Concussion and its association with contact sports

Public release date: 30-Nov-2012
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Contact: Jo Ann M Eliason
jaeliason@thejns.org
434-982-1209
Journal of Neurosurgery Publishing Group

Charlottesville, VA (November 30, 2012). The JNS Publishing Group is pleased to announce that the December issue of Neurosurgical Focus is dedicated to Concussion: Pathophysiology & Sequelae. Guest editors Paul S. Echlin (Elliott Sports Medicine Clinic, Burlington, ON, Canada), M. Sean Grady (University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA), and Shelly D. Timmons (Geisinger Medical Center/Neurosurgery, Danville, PA) selected 11 articles for this issue that focus on methods of diagnosing concussion and evaluating its consequences, structural and functional changes that can occur in the brain following concussion, and changing attitudes and legislation concerning sports that traditionally carry risks of brain injury.

Concussion, also known as mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), has been called a "silent epidemic" because the event and its consequences, such as cognitive and behavioral changes, may be subtle and are not always recognized.

In the first four articles of the December issuea four-part series offering the results of "a prospective study of physician-observed concussion during a varsity university hockey season"Dr. Echlin and colleagues offer new findings of the Hockey Education Concussion Project (HECP), which focus on concussions sustained by male and female college hockey players in Canada. In November 2010, these researchers presented findings from their groundbreaking study of concussion in junior-league hockey players in Neurosurgical Focus. Today they offer fresh findings on the incidence of concussion during hockey games, neuropsychological changes following concussion, and changes in hockey players' white matter and brain metabolism over the course of the hockey season. The following universities contributed to the new study: University of Western Ontario, Harvard University, University of Montreal, University of British Columbia, and Indiana University. In this study, Echlin and colleagues added advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to neuropsychological tests to follow players' physiological and mental health over an entire season. They administered the MRI studies and neuropsychological assessments (ImPACT and SCAT2) to college hockey players at the beginning of the season, after a diagnosed concussion, and at the end of the season. In addition, physician and non-physician observers were present at games, where they could recognize signs and symptoms of concussion on the spot.

The incidences of game-related concussions identified by Echlin and colleagues in the present series, although lower than stated in their 2010 study, were three times higher in male hockey players and five times higher in female players than those found by other authors. The incidence in female players was substantially higher than that in male players: 14.93 vs. 7.50 per 1000 athlete exposures during the regular season games. The authors discuss some findings that led them to believe that hockey-associated concussion is underreported and other findings that indicate that the current definition of concussion may need to be reexamined. The authors also describe their experiences in conducting the study during hockey games, working with coaches, trainers, and players. Cultural attitudes about hockey and reticence on the part of team members, leaders, and others to report concussion events are discussed.

Other Papers

An overview of what is known about the forces involved in the primary phase of concussion as well as immediate and secondary cellular events that lead to the secondary phase of this TBI is provided by Matthew Dashnaw, Anthony Petraglia, and Julian Bailes. These authors point out that a thorough understanding of the basic processes of concussion and subconcussion must exist in order to prevent and treat the consequences of these injuries.

Scott Zuckerman and colleagues focus on more severe sequelae of sports-related concussions such as subarachnoid, epidural, and subdural hemorrhage, as well as malignant cerebral edemamedical emergencies frequently requiring the services of a neurosurgeon. These authors conducted PubMed searches on structural brain injuries arising from sports-related concussions and found 40 articles describing individual cases and small patient series. The lack of prospective cohort series led the authors to suggest the creation of a prospective registry of these injuries, which would be of great benefit to neurosurgeons dealing with severe consequences of concussion.

A review of the literature on the associations between biomechanical parameters and concussions sustained by helmeted players in American football is reported by Jonathan Forbes and coworkers. They state that the existing data are insufficient to predict the occurrence of concussion based on biomechanical data and suggest that further research is necessary.

In a separate study, patients who sustained a concussion from a motor vehicle accident or a sports mishap and healthy volunteers performed working memory tasks while electrophysiological testing measured event-related potential (ERP) waves in their brains. Nadia Gosselin and colleagues found cerebral dysfunction in the patients with concussions, as indicated by both poor performance on the memory tasks and abnormal ERP waves; the abnormal ERP waves were identified even in patients in the nonacute stage of TBI. The same group of researchers also contributed another paper in which they review long-term alterations in cognitive and motor function following sports-related concussion, which were detected using modern brain investigation techniques. In the second paper, the authors provide new insights into the neuropathophysiology of sports-related concussion.

Magnetoencephalographic virtual recording during language/spatial tasks was examined by Matthew Tormenti and colleagues as a potential diagnostic tool for concussion. Based on their findings, the authors suggest that with some refinements, magnetoencephalographic virtual recording may become a useful noninvasive diagnostic tool.

The status of sport-related concussion legislation in the United States is discussed by Krystal Tomei et al. These researchers compared state laws regarding concussion education, criteria for removal from play, and which individuals are allowed to evaluate a player and clear this individual for return to play. The authors found that concussion legislation has been passed in 43 states and the District of Columbia, and is pending in another 4 states.

Accompanying the December issue of Neurosurgical Focus is a fascinating podcast discussion between Drs. Paul Echlin and Anthony Petraglia. Some topics covered include the basic physics of head injury in atheletes; primary and secondary injuries sustained in concussion; the value of laboratory investigations to the advancement of physician's understanding of concussion; the importance of educating team players, trainers, coaches, and parents in the prevention and treatment of concussion; and how both physicians became interested in sports-related head injuries.

###

Neurosurgical Focus, Volume 33, Number 6, published online November 30, 2012.

Disclosure: Funding information and potential conflicts of interest are listed at the end of each article.

For additional information on articles in the December issue of Neurosurgical Focus, please contact:
Jo Ann M. Eliason, Communications Manager
Journal of Neurosurgery Publishing Group
One Morton Drive, Suite 200
Charlottesville, VA 22903
Email: jaeliason@thejns.org
Telephone 434-982-1209
Fax 434-924-2702

Neurosurgical Focus, an online-only, monthly, peer-reviewed journal, covers a different neurosurgery-related topic in depth each month and is available free to all readers at http://www.thejns.org. Enhanced by color images and video clips, each issue constitutes a state-of-the-art "textbook chapter" in the field of neurosurgery. Neurosurgical Focus is one of four monthly journals published by the JNS Publishing Group, the scholarly journal division of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, an association dedicated to advancing the specialty of neurological surgery in order to promote the highest quality of patient care.

---

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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.

Public release date: 30-Nov-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jo Ann M Eliason
jaeliason@thejns.org
434-982-1209
Journal of Neurosurgery Publishing Group

Charlottesville, VA (November 30, 2012). The JNS Publishing Group is pleased to announce that the December issue of Neurosurgical Focus is dedicated to Concussion: Pathophysiology & Sequelae. Guest editors Paul S. Echlin (Elliott Sports Medicine Clinic, Burlington, ON, Canada), M. Sean Grady (University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA), and Shelly D. Timmons (Geisinger Medical Center/Neurosurgery, Danville, PA) selected 11 articles for this issue that focus on methods of diagnosing concussion and evaluating its consequences, structural and functional changes that can occur in the brain following concussion, and changing attitudes and legislation concerning sports that traditionally carry risks of brain injury.

