Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Doctors urged to talk to patients about parking cellphones

Doctors urged to talk to patients about parking cellphones [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 30-Jul-2013
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Bryan Alary
balary@ualberta.ca
780-492-0436
University of Alberta

(Edmonton) Family physicians regularly counsel patients about medical risks associated with heart disease, stroke, diabetes and smoking, and a team from the University of Alberta wants to add cellphone use and driving to the discussion.

Talking on a cellphone while driving raises the risk of collision by four to six timescomparable to getting behind the wheel while under the influence, studies show. Addressing the problem requires educating the public about the risks, and a good place to start is in the doctor's office.

"The evidence is clear and compelling. Epidemiologic, driver simulator and naturalistic studies demonstrate that cellphones and driving are a dangerous combination. Unfortunately, while most drivers view cellphone use as driving as unacceptable, many of them still engage in it," writes Victoria K. Lee, a family medicine resident at the U of A, in a commentary published July 29 in the journal Canadian Family Physician.

Lee co-wrote the article with pediatrics resident Chantelle Champagne and Louis Hugo Francescutti, a professor in the School of Public Health and adjunct professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine.

The trio maintains that physicians have a role in educating patients through open dialogue about their views to see if they're aware of the hazards of talking while behind the wheel. They offer a number of discussion points, from increased odds of a collision to risks associated with talking on a hands-free device (studies show it's just as dangerous), text messaging (collision risk jumps 23 times) and the lack of hard statistics about cellphone-related crashes.

"Once patients are convinced of the risks of cellphone use while driving, help to prevent them from developing the habit or help them change their behaviour," they write, listing the following advice:

  • turn off your cellphone when you enter your vehicle or switch it to silent mode and put it somewhere you cannot reach it;
  • set up caller ID and a reliable voice mail system that lets callers know you might be driving and will return their call at a later time;
  • ask passengers to help by operating cellphones and other electronic devices. If you are the passenger, speak up and offer to help;
  • if you need to make an important call, pull over and park in a safe location before reaching for your cellphone;
  • do not call your friends, co-workers, clients, or family when you know they are driving.

The U of A team says driver education, workplace restrictions, new technologies, media attention and legislation can all play a role in changing cellphone use behaviours, in addition to primary care physicians.

"Patients regard us as community leaders and experts in health and safety. We are in a unique position to influence the thoughts and behaviour of people regarding their overall health and well-being by educating them about the issue of distracted driving."

###


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share 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.


Doctors urged to talk to patients about parking cellphones [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 30-Jul-2013
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Bryan Alary
balary@ualberta.ca
780-492-0436
University of Alberta

(Edmonton) Family physicians regularly counsel patients about medical risks associated with heart disease, stroke, diabetes and smoking, and a team from the University of Alberta wants to add cellphone use and driving to the discussion.

Talking on a cellphone while driving raises the risk of collision by four to six timescomparable to getting behind the wheel while under the influence, studies show. Addressing the problem requires educating the public about the risks, and a good place to start is in the doctor's office.

"The evidence is clear and compelling. Epidemiologic, driver simulator and naturalistic studies demonstrate that cellphones and driving are a dangerous combination. Unfortunately, while most drivers view cellphone use as driving as unacceptable, many of them still engage in it," writes Victoria K. Lee, a family medicine resident at the U of A, in a commentary published July 29 in the journal Canadian Family Physician.

Lee co-wrote the article with pediatrics resident Chantelle Champagne and Louis Hugo Francescutti, a professor in the School of Public Health and adjunct professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine.

The trio maintains that physicians have a role in educating patients through open dialogue about their views to see if they're aware of the hazards of talking while behind the wheel. They offer a number of discussion points, from increased odds of a collision to risks associated with talking on a hands-free device (studies show it's just as dangerous), text messaging (collision risk jumps 23 times) and the lack of hard statistics about cellphone-related crashes.

"Once patients are convinced of the risks of cellphone use while driving, help to prevent them from developing the habit or help them change their behaviour," they write, listing the following advice:

  • turn off your cellphone when you enter your vehicle or switch it to silent mode and put it somewhere you cannot reach it;
  • set up caller ID and a reliable voice mail system that lets callers know you might be driving and will return their call at a later time;
  • ask passengers to help by operating cellphones and other electronic devices. If you are the passenger, speak up and offer to help;
  • if you need to make an important call, pull over and park in a safe location before reaching for your cellphone;
  • do not call your friends, co-workers, clients, or family when you know they are driving.

The U of A team says driver education, workplace restrictions, new technologies, media attention and legislation can all play a role in changing cellphone use behaviours, in addition to primary care physicians.

"Patients regard us as community leaders and experts in health and safety. We are in a unique position to influence the thoughts and behaviour of people regarding their overall health and well-being by educating them about the issue of distracted driving."

###


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share 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/uoa-dut073013.php

Superbowl Start Time Jim Harbaugh Who Won The Superbowl Super Bowl Halftime Show 2013 Super Bowl Commercials 2013 Ray Lewis Murders 2013 Super Bowl Commercials

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

s2arch and RWTH aachen university build a new school in south africa


'ithuba science center' by RWTH aachen university and s2arch, montic, johannesburg, south africa
image ? leon kriege
all images courtesy of RWTH aachen university

?

?

?

a few years ago, european and south african NGO s2arch undertook a project in montic, just south of johannesburg, to build the ithuba skills college that would provide education in natural sciences and english to underprivileged local children. in addition, all the design would be done by various european faculties of architecture and would be built by volunteers in collaboration with the local community and students. the most recent addition consists of the ithuba science center - two classrooms dedicated to biology and chemistry, a muti-use hall, and necessary support program - by students at the RWTH aachen university in germany. the concept took the regular rectangular footprint and cut an open public corridor through the center dividing two angular forms joined by a folded roof. a steel frame structure is supported on a poured concrete foundation and infilled with bales of a straw/clay composite - a traditional german insulation technique that creates a monolithic wall with high thermal properties. large operable openings allow for plenty of ventilation and light, while the double pitched metal roof overhangs to provide adequate shading, separated from the structure of the building forms to allow hot air to escape through the plenum.?

?

?


image ? leon kriege

?

?


image ? leon kriege

?

?


view from the neighboring building
image ? leon kriege

?

?


image ? leon kriege

?

?


plastered walls create a natural earth-tone look and provide a high degree of insulation
image ? nora muller

?

?


image ? nora muller

?

?


dividing exterior corridor
image ? nora muller

?

?


image ? nora muller

?

?


image ? nora muller

?

?


interior of the classroom clad in pinewood boards
image ? leon kriege

?

?


image ? leon kriege

?

