Foot blisters and other damage occurs when you're running, hiking, dancing, or just using your feet for a long time because the skin chafes against your socks. Fortunately, redditor sawarahh that the bottoms of paintyhose can solve the problem.
All you have to do is cut off the bottom and layer it under your socks to prevent chafing. Although sawarahh wasn't able to post a source link, we were able to find confirmation that this tip works well from FitSugar, NBC News, and wikiHow. Army blog Stars and Stripes noted that it even worked well for soldiers who were on their feet all day long. If this works for the army, it should work just fine for you.
To prevent blisters during hikes or long walks, wear the bottoms of panty hose under your socks | Reddit
Images by Tribalium (Shutterstock) and http://www.shutterstock.com/pic.mhtml?id=84187342 (Shutterstock).
VIENNA - Diplomats tell The Associated Press that Iran plans to vastly increase the speed of its uranium enrichment program, which can make both reactor fuel and the core of nuclear warheads.
The diplomats say Iran has told the International Atomic Energy Agency that it wants to install thousands of high-technology machines at its main enriching site at Natanz, in central Iran. The machines can enrich two or three times faster than the present equipment being used by Tehran.
Iran denies any interest in nuclear weapons. It says it is enriching only to power reactors and for scientific and medical purposes.
The diplomats demanded anonymity because they are not allowed to divulge confidential information.
Now that the 2013 tax season has gotten into high gear, you may be considering using the services of an accountant- whether to help you with your tax preparation or to get your financial reporting in order.
But where and how should you start looking for the right candidate? Making a poor choice with a hired accountant can cause more headache and end up costing you more money than many of your other employees can because this person will have the ability to access and manipulate any sensitive financial data. So how do you find the right accountant for the job, especially if your knowledge of finance and accounting is limited?
Here are ten questions every small business owner should ask a prospective accountant before bringing this person on board:
1. Who are your clients and what industries are you familiar with??You want to be certain that your accountant understands your type of business and has experience working with clients within your industry. Companies in the construction industry, for example, will have a different setup and methods of operation that includes dealing with contractors and buying heavy machinery, than a restaurant or a store that may be dealing with tips and perishable inventory.
2. What is your availability??Are you looking for an accountant or an accounting firm to only help come tax time or are you looking for year-round help? Make sure that your accountant of choice follows the same schedule that you are looking for.
3. What are your qualifications??One of the things that you will need to determine before you go about hiring an accountant is what you expect to get out of the arrangement. Many financial experts suggest that small businesses hire a certified public accountant (CPA), because CPAs must go through rigorous certification requirements and will likely have more experience with broader financial planning issues. But, you have other options, such as an Enrolled Agent (EA). EAs are certified by the federal government specifically to handle taxes and are often former IRS agents with extensive experience dealing with audits. In some cases, a bookkeeper or professional tax preparer will be more than adequate.
4. Who will be doing the work??Be aware that many accountants outsource work to third parties. This can become an issue if you want to speak to someone who is familiar with your accounts. If you are working with an accounting firm, you should also find out who exactly will be processing your financial data.
5. What is your approach to accounting?? You want to find out how aggressive your prospective accountant is. Some accountants want to write off everything they possibly can, while others are more focused on avoiding the red flags that can lead to an IRS audit. Decide which approach appeals to you and your business and then make sure your hired account abides by the same philosophy.
6. How much do you charge??Some accountants have an hourly rate while others have a set fee for certain tasks. Make sure you are clear about their billing preferences and any other expenses before deciding to take someone on.
7. Can you give me advice about my accounting system??If your accountant has been working with businesses in your industry then he or she should have a working knowledge of what works and what doesn?t in terms of financial recording and reporting systems. This person should also be able to advise you on what accounting software programs to buy for business use.
8. How will we communicate and exchange information??Make sure you are clear about how you will send financial information and documentation to your accountant. Will you be physically meeting with this person or will the exchange of information and meetings be electronically?
9. How often will we communicate??Every accountant will be different when it comes to the frequency of communication as well. So make sure that you are clear about this from the beginning and that you can feel comfortable asking questions when you need to.
10. Can you tell me about such and such tax deduction??If the accountant you?re speaking with is unfamiliar with typical deductions or financial reporting terms, you should be wary because that might be a red flag that he or she isn?t knowledgeable enough to handle your business? financial accounts and information. ?
The halls of every middle school in America are filled with teenagers looking to find themselves, express themselves and fit in with the crowd. But it?s what happens at home, at night, that can lead to some of the problems those teens may put on display.
Seventh-graders who are exposed to alcohol ads on television ?- and who say they like the ads - may experience more severe problems related to drinking alcohol later in their adolescence, according to a study published Monday in the medical journal Pediatrics.
The study
Researchers at the School of Community and Global Health at Claremont Graduate University in California hypothesized that ?adolescents who like alcohol advertisements will be more likely to elaborate on the content of the ads (e.g., imagine themselves in the scene), and as a result, they will be more likely to be persuaded to try the product.?
As consenting adult consumers,?the more appealing an advertised product is, the more likely?it will be?purchased. Secondly ?? drinking is oftentimes thought of as cool, rebellious ? sometimes even an ?adult? thing to do. These two notions, taken together, can be a recipe for problems when it comes to children and alcohol.
Participants were recruited from 23 randomly-selected public middle schools in Los Angeles County. The seventh-grade students were preliminarily surveyed as to how often they watched 20 popular TV shows. Data on alcohol advertising during these programs was subsequently obtained from Nielsen Media Research.
The study?s authors then conducted follow-up surveys, which included still pictures from the television advertisements, none of which contained any brand names or logos. An open-ended item asked participants to write down what product was being advertised; independent judges decided whether responses were indeed related to the advertisement or not.
The survey also included three items to assess how much participants liked the alcohol ads they viewed on TV. The teens were asked if they thought the alcohol ads were funny or sexy, and whether they liked the alcohol ads better than other ads. ?These items,? explain the authors, ?measure an affective or emotional reaction to alcohol ads that has been useful in both the study of alcohol advertising and by the advertising industry in general to estimate the potential effectiveness of advertising copy.?
Results
?Exposure to advertising was found to have a significant correlation with alcohol use, particularly among girls,? the study concludes. ?Liking the ads was connected with alcohol-related problems (defined as not being able to do homework, getting into fights, neglecting responsibilities, or causing someone shame or embarrassment), particularly in boys. For both boys and girls, the more they were exposed to the ads and liked them, the more their alcohol use grew from seventh to 10th grade.? That, of course, leads to a greater potential for alcohol-related problems later on.