Concussion, also known as mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), has been called a "silent epidemic" because the event and its consequences, such as cognitive and behavioral changes, may be subtle and are not always recognized.

In the first four articles of the December issuea four-part series offering the results of "a prospective study of physician-observed concussion during a varsity university hockey season"Dr. Echlin and colleagues offer new findings of the Hockey Education Concussion Project (HECP), which focus on concussions sustained by male and female college hockey players in Canada. In November 2010, these researchers presented findings from their groundbreaking study of concussion in junior-league hockey players in Neurosurgical Focus. Today they offer fresh findings on the incidence of concussion during hockey games, neuropsychological changes following concussion, and changes in hockey players' white matter and brain metabolism over the course of the hockey season. The following universities contributed to the new study: University of Western Ontario, Harvard University, University of Montreal, University of British Columbia, and Indiana University. In this study, Echlin and colleagues added advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to neuropsychological tests to follow players' physiological and mental health over an entire season. They administered the MRI studies and neuropsychological assessments (ImPACT and SCAT2) to college hockey players at the beginning of the season, after a diagnosed concussion, and at the end of the season. In addition, physician and non-physician observers were present at games, where they could recognize signs and symptoms of concussion on the spot.

The incidences of game-related concussions identified by Echlin and colleagues in the present series, although lower than stated in their 2010 study, were three times higher in male hockey players and five times higher in female players than those found by other authors. The incidence in female players was substantially higher than that in male players: 14.93 vs. 7.50 per 1000 athlete exposures during the regular season games. The authors discuss some findings that led them to believe that hockey-associated concussion is underreported and other findings that indicate that the current definition of concussion may need to be reexamined. The authors also describe their experiences in conducting the study during hockey games, working with coaches, trainers, and players. Cultural attitudes about hockey and reticence on the part of team members, leaders, and others to report concussion events are discussed.

Other Papers

An overview of what is known about the forces involved in the primary phase of concussion as well as immediate and secondary cellular events that lead to the secondary phase of this TBI is provided by Matthew Dashnaw, Anthony Petraglia, and Julian Bailes. These authors point out that a thorough understanding of the basic processes of concussion and subconcussion must exist in order to prevent and treat the consequences of these injuries.

Scott Zuckerman and colleagues focus on more severe sequelae of sports-related concussions such as subarachnoid, epidural, and subdural hemorrhage, as well as malignant cerebral edemamedical emergencies frequently requiring the services of a neurosurgeon. These authors conducted PubMed searches on structural brain injuries arising from sports-related concussions and found 40 articles describing individual cases and small patient series. The lack of prospective cohort series led the authors to suggest the creation of a prospective registry of these injuries, which would be of great benefit to neurosurgeons dealing with severe consequences of concussion.

A review of the literature on the associations between biomechanical parameters and concussions sustained by helmeted players in American football is reported by Jonathan Forbes and coworkers. They state that the existing data are insufficient to predict the occurrence of concussion based on biomechanical data and suggest that further research is necessary.

In a separate study, patients who sustained a concussion from a motor vehicle accident or a sports mishap and healthy volunteers performed working memory tasks while electrophysiological testing measured event-related potential (ERP) waves in their brains. Nadia Gosselin and colleagues found cerebral dysfunction in the patients with concussions, as indicated by both poor performance on the memory tasks and abnormal ERP waves; the abnormal ERP waves were identified even in patients in the nonacute stage of TBI. The same group of researchers also contributed another paper in which they review long-term alterations in cognitive and motor function following sports-related concussion, which were detected using modern brain investigation techniques. In the second paper, the authors provide new insights into the neuropathophysiology of sports-related concussion.

Magnetoencephalographic virtual recording during language/spatial tasks was examined by Matthew Tormenti and colleagues as a potential diagnostic tool for concussion. Based on their findings, the authors suggest that with some refinements, magnetoencephalographic virtual recording may become a useful noninvasive diagnostic tool.

The status of sport-related concussion legislation in the United States is discussed by Krystal Tomei et al. These researchers compared state laws regarding concussion education, criteria for removal from play, and which individuals are allowed to evaluate a player and clear this individual for return to play. The authors found that concussion legislation has been passed in 43 states and the District of Columbia, and is pending in another 4 states.

Accompanying the December issue of Neurosurgical Focus is a fascinating podcast discussion between Drs. Paul Echlin and Anthony Petraglia. Some topics covered include the basic physics of head injury in atheletes; primary and secondary injuries sustained in concussion; the value of laboratory investigations to the advancement of physician's understanding of concussion; the importance of educating team players, trainers, coaches, and parents in the prevention and treatment of concussion; and how both physicians became interested in sports-related head injuries.

###

Neurosurgical Focus, Volume 33, Number 6, published online November 30, 2012.

Disclosure: Funding information and potential conflicts of interest are listed at the end of each article.

For additional information on articles in the December issue of Neurosurgical Focus, please contact:
Jo Ann M. Eliason, Communications Manager
Journal of Neurosurgery Publishing Group
One Morton Drive, Suite 200
Charlottesville, VA 22903
Email: jaeliason@thejns.org
Telephone 434-982-1209
Fax 434-924-2702

Neurosurgical Focus, an online-only, monthly, peer-reviewed journal, covers a different neurosurgery-related topic in depth each month and is available free to all readers at http://www.thejns.org. Enhanced by color images and video clips, each issue constitutes a state-of-the-art "textbook chapter" in the field of neurosurgery. Neurosurgical Focus is one of four monthly journals published by the JNS Publishing Group, the scholarly journal division of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, an association dedicated to advancing the specialty of neurological surgery in order to promote the highest quality of patient care.

---

[ | E-mail | 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.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-11/jonp-cai112712.php

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Dog Backpacking - Exercise - MensJournal.com

Courtesy Ruffwear / Ben Moon Foto

Dog Backpacking

Whether a teacup poodle or a Saint Bernard, dogs of any breed need regular exercise beyond a quick scoot out the back door a couple times a day for a peremptory pee. Most of us simply don't have the spare three to four hours a day to properly walk and exercise our pups. For many dog owners, a typical day includes a short walk in the morning, perhaps a 30-minute walk midday (often by hiring a dog walker), and then a longer walk in the evening. This schedule isn't necessarily bad, but many dogs plain need more exercise in order to maintain their health and just to expend all their energy. Beyond that, certain high-energy breeds will often get frustrated and act out if they aren't stimulated properly by exercise as well. One solution, then, is what we call backpacking: The idea is to give your pooch a modest load to carry to maximize the effect of the exercise they do get (if your dog is old, out of shape, or injured, consult a veterinarian before attempting an exercise regimen).