?


large windows make for light-filled spaces
image ? leon kriege

?

?


image ? leon kriege

?

?


construction of the cob walls
image courtesy RWTH aachen university

?

?


image courtesy RWTH aachen university

?

?


image courtesy RWTH aachen university

?

?


construction
image courtesy RWTH aachen university

?

?


image courtesy RWTH aachen university

?

?


image courtesy RWTH aachen university

?

?


floor plan / level 0

?

?


section
image courtesy RWTH aachen university

?

?


section
image courtesy RWTH aachen university

?

?


axonometric
image courtesy RWTH aachen university

?

?


image courtesy RWTH aachen university

?

?

?project info:

?

?

conducted by:
ithuba skills college, johannesburg
s2arch, social and sostainable architecture, wien: elias rubin

partners:
ithuba community college, johannesburg
s2arch, social and sostainable architecture, wien: elias rubin, marlene wagner

participants:
rwth aachen ? faculty of architecture
department of building typologies and design basics:
dipl.-ing. bernadette heiermann, dipl.-ing. nora elisabeth m?ller, dipl.-ing. judith reitz
department of structures and structural design:
dipl.-ing. christoph koj
department of theory of architecture:
prof.dr. manfred speidel mit tatsuya tokura

advisors:
transsolar energietechnik gmbh: dipl.-ing. markus krauss, felix p?hler
engineers without borders
regional group aachen

completion: spring 2012

Source: http://www.designboom.com/architecture/s2arch-and-rwth-aachen-university-build-a-new-school-in-south-africa/

bobby valentine Karrueche Tran miguel cabrera dodd frank Lark Voorhies Jennifer Livingston Orlando Cruz

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Gang of Feral French Cats Attack Woman and Pet Poodle ...

cat attack audrey hepburn

France isn?t all it?s cracked up to be. Sure, it?s full of gorgeous art, rich cuisine, and basically all the wine you can drink, but stray too far outside city limits, and you run the risk of falling prey to terrifyingly vicious beasts. Like, you know that scene in?Beauty and the Beast?where they?re all attacked by wolves? Imagine that happening to you? but with cats. Seriously.

Laugh all you like, but it happened to a woman walking her dog in the city of Belfort, a popular tourist destination on the Swiss border. At around 7pm this past Sunday, a half dozen feral cats descended on the 31-year-old victim and managed to knock her over, scratching and biting her so hard that they even tore one of her arteries.?Luckily, the woman and her dog were rushed to medical treatment and survived the attack, though both are presumably traumatized for life.

Before all you anti-cat types rush in to paint this as the ultimate reason why dogs are better, though, you should know that this is highly unusual behavior even for feral cats. ?The vet told us that, in his 20 years in the job, he had never seen such a thing,? The victim?s mother said to l?Est Republicain, a local newspaper.??He couldn?t find a single explanation for the cats? abnormal behavior.? My guess is that after years of being hounded by notorious sexual abuser Pepe LePew with absolutely no help from authorities, all the cats banded together to take out their vengeance on an unjust society. Either that, or the recent heatwave in the region made them all kind of jittery. I feel you there, cats.

Police have warned British tourists in the area not to approach any of the feral cats in the area, but otherwise they appear to be at a loss over how best to handle the aftermath of the attack. They also estimate that about 8,000 feral cats are born in France every year due to people dumping their unwanted pets. Come on, France, don?t you have a Bob Barker equivalent over there to teach you not to do these things?

(via The Local, image via?Dr Case)

Meanwhile in related links

Source: http://www.geekosystem.com/feral-cat-attack/

kobe bryant first day of summer Abby Wambach Xcel Energy Super Moon 2013 miami heat Kim Kardashian Baby

TCA: 'Doctor Who's' Matt Smith Talks His Exit - 'People Will Forget Me'

By Jethro Nededog

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - BBC America's "Doctor Who" carried on its U.S. tour of sorts at Thursday's Television Critics Association Press Tour in Beverly Hills after hitting San Diego Comic-Con over the weekend.

As much as the panel was to speak of the upcoming 50th Anniversary episode airing November 23, the discussion really centered mostly around Matt Smith's planned departure during the special.

At first, Smith played down the episode's significance for his turn as the iconic British character. "It's kind of business as usual," he said about shooting the episode in which John Hurt enters the Who Universe and features the return of previous Doctor, David Tennant.

He would later refer to his desire to do something different in his career: "I've done it for four years and we shoot nine to 10 months per year," he said. "The show has come to a natural tipping point. I'll miss it. It's a hard choice."

That doesn't mean the actor - who is starring in Ryan Gosling's directorial debut, "How to Catch a Monster" - hasn't had second thoughts.

"I've pondered it and I've thought I've made a huge mistake," the 30-year-old said. "It has transformed my career. It has been wonderful for my life and my family's life."

Producer Marcus Wilson confirmed early reports that the producers had tried to talk Smith out of leaving. But, his departure seemed to be something Smith had known would come for at least a couple seasons already.

"I feel proud to be part of such a wonderful legacy of the actors," Smith said. "The 50th anniversary will honor the ones before me. Then, the show will get bigger and better. People will forget me."

"I'm only slightly in denial that Matt is leaving," Jenna Coleman, the Doctor's current companion, said.

Producer Marcus Wilson didn't spill much about the search for the new Doctor. "The search is ongoing," he said.

"You just want the best actor for the role. You just kind of cast the net wide and hope you find something brilliant," he continued.

What's interesting about the 50th Anniversary episode and the messaging from the panel is that it, Smith's departure, and the arrival of the new Doctor all seem geared toward bringing in new fans to the show. The show is "accessible" both Smith and Wilson said. That's not always quite true as even the season's throughline story can get complicated, but they argue otherwise.

"The great thing about 'Doctor Who' is that you can jump in with any episode at any time," Smith said.

Later, Wilson added his pitch for new viewers. "It's a show about hope, adventure and about excitement," he said. "It's very accessible and you'll have a good time."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/tca-doctor-whos-matt-smith-talks-exit-people-000847450.html

Ray J I Hit It First Rick Pitino Spike Albrecht NCAA Championship Game michigan basketball ncaa final four Evil Dead

Oil in holding pattern near $105 a barrel

BANGKOK (AP) ? Oil was in a holding pattern Friday near $105 a barrel as growth in U.S. factory orders was weighed against signs China is pressing ahead with painful economic restructuring.

Benchmark crude for September delivery was down 17 cents to $105.32 a barrel at early afternoon Bangkok time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose 10 cents to $105.49 on Thursday.

Orders for long-lasting U.S. factory goods rose in June. The increase suggests companies are more confident in the economy and could boost economic growth and demand for crude in the second half of the year.

