Disney Purchases LucasFilm, Plans New Star Wars Movie for 2015

The Walt Disney Company announced today it has agreed to acquire Lucasfilm and is planning Star Wars Episode 7 for 2015! In a conference call, Disney revealed that they are planning a new trilogy starting in 2015 with a new movie coming every other year. This is following such big purchases as Pixar and Marvel Entertainment. Here is the full press release:

Continuing its strategy of delivering exceptional creative content to audiences around the world, The Walt Disney Company has agreed to acquire Lucasfilm Ltd. in a stock and cash transaction. Lucasfilm is 100% owned by Lucasfilm Chairman and Founder, George Lucas.

Under the terms of the agreement and based on the closing price of Disney stock on October 26, 2012, the transaction value is $4.05 billion, with Disney paying approximately half of the consideration in cash and issuing approximately 40 million shares at closing. The final consideration will be subject to customary post-closing balance sheet adjustments.

"Lucasfilm reflects the extraordinary passion, vision, and storytelling of its founder, George Lucas," said Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company. "This transaction combines a world-class portfolio of content including Star Wars, one of the greatest family entertainment franchises of all time, with Disney's unique and unparalleled creativity across multiple platforms, businesses, and markets to generate sustained growth and drive significant long-term value."

"For the past 35 years, one of my greatest pleasures has been to see Star Wars passed from one generation to the next," said George Lucas, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lucasfilm. "It's now time for me to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of filmmakers. I've always believed that Star Wars could live beyond me, and I thought it was important to set up the transition during my lifetime. I'm confident that with Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy, and having a new home within the Disney organization, Star Wars will certainly live on and flourish for many generations to come. Disney's reach and experience give Lucasfilm the opportunity to blaze new trails in film, television, interactive media, theme parks, live entertainment, and consumer products."

Under the deal, Disney will acquire ownership of Lucasfilm, a leader in entertainment, innovation and technology, including its massively popular and "evergreen" Star Wars franchise and its operating businesses in live action film production, consumer products, animation, visual effects, and audio post production. Disney will also acquire the substantial portfolio of cutting-edge entertainment technologies that have kept audiences enthralled for many years. Lucasfilm, headquartered in San Francisco, operates under the names Lucasfilm Ltd., LucasArts, Industrial Light & Magic, and Skywalker Sound, and the present intent is for Lucasfilm employees to remain in their current locations.

Kathleen Kennedy, current Co-Chairman of Lucasfilm, will become President of Lucasfilm, reporting to Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn. Additionally she will serve as the brand manager for Star Wars, working directly with Disney's global lines of business to build, further integrate, and maximize the value of this global franchise. Ms. Kennedy will serve as executive producer on new Star Wars feature films, with George Lucas serving as creative consultant. Star Wars Episode 7 is targeted for release in 2015, with more feature films expected to continue the Star Wars saga and grow the franchise well into the future.

The acquisition combines two highly compatible family entertainment brands, and strengthens the long-standing beneficial relationship between them that already includes successful integration of Star Wars content into Disney theme parks in Anaheim, Orlando, Paris and Tokyo.

Driven by a tremendously talented creative team, Lucasfilm's legendary Star Wars franchise has flourished for more than 35 years, and offers a virtually limitless universe of characters and stories to drive continued feature film releases and franchise growth over the long term. Star Wars resonates with consumers around the world and creates extensive opportunities for Disney to deliver the content across its diverse portfolio of businesses including movies, television, consumer products, games and theme parks. Star Wars feature films have earned a total of $4.4 billion in global box to date, and continued global demand has made Star Wars one of the world's top product brands, and Lucasfilm a leading product licensor in the United States in 2011. The franchise provides a sustainable source of high quality, branded content with global appeal and is well suited for new business models including digital platforms, putting the acquisition in strong alignment with Disney's strategic priorities for continued long-term growth.

The Lucasfilm acquisition follows Disney's very successful acquisitions of Pixar and Marvel, which demonstrated the company's unique ability to fully develop and expand the financial potential of high quality creative content with compelling characters and storytelling through the application of innovative technology and multiplatform distribution on a truly global basis to create maximum value. Adding Lucasfilm to Disney's portfolio of world class brands significantly enhances the company's ability to serve consumers with a broad variety of the world's highest-quality content and to create additional long-term value for our shareholders.

The Boards of Directors of Disney and Lucasfilm have approved the transaction, which is subject to clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, certain non-United States merger control regulations, and other customary closing conditions. The agreement has been approved by the sole shareholder of Lucasfilm.

In the new video below, George Lucas and Kathleen Kennedy discuss the future of the "Star Wars" movies:

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1926157/news/1926157/

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Homelessness, high mobility threaten children's achievement

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Children who are homeless or move frequently have chronically lower math and reading skills than other low-income students who don't move as much.

That's the finding of a new longitudinal study on children's risk and resilience conducted through a university-community partnership by researchers at the University of Minnesota, the Minneapolis Public Schools, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Iowa, and Hong Kong Sue Yan University. The study appears in the journal Child Development.

About one million American school children are homeless each year, and many more are thought to move frequently. This study looked at more than 26,000 students in the Minneapolis Public Schools, a large, urban district, to examine whether homelessness and frequent moving over a six-year period are related to learning, beyond the risk of poverty.

The researchers found that students who were homeless at some point during the six-year study or moved a lot (making three or more moves in a year) had persistently lower levels of reading and math achievement in elementary and middle school compared to other low-income students and their more advantaged peers. These achievement gaps either stayed the same or worsened as students approached high school, even when the researchers took into account other factors. Students also made slower gains in math achievement during the years they were homeless or highly mobile compared to years when they were not homeless or didn't move as often.

Even though children who were homeless or highly mobile showed low achievement as a group, there was striking variation in the achievement of individual children, with 45 percent scoring within the average range or better on these skills. This finding suggests that many children who are homeless or move frequently nonetheless show academic resilience.

"Understanding their successes may offer clues for strategies to address achievement problems in their peers," suggests J.J. Cutuli, a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania and the study's lead author. "Alleviating problems for these students requires simultaneously addressing short-term risks tied to homelessness or moving frequently and long-term risks associated with chronic poverty and disadvantage. One starting point may be understanding the protective influences that keep many of these children on track academically."

The researchers used administrative data (such as test scores, attendance, and eligibility for free and reduced-price meals and special services) on all 3rd through 8th graders in the district, comparing students identified as homeless or highly mobile to other students receiving free meals, students receiving reduced-price meals, and students who did not participate in the federal meal program. Achievement was gauged by looking at reading and math achievement scores on annual standardized tests.

###

Society for Research in Child Development: http://www.srcd.org

Thanks to Society for Research in Child Development for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/124897/Homelessness__high_mobility_threaten_children_s_achievement

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Review: 'Wreck-It' casts a wide and beguiling net

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? Guided by executive producer John Lasseter, Walt Disney Animation Studios has clearly devoted significant resources and talent to "Wreck-It Ralph," recruiting a top-notch cast and a diverse array of animation, visual effects and lighting artists to contribute to the distinct and varied vid-game styles. With a mix of retro eye-candy for grown-ups and a thrilling, approachable storyline for the tykes, the film casts a wide and beguiling net.

Emulating a lo-res '80s video game, "Wreck-It Ralph" envisions the titular character as the short-tempered, sledgehammer-fisted, 600-pound bad guy competing against goody-good nemesis Felix in a game located in Mr. Litwak's (Ed O'Neill) video arcade that's known as "Fix-It Felix Jr." As Ralph (John C. Reilly) tells some fellow evildoers at his first "Bad-Anon" meeting, he's a reluctant villain, tired of always being the culprit who tears down the apartment building inhabited by the Nicelanders who worship Felix (Jack McBrayer) for his superior repair skills.

