You might have heard that Google is postponing the retail launch of the Nexus Q, and as compensation they are giving one to everyone who preordered for the low price of free. It's a shocker, and more than anyone expected to hear when we found out that the Q would be held back to add some more functionality. I'll leave the comparison to Oprah for the comments.
We're all busy discussing what sort of awesomesauce Google could bake into the Q, and words like mirroring and Wifi Direct are getting thrown all over my Gtalk. We're just speculating of course, but we're genuinely excited to see what G has in store for the cannonball. All we know for now is that it's been delayed for a it, and that Google is handing them out for free if you preordered.
Which of course means we have to ask, just how many folks did preorder the $300 Nexus Q? Everyone who doesn't have one seems to hate it, and those that do have one (Google handed out about 6,000 of them at Google I/O 2012) seem to be divided about how useful the device is in its current state. We don't imagine very many folks jumped at the chance to get one, and that now everyone wishes they had, but rather than guess, we'll just ask. Let us know in the poll!
It must be flattering to be Marco Arment, creator Instapaper and pioneer of putting articles aside to read in the bathroom. His app's imitators are legion, and have grown by a very intimidating one: Facebook. Its "save for later" feature is no Instapaper. But it may not have to be. More »
Surgical patient safety program lowers SSIs by one-third following colorectal operationsPublic release date: 30-Jul-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Sally Garneski pressinquiry@facs.org 312-202-5409 American College of Surgeons
Study reports that a combined approach reduces surgical site infection rates in a high-risk patient population
Chicago(July 30, 2012): A surgical patient safety program that combines three componentsaccurate outcome measurement, support of hospital leadership, and engaged frontline providersreduces surgical site infections (SSIs) by 33 percent in patients who undergo colorectal procedures, according to a new study published in the August issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
SSIs are the most common complication for this high-risk population, occurring in 15
to 30 percent of patients after colorectal operations, according to the study authors. "Colorectal surgical site infections have been tough to prevent. This is a first step to understanding a strategy for prevention. Wound infections are an important risk factor for hospital readmission, increased length-of-stay, and reoperations," said lead study author Elizabeth Wick, MD, FACS, a colorectal surgeon at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, and assistant professor of surgery at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore.
The Johns Hopkins Hospital participates in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP). ACS NSQIP is the leading nationally validated, risk-adjusted, outcomes-based program to measure and improve the quality of surgical care in private sector hospitals. While participating in a pilot program of ACS NSQIP called "Procedure Targeted Module," which monitored outcomes in all patients undergoing colorectal surgery," the colorectal operating team at Johns Hopkins discovered that they had a very high colorectal wound infection rate, approximately 30 percent.
To address the problem, Dr. Wick and her colleagues decided to apply the comprehensive unit-based safety program, known as CUSP, to colorectal wound infections. The five-step quality improvement strategy was designed to bring about patient safety improvements through an interdisciplinary team approach focusing on frontline providers with the goal of changing the unit's workplace culture.
"The CUSP program is unique because it focuses on the frontline providersthe nurses and the medical techs taking care of the patients day to dayand it gives them the power to identify and fix defects in the operating room. A key component of the program is a hospital executive is part of the team to help overcome barriers and reiterate the importance of the work," Dr. Wick said.
For the study, the CUSP team identified four defects in their surgical care: antibiotic selection and dosing, skin preparation, maintenance of normal body temperature, and intra-operative sterile technique. All defects surfaced from querying frontline providers.
Further, to evaluate the association between the CUSP intervention and postoperative SSIs, the researchers studied patients undergoing colorectal operations over a two-year period. They used one year of pre- and post-CUSP intervention SSI rates from the ACS Procedure Targeted Module, which collects outcomes data on high-risk procedures such as colectomies (surgical excision of the colon) and proctectomies (surgical excision of the rectum).
The study included 278 colorectal surgery patients in the 12-month preintervention period and 324 patients in the 12-month postintervention period. Patient risk factors were similar in both groups. In one year, researchers found that the overall SSI rate fell from 27.3 percent to 18.2 percent, a notable reduction of 33 percent in this high-risk patient population.
"Changes evolved over one year it was not a bundle, it didn't happen all at once. Therefore, it's hard to figure out what specifically led to our wound infection reduction. But interestingly, as soon as we got this team together and engaged, our wound infection rate dropped," Dr. Wick observed. Based upon the post-CUSP implementation SSI rate, the study authors estimate that 28 infections were prevented during the study period, and that the CUSP intervention resulted in a cost savings of up to a $280,000 at the institution in one year.
"This project would not have been possible without ACS NSQIP. It gives feedback, which motivated the team to realize that this was a correctable problem and that played
a role in improving patient
outcomes," Dr. Wick said. "We had a clear metric and reliable data, which allowed for tangible improvements in patient safety."
The study authors speculate that widespread application of the CUSP intervention may reduce the number of SSIs by 170,000 per year, saving up to $170 million each year.
Based on these results and the successful implementation of CUSP to reduce healthcare associ-ated infections in the OR, the researchers currently have Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality funding to reduce SSIs, and other major surgical complications, through a national implementation of a surgical-based CUSP program.
"This work is extremely important because it demonstrates it is possible to engage a team of frontline providers to solve a very difficult and common problem in surgery," said Clifford Y. Ko, MD, FACS, Director, Division of Research and Optimal Patient Care, American College of Surgeons. "The CUSP technique has achieved extremely noteworthy results in and out of surgeryboth in improving clinical issues as well as culture. We are very excited to be involved in this partnership with the John Hopkins group to advance surgical care and outcomes."
###
About the American College of Surgeons
The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and to improve the care of the surgical patient. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than 78,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. For more information, visit www.facs.org (.)