But in a new sign China is reluctant to splash out on another round of economic stimulus, the government ordered companies in 19 industries from steel to glass to close some factories to reduce overproduction that has led to price-cutting wars.

Brent crude, which is traded on the ICE Futures exchange in London, was down 13 cents at $107.52 a barrel.

In other energy futures trading on the Nymex:

? Gasoline rose 0.7 cent to $2.993 a gallon.

? Heating oil fell 0.6 cent to $3.034 a gallon.

? Natural gas shed 1.1 cents to $3.633 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/oil-holding-pattern-near-105-barrel-063031699.html

kyle orton kyle orton 2012 ncaa bracket john carlson greg smith catamount mike dantoni

Friday, July 26, 2013

How to Improve Your Workout Performance | Body Health ...

In order t? prepare themselves f?r a healthy ?n? successful life, millions ?f people around th? world workout regularly. H?w???r, w? still witness t?? many people struggling w?th weight issues ?n? suffering fr?m different diseases. One ?f th? major reasons behind th?? trauma ?? th? fact th?t m??t ?f th?m ?? n?t know h?w t? exercise ?n th? r??ht manner, although th?? ??t ?n th??r best efforts. If ??? ??n learn t? workout properly, ??? ??n surely enhance ???r performance ?n? achieve better results.

How-to-improve-your-workout-performance-400x285

1 Hire a professional trainer

If ???r budget allows ???, ?? f?r a professional trainer, wh? ??n h??? ??? workout ?n? enhance ???r performance. Th?? ??n b? very ?m??rt?nt ?t ????t ?n th? first six months. Aft?r th?t, ?f ??? ?r? dedicated, ??? ??n take care ?f ???r ?wn self. Before ??? hire a trainer, m?k? sure th?t h?/?h? ?? ???? ?t th? job ?n? ?h???? h??? proper understanding ?b??t ???r body ?n? ???r goals.

2 Manage diet

Diet ?? ?m?n? th? m??t ?m??rt?nt factors wh??h affect ???r workout performance. Y?? ?h???? h??? a proper diet ???n set b? ???r trainer. At times, wh?n ??? h??? worked extremely hard, ??? want t? forget ?b??t th? diet ???n ?n? eat beyond limits. H?w???r, ??? ?h???? h??? enough self control t? know wh?t ?? going t? affect ???r performance. Therefore, ??? ?h???? h??? clear priorities.

If ??? ?r? looking t? gain weight w?th exercise, th?n ??? ?h???? h??? additional intake ?f vitamins, carbohydrates ?n? minerals.

3 Intake ?f water

Proper intake ?f water ?? ???? ?f extreme importance, regardless ?f wh?t ??? wish t? achieve through workout. According t? m??t analysts, one ?h???? drink a lot ?f water before, during ?n? ?ft?r a physical activity.

4 En??? workout

One ?f th? keys behind enhancing ???r workout performance ?? t? ?n??? ?t. S?m? ?f th? people take workout ?? a burden ?n? never achieve th??r targets. Y?? ?h???? ???? th? feeling ?f being fit ?n? healthy.

5 Stretch hard before ?n? ?ft?r workout

People, wh? ?? n?t know much ?b??t workout, ???t ?t?rt exercising without proper stretching ?f th? muscles. If ??? want t? gain m??t out ?f th? time ??? spend ?n workout ???r? day, learn latest stretching techniques. M?k? sure th?t ??? stretch each ?n? ???r? ??rt ?f ???r body, fr?m neck t? toe.

Related Articles:

from your own site.

Source: http://mybodyhealth.net/how-to-improve-your-workout-performance/

the international preppers geraldo obama trayvon martin

Tall women face higher cancer risk ? Study - Vanguard

Taller women may face a higher risk of many cancers than their shorter counterparts, according to a US study released Thursday.

Researchers looked at a sample of nearly 145,000 postmenopausal women aged 50 to 79 for the analysis published in the US journal Cancer Epidemiology.

They found that each additional 10 centimeters (four inches) of height was linked to a 13 percent higher risk of getting cancer.

?Ultimately, cancer is a result of processes having to do with growth, so it makes sense that hormones or other growth factors that influence height may also influence cancer risk,? said lead author Geoffrey Kabat, senior epidemiologist at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University in New York.

After 12 years of following women who entered the study without cancer, researchers found links between greater height and higher likelihood of developing cancers of the breast, colon, endometrium, kidney, ovary, rectum, thyroid, as well as multiple myeloma and melanoma.

The height association remained even after scientists adjusted for factors that might influence these cancers, such as age, weight, education, smoking habits, alcohol consumption and hormone therapy.

?We were surprised at the number of cancer sites that were positively associated with height. In this data set, more cancers are associated with height than were associated with body mass index (BMI),? added Kabat.

Some cancers saw an even higher risk among taller women, such as a 23 to 29 percent increase in the risk of developing cancers of the kidney, rectum, thyroid, and blood for each additional 10 centimeters of height.

None of the 19 cancers studied showed a lower risk with greater height.

The study did not establish a certain height level at which cancer risk begins to rise, and Kabat said it is important to remember that the increased risk researchers found was small.

?It needs to be kept in mind that factors such as age, smoking, body mass index, and certain other risk factors have considerably larger effects,? he said.

?The association of height with a number of cancer sites suggests that exposures in early life, including nutrition, play a role in influencing a person?s risk of cancer.? AFP

Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/07/tall-women-face-higher-cancer-risk-study/

nurse jackie nurse jackie peeps nhl playoffs 2012 masters the borgias shroud of turin

Commitment, Family, and Friendship | The Notes Which Do Not Fit

Ace Admiral says ?I would really like to see a community discussion about commitment, what it means in our unique kind of relationships, and how to get it. I would really like this to move to the top of the 102 discussion of asexuality, for people to talk to their friends and families and bring this issue to a broader audience for broader contemplation.?

I agree. Maybe this should be a Carnival of Aces theme (hint hint).

After I read that post, I realized that?s exactly the thing which makes my family relationships more secure than my friendships.

As I?ve written before, I trust my family relationships more than my friendships. It?s definitely not because I like my family more than my friends. I don?t. But that?s the thing. When I stop liking my friends, or when we simply stop spending time together/stop contacting each other, our friendship fades away. My family relationships do not do that, regardless of how much we don?t like each other or don?t contact each other.

In other words, my family relationships have a deeper committment.

This is not true about all families ? but my family happens to have people who take family relationships very seriously. My father helps relatives who he actively dislikes merely because they are his relatives. My mother and aunt offered significant assistance a cousin from a branch of the family we hadn?t had contact with for over fifty years, and that was only because of her blood relationship. If that?s not committment, I don?t know what committment is.

