Why Are Many Nursing Homes Getting Worse? - Elder Care Cafe

This article is a guest post by Leslie E. Krick. You can read more about her in the resource box at the end of this article.

3 reasons why nursing home abuse and neglect is on the rise

We see them in the newspaper, on television, and even recreate them in the movies. However, horror stories about nursing home abuse happen in real life, probably in your own state or community. Nursing homes abuse and neglect are on the rise across North America, and sadly, what we see in movies and at a distance on television isn?t far from the reality. For many people, including myself, there comes a time when caring for parents and grandparents, whether it?s an issue of age, accident (i.e., hip replacement), or medical condition (Alzheimer?s Disease) , becomes something you don?t have the expertise to handle.

When elder care becomes too burdensome, we often turn to nursing homes like I did with my grandfather. Unfortunately, he was stricken with Alzheimer?s 5-years after my grandmother passed away. He also succumbed to arthritic knees, and it got so bad that he was confined to a wheelchair. Unable to lift him from bed or to the bath safely, I found it was time to trust his care to a nursing facility.

I am familiar with nursing home horror stories and lawsuits due to me working with several attorneys, so I thought I was prepared. However, my family, like many others each year, entrust a loved one?s primary care to a nursing home without doing the proper research. The last thing we expect is to have our parent, sibling, child, or grandparent subjected to abuse and neglect. However, sadly, we hear more and more instances of abuse, injury, or even death caused by poor and neglectful nursing home providers.

Here are the most common issues that threaten quality nursing home care:

1. Larger doesn?t necessarily mean superior care

It makes sense that the larger the facility; the more quality the staff, care, and services, right? Wrong! The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services reported that serious health deficiencies (i.e., such as unclean facilities, unsafe food preparation, and etc.) are 19-percent higher at nursing homes owned by large investment companies with large nursing facilities.

2. Cutting costs

Between 2000 and 2008, investment companies starting buying nursing homes from private owners because they were a lucrative way to make a buck. In relation, instances of

3. Nursing care as profit

Today, it?s a sad reality that nursing homes are seen as profitable businesses ventures rather than quality health care facilities. With private investment companies purchasing more and more nursing facilities and cutting costs regulatory care standards are not being respected. Plus, the corporate structure of these investment companies is able to shield the facility and its poor practices from liability so abused residents and families are often unsuccessful in lawsuits or bringing about justice if a loved one?s health or life is compromised.

What to Look for When Selecting a Nursing Home

Finding and trusting a nursing home to provide adequate care for your loved one can be an anxiety-ridden mission. That?s why the Alabama Nursing Home Association (ANHA) offers the following things to consider when searching for a quality home care facility:

• Choose a nursing home location in or near your home so you can visit often and even drop in unexpectedly
• Take a full tour of nursing homes and ask what services and visually inspect rooms and facilities
• Meet with the administrators and talk to staff and residents on your visit
• Ask to see administrators? licenses and qualifications
• Judge the facility on its welcoming environment?do residents appear happy, engaged, content, etc?
• Do rooms offer a certain amount of privacy for residents?
• Do rooms offer private bathrooms?
• Are the visiting hours convenient for you and family members?
• Take a meal with your loved one in the cafeteria to judge menu, staff service, duration of meals, and meal assistance (if needed)
• Ask about the types of activities for residents?i.e., games nights, live music, spa services, etc.
• Stick around to see how staff deals with emergency calls?are they prepared, courteous, what is the respond time?
• Are there resident rights posted in plain view for everyone to see and read?
• Is the cost appropriate for the level of care?
• Is there a doctor?s office, dental office, and hospital nearby?

About The Author

Leslie Krick is a staff writer for attorneys Bachus & Schanker on topics relating to employment, labor and state law. She is also an active member in her community as well as a member of Amnesty International.

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Source: http://www.eldercarecafe.net/why-are-many-nursing-homes-getting-worse/

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Joche y Domi aclaran su futuro sentimental: "los dos somos libres ahora"

Cansados, as? se pudo ver a Dominique Gallego y Jos? Luis Bibb? en su visita al matinal de Canal 13, "Bienvenidos". Agotados que les pregunten una y otra vez si seguir?n su relaci?n fuera del encierro de "Mundos Opuestos".

"Yo creo que los dos somos libres ahora?", dijo Domi, luego de ser consultada por si seguir?an su relaci?n tras el final del reality. A lo que Joche agreg?, "ahora cada uno est? por su lado", sosteniendo que deben darse un tiempo para sopesar todo lo sucedido estos ?ltimos meses, entre ellos el episodio que ?l vivi? con Michelle Carvalho.

Domi por su parte, sostuvo que durante el encierro de Pirque, aprovecharon de la confianza que ten?an para "calentarse las patitas" y reconoci? que "en el encierro andaba como tonta detr?s de Joche", pero que ahora estaba aprovechando el tiempo con su hijo.

Sobre lo sucedido con la modelo brasile?a, el cordob?s se sincer?, "Nunca me hubiera imaginado (el enga?o)?", recalcando que "si me lo preguntas ahora, ya pas? todo, y ahora no tengo ninguna buena opini?n de ella".

Finalmente la ex pareja de "40?20" sostuvo que est?n disfrutando del momento, de una relaci?n sin nombre, y que ir?n viendo poco a poco si "esto resulta", coincidieron los ex semifinalistas de "Mundos Opuestos".

Source: http://www.publimetro.cl/nota/espectaculos/joche-y-domi-aclaran-su-futuro-sentimental-los-dos-somos-libres-ahora/xIQlfC!97JFJg83I6kk/

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College Online Learning: Introduction to Venture Capital Online ...

See on Scoop.it - Business Updates

This free online course will be of interest to business professionals and entrepreneurs who would like to learn more about the venture capital market and how it invests in and helps business start-ups and more established businesses grow and expand

See on alison.com

via Tumblr Introduction to Venture Capital Online Course

Source: http://college-online-learning.blogspot.com/2012/06/introduction-to-venture-capital-online.html

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Debt crisis: live - Telegraph

09.18 Some contradictory statements are emerging this morning. Angela Merkel says there will still be conditions to meet for countries which need bank recapitalisation, and that to be involved in the bond-buying programme there will still be troika checks. But Italy's PM Mario Monti says those who seek EFSF or ESM aid won't need to have troika oversight. He's also added that Italy doesn't intend to seek such help "at this time". 09.11 Fabrizio Gora tweets a picture of Libero's front page this...