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Surgical patient safety program lowers SSIs by one-third following colorectal operationsPublic release date: 30-Jul-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Sally Garneski pressinquiry@facs.org 312-202-5409 American College of Surgeons
Study reports that a combined approach reduces surgical site infection rates in a high-risk patient population
Chicago(July 30, 2012): A surgical patient safety program that combines three componentsaccurate outcome measurement, support of hospital leadership, and engaged frontline providersreduces surgical site infections (SSIs) by 33 percent in patients who undergo colorectal procedures, according to a new study published in the August issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
SSIs are the most common complication for this high-risk population, occurring in 15
to 30 percent of patients after colorectal operations, according to the study authors. "Colorectal surgical site infections have been tough to prevent. This is a first step to understanding a strategy for prevention. Wound infections are an important risk factor for hospital readmission, increased length-of-stay, and reoperations," said lead study author Elizabeth Wick, MD, FACS, a colorectal surgeon at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, and assistant professor of surgery at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore.
The Johns Hopkins Hospital participates in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP). ACS NSQIP is the leading nationally validated, risk-adjusted, outcomes-based program to measure and improve the quality of surgical care in private sector hospitals. While participating in a pilot program of ACS NSQIP called "Procedure Targeted Module," which monitored outcomes in all patients undergoing colorectal surgery," the colorectal operating team at Johns Hopkins discovered that they had a very high colorectal wound infection rate, approximately 30 percent.
To address the problem, Dr. Wick and her colleagues decided to apply the comprehensive unit-based safety program, known as CUSP, to colorectal wound infections. The five-step quality improvement strategy was designed to bring about patient safety improvements through an interdisciplinary team approach focusing on frontline providers with the goal of changing the unit's workplace culture.
"The CUSP program is unique because it focuses on the frontline providersthe nurses and the medical techs taking care of the patients day to dayand it gives them the power to identify and fix defects in the operating room. A key component of the program is a hospital executive is part of the team to help overcome barriers and reiterate the importance of the work," Dr. Wick said.
For the study, the CUSP team identified four defects in their surgical care: antibiotic selection and dosing, skin preparation, maintenance of normal body temperature, and intra-operative sterile technique. All defects surfaced from querying frontline providers.
Further, to evaluate the association between the CUSP intervention and postoperative SSIs, the researchers studied patients undergoing colorectal operations over a two-year period. They used one year of pre- and post-CUSP intervention SSI rates from the ACS Procedure Targeted Module, which collects outcomes data on high-risk procedures such as colectomies (surgical excision of the colon) and proctectomies (surgical excision of the rectum).
The study included 278 colorectal surgery patients in the 12-month preintervention period and 324 patients in the 12-month postintervention period. Patient risk factors were similar in both groups. In one year, researchers found that the overall SSI rate fell from 27.3 percent to 18.2 percent, a notable reduction of 33 percent in this high-risk patient population.
"Changes evolved over one year it was not a bundle, it didn't happen all at once. Therefore, it's hard to figure out what specifically led to our wound infection reduction. But interestingly, as soon as we got this team together and engaged, our wound infection rate dropped," Dr. Wick observed. Based upon the post-CUSP implementation SSI rate, the study authors estimate that 28 infections were prevented during the study period, and that the CUSP intervention resulted in a cost savings of up to a $280,000 at the institution in one year.
"This project would not have been possible without ACS NSQIP. It gives feedback, which motivated the team to realize that this was a correctable problem and that played
a role in improving patient
outcomes," Dr. Wick said. "We had a clear metric and reliable data, which allowed for tangible improvements in patient safety."
The study authors speculate that widespread application of the CUSP intervention may reduce the number of SSIs by 170,000 per year, saving up to $170 million each year.
Based on these results and the successful implementation of CUSP to reduce healthcare associ-ated infections in the OR, the researchers currently have Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality funding to reduce SSIs, and other major surgical complications, through a national implementation of a surgical-based CUSP program.
"This work is extremely important because it demonstrates it is possible to engage a team of frontline providers to solve a very difficult and common problem in surgery," said Clifford Y. Ko, MD, FACS, Director, Division of Research and Optimal Patient Care, American College of Surgeons. "The CUSP technique has achieved extremely noteworthy results in and out of surgeryboth in improving clinical issues as well as culture. We are very excited to be involved in this partnership with the John Hopkins group to advance surgical care and outcomes."
###
About the American College of Surgeons
The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and to improve the care of the surgical patient. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than 78,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. For more information, visit www.facs.org (.)
[ | 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.
The Facebook, Inc. initial public offering (IPO) was troublesome enough to call the whole issue of IPOs into question. The world's most successful social networking site has now reported less than stellar first quarter earnings results. The IPO started with a $38 offering price which quickly sank to $25.52 and has now hit a low of 39% below the IPO price, according to
Timesleader.
Revenue grew 32 percent in the first quarter, but growth was disappointing.The company also increased spending on hiring and technology, which drove up expenses. 84 percent of Facebook's revenue comes from advertising and the rest comes from payments and other fees associated with games and applications.
What do investors think of this? The problem actually started with inflated analyst expectations. When the expectations were lowered, Facebook exceeded them by a small amount. The Mercury News points out that investing analysts want to see growth in revenue combined with controls over spending. As for spending, a one time cost of $1.3 billion took Facebook into the loss column by $157 million. Capital spending went up 213 percent to $413 million.
Investors also look for growth in users, something that may be a useless measure when much of the available user market has been exploited or when there is competition in specialty areas. Facebook users will also use Google +, Twitter and/or Pinterest instead of staying exclusively at Facebook. It is also important to see growth in revenue from the ads and from applications fees.?
It might be time for the entire investment world to stop pushing growth for no better reason than its own sake, and to get smarter about other tech services indicators like sound and steady revenue from savvy advertising schemes, keeping up with technology by hiring and making capital investment, and maximizing existing customer satisfaction.
At least one analyst, Colin?Sebastian?of Baird, sees the stock as an "out performer" because Facebook has gotten increased revenue from advertising and from paid services related to the site's applications. More users are accessing Facebook apps from tablets and smartphones, and it appears that mobile account holders have become more willing to use Facebook. The wide array of mobile operating systems requires more capital investment, but will reap more revenue from mobile advertising and application use. Add in the increased revenue from new mobile users in developing countries,?and the picture may not be as dismal. ?