After 30 years of taking the blame, Ralph's ready for a change - he thinks maybe if he can earn a medal, the Nicelanders might give him some respect and invite them to one of their frequent cocktail parties. Traveling through the arcade's power cords and surge protectors, Ralph journeys to Game Central Station, the gateway to every game in the store. Hearing that first-person shooter challenge "Hero's Duty" awards a medal for bravery, Ralph suits up to join no-nonsense Sergeant Calhoun's (Jane Lynch) platoon to battle the Cy-Bugs, a nasty computer virus in the form of cyber spiders.

Escaping hi-def "Hero's Duty" with the coveted service medal, Ralph crash-lands one of Calhoun's spaceships into "Sugar Rush," a Candy Land-styled race-car game, after he's attacked onboard by a massive Cy-Bug. He quickly loses his citation to pint-sized Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman), a little girl determined to compete in one of "Sugar Rush's" prestigious races. Her bratty attitude and refusal to return the medal, which she can use to stake her spot in an upcoming competition, enrage Ralph, but he's powerless to force the girl to do his bidding.

Following an unpleasant encounter with "Sugar Rush" dictator King Candy (Alan Tudyk), Ralph allies himself with Vanellope in a plan to recover his medal and help the kid win a spot in the race. But first they'll have to in break into the King's specialized factory and build a competitive race car - and it might be a good idea for Vanellope to actually learn to drive it. Meanwhile, Felix has abandoned the "Wreck-It Ralph" game and the Nicelanders, joining up with Calhoun on a quest to retrieve his friend and protect "Sugar Rush" from the Cy-Bugs before the game gets flatlined.

Although the script is an original by Phil Johnston and Jennifer Lee, with its tortured toy characters facing obsolescence and searching for freedom and meaning, it bears a distinct Pixar DNA signature. Johnston and Lee don't stray too far from the Disney template, however, and although the characters are digital, their emotions are very recognizably human. Since Ralph and Vanellope are both outcasts, their struggles for acceptance are comfortably similar and familiar.

Making his feature film debut, Emmy-award winning director Rich Moore ("The Simpsons") ably manipulates the action by tantalizingly shifting the characters between game worlds. Effortlessly orchestrating a dizzying variety of visual elements, Moore consistently manages to keep the focus on Ralph and his comrade's multiplying perils. Visually, Pixar's influence is also evident in the level of detail lavished on the wide range of quirky characters and nearly every setting and background scene. Fortunately the more sugar-coated sentiments are mostly dialed back in favor of genuine character development and rousing, digitally realistic 3D action.

The audience's POV is occasionally represented by a girl who frequents the "real world" of Mr. Litwak's video arcade, where she interacts with all of the games depicted in the film. Game-play visual elements are used to enhance the impression of actually playing the arcade consoles, which can sometimes get distractingly disorienting as the narrative slips in and out of the video arcade setting.

An enthusiastic cast lends voice to the characters, led by Reilly, capably evincing the role of Wreck-It Ralph. His sad-sack sentiments, however, are frequently overshadowed by the hyperactive and super-snarky Vanellope. Silverman fully inhabits the character, marvelously calibrating her voice's volume, insinuating tone and emotional impact to match the character's antic facial expressions and unpredictable behavior. Tudyk is ridiculously over the top as the punning Mad-Hatter meets Wizard of Oz-like King Candy, while McBrayer and Lynch add surprising dimensionality to the increasingly smitten pair of Felix and Calhoun.

Editor Tim Mertens modulates the sometimes frenetic pace with brief interludes of introspection and camaraderie that help fill in the characters. Henry Jackman's lively score is supplemented by musical selections from R&B star Rihanna, electronica artist Skrillex and classic Kool & the Gang, among others.

"Wreck-It Ralph," a Disney release, is rated PG for some rude humor and mild action/violence. Running time: 93 minutes.

Motion Picture Association of America rating definition for PG: Parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

___

Online:

www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/oscars-disney-dreamworks-avengers-brave-lincoln-spielberg-354448

www.hollywoodreporter.com/gallery/10-sexiest-cartoon-character-film-254877

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/review-wreck-casts-wide-beguiling-net-224931505.html

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Spotlight: Nonstop To Cairo

In our latest ReverbNation spotlight, we chat to Matt Ezzo of Nonstop To Cairo.

S] What, or who are your great musical inspirations?

M] ?Even though the band is all from the same hometown, Nonstop to Cairo is made up of six very different people. Musically our inspirations vary?from Mozart to Mystical. Nonstop thinks that there is something worthwhile?in every style of music.? We try to incorporate a little of everything into our songs. With that having been said, the boys do agree on some specific inspirations like The Specials, ?Fishbone, Sublime,?The Beastie Boys, Damien Marley, Biggie Smalls, Weezer and The Red Hot Chili Peppers to name a few. There are?also some newer artists that have made an impression on us like Cage the Elephant, Santigold and a fellow Faction band, Wax.

In addition the boys of Nonstop give a lot of credit to their parents for sparking their interest in music and the?teachers they had, in school or private, who nurtured that interest and made six fully functioning musicians, now ready to tackle this industry.?

S] What about personally, what kinds of themes and ideas can inspire your songs?

M] ?For the most part, Nonstop To Cairo?s?songs are started by Nick Diamond (guitar/vocals) and myself. Usually a riff or a few parts will be brought to practice and presented to the rest of the group. After that the band breaks it all down, jams it out and completes the idea together. It?s very rare that a complete?song is written by a single band member.? While some bands may start off a song with a lyrical idea, Nonstop To Cairo tends to focus on the sound and vibe?of the instrumentation first.

The individual inspirations for new ideas can start in any number of ways. One common way is being inspired by other music.? One of us hears a new song or even just a simple riff in a song that can spark an idea.? It makes you think outside the box when you?re open to any style of music. We are a funky, rocking ska band, but it?ll make for a very unique?sounding?song if the idea?was inspired by?a progression in?the French Horn part of a?John Williams? score.??Ideas also can come from things that are happening around us while at home, on tour or just partying with friends.? Nonstop To Cairo?s first single ?Eva On The Rocks??is about how a friend of the band fell in love with a girl while on vacation in Iceland. He?had to leave her there and come?home to New York. The song is about how our friend tried to convince Eva to move to New York City.?

S] What song that you are working on right best defines your sound, and why?

M] ?The band is always writing and?can have?up to?ten new songs being worked on at any given?time. With every new idea, the band?s?style evolves a little bit.? Nonstop?s sound?has been?explained as ?having a chill groove? to dance to,?underneath fresh, gritty?guitar and vocals.? Of our previously released songs our single ?We Be? best portrays that balance. It has August?s?rhythmic, driving?vocal patterns?playing off?Nick?s soulful and powerful?voice; all set to an energetic, funky back beat. That?s Nonstop To Cairo?s sound.

How about a Soundsphere magazine exclusive for you?? Nonstop to Cairo will announce here for the first time that?within a few?months the band?is releasing a new single. ?It will be released on satellite radio, with a music video to accompany?the debut.??This single, titled ?9 To 5?, is a?raucous party song about the everyday working man, who needs to bust out of his monotonous life, let loose?and go mother f?n?crazy!?

S] Do you have a message for any UK fans?

M] ?You gave us The Beatles. Enough said. Seriously though, Nonstop To Cairo desperately wants to jump the pond and party with Europe!? All we can say is send your love our way.? Nonstop can be found on almost every social media network and all it takes is enough ?likes? and a few comments to convince our management team and label of booking a European tour.? Let?s be honest, you keep it real in the UK.?

