Friday, October 11, 2013

2013 Sepang MotoGP Friday Post-Practice Press Releases



Press releases from the MotoGP teams and Bridgestone after the first day of practice at the Sepang International Circuit:



Crutchlow makes flying start to flyaway triple-header in Sepang


Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team rider Cal Crutchlow made a fantastic start to the Malaysian MotoGP weekend today, the British rider setting the third fastest time on the opening day of practice at the physically demanding Sepang International Circuit.


Sixth fastest in typically hot and humid conditions in this morning’s opening 45-minute session, Crutchlow was almost a second faster in FP2 to surge up the rankings into the top three behind Spanish duo Dani Pedrosa and World Championship leader Marc Marquez.


Crutchlow had struggled this morning with pain in the swollen right arm he first damaged at Silverstone recently, but happily he was able to ride in much less discomfort in FP2 and the improvement in his physical condition was reflected in his pace.


The 27-year-old posted a personal best time of 2.01.423 that secured him a top three slot by 0.115s ahead of factory Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi on a track offering excellent grip levels, despite heavy rain falling in between sessions.


Teammate Bradley Smith was also able to enjoy a positive start to arguably the toughest spell of the World Championship campaign, with this weekend’s Sepang race closely followed by back-to-back trips to Australia and Japan.


The rookie finished inside the top 10 in both 45-minute practice sessions and a best lap of 2.02.551 placed him 10th on the combined timesheets.


Smith dedicated much of his time on track today to further adapting to a new smoother braking technique he first began experimenting with at the previous round at the Motorland Aragon track in Spain.


He also concentrated on his consistency on worn tyres and was satisfied with progress made ahead of planned significant set-up tweaks to evaluate tomorrow in advance of Sunday’s 20-lap race.


Cal Crutchlow 2.01.423 – 35 laps:


“It was very difficult this morning to ride at my maximum level because I had some problems with the right arm I first injured during the recent British Grand Prix. I already know I need surgery at the end of the season but until now the big impact my arm took at Silverstone has only given me bad swelling but no pain. This morning instead it hurt me a lot and couldn’t use the arm that well. Fortunately the afternoon session was much better and on my final run of the day we made a positive step and I am pleased to finish inside the top three. I was immediately faster the first time I put in a new tyre because for most of FP2 we worked on the set-up of the bike with worn tyres I’d also used this morning.”


Bradley Smith 10th 2.02.551 – 36 laps:


“After testing twice at Sepang in the winter I was looking forward to coming back here to understand how much progress I have made in my rookie season. It is nice to be riding on a track where I’ve got previous experience of riding the YZR-M1 and although I wasn’t able to lap as fast as I did in February, my consistency has improved a lot and that is a positive point. I did a lot of 2.02 laps and I am happy with my pace, but we will look at making some more drastic changes tomorrow to take another step into the 2.01s. I did some good times on old tyres and that gives me confidence that I will be strong in the race on Sunday.”



Pedrosa fastest with Marquez second on first day in Malaysia


The Malaysian Grand Prix got underway in mixed conditions today, as Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa laid down the marker with a blisteringly fast time in this afternoon's FP2 session. Teammate, and Championship leader, Marc Marquez finished the day in second place.


2012 race winner Dani was already fastest in the morning, but in the afternoon he improved his time by 0.675s with a lap time of 2'00.554 (just 0.22 off Lorenzo's record pole time in 2012) on lap 12 of 17. This was all the more impressive considering there was a torrential downpour in-between the sessions, washing away the rubber from the track. Teammate Marc, also second in FP1 this morning, shaved half a second off his morning lap time with 2.01.087 on lap 8 of 17.


Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Marco Simoncelli this weekend, as it marks the second anniversary of the HRC rider's premature passing during the Malaysian Grand Prix in 2011, he will be forever missed.


Dani Pedrosa 1st 2'00.554


“Today went well; we had two good practice sessions and were able to ride in dry conditions in both the morning and afternoon. In the second session it looked like the track was going to be wet after a brief rain shower in-between FP1 and FP2, but it dried out quickly and we were able to continue working on our setups. When sitting on the bike I have quite a lot of pain, as the seat is very hard, so we shall see if a few more anti-inflammatories can help to alleviate the issue. We might also add a small cushion underneath my leathers, in order to absorb the bumps that we get when riding"


Marc Marquez 2nd 2'01.087


“We came here before in pre-season, when I had barely ridden a MotoGP bike so it was interesting to compare things again so many laps and miles later! I felt comfortable and this is important when trying to be more consistent every lap. On the single lap we are half a second off Dani who was very fast, as he always is at Sepang, but our pace in general isn't too far off. We have to push hard because if he can do it, that means that the Honda is capable of those times. I was hoping to be more consistent but I had some problems with braking, which we were able to solve in the opening practice session. We still need to improve a few things, but I have realised that we are already fast, straight out of the box"



BAUTISTA ON PACE DESPITE CRASH


Alvaro Bautista enjoyed mixed fortunes in the two opening free practice sessions at Sepang but overall it was a positive first day for the Spanish rider at the Malaysian Grand Prix. After setting a strong pace in the morning Bautista was improving his set-up and performance in the afternoon until a crash midway through the session put a halt to his progress. His team-mate Bryan Staring endured a difficult first day and has plenty of work to do to improve tomorrow.


Alvaro Bautista (5th 2’ 01” 659) “We have worked well from this morning through to the afternoon to improve the grip, which initially wasn't allowing me to push as hard as I wanted. We have made constant progress and I am sure we could have dropped the lap time even more if I didn't crash midway through the session. Unfortunately we didn't have time to put the same setting into the second bike so the feeling wasn't the same, but anyway I am sure we can take another step tomorrow and be even more competitive.”


Bryan Staring (22nd 2’ 06” 538) “A day to forget. I have struggled a lot here and never managed to get a good feeling. We have problems and we need to sit down and analyse the data to see if we can what is causing them so that we can try to turn the situation around tomorrow.”


Fausto Gresini “We have made a good start here even though the crash set us back. I think the lap times today show that we are continuing to improve and I expect that trend to continue tomorrow so for the moment I am satisfied. Bryan is having problems at this track so he needs to have a close look at the data with the technicians and do whatever it takes to improve.”



Triple-Header Action Kicks Off in Sepang


The first of the three overseas triple-header weekend’s kicked off today in Sepang with the first two free practice sessions for the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix. Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi made solid improvements over the two practice sessions to wrap up the day in fourth in the combined times. The Italian made a 0.5 second improvement over the two sessions and finished 0.115 seconds behind Cal Crutchlow in third.


Defending world champion Jorge Lorenzo had a tougher first day in Sepang. The Mallorcan struggled to find an optimum set up for the Malaysian circuit with mid-corner grip issues affecting his final times. He completed the first day in fifth overall, 0.085 seconds behind his teammate Rossi.


Valentino Rossi


4th / 2'01.538 / 18 laps


“For me personally, especially this afternoon, it was a good practice because we improved the setting of the bike a lot. We improved with the new tyre and with the old tyre I can stay with a good pace so I feel better on the bike. For sure we have to improve, but this afternoon I feel good. It seems our competitors are a little faster than us but I will try 100% because in the last races Jorge is always there fighting at the front. It will be hard but we have to concentrate on the bike. We are not very far but we have a small gap to recover.”