Citi analyst Mark Mahaney says that the results are neutral, neither encouraging nor discouraging. He looked at user engagement and making money from mobile user markets. Facebook was once known for attracting huge numbers of users, but getting a tiny proportion of them to actually do anything with their accounts. This is not such a problem anymore, given the growing number of ways that users can interact with Facebook from linked sites and mobile devices. New features, like "Timeline" and shared music are making Facebook a favorite for people who want to play games and interact with family and friends.?
WebProNews thinks that upstart competitor, Google + is doing fine on a global basis. In June, Google + had over 110 million unique visitors, which represented a 66 percent growth rate. Google + now has 250 million accounts, 150 million monthly users and 75 million daily users, Google + has become very attractive to science, arts, professional and student users who are not always interested in the fun and games of social networking. Google can also integrate Google + into its dominating search service, which may siphon off a few more Facebook users.
Learn more about this author, Elizabeth M Young. Click here to send this author comments or questions.
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Wall Street reacts to Facebook's first earnings announcement post IPO
(1 hr 9 mins ago) Spain is set to fail to advance in the Olympic football tournament after the world and European champions suffered a shock 1-0 loss to Honduras at Newcastle's St James' Park, their second consecutive group defeat. Jerry Bengtson's goal in the seventh minute was all that separated the sides in a stunning victory for the Central Americans. The Hondurans had qualified for the Olympics ahead of the United States, and luck was on t...
They will also be dealt with better monitoring of those currently living with the side effects of cancer treatments ? treatments at high risk affecting the kidneys and heart, low-risk cases with symptoms indeterminable.Services in Lund, Sweden, has established a clinic for children with late effects of cancer in 1987. Twenty years later, in 2007, Lund has organized the first European conference on late complications of childhood cancer.
PanCareSurFup last five years and is also supported by a grant from the National Childhood Cancer Foundation of Sweden.
David Clark, executive director of the Foundation of heart disease Chest Scotland, said: ?More than 150,000 people per year have a stroke in the United Kingdom and it is essential that they receive the best treatment possible. This important research was funded by Chest Heart Seed & Stroke Scotland, shows conclusively that short compression stockings do not benefit patients with stroke. Now we can focus our efforts and funding research to find a treatment that reduces the risk of blood clots. ?
Project coordinator of the consortium is pediatric oncologist Lars Hjorth SK CHU and University of Lund. Epidemiologist Julie Byrne, Research Institute of the Boyne in Ireland will be in Lund for the kick-off. And ?behind a series of studies are important late complications of the treatment of childhood cancers.
This was the beginning of the European project, PanCareSurFup , with a budget of nearly $ 6 million, which will begin with a meeting in Lund in Sweden at the end of this week .
This entry was posted on Saturday, July 28th, 2012 at 11:44 pm and is filed under doctors. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
TUNIS (Reuters) - Attacks on the Syrian city of Aleppo are putting the nail in the coffin of President Bashar al-Assad's government, showing he lacks the legitimacy to rule, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said on Sunday.
Panetta, speaking at the start of a weeklong trip to the Middle East and North Africa, did not offer any new steps the United States might take even as he renewed calls for a united international effort "to bring the Assad regime down."
Helicopter gunships opened fire over Aleppo on Sunday and the thud of artillery boomed across neighborhoods as government forces and rebels fought for control of the city.
"If they continue this kind of tragic attack on their own people in Aleppo, I think it ultimately will be a nail in Assad's own coffin," Panetta said, speaking to reporters shortly before landing in Tunis.
"What Assad has been doing to his own people and what he continues to do to his own people makes clear that his regime is coming to an end. It's lost all legitimacy," he said, adding, "It's no longer a question of whether he's coming to an end, it's when."
Panetta mentioned the need to "provide assistance to the opposition," but did not appear to signal any new support.
The United States has said it is stepping up assistance to Syria's fractured opposition, although it remains limited to non-lethal supplies such as communications gear and medical equipment.
Reuters has learned that the White House has crafted a presidential directive, called a "finding," that would authorize greater covert assistance for the rebels, but stop short of arming them.
Panetta said he expected Syria to loom large in talks this week with leaders in Israel and Jordan, and flagged concerns about the security of Syria's chemical and biological weapons sites and the flow of Syrian refugees.
His trip began with a visit to Tunisia, which Washington has held up as a model for democratic change in the Middle East after a popular revolt forced autocratic leader Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali to flee the country on January 14, 2011, touching off a wave of political unrest across the Arab world.
The North African country has since calmly elected its own government, defying predictions it would descend into chaos, while Ben Ali's secret police has been disbanded and the news media enjoy unprecedented freedoms.
Still, Panetta said Tunisia had growing concerns about how to deal with the threat from al Qaeda and how to protect its borders.
NO ISRAELI DECISION ON IRAN
Panetta's visit to Israel later in the week is expected to include discussions on the threat from Iran's nuclear program, and will follow U.S. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney visit there on Sunday.
Earlier on Sunday, a senior aide to Romney said the candidate would respect an Israeli decision to use military force to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. Romney himself balked at repeating that position when asked by CBS' "Face the Nation" program [ID:nL6E8IT0OY].
Panetta declined to comment on the Romney aide's remarks but appeared to suggest an Israeli attack was hardly a foregone conclusion.
"With regards to where Israel is right now, my view is that they have not made any decisions with regards to Iran and that they continue to support the international effort to bring pressure against Iran," Panetta said.
As Romney tries to portray U.S.-Israeli ties as strained, Panetta said there was unprecedented defense cooperation between the two countries.
"I'm proud of the defense partnership that we've built over the past several years. The U.S.-Israel defense relationship, I believe, is stronger today than it has been in the past," he said.