Read the full article

Source: http://dailyme.com/story/2012062900001122

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You Know Who Your Friends Are ? Word Salt

Whew!? I survived yet another marketing blitz, a four day effort that resulted in successfully promoting my ?brand? (me) and my books, The Wounded Trilogy to a huge online audience through Facebook, Twitter, Christian online newspapers and a host of individual blogs.? I asked for help to promote my books and was overwhelmed by the authors and bloggers who agreed without hesitation to post interviews, share links on Facebook and tweet until the twittersphere was literally clucking (cheeping, tweeting, cooing etc. etc.) over my books!? Thanks to all of you who took time to go above and beyond for me!? Don?t hesitate to contact me so I can reciprocate some day!

Which?brings me to this old adage.? You know the one: ?If you scratch my back, I?ll scratch yours??

Book marketing is all about helping one another.? Interesting that Jesus was all about that concept too.? (John 15:12)? If you?ve ever tried to create a ?buzz? about your books, you will know that this is so true.? You can?t do it alone!? You will discover that the number one thing a new writer/author needs to do right away is connect with other writers and authors who share your common passion for the written word (and if you?re a Christian author it?s important to connect with other Christian writers who also share your passion for God.)? There are numerous great groups to network with: John 3:16 Marketing Network, The Book Club Network, Edgy Christian Fiction, Wild Card Book tours, just to name a few; plus Goodreads, Shelfari, and a host of other Christian Author Facebook groups and pages,?where you can join and connect with other writers.

Anyone who is a Christ-follower knows that ?community? is essential for encouragement and support.? We share our joys and we share our burdens.? We?re a tight-knit family and it is so wonderful to know that we?re not alone on this journey but we have each other?to?help along the way.

Unfortunately, I have also noticed that in every family (and in this case I?m going to talk exclusively to?the writing community)? there are those that seem to have no trouble accepting help from others to promote and market their books, but are not as willing to reciprocate when asked.? Some even get downright rude and offensive about it.

Here?s my thoughts on the matter.

1.? If you are a writer/author and you want others to blog, tweet or promote your books on Twitter (or anywhere else), you should be willing to do the same for someone else.

2.? If you want lots of followers on Twitter, follow lots of people on Twitter.? My rule of thumb is I won?t follow someone on Twitter even if they have?100,000,000 followers or more if they?don?t follow?back.? (Sorry @justinbieber)? Sure there are those that are just spammy advertisers (be cautious about that), but if you want followers to ?retweet? about your book promotion someday, it?s not asking a lot to follow them back in return.? Let me give a wonderful example here: Tricia Goyer!? Tricia, Christian author of 30?books, award winning writer and prominent speaker, has 55,500 + followers on Twitter.? She follows well over 56,000 people back.? She takes time to connect with her followers too; she thanks followers who follow her back and she actually reads the tweets people send to her!? If you want a great example of a ?tweeter? follow Tricia!? @triciagoyer

3.? If you expect people to ?like? your postings, pages etc. on Facebook, return the ?likes? right back!? Make an author?s day and? go on Amazon and see their book listing-?like? their book as well as their Amazon author page

4.? If you expect people to read and review your books, read and review their books.? Take it one step further: if you want authors to buy and/or read your books?BUY and/or read?their books!? I know it gets pricey to buy print?books all the time but you could do a book exchange for instance, send a PDF of your manuscript to them and they do the same for you.? I love doing author interviews on Word Salt.? Most of the authors I?ve interviewed on my blog have reciprocated and hosted me on their blogs.? We?ve done book exchanges and/or we?ve purchased one another?s books.? You can come up with unique (and inexpensive) ways to help with their promotional marketing efforts and they?ll be happy to return the favour.

5.? Taking it yet another step further ? when you do a review of a book, a little ?honey? goes a long, long way.? There?s a right way and a wrong way to review a book.? Honesty is one thing, cutting a manuscript to pieces with your critical review on Goodreads or Amazon?will just break an author?s spirit.? (Proverbs 15:1 ?A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.?) Give an honest review but ensure that you have listed more positives than negatives if possible.? If that?s not possible, perhaps the best thing?to?do is this: ?If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all.?

6.? Last thing??Don?t get too big for your britches!?? So you?ve published?a bunch of?books (all best sellers)?wonderful!? Just remember that you were a ?newbie? once.? You didn?t have a clue what you were doing when you started out in the business and you made lots of mistakes before you published your first book (traditionally or otherwise).? Take time to share your expertise, as well as your failures with new writers who need encouragement.? I wouldn?t have published a word without the mentoring of?a couple of?friends and authors,?Connie Cavanaugh and Kathy Howard.? Both of them, prominent speakers and writers in their own right, when I ask them to help promote my books (even though I know they are extremely busy ladies with book and speaking?tours themselves) they?do not hesitate to say, ?Count me in!?

If you are an author and writer, determine to be the kind of friend you would want to have in this business.? You?ll be glad you did.

So thank you to the following for helping me over these last four days with my Wounded Trilogy promotional giveaway.? You are the best!

John 3:16 Marketing Network

Wild Card Book Tours

Tracy Krauss

Sidney Frost

Tom Blubaugh

Shelley Hitz

Elaine Marie Cooper

Carol Stratton

Melissa Main

Sandy Humphrey

Yvonne Pat Wright

Cheryl Rogers (New Christian Books ? an Online Magazine)

Kimberley Payne

Ann Lee Miller

Carol Brown

Martin Roth

Kathy Howard

Connie Cavanaugh

Mike Blackaby

Daniel Blackaby

Marcia Laycock

Nora St. Laurent

Janalyn Voigt

Lilly Maytree

Sue Russell

Victor Gentile

Bobbie Cole

April Gardner

Alice Wisler

Deborah McCarragher

Dr. Terry W. Dorsett

Lynn Mosher

Jerry White

Melissa Main

Matthew R. Horn

Barbara Derksen

Holly Michael

Wendy Mueller

Kenneth Winters

Janet Eckles

Deborah Bateman

Faith, Hope and Cherry Tea

If your name is listed?above please?feel free to leave your website?link and book links in the comments.??Your chance to do some self-promotion and my way of saying THANKS!!

Source: http://wordsalt.wordpress.com/2012/06/28/you-know-who-your-friends-are/

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Wade needs knee surgery, out of London Olympics

MIAMI (AP) -- Dwyane Wade needs surgery on his ailing left knee and will not play in next month's London Olympics.

The Miami Heat guard called USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo and Olympic coach Mike Krzyzewski on Thursday to break the news, which was not totally unexpected after Wade played through pain in the postseason. He appeared in all 23 Heat playoff games despite the knee problems, averaging 22.6 points during Miami's five-game win over Oklahoma City in the NBA Finals.

