LikeWZTV FOX 17 ? 29,801 like thisabout an hour ago ?
1Like ? Comment
Source: http://www.facebook.com/foxnashville/posts/10151394025107290
news 10 hillary rosen j.k. rowling j.k. rowling axl rose google earnings pat burrell
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Tornado Warning for Marion County in TN until 7:45am. http://bit.ly/NxCfXh
LikeWZTV FOX 17 ? 29,801 like thisabout an hour ago ?
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Consumer Reports lists cancer tests most people should avoid
(CBS News) For the first time, Consumer Reports has rated 11 different cancer screening tests, taken by millions of patients every year.
The magazine found most of these tests should be avoided.
Read the Consumer Reports findings here.
Dr. John Santa, who runs the Health Ratings Unit at Consumer Reports, said, "There's a lot of promotion going on out there and we're surprised that a lot of it promoted screening tests that aren't very good while we're not getting the best screening tests done for cancer."
The screening tests you should get, according to Consumer Reports, are for colon cancer, mammography for breast cancer for women 50 to 65, and pap smears for cervical cancer for women 21 to 65.
He said, "They're all reasonable."
Asked what tests you shouldn't get, Santa said, "We looked at eight cancer screening tests that most of us don't need."
Some of the tests listed as inadvisable include ovarian, pancreatic, testicular, lung, prostate, bladder, oral, and skin.
The two most worthy of discussion are screening tests for prostate cancer and ovarian cancer. In both cases, those tests are very unlikely to result in saving your life, but can definitely result in significant biopsies, surgeries that can hurt you."
Asked what people should do concerning preventative care, Santa said, "We're supposed to get current. The modern thinking about cancer is much more nuanced. We need to get away from the cookbook that all prevention is good for you, that all preventive tests are good for you. They're not. You need to sit down with somebody who knows what they're talking about, your doctor usually, and figure out what are the best screening tests for you. Not get it out of a mobile van."
He said, for most people, the risks don't outweigh the benefits of the tests Consumer Reports advises against. He said, "The tests that we don't think people should be getting, for most people, the benefits don't outweigh the risks. The risks are more substantial than people think of a preventive screening test."
But isn't it important to find out if you have cancer early? "It turns out it's more complicated even there," Santa said. "We now know that there's early cancers that our own immune systems look like they can take care of, but our tests can now detect, so we end up intervening and we end up exposing people to risks who have cancers that aren't going to change our lives."
For more with Santa, watch his full "CTM" appearance in the video above.
Source: http://feeds.cbsnews.com/~r/cbsnews/feed/~3/MNCeWdABdhs/
pregnancy test april fools day 2012 ja rule amityville horror acm passover recipes 2012 kids choice awards
Taking the stairs, raking leaves may have same health benefits as a trip to the gym
Jan. 28, 2013 ? New research at Oregon State University suggests the health benefits of small amounts of activity -- even as small as one- and two-minute increments that add up to 30 minutes per day -- can be just as beneficial as longer bouts of physical exercise achieved by a trip to the gym.
The nationally representative study of more than 6,000 American adults shows that an active lifestyle approach, as opposed to structured exercise, may be just as beneficial in improving health outcomes, including preventing metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
"Our results suggest that engaging in an active lifestyle approach, compared to a structured exercise approach, may be just as beneficial in improving various health outcomes," said Paul Loprinzi, lead author of the study. "We encourage people to seek out opportunities to be active when the choice is available. For example, rather than sitting while talking on the phone, use this opportunity to get in some activity by pacing around while talking."
Perhaps just as importantly, the researchers found that 43 percent of those who participated in the "short bouts" of exercise met physical activity guidelines of 30 minutes day. In comparison, less than 10 percent of those in the longer exercise bouts met those federal guidelines for exercise.
Loprinzi, who is an assistant professor at Bellarmine University, conducted the research as a doctoral student working in the lab of Brad Cardinal at Oregon State University. Cardinal, a professor of exercise and sport science, is co-author of the study, which is in the current issue of the American Journal of Health Promotion.
"You hear that less than 10 percent of Americans exercise and it gives the perception that people are lazy," Cardinal said. "Our research shows that more than 40 percent of adults achieved the exercise guidelines, by making movement a way of life."
Cardinal, who has studied the "lifestyle exercise" model for more than 20 years, said one of the most common barriers people cite to getting enough exercise is lack of time. He said the results of this study are promising, and show that simply building movement into everyday activities can have meaningful health benefits.
"This is a more natural way to exercise, just to walk more and move around a bit more," Cardinal said. "We are designed by nature as beings who are supposed to move. People get it in their minds, if I don't get that 30 minutes, I might as well not exercise at all. Our results really challenge that perception and give people meaningful, realistic options for meeting the physical activity guidelines."
For example, Cardinal said instead of driving half a mile, try biking or walking the same distance; instead of using a riding lawn mower, use a push lawn mower. Instead of sitting through TV commercials, try doing some sit-ups, push-ups, or jumping jacks during the commercial breaks; and instead of sitting and being a spectator at a child's sporting event, try walking around during the halftime break.
The researchers said the participants in this study wore accelerometers, which is an objective tool to measure physical activity. Those who participated in the short bouts of activity could be moving as few as one or two minutes at a time. The people in the "short bouts" group had positive results in areas such as blood pressure, cholesterol, metabolic syndrome, and waist circumference.
For instance, the study showed those in the shorter exercise group who met physical activity guidelines had an 89 percent chance of not having metabolic syndrome, compared to 87 percent for those meeting guidelines using the structured exercise approach.
Loprinzi said the one area where small bursts of activity did not seem to equal the benefits of longer, sustained exercise was in Body Mass Index, or BMI. However, the researchers cautioned that these findings do not necessarily mean that short bouts of activity do not help with weight loss, especially since they did find a benefit on weight circumference.
"There are inherent limitations in BMI as a surrogate measure of fat and health in general," Cardinal said. "People can still be 'fit' and 'fat.'"
The researchers emphasized that for health benefits, people should seek out opportunities to be physically active.
"In our society, you will always be presented with things that entice you to sit or be less active because of technology, like using a leaf blower instead of a rake," Cardinal said. "Making physical activity a way of life is more cost-effective than an expensive gym membership. You may be more likely to stick with it, and over the long term, you'll be healthier, more mobile and just feel better all around."
Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:
Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:
Story Source:
The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Oregon State University.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
- Paul D. Loprinzi, Bradley J. Cardinal. Association Between Biologic Outcomes and Objectively Measured Physical Activity Accumulated in ?10-Minute Bouts and . American Journal of Health Promotion, 2013; 27 (3): 143 DOI: 10.4278/ajhp.110916-QUAN-348
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/living_well/~3/zjCO-5T8sq4/130129100118.htm
kennedy center honors boxing day george h w bush Belk Led Zeppelin Ned Rocknroll Norman Schwarzkopf
Check out pictures from UFC on Fox 6
Check out UFC on Fox 6 pictures from the always-amazing Tracy Lee. She caught images of Demetrious Johnson outlasting John Dodson, Quinton Jackson's final UFC fight, and more from Saturday night's fights. To see more of Lee's work, follow her on Twitter.
Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/check-pictures-ufc-fox-6-204314877--mma.html
condoleezza rice bill cosby Perry Hall High School us open Hurricane Isaac 2012 bill nye Snooki Baby
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Santa Maria mourns its dead, calls for justice
Girls cry in front of a makeshift memorial outside the Kiss nightclub where a fire killed over 230 people in Santa Maria, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. The repercussions of a tragic nightclub fire in southern Brazil widened Tuesday as mayors around the country cracked down on such venues in their own cities and investigators searched two other nightspots owned by a partner in the club that caught ablaze. Most of the dead were college students 18 to 21 years old, but they also included some minors. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
Girls cry in front of a makeshift memorial outside the Kiss nightclub where a fire killed over 230 people in Santa Maria, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. The repercussions of a tragic nightclub fire in southern Brazil widened Tuesday as mayors around the country cracked down on such venues in their own cities and investigators searched two other nightspots owned by a partner in the club that caught ablaze. Most of the dead were college students 18 to 21 years old, but they also included some minors. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
A makeshift memorial that include pictures of the victims of the Kiss nightclub fatal fire is seen inside the gymnasium where a collective funeral was held a day earlier, in Santa Maria, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. A fast-moving fire roared through the crowded, windowless nightclub, early Sunday, killing more than 230 people. The first funeral services were held Monday for the victims. Most of the dead were college students 18 to 21 years old, but they also included some minors. Almost all died from smoke inhalation. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
A man prays in front of a makeshift memorial outside the Kiss nightclub in Santa Maria, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. A fast-moving fire roared through the crowded, windowless nightclub early Sunday, where there was no alarm, no working fire extinguisher, no sprinkler and almost no escape from the nightclub that became a death trap for more than 200 Brazilian college students. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
A woman bows her head in front of a makeshift memorial outside the Kiss nightclub in Santa Maria, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. A fast-moving fire roared through the crowded, windowless nightclub early Sunday, where there was no alarm, no working fire extinguisher, no sprinkler and almost no escape from the nightclub that became a death trap for more than 200 Brazilian college students. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
Marcia Gerhardt, a teacher who lost students in the fire at the Kiss nightclub, prays in front of a makeshift memorial outside the club in Santa Maria, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. The repercussions of a tragic nightclub fire that killed more than 230 people in southern Brazil widened Tuesday as mayors around the country cracked down on such venues in their own cities and investigators searched two other nightspots owned by a partner in the club that caught ablaze. Most of the dead were college students 18 to 21 years old, but they also included some minors. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
SANTA MARIA, Brazil (AP) ? The young law student sat alone in a pew, clutching a shirt on which she'd written the names of friends she'd lost in a weekend nightclub fire in this Brazilian college town.
It was grubby and wrinkled, as Halana Pinheiro Rubim alternately smoothed it out on her knees, tracing out the names, then clutched it and cried.
"Luiza Alves," she said, fingering the first name. "She was one of my closest friends. She was a fantastic cook and made the best lasagna. We'd always go to her house to study, then stay to eat."
"Andressa Brissow, and her sister, Louise Brissow. It was Loulou's birthday. She called all her friends. I should have been there. My name was on the guest list."
Crying, Rubim ran her hands over other names: Sabrina Mendes, Gilmara Oliveira, Pedro Mogental. "There are others in the hospital. There are so many names."
Throughout this college town in a prosperous corner of Brazil, residents seemed stunned on Tuesday, unable to digest the sudden tragedy that claimed the lives of 234 young people in a pre-dawn fire Sunday ? Santa Maria's lost generation.
As police pressed on with their investigation into the devastation at the Kiss nightclub, which had no fire alarm or sprinklers and only one exit, family and friends of the victims stepped beyond their pain to demand answers. What had gone wrong? Who had failed the town's children?
Their grief spilled over Monday night into a march by about 30,000 people who, dressed in white, coursed quietly through town. Every minute or so, a wave of clapping rippled through the river of mourners, starting at one end and running down the length of the street.
By Tuesday, grief had turned to anger. A group of mostly young people gathered in front of the mayor's office. Chanting "We want justice!" they held up placards bearing the faces of victims. Among them was Douglas Dorneles Medeiros, who lost his girlfriend, Thanise Correa Garcia.
Holding a banner with her photos, he said, "It was murder. These corrupt politicians must be held accountable. ... This was not an accident. It was a death foretold."
Images of desolation abounded. The cars of the young revelers who came to hear a local country band and died inside the gutted club early Sunday haunted its parking lot. In a gym where a mass wake had been held, posters with the victims' faces lingered, amid wilting lilies and white roses. Some contained messages of farewell to a friend or child; others simply said "Mourning" in large black letters.
There were also pointed calls for accountability. "No to impunity!" read one; "Why do we pay taxes? What are authorities doing?" said another.
"Families want an answer," said Camila Schreiner, a head of student government at the university's forestry engineering department. "Next week we go back to classes having lost many of our friends. We need an answer."
In the town's largest Catholic church, priests were doing double duty trying to comfort parishioners who waited quietly for their turn to speak privately in the pews or in the confessionals.
"We are on permanent call," said Father Nelson Luiz Pappis. People come for answers, but "a tragedy such as this one has no explanation."
What he offered were reminders. "For those who have faith, life doesn't end. We are in communion with those who have gone," he said. "And to keep on going, we look for solidarity with those who are here with us."
At the Federal University of Santa Maria, classrooms should have been bustling with students preparing for final exams. Instead, footsteps echoed Tuesday in the darkened hallways of the college, which lost 113 students, among them aspiring agronomists, veterinarians and forestry engineers.
Agronomy professor Toshio Nishijina threw up his hands in bewilderment as he walked among the deserted classrooms. "This should be full of students. This is always such a festive environment. It is so strange now," he said.
Some mourners tried to work through their grief by taking refuge in routine. Grasiele Melo Moreira was back at the counter selling jewelry in a small shop just around the corner from the nightclub where her best friend died.
She swallowed back tears as she described Patricia Pazzini Bairro, a friend with whom bonds were as tight as with family. Bairro had been her maid of honor, Moreira said. When Bairro's son, Gabriel, was born, she asked Moreira to be godmother.