Of course, the commitment in my family relationships are not absolutely unconditional. If someone in my family tortured and killed a young child, I certainly would not defend them, and I think most of the people in my family wouldn?t defend them either. But it would take something much more serious than being pissed off at somebody to break the commitment.

And knowing that the comittment is hard to break is what makes them feel secure.

But it?s a double-edged sword.

It means that, even if a relationship turns toxic, it cannot easily be broken off. I have ?broken up? with one of my relatives, I have clearly discussed this ?break-up? with my parents, and I am following their advice: talk to other relatives about this on a need-to-know basis. However, even though my mother is also now avoiding the relative in question, she has also said that we are still family, and that there is still a basic bond intact. In other words, it?s more like a separation than a divorce.

Since none of my friendships have ever carried that level of committment, they are much easier to break up, and thus carry much less risk of getting stuck in a toxic relationship.

I would be very interested in forming friendships or other non-romantic/sexual relationships with a high level of commitment. I am not sure how to do that. And I know that commitment comes with its own risks.


CC0

To the extent possible under law,
the person who associated CC0
with this work has waived all copyright and related or neighboring
rights to this work.

Like this:

Like Loading...

Source: http://thenoteswhichdonotfit.wordpress.com/2013/07/26/commitment-family-and-friendship/

dancing with the stars Ultra Music Festival london snl Eva Longoria Wardrobe Malfunction drake eva longoria

Stock futures down on earnings concerns, profit-taking

By Angela Moon

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures fell on Thursday as recent earnings from some bellwether shares triggered concerns, while investors worried about the impact on global demand of China's slowdown.

Investors booked profits from a recent rally that has taken the S&P 500 up nearly 18.2 percent for the year. Despite a back-to-back decline in the last two days, the index is still near its all-time high.

In heavy week of earnings, General Motors Co on Thursday posted a stronger-than-expected quarterly profit on demand in North America and cost-cutting in its struggling European business. The stock rose 2.6 percent to $38.10 in premarket trade.

Dow Chemical Co's adjusted quarterly profit jumped 16 percent, topping analysts' estimates, driven by robust demand for pesticides. The stock was up 0.7 percent at $34.60 in premarket trade.

Shares of Facebook jumped nearly 20 percent in premarket trade to $31.70, a day after the company announced earnings.

But not-so-stellar results from bellwethers like Caterpillar and AT&T on Wednesday triggered concerns about the profit outlook. Caterpillar shares were down nearly 1 percent at $82.68 and AT&T fell 0.1 percent at $35.56 in premarket trade.

"We have 50 or so S&P 500 companies reporting today. This is a lot and the results will be mixed," said Sal Arnuk, co-founder of Themis Trading, a brokerage firm that specializes in stocks.

S&P 500 futures fell 8.5 points and were below fair value, a formula that evaluates pricing by taking into account interest rates, dividends and time to expiration on the contract. Dow Jones industrial average futures fell 67 points, and Nasdaq 100 futures lost 10 points.

European shares extended losses around midday on Thursday, as mixed earnings and lingering concerns about the pace of growth in China triggered a bout of profit taking following recent sharp gains. <.eu/>

Chinese stocks suffered their second straight loss on Thursday despite measures from the government to spur the economy, including help for exports and railway investment. Data on Wednesday showed manufacturing in China running at an 11-month low in July.

(Reporting By Angela Moon; Editing by Kenneth Barry)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/stock-futures-down-earnings-worries-profit-taking-114142765.html

barbra streisand barbra streisand hugh jackman Aly Raisman Oscar Results Jennifer Lawrence Fall Ang Lee

Oakland U. leader addresses reports about ex-coach

Oakland University's interim president said the school is committed to diversity following reports that former basketball coach Beckie Francis subjected players to religious pressure.

Betty Youngblood on Wednesday released a statement addressed to the university community, The Oakland Press of Pontiac reported (http://bit.ly/12lAyJB ).

"I want to assure you that protecting the freedom of religious, cultural, political and other forms of expression has been and always will be a high priority at Oakland," the statement said. "At the same time, we hold that freedom from the imposition of others' views is equally crucial.

"As soon as allegations of religious discrimination came to light, the university acted swiftly to investigate. The university did not tolerate such conduct and will not tolerate such conduct moving forward."

Earlier this month, the Detroit Free Press quoted former players who said Francis was overbearing and preoccupied with their weights.

Francis was fired last month, the same day her husband, Gary Russi, announced his retirement as president of the 19,000-student suburban Detroit school. The school said at the time that she was was fired for behavior in April that led to an internal review, but didn't provide details.

Francis has said she's focused on the future and wishes the best for Oakland University, but hasn't commented on the allegations.

The statement from Youngblood didn't address the allegation about players' weights, and focused instead on issues of diversity.

"As a campus community, we will continue to celebrate cultural diversity, inclusion, tolerance and understanding, as well as encourage the expression of all views within the context of appropriate times, places and manner," the statement said. "We will honor every individual's right to free expression and freedom from imposed expression without fear of reprisal, ridicule or harm."

Source: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/07/25/3520884/oakland-u-leader-addresses-reports.html

erin andrews erin andrews Magic Mike Anderson Cooper Gay NBA draft 2012 alicia sacramone Don Grady

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

It's feds vs. state when Detroit heads to court for bankruptcy hearing

Economy

6 hours ago

Informational signs are seen in front of a southwest Detroit neighborhood Fire House placed there by Detroit firefighters to inform the public about t...

REBECCA COOK / Reuters

Informational signs are seen in front of a southwest Detroit neighborhood Fire House placed there by Detroit firefighters to inform the public about the downsizing of the fire department in Detroit, Michigan July 23, 2013.

Detroit's largest-ever municipal bankruptcy could make more history on Wednesday when a federal judge is expected to rule on whether U.S. law trumps Michigan's constitution to preserve the pensions of city workers.

The judge's decision could impact dozens of other states and cities facing financial stress for years to come.

The hearing will be the latest legal skirmish pitting the city's state-appointed emergency manager against more than 100,000 creditors, including pensioners, as lawyers for all sides are sailing in uncharted waters.

"You have go back to the 19th century when states repudiated their Civil War debts to see anything like this," said John Tuohy, Arlington County, Va., deputy treasurer, who chairs the pension committee of the Government Finance Officers Association. "This will be studied in law schools for the next 30 years."

The case took another twist Tuesday when Michigan?s appeals court halted all ongoing challenges to the constitutionality of the bankruptcy filing pending in state court. The appellate court asked for additional briefs before deciding the next step, according to Morgan Cole, a law clerk for Ingham County Circuit Judge Rosemarie Aquilina, who has scheduled a Monday hearing on those challenges.