"I've decided to listen to my doctors and get the procedure I need on my knee," Wade told The Associated Press on Thursday. "USA Basketball said I had to do what was best for me. They want me to be obviously as healthy as possible so I can continue to play this game at a high level. They were very supportive and told me if I ever want to come around the team, I'm welcome and that I'm part of the family."

Wade and his doctors are in the process of scheduling the surgery. Wade has been told it will be basically a "cleanup" procedure and should have him on crutches for only about a day afterward.

If all goes according to plan, Wade will be ready for the start of training camp with the Heat this fall.

"That's the way we laid it out," Wade said. "Hopefully nothing changes. ... I don't think it's going to limit me too much."

Wade's departure leaves 17 players in the mix for 12 spots on the U.S. Olympic team. That group convenes in Las Vegas next week to start training camp, then has five exhibitions with international teams before opening Olympic play against France on July 29.

Wade was the leading scorer for the U.S. team on its way to gold at the Beijing Games four years ago, and he hoped to be part of defending that title in London. But after meeting with doctors, Wade realized surgery was inevitable and delaying it until after the Olympics would seriously jeopardize his chance of being ready for the start of Miami's championship defense.

"We're totally supportive of Dwyane's decision and hope that he has a full and speedy recovery. He has been an amazing member of USA Basketball," Krzyzewski said in a statement.

Wade told The AP last week that making sure he's ready for the rest of his career with the Heat would be his top priority, though the decision to pass on a chance to play in his third - and what would have been final - Olympics was extremely difficult nonetheless.

"The reason I wanted to play this time around was because of the guys, a lot of guys from that team and the camaraderie that we shared - that was special. I'm going to miss that," Wade said. "And another reason why I wanted to play again is that my sons are a little older this time. They'd have an opportunity to be there, to share in the experience."

Wade's decision means that Miami will have no more than two players on the U.S. team in London. Finals MVP LeBron James is a lock for the team, and forward Chris Bosh said earlier this week that he's "all in - for now" despite missing nine playoff games with a strained abdominal muscle. Bosh said he would confer with doctors before making a final commitment to the Olympic team.

USA Basketball won 26 of its last 27 games with Wade in the lineup and is 36-5 overall with him on teams. Three of those five losses came at the 2004 Athens Olympics, when the Americans left with the bronze medal. Wade won his first NBA championship two years later and averaged 16 points while coming off the bench for the "Redeem Team" that won gold in Beijing in 2008.

"D-Wade has a lot of equity with USA Basketball and has made great contributions to our program and we're sorry he won't be with us this summer, but we know he'll be with us in spirit," Colangelo said.

The gold medal game four years ago was perhaps Wade's best in a red, white and blue uniform: He scored a game-high 27 points on only 12 shots, as the Americans topped Spain 118-107 for the Olympic title.

"I'm happy that I can focus on my body a little bit," Wade said. "I'm not happy to get surgery, but I'm happy that I can focus on getting better."

---

Follow Tim Reynolds on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ByTimReynolds

Source: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OLY_BKO_HEAT_WADE?SITE=AZTUC&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

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Taking Inside Outdoors With The Correct Decoration | | Home ...

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It is about enhancing beauty of your home?s interior and also outside. There are numerous steps that ought to be concentrated on before you could opt for Outdoor rugs, as it?s location is most important part of a home. These types of carpets can add beauty for any location, these locations feature decks and verandas, breezeways, and also gazebos are a couple of parts that could use these rugs. We all cannot rule out appropriate indoor uses of the outdoor carpet

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You will be in awe of the rainfall resilient aspects of these types of rugs, this is why people enjoy these kinds of carpets. It is possible to purchase a carpet containing beautiful patterns on them, and they also can come in a range of shapes and sizes as well. These types of carpets can be utilized in more busy places such as a family room that leads out to the deck or garden since it will get plenty of traffic.

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A lot of people will keep an outdoors rug to be used during the warm months time when they could have a lot of bbqs or get-togethers with their family. This is a less expensive way of making certain that the lawn, the flowers and also your patio not only look great but they are additionally guarded. This prevents the heels of footwear from marking them as well as gives a very clear indication for the guests exactly where they may and cannot walk or stand. They may be used around pool areas, since it gives a risk-free place to walk on and as well dry off before going back into the home.

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To help you boost the look of the garden along with outside rugs is to use outdoor paintings, and then incorporate this directly into your house too. Unframed wall art is getting far more recognition and is more commonly referred to as canvas art

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Employed indoors and out of the home they deliver a new dimension to the otherwise boring or dreary area. You?ll find them in various sizes, so smaller ones could be used in a passageway, unlike larger ones can be used within the lounge or on a bland wall on the garden.

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You have to remember in case purchasing a canvas for that garden to be sure that it is water-resistant and it is suitable to be outside all of the time.

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One unique idea which is running over is by using pictures of the family members upon the canvas. Photographic stores are able to use the latest technology to produce a photograph on to a canvas frame, yet again these may be of any size you would like them to be. Those add a fun approach to display your family photos and can be a real talking point among friends.

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In the event you wished to choose something aside from that, there are lots of designs to consider, you may decide on canvas that depicts original artwork, by Picasso or Van Gogh, and also other options comprise of real life pictures of sunsets or city scenery. There is also more contemporary pieces that show a raindrop, or even a splash of color.

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However you wish to decorate your house indoors or outside, making use of rugs and canvas wall art will surely lift the area to a new level.

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Related posts:

1. Wall Fountains ? Garden Art Decoration Suggestions
2. Know The Different Materials Used In Garden Wall Fountains
3. Tips On How Your Family Can Spend More Time Outdoors
4. Carpets Are Well-liked House Add-on You Can Truly Bring Inside Your Home To Flaunt Its Beauty.
5. Know The Popularity Of Garden Wall Fountains

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Facebook Now Lets You ?Follow? Someone In Any App, Get Their Updates In News Feed Where The Ads Are

Ads, not payments, are the future of Facebook monetizing mobile, but it needs content to show them beside. The new Follow action announced today could deliver that content by letting you follow someone in a mobile app, and then sending the updates you'd normally see in that app back to your ad-laden news feed. More content -> more engagement and return visits -> more ad impressions, more money, and more reason for investors to buy. It will send referral traffic to developers, and it's actually convenient for users too. Why trapse from site to site and app to app when you can see everything your friends are doing everywhere, all from your news feed? You won't. You'll sit right there where Facebook can advertise to you.

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Investing In Property In Crows Nest | South Jersey Real Estate Agent

It?s been a risky business during the last number of years? investing in the real estate market as property prices dropping considerably and individuals becoming out of work and struggling to pay their mortgages. Fortunately we seem to be coming from the economic depression and investment into property seems to becoming a safer market.