Bairro and her husband, Vandelcork Marques Lara Junior, went into the club about 10 minutes before the fire to pick up her 18-year-old sister, Greicy. The teenager had gotten into college and was celebrating with her boyfriend. All died in the fire.
"Pat always took such good care of her sister," said Moreira, shaking her head at the senseless of it all. "She wanted to be sure she got home safe.
"Justice won't bring them back," she said. "But it can prevent other deaths."
Associated Pressmultiple sclerosis falling skies rodney king Webb Simpson Fathers Day Quotes Stevie J mothers day 2012
Twitter Gets More Transparent With A New, Dedicated Site Reporting 6,646 Copyright Complaints And 1,858 Gov?t Info Requests
Twitter, now at 200 million monthly active users, is ramping up to be a big player in content delivery with embedded video services from Vine the latest move in that direction. But to play nice with rights holders and authorities, it is also making sure that it's keeping all activity clean. To that end, today the company launched a new, dedicated site, transparency.twitter.com, where it will house all updated stats and other information linked to information requests from government officials, copyright flags from content companies, and full-blown takedown requests.Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/fVh9nf7xZhk/
f/a 18 f 18 crash virginia tenebrae the lake house petrino arkansas roy williams matt lauer
Monday, January 28, 2013
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Engineers use evolution to improve solar cell design
3 hrs.
Scientists are using principles of natural selection to evolve a more efficient solar cell.
Engineers at Northwestern University wrote a computer program that "mates" design elements and assesses the fitness of their "offspring" to come up with the most efficient possible organic solar cell. Organic solar cells are made with the so-called organic elements ? carbon, oxygen and nitrogen ? and are cheaper to make, lighter and more flexible than the traditional silicon cells available in solar panels today.
Organic cells aren't as efficient at turning the sun's energy into electricity as silicon cells, however. Many research groups are working to improve organic solar cells' efficiency. If they work well, such cells could go into? electricity-producing windows ?or clothes.
In their work, the Northwestern researchers focused on the top layer of an organic solar cell, called the scattering layer, which traps photons from sunlight. They wanted a scattering layer that would hold photos for a greater amount of time.
"We wanted to determine the geometry for the scattering layer that would give us optimal performance," Cheng Sun, a mechanical engineer and one of the creators of the new organic solar cell,? said in a statement. "But with so many possibilities, it's difficult to know where to start, so we looked to laws of natural selection to guide us."
Sun and his colleagues' program simulated more than 20 generations of matings to come up with their final design. The program also mimicked the biological processes of mutation and an exchange of traits called crossing over.
The resulting design traps photons for three times as long as the Yablonovitch Limit, which describes how long a photon is likely to stay in a semiconducting material. Researchers have only been able to reach and break the Yablonovitch Limit in the last few years.?
The engineers? published their work ?Jan. 3 in the journal Scientific Reports.
Follow TechNewsDaily on Twitter @TechNewsDaily, or on Facebook.
Copyright 2013 TechNewsDaily, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Remember Remember The 5th Of November African painted dogs What Time Do Polls Open Krysten Ritter lakers v for vendetta Time
Saturday, January 26, 2013
How social media helped promote a scholarship program for ...
SMO
Hello again! I?m Sara Aisenberg, and you might remember me from a guest post I wrote for Social Media Optimization about five common problems with SEO back in June. Today, I?m back here at SMO not only as a guest blogger but also as the associate director of educational outreach at SuretyBonds.com, a nationwide surety bond producer. As such, I?d like to do two things.
- Announce SuretyBonds.com?s first annual Small Business Success Student Scholarship Program
- Explain how our company has used social media to promote the scholarship across the Internet
What is the SuretyBonds.com Small Business Success Student Scholarship Program?
Just like other scholarship programs, the SuretyBonds.
com Small Business Success Student Scholarship Program was created to help deserving students reach their full collegiate potential. What sets this program apart from others, however, is that students who apply must have small business experience, whether it be personal or through a parent, grandparent or legal guardian. Three students who can articulate their experiences in a short essay will be selected to win a $1,500 scholarship to put toward education expenses.
You might be wondering, ?Why small business?? The answer is simple: SuretyBonds.com is a small business, and we?re proud to serve small business owners from across the country on a daily basis. We realize the value small businesses add not only to the economy, but also to the communities we live and work in, so we want to give back to those individuals who are living the American dream day in and day out. If you know anyone eligible for the scholarship program, be sure to recommend them to SuretyBonds.com/scholarships.
How have we used social media to promote the scholarship program?
A major component of this scholarship program will take place on Facebook. Once all applications have been received, ten finalists will be selected by our panel. The finalists will submit photographs that represent their respective small business experiences, and these photos will be posted on our custom SuretyBonds.com scholarship Facebook app. From May 1-31, 2012, the public will vote for their favorite contestants, and the three finalists with the most votes will each be awarded a scholarship.
Once our scholarship website went live, it was time to start promoting. That meant reaching out to colleges, universities and scholarship sites across the country. Of course, cold emailing was a necessary part of the process, but we also spent time searching for the social media platforms managed by the schools. These days, most schools have well-maintained Twitter accounts and Facebook profiles. (Many also have blogs; some even have several blogs for different departments within the institution.)
As any online marking professional knows, social media is crucial for almost every online promotional campaign. My team has been working to connect with schools via any social media outlet available. In the past, social media was an overlooked component of our online marketing campaigns, but this isn?t the case anymore. We were able to get the word out about the scholarship program not only via traditional but also non-traditional methods.
What tips and tricks do you have for promoting a scholarship online? Sound off in the comments!
This post was provided by Sara Aisenberg. Sara is the associate director of educational outreach at SuretyBonds.com. Keep up with Sara on Twitter and Google+.
bobby valentine nicki minaj miguel cabrera Karrueche Tran dodd frank Lark Voorhies Jennifer Livingston
Actor Burt Reynolds reportedly in intensive care with flu
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - American actor Burt Reynolds is battling the flu in the intensive care unit of a Florida hospital, CNN reported on Friday.
The "Smokey and the Bandit" actor arrived at the unnamed hospital with dehydration and was later transferred to intensive care, Reynolds' manager, Erik Kritzer, told CNN.
"He is doing better at this time," Kritzer was quoted as saying on Friday afternoon. "We expect, as soon as he gets more fluids, he will be back in a regular room."
Reynolds, 76, is famous for roles in 1970s movies including "Deliverance" and "The Longest Yard." More recently, he won a Golden Globe award for his role as a porn king in 1997 film "Boogie Nights."
Reynolds had heart bypass surgery in 2010.