After visiting Tunisia, Panetta is expected to travel to Egypt to hold talks with newly elected Islamist President Mohamed Mursi and military chief Field Marshall Hussein Tantawi.
Panetta said he would urge the Egyptian government to complete the transition to full civilian rule and provide for as "broad a coalition as possible" within the government.
FILE - In this file photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA on July 19, 2012, Syrian President Bashar Assad, left, meets with Fahd Jassem al-Freij, Syria's new Defense Minister, in Damascus, Syria. Syrian President Bashar Assad?s regime received last week the worst blow since the country?s crisis began 17 months ago in what many thought would quickly bring the Assad family four-decade dynasty to an end but the government appears to have absorbed the shock of the explosion that killed four top security officials and it's on the offensive again. (AP Photo/SANA, File)
FILE - In this file photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA on July 19, 2012, Syrian President Bashar Assad, left, meets with Fahd Jassem al-Freij, Syria's new Defense Minister, in Damascus, Syria. Syrian President Bashar Assad?s regime received last week the worst blow since the country?s crisis began 17 months ago in what many thought would quickly bring the Assad family four-decade dynasty to an end but the government appears to have absorbed the shock of the explosion that killed four top security officials and it's on the offensive again. (AP Photo/SANA, File)
Syrians hold anti-government protest in Aleppo, Syria, Friday, July 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Alberto Prieto)
People carry a body of a person killed in clashes in Aleppo, Syria, Friday, July 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Alberto Prieto)
BEIRUT (AP) ? Syrian forces pounded the country's largest city, Aleppo, with military helicopters Saturday to flush out rebel forces in one of the most important battles of the 17-month-old uprising, activists said.
International concern has been mounting over what activists said could be a looming massacre as Syrian troops bombarded the city for the past week, unleashing artillery and strafing it with aircraft. Reinforcements have been pouring into the area in recent days.
Syria's longtime ally, Russia, added to the chorus of alarm Saturday, saying a "tragedy" was looming in Aleppo. But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said it was unrealistic to expect the Syrian army to stand by while rebels were trying to take over major cities.
Russia has been a key source of support for Syria, although Moscow officials in recent months have said they are simply taking a more even-handed approach while the West offers blind support to the rebels.
With a population of about 3 million, Aleppo is Syria's commercial hub, a key pillar of support for President Bashar Assad's regime.
On Saturday, activists said soldiers were targeting rebel-controlled neighborhoods to crush the opposition forces for good. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said fierce fighting has erupted inside those neighborhoods. The group cited its network of sources on the ground in Aleppo.
It has been a difficult two weeks for the Syrian government with rebel assaults first on the capital, Damascus, and then on Aleppo, as well as several high-profile defections and a bomb that killed four top security officials.
The government, however, launched a swift counteroffensive and quashed the assault on the capital with a combination of heavy weapons and house-to-house searches. Scores of people were killed. Opposition activists said they expected similar tactics in the coming days to keep Aleppo from falling into rebel hands.
The rebels are outgunned by the Syrian forces, making it difficult for them to hold any territory for long. But the rebels' run on Damascus and Aleppo suggests they could be gaining in power and organization.
Saudi Arabia and other nations have spoken positively of arming the rebels, though no country is known to be doing so.
Saudi King Abdullah announced a national campaign to collect money for "our brothers in Syria" on July 22, and on Saturday the country's press agency said Saudi donations had reached more than $72 million.
On Friday, the U.N.'s outgoing chief observer in Syria said it's just a matter of time before Assad's regime crumbles, but that the violence of the civil war could worsen if Syria uses the full force of its military.
Maj. Gen. Robert Mood, whose three-month mission in Damascus ended last week, also said the situation in Syria is likely to remain unstable even if Assad's government steps down.
"It's impossible to imagine a future in Syria where the current people in power remain in power. So in that view, it's just a matter of time before this regime collapses. And that is how it's supposed to be," Mood told a news conference in Oslo. That could happen, he said, if more members of the military simultaneously leave the ranks of the government to join the opposition.
Also Friday, Syria's state-run TV said the army freed two Italian electrical engineers, along with two drivers and a Russian expert, who were captured eight days ago by militants.
The Italians were identified as Domenico Tedeschi, 36, and 64-year-old Oriano Cantani. The report said they worked at the Deir Ali power plant, some 18 miles (30 kilometers) south of Damascus.
During a news conference in Damascus, Tedeschi told reporters they were kidnapped by five or six masked men, who intercepted their car as they drove to the airport.
"After a checkpoint, we were stopped by those people whose faces were covered by black masks," he said, adding: "We were very, very afraid, because we don't know anything."
He said the men were robbed and then kept at a small villa. "We think that a Syrian family was forced to keep us," he said, noting that they heard the voices of women and children.
"The Syrian army found us at midday on Friday and they organized everything to release us safe," he said.
There was no immediate comment from Italian officials in Rome.
is the wiikey fusion legal in the us? i'm going to make a?portable?gamecube, and i'm going to use that if it is legal. i realize that, even if it was legal, using it with games you don't legally own makes it illegal. I will only be using my games i physically own, legally bought. any info is?appreciated.?
LONDON (Reuters) - Bookmakers expect record gambling on the 2012 Olympics after the opening ceremony prompted a flood of bets on event mastermind Danny Boyle receiving a knighthood - and confusion over wagers laid on who would light the Olympic flame.
Since London won the Olympics in 2005 gamblers have forked out on the closely guarded secret of who would light the flame, with British five-times gold medalist, rower Steve Redgrave, the clear favorite.
But in the end, seven young athletes selected by seven British Olympians lit the flame in unison, causing divides in the bookmaking ranks over how to handle the bet.
Ladbrokes and Stan James decided to pay out on all seven of the British Olympians involved which included Redgrave, Daley Thompson and Kelly Holmes.
William Hill voided all bets and refunded about 50,000 pounds ($80,000) wagered on the event since 2005.
"It is a bit disappointing as we've been taking bets on this for years and in the end there is no winner. There is no way anyone could have predicted any one or all of the seven people chosen," William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe said.