To get started, try Ruffwear packs, which are sort of like saddlebags for dogs, and let you add weight to pouches on the sides. The age and relative health of your dog are determining factors in how much weight you'll use in the pack, but as a hard and fast safety rule, you should never exceed 20 percent of your dog's body weight. So, for instance, a 50-pound dog should never have more than 10 pounds of weight in its pack. The fun part is coming up with items to use as weights: You can add water bottles, soup cans, 'Harry Potter' books, water, snacks or even a cell phone. Or, for more precision, simply order small one-pound weights online.

As with humans, your dog can be seriously injured if you don't ramp up the weights slowly, so start with a small amount, say, two pounds for the aforementioned 50-pound dog. Walk your dog for a week or two and then add another increment to the pack. Then go another two weeks, and continue this process until you reach the desired or maximum weight for your dog. This will allow your pet to properly adjust and get used to balancing the weight without putting too much strain on its joints. After that, you can introduce Fido to stairs or steep hill runs (make sure your pack is on nice and tight so it doesn't slip off on an incline). Besides helping maintain fitness levels or tiring out high-energy dogs, animals that suffer from arthritis, hip dysplasia, and other joint and muscle ailments may see improvement as well, and live a happier, healthier life.

Source: http://www.mensjournal.com/health-fitness/exercise/a-workout-fit-for-the-dogs-20121129

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Four sue over deadly Texas train collision with veterans parade

SAN ANGELO, Texas (Reuters) - Two military veterans and their wives who were riding on a parade float struck by a freight train this month in West Texas filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against Union Pacific railroad and the company that provided the flatbed trailer used as a float.

The suit, which appears to be the first since the November 15 crash that killed four veterans, was filed in Midland County District Court by Richard Sanchez, Heather Sanchez, Todd King and Laci King. The parade in Midland, Texas, was part of planned events saluting U.S. veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

The lawsuit says that Union Pacific, the operator of the train, failed to provide a safe railroad crossing or a proper warning of an approaching train. It also says that the truck driver employed by Smith Industries, who drove the truck pulling the float, failed to exercise reasonable care for his passengers.

It seeks to prevent Union Pacific and Smith Industries from altering equipment related to the crash and would allow representatives of those suing to examine the equipment.

Richard Sanchez, an Army sergeant, pushed his wife to safety and sustained a spinal cord fracture that has left him with no feeling or movement in his legs, Kevin Glasheen, a lawyer for Sanchez, said earlier this month. The lawsuit says that all four plaintiffs suffered, though Glasheen said Wednesday that the others do not have life-changing injuries like Sanchez.

"While we cannot comment on the lawsuit specifically, the timeline of events outlined by the (National Transportation Safety Board's) investigation shows the truck proceeded onto the tracks eight seconds after the red flashing lights and bells activated," Union Pacific spokesman Tom Lange said in an email. "Disregarding active warning signals is extremely dangerous and we urge drivers to stop once the red flashing lights and bells activate. We will continue to work with federal, state and local authorities investigating this unfortunate accident."

An employee with Smith Industries said Wednesday that the oilfield equipment company did not have any comment.

The National Transportation Safety Board finished its on-scene investigations on Tuesday, and a preliminary report could be available in the coming weeks, agency spokesman Peter Knudson said.

Police have identified the dead as Marine Chief Warrant Officer Gary Stouffer, 37; Army Sergeant Major Lawrence Boivin, 47; Army Sergeant Major William Lubbers, 43; and Army Sergeant Joshua Michael, 34.

(Editing by Corrie MacLaggan and Greg McCune)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/four-sue-over-deadly-texas-train-collision-veterans-003137612.html

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Republicans already announcing U.S. Senate campaigns for 2014

(Reuters) - Former South Dakota Republican Governor Mike Rounds said on Thursday he will run in 2014 for a U.S. Senate seat now held by a Democrat, the second state where a Republican has jumped into the campaign two years before the election.

The announcement by Rounds came just weeks after President Barack Obama won re-election and Democrats unexpectedly strengthened their U.S. Senate majority. Rounds is running for the seat now held by Democratic Senator Tim Johnson.

Republican U.S. Representative Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia on Monday said she would run for the U.S. Senate seat of incumbent Democratic Senator Jay Rockefeller, who was first elected to the Senate in 1984.

The early entry of Republicans sparked speculation that they are trying to encourage the veteran Democrats to retire rather than face a long and expensive race for reelection.

Republicans failed to capitalize on several opportunities to gain seats in the Senate this year because of nasty battles between conservatives and more traditional Republicans in primaries, and gaffes by candidates during the campaign.

They lost Senate elections in Indiana and Missouri after conservative candidates made controversial comments about abortion and rape that hurt their support, particularly among women.

Democrats gained two seats in the election and now hold a Senate majority of 53 to 45, plus two independents who caucus with Democrats.

Rounds, 58, was elected governor in 2002 after serving a decade in the South Dakota state Senate and was reelected in 2006. Rounds is chief executive of an independent insurance agency with an office in Pierre, the state capital.

"I am here today to ask the people of South Dakota for their support and to allow me to work for them as their United States Senator in 2014," Rounds said in an appearance in Sioux Falls.

Rounds said there were many problems to solve at the federal level including deficit spending, healthcare reforms and fixing Social Security, and he urged cooperation in solving them.

"We need to become a country of cooperation instead of confrontation," Rounds said, adding that many of the most important decisions would be made in the U.S. Senate.

Johnson said in a statement he would wait until later in 2013 to announce his formal plans, "But I feel great, still have work to do, and I fully intend to put together a winning campaign in the weeks and months ahead."

Johnson was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1996. He nearly died in December 2006 after suffering from bleeding into his brain, but returned to full Senate work in September 2007.

Johnson, who also served five terms in the U.S. House, said he had an excellent working relationship with Rounds while Rounds was South Dakota's governor.

"I consider Mike a friend, and I welcome him to the race," Johnson said.

(Reporting by David Bailey in Minneapolis; Editing by Greg McCune and Eric Walsh)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/republicans-already-announcing-u-senate-campaigns-2014-020726136.html

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6 Trends You Can Choose From When Acquiring Modern Bedroom ...

Furniture trends have continued to change over the years as consumers look for new styles to suit their desires. The modern look has continued to evolve and new designs come up every day. Some of the new modern furniture looks like it would be at home in outer space, while others look like anything other than what they are.

It is not unusual to see a bed that looks like a space ship, or a hollowed out egg. Young consumers, who are more tech savvy than ever before, are looking for unique items and the more unusual the furniture, the better. Below are some trends that are becoming a common feature in modern homes.

1. Technology inspired furniture
Modern technology is playing a major role in furniture creation, both from a manufacturing and a design perspective. Bedroom furniture that looks like it belongs in the future is not uncommon. The furniture is fitted with smart gadgets that can turn the room into an entertainment or communication center. The new furniture is designed to be both functional, and versatile enough to accommodate all the gadgets that have become part of modern life.