(Reporting By Lisa Richwine; Editing by Jill Serjeant and Xavier Briand)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/actor-burt-reynolds-reportedly-intensive-care-flu-003903559.html
zac efron and taylor swift real housewives of orange county bloom energy franklin graham jambalaya taylor swift and zac efron basketball wives
Doubts raised about fairness of Delhi rape trial
FILE - In this Monday, Jan. 21, 2013 file photo, a Delhi police van, believed to be carrying the five men facing charges that they raped and murdered a 23-year-old woman aboard a moving bus in the capital last month, comes out of a district court in New Delhi, India. In the court of public opinion, the men being tried in the gang rape of the Indian university student should be hanged in a public square. (AP Photo/ Saurabh Das, File)
FILE - In this Monday, Jan. 21, 2013 file photo, a Delhi police van, believed to be carrying the five men facing charges that they raped and murdered a 23-year-old woman aboard a moving bus in the capital last month, comes out of a district court in New Delhi, India. In the court of public opinion, the men being tried in the gang rape of the Indian university student should be hanged in a public square. (AP Photo/ Saurabh Das, File)
NEW DELHI (AP) ? In the court of public opinion, the men being tried in the gang rape of an Indian university student should be hanged in a public square.
That demand for swift justice might make it impossible for them to get a fair trial in a court of law. Already, there are plenty of portents.
Amid the heightened emotions that have surrounded this case a local bar association has stopped its members from representing the men citing the heinous nature of the crime. The three grandstanding lawyers who have rushed in to represent the accused spent weeks taking potshots at each other instead of coordinating a defense. Two lawyers fought for days over which one was representing one of the defendants.
And the case is being heard by a brand new fast track court, set up in the wake of the rape to deal with sexual assaults in the capital, that is under pressure to reach a verdict within weeks. Finally, whatever is said or submitted in court has to stay in the room -- a gag order by the judge prevents the media from reporting anything about the case.
"However wicked and depraved society may perceive a person to be, he deserves a fair trial. He deserves a good defense," said Markandey Katju, a retired judge of India's Supreme Court.
"That some of those charged are the real culprits and some are innocent ... that is a very real possibility," he said, adding that in India the police "spreads its net wide."
As details of the attack have emerged Katju said he feared the trial may be overrun by emotion rather than the calm voice of reason.
"You can't decide cases on sentiment. That's lynch law."
The specifics of the gang rape are horrifying. According to the police report, the attack lasted at least 45 minutes. There were six attackers, one of whom claims to be a juvenile and is being tried separately. Each of the men raped the 23-year-old woman, with at least two taking turns driving the bus. They penetrated her with two metal rods, causing such severe internal injuries that doctors later found parts of her intestines floating freely inside her abdomen.
The battered woman and her badly beaten male friend were then thrown out of the moving bus and lay naked and bleeding on the side of a busy road on a cold December night.
The attack was so brutal that the woman died two weeks later in a Singapore hospital.
Within two days of the attack the police arrested the six accused. According to the police all six confessed their crimes. The police report said that DNA evidence from the men tied all of them in the rape and murder. According to police documents blood and saliva swabs from the accused matched the DNA found on the victim's injuries. The victim's blood was also found on the clothes, underwear and slippers of the accused.
The attack in the heart of New Delhi brought protesters into the streets demanding the government protect women and ensure those attacked get justice. In response, the city government set up five fast track courts to swiftly handle those cases, keeping them out of India's overburdened regular court system, where trials can drag on for years if not decades.
As the police framed charges against the men and prepared for trial the bar association of Saket, the district where the case is being heard, declared that their members would not represent the men. They were following a precedent set by lawyers' groups across India over the last few years, which have banned their members from representing those accused of terrorism and other heinous crimes.
"This is completely unconstitutional and unethical," said Katju. "Right minded lawyers should defy and ignore such rulings."
Outside the courtroom the cries for a quick trial and execution of the five men have persisted.
"They should be handed over to the public and hanged," said Prakash, a 51-year-old gardener who had come to court on a personal matter but waited to get a glimpse of the accused being whisked into court. She uses only one name.
The three men who rushed forth to represent the accused were not members of the local bar and have spent more time fighting each other than putting up a defense.
One insisted he would ask the Supreme Court to move the trial out of Delhi because emotions were too high to hold a fair trial here. But when a second lawyer made a similar appeal, the first changed his mind and vehemently opposed it.
One lawyer, M.L. Sharma, has accused police of planting the other two defense lawyers to ensure a guilty verdict.
"I'm the only hurdle standing in their way," Sharma said earlier this week. Even as he made his allegations, fellow defense counsel V.K. Anand stepped up to say that Sharma's client had decided to fire his lawyer ? and hire him.
The dispute over who would represent the defendant was only resolved Thursday ? the day the trial started. Sharma dropped out of the trial, saying he feared his client would be tortured to get him to change his lawyer. Anand replaced him.
Sharma has accused police of beating all five men to extract their confessions, then later amended that to say only his client was beaten. He also made unsubstantiated accusations that the victim's male friend was somehow responsible for the deadly assault, only to backtrack later.
Another lawyer, A.P. Singh, said the only reason he agreed to represent two of the accused was because their families had begged his mother for help.
"My mother has a kind heart and an order from her is like an order from God," he said, posing dramatically for the cameras.
Anand hasn't spoken about his strategy, but both Sharma and Singh have claimed at least once that their clients were not even on the bus during the attack.
In the past, courts across the country have criticized the police for coercing confessions and even planting evidence to get convictions.
"We set so little store by how the police functions in this country. There's no reason to accept the police's version of events in this case without thorough legal scrutiny," said Jawahar Raja, a lawyer and activist.
The defense is made even more complicated by the fact the case is being tried in a fast track court. As a result the police has put together its case at rapid speed. The trial has started even as defense lawyers are falling into place.
"Justice takes some time. It's all very easy to talk about fast track courts," said Katju, adding that cases should be tried quickly and efficiently but without a looming deadline.
"A judge has to read all the documents, hear the lawyers, apply his mind. It's not a magic lamp that with a swish you can dispose of a case."
Associated Pressfireworks fireworks 4th of July Andy Griffith joe johnson scientology Wimbledon 2012 TV Schedule
Friday, January 25, 2013
2013 Farmers Insurance Open: Tee times and TV schedule for ...
Brandt Snedeker and K.J. Choi will begin Friday's second round as the leaders of the 2013 Farmers Insurance Open.
Brandt Snedeker and K.J. Choi are tied atop the leaderboard at the 2013 Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. Snedeker and Choi lead by one shot over a group of golfers that are all 6-under.