The researchers were also careful to consider additional factors, such as the total amount of time spent watching television, observing friends drinking, observing well-known adults drinking, age, gender, ethnicity, language, parents? occupation and education, as well as enrollment?in extracurricular sporting activities.
Asked for a response by CNN, Anheuser-Busch referred questions to the Beer Institute, which said a statement would be forthcoming. MillerCoors did not respond to a request for comment.
Recommendations
The study's authors recommend teaching children about "the design of persuasive messages in the media?to help the avoid undue influence by the media on their behaviors. Second, it is?important to have a comprehensive policy to limit the exposure of children to alcohol ads on television and on other media."
The urgency of finding a solution to the epidemic of underage drinking was underscored further by another study released Monday in Pediatrics. Researchers at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism found that in 2010, 36% of 10th graders drank, 28% binged, and 23% were drunk in the past month. Although 82% of the high school sophomores reported seeing a doctor in the past year, only 54% were asked about drinking, and just 17% were advised to reduce or stop drinking.
?Efforts are warranted to increase the proportion of physicians who follow professional guidelines to screen and counsel adolescents about unhealthy alcohol use and behaviors that pose health risks,? conclude the second study?s authors.
In the epigram to Christian de Duve?s Genetics of Original Sin: The Impact of Natural Selection on the Future of Humanity?we find a verse from the book of Genesis in the Hebrew Bible where ?the woman? eats the forbidden fruit of the tree, then gives it to the man. This act, said to represent the original sin, will be the leading symbol in de Duve?s account of humanity?s biological course. This is a thoroughly scientific account which employs biblical metaphors to put the story of humanity and biology in a philosophical context.
For de Duve, natural selection?s drive for competition and survival is the original sin, yet it may prove to be our species? redemption. (The theological metaphors he uses accord with the high stakes of his claims about the trajectory and future of humanity.) Our original sin is natural selection?s biological initiative that emphasizes gains for survival and flourishing in the short term. As a species we have developed biologically, cognitively, and culturally at lightning speed, acquiring and exploiting resources as hastily as our constraints would allow. As de Duve explains, the world?s resources can no longer support this, and we must use our other advantages as humans to solve the problem. Our primary advantage is the intelligence we developed.
This intelligence allowed humans to create culture which de Duve explains to us through the biological account. ?Between plucking termites with a denuded branch and splitting the atom,? he writes, ?between calling the group together under a tree with a howl and singing Saint Matthew?s Passion in the Sistine Chapel, the difference is one of brain size?? The author?s flair for such poetic details puts a spotlight on the subtle dynamic and creative processes of our biological history. It shows us both the mystery and logic of the scientific story. In a sense this account shows that humans are both special and not special as creatures in what we share and do not share with our animal cohorts. ?Unlike other living species,? explains de Duve, ?they [humans] have not achieved their successes by developing appropriate physical adaptations; they have done it with their intelligence.? Our particular intelligence has set us apart, and de Duve hopes it can help us figure out how to better manage our place on the planet.
De Duve reads this human propensity for competition as a central theme that reoccurs in all expressions of human civilization, showing us how it is born from our genes. In the achievements of human culture, the remarkable advancements, mastery and inventions we have made, even in leisure we may find this impulse of competition for survival. ?Even in peace,? writes de Duve, ?competition has remained, directly or by proxy, the widely, passionately, and, sometimes, violently practiced form of entertainment? The warring instinct is embedded in human nature.? The author cites war memorials and the wealth of artistic tributes to victory in public monuments scattered through the world.
Our human genetics have gotten us here, and they may get us out. Through the lens of biology, De Duve gives us a sweeping narrative of the rise and potential decline of the human species. While de Duve begins with a reference to the biblical account of original sin, yet another passage from Genesis comes to mind to describe the author?s story: ?And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.? Humanity, to the extent that we have subdued the natural world, is a ?successful? sort of species. This success is the source of tension and our potential capacity to solve the problem. Appealing to our intelligence as a species, de Duve suggests through this capacity we may be able to overcome our short-sightedness to make the difficult decisions that will allow for a viable future on this planet for those that come after us.
In the home of the 6-0 Chicago Blackhawks, the UFC had its sixth showing on Fox. In hockey's tradition, here are the Three Stars from the card.
No. 1 star ? Anthony Pettis: Once upon a time, Pettis was the WEC champion and had a shot at the UFC lightweight title. But then Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard fought to a draw and required a rematch, and Pettis lost to Clay Guida. But with a nasty liver kick that took out Donald Cerrone, Pettis showed he was still worthy of that title shot.
No. 2 star ? Ricardo Lamas: Speaking of title shots, Lamas made a convincing case on Saturday night for the featherweight belt. He used punishing ground and pound to make Erik Koch's face explode on the way to a TKO. Lamas has four wins in a row, and has earned the shot to be the next fighter with a shot at the featherweight belt after this weekend's fight between Edgar and champion Jose Aldo.
No. 3 star -? T.J. Grant: The lightweight division is stacked, but Grant's showing on Saturday night showed another fighter creeping into the top ranks. He elbowed his way to a win over Matt Wiman.
These are Cagewriter's Three Stars. Who are yours? Speak up in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter.
Artificial pancreas: The way of the future for treating type 1 diabetesPublic release date: 28-Jan-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Julie Langelier julie.langelier@ircm.qc.ca 514-987-5555 Institut de recherches cliniques de Montreal
IRCM researchers take an important step in making this promising approach a reality
Montral, January 28, 2013 IRCM researchers, led by endocrinologist Dr. Rmi Rabasa-Lhoret, were the first to conduct a trial comparing a dual-hormone artificial pancreas with conventional diabetes treatment using an insulin pump and showed improved glucose levels and lower risks of hypoglycemia. Their results, published today in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), can have a great impact on the treatment of type 1 diabetes by accelerating the development of the external artificial pancreas.
The artificial pancreas is an automated system that simulates the normal pancreas by continuously adapting insulin delivery based on changes in glucose levels. The dual-hormone artificial pancreas tested at the IRCM controls glucose levels by automatically delivering insulin and glucagon, if necessary, based on continuous glucose monitor (CGM) readings and guided by an advanced algorithm.