2. Green furniture
Environmental awareness has had a big impact in every area of life, and that includes the creation of modern furniture. Those who are environmentally conscious are looking for modern furniture pieces that have a low carbon footprint and are made with recycled materials. People will spend a lot of money to ensure that they buy environmentally friendly furniture.

Awareness of the impact of environmental degradation and the effect on climate change has led to demand for green furniture. There are manufacturers who are catering to this niche market by producing furniture from recycled and renewable materials. This trend has also led to the shift towards buying locally produced furniture.

3. Multi-purpose furniture

There is a huge demand for multi-functional modern furniture as people look for convenience and versatility. A bed that can serve as a sofa, or a wardrobe that doubles up as a bed, offer consumers the versatility they desire. It allows people to reduce the items they have in the home, while also ensuring that they have everything they need.

Instead of having an extra bed that you rarely use, you can use the furniture for another purpose, only converting it into a bed when you have guests. The desire for furniture that can have multiple uses has also risen out of the smaller living spaces. People are living in smaller apartments than ever before and they are looking for ways to fit all the furniture they need in the small homes. The bedroom furniture pieces come with extra storage space to reduce clutter.

4. Smaller furniture
Another result of the smaller spaces is the demand for smaller pieces of furniture. The standard bedroom in a regular apartment cannot hold too many large pieces and people are looking for ways to get all the furniture they need, while still leaving space to move about in the room.

Modern furniture is less ornate than traditional furniture, and the streamlined designs take up less space. Some of the modern furniture pieces can be folded away when not in use, creating more space in the room. Simple plain headboards are replacing the elaborate headboards that are a common feature in traditional designs.

5. Customized furniture
As people look to infuse their style and individuality into their homes, custom-made furniture is becoming a popular option. This trend allows people to get furniture that is unique and different from anything out there. They are able to combine unusual materials and to create shapes and designs that are unique and in many cases strange.

It is not unusual to find someone with a bedroom set that represents their favorite hobby or activity. Bedrooms with a sports or movie theme are popular choices. Several designers in the market specialize in creating customized furniture for customers looking for that individual unique look.

6. Asian inspired furniture
As the world becomes much smaller, people are adopting cultures from other parts of the globe. One of the most popular modern furniture designs is the Asian inspired design. The Asian furniture, and especially that of the Japanese, has always been very modern with block colors, straight, sleek lines and minimal adornment. This furniture has become very popular with modern design lovers around the world.

Byline

Jayden is an avid interior designer who enjoys writing blog posts about furniture. He writes for Avetex.

Source: http://nevisislandhouse.com/6-trends-you-can-choose-from-when-acquiring-modern-bedroom-furniture/

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Da Chan Bay's China Customs Manifest system gets ok

A meeting of like minds at the Combined Logistics Networks annual meeting in Bangkok from May 25-30, 2010, aims to be a good start to rebounding quickly from the impacts of the Global Financial Crisis.

Please kindly subscribe as gctl8.com member for ONLY US$120 per year. You can enjoy : SPECIAL 10% DISCOUNT ON ALL ADVERTISEMENTS AT GCTL8.COM & INSIGHTS MAGAZINE (Please quote your subscriber's name when placing an Advertisement to obtain the discount) FULL ACCESS TO: Our archives daily news articles Special Report articles (articles prepared in run-up to launch of Insights Magazine) Back issues of Insights Magazine (as only two months current issues are FREE for a one month period from date of publication) Contact details of Cargo Leads/Agencies wanted etc Details of job applicants at Classified Ads etc Monthly container throughput figures at Hong Kong port Monthly air cargo throughput figures at Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals, Asia Airfreight Terminals and Shanghai Pudong Air Cargo Terminals Ltd SUBSCRIBE NOW! Please click here for registration.

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Source: http://www.gctl8.com/index.php?module=ShowCategory&pa=0&CatNum=RSS&hl=Da+Chan+Bay%255C%2527s+China+Customs+Manifest+system+gets+ok

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Iran: Uranium enrichment to be speeded up

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) ? Iran will step up its uranium enrichment program by sharply increasing the number of centrifuges used to make nuclear fuel, a senior official said Wednesday, in direct defiance of Western demands.

The statement by Iran's nuclear chief, Fereidoun Abbasi, is likely to escalate tensions. The West suspects Iran's nuclear program could be headed toward weapons production and has imposed punishing sanctions to try to persuade Tehran to stop enrichment.

Iran has denied the charges, saying its program is peaceful and geared toward generating electricity and producing radioisotopes to treat cancer patients.

Uranium enriched to a low level is used to produce nuclear fuel for reactors, but high level enrichment would make it suitable for use in atomic warheads.

Abbasi said Iran is making nuclear advances in the face of the severe economic measures imposed by the U.N. and the West.

"Despite sanctions, we will most likely see a substantial increase in the number of centrifuge machines this year. We will continue enrichment with intensity," Abbasi was quoted by state TV as saying Wednesday. The Iranian calendar year ends on March 20.

Abbasi did not say if Iran's stepped up work would be at the five percent fuel level or the higher 20 percent quality, which has worried the West because it can be purified to weapons grade more quickly. There have been indications that Iran may push its enrichment even higher than the 20 percent acknowledged to U.N. nuclear watchdogs.

His remarks came days after the U.N. agency said Iran is about to double its output of higher enriched uranium at its fortified Fordo underground facility. That could move Iran closer to weapons capability.

A Nov. 8 report by the International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran has installed about 2,800 centrifuges at Fordo and is poised to double the number of operating centrifuges, from the current 700 to nearly 1,400.

Iran says it needs 20 percent enriched uranium to make fuel for a medical research reactor in Tehran that produces isotopes for about 1 million patients annually.

Abbasi also said Iran will soon conduct a test run of its heavy water reactor in Arak in central Iran, despite demands from the U.N. to stop the work. The test will use virtual fuel, not actual radioactive material, he said.

He said construction of the 40-megawatt research reactor is progressing on schedule, but he noted that experts are handling the project with greater care in anticipation of possible sabotage attempts.

"The Arak reactor is progressing without any problem according to the schedule. Only because of security considerations, we are moving with caution, since enemy intends to harm this reactor," he was quoted by state TV as saying. "All the equipment needed to operate this reactor has been purchased."

The West is concerned that the heavy water reactor could produce enough plutonium for a nuclear weapon each year, if the spent fuel is reprocessed. That would be another pathway for bomb-grade material, but Iran is not known to possess a plutonium reprocessing facility

Iran has experienced explosions and malfunctions at its nuclear and industrial sites, partly due to faulty equipment secretly procured on the global market.

Also, Iran says it is the target of a campaign that has included the abduction and assassination of scientists, the sale of faulty equipment and the planting of a destructive computer worm known as Stuxnet, which briefly brought Iran's uranium enrichment activity to a halt in 2010.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-11-28-Iran-Nuclear/id-d273b09d2a7545bca59475eef269a56a

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GM gets Siri-ous about voice-activated tech

15 hrs.

