Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/o94g3xc3tKE/130730123247.htm
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Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Full body illusion is associated with a drop in skin temperature
[unable to retrieve full-text content]Researchers used virtual reality technology with a specialized robotic system to test what happens when the mind is tricked into identifying with another body.
Asheville pair arrested in church theft
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Source: http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20130731/NEWS01/130731003/1001/NEWS
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Kansas City Mayor Sly James says he and several others are traveling to Boston i...
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JP Morgan to pay $410 Million for manipulating California energy market
JP Morgan to pay $410 Million for manipulating California energy market
JP Morgan Ventures Energy Corporation, a unit of the giant New York banking company JP Morgan Chase & Co., has agreed to pay a fine and refund ?unjust? profits totaling $410 million, the federal government says.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
July 30, 2013
11:43am
?? Engaged in manipulative bidding strategies
?? Wringing money out of old power plants
JP Morgan Ventures Energy Corporation, a unit of the giant New York banking company JP Morgan Chase & Co., has agreed to pay a fine and refund ?unjust? profits totaling $410 million, the federal government says.
That, says the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, will settle its complaint that the Morgan unit manipulated the California and Michigan electric markets from September 2010 through November 2012.
FERC investigators determined that JP Morgan Ventures Energy Corporation engaged in 12 manipulative bidding strategies designed to make profits from older power plants that were usually out of the money in the marketplace because they were inefficient.
FERC investigators further determined that JPMVEC knew that the California Independent System Operator and the Midcontinent Independent System Operator received no benefit from making inflated payments to the company, thereby defrauding the ISOs by obtaining payments for benefits that the company did not deliver beyond the routine provision of energy.
FERC investigators also determined that JPMVEC?s bids displaced other generation and altered day ahead and real-time prices from the prices that would have resulted had the company not submitted the bids.
Under the agreement, JPMVEC will pay a civil penalty of $285 million to the U.S. Treasury and disgorge $125 million in unjust profits. The first $124 million of the disgorged profits will go to ratepayers in the California Independent System Operator, which operates the California electricity market. The other $1 million will go to ratepayers in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator.
JP Morgan Ventures Energy Corporation admits the facts set forth in the agreement, but neither admits nor denies the violations, says FERC. The company did, however, agree to waive claims for additional payments from the California ISO relating to two of the strategies under investigation.
JP Morgan Ventures Energy Corporation also will conduct a comprehensive assessment by outside counsel of its policies and practices in the power business.
The case stems from multiple referrals to FERC from the California ISO and MISO market monitors in 2011 and 2012 regarding JP Morgan Ventures Energy Corporation?s bidding practices. These practices were the subject of four emergency tariff filings by the California ISO and MISO, each of which was approved by the Commission.
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Monday, July 29, 2013
Scientists from Mainz and Antananarivo describe Lavasoa Dwarf Lemur as new primate species
![[ Back to EurekAlert! ]](http://www.eurekalert.org/images/back2e.gif){kind=small}
Public release date: 29-Jul-2013[ | E-mail |
Share ] Contact: Dr. Andreas Hapke
ahapke@uni-mainz.de
49-613-139-22723
Johannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz
Diversity of dwarf lemur species previously underestimated
The island of Madagascar harbors a unique biodiversity that evolved due to its long-lasting isolation from other land masses. Numerous plant and animal species are found solely on Madagascar. Lemurs, a subgroup of primates, are among the most prominent representatives of the island's unique fauna. They are found almost exclusively on Madagascar. The only exceptions are two species of the genus Eulemur that also live on the Comoros Islands, where they probably have been introduced by humans. Thanks to extensive field research over the past decades, numerous previously unknown lemur species have been discovered. Dwarf lemurs in turn received relatively little attention to date and the diversity within this genus is still not well known. Researchers of the universities of Mainz and Antananarivo have investigated lemur populations in southern Madagascar. Based on fieldwork and laboratory analyses, they now identified a previously unknown species of dwarf lemur. The findings of the research project have recently been published in the journal Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution.
"Together with Malagasy scientists, we have been studying the diversity of lemurs for several years now," said Dr. Andreas Hapke of the Institute of Anthropology at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU). "It is only now that we were able to determine that some of the animals examined represent a previously unknown species." The newly described Lavasoa Dwarf Lemur (Cheirogaleus lavasoensis) inhabits three isolated forest fragments in the extreme south of Madagascar. According to current knowledge, it does not occur outside this area. The exact population size is unknown. Preliminary estimates indicate that there are less than 50 individuals remaining. The Lavasoa Dwarf Lemur is thus rare and extremely endangered.
The lifestyle of dwarf lemurs makes them extremely difficult to study as these nocturnal forest dwellers often remain in the upper parts of the forest canopy. Moreover, they hibernate for several months during the austral winter. Their main period of activity is the rainy season, when many of the forests they inhabit are virtually inaccessible to scientists. Nevertheless, the researchers were able to carefully capture a total of 51 dwarf lemurs in live traps at nine locations for this study and to take minute tissue samples before releasing the animals back into their natural habitat.
The tissue samples were subjected to molecular-genetic analyses at the Institute of Anthropology at Mainz University. The data generated through the process were then compared with data already published by other research groups. "The new data from southern Madagascar enabled us to significantly enlarge existing datasets," explained Dana Thiele of the JGU Institute of Anthropology. "We then used extensive data analyses to examine the genetic diversity in two closely related lemur genera, the mouse lemurs (Microcebus) and the dwarf lemurs (Cheirogaleus). The comparison showed that the species diversity of dwarf lemurs is greater than previously thought."
Andreas Hapke and Refaly Ernest, working as a local field assistant for the project, had discovered the first individuals of the Lavasoa Dwarf Lemur during a field study in Madagascar in 2001. Few genetic data from other parts of the island were available for comparison at that time. The animals were thus initially assigned to an already known species, Cheirogaleus crossleyi. Only now it was possible to ascertain that the Lavasoa Dwarf Lemur is a distinct species.
###
[ | E-mail | Share ] ?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Public release date: 29-Jul-2013[ | E-mail |
Share ] Contact: Dr. Andreas Hapke
ahapke@uni-mainz.de
49-613-139-22723
Johannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz
Diversity of dwarf lemur species previously underestimated
The island of Madagascar harbors a unique biodiversity that evolved due to its long-lasting isolation from other land masses. Numerous plant and animal species are found solely on Madagascar. Lemurs, a subgroup of primates, are among the most prominent representatives of the island's unique fauna. They are found almost exclusively on Madagascar. The only exceptions are two species of the genus Eulemur that also live on the Comoros Islands, where they probably have been introduced by humans. Thanks to extensive field research over the past decades, numerous previously unknown lemur species have been discovered. Dwarf lemurs in turn received relatively little attention to date and the diversity within this genus is still not well known. Researchers of the universities of Mainz and Antananarivo have investigated lemur populations in southern Madagascar. Based on fieldwork and laboratory analyses, they now identified a previously unknown species of dwarf lemur. The findings of the research project have recently been published in the journal Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution.