(The order) stops the proceeding until they make a decision whether to send it back to trial court whether they?re going to keep it or whether they?re going to send it up to the Supreme Court of Michigan,? said Cole.

The main event in the legal wrangling comes Wednesday morning, when federal judge Steven Rhodes in Michigan is expected to rule on whether U.S. law trumps the state?s constitutional protection against rescinding retired city workers? pensions. Bond holders who have relied for centuries on a government?s ?full faith and credit? to repay their investments will also be there to argue their case.

The legal precedent the case sets will be watched closely by dozens of other states and cities grappling with under-funded pension promises.

"I can guarantee every county and city attorney in the U.S. has been watching this with great interest," said Tuohy.

Lawyers for unions who opposed last week's historic Chapter 9 bankruptcy filing are expected to make a last-ditch argument that the law which granted the city's emergency manager, Kevyn Orr, the authority to make the bankruptcy filing violates the state's constitution.

Bankruptcy lawyers say that argument faces an uphill legal battle because federal courts typically have the power to interpret state constitutions.

"It's a cardinal principal of law that every federal court has the ability to determine its own jurisdiction," said Buce Zirinksy, a bankruptcy lawyer with Greenberg Traurig in New York. "The federal court is also able to enjoin any state court action which will interfere with its jurisdiction."

But opponents of Detroit's bankruptcy will be armed with a ruling handed down Friday by Ingham County Circuit Judge Rosemarie Aquilina, who agreed with their argument that Detroit violated the Michigan Constitution. She ordered the filing be withdrawn and has scheduled her own hearing next Monday.

Appearing Wednesday before Rhodes, opponents of the bankruptcy filing will argue that the question is solely a state matter, placing it outside the reach of federal courts, a doctrine known as "independent and adequate state grounds," according to Aquilina's law clerk Cole.

"Generally, federal courts will deny discretion to review an issue it if it rests solely on state grounds," she said.

Regardless of tomorrow's ruling, bankruptcy law experts say, the case could involve multiple appeals to both state and federal courts, with little legal precedent to shape the outcome. Most of the several hundred cases that have been filed since the modern Chapter 9 code was amended in 1978 involve small municipal entities like water or sewer districts.

Only a handful of cities and counties have used the law to restructure debts, and none with anything close to the 100,000 creditors and more than $18 billion in debt owed by Detroit.

With such a long list of creditors lining up armies of attorneys, Orr's office is assembling his own team of lawyers, consultants and financial advisers. And he doesn't need court approval to pay their salaries.

Bankruptcy experts say the case could take years, and could prove to be very costly for the city.

"Bankruptcies are expensive," said Andrew Gottfried, a bankruptcy lawyer with Morgan Lewis. "You're going to see staggering bills that Detroit is going to have to pay if this case drags on."

Detroit city workers and retirees are digging in for a long fight. Union officials argue that the city has mismanaged their pension fund and hasn't done all it can to collect back taxes to cover its debts. They also argue that the city's bid to cut retiree pensions violates state law.

"They want to rape and plunder the city of Detroit without any real voice of the city workers or the citizens," Albert Garrett, president of AFSCME Council 25, which present city workers, told NBCNews.

Union lawyers also plan to argue that the city has not tried hard enough to negotiate voluntary concessions. In the weeks before last week's filling, Orr conducted a series of whirlwind talks in which he reportedly offered as little as ten cents on the dollar toward the city's obligations.

But, in an interview Monday with NPR, Orr said it's not clear yet just how deeply pensions would be cut.

"There's a lot of talk about there's going to be no pensions and that's not true," he said. We're just talking about adjusting them to today's realities? We just don't know how deep."

?By CNBC's John W. Schoen. Follow him on Twitter at@johnwschoen.

More business news:

Follow NBCNews.com business onTwitter and Facebook

? 2013 CNBC LLC. All Rights Reserved

Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/663286/s/2f110b38/sc/11/l/0L0Snbcnews0N0Cbusiness0Cits0Efeds0Evs0Estate0Ewhen0Edetroit0Eheads0Ecourt0Ebankruptcy0Ehearing0E6C10A721476/story01.htm

marianas trench camille grammer camille grammer us supreme court breaking dawn part 2 trailer mississippi state chris carpenter

Baby prince's birth to be 'overwhelmingly positive' for UK economy

Royals

18 hours ago

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, has given birth to a boy. Analysts say that the baby's birth should be a boon to the UK economy.

Chris Jackson / AFP - Getty Images

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, has given birth to a boy. Analysts say that the baby's birth should be a boon to the UK economy.

Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, delivered a boy Monday afternoon local time, an event analysts said would likely be "overwhelmingly positive" for the U.K. economy.

"The impact on the U.K. economy is likely to be limited ? albeit overwhelmingly positive. At the margin, the royal birth may provide the economy with a temporary, small positive boost at a time when it seems to be increasingly moving in the right direction," Howard Archer, chief U.K. and European economist at IHS Global Insight, said in a research note.

The child of Kate Middleton and Prince William will be third in line to the throne. Middleton gave birth in the private wing of Saint Mary's hospital in London. The boy, whose name was not immediately revealed, weighed 8 pounds, 6 ounces at birth.

(Read More:UK recovery hopes buoyed by improved earnings)

According to the U.K.'s Centre for Retail Research, the royal birth will boost retail sales by ?243 million ($372 million) between July 1 and August 31. The Centre forecast that ?87 million ($133 million) would be spent on food and alcohol for parties to celebrate the birth, while ?156 million ($239 million) would be spent on memorabilia.

"The most obvious support to the economy coming from the royal birth will be some boost to retail sales through people buying souvenirs and commemorative items, while there is also likely to be a small lift to alcohol sales as some people will want to toast the royal baby," said Archer.

The Centre forecast that sales of prams (baby carriages) and pushchairs (strollers) will rise by 13 percent, as parents upgrade their own to match the royal baby's.

"The baby carriage will become a must-have status symbol and the lucky manufacturer can expect a similar boost in sales to that achieved by iCandy peach when Victoria Beckham adopted one for her daughter, Harper," the CRR said. After Beckham's purchase, sales of iCandy's stroller grew to ?9.6 million in 2011, up from ?3.6 million in 2009.

U.K. retailers are already familiar with the "Kate effect," with sales of what Middleton wears or uses soaring. For instance, when Middleton wore a nude "bandage" dress by Reiss to the White House, the brand was propelled onto the international stage. It is now stocked at Bloomingdale's.