Paul A. Eisenstein , The Detroit Bureau

General Motors is getting Siri-ous about its voice-activated infotainment technology.? The maker plans to introduce the Apple iPhone?s popular voice-activated personal assistant technology on three of its Chevrolet models early next year.

The technology will allow a motorist to do many of the things already found in older, less advanced voice-controlled in-car technologies, such as playing music, switching radio stations or plugging in a destination. But Siri was designed to go even further, providing access to an iPhone contact, for example, or checking or adding appointments and even finding a local business, store or restaurant.

?Safe, easy, reliable and portable connectivity is a top priority for our customers and Siri complements MyLink?s existing capabilities to help deliver an incredible driving experience,? said Cristi Landy, Chevrolet?s small car marketing director, referring to the brand?s current infotainment technology.

The technology will be offered in the conventionally powered Chevrolet Sonic subcompact and Spark minicar, as well as the new 2014 Spark EV battery-electric vehicle.? It will connect to MyLink via those vehicles? Bluetooth technology. And GM will now place a special Siri activation button on the steering wheel, similar to the button many vehicles already have to activate conventional voice-controlled technologies.

The three models appeal to a typically youthful, tech-savvy audience and GM estimates as much as 90 percent of their buyers have smartphones already. But Siri could be integrated later into other models. The maker has also announced plans to add a next-generation version of the ChevyMyLink system to the upcoming remake of its big Impala.

Apple introduced Siri on the last version of its iPhone 4 series and it is standard on all new iPhone 5 models. The maker has also indicated its interest in working with manufacturers to get the feature integrated into vehicles by the addition of a dedicated ?Siri button,? but marketing manager Landy boasted that, ?Chevrolet has announced that Siri Eyes Free capability will be available in the Spark and Sonic well before the luxury brands

The Eyes Free mode will block still more complex activities that might prove to be a distraction, such as those that would require a motorist to look at the phone or the car?s video screen to take action.

Distracted driving has become a major concern among safety advocates, U.S. Department of Transportation Chief Ray LaHood recently estimating as much as 11 percent of all highway fatalities may be linked to roadway distractions such as texting. Proponents, however, insist that voice controlled technologies, such as Siri, can reduce distracted driving.

Other automakers, including Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler, Honda and Toyota are reportedly working with Apple to add Siri capability. Mercedes-Benz has already announced a voice-control feature it has described as iPhone-like, though it has not confirmed plans to add a Siri button.

Infotainment technology, especially those allowing voice control, have become all but essential for automakers hoping to appeal to buyers in the digital age.

?We have more people coming to Ford because they know we have better infotainment technology,? said Jim Farley, Ford Motor Co.?s global marketing director, during an interview with TheDetroitBureau.com.

Ford was one of the early pioneers of the technology with its Sync system which was developed through a partnership with Microsoft. But it has also discovered that infotainment systems can be both good news and bad.? The maker has taken sharp hits from consumers and critics alike for problems in operating its in-car technologies. Ford this week announced an updated version of its MyFordTouch system for the 2014 Fiesta minicar that should be easier to use.

A critical goal for makers is to simplify the operation of such technologies, with an emphasis on allowing motorists to use conventional speech rather than having to learn rigid command language that might require a series of steps to perform an otherwise simple process like pairing a smartphone.

Along with the Siri feature, the Chevy MyLink system is expanding its ability to integrate various smartphone apps to access a motorist?s choice of music, for example. And in another potential breakthrough, some Chevrolet models can link to the BringGo navi app. Based on a smartphone, it is available for just $50, a fraction of the cost for a typical in-car navigation system.

More from The Detroit Bureau

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/gm-gets-siri-ous-about-voice-activated-technology-1C7284866

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On the Spot - The Holding Pattern Founder and CEO Nick Arnold ...

Thanks to Budah PR, we had the chance to get in touch with Nick Arnold, founder and CEO of The Holding Pattern (THP), an Australian-owned business that is paving a movement for independent and emerging artists to promote, license and sell music on a global scale and potentially get gigs.

SR. To those of us who do not know what The Holding Pattern (THP) is, how would you best describe it?

NA. The Holding Pattern (THP) is a free, independent music platform owned by musicians and run by musicians. THP has been created to provide much needed exposure for all independent and undiscovered artists through an innovative and engaging marketplace. It?s not just for fans and artists to explore and use, but for creatives sourcing music for public broadcast as well.

We want to provide a unique user experience for all fans to explore, search and discover independent music. We want to expose the sheer wealth and size of independent music and to showcase how amazing it is with revolutionary 3D visual search engines like ?The Visualiser?, which is a 3D visual search designed to educate the user of the many genres of music and the artists within them.

We?re bringing together, for the first time, both creative users and artists in an innovative marketplace where the artist decides what price to sell their music for, whilst introducing an automatic license for creatives and production companies looking to source music from an amazing library of independent music for public broadcast (Film, TV, Documentaries, Radio, TV commercials etc).

SR. How did you come up with the name?

Na. I love flying and the concept of being in a holding pattern when you enter a cities airspace. Only when your aircraft is ready does traffic control allow you to land safely. Same concept for independent artists, we provide a platform for artists to gain exposure through fans exploring new music and also a marketplace for creatives sourcing music for public broadcast,. So a selection process is created, but streamlining this so fans and creative users have access to music they may not have heard before. We don?t help artists land though?more take off!

SR. You?ve been in the music industry for over 15 years now, what made you decide to create THP?

Na. I?ve been signed to major publishing house in LA and played in many bands and still do. I?ve scored music for film, TV, and theatre as a composer and I know what a musician wants and I also know what a creative needs. The music industry is rapidly changing. The independent and undiscovered needs a musical platform that is engaging and educational for fans, transparent and autonomous for artists to use, and provide speed and quality for creative?s to access music and above all, provide innovative tools that provide exposure for independent artists. This what The Holding Pattern provides and this is what inspired me to create this platform.

It?s about creating a free independent movement! Allowing artists, creatives and the everyday fan of music a unique experience that they trust and enjoy, and where they can interact. Bringing people together, making them feel a part of a unified experience, and continuing to expand onto bigger and better things together. Creating a platform that uses music as a currency to communicate, not just an end transaction. Being able to bring exposure to the sheer size and wealth of amazing independent music is what excites me and what I believe to be relatively untapped?.

SR. You?ve put a lot of hard work and research into developing and designing this platform, are you amazed at the response you?ve received so far in both the music industry and from the public?

NA. We have over 10,000 artists and over 25,000 tracks and counting; in about a month we will have over 120,000 tracks! Every minute there are new artists uploading, of which many are up and coming independent artists heard all over radio as well as many established artists signed through MGM. We also have Ditto Music from the UK uploading their wealth of independent artists and others to follow. So the support has been great, but there is still a long way to go?..and we need as much help as we can get to sustain and compete in such a cut throat industry, and to keep independent music alive and well!
We only listen to about 10% of the music that is out there, and I want to showcase the remaining 90%. Do you know how amazing that would be?! Picking a genre of music that you like and discovering an endless run of genius music ? it?s very exciting!