"Together with Malagasy scientists, we have been studying the diversity of lemurs for several years now," said Dr. Andreas Hapke of the Institute of Anthropology at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU). "It is only now that we were able to determine that some of the animals examined represent a previously unknown species." The newly described Lavasoa Dwarf Lemur (Cheirogaleus lavasoensis) inhabits three isolated forest fragments in the extreme south of Madagascar. According to current knowledge, it does not occur outside this area. The exact population size is unknown. Preliminary estimates indicate that there are less than 50 individuals remaining. The Lavasoa Dwarf Lemur is thus rare and extremely endangered.
The lifestyle of dwarf lemurs makes them extremely difficult to study as these nocturnal forest dwellers often remain in the upper parts of the forest canopy. Moreover, they hibernate for several months during the austral winter. Their main period of activity is the rainy season, when many of the forests they inhabit are virtually inaccessible to scientists. Nevertheless, the researchers were able to carefully capture a total of 51 dwarf lemurs in live traps at nine locations for this study and to take minute tissue samples before releasing the animals back into their natural habitat.
The tissue samples were subjected to molecular-genetic analyses at the Institute of Anthropology at Mainz University. The data generated through the process were then compared with data already published by other research groups. "The new data from southern Madagascar enabled us to significantly enlarge existing datasets," explained Dana Thiele of the JGU Institute of Anthropology. "We then used extensive data analyses to examine the genetic diversity in two closely related lemur genera, the mouse lemurs (Microcebus) and the dwarf lemurs (Cheirogaleus). The comparison showed that the species diversity of dwarf lemurs is greater than previously thought."
Andreas Hapke and Refaly Ernest, working as a local field assistant for the project, had discovered the first individuals of the Lavasoa Dwarf Lemur during a field study in Madagascar in 2001. Few genetic data from other parts of the island were available for comparison at that time. The animals were thus initially assigned to an already known species, Cheirogaleus crossleyi. Only now it was possible to ascertain that the Lavasoa Dwarf Lemur is a distinct species.
###
[ | E-mail | Share ] ?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-07/jgum-sfm072913.php
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TripAdvisor Beats Earnings Estimates in Q2
TripAdvisor Inc. (TRIP) reported adjusted second quarter 2013 earnings of 47 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 41 cents on higher revenues. The adjusted earnings per share exclude one-time items but include stock-based compensation expense.
Revenues
TripAdvisor reported revenues of $246.9 million in the second quarter, up 25.3% from the year-ago period. The increase was driven by continued strong hotel shopper growth and strength across product suite. Related-party revenues from Expedia Inc. (EXPE) totaled $54.3 million, down 2.5% year over year.
Revenues by Product
Revenues from Click-based advertising were $182.8 million, up 21% from the year-ago quarter and represented 74% of total revenue. Revenues from Display-based advertising were $31.4 million, up 18% year over year, and comprised 13% of total revenue. Subscription, transaction and other revenues totaled $32.7 million, up 68% year over year, and represented 13% of total revenue.
Revenues by Geography
Geographically, on a year-over-year basis, Americas (North America and Latin America) totaled $143.5 million, representing 59.0% of revenues. Revenues from the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region were $73.4 million, constituting 30% of total revenue, while revenues from the Asia-Pacific region totaled $30.0 million, representing 12.0% of total revenue.
Operating Results
TripAdvisor reported operating expenses of $140.1 million, up 34.6% from $104.1 million incurred in the year-ago quarter. General & administrative, selling & marketing expense, and technology & content expenses, all were up as a percentage of sales from the year-ago quarter. The net result was a GAAP operating margin of 38.1% compared with 42.5% in the year-ago quarter.
Reported pre-tax income was $89.9 million, up from $76.7 million in the year-ago quarter. Pre-tax margin decreased 250 basis points year over year to 36.4%.
On a GAAP basis, TripAdvisor recorded a net profit of $67.0 million or 46 cents per share compared with $53.0 million or 37 cents per share in the year-ago quarter.
TripAdvisor generated adjusted net profit of $68.2 million compared with $54.2 million in the year-ago quarter. Pro forma earnings per share came in at 47 cents compared with 38 cents in the last quarter.
Balance Sheet & Cash Flow
TripAdvisor exited the second quarter with cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of approximately $396.1 million versus $406.2 million in the prior quarter. Accounts receivables were $138.0 million, up from $113.3 million in the prior quarter.
Cash flow from operations was $89.6 million versus $61.8 million in the year-ago quarter. Capex was $14.3 million versus $5.9 million in the year-ago quarter. Free cash flow increased 34.9% year over year to $75.3 million.
Our Take
Tripadvisor, Inc. is an online travel research company, which continues to witness robust top-line growth in every quarter. The company delivered a decent second quarter, with both earnings and revenues above the prior-year figures, helped by a stronger travel market all over the world.
Though we are encouraged by the company?s strong fundamentals and improvement in traffic and hotel shoppers in the quarter, management states that the new investment in a brand marketing campaign will likely impact revenue and EBITDA growth in the near term.
We believe the opportunity in the Asia-Pacific region is significant and is likely to remain one of the strongest drivers of the company?s business over the next few quarters, since online penetration in many Asia-Pacific markets remains relatively low.
However, lack of visibility and macro uncertainty may keep the share price range bound in the near term. Over the long term, TripAdvisor is well positioned for growth, given its expanding user base, improving margins and increasing monetization of social and mobile platforms.
Currently, TripAdvisor has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Investors can also consider some other stocks with positive Zacks Rank and expected surprise prediction or ESP (Read: Zacks Earnings ESP: A Better Method).
InvenSense Inc. (INVN), Earnings ESP of +8.33% and a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy)
Gartner Inc. (IT), Earnings ESP of +1.96% and a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy)
Read the Full Research Report on EXPERead the Full Research Report on IT
Read the Full Research Report on TRIP
Read the Full Research Report on INVN
Zacks Investment Research
More From Zacks.com
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/tripadvisor-beats-earnings-estimates-q2-124001541.html
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The Mayor Of Crack Calls Weiner ?Good Democrat,? Unloads On Geraldo: ?Stop The Bullsh*t? On My Past
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Sunday, July 28, 2013
Sports briefs: Pondexter hosting hoops camp ... San Joaquin Valley Match Play ... Jim Otto at Raiders booster event
Pondexter, Griffins hosting hoops camp Saturday morning
Memphis Grizzlies shooting guard Quincy Pondexter and the Fresno Griffins will host a free basketball camp Saturday for boys and girls ages 7-17.
The camp will take place from 8 a.m. to noon at Romain Park, 745 N. First St.
Pondexter, a former prep star at Memorial High, coached the Griffins on Friday in an ABA exhibition game against the Central Valley Titans (Exeter).?