Jorge Lorenzo


5th / 2'01.623 / 14 laps


“We are investigating what happened today because I didn't have confidence in the middle of the corners and also with acceleration. I had a lot of spinning and the bike is very aggressive so we have to see what we can change for tomorrow to try to get back a good feeling with the bike again.”


Wilco Zeelenberg - Yamaha Factory Racing Team Manager


“A difficult first practice for us here in Sepang, we struggled a bit to find grip. We need to find out what is going on through the data; we don't have an answer yet. We need to try to get it on the table before tomorrow morning so we can make the next step in the third practice.”


Massimo Meregalli - Yamaha Factory Racing Team Director


“Today didn't go as we wanted and as we expected. Anyway, we got a lot of data that we can study and for sure we will use it to improve a set up that is now not perfect. We are pretty confident that with the data and the rider comments we can analyse the issues and put together a different set up that will enable Jorge and Vale to get a better consistent pace and speed.”



First day of action ends at the Sepang International Circuit


As always the weather was the protagonist as the 15th round of the MotoGP World Championship got underway at the Sepang International Circuit today, with a 76% humidity level that turned into persistent rain during the break between the day’s two free practice sessions.


The typical Malaysian heat, however, allowed FP2 to go ahead in dry conditions as the asphalt reached 39° C degrees (102.2° F) . Andrea Iannone concluded this first day of the challenging Malaysian Grand Prix in 12th position and with a best time of 2’02.819, over seven tenths of a second faster than his FP1 mark.


Andrea Iannone – Energy T.I. Pramac Racing Team


“We knew that this track was hard for us, we are suffering from the lack of grip and I’m also struggling under braking. The bike moves around too much at the rear and when I try to enter the turn it slides a lot, it loses grip, and I almost go in sideways. From an analysis of my lap, I can see I lose a lot in the first and last turn, while in T2 and T3 we go much better. For sure it’s not enough and now we’ll see how can we improve for tomorrow. The heat does not help either, and it’s more difficult than usual, but it’s not a problem.”



Day one complete at Sepang International Circuit


The first two free-practice sessions for the MotoGP World Championship’s 15th round took place in challenging weather conditions, with air temperature reaching 28º C (82º F) and humidity climbing to 76%.


After Yonny Hernandez spent the morning session familiarizing himself with the circuit and the Desmosedici GP13 (which is still new to the Colombian, who is riding in substitution for Texan Ben Spies), he ended the day with a best time of 2.03.780. The time was over a second faster than his best from FP1, and it put him in 15th position in the provisional standings.


There are still some small changes to be made to the bike by the Ignite Pramac Racing Team technicians in hopes of increasing Yonny’s confidence for qualifying tomorrow.


Yonny Hernandez – Ignite Pramac Racing Team


“Today was harder than at Aragon. It required more effort to manage the quick changes of direction, and I struggled to get used to braking. Tomorrow we can definitely improve because we’re thinking about a small change to the fork, which should help me. I'm sure I’ll slowly get used to the bike, as even today the feeling improved and I feel more comfortable. I need to do some more laps on this track, which I don’t really know well, and which isn’t one of the easiest. It’s also very hot, but I'm fine”



ESPARGARÓ SETS HIS BEST LAP ON ART AT SEPANG WITH 2'02.610


POWER ELECTRONICS rider eleventh fastest despite chatter issues that also hold back Randy De Puniet in sixteenth


A three-week intercontinental triple-header for the MotoGP World Championship got underway today with the first day of free practice for the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang. Despite a typical lunchtime thunderstorm that interrupted a day of intense heat both the morning and afternoon sessions took place in dry conditions, giving Dani Pedrosa the opportunity to make up for his frustration at Aragón two weeks ago with a dominant display that saw him close to pole record time (2'00.554 compared to 2'00.334 – Jorge Lorenzo 2012) and half a second clear of his closest rival.


The POWER ELECTRONICS Aspar team made a positive start to the weekend despite both riders complaining of chatter issues. The bumpy Sepang surface had already caused them problems during preseason testing but both Aleix Espargaró and Randy De Puniet worked hard, Aleix finishing the day as the top CRT in eleventh place overall with Randy in sixteenth. Both riders set their best effort in the afternoon session, the Spaniard's being the best ever lap of this track by an ART machine with a time of 2'02.610.


11th Aleix Espargaró 2.02.610 (25 laps): “Today has been pretty productive. We have finished not too far from the fastest lap of the day and only a second off fifth place. We had some chatter issues here during the winter tests and they returned today but we worked hard to reduce them as much as possible. Our strong point here is our corner speed and especially our corner entry so we are trying to make the most of it. The chatter problem limits this but we're doing our best and we have set our best ever lap around Sepang on the ART so that is positive.”


16th Randy De Puniet 2.03.922 (30 laps): “We had some problems with the engine braking this morning but luckily we fixed it by the end of the session. In the afternoon we had some chatter on the front and on the rear, which made it difficult for me to brake late and maintain my corner speed. It has confused us a little but we will get back to work tomorrow and try to improve.”



Edwards and Corti work on grip and electronics at Sepang


The 15th round of the world championship takes the NGM Mobile Forward Racing Team to the Sepang International Circuit for the Shell Advance Malaysia Grand Prix. Both Colin Edwards and Claudio Corti show to be fast with their FTR – Kawasaki bikes.


During the morning session the Texan rider was the fastest CRT on track, managing to be 11th at the end of the session leaving one of the factory bikes right behind him. Teammate Claudio Corti struggled today in finding both the front and rear grip and believes that he needs to work on finding the right balance.


The America and Italian rider were only able to equal their morning lap times but not improve them due to the poor track conditions after the early afternoon rain. The Edwards will focus on finding the ideal electronics setting while Claudio will focus on finding the grip that he is missing.


Colin Edwards


“Today was pretty good. We came with the setting we used in the last few weekends. We kind of know where we went wrong at the last race, it was our rear setting so we decided to go back to what we know and it worked straight out of the box. Our biggest issue now is electronics; we have obviously developed a lot since the last time we tested here so we have to figure out what has really been working. At the moment we seem to be struggling a little bit on getting the traction control to work in conjunction with getting some drive off the corner. We have to play around with some parameters but all in all it was a good day. We had the chance to test all the tires and got a lot of information. It should be a good weekend, looking forward to tomorrow.”


Claudio Corti


“This morning session went relatively well for me but the afternoon session didn’t go as well, after the rain the track conditions got worse. The modifications done to the bike for the second session didn’t wrong as we expected them to, preventing me from improving my morning lap times. We have to keep working on our setting because at the moment we are lacking both front and rear grip. We have to find the right compromise between grip and bike balance. We need to take a step back and rethink our strategy for tomorrow.”


Sergio Verbena


“We started off well this first day at Sepang, it is not one of our favorite tracks and during the winter tests we struggled a lot here. This morning went well for us, proving that the hard work done all throughout this season has allowed us to develop the bike since we were last here. Colin was fist CRT this morning, finishing the session in 11th place, finishing ahead of a factory bike with very good lap times. He was able to equal his morning lap times but did not improve them due to the less than ideal track conditions after the rain that came down between FP1 and FP2. Claudio encountered some difficulty but with good lap times. We have some work ahead of us tonight in order to alleviate the grip problem in time for tomorrow. We have almost come to a decision on the race tire. Tomorrow we will focus on finding the rear grip that seems to be the main problem for both riders. “



BRADL TARGETS A BRAKING IMPROVEMENT FOR DAY TWO AT SEPANG CIRCUIT


Sepang, 11 October: the premier class riders escaped the typical tropical rain that did fall at the Sepang circuit on first day of practices but LCR racer Stefan Bradl unexpectedly suffered on braking, placing his RC213V on the 7th position (2’01.727) at the end of the combined sessions. The German, who is a veteran of the Malaysian circuit by now, intends to reduce the gap to the front by tomorrow adjusting the package of his Honda machine.