"We found that the artificial pancreas improved glucose control by 15% and significantly reduced the risk of hypoglycemia as compared with conventional insulin pump therapy," explains engineer Ahmad Haidar, first author of the study and doctoral student in Dr. Rabasa-Lhoret's research unit at the IRCM and at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at McGill University. "The artificial pancreas also resulted in an 8-fold reduction of the overall risk of hypoglycemia, and a 20-fold reduction of the risk of nocturnal hypoglycemia."
People living with type 1 diabetes must carefully manage their blood glucose levels to ensure they remain within a target range. Blood glucose control is the key to preventing serious long-term complications related to high glucose levels (such as blindness or kidney failure) and reduces the risk of hypoglycemia (dangerously low blood glucose that can lead to confusion, disorientation and, if severe, loss of consciousness).
"Approximately two-thirds of patients don't achieve their target range with current treatments," says Dr. Rabasa-Lhoret, Director of the Obesity, Metabolism and Diabetes research clinic at the IRCM. "The artificial pancreas could help them reach these targets and reduce the risk of hypoglycemia, which is feared by most patients and remains the most common adverse effect of insulin therapy. In fact, nocturnal hypoglycemia is the main barrier to reaching glycemic targets."
"Infusion pumps and glucose sensors are already commercially-available, but patients must frequently check the sensor and adjust the pump's output," says Mr. Haidar. "To liberate them from this sizable challenge, we needed to find a way for the sensor to talk to the pump directly. So we developed an intelligent dosing algorithm, which is the brain of the system. It can constantly recalculate insulin dosing based on changing glucose levels, in a similar way to the GPS system in a car, which recalculates directions according to traffic or an itinerary change."
The researchers' algorithm, which could eventually be integrated as software into a smart phone, receives data from the CGM, calculates the required insulin (and glucagon, if needed) and wirelessly controls the pump to automatically administer the proper doses without intervention by the patient.
"The system we tested more closely mimics a normal pancreas by secreting both insulin and glucagon," adds Dr. Laurent Legault, peadiatric endocrinologist and outgoing Director of the Insulin Pump Centre at the Montreal Children's Hospital, and co-author of the study. "While insulin lowers blood glucose levels, glucagon has the opposite effect and raises glucose levels. Glucagon can protect against hypoglycemia if a patient with diabetes miscalculates the necessary insulin dose."
"Our work is exciting because the artificial pancreas has the potential to substantially improve the management of diabetes and reduce daily frustrations for patients," concludes Dr. Rabasa-Lhoret. "We are pursuing our clinical trials to test the system for longer periods and with different age groups. It will then probably be introduced gradually to clinical practice, using insulin alone, with early generations focusing on overnight glucose controls."
###
About the study
This study was conducted with 15 adult patients with type 1 diabetes, who had been using an insulin pump for at least three months. Patients were admitted twice to the IRCM's clinical research facility and received, in random order, both treatments: the dual-hormone artificial pancreas and the conventional insulin pump therapy. During each 15-hour visit, their blood glucose levels were monitored as they exercised on a stationary bike, received an evening meal and a bedtime snack, and slept at the facility overnight.
Dr. Rabasa-Lhoret's research is funded by Diabetes Qubec, the Canadian Diabetes Association, and the IRCM's J.A. De Sve Chair in clinical research. IRCM collaborators who contributed to study published in CMAJ include Maryse Dallaire, Ammar Alkhateeb, Adle Coriati, Virginie Messier and Maude Millette. For more information on the study, please refer to the article summary published online by CMAJ: http://www.cmaj.ca/content/early/2013/01/28/cmaj.121265.abstract.
About diabetes
Type-1 diabetes is a chronic, incurable disease that occurs when the body doesn't produce enough or any insulin, leading to an excess of sugar in the blood. It occurs most often in children, adolescents or young adults. People with type-1 diabetes depend on insulin to live, either through daily injections or with a pump. Diabetes is a major cause of vision loss, kidney and cardiovascular diseases.
According to the Canadian Diabetes Association, an estimated 285 million people worldwide are affected by diabetes, approximately 10 per cent of which have type 1 diabetes. With a further 7 million people developing diabetes each year, this number is expected to hit 438 million by 2030, making it a global epidemic. Today, more than 9 million Canadians live with diabetes or prediabetes.
About Dr. Rmi Rabasa-Lhoret
Dr. Rmi Rabasa-Lhoret completed his doctoral degree (MD) with a specialization in endocrinology, metabolism and nutrition at the Universit Montpellier in France. He then obtained a PhD in food sciences, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in physiology and molecular biology. At the IRCM, Dr. Rabasa-Lhoret is Director of the Metabolic Diseases research unit, Director of the Diabetes, Metabolism and Obesity clinic, and Director of the research platform on obesity, metabolism and diabetes. He is an associate professor in the Department of Nutrition at the Universit de Montral. He is also adjunct professor in the Department of Medicine (Division of Experimental Medicine) at McGill University. Dr. Rabasa-Lhoret is a Clinical Research Scholar from the Fonds de recherche du Qubec Sant and holds the J.A. DeSve Chair in clinical research. For more information, visit www.ircm.qc.ca/rabasa.
About the IRCM
Founded in 1967, the IRCM is currently comprised of 37 research units in various fields, namely immunity and viral infections, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, cancer, neurobiology and development, systems biology and medicinal chemistry. It also houses three specialized research clinics, eight core facilities and three research platforms with state-of-the-art equipment. The IRCM employs 425 people and is an independent institution affiliated with the Universit de Montral. The IRCM Clinic is associated to the Centre hospitalier de l'Universit de Montral (CHUM). The IRCM also maintains a long-standing association with McGill University.
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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.
Artificial pancreas: The way of the future for treating type 1 diabetesPublic release date: 28-Jan-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Julie Langelier julie.langelier@ircm.qc.ca 514-987-5555 Institut de recherches cliniques de Montreal
IRCM researchers take an important step in making this promising approach a reality
Montral, January 28, 2013 IRCM researchers, led by endocrinologist Dr. Rmi Rabasa-Lhoret, were the first to conduct a trial comparing a dual-hormone artificial pancreas with conventional diabetes treatment using an insulin pump and showed improved glucose levels and lower risks of hypoglycemia. Their results, published today in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), can have a great impact on the treatment of type 1 diabetes by accelerating the development of the external artificial pancreas.