Stan James said it had voided all losing bets, meaning punters got their money refunded.
"It's a once in a lifetime occasion and we thought it appropriate to make this gesture after such an incredible start to the London Olympics," spokesman Rory Jiwani said.
Bookmakers said the success of the opening ceremony devised by Boyle, who won an Oscar for his movie "Slumdog Millionaire", had ignited a feelgood factor and already boosted gambling interest in the Olympics - and not just in the sports.
QUEEN ON FILM
Boyle, 55, is being tipped to be awarded a knighthood in the New Year Honours List by Queen Elizabeth, whom he somehow managed to persuade to take part in her first movie role.
During the opening ceremony, a film showed James Bond actor Daniel Craig arriving at Buckingham Palace and escorting the Queen to a helicopter. Minutes later a helicopter appeared over the stadium and released two parachutists. The Queen then walked into the stadium to huge cheers from the 60,000 crowd.
"Everyone was amazed and wowed at what Boyle did last night," Ladbroke's spokeswoman Jessica Bridge said. "Before this Danny Boyle was 2-1 to get a knighthood but due to the sheer volume of bets we have cut this to 5-4."
She said the largest bet so far was 5,000 pounds.
Coral spokesman David Stevens said they were running odds on Saturday of 6-4 that Boyle is knighted next year, having been 4-1 immediately after the opening ceremony.
Jirwani said the ceremony had boosted patriotic pride with odds of 4-5 that the British team will win more than 22 gold medals compared to 19 in Beijing which could push them above Russia to be third in medal table behind the United States and China.
Bookmakers are forecasting between 50-100 million pounds ($80-160 million) will be wagered on the London Games, which would be four to five times more than gambled at Beijing but still way short of other major sporting events.
They expected plenty of money on football and tennis with some interest in cycling after Bradley Wiggins' Tour de France victory.
The men's 100 meters race, a highlight of the Olympics, was not seen as a great draw for gamblers.
Mark Maydon, commercial director of the Sporting Index Group, said the odds were against Jamaica's Usain Bolt setting a new world record at this event after stunning the world with his 9.69 second win at Beijing. Bolt cut this to 9.58 a year later.
He predicted the 100 meters would be run in 9.71 seconds with only half of the 8-strong field running under 10 seconds.
Sharpe said gamblers were not enthusiastic about the race.
"It really is a two-horse race between Bolt and (fellow Jamaican) Yohan Blake and gamblers like to have a bit more competition than that," he said.
Posted on07/28/2012 at 2:36 pmbySA.Blockshopper.com in Dream Homes
A look at the front exterior of the property, spotlighting the architecture of the home as well as the landscaping of the yard. Photo Illustration
One of the highlights of the back yard of the property is the spacious covered porch, which features a ceiling fan. Photo Illustration
In addition to the covered porch area, the back yard also features a swimming pool surrounded by a substantial patio area. Photo Illustration
The swimming pool also offers a hot tub / spa to help you warm up on those cooler San Antonio evenings. Photo Illustration
Looking down the length of the swimming pool to provide a more expansive look at the back yard of the property. Photo Illustration
Only a few steps down from the pool area, the property features an additional uncovered patio space. Photo Illustration
Located just off the kitchen, the formal dining room offers an elaborate chandelier and seats at least eight individuals.
The den features tile floors, a ceiling fan, fireplace, and a media center which provides the perfect spot for a television.
A more expansive look at the den, providing a better idea of the spaciousness of the area.
Looking at the den from an alternate angle, revealing the proximity of the kitchen to the room.
The kitchen offers two islands, adding to the already substantial amount of counter and cabinet space.
The kitchen has an elaborate light fixture and features top of the line appliances.
Looking at the kitchen from an alternate angle to get a better feel of the amount of space provided for meal preparation.
In addition to the dining room, the kitchen also offers a breakfast bar.
Further seating is available in the breakfast room, which also features a bar.
The study offers hardwood floors, providing the perfect spot for concentration and reflection.
Getting a better look at the bar, with wine storage area, a refrigerator, and cabinets for glassware, alcohol, and mixers.
The temperature-controlled wine cellar offers a great deal of space for the storage of your favorite whites and reds.
The master bedroom has hardwood floors, a ceiling fan, and a sitting area.
Looking at the master bedroom from an alternate angle.
Among the highlights of the master bathroom are the dual vanities.
The master bathroom also features a deep soaking tub, allowing for the maximum in relaxation.
A look at one of the other bedrooms, featuring hardwood floors and a ceiling fan.
Examining the front exterior of the property, spotlighting the architecture and landscaping of the home.
Although the backyard features a patio and swimming pool, a great deal of the yard remains undeveloped.
Asking price: $1.6 million
Located in San Antonio?s most prestigious address, The Dominion, this custom-designed estate was built in 2009 and offers 4,704 square feet of living space in the midst of over three-quarters of an acre of property.
The two-story home has four bedrooms, four full bathrooms and two half-baths, with full bathrooms and walk-in closets in each of the bedrooms. The kitchen offers a significant amount of counter and cabinet space and features top-of-the-line appliances, and in addition to the eat-in kitchen with breakfast bar, there is also a formal dining room. Other key areas of the home include a formal living room, den, full bar, temperature-controlled wine cellar and a study.
External attributes of the fenced, professionally landscaped property include a swimming pool, spa, and a covered porch and patio. There are also community recreational facilities, including tennis courts and a golf course.
Listing agent: Binkan Cinaroglu, Kuper Sotheby?s International Realty
Photos courtesy of Realtor.com
Asking price: $1.6 million Located in San Antonio?s most prestigious address, The Dominion, this custom-designed estate was built in 2009 and offers 4,704 square feet of living space in the midst of over three-quarters of an acre of property. The two-story home has four bedrooms, four full bathrooms and two half-baths, with full bathrooms and [...]