Paniccia/Stieler top-seed team for match play
Danny Paniccia and Mike Stieler shot 9-under 63 Friday in stroke play to lead the field in stroke play at the San Joaquin Valley 4-Ball Match Play Championship at Riverside Golf Course
Paniccia and Stieler, winners of the 47th annual NCGA Four-Ball Championship in May at Pebble Beach, will be the top seed for Saturday's quarterfinal and semifinal rounds.
The 36-hole championship is scheduled for Sunday.
Tulare/Kings Raiders boosters hosting Jim Otto
Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Raiders great Jim Otto is the scheduled special guest for the Oakland Raiders Boosters of Tulare and Kings counties? kick-off barbecue scheduled for noon to 5 p.m. today at Visalia Plaza Park Arbor No. 1.
Details: Eliseo Zepeda at (559) 901-7406.
Source: http://www.fresnobee.com/2013/07/26/3409216/sports-briefs-pondexter-hosting.html
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Brazil Crop Numbers Good News For Florida
Published: Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 11:39 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 11:39 p.m.
WINTER HAVEN | While Florida citrus growers nervously watch their groves for the impact of citrus greening disease on the young 2013-14 crop, they can take heart that early signs point to a good year for farm prices.
This season's orange crop in Sao Paulo state, Brazil's primary growing area for juice oranges, is projected to decline to 290 million boxes, a 26 percent drop from the 2012-13 season, according to a recently released report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service office in that country.
The Brazilian harvest generally runs from July to January, so its 2013-14 season has begun. The Florida citrus harvest begins in October and ends in June. A smaller Brazilian crop should put upward pressure on farm prices for Florida oranges once the new harvest begins in October, said Matt Salois, an economist and director of economic and market research at the Florida Department of Citrus.
"It's a good thing having a lower crop as the Brazilians are; it will support Florida growers and processors," Salois said. "In general, things are looking up for a strong OJ market again next season."
Because orange juice is a global market, what happens in Brazil, which supplies more than half of the world's OJ, affects Florida citrus economics, Salois and Spreen agreed.
Every year, Florida juice processors buy about 95 percent of the state's orange crop, and they account for more than 30 percent of global OJ and more than 80 percent of the orange juice sold in the U.S. Brazil exports 98 percent of its OJ, most of it to Europe, but also accounts for about half of this country's imported orange juice.
Tom Spreen, emeritus professor in agricultural economics at the University of Florida and an authority on the state's citrus industry, offered a less bullish forecast of the declining Brazilian crop.
Last year's Brazilian crop had little effect on Florida prices, Spreen said, because that country's three large OJ processors were determined to keep global OJ supplies down to support higher prices.
"I think basically they're going to play the same hand they played last year, and that was pretty neutral in Florida," he said.
The three Brazilian processors ? CitroSuco Paulista S.A., Sucocitrico Cutrale Ltd. and Louis Dreyfus Citrus Inc. ? account for virtually all of the country's OJ exports. They also own Florida processing plants in Lake Wales, Auburndale and Winter Garden, respectively, that account for about half of Florida's OJ production.
Salois and Spreen agreed that one factor could bollix their forecasts: what the Brazilian processors do with the burgeoning OJ inventories they've accumulated in recent years as a result of a government price-support program.
Brazilian processors currently hold an inventory of about 1 billion gallons, equal to the entire OJ output from a single Florida citrus season, the economists said.
If they decide to significantly draw down that inventory by increasing exports, it would depress retail OJ prices, and thus farm prices for oranges.
"I think there will be a strong upward push on (farm) prices, mitigated by what the Brazilians do with their inventory," Salois said.
But Salois and Spreen agreed Brazilian processors have little incentive to flood the world market with orange juice because it would hurt their own economic position.
"I think what they have in mind is to control the world market and control price," Spreen said. "They would draw down inventory only if consumer demand picks up."
Consumer demand has declined in the U.S. and Europe for most of the last decade, and neither economist predicted that trend would reverse in 2013-14.
Polk County leads the state's citrus-producing counties with 82,572 grove acres and 9.9 million trees in 2012, according to the most recent USDA data. It led the state in citrus production in the 2011-12 season with 31.2 million boxes.
[ Kevin Bouffard can be reached at kevin.bouffard@theledger.com or at 863-401-6980. Read more on Florida citrus on his Facebook page, Florida Citrus Witness, http://bit.ly/baxWuU. ]
Source: http://www.theledger.com/article/20130725/newschief/130729518
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Scott: NCAA changes can come without confrontation
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) ? Larry Scott of the Pac-12 joined the chorus of commissioners calling for sweeping change in the NCAA, and said it can happen without confrontation and with the five most powerful football conferences still competing on the field with the other five.
Scott was the last of the leaders of the big five conferences to make a public push for NCAA reforms that will allow the schools with the most resources to have more freedom to determine how they use them.
"I don't think of it as much of an us vs. them situation as maybe is the impression out there," Scott said Thursday as the Pac-12 wrapped up a mini-media days on the East Coast that included their football coaches appearing on ESPN. "I'm certainly aligned with what you heard from my colleagues this week in terms of the need for transformative change, but I think it can be evolutionary and not revolutionary.
"I don't think it will be as confrontational and controversial a process as some of the reports I have heard this week."
NCAA President Mark Emmert told The Indianapolis Star on Thursday that he agrees with Scott and his fellow commissioners, and vowed significant changes to the way rules and policies are made.
"There's one thing that virtually everybody in Division I has in common right now, and that is they don't like the governance model," Emmert told the Star. "Now, there's not agreement on what the new model should be. But there's very little support for continuing things in the governing process the way they are today."
Emmert told the Star he will call for a Division I summit in January to discuss revamping how Division I is run.
Scott, Mike Slive of the Southeastern Conference, John Swofford of the Atlantic Coast Conference, Bob Bowlsby of the Big 12 and Jim Delany of the Big Ten have taken turns at football media days around the country over the past week calling for changes to the way the NCAA passes legislation since .
The most notable issue has been a $2,000 stipend that would be added to the athletic scholarship to cover the full-cost of college attendance. The big five conferences want to be able to give the stipend to all scholarship athletes.
"Schools that have resources and want to be able to do more for student-athletes are frustrated, concerned that we're being held back from doing more for the student-athletes in terms of the stipend," Scott said.
The stipend was shot down by some of the less wealthy NCAA Division I schools that might not be able to afford it. There are 349 schools in Division I, 125 at the highest level of college football called FBS.
"The idea that there is an even playing field in terms for resources is a fanciful and quaint notion," Scott said.
Scott compared the stipend being stymied to the delays in bringing instant replay to college football in 2000s.
"Instant replay took longer than it needed to get into college football because not everyone could do it," he said. "There are still some schools out there whose conferences can't afford instant replay. It doesn't strike me that the world's fallen in or that it's created some crisis just because everyone can't have instant replay."
Scott said university presidents that make up the NCAA board of directors will talk about reform when they meet next month. Proposals could come later this year.
Scott said he still wants FBS to have a "so-called big tent," with more than just the top five conferences being included.