In Australia everything has been slightly different. Even when other countries were hit by the economic downturn the property market in Australia seemed to remain comparatively stable. Property dropped slightly but unlike the drops seen in other countries like the UK. In some regions, especially those surrounding some of the major towns and cities, prices were even noticed to go up slightly delivering proof that Australian real-estate investments were definitely a safe bet.

Two explanations why the property market remained stable were the limited quantity of property repossessions and tighter lending rules from the banks. Buyers were only permitted to borrow what they could afford as opposed to countries like Spain and the UK Spain where banks lent way over the lender?s means leaving many hundreds of thousands of investors with negative equity and horrendous home loan repayments. Undoubtedly this led to a huge amount of repossessions which impacted the property markets badly.

Even foreign investment has seen a growth with both American, British and Canadian investors taking advantage of Australia?s property market prices. British investors particularly are tempted by lower property prices than that of the UK and are seen to get a lot more for their financial investment.

Through the country all kinds of properties are proving well-liked. From homes to city apartments, there is plenty to choose from and since the recent upgrade of the transport system even more out back real estate have been more desired. Realty agents around the region have hundreds of properties to offer to suit every investors needs and budgets.

Rental properties are as always a safe investment as the place sees an ever increasing quantity of tourists each year. Apartments and condos near to the beach or city facilities can earn owners a good rental income whilst going up in value and when used in the hands of a professional management company can be a excellent financial investment.

Overall Australia is a good investment destination? and features superb property at competitive prices, gorgeous beaches, fabulous forster holiday and great weather? and with the Government making foreign investment relatively straightforward, even over seas buyers can take benefit of a safe realty market. Go here to find out more on crows nest realty !

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Sitetalk business presentation social networking ? experts ...

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Duplicate spending on veterans' care costs billions

Public release date: 26-Jun-2012
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Contact: Carole Gan
carole.gan@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
916-734-9047
University of California - Davis Health System

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) A new study published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that the federal government made about $13 billion in duplicative payments to provide health-care services to veterans who were simultaneously enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans from 2004-2009. The study was conducted by researchers at Brown University, VA Palo Alto Medical Center and the Institute for Population Health Improvement at UC Davis Health System.

Some veterans are entitled to health-care coverage through both the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care System and Medicare. But under current law, the federal government often ends up paying twice for care of veterans when they are also enrolled in Medicare Advantage managed-care plans. And with the growing popularity of Medicare Advantage plans among all seniors, including veterans, the annual duplicative costs are rising. Nearly 30 percent of Medicare beneficiaries are now enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans.

"These 'dual eligible' veterans earned the right to receive care through both VA and Medicare, but that does not mean that the government has to pay twice for their care," said Kenneth W. Kizer, a former VA Under Secretary for Health and now a professor and director of the Institute for Population Health Improvement at the University of California, Davis, Health System."The problem could be fixed without reducing benefits to veterans."

"Duplicative costs occur because of way the federal government pays for Medicare Advantage services for veterans, not because veterans are receiving unnecessary care or doing anything wrong," he added.

Veterans who are disabled or over age 65 and have been paying into the Medicare program are eligible for Medicare just like any other American. Veterans who live far from a VA hospital or clinic may especially rely on Medicare coverage for acute or emergency care. But unlike the traditional Medicare fee-for-service program, Medicare Advantage plans are paid in advance to provide all needed care for the beneficiary. If the person enrolled in the Medicare Advantage plan then gets his or her medical care in another federal health plan such as the VA, it means that the federal government has paid twice for care of the same person. Most of the Medicare Advantage plans are for-profit health plans.

To assess duplicative costs, the researchers conducted a comprehensive review of VA and Medicare records for more than 1 million veterans over a 6-year period. The researchers found that 61 percent of doubly-covered veterans used both VA and Medicare Advantage coverage, with 10 percent of dual-eligible veterans receiving all their health care from the VA. That is, 10 percent of these dual eligible veterans received all their health care from the VA despite Medicare paying the Medicare Advantage plan to provide those services. About 4 percent of the dual-eligible veterans sought no care from Medicare Advantage or the VA, and 35 percent used Medicare only.

The number of veterans doubly covered by Medicare Advantage and the VA has risen nearly 53 percent in recent years, from 485,651 in 2004 to 924,792 in 2009. The yearly federal spending in the VA for these dual-eligible veterans rose from $1.3 billion in 2004 to $3.2 billion in 2009. The costs to take care of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries now amounts to 10 percent of the VA's budget for medical care.

But Kizer believes the government can eliminate the duplicative spending without reducing care for veterans by changing the way that Medicare Advantage payment rates are calculated or by changing the law so that the VA could bill Medicare Advantage plans for care that it provides to veterans, as is currently the case with private insurance plans. While the VA may bill private insurers, the law does not allow VA to bill Medicare or Medicare Advantage plans.

"In light of the severe financial pressure facing the Medicare program, policymakers should take steps to identify and eliminate redundant expenditures such as found in this study," Kizer said.

###

In addition to Kizer, the study's other authors include Amal Trivedi, Regina Grebla, Lan Jiang and Vincent Mor at the Providence VA Medical Center and Jean Yoon at the VA Palo Alto Medical Center.

The VA and the National Institute on Aging funded the research.

UC Davis Health System is improving lives and transforming health care by providing excellent patient care, conducting groundbreaking research, fostering innovative, interprofessional education, and creating dynamic, productive partnerships with the community. The academic health system includes one of the country's best medical schools, a 619-bed acute-care teaching hospital, a 1000-member physician's practice group and the new Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing. It is home to a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, an international neurodevelopmental institute, a stem cell institute and a comprehensive children's hospital. Other nationally prominent centers focus on advancing telemedicine, improving vascular care, eliminating health disparities and translating research findings into new treatments for patients. Together, they make UC Davis a hub of innovation that is transforming health for all. For more information, visit healthsystem.ucdavis.edu.

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Public release date: 26-Jun-2012
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Contact: Carole Gan
carole.gan@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
916-734-9047
University of California - Davis Health System

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) A new study published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that the federal government made about $13 billion in duplicative payments to provide health-care services to veterans who were simultaneously enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans from 2004-2009. The study was conducted by researchers at Brown University, VA Palo Alto Medical Center and the Institute for Population Health Improvement at UC Davis Health System.

Some veterans are entitled to health-care coverage through both the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care System and Medicare. But under current law, the federal government often ends up paying twice for care of veterans when they are also enrolled in Medicare Advantage managed-care plans. And with the growing popularity of Medicare Advantage plans among all seniors, including veterans, the annual duplicative costs are rising. Nearly 30 percent of Medicare beneficiaries are now enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans.

