that I really care about."

    The two films take the Texas-born actor on a tour of the U.S. South ? and of men on society's margins.

    In "The Paperboy," McConaughey's Ward James is a crusading reporter with dark depths to his psyche that imperil his quest for the truth.

    His title character in "Mud" is being hunted as a dangerous fugitive, but may be a wild innocent driven by love.

    Critics have hailed McConaughey's turn in "Mud," and director Daniels said he was wowed by McConaughey's nuanced performance in "The Paperboy."

    "I'm so happy that he's so understated in the film," Daniels said. "There were moments when I didn't recognize Matthew."

    McConaughey said the roles were the result of a decision to "shake things up" in a career that has seen him take leads in a mixed bag of romcoms ("Failure to Launch," ''Fool's Gold") ? and, as he noted at Cannes, play lots of lawyers, in films from "A Time to Kill" to "The Lincoln Lawyer."

    "I was looking for some characters that didn't necessarily pander to convention, or even didn't pander to plot," he said, long legs stretched out on a sofa in a Cannes hotel. "They're all kind of characters that live on the fringe, on the outskirts of society. But they're really human characters.

    "What I was really looking for is some things where I could hang my hat and be the architect of my man, and it's based on humanity and reality. It's not based on morality or on good or bad or right and wrong."

    That's where the similarities end between his two Cannes films. "The Paperboy" takes a Pete Dexter crime novel and mixes in director Daniels' fascination with shifting sexual and racial allegiances.

    In "Mud," Arkansas-born director Nichols creates an affecting coming-of-age story with echoes of Mark Twain, rooted in the landscape of his home state.

    "Lee is very different from Jeff Nichols," McConaughey said. "Lee's not a linear thinker at all. Jeff Nichols was very linear ? he wrote the script, wrote each word on purpose, and would be editing in his head after he thought he'd got his take.

    "Lee grabbed this book but created his own world."

    McConaughey's Cannes double-header is the product of remarkable year of work that saw him shoot five independent films with strikingly different directors.

    As well as "The Paperboy" and "Mud," he was a sheriff in Richard Linklater's dark comedy "Bernie," a club owner in Steven Soderbergh's male-stripper movie "Magic Mike" and a hitman in William Friedkin's thriller "Killer Joe."

    The 42-year-old actor has never been busier ? or, it seems, happier.

    "I fired out of bed every morning so excited, and a little scared about going to work, but excited to go and get into it," he said. "I love the energy of an independent film. Time is so precious. There's no go-back-to-the-trailer time. It's a very vital experience, and I like that."

    It was also an education in modern American cinema from five filmmakers with strong personal styles.

    "Friedkin, you'd do one take, maybe two," McConaughey said. "Usually one. Soderbergh: minimalist. He's more of a shaper.

    "With Linklater ? this was our third time working together. We do all this character work together. ... We have a shorthand together."

    McConaughey will find out Sunday, when the film festival wraps up, whether either of his Cannes films has taken a prize.

    Next up, he hopes, is "The Dallas Buyers' Club," a drama based on a true story about illegal AIDS drugs in the 1980s that he's long sought to make with director Jean-Marc Vallee.

    "I never had a rule on what to do, just keep trying to do different things," he said. "But it's got to be more than that. I was instinctually drawn to this kind of material where I was not necessarily drawn to some other comedies or things that I've done in the past.

    "I'm more fulfilled with the work probably than I've ever been, and more turned on by it, and I hope that continues."

    ___

    Jill Lawless can be reached at ttp://Twitter.com/JillLawless

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    Friday, May 25, 2012

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    Legal Challenges to Start-Ups Explored at TiE Meet | India Journal

    (L-R) Ganesh Kalyanaraman, Sunny Kalara, Kalpana Srinivasan, Salil Bali, Ronnie Roy & Arnold Peter.