The player everyone has their eye on however this week is Tiger Woods, who opened the tournament with a 4-under 68 on the tougher north course. Woods will be looking for a low number on Friday as he plays the shorter South course. Woods rolled in an eagle from the sand on No. 6 on Thursday and got as low as 6-under before giving back two strokes on the back nine. Woods will tee off on Friday at approximately 12:20 p.m. ET. He will be grouped with Rickie Fowler and Nick Watney.
Snedeker is scheduled to begin his second round at 1:40 p.m. ET and Choi will hit the course at 12:20 ET.
Here is a look at Friday's tee times:
Thursday first tee on South Course/Friday 10th tee on North Course:
9:00 a.m./10:00 a.m.: Rod Pampling, Steve Marino, Tag Ridings
9:10 a.m./10:10 a.m.: David Hearn, Jeff Gove, Troy Kelly
9:20 a.m./10:20 a.m.: Charlie Beljan, Marc Leishman, Gary Woodland
9:30 a.m./10:30 a.m.: Ben Crane, Martin Laird, D.A. Points
9:40 a.m./10:40 a.m.: Troy Matteson, Josh Teater, Martin Flores
9:50 a.m./10:50 a.m.: James Hahn, Shawn Stefani, Ben Kohles
10:00 a.m./11:00 a.m.: Steven Bowditch, Paul Haley II, Brad Adamonis
10:10 a.m./9:00 a.m.: John Rollins, Pat Perez, Harris English
10:20 a.m./9:10 a.m.: Brian Harman, Brendon De Jonge, Sang-Moon Bae
10:30 a.m./9:20 a.m.: Nick Watney, Tiger Woods, Rickie Fowler
10:40 a.m./9:30 a.m.: Hunter Mahan, Bill Haas, Kyle Stanley
10:50 a.m./9:40 a.m.: Patrick Reed, Casey Wittenberg, Alistair Presnell
11:00 a.m./9:50 a.m.: Bobby Gates, Derek Ernst, Andrew Svoboda
Thursday 10th tee on South Course/Friday first tee on North Course:
9:00 a.m./10:00 a.m.: John Senden, Matt Jones, Ricky Barnes
9:10 a.m./10:10 a.m.: John Daly, Charlie Wi, Seung-Yul Noh
9:20 a.m./10:20 a.m.: John Huh, Lucas Glover, Angel Cabrera
9:30 a.m./10:30 a.m.: Scott Piercy, Y.E. Yang, Robert Allenby
9:40 a.m./10:40 a.m.: Camilo Villegas, Tim Herron, Matt Every
9:50 a.m./10:50 a.m.: Lee Williams, Jin Park, Justin Hicks
10:00 a.m./11:00 a.m.: Doug LaBelle II, David Lingmerth, Michael McCabe
10:10 a.m./9:00 a.m.: Tom Gillis, Jeff Klauk, Michael Letzig
10:20 a.m./9:10 a.m.: Chez Reavie, Boo Weekley, Jason Kokrak
10:30 a.m./9:20 a.m.: Ben Curtis, K.J. Choi, Trevor Immelman
10:40 a.m./9:30 a.m.: Sean O'Hair, Robert Garrigus, Geoff Ogilvy
10:50 a.m./9:40 a.m.: Andres Romero, Greg Owen, Roberto Castro
11:00 a.m./9:50 a.m.: Justin Bolli, Erik Compton, Luke Guthrie
Thursday first tee on North Course/Friday 10th tee on South Course:
9:00 a.m./10:00 a.m.: Bo Van Pelt, Blake Adams, Graham DeLaet
9:10 a.m./10:10 a.m.: Greg Chalmers, Jimmy Walker, Will Claxton
9:20 a.m./10:20 a.m.: Tommy Gainey, Jhonattan Vegas, Jerry Kelly
9:30 a.m./10:30 a.m.: Bryce Molder, Michael Bradley, Aaron Baddeley
9:40 a.m./10:40 a.m.: Andres Gonzales, D.H. Lee, Adam Hadwin
9:50 a.m./10:50 a.m.: Fabian Gomez, Morgan Hoffmann, Patrick Cantlay
10:00 a.m./11:00 a.m.: Billy Horschel, Donald Constable, Steven Fox
10:10 a.m./9:00 a.m.: Charley Hoffman, David Mathis, Colt Knost
10:20 a.m./9:10 a.m.: Neal Lancaster, Cameron Tringale, Daniel Summerhays
10:30 a.m./ 9:20 a.m.: Jonas Blixt, Brendan Steele, Stewart Cink
10:40 a.m./9:30 a.m.: J.J. Henry, Scott Stallings, Stuart Appleby
10:50 a.m./9:40 a.m.: John Merrick, Hank Kuehne, David Lynn
11:00 a.m./9:50 a.m.: Aaron Watkins, Brad Fritsch, Mark Baker
Thursday 10th tee on North Course/Friday first tee on South Course:
9:00 a.m./10:00 a.m.: J.B. Holmes, Brandt Jobe, Nicholas Thompson
9:10 a.m./10:10 a.m.: Jason Day, Ryo Ishikawa, Nocolas Colsaerts
9:20 a.m./10:20 a.m.: Dustin Johnson, Keegan Bradley, Vijay Singh
9:30 a.m./ 10:30 a.m.: Brandt Snedeker, Bubba Watson, Phil Mickelson
9:40 a.m./10:40 a.m.: Brian Stuard, Scott Langley, Luke List
9:50 a.m./10:50 a.m.: Ross Fisher, Robert Streb, Eric Meierdierks
10:00 a.m./11:00 a.m.: Scott Gardiner, Steve LeBrun, Henrik Norlander
10:10 a.m./9:00 a.m.: Charles Howell III, Robert Karlsson, Darron Stiles
10:20 a.m./9:10 a.m.: James Driscoll, Jeff Overton, Michael Thompson
10:30 a.m./9:20 a.m.: Stephen Ames, Justin Leonard, Mike Weir
10:40 a.m./9:30 a.m.: John Mallinger, Bud Cauley, Kevin Chappell
10:50 a.m./9:40 a.m.: Cameron Percy, Jim Herman, Jon Fiedler
11:00 a.m./9:50 a.m.: Richard H. Lee, Peter Tomasulo, Jordan Spieth
All tee times listed above are PT.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
matt lauer divine mercy chaplet albert pujols the shining mariano rivera mariano rivera jobs report
Temple scientists find cancer-causing virus in the brain, potential connection to epilepsy
![[ Back to EurekAlert! ]](http://www.eurekalert.org/images/back2e.gif){kind=small}
Public release date: 24-Jan-2013[ | E-mail |
Share ] Contact: Jeremy Walter
Jeremy.Walter@tuhs.temple.edu
215-707-7882
Temple University Health System
The virus becomes a potential new target for treating a common form of childhood epilepsy
(Philadelphia, PA) - Researchers at Shriner's Hospital Pediatric Research Center at the Temple University School of Medicine, and the University of Pennsylvania have evidence linking the human papillomavirus 16 (HPV16) the most common cause of cervical cancer to a common form of childhood epilepsy. They have shown for the first time that HPV16 may be present in the human brain, and found that when they added a viral protein to the brains of fetal mice, the mice all demonstrated the same developmental problems in the cerebral cortex associated with this type of epilepsy, called focal cortical dysplasia type IIB (FCDIIB). The findings suggest that the virus could play a role in the development of epilepsy.