“Today it was a tough first day for us because we have struggled too much on braking. We arrived here with a completely different set-up compared to the one that we experienced in February. But this how it works and you improve the bike during the season but now we are suffering too much on braking and I went wide a few times so far. The grip itself is okay and we mainly have to focus on our braking stability and braking areas but the rest seems to be okay. The gap to the front guys is still recoverable so this will be our main target for tomorrow”.



Hayden, Dovizioso eighth and ninth on day one at Sepang


As expected, the first day of the Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Sepang International Circuit was marked by unpredictable weather, but the first two free-practice sessions saw the MotoGP riders lapping in dry conditions.


Nicky Hayden and Andrea Dovizioso were both pleased to finish the day in the top ten in the combined times, as they know that should rain strike tomorrow morning’s session, today’s times could well determine who transfers directly into Q2. Nonetheless, both Ducati Team riders hope to reduce their gaps to the leaders.


Nicky Hayden - Ducati Team, 8th (2:02.373)


“Things went pretty well this morning, but we fell further behind as the day went on. The biggest problem is that I have a lot of chatter, especially from the front and in the fast corners, which makes it very difficult to carry corner speed. That’s a normal problem we had here during testing, so it’s not something we didn’t expect, but we need to try to do something to improve it.”


Andrea Dovizioso - Ducati Team, 9th (2:02.487)


“It was important to make it into the top ten, and it’s good that I managed it while doing an entire session with one tyre, unlike most of the others. The gap to the front is bigger, but that’s normal; there isn’t much grip here and the tyre wears a lot, which hurts us a bit more. The Sepang track is very particular. When it dries, even if there are some wet patches, you can set good times, like Pedrosa did. Sure, the tyres don’t work so well and they wear a bit more, but you can still go fast.”



Pedrosa close to record pace on opening day of Malaysian MotoGP™ action


Round 15: Malaysian MotoGP™ - Free Practice One & Two


Sepang International Circuit, Friday 11 October 2013


Bridgestone slick compounds available: Front: Medium & Hard. Rear: Soft, Medium (Symmetric) & Hard (Asymmetric)


Bridgestone wet tyre compounds available: Hard (Main) & Soft (Alternative)


Weather: FP1 - Dry. Ambient 29-30°C; Track 37-41°C (Bridgestone measurement)


FP2 - Dry. Ambient 30-30°C; Track 41-44°C (Bridgestone measurement)


Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa set a sizzling time of 2’00.554 in this afternoon’s Free Practice 2 session to finish half a second clear of his closest rival in the first day of practice at the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang.


Pedrosa’s time was just two-tenths of a second off the qualifying lap record, the Spaniard topping the opening day ahead of teammate Marc Marquez who was second quickest with a personal best time of 2’01.087. Monster Yamaha Tech3’s Cal Crutchlow was the closest rider to the Honda duo, his lap time of 2’01.423 slotting him in at third in the overall classification. Power Electronics Aspar’s Aleix Espargaro was the quickest of the CRT today, setting a time 2.056 seconds off Pedrosa’s benchmark to finish eleventh on the timesheets.


Dry track conditions greeted riders in both sessions today despite a heavy downpour around midday, with a peak track temperature of 44°C recorded during FP2. At the start of Free Practice One all riders headed out on soft slick options front and rear to gauge the track condition, with two riders assessing the hard compound front slick later on in the morning session. In the second session of the day tyre choice was more varied, with five riders trying the harder rear slick options, while both the soft and hard front slicks were also used. The softer front and rear slick options were preferred by riders today, with almost every rider setting their quickest time on this tyre combination.


Similar weather conditions to today with the chance of rain are forecast for tomorrow. The final ranked practice session, FP3, starts at 0955 local time (GMT +8) before qualifying gets underway from 1410.


Masao Azuma – Chief Engineer, Bridgestone Motorsport Tyre Development Department


“Today was a good start to the race weekend and thankfully the heavy rain earlier didn’t disrupt the afternoon session. Softer slick options were preferred by the riders today, though the reasons for this preference were different for the front and rear tyres. The moderate track temperatures meant few riders felt the need to evaluate the harder rear slick options, while for the front, most riders felt that the softer front slick offered better bump absorption in the braking zones, which at this circuit feature quite heavy undulations. Considering we are already near record qualifying pace on the opening day here at Sepang, I expect we will see some more lap records set over the weekend.”






Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/bpvDzaqF-gQ/2013_sepang_motogp_friday_post_practice_.html
Category: iOS 7   Mary Lambert   jeff bezos   The Wolverine   nate robinson  

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Restaurants serve up revenue lift - Stuff

The Pedal Pusher

DON SCOTT/Fairfax NZ

CHEERS: Pubs, like The Pedal Pusher in Christchurch, are enjoying an 8.5 per cent revenue rise.

The hospitality industry could be turning a corner after an extended rough patch with sales, jobs and restaurant numbers all expected to pick up in the year ahead.

The third annual Hospitality Report found restaurateurs expected sales to grow 3 per cent, the number of jobs to increase by 1 per cent, and 87 new outlets to open in the next 12 months.

That follows on from a solid 2012 year, where sales rose 6.7 per cent, but Restaurant Association chief executive Marisa Bidois said the year-on-year improvement was a sign of a turnaround.

"It's not huge but it is certainly a positive result," she said. "It has been a long, hard couple of years for the industry and we're certainly viewing these results as a positive factor for the industry."

The survey, conducted by the Restaurant Association and Auckland University of Technology, showed four of the five restaurant subcategories expected their revenues to lift in the year ahead.

Catering services led the charge with a 9.2 per cent jump.

That was followed by takeaway outlets at 9.1 per cent; pubs, taverns and bars at 8.5 per cent; and cafes and restaurants at 5.6 per cent. Club earnings, however, are expected to fall 3.3 per cent.

Still, despite the rosier outlook, the industry was not without its challenges. The survey found restaurants are still plagued by slim margins, which are being sapped further by high labour costs.

Lorenzo Bresolin, second-generation restaurateur and a partner in the business behind Duke Carvell's and Scopa in Wellington, said managing talent has always been a challenge for the industry and would remain so.

"It is a transient industry and a lot of New Zealand talent, after cutting their teeth, will search farther afield for work," he said.

"You go to London and most of the people working in bars or restaurants are Kiwi or Aussie, and you came here and you get served by someone from Ireland."

The survey found maintaining sales growth, coping with higher operating costs and higher food prices were among the other challenges the industry expects to face in the year ahead.

But despite this, Bidois said the outlook remained positive.

"With the Christchurch rebuild flow-on effect, increased consumer and business confidence and reported increases in credit card spending, operators are cautiously optimistic."

- ? Fairfax NZ News

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/8865117/Restaurants-serve-up-revenue-lift

usa today yahoo news

iPhone 5s Rumors Continue: Sept. 20 Release Date?


Ready? Here we go! More predictions are flying around the Web regarding the rumored next moves by Apple, specifically surrounding the "iPhone 5s" smartphone that numerous pundits and Apple fans are expecting to see come down Apple's pipeline sooner than later.