(Read More: Retailers Jump on Kate's Baby Fashion Bandwagon)

Some retailers have already benefited from royal baby enthusiasm, with shares of baby products retailer Mothercare rising 2.14 percent on Monday. This came after brokerage Panmure Gordon upgraded its rating on the high street stalwart from "sell" to "hold" last Friday, citing "irrepressible momentum with respect to sporting and royal baby news."

Mothercare is hoping to cash in on royal products including "Born to Rule" sleepsuits and "Princess/Prince in training" bibs.

The firm's chief executive, Simon Calver, told the Financial Times on Friday that a royal birth was "always good news," after Mothercare posted its quarterly earnings.

"It brings with it the feel good factor, and there could be some uptick in the birth rate," Calver said.

Others who could benefit from the royal baby include bookmakers, with punters placing bets on the sex and name of the baby.

(Read More: UK bookmakers cash in on royal baby bets)

However, IHS's Archer warned that the U.K. economy might not see the same size of boost that it got after the royal wedding in 2011 and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebration in 2012.

"There will also likely be few, if any, street parties that the Diamond Jubilee and the royal wedding encouraged, so the boost to food and alcohol sales will likely be much more limited ? another significant difference ? is that there will not be the great pageantry and celebratory public events, which likely had some beneficial impact in lifting tourism."

On the plus side, the high foreign media coverage helps advertise the U.K. globally, said Archer. In addition, no public holiday has been granted, which means economic activity should not take a hit.

"The extra public holiday relating to both the Diamond Jubilee celebrations and the royal wedding did have a negative impact on the economy through hitting output and services activity, as well as limiting retail sales on the day in question," he said. "While some of this lost economic activity was subsequently made up, there was undoubtedly a significant overall loss from this factor."

More business news:

Follow NBCNews.com business onTwitter and Facebook

? 2013 CNBC LLC. All Rights Reserved

Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/663286/s/2f03d576/l/0L0Snbcnews0N0Cbusiness0Cbaby0Eprinces0Ebirth0Ebe0Eoverwhelmingly0Epositive0Euk0Eeconomy0E6C10A70A7438/story01.htm

j.k. rowling axl rose google earnings pat burrell hilary rosen grilled cheese allen west

Firefly to Return ? Fox Announces New Online Game - MCM Buzz

FFO-640x360

To all you Joss Whedon fans who have been waiting and hoping these many years for a return of the all too short-lived Firefly series, a little something was revealed at San Diego Comic Con?which might help to fill the gaping Captain Mal-shaped holes in your lives.

MalReynoldsFireflyBefore you get your hopes up too high, it?s not a new series. Unfortunately, it?s not even a film. But on the upside, it is something that will enable you to enter into and interact with the characters? world for yourself. Who wouldn?t be excited about that?

Fox has now announced what it?s calling a ?multi-user social role-playing game? (meanwhile everyone?else is sticking to ?MMO?), entitled Firefly Online,?to be released for mobile devices in 2014. Better yet, in the extremely likely event that it sells well, they have also promised us a PC version.

So far, there?s no word about Joss Whedon?s involvement, but we do know that the game is being developed by Spark Plug Games, creators of the successful Puzzle Quest 2.

Below is the trailer that was shown at SDCC. It has some details about the essential aims of the game, though doesn?t really feature any gameplay footage. Still, it?s got spaceships, and it?s definitely official ? how far wrong could it go?

YouTube Preview Image

Sources: Geekosystem | The Mary Sue

Filed in: Gaming Tags: Captain Mal, Firefly, Firefly Online, Fox, Joss Whedon, Malcom Reynolds, MMO, mobile devices, PC, San Diego Comic-Con 2013, SDCC, Spark Plug Games

Source: http://www.mcmbuzz.com/2013/07/22/firefly-to-return-fox-announces-new-online-game/

where do i vote dixville notch Remember Remember The 5th Of November African painted dogs What Time Do Polls Open Krysten Ritter v for vendetta

93% The Hunt

All Critics (76) | Top Critics (15) | Fresh (71) | Rotten (5)

[A] harrowing but flawed study of an innocent man accused of pedophilia.

It leaves us not only with an unforgettable final image, but also the troubling thought that witch hunts, like war, will always be with us - all the more so in the modern era of instant communication.

It is a devastating film to watch, a heedful one, and a tragic reminder that no matter how well a life has been conducted, the mere whiff of such scandalous behavior is condemnation enough.

[A] quietly devastating drama about a soft-spoken, bespectacled and devoted kindergarten teacher whose life is upended by a false accusation from one of his students.

This is filmmaking of a high order, even though the production's scale is modest and the climax is not without its facile contrivances.

Unsettling, forthright and thought-provoking, The Hunt is also brilliantly titled.

Although the scenario is exaggerated for dramatic effect and it stumbles somewhat in the final act, the unsettling film is a provocative and timely examination of persecution and the perils of public perception.

An uncommonly thoughtful, and thought-provoking, entry in the social-issue drama subgenre, anchored by Mikkelsen's gripping performance.

A subtle piece of moral drama crowned by a truly beautiful performance from Mikkelsen, The Hunt puts every one of us in the crosshairs.

Child molestation is indeed horrific. Sometimes, the response to same can be equally disconcerting. The Hunt argues that all too well.

Mads Mikkelsen displays remarkable range as a subdued kindergarten teacher confronting sex-abuse charges in a small Danish town.

Mikkelsen and a terrific ensemble navigate complex emotions and moral quandaries in a terrain where a satisfying resolution is as hard to come by as a child who never tells a lie.

...incredible acting by Mikkelsson, (but) what is unforgettable is the acting of the young girl who makes the allegation, Annika Wedderkopp. It's remarkable that someone so young could give such a performance.

The characters... are not symbolic. They're real people, leading imperfect lives... but we can relate to their feelings, and their actions at every turn of this searing drama.

Vinterberg's best filmmaking since his Dogme '95 entry "The Celebration."

Mikkelsen, one of his country's finest actors, in collaboration with Thomas Vinterberg, one of its finest directors, delivers what may be his strongest performance yet.

A nuanced portrait of a fundamentally decent man grappling with a world that has decided to treat him indecently.

The innocent man wrongly accused is something that everyone can identify with - what if it happened to me?

No quotes approved yet for The Hunt. Logged in users can submit quotes.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_hunt_2013/

azerbaijan ryan howard ps i love you ray charles cheney heart transplant weather san diego unitarian

Oil lower after housing data; pump prices steady

The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) -- Oil fell Monday after the U.S. government said sales of previously occupied homes dipped in June.

Meanwhile the average price of gasoline in the U.S. stayed at $3.67 a gallon over the weekend after rising steadily for two weeks.