Which areas of the brain help us to perceive our world in a self-reflective manner is difficult to measure. During wakefulness, we are always conscious of ourselves. In sleep, however, we are not. But there are people, known as lucid dreamers, who can become aware of dreaming during sleep. Studies employing magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) have now been able to demonstrate that a specific cortical network consisting of the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the frontopolar regions and the precuneus is activated when this lucid consciousness is attained. All of these regions are associated with self-reflective functions. This research into lucid dreaming gives the authors of the latest study insight into the neural basis of human consciousness.
The human capacity of self-perception, self-reflection and consciousness development are among the unsolved mysteries of neuroscience. Despite modern imaging techniques, it is still impossible to fully visualise what goes on in the brain when people move to consciousness from an unconscious state. The problem lies in the fact that it is difficult to watch our brain during this transitional change. Although this process is the same, every time a person awakens from sleep, the basic activity of our brain is usually greatly reduced during deep sleep. This makes it impossible to clearly delineate the specific brain activity underlying the regained self-perception and consciousness during the transition to wakefulness from the global changes in brain activity that takes place at the same time.
Scientists from the Max Planck Institutes of Psychiatry in Munich and for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig and from Charit? in Berlin have now studied people who are aware that they are dreaming while being in a dream state, and are also able to deliberately control their dreams. Those so-called lucid dreamers have access to their memories during lucid dreaming, can perform actions and are aware of themselves ? although remaining unmistakably in a dream state and not waking up. As author Martin Dresler explains, "In a normal dream, we have a very basal consciousness, we experience perceptions and emotions but we are not aware that we are only dreaming. It's only in a lucid dream that the dreamer gets a meta-insight into his or her state."
By comparing the activity of the brain during one of these lucid periods with the activity measured immediately before in a normal dream, the scientists were able to identify the characteristic brain activities of lucid awareness.
"The general basic activity of the brain is similar in a normal dream and in a lucid dream," says Michael Czisch, head of a research group at the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry. "In a lucid state, however, the activity in certain areas of the cerebral cortex increases markedly within seconds. The involved areas of the cerebral cortex are the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, to which commonly the function of self-assessment is attributed, and the frontopolar regions, which are responsible for evaluating our own thoughts and feelings. The precuneus is also especially active, a part of the brain that has long been linked with self-perception." The findings confirm earlier studies and have made the neural networks of a conscious mental state visible for the first time.
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Martin Dresler, PhD; Renate Wehrle, PhD; Victor I. Spoormaker, PhD; Stefan P. Koch, PhD; Florian Holsboer, MD, PhD; Axel Steiger, MD; Hellmuth Obrig, MD; Philipp G. S?mann, MD; Michael Czisch, PhD (2012) Neural Correlates of Dream Lucidity Obtained from Contrasting Lucid versus Non-Lucid REM Sleep: A Combined EEG/fMRI Case Study SLEEP 2012;35(7):1017-1020
Max-Planck-Gesellschaft: http://www.mpg.de
Thanks to Max-Planck-Gesellschaft for this article.
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Romney on the street in London (Charles Dharapak/AP)
LONDON?Even Mitt Romney is not immune from the traffic gridlock crippling city streets here ahead of Friday's Opening Ceremony of the Summer Olympics.
The presumptive Republican presidential nominee was forced to abandon his motorcade and walk to his only public meeting of the day, a sit-down with Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny. Along the way, he shook hands with random people who stopped to greet the American politician on the street.
At the Irish Embassy, reporters were ushered into the room just as Romney was responding to an inaudible question from Kenny. " ... just being governor of Massachusetts, which is almost a part of Ireland," Romney was heard saying, in midsentence.
It was not immediately clear what Romney was discussing. Soon, the two were taken to a seating area, where they made small talk as the media observed.
"So you had to walk from the hotel?" Kenny said, per a pool report.
"Not bad at all. I enjoyed the walk. You also had to walk?" Romney replied.
"Yes, we're used to walking in Ireland," Kenny said.
"I guess we don't have to walk; it's enjoyable to walk. It's a beautiful day," Romney replied.
Within minutes, reporters were shown from the room.
The Republican candidate is planning to attend Friday night's Olympic Opening Ceremony with his family?including wife, Ann, and sons Tagg and Craig and their families. He's scheduled to leave London tomorrow for Israel, the second country he'll visit on his seven-day overseas tour.
ROCHESTER, Minn. (AP) ? Illinois Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., whose whereabouts haven't been disclosed since he mysteriously took a medical leave several weeks ago, is being treated for depression at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., according to a statement Friday from the hospital.
Jackson is undergoing an extensive inpatient evaluation for depression and for gastrointestinal issues, according to the statement, which also provided the first details about his medical condition. But it provided no details about where the congressman, the son of civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, had previously been staying.
"Further information will be released as Congressman Jackson's evaluation proceeds," the statement said, adding that he and his family were "grateful for the outpouring of support and prayers that have been received throughout his care."
Jackson went on leave June 10, though his office didn't disclose it until weeks later and has been mum on details ever since. Initially, his office said Jackson was being treated for exhaustion. But his staff later said Jackson's condition was more serious and required inpatient medical treatment. They also said Jackson has been grappling with emotional issues.
Under mounting pressure from fellow politicians and others, his office released a statement last month from his unnamed doctor saying Jackson was receiving intensive medical treatment at a residential treatment facility for "a mood disorder."
The timing of the leave has raised questions, in part because Jackson is facing an ethics investigation in the U.S. House connected to imprisoned former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
The House Ethics Committee is investigating allegations that Jackson was involved in discussions about raising money for Blagojevich's campaign in exchange for the then-governor appointing him to President Barack Obama's vacated U.S. Senate seat. Blagojevich is serving a 14-year prison sentence for corruption.
Jackson was not charged and has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.