The International Business Times' Dave Smith is joining the fray with a prediction that the iPhone 5s ? Apple's sixth-generation device ? will hit retail channels this year, accompanied by Apple's rumored low-cost, color-cased iPhone that's designed to appeal to emerging markets and/or those who can't otherwise break the bank for an Apple smartphone.

So, without further ado, the predictions: According to Smith, Apple's going to launch the iPhone 5s on September 20. It'll likely announce said speedier device at an event right around September 10. The low-cost iPhone ? be it the iPhone 6, the iPhone Light, or the iPhone Lil' (our suggestion) ? would have to wait a week or two before its official launch, likely on September 27 or October 4.

Got it? Now, the reasoning: Smith's not just pulling out a crystal ball and picking days at random. Rather, he opines that Apple is likely to use the same timeframe for the official release of iOS 7 as it did for iOS 6 ? 100 days after the operating system was officially unveiled. Since CEO Tim Cook showed off iOS 7 at this year's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 10, flashing forward 100 days puts the (alleged) consumer release date of the operating system on September 18.

"That said, Apple would never release its newest iOS without some new hardware to go with it. This is why we fully expect Apple to release the iPhone 5S just two days after the release date for iOS 7, on Sept. 20," Smith writes.

As for the launch of the to-be-named low-cost iPhone, Smith speculates that Apple would want to delay the release a bit as to not make its retail stores too crowded with simultaneous launches of two big devices.

How well do Smith's predictions track against the rest of the Apple punditry as of late? Pretty well, in fact: AppleInsider recently reported that Avago Technologies, which makes wireless chips found in Apple's iPhones, has teased that one of its larger customers is gearing up for a new product launch. Some analysts see that "larger customer" as Apple, and that "new product launch" as a sign that Apple's gearing up for an iPhone 5s September launch.

However, Citigroup's Glen Yeung has recently taken to the airwaves to comment that iPhone 5s production has likely been delayed anywhere from two to four weeks, based on comments he's heard from manufacturers and suppliers within Apple's supply chain.

"And while this does not preclude a September iPhone 5S launch date, we suspect volumes in September may consequently be challenged," Yeung said.

As for the low-cost iPhone Apple allegedly has in the works, a recent report from the China Times suggests that supplies have already started shipping parts for the device. That bodes well for a fall release date? but when, specifically, is anybody's guess. And expect to see a lot more guessing as we head through the summer months.

Source: http://feeds.ziffdavis.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/breakingnews/~3/eARbWss8t9E/0,2817,2421221,00.asp

stock market Vince Flynn Mexico vs Brazil Tim Duncan Kim And Kanye Baby Name NBA Finals Game 7 TWA Flight 800

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Texas woman set to be 500th execution in state

FILE - This undated file photo provided by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shows Kimberly McCarthy, who is on death row in Texas for the 1997 killing of a neighbor during a robbery. McCarthy is scheduled to be executed on June 26 and would be the 500th in Texas since the death penalty was reinstated by the Supreme Court in 1976. (AP Photo/Texas Department of Criminal Justice, File)

FILE - This undated file photo provided by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shows Kimberly McCarthy, who is on death row in Texas for the 1997 killing of a neighbor during a robbery. McCarthy is scheduled to be executed on June 26 and would be the 500th in Texas since the death penalty was reinstated by the Supreme Court in 1976. (AP Photo/Texas Department of Criminal Justice, File)

This photo taken May 27, 2008 file photo shows the gurney in Huntsville, Texas, where Texas' condemned are strapped down to receive a lethal dose of drugs. The first execution by lethal injection in Texas occurred in 1982. Since then the state has executed 499 prisoners. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan, File)

In this photo taken June 12, 2013, death penalty opponents gather outside the Huntsville Unit before the execution of confessed killer Elroy Chester in Huntsville, Texas. Chester, convicted of the 1988 the fatal shooting of Port Arthur firefighter Willie Ryman III, was the 499th prisoner to be executed in Texas since 1982. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)

FILE - This July 31, 1972 file photo shows the keys of death row and the electric chair at the Huntsville State Penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas. (AP Photo, File)

FILE - In this Oct. 4, 1995 file photo, a group of protesters hold signs outside the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Walls Unit, where the death chamber is located, to protest the execution of Harold Joe Lane in Huntsville, Texas. Lane was the 100th convicted killer to be executed since the state resumed carrying out capital punishment in 1982. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

(AP) ? Texas, the nation's busiest death penalty state, is set to mark a solemn moment in criminal justice Wednesday with the execution of convicted killer Kimberly McCarthy.

If McCarthy is put to death in Huntsville as planned, she would become the 500th person executed in Texas since the state resumed carrying out the death penalty in 1982. The 52-year-old also would be the first woman executed in the U.S. since 2010.

McCarthy's attorney, Maurie Levin, said she has exhausted all efforts to block the execution, after denials by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.

"If there was something to appeal, I would," said Levin.

Texas has carried out nearly 40 percent of the more than 1,300 executions in U.S. since the Supreme Court allowed capital punishment to resume in 1976. The state's standing stems from its size as the nation's second most populous state as well as its tradition of tough justice for killers.

With increased debate in recent years over wrongful convictions, some states have halted the practice entirely. However, 32 states have the death penalty on the books. Still, it's clear the debate over capital punishment has touched Texas, with lawmakers providing more sentencing options for juries and courts narrowing the cases for which death can be sought.

McCarthy faces execution for the 1997 robbery, beating and fatal stabbing of retired college psychology professor Dorothy Booth. Booth had agreed to give McCarthy a cup of sugar before she was attacked with a butcher knife at her home in Lancaster, about 15 miles south of Dallas. Authorities say McCarthy cut off Booth's finger to remove her wedding ring.

Police also had linked two other slayings to McCarthy, a former nursing home therapist who became addicted to crack cocaine.

In her appeals, McCarthy contended prosecutors improperly excluded black jurors and that her lawyers failed to challenge the moves at trial or in early appeals. McCarthy is black, and Booth was white. All but one of the 12 jurors at McCarthy's trial were white.

In January, McCarthy had been moved to a small holding cell a few steps from the Texas death chamber when a Dallas judge moved her execution to April. That timing then was reset for June when Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins said he wanted to await the outcome of capital punishment-related bills before lawmakers in Austin.

On Tuesday, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals declined to reconsider its denial a day earlier of McCarthy's appeal, saying her claims should have been raised previously.

Levin, a University of Texas law professor, said because the court's ruling focused on a procedural and not a substantive issue, the case cannot be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

"The shameful errors that plague Ms. McCarthy's case ? race bias, ineffective counsel and courts unwilling to exercise meaningful oversight of the system ? reflect problems that are central to the administration of the death penalty as a whole. For this to be the emblem of Texas' 500th execution is something all Texans should be ashamed of," Levin said.

McCarthy declined to speak with reporters as her execution date neared.

Anti-death penalty groups planned to protest outside the Walls Unit in Huntsville, where McCarthy is set to receive a lethal injection Wednesday evening.

"The whole world is looking at Texas," said Gloria Rubac, with the Texas Death Penalty Abolition Movement in Houston.

McCarthy would be the 13th woman nationwide and the fourth in Texas put to death since 1976. In the same period, more than 1,300 men have been executed nationwide, 496 of them in Texas. Virginia is a distant second, nearly 400 executions behind.

Federal statistics show that over the past three decades women account for about 10 percent of convicted murderers. According to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, there were 63 women on death row in the U.S. as of Jan. 1, representing 2 percent of the nation's 3,125 condemned prisoners.