The artificial pancreas is an automated system that simulates the normal pancreas by continuously adapting insulin delivery based on changes in glucose levels. The dual-hormone artificial pancreas tested at the IRCM controls glucose levels by automatically delivering insulin and glucagon, if necessary, based on continuous glucose monitor (CGM) readings and guided by an advanced algorithm.
"We found that the artificial pancreas improved glucose control by 15% and significantly reduced the risk of hypoglycemia as compared with conventional insulin pump therapy," explains engineer Ahmad Haidar, first author of the study and doctoral student in Dr. Rabasa-Lhoret's research unit at the IRCM and at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at McGill University. "The artificial pancreas also resulted in an 8-fold reduction of the overall risk of hypoglycemia, and a 20-fold reduction of the risk of nocturnal hypoglycemia."
People living with type 1 diabetes must carefully manage their blood glucose levels to ensure they remain within a target range. Blood glucose control is the key to preventing serious long-term complications related to high glucose levels (such as blindness or kidney failure) and reduces the risk of hypoglycemia (dangerously low blood glucose that can lead to confusion, disorientation and, if severe, loss of consciousness).
"Approximately two-thirds of patients don't achieve their target range with current treatments," says Dr. Rabasa-Lhoret, Director of the Obesity, Metabolism and Diabetes research clinic at the IRCM. "The artificial pancreas could help them reach these targets and reduce the risk of hypoglycemia, which is feared by most patients and remains the most common adverse effect of insulin therapy. In fact, nocturnal hypoglycemia is the main barrier to reaching glycemic targets."
"Infusion pumps and glucose sensors are already commercially-available, but patients must frequently check the sensor and adjust the pump's output," says Mr. Haidar. "To liberate them from this sizable challenge, we needed to find a way for the sensor to talk to the pump directly. So we developed an intelligent dosing algorithm, which is the brain of the system. It can constantly recalculate insulin dosing based on changing glucose levels, in a similar way to the GPS system in a car, which recalculates directions according to traffic or an itinerary change."
The researchers' algorithm, which could eventually be integrated as software into a smart phone, receives data from the CGM, calculates the required insulin (and glucagon, if needed) and wirelessly controls the pump to automatically administer the proper doses without intervention by the patient.
"The system we tested more closely mimics a normal pancreas by secreting both insulin and glucagon," adds Dr. Laurent Legault, peadiatric endocrinologist and outgoing Director of the Insulin Pump Centre at the Montreal Children's Hospital, and co-author of the study. "While insulin lowers blood glucose levels, glucagon has the opposite effect and raises glucose levels. Glucagon can protect against hypoglycemia if a patient with diabetes miscalculates the necessary insulin dose."
"Our work is exciting because the artificial pancreas has the potential to substantially improve the management of diabetes and reduce daily frustrations for patients," concludes Dr. Rabasa-Lhoret. "We are pursuing our clinical trials to test the system for longer periods and with different age groups. It will then probably be introduced gradually to clinical practice, using insulin alone, with early generations focusing on overnight glucose controls."
###
About the study
This study was conducted with 15 adult patients with type 1 diabetes, who had been using an insulin pump for at least three months. Patients were admitted twice to the IRCM's clinical research facility and received, in random order, both treatments: the dual-hormone artificial pancreas and the conventional insulin pump therapy. During each 15-hour visit, their blood glucose levels were monitored as they exercised on a stationary bike, received an evening meal and a bedtime snack, and slept at the facility overnight.
Dr. Rabasa-Lhoret's research is funded by Diabetes Qubec, the Canadian Diabetes Association, and the IRCM's J.A. De Sve Chair in clinical research. IRCM collaborators who contributed to study published in CMAJ include Maryse Dallaire, Ammar Alkhateeb, Adle Coriati, Virginie Messier and Maude Millette. For more information on the study, please refer to the article summary published online by CMAJ: http://www.cmaj.ca/content/early/2013/01/28/cmaj.121265.abstract.
About diabetes
Type-1 diabetes is a chronic, incurable disease that occurs when the body doesn't produce enough or any insulin, leading to an excess of sugar in the blood. It occurs most often in children, adolescents or young adults. People with type-1 diabetes depend on insulin to live, either through daily injections or with a pump. Diabetes is a major cause of vision loss, kidney and cardiovascular diseases.
According to the Canadian Diabetes Association, an estimated 285 million people worldwide are affected by diabetes, approximately 10 per cent of which have type 1 diabetes. With a further 7 million people developing diabetes each year, this number is expected to hit 438 million by 2030, making it a global epidemic. Today, more than 9 million Canadians live with diabetes or prediabetes.
About Dr. Rmi Rabasa-Lhoret
Dr. Rmi Rabasa-Lhoret completed his doctoral degree (MD) with a specialization in endocrinology, metabolism and nutrition at the Universit Montpellier in France. He then obtained a PhD in food sciences, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in physiology and molecular biology. At the IRCM, Dr. Rabasa-Lhoret is Director of the Metabolic Diseases research unit, Director of the Diabetes, Metabolism and Obesity clinic, and Director of the research platform on obesity, metabolism and diabetes. He is an associate professor in the Department of Nutrition at the Universit de Montral. He is also adjunct professor in the Department of Medicine (Division of Experimental Medicine) at McGill University. Dr. Rabasa-Lhoret is a Clinical Research Scholar from the Fonds de recherche du Qubec Sant and holds the J.A. DeSve Chair in clinical research. For more information, visit www.ircm.qc.ca/rabasa.
About the IRCM
Founded in 1967, the IRCM is currently comprised of 37 research units in various fields, namely immunity and viral infections, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, cancer, neurobiology and development, systems biology and medicinal chemistry. It also houses three specialized research clinics, eight core facilities and three research platforms with state-of-the-art equipment. The IRCM employs 425 people and is an independent institution affiliated with the Universit de Montral. The IRCM Clinic is associated to the Centre hospitalier de l'Universit de Montral (CHUM). The IRCM also maintains a long-standing association with McGill University.
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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.
News.., Politics, Research, TFN Top News ? By SSmith on 29/01/2013 2:57 pm
CHARITY leaders across the UK are overwhelmingly sceptical to the idea of the Big Society.
Research by the Third Sector Research Centre?(TSRC) has looked in depth at how third sector practitioners on the ground responded to the idea of the Big Society.
Respondents were highly critical of the language and ideas behind the Big Society and positive comments were few and far between.
Among other things, it was seen as confusing, challenged by the reality of everyday life and a contradiction in the face of public spending cuts. Some saw it as an illegitimate co-option of existing community and voluntary activities.