Benchmark crude oil dropped $1.14 to finish at $106.91 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Sales of previously occupied homes in the U.S. slipped 1.2 percent in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.08 million. Any sign that the U.S. economic recovery is slowing can depress oil prices.

Oil is still up more than $13 a barrel since June 21, underpinned by sharp declines in U.S. stockpiles and concerns of supply disruptions in the Middle East.

Some analysts, however, say the fundamental rules of supply and demand alone do not justify the rise and speculators are also pushing the price higher.

"While crude oil stocks have declined for three weeks in a row, fundamentals in the gasoline and distillates markets appear less supportive," said a report from JBC Energy in Vienna. "Stock levels for oil products are in line or above the 5-year average, and domestic demand is anything but impressive."

Energy analysts at The Schork Group Inc. said open interest, which is the number of open futures contracts, is at record levels as is participation of Wall Street hedge funds and investors such as commodity pool operators. They said in a report that Wall Street now owns six times as many barrels of oil in the WTI futures market as there are sitting at the Nymex oil delivery terminal in Cushing, Oklahoma.

Brent crude, which is traded on the ICE Futures exchange in London, rose 8 cents to end at $108.15 a barrel.

Oil's rise has meant more expensive gasoline across the U.S. Since July 1 the average price for a gallon has risen 25 cents in Delaware and New Jersey, 26 cents in Ohio and 32 cents in Indiana. Prices have declined in just three states: Colorado, Idaho and Utah.

In other energy futures trading on the Nymex:

-- Wholesale gasoline lost 7 cents to finish at $3.06 a gallon.

-- Heating oil gave up 2 cents to end at $3.07 a gallon.

-- Natural gas retreated by 11 cents to finish at $3.68 per 1,000 cubic feet.

___

AP Writer Pablo Gorondi in Budapest contributed to this report.


Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
What a Stink

Crowds line up to see the "corpse flower." (Submit your photos)


Doing It For NJ?

Gov. Chris Christie says his TV gigs are good for his state's image.

Source: http://www.wtop.com/628/3396656/Oil-lower-after-housing-data-pump-prices-steady

anchorman sequel safety not guaranteed lifehouse al gore la dodgers lawrence o donnell magic johnson

Great Yarmouth & Caister Golf Club, Norfolk

Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

Play a round at the oldest club in Norfolk

Opened in 1882, Great Yarmouth & Caister is a robust course that offers a true test of links golf.

The 6,330-yard, par-70 layout ? which was included in Donald Steel's book ?Classic Golf Links of Great Britain and Ireland ? is well renowned for its sandy turf, the quality of its greens and for boasting some of the finest links golf holes you can find.

The stroke index one 11th, for instance, has been voted as one of the top 100 holes in the country. While you might be encouraged by the lack of bunkers as you look out from the tee, there is plenty of gorse and broken ground to the left, as well as an out of bounds stretch to the right which more than justify the stroke index. ?

The 6,330-yard, par-70 layout is well renowned for its sandy turf, the quality of its greens and for boasting some of the finest links golf holes you can find.

The 12th is another glorious hole. Featuring a raised tee box and a plateau green, the putting surface is also protected by bunkers and gorse. Make sure to take a bit of extra time before hitting your tee shot.

Away from the course, the club provides a welcoming clubhouse where players can enjoy a range of traditional, value-for-money catering options or simply a drink at the bar. The catering staff will happily help tailor menus for society days and events.

Visitors are also encouraged to take advantage of the competitive green fee prices. A midweek round on the links can be had for only ?30, while members' guests are usually able to play for under ?20.

The club lies a mile from the A149 and can be easily reached from nearby Caister-on-Sea. ?

Source: http://www.nationalclubgolfer.com/courses/articles/norfolk-golf-courses-great-yarmouth-caister.html

dont trust the b in apartment 23 johnny damon kirk cameron news 10 hillary rosen j.k. rowling j.k. rowling

5 Ridiculous (But Totally Fun!) Ways to Celebrate the Royal Birth

Now that the wait is over for Prince William and Kate Middleton's baby boy, it's time to party! The U.K. is going nuts with the festivities today: the royal army is doing gun salutes, the royal navy is flying flags, and giant crowds are swarming Buckingham Palace. If you can't get to the palace right now, don't despair: The rest of the world is celebrating, too, in inventive and often ridiculous ways. In honor of the little heir -- whose name has yet to be announced -- here are five crazy ways that you can join in the celebration, wherever you are.

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/5-ridiculous-real-ways-celebrate-royal-birth/1-a-542418?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3A5-ridiculous-real-ways-celebrate-royal-birth-542418

bath salts heart shaped box lucid 2012 ncaa tournament bracket matterhorn chris harrison girl scouts

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Team Canada Tabs Red Wings? Babcock For 2014 Winter Games

DETROIT, Mich. ? Apparently winning an Olympic gold medal is a good way to keep a gig.

After leading Canada to hockey gold in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Detroit Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock has been picked to lead Team Canada into the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia.

Red Wings legend Steve Yzerman?- now general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning ? is also Team Canada?s executive director.

Babcock led the Canadians to a thrilling overtime win against the United States in the 2010 gold medal game.

The Red Wings have been to the playoffs in all eight of Babcock?s seasons in Detroit, including a Stanley Cup title in 2008.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/wxmi-news/~3/Lhy9Hpkx8t0/

spacex tupac hologram tupac back tax deadline death race buffet rule carlos santana

M 2.7, offshore Northern California

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

Source: earthquake.usgs.gov --- Sunday, July 21, 2013
Monday, July 22, 2013 06:05:10 UTC Sunday, July 21, 2013 11:05:10 PM at epicenter Depth : 4.90 km (3.04 mi) ...

Source: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/nc72030935.php

jennifer love hewitt 4/20 boston Cnn Live Logan airport Miranda rights Police Scanner

College student stranded at sea 16 hours, swims to shore

by Associated Press

khou.com

Posted on July 22, 2013 at 9:08 AM

WOODBURY, N.J.?A college student from southern New Jersey says she was stranded at sea for 16 hours while swimming off Honduras and is now safe.

Heather Barnes went to collect coral samples for a project she?s doing at New College of Florida at 4 a.m. Friday. She says she started to cramp and got pushed out to sea.

Writing on Facebook, Barnes says she realized she had to swim to try to reach safety. She says she eventually reached land, where two people gave her water and used a kayak to take her back to the resort where she was staying.

Barnes is in Florida recovering from sunburn and jellyfish stings.

Her mother, Jennifer Dukelow of Woodbury, tells WPVI-TV in Philadelphia that she prayed until her daughter called late Friday.