Prosecutors showed that McCarthy stole Booth's Mercedes and drove to Dallas, pawned the wedding ring she had removed from the woman's severed finger for $200 and then went to a crack house to buy cocaine. Evidence also showed she used Booth's credit cards at a liquor store.

Booth's DNA was found on a 10-inch butcher knife recovered from McCarthy's home.

McCarthy blamed the crime on two drug dealers, but there was no evidence either existed.

Blood DNA evidence also tied McCarthy to the December 1988 slayings of 81-year-old Maggie Harding and 85-year-old Jettie Lucas. Harding was stabbed and beaten with a meat tenderizer, while Lucas was beaten with both sides of a claw hammer and stabbed.

McCarthy, who denied any involvement in the attacks, was indicted but not tried for those slayings.

McCarthy is a former wife of Aaron Michaels, founder of the New Black Panther Party, and he testified on her behalf. They had separated before Booth's slaying.

___

Follow Juan A. Lozano at http://www.twitter.com/juanlozano70

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-06-26-Texas-500th%20Execution/id-bada44f9ae704da3820cad79715ec2f6

sherry arnold

Microsoft demos Lego Mindstorm EV3 platform using Surface-controlled robot

Microsoft demos Lego Mindstorm EV3 platform using Surfacecontrolled robot

Robot toys aren't what you'd normally expect from Microsoft's developer-focused Build conference, but that's just what the company served up today. In a chat about developer tools, Microsoft's VP of Web Services Antoine Leblond demoed a version of Lego Education's unreleased Mindstorm EV3 platform using, what else, a brick-built robot and a Surface tablet. Citing the Win RT APIs that let users interact with device-specific protocols (i.e., USB, Bluetooth, etc.) Leblond was able to stream live video of his face, using a separate Windows tablet, to the tank-like, franken-toy. All whimsy aside, this MS / Lego collaboration's less about giving kids a neat, remote spying tool and more about making programming fun and approachable. You know, STEM stuff. And we're all for it.

Filed under: , ,

Comments

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/o9jUKd62AA0/

toure patti smith lottery winners lottery winners april fools day pranks ohio state vs kansas daniel von bargen

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Older is wiser: Study shows software developers' skills improve over time

Apr. 29, 2013 ? There is a perception in some tech circles that older programmers aren't able to keep pace with rapidly changing technology, and that they are discriminated against in the software field. But a new study from North Carolina State University indicates that the knowledge and skills of programmers actually improve over time -- and that older programmers know as much (or more) than their younger peers when it comes to recent software platforms.

"We wanted to explore these perceptions of veteran programmers as being out of step with emerging technologies and see if we could determine whether older programmers are actually keeping up with changes in the field," says Dr. Emerson Murphy-Hill, an assistant professor of computer science at NC State and co-author of a paper on the research. "And we found that, in some cases, veteran programmers even have a slight edge."

The researchers looked at the profiles of more than 80,000 programmers on a site called StackOverflow, which is an online community that allows users to ask and answer programming questions. The site also allows users to rate the usefulness of other users' questions and answers. Users who are rated as asking good questions and providing good answers receive points that are reflected in their "reputation score." The higher an individual's reputation score, the more likely it is that the user has a robust understanding of programming issues.

For the first part of the study, the researchers compared the age of users with their reputation scores. They found that an individual's reputation increases with age, at least into a user's 40s. There wasn't enough data to draw meaningful conclusions for older programmers.

The researchers then looked at the number of different subjects that users asked and answered questions about, which reflects the breadth of their programming interests. The researchers found that there is a sharp decline in the number of subjects users weighed in on between the ages of 15 and 30 -- but that the range of subjects increased steadily through the programmers' 30s and into their early 50s.

Finally, the researchers evaluated the knowledge of older programmers (ages 37 and older) compared to younger programmers (younger than 37) in regard to relatively recent technologies -- meaning technologies that have been around for less than 10 years.

For two smartphone operating systems, iOS and Windows Phone 7, the veteran programmers had a significant edge in knowledge over their younger counterparts. For every other technology, from Django to Silverlight, there was no statistically significant difference between older and younger programmers.

"The data doesn't support the bias against older programmers -- if anything, just the opposite," Murphy-Hill says.

The paper, "Is Programming Knowledge Related To Age?," will be presented May 18 at the 10th Working Conference on Mining Software Repositories, sponsored by IEEE and ACM in San Francisco, Calif. Lead author of the paper is Patrick Morrison, a Ph.D. student at NC State.

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 North Carolina State University.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.


Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/x83r5bdODrA/130429114826.htm

tom benson royals nicole richie lyme disease symptoms esperanza spalding jessica sanchez robert kennedy

Switzerland shuts the door on EU migrants: A new 'us vs. them' in Europe?

News that Switzerland is capping residence permits for Western Europeans reached the Monitor's Europe bureau chief as she was having her own intolerable immigration experience.

By Sara Miller Llana,?Staff writer / April 25, 2013

A cafe is seen in Zurich is seen in this photo taken April 18.

Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters/File

Enlarge

The anti-immigration class across Europe has found many new adherents as of late, especially in the most economically devastated countries, like Greece and Italy. But now these Europeans might themselves become the unwelcome migrants, at least in Switzerland.

Skip to next paragraph Sara Miller Llana

Europe Bureau Chief

Sara Miller Llana?moved to Paris in April 2013 to become the Monitor's Europe Bureau?Chief. Previously she was the?paper's?Latin America Bureau Chief, based in Mexico City, from 2006 to 2013.

Recent posts

' + google_ads[0].line2 + '
' + google_ads[0].line3 + '

'; } else if (google_ads.length > 1) { ad_unit += ''; } } document.getElementById("ad_unit").innerHTML += ad_unit; google_adnum += google_ads.length; return; } var google_adnum = 0; google_ad_client = "pub-6743622525202572"; google_ad_output = 'js'; google_max_num_ads = '1'; google_feedback = "on"; google_ad_type = "text"; google_adtest = "on"; google_image_size = '230x105'; google_skip = '0'; // -->

As I happened to be standing in the most intolerable immigration line that I've ever faced ? more on that later ? I read on my Twitter account that the Swiss government on Wednesday announced a new policy to cap residence permits for all of Western Europe. Switzerland, which is not part of the EU but joined the Schengen bloc that allows freedom of movement of people across European borders, says that it is being overwhelmed by arrivals from across the continent, to the tune of 80,000 people each year.

So it is invoking a ?safeguard clause? it negotiated during the 1999 Schengen treaty talk, which it already implemented for eight Central and Eastern European states. Now, as of May 1, residence permits for the citizens of 17 older EU states, from Germany to Spain, will be capped at 53,700 for a year.

According to the EU Observer, the Swiss said that the million-plus EU residents who live in the country have "had a positive impact ? in particular in terms of consumer spending and on the construction industry," but that restrictions are ?needed to make immigration more acceptable to society.?

The move drew immediate criticism from Brussels. ''The measures disregard the great benefits that the free movement of persons brings to the citizens of both Switzerland and the EU,? Catherine Ashton, EU foreign policy chief, said in a statement.

Is this a new manifestation of intolerance in Europe? The levels of resentment continent-wide against the migrants from Africa and the Middle East are already clearly documented, but in the midst of crisis, is Europe even excluding Europe? And what does that mean for identity and equality moving forward?