S] What can people expect from your live show?

M] ?Expect to never forget it. There are thousands of great musicians out there. There are only a few truly great performers. These performers separate themselves from the pack and bring it on stage.? Nonstop to Cairo would like to believe we are one of those or at least that we strive to be.?

S] What are some of your biggest challenges right now?

M] ?Nonstop To Cairo is on the ups for sure. It seems at this point that every day there?s more good news which, ?knock on wood?, will continue. Of course even with that being the case there is always hardships that come with this lifestyle. Entertainment is a demanding industry.? It takes all of your energy, time and?money just to stay a float. That doesn?t leave a lot of you left to give.? One of the hardest challenges for us?personally,?is?finding time?for family and friends.? Everyone in Nonstop cherishes those relationships and above all would like to thank?our loved ones?for?what they?sacrifice?while?supporting us.

Another big challenge for us is music business. Putting aside being good or bad at business, every artist struggles with the balance between the art and the industry.? How do you make yourself marketable, while retaining your unique voice and artistic?identity? No-one sets out in the?arts thinking about the money. It?s usually because the person or, in this case, persons have a creative need to satisfy.? The only way to satisfy it is to keep creating. The music industry?can help set new artist up with the life style necessary to be a creative type, but the industry needs money to do that. If we can be a good product, than we?can have?the freedom to create our art. It?s a tough situation to get a handle on.?

S] What are your plans as we move into 2013?

M] ?Nonstop To Cairo has big plans for 2013. A few big tours are in the works for the spring and summer. New songs are being written and recorded?as we speak.? New music videos are in pre-production right now and slated for release in early 2013. There are also local and national TV shows interested having us as guests. To make a long story short, if the world doesn?t end, than Nonstop to Cairo?plans?on taking it over in 2013.?

Follow these topics: Band, Spotlight

Source: http://www.soundspheremag.com/spotlight/band/spotlight-nonstop-to-cairo/

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Carcosa Seri Negara - Malaysia | Overseas Travel and Leisure - Otal

Carcosa Seri Negara ? Malaysia

Address:

The Dining Room, Carcosa Seri Negara, Taman Tasik Perdana, KL.

• Tel: 03 2295 0888.
• Opening times: Open daily, 12noon-3pm, 6-10.30p.

A historical heritage mansion from 1896, the Carcosa Seri Negara is in a stunning hilltop setting among more than 16 hectares of garden and lawns in the heart of Kuala Lumpur City, Malaysia. The only word to describe the five-star Carcosa Sri Negara is glamorous. One of Kuala Lumpur?s most opulent establishments, the hotel has ritzy rooms with high-tech comforts including flat screen TVs, DVD players and internet access; hotel facilities include function rooms and the manicured lawns play host to a flood-lit tennis court and pool. The luxurious Carcosa Seri Negara Hotel is a true gem with service and quality that is sure to surpass all expectations.

Rooms & Suites:

Each luxurious Carcosa Seri Negara suite is air-conditioned, tastefully furnished and spacious with king- or queen-sized beds, walk-in closets, an attached bathroom, sitting area and private veranda. Each suite differs in size and decor, some offering a large terrace and separate dining, dressing and living rooms, 24 hour butler service.

1. Stately Suites: The historical heritage mansion has a total of five Junior Suites ? Seri Tanjung, Seri Melaka, Seri Naim, Seri Iman and Seri Takzim.
2. Grand Makmur Suite: The lavish room features a colonial four-poster king-sized bed, walk-in closets, separate dressing room, a bathroom with its own Jacuzzi, separate living and dining areas and two private verandas.

Room Facilities:

• 24-hour Butler Service
• IDD Telephone
• CD/DVD System
• Satellite TV
• Mini Bar

Features:

Carcosa Seri Negara is one of Malaysia?s best luxury hotels with a tranquil setting that adds to its opulent environment. Carcosa Seri Negara features a restaurant. Room service is available during limited hours. This 5-star property has a business center and offers a meeting/conference room, audio-visual equipment, and business services. Complimentary wireless Internet access is available in public areas. Guest parking is complimentary. Additional property amenities include a rooftop terrace, a concierge desk, and multilingual staff.

Recreational Facilities:

Restaurants & Dining:

Dining:

The Dining Room features gourmet French cuisine accompanied by sweeping garden views in the restaurant, while fine Malay cuisine is served in the Gulai House, where verandah dining is available. Carcosa Seri Negara has a restaurant on site. Room service (during limited hours) is available.

• Food Awards 2009 : The Dining Room was shortlisted in the Best Fine Dining Restaurant and Best French Restaurant categories of the Time Out KL Food Awards 2009. Our food awards are 100% voted for by the people of KL.

Useful Info:

• Check Out Time : 12.00 noon.
• Check In Time : 2.00 pm.
• Rates are nett inclusive of 10% service charge and 6% government tax.
• Prior room reservation is required and is subject to room availability.
• Breakfast provided.

Child policy:

• Baby Cot are provided free-of-charge.
• No extra room charges for children 12 years and below sharing room with parent? existing bedding are FOC.
• Maximum of 1 extra bed will be provided free for child aged between 3yrs ? 12yrs.

Value added:

• Free WI-FI Internet.
• Daily newspaper.
• Homemade chocolate.
• Daily fresh fruits.
• Coffee & tea making facilities in suite.

Payment Types: Accepted at this hotel: American Express, Barclaycard, Carte Blanche, Discover, JCB International, MasterCard, Visa.

Pets: Pets not allowed.

Policies:

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on hotel policy.

Government-issued photo identification and a credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.

Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.

Related posts:

1. First World Hotel ? Genting Highlands Malaysia
2. Bonnington Jumeirah Lakes Towers ? UAE
3. Traders Hotel Dubai
4. Hilton Yaounde Hotel Cameroon
5. Ascott Park Place Dubai

Source: http://www.otal.com/asia-travel-and-leisure/carcosa-seri-negara-malaysia

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Communication Between Doctor and Patient Part I | Psychology Today

There is an exhaustive literature devoted to communicative skills, and in corporate world, certainly in politics, and in most endeavors in which management of people is important, achievement of this basic social asset is followed?by reward.?? One frequently hears the colloquialism, ?people skills?, in reference to one?s ability to deal with human interactions.? Truth be know, this is not a simple construct, but it?s not a stretch to say that the ability to communicate is the key ingredient to people skills. It follows, therefore, in that most important human endeavor - the practice of medicine ? especially cancer related medicine ?? clarity and comprehensibility of words are critical. Essential to the reader?s grasp of this entire discussion is the subtle but important duality of this statement.? Let me explain what I mean. ?

In my recently published book, The Cancer Experience: the doctor, the patient, the journey, I devoted several chapters to the communication between doctor and patient; that when the cancer is discovered; that which occurs after treatment with looming chance for cure; and that when treatment failure becomes obvious.? Additionally, in the book I devoted considerable thought and script to the death and dying discussion with patients and the family.? Fundamental to all of this ? a point that I repeatedly and consistently make ? is the notion that communication is a two way phenomenon, and no matter how detailed or how much time and energy the doctor devotes to explanation, if the patient does not understand what he/she has been told, then there has not been communication.? In reality, such a conversation is nothing more than a doctor?s monolog. By practical definition, communication is both talking and understanding; this is what I meant in the preceding paragraph when I referred to ?duality?.? Furthermore, I strongly contend that achieving this ideal is mainly the responsibility of the doctor.? Despite educational deficiencies, language barriers, and patient fear and anxiety, the doctor must find a way to connect ? whether by diagram, repetitive explanation, translators, or whatever is needed.?