Big society was seen as something politicians, policy officials and media commentators talk about, rather than being related to real life on the ground in communities and the voluntary sector.
However, the research notes that despite this scepticism, respondents were aware of potential opportunities and often sought to position their organisations and activities alongside and in relation to the Big Society.
Rob Macmillan, who led the TSRC research, said: ?Politicians and policy makers are often encouraged to set out clear narratives explaining their vision for the direction of society. But they should tread carefully. If these stories fail to offer compelling and realistic scenarios, they are in danger of being derided or dismissed. The fact that voluntary organisations engaged in the Big Society narrative despite their scepticism highlights their engagement with public policy ? but politicians and policy makers need to engage with the sector in ways which make sense in everyday life and at the frontline.?
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Tags: Big Society, Rob Macmillan, spending cuts, TFN 719 - 1 February 2013, TSRC, UK
Jan. 28, 2013 ? How does being in a position of power at work, with friends, or in a romantic relationship influence well-being? While we might like to believe the stereotype that power leads to unhappiness or loneliness, new research indicates that this stereotype is largely untrue: Being in a position of power may actually make people happier.
Drawing on personality and power research, Yona Kifer of Tel Aviv University in Israel and colleagues hypothesized that holding a position of authority might enhance subjective well-being through an increased feeling of authenticity. The researchers predicted that because the powerful are able to "navigate their lives in congruence with their internal desires and inclinations," they feel as if they are acting more authentically -- more "themselves" -- and thus are more content.
Their findings are published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
In their first experiment, the researchers surveyed over 350 participants to determine if internal feelings of power are associated with subjective well-being in different contexts: at work, with friends, or in romantic relationships.
The results indicated that people who feel powerful in any context tend to be more content.
The most powerful people surveyed felt 16% more satisfied with their lives than the least powerful people. This effect was most pronounced in the workplace: Powerful employees were 26% more satisfied with their jobs than their powerless colleagues. The power-based discrepancy in happiness was smaller for friendships and romantic relationships. The researchers posit that this may be because friendships are associated with a sense of community rather than hierarchy, and therefore having power in this kind of relationship is less important.
In the second and third experiments, Kifer and colleagues examined the causal relationship between power, feelings of authenticity, and general well-being, by manipulating each of the factors independently. The results revealed that being in a position of power causes people to feel more authentic and "true to themselves" -- that is, it allows their actions to more closely reflect their beliefs and desires. Feelings of authenticity, in turn, enhance subjective feelings of well-being and happiness.
"By leading people to be true to their desires and inclinations -- to be authentic -- power leads individuals to experience greater happiness," the researchers conclude.
Kifer and colleagues propose that future research into power dynamics, happiness, and authenticity should focus on specific kinds of power, both positive (such as charisma) and negative (such as punishment).
Together, these findings suggest that even the perception of having power can lead people to live more authentic lives, thereby increasing their happiness and well-being.
Co-authors on this research include Daniel Heller of Tel Aviv University, Wei Qi Elaine Perunovic of University of New Brunswick, and Adam Galinsky of Columbia Business School.
This research was supported by grants from the Henry Crown Institute of Business Research in Israel and by a Harrison McCain Young Scholar award.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Association for Psychological Science.
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Journal Reference:
Y. Kifer, D. Heller, W. Q. E. Perunovic, A. D. Galinsky. The Good Life of the Powerful: The Experience of Power and Authenticity Enhances Subjective Well-Being. Psychological Science, 2013; DOI: 10.1177/0956797612450891
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
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Going to be in the market for a new Direct Connect device soon, but the current offerings seem so... drab? Enter the Kyocera Torque, the latest Sprint smartphone featuring the network's CDMA-based Push-to-Talk service. The phone, which should be available sometime in early March, brings with it LTE connectivity, (mostly) stock Android 4.0, a 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 Plus processor, HD Voice, 4-inch WVGA display, 4GB internal storage and a 2,500mAh battery. As you'd come to expect on a Direct Connect device, it's also certified mil-spec 810G and IP67 and is water-resistant (it can be in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes). It's also the first on this side of the Pacific to utilize Kyocera's Smart Sonic Receiver tissue-conduction tech, a system that foregoes the traditional earpiece and transmits audio to your ear via vibration.
The Torque packs a lot of average features that would likely put it somewhere in the mid-range (we haven't been given pricing yet), but it's definitely not going to win any beauty awards -- it's still a Direct Connect device, after all. Its outer layer is dressed with Dura-Grip and the phone is plenty bulky as a result; however, it's also much more durable than your standard piece of electronics. We threw the phone at the wall, slammed it repeatedly on the table, dunked it in water and even let it sit in ice for at least 20 minutes, all without incident.
On the software side, the Torque uses a version of stock Android 4.0 with only a small amount of tweaking. Essentially, the only major change added in by Sprint and Kyocera is Eco Mode, a power management system on the Torque that blocks background data connections for nonessential apps. We've put together a gallery of pics for you below. Follow us past the break for a full spec listing and our hands-on video.
Kyocera Torque specs:
Military spec 810G and IP67-certified
IPX5 / IPX7-certified "waterproof" (up to one meter for 30 minutes)
We've?talked before?about using a longer passcode on your iPhone instead of a 4-digit pin, but as the tech blog Digital Inspiration points out, adding in accented characters adds yet another level of security.
The idea is that most people aren't going to bother dealing with accented characters (if you hold down on a letter, the available accented characters show up) when they're trying to guess your password. To use these, you first have to turn on the alphanumeric passcode. Just head into Settings > General > Passcode Lock, and turn off Simple Passcode. You'll be asked to enter in a new password, so throw in a few accented characters. It might make it a bit of a pain to enter in your passcode, but at least it's more secure.
Certificate in Business Management ? 2 Day Intensive Course
This programme aims to provide candidates with the right management skills, knowledge and competence that is relevant to professionals as Entrepreneurs or Employees working within any organisation across any business setting.
The programme will enhance participants? business knowledge; develop their business management and general administration skills in any kind of company. Emphasis will be given throughout the programme to:
Developing the participants? awareness and understanding of contemporary business activities and office management within and across business functions.
Developing the skills of participants so that their employment potential is enhanced across different business sectors and in a range of administrative and management roles.
Assisting participants with their current and future personal and career development.