"That's why the reports of a possible breakaway and things like that are overcooked," he said. "That's not anyone's agenda."
He said the move toward more nine-game conference schedules and an emphasis on strength of schedule in the upcoming College Football Playoff will naturally lead to fewer games between the big five conferences and the other five FBS leagues (Mountain West Conference, American Athletic Conference, Sun Belt, Mid-American Conference and Conference USA). But there will still be competition between the two groups.
What is likely to decrease are games between FBS and FCS teams and so-called guarantee games, when a school from a power conference pays hundreds of thousands of dollars to a school from a lesser conference to play a road game.
Some FCS and lower-level FBS programs, especially those in the Sun Belt and MAC, rely on those guarantee game payouts to fund their athletic programs and losing them could be a problem.
"I'm not very sympathetic. I just don't think the concept of buy games is a healthy thing for college football or for fans," Scott said. "It's been a quirk in the system that they've benefited from and good for them. I certainly don't feel like it's an entitlement or right they have. To me that's not a higher priority than creating higher quality college football matchups.
"There is plenty of socialized revenue distribution through the NCAA."
___
Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/scott-ncaa-changes-come-without-confrontation-192803758.html
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Friday, July 26, 2013
Indie Craft Parade adds more makers
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Source: http://greenvilleonline.com/article/20130725/ENT/307250058/-1/rss
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5 charged in 'largest hacking and data breach scheme' bust in US
hackers 
18 hours ago
Four Russian nationals and a Ukrainian have been charged with running a sophisticated hacking organization that over seven years penetrated computer networks of more than a dozen major American and international corporations, stealing and selling at least 160 million credit and debit card numbers, resulting in losses of hundreds of millions of dollars.
Indictments were announced Thursday in Newark, where U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman called the case the largest hacking and data breach scheme ever prosecuted in the United States.
The victims in a scheme that allegedly ran from 2005 until last year included the electronic stock exchange Nasdaq; 7-Eleven Inc.; JCPenney Co.; the New England supermarket chain Hannaford Brothers Co.; JetBlue; Heartland Payment Systems Inc., one of the world's largest credit and debit processing companies, French retailer Carrefour S.A., and the Belgium bank Dexia Bank Belgium.
The indictment says the suspects sent each other instant messages as they took control of the corporate data, telling each other, for instance: "NASDAQ is owned." At least one man told others that he used Google news alerts to learn whether his hacks had been discovered, according to the court filing.
The defendants were identified as Russians Vladimir Drinkman, Aleksander Kalinin, Roman Kotov and Dmitriy Smilianets, and Ukrainian Mikhail Rytikov. Authorities say one suspect is in the Netherlands and another is due to appear in U.S. District Court in New Jersey next week. The whereabouts of the three others were not immediately clear.
The prosecution builds on a case that resulted in a 20-year prison sentence in 2010 for Albert Gonzalez of Miami, who often used the screen name "soupnazi" and is identified in the new complaint as an unindicted co-conspirator. Other unindicted co-conspirators were also named.
Prosecutors identified Drinkman and Kalinin as "sophisticated" hackers who specialized in penetrating the computer networks of multinational corporations, financial institutions and payment processors.
Kotov's specialty was harvesting data from the networks after they had been penetrated, and Rytikov provided anonymous web-hosting services that were used to hack into computer networks and covertly remove data, the indictment said.
Smilianets was the information salesman, the government said.
All five are charged with taking part in a computer hacking conspiracy and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The four Russian nationals are also charged with multiple counts of unauthorized computer access and wire fraud.
The individuals who purchased the credit and debit card numbers and associated data from the hacking organization resold them through online forums or directly to others known as "cashers," the indictment said. According to the indictment, U.S. credit card numbers sold for about $10 each; Canadian numbers were $15 and European ones $50.
The data was stored on computer servers all over the world, including in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California, Illinois, Latvia, the Netherlands, Bahamas, Ukraine, Panama and Germany.
The cashers would encode the information onto the magnetic strips of blank plastic cards and cash out the value, by either withdrawing money from ATMs in the case of debit cards, or running up charges and purchasing goods in the case of credit cards.
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Get Great Results With These Practical Home Improvement Tips ...
TIP! Instead of laminate floors, consider real wood. Even though laminates may look like real wood and are easier to manage, they can?t be refinished.
A lot of people are scared to modify their homes on their own. This is because it can be costly, messy and time-consuming. Doing your background work on a project can minimize potential problems once you begin. Most improvement projects are actually very simple when you do your homework. Following are a few tips to help you along your way.
TIP! Even beginning home improvers can find benefit in fixing a leaky faucet. The simple act of repairing faucets can reduce leaks, keeping water from being wasted.
Be certain your air conditioner?s filters is kept clean. A clogged up filter can really use a lot more energy to run. This could lead to longer than necessary running time and costs. To prevent a buildup of dust and debris, change the AC or furnace filter monthly.
TIP! Think about adding insulation during your next round of home improvements. Install weather stripping materials around doors as well as windows.
If you use mud for drywall you can put texture on your walls and hide problems. Texturing is simple. Use a trowel to apply the joint compound, and then dab with a sponge, brush, or a crunched up newspaper to add some texture.
TIP! If you are updating or improving your kitchen and will be working in the vicinity of a fireplace or gas line, it is extremely important that you shut off the gas before starting your project. Although your gas is shut-off, it is still important to use extreme caution when working around gas lines.
Doing a home project requires the right tool for the job. Using proper tools makes it easy to do the job right the first time without unnecessary effort. It is also important that you know how to ptoperly use the tools your are going to be dealing with.
TIP! If you are contracting with someone to do home improvement projects, make it a point to request their references. You will be allowing someone to come into your home and make changes; therefore, it is important to check them out thoroughly.
When you start a new home improvement project, be careful that you don?t demolish things too quickly. Check for structural integrity in the wall cavity before you remove something. If you find electrical components, it might cost a lot to repair any issues you have created.
TIP! You could greatly improve your home?s safety by educating your family members when it comes to safety escape routes. If you have a fire or earthquake, your natural inclination is going to be to panic.
If you have an attic, insulate it to save on winter heating costs. Heat will rise and you lose a lot of it out of your roof if it is not insualted. Most hardware stores sell insulation, and installing it yourself is relatively simple.
TIP! Save money by purchasing a drain snake. This will help you avoid buying drain cleaners so often.
To make your home improvement project a success, always hire a licensed contractor. Contractors are required by law to have some certifications. Although having these requirements does not mean they are very skilled, they?re still required by law. If a contractor isn?t adequately licensed, you don?t want to hire him.
TIP! There are lots of various dangers to be wary of when taking on a home improvement project. Any drywall manufactured in China should be avoided.
Is your lawn plagued with spots where grass does not grow? If that?s the case, buy some grass seeds to revitalize your lawn. A lawn that looks even can truly improve your yard. Resurrect your lawn today.
TIP! Every six months, you need to drain the water from your water heater. When maintained well, your water heater runs better and lasts longer.