    BY A.MATTHEWS

    CERRITOS, CA ? The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE)SoCal monthly meet focused on ?Legal Challenges That Effect Start-ups & Entreperneurs,?? at the Sheraton here on May 16. The meet was a joint effort? of TiE SoCal and the South Asian Bar Association (SABA) which put together a panel of guest attorneys to discuss different areas of law which are commonly overlooked by entrepreneurs.

    Opening the event, TiE SoCal president Nixon James welcomed all attendees and introduced Moderator Sunny Kalara, a partner in Kalara Law Firm whose clients include many technology startups companies to Fortune 100 companies. The five attorneys on the panel were Ronnie Roy, Kalpana Srinivasan,Salil Bali, Arnold Peter and Ganesh Kalyanaraman. Each focused on their area of expertise. Roy dealt with Corporate Formation/M&A; Srinivasan employment law; Bali Intellectual Property; Peter Media and Entertainment and Kalyanaraman with the immigration aspect.

    Roy, an associate in the Los Angeles office of Irell & Manella LLP, threw light on formation issues, corporate formalities and financing issues. He started by underscoring the importance of forming a company as it protects the entrepreneur and their assets while providing a sense of professionalism.? Staring off as an LLC is a wise choice as management and daily operations are easier in this setup. It is also easy to convert to a corporation from an LLC, but not the other way round. He recommended the Delaware LLC which is? easiest, rather than the California one. He also spoke on tax, liability and financing issues highlighting the importance of detailed documentation.

    Srinivasan, a partner in Susman Godfrey?s Los Angeles office focused on the complexities and stringencies of employment law which every entrepreneur should be aware of. It is essential to have clear cut employment polices right from the start. As the company grows, employment practices become clearer and more transparent. The term employee has a very definite meaning under the law and could denote a full time employee or an independent contractor. They way an employer should deal with these categories is very different. For employees meals, breaks, overtime compensation and reimbursements come into play. As the company grows there may be a need for a separate HR department to handle these issues.

    Bali, an IP Litigator at Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth focused on trademarks, patents, copyrights and trade secrets. He highlighted the importance of doing research and due diligence at the start which would help prevent huge expenses down the road pointing out that most companies do not have tangible assets but IP assets. Patents protect ideas, trademarks protect brands while copyrights protect expression of a particular idea. It is important to determine the IP a company has and then ways to protect it. Biggest stumbling block entrepreneurs tend to overlook is trademarks. While choosing a name for the trademark do a thorough search and then go in either for a fanciful, arbitrary or descriptive name. Filing for a patent is very crucial, inventors has one year from the day they make a public disclosure to file. A provisional application gives them an extra year. If the filing is not done, the invention is up for grabs.

    Peter, Managing Partner and Founder of Peter Law Group based out of Beverly Hills at the outset made it clear that entertainment law was not a distinct body of law per se but meant that the attorney represented a company in the entertainment business. Entertainment law would most likely be related to IP law. Biggest roadblock is lack of documentation involving no clearcut document on relationship between the parties, split in profit/revenue, ownership of IP. Next is rights acquisition. For example, while making a book into a movie, before you launch off , the producer has to acquire rights which are more aptly a ?bundle of rights,? done by a chain of title.

    This is followed by the development phase where entertainment content is created and the distribution phase which is the most interesting.

    Kalyanaraman, an attorney at The Chugh Firm?s Los Angeles office focused on the immigration procedures to be followed by any entrepreneur who wishes to bring talent to the US and have talent from the US go around the world. Of uttermost importance is to be compliant with immigration law. Each employer should fill an I-9 for each employee and know where they are kept. Be organized. He spoke on the different visas available in getting talent from abroad to the US like the L1 and H1 B and the different categories under which green cards can be filed including the EB5 designed for those who invest one million dollars in a new enterprise that employs ten U.S. workers or $500,000, if the investment is in certain rural areas or an area of unemployment of at least 150 percent of the national average. Investor visas for those investing in rural or high unemployment areas are limited to a maximum of 3,000 every year.

    A Q & A session followed in which the attendees? queries were answered by the panelist.