Software Support / Tester (Entry Level), Newton-Le-Willows, Merseyside, North West. German speaking, German, Graduate, degree, HND, manual testing, Object orientated, support, help-desk, 1st Line Support Analyst, Helpdesk Technician, Technical Support, IT Support, First Line Support, Technical Analyst, ICT Technician, IT Administrator, Support Analyst, Desktop Support, Hardware & Software Support, Test Analyst, Test Engineer, Application Tester, Software Tester.
A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a German speaking candidate to work with my client based in Newton-Le-Willows, Merseyside.
Reporting to the software development manager, your two main functions will be to test both in-house and third party software for mobile devices and to provide support for clients. On a daily basis you will speak with German & Austrian nationals. It is therefore very essential that you have fluent written & verbal German skills.
You do not need to have any prior IT experience or degree although it will be advantageous if you do! You will however be passionate about pursuing a career in IT Support / Testing. My client has full capacity to train and up skill you accordingly. You therefore need to have a keen desire to learn new skills.
This role is part of a team providing software support to external clients based in Germany and Austria for mobile applications. The software support / tester will be involved in all aspects of the software development lifecycle for a customer project.
It is important that you have excellent people skills and communication skills. Working as part of a team as well as independently is vital for this role.
Key responsibilities will be to plan and execute testing of software applications developed in-house. You will be required to record all bugs and client issues in an efficient manner and ensuring they are progressed in an appropriate timeframe. Other responsibilities include assisting with investigation and resolution of client-facing support issues and providing remote access support sessions to client systems for software deployments and investigation.
To be considered for this role you must have fluent German speaking and written skills and outstanding interpersonal skills. My client will fund all training required therefore your attitude and desire to learn new things will be most important.
For immediate consideration for this role please email ed.embley@harveynash.com or call Ed Embley on 0113 202 8911.
Most would argue that the mobile phone is here to stay but at what cost to our health. Yes, the phone easily, which is why we use it. We use the phone so much that it is the cause of car accidents left and right. This is one of the ways they affect our health, is of course negative. Anyone can forward to your visit while driving someone confirm blabbing on the phone, most of the time these drivers are so involved with their conversation that they do not even know what?s going on around them, in terms of roads and transportation. In Stockholm, Sweden A recent study by the Karolinska Institute was conducted, showed that there is an increased risk of brain tumors in certain parts of the brain through the regular use of mobile phones. The study consisted of 634 subjects over a period of two years. Of the 209 subjects already had brain tumors and 425 were completely healthy. This latest study was carried out over a period of 2 years and showed that increased microwaves of mobile phones actually pose a health risk to the brain. Due to the small amount of volunteers, a larger study of 3,000 subjects with results due late done in 2009. In all reality, the phones are not meant to be (or is it sheeple?) For a long time and duration for them at present from the m (asses) Uses of the American people. But the ruling elite (Illuminati) had something else in store for the American people ? invasion of privacy! If you do not know, it chipped all mobile phones (tracer) have. The NSA (National Security Agency) Bugs and records every mobile communication and entertainment worldwide via satellite. The NSA was the agency chasing Will Smith?s character in the movie ?Enemy of the State.? It is not yet clear how the stated yet, that it confirmed reports about mobile phone health cause brain tumors. There is no concrete evidence that the two are linked. There were people who came and said I did not have cancer, and I have started using my cell over and over again, and the doctors told me that was the cause for my cancer to the use of my cell in combination. Once again there is no concrete evidence that the two are linked other than not occur until the cell phone has become a habit. When we talk on the phone, the radiation from the device is actually absorbed by the brain. This makes the permeability of the blood-brain barrier higher. In addition, the synthesis of stress proteins is also increasing. There were a number of different studies carried out, it definitely proved a very clear correlation between the use of mobile phones and the increase of people with brain tumors. Although no precise conclusions can be drawn is the fact that cell phones increase the risk of cancer is very obvious. On the other hand studies with opposite results and observations have been published. CTIA, the wireless industry lobbying association pointed out, studies and statements by the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Cancer Society, and the FDA downplaying potential cell phone risks, ?all have agreed that wireless devices are not a danger to the health . ?By simply using a cell and using it on a regular basis, the mobile phone users are exposed to electromagnetic radiation. The electromagnetic radiation is to commit to the phone as basic functions such as sending and receiving: calls, text, images, videos and data. Cells send signals by radio waves from radio frequency energy, which happens to be a form of electromagnetic radiation are taken. The common idea is that cancer can be accommodated by overexposure to radiation in the mobile phones.
Read more about Fujinon camera and also has Sony Cyber-shot camera and Nikon digital SLR read
This citizen journalism image provided by Shaam News Network SNN, taken on Tuesday, July 24, 2012, purports to show a helicopter gunship flying a bombing run in al-Qalmoun, Syria, (AP Photo/Shaam News Network, SNN) THE ASSOCIATED PRESS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS CITIZEN JOURNALIST IMAGE
This citizen journalism image provided by Shaam News Network SNN, taken on Tuesday, July 24, 2012, purports to show a helicopter gunship flying a bombing run in al-Qalmoun, Syria, (AP Photo/Shaam News Network, SNN) THE ASSOCIATED PRESS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS CITIZEN JOURNALIST IMAGE
This citizen journalism image provided by Shaam News Network SNN, taken on Monday, July 23, 2012, purports to show heavy shelling of the al-Qadam district of Damascus, Syria. (AP Photo/Shaam News Network, SNN) THE ASSOCIATED PRESS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS CITIZEN JOURNALIST IMAGE
Fotograf?a provista por la red Shaam News Network del domingo 22 de julio de 2012, donde se observa una bola de fuego en Homs, Siria. (Foto AP/Shaam News Network) The Associated Press no puede verificar de forma independiente el contenido, fecha, ubicaci?n o autenticidad de este material
BEIRUT (AP) ? Turkey sealed its border with Syria to trucks on Wednesday, cutting off a vital supply line to the embattled nation as fighting stretched into its fifth day in Aleppo, Syria's largest city.
By stopping trucking across the 566-mile (911-kilometer) border, the move deprives Syria of a main route for imports and exports. Rebels fighting the regime of President Bashar al-Assad generally move their weapons and material over the border through clandestine smuggler routes.