The emotional issues related to communication aside, the legal part of this problem is paramount. Consider this:?patients who are given a piece of paper, euphemistically called an Informed Consent, are not infrequently disinclined to sign it regardless of their level of comprehension. This is especially so when the consent form is presented to them just prior to a surgical procedure, a time of peak pre operative anxiety. Aside from this document being terrifying in its potential list of complications, it is a bit much for the average patient to read, assimilate, and sign in the bright lights of the moment, no matter how legally important. On several occasions, I have had patients who happened to be attorneys who refused to do this and as a result, the surgery was rescheduled for a later date.? In years past, patients were prepared well in advance, documents were read and digested, questioned were asked and answered, and the patients were brought into the hospital the night preceding the operation. They were given sedation to sleep, and then an injection for more sedation was administered just before being taken to the operating room the following morning; thus, the level of anxiety was minimized and the memories rendered vague. Those were the ?good old days?. In today?s climate of medical care, patients come in the day of the operation, often shortly before surgery, and in a rapid succession of well orchestrated events are prepared and sent to the operating room, often without sedation until just before induction of anesthesia. ?My point in discussing this is not to compare the old to the new, but instead to realistically address the hand that has been dealt to both patients and caregivers of contemporary times. In today?s economic climate, even though?more comforting, the old method is inefficient and unaffordable. Suffice it to say that the doctor?s discussion with a patient waiting to go to the operating room should be limited to process; that is to say, how long the surgery should take, where the family should meet the surgeon following the surgery, and so on.? Essentially, during this tense time, a surgeon should avoid talking details about the operation or referring to any potential problems. Better scenerio,?an optimistic surgeon, a hand on the arm, reassurance that they will be protected - respecting the patient's need for quiet visitation with family or friends ?avoidance of being forced to comprehend and process information regarding important technical/therapeutic or prognostic matters. Those important discussions regarding such details - the disease, the actual operation, the potential complications ? all "must discuss issues" ? should be done in another setting, well before the hospital experience. There is a more appropriate time for questions and answers, patient education, comprehensible details, and it is during this dialog in which the doctor?s communicative skills are at play. Reader, take note ? I said dialog, not monolog.

I plan to write future blogs on physician?s communicative skills, or lack thereof, but as it pertains to the above point in question, it is important to say that the ability of the physician to recognize when he/she is not really getting through to the patient and family is just as important as the methods and techniques used.? ??Remember, it?s not really communication if the message is not received and understood, and if the doctor doesn?t pick up on this lack of connection ? ie, duality, the entire problem is compounded. The patient?s failure to ask questions often belies comprehension; embarrassment and fear of hearing unpleasant facts both play a part in such silence.

Why am I making such a big deal out of all of this? ?Basically, because I believe that of all of the problems in the complex world of medical care and its delivery, communication issues are at the top of the list.? In my next blog, Doctor ? Patient Communications: Part II, I will deal with those important matters at play in the day to day interactions between the parties involved. ??

?

Roy B. Sessions, MD, FACS

Charleston, SC

References: Sessions, Roy B., The Cancer Experience: the doctor, the patient, the journey; publ Roman Littlefield, 2012

Source: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-cancer-experience/201210/communication-between-doctor-and-patient-part-i-0

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stephan tumulus: Top 7 Tips to Preparing Your Business For Sale ...

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Fitness Spotlight ? 10 Fitness Exercises for Staying Healthy

Many people do not have any weight loss goals because they are not motivated. There are many ways available to make exercise enjoyable. Below are some of those ways.

Turn on the radio while you are working out. When you have music on, your body instinctively moves to the beat. It is natural for people to respond to music. Turn your workout into something fun and exciting with music. When you are having fun working out, you won?t concentrate on how tired you may feel. Listening to music is a great tool to utilize when you want to make your exercise last longer, because music will make you do more without even realizing it.

TIP! In seeking happiness for others, you find it for yourself. -Anonymous

If you have an exercise buddy, working out will be much easier. Workout time is a great time to catch up on the latest news with a buddy. Time will move quickly, and you will soon start to see the fruits of your labor as your body begins to improve. That?s what friends are here for!

One of the most interesting developments in the weight loss industry over the past few years is video game workouts. You will often lose yourself in the challenge and enjoyment of the game and forget that your initial purpose was actually exercise. You probably won?t get winded as easily and quit.

It is much more enjoyable to go to the gym if you are happy and look great when you are exercising. Spend enough money on getting some exercise clothes that are the proper size, allow for a full range of movement and are flattering in appearance. Choose clothing that you want to wear, and you don?t feel embarrassed in so you are inspired to work out.

TIP! Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Repeating, repeating, repeating the same workout is boring, boring, boring. Make sure you spice it up! Boredom is the biggest enemy of a productive workout. There is a chance that without proper incentive to keep trying, you might even abandon your goals. This is why you should change up your routine regularly. This is essential if you want to stay motivated. Once you stop your exercise routine, it is extremely difficult to regain your motivation to start again and any benefits you have achieved may soon be lost.

In order to make sure you stay motivated, you should treat yourself on occasion. Your reward to yourself should be something that will keep your motivation levels high. It should be something you look forward to, such as a day at the spa, a massage or even a nice, healthy dinner out with friends. It needn?t be anything over the top- simply a little something to keep you going. Just a teeny token to remind you that you are accomplishing your goals will suffice.

Working out is not a punishment and should not be viewed as one! Have fun while you workout so that you look forward to exercising. These tips will help you to have fun while you exercise!

10 Fitness Exercises for Staying Healthy

2 votes, 5.00 avg. rating (98% score)

Source: http://www.fitnessspotlight.net/10-fitness-exercises-for-staying-healthy/

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Piracy Is Killing Our Business ? John Mensah | Ghana Filla? ? com

President of the National Society of Ghana Music Producers (NASGAMP,) John Mensah Sarpong, has revealed pathetically that the perennial piracy problem is still collapsing the music industry in the country.

He disclosed that the piracy menace had reduced the average one million copies of CD sales in a year by music producers of his calibre to just 50,000 in recent times, fearing for the worse.

In an exclusive chat with BEATWAVES in Kumasi, the NASGAMP President asked for stringent collaborative efforts between his outfit and the security agencies to help curb the piracy menace. He bemoaned that the security agents were not doing enough in the fight against piracy, adding that piracy was on the increase because of lack of education about the act among the people.

The occasion was a one-day sensitization workshop in Kumasi under the theme ?Advocacy for the Enforcement of the Copyright Law to protect the rights of musicians and music producers in Ghana,? and was organized by NASGAMP.

Carlos Sakyi, president, Ghana Music Rights Organization, in his succinct remarks, described pirates as thieves and called for effective and rapid legal system in the country to deal with offenders.

He wept over the influx of foreign pirated music in the country which was sold on the market at cheap prices, thereby, killing the Ghana music industry in the process, asking ?where do these foreign pirated music CDs pass before getting into the market??

Mr. Sakyi said copyright gave the musician and producers control and power over their music, but he was quick to state that more was needed to be done in order to effectively battle the piracy menace.

The workshop was to update the participants including musicians, music producers, film producers, actors and actresses on their roles and responsibilities to ensure effective enforcement of the Copyright Law in Ghana.

Ambrose Yenah, CEO AIDEC Consultancies International Limited, a consultancy firm in Accra, on his part, challenged the NASGAMP to collaborate with the National Communication Authority to come out with a mechanism to track down those who downloaded music and films on the internet.

He observed that the various splinter groups in the music industry did not augur well for the promotion of music and creative arts in the country, admonishing key players in the industry to unite with a common voice to drum home their grievance.