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?Institute of Customer Service of Nigeria (ICSN www.customerservicenigeria.org )
Premium Education International Centre, Nigeria (PEI Centre www.peicentre-ng.com )
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Carrington Heritage Centre for Professional Development United Kingdom (CHCPD UK www.chcpd.com)
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Certificate in Business Management
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Professionals across all business sectors and Entrepreneurs.
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Programme modules include:
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MODULE TITLE
01
Forms of Businesses
02
Starting a Business
03
Financing Small Businesses
04
Important Activities of a Business
05
Office Management
06
Customer Service
07
Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
08
Case Studies
09
Business Enterprise sessions
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Mr. Fela Odueyungbo (MBA; MNIM):
Head of Department for Business Administration, Ronik Polytechnic Ejigbo, Lagos. He obtained his degree and MBA from the University of Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State. He has taught as senior lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, Pass Associates, Lagos State Polytechnic Jibowu and Thames Business School Yaba. He has written books in the field of Management and has made useful contributions to several other books, scholarly Journals in the field of Management and Business practice.
Mrs. Barbara Ukpabi (LLB; LLM; MSc; MCISA):
Visiting Lecturer for the Carrington Heritage Centre for Professional Development United Kingdom (CHCPD UK). She obtained her degree and Masters at the University of Hull, UK. She also attained a MSc in Corporate Governance from the Bournemouth University UK and is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA), Institute of Customer Service of Nigeria (ICSN). She is also Centre Manager for Premium Education International Centre, Nigeria.
Mr. Alwell Nwaehibe (MPA; ICSN):
Senior Lecturer for the Institute of Customer Service of Nigeria. He obtained his Undergraduate and Postgraduate degree in Public Administration from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Benefits of the Programme:
You qualify for Certification into the Membership of the Institute of Customer Service of Nigeria (ICSN www.customerservicenigeria.org ).
?You qualify for Membership of National Association of Customer Service Practitioners of Nigeria.
Exposure to businesses with little startup capital and good profit margins (Business Enterprise sessions).
Access to soft loans (without collaterals) to start small scale enterprise.
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Premium Education International Centre, 114B Ilupeju Street, Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos.
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2 days (Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd February, 2013)
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N37, 500.00 (includes registration, tuition, study materials, certificate, refreshments and quick start business enterprise sessions).
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Application form can be picked up from:
Address: Premium Education International Centre, 114B Ilupeju Street, Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Email request: info@peicentre-ng.com
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Account Name: Premium Education International Limited
Bank: GTbank
Account No: 0009277022 (215 793 941 110)
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SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION FORMS:
Duly completed application forms with required supporting documents must be submitted at 114B Ilupeju Street, Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Enquires: 07044647545, 07089996801, 08063098860
ENROL TODAY AS SPACES LIMITED ON THE PROGRAMME. DO NOT MISS THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY!
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The Nationals unveiled a new racing president Saturday afternoon, one with a built-in connection to baseball and the kind of physique that could provide some comedic value.
William Howard Taft "agreed to terms" to be the Nationals' fifth racing president, "pending a physical," the club announced Friday night. Apparently the rotund, 300-pound, 27th Commander-in-Chief was cleared by doctors, because he was unveiled to the public Saturday afternoon at NatsFest.
Taft joins George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt in the expanded racing presidents shtick, highlighted by the nightly race in the middle of the fourth inning. "Bill," as the mascot will be called, already has a built-in rivalry with Teddy, who in 1912 attempted to defeat his successor for the Republican Party nomination and ultimately chose to create the "Bull Moose" Party and run as a third-party candidate. (Both wound up losing to Democrat Woodrow Wilson.)
Taft also has a strong connection to baseball. On April 14, 1910, he threw out the first pitch before the Senators' game against the Athletics, the first president to perform that ceremonial task. Every sitting president since (except for Jimmy Carter) has maintained the tradition.
Urban legend also claims Taft inadvertently created the seventh-inning stretch on that same 1910 day at Griffith Stadium when bored with the ballgame he left his seat in the middle of the seventh inning and later returned. The crowd stood as one, believing the president to be leaving the game early, and thus by accident created one of baseball's greatest traditions.?
Clarksville, TN ? The weekly Clarksville Parks and Recreation Department Recreation Report provides Clarksvillians with a glimpse at the activities and events that are available from the Parks and Recreation Department for them to enjoy together as a family.
This weeks highlights include:
Nominate a Coach TODAY!
Youth Recreation Leagues ? Baseball, Blastball?, Softball and T-ball
Indoor Aquatic Center to host event just for toddlers
Surrender of Clarksville
Nominate a Coach TODAY!
Nominations are now being accepted for the 3rd Annual Clarksville Sports Legends Awards. The City of Clarksville Parks and Recreation Department will once again honor both current and past coaches who are or have made a unique difference and solid contribution to sports and athletics in the Clarksville-Montgomery County area.
Winning coaches will be honored at the 2012 Legends Award Dinner which will be held February 28th, 2013, beginning at 6:30pm at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center. Coaches that are currently coaching or coached in 2012 are invited to attend this free event.
A ticket is required to attend and can be reserved at the City of Clarksville Parks and Recreation main office or online at www.cityofclarksville.com/legends. Because of space limitations, there are only 200 tickets available. Last day to pick up a ticket is February 22nd.
Nomination forms are available to pick up at the Clarksville Parks and Recreation Main Office, downloaded or completed online at www.cityofclarksville.com/legends. All nomination forms must be received by 4:30pm, February 1st.
Youth Recreation Leagues
Baseball, Blastball?, Softball and T-ball
You can register your child at any of our community centers or at the Main office beginning February 6th through March 30th for our Youth Recreation Leagues. The baseball, softball, and t-ball league is open to youth ages 5 to 12.
Your child?s birth certificate is required at registration. All games are played at Heritage Park Baseball Fields.
The cost to play in any of the youth recreation leagues is $40.00 per child and includes team shirt, hat and medal.
Once again, for the 3 to 4 year olds, we will be offering Blastball?. This fun alternative to traditional t-ball uses a ?honking? base to entertain younger players- adding excitement to the game. It concentrates on developing a child?s running, hitting, catching, fielding, and throwing skills.
Indoor Aquatic Center to host event just for toddlers
The Indoor Aquatic Center, located at 166 Cunningham Lane, is excited to host the first-ever Toddler Splash on February 6th. Kids, ages 1 to 5-years-old, can enjoy fun such as a water parade, penny hunt, water games, crafts and even a ?fishing pond.?