The possibility of a new, intra-European divide struck a chord for me, as I experienced my own "us vs. them" moment in France today.

Well, more than a moment. Eight hours, in fact.

That's how long I waited in a Paris prefecture along with Moroccans, Romanians, Malians, Senegalese, Tunisians, and Peruvians ? most of us, like me, there only to get information about what we needed to have with us, only to return and stand in line again.

I got to know my fellow immigrants well as we stood outside. Some around me had been in this line before, but were told they were missing a translation, a photocopy, or any of myriad document requirements that are not posted in their totality anywhere on the Internet ? or even on the wall of the prefecture where we line up ? but rather seem to be, at least from my informal surveys today, requested at the whim of whichever officer is behind the desk. One woman was told to bring back her CV.

Some of my linemates felt the French immigration officials were being deliberately obstructionist.

?They don?t want us to get the carte de sejour,? said the Malian, referring to the permission that allows foreigners to reside in France (and, with it, the right to tap into the country?s amazing social security system).

?They do everything they can to hold us back,? said the Romanian, who was on her third trip here ? and the third day lost on her job as a cleaning woman. Today, she was told that the pay stub she brought didn?t have the minimum number of hours on it, so she needed to bring in another stub. Another lost day of productivity for this poor woman.

Regardless of the motivations, one can see the "us vs. them" motif very clearly at the prefecture. On the one side, masses desperate to get in, and feeling unwelcome all the while. And on the other side of the glass wall, a society wanting to protect a social system that is replicated in few other places in the world.

By the end of the day in the unforgiving sun, some people were clearly losing their cool, me among them. (I, an American, was more indignant about the inefficiency than most, which makes me wonder if that?s a nationality trait, but that's a subject for another time.)

?But this can?t be!? I kept saying. ?How can people waste an entire day in a line ? and for nothing! Just to come back and stand in the line again??

?Welcome to France,? said the Malian, smiling.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/csmonitor/globalnews/~3/oDdxIU-utNE/Switzerland-shuts-the-door-on-EU-migrants-A-new-us-vs.-them-in-Europe

cm punk cm punk lint buenos aires train crash argentina train crash nancy pelosi nancy pelosi

S&P 500 reaches new high, led by tech

NEW YORK (AP) ? Technology companies led the stock market higher Monday, pushing the Standard & Poor's 500 index above the all-time closing high it reached earlier this month.

A pair of strong economic reports also encouraged investors. Wages and spending rose in the U.S. last month, and pending home sales hit their highest level in three years.

Shortly before 1:30 p.m. Eastern time, the S&P 500 index was up 12 points at 1,594, a gain of 0.7 percent. That put the index above the record closing high of 1,593.36 it reached on April 11.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 96 points to 14,808, a gain of 0.7 percent. Microsoft and IBM were among the Dow's best performers, rising 2 percent each.

Concerns about weak business spending and slower overseas sales have cast a shadow over big tech firms, said Marty Leclerc, the managing partner of Barrack Yard Advisors, an investment firm in Bryn Mawr, Pa. Revenue misses from IBM and other big tech companies have highlighted the industry's vulnerability to the world economy. But Leclerc thinks tech companies with steady revenue and plenty of cash look appealing over the long term.

Information technology stocks rose the most of the 10 industry groups in the S&P Monday, up 1.5 percent. It's the only group that remains lower over the past year, down 2 percent, versus the S&P 500's gain of 14 percent.

The Nasdaq composite rose 32 points at 3,311, a rise of 1 percent. Apple, the biggest stock in the index, rose 3.5 percent to $431.95.

The number of Americans who signed contracts to buy homes reached the highest level since April 2010, according to the National Association of Realtors. Back then, a tax credit for buying houses had lifted sales. Americans' spending and income both edged up last month, the government reported Monday.

Moody's and Standard & Poor's parent company McGraw-Hill surged following news that the ratings agencies settled lawsuits dating back to the financial crisis that accused them of concealing risky investments. McGraw-Hill gained 6 percent to $54.80, while Moody's jumped 10 percent to $61.02, the biggest gain in the S&P 500.

Manufacturer Eaton Corp. rose 5 percent to $61.31 after reporting that its quarterly net income jumped, beating Wall Street's estimates. The results were helped by its acquisition of Cooper Industries, an electrical equipment supplier.

In the market for government bonds, the yield on the 10-year Treasury note slipped to 1.66 percent, close to its low for the year. That's down from 1.67 percent late Friday.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/p-500-reaches-high-led-tech-173611735.html

current time a thousand words my sisters keeper kirby sarah palin cbi the shins

Sunday, April 28, 2013

?Spring Training? Is an Experiment in Full-Body Art | Triangle Arts ...

SpringTraining-UNIVERSES

PlayMakers Repertory Company and Carolina Performing Arts are presenting the world premiere of ?Spring Training,? written and performed by Universes, on April 24-28 in the Elizabeth Price Kenan Theatre

Coming-of-age stories or the ?bildungsroman? are known for being brutally honest and intense. PlayMakers Repertory Company?s second stage series production of Spring Training is as honest and intense as a fan of the genre might expect, but it is not without its flaws.

The show features four artists presenting song and movement, interspersed with telling dramatic monologues that focus on what it means to be a minority in America, both in the changing currents of the past and in today?s not-so-different-as-one-might-expect world. ?The monologues are centered upon hispanic Ricky, young and innocent Trevor, Miss Geneva Maybell Martin, and a young hispanic girl who has lost her mother to murder. All of these characters, as the story shows, have been through life at its hardest and have lived to tell about it. While the monologues are filled with beautiful imagery?think a brown paper bag communion?poetic language, and hauntingly detailed place settings, the presentation itself falls disappointingly short.

All of the perfomers are on-book, a fact that could be understood and even overlooked if it didn?t cause noticeable stumbling and cast-confusion throughout. Furthermore, the performance?s symoblic moments, which have the potential to be poignant, would have hit harder if they weren?t so hammered in towards the end.

All of this is not to say, however, that the production doesn?t have merit. One gets the feeling that with a little more effort, the performers could have delivered a powerful message about the current state of our country, its educational system, and how we deal with one another in general. Speaking more positively, however, the artists do incorporate their entire bodies into the production. Clapping hands turn into the baking of goods that one character references, and seamless transitions abound throughout. Though beautifully written, Universes? Spring Training has a way to go before it can have the impact on viewers that the writing demands.

PlayMakers Repertory Company presents SPRING TRAINING, a world premiere by Universes at 7:30 p.m. April 27 and 2 and 7:30 p.m. April 28 in the Elizabeth Price Kenan Theatre in the Center for Dramatic Art, 120 Country Club Rd., Chapel Hill, NC 27514, on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus.

TICKETS: $15-$40 ($10 UNC students and $12 other students).

BOX OFFICE: 919-962-PLAY or http://www.playmakersrep.org/tickets/.

GROUP RATES (10+ tickets): 919-843-2311, gerdts@email.unc.edu, or http://www.playmakersrep.org/tickets/groupsales.aspx.

SHOW: http://www.playmakersrep.org/springtraining.

VIDEO PREVIEW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=aZWKbKXhZoo.

NEWS RELEASE: http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/5979/66/.

PRESENTERS:

PlayMakers Repertory Company: http://www.playmakersrep.org/.

Carolina Performing Arts: https://www.carolinaperformingarts.org/.

BLOG (PlayMakersPage to Stage): http://playmakersrep.blogspot.com/.