Source:?I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi

Source: http://www.ghanafilla.net/piracy-is-killing-our-business-john-mensah/

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Cocktail achieves superconducting boost: High-performance material uses iron and selenium

ScienceDaily (Oct. 29, 2012) ? Physicists describe how they have synthesized a new material that belongs to the iron-selenide class of superconductors, called LixFe2Se2(NH3)y, in a paper about to be published in The European Physical Journal B. The work was carried out by Ernst-Wilhelm Scheidt from the University of Augsburg and colleagues. This material displays promising superconducting transition temperatures of 44 Kelvins (K) at ambient pressure, thus improving upon traditional copper-based high-temperature superconductors.

The ultimate goal of scientists developing such materials is to reach superconducting characteristics at temperatures above that of liquid nitrogen (77K), which is the benchmark temperature to make them attractive for applications.

Until now, superconductors based on iron and arsenic discovered in 2008 worked at 56K. As recently as 2010 attempts to develop other materials replacing arsenic with selenium yielded iron-selenium materials with an intercalation of potassium, rubidium, cesium or thalium. These materials, belonging to the family of iron chalcogenide materials, reached a superconducting temperature of 32 K.

The authors have now used a chemical synthesis method to intercalate lithium atoms between layers of iron and selenium. Similar to the way a cocktail would generate an exciting new flavour, stirring all these ingredients for several hours in liquid ammonia produced exciting new superconducting properties. They found that these properties are controlled by electronic doping and expansion of the iron-selenium material's lattice structure, which is gained by intercalating the lithium-based electronic donor molecules.

Unlike previous attempts, the authors showed in this study that these materials can be successfully synthesised with a remarkable degree of purity. In addition, the fraction of the material that is superconductive was almost 80 percent, the highest reported for materials in the intercalated iron chalcogenides family.

Going one step further, the authors also showed that using sodium instead of lithium will further increase the superconducting temperature to 45.5 K.

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Journal Reference:

1. E. -W. Scheidt, V. R. Hathwar, D. Schmitz, A. Dunbar, W. Scherer, F. Mayr, V. Tsurkan, J. Deisenhofer, A. Loidl. Superconductivity at Tc = 44 K in LixFe2Se2(NH3)y. The European Physical Journal B, 2012; 85 (8) DOI: 10.1140/epjb/e2012-30422-6

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Z-JZgqXkx_A/121029081843.htm

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Penguin - Pearson | Always Learning

Pearson and Bertelsmann today announce an agreement to create the world?s leading consumer publishing organisation by combining Penguin and Random House.

The combination brings together two of the world?s leading English language publishers, with highly complementary skills and strengths. Random House is the leading English language publisher in the US and the UK, while Penguin is the world?s most famous publishing brand and has a strong presence in fast-growing developing markets. Both companies have a long history of publishing excellence, and both have been pioneers in the dramatic industry transformation towards digital publishing and bookselling.

Under the terms of the agreement, Penguin and Random House will combine their businesses in a newly-created joint venture named Penguin Random House. Bertelsmann will own 53% of the joint venture and Pearson will own 47%. The joint venture will exclude Bertelsmann?s trade publishing business in Germany and Pearson will retain rights to use the Penguin brand in education markets worldwide.

Bertelsmann will nominate five directors to the Board of Penguin Random House and Pearson will nominate four. John Makinson, currently chairman and chief executive of Penguin, will be chairman of Penguin Random House and Markus Dohle, currently chief executive of Random House, will be its chief executive.

In reviewing the long-term trends and considerable change affecting the consumer publishing industry, Pearson and Bertelsmann both concluded that the publishing and commercial success of Penguin and Random House can best be sustained and enhanced through a partnership with another major international publishing house. They believe that the combined organisation will have a stronger platform and greater resources to invest in rich content, new digital publishing models and high-growth emerging markets. The organisation will generate synergies from shared resources such as warehousing, distribution, printing and central functions. Pearson and Bertelsmann intend that the combined organisation?s level of organic investment in authors and new product models will exceed the total investment of Penguin and Random House as independent publishing houses.

The two companies believe that the combination will create a highly successful new organisation, both creatively and commercially, with the breadth and investment capacity to deliver significant benefits. Readers will have access to a wider and more diverse range of frontlist and backlist content in multiple print and digital formats. Authors will gain a greater depth and breadth of service, from traditional frontlist publishing to innovative self-publishing, on a global basis. Employees of the new organisation will be part of the world?s first truly global consumer publishing company, committed to sustained editorial excellence and long-term investment in a rich diversity of content. And shareholders will benefit from participating in the consolidation of the consumer publishing industry without having to deploy additional capital.

The combination is subject to customary regulatory and other approvals, including merger control clearances, and is expected to complete in the second half of 2013.

In 2011, Random House reported revenues of ?1.7bn (?1.48bn) and operating profit of ?185m (?161m). Penguin reported revenues of ?1.0bn and operating profit of ?111m with total assets of ?1.0bn. After completion, Pearson will report its 47% share of profit after tax from the joint venture as an associate in its consolidated income statement.

Under the terms of the agreement, neither Pearson nor Bertelsmann may sell any part of their shareholding in Penguin Random House for three years. To protect Pearson?s interests as a minority shareholder, if Bertelsmann declines a Pearson offer to sell its entire shareholding, Pearson may require a recapitalisation by which Penguin Random House raises debt of up to 3.5x EBITDA, with a dividend distributed to shareholders in line with their ownership. In addition, from five years after completion, either partner may require an IPO of Penguin Random House.

Marjorie Scardino, chief executive of Pearson, said:??Penguin is a successful, highly-respected and much-loved part of Pearson. This combination with Random House ? a company with an almost perfect match of Penguin?s culture, standards and commitment to publishing excellence ? will greatly enhance its fortunes and its opportunities. Together, the two publishers will be able to share a large part of their costs, to invest more for their author and reader constituencies and to be more adventurous in trying new models in this exciting, fast-moving world of digital books and digital readers.?

Thomas Rabe, chairman and CEO of Bertelsmann, said:??With this planned combination, Bertelsmann and Pearson create the best course for new growth for our world-renowned trade-book publishers, to enable them to publish even more effectively across traditional and emerging formats and distribution channels.?It will build on our publishing tradition, offering an extraordinary diversity of publishing opportunities for authors, agents, booksellers, and readers, together with unequalled support and resources.?

ENDS

For more information

Pearson

Luke Swanson / Simon Mays-Smith / Charles Goldsmith +44 (0) 20 7010 2310

Penguin

Becca Sinclair +44 (0) 20 7010 4279

Brunswick (for US media enquiries)

Oliver Phillips + 1 212 333 3810 ext 669

About Pearson

Pearson is an international education and information company with world-leading businesses in education, business information and consumer publishing.

Pearson is the world?s leading learning company, providing educational materials, technologies, assessments and related services to teachers and students of all ages. We publish across the curriculum under a range of respected imprints and are also a leading provider of electronic learning programmes and of test development, processing and scoring services to educational institutions, corporations and professional bodies around the world.

The Financial Times Group provides business and financial news, data, comment and analysis, in print and online, to the international business community. It includes the globally-focused Financial Times newspaper and FT.com website; a range of specialist financial magazines and online services; and Mergermarket, which provides proprietary forward-looking insights and intelligence to businesses and financial institutions.

Penguin, founded by Allen Lane in 1935, is today one of the world?s leading English language publishers and the most famous brand in the industry. Penguin publishes 4,000 titles every year for readers of all ages and in print and digital formats. Its extensive range of titles includes top literary prize winners, classics, reference volumes and children?s titles.