The event is open to children ages 1-5 from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Cost to attend is $3.00 per person, including adults. A parent or adult guardian must accompany toddlers in the water.
Pre-registration is available at recpro.cityofclarksville.com and is strongly encouraged.
Surrender of Clarksville
The Fort Defiance Interpretive Center, located at 120 Duncan Street, will host a living history weekend to commemorate the 151st anniversary of the Surrender of Clarksville, Saturday, February 16th from 10:00am to 4:00pm and Sunday, February 17th from 1:00pm to 4:00pm.
Come see uniformed Civil War re-enactors from the 50th Tennessee Reenactment Group who will provide living history and musket firing demonstrations. Musket firing demonstrations will take place at 11:00am and 2:00pm on Saturday, and 1:00pm and 3:00pm on Sunday. Visitors can also tour the permanent exhibit which includes the 18-minute film, ?Crossroads of Change 1861-1865?.
This two-day event is free and open to the public. Visit www.fortdefianceclarksville.com for more information.
Filed Under Community Topics: Birth Certificate, Blastball, civil war, Clarksville Parks and Recreation Department, Clarksville Sports Legends Awards, Clarksville TN, Clarksville-Montgomery County Area, Crossroads of Change, Cunningham Lane, Duncan Street, Fort Defiance Civil War Park and Interpretive Center, Fort Defiance Interpretive Center, Heritage Park, Heritage Park Baseball Fields, Indoor Aquatic Center, Legends Award Dinner, Reenactors, Registration, Surrender of Clarksville, Toddler Splash, Wilma Rudolph Event Center, Youth Baseball Leagues, Youth Blastball League, Youth Softball Leagues, Youth T-Ball League
MIAMI (CBSMiami) ? Numerous Republican governors, including Rick Scott, have rejected expanding Medicaid as part of the Affordable Care Act. But a quirk in the law could force governors into a tough spot of denying health coverage to U.S. citizens, but giving it to legal immigrants.
The issue first came to light a few weeks ago when Arizona Governor Jan Brewer broke ranks and said her state would be accepting the Medicaid expansion in the law known as Obamacare. Brewer had been a vocal opponent of the law, but her budget analysts caught the glitch.
A spokeswoman for Governor Scott said he is, ?concerned about how legal immigrants and U.S. citizens are treated differently under the president?s healthcare law, which we continue to learn more about.?
The expansion of Medicaid in Florida was quickly rejected by Governor Scott after last year?s Supreme Court decision upheld Obamacare, but allowed states to opt out of the Medicaid expansion. However, Scott has since backed away from that position in recent months, but still hasn?t accepted the expansion.
The Medicaid expansion would be fully paid for by the federal government initially and then roughly 90 percent would be covered by the federal government in several years.
The quirk was an unintended consequence of the Supreme Court?s ruling on the law.
Here?s the convoluted background:
Starting Jan. 1, 2014, the health care law will offer health insurance to millions of people now uninsured. Middle-class uninsured people will be able to get taxpayer-subsidized private policies through new markets called exchanges. Low-income uninsured people will be steered to Medicaid, a government program jointly funded by Washington and the states.
Under previous laws, legal immigrants have to wait five years to qualify for Medicaid. Ng?andu said Hispanic advocacy groups wanted to lift that restriction during the 2009 congressional health care debate, but couldn?t get political support. The Medicaid waiting period remained in place, but a compromise was reached that would allow low-income legal immigrants to get subsidized private coverage in the new health insurance exchanges.
The health care law expanded Medicaid to cover millions of low-income adults who are ineligible under current rules. As written, the law assumed that every state would accept the Medicaid expansion, with Washington paying for most of it. So the law stipulated that people below the federal poverty line ? $11, 170 for a single person, $23,050 for a family of four? could not get subsidies for private coverage in the exchanges. Medicaid was to be their only option.
Legal immigrants here for less than five years remained an exception.
Along came the Supreme Court. It upheld Obama?s law, but ruled that states were free to accept or reject the Medicaid expansion. The court did not touch the issue of coverage for legal immigrants in the health insurance exchanges. That provision remained in place.
And that?s how the immigration glitch came to be. Poor people in a state that turns down Obama?s Medicaid expansion can only get government subsidized coverage if they are legal immigrants. U.S. citizens are out of luck.
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January 25, 2013? | ? Posted by : Amber Rudd MP? | ? News,slider ? | ? 0 Comment?
Pett Sports Association will receive ?47,435 to refurbish the sports pavilion at the Recreation Ground at the heart of small East Sussex village, Pett, just outside Hastings. This funding will help deliver new, high quality facilities for the local cricket team, as well as full disabled access and more sustainable heating and power. The pavilion extension will include a new functions room that it is hoped will be used by all members of the local community for social and sporting activities. And as a result, a new junior cricket side will play at Pett for the first time this year.
Local MP, Amber Rudd, said: ?This investment by Sport England into Pett Sports Association as part of our Olympic legacy is fantastic news. Pett has always had a strong sports tradition, and this money will help them expand their cricket and other activities to more people from the village and from the surrounding area, including Ore on the edge of Hastings where I know how great the need is for more activities for young people.?
Pett Sports Association Secretary, Philippa Strickland, said: ?We are delighted to have secured this investment, which means we can upgrade our facilities to meet the ever increasing needs of the local community, especially the young people for whom the cricket club is such an important and positive activity. We still have more funding to raise, but intend to start work on the Pavilion in October, as soon as this new cricket season finishes, and have the new facilities ready for the 2014 season.?
The Inspired Facilities fund is part of the ?135 million Places People Play legacy programme that is bringing the magic of a home Olympic and Paralympic Games into communities across the country. Every sports facility that receives funding will carry the London 2012 Inspire mark ? celebrating the link to the Games.
Sport England?s Chair,Richard Lewis, said: ?This National Lottery investment will create a lasting sporting legacy for East Sussex.
?This fund has really hit the mark with sports clubs in the South East. It shows we?re offering the legacy that people want for their local community. For hundreds of clubs and tens of thousands of people, 2013 will be the year their local sports facilities got better.?
LOCOG Chair, Seb Coe, said: ?This is a fantastic funding project that will deliver a real legacy from the London 2012 Games.? It will provide a whole range of sporting opportunities for young people through improved facilities and will I hope inspire them to take up sport.?
Amber is pictured with members of the Pett Sports Association at the Pavilion.