When selecting a home improvement contractor, make sure you are shopping around for estimates and that those estimates are really comparable. Make a list of everything that you will need the contractor to do, and make sure not to add or take anything off when getting the estimates. If your list changes, you will not be able to accurately compare the prices you are given.
TIP! A good way to make your home look good is to replace the door handles. You will not have to spend more than one or two hours working on this.
If your project involves taping sheetrock, make sure the knife you are using is composed of stainless steel. Purchasing a high quality knife for your project can be well worth the investment because it is more efficient to use, cleans easily and will last for years to come. When properly cared for, a taping knife will last a lifetime.
TIP! It?s of the utmost importance to never rely on simply eyeballing a measurement, angle, or surface to be level when you?re doing woodworking. You should always use your tape measure, your speed square, and your level.
As this article has shown, there are many ways to alleviate the fears associated with home improvement projects. The information provided here can help you stay on track and on budget. Learning more about home improvement is the only way to gain the confidence you need to get started on a project and do your best to increase the value of your home.
Source: http://www.floorkitchenbath.com/get-great-results-with-these-practical-home-improvement-tips/
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Walmart's India fallout started with allegations of bribery in Mexico http://bit...
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Source: http://www.facebook.com/EconomicTimes/posts/10151514738132694
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Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Senior Test Engineer - Perm - ?45-?55k - London (West)
Our client is a global organisation who is looking for a Senior Test Engineer to join one of their teams in a new position. This Senior Test Engineer will have extensive recent experience with Linux / UNIX applying solid Perl / Shell scripting experience. The Senior Test Engineer will have extensive experience of manual testing and will have the ability to analysis data and compare use MS Excel producing graphs for reporting. Our client has a high data environment so it would be key for this role to have experience within large data projects with demanding software releases.
Benefits: 25 days hols, Healthcare, Pension, performance related incentives, easy reach of train station and tube.
Job responsibilities:
- Documentation of Test procedures
- System test for release of software.
- Ensure software is correctly fixing any identified bugs.
- Data analysis of client data
-Document findings and discuss at meetings with developers.
- Communication face-to-face and on telephone with internal departments regarding software releases.
Job requirements:
- Manual testing experience
- Solid Linux / UNIX experience
- Perl / Shell scripting experience
- Full Software Testing Lifecycle (FSTLC / FSLC) experience
- Highly numerical
- Excellent communication
Please contact Clare Moratalla at Clearwater People Solutions Ltd
Source: http://www.technojobs.co.uk/job.phtml/1381858
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Thursday, July 18, 2013
Siena (SID): Georgetown Prep Grad Ready for College
July 17, 2013
Bullis School boys basketball coach Bruce Kelley had the play diagnosed before it even started. He had been burned by it enough times to know. Georgetown Prep's Michael Wolfe would start on the wing, fade out as if to catch an entry pass up top, then feint towards the baseline where a teammate stood waiting to set a back screen, freeing the 6-foot-9 forward for an alley-oop that would typically result in an easy dunk.
But then, as Kelley had prepared for that very play, Wolfe, instead of ascending to snatch a lob pass, circled back around, running his confused defender through another screen, popping back out to the wing for an open 3-pointer.
"There's just not many like him," Kelley said. "That's what's intriguing about him. He moves so fluidly. He's got the post-up moves and he's got the perimeter game. What's next is entirely up to Michael."
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Source: http://www.bbstate.com/news/705521
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Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Business students win top honors in national competition | GRU News
? 
AUGUSTA, Ga. ? Four students in Georgia Regents University?s James M. Hull College of Business received national recognition during the 2013 Phi Beta Lambda National Leadership Conference?s Awards of Excellence held June 25 in Anaheim, Calif.
?With more than 1,800 business students participating, this year?s competition was tougher than ever and included teams from many prestigious universities,? said Todd Schultz, Advisor for GRU?s Phi Beta Lambda chapter and Professor in the Hull College of Business. ?I am proud of our chapter, not just for their competitive spirit, but for their leadership, fund-raising, service, and team-building all year long.?
Award recipients include Erica Playford, International Business; Austin Hixenbaugh, Cyber Security; LeRoy Ramsey, Information Management; and Yat Wang Ying, Statistical Analysis.
Phi Beta Lambda is the university extension of Future Business Leaders of America, and the combined FBLA-PBL is the world?s oldest and largest business student organization. The society hosts annual state and national competitions where students compete in business related leadership events including impromptu speaking, job interviewing, public speaking, and sales presentations. Other competition areas cover topics such as accounting principles for professionals, management, small business management, contemporary sports, sports management, computer applications, business communication, business ethics, parliamentary procedures, financial services, hospitality management, human resource management, and network design.
###
Georgia Regents University is one of four public comprehensive research universities in the state with nearly 10,000 students enrolled in its nine colleges and schools, which include the Medical College of Georgia ? the nation?s 13th-oldest medical school ? the nationally-ranked Hull College of Business and Georgia?s only College of Dental Medicine. The clinical enterprise associated with the university includes the 478-bed Georgia Regents Medical Center and the 154-bed Children?s Hospital of Georgia. GRU is a unit of the University System of Georgia and an equal opportunity institution.? http://www.gru.edu
Source: http://news.gru.edu/archives/9320
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10 shared wrestler nicknames
All WWE programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, trademarks, logos and copyrights are the exclusive property of WWE, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. ? 2013 WWE, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This website is based in the United States. By submitting personal information to this website you consent to your information being maintained in the U.S., subject to applicable U.S. laws. U.S. law may be different than the law of your home country. WrestleMania XXIX (NY/NJ) logo TM & ? 2013 WWE. All Rights Reserved. The Empire State Building design is a registered trademark and used with permission by ESBC.
Source: http://www.wwe.com/classics/classic-lists/10-shared-wrestler-nicknames
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Monday, July 15, 2013
NBA Free Agency: Hawks, Elton Brand Agree To Deal
Home ? NBA ? NBA Free Agency: Hawks, Elton Brand Agree To Deal
Mar 18, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Dallas Mavericks power forward Elton Brand (42) grabs a rebound between Atlanta Hawks small forward Josh Smith (5) and small forward Dahntay Jones (30) during the first half at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
After losing forward Josh Smith to the Detroit Pistons last week, the Atlanta Hawks have signed veteran power forward Elton Brand to serve as Smith?s replacement.
?We think it?s a great opportunity for him,? Brand?s agent, David Falk told Hoops Hype. ?I can see him playing 4-5 more years because Elton is serious about his conditioning and, besides, he plays more with his head than his body at this point. Atlanta is a good fit and Elton will be a good veteran presence there.?
Brand, who played for the Dallas Mavericks last season after being waived by the Philadelphia 76ers via the amnesty clause, averaged 7.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. He shot 47.3% from the field and 71.0% from the free throw line.
Brand, a 14-year veteran was originally drafted by the Chicago Bulls with the first overall pick in 1999. Since then, he has played for the Clippers, 76ers and Mavericks.