Source: http://www.pearsoned.com/pearson-and-bertelsmann-agree-consumer-publishing-partnership-penguin-and-random-house-to-combine-creating-the-worlds-leading-trade-publisher/

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Supervision? New Retinal Implants Could Push Human Sight Further

Source: flickr / comedy_nose

Electrode implants that can partially restore sight to the blind already exist. These systems translate visual images into electrical activity to stimulate cells on the retina; the cells activate and send information to the brain, which compiles a rudimentary image from the input. Retinal prostheses are already available in Europe, and could receive FDA approval in the U.S. within the coming months.

But a new kind of retinal implant, revealed at this week?s Biomedical Engineering Society meeting in Atlanta, could eventually take those devices to another level. "Theoretically we can do better than the human eye in terms of resolution," says bioengineer Massoud Khraiche of UC-San Diego. "And also, with this device you can see infrared energy, and you can see at night."

The implants that Khraiche?s team has proposed would replace bulky electrode arrays with microscopic silicon nanowires. The nanowires are good at picking up light, and detect a much broader spectrum of electromagnetic energy than the human eye. While Second Sight implants use a camera to generate an initial image, the nanowires could serve as both the photoreceptor (the part that picks up the light) and neurostimulator (the part that stimulates the brain to make a person "see" an image.). And since the nanowires are tiny and densely packed, they may be able to stimulate a greater number of retinal cells and thereby generate a sharper image.

The retinal prostheses haven?t been tested in humans yet. The research group is in the midst of their first animal studies, where they?ve implanted the nanowires behind the retinae of blind rabbits. (Since the researchers can?t ask the rabbit whether it sees or not, they?ve also placed electrodes in the rabbits? brains to monitor activity.)

The preliminary results are promising. For instance: Khriache says the researchers did a test in which they interfaced the nanowires with biopsies from the retinas of rats. Although rats usually cannot see red light, Khraiche?s team showed that the interfaced tissue responded to a flash of red light with a spike in cell activity. "We actually showed that we can make this retina see red light," he says. Had the nanowires been connected to a living brain, it?s possible that the brain would have seen the flash, too.

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/how-to/blog/supervision-new-retinal-implants-could-push-human-sight-further-14227784?src=rss

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Repopulation of countryside is essential tool to avoid major fires, Spanish experts say

ScienceDaily (Oct. 28, 2012) ? The Universitat de Val?ncia presented a preliminary report on the major fires Valencia suffered this summer. The report, lead by the professor of physical geography Alejandro P?rez Cueva, suggests that repopulation of the countryside is an essential tool to avoid major forest fires, and points out alternative solutions such as biological firewalls that involve developing pastures.

The document was presented during the celebration of the 1st Forum of Forest Fires Universitat de Val?ncia-Ayuntamientos, which is an encounter between the academic institution and the town councils to discuss the forest fires that took place last summer. It was held at the Botanic Gardens and its goal was to detect 'the needs of the towns affected by the fires and promote the relations between the local authorities and the University experts', as the Vice-Principal stated.

The experts analyzed this summer's major fires -Benag?ber, La Safor, Cortes, Andilla and Chulilla-, which destroyed a total of 63.520 hectares. 'We are studying the basic elements of the disasters like the use of the land and the weather conditions, but also the impact of the fires on biodiversity', said P?rez Cueva. For example, the Andilla and Cortes fires affected valuable areas including the Sierra Calderona nature reserve, Mart?s, El Ave, and Malacara ranges, La Mola de Cortes and El Caroig, or the central stretch of the river Palancia; four micro flora reserves; three fauna reserves in Alcublas and two caves used by bats.

This report also analyzes socio-economic and demographic issues. 'We can see once again that population decline in rural areas has favoured major fires', adds the professor. The municipal areas that have suffered the most are Dos Aguas (94,9%), Macastre (77,3%), Saca?et (67,45%), Alcublas (66,6%), Bugarra (66,2%), Teresa (59,38%), Catadau (49,2%), Llocnou de Sant Jeroni (42,11%), and Chulilla (38,36%).

'Our work proves that conventional firewalls and natural barriers have not worked, so it is urgent to implement biological firewalls, something which is already included in the regional forest planning regulation. This involves recovering traditional activities such as pastures or farming activities', P?rez Cueva said. He also pointed out the importance of avoiding the use of heavy machinery on burned land to avoid erosion.

Regarding the influence of the weather, scientists analyzed the disasters and found that the wind caused the fire to behave in three different ways. In the first of the fires, Benag?ber (440 hectares), flames were caused by a cold breeze that stopped at nightime. In the second one however, La Safor area (1.329 hectares), there was a central focus and variable East and West winds whereas the three last major fires in Cortes (32.443 hectares), Andilla (21.249 hectares) and Chulilla (8.057 hectares), were characterized by the classic and very persistent South-East wind.

The towns' mayors claimed for a political will to implement effective measures of recovery. Manuel Civera from Alcublas stressed the economic value of the natural and environmental resources as well as the food products that are provided by these inland towns. He also added that despite all the regional, national and European regulations depopulation has not been avoided, so there must be a real political effort to change the situation.

The representative of the town council of Enguera, Santiago Ar?valo, stated that 'there will be no society without a cohesion between the coastal zones and inland areas.' He also stressed the need to start new economic activities such as the use of forest biomass to produce energy.

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment/~3/XRSiZx1XvLU/121028160637.htm

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Storm leads companies to postpone earnings reports

NEW YORK (AP) ? A number of major U.S. companies postponed quarterly earnings reports scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, as Hurricane Sandy barreled into the East Coast and caused the first unplanned shutdown of financial markets since 2001.

Pfizer Inc., Thomson Reuters Corp., Time Warner Cable Inc., Tesla Motors Inc., Spirit Airlines Inc. and NRG Energy Inc. are among those holding financial reports until later this week.

Pfizer, Avon Products Inc., and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc., which were due to report Tuesday, will announce results Thursday. Thomson Reuters, also originally scheduled for Tuesday, will report Friday. NRG and McGraw-Hill Cos. will also report on Friday instead of Wednesday.

More companies delaying their announcements:

? Power provider Entergy Corp. will report on Nov. 5 instead of Tuesday.

? Biopharmaceutical Acorda Therapeutics Inc. will report results on Wednesday instead of Tuesday.

? Maintenance products distributor MSC Industrial Direct Co. will report results on Wednesday instead of Tuesday.

? Mortgage insurer Radian Group Inc. will report earnings on Thursday instead of Tuesday.

? Rudolph Technologies Inc., which makes measurement and process control software, will report results on Wednesday instead of Monday.

? Satellite radio provider Sirius XM Radio Inc. will report on Thursday instead of Tuesday.

? Commercial mortgage real estate investment trust Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance Inc. will report on Thursday instead of Tuesday.

? Office Depot Inc. will report on Nov. 6 instead of Tuesday.

At least 26 other companies also announced that they were postponing earnings announcements.

Some companies, including Burger King Worldwide Inc., Valero Energy Corp. and MasterCard Inc., are reporting as planned. Luggage maker Tumi Holdings Inc. said it will report its third-quarter results on Monday, but canceled its scheduled conference call because of Sandy.

Flooring and ceiling maker Armstrong World Industries Inc. posted its third-quarter results, but said it would reschedule its conference call to a later date.

Liberty Mutual Holding Co. canceled its conference call scheduled for Tuesday and said its financial results will be available on its web site as soon as possible.

The New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq and CME Group in Chicago closed Monday. Trading on the NYSE was last closed on Sept. 11, 2001. The last time it closed for a weather event was in 1985, when Hurricane Gloria hit the East Coast.