The results also mean that doctors may have to re-think their approach to treating this type of epilepsy, and perhaps consider other therapeutic options related to HPV, an infectious disease.
"This is a novel mechanism, and it fills a gap in our understanding about the development of congenital brain malformations," said Peter Crino, MD, PhD, Professor of Neurology at Temple University School of Medicine, and a member of Shriner's Hospital Pediatric Research Center, and the senior author of a recent report in the Annals of Neurology.
"If our data are correct, future treatment of cortical dysplasia could include targeted therapy against HPV16 infection, with the goal of halting seizures. Identifying an infectious agent as part of the pathogenesis of brain malformations could open up an array of new therapeutic approaches against various forms of epilepsy."
FCDIIB is a developmental malformation in the cerebral cortex, the area of the brain that plays key roles in thought, perception and memory. It is a common cause of both pediatric and adult epilepsy especially difficult-to-treat forms of epilepsy and it is thought to occur in the womb during early brain development. The condition is characterized by a disorganized cellular structure and enlarged, "balloon cells." Current treatments include surgery and medication.
Balloon cells contain a signaling cascade called the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTOR1), which is important for cellular growth, proliferation and division, particularly in brain development. Other scientists have recently found the mTOR pathway is activated by the HPV16 E6 oncoprotein.
While there had never been any studies indicating that HPV16 could infect the brain, Dr. Crino saw a potential connection. "This is a sporadic, congenital brain malformation associated with mTOR signaling with no genetic predisposition," he said. "Based on various cellular and cell signaling similarities between cervical dysplasia and focal cortical dysplasia, this led me to a hypothesis that the HPV protein could be detected in FCDIIB."
To find out, the investigators first examined FCDIIB tissue samples from 50 patients for evidence of the HPV16 E6 protein. They found that all of the samples were positive for the protein in the balloon cells, but not in regions without balloon cells or in 36 control samples from healthy individuals.
They next examined the samples' genetic material by several sophisticated molecular techniques to look for evidence of HPV16 E6, and compared the findings to tissue from healthy controls and tissue from patients with different types of brain malformations and epilepsy. Again, every sample of FCDIIB was found to contain HPV16 E6 protein, whereas the control specimens and tissue from other types of dysplasia and conditions did not.
Finally, in a series of experiments, the scientists painstakingly delivered the E6 protein into the brains of fetal mice. "If E6 is the causative element for HPV cervical dysplasia and focal cortical dysplasia, putting the protein into a fetal mouse brain should disrupt the cortical development," Dr. Crino explained. When the scientists did this, they found that the fetal mouse brains did indeed develop brain malformations.
Dr. Crino plans to investigate other forms of cortical dysplasia to see if HPV or related viral proteins can be found. He and his team aren't sure how the virus gets into the brain, but their results suggest that an HPV infection in the placenta could be one possible path. The exact mechanism by which HPV16 might cause a malformation and epilepsy remains to be determined. He acknowledged several potential implications from the findings.
"We are going to have to think about this epidemiologically as an infectious disease, not a genetic disorder. In terms of prevention, with current HPV vaccination, we have a potentially modifiable disease," he said. "In addition, if in fact this type of epilepsy represents a disorder of mTOR signaling, then one strategy could be, rather than treating the patients with anti-epileptic drugs, is to perhaps use mTOR inhibitors.
"The million dollar result would be to show it is possible to induce a brain malformation with an E6 infection, and the animal develops epilepsy," Dr. Crino said. "It would be even better if we showed that it is preventable."
###
Other investigators contributing to this research include Julie Chen, Victoria Tsai, Whitney E. Parker, and Marianna Baybis, University of Pennsylvania; and Eleonora Aronica, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
This research was supported by Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy and the National Epilepsy Fund.
About Temple Health
Temple Health refers to the health, education and research activities carried out by the affiliates of Temple University Health System and by Temple University School of Medicine.
Temple University Health System (TUHS) is a $1.4 billion academic health system dedicated to providing access to quality patient care and supporting excellence in medical education and research. The Health System consists of Temple University Hospital (TUH), ranked among the "Best Hospitals" in the region by U.S. News & World Report; TUH-Episcopal Campus; TUH-Northeastern Campus; Fox Chase Cancer Center, an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center; Jeanes Hospital, a community-based hospital offering medical, surgical and emergency services; Temple Transport Team, a ground and air-ambulance company; and Temple Physicians, Inc., a network of community-based specialty and primary-care physician practices. TUHS is affiliated with Temple University School of Medicine.
Temple University School of Medicine (TUSM), established in 1901, is one of the nation's leading medical schools. Each year, the School of Medicine educates approximately 720 medical students and 140 graduate students. Based on its level of funding from the National Institutes of Health, Temple University School of Medicine is the second-highest ranked medical school in Philadelphia and the third-highest in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. According to U.S. News & World Report, TUSM is among the top 10 most applied-to medical schools in the nation.
[ | 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: 24-Jan-2013[ | E-mail |
Share ] Contact: Jeremy Walter
Jeremy.Walter@tuhs.temple.edu
215-707-7882
Temple University Health System
The virus becomes a potential new target for treating a common form of childhood epilepsy
(Philadelphia, PA) - Researchers at Shriner's Hospital Pediatric Research Center at the Temple University School of Medicine, and the University of Pennsylvania have evidence linking the human papillomavirus 16 (HPV16) the most common cause of cervical cancer to a common form of childhood epilepsy. They have shown for the first time that HPV16 may be present in the human brain, and found that when they added a viral protein to the brains of fetal mice, the mice all demonstrated the same developmental problems in the cerebral cortex associated with this type of epilepsy, called focal cortical dysplasia type IIB (FCDIIB). The findings suggest that the virus could play a role in the development of epilepsy.
The results also mean that doctors may have to re-think their approach to treating this type of epilepsy, and perhaps consider other therapeutic options related to HPV, an infectious disease.