Over the course of his career, the 34-year old has averaged 17.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.0% from the field and 73.8% from the charity stripe.
Follow Andrew on twitter?here.
Topics: Atlanta Hawks, Elton Brandon
Source: http://sircharlesincharge.com/2013/07/15/nba-free-agency-hawks-elton-brand-agree-to-deal/
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Friday, July 12, 2013
A&P fined over 'football pitch' sized toxic plume in Fal Estuary: UPDATE
A&P fined over 'football pitch' sized toxic plume in Fal Estuary: UPDATE
12:00pm Thursday 11th July 2013 in News
A&P Falmouth Ltd has been fined ?10,000 over a toxic spill the size of a football pitch in the Fal Estuary.
The fine, and costs of over ?14,000 were awarded to the Environment Agency and Cornwall Council at a hearing held in Truro Magistrates Court on July 5 after the company pleaded guilty to an offence under ?Environmental Permitting? Regulations.
This related to an incident on September 29 when waste paint containing toxic substances was unintentionally discharged into the Fal Estuary from the Queen Elizabeth Dry Dock "causing a visible plume the approximate size of a football pitch".
The pollution was traced to Falmouth Docks where a Royal Fleet Auxilliary (RFA) vessel, the Cardigan Bay, was being refurbished by A & P Falmouth Ltd. High pressure jets were being used to remove antifouling paint from the ship?s hull.
Most of the blast spraying was done with a large machine that collected paint particles in a special hopper. However, a smaller machine and hand lances were used on the underside of the ship and other difficult to reach areas of the vessel. This smaller machine didn?t have a hopper which meant paint flakes and sludge escaped into the dock.
When the dock was hosed out, the sludge and paint flakes were washed down a drain and into the estuary, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
Samples of the discharge were tested by the Agency and found to contain Tributyltin (TBT), a highly toxic compound which has been banned worldwide since 2008 following the intervention of the International Maritime Organisation of the UN.
TBT was widely used in antifouling paint to prevent marine organisms including seaweed and barnacles attaching themselves to ships? hulls. Antifouling paints containing TBT were found to cause genetic mutations, sterility and death in fish and aquatic life. The substance does not easily break down in the environment and can poison larger sea animals as it moves up the food chain.
The paint sludge discharged from the docks was also found to contain high residues of toxic metals including copper, zinc, lead and iron.
TBT levels in the discharge from the dock? were found to be 11 times higher than the highest background concentrations ever recorded in the Fal estuary.
The Fal is famous for its shellfish including mussels, scallops and oysters that are hand dredged by local fishermen. Shellfish are among the organisms affected by TBT that can cause oysters to grow deformed shells.
A court heard that, in some cases, the concentrations of certain toxic compounds discharged into the estuary from Falmouth Docks on September 29, 2011 were so high they posed a risk to wildlife and, in others, were greatly above background levels for the Fal.
Magistrates expressed concern that the paint certificate ?paper trail? at the docks had failed and urged A & P Falmouth and/or the Environment Agency to raise the matter with the appropriate regulatory authorities.
"These offences were avoidable. While we accept the company was not aware of the presence of TBT, it should have made greater efforts to monitor the content of the effluent that was being washed down the drain and installed an effective filter system to capture paint flakes and other potentially harmful residues produced as part of its ship refurbishment operations," said Redwyn Sterry for the Environment Agency.
?We will act on the recommendation of the court and share its concerns over the paint certification process with the relevant authorities including the MOD that was responsible for the RFA vessel in Falmouth Docks at the time of these offences,? said Redwyn Sterry.
The estuary is part of a Special Area of Conservation and close to Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
The company has said it deeply regrets and apologises for the "accidental discharge".
The ship repair business operated by A&P Falmouth Ltd includes the stripping of paint from vessels and the application of new surface coatings in dry dock.
Due to the nature of this activity and the associated emissions a ?permit? is required under environmental legislation which is issued and regulated by the Public Health and Protection Service (PH&P) of Cornwall Council.
This contains conditions intended to ensure that pollution is prevented and/or controlled, and includes conditions relating to discharges to water drafted by the Environment Agency.
Cornwall Council and the Environment Agency therefore took the step of taking joint proceedings for the incident, which had been reported anonymously, and involved an Environment Agency officer taking a boat out on the estuary to take samples of the water.
A&P Falmouth Ltd apologised for the discharge and reported that this was an isolated incident caused due to the washing out with hoses of a paint sludge that had fallen onto the floor of the dry dock. The company has since taken measures to prevent any similar incidents from occurring, including the use of hessian filters.
Rebecca Kirk, Cornwall Council assistant head of service for community and environmental protection said: ?Cornwall Council?s Public Health & Protection Service is responsible for regulating over 180 ?Environmental Permits? held by businesses in the county. Most of these permits are concerned with preventing and controlling discharges to air, but some permits also control water discharges as is the case with A&P Falmouth Ltd.
"It is extremely rare for enforcement action to be taken against businesses carrying out activities requiring a permit because the vast majority recognise the importance of fulfilling their environmental and legal responsibilities.
"However, in this particular instance A&P Falmouth fell significantly short of this standard by failing to meet the requirements of their permit. This meant that there was little option but to take enforcement action, as is the public expectation in such cases especially where the release of toxic substances in the environment are concerned.
"I am pleased we were able to work in partnership and take joint proceedings with the Environment Agency, who had responded to the incident at the time of occurrence and who regulate waste and water offences. It is worth acknowledging A&P Falmouth?s guilty plea in this matter and I am pleased that it has been brought to a conclusion and that A&P Falmouth have implemented measures designed to prevent any future incidents of this nature.?
A&P Falmouth managing director Peter Child said: ?A&P takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously and our activities are strictly regulated. We deeply regret and apologise for this accidental discharge and have taken steps to ensure that it will not happen again.
?This was a one-off incident, and the first time in blasting and painting more than 1,000 ships over 13 years that we have had a release of paint sludge into the environment. We have already installed a hessian filter system in all three of our dry docks, upgraded our equipment with additional filtration and have issued revised guidance to all our staff working in this area.
?A&P was one of the first ship repair yards in Europe to be accredited with the international ISO 14001 environmental management standard and the Environment Agency accepts that we did not set out to pollute.?
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Thursday, July 11, 2013
Will GOP plan to cut food stamps save the farm bill ... or kill it?
After the farm bill's stunning defeat last month, House GOP leaders are feeling out whether they can strip out a massive food stamp program and win back enough conservative votes to pass the aid to farmers.
House Speaker John Boehner (R) of Ohio arrives for a news conference on Capitol Hill on June 27, a week after the farm bill failed to pass. Tea party-backed conservatives had refused to budge in their demands for even deeper cuts to the food stamp program, which has doubled in cost over the last five years to almost $80 billion annually and now helps to feed 1 in 7 Americans.
Susan Walsh/AP/File
EnlargeThe farm bill is back from the dead.