VENUE: http://www.playmakersrep.org/aboutus/kenan.

DIRECTIONS: http://www.playmakersrep.org/visitorinfo.

PARKING: http://playmakersrep.org/visitorinfo/currentparking.

OTHER LINKS:

Spring Training (play): http://www.universesonstage.com/page11/page49/index.html (official web page).

Universes (poet-performers): http://www.universesonstage.com/ (official website) and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universes_%28poetic_theatre_ensemble%29 (Wikipedia).

Chay Yew (director): http://www.victorygardens.org/about/chayyewbio.php (Victory Gardens Theater bio) and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chay_Yew (Wikipedia).
?The Rite of Spring at 100? https://www.theriteofspringat100.org/ (official website).


Tagged as: Carolina Performing Arts, Chay Yew, PlayMakers Rep, PlayMakers Repertory Company, PRC, Spring Training, Universes

Source: http://triangleartsandentertainment.org/2013/04/spring-training-is-an-experiment-in-full-body-art/

time change Joy Behar Hangover 3 Red Widow MIRIAM MAKEBA history channel casey anthony

Friday, April 26, 2013

Boston victims face huge bills; donations pour in

Cost of amputating a leg? At least $20,000. Cost of an artificial leg? More than $50,000 for the most high-tech models. Cost of an amputee's rehab? Often tens of thousands of dollars more.

These are just a fraction of the medical expenses victims of the Boston Marathon bombing will face.

The mammoth price tag is probably not what patients are focusing on as they begin the long healing process. But friends and strangers are already setting up fundraisers and online crowd-funding sites, and a huge Boston city fund has already collected more than $23 million in individual and corporate donations.

No one knows yet if those donations ? plus health insurance, hospital charity funds and other sources ? will be enough to cover the bills. Few will even hazard a guess as to what the total medical bill will be for a tragedy that killed three people and wounded more than 260. At least 15 people lost limbs, and other wounds include head injuries and tissue torn apart by shrapnel.

Health insurance, as practically anyone who has ever gotten hurt or sick knows, does not always cover all costs. In the case of artificial limbs, for example, some insurance companies pay for a basic model but not a computerized one with sophisticated, lifelike joints.

Rose Bissonnette, founder of the New England Amputee Association, said that the moment she heard about the bombings, she knew immediately that her organization's services would be needed. The advocacy group helps amputees navigate things such as insurance coverage for artificial limbs.

Bissonnette shared one group member's struggle to get coverage for artificial arms as an example of the red tape some bombing victims could face. The woman "got a call from the insurance company and the person on the other end said, 'How long are you going to need the prosthetic hands?'" Bissonnette recalled.

Bissonnette herself was in a horrific car crash 16 years ago that left her with injuries similar to those facing the Boston victims. Her mangled lower left leg had to be amputated and her right ankle was partially severed. Her five-month hospital stay cost more than $250,000. Health insurance covered all her treatment, rehab and her prosthesis.

Health economist Ted Miller noted that treating just one traumatic brain injury can cost millions of dollars, and at least one survivor has that kind of injury. He also pointed out that the medical costs will include treating anxiety and post-traumatic stress ? "an issue for a whole lot more people than just people who suffered physical injuries," he said.

Adding to the tragedy's toll will be lost wages for those unable to work, including two Massachusetts brothers who each lost a leg, Miller said. They had been roofers but may have to find a new line of work.

Many survivors will also need help with expenses beyond immediate health care, including things like modifying cars for those who lost limbs or remodeling homes to accommodate wheelchairs.

Many survivors live in Massachusetts, a state that requires residents to have health insurance, "which should cover most of their required treatment," said Amie Breton, spokeswoman for Massachusetts' consumer affairs office. "The total cost of that treatment is impossible to calculate at this early stage."

Amputees may face the steepest costs, and artificial legs are the costliest. They range from about $7,200 for a basic below-the-knee model to as much as $90,000 for a high-tech microprocessor-controlled full leg, said Dr. Terrence Sheehan, chief medical officer for Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital in Rockville, Md., and medical director of the Amputee Coalition, a national advocacy group.

Legs need to be replaced every few years, or more often for very active users or those who gain or lose weight. Limb sockets need to be replaced even more often and also cost thousands of dollars each, Sheehan said.

Massachusetts is among about 20 states that require health insurers to pay for prosthetic limbs, but many plans don't cover 100 percent of those costs, Sheehan said. "Most are skimpy beyond basic prosthetics and they have not caught up with current available technology," he said.

"The insurer will use terminology such as 'not medically necessary'" to deny computerized feet or knees that can often make the patient better able to function and more comfortable and safe, Sheehan said.

Some insurers may be willing to make exceptions for the Boston blast survivors.

"We will work to ensure that financial issues/hardship will not pose a barrier to the care that affected members' need," said Sharon Torgerson, spokeswoman for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, one of the state's largest health insurers.

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, another big insurer, is changing its policy and will pay for some of the more expensive bionic limbs when there is a demonstrated need, said Dr. Michael Sherman, chief medical officer. He said that 15 blast survivors admitted to hospitals are Harvard Pilgrim customers and that the insurance company is discussing "whether we might absorb some of the copays and deductibles."

"This is a terrorist act, and our only thought here is about providing support," he said.

The 26 hospitals that have treated bombing victims have charity funds that will cover some of the costs, said Tim Gens, executive vice president of the Massachusetts Hospital Association. Some injured residents may be eligible for Massachusetts' public health funds for the uninsured or underinsured. People with huge medical bills they can't afford are eligible, regardless of income.

Gens said hospitals are still focused on treating survivors, not on costs.

"It's an extraordinary shock to so many individuals. The hospitals are working very hard to make sure that each family gets the support they need. Billing is not an issue they're addressing right now," Gens said.

At Massachusetts General Hospital, where 31 victims have gotten treatment, chief financial officer Sally Mason Boemer said bills "create a lot of stress. Our assumption is there will be sources we can tap through fundraising." Boemer added: "Now is not the time to add additional stress to patients."

Bombings survivor Heather Abbott said Thursday she has already gotten offers of help to pay for an artificial leg. The 38-year-old Newport, R.I., woman was waiting in line to get into a crowded bar when the bombs went off.

"I felt like my foot was on fire. I knew I couldn't stand up," she recalled from her hospital bed. Surgeons amputated her left leg below the knee.

A big chunk of charity money for survivors will come from One Fund Boston, established by Boston's mayor and Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick.

The fund has gotten more than $20 million in donations. Determining who gets what is still being worked out, but victims' insurance status and place of residence won't be a factor, said Kenneth Feinberg, the fund administrator. He oversaw the 9/11 compensation fund during its first three years, distributing more than $7 billion to 5,300 families and victims.

Grass-roots fundraising efforts include online funds set up by friends and relatives of the victims.

Those victims include Roseann Sdoia, a Boston woman who was near the marathon finish line when the blasts occurred. Sdoia was hit by shrapnel, fire and a tree that became a projectile and injured her left leg, the funding site says. Her right leg had to be amputated above the knee. After several operations, Sdoia has started rehab.

"She is a fighter and her attitude is phenomenal," said her friend and former sorority sister, Christine Hart, who set up the site. More than $270,000 has been raised for Sdoia so far, money that may help pay for an artificial leg, transportation to and from rehab, and modifications to her car or home, Hart said.

The donations will help make sure "that finances are not part of the burden" she has to bear, Hart said.