"These 'dual eligible' veterans earned the right to receive care through both VA and Medicare, but that does not mean that the government has to pay twice for their care," said Kenneth W. Kizer, a former VA Under Secretary for Health and now a professor and director of the Institute for Population Health Improvement at the University of California, Davis, Health System."The problem could be fixed without reducing benefits to veterans."

"Duplicative costs occur because of way the federal government pays for Medicare Advantage services for veterans, not because veterans are receiving unnecessary care or doing anything wrong," he added.

Veterans who are disabled or over age 65 and have been paying into the Medicare program are eligible for Medicare just like any other American. Veterans who live far from a VA hospital or clinic may especially rely on Medicare coverage for acute or emergency care. But unlike the traditional Medicare fee-for-service program, Medicare Advantage plans are paid in advance to provide all needed care for the beneficiary. If the person enrolled in the Medicare Advantage plan then gets his or her medical care in another federal health plan such as the VA, it means that the federal government has paid twice for care of the same person. Most of the Medicare Advantage plans are for-profit health plans.

To assess duplicative costs, the researchers conducted a comprehensive review of VA and Medicare records for more than 1 million veterans over a 6-year period. The researchers found that 61 percent of doubly-covered veterans used both VA and Medicare Advantage coverage, with 10 percent of dual-eligible veterans receiving all their health care from the VA. That is, 10 percent of these dual eligible veterans received all their health care from the VA despite Medicare paying the Medicare Advantage plan to provide those services. About 4 percent of the dual-eligible veterans sought no care from Medicare Advantage or the VA, and 35 percent used Medicare only.

The number of veterans doubly covered by Medicare Advantage and the VA has risen nearly 53 percent in recent years, from 485,651 in 2004 to 924,792 in 2009. The yearly federal spending in the VA for these dual-eligible veterans rose from $1.3 billion in 2004 to $3.2 billion in 2009. The costs to take care of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries now amounts to 10 percent of the VA's budget for medical care.

But Kizer believes the government can eliminate the duplicative spending without reducing care for veterans by changing the way that Medicare Advantage payment rates are calculated or by changing the law so that the VA could bill Medicare Advantage plans for care that it provides to veterans, as is currently the case with private insurance plans. While the VA may bill private insurers, the law does not allow VA to bill Medicare or Medicare Advantage plans.

"In light of the severe financial pressure facing the Medicare program, policymakers should take steps to identify and eliminate redundant expenditures such as found in this study," Kizer said.

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In addition to Kizer, the study's other authors include Amal Trivedi, Regina Grebla, Lan Jiang and Vincent Mor at the Providence VA Medical Center and Jean Yoon at the VA Palo Alto Medical Center.

The VA and the National Institute on Aging funded the research.

UC Davis Health System is improving lives and transforming health care by providing excellent patient care, conducting groundbreaking research, fostering innovative, interprofessional education, and creating dynamic, productive partnerships with the community. The academic health system includes one of the country's best medical schools, a 619-bed acute-care teaching hospital, a 1000-member physician's practice group and the new Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing. It is home to a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, an international neurodevelopmental institute, a stem cell institute and a comprehensive children's hospital. Other nationally prominent centers focus on advancing telemedicine, improving vascular care, eliminating health disparities and translating research findings into new treatments for patients. Together, they make UC Davis a hub of innovation that is transforming health for all. For more information, visit healthsystem.ucdavis.edu.

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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.

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For many Pakistanis, 'USA' means 'drones'

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan ? When attorney Shahzad Akbar began filing lawsuits against the Pakistan government on behalf of drone strike victims in 2010, some of his close friends started calling him "Taliban lawyer."

"But now, two years later, they don't do that anymore," he said.

In many ways the effects of the nearly nine-year U.S. program of targeted drone missile strikes in Pakistan were largely hidden from the rest of the world for many years. The strikes have been conducted in Pakistan's rugged and remote tribal region bordering Afghanistan ? an area nearly impossible for outsiders to visit and from which it is incredibly difficult to extract reliable and timely information.

But Akbar's work through his Foundation for Fundamental Rights has raised awareness of the strikes among the general Pakistani population ? at the same time anti-American sentiment from a failing alliance with the U.S. is on the rise. He said his mission is to seek justice on behalf of innocent civilians killed in the drone attacks.

"The situation on the ground is not what the U.S. government says, that they're only targeting militants," said Akbar. "The situation on the ground is that a huge number of civilians are being killed."

Part of the problem, according to Akbar, is that until recently, most Pakistanis didn't know or didn't care about the drone strikes. But public political anger, denouncing the strikes as a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty, has helped draw attention to the issue over the last few years.

Today, drones have become a political touchstone, regularly decried as part of politician's campaign speeches, prominently featured in fiery protest rallies, and sitting squarely at the center of a diplomatic war of words between the U.S. and Pakistan.

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Collateral damage
Akbar's legal challenges come as a recent poll shows considerable opposition in countries around the world to the U.S. drone campaign. The Pew Research Center study found that more than half of those polled in 17 of 20 countries disapprove of the use of drone strikes to target extremists. However, Americans see things very differently and largely support their use, with only 38 percent disapproving.

Though public perception may help him to gain traction, Akbar said his cases are based on the evidence he's gathering from strike locations in coordination with communities in North Waziristan, the tribal agency in which the overwhelming majority of strikes have occurred. That cache of evidence includes everything from family testimonies and images of the identifiable bodies and body parts recovered from the attack sites, to actual fragments of the Hellfire missiles fired from the remotely-piloted drones.

"I believe in very simple principles that were taught to us by the West," said Akbar. "That everyone is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. So anyone who is killed in drone strikes, unless and until his guilt is established in some independent forum ? that person is innocent."

Noor Behram, a journalist in North Waziristan, Pakistan, describes his views of the United States.

According to the London-based Bureau of Investigative Journalism, a not-for-profit organization basing its study on reports from government officials, media reports, and academic sources, anywhere between 2,486 and 3,188 people have been killed in 332 U.S. drones strikes inside Pakistan since 2004. The fact that the report is based on wide-ranging and conflicting reports, speaks to the difficulty of establishing hard facts in this part of the world. Similarly, the same report also estimated that the number of civilians killed in those strikes ranges from 482 to 832.

According to another study done by the New America Foundation, a non-profit public policy institute in Washington, D.C., a total of 43 men identified as "militant leaders" were killed in those strikes. ?

A major point of controversy is who counts as a ?civilian? versus a ?combatant.? The Obama administration defines all military-age males in a strike zone as ?combatants,? unless there is explicit posthumous evidence proving them innocent, according to a report in the New York Times.??