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    Guide To Istanbul Travel and leisure And Istanbul Motels

    Istanbul is Turkey?s most significant town. In addition, it rates high because world?s 6th greatest metropolis appropriate. It?s anything from a megacity with a economic and social heart of Bulgaria. It includes the Fantastic Horn ? a natural harbor over the northwest section of the region and it is placed along the Bosphorous Strait, where, it reaches both Cookware and Eu attributes ? so that it is earth?s only metropolis to lie on two major regions. Being decided on as 2010?s Western european Capital of Way of life with nearly all of its ancient places being additional being a UNESCO Planet Customs Web site, Istanbul continues to appeal to tourists year in year out. Most importantly, remaining at a best Istanbul resorts will definitely build your vacation an unforgettable and entertaining chance to learn.

    The evening scene of Istanbul is known as cartoon and unequalled. There are thousands of selections for the two residents and tourists. Probably the most desired locations for clubs and casinos and pubs are across the communities of Kurucesme and Ortakoy. You can also send out affectionate moments because you observe spectacular fireworks demonstrates or perhaps the views of the Bosphorous Strait. There?s also Turku bars that provide Turkish folks music while bars coupled Istiklal Path supply with a wide array of music from brighten to punk. Just before retiring to one of the comfy Istanbul resorts near these spots, attempt their Inchesgarlicky? dish of tripe sauces at Iskembeci which is actually a habit of most Istanbul residents from a nights having a party and clubbing.

    Other eating options in Istanbul include a variety of diverse meals from various cooking nationalities. This is because Istanbul started to be you will find several cultures within the last millennium. Aside from a vintage Turkish budget istanbul turkey hotels?? breakfast you will get accustomed to in the majority of the Istanbul resorts, experiment with bakeries, tea landscapes and borek sellers for many sesame simit with cheese, kebabs, haricot beans with hemp, eggplants with floor various meats or some greens with beef stuffings. For the tastes of Med food, attempt the communities of Kadikoy, Beyoglu and Nisantasi.

    Luxury Resorts Istanbul

    London Hotel ? This is one of the greatest Istanbul accommodations you can get into. It really is situated near to the Bevazit place, the Great Bazaar, the Sultanahmet region, the Silk Bazaar, Taksim and also the Ataturk Air port. It provides 94 guestrooms with ac units, LCD TVs with satellite television routes, direct contact amenities and blow dryers as well as ?-Fi connection, a mini club and risk-free boxes. They?ve got an onsite Calcedoine Restaurant and a Golden Horn Pub which serves drinks, refreshments, tea, java in addition to delectable pastries. Organization vacationers will enjoy their Anatolia Achieving Area.

    Valuable Information on Istanbul

    Istanbul is an excellent state in Turkey. It?s got up to 39 areas as at 2009. Probably the most crucial areas will be the historical peninsula which comprises of other subscription regions. It lies on the coast line from the Fantastic Horn which separates the old town location in the n . component. The historic peninsula is also flanked by the Marmara Sea about the To the south. There are also other recognized section areas from the town. Each has a distinctive title that emanates from the indigenous vocabulary of the land.

    Istanbul Travel and leisure

    Tourism in Istanbul is usually anything of delight and delight. There are lots of locations to go to. Istanbul Vacation appeals to men, women and children who like to spend their holiday around the metropolis. Istanbul has an international Airport in Ataturk which works as a major portal for soaring in and out of the city. There are also other transportation signifies which takes you round the town once you pay a visit to. You can opt to go by prepare, shuttle or fishing boat as the case might be.

    Searching in Istanbul is part of the tourism event. There are several stores to see. There, you?re positive of shopping for essential items you need to have so as to make your visit an exciting a single.

    There are several attractions to find out once you take pleasure in Istanbul Travel and leisure. On the list of top points of interest contain Turkish Tastes, Hagia Sophia Memorial, Day-to-day Istanbul Trips, and Bitnya Morning Travels and so forth.