Stock trading will be closed in the U.S. for a second day Tuesday as the hurricane moves inland. Bond trading will also be closed. The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq said they intend to reopen on Wednesday and would keep investors updated.

This is the New York Stock Exchange's first weather-related consecutive-day closing since 1888, when a blizzard left drifts of snow as high as 40 feet in New York.

CME Group Inc., which operates exchanges that trade commodities, futures, options and securities related to interest rates, said its equity markets will be closed Tuesday. However, it will reopen its equity index futures and options on futures markets late Monday for overnight electronic trading.

CME's interest rate markets will reopen late Monday for overnight trading and remain open on Tuesday.

Hurricane Sandy strengthened and sped up as it approached the East Coast on a predicted path to make landfall by early Monday evening in southern New Jersey or Delaware.? putting it on a collision course with two other weather systems that would create a superstorm with the potential to wreak havoc over an 800-mile area, from the East Coast to the Great Lakes.

Parts of lower Manhattan near the Financial District are under mandatory evacuation orders. By Monday afternoon, flood waters from New York harbor had flooded the esplanade at Battery Park, a short walk south of the New York Stock Exchange.

Those conditions are expected to worsen over the next two days as the storm surge intensifies.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-10-29-Storm-Earnings/id-952c696cfe42493f8743611754380f20

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Family of asbestos victim win compensation | Personal Injury Claim ...

Monday, 29th October, 2012

The family of a man who died from cancer due to asbestos exposure have been awarded compensation.

In 2010, 82-year-old Peter Wilkins died of mesothelioma, an asbestos-related cancer that affects the lining of the lungs.

Mr Wilkins had already begun a claim for compensation against his old employers, Jewson, after he was diagnosed with the illness four months earlier.

After his death, his brothers and sisters continued to fight for compensation and won their battle two years later.

In an out of court payment, the family won ?70,000 compensation from Jewson, which is now trading as United Builders Merchants Ltd.

Mr Wilkins went to work for Jewson in 1976. Part of his duties involved cutting and repairing asbestos without safety advice, training, or protective clothing.

He had first started to show symptoms in 2008 but did not go to the doctor until his breathing became difficult.

His sister, Laura Harbour, 80 said: ?He was told he had mesothelioma when he had a scan at the hospital. They said it was due to asbestos.

?It wasn?t until he went to Harefield Hospital and they told him he didn?t have long to live, he just gave up, he didn?t eat.

?He could have had a lot more enjoyment out of life if he had survived to have the money.

?He wasn?t bitter, he never bore a grudge against anyone.?

The family solicitor said: ?Sadly Mr Wilkins? case is typical of what is happening now.

?Asbestos was widely used in the building industry in the 1960s and 70s and people who worked in the industry are now suffering as a result.

?The number of people dying from asbestos cancer is expected to peak in the next few years.?

Jewson declined to comment on the case.

?

Back to News Headlines

Source: http://www.claims4free.co.uk/compensation-claims-news/family-of-asbestos-victim-win-compensation/4531/

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New Pakistan outreach could aid Afghan peace deal

FILE - In this Aug. 5, 2012 file photo, Pakistani Taliban patrol in their stronghold of Shawal in the Pakistani tribal region of South Waziristan. Pakistan has stepped up outreach to some of its biggest enemies in Afghanistan, a significant policy shift that could prove crucial to U.S.-backed efforts to strike a peace deal in the war-torn country.The target of the diplomatic push has mainly been non-Pashtun political leaders who have been at odds with Pakistan for years because of the country's historical support for the Afghan Taliban, a Pashtun movement. (AP Photo/ Ishtiaq Mahsud, File)

FILE - In this Aug. 5, 2012 file photo, Pakistani Taliban patrol in their stronghold of Shawal in the Pakistani tribal region of South Waziristan. Pakistan has stepped up outreach to some of its biggest enemies in Afghanistan, a significant policy shift that could prove crucial to U.S.-backed efforts to strike a peace deal in the war-torn country.The target of the diplomatic push has mainly been non-Pashtun political leaders who have been at odds with Pakistan for years because of the country's historical support for the Afghan Taliban, a Pashtun movement. (AP Photo/ Ishtiaq Mahsud, File)

FILE - In this Monday, May 14, 2012, file photo, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, talks to reporters in Islamabad, Pakistan. Pakistan has stepped up outreach to some of its biggest enemies in Afghanistan, a significant policy shift that could prove crucial to U.S.-backed efforts to strike a peace deal in the war-torn country. The target of the diplomatic push has mainly been non-Pashtun political leaders who have been at odds with Pakistan for years because of the country?s historical support for the Afghan Taliban, a Pashtun movement. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed, File)

FILE-In this Nov 4, 2009 file picture Abdullah Abdullah, former Afghan Foreign Minister, gestures during a press conference in Kabul, Afghanistan. The influential politician, who was runner-up to Afghan President Hamid Karzai in the 2009 election, said Pakistani intelligence officials contacted him in previous years, but he refused to speak with them because he did not believe communication should be carried out in secret. Pakistan has stepped up outreach to some of its biggest enemies in Afghanistan, a significant policy shift that could prove crucial to U.S.-backed efforts to strike a peace deal in the war-torn country. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus, File)

FILE-In this Nov 4, 2009 file picture Abdullah Abdullah, former Afghan Foreign Minister, gestures during a press conference in Kabul, Afghanistan. The influential politician, who was runner-up to Afghan President Hamid Karzai in the 2009 election, said Pakistani intelligence officials contacted him in previous years, but he refused to speak with them because he did not believe communication should be carried out in secret. Pakistan has stepped up outreach to some of its biggest enemies in Afghanistan, a significant policy shift that could prove crucial to U.S.-backed efforts to strike a peace deal in the war-torn country. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus, File)

ISLAMABAD (AP) ? Pakistan has increased efforts to reach out to some of its biggest enemies in Afghanistan, a significant policy shift that could prove crucial to U.S.-backed efforts to strike a peace deal in the neighboring country.

The target of the diplomatic push has mainly been non-Pashtun political leaders who have been at odds with Pakistan for years because of the country's historical support for the Afghan Taliban, a Pashtun movement.

Many of the leaders fought against the Taliban when the fundamentalist Islamic group seized control of Afghanistan in the 1990s with Pakistan's help, and have accused Islamabad of maintaining support for the insurgents following the U.S.-led invasion in 2001 ? allegations denied by the government.

Many experts agree that Pakistan continues to see the Taliban as an ally, albeit a shaky one, in countering the influence of archenemy India in Afghanistan. But they also say Islamabad no longer believes the insurgents can take over the country or wants them to, a common misperception in the West.

"A Taliban victory on the other side of the border would give a huge boost to domestic militants fighting the Pakistani state," said Zahid Hussain, a journalist who has written extensively about Islamabad's war against the Pakistani Taliban.

Pakistan is also worried that unrest in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of most foreign troops in 2014 could provide the Pakistani Taliban with greater space to establish sanctuaries across the border.

The Afghan and Pakistani Taliban are allies but have focused on different enemies. The Afghan Taliban battle local and foreign forces in Afghanistan, while the Pakistani Taliban mainly wage war against Islamabad.

These concerns have led Pakistan to the conclusion that a peace agreement that includes all Afghan groups is in its best interests, and contact with its traditional foes among the non-Pashtuns is necessary to achieve that goal, said Moeed Yusuf, South Asia adviser for the United States Institute of Peace.

"I think the fundamental point here is that there is a serious realization among some people who matter in Pakistan that they can't continue to put all their eggs in the Taliban basket because it is too shaky," said Yusuf. "This is a major shift, and a shift that I think everybody should welcome."