Pakistanis who live in those strike zones dispute that definition, and claim innocent women and children are being killed as well.? But the administration?s broad definition does help explain how they could reach a very low, civilian casualty count as a result of drone attacks.

U.S. officials, who ? for the first time ? publicly admitted using drones in April of this year, have said the strikes are "targeted...against specific al-Qaida terrorists" and are carried out "in full accordance with the law, and in order to prevent terrorist attacks on the United States and save American lives."

But Akbar argues that the identities of many killed are unknown, that nearby children are often killed by flying shrapnel, and that any "collateral damage" deaths are simply impossible to justify ? even when a "high-value" terrorist is killed as a result.

"The problem is that no one cares if ?nobody? is killed, and by ?nobody,? I mean a person who is nobody. A person who is probably just living in that area, has no money, no education, no representation," said Akbar. "The point here is that if we are successful in killing one or two people who we really want to kill, and in order to do that we kill 40 people ? who cares? And this is a sad kind of attitude we have from the American government and unfortunately from my own government."

?Can?t help but be angry??
In order to represent the families of civilian drone strikes victims in court, Akbar first had to win their trust, which has been an uphill battle in communities that see themselves are separate and distinct from the rest of country. Many in the targeted areas are under-represented and under-funded on the national level, and feel more kinship to their fellow ethnic tribesmen across the border in Afghanistan than with the Pakistani population east of their northwest territory.

"When we started working in Waziristan in 2010, that was the seventh year of the drone strikes," said Akbar. "People had no trust in their own countrymen. They said, ?You have not looked after us, you haven't really cared what was happening here, so why would we now talk to you and give you evidence of what's really happening here??"

NBC News speaks with citizens from around the globe, asking the question, 'What Does America Mean to You?'

So Akbar partnered with Noor Behram, a soft-spoken journalist and father of six, born and raised in North Waziristan, who had witnessed and documented multiple drone strikes in his own area, and was wondering why no one in the rest of the world seemed to care.

"When you live in an area where there is war, where there is suffering, where there are drone attacks, where there's not proper reporting about what's going on?. Even if you're a professional, you can't help but become angry at what you see,? said Behram. ?You start to wonder how you can take the voices you hear and carry them to the rest of the world."

Behram established a notification system based on walkie-talkies and a trusted network of sources across the region where curfews and rough terrain can make it difficult to travel quickly from one area to another. When the attacks occur nearby, as many do to his home in Miramshah, he says he is often the first one with a camera at the site. Entire buildings are reduced to rubble heaps. Residual fires burn in nearby homes or businesses. Crowds gather to dig through the wreckage for survivors and gather body parts.

The frequency with which the strikes are carried out, Behram said, has his community on edge.

"People are very worried, very tense all the time," he said. "When the missile is fired from the plane, there is a loud explosion. When it hits the ground, it makes a terrifying noise. The people below, they just start running. Pieces of missile, they fly everywhere, very far, into other people's houses."

Despite experiencing strikes so close to his home that he and his family have been forced to flee in the middle of the night, Behram said he harbors no anger towards the American people ? it's their policies, he says, that should be reviewed.

"I think, even if they said, 'we've killed 100 terrorists,' and just one child was also killed?If you, at that time, you see that child's body, you talk to his mother and father ? I think, for me, this is a very serious thing,? he said. ?That one child, sitting in his house, could be killed like this.?

Behram patiently documents what he sees, sometimes spending hours with reluctant family members to convince them to share their testimony for the lawsuits being filed.

"I tell them there are people who want to help you. If you want help, then I can talk to them for you," Behram said. "Because if you don't talk to them or let them help you, I don't know what will happen next."

?I want to give them their rights?
Working together, Akbar and Behram have gathered evidence for 13 petitions filed in Islamabad and Peshawar courts, most of which are filed against the government of Pakistan. In total, the lawsuits represent 71 families who have lost 100 family members in U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan.

Despite the fact that he can only legally file suit within Pakistan, Akbar said three of the cases do involve criminal litigation against current and former U.S. officials, including an alleged former CIA station chief and a former CIA legal counsel. But taking on a U.S. administration loathe to even acknowledge the classified program, much less engage legally on the matter, means that those lawsuits are largely intended to send a message at this stage ? that he, and the people he represents, hold both Pakistani and U.S. officials responsible for the deaths of their family members.

"I want justice for these people so they feel that they're part of the system," said Behram. "Because on the one side we ask them to behave and fall in line?.and on the other side, we don't give them any rights. I want to give them their rights."

This story is part of a series by msnbc.com and NBC News "What the World Thinks of US". The series aims to check the pulse on current perceptions of America's global stature during the election year and ahead of our annual Independence Day. Share your thoughts about this story and our series on Twitter using #AmericaMeans?

Special series: What the World Thinks of US?

One man's mission: Promote Chinese patriotism in the face of Western onslaught

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Poll: Election winner won't impact economy much

WASHINGTON (AP) ? When it comes to the economy, half of Americans in a new poll say it won't matter much whether Barack Obama or Mitt Romney wins ? even though the presidential candidates have staked their chances on which would be better at fixing the economic mess.

People are especially pessimistic about the future president's influence over jobs, according to the Associated Press-GfK poll. Asked how much impact the November winner will have on unemployment, 6 in 10 gave answers ranging from slim to none.

Yet the candidates, the polls and the pundits agree ? the economy is the issue of 2012. Can either man convince voters that he would set things right?

James Gray of Snow Hill, N.C., is skeptical.

"It doesn't look to me like the economy or nothing gets better no matter who you've got up there," Gray said. "I don't know why it is."

A retired policeman, Gray plans to vote for Romney and thinks the Republican might win. But he doesn't have much hope that would improve things for people like him, living on a fixed income. "Every time you go to the grocery store the prices have gone up," he said.

Years of disappointing economic news following the 2007-2009 recession have deflated American optimism. And worries about financial troubles in Europe and congressional gridlock at home hang over the future. Two-thirds of people still describe the economy as poor. The same number ? 31 percent ? think unemployment will grow worse over the next year as predict it will ease up.

"Right now it's so bad," said Maria Fisher of Timber Pines, Fla. "I wish everything was better."

Fisher, a preschool teacher at the YMCA, favors Romney because he's a Republican and a successful businessman. She's ready "to give him the chance to fix all these problems." But she doubts there's much the president can do.

Lots of Obama supporters feel the same way.

"The office of the president as a single person doesn't have as much influence as we generally attribute to them," said Jeff Guertin, a mechanical engineer in Bedford, N.H., who backs Obama.