    Motels in Istanbul

    There are numerous stunning motels in Istanbul. Many of them are already created long previously however, they come with the very best of resort amenities you can ever think of. Amongst highly rated hotels incorporate Lodge Amira, Sirkeci Konak Lodge, Witt Istanbul Rooms, Basileus Lodge, Centuries Rooms or anything else.

    There?s also many top rated dining establishments you can visit in Istanbul. Among them include Albura Kathisma, Pasazade Restaurant Ottoman Cuisin, Amedros Caf? and Bistro and many others. Almost all of the shown hotels and bistro are already ranked very high. These are the finest accommodations alternatives if you pay a visit to Istanbul.

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    Thursday, May 24, 2012

    Childhood cancer scars survivors later in life

    Childhood cancer scars survivors later in life [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 24-May-2012
    [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

    Contact: Erin White
    ewhite@northwestern.edu
    847-491-4888
    Northwestern University

    Scars, disfigurement and hair loss from childhood cancer can affect adult quality of life

    CHICAGO--- Scars left behind by childhood cancer treatments are more than skin-deep. The increased risk of disfigurement and persistent hair loss caused by childhood cancer and treatment are associated with emotional distress and reduced quality of life in adulthood, according to a new study led by a Northwestern Medicine advanced practice nurse, Karen Kinahan, and based on data from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS).

    The largest study of its kind, published May 21 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, compared scarring, disfigurement and persistent hair loss reported by adult survivors of childhood cancer to their siblings, who were not childhood cancer survivors.

    Here are some of the study's findings, controlling for cranial radiation, which has been linked to psychosocial distress in the past:

    • Survivors with persistent hair loss were found to have increased risk of anxiety
    • Female survivors with persistent hair loss had increased risk of depressive symptoms
    • Survivors with a head or neck, arm or leg disfigurement had increased risk of depression

    "The results show that cancer treatments can affect childhood cancer survivors' physical appearances and their quality of life long after they turn 18," said Kinahan, RN, APN,P-CNS and first author of the study. "I have patients who are asymmetrical because of radiation treatments, others with scars on their faces and necks from biopsies and surgeries and some who've had the amputation of a limb."

    As a clinical nurse specialist specializing in pediatric oncology at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Kinahan helped start the STAR Program (Survivors Taking Action & Responsibility) at the Lurie Cancer Center in 2001. It is a comprehensive long-term follow-up program for adult survivors of pediatric cancer that follows these patients for their chronic medical and psychological conditions into adulthood.

    For this study, more than 14,000 childhood cancer survivors, all participants in the national CCSS, were surveyed with two questionnaires. The baseline was administered in 1992 and another in 2003. Information related to cancer treatment was abstracted from the survivors' medical records. Half of the survivors were asked to nominate their nearest age sibling for the comparison group. More than 4,000 siblings participated in the study.

    The survivors, all of whom were treated between 1970 and 1986, filled out self-reported questionnaires about head/neck, arm/leg and chest/abdomen scarring, disfigurement and persistent hair loss they have suffered.

    Psychological distress and quality of life data were taken from the 2003 survey. Distress was evaluated using an 18 item self-report measure of symptoms over the prior seven days. Quality of life data was evaluated using a 36-item self-reported measure of general health over the prior four weeks.

    Surrogates completed the baseline questionnaire for survivor participants who had either cognitive limitation, were deceased or were younger than 18 years of age.

    "The results of this study help illustrate the complex chain of events childhood cancer can have on quality of life as an adult," said senior author Kevin Krull, Ph.D., an associate member in the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital departments of epidemiology and cancer control and psychology "We have long been aware that radiation therapy is associated with increased risk for emotional distress and social problems, though we did not fully understand the process this involves. The current study begins to map this process."

    Future studies are needed to more clearly understand the impact of scarring, disfigurement, and persistent hair loss upon body image, emotional health, and the quality of life of childhood cancer survivors, Kinahan said. However, the results of this first-of-a-kind study are important for practitioners in the field of pediatric cancer care, she said.