Other funds have been set up in communities like Stoneham, a Boston suburb that counts at least five current or former residents among the victims. A Stoneham Strong fundraising event is set for Friday evening, with participants asked to circle the high school track to show support for the marathon victims. Hundreds are expected, said organizer Shelly MacNeill.

"The outpouring has been unbelievable," she said.

___

AP Medical Writer Carla K. Johnson contributed to this report.

___

Donations: http://www.onefundboston.org; http://www.gofundme.com/BelieveinBoston

____

AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/LindseyTanner

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/boston-victims-face-huge-bills-donations-pour-174957328.html

old navy walmart black friday walmart black friday Target Black Friday PacSun apple store bestbuy

New Heartland poll paints a gloomy picture of American mood (Washington Bureau)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS and RSS Feed via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/301480020?client_source=feed&format=rss

Innocence of Muslims Clara Schumann Jael Strauss Alison Pill Sam Bacile sprint britney spears

PFT: EJ Manuel goes to Bills at No. 16, first QB taken

Star Lotulelei, Ti AkauAP

Don Banks of SI.com thinks the Bills? choice of QB E.J. Manuel means the read option will be part of their offense.

Said Dolphins coach Joe Philbin of first-round pick Dion Jordan, ?We?ve got to get our hands on him a little bit (and) work with him a little bit to find out what is his ideal weight and those type of things. I?m not going to sit here and say that we want him to be 265 pounds. We?ll see. Maybe his body isn?t going to function and do some of the things he can at that (weight). He may be able to.?

Patriots DT Vince Wilfork raised $235,000 at his draft party, 10 percent of which will go to marathon bombing victims with the rest to go to fight diabetes.

Two defensive players in the first round suggests coach Rex Ryan?s influence isn?t totally gone with the Jets.

The Ravens website calls trading up in the second round a possibility.

The Bengals didn?t reach for a tackle in the first round with Andre Smith still unsigned.

The Steelers were worried that the Saints would pick LB Jarvis Jones before they had a chance.

WR DeAndre Hopkins is the fourth straight player to come out of college early to be drafted by the Texans in the first round.

Colts DE Bjoern Werner is the first NFL first rounder to call his selection ?unglaublich,? which translates from German as ?beyond belief.?

The Jaguars look to be sitting pretty at the top of the second round.

G Chance Warmack thinks he convinced the Titans to pick him during a private workout.

What?s on the wish list for the Broncos on Friday?

T Eric Fisher said being drafted first overall by the Chiefs was like winning the lottery.

Said Raiders CB D.J. Hayden of whether he thought his career was over when his inferior vena cava was severed last season, ?I did. I definitely did. [It lasted] about a week, and I was just wondering if I would walk straight again. That?s what was on my mind; it was walking straight. I wasn?t worried about life after football. I wasn?t worried about life after college. I was just worried about walking.?

A negative review of the Chargers? decision to draft T D.J. Fluker.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the two players the team considered trading up to get both were off the board in the top 10.

Giants OL Justin Pugh started all 34 games he played at Syracuse.

Even new Eagles T Lane Johnson thought the Dolphins were trading up to take him on Thursday night.

A look at defensive back options for the Redskins in the coming rounds.

Bears G.M. Phil Emery called Kyle Long the most athletic guard to come out in the last 12 years.

John Niyo of the Detroit News believes drafting DE Ziggy Ansah was a risk worth taking for the Lions.

The Packers highlighted the versatility of DE Datone Jones after drafting him on Thursday.

A bold offseason continued with the Vikings grabbing three players in the first round.

Falcons G.M. Thomas Dimitroff proved again that he isn?t afraid to make big moves to secure players he wants.

The Panthers didn?t waste much time before handing in the card picking DT Star Lotulelei in the first round.

Need might not be the driver when the Saints make their next pick in the third round.

The Buccaneers didn?t do any drafting, but they had quite a draft party.

G Jonathan Cooper said he was shocked the Cardinals picked him because he doesn?t read the mock drafts that projected him as a top 10 pick.

Trading up for WR Tavon Austin says that the Rams aren?t rebuilding anymore.

The 49ers ?absolutely? have a player in mind with the 34th pick.

The Seahawks are ready to jump into the draft after a quiet first night.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/25/e-j-manuel-is-the-first-quarterback-selected-by-the-buffalo-bills-with-16th-pick/related/

duke university whale shark whale shark platypus platypus overboard east of eden

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Mammal and bug food co-op in the High Arctic

Apr. 24, 2013 ? Who would have thought that two very different species, a small insect and a furry alpine mammal, would develop a shared food arrangement in the far North?

University of Alberta researchers were certainly surprised when they discovered the unusual response of pikas to patches of vegetation that had previously been grazed on by caterpillars from a species normally found in the high Arctic.

U of A biology researcher Isabel C. Barrio analyzed how two herbivores, caterpillars and pikas, competed for scarce vegetation in alpine areas of the southwest Yukon. The caterpillars come out of their winter cocoons and start consuming vegetation soon after the snow melts in June. Weeks later, the pika starts gathering and storing food in its winter den. For the experiment, Barrio altered the numbers of caterpillars grazing on small plots of land surrounding pika dens.

"What we found was that the pikas preferred the patches first grazed on by caterpillars," said Barrio. "We think the caterpillar's waste acted as a natural fertilizer, making the vegetation richer and more attractive to the pika."

U of A biology professor David Hik, who supervised the research, says the results are the opposite of what the team expected to find.

"Normally you'd expect that increased grazing by the caterpillars would have a negative effect on the pika," said Hik. "But the very territorial little pika actually preferred the vegetation first consumed by the caterpillars."

The researchers say it's highly unusual that two distant herbivore species -- an insect in its larval stage and a mammal -- react positively to one another when it comes to the all-consuming survival issue of finding food.

These caterpillars stay in their crawling larval stage for up to 14 years, sheltering in a cocoon during the long winters before finally becoming Arctic woolly bear moths for the final 24 hours of their lives.

The pika does not hibernate and gathers a food supply in its den. Its food-gathering territory surrounds the den and covers an area of around 700 square metres.

The researchers say they'll continue their work on the caterpillar-pika relationship to explore the long-term implications for increased insect populations and competition for scarce food resources in northern mountain environments.

Barrio was the lead author on the collaborative research project, which was published April 24 in the journal Biology Letters.

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 University of Alberta, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS. The original article was written by Brian Murphy.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.


Journal Reference:

  1. I. C. Barrio, D. S. Hik, K. Peck, C. G. Bueno. After the frass: foraging pikas select patches previously grazed by caterpillars. Biology Letters, 2013; 9 (3): 20130090 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2013.0090

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/apG4-pzYpt8/130424161114.htm

Ada Lovelace 12/12/12 manny pacquiao Chopper Live jerry brown michael buble michael buble

Nutrino is a virtual nutritionist for iOS, we go hands-on

Nutrino is a virtual nutritionist for iOS, we go handson

As a recovering food addict, I've been told on numerous occasions that washboard abs are created in the kitchen, not in the gym. That's why we were intrigued to take a look at Nutrino, an iOS app that promises a "virtual nutritionist" service to help slice away the adipose from our stomach. We spent some time putting the software through its paces, and if you're thinking of making the leap, head on past the break to learn more.

Filed under: , ,

Comments

Source: Nutrino

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/25/nutrino-ios-hands-on/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

Nick Foles Auguste Rodin Breaking Amish Indianapolis explosion mike brown bcs rankings jay cutler