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But the way Republicans planned?its resurrection, after the bill?s shocking collapse in the House two weeks ago, may yet kill it for good ? and perhaps poison farm policy for the foreseeable future.
At issue is whether House Republican leaders can break the half-century-old connection between farm supports and nutrition aid for poor Americans and pass only the farm provisions, as early as later this week, solely with GOP support.
Speaker John Boehner (R) of Ohio suffered a stunning defeat on the farm bill last month, after 62 Republicans voted against the bill and all but 24 Democrats, opposed to some $20.5 billion in cuts to food aid over 10 years, also defected. The bill failed, 195 to 234, on June 20.
By splitting off the food stamp title of the legislation, which accounts for 80 percent of the nearly $1 trillion bill, GOP leaders hope to attract back enough conservative Republican votes to pass the measure. That would allow the House to negotiate with the Senate?over a comprehensive Senate measure that drew the support of roughly two-thirds of that chamber?s members.
In some ways, the strategy appears sensible. Conservative groups and lawmakers, including Budget Chairman Paul Ryan (R) of Wisconsin, have long wanted to divorce the two programs, arguing that putting them together helps shield social welfare spending from appropriate fiscal scrutiny. Given that Republicans hold the majority in the House, doing things conservatives want should bring more GOP votes.
But in today's madcap Republican conference, rifts over farm policy run deep. Even without the food aid, getting enough Republican votes to pass the bill still requires striking a detente between hardline free marketeers and members from agricultural districts that benefit from subsidy policies detested by the party?s fiscal right wing.
And this time, there won?t likely be a single Democrat to help fill in the gaps.
?My guess is in a few days they?ll figure out they don?t have the votes and then we?ll get back to reality ? hopefully,? says Rep. Colin Peterson (D) of Minnesota, the top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, who opposes splitting the bill and believes all of his?colleagues in the minority will oppose it, as well. ?Either that or they will march off and kill the farm bill.?
The difficulty with the path House Republican leaders are?feeling out is best explained through several conservative groups influential in the House GOP.
While organizations like the Club for Growth and Heritage Action have long advocated splitting the farm bill from food stamps, they want serious policy changes to both agricultural and nutrition policy. Those changes aren?t in the offing in the House farm bill as of yet ? and so getting like-minded lawmakers on board looks like a long shot at best.
?The purpose of ending the unholy alliance that has dominated the food stamp and farm bill for decades is to allow substantive debate that would allow the House to show its conservative values,? Michael Needham, the head of Heritage Action, an outside group with pop in the Republican conference, said in a statement.
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Samsung Galaxy S 4 arrives on C Spire's LTE network for $199
Looks like Samsung's on a mission to make the Galaxy S 4 available on as many carriers as possible, and C Spire is one of its latest destinations. Samsung's prolific flagship device joins the iPhone 5 and the HTC One on the company's list of smartphone offerings for its LTE network. The phone is available (in both black and white) through the carrier's website and retail locations for $199 with a two-year contract. If C Spire doesn't offer its services in your area, you still have other regional carrier options, including US Cellular, Cricket, and Ting.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung
Source: C Spire
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Tuesday, July 9, 2013
A break for smokers? Glitch may limit penalties
WASHINGTON (AP) ? Some smokers trying to get coverage next year under President Barack Obama's health care law may get a break from tobacco-use penalties that could have made their premiums unaffordable.
The Obama administration ? in yet another health care overhaul delay ? has quietly notified insurers that a computer system glitch will limit penalties that the law says the companies may charge smokers. A fix will take at least a year to put in place.
Older smokers are more likely to benefit from the glitch, experts say. But depending on how insurers respond to it, it's also possible that younger smokers could wind up facing higher penalties than they otherwise would have.
Some see an emerging pattern of last-minute switches and delays as the administration scrambles to prepare the Oct. 1 launch of new health insurance markets. People who don't have coverage on the job will be able to shop for private insurance, with tax credits to help pay premiums. Small businesses will have their own insurance markets.
Last week, the White House unexpectedly announced a one-year postponement of a major provision in the law that requires larger employers to offer coverage or face fines. Officials cited the complexity of the requirement as well as a desire to address complaints from employers.
"This was an administration that was telling us everything was under control," health care industry consultant Robert Laszewski said. "Everything was going to be fine. Suddenly this kind of stuff is cropping up every few days."
A June 28 Health and Human Services Department document couched the smokers' glitch in technical language:
"Because of a system limitation ... the system currently cannot process a premium for a 65-year-old smoker that is ... more than three times the premium of a 21-year-old smoker," the industry guidance said.
If an insurer tries to charge more, "the submission of the (insurer) will be rejected by the system," it added.
Starting in 2014, the law requires insurance companies to accept all applicants regardless of pre-existing medical problems. But it also allows them to charge smokers up to 50 percent higher premiums ? a way for insurers to ward off bad risks.
For an older smoker, the cost of the full penalty could be prohibitive.
Premiums for a standard "silver" insurance plan would be about $9,000 a year for a 64-year-old non-smoker, according to the online Kaiser Health Reform Subsidy Calculator. That's before any tax credits, available on a sliding scale based on income.
For a smoker of the same age, the full 50 percent penalty would add more than $4,500 to the cost of the policy, bringing it to nearly $13,600. And tax credits can't be used to offset the penalty.
The underlying reason for the glitch is another provision in the health care law that says insurers can't charge older customers more than three times what they charge the youngest adults in the pool. The government's computer system has been unable to accommodate the two. So younger smokers and older smokers must be charged the same penalty, or the system will kick it out.
That's not what insurers had expected. Before the glitch popped up, experts said the companies would probably charge lower penalties for younger smokers, and higher penalties for older ones.
"Generally a 20-year-old who smokes probably doesn't have much higher health costs than someone who doesn't smoke in any given year," said Larry Levitt, an insurance market expert with the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation. "A 60-year-old is another story."
The administration is suggesting that insurers limit the penalties across all age groups. The HHS guidance document used the example of a 20 percent penalty.
In that case the premium for a 64-year-old would be about $10,900, a significant cut from the $13,600 if insurers charged the full penalty.
It's unclear what insurance companies will do. A spokesman for America's Health Insurance Plans, the main industry trade group, said insurers were aware of the issue and expected the administration would fix it eventually.
Another workaround for the companies would be to charge the full penalty to both younger and older smokers. In that case, there wouldn't be any savings for older smokers, and younger ones would see a big price shock.
Levitt said he suspects insurers would keep the penalties low to sign up more young people. Laszweski said he thought they would do the opposite.
"It's going to throw cold water on efforts to get younger people to sign up," he said.
Workers covered through job-based health plans would be able to avoid tobacco penalties by joining smoking cessation programs because employer plans operate under different rules. But experts say that option is not guaranteed to smokers trying to purchase coverage individually.
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Fyrkat
The Fyrkat Army
Despite their differences and total defiance to stand united once again the clans all support more or less the stylised armies, each using the same weapons and armour as the other clans. It is one of the factors that has made the war continue on for so long.