SR. With MGM and Ditto Music on board, how has this benefited THP?

NA. Its helped with supplying the user and music fans with a great selection of music to search, listen and purchase. But the real challenge is getting the artists who aren?t signed to any distribution deals and getting them up on THP. That?s the genius I want to expose, and discover?that is where we can truly find out deep and diverse music really is. So sign up ALL you artists out there, get behind us!

SR. What are the advantages that THP can provide to assist artists that no other company can?

NA. Right now we can provide artists a free platform along side there peers to use, where they can decide the price to sell their music for, and be involved in a creative marketplace where production companies can source music for public broadcast. We are a truly independent music platform that helps independent artists gain as much exposure as possible. By providing an engaging site for fans to use, listen, and purchase music, either through our innovative search engines like our Visualiser, our mobile site, our partners The AU Review which provide our music write ups and reviews of THP artists, daily links from Facebook and Twitter to track pages of artists, plus our our Blog page

SR. Who can upload their music?

NA. Absolutely anyone?.it?s free and designed this way to be non-biased and support independent and undiscovered creativity!

SR. Have you had many success stories from artists who signed up with THP?

NA. We have had many artists join us and love the ease of uploading their music, and the freedom to choose the price of their tracks for both personal, and commercial use. At the moment we are building, and we want to provide a great selection for fans and creatives that use THP for personal or commercial use. The success stories right now are based around the indie artists I speak to that reassure me that what THP is doing for the independent community is needed. Individual success stories will come in time?with amount of tracks uploading from amazing artists everyday?its just a matter of time. No doubt!

SR. What advice can you give to either upcoming artists or people thinking of a career within the music industry?

NA. Work hard, be persistent, stubborn and possess a key ingredient. Tenacity! You?ve got to believe and love what you do, and above all have fun. If your not having in whatever your doing, stop doing it.

SR. Are there any plans to expand the site even more to what it is?

Na. Absolutely!?What you see right now is only the very beginning of THP, and we are still in BETA mode.
We are currently tendering out to the right investor/s at the moment who share the same vision as we do, and can see the massive opportunity within the independent community. I believe with the right partnership we can bring all aspects of independent creativity together under the same platform, interacting with each other on all aspects of music and creation, where a user can be a fly on the wall looking in, or choose to collaborate and be part of the process. It?s a very exciting time for us, but more importantly for the independent community.

For more information visit www.holdingpattern.com

Source: http://www.spotlightreport.net/on-the-spot-2/on-the-spot-the-holding-pattern-founder-and-ceo-nick-arnold

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Nude AIDS activists arrested after protest

Naked AIDS activists, with painted slogans on their bodies, protest inside the lobby of the Capitol Hill office of House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012, prior to World AIDS Day, Dec. 1. Three women AIDS activists saying they wanted to highlight the ?naked truth? about potential spending cuts in HIV programs were arrested after taking their clothes off in the lobby Boehner's office. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Naked AIDS activists, with painted slogans on their bodies, protest inside the lobby of the Capitol Hill office of House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012, prior to World AIDS Day, Dec. 1. Three women AIDS activists saying they wanted to highlight the ?naked truth? about potential spending cuts in HIV programs were arrested after taking their clothes off in the lobby Boehner's office. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Three women AIDS activists saying they wanted to highlight the "naked truth" about potential spending cuts in HIV programs were arrested Tuesday after taking their clothes off in the lobby of House Speaker John Boehner's office.

The trio had the words "AIDS cuts kill" painted on their bodies and had linked arms with four men who also disrobed as part of the protest. The nude protesters, along with dozens of other clothed demonstrators chanted slogans, including: "People with AIDS are under attack. What do we do? Fight back."

The three women were arrested by Capitol Police as they mingled with other protesters in the hall outside Boehner's district office after putting their clothes back on. The naked male protesters appeared to have left.

"People with AIDS are sick and tired of being pushed over the cliff," said Jennifer Flynn, 40, of New York City, who was among those arrested. "We need to make sure they stop going after people with AIDS."

Michael Tikili, 26, of New York City, said he is HIV-positive and depends on Medicaid for treatment.

"Just the idea of these programs being cut is horrible," Tikili said.

The three nude female protesters were charged with lewd and indecent acts under the District of Columbia's disorderly conduct law, a Capitol Police spokesman said.

The protest occurred as congressional leaders and President Barack Obama seek a deal to avert automatic spending cuts and tax increases in January. A coalition of AIDS activist groups gathering in Washington for Saturday's World AIDS Day organized the protest.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2012-11-27-Congress-Nude%20Protest/id-aa212d4f984f4dbf83950135c7e18baa

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Hitman: Absolution Self-improvement Achievement | My Blog ...

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Source: http://davisdino1545.typepad.com/blog/2012/11/hitman-absolution-self-improvement-achievement-my-blog.html

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Video: Arafat exhumation could raise more questions than answers

>>> also in the middle east today, they took an extraordinary step to investigate an old rumor, they dug up the body of yasser arafat to see if he had been poisoned, and they're conducting tissue samples all over the world now to find out. we get our report from our veteran middle eastern correspondent martin fletcher in ramallah .

>> reporter: a grim day in ramallah , yasser arafat was reburied after scientists took samples from his remains, seeking an answer to the mystery that began with his death eight years ago. was he murdered? palestinians may soon have an answer. labs in russia, france and switzerland will conduct separate tests of bone samples taken today. muslim clerics gave permission to open his grave. it was a delicate process kept out of sight.

>> it was important for the palestinians to emphasize that no hands touch the remains of yasser arafat . only the palestinians touched him. a matter of honor.

>> the last time arafat was seen in public he flew to a paris hospital age 75 and sick. three weeks later he was dead. why? his wife refused an autopsy. rumors flew, aids murdered, poisoned, that's what many palestinians believed.

>> all the circumstantial evidence , all the political evidence indicates one direction, which is mr. sharon.

>> reporter: there is no evidence he had been killed until this year. the investigation was triggered by swiss technicians working with al jazeera tv . they examined arafat's toothbrush and hat. and found traces of radioactive pe pelonium 210. the question now is, will they find it on his bones.

>> the idea of being able to detect pelonium 210 this long after burial is low.

>> reporter: the test could raise more questions than it answers. yasser arafat controversial in life, his death still a riddle. martin fletcher , nbc news, ramallah , the west bank .

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/49986366/

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American West Baseball League is Pleased to Announce Their 1st Winter League

MISSION VIEJO, Calif., Nov. 27, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Embark Holdings, Inc. (OTC Markets:GFMD), the parent company to American West Baseball League (a Professional Minor Baseball League), is pleased to announce their 1^st winter league.

American West Baseball League (AWBL) winter league will be played at Ray Kroc Complex, the former home of the San Diego Padres spring training in Yuma, Arizona. The complex has 4 fields, including the 10,000 seat Desert Sun Stadium and a Major league clubhouse with locker rooms for all teams and a fully stocked training facility. The league is for players who have collegiate, minor league or high school experience must be 18 years or older at the start of the league (January 24, 2013).