"This is a novel mechanism, and it fills a gap in our understanding about the development of congenital brain malformations," said Peter Crino, MD, PhD, Professor of Neurology at Temple University School of Medicine, and a member of Shriner's Hospital Pediatric Research Center, and the senior author of a recent report in the Annals of Neurology.
"If our data are correct, future treatment of cortical dysplasia could include targeted therapy against HPV16 infection, with the goal of halting seizures. Identifying an infectious agent as part of the pathogenesis of brain malformations could open up an array of new therapeutic approaches against various forms of epilepsy."
FCDIIB is a developmental malformation in the cerebral cortex, the area of the brain that plays key roles in thought, perception and memory. It is a common cause of both pediatric and adult epilepsy especially difficult-to-treat forms of epilepsy and it is thought to occur in the womb during early brain development. The condition is characterized by a disorganized cellular structure and enlarged, "balloon cells." Current treatments include surgery and medication.
Balloon cells contain a signaling cascade called the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTOR1), which is important for cellular growth, proliferation and division, particularly in brain development. Other scientists have recently found the mTOR pathway is activated by the HPV16 E6 oncoprotein.
While there had never been any studies indicating that HPV16 could infect the brain, Dr. Crino saw a potential connection. "This is a sporadic, congenital brain malformation associated with mTOR signaling with no genetic predisposition," he said. "Based on various cellular and cell signaling similarities between cervical dysplasia and focal cortical dysplasia, this led me to a hypothesis that the HPV protein could be detected in FCDIIB."
To find out, the investigators first examined FCDIIB tissue samples from 50 patients for evidence of the HPV16 E6 protein. They found that all of the samples were positive for the protein in the balloon cells, but not in regions without balloon cells or in 36 control samples from healthy individuals.
They next examined the samples' genetic material by several sophisticated molecular techniques to look for evidence of HPV16 E6, and compared the findings to tissue from healthy controls and tissue from patients with different types of brain malformations and epilepsy. Again, every sample of FCDIIB was found to contain HPV16 E6 protein, whereas the control specimens and tissue from other types of dysplasia and conditions did not.
Finally, in a series of experiments, the scientists painstakingly delivered the E6 protein into the brains of fetal mice. "If E6 is the causative element for HPV cervical dysplasia and focal cortical dysplasia, putting the protein into a fetal mouse brain should disrupt the cortical development," Dr. Crino explained. When the scientists did this, they found that the fetal mouse brains did indeed develop brain malformations.
Dr. Crino plans to investigate other forms of cortical dysplasia to see if HPV or related viral proteins can be found. He and his team aren't sure how the virus gets into the brain, but their results suggest that an HPV infection in the placenta could be one possible path. The exact mechanism by which HPV16 might cause a malformation and epilepsy remains to be determined. He acknowledged several potential implications from the findings.
"We are going to have to think about this epidemiologically as an infectious disease, not a genetic disorder. In terms of prevention, with current HPV vaccination, we have a potentially modifiable disease," he said. "In addition, if in fact this type of epilepsy represents a disorder of mTOR signaling, then one strategy could be, rather than treating the patients with anti-epileptic drugs, is to perhaps use mTOR inhibitors.
"The million dollar result would be to show it is possible to induce a brain malformation with an E6 infection, and the animal develops epilepsy," Dr. Crino said. "It would be even better if we showed that it is preventable."
###
Other investigators contributing to this research include Julie Chen, Victoria Tsai, Whitney E. Parker, and Marianna Baybis, University of Pennsylvania; and Eleonora Aronica, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
This research was supported by Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy and the National Epilepsy Fund.
About Temple Health
Temple Health refers to the health, education and research activities carried out by the affiliates of Temple University Health System and by Temple University School of Medicine.
Temple University Health System (TUHS) is a $1.4 billion academic health system dedicated to providing access to quality patient care and supporting excellence in medical education and research. The Health System consists of Temple University Hospital (TUH), ranked among the "Best Hospitals" in the region by U.S. News & World Report; TUH-Episcopal Campus; TUH-Northeastern Campus; Fox Chase Cancer Center, an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center; Jeanes Hospital, a community-based hospital offering medical, surgical and emergency services; Temple Transport Team, a ground and air-ambulance company; and Temple Physicians, Inc., a network of community-based specialty and primary-care physician practices. TUHS is affiliated with Temple University School of Medicine.
Temple University School of Medicine (TUSM), established in 1901, is one of the nation's leading medical schools. Each year, the School of Medicine educates approximately 720 medical students and 140 graduate students. Based on its level of funding from the National Institutes of Health, Temple University School of Medicine is the second-highest ranked medical school in Philadelphia and the third-highest in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. According to U.S. News & World Report, TUSM is among the top 10 most applied-to medical schools in the nation.
[ | 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/2013-01/tuhs-tsf012413.php
michele bachmann donald trump Election 2012 map Election Results Map Early voting results BBC Dick Morris
SF Launcher Alpha brings a little piece of Google Now to the homescreen
Back at Google I/O last year, our very own Phil Nickinson posed the question -- might Google Now become an Android home screen? Well, a new custom launcher in the Play Store brings a little taste of that to life. SF Launcher Alpha comes from the same developer who brought us the Fixed 4.2 Clock Widget, and integrates the now familiar Google Now images with a card style layout for apps and widgets.
The top image is currently limited to that of San Francisco, London or the generic Google Now image, but will change with the time of day from dawn through day into dusk. Below it sits a widget 'card' and while only one widget is on show at any time, it scrolls so you can add as many as you like. Below that sits your favorite apps, the number displayed is customizable and you choose from scratch -- when you first start the launcher this card is empty.
Scrolling in from the left brings up the settings menu where the theme can be chosen along with numerous different visual setting tweaks, as well as controlling the behavior of tapping on the clock and top image. This can be customized to launch search, the stock clock app, quick settings, among others.
Scrolling in from the right brings up your full app drawer, all the while maintaining the top image and clock. It's a simple idea, and a simple launcher, but is definitely something different to other launchers we've seen. It's still in the early Alpha stages, but is available to download for free from the Google Play Store now. Click on past the break for a quick walkthrough video.
 |  |
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/-x4jTMqJiRE/story01.htm
titanic ii babe ruth new jersey nets nba playoff schedule rondo morris claiborne mothers day gifts
Thursday, January 24, 2013
4 secrets to success in a slow-growth economy ? Checkside ? HR ...
By Scott O?Hehir
Western Australian businesses expect 2013 to be a tough one.
Recent data from the Commonwealth Bank ? CCI Survey of Business Expectations shows that just 13 per cent of WA businesses expect the WA economy will improve over the next 12 months, while 45 per cent expect it to deteriorate. Significantly, wage costs were revealed as the number one priority for businesses in 2013 ? just ahead of domestic and global economic conditions.