Guertin said a president is limited by Congress' willingness to go along with his ideas, as well as all sorts of other factors, including world events, that affect whether the U.S. economy grows or shrinks.

Despite the dominance of economic issues in the presidential race, Americans are evenly split over whether the man living in the White House in 2013 will bring significant change to the overall economy.

A majority of those surveyed ? 55 percent ? say the winner will have from "just some impact" to "no impact" on the nation's huge budget deficits.

Those with little confidence that the winner can fix things are also more pessimistic overall ? just 32 percent of them think the economy will improve in the coming year. In contrast, among those who expect a substantial impact from the winner, almost half think the economy will get better.

Republicans are more likely than Democrats to predict that the winner's imprint will be felt: 58 percent say the election's outcome will affect the economy overall. Yet fewer than half of Republicans foresee much impact on joblessness.

Everett Hickman, an Obama supporter, said both campaigns overplay how much a president can do.

"The federal government has some influence over the economy," said Hickman, a retired radio news reporter living in Charlotte, N.C. "It doesn't have the kind of push-pull, click-clack control that some people seem to think, or pretend to think."

The Associated Press-GfK Poll was conducted June 14-18 by GfK Roper Public Affairs and Corporate Communications. It involved landline and cellphone interviews with 1,007 adults nationwide. Results for the full sample have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4.0 percentage points.

___

Associated Press Deputy Director of Polling Jennifer Agiesta and News Survey Specialist Dennis Junius contributed to this report.

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Online: http://www.ap-gfkpoll.com

Follow Connie Cass on Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/ConnieCass

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Get Onboard With A SIP Phone | WhichVoIP.com's Blog

When any kind of VoIP service is mentioned, it is hard not to mention SIP. SIP is one of the main set of rules that defines how data related to VoIP communications will traverse the internet. SIP works on top of the Transport Layer as an independent, higher-level application protocol. Utilizing SIP for network transmissions, like VoIP services, is one of the most secure and reliable methods of connecting and communicating through the internet.

For the most part, web pages are designed to use HTTP or HTTPS to establish a connection between your device and the web server. SIP functions in a similar manner ? creating a secured end to end connection for the sake of reliably transmitting data packets associated with VoIP services. Your communications will take place over the internet rather than across on old analog telephone service.

Phone services from telecom providers will eventually require additional, costly upgrades to a company?s existing physical phone network. When additional lines are purchased from a telecom provider, the lines are ?trunked? as a bundle to your business. SIP trunking utilizes the same concept to expand your phone connections, however it is accomplished virtually. When a new phone is added to the system, it simply has to connect to the network ? the administrator that manages your phone services takes care of the rest.

Utilizing a SIP phone on VoIP has numerous advantages, especially when compared to traditional phone systems. VoIP can be utilized for large scale voice and video conferencing at a much lower cost than regular phone services.

SIP phones offer such benefits as:

• Companies typically see a quick ROI as the TCO of VoIP systems is much lower across the board than traditional telecom services. Older systems made use of analog signals, transmitted at low bandwidth across several switching stations until a connection is established. VoIP circumvents this process, almost entirely, as VoIP utilizes the internet to establish a much more reliable connection. Using a SIP phone only requires a monthly premium to utilize the internet for telecom services and beyond, eliminating the need for a traditional phone system altogether.
• The applications you utilize for unified communication purposes use SIP phones. Traditional phones cannot be used to directly integrate into robust VoIP software which grants SIP phones greater capabilities than a standard phone. ?A VoIP phone can use the network to power high volume conference calling, as well as transmit audio directly over the internet through appropriate services. The IT staff managing the in house network or the hosting service can monitor connections, adding a layer of security in your company.
• Scalability in not burdened by physical installation and additional costs from a telecom provider. When new phones need to added to the system, it simply needs to have access to the network. Administrators integrate the new phone into your existing network without incurring any additional cost to your service.

This entry was posted in General. Bookmark the permalink.

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Learn that tune while fast asleep: Stimulation during sleep can enhance skill learning

ScienceDaily (June 24, 2012) ? Want to nail that tune that you've practiced and practiced? Maybe you should take a nap with the same melody playing during your sleep, new provocative Northwestern University research suggests.

The research grows out of exciting existing evidence that suggests that memories can be reactivated during sleep and storage of them can be strengthened in the process.

In the Northwestern study, research participants learned how to play two artificially generated musical tunes with well-timed key presses. Then while the participants took a 90-minute nap, the researchers presented one of the tunes that had been practiced, but not the other.

"Our results extend prior research by showing that external stimulation during sleep can influence a complex skill," said Ken A. Paller, professor of psychology in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences at Northwestern and senior author of the study.

By using EEG methods to record the brain's electrical activity, the researchers ensured that the soft musical "cues" were presented during slow-wave sleep, a stage of sleep previously linked to cementing memories. Participants made fewer errors when pressing the keys to produce the melody that had been presented while they slept, compared to the melody not presented.

"We also found that electrophysiological signals during sleep correlated with the extent to which memory improved," said lead author James Antony of the Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program at Northwestern. "These signals may thus be measuring the brain events that produce memory improvement during sleep."

The age-old myth that you can learn a foreign language while you sleep is sure to come to mind, said Paul J. Reber, associate professor of psychology at Northwestern and a co-author of the study.

"The critical difference is that our research shows that memory is strengthened for something you've already learned," Reber said. "Rather than learning something new in your sleep, we're talking about enhancing an existing memory by re-activating information recently acquired."

The researchers, he said, are now thinking about how their findings could apply to many other types of learning.

"If you were learning how to speak in a foreign language during the day, for example, and then tried to reactivate those memories during sleep, perhaps you might enhance your learning."

Paller said he hopes the study will help them learn more about the basic brain mechanisms that transpire during sleep to help preserve memory storage.

"These same mechanisms may not only allow an abundance of memories to be maintained throughout a lifetime, but they may also allow memory storage to be enriched through the generation of novel connections among memories," he said.

The study opens the door for future studies of sleep-based memory processing for many different types of motor skills, habits and behavioral dispositions, Paller said.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Northwestern University, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

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

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Journal Reference:

1. Antony, J.W., Gobel, E.W., O'Hare, J.K., Reber, P.J., & Paller, K.A. Cued Memory Reactivation During Sleep Influences Skill Learning. Nature Neuroscience, June 24, 2012

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

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

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Italy beats England in shootout

Italians advance to take on Germany in Euro 2012 semifinal

Michael Sohn / AP

Italy's Alessandro Diamanti, left, and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, second left, celebrate with teammates after winning the penalty shootout against England on Sunday.

By GRAHAM DUNBAR

Associated Press Sports

updated 8:09 p.m. ET June 24, 2012

KIEV, Ukraine - After two hours of clever, often dominating but in the end fruitless play, Italy found the answer against England.