Infantry
The main bulk of the army is made up of a kind of light infantry, the Fyrkat people preferring to sacrifice the main bulk of armour in favour of swifter movement and greater mobility. All Fyrkat soldiers carry three weapons when going into battle, a spear or halberd, an axe or mace and a sword all used in that order to devastate their enemies. Their other secondary weapon is the usage of the round shield carried by the infantry this strong wooden disc is reinforced with steel forged by the dwarves in the mountains, all capable of smashing open an enemy?s skull when swung forcefully as well as the added protection it provides.
Mainly clad in furs with light plates of Fyrkat steel worn in individual non-linking pieces are the main protection used in battle though it is not uncommon to see a chainmail shirt on some of the wealthier warriors. The Fyrkat helmet is also built with the same mentality as their armour, wearing helmets made from several pieces riveted together with nose and cheek guards to cover the face.
Archers
Wielding impressive 6?6? Fyrkat Longbows the Fyrkat are dangerously accurate with this impressive weapon capable of hurtling arrows over massive distances, a fully trained archer being able to fire a new arrow every five seconds. By law all Fyrkat children have to learn from the age of seven to use this masterful weapon in preparation for their first battle.
Each archer is not without protection of course, although not clad in the metal plate the Fyrkat archers still wear the warm and protective furs that are necessary for fighting in the northern lands, especially in the mountains. Each archer also carries an axe and sword of their own as a last line of protection.
Berserkers
Berserkers are the strongest men and women who thanks to blessings from the gods have been granted superhuman strength in battle, wearing little to no armour these gigantic killing machines are capable of taking on overwhelming odds without even batting an eyelid. They are also granted great pain relevant thanks to their divine blessing unable to feel even some of the most serious wounds until the battle is over and their rage is subsided.
These fearsome warriors are given equally fearsome weapons, taking massive great axes or great swords, weapons that are so incredibly dangerous in the Berserkers hands it is not uncommon for their enemies to be literally hacked in half by these warriors.
Huskarls
Huskarls are the elite soldiers on the battlefield, generally making up the body guard for the King, Chieftain or General they are the greatest warriors of the clans, handpicked by the commanding officer they will be serving from the entire army. To become a Huskarl is a great honour in the mountains granting someone great social standing which brings a much higher pay then the other men in the forces allowing for much stronger armour and weapons.
Although Huskarls still don?t wear full armoured suits their armour is now of the highest quality dwarven steel forged specifically in the mountains by the mine dwelling creatures. They tend to be as kitted out as the infantry carrying at least three weapons at all times as well as their own round shields.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/4RDa2akYSc8/viewtopic.php
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This week in Yankees baseball
If someone were to tell me that the New York Yankees were to go 6-1 in the last week after the week they had ?previously, I would have thought they were crazy. But as good a week as it was, that last game against the Orioles really hurt. Speaking as a fan here and not a journalist, I would rather see the Yankees lose in any other way than via a Mariano Rivera blown save. Ugh. The pits. That was brutal. And the thing about that Adam Jones homer was that, not only was it poor execution by Rivera on the pitch, but it was bad strategy by the battery as a whole. Jones will swing at everything, so to throw him strikes is?well?you saw the results.
All in all, it was a good week. So what will this week bring? Let?s take a look in this latest version of ?This week in Yankees baseball.?
The first bit of good news is that the Yankees are at home at Yankee Stadium all week. The second bit of good news is that they play four games against the Royals and three against the Twins. These are two teams that give the boys from the Bronx plenty of chances to win. The Royals should pose more of a problem than the Twins, but still. The Yankees have made their living over the years beating teams like this.
The one problem is that the Yankees have not had an off day in like forever. That is hard on a pitching staff and hard on a bullpen. As good as Joe Girardi is at handling the latter, all it takes is a couple of tough games to break it all apart. Even so, the Yankees got a bit of a boost this past week with the return of Eduardo Nunez (as weird as that sounds). And it is a very good thing that Girardi is playing Zoilo Almonte every day. Vernon Wells is best used in small doses.
As the Royals come to town, the first game features Jeremy Guthrie for the Royals against Phil Hughes of the Yankees. Hughes has had two good outings in a row. Will that continue? Or will be go back to grinding our teeth watching him pitch? Guthrie can cobble together a really good game every once in a while. He has some skills. The Yankees will need to get to him early and Hughes needs to keep the Royals offense down and in the park.
On Tuesday, it will be CC Sabathia against James Shields. In theory, these are each team?s best pitcher. Shields has not been as good as the Royals hoped and he has been plagued by the long ball like he was a few years back. The Yankees would not mind if that trend continued this week. The weather is getting warmer and Sabathia is getting tougher. Despite all the talk about him not being the same pitcher, he has nine wins against six losses and a Sabathia start is a chance to win a ballgame.
Wednesday is enigma versus enigma as Ivan Nova pitches?after his brilliant last outing?against Wade Davis. Davis is like Hughes and the two could be twins. In fact, seeing Hughes and Davis on the same field will prove to me once and for all that they are not the same person. The bottom line is that both Davis and Hughes are better suited for the bullpen. Anyway, Nova finally gave us an insight into why the Yankees need him to put his considerable skills together because when he does, it is really quite a show.
The series finale on Thursday will feature Andy Pettitte against Ervin Santana. Santana?s problem the last two seasons have been the home run ball. That being the case, catching him at Yankee Stadium could be fun for the Yankees. Pettitte was a little better in his last start, but he has not been really sharp since early in the season and that has to be a bit of a concern for the Yankees.
The Twins come to town on Friday and that has long been good news for the Yankees. The Yankees just swept them for four games this past week in Minnesota. So you would think it would be a good thing to face them in the Bronx.
Other than Scott Diamond pitching on Friday, the rest of the weekend pitching lines for the Twins and the Yankees have not been announced. It would seem logical for Hiroki Kuroda to pitch on Friday as it would be his turn followed by Hughes and Sabathia, but given the workload lately, it would not be a surprise to see a guest appearance by a starter here. Could we see Michael Pineda for a game? Wouldn?t that be fun!
It really does not matter who the Twins pitch. They are all the same as low strikeout, low walk guys with minimal stuff and a reliance on getting batted balls to find gloves in the field. It is this strategy, which has been an organizational one, that, in my opinion, has sunk the Twins more than any other reason for the past three years. We are in a strikeout world and pitching to contact is not a market inefficiency.
The Yankees should win three of four from the Royals and no less than two of three from the Twins. Anything less than a 5-2 week would be a major disappointment and not taking advantage of teams the Yankees should beat.
A major question will be if we will see Derek Jeter by the end of the week. And if so, what will that bring to the table? IIATMS writers will be tackling that subject today, so there is no need to delve into it here. Speaking again as a fan, it would be fun to see him again. As a journalist, Jeter?s return brings nothing but questions.
Have a great Yankees week!
Source: http://itsaboutthemoney.net/archives/2013/07/08/this-week-in-yankees-baseball-13/
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