A quick round of crystal ball gazing by Australia?s top economists (facilitated by independent website Crikey) found that the general consensus was a slowdown in 2013.
We last experienced a business climate like this in 2009. Doom and gloom everywhere. Companies were going out of business on a weekly basis, and mass redundancies were happening almost daily.
It was during this time that I had the pleasure of working with TSG?? a (then) small specialist consultancy based in Perth. TSG worked predominantly with large mining clients, helping them to simulate, analyse and optimise complex supply chains.
The directors were of the view that the post-GFC downturn presented an unparalleled opportunity for them to reinvent their business and lay the groundwork for future growth. They rejected the commonly held view that cost cutting and redundancies were the order of the day. Instead they believed that by taking informed, intelligent steps ? they could distance themselves from the competition in the years to come.
Fast forward four years and this group has significantly increased revenues, is expanding internationally, has increased headcount significantly and has positioned themselves as a world leader in their field.
Here are some of the secrets to their success:
?1.?????? A focus on engagement and collaboration
The directors understood that high levels of engagement would:
- make it easier to attract talented people
- minimise unwanted staff turnover
- increase efficiency and innovation from their existing team
- reduce the ?compensation premium? required? to attract talented people
?They took the opportunity to review rewards structures, training and development, organisational culture, the way work was organised and the way their people interacted and communicated.? Every change they made was aimed at promoting meritocracy, improving communication and increasing social interaction.
?The result was much higher levels of engagement throughout the organisation.? This led to the delivery of exceptional work for clients, which of course led to repeat business. In fact over 90 per cent of TSG?s work is now on-going or repeat business.
?More and more businesses are becoming aware of the benefits associated with a more engaged and collaborative workforce ? and it is not as expensive or difficult to achieve as it may seem.
?2.?????? Workforce planning
The company?s strategic plan involved an international expansion and a significant increase in headcount.? The directors knew that a key factor in the success of any new interstate and international offices was getting the staffing mix right.? Workforce planning was essential.? The directors forecast future staffing requirements to reveal potential gaps (staff numbers, expertise, and skills and abilities) and implemented the appropriate HR and recruitment strategies to achieve the desired outcomes.
?The result was the successful opening and performance of interstate and international offices ? all headed by suitably experienced directors or senior employees and backed up by locally sourced talent.? The directors also brought in a General Manager to provide input into and oversee the implementation of the strategic plan ? allowing them to focus on leading their people and opening new offices.
?Regardless of whether your crystal ball predicts growth or contraction in 2013 ? workforce planning is an important step towards effective implementation of your business strategy.
?3.?????? A new approach to performance management and communication
The company had an out-dated template that they used to facilitate their annual performance reviews.? Employees dreaded the process.? So did managers.? It was yielding almost zero value to the organisation and was chewing up a great deal of time and resources.
?The directors decided to throw out the old process and move to a process that:
- was aligned with the company culture
- was simple and efficient
- focused on development and succession
- linked to incentives
- involved employees in setting objectives (aligned to company strategy)
?The result was more regular and meaningful communication between managers and their teams.? Employees and managers alike now enjoy participating in the review process.? The company now benefits from increased efficiency of the process and improved communication within teams. ?Unwanted staff turnover is ridiculously low.
?With recent advances in social performance management software like Small Improvements, Work.com and WorkSimple, it is now even easier for employers to achieve similar results.
?4.?????? Get serious about the recruitment process
With layoffs happening almost daily in both client and competitor companies ? and given the group?s forecast workforce needs, the directors saw an unprecedented opportunity to grab good people.? But how did they know if they were recruiting the right ones?
?Historically, the group relied on networks and contacts to source good people.? More often than not this was effective in their ?home State? of WA ? but the directors knew they wouldn?t have this luxury in the future.
?The directors looked to their existing team to identify:
- what personality attributes were (or were not) a fit for their culture?
- what cognitive abilities were required to ensure success?
- What technical skills or work experience were required?
- What motivated their best people to join and stay?
?Once they had answered these questions the directors structured the screening, assessment and selection process to reduce risk and improve the odds of hiring the right people.
?The key to long-term recruitment success is objective, fact based decision making and a robust recruitment process. ?By doing this, companies don?t just recruit great people ? they can also protect and enhance their employer brand.
?So whilst the economic outlook may not be particularly rosy, times like these do provide opportunities to increase your company?s competitiveness and build its long term value.? Make the most of it!
Like this:
Be the first to like this.
Source: http://checkside.wordpress.com/2013/01/23/4-secrets-to-success-in-a-slow-growth-economy/
monday night football SEC Championship Game 2012 kansas city chiefs Javon Belcher express kindle fire Jenny Johnson
Proper Heating and Cooling Maintenance ? Airborn Eduper
on January 23, 2013
Hiring an experienced professional who uses the quality materials and understands heating and cooling system is the most important thing if you need repairs in your home. There are many brands of furnaces that all have distinct parts and functions. Depending on your home and location, your home temperature and utility bill can improve dramatically if you purchase an appropriate furnace. Air conditioning systems are also quite unique and it is essential to purchase one that operates effectively. When you hire a heating and air conditioning professional, they can analyze your home and help choose the tools that will meet your needs the best. These specialists can also handle all kinds of repairs on these systems. Experience a large difference in your year-round comfort with experienced heating and air conditioning technicians on your side. Furnaces Ogden
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Source: http://airborneduper.com/proper-heating-and-cooling-maintenance/
Resident Evil 6 arnold schwarzenegger revenge revenge adam shulman adam shulman peanut butter recall
Verizon?s third Windows Phone 8 smartphone launches tomorrow for $49.99
Samsung ATIV Odyssey Verizon (VZ) on Wednesday announced the availability of the Samsung (005930) ATIV Odyssey. The smartphone joins the HTC (2498) Windows Phone 8X and Nokia (NOK) Lumia 822 in?Verizon?s lineup of Windows Phone 8 devices. The ATIV Odyssey is equipped with a 4-inch WVGA display, 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor and a 5-megapixel rear camera. The device also features 1GB of RAM, 4G LTE connectivity, 8GB of onboard storage, a microSD slot and a 2,100 mAh battery. The Samsung ATIV Odyssey will be available online and in stores beginning January 24th for $49.99 with a new two-year agreement after a $50 mail-in rebate.
[More from BGR: Apple reports Q1 results: $13.1 billion profit beats estimates, iPhone sales and Q2 guidance miss big]
This article was originally published on BGR.com
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/verizon-third-windows-phone-8-smartphone-launches-tomorrow-020332961.html
Nancy Lanza school shootings cbs news Jenni Rivera chase Adam Lanza Facebook the hobbit
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)