Penalty kicks.

Alessandro Diamanti scored the decisive kick Sunday to send Italy through to the European Championship semifinals with a 4-2 win in the shootout following a 0-0 tie with England.

Italy will next play Germany in the semifinals on Thursday in Warsaw, Poland. Defending champion Spain plays Portugal on Wednesday in Donetsk, Ukraine.

"We deserved this victory," Diamanti said. "The penalties rewarded our dominance during the match. It's only fair, we played a great match and battled from the first to the last minute."

But not until penalties by Mario Balotelli, Andrea Pirlo - with an audacious slow chip-shot down the middle of the goal - and Antonio Nocerino did the Azzurri find the net. Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney scored England's penalties.

The difference: Ashley Young hit the crossbar with England's third, and Ashley Cole's attempt was saved by Gianluigi Buffon.

For England, it was yet another exit from a major tournament in the quarterfinals after a penalty shootout. England lost to Portugal in the same manner at Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup.

"It's obviously a hard way to go out," England striker Wayne Rooney said. "And it's maybe happened too many times now."

England briefly led the shootout after Riccardo Montolivo missed Italy's second penalty. His shot went wide of Joe Hart's right post as the England goalkeeper guessed correctly.

Rooney then sent Buffon the wrong way, firing in his spot kick to the keeper's right to give England a 2-1 lead.

The momentum shifted after Pirlo's bold piece of skill leveled it 2-2.

"I just saw that the goalkeeper was moving a bit earlier so I decided to play it the other way," Pirlo said. "It just comes to you at that moment and it went well."

Not for England.

"We have done the country proud, but again we go home with heartbreak and it's difficult to take," said Gerrard, who played in both those previous shootout losses.

The match ended 0-0 after 120 minutes of play. The Italians twice hit the post, but were also let down by poor composure in front of the net. Diamanti clipped the post with a curling cross in the 101st minute, and swept a shot wide in the clearest chance of the second period of extra time.

Nocerino, another substitute, thought he had scored from Diamanti's cross in the 115th but was offside.

Daniele De Rossi hit the post in the third minute, and Buffon saved a shot from Glen Johnson in the fifth.

The first scoreless match at Euro 2012 was neither dull nor lacking good soccer.

Italy's attacking desire and creativity under coach Cesare Prandelli had playmaker Pirlo at its heart. Italy had 35 shots, compared to only nine for England.

An intriguing match almost demanded that Balotelli take center stage. The Italy forward ran clear in the 25th, but hesitated and allowed John Terry to block his chipped shot.

Balotelli forced Hart, his teammate at Manchester City, to save an acrobatic shot, then surged between England's central defenders before putting a half-volley over the crossbar. He kicked the goal post in frustration.

Italy continued surging in the second half and De Rossi, taking a ball over his shoulder, scuffed his shot wide. De Rossi sank to his knees in obvious exasperation, and more Italian frustration quickly followed.

Three rapid-fire chances in the 52nd saw Hart beat away De Rossi's long-range shot, block Balotelli's follow-up and watch Montolivo lash the loose ball high.

England coach Roy Hodgson had to react to Italy's dominance, and sent on substitutes Andy Carroll and Theo Walcott, who both scored in a 3-2 win over Sweden.

Carroll's muscular presence created a shooting chance for Young, but England still failed to convince. Rooney made little impression after an early diving header.

De Rossi was replaced by Nocerino and the substitute threatened in the 89th. He took another crafty pass from Pirlo on the run, but Johnson tracked back to block.

Deep into injury time, Italian defensive jitters created a chance for Rooney but his overhead kick sailed high.

Then it was on to penalties. And Diamante's heroics.

"Getting to this point is a huge satisfaction," Diamanti said. "I always believed I would, even when I played in the inter-regional division - I just never told anyone, because they would have thought I was crazy."

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Italy beats England in shootout

Alessandro Diamanti scored the decisive penalty kick Sunday to give Italy a 4-2 shootout win over England and a spot in the European Championship semifinals.

PST: Pirlo looks strong in Italy's win

PST: Alessandro Diamanti scored the decisive penalty kick Sunday to give Italy a 4-2 shootout win over England and a spot in the European Championship semifinals.

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Nokia Air promo surfaces, teases what could have been

In some alternate timeline, droves of Nokia fans are enjoying seamless cloud syncing on Symbian handsets. Here on Earth-One, however, we'll have to settle for watching a leaked preview of the syncing service that never was. The Nokia Air promo (after the break) promises a service that lets you "experience everywhere" by serving your devices from the ever-present cloud. "Apps don't require downloading, installing or updating," the narrator boasts, explaining that updates, notification, apps and other content are delivered directly from the cloud to all of your devices. Sound familiar? Don't get too excited though, between Nokia's commitment to Redmond and the ancient Engadget post we spied in the demo's feed, this project was probably scrapped.

Continue reading Nokia Air promo surfaces, teases what could have been

Nokia Air promo surfaces, teases what could have been originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 05:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sharks Coach Todd McLellan Healthy, In Good Spirits At Draft, According To Report

Todd McLellan was in attendance at the 2012 NHL Draft, and Kevin Kruz at CSN Bay Area reports that the coach looked and sounded significantly better than he had at the end of the season. That's to be expected, as he had time to recover from the concussion he sustained in late February and now has a lot more job security than he had as of the Sharks elimination at the hands of St. Louis in April. Comments from McLellan on that and more after the jump.

A noticeably slimmer McLellan talked dealing with a concussion:

"That was tough for me because I lived the concussion part of it for the rest of the season. I had headaches, and lived on Tylenol for the most part," he said. "I went for a physical at the end of the year, and obviously had to make some changes to get healthier and to help that process. I?ve done that now over the summer, and I feel pretty good and ready to go....[The weightloss] was part of it. I had to get to the point where I didn?t live on Tylenol all the time. Some of that comes with the stress of coaching and the games and all that type of stuff. Once the year is over there is less of that. You get a little more rest. That was the big part, just dealing with it the right way."

McLellan was asked about possible additions to the coaching staff, and while he wouldn't rule any out he did say:

"In my mind, I felt very good about the things that we?ve accomplished here and moving forward, and I felt very confident about our group moving forward," McLellan said. "I was confident in the job that we?ve done and we can do moving forward."

The Sharks coach appeared to be in good spirits and optimistic about the team's future, and he was able to meet four of the six men drafted by the organization. Hopefully that optimism will carry him all the way to next season and set the Sharks towards a better result than they obtained this year.

For more on the San Jose Sharks, head over to Fear the Fin.

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