White House spokesman Jay Carney on Friday tried to dismiss the court decision that has torpedoed President Barack Obama?s efforts to rewrite financial and labor regulations.
?The court decided a case brought by a company, and the decision applies to that case [and] does not apply more broadly,? Carney insisted during his Jan. 25 daily press briefing.
But the decision could invalidate hundreds of controversial rules and regulations issued since January 2012 by the National Labor Relations Board and the Consumer Finance Protection Board.
?This decision now casts serious doubt?on whether the president?s ?recess? appointment of Richard Cordray to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ? is constitutional,? said a statement from Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Republican Senate leader, who has supported the lawsuit against Obama?s appointments.
?The decision is novel and unprecedented,? Carney countered. ?It contradicts 150 years of practice by Democratic and Republican administrations, [and] we respectfully but strongly disagree with the ruling.?
Carney did not say if the administration will appeal.
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Appeals Court in D.C. on Friday declared that President Obama?s attempted appointments in January 2012 of three people to National Labor Relations Board violated the Constitution?s rule that gives the Senate sole authority to declare when it is in session.
In January 2012, Obama said he could appoint the officials without getting Senate confirmation, because the Senate was in recess at the time. The Constitution allows the president to make short-term appointments when the Senate is out of session.
If the court?s decision stands ? it is likely to be reviewed at some point by the U.S. Supreme Court ? all of the board?s 2012 decisions will be vulnerable to lawsuits that argue the board?s decisions were based on votes by people who were never confirmed to the board.
More importantly, the court?s decision suggests that regulations issued in 2012 by the Consumer Finance Protection Board are also invalid. That?s because Obama also claimed in January 2012 to have appointed Richard Cordray to run the bureau.
Cordray?s appointment allowed the bureau ? whose processes and decisions are largely immune from congressional or judicial oversight ? to issue a series of regulations on the financial sector that subordinate their profit-seeking goals to the federal government?s political agenda.
For example, the bureau has issued a rule which disadvantages banks that charge higher interest rates to unreliable borrowers. Without that basic ability to raise or lower interest rates, banks will try to protect their shareholders by minimizing lending to risky borrowers, or by raising interest rate on all borrowers, including diligent and reliable borrowers.
Cordray?s appointment is especially sensitive to lawsuits, because the law which established the bureau said its primary regulatory powers would only be activated when the Senate confirms the first director.
Walmart was quick to dismiss the Black Friday strikes at their stores as a failure, claiming it had record Black Friday sales regardless. But last week, Walmart's U.S. president and CEO Bill Simon made an announcement that led some Walmart organizers to believe they were finally handed a victory.
At the National Retail Federation's annual convention last week, Simon announced that the store was planning to make it easier for associates to work more hours, if they wanted. That got little coverage in the press, which focused on Walmart's pledge to hire 100,000 veterans and sell more Made in U.S.A. products.
Derrick Plummer, a spokesman for Making Change at Walmart, the campaign to improve conditions at the chain, said the announcement was "no coincidence," following months of campaigning by OUR Walmart, the union-backed advocacy group. In a written statement, Plummer called it "a victory for the nearly half a million Walmart workers who will be affected" and "a key victory for a cause championed from the very beginning of OUR Walmart."
Giving part-timers "first shot" at full-time
One of the most common grievances from Walmart employees has been that they are unable to work the number of hours they would like. Workers like Charlene and Greg Fletcher (pictured above) say they want to work full-time, but Walmart gave them just 32 hours in a good week.
(An employee at Walmart needs to work an average of at least 34 hours a week in order to be eligible for health benefits after 180 days on the job. Part-timers are eligible after a year, and only if they work an average of 30 hours a week.)
More: Walmart Hiring Plan Excludes Nearly 1 Million Unemployed Veterans
Walmart spokesman Kory Lunberg denied that the strikes last November had any role in the decision. "I think our president and CEO Bill Simon said it best," he remarked. "He's tired of retail jobs being put down, and retail workers. It's an opportunity to underscore the importance that associates play at Walmart. One big thing that Walmart offers is opportunity."
At the press conference, Simon said that the policy-change was in response to negative press that retail jobs, and in particular Walmart jobs, had received. He explained that Walmart is making its scheduling more transparent, so that associates could add more hours with greater ease. The world's largest retail chain is also developing a system, Simon added, to alert its associates to full-time openings at their store, or nearby ones, and will be giving those part-time employees the "first shot" at getting those jobs.
More: Walmart Black Friday Strike: Could It Slay The Retail Giant?
"We're all tired of retail jobs being put down, as if retail workers can't judge for themselves what a good job is," Simon declared at the conference. "There are some fundamental misunderstandings about jobs in retail, and we need to do a better job of explaining what opportunities we have to offer."
Walmart spokesman Lunberg couldn't say exactly what this new system of transparency and visibility would look like, however, stating that "we're still putting the final touches on that," but workers would likely see the improvements within six months.
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Jan. 24, 2013 ? NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has for the first time used the camera on its arm to take photos at night, illuminated by white lights and ultraviolet lights on the instrument.
Scientists used the rover's Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) instrument for a close-up nighttime look at a rock target called "Sayunei," in an area where Curiosity's front-left wheel had scuffed the rock to provide fresh, dust-free materials to examine. The site is near where the rover team plans to begin using Curiosity to drill into a rock in coming weeks. The images of the rock Sayunei and of MAHLI's calibration target were taken on Jan. 22 (PST) and received on Earth Jan. 23.
The MAHLI, an adjustable-focus color camera, includes its own LED (light-emitting diode) illumination sources. Images of Sayunei taken with white-LED illumination and with illumination by ultraviolet LEDs are available online at: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimages/details.php?id=PIA16711 and http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimages/details.php?id=PIA16712 .
"The purpose of acquiring observations under ultraviolet illumination was to look for fluorescent minerals," said MAHLI Principal Investigator Ken Edgett of Malin Space Science Systems, San Diego. "These data just arrived this morning. The science team is still assessing the observations. If something looked green, yellow, orange or red under the ultraviolet illumination, that'd be a more clear-cut indicator of fluorescence."
NASA's Mars Science Laboratory project is using Curiosity to investigate whether the study area within Gale Crater has offered environmental conditions favorable for microbial life. JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the Mars Science Laboratory mission for the NASA Science Mission Directorate, Washington. For more information about the mission, visit http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/msl , http://www.nasa.gov/msl and http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl .
Follow the mission on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/marscuriosity and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/marscuriosity .
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