Hayati Yazici, the Turkish Customs and Trade Minister, said the move came after rebels captured two border crossings between Syria and Turkey. Last week, dozens of Turkish trucks were either looted or burned when the rebels took the Bab al-Hawa crossing.
An alliance of rebel forces attacked Aleppo, Syria's commercial hub, on Saturday, infiltrating sympathetic neighborhoods in the north and south and then gradually moving towards the historic old city at the center, a UN world heritage site.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported more than two dozen people killed in fighting yesterday in Aleppo and large numbers of people fleeing the southern neighborhood of Sukkari Wednesday morning.
Activist video from Wednesday showed a burning police station in the southern neighborhood of al-Kelassa, while gunfire could be heard ringing out in the background. The Associated Press cannot independently confirm events portrayed in such videos posted online.
Syrian forces, however, managed to quash a similar assault last week in the capital Damascus using heavy weapons including attack helicopters, which are now being deployed in Aleppo, according to local activists and residents. The government forces eventually overpowered the outgunned and outmanned rebels.
A new commander for the 300-member UN observer force, Lt. Gen. Babacar Gaye arrived late Tuesday in Damascus along with the UN official in charge of peacekeeping operations to hold a series of meetings to assess the prospects for a UN peace plan that is being widely ignored.
_______
Associated Press reporter Onur Cakir in Antakya contributed.
Purification area can be difficult and time consuming. In the apartment there, shelving, and various other storage areas, facilitate the organization a lot. Homeowners do not have that luxury in the garage. Here are five common questions a person should ask themselves if they try to organize the garage.
Question 1: How do you feel about your garage?
The garage can serve different purposes. There is an open space can be applied to almost zero. Pull a car or two and you have a car park. Install a couple of garage cabinets and there is now a storeroom. Create a garage, a garage has workbench in the garage. It can be used as a playroom for the kids, a hobby room or a lounge for the whole family.
Whatever their purpose, you need this space to organize, clean and free from confusion. To have any significance of the garage to be used in sequence. You should know exactly what you want to use the open space for the organization or about them. This lets you focus throughout the organization, or institution of the garage.
Question 2: Where should I start?
This is the current status of your garage for storage off. The starting point for a new homeowner with a clean, empty garage is very different than home and apartment owners who use their garage for years.
First, the current status of your garage assess. Then turn the clutter by sorting the elements to keep, donate, and discard piles. Now get rid of the last two posts. Finally, learn to save and store the goods in the stack.
Question 3: How long does it take to organize your garage?
Unfortunately, the answer to this question is not cut and dry. Depending on the severity of the disease, can be anywhere from several hours to several days, leaving a garage.
If you start with a clean slate, so you really do not need to know about getting the garage organized care immediately. Focus on building a garage organization system that is sustainable. Installing a garage storage system, labeling and grouping of good ways to organize the garage.
If you allow rubbish to accumulate over the years, then you probably need a few hours up to several days to clean up the mess. Do not be discouraged by this, or define your plans. Taking into account the state that wins not help the situation whatsoever. You have to commit to solving the problem at this time.
Remember the purpose you had in mind for your garage. Let it be a boost to your efforts to clean. Trying to live, not on the time it takes, or the seemingly difficult task. The final result will be worth the work to be good. Gather family and friends to help with the project.
Question 4: What Garage Cabinet are my options?
If you have already visited the big box store or already with one of their so-called garage storage systems, you know the answer to this question: ?Not much.? Fortunately, there are custom options that are designed much more durable, functional and individual.
The two best options are powder coated material wood and metal. There are manufacturers, garage cabinets in hundreds of configurations, widths and designs to offer. There are corner units, elastic, cabinets with 12 ?deep, locker cabinets and tons of other options to suit every garage. There is a wealth of options to choose from also. A really good manufacturer will have a kind of life guarantee.
Be sure to perform due diligence before choosing a manufacturer, brand or dealer. You do not know what you are set to decide. Ask questions and find the features and benefits that meet your needs.
Question 5: What kind of budget do I need for a garage storage system?
As with most everything will depend on installation costs of the desired quality garage cabinets. For now, only to find out the purpose of your garage, here we go, the organization of the area, plan a storage system, and then contact a professional for help with the final design, cost, and possibly information.
Home > Business, Communities, Manufactured Homes, News Item > MH Development Proposed near Sydney, Australia
LakesMail from Australia tells MHProNews a proposal to site 251 manufactured homes in Halekulani in New South Wales, southeastern Australia, will be determined by Wyong Shire councillors. The Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council, which owns the two sites proposed for the development on Lake Munmorah north of Sydney, says the project will offer affordable housing as well as tourist accommodations. The northern portion will include 67 home sites, 12 of which will be caravan short-term sites; the southern part will be 184 long-term home sites. The development is bordered on the north and south by manufactured home communities. The exhibition period has been extend to Aug. 27, 2012, for nearby residents to express their concerns.
(Image credit: whereis)
Categories: Business, Communities, Manufactured Homes, News ItemTags: aboriginal land counci, affordable housing, caravan, halekulani, home communities, l exhibition period, lake munmorah, local aboriginal land council, mh, nearby residents, new south wales, northern portion, proposal, shire, southeastern australia, Sydney Australia, tourist accommodations
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Public release date: 30-Jul-2012
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LakesMail from Australia tells MHProNews a proposal to site 251 manufactured homes in Halekulani in New South Wales, southeastern Australia, will be determined by Wyong Shire councillors. The Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council, which owns the two sites proposed for the development on Lake Munmorah north of Sydney, says the project will offer affordable housing as well as tourist accommodations. The northern portion will include 67 home sites, 12 of which will be caravan short-term sites; the southern part will be 184 long-term home sites. The development is bordered on the north and south by manufactured home communities. The exhibition period has been extend to Aug. 27, 2012, for nearby residents to express their concerns.