Game/Player statistics will be reported to the Associated Press, ESPN and other sports media, as well as posted on the Pointstreak.com statistics website, and e-mailed weekly to all Major/Minor League Operations Directors. Also, all Major League Scouting Directors will be invited to attend.

The first 120 players to register will be guaranteed a roster spot. Only one - two extra position players per team so, everyone gets lots of playing action every game. There will be 20 roster spots on each team and when there are 6 teams the registration will be completed.

To register go to: http://www.americanwestbl.com/awbl-winter-league/ and click on "AWBL Winter League Registration Form". When completed send the forms to info@americanwestbl.com or fax to 888-932-2449.

Michael Cummings, Chief Executive Officer, commented on the winter league saying, "We are very pleased to provide this opportunity to players that they may have an opportunity to be scouted by Major League Baseball and other Professional Baseball Leagues throughout the US and International community. Players will get contracts within the AWBL and other organizations, and that is the sole purpose for this winter league."

About American West Baseball League (AWBL)

American West Baseball League was formed in 2012 and will play its inaugural season in 2013. The league was founded by Michael Cummings, after acquiring 2 teams which played in another league that ceased operations 30 days after the acquisitions.

Cummings, a Southern California native, decided to create a new league that would support the team members and their organizations, provide an opportunity that ball players would be looked at by scouts and other leagues, all the while providing Fun Friendly, Family Entertainment. AWBL will operate in cities not served by Major or Minor League Baseball teams and is an Independent Minor Baseball League. Though not part of the official minor league system, its level of play is considered to be comparable to A-AA level.

The American West Baseball League logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=15978

About Embark Holdings, Inc.

Founded in 1985 and headquartered in Mission Viejo, California, United States, our business model is to research, evaluate, and acquire profitable private firms in the business segments of entertainment, technology, medical, energy, and business services for the benefit of our shareholders.

By providing the financial and human capital necessary to deal with the overwhelming administrative, planning, governance, compliance, and regulatory issues that abound, our partners can focus their energy and flourish.

Stay up-to-date with current events by joining Embark Holdings, Inc. E-Mail Alert List. Join by going to the following: investors@embarkholdings.com

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT: This press release contains forward-looking statements, including expected industry patterns and other financial and business results that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from results expressed or implied by this press release. Such risk factors include, among others: the sustainability of recent growth rates in the holding industry; the positioning of Embark Holdings in the market; ability to integrate acquired companies and technology; ability to retain key employees; ability to successfully combine product offerings and customer acceptance of combined products; general market conditions, fluctuations in currency exchange rates, changes to operating systems and product strategy by vendors of operating systems; and whether Embark Holdings can successfully gain market acceptance. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements in this press release.

Michael Cummings Chairman, CEO and President Mission Viejo, CA Email:

Source: http://globenewswire.com/news-release/2012/11/28/507775/10013821/en/American-West-Baseball-League-is-Pleased-to-Announce-Their-1st-Winter-League.html

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WATCH@Philadelphia Eagles vs Carolina Panthers Live Streaming ...

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Source: http://darien.patch.com/events/watchphiladelphia-eagles-vs-carolina-panthers-live-streaming-nfl-football-week-12-on-line-game-video-broadcast-tv-link

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The Facebook legal notice meme is hilarious and scary (for ...

By Erin Griffith
On November 26, 2012

If you have more than a small handful friends on Facebook, you?ve likely seen some variety of a legal notice in status updates over the weekend. The basic idea of it is that because Facebook is now a publicly-traded entity, the service owns your data and can use it however it wants. But if you share a certain fancily worded status update, the contents of your profile will be ?private and legally privileged and confidential information.? A violation of your personal privacy is punishable by law. You?re on notice, Facebook!

I am going to assume PandoDaily?s astute readers would never fall for such a gag, so I won?t bother explaining how absurd it is. (Snopes has a nice explanation if needed.) Perhaps it?s a clever ruse by Nigerian princes to suss out which users are more likely to fall for more sinister online scams. Mostly it?s just succeeded in making people look paranoid.

Which I think tells us a lot about the Facebook?s privacy problem. Namely, that it?s still a big problem.

That should alarm the company, especially as it ends the practice of letting users vote on?changes to the privacy settings. But privacy is not a problem if you ask CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Facebook, with its stated goal of ?making the world more open and connected,? has long been associated with privacy outrages and scandals. The mere mention of the word ?privacy? in conversation with any Facebook exec or PR gets a bristly response.

But Zuckerberg is over it. He?s said, basically, that the age of privacy is ending. From ReadWrite:

People have really gotten comfortable not only sharing more information and different kinds, but more openly and with more people. That social norm is just something that has evolved over time.

He?s arguing that the privacy outrages are waning. And he is tired of us asking him about it.

For the youngest users, he?s correct. Having grown up using the Internet as a way to express themselves since the moment they first accessed it, younger generations of Web surfers have no concept of privacy, nor are they particularly concerned with it. In a Forrester study, more than half of 18- to 34-year-olds were perfectly okay with trading data about themselves in exchange for discounts, a figure that ?declined precipitously? with older users, All Things D reported.

But older users who make up the bulk of Facebook?s users base are not. Those of us who are Zuckerberg?s age, having joined Facebook when it was still just for college students, are still paranoid about having control over those 2005-era photos. So much so that the more confused among us think a legalese status update will give us that control.?The problem is especially acute for Facebook with its new Gifts initiative ? the company needs older users (ie, the ones with money) to trust it enough to enter their credit card numbers when sending gifts.

What?s worse, younger users who don?t care about keeping their info private are not as active on Facebook. An Experian Hitwise study from earlier this year shows that Facebook?s two largest age groups are 25 to 34 years old and over 55.?I spoke to one Fortune 500 marketer who said Facebook is a great tool for interacting with his brands; but the precious 18- to 24-year-olds he?s most interested in reaching aren?t on Facebook ? they?re on Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr.

No matter how connected Facebook makes the world, the ?open? part of its goal will never be so simple, especially when most of its users want the service to be anything but. The resurgence of this meme (started initially around the time of Facebook?s IPO) shows that users will always have nagging insecurity over what they share with Facebook. For a company that needs trust to keep the largest swath of its users happy, that?s a big problem.

Erin Griffith

Erin Griffith covers New York startups for PandoDaily. She's worked as staff writer for?Adweek and?a private equity blogger for peHUB. Her writing has appeared in VCJ, Time Out New York,?Huffington Post, FT.com, and BUST. She plays keyboard in a band called Team Genius and Tweets as @Eringriffith.

Source: http://pandodaily.com/2012/11/26/the-facebook-legal-notice-meme-is-hilarious-and-scary-for-facebook/

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Small Business Saturday boosts some local shops | small, saturday ...