Source: http://www.khou.com/news/College-student-stranded-at-sea-16-hours-swims-to-shore-216435091.html

Boston lockdown jennifer love hewitt 4/20 boston Cnn Live Logan airport Miranda rights

Shifted funds boost Sutter County&#39;s coffers?from affordable housing ...

Great news for the people of Sutter County.? Money taken by the Redevelopment agency, some created by eminent domain and stealing private property, is now going to the General Fund.? Too bad the stolen property cannot be returned.

?Yuba City Finance Director Robin Bertagna said after the city?s redevelopment agency was eliminated, $2.4 million ? planned for low- and moderate-income housing ? is what remained. A report from the state Department of Finance shows residual payments for Sutter County entities at that total, with $493,351 for Yuba City, $369,580 for Sutter County and $833,983 for K-12 school districts.

?It does benefit the community, just not the original intended purpose,? Bertagna said.?

022312-flag money-sm

?

Shifted funds boost Sutter County?s coffers

Appeal Democrat,? 7/19/13

More than $2 million originally slated for affordable housing via redevelopment funds has been rerouted to the coffers of Sutter County governments.

Gov. Jerry Brown dumped state redevelopment agencies in 2011, with the cancellation effective in February 2012, citing the need for general fund savings. Before the dissolution, redevelopment agencies used property taxes in improved areas to pay off bonds initially issued to make the improvements as a way to eliminate blight, leaving less in such taxes for other government agencies such as schools.

Yuba City Finance Director Robin Bertagna said after the city?s redevelopment agency was eliminated, $2.4 million ? planned for low- and moderate-income housing ? is what remained. A report from the state Department of Finance shows residual payments for Sutter County entities at that total, with $493,351 for Yuba City, $369,580 for Sutter County and $833,983 for K-12 school districts.

?It does benefit the community, just not the original intended purpose,? Bertagna said.

Yuba County received $47,885 in redistributed payments from a past redevelopment project to improve curbs, gutters and sidewalks in Olivehurst.

Of that total, the school districts received $14,304.

After results of a state audit on redevelopment funds came back, Yuba City on Dec. 19 cut a check to Sutter County for the $2.4 million.

In turn, Sutter County provided checks to the other entities. Bertagna said the city is still going through nonhousing funds to determine what will be distributed further.

The end of redevelopment means such property taxes are now spread between governments more equitably. Fund dispersal is based on the AB 8 formula, a state law governing the allocation of property taxes.

California Department of Finance spokesman H.D. Palmer defended the elimination of redevelopment agencies Thursday, saying it gives a boost to local governments.

?This kind of shows one of the reasons for redevelopment ? not only provides benefit to schools and the state budget, it provides a new stream of revenue,? Palmer said. ?These are new, additional dollars they can target to what every their local priorities are.?

Redistributed payments in California totaled about $4 billion.

?

?

Source: http://capoliticalnews.com/2013/07/21/shifted-funds-boost-sutter-countys-coffers-from-affordable-housing-to-general-fund/

international womens day joe the plumber lra lra eric johnson eric johnson big east tournament

Who's going to die on 'True Blood'?

TV

4 hours ago

Image: Pam, Lafayette and Sookie on "True Blood."

John P. Johnson / HBO

Pam, Lafayette and Sookie on "True Blood."

Get your hankies ready, Truebies! It's almost time to say so long to one familiar face from Bon Temps. But who?

That's been the question all season on "True Blood." In fact, thanks to a tease about the upcoming end for one "central character" from showrunner Brian Buckner back in early June, fans started guessing ? and fretting ? before the season even began.

And one thing is clear after last week's action on the show: The end is nigh! The True Death could come as soon as Sunday night, and the list of candidates is a long one.

When last we left the drama, Lafayette was possessed by the spirit of Sookie's murderous dad, and he had the heroine face down in a lake. Of course, it's hard to image that Sookie really has anything to worry about. In addition to escaping near-death capers on a regular basis, the friendly half-fae is the heart of the whole show.

If only Lafayette's fate seemed as certain. The problem for Sookie's devoted pal is that while her dad is in the driver's seat where the medium's actions are concerned, anyone who wants to stop Papa Stackhouse ? such as, for instance, a certain devoted, betrothed-by-contract, fairy-vamp hybrid named Warlow ? is going to have to stop LaLa first. (Noooooo!)

Of course, there are others in danger too.

Bill and Jessica need to watch their backs. After Jess accidentally offed three-fourths of Andy's brood while helping Bill with his Tru Fae Blood experiment, the sheriff is fighting mad. At least Jessica's safely ? well, not too safely ? locked away at Vamp Camp. But Bill's still roaming around. Then again, unless Andy lures the big, bad demi-god into the sun, he'd be hard pressed to figure out a way to kill Billith at all.

Here's hoping it's not Andy who dies in an attempt to avenge his girls! Then again, he seems far safer than the other Bellefleur in town ? Terry. Last week, the increasingly troubled vet actually hired a hit on himself (but his old war bud offered to do the deed for free).

Maybe the mercenary won't follow through. Otherwise, who would take care of Arlene and the kids ... and Felix, the armadillo?

Terry's boss is also in danger. Sam's been on the lam with Emma ever since he took the tiny wolf, and now there's an angry pack master hot on his heels. Alcide, who barely resembles the good guy he used to be, is close to closing in on the shifter, and if he corners him, it's likely enough that only one of them will survive. (Shift big, Sam!)

And then there are the other two possibilities: Eric and acid-tongued progeny, Pam.

Pam spent her first day at Vamp Camp spilling her emotions ? or lack thereof ? to a psychologist. She made it plain she didn't feel anything for her maker. The psychologist didn't believe her (nor did viewers who know better).

Now Pam's in a scenario wherein she can prove how she really feels. She's trapped face-to-face and stake-to-stake with Eric in one of those Vamp Camp Thunderdome rooms ? two enter, only one leaves alive. At least that's the idea.

Eric just can't die. (Can he?!) It's not like 1,000-year-old, easy-on-the-eyes Viking vampires just come along every day. But he can't kill Pam either. He may be a killer, but he's also a loyal to those he loves.

And Pam? It doesn't matter what she says ? she's just as loyal to the man who gave her a second life. Which is why she just might go and do something stupid (and kind and heroic).

She won't kill Eric. He won't kill her. What's a gal to do? Turn that stake on herself? (Nooooooo!)

Alas, someone has to die ? soon.

Source: http://www.today.com/entertainment/take-care-sookie-look-out-lafayette-whos-going-die-true-6C10687461

moses tulsa shooting doug fister the perfect storm mickelson how to tie a tie sweet potato recipes