    "We need to be more aware, so that interventions facilitating coping skills, emotional adjustment and management strategies can be implemented for patients at highest risk," Kinahan said. "A natural next step would be to make efforts to minimize alterations to the physical appearance of pediatric cancer patients during diagnosis and treatment."

    ###


    [ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

    ?


    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.


    Childhood cancer scars survivors later in life [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 24-May-2012
    [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

    Contact: Erin White
    ewhite@northwestern.edu
    847-491-4888
    Northwestern University

    Scars, disfigurement and hair loss from childhood cancer can affect adult quality of life

    CHICAGO--- Scars left behind by childhood cancer treatments are more than skin-deep. The increased risk of disfigurement and persistent hair loss caused by childhood cancer and treatment are associated with emotional distress and reduced quality of life in adulthood, according to a new study led by a Northwestern Medicine advanced practice nurse, Karen Kinahan, and based on data from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS).

    The largest study of its kind, published May 21 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, compared scarring, disfigurement and persistent hair loss reported by adult survivors of childhood cancer to their siblings, who were not childhood cancer survivors.

    Here are some of the study's findings, controlling for cranial radiation, which has been linked to psychosocial distress in the past:

    • Survivors with persistent hair loss were found to have increased risk of anxiety
    • Female survivors with persistent hair loss had increased risk of depressive symptoms
    • Survivors with a head or neck, arm or leg disfigurement had increased risk of depression

    "The results show that cancer treatments can affect childhood cancer survivors' physical appearances and their quality of life long after they turn 18," said Kinahan, RN, APN,P-CNS and first author of the study. "I have patients who are asymmetrical because of radiation treatments, others with scars on their faces and necks from biopsies and surgeries and some who've had the amputation of a limb."

    As a clinical nurse specialist specializing in pediatric oncology at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Kinahan helped start the STAR Program (Survivors Taking Action & Responsibility) at the Lurie Cancer Center in 2001. It is a comprehensive long-term follow-up program for adult survivors of pediatric cancer that follows these patients for their chronic medical and psychological conditions into adulthood.

    For this study, more than 14,000 childhood cancer survivors, all participants in the national CCSS, were surveyed with two questionnaires. The baseline was administered in 1992 and another in 2003. Information related to cancer treatment was abstracted from the survivors' medical records. Half of the survivors were asked to nominate their nearest age sibling for the comparison group. More than 4,000 siblings participated in the study.

    The survivors, all of whom were treated between 1970 and 1986, filled out self-reported questionnaires about head/neck, arm/leg and chest/abdomen scarring, disfigurement and persistent hair loss they have suffered.

    Psychological distress and quality of life data were taken from the 2003 survey. Distress was evaluated using an 18 item self-report measure of symptoms over the prior seven days. Quality of life data was evaluated using a 36-item self-reported measure of general health over the prior four weeks.

    Surrogates completed the baseline questionnaire for survivor participants who had either cognitive limitation, were deceased or were younger than 18 years of age.

    "The results of this study help illustrate the complex chain of events childhood cancer can have on quality of life as an adult," said senior author Kevin Krull, Ph.D., an associate member in the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital departments of epidemiology and cancer control and psychology "We have long been aware that radiation therapy is associated with increased risk for emotional distress and social problems, though we did not fully understand the process this involves. The current study begins to map this process."

    Future studies are needed to more clearly understand the impact of scarring, disfigurement, and persistent hair loss upon body image, emotional health, and the quality of life of childhood cancer survivors, Kinahan said. However, the results of this first-of-a-kind study are important for practitioners in the field of pediatric cancer care, she said.

    "We need to be more aware, so that interventions facilitating coping skills, emotional adjustment and management strategies can be implemented for patients at highest risk," Kinahan said. "A natural next step would be to make efforts to minimize alterations to the physical appearance of pediatric cancer patients during diagnosis and treatment."

    ###


    [ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

    ?


    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.


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