Sales at World of Wigs in Santa Ana soared 500 percent on Small Business Saturday, compared with a typical Saturday. And Toy Boat, Toy Boat, Toy Boat, a Corona del Mar toy store, tripled its sales from the post-Thanksgiving sales event in 2011.

American Express started promoting Small Business Saturday between Black Friday and Cyber Monday in 2010 to encourage shoppers to support their local merchants. This year, the credit card giant offered signs, door mats and $25 gift cards that participating merchants could give away and credit that its cardholders could receive on their next bill by shopping at qualified small businesses.

Toy Boat Toy Boat Toy Boat owners Mike and Lori Curtin ride specialty toys that they say are difficult or impossible to purchase.

H. LORREN AU JR., THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

ADVERTISEMENT

American Express reported Monday that about 500,000 small businesses nationwide participated this year. The company has not yet said how many consumers shopped locally on Saturday compared with the 103 million who spent money at small businesses during the 2011 Small Business Saturday.

But anecdotally, the day was a success for some Orange County merchants who had special activities and sales on Saturday.

?It was fabulous, one of best Saturdays we've had,? said Susan Upton, owner of Lolo Boutique in Fullerton, who offered a sparkling wine reception Saturday. ?Sales were twice what they were last year. It was fun; the people were nice and excited about what we had to show.?

The combination of Fullerton Chamber of Commerce support and American Express promotions brought more attention to Small Business Saturday, Upton said, adding that the boutique's patrons also filled two baskets with toys for dogs in animal shelters for its ongoing Santa Paws campaign.

Toy Boat owner Lori Curtin said, ?Our Small Business Saturday promotion went great! People from all over Southern California came in.?

A pre-event American Express commercial featured Toy Boat, and on Saturday KNX/1070 AM interviewed Curtin in a news report. ?That was a surprise blessing,? she said Monday.

The shop offered free food and children's arts and crafts projects. ?We also collected a half box of Toys for Tots,? Curtin said. ?We gave customers who contributed to that fundraiser an extra 15 percent discount. It was a heart-warming day.?

Rhonda Thaut of World of Wigs said the store had not had much business on past Small Business Saturdays, so owners decided to reach out to customers to spread information to boost sales. The wig shop offered door prizes, snacks, gifts and hourly flash sales. Customers responded this year as never before.

?People would call in and ask, ?What's on sale now?'? Thaut said. ?It was so surprising. We had half off everything in the store one hour; buy one, get one free another hour. And some of our wigs sell for $3,000, so those were good offers.

?We had so much fun,? she said. ?We had Halloween wigs on clearance, and we even had a couple of Santas come in and buy wigs. Some post-surgery patients said they didn't realize they could refreshen their wigs. They were grateful to get information they couldn't get from the hospital.?

Laguna Beach Books offered half off selected art books on Small Business Saturday, and owner Jane Hanauer said, ?We had a ton of customers, many visitors as well as regular customers. I haven't compared it to a year ago yet.?

The OC Mart Mix, a collection of small, owner-operated businesses, was especially busy, said spokeswoman Allison Olmstead. ?What we found is that Small Business Saturday supporters aren't the early-morning shoppers like Black Friday shoppers, but they are the most thankful and kind group of shoppers out there. They were so supportive and thrilled to be helping the small, owner-operated businesses at the Mix.?

Those entrepreneurs included Sarah Dowdell, owner of Deer Lovely and Whiskey Tango 1977. ?We more than doubled our numbers from last year,? Dowdell said. ?We saw a lot of families and people spend the day with us thanks to the holiday activities, the music, and the photo booth at the OC Mart Mix and the SoCo Farmers' Market.?

Another was Alex Forsythe, owner of Analog. ?Having a day to support small businesses is like a dream come true when you are in your first year of business. So it was great to see so many people come out to support us,? he said.

Jayson Hanson, owner of Stoned Jewelry added, ?It was one of our biggest days this year. It was busy all day. It felt like the economy was back. The Small Business Saturday momentum kept going through Sunday.?

Portola Coffee Lab and Theorem had lines of customers out the door from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, said manager Jeff Clinard. ?We took that time to connect with our customers, answer questions about our brewing methods and even employed a hand-held device so we could ring up customers who also wanted to buy coffee beans and gift cards while standing in line.?

Contact the writer: 714-796-7927 or jnorman@ocregister.com

Source: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/small-378778-saturday-business.html

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We Have To Change College Algebra | Reference and Education

To finish a degree, you must have college algebra, that's exactly what most majors think. Every single year a half of million university students take college algebra. This number a good reason for brand new studies with algebra courses - more interest from students can be made, higher success rates can be achieved and students could have better retention rates.Adequate college algebra help is given to the university students nowadays.

Survey Results All kinds of students have a problem with algebra and they need to devote lots of time to complete this class. This can be noticed in popular schools too, the gifted folks are hindered by algebra, not to mention trigonometry and calculus. There are students taking these courses 3 or 4 and even higher number of times to be able to complete the algebra exams. Some of them are seen taking additional college algebra help. The statistics say that 60 percent of students end up getting a bachelor's degree. When we compare algebra grades with the grades in different subjects, we find that we now have much more F's and D's.

Popular Reasons For Choosing Algebra

The fundamental reason why students go for algebra would be to fulfill a college or state requirement. The majority of students take up a standard College Algebra, based upon 1950's curriculum with the aim to prepare them for Calculus. Yet, it is seen that 90% of individuals won't ever take Calculus. Hence the traditional College Algebra along with its content are thought to be irrelevant and are just looked upon as a dreary obstacle to get a college education.

Why Choose A New Approach

If we did not have mathematics, the society would not succeed. We have to study ratios, decimals, rates and build numerical skills. Only a decent grounding in mathematics can hone these abilities. Investment opportunities, animated movies, airfare ticket costs are strengthened by Algebraic algorithms. Young people need to understand how those things work. There's a certain ideology behind the numbers, and algebra allows us to recognize and understand that ideology. The modern day times that we live in are statistical and that requires more informed citizenship. What is essentially needed is a greater comprehension of different numbers. College algebra assistance goes a long distance to fully grasp those book formulas and what they actually convey.

Once we figure out the idea behind these formulations, we are more intellectually proficient and more mindful of our surroundings. Hence, it's easy to understand why MIT or Caltech want each one of us to be proficient in mathematics. Math, applied or pure, is quite essential for the progress of our civilization. In an effort to decrease the ordeal and make algebra more attractive, exciting courses and college algebra help familiarize students with kinds of statistics that summarize our private and public life, whether the sphere is electronic or visual.

The Final Thoughts On College Algebra

The first year of geometry is a requirement for all higher-level math, trigonometry, calculus and algebra II. Students having high-level math course are more prone to do well in college math. Latest survey has found that reading along with math skills are required to work as plumber, electrician and even upholsterer. Algebra is, the portal to success these days. The college students, with a little college algebra help can make successful changeover from solid arithmetic to the symbolic language of algebra.

Source: http://thebesteducationreference.blogspot.com/2012/11/we-have-to-change-college-algebra.html

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