The outreach comes as Pakistan, Afghanistan and the U.S. have stepped up efforts to breathe new life into the Taliban peace process, which has been hamstrung by distrust among all the parties involved.

The U.S. and Pakistan recently set up working groups to identify which Taliban leaders would be open to reconciliation and to ensure those holed up on Pakistani territory would be able to travel to the site of talks. Pakistan and Afghanistan have been in discussions to revive a joint commission set up to discuss the peace process.

Pakistan is seen as key to a peace deal because of its ties with the Taliban, and there is hope that Islamabad's increased engagement with non-Pashtuns in Afghanistan will facilitate the process.

"I think one of Pakistan's realizations is that if you want to play a bigger role to reconcile all these groups, you need to reach out to every group," said Rahimullah Yousufzai, a Pakistani journalist and expert on the Taliban. "They will be pushing the Taliban to share power with all these people, but it won't be easy because the Taliban aren't known to share power and the U.S. doesn't want to give them a major share."

Islamabad's historical support for the Taliban and other Pashtuns in Afghanistan, who make up about 40 percent of the population of 190 million, is partly rooted in the sizable number of Pashtuns who live in Pakistan. The ethnic group has always been seen as the best bet for furthering Pakistan's interests in the country.

Pakistan first advertised its overtures to non-Pashtuns in Afghanistan in February when Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar met with a range of ethnic Tajik, Uzbek and Hazara leaders during a visit to Kabul. Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf followed suit in July when he traveled to Afghanistan and invited the group to the opening of the new Pakistani Embassy in Kabul.

There have also been less publicized contacts by Pakistan's ambassador to Kabul, Mohammad Sadiq, and the country's army and intelligence service, according to Pakistani and Afghan officials.

Khar said the policy shift had been in the works for a while but was like a steering a large ship in a new direction.

"You're not able to do it immediately," said the foreign minister.

Pakistan's powerful army is the true arbiter of the country's Afghan policy, but experts expressed doubt that the Foreign Ministry would have pushed ahead without the support of the generals, who have historically had the closest relationship to the Taliban.

One key Afghan leader who has met with the Pakistanis, Abdullah Abdullah, said he appreciated the country's recent attempt to reach out because it was done publicly. The influential politician, who was runner-up to Afghan President Hamid Karzai in the 2009 election, said Pakistani intelligence officials contacted him in previous years, but he refused to speak with them because he did not believe communication should be carried out in secret.

"I see a lot of good in reaching out, in engagement, in dialogue," said Abdullah, who is half Pashtun but draws much of his support from the Tajik community.

The outreach has rattled the Taliban, who have warned Pakistani officials that they can't trust the non-Pashtuns, Yousufzai said.

Pakistan will have to overcome significant distrust among the non-Pashtuns. The government has old ties to some of the leaders, who worked with Pakistan in the 1980s to push the Soviets out of Afghanistan, but Islamabad's subsequent support for the Taliban created a huge amount of bad blood.

Despite that, the Pakistanis are hopeful.

"The Pakistani side's view of Afghan negotiations is that you kill on one day and kiss on the next, so while this will be very tough, they think that it's not entirely out of the realm of possibility that they may actually get somewhere," said Yusuf, the South Asia analyst.

____

Vogt reported from Kabul, Afghanistan.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-10-27-Pakistan-Afghan%20Outreach/id-1c9f588defa14ae5b7cdfe76e211de85

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Thoroughbred - Piano Magic - Large - Adult - Male - Horse ...

Thoroughbred - Piano Magic - Large - Adult - Male - Horse

***COURTESY POST*** Piano Magic is 6 year old bay Thoroughbred gelding and is a sweet one to handle but has issues with riding at this time. He's a big boy at 16.2H, needs some loving and a great pasture home as he is friends with all horses. Very beautiful and if he receives some loving will be able to be ridden in the next couple years. Not really a physical injury as much as a mental one, he needs loving, real loving and good care. Email [email removed] or call Bonnie at 815-979-4277 for more info. This handsome boy is located at a rescue in Illinois.

CHARACTERISTICS:
Breed: Thoroughbred
Size: Large
Petfinder ID: 24438394

CONTACT:
The Foxie G Foundation | Libertytown, MD

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Source: http://frederick.ebayclassifieds.com/livestock/libertytown/thoroughbred-piano-magic-large-adult-male-horse/?ad=24220271

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SJ's Wondolowski ties MLS record with 27th goal

Associated Press Sports

updated 7:12 p.m. ET Oct. 27, 2012

PORTLAND, Ore . (AP) - San Jose forward Chris Wondolowski has scored his 27th goal of the season, tying the MLS single-season record set by Roy Lassiter of Tampa Bay in 1996.

Wondolowski booted a penalty kick into the lower left corner of the net in the 24th minute to give the Earthquakes a 1-0 lead after Portland goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts was whistled for taking out Earthquakes forward Steven Lenhart in a race to secure the ball.

San Jose has already secured its second Supporters' Shield and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. It is the final regular-season match for both teams.

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

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More newsDrew Hallowell / Getty Images

NY throttles Philadephia 3-0

PST: The Red Bulls likely move out of an opening-round 4th-vs.-5th match, and they finally applied high pressure.

Red Bulls breeze past Union

??Kenny Cooper scored twice and Thierry Henry chipped in another goal as the New York Red Bulls breezed past the Philadelphia Union 3-0 to gain momentum heading into the MLS Cup playoffs.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/49582905/ns/sports-soccer/

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Hybrid Or Just High MPG? Which Car Is Right For You?

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As cars throughout the automotive spectrum get more efficient, it's an increasing dilemma for buyers looking to improve their gas mileage.

Just what should I buy? One of those fancy hybrids, or a regular, fuel-efficient car?

Different fuel efficient vehicles excel at different types of driving--and as we know, driving styles and conditions have quite an effect on gas mileage.

City driving

Driving in the city presents its own set of unique challenges, and driving conditions also vary from city to city.

Usually though, city driving means a few things: Slow traffic, plenty of time spent at a standstill with your engine wasting fuel, lots of punishment on your brakes, and plenty of stress.

Regular gasoline and diesel engines aren't perfect in city driving. Few feature stop-start systems to save fuel when caught in traffic, and every time you stop you're wasting energy--few regular cars have regenerative braking.

Hybrids are much more suited to this environment, though. Not only will all hybrids kill the engine when standing still, but full hybrids--like all Toyota and Ford hybrids, as well as some others--will allow you to travel on electricity alone at low speeds, while the battery lasts.

And the battery should last a decent distance in stop-start traffic, as each time you slow down, energy is put back into the pack.

Above all, driving a hybrid is relaxing in traffic--not just because virtually all hybrids are automatic, but because you'll be saving on gas bills--hybrids typically do their most economical work in city driving.

Highway driving

While some hybrids are known for their aerodynamic bodies, helping them achieve good gas mileage at constant higher speeds, highways have recently become the domain of another gas-sipping category--diesels.

Punchy, low-revving and efficient engines in modern diesels do their best work for long periods at constant throttle loads.

A long journey also helps a diesel engine get to its most efficient operating temperature, which takes a little longer than it does on gasoline vehicles.

Once you're sitting on the freeway, a modern diesel--from Volkswagen or BMW, for example--will happily chug away at low engine speeds, sipping gas but offering enough torque in reserve should you need an extra burst of speed. Not only that, but low revs also means low noise--you're much more likely to hear wind and tire roar than you are any sounds from the engine. It's not a bad way to travel, and you'll be using very little fuel too.

Source: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1080102_hybrid-or-just-high-mpg-which-car-is-right-for-you

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